Hong Kong: Action on jab certificates justified: CE

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Government is in full compliance with the principle of the rule of law in filling the legal gap relating to the COVID-19 Vaccination Medical Exemption Certificates.

Chief Executive John Lee made the remarks ahead of this mornings Executive Council meeting as he addressed a media question on the Governments follow-up action on the High Court judgment on the jab certificates.

The Government acts in accordance with the law that is the priority principle that we have been adopting.

The judgment (by the High Court on the judicial review application on COVID-19 Vaccination Medical Exemption Certificates) indicates that there is a gap which needs to be filled. And, therefore, according to the judgment, we took action to fill that gap to ensure that the action we take has a strong legal basis. So that is in full compliance with the principle of the rule of law.

Then the question is whether we will appeal or not appeal. And we have already issued a statement to indicate the Governments position. We have a duty to take care of public health speedily and efficiently. And that is the reason why we have been rolling out different measures (on COVID-19 prevention).

This story has been published on: 2022-11-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Lao women have Vietnamese classes in Quang Tri

Lao women married to Vietnamese men in the central province of Quang Tri's Huong Hoa District are benefiting from Vietnamese classes.









A Vietnamese class for Lao women in Quang Tri Province



The class, which is co-organised by the Women's Union and the Border Guard Station of Ba Tang Commune, aims at helping Lao women better adapt to life in Vietnam after marrying locals.











Vice chairwoman of the Ba Tang Communal Women's Union, Ho Thi Meng, is one of the teachers in the class. She said that this was a vital way to help Lao women settle in the area.



"Most of those women can speak some Vietnamese and the language of the local Pa Co ethnic group," Meng said. "However, they cant read and write the language, which has caused lots of difficulties for them in everyday life. We've decided to open this class as we saw the need."



Captain Ho Xuan Le from the Ba Tang Border Guard Station said that the women were eager to study and many of them were able to speak well.



"Over 175 Lao women have attended the class since it opened last year," Le said. "We're planning to open more of these classes in neighbouring areas to help more Lao women."





One woman, Binh Bong, said that she had become more confident about participating in local community life since attending the class.













It's now much easier for me when shopping or meeting others," she said. "Ill continue studying so that I can find a suitable job to support my family here."
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Berlyn Schelling Courtesy Berlyn Schelling

Anxiety over the possibility of a school shooting consumed Berlyn Schelling until she transferred from a public high school to an online school. Now graduated, 18 years old, and able to vote for the first time in her home state of Montana, Schelling is voting for gun control.

The teen, who works as a barista, has made her voice heard in the past by participating in Black Lives Matter and proabortion rights protests, as well as donating to political organizations. But now, shes excited to vote for candidates who she believes share her views in the midterm elections.

Its hard to focus on the rest of the day when you have to think about how someone can come in [to school] and kill me and my classmates right now, she said.

Teens who are now old enough to vote for the first time on Nov. 8 were just 12 years old when Donald Trump was elected in 2016. Since then, theyve seen massive protests over police brutality, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Republicans targeting trans youth, and an insurrection at the Capitol. Now 18 and registered to vote, they see abortion access, LGBTQ rights, and immigration as not just issues on which to make their voices heard, but as matters their lives depend on.

Peyton Jackson, a high school senior in Illinois who turned 18 last month, has been closely watching the state's race for governor. Republican nominee Darren Bailey is behind Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker  but not nearly as much as shed like. Jackson said Bailey has abhorrent views, like his anti-abortion stance.

Peyton Jackson Peyton Jackson

Shell be voting for the Democrat, and seeing how tenuous her rights can be in a swing state has influenced her plans to apply only to colleges in Democratic-leaning states.

I wouldnt necessarily feel very comfortable or safe in a state where certain decisions or certain ideologies are being upheld that I dont feel comfortable with, and a lot of these close states, it really is going to come down to how some of these elections go, she said.

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Alex Stevens, a first-year student at Texas A&M University, is also voting for the first time this midterm election. Theyve been most closely following Texass race for governor between Republican incumbent Greg Abbott and Beto ORourke. Recently, Abbott has worked on the states abortion ban, sent immigrants to sanctuary cities in other states, and directed an investigation into the parents of trans children for child abuse, so it was an easy decision who to vote for.

Alex Stevens Courtesy Alex Stevens

Im LGBT, Stevens said. I was born female. Im Hispanic. Currently, Greg Abbott doesnt have my best interest at heart, and I know that. And its really scary to live in a state where he only really cares about the financial gain of Texas and cis white men.

The overturning of Roe v. Wade forced Stevens and their male partner to start thinking about the future, and Stevens went on birth control  a decision they said they hated to be forced into.

Weve talked about family planning, but Im 19 and Im in college, Stevens said. Im not trying to have kids anytime soon, and so its the safest option with whats going on right now.

For Kellen Zeng, an 18-year-old first-year student at Fordham University in New York, voting for the first time feels complicated.

Kellen Zeng Courtesy Kellen Zeng

Its a whole bunch of emotions, she said. I want to be excited because its my first time engaging in the electoral process, and I am, but at the same time, youre confronted with the fact that its almost like an illusion of choice, especially where I live in my district.

She lives on Staten Island, a predominantly Republican area, where she doesnt see others reflect her values on racial justice, LGBTQ rights, and abortion rights. In her neighborhood, Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, who was endorsed by Trump, is running for reelection. Zeng wont be supporting Malliotakis, who opposed a bill aiming to protect transgender New Yorkers from discrimination and has made border security a key part of her campaign. But her signs are everywhere, and its likely Malliotakis will be reelected.

Every time I see the yard signs, its a reminder that Im not welcome in that community because that congresswoman and the things she stands for are very anti my identity, said Zeng, who is queer and Asian. Everywhere I go, I have to be mindful that my politics might cause me to get into an argument with the people around me, and thats on a whole range of issues.

Zeng cant miss class on Election Day, so shes planning to bike or walk the 45 minutes to get to an early-voting site. Its worth going out of her way, she said.

This election is marked by so much uncertainty, and that is very anxiety-inducing because theres just so much on the line.

More on this
Terry Hubbard, a former felon, voted in the 2020 presidential election and was arrested two years later in Florida on voter fraud charges. Josh Ritchie for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Since 2019, legislators and election officials in Florida have revised, passed and enforced restrictive voting laws that make it harder for poor people, former felons and people of color  who traditionally favor Democrats in elections  to vote.

At the same time, they appear to have taken exceptional measures that have made it easier for voters in Republican areas of the state to cast their ballots, especially after a natural disaster.

The pattern of favoring GOP voters and discriminating against people of color, especially against Blacks, has been so obvious that, in a brief filed in federal court on Aug. 17, 2022, federal prosecutors argued that Republicans lawmakers targeted Black voters when they enacted the new election law in Florida, a charge denied by lawyers defending the state.

Yet less than a week after the filing, instead of addressing widespread concerns over the restriction of voting rights, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference to show how his state is taking voter fraud seriously.

Despite the lack of evidence of widespread voter fraud, DeSantis told the assembled media that the states new Office of Election Crimes and Security was in the process of arresting 20 Florida residents for allegedly committing voting fraud.

Based on media reports, the majority of those pursued by authorities were Black voters.

Although a judge dismissed charges filed against one man, we believe these arrests are a bellwether of more efforts Americans will likely see to intimidate voters under the guise of election security.

The question, then, is how are states allowed to enact election laws that appear race neutral  but have a disproportionate impact on voters who have been historically disenfranchised?

Impact of Shelby v. Holder

We are scholars of the American civil rights movement and the role of geography and voter intimidation in the long struggle for Black voting rights.

The actions in Florida are part of a national trend that saw dozens of states across the country overhaul their election laws after former President Donald Trumps persistent and false claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announces on Oct. 18, 2022, that the states new Office of Election Crimes and Security is in the process of arresting 20 individuals for voter fraud. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The rash of new state election laws includes everything from closing polling places to restricting the time and place of early voting. They also include partial bans on providing water and food to people standing in line to vote.

Not all of these laws included restrictions, and some were established to avoid health risks during the COVID pandemic.

These bills were often couched in the language of preventing voter fraud to protect democracy. Voter confidence in the integrity of our elections is essential to maintaining a democratic form of government, said Floridas Republican Senate president, Wilton Simpson.

But voting rights experts argue that instead of prohibiting election fraud, many of the new laws may make it harder for people to vote.

In the past, the 1965 Voting Rights Act included requirements that, in states that historically had discriminated against the right of Black people to vote, such major changes to election law would have sparked a review by the U.S. Department of Justice to determine whether they could take effect.

The loss of that federal oversight was made possible by a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court 5-4 decision in the case of Shelby v. Holder. That decision eliminated the oversight requirements of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

From the outset of the Voting Rights Act, Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Virginia were required to have federal oversight in order to prohibit those states adopting discriminatory election laws.

In addition, several specific counties in Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho and North Carolina were also found to have discriminated in the past, thus requiring federal oversight.

New state election laws

These states, long under scrutiny by the federal government for discriminatory voting laws, were some of the first states to enact new and more restrictive voting regulations and rules after the 2013 Supreme Court ruling.

Yet these states were not the only ones to consider changing or enacting new election laws since the 2020 presidential election. In 2022 the effort to restrict the right to vote has accelerated.

Thirty-four bills currently are moving through 11 state legislatures to restrict access to the vote. In all, 39 states have considered over 390 restrictive bills, and these efforts affect minority voters most specifically.

Though the impact on voter turnout is an open question among election experts, one thing is clear  the number of polling places and voting drop boxes in communities of color has diminished since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

While inconsistent data reporting makes it difficult to determine the exact number and location of closed polling places, recent statistics suggest that since the 2013 ruling, at least 750 voting locations in Texas, 320 in Arizona, 240 in Georgia, 126 in Louisiana, 96 in Mississippi and 72 in Alabama have closed.

Modern-day poll tax

In all, over 1,600 polling places have closed across the U.S. since the Holder decision in 2013.

Recently, civil rights organizations, including the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, have pressed Mississippi for information on poll closures in the state to determine if new election laws there are having a detrimental impact on Black residents ability to vote.

According to the Mississippi Free Press, the state does not provide an up-to-date, comprehensive list or database of voting precincts to the public, as required by law.

These closings, often done with little notice or public accountability, have occurred across communities of varying racial and demographic characteristics.

What unites these places across the country are the increased burdens and costs they impose on voters of color, older voters, rural voters, voters with disabilities and poor working people in general.

In our view, the poll closings since the Holder decision have created significant financial costs for those least able to bear them. We see the long lines as more than an inconvenience  they are effectively a modern-day poll tax.

Black Voters Matter demonstrators march during a voting rights rally on June 19, 2021, in Jackson, Miss. Joshua Lott/The Washington Post via Getty Images

The poll tax was an amount of money each voter had to pay before being allowed to vote. After the Civil War, many Southern and Western states used the poll tax and other Jim Crow measures to keep poor and minority voters from being able to cast ballots.

The frequently exorbitant taxes were outlawed in 1964 by the the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Our research shows that democracy depends upon communities having equitable social and geographic access to voting places.

The new Florida election law was challenged in March 2022 by voting rights advocates, the League of Women Voters of Florida and the Florida NAACP. Though that case is under appeal  and restrictions were allowed to remain in place during the midterm election  Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker found in his lower court ruling that the Florida law placed restrictions on voters that were unconstitutional and discriminated against minority citizens.

At some point, when the Florida Legislature passes law after law disproportionately burdening Black voters, this court can no longer accept that the effect is incidental, Walker wrote.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Joshua F.J. Inwood, Penn State and Derek H. Alderman, University of Tennessee. Like this article? subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

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The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The 2022 general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8.

The 2022 New Hampshire and Maine state elections are Tuesday, Nov. 8. The following is an alphabetical list of polling times and places by town/city for the greater Seacoast area in New Hampshire and southern York County, Maine:

Arundel, Maine

Municipal complex at 257 Limerick Road, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Barrington, NH

Barrington Middle School, 51 Haley Drive, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Berwick, Maine

Town Hall auditorium at 11 Sullivan St., 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Brentwood, NH

Brentwood Recreation Center, 190 Route 125, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Dover, NH

Ward 1: Frances G. Hopkins Elementary School (formerly Horne Street Elementary School), 78 Horne St., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 2: Dover Ice Arena, 110 Portland Ave., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 3: Woodman Park Elementary School, 11 Towle Ave., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 4: Garrison School, 50 Garrison Road, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 5: Dover Middle School, 16 Daley Drive, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 6: Hellenic Center, 219 Long Hill Road, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Durham, NH

Oyster River High School, 55 Coe Drive, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

East Kingston, NH

East Kingston Elementary School, 5 Andrews Lane, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Eliot, Maine

Marshwood Middle School Gymnasium, 626 Harold L. Dow Highway, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Epping, NH

Epping Middle School Gymnasium, 33 Prescott Road, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Exeter, NH

Seacoast School of Technology in the Talbot Gym, 40 Linden St., 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Farmington, NH

Town Hall Recreation Center, 531 Main St., 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Greenland, NH

Greenland Central School, 70 Post Road, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Hampton, NH

Winnacunnet High School, 1 Alumni Drive, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Hampton Falls, NH

Lincoln Akerman School, 8 Exeter Road, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Kennebunk, Maine

Edward C. Winston Town Hall Auditorium, 1 Summer St., 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Kennebunkport, Maine

Village Fire Station, 32 North St., 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Kensington, NH

Kensington Elementary School, 122 Amesbury Road, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Kittery, Maine

Kittery Community Center Gymnasium, 120 Rogers, Road, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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Lee, NH

Mast Way School, 23 Mast Road, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Madbury, NH

Madbury Town Hall, 13 Town Hall Road, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Milton, NH

Nute Middle High School, 28 School St., 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

New Castle, NH

New Castle Recreation Center, 301 Wentworth Road, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Newfields, NH

Newfields Town Hall, 65 Main St., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Newington, NH

Newington Town Hall, 205 Nimble Hill Road, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Newmarket, NH

Newmarket Jr./Sr. High School Gymnasium, 213 South Main St., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

North Berwick, Maine

North Berwick Elementary School, 25 Varney Road, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

North Hampton, NH

North Hampton School, 201 Atlantic Ave., 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ogunquit, Maine

Dunaway Community Center, 23 School St., 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Portsmouth, NH

Ward 1: New Franklin School, 1 Franklin Drive , 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 2: Middle School, 155 Parrott Avenue, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 3: Senior Activity Center, 125 Cottage St., 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 4: Dondero School, 32 Van Buren Ave., 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 5: Little Harbour School, 50 Clough Drive, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Rochester, NH

Ward 1: East Rochester Elementary School, 773 Portland St., 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 2: Chamberlain Street School, 65 Chamberlain St., 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 3: Gonic Elementary School, 10 Railroad Ave., 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 4: McClelland Elementary School, 59 Brock St., 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 5: James W. Foley Memorial Community Center, 150 Wakefield St./Community Way, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 6: Elks Lodge #1393, 295 Columbus Ave., 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Rollinsford, NH

American Legion, 551 Foundry St., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Rye, NH

Rye Elementary School, 461 Sagamore Road, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sanford, Maine

Ward 1: Nasson Community Center Gymnasium, 457 Main St., 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ward 2: St. Ignatius Parish Hall/Gymnasium, 25 Riverside Ave., 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ward 3: Sanford High School and Technical Center-Voting entrance door #41, 100 Alumni Blvd., 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

South Berwick, Maine

South Berwick Town Hall, 180 Main St., 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Seabrook, NH

Seabrook Community Center, 311 Lafayette Road, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Somersworth, NH

Ward 1: City Hall, One Government Way, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 2: Summersworth Historical Museum, 157 Main St., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 3: Somersworth High School cafeteria, 11 Memorial Drive, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 4: Idlehurst Elementary School cafeteria, 45 Stackpole Road, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ward 5: Romeo J. Messier Building, 218 Main St., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Stratham, NH

Stratham Memorial School, 39 Gifford Farm Road, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Wells, Maine

Wells Junior High School, Gymnasium, 1470 Post Road, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

York, Maine

York High School Gymnasium, 1 Robert Stevens Drive, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Election 2022: Seacoast NH and Maine voting times, places list by town
Members of the Supreme Court sit for a new group portrait following the addition of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, at the Supreme Court building on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

The US Supreme Court was formed in 1789. It's gone from five seats to 10, and is now fixed at nine.

It makes fewer than 100 decisions every year, but its choices have had a huge impact on the country.

Some decisions have empowered women, helped protect the environment, or guaranteed a person's right to expression. Others have strengthened racist laws, enabled forced sterilization, and allowed unequal schooling.

Here is a guide to 46 of the Supreme Court's most impactful decisions.

The US Supreme Court, the court of last resort, has undeniably changed the country.

It makes fewer than 100 decisions every year that have sweeping effects on American life.

Some have changed race relations for the better, empowered women, given the press freedom to operate, guaranteed a person's right to expression, or reiterated that the president is not above the law.

Not every decision has aged well. Other decisions have enforced slavery or create uneven schooling in the US.

Most recently, the court overturned a landmark case that legalized abortion in 1973.

Here are 45 of the most important cases the Supreme Court has ever decided.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

President James Madison. Wikimedia Commons

The case: Before President Thomas Jefferson took office in 1801, lame duck John Adams and Congress created new courts and appointed dozens of judges, including William Marbury as Justice of the Peace in the District of Columbia. But the new administration's Secretary of State James Madison wouldn't validate the appointment. So Marbury sued.

The decision: The justices ruled unanimously that Madison's refusal was illegal, and that the law Marbury had sued under was also unconstitutional. More importantly, this ruling held that the Supreme Court had the power of "judicial review" to decide whether a law or executive action is constitutional. This essentially gave the high court the legal authority for every decision it would make in the future.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

A steamboat passes beneath Brooklyn Bridge on its way to the Atlantic. AP

The case: In 1808, New York state gave Aaron Ogden a 20-year license to operate his steamboats on waters within the state. Thomas Gibson, another steam boat operator and Ogden's former business partner, was also working in the area, with a license from the federal government. Ogden claimed Gibbons was undercutting his business by unfairly competing. He wanted Gibbons to stop operating, and argued his license was enforceable, even though it was on interstate waters. Gibbons argued that the US Constitution gave Congress power over interstate commerce.

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The decision: The Supreme Court unanimously held states cannot interfere with Congress's ability to regulate commerce. State laws had to yield to constitutional acts by Congress, so the court ruled in Gibbon's favor. It was an important early decision finding that federal governments had the ability to determine interstate commerce.

Worcester v. Georgia (1832)

Samuel Worcester. Wikimedia

The case: In 1828, Georgia passed laws prohibiting anyone except Native Americans from living on Native American land. Samuel Worcester, a missionary, was living on Native American land and refused to apply for a license. He was arrested and appealed, arguing his removal was a violation of his constitutional rights, as Georgia had no jurisdiction on Native American land.

The decision: The Supreme Court held, 5-1, that the Cherokee Nation was a sovereign "distinct community." It struck down the Georgia law prohibiting white people living on Native American land. The case was important because it set out the relationship between tribes, states, and the federal government. It meant that interaction with Native American states became a federal process, and provided some sovereignty when interacting with the US government.

But it wasn't always enforced. Then-President Andrew Jackson said, "John Marshall has issued his decision. Let him enforce it."

Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge (1837)

Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney. Wikimedia

The case: In 1785, Massachusetts gave the Charles River Bridge Company a charter to build a bridge between Boston and Cambridge. In exchange for covering the costs of building and maintaining it, the company could collect tolls until the charter ended.

But in 1828, a second company was authorized to build a competing bridge that would be free to the public, Charles River Bridge sought an injunction to prevent the second bridge from being built.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 5-2 that the authority given to Charles River never granted them a monopoly, and that general welfare would be enhanced with a second bridge. The court said the responsibility of government was to promote the happiness and prosperity of the community.

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

A painting of Dred Scott by Louis Schultze. Bettmann / Getty

The case: This case arose from a suit brought by a slave in Missouri named Dred Scott. Scott had lived for a time in the free state of Illinois. When his master died in 1849, he sued the widow, arguing his time in the slave-free state made him a free man.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 7-2 that since Scott's ancestors were imported into the US and sold as slaves, he could not be an American citizen. Since he wasn't a citizen, he had no jurisdiction to sue, which also meant that black people living free in the north were barred from federal courts. The court also held that under the Fifth Amendment, slaves were property, and any law that deprived a slave-owner of their property was unconstitutional.

The decision is thought to be one of the factors that led to the Civil War.

Munn v. Illinois (1877)

Chief Justice Morrison Waite wrote the majority opinion. Wikimedia

The case: In 1871, Illinois passed legislation that set the maximum rate private companies could charge for storing and transporting agricultural goods. Munn, a grain warehouse, charged too much and was found guilty of violating the law. It appealed, arguing the regulation was an unconstitutional removal of property.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 7-2 that the law was constitutional, and that the state can regulate private industries when it affects the public. Since storage facilities were devoted to the public, they could be regulated. This case allowed states to regulate businesses within their borders. It was important because it showed how private enterprises could be publicly regulated.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

John Marshall Harlan. Wikimedia

The case: Homer Plessy, who was black under Louisiana law of the time, boarded a train and sat in a car that was reserved for white passengers. When he refused to move, he was arrested. Plessy argued that the Separate Car Act, which required all railroads to provide equal but separate accommodation, was violating his rights under the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 7-1 that "separate but equal" accommodations for whites and blacks did not violate the 14th Amendment.

Justice John Marshall Harlan, known as the "great dissenter," wrote that the Constitution was color-blind, and the US had no class system. "There is in this country no superior, dominant, ruling class of citizens; there is no caste here. Our Constitution is color-blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens," he wrote. Despite his dissent, the decision solidified the "separate but equal" doctrine for the next six decades.

Lochner v. New York (1905)

Justice Rufus W. Peckham wrote the majority opinion. Wikimedia

The case: In 1897, New York passed a labor law limiting the working week for bakers to 60 hours. Joseph Lochner, a Bavarian baker, was fined twice, because his employees worked more than 60 hours. Lochner appealed, arguing the law was unconstitutional.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 5-4 that the New York law was unconstitutional. The court said the law interfered with the contract between an employer and and his employees.

This decision was widely condemned. For the next three decades, the court struck down minimum wage laws, rights to organize, and child safety laws using Lochner as precedent, before reversing course and allowing such laws.

Abrams v. United States (1919)

Oliver Wendell Holmes in 1902. Wikimedia

The case: In New York, five Russian anti-war activists were arrested under the 1917 Espionage Act for printing and distributing 5,000 leaflets that criticized the US's role in World War I. They also advocated for a general strike, and had put out a call to arms if the US intervened in Russia. They were sentenced to prison for up to 20 years. They appealed.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 7-2 that the Espionage Act was valid, and that it was a crime to willfully publish "disloyal" language about US politics, arguing that such speech was not protected by the First Amendment.

One of the most important things to come out of this case is Justice Holmes' dissenting opinion. He argued that the government should only regulate people's expression when it was required to save the country.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Mellon (1923)

Justice George Sutherland wrote the opinion. Wikimedia

The case: The 1921 Maternity Act gave states money for programs aimed to help mothers and their infants. A woman named Frothingham thought the act would lead to an increase in her taxes, so she tried to sue the federal government. The issue was whether a taxpayer had standing to sue, when the only injury was going to be an increase in taxes.

The decision: The Supreme Court unanimously held she did not have standing because the injury was too small and indeterminable. It led to the legal concept of a "particularized" injury, which needs to be traced to a legal violation. Without this decision, it would be a lot easier to take a suit to court.

Buck v. Bell (1927)

Dr. John H. Bell was the superintendent at the Virginia State Colony for Epileptics and Feebleminded. Wikimedia

The case: A young woman named Carrie Buck was diagnosed with "feeble mindedness," and committed to a state institution after she was raped by her foster parent's nephew, and had his child. Her mother had also been diagnosed as feeble minded. Under the 1924 Virginia Eugenical Sterilization Act, she was to be sterilized against her will, since she was seen as unfit to procreate. Buck's appointed guardian sued, hoping to have the Supreme Court find sterilization constitutional.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 8-1 that there was nothing in the Eighth or 14th Amendments that said Carrie Buck could not be sterilized.

In his opinion, Justice Oliver Holmes wrote, "It is better for all the world, if instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime, or let them starve for their imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from breeding their kind. The principle that sustains compulsory vaccination is broad enough to cover cutting Fallopian tubes  Three generations of imbeciles are enough."

After this case, sterilizations did not cease until the 1960s, and more than 60,000 people were sterilized without their consent. The case has never been overturned.

Near v. Minnesota (1931)

Floyd B. Olson. Bettmann / Getty

The case: The 1925 Public Nuisance Bill, also known as the "Minnesota gag law," allowed judges to close down newspapers that were deemed obscene or slanderous. In 1927, the Saturday Press, a newspaper based in Minneapolis, began to publish articles attacking several public officials. One of them accused a politician named Floyd B. Olson of being a pawn to a conspiracy. Olson filed a complaint. A judge, using the 1925 law, issued a temporary restraining order against the newspaper. The newspaper appealed under the First Amendment's right to a free press.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 5-4 that the Public Nuisance law was unconstitutional. Chief Justice Hughes wrote, "This statute ... raises questions of grave importance transcending the local interests involved in the particular action. It is no longer open to doubt that the liberty of the press and of speech is within the liberty safeguarded by the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment from invasion of state action."

The case stopped journalists from being censored, and enabled the press to fulfill its role as watchdog, including the printing of the Pentagon Papers in 1971.

Wickard v. Filburn (1942)

Robert H. Jackson wrote the opinion. Wikimedia

The case: The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, enacted to stabilize agricultural prices after the Great Depression, restricted how much wheat could be grown, to avoid another recession. The Department of Agriculture fined Roscoe Filburn, a wheat farmer in Ohio, for growing too much. He sued, arguing Congress didn't have the authority, since he'd never planned to sell all of the wheat. The issue was whether Congress had the authority to regulate local wheat production.

The decision: The Supreme Court unanimously held that Congress had the power to regulate activities in the industry, and within states, when the activities had substantial effects on interstate commerce. So, even though Filburn's wheat wasn't all going to make it into the market, growing it still altered supply and demand in a national market.

This case led to the federal government having more power to regulate the economy, and also enabled federal regulation of things like workplace safety and civil rights. Not everyone has been in favor of this case. Notably, the late Justice Antonia Scalia used to laugh at it.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

A woman explains the case to her daughter outside the Supreme Court. Bettmann / Getty

The case: In the 1950s, Linda Brown had to take a dangerous route to school, because the only school that was closer was for white students. Her father, Oliver Brown, believed this was a breach of the 14th Amendment, which says, "no state can deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Brown, along with a dozen other parents, challenged the segregation policy on behalf of their 20 children.

The decision: The Supreme Court unanimously held that separate educational facilities were inherently unequal. A second decision called for lower courts and school boards to proceed with desegregation. This decision knocked down the doctrine of "separate but equal" from Plessy v. Ferguson, which had allowed mixed race schools, transportation, and facilities to exist as long as they were "equal."

The Atlantic described Chief Justice Earl Warren's "ringing opinion" as "the belated mid course correction that began America's transformation into a truly multiracial world nation."

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Dollree Mapp escorted into 105th Precinct in New York in 1970. AP

The case: When Ohio police thought a suspected bomber was hiding out in Dollree Mapp's house, they forced their way in without a warrant. When Mapp asked where the warrant was, they held up a piece of paper. In their search of her house, they found pornographic materials. They arrested Mapp and later convicted her for being in possession of obscene materials. She appealed.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 6-3 that any violation of the Fourth Amendment's right against unlawful searches and seizures made evidence inadmissible in court. Justice Clark wrote in his majority opinion that "the exclusionary rule," which prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence in criminal trials, was essential.

This case has led to the redefining of the rights of people being accused and limits how police can obtain evidence.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

The parents who brought suit against public schoolroom prayer in the Herricks School District pose with some of their children in 1962. AP

The case: In New York, schools adopted a daily prayer after it was required by state law. Some parents argued it was a violation of individuals' rights, but the school board said it wasn't, since students could opt out. Five families led by parent Steven Engel disagreed, and sued on the basis that it violated the religion clause of the First Amendment.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 6-1 that reading an official prayer at school violated the constitution, because it was an "establishment of religion." Justice Hugo Black wrote for the majority: "It is a matter of history that this very practice of establishing governmentally composed prayers for religious services was one of the reasons which caused many of our early colonists to leave England and seek religious freedom in America."

The case meant any state-enforced prayer, or reading of the bible in a public school would be suspected. It also was a key case showing the enforcement of separation between church and state.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Clarence Gideon. Bettmann / Getty

The case: Clarence Earl Gideon was charged with breaking and entering a pool hall. He requested a lawyer to defend him, but Florida's state court rejected him. After defending himself poorly Gideon went to prison. Giddeon appealed, and the issue was whether the right to counsel extended to felony defendants in state courts.

The decision: The Supreme Court held unanimously that state courts were required to appoint attorneys for those who could not afford their own counsel.

The US justice system would not be what it is today without this decision. The decision affirms that "lawyers in criminals courts are necessities, not luxuries." However, the quality of criminal defense services varies across the country.

Reynold v. Sims (1964)

Chief Justice Earl Warren in 1964. Charles Tasnadi / AP

The case: This case stemmed from the apportionment scheme in Alabama. Under the 14th Amendment, each voter's intentions are meant to have equal weight, but in Alabama, legislative districts were no longer accurately representing the amount of people who lived in them, especially in the cities, where populations had grown rapidly. The issue was whether this breached the "equal protection clause" in the 14th Amendment.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 8-1 that Alabama's apportionment scheme had breached the 14th Amendment. The justices ruled that the right to vote is a fundamental right, and equal participation is crucial. Chief Justice Warren wrote for the majority: "legislators represent people, not trees or acres."

This decision made the government more democratic.

Heart of Atlanta Motel v. US (1964)

President Lyndon B. Johnson shake hands with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. after presenting him with a pen used to sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964. AP

The case: The Heart of Atlanta Motel in Georgia refused to provide accommodation for black people, but the Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned the practice. Two hours after the act was passed, the motel asked the court to stop the enforcement of a clause in Title II, which forbid racist discrimination by public accommodation providers. The motel argued it exceeded Congress's power.

The decision: The Supreme Court held unanimously that the act was not exceeding Congress's power. It reasoned that discrimination by businesses had a big impact on black people traveling, even when it was a small business, since negative effects could be far-reaching when added up. It was especially the case here, since 75% of the guests staying at the motel came from out of state.

This was the first case to challenge the Civil Rights Act, and by upholding it, the act was legitimatized and strengthened. The law would go on to be used to dismantle many other forms of racist discrimination.

New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)

Police Commissioner L.B. Sullivan (second left) celebrates his $500,000 libel suit victory. Bettmann / Getty

The case: This case was about an advertisement titled "Heed Their Rising Voices" that was published in The New York Times in 1960. The ad was looking for donations to defend Martin Luther King Jr. and criticized the Montgomery police. The ad had factual errors, and L.B. Sullivan, a Montgomery city commissioner, sued The Times for defamation, though he wasn't mentioned. In Alabama, Sullivan won and The Times was ordered to pay $500,000. The paper appealed.

The decision: The Supreme Court held unanimously that while regular defamation requires that a defendant knows a statement is false or reckless, when it's a public figure, the defendant must act with "actual malice"  meaning they must know it was false or have a "reckless disregard" for the truth.

This decision strengthens the freedom of the American press, which has the strongest protections in the world, ensuring debate on public issues is robust and open.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Ernesto Miranda with his attorney in 1967. Bettmann / Getty

The case: In 1963, police obtained a written confession from Ernesto Miranda that said he had kidnapped and raped a woman. However, they had not advised Miranda of his right to have an attorney present during the interrogation. Miranda appealed on the basis that his confession had been gained unconstitutionally.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 5-4 that law enforcement must advise suspects of their right to remain silent, their right to an attorney, and that anything they say can and will be used against them in a court of law. Evidence could not be used in a trial unless the warnings had been given and knowingly waived.

Police work, and the well-known "you have the right to remain silent" would not be so firmly entrenched into society (or TV shows and movies) without this decision. People know their rights, and police know they have to read them to suspects.

Loving v. Virginia (1967)

Richard P. Loving and wife Mildred in 1965. AP

The case: Mildred Jeter, a black woman, and Richard Loving, a white man, were from Virginia, where inter-racial marriage was illegal. In 1958, they got married in D.C. and then returned home. On their return, they were charged with breaking the law and sentenced to one year in prison. A judge suspended their sentence as long as they didn't return to the state together for 25 years. Loving wrote to then-Attorney General Robert Kennedy and asked for his help, and he referred them to the ACLU, which helped them sue.

The decision: In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court held that the law was unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment. Chief Justice Warren wrote, "Under our constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the state."

In a watershed moment for civil rights, the case found that people of any race, anywhere in the US, can get married, striking down laws banning inter-racial marriage in 16 states. The case was later cited in same-sex marriage cases.

Terry v. Ohio (1968)

Justice William O. Douglas. Wikimedia.

The case: In 1963, three men were suspiciously walking back and forth in a block in Cleveland, Ohio, and a detective thought they were preparing to rob a store. He approached them, identified himself, then frisked them and found two concealed guns. One of the men was convicted for having the gun. The man appealed. The issue was whether police frisking violated the Fourth Amendment.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 8-1 that the search was reasonable since the men were acting suspiciously, warranting inquiry. If circumstances justify a belief that an individual is armed and dangerous, the justices ruled, the officer may pat down the outside of an individual's clothing.

Justice William O. Douglas, the lone dissenter, did not think the standard for search and seizures should have been lowered from "probable cause" to "reasonable suspicion." He wrote: "Yet if the individual is no longer to be sovereign, if the police can pick him up whenever they do not like the cut of his jib, if they can 'seize' and 'search' him in their discretion, we enter a new regime. The decision to enter it should be made only after a full debate by the people of this country."

This case opened up the police's ability to investigate activity they deem suspicious.

Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969)

Clarence Brandenburg and Richard Hanna, following their arrests in 1964. AP

The case: Clarence Brandenburg was arrested after making racist remarks and claiming the government was suppressing the "Caucasian race" to a gathering of Ku Klux Klan members in a field in Ohio. He also mentioned action might need to be taken, and was filmed by media he had invited to the gathering. The state law criminalized advocating violence as a means of accomplishing political reform, and he was sentenced to up to 10 years prison. The issue was whether speech advocating for violence was protected by the First Amendment.

The decision: The Supreme Court held per curiam, which means in the name of the court rather than the judges, that his freedom of speech had been violated. It found that speech may only be outlawed when it is directly inciting "imminent lawless action." It also found that abstract discussions are not the same as actual preparation to engage in violence. This case broadened protections for political dissent.

Phillips v. Martin Marietta Corp. (1971)

Ida Phillips. AP

The case: Ida Phillips applied for a job at the Martin Marietta Corporation, a missile plant in Orlando. She had seven children, and the business had a hiring policy excluding mothers with pre-school children, believing them to be unreliable. Phillips alleged she'd been denied employment because of her sex. The issue was whether this was discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The case was complicated, because the company hired women for the job, just not women with young children.

The decision: The Supreme Court unanimously held that it was discriminatory, since it was based on the sex of the applicant, even if it was about motherhood.

However, it did send the case back to lower courts to give the corporation a chance to present evidence about the impeded ability of mothers with young children. And the judges were uneasy about the idea that both sexes were equally equipped to do all jobs. Justice Hugo Black asked Phillips' lawyer, "Does the law require that the employer give the woman a job of digging ditches and things of that kind?"

All nine justices at the time were men.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Amish children head to classes. Amy Sancetta / AP

The case: In Wisconsin, children were required by law to attend school until they were 16. But three Amish families refused to send their children to school after eighth grade, when most children are 14, resulting in $5 fines from the state. (Amish families think the content of secondary and higher education conflicts with their life of austerity.) They argued the compulsory attendance violated their rights under the First Amendment, specifically the Free Exercise Clause.

The decision: The Supreme Court held unanimously that the Amish families' right to religious freedom was not overridden by the state's interest in education. It held that sending the children to high school would threaten the Amish way of life. Freedom of religion was seen as more important than the state's interest in education, and this case created an exception for Amish people, and others in similar situations.

The justices agreed overall on the ruling, but Justice William O. Douglas filed a partial dissent arguing that the children's viewpoint wasn't being considered, worried that they may miss out on an education if they're not asked whether they want to go to high school.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Demonstrators. Cynthia Johnson / The LIFE Images Collection / Getty

The case: This case stemmed from a Texas law that said abortion was illegal unless, by doctor's orders, it was to save a woman's life. An anonymous plaintiff called Jane Roe (who was later identified as Norma McCorvey) filed against the Dallas County district attorney, arguing the law was unconstitutional.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 7-2 that overly restrictive legislation around abortion was unconstitutional. Based on a right to privacy in the 14th Amendment, the state was not allowed to regulate a woman's decision.

This case overruled any laws that made abortion illegal before a fetus was viable, giving women more power when it comes to their bodies and having children. It made access to abortion a constitutional right.

San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez (1973)

Children work on their various assignments in this open classroom in Crystal City, Texas, June 3, 1974. Ted Powers / AP

The case: In the late 1960s, schools in Texas could use local property taxes to boost revenue. So schools that were based in poorer areas had less revenue, because the property taxes were lower. A class-action suit was filed on behalf of children living in poorer areas. The issue here was whether the system violated the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 5-4 that there is no constitutional right to an equal education. The opinion said it should not be unconstitutional, because "burdens or benefits" fall unevenly, depending on the wealth of the areas in which citizens live.

In Time Magazine's list of the worst Supreme Court cases since 1960, the editors concluded this case enforced the idea that discrimination against the poor did not violate the Constitution, and education wasn't a fundamental right.

United States v. Nixon (1974)

Former President Richard Nixon. Charles Tasnadi, File/AP

The case: This case was triggered by the Watergate scandal, when a special prosecutor asked for tapes that President Richard Nixon had recorded in the White House. He refused, saying he had "executive privilege" that allowed him to withhold sensitive information in order to maintain confidential communications and to maintain national security. Nixon released edited versions, but not the complete tapes, leading to Nixon and the prosecutor both filing petitions to be heard in the Supreme Court.

The decision: The Supreme Court held unanimously that while there was limited executive privilege for military or diplomacy reasons, it wasn't enough in this case. Nixon had to hand over the tapes. The case led to Nixon's resignation, and also ensures that the president does not have unlimited privilege to withhold information from other branches of government. "Not even the president is above the law," Harvard constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe said.

O'Conner v. Donaldson (1975)

Kenneth Donaldson holds a copy of a Supreme Court opinion in 1975. Charles Bennet / AP

The case: After Kenneth Donaldson told his parents he thought his neighbor was poisoning his food, he was examined and diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Against his will, he was committed to a state hospital for the next 15 years. During that time, two different people volunteered to be responsible for him, but the hospital refused to release him. He sued, saying the hospital staff had "intentionally and maliciously deprived him of his right to liberty."

The decision: The Supreme Court held unanimously that mental patients could not be confined in institutions against their will, if they weren't dangerous and were capable of surviving in society. In the opinion, Justice Potter Stewart wrote: "May the state fence in the harmless mentally ill solely to save its citizens from exposure to those whose ways are different? One might as well ask if the state, to avoid public unease, could incarcerate all who are physically unattractive or socially eccentric."

The decision established the legal threshold for people posing a danger to themselves or others.

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

Senator James L. Buckley in 1975. AP

The case: This was a case about freedom of speech, in particular about spending limits by, or for, candidates running for office. Sen. James L. Buckley, and a coalition of groups, filed a suit arguing that the Federal Election Campaign Act, which limited spending and required spending disclosures, weren't constitutional.

The decision: The court held per curiam that independent spending was a form of political speech protected by the First Amendment. However, it also concluded that contributions could be capped. This is an important decision for campaign spending. It helped lead the way to the rising of political action committees, or PACs. It also led to the enforcement of reporting campaign spending.

First National Bank of Boston v. Belloti (1978)

Attorney General Francis X. Bellotti, left in 1976. AP

The case: Several plaintiffs, including the First National Bank of Boston, wanted to challenge a proposed increase on personal income taxes for high-wage earners in Massachusetts. The plaintiffs wanted to pay for advertising to criticize it, but they could only spend money if they were "materially affected," based on a Massachusetts law, which restricted what corporations could spend in politics. Attorney General Francis Bellotti said the bank wasn't materially affected. The plaintiffs challenged the constitutionality of the provision.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 5-4 that the Massachusetts law was unconstitutional. The court concluded that the First Amendment protected corporations, since they were made up of shareholders who decided their corporation should engage on public issues. This case opened the door to Citizens United.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)

Allan Bakke on his first day at Medical School. Walt Zeboski / AP

The case: Allan Bakke, a 35-year-old Vietnam war veteran, was rejected from medical school at the University of California twice. Every year, the school accepted 100 people, and 16 of those accepted were from "minority groups." He argued his rejections were due to "reverse racism", since his grades were better than the 16 people who got in on minority seats.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 5-4 that Bakke should be admitted. However, it also said race could be taken into account to promote diversity on campuses.

Six different justices wrote opinions. In one opinion, Justice Harry Blackmun wrote: "In order to get beyond racism, we must first take account of race. There is no other way. And in order to treat some persons equally, we must treat them differently."

Since this case, despite affirming that race could be taken into account, the percentage of black freshman in the US has not changed. A 2017 analysis found they make up 6% of freshmen, but are 15% of college-age Americans.

Strickland v. Washington (1984)

Justice Thurgood Marshall in 1967. John Rous / AP

The case: David Washington was sentenced to death after he pleaded guilty to murder. But this case arose out of what his lawyer didn't do during the trial. His lawyer failed to call any character witnesses or get a psychiatric evaluation. Washington appealed, arguing his counsel's assistance was constitutionally ineffective.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 8-1 that ineffective counsel only violated the Sixth Amendment when the performance was deficient. For this, counsel assistance had to fall below an objective reasonableness standard, and there needed to be a "reasonable probability" the result would have been different had counsel not failed.

Justice Thurgood Marshall wrote in dissent: "My objection to the performance standard adopted by the Court is that it is so malleable that, in practice, it will either have no grip at all or will yield excessive variation ... To tell lawyers and the lower courts that counsel for a criminal defendant must behave 'reasonably' and must act like 'a reasonably competent attorney' is to tell them almost nothing."

This case makes it difficult for defendants to prove ineffective assistance claims, since they need to show that it's outside the range of professional competence and that the client was prejudiced by it.

Chevron USA Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council (1984)

Chevron. Marco Bello / Reuters

The case: In 1977, Congress added an amendment to the Clean Air Act, requiring states to establish programs to reduce power plant pollution. In the amendment, entire power plants were treated as a single unit within a "bubble", even if they had multiple smoke stacks. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) thought the bubble interpretation dulled the law, and sued the EPA.

The decision: The Supreme Court held unanimously that the bubble policy was valid. It found that if the law is clear then agencies must follow it, and when a a law does not have a clear meaning, the courts should defer to the federal agency's interpretation of the law.

This is one of the most cited Supreme Court decisions of all time, and this standard became known as the "Chevron Defense."

Texas v. Johnson (1989)

Gregory Johnson speaking against constitutional amendment banning flag desecration, outside Capitol. Cynthia Johnson / The LIFE Images Collection / Getty

The case: During a protest in 1984 against then-President Ronald Reagan and local corporations in Dallas, Gregory Johnson covered the American flag in kerosene then lit it on fire, offending witnesses. He was arrested and charged with desecrating a venerated object, which was banned under Texas law. He was sentenced to one year in prison and ordered to pay $2,000. He appealed, on the basis that the law was in breach of his First Amendment rights.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 5-4 that burning the flag was protected under the First Amendment. In the majority opinion, Justice Brennan wrote: "if there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable ... We do not consecrate the flag by punishing its desecration, for in doing so we dilute the freedom that this cherished emblem represents."

Despite former President George H. Bush proposing to add an anti flag burning amendment to the constitution, this case still protects unpopular political expression in the US today.

Michael H. v Gerald D. (1989)

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the majority. REUTERS/Darren Ornitz

The case: A man, for the purposes of the case named Michael, had an affair with a woman who later had a child. Blood tests indicated he was the father. He wanted visitation rights, but under California law, the child is presumed to be from the marriage, and another person can only challenge that within the child's first two years of life. Michael was too late, and sued. The issue was whether the California law violated the man's chance to establish paternity.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 5-4 that a biological father does not have a fundamental right to obtain parental rights, after the presumed father had acted in a responsible way for the child. A woman's husband is to be presumed father of her children, regardless of anyone else's claim.

Cruzan v. Director of the Missouri Department of Health (1990)

Family photo of Nancy Cruzan. AP

The case: In 1983, Nancy Cruzan, a 25-year-old woman, was in a car crash that resulted in her falling into a vegetative state. She was on life support for five years, and had no chance of recovery, but doctors estimated she could have lived on life support for another 30 years. Her parents asked for her to be disconnected, but the hospital refused without a court order. Before the car crash, Nancy had said she would not want to live if she were sick or injured and could not live "at least halfway normally." Her parents asked for a court order to remove her from life support.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 5-4 that there was a right to die, but the state had the right to stop the family, unless there was "clear and convincing" evidence that it was her wish to die.

This was the first time the court had ruled on a right-to-die case. It didn't set national guidelines, and left it to be decided on a state-by-state basis. In the month after the case, 300,000 requests were made for advance-directive forms, so people could make it known in advance what should happen to them if they became incapacitated.

Lawrence v. Texas (2003)

John Lawrence and Tyron Garner celebrate their victory in 2003. Michael Stravato / AP

The case: Police entered a private residence on a false report about a weapons disturbance, and found Lawrence and Garner engaging in a consensual sexual act. They were arrested and convicted under Texas law, which forbid two people of the same sex to have sex. The issue for this case was whether the 14th Amendment protected them.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 6-3 that the Texas law violated their right to liberty, under the "Due Process Clause," which allowed them to engage in their conduct without government intervention.

This was seen as a victory for LGBT rights, removing what one law professor called "the reflexive assumption of gay people's inferiority," and overturning 14 state laws across the US.

Georgia v. Randolph (2006)

Police enter a property. Jae C. Hong / AP

The case: After a fight at home between a separated couple, a woman called the police and told them to come in, then showed them cocaine she said her husband was using. The husband was later charged with possession, even though he had told the police they couldn't come in. The issue was whether the police can search a home without a warrant when one person gives consent, but the other refuses.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 5-3 that in at least a few circumstances the right to search and enter is not valid if one of the occupants says they can't, ruling in the husband's favor.

This case narrows the scope for when police can enter and search homes without warrants. They can still enter to protect someone from harm or to chase a fleeing suspect, for example.

Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency (2007)

John Paul Stevens wrote the opinion. Wikimedia

The case: This case came about in 1999, when Massachusetts, 11 other states, and several environmental organizations petitioned for the EPA to start regulating carbon dioxide coming out of new motor vehicles, since it was a pollutant. The EPA denied the petition, saying it did not have the legal authority to regulate it.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 5-4 that the EPA had the right to regulate heat-trapping gases coming from automobiles, and that the Clean Air Act's definition of air pollutant had been written with sweeping language so that it would not become obsolete.

According to James Salzman, a professor of law and environmental policy at Duke University, the majority's acknowledgement of climate change science put this case on the legal map. And since it made it almost impossible for the EPA not to regulate, the decision sent a message to other agencies that they also had to deal with climate change.

District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)

Robert A. Levy and Dick Anthony Heller outside the Supreme Court in 2008. Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

The case: Richard Heller, a security guard who lived in D.C. and carried a gun for work, was not allowed to have a gun at home, due to the city's laws. He thought the laws were too restricting and made it impossible to defend himself. Heller, along with five others, sued, arguing it was a violation of the Second Amendment. They were funded by Robert Levy, a libertarian lawyer from the Cato Institute.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 5-4 that the Second Amendment guaranteed an individual's right to possess a firearm at home for self-defense. It was the first time in 70 years the Supreme Court ruled on the Second Amendment.

In 2019, former-Justice John Paul Stevens said it was the worst decision during his 34-year tenure, representing "the worst self-inflicted wound in the Court's history." He said an amendment should be added to the Constitution to overrule the case, to stop gun massacres like what had happened in Las Vegas or Sandy Hook.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Citizens United President David Bossie outside the Supreme Court. Lauren Victoria Burke / AP

The case: A non-profit organization called Citizens United made a disparaging film about Hilary Clinton and they wanted to run an advertisement for it during the 2008 election. But the Federal Election Campaign Act banned corporations and unions from spending money to advocate during elections. So Citizens United couldn't show the film since it mentioned Clinton, who was a presidential candidate at the time. Citizens United argued the ban was unconstitutional.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 5-4 that corporations and unions can spend as much as they like to convince people to vote for or against political candidates, as long as the spending is independent of the candidates. The ruling gave corporations protections under the First Amendment's right to free speech.

Justice John Paul Stevens wrote in dissent of the ruling, that it was "a rejection of the common sense of the American people," and a threat to democracy.

The decision changed how politics works in the US. In the 2014 senate elections, outside spending had more than doubled to $486 million since 2010.

National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012)

Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius speaks to the media outside the Supreme Court in 2015. Alex Wong / Getty

The case: President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law in 2010 to increase the number of Americans covered by health insurance, and to decrease the cost of healthcare. Twenty-six states, several people, and the National Federation of Independent Business sued to overturn the law. The first issue was whether it was legal to require people to purchase health insurance with an individual mandate. The second was whether a provision forcing states to cover more people or lose federal funding was unconstitutionally coercive.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 5-4 that the individual mandate was legitimate, because it was in essence a tax, and struck down the provision that would withhold funds for states which did not expand the program.

It wasn't without dissent, though. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that the decision was a "vast judicial overreaching," which would create a "debilitated, inoperable version of health care regulation."

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

Same-sex marriage supporters rejoice after the U.S Supreme Court hands down a ruling regarding same-sex marriage June 26, 2015 outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC. Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

The case: James Obergefell and John Arthur, a couple from Ohio, got married in Maryland. In Ohio, same-sex marriage was not allowed on death certificates. Arthur was chronically ill and wanted to have Obergefell on his death certificate. Along with three couples from Kentucky, Michigan, and Tennessee, they sued their states, claiming they were in breach of the Equal Protection Clause in the 14th Amendment, which says, "no state shall ... deny to any citizen within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

The decision: The Supreme Court held 5-4 that the 14th Amendment guarantees the right to marry, including same-sex marriages. Every state in the US now legally recognizes same-sex marriage. Before this case, 13 states still had a ban on gay marriage.

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022)

An anti-abortion supporter sits outside the Jackson Women's Health Organization, which closed within weeks after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Rogelio V. Solis/AP

The case: In March 2018, the Jackson Women's Health Organization, Mississippi's only abortion clinic since 2006, sued the state for enacting a law that banned abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The lawsuit argued that the rule was unconstitutional due to the precedent set by the Supreme Court, including Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Dobbs refers to Dr. Thomas E. Dobbs, the state's Department of Health officer, but he had little to do with the overall case.

The decision: The Supreme Court held 6-3 to uphold the Mississippi law. However, on top of the ruling, five of the justices in the majority opinion also ruled to overturn Roe, repealing a landmark case that made abortion legal in the US for nearly five decades. Chief Justice John Roberts was the only member of the court's conservative majority who believed the court should not have outright overruled Roe.

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AFWERX, the Air Force office in charge of finding new and innovative ways to use technology, has set up a new program called Autonomy Prime to learn about the autonomous technologies companies have under development  and how the military could adapt them for its missions.

Autonomous systems use technologies such as artificial intelligence to manage them and make decisions normally handled by a human.

Several of Air Force Secretary Frank Kendalls top priorities would rely on greater use of these capabilities. In an Oct. 28 interview with Defense News, Lt. Col. Tom Meagher, chief of AFWERXs Prime division, said Kendalls emphasis makes clear how important this technology will be to the service in coming years.

So far, the Air Force and industrys work on autonomy has mostly focused on small unmanned aerial vehicles. Think the collaborative combat aircraft program to create drone wingmen flying alongside fighters or Golden Hordes research into swarming drones.

But eventually, Meagher said, the Air Force wants to get autonomy into larger platforms and other kinds of vehicles. This could include using autonomous technologies to steer spacecraft or ground vehicles, he said, or to control other programs and systems such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors.

The exciting and interesting thing about autonomy is that there are many, many different applications, Meagher said. Thats why we said hey, what are these core functions that could apply across these mission areas? It could be  theres a lot of stuff [commercial companies are] doing out there in the sensing piece that could help us out with that ISR mission.

He said AFWERXs Prime model can provide a low-risk, low-cost way for the Air Force to hone autonomous technology and pave the way for new uses for it.

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A lot of stuff were going to do, right off the bat, will benefit multiple Air Force programs down the line, Meagher said.

Prime programs dont work like a traditional acquisition program, where the government says what it wants and then awards a contract to a company to build it. Instead, this approach asks companies  often firms outside of the typical defense industrial base  what capabilities theyre already working on, and how they could be adapted to the militarys needs. AFWERX has already used this model to advance electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing vehicle technology under its Agility Prime program.

In September, AFWERX released a request for information for Autonomy Prime; it closed Oct. 31. Meagher said interest was high, and attracted proposals from big companies, small firms, and everything in between, though he would not identify any of the companies that submitted pitches.

Its not just small business, Meagher said. We want to cast a wide net across all of industry and have an ability to work with all sizes of business.

And AFWERX can provide testing infrastructure, airspace, or other government resources that could help industry with their efforts, Meagher said.

The RFI said the Air Force plans to create a purpose-built autonomy testing and development facility, dubbed the AFWERX Proving Ground, which will let firms demonstrate, test and develop their technologies side-by-side with Air Force personnel.

According to the RFI, AFWERX hopes to refine its transition pipeline to speed the process for fielding these technologies, whether as part of larger programs of record or directly provided to warfighters.

AFWERX has contacted other Air Force organizations, as well as the Navy, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, NASA, and the FAA, to discuss how to work together on autonomous projects.

Next, AFWERX will go through the submissions and figure out where industrys offerings might line up with something the Defense Department is working on. AFWERX expects to have finished reviewing the submissions and to send companies solicitations in early 2023, Meagher said.

AFWERX plans to release solicitations in phases, with each phase focusing on specific capabilities.

But AFWERX wants this program to move fast. Meagher said the plan is to have autonomous capabilities in hand in 2023, so the office can start testing and maturing the technology.

Meagher declined to detail Autonomy Primes budget, but said it operates within Agility Primes budget. He said the cost of individual programs could range from thousands of dollars to low millions. And because the government can offer valuable in-kind resources such as testing infrastructure, Meagher said some companies may not charge AFWERX and simply take advantage of the opportunity to test their technology.

And Meagher is confident a company will bring a fresh and innovative idea no one has thought of before.

We will be surprised, he said. We want our socks to be knocked off.
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP)  Arab leaders on Tuesday met in Algeria at the 31st summit of the largest annual Arab conference to seek common ground on divisive issues in the region. The meeting comes against the backdrop of rising inflation, food and energy shortages, drought and soaring cost of living across the Middle East and Africa.

The event provides an opportunity for Algeria  Africas largest country by territory  to showcase its leadership in the Arab world. Algeria is a major oil and gas producer and is perceived by European nations as a key supplier amid the global energy crisis that stems from Russias war in Ukraine.

The 22-member Arab League last held its summit in 2019, before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. In the years since, new challenges have drastically reshaped the regions agenda  the establishment of diplomatic ties between Israel and four Arab countries, as well as the fallout of the war in Ukraine.

The summit's discussions on Tuesday and Wednesday will focus on the food and energy crises aggravated by the war that has had devastating consequences for Egypt, Lebanon and Tunisia, among other Arab countries, struggling to import enough wheat and fuel to satisfy their populations.

Deepening the crisis, is the worst drought in several decades that has ravaged swaths of Somalia, one of the Arab Leagues newer members, bringing some areas of the country to the brink of famine.

Russias reinforcement of its blockade on Ukraines Black Sea ports on Sunday threatens to further escalate the crisis, with many Arab countries near solely dependent on Ukrainian and Russian wheat exports.

The war in Ukraine "has exacerbated the food and energy security crisis, along with a number of other reasons ... climate change and natural disasters," Tunisian President Kais Saied said in the opening address. He called for a robust multilateral action to ensure Arab food security.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he's been working non-stop" with all relevant players on preserving and extending the deal on Ukrainian grain exports from its Black Sea ports.

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We must do all we can to ... provide relief to those in need, including countries in the Middle East and North Africa relying on accessible and affordable food and fertilizers  both from Ukraine and from Russia, said Guterres, a guest of honor at the summit.

To the annoyance of Ukraine and its Western backers, the war has become a point of rare unity among Arab League members, with nearly all adopting a stance of neutrality.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed that stand in a letter to the summit's participants without mentioning the war. The nations of the Middle East and North Africa play an increasingly significant role in a multipolar system of international relations as the world is faced with a serious political and economic change, Putin said in the letter that was posted on the website of the Russian Embassy in Algiers on Tuesday.

Other issues are likely to remain more divisive. The series of normalization agreements the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco signed with Israel over the past three years have divided the region into two camps. Sudan has also agreed to establish ties with Israel.

Algeria has remained fiercely opposed to the deals and President Abdelmadjid Tebboune vowed in his opening address to put forth considerable efforts at the summit to try to reaffirm support for the Palestinians in their conflict with Israel.

The Palestinian question is the mother of all questions, Tabboune said. He blasted Israel's aggression against Palestinians and urged unity of Palestinian political factions as "the only way out of the impasse.

Last month, Algeria hosted talks in a bid to end the Palestinian political divide and reconcile the Fatah party, whose Palestinian Authority rules parts of the occupied West Bank, and the militant Hamas group, which has control of the Gaza Strip.

The summit in Algeria coincides with Israels parliamentary election at the time of heightened tensions in the West Bank, where the Israeli military has conducted nightly arrest raids in searches for Palestinian militants. Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in recent months, including armed gunmen, stone-throwing teenagers and people uninvolved in violence.

The meeting also comes as tensions mount between Algeria and Morocco, with Algiers having severed diplomatic ties with its North African neighbor last year. The persisting feud between the two countries stems from a dispute over the Western Sahara, a territory annexed by Morocco in 1975. Sahrawis from the Polisario Front are backed by Algeria and have sought independence for the region for decades.

Morocco's growing ties with Israel, which include a military and security deal, have further soured relations between the North African neighbors. Under pressure from other Arab states, Algeria invited Morocco to the summit. After a quarrel on Monday, Morocco's King Mohamed VI decided to stay away because of the wrong signals sent by Algiers, a Moroccan diplomat said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The country's foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, will attend the meetings.

Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman formally announced earlier this month that he wont attend the summit due to health reasons."

Syria is also absent from this years summit, having been expelled from the league in 2011 as punishment for President Bashir Assads brutal government crackdown on pro-democracy protests.

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Jeffery reported from Cairo and Surk from Nice, France.
A Rushford man faces a state prison sentence after pleading guilty to a pair of felony charges connected to an incident last spring in the Allegany County town where he lived.

County court Judge Terrence M. Parker set a Jan. 17, 2023 sentencing date for Anthony J. Gorse after the 21-year-old pleaded guilty on Monday to felony counts of first-degree burglary and first-degree criminal contempt.

Gorse was arrested May 16 and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, first-degree burglary, first-degree criminal contempt, third-degree grand larceny and second-degree criminal mischief.

Amity-based New York State Police said Gorse violated a court order of protection when he entered a residence on Lower Street in Rushford with a deadly weapon, stole gold, damaged property and fatally injured a pet dog.

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State Police said Gorse made off with more than $30,000 worth of gold during the burglary while doing in excess of $1,500 in property damage.

Gorse was jailed after his arrest with bail set at $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond or a $1 million partially secured surety bond.

A first-degree burglary conviction carries a minimum prison sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

Follow Neal Simon on Twitter @HornellTribNeal. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Rushford man faces prison sentence after burglary guilty plea
Thousands of dollars from President Bidens American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act funded a writing fellowship targeting "non-binary" 13-year-olds and a Muslim jazz music series, among dozens of other humanities projects in New York that are seemingly unrelated to COVID-19 pandemic recovery.

The ARP Act, which Democrats passed in March 2021 without any Republican support, was billed by the Democratic Party as an economic necessity for getting the country through the pandemic. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), which received $135 million from the plan, announced in June 2021 that it had allocated $51.6 million in ARP funding for "state and jurisdictional humanities councils and interim partners to support recovery and reopening of humanities organizations and programs across the country."

Months later, Humanities New York distributed more than $360,000 ARP funds to dozens of organizations, including a $10,000 grant for Urban Word NYC to launch three literary arts fellowships for marginalized youth. One of the taxpayer-funded fellowships, the Black Girl Magic Fellowship, is a series "for NYC/NJ-based girls and non-binary youth ages 13-19 centered on their development as writers, building their self-esteem, and addressing issues that matter most to them," according to Urban Words website.

President Biden speaks during an event on the American Rescue Plan in the Rose Garden of the White House on March 12, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

Humanities New York awarded another $10,000 ARP grant to the National Jazz Museum in Harlem to create a five-part music series about the influence of Islam and Muslims in jazz.

"This ongoing series highlights the contributions of Islam and Muslims in the birth and continued growth of jazz," the National Jazz Museum website states. "These discussions and concerts are fundamental to changing conversations and attitudes about belonging in the history of jazz for Muslims and for other marginalized groups."

MILLIONS FROM BIDEN'S COVID RELIEF BILL WENT TO MUSEUM, UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS PUSHING SOCIAL, CLIMATE JUSTICE

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Humanities New York awarded another $10,000 ARP grant for Roots Wounds Words to create a talk series aimed to provide Black, Indigenous, and people of color storytellers "with opportunities to deepen their literary craft across genres such as creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and more."

Humanities New York awarded another $10,000 ARP grant for the Pan Am Museum Foundation to "explore how racial diversity changed the airline industry."

Another nearly $10,000 went toward creating a "cultural sensitivity training" program at the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum, and another $9,425 went to Seven Generations of Stewards to host a festival about "Native American culture, history, foods and social issues," to name only a few.

$825K IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS WENT TO ORAL HISTORIANS RESEARCHING ANTI-RACISM, LATINX HISTORIES

Fox News Digital has extensively reported on the millions in ARP funds that have funded social and climate justice programs all over the country that have virtually nothing to do with pandemic relief.

For example, the NEH awarded the Oral History Association $825,000 in ARP funds for a grant-making project titled, "Diversifying Oral History Practice: A Fellowship Program for Under/Unemployed Oral Historians," which provided 11 year-long fellowships of $60,000 each for oral historians "from communities which have been historically marginalized in the field," such as "Indigenous peoples, people of color, people with disabilities, and working class people."

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), flanked by Senate Democrats, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), speaks during a press conference on the Child Tax Credit in the Senate Studio on Capitol Hill on Thursday, July 15, 2021. Today, roughly $15 billion dollars start going out to families that include nearly 60 million eligible children in the first monthly payment of the increased and expanded Child Tax Credit from the American Rescue Plan that was passed in March.

The NEH awarded another $499,023 to the University of Montana for multiple programs on racial justice, including a public lecture series on "racial justice, death and Indigenous knowledge."

The Science History Institute in Philadelphia was awarded $359,097 by the NEH to create a "multiplatform project exploring the historical roots and persistent legacies of racism in American science and medicine." The same institute previously received a $1,230,100 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan on April 14, 2020.

Another $200,000 in ARP funds went to the Chicago Humanities Festival to create "six humanities programs on racial justice, gender equality, and building an inclusive society." The group was previously awarded a total of $778,236 from two PPP loans between April 2020 and January 2021.

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Many economists have blamed the ARP for overheating the economy and contributing to the current inflation crisis, which hit a whopping 8.2% last month.

The NEH and Humanities New York did not immediately respond to Fox News Digitals requests for comment.

New York is only one of many states that gave ARP funds to humanities projects, including Illinois, Delaware, Idaho, and Pennsylvania, according to documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and shared with Fox News Digital.
Bertha Vazquez, a 7th-grade science teacher at George Washington Carver Middle School in Miami, Oct. 27, 2022. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/The New York Times)

In mid-October, just two weeks after Hurricane Ian struck her state, Bertha Vazquez asked her class of seventh graders to go online and search for information about climate change. Specifically, she tasked them to find sites that cast doubt on its human causes and who paid for them.

It was a sophisticated exercise for the 12-year olds, Vazquez said, teaching them to discern climate facts from a mass of online disinformation. But she also thought it an important capstone to the end of two weeks she dedicates to teaching her Miami students about climate change, possible solutions and the barriers to progress.

Im really passionate about this issue, she said. I have to find a way to sneak it in.

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Thats because in Florida, where Vazquez has taught for more than 30 years, and where her students are already seeing the dramatic effects of a warming planet, the words climate change do not appear in the states middle or elementary school education standards.

Climate change is set to transform where students can live and what jobs theyll do as adults. And yet, despite being one of the most important issues for young people, it appears only minimally in many state middle school science standards nationwide. Florida does not include the topic and Texas dedicates three bullet points to climate change in its 27 pages of standards. More than 40 states have adopted standards that include just one explicit reference to climate change.

Middle school is where these kids are starting to get their moral compass and to back that compass up with logic, said Michael Padilla, a professor emeritus at Clemson University and a former president of the National Science Teachers Association. So middle school is a classic opportunity to have more focus on climate change.

For those who do receive formal instruction on climate change, it will most likely happen in middle school science classrooms. But many middle school standards dont explicitly mention climate change, so it falls largely on teachers and individual school districts to find ways to integrate it into lessons, often working against the dual hurdles of limited time and inadequate support.

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Vazquez makes the states requirement that she teach energy transfer an opportunity to talk about how wind turbines work. The ecology requirement becomes a chance to discuss the consequences of deforestation.

But her commitment to the subject is not representative of how climate change is taught around the country. Around half of middle school science teachers either dont cover the subject or spend less than two hours a year on it, according to a survey by the National Center for Science Education.

Thats hardly enough time to teach the essentials, said Glenn Branch, the centers deputy director. They need to learn, at the very least, the fundamentals of climate science, including the role humans play, the consequences of a changing climate, as well as solutions.

It is clear that people want climate change to be taught. Around 80% of American parents think schools should teach climate change, a sentiment shared by students.

Kids are demanding more, and wanting more, said Sarah Ruggiero, a science teacher for the Eugene School District in Oregon.

Education experts, too, say it is vital that climate change is addressed in a classroom setting. Kids are already learning about it from TV and seeing it in the changing weather around them.

Students everywhere know its a problem, said Michael Wysession, a professor of earth science at Washington University in St. Louis who has authored 30 textbooks and helped write the Next Generation Science Standards, a set of recommendations for science instruction. The challenge is to keep them from getting depressed about it.

Over the course of a year, a middle school science class can expect to cover everything from photosynthesis to the electromagnetic spectrum, all in 180 days.

The general topics are dictated by educational standards, the greatest mechanism by which a state can influence what children learn and what teachers spend their time on.

A decade ago, 26 states and several groups representing teachers and scientists unveiled the Next Generation Science Standards. Since then 45 states and the District of Columbia have adopted the standards or similar ones.

But at the middle school level, even the Next Generation standards include only one standard out of about 60 that explicitly mentions climate change. An analysis by researchers at the University of Maryland found that 17 other standards have a connection to climate change, but leave it up to states, school districts and teachers to make those connections in their lessons.

Still, some of the most populous states continue to write their own and a review of those standards found that climate change doesnt feature as prominently. In some cases, this is because the standards havent been updated, Branch said. States typically review them every 10 years or so, but Floridas current standards were adopted in 2008.

In other cases, though, climate changes place in standards is still under debate. Last year, the Texas State Board of Education voted on new science standards. A board member who is also a lawyer for the oil giant Shell succeeded in cutting the requirement that eighth graders learn how to describe efforts to mitigate climate change.

Such seemingly minor changes in language are important. They may not make much difference for a teacher who is already invested in teaching about climate change, said Katie Worth, the author of Miseducation: How Climate Change is Taught in America. But it gives a toehold to those who are inclined to climate skepticism.

In 2020, the National Center for Science Education and the Texas Freedom Network released a report that graded states on how their standards addressed climate change. Half the states earned a B+ while 10 states, including Florida and Texas, got a D or worse.

A curriculum doesnt exist until it enters the classroom. And since so many of the middle school Next Generation Science Standards have connections to climate change but dont explicitly mention them, it can be a major opportunity for teachers.

But researchers have found that many teachers received little climate education themselves.

The most crucial intervention that we have to make progress on is professional support for teachers, said Frank Niepold, the senior climate education program manager at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But he warns that this might be the hardest piece of the puzzle to solve.

Some states, including Washington, California, and Maine are turning to teacher training programs.

National science educators have lauded ClimeTime as one of the best efforts. The program receives several million dollars a year in state funding. Since 2018, it has trained 14,000 teachers, or more than a fifth of the teachers in Washington state.

When Jerry Walther, a natural resources teacher in Taholah, on the Quinault Indian Nation, trains other teachers about how he teaches climate change, he tells them how he regularly takes his students outside. Each community has its own climate and culture, he said. And that culture is interesting to its students.

When his students look at the ocean and rivers, the class inevitably begins talking about climate change, about how the water is warming and harmful algal blooms theyve all witnessed, he said. For three years we havent been able to fish sockeye. How is it affecting our way of life, and how can we ourselves try to change it?

According to teachers, one of the main challenges is a lack of good supplemental materials.

Brianna Escobar, a sixth grade science teacher in Garland, Texas, uses textbooks that were published in 2015, which are based on standards that are more than a decade old.

So it is unsurprising that teachers turn to online materials. But the information they find there may be outdated, inaccurate or simply not suitable for children. The Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network, an organization that provides free climate education materials, found that only 700 of the 30,000 free online materials they reviewed were accurate and suitable for use in schools.

In the world beyond classrooms, thinking about climate change involves much more than merely understanding climate science and the greenhouse effect. Its about changing our energy systems and preparing for waves of climate migration. Its also about solutions, coming up with policies to adapt to extreme weather events and decarbonize large parts of our economy.

Which is why climate education is now expanding into areas like the arts and humanities, and social studies. Beginning this year, New Jersey is incorporating some aspect of climate changes effects, as well as solutions, into its standards for every grade band and in every subject area. National organizations representing English and social studies teachers have called for greater engagement with climate change in their classes.

These developments are a heartening and necessary step forward, Vazquez said. Teaching about climate change gets at the heart of what school is ultimately for: Helping kids make sense of the world around them, while preparing them for the future.

This is the topic of the century, and not just because of the potential disasters ahead, she said. But because this is the future of the economy.

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Names purportedly belonging to the eight Akron officers in the fatal shooting of Jayland Walker first appeared over the weekend on flyers stapled to telephone poles in West Akron.

The chief of police will neither confirm nor deny them as accurate. But theyve since appeared on an anonymous website. Activists are circulating the list on social media. And on Monday evening during a public comment period, a person using a nickname read them into City Councils official record.

As a matter of policy, the Beacon Journal does not normally name uncharged suspects. The eight officers are currently under investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for their use of deadly force, but they have not been charged. That decision will rest with a Summit County grand jury at the end of the state investigation, which could take months.

Jayland Walker shooting:Akron police chief tells residents why he reinstated 8 officers in Jayland Walker shooting

Capt. Dave Laughlin with the Akron Police Department said Chief Steve Mylett is not commenting on the public disclosure of the alleged names, which were released by an anonymous source less than three weeks after the chief took the eight officers off paid leave and reassigned them to desk duty.

In detailing his controversial reinstatement decision, Mylett said the FBI is still investigating two threats made against officers in the wake of the June 27 killing of Walker, who was unarmed and fleeing on foot when shot 46 times after leading officers on a crosstown car chase in which police say the 25-year-old Black man fired a single round from his car.

Jayland Walker autopsy:Jayland Walker had 46 entrance wounds and died from 'devastating injuries,' examiner says

"Up to this point, they have not been identified, Mylett briefed the media on Oct. 11. So, the public knowing exactly who was involved in the shooting, I dont think that informations gotten out. And, so, were going to be taking precautions to ensure their safety.

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Mylett called the officers back to perform administrative work to help with a staffing shortage. While the Bureau of Criminal Investigation continues its external review in the deadly use of force, the Akron Police Departments Office of Professional Standards and Accountability (or internal affairs) has not completed its review of the officers conduct and whether any procedure was violated in the Walker incident.

The police chief, in speaking with the media last month, doubled down on safety as the reason for not releasing the names of the eight officers. He spoke again about two threats forwarded by the FBI and believed to be credible.

These threats, they were just two months ago, the chief said. And Im not going to be releasing names. Im not going to put these officers in any further danger than theyve already been placed in. There may come a time when the names are released, after an investigation by BCI and the work of the grand jury, but until then, I have a duty and a responsibility not only to keep the public safe but my employees.

Clay Cozart, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 7, which represents sworn officers in Akron, did not pick up the phone but texted what he called a "general statement."

"I do not react to internet rumors by anarchists and hate mongerers (sic) who call police pigs and murderers and who make false allegations that is refuted and when called out threaten councilman to meet them in a dark alley," Cozart wrote.

The Rev. Robert DeJournett, the Walker familys pastor at St. Ashworth Temple Church of God in Christ in West Akron, referred the Beacon Journal to the familys legal counsel, DiCello Levitt.

"We are aware that the purported names of the eight Akron police officers involved in this summers shooting death of Jayland Walker are circulating online and in the Akron community," attorneys Bobby DiCello and Kenneth Abbarno said in an emailed statement. "At this point we have not verified the accuracy of this information and are not able to comment further at this time. We ask that the community continue to keep the Walker family in their thoughts."

Who released the Akron police officer names?

In releasing the names on a WordPress website, an anonymous activist or a group of activists say "47 pieces of information from the personnel files of the officers involved in the killing of Jayland Walker" were matched "with publicly available information sources" to produce the "eight names of individuals employed by the Akron Police Department."

The city has redacted the names and all information it considers identifiable from the personnel files it has released to the public, including to the Beacon Journal.

Akron records:Here's what new records tell us about 8 Akron officers who fatally shot Jayland Walker

The anonymous website provides a link to a nine-page report detailing the evidence used to identify each of the eight officers, while putting the onus of confirming the names on the city.

"While this report lays out likely matches to the identities of the eight involved officers, it is ultimately up to Akron officials to be transparent and hold officers accountable," the anonymous website post reads.

An anonymous researcher for a local activist group said he and colleagues were "shocked" to see the names released online. Several organizations have requested and received the officers' personnel files, including the Beacon Journal, various media outlets and others. The Beacon Journal has reported on but not released those records to the public.

At the request of the Beacon Journal, the city's law department is compiling a full listing of every person or entity that's requested personnel files for officers involved in the Walker shooting. Only one request, the city said, has used the eight names that now appear online when seeking more information. That request, however, was made using an encrypted email designed to conceal the identity of its sender. And it was made Sept. 14, nearly a month before the officers were brought back on desk duty.

A message sent to that encrypted email Tuesday was not returned.

Reach reporter Doug Livingston at dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3792.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron police officer names in Jayland Walker shooting released
Research in Africa found a one-time dose of an experimental drug protected adults against malaria for at least six months, the latest approach in the fight against the mosquito-borne disease.

Malaria killed more than 620,000 people in 2020 and sickened 241 million, mainly children under 5 in Africa. The World Health Organization is rolling out the first authorized malaria vaccine for children, but it is about 30% effective and requires four doses.

The new study tested a very different approach  giving people a big dose of lab-made malaria-fighting antibodies instead of depending on the immune system to make enough of those same infection-blockers after vaccination.

The available vaccine doesn't protect enough people, said Dr. Kassoum Kayentao of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies in Bamako, Mali, who helped lead the study in the villages of Kalifabougou and Torodo.

In those villages during malaria season, other research has shown, people are bitten by infected mosquitoes on average twice a day.

The experimental antibody, developed by researchers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, was given by IV  difficult to deliver on a large scale. But the encouraging findings bode well for an easier-to-administer shot version from the same scientists thats in early testing in infants, children and adults.

The U.S. government research was published Monday in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at a medical meeting in Seattle.

The antibody works by breaking the life cycle of the parasite, which is spread through mosquito bites. It targets immature parasites before they enter the liver where they can mature and multiply. It was developed from an antibody taken from a volunteer who received a malaria vaccine.

The research involved 330 adults in Mali who got either one of two different antibody doses or a dummy infusion. All were tested for malaria infection every two weeks for 24 weeks. Anyone who got sick was treated.

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Infections were detected by blood test in 20 people who got the higher dose, 39 people who got the lower dose and 86 who got the placebo.

The higher dose was 88% effective, compared to the placebo. The lower dose was 75% effective.

Protection might last during the several months of a malaria season. The idea is to someday use it alongside other malaria prevention methods such as malaria pills, mosquito nets and vaccines. Cost is uncertain, but one estimate suggests lab-made antibodies could be given for as little as $5 per child per malaria season.

Lab-made antibodies are used to treat cancer, autoimmune diseases and COVID-19, said Dr. Johanna Daily of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, who was not involved in the study.

The good news is now we have another, immune-based therapy to try to control malaria, Daily said.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
GRAND LEDGE  The state's Court of Appeals has upheld a judge's dismissal of a lawsuit claiming Grand Ledge Public Schools' Board of Education violated the Open Meetings Act by asking people who wished to speak at a 2021 meeting to identify themselves and provide personal information.

Grand Ledge Public Schools' administration building pictured January, 8, 2021.

Eaton County Circuit Court Judge Janice Cunningham was right to dismiss the lawsuit, filed by Amber Redman last November, the Michigan Court of Appeals said in its Oct. 6 opinion.

According to Redman's lawsuit, which named the school district, the board and its seven members as defendants, asking people for personal information at a June 28, 2021, Board of Education meeting was "inconsistent" with the Open Meetings Act, which states a "person must be permitted to address a meeting of a public body under rules established and recorded by the public body."

School officials asked attendees at the meeting to fill out a sheet that provided space for a person's name, address and the topic they wished to discuss. It also asked whether they wanted to speak about items on the board's agenda.

Redman's lawsuit, filed in August 2021, claimed the form was "inconsistent" with the board's own policies.

"Requiring attendees to fill out the form in order to speak was a reasonable method of maintaining an orderly meeting," the Court of Appeals wrote in its six-page opinion. "With no violation, (Redman) was not entitled to have defendants fined, and judgment as a matter of law was appropriate."

A statement from Board of Education Trustee Sara Clark Pierson "addressed the events leading up to the June 28 meeting, which prompted defendants to adopt the use of the form," wrote the Court of Appeals. "(Redman) did not advance any evidence to rebut these facts."

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Crumbl Cookies ready to open first Lansing area store

On Monday Eric Delaporte, Redman's attorney, said the court's decision will be appealed.

"If you take the Court of Appeals decision and apply it to school districts, now a school district no longer speaks through its minutes," he said. "It speaks through a wooden sign in the lobby placed there outside of an open meeting."

John Miller, an attorney representing the school district, said both Cunningham and the state's Court of Appeals were right in their rulings.

"Over the last two years, we have seen a large uptick in similar lawsuits against dozens of Michigan school districts," Miller said in an email. "These lawsuits are largely politically motivated. The unfortunate byproduct is that school districts  such as Grand Ledge  are forced to spend time and money that should be spent on students. We are happy that this matter was dismissed.

Contact Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ .

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Court upholds ruling in Open Meetings Act lawsuit against Grand Ledge schools
Chicago Tribune

The 2022 Chicago White Sox had one of baseballs top starters in Dylan Cease and one of the games best relievers in Liam Hendriks. But inconsistency and injuries affected the rotation and bullpen as a whole. Catcher Yasmani Grandal will look to rebound after career lows in hitting (.202), on-base percentage (.301) and slugging (.269). Whats next for the Sox behind the plate and on the mound? ...
The Republican nominee for governor of Arizona, Kari Lake, made light of the attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband in remarks at a campaign event Monday, drawing laughter from the audience.

Asked about school security, Lake suggested the protection afforded to federal lawmakers should be available to students, as well.

"Nancy Pelosi, well, shes got protection when shes in D.C.  apparently her house doesnt have a lot of protection," Lake said at a campaign event in Scottsdale, Arizona, sparking laughter from many in attendance.

Lake then said, "If our lawmakers can have protection, if our politicians can have protection, if our athletes, then certainly the most important people in our lives  our children  should have protection."

Pelosi's 82-year-old husband, Paul Pelosi, was brutally attacked Friday at the couple's San Francisco home. The speaker was in Washington, D.C., with her protective detail when the break-in occurred.

Republican nominee for governor Kari Lake holds a press conference in front of her campaign headquarters in Phoenix, on Oct. 27, 2022. - With less than two weeks to go before crucial US midterm elections, Republicans hope their narrative of a nation ravaged by inflation and crime will help them take back Congress and cripple the remaining two years of Joe Biden's presidency. (Olivier Touron / AFP - Getty Images)

A federal complaint filed Monday alleged that the suspect, David DePape, 42, tried to kidnap the speaker, not knowing she wasn't home at the time. The complaint also said DePape planned to break her kneecaps.

Reached for comment, Lakes campaign said her remarks didnt need clarifying.

Lake wasnt asked about the remark in an interview with Tucker Carlson on Fox News but said: We cant talk about all these issues, because the media has told us theyre prohibited. You cant talk about vaccines, you cant talk about elections, you cant talk about Paul Pelosi, and now you cant talk about Nancy Pelosi.

"Im talking about all of those things, she added.

Paul Pelosi was still in intensive care, surrounded by family members, a source with knowledge of the situation said Monday.

Lake isnt the first high-profile Republican to have drawn attention for remarks about the attack.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who campaigned alongside Lake this month, sparked criticism for comments he made that touched on the incident just hours after the attack.

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Speaker Pelosis husband, they had a break-in last night in their house and he was assaulted. Theres no room for violence anywhere, but were going to send her back to be with him in California, Youngkin said at a rally for Republican congressional candidate Yesli Vega in Stafford County.

Asked to clarify what Youngkin meant, spokesperson Kristin Davison said: As the governor clearly said, the assault on Paul Pelosi was wrong and there is no place for violence. He wishes him a full recovery and is keeping the Pelosi family in his prayers.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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The Republic is gathering and analyzing early voting data from Arizona counties and the Secretary of State's Office. Check back for regular updates and insights on early balloting.

This series was supported by the Pulitzer Center.

Voter guide: Where to drop off your Arizona ballot and how to track it

Nov. 7: Where voting stands, on the eve of Election Day

At 6 a.m. Tuesday, polling centers will open across Arizona and registered voters who have not already returned their ballots will get their final chance to vote in the 2022 midterm elections.

Heres where early voting stands, based on the data The Republic has so far received from the Secretary of State's Office and Maricopa and Pima counties.

More than 60% of registered voters have not yet voted. That's about 2.6 million people.

But most of those potential midterm voters  about 2.1 million people  received an early ballot that they can complete before arriving at the polls to drop it off.

That means, roughly, there are 500,000 registered voters who did not request an early ballot and will need to get one Tuesday at a polling place.

Total number of Arizona registered voters  4,143,929

Registered voters who requested an early ballot  3,634,263

Registered voters who returned ballots so far  1,544,753

Most of the early ballots that have been returned came from Maricopa County voters. The county accounts for 57% of all early votes. Pima County, which has the second largest share of voters in the state, accounts for 17%.

Despite the high early voting turnout in Maricopa County, more than 1.5 million people could still turn up to vote at the county's polling centers on Tuesday.

Over the past two weeks, Democrats have held the ballot return advantage in Maricopa County. With today's data update, the advantage flipped. Republicans now have the ballot return advantage in Maricopa County by more than 1,500 ballots.

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Statewide, Democrats' advantage holds, with a lead of almost 13,000 ballots. Democrats' ballot advantage is driven by Pima County. There, the party is ahead of Republicans by over 57,000 ballots.

But the last few days have seen Republican voters reduce Democrats' overall advantage in terms of ballots returned. Last Friday, Democrats were leading ballot returns by over 40,000.

 Kunle Falayi

Nov. 4: Fewer active voters this cycle statewide, but more in Maricopa County

Since 2020, about 150,000 people have joined the ranks of the Maricopa County electorate, according to voter registration figures from the Secretary of State's Office.

The county had 2,445,521 active registered voters during the 2020 election. That's grown to 2,595,272 for the 2022 midterm.

After Maricopa County, Cochise County added the most voters since 2020. More than 4,500 voters have joined Cochises electorate as active voters for the midterm election.

But not all counties saw an increase in active registered voters.

The number of active registered voters declined in six Arizona counties during the past two years: Apache, Coconino, La Paz, Mohave, Pima, Pinal and Yuma.

In Pinal, the number of voters decreased by almost 14,000. Mohave County lost almost 12,000 voters.

Statewide, the voter losses outweighed the gains. There are about 130,000 fewer active voters this election cycle compared with 2020.

For the 2020 general election, there were 4,281,152 active voters. This election, the number is 4,152,018.

Independent voters and those affiliated with third parties make up the largest share of active voters. They total 1,441,396 voters. In addition, there are 1,437,823 registered Republicans and 1,272,799 registered Democrats.

Check back on Monday for data updates and more pre-Election Day analysis.

 Kunle Falayi

Nov. 3: Half of Pima County voters who requested ballot have voted

About half of the 492,724 Pima County voters who requested early ballots have voted, putting it way ahead of Arizona's other counties in the rate of early returns. The only county that comes close is Maricopa, where one ballot has been returned for every three requested.

Pima voters are known to favor early voting. In the 2020 general election, 87% of all Pima County votes came from early voters. In 2016, three in four voters turned in their ballot early.

Even though Pima's early voting numbers have not reached the early turnout levels of recent general elections  only 38% of the 630,181 registered voters in the county have voted so far  it is likely that Pima County Election Day queues will be shorter than those in other counties.

Of the 232,705 Pima County residents who have already voted, half are Democrats. Over 50,000 more Democrats have voted in Pima County than Republicans.

Voting precincts within Tucson account for more than 75% of all early votes in Pima County because most of the voters in the county live in the city. But the county had to mail a number of ballots to voters who now reside out of the country. Pima County sent ballots to voters in 40 different countries outside the U.S. Most of those ballots went to voters in the United Kingdom and Mexico. So far, 32 voters have returned ballots from those two countries.

 Kunle Falayi

Nov. 2: Goodyear precinct shows highest Maricopa County ballot returns

One Maricopa County voting precinct stands apart from the 934 others in terms of the number of ballots returned so far.

The Pebble Creek precinct in Goodyear has recorded over 4,200 returns, according to data The Republic received Tuesday from Maricopa County.

The precinct with the second-most returns  the Grand precinct in Surprise  has submitted 2,855 ballots.

Only seven other Maricopa County precincts have recorded at least 2,000 early ballots. They are in five cities: Goodyear, Surprise, Scottsdale, Chandler and Cave Creek.

Precincts don't have equal numbers of voters. When the county revises precinct boundaries, a goal is to keep the number of voters around or below 5,000. Getting in that ballpark "helps to ensure a smooth in person voting experience," according to the county.

Even though Goodyear's Pebble Creek precinct has leaped ahead of other precincts in terms of early ballot numbers, the city itself trails 10 Maricopa County municipalities in return numbers. Which, of course, is to be expected because of municipal population differences.

Phoenix, Maricopa County's most populous city, has returned about 149,500 ballots. Mesa has returned about 68,000 ballots. Goodyear is around 16,000.

Maricopa County has about 2.6 million voters. Roughly one in three voters who requested an early ballot have voted already. The only county with a higher early ballot return rate is Pima. Almost half of all Pima County voters who requested ballots have voted.

 Kunle Falayi

Nov. 1: Amid discussion of hand count, rate of early ballot returns low in Cochise County

Cochise County is planning to hand count all of its 2022 midterm ballots. Here's how The Republic's Mary Jo Pitzl explained it:

"County officials say they want to assuage voter distrust in elections by manually counting the ballots to match against the tally done by tabulation machines. But critics say it's a ploy to create doubt about the returns, creating a cudgel for election losers to use to challenge election results."

Regardless of the reason behind the hand count, concerns about election administration may be changing Cochise County voter behavior. Based on early data, it seems unlikely the county will have an early voting rate as high as the 2020 election.

In the 2020 general election, 80% of the 60,983 ballots cast in Cochise County came from early voters, according to Arizona secretary of state records.

So far this election? Fewer than 20% of Cochise County voters who requested an early ballot have voted.

Of the 67,425 Cochise County voters who requested an early ballot, only about 12,000 have voted, with Election Day just a week away.

Republican voters lead in the number of ballots returned in the county, accounting for 4,700 of the ballots cast. Democrats have submitted 4,301 early votes. The rest are from independent voters and people affiliated with other parties.

So, as it now stands in Cochise County, only one in five Republican voters and one in five Democratic voters who requested an early ballot have voted. For independent voters and others, it is about one in seven voters.

In the coming days, more voters in Cochise County will choose to vote early. But there's a lot of ground to cover if they're going to match 2020's early voting rate.

Current registration data from the Secretary of States Office shows that Cochise County has nearly 81,400 eligible voters. About 31,700 of them are Republicans, and about 20,700 are Democrats. Independent voters and those affiliated with other parties make up about 29,000 members of the electorate.

 Kunle Falayi

Oct. 31: Return gap between Democrats and Republicans shrinks as data comes in from across state

We got a big data update today, including our third weekly update from the Secretary of State's Office.

The secretary of state data includes early ballot information from all the counties other than Maricopa and Pima. We're getting direct, more frequent data updates from Maricopa and Pima counties.

With today's significant update, we now know one in four voters who requested a ballot has voted already. The number of ballots returned is more than 875,000.

The returned ballot gap between the two major parties narrowed with the new statewide data.

Late Friday, after several days where we were just getting data from Maricopa and Pima counties, Democrats had a returned ballot advantage of about 33,000. That gap shrunk by almost 7,000 votes with today's statewide figures.

To date, the ballot return rate is similar for Democrats and Republicans. Of Democrats who requested early ballots, 30% have already voted. Of Republicans who requested early ballots, 27% have voted so far. For independents and others, the rate of return is 19%.

Pima County has the highest rate of return for voters of both major parties, and Navajo County has the lowest. For both Democrats and Republicans in Pima County, the returned ballot rate is about one in three. In Navajo, it's roughly one in eight for Democrats and one in nine for Republicans.

Independents and people affiliated with other parties are not returning their ballots as quickly. The highest county-level rate of return for independents and others is in Yavapai, where one in four requested ballots has been returned. The lowest is again in Navajo County, where the rate of return for independents and others is one in 11.

In Maricopa, Arizona's most populous county, the rate of return is one of the highest in the state. About one in three Maricopa County Democrats and one in four Republicans who requested a ballot have voted.

 Kunle Falayi

Oct. 28: In Maricopa County, people over 50 are driving early voting

Older voters in Maricopa County are driving early voting turnout.

More than three-quarters of early votes in the county so far are from people over 50 even though that part of the population requested just over half of the ballots.

Meanwhile, only 5.5% of Maricopa County voters whose ballots have been received so far  a little more than 10,000 voters  are less than 30 years old. About 16% of ballot requests in Maricopa County have been from people under 30.

Here's the Democrat-Republican breakdown of this Maricopa County data:

Voters over 50 % DEM RETURNS: 76% % DEM REQUESTS: 51% % REP RETURNS: 84% % REP REQUESTS: 65%



Voters under 30 % DEM RETURNS: 7% % DEM REQUESTS: 18% % REP RETURNS: 3% % REP REQUESTS: 10%



Whether Democrat or Republican, voters over 50 are overrepresented in early ballot returns so far. Voters under 30 are underrepresented in the early vote turnout for both parties.

A quick data update: We realized today there were some duplicates in our data. We've cleaned it up and made some adjustments in our prior posts. Most notably, on Oct. 25 we overstated the total number of ballots requested. About 3.5 million ballots have been requested. Democrats and Republicans are about even in the number of requested ballots.

We'll be back Monday with new data and more analysis.

 Kunle Falayi

Oct. 27: Early voters prefer mail, no matter their political stripes

Arizona's early voters are favoring the U.S. Postal Service to return their ballots over other delivery methods, like drop boxes and in-person voting.

The Republic has received ballot return method information from the Secretary of State's Office for 13 counties. The Republic is getting early voter data from Maricopa and Pima counties directly, and neither is providing ballot return method as a data point.

Outside of Maricopa and Pima counties, 67% of Republican voters, 72% of Democrats and 75% of independent and other voters returned their ballots by mail.

Some Republican leaders have derided voting by mail and attempted to restrict the popular practice. But that hasn't deterred Republican voters from using the mail, especially in some counties. In Apache and Greenlee counties, more than 80% of Republican voters have used the mail for early ballots. In Coconino and Navajo counties, the share is nearly 100%.

Today's data addition also shows Democrats continue to expand their returned ballot advantage.

Since yesterday, more than 12,000 additional ballots from Democrats have been added to the figures coming from Maricopa and Pima counties. Registered Republicans submitted about 8,000 ballots since yesterday's update.

Keep in mind many Republicans are likely waiting till election day to vote and today's data update does not include information from 13 counties. We're expecting the secretary of state to provide the next data update about those remaining counties early next week.

Returned votes from other political affiliations, including independents, now tally up to more than 100,000.

 Kunle Falayi

Oct. 26: Pima County ahead in return rate; Democrats widen return lead

Statewide, one in nine voters who requested a ballot has now voted, but some communities are casting ballots more quickly than others.

One in four Pima County voters who requested ballots has voted. This puts Pima ahead of all other counties in the rate of return.

In comparison, one in 11 voters who requested a ballot has voted in Maricopa County, which has the highest raw request and return numbers because of its large population. Yavapai data shows about one ballot returned for every seven ballots requested, while Mohave's request-to-return rate is one in 8.

The statewide return advantage remains on the side of Democrats, who increased their margin to over 24,000 ballots. That's up about 5,000 ballots from the party's lead on Oct. 25.

Democrats are ahead in the number of returned ballots in seven of Arizonas 15 counties. Those seven counties include both Maricopa and Pima, which have returned over 75% of all ballots so far, and Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Greenlee and Santa Cruz.

Republicans are leading in returned ballots in the remaining eight counties: Gila, Graham, La Paz, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, Yavapai and Yuma. Of ballots returned and accounted for so far in the data reported to The Republic, about 20% came from voters in those eight counties.

Statewide, Republicans have returned one ballot for roughly every nine ballots requested, while Democrats have returned one ballot for every seven ballots requested.

 Kunle Falayi

Election guide: November 2022

Oct. 25: With 2 weeks to go, this is where voting stands

With two weeks before the Nov. 8 midterm election, more than 3 million ballots have been requested by Arizona registered voters and Democrats have an edge in terms of ballots returned so far  even though more than 60,000 Republicans than Democrats have requested ballots.

More than 365,000 voters have already cast their ballots, according to ballot data acquired by The Republic.

That's a small fraction of the statewide voter population. Data from the Secretary of State's Office shows a little more than 4.1 million residents were registered to vote for August's primary election. A complete count of voters eligible to cast ballots during the 2022 midterm is expected soon from the secretary of state.

Most ballots returned so far are coming from Maricopa and Pima counties. No surprise there, given they're home to about 75% of the state's population.

In Pima County, Democrats have voted at about twice the rate as Republicans and other registered voters, including independents. Voters from the county have returned 89,974 ballots: Democrats account for 46,737 ballots, Republicans for 24,192 and other registered voters cast 19,045 ballots.

In Maricopa County, Democrats are about 5,000 returned votes above Republicans. The county's voters have returned 178,664 ballots: Democrats submitted 71,063, Republicans are responsible for 66,077 and 41,484 come from other voters.

Some Republican leaders, including former President Donald Trump, have repeatedly made false claims about the security of early voting and proclaimed they want to end the practice, which may be depressing early Republican turnout.

Last week, Arizona voters filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Justice after people filmed them and captured photographs of their license plates as the voters dropped off ballots at Maricopa County's two outdoor ballot drop box locations.

Voters can also return early ballots by mail or at indoor drop box locations.

 Kunle Falayi

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona voting updates: The Republic's analysis of midterm balloting
Nov. 1LIMA  Ohio Supreme Court candidates Justice Jennifer Brunner (D), Judge Terri Jamison (D) and Judge Marilyn Zayas (D) toured the state of Ohio in just 15 days. The candidates stopped in Allen County on Monday evening before getting back on the road.

On Nov. 8, Brunner will be running against Justice Sharon Kennedy (R) for Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court. Jamison will be running against Justice Pat Fischer (R). Judge Marilyn Zayas will be running against Justice Pat DeWine (R).

The three candidates are traveling to more than 60 counties just before the election.

Brunner said they began this tour so community members could see what the Ohio Supreme Court could look like. She currently serves as the Justice on the Ohio Supreme Court. Brunner said she will rule fairly and impartially, protect the rule of law and safeguard rights.

"There will be party affiliation on the ballot for the first time in over 100 years for the (Ohio) Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals," said Brunner. "People ask, 'What do you think about that?' That was the decision of the legislature and we will live with it because we respect the other branches of the government. The silver lining is that there are people now who will be informed if party affiliation matters to them so they can vote in a more meaningful way according to their wishes and desires."

As the daughter of a coal mine worker, Jamison said she understands hard work. She joined the field as a young adult, started her own business, then decided to become an attorney. She ran to become a judge in 2012 and now serves in the Franklin County Court of Appeals.

"I bring a lot of experience to things that affect labor," said Jamison. "Unemployment, workers' compensation and all of those things that affect you, I understand. We have been busy meeting people trying to get our message out so that people know that they have qualified candidates that are running for these seats and that we understand what it is like to be working class."

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Like Brunner, Zayas hopes to be an independent and impartial voice on the Ohio Supreme Court. She currently serves as a judge on the First District Court of Appeals.

"At the end of the day, people want good people who will really serve them," said Zayas. "If you have an important issue or a case your family is dealing with, it is all about who you trust."

Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
Nov. 1Athens' city offices will be closed Nov. 11 for Veterans Day, but sanitation will run as scheduled and residents are asked to have their bins at the curb by 6 a.m.

The Sanitation Department will start leaf pickup Monday but there is no set schedule. Sanitation said, as staffing allows, they will start on one side of the city and work to the other side throughout the season.

The department is asking residents not to mix tree limbs or debris with the leaves; such piles will not be picked up. Sanitation also asks residents to not place leaves in the street or block drainage inlets. They said this will cause water drainage issues when it rains.

erica.smith@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2460.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  An Australian survivor of a crowd crush that killed more than 150 partygoers in the South Korean capital of Seoul blamed the huge loss of life on officials failure to employ effective crowd controls despite anticipating a massive turnout for the Halloween celebrations.

Nathan Taverniti, 24, said hes still grappling with emotional shock after one of his friends died during the tragedy Saturday at the nightlife district of Itaewon. The tragedy centered on a narrow, downhill alley running between a dense row of store fronts and the landmark Hamilton Hotel. The path became clogged by a huge wave of partygoers before some fell and toppled over one another like dominoes, according to witnesses, before suffocating to death.

An estimated 100,000 partygoers flocked to Itaewon for the Halloween celebrations over the weekend, and some experts say it should have been an obvious decision for authorities to temporarily block some of the neighborhoods notoriously narrow lanes and hills.

If the government knows that there were going to be that many people there, and there is going to be road blockages, there should be enough police and emergency services already there on standby, Taverniti said.

Stuck in a huge crowd, Taverniti said he didnt sense that something terrible would happen until some women near him apparently slipped and fell down, and people nearby tried to help them back up. By that time, he could no longer seen where his three friends were.

All of a sudden more people started falling  there were just too many people, he said.

He said he thought he saw some of his friends hands among the people who were piling up. He tried to grab them, but had to let go after being crushed by the enormous weight of other people who were losing balance. He said he heard lots of people screaming.

Taverniti said he shouted to the bars and clubs to open their doors to let some people in to ease the crowd, but that nobody listened. He said several police officers arrived about half an hour later and people in the crowd helped pull out those who were injured before more officers arrived later. He later found one of his friends among the rows of unconscious bodies laid out in the pavement.

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Tavernit was able to locate his two other friends being treated at hospitals. He says he plans to stay in Seoul for a bit longer to ensure the steady recovery of his hospitalized friends.

I believe 100% that this incident is a result of the governments mismanagement and the lack of ability because I have known that Halloween event has always been this big in Itaewon, he said. This year there was clearly not enough police presence.

___

AP writers Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to the report.
A Worcester woman who was found dead in the woods in Georgia in early October was the passenger of a long-haul trucker from Littleton who is now charged in her murder, law enforcement officials announced Tuesday.

Jason Michael Palmer, 47, is slated to be extradited to Camden County, Georgia, to face charges of murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and concealing a body in connection with the death of 46-year-old Jessica Goodrich, according to the Camden County Sheriffs Office.

Sheriffs office deputies responding to a wooded area near Roadies Chevron truck stop in Woodbine on Saturday, Oct. 8, found the body of a woman who investigators later identified as Goodrich.

Jessica L. Goodrich -- Courtesy Rice Funeral Home

An investigation revealed that Goodrich had been a passenger in Palmers semi-truck, the sheriffs office noted. Palmer was later tracked down and arrested on a murder warrant at Sinclair Gas Station at State Road 1 and Interstate 70 in Cambridge City, Indiana, according to Indiana State Police.

Goodrich leaves behind three sons, as well as four sisters, according to her obituary. Calling hours were held last week at Rice Funeral Home in Worcester followed by a burial at Hope Cemetary.

Goodrichs death remains under investigation.

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The quarter final of The Great British Bake Off 2022 was Pastry Week, and all the bakers struggled. (Channel 4)

The Great British Bake Off saw Maxy fail to make the semi-final after she struggled with soggy pastry.

The 29-year-old architectural assistant was sent home from the tent in Pastry Week as the judges felt her vol-au-vents had a soggy bottom, and her filo pastry in her Showstopper was not cooked enough.

Maxy said: "I can't believe it. I had a bad, bad week, I knew it was me. I was hoping my Showstopper would have saved me, But I'm happy. I'm proud I made it this far."

Read more: The Great British Bake Off pastry week: Why is Paul Hollywood so cross?

Judge Paul Hollywood consoled her that she had achieved a lot by making it the quarter-final.

Maxy failed to make the semi-final of Bake Off after her pastry skills fell flat. (Channel 4)

Cardiovascular research assistant Syabira, 32, was made Star Baker for the third week in a row.

But she was in tears, sobbing: "Maxy is leaving! I'm sad, my best buddy, I feel so confused. I dont know where to be happy or cry."

She added: "Next week is still a clean slate, I have to fight for a spot in the final, which is a dream for me."

The bakers were challenged with making sweet vol-au-vents, deep fried spring rolls and a pie Showstopper scene depicting a children's book or nursery rhyme.

But the judges and hosts all agreed that their pasty skills had been disappointing.

Syabira was made Star Baker for the third week in a row. (Channel 4)

Noel Fielding said: "It's the quarter final - you want it to be amazing and it just wasn't."

Judge Prue Leith agreed: "It was disappointing. For three out of five of them the pastry wasn't very good and all their pies were dry inside."

Swedish Maxy made a globe pie out of filo pastry surrounded by shortcrust stars to represent Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

Hollywood told her: "The globe -I would have baked that filo for longer it should be flaky. I think filo was the wrong choice."

Nanny Sandro, 30, narrowly escaped going home after serving up his Very Hungry Caterpillar pies in a soft, non-descript pastry.

Asked what kind of pastry he was using he said: "I don't know the name of the pastry but it's done with flour and water."

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Sandro scraped through to the semi-final after serving up dodgy pastry. (Channel 4)

Leith said the pastry was soft and raw, while Hollywood said: "It's like a sandwich rather than a pie. You've lost your way with this pasty."

Almost all the bakers served up undercooked vol-au-vents. Maxy's impressed on flavour but Hollywood told her: "It's a bit raw at the bottom... you do get that overriding flavour of raw pastry."

Malaysian Syabira's vol-au-vents were deemed to be "two minutes away from perfect".

And while her Jack and the Beanstalk pie scene looked underwhelming, Hollywood said: "It's clever using this pastry because it's bullet proof and cant go wrong - flaky, buttery, falls apart."

Leith said her filling of chicken rendang tasted' "luscious" and "unctuous".

Read more: Great British Bake Off 2022: Which baker went splat in custard week?

Also going through to the semi final of The Great British Bake Off 2022 are 30-year-old nanny Sandro from Angola; electronics engineer Abdul, 29, from Saudi Arabia and Polish head teacher's PA Janusz, 34.

Watch: Former Great British Bake Off contestants reveal who they are tipping to win this year
ABC News

Republican officials in two counties in Arizona and Pennsylvania declined on Monday to certify their midterm election results, with some citing concerns about the integrity of the voting system that have become commonplace among conservatives. Republicans on the election boards of Cochise County in Arizona and Luzerne County in Pennsylvania voted against motions to certify the election results there.
San Francisco police officers and F.B.I. agents gather in front of the home of U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on October 28, 2022 in San Francisco. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Conspiracy theories spread fast after Nancy Pelosi's husband was attacked in their home.

They were boosted by Elon Musk and a slew of influential Republicans.

Prosecutors say the attacker was politically motivated and was looking for Pelosi.

On Monday, Fox News host Tucker Carlson devoted a segment of his show to spreading doubt about the attack on Paul Pelosi, the 82-year-old husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Ignoring key parts of official reports on the incident, Carlson asked how the attacker, David DePape, had gained access to the couple's San Francisco home, even though police said he in through a window.

He also asserted that the motive for the attack was unclear, although the attacker published a blog expressing support for far-right conspiracy theories and told police he wanted to break Nancy Pelosi's knees.

"This was politically motivated," San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins had said at a press conference earlier, and implored the public to "watch the words that we say and to turn down the volume of our political rhetoric."

Carlson's monologue alluded to conspiracy theories about the attack that spread across social media over the weekend, the goal of which seems to be to absolve Republicans of blame for possibly inspiring the attacker.

Far-right influencers pushed rumors, all without evidence and explicitly refuted by police, that Pelosi knew his attacker, or was even involved in a gay relationship with him.

Matt Gertz, a research at Media Matters, a liberal media-monitoring group, described the conspiracy posts as a way for their advocates to invert the truth.

DePape he said, is "a man who committed political violence because he was consumed by these right-wing conspiracy theories about how depraved the left is, and they're turning it into a new conspiracy theory about how depraved the left is."

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Baseless claims about the attack started to circulate on social media within hours of the news being reported on Friday, with far-right influencers quickly seizing on details from initial reports to spin an alternative narrative.

They highlighted a tweet by a local reporter, later retracted, saying that the attacker had been found partly clothed, layering on that a suggestion of sexual impropriety.

They also claimed police statements suggested that a third individual had let police into the property to stop the attack.

Officers later said that interference was false, stressing that Pelosi and the assailant were the only people there when officers arrived and didn't know each other.

"The way these conspiracy theories are generated and propagate is through a really vast number of individuals on social media, on pro-Trump message boards, who are looking around for the sort of raw materials to build these sorts of alternative narratives," said Gertz.

He said the claims are then cited and pushed by conspiracist and far-right websites, and make their way "up the food chain" to more influential figures.

The Pelosi conspiracy theory received an unexpected boost when it was shared on Saturday by Elon Musk, Twitter's new owner, who has pledged to roll back policies on the site designed to restrict the spread of disinformation, casting himself as a champion of free speech.

Responding to a tweet by Hillary Clinton blaming Republican rhetoric for the attack, he shared a report by a fringe site, The Santa Monica Observer, on baseless rumors about Paul Pelosi knowing the attacker.

The site has been identified by the LA Times as a fake-news outlet that seeks to mimic local news publications but instead pushes disinformation. Its past reporting has included the claim that Hillary Clinton is dead.

Musk later deleted the tweet, and pivoted to criticizing The New York Times.

Right-wing influencers have hailed Musk's takeover of the platform, but he has difficult decisions to make in the future over whether to indulge his fondness for stirring controversy, and risk alienating advertisers.

"Advertisers don't want to run ads on a platform that is a complete and total cess pit," said Gertz.

By Monday, attempts to discredit the facts about the attack were spreading among mainstream right-wing figures, including Donald Trump Jr and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, having initially expressed sympathy for the Pelosis, retweeted a conservative influencer, Matt Walsh, questioning the ideological loyalties of the suspect, and the prosecutors' version of events.

And on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump in an interview with podcaster Chris Stigall referenced baseless speculation that broken glass found at the scene suggested there had been no break in.

"Weird things going on in that household in the last couple of weeks. The glass it seems was broken from the inside to the out so it wasn't a break in, it was a break out," said Trump.

For Gertz, it falls into a familiar pattern of how right-wing influencers seek to manipulate information.

"They're finding little pieces of information and holding on to them and merging them together. And in doing so, creating an alternate narrative that is useful for them politically, even as it seems to bear no connection to reality," he said of those promoting the claims.

Read the original article on Business Insider
BBC Radio Bristol

The government has said it is "concerned" and "disappointed" by planned cuts to BBC local radio output.

Media minister Julia Lopez said there would be "serious questions" if the move to merge some programmes meant local content was not being delivered.

Under proposals announced on Monday, the 39 local radio stations in England would share more shows.

The BBC said the plans would prioritise digital content and "grow the value we deliver to local audiences everywhere".

Local radio stations would keep their own schedules from 6am to 2pm but usually share programming after that, including having a single "all-England" show from 10pm.

The broadcaster said the reorganisation would create 11 investigative reporting teams across the country, with a priority on digital content, focusing on key local issues.

Ms Lopez acknowledged the BBC was "operationally and editorially independent from the government", but told the House of Commons that local radio "plays a vital role in reflecting local experiences and delivering local news".

She said: "For those older residents living in rural areas, it can be a particular lifeline. The BBC must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK.

"We recognise in the current fiscal context the BBC, like other organisations, is facing difficult financial decisions.

"But we are also concerned that the BBC is making such far-reaching decisions, particularly about its local news provision, without setting out further detail on how it will impact its audiences and the communities it serves."

Ms Lopez said she would raise her concerns when she meets the BBC's chairman and director general next week.

Some local radio presenters took to social media to say they had been placed at risk of redundancy.

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Almost ALL staff on BBC Local Radio have been placed at risk of redundancy today. Many may be moved to new roles. ALL presenter roles are closing. Presenters will have to re-apply for new on air jobs. I think it would be fair to say we are stunned and upset here.  Andy Comfort (@andycomfort) November 1, 2022

The Conservative chair of the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Julian Knight MP, also said he had "very real concerns over potential loss of local distinctiveness through these proposed cuts".

The BBC said it would maintain its overall spending on local services but move 19m from broadcast services to online and multimedia production, including delivering "a wider range of local audio programming" through BBC Sounds.

About 48 staff posts will be lost, although that figure includes 40 resulting from the previously-announced closure of the We Are England TV documentary strand.

On Monday, BBC director of nations Rhodri Talfan Davies said: "The plans will help us connect with more people in more communities right across England, striking a better balance between our broadcast and online services and ensuring we remain a cornerstone of local life for generations to come."

The corporation had no further comment on Tuesday in response to Ms Lopez's remarks.

Labour's shadow media minister, Stephanie Peacock MP, said: "The government's looming threat of scrapping the licence fee while providing no alternative model has done nothing but further destabilise the position of the BBC. The consequence of this instability is now showing."

In January, the licence fee was frozen at 159 for the next two years by the government, which director general Tim Davie said would result in a 285m funding gap in the final year of the BBC's current royal charter in 2027. There is a debate about whether the licence fee will be scrapped after that.
President Biden is traveling to San Diego on Thursday and Friday, less than a week out from Election Day.

He will participate in a political event on Thursday for Democratic Rep. Mike Levin, who is in a competitive race this cycle, the White House announced on Tuesday.

On Friday, the president will deliver remarks at an official event, with no further details forthcoming.

The president will kick off his visit out West earlier on Thursday, when he heads to New Mexico. There, he will deliver remarks on student debt relief and participate in a rally for the Democratic National Committee before leaving for California.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates Levins race in California as a toss-up.

Biden earlier this month traveled to Irvine, Calif., to give remarks on Medicare alongside Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), who is in a competitive race the Cook Political Report also rates as a toss-up.

Biden won California with more than 63 percent of the vote in 2020 and his visit, just before the midterms, highlights how Democrats are on the defense in races throughout the country, even in traditionally blue states.

Similarly in New Mexico, another state Biden won in 2020, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) is in a tight reelection against Republican challenger Mark Ronchetti. A recent poll shows her holding a 3 percentage point led over Ronchetti.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FEDERAL COURT UPDATE FOR ONLINE

BILLINGS  A Billings man convicted of multiple crimes stemming from an investigation into kidnapping minors, transportation of persons for illegal sexual activity, drug trafficking and firearms offenses was sentenced on Oct. 27 to life in prison, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters found Angelo Corey Stackhouse, 52, guilty on June 16 of all seven counts charged in a superseding indictment following a bench trial. The charges included transportation of a person with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, distribution of cocaine to a person under the age of 21, distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and two counts of kidnapping.

District Judge Watters presided at sentencing. There is no parole in the federal system.

This significant sentence will protect the public and community, especially vulnerable girls and women, from Stackhouse for a long time. Stackhouse is a violent predator who used threats and drugs to assault and exploit women and children for his own sexual interest while also distributing cocaine and methamphetamine in the community. I hope that with this sentence, the victims can begin to heal from the trauma and abuse Stackhouse inflicted, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

In court documents and in evidence presented at trial, the government alleged that in early 2020, Stackhouse trafficked illegal narcotics, primarily cocaine. Stackhouse went to Denver to obtain cocaine for redistribution in the Billings community through the summer of 2020.

During this time, Stackhouse transported a 20-year-old female to Colorado and sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions while providing her with cocaine. While brandishing a firearm, he also threatened and feigned a sexual assault against a homeless adult female to whom he provided drugs and told the drugs were not free.

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On separate occasions, one in September 2020 and another in April 2021, Stackhouse kidnapped two minor girls for the purpose of sexually assaulting them in hotel rooms in Billings. One of the minor victims was from the Crow Indian Reservation and the second minor victim was from Billings. Multiple other adult females testified at trial that Stackhouse sexually assaulted them.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno B. Baucus and Bryan T. Dake prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Montana Department of Justices Division of Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Billings Police Department and Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office.

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Billings man gets life sentence for sex trafficking, including minors
A 37-year-old Washington man was arrested on suspicion of two felonies after police alleged he robbed a Boise bank.

At 2:15 p.m. Monday, officers from the Boise Police Department were called to the 7700 block of West Fairview Avenue after a report of a bank robbery, according to a news release from the department. Police did not disclose the name of the bank, but there is a Wells Fargo located in that area.

The man, who is from Maple Valley, Washington, was arrested on suspicion of felony robbery, felony killing or mistreatment of a police dog, and misdemeanor resisting or obstructing officers during an arrest or seizure, police said. Officers and the K-9 were were not injured, police said.

Authorities said the man demanded money and left the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash. The officers, who were given a description of the man, then began to look for him with the assistance of a Boise police K-9, according to the news release.

The man was located outside a building down the street at the 7200 block of Fairview, police said.

The suspect repeatedly would not comply with officer demands and kept one hand in his pocket, the news release said.

The officers tried to use the K-9 to take the man into custody, but the man pulled out a knife and attempted to slash at the dog, police said. The officers then used a taser to detain and arrest the man.

He was taken to a local hospital before being booked into the Ada County Jail. He was booked into the jail late Monday night, online jail records showed.
Sushmita Sen is now filming the role of trans activist Gauri Sawant

The leading role in a Bollywood film about a transgender activist has been given to the non-trans actress, Sushmita Sen, a former Miss Universe. The decision has divided opinion among India's trans community with some arguing it should have gone to one of many trans actresses waiting for their big break.

The audition had gone well.

Navya Singh was up for the role of the best friend of the leading lady. She had delivered her lines with a confidence that didn't tip into arrogance. She had been friendly with just a flash of sexiness, but not enough to steal limelight. She had, most importantly, remembered her lines.

Yet once she finished, the room remained silent for longer than was comfortable.

Finally, one of the casting directors spoke up.

"But what are you?" he asked Navya, "a woman or a man?"

"I felt my heart sink to my feet," Navya says. "It was the kind of brash comment I had become used to as an actress in Bollywood. But it never got easier."

Navya Singh

At the age of 18, Navya had moved from rural Bihar to Mumbai, the hub of the Hindi film industry, or Bollywood, where she came out as a trans woman.

Once there she started mixing with LGBT dancers and models, designers and actors. Some were recognisable household names involved in the country's most famous movies and advertising campaigns, but others were struggling, especially the trans members of the community. Several people she knew turned to sex work between film, dancing and modelling roles, in order to survive.

"Work for trans people is scarce in Bollywood," she says. "You audition for fashion shows or films but rarely hear back. Even gay fashion designers or producers don't open the door for us."

Some work did come though. Navya took to the catwalk for fashion shows and modelled for Grazia magazine. She became a finalist and brand ambassador for Miss Trans Queen India, the largest beauty pageant for transgender people in the country.

And seven years after she moved to Mumbai, Navya got a recurring role as a trans woman in a dramatic crime series, Savdhaan India. She quickly attracted more than 100,000 followers on Instagram.

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After the first episode aired she got a call from her parents. They hadn't spoken to her since she left Bihar.

Navya was out of touch with her parents for seven years

"They said, 'We are so sorry, we just didn't understand what it meant to be transgender but watching you on TV, we do. You are our child.'"

Navya happily welcomed them back into her life. Things were looking up.

Then in early 2022, the LGBT community in Mumbai was buzzing at the news of a forthcoming TV series. Taali was to be based on the life of Gauri Sawant, a transgender activist from Mumbai who adopted the daughter of a sex worker who had died from Aids. In 2014, Sawant became the first transgender person to petition India's Supreme Court for the right to adopt a child and gained widespread praise for showing a different type of family.

"We were excited when we first heard about Taali, because it meant there was a leading and heroic role about a transgender person," says Navya. "It was a great win for the community. And this was a role we all understood - it was about someone in our community."

Gauri Sawant says being played by Sushmita Sen is a great honour

But In October it was announced that actress Sushmita Sen, one of Navya's Bollywood heroes and a non-trans woman, would be playing the role of Gauri Sawant.

"I was very sad hearing that the role of Gauri had gone to a cisgender [non-trans] actress," says Navya, "and I wasn't the only one."

Several people took to social media to criticise the choice.

"Why is a cis straight woman playing a trans character?" read one tweet. "What year is it? 1995? Get trans actors for trans roles!"

Another Twitter user commented: "I can literally offer a long list of transgender actors who have done exemplary work. But well, what can one expect from Bollywood?"

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjW9NB5Lf-K/

"The issue is that there aren't enough diverse, complex roles for trangender people as it is," transgender actress Kalki Subramaniam tells the BBC.

"The roles we are offered are stereotyped: the sex worker, the background character blessing a wedding, the loud person who curses.

"It is changing in some parts of Indian cinema, like the South Indian film industry. But not Bollywood."

One of India's best-known transgender actress is Anjali Ameer, who starred in the critically acclaimed Tamil-language film, Peranbu, where she played the (trans) love interest of star actor, Mammooty. Anjali is the first transgender woman to play a leading lady in Indian cinema.

Critics praised the role for breaking LGBT cinema stereotypes. Anjali's character essentially "saves" the leading man and his disabled daughter from an isolated life and the three of them form a loving family.

But Anjali Ameer fully supports the casting of Sushmita Sen as Gauri Sawant.

"This casting of someone as famous as Sushmita Sen is a good thing for the transgender community," Anjali tells the BBC. "It means our stories are becoming mainstream. When our stories enter more houses and people can see us as human beings, more roles will follow for us."

Anjali says she is now even being offered roles in South Indian films playing non-trans women.

Anjali Ameer - Indian cinema's first trans leading lady

"There's no doubt that more roles are written for trans people where they are a victim or sex worker. I'm trying to stay away from that. I just want to play good characters," she says. "And I think so does Sushmita Sen. That's what actors do."

It is a view backed by Gauri Sawant herself, the subject of the new TV series, who posted online that it was a "great honour for my community" that Bollywood legend Sushmita Sen had chosen to play her.

Sushmita responded, "Let's do this!"

Recently Navya was invited to play a minor part in Taali. But after a day of waiting on set, she was told to go home and that she would no longer be needed. She says the decision devastated her.

"It's quite common in film sets for production schedules to change and people to no longer be needed," she says, "But when you're a trans woman in Bollywood, it seems to happen more often. Your time isn't valued and your face isn't needed. You are a background character that is there to serve a mainstream audience."

Navya dances in night clubs to make money for rent, while auditioning for modelling and film roles. She dreams of characters that are complex and strong, beautiful and desired but knows that those parts, in the Hindi-film industry of Bollywood at least, are few and far between for trans actresses. Which is why so many hopes had been pinned on Taali and the role of Gauri Sawant.

"Gauri means so much to us and our community," she says. "Imagine what a powerful statement it would have been if a trans actress could have played her. It would have changed her career. She would have been mainstream."
Customs and Border Patrol fired pepper balls at a group of Venezuelan migrants after one of them assaulted an agent with a flag pole shortly after noon on Monday near El Paso, Texas, officials said.

The Venezuelan protesters, one of them hoisting a large Venezuelan flag, attempted to illegally cross the Rio Grande International Boundary into the United States around 12:20 p.m.

"One of the protesters assaulted an agent with a flag pole, at which time agents responded by initiating crowd control measures," a CBP spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "These measures included the use of the authorized less-lethal force pepperball launching system."

The altercation comes after the Biden administration announced a new policy earlier this month mandating that Venezuelans be returned to Mexico if they are caught entering the U.S. illegally.

The National Border Patrol Union tweeted that migrants were also throwing rocks and corrected a reporter who said the agents were firing rubber bullets.

"Agents were using pepper ball launchers which are designed to disperse large crowds of unruly people," the union said.

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A new parole program was also introduced to allow for up to 24,000 Venezuelans to enter the U.S. by air, but they must have a financial supporter in the U.S., pass biometric screening, and complete public health requirements. It's similar to a program that the U.S. implemented for Ukrainian migrants after Russia's invasion.

SOUTHERN BORDER MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS ROSE TO OVER 200,000 IN AUGUST, AS NUMBERS FROM VENEZUELA, CUBA SPIKE

Venezuelan migrants have increasingly been fleeing to the United States in recent months amid political and economic turmoil in their home country.

There were more than 25,000 encounters of Venezuelan migrants at the border in August, an increase 4,000 in April and just 6,000 in August 2021.

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Encounters of Venezuelan migrants have fallen in the past three weeks in the wake of the new policy mandating that they remain in Mexico.

"The number of Venezuelans arriving at the southern border decreased sharply nearly every day since we launched additional joint actions with Mexico to reduce irregular migration and create a more fair, orderly and safe process for people fleeing the humanitarian and economic crisis in their country," CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus said in a statement.
(Bloomberg) -- Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro vowed to respect the constitution and authorized the government to start the political transition after his loss to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

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While stopping short of formally conceding defeat, the brief remarks made by the president almost 48 hours after the election were seen by investors, analysts and the courts alike as enough of a gesture to lay to rest lingering concerns about a smooth transition of power.

Ive always been labeled as antidemocratic but unlike my accusers, Ive always played by the rules, Bolsonaro said Tuesday at his official residence in Brasilia. As president and a citizen, Ill continue to follow our constitution.

The president also called for pro-government protests that have blocked major highways across the country to be suspended, describing them as leftist methods.

Bolsonaro departed immediately after his two-minute speech, without mentioning his opponent or formally accepting Sundays loss. It was up to his Chief of Staff Ciro Nogueira to acknowledge the electoral defeat, saying the president had authorized him to formally begin the government transition.

Nogueira added theyll wait for the incoming administration to formalize Vice President-elect Geraldo Alckmin as head of the process, with the idea of beginning it Thursday. Wednesday is a holiday in Brazil.

Brazils Supreme Court said in a statement that, by ordering the beginning of the transition, Bolsonaro acknowledged the final result of the election.

Formal Transition

The carefully staged speech by the right-wing leader often compared to Donald Trump is a major step to ensure an orderly handover of power in Latin Americas largest economy. Lula, 77, won Sundays election by about 2 million votes, or less than 2 percentage points -- the narrowest margin in Brazils recent history.

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Brazils real and Ibovespa stock index pared some gains after Bolsonaro ended his speech, but still closed higher. The currency strengthened 0.6% and the benchmark equity gauge rose 0.8%.

Read More: Brazil Markets Advance on Signs Bolsonaro Will Cede Power

The country has been on a knifes edge since Sunday night when the electoral court announced the official outcome of the runoff election. While congress leaders, global figures like US President Joe Biden and many of Bolsonaros key allies were quick to congratulate the challenger, the conservative president remained out of the public eye. Meanwhile, truck drivers and some of his staunchest supporters protested the result by blocking major roadways and snarling traffic around the capital Brasilia and large cities like Sao Paulo.

As of 6:35 p.m. local time, highway police had cleared almost 400 road closures, though blockades were still reported in states including Para in the North and Santa Catarina in the South.

While Bolsonaro did not explicitly recognize Lulas victory, the upside is that he said that he is going to play by the rules of the constitution, said Deysi Cioccari, a political scientist at the Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo. The unsaid is as important as what was said.

BRAZIL REACT: Lula Wins, Task Now Is Credible Fiscal Policy

During his four years in power, Bolsonaro, 67, repeatedly cast doubt on Brazils electronic voting system, claiming that it could be rigged against him. The accusations fueled concern at home and abroad of a contested result and unrest akin to the Jan. 6 riots in the US Capitol.

Read More: Brazil Markets Gain as Bolsonaro Expected to Deliver Speech

The race was the most bitterly fought contest of the nations nearly four-decade old democracy, pitting a one-time army captain and populist against Lula, a two-term former president from Brazils left.

Diego Arguelhes, a constitutional law professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo, said it was important to take into account what Bolsonaros chief of staff said after the short speech -- that they will begin the transition.

Thats enough of a concession to avoid personal liability for the blocked roads, he said. But it still fuels, to some extent, his narrative of electoral fraud and partial electoral judges. He portrays himself as a victim of the system, as usual.

--With assistance from Isadora Calumby, Simone Iglesias, Peter Millard and Beatriz Reis.

(Updates with road blockades in eleventh paragraph)

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2022 Bloomberg L.P.
BRASILIA, Brazil - In a somewhat anti-climactic conclusion to the uncertainty surrounding the Brazilian presidential election, incumbent Jair Bolsonaro addressed the media in front of the presidential residence, pledging fidelity to the Constitution, and implicitly criticizing the bias in the country's Supreme Court: "I have always been labeled anti-democratic, but unlike my accusers, I have always adhered to the Constitution. I have never spoken of controlling or censoring the media or social networks. As president of the Republic I will continue to adhere to our Constitution."

While affirming his support for peaceful protest, he warned his supporters against rash actions: "our methods cannot be those of the left, which have always harmed the population, such as invasion or destruction of private property, and restriction of the right to come and go." This was an implicit call to his fervent trucker supporters to disband their roadblocks, which have led to transit disruptions across the country. Bolsonaro further announced that Minister Ciro Nogueira will be charged with heading up the transition team to work with the next administration. Lula da Silva will assume office in January of 2023.

Following an excruciatingly close presidential election on Sunday, which saw leftist former President Lula da Silva win, with 50.9% to incumbent Jair Bolsonaros 49.1%, a tense nation waited as Bolsonaro disappeared from public view. A small crowd of Bolsonaro supporters gathered outside the Palacio da Alvorada in Brasilia, the Brazilian equivalent of the White House, hoping to hear the former army captain speak. It was not to be. Michelle Bolsonaro, the first lady, tweeted out a Psalm, but Bolsonaro himself, has yet to make any public pronouncements.

BRAZIL ELECTION: LULA DA SILVA WINS PRESIDENCY AS NATION SWINGS LEFT  WILL BOLSONARO ACCEPT THE RESULTS?

Angry Bolsonaro supporters railed against the Supreme Court and an establishment that they believe conspired to return Lula to power.

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The most visible signs of protest involved a series of protests blocking key highways around the country, mainly in Sao Paulo, Goias and Mato Grosso states. Truckers, a longtime key constituency of the Bolsonaro movement, were often spearheading the efforts. The protests caused delays and cancelations at the nations largest airport, Guarulhos, in the northeastern suburbs of Sao Paulo.

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By Monday night, there were an estimated 300 roadblocks in 20 of Brazils 26 states, with more continuing Tuesday, prompting a Supreme Court order to clear the roadways and threatening the perpetrators with massive fines for obstructing transport and infrastructure.

Sao Paulo Federal Deputy Kim Kataguiri, a Bolsonaro supporter turned critic, lambasted the protesters in a Twitter post last night.

BRAZIL ELECTION: COUNTRY'S COURTS ACCUSED OF TAKING SIDE OF LULA AGAINST INCUMBENT BOLSONARO

"Until yesterday, closing the road was a MST terrorist thing. Now it has become a Bolsonarist patriot thing. All this with the eloquent silence of Jair Bolsonaro. No one has been fooled into believing that all this delay to speak is not premeditated."

The MST, or Landless Workers Movement, is a radical Marxist group that is a key element of Brazils political left-wing, and has long been known for boisterous protests and invasions of land and private property.

Bolsonaro was not expected to receive a loss with good grace or humor, but political analysts, nonetheless, are speculating as to what Bolsonaros strategy is with nearly 48 hours having elapsed since final election results were known.

However, few believe a rupture of the democratic order, or a military coup, is likely. Jair Bolsonaro is likely to acknowledge election results, share a list of grievances and complain of interference on the part of the nations Supreme Court, a frequent Bolsonaro adversary.

Despite Sundays loss, the Bolsonaro movement is not going anywhere and is likely to remain a powerful political force. Bolsonaro ran a spirited campaign and won the southern half of the country nearly in its entirety; however, he was unable to overcome the strength of Lulas organizational operation in the Workers Party stronghold of the Northeast region.

BRAZIL ELECTION: BOLSONARO, TRAILING BEHIND LULA IN POLLS, SCORES KEY ENDORSEMENT

Bolsonaro-aligned administrations also control the three largest states in the country.

Former Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo, in comments to Fox News Digital, argued, "Bolsonaro relied on professional politicians to run his campaign, and they failed, either for incompetence or bad faith. Bolsonaro's campaign was basically run on not being Lula, but he didn't bring any concrete proposals to the table."

Araujo views these politicians as promoting a strategy detrimental to the charismatic essence of Bolsonaro.

"Before the first round electionhe began to draw more heavily on conservative principles. Thus he was able to ignite his base and got close to victory, but it was too little too late."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP)  Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday stopped short of conceding the election to leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, instead using his first public comments since his defeat two days ago to thank his supporters and encourage their protests, as long as they remain peaceful.

Moments after the remarks, which lasted less than two minutes, the outgoing president's chief of staff, Ciro Nogueira, announced that Bolsonaro had authorized him to begin the process of handing over power.

The conservative leader, who before the election had repeatedly questioned the reliability of the countrys electoral system, had little room for potentially rejecting the results. U.S. President Joe Biden and other international leaders have publicly recognized da Silvas victory, as have some of Bolsonaros closest allies. And Cabinet members, governors-elect and evangelical leaders who have been strident supporters of Bolsonaro are now offering overtures to the incoming leftist government.

Bolsonaro lost Sundays race by a thin margin, garnering 49.1% of the vote to da Silvas 50.9%, according to the nations electoral authority. It was the tightest presidential race since Brazils return to democracy in 1985, and marks the first time Bolsonaro has lost an election in his 34-year political career.

Flanked by more than a dozen ministers and allies as he delivered his short speech at the presidential residence, the fiery leader did not mention the election results, however. Instead, he defended his tenure.

I have always been labeled as anti-democratic and, unlike my accusers, I have always played within the four lines of the constitution, he said.

Bolsonaro also thanked the 58 million people who voted for him and said he supports ongoing protests by truckers who have erected nationwide roadblocks, as long as they don't become violent.

Current popular movements are the result of indignation and a feeling of injustice regarding how the electoral process occurred, he said.

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The president's statement amounted to a two-fold move, said Thomas Traumann, an independent political analyst.

He didnt recognize his defeat, and sustains the suspense," Traumann said. "But as he wants to continue to dominate, to be the leader, he maintains the possibility of peaceful demonstrations.

Much like former U.S. President Donald Trump, whom Bolsonaro openly admires, the far-right incumbent has claimed that electronic voting machines are prone to fraud. He never provided any proof, even when ordered to do so by the electoral court.

Many of his supporters also said they believed the election had been fraudulent and some called for military intervention and for Congress and the Supreme Court to be disbanded.

Earlier Tuesday, the Brazilian Supreme Court ordered the federal highway police to immediately clear the roadblocks.

A majority of the court's justices backed the decision, which accuses the highway police of omission and inertia." Failure to comply will mean its director could be fined up to 100,000 reais (more than $19,000) per hour, be removed from his duties and even face arrest. Federal prosecutors in Sao Paulo and Goias states said they had opened investigations into the blockades.

Highway police said late Tuesday that they had removed 358 blockades, but more than 200 were still in place.

Earlier in Sao Paulo  Brazils most populous state and largest economy  traffic jams around the international airport led to dozens of flight cancellations, with videos on social media showing travelers rolling their suitcases along the highway in the dark trying to catch their flights. The highways had been cleared by Tuesday morning, but airport officials said access remained difficult as traffic was still backed up in and out of the airport.

There, Dalmir Almeida, a 38-year-old protester, told The Associated Press that after completing three days of strikes, he and others will drive their trucks to the military barracks to ask for their support. The army will be in our favor, he added.

At another road block in Sao Paulo state, protesters set tires on fire. Several demonstrators were wrapped in the Brazilian flag, which has been co-opted by the nations conservative movement for demonstrations. Huge lines of cars could be seen snaking along the highway.

Concern about escalation grew as the country's leftist Landless Workers Movement, a key ally of da Silvas that has long staged occupations of what it considers vacant or unused lands, asked its militants on Tuesday to organize demonstrations in several states to unblock roads.

Sao Paulo Gov. Rodrigo Garcia told a news conference that the time for negotiations was over, and he was not ruling out the use of force by law enforcement.

In Minas Gerais, a key battleground state in the election, a video on social media showed a protester telling a reporter from the O Tempo news outlet that the election was fraudulent and warned of future protests. We want Bolsonaro in 2023 and for the years to come," he said.

In Itaborai, a region in Rio de Janeiro state, an Associated Press reporter saw truck drivers kneeling in front of police officers and refusing to evacuate.

Users on social media, including in multiple Telegram and WhatsApp chat groups with names like Paralysation," shared demands that the military take the streets, or that Congress and the Supreme Court be disbanded and the president remain in office.

Following the election, the electoral authority blocked two dozen Telegram groups that defended a military coup and called on their more than 150,000 followers to organize demonstrations, according to online news site UOL.

The Supreme Court's decision on Tuesday permits regular state police forces to reinforce federal highway police. The same was done in 2018, when an 11-day trucker strike brought Brazil to a halt.

Bolsonaro commands wide support from the police forces' rank and file, however, and it wasnt clear how effective their involvement would be.

The 2018 stoppage caused food prices to spike and left supermarket shelves without products as gas stations ran out of fuel. It caused billions in losses and revealed the vast power that truckers possess, particularly when they organize through social media platforms.

Bolsonaro, a lawmaker at the time and months away from winning that year's presidential election, was an outspoken supporter of the truckers, who are now among his constituents. This year, his administration limited interstate fuel taxes to help bring down prices and launched a financial aid program for truckers just months before the election.

In his speech Tuesday, Bolsonaro was "sending a message to his hardcore supporters to keep protesting, said Robert Muggah, co-founder of Igarape Institute, a Rio de Janeiro-based think tank focused on security. Hes playing with fire: Theres a real risk that prolonged unrest and police inaction could ignite simmering tensions.

___

Jeantet reported from Rio de Janeiro. Associated Press producer Diarlei Rodrigues and writer David Biller in Rio contributed to this report.
(Bloomberg) -- Protests by backers of Jair Bolsonaro, led by truck drivers, have spread across the country as the Brazilian president remains silent over his loss in Sundays election, so far refusing to concede defeat to his foe Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

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Supporters of the firebrand president, unhappy with the election result, blocked more than 200 roads across more than a dozen states and the capital and restricted access to Sao Paulo international airport, forcing the cancellation of 25 flights. The protests prompted Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to order the federal highway police to clear the blockades, warning of fines reaching 100,000 reais ($19,306) per hour per vehicle.

Bolsonaro has refused to make any public comments after losing the presidential runoff to Lula by less than 2 percentage points, the narrowest margin for a presidential election in the countrys modern history. Pressure from some allies is building for him to say something to de-escalate the rising tension. His Communications Minister Fabio Faria said late Monday that he will speak today.

Bolsonaro is meeting with heads of the Navy and Air Force at the presidential palace in Brasilia Tuesday morning, in addition to the ministers of defense, justice and public security. Bolsonaros Chief of Staff, Ciro Nogueira, and running mate in the election, General Walter Braga Netto, are also attending.

Bolsonaro is too isolated to successfully challenge the results, said Mario Braga, an analyst with Control Risks in Sao Paulo. While demonstrations by truck drivers and supporters allow him to create a narrative that he has broad backing, the conditions for him to stay in power simply arent there.

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In addition to highways, the port of Paranagua in Parana state was blocked by protesters, according to a statement, while the head of the Brazilian supermarkets association said that some shortages have already begun to be reported by members.

Braga said its important to watch how quickly the federal highway police moves to clear roads as its director is an ally of the president. Since Monday evening, the number of blockades has fallen.

The uncertainty could put a dent in the rally seen in Brazilian assets following the vote. The real pared early gains to trade 0.1% stronger on Tuesday while stocks climbed 0.2%.

Markets are on edge waiting for Bolsonaro to address the outcome of the election, said Brendan McKenna, a strategist at Wells Fargo in New York. My base case scenario is an orderly transition of power, but if Bolsonaro opts for a hostile challenge of the election markets will certainly react negatively.

Lula, who is focused on organizing the transition team ahead of taking over on Jan. 1, hasnt commented on the protests. Gleisi Hoffmann, the head of his Workers Party, said on Monday the strikes are political and up to Bolsonaro to resolve, according to newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo.

Read More: Lula Edges Out Bolsonaro to Win Presidency of Divided Brazil

The federation of truckers, which represents the main transportation companies in the South American nation, disavowed the protests. But its unclear the sway it has over individual truckers.

Truck drivers are one of the main bases of Bolsonaros support and yield significant political power in the geographically vast country. They organize mostly in grassroots groups, with no clear leadership, which makes negotiations particularly tricky. Back in 2018, a strike over diesel prices lasted for about 10 days and caused major economic harm to the country.

The presidents oldest son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, appeared to accept the election result in a Twitter post on Monday when he thanked his fathers supporters and said they wouldnt give up on Brazil.

The presidents decision to not immediately concede isnt a complete surprise given his long history of attacks against Brazils electoral system. But a prolonged dispute could test the countrys institutional strength.

The heads of the countrys senate and lower house quickly accepted the outcome on Sunday night along with the supreme court justices and some of Bolsonaros closest allies. US President Joe Biden also congratulated Lula in a phone call on Monday. The Armed Forces have yet to comment.

Read More: Biden Congratulates Lula in Call as Bolsonaro Remains Silent

Rodrigo Garcia, the outgoing governor of Sao Paulo state who supported Bolsonaro in the runoff, said he recognizes Lulas victory and were all waiting for the president to do the same.

The presidents silence could hurt the transition process. By law, Brazils government needs to organize a formal handover process right after the vote, with the president-elect allowed to nominate 50 people to meet officials and exchange government information. The outgoing administration typically coordinates with the team of the next president during the following two months so there is a smooth transition.

While a strategy to try to discredit the election is unlikely to yield a favorable result for Bolsonaro, that can be a tactic to keep his base mobilized to oppose a Lula administration, Eurasia Group analysts wrote in a report.

We are watching the truckers road blockades across the country and their potential to spread, remain persistent and become very disruptive, said Valerie Ho, a portfolio manager at DoubleLine Group LP in Los Angeles. Financial markets are cautious of the tail risk for a prolonged disruption.

--With assistance from Eslen Brito, Dayanne Sousa, Maria Elena Vizcaino, Carolina Wilson and Guilherme Bento.

(Updates with analyst quote in fifth paragraph.)

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Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks from his official residence of Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, the leader's first public comments since losing the Oct. 30 presidential runoff. AP Photo/Eraldo Peres

Brazil's Bolsonaro addressed the nation for the first time since losing Sunday's election.

He did not concede defeat, nor did he congratulate Lula on his victory, according to media reports.

But Bolsonaro's chief of staff said the president will allow the government to start transitioning power.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro addressed the nation publicly for the first time on Tuesday since losing his tightly contested election  but he didn't formally concede the race.

In a short speech from his official residence in Brasilia, the far-right Trump ally Bolsonaro didn't accept defeat, nor did he offer his congratulations to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, or Lula, according to media reports.

Bolsonaro hadn't made any remarks since his narrow defeat on Sunday, which saw Brazil elect leftist candidate Lula. Some feared that Bolsonaro would turn to baseless election fraud claims  mirroring a playbook like that of his ally former President Donald Trump  should he lose.

While Bolsonaro refused to concede, his chief of staff Ciro Nogueira took the podium after his speech and said the government would transition power.

"President Bolsonaro has authorized me  when requested, based on the law  to start the transition process," Bolsonaro's chief of staff Ciro Nogueira said on Tuesday, the New York Times reported.

After Lula was declared the winner, amassing 50.9% of the votes to Bolsonaro's 49.1%, Western leaders quickly congratulated him in a move experts said was an effort to ward off any attempts to undermine the results.

"I send my congratulations to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on his election to be the next president of Brazil following free, fair, and credible elections," President Joe Biden said. "I look forward to working together to continue the cooperation between our two countries in the months and years ahead."

Supporters of Bolsonaro, however, took to the streets after Sunday's contest and blocked roads around the country, demanding that the election results should be overturned. During his speech on Tuesday, Bolsonaro thanked his supporters but asked them to stop the blockades, according to the Times.

"Peaceful demonstrations will always be welcome," he said, the paper reported. "But our methods cannot be those of the left, like property invasion, destruction of goods, and restrictions on the right to come and go."

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By Ricardo Brito, Brian Ellsworth and Rodrigo Viga Gaier

BRASILIA/SAO PAULO/RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday did not concede defeat in his first public remarks since losing Sunday's election, saying protests by his supporters were the fruit of "indignation and a sense of injustice" over the vote.

However, he stopped short of contesting the election result and authorized his chief of staff, Ciro Nogueira, to begin the transition process with representatives of leftist President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

It took Bolsonaro, a right-wing nationalist, more than 44 hours to comment after the election was decided by electoral authorities, with the delay raising fears he would seek to cast doubt on the narrow result.

Amid his silence, supporters blocked highways to protest his defeat, with some calling for a military coup to stop former president Lula from returning to power.

The highway blockades have disrupted fuel distribution, supermarket supplies, and the flow of grains exports to major ports, according to industry groups.

In his brief national address, Bolsonaro joked that journalists would miss him, thanked those who voted for him and said he would abide by the constitution, which stipulates a transition of power on Jan. 1.

"The current popular movements are the fruit of indignation and a sense of injustice about the way the electoral process took place," he said.

He said protesters should avoid destroying property or "impeding the right to come and go," but did not tell them to return home.

"Bolsonaro has not put out this fire. He spoke to his hardcore supporters without criticizing the demonstrators on the highways," said political risk analyst Andre Cesar at Hold Legislative Advisors in Brasilia. "He is keeping his more extremist followers mobilized."

Karina Laurinda, 34, who took part in highway demonstrations outside of Sao Paulo, said she would keep protesting.

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"Even if he says to calm down, not to react, we're still going to react because we won't accept a Lula government," she said.

LULA CONTACTS

Bolsonaro's chief of staff and Vice President Hamilton Mourao have begun to make contact with the Lula camp to discuss a transition. Other allies, including the speaker of the lower house of Congress, have called since Sunday for the Bolsonaro government to respect the election result.

In a statement, the Supreme Court said it considered that, by authorizing the government transition, Bolsonaro was recognizing the result of the election.

During a meeting later on Tuesday between Bolsonaro and several Supreme Court justices, the president acknowledged clearly that Lula had won the election, according to two of the justices who took part.

"It cleared the air, without a doubt. It seemed to turn the page," said one of the judges, who requested anonymity to discuss the meeting frankly.

"The message was: game over," said the other judge. "He didn't criticize the electoral system or the courts."

Before Sunday's vote, Bolsonaro repeatedly made baseless claims that the electoral system was open to fraud and accused electoral authorities of favoring his leftist adversary.

Bolsonaro did not directly repeat those claims on Tuesday. But his reference to "injustice" in the electoral process showed he had learned from the post-presidency of U.S. President Donald Trump, his ideological ally, according to Leonardo Barreto, political analyst at Vector Consultancy in Brasilia.

Trump has continued to repeat false claims that the 2020 U.S. election was "stolen" by widespread fraud and retains a significant core of supporters who believe them.

"He is going to copy Trump for the next four years to keep his conservative movement alive," said Barreto, forecasting that the 2026 election would be a rematch between Bolsonaro and Lula's Workers Party.

Lula's victory represents a stunning comeback for the 77-year-old former metalworker, who spent 19 months in jail for corruption convictions before they were annulled last year.

Lula has vowed to overturn many of Bolsonaro's policies, including pro-gun measures and weak protection of the Amazon rainforest. His aides confirmed on Tuesday that he would attend this month's COP27 United Nations climate summit in Egypt.

Lula's centrist running mate, former Sao Paulo Governor Geraldo Alckmin, will coordinate the transition, the Workers Party announced on Tuesday, with the help of party leader Gleisi Hoffmann and former Education Minister Aloizio Mercadante.

Nogueira, Bolsonaro's chief of staff, told journalists that the president had authorized him to begin the transition process with Alckmin once his name is formally submitted on Thursday.

(Reporting by Ricardo Brito, Marcela Ayres and Anthony Boadle in Brasilia, and Brian Ellsworth, Nayara Figuereido and Gabriel Araujo in Sao Paulo; Editing by Brad Haynes, Alistair Bell, Rosalba O'Brien & Shri Navaratnam)
Jair Bolsonaro casts his vote Sunday in Brasilia, Brazil. Bolsonaro remained silent about the election results until Tuesday.

Jair Bolsonaro casts his vote Sunday in Brasilia, Brazil. Bolsonaro remained silent about the election results until Tuesday.

SAO PAULO  Far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro did not concede his Sunday election defeat to leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during a brief address Tuesday, but his chief of staff said that transition to the countrys next president will nevertheless begin this week.

Bolsonaros brief speech  he spoke for about 90 seconds  at the presidential palace in Brasilia broke his nearly 48 hours of tense silence since the results were confirmed on Sunday. He did not expressly acknowledge or accept the results or mention da Silva, who won the race by about 2 million votes (or 2 percentage points).

Instead, he said only that he would continue to fulfill the constitution.

Ciro Nogueira, his chief of staff, told reporters in a similarly brief statement that transition proceedings would begin immediately. But the lack of a formal acceptance from Bolsonaro, along with ongoing demonstrations from his supporters across the country, will leave at least some uncertainty hanging over Brazils immediate future.

Whether the right-wing leader would accept defeat has always been far from assured: Bolsonaro has spent the last two years spreading conspiracy theories about voter fraud and attacking Brazils election system in an effort to undermine his potential defeat.

While many world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, and Bolsonaro allies were quick to recognize the result, Bolsonaro himself remained totally silent, sparking concerns that he would try to contest the results. And while his chief communications officer suggested Monday that Bolsonaro would not contest the results, the presidents failure to acknowledge his loss allowed uncertainty to fester and at least some chaos to break out across Brazil.

Since Sunday evening, pro-Bolsonaro truckers have blockaded hundreds of highways and roads in at least 23 Brazilian states in protest of the results. Some of the truckers, a group that has broadly aligned itself with Bolsonaro throughout his presidency, called for military intervention and burned tires to shut down major highways.

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Protesters on Monday blocked access to Sao Paulos international airport, causing chaos, flight delays and even cancellations that lingered into Tuesday morning.

Bolsonaro used the demonstrations to launch another broadside against the Brazilian electoral process, saying Tuesday that they resulted from indignation and feeling of injustice over the election. He did, however, tell protesters not to impede the right to come and go on major roads.

Brazils Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Federal Highway Police, which is closely aligned with Bolsonaro and had refused to break up many of the blockades, to put an end to the protests, and threatened heavy fines to truckers who persisted. The court accused the highway police of omission and inertia in allowing the protests to continue.

The PRF, as the highway police patrol is known, had already faced accusations of attempting to suppress the votes of da Silva supporters during Sundays election, in defiance of an order from Brazils top electoral court, by stopping and investigating hundreds of public buses carrying voters to the polls.

Polls conducted this year found that a sizable segment of Bolsonaros base did not want him to accept the results of a defeat, but they also suggested that aside from his most hardcore backers, there was little appetite even among the right-wing presidents supporters for a drastic attempt at a democratic rupture in such a scenario.

Biden, whose administration repeatedly expressed confidence in Brazils electoral system and urged Bolsonaro to quit attempting to undermine it over the last two years, was among a large group of international leaders who quickly recognized the election results: The White House issued a statement less than an hour after electoral authorities called da Silva the winner, congratulating the former president and lauding Brazils free, fair and credible elections.

French President Emmanuel Macron and dozens of other leaders issued similar notes. Biden spoke to da Silva by phone on Monday, lending further legitimacy to the results.

Throughout the race, da Silvas campaign and Brazilian civil society groups saw a fast and unwavering international response as a key way to blunt a potential election challenge from Bolsonaro, a close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump whose close following of Trumps efforts to overturn the results of his 2020 loss inspired deep fears of similar actions in Brazil.

Many of Bolsonaros closest allies also recognized the results quickly, even as the president remained holed up in discussions with Cabinet officials, advisers and leaders of the Brazilian military. The armed forces, which Bolsonaro tried to enlist in his efforts to sow doubt about the election, have not yet commented on the results.

Arthur Lira, the conservative head of Brazils lower chamber of Congress, issued a statement Sunday night saying that the results should never be contested. Damares Alves, a former minister in Bolsonaros government, also acknowledged the loss Monday, as did Vice President Hamilton Mourao, who congratulated Geraldo Alckmin, da Silvas running mate, Monday night.

Da Silva told reporters on Saturday that he doubted Bolsonaro would call him after the race, but that he did not need the president to participate in formal ceremonies: If necessary, da Silva said, Ill receive the presidential sash from the Brazilian people.

Still, he was conscious of the potential for delays to derail the transition process between the Oct. 30 election and his inauguration on Jan. 1.

Im half-happy and half-worried, because starting tomorrow, I have to start worrying about how we are going to govern this country, da Silva told throngs of supporters during celebrations in Sao Paulo on Sunday night. I need to know if the president that we have defeated will allow a transition to take place.

Mourao reportedly told Alckmin that the vice presidential transition would proceed normally.

Related...
By Lisandra Paraguassu and Jake Spring

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will participate in this month's COP27 United Nations climate summit in Egypt, the head of his political party said on Tuesday.

Environmentalists cheered Lula's election win on Sunday after he campaigned on promises to protect the Amazon rainforest and restore Brazilian leadership on climate change.

He defeated President Jair Bolsonaro, a right-wing nationalist who has overseen rising deforestation and appointed climate change skeptics as ministers.

Gleisi Hoffman, the head of Lula's Workers Party, on Tuesday confirmed he would attend COP27.

"He was invited by (Amapa state) Governor Waldez Goes, who is coordinating the consortium of Amazon governors, to accompany them," Hoffman said. "He will go, but we don't have the dates yet."

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi also invited Lula to attend the summit in a message congratulating him on his election victory.

COP27 runs from Nov. 6 to 18 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. World leaders generally attend the opening of the conference.

Two people with the Lula campaign, requesting anonymity as plans had not been confirmed, said he would likely attend during the second week of the conference.

Lula will "certainly" meet with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at COP27, among other meetings, his adviser and former Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira told Reuters.

"I have absolute certainty that...various national representatives will request to meet with President Lula," Teixeira said, adding that she was being directly consulted on the matter.

Attending COP27 as president-elect will send the world a strong message that climate is a priority for Brazil, she said.

"Lula is signaling to the developing world that Brazil is back," Teixeira said. "He has signaled that, in his government, Brazil will return to its important role in strengthening multilateralism."

Lula would not be part of Brazil's official government delegation, as he will only assume the presidency on Jan. 1. Bolsonaro is not expected to attend.

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; Additional reporting by Aidan Lewis; Writing by Jake Spring; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Aurora Ellis)
Photo: Pool (Getty Images)

For months now, Republicans on the campaign trail have attempted to distance themselves from their partys disastrous state-level abortion bans. On Sunday night Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R)who literally signed Georgias current, near-total abortion ban into lawcontinued the trend when asked whether he would sign further abortion restrictions into law, during a debate with the Democratic gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams. With the midterms just a week away, it was the second and last time the two went head-to-head on the debate stage.

Im not gonna say yes or no to any specific piece of legislation without seeing exactly what its doing. Its not my desire to go move the needle any further on this issue, Kemp told the moderators. He emphasized that Georgia is a state that values life, and added, I personally dont see a need to go back, but when youre governor, you have to deal with all kinds of legislative issues that are out thereanother non-answer. His ambiguous responses on Sunday are, if anything, a disturbing step backward: Earlier this month, at their first debate, Kemp said its not my desire to enact further abortion restrictions.

Read more

Given Kemps history of attacking reproductive rights, its laughable that hes now attempting to distance himself from the same abortion legislation that he worked to pass. Georgias abortion ban, first signed into law by Kemp in 2019 but blocked from taking effect until Roe fell in June, is the first in the nation to formally establish fetal personhood, conferring legal rights upon literal embryos that supersede the rights of pregnant people. Hes even been caught on a hot mic advocating for restrictions on IVF treatments and banning plan B.

During debate w/ Stacey Abrams, Brian Kemp refuses to say if he would sign even more abortion restrictions into law. Abrams then says Kemp "does not have a plan for the lives of the women who are being forced to carry pregnancies to term" and adds that he defended Herschel Walker pic.twitter.com/hNCau6MNls  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 30, 2022

Of course, Kemps cowardly refusal to publicly speak on abortion at Sundays debate isnt surprisingall polling indicates just how unpopular abortion bans are among voters, and Republican candidates are clearly stressed. Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters literally deleted the page supporting abortion bans from his campaign website in August. Days later, Tom Barrett, a Republican Congressional nominee in Michigan, also scrubbed his website of any mention of abortion. In September, another Republican candidate refused to give any yes or no answers when asked whether he supported abortion bans, ultimately concluding, I would say yes, abortion policy.

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In contrast with Kemp at Sunday nights debate, Abramswhos previously expertly explained why language calling six-week abortion bans fetal heartbeat bans is inaccuratewas more than prepared to answer abortion-related questions. Lets be clear: He did not say he wouldnt [support more restrictive abortion bills], she said of Kemps response. There should not be arbitrary timelines set by men who do not understand biology. This is a law that tells women they have to make a decision about their pregnancy before they know theyre pregnant, in a state with 82 counties without an OBGYN.

Abrams also slammed Kemp for his support of Herschel Walker, Georgias Republican Senate nominee who allegedly paid for two womens abortions despite his public, adamantly pro-life stance: [Kemp] refuses to defend us and yet he defended Herschel Walker, saying that he didnt want to be involved in the personal life of his running mate, but he doesnt mind being involved in the personal medical choices of women in Georgia.

Abrams also pointed out that Georgias fetal personhood abortion ban, currently being challenged in court, opens the door for investigations into people who experience miscarriage or stillbirth. Brian Kemp does not have a plan for the lives of the women who are being forced to carry pregnancies to term that are unwanted pregnancies, she said. But more importantly, he refuses to protect us, he refuses to defend us.

The latest polls show Kemp holding a steep, 52 to 43 percent advantage over Abrams.

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Bridget Jones' Baby Universal Pictures

"Bridget Jones's Diary" author Helen Fielding has said that a fourth movie is in the works.

It'll be based on her 2013 novel "Mad About the Boy," which sees Bridget explore single parenthood.

Renee Zellweger has previously expressed her desire to play the lovelorn Londoner again.

"Bridget Jones's Diary" author Helen Fielding has confirmed that a fourth movie about her self-deprecating and perennially lovelorn Londoner is in the works.

The first installment in the now iconic rom-com series, based on Fielding's 1996 novel of the same name, was released in 2001 and starred Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant. It was followed by a sequel, "Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason" (2004), in which all three stars reprised their roles.

The most recent movie, "Bridget Jones's Baby" (2016), focused on Bridget falling pregnant but not knowing whether the baby's father is her ex, Mark Darcy (Firth), or a charming American named Jack Qwant (Patrick Dempsey). Grant's character, Daniel Cleaver, was written out of the story as he chose not to appear.

In an interview with Radio Times magazine, Fielding was asked whether fans of the franchise can look forward to seeing Bridget back on the big screen anytime soon. In response, she divulged that she is currently working on adapting her 2013 novel "Mad About the Boy."

"Yes, I'm working on it and I really hope it will happen. Every film that gets made is a miracle  it's really difficult to make films happen and to make them good. But I'd love to see it on the screen," she said.

"Mad About the Boy" takes place four years after the tragic death of Mark Darcy and sees Bridget navigate the difficulties of being a single parent and returning to the dating pool as a fifty-something-year-old.

Fielding did not confirm whether any of her previous screenplay cowriters, including Richard Curtis, Emma Thompson, and Andrew Davies, are working with her on the new script.

She also did not mention which cast members would potentially reprise their roles for the film. However, it is unthinkable that the film would go ahead without the involvement of lead star Zellweger.

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Fortunately, over the last few years, the 53-year-old actor has been vocal about her eagerness to return to the role.

"Man, I'd love the experience of revisiting her. I love her. I just think she's so much fun. She's the best. Sure, if I got invited to do that, that sounds like fun," Zellweger told Vanity Fair in January 2021.

Read the original article on Insider
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  Delays in testing evidence from sexual assaults have been a lost opportunity for investigators and a source of frustration for victims for years, prompting California officials to announce Tuesday that they have created a way for survivors to track the progress of linking their rape kits with DNA evidence.

California is also the first state to hire a sexual assault evidence outreach coordinator, Sarai Crain, who will work with investigators, medical facilities and others to help track and process sexual assault evidence.

The new online tracking system was required under a law approved by state lawmakers last year. It follows a 2017 California law that requires law enforcement agencies to submit the evidence for testing within 20 days and requires crime labs to test the evidence within 120 days or provide reasons for any delay.

The goal is to end the backlog of rape kits by local agencies, make sure they are tested quickly once they are submitted, and keep survivors better informed, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said.

Of nearly 6,400 kits collected in 2020, 90% were analyzed by May 2021, according to an annual report by the attorney general's office. The rest were in various stages of processing. About half the tests found DNA that was compared to other DNA on the FBI's database, and nearly 800 resulted in hits or matches with offenders in the database.

Another nearly 200 kits were not submitted for testing for reasons including that the suspect already was known or the victim was not seeking to prosecute. The annual report for last year is not yet completed.

The evidence is collected during medical examinations following sexual assaults, and can be used to link the assault to a suspect in existing DNA databases or develop a DNA profile that can be used in the future.

The new online system provides information to survivors on the status of their sexual assault evidence collected since January 1, 2018. Victims can track whether their kits have been received by a law enforcement agency, are being sent to a laboratory for testing, have been received by a lab, are undergoing DNA analysis or have had the DNA analysis completed.

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California is among 30 states and Washington, D.C., that have committed to establishing a tracking system, according to the End the Backlog website run by the nonprofit Joyful Heart Foundation founded by producer, director, actress, and advocate Mariska Hargitay.

However, that doesnt address the older kits that are some places still sitting on shelves, said Ilse Knecht, the group's director of policy and advocacy.

A 2020 audit looking mainly at kits collected before 2018 found nearly 14,000 untested kits at the local level across the state prior to the new law.

Crain's job is the first of its kind that will focus on the rape kit backlog," Knecht said. The goal is to get those kits that are older than 2018to get a real count of what the number is across the state and then make sure theyre being sent in for testing.

Her job will include linking law enforcement agencies with public or private laboratories, according to Bonta's office. Crain most recently was deputy chief for Oakland's Department of Violence Prevention. Previously she was executive director of Bay Area Women Against Rape, the nations oldest rape crisis center.

Aside from Crain's assistance, Knecht said she will propose that California legislators next year pass a law requiring local agencies to test those old kits.

The tests generated some controversy earlier this year when San Francisco's prosecutor revealed that police there had used a DNA sample collected from a woman during a 2016 rape investigation to link her to a burglary in late 2021. State lawmakers passed a law banning the practice.
California on Tuesday launched a website that allows victims of sexual assault to track the status of the results of their medical exams  an effort to address widespread complaints about wait times due to backlogged cases at local police departments.

The online portal, hosted by the California Department of Justice, allows victims to search for results of rape kits completed after 2018.

Sexual assault forensic exams are completed in hospitals and sent to local law enforcement departments, which are tasked with linking DNA to perpetrators. But in California and nationwide, the evidence has sat on shelves at police and sheriff's departments, in some cases going untested for years.

Nearly 14,000 sexual assault exam kits remained untested in California as of 2020, according to a report by the state attorney general.

Just last month, a lawyer for a woman who accused three former San Diego State football players of gang-raping her at a party last year sued the city, demanding more information, including DNA results, from police nearly a year after her rape exam had been conducted.

The new state website is a result of legislation authored by Sen. Connie Leyva (D-Chino), signed into law last year by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

SB 215 requires the state to allow victims to check the status and location of their exams "privately, securely and electronically."

Proponents of the bill, including the Alameda County district attorney's office, said the process of tracking rape kits has been "cumbersome and not private," requiring victims to contact law enforcement via phone or in person.

"After they have already been sexually assaulted  and after they have bravely endured a long and invasive rape kit exam  it is crucial that we enable survivors to track the status of their rape kit securely whenever they wish," Leyva said.

California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta, who is up for reelection next week, said in a statement Tuesday that the new website, as well as a state-appointed coordinator of the program, will help clear local backlogs and "ensure timely processing" of evidence.

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My office is committed to doing everything in our power to support survivors, reduce harm and secure justice," Bonta said. "Thats exactly what the new actions were announcing today are all about  increasing access to the information to which survivors are entitled under the law and supporting our local partners in their efforts to process sexual assault evidence."

Bonta's office said the site is secure, as users must have a kit number to access data.

"As a safeguard against potential misuse," the portal provides only the location of the kit and its status in the collection process  not personally identifiable information of victims, Bonta said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The boyfriend of a beloved San Francisco-area dentist who was killed in a murder-for-hire-plot stood to receive $1 million after she died, prosecutors said Monday.

Nelson Chia, 73, was arrested last week for allegedly planning the killing of Lili Xu, 60, his girlfriend of about a decade who worked in Oakland, Fox San Francisco reported. Chia killed himself hours after being taken into police custody at the Santa Rita Jail.

Authorities said Chia had Xu killed by a suspected gunman, Hasheem Bason, 33, over the summer in Oakland's Little Saigon neighborhood, according to Alameda County court documents.

She was shot and killed at about 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 21 while with Chia in her vehicle. He told authorities the couple had arrived for an appointment to get massages after running errands. Security footage shows a suspect getting out of a nearby Lexus and approaching Xu's vehicle.

NANCY PELOSI HUSBAND ATTACK: SAN FRANCISCO DA ANNOUNCES CHARGES AGAINST SUSPECT DAVID DEPAPE

When Xu got out, the pair struggled, and she was shot. The gunman then fled.

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Chia told investigators that Xu had between $12 million and $14 million from property, life insurance and trusts. Prosecutors said he was a trustee and would receive $1 million upon her death.

"Further communications after the murder between Chia and Bason demonstrate that Chia conspired with Bason to murder Xu for financial gain," Oakland police Detective Yun Zhou wrote in court records. "Chia agreed to provide Bason with a significant amount of money for murdering Xu. Chia and Bason planned the day, time and place of the murder. Bason acquired a vehicle, recruited a driver, and waited to ambush Xu a block from the location of the appointment. Chia drove Xu to the agreed upon location."

For weeks after the killing, the community believed the murder was part of a series of anti-Asian hate crimes.

Investigators learned that Chia had been communicating with Bason in July. In the weeks after the murder, Chia had taken control of Xu's financial accounts and "orchestrated" it so that he would have income from her estate for the rest of his life, authorities said.

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Bason was identified as the suspected shooter from DNA from a bullet casing and from the trunk of the Lexus, police said. He allegedly held onto the murder weapon, which was seized during a search of his home in Stockton.

Police also allege that Chia was given a picture of Bason during a photo lineup and said he didnt recognize the image.
By Julie Gordon and Anna Mehler Paperny

OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canada plans to welcome a record 500,000 new permanent residents in 2025 and has boosted its targets over the next two years as the country looks to ramp up arrivals to address an acute labour shortage, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said on Tuesday.

Canada now expects to welcome 465,000 new permanent residents in 2023, up 4% from a previous target, and 485,000 in 2024, up 7.5%.

"This year's immigration levels plan will help businesses find the workers they need," said Fraser in a statement.

He added the new targets would also allow Canada to fulfil commitments to help those fleeing violence and war in their home countries. Canada is projected to reduce the number of government-assisted refugees it resettles by about a third, from 23,550 in 2023 to 15,250 in 2025.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has sharply ramped up immigration since taking power in 2015. The country is on track to surpass its target of roughly 431,000 newcomers this year.

Canada is struggling with an acute shortage of workers, particularly in skilled trades and industries like healthcare. The most recent job vacancy data showed there were 958,500 open roles in Canada in August and 1.0 million unemployed people.

Many of the unemployed do not have the skills, or do not live in the right areas of the country, to fill those open positions.

The new targets will boost the number of economic immigrants by about 13% between 2023 and 2025, with steep increases in relatively small regional programs that help funnel people to provinces and regions outside major urban centres.

A record number of Canadians are now retiring, hastening a mass exodus of Canada's most highly skilled workers and leaving businesses scrambling.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Business Council of Canada called for "bolder targets" in economic immigration.

The United Nations refugee agency said in a statement it welcomed "Canada's leadership on refugee resettlement."

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Refugee lawyer Maureen Silcoff said Canada can do more to welcome vulnerable people. She contrasted Canada's policy offering refuge to Ukrainians, who are officially temporary residents under a special program and not subject to a cap, and Afghans who face danger from the Taliban for working with Canada but whose numbers are capped.

"Given what's going on in the world, given Canada's needs and given Canada's commitments, there's more that can be done."

There are many good reasons to increase immigration, said University of Waterloo economist Mikal Skuterud. But with rising interest rates, the tight labour market may slacken and newcomers may face challenges integrating, he said.

"We're at a real kind of inflection point. There is a tremendous amount of uncertainty."

(Reporting by Julie Gordon in Ottawa and Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto; Editing by Josie Kao)
Brooke Lynn Hytes

Calling all queens who are true, north, strong, and fierce!

On Tuesday, November 1, Brooke Lynn Hytes appeared in a video announcing the fourth season of Canadas Drag Race. The host and judge also opened a casting call for the upcoming season via the series official casting website.

The requirements to apply for Canadas Drag Race include a series of questions about personal details, social media presence, and specifics about an applicants style of drag. To complete the application, drag artists must upload three non-drag photos, five in-drag photos, and an introduction video between 60 and 90 seconds in length.

You can watch the official announcement of Canadas Drag Race season four below.

Over the course of three seasons, Canadas Drag Race has crowned Priyanka (season one), Icesis Couture (season two), and Gisele Lullaby (season three). As of 2022, the series has also launched its first-ever spinoff, Canadas Drag Race: Canada Vs. the World, which will include former contestants from various international editions of RuPauls Drag Race.

There was some doubt about whether or not Canadas Drag Race would be renewed for a fourth season, but it seems like that speculation has now been put to rest. Though it has yet to be confirmed, regular judges Brad Goreski and Traci Melchor are expected to return alongside Hytes on the judging panel.

We are very excited to meet a new group of Queens of the North!

RuPauls Drag Race UK season four airs Thursday on WOW Presents Plus.

RELATED | Meet the Queens of Canada's Drag Race: Canada Vs. the World
The chief of the US Capitol Police says his agency requires added resources to step up protection for lawmakers after last weeks brutal attack on the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

In a statement, Capitol Police chief Thomas Manger said his department had engaged in a review of the attack on Paul Pelosi by a hammer-wielding assailant who had allegedly sought to kidnap and assault Ms Pelosi, the longtime leader of House Democrats who is also second in the presidential line of succession.

He called the attack an alarming reminder of the dangerous threats elected officials and public figures face during todays contentious political climate and said the departments mission of protecting lawmakers has become increasingly urgent due to the increasing number of threats against elected officials from city council members to federal judges.

We believe todays political climate calls for more resources to provide additional layers of physical security for Members of Congress, said Mr Manger.

He stressed that the plan he is advocating would consist of added redundancies to security measures already in place for House and Senate leadership. He added that he could not disclose details of those measures because doing so would make it easier for potential bad actors.

The Capitol Police chiefs statement comes as Mr Pelosis alleged attacker, David DePape, was due to appear in a San Francisco courtroom to answer charges of attempted murder, residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, false imprisonment of an elder, and threats to a public official.

He also faces a federal indictment on charges of assault on the immediate family member of a federal official and attempted kidnapping of a federal official.

According to court documents, Mr DePape told an FBI agent who interviewed him after his arrest that his intention in going to the Pelosi home was to hold [Ms Pelosi] hostage and talk to her.

The criminal complaint against him also noted that he had intended to break the House Speakers kneecaps if she had lied to him. He also told the FBI he targeted Ms Pelosi because he saw her as the leader of the pack of lies told by the Democratic Party.
Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi on December 7, 2014 in Washington, DC. Kris Connor/Getty Images

The Capitol Police chief said he'll add "redundancies" to protection for congressional leaders.

The attack on Paul Pelosi was an "alarming reminder," he said, of the threats facing public figures.

Chief Tom Manger also noted the rise in threats to local officials and federal judges.

Citing the "contentious political climate," the Capitol Police chief said Tuesday that he plans to beef up security for congressional leadership in the aftermath of the violent assault of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband at their home in San Francisco.

Chief Tom Manger said the Capitol Police had conducted a review of the Friday assault and concluded that "today's political climate calls for more resources to provide additional layers of physical security for Members of Congress."

"This plan would include an emphasis on adding redundancies to the measures that are already in place for Congressional leadership," Manger added, without specifying steps the Capitol police would take. "Hopefully you can understand that we cannot disclose the details about these improvements because our country cannot afford to make it easier for any potential bad actors."

In his prepared statement, Manger said the attack on Paul Pelosi served as an "alarming reminder of the dangerous threats elected officials and public figures" face in today's charged political climate. Manger noted that federal judges and elected officials at the local level are similarly facing a rising number of threats.

Manger's statement came a day after the Justice Department charged a 42-year-old California man, David Wayne DePape, in connection with the assault of Paul Pelosi. Police arrested DePape inside the Pelosi home after responding to a 911 call to find him struggling with Paul Pelosi over a hammer. DePape then gained control of the hammer and swung it, striking Pelosi in the head, prosecutors said.

Paul Pelosi underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and other serious injuries. On Monday, Nancy Pelosi said he is"making steady progress on what will be a long recovery process."

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In court papers charging DePape with assault and attempted kidnapping, federal prosecutors said DePape told police following his arrest that he hoped to hold the House speaker hostage and break "her kneecaps."

DePape referred to Pelosi during the interview as the "leader of the pack" of lies told by the Democratic Party. He said Pelosi would need to be wheeled into Congress, which would show other lawmakers there were consequences for their actions.

Police said that, after breaking into the Pelosi family's home, DePape yelled, "Where is Nancy, where is Nancy?"  a question that eerily echoed a line that rang out as a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

The attack has brought renewed attention to the rise in recent years of politically motivated violence. Amid a rise in violent political speech, the Department of Homeland Security has warned of the growing threat posed by "violent domestic extremists" emboldened by the January 6 attack.

In the five years since the 2016 election of former President Donald Trump, the number of recorded threats against members of Congress increased more than tenfold, the New York Times reported. The Capitol police logged more than 9,625 threats in 2021.

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In an aerial view, San Francisco police officers and F.B.I. agents gather in front of the home of U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on October 28, 2022 in San Francisco, California.

Justin Sullivan/Getty

The United States Capitol Police is amplifying its congressional security efforts following the life-threatening attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, in San Francisco last week.

"Friday's attack against Paul Pelosi is an alarming reminder of the dangerous threats elected officials and public figures face during today's contentious political climate," Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said in a statement Tuesday. "After the 2011 shooting of Representative Gabby Giffords and the 2017 shooting of Representative Steve Scalise, the United States Capitol Police (USCP) made security improvements."

"With the increasing number of threats against elected officials from city council members to federal judges," Manger added, "our work to further our efforts to protect the Members of Congress becomes increasingly urgent."

RELATED: Paul Pelosi's Alleged Attacker Planned to Hold Nancy Hostage, Break Her Kneecaps If She 'Lied' to Him: Report

Manger said that the USCP is expected to meet its goal of hiring around 280 new officers by the end of the year, but noted that it takes time to send recruits through the academy, meaning they won't all be on the job right away. Efforts to expand the department's services were already underway before the Pelosi attack, in response to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

"We believe today's political climate calls for more resources to provide additional layers of physical security for Members of Congress," he said. "Hopefully you can understand that we cannot disclose the details about these improvements because our country cannot afford to make it easier for any potential bad actors."

RELATED: Gabby Giffords Reflects on 2011 Shooting, Says Politics 'Have Become Even More Divided' Since

According to Manger, the USCP is monitoring "thousands of cases" across the U.S. right now in an effort to prevent threatened violence from actually occurring. "During the past five-years, roughly 12-percent of cases  in which we identified people making threats  have been prosecuted. We hope to see more of these cases prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," he said.

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Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi attend the 23rd Annual Mark Twain Prize For American Humor at The Kennedy Center

Paul Morigi/Getty Images

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Early Friday morning, 42-year-old David DePape, a right-wing conspiracy theorist, allegedly broke into the Pelosis' San Francisco home in search of the House speaker. She was not present, but her 82-year-old husband, Paul, was. DePape allegedly told police that he could not allow himself to surrender, which ultimately led to him attacking Paul with a hammer before officers could intervene.

Paul, who suffered a skull fracture from the assault and serious injuries to his hands and arm, successfully underwent surgery on Friday, but has a "long road to recovery" ahead, according to Nancy's office.

DePape, meanwhile, was also hospitalized after the incident and now sits behind bars in San Francisco, where he faces a slew of federal and state charges for his alleged actions. He is expected to appear in court on Tuesday afternoon.

RELATED: Donald Trump Jr. Mocks Paul Pelosi Hammer Attack as Homophobic Conspiracy Theories Sweep Right-Wing Media

The USCP is one of many agencies that works with threats to elected officials. As Manger noted, local authorities are integral in their efforts to keep politicians and their families safe.

"While progress has been made, there is still a lot of work to do," Manger said. "The USCP is working tirelessly to keep everyone safe during this tense time in American politics. We understand the urgency of today's challenges and remain committed to our mission."
NASAs CAPSTONE performed its fourth of six planned trajectory correction maneuvers on Thursday, October 27, setting the stage for the spacecrafts arrival to an elliptical halo lunar orbit in less than two weeks.

The 55-pound cubesat fired its propulsion system for 220 seconds during the planned maneuver, Advanced Space, the private company managing the mission for NASA, explained in an update. The missions fourth trajectory correction maneuver transpired late last week, moving CAPSTONE ever closer to its ultimate destination: the lunar Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO). The probe is expected to reach its operational orbit on November 13.

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Advanced Space says the probe was 308,076 miles (495,800 kilometers) from Earth at the time of the maneuver, or about 69,000 miles (111,000 km) past the Moon. NASA and its partners are using the ballistic lunar transfer (BLT) technique to transfer CAPSTONE to NRHO which, though convoluted and long, is highly fuel-efficient. The spacecraft launched on June 28 and has been flying solo in space for the past four months.

Once in NRHO, the $33 million cubesat will enter into uncharted territory, as no spacecraft has ever worked in this highly elliptical orbitone intended for the upcoming Gateway space station. CAPSTONE, short for Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, will test this orbit for NASA, setting the stage for Gateway and the upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon.



More on this story: This Tiny Moon-Bound Satellite Could Carve a Path For a Lunar Space Station

The latest trajectory correction maneuver confirms the preparation, extensive analysis, teams working together and continued hard work to allow this mission to remain successful, especially following the recent anomaly, Alec Forsman, CAPSTONE mission operations manager at Advanced Space, said in the update.

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Indeed, the mission threatened to go sideways after the third course correction maneuver on September 8. CAPSTONE, built by Terran Orbital, lost axis control and began tumbling, a serious situation that threatened to derail entire the mission. Unable to point its solar panels toward the Sun, CAPSTONE wasnt able to fully recharge.



The recovery team eventually traced the problem to a partially opened valve on one of the spacecrafts eight thrusters, which the team remedied with a recovery sequence transmitted to CAPSTONE a full month after the anomaly. As NASA adds: The mission team will design future maneuvers to work around the affected valve, including the two remaining trajectory correction maneuvers scheduled before CAPSTONEs arrival to orbit at the Moon.

With the fourth trajectory correction maneuver complete, CAPSTONE is now days away from reaching its orbit around the Moon and entering into the demonstration phase of the mission. The probe will spend at least six months gathering operational data and testing autonomous spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation capabilities, the latter of which could eventually lead to spacecraft capable of determining their own locations in space without outside help. An early successful test, in which NASAs Deep Space Network facilitated a conversation between CAPSTONE and the agencys Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, is a promising start to the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System demonstration, as Advanced Space calls it.

More: NASA to Attempt Crewed Moon Landing During Fourth Artemis Mission

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Seattle Police are searching for the person who they say stole a car that belongs to a family whose son just underwent brain surgery at the Seattle Childrens Hospital.

The car was stolen Friday evening around 8:00 p.m. from one of the parking garages at the hospital.

I hope that they know that we had my sons medications in there, we had everything in there, Cali Fager said.

Her son, William, underwent brain surgery Friday morning.

We just happened to be dealing with our 1-year-old going through brain surgery which was terrifying enough and just to take a car from anywhere, let alone a childrens hospital, one of the hospitals that helps so many children, its just completely disgusting and horrible.

Her son is doing well after surgery.

Hes recovering really well. Hes already wanting to get up and dance and clap and hes doing really well, she said. I dont know who goes to a childrens hospital, especially one of the biggest ones, and steals from a family. They had to have seen our car seat, baby toys and everything and still decided to take our car.

Fager said they had just paid off their car and it was full of baby supplies and her school books and laptop. So now theyre out thousands of dollars.

While we should be able to focus just on our son, we have to have all of our stuff missing and yeah, the whole thing just sucks, she said.

Despite this cruel act, Fager said shes grateful for the support theyve gotten from the hospital and SPD.

His surgeon, Dr. Hoffman, actually said that he would personally drive us home if we dont have a car by the time we go home, she said. The officer, Officer Thompson, he felt so bad that he went and bought a Halloween costume for our son and brought it back. Yeah, it was really sweet of him.

Police are still searching for the suspect and if you have any information, call SPD.

A GoFundMe has also been set up to help the family.
A woman from West Memphis, Ark., was indicted following an investigation into the abuse of a vulnerable adult by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations Medicaid Fraud Control Division.

On June 3, TBI began its investigation into Catherine Daniels after receiving information of alleged abuse, officials said in a release.

On May 30, while working as an in-home caregiver, Daniels assaulted a patient at a home in the 2200 block of Meadow Glade Lane, TBI said.

A Shelby County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Daniels with Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult and Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult on Oct. 31.

On October 31, she was taken into custody by TBI and booked into the Shelby County Jail East Womens Facility.

Her bond is set at $10,000, officials said.

Daniels is no longer employed as a caregiver.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation.

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Former President Donald Trump. Jose Luis Villegas/AP

Chief Justice John Roberts issued a temporary stay on a lower court ruling ordering Trump to turn his taxes over to Congress.

Roberts' order is not a final ruling but places a temporary hold on the federal appeals court's order.

The Supreme Court will now weigh Trump's request to block the IRS from giving a House committee his tax records.

Chief Justice John Roberts issued a temporary stay Tuesday on a lower court ruling ordering former President Donald Trump to turn his taxes over to the House Committee on Ways & Means.

Roberts' order is not a final ruling but places a temporary hold on the federal appeals court's ruling while the Supreme Court weighs Trump's request to overturn the ruling.

Trump's lawyers made an emergency request for a stay on Monday, asking the high court to block the IRS from turning years of the former president's personal tax records over to the Ways & Means Committee.

In the filing, Trump accused lawmakers of trying to "expose" his tax information to the public "for the sake of exposure."

"The Committee's purpose in requesting President Trump's tax returns has nothing to do with funding or staffing issues at the IRS and everything to do with releasing the President's tax information to the public," the filing said.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner Group private military company, has pressed charges to the Russian Prosecutor's Office against Alexander Beglov, the governor of St. Petersburg; Prigozhin has accused him of creating an organised criminal group.

Source: Russian independent news outlet Meduza

Quote: "On 31 October, 2022, I, Yevgeny Prigozhin, sent a statement regarding a crime to the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation, with a request to conduct an investigation into the possible fact of the creation of an organised criminal group in St. Petersburg by Governor A.D. Beglov [Alexander Dmitrievich  ed.], in order to plunder the state budget and enrich corrupt officials who are part of his entourage."

Details: Meduza notes that the relationship between Prigozhin and Beglov deteriorated even before the war due to the reluctance of the city administration to "pass" the structures of Prigozhin state contracts for large projects with budget funding.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Prigozhin's influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin has grown, as has his media activity.

The administration of St. Petersburg also understands that Prigozhin's influence is growing; it has even created an informal headquarters to counter it.

According to a source of Meduza close to the St. Petersburg authorities, Beglovs headquarters includes officials from his inner circle.

At the same time, sources close to the Kremlin are confident that Beglov is not threatened with resignation from his office in the near future.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
A former pharmacist was sentenced to two years in federal prison after stealing doses of medication meant for patients of two Iowa pharmacies, authorities said. Two of the patients who received tampered drugs were children, officials said.

Anthony Pape, of Dubuque, was convicted of two counts of tampering with consumer products and two counts of acquiring controlled substances by deception in February after pleading guilty in the Northern District of Iowa, McClatchy News previously reported.

In pleading guilty, authorities said Pape admitted to stealing over 2,500 drug doses between Jan. 1, 2018, and March 27, 2020, according to an Oct. 31 news release.

The stolen controlled substances included Dextroamphetamine-Amphetamine ER, Vyvanse, Methylphenidate, Adderall XR and Focalin XR, according to court records. These drugs are often used to treat ADHD.

Also, in February and March 2020, he tampered with medications delivered in six prescriptions he filled for five different patients, including two children, authorities said in the news release. Pape admitted he tampered with the medications by opening the capsules containing the medication and removing most or all of the medications. He then put the empty capsules back into the stock bottles so they would be dispensed to patients.

This put the patients in danger of bodily injury, authorities said.

Papes defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News on Nov. 1.

Authorities said Pape used the medications he stole.

Patients deserve healthcare providers who have only the best interests of the patients in mind, U.S. Attorney Timothy T. Duax said in the release. When a healthcare provider commits crimes to serve their personal interests at the expense of patients, we will ensure they are held accountable.

In addition to two years in prison, Pape is ordered to pay a $10,000 fine, $9,993 in restitution and $400 in special assessments, officials said. He also must forfeit his pharmacy license and serve three years of supervised release following his time in prison.

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Pape, who was previously released on bond, will be required to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons at a later date.

Painkillers meant for patients were swapped with saline, feds say. Nurse pleads guilty

Pharmacist took morphine meant for suffering patients, replaced it with water, feds say

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(Bloomberg) -- The slump in Chinas equities markets has wrong-footed some of the biggest names in the countrys mutual fund industry, with 99% of professionally managed products on track to lose money this year.

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Fewer than 1% of Chinas equity-themed, open-ended mutual funds have posted positive returns, according to data from financial website East Money Information Co., which screened 2,296 products. Funds recording drawbacks of more than 30% this year include flagship products from E Fund Management Co.s Zhang Kun, Lombarda China Fund Managements Ge Lan and Invesco Great Wall Fund Management Co.s Liu Yanchun.

The data show that choosing the right sector has been more important than a managers stock-picking prowess. Of the 19 mutual-fund products still in the green at the end of October, seven invest in coal or energy and two are quant funds. The remainder lean toward investments in state-owned companies and health care, with some only retaining gains because they were established after earlier market declines.

Topping the list is the Yingda SOE Reform Theme Equity Fund, up 22% this year, which counted traditional Chinese Medicine firm Dong-E-E-Jiao Co, Shanghai Jahwa United Co. and liquor maker Kweichow Moutai Co. among its largest positions as of the end of June.

The benchmark CSI 300 Index has slumped 29% in 2022, with fewer than 10% of its members in the green. After a similar sell off in 2018, 30 of Chinas mutual-fund products ended the year with gains, though none rewarded investors with more than a 4% return.

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Jay

A woman in Las Vegas says she remains shaken from her experience last week when another woman berated her in a public restroom for being transgender. The problem is that shes not trans, and, as she puts it, regardless of whether she had been, the entire situation was plainly wrong.

In Las Vegas, Jay, a 24-year-old cis woman, was driving with her boyfriend on Thursday when she said she had to use the restroom.

Jay says the couple stopped at Rampart Casino after being out all day to fix a seat belt on their car.

Because she knew she would take longer, she gave her boyfriend some money to gamble while he waited and she went to the bathroom.

As soon as I got in, I went straight to a stall, Jay tells The Advocate. About a minute or so in, I start to hear a woman being extremely aggressive. At first, I wasnt hearing exactly what she was saying until I started hearing her say, Trans, figure out your identity at home ... they better not come out of there. .. thats not allowed ... thats a boy, [and] they think this is [OK] because its being taught in schools.

As Jay had recently cut her hair extremely short, she realized the woman was referring to her.

I dont know why I knew because Ive never had this issue since cutting my hair, Jay says. I take out my phone, and I start recording because my first thought was I dont want her saying I did something in the bathroom and accusing me of anything.

The professional traveling nanny says her motivation to start recording was more for my safety than anything.

What happened next is captured in a video that Jay posted to her TikTok account where the video was viewed more than four million times. After publication of this story, TikTok took down the video, and Jay received a warning that the content violated TikTok's policy on "grooming."

A TikTok spokesperson tells The Advocate that the content was taken down in error after being flagged as potentially anti-trans material but that a review showed that the content was calling attention to an incident and has been restored.

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Figure out your identity in your bedroom, one can hear a woman saying with a raised and aggressive voice, seemingly speaking to another person in the restroom. I wouldnt come out if I were you, the stranger continues.

The woman talks about how things are not right, mentions schools and bedrooms, and continues on a lengthy rant until Jay exits the stall and washes her hands.

A boy, a boy, its a boy! the woman can be heard griping. Its a child!

Jay never lifts the camera to record the faces of people in the restroom; she only records the floor and feet. However, at least two or three other people are in the bathroom while the woman is relentlessly berating Jay.

Are you a man or a woman? the unidentified woman asks Jay as she encroaches on her personal space, standing very close to her.

Why does that matter? Jay asks.

Well, because youre in the ladies room, the woman replies. And I have gotten called out several times for being in the mens room, and youre going to be called out for whatever youre doing. So what are you identifying as today?

I dont think thats any of your business, Jay says.

Youre in the ladies room where I think I need to identify you, the woman quips before going on nonsensically and landing on figure out your identity in your bedroom, before Jay lures the woman out to speak with security.

The video ends, but Jay tells The Advocate that her boyfriend was waiting at the bathroom door. He was alarmed at how long it took for her to come out and noticed security officials had made their way to the bathroom entrance.

Jay says that security separated the two parties and took a report.

Security told me it didnt matter what my identity was and that she was out of line, Jay says. They were extremely apologetic and reassured me she was kicked out for the day and to enjoy my time at the casino.

However, Jay says that she found out that the woman was allowed back on the property on Monday. So I am going to get her information to press charges, she says.

A representative for the Rampart Casino condemned the incident and told The Advocate that police are now involved in the incident.

Rampart Casino does not condone this behavior, and this situation is not being taken lightly. We are working with local law enforcement, and the incident is being actively investigated, said Michelle Bacigalupi, vice president and general manager for Rampart Casino.

A comment from Las Vegas police was not immediately available, however, after publication, a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson told The Advocate that no record of any call as described existed in the police database.

A subsequent request for clarification to Rampart Casino went unanswered.

Jay says shes shocked at the situation still.

Im used to being mistaken as someone younger, as Im on the shorter side and look younger. But the fact this lady was thinking I was a child and was talking about me [and] to me this way was extremely concerning, Jay says.

Jay also notes that nobody came to her aid during the confrontation.

On the inside, I was already panicking because I could already feel the fact no one would be helping me in this situation, as she had been venting for several minutes and no one had shut her down or said anything, Jay says.

The video has received more than 2.5 million views on TikTok and thousands of comments, most of them supportive and praising Jays level-headedness. However, she says it was mostly smoke and mirrors.

While everyone thinks Im calm and collected, I was actually just trying not to cry or panic, she says.

Jay is incensed by the situation as she continues to think about it.

When she tried to have me identify myself again and was harassing me for my age, the only thing I could think about was what if I was a child? Jay says. Or what if I was trans? What if I was both? I had to stand my ground to not answer those questions because no one should feel like they have the right to ask those types of questions. It was none of her business.

Jay explains that part of her refusing to identify was because of her allyship with the transgender community.

When she asks me if Im a man or woman, I know I could have told her I was a woman, and it might have solved the issue in that moment, but I couldnt do that. I couldnt let her think that questioning and interrogating people to find out their identity was OK, Jay says.

Regardless of a childs gender identity, there should be no attacks on them for expressing themselves, she says.

Im a nanny to some kids who specifically like to wear baggy clothes because its more comfortable, who wear their hair short because thats how they like it. They should be able to express themselves however they want without the fear of someone questioning [or] harassing them.

Note: This story was updated to reflect new information from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department as well as to provide an update on the video's removal from TikTok.
The city of West Memphis is looking for answers after at least three women were shot and killed in the span of a month.

The incidents were unrelated, but all happened within a few miles of each other.

West Memphis Deputy Police Chief Brent Bradley is now calling on the community to help put a stop to these senseless acts of violence.

Bradley made a post on the departments Facebook page on Monday, making it clear that this kind of violence has no place in West Memphis and people committing these crimes will be punished to the maximum extent.

Meanwhile, people who live in the area said theyre starting to feel unsafe in their city.

Its not fair to these people, its not fair to the women its not fair to anybody, Shelia Fowler of West Memphis said. Whether I was a woman or a man or anybody, everybody needs to take precautions.

The first murder happened Oct. 8 here in the 1600 block of Scottwood Street.

Officers say they found a woman, who they later identified as Jakeya Hampton, in the drivers seat of a car who had been shot several times.

Police arrested Elijah Singleton in connection to Hamptons murder.

The second murder happened two weeks later on Oct. 23 at the BP gas station at the corner of Broadway and Avalon.

Officers found a woman, who they later identified as Christian Hammock, in the passengers seat of a car who had been shot.

Hammocks aunt told FOX13 what happened.

She was riding in a car with her boyfriend. She was in the front passenger seat asleep and at the time of her being in the vehicle someone shot in the vehicle, and it hit her in the back of the head.

Police arrested 18-year-old Caleb Moten and 21-year-old Montique Hill for Hammocks murder.

The third shooting happened six days later at a home on Wilson Rd.

Officers found a woman, who they later identified as Donna Christley, underneath the carport who had been shot.

She did not survive her injuries.

Police say the suspect, 25-year-old Lorenzo Allen of Memphis, is still on the run.

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As police try to track him down, neighbors say the community needs to come together to stop the violence.

We just really have to pray for the family and hope at some point, it wont stop, but hopefully slow down, Albert Wells of West Memphis said.

In Deputy Police Chief Bradleys Facebook post, he said they can provide their officers with all the training in the world, but they cannot teach home training.

He asks for parents to explain to their children the value of a human life and the consequences for taking one.

Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood.

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Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is asking a federal court to order former President Trump to pay her legal fees over a suit he filed alleging she and others engaged in a conspiracy to undermine his 2016 campaign with accusations of Russian collusion.

In a motion filed on Monday, Clintons attorneys cast Trumps suit  which was dismissed by a federal trial court in September, a move the former president has appealed  as a political stunt and argued it met the threshold for the court to impose sanctions.

A reasonable attorney would never have filed this suit, let alone continued to prosecute it after multiple Defendants motions to dismiss highlighted its fundamental and incurable defects, Clintons attorneys wrote.

Trump filed the sprawling civil suit in March, alleging Clinton, the Democratic National Committee, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and more than a dozen others orchestrated a malicious conspiracy to undermine his presidential prospects in 2016 by accusing his campaign of colluding with Russia.

The suit names Sullivan in his capacity as Clintons chief foreign policy adviser during her campaign.

Clintons attorneys for months have cast Trumps suit as being politically motivated, and a judge appointed by former President Bill Clinton in September tossed the suit, describing it as political manifesto. Trump has since appealed to the 11th Circuit.

Under federal law, a judge can require attorneys who unreasonably and vexatiously multiply court proceedings to pay excess costs, expenses and attorneys fees reasonably incurred because of their actions.

Plaintiffs suit was unwarranted on the facts, unsupported by the law and imposed substantial burdens both on Defendants and this Court, Clintons attorneys argued. Despite being alerted to the many deficiencies in the initial Complaint by one round of motions to dismiss, Plaintiff and his counsel pressed forward on an Amended Complaint that fixed none of the problems.

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Trump attorney Alina Habba vehemently denied Clintons allegations in a written statement, returning accusations that the former presidential candidate filed the motion for political purposes.

This motion, conveniently filed one week prior to election day, is nothing more than a thinly-veiled attempt to score political points, she continued. This motion is particularly inappropriate, given that the our clients case will soon be reviewed by the Eleventh Circuit. We will oppose this motion and trust that the Court will see through this ruse.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police took to social media Tuesday to debunk a rumor circulating within the city that recent deaths are somehow the work of a serial killer.

The deaths referenced in social media posts have not been proven to be connected, police said, and some that were cited in the rumors are overdoses with no foul play suspected.

A Facebook page called Charlotte Alerts is cited in a TikTok by macolingo about the rumors. The video posted Monday received more than 40,000 views.

The TikTok cites four articles published by the Facebook page and speculates that there may be a serial killer. So far only two of these deaths have been verified by police as actually occurring.

This week, CMPD was made aware of social media posts spreading a rumor of a serial killer targeting women in Charlotte. The posts referenced death investigations, claiming them to be linked. These posts have inaccurate details and are spreading misinformation. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/o6Ssc4hn9U  CMPD News (@CMPD) November 1, 2022

One person was found shot and killed on Oct. 23 in a wooded area off of W.T. Harris Boulevard. The victim has since been identified as 32-year-old Ahylea Willard.

The only other confirmed death mentioned in the video is that of a woman found at the Southern Comfort Inn. Police said on the citys website Oct. 7 that this was a death investigation, and have not yet released more information.

The video goes on to reference two other cases where police have not confirmed there have been deaths. In addition to TikTok, rumors surfaced on other social media platforms, including Nextdoor and Facebook.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police told The Charlotte Observer Tuesday afternoon that the Charlotte Alerts Facebook page is spreading inaccurate and unverified information.

The posts referenced death investigations, claiming them to be linked, CMPD said on Twitter Tuesday afternoon. There is no evidence at this time that any of the cases are linked.

CMPD said it always informs the public of instances where there is a verified threat. For instance, the department warned the public of a possible killer just last year when it called a press conference to announce the murders of two Black, transgender sex workers.

In 2021, two men were arrested and charged with killing the women. Dontarius Long, 21, and Joel Brewer, 33 were arrested and charged with the deaths of Jaida Peterson, 29, and Remy Fennell, 28.
A new public opinion poll in the key western battleground state of Nevada indicates that with a week to go until Election Day, its a margin of error race between Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and her Republican challenger, former state Attorney General Adam Laxalt.

A survey from Suffolk University/USA Today released on Tuesday also indicates the states gubernatorial battle between Democratic incumbent Steve Sisolak and Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, the GOP nominee, is dead even.

Cortez Masto, a former two-term state attorney general who made history in 2016 as the first Latina elected to the Senate, and Laxalt  an Iraq War veteran and grandson of the late Nevada governor and senator Paul Laxalt who succeeded Cortez Masto as state attorney general and was the 2020 GOP gubernatorial nominee in Nevada  are facing off in a race thats among a handful across the country that will likely determine if the GOP wins back the chambers majority in next weeks midterm elections.

Cortez Masto edges Laxalt 45%-44% among likely voters questioned in the poll, which was conducted Oct. 24-28. The incumbents one-point advantage is well within the surveys sampling error.

FINAL COUNTDOWN: WHAT'S AT STAKE IN NEXT WEEK'S ELECTIONS

An average of all the most recent public opinion polls in the Nevada Senate race compiled by Real Clear Politics indicates a contest that is essentially all tied up.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

According to the Suffolk University/USA Today survey, Libertarian nominee Neil Scott, independent candidate Barry Lindemann, and Independent American Party candidate Barry Rubinson combined to receive 4% support, while 3% chose the Nevada ballot option "none of these candidates," and 5% were undecided.

Cortez Mastos edge in the new survey is basically unchanged from her 46%-44% advantage over Laxalt in the pollsters previous survey, which was conducted in early October.

SENATE GOP RE-ELECTION LEADER PREDICTS REPUBLICANS TO WIN BACK MAJORITY

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The poll indicates Cortez Masto with the lead among those casting ballots in early voting, people of color and union households, with Laxalt enjoying strong support among voters in rural counties and Silver State independents.

"Adam Laxalt is crushing Cortez Masto in the 14 rural counties plus Carson City," Suffolk University Political Research Center director David Paleologos said. "However, she is winning Nevadas largest county, Clark, by enough to offset her rural setbacks in central Nevada."

The release from Suffolk University highlighted that "Laxalt is winning the central region 67%-22%, but trails Cortez Masto 49%-40% in Clark County, as well as among Black (72%-17%) and Hispanic voters (48%-38%), union households (53%-38%), and among those who have already voted (52%-39%)."

The poll also noted that Laxalt leads Cortez Masto 43%-30% among independents, up from 40%-36% a couple of weeks ago.

FILE - Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak (L) talks to Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo during a news conference on the mass shooting at a country music festival on Oct. 4, 2017, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

In the governors race, Sisolak and Lombardo are tied at 43% support, with Independent American Party candidate Ed Bridges at 3%, Libertarian Brandon Davis 2%, 4% saying "none of these candidates" and 6% undecided.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Forty-eight percent of those surveyed rated Nevadas economy as poor, up 10 points from just a few weeks ago.

Five-hundred likely Nevada voters were questioned in the survey, which had an overall sampling error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.
Crypto exchange Coinbase has petitioned a federal court for permission to file a friend-of-the-court (amicus) brief in the ongoing lawsuit between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Ripple Labs.

Coinbase joins the Blockchain Association, an industry lobbyist group, SpendTheBits, a crypto payments app that uses XRP and John Deaton, a lawyer, in hoping to shore up Ripple's case against the SEC, which sued Ripple at the end of 2020 on allegations it sold XRP as an unregistered security.

The exchange highlighted whether the SEC provided "fair notice" prior to bringing its enforcement action, taking a dig at the common industry complaint that the regulator has not provided clear guidance to businesses in the process.

"Given the absence of SEC rulemaking for the cryptocurrency industry, the question of whether the SEC has given fair notice before bringing an enforcement action against sales of one of the thousands of unique digital assets will often be highly fact-intensive, which makes it particularly ill-suited for adjudication on summary judgment," Coinbase's filing said.

Coinbase similarly argued that the SEC has been inconsistent about its enforcement approach, which creates "uncertainty" for companies in the sector.

Read More: SEC, Ripple Call for Immediate Ruling in Suit Over Whether XRP Sales Violated Securities Laws

"Ripple and others have been the subject of extensive enforcement scrutiny while others  with nearly identical products or services  have apparently been subject to none," the filing said.

Much of the filing focuses on this argument, as well as maintaining the view that the regulator has not engaged in any rulemaking that would "provide the regulatory clarity" companies want.

The filing also targeted the argument that crypto could be treated like traditional securities, saying most cryptocurrencies do not represent ownership stakes or pay dividends the way shares might.

"In addition, existing SEC registration requirements for national securities exchanges are currently unsuitable to the way digital asset platforms operate," the filing said. "Existing SEC requirements, however, only allow broker-dealers to be members of registered securities exchanges, meaning that retail customers can only trade assets on exchanges indirectly by using the services of broker-dealers that charge transaction fees and add intermediation risks that could be avoided on digital asset trading platforms, again to the benefit of customers."




Delaware will soon see the return of commercial airline service, according to Travel Pulse. Frontier was the last commercial airline to leave Wilmington Airport (ILG) back in early June this year. Since then, the small airport has been without commercial flight service.

How it will work:

However, budget airline Avelo recently announced it will be making Wilmington, DE one of its East Coast bases and will begin service at ILG in February 2023.

The Delaware Valley region wants and deserves more affordable, convenient, and reliable air travel. Avelo was founded with a simple purpose  to Inspire Travel, said Andrew Levy, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Avelo Airlines.

The destinations:

Our very low fares and nonstop flights to five sun-soaked Florida destinations coupled with the fast and seamless experience at Wilmington Airport will make traveling easier than ever.

We appreciate the warm reception and support Avelo is receiving from Delaware Governor John Carney, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer and so many other government and business leaders here. We look forward to welcoming everyone aboard Avelos first ILG flight in February.

Tri- state accessible:

Situated fairly close to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC, residents of Delaware are able to use these major cities airports when flying.

Most, however, would prefer to be able to have the option to fly right from their own state. When Frontier Airlines stopped flying from Wilmington in June, Delaware became the nations only state without major commercial airline service.

Weve made significant infrastructure investments across our state, and were pleased to have Avelo join us here in Delaware, said Governor Carney in a statement. Avelo will provide Delawareans and visitors with a convenient way to travel. Thank you to Avelo for choosing Delaware.

Take the trip!

Avelo will initially fly nonstop to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, Tampa, and West Palm Beach from Wilmington.

Related: Traveler Story: I Carried The Ancestors With Me As I Literally Hiked Across Delaware
Woodbridge, VA  Before Democratic canvassers left to search for any last-minute undecided voters on Sunday, Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) gave a pep talk on the hot-button topics that might come up  such as infrastructure, prescription drug prices, and gun violence.

But after she finished, a canvasser named Frank Krogh asked about another issue in this northern Virginia town: stock trading by lawmakers.

Speaking to Yahoo Finance later, Krogh said he likes to broach the topic because "it's a two-fer." That is, it's a bipartisan issue that Spanberger is involved in and also addresses voters' overall distrust of Washington.

Congresss failure to regulate its own trading activity is a talking point for Spanberger, who's been outspoken on the need to police the practice. The 43-year-old Democrat co-sponsored a bipartisan bill aiming to block the practice, one of several proposals seeking to stop or further police the stock trading activity of lawmakers. Those in favor of a ban or new regulations argue that lawmakers often have access to non-public information that could give them an edge in the stock market.

Basically any place that I might be, somebody wants to talk about it, Spanberger told Yahoo Finance Sunday, between conversations with voters. People say: Well I don't agree with everything you're doing but I like that banning members of Congress from trading stocks."

Stock trading on the campaign trail

Efforts to curb Congressional stock trading have hit more than one roadblock. When Congress adjourned at the end of September, lawmakers missed a deadline to vote on the practice. House leaders promise to take up the issue when they re-convene. However, they have yet to take concrete action to address an issue that exploded into public consciousness in late 2021 when reports emerged that lawmakers privy to information about the coronavirus sold stock just before the stock market tanked.

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Despite the lack of action, efforts to rein in lawmaker stock trading have attracted the public's support.

A recent poll from Morning Consult found that two in three voters back a stock trading ban for officials across the government. Support for a ban has grown following a steady stream of news reports throughout the year revealing members of Congress and government officials trade stocks while working on issues that moved the prices of those securities.

In a screenshot from a recent campaign ad, Senate Candidate John Fetterman touted his position on lawmaker stock trading.

Democratic candidates have been particularly vocal in support of a ban. In Pennsylvania, Senate candidate John Fetterman cut an ad touting his positions and attacking Mitch McConnell over the issue. Another challenged Democrat, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), also mentions it prominently. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) also brings up the issue often and lists it high on his campaign website. Like Spanberger, Kelly has been one of the loudest voices calling for a ban on trading.

Its time to end corrupt insider trading in Congress, because elected leaders should be working for you  not their stock portfolios.  Captain Mark Kelly (@CaptMarkKelly) October 11, 2022

It's not right for individuals to be elected to Congress and then be able to trade on information that the American people don't have, Kelly said in an interview with Yahoo Finance earlier this year.

Some Republicans are taking up the cause, as well. The Congressional Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC closely aligned with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, has made a habit of cutting attack ads against candidates who havent followed the disclosure rules around stock trading in the past. The fund has aired ads against Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) and Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) in those key races.

Lee and Malinowski both failed to follow the rules of prompt disclosure of trades required by 2012's STOCK Act around activity that took place in 2020 and 2021. Malinowski has since announced he put his assets into a qualified blind trust. Mitch McConnell, the leader of Senate Republicans, doesnt appear to have broken any of the disclosure rules  but he has traded stocks, as have hundreds of lawmakers.

I want a vote on that bill

Lawmakers will return to Washington in mid-November for the so-called lame duck session and could make one more push on the issue. House Democrats are still debating one bill that would require lawmakers and other officials to move their assets into a qualified blind trust or a mutual fund, ETF, or a government bond.

The new rules would also apply to the president, the vice president, White House staff, Supreme Court Justices, and Federal Reserve officials with some advocates fearing that going too big will sink the entire effort.

During a press conference as Congress adjourned before the 2022 election, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said well, you have to have the votes to bring it up, when pressed on why a stock trading bill had again been delayed. This is a legislative process. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has also promised to revisit the issue if he becomes the speaker. But it's unclear how this issue will play out on the campaign trail. Both Spanberger and Kelly are two of the most prominent leaders in the effort to ban stock trading  and both could lose their jobs at the hands of voters next week.

Spanberger is in the middle of a toss-up race against Republican Yesli Vega that has drawn national attention and visits from Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin in recent days. Spanberger has also faced a series of campaign ads calling her a rubber stamp for Pelosi. Fact-checkers have knocked those ads because Spanberger called out Pelosi specifically on the stock trading issues.

Spanberger hopes her overall record of just getting things to work will carry her to victory next Tuesday. But she acknowledges that Congresss repeated failure to tackle the stock trading issue hasnt helped her make the case as an incumbent in 2022.

"I would've loved to have a vote on it two years ago," she says. Striking a hopeful note, she added, I expect to vote on that bill and I want a vote on that bill because it matters to people and it matters to voters.

Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance.

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

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The U.S. Supreme Court in its official portrait on Oct. 7, 2022. Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. military learned a valuable lesson about race during the Vietnam War: Diversity does not happen without affirmative action.

That helps explain why a distinguished group of 35 military officials wrote a brief to the Supreme Court supporting the use of race as a part of college admissions  as the U.S. military has done at its four service academies over the last nearly 50 years.

While the Supreme Court has agreed in the past that racial diversity on college campuses is an important goal, the problem is just how to achieve that goal without using race as a factor.

In two cases that are expected to determine the fate of affirmative action programs across the country, the court heard oral arguments on Oct. 31, 2022, that could bring an end to using race as one of many factors in college admissions decisions.

Questions from the justices reflected the ideological divisions on the court. Conservative justices argued that race-based admissions policies had no defined end point.

I dont see how you can say that the program will ever end, Chief Justice John Roberts said.

Associate Justice Clarence Thomas cut right to the point in his questions.

I may be tone-deaf when it comes to all these other things that happen on campus, about feeling good and all that, Thomas said to one of the attorneys defending affirmative action. Im really interested in a simple thing: What benefits academically are there to your definition or the diversity that youre asserting.

In sharp contrast, liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor reminded the court that diversity was deemed an issue of national importance in previous rulings and that without such programs, the number of historically disadvantaged applicants decreases substantially.

What we know, Sotomayor said about the nine states who have tried dropping affirmative action programs, in each of them, white admissions have either remained the same or increased. And clearly, in some institutions, the numbers for underrepresented groups has fallen dramatically, correct?

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The US military experience

In my view as a scholar of the history of affirmative action, the military officers make the case that diversity is a matter of life and death.

The officers argued in their brief that barring universities from taking race into account in admissions risks sowing internal resentment, discord, and violence in an era when diversity is imperative to our militarys dealings with international allies and complex global challenges.

In addition, the military leaders argued that overturning affirmative action would damage the extremely successful talent pipeline that the officer corps has set up directly through military academies and indirectly through the university-based ROTC programs.

This is not the first time former military officials have weighed in on affirmative action. They did so in the 2003 case against the affirmative action program at the University of Michigan in Grutter vs. Bollinger.

The importance of maintaining a diverse, highly qualified officer corps has been beyond legitimate dispute for decades, the military officials wrote.

Indeed, in 1962, when U.S. involvement was starting to grow in Vietnam, Black commissioned officers represented only 1.6% of the officers corps. Military academies remained virtually segregated, with Black people making up less than 1% of enrollees. As a result, the number of Black officers didnt grow much.

A wounded soldier is carried by members of the 1st Calvary Division near the Cambodian border during the Vietnam War. Bettmann/GettyImages

Over the next five years, the number of Black soldiers fighting and dying on the front lines grew to about 25%. Racial tensions between white and Black soldiers led to at least 300 fights in a two-year-period that resulted in 71 deaths.

Fueling those fights was the belief among Black soldiers that the largely white officers didnt care about their lives.

The lack of diversity, the military leaders wrote in their brief, led to a complete breakdown in understanding between minority enlisted service members and the white officers who led them.

In what they described as a painful chapter, military officials said the Vietnam War brought home the importance of cultivating diversity across all levels of leadership.

It also began the militarys use of affirmative action, including race-conscious admissions policies at service academies and in ROTC programs.

Conservative target for decades

In their lawsuits now in the Supreme Court against Harvard and the University of North Carolina, the anti-affirmative action organization Students for Fair Admissions argued that the schools race-conscious admissions process was unconstitutional and discriminated against high-achieving Asian American students in favor of traditionally underrepresented Blacks and Hispanics.

These cases mark the second time the Students for Fair Admissions and its founder, Edward Blum, a conservative activist who has raised millions of dollars from right-wing donors, have reached the Supreme Court in their efforts to dismantle affirmative action.

In 2016, they challenged the University of Texas on behalf of white and Asian students, but lost. That didnt stop Blum from filing the latest challenges before the Supreme Court  all in the effort to eliminate the use of race in college admissions.

In an October 2022 interview, Blum said he believes that diversity on campus is a good thing, but there is a way to go about doing this without putting a thumb on the scale.

Given the conservative 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court and its controversial ruling that overturned the landmark 1973 abortion decision in Roe v. Wade, it does not appear likely that affirmative action as its known will survive, despite decades of rulings that protected the use of race as an admissions criteria.

In 2007, for instance, Chief Justice Roberts wrote in a school busing case that the way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.

Forms of that argument have been around since the 1970s, when a legal challenge reached the Supreme Court in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke.

Allan Bakke, 42, receives his medical diploma in 1982 after successfully challenging affirmative action admissions policies to the Supreme Court. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

In that 1978 case, Allan Bakke, a white man, had been denied admission to University of California at Davis medical school. Though ruling that a separate admissions process for minority medical students was unconstitutional, Associate Justice Lewis Powell wrote that race can still be one of several factors in the admissions process.

Since then, the Supreme Court has issued different rulings on whether race could be used in college admissions.

In the 2003 Grutter v. Bollinger case, Justice Sandra Day OConnor wrote the majority opinion that endorsed the University of Michigans highly individualized, holistic review that included race as a factor and had been legally challenged.

Most recently, in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin in 2016, the court reaffirmed its belief in schools that train students to appreciate diverse viewpoints, to see one another as more than mere stereotypes, and to develop the capacity to live and work together as equal members of a common community.

If not race, then what?

Race-neutral admissions policies have had mixed results.

In the cases before the Supreme Court, the University of California also filed a brief urging the Court to allow the use of race. The school argued that the elimination of its affirmative action program in 1996 has caused its diversity numbers to decline in some cases by more than 50%.

UCs experience demonstrates that the race-neutral methods which it has diligently pursued for 25 years have been inadequate to meaningfully increase student-body diversity, the school said in its brief.

The impact on the number of Black and Latino students was virtually immediate. At UCLA, for instance, African American students made up 7.13% of the freshman class in 1995, and only 3.43% in 1998.

More than two decades later, the numbers have not improved. Though Latino students comprise 52.3% of California public high school graduates, only about 25.4% of college freshmen in the UC system identified as Latino. For Black students, the number graduating from high school was 5%, while the number of Black college freshmen was about 4%.

UCs decades-long experience with race-neutral approaches demonstrates that highly competitive universities may not be able to achieve the benefits of student body diversity through race-neutral measures alone, the UC brief stated.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Travis Knoll, University of North Carolina  Charlotte. Like this article? subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

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Travis Knoll received funding from the Social Science Research Council in 2018-2019 to study the history of affirmative action in Brazil.
Carlos Padilla, a member of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, canvasses door-to-door in Las Vegas on Oct. 19, 2022. (Saeed Rahbaran/The New York Times)

LAS VEGAS  Carlos Padilla walked to his pickup truck with a shoulder bag full of campaign literature and an agenda for shaping the future of the country. It was 20 days before the midterm elections, and Padilla, a pastry chef, was on his way out of the headquarters of the Culinary Workers Union 226.

The meeting hed just attended was part business session, part political rally. There were energizing chants (2-2-6! We vote, we win!) and speeches from politicians pleading for the support of the 400 assembled servers, cooks, bussers and guest room attendants. Like Padilla, all would spend the rest of the day knocking on voters doors in a city that has long been an electoral pivot in this swing state, and beyond.

Even in the world of organized labor, hospitality workers have never been much of a force. But campaign visits to the union hall by presidential candidates  Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden  over the years attest to this locals unusual brand: political power.

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The source of that power is the unions 60,000 members, who work in the restaurants, bars, casinos and hotels that drive the economies of Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada. Thanks to union-negotiated contracts, they enjoy job security and financial stability that are uncommon in hospitality businesses. Wages for members of the local average $26 per hour, according to union officials, and rise every year. The jobs come with health insurance, free training for career advancement and even help in making a down payment on a home.

Padilla, 53, is among the hundreds of members who take paid leaves of absence from their jobs (another contract provision) to campaign for candidates the union supports.

Im a 29-year union member, Padilla said. Anything theyve ever asked me to do to help, Ive done.

The local  often referred to by members simply as Culinary, or 226  hasnt always prevailed in this swing states races. But its diverse membership includes constituencies that political professionals believe hold the keys to power. About 55% of members are women, and 45% are immigrants. The average member is a 44-year-old Latina.

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Canvassing expertise is another big advantage. The unions army of hospitality workers has already knocked on more than 750,000 doors this campaign season, according to union leaders, who believe they can tip the election in favor of the largely Democratic slate theyre currently supporting. Many candidates are fighting for their political lives, most notably Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, who is in a tight race against Republican challenger Adam Laxalt that could determine which party controls the Senate.

Asked how they would counteract the unions ability to turn out voters, Laxalts campaign responded with a statement blaming Democrats for inflation and high gasoline prices. I will fight for lower taxes, it read, and I will fight against government shutdowns and mandates that put workers out of a job.

One exception to the unions Democratic tilt was its endorsement of Brian Sandoval, a Republican, in his 2014 reelection campaign for governor. Sandoval broke with his party on issues important to the union, such as immigration reform and the Affordable Care Act.

No Republicans in the state Legislature voted for two recent union-backed, pandemic-related bills  one that provides workplace protections for hospitality workers, and one that guarantees their right to return to their old jobs.

Founded in 1935, the union established itself by recruiting workers from elsewhere to take jobs in this burgeoning desert city. Its ranks grew alongside Nevadas gambling industry, not always harmoniously. One strike, which began in 1991 at the Frontier casino-hotel, lasted more than six years.

Jim Manley, a political consultant who was an aide to former Sen. Harry Reid, said the union became impossible to ignore in 2008, when it helped Obama beat John McCain by 12 percentage points in Nevada, even though McCain was from neighboring Arizona.

Today, the hospitality industry is Nevadas biggest private employer, and union members are entrenched in the states power structure. Jacky Rosen, Nevadas junior senator, is a former union member and Caesars Palace server.

Next weeks elections will be the first since the death last December of Reid, a political brawler whose close relationship with the union was mutually beneficial. The question is whether the Reid machine is as effective as it was in the past, Manley said.

To win in a midterm election that seems to favor Republicans, Nevada Democrats need the union to drive up Democratic voter turnout in Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, said Jon Ralston, a veteran Nevada political journalist.

Its that simple, he wrote in a text message, adding that the union has the bodies and experience to do it.

Padilla started as a pastry chef at Treasure Island, a casino and hotel, nearly 30 years ago, after moving to Las Vegas from Flagstaff, Arizona. He became interested in union work when his brother-in-law, an iron worker, took him to a rally. Turned out it was Culinary that was holding this rally, he said. I was in awe.

In the past two years, Padilla has spent more time canvassing than baking bread and pastries. In the run-up to the 2020 elections, when he was laid off from his job because of pandemic shutdowns, the union paid him to canvass door-to-door.

He then moved temporarily to Georgia, where he joined other hospitality workers helping Raphael Warnock win a tight runoff election that gave Democrats a one-vote Senate majority. (Union officials said canvassers would likely return to Georgia if the current Senate race goes to a runoff.)

The people we elected are the people who helped us keep our health insurance and unemployment benefits during COVID, Padilla said. We help the people who help us.

He brought a similar message to voters in October as he canvassed in a working-class neighborhood on the north side of town. It was in the district of Rep. Steven Horsford, a former head of the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas, a school for hospitality workers run by the union.

One voter, Deborah Gallacher, told Padilla she didnt know yet if she would vote this year, but that Horsford has knocked on my door. I voted for him every time hes been on the ticket.

Padilla responded, Its time again.

He worked alongside Rocio Leonardo, 30, a room cleaner at Aria Resort & Casino. Leonardo, who moved to Las Vegas from Guatemala as a child, also campaigned in 2020, although she is not a citizen and cant vote. I do this because it feels like something positive for my children, she said.

Rocio approached a house with Marine Corps and prisoner of war flags hanging from the garage. She knocked twice on the door, as dogs barked ominously. The woman who finally came to the door was on a phone call and looked upset  until she saw Rocios union T-shirt.

Im Culinary, too, she said. Youve got my vote.

Walking away, Leonardo marked the woman as not home in the voter database on her smartphone, so a campaign worker would return to make sure she voted.

Such persistence, while often tedious in practice, has delivered results.

Electing allies to public office strengthens the unions hand when negotiating on behalf of its members, said Ted Pappageorge, the unions secretary-treasurer. We dont do union stuff so we can win in politics, he said. We do politics so we can win in union contracts.

The union is especially motivated this election cycle, Pappageorge said, because the five-year contracts with employers for the vast majority of its Las Vegas members will expire next year. Were going to have really difficult negotiations, he said. We think we may have strikes.

The union is also pushing local politicians to support a program to combat the fast-rising cost of housing. Last year, Leonardo said landlords raised the monthly rent for the house she shares with her husband and four children to $1,400 a month, from $900.

I thought it was a typo, she said.

Padilla, a father of three, brings up housing costs with as many voters as he can. When landlords raised his rent by $400 last year, he said they told him, Theres no law in Nevada that says they cant raise the rent as much as they want.

During a brief break from canvassing, he shook his head in dismay. I take this election seriously because of that, he said. Theres always a fight.

 2022 The New York Times Company
A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges Alexandria police officers violated a driver's constitutional rights by pulling him over for a traffic stop without reason then interrogating him without legal justification.

The Institute for Justice, a nonprofit law firm that specializes in civil liberties issues across the U.S., filed the suit against the city and police officers Jim Lewis and Samuel Terrell. It claims the officers violated the First and Fourth Amendment rights of Mario Rosales of Roswell, N.M., and his girlfriend, Gracie Lasyone of Dry Prong, who was a passenger in his car.

Also named as a defendant is Alexandria Police Chief Ronney Howard.

Jim Smilie, special projects coordinator with the city, said officials have not received a copy of the lawsuit so had no comment on the allegations.

"Neither Mario nor Gracie had demonstrated suspicious behavior," the lawsuit contends. "Neither were suspects of a crime. And neither has a criminal history. The officers interrogated Mario and Gracie about drug crimes thatthe officers had no reason believe had been committed; they frisked Mario without reason to believe he was armed and dangerous; they searched his pockets; and they flatly prohibited Mario and Gracie from recording the unlawful detention."

The traffic stop occurred June 15 as the couple traveled south on Jackson Street and were stopped at a red light to make a left turn onto Dorchester Drive. The officers later ticketed Rosales for failure to signal, though dashcam video from the police vehicle clearly shows he had used his left-turn signal before making the turn, the suit says. The institute provided a copy of the video and posted it to its website.

Rosales was in the process of moving to Louisiana from New Mexico, and his Ford Mustang had the latter state's license plate, the group says. He was also ticketed for failing to change it to a Louisiana plate.

The charges against Rosales were later dismissed, the suit says.

Story continues

After Lasyone asked the officers why they were questioning them about drugs, she was told the officers were just curious, the insitute says in a news release. The officers also said that they were pulling people over for infractions and then just talking with them.

Police body cam video, which the group also made public, shows the officers did not simply want to hand out traffic tickets but were fishing for bigger crimes, the group alleges.

After the incident, Rosales asked businesses around the intersection if they had video footage. One did and the recording shows he had used his turn signal. After the body and dashcam footage was requested and provided, it further showed he had used his blinker, the institute says.

Police can't legally pull over drivers without reason to believe they violated a traffic rule or some other law, the law firm said. Officers also expanded the initial stop beyond an investigation into a traffic infraction and searched Rosales without a warrant and without a reason to believe he was armed and dangerous.

The Fourth Amendment guarantees each of us the right to go about our business without government workers stopping us unless they have a good reason, said Institute for Justice Senior Attorney Patrick Jaicomo. Im just curious is not a reason the Constitution recognizes, but its a reason that sadly justifies a lot of searches and seizures today. Its time to change that.

The officers also violated the couple's First Amendment rights by prohibiting them from recording the stop on a cellphone, the suit alleges.

I did nothing wrong, but I still found myself standing on the side of the road wondering whether I would be arrested, Rosales says in the release. What happened to me was wrong, and Im trying to hold the police and the city accountable because they are certainly treating other people the same way. Police have an important job to do, but they have to follow the constitution.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Suit accuses Alexandria police of unlawful traffic stop, interrogation
By Selena Li

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Credit Suisse is forging ahead with expansion in China, with the country and Hong Kong set to see strongest pace of headcount growth in Asia, its regional head said, even as the Swiss bank's turnaround strategy leads to job losses elsewhere.

Battered by years of scandals and losses, Credit Suisse is raising new capital for an overhaul, which will see thousands of job cuts and shift its focus away from investment banking and towards the less volatile wealth management.

As part of the global revamp, Credit Suisse is evaluating its presence in 13 locations in Asia Pacific with an aim to "simplify" operations in each location, Credit Suisse's Singapore-based Asia Pacific chief executive Edwin Low told Reuters, without elaborating.

Low said China and Hong Kong, however, will remain brighter spots.

"If I look at Asia Pacific headcount in the next five years, China and Hong Kong will be the biggest growth market for us," he said. "It's very clear that the market is bigger in China than it is in Southeast Asia, Australia or India."

A Credit Suisse report in September forecast the number of Chinese millionaires will double by 2026.

As part of its China expansion plans, Credit Suisse struck a deal to buy out its Chinese partner in a local securities joint venture last month, at a time when plans of its global overhaul were being deliberated internally.

The move came against the backdrop of slowing growth in the world's second-largest economy.

"China will go through ups and downs, but we're giving the opportunity to acquire 100% of Credit Suisse Securities with our full commitment, knowing that the China recovery may not be immediate," Low said.

Apart from applying for a wealth licence to sell products to its private bank clients, it's setting up a locally incorporated bank, which will take two to three years to build out and after which its clients can trade China-listed shares, he said.

With assets under management worth about $249 billion at end-September, Asia Pacific is Credit Suisse's third-largest market after Switzerland and EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa).

(Reporting by Selena Li; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Jane Merriman)
Georges De Keerle/Getty Images

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Prince Harry was facing renewed scrutiny over his and his wife Meghans commercial relationship with Netflix after it emerged that the screening giants tentpole show The Crown devoted two episodes in the new season to Princess Dianas Panorama interview with Martin Bashir, which Harry denounced after it emerged Bashir secured it by using deceitful tactics.

Advance copies of the fifth season of the hit show have been distributed to media organizations, and U.K. tabloid the Sun reported Tuesday that Dianas interview with Bashir is the basis of two episodes and that the show includes a recreation of the interview lasting over four minutes.

The interview was the subject of a BBC inquiry that established interviewer Martin Bashir used fake bank statements, and other underhand tactics, to persuade Diana she was being spied on as part of his efforts to get her to cooperate.

After that inquiry published its results, Harry condemned the interview as part of a culture of exploitation.

However, he has consistently refused to condemn The Crown despite what some might call its clear exploitation of his mother and wider familys story.

In one interview, he told James Corden the show was clearly fiction and that he was much more concerned about newspapers peddling lies that they claimed were true.

(Netflix has thus far declined to append a disclaimer to The Crown saying it is fiction.)

The Daily Mail critic Christopher Stevens, having seen the new material, said that Charles is depicted as devious, impatient, resentful, devoid of self-awareness in his desperation to be king.

Former British Prime Minister John Major said last month that scenes showing Charles trying to persuade him to encourage the queen to abdicate were a barrel load of nonsense peddled for no other reason than to provide maximumand entirely falsedramatic impact.

Story continues

Netflix said, Season five of The Crown will dramatize events surrounding the Panorama interview, given the pivotal part it played during the time period the series covers.

It will reflect what we now know about how the interview was obtained and how Diana was treated. The interview is not recreated in full.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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HONG KONG (AP)  A tropical storm and absences of VIP guests have cast a shadow over a financial conference meant to help Hong Kong restore its image as a financial hub and destination for business travel.

The first major conference since the city lifted COVID-19 quarantine restrictions was due to begin Wednesday. But at least four top executives from institutions including the CEOs of Citigroup and Barclays, who had been expected to attend the Global Financial Leaders Investment Summit, were dropping out.

The Hong Kong Observatory forecast that tropical storm Nalgae would likely bring torrential rains as it passes 200 kilometers (120 miles) to the southwest, in further bad news for organizers of the meeting.

At least four top finance executives initially slated to attend the conference this week have dropped out. They include Blackstone Inc. President Jonathan Gray and Citigroup Inc.s CEO Jane Fraser, who will no longer attend the conference after contracting COVID-19. The CEO of Barclays, C.S. Venkatakrishnan, also scrapped plans to go. Gray was slated to speak in a panel on global uncertainty, while Fraser was supposed to discuss sustainable finance.

On Tuesday, Capital Group Cos. CEO Timothy Armour became the latest chief executive to withdraw from the conference, for health reasons.

The citys T3 strong wind signal was in force Tuesday, with the possibility a higher signal might be raised, depending on the storm. Typically, most businesses close and events are postponed if a T8 strong wind signal is raised. But the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, organizer of the summit, said it would go ahead even if the T8 signal is hoisted.

The main events of the conference take place Wednesday.

Authorities have pulled out all the stops for the gathering, tailoring restrictions for participants such as allowing them to dine in at specific restaurants, even as most other inbound travelers are banned from doing so for three days after they arrive in the city.

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Other restrictions include allowing attendees who test positive for COVID-19 to leave by chartered flights if they want to, instead of having to be isolated for at least seven days in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong leader John Lee said during a news conference Tuesday that it was to be a vibrant week for Hong Kong.

When asked if the restrictions designed for conference participants constituted a double standard, Lee said different plans are formulated to ensure activities can go ahead.

Its on these principles that we put in place certain measures so that some major events can go ahead in Hong Kong, he said.

Illustrating the impatience in Hong Kong for a reopening on the neighboring Chinese mainland, the city's benchmark Hang Seng index jumped 5.2% on Tuesday following unconfirmed rumors that China may be beginning to plan to dismantle its stringent COVID-19 controls, which involve mass testing and sometimes lock-downs of entire neighborhoods or cities.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, told reporters he was not aware of what you just mentioned when asked about the rumor.

Some U.S. lawmakers have urged American companies not to participate in the meeting given tensions with China over trade and human rights. The U.S. has been vocal about a crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong after the semi-autonomous territory implemented its National Security Law.

Sen. Jeff Merkley and Rep. Jim McGovern, who chair the Congressional Executive Commission on China, urged financial executives to reconsider their decision to attend the Hong Kong event.

Their presence only serves to legitimize the swift dismantling of Hong Kongs autonomy, free press, and the rule of law by Hong Kong authorities acting along with the Chinese Communist Party, they said in a statement.

After loosening its once strict pandemic precautions, Hong Kong is trying to get back on track as a destination for all kinds of tourism.

The former British colony is due to hold the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament from Nov. 4-6, for the first since the pandemic began. The city's is also holding a five-day FinTech Week," with hundreds of exhibitors and speakers and an expected total turnout of thousands.
The British number twos win over Brandon Nakashima was his first at the Bercy event (Getty Images)

Dan Evans battled his way into the second round of the Paris Masters with victory over Brandon Nakashima.

The British number twos 6-3 3-6 6-4 win was his first at the Bercy event and set up a showdown with Greek world number five Stefanos Tsitsipas on Wednesday.

Evans broke for 2-1 in the opening set and took his first set point on the Nakashima serve when the world number 50s backhand drifted wide.

American Nakashima converted his first break point of the match to take the initiative at the start of the second.

Evans saved three break points to stay in it at 3-4 but Nakashima took his third set point to force the decider.

However, 32-year-old Evans began to dominate at the net again and a couple of crisp volleys secured a break for 3-2.

Two match points came and went on Nakashimas serve but Evans finished the job on his own to wrap up victory in two hours and nine minutes.
David DePape, shown in 2013, is suspected of severely beating House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer last week in the couple's San Francisco home. (Michael Short / San Francisco Chronicle )

David DePape, who was charged with attempted murder and other crimes in connection with a violent attack against Paul Pelosi, was on a suicide mission and had additional targets in mind when he broke into the Pelosis' home last week, San Francisco prosecutors said Tuesday in court documents.

DePape, 42, appeared briefly in court and pleaded not guilty to a host of charges in connection with Friday's hammer attack on Pelosi. Federal authorities said DePape had plotted to take House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, wife of Paul Pelosi, hostage and break her kneecaps.

In a motion seeking to deny bail, the San Francisco district attorney's office said DePape told officers and medics at the scene, "I'm sick of the insane fing level of lies coming out of Washington, D.C.

"I came here to have a little chat with his wife," DePape added, referring to Paul Pelosi, according to court documents revealed Tuesday. "I didn't really want to hurt him, but you know, this was a suicide mission."

Before his court appearance, at which he wore a sling to support his arm, DePape was transferred to the county jail system from a hospital.

Adam Lipson, a veteran deputy public defender, said DePape suffered a dislocated shoulder during his arrest at the Pelosis' Pacific Heights home. Lipson said he has yet to see the police reports.

"We are going to look into Mr. DePape's mental state," said Lipson, who added that he has not examined the prosecution's motion to deny bail and said it was moot as there is also a federal hold on DePape.

Besides attempted murder, DePape has been charged with residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, false imprisonment of an elder and threats to a public official and their family. He faces 13 years to life in prison if convicted of all local charges. He also faces federal assault and kidnapping charges.

San Francisco Dist. Atty. Brooke Jenkins said Monday that prosecutors want to keep DePape in jail because he poses obvious and severe public safety risks.

Story continues

In a motion seeking to deny bail, prosecutors described DePape as being on a suicide mission.

DePape had other targets in mind  including a Bay Area professor and prominent state and federal politicians and their families  when he broke into the Pelosis' home. He planned to wait for the speaker, who was in Washington, D.C., at the time, to return, those documents say.

Judge Diane Northway ordered DePape held without bail pending additional hearings.

According to a federal affidavit filed Monday, DePape was carrying a backpack containing zip ties, a rope and a hammer when he smashed through the glass patio door of the Pelosis' home. He awakened Paul Pelosi, who was home alone, and demanded, "Where's Nancy?" The 82-year-old executive was able to surreptitiously call 911 to alert police to the intruder.

Tuesday's court documents provide even more details about the violent encounter.

When an officer arrived at Pelosi's door and asked, "What is going on here?" DePape and Pelosi were wrestling with a hammer. Then DePape "wrenched" it from Pelosi, "stepped back and lunged at Mr. Pelosi," striking him in the head with "full force with the hammer" and knocking him unconscious, court records show.

The officers disarmed DePape, according to the motion, while Pelosi lay in a pool of blood for three minutes before regaining consciousness.

DePape told an officer at the scene that "he acted alone," the latest motion says.

DePape later revealed to San Francisco police that he planned to kidnap Nancy Pelosi and break her kneecaps, calling her the leader of the pack of lies told by the Democratic Party, authorities said.

In the course of his police interview, DePape told investigators "that by breaking Nancys kneecaps, she would then have to be wheeled into Congress, which would show other members of Congress there were consequences to actions."

Paul Pelosi is recovering from surgery at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands." In a statement, his wife's office said he was improving but faced a "long recovery process."

"I want to say that I'm pleased to hear that Mr. Pelosi is progressing well in his recovery, and we certainly wish him the best," Lipson said Tuesday, noting that his office will be conducting "a comprehensive investigation of what happened."

The federal complaint against DePape debunks conspiracy theories that have spread on the internet, fueling rhetoric in right-wing circles and casting doubt on some of the facts of the attack. The conspiracy theories have gone from fringe to the mainstream, with members of Congress sharing them.

In the complaint, DePape is charged with one count of assault of an immediate family member of a U.S. official, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. DePape also was charged with one count of attempted kidnapping of a federal official, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.

Jenkins said Monday that, based on DePape's statements and comments to Paul Pelosi, the attack "was politically motivated."

"It's very sad to see that we are once again at the point in history where people believe that it's OK to express their political sentiments through violence," Jenkins said. "It demonstrates that we have to calm things down. We have to decide that we're going to be more respectful as an American society."

"Mr. DePape specifically targeted the Pelosi home to confront Speaker Pelosi," Jenkins said Monday in announcing the charges against him. "This house and the speaker herself were specific targets of the defendant."

The attack stoked heightened concerns over politically connected violence. On Tuesday, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said in a statement: "We believe todays political climate calls for more resources to provide additional layers of physical security for members of Congress."

A Times review of his online accounts showed that DePape has been involved in the world of far-right conspiracies, antisemitism and hate.

In a personal blog DePape maintained, posts include Manipulation of History, Holohoax and Its OK to be white. He mentions 4chan, a favorite message board of the far right. He posted videos about conspiracies involving COVID-19 vaccines and the war in Ukraine being a ploy for Jewish people to buy land.

DePapes screeds include posts about QAnon, an unfounded theory that former President Trump is at war with a cabal of Satan-worshiping Democratic elites who run a child sex ring and control the world. In an Aug. 23 entry titled Q, DePape wrote: Either Q is Trump himself or Q is the deep state moles within Trumps inner circle.

Lipson, who said he first met DePape on Monday night, said his client's "vulnerability to misinformation" will be examined as part of his defense.

Times staff writer Alexandra E. Petri contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The man accused of attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband in his San Francisco home has pleaded not guilty in his first court appearance.

David DePape, 42, was arraigned on Tuesday afternoon during a brief appearance at San Franciscos Superior Court, Reuters reported.

He is facing federal and state charges of attempted murder, residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, false imprisonment of an elder, threats to a public official and their family, assault on the immediate family member of a federal official and attempted kidnapping of a federal official.

A courtroom sketch of David DePape (REUTERS/Vicki Behringer)

In court filings, officials described the alleged assailants plans as a suicide mission that involved further goals to attack other state and federal officials.

This case demands detention, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins wrote in documents related to the case. Nothing less.

Mr DePape is being held without bond and a bail hearing has been set for next Friday, his public defender Adam Lipson said in comments outside court.

He was moved from a city hospital where he was being treated for a dislocated shoulder to the San Franciso County Jail earlier on Monday, KTVU reported.

According to court documents, Mr DePape told San Francisco police that he broke into the Pelosis San Francisco home armed with a hammer and zip ties because he wanted to hold the Democratic leader hostage.

He encountered Mr Pelosi, 82, who managed to call 911 while trying to reason with the intruder.

David DePape made a first appearance in court on Tuesday where he pled not guilty (AP)

When officers arrived, he allegedly struck Mr Pelosi over the head with the hammer.

Mr Lipton said he had only met his client for the first on Monday night, and said he would mount a vigorous defence for his client.

Nancy Pelosi thanked well-wishers for their messages as Paul Pelosi remains in hospital (Getty)

Theres been a lot of speculation, a lot of rumour, simply because of the nature of this case, but as of right now I havent even seen the police reports, he told reporters.

Theres also been a lot of speculation about misinformation and thats certainly something were going to... delve into as his defence team, but again it would be premature to talk about that at this time.

Story continues

Mr Lipton said his client suffered a dislocated shoulder during his arrest, adding he was OK now.

Mr Pelosi remains in hospital where he underwent surgery for a fractured skull.

Ms Pelosi, the Democrat House Speaker, said in a tweet on Monday that the family were grateful for the thousands of messages conveying concern, prayers and warm wishes.
A Texas day care worker has been arrested after four children were hospitalized due to exposure to THC, the Prosper Police Department told news outlets.

First responders arrived at the Primrose School of Prosper after 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31, following a medical emergency call, WFAA reported. Four students in the same classroom suddenly became ill and were taken to a hospital.

The children were exposed to THC, the chemical component in marijuana that causes users to get high, police told KXAS.

Three of the four kids were released from the hospital as of Tuesday afternoon, the station reported.

Its not clear how the children were exposed, but an employee at the preschool is facing charges including felony possession of a controlled substance and four counts of injury to a child, according to KDFW.

Police said Primrose is cooperating with the investigation, outlets reported.

Prosper is about 60 miles northeast of Fort Worth.

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The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has reported that the Russian propaganda machine has launched another wave of special psychological operations and is attacking the Delta situational awareness IT system used by Ukraines Armed Forces.

Source: Ministry of Defence

Quote: "The enemy has started attacking the system and is spreading information about alleged hacking and data access among a network of propaganda sources, trying to discredit it.

The system is working stably, the data is secured, and no unauthorised breaches have been detected. The best IT developers and cyber security specialists at the Ministry of Defence are working on the systems security, monitoring enemy activity in real time."

Details: The Ministry of Defence gave assurances that they realise what a strategically important target these systems are for the Russians.

For information: Delta is a system for collecting, processing and displaying information about the Russian forces, coordinating the defence forces, and providing situational awareness to NATO standards.

The situational awareness system is used for planning operations and combat tasks, coordinating with other units, securely exchanging information about the locations of Russian positions, etc.

According to its developers, Delta provides three-dimensional understanding of a battlefield in real time and integrates information about the Russians from various sensors and sources, including intelligence data, to a digital map; it also does not require any additional settings and can function on any device - a laptop, tablet or smartphone.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






A DeKalb County man faces multiple charges after an investigation revealed he was in possession of online child sexual abuse material.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Oct. 28, Jonathan Evans, 33, was arrested and charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of children by the GBI Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit.

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

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) got a tip that Evans had child sexual abuse material on his computer.

Agents conducted a search warrant of Evans home, where he was arrested.

Evans was taken to the Rockdale County Jail.

TRENDING STORIES:

Anyone with information about other cases of child exploitation is asked to contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at 404-270-8870. Tips can also be submitted online.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
A man used his MacGyver-like skills to sneak contraband inside an Atlanta-area jail, Georgia deputies say. Now hes behind bars, too.

David Askew, 59, was arrested at the DeKalb County Jail, where authorities said he used fishing line and a large plastic bag to send contraband up the jail walls and into an inmates cell, according to a news release from the DeKalb County Sheriffs Office.

He faces multiple charges including crossing state/county guard lines with weapons, intoxicant drugs without consent and criminal trespass, the release states.

A man accused of using a fishing line and plastic bag to smuggle a variety illegal contraband inside a Georgia jail on Oct. 30 has been arrested, deputies said.

This was a sizable drop, Chief Deputy Randy Akies said in a statement. And one with quite a bit of variety.

Among the items seized by deputies were two boxes of razor blades, two belly rings, a pair of panties and several tubes of super glue.

Authorities also found:

14 cellphones

5 cellphone batteries

A plastic bag containing a green leafy substance

A plastic bag containing a red tobacco substance

7 packs of cigarette tobacco

2 sewing kits

11 cellphone wall chargers

8 USB cords

4 packs of cigarette papers

A plastic bag of crystal rock-like substance

7 multicolored socks

2 cellphone cases

1 cellphone safety pin

Askew was booked into jail Sunday, Oct. 30 and is being held without bail.

Decatur is about 10 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta.

Inmate uses emergency exit to escape jail, SC cops say. Trail of blood left at scene

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Jailer watched fight game that led to death of juvenile inmate, Georgia officials say
Richard Allen, 50, was the guy who worked at CVS. He played pool at the now-closed JC's Bar and Grill. He was nice enough, not overly outgoing.

In the small community of Delphi, Indiana, that was about it, until this weekend.

"It shocked the hell out of me," 74-year-old Tom Brower recalled while having a beer in the Office Tavern off Delphi's Main Street. This face of the man who he described as helpful and courteous, popping up as a mug shot on the news. "No red flags," Brower said.

Delphi murder arrest records:Court date set to determine if documents will remain sealed

"I freaked out," agreed 68-year-old Mac McLeland, sitting next to Brower.

Tom Brower has a Coke and a smoke in the center of Delphi, on Oct. 31, 2022. Brower said, people in this town want answers, a few days after the arrest of Richard M. Allen, a suspect in the murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German.

Neither had known Allen's name. But CVS is the only pharmacy in the city of 3,000, so plenty recognized Allen's face when state police announced he is a suspect in the 2017 killings of teens Abigail "Abby" Williams and Liberty "Libby" German.

The girls went for a hike on Delphi Historic Trails on a warm February afternoon, and their bodies were found in the woods nearby the next day. Five and a half years later, Allen has been charged with two counts of murder in the case, but the court has sealed the charging documents and the investigation remains open.

Richard Allen arrested:Delphi man charged with murder in killings of Libby German and Abby Williams

Former Delphi bar owner describes 'biggest shock'

Bob Matlock, who owned JC's Bar and Grill until he closed it late last year, can't fathom how the regular patron he knew ended up in this position.

Allen and his wife came in three to four times a week, laughed with the other regulars, partook in the occasional somber conversation about what happened to the teens and how awful it must be for their families. Their families, too, were patrons of the bar, Matlock said.

The two suspect drawings released over the years hung on the bulletin board in the bar. There's a picture floating around Facebook of Allen standing near the drawings, Matlock said. No one ever thought there was a connection. Matlock is still skeptical.

Story continues

"They were a good family couple," Matlock said of Allen and his wife. "That's what I guess was the biggest shock."

CVS customers, police say Richard Allen 'blended right in'

At the time of the slayings, 67-year-old Betty Cummings would occasionally have lunch with friends at the McDonalds next to the CVS, to discuss theories about the case. She remembers seeing Allen come there to pick up lunch every once in a while, calm and mild-mannered, not really interacting with anyone there. But he was never part of their discussions. He was the CVS employee working the floor, helping her find an item. Allen is a licensed pharmacy technician, according to public records.

"He just blended right in," she said. "You wouldn't even suspect the guy."

Libby's grandmother, Becky Patty, told reporters Monday that Allen had processed photos of the girls at a local drug store and did not charge the family for the cost.

Allens apparent undistinguished life in the community stunned local law enforcement.

Delphi killings:4 things we learned about arrest in deaths of Liberty German and Abigail Williams

Ive been in the business, our business, for a while and I thought, Boy, howd I even miss that one? Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby, whos been in law enforcement for 36 years and whose department assisted in the multi-agency investigation, told IndyStar.

Leazenby suddenly found himself trying to recall any bit of conversation he had with Allen  the kind of pleasantries one has every day with someone ringing up a customer.

Tobe Leazenby, Sheriff of Carroll County, looks at a grainy cell phone image and sketch of the a prime suspect (upper left corner of image), in the 2017 death of girls Abigail Williams and Liberty German, in Delphi, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Finishing out his second and final term, Leazenby kept the images there to remind him of the ongoing interagency investigation that yielded the recent arrest of Richard M. Allen.

In a prepared statement from a spokesperson, CVS officials said they are shocked and saddened about Allens arrest in the investigation.

As members of the Carroll County community, we remain devastated by these murders and our hearts go out to the German and Williams families," the statement said. We stand ready to cooperate with the police investigation in any way we can.

Leazenby said an arrest in Abby and Libbys case felt almost like a goal for him before his term as sheriff concludes at the end of the year. On a file cabinet in his office, Leazenby only has a few items pinned up: two schedules for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and a side-by-side photo of the Delphi suspect drawing and grainy photo taken from Libbys cell phone. Hes kept the photos up since the first days of the investigation, as a reminder of his goal.

Grainy cell phone video footage and a sketch of a prime suspect in the murder of local Delphi girls Abigail Williams and Liberty German, on the office wall of Tobe Leazenby, Sheriff of Carroll County.

He always believed the day would come, citing his faith and the steadfast work of investigators from multiple law enforcement agencies as the sources of his hope. Yet, the news still feels surreal, he said.

After five and a half years ... you wonder whether or not youre dreaming and whether or not this is actually real, Leazenby said.

It doesn't seem real to 48-year-old A.J. Robinson either, whose early impressions of Allen were benign. Robinson met Allen briefly for the first time at JC's, the pool bar. They had a short conversation, where Robinson told Allen about how he is legally blind.

'Lady of the Dunes':Woman identified in 1974 Massachusetts cold case

Anytime Robinson went to CVS thereafter, he said, Allen would come over to him and ask if he needed help.

"He was always nice. Anybody would tell you that," Robinson said. "You'd never think in a million years."

Residents around town marvel at what a national and international story has become of their community, with mixed feelings. Some feel protective of the victims' families, like a local business who posted a sign barring media from entering. The CVS where Allen worked booked a private security guard to monitor the entrance Monday, something residents never see.

Above all, they've just wanted answers.

"It hits home here in this town. It really hits home," Brower said. "People in this town want answers."

Indiana State Polices tip line remains open and those with pertinent information can email abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com or call 765-822-3535.

Contact IndyStar transportation reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.

Contact IndyStar reporter Sarah Nelson at 317-503-7514 or sarah.nelson@indystar.com

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Delphi murders suspect Richard Allen leaves neighbors, town 'shocked'
The Denver Post is done with far-right Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.)

In a blistering editorial, the newspaper over the weekend urged voters to reject the Donald Trump loyalist. The headline couldnt have been clearer: Endorsement: Please, dont give your vote to Lauren Boebert.

We beg voters in western and southern Colorado not to give Rep. Lauren Boebert their vote, the editorial began.

Boebert has spent her time and efforts contributing to the toxic political environment in this nation, the papers editorial board wrote. And instead of discussing issues relevant to Coloradans, she just slings mud, it added.

The editorial called out Boeberts casual yet crass cruelty, which she puts on display on a daily basis while in Washington, D.C.

Last week, Boeberts GOP primary challenger took the unusual step of endorsing her Democratic rival Adam Frisch, a former member of the Aspen City Council.

We grieve that this is who represents our great state in Congress  a state known for our moderate positions and our policy-first approach to politics, the newspaper said. Rejecting all Boebert has come to represent  angry rants without offering real solutions  is important for the 3rd Congressional District, Colorado and this great nation.

Read the full editorial here.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
Giselle with a fireball at a staircase

The sequel to Disneys live-action fairytale Enchanted arrives perfectly timed for festive family gatherings during the holidays. The Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey-led Disenchanted looks to be not only a new chapter of the real world happily ever after, but another fun takedown of classic fairytale tropes. Watch the new trailer below!



Official Trailer | Disenchanted | Disney+

The first film boldly challenged fairytale notions of love at first sight and cleverly dissected them through song and fantastical action. By the end, idealistic, would-be princess Giselle (Adams) and cynical New York City lawyer Robert (Dempsey) met somewhere in the middle to cement their relationship. In Disenchanted, its some 10 years later, and we pick up on the couple and their children feeling restless in the city. Giselle misses the magic of her fairytale home world and so the family moves for some of the quaintness of suburbia. But the new setting is not as idyllic as it seemsand it drives a wedge between Giselle and her now-teenage stepdaughter, who misses her friends. So when the opportunity arises to make a wish to make things more magical, Giselle takes it, not expecting the consequences that follow... considering what a stepmothers role is in fairytale stories.

Read more

Disenchanted also features Idina Menzel (Frozen) and James Marsden (Westworld) returning to reprise their roles from the first film, as well as an ensemble that includes Maya Rudolph, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jayma Mays, and Gabriella Baldacchino. Its directed by Adam Shankman (Hairspray) from a screenplay by Brigitte Hales, and features a new soundtrack from two Oscar winners: composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz.

Watch Disenchanted on Disney+ November 18.





Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel and Star Wars releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

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Click here to read the full article.
Roberta Wydermyer was found dead in the trunk of her car with a gunshot wound to the head nearly four decades ago in California.

In 1988, Maurice Hastings was convicted of murder in her death, as well as two attempted murders, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, according to an Oct. 28 new release from the Los Angeles District Attorneys Office.

After sitting in prison for 38 years, all while maintaining his innocence, recently tested DNA has helped make him a free man, the district attorneys office said.

Im not pointing fingers. Im not standing up here a bitter man, Maurice Hastings, now 69, said during a downtown Los Angeles news conference, City News Service reported. But I just want to enjoy my life while I have it. And I just want to move forward.

District Attorney George Gascon described the wrongful conviction as a terrible injustice, according to the news release.

The justice system is not perfect, and when we learn of new evidence which causes us to lose confidence in a conviction, it is our obligation to act swiftly, Gascon said.

No physical evidence

There was no physical evidence linking Hastings to the robbery-homicide and sexual assault of Wydermyer in Inglewood, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Innocence Project at Cal State Los Angeles. Additionally, he had numerous alibi witnesses who attested to where he was at the time of the crime.

Even without physical evidence, prosecutors sought the death penalty for Hastings, according to the Los Angeles Innocence Project.

The jury instead sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole, according to the Los Angeles Innocence Project.

Requests to test DNA

Among the evidence collected from Wydermyers body was an oral swab that had semen, according to the district attorneys office. But that swab was never DNA tested before the trials that put Hastings behind bars, according to the Los Angeles Innocence Project.

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Hastings first requested DNA testing in 2000, the district attorneys office said.

I have been incarcerated for over fifteen years for a murder that I did not commit, Hastings wrote in a letter to the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office in 2000, according to the Los Angeles Innocence Project. The most compelling of the evidence that has not as of yet been examined is the DNA evidence which will conclusively show that I was not the person involved with the deceased at the time of the crime.

However, that request was denied, the district attorneys office said.

Then in 2021, Hastings submitted a claim of innocence with the District Attorneys Conviction Integrity Unit, the district attorneys office said.

After the evidence was tested and uploaded to the states Combined DNA Index System in June of this year, the DNA profile had a match, the district attorneys office said.

It identified a man who had been convicted in the rape and kidnapping of another woman, the Los Angeles Innocence Project said. The man died while in prison serving his 56-year sentence. Officials did not publicly release the mans identity.

With the Los Angeles Innocence Project, the district attorneys office filed a motion on Oct. 20 to vacate Hastings 1988 conviction and to release him from prison, and the Los Angeles County Superior Court approved the request, the district attorney said.

I prayed for many years that this day would come, Hastings said, according to the Los Angeles Innocence Project.

Man spent 20 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, California official says

After decades in prison for murder, Miami man hears words of freedom: Actually innocent

Man convicted of killing Fort Worth club manager free after DNA evidence reinterpreted
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a court filing on Monday that several Arizona groups monitoring of ballot drop boxes can amount to illegal voter intimidation in violation of the Voting Rights Act.

The DOJ filed a statement of interest voicing support for a recent lawsuit from the League of Women Voters of Arizona, which accused several Arizona groups of engaging in an escalating scheme of voter intimidation and harassment.

Although lawful poll-watching activities can support democratic transparency and accountability, when private citizens form ballot security forces and attempt to take over the States legitimate role of overseeing and policing elections, the risk of voter intimidationand violating federal lawis significant, the Justice Department said in the filing.

The groups  Lions of Liberty, Yavapai County Preparedness Team and Clean Elections USA  have reportedly been surveilling drop boxes while armed and in tactical gear, filming voters, posting their information or images online, and reporting them to police if they drop off more than one ballot, according to the League of Women Voterss lawsuit.

The DOJ noted that most of these actions have previously been found to violate the Voting Rights Act, including filming and photographing voters, monitoring voting sites while armed and threatening adverse consequences like harassment, public opprobrium, and baseless allegations of felonious conduct.

The department also pushed back on a recent decision in a similar case brought by the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans. A federal judge rejected the groups request to block Clean Elections USA from observing ballot drop box locations, ruling it would infringe on their constitutional rights.

However, the DOJ argued in Mondays filing that the First Amendment does not protect individuals right to assemble to engage in voter intimidation or coercion.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Bestselling author Dawn OPorter (Toby Madden/PA)

Dawn OPorter confesses she couldnt have fallen for her husband, Irish actor Chris ODowd, had he not been an animal lover, as she reveals what she believes is the secret to a long marriage.

When she first started dating the Bridesmaids star, after meeting at her 30th birthday party, her Siamese cat Lilu was her top priority, the author and podcast host says.

Id met the man I thought I was going to marry, but there was no way I would still be with him if he hated my cat. At that time in my life, she was my priority.

At the start, it was very difficult, OPorter, 43, continues. After the first night he stayed at my house, she puked on his side of the bed. It was absolutely a protest puke.

She just knew this guy was a serious problem. He was livid and I had to put her outside the bedroom, which was totally fair enough. But being Siamese, she would howl at the door, and it sounded like someone was being murdered in the corridor. Eventually, she crept her way back in and over time, they bonded. He loved her, but he would always joke about what a horrible person she was.

Today, the couple live in LA with their two sons, Art, seven, and five-year-old Valentine, and four rescue animals  two dogs and two cats  and there was never any thought that ODowd would occupy a pet-free zone, she laughs.

When Lilu died in 2020 at the age of 16, OPorter, bestselling author of The Cows and So Lucky, was devastated. It was that loss which sparked her latest novel, Cat Lady.

I had one of the most significant relationships of my life with my cat of 16 years. I had her when I was 24 until I was 41, and when she died, I was absolutely heartbroken. It made me realise how big a deal pet grief is to people, and how it can feel as painful as losing somebody. I wanted to write a book that honoured that.

Cat Lady begins as businesswoman Mia joins a pet bereavement group even though her cat, Pigeon, is very much alive. She does it as a release from her less than joyous life, and it soon becomes clear she loves her cat more than her husband, Tristan  a man whose bitchy ex-wife Belinda is constantly invading their space, and who doesnt share her fondness for felines.

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As human relationships around her fragment and her job goes belly-up, the one constant is her loyal, beloved moggie, as well as her newfound friends at the pet grief group.

The idea came about some 14 years ago when OPorter was in New York, didnt have much work and started to go to different self-help groups with an idea of blogging about them. One of those she came upon was a pet grief group.

I think my intention initially was to make fun of it, but then I sat in the group and it was one of the most devastating circles Ive ever sat in. I thought, I could never write negatively about these people and Ive held on to that group all this time, knowing it would turn up in my work somewhere. You can find support from people in the most unusual places.

She didnt seek grief counselling when Lilu died, but it was during the pandemic when the world had turned upside down.

Everything was awful anyway, so it was a case of, Where do I even start with which therapy group I need? she says, chuckling. When lockdown eased slightly in Los Angeles, her friends rallied round, delivering flowers and gifts, which meant a lot, she says now.

My husband was sad too, and we just sat and stared at walls for a week or two, and tried to get on with it.

Her cats death felt like she was mourning the end of an era, OPorter remembers.

She represented my entire single life. I had this very nostalgic reaction to it and looked back on the last 16 years and all the things that Id done. It made me suddenly realise that I was in my 40s and not 26-year-old Dawn any more, sofa surfing with my cat in London. It felt like an era of my life had been defined and closed. It was actually a warm kind of grief, even though I was desperately sad.

They also lost their dog, Potato, earlier this year.

I can barely say his name without crying. It takes a long time. New pets help, because it brings joy into the house, but that doesnt mean you stop missing the pet thats gone.

She believes it is possible to love pets more than people. I think the relationship people have with their pets is so intimate, when something relies on you entirely for survival and you rely on it entirely for all the pleasurable things it gives you, its a completely uncomplicated pure exchange of love relationship  and its hard to find that with people.

Now, she has two rescue tabby cats, sister and brother Myrtle and Boo, which she got as kittens after Lilu died.

When you have two cats, they are much less reliant on you. Lilu was an emotional wreck every time I left the house. These two are very solid in themselves, because they have each other.

When we saw how wonderful that was, we rescued two dogs last month  Chris was very insistent we got two dogs [Meatloaf and Puffin] for the same reason.

The pet-loving couple recently celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary, which they both recorded on Instagram.

I guess the secret of a good marriage is dont expect it to be perfect all the time. That took me a long time to learn. Sometimes, it will be stressful and hard, but as long as the majority of the time its not, I think youre doing pretty well.

They have lived in Los Angeles for more than a decade but she misses London terribly, she admits.

I still call London home, even though out of Guernsey [where she grew up] and LA, its been my home for the shortest amount of time. We do huge trips back all the time. We very well might move back at some point, but it depends on work and if Chris is filming in America all year. Our life can change day to day with the job that comes in.

She tends to base her books in the UK, although shell be writing another novel next year, set for the the first time in LA.

My life is quieter and much slower here [than it was in London]. Its a different kind of city  laid-back and relaxed. Theres no subway to speak of, you drive everywhere, everything feels more chilled out.

While her actor husband is recognised a lot, OPorter, who also has a vintage clothing range with Joanie Clothing, is happy to remain out of the showbiz spotlight.

One of the things I love about living in LA is that nobody knows who I am. Its fun to come back to London and have people say, I love your books, but I also enjoy that not being the case. Its only when Im with Chris that he gets a lot of attention  but its the kind of attention that is relaxed and manageable. Theres no-one screaming. Hes not in One Direction. Its very nice.

Shes hosting a new series of her podcast Get It On this autumn, interviewing celebrity guests about about why they dress the way they do, and has another novel in the pipeline.

As for pets, she wants more, she enthuses.

I want more of the animals, she says, laughing. I was feeding a stray cat outside last year who I was hoping would be brave enough to come in and join the family one day. I will absolutely be adding more rescue animals to the situation.

Cat Lady by Dawn OPorter is published by HarperCollins. Available now.
Mehmet Oz, a Republican candidate for Senate in Pennsylvania, speaks during a campaign event in Malvern on October 15, 2022. AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson

Pennsylvania senate candidate Mehmet Oz appeared to claim the state was on the coast.

The race for the crucial senate seat has been marked by gaffes and mishaps by the candidates.

Oz's opponents have criticized him for running in a state where he has few pre-existing ties.

Republican Pennsylvania senate candidate Mehmet Oz appeared to suggest that the state is on the Atlantic coast.

In a Monday appearance on Fox News with host Sean Hannity, Oz discussed the importance of the race for the GOP.

"This is important: We do not have a Republican senator north of North Carolina on the Atlantic coast until you get to Maine, if I don't hold this seat," Oz told Sean Hannity.

"And there's been a Republican senator in Pennsylvania most of my life. I'm going to keep one here as well."

Oz's geography was wrong: Pennsylvania is not on the Atlantic coast, unlike its neighboring states of Delaware or New Jersey, where Oz lived for years. The bodies of water Pennsylvania borders are the Delaware River to the east and Lake Erie to the northwest.

An annotated map showing the borders of Pennsylvania and the Atlantic Ocean. Google Maps/Insider

Oz's opponent, Democratic candidate John Fetterman, has repeatedly criticized Oz for his lack of ties to Pennsylvania. A former reality-TV doctor, Oz only recently moved to the state where he is seeking office, and was accused of filming a campaign video from his mansion in New Jersey.

Fetterman's lead has slipped in recent weeks, and the race is now considered a toss up. In a debate last week Fetterman made a series of verbal slips, seemingly still suffering the effects of a stroke he had in May.

Oz attracted criticism for claiming that "local political leaders" should play a key role in women's decisions over abortions.

The seat is seen as crucial to Republican chances of overturning the Democrats' razor-thin majority in the Senate and seizing control of the upper chamber in the midterms.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Perhaps Mehmet Oz could use a map  the GOP nominee for senator in Pennsylvania mistakenly grouped the Keystone State with those bordering the ocean.

In a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity on Monday, the former talk-show doctor declared: This is important: We do not have a Republican senator north of North Carolina on the Atlantic coast until you get to Maine, if I dont hold this seat.

does Oz ... does he think Pennsylvania is on the coast? pic.twitter.com/ZuXCPKZdVQ  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 1, 2022

Pennsylvania does not touch the Atlantic Ocean.

Its a bit of a technicality, but people on Twitter were not willing to overlook it  especially since Oz only began calling Pennsylvania home for his election bid after living in New Jersey, which does have a coastline, for decades. His Democratic opponent, John Fetterman, has assailed him as a carpetbagger.

Oz can now be accused of not being so good at geography, too:

Maybe hes just confused since New Jersey is on the coast and thats the state where he actually lives.  Ana  Vote blue to save democracy! (@AnaSolitaria7) November 1, 2022

Maybe Oz thinks the Delaware River is the Atlantic Ocean?  Bob Longo Jr (@robertlongo56) November 1, 2022

If you want to be a senator on the east coast, you should have stayed in New Jersey, get a map please.  UticaJoe (@UticaJoe) November 1, 2022

Hey doc your home in NJ might be on the water, but PA has no coastline the last time I checked.  Pauline Criel (@pecriel) November 1, 2022

Dude. Its Joisey Shore.

Not Pennsylvanian Shore#DrOoze  IBookery (@ibookery) November 1, 2022

Ah, those Pennsylvania beaches.  Ramone Sinclair (@ramonesinclair) November 1, 2022

In fairness to Oz he's thinking of NJ, where he actually lives  NJTrainDelays   #EveryElectionMatters (@NJTrainDelays) November 1, 2022

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
Mehmet Oz, the Republican Senate candidate in Pennsylvania, appeared to mistakenly say the state is on the Atlantic Coast during an appearance on the Fox News show hosted by Sean Hannity.

While Pennsylvania borders the Delaware River, which leads to Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, it isnt actually a coastal state.

Dr Oz is in a competitive race against Democratic Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman to replace outgoing Republican Senator Pat Toomey in the Keystone State.

Pennsylvania is too important, Dr Oz told Mr Hannity. This is important, we do not have a Republican senator north of North Carolina on the Atlantic coast until you get to Maine if I dont hold this seat. And there has been a Republican senator in Pennsylvania most of my life. Im gonna keep one here as well.

The last time Pennsylvania was represented by two Democratic Senators was in 2009 when Republican Arlen Specter switched parties. Mr Specter then lost the Democratic primary, with the winning candidate, Navy Admiral Joe Sestak, losing to Mr Toomey in the 2010 midterms.

Democrat Bob Casey has represented Pennsylvania in the Senate since 2007.

Before Mr Specter switched parties, the last time Pennsylvania had two Democratic Senators was between 1945 and 1947.

Twitter users were quick to mock Dr Oz for his geographic miss, noting that he has lived in New Jersey, an actual coastal state, for decades, and only recently moved to Pennsylvania to run for Senate.

Mr Fetterman has blasted Dr Oz, accusing him of being a carpetbagger.

does Oz ... does he think Pennsylvania is on the coast? pic.twitter.com/ZuXCPKZdVQ  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 1, 2022

Maybe hes just confused since New Jersey is on the coast and thats the state where he actually lives, one Twitter user said.

Maybe Oz thinks the Delaware River is the Atlantic Ocean? another asked.

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If you want to be a senator on the east coast, you should have stayed in New Jersey, get a map please, a third said.

Hey doc your home in NJ might be on the water, but PA has no coastline the last time I checked, one account holder added.

Dude. Its Joisey Shore. Not Pennsylvanian Shore, one Twitter user said.

In fairness to Oz hes thinking of NJ, where he actually lives, another added.

Douglas Charles said Dr Ozs comments were what [people] from New Jersey say.

Dr Oz still thinks he lives in New Jersey. Little does he know, hell be moving back very soon, Grant Stern added.

Make no mistake, Mehmet Oz lives in a coastal state... its just not Pennsylvania, Craig Harrington, research director at watchdog Media Matters, said. He owns like a dozen houses all around the country. People this rich dont really move to anywhere. A decent comp would be Mitt Romney, who lived almost exclusively in Massachusetts and California before running for office in Utah, but he at least actually had ties to Utah.
Correction: A previous version of this article misreported the systems that make up Vampire.

WASHINGTON  The U.S. is aiming to send Ukraine the Vampire counter-drone system by mid-2023, with a contract award expected within months, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday.

The Pentagon on Aug. 24 announced it would send the system, a laser-guided-missile launcher that can quickly be installed in a civilian truck bed, as part of a larger arms package. But despite Russias expanded use of Iranian-made kamikaze drones to target Ukraines power stations and other key infrastructure, the Pentagon hasnt yet approved a contract to deliver the system.

Air defense continues to be a priority, its something were going to continue to stay focused on and work as quickly as we can, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said. In reference to the Vampires, we do expect a contract award within the next few months, and right now were anticipating delivery to be in mid 2023.

The L3Harris-made Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment uses laser-guided munitions to hit ground or air targets, including unmanned aircraft systems. At the Association of the U.S. Army trade show here last month, the company displayed it with the Land-LGR4 rocket launcher from Arnold Defense and Electronics and the Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System laser-guidance package made by BAE Systems.

L3Harris expects to deliver the Vampire within the 9-month window requested by the Pentagon once the company is under contract, according to a company spokesman.

In recent days, the Biden administration has said Iranian troops are directly engaged on the ground in Crimea supporting Russian drone attacks on Ukraines infrastructure. Russia has been using a mix of missiles and loitering munition strikes over the last four weeks to deprive Ukraine of electricity as the temperature falls at the onset of winter.

For Ukraine and its allies, time is of the essence. Because new Russian units arent yet available, Russias ability to conduct ground operations is at an ebb. Now is when Ukraines partners must lay the groundwork for a military victory in 2023, the London-based Royal United Services Institute said in a new assessment.

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Even as Ukraines armed forces have claimed to have downed more than 1,400 enemy drones over the course of the war, Kyiv has pleaded for additional air defense systems. The U.S. and NATO have responded positively, as U.S. Defense Secretary cited the need at a NATO press conference last month and said Washington is working to link the patchwork of air defense systems in Ukraine.

Those systems include anti-aircraft Stinger missiles from the U.S. and others, Russian-made S-300 medium-range air defenses, Hawk medium-range air defenses from Spain and truck-mounted IRIS-T systems from Germany. The U.S. is on the verge of delivering the medium-range National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, which is jointly produced by Raytheon and Norways Kongsberg.

On Tuesday, Ryder noted that Ukrainian forces have already shown that they can integrate air defenses, particularly, for example when it comes to taking down a significant percentage of Iranian drones.
Drone being flown near a plane

Police and airport authorities are warning of the "potentially catastrophic" consequences of drones being flown near airports.

It follows recent reported sightings of drones in the vicinity of the Glasgow Airport flightpath.

Drone operators are being reminded that it is a criminal offence to fly them near airports without permission.

The warnings have been issued by Police Scotland, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and airport operators.

Every airport and airfield is protected by a flight restriction zone and drone operators cannot fly there without permission of the airfield operator and air traffic control.

Insp David Ferguson, of Police Scotland's aviation security and safety unit, said: "There has been a significant growth in the use of drones and Police Scotland works in partnership with the CAA and airport operators to ensure compliant use.

"What may seem like a harmless pastime or hobby could have potentially catastrophic consequences if the drone is flown in a location which poses a threat to aircraft.

"We also actively engage with drone pilots to encourage responsible use of the aircraft and ensure they do not interfere with the operations at airports as well as more rural airfields."

Extremely dangerous

Jonathan Nicholson from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: "Drones can be great fun but people must fly them safely and follow the rules. Breaking the CAA's Dronecode and failing to fly responsibly could result in criminal prosecution, including imprisonment.

"Anyone operating a drone must do so responsibly and observe all relevant rules and regulations. The rules for flying drones are designed to keep everybody safe."

A spokesperson for Glasgow Airport added: "Operating a drone or unmanned aircraft within the airport's flight restriction zone is a criminal offence and those convicted of doing so could face up to five years in prison and an unlimited fine.

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"The flight restriction zone extends to a 2.5 nautical mile circle radius from the runway with extensions out with protecting the flightpath for arrival and departures.

"Endangering the crew and passengers of an aircraft is extremely dangerous and could lead to a catastrophic loss of life.

"Members of the public who witness or are aware of anyone operating a drone near our airfield should contact Police Scotland immediately."
Emissions from a coal-fired power plant are silhouetted against the setting sun on Feb. 1, 2021, in Independence, Mo. (Associated Press)

World leaders are meeting in Egypt next week for this year's United Nations climate summit. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is planning to skip COP27, calling it little more than an occasion for greenwashing . She's right to be frustrated with the state of the global response to this crisis.

The world is way off track. Most governments are falling far short of their climate goals, and the window is rapidly closing to prevent a dangerous overheating of the planet, a new United Nations report found. To avert catastrophic climate change, we must cut global greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030, but world leaders current commitments will cut them by only 5% to 10%.

The only way to limit global warming to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit or "well below" 3.6 degrees, the goals nearly every nation agreed to under the 2015 Paris agreement, is with bold, transformative policy shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy. But instead, global average temperatures are on track to rise an unthinkable 5 degrees above preindustrial levels by centurys end.

Few nations have improved their climate ambitions. At the 2021 summit in Glasgow, Scotland, countries agreed to revisit and strengthen their 2030 targets by the end of this year, but progress has been woefully inadequate, according to the U.N. So few nations have increased their commitments since then that they amount to only about one-tenth of the emissions reductions pledged in the lead-up to last years summit.

That signals that weve hit a plateau in terms of what countries are going to put on the table, said Taryn Fransen, a senior fellow in the Global Climate Program at the World Resources Institute think tank.

Most countries just cant quit fossil fuels. While most nations have targets to increase renewable energy production, few have even committed to cutting fossil fuels. Only 51 countries plans have any measures pertaining to fossil fuel consumption, and only eight of those would actually ramp down or phase out consumption, according to an analysis by the World Resources Institute.

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That's totally at odds with the environmental and economic imperative to end fossil fuels, as U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said , before we incinerate our only home.

But even with the bad news, there are some grounds for optimism going into the summit.

Renewables are looking brighter. It's likely that Russias invasion of Ukraine will speed up the global shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy rather than slow it down, as was feared.

The invasion triggered the worst global energy crisis since the 1970s, prompting some countries to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy. A report by the International Energy Agency now predicts demand for fossil fuels will peak in the near future: coal within the next few years, natural gas by the end of the decade and oil by the mid-2030s. The transition from burning these dangerous, planet-destroying fuels still isnt happening nearly fast enough, but at least their decline is in sight.

The U.S. and Brazil can now lead on climate. The United States can finally approach the negotiations at the meeting from a place of credibility, now that President Biden has signed the Inflation Reduction Act, the nation's first significant climate legislation. In Brazil, leftist former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who campaigned on protecting the Amazon rainforest, defeated far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. Brazil is ready to resume its leading role in the fight against the climate crisis, Lula said after his victory was declared Sunday.

The Brazilian election result is a hopeful sign for the preservation of a region often called the lungs of our planet and a place of unmatched biodiversity. It shows how much the fight for democracy and climate action are intertwined. Let's hope it's an indication of better things to come.

As world leaders prepare for yet another climate summit, we cannot afford another year of insufficient and incremental action against the greatest threat to humanity.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi her husband, Paul Pelosi, in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 23. Paul Pelosi was brutally attacked in their San Francisco home last week. (Susan Walsh / Associated Press)

Days after the heinous attack on Paul Pelosi by a man federal authorities have accused of plotting to kidnap his wife, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , its clear that too many Republican officials and their mouthpieces in the conspiracy-laden right-wing media are not taking this incident seriously.

Instead of treating it for what it is  a reprehensible breach of American values and a dangerous threat to democracy in the heat of election season  they are making jokes and spreading homophobic falsehoods. As if thats not bad enough, some have the gall to portray themselves as victims when reasonable people push back at this cruel disinformation campaign.

Kari Lake, the GOP nominee for governor of Arizona, used the attack as a bizarre punch line in remarks at a campaign event Monday when she was asked about school security. "Nancy Pelosi, well, shes got protection when shes in D.C.  apparently her house doesnt have a lot of protection," Lake said to laughter from audience members so depraved that they apparently find humor in an 82-year-old man being hit over the head with a hammer so savagely that he remains hospitalized with a skull fracture.

Later in the day, Lake doubled down on her dismissive comment in a Fox News interview with Tucker Carlson in which she complained that she was being silenced for speaking the truth. And then she went on to spread the baseless claim that suspected assailant David DePape was found half naked in the Pelosis San Francisco home.

Never mind that the criminal complaint says police pulled numerous items from the pocket of DePapes shorts and interviewed a security guard who saw someone dressed in all black walking near the Pelosi home before hearing banging and then police sirens a few minutes later. Who cares about facts anyway?

Certainly not Donald Trump Jr., who is entertaining his Twitter followers with sick memes that make light of the attack. On Monday, Trump Jr. posted a photo captioned Open Carry in San Francisco that shows a hammer clipped to a person's belt. Ban all hammers, Trump Jr. added. Haha.

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The day before, he shared a photo of a pair of mens briefs and a hammer, which was described as a Paul Pelosi Halloween costume. Get it?

You probably dont unless you follow the world of right-wing hate sites and personalities so desperate for attention theyll say anything to attack Democrats. Suffice it to say that in the online ecosystem, a false version of events laden with homophobic innuendos had spread so ferociously that by Monday San Francisco Dist. Atty. Brooke Jenkins in trying to dispel the lies had to describe what Paul Pelosi was wearing when he was awakened and attacked with an unusual level of specificity : a loose fitting pajama shirt and boxer shorts.

Then there are the cowards  like Rep. Clay Higgins , a Republican congressman from Louisiana, and Elon Musk , the worlds richest man who now owns Twitter  who tweeted and then deleted the false claims without taking responsibility for their role in spreading misinformation. In Musks case, that means spreading a baseless conspiracy to his more than 113 million followers.

Its a week before the midterm election and partisans are working to fire up voters. But this isn't politics as usual. The proper response to an attempted kidnapping of a national leader that results in a violent attack on her husband is swift condemnation. Anything less is vile and un-American.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has tested positive for COVID-19, the Department of Education announced on Tuesday.

Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and Outreach Kelly Leon said Cardona tested positive on Tuesday morning.

Cardona is experiencing mild symptoms but is fully vaccinated and boosted, according to the statement.

Secretary Cardona will continue attending meetings and performing his duties as Education Secretary while working remotely and in isolation. The Secretary will return to in-person meetings and events when he tests negative, Leon said.

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden, both of whom had their own coronavirus breakthrough cases earlier this year, are not close contacts of the secretary.

The news comes a day after Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced she had again tested positive for COVID-19 after completing a round of the coronavirus antiviral treatment Paxlovid.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Update: Police on Tuesday provided new details about the shooting, including a correction that the number of people shot was seven, not eight. That story is posted here.

A Kansas City, Kansas Halloween party at a residence where as many as 100 people  including high school aged children  were attending on Monday night ended in bloodshed after eight people were shot, one fatally, according to police.

Officers were called around 9 p.m. to the residence in the 1600 block of South 50th Street, Officer Marshee London, a department spokeswoman, said at the crime scene. It was initially a call for shots fired that was learned to be a shooting as officers were en route.

One person was found deceased after officers arrived at the scene, along with several gunshot victims. It occurred at a home where between 70 and 100 people had gathered, London said.

Investigators found that as the gathering was happening the suspects entered the home and were asked to leave. Afterward, bullets were fired from outside the residence into the home.

Detectives continued to gather facts early on Tuesday morning concerning all who were involved in the shooting, London said. Eight people were shot in total, including the person killed.

A heavy presence of police kept the block cordoned off as investigators worked through the night in search of clues. Police were seeking a search warrant for the property as of early Tuesday morning as an ATF investigator led a police dog around neighboring properties amid the search for evidence.

An investigator with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms leads a police dog through the scene of a shooting in Kansas City, Kansas where eight people were shot, one fatally, during a large gathering at a home in the 1600 block of South 50th Street.

On Tuesday morning, London encouraged anyone who might know something about the shooting to contact police to make sure that were doing our part and make sure that we keep our community and our children safe.

Kansas City, Kansas police were asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
Lawmakers who voted against certifying the results of the 2020 election have raised more than $13 million from Fortune 500 companies since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, according to a data analysis by ProPublica.

Corporate political spending came to a brief halt in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 riot, with many companies pledging to suspend their donations to the 147 members of Congress who voted against certification of certain states. However, dozens have since resumed their contributions.

The five Fortune 500 companies that gave the most to election deniers this election season  Home Depot, Boeing, AT&T, United Parcel Service and Lockheed Martin  had all previously pledged to suspend their contributions.

Home Depot gave the most of any Fortune 500 company, contributing $475,000 to lawmakers who rejected the 2020 presidential election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania. It was closely followed by Boeing and AT&T, which gave $390,500 and $389,900 respectively.

Republican leaders in the House who supported contesting the 2020 election raked in the most cash from Fortune 500 companies, with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) receiving $562,500 and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (La.) raising $488,640.

Despite corporations renewed support for election deniers in Congress, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) suggested on Wednesday that those companies that initially pulled their support could face consequences in a Republican-controlled Congress.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Jeep CJ Surge electric concept. Stellantis

The Jeep CJ Surge concept previews a future electric-vehicle kit for do-it-yourself projects.

Stellantis, Jeep's parent company, is working on an EV kit specifically for enthusiasts who want to electrify classic Jeeps.

The CJ Surge has 268 horsepower and four-wheel drive.

Electrifying classic cars has become big business. Now Jeep wants in on the action.

The American brand's parent company, Stellantis, brought a battery-powered version of the classic Jeep CJ to this year's Specialty Equipment Market Association Show in Las Vegas. The CJ Surge concept melds old-school looks with modern technology, showcasing the possibilities of an electric-vehicle conversion kit for vintage Jeeps.

The Jeep CJ Surge electric concept. Stellantis

Stellantis is thinking about selling an EV motor kit that lets enthusiasts "convert classic and current cars and trucks into zero-emission vehicles," it said in a Monday press release. The CJ project, from Mopar, the parts and accessories division of Stellantis, was developed to give engineers and designers a better idea of what that kit could and should look like, Stellantis said.

The Jeep CJ Surge electric concept. Stellantis

A predecessor to Jeep's popular Wrangler SUV, the CJ was produced from 1944-1986. The CJ Surge concept brings the famed 4x4 into the 21st century.

It features a 200-kilowatt (268-horsepower) electric motor that supplies power to all four wheels. Twenty-four lithium-ion battery modules are housed in a custom shell in the Jeep's rear. The CJ Surge has two gears, which is unusual for EVs.

The Jeep CJ Surge electric concept. Stellantis

Inside, the CJ Surge has a rotary gear selector and a gauge that shows the vehicle's battery level. Stellantis didn't share the CJ Surge's total estimated range.

The Jeep CJ Surge electric concept. Stellantis

For years, people have modernized vintage rides by ripping out their dirty gas engines and sticking in clean, quiet, electric powertrains. They've often used old Tesla motors and batteries.

Now as carmakers around the world work on electrifying their lineups, they see electric restomodding as another revenue source. In 2021, Ford launched the Eluminator, an electric motor for do-it-yourself EV projects. General Motors is working on a similar product for its Chevrolet Performance arm.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Musk Twitter ((c) dpa-Zentralbild POOL)

Elon Musk has become the sole director of Twitters board, but has said the change is only temporary.

Mr Musk took over Twitter last Thursday and immediately fired a number of top executives: chief executive Parag Agrawal, chief financial officer Ned Segal, and legal affairs and policy chief Vijaya Gadde.

Bret Taylor, Omid Kordestani, David Rosenblatt, Martha Lane Fox, Patrick Pichette, Egon Durban, Fei-Fei Li and Mimi Alemayehou, who were previously on Twitters board, have also left.

Mr Musk said on the day that while his title is Chief Twit he had no idea who the CEO is. In fact, Mr Musk was the chief executive, having submitted a document to the US Securities and Exchanges Commission.

While Mr Musk is temporarily the head of the company, it is expected he will appoint a new chief executive and board of directors.

Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey had rolled his stake of 18m shares, worth almost $978m, into the new private company.

Technology investor Jason Calacanis who changed his Twitter bio to chief meme officer, said he was hanging out at Twitter a bit ... during the transition. Mr Calacanis texted Mr Musk in April that being head of Twitter was his dream job.

It is expected at least 25 per cent of Twitters staff could be fired in a first round of job cuts. Mr Musk reportedly has employees working 12-hour shifts to implement features by the end of the week, or face being fired.

This is just temporary  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 31, 2022

Mr Musk is also apparently planning to appoint a new content moderation council and that no major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen before that council convenes.

Mr Musk had previously tweeted that the bird is freed, but Thierry Breton, the EU commissioner for internal market, quote-tweeted that it will fly by our rules.

Mr Breton also tweeted a video from Mr Musk six months ago in which the two men apparently agreed about the Digital Services Act legislation that would monitor online posts.
Elon Musks Twitter takeover has sparked calls for an investigation into the national security implications raised by the involvement of Saudi Arabia and its prince, Alwaleed bin Talal, whos now the second-largest investor in the now-private social media company.

Musk completed his $44 billion acquisition with the help of bin Talal, founder of Saudi Arabias Kingdom Holding Co., who agreed to roll over his companys existing $1.89 billion stake in the social media platform.

Dear friend Chief Twit @elonmusk. Together all the way @Twitter, Prince Alwaleed tweeted last week.

With nearly 35 million shares, the Saudi entities are Twitters second-largest shareholders, ranking behind only Musk himself, according to Bloomberg.

While the Tesla CEO managed to nab several more top investors  including Twitters former CEO, Jack Dorsey, Larry Ellison, the co-founder of software company Oracle, and the Qatar Investment Authority  its mostly Saudi Arabias participation that has sparked worry from some American politicians.

We should be concerned that the Saudis, who have a clear interest in repressing political speech and impacting US politics, are now the second-largest owner of a major social media platform, Sen. Chris Murphy said in a tweet on Monday.

The Connecticut Democrat, who leads a key Foreign Relations subcommittee, went on to reveal he sent a letter to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, called CFIUS, requesting a review into the financing of Musks $44 billion purchase of Twitter. He explained the purpose of the probe is to protect the national security interests of the United States and American citizens.

CIFUS is charged with examining any transactions that could result in a U.S. business falling under the control of a foreign entity. While Musks Twitter takeover has already gone through, Murphy noted that the agency, chaired by the US Treasury Department Janet Yellen, has the power to block transactions that raise red flags.

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Setting aside the vast stores of data that Twitter has collected on American citizens, Murphy continued, any potential that Twitters foreign ownership will result in increased censorship, misinformation, or political violence is a grave national security concern.

Saudi Arabia has the eighth most Twitter users of any nation worldwide, but it also boasts very limited protections for freedom of expression. Earlier this month, the U.S. State Department confirmed that the kingdom had sentenced an American citizen, Saad Ibrahim Almadi, to 16 years in prison for posting tweets critical of the Saudi government, according to the Washington Post.

Murphy also referenced the slaying of reporter Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in 2018.

Repeated accusations that the nation stifles free speech, addition to other alleged human rights abuses, stands in stark contrast to Musks mission of scaling back content moderation on Twitter.

The 51-year-old billionaire, a self-proclaimed free speech absolutist, offered to purchase Twitter back in a April, vowing that free speech would be his priority for the platform. Musk has also said he believes the social media company should follow the freedom of expression laws of the country in which it operates.
Cassandra "Elvira" Peterson, left, reacted to Kylie Jenner's Halloween costume. (Kay Winn / Invision / Associated Press; Evan Agostini / Invision / Associated Press)

Elvira might not a be fan of the Kardashians, but she wouldn't mind some Instagram love from Kylie Jenner.

On Halloween, the "Kardashians" star shared multiple costumes on social media, including her take on the Mistress of the Dark. Jenner donned Elvira's quintessential beehive wig, dramatic eye makeup and a plunging gown.

Jenner also wore a more revealing Elvira-inspired ensemble inspired by a scene from the 1988 cult classic "Elvira: Mistress of the Dark." After seeing the photos on Instagram, the horror icon (real name Cassandra Peterson) told TMZ that she approved.

"I didnt get a heads-up that Kylie was doing the costume, but she did the costume justice and it was very flattering," she said to TMZ on Tuesday.

However, Peterson added that Jenner could have done one more thing with her Halloween homage.

"It would have been even more flattering if she tagged me," the actor and writer  who last year released an acclaimed memoir, Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark"  told TMZ.

Jenner did not tag Peterson's official Instagram account in any of her four Elvira-inspired posts. Instead, Jenner tagged artist Jack Henry, who put together the photos.

Peterson returned the favor Tuesday when she posted a meme of Jenner's risque costume on her own page. Peterson did not tag Jenner.

"In a world full of Kardashians be an Elvira," the post said, even though technically Jenner is not a Kardashian like her sisters Kim, Khloe and Kourtney.

Whether Peterson's meme was praise or shade is up for debate. But Elvira's fans suspect it's the latter.

"Oh the shade!" wrote one follower in the comments.

"Imitation might be the highest form of flattery but...she could never!!!," said another follower about Jenner.

"So much this," said a third fan. "Elvira is a genius character and goes way beyond the assets of the person bringing her to life."

In the comments section, Peterson repeated it "would've been nice" to get some credit from Jenner, but acknowledged that she doesn't need it.

"Not like people don't know!" Peterson wrote.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Steven Blesi, US college students among more than 150 killed in Halloween stampede in South Korea

Courtesy of Steve Blesi

The father of an American college student, who died Saturday during a crowd surge in South Korea, is remembering his son as a "smart" young man with "an incredibly bright future."

Steven Blesi, 20, of Marietta, Ga., was studying abroad in the country when he was killed in the incident over the weekend, his dad Steve Blesi confirms to PEOPLE.

Officials say at least 153 others, including a second American student, died after they were caught in the crush of people who were out celebrating Halloween in the Itaewon section of Seoul, according to The New York Times and CNN.

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The grieving father tells PEOPLE that his son had "an adventurous spirit" and "could have done anything he wanted in this world."

"The world's a darker place without him in it," says Steve, a retired IT director.

Steve first confirmed his son was one of the victims of Saturday's crowd surge in an interview with The Washington Post.

Steven Blesi, US college students among more than 150 killed in Halloween stampede in South Korea

Courtesy of Steve Blesi

Anne Gieske, a junior nursing student at University of Kentucky, was also studying abroad in Seoul this fall when she was killed in the crush, according to a statement from university president Eli Capilouto.

RELATED: 2 U.S. College Students Killed in South Korea Crowd Crush, Families Say They're 'Devastated' and 'Heartbroken'

Steven grew up in Marietta, where his family still lives, but was a junior at Kennesaw State University, studying international business.

In a statement shared Sunday, the school said Steven "was one of 11 students from KSU in South Korea as part of a study abroad program." The remaining 10 students have been "reported safe," according to the university.

Steve tells PEOPLE he was initially "hesitant" to let his son study abroad, but after the COVID-19 pandemic postponed his plans for two years, Steven finally had the chance to go this year.

Before his son left, Steve says he gave him a pep talk, telling him to "be careful" and "realize how precious life is."

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"I told him, 'Look Steven, I can't protect you there. I can't. I can't come to your aid quickly,' " Steve recalls.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.

On Saturday, Steve was returning home from grocery shopping when his brother informed him of the terrible news from South Korea, he tells PEOPLE. Steven's family "immediately" attempted to contact him via WhatsApp, but received no response.

After about two-and-a-half hours, Steve says a police officer answered his son's phone. Later that evening, an official at the U.S. Embassy in South Korea informed the family that Steven had died in the incident.

RELATED: Fla. Teen Dies in Scooter Accident, Remembered as 'Straight-A Student' Who Wanted to Help Others

"I can't imagine the pain he went through," Steve tells PEOPLE. "And if I could put myself in his place, I'd do it a hundred times over."

He later added, "I can't hug him one last time. I can't kiss my boy. I can't hear his voice."

Steven Blesi, US college students among more than 150 killed in Halloween stampede in South Korea

Courtesy of Steve Blesi

Local officials are facing public criticism following the deadly event, according to USA Today, which reports only 137 police officers were assigned to Saturday's event.

NBC News reports that more than 100,000 people were out in the popular nightlife district to enjoy festivities at the first large Halloween gathering since the pandemic.

Choi Sukjae, chief spokesperson of the Korean Emergency Medical Association, said pedestrians were assisting emergency responders  who were delayed in reaching victims because of the crowd  by performing CPR on those caught in the crush, according to USA Today's report.

In a national address, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called it "a disaster that should never happen," and ordered an emergency review, per NBC News.

RELATED: British Radio Host Dies on the Air: Tim Gough, 55, 'Was Doing What He Loved,' Station Says

Steve tells PEOPLE he has "a tremendous amount of anger" regarding police's efforts to control the crowd and does not understand how more wasn't done "to prevent this type of tragedy" from unfolding.

South Korea's national police apologized on Monday, according to ABC News.

"It was foreseen that a large number of people would gather there," said Hong Ki-hyun, chief of the National Police Agency's Public Order Management Bureau.

Police, he added, "didn't expect that large scale casualties" would result from the event.
Britcham Fun Run to raise money for charity

The BritCham Charity Fun Run 2022 is scheduled to be held on November 13 in Ecopark of Van Giang district in Hung Yen province, as announced by the events organising board on November 1.









The BritCham Charity Fun Run 2022 is set to take place on November 13 in Ecopark of Van Giang district in Hung Yen province



The annual fundraising event is being organised by the British Chamber of Commerce Vietnam (Britcham Vietnam) and aims to support various charity projects throughout the country. These projects encompass fields such as education, health, natural disaster prevention, and work aimed at improving the lives of Vietnamese people.



The last 20 years has seen the event held annually in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, drawing the participation of more than 130,000 people and raising more than VND12 billion for charitable activities in the country.



This year, the run is anticipated to welcome over 8,000 participants after two years of suspension caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.



Participants will be competing in either a five km run or walk, with tickets for adults priced at VND200,000 and VND120,000 for children.



At the Fun Run 2022, participants will have the chance to enjoy a number of interesting activities, including music performances and a lucky draw.
(Bloomberg) -- Natural gas prices in Europe fell further as a spell of warm weather delayed the heating season, providing some respite to regional economies on the brink of recession.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Benchmark futures settled 5.8% lower. Prices have declined sharply in recent weeks as a hot October allowed more gas to be pumped into already fuller than normal storage sites. Ample inflows of liquefied natural gas and reduced consumption by industries have also helped offset Russias supply cuts.

The mild weather is likely to extend into this month, with forecasters Maxar Technologies LLC and Marex expecting no cold spells in November. It comes as a relief for consumers worried about the cost of heating and for governments keen to ensure healthy gas stockpiles for as long as possible.

Read more: Europe Is Set for a Mild Month as Forecasters See Winter on Hold

Record warmth in October has eroded as much as 10% of weather-related demand, analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. said in a note. The bank lowered its price estimates for the forth quarter, reflecting the current softness in the balance, but assume normal December weather.

Inventories are in a good shape, but the big question is how winter progresses, meaning prices will continue to be volatile, Alfred Stern, chief executive officer of Austrian energy company OMV AG, told Bloomberg TV.

Europes gas storage sites are nearly 95% full, providing a buffer for when the weather turns colder. Reserves in the biggest gas consumer, Germany, have risen to 99%, according to Gas Infrastructure Europe.

Click here for the Europe Energy Crunch blog

Dutch gas futures for December, Europes benchmark, settled at 116.193 per megawatt-hour. The UK equivalent contact slumped 7% to 279.69 pence a therm.

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Coming at a Cost

Risks still remain on the horizon as global supplies are tight. Despite the recent decline in prices, European gas is about four times higher than normal for this time of year. While supply concerns for this winter are easing, next year could be harder as refilling inventories is likely to be more challenging without the usual Russian supply.

Traders are closely watching supply from the US. Freeport LNG has yet to submit a restart plan to federal regulators, just days ahead of a planned resumption of its Texas export plant that was closed following an explosion in June.

Alternative fuel sources will fill the gap, but they will come at a cost, Caroline Bain, chief commodities economist at Capital Economics, said in a note. The group expects energy prices in general to remain elevated in 2023.

Europe has been racing to replace Russian pipeline flows by boosting LNG imports, as the continents domestic production is mostly maxed out. The new Baltic Pipe link between Norway and Poland on Tuesday received its first direct shipments of gas. But that volume has been rerouted away from Germanys Emden rather than adding extra fuel to the market, analysts at SEFE Energy said in a note.

BP Plc, whose gas division racked up an exceptional third quarter, expects prices to remain elevated and volatile through year-end.

Policy makers are weighing more measures to ensure Europes economies are protected from any further surge in energy costs. European Union energy ministers are targeting clinching a deal on another batch of proposals later this month.

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Last year YASA, a British electric motor startup with a revolutionary axial-flux motor, was acquired by Mercedes-Benz to develop ultra-high-performance electric motors for Mercedess AMG.EA electric-only platform.

YASAs axial-flux electric motors had previously garnered a reputation for efficiency, high power density, small size and low weight.

However, the team behind YASA did something quite clever. While Mercedes acquired the automotive rights, they passed on the rights to an aerospace version of the engine. That was taken up by a new entity, complete with YASAs founders, called Evolito, to develop an electric motor it described as ultra-high-performance, low-weight and best for future EV aircraft.

Evolitos lead investors are Waypoint Capital and Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE).

YASAs "axial-flux" motors are one-third the weight of other electric motors, more efficient and with 3x higher power densities than even Teslas, according to the company.

Its now emerged that former YASA CEO Dr. Chris Harris will lead Evolito on its path to commercialize electric flight.

Chris Harris, Evolito

Chris Harris. Image Credits: Evolito

Harris joined YASA in 2012, scaling the company from 20 employees to more than 300, following 15 years of leading other high-growth businesses in the U.K., Europe and U.S. He stepped down from his CEO role at YASA in September 2022, but will remain a non-executive director at the wholly owned Mercedes-Benz subsidiary. A director of Evolito since the companys spin-out and incorporation, he now becomes Evolito CEO effective immediately.

Evolito acquired U.K. battery company Electroflight in July 2022, which means it can also offer aerospace OEM & eVTOL customers fully electric powertrain solutions.

In a statement, Harris said: Electric flight requires ultra high-power density, super low-weight electric powertrains. Evolito provides best-in-class powertrain solutions for OEMs, leveraging next-generation axial-flux electric motor technology thats already proven in automotive.
NextShark

A man arrested in connection with a brutal daytime attack of a 12-year-old Asian boy in Brooklyn earlier this month has been arrested nearly two dozen times in the past, according to reports. Police said Jamal McIlwain, 28, assaulted the victim with a crutch at the intersection of St. Pauls Court and St. Pauls Place at around 7:40 a.m. on Nov. 17. After failing to strike a third time, he "calmly" walks away, leaves the crutch on the sidewalk and heads north on St. Pauls Place, as per the New York Post.
The Department of Justice on Monday charged a former professional heavyweight boxer with trafficking over 20 tons of cocaine worth more than $1 billion through U.S. ports, most of which was from what prosecutors in 2019 called "one of the largest drug seizures in United States history."

Goran Gogic, 43, was arrested Sunday after being indicted by a grand jury in New York, the Justice Department said in a news release. Gogic, who is from Montenegro, was arrested while trying to board a flight at Miami International Airport.

Gogic was charged with three counts of violating the federal Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act, and one count of conspiracy. faces a mandatory minimum 10-year sentence and up to life in prison.

The charges stem from the three seizures of cocaine, most notably 19.8 tons from a cargo ship while it was docked at Philadelphia's Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in 2019. At the time, Ivan Durasevic, the ship's second mate, and Fonofaavae Tiasaga were arrested in the bust. The ship was on its way to the Netherlands.

Heavily armed officers stand guard as law enforcement officials present some of the evidence from a cocaine bust on the MSC Gayane in the port of Philadelphia, during a press conference on June 21, 2019. / Credit: Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Prosecutors allege that Gogic and others used "meticulous planning" to transport cocaine to Europe from Colombia through U.S. ports, using commercial cargo ships.

"Members of the conspiracy loaded the commercial cargo ships at night near the coast and ports, working with crewmembers who would hoist loads of cocaine from speedboats that approached the ships at multiple points along their route," prosecutors wrote.

The defendants allegedly loaded the drugs using nets and the ship's cranes. Once the cocaine was onboard, the crew would hide it within shipping containers, prosecutors said.

The complex operation involved having access to each ship's crew, route, real-time positioning and geolocation data, prosecutors said.

Gogic is accused of orchestrating the operation by coordinating with crew members, Colombian traffickers and European dockworkers.

After the massive bust in Philadelphia in 2019, U.S. Attorney William McSwain tweeted: "This is one of the largest drug seizures in United States history. This amount of cocaine could kill millions  MILLIONS  of people."

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According to online boxing records, the 6 foot 5 inch, 250-pound Gogic competed from 2001 to 2012, winning 21 fights and losing four.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace called Gogic's arrest and indictment a "body blow to the organization and individuals responsible for distributing massive quantities of cocaine."

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Federal prosecutors announced charges against a former professional boxer from Montenegro for allegedly trafficking more than $1 billion of cocaine.

Goran Gogic, 43, was arrested by authorities Sunday night at the Miami International Airport as he tried to board a flight to Zurich, Switzerland, according to the Department of Justice. He is accused of overseeing the logistics of cocaine shipments aboard cargo ships going from South America to Europe passing through ports in the United States, court documents show.

Authorities intercepted three of those shipments on separate occasions at the Port of Philadelphia and the Port of New York and New Jersey in 2019, the DOJ said in a news release.

Goran Gogic at a bought in Hamburg, Germany in 2004.

The shipment that was intercepted at the Port of Philadelphia aboard the MSC Gayane on June 19, 2019 contained 17,956 kilos of cocaine and was alone worth over $1 billion, making it one of the largest cocaine seizures in U.S. history, prosecutors said in a memorandum. Several members of the vessels crew members were arrested and prosecuted, also.

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Packages of cocaine seized from the MSC Desiree at the Port of Philadelphia.

The ships would be loaded with the cocaine at night near the ports where they were docked. Ship crewmembers would hoist the shipments up from speedboats and hide them in select shipping containers, according to the news release. Gogic was present when each shipment was loaded, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors allege that Gogic coordinated with every part of the smuggling operation: the crew aboard commercial cargo ships, the traffickers in Colombia who sourced the cocaine, the speed boat workers who loaded the drugs onto the ships and the dock workers in Europe who received and offloaded the shipments.

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This complex operation relied on having access to each ships crew, route, manifest, real-time positioning and geolocation data and a knowledge of what legitimate cargo is contained in each container, the DOJ said in its news release.

Authorities also seized cocaine connected to Gogics scheme at ports in Peru, Panama, the Netherlands and other countries, the DOJ said.

This arrest came as a surprise to Gogic, his lawyer Lawrence Hashish told USA TODAY Tuesday. Hashish said he could not yet comment on the facts of the case, but said his client maintained his innocence.

Gogic is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act and three counts of violating the same act, and faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, according to the DOJ.

He is in custody and has a detention hearing set for Nov. 7, Hashish said.

As a professional boxer, Goric had a record of 21-4 in a career spanning from 2001 to 2012, according to BoxRec. Most of his fights took place in Germany.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ex-boxer Goran Gogic charged with trafficking $1 billion of cocaine
A former longshot Idaho gubernatorial candidate was convicted Monday of kidnapping and killing a 12-year-old Colorado girl who went missing nearly 40 years ago.

Jurors found Steve Pankey, 71, guilty of felony murder, second-degree kidnapping and false reporting in the disappearance and death of Jonelle Matthews in 1984, the office of district attorney Michael Rourke said. A judge then sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole, the Greeley Tribune reported.

It was Pankeys second trial in the case. Last year, jurors were unable to reach verdicts on the kidnapping and murder charges, and prosecutors decided to put him on trial again.

Jonelle Matthews

Pankey was a neighbor of Jonelle and her family when she vanished after being dropped off at her empty home by a family friend after performing at a Christmas concert in Greeley, Colorado, a city about 50 miles north of Denver. He emerged as a person of interest in the case three decades later  shortly before Jonelles body was found in 2019  after claiming to have information about what happened to her and asking for immunity from prosecution.

Pankeys lawyers said his behavior may have seemed unusual, but they argued that police did not secure hard evidence against him and failed to clear an alternate suspect who died in 2007, the Tribune reported.

Prosecutors said Pankey kept up to date on the case throughout the years even as he moved his family to several states before settling in Idaho. He ran unsuccessfully as a Constitution Party candidate for Idaho governor in 2014 and in the Republican gubernatorial primary in 2018, the year that authorities said he was named as a person of interest in the girls death.

Jonelle remained missing for decades until a construction crew found her remains on July 24, 2019, in a field while excavating for a pipeline. Investigators later ruled that Matthews death was a homicide. She died from a single gunshot wound to the head, prosecutors said.

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Just weeks after the girls body was found, Twin Falls police served a search warrant on Pankeys condo on Elm Street North, according to previous Idaho Statesman reporting.

That same month, Pankey  who was labeled a person of interest during the initial police investigation in 1984  was interviewed by the Idaho Statesman and said he had nothing to do with Matthews disappearance or death. Pankey told the Statesman that he was home with his then-wife on the night Matthews went missing. His family drove to California the following day to visit relatives, according to Pankey.

At the time of the girls disappearance, Pankey lived roughly 2 miles from the Matthews home. Her body was found about 10 miles from Pankeys old residence.

Jonelles case came to the attention of then-President Ronald Reagan as his administration launched a national effort to find missing children. Her picture was printed on milk cartons across the United States as part of a project by the National Child Safety Council.

She was considered missing until workers digging a pipeline in a rural area near Greeley in July 2019 discovered human remains matching her dental records.

Idaho Statesman staff contributed.
Former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison for driving while intoxicated and causing a 2021 crash that severely injured a 5-year-old girl.

Reid, who is the son of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, had pleaded guilty to a single felony charge of driving while intoxicated, causing serious injury, for the Feb. 4, 2021, crash.

During the hearing, he spoke directly to Ariel Young, who is now 6, and her family, who were in the courtroom.

Every time I see my daughter, I think about Ariel and how my decision affected her so deeply and her family, he said.

Reids voice quavered and he paused momentarily to compose himself.

Anger and hate are powerful motivators, but I truly believe love and forgiveness are even more powerful.

Whatever my sentence is, I understand and accept responsibility for the decision I made that night.

Ariels mother, Felicia Miller, in a statement read by assistant Jackson County prosecutor Brady Twenter during the hearing, said her daughter still suffers from the crash. She drags her right foot when she walks, has trouble keeping her balance and becomes nauseated during car rides. Ariel takes special education classes and now wears thick glasses.

This is our life, Miller said in the statement. Ariels life is forever changed because of Britt Reid. Her life will be dealing with the damage that Britt Reid did.

She will deal with the effects of his actions every day for the rest of her life. We will deal with her.

Ariel was a passenger in one of two vehicles that Reids pickup slammed into on the side of the entrance ramp along Interstate 435, near the teams practice facility.

Circuit Court Judge Charles H. McKenzie sentenced Reid, 37, who was immediately taken into custody.

The reckless actions you have committed have done so much harm to Ariel and her family. There has to be a response, McKenzie said.

He later told Ariel, Im sorry this happened to you. I hope your days get better.

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Prosecutors said Reid was driving 83 mph two seconds before the collision and had a serum blood alcohol content of 0.113 about two hours after the crash. The legal limit is 0.08, according to Missouri law.

Britt Reid, left, walks to a courtroom with his attorney J.R. Hobbs on Tuesday at the Jackson County Courthouse to be sentenced. The former assistant coach and son of head coach Andy Reid in September pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated and causing a 2021 crash that severely injured a 5-year-old girl.

Prosecutors reached a plea agreement with Reid and his attorney, J. R. Hobbs. In doing so, prosecutors agreed they would ask McKenzie to sentence Reid to no more than four years in prison.

Reid could have faced up to seven years in prison, the maximum under the law.

Afterwards Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said she was grateful for the judge and the decision he made.

Two families are greatly impacted and Ariel and her family have a long road yet to recovery and we dont know how much recovery there will be left for her, Baker said. And of course, the Reid family, we wish them well and we know both are suffering today but the rule of law has spoken.

Hobbs asked McKenzie to place Reid on probation, which was denied.

In a written statement after the hearing, Hobbs said Britt Reid respects the Courts decision and appreciates the time and attention given to this matter. He sincerely regrets and accepts responsibility for his conduct and hopes and prays for A.Y.s continued recovery.

Prosecutors noted Reid had a criminal history involving substance abuse in Pennsylvania. When Reid was 21 years old in 2007, he was convicted of the felony of carrying a firearm without a license, misdemeanor simple assault, possession of a controlled substance and possession of an instrument of crime. Reid was placed on probation.

In his sentencing memo to McKenzie, Hobbs wrote that the earlier convictions happened years before the 2021 crash and his client has tried to appropriately address his situation in terms of substance abuse.

After the sentencing, Tom Porto, an attorney for Ariel and her family, said the victims of this crime are angry that Reid was not sentenced to the maximum sentence allowable by law.

No amount of prison time will ever be enough to punish the defendant for the pain and suffering he caused this family and the ongoing difficulties that Ariel will continue to endure for the rest of her life, Porto said in a written statement.

She will endure. She will strive and she will thrive. She is Ariel strong.

Reid had left the Chiefs facility about 9 p.m. when his pickup truck struck a Chevrolet Impala, which he said he did not see because its lights were off. Reid said he continued south on the interstate and then rear-ended a Chevy Traverse. He dialed 911 moments later.

Miller had previously told investigators she had arrived to help her cousin, whose Impala had run out of gas and stalled. Miller said she got back into the drivers seat of her Traverse and looked in the rear view mirror when she saw the headlights of an oncoming vehicle.

Reid told the arriving officer that he was looking over his left shoulder to evaluate traffic so he could merge, according to prosecutors.

Miller was momentarily knocked unconscious by the impact of the crash and was struck by the airbag. As she regained consciousness, Miller called out to her children. She found Ariel in the Traverse under the third seat that had folded.

Felicia Moore, right, put her arm around her daughter, Ariel Young while they waited outside a Jackson County courtroom Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, to learn the sentence handed down to Britt Reid for a DUI conviction. The former assistant coach and son of head coach Andy Reid pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated and causing a 2021 crash that severely injured Young.

Ariel was unresponsive and was taken by paramedics to Childrens Mercy Hospital.

Following the crash, a Kansas City police officer noticed that Reids eyes were bloodshot and red. Reid told the officers at the scene that he had two to three drinks.

Ariel suffered a traumatic brain injury that included swelling and bleeding. She also had a fracture, brain contusions and subdural hematomas.

The family of Ariel Young leave the Jackson County Courthouse after Britt Reid was sentenced to three years in prison for driving while intoxicated and causing a 2021 crash that severely injured a 5-year-old Ariel.

Miller said Ariel remained in the hospital and was unconscious for two weeks following the crash.

In November, the Kansas City Chiefs and Ariels family reached a confidential financial agreement to cover her ongoing medical treatment and long-term financial stability.

It has been nearly 21 months since Britt Reid hurt us, Miller said. He apologized last month for the first time right before he pleaded guilty.

To be clear  your apology is not accepted.
(Reuters) -Tesla aims to start mass production of its Cybertruck at the end of 2023, two years after the initial target for the long-awaited pickup truck Chief Executive Elon Musk unveiled in 2019, two people with knowledge of the plans told Reuters.

Tesla said last month it was working on readying its Austin, Texas, plant to build the new model with early production set to start in the middle of 2023. Were in the final lap for Cybertruck, Musk told a conference call with financial analysts.

A gradual ramp in the second half of next year to full output for the sharp-angled electric truck would mean that Tesla would not be recording revenue until early 2024 for a full-quarter of production on a new model expected as key to its growth.

It would also mean a wait of another year for the estimated hundreds of thousands of potential buyers who have paid $100 to reserve a Cybertruck in one of the most highly anticipated and closely tracked electric vehicle launches ever.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request to comment. Tesla shares were up 0.4% after rising as much as 4.3% earlier on Tuesday.

It has not announced final pricing on the Cybertruck, showed the production version of the vehicle or specified how it will manage the battery supply for the new model.

In 2019, Tesla had projected an initial price of under $40,000, but prices for new vehicles have shot higher since then and Tesla has raised prices across its lineup.

Another source said Cybertruck was designed to use Tesla's much-touted 4680 batteries. But Guidehouse Insights analyst Sam Abuelsamid said Tesla has not been able to significantly scale up production of the in-house batteries, which could lead to further delays of Cybertrucks beyond the end of 2023.

Tesla may have to significantly redesign the Cybertruck batteries to switch to conventional 2170 batteries, he added.

Musk said last month the 4680 batteries are not expected to be "any limiting factor for Cybertruck or anything else." He said the battery output was growing exponentially, without giving details about the production volume.

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CRACKED WINDOWS

Musk introduced Cybertruck in a 2019 reveal where the vehicles designer cracked the vehicles supposedly unbreakable armor glass windows. The company has pushed back production timing three times since: from late 2021 to late 2022, then to early 2023 and most recently to the mid-2023 target for initial production.

The Cybertruck launch will give Tesla an EV entrant in one of the most profitable segments of the U.S. market and a competitor to electric pickups from the likes of Ford Motor Co and Rivian Automotive, both of which have launched models in still-limited numbers.

In January, Musk had cited shortages in sourcing components as the reason for pushing the launch of Cybertruck into 2023.

In May, Tesla stopped taking orders for the Cybertruck outside North America. Musk said then the company had "more orders of the first Cybertrucks than we could possibly fulfill for three years after the start of production."

Automakers often ramp production slowly for an all-new model like the Cybertruck.

Analysts have also cautioned that a weakening global economy will start to weigh on sales for Tesla, which has so far been able to sell every car it makes. Musk has said he expected a coming recession would last probably until Spring of 24.

IDRA Group, the Italian company making the Giga Press that will be used for die casting parts for the Cybertruck, said in a LinkedIn post last week that the 9,000-ton machine for truck part production was packed and ready to be shipped.

The post did not name Tesla. Tesla has been using the Giga Press to cut the cost and complexity of production of its Model Y, an innovation other automakers, including Toyota, have studied.

(Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin in San Francisco and Zhang Yan in Shanghai; Writing by Kevin Krolicki; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Josie Kao)
Nikolas Cruz, who pleaded guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in the February 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, was spared the death penalty by a Broward County jury on Oct. 13.

Among that jury summoned to decide whether he should live or die, three jurors voted to spare his life.

The verdict angered victims' family members and has prompted talk of striking jury unanimity from Floridas sentencing requirements. Legislation making it easier to impose the ultimate sanction is expected to be part of Gov. Ron DeSantis' package of proposed laws in January, if he is re-elected.

Hurt, anger and loss: Victim impact statements precede sentencing of Parkland shooter Nik Cruz

Jury chooses life for Cruz: Victims' families, politicians condemn life sentence verdict by Nikolas Cruz jury

Killed by Nikolas Cruz: Remembering the 17 victims of the Parkland school shooting

How the jury reached the verdict: Nikolas Cruz trial: What the judge and jury have to consider to reach their verdict

Theresa Robinovitz, Alyssa Alhadeff's grandmother, is speaking now. She has an idea for how the gunman might spend his life in prison: Write a book about how he and his defense counsel "beat the judicial system and got away with murder."  Hannah Phillips (@haphillips96) November 1, 2022

Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer will formally sentence Cruz to life in prison following a two-day hearing that began Monday and continues today, at which point victims families and survivors of the shooting will have a chance to speak. Their grief and disappointment have become focal points of an ongoing national debate over how convicted killers ought to be dealt with.

Follow the Palm Beach Post for our complete coverage of the sentencing of Nikolas Cruz and the victim impact statements that will be given before he receives his sentence of life in prison without parole.

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WITNESS TO 2 EXECUTIONS: Serial killer Aileen Wuornos. UF killer Danny Rolling. I witnessed their executions

A BOTCHED EXECUTION: I witnessed cop-killer Jesse Tafero die in the electric chair. Flames shot up from his head

LAST TO DIE FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY: After witnessing execution of William Van Poyck, 'the world didn't seem safer. I was just numb'

CRUZ SENTENCING: 'Burn in hell': Survivors, parents confront gunman during Nikolas Cruz sentencing hearing

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Nikolas Cruz avoided death, which has again raised the execution issue
Media reports say an explosion was heard in Russian-occupied Sevastopol at about 3:40 a.m.

Source: Crimea. Reality correspondent

Details: According to an employee of the publication, "the explosions that sounded were similar to the operation of an air defence system."

Background:

On 29 October in occupied Sevastopol about explosions were reported. The Russian Defence Ministry said that the armed forces allegedly attacked occupied Sevastopol with drones at 4 a.m. on October 29. Russian Defence Ministry confirms damage to minesweeper "Ivan Golubets".

Later it became known that at least one Fleet was hit by drones on 29 October, in particular the flagship Admiral Makarov.

President Of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Secretary of the national security and Defence Council called nonsense Russia's statements that drones on ships of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol on 29 October were launched from a civilian vessel that was used under the grain agreement.

On the morning of 31 October, invaders attacked critical infrastructure and civilian homes, violating international humanitarian law, laws and customs of warfare. According to the General Staff, the enemy attacked military and civilian infrastructure facilities with 55 guided aircraft missiles, 45 of which were shot down by our defenders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the massive rocket attack on Ukraine on Monday is "partially" the answer to the hit ships of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
The claim: Results of Arizona gubernatorial race aired ahead of Election Day show attempt to steal election

In a highly contested race for Arizona's gubernatorial seat, Republican candidate Kari Lake narrowly leads the polls over Democratic candidate Katie Hobbs. But some social media users claim that Hobbs has already been declared the winner of the race.

An Oct. 27 Instagram post shows a screenshot of a tweet from conservative commentator Charlie Kirk that reads "HOLY CRAP. Fox10 in Phoenix  Kari Lake's former station  just displayed a graphic showing Katie Hobbs won the Arizona governor's race 12 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION."

The tweet includes a clip of an Oct. 27 newscast from the station about the most expensive cities for renters. During the broadcast, a graphic appears on the left-hand side showing Hobbs with 53% of the vote and a red checkmark above Lake's 47%.

"They will try everything to steal it," reads the Instagram post's caption. "We will not let them!"

Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks

The post generated over 100 likes in less than a week. Kirk's tweet received over 10,000 retweets. Similar posts have spread widely on Instagram.

But the screenshot shown has nothing to do with stealing an election.

FOX 10 in Phoenix unintentionally aired data that was randomly generated and distributed by the Associated Press as part of a system test, according to a statement from the AP. The data is not representative of actual votes in Arizona's gubernatorial race and is in no way indicative of election fraud.

USA TODAY reached out to the social media users who shared the claim for comment.

FOX 10 aired test data, not election results

In preparation for any upcoming election, the AP provides clearly labeled test data to customers as part of a routine test for their systems, according to Lauren Easton, an AP spokesperson. The data is randomly generated by a computer and is not based on any predictive analysis or polling.

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FOX 10 Phoenix tweeted that it accidentally aired the test data provided by the AP during an Oct. 27 newscast. None of the numbers in the graphic represent actual election results, nor are they proof that anyone is trying to steal the election, as the post claims.

"This graphic was never meant to go on air  the numbers were only part of a test," the tweet says. "The station has taken steps to make sure this cannot happen again."

Fact check: Fabricated image of Republican policy agenda circulates ahead of midterms

A poll average calculated by FiveThirtyEight shows Lake was ahead in the race by 2.7% on Oct. 27. FOX 10 Phoenix had also reported just the day before that Lake was polling ahead in the Arizona gubernatorial race.

This isn't the first time a station has accidentally aired test data. The Associated Press debunked a similar claim that circulated in July after two Michigan news outlets inadvertently published mock election results a week before the states primary election.

The Associated Press and PolitiFact also debunked the Arizona claim.

Our rating: False

Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that results of the Arizona gubernatorial race aired ahead of Election Day show an attempt to steal the election. FOX 10 Phoenix accidentally aired data that was randomly generated by the AP as part of a routine pre-election test. The data does not represent the actual polling numbers of candidates in Arizona's gubernatorial race and is not connected to election fraud.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Pre-election testing glitch not evidence of election fraud
Rebecca Fenner, left, her husband, Yassin Amrani, right, and their six children have been split into two homes either side of a dual carriageway in Birmingham. (Reach)

A family of eight have been split into two homes on either side of a busy dual carriageway by a council.

Mother Rebecca Fenner and her husband Yassin Amrani have urged Birmingham City Council to reunite them and their six children under one roof.

They were forced to move out of their privately rented house in June along with their six children, aged seven, nine, 12, 15 and one-year-old twin boys.

Ms Fenner, 33, said the council could not find a large enough temporary accommodation for the whole family.

She is living in a one-bedroom home on the A45 Coventry Road in Yardley with four of her children, where they share a kitchen with two other families.

Meanwhile, her husband, Mr Amrani, 38, is staying with their two eldest daughters in another one-bedroom home on the opposite side of the busy dual carriageway.

They share a kitchen with four other families, but the girls must sometimes sleep alone in the property when their father goes to work.

The family has been split in properties across the road since 24 July, and Ms Fenner says the cramped and noisy living situation has not been ideal for one of her sons, who she says has suspected autism, and one of her daughters who is taking her GCSEs this year.

"I've been homeless now for four months now and I have six children," said Ms Fenner.

"We had to leave the property after my landlord came back from Egypt. My nine-year-old son is on the way to being diagnosed with autism.

Rebecca Fenner, right, must cross a busy road as her family are split between two houses on either side of a Birmingham dual carriageway. (Reach)

"We spent two nights in Tamworth and then went to Maypole for 28 days. But as my son was banging the floor, banging the walls, screaming, having meltdowns - they didn't extend our stay.

"Eventually, they put me on Coventry Road. But when they moved us we were never told my family would be separated.

Read more: Police hunt for man who pushed commuter on Tube tracks in London

"We arrived and the manager said they didn't have two rooms together, so they said there was one room here and one across the road. It's a very busy dual carriageway.

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"It means I'm on one side and my husband and two eldest daughters are on the other. The problem is my husband works and has to go to work, so it means they are left by themselves.

"My support worker knows about this and has raised it, but no one at the council is taking any notice. I've sent 50 emails and no one has come back to me. My son made a hole in the wall because of his anger.

"What do I do? I'm being ignored. I'm asking to be put in something which is self-contained. I hope we can move as soon as possible."

Her bedroom has a double bed and a bunk bed but no space for cots. The room on the other side of the dual carriageway has a double bed and two singles.

Ms Fenner said the family were offered an attic room but turned it down because it was unsuitable.

Rebecca Fenner, left, has urged Birmingham City Council to place her whole family in one single self-contained property. (Reach)

"How can I go in an attic with two toddlers who have just started walking and children who could open a door and fall down the stairs," she said.

Ms Fenner urged the council to move her family to a self-contained home with their own kitchen and living room as soon as possible.

A spokesman for Birmingham City Council said: "Like all councils dealing with a national housing crisis, we would prefer not to have to place homeless people in temporary accommodation.

"We have offered this family alternative accommodation, including rooms within the same building in their current accommodation as well as rooms in a purpose built homeless centre, however they have refused both offers.

"We will continue to look for more suitable accommodation for this household and will ensure that they are contacted by one of our outreach team who can provide support and advice regarding housing options including renting in the private sector.

"However, Birmingham has a high demand on our waiting list and all offers of permanent accommodation will be made in line with our housing allocation policy."
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The share of farm fires affecting Delhi's pollution has surged to more than 20% since the weekend, higher than the levels a year ago, government data showed on Tuesday as the Indian capital's air quality turned "severe" at many places.

Delhi on Sunday suspended most construction and demolition activities, predicting a worsening of its air quality from Tuesday because of calmer winds and other meteorological conditions.

The city of about 20 million, the world's most polluted capital, is blanketed in smog every winter as cold, heavy air traps construction dust, vehicle emissions and smoke from the burning of crop residues in the neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab ahead of the new crop season.

Smoke from farm fires contributed to up to 26% of the tiny PM 2.5 lung-damaging pollutants in the city's air - the highest in the past two years during the period of mid-October to early November, according to data from the Ministry of Earth Science.

Delhi's air quality index crossed the "severe" level of 400 at most of its monitoring stations on Tuesday as visibility dropped.

A reading of above 400 can affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing illnesses.

"Almost every household in Delhi has someone unwell due to this severe and hazardous pollution, and our politicians dont even think thats (an) issue," environmentalist Vimlendu Jha said on Twitter.

"You don't need to add any filter on Instagram for Delhi sky photos. Its naturally SEPIA!"

The Delhi government says it has formed 586 teams to monitor construction works for violations though hospitals, railways, airports and other public sectors can continue with construction activities with dust-control measures.

It is also deploying nearly 233 anti-smog guns and 521 machines to sprinkle water across the city to settle dust.

"It is the responsibility of all of us to take initiative at every level to stop pollution," Delhi's environment minister Gopal Rai said, announcing a proposal to get drivers to switch off their vehicles at red lights.

(Writing by Krishna N. Das; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
Officials identified the woman killed in a shooting on Interstate 24 in Robertson County on Monday as Kanetha Lola Renee Miller, 34, of Nashville.

The area of interest is along I-24 eastbound between the MLK Jr. Parkway/Highway 76 exit, which is in Clarksville, and the Maxey Road Exit, which is in Robertson County, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Officials believe a black Dodge Charger was involved.

The shooting shut down the interstate and diverted traffic for several hours Monday evening. An investigation is underway.

TBI asks anyone who was driving in that area and may have seen suspicious activity around 5:45 or 6 p.m. Monday to call 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on Twitter @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com.

Reach reporter Rachel Wegner at RAwegner@tennessean.com or find her on Twitter @RachelAnnWegner.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville woman killed in I-24 shooting near Clarksville identified
A Florida father slammed online trolls on social media after they criticised his daughters for their homecoming dresses.

On his Facebook earlier this month, Matt Austin, who is evening anchor for News 6 in Orlando, shared a photo of him with his two daughters as they posed in their dresses for their homecoming dance.

Days later, Austin went to his TikTok account to address the Facebook photo, which he thought was a pretty innocuous post of his daughters looking beautiful for a school event. He said he was shocked by some of the comments on the image and recited some of the comments he received.

I wouldnt let them go anywhere dressed like that, read the father, showing screenshots of the comments as he read them aloud. They should have respect for themselves. So sad that parents think its OK to send ladies out with everything showing.

The news anchor then explained how much it angers him, as a father of girls, when people say that women are dressing a way in which theyre asking for it.

Lets get something crystal clear now, its not my daughters job to make sure your son is focused in school, Austin continued. Also not her job to dress hideous enough to where your son doesnt assault her. Its your job to not raise a pervert with no self-control.

Austin also said that his daughters dresses are not what hed pick out for them to wear when leaving the house before joking that hed have them wear snuggies all the time if he could.

He then explained why he wont tell his daughters what to wear, as this would not only hurt his relationship with them, but it would also be teaching them the wrong lesson about men.

If I start dictating what my daughters wear, Ill teach them three things, he said. A, theyll start to hate me for arbitrary rules. B, theyll start to lie to me. Or C, maybe even worse, [they think] that its OK for a man to tell them what to wear cause they look too good. And that aint happening.

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Austin then called out the people who criticised his initial Facebook photo, explaining that hed never want his children to be the kind of adults who insult young women online.

But you know what would really disappoint me? he concluded. If my girls grew up to be the kind of adult who goes on social media and demeans a teens appearance on her fathers Facebook page. Now thats what I call trashy.

As of 27 October, the video has more than 5.2m views, with TikTok users in the comments praising Austin and defending his daughters dresses.

These are such normal outfits for homecoming too, one wrote, while another said: Your girls are beautiful and its homecoming. This is [a] normal homecoming dress, I do not see the issue and I 100 per cent agree with you.

Thank you! You are an amazing dad raising amazing strong girls, a third person wrote. Its rough out here for us females.

Other viewers went on to explain how much they relate to Austins mindset, as they are also parents.

YES! I raised three daughters and feel exactly the same, one wrote. They are NOT responsible for a mans thoughts.

Boy mom here, another added. Its my job to teach my son that he needs to respect women.

The Independent has contacted Austin for comment.
Shortly after a federal judge ordered the arrest of the founders of a Texas group that spread baseless election conspiracy theories, US Marshals escorted the duo out of a Houston courtroom and into a holding cell.

Catherine Engelbrecht and Gregg Phillips are the founders of True the Vote and the executive producers of a film promoted by Donald Trump and other prominent Republicans to advance a fraudulent narrative that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him.

On 31 October, US District Judge Kenneth Hoyt ordered their detention for one-day and further until they fully comply with a court order demanding that they reveal the name of a person of interest in a defamation and computer hacking case against them. They have claimed, without evidence, that the person is a confidential FBI informant.

Catherine Engelbrecht, founder of True the Vote (REUTERS)

Mondays arrest marks the latest turn in a strange, sprawling case in the aftermath of the 2020 election, with proponents of meritless voter fraud claims accused of defaming an election technology company, which is also under investigation for alleged security flaws purportedly exposed by True the Vote.

Judge Hoyt is overseeing a defamation case against True the Vote from election software company Konnech Inc, which has accused the group of promoting baseless claims against the company and its founder Eugene Yu.

True the Vote has accused the Michigan-based company of holding information for nearly 2 million poll workers in the US and that Mr Yu, a longtime US resident, is a Chinese operative. The company and Mr Yu have denied the allegations.

The Los Angeles District Attorneys Office, meanwhile, charged Mr Yu with two felonies that appeared to mirror some of the claims raised by True the Vote. The office, however, later downgraded the accusations against the company, which allegedly exposed county workers to possible compromise, according to the district attorney.

Mr Yu has sought to have the charges dismissed.

A spokesman for Konnech said in a statement earlier this month that any Los Angeles County poll worker data that Konnech may have possessed was provided to it by LA County and therefore could not have been stolen as suggested.

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Ms Engelbrecht and Mr Phillips, meanwhile, are prominent figures among election fraud conspiracy theorists with a long track record of advancing claims that election outcomes were manipulated. Mr Phillips claimed without evidence just days after the 2016 presidential election that he had verified more than 3 million votes were cast by noncitizens.

The pair were also central to right-wing filmmaker Dinesh DSouzas widely debunked film 2,000 Mules, which claimed to have evidence of illegal mail-in and absentee ballots. They both appeared as executive producers, alongside Mr DSouza, in the films credits.

True the Vote solicited donations from the groups Truth Social account after the duo were detained.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32, according to the post. To join us in cause, please donate here.
Federal prosecutors are trying to block attempts by lawyers representing Andrew Gillum and Sharon Lettman-Hicks to secure separate trials for the pair on public corruption charges involving his 2018 bid for governor.

The former Tallahassee mayor and his co-defendant both asked for their own trials in motions filed last month. Gillum's lawyer said individual trials were necessary for Lettman-Hicks to testify on his client's behalf, while Lettman-Hicks' lawyers argued she wasn't involved in the FBIs investigation into Gillums dealings with undercover agents.

Latest developments in the Andrew Gillum case:

But government lawyers, in recently filed motions, said the two took part in a common scheme over several years to fraudulently obtain money from a variety of organizations, including Gillum's own 2018 campaign for Florida governor, and funnel it to him through her firm, P&P Communications.

Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum completing his qualification paperwork to compete on the Democratic ticket for governor. [Photo: Andrew Salinero/Democrat]

They wrote that in early 2017, as Gillum was ramping up his campaign, he faced "substantial personal expenses" after leaving a "lucrative" position with People for the American Way Foundation. Lettman-Hicks, his longtime friend and adviser, stepped in to help, giving him a job at P&P with a $10,000-a-month salary.

However, the governments investigation revealed that P&P was not generating enough income to pay this salary to Gillum, which resulted in the conduct in the indictment defrauding multiple parties to fund that salary, the prosecution wrote.

A federal grand jury indicted Gillum and Lettman-Hicks in June on one count of conspiracy and 19 counts of wire fraud. Gillum was charged with an additional count of lying to the FBI about gifts he got from undercover agents during a 2016 excursion to New York City, including a now-infamous ticket to Hamilton, and P&P payments.

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Brothers Marcus and Andrew Gillum and lobbyist/friend Adam Corey during a New York harbor boat ride with undercover FBI agents.

The wire-fraud charges involve financial transactions, including deposits to Gillums bank account, and related text messages and emails from June 2017 through December 2019.

Backstory: 'I got you': Texts, emails detail how Adam Corey, FBI arranged trips for Andrew Gillum

Read more: Testimony from brother of Andrew Gillum, others surfaces in ethics case

But prosecutors said there was an earlier "unsuccessful attempt to use bribe money from undercover agents posing as developers to replace Gillums salary. They pointed to secretly recorded conversations in late 2016 between FBI agents and Individual B, whom the defense has identified as Gillums brother, Marcus Gillum.

'Wrapped up neat with a bow on it'

P&P came up by name not long after. During a meeting Nov. 30, 2016, in Nashville, Individual B told the agents about an upcoming meeting with "six attorneys that are going to be on the financial team" to determine "the best way to control the money," according to transcripts included in the government motion.

"Get it there without actually putting it there," Individual B told the agents.

One of the agents emphasized that its a big deal for me for the money to move through an entity separate from Gillums campaign, according to the transcripts.

For that I may have to get even a little bit more creative so ... um ... to ensure you that ... it would never ... it would never come back, Individual B said. Because again thats important to you and us cause obviously this is not a short term thing that we want to create, we want to generate long-term business.

The agent mentioned the concept plan for Fallschase, one of three developments the FBI feigned interest in through their front company, Southern Pines Development. He said he would pay $25,000 if all three of these are wrapped up neat with a bow on it." Individual B responded with an "OK."

Sharon Lettman-Hicks

During the conversation, the FBI agent asked Individual B what needed to be done to advance their development projects at the city without putting Gillum in "a hard situation." Individual B said he would meet with a campaign adviser "and then obviously meet with Andrew and figure out how we can make this happen ... and then I can tell you guys exactly what we'll be able to do."

Several months later, in January 2017, Individual B allegedly "upped the ask" to $75,000  $25,000 for each of the three projects  and suggested routing the money through "another entity," the government said.

Marcus Gillum, asked by the Tallahassee Democrat in June whether he was Individual B, said he "had nothing to do with this. However, Lettman-Hicks lawyers, Mutaqee Akbar and Robert Alex Morris of Tallahassee, identified Individual B as Marcus Gillum in their Oct. 14 motion.

Prosecutors wrote that defendants who are indicted together are usually tried together" and that Lettman-Hicks' testimony was not essential for Gillum's defense. They also said a sworn affidavit from Lettman-Hicks  saying she and Gillum never talked about or agreed "to defraud anyone"  was "of dubious credibility."

Also: Sharon Lettman-Hicks suspends Florida House campaign amid federal corruption charges'

A 'timely and proper' indictment

The government also responded to complaints from Lettman-Hicks lawyers about the timing of her indictment. She and Gillum were charged June 7, a week after Lettman-Hicks filed to run for a Florida House seat, though the indictment wasnt unsealed until June 22. At the time, several counts were nearing the statute of limitations.

These allegations have no bearing on the issue of joinder and the government is at a loss to understand why they are included in (Lettman-Hicks) motion, prosecutors wrote. However, the government would simply note that the indictment was timely filed within the legal statute of limitations, and that the governments indictment ... was completely proper.

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.

Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Prosecutors want single corruption trial for Gillum, Lettman-Hicks
In this April 10, 2017, photo, a FedEx envelope is placed into a drop box in North Andover, Mass.

FedEx agreed to a settlement in a California class action lawsuit last month that will require the company to assess all its unattended drop boxes and modify them to be accessible to customers with mobility disabilities.

The suit was filed in October 2021 by business owner Janne Kouri, alleging that FedEx Express was in violation of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in the enjoyment of goods, services or facilities. Kouri, who was paralyzed by a spinal cord injury and requires the use of a wheelchair, filed his initial complaint after attempting to use a FedEx Express drop box and finding that the opening was beyond reach of wheelchair users and the operation of the drop box doors required force beyond ADA guidelines.

I contacted my attorneys... to investigate whether this problem was widespread across FedExs drop box locations, Kouri said in a court document. It turns out it is.

The terms of the preliminary settlement, agreed to in September, include FedEx paying $900,000 in attorneys fees and $20,000 to Kouri for a release of his individual claims. Over the course of the next four years, FedEx must also engage with an ADA consultant, train its drop box team in ADA compliance measures, survey each of its roughly 34,000 drop boxes, remove any access barriers and ensure that new drop boxes adhere to 2010 ADA standards.

FedEx news:How big is FedEx's impact on the global economy? What to know from a new report

FedEx technology:FedEx drops project developing Roxo, same-day delivery robot

The settlement also provides that Kouri's counsel will receive a report of the survey results and any modifications to check that FedEx has complied with the terms.

We are committed to providing proper access to drop boxes for our customers, FedEx said in an emailed statement. We have agreed to inspect our drop boxes and make any adjustments needed to ensure ADA compliance.

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In March, a similar class suit was filed in Memphis by Mississippi resident Ben Weisfeld, also alleging that FedEx drop boxes are inaccessible for wheelchair users and customers with disabilities due to excessive reach and force requirements. FedEx motioned to stay proceedings for the case in September pending the approval of the settlement in the California case.

The preliminary approval hearing in the California case is scheduled for Nov. 30.

Niki Scheinberg is the FedEx and logistics reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at monika.scheinberg@commercialappeal.com.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: FedEx settles class action suit over drop box access, ADA compliance
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $14 million to the state to reimburse Lowell General Hospital for the costs of contracting for additional staff to handle increased patient loads during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.

The hospital, part of the Tufts Medicine health system, will receive $14,041,699 in FEMA Public Assistance grants to reimburse it for paying temporary nursing staff to work between August 2020 and January 2022.

Nursing contractors Medical Solutions LLC and Vital Contingent Planning provided more than 51,670 hours of labor at Lowell General Hospitals Main Campus and at Saints Campus.

FEMA is pleased to be able to assist Lowell General Hospital with these costs, said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. Providing resources for our partners on the front lines of the pandemic fight is critical to their success, and our success as a nation.

FEMAs Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency.

So far, FEMA has provided nearly $1.4 billion in public assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the state for pandemic-related expenses.

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STORY: It's the first World Cup held in the Middle East  and the region's politics are never far away. Iran's protests, Arab fans' pro-Palestinian sympathies and host-nation Qatar's own ambiguous diplomacy have all been under the spotlight.Iran's matches have been the most politically charged, both on the pitch  when the Iranian team refrained from singing the national anthem  and off it. A headache for Qatar, which has good ties with Tehran.Ahead of Iran's first match, security denied entry to fans carrying Iran's pre-Revolution flag and T-shirts with the slogan "Woman, Life, Freedom" and "Mahsa Amini"  the young woman whose death in custody sparked the current protests."Take to storage? We have nothing else to wear. What do we wear?" "Go to the mall and buy a t-shirt." "You go to the mall and buy a t-shirt?"Iranian-American fan Shayan Khosravani shows Iran's pre-revolution flag, banned inside the country. He says he has been told to hide it."I wanted to come to the World Cup to support the people of Iran, because we know it is a great opportunity to speak for them, we know the national team is not speaking for them so we kind of wanted to put them in shame too, telling them like, hey, we come across the whole world to just use this opportunity to tell you guys and the rest of the world like hey what is happening in Iran is messed up, like you guys need to back people up."Pro-Palestinian sentiments are also on display.Qatari players have worn pro-Palestinian arm-bands...And this Israeli journalist reporting from Qatar met a cold response from Arab fans..."I am from Israel brother" "You are from Israel? What brought you here?"Qatar wants a smooth tournament that will cement its role on the global stage and in the Middle East.It's something of a regional maverick: it hosts the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas but allowed Israeli fans to fly in for the first time.It has given a platform to Islamist dissidents deemed a threat by Saudi Arabia and befriended Riyadh's foe Iran. The largest U.S. military base in the region is here.Omar Barakat is a soccer coach for the Palestinian team, which didn't make the tournament. He says security staff have allowed him into matches wearing the Palestinian flag."It is the Arab cause, we have seen many non-Palestinians wearing the flag, non-Arabs wearing the flag. This is my fourth flag. I have given away four and I let people borrow a lot of flags during the match just to take a photo. It is a political statement, and we are proud of it."Such loyalties and rivalries have added to the political dimensions of a tournament already mired in controversy over the treatment of migrant workers and LGBT+ rights.
U.S. President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he departs on the South Lawn of the White House, on December 12, 2020. Al Drago/Getty Images

As Donald Trump's company stands trial in Manhattan, another jury is being seated in a civil case against him.

The first batch of potential jurors in the Bronx civil case said they don't follow the news or politics closely.

None of the juror prospects confirmed they disliked Trump when asked in court.

About 10 miles uptown from where Donald Trump's multi-billion-dollar real-estate empire is standing trial in a Manhattan court on criminal tax fraud charges, another jury is being seated in a civil suit against the former president.

In the civil case taking place in Bronx Supreme Court, demonstrators allege Trump sicced his private security team on them while they attended a "Make America Racist Again" protest outside of New York City's Trump Tower in 2015.

During the first two days of jury selection in the case, attorneys for Trump, his campaign, and his organization have asked the first batch of 12 potential jurors in the pool  who are mostly people of color  about their opinions on the former president and what they have heard about him or this case on the news.

Those potential jurors said on Tuesday that they don't follow the news or politics closely, or at all, and didn't know about the civil lawsuit that they had been called to hear.

None of the juror prospects confirmed they disliked Trump when asked in court.

"I find him opinionated," one man said. "But that's a lot of people."

A list of names of potential witnesses in the case, which included Michael Cohen  Trump's ex-personal attorney-turned-nemesis  was read to the jury; none of the first 12 potential jurors recognized the names and they all said they could be impartial in the case.

The responses out of the Bronx are a stark contrast to the ongoing criminal trial in New York Supreme Court where a quarter of the 12-person panel of Manhattanites have openly said they're not fans of Trump.

One man, now juror No. 8 in that trial, called Trump "narcissistic" during jury selection, while two women who were chosen to sit on the jury said that they didn't like how Trump ran the country.

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A potential juror who was ultimately dismissed by the judge in that Manhattan case said the thought of serving on a Trump jury made him feel sick.

In the Bronx case, juror prospects were way more restrained in their responses, and several said they were too busy with their own lives to worry about what is going on in politics.

"For me, I travel back and forth, one way, 2 1/2 hours," one woman in the jury box responded. "Politics: That's someone else's troubles. I have my own troubles."

The Bronx case centers around a September 2015 "Make America Racist Again" protest outside of Trump Tower.

There, some demonstrators wore Klu Klux Klan costumes and carried large signs in response to comments Trump had made during his presidential campaign referring to Mexican immigrants as "rapists and drug mules," attorney Nathaniel Charney, who represents the plaintiffs, said during jury selection.

"The plaintiffs' claims, in this case, arise from what occurred on the sidewalk that day," Charney said.

Defendants named in the suit include Trump himself, his company, the Trump Organization, his campaign, his former head of security, and security guards.

The trial will determine whether the security officers who removed signs from the plaintiffs  as well as Trump  are guilty of assault and battery and conversion, which is a civil charge for larceny.

Trump is not expected to testify at the trial, but his recorded 2021 deposition, in which he claimed his life was in danger from flying fruit, will be played for the jury.

"It's very dangerous stuff," Trump said in the deposition, invoking a fruit-basket worth of potential projectiles, including tomatoes, pineapples, and, perplexingly, bananas. "You can get killed with those things."

Read the original article on Insider
A group tied to the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars targeting a progressive House candidate in Pennsylvania, marking the first time the super PAC of the self-proclaimed bipartisan group has directly intervened in a Democrat vs. Republican matchup.

United Democracy Project (UDP), affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is spending at least $75,000 on mailers and more than $900,000 on television ads attacking Summer Lee, a left-wing Pennsylvania state representative who is the Democratic nominee for the states 12th Congressional District.

AIPACs intervention on behalf of Republicans is especially significant because Lee is in a surprisingly tight race. A GOP victory could help Republicans win the House or pad their margin of victory. The group says it is not taking sides in which party controls Congress.

By intervening in Lees race, however, progressives argue the group is aiding the GOPs push to win the House. This stance would mark a departure from years of pronounced bipartisanship from AIPAC, which has long successfully courted congressional leaders in both parties.

Shamefully, AIPAC is working for Republican control of Congress and further destabilization of US democracy, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) wrote on Twitter on Monday, encouraging people to donate to Lees campaign.

Justice Democrats, a progressive group aligned with Lee, demanded that Democratic leaders call for AIPAC to halt its spending in the race.

Its time for Democratic Party leadership to finally denounce AIPACs active role in campaigning for and funding a Republican majority in Congress, Alexandra Rojas, executive director of Justice Democrats, said in a statement.

AIPACs opposition to Lee, a left-wing state representative, is well established. UDP spent $2.7 million unsuccessfully trying to defeat her in a Democratic primary in May. A spokesman for the group scoffed at the idea it was picking sides in the battle for the House and said Lees views on Israel and other issues were outside the mainstream of Democrats in her district.

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All were doing is opposing a future anti-Israel squad member, the spokesperson, Patrick Dorton, told HuffPost. One race in a Democratic district in Pittsburgh is not going to determine control of the House.

Elections in the 12th should be sleepy: President Joe Biden would have won the district, which includes parts of Pittsburgh and its suburbs, by roughly 20 percentage points in 2020. But the Republican nominee in the seat happens to be named Mike Doyle  the name of the retiring Democratic congressman who represented much of the area for over two decades.

The possibility of voter confusion over Doyles identity, along with the post-redistricting inclusion of some deeply conservative areas in the district and the generally sour political environment, has led some Democrats to fret about the seat, only adding to House Democrats problems in a midterm election year when they are heavily favored to lose control of the chamber. United Democracy Project said their polling of the race found the contest to be competitive.

As a super PAC, United Democracy Project can raise and spend unlimited sums provided it does not directly coordinate with candidates. Its received multimillion-dollar donations from Republicans, including Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus and hedge fund manager Paul Elliott, but also has the backing of Democratic media executive Haim Saban.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is set to campaign for Lee on Sunday, criticized the billionaires who fund AIPAC and said they oppose Lee because she stands with working people and against corporate greed. He called for Democrats to condemn the super PAC.

Dorton shot back, contending Sanders was simply bitter about losing two of his progressive allies, both of whom lost primaries in which UDP spent heavily against them. Bernie and others on the fringe left are running a smear campaign against us because theyre mad Andy Levin and Donna Edwards lost, he said.

National Democrats still consider a GOP win in the district unlikely but are concerned enough that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee plans to spend six figures on a coordinated advertising buy to help lock up the race.

On Tuesday night, the DCCC threw some cold water on worries about Lees standing, releasing an internal poll showing Lee leading Doyle 54% to 40% among likely voters. The survey, which was conducted on Sunday and Monday by the committees analytics department, found little difference between Lees standing and the generic congressional ballot, which clocked in at 57% Democrat to 38% Republican.

Lees campaign first became concerned about GOP attacks when the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC controlled by allies of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, began airing an ad attacking Democrat Chris DeLuzio for contributing to one of Lees state legislative campaigns. DeLuzio, who is in a tight race in a neighboring district, is the nominal target of the ad, which features a video clip of Lee declaring, policing as we know it is no longer necessary. But the spot is airing in the Pittsburgh media market, which includes both Lee and DeLuzios districts.

The mailer that UDP is sending voters in Pennsylvanias 12th District highlights her radical stances on criminal justice reform, including calls to abolish prisons and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. It also revives an argument UDP highlighted in the primary: Lee once tweeted that she wanted to totally dismantle the Democratic Party in its current form.

The television ad the group is airing hits similar notes.

#PAPol: Here's a first look at United Democracy Project's new TV ad attacking Dem nominee Summer Lee in the #PA12 general. After spending $2.3M in the primary opposing Lee's candidacy, they've now spent $999K for this ad running through election day. pic.twitter.com/E8ZuKjqBtI  AdImpact Politics (@AdImpact_Pol) November 1, 2022

From hitting Lee as disloyal to aiding GOP attempts to defeat her, the turnaround was not lost on national progressives, many of whom have long hoped to distance the party from AIPACs hardline, unquestioning support of Israels occupation of Palestine.

Its crazy that AIPAC spent money in the primary calling Summer Lee a bad Democrat and is now spending money against her and helping election deniers, said Adam Green, the co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. Speaker Pelosi and Democratic leadership need to speak out against this. This cant be the new normal.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) office did not respond to e-mails requesting comment. She declined to condemn UDPs massive spending during the primary season directly. However, she defended Edwards, a former Maryland congresswoman, when UDP attacked her during her comeback bid. Edwards ultimately lost to Glenn Ivey, a former prosecutor.

The investment is UDPs second spending program of the general election, but the first instance in which it is siding with a Democrat against a Republican. In Californias solidly Democratic 15th Congressional District, UDP has spent more than $500,000 supporting Democrat Kevin Mullin. Thanks to Californias nonpartisan, top-two primary system, Mullin is competing against Democrat David Canepa to succeed retiring Rep. Jackie Speier.

UDP is open about supporting candidates in both parties who share its view that the United States should grant Israel discretion regarding how to approach its security concerns. By that logic, attacking Lee as a disloyal Democrat in a primary  and later working to sink her against a Republican  is a legitimate way to dispatch with a political adversary.

Were a single-issue organization, Dorton said. We support Democrats and Republicans that are pro-Israel.

Lee has said little about U.S. policy in Israel and the Palestinian territories. She does not support the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. Still, she supports leveraging U.S. aid to pressure the Israeli government to end its occupation of Palestinian lands conquered in 1967.

However, her greatest offense in the eyes of right-leaning pro-Israel groups is being affiliated with the left wing of the Democratic Party.

Ahead of the midterm elections, AIPAC unveiled its first-ever list of official endorsements and created UDP, its first-ever super PAC. By escalating its involvement in elections, AIPAC hopes to beat back the small but growing influence of a handful of left-wing Democratic lawmakers in the House who have embraced aggressively pro-Palestinian policies.

If elected, Lee is expected to make common cause with the Squad of left-wing House Democrats whose ranks include Reps. Ilhan Omar (Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib are the only two BDS supporters in Congress. Sure enough, Reps. Omar and Tlaib  as well as fellow Squad Reps. Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), and Cori Bush (Mo.)  co-hosted an online fundraiser for Lee on Sunday evening.

(L-R) Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) attend a news conference to discuss proposed legislation entitled Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act outside the U.S. Capitol on March 11, 2021 in Washington, DC. The bill aims to institute a nationwide cancellation of rents and home mortgage payments through the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo: Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

(L-R) Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) attend a news conference to discuss proposed legislation entitled Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act outside the U.S. Capitol on March 11, 2021 in Washington, DC. The bill aims to institute a nationwide cancellation of rents and home mortgage payments through the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo: Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

She is being warmly embraced by some of the most vehement, anti-Israel members of Congress, Dorton said. She is looking forward to being part of the anti-Israel Squad group of Democrats in the House.

AIPAC had already raised cries of outrage on the left for its endorsement of more than 100 congressional Republicans who voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election.

J Street, a more liberal pro-Israel group, reiterated criticism of that decision on Monday.

At a critical moment for American democracy, with election denial, antisemitism and far-right extremism on the rise, AIPAC continues to make clear that its top political priority is to target and defeat progressive Democrats, Laura Birnbaum, J Streets national political director, said in a statement.

AIPAC notes that it has also endorsed 148 Democratic House candidates. That list of endorsees includes Democrats locked in competitive general elections, including Reps. Elaine Luria (Va.), Vicente Gonzalez (Texas), Susie Lee (Nev.), Steven Horsford (Nev.), and North Carolina state Sen. Don Davis, who is running for an open House seat. Those endorsements come with donations from AIPACs political action committee and bundled individual contributions from AIPAC activists.

We are proud of our political involvement in supporting pro-Israel candidates  both Democrats and Republicans  and opposing detractors of Americas alliance with the Jewish state such as Sumner Lee, Marshall Wittmann, spokesperson for AIPAC, said. An important aspect of our political involvement has shown that being pro-Israel is completely consistent with progressive values.

Wittmann added: We will continue to work to build broad bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel relationship.

What makes UDPs intervention in the race new and notable, however, is that unlike AIPACs formal endorsements of Republicans, this spending could determine control of the House. While bundling donations can help members win reelection, super PAC spending on attack ads  not subject to standard contribution limits  is a far more direct intervention.

That raises the question of whether top Democrats like Pelosi  and the many Democratic incumbents and candidates on the receiving end of UDPs largesse  will speak up against UDPs opposition to Lee.

I hope that the Democrats who received millions of dollars from AIPAC this cycle will speak out in support of their future colleague, Summer Lee, and use their influence to defend the Democratic majority, said Maya Handa, who managed the campaign of North Carolina congressional candidate Nida Allam, against whom UDP spent more than $2 million.

When asked whether UDP is concerned about how its spending choices could affect its relationship with Pelosi and other top Democrats, Dorton declined to comment.

UDP may feel confident that top Democrats have more to lose by burning AIPAC than to gain by expressing frustration with its actions in this district. In the past, when confronted with the vast sums of money that UDP was spending in Democratic primaries, Pelosi, who maintains close ties to AIPAC, remained silent.

Senior Democrats refusal to speak up now about UDP is especially galling to progressives whom the Democratic establishment has admonished for mounting primary campaigns against sitting Democrats and otherwise failing to demonstrate adequate party loyalty.

I never want to hear another word about progressives not being team players, Handa said.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
After months of legal battles which nearly ended with a trial, Elon Musk is now in control of Twitter after finally completing the $44 billion deal.

The worlds richest man first offered to buy the influential social media platform in April, claiming he wanted to release its extraordinary potential to promote free speech and democracy globally.

In a sign of Musks frosty relationship with Twitter, the company announced a mechanism to prevent a hostile takeover, but by the end of the month a deal was reached with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO.

The billionaire said he wanted to back out just weeks later, citing concerns over the number of bot accounts on the site, which led to accusations of a material breach of the agreement.

Twitter sued Musk to force him to complete the deal, prompting the mogul to countersue the platform over claims it deliberately miscalculated its number of spam accounts.

After plenty of back and forth, Musk eventually agreed in early October to buy Twitter at the originally agreed price, and closed the deal on Friday, giving himself the title of Chief Twit in his profile.

Less than a week into his new role, Musk already has some big plans for the site  here are some of the changes hes reported to be making.

Charging verified users to keep blue ticks



Twitters new boss is considering charging users $20 per month, or $240 a year, for their profile to have a coveted blue tick.

According to technology newsletter Platformer, the charge will also apply to users who already have the tick, which is used as a way of verifying an account of public interest.

To keep it, users may have to subscribe to Twitter Blue, a monthly subscription  available in a select few countries not including the UK - that gives exclusive access to premium features, which currently costs $4.99 per month but could go up to $20.

Elon Musk has taken to referring to himself as the 'Chief Twit'. (Getty)

Even wealthy celebrities might not think its worth the fee, including celebrated novelist Stephen King, who tweeted: $20 a month to keep my blue check? F**k that, they should pay me. If that gets instituted, Im gone like Enron.

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Replying directly to the post, Musk wrote: We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers. How about $8?

He added: I will explain the rationale in longer form before this is implemented. It is the only way to defeat the bots & trolls.

Twitter has not commented on the plans, but Musk responded to questions from users on the platform about verification by saying that the whole verification process is being revamped right now.

Film-style age rating filters



In an exchange with one user, Musk hinted that one way of moderating content on the site could involve users selecting a film-style age rating to filter content.

Being able to select which version of Twitter you want is probably better, much as it would be for a movie maturity rating, he said.

The rating of the tweet itself could be self-selected, then modified by user feedback.

Elon Musk speaking at the Offshore Northern Seas 2022 event in Stavanger, Norway in August. (Getty)

Despite describing himself as a free speech absolutist, Musk told advertisers that he did not want Twitter to become a "free-for-all hellscape where anything can be said with no consequences.

He added: In addition to adhering to the laws of the land, our platform must be warm and welcoming to all, where you can choose your desired experience according to your preferences, just as you can choose, for example, to see movies or play video games ranging from all ages to mature.

The everything app



When Musk confirmed he would go ahead with the deal, he said buying Twitter was an accelerant to creating an everything app.

By this, the billionaire means a single place where users can access most, if not all, of their favourite online services and utilities.

A similar app already exists in China, WeChat, which started life as a messaging platform like WhatsApp before crowing into a mini-internet within a single app.

It allows users to do everything from sharing social media posts, catching up on news, making mobile payments, booking restaurants and ordering taxis.

Musk remarked on how nothing like WeChat exists in the West, describing the app as kickass, although critics have said it has served as an effective surveillance tool for the Chinese government.

Some experts have questioned Musks ability to create such an app in a western market, despite his vast wealth and experience.

Bringing back banned accounts?



On 10 May, during his rocky negotiations with Twitter, Musk said he would reverse the platforms ban on Donald Trump, who was removed in January 2021 in the wake of the Capitol Riots.

At the time, he said banning the former president was was a morally bad decision and foolish in the extreme.

Musk hasnt given away too much since becoming CEO, tweeting: If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if Trump is coming back on this platform, Twitter would be minting money!

But there is a good chance that some banned accounts will be brought back, as the mogul said on Friday that a content moderation council would be created to address this issue.

Former US President Donald Trump had his Twitter account shut down in January 2021. (Getty)

He said no major content or reinstatement decisions would be made before the council had convened.

Musk has talked in length about his concerns of a left-wing political bias at Twitter and says he wants to protect the platform from censorship.

But it remains to be seen how his mission to create a common digital town square will clash with hate speech laws in various countries.

Twitter could face significant issues once the Online Safety Bill comes into effect in the UK, which would require platforms not just to take down any illegal content but also any topics designated legal but harmful, which is likely to be content linked to abuse or harassment, among other things.

Advertisers too are unlikely to be happy about the possibility of their adverts appearing alongside increasingly controversial content.

A mass exodus of executives



As Musk spent months publicly criticising Twitter and describing it as bloated, many employees understandably feared for their futures in the event of a takeover.

Twitters future is bleak without an engaged employee base and theres a lot of repair work to be done there, industry analyst Mike Proulx said earlier this month.

Twitter's headquarters are in San Francisco, California. (Getty)

In a bid to ease concerns during a visit to Twitters head office just before the takeover was completed, Musk reportedly told staff that reports of him planning to cut 75% of the workforce were not true.

But has already dissolved the companys entire board of directors, making him the sole director of Twitter.

This has already caused alarm among some online safety campaigners, who have warned that shifting Twitters policy on safety and free speech with no executives to hold him back could make the platform more dangerous.

Others have suggested the internal turmoil during Musks restructuring could make the platform more vulnerable to hackers.
There is exactly one week to go before Election Day, and most of the attention is focused on the tightest races in the fierce fight for the Senate.

But some contests will be important for other reasons, providing crucial snapshots of where American politics stand right now, or offering clues toward 2024 and beyond.

Here are some of the most significant match-ups.

Nevada and the battle for Latino voters

Republican Nevada Senate candidate Adam Laxalt is looking to oust the Democratic incumbent. in a tight race.

Nevada gives Republicans their best chance of taking a Senate seat away from Democrats.

Incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D) has never looked safe. Most recent polls have given her Republican challenger, Adam Laxalt, a small edge. In the RealClearPolitics (RCP) average on Monday afternoon, Laxalt was ahead by a single point.

Whichever way the race tips, political pros will be mining the results for signs of further erosion, or stabilization, in Democratic support among Latino voters.

Democrats are already concerned about signs of softening Latino support elsewhere in the nation, especially south Florida and Texass Rio Grande Valley.

Cortez Masto is the first Latina senator in U.S. history, and her platform includes strong support for comprehensive immigration reform.

Laxalt, whose grandfather served as a U.S. senator and as Nevadas governor, has hit out at the senator and President Biden for what the Republicans TV ads brand as border chaos.

Laxalt has been competing hard for Latino voters, including with Spanish-language ads and Latinos Con Laxalt events. He argues that Latino voters are responsive to the Republican promises of economic growth and opportunity,

Cortez Masto should still take most of the Latino votes cast, but the margin will be vital.

The last two Democratic presidential nominees, Biden in 2020 and Hillary Clinton in 2016, carried Latinos in Nevada by 26 points and 31 points respectively, according to exit polls.

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If Cortez Masto can only eke out a much narrower margin, it will probably spell doom for her  and cause consternation to Democrats across the country.

Florida and DeSantiss 2024 hopes

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to have an easy win in November.

In theory, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) might have faced a tough reelection campaign.

The governor riles up liberals on a whole host of issues, the most explosive recent example being the flights of migrants he organized to Marthas Vineyard, Mass.

DeSantiss support for legislation restricting the teaching of sexuality in schools fueled another furor, and he and Biden tangled bitterly over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite all that, DeSantis is well ahead of his Democratic opponent, former Rep. Charlie Crist.

Crist is a former governor  and a former Republican  but DeSantis leads by more than 12 points in the RCP average.

A resounding victory for the incumbent governor would strengthen his hand as speculation mounts about a 2024 presidential bid.

DeSantis is widely seen as the only Republican who could give former President Trump a run for his money for the GOP nomination. If Trump were to take a pass on the race, DeSantis would be the instant front-runner.

Florida has begun to lean red but only by narrow margins. DeSantis won his first race for governor by less than 1 percentage point in 2018, and Trump carried the state over Biden by roughly 3 points in 2020.

In that context, a double-digit victory for DeSantis would be a powerful data point as his allies make the argument that he is the most electable Republican nationwide in 2024.

Given DeSantiss strength, its no surprise that tensions are rising between him and Trump.

Trump will hold a rally in Miami on Nov. 6, just two days before Election Day. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who is expected to win reelection over Democratic Rep. Val Demings, will be in attendance.

DeSantis, according to multiple media reports, was not invited.

Arizona and election denialism

Former President Donald Trump embraces Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake at a rally.

Democrats have sought to make Trump an issue in this election, particularly in relation to his fictitious claims of election fraud in 2020 and his penchant for inflammatory language.

So far, it doesnt appear like the argument is going to carry the day, at least beyond the Democratic base.

The prime example is Kari Lake, the Republican gubernatorial nominee in Arizona.

Lake, a fervent Trump supporter, has repeatedly asserted that the 2020 election was illegitimate. She also suggested that her own primary race earlier this year might in some way be tainted  until it was clear she would win. We out-voted the fraud, she claimed.

In a mid-October interview with Jon Karl of ABC News, Lake was notably equivocal about whether she would accept the results in the general election this year.

Pressed by Karl on whether she would acknowledge her own defeat, if it occurred, Lake replied that she would do so only as long as its fair, honest and transparent.

Even so, Lake is almost 4 points clear of her Democratic opponent, secretary of State Katie Hobbs, in the RCP average.

She has been helped to that position by her closeness to Trump, who endorsed her during the primary campaign, and by her media skills as a former TV news anchor.

Perhaps most important of all, Bidens approval ratings in the Grand Canyon State are dismal, with 39 percent of registered voters backing him and 54 percent disapproving of his performance in a late September Marist poll.

A Lake victory would be a huge boost for Trump and Trumpism.

It would also chill the blood of Democrats and others concerned about the trajectory of American democracy.

Ohio and Democrats quest to shore up blue-collar support

Tim Ryan and J.D. Vance have been neck-and-neck throughout their whole race for the senate spot in Ohio.

One of the few bright spots for Democrats this year has been in Ohio, where Rep. Tim Ryan (D) has been more competitive than many Beltway pundits expected in his Senate race against Republican J.D. Vance.

Ohio was a bellwether for decades but has been trending sharply Republican in recent years. President Trump carried the state by around 8 points in both 2016 and 2020.

Ryan has rarely been more than 2 or 3 points adrift of Vance in the polling averages.

He has stayed in contention by stressing his own modest roots in the Youngstown area and by making plain his differences from the more progressive elements of his own party, especially on the toxic topic of Defund the Police.

Ryan, notably, has also said that he doesnt believe Biden should run again in 2024.

None of this may be enough to carve out a victory, given the headwinds Ryan faces.

He is currently 2 points behind in the RCP average, while data and polling site FiveThirtyEight gives Vance close to an 80 percent chance of prevailing.

People close to Ryan are sore that the national Democratic Party did not provide him with more financial back-up even as a super-PAC linked to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has spent around $28 million to buttress Vance.

In any event, whether Ryan wins or loses, other Democrats will look keenly at the result to see how well he does with working-class voters.

If he performs strongly, his campaign could provide a template for other races in the future.

Michigan and the fight over abortion rights

Former President Barack Obama campaigns for Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, left, during a rally.

The Michigan governors race is one of several that has been jangling Democrats nerves of late.

Incumbent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has seen her Republican opponent Tudor Dixon whittle away at a lead that stood in double digits in early October.

Whitmer leads by 4.2 percentage points in the RCP average. One recent poll showed a tied race.

One of the starkest dividing lines between the candidates is on abortion.

Whitmer is a staunch defender of abortion rights, Dixon just the opposite.

The incumbent governor has talked about the issue in raw terms. She has spoken publicly about being raped while in college and her fear of becoming pregnant as a result. She has also cast the battle to protect abortion rights in reference to her two daughters, who are young adults.

Dixon, by contrast, has indicated she opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest, and has called Whitmers position extremely radical.

The abortion issue will be especially salient in Michigan because voters will get the chance to have their say on a ballot measure  Proposal 3  that would amend the state constitution to enshrine the right to abortion.

Polling suggests most Michiganders want abortion to remain broadly legal. Abortion rights activists note their side won a broadly comparable vote in the more conservative state of Kansas over the summer.

If Whitmer winds up a comfortable victor in Michigan, it will be testament to the potency of the abortion issue.

But if the race remains tight, or she loses, the lesson will be very different.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
With blue schoolbags bouncing off their backs, hundreds of schoolchildren hurtle down small sand dunes eager to attend class again.

But these boys and girls are survivors of suffering and trauma that few children of their age could conceive.

Their new school is in the town of Ouallam in southwestern Niger, a region that for five years has been plagued by attacks unleashed by groups linked with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

The pupils come from 18 villages near Mali whose inhabitants fled to the relative safety of Ouallam in 2021 after jihadist killings that also forced the closure of schools.

The UN children's agency UNICEF says 817 schools with 72,421 pupils -- including 34,464 girls -- have closed in Niger, mostly in the Tillaberi, the border region where Ouallam is located.

In Ouallam alone, around one hundred schools have had to shut their doors.

The chronic insecurity has prompted the authorities to create dedicated educational centres where displaced children can resume their schooling, Mahamadou Illo Abarchi, an education official in Ouallam, told AFP.

Some 17,000 pupils have already re-entered the school system and another 55,300 are set to follow suit, enrolling in around 20 centres for displaced children across southwestern Niger, the government says.

- 'Killed by the bandits' -

In Ouallam, almost 1,600 schoolchildren -- some of whom had not attended class for three years -- are registered with three centres built near a site for displaced people.

The sites offer free canteens, a vital resource for families who have escaped violence in a nation that, by the UN's human development index, is the poorest in the world.

Lessons take place in shelters or classrooms equipped with tables and benches provided by NGOs. But in others, the pupils must learn on the floor.

Fatima and Aissa, two young girls from Ngaba, a settlement near Mali, expressed their delight at returning to school as they clutched their slate boards.

But the euphoria of returning to school cannot wipe out the painful memories.

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"My uncle was a village chief, he was killed by the bandits in front of our eyes," said Mariama, who also lived in Ngaba. "There was a lot of blood."

Nassirou, Malick, Hasane, Abdou and their parents fled their village of Adabdab on foot after a series of jihadist attacks, the last of which on October 22 claimed the lives of 11 civilians.

"It was the bandits who chased us away, they killed many men," Nassirou said quietly in the playground.

Moussa, who hails from a hamlet in the same area, said: "I'm not afraid anymore, I no longer hide when I hear the sound of motorcycles" often used by jihadists to attack villages.

- 'Encouraging results' -

When they first arrived at the new centres, many children showed "signs of distress and trauma, others were very aggressive", said education official Morou Chaibou.

He spoke of how some pupils recounted harrowing memories -- including seeing their parents being shot.

Adamou Dari, the regional director of the centres, said they also offered the children psychological and social support to give them some stability after their traumatic experience.

"Now they concentrate in class and the results are encouraging," said a teacher as she played in the courtyard with some of her pupils.

Absenteeism is minor but a source of worry, Dari said, explaining that some pupils played truant to work in the town and feed their families.

Harlem Desir of the International Rescue Committee, who recently visited the site for displaced people in Ouallam, said impoverished families often put their children to work or marry their daughters at a young age.

Chaibou warned that neglected children could become prime recruitment targets for the very jihadist groups whose depredations have left their families in such difficulties.

In 2021, Amnesty International warned that boys aged between 15 and 17 were filling the ranks of armed groups, especially the Al-Qaeda-affiliated GSIM, in the Torodi region near Burkina Faso -- with the blessing of their parents.

bh/stb/imm/ri
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and Florida Highway Patrol want to help feed Florida families in need this holiday season with the start of the annual Stuff the Charger food drive.

Through Nov. 30, residents can drop off non-perishable food donations at any local FHP station.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

FLHSMV and FHP today have launched the annual Stuff the Charger food drive. Through Nov. 30, non-perishable food items can be donated to help Florida families in need.



Learn more: https://t.co/BYrN5pby7P pic.twitter.com/RKsvzRGshn  FLHSMV (@FLHSMV) November 1, 2022

FLHSMV Executive Director Terry L. Rhodes said last year the drive collected more than 10,000 pounds of food items for food banks across Florida.

We are proud to continue this tradition to make a meaningful impact in the lives of our fellow Floridians, Rhodes said.

Read: Daylight saving time 2022: When do we set our clocks back? Is DST ending?

FHP director Colonel Gene Spaulding said the goal is to make a meaningful impact in the lives of Florida families.

Hurricane Ian devastated southwest Florida, and with your help, we can provide those in need with critical food donations, Spaulding said.

Read: Heres how you can get a coupon for a free Thanksgiving turkey

Each year the department partners with a network of local organizations with the goal of delivering much-needed food in the fight against hunger.

Read: Orlando leaders work to pave gap in Downtown Loop pathway

A list of FHP stations in the area can be found 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 group of students, parents and teachers in Florida have refiled a lawsuit against state and county officials over the enforcement of a new education law that limits how topics related to sexual orientation and gender identity can be talked about in schools.

The amended complaint filed Thursday in the Northern District of Florida comes just over a month after a federal judge dismissed the case, ruling that the plaintiffs had not provided enough solid evidence to prove they had been harmed by the law  known to its critics as the Dont Say Gay law.

Plaintiffs in the refiled lawsuit argue they have suffered concrete harms directly tied to the implementation and enforcement of the new law, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in March and went into effect July 1.

They have been denied equal educational opportunities they would like to receive, in the curriculum and beyond, and they have been subjected to a discriminatory educational environment that treats LGBTQ people and issues as something to be shunned and avoided, on pain of discipline and liability, the amended complaint states. This type of overtly discriminatory treatment has no place in a free democratic society and should not be permitted to stand.

Among other examples, the complaint cites a September Miami-Dade school board vote to reject a proposal to recognize October as LGBTQ History Month and incorporate lessons about two landmark LGBTQ Supreme Court cases into the existing curriculum for high school seniors on the nations civil rights history.

At least four of the nine school board members at the Sept. 7 meeting said recognizing LGBTQ History Month  which the school district celebrated just a year prior  would violate the Dont Say Gay law.

The Miami-Dade school board is named as a defendant in the amended complaint, along with four other school boards and the Florida Department of Education.

Defendants also include members of the State Board of Education, who during an Oct. 19 meeting approved a rule to suspend or revoke the licenses of public primary school teachers if they engage in classroom instruction related to sexual orientation or gender identity.

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The board also voted to adopt a rule that prevents school districts from allowing transgender students to use facilities consistent with their gender identity unless all parents with children in the district are notified by mail and a copy of the policy is posted online.

The amended complaint also references a July memo sent to Florida school leaders in July from state Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. that instructs them to ignore federal guidance expanding Title IX protections for transgender students.

Diaz, who as a state senator last session voted to pass the Dont Say Gay law, in the July memo said schools would risk violating state law if they followed the guidance, which seeks to broaden the definition of sex discrimination to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

Plaintiffs in the amended complaint argue that the law has made schools more hostile places for LGBTQ students, teachers and their families by stigmatizing their identities and marking them as lesser.

It also creates and exacerbates environments where LGBTQ students are more likely to do poorly in school, experience bullying and harassment, and suffer higher risks to their mental and physical health, the complaint states, citing recent studies on LGBTQ youth mental health from organizations including The Trevor Project and the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

The complaint alleges that the law violates the U.S. Constitution and Title IX, which prohibits educational institutions that receive federal funding from discriminating based on sex. Plaintiffs are seeking an injunction that permanently blocks the laws enforcement, as well as a declaratory judgment that the Dont Say Gay law violates federal law.

A similar case filed by a different group of Florida students, their families and multiple civil rights organizations was dismissed last month by a federal judge, who also ruled that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated exactly how they had been harmed by the new law.

An amended complaint must be filed by Nov. 3.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
With only one week to go before the General Election, Republicans are outvoting Democrats in Florida.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Traditionally, Democrats would hold the vote lead at this point in the race, as Republicans historically turn out on Election Day.

But 137,000 more Florida Republicans than Democrats had cast a ballot as of midday Tuesday.

Republicans see it as evidence of a red wave, but Democrats arent about to start waving a white flag.

Republicans like Clay County State Rep. Sam Garrison are feeling confident one week out from the election.

Read: Ahead of midterms, both parties talking about ways to bring down gas prices & energy costs

Were really excited looking at the statewide numbers. I mean, you look at whats happening not just here in Jacksonville, in northeast Florida, but especially in Miami-Dade. The Republican numbers in Miami-Dade are staggering, said Garrison.

Republicans trail Democrats by just over 1,000 votes in Miami-Dade, which is historically a Democratic stronghold.

In Duval County, which has gone blue in the last two elections, Republicans have outvoted Democrats by 2,400 ballots.

I think you could describe this surge in Republican turnout with two words. Its Gov. DeSantis, said Garrison.

While Garrison attributes Republican turnout to enthusiasm at the top of the ticket, Orlando Democrat State Rep. Anna Eskamani blames the turnout disparity on funding.

Read: Pfizer to seek approval for RSV vaccine

The Republican Party of Florida has been spending millions of dollars to get out their voters and the Democratic Party does not have the same resources, said Eskamani.

Theres also the potential that Republicans who traditionally vote on Election Day could be choosing to vote earlier.

Eskamani said shes heard the reverse from some Democratic voters.

Many voters are expressing a desire to wait for Election Day versus early vote, said Eskamani.

Whatever the reason, UNF political science Professor Michael Binder said the numbers right now dont bode well for Democrats.

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If Im a Democrat, Im looking at these numbers and Im not optimistic. Im not throwing in the towel, Im not turning to the hard liquor just yet, but Im certainly not popping any Champagne corks, said Binder.

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Eskamani pointed out that during the 2020 election, Democrats held a 125,000-vote lead going into Election Day but were ultimately outvoted.

Time will tell if Democrats manage to flip the script on Nov. 8.

STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories
Michael DiMassa, a former Democratic state Representative and West Haven political insider, pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges that he stole about $1.2 million the city was awarded to cover expenses arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

As the pandemic reached Connecticut in late 2020, DiMassa was empowered by West Havens mayor to approve spending for prevention measures and other unexpected costs. He admitted in court Monday that he conspired with his wife and two others to embezzle the federal grant money by creating dummy invoices and directing payments to sham companies.

DiMassa, who pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud, faces from 41 to 51 months in prison, a $50,000 fine and a $1.2 million restitution order under under sentencing guidelines in U.S. District Court, but Judge Omar Williams can impose a sentence above or below that range. Williams did not set a date for sentencing.

Federal prosecutors and FBI agents have said in court filings that DiMassa spent much of the stolen money at the Mohegan Sun Casino, where his purchases of tens of thousands of dollars in gambling chips correspond with illegal diversions from the COVID grants.

Before he was arrested and forced out of the state Legislature, DiMassa held a variety of positions in West Havens government. He was arrested in October 2021. John Bernardo, a political associate and fellow city employee, was charged a month later. DiMassas wife, Lauren Knox DiMassa and his associate, John Trasacco, were charged in February.

The embezzlement came to the attention of federal law enforcement officials through Democratic infighting for control of West Havens government. It resulted in greater state review of city spending by West Haven, a city that has flirted with insolvency and been subject to state oversight for decades.

DiMassa and Bernardo were accused of creating a phony partnership, Compass Investment Group, and using it as a vehicle to steal about $637,000.

Story continues

Federal prosecutors said the two billed the city for a long list of services that included as COVID-19 Legal + Lobbying + Site work for COVID-19 Clinic, Consulting Service-Legislative Review Executive Orders  COVID-19, Consulting Service-Suppo1i Staff Services, Monitors/Security Site (April 2021-May 2021), and Consulting Service Lobbying Service  COVID-19 Federal. In reality, the indictment charges, the two did nothing for the city.

Bernardo is accused of getting about $50,000. When he pleaded guilty to a fraud charge earlier this year, Bernardo blamed DiMassa and complained he didnt realize the extent of the theft until reading about it in the newspaper after his arrest.

I had no idea what Mr. DiMassa was doing, how he was getting the money, Bernardo said when he pleaded guilty. When I heard it was between $500,000 and $800,000, I said, What is going on here? Where is the money? "

DiMassas wife  they were married days before his arrest  also pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to commit fraud. Her lawyer said in court that, as was the case with Bernardo, she handed almost all the money she is accused of collecting, $147,776.10, to her husband.

Federal prosecutors said the checks issued to Lauren DiMassa under the heading Youth Violence COVID-19 Associated Expenses, included charges for in-home counseling, cleaning supplies, special needs hourly service, WIFI assistance for low/moderate income families, counseling services, license fees, a fall youth clinic, meals, support group supplies, equipment rental, and youth clinic support group.

Lauren DiMassa is accused of cashing 16 checks, keeping a portion of the funds and depositing the rest in an account she controlled. During the period in which the fraud occurred, July 2020 to October 2021, prosecutors said she did nothing in return for the money.

The fourth defendant in the case, John Trasacco, is accused of creating two dummy corporations, L&H company and JIL Sanitation Services, that he and DiMassa allegedly used to bill West Haven about $432,000 for non-existent COVID-related supplies and services. Among other things, federal prosecutors said the two billed the city for cleaning a school building that the indictment said had been vacant and abandoned for years.

Trasacco has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
HAVANA (AP)  Eighteen former Latin American and Caribbean leaders have signed a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden asking the United States to remove its six-decade embargo on Cuba in the wake of devastation inflicted by Hurricane Ian.

The letter, shared with The Associated Press ahead of its Wednesday release, also requests that Biden remove Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism for providing refuge to leaders of a guerrilla group that is now set to reenter peace talks with Colombia, an American ally.

The letter comes as Cuba is suffering its worst economic, political and energy crises of the century so far, spurring a migratory exodus from the island. It was exacerbated by Hurricane Ian, which walloped western Cuba before hitting southern Florida late last month.

We ask you, Mr. President, to take into account this dramatic situation that thousands of Cubans are experiencing and do whatever is necessary to lift those restrictions that affect the most vulnerable, the letter reads.

Among the signatories are former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, two former Colombian leaders  Juan Manuel Santos and Ernesto Samper  and former leaders from Bolivia to Belize.

All of the signers are leftists or centrists. Notably absent were signatures from right-wing politicians, underscoring the deep divisions that the Caribbean island still provokes in the region.

The United Nations General Assembly is scheduled to vote this week on a resolution to condemn the trade embargo and it is expected to pass again for the 30th consecutive year.

Yet former Colombian President Ernesto Samper told The Associated Press in an interview that he doesnt want the letter to be viewed as a political statement.

At this moment, what worries us is that the ones paying the cost  are Cubans who are going without food, medicine or electricity, Samper told the AP.

The trade embargo was imposed in 1962 as the Cuban revolution veered toward socialism. It has restricted Cuba's access to a vast array of products, as well as international aid, and financial resources.

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Island officials say the restrictions have made it harder to recover from the hurricane, which destroyed 14,000 homes and caused long-term damage to the countrys electrical grid.

While the Obama administration eased many sanctions, they came back into full force under the Trump administration, which justified the sanctions by re-designating Cuba as a state sponsor for terrorism for its refusal to extradite 10 leaders of Colombias biggest remaining guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army.

But that order was lifted when Colombias first leftist leader was inaugurated in August and announced new peace talks with the group. The rebel leaders recently left Cuba to hold negotiations in Venezuela.

Biden has eased a few measures, but has also been sharply critical of the Cuban governments harsh treatment of protesters last year  which also hardened sentiment against concessions to the Cuban government among Cuban-Americans, a key voting bloc in Florida.

But the administration recently made a few friendly gestures, offering $2 million in emergency relief to help with hurricane recovery.

Fully lifting the embargo also would require authorization by Congress at a time deep of political division in the U.S., only made more difficult by approaching midterm elections in which Florida is a swing state.
The former mayor of Wapakoneta is going to prison after being convicted in a public corruption case this weekend.

On Saturday, an Auglaize County Common Pleas Court jury found Thomas Stinebaugh guilty of theft in office, having an unlawful interest in a public contract and three counts of conflict of interest, according to a spokesperson from the Ohio Attorney Generals office.

>> Norcold plant closures to impact more than 300 employees

Stinebaugh was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

News Center 7 reported last year that Stinebaugh was indicted on 17 charges. He was investigated for his alleged dealings with family members and a business partner. State investigators said Stinebaugh used his position as mayor to enter into contracts with those family members and business partner.

He was also accused of having the city pay for a sewer line on a piece of property his private company was developing. Online court records show he was convicted on two charges connected to the sewer line.

Stinebaughs mayoral duties were previously suspended.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost previously called this case a textbook example of public corruption.
Oct. 31Nearly a week after being shot twice by a law enforcement officer in Ethiopia, Fowsia Musse has had her leg amputated.

Musse was shot in the stomach and hip, additionally suffering a broken leg. She has received multiple surgeries at hospitals in Ethiopia in recent days to treat her injuries.

After the shooting, which left her younger sister dead and 14-year-old son injured, Musse, the executive director of Maine Community Integration in Lewiston, was transferred twice to different hospitals for medical treatment.

Doctors at the second hospital in the capital recommended amputation. After being transferred to a third hospital in Ethiopia, doctors were optimistic about saving her leg, according to a GoFundMe update from her daughter, Shadia Abdulahi.

"Their assessment found that there was vascular damage and infection from the bullets, and that she would need vascular surgery and a blood transfusion," Abdulahi wrote. "We believed everything was OK until this (Monday) morning, when I got a phone call from my uncle."

Musse's leg was amputated with her consent due to an infection that spread faster than anticipated, according to a Facebook post from Maine Community Integration.

Musse's family and co-workers at Maine Community Integration are continuing to ask the community for donations to help support her medical care.

"My family and I are afraid that the infection may still be present after surgery, and we believe she may need to be flown back on an emergency Air Ambulance following the surgery," Abdulahi wrote.

They hope to transport Musse to The John Hopkins Hospital in Maryland soon after the surgery. The air ambulance will cost $178,000 according to Abdulahi.

As of Monday morning, her GoFundMe has received more than $82,000 in donations from more than 700 donors. The fundraiser's goal has been increased to $200,000.

A Facebook post from Maine Community Integration states that the organization is also in search of a personal or private loan for Abdulahi, who is coordinating her mother's transportation back to the U.S.
A member of the "Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation" gang has admitted his role in the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old Poughkeepsie High School student in 2020.

Brandon Soto pleaded guilty to federal charges on Oct. 27 for his connection to the killing of Jalani Jones, who was shot to death in the city of Poughkeepsie on Sept. 21, 2020.

Soto, a 25-year-old Brooklyn resident who is known as "Stacks," pleaded guilty in White Plains federal court to racketeering conspiracy, providing a firearm to a minor with reason to believe the minor would commit a crime of violence, and conspiracy to commit arson.

Soto remains in custody and his sentencing is scheduled for April 6, 2023. His attorney declined to comment.

Soto faces up to 35 years in prison, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

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Authorities have not said who pulled the trigger shortly after 6 p.m. on Sept. 21, 2020, when Jones was shot at the corner of Main and Clinton streets in Poughkeepsie.

The indictment alleged that Soto drove with a co-conspirator to Poughkeepsie that day and aided and abetted in the assault and murder of a minor.

Candles placed on North Clinton Street near Main Street in the City of Poughkeepsie on September 22, 2020. A 15 year old was shot and killed wile walking on N Clinton Street Monday evening.

In the killing of Jones, Soto was accused of giving a handgun to a juvenile whom he knew intended to use it to commit murder, according to an indictment. On Sept. 25, 2020 in Manhattan, Soto burned a BMW car that was used in the killing of Jones, records show.

The investigation led to 18 alleged members of the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation gang being charged with various offenses that included robbery, racketeering and drug distribution in New York City and the Hudson Valley, including Westchester. The shooting of Jones was part of the gang's criminal activities, according to the indictment.

Sixteen people have been convicted in this case, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Michael P. McKinney covers growth and development in the Lower Hudson Valley for the USA Today Network.

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Poughkeepsie shooting: Man admits role in killing of teen Jalani Jones
Election 2022 Presidential Aspirations (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Gavin Newsom says he partly blames Fox News for fueling anger toward House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul that led to the attack at their home on Friday.

In an interview with CBS News, the California governor said: Ive seen the dehumanisation of Nancy Pelosi. I dont think anyones been dehumanised like she has consistently.

Now I watched this one guy, Jesse Watters or something on Fox News. What hes been saying about Paul Pelosi the last five, six months, mocking him consistently. Dont tell me thats not aiding and abetting all this. Of course it is, he told the CBSs chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett.

Theyre sowing the seeds, creating a culture and a climate like this, he added. I mean, look online. Look at the sewage that is online that they amplify on these networks and in social media to dehumanise people like Nancy Pelosi and other political leaders.

The governor also reflected on his own experience, leading up to last years recall election against him, when asked about Rep Debbie Dingels recent comments to Axios that someone will be killed who is a lawmaker.

I know what over the last three years has come into my inbox. Trust me, you dont, because Im not sharing it, Im not even sharing it with my wife. Ive got four kids, so I know a little about this. It wasnt just a recall against me, it was surround sound in every way, shape or form, said Mr Newsom.

Acknowledging that some of the abuse and criticism comes with the job, he added: Somethings different here, the mind has been stretched, people feel free to shove again  once this election is over, I hope and pray that we can start to reconcile those differences because this just cant continue, it just cant.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom sit downs with @MajorCBS days after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband was violently attacked in the couple's San Francisco home, saying, "I've seen the dehumanization of Nancy Pelosi."



Tune in tomorrow to watch more of this exclusive interview. pic.twitter.com/hHQKQBjuX4  CBS News (@CBSNews) October 31, 2022

Mr Watters responded to the governors remarks on his Fox News show on Monday evening saying that it was Mr Newsom who has done more to aid and abet the attack on Paul Pelosi than anybody else through Californias status as a sanctuary state and policies that did not deport the deranged drug addict felon who thinks hes Jesus who attacked the husband of the speaker of the House.

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David DePape, the man suspected of attacking Speaker Pelosis husband with a hammer at their San Francisco home, is now facing federal charges.

The charges of assault on the immediate family member of a federal official and attempted kidnapping of a federal official were outlined in a criminal complaint filed by an FBI agent in the US District Court for the Northern District of California on Monday afternoon.

The filing happened three days after 42-year-old Mr DePape was accused of breaking and entering into the couples Pacific Heights home and assaulting the 82-year-old Mr Pelosi.

The criminal complaint was based on an affidavit by FBI Special Agent Stephanie Minor and states that Mr DePape attacked Mr Pelosi with intent to retaliate against the speaker on account of the performance of official duties.

DePape stated that he was going to hold Nancy hostage and talk to her. If Nancy were to tell DePape the truth, he would let her go, and if she lied, he was going to break her kneecaps, the complaint said. DePape was certain that Nancy would not have told the truth. In the course of the interview, DePape articulated he viewed Nancy as the leader of the pack of lies told by the Democratic Party.

The document continued: DePape also later explained that by breaking Nancys kneecaps, she would then have to be wheeled into Congress, which would show other Members of Congress there were consequences to actions.
Augusta resident Camisha Riggins says when you examine the Docs Porchside menu, which includes Redneck Egg Roll, their objective is not that far-fetched.

A restaurant in Georgia has issued an apology for its contentious Halloween decorations, which showed a person hanging from the ceiling by a noose, a sack over its head, with bound hands.

According to The Augusta Chronicle, following the uproar sparked by the controversial decorations, Docs Porchside in Augusta is no longer open. The restaurant claimed staffers installed the prop  supposedly merchandise purchased years ago from HalloweenProps.com  exactly as they took them out of the box and made no alterations.

We decorated for Halloween and a hanging zombie was included with our decor, said Docs Porchside in a statement on Monday, The Chronicle reported.

Docs Porchside restaurant in Augusta, Georgia, has issued an apology after its Halloween decorations, which featured a person hanging from the ceiling by a noose, sparked controversy across social media. (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube.com)

They reportedly showed photos of a green zombie to back their claims.

Our intention was a Halloween theme, and were sorry for the offensive nature.  We have removed the zombie from the decorations, read the Docs Porchside statement, according to The Chronicle.

TikTok sensation Camisha Riggins, an Augusta resident, created several videos about the incident for her nearly 70,000 followers.

Docs Porchside in Augusta Georgia thinks this is a Halloween decoration.

Absolutely appalling pic.twitter.com/DXXXx9G2F0  Kbh4bratz (@kbh4bratz) October 29, 2022

She said when you examine and analyze Doc Porchsides menu, which includes items like the Mason-Dixon Burger and the Redneck Egg Roll, the restaurants objective is not that far-fetched.

I made the TikTok because Im an African American woman, I am in the Augusta area, Ive eaten there once before, so it was just mind-boggling that that happened, said Riggins, The Chronicle reported.

Why would you cover the head of the zombie as if [it] were like back in the day when they used to lynch us as African Americans. They used to put bags over our heads and [tie] our hands behind our back. That is the way that they used to lynch us, Riggins added.

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The restaurant, which has another location in Grovetown, declined to confirm the employment status of the people who made the purchase, installed the decoration or gave it their approval.

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The post Georgia restaurant apologizes for noose, hanging zombie decoration appeared first on TheGrio.
Gibraltars financial regulator is exploring whether it needs to further regulate stablecoins and decentralized finance lending after the recent collapses of Terra and crypto lenders like Celsius.

Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (FSC) wants to bring decentralized finance lending and stablecoins into sharp focus, William Gracia, Head of distributed ledger technology (DLT) and markets at the FSC said at the country's affair on Tuesday. Gibraltar was hosting an event in central London to celebrate the progress of blockchain and DLT within its borders.

In May the price of the then-$18-billion algorithmic stablecoin terraUSD (UST) collapsed and caused the crypto market to meltdown and lose billions of dollars in a month, which then triggered the fall of crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital. Meanwhile, Celsius and Voyager froze withdrawals and suffered severe losses. These events turned regulators heads across the world, with the U.K.s Financial Conduct Authority saying it would consider the collapse of Terra in its planned stablecoins rules while European Union lawmakers added new stablecoin provisions to their Markets in Crypto Assets legislation.

In order for it to be a long term sustainable business industry for Gibraltar consumer protection needs and the protection of the reputation of Gibraltar needs to be at the forefront of what we do that means applying higher standards and best industry practices to ensure the continued success story of the DLT framework, Gracia said.

The British Overseas Territory already has its Financial Services (Distributed Ledger Technology Providers) Regulations 2020 and recently added a 10th guiding principle that crypto companies have to follow which focuses on maintaining market integrity. It also has a licensing regime for DLT which in the past has been accused of being tough for firms to receive.

After some time of continuously punching above our weight I think we have earned a heavyweight title, Gracia said, reflecting on the countrys crypto achievements.

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In December last year the country said it planned to integrate blockchain technology in its systems.

Read more: Gibraltar's Government Targets Crypto Market Manipulation With New Rules

The country is working on developing its regulatory framework for crypto and is not afraid to look to other countries for guidance, Albert Isola MP, Minister for Digital and Financial Services said in an interview with CoinDesk.

I have always said unashamedly if somebody is doing it better than us we will have a look and copy you, we want to get to a good set of regulatory principles which we can comply with, introduce and keep the bad actors away from our shores Isola said.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)  French-bred six-year-old Gold Trip won the 162nd running of the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday ahead of Emissary and High Emocean over 3,200 meters in Australia's most famous horse race.

One of five runners for co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in the race, Gold Trip was ridden by Mark Zahra and won by a length and a half.

More than 80,000 spectators packed Flemington race track under mostly rainy and cloudy conditions. It was the first time the grandstand held unlimited fans since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Favorite and English stayer Deauville Legend was fourth, and Realm of Flowers finished fifth.

From barrier 13, Zahra had Gold Trip settled among the back markers off a strong start by Serpentine. The race changed complexion about 900 meters from the finish when Tim Clark, riding Knights Order, picked up the pace.

Gold Trip claimed the lead just before the 300-meter mark, kicking clear before holding off a spirited charge from Emissary while High Emocean  also from the Maher and Eustace stable  came home late for third.

I feel like crying. Its unbelievable. What a day, Zahra said.

Hes a horse that when you go, you dont give him a chance to think about it. I was hoping no one would come near him. Its just elation when I crossed the line.

Zahra said he hoped Gold Trip could ambush his rivals late in the race.

I literally thought Im a bit far back here but my one plan was not to be too close because I thought if I used fuel early Id be weak late, Zahra said. As they jammed up, I got to travel up and up and I thought Im still traveling so good here.

I waited and waited and with the horse, Ive always said when you go youve got to go.

There were 22 horses in the field after two late scratches.

The race day was hit by two groups of protesters. Animal rights activists held signs calling for an end to the archaic sport of horse racing. The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses urged people to say Nup to the Cup, saying 139 racehorses died on Australian tracks in the past racing year.

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In an unrelated incident, footage of an unidentified person allegedly breaking into the course ahead of the race surfaced. A video posted on social media appears to show the person pouring oil on a grassy area to protest toxic racing industry, but the track was not damaged.

Police also dealt with climate protesters outside the gates of the track, but there were no reports of arrests.

___

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
By Aditya Kalra and Munsif Vengattil

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Alphabet Inc's Google is pausing the enforcement of a policy that requires app developers in India to use its proprietary billing system for selling digital goods, following a ruling by the country's antitrust body.

Google had previously set an extended deadline of Oct. 31 for developers in India to integrate apps with its Google Play billing system, which collects a commission that ranges from 15%-30% for each sale.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI), however, ordered Google last week not to restrict app developers from using third-party billing or payment processing services in India, while fining it $113 million.

In a website update to developers on Tuesday, Google said the requirement to use its billing system still applied for users outside the country, adding it was reviewing legal options in India.

Last week, Reuters reported that Google was planning a legal challenge to block a separate CCI ruling that demanded a change in its approach to the Android operating system.

Globally, Google and Apple have faced criticism that the fees charged at their mobile app stores are needlessly high and cost developers collectively billions of dollars a year. Both have lowered fees in many circumstances and have said they are needed to fund a safe and secure mobile ecosystem.

"Today's decision helps protect our revenues. We hope that Google implements this permanently as it's not good for Indian digital startups - it amounts to digital tax for us," said Murugavel Janakiraman, the CEO of BharatMatrimony Group, which run various apps that help people find life partners.

Nearly 97% of India's 600 million smartphones run on Google's Android mobile operating system, and startups have banded together in the past to say the payment policy hurt their businesses.

Google on its part has begun to allow alternative payment systems in countries including India on a pilot basis, charging lower commissions.

(Reporting by Aditya Kalra and Munsif Vengattil in New Delhi and Praveen Paramasivam in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Mark Potter)
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., vice chair of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, speaks with reporters as she walks to the House chamber during final votes, at the Capitol in Washington, on Sept. 30, 2022.

Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney said Wednesday that if she lived in Ohio, she would be voting for Democratic Senate candidate Tim Ryan over his opponent, fellow Republican J.D. Vance.

Cheney, one of President Donald Trump's most prominent Republican critics, made the statement exactly one week away from Election Day.

During a sit down interview with PBS NewsHours Judy Woodruff in Cleveland, Cheney was asked who she favors in the Ohio Senate race.

"I would not vote for J.D. Vance," she said.

When asked if she'd vote for Ryan if she was an Ohioan, Cheney replied, "I would."

More: Get political news, fast and to the point, delivered to your inbox.

Vance, a Trump-endorsed candidate, is a venture capitalist and a conservative commentator whose success was ignited by his 2016 memoir, a New York Times bestseller.

Tim Ryan has represented Ohio for nearly 20 years and launched a presidential campaign in 2016.

In response to Cheney, the Vance campaign touted their endorsement  issued earlier Tuesday  from Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman f5rom Hawaii and presidential candidate who recently announced she was leaving the Democratic party.

In accepting the Gabbard endorsement, Vance said on Twitter: "Grateful to have the support of the last person to clean Tim Ryan's clock on the debate stage," a reference to the colorful exchanges Ryan and Gabbard had on the presidential debate stage in 2019.

Andrew Surabian, a Republican strategist who is advising Vance, mocked Cheney on Twitter: "lol I think my favorite thing about this is Liz Cheney being so delusional that she actually thinks her endorsement is a net positive for anyone."

Cheney endorsed Michigan Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin last week.

More: Cheney considers 2024 presidential bid after Wyoming loss; Murkowski leads in Alaska: updates

David Jackson contributed to this reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Liz Cheney: 'I would not vote for J.D. Vance' in Ohio Senate race
Grain exports will halt on Wednesday after Moscow pulled out of a deal to let ships through the Black Sea, as Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded "real guarantees" from Kyiv before returning to the agreement.

Russia announced its suspension on Saturday, accusing Ukraine of misusing the safe shipping corridor for an attack on Russian ships in Crimea. Kyiv has dismissed this as a "false pretext" to withdraw.

The Turkey and UN-brokered deal signed in July by Kyiv and Moscow is crucial to easing a global food crisis caused by the war.

In a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Tuesday, Putin wanted Kyiv to give "real guarantees" that it was "not using the humanitarian corridor for military purposes", a Kremlin statement said.

No grain ship movements were planned for Wednesday, the body overseeing the export deal said, although three more grain-loaded cargo ships left Ukrainian ports on Tuesday.

Moscow had warned on Monday it was "more risky, dangerous" to continue the exports without Russia's participation.

Russia is also putting greater pressure on Ukrainians inside the country as recent attacks damaged the country's infrastructure, plunging families and businesses into darkness weeks before winter.

On Tuesday, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said water and electricity supplies had been "fully restored" in the capital.

But the attacks have "seriously damaged around 40 percent of the entire energy infrastructure" of Ukraine, the presidency said in a statement.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich said Monday's bombardment was "one of the most massive shellings of our territory by the army of the Russian Federation".

- Infrastructure strikes -

Following the strikes, aerial views showed Kyiv thrown into darkness overnight, with the only lights coming from street traffic.

Monday's shelling had left 80 percent of the capital's consumers without water and 350,000 homes without electricity.

Klitschko warned there would still be planned power cuts in the city "because of the considerable deficit in the power system after the barbaric attacks of the aggressor".

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Ukrainian energy operator Ukrenergo said it would limit supplies to all consumers in central and northern regions of the country to "reduce the pressure on the network".

EU commissioner for energy Kadri Simson arrived in Kyiv "to help scale up support to the Ukrainian energy sector", she said on Twitter.

The Ukrainian army said Russia launched 55 cruise missiles Monday, mainly at energy infrastructure.

Russia's defence ministry claimed Tuesday the "massive strikes... significantly disrupted the management and logistics of the Ukrainian armed forces".

Russia has pivoted to systematically attacking the Ukrainian utilities network after setbacks on the battlefield, where its army is facing pushbacks on the eastern and southern fronts.

In the south, Kyiv's forces are preparing for fierce battles to recapture the city of Kherson and its surrounding region.

Kherson is one of four regions -- along with Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Lugansk -- that Moscow claims to have annexed but does not fully control.

- New 'evacuations' from Kherson -

Pro-Moscow authorities meanwhile announced tens of thousands more civilians would be "evacuated" from the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian region of Kherson amid a counter-offensive by Kyiv.

This comes after 70,000 people already left their homes in Kherson, Moscow-installed local authorities said last week.

The Russian-backed leader of the Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, said on Tuesday new resettlements were being carried out because of the risk of a "massive missile attack" by Ukrainian forces on a local dam.

But Ukraine said Russian "occupiers are carrying out forced displacement of the civilian population".

"Citizens living in premises along the banks of the Dnipro river are being forcibly evicted from their homes," the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said on Facebook Tuesday.

A new Ukrainian counter-offensive was taking shape in the east of the country, where the front line has been static for weeks since the liberation of the route between Kharkiv and Lyman, soldiers in the area told AFP on Tuesday.

- Grain corridor -

Turkey has stepped up diplomatic efforts to salvage the grain export deal that was due to be renewed on November 19.

Erdogan told Putin during Tuesday's call that he was "confident" the issue of grain exports from Ukraine could be resolved, according to the Turkish presidency.

The resumption of the deal could only take place after a "thorough investigation into the circumstances of the incident", Putin told Erdogan.

With millions at risk of starvation unless exports continue, French President Emmanuel Macron "denounced" Russia's decision to exit the deal "which again harms global food security" in a call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky Tuesday, his office said.

Zelensky thanked Macron on Twitter for "specific decisions on strengthening Ukraine's defence capabilities. Specific initiatives to restore the destroyed energy infrastructure".

US State Department spokesman Ned Price accused Russia of deciding to let the developing world go hungry.

"Moscow doesn't care if people starve," he told reporters.

bur-raz/gw
A U.S. District Court jury returned an unanimous verdict of guilty to all charges lodged against an illegal alien for his role in a conspiracy to kill a whistleblower, who exposed a multi-million-dollar scheme to fraudulently employ undocumented workers.

STORY: Woman found dead near Southeast Georgia truck stop identified, man arrested for murder

According to David H. Estes, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, Juan Rangel-Rubio, 45, of Rincon, Mexico, was found guilty after a five-day trial of conspiracy to retaliate against a witness, conspiracy to kill a witness, conspiracy to conceal, harbor and shield illegal aliens and money laundering conspiracy.

The charges carry a statutory minimum sentence of life in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.

Two co-defendants, Higinio Perez-Bravo, 52, of Savannah and Rangel-Rubios brother, Pablo Rangel-Rubio, 53, of Rincon, await sentencing after pleading guilty in the conspiracy to kill Eliud Montoya, a United States citizen who blew the whistle on a scheme of hiring and mistreating illegal aliens and who was murdered Aug. 19, 2017 near his home in Garden City, Ga.

This jury verdict brings resounding resolution to any doubts about the culpability of these defendants in this horrific conspiracy to kill a man who threatened their illegal and lucrative labor-trafficking scheme, said Estes. We commend our law enforcement partners who solved this brutal murder and paved the way to holding these criminals accountable.

STORY: In December, we could learn February start date for teens murder trial in death of Tristyn Bailey

As reflected in court records and evidence presented to the jury, Pablo Rangel-Rubio worked as a supervisor at Wolf Tree, a contract company that performed tree-cutting services on utility rights-of-way. Working with his brother, Juan Rangel-Rubio, also a Mexican citizen illegally present in the United States, the two schemed to hire illegal aliens to work for the company, and then routed the illegal aliens paychecks to their own bank accounts where they skimmed a portion of the pay for themselves. As a result of this scheme, the conspirators netted more than $3.5 million.

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Montoya, an employee at Wolf Tree, saw his colleagues being mistreated and complained to the company and to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. After Montoya blew the whistle on the scheme, Pablo Rangel-Rubio arranged for Mr. Montoyas murder by paying Perez-Bravo for the use of his vehicles and to act as the getaway driver when Juan Rangel-Rubio shot Montoya to death.

Sentencing for all three defendants will begin in November in U.S. District Court.

STORY: Pfizer to seek approval for RSV vaccine

This sentence means that criminals like these defendants will not escape justice and will no longer be able to victimize anyone, said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations operations in Georgia and Alabama. We are thankful for the hard work done by all of the agencies involved in this case and hope that the verdict brings comfort to the victims and their families.

The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Garden City Police Department, the Effingham County Sheriffs Office and the Chatham County Sheriffs Office. It is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia assistant U.S. attorneys, including Tania D. Groover.

STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories
A high school student is dead after a shooting at a Halloween party, and authorities are searching for the shooter, a Florida sheriffs office said.

Shots were fired after an argument at a Halloween house party in Thonotosassa at around 2:15 a.m. on Nov. 1, the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

Deputies found one male student with a gunshot wound at the scene of the party, the release says. He was taken to a hospital, where he is in stable condition.

Deputies then found a second victim, a female student, at a nearby gas station, according to the sheriffs office. She was taken to a hospital, but died from her injuries.

The sheriffs office did not identify either student.

Deputies are searching for the shooter, the release says. Detectives do not yet know if the suspect and the victims knew each other, but they said there is no threat to the public.

The female student attended Bloomingdale Senior High School, a public school in Valrico, about 15 miles from where the party took place. Thonotosassa is about 15 miles northeast of downtown Tampa.

In a statement, Hillsborough County Schools said that grief counselors would be available to students.

Bloomingdale High School serves grades 9-12 and with nearly 2,300 students enrolled, according to U.S. News and World Report.

Florida state Rep. Andrew Learned, who represents Brandon and East Hillsborough counties, said in a statement that disaster struck at the Halloween party.





Gun violence seems abstract until it claims one of our own, he wrote in the statement on Facebook. ... Im so sorry for the family, friends, and the entire Bloomingdale community. We have too many guns, in too many irresponsible hands, with too much violent rhetoric swirling around. Its a recipe for disaster.

Six shot near college campus, North Carolina cops say. Student and 15-year-old killed

Migos member Takeoff is shot and killed at private party in Texas, reports say

16-year-old found dead after mom dropped him off at California skate park, reports say
Oct. 31Jennifer Lasher, a 7th-grade social studies teacher at Keene Middle School, was grading papers at Brewbakers in Keene Sunday, as she does most weekends, when Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan walked up.

Lasher told the senator, who is up for reelection on Nov. 8, that "the last few years have been the most challenging" in her career as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person teaching and exacerbated students' struggles with mental health.

"I hear it and I see it," Hassan responded, pointing to the STANDUP Act, a bill she introduced in Congress last year with a Republican colleague. That bill, aimed at preventing youth suicide and strengthening mental health resources in schools, was signed into law in March.

For just under an hour, Hassan meandered through Brewbakers, sipping a skim latte as she talked to prospective voters about the issues on their minds, her bipartisan record in Congress and the importance of turning out to vote in the upcoming election.

Talking with Jeff Murphy, the owner of Brewbakers, Hassan asked what issues he was hearing amid coffeehouse chatter from customers. Murphy said a lot of people are concerned about the increasing cost of living, especially issues like inflation and home heating costs.

"We're trying to tackle it from a bunch of different places," Hassan said. "But it's still hard for people."

In a brief interview, Hassan said she is focused on pushing for a gas tax suspension and for the Biden Administration to release a home heating fuel reserve that could drive down costs for consumers.

Thinking more long term, with the pandemic and the war in Ukraine being among the driving forces behind inflation, Hassan said she is focused on efforts to bring manufacturing and supply chains back to the United States and transition to clean energy.

In particular, the senator pointed to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that she helped negotiate through Congress and the CHIPS and Science Act, a bill she helped write aimed at bringing the manufacture of computer chips and other products back to the United States. In the past year, President Joe Biden has signed both into law.

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"Inflation and high costs are on people's minds," Hassan said. "So is individual freedom and especially women's reproductive rights."

Abortion is the issue where Hassan said she is the most diametrically opposed to her Republican challenger, Don Bolduc.

"One of the big differences in this election is I support a woman's individual right to make her own healthcare decisions," Hassan said. "And my opponent would be a 'yes' vote for a national abortion ban."

According to Hassan, Bolduc has also said he would have voted against the infrastructure bill, the CHIPS and Science Act and allowing Medicare to negotiate prices for prescription drugs. She also went after Bolduc for his calls to eliminate Social Security and make major cuts to Medicare.

"He is somebody who has an extreme agenda, both in terms of costs and in terms of individual freedom," Hassan said. "That is some of the stakes."

Among Bolduc's most extreme views, she said, is his denial that Biden won the 2020 election. (Previously, Bolduc had called Biden's victory into question but more recently, including in a debate this month, he has changed his position and said he accepted the results, while still clinging to some election-related conspiracy theories.)

"That matters because if people think they can reject election results, they think they don't have to listen to you," Hassan said. "In a democracy, the way we hold people accountable is through elections."

When the senator stopped to chat with Liz and Juliana Haynes, who were seated on a blue plush sofa, Juliania  who said she has been working since graduating high school to save to afford college  asked, "What are you doing about student loans?"

Hassan said that she is working several avenues to reduce the burden of student loans, including subsidizing opportunities for high school students to earn college credits before graduating, creating more opportunities for those with loans to refinance their debt and find flexible repayment plans, and lowering the overall cost of a college education.

But, unlike some Democrats, Hassan said she is not a huge fan of student debt cancellation. That, she said, could drive the cost of college even higher and leaves behind people who decided not to pursue higher education for financial reasons.

"It's a huge issue for New Hampshire students," Hassan said of student debt. "It holds everyone back."

The senator, who after leaving Brewbakers stopped at Winchester Street to give a brief speech to a group of about 30 volunteers who would spend the afternoon canvassing door-to-door, also touted her bipartisanship. She noted The Lugar Center, a nonprofit based in Washington D.C. that describes itself as a platform for informed debate and analysis of global issues, has ranked her the most bipartisan senator in 2021.

Lasher, the 7th-grade teacher grading papers at Brewbakers, said when Hassan approached her she was nervous, because senators take on a bit of a celebrity status. But she said it's hard to make changes to the school system from within, so she is hopeful that expressing her needs to elected officials will help.

"I know she's just a real person like you and I," Lasher said. "Trying to help the community."

Ryan Spencer can be reached at 352-1234, extension 1412, or rspencer@keenesentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter at

@rspencerKS
Nov. 1An uptick in test positivity rates for flu and respiratory syncytial virus this year, coupled with the unpredictability of COVID-19, have prompted caution from local health experts about hospitals becoming full during the winter season, though an epidemiologist expressed these concerns may be premature.

Dubbed as a potential "tripledemic," doctors may encounter a deluge of patients infected with COVID-19, flu or respiratory syncytial virus, and health officials are sounding the alarm for residents to take precaution by getting vaccinated. Respiratory syncytial virus  commonly known as RSV  primarily affects infants, vulnerable older populations and immunocompromised people by infecting their lungs.

Kern County Public Health spokeswoman Michelle Corson said the department was not aware of specific research regarding a "tripledemic," but data showed RSV rates are higher than normal for this time of year, flu activity has been increasing and modeling predicts a modest rise in COVID-19 activity.

"This results in three different illnesses circulating in the community, increasing the likelihood of somebody contracting one or more of these diseases," Corson added.

Khevon Bekarev, a pediatrician at Kern Medical, said the coronavirus shifts its patterns and it's not easy to determine its impact on the population. She has seen a lot more people seeking care for flu and RSV "than is typical of this time of year."

"We know that (people sick with the flu is) already off to a roaring start," Bekarev said.

RSV may emerge as a common cold in adults. It causes upper respiratory symptoms, and lower respiratory disease causes bronchiolitis, or the infection of the smallest lung passageways. Smaller children are most susceptible because they have the smallest airways and extra inflammation affects their breathing, she added.

The California Department of Public Health Influenza Surveillance Program shows flu test positivity rates are up 6.6 percent statewide for the week of Oct. 16 to 22, which was the latest data available. The week from Oct. 9 to 15 had a test positivity rate of 5.3 percent.

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Low influenza levels are present in Kern, which is the second-lowest rank possible on the five-tier system the CDPH uses to determine the degree to which flu strains are circulating in a community.

Andrew Noymer, an epidemiologist and associate professor of population health and disease prevention at the University of California, Irvine, was skeptical about a "tripledemic" overwhelming hospitals. He cited previous warnings of a "twindemic"  the combination of a serious flu season and soaring COVID-19 infections pushing hospital capacity to the brink  that didn't play out.

He urged residents to heed precautions such as getting vaccinated and donning a mask in indoor settings, but warnings of a "tripledemic" may be premature. He added it's unusual there are more non-infant hospitalizations for RSV, which reveals its serious nature and demonstrates the need for precaution.

Surveillance of "respiratory illness specimens" by the state public health department showed 4.7 percent of those specimens tested positive for RSV, which is a figure typically not seen until late November, according to an Oct. 3 health advisory from the CDPH.

"It is unknown how long this increased activity will continue," the health advisory added.

Noymer added hospitals managed through high COVID-19 peaks, such as in early 2021. That points a durability of hospital systems, he added.

Two hypotheses have emerged explaining the increase in flu and RSV cases: Immunity waned after ceasing public interactions and increased susceptibility to diseases or immune systems were weakened after recovering from COVID-19, Noymer said.

However, more evidence is needed to determine the culprit. More answers could be gleaned next year after schools finish their in-person academic year.

Noymer still remains cautious of COVID-19 because of its highly infectious nature.

Bekarev added she recommends getting vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu while also getting updated booster shots. There is no vaccine for RSV.

However, covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands often, disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and wearing a mask could help to prevent a RSV infection, Corson added.

You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @_ishanidesai on Twitter.
Reuters

Lawyers for former U.S. President Donald Trump's real estate company rested their case on Monday after calling just two witnesses in the Trump Organization's criminal trial in a New York state court on tax fraud charges. Outside accountant Donald Bender wrapped up his testimony for the defense and was followed on the witness stand by a paralegal from the offices of one of the defense lawyers. Juan Merchan, the judge in the case, set closing arguments for Thursday and Friday with jury deliberations expected to begin next Monday.
Toronto, Ontario --News Direct-- Helix BioPharma Corp.

Toronto, Ontario  TheNewswire  November 1, 2022 - Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX:HBP), (Helix or the Company), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing unique therapies in the field of immuno-oncology based on its proprietary technological platform DOS47, today announced financial results for the 2022 fiscal year ended July 31, 2022.

OVERVIEW

The Company reported a net loss and total comprehensive loss of $6,563,000 or $0.04 loss per common share for fiscal 2022 (2021 - $8,038,000 or $0.06 loss per common share).

Clinical development

LDOS47 in lung cancer

The Phase I study combination therapy in lung cancer (LDOS001) was completed and the final clinical trial report issued in December 2021. A manuscript was accepted for publication in Journal of Thoracic Oncology Clinical and Research Reports on September 2nd, 2022. A pre-print can be found here: https://www.jtocrr.org/article/S2666-3643(22)00132-1/fulltext#relatedArticles.

The Phase II study of combination therapy in lung cancer (LDOS003) was halted in the dose escalation portion of the study in 2020 at the height of pandemic lockdown and the final abbreviated clinical trial report has been further delayed amidst war in Ukraine where all subjects were recruited. A final effort is being made in an attempt to retrieve any data that is salvageable and conclude the study.

Another important aspect of the development of the LDOS47 platform is the combination with chemo- and/or immuno-therapy, that may boost the utility of the platform. The Company has engaged several key opinion leaders to evaluate the feasibility of such combinations and aims to develop a develop a roadmap by the second quarter of 2022.

LDOS47 in pancreatic cancer

The Company's Phase I-b/II combination trial in pancreatic cancer (LDSOS006) continues to recruit patients. We recently applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a revision to the clinical study protocol to extend the number of treatment cycles for those patients where the benefits outweigh the risks. We remain committed to this study. The first dosing cohort was successfully completed and now the second dosing cohort is also nearing completion.

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Corporate development

On August 19, 2021, the Company announced that Dr. Krzysztof Saczek had been appointed as a member of the board of directors of the Company (the Board) effective immediately in connection with the resignation of Mr. Heman Chao as CEO, CSO and as a member of the Board. Mr. Chaos resignation became effective on September 1, 2021 and Mr. Chao assumed the position of Chair of the Companys Scientific Advisory Board on the same date.

On March 11, 2022, the Company closed a private placement financing for gross proceeds of $1,001,000 from the issuance of 3,850,000 common share at a price of $0.26 per common share. On April 21, 2022, the Company closed a private placement financing for net proceeds of $2,002,000 from the issuance of 7,700,000 common shares at a price of $0.26 per common share.

On April 13, 2022, the Company announced that it has received conditional approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange to extend its previously announced Early Warrant Exercise Incentive Program from April 28, 2022, to May 31, 2022. The Incentive Program is a period during which holders of the Companys eligible common share purchase warrants (Eligible Warrants) may take advantage of a temporary reduction in the exercise price of the Eligible Warrants to a price of C$0.26. The Eligible Warrants include an aggregate of 49,806,469 warrants that if exercised at the Incentive Exercise Price will result in the Company receiving gross proceeds of up to $12,949,682. During the year ended July 31, 2022, 12,346,938 warrants were exercised for a total subscription amount of $3,210,204.

On April 18, 2022, the Company announced that Artur Gabor has been appointed as the Companys Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect. The Company also announced the addition of three new members to its Board of Directors: Jerzy Leszczynski, Christopher Maciejewski and Jacek Antas have been appointed to the Board effective immediately.

On May 11, 2021, the Company entered into a definitive convertible security funding agreement (the Lind Agreement) with Lind Global Macro Fund, LP, a New York based institutional investment fund managed by The Lind Partners, LLC (collectively "Lind"). The Company closed the first tranche under the Lind Agreement on May 13, 2021 for gross proceeds of $3,500,000 (the First Tranche). See Liquidity and Capital Resources section below.

On May 18, 2022, the Company announced the appointment of Mr. Hatem Kawar as the Companys Chief Financial Officer effective immediately.

On August 9, 2022, the Company announced that it has entered into a two-year scientific collaboration agreement (Agreement) with University Hospital Tubingen (Germany) to assess the therapeutic response of L-DOS47 in several cancer models expressing CEACAM6, with advanced preclinical metabolic imaging.

On August 30, 2021, the Company announced that it had completed the buyback of the outstanding amount of the convertible security funding agreement with Lind Global Macro Fund, LP. The Company entered into the Agreement with Lind in May 2021 and closed the first tranche under the Agreement for gross proceeds of $3,500,000 shortly thereafter. The Company has now bought back the amount outstanding of the Convertible Security under the Agreement, which is C$2,061,875.

On September 1, 2022, the Company announced the appointment of Dr. Gabrielle M Siegers, MA, Ph.D., as the Head of RD based out of the Companys lab in Edmonton.

On Sep 12, 2022, the Company applied to the TSX to price protect a proposed $5 million financing of common shares at a price of $0.18 per share. The TSX granted a price protection letter on Sep 14, 2022, and the conditional approval of the placement on Sep 26, 2022. The closing of the private placement is expected by November 1, 2022. As of October 31, 2022, the Company has received a total of $4,644,000 in subscription receipts related to this financing.

On October 3, 2022, the Company announced the appointment of Dr. Frank Gary Renshaw, as the Chief Medical Officer.

Research and development

Research and development expenses for fiscal 2022 totalled $4,544,000 (2021 - $5,880,000).

The following table outlines research and development costs and investment tax credits for the Companys significant research and development projects for the fiscal years ended July 31:

Click Image To View Full Size

Research and development expenditures for the year ended July 31, 2022, when compared to the year ended July 31, 2021, were lower by $1,318,000. The decrease in spending is mainly the result of lower expenditures associated with research and development activities by 29% partially offsetting the increases in consulting services and stock-based compensation, which were higher due to expense of stock options granted to consultants. When compared to the year ended July 31, 2021, the Company also spent less on salaries and benefits by $195,000 or15% while consulting and stock-based compensation were higher by $943,000.

The Company hired biotechnology consultants to assess the Companys drug product candidate with a focus on identifying value propositions and positioning strategies that would enable clinical adoption of L-DOS47.

Operating, general and administration

Operating, general and administration expenses for fiscal 2022 totalled $1,496,000 (2021 - $3,251,000).

The following table outlines operating, general and administration costs expensed for the fiscal years ended July 31:

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Operating, general and administration expenditures for the year ended July 31, 2022, when compared to the year ended July 31, 2021, were lower by $1,756,000 or 54%.

Since May 2022. The Company has made significant efforts to control and reduce its overheads expenditures. This included closing its headquarters at Richmond Hill Ontario and moving it to Grove Corporate Services offices (Grove) in downtown Toronto. The Company hired Grove to perform accounting and corporate secretarial services following the resignation of its previous CFO in May 2022. The savings apply to various activities including salaries, rent, legal, and other operational expenditures. Further measures are being taken which will result in more reductions in the next quarter.

Some expenditures in the comparative period relates to the Companys attempt to raise additional capital as part of a qualifying transaction to list its common shares on a U.S. stock exchange, the termination of an investor relations agreement with ACM Alpha Consulting Management EST (ACMest) and stock-based compensation expenses of stock options granted to directors and consultants.

Several factors materialized that resulted in the Company abandoning its plans to list on a U.S. stock exchange. These include but are not limited to the increase in the percentage ownership of the Common Shares by new insiders; a decline in the price of the Common Shares making it extremely challenging for the Company to leverage the Multijurisdictional Disclosure System; and the resignation of the Companys previous auditors.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As at July 31, 2022 the Company had working capital of $283,000 (2021 - $144,000), shareholders equity of $319,000 (2021  shareholders deficit of 1,393,000) and a deficit of $195,117,000 (2021 - $188,554,000).

On March 11, 2022, the Company closed a private placement financing for gross proceeds of $1,001,000 from the issuance of 3,850,000 common share at a price of $0.26 per common share. On April 21, 2022, the Company closed a private placement financing for net proceeds of $2,002,000 from the issuance of 7,700,000 common shares at a price of $0.26 per common share.

On April 13, 2022, the Company announced that it has received conditional approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange to extend its previously announced Early Warrant Exercise Incentive Program from April 28, 2022, to May 31, 2022. The Incentive Program is a period during which holders of the Companys eligible common share purchase warrants (Eligible Warrants) may take advantage of a temporary reduction in the exercise price of the Eligible Warrants to a price of C$0.26. The Eligible Warrants include an aggregate of 49,806,469 warrants that if exercised at the Incentive Exercise Price will result in the Company receiving gross proceeds of up to $12,949,682. During the year ended July 31, 2022, 12,346,938 warrants were exercised for a total subscription amount of $3,210,204.

On August 30, 2022, the Company announced that it had completed the buyback of the outstanding amount of the convertible security funding agreement with Lind at a cost of C$2,061,875. In May 2021, the Company initially issued a convertible security with a two-year term and a face value of $4,112,500 and issued an aggregate of 1,957,056 warrants exercisable into Common Shares for a period of 48 months at an exercise price of $1.0283 per Common Share. As of July 31, 2022, Lind has converted an aggregate of $1,233,750 of the face value of the Convertible Security issued under the first tranche into an aggregate of 4,345,087 common of the Company at an average deemed price of $0.243 per common share. In August 2022, Lind further converted $405,625 of face value into an aggregate 2,507,329 shares at an average deemed price of $0.1618 per common share.

On September 12, 2022, the Company applied to the TSX to price protect a proposed $5 million financing of common shares at a price of $0.18 per share. The TSX granted a price protection letter on September 14, 2022, and the conditional approval of the placement on September 26, 2022. As of October 31, 2022, the Company has received a total of $4,644,000 in subscription receipts related to this financing.

In order for the Company to advance the currently planned preclinical and clinical research and development activities, its collaborative scientific research programs and pay for its overhead costs, the Company will need to raise approximately $11,000,000 through to the end of fiscal 2024. The Company projects an average monthly fixed overhead spend of approximately $250,000. This amount does not include the costs related to any of the Companys third-party activities such as clinical studies, collaborative research activities and contract manufacturing.

The Company currently has three clinical studies (see Research and Development Activities above for additional information) in various stages. The Company has completed the clinical study report for LDOS001 and submitted a final annual report to the FDA in April 2022 and update the result into the www.clinicaltrials.gov portal in June 2022. The Company is forecasting approximately $10,000 to finalize reporting.

The Company received IND approval by the FDA to conduct a Phase I-b/II study (LDOS006) in the U.S., L-DOS47 in combination with doxorubicin, for previously treated advanced pancreatic cancer. Patient enrollment commenced December 2019. COVID-19 impacted patient enrollment resulting in the Company adding two additional clinical sites this year. The Company is forecasting a cost of approximately $4,650,000 through to December 2024 to complete both the Phase I-b and Phase II portion of the trial. Certain conditions need to be achieved in order for the Company to be able to progress through to the Phase II portion of the trial. Of the forecasted $4,650,000, the portion attributable to the Phase II is estimated to be approximately $2,600,000.

The Company is also forecasting $1,600,000 towards pre-clinical studies which are to be carried out in cooperation with its partners at Tubingen University and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute Inc.

The Companys Statement of Financial Position and Statement of Net Loss and Comprehensive Loss for fiscal 2022 and 2021 are summarized below:

Click Image To View Full Size

The Companys consolidated financial statements, managements discussion and analysis and annual information form will be filed under the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, as well as on the Companys website at www.helixbiopharma.com.

About Helix BioPharma Corp.

Helix BioPharma Corp. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing unique therapies in the field of immune-oncology for the prevention and treatment of cancer based on our proprietary technological platform DOS47. Helix is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol HBP.

Investor Relations

Helix BioPharma Corp.

9120 Leslie Street, Suite 205

Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 3J9

Tel: 905-841-2300

ir@helixbiopharma.com

Forward-Looking Statements and Risks and Uncertainties

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements and information that are not historical facts but instead include financial projections and estimates, statements regarding plans, goals, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to the Companys future business, operations, research and development, including the focus of the Companys primary drug product candidate L-DOS47 and other information relating to future periods.

Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements concerning (i) the Companys ability to operate on a going concern being dependent mainly on obtaining additional financing; (ii) the Companys priority continuing to be L-DOS47; (ii) the Companys development programs, clinical studies, trials and reports for DOS-47 and L-DOS47; (iii) the Companys development programs for DOS47 and L-DOS47; (iv) future expenditures, the insufficiency of the Companys current cash resources and the need for financing; (v) future financing requirements, and the seeking of additional funding, and (vi) forecasts and future projections regarding development programs and expenditures. Forward-looking statements can further be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as ongoing, estimates, expects, or the negative thereof or any other variations thereon or comparable terminology referring to future events or results, or that events or conditions will, may, could, or should occur or be achieved, or comparable terminology referring to future events or results.

Forward-looking statements are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that are also uncertain. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements, including financial outlooks, are intended to provide information about managements current plans and expectations regarding future operations, including without limitation, future financing requirements, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Certain material factors, estimates or assumptions have been applied in making forward-looking statements in this news release, including, but not limited to, the safety and efficacy of L-DOS47; that sufficient financing will be obtained in a timely manner to allow the Company to continue operations and implement its clinical trials in the manner and on the timelines anticipated; the timely provision of services and supplies or other performance of contracts by third parties; future costs; the absence of any material changes in business strategy or plans; and the timely receipt of required regulatory approvals and strategic partner support.

The Companys actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the risk that the Companys assumptions may prove to be incorrect; the risk that additional financing may not be obtainable in a timely manner, or at all, and that clinical trials may not commence or complete within anticipated timelines or the anticipated budget or may fail; third party suppliers of necessary services or of drug product and other materials may fail to perform or be unwilling or unable to supply the Company, which could cause delay or cancellation of the Companys research and development activities; necessary regulatory approvals may not be granted or may be withdrawn; the Company may not be able to secure necessary strategic partner support; general economic conditions, intellectual property and insurance risks; changes in business strategy or plans; and other risks and uncertainties referred to elsewhere in this news release, any of which could cause actual results to vary materially from current results or the Companys anticipated future results. Certain of these risks and uncertainties, and others affecting the Company, are more fully described in the Companys annual managements discussion and analysis for the year ended July 31, 2022 under the heading Risks and Uncertainty and Helixs Annual Information Form, in particular under the headings Forward-looking Statements and Risk Factors, and other reports filed under the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com from time to time. Forward-looking statements and information are based on the beliefs, assumptions, opinions and expectations of Helixs management on the date of this new release, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement or information should those beliefs, assumptions, opinions or expectations, or other circumstances change, except as required by law.

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View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/helix-biopharma-corp-announces-fiscal-2022-year-end-results-838534829
Springfield police are in search of a man connected to a theft at Walmart on North Bechtle Avenue late Sunday night, October 30th.

>> TRENDING: Competency hearing set for man accused of impersonating parent, attempted kidnapping at Xenia school

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police at (937) 324-7715.

Courtesy of City of Springfield

Courtesy of City of Springfield

Courtesy of City of Springfield
Its Tuesday, which means theres exactly one week left until the midterm elections. Republicans and Democrats are using the final stretch to connect with voters and tip razor-tight races in their partys favor.

In response to rising gas prices, President Biden on Monday accused oil companies of war profiteering and raised the possibility of a windfall tax on energy companies if they dont boost domestic production.

He criticized oil companies for taking in record-setting profits while refusing to help lower prices at the gas pump for consumers, suggesting he would look to Congress to levy tax penalties on the companies if they dont invest some of their revenues into lowering costs (The Hill and U.S. News).

My team will work with Congress to look at these options that are available to us and others, Biden said. Its time for these companies to stop war profiteering, meet their responsibilities in this country and give the American people a break and still do very well.

Bidens messaging comes just days before voters head to the polls and underscores an effort by Democrats in recent weeks to pivot to appealing to voters on economic issues.

After Democrats saw a jolt of momentum in the late summer and early fall, control of the Senate is now in a dead heat with just a week to go before Election Day, write The Hills Max Greenwood and Al Weaver. The playing field has evened out dramatically in recent weeks amid a laser-focused effort by Republicans to tie their Democratic rivals to perceived rising crime and stubbornly high inflation.

Nevertheless, Republican control of the Senate is far from a foregone conclusion. Recent polling shows races tightening across the nations premier battleground states, and theres widespread agreement among operatives in both parties that the battle for the Senate majority could go either way.

Projections & polling to watch:

 FiveThirtyEight: Its a dead heat for the Senate, with a 51 in 100 chance of Democrats winning control of the chamber, compared to 49 in 100 for Republicans.

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 Decision Desk HQ: As of Monday evening, their model predicts that Republicans have a 50.9 percent chance of controlling the Senate, with a mean seat projection of 51 (R) and 49 (D).

 A New York Times-Siena College poll of key Senate races in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Nevada.

Democrats fear chances of defeating Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson slipped away for the third time in roughly 12 years in a state that otherwise has a strong track record of voting for Democrats, writes The Hills Alexander Bolton.

Forecasters are giving Democratic candidate Mandela Barnes, the states lieutenant governor, less chance of winning than challengers in the top-tier Senate races in Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania, but Democrats still hope they can drive enough young and base Democratic voters to the polls to defeat Johnson.

One GOP strategist conceded that his steady lead has narrowed in recent days.

Its closer now than it was a week ago, the Senate GOP adviser told The Hill. Maybe thats Democrats coming home.

Across the country, a slate of controversial GOP House nominees, such as Michigan candidate John Gibbs, are testing how far voters are willing to go to support a Republican ticket over concerns about how Democrats have handled issues such as the economy.

Gibbs, a Harvard- and Stanford-educated computer scientist and Christian missionary, has also suggested that women should not have the right to vote, referenced conspiracy theories that a prominent Democrat participated in Satanic rituals and mused that the lost city of Atlantis might be buried beneath the North Pole (Politico).

The Hills Niall Stanage has rounded up five midterm races that will deliver big lessons for both parties  from trends among Latino voters to foreshadowing for 2024 and GOP candidates winning over working-class Democrats.

Governors races are also tightening a week before election day. In New York, Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochuls lead over Rep. Lee Zeldin (R) has shrunk to 6 points in recent weeks, according to an Oct. 28 Emerson College poll.

For months, Hochul had a double-digit lead over Zeldin in a state that hasnt elected a Republican governor in more than 20 years. But Zeldin has focused his campaign heavily on crime, and in a state thats seen sentencing reforms and the elimination of cash bail, coupled with rising crime rates in New York City, it seems to be working (Time).

Zeldins really put his shoulder into making this a crime election, because he thinks he can win it, Evan Roth Smith, a founding partner at Slingshot Strategies, told Time.

 Richmond Times-Dispatch: Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) campaigns for Zeldin in New York.

 The New York Times: With allies nearby, Hochul and Zeldin try to spur voters to polls.

 Associated Press / Eduardo Munoz Alvarez | Republican gubernatorial candidate Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York at a campaign rally on Monday.

Midterm pressures have also divided and inflamed the responses to last weeks attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) husband Paul Pelosi, report The Hills Emily Brooks and Mike Lillis and The New York Times. The responses and finger-pointing over political violence have fueled tensions and partisan arguments in the week before the midterm elections that will decide if Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats keep or lose control of the House.

The tragic episode further stoked the already fraught debate over crime, law enforcement and the limits of violent political speech, particularly in the wake of last years attack on the U.S. Capitol.

 The New York Times: Federal prosecutors charged the man accused of breaking into the House Speakers home with attempting to kidnap her husband and with assaulting a relative of a federal official, according to charging documents filed on Monday.

 The Hill: Former President Trump ties the Pelosi attack to crime issues and to Democrats during a Sunday interview with a conservative Spanish-language station.

Related Articles

 The Wall Street Journal: Biden avoids some battleground states in midterms final stretch.

 Punchbowl News: The House Republican Conference will hold its candidate forum for leadership elections on Nov. 14 and the election on Nov. 15, as of current plans. House Democrats are likely to hold leadership elections after Thanksgiving.

 ProPublica: A county elections director stood up to locals who believe the voting system is rigged. They pushed back harder.

 CNN: Trump asks the Supreme Court to stop the IRS from turning over his tax returns to the House.

 FiveThirtyEight: What happened to Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams (D)?

LEADING THE DAY

 SUPREME COURT

A conservative majority on the Supreme Court on Monday sounded skeptical that affirmative action admissions policies in higher education are necessary or fair in pursuit of student body diversity (The Hill).

Cases involving Harvard University and the University of North Carolina that were explored by justices over five hours of oral arguments on Monday teed up the prospect that decades of race-based admissions precedent could be overturned by the 6-3 conservative majority court, which during its last term showed its willingness to scrap past precedents.

The two cases most likely will result in separate court decisions but probably not until late June (The New York Times). Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who previously served on one of Harvards governing bodies, recused herself from the Harvard case, prompting the court to separate the cases.

Nine states have barred race-based affirmative action, including California in 1996, Washington in 1998, Florida in 1999, Michigan in 2006, Nebraska in 2008, Arizona in 2010, New Hampshire and Oklahoma in 2012, and Idaho in 2020.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor pointed to statistics from higher education institutions in the states that have banned affirmative action. At one point, she raised those trends to push back on conservatives assertion that a 25-year timeline the Supreme Court set in its 2003 ruling sanctioning the use of race in admissions means affirmative action programs are now unnecessary.

Even your adversary said he didnt see the 25 years as a set deadline. It was an expectation, Sotomayor said during questioning. What we know we have nine states who have tried it and in each of them as I mentioned earlier, whites have either, white admissions have either remained the same or increased. And clearly, in some institutions, the numbers for underrepresented groups [have] fallen dramatically, correct? (CNN).

Ive heard the word diversity quite a few times, and I dont have a clue what it means, Justice Clarence Thomas said. It seems to mean everything for everyone. Justice Samuel Alito asked a similar question about the phrase underrepresented minority, reported The New York Timess Adam Liptak. What does that mean? he asked, adding that college admissions are a zero-sum game in which granting advantages to one group necessarily disadvantages others.

In response to conservative justices questioning about when the use of race in higher education admissions would end, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, while defending the University of North Carolinas program, emphasized the significance of gender disparities among the attorneys who appeared Monday before the Supreme Court.

Prelogar said that it was not about defining a precise quota to achieve diversity but about acknowledging extreme disparities and how they can cause people to wonder whether the path to leadership is open.

Prelogar was the only female attorney arguing Monday among the six lawyers who participated in oral arguments (CNN).

 SCOTUSblog, James Romoser: The court is poised to set jurisprudence on race for generations, and not just in affirmative action.

 The Washington Monthly: The courts third great crisis.

 Associated Press / J. Scott Applewhite | Activists demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court Monday.

IN FOCUS/SHARP TAKES

 INTERNATIONAL

Ships carrying grain left ports in Ukraine on Monday, two days after Russia said it was pulling out of the United Nations-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative achieved over the summer. The United Nations is trying to put the deal back together but on Monday, Russia said movement of ships in the Black Sea security corridor is unacceptable (Reuters).

Ukraines interior minister, Oleksandr Kubrakov, said at least 12 ships left Ukrainian ports, including one vessel holding 40,000 tons of grain headed for Ethiopia (The Washington Post).

Reuters: Russian President Vladimir Putin says power grid strikes and grain deal withdrawal announcement were responses to a Crimea drone attack blamed on Ukraine.

Even as countries imposed sanctions on Russia after its February invasion of its neighbor, international trade with Moscow has boomed this year, thanks in part to shifting alliances. The New York Times breaks down how Russia pays for its war (check out the graphic).

The value of its exports actually grew after it invaded Ukraine, the Times analysis shows, even in many countries that have taken an active role in opposing Russia.

Norway, which shares a border with Russia, has been spooked by drone sightings and fears of unverified foreign intelligence gathering inside the country. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said his countrys military will increase its preparedness starting today. He said he has no reason to believe that Russia wants to involve Norway or any other country directly in the war, but he said the situation in Ukraine makes it necessary for all NATO countries to be increasingly on their guard (The Guardian).

Reuters: Russian missiles hit apartments in the southern port city of Mykolaiv, Ukraine, overnight, killing one.

In Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro has yet to concede the election he on Sunday lost to challenger and former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva  known as Lula  prompting concern that he may not accept the results.

For months, Bolsonaro had claimed the only way he would lose the presidential election would be if it were rigged. He announced Monday that he plans to address the nation on Tuesday, though it remains unclear what his message will be (The New York Times).

Biden on Monday congratulated Lula on his victory, calling the president-elect to discuss the U.S. and Brazils work to combat climate change, safeguard food security and manage regional migration, according to the White House.

Axios: Lula looks to restore Brazils tarnished global stature.

OPINION

 Lulas triumph is a win for Brazils political center  not the left, by Mac Margolis, global opinions political columnist, The Washington Post. https://wapo.st/3SRP3Px

 How the impending red wave could become a tsunami, by Douglas E. Schoen, opinion contributor, The Hill. https://bit.ly/3WkjGjG

WHERE AND WHEN

 YOURE INVITED: Have a news query tied to an expert journalists insights? The Hill has launched something new and (we hope) engaging via text with Editor-in-Chief Bob Cusack. Learn more and sign up HERE.

The House meets Thursday at noon for a pro forma session. Members are scheduled to return to the Capitol on Nov. 14. 

The Senate convenes Thursday at 10:30 a.m. for a pro forma session. Senators make their way back to Washington on Nov. 14.

The president will receive the Presidents Daily Brief at 9 a.m. Biden will travel to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to discuss Social Security and Medicare at 3 p.m.. Biden will campaign for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist in Golden Beach, Fla., at 4:45 p.m. The president will travel to Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens for a political event at 7 p.m. to help the Democratic National Committee, Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.), who is running for the Senate, and Crist. The president will return to the White House late tonight.

Vice President Harris will participate at 4:30 p.m. in radio interviews related to the midterm elections.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra will be in Los Angeles to lead a 10:30 a.m. PT roundtable at Union Station with Mayor Eric Garcetti (D) about the Affordable Care Act open enrollment season. The secretary at noon will visit the Kenneth Williams Health Center in Los Angeles to lead a roundtable with Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) about access to COVID-19 and flu vaccines by Latino and other underserved community residents. Becerra will visit the Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley to lead a roundtable with Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.) at 2:30 p.m. PT about mental and behavioral health issues important to young people in the Latino community and various federal efforts to support mental health and to prevent suicides.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will meet with the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee as part of its quarterly refunding process. Members of the committee from banks, insurance companies, hedge funds and other financial businesses provide their take on the overall strength of the U.S. economy with recommendations on a variety of technical debt management issues.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff will participate in the White House Womens Economic Impact briefing for national community leaders at 12:30 p.m. He will join White House senior advisers at 3:30 p.m. for the White House Youth Community Economic Impact briefing for young civic leaders from around the country.

ELSEWHERE

 TECH

Billionaire Elon Musk is fond of thinking out loud or at least tweeting and retreating. Now that hes the sole director of the Twitter board as he determines the direction he will take his $44 billion company, more of that seems likely.

The big question in the political world is what Musks definition of free speech and an open town square will become and whether Twitters ban on former President Trump will be lifted and, if so, whether Trump will leap back in. The former president has suggested his preference is to stick with conservative platform Truth Social, but Trump is also known to change his mind.

Josh Green, Bloomberg Opinion: Democrats hate him, but Musk might be their savior. Letting Trump back on Twitter could help to galvanize and unify the Democratic Party for the 2024 elections.

Among Twitter employees, the big question is about pending layoffs. The Washington Post reported on Monday that a first round will target 25 percent of the companys workforce of more than 7,000. Layoffs, according to the Post, are to touch almost all departments and are expected to specifically impact sales, product, engineering, legal, and trust and safety in the coming days.

On Sunday Musk tweeted that reporting about impending layoffs at Twitter was false.

Earlier this year, Musk told prospective partners in the purchase deal that he planned to cut nearly 75 percent of Twitters total workforce, which would leave the company with about 2,000 employees, according to interviews and documents obtained by the Post. Musk last week told employees when he visited Twitters headquarters that he did not plan to cut three-fourths of the workforce.

Twitters nine-member board has been dissolved and the companys former top executives are gone (The Hill).

Musk and the tech investors who are helping him transition the company indicate an interest in monetizing Twitters blue check verification with a subscription model, a potential change for a platform that has been supported by advertising and is free to users (The Verge reported on Sunday that subscription verification of $20 a month had been discussed).

 Axios: Musks team is working to reboot Vine this year. Twitter shuttered the looping-video app in 2016 after acquiring it four years earlier and then reportedly tried to sell it.

 NPR: Across the Atlantic, officials remind Musk that European speech rules apply to Twitter. There is a European rulebook, and you should live by it, Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissions executive vice president who oversees digital policy for the 27-nation bloc, said in an interview. Otherwise, we have the penalties. We have the fines. We have all the assessments and all the decisions that will come to haunt you.

 The New York Post: Musk deletes his tweet about an unfounded rumor about the Pelosi attack.

 Associated Press / Jeff Chiu | Twitters headquarters in San Francisco on Friday.

 PANDEMIC & HEALTH

The Food and Drug Administration reports a shortage in the United States of amoxicillin, an oral antibiotic often prescribed for children and in use in treating rising cases of the respiratory infection RSV (U.S. News & World Report). The exact cause of the shortage is unclear but the operating assumption is increased demand.

I think its going to be challenging for doctors and prescribers to give their patients a prescription that theyll then be able to get filled, because pharmacies are going to have a variety of different strengths in stock, and you hate to have that delay of the back and forth, especially for an antibiotic they usually want to get started pretty quick. So I think its going to be a frustrating shortage, Erin Fox, a senior pharmacy director at University of Utah Health, told CNN.

The Atlantic: How COVID-19 helped grow an essential treatment for pneumonia in Senegal.

Driven by droughts, floods and armed conflicts, a record number of cholera outbreaks around the globe have affected hundreds of thousands of people and so severely strained the supply of vaccines that global health agencies are rationing doses, The New York Times reports.

The Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and South Asia have reported outbreaks, overwhelming fragile health systems and putting millions at risk. While cholera is typically fatal in about 3 percent of cases, the World Health Organization said recent outbreaks are resulting in higher rates of fatalities.

Total U.S. coronavirus deaths reported as of this morning, according to Johns Hopkins University (trackers all vary slightly): 1,070,389. Current U.S. COVID-19 deaths are 2,649 for the week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (The CDC shifted its tally of available data from daily to weekly, now reported on Fridays.)

Information about COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot availability can be found at Vaccines.gov.

THE CLOSER

 Associated Press / Nick Oxford | A Sams Club recycling center in Tulsa, Okla. in 2021.

And finally   All that plastic being tossed in recycling bins likely isnt going where you think it is. According to a new Greenpeace report, only a mere 5 percent of plastic is actually recycled (NPR). The organization calls plastic recycling a dead end  and even the plastics industry concedes the national recycling effort needs help.

Report author Jan Bell, a leading critic and thorn in the side of plastic manufacturers, wants the American public to face facts. Grocery bag drop-off boxes are glorified trash cans. That swirly recycling symbol on coffee cup lids and clamshell boxes is more wishful thinking than fact. And while some clear plastic bottles may be recyclable, green ones are not.

Greenpeace says it wants governments, manufacturers and merchants to embrace changes, including adoption of quotas for reusable packaging, reuse and refill practices and even a renewed embrace of reusable glass in place of throwaway plastic.

 WJLA-TV: In Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, there are Trick or Trash boxes that collect and will recycle  get ready  the small plastic candy wrappers from Halloween treats that customarily wind up in the trash.

 Grist: 380 million tons of plastic are made every year. None of it is truly recyclable.

 CNN, Chris Cillizza analysis: We consume the rough equivalent of a credit cards worth of plastic every week.

Stay Engaged

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Hundreds of students and advocates gathered in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on Monday to express their support for affirmative action.

Organized by several organizations, the rally took place as the Supreme Court justices heard arguments in lawsuits challenging Harvards and the University of North Carolinas (UNC) race-conscious admissions policies.

The suits, filed by conservative group Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), could result in the end of affirmative action across the country should the Supreme Court decide in the groups favor.

Speakers at the gathering pointed out how students of color have had to overcome challenges to be accepted into higher education, as schools have historically excluded specific communities.

More from NextShark: YouTuber gets scam ring in India arrested after hacking into their office's CCTV cameras

Chelsea Wang, co-educational political chair for the Harvard Asian American Association and leader of the Harvard Affirmative Action Coalition, said the notion that affirmative action discriminates against Asian applicants is a malicious myth, and its abolition would only hurt disadvantaged Asians.

John Yang, executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, also rejected the assertion that Harvard discriminates against Asian American students.

The evidence is clear that Asian Americans were not discriminated against, and that race was used in a beneficial way to help our communities to ensure that our communities were diverse, Yang was quoted as saying.

More from NextShark: Aspiring Model Gets 20 Months in Jail For Falsely Accusing Asian Cab Drivers of Rape

Yang believes the case for affirmative action still has a chance due to legal precedent: We have 40 years of legal history on our side. Each time affirmative action has been challenged, it has been upheld. We intend to fight not only for race-conscious decisions we have now, but to envision a world and a path forward where we demand equity in our education.

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Meanwhile, UNC for Affirmative Action organizer Christina Huang said shes at UNC because of affirmative action, noting that ensuring all students have equal access to education is in the hands of the students, educators and alumni.

We are the next generation of leaders, Huang said. We will have our voices heard. Regardless of what happens today, we will not go back. We will continue to fight for our rights and create a more equitable future for all students.

More from NextShark: Viral Coughing While Asian Video Shows How Irrational Coronavirus Fear Affects Asians Everywhere

Students at Harvard, Princeton and Yale wrote a collective statement rejecting SFFAs claims and affirming that race-conscious admissions policies support racial equity in education.

Signed by over 100 students and activists, the statement calls on community members at all higher education institutions to encourage school administrations across the country to support affirmative action.

Allies must take an active stance against all levels of inequalities in our society through active participation and education, the statement reads.

More from NextShark: Conspiracy theory claiming COVID-19 came from US-linked labs in Ukraine trends on Weibo

A lone man from the European American Legal Defense and Education Fund reportedly countered the pro-affirmative action rally. Using a few posters, the man called upon the Supreme Court justices to end affirmative discrimination now.

Featured Image via ABC News
Images from the aftermath of Hurricane Ian sent shockwaves across the world. Cities, bridges and entire islands were completely leveled when Ian made landfall as a fierce Category 4 hurricane in southwestern Florida in late September. Now, just over a month after Ian's landfall, residents are still trying to pick up the pieces, and collection trucks continue to remove piles upon piles of heavy debris. However, the tons of debris that litter the roads and fill people's homes doesn't just disappear.

The long, slow and grueling road to recovery includes a plan that was put in place well before Ian became a topic of discussion, and it includes specific details on who handles the debris and where it goes.

CrowderGulf Joint Venture, a disaster recovery company, is in charge of all the debris removal in the city of Fort Myers, Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Springs and the village of Estero and Lee County unincorporated areas.

Debris being ground up at a CrowderGulf debris management site. (CrowderGulf YouTube)

"Under [the] contract, we're tasked with the full process of debris management," Reid Loper, vice president of CrowderGulf, told AccuWeather, explaining that CrowderGulf is in charge of removing construction debris, electronic waste, household hazardous waste, vegetative debris and large appliances like refrigerators, microwaves, AC units and ovens. "Once that debris is collected and hauled, it then goes to what we call debris management sites" or DMS.

Once it arrives at the DMS, which is a temporary storage and processing facility that was planned and pre-approved well before the storm or disaster struck, it is sorted into temporary rows. Loper noted that each type of debris is kept separate from one another because the end destination for each category of debris is different.

Both vegetation and construction debris are lined up into separate rows, which then get fed into "powerful grinders" to be reduced. Ground-up vegetation debris can be reused in many different ways, ranging from mulch to biomass fuel to landfill cover, but ground-up construction debris has to be disposed of in a construction and demolition landfill.

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A powerboat lies atop a tall pile of debris from destroyed beachfront homes and businesses, two days after the passage of Hurricane Ian, in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, on Sept. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Adam Babich, a Tulane University environmental law professor, explained there are different types of landfills: municipal solid waste landfills and construction and demolition (C&D) landfills. While municipal solid waste landfills have a liner, protecting the potentially hazardous material from getting into the groundwater, C&D types are not federally required to have that liner. Simply put, C&D landfills are only supposed to contain construction and demolition materials, which typically do not cause a threat to the surrounding groundwater.

Even though Lee County has asked residents to separate their debris into four different categories -- household garbage, vegetative debris, construction debris and appliances -- sometimes things can slip through the cracks. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has contracted debris technical monitors to oversee the temporary disposal sites to ensure no hazardous or unwanted materials are sorted into the wrong category.

Stetson Smith, a civil engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from the Vicksburg, Mississippi, district, is acting as a debris technical monitor for FEMA. Smith ensures that no garbage bags or white goods are put into the C&D landfills.

USACE supports FEMA during the debris recovery efforts of Hurricane Ian. (Patrick Moes/USACE)

It is crucial to monitor the items going into a C&D landfill because they are not federally required to be lined, meaning if certain items like refrigerators or AC units are inadvertently dumped in the landfill, chemicals from those appliances could seep into the groundwater surrounding a C&D landfill.

"I have nine temporary disposal sites that I'm in charge of to monitor each day," Smith told AccuWeather National Reporter Jillian Angeline in an interview. "I'll go out to these sites and just make sure that everything is within FEMA guidelines. Then I'll write a report on my observations at night and then we'll send that directly to FEMA."

Smith said he works closely with CrowderGulf employees to ensure the debris removal process is running smoothly.

"If I have any questions, I have CrowderGulf operation managers' numbers where I'll give them a call to see you know, 'Hey, I have a question about this site, can you answer that for me?'" Smith said. "If I do need a question answered they've always been happy to help me."

As of Monday, more than 1.67 million cubic yards of debris had been collected in Lee County, according to county officials. Overall, CrowderGulf said it will have picked up more than 3 million cubic yards of debris from all of the areas it covers by close of business on Tuesday, Nov. 1.

USACE supports FEMA during the debris recovery efforts of Hurricane Ian. (USACE Patrick Moes)

As for household garbage, the Lee County Solid Waste Department has resumed its daily pickup schedule. Babich explained this garbage will go to a municipal solid waste landfill, which is more tightly controlled "because a lot of that waste is actually quite dangerous."

According to Babich, the surrounding groundwater isn't affected by any potentially dangerous materials that are put into municipal solid waste landfills because they are lined. He notes that because of the liner, these landfills tend to be more expensive to dispose of waste.

As for larger debris, like boats, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said last week that multiple state agencies are working together to identify and remove vessels and other debris from Lee County waterways.

Additional reporting by Jillian Angeline.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app.AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi: the new digital rupee is expected to give the Indian economy a big boost. Photo: Adnan Abidi/Reuters.

India's digital rupee pilot payment scheme will begin within a month, the nation's central bank has stated.

On Tuesday, a digital rupee pilot was started for the wholesale segment of the scheme, which will be followed by a fully retail CBDC payment pilot within a month, according to and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announcement.

In a statement, the RBI said a wholesale digital rupee will allow for the "settlement of secondary market transactions in government securities".

Watch: The Crypto Mile - Steve Hanke: Stablecoins and the Herstatt cross-currency settlement risk

The commencement of India's central bank digital currency (CBDC) scheme has been hailed by the nation's monetary authority as a way to reduce transaction costs for both retail and wholesale interbank usage.

According to the RBI, the nine banks included in the wholesale segment are; State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank (IBN), Kotak Mahindra Bank, Yes Bank (YESBANK.NS), IDFC First Bank (FRBA), and HSBC (HSBA.L).

According to India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, a digital rupee would be a big boost for Indias economy.

In a speech from February of this year, Sitharaman announced the launch of an Indian central bank digital currency, dubbed the digital rupee, by 202223, and added that it would be a means to boost the countrys economic growth.

The Indian government's enthusiasm for a CBDC is matched by its distrust of private cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.

While encouraging the development of the nation's CBDCs, the Indian government has also been initiating legislation to make crypto less attractive for local investors.

Central bank digital currencies by design have attributes that are the opposite of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin (BTC-USD).

CBDCs are centrally controlled by a nation's central bank, they also do not have to be deployed on a blockchain.

However, they borrow some elements from the crypto sector, such as the ability to be programmed for autonomous activation of payments, through 'smart contracts'.

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In April, India imposed a 30% tax on cryptocurrency holdings and transfers and the nation's tax authorities are beginning to solidify their scrutiny of the burgeoning sector.

On Tuesday, Indias Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) asked major Indian crypto exchanges to provide details about the cryptocurrencies traded on their platforms.

According to the Business Standard, a senior CBIC official was quoted as saying: "We had meetings with crypto exchanges on wide-ranging issues relating to the asset class.

"We have sought a detailed report on different crypto products being traded and their respective transaction fees and how they are getting calculated."

Watch: 'Bitcoin will eat into global finance until it's $1m per coin' | The Crypto Mile
People remove debris after a suspension bridge collapsed in Morbi town REUTERS/Stringer

Indian police have arrested 9 people over the Morbi bridge collapse disaster in India, per Reuters.

Some 400 people were on and around the bridge when it collapsed into the Machchhu River on Sunday.

Authorities say that the death toll has now risen to 134, including many children.

The Indian police on Monday arrested nine people over the Morbi bridge collapse disaster in Gujarat, India, which left at least 134 people dead, senior police officer Ashok Kumar Yadav told Reuters.

Ticketing staff, three security guards, as well as two people who were contracted to repair the structure, were among those who were arrested. It is likely that more people will be arrested as the investigation goes on, Yadav said.

The suspension bridge was built during British colonial rule in the 19th century and had been undergoing repairs. It collapsed on Sunday, shortly after being reopened last week.

Photos and video footage, including one uploaded by local news channel News24, captured the moment when the cables that were holding up the bridge snapped, sending hundreds of people into the Machchhu River below.

The death toll has risen to 134, while around 170 people were rescued, senior government official N.K. Muchhar told Reuters. About 35 victims were under the age of 14, Reuters reported, citing a list of the deceased.

Gujarat-based company Oreva  which was responsible for the maintenance of the bridge  had not informed the authorities of plans to reopen the bridge for public use after the repairs, Sandeepsinh Zala, the chief officer of Morbi municipality, told Reuters.

"We have not issued any fitness certificate to them," Zala added.

A day after the Morbi bridge tragedy, authorities imposed an hourly limit of 3,000 people on the famous Atal Bridge in Ahmedabad, the largest city in Gujarat state, per The Times of India.

The Indian authorities and Oreva did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Foreign arrivals to Indonesia in September hit their highest level since the start of the pandemic, official data showed on Tuesday, as more visitors returned to resort destinations like Bali after an easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

There were about 538,300 arrivals in September, up from only 5,000 in the same month a year ago, with the majority going to Bali, said Setianto, deputy head of Statistics Indonesia.

Arrivals in September were slightly ahead of the previous month's figure of 510,200.

For the January-Sept period, Indonesia saw 2.27 million visitors compared with 86,245 in the same period last year, when travel restrictions to curb COVID-19 were in place.

However, arrivals remained far below the pre-pandemic levels in the same periods of 2018 and 2019, when Indonesia had nearly 10 million foreign visitors.

(Reporting by Stefanno Sulaiman; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor)
Matthew Simmons/Getty

The question of how to feel about art created by monstrous artists has risen to the fore over the past decade courtesy of high-profile scandals involving, among others, Bill Cosby, Woody Allen, and Michael Jackson. Spector, directors Sheena M. Joyce and Don Argotts four-part Showtime docuseries (Nov. 4) about the legendary Wall of Sound music producer Phil Spector, cops to having no absolute answer on that subject. What it does know, however, is that Spector was guilty of the Feb. 3, 2003, slaying of 40-year-old actress Lana Clarkson in the moguls palatial Pyrenees Castle home in Alhambra, California. An examination of a maniacal titan whose compulsions finally resulted in murder, its as even-handed and comprehensive as it is damning beyond a reasonable doubt.

Spector attended his trial in a variety of outlandish wigs that were highlighted by a giant afro that became a running pop-culture joke and stands as arguably his defining imagenot only because of its sheer ludicrousness, but because it speaks to his derangement. Spector makes plain that the reclusive producers 2003 killing was less a random incident than the culmination of lifelong compulsions and hang-ups that began at an early age, when his father committed suicide and, consequently, saddled him with abandonment issues. On top of that, his mother and sister were apparently a tyrannical pair with whom he violently fought, inspiring a combativenessand, its implied, a latent anger against womenthat festered as the clan moved to Los Angeles and Spector, attending Fairfax High School, proved himself a musical wunderkind.

Why Did Bodybuilder Killer Sally McNeil Shoot Her Husband on Valentines Day?

With his group The Teddy Bears (alongside singer Carol Connors, whos one of many collaborators and acquaintances featured here), the 19-year-old Spector had a No. 1 smash with 1958s To Know Him Is to Love Hima title taken from his fathers tombstone. Before long, he was forming his own record label (and splitting with his controlling mom and sister) and developing a uniquely symphonic style known as the Wall of Sound that became the veritable soundtrack for a generation. Through interviews, archival clips and recordings, and photographs, Spector captures not just the revolutionary nature of that approach, but the way in which it arrived at the right moment in time, helping create a modernand previously non-existentteen culture. Seismic hits would follow with the likes of Tina Turner and the Righteous Brothers, cementing his status as a musical genius.

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Spector was on the cutting edge, and moreover, he was his songs real star. Connors, Darlene Love, The Crystals LaLa Brooks and more discuss how Spector viewed musicians as mere tools for his own virtuositya notion underlined by snippets of his appearances in Easy Rider and I Dream of Jeannie, as well as on The Merv Griffin Show. In that last instance, Spector comes off as arrogant, manic and combative, which were also key facets of his persona. Spector is rife with anecdotes about the producer wielding guns (and pointing them at peoples heads) in the studio, and that violence was intricately tangled up with his loneliness, little-man insecurities, domineering misogynyepitomized by his isolating marriage to Ronnie Spector, which she literally fled, barefootand his persistent persecution complex.

Much of Spector is driven by commentary from journalist Mick Brown, whose interview with Spector for a magazine article (three weeks before his arrest) provided a rare glimpse into his withdrawn world. Directors Joyce and Argott present portions of both that chats audio recordings and Spectors own post-arrest videos to capture a sense of his twisted headspace, all as various participantsincluding his daughter Nicolerecount his difficulties with alcohol and mental illness, for which he took countless prescription medications. Booze and pills do not a good combination make, and its clear that such a diet only further fueled his instability and seclusion.

Spectors volatile problems and impulses ultimately begat tragedy on Feb. 3, 2003, when he visited the House of Blues during a bender and met Clarkson. A statuesque beauty with a resume full of B-movie and commercial roles, Clarkson was one of Hollywoods innumerable on-the-cusp actors struggling to make it big, and following a horrible wrist injury that had temporarily derailed her career, she was working at the door of the club as a means of meeting people in the hopes of kickstarting her fortunes. There, she encountered Spector, and despite being unaware of who he was, she agreedafter being told to treat him as she would House of Blues owner Dan Aykroydto go back to Pyrenees Castle for a drink. It would be a catastrophic mistake, leading to her death by gunshot in his foyer, and an ensuing case that gripped a country already reeling from the prior acquittals of celebrity murder defendants O.J. Simpson and Robert Blake.

Spectors revisitation of that trial includes input from both defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden and deputy district attorney Alan Jackson, the former making unpersuasive arguments about her clients innocencewhich hinged on the idea that Clarkson killed herself, as supposedly confirmed by forensic evidenceand the latter turning out to be a staunch and admirable prosecutor determined to attain justice. Though an initial jury failed to reach a decision, Jackson soldiered on, and more than one relative and friend of Clarkson makes sure to praise him for his dedication to not letting Spector walk free simply because he had the money, clout and reputation to do so in a city that prized those things above all else.

Joyce and Argotts docuseries conclusively establishes Spectors culpability, as well as the confluence of forces that drove him to commit his heinous deed. More moving still, though, is its desireovertly articulated by multiple intervieweesto restore the good name of Clarkson, a hard-working actress who was denigrated as merely a B-movie failure by Spectors defense team and the media. With palpable empathy, it redeems Clarkson by understanding her as a shrewd, beloved, ambitious three-dimensional human being whose life was cut short for no reason other than that she happened to cross paths with a violently unhinged man. She may not have been a pioneering legend like her killer, but Spector demonstrates that shes the one in this sad, sordid saga whos worth remembering.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The General Staff reported how the occupiers are taking over the houses of residents of the Kherson region, in particular Kakhovka

In the settlement of Kakhovka, citizens who live in premises along the banks of the Dnipro are being forcibly evicted from their homes, the General Staff said.

Read also: Russia mined Kakhovka Dam, ready to blow it up, Zelenskyy says

The invaders are setting up defensive fortifications and mine-explosive barriers around civilian housing.

Meanwhile, in the settlement of Novochornomorya, in Skadovsk district, the Russian military is putting psychological and physical pressure on civilians to give up their homes so that they can be used as quarters for invading troops.

Read also: Kherson likely to be liberated by end of November, says Ukraine's spy chief

Civilians are being expelled from their homes, with the invaders planning to live in the seized houses.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Christy Smith felt trapped after buying a Ford Escape. The car buyer warns others to stay away after buying a used car from Vroom.

Vroom is an online car retailer where you can buy, sell, or trade your car with a swipe of your finger.

Smith paid $22,999 for her 2017 Escape last December plus taxes and fees. After she took possession, she found out Vroom doesnt have a clear title for the car, and the car had a previous lien on it.

That meant Smith couldnt register the car. Shes not the only one stuck in park.

In an Action News Jax investigation, Ben Becker discovered 119 customers filed complaints with the State of Florida against Vroom since March 2021. These are car buyers who had title transfer troubles after buying a car from the company.

READ: Man at the center of Loomis Fargo heist 25 years ago now a normal guy living in Jacksonville

In a settlement agreement, Vroom agreed to pay a $87,000 fine in July 2022.

But issues with Vroom dont stop at the state line. There are cases nationwide.

According to the Better Business Bureau, Vroom has an F rating with 6,108 complaints in the last three years.

INVESTIGATES: Now Im terrified to walk my dog: Current dog attack laws have more bark than bite

Vroom admitted in a 2021 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission it had issues,  ... including backlogs in the titling and registration of vehicles  blaming shutdowns during the pandemic.

We represent over 250 clients with cases against Vroom, said Georgia attorney Cyclone Covey, who is taking Vroom to court.

Covey is trying to help people from across the country get their titles through arbitration.

INVESTIGATES: Its just not appropriate: Local city council candidate tied to Airbnb complaints

I think in general arbitration is not bad, not fast, but can be faster than going to court. So instead of waiting 2-3 years you might get a resolution in 12-15 months, Covey said.

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Smith wasnt waiting that long. She reached out to SendBen@ActionNewsJax.com for help.

Ive heard you can do pretty good things with companies that do stuff like this, Smith said.

She said Vroom offered to buy back her Escape instead of giving her an even swap. But that was a non-starter for Smith since car prices have zoomed a lot higher in the past year. Becker went on the Vroom website and found a 2017 Escape with similar miles but fewer features now costs $23,999  which is $1,000 more than Smiths Escape.

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

The only comparable vehicle Becker found available on Vroom was a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, but the cost was $26,499 - about a $3,500 difference. Vroom was spending much more for Smith to rent a car. So far, they spent about $5,300.

After Becker brought the difference to their attention, they gave Smith the green light to get the Santa Fe Sport.

Vroom Statement: We have been working with the customer to swap vehicles for her vs. doing a buy back. She will now be receiving a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

A few weeks later, Vroom picked-up the Escape and dropped off the Santa Fe.

Im very relieved and very happy Vroom decided to do the right thing and make it right at the end, Smith said in a video message. Im also happy for what Ben did behind the scenes to get this case resolved.

Smith said Vroom threw in a $100 voucher for a car wash and detail.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Iran appears to be using Chinese knock-offs of Western hardware in its suicide drones.

The engine of one Iranian drone was built in China and is a copy of a German product.

These drones have emerged as Putin's weapon of choice in recent weeks to strike Ukrainian cities.

Iranian-made suicide drones that Russian forces have slammed into Ukrainian cities appear to contain Chinese knock-offs of Western parts, researchers have found.

Over the last two months, Russian forces have been relying on Iran's explosive Shahed-136 drone systems to hit Ukraine's critical infrastructure in an ongoing terror blitz across the country. According to a new report from the Institute for Science and International Security, these weapons appear to be built using Chinese parts that are based on Western designs.

Citing an open source review of available information, researchers found in their analysis published Monday that the Shahed-136 drone uses an engine built by Beijing MicroPilot Flight Control Systems  which is a copy of an engine built by German company Limbach Flugmotoren.

Iran has also designed its own parts that are based on these knock-off Chinese parts. For example, the Shahed-131 drone  another drone used by Russian forces in Ukraine that is controlled by a remote operator and flown into a target and blown up  contains an engine built domestically in Iran, but it's a reverse-engineered copy of another Beijing MicroPilot Flight Control Systems engine. And this Chinese engine is based on a British design.

"China plays a larger role than previously assessed in enabling Iran to manufacture and supply drones to Russian forces. It appears that Chinese companies are supplying Iran with copies of Western commodities to produce UAV combat drones," the researchers wrote in their report.

This undated photograph released by the Ukrainian military's Strategic Communications Directorate shows the wreckage of what Kyiv has described as an Iranian Shahed drone downed near Kupiansk, Ukraine. Ukrainian military's Strategic Communications Directorate via AP

Spencer Faragasso, a research fellow at the Institute for Science and International Security, told Insider that China somehow obtained these Western designs, though it's unclear if they were acquired through a transaction or another method.

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"What appears to be happening here is that China has taken the designs for these engines, indigenously produced them in China, and in some cases export these designs to Iran," Faragasso said. "In other cases, the engines have been identified directly in Iranian kamikaze drones."

The extent of China's involvement in Iran's drone-making capabilities, however, it not immediately clear. It's also unknown when specific Chinese parts arrived in Iran.

In addition to the Chinese parts and designs, researchers also determined that Iran's Shahed-136 and Mohajer-6  a different drone that Tehran has supplied to Moscow  contain parts made in the US and Europe. Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Ukrainian investigators had managed to inspect downed drones and found Western-made parts that help to steer, power, and guide the weapons.

A drone flies over Kyiv during an attack on October 17, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine Photo by SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images

Faragasso said this highlights a need for customs officials, governments, and businesses to practice vigilance in that distributing commercial products that have military applications.

"Discovering Iranian procurement networks can start with the Western suppliers, who would be expected to cooperate with authorities," researchers wrote in their report. "From there, authorities need to systematically expose Iran's procurement network, identifying trading companies, distributors, shipping companies, agents friendly to Iran, and ultimately those in Iran organizing these purchases."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has used the Shahed-136 to attack and terrorize Ukrainian cities far from the front lines in recent weeks, as his military faces setbacks on the battlefield.

These small systems are packed with explosives and can fly around like normal drones, but they're actually long-range loitering munitions. This means they can hang around an area before being directed at a specific target, which they can fly into and detonate  leading people to refer to them as suicide or kamikaze drones.

Despite evidence from Western intelligence agencies, Russia and Iran have denied that Shahed-136 are being used in Ukraine. US officials confirmed last month that Russian officials traveled to Iran to learn how to use the weapons, and Iranian military personnel more recently traveled to occupied Crimea to help Putin's troops operate the drones.

Read the original article on Business Insider
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israelis are voting in their fifth election in four years in a tight race that pits centrist Prime Minister Yair Lapid against right-wing former premier Benjamin Netanyahu, with an array of smaller parties that will set the shape of the next government.

Polls suggest Netanyahu's Likud party and its allies from the far-right Religious Zionism party and the religious United Torah Judaism and Shas parties could win 59-60 seats, leaving him just shy of a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

Lapid's centrist "There is a Future" party and likely partners, including Defence Minister Benny Gantz's National Unity, the United Arab List and the left-wing Labour and Meretz parties may secure 56 seats.

The left wing Arab-led Hadash-Ta'al party, has said it would not join a government but it could help Lapid shore up an anti-Netanyahu camp.

With a strong possibility that no clear winner emerges after the polls close, weeks of coalition negotiations will likely ensue with a failure leading to new elections.

Here are some possible scenarios following Tuesday's vote:

NETANYAHU WINS A MAJORITY

If Netanyahu's bloc wins 61 or more of the Knesset's 120 seats, he will likely opt for a coalition government that may be the most right-wing in Israel's history, including ultra-nationalist Itamar Ben-Gvir's Jewish Power party, along with pro-settler Religious Zionism.

Such a formation would likely embitter Palestinians and test Israel's relations with the United States, other allies and Arab countries with which it has diplomatic relations.

Some analysts have said that if Netanyahu wins a narrow majority and forms such a government, it would not last long.

In the latest opinion polls, a few of the smaller anti-Netanyahu parties were teetering on the electoral threshold. If any of them fall short and fail to make it into the Knesset, that would increase Netanyahu's victory chances.

LAPID SECURES MAJORITY

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If Lapid's bloc of allied parties comes out ahead of Netanyahu, he will likely try to form a similar coalition government to the one he heads now, spanning left to right. In September, Lapid backed a two-state solution with the Palestinians but prospects for talks remain dim and the Israeli-occupied West Bank has seen some of the worst violence in years.

Lapid's chances would be boosted by particularly high turnout among Israel's Arab minority and low turnout in traditional Likud strongholds.

NO CLEAR MAJORITY FOR EITHER NETANYAHU OR LAPID

If no clear majority emerges, either Netanyahu or Lapid could be tapped by President Isaac Herzog to try to form a government. If one fails the other would get a shot. A double failure could even see a third candidate, like centrist Gantz, get a chance to patch a government together. If the deadlock is not broken, there will be another election. In either case, Lapid would remain in office as head of a caretaker government until a new prime minister was sworn in.

LAPID OR GANTZ JOIN A LIKUD COALITION

Remote but not impossible. Although both Lapid and Gantz have ruled out serving under Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges he denies - Israeli politics is unpredictable.

The need to overcome the protracted political deadlock may persuade the two centrist leaders to join Netanyahu's Likud in a coalition that would not include the firebrand Ben-Gvir.

(Reporting by Maayan Lubell and James Mackenzie; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Netanyahu and his wife Sara cast their ballots in Jerusalem (AP)

Benjamin Netanyahu and right-wing allies may have won enough seats to return to power in a nationalist and religious government in Israel, early exit poll results suggested on Tuesday night.

Israelis voted in the countrys fifth election in less than four years, hoping to break the political deadlock which has paralysed the country.

Polls by three major Israeli TV stations indicated that ex-PM Netanyahu and his allies would capture the 61-seat majority in parliament required to form a new government  but the result was on a knife-edge.

His main rival is the man who helped oust him from power last year, centrist caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

Vote for the state of Israel, and for the future of our children, Lapid said after casting his ballot in the Tel Aviv neighborhood where he lives.

Election officials said that by 4pm local time, turnout stood at 47.5 per cent, the highest at that time since 1999.

With another stalemate looming, attention has largely turned to who Netanyanhu might be able to form a coalition with and a powerful new player is threatening to shake things up as a potential coalition kingmaker.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, a leading far-right politician, and his Religious Zionism party has surged in opinion polls recently and will be seeking an even harder line against the Palestinians if he helps propel Netanyahu to victory.

Israels longest-serving premier, Mr Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges, which he denies, but his right-wing Likud party is still expected to finish as the largest in parliament.

Theres a feeling of despair at all these elections, Hagit Cohen, a 64-year-old social worker from Tel Aviv, told the Associated Press.

Typically a supporter of the centre-left parties, she has this time cast her vote for caretaker prime minister Yair Lapid, whose centrist Yesh Atid party will likely be the second-largest after Likud.

Mr Netanyahu was photographed casting his ballot alongside his wife Sara. I hope we will finish the day with a smile but its up to the people, he told reporters as he voted in Jerusalem.

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The current ballot comes as a result of the collapse of Naftali Bennetts government in June, whose premiership became terminal in the wake of a series of defections from the governing coalition formed of centrist and Arab parties.

The patchwork bloc, which has disagreed on most issues, from Israeli occupation to LGBTQ+ rights, has been led by Mr Lapid for the intervening period.

The campaign, which opened weeks after a brief conflict with the militant Islamic Jihad group in Gaza in August, has also unrolled against a backdrop of months of violence in the occupied West Bank, with near-daily raids and clashes.

However the conflict has had little direct impact on the campaign, which has been overshadowed by the bloated personality of Mr Netanyahu, whose legal battles have fed the stalemate blocking Israels political system since he was indicted on bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges in 2019.

People are tired of instability, of the fact that the government is not delivering the goods, said Yohanan Plesner, a former legislator who now heads the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank.

As Mr Netanyahus legal problems have continued, Ben-Gvir and fellow far-right leader Bezalel Smotrich have eaten into Likuds traditional hawkish base and the once-marginal Religious Zionism is now set to be the third-largest party in parliament.

Ben-Gvir - a former member of Kach, a group on Israeli and U.S. terrorist watchlists - has moderated some earlier positions, but the prospect of his joining a coalition government led by Netanyahu risks alarming Washington.

Mr Lapid has campaigned on diplomatic advances with countries including Turkey and Lebanon as well as on a strong performance by the Israeli economy which has weathered the turbulent global environment in relatively good shape.

I hope this time it will be final, said Avi Shlush, a voter in Tel Aviv. But it will not be final. We are heading to another election.

With agencies
Lloyd Green

Jewish supremacy appears to have scored a major victory in Tuesdays Israeli elections.

First round exit polls show the Religious Zionism bloc garnering 14 or 15 mandates in the countrys 120-seat parliament, which would make it the third largest party in the Knesset. Regardless of whether Benjamin Netanyahu claws his way back to power (which appears to be a real possibility) or Israel heads toward another election in spring 2023, the hard-right looms as a permanent fixture on Israels political landscape.

Just hours before the polls closed, Jerusalem youth proudly bore the message of To be a Jew in our land and Its time for Ben-Gvir, as they marched through the citys Mahane Yehudah market. For younger voters, Itamar Ben-Gvirs authenticity matters.

Ben-Gvir, Religious Zionisms neo-Kahanist leader, stands to accomplish what his hero, Meir Kahanethe slain extremist rabbi who was banned from Israeli politics in 1988never achieved. The younger extremist firebrand will earn full acceptance into Israels halls of power. If we get a lot of mandates, we will have the legitimacy to demand significant portfolios, such as the defense and the treasury, Bezalel Smotrich, Ben-Gvirs party comrade declared.(On Sunday, Ben-Gvir made his own bid for public security minister.)

This Extremist Could Destroy Israel as We Know It

The likely return of Trumps pal Netanyahu, together with his ascendant far-right bloc, signals a coming collision between Israel and the U.S. political forces.

Where support for Israel was once a bipartisan (almost rubber-stamp) reality in Congress, the Democratic Partys multi-cultural, multi-racial base is increasingly skeptical of walking in lockstep with Israel. And a ruling coalition that places a premium on God and Country, the people, and the land is only going to remind the American left of Trump, MAGA, and the blood and soil neo-Nazis who marched in Charlottesville in 2017.

Like taxes, abortion, and crime, Israel is now firmly enshrined as one more flashpoint in Americas cold civil war.

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Sen. Bob Menendeza senior Democrat, chairman of the Senates foreign relations committee, and longtime Israel allyhas already expressed alarm over the rise of Israels far-right. And if someone like him is voicing concern, more left-leaning members like Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warrenas well as the Squad of House progressivescant be far behind.

All this stands to hurt Israel, the Democrats, and Americas Jews. At the same time, the potential for friction stands a potential boon to Republicans.

It permits them to embrace Israel, but stay mum over white supremacy and antisemitism from the right. Ben-Gvir provides new license for the Party of Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene to keep on partying with Ye (nee Kanye West) and bashing George Soros. Support for Israel becomes dispensation for Republican Jew-baiting at home.

Bibi Is on the Brink of a Shocking Comeback in Israels Election

I think hell be fine, Trump said of Yewhose career has imploded as a result of his voicing deranged antisemitic conspiracy theories. You know, hes a very different kind of a guy.

Last Saturday the wife of Doug Mastriano, the Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial nominee, invoked support of Israel as a shield against charges of antisemitism. She told reporters that her family loved Israel more than a lot of Jews do. When Jared Kushner cant be your son-in-law, the Promised Land makes a fine prop.

To be sure, this drama has been years in the making. In 2015, Netanyahu warned that Israels Arabswho are Israeli citizenswere voting in droves. To many, including then-President Barack Obama, Bibis campaign pitch must have sounded like, OMG, blacks are voting, how dare they? Set against the backdrop of the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther Kings march in Selma, Netanyahu rightfully earned Obamas ire.

Israeli democracy has been premised on everybody in the country being treated equally and fairly, Obama advised The Huffington Post. If that is lost, then I think that not only does it give ammunition to folks who dont believe in a Jewish state, but it also I think starts to erode the meaning of democracy in the country.

These days, liberal democracy is having a rough time in both countries. The GOP buys into Trumpian election denialism, refuses to disavow the Jan. 6 insurrection, and strives to restrict ballot access. Meanwhile in Israel, Ben-Gvir and his allies are looking to further limit the impact of Israeli Arabs in politics and society.

And unlike in America, younger Israelis are generally more conservative than their elders.

Israels Got Major Problems, but Its Not an Apartheid State

The collapse of the Oslo Accords morphed into the second Intifada. Disengagement from the Gaza Strip by Ariel Sharon, Israels late prime minister, failed to bring quiet. Instead, rockets launched by Hamas and Islamic Jihad periodically rain down on Israel, sending citizens into bomb shelters. At the same time, the Palestinian leadership has shown little interest in extending anything that approaches an enticing olive branch.

This is the environment the Israeli youth grew up in. Now they vote.

And as a likely consequence, a more right-wing Israel will lead to increased numbers of younger American Jews distancing themselves from the Zionist experiment.

By the numbers, 71 percent of American Jews classify themselves as Democrats. Younger U.S. Jews are also more ethnically diverse. According to Pew, more Jews say it is important for future grandchildren to share their political convictions and to carry on their family name than to marry someone who is Jewish.

Politics is the new religion. At this pace, Biden may be the last pro-Israel Democratic president.

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BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina's federal police arrested a top Italian mobster on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, the security agency said in a statement Monday, bringing a years-long manhunt to an end.

Carmine Alfonso Maiorano, a 68-year-old leader of the Italian 'Ndrangheta mafia, was captured last Wednesday in the town of Guernica in the province of Buenos Aires, the statement said.

The Italian-born Maiorano has been accused by international authorities of carrying out drug trafficking and arms trafficking operations between Latin America and Europe.

The International Criminal Police Organization, commonly known as Interpol, considers 'Ndrangheta "one of the most extensive and powerful criminal organizations in the world."

An international arrest warrant was issued for Maiorano in 2015, and Interpol launched an effort in 2020 to coordinate international efforts to take down the criminal group.

The 'Ndrangheta mafia established itself in Argentina several years ago, the police statement said, operating in tandem with Albanian counterparts in Europe.

The detainee was placed at the disposal of Argentina's Federal Criminal and Correctional Court.

(Reporting by Nicolas Misculin and Juan Bustamante; Writing by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
(Bloomberg) -- Johnson & Johnson, one of the worlds biggest makers of medical devices, said it will purchase Abiomed Inc. for about $17.3 billion, building on its portfolio of technology to assist heart function.

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J&J will pay $380 a share in cash, according to a statement Tuesday. That represents a premium of about 50% over Abiomeds closing price on Monday and is close to the stocks 52-week high in November 2021. Abiomed shareholders will also receive as much as $35 a share in additional cash if certain goals are achieved, the companies said.

J&J is planning to spin off its consumer unit next year and is looking to focus on higher returns from its pharmaceutical and medical technology divisions. Abiomed makes almost all of its money through the sale of Imeplla heart pumps -- small devices that are threaded through arteries into the heart to help it move blood through the body.

Abiomed shares rose 51% to $379.59 at 9:32 a.m. in New York, while J&J fell less than 1%.

In general, Impella devices are used when a patients heart isnt pumping enough blood to oxygenate the body, to increase the rate of blood flow, or for a patient undergoing a high-risk heart surgery, to help the heart function during the procedure.

Abiomed has a monopoly position in mechanical circulatory support, an extensive product pipeline, and was expected to return to mid-teens revenue growth in the outyears as a stand-alone company, said Marie Thibault, an analyst at BTIG LLC, in a note Tuesday.

The company was founded as Applied Biomedical Corp. in 1981 by David Lederman with the goal of creating the first artificial heart. He took it public in 1987 and stepped down in 2004 to make way for current Chief Executive Officer Michael Minogue, a former General Electric Co. executive and Desert Storm veteran. Minogue plans to retire after the deal with J&J closes, at which time Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Greenfield will take the helm as Abiomeds president.

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J&J Outlook

The Abiomed purchase is the first big deal for J&Js Joaquin Duato, who took over as the companys CEO in January. Hes been at the company for roughly three decades and was the architect behind the companys breakup. In an interview with Bloomberg earlier this year, Duato said that J&J must put more resources into developing medical technologies of the future.

This is a unique moment deeply rooted in the commitment to our credo that has set Johnson & Johnson apart for well over a century, Duato told investors on an earnings call. Duato said that the deal between the two companies will complement Abiomeds capabilities and move J&J into higher-growth markets, while accelerating near and long term sales and earnings growth.

Abiomed had $937 million in cash and zero debt as of the end of September. Its sale price to J&J corresponds to an enterprise cash value of about $16.6 billion, the companies said. The transaction will take place through a tender offer and is expected to be completed by the end of March.

J&J Chief Financial Officer Joseph Wolk told investors that the deal would be neutral or slightly negative for earnings in the first year, then add 5 cents a share to income starting in 2024 and more after that.

Breakup Fee

If Abiomed accepts a superior offer or the merger agreement is terminated, the company would need to pay J&J $550 million, according to a filing. Its unlikely another acquirer will surface given the premium J&J is paying, Thibault said.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. served as financial adviser to J&J, with Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP as legal counsel. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP represented Abiomed.

Danvers, Massachusetts-based Abiomed said Tuesday its second-quarter revenue rose 11% on a constant-currency basis to $266 million, with some of its biggest sales gains coming in the Japanese market.

--With assistance from Ike Swetlitz.

(Updates with statements from investor call, background on Abiomed starting in seventh paragraph.)

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The Jacksonville Jaguars made a big move ahead of the trade deadline when they sent a pair of conditional draft picks to the Atlanta Falcons for wide receiver Calvin Ridley. But the even bigger move for the Jaguars on Tuesday was the one they didnt make.

Despite reports saying there was huge interest in pass rusher Josh Allen with multiple teams  including the Kansas City Chiefs  inquiring, the 2-6 Jaguars opted against being sellers at the deadline.

Its unclear what kind of compensation was on the table for Allen, but the offers likely werent cheap. Fellow pass rusher Bradley Chubb was dealt for a package that included a first-round pick and running back Chase Edmonds, while the Los Angeles Rams reportedly offered two first-rounders to the Carolina Panthers for pass rusher Brian Burns.

Allen, 25, has been the least productive of the three, but not by much. And just like Chubb and Burns, hes made one career Pro Bowl. With Allen under contract through the 2023 season, its not unreasonable to think the Jaguars couldve received at least a first-round pick for the three-time defensive captain. The team chose not to bite.

What does that mean?

For one, it shows that the Jaguars believe theyre closer to contending than rebuilding. Thats not surprising given how frustratingly close the team has come to winning on a weekly basis only to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Theres also not much reason for general manager Trent Baalke to think he can sell off valuable assets and still be around to reap the benefits of future draft picks.

Secondly, its clear the Jaguars see Allen as a long-term building block. With the end of his rookie contract not far off on the horizon, the Jaguars wouldve shipped Allen off for picks if the team felt a long-term extension was going to be too rich.

And make no mistake, itll be pricy.

The Denver Broncos gave pass rusher Randy Gregory a five-year, $70 million deal in the offseason, despite multiple suspensions early in his career with the Dallas Cowboys and 16.5 sacks in five seasons with the team. The Miami Dolphins dished out a four-year, $65.4 million contract to defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah after he recorded nine sacks in his first two seasons with the team.

Itll presumably cost at least $15 million per year to keep Allen, and the Jaguars seemingly showed Tuesday they dont think that price is too much.

Story originally appeared on Jaguars Wire
(Bloomberg) -- During his bleakest days, one of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas favorite cooks traveled 800 miles (1,290 km) from the capital to the city where he was imprisoned for graft to make him a rabada, a typical Brazilian dish of oxtail.

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Maria de Jesus Oliveira da Costa, 68, known as Aunt Zelia, had to pay a hotel manager in Curitiba to use the kitchen to prepare the meal. Once it was ready, she put the dish in a lunch bag and sent it to the former presidents cell.

I didnt want to see him in jail, Zelia said at her simple restaurant near the presidential palace in Brasilia, in between serving tables and chatting with customers. But I sent a letter along with the food.

Displays of solidarity by supporters like Zelia, many of whom mounted a vigil outside the jail, sustained Lula through his incarceration, helping him over the intense lows and enabling him to launch his bid to recapture the presidency.

With his second-round victory over Jair Bolsonaro, Lula, 77, is set to return to the helm of Latin Americas largest economy having pulled off one of the most spectacular political comebacks in Brazils history.

And yet the narrow nature of his win, with Bolsonaro coming within touch of an upset, shows the deep well of conservative values that pervades Brazil, a reality that Lula can ill afford to ignore. The question is how his experience will shape his response to the daunting challenges ahead in a very different country to the one he first led two decades ago.

Theres no doubt the 580 days Lula spent behind bars in 2018 and 2019 marked him for life. When the country turned its back on 14 years of a leftist government and elected Bolsonaro, 67, a far-right former army captain, Lulas friends feared for his mental health.

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The worst moments came with losses. In the space of four months in jail, the former president saw an old friend, a brother and a grandson die.

That affected him a lot, said Julio Bersot, 70, a close friend to Lula for some four decades.

In his first days in prison, he received a 1,000-page tome about Portuguese colonization and slavery in Brazil, despite not being much of a reader. When I got this book, I wondered how long Id be in jail, Lula posted on social media last year.

He went on to read 41 books, mostly biographies, of leaders including Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez and Carlos Marighella, who led an armed movement against the Brazilian military dictatorship. He also received 25,000 letters sent by friends, fans  and his future wife, Janja.

From the vigil to the reading of dozens of books to friends who did not abandon him and to Janja: all that was fundamental for Lula, said Bersot.

Back in the presidential palace, hell inherit a very different Brazil to the one he used to govern. Its a deeply polarized country, scarred by identity politics and economic inequality that festered during a calamitous pandemic. As of Monday morning, Bolsonaro had yet to concede. The incoming president wont have a lot of space to maneuver.

Still, Lulas journey is one of extremes; at times, his story seemed too good to be true. A poor migrant from the impoverished northeast who as a boy worked as a shoe-shine, and who lost a finger operating a factory machine, he rose to become the only Brazilian president of the democratic era to hail from a humble background.

This is my man right here, I love this guy, Barack Obama told his Brazilian counterpart at the Group of 20 summit in London in 2009, calling Lula the most popular politician on Earth.

It wasnt entirely a joke: Lula left office in December the following year with an approval rating around 90%, having groomed Dilma Rousseff as his successor. She would become Brazils first woman president.

Then it started to unravel. The commodities boom that had driven growth during the Lula era sputtered out, and the country sank into a political crisis amid a corruption probe known as the Carwash Operation. Dilma was impeached and removed from office in 2016.

The investigation reached Lula that same year. He was charged with corruption and money laundering and sentenced to 12 years in prison by the federal judge, Sergio Moro, who ended up serving as Bolsonaros justice minister.

That looked like the end of the story. In reality, it was a new chapter.

The day the former president went to jail, hundreds of people gathered outside the police building where he was being kept in a middle-class residential neighborhood in the southern city of Curitiba, chanting free Lula!

From that moment, many decided they would only leave when he got out. A camp was formed, managed by labor unions and other movements. Lula could hear three daily chants from his cell: Good morning, President, Good afternoon, President, and Good night, President.

Some people think I hate Curitiba because I was in jail here, Lula said at a campaign event there in September. I have gratitude for this city, and affection for the men and women who spared no effort to keep asking for my freedom in the 580 days I was here.

Among the hundreds of supporters camped out was a sociologist and Workers Party member called Rosangela da Silva, known as Janja.

Lulas wife of 43 years, Marisa Leticia, had died of a stroke at the age of 66 during the investigation. Hed been widowed for over a year when he was arrested.

I wrote love letters to Janja and I let the hate out of my chest, he said in a local radio interview in July, two months after they married. Now Im only love.

Love alone wont be enough for the political fight ahead. Lula was released on a technicality in November 2019, and lived hermit-like with Janja away from the spotlight until 2021, when his conviction was quashed by the top court, freeing him to run.

In office, hell face a hostile congress, while the three most populous states, including Sao Paulo, are held by the opposition. Across the country, a sizable minority think their once-and-future president is corrupt. His policies are vague, beyond the desire for social justice, and lean heavily on his past achievements with little to say about a new administration. Yet he needs to pay for his campaign pledges on social benefits, and to try to bridge the political divide if hes to have any chance of success.

The next government will have to be a coalition that restores Brazil to the normality of democracy, with social inclusion at the heart of its economic policies, Edinho Silva, Lulas campaign chief, said in an interview.

Lula knows that Brazil is going through a complex moment that will require a broad coalition that mobilizes the entire democratic camp, Silva said. He will lead, negotiate and build this coalition.

Thats a change from the firebrand image of his youth, when he challenged the military dictatorship by leading huge labor strikes, and founded the Workers Party under the banner of putting ethics in politics. It took three runs at the presidency, and 12 years, to finally get the top job.

Thats how long it took him and his party to understand that they needed to adopt a more measured stance to dismiss investor concerns and get elected. In office, he kept markets on board while working for the poorest in society. Its an indication that hell retain the moderate coalition forged during the campaign into his third term.

Lula has gone through glory and misfortune and knows that he cannot run the government with leftist friends alone, said Adriana Dupita, Brazil economist with Bloomberg Economics. There will be a commitment to move to the center.

Lula has made it clear that he will lead Brazil for the next four years only. Some in the Workers Party see Janja, 55, whos been a strong presence during the campaign, as his successor in 2026.

Before then, were likely to see an older but wiser Lula who is impatient to get things done and intent on shaping his legacy for good.

He is a different Lula, said Thomas Traumann, a Rio de Janeiro-based communications consultant who has advised former presidents including Dilma. He knows that it is his last chance, a Lula of just one more term.

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(Bloomberg) -- Japan is asking households and businesses to conserve electricity as much as possible during the winter as the country tries to ease the pressure on a stretched grid.

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The government decided on winter power supply measures, Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said Tuesday at a press conference. Local broadcaster NHK earlier reported on the governments plan. The program will run between December and March, and will encourage people to save electricity by turning off unnecessary lights and wearing more layers of clothing to stay warm indoors.

The campaign will be Japans second effort this year urging residents to save electricity, following similar measures this summer amid a supply squeeze. The resource-scant nation suffers from a lack of capacity to generate electricity, and the surge in prices for liquefied natural gas combined with the weak yen have made it costly to procure fuel.

Related story: Japan Power Crisis Was a Decade in Making and Wont Go Away

The power reserve ratio, which measures excess supply of electricity, is expected to be at 4.1% for the Tokyo and Tohoku regions in January, according to the latest forecast from the nations grid operator. A reserve ratio of 3% is said to be needed for a stable, balanced grid.

The countrys biggest energy producer Jera Co. will resume operating some of its units at a thermal plant to help ease this winters expected crunch. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has also turned to nuclear energy, seeking to restart seven more reactors from next summer.

The increased fuel costs and weak yen are putting a strain on regional electricity producers. Hokuriku Electric Power Co. and Chugoku Electric Power Co. have said they will apply to the trade ministry to raise regulated rates for households, while others said they are considering taking the step.

Story continues

(Updates with comments from trade minister in second paragraph.)

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Associated Press

Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre is asking to be removed from a lawsuit by the state of Mississippi that seeks to recover millions of dollars in misspent welfare money that was intended to help some of the poorest people in the U.S. An attorney for Favre filed papers on Monday saying the Mississippi Department of Human Services groundlessly and irresponsibly seeks to blame Favre for its own grossly improper and unlawful handling of welfare funds and its own failure to properly monitor and audit how organizations used the money. Including Favre in this lawsuit has had the intended effect  it has attracted national media attention to this case," Favres attorney, Eric D. Herschmann, wrote in the filing in Hinds County Circuit Court.
ABC

Jimmy Kimmel emerged from billows of smoke to reveal his gigantic Smokey Bear costume for the Halloween night edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live! After receiving a hearty round of applause and cracking some Halloween candy-related jokes, the late-night host dove into the Kanye West of it all.

Even with all the revelations of forgotten children, secret abortions, this [Senate] race in Georgiaaccording to the polls, anywayhas tightened in the last few weeks, Kimmel said. And this week, Herschel Walker picked up a major endorsement from Kanye West, who posted a photo of Herschel with the caption PRO LIFE. A better caption wouldve been PROZAC. I didnt know Kanye had any endorsements left over to give! Kanye endorsing Herschel Walker is like crystal meth endorsing lead paint.

The comedian, who has a bit of history with West, didnt address Wests other posts to Instagram, including an antisemitic one addressing Hollywood superagent Ari Emanuel that alluded to Jewish business interests controlling his destiny. But he did explore Wests disturbing recent interview where he compared himself losing business deals after spreading disgusting hate to the tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer. (West had previously let the officer off the hook in Floyds death by blaming it on fentanyl, despite considerable evidence to the contrary. The comments prompted the mother of Floyds daughter, Roxie Washington, to threaten a $250 million lawsuit against Westwhich West responded to by calling her ugly and mocking her fashion sense.)

Yedolf has been losing friends, losing business associates, losing money as a result of his antisemitic remarks. But dont worry, he still has a lot of wildly offensive things to say about people of other races too, offered Kimmel.

Kimmel then threw to the interview clip of West telling a gaggle of tabloid reporters, When I said that and I questioned the death of George Floyd, it hurt my people. It hurt the Black people. So I want to apologize for hurting them, because right now God has shown me by what Adidas is doing, and by what the media is doing, I know how it feels to have a knee on my neck now.

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John Oliver Exposes Right-Wing Lies About Paul Pelosi Attack

No. No, you dont, Kimmel responded. I think he might be tripolar. Is that a thing? Is there a step beyond bi? Many have suggested its possible Kanye is off his meds. Turns out he was never on them, and youll never guess why not.

In the same interview, West said, [I] was misdiagnosed byIm not gonna say what race, what people, doctor, and what hospital, and what media I went to. We know I cant say that It was a Jewish doctor.

Thanks for letting us know, cracked Kimmel. The suspense was really killing me. I thought maybe he was gonna say Amish. I dont know!

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Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle in 2019. The Department of Justice has blocked a merger between the publishing giant and Simon & Schuster. (John MacDougall / AFP via Getty Images)

A federal judge has blocked Penguin Random House's attempt to swallow its smaller rival Simon & Schuster, dealing a blow to the world's largest book publisher's attempt to become an even bigger giant.

Late Monday, U.S. District Judge Florence Y. Pan ruled the government had succeeded in its case by demonstrating that the proposed merger would have antitrust implications by being likely to "substantially" lessen competition "in the market for the U.S. publishing rights to anticipated top-selling books."

Pan's ruling hands the Biden administration a decisive victory as it weighs whether to challenge other industry-shaping mergers.

The consolidation between the two book publishing houses would have drastically altered the industry by trimming the number of major publishing houses, known as the Big Five, to just four.

The case had been closely watched  it was the biggest antitrust trial in the publishing world in decades.

Economist Nicholas Hill, who appeared as an expert witness for the government during its August anti-trust trial, testified that Penguin Random House combined with Simon & Schuster would command a 49% market share, more than double that of the next largest competitor, HarperCollins, owned by News Corp., which has 22%.

Other government witnesses who testified included legendary author Stephen King. The bestselling writer of The Shining," The Stand and "Pet Sematary" was publicly critical of the deal and the involvement of his longtime publisher, Simon & Schuster.

He recalled that back when he started writing books, in the 1970s, there were hundreds of imprints. But no longer.

"Consolidation is bad for competition, King said during the trial. "Thats my understanding of the book business. The more companies there are, the better it is.

Assistant Atty. Gen. Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Departments Antitrust Division applauded Pan's ruling.

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Todays decision protects vital competition for books and is a victory for authors, readers, and the free exchange of ideas, Kanter said in a statement. "The proposed merger would have reduced competition, decreased author compensation, diminished the breadth, depth, and diversity of our stories and ideas, and ultimately impoverished our democracy.

In her order, Pan did not detail her rationale for blocking the merger.

Instead, she filed a memorandum outlining her decision under seal because it contained sensitive business information. The judge gave both sides a chance to object to making public some of the information. Lawyers have until Friday to meet and confer and jointly file proposed redactions of "confidential" and "highly confidential" information contained in the judge's memo.

Penguin Random House said it would immediately request an appeal of Pan's ruling.

"We strongly disagree with todays decision, which is an unfortunate setback for readers and authors," Penguin Random House said in a statement. "As we demonstrated throughout the trial, the Department of Justices focus on advances to the worlds best-paid authors instead of consumers or the intense competitiveness in the publishing sector runs contrary to its mission to ensure fair competition. We believe this merger will be pro-competitive, and we will continue to work closely with Paramount and Simon & Schuster on next steps."

Simon & Schuster's Chief Executive Jonathan Karp expressed his disappointment in an email to employees.

"We are reviewing the decision and discussing next steps with Paramount, Bertelsmann and Penguin Random House," Karp wrote. "Meanwhile, we should and will remain, as we always have and no matter the circumstance, single-mindedly focused on our shared purpose of being a world-class publisher."

The decision dealt Simon & Schuster's parent company, Paramount Global, a setback in its efforts to raise money by shedding iconic CBS-controlled assets. The company had hoped to complete the merger a year ago before running into the regulatory headwinds.

Previously known as ViacomCBS, Paramount put the storied publishing house on the auction block in early 2020, just months after the merger of Viacom and CBS. The company received several offers for Simon & Schuster, including from another rival, HarperCollins.

But ViacomCBS selected the $2.18-billion bid from Bertelsmanns Penguin Random House, even though some observers warned there could be regulatory ramifications. (ViacomCBS said then that the German conglomerate Bertelsmann had agreed to pay a termination fee if regulators were to block the deal, but the company did not disclose the size of the fee.)

The deal stunned the industry, and authors voiced their concerns about the merger's potentially negative effects. The Authors Guild pleaded with the Justice Department to intervene to stop the merger.

The guild's president, Doug Preston, lauded the new ruling Tuesday in a statement, calling it "a major victory for authors."

"This is the first time a court has recognized what authors and the Authors Guild have been arguing for decades  that a consolidation among publishers hurts authors," Preston said. "It leaves authors with fewer potential buyers of their manuscripts, which restrains their power to negotiate advances and other terms."

The publishing industry has seen accelerating consolidation over the last decade as book houses look to gain bargaining muscle when going up against online retailers, especially Amazon.com. In 2016, Hachette Book Group bought Perseus Books. Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., which owns HarperCollins, bought romance novel publisher Harlequin in 2014, a year after Penguin and Random House came together in another blockbuster combination.

Critics of such deals have long worried that bigger behemoths in publishing wield increasing power over authors. Having previously done little to step in, the government under the Biden administration signaled a more aggressive antitrust stance, and last year the Justice Department followed through.

Kanter's statement Tuesday put the suit in context of its more general shift in priorities. "The decision is also a victory for workers more broadly, the Assistant Attorney General said. It reaffirms that the antitrust laws protect competition for the acquisition of goods and services from workers."

Times staff writers Dorany Pineda and Freddy Brewster contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(Getty/The Independent)

A federal judge has blocked Americas biggest publisher Penguin Random House from buying rival Simon & Schuster following a high-profile trial earlier this year.

Judge Florence Pan of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, sided with the Justice Departments claims that the merger of the two companies could substantially harm competition in the US book market.

Star horror author Stephen King testified on behalf of the Biden administration in the August trial against the proposed $2.2bn merger.

Mr King, one of the most successful and well-paid writers of his generation, was willing to testify against his own regular publisher, Scribner, part of Simon & Schuster, to argue against more consolidation in the book industry.

My name is Stephen King. Im a freelance writer, he cheekily told the court, before criticising the industry that forced many writers below the poverty line.

aaI came because I think that consolidation is bad for competition, he testified. It becomes tougher and tougher for writers to find money to live on.

(Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Its a tough world out there now. Thats why I came, he added. There comes a point where, if you are fortunate, you can stop following your bank account and start following your heart.

Executives from Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster testified that combining the companies would result in cost savings and allow them to spend more money on books.

The main argument in the case revolved around the big whales of the publishing industry, books where authors earned more than $250,000 on their advances for titles expected to top bestseller lists.

The DOJ claimed that a potential Penguin Random House - Simon & Schuster juggernaut would control half the market of such blockbuster books in the US.

They are the only firms with the capital, reputations, editorial capacity, marketing, publicity, sales, and distribution resources to regularly acquire anticipated top-selling books, DOJ lawyers said in a court filing.
A federal judge has thrown out Mark Meadows year-old lawsuit over subpoenas from the Houses Jan. 6 select committee, concluding that the former White House chief of staff was constitutionally barred from bringing it in the first place.

In a 27-page ruling issued Monday night, U.S. District Court Judge Carl Nichols said that the Constitutions speech or debate clause  which prohibits lawsuits against lawmakers for anything associated with their legislative work  applied in the case of the committees subpoenas to Meadows issued in the fall of 2021.

The record makes clear that the challenged subpoenas are protected legislative acts, Nichols wrote in the decision.

Meadows is likely to appeal the ruling, effectively putting his testimony out of reach for the Jan. 6 select committee, which is slated to dissolve at the end of the year. Meadows attorney, George Terwilliger, said: "We will review the decision carefully and consider any further steps that may be appropriate.''

The ruling, however could have implications for many of the other suits filed against the Jan. 6 committee by Trump allies  many of which have similarly landed in Nichols court.

Its a significant victory for the select committee, but in some ways its a hollow one. The panel repeatedly told Nichols it had chosen not to assert its speech or debate immunity and wanted the judge  a Donald Trump appointee  to issue a more sweeping ruling on Trumps efforts to assert executive privilege over Meadows testimony. A ruling in the committees favor would have been an exclamation point in its 14-month investigation, underscoring the panel's urgent need to hear from Meadows, a central figure in Trumps effort to subvert the 2020 election.



The panel has been seeking Meadows testimony since September 2021, saying its evidence showed Meadows was a key participant in nearly every facet of Trumps scheme to seize a second term he didnt win. Meadows was involved in efforts to stoke distrust about the election results, coordinating with Trumps campaign about messaging and serving as a gatekeeper for some of Trumps outside advisers. He was on a Jan. 4, 2021, phone call in which Trump urged Georgia election officials to find enough votes to help him win. And he was with Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, when rioters breached the Capitol, and Trump waited hours to make a public statement, despite urgent pleas from allies and lawmakers.

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Nichols acknowledged the weighty purpose of the select committees investigation, but he took issue with the panels tactics in the lawsuit.

For example, Nichols noted that if the committee got a ruling it didnt like from him, it could simply choose to raise speech or debate issues at the appeals court.

Such an outcome could cause a significant waste of time and resources, especially considering the novel constitutional questions that this case presents on the merits, Nichols noted.

Nichols had foreshadowed his frustration with the committees approach during a Sept. 7 hearing on the matter, noting that the committee had asserted speech or debate immunity in numerous Jan. 6-related lawsuits.

Meadows contended in his lawsuit that he was immune from congressional subpoenas as a member of Trumps inner circle, which meant large swaths of his potential testimony were covered by executive privilege. In fact, Trump had encouraged Meadows to assert executive privilege and sought to block him and other top aides from providing valuable testimony to the committee.

But the select committee rejected this premise, contending that Trump, as a former president, had no basis for shielding Meadows testimony, particularly after incumbent President Joe Biden had waived any privilege claims Meadows was attempting to raise. Even if Trump had the ability to assert privilege, the panel contended that its need for Meadows testimony was easily great enough to overcome that assertion.

But Nichols said even with the Houses effort to skirt speech or debate immunity  a position with which Meadows largely agreed  the judge said he was required to consider it. He compared speech or debate immunity to foreign sovereign immunity, noting that courts will dismiss matters on that basis even when its not asserted by litigants.



The judge said without an explicit waiver from the House members involved, the constitutional immunity applied to the case and required the dismissal of Meadows suit.

Nicholas Wu and Josh Gerstein contributed to this report.


ATLANTA (AP)  A federal judge on Monday declined to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed against former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani by two women who served as election workers in Georgia in November 2020.

In the lawsuit filed last December, Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Shaye Moss accused Giuliani of defaming them by falsely stating that the pair had engaged in election fraud while counting ballots at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The lawsuit says Giuliani repeatedly pushed debunked claims that the mother-and-daughter pair pulled out suitcases of illegal ballots and committed other acts of fraud to try to alter the outcome of the presidential election in Georgia.

In an opinion accompanying Monday's order, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Beryl Howell in Washington described the situation that followed the November 2020 election, when the vote totals in several key states were so close that the results were not immediately clear.

As election workers across the state worked long hours carefully ensuring the accuracy of the election, the Trump Campaign and its allies, including Giuliani, engaged in a media offensive that at best questioned, and at worse condemned, their work, Howell wrote.

Moss had worked for the Fulton County elections department since 2012 and supervised the absentee ballot operation during the 2020 election. Freeman, her mother, was a temporary election worker, verifying signatures on absentee ballots and preparing them to be counted and processed.

As the false allegations about them circulated online, the two women said, they suffered intense harassment, both in person and online. Moss detailed her experiences in emotional testimony before the U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The committee also played video testimony from Freeman during the hearing in June.

Moss, who is Black, said she received messages wishing death upon me. Telling me that Ill be in jail with my mother. And saying things like, Be glad its 2020 and not 1920.

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A lot of them were racist, Moss said. A lot of them were just hateful.

In a court filing in June, Giuliani argued the lawsuit should be dismissed because the claims against him are inadequately pleaded and are barred by First Amendment protections for free speech. Howell rejected those arguments, allowing the lawsuit to move forward.

Despite the repeated debunking of the Trump Campaigns claims of voter fraud in the election in Georgia by state officials and private organizations, Giuliani persisted in pushing those very claims  and began taking direct aim at plaintiffs in the process," Howell wrote.

A lawyer representing Giuliani in the defamation lawsuit did not immediately respond Monday to an email seeking comment on the ruling.

Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman served their community and their country. In return, Rudy Giuliani and his allies  and others  told vicious lies that turned their lives upside down, one of their lawyers, Von Dubose, said in a news release.

Giuliani's spreading of debunked claims about Freeman and Moss has also caught the attention of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who's investigating whether Trump and others illegally tried to influence Georgia's 2020 election. Willis has told Giuliani's lawyers he could face criminal charges in that investigation.

The defamation lawsuit originally named right-wing cable news channel One America News Network, its owners and its chief White House correspondent for also pushing the debunked claims. They were dismissed from the suit in May after reaching an undisclosed settlement with Moss and Freeman.

The two women also have filed a separate defamation lawsuit against The Gateway Pundit, its owner Jim Hoft and his brother Joe Hoft, a contributor to the conservative website. That lawsuit is pending in Missouri.
A Rapides Parish jury took 90 minutes to find a Boyce man guilty Monday in the 2004 murder of 19-year-old Courtney Coco, drawing soft cries from her family and supporters.

David Anthony Burns, 46, faces mandatory life in prison after his conviction on a charge of second-degree murder. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 28.

Coco's body was found Oct. 4, 2004, in an abandoned building in Winnie, Texas. Leads grew cold, and an indictment against Burns didn't come until April 2021.

Coco's mother, Stephanie Belgard, had said during deliberations that she was placing her faith in the jurors. As she left the courthouse, she cried and spoke of them.

"I want to tell them thank you for looking at this with open eyes and ears and their hearts and doing the right thing, giving us justice. I wish I could hug them all," she said as she stood between her mother, Ina Laborde, and daughter, Lace Evans.

Burns' defense attorney, Christopher LaCour, was so shocked by the verdict he initially told 9th Judicial District Court Judge Mary Lauve Doggett that he couldn't think about setting a sentencing date.

When Doggett suggested Nov. 21, he said he would not schedule it on Burns' birthday.

As he was leaving, LaCour  flanked by his co-counsel Willie Stephens  called the verdict "a gut punch."

He said there were many inconsistent statements made during the trial and thought Coco's family factored into it.

"I think this was a sympathy verdict, and I think some of those jurors had their minds made up already," he said, insisting that the case was "truly tried for political reasons."

Rapides Parish District Attorney Phillip Terrell denied that, saying his office didn't bend any sort of pressure in handling the case, either political or from Coco's family or media.

He said he was not surprised by the verdict, even though he knew the case was "extremely difficult." He credited and thanked the prosecutor who tried the case, Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Hugo Holland, and his co-counsel and fellow Assistant District Attorney, Johnny Giordano.

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"We did this in what we felt was the right way. We investigated it the right way," he said.

Holland said this was his most difficult murder case in 34 years.

"Even though nobody put any pressure on me as to when we were going to indict or how we were going to proceed, I put the pressure on myself because I wanted to deliver for Courtney," he said. "I'm glad we could do that."

Both the state and defense told jurors during closing arguments earlier Monday afternoon that a lot of pieces still were missing from the story surrounding Coco's death.

The difference is Holland contended there was enough presented during testimony to convict Burns, while LaCour told jurors he's convinced her cause of death will never be known.

Holland told jurors to remember Occam's Razor, the principle that states, basically, that the simplest explanation is almost always the best.

He told them to keep that in mind when LaCour tried to tell them Coco's death wasn't a homicide, that those who said Burns confessed to them were lying and that there are other suspects.

He said the people who came forward to say Burns confessed to them were separated by time and space. He pointed to one witness who said Burns told her Coco had been wrapped in plastic and then to testimony from Coco's grandmother, Ina Laborde, that she noticed her granddaughter's shower curtain missing while cleaning the house after her death.

Holland said he doesn't know what happened at Coco's home on the night she died, but he said he had some guesses. He theorized that Burns, who was living with Coco's sister Lace Evans, left their home after an argument and went to Coco, who Evans testified was having an affair with Burns.

Did Coco end their affair? Did they fight over a sexually transmitted disease that testimony showed Coco had? Holland said he didn't know, but it couldn't have been pleasant.

And he said it's after her death that the assertion of the defense's sole witness, pathologist Dr. Stephen Norman, fails.

Norman testified he believed Coco died from an overdose of alcohol and Tramadol.

Cold-case homicide:Mom tells jury she's waited 18 years for suspect to face trial in Courtney Coco's murder

Testimony:Courtney Coco jurors hear 2nd person who said David Burns talked about her death

If what Norman said is true, why wouldn't anyone have called 911 or leave Coco's body at her home, Holland asked.

"The pieces that we do have point to two inescapable conclusions, that Courtney Coco was murdered and that David Burns did it," he said.

LaCour said everyone connected to the case has different stories. He also questioned why Evans wasn't facing charges since two of those who said Burns confessed to them also said Evans was involved.

The body of Courtney Coco, 19, was found in an abandoned building in Winnie, Texas, in October 2004. The Alexandria Police Department arrested a Boyce man, 45-year-old David Anthony Burns, after he was indicted on a second-degree murder charge in her death.

"It is truly a whodunit. And guess what?" he asked. "That question has still not been answered."

He questioned the credibility of multiple state witnesses and said he didn't have to answer a challenge that Holland issued to prove Coco's death was anything but a murder. He said Burns is innocent and that nobody can place him at any scene connected to the case.

LaCour said it's as if the state threw darts at a board when deciding how to try its case.

"This case is filled with doubt," LaCour said.

Under Louisiana law, the sentence for second-degree murder is life in prison without the possibility of parole, probation or suspension of sentence.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Man found guilty in 2004 murder of 19-year-old Courtney Coco
Ramzan Kadyrov urged Chechens to join the units under his control

The warlord said this at a meeting with a detachment of the Akhmat Russian Guard, which is controlled by him.

"Now the call-ups will begin, and if he (the soldier) is already enlisted in some regiment or battalion, he will not have to go to the (Russian) army, he will be among his own, Chechens, Kadyrov said.

Otherwise, you will be taken somewhere, to some division, brigade, and your relatives will not know where you are.

Read also: Ukrainian army destroys ammo depot, kills a dozen Kadyrov troops in Luhansk Oblast in past day

Against the background of the dispute with the leadership of the Russian Defense Ministry, he thus decided to recruit as many Chechens as possible to his so-called TikTok troops so that they would not be taken to the Russian Armed Forces.

Kadyrov regularly blames the Russian military leadership for the failures in Ukraine, claiming that he would have coped with their task much better.

The Chechen units earned the derogatory title TikTok troops because they regularly post video of themselves on social media in situations that appear to be simulations of combat, rather than real combat.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Allison Fluke-Ekren, 42, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison and 25 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to leading an all-female Isis battalion in Syria and training young women to fight with guns, grenades and suicide devices.

The Kansas woman previously admitted in US federal court in Alexandria, Virginia that she was the leader of the Khatiba Nusaybah in Raqqa.

She pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiring to provide material support for terrorism and experts said she is the first American woman to be prosecuted for having a role with Isis, according to The Washington Post.

Court papers stated that after university in the US, she moved with her second husband and children to Egypt in 2008 and helped terrorist groups in Iraq, Libya and Syria for eight years.

Over 100 women and young girls received military training from Fluke-Ekren in Syria on behalf of ISIS, federal prosecutors wrote in court filings.

They described her as a fervent believer in the radical terrorist ideology of Isis for many years.

Fluke-Ekren said at a hearing on 7 June 2022 that she was not aware that some of the girls she trained were underage and claimed, we didnt intentionally train any young girls.

In her plea agreement with the Department of Justice, she said she helped her husband analyse US documents stolen by the terrorist group Ansar al-Sharia in a 2012 attack on a US government facility in Benghazi, Libya.

She also admits having discussed plans for terrorist attacks in the US, including using a van full of explosives in a parking lot under a shopping mall. A witness said she stated any attack that did not kill a large number of victims was a waste of resources.

Fluke-Ekren, who broke down during the June hearing at the mention of her children, was arrested in Syria and taken into custody in the US in January.

She was born in Lawrence, Kansas, with her father and grandfather being veterans of the US military, according to USA Today.

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Experts have said that the 42-year-old is a rare case of a powerful woman in the world of Islamic Jihad, which tends to be dominated by men.

Before her sentencing, prosecutors argued that the highest possible sentence of 20 years in prison wouldnt be enough but that it should be handed down.

Her lawyers instead argued that the sentence should be shorter because of the trauma and loss she has suffered.

She lost three husbands and two children abroad, experienced post-traumatic stress syndrome in Syria and quit using violence when she left Isis in May 2019 her attorneys have argued.

Her oldest son and daughter have accused her of physical and sexual abuse, according to prosecutors.

In a sentencing memo, First Assistant US Attorney Raj Parekh said that she brainwashed young girls and trained them to kill.

She carved a path of terror, plunging her own children into unfathomable depths of cruelty by physically, psychologically, emotionally and sexually abusing them, he said.

Her attorneys, Joseph King and Sean Sherlock, said Fluke-Ekren argued that the allegations in the memo were inaccurate, exaggerated, hyperbolic and in many cases completely false.

Prosecutors say she grew up on a farm in Overbrook, Kansas that they described as picturesque and bucolic and a loving and stable home.

Her grandfather was in the Navy during the Second World War and her father was in the Army in Vietnam, prosecutors said.

Court documents reveal that one of her daughters accused her of tormenting her younger brother when she was an adolescent. The daughter said that Fluke-Ekren would do it for fun and that she once attempted to drown him in an icy lake.

After getting pregnant at the age of 16, she married her first husband James Fluke in 1996, court records state. Before their 2002 divorce, they had a son and a daughter.

Mr Fluke said she was a con artist, adding that something is deeply broken inside that woman, according to prosecutors.

Fluke-Ekrens son has shared allegations of years of abuse.

He has said that she choked him until he was unconcious, that she locked him in small spaces until he defecated, and that she poured salt or chemicals where he had been wounded, according to USA Today.

My mother is a monster who enjoys torturing children for sexual pleasure, he said. My mother is a monster very skilled in manipulation and controlling her emotions to her advantage.

Prosecutors also said the son told them that the more her children reacted to the pain, the worse the abuse would get, according to CBS News.

Her daughter also said she was molested. She said that in Egypt, at the age of six, she was slapped with such force that her cheek bruised in the shape of her mothers fingers, court documents say.

My mother would beat my body, leaving my muscles cramping in agony, the daughter alleged.

Fluke-Ekrens attorneys said they had neither the time nor the resources to answer all the allegations against her but they said that she remembered her father as being disapproving, distant, fake and judgmental and her mother as being a victim of severe and incapacitating depression.

She vehemently denies the allegations of abuse and many of the characterizations of her in these paragraphs and points out there were no prior complaints lodged against (her) by her large extended family to any authority, the lawyers said.

Fluke-Ekren met her second husband Volkan Ekren while studying biology at the University of Kansas. It was during this time she converted to Islam, USA Today reported.

They moved to Cairo, Egypt in 2008 after she had started a graduate teaching program at Earlham College in Indiana in June of the previous year.

Several relatives said she left the US to avoid paying student loans totalling $86,817.

Her lawyers say she left ISIS in May 2019 after the death of her fourth husband, Mohammed Doe.

She later married another man, Mahmood Mustafa, with no connections to the terror group, and attempted to to bring safety and stability to her children and to allow herself to settle down and live as normal a life as possible, her lawyers argued.

The attorneys said she worked for an NGO and taught at a school before attempting to surrender to local police in the summer of last year.

After being held for seven months, she was transferred back to the US in January of this year.

Her life after leaving ISIS reflected her disavowal of violence, her attorneys claimed.
Kansas City, Kansas police said theyre seeking information about multiple shooters after seven people were shot  one fatally  at a Halloween party attended by 70-100 high school students Monday night.

Chief Karl Oakman with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department said at a press conference Tuesday morning that the number of shooters hasnt been confirmed, but police are potentially searching for four to six suspects. They also updated the number of people shot, saying there were seven and not eight shooting victims.

According to Oakman, the suspects were wearing costumes and masks when they entered a residence on the 1600 block of South 50th Street.

Oakman said the homeowner noticed they were older than the rest of the attendees and asked them to leave. Police said the suspects complied, but then showered the home with gunfire. Students were both inside and outside the home when several were hit, Oakman said.

An investigator with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms leads a police dog through the scene of a shooting in Kansas City, Kansas where seven people were shot, one fatally, during a large gathering at a home in the 1600 block of South 50th Street.

A 17-year-old male victim was pronounced dead at the scene. An 18-year-old remained hospitalized in stable condition.

The others, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, were between the ages of 15-16.

Oakman said its unclear whether the suspects knew anyone at the party, but the event was advertised on social media, potentially allowing strangers to attend.

Police are now pursuing a dark colored SUV and asking for the publics help to solve the case.

Every bit of information will help, Oakman said. Were asking the parents of the kids to please talk to their young people and have them come forward.

At the press conference, Mayor Tyrone Garner expressed his condolences to the children who attended and their families.

Kansas City, Kansas police were investigating after eight people were shot, one fatally, at a residence in the 1600 block of South 50th Street were a large Halloween party was being held. Police say as many as 100 people, including high school aged juveniles, were in attendance.

Nobody should have to wake up this morning and have to deal with mourning the loss of a loved one, he said. Our young people  especially on a holiday  should not have to be worried about not going home when they go out to enjoy themselves anywhere in our community.

Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree also spoke, assuring those affected that the attorneys office would bring about justice. We hope that we can reach a quick end to this investigation, Dupree said.

Kansas City, Kansas police were asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

The Stars Bill Lukitsch contributed to this report.
Getty Images

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness waiver expired on October 31.

But the Education Department plans to implement permanent fixes to the program following the waiver.

Those include a one-time account adjustment, along with simplifying criteria to qualify for relief.

A key waiver for student-loan borrowers in public service just expired, but that doesn't mean benefits are over.

Last October, President Joe Biden's Education Department announced reforms to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which forgives student debt for government and nonprofit workers after ten years of qualifying payments. One of the reforms was a temporary waiver that allowed past payments, including those previously deemed ineligible, to count toward forgiveness progress, and that waiver expired on Monday.

While some Democratic lawmakers had hoped the waiver would be extended to give more borrowers the opportunity to access its benefits, the Education Department said an extension wasn't necessary because it would be putting permanent fixes to the program in place.

"As we emerge from the pandemic and the waiver period ends, we're focused on making this program work for the long haul," Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told reporters last week. "People have asked me, 'are you going to provide an extension to the waiver?' Well instead, today we are announcing permanent changes to reduce the red tape and the confusing rules that riddle the PSLF program."

Part of those changes included a one-time account adjustment to borrowers enrolled in PSLF, along with income-driven repayment plans, to resolve any mistakes on borrowers' payments to date. So if a borrower missed the PSLF waiver deadline, they'll still have one more chance through this adjustment to ensure their payments counts are accurate. This adjustment will be implemented in July 2023, so borrowers whose loans are not in the direct federal loan program or have Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) held by the department need to consolidate into an eligible loan by May 1, 2023 to receive the benefit.

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Beyond that adjustment, PSLF borrowers can expect to see improvements to the program starting next summer. They will include allowing borrowers to receive credit for any late payments, credit for forbearance or deferment periods, and simplifying employment criteria. On Monday, the department finalized those new fixes, along with ones for other targeted loan forgiveness programs like borrower defense to repayment, which discharges loans for borrowers who prove they were defrauded by the school they attended.

While it will take a little while for borrowers to see those fixes, in the meantime, the department is still working to implement Biden's up to $20,000 in broad student-loan forgiveness. While the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily halted the plan, prohibiting the department from actually canceling any student debt until it makes a final decision on the legality of the policy, Cardona told reporters on Monday that borrowers should keep applying for the relief through the online form, and he is moving "full speed ahead" with implementation.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russian occupation forces are forcibly removing civilians from their homes and moving into those homes.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 1 November

Quote: "The occupiers are forcibly displacing civilians.

In the city of Kakhovka in Kherson Oblast, civilians living near the bank of the River Dnipro are being forcibly removed from their homes.

Russian forces are constructing fortifications and planting mines among civilian dwellings."

Details: Russian military personnel are putting psychological and physical pressure on local residents in the village of Novochornomoria, in the Skadovsk district (also in Kherson Oblast).

The General Staff has reported that civilians are being forcibly removed from their homes; it is expected that Russian soldiers will be moving into those homes.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Zach D Roberts/NurPhoto via Getty Images

An anti-government extremist in Ohio built homemade machine guns, stockpiled silencers and bomb-making materials, and acquired a rifle-mounted grenade launcherwhich he later said he received in a trade along with some primo cocaineas part of a scheme to kill as many government officials as possible before police killed him, according to a criminal complaint obtained first by The Daily Beast.

Sandusky resident Aron McKillips, 29, was arrested Tuesday by members of a task force from the FBIs Cleveland Division. He is a well-known member of the Boogaloo Bois, a loosely affiliated militia group seeking to overthrow the government by touching off a second Civil War, states the complaint, which was unsealed Tuesday in Toledo federal court. McKillips is charged with unlawful possession of a machine gun and interstate communication of threats.

Investigators say McKillips spoke often to other members, some of whom turned out to be federal informants, about his violent plansincluding his desire to blow up the IRS, destroy Facebook headquarters, and carry out a copycat attack modeled on the deadly 2017 mass shooting at a Las Vegas country music concert. More prosaically, McKillips talked about detonating a pipe bomb at a local child support office last year over processing fees, the complaint states.

This shit started out being a fucking way to kill feds, McKillips allegedly said in an audio recording posted to a Signal chat room last year in which he talked about burning down federal buildings and shooting federal agents.

Thats what we were about, McKillips continued, according to the complaint. The main fucking beginning was kill feds, kill police, kill government officials. Kill them. Murder them. Unalive them. Delete them. Get rid of them. And then it became were gonna do this peaceful. Fuck that.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=102989615562217&set=ecnf.100075535357674

In another Signal chat, McKillips, who said hed travel out of state to smoke a hog, lamented the fact that noone [sic] wants to raid government building [sic] with me, according to the complaint. When another user responded, Thats too much drama, McKillop allegedly replied, Not yet, not till I mail a feds [sic] head back to his wife.

Story continues

Named after a 1980s film about breakdancing, the Boogaloo Bois are generally associated with the extreme right but have also been seen providing security at Black Lives Matters protests. At least two individuals who participated in the January 6 Capitol riots were also associated with the movement. McKillips is also reportedly a member of the New Sons of Liberty (NSOL) militia group, which advocates violence in pursuit of a far-right future.

McKillips online activity shows him to be a prolific shitposter, echoing right-wing talking points about stormtrooper-esque IRS agents and mocking Paul Pelosi, the 82-year-old husband of Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after he was attacked by an intruder with a hammer over the weekend.

Neil McElroy, McKillips court-appointed defense attorney, told The Daily Beast on Tuesday that his client is scheduled to appear before a judge later this afternoon, and that he will meet with him for the first time at some point prior.

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio

The investigation into McKillips, whose Facebook profile says he works as a welder, can be traced back to New Years Eve 2020, when he was stopped for a traffic violation by the Sandusky Police Department, according to the complaint.

Officers found several hundred rounds of 5.56mm and 9mm ammunition, body armor, AR-15 rifle upper receiver, parachute flares, medical kits, firearm components, and military style equipment in the rear of McKillips car, as well as two marijuana roaches in the center console, which cops seized. McKillips was issued a citation and released, the complaint says.

On Jan. 21, 2021, one of at least half a dozen confidential informants cited in the complaint provided investigators with screenshots of a Signal chat during which a user with the handle Prison (NW-OH) NSOL posted a photo of an AR-15-type rifle fitted with a grenade launcher, according to the complaint. The profile included an Ohio phone number, which police linked back to an Aaron McKillips at Aron McKillips home address. (The Daily Beast has redacted all personally identifiable information from the filing.)

About three weeks later, a different confidential informant gave investigators screenshots of another chat in which McKillips allegedly posted a series of disturbing messages under the name prisonoh, meaning Prison Ohio.

According to the screenshots, McKillips indicated that the government took some money from him and he still owed the government money, the complaint states. Prisonoh then indicated that Ive [sic] got some planning to do brother, and that its [sic] time i do something for the movement.

Prisonoh then reiterated that he had planning to do, and said The fight may be coming to my door sooner than later, the complaint added, noting that later he also offered to sell an AR-15 type rifle fitted with what appears to be a grenade launcher, along with three flash bangs and a triple pouch, a piece of tactical gear that holds three rifle magazines.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid08iuue9EFh2NxXxrvC2w7zNonvzyoPQpHhz8gCQemytJhfpSfpQazj2zgpefy5unGl&id=100075535357674

The complaint states McKillips made several concerning statements in the Signal chat, including discussing killing informants, his approval of another Boogaloo member who killed a law enforcement officer, and selling several firearms. McKillips also allegedly discussed drilling out the top of his door and filling it with Tanneritean explosive that prosecutors note could cause a door to explode if it was shot with a rifle, perhaps during an anticipated stand-off with law enforcement officers.

In April 2021, McKillips allegedly provided drop-in auto searsor DIAS, which are attachments that turn semi-automatic firearms into fully-automatic machine gunsto several Boogaloo Bois in Lansing, Michigan. Prosecutors note that McKillips instructed each person on how the DIAS worked before performing a function check on the weapons themselves. In August, McKillips discussed trading an auto-sear for a whisper pickle, slang for a silencer, the complaint states, adding that McKillips boasted about literally handing out machine guns in Michigan.

The complaint states that in another chat, McKillips admitted that he wanted to shoot someone in the chest with a grenade launcher he allegedly acquired and said if he were to be arrested, he would not be taken alive, noting he slept with his rifle.

The following month, one of the confidential informants told investigators that McKillips had been at a protest at the Richland County Jail in Mansfield, Ohio, to support an inmate who had been killed by corrections officers, according to the complaint.

After the protest, the protestors arrived at a house for a party, it continues. According to [the informant], during the party, McKillips stated he had an AK-47 that he traded for a .308 that he then traded for a grenade launcher and some primo cocaine. McKillips said his grenade launcher was firing pin activated and he had the knowledge to make high explosive rounds that he could shoot out of the launcher.

In June, McKillips participated in a Black Lives Matter protest in Louisville, providing security and blocking off traffic for other protesters, the complaint states. On July 6, 2021, McKillips posted several recordings in a Signal chat where he talked about shooting federal agents and burning down government buildings, prosecutors say.

Aint Got a federal badge off a corpse yet, so my time here aint near done yet lol, McKillips said in one of the recordings, according to the complaint. I dont believe in anything. Im only here for the violence so-we gonna fucking start killing people like federal agents and shit or are we gonna fucking sit here and jerk off?

In the same recording, McKillips is also allegedly heard saying he is down to go to like riots and shit and would really like to uh-put that energy toward like federal buildings or uh police departments.

Yes, fuck mass corporations but still Id rather put that energy towards fucking the White House, he added. Alright, alright so fuck Target. Fuck Walmart. Fuck all those one fucking corporations. Dont attack the mom and pa shops and were fucking good. Burn down and loot TargetLeave Sears alone cause they got really good [unintelligible] selection of tools and stuff cause Im poor.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=172241351970376&set=ecnf.100075535357674

In October 2021, prosecutors say McKillips also took aim at a child support officeallegedly discussing planting a pipe bomb in the building because they charged the mother of his children a processing fee.

Throughout 2022, McKillips continued building automatic rifles, saying on Signal that he was ready to do Gods work, the complaint states. In April, he posted a photograph of himself driving on the highway with the comment omw to raid Columbus ATF office, it notes. He shared a picture of an AR-15 pointed out the window at a police car across the street, and allegedly sold an undercover informant an auto-sear device during a controlled buy in September.

Last month, McKillips wrote in the Boogaloo Bois Signal chat that he believed he was going to be raided by law enforcement.

Needless to say 2 cops were on the corner I didnt notice at first, so now my AR is on my chest, he allegedly said in the chat.

McKillips is set to appear Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Darrell A. Clay.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Kit Connor has come out as bisexual. (Getty Images)

Kit Connor, the 18-year-old star of Netflix's Heartstopper, has come out as bisexual after pressure from fans.

The British teenage actor stars as gay school boy Nick Nelson in the coming-of-age-drama based on the bestselling graphic novels by Alice Oseman.

Connor tweeted: "back for a minute. im bi. congrats for forcing an 18 year old to out himself. i think some of you missed the point of the show. bye [sic]"

Read more: National Coming Out Day: 8 celebrities who shared their stories

The child star - who has had roles in films including Get Santa and Rocketman and CBBC show Rocket's Island - did not give a reason for his statement.

Heartstopper stars Kit Connor and Joe Locke at the National Television Awards 2022. (Getty Images)

On 12 September he had 'quit' Twitter, writing: "this is a silly silly app. bit bored of it now, deleting twitter :) [sic]"

Connor was recently photographed holding hands with Maia Reficco, his co-star in upcoming movie A Cuban Girls Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, sparking 'straight allegations' on social media.

Back in May he tweeted: "Some people on here know my sexuality better than I do."

The South London born teenager attended Pride London with his Heartstopper co-star Joe Locke in July and the pair were also photographed holding hands.

Since his statement on Twitter many fans have come out in support of Connor.

Maia Reficco showed her support for Kit Connor on social media. (Getty Images)

Author Oseman, who wrote the Heartstopper books commented: "I truly don't understand how people can watch Heartstopper and then gleefully spend their time speculating about sexualities and judging based on stereotypes. I hope all those people are embarrassed as F**K. Kit you are amazing"

Co-star Sebastian Croft wrote: "Kit Connor, the world doesnt deserve you. Love you my friend."

Pretty Little Liars star Reficco, 22, who was pictured holding hands with Connor in between filming scenes for their new movie, shared a grey heard emoji in response to his tweet.

Read more: Lottie Moss reveals she is pansexual: heres what it means

Story continues

And Attitude magazine wrote: "You beautiful man - much love from Team @AttitudeMag. Weve been with you from the start of the Heartstopper adventure and stand alongside you now. Its awful youve felt this way, but know that you are loved."

Watch: The trailer for Heartstopper season 2
Photo: Shutterstock (Shutterstock)

So youve just discovered you were scammed out of $1,000. You are feeling emotional and upset, and understandably so. You post about it on Twitter, notifying your friends and family so they dont become a target of the same scammer. Then, out of the blue, you are contacted by a recovery agent claiming they can get your money back. That sounds great...but its yet another scam. Dont let bad actors add insult to injuryheres what you need to know about recovery scams, and how to avoid them.



How do recovery scams work?

After being victimized by the first scam, you will be contacted by phone call, email, or via social media by someone claiming to be a government official, attorney, or a recovery agent. They might claim to have your money in hand already, or be working with official agents or a court to distribute the recovered funds. Getting your money back, they tell you, will only require you to pay an upfront fee. Once youve been roped in, they will likely come back to you seeking more handouts to cover additional fees or to pay taxes. The scammers will keep asking your for money until you are wiped out or finally realize whats going on.

Read more

Recovery scammers prey on your frustrations at having been ripped off by promising to fix everything for you. They may claim not only to be able to get your money back; if your online accounts were hacked, scammers might claim to be an account recovery agent experienced in wresting a compromised account out of the hands of bad actors.

These scammers are quite prolific in the realms of cryptocurrency, a relatively new market with a lot of unexperienced users who have become easy targets. The scammers will seek out people who tweet or post publicly about being ripped off in order to locate their next mark.

2/ Wallet recovery scams: are bots on Twitter that keeps monitoring keywords such metamask scammed and auto comment. Comments are from bots claiming they got scammed and they mention someone who helped them recover their ETH.



I contacted one of them to find out how it works: pic.twitter.com/WMOO91mIu5  Swanky Orc (@swankyorc_) October 26, 2022

Scammers might also find seemingly gullible victims via a sucker list, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Circulated within the scamming community, these lists will include much of your personal information, including your social media handles, your phone number, your email address, and more. (This explains why you might be contacted soon after falling victim to a scam, even if you didnt post publicly about it.)

Story continues

As we have advised in the past, unless you personally know the person you are transferring money to, never send money through Zelle, PayPal Friends and Family, or Peer-to-peer Venmo, as there is no way to get money back from these services if something goes wrong. This is especially risky if this person claims to be able to give you back your account or have the ability to refund your money.

Can anyone helped me if Ive been scammed?

The sad reality is that there is no scam recovery police, and law enforcement generally has no duty to recover money on your behalf, particularly when the scammer is likely to be located in a different state or even another country. Never believe an official agent who claims to be able to help you recover funds, or even your social media account. Never pay an upfront fee or give anyone your bank account information.

What can I do if I was scammed?

The best thing you can do is to contact your bank and let them know what happened so they can lock down your accounts to protect them from additional abuse. Next, report the scam to the FTC and the Federal Bureau of Investigations Internet Crime Complaint Center. You can also inform your states attorney general, which can help others avoid suffering the same experience. If the scammer claims to be from a legitimate business, report the business to the same agencies and the Better Business Bureau.



Before providing any of your personal information (or money) to a business, research it on reputation sites like Scam Adviser, Website Validator, and URL Void, which will tell you how reputable (or not) these recovery businesses are.

Quickly reporting the situation and contacting your financial institution may improve your chances of getting your money back, notes the National Consumer Law Center, though depending on how the scam was carried out, your chances of being made whole may not be great.

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Our team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the products and deals we love. If you love them too and decide to purchase through the links below, we may receive a commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

If you're not supporting Native American-owned brands throughout the year, now is the perfect time to start. November is Native American Heritage Month, and it's the perfect opportunity to educate yourself about some of the incredible Native American-owned brands creating beautiful items for your closet, home and more.

Whether you're looking for a special item to treat yourself to or you want a truly memorable gift for someone on your holiday shopping list, check out a handful of our favorite finds from Native American-owned brands below. Support these businesses this month and throughout the year.

Bedre Fine Chocolates White Fudge Twists, $4.99

"You've never had a chocolate treat like this before: white fudge-covered corn twists. They're sweet, salty and deliciously crunchy."  Ellie Conley

$4.99 at Bedre Fine Chocolates

Mahota Okcha (Life) Blanket, $320

"This stunning blanket is like a work of art. It's the perfect accent for your sofa or bed that's sure to be an instant conversation starter."  Jeanine Edwards

$320 at Mahota

Kotah Bear Turquoise Butterly Studs, $40

"These beautiful turquoise earrings are handmade and feature a butterfly design set in sterling silver."  Julia Webb

$40 at Kotah Bear

Naiomi Glasses "Dreaming of Turquoise" Floor Rug, $163

"Designed by 7th generation Dine rug weaver Naiomi Glasses, this colorful rug is based on one of her original woven pieces and is inspired by her love of turquoise."  Laura Clark

$163 at Naiomi Glasses

Urban Native Era Paisley Silk Shorts, $175

"These paisley unisex shorts by Urban Native Era are a re-release from the brand's 2021 SOVEREIGN collection. Wear them to sleep, out and about or while WFH (we won't tell your boss)."  Sarah Weldon

$175 at Urban Native Era

Bison Star Naturals Red Lavender Soap, $12

"Don't just buy a bar of this handmade red lavender soap for yourself; it also makes a great gift for family, friends and loved ones."  Jeanine Edwards

$12 at Bison Star Naturals

Indigenous Cosmetics Moroccan Miracle, $35

"This Indigenous-person-owned cosmetics store is known for selling products made with natural ingredients in small batches and this oil is one of its best sellers."  Moriba Cummings

$35 at Indigenous Cosmetics

Cheekbone Beauty Sustain Lipstick in Aki, $24

"Cheekbone's Sustain Lipstick comes in multiple shades, but Aki may be the perfect red for every season."  Ellie Conley

$24 at Cheekbone Beauty

Emme Studio Peridotite Jacket, $360 (Orig. $450)

"Green is clearly having a fashion moment, and this trendy yet classic jacket is the perfect addition to any wardrobe. Grab the matching pants for a truly *chef's kiss* look."  Sarah Weldon

$360 $450 at Emme Studio

Ioway Bee Farm Pure Honey, $15

"Honey is a staple in most kitchens. Get it fresh from the Ioway Bee Farm, which is owned and operated by the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska."  Ellie Conley

$15 at Ioway Bee Farm

Calling Mountains Throw Blanket, $92

"Add some color and dimension to your couch with this stunning throw blanket. It's 100% cotton, and the design was inspired by culturally significant mountains like Denali, Humphreys Peak and Blanca Peak."  Julia Webb

$92 at Eighth Generation

The Round House signed by author Louise Erdrich, $17

"Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louise Erdrich (Turtle Mountain Chippewa) opened her Native-focused bookstore in Minneapolis in 2001. If you can't make it to her store, you can order a signed copy of one of her books (or a selection of other great books) from the shop's website."  Laura Clark

$17 at Birchbark Books

B.Yellowtail Indigenous Beauty Silk Scarf, $90

"Perfect as an accessory in your hair or draped from your handbag, this silk scarf is a gorgeous piece that's sure to garner lots of compliments."  Jeanine Edwards

$90 at B.Yellowtail

Ginew Wax Canvas Rider Jacket, $428

"Known as 'the only Native American denim brand,' Ginew has some of the most well-made clothing that will last you a lifetime."  Moriba Cummings

$428 at Ginew

Prados Beauty Matriarch Brush Set, $45

"Perfect your makeup routine with this 13-piece brush set from Prados Beauty. Not only are the brushes sustainably made and cruelty-free, but the deep lilac color amps up the luxe factor like no other."  Sarah Weldon

$45 at Prados Beauty

Sweet Blends Four Soap Gift Set, $52

"Treat yourself or your friends this season by gifting them Sequoia Soaps! This gift set includes four large soaps: Red Clover, Strawberry Rhubarb, Moon Dance and Beautiful Day."  Julia Webb

$52 at Sequoia Soaps

B.Yellowtail Elk Ivory Necklace, $60

"If you're a jewelry lover, don't wait to pre-order this one-of-a-kind necklace. It's the perfect everyday piece that will complement everything in your closet."  Jeanine Edwards

$60 at B.Yellowtail

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich, $18

"Birchbark Books is an online and physical bookstore in Minnesota that features a large collection of books written by indigenous authors as well as books about indigenous peoples. The Sentence was written by the store's owner."  Moriba Cummings

$18 at Birchbark Books

Sky Eagle Collection "Jubilee" Lace Ribbon Dress, $260

"Osage designer and veteran Dante Biss-Grayson has given the traditional ribbon skirt some gorgeous extra layers with this beautiful floral dress."  Laura Clark

$260 at Sky Eagle Collection

Birch Bark Coffee Inukshuk- Medium/Dark Roast, $13

"All of the Birch Bark Coffee beans are ethically-sourced and SPP certified, meaning that it's grown and produced by farmers that are Indigenous descendants. Try the medium/dark roast, which has notes of molasses, sweet spices, dark chocolate and a hint of smoke."  Ellie Conley

$13 at Birch Bark Coffee

Vintage Guatemalan Neon Stripe Jacket, $250

"Looking for a standout piece to add to your wardrobe? This gorgeous jacket from 4KINSHIP is the perfect topper to any look."  Julia Webb

$250 at 4Kinship

There There by Tommy Orange, $17

"Birchbark Books is an independent bookstore with a major online selection that focuses on works by Indigenous Americans. If you haven't read 2019 Pulitzer Prize finalist There, There by Tommy Orange, order it from Birchbark Books."  Sarah Weldon

$17 at Birchbark Books

SheNative Goods Tori-Lynn Bag, $195.95 (Orig. $389.95)

"This leather bucket bag has delicate cut fridge and was originally designed by Tori-Lynn Wanotch, an indigenous designer based our of Meadow Lake, SK."  Moriba Cummings

$195.95 $389.95 at SheNative Goods

More from In The Know:

50+ Native American-owned brands to shop today and every day

B.Yellowtail is the gorgeous, Native American-owned fashion brand you need to know

Meet Ginew: The brand known as the only Native American-owned denim line

Mahota is the tribally owned textile company that will make your home more beautiful

50+ Native American-owned brands to shop today and every day

B.Yellowtail is the gorgeous, Native American-owned fashion brand you need to know

Meet Ginew: The brand known as the only Native American-owned denim line

Mahota is the tribally owned textile company that will make your home more beautiful

The post In The Know by Yahoo Presents the Native American-Owned Brands Shop appeared first on In The Know.
(Bloomberg) -- South Koreas five major financial holding companies pledged a total of 95 trillion won ($67 billion) by the end of this year to help stabilize the credit market, responding to a request of the regulator.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The heads of KB Financial Group Inc., Hana Financial Group Inc., Shinhan Financial Group Co., Woori Financial Group Inc. and NongHyup Financial Group Inc. made the commitment when they met with Financial Services Commission Chairman Kim Joo-hyun, the regulator said in a statement on Tuesday.

With yields on commercial paper spiking to levels not seen since the global financial crisis after a real estate developers default, Korean authorities have deployed a various measures to stabilize the market, including an aid package of 50 trillion won.

The 95 trillion won in support will contribute to that aid fund. Initiatives include financing for Korea Electric Power Corp. and other SOEs as well as buying asset-backed commercial paper and debt issued by companies. Banks will also maintain credit lines for non-bank financial companies and participate in stabilization funds for stocks and bonds, which were previously announced.

The FSC chairman, heads of financial holding companies and the chairman of Korea Federation of Banks will meet on a regular basis for cooperation until the market is stabilized, the statement said.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2022 Bloomberg L.P.
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's police chief said on Tuesday that crowd control in the area where a crush killed more than 150 party-goers in central Seoul was "inadequate."

Yoon Hee-keun made the remark at a news briefing televised live, saying he felt heavy responsibility over the incident, where a surge in Halloween partiers trapped in narrow alleys killed 155 people and injured another 152.

(Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; Editnig by Kim Coghill)
By Soo-hyang Choi and Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea moved to calm public outrage on Tuesday over a Halloween party crush that killed more than 150 people, most of them young, promising a speedy and intensive inquiry and calling for tough new safety measures to prevent similar disasters.

The death toll from the crush at a crowded Halloween street party on Saturday climbed to 156 with 151 injured, 29 of whom were in serious condition. At least 26 citizens from 14 countries were among the dead.

Tens of thousands of revellers - many in their teens and twenties and dressed in costume - had crowded into narrow streets and alleyways of the popular Itaewon district for the first virtually unrestricted Halloween festivities in three years.

The country's chief security officer, Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, apologised on Tuesday, vowing to find out the cause of the incident and prevent similar cases from recurring.

"As the minister overseeing the safety of the public, I express sincere apologies over the incident," Lee said, adding that the government had "limitless responsibility over the safety of our people" as he addressed a parliamentary session televised live.

He has come under sharp public criticism after saying that deploying more police would not have prevented the disaster.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also tearfully apologised during a media briefing and said the city government would put all available administrative resources "until every citizen can return to their normal lives".

National Police Commissioner General Yoon Hee-keun earlier on Tuesday acknowledged crowd control at the scene was "inadequate," noting that police had received multiple reports warning of possible accidents on the night of the disaster.

"The police will speedily and rigorously conduct intensive inspections and investigation on all aspects without exception to explain the truth of this accident," Yoon told a news conference.

Story continues

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said the ongoing investigation would cover whether government agencies' on-site responses were adequate. He pointed to inadequate institutional measures for crowd management as a cause of the deadly surge.

President Yoon Suk-yeol has declared a week of national mourning, saying the country had too many safety disasters. He said better responses were critical, including improved crowd control.

"We should come up with concrete safety measures to manage crowds, not only on these streets where this massive disaster took place but at other places like stadiums and concert venues where large crowds gather," he said at a cabinet meeting.

All the victims have been identified and memorial altars have been set up at the Seoul city hall and in the Itaewon district, where citizens paid their respects.

(Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi and Hyonhee Shin; Writing by Jack Kim; Editing by Gerry Doyle and Jacqueline Wong)
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Tuesday it was considering what "further steps" to take in connection with its allegation that Britain was responsible for an attack on the Nord Stream undersea gas pipelines.

Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday that British navy personnel had blown up the Nord Stream pipelines in September, an assertion that London said was false and designed to distract from Russian military failures in Ukraine.

"There is evidence that Britain is involved in sabotage ... a terrorist act against vital energy infrastructure," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"Such actions cannot be put aside. Of course, we will think about further steps. It definitely cannot be left like this," Peskov said.

The Kremlin has not provided evidence to support its claims Britain was behind the ruptures on the Nord Stream pipelines, which have threatened to put the multi-billion dollar gas link permanently out of use.

The Kremlin also said no decision had been taken on whether to repair the Russian-controlled pipelines.

Peskov said the Kremlin was awaiting for an expert assessment of the damage and that no decisions had yet been taken on the future of Nord Stream 1 or Nord Stream 2.

Sweden last week ordered additional investigations to be carried out on the damage. Authorities in both Sweden and Denmark have concluded the gas leaks were caused by explosions, but have not said who might be responsible.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Mark Trevelyan)
Capital's power engineers and utilities worked for almost a whole day to restore services

Read also: Energy company DTEK says it is running out of equipment to repair damaged infrastructure

To achieve the restoration of services, the capital's power engineers and utilities worked for almost a whole day. All the same, the regularly scheduled outages in Kyiv will continue due to the deficit of generating capacity in the energy system.

Read also: Russian missiles hit energy infrastructure, cause massive blackouts, loss of heat and water

"Im grateful to the specialists of Kyivvodokanal and DTEK who worked for almost a day to return water and electricity to the residents of the capital," Klitschko said.

"But the blackouts are in place because there is a significant deficit in the energy system after the barbaric attacks of the aggressor," the mayor said.

Read also: Russia damages 18 infrastructure facilities in Oct. 31 missile attack, says Ukraine PM Shmyhal

Russia launched another massive missile attack across Ukraine on Oct. 31. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Russian missiles and drones had damaged 18 infrastructure facilities in 10 oblasts of Ukraine. Most of the damaged objects are energy facilities.

Of the 55 missiles that Russia had fired at Ukraine on Oct. 31, 45 were shot down by air defense forces. According to the head of the National Police Ihor Klymenko, 13 people were injured in yesterday's morning strikes.

Read also: Putin preparing to stretch war well into 2023, not planning nuclear strike, says ISW

The projectiles fired at the capital did not reach their targets thanks to air defense forces, but in Kyiv Oblast, Russian missiles did damage an important energy infrastructure facility that supplies 350,000 households in Kyiv.

As a result, 80% of Kyiv City consumers lost water supply on Oct. 31, and there were problems with the electricity supply in the capital.

Read also: Zelenskyys chief-of-staff main objective in war

As of 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 after the Russian attacks in the morning, in Kyiv, 270,000 households remained without electricity, and 40% of consumers still had no water supply.

Later in the day energy provider DTEK fully restored the electricity supply in the city of Kyiv and to 85% of the surrounding Kyiv Oblast.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Blake Masters. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Marc Victor, the Libertarian candidate running for Arizona Senate, dropped out of the race Tuesday and endorsed Republican Blake Masters, offering the GOP nominee a key "lift heading into the final week" of the 2022 midterms, The New York Times reports.

The backing from Victor "is another major boost of momentum as we consolidate our support," Masters, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly (D), told the Times.

"I've said from the very beginning that the reason I'm running for Senate is to promote and get us in the direction of freedom and peace and civility," Victor said in a YouTube video detailing his endorsement, per Fox News. Masters "really is  in his heart and in his mind  he's in favor of doing everything he can to get us very sternly, very smartly in the direction of 'live and let live.' And that seems like a good tradeoff to me."

Masters and Victor spoke on the phone for roughly 20 minutes on Monday. Victor had notably "made such a conversation a precondition to quitting, technically offering such an opportunity both to [Masters] and to [Kelly]," the Times writes. The Libertarian candidate was polling at just 1 percent, according to the most recent New York Times/Siena College poll released Monday.

Early voting is already underway in Arizona, where Kelly is currently leading Masters by 3 points, per FiveThirtyEight's updating polling average.

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The Duchess of Sussex has revealed that her and Prince Harrys daughter Lilibet has just started walking.

Speaking during a new episode of her Spotify podcast Archetypes, Meghan Markle tells actor, director and producer Pamela Adlon that her youngest child, who is a year and a a couple of months old has become mobile, joking shes in the thick of it.

In a discussion about the challenging early years of being a parent, Megan notes of the morning rush that shes sure it can only get more chaotic as they get older.

Of her daily routine, she adds: But, for me, its monitors on for the kids to hear them, always up with Lili, get her downstairs, then a half hour later, Archies up.

She goes on to say that she then start[s] doing his lunchbox right before hes up while I have her, getting her a little nibble, my husbands helping me get him downstairs...

I make breakfast for all three of them, she continues. It's very important to me. I love doing it. 'For me, it just feels like the greatest way to start the morning.

After breakfast, the mother-of-two says that she feeds the family dogs, as she reveals that she and Prince Harry recently got a third pup.

Harry and Meghan named their son Archie Harrison (Toby Melville/PA) (PA Wire)

And then it's like feed all three of the dogs - because we just got another dog - and then it's get Archie out the door for school and, you know, but it does, it feels like a whirlwind, she said.

When asked if Prince Harry is involved in the taxing morning routine, Meghan replies: Oh, my husband? Hes great.

The episode, entitled Good Wife/Bad Wife, Good Mom/Bad Mom also interviews First Lady of Canada, Sophie Trudeau, and Saturday Night Live comedian and writer Sam Jay.

Introducing Trudeau, Meghan said: Sophie has become a dear friend and someone who I think is so emblematic of strength that comes from embracing your humanity, even in the face of all these family and home and public pressures, keeping that sense of self while holding up the mantle of what comes with being a parent and a spouse, that's a full plate.

The pair, who became friends before Meghan got together with Prince Harry, met while she was filming the hit TV series Suits.

In the podcast episode, Meghan recalls a recent visit from the First Lady to her mansion in Montecito, California, where the pair drank and became giddy like schoolgirls.
There are a few key trends to look for if we want to identify the next multi-bagger. In a perfect world, we'd like to see a company investing more capital into its business and ideally the returns earned from that capital are also increasing. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. With that in mind, we've noticed some promising trends at Lion Industries Corporation Berhad (KLSE:LIONIND) so let's look a bit deeper.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?

If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Lion Industries Corporation Berhad:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.0022 = RM5.3m  (RM3.5b - RM1.1b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2021).

Thus, Lion Industries Corporation Berhad has an ROCE of 0.2%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Metals and Mining industry average of 13%.

See our latest analysis for Lion Industries Corporation Berhad

roce

Historical performance is a great place to start when researching a stock so above you can see the gauge for Lion Industries Corporation Berhad's ROCE against it's prior returns. If you'd like to look at how Lion Industries Corporation Berhad has performed in the past in other metrics, you can view this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us

We're delighted to see that Lion Industries Corporation Berhad is reaping rewards from its investments and is now generating some pre-tax profits. Shareholders would no doubt be pleased with this because the business was loss-making five years ago but is is now generating 0.2% on its capital. And unsurprisingly, like most companies trying to break into the black, Lion Industries Corporation Berhad is utilizing 26% more capital than it was five years ago. This can indicate that there's plenty of opportunities to invest capital internally and at ever higher rates, both common traits of a multi-bagger.

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Our Take On Lion Industries Corporation Berhad's ROCE

To the delight of most shareholders, Lion Industries Corporation Berhad has now broken into profitability. And since the stock has dived 79% over the last five years, there may be other factors affecting the company's prospects. Still, it's worth doing some further research to see if the trends will continue into the future.

One final note, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Lion Industries Corporation Berhad (including 1 which is concerning) .

If you want to search for solid companies with great earnings, check out this free list of companies with good balance sheets and impressive returns on equity.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Liverpool Biennial will return in 2023 with more than 30 artists exploring "the thread between catastrophe and aliveness", its organisers have said.

The 12th edition of the UK's "largest free art festival" will be curated by South African artist Khanyisile Mbongwa and run from June to September 2023.

The event will be presented across the city, working in public spaces, historic sites and art venues.

Event director Sam Lackey said it would give "new perspectives on our city".

A Biennial representative said the festival had been titled "uMoya: The Sacred Return of Lost Things", a title which uses the isiZulu word for spirit, breath, air, climate and wind.

Mbongwa said it had been chosen because while wind "often represents the fleeting and transient... I remember my first moment standing at the docks in Liverpool and feeling the wind in my bones".

She said it was the "same wind that made Liverpool the epicentre for the trade of enslaved people and a city that built itself through each 'merchant' ship".

"I wondered: 'How can this wind redraw the lines of cartography as pathways for a reckoning to occur [and] how can it gesture towards healing through implementing systems of care that would allow for a sacred return?'," she said.

"A return to self that aligns the celestial and ancestral, a return where one is not denied access to themselves, a return where all that is lost or stolen is acknowledged, remembered, accounted for, ignited and returned."

The Biennial representative said the event would explore the ways "in which people and objects have the potential to manifest power as they move across the world, while acknowledging the continued losses of the past".

"It draws a line from the ongoing catastrophes caused by colonialism towards an insistence on being truly alive," they said.

They added that the event would include a "dynamic programme of free exhibitions, performances, screenings, community and learning activities and fringe events" and shine a light "on the city's vibrant cultural scene".

Story continues

Ms Lackey said she was "excited to bring the spirit of uMoya to the city of Liverpool".

"At this moment of global instability, the vision and experience of our curator brings a perspective of historic acknowledgement that ultimately proposes alternative futures for our world," she said.

"The geographical breadth of artists will provide new perspectives on our city that acknowledge its past and continued effects on the world and suggests new modes of repair, freedom and joy."

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is scheduled to meet today with soldiers from the Armys 18th Airborne Corps who returned home yesterday to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, after a nine-month deployment to Europe.

The corps deployed 300 service members to Germany in February to reinforce NATOs eastern member states and to help deter Russia following the countrys invasion of Ukraine.

The return of the full corps followed service members from 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment, who arrived back in the U.S. last month.

During his time at Bragg, Austin will participate in briefings, troop engagements and a military spouse roundtable, according to a Pentagon news release. Among his other assignments, Austin previously served as the commander of the 18th Airborne Corps, including during a deployment to Iraq in 2008.

Our [s]oldiers answered the nations call by supporting our European Allies and partners during a historic period. We thank them and their [f]amilies for their sacrifice and welcome them back home to the place that is the beacon of liberty, Lt. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue, commanding general of the 18th Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, said in a press release.

Donahue took command of the 18th Airborne Corps in March after notably becoming the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan last year, marking the end of Americas longest war.

WE ARE BACK!



XVIII Airborne Corps Headquarters Returns from Europe



Read the full article here  https://t.co/iXO7fdV6XK pic.twitter.com/J3uw20u54T  XVIII Airborne Corps (@18airbornecorps) October 31, 2022

In response to Russias assault on Ukraine, close to NATO members like Poland, the U.S. deployed an additional 20,000 forces to the region. There are now approximately 100,000 service members throughout Europe, the press release added.

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During their time overseas, the 18th Airborne Corps helped train and equip Ukrainians to defend their nation, providing a headquarters to manage American troops in Wiesbaden, Germany.

US may establish new command in Germany to arm Ukraine: report

This was a historic mission for Americas Contingency Corps, Command Sgt. Maj. T.J. Holland, senior enlisted advisor for the 18th Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, said in the press release.

This was the first time the Corps has deployed to the European continent since World War II, and the commander and I are proud of every one of our [s]oldiers who rapidly deployed to reassure our Allies and partners, and showing the American people the Armys standards of readiness and perseverance this organization embodies.
STORY: But some residents were not too worried about the increase in cases and unfazed by the restrictions which include regular testing, saying it was something that was needed for a gradual reopening.

"I think this (COVID curb at Disney) is part of a dynamic epidemic prevention plan because my child started online classes at home. I think many schools in Shanghai today will do this. Us parents are slowly getting used to it. This is also a personal commitment and sacrifice we make as Chinese citizens to the government and our society," said 35-year-old resident Fang Yi.

While much of the world has started to open up, China has vowed to stick to its zero-tolerance approach to COVID-19 with lockdowns and mass testing imposed when even a single case is found.
Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith, shown in 2011, has faced a civil corruption case in which prosecutors allege that her office issued concealed-carry permits to political donors and supporters. (Paul Sakuma / Associated Press)

Embattled Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith abruptly stepped down Monday, before a jury reached a verdict in the civil corruption trial that could have led to her removal from office.

The longtime San Jose-area sheriff has struggled to recover from multiple scandals, including allegations of corruption and bribery among her command staff and abuse in the county jails  leading to a vote of no confidence from the county's Board of Supervisors last year.

Smith, who in 1998 became the first woman to be elected a county sheriff in California, has spent the last few weeks fighting a corruption case in civil court, in which prosecutors have outlined a bribery scheme that allegedly traded concealed-carry permits for political donations.

The unusual trial is a civil proceeding that only seeks to remove Smith from her position. She has not been directly linked in the criminal cases that have ensnared her former undersheriff and others.

The jury in the corruption trial began deliberating Friday, according to the Mercury News, and if Smith had been found guilty, she would have been immediately ousted from her position as sheriff. However, as of Monday, it wasn't clear when a verdict would be reached or how Smith's decision to step down early would affect the case.

Smith had previously announced plans to retire at the end of her term in January, choosing to not seek reelection, according to the Mercury News. Santa Clara County voters will choose a new sheriff in next week's election.

Smith announced her retirement effective Monday, according to a statement from the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. Undersheriff Ken Binder will step into the role of acting sheriff "until a new top cop is elected or appointed by the Board of Supervisors," the statement said.

"The Sheriffs Office remains committed to our mission to provide the highest level of public safety and service to our community during this transition," the statement said.

Story continues

Smiths attorney, Allen Ruby, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The California attorney general's office this year announced a civil rights investigation into the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, which a spokesperson confirmed Monday is ongoing.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Does the November share price for PNE Industries Ltd (SGX:BDA) 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. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

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. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for PNE Industries

The Method

We have to calculate the value of PNE Industries slightly differently to other stocks because it is a electronic company. In this approach dividends per share (DPS) are used, as free cash flow is difficult to estimate and often not reported by analysts. This often underestimates the value of a stock, but it can still be good as a comparison to competitors. The 'Gordon Growth Model' is used, which simply assumes that dividend payments will continue to increase at a sustainable growth rate forever. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a company's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In this case we used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.9%). The expected dividend per share is then discounted to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.7%. Compared to the current share price of S$0.7, the company appears about fair value at a 13% 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.

Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate)

= S$0.05 / (7.7%  1.9%)

Story continues

= S$0.9

dcf

The Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. 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 PNE Industries 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 7.7%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.255. 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 ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For PNE Industries, we've put together three further factors you should explore:

Risks: Take risks, for example - PNE Industries has 5 warning signs (and 3 which are significant) we think you should know about. 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! Other Top Analyst Picks: Interested to see what the analysts are thinking? Take a look at our interactive list of analysts' top stock picks to find out what they feel might have an attractive future outlook!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Singaporean 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.

Join A Paid User Research Session

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Mark Finchem, a conspiracy theorist and election denier running on the Republican ticket for Arizona secretary of state, has credited his return to Twitter to Elon Musk.

WHOA. Arizona Secretary of State candidate @RealMarkFinchem was suspended on Twitter. @elonmusk this shouldnt happen a week before the election! former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis tweeted on Monday night.

Mr Musk responded that he was looking into it.

Mr Finchem wrote on his Facebook page on Monday that his Twitter account had been blocked because he had been speaking the truth with one week left until the election.

Tag Elon Musk and tell him to unban me right now, Mr Finchem added.

What tweet got me in trouble? he wrote later. Probably the one that made Obama mad when I told people to boo him at his AZ rally. Assuming he called some of his commie holdovers at Twitter HQ to mess with me.

Ms Ellis included a screenshot in her tweet of an email from Mr Finchem concerning his ban from Twitter.

Mr Finchems account was soon back online later on Monday night.

We are back! he wrote. Thank you Elon Musk for stopping the commie who suspended me a week before the election. Twitter is much better with you at the helm.

In 2014, Mr Finchem wrote in a candidate questionnaire that he was an Oath Keeper committed to the exercise of limited, constitutional governance, according to the Arizona Mirror.

But on Monday night, he wrote: I am not a member of Oath Keepers but there is nothing wrong with swearing an oath to the US Constitution, and I am not a violent man.

He began the Twitter post with the words I love the Jews as he responded to an allegation that he had spread antisemitism by SiriusXM host Dean Obeidallah.

Elon Musk restored the account of Mark Finchem  a man who has peddled open anti-Semitism, is a member of the Oath Keepers, has posted violent imagery concerning politics and more, Mr Obeidallah wrote on Monday night.

Mr Finchem has rejected the fact that former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, and he has become famous for his support for baseless conspiracy theories, even more so than many other pro-Trump Republicans, according to The Daily Beast.

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If Mr Finchem wins the race for Arizona Secretary of State, he will have extensive power over elections in one of the key states in Mr Bidens 2020 victory.

Shortly before he won his August primary, Mr Finchem was recorded falsely claiming that former Vice President Mike Pence had orchestrated a coup to remove Mr Trump from power. He also accused Mr Pence of planning to steal the presidency in the next election in 2024.

He has said that if he were to lose his race, there aint gonna be no concession speech coming from this guy.

The future of Twitter is under scrutiny following Mr Musks $44bn takeover of the company after failing to back out of the deal.

Mr Musks Twitter bio now states Twitter Complaint Hotline Operator.

Last week, Mr Musk said the social media platform mustnt grow into a free-for-all hellscape.

But the Tesla CEO later shared a fact-free conspiracy theory concerning the hammer attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) holds a 3-percentage point lead over Republican Mark Ronchetti in the New Mexico gubernatorial race, according to a new Emerson College Polling-The Hill survey released Monday.

The poll found Lujan Grisham leading Ronchetti 49 percent to 46 percent among very likely voters. Three percent said they were undecided.

The poll shifts Lujan Grishams support to 50 percent and Ronchettis to 48 percent when the survey incorporates those who said they were undecided but were asked whom they were leaning toward at that time.

Still, an overwhelming majority of respondents expect the governor to win a second term. When respondents were asked whom they expected would prevail in the gubernatorial race setting aside the respondents preferred candidate, 58 percent said Lujan Grisham, while 42 percent said Ronchetti.

The last time New Mexico elected a Democrat for governor prior to Lujan Grishams 2018 win was back in 2006, when the state reelected then-Gov. Bill Richardson for a second term. The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the seat as lean Democrat.

Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, noted that while Ronchetti held an edge in the 2nd Congressional District, the governor held an edge in the states other two districts.

Lujan Grisham holds a 51% majority of support in the 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts, whereas Ronchettis base of support lies in the 2nd District where he holds a 53% majority, he said.

The Emerson College Polling-The Hill survey surveyed 1,000 very likely voters between Oct. 25-28. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.02 percentage points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Best-selling billionaire author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott just earned straight As from a Brooklyn charter school.

Scott delivered an unsolicited $11 million gift to Ascend Public Charter Schools, where Chief Executive Officer Recy Benjamin Dunn was both proud and thrilled by the donation that will fund expansion into three new campuses in Flatbush, Cypress Hill and Brownsville with an additional 1,000 new students.

Scott is recognizing what I saw the very first day I walked into Ascend, said Dunn, head of the schools that opened in 2008 with 210 students. Its validation of Ascends mission to foster a love of learning through equitable education to help our students reach their dreams.

We are grateful and honored to to be selected by Scott for her generous donation.

Scott noted in a Medium post about the gift that her teams focus was supporting the needs of underrepresented people from groups of all kinds. At Ascend, 93% of the 5,800 current students from grades K-12 are Black or Latino.

According to Dunn, the gift will also help them focus on long-term strategies to strengthen the schools and its roots in Brooklyn communities. The money will come without restriction, allowing the school to use the funding in whatever way its leaders deem most impactful.

Forbes magazine ranks Scott, who recently divorced her second husband Dan Jewett, as one of the 30 wealthiest people in the world with an estimated net worth of $33 billion. She was previously married to Amazon founder and fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos, and just last week made an $85 million donation to the Girl Scouts of America.

Three years ago, she signed a charitable Giving Pledge to donate most of her wealth to charity during her lifetime. Since mid-2020, Scott has made an estimated $12.8 billion in gifts to more than 1,200 organizations.

We are truly grateful to Ms. Scott for her belief in Ascend and the work we do, said Dunn.
Xi sends congratulatory letter to Global Observance of World Cities Day 2022

Xinhua) 08:19, November 01, 2022

BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a congratulatory letter to the Global Observance of World Cities Day 2022 and the Second Sustainable Development Goals Cities Global Conference, held simultaneously in Shanghai.

In his letter, Xi noted that by carrying on the "Better City, Better Life" concept, the Global Observance of World Cities Day is committed to promoting the sustainable development of global cities, and is of great significance for jointly forging an inclusive, balanced and coordinated development pattern that features win-win cooperation and mutual prosperity.

Xi called on cities across the world to actively participate in the Global Development Initiative, accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda, facilitate effective economic recovery, improve the ecological environment, enhance urban governance, and jointly promote global sustainable development.

Themed "Act Local to Go Global," the activities were co-hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Shanghai municipal government and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, with an opening ceremony held in Shanghai on Monday.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)
Emmanuel Macron

According to the report, Zelenskyy updated his French counterpart on the progress of Ukraines ongoing counteroffensive in eastern and southern regions of the country. Macron reiterated Frances total mobilization towards expedited increases of security assistance to Ukraine, in particular  anti-air defense systems.

Read also: Zelenskyy discusses Ukraines air defenses with Scholz

The French president also promised to aid Ukraine in dealing with the coming winter season, as Russian strikes have significantly disrupted Ukraines power and water supply. An international conference on coordinating foreign support of Ukraines infrastructure is scheduled to take place in Paris, France, on Dec. 13.

Furthermore, Macron condemned Moscow suspending its participation in the Black Sea grain deal, saying the step jeopardizes global food security.

Read also: Ukrainian FM calls on French company to cease aviation fuel supplies to Russia

Zelenskyy said in a Twitter post that his conversation with Macron was exceedingly important and productive, covering a set of concrete solutions to Ukraines security and energy concerns.

Read also: France considering additional supplies of Caesar howitzers to Ukraine, says Macron

On Oct. 7, Macron announced a $100 million fund to cover purchases of military equipment on Ukraines behalf.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Richard Allen, 50, was the guy who worked at CVS. He played pool at the local bar. He was nice enough, not overly outgoing.

In the small community of Delphi, Indiana, that was about it, until this weekend.

"It shocked the hell out of me," 74-year-old Tom Brower recalled while having a beer in a tavern off Delphi's Main Street. The face of the man who he described as helpful and courteous, was now popping up as a mug shot on the news.

"I freaked out," agreed 68-year-old Mac McLeland, sitting next to Brower.

Neither had known Allen's name. But CVS is the only pharmacy in the city of 3,000, so plenty recognized Allen's face when state police announced he is a suspect in the 2017 killings of teens Abigail "Abby" Williams and Liberty "Libby" German.

Monday: Man arrested in the 2017 killings of two teen girls in Delphi, Indiana

FBI records: History of threats against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Tom Brower has a Coke and a smoke in the center of Delphi, on Oct. 31, 2022. Brower said, people in this town want answers, a few days after the arrest of Richard M. Allen, a suspect in the murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German.

The girls went for a hike on a warm February afternoon, and their bodies were found in the woods nearby the next day. Five and a half years later, Allen has been charged with two counts of murder in the case, but the court has sealed the charging documents and the investigation remains open.

Former Delphi bar owner describes 'biggest shock'

Bob Matlock, who owned a local Delphi bar until he closed it late last year, can't fathom how the regular patron he knew ended up in this position.

Allen and his wife came in three to four times a week, laughed with the other regulars, partook in the occasional somber conversation about what happened to the teens and how awful it must be for their families. Their families, too, were patrons of the bar, Matlock said.

The two suspect drawings released over the years hung on the bulletin board in the bar. There's a picture floating around Facebook of Allen standing near the drawings, Matlock said. No one ever thought there was a connection. Matlock is still skeptical.

"They were a good family couple," Matlock said of Allen and his wife. "That's what I guess was the biggest shock."

Story continues

Nation: Takeoff, one-third of influential rap group Migos, killed at 28 in Houston shooting

CVS customers, police say Richard Allen 'blended right in'

At the time of the slayings, 67-year-old Betty Cummings would occasionally have lunch with friends at the McDonalds next to the CVS, to discuss theories about the case. She remembers seeing Allen come there to pick up lunch every once in a while, but he was never part of their discussions. He was the CVS employee working the floor, helping her find an item. Allen is a licensed pharmacy technician, according to public records.

"He just blended right in," she said. "You wouldn't even suspect the guy."

Libby's grandmother, Becky Patty, told reporters Monday that Allen had processed photos of the girls at a local drug store and did not charge the family for the cost.

Allens apparent undistinguished life in the community stunned local law enforcement.

Ive been in the business, our business, for a while and I thought, Boy, howd I even miss that one? Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby, whos been in law enforcement for 36 years and whose department assisted in the multi-agency investigation, told IndyStar, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Leazenby suddenly found himself trying to recall any bit of conversation he had with Allen  the kind of pleasantries one has every day with someone ringing up a customer.

Cold case solved? DNA under fingernails leads to arrest in 42-year-old Las Vegas cold case rape and murder

In a prepared statement from a spokesperson, CVS officials said they are shocked and saddened about Allens arrest in the investigation.

As members of the Carroll County community, we remain devastated by these murders and our hearts go out to the German and Williams families," the statement said. We stand ready to cooperate with the police investigation in any way we can.

Tobe Leazenby, Sheriff of Carroll County, looks at a grainy cell phone image and sketch of the a prime suspect (upper left corner of image), in the 2017 death of girls Abigail Williams and Liberty German, in Delphi, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Finishing out his second and final term, Leazenby kept the images there to remind him of the ongoing interagency investigation that yielded the recent arrest of Richard M. Allen.

Leazenby has always believed an arrest in Abby and Libby's case would come, citing his faith and the steadfast work of investigators from multiple law enforcement agencies as the sources of his hope. Yet, the news still feels surreal, he said.

After five and a half years ... you wonder whether or not youre dreaming and whether or not this is actually real, Leazenby said.

What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day

It doesn't seem real to 48-year-old A.J. Robinson either, whose early impressions of Allen were benign. Robinson met Allen briefly for the first time at Matlock's pool bar. They had a short conversation, where Robinson told Allen about how he is legally blind.

Anytime Robinson went to CVS thereafter, he said, Allen would come over to him and ask if he needed help.

"He was always nice," Robinson said. "You'd never think in a million years."

A Delphi town center announcement looking for the 2017 killer of Abigail Williams and Liberty German, on Oct. 31, 2022. Several days ago, suspect Richard M. Allen was arrested and charged with the crimes.

Residents around town marvel at what a national and international story has become of their community, with mixed feelings.

"It hits home here in this town. It really hits home," Brower said. "People in this town want answers."

Indiana State Polices tip line remains open and those with pertinent information can email abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com or call 765-822-3535.

Follow Kayla Dwyer on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 2017 Delphi murders: Indiana town 'shocked' after suspect arrest
A man faces multiple charges after crashing his car while allegedly driving drunk with a 2-year-old inside.

On Oct. 31, Memphis Police responded to a scene at I-240 and Lamar, where a man said he was involved in an accident while driving in his Honda Accord.

According to an affidavit, a 2-year-old who was not in a car seat was inside the vehicle at the time of the accident.

DCS was notified.

The driver, Frank Darby, had slurred speech and was wavering, with a strong smell of an intoxicant coming off him, police said.

Darby told police he had a Klonopin before driving and had one alcoholic drink the night before, records show.

He was taken to Austin Peay Station, where he performed poorly on field sobriety tests.

The Honda was towed to the city lot. The vehicles tag had expired in September, and Darby did not have proof of insurance, police said.

Hes charged with DUI - Child Endangerment, Violation of Financial Law, Reckless Driving, Violation of Child Restraint Law, and Violation of Vehicle Registration Law.

Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Trending stories:
A Dyersburg man was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years behind bars after he fired shots at federal officers during an assault more than two years ago, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Bobby Joe Claybrook Jr., 41, pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon and discharging a weapon during and relation to a crime of violence, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Thats an extremely serious crime, deserving of this extremely serious sentence, U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz said in a statement. The United States will not hesitate to bring significant resources to bear when citizens attack our law enforcement partners.

On Aug. 3, 2020, the U.S. Marshals learned that Claybrook was a felon in possession of a firearm when he was wanted for attempted second-degree murder by the Dyersburg Police Department, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

RELATED: TBI Most Wanted suspect charged with firing on a federal officer

Authorities said that Claybrook was located Nov. 2 by federal agents at a duplex in Jackson, Tenn.

When federal agents and local law enforcement officers approached the home, Claybrook started firing shots at them, authorities said.

RELATED: Dyersburg man wanted for attempted murder, police say

Authorities said that two officers were struck, including one in the arm and leg. Both officers were treated for their injuries at a local hospital and released.

Investigators later found a firearm and several shell casings inside the home, authorities said.

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Police are investigating after a man was shot and killed in Pittsburghs Homewood neighborhood.

According to Pittsburgh police, crews responded to the scene for an 11-round ShotSpotter alert in the 7100 block of Hermitage Street around 1:50 p.m.

Pittsburgh police investigating a fatal shooting in the 7100 block of Hermitage Street in Homewood. #WPXI #PGH #Pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/rmOGDiDywU  Tony Ruffolo (@WPXITonyRuffolo) October 31, 2022

Our crew at the scene learned that the victim was sitting in a parked car at the time of the shooting. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiners office identified the victim as 29-year-old Noah Wilkerson of Pittsburgh.

No information has been released about any potential suspects.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Caitlyn Berg and her husband Ethan, both doctors, look through photos taken of their infant daughter Natalie, who contracted RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), when she was hospitalized, at their home in Mount Zion, Ill., Oct. 30, 2022. (Jamie Kelter Davi

A pediatrician in Mount Zion, Illinois, sent a video of a 6-month-old named Natalie to a colleague for advice: The infants belly was puffing and retracting with every pant as she struggled to breathe, her nostrils flaring and bubbles forming on her lips.

Like dozens of Dr. Caitlyn Bergs patients in recent weeks, Natalie was infected with respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV. But the nearest hospital had no pediatric intensive care unit, and the one in Springfield  almost an hour west  was completely full.

For Berg, this case was personal: Natalie is her daughter.

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I try to separate my doctor brain from my mom brain, she said. But watching her breathe, I was terrified.

A drastic and unusually early spike in RSV, a respiratory infection that impedes airways, is overwhelming pediatric units across the United States, bringing long waits for treatment and prompting hospital systems to rearrange staffing and resources to meet the demand.

Every childrens hospital that Im aware of is absolutely swamped, said Dr. Coleen Cunningham, the pediatrician in chief at Childrens Hospital of Orange County, a 334-bed facility in Southern California that is so full that children are being treated right in the emergency room as they wait for inpatient beds  sometimes for more than 24 hours.

RSV is a common seasonal infection, and the vast majority of cases are very mild. But this year, the number of children falling ill  and seriously ill  is significantly greater than usual. Doctors suspect that those who would ordinarily have been exposed to RSV over the past couple of years were insulated from it by social distancing measures and are now driving up the numbers.

The immune system works by recognition and repetition, said Dr. Sarah Combs, an emergency medicine physician at Childrens National Hospital in Washington, D.C., where more than 1,000 children tested positive for RSV between July and early October of this year. And when you give it a bit of a rest, like we did during the pandemic  and for good reason  we now have a generation of immune-naive children.

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The onslaught of cases is coinciding with the seasonal burst of other respiratory viruses like rhinoviruses and influenza, plus the ongoing burden of COVID. It is particularly challenging in regions where pediatric units have shrunk or have even been shuttered in recent years, creating bottlenecks in emergency rooms and shifting the strain to childrens hospitals that focus on specialized services like cancer treatment or heart surgery.

Doctors and public health experts are encouraging parents to do whatever they can to protect their childrens health in other ways (such as getting flu shots and COVID boosters) since there is no widely available vaccine for RSV.

Close to 1 in every 500 babies 6 months and younger was hospitalized with RSV since the beginning of October, according to preliminary estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency said the true numbers are most likely higher, as many people infected with the virus  even those who have been hospitalized  never undergo testing.

Johns Hopkins Childrens Center in Baltimore, which has also reached capacity, is deploying floor nurses to the pediatric emergency department and will soon have children being treated by doctors who normally care for adults  a reversal from two years ago, when the pediatric staff helped treat adult COVID patients.

It all has a very COVID-esque feel to it, said Dr. Meghan Bernier, the medical director of the pediatric intensive care unit at the childrens center. This is the pediatricians COVID. This is our March 2020.

RSV predominantly affects the small airways, called bronchioles, that branch off from bronchi in the lungs. Those tiny, strawlike tubules can become blocked by even minuscule amounts of mucus, particularly in infants and young children.

The smaller you are, the smaller your airways are; its just physics, Combs said.

Older adults and immunocompromised people are also at increased risk of severe illness from RSV, which even in a typical year kills about 14,000 adults 65 and older and up to 300 children younger than 5.

The infection can be somewhat unpredictable, said Dr. Meredith Volle, the Springfield, Illinois, pediatrician whom Berg consulted, because what looks like a few days of a bad cold for some patients very quickly leads to respiratory failure in others.

Experts in the disease say there is no evidence that a more severe strain of RSV has emerged. Instead, hospitalization numbers are up because in most regions, more children are being infected overall, and a small percentage of a high number is still a high number, said Dr. Buddy Creech, professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Virtual learning during the COVID pandemic halted the spread of many respiratory viruses that land children in hospitals. RSV became so rare that some second-year residents at Vanderbilt who joined the staff during the pandemic are only now seeing their first pediatric RSV cases, Creech said.

As a result, older children are being admitted with RSV for longer and with more severe illness than usual. Many of them had never contracted the virus before or had been shielded from reexposure as their immunity waned, doctors say.

When I first saw a 7-year-old with no asthma who needed breathing support in August, I thought, What is going on? Combs said.

At the height of the pandemic, hospital administrators across the country transformed empty pediatric floors into adult COVID ones. Without a financial incentive to revert them back to pediatrics, some have made the changes permanent.

Now, with virus-prone children back in classrooms and activities, the demand for pediatric beds falls largely on childrens hospitals that take transfers from increasingly distant emergency rooms.

Boston Childrens Hospital has postponed some elective surgeries to make room for more patients with respiratory illnesses, according to Dr. Daniel Rauch, a hospitalist there.

Doctors in Illinois received a list from the states Department of Public Health of 36 pediatric intensive care units in eight other states that doctors should call with patient transfer requests. The document, which was reviewed by The New York Times, lists facilities spread over a range of 1,000 miles, from Minneapolis to Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Johns Hopkins Childrens Center has received transfer requests from upstate New York, hundreds of miles away, and West Virginia, among other places. But it  like other pediatric specialty hospitals in Orange County; Seattle; and Lubbock, Texas  is already at capacity. It has been shuttling its own overflow of patients to places like Richmond, Virginia, and Philadelphia.

Bringing doctors who treat adults onto pediatric units to assist with the surge there will be complicated, according to Bernier, given the expertise required for high-quality childrens care. The reassignment can also be stressful.

Watching a baby breathe 90 or 100 times a minute and struggle  that can be very disturbing, she said.

About 2,800 miles away from Johns Hopkins, at Seattle Childrens Hospital, several patients are now boarded together in single-patient rooms, and areas typically used for procedures have been transformed into bed space, according to Dr. Surabhi Bhargava Vora, an infectious disease physician. Doctors are being prodded to expedite tests and discharge patients as quickly as possible to free up space, she said, in a season worse than any other RSV season Ive ever seen.

Berg, the pediatrician in Mount Zion, ultimately drove 6-month-old Natalie almost an hour to Springfield, where a line had formed just to check into the waiting room at HSHS St. Johns Childrens Hospital. After they had spent eight hours in the emergency room, a pediatric bed opened up, and by evening, Natalie was moved to the intensive care unit, where she remained for four nights. She is back home now and mostly recovered, though she still has some congestion and an intermittent cough.

One side effect of the surge in respiratory infections, doctors and hospital officials said, is that children who visit emergency rooms for non-life-threatening conditions like broken legs or dog bites will have longer wait times because they rank lower on the triage scale. Parents should, for the sake of both their children and the hospitals, do what they can to help flatten the curve, they said.

For COVID and influenza  unlike RSV  that means getting the available vaccines. (No vaccine for RSV has been authorized in the United States, but candidates made by Pfizer and GSK have both wrapped up late-stage clinical trials. Cunningham, the pediatrician in chief at Childrens Hospital of Orange County, is a leader of another trial for a nasal-drop vaccine for children younger than 2.)

I dont want to say to parents, Be scared, or Hide away, because RSV is not new, and I think stoking that pandemic-era anxiety is damaging, Combs said. But get your shots, and if your kid bikes, put a helmet on him. This is not the time to go wild at the trampoline park.

 2022 The New York Times Company
When a contractor builds a structure and flaws are exposed in its foundation, it is time to become concerned about the integrity of the rest of what that contractor built. Such is the case with Talent Management 2030, a document that charts a new course for the Marine Corps personnel system.

Pages 13 are the introduction to this document  its foundation  and they are replete with flaws.

I have looked closely at the introduction to Talent Management 2030, and here is my analysis, an analysis that necessarily reflects on the documents authors.

Those who created Talent Management 2030 were not strong students of history, lacking an understanding of what transpired in the Marine Corps and the nation during the 20th century. They focused on a future path for the Marine Corps with little knowledge about the path it has traveled since World War I.

The authors assert that the Marine Corps current manpower management system was designed in the industrial era. This assertion appears under the title Yesterdays Industrial Age Model. The industrial age in the United States began in the 1830s and lasted into the 1860s, when a Second Industrial Revolution began, lasting until 1914.

The unintended consequences of aging the Marine Corps

To accept what the authors of Talent Management 2030 claim as true would mean the Marine Corps manpower system was designed over 108 years ago. It would have been at a time when the end strength of the Corps was just 5% of what it is today.

Moreover, the authors assert, the manpower system has not been significantly revised to meet changing conditions during those years.

Can the authors establish that there were no significant revisions to the Marine Corps manpower system during World Wars I and II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and during the past 45 years? They cannot, for what they write is demonstrably not true.

During the 1970s, for example, the manpower system was converted from a paper-based system of records to one that was digitally based. Also, after his appointment as commandant in 1975, Gen. Louis Wilson made major changes to the Corps recruiting system, which resulted in recruits of higher intelligence and fitness. Gen. Robert H. Barrow expanded on Wilsons successes during his time as commandant.

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After misrepresenting Marine Corps history, the authors of Talent Management 2030 continue with this claim, College, and even high school education, was for the privileged: In 1950, just 34% of Americans graduated high school, while 6% completed college, compared with approximately 90% and 33% respectively, today.

I graduated from high school in the 1950s and knew instantly that this was a misleading claim.

This claim appears to be based on a graph on pages 7 and 8 in a U.S. Department of Education document or similar resource. This chart actually represents the percentage of all Americans over 25 years of age who had completed high school in 1950, not the graduation rate that year.

The actual U.S. high school graduation rate in 1950 was 59%, not 34%. The college graduation rate in 1950 was approximately 18%, not 6%.

Were the authors of Talent Management 2030 mathematically challenged or just plain careless in reading a simple graph?

Talent Management 2030 follows with, Our manpower model thus aimed to create and maintain an enlisted force predominantly composed of young troops...prepared for the physical rigors of combat, but otherwise requiring little education or training. There were exceptions, of course, as all services prioritized technical skills among some specialties, but the overriding paradigm reflected our combat experience in World War II, which prioritized youth, physical fitness, and discipline over education, training, and technical skills.

The contention that the Marines serving after World War II required little education or training is absurd and ignores the dramatic expansion of Marine Corps training and education since 1945.

Further, this statement implies that the Marine Corps should change its priorities and that education, training and technical skills should surpass other priorities. This is a fallacy; the Marine Corps consistently has incorporated all of these factors into developing its forces.

Even if these factors were to be prioritized, does the nation want a Marine Corps that prioritizes education over discipline?

Of all that is written in Talent Management 2030, the most insulting and fraudulent is this claim: While todays manpower system would be remarkably familiar to a Marine from the 1950s, they would be amazed by the social, economic, financial, cultural, and technological changes that have transformed our country and the world. And while that Marine would recognize todays global context of strategic competition, they would be surprised by its complexity and scope, as well as the Marine Corps role in new domains of competition and warfighting, such as space and cyber.

These words imply that Marines  such as me  who served in the 1950s and lived into the 21st century would have been in a stupor through most of those years, mentally absorbing little that was transpiring around them. This is outlandish, for it is these very Marines and their contemporaries who brought forth the social, economic, financial, cultural and technological changes that have transformed our nation and our Corps.

Without them the Corps existing today would be nearly identical to the Corps of 1950.

How did such a document resting on a foundation that crumbles with close inspection make it into print? Reportedly, it was written behind closed doors by a small team, a team composed of a few individuals assigned to the Headquarters Marine Corps, Manpower and Reserve Affairs Department. This team evidently was assisted by a group of retired colonels, apparently the same colonels who helped develop Force Design 2030.

I have no doubts that Talent Management 2030 was not properly staffed after it was written, as it was undertaken within a completely closed process. Otherwise, these ill-informed authors would have been held accountable by the professional staff at Headquarters Marine Corps for a work that is corrupted by historical inaccuracies and sloppy research.

Talent Management 2030 continues beyond its introduction with proposals that will destroy the very ethos of the Marine Corps.

These proposals are as riddled with flaws as those found in the introduction to this document, its foundation.

These bullet ridden proposals have been exposed in several published articles and are expertly documented by Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold (retired) in his article The Marine Corps New Talent Management Plan Forgets What Makes the Service Unique. Col. Warren Parker (retired) exposes a particular flaw in Talent Management 2030 in his article The unintended consequences of aging the Marine Corps.

These articles are a must read for those who served in the Corps and those who value the eternal spirit that identifies what it means to be a United States Marine.

Col. James K. Van Riper (retired) underwent recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina, in 1956 and served in the Marine Corps until 1994. He commanded the Recruit Training Regiment at Parris Island from 19841986 and was the director of the First Marine Corps District from 19871989.

He was awarded a Silver Star Medal and two Bronze Star Medals with combat V during two tours in Vietnam where he served as a company commander and as an infantry battalion adviser with the Vietnamese Marine Corps. He was the chief of staff of the 2nd Marine Division during Operation Desert Storm.

Van Riper is a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the Naval War College and holds a MA in History from East Carolina University. From 1998 until 2011 he taught Command and Staff College courses through the Marine Corps College of Distance Education and Training.

Have an opinion?

This article is an op-ed and, as such, the opinions expressed are those of the author. If you would like to respond or have an editorial of your own you would like to submit, please email Marine Corps Times Editor Andrea Scott.

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A 27-year-old Maryland man has been arrested and charged with numerous felonies after a barricade situation in Delmar on Monday during which he exchanged gunfire with police, according to Delaware State Police.

The Delmar Police Department responded to the 600 block of East Grove Street at about 9:15 a.m. for a "physical domestic-related incident" outside the residence, state police said. A neighbor helped a female victim to safety while William Tulowitzky went back into the home, where a 2-year-old child was.

When police asked Tulowitzky to come out of the home, he refused and made threats against anyone trying to enter, according to Delaware State Police. He began firing shots "towards the outside of the residence, where numerous officers were positioned," police said, and a state trooper fired back. No one was injured due to the gunfire, according to police.

Previous reporting:Barricade situation involving 2-year-old brought to end in Delmar after shots fired: Police

Tulowitzky was barricaded inside the home, speaking by phone with the Delaware State Police Conflict Management Team, until about 1 p.m., police said. At that time, a special operations team entered the home and took him into custody without further incident, according to police.

The woman and child were taken to a hospital "as a precautionary measure," police said. The child was unharmed, state police Cpl. Leonard DeMalto said at a press conference Monday.

Tulowitzky was charged with seven felony counts of aggravated menacing, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and "numerous domestic related charges," police said. He was jailed at Sussex Correctional Institution on $330,000 cash bond.

More:Wicomico deputy arrest on rape charge: What we know

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Police ID suspect in Delmar barricade, say gunfire exchanged with officers
As many as 14 people  including three children  were wounded in a mass drive-by shooting Monday night on Chicago's West Side, CBS Chicago's Dana Kozlov reports. Two victims were listed in critical condition.

Police Supt. David Brown said it was over in about three seconds.

Two gunmen in a dark SUV fired randomly into a crowd gathered on a street corner before speeding off, police said.

Victims' conditions ranged from non-life-threatening to critical, Brown said.

A 3-year-old, an 11-year-old and a 13-year-old were among those shot, he noted. The others were adults in their 30s, 40s, and 50s.

A 15th person was hit by the car while trying to flee the scene, police added.

Victims were taken to several hospitals.

Police were searching for the gunman or gunmen but didn't know anything about a motive. There's no history of conflicts on the corner where the shooting happened, Brown said.

Some of the incident was captured on surveillance cameras, and detectives hope the victims will provide more information, Brown said.

Police said the crowd was holding a vigil. Alderman Jason Ervin told CBS Chicago it was for someone who'd recently died of natural causes.

"It's heartbreaking that people go out to memorialize someone and then become victims," Ervin said.

One witness told CBS Chicago one man appeared to have been shot in the head.

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The start of November brings a number of new waste disposal bans in the Bay State.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has added an array of new items to its list of materials that residents are not allowed to throw out for trash collection each week.

Effective Tuesday, mattresses left out on the curb will no longer be collected by waste disposal companies due to the inconveniences they present.

Discarded mattresses can be difficult to manage. They are expensive to transport, hard to compact, take up lots of landfill space, and can damage incinerator processing equipment. Yet mattresses are made up mostly of recyclable materials. Once disassembled, more than 75 percent of their components can be reused. This is better for the environment, the economy, and municipal waste management budgets, MassDEP said in a statement.

In addition to mattresses, the state has banned textiles including bedding, clothing, curtains, fabric, footwear, towels, and other similar items.

Instead of trashing textiles, the state is urging residents to help put them into the hands of new owners or recycle their fibers into other products because virtually any textile can be reused, repurposed, or recycled if clean and dry.

Textiles contaminated with mold, bodily fluids, insects, oil, or hazardous substances are exempt from the disposal ban.

Those who have mattresses or textiles to dispose of can use the Beyond the Bin search tool to find out how and where to donate or recycle items that cant go in your home recycling bin and are too good to trash.

The City of Boston will continue to collect mattresses until Jan. 1, 2023, but officials are urging residents to recycle their unwanted goods.

The new bans also target businesses and institutions that dispose of one ton or more of food material per week, lowering the acceptable threshold on common waste to one-half ton.

Last fall, MassDEP issued its final 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan, establishing goals to reduce disposal statewide by 30 percent over the next decade. The plan set a long-term goal of achieving a 90 percent reduction in disposal to 570,000 tons by 2050.

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Previously banned items include glass, metal, plastic containers, paper, cardboard, leaves, grass, large appliances, tires, old televisions and computer monitors, and constructions materials.

Massachusetts expands list of items that are banned from going out in the trash by Fox Boston Staff on Scribd

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Community-led growth (CLG) has emerged as a popular mechanism for driving business, as companies strive to foster an ecosystem of fervent users that draws in new customers organically, serves as a support network for millions and bangs a company's drum completely off its own volition.

Businesses such as Stripe, Slack, Canva, Notion and Figma have grown substantially off the back of their respective communities, which in turn has led to a slew of new technologies dedicated to helping such businesses harness their fanbase, unearth their biggest advocates and keep that CLG flywheel spinning. Investors have taken note, too: In the past year alone we've seen companies such as Commsor raise a $50 million Series B; Common Room secure $52 million; Threado draw in a $3.1 million seed round; and, more recently, Talkbase raise $2 million to power user-led growth for any company.

Now, another new company has entered the community-led growth fray with a slightly different approach to the existing players, one focused on developer communities and with open source at its core.

Founded out of Berlin in 2021, Crowd.dev brings together data from myriad developer communities including GitHub, Discord, Slack, Twitter, DEV and Hacker News, and serves up analytics and workflow automations on top of this aggregated data.

For example, a developer tool company might want to understand its users better and build relationships both with them and their employers to hone their product and find a better product-market fit. This might involve gathering and viewing all direct and indirect feedback in a single interface, or using one of Crowd.dev's premium tools such as Eagle Eye, which leans on natural language processing (NLP) to identify community discussions ripe for engagement.

Eagle Eye app. Image Credits: Crowd.dev

To help take things to the next level, Crowd.dev has just raised 2.2 million ($2.2 million) in a pre-seed round of funding led by Seedcamp and Lightbird, with participation from Possible Ventures, Angel Invest and a handful of angel backers. On top of that, the German startup has open sourced its core platform, a move that goes some way toward differentiating itself in an increasingly crowded space.

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But first, it's worth considering why developer-focused firms might need a dedicated platform to steer their community-led growth efforts, given that the incumbents can already be used for any community of users -- including developers.

Verticals

Crowd.dev CEO and co-founder Jonathan Reimer argues that the word "community" has a broad gamut of connotations, and could mean anything from social media influencers to online learning groups. Ultimately, a "one-size-fits-all" approach doesn't work -- a company laser-focused on attracting developers will probably need different tools than a company seeking to attract creators or crypto fans.

"There has been hype around community, but also disappointment regarding new tools made to make community-building easier," Reimer explained to TechCrunch. "I have tried [existing] tools at previous jobs and was never satisfied as they didn't match my use case. Similar to CRMs (customer relationship management software), we believe there will be a verticalization in the community software space. Were the first going in the developer space."

This "verticalization" is important in terms of building a platform that people actually want to use. In the case of Crowd.dev, which is aiming to create a product that suggests actions that a user can take based on developer community data, specializing in this way allows it to better tailor its product and "build more reliable model," as Reimer puts it, for example in terms of detecting feedback or evaluating sentiment.

"Achieving this for all kinds of communities at the same time would be incredibly hard," Reimer said. "Developer communities have astonishing similarities, and especially for open source communities, we have access to a ton of historical training data."

Crowd.dev analytics. Image Credits: Crowd.dev

The open source factor

Open source communities have long played a fundamental role in driving adoption of software, which is partly why a growing number of companies choose to make their products available under an open source license. If developers are able to tinker with software themselves with minimal friction, contribute some code and even add new features, they are more inclined to use the software in their places of work -- and thus, they are more inclined to convince their employers that it's worth paying for premium features on top of the open source product. And this is the main driving force behind Crowd.dev's focus on open source development communities, and its reasons for open sourcing its own platform.

"We believe that an essential tool for developer-focused, open source companies -- as community management is -- should be open source itself," Reimer said.

Transitioning to an open source platform may hold other benefits, too. For example, enterprises seeking greater transparency and control over their data can host Crowd.dev on their own infrastructure, and then pay Crowd.dev to unlock access to unlimited users and integrations. Or companies can elect to pay for the hosted incarnation of Crowd.dev, which includes a basic free tier in addition to more advanced enterprise plans.

In its short lifespan so far, Crowd.dev claims a fairly impressive roster of customers, such as The Linux Foundation and Microsoft, a company that has increasingly embraced open source over the past eight years after a somewhat frosty attitude toward community-driven software in years previous.

Reimer said that Microsoft uses Crowd.dev to operate Flatcar Linux, a Linux distribution for container workloads it now operates after acquiring developer Kinvolk back in in 2021.

"They use Crowd.dev mainly to analyze community members' engagement, spot relevant stargazers on GitHub, and create reports," Reimer said.

In truth, Microsoft and its big tech ilk won't be typical users, due to the fact that most of Crowd.dev's target customers will be smaller companies seeking growth. But still, it's an indication of the mindshare that Crowd.dev has managed to secure so far, with "several hundred organizations" joining the company's beta product since March this year.

"Eighty percent of our users are companies between seed and Series B that see community as one of their critical growth channels," Reimer said.

With a fresh 2.2 million in the bank, the company said that it plans to add more applications and data integrations to the mix, before making it generally available to the public.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit Croke Park

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Meghan Markle hit the books after marrying into the royal family!

The Duchess of Sussex, 41, revealed on the latest episode of her Archetypes podcast that she found the United Kingdom's citizenship exam challenging. After Meghan and Prince Harry announced their engagement in November 2017, PEOPLE confirmed she planned to become a citizen of the U.K. after their royal wedding.

Welcoming Sophie Trudeau, Pamela Adlon and Sam Jay for a conversation titled "Good Wife/Bad Wife, Good Mom/Bad Mom," Meghan and Adlon (both born in America) connected over the rigorous process of earning U.K. naturalization.

"I heard you just got your citizenship! A couple years ago?" Meghan asked her guest.

The Duchess of Sussex continued, "That citizenship exam is so hard! I was studying for it, and I remember going, 'Oh my goodness.' I would ask my husband, 'Did you know this? Did you know this?' And people went, 'Oh, I had no idea.' "

RELATED: Meghan Markle Reveals Daughter Lili's Big Milestone  and Describes the Family's 'Morning Rush'

Sophie Gregoire Trudeau; Pamela Adlon; Sam Jay

Theo Wargo/Getty Images; JC Olivera/Getty Images; Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Cheekily joking about Meghan's experience living in England, the Better Things co-creator replied, "I think they made it harder for you."

Laughing, Meghan deadpanned, "You think?"

As explained on the government website, the "Life in the U.K." test gives hopefuls 45 minutes to answer 24 questions about British customs and traditions, a mandatory part of the application process to become a citizen. The Duchess of Sussex relocated to England after falling in love with Prince Harry, 38, where they would wed in May 2018 and welcome son Archie, 3, one year later. The couple headed to North America after stepping back from their senior royal roles in March 2020 and settled in Montecito, California. Daughter Lilibet, 1, would be born in Santa Barbara in June 2021.

At the close of the episode, Meghan revealed that she "longed to be a mom as much as I longed to be a wife" while she was growing up  though those dreams didn't detract from being a feminist.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in The Netherlands in April 2022

Samir Hussein/WireImage Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

RELATED: Meghan Markle's Biggest Revelations in Her Archetypes Podcast

"Despite what people would think, I didn't find those things to be mutually exclusive," she reflected. "The pressures imposed being a mom, a good mom or a good wife. The ideals we try to live up to and the expectations we self-impose, as we heard today  they're pretty trapping. And they're in many ways, a fallacy. Because you can be a feminist and be feminine. You can clutch your pearls one day and let your curls be wild the next. You can be a working mom in or out of the house and you can have drinks with friends after putting your baby to bed."

"We are all doing the best we can. So maybe it's time to let go of these archetypes," she continued. "These challenging, limiting archetypes riddled with so much judgment. So it's less about that's the right way to do it and instead just focus on one thing: being a good person."

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Meghan and Prince Harry first announced a "multi-year partnership" between Spotify and their production company Archewell Audio in 2020. According to a previously shared press release, Archetypes intends to "investigate the labels that try to hold women back."

Previous guests have included Serena Williams, Mariah Carey, Mindy Kaling, Margaret Cho, Lisa Ling, Constance Wu, Paris Hilton and Issa Rae.
The Duchess of Sussex has revealed she studied for the British citizenship test while living in the UK.

Meghan Markle made the revelation on the latest episode of her podcast, Archetypes, on which she spoke to first lady of Canada Sophie Trudeau.

Meghan revealed that she had prepared for the Life in the UK test a couple of years ago, but did not reveal whether she actually took the test or simply studied for it.

Meghan and the Duke of Sussex stepped down as senior members of the royal family in 2020 and moved to California in the US.

That citizenship exam is so hard. I was studying for it and I remember going: Oh my goodness. I would ask my husband: Did you know this? Did you know this? And he would say: I had no idea, Meghan said.

Meghan and Trudeau first met at Toronto Fashion Week seven years ago when Meghan was still staring on Suits.

The podcast episode is called Good Wife/Bad Wife, Good Mom/Bad Mom, and sees the pair discuss the crushing guilt of being a mother in the public eye.

Meghan also revealed that Trudeau used to send me little meditations during my pregnancy along with voice note of encouragement. She added: Ive gone to her over the years for advice.

In last weeks podcast, Meghan revealed that she is 43 per cent Nigerian after having her genealogy done a couple of years ago.

When asked by podcast guest Ziwe if Meghan knew where her ancestors were from, the duchess said she didnt but that she wanted to start to dig deeper into all of this.

Ziwe, who has a Nigerian background, said it was huge for our community, adding: No, honestly, you do look like a Nigerian, you look like my aunt Uzo. So this is great.
The Tuscaloosa News

Alabama football is most likely headed to a New Year's SIx bowl game, but which one is still unknown. More will be learned after Tuesday's CFP rankings
Former US President Barack Obama speaks at a rally with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (L) and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin Mandela Barnes on October 29, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Evers and Barnes, who currently serves as the state's lieutenant governor, are in the midst of close mid-term races.

Scott Olson/Getty Barack Obama riles up Wisconsin voters alongside Democratic candidates Tony Evers and Mandela Barnes

After two years of campaigns, another United States election cycle is nearing its finish  the first since 2020's messy general election, which sent America down a path of heightened polarization and led to an attempted coup at the U.S. Capitol.

In the final days of the consequential 2022 midterms season, Democrats and Republicans are pulling out all the stops to increase their chances of securing victories and gaining control of how policies surrounding reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ expression, education and economy are shaped at the local, state and federal levels.

With dozens of Senate, House and gubernatorial races categorized as toss-ups, there's a lot at stake. Here's where things stand seven days before midterms candidates' fates are sealed.

RELATED: 2022 Midterms: Every Senate, House and State Race Americans Should Follow

Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy

Win McNamee/Getty Images; Alex Wong/Getty Images Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy

Republicans are expected to take the House

Election forecasting site FiveThirtyEight predicts that Republicans will regain control of the House of Representatives in the midterms, putting their chances at 83%. Democrats have held the majority of seats since 2019, when voters responded to then-President Donald Trump's low approval ratings by electing a wave of new Democratic politicians.

If Democrats lose control of Congress' lower chamber, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will lose her post as the third most powerful U.S. politician, behind President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Republican representatives will then elect a member of their party to take her place. The current GOP House leader is California Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who would be an obvious frontrunner for the promotion, and his spokesperson tells PEOPLE he plans to throw his hat into the ring.

The speaker, in partnership with the House majority leader, is tasked with deciding what bills move to the floor for a vote, giving them control over which legislation is prioritized. Recently, House Republicans introduced a federal replica of Florida's controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill, which could get more attention next year in a GOP-dominated House.

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RELATED: Suspect Who Attacked Paul Pelosi in His Home Was Reportedly Looking for House Speaker: 'Where Is Nancy?'

Chuck Schumer

Getty Images Sen. Chuck Schumer

Democrats have a chance at keeping the Senate

According to the latest predictions, Democrats have a chance of maintaining control of Senate. Heading into the midterms, there seemed no hope for Democrats to keep their 50 seats after only two years at the helm  then the tides changed, at one point showing them with a 71% chance of maintaining control. Now, as Republicans see a resurgence in polls just ahead of Election Day, chances appear to be waning again, with FiveThirtyEight putting Republicans and Democrats in a dead heat over who will come out of Nov. 8 victorious.

Currently, Vice President Harris breaks the tie in the evenly divided Senate, giving Democrats a technical majority despite its 50-50 split. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is currently in charge of the Senate's agenda, a job that could be handed over to a Republican if he loses.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell would likely become the pick to continue leading his party if the GOP regains control of the upper chamber, but some further-right politicians may lobby for someone more in line with Trump's extremist values to take the reins.

RELATED: Chuck Schumer Caught on Hot Mic Giving Biden Bad News About Democratic Prospects in Midterm Elections

J.D. Vance, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Ohio, shakes hands with former President Donald Trump during a rally hosted by the former president at the Delaware County

Drew Angerer/Getty JD Vance and Donald Trump shake hands at a rally

Obama and Trump are in high demand

With such tight races this year, both major parties are looking for star-power to help swing things in their favor. This week, former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump are traversing the nation to appear at rallies with their parties' respective candidates and fire up voters to show up to the polls en masse.

Trump has been on the campaign trail since day one, but Obama is a relatively new addition to in-person appearances. As President Biden's favorability ratings waver, the ever-popular 44th president has been tasked with being the voice of the Democratic Party. Already, he's made waves, calling out Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson in a viral moment of passion and urging Wisconsinites to unseat him in favor of the state's Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.

RELATED: Barack Obama Reacts After Supporter Calls Him 'Fine' During His Speech on Campaign Trail

In the coming days, Obama will continue his tour, visiting battleground states Nevada, Arizona and Pennsylvania in hopes of giving them the final boost needed to defend their at-risk Senate seats.

In the next seven days, all Americans can do is vote  of course  and wait to see how things shake out.

Check your voter registration, locate your polling place, and make a voting plan at Vote.org to ensure that your voice is heard this election season.
Migos rapper Takeoff died early Tuesday in a shooting outside a bowling alley in Houston. He was 28.

The"T-Shirt" artist, whose real name was Kirshnik Khari Ball, was one of the three members comprising the Atlanta-based rap group Migos. Houston police Chief Troy Finner confirmed the rapper's death during a press conference Tuesday.

"I got many calls from Houston and outside of Houston, and every one spoke of what a great young man this is, how peaceful he is, what a great artist " Finner said.

Takeoff is the latest member of the hip-hop community to fall victim to gun violence. Rapper PnB Rock was shot in South Los Angeles in September and rising Louisiana artist JayDaYoungan died after a shooting in July. As the press briefing continued, Finner called for action from rap artists.

"I'm calling upon everybody  hip-hop artists in Houston and around the nation, we got to police ourselves," Finner said. "There's so many talented individuals, men and women, in that community  who again I love and I respect. We all need to stand together and make sure nobody tears down that industry."

Migos also featured Takeoff's cousin Offset and uncle Quavo. The chart-topping trio collaborated on popular singles including MotorSport and Walk It Talk It with artists such as Drake, Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, who is married to Offset.

According to the Houston Police Department, officers responded to a shooting at 810 Billiards & Bowling shortly after 2:30 a.m. and one man was found dead on arrival.

The AP reported that dozens of people had gathered on a third-floor balcony outside the bowling alley for a private party before the shooting. Security guards who were in the area heard the shooting but did not see who did it, a police spokesperson told the AP.

Law enforcement officials told KPRC Houston that a crowd of approximately 40 or 50 people was at the scene and when officers arrived, they found the crowd and a man with a gunshot wound to the head or neck. Investigators said they found shell casings on the third level outside the bowling and pool hall, KPRC reported.

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Two other people were injured and taken to hospitals in private vehicles, police said Tuesday. No arrests have been announced.

According to TMZ, Takeoff and Quavo were playing dice at the party when an altercation broke out and someone opened fire, reportedly shooting Takeoff.

Finner and Houston mayor Sylvester Turner encouraged those who were at the event to provide more information about the shooting.

"We have too many young men of color that are being injured or fatally killed, and their future is cut off and family members and friends are left to mourn," Turner said during the briefing. "This does not have to be our reality and it need not be our future. "

During the Q&A portion of the briefing, Finner said he and his team have no reason to believe that Takeoff was "involved in anything criminal at the time" of the shooting, adding that friends and family described the slain rapper as "very peaceful, loving and a great entertainer." The police chief said he believes two firearms were used at the shooting and that the suspect(s) were present at the party and in their 20s. However, he deferred to the results of the ongoing investigation.

Earlier that night, Takeoff posted an Instagram Story showing him smoking at what appeared to be the bowling alley.

Migos took off in 2013 with the viral hit "Versace," a nimble, quick-stepping number later remixed by Drake. The group honed its sound after that with mixtapes and guest spots on songs with rapper Gucci Mane and singer Justin Bieber. The group released its first studio album, Yung Rich Nation, in 2015.

The group earned two Grammy nominations, one for rap performance for the single "Bad and Boujee" and another for 2017 rap album "Culture." The group also earned an ASCAP Vanguard Award in 2018 for the streaming success of hits Motorsport (featuring Cardi B and Nicki Minaj), Stir Fry and Walk It Talk It.

The trio played a fictional version of themselves in Donald Glover's Emmy-winning FX series "Atlanta." (Glover, who also performs as Childish Gambino, famously gave them a shoutout during his 2017 Golden Globes speech when he picked up the award for TV series, musical or comedy.)

Offset debuted a solo album in 2019. Takeoff and Quavo performed as the duo Unc & Phew and released the music video for "Messy" on Monday through Motown and Quality Control labels. Their album, "Only Built for Infinity Links," was released in early October.

In August 2020, Takeoff was accused in a civil lawsuit of sexual battery and assault. However, in April 2021, the L.A. County District Attorney's office declined to prosecute the rapper for the sexual assault allegations due to insufficient evidence. At the time, his lawyer told TMZ that "the allegations were patently and provably false."

The civil lawsuit brought by the woman remained.

Times staff writer Alexandra Del Rosario contribute to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Takeoff

Takeoff performs at the Summer Smash Festival in Chicago in 2022. Credit - Barry Brecheisen--WireImage)

Takeoff, a member of the Atlanta rap trio Migos, was shot to death in Houston on Monday, a representative confirmed to the Associated Press. He was 28. The rapper, whose real name was Kirshnik Khari Ball, was known for his gruff and effortlessly agile delivery and long-reaching influence on trap music, a regional subgenre that would come to define modern American pop music.

Migos, made up of Takeoff, his uncle Quavo, and cousin Offset, made their swift and towering ascent to the top of the music industry in the early 2010s. While at the time, Quavo and Offset grabbed more attentionfor which star they dated or which party they gracedTakeoff quickly emerged as the groups the best rapper.

Young and Hungry

The three Migos grew up together in Gwinnett County, in suburban Atlanta. In his 2018 song I Remember, Takeoff recalled bleak days in which he sold drugs as he watched his friends and family get locked up: My n****s done had cases after cases / Go to places, come back, break the suitcase down in mamas basement.

In their spare time, the three family members started making music together, and pioneered a new version of trap musica Southern, slow, and menacing form of hip-hopreliant on nihilistically bare beats, rapid-fire triplet flows, and rousing, absurdist ad-libs. As the trio made a name for themselves locallyby turning up strip clubs and basement partiesthey also gained a rabid following online, as regional rap extended its tendrils across blogs, forums, and early social media.

In 2013, Drake remixed the groups hit Versace, sending them to another level of notoriety. While the group battled legal issues and jail time, it was their work ethic that kept them from being a one-hit wonder: Its a day job and a night job, Takeoff told the Fader in 2013, in between studio sessions and live appearances.

Fame

Over the next few years, Migos rise would occur largely without the help of traditional gatekeepers. The New York Times reported in early 2017 that their number one hit, Bad and Boujee was ignored for months by radio and late-night music bookers. Migos didnt sound like what was on the radio at the time: it was comparatively unpolished, rowdy and sounded vaguely threatening to unfamiliar ears.

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Those snubs had little to no impact on the Migos, who decided to debut Bad and Boujee on Soundcloud, which represented the forefront of rap culture at the time. In memes and blogs, many quickly proclaimed that the Migos were better than the Beatles. The group popularized the dance move the dabwhich rapidly turned from trendy to cringey as white teens got a hold of it on Vineand Donald Glover anointed Bad and Boujee the best song  ever onstage at the Golden Globes.

Through this rise, Takeoff remained a tertiary public presence next to Quavo, the slick-talking, jewelry-laden quasi-frontman, and Offset, who made up one of raps foremost power couples alongside Cardi B. Takeoff was often relegated the last verse of songs, patiently waiting for his bandmates to finish. And he didnt even have a verse on Bad and Boujeea fact that was memed endlessly after a question about his omission sparked a confrontation between Migos and Joe Budden at the 2017 BET Awards.

But in Migos music overall, Takeoff played a central role in his poise and ferocity, and only improved his craft over the years. It wasnt the actual words he delivered that made him stand out, but the way he delivered them: emphatically accenting unexpected syllables; stuffing dozens of words into bars with both fleet and force. F-ckin with the wrong one, trippin / Thirty round extension for the tension / Hundred round drum, listen / F-ck around and end up missin, he rapped on Get Right Witcha.

He hit another high point on Cardi Bs Drip, effortlessly mixing menace and humor and deploying rhythmic jukes to constantly surprise the listener: Abort the mission, n****, they be tellin off and squealin / Splash, took a bitch to Piccadilly / Water in my ear, gave a n**** wet willy.

Influence

Before long, the triplet-based Migos Flow that Takeoff had in particular perfected would become ubiquitous on the rap and pop charts, thanks to more sanitized artists like Post Malone and Ariana Grande. Once mostly meme fodder, trap would soon become a respected, endlessly-dissected culture and art form. Trap is the only music that sounds like what living in contemporary America feels like, Jesse McCarthy wrote in N+1 Magazine in 2018. It is the soundtrack of the dissocialized subject that neoliberalism made.

The fact that [rap] now the new normal is a triumph for voices who havent always had platforms to call their ownand finally do, Raisa Bruner wrote in TIME in 2018. Migos are smart to call their albums culture. Thats exactly what it sounds like.

Read More: How Rap Became the Sound of the Mainstream

Takeoff received praise for his 2018 solo record The Last Rocket, as well as his duo album Only Built for Infinity Links with Quavo, which was released this October. On that album, the uncle and nephew pairing solidified their familial mind-meld: You can hear their bond in their back-and-forths, the way their mutating styles make slight tweaks to an already solid formula, Dylan Green wrote in Pitchfork.

Their latest music video, Messy, was released on Monday.

Tragically, it was reported that Quavo was present when his nephew was shot to death in Houston. Takeoffs death also continues a rash of gun violence that has plagued the rap community: Trouble, Young Dolph, and PNB Rock have all been shot to death this year.

Many in the rap community paid their respects on Twitter:

REST IN PARADISE TAKEOFF!!!! FUCK MAN!! THIS SHIT JUST HIT HARD AND IM TRYNA GRASP WORDS TO SAY BUT I CANT!!!!! pic.twitter.com/rb5GrByV8V  First Class  (@1DJFirstClass) November 1, 2022

takeoffs contribution is a lot of why culture is so great/iconic for me. the way he flowed so effortlessly on every verse, especially on slippery, will always be crazy to me. what a fcking talent man, gone way too soon   SK (@raptalksk) November 1, 2022

extremely important music

thank you for what you gave us and rest in power takeoff  pic.twitter.com/Me5CnMcldT  pg baby rmx out now (@redveil) November 1, 2022

Takeoff, man...

Offset lost a brother he'll never get to fix things with.

For nothing.

Quavo lost his nephew.

For nothing.

Rap lost a good one.

For nothing.

All this bloodshed.

For nothing.

It'll never make sense.

Never ever.

Rest in Peace.

Prayers to the family of the fallen. pic.twitter.com/6l4PUO2wp1    (@visecs) November 1, 2022

rip takeoff   Cole Bennett (@_ColeBennett_) November 1, 2022

I am the laid-back one. I dont say too much, Takeoff admitted in a 2017 Fader cover story. But in music, his presence was towering.
Millions of people in the Philippines visited cemeteries to honor their deceased loved ones on All Saints Day for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Filipinos gathered to remember their dead family and friends by lighting candles and leaving flowers and food at gravesites despite some cemeteries being soaked in floodwater and mud due to the tropical storm last week.

The storm, which unleashed flooding and landslides across the nation, killed more than 100 people and left dozens missing. However, the rain did not stop Filipinos from spending most of the day by the tombs of their deceased.

Even a typhoon would not have stopped me from coming here, Leonardo Filamor, 58, who visited his friends tomb in Manila North Cemetery, told the New Straits Times.

More from NextShark: Suicide rate of Japanese children is revealed to have quadrupled to record high in 2020

In Manila North Cemetery alone, more than 200,000 people were estimated to have visited and crowded around the area despite social distancing measures in place.

So far, for the last two to three days, the situation in cemeteries particularly here in Manila has been generally peaceful, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo told GMA News.

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According to the PNP, more than 192,000 officers were deployed at around 4,768 cemeteries for the occasion. With the country recovering from the pandemic, visitors were required to wear face masks.

More from NextShark: Supreme Court to hear cases alleging Harvard, UNC admissions discriminates against Asian students

The celebration, which is known in the Philippines as Undas, or Day of the Dead, is commemorated in a festive atmosphere. In addition to visiting the cemetery, most Catholic families also attend local churches to pray for their loved ones the following day for All Souls Day, which is also known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed.

The Philippines, which is a predominantly Catholic nation, is considered the second country after Mexico with the most people to celebrate the Day of the Dead.

The pandemic of recent years forced us to come to terms with our mortality. It taught us to number our days as we realize the uncertainty of our time on Earth, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in a statement.

More from NextShark: India frees 11 Hindu men who sexually assaulted pregnant Muslim woman, killed 7 of her family members in 2002

Featured Image via ABS-CBN News
Mohamed Salah, third right, takes the plaudits after his landmark goal (Nick Potts/PA) (PA Wire)

Mohamed Salah equalled Steven Gerrards Liverpool European goals record as his 85th-minute strike paved the way for a 2-0 win over previously undefeated Napoli in the Champions League at Anfield.

When the Serie A leaders goalkeeper Alex Meret barely kept substitute Darwin Nunezs header from crossing the line, the Egypt international followed up to force the ball home.

It was his 41st European goal  all coming in 64 Champions League appearances  and his 12th in all competitions this season.

A record-equalling goal from @MoSalah, who moves level with Steven Gerrard on 41 European goals for the Reds!  pic.twitter.com/trK6dXA0we  Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 1, 2022

Salah also matched Gerrards record of 18 Champions League goals at Anfield in his 29th outing.

Midfielder Gerrards European goals came over 129 games in the Champions League, Europa League and UEFA Cup including qualifying rounds.

Nunez then scored for a third successive European game with the last kick when Meret spilled Virgil van Dijks header, although it required VAR to overturn an errant offside flag.

The victory ensured a Champions League group stage which had begun with a 4-1 humbling in Naples, offering a portent of the difficulties to come, finished on a high even though Jurgen Klopps side had already qualified for the knockout stage going into this game.

That this match passed with little alarm  with the second-half goal they conceded to Leo Ostigard eventually ruled out by VAR  was a positive.

And while that may be a low bar to set after back-to-back defeats to the Premier Leagues bottom two sides, Liverpool will take any confidence boost they can  although the loss of James Milner to injury was the downside.

Napoli, off the back of 13 successive victories, did not need to win the game to top Group A and Liverpools chances of effecting a four-goal margin of victory seemed unlikely considering their current travails.

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They also have a far more important meeting with Tottenham in London on Sunday where they will hope to get their Premier League season back on track, with captain Jordan Henderson rested for this game with that in mind.

As a result the first half was largely unremarkable, with Curtis Jones chipping over the onrushing Meret and the crossbar from a tight angle and later placing his header too high from Roberto Firminos backheel flick.

Liverpools best move came after Tanguy Ndombeles shot was comfortably saved by Alisson Becker and immediately from Thiago Alcantaras sumptuous pass out to Salah, the ball was in the other penalty area with Thiago charging forward to force a better save out of Meret.

Napolis exciting winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia posed a threat with a driving run from deep but Ibrahima Konate leant heavily enough on the Georgia international to force him off the ball in the penalty area.

Konates return to the team, replacing the out-of-sorts Joe Gomez for only his second start of the season after injury, was one of the positives and his partnership with Van Dijk offers some hope of greater defensive stability.

Thiago continues to be Liverpools best midfielder, although considering Klopps limited options he is not facing much competition, and he dominated the ball without quite finding the killer pass.

Resources in the centre were depleted further early in second half when Milner went off and was replaced by Harvey Elliott.

Napoli did eventually breach the Van Dijk-Konate partnership  all too easily in truth  but their set-piece goal fell foul of a three-minute VAR review.

Kvaratskhelias 53rd-minute free-kick was an inviting one but apparently not so much so for Liverpools centre-backs, who allowed Ostigard to ghost in between them and plant a free header from six yards past Alisson only to be ruled fractionally offside.

Salah should have scored with an instinctive close-range volley late on but steered it into the hands of Meret, but he did not pass up a second chance when it fell to him five minutes from time and Nunez then added an almost carbon-copy second.
A 27-year-old Montgomery man is facing multiple firearms charges after allegedly displaying a semi-automatic rifle in a Wawa parking lot last weekend where customers reported hearing gunshots, announced the Somerset County Prosecutors Office.

Joshua A. Kinney, of the Skillman section, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, certain persons not to have weapons or ammunition and unlawful possession of a weapon, all second-degree crimes, as well as two counts of possession of a large-capacity magazine, possession of a firearm without obtaining a firearms purchaser identification card, hindering apprehension, obstruction and interception of official communications, said Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald and Montgomery Acting Captain and Police Director Silvio Bet.

Kinney was being held at the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

The Somerset County Communications Center received a 911 call around 3:17 a.m. Oct. 29 reporting a man displaying an AR-15-style rifle to an employee in the parking lot of the Wawa on Route 206 in Skillman, McDonald said.

Arriving Montgomery officers were able to get a description of the driver and vehicle which fled in an unknown direction, the prosecutor said. As the investigation was continuing, the Somerset County Communications Center was contacted by a member of Kinney's family and investigators determined Kinney was the alleged individual who displayed the rifle, McDonald said.

Crime:Woodbridge home invasion, attempted vehicle theft suspects sought

Montgomery police, assisted by Hillsborough police, were able to track Kinney to a home on Zion-Wertsville Road in the Skillman section where police set up a perimeter around the house, the prosecutor said. The suspect vehicle allegedly involved in the Wawa incident was also spotted at the home and around 5:20 a.m., Montgomery police requested for an activation of the Somerset County SWAT and the Crisis Negotiations Team, the prosecutor said.

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Following the SWAT activation, Montgomery police were able to establish telephone contact with Kinney who exited his home and began negotiations with officers, McDonals sai.d Around 6:37 a.m., Kinney was taken into custody without incident by Somerset County SWAT officers as he walked away from his home, McDonald said.

An AR-15 rifle, a handgun and high-capacity magazines for both weapons were located in a wooded field on Spring Hill Road with the assistance of the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Computer Crimes Unit, McDonald said. The investigation revealed that this is an area where Kinney crashed his vehicle following the Wawa incident while returning to his home, the prosecutor said.

Authorities have not released a motive for Kinneys actions and the incident remains under investigation. No injuries were reported.

Anyone with information relating to this incident to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office at 908-231-7100, the Montgomery Township Police Department at 908-359-3222 or via the STOPit app. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Skillman NJ Wawa shooting suspect faces multiple firearms charges
The side of a Phoenix Police vehicle is seen.

Phoenix police say they arrested a woman on suspicion that she defrauded people into donating on false claims that her child had brain cancer.

Phoenix Childrens Hospital reported that the woman and her 25-year-old husband were bringing their 1-year-old child for unnecessary medical procedures and claimed their child had brain cancer.

Court documents state the hospital alerted authorities on Oct. 5, and told police that Monique Coria had started a GoFundMe account and posted pictures and videos of their child in the emergency room in which she lied about her having brain cancer and needing money for treatment.

The hospital estimated the couple had raised $13,000 on GoFundMe and were collecting donations on other platforms including Cash App, Venmo and Linktree. Phoenix police detectives and officers with the Department of Child Safety confronted Coria on Oct. 13 at her home about the allegations.

Phoenix Childrens Hospital reported that the woman and her 25-year-old husband were bringing their 1-year-old child for unnecessary medical procedures and claimed their child had brain cancer.

Documents say Coria told the officers that her child took medication for seizures but did not have brain cancer or brain-related injuries and that a friend had set up the GoFundMe for her. Coria later admitted to lying about her child having brain cancer in TikTok videos she had posted and that she had done so because she was in a bad place.

Coria said they had raised around $11,000 and spend $4,000 on rent and gas but had the rest of the money in a bank account. Documents say Coria admitted that she and her husband knew their child didnt have brain cancer and that lying about the condition to garner donations was fraudulent.

Coria called detectives later that day and told them she had withdrawn the remaining money and gave it to her godmother for safekeeping.

Phoenix Childrens Hospital told Phoenix police that it had saved copies of the TikTok videos and took screenshots of various accounts. The hospital also provided copies of the childs medical records which showed no history of brain cancer, documents state.

Police arrested Coria and her husband on Oct. 17 and questioned them further about the GoFundMe account. The husband, who is not named in the court documents, told detectives that his wife had created the account with his identification and believed their child had brain cancer based on what his wife had told him but noted he hadnt seen medical paperwork corroborating her claim.

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He said he himself never asked for the money, but that the two spent the donation money to buy a car along with paying for rent, clothes, food, toys, TV and medication.

Documents say Coria admitted that her husband didnt know their child didnt have brain cancer and that she had set up the GoFundMe in January to defraud people. She repeated that the GoFundMe raised about $11,000 in donations and she had received an unknown amount of money from donations on other payment apps, documents state.

Coria told detectives she bought luxury items, such as a Gucci wallet and a Dyson Airwrap hair styler, because the donation money had covered their other expenses and had since spent the remaining donation money on other things while admitting that it was wrong and she shouldnt have done it, documents say.

Documents show police booked Coria into jail on one count of fraudulent schemes and artifices, a Class 2 felony.

It was not immediately clear whether her husband was charged as well or who had custody of the child.

Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at 602-444-2474 or perry.vandell@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @PerryVandell.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mother suspected of raising money on GoFundMe for child's false cancer
Sergey Kiriyenko, the First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidents Office of the Russian Federation, is the "main ideologue" of the destruction of Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Source: Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, on Twitter

Quote from Danilov: "The main ideologue and lobbyist of the destruction of Ukraine's energy infrastructure is Sergey Kiriyenko, the First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidents Office of Russia, who is well versed in the energy sector due to his work for Rosatom [the State Atomic Energy Corporation of Russia  ed.]."

Details: He emphasised that Ukraine knows by names those Russians, who should be brought for justice for their actions.

Previously: Kyrylo Budanov, the Head of the Chief Intelligence Directorate of Ukraines Defence Ministry, told UP that he considered Kiriyenko to be one of the alleged "successors" of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Background:

On the morning of 31 October, Russia conducted missile attacks on dozens of Ukrainian cities. Ukraine's air defence shot down 44 of over fifty Russian-launched missiles. As a result of damage to critical infrastructure, problems with electricity supply occur in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk and several other cities in various oblasts of Ukraine.

On 31 October, emergency power outages were introduced in Ukraine as a result of massive attacks on critical infrastructure by Russians.

On 10 October, as a result of the massive morning attack, at least 11 important infrastructure facilities in 8 oblasts and the capital city of Kyiv were damaged.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
The Navy resumed flight operations for part of its T-45C Goshawk jet trainer fleet Monday after a two-week grounding, but officials are declining to say how many of the aircraft are actually returning to the skies.

Flights for the Goshawks, which are used to train Navy and Marine Corps fighter pilots, were halted on Oct. 14 after an engine blade failure was discovered on one of the planes, according to Naval Air Systems Command, or NAVAIR.

In particular, one of the trainers suffered a low-pressure compressor blade failure before taking off Oct. 11.

Engineering analysis has revealed that a subset of T-45C engine blades do not meet the manufacturers engine specifications, NAVAIR said in a statement. Those aircraft remain grounded.

Navy officials declined to say Tuesday how many Goshawks remain grounded due to operational security concerns, according to an email from spokeswoman Elizabeth Fahrner.

Heres why Navy and Marine Corps training jets are grounded

Fahrner also did not answer a question regarding the timeline for getting the entire fleet airworthy again.

We will fly additional aircraft only once they are in compliance with these specifications and have been determined to be safe for our naval aircrews, she said.

There are 193 Goshawks in the fleet overall, and jets found to not have the engine blade issue are returning to operations this week.

The aircraft we are flying are verified and known-good, Chief of Naval Air Training Rear Adm. Richard Brophy said in a statement. We have the highest confidence in the compliance of these aircraft.

Officials told Navy Times last week that no prior Goshawk mishaps have been attributed to this type of engine blade fault, although a mishap from August remains under investigation.

The Navy is working with manufacturer Rolls Royce to figure out the problem and a fix for it.

In the meantime, training units are filling the lack of flying time with simulators, classroom lectures and other computer-based training, according to NAVAIR.

While the reintroduction of the T-45C fleet will be a staggered approach, it is not a process that will be rushed, Brophy said. It is essential that our maintenance partners analyze and diagnose this issue thoroughly so training operations can fully resume with the safety of each of our aviators as a top priority.
Hastings. Ken Ishii / Stringer / Getty

Former Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes implied Netflix was overrated in a 2010 interview.

A new book about HBO reveals that Netflix CEO Reed Hastings took the comments in stride.

The incident highlights the years-long back-and-forth between Netflix and HBO.

The rivalry between Netflix and HBO stretches further back than the last few years of Emmy races.

A new book on the history of HBO, "It's Not TV: The Spectacular Rise, Revolution, and Future of HBO" by Felix Gillette and John Koblin, which Insider was provided a copy of before its release on Tuesday, offers new details on the decade-plus squabble.

In 2010, Jeffrey Bewkes  who was CEO of HBO's then-parent company Time Warner  took a jab at Netflix in a New York Times interview with the headline "Time Warner Views Netflix as a Fading Star."

"It's a little bit like, is the Albanian army going to take over the world?" Bewkes said. "I don't think so."

Reed Hastings, Netflix's current co-CEO and its sole chief exec at the time, took the comment in stride, according to Gillette and Koblin's book.

In a meeting with 70 of Netflix's top executives a few weeks after the Times interview dropped, Hastings handed out camouflage army berets that had an image of the Albanian flag's double-headed eagle on them.

Hastings used the meeting to "make fun of" Bewkes, former Netflix communications exec Jonathan Friedland told Gillette and Koblin, and took it as an opportunity for a pep rally of sorts. Insider was unable to find contact information for Bewkes to request comment on the book's passage.

A rivalry dating back more than a decade

The incident highlights the years-long back-and-forth between the streaming giant and premium cable network.

In recent years, Netflix and HBO have duked it out for Emmy domination, a TV industry status symbol. In 2020, Netflix finally prevailed in the ceremony's top honor of best drama series with "The Crown," but HBO took back the prize last year with "Succession."

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But the rivalry goes deeper than mere trophies and signifies the rapid shifts in the entertainment industry.

When Netflix entered the original-series space a decade ago, one of its breakout series was "House of Cards"  a political drama that HBO had been eyeing. But Netflix offered $100 million for a two-season commitment, which was unheard of at the time, according to the book.

"We didn't have the financial flexibility to make that commitment," former HBO CEO Richard Plepler told the book's authors, Gillette and Koblin.

In 2013, the same year "House of Cards" premiered, Netflix's current co-CEO and content chief Ted Sarandos had told GQ, "The goal is to become HBO faster than HBO can become us."

When AT&T bought Time Warner in 2018, it made increasing HBO's content a priority for its streaming ambitions  which would be a change of pace from HBO's quality-over-quantity history and closer to Netflix's content strategy.

In other words, Netflix wanted to be more like HBO and HBO's corporate overlords wanted it to be more like Netflix. But a lot's changed.

Today, HBO is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, the company formed this year when AT&T spun off Warner to Discovery. HBO's content chief, Casey Bloys, was recently elevated to CEO of HBO, HBO Max, and HBO Content. Max originals were intended to expand HBO's slate and typical demographics, but haven't tarnished the network's reputation. It's still an awards powerhouse (and a ratings one, given the success of "Game of Thrones" prequel "House of the Dragon").

Meanwhile, Netflix has faced headwinds this year, losing subscribers in the first two quarters. It avoided a third straight quarter of losses in Q3, and seems to be doubling down on what it thinks it does best.

So, HBO and Netflix aren't really becoming each other at all. Sure, Warner Bros. Discovery wants to succeed in the streaming space, but it doesn't seem to be betting it all on that like AT&T did. And Netflix is likely interested in HBO-like prestige, but still pumps out more content han any other entertainment company.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A pregnant woman tested positive for opioids after eating an everything bagel, which had poppy seeds. (Getty Images)

Most expectant moms have a general idea of how they want the birthing process to go. For Caitlyn Marie Ricci, her ideal scenario didn't include multiple visits from child protective services  but that's what she got.

The New Jersey resident, who welcomed her first child on Oct. 2, tells Yahoo Life that her birthing experience started to go downhill on Oct.1. She arrived at the hospital for an induction and was asked to give a urine sample. "I thought absolutely nothing of it as I did not take any drugs and had nothing to worry about," Ricci says. But a few hours later, a nurse came into her room and told her that her urine sample had come back positive for opioids.

"She asked if I had eaten any poppy seeds recently and that's when I realized I had an everything bagel for breakfast that morning," Ricci recalls. "She said, 'We see this happen frequently, don't stress. We will test the baby's urine when he's born. As long as he's negative, there won't be any issues.'" Ricci says she was also told that as little as a teaspoon of poppy seeds is enough to show a false positive on a drug test.

Ricci's son was born the next night after 40 hours of labor that resulted in a C-section. At that point, she was told that her baby tested negative for opioids, but because she had tested positive, she would need to be reported to state officials. Ricci was also told someone from the state would come to interview her before she left the hospital.

"Feeling like we needed to comply, we said, 'That's fine,' because we genuinely have nothing to hide," Ricci says. She says she was interviewed by an official from child protective services less than 36 hours after giving birth and was told that the official would need to see her home before she could leave the hospital with her baby.

"My husband had to leave myself and our newborn at the hospital for this home check," Ricci says. "After seeing that we have a perfectly suitable home, [the official] told us he needed to come back again to physically see the baby in our home. We once again complied."

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During that visit  which was less than 24 hours after Ricci got home from the hospital  she was told she would need to take another test and have someone physically observe her in the process. "Since then, we have not heard from anyone," Ricci says, adding that she's "assuming no news is good news in a situation like this."

Ricci shared her experience on TikTok, and several people in the comments said they had similar experiences. "I just had a nearly identical experience with my son's birth three weeks ago. It ruined so much for me it hurts," shared one new mom. "This exact thing happened to me! Straight traumatizing!!" another said.

Dallas-area doula Misty Gigler tells Yahoo Life that stories like Ricci's are exactly why she warns her clients to stay away from poppy seeds, particularly in the last four weeks of pregnancy. "The ramifications of testing positive could potentially get their baby taken away from them," she says.

"A lot of women dont even know they are testing their blood for drugs upon admission into the hospital," Gigler says. "Funny, they will give you fentanyl while in labor but take your baby away if you ate poppy seeds."

Gigler is right  most women don't know that they're being tested for drugs when they visit a hospital to give birth. But women's health expert Dr. Jennifer Wider points out that drug testing is recommended by both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and American Society of Addiction Medicine. (Worth noting: ACOG recommends that testing be conducted with the mother's consent.)

"The purpose is to make sure women and their babies are given the best opportunity for optimal outcomes during and after pregnancy," Wider says. "Having said that, it's important to note that testing without consent was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2001, and the practice has been a source of controversy." (However, it's possible that information on this could be buried in paperwork that expectant mothers hastily sign when entering the hospital.)

Wider says that "eating poppy seeds on bagels or in muffins prior to a drug test is a known risk factor for a false positive opioid screen," pointing out that "poppy seeds can have trace amounts of opiates." There's also a risk of a faulty test that delivers a false positive, she says.

The only way to lower your risk of this happening is to avoid foods with poppy seeds in the later stages of your pregnancy, Wider says. "Maybe save a poppy seed muffin or everything bagel for your first meal after your baby is born," Dr. Christine Greves, an ob-gyn at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando, Fla., tells Yahoo Life.

It's important to point out that it's not just poppy seeds that can trigger a false positive drug test: One case report details how three pregnant women who were taking labetalol, a common medication to treat high blood pressure, tested positive for amphetamines. Greves stresses that these false positives don't happen all that often. But, if you're concerned, she says you can ask your health care provider if any medications you're on or foods you've been eating could potentially cause you to test positive for illicit drugs.

Ricci says the experience was "completely shocking." She adds, "While I'm glad these procedures are in place to make sure babies are safe, I think the OB offices need to do a better job at letting pregnant women know that this is something that can happen."

She also says the experience "made me feel like a bad mom, even though I knew I had done absolutely nothing wrong."

Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here.
Does the November share price for North American Construction Group Ltd. (TSE:NOA) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward.

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

Check out our latest analysis for North American Construction Group

The Method

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. 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 discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (CA$, Millions) CA$68.5m CA$59.0m CA$81.0m CA$76.0m CA$73.3m CA$71.8m CA$71.1m CA$71.1m CA$71.4m CA$71.9m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ -3.6% Est @ -2.01% Est @ -0.9% Est @ -0.12% Est @ 0.42% Est @ 0.8% Present Value (CA$, Millions) Discounted @ 11% CA$61.7 CA$47.8 CA$59.1 CA$50.0 CA$43.4 CA$38.3 CA$34.2 CA$30.7 CA$27.8 CA$25.2

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = CA$418m

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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 1.7%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 11%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = CA$72m (1 + 1.7%)  (11% 1.7%) = CA$781m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= CA$781m ( 1 + 11%)10= CA$274m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is CA$692m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of CA$17.1, the company appears quite good value at a 35% 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

Important Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own 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 North American Construction Group 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 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 2.000. 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.

Looking Ahead:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For North American Construction Group, there are three important elements you should assess:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for North American Construction Group that you should be aware of before investing here. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for NOA's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. 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!

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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North Korea has lashed out at the US for expanding military exercises with South Korea and warned of more powerful follow-up measures.

An unnamed spokesperson for North Koreas foreign ministry said in a statement that the joint military drills showed that the US is the chief culprit in destroying peace and security, reported the Associated Press.

If the US continuously persists in the grave military provocations, the DPRK [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea] will take into account more powerful follow-up measures, the spokesperson said.

The statement did not specify what those measures could be.

The statement comes days after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles towards the sea.

The area was apparently closer to South Korea than any other missile launch site North Korea has used so far this year.

The launches were the Norths first ballistic missile tests since 14 October.

The launches came as large-scale training drills were conducted between South Korea and the USs air force.

This week, the two countries are running aerial drills called Vigilant Storm from Monday to Friday.

Last week South Korea completed its annual 12-day Hoguk field exercises that officials say also involved an unspecified number of US troops.

Officials in South Korea say that North Korea could continue to keep up pressure by detonating its first nuclear test device since September 2017.

This year, the North has conducted a record run of weapons tests, which are being seen as leader Kim Jong-uns efforts to intimidate the South and the US to accept the North as a legitimate nuclear state and lift economic sanctions on them.

In September Mr Kim said that North Korea will never abandon their nuclear weapons even if his country was sanctioned for 100 years.

The North has also conducted a record number of missile tests this year whcich are being seen as part of the countrys efforts to intimidate the South and the US to accept the North as a legitimate nuclear state.

Last week, US deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman said that the US will make full use of its military capabilities, including nuclear, conventional and missile defense," to defend its allies Japan and South Korea while warning North Korea against escalating its provocations.

(Additional reporting by agencies)
Leader Kim Jong-un has ruled out the possibility of talks on denuclearisation

North Korea has threatened the US with "powerful follow-up measures" if it does not stop conducting joint military drills with South Korea.

Washington and Seoul on Monday began one of their largest combined military air drills, which will end on Friday.

North Korea has also launched a series of missiles in recent weeks in response to the various drills.

This follows intelligence reports that Pyongyang is preparing for its first nuclear weapon test since 2017.

"If the US continuously persists in the grave military provocations, [North Korea] will take into account more powerful follow-up measures," said North Korea's foreign ministry in a statement.

"If [Washington] does not want any serious developments not suited to its security interests, it should stop the useless and ineffective war exercises at once. If not, it will have to totally take the blame for all the consequences."

The current military drills, called Vigilant Storm, involve hundreds of airplanes conducting mock attacks 24 hours a day.

Early in October, Washington deployed its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan near the Korean Peninsula in a move that was widely seen as a warning to the North - and the carrier took part in a round of naval drills.

Seoul said the "rare" deployment showed the "resolve of the South Korea-US Alliance to respond sternly to any North Korean provocations". The carrier is currently carrying out flight operations in the Philippine sea.

Pyongyang had in October said that its missile launches were a "simulation" of a nuclear attack on the South.

They claimed to have successfully simulated hitting South Korea's military bases, ports and airports, and said the missiles were designed to carry tactical nuclear weapons.

In September North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared Pyongyang was an "irreversible" nuclear power and revised laws, allowing it to use nuclear weapons pre-emptively. Its previous policy had been to only use the weapons in response to an attack.

North Korea has also stepped up its frequency of missile firings this year, carrying out over 40 launches so far, the highest ever.

Despite crippling sanctions, Pyongyang has conducted six nuclear tests between 2006 and 2017.
A northwest Louisiana nurse entered a guilty plea Tuesday morning following her grand jury indictment on Wednesday, Oct. 26.

Debra E. Craig, 66, of Converse, Louisiana, entered a guilty plea Nov. 1, for one count of obtaining controlled substances by fraud.

Craig worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse Medical Assistant at the DeSoto Regional Health System along with Dr. Jeffrey L. Evans. While working together Evans convinced Craig to illegally fill prescriptions for hydrocodone-acetaminophen on his behalf by indicating to her that he needed medication to treat pain.

Evans would write prescriptions in the name of Debbie Craig for 100 dosage units of hydrocodone and would provide cash to Craig to be used to pay for the prescriptions at Mansfield Drug Company. After filling the prescriptions, Craig would provide all the hydrocodone to Evans.

Craig faces up to 4 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to$250,000.

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Northwest Louisiana nurse pleads guilty to drug fraud
Oct. 31A 24-year-old Odessa man was arrested early Halloween morning after authorities said he ran over a woman with is SUV while intoxicated.

According to an Ector County Sheriff's Office report, deputies received a 911 call about a major accident in the 14000 block of West University shortly after 2 a.m.

When deputies arrived, a security guard at World Center Antojitos & Cantina said he saw an argument between the driver of a Chevrolet Tahoe, a woman and two men. Moments later, he looked up and saw the Tahoe on top of the woman, according to the report.

The security guard told deputies he handcuffed the driver of the Tahoe, identified as Jesus Munoz Becerra, because he was trying to leave.

When a deputy spoke with Becerra she noticed he smelled like alcohol, had red, glassy eyes and was slurring his words, the report stated. He told her he had been arguing with the trio and when he tried to leave the woman jumped in front of his vehicle, the report stated.

Becerra was put into the deputy's patrol car, but he jumped out and ran approximately 40 feet before being caught by another deputy, the report stated. On the way back to the patrol car, Becerra refused to walk on his own, fell to the ground and brought the deputy with him.

According to the report, the deputy was treated at Medical Center Hospital for injuries to her right hand and knee.

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers investigated the collision and they booked Becerra into the Ector County jail on suspicion of intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury and escape while arrest, both are third-degree felonies punishable by two to 10 years in prison.

No bond has yet been set.
CHICAGO  Officers from Mayor Lori Lightfoots security detail intervened during a robbery Tuesday morning and exchanged gunfire with the suspects, according to Chicago police. No one was struck by gunfire, but an officer suffered minor injuries.

In a statement, police said that at about 7 a.m., on-duty officers, assigned to the detached services unit, saw a robbery taking place in the 1800 block of North Monticello Avenue. The officers encountered several people at least one of whom was armed  and gunfire was exchanged, police said.

The suspects were able to flee the scene, and no weapons have been recovered.

Tom Ahern, a Police Department spokesman, said the suspects are still at large, but police have a vehicle they left near the scene.

Ahern also said it is unclear how many people were involved in the robbery, but there were several.

There have been several armed robberies in the area and detectives are looking at a possible connection, Ahern said.

The shooting is being investigated by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, and the officers involved will be placed on routine administrative duties for 30 days, according to police.

____
The State Fire Marshalls Office is investigating the cause of a fire that claimed the life of a man in Chatham Monday afternoon.

According to the State Fire Marshalls Office, crews responded to the fire as smoke poured out of the chimney and second floor windows of the two-and-a-half story house, at approximately 2:10 p.m. Neighbors were unsure if the resident had escaped the building and told officers that all his vehicles were still in the driveway.

After entering the burning building, firefighters had a difficult time accessing the seat of the fire due to the heavy smoke. Crews eventually located the seat of the fire in a basement closet. Crews were able to locate the resident in the basement after the fire was extinguished and the smoke cleared.

The man was quickly extracted from the building and rushed to Cape Cod Hospital to be treated for life-threatening injuries. According to a spokesperson from the State Fire Marshalls office, the man was pronounced dead later in the day.

Firefighters from Chatham, Harwich, Brewster, and Orleans assisted with extinguishment.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Photo: Ohio House of Representatives, Getty

Well, heres someone whom I wish would shut up about reproductive health: Ohio state Rep. Bill Dean (R), who is doubling down on his recent comments calling skyrocketing U.S. maternal mortality rates a myth by blaming high maternal mortality on obese people.



Im not a physician. But I would imagine, a lot of times, its the lifestyle of the lady thats having the pregnancy, he told the Dayton Daily News. We also have the most obese people in the whole world. Its just individual cases.

Read more

Dean first told the outlet earlier in October that theres no great risk of dying from pregnancy, and, further, that ectopic pregnancywhich occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterusdoesnt count. Ectopic pregnancies account for about 2% of pregnancies, and are the leading cause of maternal mortality during the first trimesterbut sure, buddy!

Contrary to Deans claims about the supposed safety of pregnancy, the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among wealthy nations, per statistics provided by the CDC. This ranking is rendered even more shameful by additional CDC research that found more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. are preventable, ultimately stemming from high costs and limited access to the full range of health careparticularly along lines of race and class. Black pregnant people are three to four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts, and a 2017 study found the maternal mortality rate is disproportionately higher in states where abortion access is more restricted, which surely bodes well for post-Roe times.

As if it werent already pretty clear what kind of person Dean is, when asked about supporting rape exceptions to abortionwhich, in some cases, might have prevented child rape victims in Ohio from being forced to cross state lines for careDean responded, Why would you punish the child for rape? Dean was, to be very clear, referring to fertilized eggs, over living, adolescent rape victims. Hes also referred to abortion patients as heathens.

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When Dayton Daily News asked Dean again about his stances last Thursday, unsettlingly enough, he had more to say. Pregnancy is a natural thing that women are made for. Thats the way God made them, Dean elaborated. The myth is that it is dangerous; its no more dangerous than living every day.

Ohio incumbent State Rep. Bill Dean blames maternal deaths on womens lifestyle choices:



Pregnancy is a natural thing that women are made for. Thats the way God made them, Dean said. The myth is that it is dangerous; its no more dangerous than living every day. https://t.co/KhczNak4wz  melissa block (@NPRmelissablock) October 31, 2022

Incidentally, given Deans shocking not a physician status, his Democratic challenger, Jim Duffee, is a retired pediatrician, who has thoughts on Deans stunning ignorance. Although most pregnancies are joyous occasions, pregnancy is a dangerous time for women, Duffee told the newspaper. He further pointed out that, as all research has indicated, maternal mortality will increase with the abortion ban. Duffee continued, If a healthy young woman comes in, her fetus is at 18 weeks, and her water breaks, that fetus is unsalvageable. It will not survive. Currently, the only way to save her life is to wait until shes deathly ill.

To Duffees point, maternal mortality will almost certainly rise as more and more doctors fearing prison-time for violating abortion bans deny patients emergency abortion care. Were already seeing these cases across the country, between child rape victims, whose pregnancies are innately high-risk, and pregnant cancer patients who are denied chemotherapy until they end their pregnancy. In a handful of other documented cases, a Tennessee woman with emergency pregnancy complications was forced to take a six-hour ambulance to the closest state that didnt ban abortion. A Missouri woman with a high-risk, nonviable pregnancy whose water broke at 17 weeks was referred to an anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center by her state senators office. A Louisiana woman whose fetus had no skull was denied abortion, anyway, and said she was carrying [her fetus] just to bury it.

Beyond the dehumanizing cruelty of these medical situations, theres life-threatening risk, too: Earlier this year, a Polish woman died from being forced to carry a dead fetus and contracting sepsis. While her countrys abortion ban allows ambiguous exceptions for threats to the life of the pregnant person, doctors fearing prison sentences are still often too afraid to offer life-saving care. This sounds chillingly familiarand entirely unrelated to obesity rates, to be clear.

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Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, and Trump-endorsed Republican and "Hillbilly Elegy" author J.D. Vance are scheduled to debate again before Election Day on Nov. 8, 2022.

WASHINGTON  Ohio Senate candidates J.D. Vance and Tim Ryan made their final arguments Tuesday over abortion, immigration, inflation and other issues  including styles of leadership  that could decide a pivotal U.S. Senate race.

In a FOX News Channel town hall in Columbus, each candidate took questions in separate segments in front of a crowd of some 200 voters.

Ryan, currently a U.S. House member, struck a moderate tone, saying he wants to work with Republicans and Democrats; he also criticized Vance and the Donald Trump MAGA political movement for "extremism" that may be encouraging violence, such as the recent attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband.

"We've got to stop the stupid fights," Ryan said during the town hall where the audience took turns cheering their guy.

Vance, an author and venture capitalist who is supported by Trump, disputed Ryan's assessment of his political positions.

"Tim should have better researchers," Vance said at one point.

The candidates previously clashed over abortion, gun control and immigration. But this was not a debate, and the candidates did not engage with each other; under the town hall format, they responded to questions from audience members, moderators, and social media users.

As a result, both candidates played up their top issues.

Ryan hit Vance for his opposition to abortion rights; Vance stressed immigration and called Ryan soft on border security.

Some highlights:

Fox News hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum question U.S. Senate candidate Tim Ryan during a town hall in Columbus on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.

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Debate recap: Ohio Senate candidates J.D. Vance, Tim Ryan face off in Youngstown debate

Vance on whether he would vote for McConnell for GOP Senate leader

The last questioner asked Vance if he would vote for Kentucky GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell  the current GOP leader  to keep his job in what would likely be Vances first vote as a new senator.

Vance replied that he is certainly not voting for (Democratic Senate Leader) Chuck Schumer.

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Vance said if McConnell is the only person who runs, it would be "an easy decision."

Well see what happens when I get to Washington D.C., but at the end of the day, Im going to represent the people of Ohio and I plan to be an independent voice for the people of Ohio.

Nobody is going to own my vote card, he said.

- Rachel Looker

Vance says teachers 'could use' better pay, resources

After being asked about what he would do in the Senate to improve schools and help teachers in Ohio, Vance praised public schools. He spoke about his personal experience in the public school system before saying teachers and schools "could use" better pay and resources.

He mentioned talks with teachers and  saying he didn't want to cast blame  how the COVID pandemic made teachers and kids "miserable."

The Republican said "we need to accept that we made a lot of mistakes." Vance said he thinks a combination of learning from past mistakes and increased resources will set teachers up for more success over the next 20 years.

- Sarah Elbeshbishi

Vance: abortion should mainly be state-level decision

Vance said that abortion rights should be determined by both the federal and state governments, but states should make 90% of the decision on abortion. He voiced support for current legislation  a 15-week ban sponsored by South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham  saying that it establishes "reasonable" exceptions while also setting a "minimum national standard."

"We should not, in this country, be aborting babies who can feel pain, who are fully formed. That's my view, and I'm certainly willing to support legislation that would make that a reality," Vance said.

- Sarah Elbeshbishi

Republican U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Vance at a Fox News town hall in Columbus on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.

Vance aims to listen and communicate better to foster civility

When asked how he could contribute to more civility between leaders, Vance said the most important thing he could do as senator is listen and communicate better.

He said he worries about how with big technology, people dont talk to one another and assume the very worst about anyone who disagrees with their stance.

Vance said he thinks as senator, he can listen to people he may disagree with and have conversations with people, adding thats something we do way too little of in this country.

- Rachel Looker

Vance turns Pelosi attack into immigration issue

Vance condemned the attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul, and said it should not be turned into a political issue by blaming conservative rhetoric  though he promptly linked it to the immigration issue instead.

More: Alleged Paul Pelosi attacker pleads not guilty at court appearance; will remain jailed

Vance noted that the suspect was in the country illegally, and therefore should never have had the chance to attack Pelosi.

"We need to deport violent illegal aliens," Vance said.

 David Jackson

Endorsing integrity of Ohio elections, Vance said he'll support Senate race outcome

A woman in the audience asked Vance if he believes in the integrity of Ohio elections and what his message will be if he loses the race.

I do believe in the integrity of Ohios elections, Ryan said, adding that the Ohio secretary of state does a great job administering Ohio elections.

He added that he expects to win, but if he doesnt he will support the other winning candidate.

On election integrity, Vance said some states could work to make elections more secure, such as establishing universal voter ID and advocating common sense elections laws.

When asked about his previous comments echoing groundless claims that the 2020 election was stolen, he said a number of state courts have found they didnt conduct elections in accordance with their own state laws and constitutions. He said battleground states should run free and fair elections.

More: Fact check: How we know the 2020 election results were legitimate, not 'rigged' as Donald Trump claims

Vance said the biggest threats to American democracy are big technology companies in bed with the communist Chinese.

I dont want these companies interfering in our elections, he said.

- Rachel Looker

Vance calls for bipartisanship on border policy

When asked about what he would do to secure the southern border, Vance said that the border wall needs to be finished and that the U.S. should declare drug cartels as a terrorist organization.

The candidate acknowledged that President Joe Biden may not want to do some of the ideas he suggested, however, he believes that there's a likely chance for both parties to work together.

"I think that if we get Republican majorities in Congress, that Democrats are going to be forced to work with us on a couple of things," Vance said. "We need to be willing to reach across the aisle and say 'Look, if you're willing to get things done for the sake of this country, of course we're willing to work with you.' "

- Sarah Elbeshbishi

Vance blames Biden administrations borrowing, spending and energy sector for inflation

The first question for Republican Senate nominee J.D. Vance came from a woman from Hilliard, who asked about how Vance will lower the high costs of groceries and medications.

Vance said he was raised by a single mom and his grandmother and can understand the struggles of working families.

He blamed inflation on two factors.

Vance first blamed the Biden administration citing the administrations borrowing and spending-- throwing fuel on the fire -- causing the cost of everything to rise.

The second factor he referenced is the war against Americas energy sector. Vance said when energy is expensive, it causes the prices of everything else to rise as well.

To lower prices, Vance said the country needs to stop borrowing and spending and open up Ohios energy markets to get prices under control.

The Republican said one of the good outcomes of the Inflation Reduction Act is how it empowers Medicare to negotiate with prescription drug providers to bring down costs for families. The Biden-inspired legislation also capped the cost of insulin for Medicare recipients.

You should not be unable to afford insulin in the greatest country in the world because you cant afford it, he said.

- Rachel Looker

Vance: I support 'legal' immigration

While hitting the immigration issue hard, Vance said he supports "legal" immigration as one way to address American labor shortages.

People should be let into the country on "merit," Vance said, including the ability to do certain types of jobs. He is not very specific.

Vance said his target is "illegal" border crossings.

 David Jackson

More border control not less: Ryan speaks on fentanyl, southern border policy

A voter from Portsmouth, Ohio, asked Ryan why he voted against border and drug enforcement funding and called for defunding ICE when hes acknowledged that fentanyl is an issue in the country.

Ryan responded to the voter, saying that he never called for defunding ICE and has actually voted for more border security and has proposed a resolution in Congress to designate the drug as a weapon of mass destruction.

Ryan also explained why he doesnt support a wall, listing other measures the country should take to improve the situation at the southern border.

The problem with the wall, he said, is that drug lords such as El Chapo "can dig under (it) and people can put ladders up and climb over it."

- Sarah Elbeshbishi

Ryan shares stance on abortion

When asked about abortion, Ryan said he does not think abortions should be allowed later in the term unless there is a medical emergency.

He said whats happening in Ohio is "sad" because many women whose lives are at risk later in their pregnancy have to travel to another state for an abortion.

Ryan said the country should return to the standards established in Roe v. Wade where abortions are largely prohibited after the third term unless there is a medical emergency.

We dont want J.D. Vance and (Texas GOP Sen.) Ted Cruz and all these guys in the doctors office, he said.

When pressed on his stance, Ryan said if an individual is raped in Ohio, they are facing a state-mandated pregnancy when unable to access abortion later in their terms.

The point is this is America. This is a country built on freedom, he said ...it completely steals personal freedom and liberty away from women.

- Rachel Looker

Ryan: The Trump/MAGA movement needs to be 'confronted'

Responding to a Twitter question, Ryan said he used a poor choice of words on the campaign trail when he said that people need to "confront and kill" Donald Trump's MAGA political movement  but it does need to be defeated politically.

"This extremist movement absolutely needs to be confronted," Ryan said.

Ryan said MAGA-type rhetoric inspired the weekend attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul. The congressman also condemned MAGA members who invaded the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021  and noted that Vance sought to raise money for some of the "insurrectionists."

"We have to say no to that," Ryan said.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tim Ryan during a Fox News town hall on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.

His criticism of the attack on the U.S. Capitol and was met with boos and cries of "liar" when he talked about attacks on Capitol police officers. Ryan said he was willing to talk to those who disagreed with him.

These are the conversations we need to have in this country," Ryan said.

- David Jackson and Haley BeMiller

Ryan takes questions on crime, public safety

A senior at Cedarville University broached the topic of public safety and crime, asking how Ryan would prevent the release of offenders and maintain safe communities if elected to the Senate.

Ryan said there is a need for more law enforcement officers and an increased investment in police departments, citing the federal dollars invested in state and local governments to staff such organizations.

The representative also said that solution to crime and public safety is a combination of conservative and progressive ideas, emphasizing the need for both sides of the aisle to work together.

- Sarah Elbeshbishi

Ryan: 'We need to legalize marijuana'

Ryan called for the legalization of marijuana, saying the product could be taxed and used to fund programs such as addiction treatment. He said he supports releasing nonviolent criminals from prison who were put there for marijuana possession.

He also criticized racial disparities in those incarceration rates.

Theres so many better ways to spend this money than locking people up for marijuana crimes," he said.

- Haley BeMiller

Ryan: Green energy programs are not increasing gas prices

Ryan took the first question from a woman who wonders if government spending on clean energy programs is contributing to higher gas prices.

The congressman said he doesn't think so, and the solution to inflationary gas prices includes tax cuts and streamlining regulations for oil production; he also promoted the use of electric cars and increased development of natural gas, saying that would reduce dependence on expensive oil imports.

Ryan also said he supports clean and green energy, but that is only part of the answer. He took no position on President Joe Biden's call for an excess profits tax on oil companies.

Saying he agreed with the idea that economy and inflation are the top issues, Ryan returned to the issue of tax cuts: "We have to put money in people's pockets."

 David Jackson

Townhall kicks off

The townhall between Ohio Senate candidates J.D. Vance and Rep. Tim Ryan and hosted by FOX News started. This is the third and final time the candidates will have to pitch their platforms in an effort to cinch the states Senate seat.

The town hall will last one hour and will include questions from both the moderators and bipartisan audience members.

- Sarah Elbeshbishi

When is the town hall?

The two candidates will answer questions during the live town hall on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m.

It is scheduled to last one hour.

How to watch?

The town hall will broadcast live on Fox News Channel.

This combination of photos shows Ohio Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, on March 28, 2022, in Wilberforce, Ohio, left, and Republican candidate JD Vance on Aug. 5, 2022, in Dallas. (AP Photo)

What do the polls show?

A USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll found Vance has a slight lead over Ryan thuogh it remains a statistical tie.

Vance leads 47%-45%, a shift from Ryans one-point advantage last month. The findings are within the surveys 4.4 percentage-point margin of error.

Voters said the number one issue on their minds is the economy, with 44% of likely midterm voters citing the economy and inflation as their most important concerns.

- Rachel Looker

Twitter tiff: Vance, Ryan attack each other over immigration, abortion

If social media is any guide, Ryan and Vance will spend a lot of time Tuesday night discussing abortion and border security.

Vance took to Twitter to try and tie immigration to the economy and law enforcement: "Our economic problems are connected to our crime and border issues ... Tim Ryan wants an open border."

Ryan, who says he supports "smart, effective border security," indicated that he will go after Vance's opposition to abortion rights.

"JD Vance wants to pass a national abortion ban," Ryan tweeted.

 David Jackson

Ryan gets chance to reach Republican voters

Tuesday's town hall gives Ryan a chance to reach Fox's more conservative audience -- something that could help his campaign in the final days.

The 10-term congressman has painted himself as an independent, although he's voted with President Joe Biden's policies 100% of the time, according to the non-partisan, dat-crunching web site, FiveThirtyEight. He hopes to reach Ohio conservatives who are more moderate and are not staunch supporters of former President Donald Trump.

The event will allow Ryan to share that message directly with those voters, but whether they buy it remains to be seen. Vance, for his part, has cast Ryan as a hypocrite for claiming to be moderate.

- Haley BeMiller

Who is JD Vance?

US Republican Senate candidate for Ohio JD Vance speaks to supporters at the Aurora Inn Event Center along with US Senator Jodi Ernst (R-Iowa), on October 13, 2022 in Aurora, Ohio.

Vance, who has never held public office, is the author of "Hillbilly Elegy," a memoir about growing up in a small Midwest town and the decline of white working-class America.

The 37-year-old is a venture capitalist who runs Narya, an Ohio-based venture capital firm he founded and launched in 2020 for startups around the country.

Who is J.D. Vance?: The Trump-backed Ohio GOP Senate nominee

Vance, dubbed a conservative outsider, received Trump's endorsement in the Senate race, which boosted his standing in the polls.

The Republican candidate wants to finish building Trumps wall and increase the number of Border Patrol agents. He also opposes abortion, favors gun rights and supports voting requirements such as showing identification to vote and ending expanded mail-in voting.

- Rachel Looker, Orlando Mayorquin

Who is Tim Ryan?

Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, is running for an open U.S. Senate seat.

Ryan, a former Democratic presidential candidate, represents Ohios 13th district in the House of Representatives. He is in his 10th term and has been in Congress since 2003. He previously served as an Ohio state senator.

The 48-year-old backs abortion access and supports codifying abortion rights guaranteed by Roe v. Wade.

Who is Tim Ryan?: What to know about the Democratic congressman and Ohio Senate nominee

His campaign focuses on Ohio's working class. He previously voted to pass the PRO Act in 2021 to expand protections for workers looking to unionize.

Ryan's plan to revitalize the working class includes creating new jobs by investing in infrastructure and funding skills training programs. The Democratic candidate supports gun law reform, ending the Senate filibuster and expanding federal voting protections.

- Rachel Looker, Orlando Mayorquin

A close race to watch

The Ohio Senate race is one of the closest in the country.

Its outcome may determine if Democrats or Republicans control the Senate. The chamber is split 50-50 between the Democrats and Republicans, with the Democrats holding the tie-breaking vote with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Vance and Ryan are seeking to replace U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, who decided to retire rather than seek reelection.

Senate control will be decided in other closely contested states like Georgia, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Ohio.

- Rachel Looker, David Jackson

Town hall promotions: Cheney endorses Ryan; Gabbard endorses Vance

Ryan and Vance enter this town hall touting high-profile endorsements.

Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., the former House GOP official who lost a Republican primary in August to a Donald Trump challenger, said she would vote for Ryan if she were an Ohioan; Cheney has criticized Vance for echoing Trump's false conspiracy theories about the latter's loss of the 2020 election.

"I would not vote for J.D. Vance," Cheney said.

More: Liz Cheney says she favors Democrat Tim Ryan in Ohio Senate race over Republican J.D. Vance

Earlier in the day, Vance promoted an endorsement from former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democrat who is currently popular with Republican conservatives; Gabbard was also a 2020 presidential candidate who attacked Ryan during a debate.

"Grateful to have the support of the last person to clean Tim Ryan's clock on the debate stage," Vance tweeted

 David Jackson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ohio Senate race: Candidates Vance, Ryan appear at live town hall
By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) -Dollar General Corp, one of the largest U.S. discount retailers, was sued on Tuesday by Ohio, which accused the company of baiting shoppers with low prices on store shelves, only to then charge more at the register.

Citing inflationary pressures faced by consumers, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said he sued after receiving 12 complaints about overcharges, including from a shopper charged $2 for shampoo that was listed at $1 on the shelf.

Yost said Ohio lets stores have error rates on overcharges as high as 2%, but that testing last month at 20 Dollar General stores in Butler County, just north of Cincinnati, found error rates of 16.7% to 88.2%.

The attorney general also said employees sometimes wouldn't change prices even after shoppers pointed out discrepancies.

"This seems like a company trying to make an extra buck and hoping no one will notice," Yost said in a statement. "We've not only noticed but are taking action to stop it."

Dollar General did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The lawsuit filed in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas accused Dollar General of violating a state consumer protection laws and a rule against "bait advertising."

It seeks unspecified damages for shoppers, civil fines of $25,000 per violation, and an injunction against further violations.

Dollar General is based in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. It operates more than 18,000 stores in 47 U.S. states, including more than 900 in Ohio.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Mark Porter)
Oleg Tinkov, 54, called Vladimir Putin a fascist as he renounced his Russian citizenship. (Reuters)

A billionaire banker has renounced his Russian citizenship, saying he does not want to collaborate with "killers" amid the Ukraine war.

Oleg Tinkov, 54, founder of Tinkoff Bank, criticised Russia over its invasion of its neighbour, adding he didn't want to be associated with "fascism".

Tinkov, whose digital credit card company, TCS Group Holding, grew to become one of Russia's largest financial institutions, has been an outspoken critic of the war and president Vladimir Putin.

Before he sold his stake, Britain imposed sanctions on Tinkov, saying he was "receiving benefits from the Russian government" through his stake in a systemically important company.

Read more: Putin could use false claim of 'UK terror attack' to sabotage gas pipeline to UK

The Tinkoff Bank headquarters in Moscow. (Getty)

In an Instagram post published on Tuesday, he wrote: I have decided to throw out Russian citizenship after Russia invades Ukraine, and start killing innocents there.

I cant be associated with Putins fascism regime."

He also said he was suing to force the bank to stop using his name, adding "My name should not be associated with fascism.

"I hate when my brand/name is associated with the bank that collaborates with killers and blood."

The bank said it had full legal rights to the use of the Tinkoff brand, the TASS news agency reported.

Watch: UK warns Russia of severe consequences for nuclear use

The tycoon was worth almost $10 billion (8.7b) at his peak, and launched electronics, frozen food and beer brands before setting up Tinkoff Bank in the mid-2000s.

Tinkov, who previously renounced his US citizenship, says he now has no business interests in Russia.

He is believed to be living in London where he underwent years of treatment for leukaemia.

He said an original Instagram post published on Monday, with a picture of a certificate renouncing his citizenship as of 26 October, had "mysteriously disappeared".

Tinkov was forced to sell his 35% stake in TCS, Tinkoff Bank's parent, to Russian metals magnate Vladimir Potanin in April, following a string of anti-war comments.

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Read more: Russia sending new reservists to Ukraine without any weapons

A destroyed tank near the recently recaptured Ukrainian village of Yampil, eastern Ukraine. (Getty)

What is the latest in the Ukraine war?

Meanwhile, Russia has ordered civilians to leave a large area of Ukraine along the eastern bank of the Dnipro River.

This is a major extension of an evacuation order that Ukraine said amounts to the forced depopulation of occupied territory.

It comes after explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in a fresh wave of attacks that prime minister Shmyhal said targeted 10 Ukrainian regions and damaged 18 mostly energy-related facilities.

In the wake of the attacks on infrastructure, the European Union (EU) is exploring ways to increase help for Ukraine's energy sector.

Putin has also denied Russia is ending its participation in a UN-brokered deal to export Ukrainian grain through Black Sea ports but rather is suspending it.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed this and said his country would continue exporting grain.

A record volume of 354,500 tonnes of agricultural products left Ukrainian ports on Monday as part of the Black Sea grain deal, Odesa's military administration said, despite Russia's decision.

Three more ships left on Tuesday.
Soledad Enrichment Action community health workers Vivian Ramirez, left, and Maria Mejia, right, distribute COVID-related resources at a supermarket on Whittier Boulevard in Los Angeles last week. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

The rise of new coronavirus subvariants is continuing to erode the grip the Omicron strain BA.5 has held for months, worrying health officials that a winter resurgence of COVID-19 may be ahead.

Eating into BA.5's long-running dominance are a pair of its own descendants: BQ.1 and BQ.1.1. Like BA.5, the two are subvariants of the original Omicron coronavirus strain that walloped the world last fall and winter.

According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, BA.5 has long accounted for the vast majority of new coronavirus cases nationwide. That these two other strains are increasing in their respective share of cases, however, could indicate they enjoy an additional growth advantage.

But what that ultimately means for this fall and winter  a period when many health experts have already predicted some degree of COVID-19 resurgence  remains to be seen.

Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer noted recently that "emerging variants and subvariants of the virus have played a large role in driving past surges."

"We ought to prepare for the possibility of another winter surge. We want to be realistic because every COVID surge brings additional risk," she said Thursday. "However, were also optimistic because we have powerful tools, including therapeutics and the new bivalent boosters, that can blunt the impact."

At this point, BA.5 remains the most common version of the coronavirus in circulation in the U.S.  making up an estimated 49.6% of new cases over the weeklong period ending Saturday, CDC data show.

As recently as a month ago, federal health officials estimated it was the culprit behind nearly 82% of new cases.

During that same time, BQ.1 has increased its estimated share from 1.2% to 14%, CDC data show. BQ.1.1 has swelled from an estimated 0.5% to 13.1%.

"While there are no data on severity or immune escape from studies in humans, BQ.1 [and its sublineages are] showing a significant growth advantage over other circulating Omicron sublineages in many settings, including Europe and the U.S., and therefore warrant close monitoring," according to a statement Thursday from the World Health Organization's Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution.

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"It is likely," the statement continued, "that these additional mutations have conferred an immune escape advantage over other circulating Omicron sublineages, and therefore a higher reinfection risk is a possibility that needs further investigation."

There are no epidemiological data currently suggesting that BQ.1 or its descendants are associated with increased disease severity or that they will significantly diminish vaccine protection against serious illness, according to the statement.

Even if BQ.1 or BQ.1.1 don't make people sicker, that's not to say their rise is riskless. As has been seen throughout the pandemic, higher numbers of infections threaten to put additional stress on the healthcare system.

Coronavirus-positive patients, whether admitted for COVID-19 illness or with an incidental infection, require particular attention and resources to keep them from spreading the virus to others. Greater community transmission also can sicken healthcare workers, causing staffing interruptions and even shortages.

The circulation of other respiratory illnesses  namely influenza and respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV  also could compound any challenges presented by a coronavirus rebound. Both RSV and the flu are much more active now than typical for this time of year, a development some worry could foreshadow particularly severe seasons.

"We know that winter is a time when viruses like COVID spread more easily," Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, said last week. "We're also seeing a rise of other seasonal viruses like flu and RSV. And we know that COVID is still evolving. We're seeing new subvariants. We're seeing an increase in cases and hospitalizations in Europe."

But while "there are some challenges ahead," Jha said, "the great news here is that, unlike past winters, we are in control."

"We have the tools we need to ensure folks have a safe and healthy holiday season," he said. "And the single most important tool is the updated COVID-19 vaccine."

Because vaccine protection wanes over time, many could be at higher risk, depending on how long it's been since they were last inoculated.

As of mid-October, the California Department of Public Health said about 21.9 million people  roughly 78% of all vaccinated recipients  were at least six months removed from their last dose.

Uptake of the updated bivalent boosters, designed to protect not only against the original coronavirus strain but also the Omicron subvariants BA.5 and BA.4, also has been slow.

About 11.4% of eligible Californians have gotten the additional dose, state data show. Nationwide, bivalent coverage among eligible recipients is 7.3%, according to the CDC.

Included in that percentage is President Biden, who received his shot on camera last week to promote the updated vaccine.

"It's incredibly effective, but the truth is not enough people are getting it," he said. "We've got to change that so we can all have a safe and healthy holiday season."

In terms of booster coverage, "we're nowhere near where we need to be to actually enter into the colder months, the holidays, with that sort of additional layer of community protection," Ferrer said.

"We're so lucky to live in this country where we have ample access to one of the best protections against serious consequences of either influenza or COVID, which are making sure that we're getting our vaccine," she said Thursday. "So we'd like to make sure everyone understands we're not helpless here. And we're particularly not helpless on trying to really dampen the impact that a lot of transmission can have on our healthcare system."

In L.A. County, coronavirus cases are no longer declining at the rate seen over the summer and appear to have plateaued. For the seven-day period that ended Monday, L.A. County was averaging 979 cases a day, a 7% increase from the prior week. On a per capita basis, L.A. County was recording about 68 cases a week for every 100,000 residents.

"We're no longer seeing a steady decline in cases," Ferrer said. L.A. County's case rate began showing week-over-week increases just after mid-October.

Statewide, cases also may be starting to increase. The daily average number of cases in California rose by 18% for the most recent week of data available, from 2,681 to 3,152. On a per capita basis, the state was recording 56 cases a week for every 100,000 residents.

Viral levels in wastewater  a key metric as many coronavirus cases are being self-diagnosed using at-home tests and aren't officially reported to public health departments  also are increasing in L.A. County. The level is now 31% of the summer peak recorded in July, up from 21% a week earlier.

Ferrer characterized the increase as "slight" and "not cause for alarm." Nonetheless, it suggests "locally there is no longer a consistent decline in COVID-19 transmission."

L.A. County's death rate has remained largely stable for the last month, averaging 65 to 84 COVID-19 deaths per week. That's an improvement from the summer Omicron peak of 122 deaths a week but still well above the springtime lull in May, when weekly deaths fell to a low of 24 COVID-19 deaths a week.

The U.S. averaged roughly 400 COVID-19 deaths a day in October, higher than the springtime lull of about 300 daily deaths.

"We still have hundreds of people dying each day from COVID in this country  hundreds. That number is likely to rise this winter," Biden said. "But this year is different from the past. This year, nearly every death is preventable."

For the yearlong period that ended Oct. 26, the deaths of roughly 315,000 U.S. residents from COVID-19 have been reported. That's nine times the average national number of flu deaths a year, which is about 35,000.

Ferrer noted BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 have attracted considerable attention "because nationally, they observed a doubling in a very short period of time, and we need to pay attention to that."

Thus far, however, they remain at low levels in L.A. County. For the week that ended Oct. 8, both accounted for only 2.7% of weekly specimens in L.A. County.

"With the relatively low numbers of recently sequenced specimens of these new sublineages in L.A. County, there's no one candidate that we can say with certainty that is likely to outcompete other circulating strains," Ferrer said. But it's important to monitor trends elsewhere to see what could come next, she added.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi attends her weekly news conference at the US Capitol on February 23, 2022 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee/Getty Images

Nancy and Paul Pelosi's neighbor is "heartsick" over the attack on Paul Friday morning.

Another neighbor blamed politicians for an uptick in violence around the country.

Paul Pelosi's attacker now faces federal assault and kidnapping charges.

One of Nancy and Paul Pelosi's San Francisco neighbors said she is "heartsick" over the attack on Paul Pelosi last Friday.

"It's heartbreaking," Metta Krach, The Pelosis' neighbor for 18 years, told Insider. "I think the world of both Paul and Nancy they're wonderful people and great public servants. I'm heartsick for them over this."

Krach and her daughter said they were awoken by the sounds of ambulances at 2:45 a.m. Friday.

Paul Pelosi was attacked in his home early Friday by a man who broke in looking for Nancy Pelosi, prosecutors alleged. The suspect is accused of breaking in through a glass door and entering the home shouting "Where is Nancy?"

Police said the suspect struck Paul Pelosi with a hammer after cops got to the home.

Another neighbor, who only shared his first name as Arnold, told Insider he only read about the attack in the news and doesn't know the Pelosis but blamed politicians for rising political violence.

"It's indicative of a national risk of an upsurge in politicians who signal endorsement of political violence," Arnold said.

A third neighbor who did not give her name but says she's lived in San Francisco for three decades told Insider she's worried that crime is up in the city and is starting to feel "a little unsafe."

According to San Francisco Police crime data, both assaults and robberies have ticked up in 2022 compared to the year before. The city reported 2,006 robberies through Oct. 30 this year compared to 1892 robberies at the same point last year, and 2,193 assaults compared to 1,982 the year prior.

However, 2022's incidents of violent crime are down from their pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Paul Pelosi was treated at the hospital and received surgery for wounds to his head, arm, and hand. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The debate over the firing of NYU organic chemistry Prof. Maitland Jones Jr. misses the point: Its neither that his tests were too hard nor that his Gen Z students were too entitled. Its that introductory courses should be gateways into the STEM professions, especially for students underrepresented in these areas, not elimination rounds in a cutthroat competition in an imagined world of scarcity.

The pandemic has accelerated a workforce crisis in the STEM fields and a persistent gap in science, technology, engineering and math education. Across industries, the demand for college graduates in STEM outpaces supply. Yet millions of potential professionals from diverse backgrounds are not being tapped. In 2017, while Black, Latino and Native American students comprised 34% of prospective college STEM majors, only 18% of them actually earned a STEM degree.

The probability that a STEM-focused white male student who receives a C or better in all introductory courses will earn a degree in the field is 48%. But for a similar Black male student, the chances are 31%, while Black female students have just a 28% chance. Yet, there is little correlation between those introductory grades and career success or job performance. That early C has no bearing on how good a doctor a student will become. And when it comes to innovators, high grades are actually inversely correlated to success: As grades go down, invention goes up.

Support The 74's year-end campaign. Every gift will be matched dollar for dollar.

To increase the number of women and students of color who will become the countrys next generation of doctors, engineers, and epidemiologists, educators need to listen to what they really need  and why they drop out of STEM majors at rates disproportionate to their white male counterparts. A new study called the unCommission  through which 600 diverse young people shared their experiences  identifies one key ingredient that can either keep students in STEM courses or push them out: a sense of belonging.

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Samantha Guerro, who attended high school in Texas, shared her experience with STEM courses through the unCommission story collection project, powered by Beyond100K (formerly 100Kin10). I think a really important part of this spark of interest was the teacher, Guerro said. Theyre excited to actually teach others, and they want to make you understand.



Guerros love of science was nurtured by her Advanced Placement chemistry teacher, who made it so that you can feel like this is something you can do. Its not something reserved for only the elites of academia.

That sense of belonging and connection fueled Guerro to persist in STEM through high school. Its no different in college. Belonging is correlated to persevering in STEM. And persevering past that first bad grade can make the difference between success and failure.

Most anyone whos taken an introductory STEM course knows that one of the first things students hear, whether that course is calculus, computer science, or organic chemistry: Look to your left, look to your right; only one of you will be here by the end of the semester.

Such a mindset is not only outdated; its likely to replicate the very inequities and shortages the STEM sector is trying so hard to address. Instead of aiming to weed out students, introductory courses should be designed to create as many pathways to success as possible. By creating classes that prioritize nurturing a sense of belonging for students  especially those who might be the first in their family to study STEM  schools wont have to choose between high expectations and high success rates.

The field has many bright spots to learn from. The University of Texas at Austin, for example, has focused on fostering belonging as the centerpiece of its wildly successful effort to help first-generation college students graduate. First-generation college-goers at UT Austin earn their degrees at a rate of nearly 65%, compared with a national average of 27%. The hallmarks of the program are small classes, peer mentors, tutoring, engaged faculty advisers and community-building. But little things also help: older students record short videos about times they doubted themselves and felt alone, and how they persevered, which reinforces the message that students belong and can succeed.

In Massachusetts, mandatory schoolwide study groups at Bridgewater State University not only increased student success in introductory STEM courses, but overall retention in STEM majors. Xavier University in New Orleans, which graduates more Black students who major in biology and chemistry and go on to become doctors than any other university in the country, uses early quizzes to flag students who need support into tutoring and study groups and encourages peers to help those who need to catch up. University of Maryland, Baltimore County, created an elite program for high-performing students aspiring to STEM careers, primarily kids of color, with high expectations and a strong sense of community.

The common denominator across all these efforts: belonging.

The U.S. Department of Educations new initiative to modernize STEM education spotlights this very connection between rigor and belonging. Called YOU Belong in STEM, its aim is that all students, no matter their background, get a world-class STEM education to prepare them and the country for the future. To get to that future, students first need to know that they belong and can succeed in STEM.

In no other major is the goal of college introductory courses to scare passionate students away. Why are STEM courses so different? If all students are helped to persevere; if they feel they belong in STEM, whatever their background; if they understand that their unique experiences are essential in bringing forth unique contributions to the fields of science, technology, engineering and math, who knows what inventions, cures and breakthroughs await.
Richard Bruck of Corona del Mar greets Rep. Katie Porter at a campaign stop at the Huntington Landmark senior community in Huntington Beach this month. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Katie Porter had a lot to cover in a short speech, so she pared down her biography to just a few quintessential details. She is a single mom with three "lightly supervised" kids, a congresswoman whose love of oversight extends to her minivan vanity plate (OVRSITE), and a very big fan of whiteboards.

"People on the internet call it the whiteboard of justice," said Porter, as her audience at a Huntington Beach retirement community applauded in approving recognition, nearly drowning out her punchline. "It's just a whiteboard from Target."

The crowd, along with two-thirds of California's 47th Congressional District, had never seen Porter on a ballot before, so the introduction was obligatory. But it was also somewhat unnecessary. After four years of besting CEOs in viral congressional hearing exchanges and building a fundraising juggernaut, Porter has become what was once unimaginable: a national Democratic star from Orange County, the onetime conservative bastion.

As the midterm elections sprint to a close, however, Porter is locked in a fierce race against Republican Scott Baugh. At stake is not only her political trajectory or the balance of power in the House of Representatives. The contest in the 47th Congressional District has also become a symbolic battle for Orange County's ideological identity.

Congressional candidate Scott Baugh campaigns in a neighborhood in Huntington Beach this month. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Baugh, a veteran of the county's GOP establishment, harkens back to the traditional conservatism of the "Orange curtain," while Porter is the best-known face of the blue wave that swept the region's four congressional seats in 2018. Democratic registration in the county surpassed Republican a year later, fueling a sense of political transformation.

Since then, the narrative of Democratic takeover has been complicated, with Republicans reclaiming two seats in 2020, even as President Biden won the county by 9 percentage points. Now, with former President Trump out of office, Baugh is making the bet that Orange County voters are poised to return to their conservative roots.

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"There are plenty of Orange County voters who don't like Donald Trump but would support  and do support  a more conventional Republican," said David Wasserman, a House campaign analyst with the nonpartisan Cook Political Report with Amy Walter.

On Tuesday, the Cook Political Report said Porter faces a "genuine risk" and rated the race a "toss-up" instead of having a slight Democratic lean.

Undoubtedly, Orange County is not the ruby-red territory it once was. The fact that Democrats are competitive at all in congressional races here is due to significant ideological and demographic shifts. Gina Clayton-Tarvin, a Democrat running for Huntington Beach City Council, is confident that her party has the upper hand, even if it's a different strain of Democrat than elsewhere in the state.

"I don't necessarily think that you can look at Orange County and say it's ever going to be a San Francisco or Los Angeles. It's not and it doesn't need to be," she said.

In Huntington Beach, where Republicans outnumber Democrats, there was no sign of dampened enthusiasm for Porter during her visit with 150 retirees at the Huntington Landmark senior community.

Rep. Katie Porter and a door-to-door campaign volunteer confer on a sidewalk. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

"You should run for president!" said Anne Gillespie, 82, as Porter tried  and failed  to exit the hall without disrupting the ongoing candidate forum. Another resident, Christine Stoughton, 72, attended the speech with the thought, "Maybe one day she'll be a famous senator. And then I can say I saw her."

In this district, which skims along the northern Orange County coastline and juts inland to Irvine, about 1 in 4 eligible voters is over 65, and Porter has prioritized outreach to them. Her speech drilled down on policy proposals for Medicare, such as lowering the eligibility age to 60, and touted Democratic legislative efforts to reduce prescription costs. Her signature prop was not on hand, though the philosophy behind the whiteboard  distilling policy into digestible bites  was evident.

"If I'd had a whiteboard today, I would have put three bullet points on it: $2,000 cap on prescription drugs, $35 insulin, free vaccines," Porter said in an interview after her speech. "People want to know, what is this going to do for me? They don't want to hear some abstract description of the bill."

The visual aid turned Porter into a cable news regular, making her a familiar face that gives her a boost when she's out knocking on doors, like those at Leisure World, a sprawling retirement community in Seal Beach. As she navigated through the low-slung residential buildings, many adorned with autumnal decor that felt incongruous in the beach-worthy weather, she was regularly greeted with exclaims of "It's you!"

"She's a dogged retail campaigner who is good at portraying herself as an ally of middle-class voters and standing up for them against large corporations. No doubt that is an advantage," Wasserman said. "And yet her growing national celebrity and profile is a double-edged sword because it allows Republicans to more easily associate her with the far-left of the party and portray her as out of touch."

Porter, who won her last race by 7 percentage points against a low-funded far-right opponent, is matter-of-fact about the political landscape she must navigate: "Orange County is purple. I think it's going to stay purple," she said. "The voter registration was 'R,' it's now 'D,' but I think we're going to continue to see a mix of Democrats and Republicans" on city councils, the county Board of Supervisors and in Congress.

Democrats have a slim 1-percentage-point registration advantage in the 47th District, which gives Porter little margin for error to build a victory. She needs to juice her Democratic base turnout in places like Irvine without scaring off moderates. She appeared at an event with Biden last month to tout Democrats' work to reduce prescription drug costs, but did not join progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at a rally the next week to energize college students at UC Irvine.

Her notoriety has yielded one clear upside: money. A lot of it. No House member has raised more money this cycle, save for Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy.

"The fact she is a national figure means she has the money to compete in this race," said Christina Reynolds, who leads communications at Emily's List, a group that supports Democratic female candidates. "This is an expensive market, and the Republicans want this seat back."

So far, Porter has poured more than $13 million into television and digital advertising, according to AdImpact, a political ad tracking firm. The spending has cut into, though not depleted, a cash reserve that climbed as high as $20 million this summer, which many observers believe is stockpiled for a potential Senate run in 2024.

Congressional candidate Scott Baugh talks with a voter in Huntington Beach. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Baugh, her opponent, has spent just over $1 million on ads. But the former state assemblyman and county party chair said Porter's financial advantage did not scare him.

"If she had $50 million, it wouldn't help her because you can't sell her brand of big government to coastal Orange County," he said.

Baugh projected beach casual  a Hawaiian shirt, khaki shorts, baseball hat  as he went door to door in Huntington Beach making a pitch to voters. The neighborhood felt like an archetypal middle-class suburb  one-story ranch homes with neatly landscaped front yards and a speedboat or RV in the driveway here and there.

No one greeted him with excited gasps of recognition. But Baugh's party identification was enough for some, such as the man who assured Baugh, "I support the red, so you'll be the option right off the bat."

A neighbor a few doors down, over the din of her three barking dogs, accepted Baugh's fliers. Stacie G., who did not want to give her full last name, said she doesn't vote for Democrats for economic reasons; she tells liberal friends, "When you guys stop saying throwing more money at a problem solves the problem, I might think something else."

Baugh is hoping that fiscal conservatism will push voters back to the right. His pitch is more Reagan than Trump: small government, a punitive approach to crime, an immigration policy that backs "tall fences [and] wide gates" to welcome newcomers seeking the American dream.

In that way, he has departed from Trump's divisive rhetoric, given that voters' distaste for the former president hastened the area's lurch leftward.

"I think 2018 ... was an indication that even the Republicans in Orange County weren't big fans of Donald Trump," said David McIntosh, president of Club for Growth, a conservative advocacy group. "Now he's not on the ballot, so people will be voting on the politics and policies of the Democratic side."

Both sides' attacks have grown increasingly negative. Porter's ads have focused on Baugh's antiabortion stance, as well as his work as a lobbyist and criminal charges he faced for campaign violations, for which he ultimately paid $47,000 in fines.

Baugh has received $8 million in air support from Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with McCarthy and the Club for Growth. The ads portray Porter as clueless to people's fears about inflation and crime. The GOP has also accused her of an "inside deal" on below market-rate faculty housing at UC Irvine, where she does not currently teach; Porter said she is abiding by university rules staying in the house.

Jon Fleischman, a veteran GOP strategist who is advising the Baugh campaign, said it's notable the two groups are aligned, given that Club for Growth has clashed with McCarthy in the past.

"Katie Porter is proof that there is something that can unite Republicans," Fleischman said.

Even the congresswoman's signature prop has become weaponized in a Club for Growth ad, in which women hold up whiteboards with pointed questions about Porter's record on the economy.

And in a recent fundraising plea sent via text message, Porter was pictured somberly holding a whiteboard displaying printed type: "Republicans have spent $6 million attacking us. My opponent supports a nationwide abortion ban. There are just 15 days left"  a campaign pitch distilled to three digestible bites.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Asif Shahzad

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Beijing on Tuesday to meet Chinese leaders and discuss plans for the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $65 billion investment in the South Asian nation.

The major investment in development and energy projects in Pakistan is part of President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to improve China's road, rail and sea routes with the rest of the world.

Islamabad and Beijing are considered longtime close allies, and Sharif is also expected to discuss security issues while on his visit.

On his two-day maiden visit to Beijing since taking office in April, Sharif will also seek some debt relief from China, in particular the rolling over of bilateral debt, an aide travelling with the prime minister told Reuters.

Chinese loans - around $23 billion - make up the largest chunk of Pakistan's $27 billion of bilateral debt.

Sharif will be one of the first leaders to meet President Xi since he secured a third term in power.

Pakistan had been struggling with a balance of payments crisis even before devastating floods hit the country over the summer, causing it an estimated $30 billion or more in losses.

"My discussions with the Chinese leadership will focus on revitalization of CPEC among many other things," Sharif said in a statement adding that he will be meeting President Xi and other Chinese executives while there.

Sharif's govt allege that the CPEC project was slowed down during the tenure of ousted former premier Imran Khan, a charge the latter denies.

Sharif's delegation among others includes the finance and energy ministers.

Pakistan has indicated previously that it will seek bilateral debt relief to lessen its balance of payment problems, but it hasn't made any official announcement on whether it will formally ask Beijing for such help.

Pakistan's central bank reserves have fallen to as low as $7.4 billion, barely enough for one and a half months of imports.

(Reporting by Asif Shahzad; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
The suspect accused of violently attacking Paul Pelosi, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, previously lived with a "nudist" who now describes him as "mentally ill."

David DePape, 42, faces multiple felony charges after he allegedly broke into the Pelosi's residence in San Francisco on Oct. 28 and beat Paul Pelosi with a hammer, resulting in injuries which forced the house speaker's husband to undergo surgery repair a skull fracture in addition to other injuries.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced the charges, which include attempted murder, residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse, among others, during a press conference on Monday.

DePape broke into the Pelosi's residence through a glass door in the rear of the house and entered the bedroom where Paul Pelosi was sleeping, according to Jenkins. When Paul Pelosi attempted to dial 911 in the couple's in-home elevator, Jenkins said that DePape blocked him from doing so. Paul Pelosi was able to escape to a bathroom in the house and dial 911.

CALIFORNIA STATE SENATOR SAYS HE REMEMBERS PAUL PELOSI'S ALLEGED ATTACKER FROM 2013 NUDIST PROTESTS

An LGBTQ flag with marijuana leaves was seen outside of Taub's home, where DePape previously lived, along with a heavily worn down van which displays a "natural addiction treatment" poster. A sign reading "Berkeley stands united against hate" can also be seen displayed on a window.

Police said that when officers arrived, they observed Paul Pelosi and DePape struggling over a hammer. When the police officers gave an order for both men to drop the hammer, DePape began attacking Paul Pelosi, according to police.

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DePape brought kidnapping supplies with him to the Pelosi's residence such as zip ties, as well as at least two hammers, according to Jenkins, who said the attack appears to be politically motivated.

The suspect allegedly demanded to talk to "Nancy" during the attack, referring to the House Speaker, according to an affidavit.

General views of the home in Oakland which is believed to be have been the one-time residence of David DePape, Friday, October 28, 2022. De Pape is alleged to have attacked Paul Pelosi in a home invasion earlier this morning.

An LGBTQ flag with marijuana leaves was seen outside of Taub's home, where DePape previously lived, along with a heavily worn down van which displays a "natural addiction treatment" poster. A sign reading, "Berkeley stands united against hate" can also be seen displayed on a window.

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A piece of paper reading, "News reporters go away" was also placed on a fence outside the house.

California State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, previously told Fox News Digital that DePape had ties to Gypsy Taub, a nudist activist in Berkeley.

NANCY PELOSI BREAKS SILENCE ON HUSBAND PAUL'S ATTACK: 'HEARTBROKEN AND TRAUMATIZED'

General views of the home in Oakland which is believed to be have been the one-time residence of David DePape, Friday, October 28, 2022. De Pape is alleged to have attacked Paul Pelosi in a home invasion earlier this morning.

"She was the ringleader, and she was extremely aggressive and creepy," Wiener said. "And I think he was one of the people in her work."

"[DePape] was associated with this woman by the name of Gypsy Taub, who was like this very creepy person who, in addition to her activism around public nudity, she was a 9/11 denier," Weiner added.

Taub told ABC7 in a phone interview on Sunday that she is DePape's "ex-life partner," and described him as "mentally ill."

"He is mentally ill. He has been mentally ill for a long time," Taub said.

General views of the home in Oakland which is believed to be have been the one-time residence of David DePape, Friday, October 28, 2022. De Pape is alleged to have attacked Paul Pelosi in a home invasion earlier this morning.

Taub is currently serving a prison sentence after being found guilty in the abduction of a 14-year-old boy which took place around a Berkeley high school.

DePape and Taub raised their two sons and daughter, she told the outlet, but split around seven years ago.

PAUL PELOSI ATTACKER TOLD INVESTIGATORS HE PLANNED TO BREAK HOUSE SPEAKER'S 'KNEECAPS': AFFIDAVIT

General views of the home in Oakland which is believed to be have been the one-time residence of David DePape, Friday, October 28, 2022. De Pape is alleged to have attacked Paul Pelosi in a home invasion earlier this morning.

Taub said that DePape once left home for a year only to return "in very bad shape."

"He came back in very bad shape. He thought he was Jesus. He was constantly paranoid, thinking people were after him," Taub said. "And it took a good year or two to get back to, you know, being halfway normal."

She said when they met around 20 years ago, DePape's politics were aligned with hers, which she describes as "very progressive."

General views of the home in Oakland which is believed to be have been the one-time residence of David DePape, Friday, October 28, 2022. De Pape is alleged to have attacked Paul Pelosi in a home invasion earlier this morning.

"Well when I met him, he was only 20 years old ,and he didn't have any experience in politics, and he was very much in alignment with my views, and I've always been very progressive. I absolutely admire Nancy Pelosi," Taub said.

One neighbor to Taub's home told Fox News Digital that he could tell drugs were often taken into the home.

When FBI agents arrived at Taub's home on Friday afternoon, a young man said that DePape hasn't been at the residence in years.

An Immigrations and Customers Enforcement source told Fox News that DePape has been in the U.S. illegally after overstaying his visa by a "long time."

DePape also faces several federal charges in addition to the state-level charges. Jenkins said during the press conference that the federal charges could put him in prison for decades, with the state-level charges carrying a potential sentence of 13 years to life in prison.

NANCY PELOSI HUSBAND ATTACK: SAN FRANCISCO DA ANNOUNCES CHARGES AGAINST SUSPECT DAVID DEPAPE

A federal affidavit filed on Monday stated that when law enforcement officials executed a search warrant on DePape's garage residence in Richmond, California, they found "two hammers, a sword, and a pair of rubber and cloth gloves."

Neighbors of DePape in Richmond said that DePape was very quiet and often kept to himself, adding that he was influenced by conservative media in recent years.

"He was an odd guy," Jim Molnar, one of DePape's neighbors, said, adding that DePape was "gravitating towards the new right talking points."

Molnar said that he believes DePape went to the Pelosi's with the "intention" to "traumatize" Nancy Pelosi.

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The neighbor also said that he wasn't surprised when he heard of DePape's alleged actions.

"I also was, a little bit, saying, Oh no to myself, because I more or less knew this would happen," Molnar said. "He didn't do anything violent or reckless, but that would be the perfect cover for buying his time until he had the chance to do something."
San Francisco Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents work outside the home of US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi after her husband Paul Pelosi was attacked by a home invader early in the morning in San Francisco, California, USA, 28 October 2022

Paul Pelosi, the husband of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was attacked by a hammer-wielding intruder at the couple's San Francisco home in the early hours of Friday.

Within hours of the attack, a series of unsubstantiated claims began circulating in fringe far-right circles that contradicted the official police account of how the attack unfolded.

Those misleading claims have since gone viral after being amplified by new Twitter chief Elon Musk and a number of conservative influencers.

BBC News examines some of the claims about the attack.

False same-sex affair claims

One of the most viral false claims about the attack suggests that Mr Pelosi, 82, and his attacker David DePape, 42, were in a same-sex relationship and had a drunken quarrel.

A series of baseless assumptions that do not match official accounts of the incident have been used to support the narrative.

These claims started to trend in the US after Elon Musk tweeted an article from a website featuring similar claims to his 112 million followers on Sunday, before deleting his tweet without any explanation hours later.

"There is a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye," Mr Musk had said in response to a tweet by former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

The website Mr Musk linked to has a history of publishing inaccurate stories, including an article from 2016 that claimed Hillary Clinton was dead.

One of the claims made online is that both Mr DePape and Mr Pelosi were in just their underwear as police arrived at the scene.

But the FBI complaint against Mr DePape quotes a witness as saying he was dressed "in all black" carrying a large black bag on his back.

Another claim seized on to support this narrative is that the two men knew each other before the attack and were friends.

Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene repeated the claim in a tweet yesterday.

According to the FBI complaint, Paul Pelosi did not know Mr DePape. Mr Pelosi used coded language as he made a 911 call from the bathroom, and an experienced operator worked out what was happening in his house.

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Another rumour supporting the idea that the two men knew each other claimed that the shattered glass door of the house was broken from the inside, suggesting Mr Pelosi or a third person had let Mr DePape in.

This was mentioned by former President Donald Trump in a recent interview, who claimed "it wasn't a break in, it was a break out".

The FBI complaint quotes Mr DePape as saying that he "broke into the house through a glass door, which was a difficult task that required the use of a hammer".

False claims suggested the glass door of the house was broken from the inside

There is no evidence in any of the police accounts that a third person was either in the house or involved in the attack.

Claims DePape's blogs were faked

Two personal blogs and a Facebook account in the suspect's name were found on the internet after police revealed his name following the attack, all of which were subsequently taken down.

His writings, viewed by the BBC, suggest he was a man radicalised by far-right conspiracy theories.

His posts cover a range of subjects, including unsubstantiated theories that the 2020 election was stolen, the 6 January Capitol riot, claims that Covid vaccines were harmful, support for the QAnon conspiracy theory, as well as racist and anti-Semitic posts.

Some online posts suggested the blogs were fake and only created on the day of the attack to support the narrative that he believed in far-right conspiracy theories.

But the BBC has screenshots of the blogs which show he had made posts as early as August, weeks before the attack.

Some have also claimed the attack was not motivated by politics or Mr DePape's beliefs.

Conservative commentator Matt Walsh said it was "absurd" to portray the attacker as "a militant right winger".

Texas Senator Ted Cruz echoed Mr Walsh's words, simply tweeting "truth".

However, the police complaint clarifies the attack was not a random act. According to San Francisco's district attorney Brooke Jenkins, the attack was likely "politically motivated".

In his police interview, Mr DePape described Nancy Pelosi as the "leader of the pack of lies told by the Democratic Party", adding that he wanted to "break her kneecaps".

Conservative figures, including Congressman Steve Scalise and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, have also been targets of violent attacks by political opponents in recent years.

Evidence-free accusations against Marjorie Taylor Greene

Baseless theories in the aftermath of the attack weren't confined to the right.

Some liberal influencers seized on a tweet by Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, posted a day prior to the attack, which read: "Just wait until tomorrow."

A number of accounts with large liberal followings claimed that Ms Taylor Greene's tweet could be a hint that she was in on the attack on Mr Pelosi. There is no evidence whatsoever to support this theory.
ABC News

With the Biden administration urging people to get both a COVID-19 booster and a flu shot as soon as possible, the White House's Dr. Ashish Jha said Sunday that updated vaccinations will help people "move on" from the pandemic. "It's been, obviously, a long two and a half years for Americans, and we understand that people want to move on," Jha, the White House COVID-19 coordinator, told ABC "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz of the virus that has killed more than 1 million people in the U.S. "The good news is people can move on if they keep their immunity up to date." COVID-19 deaths are still averaging more than 2,000 per week and only about 11% of the country has gotten the latest booster compared to 80% of people who completed the primary course of vaccination that was rolled out in 2021, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
If all goes well, RSV vaccines that protect newborns could be available to pregnant moms next year. SDI Productions via Getty Images

A groundbreaking RSV vaccine for newborns appears to protect babies well against severe illness.

RSV can be dangerous for newborns, causing pneumonia and, in severe cases, death.

This would be the first vaccine for RSV available in the US.

A new vaccine designed to protect newborns against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) worked well in clinical trials, according to its maker  a promising step towards a first-of-its kind shot that could be a lifesaver.

Pfizer announced on Tuesday that its RSV vaccine candidate, RSVpreF, was 81.8% effective at protecting babies from severe cases of the respiratory illness in their first three months of life, and 69.4% effective for six months.

The company is planning to file regulatory paperwork in the US by the end of 2022, meaning that  if all goes well  this new vaccine could be available to pregnant people some time next year. (On average, it takes about eight to ten months for the US Food and Drug Administration to make a decision about new vaccines, after company paperwork is filed.)

The news comes as pediatric RSV hospital admissions soar across the US. RSV is hitting babies early and hard this year, with some needing intensive care treatment, including help breathing, and suctioning out their mucus. There is currently no vaccine or treatment for RSV.

"I just have to help the kids through, and give their bodies time to fight this virus," Dr. Melanie Kitagawa, medical director of the pediatric intensive care unit at Texas Children's Hospital, recently told Insider.

A single shot for pregnant people, around the third trimester

Pfizer's RSV vaccine is administered as a single shot for pregnant people, given during the late second or third term of pregnancy. The shot is designed to protect little ones in a similar way to how natural immunity for RSV works.

People who have recently had an RSV infection (or, in the case of this trial, a vaccine) can pass so-called maternal antibodies on to their baby in the uterus, and also during breastfeeding. That immunity is critical for little ones in their first months of life. When babies' airways are small, an RSV infection can make it difficult to breathe, as the respiratory tract clogs with mucus, and children cough and wheeze.

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For decades, the advice from doctors has been little more than "watch them closely" and"call me if they get worse," pediatrician Daniel Leonard previously told Insider. On average, between 100 to 500 children under the age of 5 in the US will die from the illness every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A vaccine could remedy that issue.

Pfizer is also working on an RSV vaccine for adults aged 60 and up, who  like babies  can suffer severe consequences of RSV, including pneumonia and death.

"We look forward to working with the FDA and other regulatory agencies to bring this vaccine candidate to expectant mothers, to help protect their infants against severe RSV during their most vulnerable first six months of life," Annaliesa Anderson, Pfizer's chief scientific officer for vaccine research and development, said on Tuesday in a release.

Read the original article on Insider
, (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc said on Tuesday its experimental respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine was found effective for preventing severe infections in infants after being given in a late-stage study to expectant mothers in the second half of pregnancy.

Pfizer's shot, if approved, could be the first maternal vaccine available to relieve the burden of the disease in young infants. The company stopped the trial after the early success and plans to file for approval by the end of 2022.

"Maternal immunization takes advantage of the ability to protect the infant from day one... which is important because the peak of hospitalization in these infants due to RSV is around one to two months of age," Kena Swanson, Vice President of Viral Vaccines at Pfizer, said in an interview.

The vaccine did not meet the study's second main goal of preventing less severe respiratory illness, the company said.

Companies such as Pfizer and GSK Plc are racing to develop a vaccine against RSV, a leading cause of pneumonia in toddlers and older adults. An effective shot should generate billions of dollars in sales upon approval.

Federal data estimates that RSV sends 58,000 children under the age of five to U.S. hospitals each year.

Pfizer's vaccine candidate met one of the two primary endpoints of the study, showing 81.8% efficacy in preventing a severe form of lower respiratory tract illness in infants in the first 90 days.

Signs of severe illness in the study included very low oxygen levels, being put on a mechanical ventilator, being placed in an intensive care unit, or being unconscious due to RSV.

The unmet endpoint was for reduction of illness in the infants that necessitated care by a healthcare provider.

RSV infections among young children are rising in the United States. There are currently no approved RSV vaccines. In August, Pfizer had said its RSV vaccine was effective among older adults in a late-stage study.

Rival GSK said in October, its RSV shot was 82.6% effective in a late-stage study involving older adults.

Potential approval of Pfizer's shot for pregnant women as well as adults would make it the "only company to have both a maternal and older adult indication", Pfizer U.S. President Angela Lukin said in a conference call in October.

(Reporting by Raghav Mahobe in Bengaluru and Michael Erman in New Jersey; Editing by David Gregorio)
Pfizer on Tuesday announced its maternal vaccine for RSV, administered during pregnancy, was effective at preventing infants from developing severe symptoms from birth through their first six months.

The company said that it plans to file the data on the vaccine with regulators by the end of the year, with the hope of having it available by next winter. If authorized, it would be the first vaccine on the market to help protect young infants from the common but potentially life-threatening respiratory illness.

There are currently no vaccines available for RSV, and the only treatment is monoclonal antibodies, usually reserved for extremely high-risk cases, including infants born prematurely or those with chronic diseases related to the heart and lungs.

According to Pfizers news release, the vaccine reduced the rate of severe illness in infants that required medical attention by 81.8 percent through the first 90 days of life. That efficacy dropped to 69 percent over a six-month follow-up period.

Researchers also tested how well the vaccine prevents all RSV-related medical visits, including for non-severe cases. The study found the vaccine reduced medical visits in vaccinated patients by about 50 percent compared to mothers who got a placebo, though the results were not considered statistically significant.

The company said the vaccine was well-tolerated with no safety concerns for both the vaccinated individuals and their newborns. However, the data has not yet yet been submitted to a journal or peer-reviewed.

Like the flu, RSV season usually occurs during colder weather, though its been hitting unusually hard and early this year, contributing to a wave of respiratory infections that is overwhelming childrens hospitals nationwide.

In healthy adults and older children, RSV typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms that go away with moderate rest and self-care.

Younger children, especially those less than 6 months old, have the highest risk of developing severe cases that could lead to hospitalization. RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for infants.

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Worldwide, RSV results in the death of hundreds of thousands of children annually, with the vast majority in developing countries.

Unlike some other RSV vaccine candidates, Pfizers shot is administered during pregnancy, with the aim of transferring antibodies from mothers to infants. Other maternal vaccines include the flu shot, as well as one for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.

Pfizers study enrolled approximately 7,400 pregnant individuals in 18 countries. The trial began in June 2020, so it spanned multiple RSV seasons in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
NEW PHILADELPHIA  A 33-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing his neighbor in the head and neck could face the death penalty if convicted of aggravated murder, Magistrate Christine Weimer told the defendant in New Philadelphia Municipal Court on Wednesday.

She set bail for Corey J. Harshey at $500,000 and appointed the Tuscarawas County Public Defenders Office to represent him. He is additionally charged with murder, felonious assault and aggravated burglary in connection with Tuesday's death of Nathan S. Green. 44.

The decision about whether to seek the death penalty rests with the prosecution, Weimer said.

More:Landon S. Parrott, 19, charged with murder in death of son, 1, in New Philadelphia

How did Nathan Green die?

Tuscarawas County Prosecutor Ryan Styer said the assault occurred around 4 a.m. Friday at Green's apartment on First Drive NE. He said there was no clear motive for the attack.

He gave this account of what occurred at the building where both men lived:

Harshey threw a large rock through the window of the apartment where Green and his girlfriend were sleeping. Green and Harshey struggled. Harshey stabbed Green multiple times in the neck and head. First responders called to the scene by the girlfriend found Harshey in his apartment, next door, covered in blood and barefoot. His bloody footwear was found in Green's apartment. He asked if his neighbor was OK. Later, when a search warrant was executed, Harshey asked a detective what charges he was facing and said he wanted to make sure he didn't kill somebody.

More:Thomas E. Haughawout identified as New Philadelphia murder victim

Styer asked the magistrate to set bail at $500,000.

Corey J. Harshey's criminal record

He said Harshey was released from prison in August after serving a nine month sentence for harassment with a bodily substance in Jefferson County. The prosecutor said the defendant's criminal history includes driving while intoxicated, disorderly conduct, mischief, aggravated menacing, burglary, robbery, felony theft and retaliation. He said Harshey committed a probation violation in 2019 and has failed to make two court appearances.

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"That's just some of his criminal history," Styer said. "I believe that he is indeed a grave flight risk as well as a risk to the community."

Styer said Harshey is a methamphetamine addict who may have mental illness as well.

Harshey appeared in municipal court by video link from the jail on Wednesday morning, with a green blanket wrapped around his shoulders. Weimer asked him if he had threatened to harm himself. He said he had.

Weimer ordered Harshey to have no contact with Green's family or girlfriend.

Harshey was represented in court by public defender Matthew Trissel, who asked Weimer to set a lower bail.

The defendant told Weimer that his grandmother is dying, and he didn't want her to be alone.

A preliminary hearing for Harshey is to be scheduled within 10 days in municipal court.

Reach Nancy at 330-364-8402 or nancy.molnar@timesreporter.com.

On Twitter: @nmolnarTR

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Nathan S. Green dies after stabbing; Corey Harshey charged with murder
Oct. 31The following is a list of incidents reported to police agencies on Oct. 28; however, the call may have resulted in something other than what was originally reported.

Beckley Police Department

911 hangup: Mills Avenue, North Heber Street

Animal call: New River Town Center, Cannaday Street

Assault: Robert C. Byrd Drive, Stanaford Road

Attempt to locate: Hager Street

Attempt to serve court document: Harper Road

Attempt to serve warrant: Westmoreland Street

Attempted breaking and entering: Pershing Avenue

Barking dog: Westwood Drive

Bike patrol: 501 Neville St. (Beckley Police Department)

Breaking and entering not in progress: 2893 Robert C. Byrd Drive (Sheetz)

Burglar alarm: Sunset Drive, Beckley Plaza, 3771 Robert C. Byrd Drive, 1902 Harper Road (Solution Pbs)

Business check: Robert C. Byrd Drive

Domestic: Mercer Street, Klaus Street, Woodlawn Avenue, Hartley Avenue, Harper Road, Cannaday Street

Drug violation in progress: North Eisenhower Drive/Rural Acres Drive

Extra patrol: 200 block Third Avenue, 100 block Edwards Street, 100 block Earwood Street, 2893 Robert C. Byrd Drive (Sheetz) (4), 2871 Robert C. Byrd Drive (2), Robert C. Byrd Drive/Fourth Street, Robert C. Byrd Drive/Sisson Street, Robert C. Byrd Dr.ive/Ellison Avenue, 503 Neville St. (Beckley Intermodal Gateway parking garage) (4), 200 block Main Street (2), Teel Road/Holliday Drive, 100 block Lucas Drive, 360 Prince St., 1 Rails to Trails (2), 500 block Neville Street, 100 block Larew Avenue (2), 200 block Larew Avenue, 200 block Adair Street, 200 block Morris Avenue, 360 Prince St. (New River Transit), 100 block Coponiti Street, 100 block Wilkes Parkway, Third Avenue/Second Street, 1330 N. Eisenhower Drive (Walmart) (3), 1220 N. Eisenhower Drive (Sam's Club) (3), 1210 N. Eisenhower Drive (Lowe's) (3), 100 block South Heber Street, Ellison Avenue/Robert C. Byrd Drive, 100 block Woodlawn Avenue, 1700 block Harper Road, 100 block Patch Street, 200 block Mercer Street, 400 block Neville Street, 200 Main St. (2), 400 block Third Avenue, 300 block Patch Street, 100 block Beckley Crossing (2), 2400 S. Kanawha St. (Historic Black Knight Municipal Park), 100 block Koch Avenue, 300 block Neville Street, 100 block E Street

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Foot patrol: 2871 Robert C. Byrd Drive, 2900 block Robert C. Byrd Drive, 360 Prince St. (New River Transit), 200 block Westwood Drive, 200 block Ewart Avenue

Found property: Beckley Crossing, 200 Virginia St. (St. Stephen's Episcopal Church)

Intoxicated person: Stanaford Road, 713 S. Oakwood Ave.

Joyriding: Fulton Avenue

Larceny: Ellison Avenue/Alexander Lane

Magistrate detail: 222 Main St. (Beckley Judicial Annex) (2)

Mail run: 501 Neville St. (Beckley Police Department)

Mental problem: South Eisenhower Drive

Parking complaint: Robert C. Byrd Drive

Runaway juvenile: Raleigh County

Sexual assault not in progress: South Vance Drive

Shoplifting: 1330 N. Eisenhower Drive (Walmart) (2)

Special assignment: 104 Pershing Ave. (Mabscott Elementary), 501 Neville St. (Beckley Police Department)

Suspicious activity: Earwood Street, King Street

Suspicious person: F Street/Rice Street, North Heber Street

Suspicious vehicle: North Eisenhower Drive

Traffic stop: 3100 block Robert C. Byrd Drive, 600 block North Eisenhower Drive, 3200 block Robert C. Byrd Drive, North Eisenhower Drive/Rural Acres Drive, 1900 block Harper Road, 1600 block Harper Road, 3000 block Robert C. Byrd Drive, 4200 block Robert C. Byrd Drive, 500 block South Fayette Street, 1400 block South Kanawha Street, 100 Adkins St., 200 block Second Street, 600 block Johnstown Road
Cincinnati police have identified the woman who died Monday after she was struck by gunfire while driving in her car on Reading Road in Avondale.

Police say the woman was Johanna Rox, 37.

Officers were dispatched before 2:30 p.m. to the area of Reading Road and Lincoln Avenue for the shooting.

Cincinnati Assistant Police Chief Lisa Davis said the woman was driving near the busy intersection when she was shot.

CPR was performed at the scene and she was transported to the hospital, Davis said. She died after arriving there.

It's believed a person in another car shot her. No suspect information has been released.

Reading Road was shut down during the initial investigation.

The University of Cincinnati said that an emergency was reported in the area 1819 Innovation Hub. The university said the situation was "all clear" around 2:44 p.m.

"Officers checked the area of 1819 Innovation Hub," the school said. "There is no threat to the campus community."

Police ask anyone with information about the shooting to call the homicide unit at 513-352-3542.

Traffic Alert!! Reading Road will be shut down between Lincoln Avenue and Linton Street until further notice, due to police activity. Please use alternate route. @CincyPD pic.twitter.com/uXatgGlMfx  Cincinnati Police Department (@CincyPD) October 31, 2022

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Police ID woman shot, killed in car on Reading Road in Avondale
PETERSBURG  Police have identified the city's 18th homicide victim as a 31-year-old city man.

Davon Anthony Webster was found shot multiple times during the pre-dawn hours Saturday in the 600 block of Grove Avenue, according to police reports. He was rushed to Bon Secours Southside Medical Center in Petersburg where he was pronounced dead.

Police have not released any suspect or motive information in the case.

Anyone who may have information about the case is encouraged to contact Petersburg-Dinwiddie Crime Solvers at (804) 861-1212 or use the P3Tips mobile app.

The 18 homicides in Petersburg matches the total for all of 2021.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg Police identify the man shot to death Saturday morning
When Beth Waldron got a letter from her health insurance provider last year that her blood thinner Eliquis would no longer be covered, she faced two options: Change to another medication that could have adverse side effects or go from paying $30 a month to more than $600 a month out of pocket.

She didnt know initially that the maker of Eliquis offers a copay coupon card that allows patients to get the drug for only $10 a month.

She also didnt know that the card, like many patient assistance programs offered by drugmakers, came with a lot of fine print.

Patient assistance programs and manufacturer copay coupons, intended to help those who cannot afford their medications, have come under scrutiny for being a short-term solution to the much larger problem of prescription drug prices that are bleeding patients dry.

HOW DO PATIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WORK?: The pros and cons of prescription coupons and more.

"I think depending upon the drug and depending upon the assistance program, you know, some are more generous than others and patients need to fully understand the fine print," Waldron, 53, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, said. "But I don't see the assistance cards as being the solution to high prescription drug prices."

How do patient payment assistance programs differ?

Some programs have income restrictions or only people on certain types of insurance qualify. Some, like the Eliquis coupon, have an annual cap so they don't actually cover the drug for a full year. And increasingly, insurance plans are excluding any assistance dollars from counting toward the patient's out-of-pocket total and deductible.

COPAY ACCUMULATORS: Patients can't count drug discounts toward health insurance deductible

Some are quick and easy to obtain, while others are more complicated, according to Rich Sagall, president of NeedyMeds, an organization that aggregates information on 40,000 patient assistance programs and allows people to search by drug or diagnosis.

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"We have as much information as we can get on every program. So we talk about eligibility guidelines, how long it takes to get the medication, how many times you get a refill, anything we can think of," Sagall said.

Advocates for lower drug prices ask why companies allow some patients the ability to pay $10 for a drug while charging others 60 times that when drugmakers could just make the drug cheaper across the board.

"I think the biggest thing is the fact that patients have to jump through these hoops at all, you know, rather than just having lower drug prices or having a drug on formulary," Waldron said.

She found she could get the coupon for Eliquis from her doctor, but she talked to other patients who didn't know it existed until she posted it on social media.

Not all prescription cards are the same

The card Waldron got was for 24 months, but some are for six months. Some can be renewed, but others can't, said Waldron, who has researched these issues as an independent patient advocate for those on anticoagulants.

"So if you like apply and get a copay card once, then that's it. You can't apply for a copay card and get another one in the future," she said. "I've been on (a blood thinner) for 19 years. So 24 months is helpful, but that's not gonna help me for the rest of my life."

However, Sagall said that's true for some copay cards, but others can be used repeatedly for several years.

CVS Caremark, with 103 million members and 68,000 national network pharmacies, added Eliquis back to its formulary in July after the pharmacy benefit manager  the middlemen who negotiate drug prices and decide which drugs are covered on behalf of health insurance plans  said they secured a better price for the drug.

"Anti-coagulant therapies are among the non-specialty products where we are seeing the fastest cost increases from drug manufacturers, and we will continue to push back on unwarranted price increases," CVS Caremark said in a statement to USA TODAY.

The newest issue facing patients seeking assistance is the introduction of copay accumulator and maximizer programs which ban assistance money from counting toward deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.

These programs are the subject of debate in statehouses across the country and a new lawsuit from patient groups seeking to ban them.

This practice is not only illegal but increases the cost of prescription drugs for millions of patients nationwide, said Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute in a press release announcing the suit in August. Nearly one in four Americans taking prescription drugs struggles to afford them. The growing practice of insurers and PBMs not counting copay assistance is one reason why."

Why do these coupon programs exist?

Drug manufacturers say they offer coupon programs to help patients offset the rising out-of-pocket cost of prescriptions due to health insurance plan design changes.

Every day there are patients who show up at the pharmacy and find their commercial insurance wont cover the cost of their medicine," said Brian Newell, spokesman for the drugmaker trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. "To help fill these gaps in insurance coverage, biopharmaceutical companies offer coupons and other forms of patient assistance."

Pharmacy benefit managers say drugmakers only offer coupons to entice people to take more expensive brand-name drugs.

Three companies, OptumRX, Express Scripts and CVS Caremark, control about 80% of the drug market. They've all spoken out against copay assistance cards  or even stopped covering drugs with coupons available  with OptumRx posting on its website, "The presence of a copay card means patients may not have financial incentive to utilize a lower-cost preferred therapy."

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, which represents pharmacy benefit managers, says copay coupons are marketing tools used by drugmakers to get more people to use high-priced drugs.

Drug manufacturers and drug manufacturers alone set and raise prescription drug prices," the association said in a statement. "The fact is, drug manufacturers only use copay coupons to boost their profits by steering patients to more expensive medications when less expensive, clinically effective alternatives exist. Thats why drugmakers use of copay coupon tactics are banned under Medicare and other government healthcare programs."

The USA TODAY Network has previously covered the back and forth between drug makers, pharmacy benefit managers and the health plans they represent over who is to blame for high drug prices.

Read more about the factors at play here:

'IT IS LEGAL EXTORTION': Diabetics pay steep price for insulin as rebates drive up costs

REFORM: Biden urges Congress to pass reforms to lower prescription drug costs, change Medicare rule

DRUG PRICES: Seniors' health care suffers due to skyrocketing fees for prescription drugs, pharmacists say

SUPREME COURT: States can regulate pharmacy benefit managers

Patients say they are the ones that suffer

Patients mostly just say they're frustrated and confused, trying to afford their medication and navigate what programs are available to help.

While Susan Adams, of Wiley, Texas, says patient assistance programs have been a blessing for her family, she postponed getting a new expensive biologic drug for her spondyloarthropathy because she was unclear on the income restrictions and didn't think she'd qualify.

"I've investigated that more and hope that other patients know that they can avail themselves of these programs with most levels of income," she said. "Most of these drugs are just impossible to afford ... without financial assistance."

When these programs started, they were really mostly for uninsured people, said Robert Popovian, chief science officer of the Global Healthy Living Foundation, which advocates for patients with arthritis and other chronic illnesses.

But the need for drug copay assistance among the insured has grown as health plans have shifted more and more of the cost burden onto patients via high deductible health plans, said Kollet Koulianos, vice president of payer relations at the National Hemophilia Foundation.

"Every year these deductibles are getting higher and higher. And for patients there's a breaking point," she said. "Americans struggle to pay."

The average deductible today is over $5,000, Koulianos said.

So many  more than 80% of cancer patients use copay assistance according to the American Cancer Society  are turning to patient assistance programs, manufacturer coupons, or retail discount programs like GoodRx or Blink Health which all have pros and cons associated with their use, patient advocates say.

Patients need to be aware of limitations on assistance

Waldron said the manufacturer coupon she used was a lifesaver, allowing her to stay on her medication in the short term while researching other options for the long term.

But she learned from the manufacturer that only about 50,000 of the 150,000 patients who lost coverage for the drug this year took advantage of the coupon.

"Patients aren't aware that these programs exist," Waldron said. And then there are the restrictions of the coupon programs.

"One of the big limitations of these (coupon) programs is you have to be commercially insured," Waldron said. "You can't have Medicare, Medicaid, Department of Defense, Tricare, or any of the other government-sponsored insurance. So that leaves a whole lot of people ineligible for these assistance programs."

Waldron found there were other limitations with the card including an annual price cap.

Although it brought the price down to $10 a month, it only covered up to $6,400. Since the drug costs $7,600 per year, the person using the card would have to pay full price for the last few months of the year.

"So a $10 copay card is not really $10 every month, it's $10 until you hit that annual maximum," Waldron said.

People also need to be aware of the impact of manufacturer coupons on their employer health plan, Koulianos said.

When she went to fill a prescription for a cholesterol medication, she was asked if she wanted the generic or the brand name. The generic cost $5 while the copay for the nbrand name was $100.

She started to choose the generic, but the pharmacist said there was a manufacturer coupon that brought the brand name copay down to $5 too.

She decided to stick with the generic because she knew her employer would bear the cost of the more expensive version if she used the coupon.

This is a scenario critics of manufacturer coupons point to as an ongoing issue, saying the discount is simply there to entice people to take the higher-priced drug over the generic. Pharmacy benefit managers say this drives up costs for everyone on the health plan.

"When coupon programs drive increased sales of high-priced drugs, employers and insurers must pay for them. Those increased costs are passed along to members in the form of higher premiums," PBM OptumRx says on its website.

But PhRMA, the association that represents drugmakers, cites data showing that less than 1% of coupons are used on medications with a generic available.

A study by IQVIA, a pharmaceutical analytics and research company, found that "While copay cards are still being utilized by patients on brand scripts after (generics become available), the use is limited and only makes up 0.4% of the total commercial market volume."

Most cases where patients are relying on these coupons are similar to Waldron's situation, PhRMA said.

There is no generic for Eliquis and some of the alternative blood thinners that are cheaper have different side effects or require frequent blood tests, according to info from GoodRx.

Waldron said she made the decision to take Eliquis with her doctor, and health plans shouldn't be forcing her to switch to something that could be harmful to her.

"I had no idea that someone other than my doctor could decide which blood thinner I take. Because blood thinners are a rather dangerous class of medication," she said.

Like the copay coupons, patient assistance programs offered by nonprofits and foundations run by drugmakers each have their own set of qualification standards which typically include income maximums and some sort of proof that you don't have insurance or that your insurance doesn't cover your medication.

Finding these programs is more difficult than the copay coupons which are generally offered at doctors' offices and pharmacies. To find a patient assistance program, people typically have to go searching online on manufacturer websites or on a site like NeedyMeds.

"Finding it is hard. But getting into it is not that difficult, because a lot of pharma companies have very liberal rules and regulations about what they allow. When these companies started this, it was very strict, you had to have no insurance. Now, it's like everybody qualifies," Popovian said.

copay accumulators and maximizers add confusion

Throwing a new wrench in the patient assistance landscape, insurers began in 2017 to implement rules which say that any assistance money you receive no longer counts toward your deductible or out-of-pocket totals.

Koulianos said hitting a month where the assistance has run out and you owe the full deductible in order to get meds can be disastrous for patients on specialty drugs.

She worked with a hematology patient who couldn't afford the $6,250 for one month of meds after his assistance was exhausted. It took more than a month of calling and negotiating with the pharmacy benefit manager and insurance plan to get them to agree to waive his cost. By that time he'd had an uncontrolled bleed and became hospitalized.

He ended up going from a patient who cost his health plan less than $80,000 over two years to one who cost his plan $3.5 million.

"So putting an obstacle in the way of somebody who has no other option is going to have unintended consequences. And most employers especially, they don't understand that they're not seeing the whole picture. They're applying these rules as a one size fits all option, and not really thinking about the downstream consequences," Koulianos said.

Follow Katie Wedell on Twitter: @KatieWedell and Facebook: facebook.com/ByKatieWedell

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Prescription copay assistance scrutinized for role in drug prices
NextShark

Qatar World Cup coverage in China has sparked an uproar among Weibo users, who have been speaking out against the Chinese governments implementation of its strict zero-COVID policy. Initial coverage of the football tournament that showed audiences not wearing protective masks in Qatar has caused many in China to question the continued widespread lockdowns, quarantines and mass-testing campaigns in the country. Weibo users pointed out that the maskless crowds show that the rest of the world has found a means to live with COVID-19 without excessive measures, according to Agence France-Presse.
The Daily Beast

GettyRussian forces may be preparing to leave the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which Russia has occupied since the early months of the war this year, according to Ukrainian authorities.Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said Sunday he believes Russian troops will be leaving the power plant as Ukrainian forces continue to make advances in occupied territories.Russian servicemen will leave the Zaporizhzhia NPP, as their line of defense is gradua
Watch: Prince William attends 10th Tusk Conservation Awards

The Prince of Wales donned his Sunday best to walk the red carpet at the 2022 Tusk Conservation Awards on Tuesday evening.

William, 40, wore a black two-piece suit and bow tie, with a red poppy on his lapel for the tenth annual Tusk Conservation Awards, which celebrates African-based conservation leaders and wildlife rangers and their significant impacts in the field.

Held at the historical Hampton Court Palace, south-west of London, the 2022 Tusk Conservation Awards is set to bring together alumni from across Africa to not only celebrate our successes to date, but look ahead to how we move forward together into a new decade, with new challenges, and new opportunities, says the organisation.

William, Prince of Wales, attended the Tusk Conservation Awards at Hampton Court Palace on Tuesday. (Getty Images)

Journalist and former BBC News presenter Kate Silverton hosted the tenth annual awards ceremony honouring people who work for wildlife conservation, alongside the Prince of Wales.

Read more: Kate and William raising Charlotte 'to be George's supporter' says royal expert

Ahead of the awards ceremony Prince William, Tusks Royal Patron since 2005, said: These awards, which mean a great deal to me personally, play a huge part in our mission to preserve Africas precious wildlife for its people.

It is vital that we recognise the dedication of these unsung heroes and the bravery of rangers risking their lives, day and night, on conservations frontline, he added. We all owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

Kate previously joined her husband William in 2013 and 2018 for the glamorous awards ceremony. (Getty Images)

Read more: Kate continues honouring Diana with another very similar outfit

Kate, Princess of Wales, didnt attend the glamorous awards ceremony with her husband, but has done previously in 2013 and 2018.

The mother-of-three will join William on Thursday for a visit to Scarborough, and attend the Rugby Football League World Cup Quarter Final alone on Saturday as part of her patronage for the Rugby Football League, which she inherited earlier this year.

The Earthshot Prize was launched in 2020 by Prince William and David Attenborough. (Getty Images)

The Prince and Princess of Wales have been avid supporters of wildlife and environmental conservation, as well as several mental health, arts, and sports institutions, of which the couple are royal patrons.

The pair walked the green carpet at last years inaugural Earthshot Prize Awards at Alexandra Palace, and Prince William attended the 2021 Tusk Awards Ceremony solo, presenting the prestigious awards to Simson Uri-Khob, Julie Razafimanahaka, and Suleiman Saidu.
Michael M Santiago/GettyImages

BROOKLYNOn the last day of billionaire Tom Barracks criminal trial, prosecutors closed with a dramatic image: A powerful financierwith ties directly to Donald Trump and the highest echelons of his administrationreduced to a whimpering lackey obsessed with pleasing his spy handlers in the United Arab Emirates.

Barrack, once a big name in the real estate investment world, is accused of misusing his proximity to then-President Trump to pump the interests of Arab royalty. Jurors on Tuesday afternoon are set to begin deliberating on whether Barrack violated laws against secret foreign lobbying.

In his closing arguments, federal prosecutor Ryan C. Harris recapped emails and text messages that detailed how Barrack made himself a mouthpiece for the UAE on national TV news programs, setup friendly meetings with the Trump White House, and even tweaked the GOP platform at the 2016 Republican National Convention.

Proposals had such ostentatious titles as, Gaining Influence in the United States, and A Proposal to Strengthen UAE Influence in the USA. In one text message, Barrack even touted how he was positioned to help the UAE capital, noting it would give ABU DHABI more power.

Trumps Billionaire Pal Testifies That Trump Was Disastrous for Business

Ladies and gentlemen, you cannot get any more of a distillation of the intention of the defendant's than these documents, Harris told the jury. He understands his role. He understands his place in the UAE operations they would have a man on the inside.

The feds say Barracks business meeting with a UAE spy chief on his boat, his lavish dinner with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and his constant communications with an Emirati contact all had a massive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow: access to Gulf state sovereign wealth funds.

We hit the jackpot in the Middle East, Barrack emailed in 2017.

Years of UAE cheerleading brought $374 million into Colony Capital, the real estate investment company Barrack founded and led until his abrupt resignation last year. Barrack, now 75, faces prison timea rare sight for a modern-day Master of the Universe.

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On Tuesday morning, defense lawyers presented an alternative way to interpret all the seized communications. It was a billionaire in the sunset of his life, they said, trying to use his outsized position of privilege to simply bring peace to the Middle East.

Emails and text messages were taken out of context. There was nothing wrong with Barrack casually advocating for his business partners. And the payoff didnt even benefit Barrack directly, they argued. After all, Colony Capital was such a massive investment company that the infusion of UAE and Saudi money made up barely a tenth of its total portfolio.

Defense attorney Randall Jackson told jurors it makes no sense that after a storied career Barrack would say, in my final chapter, Im going to engage in serious crimes.

Trumps Billionaire Pal Watered Down GOP Platform on 9/11 for Saudis

He said the billionaire did nothing wrong by meeting with Emiratis to discuss business ventures and politicsor to champion the UAE for its efforts in combating Al Qaeda.

What did he say that wasnt true? Jackson asked.

Still, the dozens of texts and emails seized by the FBI presented a stark picture. Barrack would frequently appear on TV, then immediately have his personal assistant check in with their Emirati friend to make sure the boss back in the UAE was happy with the way things went.

The boss was Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAEs top national security adviser.

The communication ranged from awkward to embarrassing in tone. At one point, Barracks assistant, Matthew Grimeswho also faces criminal chargeshad to apologize when the billionaire failed to name-drop an Emirati official during a TV news interview.

All of this went on as Barrack threw his support behind his personal friend, Donald Trump, the long-shot Republican presidential candidate at the time. Barrack used his lengthy track record of making odd yet remarkably successful bets to rally Wall Street support behind Trump, which helped Trump win in 2016.

Barracks access made him all the more valuable to the Emiratis. Emails showed how the Trump pal constantly sought approval from them. For example, before the financier drafted an energy plan for Trumps 2016 presidential campaign, he sent multiple versions of the plan to Rashad Al Malik, an Emirati businessman who the feds portrayed as a middleman between Barrack and UAE spies.

And when the GOP was going to mention the Sept. 11 terror attacks during its national convention that year, Barrack made sure a particular line mentioning Saudi Arabia got cut.

If convicted of obstruction of justice, Barrack faces 20 years behind bars. The criminal charge of unregistered foreign lobbying and the multiple counts of lying to FBI special agents also threaten a decade or more of prison time.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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CHICAGO  Prosecutors said Tuesday that they have turned over a huge amount of evidence to defense attorneys for the man accused of killing seven people in a shooting on the Fourth of July in Highland Park.

The update came at the first court hearing since August for Robert Crimo III, who has been charged with more than 100 felonies in the shooting. Authorities say Crimo also wounded dozens of other people by firing a semi-automatic rifle into the crowd watching the Highland Park holiday parade.

Lake County Assistant States Attorney Ben Dillon said prosecutors have given more than 2,500 pages of written material to the defense, along with audio and video recordings. They are expecting to tender a substantial amount of additional discovery material within the next few days.

Crimos attorney, Anton Trizna, an assistant public defender for Lake County, said that based on the amount of material they need to read and organize, it didnt make sense to have another court date in the near future. Judge Victoria Rossetti set Jan. 31 for the next case management conference.

After the hearing, Lake County States Attorney Eric Rinehart said that police have been collecting and reviewing surveillance video from stores in downtown Highland Park in the area near the shooting.

Tuesdays appearance was Crimos first in a Lake County courtroom since Aug. 3, when he entered a not guilty plea to 117 felony counts.

Since that appearance, Crimo, of Highland Park, turned 22, in late September in custody at the Lake County jail where he is being held in lieu of bond.

Over the last three months, he has been named in a dozen lawsuits that have been filed on behalf of parade shooting victims. The suits have targeted Crimo and the manufacturer of the assault rifle Crimo allegedly used to fire more than 80 rounds from a store rooftop into the crowd gathered in downtown Highland Park for the parade. The store where Crimo bought the rifle is also named, as is Crimos father.

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After the shooting, Crimo initially evaded arrest by disguising himself as a woman and blending into the retreating crowd, police allege. Within hours, police identified him as a person of interest, and he was arrested later that day after a North Chicago police officer spotted Crimo in his car on U.S. Route 41.



(Tribune reporter Robert McCoppin contributed to this story.)


Putin does not deserve to sit at table with other world leaders, says Ukrainian foreign ministry

Read also: Russia likely deploying Kinzhal missiles in Belarus for first time, UK intel says

Putin publicly admitted that he ordered missile strikes on the Ukrainian civilian population and energy infrastructure, Nikolenko tweeted.

Read also: Putin preparing to stretch war well into 2023, not planning nuclear strike, says ISW

He cannot be allowed to sit at the table with world leaders with his hands covered in blood.

Nikolenko also added that Putin's invitation to the summit in Bali, INdonesia (scheduled for November 15-16) should be withdrawn, and Russia should be excluded from the G20.

Russia launched a new massive missile attack on the entire territory of Ukraine on Oct. 31. Russian missiles and drones damaged 18 infrastructure facilities in ten regions, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported. Most of the damaged objects are power plants, and emergency power cuts have been introduced across the country.

Read also: Putin says he is ready to wait for Kyiv's consent to negotiations

The enemy used 55 missiles for the attacks, 45 of which were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses. After the latest attacks on civilian infrastructure, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov called on the world to recognize Russia as a terrorist state.

The latest big attack by Russia came two days after explosions were heard in the morning of Oct. 29 near a Russian naval base in Sevastopol, in Ukraines Russian-occupied Crimea. The Russian Ministry of Defense said there had been a drone attack with no casualties.

Read also: Russian missiles strikes against Ukraine a response to Sevastopol Bay attack, Putin says

Independent investigators believe that at least three ships were damaged in the drone attack. Ukraine has not officially declared its involvement in the incident.

On Oct. 31, Putin described the massive missile strikes on Ukraine as a partial response to the explosions in occupied Sevastopol.

Ukrainian officials say the Russian attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure were planned weeks in advance and the terrorist state (wants to) use winter as a weapon, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministrys Intelligence Directorate, said on Oct. 31.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia carried out a large-scale missile strike on Ukraine on Monday, 31 October, at least "to an extent" in response to the recent attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol Bay.

Source: Vladimir Putin during a press conference in Sochi, in response to a journalists question

Quote:

Journalist: "Are the extensive strikes on the territory of Ukraine a response to the recent events in Sevastopol?"

Putin: "This is true to an extent. But we can do more."

Background:

On 29 October, explosions were reported in the Russian-occupied city of Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula. The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had attacked Sevastopol using unmanned surface vessels (USVs) at 04:00 on 29 October. The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Ivan Golubets minesweeper sustained damage as a result of the attack.

Later, it became known that at least three ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, including the Admiral Makarov flagship, were damaged as a result of the USV attack on 29 October.

The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation claimed that the USVs that attacked the Russian Black Sea Fleet ships on 29 October were launched from aboard a civilian vessel near Odesa, which, the Russian ministry has claimed, was being used as part of the Grain Initiative. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, and Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine, dismissed Russias claims as nonsense.

On the morning of 31 October, Russian forces attacked Ukraines critical infrastructure and civilian homes, violating the norms of international humanitarian law and the laws and customs of war.

Ukraines General Staff reported that Russia attacked Ukraines military and civilian infrastructure targets using 55 cruise missiles, 45 of which were shot down by Ukrainian defenders.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he hopes for "normalisation" of ties between Armenia and Azerbaijan after he hosted talks with the rivals on Monday, reasserting Moscow's role as Caucasus powerbroker.

The talks were held as Western engagement grows in the volatile Caucasus region, where Russia -- distracted by its war in Ukraine -- is palpably losing influence after decades of domination.

The initiative comes a month after the worst clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan since their war in 2020.

"In our common opinion, it was a very useful meeting that created a very good atmosphere for possible future agreements," the Russian president told journalists.

"Russia will do everything to find a definitive and comprehensive settlement" of the conflict, he said, adding: "It is in everyone's interest to normalise relations.

"We will remain in contact and continue the dialogue and the search for the necessary solutions to put an end to this conflict," Putin said.

Ahead of the trilateral summit, Putin met the two visiting leaders, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, separately.

"The most important is to ensure peace and create conditions for development," he told Pashinyan.

Ahead of the meeting Pashinyan said Yerevan's priorities included Azerbaijani withdrawal from the areas in Karabakh controlled by Russian peacekeepers and the liberation of Armenian POWs.

- 'Impetus' -

Putin then received Aliyev, who thanked his Russian counterpart for giving "impetus to the normalisation process".

"The Karabakh conflict is already part of history. This issue was resolved two years ago. So there is practically nothing left to discuss in this context," Aliyev insisted.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars -- in 2020 and in the 1990s -- over Azerbaijan's Armenian populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

A six-week war in autumn 2020, which claimed the lives of more than 6,500 troops on both sides, ended with a Russian-brokered deal that saw Yerevan cede swathes of territory that it had controlled for several decades.

Story continues

Last month, 286 people from both sides were killed in clashes that have jeopardised a slow and halting peace process.

The hostilities ended with a US-brokered ceasefire, after earlier failed attempts by Russia to negotiate a truce.

With Moscow increasingly isolated on the world stage following its February offensive on Ukraine, the US and the EU have taken a leading role in mediating the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks.

EU chief Charles Michel and French President Emmanuel Macron hosted talks between Pashinyan and Aliyev in Brussels in August.

Following a slew of diplomatic efforts from Brussels and Washington, Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers met on October 3 in Geneva to begin drafting the text of a future peace treaty.

Russia and EU leaders have traded criticism of their respective mediation efforts in the Karabakh conflict, with Moscow and Paris in particular exchanging jabs this month.

Putin recently dismissed a comment by Macron who said that Moscow was "destabilising" a peace process between the two countries.

Moscow has traditionally acted as a middleman between the two countries, which were both part of the Soviet Union.

- Russian peacekeepers 

The 2020 ceasefire agreement saw Russia deploy a force of 2,000 peacekeepers to the region to oversee a fragile truce.

Ahead of the talks, Armenia's Pashinyan said he was ready to extend their presence by up to another two decades.

Russia's peacekeeping mission has been criticised by some with even Pashinyan raising concerns about the force, in rare Armenian criticism of its ally.

The EU has announced a "civilian EU mission" to Armenia to monitor ceasefire violations.

Aliyev has vowed to repopulate Karabakh with Azerbaijanis and recently re-opened an airport in the conquered territories.

Baku's ally Ankara has also advanced its efforts to be involved in mediation, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meeting both Aliyev and Pashinyan recently in Prague.

The Kremlin said the trio would also discuss "questions on rebuilding and developing trade and economic as well as transport links".

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, ethnic Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan. The ensuing conflict claimed around 30,000 lives.

bur/im/gw/bp
Goalkeeper Allan McGregor, right, and Rangers react after Ajaxs second goal (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA Wire)

Rangers recorded the worst ever Champions League record after finishing their Group A campaign with a 3-1 defeat to Ajax.

Giovanni van Bronckhorsts side lost all six games and finished with a goal difference of -20, one worse than the record set by Dinamo Zagreb in the 2011-12 season.

Here, the PA news agency looks at how they compare to Dinamo and the rest of the worst performers.

All-time low

Ajax 4 Rangers 0, September 7

Rangers 0 Napoli 3, September 14

Liverpool 2 Rangers 0, October 4

Rangers 1 Liverpool 7, October 12

Napoli 3 Rangers 0, October 26

Rangers 1 Ajax 3, November 1

Rangers European campaign was quickly on the back foot as they fell 3-0 behind to Ajax in little more than half an hour of their opening game before eventually losing 4-0.

Defender James Sands was sent off in the first of a pair of 3-0 defeats to Napoli, while Liverpool won 2-0 at Anfield and enjoyed a 7-1 stroll in Govan with a Mohamed Salah hat-trick and two goals from Roberto Firmino.

Scott Arfields opener in that game was the first goal scored by the Ibrox side and, needing a point against Ajax to avoid an unwanted place in history, they fell two goals down inside half an hour and found no way back despite James Taverniers penalty.

Hat-trick history

The low point of Rangers campaign came when Liverpool substitute Salah scored a hat-trick in just over six minutes in that 7-1 win.

That brought the closest parallel to Dinamos season of woe, with Salah breaking the record for the fastest ever Champions League treble previously held by Lyons Bafetimbi Gomis in another 7-1 win over the Croatian side.

Dinamos campaign had started relatively respectably, losing only 1-0 to Real Madrid in their opening game and 2-0 to both Lyon and Ajax. The Dutch giants won the return fixture 4-0 at the Amsterdam ArenA, however, as the floodgates began to creak open.

Dinamo Zagreb 0 Real Madrid 1, September 14, 2011

Lyon 2 Dinamo Zagreb 0, September 27, 2011

Dinamo Zagreb 0 Ajax 2, October 18, 2011

Ajax 4 Dinamo Zagreb 0, November 2, 2011

Real Madrid 6 Dinamo Zagreb 2, November 22, 2011

Dinamo Zagreb 1 Lyon 7, December 7, 2011

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Like Rangers, Dinamos goals came in their heaviest losses  the first two while already trailing by six to Real after doubles from Karim Benzema and Jose Callejon.

They then led against Lyon but capitulated spectacularly, Gomis ultimately scoring four as Lyon edged out Ajax on goal difference to qualify. Dinamo finished with six losses, three goals for and 22 against.

Spartak Moscow scored one and conceded 18 in 2002-03s first group stage when up against Valencia, Basel and Liverpool, while Levski Sofia scored one and conceded 17 against Chelsea, Barcelona and Werder Bremen in 2006-07.

Levskis -16 goal difference was matched by MSK Zilina in 2010-11 and Besiktas last season, while the worst record without a goal scored still belongs to Dinamo as they conceded 15 without reply to Juventus, Sevilla and Lyon in 2016-17. Dynamo Kyiv in 2007-08 and Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2015-16 also had -15 goal differences and zero points.
Takeoff Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Coachella

Takeoff, the mononymous rapper who was one-third of the popular hip hop group Migos, has been shot and killed in Houston,TMZ reports. He was 28.

Police responded to a call at around 2:30 in the morning on Tuesday that a man had been shot at a bowling alley in Houston, according to TMZ. Takeoff  whose real name is Kirshnik Khari Ball  was reportedly playing dice with his uncle, Migos member Quavo, "when an altercation broke out" and a suspect opened fire.

Takeoff was pronounced dead at the scene, TMZ says. The rapper's death was confirmed by the city's police department to Variety. Houston Police also said that two other victims were "taken in private vehicles to hospitals," but Quavo reportedly wasn't injured.

Takeoff performed in Migos with his uncle Quavo and his cousin Offset, who is married to rapper Cardi B. The group was founded in 2008 and released songs like "Versace" and "Bad and Boujee." Quavo and Takeoff dropped a music video for their song "Messy" on Monday.

Activist Brittany Packnett Cunningham remembered Takeoff as "undoubtedly influential in rap's new school," adding that "more importantly" he was "a whole human being who deserved far more life and not this reckless, vile act." Actor Philemon Chambers also honored Takeoff and tweeted, "We've lost so many these past few years due to violence. This has to stop ... I'm talking to my community  we must do better!!"

The comments on the "Messy" video on YouTube were flooded with tributes after the news broke, with one fan writing, "I can't explain how painful it is to lose such a great artist. Rest in peace Takeoff. You'll be missed forever."

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Danny Santulli's family has created a hospital room for him in the living room of their Eden Prairie, Minnesota, home, his dad wrote in an annual guardian report filed in Boone County Circuit Court last week.

A little over a year ago, Santulli, a University of Missouri freshman, was a pledge to the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, also known as Fiji. Santulli participated in "Pledge Dad Reveal Night" at the fraternity house, where he was directed to drink a bottle of vodka.

The hazing caused alcohol poisoning that resulted in brain damage for Santulli. The student was left unable to walk, speak or see and in need of constant care.

In the report filed by Santulli's dad, Tom Santulli, on Oct. 24, the father wrote that the family had made their living room into a makeshift hospital room.

More:Danny Santulli's family members join MU students to light candles in Peace Park

Former University of Missouri Fiji pledge Daniel Santulli is back in the care of his parents, but his condition hasn't improved, the family's attorney said.

"Both Mary Pat and Tom along with two other children learned and were trained in Colorado how to care for Danny at home," Tom Santulli wrote, naming his wife.

The elder Santulli wrote that his son was tracking better through sound, more alert, and reacts to the voices of family members.

"Danny is stable for the time being due to care provided by parents, siblings, caregivers, etc.," Tom Santulli wrote. "We are exploring other treatments to provide better quality of life."

He wrote that money from settlements of civil lawsuits was paying for their son's care and that the financial plan involves an irrevocable trust for services at the discretion of the trustee.

More:Danny Santulli's dad one year after University of Missouri Fiji hazing: 'Everyone wants this to stop'

One of the parents is with their son at all times, Tom Santulli wrote.

"My wife is main caregiver and I am helping with caregiver tasks," he wrote, adding that they also have hired caregivers.

The fraternity has been removed from campus.

A University of Missouri banner is taken down as a storm rolls over the Phi Gamma Delta house during the fraternity's move-out day Oct. 24, 2021.

Eleven of the fraternity members face criminal charges related to the incident; 10 are charged with felony hazing.

Story continues

In court Monday, Judge Kevin Crane scheduled the next hearing for defendant Samuel Lane, of Columbia, for Nov. 23.

The police statement that was the basis for the felony hazing charge against Lane includes text messages between Lane and defendant Fiji member Thomas Shultz in which Lane agreed to Shultz's suggestion of a "20-minute lineup" and liked a text from Shultz stating the pledges should be given booze and yelled at "about being alcohol hazed then blindfolds off and head to courtyard."

Lane also asked the fraternity members in a text if someone could help bring the booze to the courtyard, texting that it was in John O'Neill's room. O'Neill, another felony defendant, was the "house dad" for the fraternity.

In another Monday court hearing, Judge Hasbrouck Jacobs set the next hearing for O'Neill, of Columbia, for Dec. 12. O'Neill's attorney had requested more time for discovery.

The alcohol was located in O'Neill's room, according to text messages cited in the police report that served as the basis for the charge against him.

According to the report, O'Neill allegedly texted Shultz at 8:48 p.m. on the day of the party Oct. 19, 2021: "I'm here, how much alcohols did you want outside?"

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Report details care for Danny Santulli since Mizzou Fiji hazing
WASHINGTON  Four key Republicans on Capitol Hill are questioning the Air Forces decision to replace two permanent F-15C Eagle fighter squadrons in Okinawa with rotational forces.

In a new letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the lawmakers expressed concern about the plan and asked for a briefing on the decision to remove permanent forces from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin  the top Republican on the Armed Services personnel subcommittee  sent the letter on Tuesday. Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, the former ambassador to Japan, and Rep. Mike McCaul of Texas, the top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, also signed onto the letter.

This decision would involve half of the roughly 100 USAF fighters in Japan, the lawmakers wrote. While we agree with the need to modernize the Air Forces fleet in order to counter the rising threat of the Peoples Liberation Army, we are concerned with reporting that indicates that there will be no permanent presence to replace the Okinawa F-15s. Instead, USAF plans to send F-22 fighters from Alaska to Okinawa on only a rotational basis.

The Air Force last week confirmed it was planning to start withdrawing its two squadrons of F-15s from Kadena beginning in November and would temporarily rotate in newer fourth-generation and fifth-generation fighters to take their place. The F-15 withdrawals are slated to take place in phases over the next two years; those fighters would be retired after returning to the U.S.

The Defense Department has not yet decided on a long-term plan for Kadenas fighter presence and is still considering whether to stick with the rotational model or eventually permanently deploy squadrons to Kadena once again.

Asked Tuesday how soon the U.S. would have a set plan to replace the F-15s, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder didnt answer directly, but told reporters the U.S. commitment to the security of Japan and the region remains ironclad.

Story continues

Rubio, Gallagher, Hagerty and McCaul asked Austin to provide a briefing on steps to replace the deterrent value and combat capability of any assets removed from the Indo-Pacific region as well as the administrations plan to establish a force posture in the Indo-Pacific that would be resilient to a [Chinese Communist Party] attack and capable of deterring an invasion of Taiwan.

We believe that [the Defense Departments] plans to replace permanently-based fighters with rotational forces will lead to a tangible reduction in American forward combat power in the Indo-Pacific, lowering the bar for aggression and demonstrating a continuing mismatch between the Biden Administrations talking points on the Indo-Pacific and Americas actual commitments in the region, the lawmakers wrote. We are concerned that [the Defense Departments] decision sends the wrong signal, not only to the [Chinese Communist Party], but also to our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific.

The Air Forces fleet of F-15C and D fighters are well into their third decade of service and nearing the end of their lives. The service is moving to retire them and replace them with newly-built F-15EX Eagle II fighters that have modern avionics, such as fly-by-wire controls, and updated capabilities including new electronic warfare gear.

Separately, Australian media outlets reported this week the U.S. plans to send six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to northern Australia  drawing a sharp rebuke from China.

Such a move by the U.S. and Australia escalates regional tensions, seriously undermined regional peace and stability, and may trigger an arms race in the region, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in response.

The Pentagon confirmed the B-52 deployments and linked them to U.S. investments in airfield infrastructure improvements at Tindal air base in Australia and joint cooperation in Australias Northern Territory.

Ryder said its not uncommon for the U.S. to send aircraft to Australia, with which the U.S. has a long relationship, to take part in joint exercises.

It does send a clear signal to countries in the region, first of all, that the U.S. is a reliable partner and that we do maintain capabilities to be available to respond to a variety of contingencies worldwide, he said. But it also sends a clear message that we have the capability to deter and if necessary engage.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - JULY 1: Melissa Grant, chief operating officer of Carafem, holds up pills used for abortion at the headquarters of Carafem in Washington, D.C., on July 1, 2022. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Requests for abortion pills have skyrocketed in 30 states, particularly in the South, since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, according to research from Aid Access released Tuesday. The nonprofit organizationwhich will prescribe abortion pills under advance provision aka before a patient becomes pregnantsaw a steady uptick after the Dobbs decision leaked in May, followed by a huge rise after the decision was officially announced at the end of June.

Before we lost Roe as a legal threshold, the average weekly request for medication abortion was about 83 requests across 30 states. After the Supreme Court officially rescinded federally protected abortion rights, Aid Access requests more than doubled, to 213 requests each week.

Read more

Just because you ban abortion does not change the need for abortion. It doesnt change peoples experiences or their needs, lead study author Dr. Abigail R. A. Aiken, of the University of Texas, told Jezebel. And so people do they find other ways.

The five states with the largest increases in demand are those that have severely restricted abortion: Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, and Oklahoma. In places like these states, there is a probably unintended and ironic consequence of abortion bans, Aiken said: People start to hear about it reported in the media more.

However, the weekly requests for pills went up even if the patients state was unlikely to ban abortion, such as New Hampshire. Even in states where there was no change in abortion policy or even no likely future change in abortion policy, there was still upticks, she said, but noted that those upticks were smaller than other states.

Aid Accesss request form allows patients to say why theyre asking for pills, and it turns out that people do not trust that their access to abortion will stick around: Those who chose possible future legal restrictions on the form nearly tripled. Erin Matson, a leader with the Abortion On Our Own Terms campaign and executive director of Reproaction, told Jezebel that the effects of overturning Roe necessitates for some people looking outside of the traditional medical system, because the the government has failed them.

Story continues

Pills become an easier alternative, especially if travel is difficult. It would make perfect sense for people to hang on to them for when they need them, including in a scenario where we dont have this, you know, hateful government action, Matson told Jezebel. People need abortion pills even in states where abortion access is protected because people are coming in from states where it is no longer accessible, increasing in-clinic demand for the procedure.

While abortion pills have been a savior for many, research released last month found a major drop in legal (that is, counted) abortions since Roe ended. By contrast, border stateslike North Carolina and Kansas, which sit next to large swathes of states that have banned abortionhave seen the biggest increases in the procedure.

Aikens research only takes into account 30 states, since her team wanted to study only self-managed abortion, which doesnt include abortion supervised via telehealth, which is available in other states. But the research is compelling evidence that self-managed abortion is going mainstream. Im quite certain there are people out there who very unfortunately have been forced to continue pregnancies that they dont want because they cant get to a clinic out of state. At the same time, it is reassuring to know that people are finding this and that it is working, she said.

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Takeoff, who was in rap trio Migos, has been shot dead in Houston, Texas, this morning (1 November) according to reports.

The rapper, whose full name was Kirshnik Khari Ball, was just 28 years old.

Quavo, who is also in Migos, was also present during the incident. According to Houston police, the two were at a private party prior to the shooting.

Since the news of his death, several videos containing apparent footage of the incident, and the scenes after the incident, have emerged online.

Videos containing the distressing sightings have been so widely shared that people have even ended up watching the content by mistake.

Many social media users have condemned the sharing of the sickening videos online, calling out the inappropriate nature of its circulation.

Apparently there is a video of Takeoffs body and Quavo crying over it. Im off Twitter. This is an awful place. RIP to that brother. Long Live Takeoff!!!! one Twitter user wrote.

Apparently there is a video of Takeoffs body and Quavo crying over it. Im off Twitter. This is an awful place. RIP to that brother. Long Live Takeoff!!!!  OVisuals (@Ohmeezzy) November 1, 2022

Ive seen sooo many people posting the video and pictures of it and it sickens me. How anyone can think its ok to spread that is beyond me. Such a f***in senseless loss, another fan wrote.

Can we PLEASE for the love of life stop posting dead celebrities and dead people? one user begged, before adding: Im sure these people and their families prefer respect over letting everyone see his dead body on the f***ing floor Rest In Peace Takeoff, the realest Migo hands down.

I get on Twitter and the first thing I see is a video of TakeOff from the Migos literally bleeding his life out, this really is sick like have some respect, another fan wrote, adding: Please cherish those close to you life is short and unexpected.

If you want to look up what happened to Takeoff, Google it. Dont look on Twitter, someone posted a very graphic video and it still has not been taken down. Please dont look if things like that make you uncomfortable, another Twitter user warned.

Takeoffs momma probably hasnt even heard the news before you n****s post the mans dead body on Twitter and Instagram. This s*** is sick. Rest in Peace Takeoff, another fan wrote.
Ricky Gervais / James Corden Getty Images

Ricky Gervais suspects a writer for James Corden copied his joke for Corden to say on air.

Corden poked fun at new Twitter CEO Elon Musk and the fact that he often refers to the platform as a "town square."

Gervais told a very similar joke to the one on Corden's show in a 2018 stand-up comedy special.

Ricky Gervais suspects that a writer for "The Late Late Show with James Corden" copied one of his jokes from a 2018 stand-up routine for Corden to use in his Monday night show.

In Corden's monologue, the comedian poked fun at Elon Musk's recent Twitter takeover, noting that the new CEO has often referred to the social media platform as "the town square."

"When you see Elon Musk talk about Twitter he does this thing where he goes 'Well, it's the town square,'" Corden said.

He continued: "But it isn't. Because if someone puts up a poster in a town square that says 'guitar lessons available,' you don't get people in the town going 'I don't want to play the guitar! I want to play the piano, you piece of shit!'"

"That sign wasn't for you, it was for someone else," Corden said. "You don't have to get mad!"

Following Corden's bit, fans noticed that the joke sounded strikingly familiar to a joke Gervais told during his 2018 stand-up show, "Humanity."

In his show, Gervais pointed out that everyone thinks the world revolves around them, particularly people on Twitter. He said he can tweet something, and one of his followers might get mad about it, even though Gervais has no idea who that particular follower is.

"It's like going into a town square and there's a notice for guitar lessons and you go 'but I don't fucking want guitar lessons!'" Gervais said in his special.

In a since-deleted tweet originally posted on Tuesday, Gervais referred to Corden's show: "The bit about the town square advert for guitar lessons is brilliant," Rolling Stone UK reported.

A fan responded to Gervais, asking if Corden asked to use the joke on his show.

Gervais responded: "No. I reckon one of the writers 'came up with it' for him. I doubt he would knowingly just copy such a famous stand-up routine word for word like that."

Story continues

Hours later, Corden appeared to respond to the controversy on "The Late Late Show" Twitter.

"Inadvertently told a brilliant Ricky Gervais joke on the show last night, obviously not knowing it came from him," Corden said. "It's brilliant, because it's a Ricky Gervais joke. You can watch all Ricky's excellent specials on Netflix. J x"

The Late Late Show with James Corden (@latelateshow) November 1, 2022

Representatives for Gervais and "The Late Late Show" did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

The accusation by Gervais comes just after Corden wrapped up another public feud with New York City restaurant owner Keith McNally who accused the comedian of bad behavior at his restaurant, Balthazar.

Read the original article on Insider
More information was released Monday regarding a high-speed chase over the weekend allegedly stemming from a fatal shooting in Rockford and ending in a fatal crash in DeKalb County.

About 12:25 p.m. Saturday, Winnebago County Sheriffs deputies were in the area of Springfield Avenueand West State Street in response to a shooting that took place at the Auburn Manor apartments at Auburn Street and Johnston Avenue.

Information was broadcast over the police radio that the suspect vehicle in the shooting incident was a black Chevy Impala occupied by two people. A Winnebago County Sheriffs deputy got behind a black Chevy Impala that matched the description of the suspect vehicle on Springfield Avenue, south of West State Street.

The car, which was occupied by two people, sped off, according to the sheriff's office. Authorities said they tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver continued to drive westbound on U.S. 20.

The suspect vehicle exited U.S. 20 onto 11th Street to go southbound. The pursuit continued south on 11th Street through Ogle County before the suspect vehicle eventually turned to travel eastbound on Twombly Road.

Shortly after passing West County Line Road and entering DeKalb County, the roadway turned into gravel and the driver of the Impala lost control and crashed into a field on the south side of the roadway.

The driver of the vehicle, 33-year-old Bradley Hale, was arrested at the scene. He was taken to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and is being held in the DeKalb County Jail.

The passenger of the fleeing vehicle, Edward Roland Hall, 57, of Rockford, was pronounced dead at the scene.

During the pursuit, the deputies learned that the shooting victim, David Austin, 22, had died. Dushawn Stallworth, 22, of Chicago, was arrested Saturday night in Rockford on first-degree murder charges in connection with the Auburn Manor shooting.

The Illinois State Police and the DeKalb County Coroners and sheriffs offices are investigating the DeKalb County crash.

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Winnebago County Sheriff's Office Edward Roland Hall David Austin
Consequences of Russian shelling in Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region, October 30, 2022

Rising military threat levels were cited as the reason for the move.

Read also: Invaders forcibly evicting Kherson residents from homes to build fortifications, General Staff says

Ukraines General Staff said that Moscow has already moved its civilian administration in the region from Kherson to Skadovsk  60 kilometers south of the regional capital.

Russian propaganda continues to spread narratives of Ukraine allegedly planning to blow up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Plant dam, which would flood vast areas of Kherson Oblast.

Read also: Russians cant blow up Kakhovka HPP dam now, says military intelligence

Collaborationist and Moscow-appointed governor of Kherson Oblast, Volodymyr Saldo, earlier said that the evacuation zone from the temporarily captured settlements of Kherson Oblast was expanded by 15 kilometers from the Dnipro River.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov noted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine cover all the bridges in the region with suppressive firepower, leaving Russian forces with no opportunity to escape from Kherson.

Read also: Kherson likely to be liberated by end of November, says Ukraine's spy chief

Ukrainian Military Intelligence reported Ukraine could liberate the city of Kherson by the end of November.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Move aims to send propaganda message and implicate Belarus further in Russias war

Read also: Belarus has supplied Russia with 65,000 tons of ammunition

The report says this type of jet is adapted to carry the Kh-47M Kinzhal nuclear-capable hypersonic aero-ballistic air-to-surface missile (they are named AS-24 Killjoy in the summary, according to NATO classification).

Read also: Ukraine reinforces Belarus, Transnistria border sections amid new invasion fears

Russia has been using these missiles since 2018, but had not previously launched them from Belarus, the UK Ministry of Defense said. The Russian Federation occasionally used Kinzhals for strikes on Ukraine, but not often, as their stocks are likely very limited.

With a range of over 2000 kilometers, basing Killjoy in Belarus gives Russia little added advantage in terms of striking additional targets within Ukraine, the UK intel notes. However, they believe that the main reason for the deployment of the Kinzhals in Belarus is rather to carry a propaganda message to the West and to portray Belarus as increasingly complicit in the war.

Read also: Putin preparing to stretch war well into 2023, not planning nuclear strike, says ISW

Vadym Skybytsky, Major General of the GUR (Main Directorate of Intelligence) of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine, reported at the end of August that, according to Ukrainian intelligence, Russia has only 30-40 Kinzhal missiles left.

These missiles are among the most problematic for the air defense forces of Ukraine, as they fly at an extremely high speed, making it almost impossible to shoot them down, Yuriy Ignat, the spokesman of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, explained earlier.

Read also: Zelenskyys chief-of-staff main objective in war

This is the newest type of missile adopted by Russia in 2018, Ukraines Air Force Command said in earlier comments.

In total, several dozen of them have been launched. The weight of the Kh-47M warhead is 500 kg, and the speed of the missile is more than 12,000 km/h. After launching from the plane, the missile rises to a high altitude in the upper layers of the atmosphere, and reaches maximum speed when approaching the target on a ballistic trajectory.

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Read also: 12 Ukrainian howitzers damaged in the war to be repaired in Lithuania, says Defense Minister

The tactical and technical characteristics of this missile prevent the existing means of air defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from effectively detecting and destroying it.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Iranian-made ballistic missiles, which Russia plans to purchase from Iran, will probably be deployed on the northern border of Ukraine.



Source: Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for Ukraines Air Force, during a briefing on 1 November

Quote from Ihnat: "We will take all measures of protection against these missiles. They will probably be delivered to the North of Ukraine; thats where they can be launched from, in such a way as to threaten the whole of Ukraine.

One [of these types of] missile[s is] of 300 km [range]; another [type of] missile [is] 700 km in range. These are ballistic missiles. We have no effective defence against these missiles.

It is theoretically possible to shoot them down, but in fact it is very difficult to do it with the means we have at our disposal.

We have anti-air defence, but not anti-missile defence."

Details: Yurii Ihnat states that the Russians also want to purchase Iskander-M ballistic missiles from Iran, which are typically produced and deployed by Russian occupying forces.

Ukraines Air Force spokesman explained that the Russians are running out of Iskander-Ms and have already begun to use up their emergency reserves of such missiles.

Ukraines air defence systems cannot down Iskander ballistic missiles, Oniks supersonic missiles, as well as Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.

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According to the Belarusian resistance group, Russian engineering troops are arriving in Belarus to build barracks and camps.

Source: National Resistance Center

Details: It is noted that the work is being carried out as part of the creation of the so-called Russian-Belorusian combined force.

The expected number of people in this military group is 20,000.

Most of the barracks are planned to be built in Brest Oblast, located in a southwestern part of Belarus, which is where the Russian rear units arrive.

Previously:

Belarusian partisans reported that local military commissariats in the Gomel region are conducting a covert mobilisation of drivers and mechanics. They are getting involved in the maintenance of military equipment of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which are located on the territory of Belarus.

In fact, Belarus continues to support the Russian military in every possible way. After the statement of Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, about the creation of a joint military group with the Russian Federation, the Russian Armed Forces have taken complete control of the air bases in the cities of Baranovichi and Lida.

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The Russian military attacked two port civilian tugboats that were involved in the transportation of a barge with grain on the Ochakiv front [Ukraines south]. As a result, two people died, one wounded person was rescued, and the fate of another crew member is unknown.

Source: Operational Command South (Pivden)

Quote: "The Russian forces continue their attacks on the port infrastructure on the Ochakiv front. As a result of an attack on two port civilian tugboats that were involved in the transportation of grain barges, a fire broke out, [and] control over the vessels was lost. Two crew members were killed, one more was rescued with injuries, the fate of another is unknown".

Details: At the same time, the Defence Forces of Ukraine destroyed two barges near the Antonivka bridge in Kherson. The Russians used those barges in a pontoon crossing to get from the right bank of the Dnipro River to the left one.

Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter attacked the area of the recently liberated Nova Kamianka of Kherson Oblast. However, a little bit after that, Ukrainian anti-aircraft gunners shot it down.

During the Russian massive missile attack on the southern regions of Ukraine in the morning of 31 October, 13 X-101 type missiles launched from tactical aircraft were destroyed by Ukrainian air defence forces.

Russian forces attacked an energy infrastructure facility in the Kamianske district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast using Shahed-136 Iranian-made kamikaze drones. No human losses were reported.

Quote: "The ship group of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, which consists of 8 ships and boats, including 2 carriers of cruise missiles, continues to hide in the missile-safe area, behind Cape Tarkhankut. Sixteen high-precision long-range Kalibr missiles are ready for combat launch.

Threats of repeated massive rocket attacks and launches of kamikaze drones are quite likely."

Background:

On 29 October, explosions were reported in the Russian-occupied city of Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula. The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had allegedly attacked Sevastopol with drones at 04:00 on 29 October. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation confirmed damage to the Ivan Golubets minesweeper.

Later, it became known that at least three ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, including the Admiral Makarov flagship, were damaged as a result of the unmanned surface vessel [USV] attack on 29 October.

Russian Defence Ministry has accused the British Navy for allegedly having planned and carried out "terrorist attacks" on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines. The Ministry alleged that preparations for the "attack" on Sevastopol were carried out under the guidance of members of the British Navy, who the Russians claim are currently in the Ukrainian city of Ochakiv. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced the launch of drones from aboard a civilian grain bulker in the area of Odesa, which was used as part of Black Sea Grain Initiative.

The Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs has announced that Russia was suspending its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative for an indefinite period.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Oleksii Danilov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, called the Russians "sick" in response to Kremlin allegations that the unmanned surface vessels (USVs) that attacked Russian ships in Sevastopol on 29 October had been launched from a civilian grain bulker being used as part of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

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Russian invaders shelled the Nikopol district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with Grad multiple-launch rocket systems and heavy artillery in the early hours of 1 November, causing much destruction in Nikopol, and in Marhanets hromada, people were left without electricity and water supply [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories - ed.].

Source: Valentyn Reznichenko, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote from Reznichenko: "The Russians fired at Nikopol district all night long... They hit Marhanets and Nikopol hromadas using Grad MLRSs and heavy artillery. Preliminary information indicates there are no casualties."

Details: At the same time, Reznichenko said that Russian forces had fired up to 40 shells on Nikopol alone. Fourteen high-rise and private buildings, a kindergarten, a pharmacy, a hairdressers, shops and bank premises were damaged in the city.

In Marhanets hromada, shelling damaged the power line and cut off the power to the water supply pumping station, leaving more than 40,000 families without water, and more than 10,000 without electricity.

Reznichenko noted that electrical engineers had worked all night and repaired everything, which is why people had electricity once more by the morning. The pumping station has also resumed operation, so households will soon have water again.

Reznichenko also said that Air Command Skhid (East) had shot down three Russian kamikaze drones over Dnipropetrovsk Oblast overnight.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Payment-seeking software made by Russian hackers was used in three quarters of all the ransomware schemes reported to a U.S. financial crime agency in the second half of 2021, a Treasury Department analysis released on Tuesday showed.

In analysis issued in response to the increase in number and severity of ransomware attacks against critical infrastructure in the United States since late 2020, the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) said it had received 1,489 ransomware-related filings worth nearly $1.2 billion in 2021, a 188% jump from the year before.

Out of 793 ransomware incidents reported to FinCEN in the second half of 2021, 75% "had a nexus to Russia, its proxies, or persons acting on its behalf," the report said.

Washington is this week hosting a meeting with officials from 36 countries and the European Union, as well as 13 global companies to address the growing threat of ransomware and other cybercrime, including the illicit use of cryptocurrencies.

"We may approach the challenge of ransomware with a different lens - and in some cases, an entirely different set of tools - but we are all here because we know that ransomware remains a critical threat to victims across the globe and continues to be profitable for bad actors," Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told the officials.

Ransom software works by encrypting victims' data, with hackers offering the victim a key in return for cryptocurrency payments that can run as high as millions of dollars.

A U.S. Treasury official on Tuesday said the department last month repelled cyberattacks by a pro-Russian hacker group, preventing disruption, an example he said of the department's stronger approach to financial system cybersecurity.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Andrea Shalal and Raphael Satter, Editing by Grant McCool)
The Ukrainian army liberated the town of Balakliya in the southeastern Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine, on September 11, 2022. Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

A new Reuters investigation highlights the dysfunction in Russia's military occupation of Kharkiv.

Notes from soldiers to superiors show them begging for non-military-grade drones.

Once received, the drones were not ready to be used because they needed the right software first.

A Russian battalion in Balakliia, Kharkiv, sent pleas for more drones in late July as Ukraine ramped up its eastern counter-offensive supported by American weaponry, and some troops were ultimately held back by a software installation, according to a new investigation by Reuters.

A trove of thousands of military documents left behind by the defeated Russian forces in Kharkiv, who retreated in mid-September, and obtained by Reuters illuminated their brief regime of torture and later, failing aerial capabilities.

The troops asked their superiors in Russia for more drones as Ukrainian forces increasingly and effectively relied on American HIMARS missile launchers the summer before their northern counter-offensive, according to Reuters.

"Quadcopters!!! Urgent!" one soldier wrote to his superior on July 19, according to Reuters. Quadcopter drones are not military-grade, which provided a sign of the troops' desperation prior to the Ukrainian counter-offensive. The drones are frequently used by Russia as they are low-cost, short-distance, rechargeable drones meant to launch small weapons. They're also used in part to offset the high costs of explosive, hi-tech surveillance drones like the Iranian kamikaze drones, according to the New York Times.

According to Reuters, the next day, the forces received four Mavic-3 quadcopter drones, but they couldn't be used immediately as needed. The soldiers, while under missile fire, had to install new software for the drones, and then train 15 soldiers on how to use them.

Other notes sourced by Reuters showed the soldiers pleading for munitions, with one soldier complaining that "the machine gun still won't work if it has no bullets inside."

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Ukraine's successful counter-offensive in north-eastern Kharkiv kicked off in the late summer and intensified in early September. By mid-September cities like Balakliia and Izium had been liberated and Russian leadership announced that it was retreating from nearly all of the Kharkiv region and transferring troops.

Russia had captured areas in the Kharkiv region starting from the first days of the war in late February, through the spring until Ukraine started to push back. According to the Associated Press, at least 257 men, 225 women, and 19 children were killed by Russia during their occupation of the region.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that within days of the September counteroffensive, Ukraine regained over 1,158 square miles of territory from Russian forces. Along with sound military strategy and a steady flow of weaponry, Ukraine said that it had amped up a southern offensive as a disinformation tactic to surprise Russian troops in the northeast.

"[It] was a big special disinformation operation," Taras Berezovets, a press officer for Ukraine's special forces told The Guardian. "Meanwhile [our] guys in Kharkiv were given the best of western weapons, mostly American."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Supreme Court of Ukraine has found a local resident guilty and sentenced him to 5 years in prison for the unauthorised dissemination of information about the movement and location of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other armed formations.

Source: Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine on Telegram

Details: Prosecutors have proved in court that the man, using Telegram messenger, sent to the administrators of pro-Russian channels in social networks video recordings of the deployment of National Guard units, the movement of the Armed Forces and military equipment on the territory of the city of Dnipro.

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The Russian invaders attacked Mykolaiv with S-300 missiles at night; residential buildings and an educational institution were destroyed. One killed person and five wounded people were reported.

Source: Oleksandr Sienkevich, Mayor of Mykolaiv, on Telegram; Kyrylo Tymoshenko, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, on Telegram

Details: Oleksandr Sienkevich reported that Mykolaiv was shelled around midnight with S-300 missiles.

Kyrylo Tymoshenko reported that one missile hit and damaged the building of the Mykola Arkas First Ukrainian Gymnasium. No casualties were reported.



The other three missiles hit the territory of the Mykolaiv Polytechnic Vocational College. The shelling partially destroyed the four-storey college building. Nearby private sector and apartment buildings were damaged. Fires broke out in the warehouse of the college and in a five-storey residential building nearby.

Rescue workers pulled two people out from under the rubble. A killed woman and five injured people were reported. Medical assistance was provided to 12 people who were trapped in their apartments as a result of the explosion. The search and rescue operations are completed.

The mayor of Mykolaiv added that a two-storey residential building was completely destroyed. A fire broke out in another house due to the hit of shells and their fragments.

According to Oleksandr Sienkevich, windows and doors were blown out in several private houses, and roofs were damaged. In the medical institution, the blast wave and debris knocked out the oriented strand boards, used by the construction crews to repair the windows after the previous shelling.

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(Photo: Jimin Suh For HuffPost)

(Photo: Jimin Suh For HuffPost)

Breast milk contains everything a baby needs to stay nourished and hydrated for the first six months of its life: water, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, immunoglobulins and even stem cells, among other components of human milk  some of which we still dont comprehend entirely.

But what about germs? If youre passing along everything via your breast milk, including the taste of the spicy or garlicky meal you had last night, dont you risk passing along illness when youre sick?

As it turns out, breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight off illness, whether its yours or theirs. And there are other reasons to keep breastfeeding even when youre feeling awful.

You have to nurse to keep nursing.

If you want to breastfeed your baby once youre feeling better, you cant simply stop while youre sick.

It is important to continue with frequent emptying of the breasts to preserve milk supply, Dr. Ann Kellams, president of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, told HuffPost.

The amount of milk that you produce is determined by demand  that is, how often your breasts are emptied  so slowing down or stopping altogether can reduce your supply. And while it might be possible to build your supply back up later, theres no guarantee.

As soon as the breasts are drained less, the body gets a signal to start making less milk, Kellams explained.

This risk is highest in the first few weeks postpartum, when your milk supply is being established. Based on how much milk your baby takes in, your breasts calibrate how much milk to produce. Not nursing enough during that initial period can throw off the entire process.

In extreme cases, where you have to be hospitalized or otherwise kept away from your baby, regular pumping can help keep your supply up.

Youll pass along antibodies that will help your baby stay healthy.

Weve all grown accustomed to the idea of isolating ourselves while ill to protect others, but the reality is that by the time youre feeling sick, its likely that those germs have already reached your baby.

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Certified lactation consultant Catherine Watson Genna explained to HuffPost that with an infectious illness, theres a time when its reproducing inside and you dont even know, so by the time mom has symptoms, the baby is already exposed.

Before you start to feel sick, not only has your body begun to make antibodies to fight off the illness, it has begun passing them along.

Antibodies will be passed through the breast milk that offer protection for babies, Kellams said.

Studies have found that the same holds true for vaccinations. The milk of parents who had been vaccinated against COVID-19, for example, was found to contain antibodies against the disease.

Nursing offers your baby comfort and can help keep them hydrated.

A fussy, feverish baby that isnt feeling well will probably want to nurse frequently. Its a simple way to soothe them and encourage them to sleep  meaning you might be able to get some rest, too.

And just like older children and adults, babies need to stay hydrated when theyre sick.

Sick babies require continued fluid and nutrition and comfort, Kellams said.

Unless your baby has severe vomiting and/or diarrhea, breastfeeding really frequently is enough to keep them from getting dehydrated, said Watson Genna. Breast [milk] is the very best oral rehydration.

Suddenly stopping nursing can cause its own set of problems.

Ideally, weaning your baby is a gradual process, something you both ease into over a matter of weeks or months. This allows your body time to taper down the amount of milk you produce.

If you suddenly stop breastfeeding your baby because youre sick, your body will initially keep producing the usual amount of milk, potentially leading to painfully engorged breasts, clogged milk ducts and mastitis, an infection of the breast that can cause pain, redness, chills and fever.

Even in the case of mastitis, when the infection youre fighting is focused in your breast, its safe to continue breastfeeding your baby. In fact, your child may help by clearing out the infected milk duct.

There are few circumstances in which you should stop nursing, but they might include receiving radioactive medicine or chemotherapy, or an active herpes lesion on the breast, Kellams said. If youre uncertain, its best to ask your doctor or your babys pediatrician.

If you need to temporarily take a medication that isnt compatible with breastfeeding, you may be able to pump and dump (pump milk and then discard it) for the duration of your treatment and nurse again once its over.

Your milk can help your baby fight illness.

Even if you havent come down with the same bug, theres evidence that your breast milk will contain antibodies to help your baby fight off whatever is making them sick.

There is data to show that infections in a baby prompt the nursing parents body to alter the composition of milk and produce increased antibodies and protective factors targeted at that specific organism, Kellams said.

How does the nursing parents body know what is sickening the baby? Theres evidence that the infants saliva makes its way inside the breast, signaling to the nursing parent which antibodies to produce.

The cool thing about breast milk is that it is a personalized medicine in addition to being protective and nutritious, Kellams said. The nursing parents body is constantly producing antibodies to infectious agents in the environment that the mother and baby share due to close proximity to each other. It is a very elegant system.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
The San Francisco district attorney on Monday announced an attempted murder charge for the man accused of violently attacking Paul Pelosi, the husband of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), in the couples California home last week.

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced that David Wayne DePape, 42, will be charged with residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, false imprisonment of an elder and threats to a public official and their family, in addition to attempted murder.

He is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday and is facing between 13 years and life in prison, according to Jenkins. She also said a motion to detain will be filed for DePape on Tuesday, citing the obvious and severe public safety risk he poses to San Francisco and the outer community.

The state charges were announced shortly after the Department of Justice charged DePape with federal assault and attempted kidnapping.

DePape is accused of breaking into the Pelosis San Francisco home in the middle of the night on Friday and striking Paul Pelosi with a hammer, causing serious injuries, authorities said.

Paul Pelosi was transported to a hospital, where he underwent surgery to treat a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands.

In a statement Monday evening, Pelosi, who said her family had been deluged with messages of concern, prayers and well-wishes, indicated that her husband is making steady progress on what will be a long recovery process.

During the news conference announcing the state charges, Jenkins disclosed new details that shed more light on the early-morning attack, and reiterated information that federal prosecutors included in their affidavit.

In line with previous information, Jenkins told reporters on Monday that DePape specifically targeted the Pelosi home to confront Speaker Pelosi. Last week, a source familiar with the investigation told The Hill that before the attack, DePape approached Paul Pelosi and shouted where is Nancy? Where is Nancy?

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Pelosi was in Washington, D.C. at the time of the incident.

The district attorney said DePape forced his way into the home through a rear glass door by breaking the glass, then traveled up the stairs in the house to the second floor, where he found Paul Pelosi sleeping in his bed in a loose-fitting pajama shirt and boxer shorts.

He woke him up confronting him about the whereabouts of Speaker Pelosi, Jenkins said, adding that there was no security present at the time at the home.

She said the attack appears to be politically motivated, based on statements and comments DePape made in the house during his encounter with Paul Pelosi.

At some point during the encounter between the two men, Jenkins said Paul Pelosi attempted to access the elevator in the home, which has a phone  a detail that was not disclosed in the Justice Departments charging document.

The defendant then blocked Mr. Pelosis access to that elevator, Jenkins said.

Federal prosecutors revealed earlier on Monday that the two men were downstairs when officers arrived on the scene, but Jenkins account described how they made it from the second floor to the first floor.

It was at some point after that Mr. Pelosi asked to go to the bathroom, which is where he was able to call 911 from his cellphone. The defendant, realizing that Mr. Pelosi had called 911, took Mr. Pelosi downstairs near the front door of the residence, Jenkins said.

She then walked through the moment DePape struck Paul Pelosi with a hammer.

Two police officers arrived at the front door two minutes after that 911 call. When that door was opened, the defendant was holding his hammer, which Mr. Pelosi appeared to be attempting to control by holding a portion of that hammer. The defendant then pulled the hammer away from Mr. Pelosi and violently struck him in the top of his head. The police then immediately apprehended the defendant, Jenkins said.

She noted that DePape brought a second hammer, zip ties, rope and a roll of tape to Pelosis home, which the DOJ had previously disclosed.

Jenkins on Monday said it was very sad to see that we are once again at a point in history where people believe that its okay to express their political sentiments through violence.

And so I think it really demonstrates that we have to calm things down, we have to decide that we are going to be more respectful as an American society, that its okay to disagree. But it certainly is something that has unnerved us all, she added.

Updated 8:43 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Photo: The Canadian Press Protesters face police officers on foot and horseback and an armoured vehicle on Colonel By Drive near the truck blockade in Ottawa, on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

The public inquiry into the federal government's use of the Emergencies Act during "Freedom Convoy" protests says it expects to call "Diagolon" founder Jeremy MacKenzie as a witness.

Public Order Emergency Commission lawyers expect to call the founder of the online group, which includes members that supported the convoy, to testify on Friday via videoconference.

MacKenzie's lawyer has made an application to the commission asking that he testify in the absence of the public and parties or under a publication ban.

MacKenzie is currently in a Saskatchewan prison and was denied release earlier this month after being arrested in Nova Scotia on a Canada-wide warrant.

He was charged with assault, pointing a firearm, mischief and using a restricted weapon in a careless manner after police received a report about an alleged assault near Viscount, Sask., in November 2021.

MacKenzie was also charged in Nova Scotia with 13 firearms offences in January, and with harassment and intimidation in March after an anti-mask protest outside the home of Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has also asked the RCMP to investigate MacKenzie after he talked about sexually assaulting Poilievre's wife, Anaida, during a livestream in September.
The family and friends of a woman missing from a yacht off the US Virgin Islands have criticised police for not releasing footage of her last sighting.

Sarm Heslop, from Southampton, was reported missing by her boyfriend Ryan Bane off St John on 8 March 2021.

A year after she vanished, her parents met with police where they were shown footage of the couple leaving a bar.

They say the clothes their daughter was wearing in the video did not match those reported by Mr Bane.

The BBC has contacted Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) and Mr Bane's lawyer for comment.

Ms Heslop's parents, Peter Heslop and Brenda Street, had previously been told there was no CCTV recording from the bar "420 to Center", her friends in the UK have said.

But when they visited the island in March - a year after their daughter's disappearance - they were shown the footage of the couple as they left the bar.

In the CCTV Ms Heslop is seen wearing either a skirt or shorts and a top, the BBC was told.

"Her boyfriend, Ryan Bane, told police and Sarm's parents and friends that she was wearing a black dress with flowers on.

"There was not a black dress with flowers on in her belongings when these were returned to her parents some months after her disappearance," her friends added.

Her parents and friends say they have repeatedly asked the island's police for a copy of the CCTV footage so they could release it to the media.

"But the USVI Police have declined to provide this stating that it would jeopardise the ongoing investigation.

"Why would police not release the CCTV footage of Sarm's last movements?" they said.

Since Ms Heslop's family visited St John in March "little to no communication has been received from the US authorities regarding the investigation", they added.

Ms Heslop, a former flight attendant, had been staying and working with Mr Bane, a US citizen, on the catamaran.

He reported her missing to police at 02:30 on 8 March but it was a further nine hours before he called the coastguard, shortly after 11:45.

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Ms Heslop's possessions, including her bank cards and mobile phone, were still onboard the catamaran when she vanished.

In April 2021, the island's police force said detectives had been unable to confirm if she was onboard the catamaran as reported by Mr Bane on 7 March.

Mr Bane, the last person to have seen her, has previously declined detectives' request for an interview, according to the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD).

A full forensic search of the catamaran has never been carried out.

Ms Heslop's friends set up a Facebook page to share information about her disappearance and previously offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Saudi Arabia has shared intelligence with American officials that suggests Iran could be preparing for an imminent attack on the kingdom, three U.S. officials said Tuesday.

The heightened concerns about a potential attack on Saudi Arabia come as the Biden administration is criticizing Tehran for its crackdown on widespread protests and condemning it for sending hundreds of drones  as well as technical support  to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine.

We are concerned about the threat picture, and we remain in constant contact through military and intelligence channels with the Saudis, the National Security Council said in a statement. We will not hesitate to act in the defense of our interests and partners in the region.

Saudi Arabia did not respond to requests for comment. Iran's mission to the United Nations told The Associated Press on Wednesday the U.S. claims are baseless.

Western and Zionist regimes spread biased news aimed at creating a negative mood towards the Islamic Republic of Iran and destroying the current positive trends with regional countries, the mission said in a statement.

One of the officials who confirmed the intelligence sharing described it as a credible threat of an attack soon or within 48 hours. No U.S. embassy or consulate in the region has issued alerts or guidance to Americans in Saudi Arabia or elsewhere in the Middle East based on the intelligence. The officials were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Asked about reports of the intelligence shared by the Saudis, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said U.S. military officials are concerned about the threat situation in the region."

"Were in regular contact with our Saudi partners, in terms of what information they may have to provide on that front, Ryder said. But what weve said before, and Ill repeat it, is that we will reserve the right to protect and defend ourselves no matter where our forces are serving, whether in Iraq or elsewhere.

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State Department spokesperson Ned Price said America was concerned about the threat picture, without elaborating.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on the Saudis sharing the intelligence earlier on Tuesday. Iran has alleged without providing evidence that Saudi Arabia and other rivals are fomenting the dissent on its streets by ordinary Iranians.

Of particular ire is protest coverage by Iran International, a London-based, Farsi-language satellite news channel once majority-owned by a Saudi national.

The U.S. and Saudis blamed Iran in 2019 of being behind a major attack in eastern Saudi Arabia, which halved the oil-rich kingdoms production and caused energy prices to spike. The Iranians denied they were behind the attack, but the same triangle-shaped, bomb-carrying drones used in that attack are now being deployed by Russian forces in their war on Ukraine.

The Saudis have also been hit repeatedly in recent years by drones, missiles and mortars launched by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Saudi Arabia formed a coalition to battle the Houthis in 2015 and has been internationally criticized for its airstrikes in the war, which have killed scores of civilians.

In recent weeks, the Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Iranian officials for the brutal crackdown on demonstrators after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September after her arrest by Iran's morality police. The administration has also hit Iran with sanctions for supplying drones to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine.

At least 288 people have been killed and 14,160 arrested during the protests, according to the group Human Rights Activists in Iran. Demonstrations have continued, even as the feared paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has warned young Iranians to stop.

Iran already launched a series of attacks targeting Kurdish separatist positions in northern Iraq amid the protests, killing at least 16 people, including an American citizen.

U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia have also been strained after the Riyadh-led alliance of oil producing nations, OPEC+, announced in October that it would cut production by 2 million barrels per day starting in November.

The White House has said it is reviewing its relationship with the Saudis over the move. The administration said the production cut is effectively helping another OPEC+ member, Russia, pad its coffers as it continues its war in Ukraine, now in its ninth month.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Tuesday reiterated that the administration remains concerned that Iran may also provide Russia with surface-to-surface missiles.

We haven't seen that concern bear out, but it's a concern we have, Kirby said.

Even as the U.S. and others raise concerns about possible Iranian action, the administration has not ruled out the possibility of reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which was brokered by the Obama administration and scrapped in 2018 by the Trump administration.

The U.S. special envoy to Iran, Robert Malley, said on Monday that the administration was not currently focused on the deal, which has been stalled since August.

Still, Malley refused to declare the deal dead and said the administration makes no apology for trying to do everything we can to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

The deal had provided Tehran with billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for the country agreeing to roll back its nuclear program. It includes caps on enrichment and how much material Iran can stockpile and limits the operation of advanced centrifuges needed to enrich.

___

Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Six Democratic U.S senators urged the Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday to bar airlines from further shrinking the size and leg room of airplane seats.

The senators including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Richard Blumenthal, Edward Markey and Ron Wyden, said airlines have been shrinking seat sizes since at least the 1990s  with seat pitch, which determines leg room, decreasing from 32 inches (81 cm) to 28 inches (71 cm), and seat width decreasing from 19 inches (48 cm) to as little as 16 inches (41 cm).

"We urge the FAA to comprehensively review the safety factors impacting seat pitch, width, and length and ensure that such safety factors take into account the entirety of the American public  including children, senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and others," the senators wrote to FAA Acting Administrator Billy Nolen.

"We urge the FAA to immediately prohibit any reduction in size, width, or pitch of seats on airplanes, the amount of leg room per seat, and the width of aisles on such planes until a final rule is issued."

Airlines for America, a group representing United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and others and the International Air Transport Association said in written comments they believe the FAA should not write regulations setting minimum seating dimensions, arguing the agency "has thoroughly studied seat sizes and concluded that current passenger dimensions and configurations are safe."

In 2018, Congress said FAA within a year had to issue regulations establishing minimum dimensions for passenger seats - including minimums for seat pitch, width, and length - "that are necessary for the safety of passengers."

Last month, a U.S. appeals court heard arguments from a flyer advocacy group urging it to order the FAA to set minimum seat dimensions on passenger airplanes. There are no current minimum seat dimensions.

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Current rules say airlines must be able to evacuate passengers within 90 seconds but do not set seat size requirements.

In July 2018 the FAA said it would not regulate seat size.

Airlines' margins could suffer if they had to reconfigure planes and eliminate seats.

The FAA noted Tuesday it had released an aircraft cabin evacuation study in March and opened it for comments in August. The FAA has received nearly 25,000 comments. The comment period expires Tuesday.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Additional reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, David Gregorio and Chris Reese)
Jalopnik

F-150 Lightning owners across the country will be facing their first winters with their EV pickups this year  and for many, itll also be the first time they experience cold weather with an EV in general. Those unsure about what to do with charging and driving the vehicle dont have to worry though; Fords got their back. The automaker has a few tips that should put owners at ease.
In 1994 a famous New York rapper burst onto speakers with the opening lyrics, It was all a dream. I used to read Word Up! magazine.

If youre a hip-hop fan, those words are iconic. But beyond its place in culture, that line speaks to the audacity to dream as the precursor to success. The ability to take inventory of your journey and see how all of lifes twists and turns led you to a specific place that just makes sense, is something people hope for.

The moment of dreams turning into reality became tangible for ServiceNow team member Rob Blackett. As a former middle school teacher, Blackett had an unconventional entry into tech. Although his career in the halls of education wasnt the best match for him, he could apply those people skills and his natural love for people to create space for himself innovatively and uniquely.

In short, Blackett travels the world and tells the unique stories of his fellow ServiceNow colleagues. The role includes creatively-crafted YouTube videos in a series entitled Our World Our Work. That sounds like the dream job, right?

But its much more than that. Rooted in a theme of inclusivity, Blackett is ensuring everyone that works for ServiceNow has a sense of belonging. With offices spread across the globe, it can be challenging to have a company culture where each person and each office feels like an equal part. Blacketts hope is to curate a visible lens on the range of people, cultures, and work processes that exist across the organization.

To me, its meaningful especially at this moment in timeto be doing something that invites people to be curious about each other, Blackett said.

As previously mentioned, Blackett was a middle school teacher. Like many people, he needed a job straight out of college, and becoming a middle school teacher became a viable option for income. While he took on the task, his self-awareness allowed him to know that job was not the one for him.

After teaching, he pivoted into the tech industry through sales, leveraging some previous experience as an insurance salesman. Finding a connect that knew of a position at a software company that sold software for insurance companies, things seemed to line up for Blackett.

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From there, Blackett held other tech jobs, ultimately leading him to ServiceNow. Starting at the company as a Senior Solution Consultant, Blackett encountered a moment that did not rest well with his soul.

During the summer of 2020, an intense time of social unrest, Blackett noticed a slew of companies making statements about the state of affairs. He saw an opportunity for ServiceNow to tune its messaging and he spoke up to company leadership about it. This ultimately led to Blackett being invited to speak on a company-wide livestream where he shared from the heart about his experiences being Black in tech and advocated for ServiceNow to champion racial equity.

One of the leaders that Blackett built a relationship with during this time was Nick Tzitzon, Chief Strategy and Corporate Affairs Officer. Their conversations eventually led to Tzitzon hiring Blackett into a new role designed to spark meaningful conversations inside and outside the company.

After trying out several projects, Blackett launched a podcast called Inside Work, which focuses on conversations at the intersection of business and humanity. That project sparked something in him, giving him insight that he was on the right path. While the podcast allows for a range of insightful conversations, Blackett had the idea of taking it to the next level by creating something that would immerse viewers in the life and work of a global team thats working towards a common mission.

Thinking back on some popular travel shows that existed, Blackett went on to successfully pitch the concept that has now evolved into the global series the company features on its YouTube channel.

I do my work with a lot of gratitude for the fact that I get to do something thats so meaningful to me, Blackett expressed. What I have an attachment to is doing something thats inspiring to me and hopefully inspiring to others. I want to encourage people to be more real and let more of their humanity show through at work.

With a deep understanding that tech lacks diversity, this series aims to highlight the beautiful humanity of team members and serve as a tool to encourage more people of color to enter tech. Additionally, the series seeks to break down the systemic and societal pressures to not be authentic in the workplace.

My long-term vision for this series or the podcast or anything else that we do is to encourage people to authentically reveal themselves and to be curious about others. Working for a global tech company gives us a unique opportunity to journey together with people from a diversity of cultures, viewpoints and identities. I hope that my work can make a small contribution to sparking connections between us, Blackett described.

Since the start of this series, Blackett has visited India, Singapore, Germany and the Netherlands. With ServiceNows continually expanding global footprint, he wont soon run out of new locales to feature.

While work like Blacketts is not the only solution to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging issues, what he has curated is a critical part of connecting people, culture and mission.

Deeply committed to this work, Blackett is hopeful for the future, but if he could look back for a second, he has some advice to share.

Trust the process. Trust the journey, Blackett said he would advise his younger self. I couldve never imagined my career would lead down this path, but Im grateful that Im learning to embrace uncertainty. Our lives and our careers take unexpected twists and turns and sometimes the best plan is to plan to be surprised. 

To learn more about the Our World Our Work series and ServiceNow, click here.
One of the largest churches in the Jackson area has announced allegations that a youth pastor in the 1980s groomed a 12-year-old girl for an abusive sexual relationship that began when she was 15, and later paid for her therapy after she entered a non-disclosure agreement.

Broadmoor Baptist Church, located in Madison, published a detailed account of the allegations on their website, saying they believe them to be credible and it is part of their Christian mission to be transparent and supportive of the victim.

All visitors to the homepage of the church website are met with a pop-up window that reads "A Statement About Our Past" with the option to click a link to read the statement or close the pop-up.

"As your Lead Pastor and the Church Council of Broadmoor Baptist Church, we need to bring to you a matter of great importance, and great grief," the statement begins following a passage from Psalm 33.

According to the statement, about two weeks ago a woman approached the church and alleged that she had been sexually abused by a man named David Ingram. Ingram was a youth pastor at Broadmoor from 1982 to 1988. The church's statement said when he first began that role, he was a 28-years-old and married. He remained a member of the church from 1988 until 2010, when he became "lead pastor of a nearby church," according to the statement.

Josh Braddy, the lead pastor of Broadmoor Baptist Church, signed the announcement along with the church council. Braddy arrived at Broadmoor in June of 2020, 32 years after Ingram last served as youth pastor.

Broadmoor church members, with direct knowledge, confirmed that Ingram is now lead pastor at Tinsley Baptist Church, roughly a 45-minute drive from Broadmoor. The website for the Tinsley church also identified Ingram as a local realtor. Ingram did not respond to requests for comment. According to the statement, Ingram's attorney has denied all of the allegations made against him.

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"As a church family, we loved David, his wife, and his children, and we still do. With that being said, ten days ago Church Council heard from a woman who was also part of our church family. Her story was one of sexual abuse by David while he was in the position of our youth pastor. As part of her story, the survivor informed us of grooming that began when she was 12, and sexual abuse which began at age 15 and continued for several years," Broadmoor's statement reads.

Broadmoor said it is withholding certain details to protect the victim's identity and maintain integrity in its ongoing investigations. That said, the statement does include a striking amount of detail on an issue that has often been shrouded in secrecy by other faith-groups in the past.

The church says it has spoken with multiple people with whom the victim disclosed the abuse over many years, including three of her counselors, and that her story has remained consistent.

Some of the details include a confrontation between Ingram and the victim, with the victim's husband and two of her counselors present.

"We have spoken to the counselors to better understand the details of the confrontation. Both counselors have confirmed to us that David offered a non-specific apology, and that he did not attempt to refute or deny anything presented to him in that meeting," the statement reads.

The church also says it has documentation of payments Ingram made to help with therapy and other medical costs. The statement stresses that "a sizeable portion of these payments were made only after the survivor agreed to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) which prohibited her and her husband from speaking of these allegations."

The statement says that the victim claims to have told a former pastor about the abuse "shortly after David was no longer Broadmoors youth pastor," a role he left in 1988. The church has received documentation that in 2019 she told the same former pastor she wanted to warn Ingram's current congregation.

"At this point we do not know what, if any, actions were taken as a result of these requests," the statement reads. "It is also our understanding that the survivor shared aspects of her abuse with pastors and other church leaders starting in 2011. Some care and help has been provided to her throughout this time, but we believe a more thorough response was warranted."

Broadmoor also made a commitment to supporting the victim. Helping with legal costs is one of many steps the church says must be taken in "seeking to care for the survivor and restoring her agency and voice in this process." The motivation for this level of support is linked to the church's core beliefs, according to the statement.

"As Church Council, we have communicated to both the survivor and David that should David choose to pursue a lawsuit against her for breaching the NDA and telling us her story, Broadmoor will assist in her defense, including a willingness to reimburse certain costs," according to the statement. "We believe this is right and Biblical  the harm occurred through our former youth pastor, which means it is our responsibility to pursue justice. This justice is not a pursuit Christians should take begrudgingly, but rather a calling and a command to soberly embrace and humbly fulfill."

The church also made commitments to investigating what happened decades ago, and also conducting a review of its current policies and practices.

The statement recognized that this news may be especially difficult for other survivors of abuse, and recommended multiple resources, including their own counseling services and the Southern Baptist Convention's abuse hotline, overseen by Guidepost Solutions at (202) 864-5578 or SBChotline@guidepostsolutions.com.

"We recognize that this journey will be full of grief, and that many of you may also feel anger, confusion, loss, and many other emotions. Our church family has strong relationships with both the survivors family and Davids, and the wounds are and will be deep. We also recognize that for many in our congregation who have also suffered abuse, this may be an intensely painful time for you  please know that the road you are walking weighs heavily on us, and we do not want you to walk it alone," the statement reads.

Madison Police officials said they are aware of the situation but declined to say whether any investigation has been opened.

The Southern Baptist Convention, of which Broadmoor and Tinsley are members, has itself been embroiled in a series of sexual abuse scandals, for which the convention is currently under federal investigation.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ex-Broadmoor Baptist Church pastor David Ingram sex abuse allegations
A sexual predator messaged male teens attending boarding school on social media, offering them vapes in exchange for nude photos, federal prosecutors say.

On a few occasions, the man drove about 20 miles from his North Carolina home to Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, to drop off electronic cigarettes and other vaping supplies, court documents state.

Jonathan Avery Shumate, 54, of Warrensville, used Snapchat and Grindr to exploit 16- and 17-year-old boys, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Virginia.

A judge sentenced Shumate to 12 years and seven months in federal prison last week, prosecutors announced in an Oct. 31 news release. His sentencing comes after he pleaded guilty in March to one count of coercion and enticement of minors.

McClatchy News contacted Shumates attorney for comment on Nov. 1 and was awaiting a response.

In November 2021, Shumate began messaging two male teens at Oak Hill Academy on Grindr, a dating application used by members of the LGBT community, according to a complaint. Then, he started contacting them through Snapchat after getting their phone numbers.

Oak Hill Academy is a coed boarding school for students in eighth to 12th grade.

In an interview with the Child Advocacy Center, one 16-year-old student said Shumate arrived at the schools campus before Thanksgiving break to drop off vaping supplies, the complaint states.

In the U.S., Childrens Advocacy Centers are involved in investigating and prosecuting child abuse cases.

The same day Shumate came to campus, he asked the other student, a 17-year-old, to send sexually explicit photos of himself, according to the complaint. The 17-year-old told the Child Advocacy Center he sent photos and videos of himself to Shumate.

Ultimately, the Grayson County Sheriffs Office in Virginia was alerted to Shumate after he dropped off a bag of vapes and supplies in a drainage ditch on the Oak Hill campus on a separate occasion, the complaint says. School officials found the bag on Dec. 3 and called the police.

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Shumate dropped off the bag for the two students, according to the complaint. As a result, the teens parents allowed the sheriffs office to search their childrens cellphones, according to the complaint.

The FBI reviewed the students phones and discovered Shumate sent inappropriate messages to the teens and requested sexual photos, as well as sexual acts, in exchange for vaping supplies, the complaint states.

The Ashe County Sheriffs Office also helped the FBI and the Grayson County Sheriffs Office investigate the case, according to the release.

Warrensville is about 125 miles northwest of Charlotte.

College student molested 13-year-old runaway he met on Snapchat, Georgia police say

High school teacher sent 15-year-old student obscene images on Facebook, feds say

He tried to kill, dismember gay man he met on Grindr before calling 911, feds say

Cop rapes 13-year-old girl twice after contacting her on Snapchat, Florida officials say
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Several Shanghai residents received fresh stay-at-home orders and mandatory testing notices on Tuesday as authorities raced to trace contacts linked to a COVID-positive woman whose visit to the city's Disney Resort prompted its temporary lockdown.

In the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou, meanwhile, Apple iPhone manufacturer Foxconn announced a big increase in bonuses to stem an exodus of workers rattled by coronavirus curbs at its vast facility there, as China's strict zero-COVID policy exacts a rising toll on the world's No.2 economy.

Unease mounted in China's commercial hub of Shanghai while nationwide the daily local case count hit 2,719, a small figure by global standards but China's highest since Aug 17, prompting other cities such as Guangzhou and Dandong to tighten measures, although Zhengzhou unexpectedly eased its quasi-lockdown.

The Shanghai Disney Resort on Monday abruptly shut its gates, locking in all visitors at the time and only allowing them to leave, hours later, after they had tested negative for the virus.

Several city residents told Reuters they were notified on Tuesday that they or their children could not go to work or school if they had visited Disney since Thursday and were ordered to take daily tests for the next three days.

One said she was informed that her family might have to go into central quarantine.

Marvis He was among Disney visitors caught up in the resort's lockdown, having flown in from Shenzhen in hopes of enjoying the park's Halloween-themed fireworks.

"I feel disappointed, we waited so long in the park ... but we didn't get to see anything and only got to get out at 10 p.m.," she told Reuters as she departed the resort.

"We were also cold and hungry," her companion added.

City authorities said the resort was shut after a 31-year-old woman, who had visited the park among other places in recent days, tested positive for the virus.

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GOING IT ALONE

While much of the world has been opening up, China has vowed to stick to its zero-tolerance approach to COVID-19 with lockdowns and mass testing imposed when even a single case is found, and has shown little sign of laying groundwork to begin easing the policy.

On Tuesday, an unverified note circulating on social media that China was planning a reopening from strict curbs in March triggered a sharp surge in beaten down stocks in Hong Kong and mainland China.

China's foreign ministry said it was unaware of the situation.

"I truly don't know anything about this," spokesman Zhao Lijian said in response to questions at a regular briefing.

Gavekal Dragonomics analyst Ernan Cui wrote in a Tuesday note that China faces the most serious challenge to its containment policy in months, after more than 80% of major cities reported cases last month.

She said the risk of lockdowns like the one that crippled Shanghai earlier this year is at its highest since May.

"With no clear end in sight to the country's strict containment policy, tighter lockdowns and more supply-side disruptions appear inevitable in the months ahead," she wrote.

Brokerage Nomura estimated there were lockdowns and restrictions in 28 cities last week, affecting almost 208 million people, or 8.5% of China's GDP.

"COVID-zero changes the calculus of doing business within China," said Michael Hart, president of the Beijing-based American Chamber of Commerce in China.

"Interruption from COVID-zero does appear to be the number one concern for our members, and number two is probably the slowing economy, mostly caused by interruption from COVID-zero."

FOXCONN IMPACT

Foxconn has been one of the biggest corporate names affected by a quasi-lockdown of Zhengzhou, a major logistics hub.

The company put the 200,000 workers at its plant in the city under closed-loop management on Oct. 13, triggering complaints from employees about food and their treatment, and prompting many to leave.

In recent days, videos appearing to show departing Foxconn workers laden with luggage and walking along village roads towards their home towns have gone viral on Chinese social media.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the footage but workers have shared similar accounts with Reuters.

A source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Monday that iPhone production at the plant could slump by as much as 30% next month due to the situation. Foxconn on Tuesday announced it would quadruple daily bonuses for some of the plant's workers to 400 yuan ($55) should they continue to work there through November.

Zhengzhou unexpectedly lifted its quasi-lockdown on its nearly 13 million people, even as new locally transmitted cases more than doubled on Monday from the day before.

"For over 10 days, we have persevered and fought together ... finally we are ushering in a large-scale restoration of normal life and production in Zhengzhou," the city's counter-epidemic task force told residents.

The outbreak in Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, flared up after the Oct. 1-7 National Day holidays, prompting local authorities to start imposing the lockdown of various districts.

($1 = 7.3123 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Casey Hall, Engen Tham, Winni Zhou, Brenda Goh, Ryan Woo, Wang Jing, Liz Lee and Bernard Orr; Editing by Himani Sarkar, Lincoln Feast and Edmund Klamann)
Xi congratulates Lula da Silva on election as Brazilian president

Xinhua) 08:20, November 01, 2022

BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a congratulatory message to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on his election as president of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

In his message, Xi pointed out that China and Brazil, both major developing countries and important emerging nations, share broad common interests and responsibilities.

Since China and Brazil established diplomatic ties 48 years ago, with the joint efforts of the two countries' successive governments and all sectors of their societies, bilateral relations have witnessed long-term development, with cooperation in various fields yielding fruitful results.

Noting that China and Brazil enjoy long-term friendship, Xi said to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and their people, and is conducive to maintaining regional and world peace and stability and promoting common development and prosperity.

Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Brazil relations and stands ready to work with President-elect Lula, from a strategic height and long-term perspective, to jointly plan and lift China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level so as to benefit to the two countries and their people.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)
Photo: The Canadian Press Public Safety Minister Bill Blair waits to appear before the standing committee on Public Safety and National Security on allegations of political interference in the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting investigation, in Ottawa, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair is sticking to his stance that he did not interfere in a police investigation into the Nova Scotia mass shooting of April 2020.

Blair, who was public safety minister at the time, told a House of Commons committee Monday that he has never directed police to disclose information pertaining to an investigation, including in this case.

"I did not ask them to release any specific information," he said during the committee meeting.

"The independence of police operations is a principle that I have not only respected but vigorously defended over my nearly four decades in law enforcement, and throughout my subsequent career as a federal member of Parliament and minister."

The Opposition Conservatives have called for the resignation of Blair and RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki following the recent release of recordings of a tense conference call between Lucki and senior staff in Nova Scotia.

During that April 28, 2020, meeting, Lucki said she understood the police force couldn't release certain details about the investigation into how a gunman killed 22 people during a 13-hour rampage.

However, she told officers in Halifax she was frustrated upon learning that the speaking notes used for an RCMP news conference earlier that day did not include basic information about the killer's firearms.

During the call, she said that her desire to publicly share these basic facts was in response to a request she received from a minister's office, though she did not specify which minister or the exact nature of the request.

Appearing at the Commons committee Monday, Lucki recalled that Blair's chief of staff at the time had asked if information about the guns would be included in the news conference.

"There was no political interference. I was neither asked, directed nor pressured by government officials to release information specific to the firearms used by the perpetrator in these horrific attacks," Lucki said.

"I did not interfere in the investigation. I did not receive direction."

During the April 28 conference call, Lucki said she "felt completely disrespected" by the fact that she was told that RCMP Supt. Darren Campbell was going to talk about the guns used during the shooting spree in his speaking notes, "and it wasn't there."

"I don't know what happened, but I think we have to do better.''

Conservative MP Raquel Dancho suggested to Lucki on Monday that the recording of the call makes it clear that the issue was very important to her. "It was a big deal to you, wasn't it? That's why you called that meeting."

Lucki said 90 per cent of the call was about issues regarding the flow of information from the start of the horrible incident. "There were several requests for several different kinds of information that I wasn't receiving in a timely manner. Some of the information wasn't completely accurate."

Campbell's handwritten notes from the April 28 call, released in June, sparked allegations of political interference because they indicated Lucki had assured Blair and the Prime Minister's Office that the RCMP would release information about the firearms in a bid to support the government's coming gun-control legislation.

While both Lucki and Blair have consistently denied that there was any political pressure, the recordings indicate Lucki was conscious of the federal gun-control efforts.

"Does anybody realize what's going on in the world of handguns and guns right now?'' Lucki asked Mounties on the call. "The fact that they're in the middle of trying to get a legislation going. The fact that the legislation is supposed to actually help police.''

In May of that year, shortly after the call took place, the Liberal government banned some 1,500 models and variants of firearms, including the AR-15 and Ruger Mini-14, through an order-in-council on the grounds they have no place in hunting or sport shooting.

New Democrat MP Alistair MacGregor suggested Monday to Blair that it would be logical to infer the "request" from his chief of staff to Lucki was tied to creating a public narrative related to the coming ban on firearms.

Blair responded that "it was no secret that our government had made a commitment" to introduce new gun-control measures.
Cathy Hatch of Bartow, diagnosed with ALS in September 2020, recently died at age 64. She had been executive director of the Homeless Coalition of Polk County and later led the local chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illness.

Even after receiving one of the cruelest possible diagnoses, Cathy Hatch did not give in to despair.

Jim Hatch, Cathys husband and a retired pastor, said her life verse from the Bible was Deuteronomy 30:19, which includes the phrase, Choose life.

And that was her choice every day  I'm going to choose life today,  Jim Hatch said. And so, she wasn't afraid to die. She wasn't afraid of death. But she chose life. She embraced it.

Cathy Hatchs life ended Oct. 25, two years after she received a diagnosis of ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes loss of bodily control and has no known cure. Hatch, who was 64, died at her Bartow home, in the presence of family members and friends.

A native of Mississippi, Hatch earned a bachelors degree in mathematics from Mississippi University for Women and did graduate work in computer science at Mississippi State University, Jim Hatch said. She oversaw the telecommunications network for the Mississippi Highway Patrol and later taught math at a community college in Kentucky.

The couple moved in 1996 to Bartow, where Jim became pastor of First Presbyterian Church. Cathy shifted from her technological background to become executive director of the Homeless Coalition of Polk County and later led the local chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illness.

Hatch also worked for six years with Peace River Center, a nonprofit providing behavioral health services, as a grant writer. She then moved into a position with Polk County government as senior planner for indigent health care. She retired from that job following her diagnosis of ALS in September 2020.

'I'm going to beat this'

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, damages nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing progressive loss of the ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. Though the speed of progression greatly varies, along with the effect on particular abilities, the mean survival period is two to five years, according to the ALS Association.

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Upon receiving her diagnosis from a neurologist, Hatch immediately devoted herself to surviving the disease, her husband said.

She would tell people, I'm going to beat this,  Jim Hatch said. And I think that's common. A lot of people who face that kind of diagnosis, some give up  which is not a criticism. Everybody has to make their own choice, and some people choose, If this is the way it's going to be, I'm not going to fight it. But Cathy was like, No, I'm going to beat this. And in her way, she did. She really did. I don't see this, and Cathy wouldn't see this, as a loss.

Cathy Hatch had a form of ALS that quickly affected her throat. She lost the ability to speak about six months after he diagnosis and became unable to eat solid food last December. Hatch used a computerized speech-generating device, typing in words for the machine to speak, and last December she had a feeding tube implanted.

Yet Hatch retained the capacity to walk, even as she became reliant on a walker.

In January, Hatch enrolled in a treatment regimen at a private clinic in Miami. She posted regular updates in a private Facebook group, Cathys ALS Team, with more than 200 members, many of them others with ALS. Her early posts reflected optimism and documented improvements in strength.

Having lost nearly 50 pounds since her diagnosis, Hatch exulted in reporting in April that she had gained back seven pounds.

The one (word) that comes to my mind was she was always hopeful, Jim Hatch said. She never lost hope. And her hope was not ultimately in being cured or healed, but hope for strength for that day. So she was able to look at little things, moving my fingers.

Cathy Hatch sometimes included Bible verses in her Facebook updates. Her faith bolstered her endurance, but the ravages of ALS sometimes got her down, Jim Hatch said.

There were some struggles, because probably most of us with faith, we want to think that maybe bad things aren't supposed to happen to good people or Why am I going through this,  he said. And sure, she had those moments. But the saying that she really hung onto, it almost sounds cliche, but it's true. This is what her faith was, is everything's going to be all right in the end. And if it's not all right, then it's not the end.

Jim Hatch said his wife befriended fellow patients in such places as Iran, Australia, England and Poland. She provided guidance on adjusting to a feeding tube or applying for disability payments. Jim Hatch said that when he speaks at his wifes celebration of life service, he will emphasize her service to others.

The one word that I use to describe her is she saw herself as a servant, he said. And even in the two-year journey with ALS, she saw it as an opportunity to encourage others, to share information, and that was really cool.

Cathy formed a friendship with Laura Pinner, a Lakeland woman who was diagnosed with ALS last year at age 52. Jim and Cathy Hatch visited Pinner at her home, and after that the women exchanged daily text messages, said Pinner, who lost her ability to walk soon after her diagnosis but is still able to talk.

She was so humble and so kind, Pinner said Monday. Were sisters and comrades in something thats really devastating, yet it can bring people together.

'I need to change my focus'

Hatch posted to her Facebook group in June about a little glitch at her hotel room in Miami. She lost her balance and fell, breaking an ankle, an injury that required a surgical repair and eight weeks of recovery.

Jim Hatch said that his wife wasnt able to resume her treatments after that, and her condition began to decline. About two weeks before her death, Cathy told her husband one morning that they needed to talk. For the first time, she acknowledged that she was dying.

And she said, So I need to change my focus. I need to start focusing on what comes next. I need to start looking forward to heaven instead of fighting on this earth,  Jim Hatch said. So even in her own heart and mind, she was shifted. She knew that the time was coming.

Hatch arranged for home hospice care, and relatives and friends gathered at the Bartow home on Oct. 25, Cathys first day home after a hospital stay. Within a few hours, as she sat in her recliner chair, she passed from life.

Cathy Hatch is survived by three adult offspring, a daughter and two sons, as well as eight grandchildren. Jim Hatch said he is grateful that his wife was able to hold her youngest grandchild, then just three weeks old, before she entered the hospital in late September.

The family will receive friends on Nov. 12 from 10 to 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 355 S. Florida Ave., in Bartow, followed by a celebration of life.

She was an angel, Pinner said. And she was so brave. And she was determined to live out her life fully.

Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Cathy Hatch of Bartow dies after 2-year, inspiring battle with ALS
A shooting outside of an Airbnb in Tempe, Arizona has neighborhood groups and residents requesting more regulations on short-term rentals. Early Saturday morning at an intersection outside of an Airbnb there was a shooting. Police have not caught the shooters as of yet, however, no one was hurt in the altercation.

Worries from homeowners:

We are concerned about who are these people coming in and what could happen, said Justin Stewart, a homeowner in the area who woke up to gunshots Saturday morning. I think its time to find solutions instead of pointing the blame right now.

Laws & Regulations On Short Term Rentals

Photo Credit: Cottonbro

According to state laws, cities can impose fines on properties that disturb neighbors. Cities such as Scottsdale and Mesa have taken advantage of these policies. In Mesa, a special license is required to own a short-term rental. Scottsdale even has its dedicated task force. I think our city needs to get in line with other cities and address the issue and go to the state legislature assertively and take better action from what theyve taken so far, said Ron Tapscott who is from the group Tempe Neighborhoods Together.

Airbnb Bad For The Community

Tapscott expresses that noise complaints, drunk tourists, and shooting as well as big business from Airbnb are destroying the culture of neighborhoods. Its also feeding into the current housing crisis. It destabilizes communities. Lets be clear, communities are for people associating with each other, raising their families, and when you have this kind of products come in, stated Tapscott. And you have ownership now that is corporatized and industrialized.

Property Investors vs. Homeowners

The Airbnb property where the shooting occurred is owned by an LLC that also owns 39 other properties in the same county. Id rather have people that are invested in my neighborhood that I can go out and meet instead of just a bunch of empty houses that have some fly-by-night people and incidences like this happen, Stewart said.
Malaysian youths rescued from human traffickers in Cambodia arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Oct. 6. (Vincent Thian / Associated Press)

The hustle started like it often does, with a post on Facebook promising job seekers generously paid customer service positions in Cambodia, no experience necessary.

Soraton Charehkphunpol, a Thai cook scraping by in a restaurant in Bangkok, couldnt resist the offer to earn more than double his $470 monthly salary.

Late one evening last year, after another grueling shift, Soraton answered the ad. Within hours, a man arrived at his door to take him to the Cambodian border city of Poipet.

It wasnt long before Soraton realized he had made a mistake. Dumped in a high-rise building above a casino, he was turned over to mobsters who seized his passport and put him to work bilking gamblers on a sham sports betting app.

"The bosses said if I tried to leave they would just sell me to another gang," said Soraton, a rail-thin 20-year-old from the central Thai city of Nakhon Pathom. "That's when I realized I was a slave."

In a dystopian nightmare come to life, the Cambodian government has given Chinese crime syndicates free rein to bring in tens of thousands of foreign men and women who  according to human rights organizations and their own accounts  are held captive to work in crowded cyber scam mills.

Lured by the promise of legitimate employment, they are instead forced to run online and telephone rackets targeting people around the world with gambling, money lending and romance schemes, to name a few. Other scams have included fake real estate developments and bogus initial coin offerings.

"The criminals are limited only by their imagination," said Jason Tower, an executive at the United States Institute of Peace and an expert on transnational Chinese crime syndicates. "These are sophisticated schemes."

Workers who meet their targets are rewarded. Those who fail are tortured, abused and sold like chattel to other gangs on private messaging apps such as Telegram. Reports of murder, depression and suicidal ideation are rampant.

The syndicates run their operations not unlike private companies trying to motivate a sales force. The big difference: Employees aren't allowed to leave.

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"Instead of getting fired for poor performance, you get physical punishments  forced push-ups and squats, tased, beaten, deprived of food, locked up in dark rooms or worse," said Jacob Sims, country director for International Justice Mission Cambodia, a rights group that has helped rescue more than 100 victims. "On the other hand, those who consistently meet or surpass their targets are rewarded with more freedoms, food, money and control over other victims."

The duped workers come from across Asia, including China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Many cite the economic fallout from the pandemic as a motivating factor for taking a job in Cambodia.

More details about the harrowing conditions inside the mills have emerged in the last few months from rights activists, escapees and independent reporting from the Cambodian media outlet VOD.

In August, the Vietnamese digital media outlet VnExpress obtained dramatic footage of about 40 Vietnamese workers fleeing a converted casino in Cambodia's Kandal province. Guards wielding sticks tried to block the escapees, most of whom plunged into the Binh Di River to swim across to Vietnam.

Other abuse victims who spoke to The Times and have returned home said they'll never be the same.

"Im traumatized. Im too ashamed to even leave my house," said Dedek Mulyana, 25, who was tortured with an electric baton and forced to run a scam in which he pretended to be a woman selling pornographic images of herself.

He fled Cambodia in August and returned to his native Indonesia. "I dont want anyone to have to go through what I did," he said.

Cambodian officials estimate up to 100,000 people could be involved in the industry, but have denied that it involves widespread human trafficking.

The government  which is led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, a former military commander who has been in power since 1985  maintains that the vast majority of foreign nationals are in Cambodia willingly and that most conflicts between workers and their employers are contract disputes.

But as more details of the mob operations have come to light, international pressure has mounted on the government to crack down on the industry and free the captive foreign workers.

In July, the U.S. State Department downgraded Cambodia to the lowest tier on its human trafficking index, placing it alongside Afghanistan, Syria and North Korea  an embarrassment to a government struggling for international legitimacy even as it continues to stifle political dissent and independent journalism.

Finally, in September, Cambodian law enforcement raided dozens of compounds in the capital, Phnom Penh, and the seedy resort city of Sihanoukville. Thousands of foreigners were sent home.

Experts said the raids were mostly for show and that many workers were bused to new facilities in less visible areas of Cambodia or to neighboring Laos and Myanmar.

"It was only after incontrovertible video evidence in media reports emerged combined with a chorus of diplomatic demands for nationals to be returned that the Cambodian authorities realized something needed to be done," said Sophal Ear, a political scientist and Cambodia specialist at Arizona State University. "Cambodia's international standing has fallen several rungs as a result of this."

The coziness between the Cambodian government and the criminal syndicates has focused attention not only on endemic corruption in a country still recovering from decades of civil war but also on its relationship with China.

No country in Southeast Asia boasts closer links to Beijing, which covets Cambodias strategic position along the South China Sea and views it as a counterbalance to Vietnam, a historical adversary.

The Chinese government made Cambodia one of the first beneficiaries of its most important foreign policy project, the Belt and Road Initiative, which was launched in 2013 and has dramatically expanded China's global influence by lending countries money to build ports, roads and other infrastructure.

Chinese investment has since transformed communities in Cambodia  and not always for the best.

Chinese crime figures seized on the initiative and the clamor for Chinese money. Several garnered Cambodian citizenship and got rich opening casinos targeting visitors from China, which prohibits gambling everywhere except Macao.

Some of the gangsters are wanted in China for running illegal gambling operations there. But as long as Cambodia remains a devoted ally, Chinese authorities seem unlikely to demand a crackdown that would upset the Cambodian elites profiting from their association with the Mafias.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the casino owners switched their focus to cyber and telecom scams. All they needed was exploitable labor.

Rezky Rizaldi fit the bill. The 32-year-old Indonesian chef, who previously worked in hotels in Qatar and the Maldives, had been unemployed for months because of the pandemic when he came across an ad on Facebook in February seeking customer service workers for an investment company in Cambodia.

The social media platform said in a statement that it has "long prohibited" such content and has "invested significant resources" in keeping it off the site. It is not clear how often it fails to do so.

Rezky had all the prerequisite skills: proficiency in both English and Microsoft Office. Desperate for a paycheck, he took the job in Cambodia in May.

It marked the start of a four-month ordeal in which he would be trafficked three separate times between ethnic Chinese gangs in Sihanoukville and beaten and shocked with an electric prod by his captors on several occasions for failing to generate enough money from victims.

His first job was a catfishing scam. Rezky was told to create Facebook and Instagram profiles using pictures of male models. He passed the profiles to other workers trapped in the operation who tricked women into online romances and persuaded them to invest in fake cryptocurrency schemes.

Rezky said scammers targeted women in Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia because they have emerging middle classes. The aim was to bilk each victim of at least $30,000, at which point her suitor's profile would simply disappear.

Rezky ran afoul of his bosses when they learned he had contacted the Indonesian Embassy seeking help. They punished him by trying to extort money from his friends and associates, concocting a story that he had accumulated gambling debts.

When no one responded, they tortured Rezky for three days and put him up for sale on a messaging app. Rezky, who was devoid of emotion as he flatly recounted his horror, said he saw photos of other captives on the app, including one bloodied man with several fingers severed.

One rainy July evening when security guards were distracted, Rezky fled the compound where he had been operating another scam  selling fake World Cup tickets  and made his way to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh. It took him another month to get home.

Soraton, the Thai captive, was spared violent reprisals from his various minders, who wore luxury brands head to toe like team uniforms. Supervisors at one scam dressed in Gucci, while those at another were outfitted in Louis Vuitton.

It was after he was trafficked a second time that Soraton suffered his most significant trauma. He was working at a fictitious loan company that tricked customers into sending money by telling them it was the only way to access a larger loan. One victim, a middle-aged man from eastern Thailand who needed cash to pay for his mother's medical care, called the office on video to plead for his life savings back.

When a supervisor refused, the man picked up a handgun, pointed it at his head and pulled the trigger.

"There was just silence after we heard the gunshot," said Soraton, who was stationed next to the monitor and watched the entire incident. "The boss just walked away. These people have no feelings because theyre human traffickers."

Soraton would spend several more weeks living in abject terror. Fellow captives were regularly assaulted and one was taken away with a black plastic bag over his head never to return.

Soraton hatched a plan to escape by hiding a cellphone in the ceiling of his sleeping quarters. That allowed him to call his mother.

"She was hysterical," Soraton said. "It was the first time she heard from me in six months."

She reached out to an activist outside Bangkok named Ekkaphop Luangprasert who was organizing rescue operations, and with the help of a local Cambodian contact, Soraton was able to flee. He walked for two days through rice paddies, sugar cane plantations and jungle with a guide who steered him away from landmines placed more than 40 years ago during Cambodias civil war.

In the early morning of Jan. 16, he emerged from the thicket with a television news crew and an ambulance waiting for him on the Thai side of the border.

Soraton is now employed in Bangkok as an electrician. Hes recently overcome months of insomnia, a condition he blames on his captivity. Occasionally hell receive a spam call offering the latest scam.

"I tell them, Dont bother, I just made it back home,'" Soraton said. "Then they always ask me, 'How did you escape?'"

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A Smyrna man has been charged with distributing child pornography -- and its not the first time.

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Channel 2s Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell was at the Cobb County Police Department Tuesday, where Bryan Spann was charged with distributing child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child last week. Hes since been released on bond.

Investigators said the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was notified twice about child sexual abuse material the suspect is accused of uploading to his computer once in November of 2021 and then again in May 2022.

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According to the warrant, Spann sent the files to additional users through private messages or in a group chat in early October. When police searched Spanns home, they said they found additional evidence of young girls posing nude.

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Its crazy that we have people out here like that, for real, neighbor Malcom Davis said. Im just glad they found him and caught him, since hes in this are of Smyrna.

Newell looked into Spanns background and it appears this is the first time hes ever been charged with a crime in Cobb County.
It sounds too good to be true: a plan to harvest solar energy from space and beam it down to Earth using microwaves.

But it's something that could be happening as soon as 2035, according to Martin Soltau, the co-chairman at Space Energy Initiative (SEI) - a collaboration of industry and academics.

SEI is working on a project called Cassiopeia, which plans to place a constellation of very large satellites in a high Earth orbit.

Once deployed the satellites would harvest solar energy and beam it back down to Earth.

He says the potential is almost unlimited.

"In theory it could supply all of the world's energy in 2050," he says.

"There's sufficient room in orbit for the solar power satellites, and the Sun's supply of energy is vast. A narrow strip around geostationary Earth orbit receives more than 100 times the amount of energy per year than all of humanity is forecast to use in 2050," Mr Soltau says.

Earlier this year, the UK government announced 3m in funding for space-based solar power (SBSP) projects, following an engineering study conducted by consultancy Frazer-Nash that concluded the technology was viable.

SEI is hoping to get a big chunk of that money.

Its satellites would be made up of hundreds of thousands of small, identical modules produced in factories on Earth, and assembled in space by autonomous robots, who would also carry out servicing and maintenance.

The solar energy collected by the satellites would be converted into high frequency radio waves and beamed to a rectifying antenna on Earth, which would convert the radio waves into electricity.

Each satellite could deliver around 2GW of power into the grid, making each satellite comparable in power output to a nuclear power station.

Here on Earth, sunlight is diffused by the atmosphere, but in space it comes directly from the sun without interference.

So a space-based solar panel can collect a lot more energy than a similar sized one on Earth.

Similar projects are under development elsewhere.

Story continues

The Space Energy Initiative has designed satellites to collect solar energy in space

In the US, for example, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is working on some of the critical technologies needed for such a system, in a project known as Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstrations and Research (SSPIDR).

These include improving solar cell efficiencies, solar-to-radio frequency conversion and beam forming, as well as reducing the large temperature fluctuations on spacecraft components and creating designs for deployable structures.

Late last year, the team successfully demonstrated new components for a so-called sandwich tile, which is used to convert solar energy into radio waves.

The microwave beams might sound alarming, but it has been demonstrated on Earth, and found to be effective and safe for both humans and wildlife.

"The beam is microwave, so it's just like the wi-fi that we have all the time, and it's low-intensity, at about a quarter of the intensity of the midday Sun," says Mr Soltau.

"If you were on the equator in the desert, you'd get about 1,000W per square metre, and this is about a quarter of that: about 240W per square metre. So it's inherently safe in that respect."

More technology of business:

While many of the biggest hurdles have already been cleared, there are still potential problems.

"My personal take on this is that we like to think the technology is there, but it's not quite ready yet for us to embark on a project of such complexity," says Dr Jovana Radulovic, a thermodynamics lecturer at the University of Portsmouth, who specialises in renewable energy systems.

She makes the point that launching a large number of solar panels into space will be expensive and, given that any project could require hundreds of launches, it would generate a lot of carbon dioxide.

But there is cause for optimism. An environmental analysis of the Cassiopeia project by the University of Strathclyde has concluded that overall, including launch, the carbon footprint could be as little as half that of terrestrial solar, at about 24g of CO2 per kilowatt-hour.

Space-based solar farms could potentially supply all the world's energy, says Martin Soltau

Meanwhile, says Mr Soltau, the economic case is improving all the time.

"The cost of launch has fallen by 90% and is continuing to fall, and this has been game-changing for the economics," he says.

"Secondly, there have been some real advances in the design of solar power satellites, so that they're much more modular, which provides resilience and reduced production costs. Thirdly, we've got real advances in robotics and autonomous systems."

With only limited funding from the UK government, SEI is hoping to attract private investment for some of the technologies involved. However, warns Dr Radulovic, the proposed timeline may be over-optimistic.

"I think with significant investment and focused effort into this area, there's no reason why we couldn't have the system up and running as smaller pilot projects in the foreseeable future," she says.

"But something on a large scale - we are talking about kilometres of solar arrays - would take a substantially longer time."
A Georgia National Guard soldier was indicted Monday in Texas on charges of driving intoxicated and accidentally killing a Louisiana National Guardsman last year, according to a probable cause affidavit reported by the McAllen Monitor.

Spc. Bianca Farmer, 25, was driving a rental vehicle on Interstate 2 in McAllen in the early hours of Sept. 5, 2021, with two other soldiers when she lost control of the vehicle, striking a pair of light poles, Army Times previously reported. First responders quickly arrived on scene and pronounced Spc. Nashyra Whitaker, 23, deceased.

Farmer was charged with intoxication manslaughter for the death of Whitaker and intoxication assault with a vehicle after another individuals arm had to be amputated following the crash, the McAllen Monitor reported.

The soldiers were all assigned to Joint Task Force-North, which consists of more than 3,000 troops from the Guard and other components of the military providing detection and monitoring, logistics and transportation support to U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Farmer told police she was traveling to a hotel when another car cut her off, causing her to swerve and lose control of the vehicle, according to the McAllen Monitor. She was released after three days in detention on a $190,0000 bond, the local paper reported.

Within hours of the accident, the commander of the Guard task force issued a new policy memo completely banning possession and consumption of alcohol for all Guard troops on the Title 10 border mission. The memo, which was obtained by Army Times, also called for a new curfew between 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The matter is still ongoing, said a Georgia National Guard spokesperson when asked about Farmers status in the Guard.
One person is at-large and four people are in custody following a firefight between the relative of a car theft victim and a group of people in the stolen vehicle, according to Missouri authorities.

A womans car was stolen in St. Louis Sunset Hills area early in the morning on Monday, Oct. 31, the Richmond Heights Police Department told KMOV, KSDK, and the Riverfront Times. The womans son decided to pursue the car and those inside.

He used a GPS and tracked the car to Richmond Heights at the intersection of Big Bend Boulevard and Interstate 64, Richmond Police said in a news release. The son confronted the people inside the stolen car and opened fire on them, according to police.

One juvenile was hit and suffered a non-life threatening injury, police said. KMOV reported the victim was hit in the leg.

Richmond police officers received a call about a firefight between two vehicles and responded to the scene.

Four people had gotten out of the stolen vehicle and fled into the nearby neighborhood, police said. The injured suspect was taken into custody about two blocks from the initial scene and transported to a hospital. Two more suspects were taken into custody about four blocks away.

The fourth suspect escaped and has not been found as of Oct. 31, police said.

Officers took the gun from the relative of the car theft victim and also took him into custody.

Richmond police officers searched the area and found two guns dropped by the fleeing suspects. Later in the day, police received a call that someone matching the description of the fourth suspect was spotted looking through the yard where officers had found a gun.

Police have not yet announced any charges related to the incident.

Richmond police officers considered the fleeing suspects a threat to the community and initiated lockdowns at two nearby schools. Maplewood Richmond Heights Elementary School and The International Schoolhouse were on lockdown from about 8:30 a.m. until 10 a.m., the release said.

Story continues

Richmond Heights is a suburb of St. Louis.

Road rage suspect opens fire on off-duty officer and his teen son, Texas police say

Gunfire kills high schooler at Halloween party, Florida cops say. Search is on for shooter

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Kolbe returns for his first international appearance since suffering a broken jaw in the series-clinching win over Wales in July (AFP via Getty Images)

Cheslin Kolbe will play his first Test at full-back when world champions South Africa take on Ireland on Saturday evening in Dublin.

Toulon star Kolbe, who normally operates on the wing, returns for his first international appearance since suffering a broken jaw in the Springboks series-clinching win over Wales in July.

Damian Willemse has been selected at fly-half, with head coach Jacques Nienaber also recalling Kurt-Lee Arendse on the right wing in the other change to the starting XV which began Septembers Rugby Championship win over Argentina.

We selected a team we believe contains the best combinations to counter the threats posed by Ireland, Nienaber told the Springboks website.

Damian has done well for us at fly-half, and he is continuing to grow as a player in that role, while we think Cheslin has the potential to add a new dimension to our game at full-back.

He was sidelined for a while after breaking his jaw against Wales, but he has played four 80-minute matches for Toulon since returning to play, and we are confident that he will step up to the challenge.

Kolbe, who will also provide fly-half cover, and Arendse join left wing Makazole Mapimpi in an exciting back three.

Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende are retained in midfield, with incoming number 10 Willemse replacing Frans Steyn to partner scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse.

Nienaber has named an unchanged forward pack for the clash with the worlds top-ranked team, who the Springboks have been drawn to face in the pool stage of next years World Cup in France.

His front row features props Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe and hooker Malcolm Marx, ahead of locks Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager, with captain Siya Kolisi and 2019 world player of the year Pieter-Steph Du Toit either side of Leicesters Jasper Wiese in the back row.

Ireland are the top-ranked team in the world currently and theyve shown in the past that they can be a force to be reckoned with in Dublin, said Nienaber.

Story continues

Similarly to us, they will also view this as a vital clash with an eye on next years Rugby World Cup in France where we will cross paths in the pool stages.

Obviously we are a long way out from the World Cup, but we have a limited number of matches left before the competition and the preparation doesnt get better than playing a side we will face in the World Cup and the number one side in the world.

South Africa team to face Ireland

C Kolbe (Toulon); K-L Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), J Kriel (Canon Eagles), D De Allende (Wild Knights), M Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks); D Willemse (DHL Stormers), J Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks); S Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), M Marx (Kubota Spears), F Malherbe (DHL Stormers), E Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks), L De Jager (Wild Knights), S Kolisi (Cell C Sharks, captain), P-S Du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Ja Wiese (Leicester Tigers).

Replacements: B Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks), O Nche (Cell C Sharks), V Koch (unattached), F Mostert (Honda Heat), D Fourie (DHL Stormers), K Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Faf De Klerk (Canon Eagles), Willie Le Roux (Toyota Verblitz).
(Bloomberg) -- Top South Korean officials said a lack of proper crowd management probably contributed to a deadly surge of people that left at least 156 dead, with police faulted for not doing enough to heed warnings that masses were growing to dangerous levels.

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Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said at a briefing with international media Tuesday that the lack of a sufficient system on crowd management may have caused the incident, adding a full review was ongoing. In parliament, Minister of Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, expressed his sincere apologies to the public over the incident.

Yoon Hee Keun, commissioner general of the South Korean National Police Agency, said at a separate news briefing that the countrys 112 emergency line received multiple calls warning authorities of the seriousness at the scene, as thousands packed the narrow streets of the Itaewon nightlife district in Seoul.

If you look at the contents of the calls, these were urgently informing of the danger of an incident as large crowds gathered before the incident occurred, Yoon said. Nevertheless, it is judged that the response in the field handling the 112 calls was insufficient.

Opposition party lawmaker Lee Sung-man released transcripts of multiple calls to police asking for help and warning that a narrow alley was being dangerously packed. He said the calls started as early as 6:34 p.m., hours before the deadly crush at about 10:15 p.m. After 8 p.m., callers warned that people were pushing and being pushed, with some tripping and falling.

South Korea has launched a full-scale investigation into the countrys deadliest civilian crowd crushes. Those killed were trapped in the 3.2 meter (11-foot)-wide alley that connected a main street in the district to an area with restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Story continues

In order to clarify the truth of this case and establish responsibility, we will promptly and strictly conduct intensive inspections and investigations in all areas without exception, the police chief said.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, who put in place a week-long mourning period soon after the deaths, called on the government to come up with crowd control systems for events like the Halloween festivities in Itaewon that dont have any specific organizer but draw masses of people.

The governments response is shaping up as one of the biggest tests for the president, who came into office in May and has seen his support slump in recent months to hit around 30%.

There has been criticism in local media that the police presence was not large enough. Major national newspaper Chosun Ilbo said 137 officers were on the scene for the Halloween festivities on Saturday night that attracted about 100,000 people. The majority were there mainly for crime prevention.

Most of the victims were in their 20s and 30s, and 101 women were among the dead. At least 26 foreigners were killed. Maeil, a South Korean business newspaper, said it was the biggest loss of life among foreigners in the country since 2007, when a fire in an immigration office killed 9 people.

Experts say the density of people packed in the narrow and restricted alley may have reached a level that made such a disaster almost inevitable. Witnesses told local media that as people squeezed into the tiny space, some began to fall, causing others to tumble and pile into one another.

In Itaewon and near Seoul City Hall a few kilometers away, a steady stream of people brought flowers to memorials for the victims. The sense of loss has been amplified as TV, newspapers and social media share stories of the victims, most of whom died from asphyxiation as the breathe was squeezed out of the their body in the crowd crush.

--With assistance from Jenni Marsh and Eunkyung Seo.

(Updates with opposition lawmakers comment in fifth paragraph)

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Photo: CTV News

UPDATE: 9:30 a.m.

Toronto police have identified an 18-year-old man killed in a shooting outside a high school in the city's east end.

Police say officers responded to reports of shooting at Woburn Collegiate Institute around 3:20 p.m. on Monday

They say 18-year-old Jefferson Peter Shardeley Guerrier was taken to hospital where he later died.

A 15-year-old boy with gunshot wounds was also taken to hospital and is now in stable condition.

Police say the suspect is described as a boy in his teens.

They are asking anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information to contact them.

ORIGINAL: 6:20 a.m.

Toronto police say one man is dead and a teenage boy is injured after a shooting outside a high school in the city's east end.

Police say on Twitter that officers responded to reports of a shooting at Woburn Collegiate Institute around 3:20 p.m. Monday, prompting the school to go into lockdown.

They say one man was taken to hospital and was later pronounced dead there.

A teenage boy was also taken to hospital after he was injured, but there were no details on his condition.

Police say a suspect fled the area.

They say students are exiting the school on the east side with the assistance of police and parents can pick up their children.
People pay tribute for the victims of the Halloween disasters in Itaewon on October 31, 2022 in Seoul, South Korea. Chris Jung/NurPhoto via Getty Images

South Korean officials said they didn't have crowd safety plans for events without organizers.

The admission comes as the country reels from a crowd crush on Saturday which killed 155 people.

Huge crowds gathered in Seoul's Itaewon district to celebrate Halloween when the tragedy struck.

Seoul authorities had no safety plan for mass crowds at events like Saturday's Halloween celebrations in Itaewon, where 155 people died in a horrific crowd crush, two top South Korean officials said on Monday.

"There have been no safety management guidelines or manuals for events without an organizer," said Kim Seong-ho, head of the disaster and safety management headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, local newspaper The Hankyoreh reported.

Officials will review safety measures to include such events, Kim added, per the outlet.

Oh Seung-jin, head of the violent crime investigation division of the National Police Agency, also said on Monday that authorities had "no separate preparation manual" for events without an organizer, per Korean news outlet Pressian.

Oh added that 137 police officers were dispatched to Itaewon on Saturday night, according to Pressian.

However, the officers were deployed to prevent crime and to crack down on "illegal activities," not to manage crowds, an unnamed police official told the outlet.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and cabinet members pay tribute to the victims of the Halloween celebration stampede, on the street near the scene on November 01, 2022 in Seoul, South Korea. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

As of Monday, 155 people have died from the crowd crush, including 13 teenagers, while another 152 were injured, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said, per The Hankyoreh. The majority of the deceased  100 victims  were women, while 55 were men, the outlet reported.

Many died from cardiac arrest as they were trapped in the crush, authorities said.

It's still unclear what caused the huge Halloween crowd on Saturday night to pile into a narrow alley in Itaewon, a dining and nightlife district. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has called for an investigation, and officials said they've been analyzing CCTV footage to determine the cause of the tragedy, per Reuters.

On Sunday, Yoon announced a national period of mourning until "the accident is brought under control," per the Yonhap news agency.

Read the original article on Insider
WASHINGTON  SpaceXs Falcon Heavy rocket, the most powerful launch vehicle in operation, carried its first National Security Space Launch mission for the U.S. Department of Defense to orbit on Tuesday.

The launch services and satellite technology company, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, hasnt flown the Falcon Heavy since 2019. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, hosting two classified satellites that are part of the Space Forces USSF-44 mission.

This launch culminates years of effort by a dedicated team comprised of mission-focused people from across the U.S. Space Force and SpaceX, Brig. Gen. Stephen Purdy, program executive officer for assured access to space, said in an Oct. 27 press release. The Falcon Heavy is an important element of our overall lift capability.

For todays flight, the Falcon Heavys two side boosters, which provide the thrust needed to carry the vehicle beyond Earths atmosphere, returned to two landing zones after separating from the rocket. The goal is for the company to reuse the recovered boosters for future missions.

USSF-44 was scheduled to launch in 2020, but payload issues caused a two-year delay. The Space Force hasnt offered much detail on the satellites, but a spokesman told C4ISRNET in an Oct. 28 email there are at least six payloads ranging in mission from communications to space weather sensing.

The service previously confirmed that one of the spacecraft is called TETRA-1, a microsatellite built by Millennium Space Systems, a subsidiary of Boeing. The satellite was created for various prototype missions, according to the companys website.

The rocket also carried the Space Forces Long Duration Propulsive Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Secondary Payload Adapter. Built by Northrop Grumman, the ring-shaped system features six ports, allowing the Space Force to attach multiple small payloads. The service calls the capability a freight train to space.

This was LDPEs second launch and the Space Force plans to fly it once more before transitioning to a new version called the Rapid On-orbit Space Evaluation Ring, known as ROOSTER. The service awarded Northrop a $22 million contract in July for ROOSTER, which will provide low-cost rides to space for small satellites.
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy lifts off from Nasas Kennedy Space Center on 1 November 2022, carrying a classified payload for the US Space Force (SpaceX)

SpaceX successfully launched the worlds most powerful, operational rocket from Nasas Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday morning.

Despite heavy fog early in the morning, a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket roared off into space from launch complex 39A at 9.41am EDT carrying USSF-44, a classified US Space Force payload destined for geosynchronous orbit. It was the first launch for the Falcon Heavy in three years, and the third launch for the big heavy lift rocket since its debut in 2018, when a Falcon Heavy launched a Tesla roadster into space  SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is also the CEO of the electric car company.

The Falcon Heavy rocket is roughly equivalent to three of SpaceXs Falcon 9 rockets strapped together to create a wider and more powerful main stage. Where a single Falcon 9 rocket can launch around 20,900 pounds into low Earth orbit, the Falcon Heavy can lift more than 140,000 pounds into low Earth orbit.

Like Falcon 9 rocket boosters, the Falcon Heavy boosters are reusable. Two of the three boosters from Tuesdays launch piloted themselves back to Earth autonomously, marking the 150th and 151st recovery of orbital class rockets by the company.

While Falcon Heavy launches have been rare, SpaceX has been launching Falcon 9 rockets at a rapid pace, sending astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station, launching SpaceX Starling satellites, and other commercial payloads. Tuesdays launch makes the 50th rocket launch for SpaceX in 2022 alone.

The Falcon Heavy may not retain the title of most powerful operation rocket for much longer.

Nasas Space Launch System (SLS) rocket will be the most powerful rocket to fly since the Saturn V of the 1960s Apollo program if it lifts off from Kennedy Space Center on Monday 14 November as Nasa hopes it will. That launch will carry the Artemis I mission, an uncrewed test flight of the Orion spacecraft that, paired with the SLS, will carry Nasa astronauts back to the Moon in 2025.

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The version of the SLS rocket launching Artemis I will generate 8 million pounds of thrust and can carry more than 209,000 pounds into low Earth orbit.

SpaceX, meanwhile, is working to outdo both Nasa and themselves. The companys Starship spacecraft, still under development, will generate 12 million pounds of thrust when paired with the new Super Heavy Booster, and will lift 200,000 pounds of payload into low Earth orbit.

Starship will be the largest rocket ever flown  if it launches.

Years of technical and regulatory delays led SpaceX to continually push back the date for a first orbital test flight for Starship. In February, Musk was predicting a launch date sometime in March, but by September, he recalibrated, suggesting the flight could come by late October.
Oct. 31WHEELER  Congregants filled St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wheeler over the weekend to hear from a guest speaker, enjoy a German meal, and celebrate the church's 150-year anniversary.

Cherie Engelbart and Linda Hetzer are both part of the church committee responsible for organizing the celebration for the church's milestone. They arranged items in a museum set up for the event chronologically to illustrate how the church has changed and stayed the same over the years.

"We kind of worked out a timeline with when the church was first started and the founding members," Hetzer said. "And then we also have a timeline of the kinds of things that were going on in the world too so that people can relate to that."

Although the church has remained the same in many ways, Engelbart said much has changed over the years. She noted a time when people had to pay about $2 to be a member of the church.

The church grounds also used to include other buildings like a small schoolhouse that appeared in some of the old photos in the museum.

Engelbart's close ties to St. Paul's stems from generations of her family's involvement in the church. She didn't fully realize the extent of the connection until she and the committee began putting items together for the museum.

"I didn't know there were five generations (of Engelbarts) married here until we were working on this stuff," she said.

Engelbart's family has been involved in the church since it was initially founded in 1866, which was before it was officially recognized and established in 1871. One of the church's original founders, the Rev. Herman Engelbart, provided the land for church buildings and the church's cemetery.

While a good portion of the items in the museum came from the church itself, according to Hetzer, many members also provided items to help tell the church's history.

"People have saved a lot of things too, which is nice. Everybody really contributed to the museum I think," Hetzer said.

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The museum included a photo of the church's congregation from 1943. Under the photo is an uncompleted list of the names of the people in it.

"It's interesting because people that come into the museum, they try to fill in some of the names," Hetzer said.

Hetzer said she was impressed by the amount of people who took part in the celebration.

"Today I said, 'Oh, I wished our church was as full as it was this Sunday,'" Hetzer said. "This is more of our larger one."

Engelbart said this month's celebration was a bit different from the one the church held back in June.

"Last time we did wedding pictures on the table of people that were married at St. Paul, and this time we decided to do confirmation pictures on the table," Hetzer said.

The museum also included photos of the church's oldest living members.

"We have several centenarians in our church, so if you want to live a long time come to our church," Hetzer said.

The celebration included a German feast in the church's cafeteria, where congregants filled there plates with food that reflects the church's deep German roots.

"We made German potato salad, and we got brats from a meat market down in East St. Louis," Engelbart said.

Engelbart said her favorite part of organizing the event was getting back in touch with old church members and pastors for the first time in years.

One of the old church members, the Rev. Martin Kaufmann, was the guest speaker Sunday. His father, the Rev. Phillip Kaufmann, used to be a pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church during the 1970s.

Nick Taylor can be reached at nick.taylor@effinghamdailynews.com.
Steve Poftak on Tuesday announced his decision to step down after four years as general manager of the embattled Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority.

In a letter to his colleagues, Poftak wrote, It is with mixed emotions that I share with you the news that Jan. 3, 2023, will be my last day at the MBTA. Serving as MBTA general manager has been the experience of a lifetime and it has been my honor and privilege to work with all of you.

Poftaks decision comes just weeks after a string of incidents, including a woman who was forced to jump from a train that caught fire over the Mystic River, led to a monthlong closure of the Orange Line. During the closure, crews worked to implement much-needed track and signal upgrades.

While we have faced and will continue to face challenges, I believe in the strength and resilience of the MBTA, Poftak said.

During his tenure, Poftak did oversee a plan that kept the agency running during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As I look back on my four years as general manager, I take great pride in what we have accomplished together, Poftak added.

Over the course of the next few months, Poftak vowed to prepare the agency for the transition to a new administration.

Gov. Charlie Baker reacted to Poftaks announcement, saying in a statement, I thank Steve for his years of service to the MBTA both as a board member and as General Manager. Steve brought long term stability to the T when it was sorely needed and under his leadership the MBTA has upgraded more infrastructure and vehicles than during any prior period. The T workforce showed up every day during the pandemic when most could stay at home, and thanks to Steves leadership during that period, Steve and his team have continued to build a better T every day.

Its not clear when a decision on Poftaks replacement will be made.

Steve Poftak stepping down as general manager of embattled transit agency by Fox Boston Staff on Scribd

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Stoneham police are investigating after a resident found several pieces of paper cut into the shape of swastikas on their front yard Tuesday morning.

Officers responded to the home on Whittemore Lane shortly before 9:00 a.m. for a reported of vandalism. When they arrived, the officers found several paper swastikas with hateful language littering the victims property, according to the Stoneham Police Department.

There is no place for this kind of hate and bigotry in our community, Police Chief James McIntyre said in a statement. Our detectives are committed to a full and thorough investigation, including any possible criminal charges against the party responsible.

Stoneham police are actively investigating the incident and are in contact with the Anti-Defamation League of New England to assist with the case.

Anyone with information regarding this information is encouraged to contact Stoneham Police Detectives at 781-438-1215.

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In The Know by Yahoo

People are falling in love with their Twitch moderators. It begs the question: Is Twitch a dating site?

The revelation unfolded when Twitter user @jjessticles revealed she flew overseas after accidentally falling in love with her mod. What may have been most surprising was that tons of people shared similar meet-cutes on Twitch after her tweet went viral.

Accidently fell in love with my twitch mod so I flew 30+ hours to be with him. #TwitchIsADatingSite ? pic.twitter.com/BeWdakM883   (@jjessticles) October 25, 2022

Accidently fell in love with my twitch mod so I flew 30+ hours to be with him. #TwitchIsADatingSite ? she wrote in the tweet.

A Twitch moderator, or mod, is a designated team member who ensures that the chat complies with content standards created by the streamer. According to Twitch, they do so by removing offensive posts and spam that detracts from conversations. Apparently, theres a lot of wiggle room here for romance.

ME TOO!! Long distance sucks but it's so worth it. This makes me so happy to see  Amy  (@amyelizabxth_) October 25, 2022

ME TOO!! Long distance sucks but its so worth it. This makes me so happy to see, @amyelizabxth_ said on Twitter.

Me too! Long distance is a pain been together for over a year and six months but so worth it! Met on twitch in a raid then we was mods for one another and the adventure continues   lilspookytales (@EmmaRender3) October 25, 2022

This Brooklyn home office gets a California-inspired makeover with just $1,000:

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Me too! Long distance is a pain been together for over a year and six months but so worth it! Met on twitch in a raid then we was mods for one another and the adventure continues, @EmmaRender3 replied to the post.

My love started as my mod, then flew all the way from Florida to the UK to visit me. Now we're getting married. #Twitchisadatingsitenotreally pic.twitter.com/eK5Cly23AA  MrRusty (@MrRusty_) October 25, 2022

My love started as my mod, then flew all the way from Florida to the UK to visit me. Now were getting married. #Twitchisadatingsitenotreally, @MrRusty_ said, sharing a photo with his love.

Yo sammmeeeeeeee. Twitch IS a dating site. pic.twitter.com/PS4NMAzGWn  Jessica (@IamJems_) October 25, 2022

Yo sammmeeeeeeee. Twitch IS a dating site, @IamJems_ chimed into share.

My boyfriend and I met through Twitch! He moved in with me from Ireland August just gone and we're celebrating 1 year together tomorrow!  pic.twitter.com/36jxNnr2ly   AWKN || EJKoala8  (@EJKoala8) October 26, 2022

My boyfriend and I met through Twitch! He moved in with me from Ireland August just gone and were celebrating 1 year together tomorrow! @EJKoala8 reacted on Twitter.

Watch this Brooklyn bedroom go from drab to fabulous in one day:

In The Know is now available on Apple News  follow us here!

The post Streamer and Twitch mod accidentally fall in love sparking conversation about romance on the app appeared first on In The Know.

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Dunwoody Police are warning parents about the one chip challenge. The department posted on Facebook that emergency crews had to help a student who needed medical treatment after trying the challenge while at Dunwoody High School.

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

The one chip challenge involves eating a tortilla chip from Paqui made with two of the spiciest chili peppers in the world, the Carolina Reaper Pepper and Scorpion Pepper.

The Dunwoody Police Department posted that medical professionals say the challenge can cause serious side effects including severe coughing, asthma, serious burning of the eyes and mouth and vomiting.

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Police are encouraging parents to talk about the challenge with their children and the reasons why they should not participate.

Georgia Poison Control warned of the challenge in Nov. 2021. Several students at Northwestern Middle School in Milton ate the chips and had to call poison control.

The department says it wants to prevent any injuries from social media challenges.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Photo: The Canadian Press Site of former residential school at Cowessess First Nation, Sask.

The Canadian government approached an international commission that helped identify the remains of those killed during 9/11 and the Lac-Megantic rail disaster to potentially aid its response to the discovery of unmarked graves at former residential schools.

A spokesperson for the International Commission on Missing Persons confirmed Monday that the federal government had approached it for support, but said it had no further information to provide and didn't specify when the outreach happened.

Headquartered in The Hague, the organization works in different countries to help identify people who have gone missing or been killed in major conflicts and disasters using DNA testing. It also helps governments and institutions shape policies related to such issues.

Over the past year, First Nations across Western Canada have announced the presence of what are believed to be the unmarked graves of Indigenous children who died while forced to attend residential schools.

At least nine communities have reported discovering 1,685 such graves, according to government statistics provided in May.

Ottawa has committed to providing money and resources to the First Nations to investigate the discoveries.

The federal government also appointed Kimberly Murray, a member of the Kahnesatake Mohawk Nation in Quebec and a former executive director of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to serve as an independent special interlocutor.

Murray was tasked with recommending policy changes and identifying options to protect and preserve the sites.

She said that while the commission does valuable work, the fact the federal government had been inpreliminary discussions with it raised some concerns because it's unclear if the request for their involvement came from Indigenous communities themselves, which she says must lead the process.

"We're speaking about Indigenous children in these graves," she said in an interview Monday.

"We're talking about Indigenous communities. We have Section 5 constitutional sovereignty rights. It's a little bit of a different approach that needs to happen with these investigations."

Murray added that while planning for a recent conference in Edmonton, the federal government asked if her office was interested in hearing from the commission.

In a statement late Monday, office of Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller said "there is currently no contract in place" between the department and the missing persons commission.

"I would hope that if Canada is engaging in any kind of contract with the commission to do any kind of work that they would have discussed it with Indigenous leadership and survivors," Murray said.

"How does their work incorporate Indigenous law?"

Some details on Ottawa's thinking around possibly turning tothe commission are contained in an undated briefing note prepared for the deputy minister of Crown-Indigenous relations, which was released to The Canadian Press under federal access-to-information legislation.

Titled, "Contracting the ICMP (International Commission on Missing Persons) for Engagement Services,)" the heavily-redacted document says the government has heard "repeated calls by Indigenous leadership to develop a national strategy to address the identification of unmarked graves and repatriation of human remains."

It says communities have made it clear that Ottawa can't be involved. Successive Canadian governments funded and oversaw the residential school system, though churches operated the institutions.

"The first step in developing this strategy is engagement," the briefing note reads, saying the commission has "expertise exclusively focused on addressing the complex issue of the identification and repatriation of human remains."

"As an arm's length international organization, the ICMP has a reputation as a trusted interlocular with a strong reputation for independence and impartiality."

It goes on to list how the organization worked with Quebec authorities to help identify some of those killed in the 2013 Lac-Megantic disaster, when nearly 50 were killed after the downtown derailment of train cars carrying crude oil.

More recently, the organization says on its website that it has been tapped to help in Ukraine, where thousands of civilians have been killed or gone missing since Russia launched its invasion in February, and where recent mass gravesites have already been found.

Murray said it is critically important that investigations into unmarked graves remain independent of the Canadian government.

"It's the state police, the state government, that caused the problem that we're currently trying to investigate our way out of," she said.

Murray has independently pursued outside expertise, including during the recent conference in Edmonton.

Her office invited the Forensic Anthropology Foundation of Guatemala, which has helped communities set up labs to investigate and try to identify the remains of those killed in its civil war.

The organization has specific experience working with Indigenous communities, Murray said.
Nov. 1HARRISBURG, Pa.  A state prison inmate had his post-sentence motions in his case denied Friday by the Pennsylvania Superior Court, which upheld the decision of a Cambria County judge concerning a man who was convicted of assaulting a local police chief.

Matthew Scott Gardopee, 48, filed post-sentence motions in his case earlier this year in an effort to directly appeal his case to the Superior court in hopes of obtaining a new trial.

Gardopee was convicted in November 2021 in a jury trial on two felony counts of aggravated assault, one misdemeanor count of terroristic threats, two misdemeanor counts of simple assault and three misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment in the July 2020 incident at a home on Cedar Street in Johnstown's Hornerstown section.

He is currently serving 11 to 25 years in a state correctional institute in the matter.

Gardopee was accused of having a knife during a dispute with his girlfriend which was allegedly never found, and then left the home and got in a verbal and later physical dispute with members of his then-girlfriend's family including her brother, niece and niece's fiance. The fiance inflicted life-threatening injuries to Gardopee during the incident with a knife.

Gardopee presented five issues to the superior court:

Whether the court made a mistake when it denied Gardopee's motion for a new trial since the jury's verdict was against the sufficiency of the evidence? Particularly, Gardopee claims that the knife admitted into evidence during the trial was tampered with.

Whether Gardopee was denied a fair trial due to testimony of multiple witnesses that his claims were so patently unreliable that a guilty verdict based thereon was pure conjecture.

Whether changes between the criminal information, the jury instructions, and the verdict slips on three of the counts, as to the elements of the crimes charged constituted reversible error.

Whether the court abused the discretionary aspects of sentencing in that Gardopee's sentence was unduly harsh and by failing to take into adequate consideration mitigating factors including his life-threatening injuries caused by the victims?

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Whether Gardopee was denied a fair trial by the failure of the Commonwealth to arrest and charge three witness-victims in this case with assault against Gardopee, who suffered life-threatening wounds.

In his third issue, Gardopee claimed a substantive variance exists between the criminal information and jury instructions, and the verdict slips on three of the counts, "as to the elements charged, constituting reversible error."

According to Gardopee, "the written verdict slips incorrectly included the higher element of serious bodily injury for the certain charges of simple assault and aggravated assault, rather than the correct element of bodily injury."

The Superior Court opinion noted it disagreed with the implications inferred by the mistake on the form.

"Here, the error on the verdict slip required the jury to find a higher level of harm than statutorily required," the opinion said. "To find serious bodily injury, the jury was required to find that the Commonwealth established the lesser harm of bodily injury. Considering the trial court's correct jury instructions and the nature of the verdict slip error, we conclude the error did not contribute to the verdicts beyond a reasonable doubt."

In an opinion written by the Pennsylvania Superior Court upholding the sentence, many of Gardopee's claims were found to be meritless or the court noted that proper claims were not raised thus making them meritless.

Gardopee is currently serving his sentence in SCI Pine Grove in Indiana County.
The Supreme Courts chief justice on Tuesday temporarily blocked Congress efforts to obtain Donald Trumps tax returns.

The order from Chief Justice John Roberts put a pause on a long-running legal battle over the House Ways and Means Committees access to the former presidents tax papers.

Trump had appealed Monday for an administrative stay at the nations top court after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found the congressional committee should receive the records.

In a brief order, Roberts set a Nov. 10 deadline for the House panel to respond to Trumps appeal.

The order did not render a verdict on the merit of Trumps request, merely holding the lower courts ruling while the Supreme Court reviews the issue.

Susan Low Bloch, a constitutional law professor at Georgetown University, said Roberts order was unsurprising and indicated the Supreme Court is taking the matter seriously.

She predicted that Roberts will put the issue to the full Supreme Court, noting criticism the court has received for its use of the so-called Shadow Docket, a term that refers to emergency decisions the court makes without oral argument.

I think it is likely that the Supreme Court will review it, Bloch said. Roberts would want to avoid more of that criticism.

Dylan Peachey, a spokeswoman for the Ways and Means Committee, issued a statement saying the panel maintains the law is on our side, and will file a timely response as requested.

Peachey added in the statement that the chairman of the committee, Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), looks forward to the Supreme Courts expeditious consideration.

A lawyer for Trump, Cameron Norris, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In its request to the nations top court, the former presidents legal team said the House panels aim in asking the Internal Revenue Service for six years worth of tax returns was to expose Trumps tax information to the public for the sake of exposure.

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Trump broke with modern precedent by declining to release his tax returns during his presidency and as a presidential candidate in 2016.

The House committee, which requested the tax returns in 2019, could be running out of time to get its hands on the documents.

Republicans appear in position to take back the House after next weeks midterm elections, and, if they win, may withdraw the request for Trumps tax papers after Congress begins its next session in January.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

The Supreme Court denied Lindsey Graham's request to block a grand jury subpoena.

A Georgia grand jury is investigating alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Graham has been called on to provide testimony.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham's bid to avoid testifying before a Georgia special grand jury investigating alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

In an unsigned order, the nation's highest court dismissed Graham's emergency request to block the subpoena, writing that "a stay or injunction is not necessary to safeguard the Senator's speech or debate clause immunity."

The court's ruling means Graham must testify in the Georgia election probe.

The South Carolina senator argued that he was exempt from the subpoena because of the Constitution's Speech or Debate clause, which asserts that members of Congress are safeguarded from being questioned about their legislative activity.

Justice Clarence Thomas, who handles emergency matters arising from Georgia, referred the issue to the full Supreme Court after he temporarily halted a lower court ruling ordering Graham to comply the subpoena. There were no recorded dissents from the nine justices.

Tuesday's decision delivers a significant victory to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, whose office wants information from Graham about reported calls he made to Georgia officials after the 2020 US election.

The state was one of several battleground states that Joe Biden won, and former President Donald Trump and his allies filed a number of lawsuits challenging Georgia's election results, though none were successful.

Georgia's top election official, Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, has said that Graham called him and asked him to throw out entire counties' worth of mail in ballots in the state. Trump also called Raffensperger and pressed him to "find" enough votes to swing the state to him.

After Tuesday's Supreme Court ruling, Graham's office put out a statement saying the senator would "engage with the District Attorney's office on next steps to ensure respect for this Constitutional immunity."

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

Read the original article on Business Insider
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court on Tuesday denied Sen. Lindsey Graham's effort to temporarily pause a subpoena from a grand jury in Georgia that is probing the Republican senator's involvement in the state following the 2020 presidential election.

Graham, a South Carolina senator and close ally of former President Donald Trump, asked the Supreme Court to intervene to block the subpoena, asserting that his efforts in Georgia were part of his official duties and were therefore shielded from questioning.

The court handed down its decision in a brief unsigned order with no noted dissents.

Graham premised his argument on the speech or debate clause of the Constitution, which admonishes that lawmakers "shall not be questioned in any other place" for remarks made in Congress. The idea is to shield lawmakers from questioning or prosecution based on their work for the legislative branch. Graham has maintained that his contacts in Georgia after the election were related to his work as a senator.

More: Chief Justice Roberts grants Trump temporary hold in dispute over tax returns

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Responding to the emergency appeal, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis stressed that the speech or debate clause is only intended to protect "activities which are connected to actual legislative acts of the congressional member." County prosecutors said federal courts would monitor the questioning and that Graham would be immune from any questions connected to his legislative activities.

The grand jury is seeking testimony from Graham regarding calls he made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in November 2020.

In its order Tuesday, the Supreme Court said that lower courts had already made clear that Graham couldn't be questioned about his official legislative duties and that he could bring any disputes over the questioning back to court if needed.

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"Accordingly, a stay or injunction is not necessary to safeguard the Senators Speech or Debate Clause immunity," the court said.

Graham's office issued a statement that said the senator's legal team "intends to engage" with the district attorney "on next steps to ensure respect for this constitutional immunity."

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks during a news conference about refusing Russian annexation of any portion of Ukraine, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) ORG XMIT: DCMZ502

Raffensperger said Graham suggested Georgia could discard a large number of mail-in ballots for President Joe Biden, according to news reports. Graham has denied those allegations. "Almost immediately after the calls became public knowledge, there was considerable public dispute among the participants as to what precisely Senator Graham had said during the calls," Fulton County prosecutors told the high court.

Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, who handles emergency appeals from Georgia, had put the subpoena on hold long enough for both sides to present their written arguments in the case to the Supreme Court.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled last week in favor of the Fulton County district attorney.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court waves off Sen. Graham's battle over Georgia subpoena
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 07: Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi walk the red carpet during the 27th Annual Kennedy Center Honors at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 7, 2014 in Washington, DC. Kris Connor/Getty Images

David DePape, the suspect in the Paul Pelosi attack, pleaded not guilty to charges filed against him.

The state charges include attempted murder, attempted kidnapping, and elder abuse.

On Monday, the Department of Justice also announced two felony charges against him.

The man accused of bludgeoning House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul Pelosi with a hammer pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted murder and kidnapping at the San Francisco Superior Court on Tuesday.

At his arraignment, suspect David DePape wore a bright orange jumpsuit with his arm in a cast. He pleaded not guilty to state charges filed against him in wake of the incident.

He has been charged with state charges including attempted murder, burglary, elder abuse, assault, and attempted kidnapping of a US official, among other charges. The Justice Department also announced two felony charges against DePape this week; one count of assault of an immediate family member of a US official with the intent to retaliate against the official on account of the performance of official duties, and one count of attempted kidnapping of a US official on account of the performance of official duties.

If convicted on the attempted kidnapping charge, he could serve up to 20 years in prison and could serve 13 to life if convicted on the state charges.

His public defender has denied all allegations against him.

At the arraignment, Judge Diane Northway also signed a protective order disallowing DePape from coming within 150 yards of Nancy or Paul Pelosi, or contacting them.

Northway also set a Friday hearing for arguments related to DePape's arraignment.

Authorities claim that DePape broke into Pelosi's San Francisco home last week, and attacked Paul Pelosi with a hammer, leaving him with blunt force trauma to his head and body. The House Speaker was in Washington, DC, at the time of the attack.

Paul Pelosi underwent surgery at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital to repair "a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands," Speaker Pelosi's office said in a statement last week.

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Yesterday, the San Francisco district attorney said that DePape broke into a glass back door of the residence, found Paul Pelosi sleeping on the second floor and inquired about where his wife was.

CNN reported that DePape yelled "Where's Nancy?" and Paul Pelosi was able to call 911 after asking DePape to let him go to the bathroom, San Francisco's District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said yesterday.

The DA added that when DePape realized the police were called, he brought Paul Pelosi to the first floor and when the police showed up, he "violently struck him [Pelosi] at the top of his head," with a hammer.

Jenkins said that the attack was "politically motivated." DePape also previously espoused conspiratorial views, believing that COVID-19 was a plan hatched by the global elite, following QAnon and pushing 2020 election lies.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A sign rests against the microphone stand that says Your Policy Is Racist Not Just Your Leaked Audio, as protestors demonstrate at the L.A. City Council.

A sign rests against the microphone stand as protestors demonstrate while the L.A. City Council holds its first in-person meeting since voting in new president Paul Krekorian in the wake of a leaked audio recording on Oct. 25, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Credit - Mario TamaGetty Images

It was a moment of intense frustration and anger. These were the words of the former President of the Los Angeles City Council Nury Martinez, as she tried to explain her litany of racist comments about the Black child of Councilman Mike Bonin and migrants from Oaxaca, Mexico, captured on a secret recording of the L.A. City Commission released on Oct. 9, 2022. Martinez has now resigned from the Commission, but her apology, crafted and couched in the cloak of racial innocence, provided important insights about the contours of Latino anti-Black bias, and how inadequate our national pursuit of racial equality is at the moment.

Frustration and anger do not absolve you from racism, and racial innocence is not a benign mental state. It is a barrier to justice. Moving forward in the pursuit of racial justice will require that we recognize racial innocence for the fiction that it is and unite in educating ourselves about the globality of anti-Blackness.

There are many Nury Martinezs. When it comes to racism, Latino culture encourages a mindset of racial innocence in which real racism is only what White-Anglo-English-speaking U.S. residents perpetrate. Any anti-Black sentiment and action that Latinos partake in is dismissed as a cultural misunderstanding, an extension of pre-existing racism within the United States, or an uncommon momentary lapse. Racism is not what Latinos do.

But they do. In fact, Latino anti-Blackness is not contained to the U.S. 90% of the 10.7 million Africans forcibly brought to the Americas as survivors of the Middle Passage, were taken to Latin America and the Caribbean, in contrast to the 3.5% taken to what we now call the U.S. After the abolition of slavery, state actors and white elites maintained color hierarchies and exclusion with a racialized logic regarding the inferior intellect of Black people and cultural inadequacies of Indigenous communities. This racial logic continues to be perpetrated today to such an extent that it materially constrains Afro-Latino and Indigenous from socioeconomic advancement.

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Read More: The Troubling Legacy Behind L.A. Councilwoman Nury Martinezs Racist Remarks

When Latinos enter the U.S., their racial baggage comes along with them and continues to be passed along to younger generations as part of Latino culture. As an Afro Latina raised in the U.S., too often Ive heard a relative say Look behind the ears, fearing a newborn infant has the potential to develop a dark skin tone. But Latino familial vigilance against Blackness does not stop with the inspection of ears. There is a vampiric attention to sun exposure that may deepen the darkness and thus worsen a childs appearance.

Even Latinos who are thought to be blessed with European features are policed by their families when it comes to dating and marriage. The obsession with mejorando y adelantando la raza, or improving and advancing the race, by marrying lighter (ideally whiter) partners means each potential suitor is sorted out for taints of Blackness.

My own journey of collecting the stories of the victims of Latino anti-Blackness across the country revealed that Latino anti-Black bias in the U.S. causes long-lasting injuries. However, the Latino cultural self-image as racially innocent interferes with addressing the instances in which Latinos are agents of racial harm. This is because racial innocence hinders self-recognition of the problem and the motivation to make the changes necessary for racial progress. Instead, paltry rationalizations like an intense moment of frustration and anger are offered.

An apology and resignation from the Nury Martinezs of the world are insufficient implements for dismantling the systemic racial innocence and creating social change. Instead, we need to enhance our racial literacy about the nature and extent of global anti-Blackness.

For too long, Afro-Latino voices have been sidelined within Latino public discourse. Because Afro-Latinos sit at the intersection of Blackness and Latino ethnic identity, they not only experience Latino racial hostility, but also are knowledgeable about its logics in a way not necessarily legible to non-Latinos and non-Black Latinos. This has left Latinos, as a collective, blind to their own anti-Black attitudes in their engagement with the world. Afro-Latinos are an important but overlooked resource in the battle against racism, and there is already existing (and growing) literature authored by Afro-Latinos dedicated to broadening our racial literacy.

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Moreover, creating space for Afro-Latinos within Latino leadership circles is another crucial step in combatting racial innocence. Consider how much more nuanced and profound public policy deliberations could be if more Afro-Latinos were present at all levels of government, in addition to nonprofits, corporate entities, and media outlets. Rather than juxtaposing the needs of Latinos as a zero-sum competition with African Americans, the Afro-Latino voice could contribute the perspective of how much our communities need to work together. Attempts at coalition are fortified when internal, racialized hierarchies are made visible and dismantled.

To be clear, ignoring the global aspects of anti-Blackness will not dissolve systemic racism. That may seem like an obvious statement to make but in my experience, not obvious enough.

In fact, a number of the invitations I have received to share my Afro-Latina expertise for Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, suddenly evaporated when I disclosed my topic of Latino anti-Blackness. Diversity Equity & Inclusion representatives from law firms and financial institutions alerted me that they wanted to go in a different direction after they learned what I wanted to impart. In short, they preferred a racially innocent Hispanic Heritage Month presentation.

Opposing racial innocence implicates the entire nation, not only Latinos. A racial reckoning without an honest interrogation of the multi-directional aspects of racism is an anemic pursuit of racial equality that impedes the dream of a true democracy.
Tanzania on Tuesday mobilised soldiers to reinforce civilian firefighters and volunteers stretched thin by a wildfire on Africa's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, which has been blazing for more than 10 days.

The fire started on October 21 near the Karanga site used by climbers ascending the famous peak, at about 4,000 metres (13,000 feet) altitude on its south side.

It has since lit up in other pockets and overwhelmed a team of nearly 600 people, including students using twigs and branches to put out the fire.

"The officers have already arrived at the mountain and are ready to put out the fire," Tanzania People's Defence Forces (TPDF) said in a statement, without giving numbers.

The government last week thought the fire was under control before high winds spread it to three other places.

"We will cooperate with the other forces and volunteers to make sure that the fire is quickly put under control before it causes serious damage," the TPDF said.

So far, no injuries or deaths have been reported and tourism has not been affected, according to the government.

Two to four square kilometres (0.7 to 1.5 square miles) of bushland had been consumed by the fire, the natural resources and tourism ministry said last week.

Mount Kilimanjaro, with its snow-capped peak, is famed around the world. Situated in the northeast of the country, it is the highest free-standing mountain in the world at 5,895 metres (19,340 feet).

The forests surrounding it form part of a national park, and Kilimanjaro National Park is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, in part because many endangered species live there.

Officials have not yet established how the fire started, but it comes exactly two years after another blaze, which raged for a week in October 2020 across 95 square kilometres (37 square miles).

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Photo: The Canadian Press A pedestrian carries an umbrella as rain falls in Surrey, B.C., on Friday, October 21, 2022. Another atmospheric river is forecast to bring heavy rain to coastal British Columbia by late Thursday and this one could drench drought-stricken areas that didn't see a lot of rain when the last storm rolled through. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Another atmospheric river is forecast to bring heavy rain to coastal British Columbia by late Thursday and this one could drench drought-stricken areas that have been bypassed by recent storms.

Environment Canada models show 40 to 50 millimetres of rain is forecast through to Saturday in Comox on Vancouver Island and in Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast, which are both ranked at drought Level 5, the most severe rating on the drought scale.

Rain is predicted to be even heavier on the west coast of Vancouver Island, where about 80 mm could fall in less than 36 hours and models show some Metro Vancouver communities may receive 60 mm or more.

Vancouver Island, the inner south coast including the Sunshine Coast, parts of the southern Interior and all of northeastern B.C. are listed at drought Level 4 or 5, meaning damaging effects of the dry conditions are "likely" or "almost certain."

Comox recorded just 22 mm of rain in October, far below its average of 123, but Environment Canada says end-of-the-month downpours helped push many regions closer to seasonal averages.

After almost no rain since early July, the weather office says nearly 70 mm fell in Sechelt in the final days of October, enough to ease extraordinary water restrictions at midnight Tuesday that shuttered numerous businesses, including the local ice rink.

However, the rain isn't enough for the district to lift ongoing water conservation orders or a drought-induced local state of emergency.

A statement from the Sunshine Coast Regional District issued Monday said the "cautious" easing of the Oct. 18 restrictions was approved as recent rain boosted flows from its severely depleted main reservoir, which serves about 90 per cent of area homes and businesses.

This year, we have almost skipped fall weather at higher elevations, having transitioned quickly from an extended summer drought to winter freezing conditions, the statement said.

If more rain doesn't come or temperatures drop to freezing, the district said it would consider returning to water restrictions for non-essential businesses such as breweries and gravel, concrete and asphalt companies.
The availability of telemedicine may have helped mitigate the rise in blood pressure levels that was observed during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study published on Tuesday.

In the study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), researchers looked at adult blood pressure data from three large health care systems: Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City and Ochsner Health in New Orleans.

They analyzed the electronic health records of 137,593 patients and found that blood pressure levels noticeably increased in the eight months after stay-at-home orders were issued in comparison to the roughly 1 1/2-year period before the pandemic.

The amount of people with controlled blood pressure  levels that are below what is considered to be high blood pressure  also dropped by about 3.4 percentage points in this same time frame.

The average age for patients in this study was 66 years old.

This is not the first study to note the pandemics impact on blood pressure. The American Heart Association (AHA) published its own study last year in which it observed a similar trend during the early parts of 2020. The AHAs study found that women and older adults had the highest blood pressure measurements during the early months of the pandemic.

Even though a worsening in blood pressure was observed, the NIH noted that the results of the study were not as bad as would be expected. The agency attributed this to the rapid adoption of telemedicine and home blood pressure monitoring.

The successful use of these alternatives to in-person office visits offers a reason to be optimistic about improving blood pressure control in future disasters and public health emergencies, according to the researchers, the NIH said.

We expected blood pressure control to be worse due to decreased physical activity, stress, poor sleep, and other cardiovascular disease risk factors that worsened during the pandemic, study leader Hiroshi Gotanda said. But the results were better than we expected, probably because the use of telemedicine and home monitoring of blood pressure.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Three Apple Valley teenagers were arrested on suspicion of committing several armed robberies over the last week. During the investigation, sheriffs deputies discovered stolen property and counterfeit $100 bills.

Three teenage boys from Apple Valley were arrested on suspicion of committing several armed robberies over the last week. During the trio's latest caper, one suspect shot himself and was hospitalized.

The Apple Valley Sheriffs Station said that at around 2:40 p.m. on Sunday, deputies responded to the report of a robbery in the 20000 block of Zuni Road.

The area is north of Highway 18 and near Rancherias Road.

Upon arrival, deputies learned that the victim a 13-year-old boy from Hesperia and a 41-year-old man from Apple Valley were at the location to sell two pairs of Nike Jordan shoes to a buyer from the OfferUp app.

When the victims arrived, two teen boys approached them and began to look at the shoes before one of them grabbed a pair of shoes and ran away.

The other teen pulled out a handgun, pointed it at the teen victim, and demanded the second pair of shoes before fleeing. The adult victim chased the suspects and was robbed of his shoes at gunpoint.

A short time later, the 17-year-old suspect was located at a local hospital after he shot himself. Through investigation, the two additional suspects were later identified.

With assistance from the San Bernardino County Specialized Enforcement Division, Apple Valley deputies served search warrants in the 15000 block of Tonekai Road and the 15000 block of Sago Road in Apple Valley.

Tonekai and Sago roads are both near Zuni and Rancherias roads.

During the search, the 13-year-old and 15-year-old male suspects were taken into custody. Investigators recovered the stolen shoes and several counterfeit $100 bills.

The suspects have been linked to three additional armed robberies reported in the last week. No additional information is available, sheriffs officials said.

All three suspects were booked at High Desert Juvenile Detention and Assessment Center for armed robbery.

Apple Valley sheriffs officials remind the public to use caution when selling or buying items on social media platforms. They recommend meeting at a local sheriffs station during regular business hours.

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Anyone with information about this investigation is asked by the Sheriffs Department to contact Deputy Loup at the Apple Valley Sheriffs Station at 760-240-7400 or Sheriffs Dispatch at 760- 956-5001.

Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 800-78CRIME (27463) or by leaving information at wetip.com.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Apple Valley teens arrested on suspicion of committing armed robberies
A royal expert has called on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to be stripped of their titles ahead of Prince Harrys memoir release.

Tom Bower appeared on Good Morning Britain on Monday (31 October), alongside fellow royal expert Dr Tessa Dunlop and presenters, Susanna Reid and Ed Balls.

When asked what new information people should expect from Harrys memoir Spare, which will be released in January, Bower claimed that the Oprah Winfrey interview was hugely damaging for the British royal family.

He also alleged that Harry and Meghan Markle have made their fortune solely by damaging and destroying the royal family to promote their own fortune, and their own prestige and their own brand.

I dont think they should be allowed to call themselves duke and duchess anymore, and I think the only way in which they can be undermined and reduced in importance in America is to say Well, if you think that of us, this is our family, this is Britain, then you dont need to keep your titles anymore, he said.

After all they trade on their titles, they make their money by always parading themselves as the duke and duchess and the prince. So if they want to make their money out of trashing Britain, then why should they be recognised as the duke and duchess?

Dunlop, who is the author of Elizabeth and Philip, argued that Bowers comments were hypocritical as he has written several books on the royal family, thus making money from the institution too.

Harry, hes had a pretty rough ride in his young life, meanwhile you are sitting there in your little establishment position, raking it in off the back of their arguable misfortune or fortune depending on how you spin the coin, Dunlop said.

Arguably they have brought the royal family to a whole younger audience, you have young people on TikTok talk about Harry and Meghan, they care about them, this is a bit of exported British tinsel. Yes, they no longer belong in that family, yes they do a lot of sun-drenched photographs and theyve dropped the royal regalia, so what? Theyre a different generation from you Tom, let them be.

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Should Harry & Meghan be stripped of their titles after the release of 'Spare'?



Tom Bower tells @susannareid100 & @edballs that he doesn't believe Harry and Meghan should keep their titles if they want to make their money out of 'trashing Britain' and 'damaging the Royal family' pic.twitter.com/9sI83BDgcy  Good Morning Britain (@GMB) October 31, 2022

Dunlop added that taking away Harry and Meghans titles would make Britain look mean and mad and that one of our most important institutions should be able to cope with a little in-house criticism.

And by the way, [the then-] Prince Charles criticised his parents, Dunlop added. This has been done time and time again. The monarchy, if its got the big potential that it claims to be, it should take those blows.

'They're a different generation...Let them be.'



Historian Dr Tessa Dunlop argues against Tom Bower's comments by saying that people need to let Harry and Meghan be.



What do you think? pic.twitter.com/HGvsHeJZ8r  Good Morning Britain (@GMB) October 31, 2022

King Charles famously criticised his parents in the 1994 biography by Jonathan Dimbley, The Prince of Wales, in which he said that the Queen was a distant mother and he was forced to marry Diana by Prince Philip.

The debate has seen mixed reactions on social media, with some agreeing that Harry and Meghan should keep their titles, and others saying their titles should be stripped.

If I left an organisation that had a title, a company car, all expenses travel I would not expect to keep the perks of that job, one person said.

Others said they are sick of people going after Meghan and Harry.
Mamiko Moda (left) and her partner Satoko Nagamura were among the first to pick up their certificate

Tokyo has begun rolling out a partnership certificate scheme to same-sex couples - allowing them to be treated as married couples for certain public services for the first time, but falling short of marriage equality.

Some hope this may be a step towards the whole of Japan embracing equality.

It is currently the only country in the G7 group of developed nations which doesn't recognise same-sex unions.

However, recent polling suggests most Japanese support gay marriage.

According to a survey conducted in 2021 by Japan's public broadcaster NHK, 57% were in favour, while just 37% were against.

Despite this widespread support, a district court in Osaka ruled earlier this year that the existing ban on same-sex marriage was constitutional. Then, in October, Noboru Watanabe - a local representative for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party - called same-sex marriage "disgusting". The comments were widely criticised.

Yet there is movement towards greater equality. The scheme being rolled out in the Tokyo metropolitan area was first established in one of its districts back in 2015, since spreading to nine more wards and six cities in the west of the metropolitan area, according to the Asahi Sinbun news site. The new metropolitan-wide scheme will bring it to all areas of the capital, and its population of 14 million.

The partnership certificates - which have also been introduced in eight other prefectures across Japan - will allow same-sex couples to be treated the same as married couples when it comes to housing, medicine and welfare. But they will not help with issues like adoption, inheritance and spousal visas.

Anyone aged over 18 who either lives or works in Tokyo is allowed to apply, with 137 applications having been submitted by Friday.

For couples like Miki and Katie, the certificate takes a weight off their minds.

"My biggest fear has been that we would be treated as strangers in an emergency," Miki - who asked they be referred to only by their first names - told news agency AFP.

Soyoka Yamamoto - an LGBT rights campaigner who was among the first to collect her certificate on Tuesday - told reporters she sincerely hoped "we can accelerate efforts to create a society where the rights of sexual minorities can be protected, and made more equal".
LGBTQ+ demonstration in Japan

In what LGBTQ+ people in Japan hope is a harbinger of marriage equality, Tokyos city government began issuing partnership certificates to same-sex couples Tuesday.

The certificates allow the couples unions to be recognized for services such as housing and health care, but they do not confer any rights when it comes to inheritance, adoption, or spousal visas, the BBC reports.

Japan is the only country in the G7, an association of countries with advanced economies, that does not have marriage equality. Several smaller municipal governments, including parts of Tokyo, have already offered partnership recognition that confers some but not all the rights of marriage. As of Tuesday, the certificates are available throughout Tokyo.

Polling indicates that a majority of Japanese citizens support marriage equality, but there has been resistance from politicians. And this year a court in Osaka upheld the nations ban on same-sex marriage, after a court in Sapporo had ruled the ban unconstitutional previously.

LGBTQ+ activists tried to push for greater equality ahead of the Tokyo Olympics last year, but little has changed. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been cautious about campaigning for marriage equality legislation, The Guardian notes.

As of Friday, 137 partnership applications had been submitted. Anyone who lives and works in Tokyo is eligible. One of the couples, identified only by their first names, Miki and Katie, told Agence France-Presse that obtaining the certificate will relieve some of their worries. My biggest fear has been that we would be treated as strangers in an emergency, Miki said.

She added that the availability of partnership recognition would help advance acceptance. The more people make use of these partnership systems, the more our community will feel encouraged to tell family and friends about their relationships, without hiding their true selves, she said.

Activist Soyoka Yamamoto, one of the first to obtain a certificate, told media outlets, We can accelerate efforts to create a society where the rights of sexual minorities can be protected and made more equal.
TOKYO (AP)  Japan's capital, Tokyo, began issuing certificates recognizing same-sex couples on Tuesday, becoming the largest municipality to do so in a country in which same-sex marriage is not allowed.

Seven years after Tokyo's Shibuya district first introduced same-sex partnership recognition in 2015, more than 200 smaller towns have joined the move, accounting for less than one-fifth of Japanese municipalities.

The certificates are not legally binding but allow same-sex partners to apply for public housing like married couples, give them access to medical data and allow them to be beneficiaries in auto and life insurance.

Support for sexual diversity has grown slowly in Japan, and legal protections are still lacking for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. They often face discrimination at school, work and at home, causing many to hide their sexual identities.

Still, many sexual minority couples say the partnership recognition will improve their daily lives, allowing them to rent apartments and sign documents in medical emergencies, and in inheritance.

With this (certificate), there is no need to explain, and I think I will be able to talk to other people about the relationship between myself and my partner with a bit more confidence, said Soyoka Yamamoto, who campaigned for same-sex partnership recognition by Tokyo.

She said she has worried constantly about discrimination and had to make an extra effort in explaining her relationship with her partner. A certificate recognizing their partnership was issued Tuesday with Gov. Yuriko Koike's signature.

Her partner, Yoriko, who uses only her first name, also welcomed the certificate, saying it publicly recognizes our relationship for the first time after we have lived together for more than 10 years.

Same-sex couples are often barred from jointly renting apartments, visiting each other in the hospital and other services available to married couples. When Yoriko called an ambulance after her partner had a medical emergency at home, she was told to obtain consent from Yamamoto's parents, the couple said.

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Our goal is to use the certificate as a springboard for achieving a society where the rights of sexual minorities are protected, Yamamoto said at a news conference sponsored by Partnership Act for Tokyo, a group she leads.

Fumino Sugiyama, a transgender activist, said the certificates recognize the presence of sexual minorities and the need to recognize their rights.

Until now, all the systems, rules and services in Japan have been formed as if LGBTQ+ people are invisible in this society, and Tokyo's system has been the same, Sugiyama said. He called the partnership certificate a big step, but added, This is not the goal, but rather the beginning."

The Tokyo metropolitan government said it received 137 applications as of last Friday. Applicants are limited to adult residents of the capital, including foreign nationals.

Campaigns for equal rights for sexual minorities, including same-sex marriage, have faced resistance from conservatives in Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas governing party who oppose more inclusivity for sexual minorities, calling them unproductive.

Satoko Nagamura and Mamiko Moda, a same-sex couple, are raising their 11-year-old son Ittan, who was given birth by Nagamura by sperm donation.

Moda said the certificate only recognizes partnerships between adults and needs to cover children of same-sex couples. From a childs perspective, its like you are abandoned. When the child asks, What is this family? then I also want to have proof as a parent.

___

Associated Press videojournalist Haruka Nuga contributed to this report.
A huge grinning Totoro and other whimsical exhibits welcomed visitors to Japan's new Ghibli theme park as three of its five sections opened to the public on Tuesday.

The attraction in central Japan has been long awaited by fans of Studio Ghibli's beloved animations, from "Howl's Moving Castle" to the Oscar-winning "Spirited Away".

Now a fluffy Cat Bus, a life-sized No-Face and recreations of buildings from the films are ready for visitors less than a month after the country fully reopened its borders to foreign tourists.

Tickets are reservation only, and are already sold out until the end of the year.

One middle-aged visitor, who described himself as "a huge fan", told broadcaster TV Asahi he had been queuing to enter the park since the previous day.

"Congratulations!" said a hand-drawn note posted on Twitter by Studio Ghibli, illustrated with a row of figures resembling the spirit creature Totoro and signed by the company's co-founder Hayao Miyazaki.

Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki also spoke of his excitement at a ceremony on Monday ahead of the opening.

"I didn't sleep very well last night. It's a bit different from a film release," he said.

Spread over 7.1 hectares (17.5 acres) of a 194-hectare (480-acre) park in Aichi region where the 2005 International Expo was held, the site features large open-air areas in keeping with the importance of nature in Ghibli films.

Among the three sections now open is the "Hill of Youth", the gateway to the park that features an elevator tower inspired by Ghibli films including "Castle in the Sky".

Elsewhere, "Dondoko Forest" evokes the retro peace of the 1988 classic "My Neighbour Totoro", with bucolic walking paths and an enormous Totoro figure.

A major draw will be Ghibli's Grand Warehouse, a hangar-like indoor portion of the park with various attractions, including 14 sets from 13 of the studio's film classics.

Visitors can stroll along an alley designed to look like the opening scene of "Spirited Away," or perch on the red velvet-covered train seat in a carriage next to the movie's instantly recognisable "No-Face" character.

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Aichi region is predicting an influx of 1.8 million visitors a year once all five areas of the park are open from next year, with an estimated annual economic impact of 48 billion yen ($324 million).

Studio Ghibli, founded in 1985 by Miyazaki and fellow animator Isao Takahata, has captivated fans around the world with works blending nostalgia, courage, greed and interaction with the natural world.

The studio already operates the hugely popular Ghibli Museum on the outskirts of Tokyo, which offers tickets only at the beginning of each month and regularly sells out within hours.

nf-kaf/lb
(Bloomberg) -- The dash for scarce UK government debt was on full display Tuesday, according to the breakdown of Bank of Englands inaugural sale of bonds purchased under its quantitative easing program.

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Traders placed almost 1 billion of bids on a single bond maturing January 2026, equivalent to 40% of total demand at the auction. They were rushing to get hold of the security before its time to maturity falls below three years, which would make it ineligible from future sales. The BOE reciprocated by selling them more than half of its daily 750 million target.

Years of central bank debt purchases have limited the pool of safe government securities freely available to trade, driving up the cost of borrowing bonds in the repo market. Gilt scarcity is particularly acute in the short end of the curve and has hurt liquidity, a distortion that risks limiting the impact of BOE rate hikes.

BOEs Bond Sales to Improve Urgent Need for Gilts, HSBC Says

The street wants it before it falls under three years in January, said George Whitehead, a gilt sales specialist at Astor Ridge LLP, noting the BOE owned over 60% of the particular bond.

The dearth of available bonds is pronounced even as the UK faces record net bond supply this fiscal year. Euro-area debt markets face similar headwinds, where a shortage of collateral is keeping short-term rates depressed.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said last week the central bank would be carefully monitoring activity in the market around year-end, when pressure is more common.

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(Bloomberg) -- Colony Capital LLC founder Tom Barrack had no motive to act as an unregistered foreign agent to help the United Arab Emirates influence his friend Donald Trump, a defense lawyer argued to federal jurors at the end of a six-week criminal trial.

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Barrack attorney Randall Jackson assailed the argument by prosecutors that Barrack, 75, acted under the direction and control of the UAE because its sovereign wealth funds invested $374 million in his firm. Jackson said that claim was flawed because Barrack had limited roles in a $74 million deal in 2017 and a $300 million deal in 2018.

Any reasonable person looking at this case has to be saying what could possibly be the motive for an extraordinarily successful businessman at the end of his career, after a lifetime of doing good work to decide for my final chapter Im going to engage in serious international crimes, Jackson told jurors in federal court in Brooklyn, New York. He added, Tom had limited involvement in these deals. These deals were a tiny, tiny part of the Colony balance sheet.

Jackson said Barrack, a longtime friend of Trump, is unfairly paying the price for his role as an informal adviser to the former president before and after the 2016 election.

The reason that Mr. Barrack was involved with the campaign is because hes loyal to his friends, maybe to a fault, Jackson said. But thats not what hes charged with.

Barrack and his assistant, Matthew Grimes, 29, are accused of helping the oil-rich UAE promote its agenda with Trumps campaign and early presidential administration without registering with the attorney general. Barrack also is charged with obstruction of justice and lying repeatedly to the FBI during a June 2019 interview. A UAE businessman, Rashid Al Malik, also was indicted and is considered a fugitive.

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Leveraging Access

The defendants believed that if they leveraged any access to the Trump campaign, the media and the Trump administration for the UAE, they might enter into a long-term financial relationship with sovereign wealth funds, prosecutor Ryan Harris said in his summation.

Harris cited a text message that Barrack sent after a friend teased him about his work for Trump. I am running for the money, Barrack said.

If youre running for the money, the UAE is where you run, Harris said.

In his summation, Jackson countered that prosecutors had no real proof whatsoever his client operated subject to the direction and control of a foreign power.

Instead of direction and control, what they have given you through this entire case is misdirection and control, Jackson said. Misdirection means an attempt to distract someone from the truth. This whole prosecution has been an act of misdirection.

Help Explain Trump

Rather, Jackson said, Barrack was nearing the end of his business career and was trying to explain Trump to Middle East leaders.

He is just trying to execute on his business duties and at the same time letting the Arab world know that America still loves them, Jackson said.

Jackson mocked the governments theory that Barrack furthered his secret agreement during a bicycle ride in the Moroccan desert with Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed, the UAEs national security adviser and an influential business figure.

Its logic-less, it makes no sense, and theres no evidence to support the theories they came up with, Jackson said.

Barrack testified in his own defense during the trial, claiming Trumps presidency proved disastrous for him and his business.

Not a Joke

In his summation, Grimes attorney Abbe Lowell said his client never should have been charged and didnt come close to acting as a foreign agent.

This is not a joke, Lowell said. These are serious, life changing felonies lodged against a person who was 22 years old at the time and just doing his job legally, as he always did.

While Grimes was an analyst and also vice president at Colony, he performed menial duties for Barrack such as taking photos, fetching coffee and ordering gifts, Lowell said.

He is the person who tracks down Tom for people calling or writing or cannot get through, Lowell said. Hes the person who people ask to get comments, to review or approve something. Hes the person to keep the office back home up to date with where the travels are taking them.

The case is US v. Al Malik Alshahhi, 21-cr-00371, US District Court, Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn).

(Updates with defense arguments throughout)

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Former President Trump projected Republicans will take control of the House and potentially the Senate in next weeks midterm elections during an interview with conservative podcast host Chris Stigall.

I think that we have a good chance at the Senate, Trump said on an episode of The Chris Stigall Show published on Tuesday.

Good chance, we had no chance three months ago, the former president continued. Now we have a chance of getting 51, 52. And I think the House is going to do pretty well, I think were going to be up by maybe a substantial number.

Trumps projection is in line with many in the GOP, who see a likely victory in the House and glimmers of hope that the party can win a handful of battleground Senate races to flip Democrats razor-thin majority.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), the chair of Senate Republicans campaign arm, on Sunday predicted the GOP will win at least 52 seats in the upper chamber, while others, like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), have suggested Republicans could eke out an even larger majority.

Such a feat would likely rely on defeating Democratic incumbents like Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.) and Raphael Warnock (Ga.) and holding Pennsylvanias open Senate seat.

In that race, Democrat John Fetterman is locked in a narrow contest against Trump-backed Mehmet Oz (R) that has only tightened as Election Day approaches.

Oz has attacked Fetterman on crime and his health after the Democrat suffered a stroke earlier this year, and Fettermans health was center stage at the duos sole debate last month.

I thought it was terrible, Trump said of the debate on the podcast. I thought whoever represented Fetterman in putting him on, that was a terrible thing to do.

Trump, who has suggested he will likely mount another White House bid, also appeared optimistic about the GOPs chances to take back the presidency in two years.

Can Republicans take back the White House in 2024, sir? Stigall asked.

Well, I think so, Trump responded. And if we dont, were not going to have a country anymore, because literally thats where everything sort of happens.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Photo: Chung Chow, BIV. The mayors-elect of Vancouver and Surrey clinched their recent victories in part through public safety campaign promises

Public safety campaign promises helped clinch victories for the mayors-elect in B.C.s two biggest cities last month.



As Surreys Brenda Locke promised to reverse her citys transition from the RCMP to its own municipal police force, Ken Sim in Vancouver promised to hire and deploy 100 new police officers and 100 mental health nurses in his city.



While those pledges were enough to secure victories at the ballot box, experts caution they may prove too ambitious to deliver on.



The debate thats going on in Surrey right now is the colour of the uniform, which is absolutely ridiculous. The debate should be how are we going to deliver a more effective, efficient and accountable police service to the citizens of Surrey, said Kash Heed, who was a superintendent with the Vancouver Police Department and chief constable of the West Vancouver Police Department before serving as the provinces minister of public safety and solicitor general under the BC Liberals.



He said discussions over public safety in both Surrey and Vancouver have been focused on the wrong priorities.



You could hire 200 or 300 more officers [in Vancouver] and it may not make any difference if they get absorbed into the fabric. Youve got to start doing business differently, said Heed, who was elected to serve as a city councillor in Richmond during the October municipal elections. And Ken Sim needs to realize this  hiring more and more and more does not necessarily create a safer environment or reduce crime.



Surrey



The situation in Surrey is a product of one mans folly, according to Simon Fraser University criminology professor Rob Gordon.



Outgoing Mayor Doug McCallum won at the ballot box in 2018 in part by campaigning on the promise to establish a municipal force for the largest city in Canada still policed by the Mounties.



Since then, about 300 municipal police officers have been recruited to the Surrey Police Service (SPS), half of whom have been deployed into policing operations alongside the RCMP.



One things for sure. You cant have two police services or two groups of people wearing uniforms working alongside of each other for very long, Gordon, a former police officer, said.



The Surrey RCMP detachment has about 1,000 officers deployed within the city. But Gordon said the SPS has so far fallen short of expectations for recruiting members of the Surrey RCMP to transition over to the municipal police force.



While it would not be impossible to reverse course on this transition from the RCMP to SPS, Gordon said it would come at great expense to taxpayers who would have to foot the bill for terminated contracts of the newly recruited municipal officers.



The SPS estimates it will cost $64 million over five years to transition from the RCMP, while Locke has claimed retaining the Mounties would save taxpayers $520 million over five years.



Meanwhile, the municipal forces budget for this year is set at $72.5 million in addition to the ongoing transition costs.



Locke, who served on Surrey city council before winning the mayoralty, told BIV that city staff are still crunching the numbers but I can tell you what they have said: It is far, far more fiscally prudent to stick with the RCMP than it is to continue down this path with the Surrey Police Service.



So I think thats sort of the most I can tell you about that. There's no question that it is  better financially for us to stay with the RCMP.



Both she and Gordon said most of the expenditures associated with stopping the SPS transition are associated with personnel, while all the capital costs related to recently acquired hardware such as cars or investments in IT can be fully recovered.



I lay some of this mess at the door of the provincial government because the bottom-line with policing in B.C. is that all policing is the responsibility of the provincial government, not the municipal government, Gordon said.



That puts the ultimate decision in the hands of B.C. Solicitor General Mike Farnworth, who would have to sign off on a plan to reverse this transition after previously agreeing to let Surrey create its own municipal force.



Locke said she expects to see by the end of November a report requested by Farnworth detailing how the city would disband the SPS.



This is going to be mired in litigation over the next four years of this term of [Surrey city] council if they turn it back. The litigation, the lawyers involved, the costs  again, bearing the costs are the taxpayers of Surrey, said Heed. There are other things they can do to mitigate this. They can go through the transition, and they can slow it down a little bit more to kind of firm up what the vision should be or what the product needs to be at the end of the day. I firmly believe they can do that.



He suggested a hybrid police model similar to that of Halifax, where the RCMP supplements Halifax Regional Police in suburban and rural areas, might also be one option.



Both Heed and Gordon have been long-time advocates for a significant rethink of how policing is done in B.C. The pair believe the ideal model would be to create regional police forces that would operate across Metro Vancouver, the Okanagan and the Capital Region on Vancouver Island.



This experiment has proven that its been very, very difficult for any municipal government to have their own independent municipal police force at this time, Heed said. The taxpayers are the ones that are bearing the brunt of this.



Vancouver



North of the Fraser, Vancouvers Sim said at his first news conference since winning the mayoralty that his No. 1 priority would be hiring 100 new police officers and 100 mental health nurses.



We will provide the funding for it; its going to happen, he said Oct. 17.



Sim did not make himself available for an interview prior to deadline.



The mayor-elect estimated during the campaign that this initiative would cost $20 million a year over five years for a total cost of $100 million.



But how this pledge will be funded will remain murky until Sim and council begin 2023 budget deliberations in December.



What were going to do when were in office is were going to go line by line on those financial statements, and were going to see where we can reprioritize, he said. But I want to be very clear  and we said this during the election  were going to maintain all the current service levels. Were just going to look for those things that are discretionary, that we dont necessarily have to [fund]. We can make a better choice.



The challenge is that the city cannot simply approach the Justice Institute and put in an order for 100 new recruits, according to Gordon.



What the City of Vancouver needs if its going to go this route are experienced and qualified police officers, he said. And there arent that many around in B.C. that are looking for jobs.



But if the SPS were to be disbanded, Gordon said that might open up an avenue for Sims campaign pledge.



Hes got a pool of people now sitting out in Surrey staring at unemployment insurance, Gordon said.
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A Turkish court ordered the formal arrest of eight people in relation to an explosion in a coal mine that killed 41 people in October, state-owned Anadolu news agency said late on Monday.

Among those jailed pending trial were the manager and the deputy manager of the mine, owned by the state's Turkish Hard Coal Enterprises (TTK), as well as other officials at the facility.

The suspects were accused of causing the death and injury of multiple people with intentional negligence, Anadolu said.

TTK declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

A further 16 other suspects were released from police custody, it reported.

A 25th suspect was in Istanbul, accompanying a mine worker who was injured, and was not taken into police custody.

The blast in the coal mine in northern Turkey's Amasra province was the deadliest mining accident since a fire at a mine in Soma, in western Turkey, that killed 301 people in 2014.

The blast was believed to have been caused by firedamp, a term referring to methane in coal mines.

Critics of the government questioned the safety protocols after the explosion, with the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) saying that a state audit authority had warned of risks at the Amasra mine in 2019.

The Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects, said inspections were not carried out adequately partly because staff numbers had been reduced, cutting qualified personnel.

(Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Daren Butler and Hugh Lawson)
 Read the full article on Motorious

Check out this 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS that has been restored to like-new condition.

The Chevrolet Chevelle SS is easily one of the most popular muscle cars from the era of high-performance muscle powered by big-block V8s. Although unknown at the time, the 1970 model year was edging closer to the demise of the movement with the oil crisis looming on the horizon that would cause people to buy smaller cars for fuel efficiency. Here we have a beautiful example of a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 with 4-speed manual, available at the Raleigh Classic Winter Auction on December 2-3.

Vehicles like these are the stuff of legend for any knowledgeable enthusiast with a passion for vintage American automobiles. These muscle cars were made to race on the drag strip with high horsepower figures and even better torque. Spinning tires without obstacles, barreling down the quarter-mile track, and sending a deep roar out of the tailpipes is precisely what cars like this were made for. The Chevelle was an iconic example of this subgenre of car culture, which is why this particular one is such a desirable model. High performance, good looks, and some distinct design features signify this car as a Chevy beast.

This stunning 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS 454 has been fully restored. Under the hood, the monster 454-cid V8 engine, paired to the engine is a M20 4-speed manual transmission. Additional equipment and options include power steering, power brakes, new high-volume Melling oil pump, new high-volume water pump, AM/FM radio, Kregor SS mag rims and 15-inch tires.

Join us at The Raleigh Classic Winter Auction on December 2-3 in Youngsville, North Carolina. To learn more about bidding, consignment and accommodations, please visit https://www.raleighclassic.com

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The attack on U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband highlights the need for more money to protect lawmakers in a bitterly divided political climate, the head of the Capitol Police said on Tuesday.

Authorities are monitoring thousands of cases across the country to stop potential threats, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said in a statement just hours before the man accused of beating Pelosi's husband with a hammer was expected to make his first court appearance.

The attack was politically motivated, according to prosecutors, who said in court papers that the accused, David Wayne DePape, 42, said that he wanted to kidnap Nancy Pelosi and force her to tell "the truth."

Pelosi has long been a target of conservative anger.

"We believe todays political climate calls for more resources to provide additional layers of physical security for members of Congress," Manger said. "This plan would include an emphasis on adding redundancies to the measures that are already in place for congressional leadership," he said without providing details.

Pelosi and other top leaders of Congress get full-time guards and other enhanced security measures.

The attack came shortly before the Nov. 8 midterm elections and follows months of bitter campaigning as Republicans try to win control of the House of Representatives and Senate.

Threats against Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been on the rise. Capitol Police said they investigated 9,625 incidents in 2021, nearly a threefold increase from 2017.

Manger said the department is on track to meet its goal of hiring nearly 280 officers by the end of this year.

Security measures for members of Congress and for the Capitol itself have been under intense scrutiny since the Jan. 6, 2021 attack at the seat of government by supporters of then-President Donald Trump, who has refused to accept Democrat Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election.

Story continues

The Capitol Police has opened regional field offices in California and Florida, with plans to open more soon to help investigate threats to lawmakers, Manger said.

Also starting this year, members of Congress can have up to $10,000 worth of new security equipment for their homes paid for by the government, a House Democratic aide said.

This could include items such as motion detectors, duress buttons, special door and window locks and enhanced lighting. They also can hire private security firms.

Lawmakers can also use their regular office expense accounts to buy bulletproof vests and other security equipment and Capitol Police have been increasing coordination with local law enforcement agencies.

(Reporting by Paul Grant and Richard Cowan; editing by Scott Malone, Tim Ahmann, Nick Macfie and Tomasz Janowski)
The United Arab Emirates has recently banned citizens of 20 African countries from entering, according to Africa News. In addition, nationals of the Dominican Republic are also included in the ban.

What we know:

A notice was issued that read, This is to inform you that we will not be posting 30 days visa applications for these nationalities effective today October 18, 2022.

The nationalities included in the visa ban are Uganda, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Liberia, Burundi, Republic of Guinea, Gambia, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin, Ivory Coast, Congo, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Comoros, and the Dominican Republic.

Notifications sent:

Local authorities notified all trade partners, including travel agents, that all applications from citizens of these countries are to be rejected.

Any applications from the above-mentioned countries will be sent back or canceled.

This is not the first time:

This is not the first time people from African countries have been barred from entering the United Arab Emirates.

In December 2021, Emirates Airlines, one of the countrys flag carriers, announced that travelers from eight African nations would not be allowed to travel or transit through until further notice. The stated reasoning behind the previous ban was to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Whats the reason?

Some have speculated that the recent ban is due to some visitors from the specified countries overstaying their visas. Others believe it has something to do with the ongoing aviation issues between UAE and one of the countries, Nigeria.

Some believe it is a racial discrimination tactic aimed at reducing the number of Black people entering the country. However, the reason for the new ban has not been stated and remains unclear.

Related: Africa Vs. The World: Visa Bans Against African Countries Around The Globe
British Home Secretary Suella Braverman warned this week that the migrant crisis in the United Kingdom has reached the level of an "invasion," which drew both criticism and support from local politicians, with some calling for her resignation.

"The British people deserve to know which party is serious about stopping the invasion on our southern coast and which party is not," Braverman, a conservative, said this week. "Lets stop pretending they are all refugees in distress, the whole country knows that is not true."

Braverman added that her countrys "hopelessly lax asylum system" is "broken."

Bravermans comments drew harsh criticism from liberal politicians, including Kim Johnson, a lawmaker for the main opposition Labour Party, who said Braverman's language would inflame tensions amid the growing immigration crisis along the English Channel.

UK SEES RECORD NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CROSSING ENGLISH CHANNEL, AS DEPORTATION PLAN STALLS

Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in London on Oct. 18, 2022.

Anne McLaughlin, a Scottish Nationalist Party member of Parliament, said she was "disgusted, absolutely disgusted to hear a Home secretary deliberately use inflammatory language about vulnerable asylum seekers." She called the remarks shameful.

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"Shes totally unfit to be Home secretary," Labor MP Zarah Sultana said, according to The Sun.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick attempted to clarify Braverman's comment by saying "you have to choose your words very carefully" and that he would "never demonize people coming to this country in pursuit of a better life," Sky News reported . However, Jenrick explained that Braverman "was trying to express" the severity of the crisis.

12 MIGRANTS FROM IRELAND, GREAT BRITAIN ARRESTED FOR ILLEGALLY ENTERING THE US THROUGH MINNESOTA

"The Home secretary was seeking to express the sheer scale of the challenge that faces the country, with people, including a significant proportion of economic migrants, seeking to make this journey," a spokesperson for newly installed U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, according to the BBC .

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Nigel Farage, former leader of the Brexit Party as well as UKIP, defended Braverman on Twitter.

BRITAIN FACES RECORD MIGRANT INFLUX VIA ENGLISH CHANNEL, DEMANDS FRANCE CRACK DOWN

Border Force escorted 100 migrants back to Dover after they were picked up in the English Channel.

"Its a word Ive been using for two years that Ive been condemned for," Farage said in a video message . "I expect even more pressure to come on the Home secretary. I really hope she stays in post but believe me, the establishment are out to get her because shes got the guts to say many of these people just are not refugees."

The number of people making the hazardous journey across one of the world's busiest shipping lanes has risen sharply in recent years, with 40,000 reaching the U.K. so far this year, up from 28,000 in all of 2021 and 8,500 in 2020. Some have predicted the number of migrants crossing into the United Kingdom could pass 60,000 by the end of the year.

UK PLEDGES TO CRACK DOWN ON APPALLING WAVE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ACROSS ENGLISH CHANNEL

Braverman was reappointed by Sunak last week, six days after she resigned from the same role for breaching ministerial rules by sending a sensitive government document via her personal email.

She has also been accused of failing to listen to legal advice on the prolonged detention of migrants at a processing center and failing to secure adequate accommodation for them, both claims she has denied. She has, so far, ignored calls to resign once again.

Braverman's comments came the day after an immigration center in Dover was targeted with gasoline bombs on Sunday, injuring one person before the suspect reportedly killed himself.

"No Home secretary who was serious about public safety or national security would use highly inflammatory language on the day after a dangerous petrol bomb attack on a Dover initial processing center," Yvette Cooper, the home affairs spokeswoman for the opposition Labour Party, said.

THE BRITISH POUND HAS TAKEN A TUMBLE. WHAT'S THE IMPACT?

Braverman is also facing criticism after revealing that "high numbers" of migrants could potentially take legal action against the government for being housed at processing centers longer than the law permits, The Sun reported.

Some have attempted to place blame on Braverman for the legal issues, which could mean payouts of up to 6,000 British pounds for each migrant, and alleged that she blocked migrants from being sent to hotels.

Braverman has denied that she "deliberately" blocked the transfer of migrants, adding that the criticisms were part of a "political witch hunt" that ignores the "facts of the problem."

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"Illegal immigration is out of control," Braverman said.

About a fifth of British voters say dealing with immigration is the most challenging issue facing the country, according to a YouGov poll published this month.

"The number of people arriving in the U.K. via small boats has reached record levels and continues to put our asylum system under incredible pressure," a spokesperson for the U.K. Home Office told Fox News Digital. "Manston remains resourced and equipped to process migrants securely and we will provide alternative accommodation as soon as possible."

"We urge anyone who is thinking about leaving a safe country and risking their lives at the hands of criminal people smugglers to seriously reconsider," the statement continued. "Despite what they have been told, they will not be allowed to start a new life here."

The Home Office added that it will continue to provide for all the basic needs of migrants who arrive at their processing centers and said they are "absolutely committed to securing the welfare of all migrants and staff" at the Manston processing center.

Fox News' Stephen Sorace and Reuters contributed to this report
LONDON (Reuters) - British Home Secretary Suella Braverman faced heavy criticism on Tuesday for describing the arrival of asylum seekers as an invasion, with lawmakers across the political spectrum warning of the risk of using inflammatory language.

Her comments came a day after a man used fire bombs to attack an immigration processing centre in the port town of Dover.

Braverman, who is fighting to save her job after she admitted breaching security rules, told parliament on Monday that she was working to stop the "invasion on our southern coast" in reference to the arrival of migrants in small boats across the English channel.

Robert Jenrick, an immigration minister in Braverman's interior ministry, said his boss's language reflected the scale of the challenge, after a record number of nearly 40,000 asylum seekers arrived in Britain via small boats so far this year.

But he added: "I think in my role you have to choose your terminology wisely and we don't want to see incidents like the one that occurred in Dover happen again."

Braverman was reappointed interior minister by new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week, six days after she resigned from the same role for breaching ministerial rules by sending a sensitive government document via her personal email.

She has also been accused of failing to listen to legal advice on the prolonged detention of migrants at another processing centre, and failing to secure adequate accommodation, both claims she has denied.

Roger Gale, a lawmaker in Braverman's governing Conservative Party whose constituency includes that centre, said her predecessors had found alternative accommodation such as hotels but that had stopped when she took over.

"I don't accept or trust this home secretary's word," he told Times Radio. "She is only really interested in playing to the right wing."

Conditions at the site at Manston in Kent were last week described by Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration David Neal as "pretty wretched". A report found people were sleeping on the floor, some were not given access to telephones and were not allowed to close toilet doors fully.

Story continues

Intended to house around 1,500 migrants for less than 24 hours at a time, numbers have swelled to more than double that, with one Afghan family saying they had been there for 32 days.

"Let's stop pretending they are all refugees in distress, the whole country knows that is not true," Braverman told parliament.

Yvette Cooper, the home affairs spokeswoman for the opposition Labour Party, said the rhetoric had deteriorated in line with the government's performance.

"No Home Secretary who was serious about public safety or national security would use highly inflammatory language on the day after a dangerous petrol bomb attack on a Dover initial processing centre," she said.

(Reporting by Kate Holton and Kylie MacLellan; Editing by Nick Macfie)
(Bloomberg) -- The United Nations said vessels loaded with grains are expected to move through Ukraines crop-export corridor on Thursday.

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The UN said earlier that ships would be halted on Wednesday, without giving an explanation. The halt was announced after Russia warned that vessels werent safe using the route. Wheat prices rose on news of the disruption.

Russia suspended its role in the crucial Black Sea export pact over the weekend. The agreement -- signed in July -- guaranteed the safe passage of Ukraine crop exports, which are badly needed by food importers amid surging prices and a global cost-of-living crisis.

We expect loaded ships to sail on Thursday, the UN coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative said in a tweet. No movements are planned for November 2 under the initiative, he added.

Grain vessels continued to leave Ukraine on Monday and Tuesday, even after Moscow withdrew its support for the deal. The UN said Tuesday those movements were temporary and extraordinary.

Ukraine is one of the worlds top grain and vegetable-oil suppliers, and US President Joe Biden has said Russias pullback from the deal will increase global hunger. Ukraines farmers are in the midst of autumn harvests and may have to redirect crops along costlier and lengthier export routes by rail, road and river if the disruption to vessel traffic lasts.

Russia should clearly know that it will receive a tough response from the world to any steps that disrupt our food exports. This is literally a matter of life for tens of millions of people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Tuesday in his night address to the nation. Pressure on Russia for the sake of guarantees of food security is now needed from everyone.

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Wheat futures in Chicago rose 2%, reversing earlier losses. Prices surged more than 6% the prior session. Corn also traded higher, and the Paris wheat contract reached a two-week high.

There are 110 cargo ships awaiting inspection in Istanbul to travel through to the Black Sea and load Ukrainian grain, said Yuriy Vaskov, Ukraines deputy infrastructure minister. He remained optimistic on the prospects of the grain accord even after Russias suspension, he said in an interview before the UN announcement.

Still, Kyiv is preparing contingency plans, Vaskov said. The nation has managed to boost logistics capacities of its three Danube River ports near the Romanian border by at least five times and railway capacities as much as twofold, he said.

The UN will issue another update on the status for the crop corridor on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the secretary-general said. The agency is exerting all efforts to resume full participation in the grain deal, a statement said.

Read more: Ukraine Latest: Macron Offers Air Defense, Aid on Infrastructure.

--With assistance from Aine Quinn and Joe Deaux.

(Adds comments from UN and Ukraine minister of infrastructure)

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(Bloomberg) -- The United Nations said vessels loaded with grain are expected to move through Ukraines crop-export corridor on Thursday. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on the world to press Russia to allow operations of the Black Sea passage from Ukrainian ports.

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The UN had earlier called a halt to grain ships moving through the corridor after Russia warned that vessels werent safe using the route.

French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to provide additional air defenses to Ukraine and help rebuild energy infrastructure in a telephone call with Zelenskiy, who called the exchange extremely important.

Zelenskiy told a top European Union official visiting Kyiv, energy commissioner Kadri Simson, that Russian attacks seriously damaged 40% of Ukraines power infrastructure. Ukraines power grid operator announced plans for cuts on Tuesday in Kyiv, as well as in seven central and northern regions.

(See RSAN on the Bloomberg Terminal for the Russian Sanctions Dashboard.)

Key Developments

Ukraine Grain Exports to Transit Black Sea Corridor Thursday

Conflict in Ukraine Moves Toward War of Drones as Winter Looms

Grain Markets on Edge for Escalation After Russia Warns on Ships

Ukraine Crop-Export Inspection Pace Soars as Russia Steps Back

Holland & Barretts Russia-Linked Owner Buys Back 99% of Loans

On the Ground

Russian forces maintained an offensive toward the cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, while continuing to transfer individual units to Belarus, according to the Ukrainian General Staff. Russia has launched more than 400 Shahed-136 drones against Ukraine, more than 300 of which have been shot down, Yuriy Ignat, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, said in a video briefing. Russian officials in occupied Kherson are using shifting rhetoric to describe a Ukrainian threat to the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, potentially to accelerate an evacuation from the west bank of the Dnipro river and eventual withdrawal of Russian forces, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

Story continues

(All times CET)

Zelenskiy Calls for Protections for Grain Corridor (12:45 a.m.)

Zelenskiy, in his nightly address to the nation on Tuesday, said the grain corridor needs reliable and long-term protection. He spoke as the UN announced that the shipments on the Black Sea route would continue.

We expect loaded ships to sail on Thursday, the UN coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative said in a tweet. No movements were planned for Nov. 2 under the initiative, he added.

Grain vessels continued to leave Ukraine on Monday and Tuesday, even after Moscow withdrew its support for the deal and the UN said the shipments would be halted. The UN on Tuesday called those movements temporary and extraordinary.

Zelenskiy, in his address, said Russia should clearly know that it will receive a tough response from the world to any steps that disrupt our food exports. This is literally a matter of life for tens of millions of people.

US Provides $47.6 Million for Mine Removal (10:40 p.m.)

The State Department has awarded $47.6 million to a California company that will help Ukraine find and remove landmines, unexploded shells and other explosive hazards.

The company, Tetra Tech Inc., will train Ukraines de-mining and explosive ordnance disposal teams to international standards and provide them with the tools necessary to do their jobs, the department said in a statement on Tuesday evening. According to Ukrainian government estimates, as much as 160,000 square kilometers of land may be contaminated with explosive devices, the department added.

Russia May Receive Surface-to-Surface Missiles From Iran, US Says (5:23 p.m.)

We are concerned that Iran might be considering the provision of surface-to-surface missiles to Russia in addition to the drones, John Kirby, spokesman for President Joe Bidens National Security Council, told reporters in Washington. Iran has already provided Russia with drones used by the Kremlin to attack Ukraine.

UN Halts Flow of Ukraine Grain Export Ships on Wednesday (5:01 p.m.)

Wheat prices rose after the UN announced the decision, taken jointly with Turkey and Ukraine. It didnt explain the reasoning but the move comes after a deal aimed at allowing for crucial Black Sea grain shipments unraveled and Moscow said ships safety couldnt be guaranteed.

Russia suspended its role in the pact over the weekend, citing drone strikes against its naval vessels. The agreement -- signed in July -- guaranteed the safe passage of Ukraine crop exports, which are badly needed by food importers amid surging prices and a global cost-of-living crisis. Grain vessels continued to leave Ukraine on Monday and Tuesday, even after Moscow withdrew its support for the deal.

Russia Seriously Damaged 40% of Power Infrastructure: Zelenskiy (4:28 p.m.)

The Ukrainian leader discussed the consequences of Russian attacks on the countrys energy system with the EUs Simson. Thermal power plants, heat suppliers and hydro power stations were hit by Russian missiles and drones, forcing Ukraine to halt its electricity export to Europe. Zelenskiy told Simson that Ukraine seeks to resume deliveries once the situation stabilizes.

Simson earlier called for increased assistance -- and condemned Russian attacks against infrastructure as winter approaches. Help had to come from EU institutions and member states as well as international partners and private donors, she said in Kyiv.

Macron Pledges Help on Aerial Defense, Rebuilding Infrastructure (3:50 p.m.)

The French leader pledged to bolster military backing for Ukraine, especially in aerial defense, the Elysee Palace said following the phone call. The two agreed to organize an international conference in Paris on Dec. 13 to assist the rebuilding of Ukraines energy system after Russian attacks.

We must act before winter, Macron said on Twitter. Zelenskiy earlier thanked Macron for his unwavering support after the two spoke.

Ukraine Accepts Naftogaz CEO Vitrenkos Resignation (3:28 p.m.)

Ukraines cabinet accepted the resignation of Yuriy Vitrenko from his post as chief executive of state-run energy giant NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy. Vitrenko will continue to serve as CEO until Nov. 3, the company said.

Vitrenko, whod served as Naftogaz CEO since April 2021, was embroiled in a clash with the government over its debt servicing as energy prices surged following Russias invasion earlier this year. In July, Vitrenko said he was surprised the government had ordered the company to spend its foreign-currency holdings to buy more natural gas for the upcoming winter instead of paying bondholders, as Naftogaz had planned to do both.

Ukraine Crop-Export Inspection Pace Soars as Russia Steps Back (3:07 p.m.)

The pace of cargoes cleared to head abroad has soared, helping to ease a pileup of vessels, since Russia suspended its role in the Black Sea grain accord.

Some 46 outbound vessels passed inspection in Istanbul on Monday, up more than tenfold from the average for the rest of the month, according to data posted by the United Nations. The pickup comes after Russia stepped back from the landmark Ukraine grain-export deal, which was agreed in late July and has revived the countrys seaborne trade.

Erdogan Confident of Solution on Grain Corridor After Putin Call (2:58 p.m.)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Russias leader, Vladimir Putin, that hes confident that parties will take a solution-oriented approach in efforts to sustain the Black Sea grain corridor, according to a statement on the call.

A constructive approach on the grain crisis can encourage a return to negotiations, Erdogan said, without giving further details.

Kremlin Says Partial Mobilization Is Complete (12:10 p.m.)

The partial mobilization of 300,000 reservists is complete and no presidential decree is needed to formally put an end to it, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The Defense Ministry announced last week that the call-up was completed, but the lack of a new presidential order formally rescinding it had raised fears it could be restarted at any moment. Asked about the issue late Monday, Putin said he would check with legal aides and determine whether he needed to sign another order. Peskov said that analysis concluded none is needed and the previous decree has lapsed because the target of 300,000 troops has been reached.

Putins initial announcement of the mobilization in September fueled public alarm and triggered an exodus of hundreds of thousands of people from the country.

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Re. More than 170 $10-a-day childcare spaces added to Kelowna (Castanet, Nov. 1)

Why on earth are the childless having to compensate and support the child-needy?

One would think that before bringing a child into this world, prospective parents would consider factors such as the economics of being able to raise a child.

It seems that everyone needs a handout now and endless government charity to get by. There is almost an expectationin fact a demandfor contributions from the government.

There's nothing worse for a child than being born into poverty. It has negative indicators for all sorts of aspects of a child's life. They are far less likely to develop into successful thriving adults (with a few exceptions, obviously). They are born into a trap of misery and unhappiness, denied opportunities and held back.

We are seeing a world that is now vastly overpopulated, with governments scratching their heads about how to balance the books and provide for a consistently shrinking working population, a declining tax base, and an increasing social and health financial burden.

So perhaps prospective parents should look at this changing social structure and play their part in reducing the global population. They should look at their working colleagues, friends, and family and ask themselves if it is fair to have to seek financial support in order to bring another child into the world.

The working classes simply cannot continue to take the burden of increasing government demands being taken from their paychecks.

Or, do we choose a path where the world population continues to increase, everyone receives a UBI (universal basic income), there is no need or justification for anyone to work any more, endless government handouts flow from the brain trust in Ottawa, and we consistently print money to pay for all of these expenses?

After all, isn't that the direction Canada is headed if we stay the current course?

Perhaps it all makes total sense.

Ricky Daytona, West Kelowna
Yuriy Butusov

According to the report, Norwegian instructors have been training nearly 100 Ukrainian soldiers to operate the air defense systems, for several weeks now, at a U.S. military base in Germany.

Read also: Kyiv gets new air defense systems, mayor says

A senior U.S. Department of Defense officials earlier said that the United States will provide Ukraine with eight NASAMS systems: two are to be delivered in near future, with the rest coming later.

Two NASAMS batteries were included in the $820 million U.S. security assistance package to Ukraine, announced on July 1. The other six were pledged in the subsequent $3 billion package, announced on Aug. 24  Ukraines Independence Day.

Read also: US to give Ukraine eight NASAMS, first two on the way  Pentagon

Raytheon Technologies  the company that produces NASAMS  announced on Oct. 25 that the first two units were delivered to the U.S. government, ready to be transferred to Ukraine.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Kyiv is in partial darkness because of scheduled power cuts and restrictions

Water and electricity supplies in Kyiv have been restored, a day after they were disrupted by Russian missile strikes on key infrastructure sites across Ukraine.

Scheduled blackouts will continue to manage power demand, the city's mayor, Vitaliy Klitschko, said.

He also announced that 1,000 heating points would be set up for people to seek shelter from the cold during winter, in expectation of more power outages over the next few months.

The latest strikes followed an attack on Russia's Black Sea fleet in Crimea which Russia blames on Ukraine, although Kyiv has not commented.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin said Monday's strikes were partly in response to the Crimea attack. However, Moscow has been targeting Ukrainian infrastructure since before the Crimea attack took place.

We've got the latest from Kyiv and elsewhere in Ukraine here.

UK defends Ukraine against cyber-attacks

This threatening message appeared on Ukrainian government websites in January - Kyiv blamed Russia

Details have emerged about a secret UK programme to defend Ukraine against Russian cyber-attacks.

The 6m ($6.9m) package had been kept under wraps until now to protect operational security, officials say.

Ukraine has been subjected to unprecedented attacks from a range of Russian intelligence services, according to those involved in the programme.

"We've seen on a daily basis now the terrible images of the way that the electrical grid in Ukraine has been battered by ballistic strikes and drone strikes from the Russians - they face the same threat and same challenge in the cyber domain," UK Europe Minister Leo Docherty told the BBC.

Russia repeatedly denies claims it has carried out cyber attacks.

Read more here from our security correspondent Gordon Corera

Russian banker cuts ties with homeland

Oleg Tinkov's anti-Kremlin tirade is rare in the Russian business community

Billionaire Russian banker Oleg Tinkov has renounced his Russian citizenship, saying he refuses to be associated with a "fascist" country that invaded a peaceful neighbour.

The founder of the online Tinkoff bank is one of very few current Russian oligarchs to take a stand against the war but said he hoped he could set an example.

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"I hope more prominent Russian businessmen will follow me, so it weakens Putin's regime and his economy, and put him [sic] eventually to defeat," he said in an Instagram post.

Mr Tinkov is believed to live in London but is subject to UK sanctions, as are many other Russian oligarchs.

Read more about his campaign against the Russian war here

'I said goodbye to my loved ones'

Liudmyla (R), with daughter Olha, says she did not think she would survive the night a Russian soldier entered her home

War can seem distant to many of us, especially after so many months of fighting.

But the BBC's Jeremy Bowen's recent journey across the east and south of Ukraine, hearing moving accounts from soldiers and civilians, serves to bring it up close - most notably with the harrowing story of 75-year-old grandmother Liudmyla.

The retired teacher described how she was viciously beaten and raped by a Russian soldier in her own home in an apparently unprovoked attack.

"I said goodbye to my children, my grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, I never thought I would stay alive," she said.

"Putin and the Russians will never be forgiven until the end of their world for what they did to the Ukrainians. There will be no forgiveness."

'I was nearly starved'

In September we reported that five British nationals captured by Russian forces in Ukraine had been released.

Now one of them, Shaun Pinner, has been talking about his ordeal.

The former British Army soldier, who fought with Ukrainian forces in Mariupol, says he nearly starved to death in captivity and was given only bread and water for about 50 days.

"We were treated badly - electrocuted, tasered, stabbed in the leg, pistol-whipped and taken to a black site," he said.

He and another former soldier, Aiden Aslin, were put on trial in the separatist Donetsk People's Republic and told they faced the death penalty, but were set free as part of an exchange deal.

Read more about Shaun here
Russian cyber attacks have attempted to disrupt systems used by Ukrainians

A UK programme has been secretly helping Ukraine defend against Russian cyber attacks, it can now be revealed.

Details of the 6m package had not been made public before to protect operational security, officials say.

Ukraine saw unprecedented attacks from a range of Russian intelligence services, according to those involved in the programme.

But Ukrainian defences - supported by its allies - helped it withstand many of the attempts to take down systems.

Russia has repeatedly dismissed claims it has carried out cyber attacks.

The targeting of Ukraine in cyber-space was believed to represent the most extensive compromise of a single government seen in history, those involved in defending Ukraine say.

Russian attacks came in waves, accelerating in the second half of last year as Moscow prepared for its invasion, security sources say.

The next wave saw it seeking to disrupt government ministries around January and February and then moving to a new, more opportunistic phase in recent months, according to the sources.

The UK had long worked with Ukraine on cyber defence but shifted to providing direct help after the invasion, it has emerged.

The assistance focused on working with industry partners to provide specialist forensic capabilities to detect and investigate attacks as well as offering hardware and other systems to bolster defences.

"We brought some of our expertise to bear on helping them defend from what has been a daily onslaught of cyber attacks from Russia since the start of the invasion," said Leo Docherty, Europe minister at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Support is provided through the FCDO, with officials saying it has led the way amongst allies in providing specialist expertise.

The US military's Cyber Command also recently revealed to the BBC the way in which it helped hunt Russians inside Ukrainian systems, although their team had withdrawn by the time of the February invasion.

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Sources close to the UK programme, which includes extensive private sector support, say they saw waves of attacks, sometimes using innovative techniques.

Human agents

This included targeting satellite communications to get inside sensitive networks and using networks of human agents on the ground to gain access to key systems - infected USB devices were found which apparently were inserted into computers.

In some cases, there were attempts to knock ministries and infrastructure offline. But Russia did not initially appear to try and destroy telecommunications and energy sector networks, most likely because they were hoping to utilise them for their own purposes and "live off the land", according to one person involved.

Back in 2015, hackers linked to Russia were able to turn off a power station in the country for hours and after an initial delay, electricity systems have been increasingly targeted this year.

"We've seen on a daily basis now the terrible images of the way that the electrical grid in Ukraine has been battered by ballistic strikes and drone strikes from the Russians - they face the same threat and same challenge in the cyber domain," Mr Docherty told the BBC.

In the early months of the war, the teams supported by the UK are also said to have seen specific Russian targeting of databases looking for personal identifiable information at the village, district and city level, which may have been Russian intelligence services seeking to identify and locate officials.

This threatening message appeared on Ukrainian government websites in January - Kyiv blamed Russia

The full range of hacking groups from all three of Russia's intelligence agencies have been spotted with military intelligence, the GRU, the most active, sources say.

The most advanced capabilities appear to have been kept back for targeting senior Ukrainian officials. One of the most stealthy groups, codenamed Turla and linked to Russia's FSB security service, was also seen in two locations thanks to mistakes it made. Meanwhile, Russia's foreign intelligence service, the SVR, has been continuing to spy on the US and European governments.

New Russian teams were also seen being mobilised along with greater innovation in the way malicious software was developed and deployed, those involved claim. There are signs though that the conflict has temporarily disrupted the Russian criminal world with splits between groups over the war, those involved in observing the dark web say.

Those involved say that despite effective defences, led by the Ukrainians and supported by allies, cyberspace remains heavily contested as Russia continues to seek new ways of carrying out its ambitions.

"The UK's support to Ukraine is not limited to military aid - we are drawing on Britain's world-leading expertise to support Ukraine's cyber defences," Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said. "Together, we will ensure that the Kremlin is defeated in every sphere: on land, in the air and in cyber space."

"The threat remains real and the UK's support package is undoubtedly bolstering Ukraine's defences further," said Lindy Cameron, chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, an arm of the intelligence agency GCHQ.
Iran is reportedly preparing to send about 1,000 additional weapons, including short-range ballistic missiles and more attack drones, to Russia for its war against Ukraine.

CNN first reported the deal, citing officials from a Western country that closely monitors Irans weapons program. Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat told Ukrainian media that the Kremlin is buying the Iskander ballistic missiles from Iran because Russia is running out of them.

It is theoretically possible to shoot them down but very difficult with the means we have at our disposal," Ihnat said. "We have air defense, not missile defense.

He said he believes the missiles will be placed on the northern border with Ukraine to fire at targets across Ukraine. Iran already has been supplying Russia with explosive drones that have heavily damaged infrastructure, although the Ukrainian military says it is seeing increasing success in shooting them down.

"Transferring missiles to RF, Iran knows that it will attack our cities. Teaching Russians to use drones, it knows that they will attack energy sector," Ukraine presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted. "Tehran is an accomplice of aggression in Europe and must be officially recognized as such."

Other developments:

A Moscow court stripped citizenship from anti-war activist Arshak Makichyan, his father and two brothers.

The National Constitution Center will present its annual Liberty Medal to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his "heroic defense of liberty in the face of Russian tyranny." Zelenskyy said he will give the $100,000 prize to the Ukrainian Veteran Fund.

Explosions rocked the city of Poltava in northeastern Ukraine early Tuesday, Gov. Dmytro Lunin said on Telegram. Four Russian drones crashed into buildings and ignited fires, and three drones were shot down, Lunin said.

Russia drafting 120,000 more soldiers, says they won't be sent to war

Russia kicked off its annual fall draft Tuesday with a dubious pledge that the 120,000 would-be conscripts would not be sent to fight in Ukraine.

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Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the new servicemen will "perform tasks in accordance with the purpose of military units" but won't be sent to what the Kremlin calls the "special military operation" in Ukraine.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said in its latest assessment that Russian officials, concerned about draft dodging, are "attempting to deceive the Russian population into believing that autumn conscripts will not be sent to fight." The assessment says Russia does not consider the regions it has annexed, where some of the most brutal fighting is happening, to be Ukraine.

The draft comes days after the end of Russia's "partial mobilization" draft, which added 300,000 military reservists primarily with combat experience. They were told they would be trained before being sent to the "special military operation" in Ukraine to serve as an occupying force in territories already seized.

The British Defense Ministry, however, reported that thousands of those recruits were sent to the front  many with weapons that "are likely in barely useable condition." Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said Tuesday that "drawbacks" seen at the initial stage of that call-up had been remedied.

Grain ships sail from Ukraine without Russian protection

Ships loaded with grain are departing Ukraine despite Russia suspending its participation in a U.N.-brokered deal that ensures safe wartime passage of crucial food supplies. The U.N. said Tuesday that three ships carrying corn, wheat and sunflower meal left through a humanitarian Black Sea corridor set up in July. Fourteen ships sailed Monday. Analysts say Russia still is bound by the terms of the grain deal it signed with Turkey and the U.N., including a commitment not to target civilian vessels carrying the grain that is desperately needed in Africa and elsewhere.

International inquiry of 'dirty bomb' claim nears completion

International experts have almost completed an investigation into unsubstantiated Russian claims that Ukraine is building a radioactive "dirty bomb" at two sites amid rising safety concerns at a war-battered nuclear power plant, the global nuclear energy chief said Tuesday.

Russia's state-run media outlet RIA Novosti said it had identified the Eastern Mineral Enrichment Plant in central Dnipropetrovsk region and the Institute for Nuclear Research in Kyiv as locations where the bomb was being developed. Ukrainian authorities deny the claim and asked the International Atomic Energy Agency to investigate.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, the agency's general director, said he would provide his initial conclusions about the latest claims by week's end.

Power, water restored in Kyiv after Russian assault on infrastructure

Water and electricity have been fully restored in Kyiv, one day after an onslaught of Russian missiles targeted crucial infrastructure and paralyzed the city of 3 million people, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Kyiv will continue to use rolling blackouts to stabilize the power system, he said. Monday's attack during the morning rush hour sent commuters scrambling for cover, knocked out water to 80% of the city and cut power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses.

"I ask Kyiv residents to save electricity, especially during peak morning and evening hours," Klitschko said on Telegram. "It is very important because the (damage) in the energy system of Ukraine is significant."

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Live updates: Ukraine says Iranian missiles will be hard to shoot down
Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that despite enormous pressure in the face of Russian aggression, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are holding on, regrouping, building up reserves, strengthening defences and gradually liberating their homeland.

Source: Zaluzhnyi on Facebook

Quote: "We are fighting a war against a country 28 times larger than our state, whose population is four times larger than ours, whose military strength is many times greater than our capabilities."

Details: Zaluzhnyi explained that the war is taking place these days in the air, on sea, in cyberspace and beyond.

He reminded everyone that in just one day Russian occupying forces launched all of these attacks at Ukrainian civilian targets: 55 Kh-101 cruise missiles and one Kh-59 guided air-to-surface missile, 22 S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, 4 Shahed-136 UAVs and one Lancet 3 UAV.

"Gaining victory is very difficult for us. But it will definitely happen," Zaluzhnyi emphasised.

Previously: On 29 October, Zaluzhnyi stated that the Russians were not achieving success on the battlefield, despite their absolute arms superiority and the recent increase in the number of their troops.

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EUROPEAN PRAVDA  TUESDAY, 1 NOVEMBER 2022, 11:34

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated that after Russian missile attacks on the energy infrastructure of Ukraine, President Putins invitation to the G20 Summit must be withdrawn, and Russia itself must be expelled from the G20.

Source: European Pravda; Oleh Nikolenko, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, on Twitter

"Putin publicly acknowledged ordering missile strikes on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure. With his hands stained in blood, he must not be allowed to sit at the table with world leaders. Putins invitation to the Bali summit must be revoked, and Russia expelled from G20," Nikolenko wrote.

To recall: The Office of the President of Ukraine stated that Russias missile terror against Ukraine on the day of the foreign leaders visit should meet an even tougher response from the international community. In particular, Russia must be expelled from the G20.

Putin publicly acknowledged ordering missile strikes on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure. With his hands stained in blood, he must not be allowed to sit at the table with world leaders. Putins invitation to Bali summit must be revoked, and Russia expelled from G20.  Oleg Nikolenko (@OlegNikolenko_) November 1, 2022

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Over the course of the past 24 hours, Ukrainian forces have struck Russian strong points, air defence systems and clusters of military personnel and equipment from land and air.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 1 November

Quote: "Over the course of the past 24 hours, Russian forces have carried out 60 missile strikes and 15 airstrikes, as well as over 45 attacks using multiple-launch rocket systems [MLRS].

More than 50 Ukrainian cities, towns and villages came under Russian fire, including Soledar, Vuhledar, Yakovlivka and Vesele in Donetsk Oblast."

Details: Over the course of the past 24 hours, Ukrainian aircraft carried out 14 airstrikes on Russian forces, striking several clusters of weapons and equipment, strong points and anti-aircraft defence systems.

In addition, Ukrainian anti-aircraft gunners struck down four Russian helicopters, two UAVs and 45 cruise missiles.

Ukraines Rocket Forces and Artillery struck two Russian command posts, three clusters of military personnel, weapons and equipment and several other crucial targets.

There were no significant changes on the Volyn and Polissia fronts. The Republic of Belarus is continuing to support and aid Russias military aggression against Ukraine and its people.

Russia is continuing to deploy units of its forces to Belarus. There is an ongoing threat of missile strikes from the territory of Belarus, including with the use of attack UAVs.

On other fronts, the Russians continued to fire on military and civilian targets:

On the Slobozhanshchyna front : Russian forces deployed tank guns, mortars and tubed and rocket artillery to fire on areas in and around Vilkhuvatka, Vovchansk, Hatyshche, Strilecha and Veterynarne;

On the Kupiansk front : Russian forces deployed mortars and tubed and rocket artillery to fire on areas in and around Kucherivka, Stelmakhivka, Miasozharivka and Petropavlivka;

On the Lyman front: the Russians deployed various types of artillery to fire on areas in the vicinity of Nevske, Bilohorivka, Rozdolivka, Spirne, Hryhorivka and Berestove;

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On the Bakhmut front: the Russians deployed tanks, mortars and tubed and rocket artillery to fire on areas in and around Zelenopillia, Klishchiivka, Bakhmut, Bakhmutske and Soledar;

On the Avdiivka front: the Russians deployed tank guns and artillery of various calibres to fire on areas in the vicinity of Marinka, Vodiane, Krasnohorivka, Pervomaiske and Nevelske;

On the Novopavlivka and Zaporizhzhia fronts: the Russians deployed tank guns, mortars and tubed and rocket artillery to fire on areas in and around Vremivka, Vuhledar, Poltavka, Olhivske, Malynivka, Pavlivka and Novodanylivka;

On the Pivdennyi Buh front, more than 20 cities, towns and villages situated along the line of contact came under Russian fire.

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With the signing of the document, the Czech Republic supports the prospect of Ukraine's accession to NATO

The document was signed during Fialas visit to Ukraine, and defines key areas of cooperation between the two countries, focused on Ukraine's strategic goal of joining NATO.

Read also: Czech Republic prepares new military aid package for Ukraine

In the declaration, the Czech Republic also expressed support of Ukraines independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity  within its internationally recognized borders, in addition to endorsing NATOs open door policy towards potential additions to the alliance.

The document explicitly outlined Prague's intention to continue providing military, technical, defense, and humanitarian support to Ukraine.

Read also: NATO must accept Ukraine after victory over Russia, says Lithuanian FM

We have signed this declaration, which will strengthen cooperation in order to propagate NATO (military) standards in Ukraine, Zelenskyy said.

The Czech Republic confirmed that it supports our state becoming a full member of the alliance, as soon as conditions would allow it.

The president also said that Kyiv will continue to work on signing similar declarations with other NATO member states.

In a document signed by Ukraines president, PM, and head of parliament on Sept. 30, Kyiv has formally applied for NATO membership under an expedited procedure. Ukrainian officials later said the application was submitted following consultations with alliance members.

Read also: Ukraines application to NATO formalizes dialogue for discussion, says ambassador

On Oct. 2, nine NATO members  the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia  called for a significant increase in military assistance to Ukraine, and supported its membership in the alliance.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The Admiral Makarov frigate was probably attacked by drones

"From a technical point of view, these are absolutely unprecedented events, which are now, I think, the main topic of discussion for all the militaries in the world, said the journalist.

For the first time, a large-scale attack was carried out by surface drones, unmanned aerial vehicles.

He stated that the typical means of response and defense of the Russian naval base had failed to cope with this attack.

Butusov noted that one of the ships that the surface drones approached and probably hit was a frigate of the same type as the Admiral Makarov (it was previously reported that it had been designated the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet after the sinking of the missile cruiser Moskva).

Read also: Ukraine claims to have sunk cruiser Moscow in the Black Sea, causing reduction in Russian missile complement

According to the editor-in-chief of Censor.NET, in addition to Admiral Makarov, at least two more Russian landing ships were struck.

He added that it is known that simultaneously with the attack of surface drones, the Russian Black Sea Fleet vessels were attacked by drones from the air.

"The most interesting thing: obviously, all these drones (for an air attack and sea drones, surface drones) were made by Ukrainian specialists; everything was made by some people who have a fairly high level of engineering knowledge, said Butusov.

And, of course, the coordination, the fact that there was a simultaneous strike by drones from the air and from the sea  this is an absolutely unprecedented technical task in its scale. Realizing that such an operation was carried out for the first time in the world, I think it can be regarded as a huge technical success.

Read also: Russian missiles strikes against Ukraine a response to Sevastopol Bay attack, Putin says

The Russian occupation authorities in Ukraines Crimea announced on Oct.29 there had been an attack by drones in the waters of Sevastopol Bay.

The Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine and the United Kingdom of being behind the attack. The Russians claimed that they had allegedly "destroyed all air targets." They maintained that "the attack by the Ukrainian military" took place "under the guidance of British specialists who are in Ochakiv (a town in Ukraines Mykolaiv Oblast, about 200 kilometers to the north-west of Sevastopol)."

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The Russian Ministry of Defense said that, in addition to the warship the Ivan Golubets, "minor damage" was caused to a protective barrier in the south bay.

Ukraines South Operational Command said that the explosions in Sevastopol could have been caused by unsuccessful launches of air defense missiles.

The UK Ministry of Defense rejected the Kremlins accusations that the UK had been involved in the attack on Russian Black Sea Fleet warships in Sevastopol.

The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War said in its Oct. 29 report that social media footage documented an unknown number of unmanned surface vehicles striking at least one Grigorovich-class frigate in Sevastopol on Oct. 29.

The Russians did not acknowledge the damage to the frigate, just as the Russian Defense Ministry denied there had been any damage to the cruiser Moskva, which was later found to have sunk.

The ISW stressed that attacks on warships in wartime are legitimate military actions, not terrorist attacks. Ukraine's decision to strike the frigate, which can launch Kalibr cruise missiles, makes sense at this time, given Russia's intensifying campaign of cruise missile attacks on Ukraines civilian energy infrastructure.

"If Kyiv ordered this attack, it would have been a proportionate, even restrained, response to the extensive Russian strategic bombing campaign attacking civilian targets throughout Ukraine over the past few weeks," the analysts added.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet has three Grigorovich-class frigates, each capable of launching Kalibr cruise missiles.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Mykhailo Podoliak, advisor to the Presidents Office, has called on Ukraines partners to officially recognise Iran as an accomplice of Russias aggression in Europe.

Source: Podoliak on Twitter

Quote: "Transferring missiles to [Russia], Iran knows that it will attack our cities. Teaching Russians to use drones, it knows that they will attack [the Ukrainian] energy sector, provoking waves of refugees to the EU. Tehran is an accomplice of aggression in Europe and must be officially recognized as such."

Background:

Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for Ukraines Air Force, said on 1 November that the Iranian-made ballistic missiles which Russia is planning to purchase from Iran would probably be deployed on Ukraines northern border.

Iran is preparing to send Russia approximately 1,000 additional weapon units, including ballistic short-range surface-to-surface missiles and attack drones; a batch of more than 200 UAVs is due to be transferred in early November.

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Photo: The Canadian Press

A San Francisco judge on Tuesday ordered the man accused of breaking into House Speaker Nancy Pelosis home, beating her husband and seeking to kidnap her, to be held without bail.

Adam Lipson, a lawyer for defendant David DePape, entered a not guilty plea on DePape's behalf during the brief hearing in Superior Court in San Francisco. It was the first public appearance since the early Friday attack for DePape, a fringe activist drawn to conspiracy theories.

Wearing orange jail clothing, DePape, a former resident of Armstrong, B.C., only spoke to tell Judge Diane Northway how to pronounce his last name. Northway scheduled a hearing for Friday to reconsider whether to grant the 42-year-old DePape bail.

After the hearing, Lipson said he looks forward to providing DePape with a vigorous defense. He also said he met DePape on Monday night for the first time and had not seen the police reports yet.

Were going to be doing a comprehensive investigation of what happened. Were going to be looking into Mr. DePapes mental state, and Im not going to talk any further about that until I have more information, said Lipson, who noted that a no-bail detainer in state court is a moot point because DePape also has been placed on a federal hold in the case.

The attack on 82-year-old Paul Pelosi sent shockwaves through the political world just days before the hotly contested midterm elections. Threats against lawmakers and election officials have been at all-time highs in this first nationwide election since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, and authorities have issued warning about rising extremism in the U.S.

DePape faces state charges of attempted murder, burglary and elder abuse. He faces federal charges including attempted kidnapping of a U.S. official. Those charges are outlined in an affidavit detailing the assault, which was largely captured on police body camera imagery after authorities responded to a 911 call from the Pelosis' Pacific Heights home.

In Washington, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger provided a sobering update Tuesday of security protocols for members of Congress.

Manger said that although many improvements have been made since the Capitol attack, including the hiring of nearly 280 officers by the end of this year, there is still a lot of work to do.

We believe todays political climate calls for more resources to provide additional layers of physical security for members of Congress, he said

Manger said the attack on Pelosi's husband was an alarming reminder of the dangerous threats elected officials and public figures face during todays contentious political climate.

Speaker Pelosi was in Washington at the time and under the protection of her security detail, which does not extend to family members. She swiftly returned to San Francisco, where her husband was hospitalized and underwent surgery for a skull fracture and other injuries.

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said the assault on Paul Pelosi appeared to be premeditated, and she appealed to Americans to tone down the political rhetoric.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russia reinforced its fighting force Tuesday with an annual fall draft of 120,000 men, and doubled the number of civilians its trying to evacuate in anticipation of a major Ukrainian push to recapture the strategically vital southern port city of Kherson.

Russian military officials have assured that conscripts to be called up over the next two months will not be sent to fight in Ukraine, including to the Kherson region, three other Ukrainian areas that Russia recently illegally annexed or to Crimea, which the Kremlin made part of Russia in 2014.

However, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War said the Russian Defense Ministry is attempting to deceive the Russian population into believing that autumn conscripts will not be sent to fight in Ukraine, likely to prevent draft dodging.

Russias illegal annexation of occupied Ukrainian regions means that all of the fighting is taking place in areas that the Kremlin claims as Russian territory, the institute said, so conscripts will almost certainly be deployed to Ukraine after their training is complete around March or April 2023, and could be deployed sooner in response to changes on the battlefield.

This years fall draft was scheduled to start in October, but was delayed because of an extraordinary partial mobilization of 300,000 reservists that President Vladimir Putin ordered Sept. 21. While Russian officials declared the partial mobilization completed Monday, critics have warned that the call-up could resume after military enlistment offices are freed up from processing conscripts.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday that 87,000 of the men called up in the partial mobilization were deployed for combat to Ukraine. Training them are 3,000 military instructors with combat experience gained in Ukraine, Shoigu said.

Activists and reports by Russian media and The Associated Press said many of the mobilized reservists were inexperienced, were told to procure basic items such as medical kits and flak jackets themselves, and did not receive training before they were sent off to fight. Some were killed within days of being called up. After Putins order, tens of thousands of men fled Russia to avoid serving in the military.

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Some of the fresh troops have reportedly been sent to Kherson, on the 1,100-kilometer (684-mile) front line. Russian-installed authorities in Kherson, fearing a major Ukrainian counterattack, on Tuesday reported relocating 70,000 residents and expanded an evacuation area they had announced last month to people living within 15 kilometers (9 miles) of the Dnieper River.

The Kremlin-appointed governor of the region, Vladimir Saldo, said the evacuation of an additional 70,000 residents would be completed this week and claimed it was ordered due to the possibility of the use of prohibited methods of war by the Ukrainian regime. He repeated claims that Kyiv is preparing a massive missile strike on the Kakhovka hydroelectric station, which he said would flood Kherson.

Ukraines General Staff on Tuesday described the new evacuations as forced displacement, saying that those residing along the banks of the Dnieper are forcibly evicted from their homes.

Elsewhere, concerns about radiation figured in two developments.

Experts from the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency inspected two sites in Ukraine on Tuesday that Russia identified as involved in its unfounded claims that Ukrainian authorities planned to set off radioactive dirty bombs in their own invaded country. International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said the inspections for evidence of a so-called dirty bomb would be completed soon.

The Russians, without providing evidence, allege the Ukrainians planned to make the purported bomb look like Russia's doing.

Russias U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, claimed in a letter to Security Council members last week that Ukraines nuclear research facility and mining company received direct orders from (President Volodymyr) Zelenskyys regime to develop such a dirty bomb.

Western nations have called Moscow's repeated claim transparently false. Ukrainian authorities dismissed it as an attempt to distract attention from alleged Russian plans to detonate a dirty bomb as a way to justify a further escalation of hostilities.

A second radiation concern involves fighting near Europes largest nuclear power plant. The IAEA has stationed monitors at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, where a radiation leak could have catastrophic consequences.

The Ukrainian president's office said Tuesday that cities and towns around the plant experienced more heavy shelling between Monday and Tuesday. In Nikopol, a city which faces the plant from across the wide Dnieper, more than a dozen apartment buildings, a kindergarten, and various businesses were damaged, the office said.

Elsewhere on the battlefront, Russian strikes targeting eight regions of southeastern Ukraine killed at least four civilians and wounded four others in 24 hours, Zelenskyys office said.

Russian shelling hit 14 towns and villages in the eastern Donetsk region Monday and Tuesday, destroying sections of railway track, damaging a power line and taking down mobile communications in some areas.

The shelling killed three civilians, the region's governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said. Donetsk is one of four regions Moscow illegally annexed last month, and continues to see fierce clashes as Russian forces press their grinding attack on the cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka.

Another woman was killed after Russian rockets hit apartment buildings and a school in the southern city of Mykolayiv, its mayor reported Tuesday.

Ukraine was still grappling Tuesday with the consequences of Mondays massive barrage of Russian strikes, which disrupted power and water supplies. Ukraines state energy company, Ukrenergo, said seven regions would experience rolling blackouts to protect the system.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said authorities restored electricity and running water in the capital's residential buildings but that rolling power outages would continue. Kyiv region Gov. Oleksiy Kuleba said Tuesday that 20,000 apartments remained without power.

In Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, subway service was suspended again on Tuesday, according to the subways Telegram page. No reason was given.

Separately, ships loaded with grain continued to depart Ukraine on Tuesday despite Russia's suspension of its participation in a U.N.-brokered deal to deliver critical food supplies to countries facing hunger. The U.N. said three ships carrying 84,490 metric tons of corn, wheat and sunflower meal left through a humanitarian sea corridor.

___

Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Hopewell High Schools marching band has been invited to play the 2022 Peach Bowl in Atlanta that is set to be held Dec. 31.

However, last Friday, the school announced that it had fallen short of the funds needed to attend. Out of its $85,000 goal, the school said it had only raised $60,000. Their goal was to raise the remaining $15,000 by Tuesday.

On Sunday, the school announced that it not only met its goal but exceeded it with a final tally of more than $21,000. despite the tight deadline.

ALSO READ: Charlotte woman who captured the hearts of millions diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer

A lot of one-worders, said band director Curtis Bells about what came to his mind about achieving the goal. [Its} unbelievable. Student here says woohoo. Boy we were hustling. This is incredible.

Bell said that it is the bands first time being invited to the Peach Bowl and the chance of a lifetime and they couldnt have gotten it done without the community.

For them to come together in such a short deadline and just make this thing happen for us was just, its just unbelievable, Bell said of the community.

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The school also released a statement about meeting the goal.

This is truly the beginning of a journey the Titanium Sound Band was always meant to be on, the school said. But we needed our community to get us there. The best is yet to come, because of you.

Bell and his group are excited for the opportunity to showcase a show they have worked on for months.

Hopewell High Schools marching band has been invited to play the 2022 Peach Bowl in Atlanta that is set to be held Dec. 31.

Even for me, myself, its a memory that Ill carry with me forever, Bell said. So Im just excited.

Money is still coming in, according to Bell. If you wish to donate to the band, click here.

(WATCH BELOW: Charlotte Rescue Mission calling on community for Thanksgiving meal donations)




Following the attack on Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) husband Paul Pelosi, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said that more resources are necessary to provide security for lawmakers due to the contentious political climate.

Fridays attack against Paul Pelosi is an alarming reminder of the dangerous threats elected officials and public figures face during todays contentious political climate, Manger said in a statement on Tuesday.

Manger said that the Capitol Police made security improvements following the 2011 shooting of then-Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) and the 2017 Congressional baseball practice shooting in which House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) was shot, as well as after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.

With the increasing number of threats against elected officials from city council members to federal judges, our work to further our efforts to protect the Members of Congress becomes increasingly urgent, Manger said.

The Capitol Police force is on track to meet its goal of hiring nearly 280 officers by the end of the year, Manger said, but is still working on meeting its long-term plans to expand protective operations.

We believe todays political climate calls for more resources to provide additional layers of physical security for Members of Congress, Manger said.

Last year, President Biden signed into law security supplemental legislation that provided more than $70 million to support Capitol Police staffing, intelligence, protective details for members of Congress, and other security measures; as well as $35.4 for the Capitol Police to support additional measures and cooperation with other law enforcement agencies.

The Capitol Police is engaged in a review of Fridays attack on Paul Pelosi.

We believe todays political climate calls for more resources to provide additional layers of physical security for Members of Congress, Manger said. This plan would include an emphasis on adding redundancies to the measures that are already in place for Congressional leadership. Hopefully you can understand that we cannot disclose the details about these improvements because our country cannot afford to make it easier for any potential bad actors.

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Manger also pushed for more prosecutions of those who make threats against members of Congress.

During this time of heightened political tension, we continue to monitor thousands of cases across the country  in an effort to stop potential threats before they make headlines. During the past five-years, roughly 12-percent of cases  in which we identified people making threats  have been prosecuted, Manger said. We hope to see more of these cases prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The suspect in the attack against Paul Pelosi, 42-year-old David Wayne DePape, is facing both federal and local charges.

The Department of Justice charged DePape with assault and attempted kidnapping on Monday.

The San Francisco Disctrict Attorney on Monday announced that DePape would be charged with attempted murder, residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, false imprisonment of an elder and threats to a public official and their family.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Book spines with Penguin logo.

A US court has blocked a $2.2bn (1.9bn) merger between the world's largest book publisher Penguin Random House and its rival Simon & Schuster.

In a brief order on Monday, US District Judge Florence Pan said the deal could "substantially" lessen competition in the publishing industry.

The US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit to stop the deal last November.

Penguin Random House was formed through the merger of two major publishers from the UK and the US in 2013.

"The court finds that the United States has shown that the effect of the proposed merger may be substantially to lessen competition in the market for the US publishing rights to anticipated top-selling books," Judge Pan said in her two-page order.

Penguin said in a statement that it would appeal against the decision, calling it "an unfortunate setback for readers and authors".

Penguin has worked with celebrated authors including Sylvia Plath, George Orwell and Virginia Woolf.

In more recent times it has published books by Zadie Smith, Marian Keyes and Dan Brown.

Simon & Schuster has published works by Stephen King, Jennifer Weiner and former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

During a trial in August, the US government argued that Penguin and Simon & Schuster combined would control nearly half the market for publishing rights of blockbuster books.

Penguin's lawyer Daniel Petrocelli said the two publishing houses would deliver "enormous benefits" to readers and authors as they would continue to compete against each other even after merging.

However, best-selling horror writer Stephen King dismissed the claim.

"You might as well say you're going to have a husband and wife bidding against each other for the same house. It's kind of ridiculous," he told the court.

"The proposed merger would have reduced competition, decreased author compensation, diminished the breadth, depth, and diversity of our stories and ideas, and ultimately impoverished our democracy," US Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter said in a statement.

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It comes as the Biden administration steps up its regulation of anti-competitive practises.

Penguin will publish the Duke of Sussex's memoir on 10 January

In 1935, Allen Lane and his brothers Richard and John co-founded the British publishing house Penguin Books.

Its distinctive logo has adorned some of the most high-profile books in publishing history.

The company triggered major controversies with the 1960 publication of DH Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover and The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie in 1988.

Penguin merged with New York-based Random House in 2013 to create the world's largest publishing house.

At the time, the European Commission said the combined business would not raise competition concerns, because it will "face several strong competitors".

Random House's German parent company, Bertelsmann, initially owned 53% of Penguin Random House, while 47% was held by Penguin's owner Pearson.

Bertelsmann became the sole owner of Penguin Random House in April 2020.

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(Bloomberg) -- Listen to The Big Take on iHeart, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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The US is just a week away from the midterm elections, which will decide governors races in 36 states--and whether Democrats will keep their majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Some Republicans up for election, though, are still disputing the results of the last election. Taking their cue from former President Donald Trump, hundreds of GOP candidates have falsely claimed that Trump was the real winner in 2020 and that Joe Biden stole the election from him.

In five key states where Trump tried and failed to overturn the results in 2020, Republican nominees for governor and other roles overseeing elections are pushing changes to election laws. If they succeed, it could be easier to dispute the outcome if Trump or another candidate tried to do that again in 2024, when the White House is next at stake.

Read more about the Election Risk Tracker.

To measure how sound the US election system is, Bloomberg created an Election Risk Index that assesses how vulnerable states are to political election interference not just in 2022, but in the years ahead.

Ryan Teague Beckwith, one of the reporters on the project, joins this episode to talk through the potential risk these candidates pose, especially for the 2024 presidential election. And US politics editor Mario Parker gives the latest on key races.

This podcast is produced by the Big Take Podcast team: Supervising Producer: Vicki Vergolina, Senior Producer: Kathryn Fink, Producers: Mo Barrow, Rebecca Chaisson, Michael Falero and Federica Romaniello, Associate Producers: Sam Gebauer and Zaynab Siddiqui. Sound Design/Engineers: Raphael Amsili and Gilda Garcia.

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The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on Tuesday against a network of weapons traffickers with ties to the Islamic State in Somalia and al-Shabaab, a Somali militant group with ties to al Qaeda.

The department said in a release that the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued the designation following a bombing in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu that killed more than 100 people on Saturday, which al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for.

Today, we take direct aim at the networks funding and supplying both ISIS-Somalia and al-Shabaab that support their violent acts, said Brian Nelson, the undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence.

The involvement of those designated today in other criminal activity, including piracy and illegal fishing, demonstrates the extent of ISIS-Somalias integration with illicit networks and other terrorist organizations operating in the region, he continued.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement that the U.S. made the designation of the network for facilitating weapons transfers to ISIS in Somalia and an ISIS supporter in Brazil.

He said the network primarily operates between Yemen and Somalia and has ties to other terrorist groups. He said many of the individuals in the network are also involved in other illegal activities such as piracy and environmental crimes.

The sanctions mean all property and interests in property in the U.S. must be blocked and reported to the OFAC, per the Treasury release. All entities that are owned 50 percent or more by a sanctioned person are also blocked.

The OFAC last month issued sanctions against financial facilitators and weapons smugglers working for al-Shabaab.

The Associated Press reported that violent acts in Somalia have increased in recent months.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price

We are concerned that Russia may also seek to acquire advanced conventional weapons from Iran, such as surface to surface missiles that will almost certainly be used to support Russias war against Ukraine, Price said.

Read also: Iran to supply Russia with more than 200 drones in November, says Ukrainian defense intelligence agency

He added that the United States would vigorously enforce all arms trade sanctions on both Russia and Iran, to make it harder for Iran to sell these weapons to Russia.

CNN earlier reported that Iranian authorities intend to supply Moscow with a new batch of kamikaze drones and 1,000 short-range ballistic missiles, by the end of 2022.

Read also: Iran condemns calls to investigate supply of suicide drones to Russia

The Pentagon is yet to comment on reports of Iran potentially supplying Russia with missiles.

Read also: Russia could soon start attacking Ukraine with Iranian ballistic missiles, military intelligence says

Earlier, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, said that Russia could start using Iranian short-range ballistic missiles against Ukraine in November.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The U.S. Supreme Court is widely expected to rule against admissions programs that take race into consideration at Harvard and the University of North Carolina (UNC).

The court spent over five hours on Monday hearing arguments for and against affirmative action, which for years has been backed by decades of precedent upheld by narrow court majorities. The two landmark cases being argued are Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard (Case No. 20-1199) and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina (Case No. 21-707). The plaintiffs contend in part that Asian students are disadvantaged by affirmative action in race-conscious university admissions policies.

Observers posit that the new conservative court, which sits at a 6-3 conservative-liberal majority, could be ready to overrule some or all affirmative action precedents and deem the programs unlawful. Such a decision could significantly affect affirmative action at colleges and universities across the country and effectively diminish the number of Black and Hispanic students in higher education.

In their aim for a more diverse student body, UNC, a state school, and Harvard, a private institution, argue that an admissions committee "need not ignore a candidate's race" when evaluating a candidate.

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Meanwhile, Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), a conservative organization founded by legal activist Edward Blum, is seeking to overturn the Supreme Courts 2003 ruling in the case Grutter v. Bollinger, which determined that colleges could consider race in their admissions in order to have diverse campuses.

The justices heard from a total of five lawyers during the Monday hearing: three arguing on behalf of Harvard and the University of North Carolina and two former clerks to Justice Clarence Thomas arguing for SFFA.

Thomas, a long-time affirmative action critic, said: Ive heard the word diversity quite a few times, and I dont have a clue what it means. It seems to mean everything for everyone.

Story continues

More from NextShark: TikTok baffled at Michigan mans unintentional racist comment while defending Asian man from verbal harasser

Justice Sonia Sotomayor pointed out that the 14th Amendment took race into account when it was adopted after the Civil War to help Black Americans get access to rights and privileges previously denied to them.

Justice Neil Gorsuch noted reports that Asian American applicants have resorted to applying to programs without disclosing their race to improve their chances of admission into more competitive schools.

SFFA lawyer Patrick Strawbridge argued that the affirmative action policies that have benefited Black applicants have left Asian applicants disadvantaged.

More from NextShark: Boxer Amir Khan says he and his friend were removed from flight for being 'two Asian boys'

Underscoring his point that the policies are unfair and unconstitutional, Strawbridge said, Some races get a benefit, some races do not get a benefit.

Harvard lawyer Seth P. Waxman argued that many factors contribute to how the institution admits its students.

Race for some highly qualified applicants can be the determinative factor, just as being an oboe player in a year in which the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra needs an oboe player will be the tip, he was quoted as saying.

More from NextShark: Family-Owned Chinese Restaurant Vandalized, Attacked By Online Trolls in Seattle

Although it has been shown that Asian Americans tend to support affirmative action, they are still harmed by stereotypes that maintain Asians as less personable, which may be reflected in Harvard's own history of giving Asian applicants lower personality scores.

The justices discussed several race-neutral approaches to admission: preferences based on socioeconomic status; top 10 programs in which students who graduate near the top of their high school classes get admitted; and the elimination of preferences for children of alumni and major donors, who are usually white.

Featured Image via Mark Thomas
Saudi Arabia has warned the United States of an imminent Iranian attack on targets in the kingdom and in Iraq, with the U.S. military now on heightened alert, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

Riyadh shared intelligence with Washington indicating the elevated danger, causing Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and other neighboring countries to raise the alert level for their military forces, Saudi and U.S. officials told the Journal.

Asked about the report later Tuesday, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said he would not talk about specific force protection levels but that U.S. officials do remain concerned about the threat situation in the region.

Were in regular contact with our Saudi partners in terms of what information they may have to provide on that front, Ryder told reporters. But what weve said before, and Ill repeat it, is that we will reserve the right to protect and defend ourselves no matter where our forces are serving, whether in Iraq or elsewhere.

Pressed on whether the Saudis provided anything to the United States in the past few days that would be a cause for concern, Ryder said he did not have any additional information to provide.

We continue to communicate regularly, he said. Ill just leave it at that.

U.S. forces are currently in Saudi Arabia and in Iraq to help train, advise and protect against attacks from Iran-backed fighters.

Saudi officials told the Journal that Iran is set to attack areas in the kingdom as well as Erbil, Iraq, to try to distract from ongoing women-led protests in Iran. The protests began in September after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who died while being held by the countrys morality police

Since late September, the Iranian military has steadily attacked bases of an Iranian-Kurdish opposition group in northern Iraq, using ballistic missiles and armed drones.

During the strikes, U.S. forces brought down an Iranian drone that officials said appeared poised to attack American troops in Erbil.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Photo: Vancouver Police Department Vancouver Police Department officers responding to a violent man at a Canadian Tire led to a fatal shooting in November 2016.

A man taken hostage before a 2016 fatal police shooting in Vancouver told investigators he was a human shield, a BC Corners Service inquest heard Nov. 1

Daniel Peter Rintoul, 38, died on Nov. 10 2016, after police shot him outside the Grandview and Boundary Canadian Tire store. The shooting came after what appeared to be a botched robbery in the stores firearms department.

Police shot Rintoul after he allegedly stabbed a store clerk and police officer, both of whom wound up in hospital with knife wounds. In February 2019, B.C.s Independent Investigations Office (IIO) cleared the officers of any wrongdoing and said Rintoul posed "a threat of deadly force to members of the public."

Presiding coroner Susan Barth and a jury are hearing evidence from witnesses under oath to determine the facts surrounding this death. The five-person jury can make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances. A jury must not make any finding of legal responsibility or express any conclusion of law.

Police responded to the Canadian Tire store around 3 p.m. that day after receiving multiple 911 calls. Police said a man entered the store dressed in camouflage gear, stabbed a store clerk and began removing firearms from gun cabinets.

Inquest lawyer Chris Godwin said in a case-opening overview that Rintoul carried a knife and bear spray. He said Rintoul tried unsuccessfully to load a gun after bear-spraying staff member Jose de Jesus.

If he did have a firearm, it would have been a whole lot worse, de Jesus said as he testified Nov. 1.

He told the court he was at the counter when the man approached with a can of bear mace.

He had his finger on the trigger, de Jesus testified. I gave a heads-up to my co-workers. I said, It looks like were going to be in some s---

Then, the man bear-sprayed him.

I couldnt see. I couldnt breathe. Straight to the face, he said. He sprayed me again.

Then, he heard the sound of glass breaking as the man got into the gun cabinet.

Get the hell out of here, de Jesus said to his co-workers, before moving toward the man to try and stop him.

He spun me around. He slashed me. I could feel the blood running down.

He wound up in hospital for surgery. The court heard he's had physical and other issues since the event but has returned to work.

At that point, de Jesus tried to get to nearby elevators. Another employee was being my eyes and ears, he said.

He said about 30 minutes passed, during which he heard gunshots from outside.

The hostage

Meanwhile, 82-year-old Harry Bruderer had already been to the upper floor where he was told to get back in the elevator.

Bruderer has since died but the inquest saw the videoed statement he made to the IIO. Such investigations are done into police-involved incidents.

He said he saw blood on the floor and a body. Going back down to the lower floor, he said he was passing the escalators and saw a large man coming down.

The man put his arm around Bruderers shoulder and showed him a knife. Bruderer described the knife as a switchblade with a blade three to four inches long. He told Bruderer to do as he said and he wouldnt get hurt.

I didnt know he wanted me to be a human shield.

He was bleeding, Bruderer said. I knew he was in trouble.

He said after seeing the scene upstairs, I didnt want to be the next one.

Soon, the man guided Bruderer toward an exit.

I saw at least three or four policemen, Bruderer said. Each one had a gun drawn. They were facing us.

Then, the man fell and police moved in.

It was three or four guys jumping on top of him, trying to hold him down, kicking him all over his body, he said. Jesus, thats brutal.

He said at one point, the man managed to get up and attacked police.

Next thing I heard is pop, pop, pop, pop.

Bruderer was told to get back inside the store.

Asked what he thought made the man fall, Bruderer said, It could have been a bullet. I don't know. The only noise I could hear was him screaming in pain and the F-word, and then he was quiet.

After so many bullets, the guy didnt move anymore, Bruderer said.

Bruderer said he was unsure how many pops he heard.

They were in such a close range, he said. Thats brutal. I guess by then, I was in shock.

Canadian Tire changes

De Jesus said the store has changed much of how the department operates. Glass has been replaced with Plexiglas or accordion gates. Firearms for sale have trigger locks on them. Ammunition that had been stored with guns is now stored separately.

The case continues Nov. 2 with testimony from police officers.
It shouldnt be this close in Ohio.

With one week to go until Election Day, an average of the latest public opinion polls in the Buckeye State indicates Republican Senate nominee JD Vance holding a razor-thin edge over longtime Rep. Tim Ryan, the Democratic nominee.

"Its almost a coin flip right now," veteran Ohio-based political scientist Paul Beck said.

The two candidates  who are running to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Rob Portman in a race thats among a handful across the nation that will likely determine whether Republicans win back the Senate majority in next weeks midterm elections  will take part Tuesday in a Fox News town hall co-moderated by anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum at 6 p.m. in Ohios capital city of Columbus.

TIM RYAN NOT INVITING BIDEN TO JOIN HIM ON OHIO CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Ohio Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Tim Ryan, left, and Ohio GOP Senate candidate JD Vance

Ohio was once a premiere battleground state. In the 2004 election, then-President George W. Bushs victory in the state won him re-election, and former President Barack Obama narrowly carried the state by less than five points in 2008 and 2012.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

But lately times have been tough in Ohio for Democrats. Former President Donald Trump captured the state by eight points in his 2016 White House victory and his 2020 re-election defeat. And Sen. Sherrod Brown's 2018 re-election was the only statewide victory by a Democrat in Ohio in recent cycles.

Asked how he's kept things close, Ryan told Fox News recently, "I'm talking economics, jobs, wages, pensions, growing the economy, manufacturing, taking on China  bread-and-butter issues. We're staying away from the very polarizing issues, the culture wars that most people aren't concerned with, and we're focusing on their pocketbooks. And I think that's what they want politicians to do regardless of which party you belong to."

WITH HELP FROM TRUMP AND THE GOP, VANCE TURNS THINGS AROUND IN BATTLEGROUND OHIO

Also boosting Ryan is a barrage of TV ads during the summer months that bashed Vance over his years living in California, and the Democratic nominee dramatically outspent the former hedge fund executive and best-selling author who in May captured the GOP nomination thanks in part to Trump's endorsement in a crowded and extremely combustible Republican primary.

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"So, all those ads that we spent in the summer defined him, and he's not going to be able to recover from that," Ryan said.

But the ad spending disparity disappeared the past two months, with the Vance campaign and allied Republican groups flooding the airwaves.

"We've had a very specific plan to ramp up our messaging after Labor Day. We've done exactly that. We've raised the resources necessary to accomplish that," Vance told Fox News a couple of weeks ago.

Ryan's been spotlighting his Ohio roots and his strong support for the working class as he runs a populist style campaign in the high-profile battle against Vance. And he's repeatedly showcased his policy differences with President Joe Biden on numerous issues, including border security and student debt relief.

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN: WHAT'S AT STAKE IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS

"I've disagreed with Biden on the student loan [forgiveness plan]. I've disagreed with Biden on a lot of other issues, Title 42 and these other issues, been very clear," Ryan emphasized during a sit-down interview with Fox News Digital in Niles, the small northeastern Ohio city where he was born and raised that sits just outside of Youngstown.

In a state hard hit by the opioid crisis, with the extremely powerful synthetic opioid, fentanyl, illegally transported across the U.S.-Mexico border reaching Ohio, Ryan said he is disappointed that the president has yet to visit the southern border.

"I mean, yeah, I'd like to see him go down there. I think it is a huge issue," Ryan said. "You know, we are recovering lots of drugs coming into the country but not nearly enough. I have a resolution to label fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. And we need more Border Patrol."

While Vance worked to coalesce Ohio's Republican base after a bruising primary, Ryan repeatedly highlighted his support for some Trump policies.

"I've agreed with Trump on trade and on China.  When Trump renegotiated NAFTA. I was on the whip team in the House of Representatives to whip votes in support of the president's renegotiation.  I supported his defense budgets because we do need a strong military to combat China and Russia," Ryan told Fox News.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS MIDTERMS POWER RANKINGS

But Trump and Vance aren't buying it.

At his rally in Youngstown with Vance in late September, Trump claimed that Ryan's "pretending to be a moderate so he can get elected  he is not a moderate. Hes radical left."

And Vance last week charged that Ryan "has been a rubber stamp for Joe Biden, and we don't want that in Washington, D.C."

"This guy is not the moderate that he pretends to be. He is not an independent voice in Washington, D.C.," Vance claimed at a campaign event on Friday in Canton, Ohio. "He's a guy who bends the knee to [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi and does what he's told. And if we give him a promotion to the Senate, which we're not going to do, he's going to do the exact same thing with [Senate Majority Leader] Chuck Schumer."

SENATE GOP RE-ELECTION CHAIR PREDICTS REPUBLICANS TO WIN BACK MAJORITY

But Ryan said he's "been very clear on this. I know it's frustrating for JD Vance because they want me to be Bernie Sanders, or they want me to be the Squad and AOC and all that stuff. I'm not, and the record is very, very clear on that."

And Ryan said he's one of the top bipartisan members of the House and vowed, "I will be that way when I'm in the Senate."

Ryan, on Halloween, also argued that a Vance victory would be more of a trick than a treat for Ohio voters.

"If JD Vance wins, Senate Republicans would get to work banning gay marriage, passing a national abortion ban, and cutting Social Security and Medicare. Thats whats REALLY scary this Halloween," the congressman tweeted.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Ryans enjoyed a clear fundraising advantage over Vance in the general election race. But Beck, professor emeritus of political science at Ohio State University, pointed to the GOPs upper hand when it comes to voter registration and said that "the fundamentals seem to suggest that the Republicans have an advantage."

Beck said that "Ryan has been exactly the candidate the Democrats needed if they were going to win the Senate race in Ohio. It may not be enough. But he is the kind of person who is well positioned both in terms of his track record and what hes saying during the campaign."
The Powerball jackpot has climbed to an estimated $1.2 billion after no winners were called in Mondays drawing.

>> Powerball jackpot hits $1.2B after no one wins Mondays top prize

News Center 7s Kayla McDermott spoke with residents to get their opinions on the second largest jackpot in Powerball history, and fourth largest jackpot in U.S. history.

>> Powerball prize soars to $1.2B after no winners found Monday

Jesus, Ive never seen any jackpots over a billion, Matt Donaldson, a University of Dayton student, stated.

I dont even need that much, Bob Palofcy, an Oakwood resident, said.

McDermott questioned Donaldson and Palofcy about what they would do with their earnings.

Id buy a nice house. A nice 48 foot sailboat, Palofcy informed.

Probably a car first, and then trip after that, Donaldson said.

The Powerball winner(s) will have two choices on how they will receive the jackpot.

They can either choose to receive the winnings in one lump sum or in 30 graduated payments over 29 years.

If the winner chooses to receive the earnings in one lump sum, the $1.2 billion will be subject to federal, state, and local income taxes. The tax is estimated to be over $514 million, leaving the winner with around half a billion dollars.

However, if the winner chooses to receive an immediate payment, followed by 29 annual payments, they would receive about $40 million per year.

The odds of winning the jackpot are one in 292.2 million.

No one from Ohio has won the Powerball yet.

The next drawing is scheduled for Wednesday, November 2nd.




By Deisy Buitrago and Mayela Armas

CARACAS (Reuters) - The presidents of Colombia and Venezuela held their first bilateral meeting in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, on Tuesday, where they discussed topics including trade, human rights and protecting the Amazon rainforest.

The neighbors' fraught relationship has improved since Colombian President Gustavo Petro - the Andean country's first leftist leader - took office in August on promises to fully restart trade with Venezuela.

The countries reopened a major crossing point to cargo transport between in late September and have each named ambassadors.

"It has been a fruitful first meeting, truly auspicious, with good results," Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said in a joint statement.

The two leaders discussed economic and trade relations, Maduro said, including strengthening cooperation over Monomeros, a Colombia-based fertilizer producer which is owned by Pequiven, itself a unit of Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA.

They also discussed Venezuela's return to the Andean Community (CAN) trade bloc, which includes Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia.

Venezuela's rejoining of the CAN would be "good news for South America," Maduro said.

Colombia's leader also urged Venezuela to reintegrate itself in the inter-American human rights system.

Advocacy group Human Rights Watch recently called on Colombia to use its restored diplomatic relations with Venezuela to help curb human rights violations there.

"We have asked the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to strengthen that system," Petro said.

Venezuela is a guarantor country at Colombia's talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels, which will resume in November.

Caracas broke off relations with Bogota in 2019 after Venezuelan opposition activists tried to send aid trucks from Colombia. Maduro's government said it was a front for an attempted coup.

Previous governments in Bogota have accused Maduro of harboring Colombian rebel groups and criminals, accusations he has denied.

(Reporting by Deisy Buitrago and Mayela Armas in Caracas; Additional reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Louisville's homicide total for 2022 sits in the triple digits, marking the first time that the city has seen more than 100 homicides in a year for three years in a row.

So far during 2022, police have investigated 147 homicides in Louisville  with the deaths of three pregnant women each being counted as double homicides.

Homicides include those investigated by Louisville Metro Police as well as other Jefferson County law enforcement agencies.

The Courier Journal is tracking each killing to better understand violence in the city and memorialize the victims.

Below are the most recently available statistics about this year's homicides, along with links that will provide information about each victim's case.

Want to help us remember a victim? If you feel like sharing anecdotes or photos with us, please email lounews@courierjournal.com.

Know something about a Louisville homicide? Anyone with information about a homicide can contact the Louisville Metro Police anonymous tip line at 502-574-LMPD (5673) or provide information online at p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=563.

Below is information about the most recent cases:

Corey D. Parker

A man was found fatally shot in Louisville's Taylor Berry neighborhood on Nov. 25.

Fourth Division officers responded to a call about a shooting in the 3100 block of Taylor Boulevard, according to a statement from LMPD, and when they arrived at the scene they found a man who had been shot several times. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man was identified later by the Jefferson County Coroner's Officer as 52-year-old Corey D. Parker.

LMPD's homicide unit is investigating with no arrests in connection with the shooting.

Man killed in Thanksgiving day shooting in Russell

A man died after being shot multiple times in Louisville's Russell neighborhood on Thanksgiving, according to LMPD.

Police responded to a report of a shooting on Nov. 24 at 31st Street and River Park Drive at around 6 p.m, according to department spokesperson Alicia Smiley. The individual was taken to University of Louisville Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The victim hasn't been named as of yet.

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The LMPD homicide unit is investigating the case.

Man found dead after shooting on South Shelby Street

A man was found dead after a shooting on Nov. 20 in the Phoenix Hill neighborhood, Louisville Metro Police officials said.

First Division officers responded to a call about a shooting on the 500 block of South Shelby Street at 6:30 a.m. When officers arrived, they found the man had been shot and had received fatal injuries. Dwight Mitchell, a spokesperson for LMPD, said the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

There are currently no arrests at this time and LMPD is currently investigating, Mitchell said.

Jackson R. Mingus

A man was pronounced dead on Nov. 19 after a shooting on Manslick Road, Louisville Metro Police officials said.

Third Division officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 10400 block of West Manslick Road. When officers arrived to the scene, they found a man inside a vehicle who was fatally shot and was pronounced dead at the scene, LMPD spokesperson Dwight Mitchell said.

The victim was later identified by the Jefferson County Coroner's Office as 19-year-old Jackson R. Mingus of Louisville.

LMPD's homicide unit is currently investigating the incident with no arrests made in connection with the shooting.

Deondre K. McRae

A man was found fatally shot on Nov. 18 on Fegenbush Lane, Louisville Metro Police said.

Sixth Division officers responded to a call about a shooting at about 2:30 p.m. at the 4600 block of Fegenbush Lane, where they found a man who had been shot and killed, department spokesperson Dwight Mitchell said. He said the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The LMPD Homicide Unit is investigating the incident, but there have been no arrests in connection to the incident.

The victim was identified a day later by the Jefferson County Coroner's Office as 29-year-old Deondre K. McRae.

Man killed in shooting near Auburndale

LMPD is investigating a fatal shooting that took place on Nov. 11 near Louisville's Auburndale neighborhood.

Third Division officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 1100 block of Royal Gardens Court just after 8:30 p.m. that evening, according to a statement from department spokesperson Alicia Smiley, and found an adult man at the scene who had been shot at least one time. He was pronounced dead on site, Smiley said.

LMPD's homicide unit is investigating, Smiley said.

The man who was killed has not yet been identified.

Man dies after Breckinridge Lane shooting

A man died on Nov. 5 after being injured in a shooting on Breckinridge Lane the day before.

Sixth Division officers responded to a call about a shooting on Nov. 4 at around 7:15 p.m. in the 2900 block of Breckinridge Lane, where they found a man who had been shot, Louisville Metro Police spokesperson Dwight Mitchell said. He said the victim was taken to the University of Louisville in critical condition., where he succumbed to his injuries early the next morning.

Mitchell said the homicide unit is investigating the incident, and there have not been any arrests in connection to the shooting. The victim has not been identified.

Man died after stabbing in Kenwood Hill

A man died after been stabbed in Kenwood Hill on Nov. 4.

Louisville Metro Police officers responded to a call about a stabbing on Southside Drive at National Turnpike at about 9:45 p.m., where they found a man who had been stabbed, LMPD spokesperson Dwight Mitchell said. He said the victim was taken to the University of Louisville Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The person who was killed has not been identified, and nobody has been arrested in connection to the incident. The homicide unit is investigating.

Christen Lovett

A Louisville man has been charged with murder over the killing of a toddler, according to an LMPD arrest citation.

Derrick Taylor Jr. has pleaded not guilty to one count of murder over the Nov. 2 death of Christen Lovett, a 1-year-old boy. Taylor was arrested in connection with the case on Nov. 14, according to his arrest citation.

The arrest report said Taylor told investigators he had been at home alone with Christen on the day of his death and that the boy had not exhibited irregular behavior that day before he began having difficulty breathing. An autopsy found several signs of blunt force trauma, the citation said, including head injuries that resulted in his death during the time Taylor and the boy were alone together.

'It's just never ending': Louisville's soaring deaths threaten to overwhelm coroners

How have the 2022 victims died?

Of the 121 homicide victims, the majority  112  were shot. The body of one victim was also burned after his death.

The others include two people who died from blunt force trauma, six people who were stabbed to death and one man who died after being struck by a pickup.

Where were the killings in Louisville?

The killings have occurred throughout the city, in each LMPD division. According to data provided by LMPD, the Fourth Division has seen the most killings at 27. The others, according to the data, have seen:

First Division: 26

Second Division: 17

Third Division: 17

Fifth Division: 3

Sixth Division: 18

Seventh Division: 5

Eighth Division: 6

Additionally, Shively police have investigated three homicides.

How does this year's violence in Louisville compare to 2021?

Last year, Louisville endured 211 killings - up from 187 in 2020. The majority were fatal shootings.

Who were the previous months' victims?

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Here is the latest on Louisville, Kentucky's 2022 homicides
Hendersonville Police.

HENDERSONVILLE - A lawsuit has been filed against the city and Hendersonville Police Sgt. Robert Cantwell for injuries a local man sustained when an off-duty Hendersonville Police Department canine handled by Cantwell attacked the man at his home on Majestic Trace in August 2020.

The lawsuit, in which the plaintiffs demanded a trial by jury, was filed by Kevin O'Neill and his wife, Mary, on Oct. 24, Hendersonville announced in an email on Tuesday, Nov. 1. The O'Neills, represented by attorney John McCabe, are seeking in excess of $25,000 in compensatory and punitive damages.

Hendersonville City Manager John Connet addressed the lawsuit in a telephone interview Nov. 1.

"We had a police canine get away from his handler at the handler's home back in August of 2020 and attack a neighbor. At this point, we've received a lawsuit about the incident. We regret that it happened, but we're not going to run from it," Connet said. "City Council will discuss it in closed session on Thursday night (Nov. 3), but we won't have anything to release to the media then. Being a lawsuit and from the guidance of our attorney, that's all that I can say about it at this point."

Kevin O'Neill, 70, was 68 years old at the time of the attack, and the incident happened when Hendersonville Police Chief Herbert Blake was in office. Blake resigned just over two weeks later and was hired as Chief Deputy by the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office. Blair Myhand took over as Hendersonville's Police Chief in February 2021.

According to the lawsuit, the canine, Sunny, got away from Cantwell on Aug. 2, 2020, and ran into the O'Neills' yard and attacked Kevin O'Neill, who suffered several injuries, including a severe eye injury. The lawsuit said that following the attack, the O'Neills were both diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The O'Neills were leaving their house the day of the attack to attend a birthday party for Kevin O'Neill at their daughter's house. As Mary O'Neill was going to the car, Sunny came at her, the lawsuit said, with Kevin O'Neill not out of the house yet. Mary O'Neill then yelled to her husband to unlock the car so she could get in away from the dog, and Kevin O'Neill heard her and quickly got outside and used his key fob to unlock the car. When the dog saw Kevin O'Neill standing outside, the dog lunged at him, and Mary O'Neill was able to get in the car.

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The dog attacked him, and his wife immediately dialed 911 to get help, the lawsuit said.

We deeply regret this happened, and we take full responsibility for the incident, former Police Chief Herbert Blake said in a press release in 2020. We are cooperating with the victim and the Henderson County Sheriffs Office, who is investigating the incident. Because of this incident, we will re-evaluate our K-9 program and policies to try and make sure an event like this never happens again.

According to that same press release following the incident, Cantwell secured Sunny and rendered first aid to the victim prior to first responders arrival, but the lawsuit by the O'Neills made public on Nov. 1 said otherwise.

"The truth is that defendant Cantwell rendered no first aid whatsoever to plaintiff Kevin O'Neill following the subject attack," the complaint said.

After the attack, Sunny was quarantined at the Henderson County Animal Shelter and wasn't allowed back on the police force.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Victims of 2020 police K-9 attack file lawsuit against Hendersonville, Cantwell
State laws dictate how far away campaign signs and workers need to be from polling places. AP Photo/Eric Gay

Author Edgar Allan Poe, the 19th-century master of American macabre fiction, may have died of dirty politics. According to legend, a gang of party poll hustlers kidnapped and drugged him. They forced him to vote, then abandoned him near death. Details are murky, but we do know Poe died in Baltimore days after the Oct. 3, 1849, election.

The story, though likely untrue, is certainly plausible. Election Day in 19th-century America was a loud, raucous, often dangerous event. Political parties would offer food, drink and inducements ranging from offers of bribes to threats of beatings to encourage voters to cast the partys official ballot.

Reforms at the end of the century  particularly after an especially dirty 1888 presidential election  aimed to stop the shenanigans, assure the safety of voters and elevate the act of voting.

That is why the U.S. now has secret government-printed ballots rather than party-provided ballots. And all 50 states have laws that ban potentially intimidating behavior at polling places.

Yet there appears to be increasing risk of such voter intimidation. The Washington Post reports that the Republican Party has held thousands of training sessions around the country on how to monitor voting and lodge complaints about  midterm elections. Former President Donald Trumps ally and conservative firebrand Steve Bannon has urged followers to head to the polls, claiming Well challenge any vote, any ballot. And Axios reports that Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers are looking to sway the upcoming midterms in favor of their preferred candidates by signing up as poll workers and drop-box watchers.

Elections in the 19th century were sometimes wild affairs; this cartoon is from 1857. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Vestigial laws?

The idea behind these anti-electioneering laws is to prevent the kind of "poll hustling to which Poe may have fallen victim.

Party tough guys cannot follow  or drag  helpless voters into the polling place, or watch them to make sure they vote the correct ballot with the implicit threat that a wrong vote could result in a beating.

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These laws generally prohibit campaign activities at or near polling places  wearing campaign paraphernalia, shouting slogans, even loitering inside those polling places. Distance requirements for campaigners, ranging from 10 feet from a polling place in Pennsylvania to 600 feet away in Louisiana, help to assure that secret ballots are actually cast in secret.

But these vestigial laws meant to purify 19th-century elections may be ill equipped for our hyperpartisan modern elections

If voters come to the polls wearing symbols like the Gadsden Dont Tread on Me flag that has evolved into an anti-government symbol, a rainbow pin associated with gay pride, or even a sticker from a spice company whose owner detests Trump, those symbols can take on a perceived political meaning. Under these laws, these people could be accused of illegally campaigning where people vote.

How can anti-electioneering laws keep politics out of the polling place when politics already suffuses so much of life? And in 2022, polling places for many may be the kitchen table or a ballot drop box. In that context, do these laws still have relevance?

An election worker puts mail-in ballots collected from vehicles in a ballot box at the Clark County Election Department on Oct. 13 in North Las Vegas, Nev. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Purifying elections

Political reformers in the late 1880s saw elections as too closely tied to party machines and their Election Day carousing. Much of the reform around this time was focused on cleaning up politics and destroying the nefarious influence of party machines.

In fact, the current popular understanding of party machines as being universally corrupt and lowbrow might be because good government activists won, so they got to write the history

Yet now, these reforms meant to purify 19th-century elections may not have the effect the authors intended.

For example, a New Hampshire woman opted to vote topless in that states September 2020 primary after election officials told her that her anti-Trump T-shirt ran afoul of New Hampshire laws forbidding campaigning within a polling place.

In fact, 10 states currently have laws on the books regulating the kinds of clothing voters can wear to the polling place.

These laws may violate the U.S. Constitutions First Amendment prohibition on limits to free speech, but not all have been tested in court. In the 2018 opinion Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky, the Supreme Court ruled that the states laws to create an orderly and controlled environment around the polling place were overly vague.

According to the Minnesota opinion, a rule whose fair enforcement requires an election judge to maintain a mental index of the platforms and positions of every candidate and party on the ballot is not reasonable.

Poll workers, then, do not need to keep abreast of what a black-and-yellow polo shirt means or which spice company has engaged in political advocacy.

Buttons, hats, pencils, pens, shirts, signs, or stickers containing electioneering information are forbidden by California law within 100 feet of a polling place. California Legislature

Bad things happen in Philadelphia

Even so, teasing out what constitutes a political message seems easy compared with teasing out what constitutes a polling place when so many voters will cast their ballots before Election Day.

In the Sept. 29, 2020, presidential debate, Trump warned that bad things happen in Philadelphia. Earlier that week, a paid Republican poll watcher in Philadelphia was denied entry into a building that was not a formal polling place. Instead, it was handling, among other things, voter registration and pickup and drop-off of mail-in ballots. The Trump campaign sued, but the state court rejected the campaigns argument, explaining that watchers are allowed only at polling places on Election Day, not Board of Elections offices at other times.

If anything, though, concerns about voter intimidation are greater in 2022, largely because of reactions to baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Efforts in Texas and other states to clean up purported voter fraud, some in response to the debunked film 2000 Mules, may end up suppressing the vote in 2022.

Indeed, a Reuters/Ipsos poll recently found that 40% of respondents are worried about threats of violence or voter intimidation at polling places in 2022.

The unfounded claims of election fraud have spurred changes to election laws in many states. For example, Georgias new election law enables organized groups to challenge the eligibility of an unlimited number of voters, meaning that some early voters have turned up to vote, only to find they need to jump through more hoops to cast their ballots.

And in other cases, conspiracy theorists are taking matters into their own hands: Some voters in Arizona are reporting that monitors, including armed vigilantes in one case, are patrolling ballot drop boxes, possibly running afoul of federal voter intimidation laws.

How clean is too clean?

In her 2004 book Diminished Democracy, political scientist Theda Skocpol describes 19th-century reformers as working for measures that would emphasize an unemotional, educational style of politics.

Demanding the protection of the purity of the polling place and politics, Skocpol argues, treats politics as if it were something dirty and implicitly holds up the ideal of an educated elite safely above and outside of politics.

Certainly, few Americans would advocate allowing the countrys literary greats  or anyone else  to fall prey to roving political gangs. But determining how to protect the integrity of elections is difficult when elections are everywhere.

And it may not be as easy as relying on rules meant for a different time, a different means of voting and a different electorate.

This is an updated version of a story that originally was published on Oct. 21, 2020.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Kristin Kanthak, University of Pittsburgh. Like this article? subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

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Kristin Kanthak does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Voters in Virginia Beach didnt elect three sitting members of the Virginia Beach City Council. Rocky Holcomb, Linwood Branch and Delceno Miles were appointed by their colleagues to fill vacancies, a process that Councilman John Moss and others want to change.

Shouldnt the people be picking who serves? asked Moss in an interview Monday.

When theres an unoccupied position on the City Council, the body must appoint a new member within 45 days or Circuit Court judges will make the decision, according to the city charter.

Moss wants to amend the charter, requiring a special election to fill a vacancy. He first brought up the idea last year, with Councilmen Aaron Rouse and Guy Tower supporting. Mosss proposal has advanced into a draft of Virginia Beachs 2023 legislative package.

A public hearing on the matter will be held at Tuesdays City Council meeting.

Moss said the problem with council appointments was highlighted last year when former vice mayor and Lynnhaven district representative Jim Wood resigned, and there was dissention among members over who to choose to replace him.

The City Council voted 6-4 to appoint Linwood Branch, a former City Council member who owns a hotel in the resort area. Moss voted no.

He also said that the citys new district voting system, versus the former at-large method, is another reason why council members need to be elected by constituents, not appointed by the council.

The people from the district should be deciding, he said.

Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson said she prefers the current process of appointments, in part because it costs money to hold a special election.

Its an extra financial burden on the taxpayers, Wilson said.

Holding a special election to fill a vacancy on a legislative body is not a new concept. Virginia law requires it at the state level.

The City Council will vote on its legislative package in mid-November. If Mosss proposed charter amendment on filling council vacancies makes the cut, and its approved by the General Assembly, Virginia Beach residents will vote on it in 2023.

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
Yuriy Vitrenko will continue to hold the position until November 3

"The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, by its decision of Nov. 1, 2022, satisfied the appeal of the Chairman of the Board of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine Yuriy Vitrenko for dismissal," the company said in a statement.

Vitrenko will continue to hold the post of head of the national company through Nov. 3, 2022.

Read also: Next heating season will be worst in history, Naftogaz chief says

"More detailed communication on this issue will be carried out on the last day of Yuriy Vitrenko's work as chairman of the Board of Naftogaz," the NJSC added.

Minister of Regional Development Oleksiy Chernyshov is the frontrunner to take over at the helm of Naftogaz of Ukraine, MP Oleksiy Honcharenko said on Telegram.

Read also: EBRD may provide Ukrenergo, Naftogaz with rapid EUR 300 million loan

Earlier, MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak stated that the Verkhovna Rada may soon liquidate the Ministry of Regional Development by merging it with the Ministry of Infrastructure.

He noted that the dismissal of Oleksiy Chernyshov from the post of the head of the Ministry of Regional Development may be connected with his transition to a new position.

Read also: Naftogaz wins court battle over $19 million

The Ekonomichna Pravda outlet also previously reported that Chernyshov was touted to replace Vitrenko as the head of Naftogaz of Ukraine.

Vitrenko was appointed head of Naftogaz on April 28, 2021, after the Cabinet of Ministers dismissed Andriy Kobolyev from this position. It was reported then that Vitrenko was appointed for a period of one year.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Supreme Court Affirmative Action Justices' Own Words (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The US military learned a valuable lesson about race during the Vietnam War: Diversity does not happen without affirmative action. That helps explain why a distinguished group of 35 military officials wrote a brief to the Supreme Court supporting the use of race as a part of college admissions  as the US military has done at its four service academies over the last nearly 50 years.

While the Supreme Court has agreed in the past that racial diversity on college campuses is an important goal, the problem is just how to achieve that goal without using race as a factor.

In two cases that are expected to determine the fate of affirmative action programs across the country, the court heard oral arguments on October 31, 2022, that could bring an end to using race as one of many factors in college admissions decisions.

Questions from the justices reflected the ideological divisions on the court. Conservative justices argued that race-based admissions policies had no defined end point.

I dont see how you can say that the program will ever end, Chief Justice John Roberts said.

Associate Justice Clarence Thomas cut right to the point in his questions. I may be tone-deaf when it comes to all these other things that happen on campus, about feeling good and all that, he said to one of the attorneys defending affirmative action. Im really interested in a simple thing: What benefits academically are there to your definition or the diversity that youre asserting?

In sharp contrast, liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor reminded the court that diversity was deemed an issue of national importance in previous rulings and that without such programs, the number of historically disadvantaged applicants decreases substantially. What we know, Sotomayor said about the nine states who have tried dropping affirmative action programs, in each of them, white admissions have either remained the same or increased. And clearly, in some institutions, the numbers for underrepresented groups has fallen dramatically, correct?

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In my view as a scholar of the history of affirmative action, the military officers make the case that diversity is a matter of life and death. The officers argued in their brief that barring universities from taking race into account in admissions risks sowing internal resentment, discord, and violence in an era when diversity is imperative to our militarys dealings with international allies and complex global challenges.

In addition, the military leaders argued that overturning affirmative action would damage the extremely successful talent pipeline that the officer corps has set up directly through military academies and indirectly through the university-based ROTC programs.

This is not the first time former military officials have weighed in on affirmative action. They did so in the 2003 case against the affirmative action program at the University of Michigan in Grutter vs. Bollinger. The importance of maintaining a diverse, highly qualified officer corps has been beyond legitimate dispute for decades, the military officials wrote then.

Indeed, in 1962, when US involvement was starting to grow in Vietnam, Black commissioned officers represented only 1.6 percent of the officers corps. Military academies remained virtually segregated, with Black people making up less than 1 percent of enrollees. As a result, the number of Black officers didnt grow much.

Over the next five years, the number of Black soldiers fighting and dying on the front lines grew to about 25 percent. Racial tensions between white and Black soldiers led to at least 300 fights in a two-year-period that resulted in 71 deaths. Fueling those fights was the belief among Black soldiers that the largely white officers didnt care about their lives. The lack of diversity, the military leaders wrote in their brief, led to a complete breakdown in understanding between minority enlisted service members and the white officers who led them.

In what they described as a painful chapter, military officials said the Vietnam War brought home the importance of cultivating diversity across all levels of leadership. It also began the militarys use of affirmative action, including race-conscious admissions policies at service academies and in ROTC programs.

In their lawsuits now in the Supreme Court against Harvard and the University of North Carolina, the anti-affirmative action organization Students for Fair Admissions argued that the schools race-conscious admissions process was unconstitutional and discriminated against high-achieving Asian American students in favor of traditionally underrepresented Black and Hispanic students.

These cases mark the second time the Students for Fair Admissions and its founder, Edward Blum, a conservative activist who has raised millions of dollars from right-wing donors, have reached the Supreme Court in their efforts to dismantle affirmative action. In 2016, they challenged the University of Texas on behalf of white and Asian students, but lost. That didnt stop Blum from filing the latest challenges before the Supreme Court  all in the effort to eliminate the use of race in college admissions.

In an October 2022 interview, Blum said he believes that diversity on campus is a good thing, but there is a way to go about doing this without putting a thumb on the scale.

Given the conservative 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court and its controversial ruling that overturned the landmark 1973 abortion decision in Roe v. Wade, it does not appear likely that affirmative action as its known will survive, despite decades of rulings that protected the use of race as an admissions criteria. In 2007, for instance, Chief Justice Roberts wrote in a school busing case that the way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.

Forms of that argument have been around since the 1970s, when a legal challenge reached the Supreme Court in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke. In that 1978 case, Allan Bakke, a white man, had been denied admission to University of California at Davis medical school. Though ruling that a separate admissions process for minority medical students was unconstitutional, Associate Justice Lewis Powell wrote that race can still be one of several factors in the admissions process. Since then, the Supreme Court has issued different rulings on whether race could be used in college admissions.

In the 2003 Grutter v. Bollinger case, Justice Sandra Day OConnor wrote the majority opinion that endorsed the University of Michigans highly individualized, holistic review that included race as a factor and had been legally challenged.

Most recently, in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin in 2016, the court reaffirmed its belief in schools that train students to appreciate diverse viewpoints, to see one another as more than mere stereotypes, and to develop the capacity to live and work together as equal members of a common community.

Race-neutral admissions policies have had mixed results.

In the cases before the Supreme Court, the University of California also filed a brief urging the Court to allow the use of race. The school argued that the elimination of its affirmative action program in 1996 has caused its diversity numbers to decline in some cases by more than 50 percent. UCs experience demonstrates that the race-neutral methods which it has diligently pursued for 25 years have been inadequate to meaningfully increase student-body diversity, the school said in its brief.

The impact on the number of Black and Latino students was virtually immediate. At UCLA, for instance, African American students made up 7.13 percent of the freshman class in 1995, and only 3.43 percent in 1998.

More than two decades later, the numbers have not improved. Though Latino students comprise 52.3 percent of California public high school graduates, only about 25.4 percent of college freshmen in the UC system identified as Latino. For Black students, the number graduating from high school was 5 percent, while the number of Black college freshmen was about 4 percent.

UCs decades-long experience with race-neutral approaches demonstrates that highly competitive universities may not be able to achieve the benefits of student body diversity through race-neutral measures alone, the UC brief stated.

Travis Knoll is an Adjunct Professor of History at the University of North Carolina  Charlotte

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it. -Winston Churchill, in a 1948 speech to the House of Commons.

October is the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, that 35-day period when world powers were the closest theyd ever been to nuclear war. Today, we find ourselves in another global conflict. President Biden has warned that the world is at risk of nuclear Armageddon.

As tensions escalate following Putin's threat to use nuclear missiles, there are lessons we can learn from the Cuban Missile Crisis. Factors that ensured our survival then are not guaranteed today.

In 1962, honorable men who showed restraint were at the helm. When President John F. Kennedy first received word that the Soviet Union had placed nuclear ballistic missiles in Cuba, the National Security Council advised Kennedy to immediately carry out an air strike on Cuban soil.

No negotiations with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. Just attack immediately.

Women protesting the Cuban Missile Crisis demonstrate along the Pennsylvania Ave. sidewalk in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., Oct. 23, 1962.

Just as he refused to send American troops into the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Kennedy declined the air strike  refusing to take any action that would be seen as a declaration of war. Many Americans believe those decisions cost Kennedy his life.

Meanwhile, Khrushchev was also being prodded by hawkish elements of the USSR and the Castro regime. Instead, Khrushchev asked Kennedy to remove nuclear missiles from Turkey in exchange for a Soviet withdrawal of missiles from Cuba.

Kennedy and Khrushchev resisted the salivating war hounds within their administrations and reached a peaceful de-escalation of the Crisis.

It wasnt just the two men at the top who ensured our survival. Individual commanders on the ground and in the water during the crisis showed remarkable restraint, such that is lacking today as Ukrainian forces allegedly perform sabotage and targeted assassinations in Russia and as Putin strikes civilian centers in Kyiv.

Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.

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Before Kennedy and Khrushchev reached their deal, Soviet nuclear-equipped submarines were deployed around Cuba, with orders from Moscow to fire their nukes should they come under attack. While one such submarine was being depth-charged by American naval ships, Soviet Flotilla Commander Vasili Arkhipov was the lone voice of dissent in launching nukes.

He stood up to extreme pressure from the Captain of the sub, the subs Political Officer and the crew. It is because of Vasili Arkhipov and men like him that we are alive today.

The American people should have a say this time around

The United States has spent billions of dollars funding Ukraines war effort, outspending all European nations combined. As this has become a proxy war between the U.S. and Russia, the American people should have a say in it.

Ren Brabenec

Given that a plurality of Americans believe the U.S. should do more diplomatically to help end the war, why is U.S. leadership not stepping up to the plate?

Are U.S. leaders on both sides of the aisle again bending to pressure from the military-industrial complex, just as they did in Iraq, Afghanistan and so many other wars funded by American taxpayers?

The difference in this war is that nuclear Armageddon is at stake. As the Doomsday Clock of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists ticks closer to midnight, Americans must demand de-escalation.

The United States is the only country on Earth that can bring Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table.

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On Nov. 8, vote for peace

A conflict thousands of miles away from American soil may not feel like a local issue. Yet, in the Atomic Age, any threat of nuclear war is local to us all.

Thats why we must make our voices heard this November by casting ballots for those candidates who support a U.S.-brokered negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia. As the war dogs in Washington push ever more aggressive foreign policy, we must be dogs of a different sort.

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We must herd the public servants sworn to represent us, nipping at their heels if we must demanding that they represent our desire for peace. Our future depends on it.

Ren Brabenec is a Nashville-based freelance writer and columnist.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vote for representatives who support a peace settlement in Ukraine
vote here directional sign photo Bloomberg Creative/ Getty Images

Movement Labs, a company that facilitates political text message campaigns, took responsibility for accidentally sending voters in five states messages with erroneous instructions for voting.

The messages included incorrect directions for the recipient's polling place that appeared tailored to the voters' location. Voters received messages from the group Voting Futures that identified supposed polling locations by name and address, per NBC News.

The secretaries of state in Kansas and New Jersey warned their constituents that some voters had received messages with directions to the wrong polling location. They clarified that the texts did not come from their offices.

Movement Labs, the company behind the messages, released a statement on their website on Monday taking responsibility for sending the incorrect messages, stating that it took "full responsibility for these mistakes and have issued correction texts."

The statement explains that the company sent the messages to voters in Kansas, New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, and Virginia on behalf of text campaign clients Voto Latino, Black Voters Matter, and Voting Futures.

Movement Labs founder Yoni Landau assured it was not their intention to confuse voters. "In some of our texts, we sent addresses and images of drop-box locations when we intended only to include in-person early vote locations," he said. "We didn't specify in our text that we were trying to encourage voters to vote early. Some voters familiar with their election day location thought we were telling them to vote on election day at an early vote location."

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Election officials said Tuesday that some Tennessee voters have cast ballots in the wrong congressional district in Nashville  a city that Republican lawmakers carved three ways during redistricting in hopes of flipping a Democratic seat.

At least one precinct has been affected, which includes the 7th Congressional contest that pits a Black Democratic candidate, Odessa Kelly, against Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Green.

Some voters relied on interactive maps from the comptroller's office and the Legislature, only to find later that the secretary of state's office lists them as in the 6th District.

That means an unknown number of voters have cast ballots in the wrong congressional race, said Davidson County election administrator Jeff Roberts. The county office, which oversees Nashville, was only made aware of the issue Tuesday after being alerted by The Associated Press. Early voting has been ongoing for nearly two weeks.

At this point in time, theres no way for us to know, the ballots that were cast, who cast those ballots," Roberts said. We cant undo what has already been done out there.

Roberts said the issue is a result of a voting precinct that was divided under the redistricting map, splitting the voting area between the 6th and 7th congressional districts. Some voters in the 7th were grouped wrongly with the 6th. More than 1,350 voters live in the precinct.

Mistakes happen, Roberts said, adding that he was unsure if the same problem was happening in other precincts.

He promised that the issue would be resolved by Election Day, which is Nov. 8. Until then, the county is currently working up a plan on what poll workers should tell voters as early voting continues, Roberts said.

Julia Bruck, a spokesperson for the secretary of state's office, told the AP that the information on the state's GoVoteTN app is submitted from each individual county and relies on accurate information from the local election commissions. Bruck said the office is not aware of any other issues elsewhere.

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Kelly's campaign treasurer, Anna Carella, was hoping to cast a ballot for her boss. She relied on the comptroller's website, which said she was in the 7th District, and for weeks she thought she would be able to vote for Kelly. But when she went to vote early, poll workers handed her a ballot that included the 6th District race, Carella said.

That there's conflicting information about what your district is, Carella said, "it definitely doesn't instill confidence in the system."

In the 7th District race, both Kelly and Green have spoken against the redistricting plan that carved up Nashville.

Whether this is blatant incompetence or purposeful deceit, the end result is the same: textbook voter disenfranchisement," Kelly said in a statement Tuesday. But make no mistake: this is just fuel for my fire and a glaring reminder of why Im running in the first place  so that every Tennessean who has ever faced systemic oppression or bigotry knows that we will persist and fight for whats right no matter what obstacles are levied against us.

During redistricting early this year, Tennessee Republican state lawmakers redrew the states 5th Congressional District with an eye toward gaining an additional GOP seat in Congress, where the balance of power is on the line in the midterm elections.

The redistricting plan, which carved Nashville into three different seats, spurred the city's longtime Democratic representative, Jim Cooper, not to seek reelection. That created an open race in a newly drawn district  now snaking through six counties  that favored Donald Trump over Joe Biden by 12 percentage points in 2020.

The 6th District is the most favorable Nashville seat for Republicans, where GOP U.S. Rep. John Rose of Cookeville is running for another term. Trump topped Biden there by 30 points. Rose faces Democrat Randal Cooper.

Kelly and Green are contending in the 7th District, which extends through 14 counties. Its voters favored Trump over Biden by 15 percentage points.

"Nashville has enough population to comprise nearly an entire single congressional district, as it has for decades," said Mark Gaber, senior director of redistricting at the Campaign Legal Center. But the legislature carved Nashville into three congressional districts with little regard for the needs of the city or its residents, and now voters are paying a double price.

Meanwhile, Carella still put up a campaign sign in her yard for her candidate, Kelly, after she couldn't vote in her race. While she's disappointed she couldn't vote for her preferred candidate this year, she's grateful that her neighbors will be able to cast a correct ballot by Election Day.

Still worth it," she said.
MONTGOMERY, Ala (AP)  The Alabama Constitution, approved in 1901 to entrench white supremacy, still has language regarding segregated schools, poll taxes and bans on interracial marriage.

But a seismic change could be in store. Alabama voters on Nov. 8 will decide whether to ratify a new constitution that strips out the Jim Crow-era language. It would also reorganize the unwieldy governing document, which has been amended 978 times and tops over 400,000 words. The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama says the size makes it the longest such document in the world.

Voters in 2020 authorized state officials and lawmakers to cut the racist language that lingers from the era of racial segregation. That work, finally completed, now goes back before voters to ratify the Alabama Constitution of 2022.

Proponents say the changes that will demonstrate Alabama is a different place today  and streamline the sprawling constitution to be more user-friendly.

This is an effort to show, not only the rest of the country, but the world who we are today," said state Rep. Merika Coleman, one of the lawmakers who led the bipartisan effort.

However, it does not make the policy changes that some reformers have sought  such as giving counties more home rule and removing tax earmarks, which dedicate taxes to a specific program or purpose.

To approve the measure, voters must vote Yes on the question asking whether to ratify the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.  The ratification question will appear on the ballot after the list of candidates for office. There is also a separate amendment, Amendment 10, to authorize the code commissioner to renumber and nest the newest amendments within the Constitution.

The framers of the 1901 constitution were direct about their goal to maintain a government controlled by whites.

The new constitution eliminates the ignorant negro vote, and places the control of our government where God Almighty intended it should be - with the Anglo-Saxon race, John Knox, president of the constitutional convention, said in a speech urging voters to ratify the document.

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The Alabama Constitution has language allowing parents to opt for students to attend schools provided for their own race" and sections about poll taxes, bans on interracial marriage and a convict labor system in which Black Alabamians, often arbitrarily arrested, were forced to work in mines and labor camps. The provisions were long ago invalidated by court rulings or later amendments, but the language remains in the state's government document.

Alabama has seen efforts previously to invalidate racist language, but this goes further, said Othni Lathram, the director of the Legislative Services Agency.

For example, voters in 2000 approved an amendment repealing an unenforceable interracial marriage ban  although 40% of voters voted against the repeal  but the language about the ban remains in the Constitution and you have to make it to the Amendment 667 to know that it's been repealed, he said.

With the recompilation, it completely goes away," he said.

The reorganization effort is designed to make the document more user-friendly, Lathram said. Repealed provisions will be removed and the nearly 1,000 amendments will be incorporated into the document. Amendments related to local areas will be organized by county so they can be more easily found.

Tom Spencer, a senior research associate at Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, said the proposal will strip remaining racist language. However, it will continue the current structure that centralizes power in the Legislature, and will not change the state's tax structure.

The Alabama Constitution of 1901 is currently 420,000 words. The new Constitution would shrink slightly to 373,274 words, but that is three times more words than the next-longest state constitution - Texas, according to an analysis from the PARCA.

"Power will still be concentrated in the Legislature and local matters, like whether counties can regulate golf carts on public roads, will continue to clutter the state constitution ... And it will still be the worlds longest constitution. Even with the organizational fixes, the document is a confusing mess," Spencer wrote.

The state committee that worked on the recompilation and the lawmakers who approved it only had a narrow charge to delete racist or repeated language and to reorganize, according to Coleman. However, she is hopeful the ratification will be approved.

___

Learn more about the issues and factors at play in the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections. And follow the APs election coverage of the 2022 elections at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections.
Kansas Secretary of States office said the misinformation appears to be from an out-of-state organization called Voting Futures.

Kansas voters are getting third-party text messages leading them to the incorrect polling place only a week before the midterm elections.

According to HuffPost, the Kansas Secretary of States office said the misinformation appears to be from an out-of-state organization called Voting Futures. Sunflower State voters are advised to be highly vigilant.

The Secretary of States office does not use third parties to contact voters or share election information on our behalf, Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab said Monday in a statement, HuffPost reported.

Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab answers questions during an interview in his office in Topeka, Kansas, in July. Schwab is a conservative former Kansas House member who has defended the use of ballot drop boxes that former President Donald Trump and other Republicans say are prone to misuse, even though there is no widespread evidence of that. (Photo: John Hanna/AP, File)

Voting Futures appears to have a scant website and a broken contact page. People have been complaining about the text messages on the organizations Facebook page, and many have written about them on their social media profiles to alert others.

State and local election officials are the trusted sources for election information, Schwab continued, and I encourage voters to contact our office or their county election office for assistance.

The issue of incorrect third-party text messages to voters appears to be widespread. Similar information was sent out in Oregon earlier this month, also claiming to be from Voting Futures. A Twitter user contended its happening in Ashburn, Virginia, too.

My wife received a false text earlier from a Black Voter Coalition which confirmed her proper home address but informing her that her voting site is now 20 miles away in a neighboring county, @_AdrianWright shared Monday. We are furious.

The American Civil Liberties Unions chapter in Kansas reportedly learned that some of the texts claim to be from Future Voices, which is neither in Kansas nor any other states official government database.

Sharon Brett, the legal director for ACLU Kansas, asked voters to phone 866-OUR-VOTE, the organizations election protection hotline, if they ever receive one of these unsolicited texts.

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This helps us track how widespread this was and where geographically its happening (ie whether its targeting voters in certain counties), Brett noted on Twitter.

ACLU Kansas also received reports of messages coming from the organization Black Voters Matter. BVM told HuffPost a group it works with called Movement Labs, which has taken full responsibility for the mix-up, sent the texts out in error.

We are deeply sorry for the confusion that these text messages created and have taken steps to correct this situation, said BVM, according to HuffPost. We are thankful for the community members and media representatives who brought this to our attention.

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More states are cracking down on requiring voters to provide proof of identification when they go to cast their ballots on Election Day. AP Photo/LM Otero, File

The last day to cast your vote in the 2022 midterm elections is Tuesday, November 8.

In 38 states, voters are required to present a form of ID when casting their ballot on Election Day.

Some states don't require photo IDs, while others don't require proof of ID at all.

In 38 states, voters who head to the polls on Election Day  which is Tuesday, November, 8  will need to provide proof of identification to poll workers.

The other 13 states do not require voters to show any form of ID when casting their ballot.

There are four classifications for states with voter ID laws: strict photo, non-strict photo, strict non-photo, and non-strict non-photo.

For states with photo ID requirements (strict photo and non-strict photo), proper forms of identification that must be shown to poll workers in order to vote include a state-issued driver's license, non-driver ID or voter card, US passport, or a military, tribal, student, or state employee card. Most states have exemptions for citizens who cannot be photographed due to their religious beliefs.

Non-photo ID states accept mail that verifies the voter's name and address, including pay-stubs, bank statements, and rent or utility bills. Voters can also use official government mailings as their proof of ID.

Stricter states require voters to cast a provisional ballot or later provide proof of residency to their election officials in order for their votes to count. In less strict states, voters without the required documentation are allowed to cast a sworn affidavit, reasonable impediment declaration, or have a poll worker vouch for them to vote.

Voters in Oregon are only required to show proof of ID if they are first-time voters, as noted in the chart above.

Rules on whether or not a polling place will accept an expired form of ID vary depending on the state.

Voter ID laws were implemented as a way to help prevent against voter fraud during elections. However, studies have shown that laws such as these can disenfranchise voters, especially low-income voters and people of color. Many states offer state ID cards to voters at no additional cost, however obtaining other necessary identification documents like a social security card can be difficult and costly.

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As many as 11 percent of US citizens do not have government-issued photo IDs, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Many of which are older, lower-income, or minority citizens, creating a hindrance for many to vote if their state has strict voter ID laws.

Some states also accept Medicaid or other health insurance cards as a form of ID, so be sure to see what your state will allow before Election Day.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Col. Al Allenback is a former Maxwell Air Force Base Wing Commander.

Way back in 1845, the 28th United States Congress passed a law that standardized Election Day as the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November. America was an agrarian society then, and that law was designed to help farmers vote by holding elections late in the year, after the harvest was brought in and severe winter weather generally hadnt set in yet to hamper travel.

The lawmakers picked Tuesday because Sunday was church day and it took some people up to a day to travel to their nearest polling place, generally at the county seat. Wednesday was out since that was when farmers would sell their produce. Monday allowed for travel and Tuesday became the day to vote. This keeps Election Day in the range between the second and the eighth of November, and this year it is the closest you can get to Veterans Day, always on November 11.

Every member of the Armed Forces, along with other citizens serving in elected capacities (that includes Presidents and Congressmen), takes an oath of office swearing to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic I was 24 when I took the oath to become an officer in the U.S. Air Force, while I was pretty clear on who the foreign enemies were, who the contemporary domestic ones were was not well-defined, at least in my mind.

Fifty years later and a lifetime that included physical actions to defend the Constitution, after the attack on the United States Capitol, which included insurrectionists who claim the title Oath Keepers (Really?), the domestic enemies of the Constitution become more sharply defined. The First Amendment guarantees the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Emphasis on the word peaceably. The self-styled Americans who stormed the Capitol on January 6 did so with the clear intent to disrupt the well-established legal certification of a United States President for office, violently and with malice, including the desire to do violence to Members of Congress.

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We now have people in the United States whose presidential candidate lost the last election (both the Electoral College and by almost 7 million popular votes), and who cannot seem to wait until the next presidential election to vote their man in, which is the legal and normal way to do things under the rule of law. From all my experience with reasonable people, it is inconceivable that 250 Congressmen and Senators believe the false election lie. These people live in a hate-fueled world of far-right extremism that has been mainstreamed into our national culture by a desire to put their person back in charge, regardless of the legality of the process. Since Charlottesville, the FBI reports that hate crime is now the highest in a decade (witness the recent attack on the Speaker of the Houses husband, an attack meant to harm her). Seeing early voters being intimidated by armed militia in our country is sickening and reminiscent of Hitlers brown shirts in the 1930s, who helped him come to power by violence and intimidation. The constant threats to election officials and their families paint a sad commentary on our Republic.

We are a nation of laws. We dont just drive through a four-way stop intersection, we stop and proceed in order of arrival. If we drive without respect for the law, the traffic flow breaks down, people get hurt and the system collapses. Driving through a Democracy, though much more complicated, can also become difficult if the rule of law is violated, with disastrous results, including the demise of the Republic and the rise of authoritarian rule.

Supporting and defending the United States Constitution has been one of the main priorities of my life, as it is and has been for countless other Veterans in the River Region, Alabama and across America. The right to vote the Constitution gives us is precious and fundamental to our society remaining strong and vibrant. Veterans have guaranteed that right with their sacrifices and have protected the Constitution for over two centuries, but not since the Civil War has our democracy been so threatened from within. I firmly believe that country must come before party. That great American patriot Thomas Paine has been paraphrased, that the Truth is more important than being on the team.

If you truly want to thank a Veteran for their service this year, then honor them by voting. And when you vote, think, really think, about what you are doing, and vote to preserve our Democracy!

Editors Note: Colonel Allenback is an Air Force combat veteran and writes from East Montgomery.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Want to really thank a veteran? Vote!
By Julie Ingwersen

CHICAGO (Reuters) -U.S. soybean futures rose about 2% on Tuesday, buoyed by short-covering as the U.S. harvest winds down, hopes for export sales to China and uncertainty about the availability of South American supplies, traders said.

Wheat futures turned higher, rallying from early declines as traders focused on uncertainty about grain shipments from the Black Sea export corridor and worries about Southern Hemisphere crops. Corn followed the firm trend.

Chicago Board of Trade January soybeans settled up 28-1/4 cents at $14.47-3/4 per bushel after reaching $14.49, the contract's highest since Sept. 23.

CBOT December wheat ended up 20-1/4 cents at $9.02-1/2 a bushel and December corn finished up 6-1/4 cents at $6.97-3/4 a bushel.

Soybeans rose on chart-driven buying as the benchmark January contract surged above its trading range for the month of October.

"We are chasing out plenty of shorts with this move," said Terry Linn, analyst with Linn and Associates in Chicago, adding that roadblocks by protesters in Brazil, the world's top soy exporter, were also a worry.

The main access road to Brazil's Paranagua port, the country's second busiest for grain exports, remained blocked by protesters on Tuesday as supporters of outgoing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro protested against his narrow election loss to leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

"The concern was that this could drag on and be impactful in terms of disrupting ag flows and exports," Linn said.

Soy production prospects remain strong in Brazil. StoneX commodity brokerage raised its forecast of the country's 2022/23 soybean crop to 154.35 million tonnes, from 153.8 million previously.

The U.S. soy harvest is winding down with 88% of the crop cut as of Oct. 30, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. The corn harvest was 76% complete.

CBOT wheat notched a two-week high on uncertainty about prospects for grains shipped from war-torn Ukraine. Insurers are no longer offering new cargo insurance cover for Black Sea shipments through a U.N.-backed safe corridor after Russia suspended its participation, industry sources said.

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Meanwhile, Argentina's government is set to announce measures to allow wheat exporters to delay agreed shipments after a major drought hammered the crop.

Dry conditions have also hampered the newly seeded U.S. 2023 winter wheat crop. The USDA on Monday rated 28% of the crop in good to excellent condition, the lowest for this time of year in records dating to 1987.

(Additional reporting by Michael Hogan in Hamburg and Naveen Thukral in Singapore; editing by Mark Potter and Jonathan Oatis)
Every investor in IGB Real Estate Investment Trust (KLSE:IGBREIT) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. With 48% stake, public companies possess the maximum shares in the company. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

And institutions on the other hand have a 35% ownership in the company. Generally speaking, as a company grows, institutions will increase their ownership. Conversely, insiders often decrease their ownership over time.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about IGB Real Estate Investment Trust.

Check out our latest analysis for IGB Real Estate Investment Trust

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About IGB Real Estate Investment Trust?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in IGB Real Estate Investment Trust. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at IGB Real Estate Investment Trust's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in IGB Real Estate Investment Trust. Our data shows that IGB Berhad is the largest shareholder with 48% of shares outstanding. With 12% and 7.4% of the shares outstanding respectively, Employees Provident Fund of Malaysia and Kumpulan Wang Persaraan are the second and third largest shareholders.

A more detailed study of the shareholder registry showed us that 2 of the top shareholders have a considerable amount of ownership in the company, via their 60% stake.

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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 a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of IGB Real Estate Investment Trust

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Our information suggests that IGB Real Estate Investment Trust insiders own under 1% of the company. It is a pretty big company, so it would be possible for board members to own a meaningful interest in the company, without owning much of a proportional interest. In this case, they own around RM41m worth of shares (at current prices). It is always good to see at least some insider ownership, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 15% stake in IGB Real Estate Investment Trust. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Public Company Ownership

We can see that public companies hold 48% of the IGB Real Estate Investment Trust shares on issue. It's hard to say for sure but this suggests they have entwined business interests. This might be a strategic stake, so it's worth watching this space for changes in ownership.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand IGB Real Estate Investment Trust better, we need to consider many other factors. Take risks for example - IGB Real Estate Investment Trust has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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An Army generals promotion to the four-star rank was rejected by the White House after he came under scrutiny for the slow response time securing the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, effectively moving the officer into retirement, according to a news report.

The Washington Post first reported that the White House refused to send a nomination to the Senate for Lt. Gen. Walter Piatt to become the four-star general leading Army Futures Command.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth and Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville supported the nomination of Piatt, the Post reported.

Armys next Futures Command leader could come in short order

Even if Piatts nomination was sent to Congress, it would have faced an uphill battle due to allegations that he had reservations about deploying the National Guard during the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Piatt, according to the Post, said on a conference call on Jan. 6 that he didnt like the optics of the Guard standing in a police line in front of the Capitol building. But Piatt has also denied that and said Army leaders did not hesitate to escalate the request to deploy the Guard.

Army nominates new Futures Command chief

Army spokesperson Cynthia Smith told the Post that Piatt has the full trust and confidence of Army senior leaders to execute the immense responsibility this position requires and agreed to stay in his current position at the request of Army leaders Wormuth and McConville.

In September, the White House ultimately nominated a different officer, Lt. Gen. James Rainey, to lead Army Futures Command.

Rainey was promoted to four-star general and took over the modernization-focused command in Austin, Texas, in October.
Billionaire Elon Musk is already floating major changes for Twitter  and faces major hurdles as he begins his first week as owner of the social-media platform.

Twitters new owner fired the companys board of directors and made himself the boards sole member, according to a company filing Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Musk later said on Twitter that the new board setup is temporary, but he didnt provide any details.

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Hes also testing the waters on asking users to pay for verification. A venture capitalist working with Musk tweeted a poll asking how much users would be willing to pay for the blue check mark that Twitter has historically used to verify higher-profile accounts so other users know its really them.

Musk, whose account is verified, replied, Interesting.

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Critics have derided the mark, often granted to celebrities, politicians, business leaders and journalists, as an elite status symbol.

But Twitter also uses the blue check mark to verify activists and people who suddenly find themselves in the news, as well as little-known journalists at small publications around the globe, as an extra tool to curb misinformation coming from accounts that are impersonating people.

The whole verification process is being revamped right now, Musk tweeted Sunday in response to a user who asked for help getting verified.

On Friday, meanwhile, billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal said he and his Kingdom Holding Company rolled over a combined $1.89 billion in existing Twitter shares, making them the companys largest shareholder after Musk. The news raised concerns among some lawmakers, including Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut.

Murphy tweeted that he is requesting the Committee on Foreign Investment  which reviews acquisitions of U.S. businesses by foreign buyers  to investigate the national security implications of the kingdoms investment in Twitter

We should be concerned that the Saudis, who have a clear interest in repressing political speech and impacting U.S. politics, are now the second-largest owner of a major social media platform, Murphy tweeted. There is a clear national security issue at stake and CFIUS should do a review.

Having taken ownership of the social media service, Musk has invited a group of tech-world friends and investors to help guide the San Francisco-based companys transformation, which is likely to include a shakeup of its staff. Musk last week fired CEO Parag Agrawal and other top executives. Theres been uncertainty about if and when he could begin larger-scale layoffs.

Those who have revealed they are helping Musk include Sriram Krishnan, a partner at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, which pledged back in the spring to chip in to Musks plan to buy the company and take it private.

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Krishnan, who is also a former Twitter product executive, said in a tweet that it is a hugely important company and can have great impact on the world and Elon is the person to make it happen.

Jason Calacanis, the venture capitalist who tweeted the poll about whether users would pay for verification, said over the weekend he is hanging out at Twitter a bit and simply trying to be as helpful as possible during the transition.

Calacanis said the team already has a very comprehensive plan to reduce the number of (and visibility of) bots, spammers, & bad actors on the platform. And in the Twitter poll, he asked if users would pay between $5 and $15 monthly to be verified & get a blue check mark on Twitter. Twitter is currently free for most users because it depends on advertising for its revenue.

Musk agreed to buy Twitter for $44 billion in April but it wasnt until Thursday evening that he finally closed the deal, after his attempts to back out of it led to a protracted legal fight with the company. Musks lawyers are now asking the Delaware Chancery Court to throw out the case, according to a court filing made public Monday. The two sides were supposed to go to trial in November if they didnt close the deal by the end of last week.

Musk has made a number of pronouncements since early this year about how to fix Twitter, and it remains unclear which proposals he will prioritize.

He has promised to cut back some of Twitters content restrictions to promote free speech, but said Friday that no major decisions on content or reinstating of banned accounts will be made until a content moderation council with diverse viewpoints is put in place. He later qualified that remark, tweeting anyone suspended for minor & dubious reasons will be freed from Twitter jail.

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The head of a cryptocurrency exchange that invested $500 million in Musks Twitter takeover said he had a number of reasons for supporting the deal, including the possibility Musk would transition Twitter into a company supporting cryptocurrency and the concept known as Web3, which many cryptocurrency enthusiasts envision as the next generation of the internet.

We want to make sure that crypto has a seat at the table when it comes to free speech, Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao told CNBC on Monday. And there are more tactical things, like we want to help bring Twitter into Web3 when theyre ready.

He said cryptocurrency could be useful for solving some of Musks immediate challenges, such as the plan to charge a premium membership fee for more users.

That can be done very easily, globally, by using cryptocurrency as a means of payment, he said.
Whoopi Goldberg, a leading host of ABCs The View, says Fox News Channel is partly to blame for an increased threat of political violence in America.

During a discussion on the attack last week on House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) husband, Paul Pelosi, during an apparent break-in at the couples home, Goldberg drew a connection between an increased threat to public officials ahead of the midterm elections and the daily menu of content on the cable news giant.

Fox News, some of this is on your hands. Some of this is on your hands. You like to call people out, Im calling you all out, Goldberg said. Stop with the That side is not good, because this is what it puts out there. It tells people that you think its OK to do this. Stop doing it.

Goldbergs comments come just days after California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) made a similar charge about Fox, naming popular prime-time host Jesse Watters as the governor argued the attack on Paul Pelosi was triggered by the networks aggressive coverage of a recent DUI scandal the Speakers husband was involved in.

Ive seen the dehumanization of Nancy Pelosi, Newsom said during a recent interview with CBS News. I dont think anyones been dehumanized like she has consistently. Now I watched this one guy, Jesse Watters or something on Fox News. What hes been saying about Paul Pelosi the last five, six months, mocking him consistently. Dont tell me thats not aiding and abetting all this. Of course it is.

Watters responded to Newsom on his show Monday evening.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is running for president. So when a mentally ill homeless drug addict whos committed crime after crime and has stayed and was never deported attacks Paul Pelosi with a hammer, Gavin Newsom has to blame anybody but himself. And Gavin Newsom thinks Jesse Watters is to blame for Paul Pelosi getting hammered, Watters said.

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Gavin Newsom thinks if you mock a Democrat, it puts them on a target list. So, Gavin saying that by saying that he uses more hair gel than John Travolta in Grease, its going to make people show up to his house with hammers. Weve always said Gavins biggest flaw, hes not very smart, he continued.

Like the Pelosis, Newsom and Goldberg are frequent foils of Fox Newss top hosts who have routinely blasted the program over its rhetoric against former President Trump and conservatives more generally.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The performance at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited (ASX:BEN) has been rather lacklustre of late and shareholders may be wondering what CEO Marnie Baker is planning to do about this. They will get a chance to exercise their voting power to influence the future direction of the company in the next AGM on 08 November 2022. It has been shown that setting appropriate executive remuneration incentivises the management to act in the interests of shareholders. We have prepared some analysis below to show that CEO compensation looks to be reasonable.

View our latest analysis for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank

How Does Total Compensation For Marnie Baker Compare With Other Companies In The Industry?

At the time of writing, our data shows that Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited has a market capitalization of AU$5.1b, and reported total annual CEO compensation of AU$1.9m for the year to June 2022. This means that the compensation hasn't changed much from last year. We note that the salary of AU$1.10m makes up a sizeable portion of the total compensation received by the CEO.

On examining similar-sized companies in the industry with market capitalizations between AU$3.1b and AU$10.0b, we discovered that the median CEO total compensation of that group was AU$3.0m. Accordingly, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank pays its CEO under the industry median. What's more, Marnie Baker holds AU$12m worth of shares in the company in their own name, indicating that they have a lot of skin in the game.

Component 2022 2021 Proportion (2022) Salary AU$1.1m AU$1.2m 57% Other AU$823k AU$752k 43% Total Compensation AU$1.9m AU$1.9m 100%

Speaking on an industry level, nearly 52% of total compensation represents salary, while the remainder of 48% is other remuneration. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank pays out 57% of remuneration in the form of a salary, significantly higher than the industry average. If salary is the major component in total compensation, it suggests that the CEO receives a higher fixed proportion of the total compensation, regardless of performance.

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A Look at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited's Growth Numbers

Over the past three years, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited has seen its earnings per share (EPS) grow by 3.8% per year. It achieved revenue growth of 3.0% over the last year.

We're not particularly impressed by the revenue growth, but the modest improvement in EPS is good. So there are some positives here, but not enough to earn high praise. Looking ahead, you might want to check this free visual report on analyst forecasts for the company's future earnings..

Has Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited Been A Good Investment?

Since shareholders would have lost about 1.9% over three years, some Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited investors would surely be feeling negative emotions. This suggests it would be unwise for the company to pay the CEO too generously.

In Summary...

The lack lustre share price performance may have something to do with the flat earnings growth. The upcoming AGM will provide shareholders the opportunity to raise their concerns and evaluate if the boards judgement and decision-making is aligned with their expectations.

CEO pay is simply one of the many factors that need to be considered while examining business performance. That's why we did our research, and identified 3 warning signs for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank (of which 2 are potentially serious!) that you should know about in order to have a holistic understanding of the stock.

Switching gears from Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, if you're hunting for a pristine balance sheet and premium returns, this free list of high return, low debt companies is a great place to look.

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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The Pentagon announced this week that it is sending weapons experts into Ukraine to inspect American-supplied arms being used against Russia.

The group will be among the first U.S. military members in the country, apart from those providing security at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.

President Biden has pledged that U.S. troops will not be sent into the fight, but this weeks announcement comes amid rising concern  particularly among Republicans  about how effectively Ukraine is utilizing U.S. military support.

A senior Defense Department official told reporters on Monday that it had not seen credible evidence of the diversion of U.S.-provided weapons.

Nonetheless, we are keenly aware of the possible risk of illicit diversion and are proactively taking all available steps to prevent this from happening.

The Pentagon has not said how many weapons experts are in Ukraine or where they will operate.

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said Tuesday the embassy personnel would be far away from any type of frontline actions.

Ryder said the inspections had been in development for a while, though he did not say when the weapons experts arrived in Ukraine.

House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) set off a firestorm last month when he said a Republican majority would not issue a blank check to Ukraine.

McCarthy and other GOP leaders sought to clarify that the party would not seek to scale back support for Ukraines fight against Russia, but instead wanted to increase oversight of U.S. aid.

I think youll see if we get the majority, more oversight and accountability in terms of funding and where the moneys going, and I think the American taxpayer deserves that, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Bloomberg television last month.

Still, members of McCarthys own party have accused him of backing off Ukraine support as some on the right question the need to spend billions on the war.

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Maybe in his mind, he actually did believe that all he was saying is, Hey, we want to have some oversight in this, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) told CNN. But what he did  youre giving aid and comfort to the enemy, intentionally or unintentionally.

The U.S. has committed nearly $20 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since January 2021, including rocket and air defense systems that have helped counter Russias superior military might.

The Biden administration has pledged to keep up its support until the war is won; however, NBC News reported this week that Biden lost his temper with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a call over the summer.

The weapons inspections are part of a broader plan released by the State Department last week to counter the diversion of advanced weapons in Ukraine. It noted that Russian forces capturing the weapons was the main source of weapons loss so far in the war.

Wars can provide opportunities for weapons to fall into private hands via theft or illicit sales, sometimes creating black markets for arms that endure for decades, said a fact sheet on the plan.

To counter that risk, the U.S. will work with Ukraines military and other officials to better account for and safeguard weapons, identify and investigate suspected arms trafficking, and ramp up monitoring on Ukraines borders.

The Defense Department official said the weapons experts now in Ukraine have already conducted several inspections as part of the U.S. Defense attache in Ukraine and the U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation.

U.S. Marines have been stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv since it reopened in May, after closing at the start of the war in February.

Jeffrey Pryce, a former Defense Department special counsel now at the Johns Hopkins Universitys School of Advanced International Studies, said the weapons experts were part of a normalizing of U.S. assistance after the surge in support this year.

I think, in a way, the system is just catching up to some of the standard procedures for accountability, he said.

It doesnt disincent accountability that theres been some in Congress who are calling for accountability, he added.

Pryce said he has not seen any evidence that Ukraine is misusing or selling off U.S. weapons.

Ukrainians are fighting for their lives. Theyre fighting for their country, he said. And I havent seen any evidence of significant diversion of the assistance that weve been providing.

Updated: 2:51 p.m.

Ellen Mitchell contributed reporting

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The outcome of Brazil's presidential election Sunday is being hailed as a crucial victory for global climate, with experts saying the country now has an opportunity to curb rampant deforestation of the Amazon rainforest and jump-start a green economy.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's narrow defeat over Jair Bolsonaro offered hope to environmentalists in Brazil and around the world for a new era of aggressive climate action, including much-needed efforts to save the Amazon.

This election is very important because it brings Brazil back to the climate stage as a nation that can be one of the strongest allies in the global efforts to address climate change, said Carolina Genin, climate director at WRI Brasil, a branch of the research nonprofit World Resources Institute.

The leftist da Silva, who is commonly known as Lula, previously led the country from 2003 to 2010. The 77-year-old has vowed to fight Amazon deforestation and crack down on illegal gold miners, loggers and ranchers who have invaded indigenous land and caused widespread environmental destruction.

Brazil is ready to retake its leadership in the fight against the climate crisis, Lula said in a victory speech in Sao Paulo, according to Reuters. Brazil and the planet need a living Amazon.

His promise to curb Amazon deforestation is essential for the planet to stay on track under the goals of the Paris Agreement, which aims to keep global warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius to limit irreversible impacts on ecosystems and human health.

"The Amazon is the key contribution that Brazil can give to mitigate climate change to keep us on track for the 1.5 [degrees] vision," Genin said. "We usually say that there is no 1.5 without the Amazon."

She added, however, that the health of the Amazon also depends on a sustainable economic development model that is not built on deforestation and illegal activities.

From 2004 to 2012, during Lulas presidency and the tenure of his successor, deforestation fell by roughly 70%, according to the London think tank Chatham House. Lula instituted so-called command-and-control policies that used regulations and better monitoring to decrease deforestation.

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The first time Lula was president, one of the lessons learned was that you can decrease deforestation and still increase production of the agriculture sector, Genin said. Theres no correlation between them, and thats a good thing.

Under Bolsonaro, deforestation of the Amazon soared to a 15-year high, with scientists warning that the worlds largest rainforest was nearing a tipping point beyond which there would be irreversible consequences for the entire planet.

The vast Amazon rainforest plays a critical role as a carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen. It's this function that has earned the Amazon its nickname of the lungs of the planet.

But in recent years, as Bolsonaro dismantled environmental protections and accelerated large-scale deforestation of the Amazon  often to expand the countrys beef and soy production  the fragile ecosystem has been under serious threat.

In just the first six months of 2022, a record-high 1,500 square miles were cleared in the Amazon, equivalent to an area five times the size of New York City, Brazil's space agency reported in July.

A 2021 study published in the journal Nature found that as a result of deforestation and fires in the Amazon basin, parts of the rainforest now emit more carbon dioxide than they absorb. The findings added new urgency to restore balance to the Amazon and avert the worst consequences of climate change.

Lulas victory may be the turning point that environmentalists have been hoping for.

[S]upporters of climate change action in Brazil and around the world can take a temporary sigh of relief, Ana Yang, executive director of the Sustainability Accelerator at Chatham House, and Ana Toni, executive director of the Brazil-based Institute for Climate and Society, wrote in a blog post published Monday.

Lula has also promised to restore the countrys environmental institutions and set new targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

These developments may shape talks at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt next week, when world leaders will gather for the 27th conference of parties under the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The meeting, known as COP 27, will involve negotiations among countries over how to meet their emissions-cutting targets, what adaptation efforts to focus on, and how to provide funding to countries least responsible for global warming and most affected by climate change.

Brazil's delegation at COP 27 will be made up of members of Bolsonaro's administration, but the election's outcome will likely have a big impact down the road, Genin said.

"I think we'll feel more of the positive impacts next year," she said. "In his speech yesterday, Lula was very eloquent about the importance of Brazil going back to being understood as a key diplomatic partner in climate negotiations and getting back its environmental power."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Tennessee's Right to Life President Stacy Dunn opposed abortion in a recent guest opinion column, but she distorted scientific fact and social reality. Ms. Dunn says abortion providers peddle abortions.

Nobody peddles abortions. Nobody stands outside clinics to convince anyone to have an abortion. I'm sure Ms. Dunn knows that the people who stand sometimes menacingly outside of clinics arent there to peddle abortion, but to intimidate the women seeking an abortion and the nurses and doctors who care for them.

Nobody is killed for not choosing to have an abortion, but between 1976 and 2015, at least 11 people were killed for providing abortions. This in addition to non-lethal bombings and arson attacks on clinics. So much for pro-life.

Ms. Dunn also stated that the heart starts to beat at 21 days of gestation, but partially differentiated cells rhythmically contracting is not a heart. She also claims that there are detectable brain waves at 45 days, but partially differentiated cells generating electrical signals is not a brain, and they dont support anything approaching consciousness.

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Women have the right to make their own health decisions

Ms. Dunn interprets the location of clinics that provide abortion services in Black neighborhoods as evidence of a genocidal agenda. This assertion rests upon the blatantly false claim that such clinics are peddling abortion.

Stacy Dunn Tennessee President of the Right to Life, speaks during a press conference after the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending constitutional right to abortion on Friday, June 24, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn.

All women no matter where they live, the color of their skin or whats in their pocketbooks  have the right to make their own healthcare decisions. Statistically, Black women, who are more likely to live in poverty, do seek abortion more often than white women.

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Abortion is not being peddled to them. Often, they seek abortions because they lack the resources necessary for child rearing safe housing, access to medical care, access to childcare for children already in their families or access to affordable fresh food. And if a Black woman seeking abortion cannot obtain it, she is three to four times more likely, than her white counterparts, to die of pregnancy complication.

Not to mention, the United States' overall infant mortality rate is higher than in other Western countries and steadily rising. Estimates predict that forcing women to carry unwanted pregnancies will produce a 33% increase in pregnancy-related deaths among Black women. So much for pro-life.

Arguments against abortion often portray abortion as a frivolous choice, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Sixty percent of women seeking abortion are already mothers and unprepared to parent another child often because of economic stress.

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Some studies show that 75% of women seeking abortion were living below poverty level. Many abortions are driven by medical complications: ectopic pregnancy, fetal abnormalities incompatible with life, premature rupture of membranes prior to fetal viability, and concurrent medical conditions such as cancer demanding immediate treatment not compatible with pregnancy.

The will of people supports abortion rights under certain circumstances

Ms. Dunn also says protesting against the Tennessee abortion ban thwarts the will of the people. Which people?

Recent polling shows that 80% of Tennesseans support access to abortion at least in certain circumstances. The Republican supermajority in the Tennessee legislature doesnt represent the majority of Tennesseans when it comes to abortion.

Ms. Dunn adds, The Human Life Protection Act will save thousands of lives.

Not the lives of women forced to carry pregnancy to term. Not the lives of babies born into poverty, facing an obscenely high infant mortality rate. Not the lives of girls subjected to rape and incest, already traumatized beyond the imaginations of those who have not walked in their shoes.

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Even when it's the best choice in a given circumstance, abortion is often tragic. To quote my former pastor Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr., Abortion is not a moral sin, but a moral tragedy.

To encounter this moral tragedy less often, we need to engage in the moral work of alleviating the circumstances which make abortion the tragically best choice for many persons facing problematic pregnancies. That is pro-life.

Donna Krupkin Whitney is a retired physician who currently serves on the ministerial staff of Metropolitan Interdenominational Church in Nashville.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Pro-life claims on pro-choice 'peddling' abortion do not hold water
(Getty/The Independent)

It didnt involve any killer clowns, haunted hotels, or avenging, telekinetic high schoolers, but this summer, author Stephen King began telling a new scary story: the precarious state of the US book industry in 2022.

The author, who has written numerous horror bestsellers since the 1970s like The Shining and Carrie, testfied in August on behalf of the Biden administration in the Department of Justices effort to stop the proposed $2.2bn merger of Penguin Random House, Americas largest publisher, and Simon & Schuster, another of the Big Five companies that dominate the US book industry.

On 31 October a federal judge blocked the sale, saying the merger of the two companies could substantially harm competition in the US book market.

In November of last year, the federal government sued to stop the deal, arguing the tie-up would give the companies unprecedented control over who gets their voices heard in American cultural life, a development that would result in substantial harm to authors.

Over the course of three weeks of arguments in August, the trial dug down into the opaque world of big-money author advances and industry consolidation, exposing deep disagreements about how the deal would impact the book business, and by consequence, what the future of Americas literary culture looked like for writers and readers alike. The unprecedented case has been dubbed the publishing trial of the century.

For his part, Mr King, one of the most successful and well-paid writers of his generation, was willing to testify against his own regular publisher, Scribner, part of Simon & Schuster, to argue against more consolidation in the book industry.

"My name is Stephen King. Im a freelance writer," he began cheekily, before railing against market conditions that have pushed many writers below the poverty line.

aaI came because I think that consolidation is bad for competition, he testified. It becomes tougher and tougher for writers to find money to live on.

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Its a tough world out there now. Thats why I came, he added. There comes a point where, if you are fortunate, you can stop following your bank account and start following your heart.

Stephen King signs autographs as he leaves court after testifying against the proposed merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster (AP)

The clash with Mr King is one of many twists in the trial.

Though the case hinged on technical issues like the dynamics of author contracts, the definition of monopoly power, and the merits of various supply chain arrangements, everyone in the book world has been watching.

Readers might want to pay attention, too. The case not only impacts how people consume books, and at what price. Like any good story, this one also has plenty of drama and gossip to go around.

This is a huge deal, Michael Cader, founder of the Publishers Lunch newsletter, told The Independent before the judges ruling. The trial was probably attended by a few dozen people, but was riveting to the entire industry. Both the potential consequences of the deal itself as well as simply the theatre of having peers and people in your industry on the stand discussing business details in granular fashion for three weeks was pretty compelling for a lot of people.

The main argument in the case revolved around the big whales of the publishing industry, books where authors earned more than $250,000 on their advances for titles expected to top bestseller lists.

The DOJ claimed that a potential Penguin Random House - Simon & Schuster juggernaut would control half the market of such blockbuster books in the US.

They are the only firms with the capital, reputations, editorial capacity, marketing, publicity, sales, and distribution resources to regularly acquire anticipated top-selling books, DOJ lawyers said in a court filing.

The merger hopefuls, meanwhile, told the court in Washington, DC, that readers and writers had nothing to fear if the government allowed the Big Five to become the Big Four.

Its a good deal for all involved, including authors, Stephen Fishbein, an attorney for Simon & Schuster, said in his closing statement.

Top leaders at Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster said the book market was far more expansive and competitive than the slice the government was choosing to focus on, which covers about 1,200 books a year, or two per cent of the US commercial market, the companies argued in a pretrial brief.

Overall, in 2021, about half of the books sold in the US came from publishers outside the Big Five, Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle testified. The company also noted it had actually lost market share since the 2013 merger between Penguin and Random House.

More than that, the companies argued the process of acquiring books was a mix of expertise and gambling, where even publishing giants cant guarantee a big-money purchase will translate to big sales and massive cultural reach, or predict when an upstart authors book will become a breakout hit.

These are not widgets were producing, Madeline McIntosh, chief executive of Penguin Random House, said in testimony. The evaluation is a highly subjective process.

Claiming to predict a books bestselling future was like taking credit for the weather, added Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp.

This unpredictable process would remain de-centralised even after the merger, the companies went on, because Simon & Schuster and Penguin Random House editors would still be allowed to bid against each other for future titles.

Even to a fantasy author, however, this premise struck Stephen King as a bit out-there.

You might as well say you are going to have a husband and wife bidding against each other for a house, the writer testified. Its a little bit ridiculous.

Amy Thomas, owner of Pegasus Books, which has stores in Solano, Berkeley, and Oakland, California, said the consolidation might also have cancelled out who gets published in the first place, leading to a potential diminishment in which new and important voices get heard.

The most important books arent necessarily ones that start out as instant profit-makers, but mergers often invite searches for quick places to cut costs. Whats more, she said, salespeople representing the massive combined catalogues of a merged Simon & Schuster and Penguin Random House might not have the time to champion all of their titles the way a smaller publishing house would.

Things will get dropped. Lines will get dropped. Theres just too much, she told The Independent. Theres a lot of books. Not all of them work. And a lot of them are worth it anyway.

Bigger companies may also have less incentive or ability to offer booksellers good terms, given the gargantuan scale of the proposed companys operations.

Beyond the more technical questions about how a Simon & Schuster - Penguin Random House deal would affect author payouts and bookstores, there was also the slightly dishier matter of which authors got paid the big bucks and why.

On this question, the trial became a kind of literary Page Six, with mentions of Big Five publisher Hachettes list of the ones that got away, and reported seven-figure paychecks for figures like actor Jamie Foxx and New Yorker magazine writer Jiayang Fan.

The publisher of Simon & Schuster imprint Gallery even testified that they paid millions for a book by comedian Amy Schumer, even though sales estimates suggested the book might not merit such a whopping payout.

The case also described how the collective $65m advance Barack and Michelle Obama got for their books neared a $75m threshold where Penguin Random House editors wouldve needed permission from their corporate parent, Germanys Bertelsmann, to move ahead.

But the focus on these marquee names was more than just publishing industry gossip. The trial shone a spotlight on just how much a tiny proportion of hit books prop up the rest of the publishing industry.

Penguin Random House executives said that just over a third of their books turn a profit, with just four per cent of books in that category accounting for 60 per cent of the earnings. In 2021, according to data from BookScan, fewer than one per cent of the 3.2 million titles it tracked sold over 5,000 copies.

Given this state of affairs, the big publishers argued their merger would create corporate efficiencies, allowing them to pass these savings on so more authors got a bigger piece of the pie.

However, Judge Florence Y Pan seemed to strike down this line of thinking, refusing to admit Penguin Random Houses evidence to support this claim, arguing it wasnt independently verified.

The judge thoroughly and completely rejected the defences argument for accepting that evidence, Mr Cader, of Publishers Lunch, said.

So did Stephen King.

There were literally hundreds of imprints and some of them were run by people who had extremely idiosyncratic tastes, he said. Those businesses, one by one, were either subsumed by other publishers or they went out of business.

His own publishing history tells the story of an industry increasingly controlled by a few companies. Carrie was published by Doubleday, which eventually merged with Knopf, which is now part of Penguin Random House. Viking Press, which put out other King titles, was a part of Penguin, which became Penguin Random House in 2013.

David Enyeart, the manager of St Paul, Minnesotas independent Next Chapter Booksellers, says the industrys long march towards consolidation makes it harder for new voices to emerge and reach readers in stores because smaller publishers simply cant compete.

Theyre able to make more independent decisions about who theyre going to publish, but they arent as able to spread the word as powerfully as a deep-pocketed company. That really affects what consumers are able to read, he said. Thats a real impact that everybody sees.

Others say the story is a bit more complicated than corporate consolidation stomping out all variation and diversity in the business. Its the best of times and the worst of times in the book industry. It just depends on your perspective, according to Mike Shatzkin, CEO of publishing consultancy The Idea Logical Company.

The book business as measured in titles has been exploding for 20 years, he told The Independent. The book business as measured in dollars has been growing for 20 years.

He estimates that about 40 times more titles are available than the half a million or so books in print in 1990. Its just that publishers and bookstores now face competition from self-publishers using services like Amazons Kindle Direct, as well as upstarts who, thanks to the internet, now have cheaper access to the same printing and storage supply chains that used to only be affordable to major publishing houses.

Someone looking to sell books doesnt even need much physical infrastructure at all. They can accept payment for a book, then pass along the printing and shipping order to distributors like Ingram, without ever touching a book themselves.

Even a pandemic couldnt tank sales, according to Penguin Random Houses Mr Dohle. Print book sales grew by more than 20 per cent between 2012 and 2019  then another 20 per cent between 2019 and 2021.

To make a profit in a world where, Mr Shatzkin estimates, about 80 per cent of books are sold online, in an essentially limitless variety, with nearly instantaneous printing and shipping, big publishers can only survive, he argues, by consolidating and monetising reliable books already in print from their back catalogues. These books dont need publishers to shell out lots of money scoring a promising new author and promoting their work.

The world that were in, which we have been in for 20 years, is that the state of the business that belongs to commercial publishers is shrinking, and the ability of publishers to establish a new book as profitable is shrinking, drastically, he said. What has grown is the ability to monetise deep backlists that might have never been monetizable in the old days.

Looming in the background of the merger trial is Amazon, which controls, by some counts, an estimated two-thirds of the market for new and used books in the US, and Ingram, the distributor, a company which controls the majority of independent book distribution between publishers and readers.

By law, mergers present the opportunity for the government to weigh in on whether a proposed company risks becoming anti-competitive, but Amazon has been able to use its numerous different business lines to fund a roaring books business built on titles offered at low prices.

This particular suit is like chasing something that has escaped a long time ago, Paul Yamazaki, the book buyer at San Francisco institution City Lights Bookstore, told The Independent, sitting on a sunny porch covered in stacks of books, months before the judges ruling. If the Justice Department was going to really look at this, and look on behalf of the readers and writers, then they should look at Amazon.

Barring exceptions like the breakup of Standard Oil and the Bell System companies, the government rarely elects to break up monopolies outside of mergers.

Even with advances in self-publishing, e-commerce, and a flourishing of indie bookstores in recent years, many owned by an increasingly diverse group of industry newcomers and people of colour, the e-commercification of publishing has made it hard for small presses to have their books reach readers in stores, Mr Yamazaki said.

So many of the presses  City Lights, New Direction, Copper Canyon, Coffeehouse  all started out as these kind of homegrown projects with somebody that had a wonderful idea and just only had sweat equity and a typewriter, he said. We need the whole ecology to prosper.

In the present ecology, however, according to Next Chapters David Enyeart, the big fish seem to be getting bigger, with few benefits to everyone else down the food chain over the long term. He couldnt think of a single positive about the proposed merger.

What well see in the long run is less diversity in offerings, less reason for them to offer better discounts and to generally make room for independent bookstores and the sort of books that we want to promote. Thats really sort of the issue. Its a long-term sort of thing. It wont change anything day-to-day, he said.

Its the sort of thing where well wake up in several years, and theres only two publishers left, and theyre squeezing us hard.

This article was amended on 23 August 2022. It previously stated that the ex-publisher of Simon & Schuster imprint Gallery Books testified during the merger trial. However, the testimony came from Gallerys current publisher, Jennifer Bergstrom.
Fans ofThe Witcher think they have worked out why Henry Cavill decided to quit the series.

On Saturday (20 October), the British actor shocked fans by announcing he would leave the fantasy Netflix show after its next season.

Cavill will play Geralt of Rivia one final time before being succeeded by Liam Hemsworth.

The news led many to question what the reason was behind Cavills decision  especially considering he was an instrumental part in bringing the show to life.

After the announcement, fans assumed the choice to leave had something to do with the fact that Cavill had accepted Warner Bros offer to return as Superman.

After Justice League was released in 2017, there was a question mark surrounding Cavills involvement in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). However, Dwayne Johnson convinced Cavill to return as the character in Black Adam, which is currently at the top of the box office.

It was then revealed that Cavill will return in future DC projects.

However, others are pointing out that Cavills decision to quit The Witcher could stem from behind-the-scenes trouble.

Henry Cavill in The Witcher (HBO)

BuzzFeed has highlighted a recent interview with an ex-producer and writer who worked on the show named Beay DeMayo. Speaking during an Instagram Q&A, DeMayo said: Ive been on shows  namely Witcher  where some of the writers were not or actively disliked the books and games (even actively mocking the source material).

Its a recipe for disaster and bad morale. Fandom as a litmus test checks egos, and makes all the long nights worth it. You have to respect the work before youre allowed to add to its legacy.

Considering Cavill is such a fan of Andrzej Sapkowskis book series the show is based on, its no stretch to assume that these claims could have tied into his decision to leave the series.

henry cavill saying hell leave the witcher if the writers continue to disrespect the source material and refuse to tell good stories, then leaving is certainly telling. the already shaky quality of the series is going down the drain. a shame because it was a guilty pleasure  autonomous anonymous anomaly (@rainyis_yahomie) October 31, 2022

Henry Cavill leaving The Witcher after begging Netflix for the role and being the biggest fan of the franchise is making the report that the writers hate the books seem more and more plausible, one fan wrote, adding: They chased that man away from the series.

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Another added: Damn. I take it this is cause he was never happy with the writing for the show and it didnt seem like it was going to be more book accurate.

One fan stated: This isnt about Superman, he's said he'd do both. This is probably a decision based on the showrunners open disdain for the books.

So the only person that fought & kept the show somewhat lore accurate and similar to books and games isn't going to be there anymore & the news that the writers of Netflix witcher actually hate the books and games, this show is going to be a next level dumpster fire after henry.  Adam Blase Shepard (@Soren0101) October 29, 2022

The Independent has contacted Cavill and Netflix for comment.

Cavill announced the news by saying: My journey as Geralt of Rivia has been filled with both monsters and adventures, and alas, I will be laying down my medallion and my swords for season four. In my stead, the fantastic Mr Liam Hemsworth will be taking up the mantle of the White Wolf.

As with the greatest of literary characters, I pass the torch with reverence for the time spent embodying Geralt and enthusiasm to see Liams take on this most fascinating and nuanced of men, he continued.

Lol what did the Witcher writers do to piss off Henry Cavill like that  liridi (@liridi_art) October 29, 2022

Liam, good sir, this character has such a wonderful depth to him, enjoy diving in and seeing what you can find.

Netflix users are threatening to boycott the show once Cavill leaves. The Witcher is showrun by Lauren Schmidt-Hissrich.
Screenshot: Fox 9 (Other)

On the morning of October 24, Nicole Hammond, a 28-year-old woman from St. Cloud, Minnesota, was allegedly fatally shot by her co-worker, Michael Carpenter, in the parking lot of their unnamed workplace. According to the Kansas City Star, investigators swiftly discovered that Carpenter had been harassing Hammond for weeks.

Per text records examined by law enforcement officers, Hammond texted the 36-year-old Carpenter the night before he allegedly killed her, and told him she didnt want to be touched or manipulated by him. Hammond also asked that he not make things uncomfortable at work. A probable cause statement confirmed that over the course of the last month, Carpenter had been harassing Hammond despite the fact that she repeatedly rejected his advances. Co-workers told investigators they were aware that Carpenter made several unwanted advances toward Hammond, and that he had a bad temper and was upset about the conversation that took place the night she was shot. According to her boss, Rob Dubow, the business had no idea about the harassment as it went unreported to management.

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Any time there is anything that requires our intervention we step in, Dubow told FOX 9. But in this case, we had no indication that there was anything awry.



Shortly after Carpenter was arrested, investigators found a loaded 9mm handgun that matched the shell casings found next to Hammonds body. Post-arrest, Carpenter admitted only to arguing with her the night before the shooting, and being at the scene at the time she was shot. He told investigators that he fled without alerting authorities as he was too traumatized upon seeing her body.

According to police, one witness on the scene said they heard a gunshot, and, shortly thereafter, saw Carpenterclothed in a black jacket and black pantsjog to his car and drive away. A second witness confirmed they saw Carpenter in the same outfit. When he was arrested by police, three hours after Hammond was shot, he was wearing the same jacket and pants described by witnesses. Carpenter is currently being held at Benton County Jail and faces one second-degree murder charge. If convicted, he could spend up to 40 years in prison.

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Nicole always had a smile on her face, and anybody who had any association with her couldnt help but like her, Dubow told FOX 9.

Words cannot describe the pain and hurt i have been feeling this last 2 days, wrote another coworker on Facebook. Nicole Hammond you were such a beautiful, smart, determined young woman. You deserved to live your best life but instead got your life taken from you.

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Marianne Ayala/Insider

A new law takes effect today requiring most New York City employers to disclose salary ranges in job postings.

For candidates, this could mean strides towards pay equity, particularly for women and people of color.

Employers, however, could struggle with retention if longtime employees see candidates being offered more than they received.

How different would your job search be if you knew from the start how much money you'd make in a position?

A lot of New Yorkers are about to find out, as a new salary transparency law takes effect today in New York City. Here's what companies and candidates should know about it.

What the law says

Employers with four or more employees, at least one of whom works in the city, must list "good faith" salary ranges on job ads, promotions, and transfer opportunities.

Ranges can't be open-ended, such as "$20 per hour or more," but the minimum and maximum can be the same, such as "$20 per hour," if the employer has no flexibility on salary. The law covers base pay, but not other compensation and benefits. Temporary staffing firms are exempted.

What this means for employees

Pay transparency could help narrow the gender and racial wage gap, making strides towards pay equity  particularly for women and people of color, supporters say.

"Part of this new law is being able to put people on an equal playing field so they can negotiate their salary from a fair starting point," said Robert Boersma, vice president of operations for North America at Talent.com.

Because employers must list a minimum and maximum salary, candidates could be better positioned to negotiate for more if an employer is lowballing them because they can push for concrete reasons on why their offer lies at a certain point in the range.

What employers should expect

The law could also have a big effect on current employees.

Transparency may pressure some companies to offer higher pay, which can help them stay competitive in the talent war. But it could also exacerbate pay compression, the phenomenon in which new hires' pay gains more and more ground on existing staffers' pay. Employers in this case may need to adjust their salary bands, or risk losing talent.

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"Employers really want to start to think about how to create a salary range that reflects your current workforce," said Farrell Fritz employment attorney Domenique Camacho Moran. "If you cannot hire talent at that range, you have to think about whether the entire range needs to be bumped for your current employees."

To comply with the law, employers should structure a pay program and decide what factors affect where someone's salary falls in a range, making sure everyone in the hiring process is on the same page. On top of that, employers should broach pay conversations around the new law with existing staff, experts say.

"Get ahead of it by communicating it to your employees rather than letting them find that information of their own accord," Boersma said. "Make sure there's an outlet for people to have those conversations without building up any sort of resentment."

Obstacles to compliance

Though the law takes effect on November 1, it'll take a while to get to full compliance.

There may still be confusion about the law's requirements, for example  particularly the vague "good faith" descriptor at its heart.

"The definition of good faith is the big question at the moment," Moran said.

New York City's Commission on Human Rights will investigate complaints alleging violations of the law. Employers found to be non-compliant will get a first warning, without a monetary penalty, and have 30 days to list salary ranges. Subsequent violations can cost employers up to $250,000.

Beyond New York, pay transparency legislation is taking hold in other parts of the country. Colorado, Connecticut, and Nevada enacted such laws last year, and similar legislation will go into effect in California, Rhode Island, and Washington in 2023.

"Arming the workforce with information is powerful and I think it gives workers a very clear indication of what they can demand," Moran said. "That will give them arguably more power."

Do you have something to share about how this law is affecting you or your workplace? Get in touch at sjackson@insider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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Lopez and Affleck ended their engagement in 2004. "It sent me on a spiral for the next 18 years where I just couldn't get it right," the singer shared.
Wang Yi urges US not to be 'blinded by ideology' in phone call with Blinken

By Zhao Yusha (Global Times) 08:45, November 01, 2022

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) shakes hands with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during their meeting at the site of the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations in New York, on Sep 23, 2022. Photo:Xinhua

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken via phone on Monday, with Wang urging the US to stop cracking down on China and putting up new obstacles to bilateral relations. China's diplomatic and domestic policies are open and transparent, and the US should not be blinded by ideology, Wang noted.

The call, which took place after the curtain fell on the widely-watched 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), is seen by Chinese experts as demonstrating that China's US policy is consistent, and that it is committed to pursuing stable and constructive relations while being willing to defend its own interests in the face of US provocation. The conversation between Wang and Blinken is also believed to pave the way for further talks between the world's two biggest economies.

During the phone call, Blinken said that the US has been paying close attention to the 20th National Congress of the CPC and the report to the Congress.

Wang said the most important outcome of the 20th CPC National Congress is that, in response to the will of the Party and all Chinese people, General Secretary Xi Jinping's core position in the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has been established.

Wang said that an important signal delivered by the 20th CPC National Congress is that China will stick to the diplomatic principle of supporting world peace and pushing forward common development; is committed to its fundamental national policy of opening to the outside world, promoting progress for mankind through Chinese modernization and bringing new opportunities to the world through China's new development, which is how China is injecting maximum stability into a world in turmoil, according to the read out issued by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

If the US truly wants to know about China, it should carefully read the report, said Wang, noting that China's domestic and diplomatic policies are open and transparent and its strategic intention is frank and forthright, and the US should not make subjective conjectures, nor be blinded by its ideological prejudice.

The phone call is a positive gesture from China to brief the US that China is not seeking major adjustments on foreign policy after the Congress, and that we will continue pursuing a stable, and constructive China-US policy, Lu Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

Before talking to Blinken, Wang also met with US Ambassador to ChinaNicholas Burns on Friday. During the meeting, Wang also briefed Burns on the Congress and told the ambassador that China and the US cannot change each other, and the US shouldn't think about thwarting China all the time.

Bilateral relations between China and the US have become frayed as the two are locked in clashes over issues such as the US technology crackdown on China, human rights and the Taiwan question.

A fractured China-US relationship is not only detrimental for both sides, but also for the world, and now is the time for both sides to seek common ground while shelving differences, and also the time to find possible pragmatic cooperation, Li Haidong, a professor from the Institute of International Relations at the China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing told the Global Times, noting the call between Wang and Blinken also set the tone for further talks between two countries in the future.

When talking with Blinken, Wang pointed out that bringing bilateral relation back on track is not only in accordance with the two countries' mutual interests, but also what the international community expects. The US should stop cracking down on China, and also stop trying to put up new obstacles to bilateral relations, Wang urged. He also warned that the US' new restrictions on exports to and investment in China have severely violated free trade agreements, damaged China's rightful interests, and should be corrected.

Blinken expressed the US' willingness to maintain communication and engage in cooperation with China.

Experts also noticed that the Taiwan question, a hot-button issue in China-US relations, was not mentioned in the read outs of either the call between Wang and Blinken nor his meeting with Burns.

The Taiwan question remains the most dangerous flashpoint between China and the US, and could be triggered at any moment after Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's provocative visit to the island in August, said Lu. He believed that omitting the Taiwan question in the read outs shows the US has fully realized the fact that China reacts firmly to any provocation on this question, and Washington aims to play down the tension during talks with China.

Wang and Blinken also expressed views on Ukraine and other issues. Wang said all sides involved should remain calm, and increase diplomatic efforts to prevent the situation from further escalating. As long as there's a one percent possibility, 100 percent effort should be directed to keeping peace, Wang noted.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)
We forget we are in a conversation with public art until something happens.

Then we are reminded that, in a sense, we never stop talking. We never stop admiring or flinching or scowling or puzzling over or, more likely, failing to even notice public artwork anymore (itself a response). Thats the burden of public art. It is the wallpaper of our lives, and most of us are unaware were in a conversation.

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But then a week ago, a mural of Kanye West on Lake Street in Fulton Market was painted over by artist Jason M. Peterson, who had created the mural and collaborated with West on projects and was known for his monochromatic aesthetic. Peterson was tight-lipped on the alteration, but he told the Tribune that Scott Wilson, the founder of design company MINIMAL, which owns the building, asked that something be done about its north-facing wall. So Peterson painted a silhouette over the Kanye part. You heard about this. It made news last week, then was just as quickly sucked into the hailstorm of responses to Wests antisemitism.

What you didnt hear was how Peterson gave his work more poignancy.

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When I visited the mural, the day after it was painted over, I looked and thought, I like this. I liked it more than the 70s-esque Shaggin Waggin, photorealistic custom van-style portrait of Kanye that had been there. Minus its subject, but not the details that surrounded West, it now resembled an American flag overrun with the ye-olde font of a Yeezy brand T-shirt. And in place of West, there was only his silhouette, a sad cave entrance of an empty space. It contained anger, melancholy, profound disappointment.

If youre a fan of West  if youve been proud West is a product of Chicago but felt his recent remarks have been a bridge too far  this new mural seemed truer to the man himself.

Now it held pride plus recent history.

Or rather, love plus rejection.

But then, in the week since Peterson altered his mural, the chatter has only ping-ponged. Not about Wests personal grave-digging  many artists and Chicagoans were quick to denounce him  but around the repainting itself. Last weekend, the blocky, bulbous lettering of old-school graffiti was tagged to the bottom of Petersons silhouette.

Now added is a large F.DUB, and in tiny lettering, a rebuttal: West FOREVER ...

The conversation goes on.

Indeed, a few blocks away on Fulton Street, there is another piece of Kanye art, painted a while ago, that now finds itself in a quiet conversation with the Kanye mural on Lake. It was painted by Chris Devins, who, unlike Peterson, was not working on a commission from the owner of the building. His street-art image  Kanye in a dapper suit, with a squared handkerchief, flashing a Rolex  is there because Devins had thought of West the way many of us have for decades: as an influential, multi-hyphenate whirlwind of creativity and provocation. His Kanye, he told me, came out of a dinner with a friend who was collaborating with West on an opera. They were eating at the Time Out Market down the street, and immediately after, inspired, Devins grabbed his paint and created the Kanye. Petersons Kanye mural went up last year, and Devins was painted just last summer.

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A mural of Kayne West by artist Chris Devins is painted on a building along West Fulton Street at North Racine Avenue. Oct. 31, 2022. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

After the Lake Street mural was silhouetted, Devins said he refused to alter his Kanye.

He was uneasy at the idea of one artist erasing the image of another artist. He told me, This guy has had a major impact on music and art and fashion, and its too meaningful to cover up. Yet, he added, he was also open to the ongoing conversation around this.

That was wise, because soon after Peterson altered his mural, someone came along and touched up Devins painting. It was less dramatic, but like Petersons changes, it brought an added depth to Wests image that was closer to a lot of conflicted feelings.

Someone painted  vertically, down Wests suit  the word: TRASH.

I stood in front of this and called Devins and he said, Well, thats too bad. But then again, it is kind of cool. Its a public conversation that should be had. Im conflicted because its a problem for me, but TRASH? Vertically no less? Its sort of interesting...

Yup.

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Then a day later Devins painted over TRASH.

I wish he hadnt altered the graffiti that was painted over his own graffiti. Not unlike Petersons silhouette, TRASH said far more than a plainly hagiographic act of civic pride. TRASH could be read proudly  as a resilient pushback of cancel culture  or more literally, as the value of a once-beloved artist who reduced himself to junk status. Plus, this wall is on an empty building and is considered something of a permission wall by Chicago street artists, meaning their paintings and images (sophisticated and often colorful and even sweet) are preferable to emptiness; theres been no move to erase them.

Here is an ongoing dialogue.

One firmly in line with art history. Artists painting over the art of other artists  in protest or commentary, usually to create a new piece of art  is far from unheard of. Most famously, Robert Rauschenberg erased some of his own drawings only to decide that something was missing from the act. So he asked Willem de Kooning to lend him a new work that had been finished. This was in the early 1950s when de Kooning was making his greatest pieces, and yet de Kooning agreed and gave Rauschenberg a drawing so dense de Kooning doubted Rauschenberg could erase the whole thing. But he did, and Erased de Kooning Drawing stands now as one of Rauschenbergs best-known works. The wealth of examples is bottomless. A few years ago a cultural heritage scientist at Northwestern University proved Picassos 1902 oil painting The Crouching Beggar was not only painted over another Spanish artists work but had incorporated parts of it.

Of course, its understandable why MINIMAL  itself a design company full of artists  wouldnt want its very facade covered in a billboard of Kanye. Just as it would be understandable for street artists who find themselves alongside Devins Kanye to have second thoughts. Irony of ironies, Devins Kanye stands alongside the familiar street art of Rich Alapack, known for his simple declarative rainbow message of solidarity: WE ALL LIVE HERE.

Alapack, who lives in Fulton Market and passes these walls daily, started his WE ALL LIVE HERE campaign in 2015, partnering with Chicago schools and libraries to spread a gentle note of unity through public art. That message is now ubiquitous across the city, found on walls in hundreds of places. He calls Devins a talented painter but was not thrilled his Kanye went up alongside a WE ALL LIVE HERE. Alapack said: Part of what WE ALL LIVE HERE means is different people and different ideas exist and are allowed to exist, and sometimes things happen that are not what we agree with but we allow it. That said, when (Kanye) crossed into hate speech, its no longer free speech.

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He expects the wall, and building, to be demolished.

Still, right now, however informally, the results are richer than they were a month ago, when all we had was a couple of celebrity likenesses splashed across Fulton Market.

As I stood in front of the Lake Street mural, a guy in a Blackhawks sweatshirt snapped a picture of the Kanye silhouette with his phone; this was before it was tagged. He said he understood why the building owners would be upset and not want to look at this every day, but its like you cant say anything anymore. I hate that this is happening but I feel theres truth behind what Kanye says. Its all crashing down, but the guys always said outrageous things. I heard he was going to start his own city. Which sounds like Kanye.

As he continued, I felt someone behind me.

I turned. It was another guy photographing the silhouette. He asked me if I was the artist who erased Kanye. I said I was not. He said, Oh  because I was going to thank you.

cborrelli@chicagotribune.com
Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, plans to introduce a bill to ban abortions in the General Assemblys next session.

In a video posted to Facebook on Sunday, Chase said she will introduce the Life Begins At Conception Act.

The bill mirrors the Life At Conception Act that Rep. Bob Good, R-5th, has co-sponsored at the federal level.

The unborn child is a human person from the moment of conception, Chase said in the video. Its time to end abortion violence.

With Democrats holding a 21-19 edge in the Senate, Chases bill is unlikely to get out of the chamber in the 2023 session.

Shortly after the overturn of Roe v. Wade, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced he would support a ban of most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest or when the mothers life is in jeopardy.

Youngkin directed a handful of Republican legislators to find areas where we can agree and chart the most successful path forward.

The outcome for further abortion restrictions could hinge on the 2023 legislative contests, when all 40 Senate seats and all 100 House seats will be up for election.

The legislation that Chase plans to model hers after defines a person as a person at the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual member of the human species comes into being.

It does not mention exceptions for abortions for instances of rape, incest or when the life of the pregnant person is in jeopardy  exceptions often cited in abortion bans or restrictions that have been proposed or passed around the country.

With the overturn of Roe v. Wade this summer  a 49-year-old ruling that protected abortion access at the federal level  the matter of access, restrictions or bans is now playing out nationwide at the state level.

Though abortion isnt a purely partisan issue, it often falls along partisan lines. Republicans around the country have proposed bans or restrictions set to various weeks of pregnancy, while Democrats have worked on measures to protect access to the procedure.

Abortion-rights activists on Monday called Chase an extreme legislator.

The right to access abortion is a public health imperative; when abortion is illegal or inaccessible, people and their families suffer the consequences, said Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia Executive Director Jamie Lockhart in a statement.

Senator Chase and other extreme legislators have been working for years to restrict access to abortion in the Commonwealth, and this latest attempt is nothing new.

Following redistricting, Chase is in a three-way 2023 nomination fight in the 12th Senate District, facing former Sen. Glen Sturtevant and former 7th Congressional District candidate Tina Ramirez.

***

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Virginia sought to tie Chases announcement to the Congressional race in the 2nd District.

In a release Monday, DPVA pointed to Republican challenger Jen Kiggans alliance with Chase in the past on supporting abortion restrictions in Virginia. Kiggans is a state senator from Virginia Beach who is challenging Rep. Elaine Luria, D-2nd.

Kiggans has said she is pro-life, that she believes its up to states to decide and that there should be exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother.

Additionally, Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, released a statement seeking to tie her Republican challenger Yesli Vega to Chase as well. It noted a National Pro-Life Alliance survey Vega took earlier this year that indicated her support for the Life At Conception Act.
Japan is looking 6,000 meters under the sea for rare earths to counter Chinas dominance of the critical minerals that are used in everything from smartphones to weapons, according to the Yomiuri newspaper.

The government intends to start developing the methods necessary to extract the elements near the Ogasawara islands in the fiscal year beginning in April, and aims to begin prospecting within five years, the newspaper reported, citing unidentified officials.

The exploration will deploy technology tested off the coast of Ibaraki prefecture in August and September, where the deep-sea drilling vessel Chikyu was able to pump about 70 tons of mud per day for sifting, according to the report.

... continue reading
, Nov 01 ( Nikkei ) - The Japanese government has decided to remain involved in the formerly Exxon-led Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project in Russia, Nikkei has learned, as it seeks a stable supply of energy despite international sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

ExxonMobil, which held a 30% stake in Sakhalin-1, announced in March that it would withdraw from the project.

Russia has set up a new company to take over the project under a presidential decree that has in effect forced investors to choose sides.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is a stakeholder in Tokyo-based Sakhalin Oil and Gas Development -- which owns 30% of Sakhalin-1's current operator -- along with other investors including Itochu, Japan Petroleum Exploration and Marubeni.

The Japanese consortium will make a final decision on whether to stay invested in the project after discussions with other stakeholders. ...continue reading
, Nov 02 ( Japan Today ) - The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has started cracking down on cyclists violating traffic laws due to a series of fatal accidents from reckless bicycling.

The tighter regulations, which include issuing a red ticket, came into effect on Monday, Kyodo News reported. A police officer near Ikebukuro Station distributed leaflets detailing the offenses subject to tighter regulations to people commuting to work by bicycle.

Until now, police have so far issued warnings without penalties to reckless cyclists, with the exception of malicious behavior. From now on, bicycle riders will be given red tickets for the following four offenses: ignoring traffic signals, failing to stop temporarily, riding on the wrong side of the road, and riding on sidewalks without slowing down. ...continue reading
Construction is nearing completion on 145 Perry Street, a four-story private residence in the West Village. Designed by Leroy Street Studio with Robert Silman Associates Structural Engineers, the 30,000-square-foot structure is alternately addressed as 703-711 Washington Street and replaces a former two-story parking garage. Sciame Construction is the construction manager for the property, which is located at the corner of Perry and Washington Streets.

Since our last update last November, portions of the sidewalk shed have been dismantled along with scaffolding that covered the open-air voids, revealing the look of the red brick inner facade. The walls feature hand-laid Petersen bricks arranged in various configurations, creating distinctive patterns. Other materials include terracotta and bronze window frames and planters.

The northern end of the home features a much darker facade that contrasts with the rest of the brick masonry walls.

145 Perry Street will feature a grand staircase, a gallery, a home theater, and an outdoor rooftop terrace. Landscaping by Hollander Design Landscape Architects will be incorporated throughout the home, and the interiors will come with bronze trimmings, plaster walls, and millwork.

Below are additional exterior renderings illustrating the finished look of the ground floor. This is the last major exterior section that has yet to be revealed.

145 Perry Street is anticipated to be finished in early 2023.

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Theyll soon be pickin and grinnin again in Malvern.

The 2022 Malvern Country Music Festival will be held Friday, Nov. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 5 indoors at the Liberty Memorial Building at 501 Main St. in Malvern.

The music party has been held since 1999, according to a flyer from Fred Larson, festival host.

We want to just keep the music going, he said.

On Friday, doors will open at 5 p.m. and food will be provided at 5:30. An open stage jam for acoustic and electric instruments will be held from 7 to 11 p.m.

On Saturday, doors will open at 10 a.m., and an open stage jam for acoustic and electric instruments will be held from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

A Veterans Day Tribute will be held at 6 p.m. Among those honored will be the late Sgt. James Kearney III of Emerson, who died on Nov. 1, 2004 in Afghanistan while serving his country in the Iowa National Guard, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry. Kearney, 22, was killed when his groups Humvee was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire near Sharan, Afghanistan. According to The Military Times, he was the first Iowa National Guard soldier killed in Afghanistan.

Others will include Don Jones, who served in the U.S. Marines in Japan and Korea and was commander of American Legion Post 520 for 25 years before retiring a few years ago. That position is now held by Ralph OToole.

Another open stage jam will be held from 6:45 to 11 p.m. Food concessions from Back Alley Diner will be available.

Three extra rooms will be available for jamming both days  two upstairs and one downstairs.

A variety of musical styles are welcome at the event, including old-time and traditional country, bluegrass, hillbilly, mountain, Civil War, Irish and more, the flyer states. There will also be room for dancing and socializing.

Larson, an avid harmonica player, has won many contests and was inducted into Americas Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011. He has played on recordings with the Roundhouse Band and with Ruth and Earl Smith, former directors of the Malvern festival.

According to the flyer, no alcohol, drugs or egos are allowed.

A $3 donation is requested for Friday night, and a $4 donation is requested for all day Saturday. Children younger than 6 can attend free. All proceeds go to the Liberty Memorial Building Fund.
State Auditor Rob Sand held a news conference Tuesday at Iowa Western Community College to announce a hiring initiative to try to address a shortage of accountants.

Businesses and organizations across the country  including some in Iowa  are feeling the pinch of the shortage, a press release from Sands office stated. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are now 17% fewer Americans employed in accounting and auditing compared to 2019.

In recent years, baby-boomers in the profession have been retiring, Sand said.

We dont have enough people graduating with accounting degrees to fill all those positions, he said.

The plan is to encourage auditing and accounting firms to hire candidates with associate degrees, instead of the bachelors degrees usually required.

We are opening jobs in the Auditors Office at just around $60,000 for people with two-year degrees, he said. The two-year degree is very efficient, is more value-based. If youre the kind of person who wants to do the job and get things done, then youre the kind of person we want in our office.

The job description for a financial auditor on the state auditors website, after first saying a bachelors degree in accounting is required, states, The Office of Auditor of State will consider any applicant that has graduated from a post-high school vocational/technical, business college or community college with a minimum of 20 semester hours (or its equivalent) in accounting.

Iowa Western President Dan Kinney applauded Sands willingness to hire community college graduates.

I appreciate you recognizing the quality faculty we have teaching the quality students we have, he said.

Kinney said he thinks more businesses are recognizing the value of two-year degrees and shorter certificate programs.

Accounting students can qualify for the states Last-Dollar Scholarship, Sand said, which means its an in-demand job and a good-paying job.

The Last-Dollar Scholarship is intended to cover any gap between federal and state grants or scholarships and tuition and qualified fees, according to the Iowa College Aid website. It is open to students with a high school or equivalency diploma enrolled at least part-time in a qualified program of study, apply for all other available state and federal grants and scholarships and meet ongoing requirements. Programs that qualify include more than 70 available at Iowas community colleges.

In addition, the State Auditors Office will no longer require its accountants to live in one of the three cities where it has offices (Iowa City, Ames and Des Moines), after a one-year break-in period, Sand said.

If we audit in almost every county in Iowa every year, why should we require them to live in our office communities? he said.

Sand is also ending a requirement that employees continue to advance.

What weve found is that we have forced too many people out of the office who simply liked what they were doing, he said. I think this is a good move to make for the state, and its good for community colleges.

Sand was elected auditor in 2018 after serving as chief public corruption prosecutor in the Iowa Attorney Generals Office for seven years. He is being challenged in the current election cycle by Republican Todd Halbur.
The group claiming to have stolen a massive amount of electronically stored information from the Davenport School District now is saying it is poised to release it.

The data-extortion group Karakurt posted online Tuesday morning that it is, "excited to present to you our new data leak  Davenport Community School." It goes on to claim a "giant massive array" of students' personal data can be found on its site.

However, a threat analyst for a global cybersecurity software firm, Emsisoft, said Tuesday that groups like Karakurt "don't actually want to release data as their negotiating position is weakened with each installment they publish."

Since last week, Karakurt has been threatening to leak data on Monday if the district did not meet its demands.

"Its really not possible to predict what will happen next or when," said Brett Callow, threat analyst. "It depends on whether Karakurt believes they may still be able to extract payment, whether the district does pay, whether Karakurt has as much data as they claim, etc."

According to Callow, the group has not followed through on the threat and has not yet released any installments of Davenport's data on its multiple platforms.

It is possible the group is simply baiting the district, or it also could be bluffing, he said.

District officials last week notified more than 6,000 students and staff members of the possibility their personal information, including Social Security numbers, drivers' license numbers and medical information may have been stolen during the September cyber attack.

The Iowa Attorney General's Office also was informed last week by district officials that 6,409 people were notified their personal data may have been compromised in the breach.

District officials previously said they thought they had "thwarted" the attack.

Though asked last week about the timing of the notification to possible victims, given the threat was not disclosed until a month after it was discovered, district officials have not supplied a response.

Other questions were asked, including whether a ransom demand was made and how the district has been managing with lost access to email and phones, but district officials, again, have not yet responded.

Paul Rouse, president of Moline-based Rouse Consulting Group Inc., also said the hackers' next move is unpredictable.

Theres very much a marketplace for this type of information. Not always but oftentimes organizations or the 'bad guys' that end up stealing the data aren't necessarily the ones who actively use the data," Rouse said. "Many times, they become a broker and will sell the data on.

Theres a market price for various types of data that exists out on the dark web. The method it sounds like theyre going after is pure exploitation or a kind of ransom."

And the hackers typically are experienced, Rouse said.

This is a business for the vast majority of these groups. To simply release the data wouldnt be a smart business move, because it just inflicts harm to the school district at that point, as opposed to monetary gain, he said.

Some data-extortion groups dont have monetary motives and may aim to cause chaos or harm to individual targets or groups with whom the hackers do not philosophically agree.

"But the majority of them seem to have a business motive to it, Rouse said. If theyre going with that motivation, my guess is that theyre trying to maximize their take. If they can get the school district to pay them a handsome sum, then great.

"If not, theres a marketplace for this information: Validated social security numbers, email addresses, cell phone numbers  they all have a price tool to it. If they can get the school district to pay more than what the open market price is, theyd probably go that route.
A 30-year-old Lincoln man died when his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck Friday night, Lincoln Police said in a news release.

Officers responded at about 7 p.m. to an accident at 11th and Adams streets. A Suzuki pickup was northbound on 11th Street when the motorcycle crashed into the rear passenger side of the pickup, police said.

Witnesses tried to help the motorcyclist until medics arrived. He was transported to a hospital, where he died of his injuries.

Authorities are not releasing the motorcyclist's name, and the investigation into the accident is ongoing.

It was the first of two motorcycle fatalities on Friday night.
OMAHA  The abuse had a clear pattern.

Friends of Steven Danons son would go to Danons west Omaha home, the cool house, because he gave them plenty of access to alcohol and drugs.

When the boys, ages 12 to 16, passed out for the night, Danon would pounce  touching them sexually, performing oral sex and penetrating them anally. Danon would later pay some of the boys, in an effort to keep them happy, keep them quiet and to keep grooming them, prosecutor Amy Jacobsen said.

The boys told no one, and it became a dirty little secret so terrible they would have taken it to their graves, Jacobsen said.

One almost did  he died of a drug overdose at age 27 in May 2020. But about a year and a half before his death, he began sharing details of the abuse in therapy sessions, telling how deeply it was affecting him. He eventually told his mother and spoke to Omaha police. Investigators then found more victims.

Many of the boys, now men, have struggled with substance abuse because of the years with Danon, who introduced them to and regularly supplied them with drugs, Jacobsen said.

Theyre still fighting, because theyve had trauma, and theyre fighting the addiction that comes with that, she said in closing arguments Thursday.

The testimony in the week-and-a-half-long trial was convincing. In less than three hours, a jury of four women and eight men found Danon, 66, guilty of 14 sex assault charges involving incidents that occurred from 2003 to 2015 involving five boys. The jury found Danon not guilty of one count involving a sixth alleged victim.

He will spend the rest of his life in prison. Sentencing is set for February.

Prosecutors said the true number of times boys were assaulted by Danon was in the hundreds.

Steve Lefler, Danons attorney, had unsuccessfully argued that the boys conspired together to lie for their friend who died of a drug overdose, based on rumors.

This whole case has been a railroad against Mr. Danon, Lefler said in closing arguments. When does personal responsibility kick in?

Jacobsen countered that most of the boys were assaulted at an age when they legally were not old enough to consent.

A child victim advocate had testified that children, especially boys, who are sexually assaulted often are confused, ashamed and embarrassed about what occurred. The fact that the boys waited until they were young adults to disclose what happened to them is not uncommon, the advocate said.

Some of the boys had troubled home lives and found comfort in Danons support. He gave them air-soft guns and let them go on his boats for wakeboarding and tubing. He fueled their eventual drug addictions with more drugs and steady money via cash or bank account deposits.

The assaults and grooming continued for years  for some, more than a decade.

He had some lock on all of us, one of the victims testified.

And Danon made sure to curry favor with the boys parents, too, Jacobsen said. During one sleepover, he called a boys mom saying that the boy had trouble sleeping. The mom told Danon it was OK to give her son Benadryl to help him sleep.

Instead, Danon gave the boy Xanax and molested him. When the boy returned home the next morning, and told his mom he was knocked out sleeping, she didnt think anything of it, Jacobsen said.

Another boy got in trouble for stealing alcohol from Danon, and Danon went to his parents and told them the boy could clean his garage and do other odd jobs around the house as punishment. So the boys parents willingly sent him to Danons house.

Everyone trusted Steve Danon, Jacobsen said. Steve Danon had a process. Be involved in the kids sports. Invite all the kids over. Let them all stay overnight.

Two of the boys met Danon via a dating app when they were 14 and 15 years old but provided similar details as the others.

They were given alcohol and drugs, including Xanax, Ambien, Valium or OxyContin, and also smoked marijuana while in Danons hot tub.

One boy allegedly was sexually assaulted once, when he was 16. He said Danon had given him a drink that he thought was going to be nonalcoholic, but the boy didnt remember falling asleep. He awoke to Danon sexually assaulting him, Jacobsen said. The jury found Danon not guilty of the charge associated with that alleged assault.

In a horrifying way, Jacobsen said, that boy was the lucky one, because he didnt have continued grooming and abuse contact with Danon throughout his childhood years, as others did.

Jacobsen said she hopes the verdict encourages other men to share their stories of abuse.

I think boys are, more often, ashamed and embarrassed, she said. Its important to come forward, if you have the strength.

While listening to the verdict, friends and family of the boys all clasped hands and touched one anothers shoulders. Some women wept after hearing the first few guilty verdicts.

A stepmom of one of the boys said afterward she was glad that justice was served and that Danon wouldnt be free to do this to others. One mom said the verdict was a lot to process.

Im proud of all the witnesses that came forward," she said. "It was hard for them.
SAN FRANCISCO  The man accused of breaking into House Speaker Nancy Pelosis home, beating her husband and seeking to kidnap her told police he was on a suicide mission and had plans to target other California and federal politicians, according to a Tuesday court filing.

David DePape was ordered held without bail during his arraignment Tuesday in San Francisco Superior Court. His public defender entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. It was the first public appearance since the early Friday attack for DePape, a fringe activist drawn to conspiracy theories.

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In the court filing, prosecutors detailed the attack in stark terms as part of their bid to keep DePape behind bars. Paul Pelosi was knocked unconscious by the hammer attack and woke up in a pool of his own blood, the filing said.

DePapes intent could not have been clearer, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins wrote in the filing: He forced his way into the Pelosi home intending to take the person third in line to the presidency of the United States hostage and to seriously harm her. Thwarted by Speaker Pelosis absence, Defendant continued on his quest and would not be stopped, culminating in the near fatal attack on Mr. Pelosi.

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Without being questioned, DePape told officers and medics at the scene that he was sick of the lies coming out of Washington D.C., the filing said. I didnt really want to hurt him, but you know this was a suicide mission. Im not going to stand here and do nothing even if it cost me my life.

DePape allegedly told first responders he had other targets, including a local professor as well as several prominent state and federal politicians and members of their families. The filing did not name any potential targets.

This case demands detention, Jenkins wrote. Nothing less.

Wearing orange jail clothing and with his right arm in a sling, DePape only spoke during his arraignment Tuesday to tell Judge Diane Northway how to pronounce his last name (dih-PAP).

After the hearing, DePapes public defender Adam Lipson said he looks forward to providing him with a vigorous legal defense. He said his 42-year-old clients shoulder was dislocated during the arrest.

Were going to be doing a comprehensive investigation of what happened. Were going to be looking into Mr. DePapes mental state, and Im not going to talk any further about that until I have more information, Lipson said.

He later said he was pleased that Paul Pelosi was improving and urged the public not to pass judgment on what he called a complicated situation.

The attack on 82-year-old Paul Pelosi sent shockwaves through the political world just days before the hotly contested midterm elections. Threats against lawmakers and elections officials have been at all-time highs in this first nationwide election since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, and authorities have issued warnings about rising extremism in the U.S.

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DePape faces state charges of attempted murder, burglary and elder abuse. He also faces federal charges including attempted kidnapping of a U.S. official.

While prosecutors have not offered a timeline prior to Fridays events, Jenkins previously told The Associated Press that the attack appeared premeditated.

This was not something that he did at the spur of the moment, she told the AP on Monday.

The court filing said DePape smashed his shoulder through a glass window early Friday in the back of the Pelosis Pacific Heights home and confronted a sleeping Paul Pelosi, clad only in boxer shorts and a pajama top.

Are you Paul Pelosi? DePape said, standing over him around 2 a.m. holding a hammer and zip ties. Wheres Nancy? Wheres Nancy?

A groggy Pelosi told DePape that his wife was not home and would be gone for several days. DePape then allegedly threatened to tie Paul Pelosi up  the first of 10 such threats, the filing says.

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Paul Pelosi was eventually able to call 911 from the homes bathroom, where his cellphone was charging. While speaking to the dispatcher, DePape was gesturing and telling Pelosi to hang up, the filing said.

Pelosi then told the dispatcher that he did not need police, fire or medical assistance but he instead asked for the Capitol Police because they are usually at the house protecting his wife.

Moments later the dispatcher heard him interacting with a man and Paul Pelosi said Uh, he thinks everythings good. Uh, Ive got a problem, but he thinks everythings good.

Two officers who raced to the home witnessed DePape hit Pelosi with the hammer at least once, striking him in the head, the filing states. Jenkins has said the assault was captured on the officers body cameras.

Speaker Pelosi was in Washington at the time and under the protection of her security detail, which does not extend to family members. She quickly returned to San Francisco, where her husband was hospitalized and underwent surgery for a skull fracture and other injuries.

In Washington, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger provided a sobering update Tuesday of security protocols for members of Congress.

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Manger said that although many improvements have been made since the Capitol attack, including the hiring of nearly 280 officers by the end of this year, there is still a lot of work to do.

We believe todays political climate calls for more resources to provide additional layers of physical security for members of Congress, he said.

Manger said the attack on Pelosis husband was an alarming reminder of the dangerous threats elected officials and public figures face during todays contentious political climate.

Dazio reported from Los Angeles.
Offering homestead exemptions to more disabled veterans would move Nebraska closer to becoming the most veteran-friendly state in the nation, a legislative committee was told Friday.

Toward that end, James Shuey, representing the Disabled American Veterans, urged the Revenue Committee to reconsider an exemption proposal that died earlier this year because of its $64 million estimated cost.

Shuey took issue with some of the assumptions used when making the cost estimate for Legislative Bill 853. But he also said there would be ways to bring down the price tag and still help disabled veterans with the property taxes on their homes.

He said the proposal should not be considered a budget-buster, particularly given Nebraskas strong economy and the 2% annual decline in the number of surviving veterans.

LB 853 was introduced by State Sen. Jen Day of Omaha. It would have expanded the states homestead exemption program, under which the state covers the cost of property taxes for some groups of homeowners. Those include low-income seniors, low-income people with certain disabilities and some veterans.

Currently, the program provides 100% property tax exemptions for veterans with 100% service-related disabilities, regardless of their income or the value of their home.

Day sought to provide partial exemptions for veterans with service-related disabilities rated at 50% up to 99%. Under LB 853, the amount of exemption would have matched the amount of the disability, so that a 70% disabled veteran would get a 70% exemption.

At Fridays interim study hearing, she said that the cost of the new exemption could be reduced by applying income limits or limits on the value of the home or both.

Ryan McIntosh, a lobbyist for the National Guard Association of Nebraska, said he thought that adding income limits would be a reasonable approach.

Shuey suggested the state set exemptions for all disabled veterans at a flat amount, based on their disability rating. He said the exemptions could easily be adjusted in the future.

He said there are more than 39,000 veterans in Nebraska with less than a 100% disability rating. Of those, about half are 65 or older and may already qualify for a homestead exemption based on age and income.
The University of Floridas board of trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to name Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse as the flagship schools 13th president after weeks of growing criticism over his views on LGBTQ issues and a national search conducted largely in secret.

Sasse, a Nebraska Republican whose name emerged in early October as the sole finalist for the job, became the subject of protests and calls for action.

The trustees vote followed an impassioned opening statement by Sasse, who emphasized the universitys role in preparing students for a work world altered by scary disruption but one that presented magnificent opportunity for Florida. Students graduating in May, he said, will change jobs or industries at least three times over the next decade, and the university needs to be better prepared to retrain people as they boomerang back through our institution.

Before that, Sasse faced 40 minutes of scathing public comment, with 10 speakers voicing their concerns over political influence on the university, the senators track record on LGBTQ issues and the lack of public involvement in the presidential search. Some pleaded for the board to reconsider.

Normal universities dont do this, said Bryn Taylor, a Florida doctoral student. Once again political meddling has made UF the laughing stock of the academic community.

Tara Ezzell, a graduate of UFs College of Medicine and a Gainesville doctor, voiced her excitement for the choice, saying she had read Sasses book, Them: Why we hate each other  and how to heal. She said the senator offered a chance to launch UF to even greater heights.

Trustees chairperson Mori Hosseini said the board was tasked with finding a once in a generation leader.

Outside Emerson Alumni Hall, where Sasse was interviewed by trustees, a swarm of protesters gathered outside a heavily barricaded space. The protests would continue if Sasse was confirmed, they said.

The board voted 13-0 to name Sasse after asking a range of questions: How would Flordia change with him in charge? What would he do to gain the trust of confidence of faculty and students who have criticized him? Would he be able to step back from politics? How would he address concerns of the LGBTQ community? What were his thoughts on academic freedom?

Sasse acknowledged his politics and the opposition hes faced, but said he was looking forward to a period of political celibacy.

Sasses selection must be approved by the state Board of Governors, which is scheduled to meet in Tampa on Nov. 9 and 10.

This is a developing story. Stay with JournalStar.com for updates.
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Sie Coulibaly, lawmaker and former leader of Pro-Soro initiative Initiative Liberale de Cote dIvoire (ILCI), has called on Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara to allow the former Prime Minister Guillaume Soro to return to his home country like former President Laurent Gbagbo and former minister Ble Goude, to seal national reconciliation.

The centerpiece for national reconciliation is missing. President Guillaume Soro must return to play his role in the process of reconciliation and construction of Cote dIvoire. This is why we have launched a generational appeal which is first of all forgiveness and reconciliation, which we have been reiterating since October 17, 2022, the lawmaker said.

President Alassane Ouattara must speak to President Guillaume Soro without intermediaries. It must be a word that liberates Ivorians. Gbagbo has returned, but we still see that peace is not total. Brother Ble Goude will return, peace will not be total. But for peace to be total, Guillaume Soro, who was formerly in Ouattaras camp, must return so that we can smoke the peace pipe. This is not complicated, but we should not be given conditions and this is what we do not accept, he added.

The call comes as Ble Goude is expected to return from exile on Nov. 26 following his acquittal by the International Criminal Court in 2021. He could not return home because he did not have a passport.

Gbagbo returned in June 2021 following his acquittal by the court. A court in Cote dIvoire in June last year handed a life imprisonment to Soro on charges of attempt to remove President Ouattara in a coup detat in 2019. Ivorian authorities issued an international arrest warrant against him.
Noureddine Taboubi, the Secretary General of Tunisias powerful labor union UGTT, Monday laid into the government of President Kais Saied for succumbing to the International Monetary Fund and pledging to relinquish control of some state-run companies, including a bank and a factory.

The government recently made a commitment to the International Monetary Fund to sell (privatize) la Banque de lHabitat (public), la Regie nationale des tabacs et des allumettes (RNTA) and a number of wharves in the port of Rades (commercial  north), Taboubi said during a conference of the construction and timber sector, held under the auspices of the central union in the city of Hammamet.

The UGTT leader said the commitment is unacceptable.

Tunisia last month sealed a staff-level agreement with the IMF on an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of about $1.9 billion.

The deal, according to the Washington-based institution, aims to restore 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.

Tunisia has turned to IMF as it struggles to keep its economy afloat after the pandemic. The administration of President Saied did not revealed conditions of the deal.
Three Nigerien police officers lost their lives in an attack last Sunday by unidentified men, in Maradi region, South-West of the West African country, amid rising insecurity.

During the night of October 30 to 31, the border post of Dabira, in the commune of Madarounfa was attacked by armed bandits, the countrys state-run news agency announced Monday.

Two civilians were injured in the attack and admitted to the regional hospital, the agency added. The bandits left with weapons and ammunitions.

The post is located near the border with Nigeria. The attack is the first in Maradi, so far spared by assaults by armed men and bandits who have been sowing havoc on Diffa (South-East), Tahoua (North-West) and Tillaberi (West) regions.

Nigeria-based Boko Haram carries out sporadic attacks in Diffa while Tahoua and Tillaberi regions are theaters of attacks by terror groups operating in Mali.
China is still seen favorably by many in Africa, where it is vying for influence with Washington, though, worldwide, support for Beijing has undergone a sharp decline, a new global public opinion survey of people in 25 countries has revealed.

The survey by the Britain-based YouGov-Cambridge Globalism Project that asked people about their opinions on China, the United States and Taiwan was carried out between August and September this year. It polled about 1,000 people in each of the 25 countries, including in three large African states  Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. The data showed that while in the West, support for China has dropped considerably in the past four years, more people in Africa believe China is a positive influence on the world compared with many Western countries. For example, only 17% of respondents in France said China had a generally positive  effect on world affairs, down from 36% in the 2019 survey. Many other Western countries mirrored this trend, but the story is slightly different in Africa, where China is the continents largest trading partner.

Although its ranking also dropped slightly over the four-year-period in Nigeria and South Africa, across the continent, China was still widely seen as a force for good. In South Africa 61% of respondents saw Chinas influence in the world as positive, in Kenya the support for China was higher at 82% and, in Nigeria, it was highest out of the three, standing at 83%. Still, despite Beijings no-strings loans and large infrastructure projects as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, African support for the US remained slightly higher, reaching 69% in South Africa and 88% in both Kenya and Nigeria. On a separate question about which country, the US or China respondents would prefer to have as the global superpower, 20 of the 25 countries polled chose the former, including all four Africa nations by a huge margin.
A United States-backed Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Monday (31 October) convicted three militiamen of crimes against humanity committed during the civil war in 2013 and handed them jail terms from 20 years to life.

Issa Sallet Adoum, Ousman Yaouberms Rangia, and Tahir Mahamat were accused of taking part in an attack by the 3R armed group in May 2019 in which 46 villagers in northwest CAR were massacred. After its first-ever trial, the tribunal of local and international judges, sentenced Adoum to life and the others to 20 years. One of the poorest and most volatile countries in the world, CAR plunged into civil war in 2013 largely along sectarian lines. While violence fell back in intensity in 2018, as much as two-thirds of the country reportedly still lay in the hands of armed groups spawned by the conflict. The 3R  an acronym for Return, Reclamation, and Rehabilitation  is one of the most powerful of these militias, drawing its members mainly from the Fulani ethnic group, also called Peuls.

The special courts mandate applies to war crimes and crimes against humanity dating back to 2003. The tribunal was set up in 2015 with UN backing but struggled for years to get going in the face of logistical hurdles, lack of money, and local hostility. After a faltering start caused by a lack of defense lawyers, its first trial opened on 25 April to a panel of national and international judges, with prosecutors from the CAR, the Democratic Republic of Congo, France, and Togo. In a statement, the court said the three convicted militiamen were guilty of murder, inhumane acts, and humiliating and degrading treatment. Victims of the 2019 atrocity hailed the courts ruling, after years of despair about the prospects for justice in a country sapped by weak governance, poverty, and other ills.
While Algeria remains corrupt, oppressive and potentially unstable, Morocco stands out as U.S. major reliable partner in North Africa, says The Washington-based U.S. Heritage Foundation.

In an Op-Ed published in its latest edition focusing on concerns and developments that affect Americas vital interests in the region, James Jay Carafano affirms that American attention in North Africa will likely remain centered on Morocco, described as a regional power.

In contrast to the troubles in Tunisia and Libya, Morocco has been a proven and productive partner for the U.S., says the leading expert in U.S. Security & Foreign policy challenges.

Washington seems content to rely on its relationship with Rabat to oversee its general situational awareness and engagement in the region, adds the analysis of the Heritage Foundation, noting that both the U.S. and Morocco have agreed recently to continue to develop bilateral security cooperation.

The U.S. engagement is focusing on transnational terrorism, transnational crime and cyber threats. This effort, however, is mostly built on momentum in the relationship built by the previous U.S. administration, stresses the U.S. Think-Thank.

In addition, Israel, the most important strategic U.S. ally in the region, recently signed new partnership agreements with Morocco, an outgrowth of the Abraham Accords, another initiative of the Trump years.

There are several reasons why it is worth examining Washingtons lackluster engagement in the nations of North Africa. The most significant regional development is Europes dramatic quest to diversify sources of natural gas and oil to reduce dependence on Russia.

In July, the Italian government signed a series of agreements with Algeria. Little interest, however, seems to have gone into bringing Libyas significant production of gas and oil back onto the global market.

The administration of President Donald Trump flirted with the idea of North Africa as an alternate source of energy since Western sanctions reduced imports from Iran. A significant decline in global prices at the time contributed to the U.S. quickly losing interest. Since then, the U.S. has not substantially reengaged, despite renewed interest in alternative energy supply chains in the wake of President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine.

Libya continues to be buffeted by both internal conflict and the competing influences of outside powers in Europe, the Middle East and Russia.

In Tunisia, the aspirations of democratization are also on hold due to the recent political developments in this country. Furthermore, there are renewed tensions between Tunisia and Morocco over the Sahara. Morocco recalled its ambassador to Tunis for consultations after President Kais Saied invited Polisario chief to a conference.

China also has a growing and potentially disruptive footprint in Tunisia. The challenge for the U.S. is to help stem democratic backsliding, economic stagnation, and Beijings influence.

All these challenges leave more than enough space for Islamic terrorism and extremism to remain an endemic concern for public safety, security and economic development in the region, warns the Heritage Foundation in its analysis which also appeared in Geopolitical Intelligence Services Reports Online.

With these developments, illegal migration to Western Europe will remain a persisting issue. Since none of these challenges are likely to generate significant security threats to the U.S. or Europe or endanger vital interests, the world can expect only minimal investment from Washington in economic engagement, energy development and security affairs in the region. U.S. attention in North Africa will likely remain focused on Morocco, underlines the prestigious U.S. Think Thank.
The National Union of the Moroccan Press (SNPM), the National Press Council (SNPM) and the National Association of Media and Editors (ANME), as well as the General Union of Arab Journalists have all denounced the harassment and the expulsion by Algerian authorities of Moroccan journalists assigned to cover Arab Summit which opens this Tuesday in Algiers.

The Algerian authorities continue their aggressions against the Moroccan press. This has become a tradition whenever Algeria is hosting an international, regional or continental event. This clearly shows its hostility to freedom of opinion and expression, the right of citizens and peoples of the region to information, said the SNPM.

Upon their arrival at Houari Boumediene airport, journalists working for the National Radio & Television were unfairly sequestered for more than six hours at the airport and interrogated by security agents before they were allowed to enter the Algerian territory as simple visitors not journalists after they were stripped of all their professional equipment, added the Press Union.

For its part, the National Press Council (CNP) sent a letter to Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the Arab League, protesting the provocations suffered by the Moroccan press delegation that travelled to Algeria to cover the Arab Summit 2022.

The CNP asked the Arab League chief to urgently intervene to enable Moroccan journalists do their job. The Moroccan Press Council also sent a similar letter to the ambassadors of Arab countries in Morocco.

The National Association of Media and Editors (ANME) also slammed the provocations of Algerian authorities against Moroccan journalists. Although, they provided all their credentials and required documents to cover the summit, the Moroccan journalists were held for more than six hours at the airport and mistreated by the Algerian security services, said ANME in its press release.

It denounced the harassment suffered by the journalists of Al Aoula TV channel, who were denied entry and expelled after confiscating their equipment.

ANME called on Algerian press organizations to condemn these discriminatory acts targeting the Moroccan journalists and urged international press bodies to condemn such despicable restrictions and reprehensive measures undermining press freedom.

The General Union of Arab Journalists also condemned the Algerian authorities treatment of Moroccan journalists, insisting that respect for journalists is indispensable.

In reaction to a letter it received from the SNPM concerning the kidnapping and expulsion of the Moroccan journalists by Algerian authorities, the General Union of Arab Journalists affirmed, in a press release published on Monday, October 31, 2022, its full solidarity with the demands of the SNPM.

The Union also condemned the way in which the Algerian authorities treated the press delegation from a brotherly country forcing it to leave Algerian territory and preventing it from covering the Arab League Summit.

For the General Union of Arab Journalists, it is essential to respect journalists and allow them to freely exercise their mission, in accordance with international laws and customs.
WASHINGTON  Chief Justice John Roberts on Tuesday put a temporary hold on the handover of former President Donald Trumps tax returns to a congressional committee.

Roberts order gives the Supreme Court time to weigh the legal issues in Trumps emergency appeal to the high court, filed Monday.

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Without court intervention, the tax returns could have been provided as early as Thursday by the Treasury Department to the Democratic-controlled House Ways and Means Committee.

Roberts gave the committee until Nov. 10 to respond. The chief justice handles emergency appeals from the nations capital, where the fight over Trumps taxes has been going on since 2019.

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Lower courts ruled that the committee has broad authority to obtain tax returns and rejected Trumps claims that it was overstepping.

If Trump can persuade the nations highest court to intervene in this case, he could potentially delay a final decision until the start of the next Congress in January. If Republicans recapture control of the House in the fall election, they could drop the records request.

The temporary delay imposed by Roberts is the third such order issued by justices in recent days in cases related to Trump.

The court separately is weighing Sen. Lindsey Grahams emergency appeal to avoid having to testify before a Georgia grand jury that is investigating potential illegal interference by Trump and his allies in the 2020 election in the state.

Also before the court is an emergency appeal from Arizona Republican party chairwoman Kelli Ward to prevent the handover of phone records to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

The House Ways and Means panel and its chairman, Democrat Richard Neal of Massachusetts, first requested Trumps tax returns in 2019 as part of an investigation into the Internal Revenue Services audit program and tax law compliance by the former president. A federal law says the Internal Revenue Service shall furnish the returns of any taxpayer to a handful of top lawmakers.

The Justice Department, under the Trump administration, had defended a decision by then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to withhold the tax returns from Congress. Mnuchin argued that he could withhold the documents because he concluded they were being sought by Democrats for partisan reasons. A lawsuit ensued.

After President Joe Biden took office, the committee renewed the request, seeking Trumps tax returns and additional information from 2015-2020. The White House took the position that the request was a valid one and that the Treasury Department had no choice but to comply. Trump then attempted to halt the handover in court.

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Then-Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. obtained copies of Trumps personal and business tax records as part of a criminal investigation. That case, too, went to the Supreme Court, which rejected Trumps argument that he had broad immunity as president.

Trump had most recently sought the justices intervention in a legal dispute stemming from the search of his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in August. The court rejected that appeal.
Algeria has forced over 60 refugees from Syria and Palestine from Oran to the desert border of Niger where they were abandoned to their fate, Syrian media reported.

This constitutes a clearcut case of refoulement which is banned under the Geneva convention, according to human rights NGOs, which deplore the media blackout regarding the fate of thousands of refugees.

This comes ironically as Algiers hosts an Arab Summit which the Algerian regime is using to project a false image of a state that cares for the fate of Palestinians and Syrians.

Algeria has regularly been accused by non-governmental organizations and Algerian groups of treating migrants brutally, including arrest and dumping them in the desert without food or water.

Tens of thousands of irregular migrants from West and Central Africa have been expelled from Algeria since 2014, according to United Nations statistics.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) statistics indicate that numbers of migrants expelled have gone up over the past three years: 23,171 in 2020, 27,208 in 2021 and 14,196 in the period from January to May 2022 alone.
The Arab summit in Algiers has been shunned by influential Arab leaders and monarchs as Algeria sought in vain to impose its own agenda.

The rulers of Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan and the president of Lebanon are among the main leaders who preferred to skip this summit.

The Emir of Qatar was the only monarch who is attending the summit together with President Sisi of Egypt.

Algeria has shown so far that what matters for it is to reflect an illusion of grandeur by hosting the summit per se after it failed to impose its own agenda and narrow calculations that are in line with Iranian schemes in Syria and elsewhere.

The absence of influential Arab monarchs sends a clear message that nothing is to be expected from this summit as Arab countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council and Morocco continue to face direct Iranian threats to their stability.

Hosting the Arab league Summit in Algiers has so far had an announcement effect and little is expected from an Algerian authoritarian military regime that does not shy away from showing its alliance with Tehran against the unity and stability of Arab countries.
Union Pacifics Challenger No. 3985, which enjoyed a 30-year second life as a rolling railroad steam ambassador, will visit North Platte under tow for the last time over Veterans Day weekend.

A special train towing No. 3985, two other locomotives and several passenger cars is scheduled to arrive from U.P.s Cheyenne Steam Shop at 5:15 p.m. CT Nov. 12 at Bailey Yards downtown VIP track near The Telegraphs office at East Front and Chestnut streets.

Itll stay there through 9 a.m. CT Nov. 14, when it resumes its journey east to the Rock Island Silvis Shops in Silvis, Illinois, the railroad announced in a press release. Itll reach there Nov. 19.

U.P. has donated the three engines and passenger cars to the nonprofit Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA), which plans to restore and operate them.

Union Pacifics steam division will continue to operate Big Boy No. 4014  the worlds largest operating locomotive since its 2019 restoration  and No. 844, the last steamer built for U.P., which has never been retired.

No. 3985 will start its last journey on the railroads historic mainline at 8 a.m. MT Nov. 11. The train will make a 12:30 p.m. MT stop in Kimball and arrive for an overnight, nonpublic stay in Sidney at 2:45 p.m. MT.

Before reaching North Platte, the train will stop Nov. 12 at 10:30 a.m. MT at Julesburg, Colorado, and at 1 p.m. MT at the South Spruce Street crossing in Ogallala. A Cozad stop at Meridian Avenue and U.S. Highway 30 is planned at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 14.

The public will be able to view the Challenger and the other donated equipment at the stops in Julesburg, Ogallala, North Platte and Cozad, the U.P. release said.

When the train towing No. 3985 stops in the Canteen District, it likely will mark the last time that both surviving Challenger locomotives will be in North Platte  just a few blocks apart.

Challenger No. 3977, donated by U.P. to the city of North Platte in 1968, has lived on display since then at Cody Park. It was joined there in 1985 by diesel Centennial No. 6922, also donated by the railroad.

A sister to No. 6922, Centennial No. 6936, will be towed along with Challenger to their new Illinois home. So will U.P. No. 5511, a class TTT-6 steamer built in 1923 and likewise donated to RRHMA.

No. 3985, built in 1943 by the American Locomotive Company, was one of 105 4-6-6-4 Challengers built for Union Pacific between 1936 and 1943. Like others in its class, it basically pulled freight trains but occasionally hauled passengers.

Challengers were often mentioned in North Platte newspapers and letters to the city from World War II service members as familiar sights at the 1918 Union Pacific Depot and its 1941-46 North Platte Canteen.

No. 3985 last operated in regular train service in 1957. First retired in 1962, it was put on public display in Cheyenne from 1975 until a group of U.P. volunteer employees restored it to running condition in 1981. It made its last excursion run in 2010.
Last weeks loss against Wisconsin cost Nebraska the No. 1 ranking in college volleyball.

In the new AVCA poll released on Monday Nebraska landed at No. 4. Its the first time Nebraska (19-2) has been ranked below third this season.

Texas returned to the No. 1 spot, but it wasnt consensus. Five teams received first-place votes, including one for Nebraska. Texas had 54 first-place votes.

Texas is followed by San Diego, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Louisville and Ohio State.

In the Big Ten standings Nebraska is a three-way tie for first place with Wisconsin and Ohio State at 10-1. The league champion is likely to come from that group. Fourth-place Minnesota already has four losses.

Creighton (20-3) has a 12-match winning streak and moved up to a season-best 13th in the poll.

In the NCAA Ratings Percentage Index, which is one factor used for seeding for the NCAA Tournament, Nebraska is ranked sixth. Nebraskas goal is to earn one of the top four overall seeds for the NCAA Tournament, giving Nebraska a chance to host the second week of the tournament for the first time since 2016.

Nebraska hosts unranked Indiana on Wednesday.
Sculptor Capital Management, Inc.

NEW YORK, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sculptors Independent Board Members (NYSE: SCU) and CIO & CEO Jimmy Levin today issued the following statements.



The Independent Board Members stated the following:

In a court filing last week related to a books and records dispute, Mr. Och makes mention of a personal issue from the past of our CEO, Jimmy Levin. This matter dates back 20 years, was thoroughly reviewed at the time, and resulted in Mr. Levins exoneration. A separate review by the Board, when Mr. Och was Chair, confirmed the soundness of that review and its findings. Mr. Och has long been aware of the facts, including when he championed Mr. Levin and promoted him to senior ranks of the firm. Mr. Och raising this now, with knowledge of the facts, is extremely disappointing.

Jimmy Levin, Chief Investment Officer & Chief Executive Officer of Sculptor stated the following:

Dan Ochs court case in Delaware is the latest salvo in his years-long clash with the firm and me. My colleagues and I, throughout all of this, have kept our collective heads down and focused on the job we do for our clients. In light of Ochs legal filing last week, where he mentions a personal issue from my past, I now need to briefly raise my head.

Twenty years ago, when I was 19, I was falsely accused of sexual misconduct. After a thorough Harvard University administrative review into the allegation, I was exonerated. Unlike some of these situations, the allegation did not involve the question of consent  rather, the alleged conduct did not occur.

I brought this matter to the attention of the firm, its officers, and its directors in 2015. And after the firms review, I received unconditional support, including from Och as then Chairman and CEO. In the years that followed, Och promoted me multiple times, consistently praised me in various internal and external communications and executed a long-term employment contract with me.

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My relationship with Och changed in late 2017 when he became extremely angry with me. To weather the fallout of the firms FCPA bribery settlement the year before, I supported the independent Board members efforts to restructure the firms governance and finances in ways that would have resulted in Och ceding his unilateral control of the firm (following SEC charges against him) and making financial concessions to ease the burden of significant debt and liabilities incurred to settle the bribery matter. This culminated in Och overruling both the decision of the independent directors to appoint me as the next CEO and their recommendation to adopt a series of financial restructurings.

Och next tried to insinuate that part of his decision to pass me over for CEO was influenced by this disproven allegation from my teenage years. But those insinuations are belied by his statements to our shareholders, employees and clients about his decision regarding CEO succession - none of which ever mentioned this subject. Indeed, he subsequently communicated how important it was to retain me and led an effort to make sure that happened.

Last week, Och took it one step further by intentionally dropping a reference to this matter in a Delaware court filing, triggering the press to write about it. Even though I am the target, this press coverage, exoneration notwithstanding, will impact those closest to me including my wife who I met in college and my school-aged children.

I want nothing more than for Och to end this feud he continues to pursue. The years since the firms FCPA settlement have not been easy for the Sculptor team. But despite the challenge of fighting through the consequences of conduct that was not our own, we have built a special firm. We will not be swayed from our mission. I believe in the firm we have created, the team we have developed and the incredible client relationships we have formed.

With that, I will put my head back down and continue to focus on the job our clients have hired us to do.

Shareholder Services Contact Media Relations Contact Ellen Conti Jonathan Gasthalter Sculptor Capital Management, Inc. Gasthalter & Co. LP +1-212-719-7381 +1-212-257-4170 investorrelations@sculptor.com jg@gasthalter.com








Privateer Space

This partnership will empower millions of amateur astronomers to contribute to Privateers open data platform, creating the worlds largest optical space sensor network

MAUI, Hawaii, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Privateer Space , the data and intelligence platform powering the future of space sustainability, today announced its partnership with Celestron, the worlds #1 telescope maker, allowing Celestron telescope owners to participate in Privateers work in accurately tracking the thousands of human-made objects in Earth orbit.



By crowdsourcing the transparency and predictability of space, Privateer will be able to provide more accurate locations of objects in space and share those critical data through the Wayfinder platform, while Celestron users will be able to participate firsthand in keeping space safe and accessible for all humankind.

With more satellites and rockets being launched into space nearly every day, the quantity of objects in orbit continues to grow at unprecedented scale . The partnership with Privateer will allow Celestron users to use their at-home telescopes for more than stargazing, providing much-needed data that will improve our collective understanding of where objects are located at any given time, in Low Earth Orbit and beyond. This massive data set will add further accuracy to Privateers newly redesigned Wayfinder , an open-access and near real-time visualization of satellites and debris in Earth orbit.

My career has been built on advocating for transparency, predictability, and accountability in space. Ive been working to recruit empathy for space environmentalism for quite some time, and Ive found that people understand the challenge we face, but they feel paralyzed, said Dr. Moriba Jah, co-founder and chief scientist of Privateer. Now, our partnership with Celestron is giving people that power. Combining Celestrons telescopes with our recently launched Wayfinder 2.0, anyone can easily become an active steward of the space environment.

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Currently, only 27,000 pieces of space debris are being tracked by the Department of Defenses global Space Surveillance Network. However, it is estimated that the actual amount of debris in space is closer to 100 million. Not only is much of the debris not being tracked, the ones that are monitored often face discrepancies of its actual location. While many radars and telescopes can detect objects in space, they are often unable to track them long enough to accurately and precisely determine their orbit s, thus leaving much to guess.

Since Celestron was founded in 1960, its been our goal to make the wonder of the night sky accessible to everyone, said Celestron CEO, Corey Lee. Through this exciting partnership with Privateer, we add a new mission: to make space environmentalism accessible to everyone. Celestron telescope owners will play a major role in protecting Earths orbital highways by participating in the largest optical space sensor network.

As Privateer and Celestron develop and roll out this capability, the two companies invite others who share their vision for a sustainable future in space to join this growing global movement and collaborate.

About Privateer

Privateer powers the applications that build the new space economy. By mapping satellites and debris in Earth orbit with unprecedented accuracy and transparency, Privateer is making space predictable and safe, paving the way for the rapid growth of space exploration and commerce.

Privateer is the latest venture founded by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Ripcord CEO Alex Fielding, and University of Texas at Austin professor Dr. Moriba Jah.

Proudly headquartered on Maui, Privateer hopes to honor the native Hawaiian traditions of environmental stewardship by extending them to humanitys next frontier.

To learn more, please visit https://mission.privateer.com .

To learn more about Privateers Wayfinder application, please visit https://www.privateer.com/ .

Privateer Contact

Praytell for Privateer

privateer@praytellagency.com

About Celestron

Celestron envisions a global community where astronomy is accessible to everyone. More than 60 years ago, Celestrons founder Tom Johnson invented a method to mass-produce the Schmidt corrector plate, making large telescopes available for amateurs to explore the Universe. Since then, the California-based company has grown to become the worlds most recognized telescope brand and a major provider of advanced optics for educational institutions and other professional applications. Its groundbreaking Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA), launched in 2014, has revolutionized space surveillance, allowing private companies to track small objects from the ground for a fraction of the cost of prior technologies. To learn more about Celestrons products and innovations, visit Celestron.com .

Celestron Contact

LA Tech House for Celestron

gabe@latechhouse.com




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Dr. Simona Black, a retired colonel in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and 1994 Auburn University graduate, will deliver the keynote address at the institutions fall commencement exercises at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9.

A native of Sacramento, California, Black earned her bachelors degree in nursing from Auburn before embarking on a career in the Army Nurse Corps that resulted in multiple combat tours to care for critically ill and injured servicemen and women. An accomplished clinical administrator, military leader and policy advocate, Black is set to deliver an inspiring message reflecting her journey as a former student leader, combat nurse and healthcare expert before thousands of graduates and their guests assembled at Neville Arena.

Leadership and selfless service are synonymous with Auburns land-grant mission, and Dr. Simona Black epitomizes these qualities through her distinguished nursing career and service to our country, said Auburn President Christopher B. Roberts. Our goal as an institution is always to foster an environment that creates a path for our students to become accomplished leaders who, like Dr. Black, embark on a life of service. It is our honor to welcome her back to campus to share her wisdom and experiences with our graduates.

During her more than two decades of service as a military nurse, Black focused on building a new generation of leaders and healthcare professionals using leading evidence-based clinical and professional practices. Eventually rising to the rank of colonel, Blacks experiences include multiple assignments and nursing roles while stationed in Baumholder, Germany; Baghdad, Iraq; the Republic of Korea; Walter Reed National Military Medical Center; and Fort Belvoir, Virginia, before retiring in 2018.

I am honored to be returning to Auburn to deliver the commencement address this fall, Black said. Auburn will always hold a special place in my life as the beginning of this amazing journey Ive been on. Its humbling to be asked to speak to the graduates who are in the early stages of pursuing their dreams just as I was in 1994.

Following her distinguished military career, Black has continued to support several national organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America. In addition to helping raise funds for the national Jack and Jill Foundation and Sickle Cell Association, Black remains an active member of several professional organizations, including the Virginia Nurses Association and Sigma Theta Tau Inc.

During her career, Black was recognized as the Fort Hood Nurse of the Quarter, a two-time Meritorious Service Medal honoree and received the Army Commendation Medal and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. In 2020, Black was honored with the Auburn Alumni Associations Black Alumni Achievement Award.

In addition to a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Auburn, Black holds a Master of Science in adult health nursing from the University of Texas at Austin and a Doctor of Nursing Practice in nursing administration from Vanderbilt University. She is also a board-certified Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Auburns commencement on Friday, Dec. 9, showcases the universitys graduation traditions, including the keynote address delivered by Black. All graduates must attend and arrive at Neville Arena by 4 p.m.

Families and guests are welcome to attend and can access the arena beginning at 3 p.m. A complete list of safety protocols and other information is available on the commencement website.

Fall graduates who need to order keepsake regalia should place orders through the Auburn University Bookstore. Early regalia orders can be picked up at the bookstore the week of Oct. 31-Nov. 4. All other orders can be picked up during the week of final exams, Dec. 5-9. All graduates participating in graduation ceremonies must wear proper regalia.

Additional information is available on the commencement website and information will be posted on the Auburn University commencement Facebook and Instagram accounts. For questions regarding commencement, please email commencement@auburn.edu.
I wish this uncreative cash grab low effort movie would stop getting press

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I hope Paddington has good ppl around him  smh

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You know you're an old Disney fan girl when you recognize exactly what Disney Sing-Along that came from.



I am so... intrigued by this. Are they really mutated animal hybrids or are they just wearing costumes? I want to know what the fuck imagination Christopher Robin had to create these things.

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The premise is he abandoned them when he got older and they turned feral as a result.

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Noooo this makes me sad rofl this is why I didn't get rid of my stuffed animals. I really shouldn't give feelings to inatimate objects but ok.

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same, i had it on vhs as a kid, i loved that episode. grim grinning ghosts used to scare me but it was always my favorite part

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I remember I had the layout of this park memorized and when my fam went to Disney World I was like, wait, this doesn't look right. lol

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I guessnone of these movies are going to be good.

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Ever since I saw that tweet that said Winnie looks like Fat Joe, it's all I can think about when I hear anything about this nonsense.

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NO

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Is this film banned in China?

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Meh. I don't really enjoy content for children being repurposed into shitty ~horror for adults.

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the budget for those masks was $8

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one day event??? nooooo I was hoping to see it sooner and have more time

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This looks terrible

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Bats drop out of the attic and fly away at 718 Concord Lane in the Pickwick Town Homes in Barrington on Sept. 19, 2013. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Theyre the dark, winged creatures that lurk in the shadows, an animal shrouded in mysterious folklore, with old tales tying them to bloodsucking vampires. Bats remain one of the most enduring images of Halloween, with depictions in scary movies and front yard decor. While spooky in nature, what danger do bats pose to people?

To keep residents informed, the Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control has released an orange, Halloween-inspired interactive map indicating the locations of rabies-positive bats around the county with tiny flying bat icons. Bats are found everywhere in Cook County and the map is aimed at bringing more awareness to rabies prevention.

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With 11 bats testing positive so far this year, Mark Rosenthal, deputy director of ARC, advises Cook County residents to be cautious but not overly fearful. This time of year can instill some fear about these nighttime flyers, but Rosenthal assures people that the vast majority of bats do not carry the virus.

Residents should not be overly worried, Rosenthal said. Bats serve a useful purpose and are important to the countys ecosystem because they consume large amounts of insects.

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While not a common occurrence, bats in Chicagoland test positive for rabies each year, according to the CHI Health Alert Network. On average, Cook County identifies approximately 25 rabid bats annually. Bats are also the most commonly identified species with rabies in Illinois.

The countys interactive map shows that rabies-positive bats were at their peak in 2018, with 27 bats testing positive. Cook County saw the least number of rabid bats in 2020, with just six testing positive.

An animal control officer holds a small brown bat at the Lake County Animal Control office in Mundelein in 2009. The dead bat was about to be shipped to the Illinois Department of Public Health in Springfield and tested to see if it was rabid. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Without preventive treatment, rabies in humans is almost always a fatal disease. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, deaths associated with rabies usually occur in people who fail to seek medical assistance, most commonly because they did not know they were exposed.

Prompt intervention is key, Rosenthal said, recommending people seek medical attention immediately after exposure or a bite.

In September 2021, the IDPH reported the first human case of rabies in the state since 1954. A Lake County resident in his 80s found a bite on his neck, but declined treatment and subsequently died.

The early symptoms of rabies in people can look similar to other illnesses, including fever, headache and general weakness or discomfort. As the disease progresses, people may begin to experience more specific symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, hallucinations, agitation, increase in saliva, and a fear of water. In the Lake County case, it took a month for symptoms to appear.

While people often associate bats with the fall season, the likelihood of coming into contact with a bat is actually higher during the summer due to bat migration and feeding patterns.

Bats are most active during the warmer weather and will seek shelter during the colder weather, Rosenthal said. That is why it is important to bat proof or secure chimney entrances of homes and attic areas.

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People are typically exposed to the rabies virus from a bite by an infected animal. Despite what horror movies or television shows might depict, bats have very small teeth, so marks from their bites may be more difficult to spot. According to Rosenthal, a bat bite would look like small puncture marks.

Rosenthal said a potentially infected bat will display abnormal behavior, such as not being able to fly, lying on the ground and being active in the daytime, or can be found in an unusual place like inside a home. However, experts like Rosenthal recommend speaking with a doctor or medical professional immediately after an exposure or bite, whether or not a bat looks sick.

Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. >

Rabies is not a visible disease, Rosenthal said. Laboratory testing is completed on bats to determine if they are positive for rabies.

Rosenthal recommended pet owners take special precautions. The disease is 100% preventable and is always fatal to unvaccinated pets, he said. The most important thing owners can do is ensure their pets, including indoor cats, are up to date on rabies and all other vaccines, he said.

There is a misconception that indoor cats cannot be exposed to the virus, which isnt true, Rosenthal said. Bats can and do enter homes. Ensuring pets are up to date on vaccines is the best way to protect them.

To help prevent the spread of the virus, the county hosts low-cost or free clinics, which has helped vaccinate over 5,000 pets against rabies this year.

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ARCs final clinic is scheduled for Nov. 5.

The department also urges residents to avoid handling any wild animals. Residents who encounter a sick or dead bat should contact their local animal control or police department.

For questions or to report a suspected case, Chicago-area residents can call the Chicago Department of Public Healths Disease Reporting Hotline at 312-743-9000. For after-hours, weekends and holidays, call 311 or 312-744-5000 if outside the city of Chicago.
Vinyl Tile Manufacturer Cited After Worker Caught in Machine, Injured

The location in Ohio has seen seven injuries since 2017 from a lack of following machine safety procedures, including the most recent incident.

A vinyl tile manufacturer faces over $1.2 million in proposed penalties after the seventh worker since 2017 was injured from a lack of following machine safety procedures, OSHA said.

According to a news release, in April 2022 at NOX US LLCs Fostoria, Ohio, plant, a worker, who had only been working at the company for six weeks, needed surgery after they were pulled around spindles on a plastic winding machine.

NOX US LLC, which employs about 200 people at the Fostoria site, was cited for eight willful, one repeat, six serious one other-than-serious violations and was issued a proposed penalty of $1,232,705. These citations were for exposing workers to machine hazards, lacking personal protective equipment and failing to train their workers on safety hazards and precautions, the news release said.

Inspectors also said that workers were exposed to caught-in and amputation hazards, due to a lack of prevention from coming into contact with operating machine parts, as well as trip and fall hazards, from unclean floors and non-uniform stair risers, OSHA said.

This is not the first injury stemming from machine safety procedures at the plant. Since 2017, six other workers were injured from a lack of following these procedures. And from February 2017 to now, an additional 13 were injured after being exposed to burn and amputation hazards. That year, the Fostoria plant was placed in OSHAs Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

NOX US LLCs continued failure to correct previously identified hazards has led to another worker suffering severe and potentially life-altering injuries, said OSHA Regional Administrator Bill Donovan in Chicago in the news release. When an employer fails to ensure dangerous machines are guarded or de-energized properly, they show an indifference to worker safety, and the risk of serious injuries multiplies.
Although the SPR has been used infrequently for emergencies, it has been used frequently by politicians seeking to influence gasoline prices in election years.

In December 1975, when memories of gas lines were fresh on the minds of Americans as a result of the 1973 OPEC oil embargo, Congress established the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The law was designed to reduce the impact of severe energy supply interruptions such as that caused by the embargo. This crude oil is stored in underground salt caverns at four major oil storage facilities in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. There are two sites in Texas and two sites in Louisiana.

Is the SPR Obsolete?

There was once a period during which the U.S. was heavily dependent upon OPEC for oil imports. Just a few years ago, OPEC was responsible for about 40% of the oil we imported. Today that has declined to about 10% as a result of the resurgence of U.S. oil production.

The U.S. was a total petroleum net exporter in 2020 and 2021. We still import about 8.5 million barrels per day (BPD) of crude oil. However, we export a bit more than that in petroleum and finished products.

Why, then, does the SPR still matter? Does the SPR still make sense given the turnaround in U.S. oil production? We can certainly argue that with the growth of U.S. oil production over the past 15 years, the SPR has become less important than it was when it was originally established.

But selling off the oil in the SPR is a risk. According to the Department of Energys website on the SPR:

SPR oil is sold competitively when the President finds, pursuant to the conditions set forth in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), that a sale is required. Such conditions have only existed three times, most recently in June 2011 when the President directed a sale of 30 million barrels of crude oil to offset disruptions in supply due to unrest in Libya. During this severe energy supply interruption, the United States acted in coordination with its partners in the International Energy Agency (IEA). IEA countries released altogether a total of 60 million barrels of petroleum.

The Politics of the SPR

Although the SPR has been used infrequently for emergencies, it has been used frequently by politicians seeking to influence gasoline prices in election years. There is a long history of this. Arguably, this was the primary reason that earlier this year President Biden announced the largest SPR release in history.

Since the beginning of the year, nearly 40% of the SPR has been sold off. It is at its lowest level since 1984. This has undoubtedly helped drive down oil prices, but this situation is unsustainable. We now have significantly less oil in reserve should a true emergency occur. A significant supply disruption in the Middle East, Venezuela, or Nigeria could quickly remind us of the SPRs importance.

But why should any of this matter if we are essentially self-sufficient in our oil production? For the same reason, the loss of Russian imports earlier in the year helped drive gasoline prices much higher. The oil we import is a good match for U.S. refineries, and often the oil we export is not. So, a substantial loss of oil imports  and an inability to make up for that loss with the SPR  could cause significant disruptions that lead to price spikes in both oil and gasoline prices.

Related: Colombias Oil Industry In Jeopardy As Cocaine Production Soars To New Record

Saudi Arabia certainly recognizes this vulnerability, and they have used it against us. Over the past six months, the U.S. has drawn down the SPR by close to 1 million BPD. But at its most recent meeting, OPEC  led by Saudi Arabia  announced plans to reduce oil production by 2 million BPD from November levels.

The SPR as Insurance

I have compared the SPR to an insurance policy on your home. The odds that your home will be destroyed are small. But, if it does happen you will be very glad you had that homeowners policy.

Now consider that you greatly reduced your insurance coverage, AND someone had an incentive to somehow profit from that. You have placed yourself in an extremely vulnerable position.

Thats where we are now. We are more at the mercy of OPEC than we have been in a few years. I dont think theres any question that Saudi Arabia, in particular, would rather deal with Republicans (especially with Donald Trump).

So, in effect they are killing two birds with one stone. By restricting production, they are potentially hurting the Biden Administration by driving up oil prices. Second, the drawdowns from the SPR have cost them money, and this will be a way for them to profit from our vulnerability.

By Robert Rapier

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
It seems increasingly apparent that the focus on "finance" will be less rewarding and the focus on "stuff" will become more important to the nations of the world.

As a military conflict rages in Ukraine between Russia and what the Russian government calls "the West" (apparently meaning NATO allies and particularly the United States), there is a parallel economic battle between "stuff" and "finance." Both categories are affected by economic sanction regimes imposed by each side. But there is a striking difference in what each side has to sell. In advanced countries, the percentage of the total economy devoted to services has long exceeded that devoted to goods. This is a reflection of the increasing productivity of those working in manufacturing, mining, agriculture, forestry and fishing who make it possible for so many people to work in service industries. These raw materials and goods industries provide all the stuff those of us in the service economy require to stay alive and perform our services.

It is a testament to the remarkable rise in productivity of the raw materials and goods industries that in the United States, for example, the service sector accounts for almost 77 percent of all economic activity. In France, the percentage is about 70 percent. In Russia the percentage is a little lower, about 68 percent, which may reflect Russia's relatively large mining, forestry, and agriculture inputs to its economy.

But regardless of the percentage, all service industries remain completely dependent on the raw materials and manufactured goods sectors to function. That has become even more apparent in the wake of price increases on essential goods and disruptions of trade that have resulted from the Russia-Ukraine conflict due to economic sanctions by both sides in the contest.

Western economies these days are dominated by finance and real estate. By that I mean they have large numbers of people working in financial industries including banking and investment services; insurance; and real estate brokerage, leasing and management. In the United States, for instance, the sectors which provide "stuff" to the economy (manufacturing, mining, agriculture, forestry and fishing) make up 19.4 percent of the economy while the finance, insurance and real estate (FIRE) sector make up 17.8 percent according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

But this underestimates the importance of finance as sector after sector of the economy is turned into a financial asset ruled by the imperatives of finance rather than the logic of service to customers. The purchase of hospitals and medical practices by private equity firmswith generally no expertise in running health care enterprises, but vast expertise in extracting money from companiescomes to mind. The same kind of extraction of wealth and reduction of service is taking place in the newspaper industry as private equity gobbles up paper after paper.

To understand why our world economy wobbles so readily in the face of an epidemic and now a war accompanied by severe restrictions on trade, it is worthwhile to look at the economy not through the visual of a pie chart, but rather as an inverted pyramid with the comparatively tiny agriculture, mining and utilities sectors underpinning all other activities. To see how I represented this, it is worthwhile to review a piece I wrote in 2007 entitled "Upside down economics." It's an ecologist's view of how the economy actually works.

We are today balancing more services than ever before on the small sectors that produce raw materials and the energy needed to convert these materials into something we can use in manufacturing, construction and transportation. Disruptions due to shortages in these vital areas reverberate throughout the economy.

Those who are looking at their utility bills worldwide, but especially in Europe, are feeling the extreme impacts we are experiencing in the energy market. For example, in Europe natural gas trades at prices many times higher than at the beginning of last year when tensions between Europe and Russia were low and no war was in sight.

The wide-ranging sanctions placed on Russian trade by NATO allies and other supporters of Ukraine were expected to bring the Russian economy to a halt. They definitely hurt, but we have no reliable information on how much. What seems to have hurt even worse is the decline in the availability of oil and natural gas due to the curtailment of Russian exports; the decline in fertilizer exports from Russia and Belarus which are both large exporters; and the decline in metals exports from Russia's many mines.

Related: Chinas Covid Strategy Is Keeping Oil Prices In Check



All of this is leading to devastating closures of energy-intensive industrial operations in Europe due to high energy prices that make their products uncompetitive. These industries include steel, fertilizer, aluminum, and some manufacturing such as glass-making. Of course, energy-intensive retail operations such as bakeries which require large amounts of heat may simply fail because they cannot move their operations elsewhere.

The ethos in the West since the days when Margaret Thatcher was prime minister of Great Britain has been that all activity and relationships should be governed by the marketplace and the logic of finance. Thatcher is famous for saying: "There's no such thing as society. There are individual men and women and there are families."

It is hard to understand how people can make common cause effectively with such an ethos. And, we have an almost perfect experiment regarding this British approach versus the Norwegian approach to governing. Both the United Kingdom and Norway were assigned areas of the North Sea to explore for oil and natural gas, areas with roughly the equivalent endowment of hydrocarbons.

The United Kingdom decided that the best way to exploit that oil and gas was to let private companies do it. Those companies did bring the oil and gas up from the seabed and made it available to the U.K. and to Europe. The U.K. became an substantial exporter of energy. But since the incentive for private companies is to produce as much oil and gas as quickly as possible to benefit shareholders, the U.K. has been a net importer of petroleum products since 2013 and an importer of natural gas for even longer.

Norway decided to manage its part of the North Sea through its state-owned oil company and through careful supervision of private companies. Monies derived from the government's share of the revenues were directed into a sovereign wealth fund for supporting the needs of the people of Norway. Today, Norway has the largest such fund in the world. And, the country continues to export vast amounts of natural gas to Europe and large amounts of oil as well.

To be fair, the population of the U.K. is over 68 million and that of Norway is about 5.5 million. Still, the difference in approach and results provides a good illustration of what happens when one country emphasizes turning "stuff" into money as quickly as possible and another focuses on maximizing the well-being of its people long term by husbanding carefully both the "stuff" it has at its disposal and the financial rewards that "stuff" produces.

Russia by happenstance is a country with huge natural resources: oil and gas, huge fertile lands for agricultureit is the world's third largest wheat producer and the largest wheat exportermetals, gems, and vast forests. Russia is probably not managing those resources in the way the Norway has managed its oil and gas resources. But the Russians have a lot of "stuff" still in the ground and annually available from their farm fields. All this bounty appears to have shielded the country somewhat from sanctions.

It seems increasingly apparent that the focus on "finance" will be less rewarding and the focus on "stuff" will become more important to the nations of the world. The trend toward bringing manufacturing back home; producing more energy locally; and growing more food and fiber for domestic consumption will get a boost from those countries wise enough to see the change in trend.

Integration of the world economy favors those who control finance and can therefore extract ever larger payments from centralized systems under their ownership or authority. Deglobalizationwhich was already underway due to the effects of the pandemic on supply lines and is now speeding up due to the warwill increasingly favor those who control stuff. And, it turns out that stuff is far more important to supporting our daily lives than the manipulations of the titans of finance.

By Kurt Kobb via Resource Insights

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When Russia cut off natural gas supply to Europe overnight this fall, politicians and business leaders predicted a devastating energy crisis which would spark a massive recession. Europe was already contending with runaway energy prices as the continent struggled to recover from Covid-related supply chain and market hiccups while also sanctioning the Kremlin to condemn Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine. Slapping energy sanctions on Russia was no easy feat for Europe. To outright cut off trade with the energy titan would be a pyrrhic strategy for Europe, which had become heavily reliant on Russian fossil fuels to keep the lights on. Germany alone was importing more than half of its natural gas from Russia, largely through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. The European Union had already been scrambling to diversify its energy mix in order to work its way toward meaningful energy sanctions on the Kremlin when Russian energy company Gazprom completely and indefinitely stopped the flow of natural gas to the bloc overnight, citing suspiciously timed infrastructural issues. The announcement occurred just hours after G7 countries announced that they would be imposing a price cap on Russian oil.

Europe was nowhere near ready. The outlook was grim, to say the least, as the continent scrambled to secure alternative supplies before what is certain to be a long and painful winter. But so far, the resulting spike in energy prices has been much less dire than expected. To be certain, prices are still painfully high for most consumers. But the current natural gas spot price of about 50/MWh, while double the normal pre-shock rate, is a drastic improvement from the record prices of over 300/MWh seen towards the end of August.

Related: Chinas Covid Strategy Is Keeping Oil Prices In Check

In fact, in a market fluke last week, the wholesale spot price of European natural gas even briefly went negative on the Dutch benchmark. For an hour, suppliers were willing to pay almost 16 to someone able to suck up a megawatt hour of gas, about the equivalent of an average UK households monthly consumption, reports the Financial Times. As of now, month-ahead prices for November are 100/MWh, less than a third of the peak rates, and future prices projected for November 2023 are also down from almost 300/MWh to around 140. To be sure, this is still a painfully high price that is certain to hit consumers where it hurts, but it is far, far better than the worst case scenarios that, until recently, seemed likely to come to pass.

In fact, the op-ed in the Financial Times argues that Europes energy crisis is nearly over, as a combination of increased supply (largely from solar power) and decreased demand in response to high prices has helped runaway energy prices to level off. As part of the effort to pivot away from Russian energy imports, two-thirds of countries in the European Union  18 out of 27  set new records for solar power generation between May and August of 2022, and projections from Statkraft show that European solar capacity will see an average increase of between 45GW and 52GW each year leading up to 2030  a massive increase over last years pre-invasion projections.

While the story on the supply side of the curve is a happy one, however, the demand side is a bit more grim. Much of the dip in demand for natural gas in the European Union came from the collapse of the fertilizer industry, which requires large quantities of gas to produce ammonia. When the cost of operating fertilizer plant became non-viable, most major companies ceased operations, leading to a significant fertilizer shortage, which will eventually lead to a considerable grain shortage. The reality is that while the energy crisis may be easing in Europe, it is just beginning for the rest of the world. And in the poorest developing countries, it wont just be an energy crisis, but a food crisis as well.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

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Brent crude prices could easily break above $100 per barrel again if losses of supply from Russia are close to 3 million barrels per day (bpd) when the EU embargo on Russian crude imports by sea enters into force next month, the Riyadh-based International Energy Forum (IEF) thinks.

The IEF and many consuming countries, not only the United States, are concerned about what will happen to the oil market when the EU sanctions kick in, Joseph McMonigle, secretary general of the IEF, told Bloomberg TV in an interview on the sidelines of the ADIPEC energy conference in Abu Dhabi.

According to the IEF, the worlds largest international organization of energy ministers, the oil market could lose anywhere between 1 million bpd and 3 million bpd of oil supply from Russia when the sanctions take effect.

In recent months, there have been many predictions and a lot of speculation about what might happen with the embargo, but This is when youll actually see Russian barrels come off the market, IEFs McMonigle told Bloomberg.

Maybe Russia will figure a way around it, but not at first, McMonigle added.

If 3 million bpd of Russian oil is lost, Brent Crude will easily break $100 a barrel, he said.

There will be a lot of volatility as the embargo begins because there will not be much transparency about the actual number of Russian barrels coming off the market, according to McMonigle.

So Brent prices could go well above $100 with a lot of volatility, which is not good for the market, he said.

Early on Tuesday, Brent was up by 2% at $94.74 as of 8:55 a.m. ET as the U.S. dollar weakened today.

Commenting on the current market situation, McMonigle told Bloomberg, The physical markets are very tight. The paper markets are pricing in bad economic news and a recession.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Russian giant Gazprom saw its natural gas exports to customers outside the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) plunge by 43% between January and October as Russia drastically cut its pipeline gas deliveries to Europe.

Gazproms gas supply to countries other than CIS members  Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan  averaged 91.2 bcm to its other customers in Europe and Asia, the Russian state firm said on its Telegram channel on Tuesday quoted by Montel.

Gazproms natural gas production dropped by almost 19% in the ten months to October compared to the same period of last year.

Of course, the major drop in Gazproms gas deliveries to key customers was due to the halt of Russian gas exports to nearly all European countries. Weeks after the invasion of Ukraine, Russia cut off supply to Poland, Bulgaria, and Finland. Several weeks later, Gazprom started to reduce supply via the Nord Stream pipeline to Germany in June, claiming an inability to service gas turbine maintenance outside Russia due to the Western sanctions against Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine. Gazprom said in early September that Nord Stream would remain shut until operational defects in the equipment are eliminated, upping the ante in its gas war against Europe.

At the end of September, gas leaks were detected from the now-shut Nord Stream 1, as well as its twin pipeline Nord Stream 2, which was never put into operation. The lines were found to have been sabotaged, and earlier this week, Russia accused the British Navy of blowing up the pipelines.

Gazprom said today that demand for its gas had dropped, especially in Europe, which accounted for most of the decline in global gas consumption between January and October.

Soaring gas prices and Europes efforts to replace Russian gas deliveries have forced many industries to curtail or halt operations as energy costs have surged.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Japan will remain a stakeholder in the Russian Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project after the government asked the Japanese companies that participated in the original consortium to retain their stakes in the new entity that will operate the project.

Russias president signed a decree to change the ownership of Sakhalin-1 last month, with the state setting up a new entity to manage the project. Previous shareholders such as Japans SODECO consortium were offered the chance to retain their stakes.

SODECO, or Sakhalin Oil and Gas Development Co, comprises Itochu, the conglomerate, Marubeni, and Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. The Japanese government has a 50-percent stake in the consortium.

"The Sakhalin-1 is extremely important for Japan's energy security as it is a valuable source outside of the Middle East," said trade minister Yasutoshi Nishimura this week, as quoted by Reuters.

Previously, the Sakhalin-1 project was operated by Exxon but Russia removed the supermajor from the operatorship position earlier this year, amid the companys own total pullout from Russia.

Indias ONGC is also reportedly considering taking a stake in the new entity operating Sakhalin-1. The Indian state oil major was a shareholder in the consortium running Sakhalin-1 before Exxons pullout and wanted to retain its interest in the project.

The news that the Japanese companies will retain their interest in Sakhalin-1 is not a surprising development. The trade minister has repeatedly indicated that the offshore project is important for Japan, despite Western sanctions that have forced the country to shrink its import of Russian oil.

From the standpoint of diversifying Japan's crude oil import, that's a very important project, trade minister Nishimura said last month.

The chief executive of Itochu went further, saying in an interview with the Financial Times that Japan could not afford to follow its Western allies in cutting off all energy trade relations with Russia because, unlike them, Japans survival depended on energy imports.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP)  A Kansas native who led an all-female Islamic State battalion when she lived in Syria has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, the maximum possible sentence, after her own children denounced her in court and detailed the horrific circumstances and abuse she heaped on them.

Allison Fluke-Ekren, 42, admitted that she led the Khatiba Nusaybah, a battalion in which roughly 100 women and girls  some as young as 10 years old  learned how to use automatic weapons and detonate grenades and suicide belts.

One of Fluke-Ekren's daughters was among those who said she received such training. The daughter and Fluke-Ekren's oldest son, now adults, both urged the judge to impose the maximum sentence.

They said they were physically and sexually abused by their mother, and described the mistreatment in detail in letters to the court. Fluke-Ekren denied the abuse.

The daughter, Leyla Ekren, said lust for control and power drove her mother to drag the family half way across the world to find a terrorist group that would allow Fluke-Ekren to flourish, during a victim impact statement she gave at the hearing.

She said her mother became skilled at hiding the abuse she inflicted. She described a circumstance where her mother poured an off-brand lice medication all over her face as a punishment and it started to blister her face and burn her eyes. Fluke-Ekren then tried to wash the chemicals off her daughers's face, but Leyla Ekren resisted.

I wanted people to see what kind of person she was. I wanted it to blind me, she said as her mother sat a few feet away, resting her head on her hand with a look of disbelief. After her children testified, she glared in their direction.

Fluke-Ekren's status as a U.S.-born woman who rose to a leadership status in the Islamic State makes her story unique among terror cases. Prosecutors say the abuse she inflicted on her children from a young age helps explain how she went from an 81-acre (33-hectare) farm in Overbrook, Kansas, to an Islamic State leader in Syria, with stops in Egypt and Libya along the way.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh said Fluke-Ekren's family sent her to an elite private school in Topeka and that she grew up in a stable home. Parekh said Fluke-Ekren's immediate family was unanimous in its desire to see her punished to the maximum extent possible, a circumstance the veteran prosecutor described as extremely rare.

There is nothing in Fluke-Ekrens background that can explain her conduct, which was driven by fanaticism, power, manipulation, delusional invincibility, and extreme cruelty, Parekh said.

Fluke-Ekren asked for just a two-year sentence so she could raise her young children. She said at the outset of a lengthy, weepy speech that she takes responsibility for her actions before rationalizing and minimizing her conduct.

We just lived a very normal life, she told the judge about her time in Syria, showing pictures of her kids at a weekly pizza dinner.

She denied the abuse allegations, and tried to accuse her oldest son of manipulating her daughter into making them.

She portrayed the Khatiba Nusaybah as something more akin to a community center for women that morphed into a series of self-defense classes as it became clear that the city of Raqqa, the Islamic State stronghold where she lived, faced invasion.

She acknowledged that women and girls were taught to use suicide belts and automatic weapons but portrayed it as safety training to avoid accidents in a war zone where such weapons were common.

Judge Leonie Brinkema, though, made clear she was unimpressed by Fluke-Ekrens justifications. At one point, Fluke-Ekren explained the need for women to defend themselves against the possibility of rape by enemy soldiers. Sexual violence is not OK in any circumstance, she said.

Brinkema interrupted to ask Fluke-Ekren about the daughters allegation that she was forced to marry an Islamic State fighter who raped her at the age of 13.

She was a few weeks away from 14, Fluke-Ekren responded in protest, later saying, It was her decision. I never forced her.

Parekh described Fluke-Ekren as an empress of ISIS whose husbands rose to senior ranks in the Islamic State, often to be killed in fighting.

Even within the Islamic State, people who knew Fluke-Ekren described her radicalization as off the charts and other terrorist groups refused her plans to form a female battalion until she finally found a taker in the Islamic State, Parekh said.

Fluke-Ekrens actions added a new dimension to the darkest side of humanity," Parekh said.

In addition to forming the battalion, Fluke-Ekren admitted that while living in Libya, she helped translate, review and summarize documents taken from U.S. diplomatic facilities after the 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi.

The spelling of Leyla Ekrens first name has been corrected.
Papillion has improved its honored spaces for veterans in recent months.

The citys Veterans Park is special in that its recognized as both s Blue Star and a Gold Star Memorial.

The Gold Star Memorial  honoring those killed in action, missing in action and who are prisoners of war  was initially unveiled this summer. The Blue Star Memorial honors all military service members and was installed in 2012 before the area that was part of Halleck Park was renamed Veterans Park the following year.

A granite wall completing the POW/MIA monument was installed Oct. 6. Papio Vision, the city-produced government access TV channel, reported the 3,500-pound granite wall was delivered from India before being installed by J.F. Bloom and Company, secured on a 900-pound granite base.

The POW/MIA monument was installed alongside a statute of a solider. Papillion Mayor Black told Papio Vision that addition adds depth to the Gold Star Memorial site.

It makes a statement, Black said. Its like youre discovering more and more and more.

There will be people who will be emotional about it, Black added. Looking around, I think we hit a home run.

Another effort to commemorate veterans is underway in Papillion with the construction of the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial on a hill just south of the SumTur Amphitheater. Ground was broken on the project this spring, with groundwork expected to be finished by the end of the year.

The $5.5 million memorial will chronicle the history of the Vietnam War and the 396 Nebraskans who lost their lives in the conflict. Eleven obelisks will make up the marker along with flagpoles for Old Glory, military branch flags and the POW/MIA flag.

As a centerprise, a restored Vietnam-era UH-1 Huey helicopter will be part of a mixed-media sculptural depiction of the rescue of a wounded soldier. The helicopter was restored by aviation students at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs with support from personnel from Offutt Air Force Base and Vietnam veterans who volunteers to ensure authenticity.

The restored helicopter was unveiled with its original pilot and crew during a ceremony Sept. 12 at the Council Bluffs Airport.

It was like it was meant to be, former Army pilot Byron Bode told Papio Vision.

The Snoopy reconnaissance flight  UH-1 tail number 532  provided a detailed description so it could be restored to its former glory by the Iowa Western students, their instructor and other volunteers.

We were trained as pilots to do whatever it took to support people on the ground, Bode said.

Iowa Western President Dan Kinney said it means a lot for the college students to give back.

It is just amazing to get our students involved in history, Kinney told Iowa Westerns IWTV in a segment shared on YouTube.

Find more about the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial at nvmf.org or facebook.com/nvvmfoundation.
Assistant public defenders Anton Trizna, left, and Gregory Ticsay walk into the Lake County Courthouse hearing for Robert E. Crimo III on Nov. 1, 2022, in Waukegan. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Prosecutors said Tuesday that they have turned over a huge amount of evidence to defense attorneys for the man accused of killing seven people in a shooting on the Fourth of July in Highland Park.

The update came at the first court hearing since August for Robert Crimo III, who has been charged with more than 100 felonies in the shooting. Authorities say Crimo also wounded dozens of other people by firing a semi-automatic rifle into the crowd watching the Highland Park holiday parade.

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Lake County Assistant States Attorney Ben Dillon said prosecutors have given more than 2,500 pages of written material to the defense, along with audio and video recordings. They are expecting to tender a substantial amount of additional discovery material within the next few days.

Robert E. Crimo III, leaves after his second hearing in Lake County court on Nov. 1, 2022, in Waukegan. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

Crimos attorney, Anton Trizna, an assistant public defender for Lake County, said that based on the amount of material they need to read and organize, it didnt make sense to have another court date in the near future. Judge Victoria Rossetti set 11 a.m. Jan. 31 for the next case management conference.

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After the hearing, Lake County States Attorney Eric Rinehart said that police have been collecting and reviewing surveillance video from stores in downtown Highland Park in the area near the shooting.

Tuesdays appearance was Crimos first in a Lake County courtroom since Aug. 3, when he entered a not-guilty plea to 117 felony counts.

Since that appearance, Crimo, of Highland Park, turned 22, in late September while in custody at the Lake County Jail, where he is being held in lieu of bond.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 123 Pictures of the seven people killed during the Fourth of July parade shooting are displayed at a memorial in Port Clinton Square on July 11, 2022, in Highland Park. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Over the last three months, he has been named in a dozen lawsuits that have been filed on behalf of parade shooting victims. The suits have targeted Crimo and the manufacturer of the assault rifle Crimo allegedly used to fire more than 80 rounds from a store rooftop into the crowd gathered in downtown Highland Park for the parade. The store where Crimo bought the rifle is also named, as is Crimos father.

After the shooting, Crimo initially evaded arrest by disguising himself as a woman and blending into the retreating crowd, police allege. Within hours, police identified him as a person of interest, and he was arrested later that day after a North Chicago police officer spotted Crimo in his car on U.S. Route 41.

Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.

Tribune reporter Robert McCoppin contributed.
A 23-year-old man fatally shot by Omaha police southwest of downtown early Sunday had indicated he wanted officers to shoot him, Omahas police chief said Tuesday.

Chief Todd Schmaderer said Officers Dominic Lombardo and Justin Georgius tried hard to get Jeramyah Wilson, 23, to put down his gun. Wilson, who was alone in an SUV near 30th and Marcy Streets, verbally threatened officers multiple times, Schmaderer said.

An officer told investigators that Wilson was speaking through the drivers-side window of the SUV and made a quick movement toward the passenger side of the vehicle, toward an officer who was behind cover. Thats when Lombardo and Georgius started shooting, striking Wilson. Wilson died later at the Nebraska Medical Center.

It does bear some resemblance to suicide by cop, Schmaderer said. Wilson made some statements to that effect, he said, and those statements were recorded on police body cameras.

A relative of Wilsons, contacted Tuesday afternoon, said the family may comment after they have had time to process the information about what happened.

A 9 mm Ruger handgun was found on the floor of the SUV. Police said two shell casings also were recovered. They are thought to be from the shots Wilson fired that brought seven police officers to the scene. The gun was empty of bullets when it was recovered.

Audio of the incident was clear, but the video is partially obstructed because officers had taken cover.

Wilsons mother lives in the area and was among the witnesses at the scene, Schmaderer said. He said she pleaded with her son to drop the gun and surrender.

The audio of the incident will be released after a grand jury investigation.

Schmaderer said Wilson can be heard saying, Ill smoke you all, I swear to God. Theyre about to make me do some sh**, Mom. Go inside.

Wilson, who was found to be in possession of a stolen gun, continued to resist the officers pleas to surrender for six minutes, Schmaderer said. He also continued to threaten the officers.

Shoot me, bitch, Wilson said, according to Schmaderer. Im gonna shoot you.

Police said the two officers fired a total of 11 rounds.

The investigation is ongoing with the aid of the Nebraska State Patrol and the Sarpy County Sheriffs Office. Schmaderer said the investigation should be completed by the end of the week.

The officers are being interviewed today, right as we are speaking, Schmaderer said Tuesday afternoon. Ill tell you that from what I have seen, theres nothing about this incident that has me worried about anything (the officers) did wrong from a policy standpoint.

Lombardo, who has been with the department 1 years, and Georgius, who has 14 years of service, have been placed on paid administrative leave.

Wilson was awaiting trial in Douglas County District Court on two counts of felony terroristic threats. He also was awaiting trial in a separate case on several misdemeanors, including second-offense driving while intoxicated.
An 80-year-old Nebraska man was killed Monday when the pickup truck he was driving collided with a train.

About 4:15 p.m. Monday, the Nebraska State Patrol and Gage County sheriff's deputies went to the scene of a collision between a pickup truck and a train, the Nebraska State Patrol said Tuesday. The crash occurred north of the intersection of South 176th Street and Birch Road near Adams.

Adams is about 35 miles southeast of Lincoln.

A preliminary investigation found that a GMC Sierra driven by Ronald Niles of Adams was crossing the railroad tracks when it was struck by the train.

Niles was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation. So far in 2022, 221 people have died on Nebraska roads, up from the five-year average by Nov. 1 of about 199. Of those 221 people, seven have been killed in crashes involving trains.
In a unanimous vote Tuesday, the University of Florida Board of Trustees voted to recommend Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse to be the schools 13th president.

Sasse now just has to get approval from the states Board of Governors next week before he is confirmed as the universitys president-elect.

Trustees interviewed Sasse over the course of about three hours Tuesday, with most questions focused on Sasses political past and future. Sasse claimed that if he is confirmed as president he will take a pledge of political celibacy, and wont participate in partisan politics in any form while in the role, including donating to partisan campaigns, assisting candidates or speaking at partisan events.

A Republican in the U.S. Senate, the announcement of Sasse as the universitys sole presidential finalist last month was controversial from the jump. Students immediately protested the decision, mainly calling out Sasses former statements against same-sex marriage. Last week the schools Faculty Senate overwhelmingly approved a vote of no confidence in the process that led to Sasses selection.

Tuesday was no different. A crowd of protesters gathered outside the boards meeting room. Before the interview began, 12 people testified against Sasse, bringing up a range of critiques including his anti-LGBTQ+ views, his lack of experience in higher education and murkiness surrounding the presidential selection process.

One of the first questions Sasse was asked was how he would build trust and confidence within the university community given the controversy. Sasse said he will invite people to share their opinions on what is and isnt working.

Theres tons and tons of listening and learning I need to do, Sasse said.

Sasse said he is disappointed that his image among his critics has been reduced to just his political views. He said the loudest voices have been focused on partisan issues, which he claimed had almost no relevance to many of the challenges facing the university.

Later on, Sasse said the cancel culture prevalent in many college communities is anti-liberal arts.

Where is the room to change your mind? he said. Where is the room to grow?

Following the announcement of Sasse as the sole presidential finalist, rumors swirled about the potential influence of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in his selection. Sasse claimed he hasnt been in the same room as DeSantis since 2016, and the governor did not influence his candidacy in any way.

Board members pressed Sasse on his inclusivity toward the LGBTQ+ community, referencing current President Kent Fuchs track record of implementing gender-neutral bathrooms and expanding medical care opportunities for transgender university members. Sasse said he expects his record will be indistinguishable from Fuchs.

Questions also covered Sasses views on China and recent acts of antisemitism on campus. Sasse called the antisemitic acts disgusting, and clarified that previous statements he made against China were focused on the Chinese Communist Party, but that he would be welcoming toward Chinese students and employees.

Following the questioning, board members had only positive things to say about Sasse, and even gave him a standing ovation following their unanimous vote. Vice Chair Thomas Kuntz said he feels even better about Sasse than he did before the meeting.

Weve heard the faculty, Kuntz said. Weve heard the students  some of the concerns. But today we also heard your commitment to listen to them, to work with them, to try and build bridges.

If Sasses appointment is confirmed, it would fall to Nebraskas governor to appoint his successor to the U.S. Senate seat  a post Sasse was overwhelmingly reelected to in 2020. That appointee would serve until 2024, when a special election would be held to fill the last two years in the six-year term.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb.  G.I. Pride submitted a proclamation to the City of Grand Island in August recognizing the groups annual community event and showing support for Grand Islands LGBTQ+ members.

But Mayor Roger Steele didnt acknowledge the proclamation.

The proclamation, written by G.I. Pride, was sent to the city Aug. 12.

It talked about basically making Grand Island a safe space for LGBTQ individuals, said Chrissy Brooks, G.I. Pride event organizer. It was basically just asking the mayor to recognize our event, to recognize the pride event, recognize that there are LGBTQ people in the community, and that our community is a safe place for them.

City Clerk RaNae Edwards confirmed to the Independent that the proclamation was submitted to the city and forwarded to Steele, who chose not to take action on it.

Steele did not respond to a request for comment.

G.I. Pride held its annual event Sept. 10 at Grand Islands Grace Abbott Park.

With elections coming up, I think its very important for the LGBTQ community, who will be voting in our upcoming election for our mayor, to know that Mayor Steele does not support you, Brooks said. He does not support the LGBTQ community, and he did not want to sign a proclamation for us recognizing our event.

She added, That was very disappointing.

The proclamation, as submitted by G.I. Pride, reads:

Whereas, our nation was founded on the principles equality before the law and the pursuit of happiness, but the fulfillment of these promises have been long in coming for many Americans. Some of the most inspiring moments in our history have arisen from the various civil rights movements that have brought one group after another from the margins to the mainstream of American society;

Whereas, in the movement toward equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, an historic turning point occurred on June 28, 1969, in New York City, with the onset of the Stonewall Riots. During these riots, LGBT citizens rose up and fought against the discriminatory criminal laws that have since been declared unconstitutional;

Whereas, LGBT pride celebrations have taken place around the country every June to commemorate the beginning of the Stonewall Riots; June is celebrated as LGBT Pride Month nationwide;

Whereas, Grand Island celebrates pride the second Saturday in September;

Whereas, Grand Island has a diverse LGBT community that includes people of all ethnicities, religions and professions;

Whereas, everyone should be able to live without fear of prejudice, discrimination, violence and hatred based race, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation. ...

It is important for a city to show support for its LGBTQ members, said G.I. Pride member Raul Arcos Hawkins.

We want that equality. Were not asking for any other rights than anybody else has, but I think its important to showcase also why its important to be represented, he said. To us, it was important for him, as a city official, just to acknowledge it. He didnt even acknowledge it. We had previously asked the year before and we also didnt get it.

Hawkins is disappointed that Steele will not work with the group.

I had previously worked with the mayor and he always seemed very welcoming, he said. Even if he would have just signed the proclamation, we didnt specifically ask him to be there, I think that would have been recognition enough, that he also represents the LGBTQ community in the city. Thats all we wanted.

Brooks, as a Grand Island resident and parent of LGBTQ kids, shares this disappointment.

I was sad and a little angry that the mayor, who was elected to represent the people of Grand Island, did not feel it was necessary to recognize our event, which is inclusive of all the people in Grand Island, she said.

Some hostility toward LGBTQ+ people does exist in Grand Island, Brooks said.

It depends on who youre talking to and where youre going, but I think there are still quite a few LGBTQ individuals in our community that do not feel safe here, that do not feel welcome here, she said.

G.I. Pride and Grand Island PFLAG (Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays) are working to change this perception.

As part of the pride committee and as president of PFLAG, I do my best to make our community as open and welcoming and accepting of people, regardless of their sexual identity and their gender identity, Brooks said. Unfortunately, with all that went down with the newspaper at Grand Island Northwest, we have a long way to go still.

Northwest Public Schools administrators eliminated Northwest Highs journalism program in June after the student newspaper, the Saga, published its school-year-ending issue, which included student editorials on LGBTQ topics, along with a news article titled, Pride and prejudice: LGBTQIA+ on the origins of Pride Month and the history of homophobia.

G.I. Pride will submit its proclamation to the city again next year, Brooks said.
BLOOMINGTON  Barrel House, 9 Brickyard Drive in Bloomington, is this weeks pick for Eats of the Week.

The restaurant, owned by Dave Fedor and Charlie Farner, opened Sept. 21. It is part of an Iowa-based chain founded in 2011 by Jimmy Holt, with other locations in Davenport, Dubuque, Des Moines, Marion and Cedar Rapids. Holt also came up with the slogan food that lifts your spirits.

Barrel House is connected to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, which was originally built as a Radisson in 1996 with the TGIFs restaurant attached.

Definitely the service and our food portions make us unique. Our food portions are huge, said general manager Ashley Reeves. The service is top of the line. We aim for that when it comes to taking care of our guests.

The most popular menu items are anything involving the word firecracker, including the firecracker shrimp, the Reuben, the honey chicken salad and the fish and chips. The restaurant batters its own chicken strips and fish.

The firecracker menu items come from the restaurants boom boom sauce, a spicy mayo-based sauce that customers also use to dip their fries.

People enjoy coming here because of the atmosphere, the live sporting events, the patio and definitely the good food and family-friendly atmosphere, Reeves said. Im obsessed with the food. I know what were selling is good, and thats important. I feel like when youre selling it, you have to know that youre selling a good product.

She said the restaurant has a great staff as well: Lots of people excited to come to work that are doing a great job that are great to work with.

Popular drinks include the Island Time and the Patio Punch, as well as seasonal drinks such as the Apple Cider Margarita.

The restaurant offers daily specials from 5 to 9 p.m., such as a single burger basket with fries for $12 on Mondays. They also offer half-priced appetizers with the purchase of a drink and $11 one-topping pizzas every day after 9 p.m.

Another unique facet of the restaurant is its robot delivery server, which brings customers their food to help assist the servers. The robot, recommended by one of the Iowa locations, was originally named Judy, but the restaurant will have a contest for people to vote on the name.

This is Tentac Enterprises First restaurant. The company also owns the DoubleTree hotel that is attached to the restaurant. Leann Seal, vice president of sales and marketing for Tentac, said they never thought they would own their own restaurant.

If were going to do it, were going to do it right. We wanted to have everything the very best so that we would have a chance to flourish in this property, Seal said. I just want this place to be the place to be, especially to come in after work, have some drinks on our patio or the bar is huge; its a great place to network.
PEORIA  Carle Health is set to bring Peoria-based UnityPoint Health hospitals and clinics into its fold, having signed a strategic affiliation agreement, the health care systems announced Tuesday.

We are thrilled about this opportunity to engage with more individuals and families from our Central Illinois communities to help them achieve their best health, said Dr. James Leonard, president and CEO of Carle Health. As we work to earn the status of trusted healthcare partner in the greater Peoria region, we will leverage best practices of both teams to enhance the patient experience and bring innovation and individualized care for years to come.

In the Peoria area, UnityPoint Health currently operates three main hospitals  Methodist, Proctor and Pekin  as well as UnityPlace, Methodist College and other clinics and services.

Carle, which is based in Urbana and owns hospitals in Normal and Eureka, announced in December it and UnityPoint had agreed to consider combining the organizations with two letters of intent.

Carle officials said Tuesday under the new affiliation agreement, Carle will replace UnityPoint as the parent organization of its Central Illinois properties.

During a call with Central Illinois media Tuesday, Clay Holderman, president and CEO of UnityPoint Health, said because these affected hospitals and clinics operate in a not-for-profit hospital system, this agreement replaces UnityPoint as the corporate member, but the existing governance and board of directors will remain in place.

Holderman said he believes this agreement helps UnityPoint better meet its mission as a not-for-profit.

UnityPoint Health Central Illinois President and CEO Keith Knepp said he preferred the word affiliation to acquisition.

We are currently affiliated with the UnityPoint Health system. In the future we will be affiliated with Carle Health, he said.

In the announcement, Knepp called Carle a strategic partner" with a "like-minded vision for exceptional care."

During the call, he said he anticipates name changes for the hospitals and clinics, but they will retain the legacy names that are important to us and important to the community.

UnityPoint began acquiring the Peoria-area hospitals in 2011 beginning with Methodist, uniting the hospitals that were not owned by OSF HealthCare.

In 2020, Carle acquired the Advocate hospitals in Normal and Eureka for $190 million, renaming them Carle BroMenn and Carle Eureka. The former Community Cancer Center in Normal was also acquired in 2020, transitioning from joint ownership between Carle and OSF to solely Carle-owned and becoming the Carle Cancer Institute.

In the announcement Tuesday, the health care industry leaders said the agreement will allow Carle to expand services, programs and resources and create new innovative opportunities for patients in the Peoria area.

Carle expects to close on the deal April 1, 2023.

Our goal around growth is to add clinicians to increase the availability to more and more subspecialty care in Central Illinois, Leonard told reporters. By coming together well be able to bring those clinicians (closer) and that allows people to stay closer to home. That is what we think is incredibly important.

Knepp noted the workforce shortage in the health care industry and said they hope to keep all their employees through the transition.

We need all of our team members, he said.

The leaders said during the transition, the current services will remain unchanged for patients.
BLOOMINGTON  Tackling mental health and providing affordable housing options were among the priorities identified by candidates vying for McLean County Board seats in the three districts that encompass a majority of the town of Normal.

Solutions proposed by the candidates have ranged from stronger fiscal planning to additional collaboration between local governing bodies. Voters now have less than a week to decide which candidate is most in touch with the needs of Normal.

District 4

The fourth district, which covers the west side of Normal, has four candidates: Republicans Jerry Klinker and Steve Harsh and Democrats Krystle Able and incumbent Jim Rogal.

Klinkner said the biggest issue facing McLean County residents is the controversial SAFE-T Act, which was passed in 2021 with some elements going into effect Jan. 1.

One of the most polarizing pieces of the new law is the elimination of cash bail. Instead, local circuit judges must consider whether an individual is a flight risk or a danger to the community when determining pretrial detainment for anyone charged with a forcible felony that is not eligible for probation.

I would address this problem by fully supporting the sheriffs department and voting to provide that department with the necessary personnel and equipment to protect our citizens, Klinkner said.

He added that the county lacks clear support for its sheriffs department, and although there are some on the county board that want to reduce their budget, he would work with board Republicans to support the department.

Harsh did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Rogal, who serves on the land use and transportation committee as well as the property committee, said McLean County is seeing a lot of the same issues that are occurring nationwide, such as a need for affordable housing and access to mental health services.

Part of the the countys issue has to do with its planning process, he added.

For too long, the county board goes from fiscal year to fiscal year without a clear plan for the county, Rogal said. We react to new businesses wanting to come here, we react to staffing issues (and) we react to long-term construction and infrastructure needs.

Although emergency funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Rebuild Illinois program have led to the advancement of long-overdue projects, Rogal said the county needs to embrace technology and green energy and create a human resources office so there can be a long-term plan moving forward.

Able said the county must make it a priority to invest in health care and housing, noting about 10.7% of the countys population currently lives in poverty.

At the county level, Able said she would make sure the board utilizes programs that would help to expand housing in a responsible and affordable way such as advocating for infill developments rather than expansion.

In addition to housing, McLean County is lacking mental health professionals, Able said. The recent McLean County Community Needs Assessment for 2020-2022 indicated a high level need in our community for access to care, behavioral health including mental health and substance abuse, and healthy eating/active living.

In August, the county board rejected the appointment of Able to fill the remainder of the term of Matt Coates, who resigned from the county board to serve on the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. Opponents were critical of her stances on law enforcement.

In response, Able had said she will advocate for all first responders to have the funding and tools necessary to do their job and respond to emergencies in the community efficiently and safely.

District 5

Both board members representing McLean Countys fifth district, which covers most of the eastern side of Normal, are seeking re-election and face a challenge from GOP candidate Hannah Blumenshine.

McLean County Board Chairman John McIntyre said the countys issues always have to do with keeping taxes in line and having a balanced budget.

Its my goal, I think, as chairman always to see that weve kept a pretty steady tax rate for the people, McIntyre said.

By working together, McIntyre said the board has been able to draft and revise a mental health initiative and action plan. It took another step forward in its fight for mental health by dedicating 35% of its cannabis tax revenue to support community-based behavioral health services.

I think I bring not only experience to the board that is needed, because there is so much to do and learn for new people on the board, the Republican chairman said. I think I bring that (and) I think I also bring the experience that Ive had knowing county board has been successful over the years by working together and trying to work on issues that affect all people.

Incumbent Democratic board member Elizabeth Johnston said a lack of housing is the most pressing need facing the community. And because of an unbalanced state of supply and demand, assessments have to accommodate higher market trends, which can affect homeowners property tax bills.

The housing need also directly impacts our employee pool, Johnston said. Insufficient housing is likely a deterrent for potential applicants considering a move to our community (and) living in hotels for months on end is not ideal or desirable.

Immediate and long-term solutions to addressing these issues at the county level could be to facilitate collaborative efforts of our local governing bodies to support a range of housing development options, continue investment into renewable resources and support local manufacturing, she added.

Blumenshine could not immediately be reached for comment.

District 6

In the sixth district, which includes Illinois State University, two students are vying for a spot on the board alongside incumbent Democratic board member Beverly Bell.

Although housing is an issue, Bell said there is a need to protect the countys farmland in the future and not necessarily engage in urban sprawl.

However, she added there should be more mixed-use development on the outskirts of subdivisions. By having small- or medium-sized apartments near the countys single-family housing, it could give lower income residents the incentive to own their own house down the road.

McLean County also could do a better job of maintaining its nearly 2,000 miles of roads, especially heading into the Rivian Automotive plant, Bell said.

I would like to see us do more construction and repairs in the evening hours, she said.

ISU students Eduardo Monk, who is running as a Republican, and Jack Henry Abraham, who is running as a Democrat, both could not be reached for comment.

Voting

Early voting still is available at the McLean County Government Center, 115 E. Washington St., for voters that live outside of Bloomington. It is open for early voting between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday through Nov. 4.

Bloomington voters can cast their ballots at the Bloomington Election Commission office, 121 N. Main St. from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region.

100 years ago

Nov. 1, 1922: About half the property owners on East Washington Street and several on West Washington Street have objected in county court to the new ornamental lighting system passed recently by the city council. A petition opposed to the new lights was circulated on the east side. It is contended by some that the cluster lights are not needed, are not worth the money and the standard chosen by the city will not be satisfactory.

75 years ago

Nov. 1, 1947: The Bloomington City Council unanimously directed the city attorney to take steps to acquire 50 acres of land adjacent to the south boundary of the city's airport as a forward move in the proposed expansion and improvement of the local field. Acquisition of the land, and a $400,000 improvement program, are to be paid for jointly with federal and state funds. This will qualify the municipal field for commercial airline service.

50 years ago

Nov. 1, 1972: Steak n Shake Inc., founded in Normal 38 years ago, had a 23% increase in net earnings and an 11% increase in gross income for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. Both were new records, marking the sixth consecutive year that the restaurant chain set new income and profit records. The Indiana firm that owns a controlling interest in the chain, Franklin Corporation, now has 67 restaurants in Illinois, Florida, Indiana and Missouri.

25 years ago

Nov. 1, 1997: The abandoned Union Station at 1200 W. Washington St. was engulfed in flames and smoke that could be seen for blocks when firefighters were called to the scene. The three-story building had been far along in the process of being demolished. At least 25 firefighters attacked the fire from the west side of the building because railroad tracks are on the east. The structure had been dedicated on Oct. 2, 1913.
A Chicago police lieutenant retired earlier this month before the Civilian Office of Police Accountability released findings that he made several derogatory social media posts in 2020 that were against department policy and recommended that he be fired.

Lt. John Cannon retired Oct. 15 after working at the Chicago Police Department for 24 years; he most recently worked in the alternate response section, according to the Police Department. COPAs final summary report of its investigation into Cannon was publicly released Wednesday.

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COPA concluded that Cannon had violated multiple department rules by repeatedly posting racist, sexist, homophobic, misogynistic and xenophobic memes and comments on Facebook, and the agency concluded that he was unfit to serve the department and should be fired.

Through his use of social media, Lt. Cannon has demonstrated that he is unable to treat all the citizens of Chicago with fairness and equity. His misconduct is particularly egregious for a high-ranking supervisor with 23 years on the force, according to the report.

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Cannons attorney, Dan Herbert, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The department declined to comment on if Superintendent David Brown agreed or disagreed with COPAs findings because Cannon is no longer a member of the department, a police spokesperson said.

Max Caproni, executive director of the Chicago Police Board, said there were no charges against Cannon filed with the board.

COPA first learned of the posts after someone made a complaint about offensive Facebook posts made on an account under the name Samuel Hipster, according to the report. The complainant said he learned that the account was run by Cannon.

In Cannons interview with COPA, Cannon said he is a law student at John Marshall Law School, where he said he has been the victim of harassment and discrimination by multiple deans and a visiting lecturer, the report said. He admitted that the Samuel Hipster account belonged to him and he used the name to distance himself from the department and to remain anonymous.

He also intended for the account to be jestful and humorous. Lt. Cannon alleged that a visiting professor hacked his account, stole his content, and misconstrued the meaning of his posts in reposting them to other platforms, according to the report.

Cannon told COPA that the page was intended to be private except to friends and family, the report said.

CPDs policy is that department members, when using social media, are prohibited from posting communications that can discredit or reflect poorly on the department and content that is disparaging to a person or group based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected class.

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COPA found that Cannons posts discredited the department due to their lack of professionalism and undermined the departments goals of building community support, the report said. It also found that his posts included content that is disparaging to a variety of protected classes, despite Cannons repeated denials that his posts were offensive.

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While the account was under the name Samuel Hipster, COPA found that the URL and profile link for the account listed his name, and Cannon posted a selfie of himself to the account, the report said.

COPA determined that most of the 19 allegations against Cannon were sustained, the report said. Some of the posts he shared included a meme depicting former President Barack Obama wearing a turban with the words, Obama is ISIS.

Another post Cannon shared included the comment, Welcome to peasantry, equal not good enough huh and a picture with the words, White privilege is a myth perpetuated by those who hate white people, the report said.

Another post shared by Cannon included side-by-side images of a young man in a red MAGA hat and a young person in drag with the text LIBERAL LOGIC: Kid in MAGA hat, offensive. Kid in drag, BRAVE!

While employed at CPD, Cannon received several awards including a 2004 Crime Reduction Ribbon, a 2009 Crime Reduction Award, a 2019 Crime Reduction Award, five complimentary letters, 10 department commendations, 152 honorable mentions, one Joint Operations Award, a Military Service Award, a NATO Summit Service Award, a Police Officer of the Month Award and a 2008 Presidential Election Deployment Award, according to the report. Cannon had no sustained disciplinary history in the past five years.

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Twitter @paigexfry
The Africa Digital Economy Forum has announced the first ever Digital Economy Awareness Month (DEAM) slated for November across the globe.



The novel Digital Economy Awareness Month (DEAM) slated for the month of November themed Digital Economy: The New Norm is an initiative aimed at deepening digitization advocacy and its benefits to the global economy while also encourage early understanding and participation among youth.



DEAM 2022 is all about sharing stories about how digital technology is changing our life style, businesses and family togetherness, it is to encourage and embrace the use of technologies for fairer and a better future.



The need for organization to leverage the new wave of digitization and its opportunities has birthed the Digital economy month that will be held annually every November.



According to the CEO & Co-founder of the Africa Digital Economy Forum, Mr. Akin Naphtal called for some aggressive moves from the youth in taking advantage of the digitization.

He also urged stakeholders across the world to invest into the country's youth through digitalization programmes and effective policy.



Akin Naphtal said, the awareness month provides an opportunity to create the much-needed campaign and deepen the conversation from youth engagement, skill development, regulatory framework and push for government and organization commitment toward a robust digital future by sharing of best practices among stakeholders to drive the importance of Digital economy.



Through our in-house research we found out that most youths are unaware of what digital economy means and how they can be future ready, in the rural area this perception is rather worse.



He stated

While some believe Digital economy is all about fintechs with most conversation being driven by the fintech community, it is time to develop a deeper understanding that will propel growth and drive inclusiveness in all sectors, from Agric to health, education eLearning, aviation even politics and governance. Mr. Naphtal added.



"I encourage organizations to engage in this years campaign by sharing their own stories The DEAM will be observed with a series of activities, all through month of November."



About ADEF



Africa Digital Economy Forum (ADEF) is a common platform for technology and service providers focusing on the transformative powers of Africas steadily growing and booming digital economy.



ADEF engages and collaborates with governments, private sector, academics, national and international bodies, etc, to promote frameworks to maximize the potential dividends of a thriving digital economy beneficial to all Africans.



ADEF is Committed to creating a strong strategic partnership to drive actualization of a robust Digital Africa.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Managing Director of Consolidated Bank Ghana Ltd. (CBG), Mr. Daniel Wilson Addo, has been adjudged the Marketing Man of the Year 2021 at the 33rd Annual National Marketing Performance Awards organized by the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG).



Themed: Creative Marketing and Innovation in a Volatile Global Economy, this years Annual National Marketing Performance Awards seek to recognize marketing practitioners and organizations that rely on innovative strategies and modern marketing practices in the realization of their business success.



In a citation presented to him, Mr. Daniel Wilson Addo was commended for his outstanding excellence in strategic marketing in the areas of marketing insights, people management, corporate reputation management, CSR, and sound marketing management, thereby setting him and his company apart as a corporate achiever for the year 2021.



Speaking at the event, Mr. Addo dedicated the award to the Board, Management, Staff and Customers of CBG for their contribution and support to the growth of the Bank.



This award has been possible with the immense contribution of my CBG Team, who, like me, did not see the COVID-19 challenges as disadvantages but worked assiduously to positively change the fortunes of CBG. I also want to thank our customers who continue to stand with us; they encourage us to work hard to actualize the CBG vision to be the most trusted Bank in the country.



For the MSME sector, we have established a center at Kokomlemle to intensify efforts to support their business growth, design innovative products and provide differentiated services to our customers, he added.



Mr. Daniel Wilson Addo is a Chartered Accountant with over two decades of post-qualification experience. With his extensive knowledge of the banking industry and his vast work experience in Ghana and other African countries, he was able to successfully play the lead role in integrating seven (7) insolvent banks into the Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG) in 2018. This was the first of its kind in the history of Ghana.



Mr. Addo has directed the Bank on a path of success from restructuring and alignment of staff to new systems and processes to create a common culture for the CBG brand. His leadership skills have helped in building a strong, reputable and profitable brand, and CBG has grown to become one of the largest and leading SME-oriented banks in Ghana. With a strong financial standing, robust technology platforms and innovative banking solutions, CBG prides itself in being a pacesetter in the changing phase of banking in Ghana and Africa. CBG currently operates in 114 branches nationwide, delivering on its mandate to make a difference in the lives of its stakeholders.



Prior to being named marketing man of the year 2021, Mr. Daniel Addo was awarded the Most Respected Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a state-owned bank at the 2020 Ghana Industry CEOs Awards held in Accra.



The 33rd edition of the CIMG Awards covered six (6) major competitive areas: Hall of Fame, Personality, Media and Marketing Communications organizations, Business organizations, Products, and Not-for-Profit organizations.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Ghana Physician Assistants Association (GPAA) has accused the Ghana Medical and Dental Council of deliberately undermining the role of the physician assistants in healthcare delivery in the country through some obnoxious regulations.

The association claimed that recent happenings suggested that the council was trying to restrict the physician assistants and reduce some of the work they had been doing in the past.



The association claimed that even the curriculum for physician assistants had been reviewed by the council such that some of the things that they were taught in the past that enabled them to perform certain functions had been taken away.



The association consequently wants to break away from the council to get a new regulatory body to oversee the activities of their members in the country.



Exit



Speaking to the media after the opening ceremony of the 19th Annual General Meeting of the association in Kumasi, the President of the GPAA, Emmanuel Yaw Appiah, said members of the association were not happy about what the council was doing, and that their members want an exit from the Medical and Dental Council so that we can get our own regulatory body in order to stop the conflicts between the association and the council.



The council is not ready to help these cadre of professionals, so for that matter, we need an exit from the council so that we can get our own regulatory authority that understands and recognises us, he stressed.



According to Mr Appiah, the council introduced a new Scope of Practice (SoP) to guide the activities of the physician assistants, and that in that SoP, some of the things we were taught to do in the past have been removed from it.



He said the new SoP was more or less trying to reduce the scope of the work PA in an era where the demand for physician assistants was becoming higher.



For instance, he said, physician assistants had been treating urinary tract infection (UTI) in pregnancy for a long time without any complications, but now they say we should refer those cases and not treat them.



He said if the council had any problem with physician assistants treating UTI in pregnancy, the best they could do was to build the capacity of the personnel to better handle those cases rather than stopping them.



We dont know what is happening; whether some people have formed a cartel to bring this group down, we dont know, he lamented.



Challenges



Mr Appiah said there were numerous challenges facing the profession, including the lack of career progression and further studies.



He said once a physician assistant was out of school to join the profession, there was no clear cut career progression and courses to pursue to upgrade ones self.



He said even when some of the members had specialised in other fields, there is no recognition for them and no promotion.



Unemployment



Besides that, he said, there was a large number of physician assistants who had graduated but were sitting at home because there was no financial clearance to employ them.



Meanwhile, he said, other professionals within the medical field were being given financial clearance by the government to be employed.



Mr Appiah said they believed that the physician assistants were not being treated fairly, and appealed to the government to give clearance for the employment and posting of their members to the sub-district level to assist in healthcare delivery.



He said the association was not oblivious of the financial challenges facing the country, but was of the view that the distribution of the manpower in the health sector should be done equally such that one profession does not feel left out as is currently the case.



Know your role



Oheneba Prof. Boachie Adjei, the Hiahene of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, advised the members of the association to know their role within the medical field to stick to it.



He acknowledged the important role physician assistants played in the healthcare delivery of the country, particularly in the rural areas, and said without them, many of the sub-district health facilities would not be functional.



That notwithstanding, he said there was a limit to what they could do.









Source: graphiconline.com









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The Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD) has called on health authorities to ensure that healthcare workers receive in-service training to understand and care for deaf people, particularly those with mental health conditions.

According to the association, a lot of deaf people did not receive appropriate mental health care due to the communication barrier that existed between healthcare professionals and deaf people.



We recommend that the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service prioritise placing healthcare staff who are fluent in the Ghanaian sign language at some mental health services delivery centres to ensure effective mental healthcare delivery, a Principal Investigator with a research project on mental health at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Dr Wisdom Kwadwo Mprah, noted.



He said health authorities must factor into health policies and programmes the unique needs of deaf people to reduce the stigma and negative attitudes towards them.



Dr Mprah added that the current Mental Health Policy and Mental Act must also be reviewed to capture the needs of deaf people.



There is also the need to improve mental health literacy among the deaf population to help them do self-assessment to facilitate help-seeking behaviours among them, he noted.



Study



Dr Mprah made this known when he delivered findings of a study on the topic: Assessing the knowledge of mental health issues and barriers to mental health services among deaf people in Ghana in Accra last Wednesday.



The study was aimed at assessing, among others, the mental healthcare needs of deaf people in Ghana, the level of knowledge of deaf people on mental health conditions and related support services in four project regions in Ghana.



The study also examined the coping strategies of deaf people with mental health conditions and their families, he said.



Th research was conducted by the GNAD with technical support from Ghana Somubi Dwumadie and funded by UKAID.



Finding



In view of the research, Dr Mprah said the study population was made up of members of the GNAD, mental health professionals, civil society organisations (CSOs), deaf persons with mental health conditions and their caregivers.



He said 527 participants were sampled from the Upper West, Northern, Central and Greater Accra regions.



Dr Mprah indicated that findings from the study revealed that some participants expressed the belief that visiting the hospital, prayer camps or spiritualists would not change their situation.



He indicated that majority of them got information on mental health services on TV, internet, teachers, deaf friends, family and GNAD, adding that healthcare professionals were not mentioned.



For all the respondents, regardless of their educational level, the major source of information was friends. The least source of mental health information is the church or the mosque, he said.



The challenges mentioned by the participants included marital issues such as divorce, rejection, poor treatment by family members, mistreatment at the workplace and poor attitude from health workers.



The National President of the GNAD, Matthew Kubachua, thanked partners for their support while urging GNAD to advocate legislations and policies that would protect deaf people with mental health conditions from discrimination.



Health research must target deaf people and also reports must be disaggregated by type of disability so that the needs of each group will be visible for mental health policy making and programme designing, he said.









Source: graphiconline.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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Ghana will preside over the United Nations Security Council in November in New York, a historic moment in the countrys two-year tenure at the Security Council.



The significance of Ghana presiding over the Councils affairs for the month of November stems from the fact that the UN Security Council is the principal organ for the maintenance and furtherance of international peace and security.



The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in a media outlined some programmes of activities in November towards Ghanas Presidency of the UN Security.



It said on Tuesday, November 01, there would be a press briefing by Mr Harold Adlai Agyeman, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations in New York, to the UN Press Agencies at 4:30 pm.



It said on the same day at 7 pm, Mr Agyeman would also brief the wider UN Membership on the Programme of Work and Ghanas priorities during the month.



The release said on Thursday, November 03, there would be an Open Ministerial debate to be chaired by Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration on the topic, Integrating Effective Resilience Building in Peace Operations for Sustainable Peace from 2pm to 5pm and 7pm to 10pm in the UN Security Council Chamber.



It said on Thursday, 10th November, from 2pm to 5pm, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would chair a debate at the Heads of State level on the topic, Counter-terrorism in Africa: An Imperative for Peace, Security, and Development.



The release said the Permanent Mission of Ghana to the United Nations, New York, has informed that UNTV sends out feeds of meetings and briefings via fiber outbound lines through two companies, Encompass and IDB-The Switch.



It said UNTV also covers all briefings at the Press Briefing Room, and it is always assigned to the outbound Line Encompass 4025 as well as the Switch UNN TV.



It noted that, however, UNTV does not cover United Nations Security Council (UNSC) wrap-in briefings to member states, but WebTV does.



It said media houses who were not included on the UNTV daily schedule client list could send an email to [email protected] to enable them to receive daily coverage schedule to find out which outbound lines the press conferences, briefings, UNSC stakeouts, and UNSC meetings will be aired on for the day.



The release said in its capacity as President of the UN Security Council, Ghana hopes to build consensus in the Council and across the UN on the need to ensure that Peace Operations, including kinetic and non-kinetic interventions, take into consideration the changing security landscape by fully addressing underlying causes and drivers of conflict, linked to the growing youth bulge, poverty, climate change and absence of resilient institutions.

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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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Vice, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, have donated GH100,000 to the Poppy Fund, established by the Veterans Administration, Ghana (VAG) to support the welfare of the veterans and their widows.



The donation was to support the completion of the veterans clinic under construction at Amasaman in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.



Vice President Bawumia, who launched the VAGs 2022 Appeal for Fund, in Accra, urged all well-meaning Ghanaians to support the Fund and also purchase the poppy to help the VAG raise funds for its activities.



The artificial poppy was adopted by the world in 1921, as a symbol of remembrance of the suffering and great sacrifices by soldiers during the First and Second World wars



The poppy has since become a universal symbol, which reminds the world of the horrors of wars and the importance to support the victims.



Vice President Bawumia noted that unlike Europe and other parts of the world, where the wearing of the poppy took centre stage at this time of the year, most Ghanaians, especially the young ones, seemed to know very little about it.



To strengthen our appreciation of our gallant war veterans and support their welfare through the poppy, I appeal to the Ghana Education Service, National Commission for Civic Education, and the media, to assist VAG to popularise the significance of the poppy.



The message should get to the public, particularly pupils and students in government schools, where knowledge of the poppy is almost non-existent, he stated.



Captain (Rtd) Ben Edmund Duah, the Executive Director, VAG, gave the assurance that the Administration would judiciously utilise the funds for welfare of members.



He said the construction of VAGs clinic at Amasaman would be completed by March, next year, to take care of the health needs of members.



He appealed to the public to give generously to the Poppy Fund to support the welfare of members.

Source: Ghanaweb.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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Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has stated that Africa loses between $7 billion and $15 billion a year to climate change.



According to him, it will be $50 billion a year by 2030 if mechanisms remain the same, adding that Africa doesnt have access to the financing it needs to adapt to climate change and meet nationally determined contributions.



Making a statement on COP 27 and the future of sustainability on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, Mr. Annoh-Dompreh, who is also the MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, said by 2030, Africa will need about $1.3 to $1.6 trillion.



He indicated that the African Development Bank Group Acting Chief Economist and Vice President, Kevin Urama, had emphasised that Africa has been losing from 5 to 15% of its GDP per capita growth because of climate change and its related impacts, but needs about $1.6 trillion between 2022 and 2030 to meet its nationally determined contributions.



He disclosed that the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), by 2050 had also said climate change would lead to higher temperatures and mixed rainfall, leading to changes in crop yields and growth of the agricultural sector, higher food prices, less availability of food, and increased child malnutrition.



Warming in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to be higher than the global average, and many regions of the continent will get less rainfall, he claimed.



He added that reduced rainfall would be particularly devastating in those countries that are heavily dependent on rain for agricultural production.



The MP noted that with Africas rate of population growth, food supply will be hard-pressed to keep up with demand, asserting, Adaptation is Africas biggest challenge and the big question thus lies, how do you adapt to what you didnt cause?



Mr. Speaker, in the years to come, preparing for the impacts of climate change, known as climate change adaptation, will be essential for African nations, he stated.



According to him, UNEPs Adaptation Gap Report 2020 found that while nations have advanced in planning and implementing adaptation projects, huge gaps remain, especially in finance for developing countries.



One approach to adaptation which is rapidly gaining traction is: nature-based solutions. These draw on the systems of the natural world to overcome the challenges wrought by climate change  and their benefits can be huge, he intimated.

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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To bolster the fight against illegal mining, which has become a national canker and raised serious concerns about pollution of rivers in mining areas, a new mineral processing technology has been introduced by a Ghanaian company to promote sustainable mining.



The mineral processing technology ensures a cleaner gold mining and extraction process that prevents the use of mercury and prevents tailings from being directed into water-bodies and mounting machinery, such as Changfas, in/on rivers.



The mining plants are supplied as fully comprehensive modular solutions from ore through gold ore or bagged mineral concentrates, as appropriate, without using toxic mercury. The machines improve the operations of miners in terms of high productivity and ensure superior gold recovery.



In an interview with the B&FT, Stephen Yeboah  Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Commodity Monitor Ltd., a Ghanaian-owned trading, logistics and research company  said his outfits aim of introducing the new technology is to join the fight against illegal mining, especially considering the devastation it is having on water-bodies in mining areas across the country.



The goal of rolling out the mercury-free mineral processing technology is to assist artisanal and small-scale miners with efficient mining plants and equipment that achieve three basic goals  high tonnes per hour processing, no mercury use, and high gold recovery.



Our technology ensures very high gold recovery. The current processing method allows miners to recover just about 35 percent of their gold. This new mercury-free technology recovers more than 90 percent of gravity-recoverable gold.



Our technology contributes to the fight against galamsey. The good news is that government, through the Minerals Commission, has made our technology the main mineral processing technology for all community mining areas. The 100 plants purchased were commissioned by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in June 2022. This is a significant and critical step taken by government, he stated.



Mr. Yeboah further stated that the new technology will ensure that mercury in mining, which is extremely hazardous to humans due to its serious health implications, will be a thing of the past.



More worrying is the unregulated, high use and exposure of mercury in gold recovery by artisanal and small-scale miners. Mercury use in this sector, globally, is estimated to be over 2,000 tonnes each year  with virtually all of the chemicals released finding their way into the atmosphere, water-bodies and land.



This puts miners and communities at risk of permanent brain damage, seizures, vision and hearing loss, and delayed and impaired childhood development, he added.



The mining sector contributes significantly to the countrys merchandise export earnings as well as domestic revenues. The sector contributed circa US$6.8billion in export earnings for 2020 and US$5.1billion in 2021.



The Artisanal and small-scale mining subsector contributes about 40 percent of the countrys total gold production and generates both direct and indirect employment, with more than one million people directly engaged in the subsector and an additional four million people indirectly dependent on it for their livelihoods.

Source: B&FT









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ghana Police service has upgraded Kwahu Nkwatia District Police command to a Division to boost security for tourism, hoteliers, investors and traders and residents in the area.



The new Divisional Police Headquarters provided by Kwahu Development Association and Vehicle by Nana Owiredu Wadie (I) has been commissioned for operationalization.



The Kwahu area is a biggest tourism destination in Ghana where thousands of tourists throng the area every year for Easter and paragliding activities, as aresult many investors continue to build hotels, pubs and recreational centers in the area.



Kwahu Afram Plains area is also a food basket for the country , However the area continue to face some security challenges.



To help address these security concerns, the Ghana Police Service has upgraded Nkwatia District Police Command to a Division status to boost security in the area.



The new Divisional Headquarters and a brand new service Vehicle provided by Kwahu Development Association and Kwahu Nkwatia Nkosuohene Nana Owiredu Wadie (I) ,have been commissioned by the Police administration led by the Eastern Regional Police Commander DCOP Anderson Fosu-Ackah on behalf of the IGP.



Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, DCOP Anderson Fosu- Ackah said "about two years ago October 3rd, 2020 former Inspector General of Police Mr. James Opong Buanu raised Nkwatia Police station to District , afterwards a request was served to the former IGP to raise the Nkwatia District Police Station to Divisional level so IGP accepted the request and promised to work on it,

The Current IGP Dr. Akuffo Dampare also came and decided to continue to work on what was promised by the former IGP, so I had a call from IGP three days ago that Nkwatia is ready , they are giving us house and a car to work in it as police , so IGP says he is grateful to Nkwatiaman".



The Executive Director of Kabaka Foundation founded by Nkosuohene of Kwahu Nana Owiredu Wadie I ,Dr.Henry Larbi said the Vehicle was donated to help boost security for tourists and investors.



In a speech delivered by Nana Owiredu Wadie he said "the high importance of Policing can not be over emphasized, the spate of crime in the Kwahu enclave caused mainly by the nomadic activities of cattle rearers is of great concern, to mention a few we have arm robbery , rape and possible violence clashes between fulani herdsmen and crop farmers, thes cattle rearers belong to the cattle ranches provided by the present government in Afram Plains that is where they need to be , I trust that by commissioning this Divisional Police Command here goes a long way towards effective policing fighting this prime crime , I also pray that the various district police commands would exhibit high level of professionalism particularly in keeping save in format details so that such details do not leak to the public domain , I wish to acknowledge the effort of the Nkwatia Developmental Association".



Chief Superintendent Mariam Adu Osei is first Divisional Commander posted to the Nkwatia Divisional Headquarters.



She believes that the uplift of the Nkwatia District Police Station to Divisional status and she being the first Divisional Commander is a major step to boost the confidence of the police in the Nkwatia enclave in the fight against crime.



Residents including some traditional leaders are hopeful the new security arrangement will help deal with crime in the area through effective collaboration with stakeholders.

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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Tom Powell Jr., a TikTokker with more than 1 million subscribers, at his home office on Oct. 28, 2022, in Chanannon. Powell said he has had to make three reports to the FBI about threats to himself and his family. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

For nearly two years Tom Powell Jr. has talked politics on his popular TikTok channel, debating and mocking one foil after the next. The comment section can get rough, and Powell said it has occasionally devolved into violent threats.

But the vitriol always stayed within the platform. Until last week.

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The left-leaning, bespectacled, abundantly bearded Powell got into it with a conservative commenter over ballot security and voter intimidation. The exchange culminated in Powell making fun of an anti-Biden video posted by his antagonist.

Powell, 50, a trucking company owner who lives in Channahon, near Joliet, thought no more about it, considering it a relatively mild interaction. But that night, his cellphone started buzzing with a stream of vulgar and menacing text messages.

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Wanna know how easy it was to find you? one of the non-profane texts read. Youll know who I am when I get there  Keep an eye on your family.

Powell said he shrugs off most online nastiness, though he has reported explicit threats to the FBI. This time, in a move he wouldnt recommend to others, he took matters into his own hands.

According to screenshots, the threatening texts came with a phone number attached. Powell said he put the number in a Googlesearch and up popped the smiling visage of a real estate agent in the Dallas-Ft. Worth suburb of Southlake; his name matched the handle of Powells TikTok nemesis.

The (bleep) used his work phone number, Powell said. Once I was able to put that name and face back with the videos on TikTok, I knew who I was dealing with.

Powell texted a screenshot of the mans name and image back to him  Youre not too (bleeping) bright, are ya?  before posting the exchange on Twitter, tagging the FBI, the Southlake Police Department and the mans employer, Coldwell Banker.

Reaction was swift. Powells screenshots were retweeted thousands of times, and on Thursday, Coldwell Banker tweeted the agent is no longer affiliated with the company. (A Coldwell Banker spokeswoman confirmed he had been let go.)

The same day, the mans real estate license was rendered inactive, according to records from the Texas Real Estate Commission. A spokeswoman for the commission said that happens when an agent is no longer associated with a broker.

As for law enforcements response, Powell told the man during their text exchange that the threats were federal crimes, to which the man replied: No. Theyre not.

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An FBI spokeswoman put the lie to that.

Issuing a threat is a federal crime (threatening interstate communications and false information and hoaxes), she said via email. Those who post or send these threats can receive up to five years in federal prison (or face state or local charges).

Citing FBI policy, she declined to say whether an investigation into the matter is underway. Southlake police said they referred Powell to Channahon law enforcement, since the threat technically took place where Powell read the messages.

The Tribune isnt naming the man because he hasnt been charged with a crime. The number from which he texted Powell is no longer in service and his TikTok account has been shut down.

Powell said he wasnt particularly concerned about the threats, believing those who try to frighten others online rarely follow through. An earlier batch of grotesque threats he reported to the FBI turned out to come from a middle schooler in the Chicago suburbs, he said.

Unlike many content creators, Powell said he typically opts not to report or publicly identify his adversaries, believing even hostile interactions are part of online discourse.

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Ill argue with you, well go back and forth about it, but Im not going to put your place of employment or your cellphone or your real name out there, he said. However, once you threaten my family, then youre fair game.

Viktorya Vilk, director of digital safety and free expression for PEN America, said standing up for oneself is an important tool for curbing abuse, though she added that opting to expose a persecutor can be a tricky matter.

It is critically important to exercise caution and do ones homework because mistaken identity can do real harm, she said. There is a difference between retaliating with abuse, which further perpetuates the cycle of harm, and pursuing accountability in the face of threats and doxing.

Powell said once he learned the man had lost his job, he texted him and said he would let things drop, though he vowed to go to Channahon police if the threats resume. He received no reply, he said.

With the episode apparently behind him, Powell said confrontation probably wasnt the best way to handle it.

If I was giving somebody else advice on how to do this, I would advise them to not engage with the person directly but just take it to the authorities, he said. But you know, I just dont give a (bleep). Im too old, Im too (bleeping) salty and Im not gonna let these (bleeps) chase me under my own (bleeping) bed. Weve got to let these (bleeping) people know that theyre not going to get away with this (bleep).

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jkeilman@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @JohnKeilman
The people of Adaklu-Abuadi in the Volta Region last week Friday embarked on a peaceful demonstration, calling for immediate halt to the activities of a group of Chinese operating a quarry in the community for more than a decade now.

They said the activities of the Chinese group, with no known name, had resulted in large scale havoc to the environment and posed health hazards to the people.



The demonstrators, largely comprised young people, cited the destruction of buildings in the community as a result of the incessant explosion of dynamites by the Chinese, and said that was a serious violation of their human rights.



Fear among farmers



Further, they said farmers in the community were gripped with fear as a result of the straying pebbles falling from the blasted rocks, while the roofs of residents near the quarry site were often damaged by the falling rocks.



In a petition, the demonstrators  who identified themselves as Adaklu-Abuadi Youth  complained that the dust and noise from the quarry was polluting the environment and posing the threat of visual impairment and respiratory-related diseases to the people.



A spokesman for the Adaklu-Abuadi Youth, Raymond Akadi, said the activities of the Chinese was also adversely affecting farming activities, damaging the landscape, polluting water on the ground, and causing serious erosion.



Worse, he said, the ceaseless plying of heavy-duty trucks from the quarry around the clock had created dangerous holes in the community, leading to the deplorable nature of the road between Waya and Abuadi, and the stretch between Trsefe and Abuadi.



The residents are now living in fear, not only as a result of the explosions from the quarry, but also from the hostile conduct of the Chinese who are said to be armed with guns for fear of possible attacks from the locals, Mr Akadi added.



Nasty roads



He said drivers of commercial vehicles were no longer willing to render services between Abuadi and the regional capital, Ho, due to the bad surface of the road, and that it was affecting economic activities at Abuadi.



He sought to know the details of the impact and social assessment of the contract under which the Chinese were operating the quarry, as well as the details of their social corporate responsibility.



Mr Akadi demanded an explanation for why stones from the quarry were being used to construct other vital roads in the region, while the roads in Abuadi remained in a horrible state.



The operations of the Chinese company have become a nuisance in the community, and we are appealing to the Paramount Chief of Adaklu, Togbe Gbogbi V, and the District Chief Executive to notify the contract awarding institution or individual to instruct the Chinese to halt their activities and vacate the site immediately, he said.



Copies of the petition were presented to the assembly member, Hammond Etornam Anornu, and a representative of Togbe Gbogbi, Elder Enos Sidza.



When contacted, the DCE, Juliana Kpedekpo, explained that the petitioners had never engaged with the assembly over the matter.

She made no further comment.



Attempts by the Daily Graphic to contact the Chinese was not successful.











Source: graphiconline.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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A campaign to solicit funds to support victims of road accidents has been launched in Accra.

Known as I Support Accident Victims, it is an initiative of the Accident Victims Support Ghana Foundation (AVS), a not-for-profit organisation.



The initiave offers the public, government and private institutions the opportunity to support the foundation to generate continuous revenue for the campaign.



Funds generated would be used to offer relief for road crash victims, build a monument site for crash victims that got burnt beyond recognition, and to help the foundations operations such as travelling across the country to see victims.



The campaign was launched by the General Overseer of the Global Revival Ministries, Rev. Robert Ampiah Kwofie.



The Founder and President of AVS, Reverend Ciril Crabble, explained that there were many victims that needed support, but the foundation was unable to cater for them all.



I receive a lot of calls from victims, but Im unable to help because I sometimes do not have what they are asking for. So, we are launching this to expand our scope and introduce the organisation to the entire country that we are here, and weve been doing this for a long time, he said.



Rev. Crabble said money, as well as recovery aids, were not the only support some of these victims needed, but also needed to feel cared for, to be counseled, and to feel compassion.



Support



In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, said the ministry continued to strategise to ensure safety and security for all categories of road users by incorporating pedestrians safety facilities in the planning, design, construction and maintenance of road infrastructure.



He stressed that road safety was a major priority of the road sector, and that the ministry was collaborating with the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority to sensitise and educate drivers and road users on the safe use of road infrastructure.



Mr Amoako-Attah disclosed that about 90 per cent of the crashes in Ghana were attributable to human error due to the indiscipline of some drivers and motorcycle riders and the disrespect for road traffic laws and regulations, with vehicle and road infrastructure sharing the remaining 10 per cent.



He explained that statistics indicated that road traffic crashes killed about 2,000 persons and injured about 14,000 people annually on average, and that the most vulnerable road user groups were pedestrians who constituted about 40 per cent of fatalities.



Rules, regulations



The acting Director-General of the NRSA, David Adonteng, said many drivers were not adhering to road safety protocols.



They sit behind the steering wheel and discard the law, sometimes overtaking wrongly and drunk-driving, ending up burdening the society, he said.



He said drivers could help to minimise road accidents by obeying simple rules and regulations, some of which were wearing seatbelts, avoiding drink-drinking and staying off the road when tired.



He expressed disappointment that some individuals videod road accidents instead of calling for help.



In Ghana, if you are not careful, you will bleed and die off. We have a problem that needs to be fixed, he said.



Mr Adonteng pledged the preparedness of the government and the Ministry of Transport to support the foundation to help road accidents victims.









Source: graphiconline.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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From 2023, public sector workers will be barred from using private emails for official work.



The official platform they are expected to use for government emails will be overseen by the National Information Technology Agency.



Speaking in Accra, the Minister of Communication and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, urged government agencies to liaise with the agency to make sure they are placed on the platform.



Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful said this policy will ensure the continuity of state information and mitigate instances of exposing state information to cyberattacks.



She charged the public sector CEOs to tighten structures to protect government information in the discharge of duties and noted that the goal is to ensure that official information stays within the official domain.



In other countries, you could lose your job for not using your official email because it compromises the security of the entire system. It destroys institutional memory. It makes government information available everywhere in the world.



Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful is also concerned that government business could fall into the wrong hands.



Somebody somewhere is using that information that has been provided on those supposedly free platforms and doing all kinds of things with our data which we dont know about.



The minister was speaking at the technology Breakfast meeting organised to sensitise Public Chief Executives on leveraging on governments digitalisation drive.

Source: citinewsroom.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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President Akufo-Addo on Sunday evening addressed the nation on measures being taken by the government to resolve the economic challenges facing Ghanaians.



Some of these measures include: "reduce our total public debt to GDP ratio to some fifty-five percent (55%) in present value terms by 2028, with the servicing of our external debt pegged at not more than eighteen percent (18%) of our annual revenue also by 2028."



"Improving the revenue collection effort, from the current tax-revenue to GDP ratio of thirteen (13%) to between eighteen and twenty percent (18-20%), to be competitive with our peers in the West Africa Region".



"We are aiming to restore and sustain macroeconomic stability within the next three (3) to six (6) years, with a focus on ensuring debt sustainability to promote durable and inclusive growth while protecting the poor," he added.



Professor William Baah Boateng, the Head of Economics Department at the University of Ghana reacting to this has asked the President to back his words with action.



Speaking in an interview on Peace FM's morning show, he believes that is the only way for Ghanaians to continue to have confidence in the ruling administration.





Meanwhile, he believes the President's address will "calm the market".



However, it will be for a short term. The only way it will last according to him, is if government continues with concrete measures to revive the economy.





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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The Chief Executive Officer of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, has asked government not to arrest the people operating in black markets and the forex sector.



Nana Akomea made this call following President Nana Addo's speech on Sunday, October 30, 2022 on the current status of the economy as well as measures his government is undertaking to resolve the economic crises.



Sika Mp Dede



Speaking to the nation, the President said; "Fellow Ghanaians, as the French would say, largent naime pas le bruit, to wit, money does not like noise, sika mp dede. Where there is chaos, where there is noise, where there is unrest, you will not find money. If you talk down your money, it will go down. If you allow some unidentifiable person to talk down your money, it will go down."



"The recent turbulence on the financial markets was caused by low inflows of foreign exchange, and was made worse in the last two to three weeks, in particular, by the activities of speculators and the Black Market. An anonymous two-minute audio message on a WhatsApp platform predicting a so-called haircut on Government bonds sent all of us into banks and forex bureaus to dump our cedis, and, before we knew it, the cedi had depreciated further.



"All of us can play a part in helping to strengthen the cedi by having confidence in the currency, and avoiding speculation. Let us keep our cedi as the good store of value it is. To those who make it a habit of publishing falsehoods, which result in panic in the system, I say to them that the relevant state agencies will act against such persons."



He underscored steps being taken to restore order in the forex markets.



Steps To Restoring Forex Market



"The following actions have been taken thus far:



1) enhanced supervisory action by the Bank of Ghana in the forex bureau markets and the black market to flush out illegal operators, as well as ensuring that those permitted to operate legally abide by the market rules. Already some forex bureaus have had their licenses revoked, and this exercise will continue until complete order is restored in the sector;



2) Fresh inflows of dollars are providing liquidity to the foreign exchange market, and addressing the pipeline demand;



3) the Bank of Ghana has given its full commitment to the commercial banks to provide liquidity to ensure the wheels of the economy continue to run in a stabilized manner, till the IMF Programme kicks in and the financing assurances expected from other partners also come in;



4) Government is working with the Bank of Ghana and the oil producing and mining companies to introduce a new legal and regulatory framework to ensure that all foreign exchange earned from operations in Ghana are, initially, paid to banks domiciled in Ghana to help boost the domestic foreign exchange market; and



5) the Bank of Ghana will enhance its gold purchase programme."



President Has Spoken, It's Time To Act



Speaking in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' show, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah called on the State authorities not to let the President's orders be in vain.



"The President cannot go and stand at Airport Police station to arrest those selling money on the black market when he has given this direction and the Governor is there, the IGP and the Police officers are at the Airport Police station this morning. So, action must follow . . . and you see if we all decide to dump everything on the President as the only source of our interest and our criticisms, people will go scot free . . . We have to ensure action happens but it is the collective effort and pressure on all the agency Heads to get the action happening," he stated.



No Arrests



But Nana Akomea disagrees with the idea that the black market and forex operators should be apprehended as a solution to fixing the forex markets.



Making his submissions on 'Kokrokoo', he called for amicable resolution between the authorities and the forex operators.



"You must sit with them to find out their ways. Why doesn't the Bank of Ghana have dollar but some are at Cow Lane? You have to ask yourself that question and before you can find answers, you must sit with these people," he said.

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 Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Bagbin has questioned why his counterparts in higher positions in the country are entitled to military attache, but he isnt.



He argued why the Akfuo-Addo-led government withdrew his military attache when officials in equal ranks with him are enjoying such benefits, adding that the withdrawal is politically motivated.



The 3rd gentleman of the land bemoaned that the Chief Justice who is after him in the hierarchy has four military personnel, adding that Ministers, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Minister of Interior and Defence amongst others all have been assigned with military protection whiles he has been left out.



Four military officers assigned to the office of the Speaker of Parliament were, on January 14, 2022, withdrawn by the Ghana Armed Forces, citing improper procedure.



But during a media engagement in Parliament last Friday, he wondered why the President has decided to mete out this treatment to him, questioning the double standards by the President.



When I was second deputy Speaker, the Office of the same President approved his staff sergeant to be my military attache. For four good years, the staff sergeant was with me. Now I have been elected as Speaker, which is a higher position, and the same President says I am not entitled to military attache, but the others are entitled. If you go to his Excellencys office, you may count getting to about 200 military [personne], and the Vice-President definitely has access to some.



I, following, I am not entitled, but the Chief Justice who is after me has four military personnel; ministers have their own and each Supreme Court judge has two military personnel, and as for the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, that is a battalion. The Minister of National Security is entitled to military and my brothers in the Interior and Defence ministries both have; the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice has his own. The same with the Minister of Finance, but the Speaker is not entitled and this is Ghanas unique democracy.



Mr. Bagbin indicated that a tour of the Presidency will show the huge number of military personnel assigned to that office.



If you go to his Excellencys office, you may count getting to about 200 military, and the Vice-President definitely has access to some, he fumed.



An incensed Speaker whose security detail has been cut off said, but do not worry, as I am very, very secure.









Source: citinewsroom.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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Former President John Mahamas spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, described the New Patriotic Party as stubborn after its members criticism of Mr. John Mahamas speech on the economy.



Though some NPP members who commented on Mr. Mahamas speech described it as hypocritical and in bad faith, among others, Mr. Ofosu said the NPP needed to show humility given the current economic crisis.



It is a bit disappointing that they remain obstinate and have not shown any inclination towards addressing the problems we face.



Any objective-minded Ghanaian who listened to the former President on Thursday would admit that he spoke to the issues in a manner that they should be spoken to.



Among other things, Mr. Mahama urged the President to cut down on the size of Presidential staffers, reduce the number of ministers to 65, jettison the Finance Minister and stop funding the national cathedral project.



Mr. Kwakye Ofosu added that the NPP was certain to lose the next election because of its manner of governance.



I am certain that if they do not listen to the wise prescription as put out by President Mahama, it is only a matter of time before the people boot them out at the earliest opportunity and then they will learn in humility in opposition.







Source: citinewsroom.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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Director of Public Affairs at Ghana Gas, Ernest Owusu Bempah, has said the Nana Akufo-Addo administration has so far paid $3.6 billion in the past seven years for the ENI/Sankofa gas pipeline deal signed by the Mahama administration in 2015.



Ernest Owusu Bempah was briefing Journalists in Accra on Tuesday, November 1 about how the contract which he termed as the 'most expensive gas contract in the world'.



On a monthly basis, he explained, Ghana is paying $46 million, making it $552 million yearly.



This contract, he intimated, was also signed for 20 to 25 years.



"The Akufo-Addo government had no choice but to continue with the contract when it came into office because of the terms and conditions."



This contract was signed for 20 to 25 years, monopoly for that period and the IMF questioned it."



We wouldnt be going to the IMF but for some of these reckless dubious contracts signed by the Mahama administration, he explained.



According to Ernest Owusu Bempah the contract is partly to blame for the current economic challenges facing the country.



The government is unable to reduce cost of electricity for thermal generation," he stressed.



Former President Mahama signed the agreement with ENI and Vitol Energy at a ceremony at the Peduase lodge near Aburi in 2015.



This was, at the time, probably the biggest single largest foreign direct investment in West Africa and indeed Ghana since independence.



The project was situated in the Western region.



The oil production from the offshore cape three points was estimated at eighty thousand barrels per day.



World Bank Country Director on Economic Challenges



Recently, the World Bank Country Director(Ghana), Pierre Frank Laporte mentioned losses in the energy sector of the economy as one the challenges that forced Ghana into a situation where it is now seeking support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).



Speaking in an interview with TV3s Paa Kwesi Asare on the Business Focus, Mr Laporte indicated that losses in the energy sector are compounding the challenges.



The big issue has been on the fiscal side. Before the current crisis happened, we observed certain challenges on the budget side that really has been the area more hit by everything. Also where actions are required now to deal with them.



For instance, on the revenue side we have always been saying that this is an area where Ghana should do better. We are encouraged by the fact that this should be one of the areas for potential programme and support from the World Bank. The problem is fiscal, not just revenue.



The problem is that there are also spillovers from other sectors. For instance, the energy sector. There is about one billion dollars going to the energy sector because of losses. The sector itself is not financial viable and to keep it going you have to subsidize.



Actions are required. Of course with Covid, the general business environment is been a bit more difficult.

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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An illustration of Otus bikegila. Credit: Marco Correia

A new species of owl has just been described from Principe Island, part of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe in Central Africa. Scientists were first able to confirm its presence in 2016, although suspicions of its occurrence gained traction back in 1998, and testimonies from local people suggesting its existence could be traced back as far as 1928.

The new owl species was described in the open-access journal ZooKeys, based on multiple lines of evidence such as morphology, plumage color and pattern, vocalizations, and genetics. Data was gathered and processed by an international team led by Martim Melo (CIBIO and Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto), Barbara Freitas (CIBIO and the Spanish National Museum of Natural Sciences) and Angelica Crottini (CIBIO).

The bird is now officially known as the Principe Scops-Owl, or Otus bikegila.

"Otus" is the generic name given to a group of small owls sharing a common history, commonly called scops-owls. They are found across Eurasia and Africa and include such widespread species as the Eurasian Scops-Owl (Otus scops) and the African Scops-Owl (Otus senegalensis).

The scientists behind the discovery further explain that the species epithet "bikegila" was chosen in homage of Ceciliano do Bom Jesus, nicknamed Bikegilaa former parrot harvester from Principe Island and now a ranger of its natural park.

Otus bikegila. Credit: Martim Melo

"The discovery of the Principe Scops-Owl was only possible thanks to the local knowledge shared by Bikegila and by his unflinching efforts to solve this long-time mystery," the researchers say. "As such, the name is also meant as an acknowledgment to all locally-based field assistants who are crucial in advancing the knowledge on the biodiversity of the world."

In the wild, the easiest way to recognize one would be its unique callin fact, it was one of the main clues leading to its discovery.

"Otus bikegila's unique call is a short 'tuu' note repeated at a fast rate of about one note per second, reminiscent of insect calls. It is often emitted in duets, almost as soon as the night has fallen," Martim Melo explains.

The entire Principe Island was extensively surveyed to determine the distribution and population size of the new species. Results, published in the journal Bird Conservation International, show that the Principe Scops-Owl is found only in the remaining old-growth native forest of Principe in the uninhabited southern part of the island. There, it occupies an area of about 15 km2, apparently due to a preference for lower elevations. In this small area (about four times the size of Central Park), the densities of the owl are relatively high, with the population estimated at around 1000-1500 individuals.

Otus bikegila. Credit: Martim Melo

Otus bikegila. Credit: Philippe Verbelen

Otus bikegila. Credit: Martim Melo

Nevertheless, because all individuals of the species occur in this single and very small location (of which a part will be affected in the near future by the construction of a small hydro-electric dam), researchers have proposed that the species should be classified as "Critically Endangered," the highest threat level on the IUCN Red List. This recommendation must still be evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Monitoring the population will be essential to get more precise estimates of its size and follow its trends. For this purpose, a survey protocol relying on the deployment of automatic recording units and AI to retrieve the data from these has been designed and successfully tested.

"The discovery of a new species that is immediately evaluated as highly threatened illustrates well the current biodiversity predicament," the researchers say. "On a positive note, the area of occurrence of the Principe Scops-Owl is fully included within the Principe Obo Natural Park, which will hopefully help secure its protection."

Martim Melo and Bikegila with an owl. Credit: Barbara Freitas

This is the eighth known species of bird endemic to Principe, further highlighting the unusually high level of bird endemism for this island of only 139 km2.

Even though a new species of scops-owl was just described from Principe, genetic data indicated that the island was, surprisingly, likely the first in the Gulf of Guinea to be colonized by a species of scops-owl.

"Although it may seem odd for a bird species to remain undiscovered for science for so long on such a small island, this is by no means an isolated case when it comes to owls," the researchers state. "For example, the Anjouan Scops-Owl was rediscovered in 1992, 106 years after its last observation, on Anjouan Island (also known as Ndzuani) in the Comoro Archipelago, and the Flores Scops-Owl was rediscovered in 1994, 98 years after the previous report."

An aerial photo of south Principe. Credit: Alexandre Vaz

"The discovery of a new bird species is always an occasion to celebrate and an opportunity to reach out to the general public on the subject of biodiversity," says Martim Melo. "In this age of human-driven extinction, a major global effort should be undertaken to document what may soon not be anymore," he and his team state in their paper.

"Birds are likely the best studied animal group. As such, the discovery of a new bird species in the 21st century underscores both the actuality of field-based explorations aiming at describing biodiversity, and how such curiosity-driven endeavor is more likely to succeed when coupled with local ecological knowledge, the participation of keen amateur naturalists, and persistence," they add.

They believe that this "new wave of exploration, carried out by professionals and amateurs alike," will help rekindle the link to the natural world, which will be essential to help revert the global biodiversity crisis.

More information: Martim Melo et al, A new species of scops-owl (Aves, Strigiformes, Strigidae, Otus) from Principe Island (Gulf of Guinea, Africa) and novel insights into the systematic affinities within Otus, ZooKeys (2022). DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1126.87635 Barbara Freitas et al, The recently discovered Principe Scops-owl is highly threatened: distribution, habitat associations, and population estimates, Bird Conservation International (2022). DOI: 10.1017/S0959270922000429 Journal information: ZooKeys
(a) Schematic diagram of the SLS process; (b) Coalescence process of two polymer particles; (c) Ankle-foot orthoses fabricated by additive manufacturing; (d) Dual selective laser sintering minitablets, the yellow regions mean the Ethyl Cellulose regions, whereas the blue regions mean the Kollicoat Instant release regions. Credit: Wei Han, Lingbao Kong, Min Xu.

Researchers at Fudan University, China, reviewed the fundamental mechanisms and recent developments in the selective laser sintering (SLS) of polymers, which is of great help for researchers to learn more about the fantastic additive manufacturing method of polymers. The review is published in the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing.

The binding mechanism of polymers in SLS was introduced based on the Frenkel-Eshelby model when assuming that the particle radius is constant. Further, the typical applications of the SLS polymers parts have been studied, considering the biomedical, pharmaceutical, electronic applications and so on. Finally, future research was summarized based on the above.

"Laser sintering resin is an extremely complex process because of the combination of optics, materials science, chemistry, and thermal disciplines. To obtain parts with superior physical and mechanical properties, it is necessary to deeply understand the sintering mechanism, the influence of process parameters, and the optimization of the sintering process," lead author Professor Wei Han said.

"Laser sintered parts have been widely used in automobiles, medical devices, and daily necessities," said Prof. Lingbao Kong, professor at Shanghai Ultra-Precision Optical Manufacturing Engineering Research Center of Fudan University.

"However, the number of suitable SLS resins has been relatively small for a long time, and there is still a gap between the mechanical properties and density of sintered parts of some special resin materials and the bulk material. Research on new materials, sintering mechanisms, and new application areas still need to be explored further."

Professor Min Xu, director of Shanghai Ultra-Precision Optical Manufacturing Engineering Research Center of Fudan University, said, "Compared with injection molding, extrusion molding and other methods widely used in the industry, the efficiency of laser sintering polymer is still too low. To widely apply polymer sintering methods in the industry, innovative and efficient new sintering methods require research and attention."

"Polymer particle coalescence mechanism, new SLS polymer, high-speed polymer sintering method, post-processing of sintered polymer, and simulation of sintering process will be the significantly important research in the near future," Professor Han said.

More information: Wei Han, Lingbao Kong and Min Xu, Advances in selective laser sintering of polymers, International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing (2022). DOI: 10.1088/2631-7990/ac9096

Provided by International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing
Anti-violence activists and members of the community attend a gathering near the intersection of South California Avenue and West Polk Street in Chicago on Nov. 1, 2022 after at least 14 people, including a 3-year-old, were shot in a drive-by shooting during a vigil the previous night. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

At least 14 people were shot, including a 3-year-old and two other minors, in a drive-by shooting Monday night during a vigil in East Garfield Park on the West Side, police said.

The other minors were an 11-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy, according to police.

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A group was standing on the corner of South California Avenue and West Polk Street for the vigil at about 9:20 p.m. when two people from inside a dark SUV began shooting. The vehicle fled south.

Police found four t types of shell casings at the scene, including rifle shell casings, according to a police report. A POD camera captured a black 2012 Audi drive southbound on California with at least two people firing weapons at the crowd, the report said.

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Mayor Lori Lightfoot in a statement following the shooting, said she is coordinating with community organizations to support the victims and their families.

Last night, terror touched the lives of 14 individuals, including three children, in another tragic display of gun violence by cowards indiscriminately shooting into a crowd, Lightfoot said. The shooters had no concerns for the lives of the adults and children impacted, but I am calling on people of goodwill who have information, to come forward. None of us can be silent when faced with this kind of tragedy.

At a news conference late Monday, police Superintendent David Brown said the shooting was over in three seconds.

We dont have any motive, we dont have any offender identified, we dont have any conflict on this corner where it happened, so were eliminating what we can say about motive and offenders, he said.

The victims, most of whom were adults, were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, Stroger Hospital, Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. A woman took herself to Mount Sinai with a gunshot wound to the leg.

The victims conditions varied between critical, serious and good, police said. But a victim of unknown age was in unknown condition.

Additionally, police said a woman trying to flee the scene was struck by a vehicle as she was crossing a street. Paramedics took her in fair condition to Stroger with various scrapes to her body.

No arrests had been made as of Tuesday evening and detectives are investigating.

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Ald. Jason Ervin, 28th, whose ward covers where the shooting took place, said the only silver lining is that no one has died.

There is something wrong with the heart of man, where that is acceptable for someone to shoot into a crowd of women and children, who, again are celebrating the loss of a loved one, he said.

Ervin said he plans to convene on the block of the shooting 6 p.m. Wednesday for prayer and that there is a much deeper issue, and its going to require some other intervention. Then his next step is to gather community, city and organizational leaders Saturday morning at nearby Manley Career Academy High School to discuss solutions and develop an agenda to improve the community overall.

Ald. Jason Ervin, 28th, talks with anti-violence activists and others during a gathering on Nov. 1, 2022, near South California Avenue and West Polk Street after at least 14 people, including a 3-year-old, were shot in a drive-by shooting during a vigil on Monday. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Were going to have to take the energy from this and apply it to a positive direction, he said.

The block where the shooting took place has historically been a gathering point for the community, Ervin said. The area is known for some violence and narcotic activity, but Ervin said he doesnt know the motive behind the latest shooting.

Its beyond just ordinary violence: Its some level of evil that we need to deal with in the community, he said. I want (the suspects) to turn themselves in, and number two, I just want to know why. Why would you shoot into a crowd of women and children?

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Michael Allen, co-founder of violence prevention organization Together Chicago, said the organizations street outreach professionals were on the scene Monday night to mitigate retaliation by helping people cool their heads and to minister to the victims and their families.

These professionals, trained by the Metropolitan Peace Academy, are former gang-involved men who have decided to be part of the solution to rebuild the communities that they once tore down. Sometimes, he said, they even help take victims to hospitals.

And they do that by trying to recruit the young guys that are still gangbanging out of that life and into a life of peace and healing, reconciliation, prosperity, Allen said.

Allen said East and West Garfield Park are both probably in the top 10 of the most violent neighborhoods in Chicago, with a long history of violence.

They have deployed four professionals in East Garfield Park, he added, as the organization just started working in the neighborhood in the summer.

Theyre just getting started in that neighborhood and so, obviously, (they) still have a lot of work to do to try to bring about some peace and reconciliation between the warring factions there, he said.

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Yolanda Fields, executive director of Breakthrough Urban Ministries  a community-based organization that provides violence prevention and intervention services in East Garfield Park  said they also responded to the scene. Breakthrough is part of a coalition called Communities Partnering for Peace which includes Together Chicago.

And so all of the victims of (Mondays) tragic incident are being supported with victim services, Fields said. For Breakthrough, that includes practical services such as wound kits, behavioral health support, economic assistance and help accessing services such as food and health care.

Beyond street-level responses, Breakthroughs services also include case management and building relationships with the families affected by violence.

The third component is just making our community aware of resources that exist around violence, but also creating safe spaces, Fields said. So, we go out and we reclaim spaces where incidents may have occurred, sometimes in parks, and we do large-scale events that rebrand the space with food and entertainment, and resources that are available in the community.

By Tuesday afternoon, more than 50 violence prevention workers from various organizations gathered on the block. They passed out pamphlets and explained services to anyone who walked by as children strapped in backpacks hurried up steps to their homes.

Pastor Cy Fields of New Landmark Baptist Church talks with anti-violence activists and others during a gathering on Nov. 1, 2022, near the intersection of South California Avenue and West Polk Street after at least 14 people, including a 3-year-old, were shot in a drive-by shooting during a vigil the previous day. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

John Redmond Jr., 57, and Jerome Edwards, 60, stood at the edge of the crowd.

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Edwards, whose family has long lived in the neighborhood, said his family tells him not to come around Polk and California anymore because of the violence despite having relatives who live nearby. He learned what happened when his daughter gave him a call saying that people were shooting.

He said he quickly drove as close to the block as he could, but it felt like there were a million police cars in the area, he said. He parked on Flournoy Street and walked toward the intersection.

I was just praying it wasnt one of mine, he said he was thinking as he walked up.

People were everywhere and there was so much confusion, he said, adding that there were many people injured and others he knew from his time as the neighborhood DJ. He also knew there was a Halloween gathering during the day for kids near the shooting scene, so he had feared children would be injured.

It was really kind of scary in a way, but used to it in a way, he said.

Redmond, who has lived in the neighborhood since the 1970s, added that they were used to it because they knew the block. They knew everyone there, and how people often gathered on the block to simply hang out or play cards. But he knew the block well enough to know he didnt want to hang around there long or into the nighttime.

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When asked if they knew what the shooting was about, Redmond said, Aint no telling. You cant even say its gang related cause its not about that no more.

Anti-violence activists and community members attend a gathering on Nov. 1, 2022, near South California Avenue and West Polk Street after at least 14 people, including a 3-year-old, were shot in a drive-by shooting during a vigil Monday. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

A lot of the young people in the neighborhood have nothing to do, and many end up involved in gun violence because of it, Redmond said. Theres no longer a YMCA the area, no community centers and the churches are bare.

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They have nothing. Theyre taking everything away, he said. These children dont have no where to look forward to.

Redmond said he also believes the solution to gun violence is to take away guns, but he said he knows the government will likely never do that. Although, whoever shot up the block, hurting children, had to have seen who was there before they fired, he said.

Its like the person who did it has no heart, he said.

At least three uniformed officers also stood on the block talking and occasionally saying hello to people who passed.

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As TV news cameras panned through the crowd, one man yelled out, asking who would be on the block tomorrow?

Who would be here when the news is gone, he asked.

adperez@chicagotribune.com
MicroBooNE features state-of-the-art particle detection techniques and technology. The experiment studies neutrino interactions and is probing models of a theorized fourth neutrino called the sterile neutrino. Credit: Reidar Hahn, Fermilab.

A new result from the MicroBooNE experiment at the U.S. Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory probes the Standard Modelscientists' best theory of how the universe works. The model assumes there are three kinds of neutrinos. Yet for more than two decades, a proposed fourth kind of neutrino has remained a promising explanation for anomalies seen in earlier physics experiments. Finding the theorized sterile neutrino would be a major discovery and radical shift in our understanding of the universe.

The new analysis compares the experiment's data to a model with a fourth, sterile neutrino to test their compatibility. MicroBooNE scientists found no evidence of the long-sought sterile neutrino in the parameter range explored.

The possibility that sterile neutrinos caused the yet-unexplained anomalies reported by previous experiments still remains. These include measurements by the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector at Los Alamos National Laboratory, the MiniBooNE experiment at Fermilab, and several radiochemical and nuclear reactor neutrino experiments.

"This is the first time we've checked whether our data fit a specific sterile-neutrino model," said Matt Toups, a Fermilab scientist and co-spokesperson for MicroBooNE. "We've excluded large sections of the sterile neutrino parameter space allowed by LSND. But there are still corners where a sterile neutrino could potentially be hiding."

While the most basic version of a sterile neutrino is becoming less likely, other, more subtle types of physics might be at play. For example, there could be a sterile neutrino working in combination with something else, such as dark matter. Or there could be completely different explanations for the anomalies. Unexplained physics related to the Higgs boson or other physics beyond the Standard Model could be the reason.

"In this work, we found an important interplay between the neutrino appearance and disappearance, which was not considered in the previous experimental work. This has important consequences in the search result," said Xiangpan Ji, a postdoctoral researcher at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory, who is one of the co-leaders of this analysis.

Like the 2021 results, the new finding uses only half of MicroBooNE's dataset. Researchers will continue to look for potential sterile neutrino signals in future analyses. They also will expand their analyses to the full dataset.

The 170-ton MicroBooNE neutrino detector collected data from 2015 to 2021. It recorded hundreds of thousands of spectacularly detailed 3D images of neutrino events. Close to 200 collaborators from 39 institutions in five countries built and ran the experiment and are now working on the data analysis. The collaboration expects to release the first results from the full dataset in 2023.

MicroBooNE is one of three particle detectors that make up Fermilab's Short-Baseline Neutrino Program. ICARUS and the Short-Baseline Near Detector are the other two detectors. Together, they enable the detailed exploration of neutrino properties. In particular, they examine neutrino oscillations at low energies and short distances. Scientists hope that the combined measurements of these three detectors will completely resolve the anomalies in neutrino measurements seen by LSND and MiniBooNE.

Next year, MicroBooNE scientists also expect to report on sterile neutrino models using data from two beams of neutrinos with different energies, a unique feature of the Fermilab accelerator complex. So far, this MicroBooNE result has relied on neutrinos provided by Fermilab's Booster Neutrino Beam, produced by protons with energy of 8 billion electron volts (GeV). But the MicroBooNE detector also recorded interactions of neutrinos from Fermilab's Main Injector accelerator, produced by 120-GeV protons.

"Our ability to explore sterile neutrinos and rare interactions will be enhanced when we add in the data from Fermilab's Main Injector neutrino beam," said Hanyu Wei, professor of physics at Louisiana State University and a co-leader of the sterile-neutrino analysis. "The interplay between the two beams' data will be interesting, not just more statistics."

In addition to weighing in on the sterile neutrino question, MicroBooNE will also search for other phenomena beyond the Standard Model and provide precision measurements of how neutrinos interact with matter.

"Neutrinos continue to be one of the strangest and most interesting particles out there. They are one of our best opportunities to study new physics beyond the Standard Model," said Justin Evans, scientist at the University of Manchester and MicroBooNE co-spokesperson. "There is so much incredible neutrino physics that MicroBooNE can do. We're excited to see what else is waiting for us in the data."
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The use of ancient DNA, including samples of human remains around 45,000 years old, has shed light on a previously unknown aspect of human evolution.

Dr. Yassine Souilmi, Group Leader at the University of Adelaide's Australian Center for Ancient DNA, co-led the new study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution.

"It was widely believed the genetics of our human ancestors didn't change due to environmental pressures as much as other animals, due to our enhanced communication skills and ability to make and use tools," Dr. Souilmi said.

"However, by comparing modern genomes with ancient DNA, we discovered more than 50 cases of an initially rare beneficial genetic variant becoming prevalent across all members of ancient human groups.

"In contrast to many other species, evidence for this type of adaptive genetic change has been inconsistent in humans. This discovery consequently challenges the prevailing view of human adaptation, and gives us a new and exciting insight into how humans have adapted to the novel environmental pressures they encountered as we spread across the planet."

Co-lead author Dr. Ray Tobleran Adjunct Fellow at the University of Adelaide and a DECRA fellow at the Australian National Universitysaid examining ancient DNA has been critical in unlocking the secrets of human evolution.

"We believed historical mixing events between human groups might have hidden signs of genetic changes in modern human genomes," Dr. Tobler said.

"We examined DNA from more than 1,000 ancient genomes, the oldest which was around 45,000 years old, to see if certain types of genetic adaptation had been more common in our history than studies of modern genomes had suggested."

Professor Christian Huber, a senior author of the research paper, is an Adjunct Fellow at the University of Adelaide and an Assistant Professor at Penn State University.

"The use of ancient genomes was crucial because they preceded major historical mixing events that have radically reshaped modern European genetic ancestry," Professor Huber said.

"This allowed the recovery of historical signs of adaptation that are invisible to standard analysis of modern genomes."

Established in 2005, the Australian Center for Ancient DNA is a world leader in the research and development of advanced ancient DNA approaches for evolutionary, environmental and conservation applications.

Researchers based at the Mayo Clinic, the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany, the University of New South Wales, and Massey University in New Zealand also contributed to the research paper.

More information: Yassine Souilmi et al, Admixture has obscured signals of historical hard sweeps in humans, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01914-9 Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution
Chemicals such as triclosan enter sewage treatment plants after being rinsed down our drains. There, they can interact with bacteria and cause the development of antibiotic resistance. Credit: Environ. Sci. Technol. 2022

The study, by Assistant Professor Hui Peng's research group in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science, was able to show that triclosana chemical often included in household items like hand soaps, toothpastes, and cleaning products to fight off bacteriais the predominant antibiotic in Ontario sewage sludge.

The findings were published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

"Since there are so many different antibiotics in the sewage sludge, we were surprised to find that the majority of antibacterial activity of the sludge could be directly linked to triclosan alone," says Holly Barrett, a Ph.D. candidate in the Peng group and lead author on the study.

The research was performed by investigating sewage sludge from Ontario's sewage treatment plants (STPs). As the study notes, STPs are a breeding ground for antibiotic resistant bacteria due to the diverse set of antibiotics that are found there. That's because after we rinse our household products down the drain, the antibiotic ingredients in those products are transported to STPs where they accumulate.

Among thousands of co-occurring chemicals in the sludge, triclosan was found to be the predominant antibacterial compound impacting E. coli.

Holly Barrett, a PhD candidate in the department of chemistry, led a study that found that triclosan, found in many common household products, is the predominant antibiotic in Ontario's sewage sludge. Credit: Dan Haves

Barrett notes in the study that antibiotic resistance is a growing concern. Antibiotic-resistant bacteriaalso commonly known as "superbugs"are strains of bacteria that are not killed by antibiotics. They are produced when continuous exposure to antibiotics causes bacteria to evolve over several generations to survive antibiotic effects. These bacteria can be very dangerous to humans, especially those with impaired immune systems. Between 2014 and 2016, there were 700,000 deaths around the world attributed to antibiotic resistance.

In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned triclosan from being used in antibacterial liquid soaps, and then a year later from being used in topical antiseptics found in health-care settings. Currently, there are limited regulations on triclosan in Canada, and Health Canada deems triclosan as safe for use in a variety of consumer products at specified levels.

"I think our results demonstrate that there is an urgent need for regulatory agencies in Canada to re-evaluate the use of triclosan," says Barrett.

"It's still used in thousands of different household and cosmetic products in Canada, as well as in health-care settings. While there are a few regulations in place to restrict the maximum amount of triclosan allowed in consumer products, even very low levels of this chemical may cause antibiotic resistant bacteria to form over time.

"More action needs to be taken."

More information: Holly Barrett et al, Triclosan is the Predominant Antibacterial Compound in Ontario Sewage Sludge, Environmental Science & Technology (2022). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00406 Journal information: Environmental Science & Technology
This image from Sept. 30, 2022, shows how the Federal Emergency Management Agency used ORNL's USA Structures data along with new satellite images to identify structures that were destroyed in Lee County, Florida, during Hurricane Ian. Credit: ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

As Hurricane Fiona made landfall as a Category 1 storm in Puerto Rico on Sept. 18, 2022, some areas of the island were inundated with nearly 30 inches of rain, and power to hundreds of thousands of homes was knocked out. Only 10 days later, Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm and one of the strongest and most damaging storms on record, landed in Lee County, Florida, leveling homes and flooding cities before moving up the coast and making landfall again as a Category 1 storm in South Carolina.

Extreme weather and natural disasters are happening with increasing frequency across the United States and its territories. Accurate and detailed maps are critical in emergency response and recovery.

Even before the hurricanes made landfall, the Federal Emergency Management Agency was working with researcher Lexie Yang and her team at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory to forecast potential damage and accelerate on-the-ground response using U.S. Structures, a massive dataset of building outlines and attributes covering more than 125 million structures.

Over the past seven years, researchers in ORNL's Geospatial Science and Human Security Division have mapped and characterized all structures within the United States and its territories to aid FEMA in its response to disasters. This dataset provides a consistent, nationwide accounting of the buildings where people reside and work.

The agency requested two new attributes for the data the same day Fiona made landfall: occupancy types and addresses, critical information in speeding federal emergency funds to households and businesses.

"We encountered some language barriers when we were adding the new data: the limited information that was available to us was in Spanish. In addition, there are many different ways of documenting Puerto Rico's addresses. Having to unify those data and validate the attribution information was a unique challenge for us," Yang said.

Even with that challenge, Yang's team was able to translate, validate and conflate the new attributes to the U.S. Structures data in about 50 hours. This is the result of having a scalable information pipeline and database in place built from years of effort. FEMA began planning for its response using the baseline U.S. Structures maps of areas likely to be impacted. FEMA staff added layers of data as the disasters unfolded, allowing the agency to prioritize response to the most heavily impacted areas.

"FEMA has GIS [geographic information systems] analysts that take our data and integrate it with post-disaster satellite imagery, aerial imagery and information that first responders are collecting in the field," said ORNL's Carter Christopher, section head for Human Dynamics in the Geospatial Science and Human Security Division.

The existing dataset, paired with real-time impact information, can speed recovery by supporting damage assessments that property owners need in order to receive funds for rebuilding in days rather than weeks or months.

"Our team is extremely proud to be part of this project," Yang said. "We see how our technical capabilities and knowledge can transform the dataset used by FEMA and local stakeholders."

U.S. Structures got its start in 2015, when former ORNL researchers Mark Tuttle and Melanie Laverdiere were working on a FEMA project to map mobile home parks in the U.S. Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, and little data existed identifying the location of these at-risk structures.

The team used deep learning, a subset of machine learning, to process images and compile the data. Machine learning uses computers to detect patterns in massive amounts of data, then makes predictions based on what the computer learns from those patterns. In deep learning, the computing system creates its own algorithms rather than using algorithms developed and input by a human.

After the national mobile homes parks database was compiled, FEMA requested a more comprehensive structures database.

The process began with a stream of high-resolution images from a commercial satellite imagery provider and some preprocessing. The raw imagery needed to be matched to actual terrain variationsa process called orthorectificationand sharpened to improve the resolution. That process took the image from a spatial resolution of 2 to 3 meters to the 0.3 meters needed for feature extraction.

The spatial resolution is similar to that seen on Google Maps; items that are a few meters in size are recognizable to the human eye. Once prepped, the images entered a feature extraction pipeline hosted by a GPU cluster within ORNL's Compute and Data Environment for Science, or CADES, which offers high-performance data services for researchers throughout the lab.

To get the deep learning model started, scientists gave the system a range of marked-up images, or training data, to study. Working as a deep neural network, the machine learning model trained itself to analyze similar inputs.

To date, more than 59,000 training examples representing a broad and diverse range of geographic features have been incorporated into the U.S. Structures model. As the team began work on a new state, they prepped the training set with new, region-specific examples in addition to the cumulative training data for the states that came before it.

The gains in output over the last few years came from ORNL's continuously improved hardware and compute power, advancements made in deep learning, and a growing volume of training data informing the artificial intelligence-based model. As the project progressed, the maps became more accurate, requiring less human intervention, and the time it took to process the images got shorter and shorter.

Convolutional neural networking compressed a process that would have taken many years by human hand into minutes. To date, the team has processed 1.1 petabytes of imagerystitching together and describing the equivalent of a billion digital photographs.

After the feature extraction was complete, the researchers drew from commercial parcel data vendors to conflate land-use information directly onto the U.S. Structures building features.

"That additional information, when available, makes the structures data more powerful. Is that square a house, a warehouse or a church? Each of those has different implications in a disaster," said Christopher.

If no reliable land-use data was available, the team used a separate machine learning model to distinguish residential from non-residential structures. Structures also are described with other attributes such as a unique building identifier, square footage, longitude and latitude.

"We take a lot of time verifying that whatever we're handing off to FEMA is the highest quality that we can provide," Yang said.

This powerful open-source dataset is publicly available from the U.S. government's GeoPlatform. Additionally, the U.S. Geological Survey has added the data to the National Map, a collaborative effort among U.S. agencies and partners to deliver topographic information. The ORNL team hopes open access to the data will be useful to academic institutions for research and to small municipal agencies for risk planning.

"A lot of rural counties and small jurisdictions may not have the budget to collect or purchase this kind of data otherwise," Christopher said. "It could be used by first responders or basic services providers. It could also be applied to needs at a county level for town planning or property appraisals."

ORNL researchers on the project include Taylor Hauser, Benjamin Swan, Andrew Reith and Matthew Whitehead. Other contributors include Brad Miller, Matthew Crockett and Katie Heying.

In the project's next phase, the team expects to populate the two key attributesoccupancy types and addressesfor the rest of the states and tackle height and elevation information needed for flood modeling.

Building out a sustainable process to detect and incorporate changes over time will be key to extending the lifetime of the dataset. Additionally, this powerful model could be used for similar purposes across the world in disaster planning and response or paired with other sensing technology to extract other useful information.

Chris Vaughan, Yang's project partner at FEMA, has been an enthusiastic advocate for U.S. Structures, promoting its use and touting the data's consistent scheme and accessibility.

"Disaster operations require a standardized and accessible structure dataset to help streamline assistance to survivors. ORNL's work on U.S. Structures has helped us share incident data with our interagency partners like never before," Vaughan said. "In addition, they are helping us close long-standing data gaps related to vulnerable populations, which is a top priority for our team."

Yang has seen growing interest from federal agencies, research organizations, local governments and practitioners not only in using the data set, but also in contributing and incorporating data from smaller local projects.

"This project is still evolving, and we expect to continue to have major updates to the current data," she said. "We hope that more communities will use the data. It's already proven to be valuable through FEMA's work, but there may be other applications that are even more impactful."
A sequence of photographs of the impact from a high-speed camera (left to right, top to bottom). The first is two frames before the strike, where with higher sensitivity it is possible to make out the incoming sphere before the impact (the crescent from hypersonic flight through the residual gas in the near vacuum). The next frame shows the impact, where the saturated image is about 12 cm across. The next frame is from a numerical simulation of the impact, showing material speed; the black line demarcates the impactor and target) and the crater at 10 s is around 6 cm across. The next three frames are sequential photographs following the strike. The frames are 12.65 s apart; the exposure is 0.29 s. Experimental images are self-illuminated. Credit: The Planetary Science Journal (2022). DOI: 10.3847/PSJ/ac854f

On September 26, NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft crashed into Dimorphos, a moonlet of the near-Earth asteroid Didymos, at 14,000 miles per hour. Prior to the impact, Southwest Research Institute engineers and scientists performed an experiment to study the cratering process that produces the mass of ejected materials and measures the subsequent momentum enhancement of the impact.

The experiment, which used a more realistic target than those previously explored, is described in a new paper published in The Planetary Science Journal.

NASA not only tracks near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) that could pose a possible impact threat to our home planet but is also exploring technology to deflect the path of a small NEA. Only a small orbital change would be needed to change an object's trajectory so that it passes safely by Earth, as long as the change is applied sufficiently far in advance of the time of impact.

Changing the momentum of an asteroid through a direct collision offers a one-two punch: the direct momentum transfer of the impacting projectile, pushing it forward, and the asteroid's recoil from the debris erupting from the impact crater, also known as crater ejecta. The ejecta transfers momentum, propelling the target away in an "action-reaction" fashion, much like a rocket launches when high-speed gas erupts from the rear of the vehicle.

"One big question we faced was what the asteroid would actually look like and what its composition would be. Whether we can learn something from small-scale laboratory experiments is an issue of major interest to us," said Dr. James D. Walker, director of SwRI's Engineering Dynamics department and the study's lead author.

Walker is a member of the DART Investigation Team alongside his co-authors, Dr. Sidney Chocron, Donald J. Grosch and Dr. Simone Marchi.

The DART mission spacecraft launched from Earth in November 2021. On September 26, it was deliberately crashed into the moonlet Dimorphos to assess whether a spacecraft could deflect an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. Dimorphos orbits the asteroid Didymos, a near-Earth object that has been classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid. DART is designed to nudge the orbit of the moonlet around Didymos.

SwRI's large two-stage light gas gun, which is capable of launching projectiles at speeds up to seven kilometers per second, was used to launch a projectile at an object representing the moonlet. Because Dimorphos was thought to be a "rubble pile" asteroid made up of pieces of rock bound together by gravity, the moonlet was represented by a collection of rocks and stones, in this case held together by cement.

Prior to the impact of NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) into the moonlet Didymos, Southwest Research Institute engineers and scientists performed an experiment to study the effects of the impact. Because Dimorphos was thought to be a rubble pile asteroid made up of pieces of rock bound together by gravity, the moonlet was represented in the experiment by a collection of rocks and stones, which were placed in a wooden frame before being bonded together by cement. Credit: Southwest Research Institute

"We fired an aluminum sphere, which represented the DART space probe, using the two-stage light gas gun at the target at 5.44 kilometers per second, which is approaching the expected 6.1 kilometers per second of the DART impact," Walker said.

"Our experiment measured a momentum transfer to the target of 3.4 times the incoming momentum of the aluminum sphere projectile. The number 3.4 is referred to by scientists as the Greek letter beta of the impact. Hence the crater ejecta provided an additional 240% of momentum to deflect the body, beyond that provided by the projectile itself."

The experiment aimed to study the cratering process and measure the momentum enhancement that would result from the collision. Crucially, the rubble pile was not held in place but was hung vertically as a pendulum to measure the momentum enhancement, or recoil, created by the impact ejecta.

"It's important to understand the amount of recoil," co-author Dr. Simone Marchi said. "It all boils down to the amount of momentum that has been transferred to the target from the impact, and there was a significant amount of recoil and ejecta material."

By measuring the momentum, the SwRI team could then extract important information that could assess the difficulty of deflecting asteroids in space. In this latest experiment, the momentum enhancement was higher than what was witnessed in the team's prior experiments. A higher recoil suggests it would be easier to deflect the asteroid.

In the weeks following the impact, NASA announced that DART had been successful in nudging the moonlet. Walker is now looking forward to seeing what else can be learned from the mission, including the momentum transfer of the event in space.

"It will take a while to compute the data, in part because it involves estimating the mass of the moonlet, which is unknown," he said. "Once there's an agreement on the mass, then the measurement of the change in the moonlet's orbit will tell us the momentum transfer. We have a speculative body that we've impacted and what we'd really like to know is how size affected things. It will be a challenge to determine that."

The paper appears in The Planetary Science Journal.

More information: Simone Marchi et al, Momentum enhancement from a 3-cm-diameter aluminum sphere striking a small boulder assembly at 5.4 km/s, The Planetary Science Journal (2022). DOI: 10.3847/PSJ/ac854f Journal information: The Planetary Science Journal
ESPRESSO radial velocities of L 363-38 after subtracting the linear offset and adding the instrumental jitter to the error bars. Credit: Sartori et al, 2022

Using the Echelle SPectrograph for Rocky Exoplanets and Stable Spectroscopic Observations (ESPRESSO), astronomers from Switzerland and Austria have discovered a new alien world. The newfound exoplanet orbits a nearby M dwarf star and is at least four times more massive than the Earth. The finding is reported in a paper published October 23 on arXiv.org.

ESPRESSO is the state-of-the-art ultra-stable high resolution spectrograph installed at the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile, covering the spectral range from about 380 nm to 788 nm. The instrument is able to reach a precision allowing it to detect Earth-like planets around sun-like stars.

A team of astronomers led by Lia F. Sartori of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland, is conducting a blind ESPRESSO radial velocity search for planets around nearby stars. One of their targets was L 363-38an M dwarf located some 33.3 light years away. They monitored this star between December 12, 2020 and February 08, 2022, obtaining a total of 31 observations, which resulted in the detection of a new planet.

"In the following we report the detection and characterization of a planet orbiting the nearby M dwarf star L 363-38. This is one of the few standalone planet discoveries with ESPRESSO so far," the researchers wrote in the paper.

The newly detected planet, designated L 363-38 b, has a minimum mass of about 4.67 Earth masses and its radius is estimated to be between 1.55 and 2.75 Earth radii. The exoplanet orbits its host every 8.78 days, at a distance of some 0.048 AU from it, therefore inside the inner edge of the habitable zone. The equilibrium temperature of L 363-38 b was calculated to be approximately 330 K.

The parent star L 363-38 (other designations: LHS 1134 and GJ 3049), estimated to be 8 billion years old, has a radius of about 0.274 solar radii and a mass of around 0.21 solar masses. The effective temperature of this star was measured to be 3129 K.

The astronomers suppose that L 363-38 may be orbited by some other planets that remain undetected. They explain that based on statistics from NASA's Kepler and TESS missions, planets around M dwarfs are expected to occur in multi-planet systems. Hence, follow-up observations of this planetary system with telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), are required in order to uncover the presence of other extrasolar worlds around L 363-38.

In concluding remarks, the authors of the study demonstrates the potential of ESPRESSO in detecting and investigating exoplanets around nearby M dwarf stars.

"Indeed, the faintness of M stars makes them challenging targets for RV [radial velocity] studies using instruments like HARPS [High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher] behind a 3.6-m telescope, but a spectrograph behind an 8-m telescope like ESPRESSO can gather sufficient light to precisely measure their RV in an efficient manner," the researchers concluded.

More information: Lia F. Sartori et al, L 363-38 b: a planet newly discovered with ESPRESSO orbiting a nearby M dwarf star, arXiv (2022). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2210.12710 Journal information: arXiv

 2022 Science X Network
Global and national temperatures rise over time. Tracings are each countrys average annual temperature, demeaned from their pre-1980 historical period. Standard deviations of within-country annual temperature are given on the right-hand side ( = 0.48C), calculated on the pre-1980 period. Recent country-level annual temperature shocks have exceeded 6 standard deviation changes from local historical averages. Global average temperature is plotted in black. Identification of temperature shocks with the two-way fixed effects estimator is obtained through the within-country annual anomaly, netting out global trends Credit: Environmental Politics (2022). DOI: 10.1080/09644016.2022.2127478

This year has been an extraordinary one for the Earth's climate, for all the wrong reasons: Hurricane Ian devastated southwestern Florida, Hurricane Fiona hammered Nova Scotia, a third of Pakistan was impacted by massive flooding, record heats baked the west coast of North America from British Columbia to California. Europe's heat wave shattered all existing records.

The list of disastrous extreme weather eventsalmost certainly the result of anthropogenic climate changegrows longer every year. And it will be on the minds of the leaders, ministers, activists and bureaucrats gathering next week in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt for the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 27).

But as a new paper by assistant professor of political science Sam Rowan notes, these kinds of shocks have yet to lead to climate change policy action. Published in the journal Environmental Politics, the paper notes that extreme weather events and natural disasters, which result in hundreds of billions of dollars in damages and thousands of lives lost, are not associated with climate policy reforms.

Shocks are not enough

Rowan began his research after noting the barrage of increasingly fierce arguments and opinion pieces he saw in the media urging governments to act on global warming following extreme weather. They would appear regularly following a severe flood or forest fire or heat wave and the authors were convinced that the event would lead to real government climate action.

"There were some good reasons to think that heat waves or wildfires could trigger policy reforms," he explains.

"First, they make the abstract issue of climate change much more salient to people's lived experience. Second, research shows that local extreme weather events actually change public attitudes about climate change. And third, they create massive economic damage, so we should expect business owners to put pressure on their local officials to act on climate."

However, governments have proved to be slow if not inert in passing legislation in response to weather events. Rowan examined a sample of temperature shocks and natural disasters between 1990 and 2018 and then tested whether any meaningful national, subnational or international reforms occurred in the three years following them.

Not only did he not find dedicated policy reforms stemming from a certain eventwhich he acknowledges can take a long time to develop and enacthe did not see any evidence of policies that would be relatively easy to produce, such as the distribution of climate mitigation financing.

Rowan's research also accounted for the accretion of new climate laws and policies that were enacted by governments over time. This involves examining long-term actions across many countries to see if there is an uptick in the adoption of new policy pathways in response to a climate shock. He found no connection between weather events and new policies and, furthermore, the content of new policies was not usually related to recent local weather events.

Responses to people not climate

Rowan points out that his study did not look for evidence of increased civil society mobilization following climate shocks, either from climate activists or businesses threatened by the effects of climate change.

"That could be a missing piece of the chain," he says.

"You need an intermediate step of getting protest movements going, of industry associations lobbying public officials and other kinds of contentious politics in order to make politicians feel forced to act on this issue."

Even when public opinion is mobilized, climate action proponents often face stiff opposition from influential, well-connected and well-funded groups. He holds up the fossil fuel industry as an example.

"For a long time, this industry was more organized and could speak with a common voice," he says. "One of the hopes or expectations in this paper is that these extreme weather events can be a kind of catalyst to help environmental groups get more organized, draw new members and build stronger coalitions to push for climate action."

More information: Sam Rowan, Extreme weather and climate policy, Environmental Politics (2022). DOI: 10.1080/09644016.2022.2127478
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Gen Z loves nostalgia. Sentimentally for things of the past is not a new phenomenon nor is it an emotion reserved for Gen Z. But it would appear, judging by the amount of coverage on the topic, that Gen Z have got it bad. The demand for nostalgia on TikTok is booming.

So, are Gen Z different from previous generations in their preoccupation with nostalgia? On the face of it, what appears to be different is the scale of interest and speed of acceleration through eras. Received wisdom puts trend cycles at around 2030 years (when tastemakers get nostalgic for their childhood). But that has gone out the window. In early 2020, it was Y2K (the early noughties). Then it was the "Indie Sleaze" of 2008. Then it was the Twee/Tumblr aesthetic of 2014. The current period of choice is the late 2010's indie look (which takes its origins from 2000s fashion).

This obsession with the past can be partly explained by the "TikTok-ification" of nostalgia which makes it easy for old fads to trend like wildfire. The short format videos of Tik Tok and its algorithm can easily throw you into a rabbit hole of nostalgia. Once stuck in this rabbit hole or bubblethese videos become your reality and vision. However, if we dig a bit deeper, this interest in the past goes much deeper.

Gen Z has grown up in the backdrop of social upheaval, climate change, and global health crisis. Recent research by Deloitte highlighted that half of Gen Z feel anxious or stressed, all or most of the time. In my own work, researching Gen Z lifestyles and behaviors, a recent U.K. survey highlighted that they have to balance not only concerns about the world. But also, their own pragmatic concerns.

They are very aware of living in a digital society that moves at unprecedented speed. In my own research, a recent survey highlighted 48% worried about life moving too fast.

This is a generation with deep uncertainty about the future and they are carrying this heavy burden that time is running out. What was really striking in my research was that this is a generation growing up expecting the world to get worse in the futurenot better.

This is supported by a 2021 global Deloitte study. Pessimism about social and political climates reached the highest levels ever recorded.

If ever there was a generation in need of warm fuzzy feelings Gen Z is it. And empirical research has shown the power of nostalgia in invoking strong feelings of security and comfort.

So, nostalgia can help in times of uncertaintya time machine to whisk them away from the pressures they are currently facing. But it is the way that Gen Z are using nostalgia beyond the comfort zone that is particularly interesting as it has a different air of optimism and forward thinking.

Gen Z is not just nostalgic for their own limited childhood memories, they are craving culture from eras that they have not experienced directly. From Urban Outfitter's vintage clothing, pre-loved thrift shops to vinyl records and disposable cameras the appeal of retro taps into something that goes deeper than a trend or craving for comfort.

It may seem counterintuitive but looking to the past can make you feel more positive about the future.

There is a growing body of evidence of how nostalgia can give a sense of meaning, be an antidote to collective angst, a disillusioned mind and boredom. The effect is explained by the buffering effect of nostalgic experiences that increases optimism and a sense of purpose.

"Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia" is a line from John Green's book "Looking for Alaska." Our ability to predict the future relies on our ability to remember the past. And in a sense by looking to the past Gen Z are creating memories for the future, a template for what they would like to achieve if you like. For example, you may have some ideas about where you want to go on your next holiday based on what you have done in the past. By doing this you have created memories for the future and you act in accordance with those memories. They have a good predictive value of what we are going to do.

This is a generation that is racing towards an uncertain future but rather than adopting a brace position they want to make a difference. Despite the prevailing feeling that "things are getting worse; the world is going to hell" their sense of agency remains constant, with my research highlighting 75% believing "we can act to change things for the better." Visualizing an alternative future or hacking the past to imagine the future enables them to take that anxiety and turn it into a route forward. Imagining a future you can thrive in feels like a future you can invest in.

This more active engagement in nostalgia can be seen in how Gen Z are playing with nostalgia to give it a fresh iteration.

Enter "newstalgia"(New + Nostalgia): using the past as inspiration to create something new. The aim here is not to idealize the past (in contrast to classic forms of nostalgia), but to take advantage of it to create something new with a modern twist. It is a sort of upcycled nostalgia for the present day.

TikTok is awash with retro reinventions. Take Kate Bush's 1980 song "Babooshka" which has been featured in 200,000 TikTok videos with content about tarot cards, love potion making and gothic-inspired videos with dramatic outfit changes. TikTok not surprisingly leveraged this trend with its Re:Make campaign, which gave users the opportunity to remake various classic TV ad campaigns, as a way to showcase user creativity.

The generative power of nostalgia can be partly explained by it providing a muse and source of inspiration as well as stimulating an openness to experience. A study conducted in 2015 by Van Tilburg, Sedikides, Wildschut, looked at whether nostalgia contributed to higher creativity. The findings highlighted the relevance of a nostalgic state of mind as a force of creative endeavors. Nostalgia invites us to think differently and make surprising new connections. "It makes you more open," says Wildschut. "It's a springboard from which to explore the world." This generation may not be explicitly aware of it, but this mental time travel is developing their ability to imagine both past and potential future events. And this is an important evolutionary and resiliency skill in their toolkit allowing them to adapt and plan. When times are uncertain it's important to see a route forward.

Gen Z are living through a time of rapid shifting landscapes which is manifesting in a confidence crisis about the future. They are having a bit of a "Brody moment." Just like in the 1975 movie Jaws, there is a shocking realization that the current resources are no longer a viable option, and we are "going to need a bigger boat"

In order to avoid apocalypse fatigue, they need to feel excited about the future. Brands and key influencers in their life have a responsibility here to not just embrace the nostalgic aesthetic but to inspire this generation to look into the future with hope and excitement. A great exemplar of this is this Apple video. By all means, tap into the joy of the past but give it new context for the future to help them visualize even better memories to come.
Credit: G-Stock Studio / Shutterstock

It may take close to 300 years to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, according to a UN progress report on its sustainable development goals (SDG), Gender Snapshot 2022. This is way off the 2030 deadline set when the SDGs were adopted by UN member states in 2015.

Closing the gender gap in the corporate world will contribute to meeting these goals. This means not only boosting women's participation in the workforce, but ensuring that women are represented equally in positions of power and leadership within companies. However, global progress has advanced at different rates, with some countries lagging far behind.

Worldwide corporate governance reforms have encouraged changes in the composition of boards of directors for the last two decades. While they vary in scale and severity, gender diversity regulations generally aim to increase the pool of female talent at companies and to make boards more independent in terms of how their members are chosen and appointed.

And for good reason. A gender diverse and independent board can help a company in several ways. Research shows that boards which are gender diverse can boost company performance and lower the probability of corporate fraud, for example.

Independent directorsthose with no attachments to the corporationcontribute more effectively toward decision making. They tend to have fewer potential conflicts of interest, as well as different expertise and social networks to board members with existing links to the company.

Gender diversity regulations that apply to companies' boards of directors are either voluntarythat is, entirely at a company's discretionor enforced through legal quotas. But research I recently published with my colleagues shows that voluntary gender diversity regulations often don't work.

Progress on gender reforms

Norway was the first country to introduce a proportional gender quota for listed and state-owned companies in 2003. Other countries followed suit in trying to boost gender equality, either by also establishing board-level gender quotas or by making recommendations of a voluntary nature in codes of good corporate practice.

Since investors are likely to appreciate companies following good corporate governance practice, voluntary gender regulation can be an incentive to appoint more women to corporate boards. These recommendations are non-binding, however, and tend to be vague in setting a target for board diversity. This might promote a "one and done" approach, where compliance is achieved with the appointment of a single female director.

Our research also shows such one-off appointments tend to be internal or based on existing relationshipsthat is, a director that is not independent. This can be because finding qualified women externally is more costly.

By contrast, gender quotas set at 30%-40% of board composition achieve higher female board representation faster. Certainly, many countriesincluding European states such as France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spainhave dropped voluntary regulations altogether, in favor of legislative quotas. Gender quotas may also force companies to look externally in search of more talent to fulfill the required targets, creating a more independent board.

Ineffective voluntary regulations

Our research also found that voluntary gender diversity regulations are particularly ineffective in countries with a strong familial culture, such as Mexico. This kind of culture is associated with societal attitudes and expectations that establish the role of women as caregivers and men as breadwinners. In such countries, women might have to overcome barriers to reach a board appointment because of stereotyped perceptions about their advisory and leadership abilities.

In countries with a strong familial culture, we found that female director appointments are likely to be symbolic and are predominantly based on relationships. To publicly demonstrate commitment towards the voluntary reform, companies don't tend to draw from the pool of externally available talent, which means they don't get the corporate benefits of board gender diversity.

Because voluntary gender reforms are ineffective in incorporating female directors who are independent to the board, they reduce overall board independence. Only gender quotas are successful in increasing the proportion of independent female directors on boards in such cultures.

Mexico introduced a voluntary gender quota regulation for company boards in 2018, making the basic recommendation of "incorporating women on the board of directors". After two years, the proportion of women on company boards of directors had increased from 7.3% to 9%.

This is an improvement, but at a much slower pace than, for example, the UK, which saw female directors on boards increase from 9.5% to 17.4% two years after establishing a similar voluntary regulation in 2011. And by 2020, the UK had no more "one and done" boardswomen now make up around 40% of non-executive directors on the boards of FTSE 350 companies.

In this way, the UK performed as well as other countries that have quotas, such as Norway and France, where seats held by women on boards in 2021 were about 42% and 43%, respectively.

The independence element has been particularly difficult to achieve in Mexico's familial culture, with the percentage of female directors with no previous ties to a company growing from 0.9% of all directors in 2018 to only 1.9% in 2020.

This research shows the benefits of legal gender quotas over voluntary regulations. But as a first step towards addressing this gender diversity issue, particularly in countries with a strong familial culture, voluntary regulations could be made more specific.

In the case of Mexico, even a tweak to current recommendations to specify the appointment of women who are independent to boards of directors could go a little way towards increasing board gender diversity. For more significant progress towards global gender equality goals, however, legal quotas seem to be the best way forward.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Tropical Cyclone Winston in the South Pacific Ocean, west of Fiji. Credits: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team/Jeff Schmaltz

In 2016, Tropical Storm Winston hit the Pacific island of Fiji as the strongest recorded storm ever to make landfall in the Southern Hemisphere. It left $1.4 billion in damage, 131,000 people homeless and 44 dead.

"We lost everything," a former village headman, Raivolita "Rai" Tabusoro, told the World Bank. "It was as if a bomb was dropped in the village."

"Fiji is one of those countries that's really on the frontlines of the climate crisis," said David Boyd, the UN special rapporteur on human rights and the environment, and a panelist in the inaugural Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit to be held Dec. 14 at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Two years after the storm, Boyd visited the Fijian village of Vunidogoloa, one of the world's first communities to relocate because of climate changerising sea levels were contaminating drinking water and crops with saltwater. The decision had come from the villagers, not an edict from above. So had the decisions on where, when and how the relocation would transpire.

Boyd was impressed.

Fiji had done an "absolutely fantastic" job addressing the climate crisis through a human rights framework: accepting that all its people have a right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, along with a right to participate in any decisions surrounding it, Boyd said.

"Now, the $64,000 question is, "Who's going to pay for that relocation?'" Boyd said. "Right now, it's the government of Fiji."

With more than 50 of the nation's communities awaiting relocation, Boyd said "that is an absolutely unjust and unsustainable outcome."

"There absolutely should be funds flowing from the Global North to Fiji to finance those relocation efforts," Boyd said. ("Global North" usually describes the wealthy and powerful nations of North America, Europe and Australia, and "Global South" signifies the less-developed countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa and Oceania).

Devastating floods, droughts and wildfires on virtually every continent are highlighting the grave human consequences of climate change: lost homes, lost lives, collapsed economies, entire countries submerged.

"This is a human rights crisis of the greatest magnitude," Boyd added.

Yet the nations of the world are not equally responsible for the crisis.

Impacts on vulnerable populations

Poor communities and developing countries are disproportionately vulnerable to extreme weather and changing environments. As the costs of global climate action add up, there is growing consensus that the world's polluters should foot most of the bill, and also growing debate about how that money can help to address climate disparities.

Who, for one, are the biggest polluters?

The most popular answer: the countries and regions emitting the most carbon today, a list topped by China, the U.S., the European Union and India.

But summit panelist Ying Chen, a professor of economics at The New School in New York City, sees this answer as too simplistic and ahistorical. Because carbon dioxide lingers in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, emissions from the Industrial Revolution are as harmful to the world today as the carbon emitted two years ago, Chen argued.

Taking into account this cumulative pollution, the early colonizers and countries in the Global North, like the nations of the G-7 in particular, are most responsiblethey have generated at least 59% of historical emissions, Chen said. (The G-7 includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K., U.S. and EU.)

These wealthy nations have failed to meet a 2009 pledge to mobilize $100 billion annually in climate funding. But Chen believes they could afford it if they wanted to: The US would need to contribute 2% of its GDP to cover its share, compared with the 3.7% it spends on its military. It's a political question and an issue of priorities, she said.

There is also debate about how the money should be spent.

Some Global North countries have begun to fund climate efforts in the Global South, but they invest according to their own agendas rather than the needs of the country, said summit panelist Roberto Sanchez-Rodriguez, an urban and environmental studies scholar in Mexico and the lead author of the latest report on climate impacts, adaptation and vulnerability for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Most of this money is dedicated to climate mitigationreducing carbon emissions by, for instance, shifting to renewable energyan important task for developing countries with fast-growing economies and energy consumption, like Brazil, Chile and China. But many developing countries, like Fiji, contribute a minuscule share of global carbon emissions, while just a single extreme weather event could have devastating consequences for decades, he said.

"These countries desperately need assistance for adaptation, more than mitigation," Sanchez-Rodriguez said.

This was apparent to Sanchez-Rodriguez during the floods and heatwaves that recently battered Pakistan and India. Water infrastructure was inadequate, and improvements are desperately needed to prevent water shutoffs, improve sewage drainage and ensure that farms have adequate irrigation to maintain food supplies.

"One of the big problems is that climate change is still being addressed as an environmental challenge, when in reality it is a development problem," he said.

Money alone is not enough

Yet direct funding alone is not enough to meet the challenges. Countries also need helpand additional fundingto build stronger institutions that are capable of preventing and responding to future disasters. Many lack even the basic ability to identify who is vulnerable, why they're vulnerable and where they're located, he said.

Without this data, climate investment could exacerbate inequalities within countries, and between them.

Chen has seen this in her research on China's own climate investmentsthe nation is already a global leader in renewable energy, and the finance part is not a problem. Chinese companies installing solar panels and electricity grids, for instance, often employ migrant or temporary workers who are heavily exploited, Chen said.

Meanwhile, renewable energy manufacturing involves working with plastics and chemicals that can harm the health of workers. Without stronger labor and environmental protections across the globe, climate investment could benefit private companies and wealthier consumers at the expense of poor laborers. In funding climate actions, "we need to be very proactive in addressing inequalities and inequities," Chen said, a task that requires global collaboration to enforce environmental regulations strictly everywhere possible.

For Sanchez-Rodriguez, international coordination is also sorely needed to ensure that climate funds are addressing the real needs of developing countries.

"We are looking at a world that is very fragmented and have a very small window of opportunity (to make a difference)," Sanchez-Rodriguez said.

Boyd said he sees some hope in one international agreement: a newly passed UN resolution recognizing a healthy environment as a basic human right, like clean water and shelter. This approach to the climate crisis not only focuses our attention on the people who are suffering,it requires states to reduce emissions, increase adaptation, and pay poorer nations for loss and damages.

With floods, droughts, fires and superstorms battering every continent, the Global South is going to use every tool at its disposal to hold the Global North accountable, Boyd said. Hopefully, Boyd said, "the resolution is a catalyst for change."
A woman brings her child showing cholera symptoms to a clinic run by Doctors Without Borders in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Oct. 7, 2022. The U.N. has warned of a possible explosion of cholera cases in crisis-wracked Haiti. (Richard Pierrin / AFP)

Haiti, the poorest nation in Latin America with a history of foreign interventions, is on the cusp of total anarchy  and the rest of the Western Hemisphere, including the United States, is frantically searching for ways to restore a degree of order and tranquillity to a Haitian population increasingly run by gangs and criminals.

While the numbers tell only part of the story, they are nevertheless damning. Four and a half million people, about 41% of the nations population, are dealing with some degree of food insecurity. Haiti ranks 163rd out of 191 on the Human Development Index, which measures quality of life. Haitis political class is notoriously corrupt, with some political and economic stakeholders colluding with the gangs that terrorize citizens, run entire city districts and are more than willing to use arms against police and politicians to instill fear and expand their fiefdoms.

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Haiti has gone through a particularly bad stretch since its president, Jovenel Moise, was assassinated in his home last year. Gangs have always been a part of Haitian life  there are plenty of gangs in the United States as well  but their power has risen considerably since Moises killing. More than half of Port-au-Prince, Haitis capital, is controlled by gangs. Haitian security forces, either too underequipped or uninterested in doing much about the problem, have written off whole sections of the capital. Nearly 100,000 Haitians have fled their homes this year to escape the gang-related violence in their neighborhoods, adding to a humanitarian burden the Haitian government is already unable to manage.

Even worse, Haitis gangs are demonstrating their strength in the most unhelpful way possible. For a nation in the midst of a burgeoning cholera epidemic, the last thing Haiti needs is a hospital system on the brink of collapse. Yet thats exactly what is occurring. The gangs have blocked Haitis main fuel terminal for more than six weeks, starving the generators that power everything from hospitals and schools to vehicles, in an attempt to force Prime Minister Ariel Henrys resignation. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 17 out of 22 health facilities are at risk of shutting down due to fuel shortages; today, less than half of Haitis emergency departments are operating as they should be.

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Normally, the police would take care of this situation by clearing out the gangs and assisting with the distribution of fuel throughout the capital. Haitis National Police, however, are no match for the gangs. In October, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reported to the U.N. Security Council that only one-third of Haitis 14,161 officers are actually operational  and those who are in the field dont have access to the kinds of equipment, weapons, ammunition and intelligence capabilities that are integral to a successful anti-gang operation. Indeed, the U.N. suggested that some of the police ranks are actually cooperating with the very criminals they are supposed to be fighting.

The question, of course, is what to do about all of this. The Haitian government, it seems, is all but powerless to remedy a situation fast degenerating into chaos and humanitarian calamity. The U.N. Security Council recently created a sanctions regime targeting anyone who undermines the peace, stability, and security of Haiti and the region, but nobody seriously believes sanctions alone will turn the situation around or deter criminal elements from running roughshod over the state.

Haitian authorities are in such desperate straits that they have called on the international community to launch an intervention, of short duration, to help the state regain control of its own assets. The U.N. secretary-general is supportive of the initiative and called on the Security Council to at least consider it. The Biden administration has drafted a Security Council resolution that would set up a non-U.N. military force to assist the Haitian police with breaking the siege on fuel supplies and ensuring basic supplies are distributed to where they need to go.

Yet that U.S.-drafted resolution is at risk of being withdrawn for a lack of support. Russia and China, veto-wielding members of the Security Council, question whether the Haitian people actually want a foreign force deployed, and it doesnt appear as if any country wants to lead the initiative or contribute to it. The U.S. is willing to expend the diplomatic capital in U.N. headquarters to establish the mission but hasnt articulated whether it plans to assign U.S. troops to it.

You cant blame the Biden administration for not wanting to be involved in the effort. Previous foreign interventions, often led by the U.S., have done next to nothing to make Haiti a more livable place for its own people. Whether it was the 1994 operation to dissolve a military junta or the 2004 deployment to lay the groundwork for a U.N. peacekeeping force, the interventions have had at best a very short-term impact on the security situation there.

The U.N. has a disastrous reputation in Haiti as well  its peacekeeping mission, which lasted for more than a decade and ended in 2019, left a heavy stain, with the organization having to apologize for introducing a cholera epidemic in the country and for the criminal behavior of some of its troops. With such a poor track record, one cant fault ordinary Haitians for wondering why another foreign task force, however well-intentioned, would perform any better than previous ones.

Haiti is, to put in bluntly, a hard problem. Only the Haitian political elite can prevent it from becoming a problem from hell.

Daniel DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities and a foreign affairs columnist for the Chicago Tribune.

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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Only a handful of U.S. states showed a surge in gun violence incidents in mid-2020 during civil unrest at the start of COVID-19 lockdowns and the murder of George Floyd, a new study finds.

Published today in Chaos, the study applied new data analysis techniques to identify and better understand shifts in gun violence patterns in the U.S. from 2018 to mid-2022.

Study co-authors Dr. Nick James, University of Melbourne and Dr. Max Menzies, Tsinghua University, said their findings counter public perceptions and media coverage of higher gun violence incidents across the country in mid-2020.

Dr. James, research fellow at the Melbourne Center for Data Science, said the study looked at April 2020 as a trigger point when U.S. media reported widespread violence and civil unrest due to COVID-19 lockdowns, George Floyd's murder and the subsequent Black Lives Matter protests.

"Minnesota, where George Floyd was killed, experienced the greatest change in its gun violence behavior immediately after Floyd's death," Dr. James said.

"Prior to this event, Minnesota had experienced a decrease in gun violence incidents. This data highlights the complex social and cultural interplay of gun violence and social injustice within the U.S."

The study analyzed gun violence incidents on a state-by-state basis recorded by the Gun Violence Archive, a non-profit organization that collects and verifies detailed, real-time data from law enforcement, government, and other commercial sources.

Dr. Menzies said the state-by-state analysis uncovered observations that challenge media reporting on U.S. gun violence in mid-2020.

"Despite media reporting on rising trends, we only found a few states with a clear 'up-down-up' surge in gun violence activity in mid-2020," Dr. Menzies said.

"Some states, most of all Texas and New York, exhibited an increase in gun violence post-2020 compared to pre-2020, but others, most of all Florida and Massachusetts, exhibited a decrease.

"This is contrary to some of the reporting in the U.S., which focuses more on uniform national trends and may miss details at the state level. We analyzed both raw increase and decreases in total magnitude of events, as well as which states exhibited the greatest shifts in periodic behavior, which we termed dual-domain analysis.

"We didn't see any patterns in terms of red or blue states, which is another interesting finding of our work."

Using a time series analysis, the study identified "change points" that occur when the number of gun violence incidents either increases or decreases sharply.

Implementing a method known as hierarchical clustering, the study identified three clusters of states. In the first cluster24 states in allno discernible change points were detected in the entire period studied from 201822. A smaller cluster of 12 states showed only one change point in late 2021.

Only within the third cluster of seven states is there a clear 2020 summer jump. Ohio, New York, and Missouri demonstrated the clearest instances of this 2020 summer surge.

The U.S leads the world in both gun ownership and prevalence, and leads the developed world in gun incidents, injuries, homicides and suicides.

"The U.S is the only country with more guns than people and gun regulation varies significantly between states," Dr. James said.

"There have been few in-depth statistical studies carried out on a state-by-state basis, and we believe this is the first paper of its kind. We hope it sparks further study in this area to assist policymakers and governments to better understand the complexity of gun violence across the United States."

More information: Dual-domain analysis of gun violence incidents in the United States, Chaos (2022). Journal information: Chaos
Snorkelers and kayakers interact with an aggregation of manatees gathered at the entrance to the Three Sisters Springs during a cold morning, Jan. 30, 2022, in Crystal River, Fla. Hurricane Ian not only ravaged southwest Florida on land but was destructive underwater as well, destroying man-made reefs and bringing along red tide, the harmful algae blooms that kill fish and birds, off the Sunshine State's coast. Credit: AP Photo/Mike Carlson, File

Hurricane Ian not only ravaged southwest Florida on land but was destructive underwater as well. It destroyed man-made reefs and brought along red tide, the harmful algae blooms that kill fish and birds, according to marine researchers who returned last week from a six-day cruise organized by the Florida Institute of Oceanography.

Researchers who used the cruise to study marine life in the Gulf of Mexico following the hurricane say it left in its wake red tide and destroyed artificial reefs from as far away as 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the coast of southwest Florida.

"The one-time vibrant reefs are now underwater disaster sites themselves," said Calli Johnson, safety dive officer for the research cruise. "Where there used to be a complete ecosystem, there are now only fish that were able to return after swimming away."

Before the Category 4 storm made landfall a month ago, southwest Florida had a reputation for being one of the best saltwater fishing destinations in the U.S. Saltwater and freshwater fishing in Florida has an economic impact of around $13.8 billion, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

"Time will tell how this affects our greater economy, because changes in the fishing industry and tourism will come from changes in our underwater world," Johnson said.

The marine researchers on the cruise found high counts of the naturally-occurring algae that causes red tide offshore Punta Gorda, Boca Grande and southwest of Sanibel Island. It will be several weeks before researchers can analyze water samples that were collected to determine the threat to sea life off the Florida coast.

The red tide outbreak also is threatening manatees off Sarasota and Charlotte counties that rely on seagrass for food, according to the Ocean Conservancy.

"Florida is at a crossroads, with a record number of manatees dying," said J.P. Brooker, director of Florida conservation for the Ocean Conservancy. "We must keep this issue at the forefront, so leaders statewide will invest in solutions to improve water qualityprotecting natural habitats to save our beloved manatees."

Through mid-October, there have been 719 manatee deaths recorded by Florida wildlife officials. There were 982 manatee deaths last year.

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
China successfully launched the final module of its Tiangong space station.

The final module of China's Tiangong space station successfully docked with the core structure on Tuesday, state media saida key step in its completion by year's end and a landmark moment in the country's space ambitions.

Tiangong is one of the crown jewels in Beijing's well-funded programmewhich has landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon, and made the country only the third to put humans in orbitas it looks to catch up with major spacefaring powers like the United States and Russia.

China has been excluded from the International Space Station (ISS) since 2011, when Washington banned NASA from engaging with Beijing.

Tiangong's completion would signal "China is now an equal player in space with the United States, Russia and Europe", analyst Chen Lan told AFP.

"In terms of scientific and commercial aspects, it is always good to see new players coming.... Competition will always speed up innovation," he added.

The lab module, named Mengtianor "dreaming of the heavens"was launched on a Long March 5B rocket from the Wenchang launch centre on China's tropical island Hainan, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Amateur photographers and space enthusiasts watched the launch, which took place at 3:27 pm local time (0727 GMT), from a nearby beach.

About 10 minutes in, the event was declared a "complete success" by launch site commander Deng Hongqin.

Approximately 13 hours later, in the early hours of Tuesday Beijing time, Mengtian docked with the Tianhe core module, Xinhua news agency said, citing the China Manned Space Agency.

Factfile on China's Tiangong space station, expected to become fully operational by the end of 2022.

Cold atomic clocks

Over the past two years, China has successfully sent up the core module, three manned spacecraft, the Wentian lab module and several cargo spacecraft to build Tiangong.

Mengtian is the third and final major component of the T-shaped space station, and is almost 18 metres (60 feet) long, weighing 23 metric tonnes (50,700 pounds).

It carries scientific equipment that will be used to study microgravity and carry out experiments in fluid physics, materials science, combustion science and fundamental physics, the space agency said.

It is also carrying "the world's first space-based cold atomic clock system", Xinhua reported.

"If successful, the cold atomic clocks will form the most precise time and frequency system in space, which should not lose one second in hundreds of millions of years," said Zhang Wei, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The three-member crew of the Shenzhou-14 mission, who are currently living in the space station, will be joined by three more astronauts to complete construction of Tiangong by the end of this year, according to the space agency.

Once completed, the Tiangong space station is expected to have a mass of 90 tonnesaround a quarter of the ISSor similar in size to the Soviet-built Mir station that orbited Earth from the 1980s until 2001.

Tiangong, which means "heavenly palace", will operate for around a decade and host a variety of experiments in near-zero gravity.

Next year, Beijing plans to launch the Xuntian space telescope with a field of view 350 times that of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.

 2022 AFP
There are many reasons why students miss school or struggle with engagement. Credit: Shutterstock

Over the past few years, the pandemic prompted school closures and remote learning that drew international attention to issues of students missing schoolwhat researchers call "non-attendance."

Millions of students across the world missing varying amounts of school raises concerns about students' learning loss and mental healthand also about long-term implications, particularly for those already at-risk for poor educational outcomes.

But school non-attendance is not a new issue. Terms like "epidemic" have been used in relation to school attendance problems in many countries such as Canada, the United States and Australia for a long time. There have always been students who missed school.

School attendance problems are complex and often very challenging to address. And for responses to be effective in getting students to school more often, they need to reflect this.

Not a Hollywood picture

Popular culture is filled with examples of teenagers skipping classesand in films like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, this is framed by humor and a gleeful sense of freedom. But Ferris Bueller went back to school the next day without any major impact on his life. This isn't the case for many.

Evidence shows worse outcomes for students who miss a lot of school, including lower academic achievement, lower graduation rates, higher rates of interaction with juvenile justice systems, mental and physical health issues and lower employment.

And certain life circumstances, such as poverty, increase the risk of chronic school attendance issues.

Chronic school attendance problems are usually defined as missing more than 10 percent of school days.

School attendance in countries like Canada and Australia is mandatory until between 16 and 18 years of age, depending on the province or territory.

There are legal penalties for families whose children are chronically absent from school as well as for students themselves, and possible involvement of child protection services.

Many reasons students are absent, disengaged

There are many reasons why students miss school.

Some because they are disengaged, others because of significant anxiety or mental health and well-being concerns.

Some are absent because of frequent experiences of harassment, bullying and racism.

Others miss school because they have family responsibilities such as younger siblings, or because of disability-related needs that schools are struggling to support. Students may experience multiple types of school attendance problems, and these may vary over time.

Punishing attendance problems fails to address the issues students face, from family responsibilities to barriers related to racism or inadequate support for disabilities.

Complex, flexible approaches needed

There has been more evidence in recent years of the recognition of the complex, multilayered and flexible approaches necessary to improve school attendance. There have also been efforts to think about school attendance as more than just "present" or "absent." Are students participating? Are they included? Are they engaged? Are they learning?

Many initiatives are still based on simplistic ideas of school attendance and punitive approaches that really don't work well in the long run.

These fail to address the issues experienced by students that create the attendance problem in the first place. And these approaches often further punish students most at risk of school attendance problems.

There are four key points or "ABCDs" for schools, families and communities to consider:

1. Academics and well-being

Well-being supports, including mental health and addictions services, lunch programs, identity-based clubs, and opportunities for movement and physical activity are all important in promoting school attendance.

But if a child can't read, or an adolescent is struggling to learn algebraic equations and falling behind their peers, well-being initiatives aren't enough. An integrated approach to support academic success and well-being for students is essential.

2. Building relationships

A sense of belonging and connectedness is critical to engagement, learning and attendance for students. Students need to feel like they matter to someone at schoolsomeone who notices when they're not there but who also welcomes them when they are.

Relationships need to be purposefully fostered between and among students, staff, families and communities. Mentorship programs, peer buddies, leadership opportunities, community experiential projects or attendance counselors are some examples of ways to support relationship building.

3. Climate of school

A supportive and positive school climate is key for students, staff, families and communities. Schools can provide opportunities for shared decision-making, autonomy, support and valuing of student and family identities and strengths.

Extra-curriculars and high expectations need to be in place alongside supports to meet these. Families can be welcomed in a range of ways that reflect the needs of communities. Bullying and harassment, including anti-racist, homophobic and anti-Indigenous abuse, needs to be addressed.

4. Data needed

Data is important for understanding attendancewho is at school, who is not. And if not, what are the reasons? In shifting responses to attendance, schools can consider also shifting the ways they collect, use and report on data. For example, an early flag system to identify student attendance patterns can help to proactively support students and families before chronic issues arise.

Considering traditional attendance counts alongside school climate data, student records, academic profiles and student well-being indicators can tell a fuller story, and lead to more effective ways of getting students to schooland keeping them there.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

According to a recent Pew Center report, American Christianity remains in a nearly three-decade decline. Responding as "none" or "unaffiliated" on religious surveys, people increasingly identify as humanists, atheists, agnostics, or simply spiritual. If current trends continue, by 2070 Christianity may no longer be the dominant expression of American religion.

As a scholar who studies alternative spirituality and new religious movements in the United States, I believe the reality of America's diverse religious and spiritual landscape is more complex than often presented.

The nonesor those claiming no particular religious affiliationrange from atheists to individuals searching for spiritual answers outside traditional religious groups. This last group commonly identifies as spiritual but not religiousor SBNR. Dissatisfied with traditional religion, these individuals think about spirituality in a more secular way, as representing their pursuit of meaning, healing, purpose and belonging.

The many expressions of spirituality

In her study of multiple SBNR identities, theologian Linda Mercadante found that the turn away from organized religion does not necessarily come at the expense of faith, ritual or practice. For "post-Christianity" seekers, Mercadante stresses how spiritual fulfillment moves from "religious and civic institutions to 'gathering places.'"

Such "gathering places" range widely.

Many turn to practices appropriated from different religious contexts. Mindfulness and yoga, in particular, have emerged as popular alternatives for seeking spiritual, psychological and physical healing.

These practices point to the growing connection between spirituality and health. Twelve-step meetings for addiction recovery and contemporary medicine, for example, stress the need to balance spirit and body for wellness.

Several nonreligious practices create opportunities to explore spirituality beyond religious affiliation. People find a sense of belonging through the internet and social media. Others turn to self-help literature or elements of popular culture.

Sports similarly provide an avenue for spiritual renewal. The rituals of training, competing and camaraderie reflect the spiritual quest for personal growth and locating community. Digital communities and online options likewise afford new modes for spiritual practice and connection.

Accordingly, some scholars, such as religious studies professor Robert Fuller, have stressed the "unchurched" nature of the SBNR.

At the same time, the continued desire to find meaning and connection has led to the development of secular, spiritual and atheist churches. Although almost universally understood as physical spaces for religious practice, the rise of nonreligious churches demonstrate the benefits and shared opportunities many nones and SBNR people associate with the experience of "going to church."

Atheist churches that include secular rituals have been showing an increase. Secular and atheist churches

Emerging over the past decade, and although still small in scale, secular and atheist churches indicate how changes in religious affiliation do not necessarily include a rejection of the communal structures that provide avenues for spiritual rejuvenation.

The Seattle Atheist Church, for example, positions itself as "a place where atheists come together" to address big questions and "celebrate meaningful life events with atheist rituals." Founded in 2015, the church offers weekly Sunday meetings for a couple dozen participants who share in leading sermons in relation to their commitment to secular humanism, a nonreligious worldview that rejects belief in the supernatural.

Similarly, Sunday Assembly Detroit seeks to "help everyone live life as fully as possible." One of 70 chapters spread across eight different countries, the Sunday Assembly was founded by comedians Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans in 2013. Their motto was "Live Better, Help Often, Wonder More."

Others find refuge in secularized churches that combine alternative rituals, such as the use of cannabis, with various humanist, ethical and spiritual orientations.

Identifying as Elevationists, members of the International Church of Cannabis in Denver, Colorado, for example, come together through the ritual sharing of cannabis, or what they call "the sacred flower."

This sharing, they say, helps them "reveal the best version of self." It also aids in discovering "a creative voice" that can can help enrich the community "with the fruits of that creativity." These "fruits" often manifest as charitable projects, including street cleaning and an outreach initiative to feed and clothe Denver's homeless population.

Such an approach does not deny members who might still hold religious beliefs, but focuses attention away from the supernatural toward self-improvement. Similarly, members of the nondenominational First Church of Logic and Reason, based in Lansing, Michigan, elevate cannabis as a spiritual and therapeutic element. The church's ritual use of cannabis offers a way to heal and find a sense of belonging for those disenchanted with traditional religion.

Additionally, digital opportunities have emerged as a vital site for cultivating spirituality.

Digital spirituality

For those disillusioned with traditional religion, digital technologies, apps, and online options offer new avenues to engage with secular and alternative forms of spiritual practice.

Current apps can calculate one's astrological chart or provide online tarot readings. Social media platformsparticularly TikTokmake a host of New Age practices, including crystal healing, immediately available. Reiki finds a robust community of virtual practitioners, and mindfulness can be cultivated across a host of meditation apps.

Shifts away from traditional religious membership doesn't simply mean Americans are rejecting religion. Rather, they are exploring an ever-evolving spectrum of spirituality.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
This artists impression shows a possible seed for the formation of a supermassive black hole. Credit: NASA/CXC/M. Weiss

Roughly a half-century ago, astronomers realized that the powerful radio source coming from the center of our galaxy (Sagitarrius A*) was a "monster" black hole. Since then, they have found that supermassive black holes (SMBHs) reside at the center of most massive galaxies. This leads to what is known as Active galactic nuclei (AGN) or quasars, where the central region of a galaxy is so energetic that it outshines all of the stars in its galactic disk. In all that time, astronomers have puzzled over how these behemoths (which play a crucial role in galactic evolution) originated.

Astronomers suspect that the seeds that formed SMBHs were created from giant clouds of dust that collapsed without first becoming starsaka, Direct collapse black holes (DCBHs). However, the role of magnetic fields in the formation of DCBHs has remained unclear since none of the previous studies have been able to simulate the full accretion periods. To investigate this, an international team of astronomers ran a series of 3D cosmological magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulations that accounted for DCBH formation and showed that magnetic fields grow with the accretion disks and stabilize them over time.

The research was led by Muhammad A. Latif, an assistant professor of physics at the College of Science at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU). He was joined by associate professor Dominik R. G. Schleicher of the Universidad de Concepcion in Chile and Sadegh Khochfarthe personal chair of Theoretical Astrophysics at the University of Edinburgh and the Royal Observatory. The paper that describes their findings recently appeared online on the preprint server arXiv and is currently being reviewed for publication in The Astrophysical Journal.

As they indicate in their paper, DCBHs are high-mass black hole seeds (typically around 1 million solar masses) that existed in the early universeca. 100 to 250 million years old. As the name suggests, DCBHs are formed directly from massive clouds of dust and gas (due to instabilities predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity). This sets them apart from black holes that originated from the earliest supermassive stars (SMSs), also known as Population III stars. As Dr. Latif told Universe Today via email, astrophysicists have long suspected that these may be how SMBHs formed in the early universe:

According to recent studies, early stars (Population III) were not the only source of primordial black holes. Credit: NASA/WMAP Science Team

"DCBHs are about two orders of magnitude more massive (105 solar mass) than black holes from other scenarios, such as stellar mass black holes (about 100 solar mass) or black holes forming via stellar collisions (~1000 solar mass). This makes them leading candidates, particularly for the first SMBHs observed within the first Gyr after the Big Bang."

The existence of SMBHs was originally proposed to explain the existence of high-redshift primordial SMBHs that existed within 1 billion years after the Big Bang. But as Latif and his colleagues explain, there were inconsistencies between what astrophysicists theoretically predicted and what astronomers have observed. In particular, there's the role that magnetic fields played in the accretion of material with primordial dust clouds, which eventually resulted in gravitational collapse and the formation of DCBHs.

"The standard model of physics does not provide any constraints on the initial magnetic field strength, and some models predict small B-fields of the order of 10-20 G," said Latif. "They are about many orders of magnitude smaller than observed fields (about 1G). Therefore, the scientific community thought that their role might be only secondary."

This mystery has persisted because previous attempts to simulate the formation of DCBHs numerically have been limited in scope. Previous simulations have lacked the computing power to simulate the accretion process's full length, which is considered comparable to the expected lifetime of SMSs1.6 million years. Thanks to advances in supercomputing during the past decade, different research groups have conducted numerical simulations in the past decade that show that magnetic fields can be amplified within a short period.

This view of the M87 supermassive black hole in polarized light highlights the signature of magnetic fields. Credit: EHT Collaboration

Similarly, there's increasing evidence that magnetic fields were present roughly 13 billion years ago when DCBHs are expected to have formed. To address this mystery, Latif and his colleagues conducted a series of 3D cosmological magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) models that accounted for a lifetime of 1.6 million years:

"We model accretion onto the central clump forming in our simulation, which is a proxy for a protostar. We evolve simulations for about 1.6 Myr, comparable to the expected lifetime of SMSs, and calculate how much mass accumulates onto the clump, which tells us the accretion rate. Previous works evolved simulation only for short time up to a kyr (1000 years) which is much shorter than the lifetime of SMSs (~2 million years). Therefore, it is important to know whether accretion can be sustained for long enough, which we show that it is possible."

Their findings are consistent with previous research by Latif and his colleagues (and other groups) that show how magnetic fields play a vital role in the formation of massive stars and black holes. These studies have shown how magnetic fields are amplified (increase in Jean mass) by accreting disks of gas and dust. These fields are responsible for reducing fragmentation and stabilizing the disks, eventually allowing these disks to achieve the mass necessary (aka. Jean mass) to experience gravitational collapse and form supermassive stars and black holes.

"Such strong magnetic fields can even launch jets and outflows and also help in transporting angular momentum, which is considered an obstacle for forming stars," explained Latif. "Therefore, they will have important implications for the magnetization of interstellar and intergalactic mediums (similar to what we observe in the local universe) and shaping the formation of high redshift galaxies as well as the evolution of massive black holes."

These findings also preview what future studies could reveal about magnetic fields and their role in the formation and evolution of early galaxies. In the coming decade and after, astronomers are expected to study the jets and outflows of the earliest black holes using powerful radio observatories like the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) and next-generation Very Large Array (ng-VLA)which are expected to become operational by 2027 and 2029 (respectively).

More information: Muhammad A. Latif et al, Role of magnetic fields in the formation of direct collapse black holes, arXiv (2022). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2210.05611 Journal information: Astrophysical Journal , arXiv
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The Supreme Court's historically low public standing has prompted a national conversation about the court's legitimacy. It's even drawn rare public comment from three sitting Supreme Court justices. What's referred to by experts as the problem of "judicial legitimacy" may seem abstract, but the court's faltering public support is about more than popularity.

Eroding legitimacy means that government officials and ordinary people become increasingly unlikely to accept public policies with which they disagree. And Americans need only look to the relatively recent past to understand the stakes of the court's growing legitimacy problem.

Cost 'paid in blood'

The Supreme Court's 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education shined a light on many white Americans' tenuous loyalty to the authority of the federal judiciary.

In Brown, the court unanimously held that racial segregation in public education violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. The justices were abundantly aware that their decision would evoke strong emotions. So Chief Justice Earl Warren worked tirelessly to ensure that the court issued a unanimous, short and readable opinion designed to calm the anticipated popular opposition.

Warren's efforts were in vain. Rather than recognizing the court's authoritative interpretation of the Constitution, many white Americans participated in an extended, violent campaign of resistance to the desegregation ruling.

The integration of the University of Mississippi in 1962 provides a pointed example of this resistance.

The Supreme Court had backed a lower federal court that ordered the university to admit James Meredith, a Black Air Force veteran. But Mississippi Gov. Ross Barnett led a wide-ranging effort to stop Meredith from enrolling at Ole Miss, including deploying state and local police to prevent Meredith from entering campus.

On Sunday, Sept. 30, 1962, Meredith nevertheless arrived on the university's campus, guarded by dozens of federal marshals, to register and begin classes the next day. A crowd of 2,000 to 3,000 people gathered on campus and broke into a riot. Meredith and the marshals were attacked with Molotov cocktails and gunfire. The marshals fired tear gas in return.

In response, President John F. Kennedy invoked the Insurrection Act of 1807 and ordered the U.S. Army onto campus to restore order and protect Meredith. Overnight, thousands of troops arrived, battling rioters.

The violence finally ended after 15 hours, leaving two civilians deadboth killed by riotersand dozens of wounded marshals and soldiers in addition to hundreds of injuries among the insurgent mob.

The next day, Oct. 1, Meredith enrolled in the university and attended his first class, but thousands of troops remained in Mississippi for months afterward to preserve order.

What some call "the Battle of Oxford" was fueled by white racism and segregation, but it played out against the backdrop of weak judicial legitimacy. Federal courts did not command enough respect among state officials or ordinary white Mississippians to protect the constitutional rights of Black Mississippians. Neither Gov. Barnett nor the thousands of Oxford rioters were willing to follow the court order for Meredith to enroll at the university.

In the end, the Constitution and the federal courts prevailed only because Kennedy backed them with the Army. But the cost of weak judicial legitimacy was paid in blood.

Legitimacy leads to acceptance

In contrast, when people believe in the legitimacy of their governing institutions, they are more likely to accept, respect and abide by the rules the governmentincluding the courtsask them to live under, even when the stakes are high and the consequences are far-reaching.

For example, two decades ago, the Supreme Court resolved a disputed presidential election in Bush v. Gore, centered on the counting of ballots in Florida. This time, the court was deeply divided along ideological lines, and its long, complicated and fragmented opinion was based on questionable legal reasoning.

But in 2000, the court enjoyed more robust legitimacy among the public than it does today. As a consequence, Florida officials ceased recounting disputed ballots. Vice President Al Gore conceded the election to Texas Gov. George W. Bush, specifically accepting the Supreme Court's pivotal ruling.

No Democratic senator challenged the validity of Florida's disputed Electoral College votes for Bush. Congress certified the Electoral College's vote, and Bush was inaugurated.

Democrats were surely disappointed, and some protested. But the court was viewed as sufficiently legitimate to produce enough acceptance by enough people to ensure a peaceful transition of power. There was no violent riot; there was no open resistance.

Indeed, on the very night that Gore conceded, the chants of his supporters gathered outside tacitly accepted the outcome: "Gore in four!"as if to say, "We'll get you next time, because we believe there will be a next time."

Risks ahead

But what happens when institutions fail to retain citizens' loyalty?

The Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection showcased the consequences of broken legitimacy. The rioters who stormed the Capitol had lost faith in systems that undergird American democracy: counting presidential votes in the states, tallying Electoral College ballots and settling disputes over election law in the courts.

The rioters may well have believed their country was being stolen, even if such beliefs were baseless. So, they rebelled in the face of a result they didn't like.

This threat is far from gone. In addition to numerous important questions about individual rights and the scope of government power, the Supreme Court may soon be asked to resolve disputes over the administration of elections and the power to certify election winnersparticularly the authority to designate a slate of presidential electors.

Nothing is certain in politics, but the specter of constitutional crisis looms over the United States. It's dangerously unclear whether the Supreme Court retains enough legitimacy to authoritatively resolve such disputes. If it doesn't, the court's abstract legitimacy problem could once again end with blood in the streets.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
After nickel-rich cathode materials were modified by the ionic conductor, both particle and structure show their stability in response to the granular cracks and structural phase transition. Such atomic scale modification throughout materials governs the performance of nickel-rich cathode materials for Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), as well as determining the efficiency of clean energy and underpinning the development of many electronic devices. Credit: Jing Li, Wentao Zhong, Qiang Deng, Qimeng Zhang and Chenghao Yang, International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing (2022). DOI: 10.1088/2631-7990/ac92ef

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) scientists from the South China University of Technology have summarized recent progress in surface modification of nickel-rich cathode materials based on the periodic table to provide a clear development of advanced LIBs.

Publishing in the journal International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, the team sought to further understand how surface modification improves the performance of nickel-rich cathode materials. They have summarized the mechanism of surface modification based on the periodic table for the first time.

The findings could have a widespread impact on the future development of nickel-rich cathode materials. When a new type of nickel-rich material is in contact with these surface modifications, both particles and structures change their configuration in response to the degeneration of the capacity.

Such surface modifications on nickel-rich cathode materials govern the performance of LIBs for clean electricity generation, as well as determining the efficiency of clean energy and underpinning the development of much electronic equipment.

One of the lead researchers, Professor Chenghao Yang, said, "Given the widespread industrial and scientific importance of such behavior, it is truly surprising how much we still have to learn about the mechanism of how modified elements behave on surfaces in contact with the bulk structure. One of the reasons information is missing the absence of techniques able to yield many alternative nickel-rich cathode materials for LIBs."

Surface modification is one of the main techniques that prevent the decomposition of nickel-rich cathode materials from the electrolyte. However, the synthetic processing of nickel-rich cathode materials requires a high-dry environment, and the structure of materials changes in moist air. Professor Chenghao Yang explained, "In this review, we summarized the novel modification technology based on the periodic table in order to provide more designed strategies for surface modification."

A series of nickel-rich cathode materials were synthesized and modified by specific reagent technology. These novel materials were analyzed to show their granular and structural stability.

By analyzing how the modified elements were synthesized on the surface and in the structure and comparing them to the electrochemical performance provided by colleagues at the South China University of Technology, the researchers were able to understand the effect of the modified elements on the high performance of nickel-rich cathode materials for LIBs. The surface modification of the precursor was found to be beneficial for the occupation of the modified elements and also suppress the phase transition with respect to the layered structure of the rock salt phase.

Professor Chenghao Yang said, "This is a milestone achievement and it is only the beginningwe are already looking to use these modifications to support the development of nickel-rich cathode materials for LIBs, needed to achieve the world's net zero ambitions."

More information: Jing Li et al, Recent progress in synthesis and surface modification of nickel-rich layered oxide cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries, International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing (2022). DOI: 10.1088/2631-7990/ac92ef

Provided by International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing
Feb. 23, 1951Oct. 28, 2022

GLEN LAKE  George Louis Sicard, born February 23, 1951, the toughest S.O.B. ever, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, October 28, 2022, surrounded by his family after courageously battling complications from injuries he sustained from a fall in May.

He was the son of the late Charles O. and Mary (Collyer) Sicard of Glen Lake.

George was a man with nine lives and he used about 15 of them. He worked hard and he played hard. He liked to say he stole other peoples fun if they werent using it because he hated to see fun go to waste.

He loved practical jokes, whether it was putting someones boat in their swimming pool, or dragging a junk boat down the road without a trailer in the middle of the night and leaving it blocking a friends driveway. He was always up for a prank, which in turn made him the victim of several played on him. Pontoons for a new barge mysteriously turned into yellow submarines for his underwater salvage business or a fake marina was established at his house with a deli, water ski school, gas dock and showers. He loved it all!

George was never at a loss for four-letter words and was able to use them for every part of a sentence: verb, adverb, noun. His grasp of the English language came from either his schooling at St. Marys Academy, where he graduated in 1969 or from the degree in English he earned at Potsdam University in 1973. This skill served him well when dealing with the IRS, local government officials and anyone who made him angry.

He was most proud of being a decorated professional firefighter with the Glens Falls Fire Department for 28 years. He said he found his niche there and he loved that job as much on the last day as he did on the first. Many of his firefighter and EMS brothers and lifelong firehouse friends were there to support him during his final months.

George also owned and successfully operated a boat hauling and storage business for 30-plus years. He was the only person who could haul a boat to California and drive back in 24 hours. He did tend to exaggerate about his driving skills. He worked alongside his dear friends James Jimmer DiCiccio and Michael Grant. He loved working with them and enjoyed countless laughs they had while moving boats and riding in the truck together and playing practical jokes on each other and unsuspecting victims.

Jimmer and Michael kept the business operating while he was in the hospital and Ft. Hudson Rehab. Their dedication to George is truly appreciated by his family. They went above and beyond for their friend.

In addition to being a firefighter, George was also proud of being involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation as a wish grantor. He was awarded several citations for being one of the highest fundraisers and wish grantors in the Northeast.

He helped spearhead various fundraisers like Wacks Motorcycle Ride, bringing together hundreds of riders and thousands of dollars for Make-A-Wish. He solicited bids to help shave off his mustache hed had since he was about 10. Two of his biggest endeavors to raise money were to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa in 2000, over 19,000 ft. in elevation, and in 2002, he scaled Aconcagua in Chile at 23,000 ft. A task not easy for someone who liked to eat prime rib like he did. He trained hard to get in shape so he could raise money for the kids and he achieved his goals. In his 20 years with Make-A-Wish, George helped raise over $200,000 to support their cause.

George was also proud of the things he helped accomplish with the Guatemala Medical Mission to set up medical clinics and bring medical care to people who had none. He arranged for three fire engines to be donated, refurbished, and sent to Guatemala along with a container of donated firefighting gear and tools. He established a firehouse there and trained local people on how to use the equipment.

On later missions, he joined an offshoot group called LaMancha where he was vice president and fundraising chairman. They set about renovating a Catholic orphanage to improve living conditions. On additional trips, he helped build several schoolhouses. All told, he was involved with the Guatemala missions from the late 1990s until 2020. His work was not done when he came home, because he would then go to local schools and speak of his experiences and encourage the students to make donations and get involved in worthy causes and missions of mercy.

Believe it or not, George was a very humble guy. He did things to help people but never looked for the spotlight. Surely there are hundreds of untold stories of how he helped someone out and never mentioned it to anyone.

He leaves behind his loving girlfriend, Deb Godnick, who was there every day caring for him after his accident, alongside his family. Also left to cherish his memory are his close-knit siblings: his sister, Lindy Sicard and her companion, Steve Sellingham; his brothers: Chuck Sicard and his wife, Karen, and Matt Sicard and his wife, Kim; and his sister, Mary (Boop) Sicard; he is also survived by three nieces: Brittany Easley (Alex), Samantha Steed (Jason) and Hannah Sue OConnell; his two nephews: Ken Sicard (Liz) and Max OConnell; five great-nieces: Evie, Ella, Harlow, Lainey and Anslie; and one great-nephew, Oliver. He loved being Uncle George to all the kids. Additionally he leaves behind many cousins with fond memories of family get-togethers.

George is also survived by his former wife, Judy Bulova, who remained a good friend and is still considered a member of the family, much to her chagrin; and his dear friend, Joan Bunny Backes, who has been like family for over 50 years and is always there to lend a hand in any way needed. A special thank you to Lynn and Mike for their professional expertise in all things businessy.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 50 Mohican Street, Lake George.

Burial will be at Pine View Cemetery, Quaker Road, Queensbury.

Family and friends may call from 4:00  7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 4, 2022 at the Singleton Sullivan Potter Funeral Home, 407 Bay Road, Queensbury.

The family would like to thank the staff on 4W and Dr. Tedesco at Glens Falls Hospital for taking great care of him during his many hospitalizations there. Also thank you to High Peaks Hospice for their incredible compassion in his final days. To Georges many friends and well-wishers too numerous to name but certainly not unappreciated, who stopped by to visit, called to check on him, sent a card or said a prayer  we thank you all!!

In lieu of flowers, donations in Georges name can be made to Make-A-Wish of Northeastern NY, Bay Ridge Rescue Squad or Bay Ridge Fire Department.

Those who wish may make condolences to the family at sbfuneralhome.com.
The state Attorney Generals Office is investigating Saturdays fatal crash involving a 23-year-old Fort Edward man who fled a state police checkpoint in Moreau on Saturday.

The review is routine policy prompted by the state.

The Attorney Generals Office involvement is because of immediate prior police interaction, Public Information Office Trooper Stephanie ONeil said.

Section 70-b of the New York State Executive Code calls for a preliminary assessment by the Attorney Generals Office of Special Investigations when an officer is involved with a civilian fatality.

Vincent A. Mancuso died after he crashed his vehicle into a large tree in South Glens Falls during a police pursuit after driving away from the police checkpoint.

Section 70-b directs OSI to investigate and, if warranted, to prosecute any criminal offense that a police officer or a peace officer, as defined, may have committed in connection with any incident in which such officer caused the death of a person by an act or omission, or in which there is a question whether such officer caused the death, according to a state report detailing the law and how it is applicable to the accident.

Mancuso was arrested on felony charges of burglary, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property in February 2019. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced up to three years in prison during September 2019 for breaking into a garage and stealing three guns.

He was also arrested in early May 2015 in connection with stealing valuables from parked cars and burglarizing garages. The arrest came after weeks of calls from Queensbury residents reporting missing items from their vehicles.
A hydrogen-powered bus operates in the Netherlands. Hydrogen can be used to generate heat and power. (Ilvy Njiokiktjien/The New York Times)

There is no stopping a switch to clean energy. It is our future. The question is: How can Illinois capitalize on this to bring stability in a volatile energy market and jobs, wealth and economic growth to our state? One way we can do this is by building a hydrogen economy in Illinois and setting up hydrogen hubs throughout our state.

The administration of President Joe Biden recently announced a $7 billion fund to jump-start a national hydrogen economy, and I believe Illinois is perfectly positioned for this investment. Thats why as a state senator, I sponsored the Hydrogen Economy Act, a measure that would create a task force to support Illinois role in a productive and safe regional hydrogen hub. Gov. J.B. Pritzker sees the value in building hydrogen hubs in Illinois and has announced that our state will bring Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Ohio together to cooperate on cultivating a hydrogen economy.

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But what exactly is a hydrogen economy, and how would it benefit Illinoisans?

Hydrogen can be used to generate heat and power, as a storage medium similar to batteries. It can be used even in refineries and steel production. Hydrogen hubs would create networks of hydrogen producers, consumers and local connective infrastructure that would accelerate the use of hydrogen as an energy source. They have the potential to transform huge sectors of our economy: energy, transportation, agriculture, industrial jobs and our workforce. Plus, a hydrogen economy would help us get closer to our clean energy goals.

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Our nuclear assets and our growing renewable energy resources position Illinois perfectly for more investment in green hydrogen creation. Illinois is a transportation hub, so investment here would be key to spreading the use of hydrogen throughout the region and beyond.

Creating a hydrogen economy in Illinois would not only help us achieve our states clean energy goals, but it would also create jobs and a pipeline of skilled workers. Thats one of the great things about building a clean energy economy  we are building it in real time and collaborating to find ways that these new opportunities can benefit hardworking families and communities.

As our coal- and petroleum-based industries shift to better alternatives, skilled workers in these industries could easily transition to work in the emerging hydrogen economy with the right training. To make sure of that, 40% of the funding for a hydrogen economy would be used for workforce development and environmental justice.

Jobs in the growing hydrogen economy would be accessible, and options to pursue these new clean energy jobs would be available to students who are interested in technical fields, as well as those who choose apprenticeship programs. Making Illinois a leader in hydrogen creation and distribution would create opportunities for the next generation to secure well-paying jobs that are here to stay.

With the building of hydrogen hubs throughout Illinois, neighborhoods that have historically been exploited by polluting industries would receive additional resources and support to encourage their participation in the growing hydrogen economy. This would be an opportunity to create wealth, and we want to make sure every community gets a piece of the prosperity.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for us to lay the foundation for a future powered by a hydrogen economy, and Im doing everything I can to ensure Illinois is poised for this historic investment. This work doesnt happen overnight, but we all want the same future for Illinois.

We want our families to grow up healthy, we want them to have access to clean air and water, and we want them to live somewhere where they can thrive for years to come. A strong hydrogen economy would help make that a reality.

Our nation is ready to switch to clean energy sources, and Illinois can lead the way in hydrogen production in the Midwest. The Hydrogen Task Force would make sure Illinois stays on track to create and maintain a safe thriving hydrogen economy that benefits our environment and our communities.

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State Sen. Laura Ellman is a Democrat from Naperville who represents the 21st District.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
GREENWICH  Owl Pen Books owners are new, but the rare and used bookstore on a back road off a back road is now on the states Historic Business Preservation Registry.

Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, presented the certificate of registration Friday to Sydney Nichols and Eric Kufs, who purchased the 62-year-old business in February.

Nichols and Kufs are the businesss third owners, after founder Barbara Probst and second owners Edie Brown and Hank Howard.

I am so delighted to have nominated you, Woerner said as she handed Nichols and Kufs the certificate, surrounded by thousands of shelved books and a vintage hi-fi playing a vinyl record. While I knew about Owl Pen Books, I didnt know it had new owners until I read about you. Its an amazing story on so many levels.

Nichols, a graphic designer, Kufs, an English professor and musician, and their young daughter were living in Los Angeles when COVID struck. As with many others in that dark time, they were reevaluating their priorities. Brown had recently lost her husband and decided it was time to pass on the business theyd nurtured for 40 years. When Nichols and Kufs saw an online advertisement for the bookstore and its 100 acres last fall, they decided this was their opportunity.

They made an offer, but someone else had gotten in in ahead of them. Then that offer fell through. The real estate agent contacted Nichols and Kufs, who made plans to fly out from Los Angeles and meet Brown. Snowstorms delayed their flight for two days. Eventually the couple and Brown connected and closed the sale.

Nichols, Kufs, and Sally Jane, now 4, moved in in February.

We unpacked the moving pod and the snow started, Nichols recalled. It was definitely an introduction to the East Coast.

Owl Pen opened for the 2022 season on April 30. Their first season in the book business exceeded our expectations, Nichols said.

We had very low expectations, Kufs added dryly.

Owl Pen Books has around 35,000 books and other printed materials, grouped by categories in two buildings. Most of the books are shelved in a converted chicken barn. A few are in the former hog pen where Probst lived for her first few years on the property and started the book business.

Over the winter and spring, Nichols and Kufs installed new lights in the main building and moved a few sections so theyre more featured, Nichols said. They found a stereo speaker and turntable online and added vinyl record sales.

The buildings are unheated, so the business will close this weekend and reopen on the last weekend in April. Nichols and Kufs plan to list the inventory online and do some projects in the store over the winter.

The states Historic Business Preservation Registry is meant to commemorate historic businesses that define a community, Woerner said. The notion of a bookstore on a farm is linked to the spirit of this community.

The registry was started by an act of the state Legislature in 2020, said Daniel Mackay, deputy commissioner for historic preservation. Nominations were opened last fall.

I kept gravitating to great food and restaurants, Mackay said. I think this is our first bookstore. Its the farthest off a main highway of the nominees so far. Thats part of the adventure.

The program recognizes businesses that have been in operation for at least 50 years in the same municipality and have contributed to their communitys history, according to the program website. Along with recognition, the program provides education and promotional assistance to ensure the businesses continued visibility and success.

The governor, lieutenant governor and members of the state Assembly and Senate can make two nominations per legislative term, or one per year. The registry is up to 111 businesses across the state, said Christina Vagvolgyi, who administers the program.

The registry is not competitive, nominations are accepted as they come in, and businesses are added as long as they meet the requirements.

Woerner previously nominated N. Fox Jewelers in Saratoga Springs.

Other businesses on the registry in this area are Telescope Casual Furniture in Granville and The Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls, both nominated by Assemblyman Matt Simpson, R-Horicon, and Stewarts Shops, headquartered in Malta Ridge.

For more information on Owl Pen Books, visit www.owlpenbooks.com. To learn more about the Historic Business Preservation Registry, visit parks.ny.gov/historic-preservation/business-registry/default.aspx.
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MAYS LANDING  Closing arguments are expected to be held Tuesday in the murder trial of a Pennsylvania man accused of killing an Egg Harbor Township woman in 2014.

Timothy Wright, 42, of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, was arrested in 2019 for the murder of Joyce Vanderhoff.

After both closing statements, the jury will be given the case for deliberations, Assistant Atlantic County Prosecutor Seth Levy said on Monday.

Vanderhoff, 25, was found dead and naked on Feb. 14, 2014, on the side of the road near a blueberry field. Her death was ruled a homicide by strangulation.

Wright is represented by public defenders John Bjorklund and Alex Settle.

Vanderhoff was last known to be asking friends and acquaintances for a ride from the Mays Landing Walmart before her body was found.

During the first round of testimonies in the case, a friend of Vanderhoff, Matthew Flamensfeld, said he and Wright got drugs from an apartment complex before visiting Vanderhoff at her hotel room in West Atlantic City. The trio then went back to Wrights home, where Vanderhoff was left after a dispute about owed narcotics.

Flamensfeld said he and Wright got drugs from an apartment complex before visiting Vanderhoff at her hotel room in West Atlantic City. The trio then went back to Wrights home, where Vanderhoff was left after a dispute about owed narcotics.

In opening arguments, Levy told the jury that a search for directions from Vanderhoffs dumping site to Wrights home ties him to the homicide. However, his attorneys claim the bodys temperature indicates it was freshly dumped at the site, and that Wright couldnt have placed it there when the prosecutions alleges he did.
MAYS LANDING  Jurors began deliberating Tuesday in the trial of a Pennsylvania man accused of killing a 25-year-old Egg Harbor Township woman in 2014.

Jurors were given the case against Timothy Wright on Tuesday afternoon following closing arguments in front of Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Dorothy M. Incarvito-Garrabrant.

This is not about winning, Wrights attorney John Bjorklund told the jury. Its about facts and evidence. We cant guess someone guilty.

Deliberations lasted nearly three hours before Garrabrant excused jurors for the day. The jurors were set to reconvene Wednesday.

Wright, 42, who declined to testify, has been in jail since 2019. Hes accused of murdering Joyce Vanderhoff, who, according to testimony, was staying at his house before she died.

The prosecution has alleged Wright strangled Vanderhoff with an object while she was at his home.

The pair often had casual sex and did drugs together, Assistant Prosecutor Seth Levy said in both his opening and closing statements.

Vanderhoffs body was found Feb. 14, 2014, along Weymouth Road in Hamilton Township. Her naked body was lying in snow near the Atlantic Blueberry Companys field when it was spotted about 9 a.m. that morning.

Wright was arrested after information gathered by detectives showed hed made a cellphone search for directions between where Vanderhoffs body was found and his home at the time in the Hamilton Greene complex off the Black Horse Pike.

Prosecutors have also questioned why Wright rented a carpet cleaner around that time.

Bjorklund, however, disputed the cellphone data and a body temperature reading collected when investigators arrived.

During closing arguments, both Bjorklund and Levy cited testimony and evidence presented during the nearly two-week trial, including maps and images of the crime scene that were displayed on poster boards during their statements.

Trial begins in Joyce Vanderhoff murder case MAYS LANDING  The trial of a Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, man accused of murdering 25-year-o

Vanderhoffs mother and stepfather sat quietly in the gallery behind Levy as attorneys recounted the details of her death and presented pictures of her naked body laid out at the medical examiners office.

Those images showed what a medical examiner described as slippage, a state in which the skin begins peeling during decomposition.

While prosecutors alleged Vanderhoffs body was left overnight before being discovered, Bjorklund argued the body hadnt been there as long, which would challenge the prosecutions timeline. Vanderhoffs body temperature of about 50 degrees doesnt equate to the hours the prosecution argues she was exposed to the cold, Bjorklund said, calling it the most telling factor.

Theres no way she could have been dumped at that time, Bjorklund said.

The defense attorney also told the jurors a search of the Hamilton Greene home turned up no incriminating evidence.

Levy told jurors that since Vanderhoff was strangled, no traces of blood would be found at the home. He also maintained evidence collected by detectives can prove their reasons to accuse Wright arent fantasy.

Jury selection begins for man accused of 2014 killing of 25-year-old woman MAYS LANDING  The trial of a Chambersburg, Pa., man in the 2014 strangling death of an Egg 

This trial has not been brought to you by Disney, Levy said. This trial has been brought to you by this defendant.

Since the trial began, Bjorklund has implicated another friend of Vanderhoff, Michael Heuser Jr., who was working at the Mays Landing Walmart overnight before Vanderhoff approached him for a ride. Heuser also had a sexual relationship with Vanderhoff, according to the defense.

Bjorklund on Tuesday said detectives must examine Heuser as a suspect, given statements by his father, Michael Heuser Sr., dont back up his sons alibi.

Heuser Jr., who also testified during the trial, has not been charged in connection to Vanderhoffs death.
ATLANTIC CITY  The family of a man who was struck by a police car while riding his bike and later died from his injuries, is suing the officer driving the vehicle, the police department and the city for damages, according to a lawsuit filed in Atlantic County Superior Court.

Everett Stern, 63, of Atlantic City, was struck while inside a crosswalk at Arkansas and Arctic avenues by a police car driven by Officer Ahmed Waqar at about 8:18 p.m. on June 18, 2021.

Stern was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Division, and died a week following the crash, according to a report in 2021.

The lawsuit contends Waqar was driving negligently, carelessly and recklessly when his car struck the bicyclist, throwing him to the ground.

The family is seeking all damages under the New Jersey Wrongful Death and Survivorship Acts, the lawsuit says. Those include compensatory damages, interest, attorneys fees, costs, and such further relief as the Court deems equitable and just.

The suit was filed by Essex County-based attorney Adam M. Epstein in Atlantic County Superior Court on Oct. 10. He filed the litigation on behalf of Andria Stern, whom the lawsuit identifies as the administrator for Everett Sterns estate. Andria Sterns relationship to Everett Stern was unclear from the lawsuit.

Epstein declined to comment on the lawsuit when contacted at the firms office on Monday.

City spokesperson Andrew Kramer directed questions to the police department.

Police spokesperson Sgt. Paul Aristizabal said the department cant comment on the lawsuit but said Waqar is still employed in a full-duty capacity.

The Atlantic City PBA Local 24, which represents the citys police department, couldnt immediately be reached for comment on Monday.

The New Jersey Attorney Generals Office is still investigating the crash, after which a grand jury will decide, based on findings, if Waqar will be charged, OAG spokesperson Daniel Prochilo said on Monday.

Epstein, through the lawsuit, is also requesting that copies of medical reports, as well as dashcam footage, black box records and information about Waqar including his drivers license, be provided to his plaintiff, the lawsuit says.

Waqars yearly salary is $48,751, according to state records. He was one of 12 part-time city officers promoted to a full-time job in May 2020.

Everett Stern was eastbound on Arctic Avenue while he was in the intersection. His bike was hit by Waqars vehicles driver side, according to past reports.

Waqar immediately summoned an emergency response and performed medical aid on Everett Stern, past reports said.

Video of the crash was released last year while acting Attorney General Andrew Bruck was still in office.

The video appears to be taken from a security camera outside the White & Black House Market store at Tanger Outlets The Walk. Though pixelated, Everett Stern can be seen crossing the intersection at about 24 seconds.

Two seconds later, traffic begins to proceed past Everett Stern toward the Atlantic City Expressway. At about the same time, Waqars police car can then be seen striking him before stopping along the sidewalk. An ambulance with its lights on appears in the frame at about 46 seconds.

In a news release issued last year, Bruck said Waqar was responding to a routine call when the crash happened. No lights or sirens were active at the time, he said.

The video was released under policies established by the attorney general in 2019 that are intended to promote the fair, impartial and transparent investigation of fatal police encounters, Bruck said at the time.
A law enforcement official says that federal agents have identified the man they believe posted a broad online threat against synagogues in New Jersey but that they do not believe he was planning to carry out a specific plot. The official said Friday that the man was questioned by law enforcement and told agents he had been bullied in the past and harbored anger toward Jewish people. His name has not been released. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity and could not discuss details of the investigation publicly.
A lifelike doll that witnesses say resembled a Black child with a noose around its neck was discovered hanging from a Gloucester County tree Sunday night.

By Monday morning, Elk Township police were looking into the matter, after the image of the 3- to 3-foot figure clad in a white gown was shared widely, including on Facebook and Nextdoor.com, a hyperlocal social networking service for neighborhoods.

It was not clear when the figure had been taken down and who did it. A person who rents the one-story house on the property, across from a wooded area on Buck Road about two miles west of Rowan University in Glassboro, did not answer the door Monday night. A phone number connected to the residence was out of service.

On Monday night, Tom Gilbert, chief of detectives with the Gloucester County Prosecutors Office, said the situation was being taken very seriously, with an exhaustive investigation underway. He added, No final decision about charges had been made.

Asked whether the police or the person living in the house took down the figure, Gilbert said, My understanding is it was the resident. He added he didnt know what time the figure was removed.

I was flabbergasted, shocked, disgusted, said E.V. Voltura, 38, of nearby Elmer, who said she came across the doll Sunday while driving along the busy Buck Road. It was a full-sized doll of maybe a 5-year-old girl of African-American descent with all the features of a human, including long hair and nice eyes. Somebody spent a lot of money on it, like it was from a dress shop.

Men laughed while one wrote a racial slur on a Black student's dorm door, video shows. Rowan police say charges will not reflect a bias incident. After walking down a dorm hallway at Rowan University in the wee hours of the morning, a tri

Voltura, who is completing a Ph.D. in bird health and conservation at Texas A&M University, said the doll was hanging from the branch of a 35-foot tree with a rope 1 to 2 inches in circumference that was fashioned into a noose.

It was not a mummy or something Halloweenish from Walmart, she continued in an interview. It was bizarre, and so blatantly hanging close to the side of the road.

Hassan Williams, 32, a flight coordinator of private jets in Delaware, said he and his fiance were driving to dinner near Rowan on Sunday when they spotted the figure. We turned around to make sure we saw what we think we saw. We couldnt believe it.

He said he returned Monday morning to take a photo that he posted on Facebook.

Being someone of color, I thought it was just horrific, said Williams, who likened the violent image to a lynching or a suicide. It left me angry and triggered things.

At first, I was trying to give whoever did it the benefit of the doubt because it was Halloween. But it just wasnt like that.

NAACP convention workshop seeks answers to questions of police, community violence ATLANTIC CITY  The NAACP hosted a workshop during its national convention Tuesday that shed

Williams said he didnt see anyone at the property Sunday night but noticed there was a lighted fire pit in the rear of the premises. He added two people contacted him Monday saying theyd tried to get the person at the house to take down the doll, but apparently failed.

The photograph he took and posted on Facebook at 8:15 a.m. had 410 comments and 635 shares by early Monday evening. On both Facebook and Nextdoor, there was heated debate over whether the display was a Halloween decoration that shouldnt be taken seriously, an exercise of First Amendment rights, or a hate crime.

Because of its graphic nature, The Inquirer elected not to publish the photograph.

On Monday night, two police cars sat in front of the worn, white and blue house. A small dog barked from inside the dwelling, setting off a ruckus from a neighbors chickens scampering around the adjoining front yard.

A man whod been in the backyard of the empty house said he was a technician hired at the request of the resident to install cameras outside the structure.
ATLANTIC CITY  The city is working to bring new development and jobs here, but its Planning Board seems to be dropping the ball.

For the second month in a row, there was no quorum for its meeting over Zoom.

The meeting has been rescheduled for 10 a.m. Nov. 21.

This meeting should take 10 to 15 minutes at most, said board attorney Joel Fleishman as staff and eventually four board members waited for others to join. When we met in person we seemed to be able to get a quorum easier.

They needed five board members for a quorum of the nine-member board, but never got there.

Maybe we need more of an incentive ... coffee and donuts, whatever, joked board Vice Chair Brian Ireland.

This is tough on the applicant, Fleishman said of attorney Jack Plackter, there to represent rsted North America, which is building two offshore wind farms off the Atlantic City coast.

rsted has gotten Planning Board approval for Phase 2 of its operations and maintenance facility on the water at the end of New Jersey and Delaware avenues in the Bungalow Park neighborhood, and just needs the board to vote to memorialize a resolution of that approval.

Plackter said it may be time to go back to in-person meetings, as Zoom meetings may be easier to overlook, especially when there are only memorializing resolutions on the agenda.

It doesnt affect our project, he said. The company is still working on Phase 1 construction of bulkheads and marine improvements.

Phase 2 is upland construction, he said.

The facility will be where technicians will hop on boats to take them out to build and maintain the wind farms. It is expected to generate about 70 vehicle trips per day as workers on 12-hour shifts arrive before 6 a.m. and leave after 6 p.m.

Atlantic City briefs: Council moves on 4-way stops in Bungalow Park ATLANTIC CITY  City Council introduced an ordinance Wednesday to create six four-way stops 

Its not the worst thing in the world, Plackter said. We realize the boards in Atlantic City, the Zoning and Planning boards, frequently dont have quorums.

Chairwoman Keturah Jackson, Ireland and board member Anthony Vraim decided to reschedule the meeting for Nov. 21, which is the earliest it can be rescheduled, given legal requirements for 10 days notice to the public.

Mayor Marty Small Sr., also a board member, attended, and left for a time to call Council Vice President Kaleem Shabazz, also a member. Small hoped Shabazz could take 15 minutes from a prior commitment to join, but Shabazz was participating in a panel discussion and was unable to do so.

Shabazz, Chief of Police James Sarkos and business owner Evan Sanchez had notified the group they could not be there, as had member Mea Solomon.

John Carr did not respond to a voicemail message asking if he was able to attend, and new member Keith Mills didnt know about the meeting, board Secretary Lisa DAlessandro said.

Since he was not a member at the last meeting where action was taken, Mills would not have been able to vote on the memorializing resolutions and minutes, she said.

Brigantine residents express concerns about offshore wind projects BRIGANTINE  Having clean energy as a renewable resource may sound nice, but residents still

After the meeting, Small said he understands people have previous commitments and cant make every meeting.

A few members had conflicts, those conflicts were known beforehand, and we werent able to have a quorum, Small said. Its not the end; the meeting was just pushed back.

He said he does not believe any members need to be replaced for lack of participation, even though some had not responded to emails from the secretary of the Planning Board.
Residents of Cliffside Park, the North Jersey town where Mehmet Oz lived for more than 20 years, have different appraisals of what its like living next to the celebrity.

A few said Oz, whos now the GOP nominee for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, was a good neighbor who largely kept to himself. Others said that on Halloweens past, hed take his grandkids trick-or-treating, and once showed up in a Superman costume and another time as a ghost.

Others, like Melissa Gentile, are a bit more blunt.

I dont like him, she said. Nobody likes him.

In Cliffside Park, a Bergen County suburb that sits nestled atop the Palisades cliffs with epic views of the Manhattan skyline, most residents who spoke to The Philadelphia Inquirer couldnt pinpoint the last time they saw Oz. But they each had stories of his time as a neighbor.

Democratic activists canvassed the neighborhood Monday, going door to door with treats mocking Oz and highlighting accusations that hes a carpetbagger who has few ties to Pennsylvania. Democrat John Fetterman, Ozs opponent in the Senate race, has made Ozs New Jersey background a centerpiece of many campaign ads.

While Oz still owns his home in Cliffside Park, he has said he moved into his wifes parents Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, home in late 2020.

As children in costumes trick-or-treated in Cliffside Park on Monday, John Roefaro, who lives near Ozs mansion, said he barely saw Oz except for  fittingly enough  a Halloween about 10 years ago. Oz brought his grandson to the Roefaros home, dressed as the Kryptonian superhero.

Otherwise, Roefaro, who has lived in his home for 20 years, cant recall seeing him out and about. He does remember, however, the parties that Oz would throw, including one that brought several New York Yankees players and their luxury cars to the quiet, tree-lined street.

He pretty much keeps to himself, said Roefaro.

Although hes a New Jersey resident, Roefaro said he caught the highlights of the first and only debate last week between Oz and Fetterman. Roefaro said he wasnt impressed by Fettermans performance in the debate and said that if he could, he would probably vote for Oz.

Gentile, who has lived near Oz for 15 years, said Oz was a garbage neighbor who wasnt very considerate and whose tree maintenance left much to be desired.

At one point, Oz planted bamboo on the back of his property, which sits on a cliff, she said. The invasive plant species often leaves the retaining wall along the road below his house unstable, causing rockslides and mudslides, she said.

Gentile also said that several neighbors had complained about the trees on Ozs property. One neighbor even sued the celebrity doctor in 2010, claiming the trees obstructed his view of the skyline, according to The Associated Press.

At least two neighbors, who declined to give their names because of their proximity to Oz, said they complained to Oz about the trees that line his property, with one saying they had asked him to cut them, only for him to decline.

I just keep telling my parents, Please dont vote for him, said Gentile. Because theyre Pennsylvanians. Because hes still my neighbor in New Jersey and hes a garbage neighbor. You dont vote for garbage neighbors.

Karen Luchs, who also lives near Oz, declined to comment on the Senate race or Oz as a candidate. But to her, Oz was a model neighbor.

I think whatever he chooses to do, he feels is the right thing for him, she said. He was a very good neighbor. I miss him. And hes a good guy.

From summer heat to fall chill ATLANTIC CITY  Just the other day, people were dressed in short sleeves and tank tops, enjo

One neighbor, who only gave his first name of Gary, also said that Oz was a good neighbor, but said that he leaned toward the Democratic Party.

Theres too many celebrities running for office in this country, said Gary. They think they can change things.

On Monday morning, members of Make the Road Action Pennsylvania and New Jersey and the Working Families party congregated down the block from Ozs home, ready to go trick-or-treating, knocking on Ozs neighbors doors, a tongue-in-cheek canvassing to let Cliffside Park residents know the groups felt Oz was unfit for Senate.

The group, some wearing costumes, brought crudites to give out as treats, a reference to one of Ozs social media videos, and even touted a life-size cutout of Oz wearing an Eagles jersey.

They asked Ozs New Jersey neighbors to tell any Pennsylvania residents they know to vote for Fetterman.

Later in the day, the group had a plane fly a banner in the sky above the Hudson River, in full view of many of Ozs neighbors, with a message: Dr. Oz to NJ Neighbors: Happy Halloween.
A Davenport man must serve more than 21 years in federal prison as the result of a child pornography investigation.

George Winston Taylor, 65, received a 260-month sentence for receiving child pornography and must also pay $48,000 in restitution, according to a news release issued Tuesday by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Iowa. Upon completion of his prison term, he must also serve five years of supervised release.

Authorities started investigating Taylor after getting a tip on social media that someone had uploaded an image of child pornography, according to the news release.

During the investigation, law enforcement officials seized a number of electronic devices while searching Taylors home, they said, and further examination of those devices found about 3,000 images and 400 videos of child pornography.

A federal grand jury indicted Taylor in August 2021 on one count of receiving child pornography and another count accusing him of possessing it, according to federal court records.

Underlying the charges were allegations that between Feb. 24, 2020, and Jan. 15, 2021, Taylor collected or attempted to collect illegal images of minors and possessed such images on Feb. 11, 2021, according to the indictment.

He pleaded guilty on Feb. 17 after entering an agreement with federal prosecutors, court records state. As part of that agreement, the U.S. Attorneys Office dropped the possession charge.

Taylor has a previous possession of child pornography conviction, according to the news release. That conviction was in 1998 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois.

Chief Judge Stephanie M. Rose sentenced Taylor on Oct. 26, court records state.

The investigation was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Justice that began in 2006, according to the news release, which states that anyone who suspects someone of sexually abusing a child can contact the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 800-284-7821.

Online tips also may be sent anonymously to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. A link to that website is available with the online version of this article.
Interview: China a significant contributor to global recovery, says Thai banker

Xinhua) 08:55, November 01, 2022

BANGKOK, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- China's rapid recovery from COVID-19 has demonstrated its strong economic resilience and fundamentals, and the country has contributed significantly to global post-pandemic recovery by promoting international trade and further opening up its domestic market, a Thai banker has said.

China's economic figures are "better than market expectation," and a bright spot is in the manufacturing sector, which has shown that new growth drivers are picking up steam, said Wichai Kinchong Choi, senior vice president of the leading Thai bank Kasikornbank, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

The Chinese economy grew 3.9 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, 3.5 percentage points higher than that in the second quarter, official data showed. During the January-September period, investment in the manufacturing sector climbed 10.1 percent year-on-year while investment in high-tech manufacturing and services continued rapid expansion, rising 23.4 percent and 13.4 percent, respectively.

The Thai banker spoke highly of China's reform and opening-up policy, saying that its successful experience has benefited not only China but also the whole world.

The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China said that China is committed to its fundamental national policy of opening to the outside world and pursues a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up.

"It means China will stay committed to openness and cooperation, which strengthens global investors' confidence and will attract more investment into China," Choi said.

Free trade cooperation and multilateralism have been and will be essential to global economic development, and "we're glad to see that China, as the world's second-largest economy, is taking a leading role in promoting multilateralism," he added.

China has been actively promoting international trade and further opening up its domestic market, sharing the dividends of its economic growth with countries around the world, especially developing countries, and contributing significantly to the global recovery, Choi said.

Over the past few years, China has hosted a series of trade fairs, including the China International Consumer Products Expo, the China International Fair for Trade in Services and the China International Import Expo, serving as excellent gateways for foreign goods to enter the Chinese market, Choi added.

Looking forward, he pointed out multiple challenges that the Chinese economy might face, including the pandemic and the weak global demand.

"However, I do firmly believe that the Chinese government is working on a long-term master plan for China, aiming at achieving sustainable and quality growth for more years to come," he said.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)
As a lifelong socially moderate Republican who supported Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, I see little chance of Illinois Republicans winning in November with a slate full of socially far-right candidates. Various polls project all our statewide candidates to lose and give remaining Republican candidates a tossup status.

The far-right Republicans who are gripping the Illinois Republican Party by the proverbial throat have too often been able to push through socially extreme candidates in the primaries,which makes it easy for Democrats to label all of our candidates as extremists. Democrats employ this tactic effectively, knowing the majority of general election voters in Illinois want women to have the right to choose, even if they themselves would never choose abortion, and favor laws restricting access to semi-automatic weapons. Thus, Democratic mailers and media ads demonize Republican candidates as too extreme to hold any office.

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As a result, moderate Illinois Republicans  and thus all Illinois Republicans  are again likely to be denied seats at the tables of government and left looking in from the barren outside. We are being relegated to political irrelevance where and when it matters.

Socially moderate Republicans  still conservative at their fiscal core  must no longer acquiesce to the far right who insist on candidates who espouse intolerant social policies that easily allow Democrats to define us all as too extreme to hold office. Being stringently opposed to abortion and against any gun controls can no longer be the litmus test for being a Republican candidate in Illinois.

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Opposing big government and the overregulation of businesses, placing family first when it comes to safety, wanting fair access to quality health care, having schools teach principles and academics, securing the southern border, placing America first internationally, and accepting our neighbors, no matter their race, creed or orientation, is consistent with being a Republican in Illinois. I am proud to be that kind of Republican.

Socially moderate Republicans are being shunned or shouted down by those on the far right of the party when we disagree with them. The far right apparently prefers defeat in general elections rather than winning with candidates who can draw socially moderate Republicans, independents and Democrats to the polls in Illinois. Thus, were left trying to legitimize gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey and Mark Curran, the Republican nominee for an Illinois Supreme Court seat.

Illinois Republicans face having to rationalize voting for candidates who move to the middle for the general election after worshipping at the altar of far-right politics in the primary. These candidates are political chameleons who want voters to view them differently in the general election than who they were in the primary. They know far-right candidates do not win general elections here. Bailey will be the prime example of this truism in a race that Republicans should be able to win  with an electable candidate.

Winning general elections is what matters  not winning primaries with unelectable candidates. To do so, the Illinois Republican Party should actively promote our core values on policy and shake off the troubled waters of abortion and gun rights that drown us in the general election.

I am convinced that our core Republican values, when they are at the forefront in discussions of elections, will attract more voters to our causes. Those values will coalesce hardworking Americans who want less government, fewer taxes and more opportunity to live the American Dream no matter their background or ethnicity. They know that dream  which I have lived  is being stolen from our children and grandchildren by liberal economic giveaway politics and border policies. Thats where we need to fight for policy changes and win the voters to seat us at the important tables of government. This should be self-evident by now, yet social extremists insist on perpetuating the pyrrhic fight over abortion rights and guns with the same result each election  Republicans being labeled as too extreme.

Instead, we must stand up resolutely to those willing to place abortion and gun issues above winning general elections. Illinois has already codified abortion. Thats a political fact. Lets fight to keep it limited to 15 weeks, allow parental notification and insist there be no state funding. There are too many mass shootings to realistically believe the General Assembly will not address semi-automatic weapons. Lets be willing to consider age limits, background and mental health checks, and waiting periods to purchase weapons. Plus, no parent with a Firearm Owners Identification card should be able to buy such a weapon for his or her child.

Once we stop handing the tools to Democrats to label all Republicans as too extreme, we will be able to effectively focus on Democrats failed policies and giveaways, porous borders, conciliatory policies toward countries that want to harm us and soft-on-crime prosecutors. And we will win on the issues that matter. Lets turn the tables rather than repeatedly plow headlong into the Democratic playbook.

We moderate Illinois Republicans need to raise our voices. We cannot squander the November 2024 election as it appears we may have done this year. 2024 is likely to be the defining election for our modern-era republic.

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Republicans have to find consensus builders. That starts today with a dialogue on social issues inclusive of everyones views, then tomorrow doing all we can to convince moderates and independents to support and vote for Republican candidates in 2024.

Gary Grasso is mayor of Burr Ridge, a former DuPage County Board member and 911 chairman, and a former candidate for Congress and Illinois attorney general with more than 25 years of public service.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Three seats are up for reelection on the Scott County Board of Supervisors this fall, and a fourth is likely to become vacant following the election.

Scott County Supervisor Tony Knobbe is running unopposed for county treasurer. His seat on the county board isn't up until the 2024 election.

So, what happens next?

When/if Knobbe is sworn in as treasurer in the first few days of January, his seat on the Board of Supervisors would be considered vacant as "holding both offices at the same time would be considered incompatible," Assistant Scott County Attorney Robert Cusack wrote in an email Monday.

Iowa law states that a vacancy can be filled by a committee made up of the county treasurer, auditor and recorder, who can call a special election if they choose.

Scott County residents may also call for a special election. To do so, a petition must have signatures totaling 10% of the number of voters in the previous general election filed with the county within 14 days.

The most recent vacancy on the board occurred when Roxanna Moritz ran for Scott County Auditor in 2008, halfway through a four-year term on the Board of Supervisors. A committee picked Democrat Jeff Liske to fill the post.

A petition attempt did not garner enough signatures to call a special election.

Although Knobbe is unopposed, Cusack said, the county could not have included a fourth supervisor seat in the upcoming midterm election.

"The vacancy on the board of supervisors does not exist until Mr. Knobbe vacates the office by being sworn in as treasurer," he said. "Then the mechanism set forth by the Iowa Legislature ... is followed to fill the vacancy.

"Theoretically, if there was an election for four supervisors and Mr. Knobbe decided he wanted to finish out his term as supervisor and not take the treasurers office. it would present a real dilemma. We would then have six elected supervisors when we are only allowed five. The current law that the county is following precludes that dilemma."
The Scott County Auditor's Office is charged with organizing all elections in Scott County, as well as completing some financial and record-keeping duties. Kerri Tompkins, a Republican and appointee, is running for her first term in her own right, and Democrat Ashley Schimanski is challenging her for the position.

Tompkins was appointed in May 2021 by the County Board of Supervisors on a party-line vote. Tompkins served as a Davenport City Council member for six years and was most recently a business manager at MindFire Communications, a full-service advertising agency in LeClaire. Democrats criticized the process of her selection as secretive. Supervisors Ken Beck and Tony Knobbe submitted her name Monday night before a Tuesday morning meeting, delayed at Tompkins' request while she notified her employer, the supervisors said. Democrats urged supervisors to conduct a special election for the seat.

This is Tompkins' first time running for the auditor's position. Since her appointment, she's administered the 2021 city and school elections and the June 2022 primary election. If elected, Tompkins said she wants to work toward easier online access to historical data and documents.

Ashley Schimanski is a former hospice worker and small-business owner, according to her website. If elected, she said she would push to allow other county employees be poll workers to ease staffing shortages.

In addition to administering elections within the county, the auditor also prepares and processes payroll for all county offices and departments, publishes records and other legal notices, and oversees certain contracts and financial disclosure documents.

Meet Ashley Schimanski Party: Democrat Residence: Davenport Occupation: Candidate for Scott County Auditor, former hospice care worker What prior experience do you have that would qualify you for the job? Schimanski: My life experiences working in hospice care will give me the opportunity to transfer the tools that I used in that position to the Auditors Office. The position required detailed-oriented record keeping, which was essential to the patients care as well as the record-keeping process. As we transferred into HIPPA, those requirements were essential to maintaining confidentiality for each patient. It also helped me to expand on a trait that I already possessed, which was compassion for those around me in need. Moving into the auditors position, while there may be a learning curve, as there is with all new jobs, it will be more of a streamlined transition. This will happen because my two strongest attributes are maintaining accurate records and record keeping as well as compassion. Working in the Auditors Office, an elected position, I will be in the role of managing those in the different divisions of the office. I want to bring my experience to the election side of the office, where it is most needed at this pivotal point in voting because of the laws and rules that are being governed by those changes. What have you done to learn more about this job? Schimanski: Ive been fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet Roxanna Moritz, the former Scott County Auditor, and some others that have knowledge of the Auditors Office. Roxanna has shared many news articles and different nonpartisan organizations to follow. I know Im constantly researching all the new materials that have come out regarding the 2020 election. That material has given me insight into how we need to continue to move forward with safe, fair and honest elections. While we follow the law and advocate for our voters, poll workers and staff, we need to keep everyone safe. This position requires a person that is not just looking at a job or an elected position but rather one that is passionate about democracy and the opportunities that are given to us through our voice at the ballot box. Yes, there are many areas outside of elections that the Auditors Office is responsible for and must continue to be innovative in, but the position of Commissioner of Elections is one of passion, drive and desire to see that all citizens who are legally able to are engaged in the process, which means it is not a 9 to 5. This will be a new position for me, and with any new position comes learning. Im excited to learn and grow with the Scott County Auditors Office.

Meet Kerri Tompkins Party: Republican Residence: Davenport Occupation: Scott County Auditor What prior experience do you have that would qualify you for the job? I bring more than 20 years of management experience in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. In addition, I served on Davenport City Council for six years (three terms) and ended my term as Mayor Pro-Tem. My education includes a Master of Social Work from St. Ambrose University with a concentration on administration.

What would be your No. 1 priority if elected this term?

Schimanski: The most important priority is to ensure that safe, fair and honest elections occur in accordance with the law while still being an advocate for our voters in Scott County.

Tompkins: My vision is to incorporate the use of more technology throughout the office to increase efficiency and provide better customer service. One example is to scan historical data to be more accessible to the public online. Currently, many documents are only available in the office. Once these are scanned, customers will be able to have immediate access without leaving their home or office. In addition, I would like to increase collaborative efforts throughout the community for educational and partnership opportunities.

What changes would you make to how the Scott County Auditors Office operates?

Schimanski: I would advocate having other county employees be able to chair or be election workers on Election Day. Other counties in other states have looked at this as well. They would be paid for their regular job, and in addition, they would receive poll worker pay. This is a way to manage and maintain a strong base of workers that you can utilize in all elections. Elections have a great deal to do with impressions, and the most important issue is to ensure that all poll workers are adequately trained for all elections, whether that is a city, school, state or federal election. I would also like to see a centrally located facility to adequately store, manage and train workers. Currently, the machines are stored in one location and poll workers are trained in another location. Each time you must send an employee to the warehouse you are not utilizing the employee adequately. Time is important, and if you are sending someone 15 to 20 minutes away from the administration building that is time that could be better spent doing the job. It would be beneficial to be able to work, store and train in all one location. I would also like to see the Scott County Board of Supervisors support further educational opportunities for all election staff as well as payroll and accounts payable. We dont want to become stagnate. We need to learn new and inventive ways to do the jobs we are tasked with more efficiently. Continuing education is important in all aspects of the Auditors Office.

What lessons have you learned from your first year in office? What changes would you make going forward to how the office operates as a result?

Tompkins: Change is inevitable, especially in this role. It is important to keep up with the laws, but it is always OK to say, I am not sure and get back to people. I have already made numerous changes upon starting this position. One area of focus was the creation of a management team to support the office and build a team culture. Cross-training has also been implemented to ensure shared knowledge and cross-departmental support. Due to ongoing change, I think it is helpful to utilize the expertise already within the office during busy times. Current staff members are committed to the office and willing to assist in keeping up with changing workflow. This also provides more opportunities for staff growth and internal office advancement. I believe in being proactive with change and therefore, if elected, I will continue to monitor positions within the office and modify them as necessary. I feel it is important to adjust so the community can be served to the best of our ability and not be limited by todays means.

Do you think the Auditors Office is appropriately equipped and funded to handle the countys elections? If not, what would you change or what changes would you advocate for?

Schimanski: We need to look at new equipment. Technology is something that changes vastly. The lifespan of most election equipment is approximately 10 years. Therefore, it is time to start budgeting for election equipment that will be needed in the future.

Tompkins: Yes, I think the office is appropriately equipped and funded for county elections at this time. Again, numerous changes have already been implemented upon my starting in this role via staff and improved efficiencies. My first task was to hire a new election manager, due to a retirement. Then, I reviewed each position to identify service gaps and streamline tasks for improved efficiency. One area of change was to reduce the level of office management (via retirement) to instead provide a full-time election security staff as I believe security should be an area of focus. Additional monitoring would continue, if elected, as laws and technology change.

What should the Auditors Office do to encourage higher voter turnout?

Schimanski: We must work harder as a county to increase voter trust and engagement in our elections. My desire is to be out in the community gaining the trust of our citizens. This can be achieved by empowering citizens to become educated about how elections are run and the security measures put in place to ensure that we have met all the requirements to have accurate elections. As the auditor, I will reach out to as many organizations as I can to have continued conversations, as well as a working relationship with them that will give us the opportunity to continually discuss the importance of actively participating in our democracy. We need to empower the community through voter education. We need to make our community aware of ALL elections and the role that they play by continuing to be involved in their school, city, county, state and federal elections. Their voices and their votes matter!

Tompkins: I believe voters need to have increased voting opportunities and be thoroughly informed on the process. This includes how to vote, where to vote and the deadlines for the various options.

The use of satellite sites is an example of increasing voting opportunities. Satellite sites are early, in-person voting locations throughout the community to improve accessibility to voters. It has been over 10 years since Scott County had satellites for a primary election in a general election year, but they were available to Scott County voters this past May.

The law only requires notifications via newspapers. However, in order to thoroughly inform voters in Scott County, I initiated a postcard as another communication tool. This was mailed to every household with a registered voter in September. The postcard detailed important dates with contact information to assist voters in preparing to vote. In addition, social media has been created and enhanced for further communication opportunities.

To encourage Iowa youth to exercise their right to vote, Iowa law allows voters to register at the age of 17. I worked with staff on creating a QR code, which has been distributed to local high schools. Most teens today carry cell phones and can now register without putting their phones down. This is another example of encouraging voter turnout.

How should the Auditors Office handle accusations of voter fraud or questions of the integrity of Scott Countys elections? Further, what does the county do to ensure elections are secure? Can it do more?

Schimanski: I feel the key is being transparent with Scott County citizens. Elections consist of many moving parts. I dont feel you can instantly make someone understand the integrity of our elections. This takes time and trust. My biggest goal is for continuous education not only for myself but the citizen of Scott County. That way as elections evolve, we can evolve together. The Scott County Auditors Office takes several steps to ensure elections are secure. Voters must show their voter identification to receive a paper ballot. This ensures one vote per person. Paper ballots are another key component in tracking and auditing elections. Ahead of every election, the Auditors Office checks the operating system. They make sure no devices have been attached to manipulate elections and the machines dont connect to the internet. All information is stored on both printed receipts and USB drives. After the election, the poll workers run a report comparing paper receipts with total paper ballots. If they match, the poll workers sign off on the paper receipts and transfer the information from each polling station to the Auditors Office via secure transportation.

Tompkins: Accusations should be thoroughly reviewed by the appropriate stakeholders (sheriff, county attorney, etc.) for validity and then dealt with according to the law. Voter integrity and process questions are answered on a routine basis via email, telephone and/or in person. We are happy to answer questions and explain the process followed in Scott County. We also encourage people to get involved as poll workers to learn the process firsthand.

The county provides numerous measures to ensure election security. Some examples include using paper ballots, conducting a pre-test of the voting equipment and completing a post-election audit. In addition, I implemented a required process of scanning each computer used on Election Day. This scan will identify any tampering, which would then be turned over to the authorities.

The pre-test of the voting equipment and the post-election audit are both open to the public. Test ballots are created for the pre-test to ensure each race is voted. The ballots are then tested on each machine to confirm the paper printout matches the ballots tested. Again, the public is invited to observe and participate in both marking ballots and testing a machine of their choice.

A post-election audit is conducted within days of an election. The state randomly chooses a precinct to audit and Scott County uses poll workers from another precinct. They hand count the ballots and compare their results to the machine results from election night. If there is a discrepancy that cannot be accounted for, an administrative recount may be necessary. Since I have been in office, the results have matched in Scott County.

As technology advances, there will be more opportunities for increased security. This is an area to be monitored and adjustments made as necessary. If elected, I will continue to make this a priority as I have already identified the need for a full-time security staff member.
A Moline man accused of committing sex crimes against a child and shooting at a house awaits sentencing in December after accepting a plea agreement.

Domingo T. Garcia, 19, shot an occupied home on Feb. 8 in the 3600 block of Johnson Avenue in Davenport, the Davenport Police Department alleged in initial complaints filed in Scott County. At the time, Garcia was a felon and prohibited from possessing firearms.

During the investigation, police searched Garcias Apple iPhone and found about 15 videos that showed him engaging in sex acts with a child, according to the complaints. Investigators identified the child, who was 14 at the time the complaints were filed.

As a result of the allegations, Garcia first faced five charges: third-degree sexual abuse, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to court records.

He has since pleaded guilty to lascivious acts with a child, intimidation with a dangerous weapon and being a felon in possession of a firearm, court records state. Garcias plea was the result of an agreement with the Scott County Attorneys Office. District Court Judge Tom Reidel accepted his plea Thursday and set his sentencing for Dec. 16.

The county attorneys office at sentencing will recommend incarceration for up to 10 years each on the intimidation and lascivious acts charges and five for the felon-in-possession charge, according to the plea agreement. It will, however, also recommend that the sentences be concurrent and that any fines be suspended.

At the time of the shooting, police records show, Garcia was on probation and his whereabouts were being electronically monitored. The monitoring system showed him in the 3600 block of Johnson Avenue at the time of the shooting.

At least two people were inside the home at the time of the attack, according to police records. They were sleeping in the master bedroom, and police investigating the attack recovered two projectiles inside that bedroom. They also found three bullet holes in the home and five .45-caliber shell casings.

One of the people at the home told investigators that Garcia was angry at his ex-girlfriend and shot at the house because he thought she was inside, the complaints state.

On Feb. 9, Garcia also allegedly admitted to the shooting on social media, and police found images of Garcia with firearms when they searched an Apple iCloud account as part of the investigation, according to the complaints.

The police also accused Garcia of posting at least one of the sex videos on social media without the child being aware of the posting, according to the complaint.

Reidel ordered a pre-sentence investigation for the December sentencing, according to court records.

Such investigations are meant to develop a background report on the person to be sentenced. Its purpose is to assist a judge in determining the appropriate sentence.

Garcia would have to post a $25,000 cash-only bond to be released, according to court records.

Jail records show he was being held outside of Scott County as of Monday, but no indication is given as to where he is being held.
As Russians seized parts of eastern and southern Ukraine in the opening stages of the war, mayors, civilian administrators and others say they have been abducted, threatened or beaten to force their cooperation. In some instances, they have been killed. Human rights activists say these actions could constitute a war crime. Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov said he was abducted from his office and the bullying and threats did not stop for a minute." He said they tried to force him to continue in his role but he refused. After six days in detention and an intervention from Ukraine's president, he was exchanged for nine Russian prisoners of war and expelled from the occupied city.
Hundreds of ghouls, wizards and TV heroes made the haunting walk around a parking lot on Knollwood Drive in Rapid City Monday night, playing spooktacular games and enjoying terrifyingly delicious treats.

It wasn't a scene from a horror movie, but there was spirit around the place  a spirit of giving back to the community.

For the second year in a row, Renewal MB Church hosted its Trunk or Treat for the children and families of the Knollwood Heights neighborhood, an area of Rapid City that has witnessed tragedy over the past few years.

Pastor Jon Fiester's congregation moved to the space on Knollwood Drive approximately two years ago. He said even though there have been incidents in the neighborhood that sometimes consume news headlines, there's no place else he'd rather be.

"I think this is an absolutely beautiful community," Fiester said.

The Trunk or Treat is a way in which the neighbors can all come together, he said.

"To see everybody come together and just have a fun family evening, it's good," Fiester said. "We had a lot of volunteers that helped make this happen. Candy was donated from many people in the community... It's really good to see the community come together."

More than 12,400 candy items and hundreds of dollars were collected to support the Knollwood Trunk or Treat. A two-week community candy drive was promoted by the city of Rapid City's Human Relations Commission/Mniluzahan Okolakiciyapi Ambassadors.

According to Darrell Shoemaker, the city's communications coordinator, a candy collection box was set up in the lobby of City Hall. Additionally, members of the city council, Pennington County Board of Commissioners and the Rapid City Police Department all contributed to the effort.

"I'm just grateful for the community to come out here, just to come together and rally around the city as a whole, and put on a great event for the neighborhood," Fiester said.

The church is already looking to build excitement for next year's Trunk or Treat, Fiester said, joking that he wants a dunk tank in the cool South Dakota fall.

"We'll figure something out," he said.
Nearly 150 names scrolled across the Pennington County Commission chamber projection screen at its regular meeting Tuesday morning, recognizing veterans employed by Pennington County and setting the stage for a theme of honoring veterans.

Today were recognizing veterans, very critical components of our nation and our nations history and for Pennington County, said Commission Chair Gary Drewes. We appreciate what theyve done on behalf of our community.

Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs Greg Whitlock spoke at Tuesdays meeting, recognizing the countys efforts to assist veterans, including its three veterans service officers  a number Whitlock cited as an indication of the countys dedication to serving veterans.

I just wanted to give you a few praises for Pennington County commissioners for allowing the department to have three county veterans service officers to take care of veterans, Whitlock said. I mean, what a great effort on Pennington Countys capabilities of taking care of veterans. So, accolades to all of you for doing that.

Barry Tice, director of Pennington County Human Services and the Veterans Service Office, said the Veterans Service Office is one of the busiest in the state, literally serving thousands of veterans a year. Tice commended Pennington County Veterans Service Officers Tom Vallette, Lee Borries and Heather Funk for their work caring for the increasing veteran population in the county.

Commissioner Deb Hadcock said you could not find a better group of people to work with.

The county has approximately 14,000 veterans, Whitlock said, bringing a huge economic impact to the county and the state. Veterans in Pennington County received $182,489,000 in compensation, education, insurance and Medicaid medical care in 2021, he said.

Whitlock also touched on a coordination with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Military Affairs and the Department of Veterans Affairs called Fallen Heroes Bridges Dedications. The program, started three years ago, nominates approximately 12 veterans a year who have been killed or missing in action, along with their families, to dedicate a bridge to in their honor.

Whitlock said applications have been scarce West River, hoping to bring attention to the program. Applications for fallen heroes dedications are submitted by April 1 each year, and reviewed by a member of the military, a member of Veterans Affairs, a representative from the Governors Office and himself.

And what were looking at is making sure that all the areas are covered, not just Vietnam or World War II, or the War on Terror, he said. I guess I'm encouraging you to use as part of recognizing veterans also in your coming bridge dedications for South Dakota. It's just another way of recognizing those fallen heroes in South Dakota.

The theme of honoring veterans continued with an executive proclamation declaring Oct. 1 Sergeant Colton Levi Delta Derr Day, a veteran who succumbed to suicide in 2012 after battling PTSD. Oct. 1 was his birthday.

Derr's family was present at the meeting, including his father Jerry Derr, to hear the proclamation, share about his son and speak to the importance of assisting veterans.

Pennington County is a leader in supporting veterans, and each of you have done a great job in recognizing the needs of our veterans in our community, he said. And Pennington County does have one of the best reputations of VSO officers.

Jerry Derr created a foundation in his sons name in 2012, called the Sergeant Colton Levi Derr Foundation, with a mission to advocate and assist veterans and create awareness.

Colton was one of those warriors that had a hard time asking for help, he said. And when he did, he didn't really get the best feedback through his chain of command nor through the resources available to him.

The foundation was a rallying of him and his family, he said, to recognize a mental health crisis within the military, but also to involve the community. One message Jerry Derr said the foundation hopes to convey is that everyone struggles  even the most outwardly resilient  like his son, he said.

Jerry Derr explained his sons nickname, Delta Derr, earned as a team leader who performed reconnaissance in the middle of the night, kind of fearless  nothing intimidated him.

What caught everybody off guard was they didnt realize that Colton was fighting the demons of post-traumatic stress, he said. And so thats really the message that we tried to get out with the foundation. Youre not alone. Everybody struggles, we all got to stick together. And youve got to find somebody that you can talk to, and somebody that will listen.

Hadcock read the proclamation, which detailed Colton Derr's service and suffering, calling the invisible wounds of war sometimes more deadly than the battlefield. Hadcock presented the proclamation to Jerry Derr and his family.

The board approved the proclamation unanimously.
As Election Day approaches, the Journal is interviewing candidates for office in the Rapid City region. The Journal selected races in which there are competitive candidates.

Election Day is Nov. 8. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Additionally, in-person absentee voting is available at county auditor offices.

District 29 makes up much of Meade County and stems into Butte and Pennington counties. The current representatives are incumbent Kirk Chaffee, R-Whitewood, who serves as the majority whip, and Dean Wink, R-Howes. Wink is not running for reelection, but is running for state Senate in District 29. State Sen. Gary Cammack, R-Union Center, is running for one of the seats, and Sean Natchke is running as a Libertarian.

House District 29  Two seats

Gary Cammack

Cammack grew up 12 miles north of Union Center in Stoneville. He said he and his wife moved to Union Center with their general store, which is where their business and ranch are now.

He said he decided to run in the House after finishing his term limit in the Senate because he believes his experience in business, agriculture and life in general gives him a good background to make decisions for the state.

"We've got a lot of issues coming up this year, and it's going to be important that we have some people that have some ag background, some business background and general experience in the legislature," he said.

Cammack said he's always been quick to advocate for the industries that have a big impact on the state, which includes the number one industry of agriculture. He said he's previously worked on establishing the diagnostic lab at South Dakota State University, which allows ag producers with animals to test for disease.

He said he was always part of the push to offer a precision agriculture degree, and to change insurance laws to allow ag producers to be able to access a special kind of health program. Cammack said it cut the cost of agriculture producers by up to 25%.

Cammack said supporting tourism and growth in general is also important in South Dakota.

If elected, Cammack said he hopes to bring forward bills on property tax, one in particular that would give the first $100,000 in taxes an exemption on residential properties. He said it has the potential to end up with additional help from the state's general fund to pick up some of the cuts to help with education.

He said regardless of where he or anyone else stands on the issue, he's going to take a look at the sales tax on groceries.

"It's going to be a considerable debate over that because it creates a big cut in state revenues," Cammack said. "We've got to deal with the different issues that come up when it comes to that. Making sure that we don't have some of the medium and smaller towns that really rely on the sales tax."

He said sometimes the major contributor to sales tax in a small town is the grocery store, so there's a lot to be considered and discussed.

Kirk Chaffee

Chaffee grew up in Meade County. He said his grandparents homesteaded in the area and he has been a lifelong resident. He graduated from Sturgis and spent his time working on the family ranch.

Chaffee also took on jobs in Sturgis, including some Sturgis Motorcycle Rally-related businesses, and later served as director of Equalization in Meade County. He said his Meade County career lasted about 32 years.

"When I did retire, I was looking to put all that behind me," he said. "It just kind of turned out to be perfect timing, so to speak."

Chaffee replaced now Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden in 2018 on the ballot.

He said most of the bills he has worked on in the legislature have been on the taxation side. Chaffee said those bills were intended to help the taxpayer understand their tax bill and be able to get the adjustments necessary, particularly on ag land.

Others include constituent bills, which Chaffee said are fun for him because he gets to work outside his typical study area of local government. The bills included dealing with anti-discrimination concerning organ transplants.

Chaffee said he would like to work on the housing concerns in the Black Hills and the increasing market as people continue to move to the area. He said the main concerns he's received are primarily from the elderly that have owned and lived in their homes for years.

"We're just trying to help protect them, and all South Dakotans, from that escalating property tax bill due to the large market demand from people seeking to move to South Dakota," he said.

Sean Natchke

Natchke grew up in Sturgis. He said he has lived there the majority of his life, but did spend a couple years in Las Vegas and in Europe, but Sturgis has always been home.

He said he tried running for Sturgis city council this past year and learned a lot. He said he wanted to enhance and continue his career into politics.

"I feel that there's a need for people that are not career politicians, or just your average Joe that needs to get in and make the voice of the average person heard," Natchke said.

He said his biggest qualifying quality is that he has a very articulate experience in life because of how much he has traveled and seen in the world.

"That opens up doors that the average person does not get to see," he said. "I've been everywhere from third-world countries that barely have electricity to coming back here and spending time on the ranch."

He said he has a good eye for detail and a desire to help people. Natchke said that desire to help people and not thinking of this as a next step in his career keeps him from being complacent.

"Some people might do this just for the paycheck, some people might do this for the notoriety. I'm doing this because I want to listen to the people," Natchke said. "And I think there's a very large deficit of what the people want and what's actually happening in the different levels of politics, from the local level on up to the national level."

Natchke said if he's elected, he hopes to work on what the people want. He said many people are concerned about the economy, particularly property taxes. He said he would like to push for no tax on overtime.

He said he would like to also focus on the decriminalization of marijuana.
Two illegal handguns, ammo and drugs were seized at a checkpoint in Petersburg on Saturday night.

Virginia State Police have been assisting the Petersburg Police Department since May as part of Gov. Glenn Youngkins Violent Crimes Task Force Initiative.

The state police Bureau of Criminal Investigations Richmond field office and the task force assisted with Saturdays operation, held at Puddledock Road and Industrial Drive. Thirteen traffic violations also were cited, and two people were arrested on outstanding warrants.
Virginia State Police on Monday released the name of a woman who died in a chain-reaction crash on Interstate 95 in Henrico County early Sunday.

Clair Elizabeth Wenzel, 28, of Montpelier was killed when her Hyundai Elantra was hit by another vehicle, police said.

Seven vehicles were involved in the crash, which happened in the northbound lanes of I-95 near East Parham Road. Police responded at 2:51 a.m.

Police said in a statement that the first crash occurred when a 2013 Jeep Wrangler ran off the road and hit a guardrail, spinning back into a lane. That set off a series of collisions as drivers tried to avoid hitting vehicles.

Seven people were hospitalized with various injuries, police said.
Tamara, 50, mourns at the grave of her only son, a military servicemen, killed during a Russian bombing raid, at a cemetery in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, on Oct. 26, 2022. Tamara did not learn of her son's death until four months after he died, when she managed to escape from her village in Kherson occupied by Russian troops. (Emilio Morenatti / AP)

The U.S. and its allies have been engaging in a significant military intervention to help Ukraine resist Russias brutal invasion for the past nine months. Not only have they given considerable financial, humanitarian and military resources  including sophisticated weapons systems  to Ukraine, but they also have embedded advisers with Ukrainian forces, allowed thousands of their citizens to join Ukraine as foreign fighters and provided a vast amount of real-time intelligence to the country.

While this intervention has enjoyed broad domestic support, it has its share of determined critics. Notably, much of the anti-war camp in foreign policy circles has loudly opposed vigorous U.S. intervention. Its criticism is simple: The U.S. has done this before. With Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria, Americas recent interventions have been a parade of mission failures.

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In each of these cases, the reasons for failure were similar. As has been highlighted by critics, the U.S. has shown that it is thoroughly capable of using military force to destroy hostile governments, from dislodging the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in 2002 to helping revolutionaries overthrow Moammar Gadhafi in Libya in 2011. But what happens afterward?

These situations have either left America beating a quick retreat and leaving behind a country in ruin, as in Libya, or else undertaking a prolonged and costly occupation to ensure that its chosen proxy faction stays in power, as in Afghanistan. Either way, they have led to absolutely disastrous results for the U.S., the relevant countries and their broader regions.

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The anti-war camps critique of these actions is right on the money. But what it misses is a remarkably simple point: Not all interventions are created equal. Intervening to back a state defending itself in an interstate war is a different strategic proposition from intervening to support a rebel group or revolution against a regime in a civil conflict. In short, U.S. support for Ukraine is more like support for Kuwait in 1991 or South Korea in the 1950s than Iraq or Afghanistan.

Why is this distinction so crucial? The reasoning here is straightforward as well: When backing a state defending itself against foreign aggression, there is a viable situation in the country once the fighting is over. The U.S. wont need to engage in a prolonged and costly military occupation to ensure stability in Ukraine. It wont have to undertake the herculean task of building a new nation. It wont have to stand up a new military and range of governing institutions. And it wont have to conquer Ukraine province by province, fighting a bloody insurgency waged by an ousted regime. In a nutshell, someone will be in charge.

In fact, like most defensive interstate conflicts, the fighting has helped substantially strengthen Ukraine. As political scientist Charles Tilly famously said, War made the state. He could have added that it makes the nation too. The Ukrainian state and army have been forced to become far more efficient and capable to meet the tremendous threat facing them, and the Ukrainian people have rallied strongly in defense of their beleaguered nation. The war has congealed Ukrainian society and crystallized the Ukrainian state. Like other states to come out intact from modern defensive wars such as Iran, Israel or Turkey, Ukraine will emerge from this stronger, more cohesive and more prosperous than it was before. This makes concerns about postwar anarchy or quagmire a particularly foolish misreading of the lessons of history and the current situation in Ukraine.

Others will debate the value of the U.S. interests at stake in Ukraine, which include some combination of preserving democracy, upholding territorial sovereignty, restoring the power of deterrence and reassuring frightened allies. And while most analysts agree that the risk of Russia using nuclear weapons in Ukraine is low, it is not something that can be entirely dismissed out of hand. But it is worth stressing that what is perhaps the primary critique of U.S. interventionism over the last 20 years simply doesnt apply here.

Those invoking the specter of Americas post-9/11 decade are misunderstanding the situation at hand and the important distinction between involvement in an interstate versus a civil war. The U.S. is not invading a country and installing a new regime  that is what Russia is trying, and failing, to do. Instead, it is helping one country defend itself from aggression by another.

Not all interventions are the same  and this is Kuwait or South Korea, not Libya or Afghanistan.

Daniel Silverman is an assistant professor of political science at Carnegie Mellon University. Kyle Larson is a senior research associate at the Chicago Project on Security and Threats at the University of Chicago.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
A community coalition announced a $15 million project Tuesday to open a grocery store, wellness center, bank branch and free adult high school in northwest Roanoke.

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys will relocate its employment center and administrative headquarters to free up its 99,000-square-foot building at Melrose Avenue and 24th Street Northwest for the megaproject, according to current plans.

During the announcement before a crowd of people under a tent in Goodwills parking lot, spectators viewed a sketch showing the current Goodwill facility, formerly a Kmart, divided to house the proposed store, wellness center, bank and school under one roof. Melrose Library, new in 2019, is already there.

Officials said the new complex  Melrose Plaza  will open by the end of 2024.

Richmond Vincent, president and CEO of the valleys Goodwill, credited the leadership of the Roanoke City Council for your insight into what can be done in this community that can really restore us back to those great days before urban renewal.

The core idea, at least seven years in the making, is restoring community through nutrition, wellness, financial literacy and education, said Natasha Saunders, a city school board member.

This is the dream that many of us have had for northwest Roanoke, Saunders said.

The city of Roanoke has agreed to furnish $10 million from its grant of pandemic relief money, federal support to communities to help them recover from the COVID-19 outbreak and increase resiliency in case of future disasters.

Those involved with the project, which also intends to raise $5 million from the public, say it addresses the needs of a major part of the city struggling with poverty, crime, elevated rates of preventable diseases and gaps in essential services. Parts of northwest, including the project location, meet the definition of a food desert, a geographic area without outlets carrying affordable, healthy food.

The lack of a full-service food store is a source of indignity for area residents, resident Marion Ware said.

What this has created is northwest residents having to navigate inequality by shopping outside of our community or put their health at risk by shopping at convenience stores or dollar stores. As a result, this affects the way many in this community make meaning of their food consumption, choices and in some ways their very lives, Ware said.

Vincent described the project as not about Goodwill, its about this community.

But Goodwill will play key roles. In addition to relocating its administrative support personnel and service and employment operations to a location not yet identified, Goodwill will operate the store, working with LEAP, the Local Environmental Agriculture Project; Feeding Southwest Virginia; and North Carolina food distributor MDI, a project description said.

The grocery store will go by the name The Market on Melrose and measure approximately 25,000 square feet, said project lead Zenith Barrett, who is employed by Goodwill. It will employ 90 to 100 people, officials said.

Goodwill, best known for its thrift stores, employs 1,159 people and forecasts its revenue will reach $67 million this year. It operates 41 stores and serves 35 counties and 14 cities in western, central and southern Virginia.

At the Melrose campus, it offers day support services for people with disabilities; health care training and employment; older worker training; supportive employment for people with disabilities; reentry support for people exiting incarceration; and youth services, all of which will continue at the future new location, officials said. YouthHQ, a teen center in a separate building on the Melrose campus, will remain there.

In addition to taking lead on the store, Goodwill also intends to operate the proposed school. First, officials will ask for a change in Virginia law to permit a nonprofit organization to operate a school that would award a standard state diploma and to serve people from the surrounding area rather than only city residents, said Mary Ann Gilmer, chief strategy & people officer at Goodwill. Goodwill expects Del. Chris Head, R-Botetourt, to take the lead on the needed legislation, she said.

In concept, the school, going by the name The Excel Center, will issue high school diplomas and certificates such as those required to work as a pharmacy technician. Students will benefit from free, on-site child care and, possibly, discounted bus passes and fuel assistance for those with vehicles, Gilmer said.

Meanwhile, a coalition of providers is meeting to flesh out details of the wellness center, with its focus on the mind, body and healthy living through information and referral but not necessarily a complete suite of medical services. It wont replace or compete with New Horizons Healthcare, a nonprofit health clinic one and a half miles away, Barrett said.

New Horizons is at the planning table, along with Carilion Clinic, Bradley Free Clinic and Delta Dental.

Officials have not yet struck a deal with a bank or credit union to offer financial services.

Musical performances, art exhibits and public events will draw people from the region to the future Melrose Plaza, Vincent predicted.

We want this plaza to become a destination, he said. We want folks throughout the city to come here.

When the federal government released billions of dollars under the American Rescue Plan Act, City Manager Bob Cowell and members of his staff assembled a citizen panel to decide what to do with the pandemic relief money. That panel declared one of the top needs a grocery store in northwest, which community residents had discussed for years.

The groundwork had been laid by the Northwest Roanoke Food Access Initiative, which involved Roanoke College, Freedom First Federal Credit Union, United Way, LEAP and northwest residents and had yielded studies and concept plans. When funding became available, team members explored putting a store in a large, vacant building on 24th Street, but judged the price too high, Cowell said.

Focus then shifted to a warehouse area within the rear portion of the Goodwill building, a space large enough for a grocery store, but not the health care, education and financial services components. It appeared that building new facilities, possibly behind the Goodwill building, would be required, according to Cowell.

After the group visited the Goodwill center, Cowell said Vincent called him and said words to the effect of, What if we turn the whole campus over to the idea? Cowell said. It was a pleasant surprise.
The Roanoke Democratic Committee issued a statement Tuesday emphasizing the importance of free, fair elections to democracy.

The statement comes a week before the Nov. 8 city council election, with 11 candidates running for four seats, including full Democratic and Republican slates.

The committees chairman, Mark Lazar, said he invited his city Republican counterpart to make it a joint statement but the GOP leadership declined. The city Republican Committee plans to issue its own statement, according to Lazar.

That the city Republican leadership decided against a joint message is regrettable and appears to place their partisan interests ahead of the peoples interests, according the Democratic Committees statement.

Charlie Nave, chairman of city Republican Committee, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

For free elections to occur, it means all citizens are able to express their preferences, free from violence, threats of violence or other forms of intimidation, the Democratic statement said. While elections are contests, they should be contests of ideas, rooted in factual information. They should not be treated as opportunities for partisan gain through misrepresentation.

The statement also calls on all parties to accept the results of elections carried out according to the law.

Lazar said in an interview that no threat or issue specific to Roanoke motivated the city Democratic Party to reiterate how it values democracy. Its a matter of the atmosphere, he said.

Theres some concern about potential disruption at the polls. Ive heard a number of questions and comments on that. Weve seen acts of violence at a number of locations around the country and we certainly dont want that to happen here, he said.

Asked what happened elsewhere that stood out for him, Lazar said he wasnt thinking of a specific incident.

Of course, we have the recent example of speaker Pelosis husband being assaulted, but that isnt what told me I should do this. Its just the general atmosphere, he said.

Asked to recount some acts of violence, Lazard said: Over time, I dont know I can cite a list of them. Probably goes back as far as the Brooks Brothers riot in 2000. There have been cases of bricks being thrown through windows. Of course we have the example that is not violence, but the threat of violence, of people showing up to watch drop boxes with rifles.

The Brooks Brothers riot was the name given to a protest against a hand recount in the 2000 election, later attributed to the aggression of Republicans actors. Democrat Al Gore conceded to George W. Bush in the exceptionally close race.

The issue of election conduct has only been heightened by the 2020 presidential election and the aftermath, including false claims of the election being stolen to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.
A circuit judge has ordered Roanoke County to release the name of a police officer who is accused in a lawsuit of fatally shooting an unarmed man.

Judge James Swanson made the decision Monday in a disputed Freedom of Information Act request by Roanoke attorney Terry Grimes, who last month filed a federal lawsuit that referred to the officer only as John Doe after the county refused to identify him.

Roanoke County Attorney Peter Lubeck argued unsuccessfully in state court that the officers identity should be protected because he was the victim of a crime.

Shawn Smith, who was shot while standing inside a screened porch of his suburban home the night of Nov. 26, 2021, was believed to have a firearm at the time and was acting aggressively toward police, Commonwealths Attorney Brian Holohan said in determining that lethal force was justified.

I find that the police officers fear of death or serious injury at the hands of Smith was reasonable under the circumstances, Holohan wrote in an April report of his investigation.

In a lawsuit filed Oct. 14 in Roanokes federal court, Grimes asserted that there was no reason for the officer, who had taken cover in a neighbors yard at least 50 feet from where Smith was standing, to fire two shots from a high-powered rifle that struck the 52-year-old in the neck.

Smith was suffering a mental crisis at the time, the lawsuit claimed, which was escalated by an aggressive police force that surrounded his home in the North Lakes subdivision.

Five months before the lawsuit was filed, Grimes submitted a FOIA request to the Roanoke County Police Department that sought a number of documents related to the departments investigation of the incident.

After demanding a down payment of $1,500 toward a total charge of $3,450, the county responded by providing, among other things, a transcript of an internal interview with the police officer in which his name was redacted and a copy of a video of the session that had his face blurred out.

When Grimes was told in May that the name of the shooter would not be revealed, he wrote in a letter to Lubeck that the countys concerns were not well founded. Even if Mr. Smith was once a threat to the officer, he is a threat no longer, for he is dead.

The county again declined to release the name under FOIA; Grimes then filed a lawsuit in Roanoke County Circuit Court.

At Mondays hearing, Swanson gave the county 15 days to reveal the officers identity to Grimes. No decision has been made yet on whether to appeal that decision, Lubeck said.

The police departments general policy is to not release the name of any officer whose use of force is found to be justified, according to the county attorney.

That was the case in the 2016 fatal police shooting of Kionte Spencer, an 18-year-old high school student who did not comply with commands to drop what appeared to be a weapon during an encounter beside the Cave Spring Corners shopping center. The object in Spencers hand turned out to be a broken BB gun.
A Virginia Beach-based company will get $15 million through a new state program for its affordable apartment complex planned for Roanoke County.

The state announced Monday that a total of $60 million in Housing Opportunity Tax Credits is being awarded to investors developing affordable rental housing throughout Virginia, according to a news release from the governors office.

The HOTC program originated in 2021 through legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly. A priority was given to developments that are part of a strategic initiative for affordable housing such as the HUD Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI). There was also a priority for multi-phase developments that can increase efficiency by incorporating HOTC and combining all phases into a single development, according to the release.

The Lawson Companies project  Smith Ridge Commons  will include 216 units and is slated to be built on a 12.5-acre plot of land on the 5000 block of Cove Road, and the 2700 block of Peters Creek Road, south of the Beacon Ridge subdivision, according to county documents.

The project would be the first for Lawson in Southwest Virginia, company spokesman Dan Hankin wrote in an email back in February when the project was approved by the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors.

Lawson manages 30 multifamily communities in Hampton Roads and Richmond.

Smith Ridge Commons will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments in energy-efficient, EarthCraft and Energy Star Certified buildings, Hankin wrote in February.

Smith Ridge will serve individuals and families earning up to 60% of the area median income, Hankin wrote.

While rates have not been finalized, approximate prices for dwellings at the complex would be $800 for a one bedroom, $950 for a two bedroom, and $1,100 for a three bedroom, Hankin said previously.

The prices of these apartments are expected to be 25-30% below the rate of high-quality, market rate properties within the greater Roanoke market, he said previously, also noting that affordable housing tax-credits, administered by Virginia Housing, will help keep the prices below market prices.

With construction starting next year, the first phase is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2024, with the second and third phases being completed at the same time in 2025 and 2026, as of February.

Hankin said the company was not immediately ready to answer questions Monday about the current status of the project, or how exactly the state funds will be used.

The total estimated cost of the project has not been announced.
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For the second time in my life, the threat of nuclear war is keeping me up at night. The first occasion was in 1983, when as a child, I sneaked out of my bedroom to watch the TV movie The Day After. That movie gave me a healthy appreciation for what a nuclear conflict between the United States and Russia might look like.

Now, almost 40 years later, that fear has returned, as Russian President Vladimir Putin issues threats of nuclear use, seemingly to compensate for the poor performance of his armed forces fighting in Ukraine. A month ago, he warned, If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will without doubt use all available means to protect Russia and our people  this is not a bluff. And after annexing four provinces of Ukraine, Putin declared, The United States is the only country in the world that has used nuclear weapons twice, destroying the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. And they created a precedent.

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The Biden administration has responded forcefully to Putins nuclear brandishing. In a May commentary for The New York Times, President Joe Biden explained, Any use of nuclear weapons in this conflict on any scale would be completely unacceptable to us as well as the rest of the world and would entail severe consequences. More recently, his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, stated, We have the continuing ability to reach Russia and tell them in no uncertain terms, for example, what the consequences would be, and they would be catastrophic if Russia went down the dark road of nuclear weapons use.

While Russia and the United States issue competing threats, it is important to understand the different pathways to nuclear escalation that could emerge from the war in Ukraine. Of course, any conventional conflict involving a nuclear-armed power has the potential to escalate. In this case, Putin believes that Russia is in a high-stakes conflict. He envisioned a quick and decisive victory; instead, Ukrainian forces have shown a greater will to fight and have Russian forces on the run, even retreating from newly annexed territories. Under these circumstances, nuclear weapons could be the ace in the hole, an instrument for reversing defeats on the battlefield. The escalation in violence, including nuclear use, could be worth the gamble in Putins mind.

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The U.S. and its NATO allies are no strangers to this type of strategy. During the Cold War, the Western alliance followed the strategy of flexible response, threatening to use nuclear weapons to defeat what many considered the conventionally superior armed forces of the Warsaw Pact. The alliance would respond to an invasion first with low-yield, battlefield nuclear weapons, reserving the ability to escalate to greater nuclear use if Warsaw Pact members did not withdraw. NATO took numerous steps to convince Soviet leaders that this threat was credible. The alliances forces and posture all aimed to convince the Soviet Union that the Western alliance would attempt nuclear coercion and risk an all-out nuclear war rather than lose on the conventional battlefield.

Prudent U.S. policymakers should assume Russia today might make the same calculation about its war in Ukraine. Even NATO seems to understand Russia cares deeply about what happens in Ukraine.

What, then, are the paths to nuclear use in the Ukraine war? One road to escalation could involve the deliberate use of nuclear weapons by Russia. For example, the collapse of Russian armed forces in Ukraine, especially the portions of the country recently annexed, could prompt Putin to conduct a handful of attacks with low-yield nuclear weapons to compel his opponents to back down. The threat of further nuclear use would loom large, adding to Russias coercive leverage.

Some analysts have suggested that NATO respond to Russian nuclear use by joining the conventional fight on Ukraines side. This is foolish and dangerous. Already at a disadvantage on the battlefield, Russia would then rely on nuclear weapons to counter NATOs conventional strengths. This possibility likely deterred the Biden administration from creating a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Despite calls from former national security officials, U.S. officials seemed to understand the nuclear risks.

Even if Putin were to resist deliberate nuclear use in response to direct NATO military intervention, there would be the danger of inadvertent escalation. How NATO fights conventionally could look like efforts to disarm Russia of its nuclear weapons. Similarly, there would be the possibility of accidental escalation. Both sides would face tremendous stress to keep control of their nuclear forces while fighting an intense conventional war.

NATO military intervention, then, would likely provoke more nuclear escalation. In such an instance, the alliance could find itself facing the strategy it planned to use during the Cold War under Russias nuclear crosshairs, not the other way around.

With these escalation dynamics in mind, the U.S. and its allies need to start thinking about ending the conventional war in Ukraine rather than prolonging it. Like it or not, Putin sees this as a high-stakes conflict. Russias inability to win a conventional war could cause it to rely on nuclear weapons to achieve its aims.

Although it is in U.S. interests to protect Ukraines sovereignty, the greater American interest is in preventing a wider and longer war. Now is the time for the U.S. to start thinking about creating offramps to terminate the war and balance these interests. This might require Washington to limit Kyivs war aims.

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It would not be the first time American policymakers pressured partners against taking actions that might cause a war to escalate. Sometimes we need to choose between the lesser of two evils.

Jasen Castillo is co-director of the Albritton Center for Grand Strategy at Texas A&M University and a nonresident fellow at the foreign policy think tank Defense Priorities.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Actor Richard Gant discussed the effects of climate change on disenfranchised communities at Kingdom Living Temple on Sunday.

Gants speech was part of the Rev. Leo Woodberrys annual Creating a Climate for Change conference in Florence. The event was titled: A New Reality: Community Solutions.

Gant is known for his roles in Norbit, Rocky V and NCIS.

Although Woodberry is known for being an activist, Gant said he stopped by to see Woodberrys other side that witnesses the life of Christ.

I get to see how this man of God works out his activism, Gant said.

Gant said climate change is everything. His particular advocacy is working with women and those who belong to disadvantaged communities.

Interestingly enough, Gant said. The issues of climate control and the Sahara moving greatly affects black women more than anybody else.

Gant said he didnt always understand the importance of climate control on communities, but as he grew and learned more, he found out its importance and felt compelled to tell others about its impact, specifically on women of color.

I knew the general things like the issues women face, Gant said. Everyone knows that, but I got more in depth and really began to understand how climate control disproportionately affects women of color.

From education to violence, to not having access to things women need for healthy sexual and reproductive health are all parallel to climate change. Gant said the issue is directly related to the fact that women have an unequal opportunity for things.

It just draws you in more and the next thing you know, you are a committed advocate, he said.

Gant recalled a time where he and his daughter went to Nigeria two years ago and they met a Nigerian young man who was completing his doctorate in China and he sent them a paper he was completing for class.

The paper was about how the Sahara desert is moving and how it affects women farmers in Nigeria more than anyone else. Because the desert is moving, herdsmen from Fulani tribes have to move their animals through areas where the women farmers are located.

Strife occurs, Gant said. Wars occur and women get the worst part of it. The herdsmen have to live and the women have to live, but the women arent warriors and they lose.

Gant said he was happy to be in Florence and excited to see the solar panels that are outside of Kingdom Living Temple. The solar panels are specialized solar panels from Source Global Hydro panel that take water vapor from the air and condense it into drinking water using the power generated from the solar panels.

Gant said the solar panels are a game changer
FLORENCE, S.C. The Medical University of South Carolina in Florence hosted a pumpkin decoration contest Monday to get into the Halloween spirit.

Various departments and clinics throughout the hospital decorated pumpkins like their duties at work. The pumpkin contest was done as an effort to engage employees and to boost the holiday spirit of everyone in the hospital.

Patients even rolled their wheelchairs from their rooms to watch the pumpkin decorating contest and see the finished products. It was an event all in fun and the winner has bragging rights of holding the title of winner of the annual pumpkin contest at MUSC.

The winner of the pumpkin contest was declared by three judges on MUSCs administration team: Costa Cockfield, chief nursing officer, Jason Cox, chief operating officer, and Steven Downs, chief financial officer.

Cockfield said the contest is a part of the employee engagement initiative and it is a good time for employees to showcase their creativity and to have fun rivalry amongst different departments.

We are looking for a pumpkin that just spreads joy, Cockfield said. Every department has a theme, and it is really just a fun time to celebrate Halloween.

Cox said the contest adds excitement to the employees day and brings departments together because they have to work toward one theme together and that builds the family dynamic amongst coworkers.

The rivalry between different departments just makes it more fun, Cox said. Overall, its just a good way for us to celebrate Halloween.

Many visitors, Cox Said, stopped by the tables wanting to buy the pumpkins to have them as decorations for their home. The pumpkins changed the atmosphere of the hospital and many people who may be stressed or worried instantly smile as they see the decorated pumpkins as they walk in or walk by.

Downs is new to the position and said out of his 20 years in the healthcare field, he has never seen employees engaged like he has at MUSC.

This is my first one, Downs said. I am really excited to see this. Ive never seen this much employee involvement at the places I have been.
Louisiana-Pacific (LPX) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.72 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.62 per share. This compares to earnings of $3.87 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 6.17%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this home construction supplier would post earnings of $4.38 per share when it actually produced earnings of $4.19, delivering a surprise of -4.34%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.

Louisiana-Pacific , which belongs to the Zacks Building Products - Wood industry, posted revenues of $852 million for the quarter ended September 2022, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.50%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $1.22 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Louisiana-Pacific shares have lost about 27.7% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's decline of -18.8%.

What's Next for Louisiana-Pacific?

While Louisiana-Pacific has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

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Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Louisiana-Pacific: unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.33 on $782.12 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $12.43 on $3.96 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Building Products - Wood is currently in the top 29% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Another stock from the same industry, Floor & Dcor (FND), has yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2022. The results are expected to be released on November 3.

This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.66 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +10%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

Floor & Dcor's revenues are expected to be $1.08 billion, up 23.8% from the year-ago quarter.



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Safi Rauf (right) with other veterans and advocates at the Indiana State Capitol Building. (Photo: Courtesy of Safi Rauf)

Safi Rauf (right) with other veterans and advocates at the Indiana State Capitol Building. (Photo: Courtesy of Safi Rauf)

After the Taliban detained and tortured Safi Rauf, a Naval reservist and former linguist with U.S. Special Forces, he realized how dangerous it was for Afghans with ties to the U.S. to live under Taliban rule.

Over the past month, Rauf and other U.S. veterans have been traveling to conservative states to lobby for a bipartisan bill that would make it easier for Afghan evacuees to become legal permanent residents and will help those who are left behind to come to the U.S.

Nobody understands better than me, Rauf said, remembering what it was like to be held hostage by the Taliban. I saw Afghans in prison. I saw people from the military, anybody who had worked with Americans and how they were being tortured.

He and his brother were helping at-risk Afghans evacuate the country last December when they were both captured. The U.S. government negotiated their release after 105 days of detention and torture. Rauf came to America in 2010 as an Afghan refugee when he was 17, served with the U.S. Special Forces and worked closely with the Afghans on the ground from 2012 to 2016. He is currently in the U.S. Navy Reserves.

Rauf said the Afghan Adjustment Act gives Americans the opportunity to support Afghans who helped U.S. war efforts and ensure that they arrive safely in the states.

Veterans, when we left all of those allies behind, suffered moral injury, Rauf said. Our military told them that if they support our military, we will get back to help them, and they will have a good life here in America, under democracy,

And the Afghans who are [already evacuated] here, they are very committed to the American way, he continued. They are going to be productive and contributing members of society who join the military, become engineers, doctors, scientists, creators.

As a quick fix after the surprise fall of Kabul last year and the ensuing chaos, the United States granted 77,000 Afghans who were able to leave the country temporary status known as Humanitarian Parole, which allowed them to stay in the country for up to two years without establishing a clear legal pathway to permanent residence and eventually, citizenship.

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Tens of thousands of eligible people who were not lucky enough to fly out of Afghanistan are now waiting for the processing of their Special Immigrant Visa (SIV)  a program that allows Afghans who worked on behalf of the U.S. government in Afghanistan to resettle in the U.S.

Scott Henke (right) who served in the U.S. Army, hugs Afghan interpreter Ahmad Siddiqi after he and his family arrived at Denver International Airport in October 2021. Siddiqi and his family planned to resettle in a northwest Denver suburb to be near Henkel and his family. (Photo: via Associated Press)

Scott Henke (right) who served in the U.S. Army, hugs Afghan interpreter Ahmad Siddiqi after he and his family arrived at Denver International Airport in October 2021. Siddiqi and his family planned to resettle in a northwest Denver suburb to be near Henkel and his family. (Photo: via Associated Press)

But the program is moving slowly. Since the start of the Biden administration through Sept. 30, 2022, the State Department has issued more than 18,000 SIVs to principal applicants and their eligible family members, a State Department spokesperson told HuffPost. The number is far lower to cater to the backlog that has plagued the program.

As of May 2022, there were 61,888 principal applications in process and an estimated 259,930 additional eligible family members of those principal applicants, for a total of about 322,000 estimated Afghan SIV applicants, the State Departments Office of Inspector General (OIG) reported.

The bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act was introduced in August and its passage can help Afghans in the U.S. to adjust their status and get green cards, and it would also speed up the process and increase eligibility for special immigrant visas for those remaining in Afghanistan.

But some Republicansare against the bill, blaming the Biden administration for a disorganized airlift operation and arguing that Afghan evacuees were not sufficiently vetted. A Defense Department report from February only records on 50 Afghan evacuees indicated potentially significant security concerns.

However, the bill includes precise language on new vetting procedures that would need to be met for every applicant, even though Afghans who were evacuated had already been vetted at U.S. bases in the Middle East and Europe before entering the U.S.

In September, Rauf was among the advocates and veteran groups pushing for the passage of the bill through a fire watch outside of Capitol Hill. However, the effort to attach the Afghan Adjustment Act to a stopgap spending bill before Congress left for recess in October was unsuccessful. If the bill is included in the omnibus bill that will be voted on in December, it has a chance of becoming a law this year.

Taking this opportunity, Rauf and his fellow veterans have been making the rounds in red states, where they hope to win over Republican senators and garner more support from the veteran communities and the public. The group has already stopped at Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Utah throughout October, and plans to keep driving south and eastward.

We have spoken to some of the most conservative Republicans, and they all seem to be supporting us, Rauf said. This is very common-sense legislation. The problem is that there wasnt enough advocacy being done about the information of what this act is about.

Advocates at the U.S. Capitol Building. (Photo: Courtesy of Safi Rauf)

Advocates at the U.S. Capitol Building. (Photo: Courtesy of Safi Rauf)

The bill overall however, has not been fully supported by all Republicans since it was introduced, partly because of their anti-immigration stance.

But this is not immigration, Rauf said. These people were brought here by the U.S. military and non-U.S. military planes to the U.S. This is about our allies whose lives are at stake, and they will literally get killed if they were to be sent back to Afghanistan.

While violence in Afghanistan has decreased since the U.S. completed its withdrawal last summer, reports indicate that the ruling Taliban are still targeting former members of the military and government officials despite a declared amnesty. Women are subject to new stringent rules, and the government has been accused of targeting minorities and imprisoning and torturing journalists. Additionally, the countrys economy is in shambles due in large part to the United States decision to freeze its citizens assets, in addition to other factors, such as drought.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
willow disney+

2022 is coming to a close and before we are inundated with the holidays, the major streaming platforms have delivered a tonne of content to occupy every fans watchlist. For couch potatoes, November will line-up a number of hot new shows to stream.

Fantasy and adventure seems to be the theme of the month. Fans of nostalgia will surely be excited to catch the return of iconic characters, Willow Ufgood and Wednesday Addams this month. Both Willow on Disney+ and Wednesday on Netflix are assuredly the most anticipated shows to stream this November.

But thats not all. Theres also a healthy mix bag of documentaries, comedies and engaging dramas to catch in the next 30 days. Read on for more details.

Here are the most anticipated shows to stream this November:

Blockbuster

Blockbuster (Image: Netflix)

Premieres November 3

Platform Netflix

Timmy Yoon (Randall Park) Is an analogue dreamer living in a 5G world. And after learning he is operating the last Blockbuster Video in America, Timmy and his staff employees including his long-time crush, Eliza (Melissa Fumero) fight to stay relevant. The only way to succeed is to remind their community that they provide something big corporations cant: human connection.

The Thing About Pam

Renee Zellweger stars in The Thing About Pam (Image: HBO GO)

Premieres November 3

Platform HBO GO

The Thing About Pam is a true crime drama series based on the 2011 murder of Betsy Faria, a shocking real-life story that became a global true-crime obsession. The series reveals the stunning twists and turns of this extraordinary murder case that would ultimately uncover a diabolical plot involving a seemingly ordinary woman named Pam Hupp. Stars and executive produced by two-time Academy Award winner Renee Zellweger.

Sherwood

Sherwoord (Image: BBC)

Premieres November 4

Platform BBC Player

This politically pertinent crime thriller centres on a community who is torn apart by two shocking killings. A complex political past means that the industrial villages around Sherwood Forest have often been divided communities. But when two local residents are killed, old wounds are reopened and the town is engulfed in tension and fear. Its down to police chief Ian and London met police officer Kevin to solve the case.

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Search For The Last Unicorn

Search For The Last Unicorn (Image: BBC)

Premieres November 14

Platform BBC Player

Reports of Northern White Rhinoceros alive in Southern Sudan has given conservationists renewed hope. Declared extinct in 2018, could this charismatic animal get a miraculous second chance? With exclusive access, the BBC follows an international team of experts, on an expedition to a war zone to go in search of the Northern White Rhinoceros. An animal that little is really known about, inhabiting some of the most remote and dangerous countries in Africa  could a lost population of these incredible beasts still exist?

1899

1899 (Image: Rasmus Voss/Netflix)

Premieres November 17

Platform Netflix

From the creators of critically acclaimed sci-fi thriller series Dark, comes this new period mystery. In 1899 a migrant steamship heads west to leave the old continent. The passengers, a mixed bag of European origins, united by their hopes and dreams for the new century and their future abroad. But their journey takes an unexpected turn when they discover another migrant ship adrift on open sea. What they will find on board, will turn their passage to the promised land into a horrifying nightmare.

Disenchanted

Disenchanted (Image: Disney+)

Premieres November 18

Platform Disney+

Its been fifteen years since Giselle and Robert wed, but Giselle has grown disillusioned with life in the city. They decide to move their growing family to the sleepy suburban community of Monroeville in search of a more fairy tale life  unfortunately, it isnt the quick fix she hoped for. Suburbia has a whole new set of rules and a local queen bee, Malvina Monroe, who makes Giselle feel more out of place than ever. Frustrated that her happily ever after hasnt been easy to find, she turns to the magic of Andalasia for help, accidentally transforming the entire town into a real-life fairy tale.

Food Affair with Mark Wiens

Food Affair with Mark Wiens (Image: HBO GO)

Premieres November 18

Platform HBO GO

The six-episode series is a fresh and invigorating journey of food obsession in Singapore, experienced through the eyes (and mouth) of popular food vlogger, Mark Wiens. The HBO Asia Originals production is the first non-scripted food series hosted by Mark as he discovers the untold stories, personalities, and history behind Singapores smorgasbord of delicacies, from haute to hawker cuisine.

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (Image: HBO GO)

Premieres November 19

Platform HBO GO

Uncover the true story of British artist Louis Wain who was many things during his incredible life: artist, inventor and entrepreneur. Two events changed his life forever: meeting Emily, the love of his life, and adopting Peter, a stray kitten. They will become both his family and his inspiration to paint the extraordinary images of cats that made him world famous. Stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy.

Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium

Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium (Image: Disney+)

Premieres November 21

Platform Disney+

Exactly 47 years ago, Elton Johns legendary performance at Dodger Stadium launched him into global stardom, and next month, he will come full circle, returning to Dodger Stadium to grace us with his final North American show. Exclusively streamed live on Disney+ on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium is a once-in-a-lifetime live, global original concert event that offers fans from around the world a front-row seat to witness the ground-breaking magic of the Rocket Man back at Dodger Stadium.

Wednesday

Wednesday (Image: Netflix)

Premieres November 23

Platform Netflix

The series is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams years as a student at Nevermore Academy. Wednesdays attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago  all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore. Starring Jenny Ortega, Gwendoline Christie, Catherine Zeta-Jones (Morticia Addams), Luis Guzman and Christina Ricci.

Willow

Willow (Image: Disney+)

Premieres November 30

Platform Disney+

The fantasy series is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated shows to stream this November. An all-new sequel series to George Lucass 1988 fantasy adventure Willow, the series sees the return of Nelwyn sorcerer, Willow Ufgood. The story unfolds years after rescuing the infant empress Elora Danan, in which he now leads a group of misfit heroes on a harrowing rescue mission through a world beyond imagination. Starring Warwick Davis.

(Main and featured image: Disney/Lucasfilm)
Hows this for scary: Jersey Shore has more fans than anyone thought.

How else can you explain Vinny Guadagnino staying on Dancing with the Stars even though he had the lowest score on Halloween night (a 30) and Heidi DAmelio had one of the highest (a 37) and almost went home?

Even more questionable: Trevor Donovan hovered near the bottom of the leader board for weeks and, with one good contemporary dance, became one of the leaders.

Nothing made sense Monday night but thats probably because its time to cull the herd and get this down to a good handful. Jordin Sparks was sent home, even though she got a 36.

Even more surprising? Shangela got a perfect 40 for a scary jazz dance that depicted one of those creepy dolls coming to life. The work was good, but its odd that Shangela and Donovan are leading ones like Wayne Brady (who got a 37) Gabby Windey (a 38) and Charli DAmelio (who got a 39).

Usually around this stage, someone really good is sent home and someone whos bad stays in. Thats where the popularity aspect plays a big role.

Then, too, the theme could be a big factor. With Halloween night, other pros played zombies, directors threw in a lot of fog and dancers did plenty of business before they buckled down and started dancing.

Maybe its the move to Disney+, but this years Halloween night was scarier than others. The characters (who seemed more Saw than Headless Horseman) let the fangs out and the blood drip.

Interestingly, Val Chmerkovskiy contracted COVID and had to turn his pro reins over to Alan Bersten, who managed to partner Windey fairly well. They still got a 38, which should keep her in the Top Three despite the stray surprises Halloween night offered.

If Guadagnino is this years Bobby Bones, dont look at the dancing. Consider what the judges call the journey.

Hes better than when he started, but if youre playing that card, Daniel Durant should be the audience fave. Hes hanging in, but seems vulnerable.

Mondays show also included team dances and, really, they were just solo turns in one big number. The Wicked and Scream teams didnt surprise with choreography. They just repeated steps weve seen before.

Still on top: Charli DAmelio. Then, Gabby Windey. Then Wayne Brady. If one of the big three is going to leave, expect it to be Brady. He has another hosting gig lined up and may not have time to devote to this. He could be your Monday night surprise.

Keep an eye on Vinny and Trevor. They cant look disappointed forever. One has to go. We're ready to see both depart.
A Los Angeles jury has rejected a claim by the widow of a former USC football player who said the NCAA failed to protect him from repeated head trauma that led to his death. The jury found Tuesday that the NCAA was not negligent in the death of Matthew Gee. Lawyers for the widow of Gee, a linebacker on the 1990 Rose Bowl-winning squad, say he endured an estimated 6,000 hits as a college athlete. They say this caused permanent brain damage and led to cocaine and alcohol abuse, which eventually killed him at age 49. The NCAA said it had nothing to do with his death.
TUESDAY, Nov. 1, 2022 (American Heart Association News) -- A third dose of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine poses no more risk of heart inflammation than a second dose, a large study suggests. The findings could help allay concerns about risk going up with each additional dose.

Cases were rare. Most appeared within seven days of vaccination and the patients recovered, found the study, which is being presented Saturday at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions. The work is considered preliminary until full results are published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Researchers examined the health records of millions of Southern Californians to see whether third doses of the vaccines, which use mRNA technology to activate the body's defenses against the coronavirus, were linked to myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle.

"It is an important question because with additional doses of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines being recommended, it is essential to monitor its safety," said Dr. Mingsum Lee, the study's senior researcher and a cardiologist at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center.

Myocarditis has been considered a rare but serious potential side effect from COVID-19 vaccination, more often after a second dose than after the first, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Lee and colleagues examined records from adults who were part of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California health plan and received at least one vaccine dose between Dec. 14, 2020, and Feb. 18, 2022, before the updated "bivalent" booster formulations became available. The median age of those studied was 47. About 54% of the people studied were women; 39% were Hispanic; 30% were white; 13% were Asian; and 7% were Black.

Researchers searched medical records for people hospitalized for myocarditis within 21 days of receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

Among the more than 3 million members who received the first dose, six people were hospitalized for myocarditis. Among the 2.9 million who received a second dose, 26 developed myocarditis that required hospitalization  21 cases of which occurred within seven days. Among the 1.4 million who received a third dose, nine were hospitalized for myocarditis, with seven of those cases arising within a week.

Compared with what would have been expected in the same population during a one-year period before the pandemic, the incidence of myocarditis was four times greater after the second dose and 2.6 times greater after the third dose.

But overall, myocarditis was rare, most cases were mild, and the symptoms resolved without extensive intervention, said Lee, who also is a clinician investigator with the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research and Evaluation.

Eight of the nine cases of myocarditis following the third dose were in men, and five in people between 18 and 40 years old. Previous studies have shown a higher risk of post-vaccine myocarditis in teens and young men.

Lee said such risks need to be kept in context, given that other studies have shown the risk of myocarditis is much higher after COVID-19 infection than after vaccination.

Epidemiologist Howard Sesso, an associate professor of medicine in the division of preventive medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, agreed. "This should not alter one's decision on whether or not to get vaccinated or boosted. The benefits still far outweigh any small potential risks such as this," he said.

In addition to myocarditis, COVID-19 raises the risk of other complications, and has killed more than 1 million people in the United States.

The CDC recommends people ages 5 and up receive one bivalent booster if it has been at least two months since their last COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Sesso, who was not involved in the new study, said its large size leveraging electronic health records was impressive. Although the results were not surprising, he said, "these are important, suggestive findings that need to be replicated" and followed up.

Even a large study faces challenges in teasing out information as subtle as a possible link to myocarditis, he said, and this type of research can show only correlation, not cause and effect.

More research is needed on possible biological explanations behind any connection, he said. And to that end, he'd be interested in seeing more data and analyses comparing people in this study who developed myocarditis with those who did not.

The researchers noted some of their work's limitations, including the possibility that some cases of myocarditis might have been missed if people did not seek care at a hospital.

More research will be needed as the coronavirus and vaccine recommendations continue to evolve, Lee said. Some people are already on their fifth dose.

"Monitoring the safety associated with additional vaccine doses will be important," she said.

American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. If you have questions or comments about this story, please email editor@heart.org.

By Michael Merschel, American Heart Association News
U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia took two key steps toward announcing a campaign for Chicago mayor this week, amending his campaign committee to support a City Hall run and filing an economic disclosure statement as he continues weighing a challenge to Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

The moves come after Garcia conducted a poll that shows him beating Lightfoot, whose candidacy he supported in 2019.

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If Garcia gets into the race, his high name recognition and long record as a progressive could create significant hurdles for other candidates, but its not clear whether all the progressive unions that supported him in his 2015 bid for mayor would back him again over other alternatives. Garcia would also need to find ways to appeal to Black voters.

[ Who's in, who's out and who's thinking about running for Chicago mayor ]

The powerful Chicago Teachers Union has already thrown its support to Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson.

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For months, Garcia has openly flirted with the possibility of running for mayor again after pushing Rahm Emanuel into the citys first runoff in 2015. Now Garcia has filed an amended campaign committee so he can legally raise funds for a mayoral run, and there are volunteers collecting signatures to get him on the ballot.

U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, pictured last year, is considering another run for Chicago mayor. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Since winning a congressional seat in 2018, Garcia has grown his political power far beyond his Southwest Side base. The longtime progressive politician showed a practical side in recent years by building close ties with now-indicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, which helped expand Garcias influence, and his endorsement has been sought after by candidates all across the city.

Garcia considered running for mayor in 2019 but ultimately decided against a bid. He helped Lightfoot become mayor that year by endorsing her in the runoff against Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, whose leadership team he served on while on the county board.

Wrigleyville Ald. Tom Tunney, 44th, is also weighing a bid.

Aside from Johnson, the race includes Lightfoot; Ald. Sophia King, 4th; activist JaMal Green; Ald. Roderick Sawyer, 6th; former CPS chief Paul Vallas; state Rep. Kambium Kam Buckner; Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15th; and business owner Willie Wilson.
Detecting cancer early before it spreads throughout the body can be lifesaving. This is why doctors recommend regular screening for several common cancer types, using a variety of methods. Colonoscopies, for example, screen for colon cancer, while mammograms screen for breast cancer.

While important, getting all these tests done can be logistically challenging, expensive and sometimes uncomfortable for patients. But what if a single blood test could screen for most common cancer types all at once?

This is the promise of multicancer early detection tests, or MCEDs.

A number of multicancer early detection tests are currently in development. EK Image/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

This year, President Joe Biden identified developing MCED tests as a priority for the Cancer Moonshot, a US$1.8 billion federal effort to reduce the cancer death rate and improve the quality of life of cancer survivors and those living with cancer.

As a laboratory medicine physician and researcher who develops molecular tests for cancer, I believe MCED tests are likely to transform cancer screening in the near future, particularly if they receive strong federal support to enable rapid innovation.

How MCED tests work

All cells in the body, including tumor cells, shed DNA into the bloodstream when they die. MCED tests look for the trace amounts of tumor DNA in the bloodstream. This circulating cell-free DNA contains information about what type of tissue it came from and whether it is normal or cancerous.

Testing to look for circulating tumor DNA in the blood is not new. These liquid biopsies  a fancy way of saying blood tests  are already widely used for patients with advanced-stage cancer. Doctors use these blood tests to look for mutations in the tumor DNA that help guide treatment. Because patients with late-stage cancer tend to have a large amount of tumor DNA circulating in the blood, its relatively easy to detect the presence of these genetic changes.

MCED tests are different from existing liquid biopsies because they are trying to detect early-stage cancer, when there arent that many tumor cells yet. Detecting these cancer cells can be challenging early on because noncancer cells also shed DNA into the bloodstream. Since most of the circulating DNA in the bloodstream comes from noncancer cells, detecting the presence of a few molecules of cancer DNA is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Making things even more difficult, blood cells shed abnormal DNA naturally with aging, and these strands can be confused for circulating cancer DNA. This phenomenon, known as clonal hematopoiesis, confounded early attempts at developing MCED tests, with too many false positive results.

Fortunately, newer tests are able to avoid blood cell interference by focusing on a type of molecular barcode embedded in the cancer DNA that identifies the tissue it came from. These barcodes are a result of DNA methylation, naturally existing modifications to the surface of DNA that vary for each type of tissue in the body. For example, lung tissue has a different DNA methylation pattern than breast tissue. Furthermore, cancer cells have abnormal DNA methylation patterns that correlate with cancer type. By cataloging different DNA methylation patterns, MCED tests can focus on the sections of DNA that distinguish between cancerous and normal tissue and pinpoint the cancers origin site.

DNA contains molecular patterns that indicate where in the body it came from. CNX OpenStax/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

Testing options

There are currently several MCED tests in development and in clinical trials. No MCED test is currently FDA-approved or recommended by medical societies.

In 2021, the biotech company GRAIL launched the first commercially available MCED test in the U.S. Its Galleri test claims to detect over 50 different types of cancers. At least two other U.S.-based companies, Exact Sciences and Freenome, and one Chinese company, Singlera Genomics, have tests in development. Some of these tests use different cancer detection methods in addition to circulating tumor DNA, such as looking for cancer-associated proteins in blood.

MCED tests are not yet typically covered by insurance. GRAILs Galleri test is currently priced at $949, and the company offers a payment plan for people who have to pay out of pocket. Legislators have introduced a bill in Congress to provide Medicare coverage for MCED tests that obtain FDA approval. It is unusual for Congress to consider legislation devoted to a single lab test, and this highlights both the scale of the medical market for MCED and concerns about disparities in access without coverage for these expensive tests.

How should MCED tests be used?

Figuring out how MCED tests should be implemented in the clinic will take many years. Researchers and clinicians are just beginning to address questions on who should be tested, at what age, and how past medical and family history should be taken into account. Setting guidelines for how doctors will further evaluate positive MCED results is just as important.

There is also concern that MCED tests may result in overdiagnoses of low-risk, asymptomatic cancers better left undetected. This happened with prostate cancer screening. Previously, guidelines recommended that all men ages 55 to 69 regularly get blood tests to determine their levels of PSA, a protein produced by cancerous and noncancerous prostate tissue. But now the recommendation is more nuanced, with screening suggested on an individual basis that takes into account personal preferences.

Questions remain on how MCEDs will be implemented in the clinic. Boy Anupong/Moment via Getty Images

Another concern is that further testing to confirm positive MCED results will be costly and a burden to the medical system, particularly if a full-body scan is required. The out-of-pocket cost for an MRI, for example, can run up to thousands of dollars. And patients who get a positive MCED result but are unable to confirm the presence of cancer after extensive imaging and other follow-up tests may develop lifelong anxiety about a potentially missed diagnosis and continue to take expensive tests in fruitless search for a tumor.

Despite these concerns, early clinical studies show promise. A 2020 study of over 10,000 previously undiagnosed women found 26 of 134 women with a positive MCED test were confirmed to have cancer. A 2021 study sponsored by GRAIL found that half of the over 2,800 patients with a known cancer diagnosis had a positive MCED test and only 0.5% of people confirmed to not have cancer had a false positive test. The test performed best for patients with more advanced cancers but did detect about 17% of the patients who had very-early-stage disease.

MCED tests may soon revolutionize the way clinicians approach cancer screening. The question is whether the health care system is ready for them.

Colin Pritchard does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
Cats are great companions, but for some people their company comes at a cost. Up to 1 in 5 people have an allergic response to cats, and this figure is increasing.

Sergey Belsky/Shutterstock

There are many myths about allergies to cats, but what is fact and what is fiction? And can you still have a cat if youre allergic?

Myth #1: People are allergic to cat hair

There is an element of truth to this myth. However, rather than the hair itself, substances on the hair are the source of the allergy. Most people allergic to cats react to a protein called Fel d 1. This main cat allergen is produced in the glands of the cat, including the sebaceous (oil-producing skin glands) and salivary glands.

While Fel d1 is the main culprit, domestic cats have eight different potential allergens. The second most common is Fel d 4, also produced in salivary glands.

Another type, Fel d 2, is similar to a protein found in other animals, and the reason a person might be allergic, for example, to both cats and horses. This similarity can also result in a child with milk allergy having an increased risk of being allergic to animals like cats.

When cats groom themselves, they deposit the allergen in their saliva onto their hair. Sebaceous glands are close to the skin and can secrete onto the hair follicles. When you pet a cats fur, a reaction is set off, especially if you then rub your nose or eyes.

But you dont need to pet a cat to have an allergic reaction to them. Simply being around dander can be enough. Dander might sound like a dating app for pets, but its actually more akin to animal dandruff, and contains tiny scales from hair or skin. As dander particles are so small, they float in the air and we often breathe them in.

When cats groom themselves, the allergen is transferred from their saliva onto their fur. Eric Han/Unsplash

Myth #2: There are hypoallergenic cats

There is no evidence that specific cat breeds do not cause allergies. However, if some breeds have less hair, or shed less hair, this may reduce exposure to allergens in the environment.

For example, Sphynx cats are hairless, although they still produce Fel d 1. In this way some breeds might be considered hypoallergenic, or cause fewer allergic reactions. However, there are no scientific studies to confirm this is the case.

All cats produce Fel d 1, but the levels can differ by as much as 100-fold between individual cats. This may explain why people with cat allergies notice they react more to some cats than others.

Sphynx cats have little to no hair, but they still produce allergens. Jesus Vivas Alacid/Shutterstock

Myth #3: You have to re-home your cat if you have an allergy

If you have a life-threatening allergy to cats, your only alternative might be to find them a new home. However, most people have less severe reactions and can manage symptoms successfully.

Some things you can do to limit reactions include:

always wash your hands and avoid touching your face and eyes after handling your cat

regularly clean surfaces and change litter to reduce dander

wash your cat weekly with a pet-specific shampoo, if your cat likes being bathed

If the cat is amenable to baths, it can be a good method to reduce the level of allergens. Matyas Rehak/Shutterstock

restrict cats access to rooms you want to keep allergy-free, such as the bedroom

get a vacuum specifically designed for reducing allergens, such as ones with a HEPA filter

use air purifiers with HEPA filters.

Adopting a cat when allergic

If youre allergic and want to adopt a cat, make sure to spend some time with them first to assess your reaction. Ideally, pick a cat that doesnt make you sneeze.

If cats need to be re-homed, this does negatively affect their welfare. A large study of RSPCA shelters in Australia reported allergy as the reason for relinquishment in roughly 3% of cats out of 61,755 total relinquished between 2006 and 2010.

Adopting a cat is a serious commitment. Roberto Huczek/Unsplash

You can also see your doctor about options for managing symptoms such as over-the-counter medications (such as antihistamines) and longer term solutions.

For those with allergies who want to have their cat and their ability to breathe too, another option is immunotherapy, although there is limited evidence to support this treatment for cat allergies.

Immunotherapy involves first identifying which specific allergen is causing the reactions, and then systematically delivering increasing levels of this allergen over several months in an effort to retrain the immune system to tolerate the allergen without a reaction. This may be especially beneficial for those with moderate to severe reactions.

There is evidence exposure to dogs and cats early in life can reduce at least some forms of allergy. Evidence is still conflicting, though, and probably depends on genetics and other environmental factors.

What we do know is that pet cats provide companionship and joy to many, and understanding the causes and treatment of pet allergy can only help both cats and humans.

Susan Hazel is affiliated with the Dog & Cat Management Board of South Australia and RSPCA South Australia.

Julia Henning 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.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
SIOUX CITY  A Sioux City man charged in a drive-by shooting pleaded guilty Monday to a federal gun charge.

Jalond Hills, 19, entered his plea in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to one count of possession of a firearm by a drug user. A sentencing date was not set.

Hills possessed a 9mm handgun while he was using marijuana at the time of the Sept. 16, 2021, incident, in which he was initially charged in Woodbury County District Court with firing a shot into an occupied car while a mother and her two children were getting out in the 700 block of Center Street. State charges were dismissed after he was indicted in federal court.

In September, Hills pleaded guilty in Woodbury County to one count of failure to affix a drug tax stamp, a charge resulting from an April shooting incident in which a woman suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound in her leg after struggling for possession of a handgun with Hills in an apartment in the 2200 block of Gibson Street.

According to terms of a plea agreement, Hills will receive a five-year prison sentence, to be served at the same time as the sentence he receives in his federal case.
According to a statement from the Lyon County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the 300 block of East Indiana Avenue at 8 a.m. for a party who had been stabbed. Upon arrival, they found the victim, who was taken by ambulance to Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital in Rock Rapids and, then, flown to Sioux Falls.
STORM LAKE, Iowa  A Storm Lake man has been arrested for allegedly having sexual contact with a child under the age of 14.

Salvador Saldana-Jimenez, 60, is charged in Buena Vista County District Court with two counts of lascivious acts with a child, a class D felony.

In March, the Storm Lake Police Department received a belated report of sexual abuse. The department said in a statement that an investigation revealed that within the last five years, Saldana-Jiminez had inappropriate sexual contact with the girl at a residence in Storm Lake.

In October, the department applied for an arrest warrant for Saldana-Jiminez. He surrendered himself to police on Sunday and is being held at the Buena Vista County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond.

The Iowa Department of Human Services and the Buena Vista County Attorney's Office assisted in the investigation.
SIOUX CITY  Democrat Jeremy Dumkrieger and Republican Dan Bittinger are facing off for an open seat on the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors.

Dumkrieger, a teacher and chair of the county Democratic Party, and Bittinger, lead pastor at CrossPointe Church, are both seeking their first term on the board.

The open District 2 seat is currently held by Republican Supervisor Justin Wright, who decided not to seek another term.

The district covers a small portion of central Sioux City north of Interstate 29 and west of Floyd Boulevard. While supervisor candidates are required to live in the districts in which they run, all county residents can vote in each district.

Born in Onawa, Iowa, and raised in Soldier, Iowa, Dumkrieger earned a bachelor's degree from Morningside University. He is an art teacher and the Woodbury Democratic Party chair since 2016. Dumkrieger received the Bob Creech Award for Outstanding County Chairman from the Iowa Democratic Party in 2018.

He said he decided to run because he wanted to make sure people are being represented equally. Republicans currently hold all five seats on the Board of Supervisors.

It would be good to shift things up a little bit and try to get some other ideas in that arena, he said.

Dumkrieger said his top priority is mental health, saying he sees mental health problems throughout the city, from people becoming homeless and panhandling for money due to their mental illnesses to students not receiving the right support for their mental health issues.

Its very important to focus on that, he said.

He said the county needs well-funded mental health programs to prevent crime, more than a new jail to house inmates.

Preventing crime before it happens also prevents victims, he said. Every person who can receive help before a crime is committed or a relapse occurs prevents unimaginable ripples in mental health and trauma throughout our community.

Bittinger has lived in Sioux City for the past nine years with his wife and three children. He is originally from Wadsworth, Ohio, and attended Southeast University in Lakeland, Florida, for degrees in communication and pastoral ministry.

He has never run for an elected position but decided to run for this position because he saw Wright wasnt running again and wanted to fulfill his civic duty.

His top priorities are budget accountability, economic development, keeping county government in check and supporting the sheriffs department.

He said he is less focused on issues he wants to address and more on what concerns the county staff and community bring forward.

His goal is to address issues as they arise, learn about them and plan for the long-term implications.

"The things we should be addressing really should be coming from some of our department leaders and the employees. They know what's going on," he said.

Bittinger said what sets him apart from Dumkrieger is he has worked with finances, community relations, policy, law enforcement and employee management.

Most of my roles have been involved with service and leading people and making sure that they're able to lead a productive life, he said.

Dumkrieger said he does not know Bittinger very well but believes what sets him apart is that he is not a rubber stamp guy whos going to go along with Jeremy Taylor and Matthew Ung every single time.

He said the board needs someone to look at issues from a different perspective.

The Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center construction has been a frequently asked question during this race.

Woodbury County voters passed a $50.3 million bond issue in March 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues, the low bid for the main construction phase came in well above estimates at $58.4 million.

Counting other additional expenses, the project's price tag now stands at about $69 million.

Dumkrieger has been vocal about his dislike of the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center cost overruns, and said he would like to put the screws to the project. He believes the board should have rebid the project and gone with a local contractor.

I voted for this jail. I believed in this jail. We needed a new one, Dumkrieger said. But I didnt vote for $20 million over budget.

Bittinger said he sat through all of the meetings regarding the LEC project bids and said while the project cost has increased, all projects have increased nationwide.

Over the last month, Dumkrieger has been attempting to get access to tour the LEC site, but has been denied due to a new visitors policy.

The policy states individuals must have OSHA training, Hausmann Construction training and prior approval to visit by both the Authority and Hausmann Construction, the project's general contractor.

Dumkrieger said he has completed the OSHA certification but continues to be denied access.

When I requested a site visit, I was simply met with a listing (of) the site visitation rules, of which I am aware, but no date or procedure for a visit or follow up, he said in an email.
Man injured in I-29 crash near Whiting

WHITING, Iowa  A man was taken to the hospital Sunday after the car he was driving struck a semi hauling anhydrous ammonia on Interstate 29 near Whiting.

The crash happened at 9:57 p.m. in the northbound lanes of the interstate near mile marker 117.

According to a minimal crash report from the Iowa State Patrol, Chad Miller, 43, of Edgerton, Minnesota, was driving a Ford Taurus southbound in the northbound lanes when he struck a Peterbilt semi driven by Benjamin Wheeler, 58, of Fremont, Ohio. The semis tanker trailer, which was full of anhydrous ammonia, overturned.

Miller was taken by ambulance to Burgess Health Center in Onawa. He was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the report.

That portion of the interstate was closed for several hours and traffic was diverted to an emergency route, while the crash scene was cleared.

Sioux City man pleads guilty to federal gun charge

SIOUX CITY  A Sioux City man charged in a drive-by shooting pleaded guilty Monday to a federal gun charge.

Jalond Hills, 19, entered his plea in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to one count of possession of a firearm by a drug user. A sentencing date was not set.

Hills possessed a 9mm handgun while he was using marijuana at the time of the Sept. 16, 2021, incident, in which he was initially charged in Woodbury County District Court with firing a shot into an occupied car while a mother and her two children were getting out in the 700 block of Center Street. State charges were dismissed after he was indicted in federal court.

In September, Hills pleaded guilty in Woodbury County to one count of failure to affix a drug tax stamp, a charge resulting from an April shooting incident in which a woman suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound in her leg after struggling for possession of a handgun with Hills in an apartment in the 2200 block of Gibson Street.

According to terms of a plea agreement, Hills will receive a five-year prison sentence, to be served at the same time as the sentence he receives in his federal case.

Storm Lake man accused of lascivious acts with child

STORM LAKE, Iowa  A Storm Lake man has been arrested for allegedly having sexual contact with a child under the age of 14.

Salvador Saldana-Jimenez, 60, is charged in Buena Vista County District Court with two counts of lascivious acts with a child, a class D felony.

In March, the Storm Lake Police Department received a belated report of sexual abuse. The department said in a statement that an investigation revealed that within the last five years, Saldana-Jiminez had inappropriate sexual contact with the girl at a residence in Storm Lake.

In October, the department applied for an arrest warrant for Saldana-Jiminez. He surrendered himself to police on Sunday and is being held at the Buena Vista County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond.

The Iowa Department of Human Services and the Buena Vista County Attorneys Office assisted in the investigation.

Victim airlifted after stabbing in Lyon County

GEORGE, Iowa  A 24-year-old victim was airlifted to a Sioux Falls hospital Sunday, after being stabbed numerous times in George.

According to a statement from the Lyon County Sheriffs Office, deputies responded to the 300 block of East Indiana Avenue at 8:00 a.m. for a party who had been stabbed. Upon arrival, they found the victim, who was taken by ambulance to Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital in Rock Rapids and, then, flown to Sioux Falls.

The incident remains under investigation. The sheriffs office said there is no threat to public safety.

The Lyon County Sheriffs Office was assisted by George EMS, George Fire Department, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Department of Transportation Enforcement Division and the Sioux County Sheriffs Office.

Siouxland man wanted by Fugitive Task Force

SIOUX CITY  The U.S. Marshals Service Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force is seeking the following person:

* Antwone McDougle, 38. He is 6 feet tall and weighs 200 pounds. McDougle is wanted on a warrant issued in Woodbury County for parole violation. He was on parole for a conviction of willful injury.

Anyone with information can call 712-252-0211 or email Siouxlands.Mostwanted@usdoj.gov.
SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City woman last seen by her family more than a month ago has been located.

The Sioux City Police Department said in a news release Tuesday that Brenda Payer, 36, has been located by family members out of state. She is doing well and was unharmed, police said.

Police had requested the public's help in finding Payer, who had last been in contact with her family on Sept. 29 after parking her van at McDonald's in the 700 block of Hamilton Boulevard.
SIOUX CITY  City officials and business leaders donned orange hard hats and dug gold-painted shovels into the dirt Tuesday to ceremoniously break ground on a $10.7 million aviation center at Sioux Gateway Airport.

The 40,000-square-foot facility includes a flight academy and additional aviation operations. The aviation center was established through partnerships with Morningside University, Western Iowa Tech Community College and Oracle Aviation. The project, which was spearheaded by city officials and leaders at The Siouxland Initiative, includes hangar space, training classrooms and office facilities.

"We are so incredibly excited to be kicking off this project and bring a new focus on aviation training and great customer service to the field," said Dave Poole, vice president of business development for Oracle Aviation, an Omaha aviation company. "We are excited to work toward becoming an incredible resource and advocate for aviation both here throughout Siouxland and throughout the entire tri-state community."

Morningside University is creating professional flight and aviation management programs, which are set to welcome students in the fall of 2023, while WITCC plans to offer an associates of applied science in aviation maintenance.

Oracle Aviation's projections show the number of passenger flights doubling in the next 20 years and nearly 80% of active pilots being forced into retirement in the next 14 years due to pilot age requirements. Boeing estimates that more than 850,000 pilots will need to be trained to keep up with demand.

"Nationally, the need for pilots and aviation management professionals is at a historic high. That is also true here in Siouxland," Morningside President Albert Mosley said. "As a regional resource, this partnership allows us to provide the skilled talent that the aviation and other industries in this area need; and it gives Morningside students another pathway toward a fulfilling, high-wage career."

WITCC President Terry Murrell said the shortage of maintenance engineers is "even more pressing than the pilot shortage."

"Western Iowa Tech is very proud to be a part of this opportunity, really because it allows us to go in a new venture and to respond to the community's needs," he said.

Mayor Bob Scott said the Airport Board of Trustees is "very supportive" of the project because of the impact it is going to have on the community. He noted that the city looked at a flight school back in the 90s, but such a project just wasn't possible at that time. He said the aviation center wouldn't be moving forward without a $1 million grant from the Economic Development Administration.

"This gives us a lot of opportunities in our community -- a lot of landings and takeoffs. The school will have a direct impact on our tower situation, which will be very, very helpful. It'll give some part-time jobs for our 185th airmen and airwomen," he said. "... But the most important thing for me is that it will give a lot of opportunity for our young people to get into a profession that we didn't otherwise have in this community."

Col. Brian Miller, former commander of the 185th Refueling Wing, is serving as director of aviation for Morningside and overseeing the development of facilities, curriculum and recruitment.

"This is a perfect partnership in an outstanding location. The Sioux Gateway Airport offers an ideal setting for pilots to learn in a four-season setting, and the connections that SUX has to commercial, private and government aviation entities offers students a variety of opportunity," Miller said in a statement provided by the university.
Israel's Netanyahu appears to hold lead in election

JERUSALEM (AP)  Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to hold a narrow lead in Israeli elections. That's according to exit polls. The vote could pave the way for him to return to power thanks to a boost from an extreme right-wing ally known for inflammatory anti-Arab comments. The exit polls were preliminary, and final results could change as votes are tallied overnight Wednesday. However, they pointed to a continued rightward shift in the Israeli electorate, further dimming hopes for peace with the Palestinians and setting the stage for possible conflict with the Biden administration and Israels supporters in the U.S. Tuesdays election was Israels fifth in less than four years.

S. Korea fires 3 test missiles in response to North launches

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korea says it has conducted air-to-surface missile tests in response to North Korean missile tests. South Koreas military says its fighter jets fired three precision-guided missiles near the rivals eastern border on Wednesday. It says the launches were in reaction to a barrage of North Korean missiles tests earlier Wednesday. South Korea says one of the North Korean missiles landed near the sea border.

Brazil's Bolsonaro declines to concede, but OKs transition

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP)  Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has not conceded the election he lost to leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. But after he delivered quick remarks at the presidential residence Tuesday, his chief of staff announced that Bolsonaro had authorized him to begin the transition process. Bolsonaro's less than two-minute speech marked his first public comments since official results were announced two days ago. Although he didn't mention the results, he said he will continue to follow the rules of the nations constitution. He also thanked his supporters and encouraged their protests, as long as they remain peaceful.

Judge keeps armed groups away from Arizona ballot drop boxes

PHOENIX (AP)  A federal judge has ordered armed members of groups monitoring ballot drop boxes in Arizona to stay at least 250 feet away from the locations following complaints that people wearing masks and carrying guns were intimidating voters. In his order Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Liburdi said those groups or anyone working are also barred from filming or following anyone within 75 feet of a ballot drop box or the entrance to a building that houses one. They also cannot speak to or yell at individuals within that perimeter unless spoken to first. The order will be in effect for two weeks.

Officials: Suspect in Pelosi attack was on 'suicide mission'

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  The man accused of breaking into House Speaker Nancy Pelosis home, beating her husband and seeking to kidnap her told police he was on a suicide mission and had plans to target other California and federal politicians. David DePape was ordered held without bail at arraignment Tuesday in San Francisco Superior Court. His public defender entered a not guilty plea for him. A court filing says DePape allegedly had other targets, including a local professor and several prominent state and federal politicians. The filing also says Paul Pelosi was knocked unconscious by the hammer attack and awoke in a pool of his own blood. DePape's public defender promised a vigorous legal defense.

3 tragedies in Asia take hundreds of lives in 1 month

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  More than 400 people died in October in a series of crowd-related disasters in Asia. A bridge packed with revelers collapsed in India. Halloween partiers were crushed in South Koreas capital. And spectators fled a stadium in Indonesia after police fired tear gas. The dynamics in the three situations were distinct. Experts say poor planning and crowd management contributed to the disasters in Indonesia and South Korea. In India, authorities are investigating whether the recently repaired bridge was properly inspected.

Denmark PM to try to form new government after election win

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is in a strong position to remain in power after her Social Democrats won the most votes in Denmarks election and a center-left bloc in Parliament that backs her appears set to retain a majority by just one seat. The result was preliminary and based on the assumption that a vote count in Greenland expected early Wednesday would give the autonomous Danish territorys two seats to the center-left bloc. Despite the success, Frederiksen, who heads a Social Democratic minority government, said she would resign as prime minister and try to form a new government with broader support across the political divide.

Climate Migration: Nomads move to towns in warming Ladakh

KHARNAK, India (AP)  For decades, Konchok Dorjey grazed goats in the arid, treeless Kharnak village in Indias Ladakh region, a high mountainous cold-desert that borders China and Pakistan. But the 45-year-old nomad was forced to give up his pastoral life and move to a town. As this part of Asia is particularly vulnerable to climate change, shifting weather patterns are altering peoples lives through floods, landslides and droughts in Ladakh, an inhospitable yet pristine landscape of high mountain passes and vast river valleys that in the past was an important part of the famed Silk Road trade route.

Harper, Phillies tie World Series mark with 5 HR, top Astros

PHILADELPHIA (AP)  Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm helped the Philadelphia Phillies hit a World Series record-tying five home runs in a 7-0 win over the Houston Astros in Game 3 of the World Series. The Phillies lead the series 2-1. Brandon Marsh, Kyle Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins also homered for the Phillies. Ranger Suarez tossed three-hit ball over five shutout innings for the Phillies. Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. allowed all five home runs. He's the first pitcher ever to allow five homers in a World Series game.

Takeoff, dead at 28 in shooting, was 'chill' Migos member

At just 28, rapper Takeoff had cultivated a rich hip-hop legacy with Migos along with a reputation as the trios most lowkey member before he was killed in a shooting. Houston police said Takeoff was pronounced dead outside a Houston bowling alley early Tuesday. No arrests had been made. Born Kirsnick Khari Ball, Takeoff grew up alongside the two other members of Migos in suburban Atlanta. Quavo was his uncle and Offset was his cousin. While Takeoff was more reserved, more reserved, he did a lot of his talking through his rhymes and recently said he wanted his flowers before he died.
A man from Harvey has been sentenced to 35 years in prison in connection with a carjacking and shooting that left an Aurora woman permanently paralyzed in 2021.

Edward J. McGee, 27, agreed to the prison sentence in connection with a guilty plea to aggravated vehicular hijacking, Kane County court records show.

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McGee was one of four people who police say carjacked a man in DeKalb County in 2021 and then stopped in Aurora, looking to take another car. Meanwhile, a woman had just dropped her two sons off at her parents house and was running some errands when she stopped for something to eat at a Wendys in Aurora at around 4 p.m. Jan. 16, family friends previously told The Beacon-News.

She was listening to an audiobook while eating in the restaurants parking lot on the 1200 block of North Orchard Road when a Ford Escape pulled up and at least two men surrounded her SUV, police previously said.

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The woman was pushed over the center console, shot in the spine and forcibly pulled from her vehicle as the four men, including McGee, stole her car, police said.

A teenager, of Harvey, is accused of firing a handgun at the woman, striking her in the back. She was left lying in the parking lot with a shattered vertebra, leaving her paralyzed with a bullet still lodged in her spinal cord.

Shortly after, her vehicle was used in a carjacking in Lansing and was recovered on Jan. 20 in Harvey with several bullet holes on the inside and outside of the vehicle, officials said.

The teenager was later charged as an adult and Darrel Frazier, of Lansing, was also charged. Both still have ongoing cases. A fourth suspect in the carjacking was shot and killed during a vehicular hijacking in Lansing later that month, officials said.

McGee will have to serve at least 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole, court records show. He received credit for 550 days he spent in the Kane County Jail.

mejones@chicagotribune.com
NEW YORK (AP)  A man has been arrested with the gun used in a shooting last month outside the Long Island home of Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican candidate for governor of New York, authorities said Tuesday.

Noah Green, 18, was arrested Monday in Shirley on charges of criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of stolen property, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced.

Green's possible involvement in the Oct. 9 drive-by shooting outside Zeldin's house is still being investigated, the district attorney's office said. Two 17-year-old boys were wounded in the shooting.

Zeldin, who faces Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in next Tuesday's election, was not at home when the shooting occurred but said his twin teenage daughters were in the kitchen doing homework and heard gunshots and screaming.

According to court papers released by the district attorney's office, police officers conducting surveillance in connection with the shooting saw Green leave his residence in Shirley on Monday and get into a black Honda that had been reported stolen.

When officers approached Green, he exited the Honda and tried to flee by jumping onto the hood of the police car, prosecutors said.

Green reached for his pants pocket as officers tried to take him into custody, prosecutors said. Officers were able to grab Green's hand and recover a loaded 9mm pistol from Green's pocket, the district attorney's office said.

A microscopic analysis of the pistol showed that it was the same weapon as the one used in the shooting outside Zeldin's house, the district attorney's office said.

Additionally, prosecutors said, the car seen on surveillance video from the shooting scene was a black Honda consistent with the stolen car from Monday's arrest.

The gun Green possessed was the weapon used in the shooting, but that does not mean that he was the shooter necessarily, Zeldin said Tuesday. This investigation is still ongoing, and we will continue to help law enforcement in any way we can.

Green was arraigned and ordered held on $750,000 cash bail, $1.5 million bond or $7.5 million partially secured bond. He is due back in court Friday.

Green's attorney at the Legal Aid Society did not respond to messages seeking comment Wednesday.

Tierney said in a statement that the investigation into the shooting is continuing and there will be more developments in the future.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be edging toward victory in national elections, with nearly two-thirds of ballots showing that he and his ultranationalist and religious allies are poised to achieve a stable majority in the countrys parliament. Votes were still being counted on Wednesday morning and results were not final. But Israel was likely headed to one of its most right-wing governments, bolstered by a strong showing from the ultranationalist Religious Zionism party, whose members use inflammatory anti-Arab and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. The initial results pointed to a continued rightward shift in the Israeli electorate, further dimming hopes for peace with the Palestinians and setting the stage for possible conflict with the Biden administration.
A plan to search for unmarked graves at a former Native American boarding school in Kansas is on hold amid a disagreement between a Shawnee Tribe and state and city officials overseeing the site.

The Kansas Historical Society announced last year that the Kansas Geological Survey at the University of Kansas would conduct a ground-penetrating radar survey at the Shawnee Indian Mission in Fairway.

However, Fairway officials last week said the proposal was on hold indefinitely after Shawnee Tribe Chief Ben Barnes raised concerns that the tribe was not consulted about the proposal and future plans for the 12-acre (4.86-hectare) site.

The Shawnee Tribe pushed last year for a study of the site, formerly known as the Shawnee Indian Manual Labor School. It was one of hundreds of schools run by the government and religious groups in the 1800s and 1900s that removed Indigenous children from their families to assimilate them into white culture and Christianity.

Fairway City Administrator Nathan Nogelmeier said in a statement that the Kansas Historical Society, which owns the site, met with Barnes in August and offered him the opportunity to consult before the work began.

On Monday, Barnes said that as he was leaving a meeting at the historical society he was given a short paper saying the organization had begun the process of working with the university on the ground-penetrating work.

That's not consultation, Barnes said. Consultation is a well-defined term. It's not as I'm leaving stuff a piece of paper into my hands.

Several experts told the tribe the proposal was insufficient and didn't follow federal law concerning consulting with tribes in such situations, Barnes said.

In his statement, Nogelmeier said the historical society and the city of Fairway expect the Shawnee Tribe to try to persuade the Kansas Legislature next year to convey the land from the state to the Shawnee Nation.

The KHS is on record opposing such a conveyance due to its historical significance to Kansas not just while it operated as the manual labor training school but due to other events and time periods as they related to Kansass history, Nogelmeier said. Further, Chief Barnes has not made any commitments about what he and the Shawnee Nation view as the future use of the land if they become owners of the site.

While acknowledging that the tribe is not opposed to conveyance, Barnes suggested the state and Fairway officials are trying to use the issue as a political ploy and the timing of last week's statement raises questions about whether the tribe is welcome in the process.

I find that insinuation troubling, Barnes said. "We have always been clear about our vision for the site. Regardless of who owns it, it centers on protection and restoration. To say otherwise is patently false, and they know it's patently false."

The move to inspect the missions grounds came after the U.S. Department of Interior announced a nationwide initiative last year to investigate federally operated Indian boarding schools. That would not have included the Shawnee Indian Manual Labor School, which was founded in 1939 and run by Methodist minister Thomas Johnson.

At one point, it had 16 buildings on about 2,000 acres (800 hectares) and nearly 200 students a year who ranged in age from 5 to 23. The current 12-acre (4.86-hectare) site currently holds three buildings, which are on national and state historic registries.
Here's a look at trending topics for today, Oct. 31:

Nancy Pelosi

The man accused of attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband with a hammer told police he wanted to hold the Democratic leader hostage and break her kneecaps to show other members of Congress there were consequences to actions, authorities said Monday.

In a chilling federal complaint, officials say that David DePape, 42, carrying zip ties, a rope and tape in a backpack, broke into the couples San Francisco home early Friday morning, went upstairs where 82-year-old Paul Pelosi was sleeping, and demanded to talk to Nancy.

This house and the speaker herself were specifically targets, said San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins at a Monday evening press conference announcing state charges against DePape, including attempted murder.

Read more about it here:

Delphi murders

Authorities on Monday announced an arrest in the unsolved murders of two teenage girls -- a drugstore worker who has been living in the same small northern Indiana community where their bodies were found after they went on a hike nearly six years ago.

Richard Matthew Allen, 50, was arrested Friday on two murder counts in the killings of Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, in a case that has haunted the Indiana city of about 3,000 people.

The investigation is far from complete, State Police Superintendent Doug Carter said at a news conference on Monday. He encouraged the community to come forward with more information, and said if any other people had any involvement in these murders in any way, that person or persons will be held accountable."

Get more info here:

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, which spans Nov. 1 and 2, is a tradition that's been celebrated for thousands of years, tracing back to indigenous tribes in Mexico.

As the Latino population grows in Dallas and elsewhere, it's become more mainstream and is lumped in with Halloween festivities. But unlike Halloween with its costumes and candy, the belief behind Dia de los Muertos is that deceased loved ones are given an opportunity to be back with their families.

Major retailers have included Dia de los Muertos decor alongside their Halloween jack o'lanterns, and YouTube videos on how to do sugar skull makeup are uploaded by the dozens.

Find out more about it here:

***

Get more of today's trending topics here:

Falcons

Seoul Halloween stampede
A woman has testified at Harvey Weinstein's Los Angeles trial that he sexually assaulted her in 1991 and did the same 17 years later. Kelly Sipherd said Monday that the two assaults happened in the same hotel during the Toronto International Film Festival. She said the second occurred when she went to angrily confront him about the first. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. He is not charged with the alleged assaults described by Sipherd, but she is being allowed to testify. During cross-examination, Weinstein's attorney repeatedly questioned why she would later accept phone calls and allow herself to be alone with someone who had assaulted her so horribly.
DES MOINES -- Just a few days before the midterm election, former President Donald Trump will be the latest in a cadre of national Republicans to stump for Iowa candidates as they mull presidential runs.

As the first stop in the presidential primary season, Iowas first-in-the-nation caucuses have historically drawn presidential hopefuls to campaign across the state. Long before they officially announce, members of both parties campaign alongside Iowas politicians, getting their names in voters minds and in headlines.

The future of the Democratic caucuses is unclear as the national party plans to reshape the early window for primaries and caucuses. But the Republican calendar was set early this year, and Republicans have been making frequent stops to test the waters for a presidential campaign.

Though Trumps figure looms large over the party, this year has seen a handful of Republicans, including some former members of his cabinet, visit ahead of the midterms.

The visits from Republicans such as former Vice President Mike Pence, former ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, have helped maintain enthusiasm for the party in the run-up to the midterms, Republican Party of Iowa Chair Jeff Kaufmann said in an interview.

Theyve helped to raise dollars, theyve helped to raise awareness, he said. Theyve been very, very insistent, and I would say in a meaningful way and in a sincere way, of being here to focus on 22.

Heres who has been visiting Iowa this year ahead of the election:

Donald Trump

Trump will make his first Iowa visit of the year on Thursday, campaigning in Sioux City with a slate of local Republicans. He will be joined by Gov. Kim Reynolds, Sen. Chuck Grassley, former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and others.

His last Iowa rally was in October 2021 in Des Moines.

Trump has made no secret that he plans to run for president again in 2024. At a rally in Texas last week, he repeated a false claim that he won the election in 2020.

I will probably have to do it again, he said of running for another term.

Kaufmann said he doesnt know how Trumps potential presence in the field will affect the competitiveness of the caucuses. Some national Republicans have not said whether they would run if Trump enters the contest. But others, such as former Vice President Mike Pence, have indicated they would seek to challenge the former president.

That literally is going to be up to the people of Iowa, Kaufmann said. If citizens of Iowa want to test the waters with some other candidates, theyre going to be the ones in the drivers seat.

Mike Pence

Pence has visited Iowa at least three times this year: For the 4th District Republican convention in Carroll, at the Iowa State Fair and at a fundraiser for Wilton Republican Bobby Kaufmann.

Pence kept his plans close to the vest during a visit to the Iowa State Fair to campaign for Grassley.

After the first of the year, me and my family will do as weve always done, and that is reflect and pray on where we might next serve, where we might next contribute, he told reporters in August.

But all signs point to Pence preparing to run for president. Speaking to students at Georgetown University this month, Pence said there might be somebody else Id prefer more, when asked if he would vote for Trump in 2024.

Nikki Haley

Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina and former ambassador to the United Nations under Trump, has made frequent stops in Iowa over the last two years and has said shes considering running for president.

If it looks like there's a place for me...I'll put 100% in," Haley told reporters in June at a fundraiser for Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra.

This month, Haley campaigned alongside Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks, the incumbent running to represent Iowas new 1st District.

Tim Scott

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina has made his rounds in the Hawkeye State, campaigning with Sen. Joni Ernst, GOP attorney general candidate Brenna Bird and Rep. Ashley Hinson this year.

Scotts talk of his intentions has been scarce, but visits to other early states like New Hampshire have generated buzz about a presidential run. At a fundraiser for Hinson this summer, he praised Iowas elected leaders like Grassley and Reynolds.

You know you are in the right state when the state sends a farmer to be the head of the Judiciary, Scott said, referring to Grassley.

Mike Pompeo

Mike Pompeo, the former Secretary of State under Trump, appears to be laying the groundwork for a presidential campaign and has headlined several Iowa Republican fundraisers and events this year.

Like others, Pompeo has responded to questions about his presidential ambitions by saying he is focused on electing Republicans this November. But he hasnt denied 2024 is on his mind.

Well pray about this and decide whether it is our moment, it is our time, to make the case to the American people, he said at an event in October. And obviously if you do that, you come to great places like this to make the case first.

Other potential contenders

 U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida was in Iowa in September to campaign with Miller-Meeks and Grassley.

 Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas attended events in support of Iowa congressional and legislative candidates in July, the Des Moines Register reported.

 Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a moderate Republican who has been critical of Trump, was at the Iowa State Fair in August.

Democratic caucuses in limbo

While the caucuses have led the presidential nominating calendar for both parties for a half-century, Iowas Democratic Party may lose that spot as the Democratic National Committee plans to reshape its nominating calendar after the midterms.

The DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee will meet Dec. 1-3, Scott Brennan, an Iowan who sits on the committee, said. Brennan said he expects the calendar will be voted on during that meeting, though an agenda hasnt been set.

In a statement, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Ross Wilburn said the party will take a pragmatic approach to any discussions regarding the early nominating window.

"Small rural states like Iowa must have a voice in our Democratic Presidential nominating process, he said. We cannot let corporate media and special interest groups replace our strong Democratic grassroots organizations which have been the bedrock of our national general election victories.

President Joe Biden has said repeatedly he plans to run for president again in 2024, but that hasnt stopped speculation that he will pass the torch after one term. Should Biden run again, its not likely there will be a competitive Democratic primary.

Some national Democrats, including former Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama, Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina and Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow have made visits to Iowa this season, but none has suggested exploring a presidential run.
WATERLOO  Jurors have sided with an Evansdale man in his lawsuit against a Waterloo casino where he was attacked by another patron in January 2021.

Attorneys for Montana Gunhus, 36, asked the jury for a $1.98 million verdict during closing arguments Monday.

The casino was gambling with the publics safety, said Jordan Talsma, who is representing Gunhus. They will take your money, but they wont protect you.

In a verdict reached Monday afternoon, the jury awarded Gunhus $1.732 million. This included $32,314 for past medical expenses; $50,000 for past loss of mind and body; $550,000 for future loss of full mind and body; $100,000 for past pain and suffering and $1 million for future pain and suffering.

On the issue of comparative liability, jurors found Gunhus didnt share any fault.

The jury awarded an additional $45,000 in loss of parent consortium  $15,000 for each of Gunhus three children.

According to testimony, Gunhus found a players club card belonging to Damond Williams wife inside a slot machine at the Isle Casino. He began using the card, spending $100 in fan play credits.

Williams, 46, reported the card missing. Staff traced machines where it had been used and found Gunhus. When security staff approached Gunhus, Williams came up behind him and punched him, knocking him to the ground.

In the 25 seconds that followed, Williams landed 15 punches and kicks. Gunhus suffered facial fractures and was left blind in his right eye.

Talsma said the Isle of Capri Black Hawk County was liable because staff didnt take steps to keep Williams and Montana apart during the missing card investigation, and staff didnt intervene to stop the attack because the business has a hands-off policy for physical confrontations.

Attorney Mark Thomas, who represented the Isle, said Williams  who is facing criminal charges  is the real person responsible for Gunhuss injuries.

Were not Mr. Williams. He was not employed by the casino, and hes not a defendant in this case, Thomas said.

He said Williams wasnt angry or threatening before the attack, so casino employees had no reason to suspect he was a danger. The casinos non-intervention policy is standard for similarly sized casinos in the Midwest, Thomas said.

The defense also said Gunhus shared responsibility because he took and was using Williams wifes loyalty card.

He is the trigger for the entire event, Thomas said.

Jurors began deliberation in the case on Monday morning and reached a decision in the early afternoon.

Williams is charged with willful injury causing serious injury and is currently the subject of a bench warrant after allegedly missing a court date in August 2022.
DES MOINES  Republican Mike Naig is seeking another four-year term as Iowas secretary of agriculture in order to continue to seek new markets for Iowa agriculture products and to continue work on improving water quality in the state.

Democrat John Norwood, a businessman and Polk County Soil and Water commissioner, wants to expedite Iowas work on improving water quality and foster an agricultural system that he says would be built to last.

Naig had been working as deputy secretary of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship when, in 2018, he was promoted to the post after former Secretary Bill Northey accepted a position in the federal ag department. Later that year, Naig won election to a full, four-year term as ag secretary.

MIKE NAIG

During an interview, Naig, 44, praised his departments work over the past four years in response to historic flooding, droughts, a derecho, and return of the bird flu, not to mention a global pandemic.

Weve had to be very flexible. Weve had to be responsive to the times. And, frankly, those were some things that were historic and unprecedented. We hadnt seen things like that before, Naig said. And Im proud of the way that our team has reflected the agriculture community in how they had to deal with these things, to be resilient and really still get the job done.

Naig said he is proud of the work that has been done to improve Iowas water quality during his tenure, and that he hopes to expand upon that work in another four-year term. He said with dedicated funding from the state in place for the next 17 years, he expects the state can leverage that funding to obtain even more resources through federal and private funding.

The percentage of Iowas waters that are deemed impaired declined slightly in 2022, but still is at more than half, according to an annual state Department of Natural Resources report. That percentage has been higher than 50 percent since 2010, according to the report.

We finally secured long-term, dedicated funding that has allowed us to turn the page now and focus on how do we scale up, Naig said. Were looking at ways to leverage those state resources with federal dollars, with private sector dollars, with farmer and landowner dollars, cities, and how do we just continue to leverage and get more and more efficient in our work and get more and more done.

JOHN NORWOOD

Before Norwood moved to Iowa in 2002, he lived and worked for a large water utility in Boston and led an agricultural land trust California. In Iowa, he owns a small business and is a business adviser.

During an interview, Norwood, 58, said the pace of Iowas work on water quality issues is not sufficient.

We cant do things one at a time and hopefully move the needle, Norwood said.

He said the state needs to scale up its work, should work more with local drainage districts and develop a strategy that includes all stakeholders, including both the farm operators and land owners on farms where those are separate.

Norwood said he believes Iowas agriculture system is unbalanced, with too much reliance on growing corn and soybeans, which can have a detrimental impact on water quality if farmers grow crops too close to waterways.

He believes the state should find ways to encourage farmers to diversify their crops.

The commodity markets were so good at. Its really the specialty markets we have to get better at, ensuring things that complement the systems. We need that because the foundation of our economy is agriculture. But our agriculture is unbalanced, Norwood said. We need to add resiliency. We need to add diversity and inclusiveness. We need to add flexibility to the system.

Norwood said he feels that some government programs, like crop insurance, may be encouraging farming practices that will be bad for the land in the long-term. He proposes using incentives to encourage practices that will preserve or even improve water quality and soil health.

I use sort of that model for when youre a physician: first do no harm. Were doing things today where were harming the system, Norwood said. The first responsibility is to protect the resource. If we dont protect the resource, then were trading present productivity for future productivity.

Its an intergenerational issue. And I think we have a moral and ethical responsibility not to run the system aground.

Early voting is underway. Election Day is Nov. 8.
Members of Nebraskas congressional delegation expressed sympathy and shock after House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband was attacked with a hammer in their San Francisco home.

Paul Pelosi, 82, was attacked around 2:30 a.m. Friday as an intruder searched for his wife, yelling: Where is Nancy, where is Nancy? Police arrived on the scene and arrested David DePape, 42. Paul Pelosi was transported to a hospital, where he underwent surgery on his skull and an arm. He is expected to recover.

The speaker, a leader in the Democratic Party, was in Washington at the time of the attack.

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon was the first of Nebraskas five congressional members  all Republicans  to publicly respond to the attacks Friday.

We pray for a speedy recovery for Mr. Pelosi, and want the violent criminal held accountable and put behind bars, the 2nd District representative wrote on Twitter.

Rep. Mike Flood shared similar sentiments in a tweet Friday afternoon. Flood has represented the 1st District, which covers part or all of 12 eastern Nebraska counties, since July.

Mandi and I are keeping Paul in our prayers  hoping for a swift recovery, Flood said.

In a statement, Rep. Adrian Smith said he was troubled by the reports of the violent assault on Paul Pelosi.

I am keeping him and his family in my prayers, said the 3rd District congressman, who represents all of western and central Nebraska.

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer took to Twitter Friday afternoon to condemn the violence.

Deeply troubled to hear of the attack against Speaker Pelosis husband, Paul, she said in a tweet. Violence of any kind is unacceptable and should be condemned. Bruce and I are sending our prayers for Pauls speedy recovery.

Sen. Ben Sasse warned Americans against the dangers of anger and conspiracy theories.

The suspect arrested at Pelosis home appears to have made racist and often rambling posts online, including some that questioned the results of the 2020 election and echoed QAnon conspiracy theories.

Melissa and I are praying for the Pelosi family, Sasse said in a statement. As we wait to hear more, every single American needs to be lowering the temperature. This is increasingly obvious: Disturbed individuals easily succumb to conspiracy theories and rage  the consequences are bloody and un-American.

Pelosi is often a target in Republican political attack ads.

On Friday morning the National Republican Congressional Committee sent out a text linking Pelosi and State Sen. Tony Vargas under the label extreme libels along with a criticism of their records on taxes. Vargas is challenging Bacon to represent the district, which includes Omaha.

Meg Mandy, Vargas campaign manager, questioned the timing of the text on Twitter given the attack on Pelosis husband.

A source familiar with the text said it was prescheduled to be sent Friday morning.

Asked about the text, Bacon said in a statement that he condemns all political violence, regardless of party.

We campaign giving our 100% effort but after the election we shake hands and work for our country, Bacon said. Civility and respect are needed for both sides to find consensus areas so we can make progress as a nation.

World-Herald staff writer Emily Nitcher contributed to this report, which includes material from the Associated Press.
SCOTTSBLUFF  State and local officials celebrated the official opening of the Alliance south section of the Heartland Expressway during a ceremony this month.

Work on the 14-mile section of the project that runs from Angora Hill to south of Alliance began in the spring of 2021 and was not scheduled to be completed by contractor IHC-Scott until the spring of next year.

Theyre actually six months ahead of schedule, and thats a tremendous accomplishment given that were coming out of the pandemic supply chain and labor force issues, so our hats are off to them, said Nebraska Director of Transportation John Selmer.

Gov. Pete Ricketts said, Building infrastructure is part of what we do in state government and national government to be able to help facilitate commerce and national development. This is a great example of the types of projects that make that happen."

The Heartland Expressway, a federally designated, high-priority corridor, will eventually provide multilane, divided highway access from Rapid City, South Dakota, to Denver, via Alliance, Scottsbluff, Kimball and Brush, Colorado. The project has been in process since first proposed in the 1980s.

Increased revenue from the Build Nebraska Act and the Transportation Innovation Act enabled the Nebraska Department of Transportation to extend the expressway earlier than anticipated. The state also received an $18.3 million grant through the U.S. Department of Transportations Infrastructure for Rebuilding America program.

The Heartland Expressway is something that will be able to help trade and commerce, Ricketts said, noting it could shift traffic through Nebraska that currently uses Interstate 25 in Wyoming.

He said the Heartland Expressway is crucial to helping the trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada grow.

We should see continued development of the three countries' trade relationships that will help bring more traffic through the Nebraska Panhandle. It will also not only help with economic development of our cities but also for safety and convenience.

Alliance Mayor Mike Dafney, a member of the Heartland Expressway Association, said the addition to the four-lane route is a sign of progress in the Panhandle.

They say that everything comes to him or her that waits, he said. Twenty-eight years ago, we got the corridor development plan outlining the benefits that a four-lane divided highway from the front range of Colorado to Rapid City would provide.

Dafney said that five businesses have already located on the Heartland Expressway in Alliance, with more to come.

We look forward to whats going to happen next.
Kim Sweeney, right, preschool director at the Barrington Park District, distributes candy during the "Halloween Spooktacular" and trunk-or-treat Oct. 29, 2022 at Citizens Park in Barrington. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

The Halloween Spooktacular and trunk-or-treat event in Barrington Saturday attracted 300 children to Citizens Park in the northwest suburb.

The event, geared toward youngsters age 1 to 10 and the adults accompanying them, started with a one-hour outdoor trunk-or-treat amid near-60 degree weather.

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The event featured tractor hayrides, inflatables for children to jump in, indoor craft activities and treats, and more.

Its great (for children), it gives them a safe opportunity to play some games, trick-or-treat and have some fun in their Halloween costumes, said Jody Dodson, recreation supervisor for the Barrington Park District, which hosted the event.

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Connor OReilly, 7, was among the children dressed in costumes attending the "Halloween Spooktacular and Trunk-or-Treat Oct. 29, 2022 at Citizens Park in Barrington. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

Hayrides on a tractor were part of the family-friendly activities available at the "Halloween Spooktacular" and trunk-or-treat Oct. 29, 2022 at Citizens Park in Barrington. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

Crowds of kids in costumes were on display at the "Halloween Spooktacular" and trunk-or-treat Oct. 29, 2022 at Citizens Park in Barrington. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

Kim Sweeney, center, preschool director at the Barrington Park District, distributes candy during the "Halloween Spooktacular" and trunk-or-treat Oct. 29, 2022 at Citizens Park in Barrington. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

Families in Halloween costumes participated in hayrides and more during the "Halloween Spooktacular" and trunk-or-treat Oct. 29, 2022 at Citizens Park in Barrington. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

Dodson said people make the event a Halloween family tradition and memory-maker.

Erin Van Horne, a real estate agent from Barrington, distributed treat bags during the trunk-or-treat.

Its important to give back because you want to make your community great and you want other people to know how great your community is, Van Horne said. You want to spread the joy.

Isla Juliano, 5, was dressed in an Elsa character costume from the Disney movie Frozen, and was accompanied to the event by parents Jimmy and Sheryl Juliano.

We love this annual event, Sheryl Juliano said. Its a great outdoor family friendly event and were blessed with really fantastic weather today.

Channeling a Peter Pan Halloween costume theme as a family were Wade Headrick and Nicole Bizeau, of Barrington, with their children Audrey , 5, and Nolan, 2.

The Headrick family recently moved to Barrington from the northwest side of Chicago.

This is a great opportunity for us to meet our new neighbors, and we look forward to many years in Barrington, Nicole Bozeau said.

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Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer.
OMAHA, Nebraska (AP)  A Halloween celebration turned frantic after a man drove through a barricaded area and was shot by an Omaha police officer Monday night, police said.

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the shooting occurred during the popular annual Halloween on the Boulevard" block party in the Minne Lusa neighborhood in Omaha.

Children and adults were out in the neighborhood trick-or-treating when a car drove recklessly through a blocked-off area shortly after 7 p.m., Omaha Police Lt. Neal Bonacci said.

The driver of the vehicle was shot by an Omaha police officer and taken to Nebraska Medical Center with serious injuries. The name of the driver has not yet been released. Police say no one else was injured.

Chrissy Lopez, a resident of the neighborhood, told the Omaha World-Herald that the vehicle initially drove slowly through the crowd as people yelled at the driver to stop.

He would stop and then drive a little more, she said. I heard his engine rev and people started screaming, and I thought Oh no. And then I heard the gunshots, and everybody just started screaming and running and crying.

Police and firefighters were already on the scene for the block party, which is put on by the Miller Park Minne Lusa Neighborhood Association and draws thousands of people to the area each year.

The shooting is under investigation.
OMAHA, Nebraska (AP)  A police officer shot and wounded a man who drove around barricades and into a crowded Halloween block party in Omaha after ignoring the officers orders to stop and continuing toward the officer, authorities said Tuesday.

The shooting happened at around 7 p.m. Monday during the annual Halloween block party in the Minne Lusa neighborhood, and no one besides the driver was injured. It capped a chaotic few seconds in which people ran screaming as the car accelerated toward the crowd before shots rang out.

Kaitlin Harper was with her young son near an entrance to the block party when the car entered the cordoned-off area, she said.

I only saw him drive past me and into the crowd, then I was on the phone with 911 and he was gone, she said.

Moments later, after the car had traveled about six blocks, Harper heard the gunshots. She grabbed her son, ran to their car and got out of there.

Authorities had blocked off the area to traffic to allow trick-or-treaters and their families to mill about the streets safely.

Police said the driver, later identified as 31-year-old Dontavius Levering, drove around the barricades and traveled recklessly the wrong way without headlights on Minne Lusa Boulevard through crowds of people, including throngs of children. Grainy doorbell video posted online shows the car easing through the crowd, then accelerating. It's not clear whether he intended to hurt anyone.

An officer, later identified as Bryson Blandford, was already at the scene handing out candy when the car came around the barriers, police said. Blandford ran into the street in front of Leverings car, held up a hand and yelled for Levering to stop, but Levering drove toward the officer and the crowd behind him, leading Blandford to shoot him, police said.

Levering was taken to a hospital in critical condition but is expected to survive. Police did not immediately answer questions about a motive or whether investigators had been able to speak to Levering since the shooting.

A search of court records shows that Levering has a long history of mostly misdemeanor crimes in Omaha dating back to his teens, including about a dozen traffic-related charges for driving while his license was suspended, driving with no proof of insurance and failing to appear for some of those charges. Last month, a warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to appear in court on a misdemeanor charge of having no proof of insurance to drive.

Police said Blandford  a four-year veteran of the force  has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard whenever officers shoot someone. Police said the confrontation and shooting were captured on the officers body camera, and the Nebraska State Patrol and Sarpy County Sheriffs Office are helping to investigate.
Nebraska U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse won approval Tuesday from the University of Florida Board of Trustees to be the school's next president despite vocal opposition from some faculty and students.

Sasse, a Republican, was recommended for the top post by a unanimous vote of the trustees. A final vote to elevate Sasse as the school's 13th president is set for Nov. 10 by the state university system Board of Governors.

The recommended compensation package for Sasse comes to about $1.6 million, university officials said. That will also be finalized at the governors meeting.

During a four-hour meeting Tuesday on the Gainesville campus, Sasse sought to allay concerns that he's more a creature of politics than academia by saying he will take a pledge of political celibacy with regard to partisan issues.

I would have no activity in partisan politics in any way as I arrive at the University of Florida, Sasse said, adding that his candidacy was not pushed by GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis or other Florida elected officials. There is just tons and tons of learning and listening that I need to do.

Opposition to Sasse, who was first elected to the Senate in 2014, has focused on his stance against same-sex marriage and positions on other LGBTQ issues. Some faculty and students question his qualifications to run such a sprawling school with more than 50,000 students. leading to a recent no-confidence vote by the university's faculty Senate.

Sasse, a historian by training with a doctorate from Yale University, was previously president of Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska, which has just over 1,600 students. He also taught at the University of Texas.

I want to ask, senator: Why are you here?" freshman student Nathaniel Pelton asked at the meeting, which drew several dozen protesters outside. I dont want any politician to be my president. I want someone who cares about my community.

Sasse, 50, said he does not foresee changes in a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage. He said LGBTQ students and faculty will be treated with dignity and respect, just like anyone else on campus.

Communities of ideas are built on respect and trust, Sasse said. "Everybody is created with infinite worth.

Still, some students are skeptical and want assurances that Sasse will keep his promises of political neutrality, said Lauren Lemasters, the university student body president.

There is this hill of trust that is going to have to be climbed by you, she said.

Sasse also said he strongly supports faculty tenure and academic freedom so that there is a robust exchange of all ideas on campus. And despite his strong criticism of the communist Chinese government, Sasse said students and faculty from China should feel welcome.

We want the best faculty to stay at this place and to be recruited to this place, and that requires academic freedom, he said. We want more and all students from every background.

Much criticism of Sasse's choice centered on a new selection process in which all candidates remained anonymous until only the single finalist's identity was revealed. Mori Hosseini, the trustees' chairman, said almost none of the most qualified candidates would have pursued the job had the process been public.

I can tell you for a fact none of the top 12 we considered would have moved past the initial conversation with us. Hosseini said. It's that simple."

Sasse would resign his Senate seat if he wins final approval as the university's president. The Republican governor of Nebraska would appoint a replacement to finish the four years remaining on his second term.

Sasse will replace Kent Fuchs, who has been Florida's president since 2015 and has overseen the school's rising academic reputation among public universities nationally.
Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group.

Dear Care and Feeding,

My cousin, Sara, and I grew up together and have always been really close. My husband and I dont believe in allowance. Our 11-year-old son Ben has chores that he does because hes part of our family, and it benefits the household. If he wants to make money, then he can do a special project, like cleaning out the garage or gutters, or we encourage him to let neighbors know he is available for pet sitting, yard work, snow removal, etc. Saras kids get an allowance and since Ben is over there so much when her kids are doing chores after school, she gives Ben some things to do and pays him as well. She didnt ask me about this, and I found out when Ben had money one weekend, and he told me where he got it. I am not okay with this and explained this to Sara and asked her to stop giving him an allowance. She pushed back and claimed that it was no different than him doing a job for her and her paying him, as shes done when he pet sits.

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After that, she changed his jobs to things like walking the dog and feeding the cat, but I told her she was just using this as a way to circumvent my wishes and tried to explain more fully why we decided not to do allowances. She explained more fully their method of teaching save/spend/tithe. We agreed to disagree, and I thought that was the end of it.

However, I recently found out that she has continued to pay Ben. I am so angry at her for going behind my back. Sara claims that she took the agree to disagree to mean that we both heard each others positions and agreed to move forward without fighting. She claims that Ben is a good kid so when the other kids are doing their chores, he likes to pitch in instead of sitting there and watching tv or whatever, and it doesnt feel right for him to help and not receive compensation.

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My husband was not involved in the original conversation months ago, but when I vented to him, he said he doesnt see any problem. He agrees with Sara that Ben doing chores over there is no different than us telling him to find jobs to do to make money. My husband is proud of Ben for saving so much money and for the things hes donated a percentage of his earnings to (after seeing ads on TV, he asked to donate to St. Jude).

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I dont know how to put into words why this doesnt feel right and that we should be the one to teach him about finances. My husband doesnt see the harm in it and even thinks maybe we should be paying him an allowance for jobs he does for us. I feel like my head is going to explode! How do I get my husband back on my side? How do I explain to everyone why what Sara is doing is wrong? I feel like no one is listening to me!

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I Said No Allowance

Dear No Allowance,

There are a few things to unpack here, and Ill start by offering you some validation. At the end of the day, you are Bens mom, and your cousin needs to fall in line and respect your wishes regarding how you choose to raise him. Even if you said that hes not allowed to eat any foods starting with the letter G then thats your right, and she should not question you, no matter how weird it is.

I could stop my response there, but I also want to say that I can see where your husband is coming from. Youre saying that you dont believe in allowances and that Ben should look for odd jobs around the neighborhood if he wants to make extra money. So when an opportunity arises to do some work to make some cash from a trusted family member, you get upset? Dont you think it would be better for Ben to help out your cousin instead of roaming the neighborhood? If I was Ben, Id be totally confused by what youre trying to accomplish here, because it seems like hes doing exactly what youre asking of him.

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With that said, you need to ask yourself a couple of questions.

Is this a hill youre willing to die on? If it is, then you need to tell Sara straight up that if she doesnt stop paying him, then youll forbid Ben to visit her house going forward. Is that extreme? Sure it is, but in your defense, its obvious Sara is being passive aggressive toward you, so you need to set a clear boundary in order for her to know you mean business. The bad news is that in doing so, it can impact your relationship with her and the relationship Ben has with her kids.

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If you continue to allow Ben to visit Saras house, you need to determine what Ben should be doing when Saras kids are doing chores. Should he sit there and do nothing? Should you ensure that he only visits when its time to play and not work? Should he always decline when Sara asks him to complete tasks that he could be paid for? Should you host the majority of the playdates at your house instead? Like I said before, I wouldnt blame Ben for being totally clueless about what you expect from him, so you need to add some clarity.

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No matter how you choose to handle this, you should be unapologetic to Sara about the fact that youre Bens mom and you call the shots. Also, you and your husband need to get on the same page about this, even if it requires both of you to go to a therapist to do so. If everyone is mature and reasonable, this should be resolved relatively painlessly.

Catch Up on Care and Feeding

 If you missed Mondays column, read it here.

 Discuss this column in the Slate Parenting Facebook group!

Dear Care and Feeding,

Im struggling with unfair jealousy of my younger sister and older, more established BIL. My wife and I had to significantly downsize our wedding to a backyard ceremony due to COVID; my sister and BIL had a beautiful, traditional wedding with our full family a year later (they also got engaged two weeks before our wedding, which distracted some of our familys attention from our day). We were able to afford a cute but modest house; they just bought a huge, gorgeous house.

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Now, we both just welcomed our first children, and this type of inadvertent one-upping persists. The night we planned to tell my parents, my sister and BIL got to their house before we did and shared their news first. We had the spotlight first because my daughter was born a month in advance, but now everyone is (justifiably) fawning over my nephew.

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My wife had a traumatic, unplanned c-section and we were in the hospital for a week. She wanted to breastfeed but couldnt, only has 12 weeks of mostly unpaid maternity leave, and her family lives 3 hours away (my parents help out when they can but both work full-time). Meanwhile, my sister had a natural birth with no significant complications (her words) and shes able to breastfeed. She can take up to 6 months of maternity leave, and they live within minutes of my BILs family who are more available to help out.

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I know none of this is anyones fault. We all have a great relationship, and Im excited that my daughter and nephew will grow up together. But honestly, it all feels like a cruel twist of fate, and its difficult for my wife and I not to feel jealous of their situation. Are we wrong to feel this way? How should we cope with these emotions?

Jealous Older Brother

Dear Jealous Older Brother,

I totally understand why and how you could feel that way. Thankfully your sister and BIL arent intentionally hurting your feelings, or else my answer would be completely different, but here are my thoughts.

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One of my mentors used to tell me about the curse of the mountaintop which helped me in situations like yours. Basically the curse entails how people will train their minds and bodies, and work extremely hard to make it to the top of a mountain, but instead of enjoying the fruits of their labor, they stare off into the distance at other taller mountains. Theyll say to themselves, Meh, this isnt a big deal at all compared to climbing those other mountains. I must be a failure compared to those other hikers. In doing so, you dont realize how many people would love to be on the top of the mountain you just climbed. You also dont take a moment to realize how blessed you are to be able to climb in the first place.

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There will always be people who make more money than you, have nicer weddings than you, have bigger houses than you, and are luckier than you. In this case, your sister and BIL are those people, and you find yourselves staring at their mountaintop instead of cherishing where you are.

But take a moment to look at your situation in a vacuum. You have a healthy daughter, you own a home, and youre in a loving marriage. Do you know how amazing those things are? Do you know how many people would kill to be in your shoes? Heck, I bet there are probably people in your lives staring at you on top of your mountain right now who are envious of everything you have.

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As Teddy Roosevelt once said, comparison is the thief of joy. Stop looking around at what everyone else has and take a moment to be grateful for everything you have in life, because you have a lot to be thankful for. Stand on top of your mountain, take a deep breath, and enjoy the view.

Want Advice From Care and Feeding?

Submit your questions about parenting and family life here. Its anonymous! (Questions may be edited for publication.)

Dear Care and Feeding,

Im in my mid-thirties and my mom was somewhat ahead of the societal curve when it came to consent in the 1990s. In other words, I always knew it was okay not to kiss or hug relatives or family friends if I didnt feel like it, and they knew it was my decision to do so or not.

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Now that Im at that age where most of my friends have kids (I dont) I want to keep teaching what I consider to be an important lesson! However, I dont want my friends to feel like Im stepping on their parenting toes if I tell their kids its okay if they dont want to hug me goodbye, etc. Im happy to be demonstrative with my friends kids, but if they say they dont want to hug me when I visit, thats fine and should be their choice! I also know that a lot of my friends have relatives who expect hugs and kisses from these young kids, and I dont want to be the family friend who has taught them its okay to refuse (even though I think THAT should be okay). How should I navigate this?

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Teaching, Not Parenting

Dear Teaching,

I dont think any reasonable adult would find a problem with what you laid out here. As a matter of fact, I would applaud you for taking that stance with my children, and I wouldnt take it personally at all. Nowadays I think more parents than ever are teaching their kids that they shouldnt be forced to hug or accept hugs/kisses from anyone they dont want to. I certainly fall into that category in terms of what I teach my two daughters and many of my friends have a similar mentality.

I wouldnt look at it as if youre showing up the parents. If anything, youre sharing what feels comfortable to you and your body, because it doesnt feel right to embrace a child who clearly doesnt want to be embraced. In doing so, you could be opening your friends eyes to the idea that their kids shouldnt be forced to hug people because mom and dad told them to.

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Memo to everyone reading this  the holidays are approaching and more people will be getting together for large gatherings who have been largely absent from our experiences due to the pandemic. Aunties, uncles, and grandparents all over America are going to expect physical embraces from the children they may not have seen in person for close to two years, and I think we should all empower our children to choose who touches them. Will some of our family members get upset? Sure they will, but I think its more important to teach our kids about boundaries and have them know that their parents will respect those boundaries at all times.

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Dear Care and Feeding,

Im a divorced mom who has an amicable co-parenting relationship with my ex. We have 50-50 custody. Our daughter Hannah is in eighth grade and has a smartphone. She is on her dads cell phone plan, and I pay half her share of the cost.

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I have been contacted by several teachers this year about her phone use in class. Some have also said she gives them a hard time when they stop warning her and take away her phone. Ive even heard from multiple teachers about it on the same day! (It is school policy that teachers can only confiscate a phone for the duration of the class period. So she has gotten it taken away in one class, gotten it back, and proceeded to do the same thing in other classes.) In response, Ive tried taking her phone and other privileges away at home when I have custody, but the behavior is continuing when she gets it back. Her grades on the interim progress report ranged were Cs, Ds, and a B. In the past, shes been an A and B student.

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I think its time for Hannah to lose her smartphone. She can switch to a flip phone (for safety) until her grades improve and she shows she has enough self control to be trusted with the smartphone. Her father disagrees. He thinks that this is something for the school to deal with since its happening at school. And that shell never learn to use her smartphone responsibly if we take it away.

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I think this is wrong. First, the teachers cant catch her every single time shes on her phone in class. For her grades to be so bad, Im sure its happening more than just the times we hear about. And when they do catch her, reminders and even confiscating the phone are not deterring her. Second, while I agree that Hannah eventually needs to be able to manage having a smartphone in school, I think shes shown that shes just not able to handle that right now.

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Do I try to enlist the teachers to help convince my ex? I fear that will poison our co-parenting relationship. Do I get her a flip phone on my plan and refuse to help pay for her phone plan with her dad anymore? That would only solve the problem half the time. And part of me is worried that if I go too much stricter than my ex on this, then shell decide she wants to live with him full time.

Where do we go from here? This is the first time weve ever had a big parenting disagreement since the divorce.

No Longer a Unified Front

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Dear No Longer,

Im 100 percent on your side here. Your husband is completely misguided if he believes its Hannahs teachers responsibility to teach her about phone etiquette in school. Their jobs are tough enough as they are, and the only thing they should be responsible for is removing her phone if its in use in the classroom.

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Its clear that her grades are slipping, which could be a blessing in disguise. I know you dont want to rock the boat with your ex, especially since youve been getting along so well up until this point, so you should suggest that all three of you meet with a family therapist to discuss Hannahs performance in school. During the session, you can bring up the phone usage and how Hannahs teachers are constantly confiscating it. I could be wrong, but I would think that 99 therapists out of 100 would realize that her smartphone is a big problem and should be removed from the equation. Sometimes having the opinion of an unbiased third party could help your ex to see the light without making you appear to be the bad guy.

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A second option is to schedule a parent-teacher conference and have one of her teachers explain the school policy to your ex. Granted, its not as good as therapy, but at least he can hear firsthand that its not a teachers responsibility to teach your child how and when to use a phone.

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If for whatever reason, none of those options work, then youll have to take a deep breath and stand up for what you believe ineven if it damages your relationship with your ex. When discussing this with him, you can simply state that for Hannahs sake that you need to make a power move in effort to get results. If that means buying her a bare-bones flip phone that only takes and receives calls or refusing to pay her current smartphone bill, then so be it.

A smartphone is a privilege, not a right, and if she continues to prove that shes not ready for that privilege, it should be taken away.

Doyin

More Advice From Slate

We have a very smart, creative 13-year-old daughter. I recently read the texts between her and her first boyfriendsomething she knows I doand was surprised. She tells him that her life is screwed up and that she feels unworthy and unloved. This does not seem to describe our relationship. Should I talk to her about this?
On Monday afternoon, criminal charges were filed against the man accused of assaulting Nancy Pelosis husband late last week. The filing included interviews with the assailant, David DePape, and it reveals disturbing details about what happened, and what could have happened. DePape said he had targeted Nancy Pelosi because she was  leader of the pack of lies told by the Democratic Party, and he had wanted to break the House speakers kneecaps to put her in a wheelchair to leave a visible reminder to other Members of Congress that there were consequences to actions. Even when DePape realized that police would be coming, he did not leave, he said, because, much like the American founding fathers with the British, he was fighting against tyranny without the option of surrender.

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DePapes testimony shed light on his broader intentions. But it also did something else: It refuted several currently circulating conspiracy theories about the events of that night.

Often in the aftermath of a major crime, false information takes hold as people are trying to figure out what exactly happened, and why. Sometimes this isnt maliciousbut sometimes it is. And in the case of Paul Pelosis violent assault, we may have seen some of the most productive and effective work by trolls and conspiracy theorists taking advantage of that moment yet.

These bad actors did not wait to jump into action. When very little was known, right-wing social media users jumped to either downplay or redirect attention given to the event. The conspiracy theories spiraled from there.

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First, there was the speculation that this was a false flag operationa false flag being the notion, frequently floated after right-wing violence, that the attack was a hoax or was perpetrated by Democrats to shore up support for their party by slandering the right, just before the midterm elections. One version posited that antifa had been behind the attack; another that Nancy Pelosi, furious over the damage her husband had inflicted on her public image, was behind it; and still another that the Pelosis had faked the whole thing. Over the weekend, the hashtags #PaulPelosiSmollet and #PelosiSmollett, referencing the false hate crime claims the actor Jussie Smollett made in 2019, trended on Twitter.

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The right-wing pundit Dinesh DSouza at one point attempted to go this route, amplifying a Gateway Pundit article that claimed two far-right websites attributed to David DePape to smear conservatives were FABRICATED. (This was false: The websites had just been taken down after DePapes name was published in association with the assault.)

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Then, there was the denial that DePape was genuinely right-wing. Despite the ample amount of evidence that the alleged assailant was radicalized in digital right-wing spaces and despite his online misogynistic, antisemitic, racist, transphobic, pro-Trump, and QAnon writing, many tried toand have continued toclaim that DePape is a mentally ill leftist. That claim is based mostly in his long-past affiliation with the Green Partya party he clearly has not identified with in yearsand his participation in a nudist wedding and work making hemp jewelryalso activities from years ago (that would not conflict with right-wing politics anyway).

Wrapped up in their obsession with MAGA Republicans, journalists have missed the real story. David DePape is not a microcosm of the political psychosis gripping America in general, tweeted Michael Shellenberger in a widely shared Substack post. Rather, hes a microcosm of the drug-induced psychosis gripping the West Coast in particular  I am the first reporter to get to the bottom of the story, which has far more to do with drugs, homelessness, and pedophilia than QAnon, anti-Semitism, and January 6.

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But inevitably, one main narrative emerges from the swirl of conspiracy theories. The winner, in this case, took hold because of some initial bad reports, along with a boost from the wealthiest person on the internet: The claim was that Pelosi and DePape were lovers, and the assault was the result of a lovers quarrel. As an added bonus to tie in Pelosis previous DUI, there were claims that the speakers husband was also drunk at the time.

There are a few components that contributed to the theory: There were initial reports that the assailant was wearing only underwear when he attacked. (Alternatively, there were reports that Pelosi was barely clothed, but that would make sense for being asleep in his home in the middle of the night.) Another initial false report also indicated that Pelosi knew his assailant. (This seems to come from the 911 recording, in which Pelosi spoke cryptically to try to avoid alerting DePape that he was also communicating with authorities.) And there seemed to be some confused report over who opened the door, causing some to think that Pelosi was close with DePape, or that there was a third person present.

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The conspiracy theorists bolstered their ideas by trying to pick apart what they saw as inconsistencies with the story. (This always happens with conspiracy theories; there are almost always very mundane explanations.) They wondered, for example, how they could not have had better security, or how he had been able to dial 911 after being hit on the head. (Nancy Pelosi has federal protection but Paul does not; Paul was hit after he called 911.)

The theory really took off when Elon Musk, deploying the ever-dangerous just asking questions approach, replied to Hillary Clinton in a tweet with a link to an article from a conspiracy theorist publication that, ironically, once claimed that Clinton was dead. He took down the tweet later, but did not publicly apologize. Hashtags such as #Pelosigaylover took over Twitter, the company Musk just bought.

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Glee came next. Donald Trump Jr. spread some of the crudest jokes, including a suggestion for a Halloween costume that involved a pair of underwear and a hammer, as well as a since-deleted Instagram post with an altered frame from a South Park comic depicting two men having sex, implying that they were Pelosi and DePape. Wendy Rogers shared a dubious Amazon listing for a Paul Pelosi Fake Attack Novelty Item Headpiece. Rep. Clay Higgins, in a since deleted tweet, joked about that moment you realize the nudist hippie male prostitute LSD guy was the reason your husband didnt make it to your fundraiser. Some of the jokes verged on the pornographic.

There were the more worrying posts, such as one from the right-wing pundit Charlie Kirk, who called for some amazing patriot out there to post bail for Pelosis assailant and go ask him some questions.

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Some major politicians went the just asking questions route, too, including Ted Cruz. Another set either remained silent or otherwise downplayed the attack. Former President Donald Trump has not said anything about it. Others simply told people to calm down. One popular option was saying it could happen to anyone instead of treating it as politically motivated violence: As the Washington Post pointed out, Sen. Rick Scott, Rep. Tom Emmer, and RNC chair Ronna McDaniel all chose this one. Meanwhile, in maybe the strangest response, Marjorie Taylor Greene said the violence was related to Twitters blue check mark insane lefts crazy conspiracy theories & lies about me.

Maybe these people will update their statements now that more information is available. But dont count on it.
A year ago, Democrats were wise to the possibility that the midterms might get ugly, but they had high hopes for New York.

Red states across the country were redrawing voting districts to a new extreme, shoring up congressional advantages for their party. New York, it seemed, could do the same for Democratsmake the state even bluer, a competitive rejoinder to a redistricting cycle that seemed certain to play to Republicans advantage.

The year 2021 marked the first time in a century that the New York Democrats had total control of state government, giving them unimpeded power in redistricting. Party leaders optimistically predicted that new district lines could safeguard Democrats and imperil as many as five Republican seats, noted the New York Times. Rumors circulated that Dems could lock in as much as a 23 to 3 advantage.

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Today, all of that seems like a far-off fantasy.

A startling nine of New Yorks 26 congressional seats are currently in play for the GOP; party leaders are flocking to the state to help campaign for Democrats holding on by a thread. Jill Biden announced Thursday that she would campaign for one such Democrat, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, who opted to run in an easier, bluer district and was put in charge of House Democrats entire national reelection apparatus, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Hes now on the ropes.

What the hell happened here? And whos to blame?

Luckily, theres an easy answer for the last question: Look no further than erstwhile Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo.

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If Cuomo is known for anything beyond his miscreant behavior in office, it should be for his willingness to abet the states conservative forces for his personal gain, often to his own partys disadvantage. Nowhere was this more obvious than his judicial appointments, where Cuomo routinely elevated conservative appointeesgleefully scoring points against his progressive opponents in Albany and New York City by moving the judicial branch rapidly to the right.

In particular, he appointed four conservative-leaning judges to 14-year terms on the Court of Appeals, the states highest judicial body. They are the former Republican Janet DiFiore, Republican Michael Garcia, and conservative Democrats Anthony Cannatarro and Madeline Singas. Forming a majority of the courts seven members, these four emerged as a bloc in the most recent session, voting together in 96 of 98 cases during the term that ended in mid 2022.

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And they made some pretty suspect decisions! As the reporter Sam Mellins wrote in City and State, these four judges have used their power to prevent criminal defendants from presenting expert testimony supporting their innocence, bar workers from suing employers for workplace injuries, and make it harder for victims of police misconduct to sue for damages, among other rulings.

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But their coup de grace was the ruling on New York states proposed redistricting. In April of this year, they sided with Republicans in a shock 4-3 decision that threw out the states redrawn maps, written by the Democratic-supermajority legislature, saying that they violated the states constitution. The opinion was written by Chief Judge DiFiore, with, of course, Judges Garcia, Singas, and Cannataro concurring.

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In 2014, an amendment to the New York state constitution outlawed partisan gerrymandering, which, in theory, limited just how far Democrats could go in their redistricting in the eyes of the law.

Still, the ruling wasnt a certainty, and Cuomos conservative bloc didnt just trash the Democrat-friendly map, some of which was merely correcting some of the egregious Republican gerrymandering that Cuomo signed off on a decade prior. The judges went so far as to take redistricting power away from the legislature altogether, eventually reassigning the task to a special master of the courts choosing.

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The decision drew blowback from even moderate Democrats, since the court could have simply reverted back to the old maps or returned them to the legislature for a revise, a possibility that even a lower-level Republican judge in New York state had suggested. Instead, that power was granted to Jonathan Cervas, a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Politics and Strategy at Carnegie Mellon University.

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The ruling sent New Yorks whole election cycle into a tailspin. Primary elections were delayed from June to late August, making them among the latest in the country. The new maps roped Democratic incumbents in Congress into numerous, vicious, member-on-member races that hurt the caucus even further. Voter turnout sank to record lows.

What were seeing now is Cuomos fingerprints, said Sochie Nnaemeka, director of the New York Working Families Party, a progressive group that Cuomo often opposed. The redistricting process was Cuomos design. The court appointees that overturned the Democratic redistricting plan were Cuomos appointees.

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Indeed, Cuomo exerted his influence on the redistricting process in direct and indirect ways over the course of his decade as governor. The scrapping of the Democrats map by Cuomo appointees wasnt the first time Cuomo had, in some form, made gerrymandering into a partisan win for Republicans. In 2012, during the last once-a-decade redistricting cycle, he signed a GOP-gerrymandered map into law, in exchange for the Republican-majority state senates support for the ballot referendum that was supposed to end future partisan gerrymandering.

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That ballot referendum passed, and a separate commission was set up to handle redistricting for the most recent cycle, taking map-drawing away from the legislature and placing it in the hands of a bipartisan commission that was fiercely criticized from the get-go. Sure enough, the commission deadlocked and couldnt settle on a map, handing responsibility back to the legislature. The legislatures maps were then thrown out this year by DiFiore as Republicans cheered. The final maps, drawn up at the courts direction, were substantially more favorable to the GOP.

As the Brennan Center for Justice noted, the 2014 constitutional amendment resulted in a process that is far more open to political manipulation and is far less independent than those of states that adopted more comprehensive reforms. Even with Cuomo gone from office, the political manipulation that resulted was yet again a boon for Republicans, and a thumb in the eye of Democrats.

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Judge DiFiore, Cuomos personal pal, has several dubious connections. When the governor first faced allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct in 2021, Cuomo made a push to ensure that it was DiFiore who would oversee the investigation. That campaign failed, and Attorney General Tish James was ultimately put in charge; she delivered a damning report that led to Cuomos resignation. A year prior, DiFiore had used her close personal relationship with Cuomo to quietly receive priority COVID testing during the first days of the pandemic.

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In a surprise decision, Judge DiFiore announced her intention to resign her post in July, and left the chamber at the end of August, one year after Cuomo. Good riddance, said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the highest-ranking New York Democrat in the House, in a statement issued at the time.

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Cuomo is now on the comeback trail, hocking a new podcast titled As a Matter of Fact  With Andrew Cuomo. He recently announced the creation of a new political action committee, dedicated to electing the right people to office. He also maintains control of an election account with millions of dollars.

But his national legacy of leaving the Democrats scrambling in his home state should precede him. The centrist governor, who hamstrung New York Democrats for the entirety of the 2010s, has also positioned his own party to suffer for the remainder of the current decade, all the way up to the national level, giving Republicans new life in a state where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans two-to-one. As Nnaemeka told me: Cuomo set the stage for the return of the Republican Party in New York.
This story was produced in partnership with the Garrison Project, an independent, nonpartisan organization addressing the crisis of mass incarceration and policing.

Police departments, politicians, academics, and policymakers are again embracing focused deterrence, a violence reduction strategy that relies on strategic subject lists, gang databases, and social network analysis as a way to reduce violence. In April, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced a $50 million increase to the states violent crime reduction grant program that includes funding for focused deterrence. Earlier this year, the Dallas police chief credited a decline in homicides from 2020 to 2021 in part to the implementation of focused deterrence, receiving an outpouring of praise in the media. Has Dallas outsmarted the violent crimewave? asked The Houston Chronicle Editorial board. In September, the Dallas police credited its Violent Crime Reduction Strategic Planwhich includes focused deterrencewith a 12 percent decline in overall violent crime from the plans implementation in May 2021. Similarly, academics have attributed a near-record low number of homicides in Boston in 2021 to focused deterrence.

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The strategy has its roots in Operation Ceasefire, a 1996 program that aimed to reduce violence, particularly among young men. Operation Ceasefire was developed by the Boston Police Departments Youth Violence Strike Force, a multiagency task force that included local, state and federal law enforcement, and the mayors office, as well as universities, city agencies, and local clergy. This pulling levers strategyrelying on punitive threats to entire groups of people suspected to be involved in violence, as well as supposed inducements of community engagementbecame known as the Boston Miracle. Operation Ceasefire, which formed the basis of the focused deterrence framework, inspired decades of similar programs across the country.

Under focused deterrence, prosecutors, police, and researchers identify people they suspect are engaged in violence via arrest patterns, surveillance, and criminal legal system data. Law enforcement then engages in call ins with the targeted people, where the carrot of community partner presence and social services is offered along with a punitive stick: if anyone from a group or gang engages in violence, prosecutors and police will find any reason to surveil, target, and arrest everyone within the group.

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But focused deterrence does not live up to its violence reduction promise. Its framed as an alternative to mass incarceration because of its purportedly more precise approach to violence, but is instead part of the same criminal legal system that wreaks havoc on Black, Latinx, and other criminalized communities. Indeed, focused deterrence initiatives come with many of the negative consequences associated with other police interventions. One 2013 study found that during the period of evaluation in Cincinnati, the program led to thousands of arrests.

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The evaluation also suggested the social service component had no impact on any measured reductions in violence, indicating that social services were more of a performative gesture than a tool to transform lives and sustainably decrease violence. Furthermore, evaluations attempting to measure attitudes toward police related to focused deterrence initiatives, such a 2019 study of Chicagos Project Safe Neighborhoods, did not account for the fact that self-reported surveys may be biased in the favor of police and the initiative given the coercive nature of the program. And studies supporting focused deterrence often do not acknowledge its widespread social costs, a major problem in policing studies.

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Even when focused deterrence seems to be statistically effective for a period, longer-term reductions in violence have been more difficult to demonstrate. In 2019, for instance, one study from the Giffords Law Center claimed that focused deterrence, the heart of Oaklands Operation Ceasefire strategy, played a large role in reducing violence. But the report noted that Ceasefire took several iterations to get off the ground, as community groups and social service providers were bypassed in favor of police-centered interventions. And in 2021, Oakland investigated 134 homicides, the most since 2012.

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Oakland is in the midst of another deadly yearearly this month, the city marked its 100th homicideproof that while focused deterrence may temporarily suppress some forms of violence, its impact wanes over time, revealing the programs inherent instability. One evaluation from 2012 found that the success in violence reduction in several cities that implemented focused deterrence, including Chicago, appears to be short-lived. Evidence of the Boston Miracle, the initial program success upon all which imitators are modeled, is based on two studies, both of which failed to show which specific aspects of the initiative seemed to be effective. And focused deterrence can be profoundly punitive: sociologist Nikki Jones wrote in her 2018 book The Chosen Ones that an alleged gang-involved young person in Boston received 19 years and seven months in federal prison for possession of a single bullet.

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Meta studies have shown that the level of effectiveness demonstrated in previous studies have been likely overstated. Beyond the questionable effect sizes and the collateral impacts in impacted communities, there are cities and counties where focused deterrence shows no evidence of efficacy, such as Ocala, Florida, Newark, New Jersey, and Montgomery County, Maryland.

But there is an even more important question: even if a focused deterrence initiative is statistically effective, are there sustainable and transformative approaches to anti-violence work that do not rely on harmful institutions?

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Focused deterrence is promised as a solution to violence tied to community partnerships that will enhance procedural justice. Certain community memberslike formerly incarcerated people or community eldersare enlisted to give the program legitimacy. But the social services component of focused deterrence is often limited, ineffective, and muddled by the broader context of coercive control. This has led to skepticism and declining support from impacted communities, social service providers, and program managers and administrators. And social service providers do not have the ability to transform the lives of the people involved, leaving a program relying on punishment with the patina of fairness. The truth is that investment in programs like focused deterrence are more about the threat of heightened punishment than community support, services, and intervention.

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From an anti-violence perspective, its useful to know that a small percent of people are responsible for a majority of shootings. But these people should have resources directed to them that have shown promise for violence reduction without the coercive elements of the state. These initiatives are often led by directly impacted communities, including those formerly involved with gangs. Having deep ties to communities allows these organizations to prevent and de-escalate violence in ways law enforcement never can.

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Often, these community-based groups are undermined or underfunded, especially those that explicitly choose to not work with or receive information from the police and center non-coercive avenues of violence reduction.

The House of Umoja in Philadelphia is one case of a community-led effort that received a fraction of the attention and financial support as focused deterrence-based programs. As political scientist Vesla M. Weaver noted, a decade after its implementation in 1968 Umoja was serving 400 boys from 73 different gangs, and gang-related deaths had fallen from 40 a year to just one in 1978. But government funding streams largely bypassed Black-led community groups like House of Umoja for law enforcement efforts and organizations. The House of Umoja is still engaged in anti-violence work, but the scope and possibilities of care-centered, community based initiatives like it have been greatly hamstrung by the increasing reliance on, and investments in, policing and prisons.

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The House of Umoja demonstrates that community based anti-violence work that does not include collaboration with the criminal legal system can run the risk of being undermined, delegitimized, and at times targeted, by police and the criminal legal system. The adversarial stance by state and political entities is rooted in the fear that if communities can manage violence and other harms without the criminal legal system, its existence would be hard to justify.

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Resources should instead be moved to uprooting structural racism, developing peace and healing centers, addressing and providing reparations for the legacies of slavery, colonial, and state violence, ensuring quality housing, a guaranteed income, developing and funding community-based organizations and safety iniatives, empowering political organizing, dignified jobs, green spaces, and expanded youth programs and initiatives such as summer jobs and after school programs.

Violence is much deeper and far more complicated than what focused deterrenceand policing and punishment more broadlycan ever address.

Anti-violence work requires going to the root of why violence occurs, including grief, fear, poverty, toxic masculinity, trauma and addressing it at all stages.

These initiatives are not simple or easy. But theyre whats required to stem the tide of violence.
For nearly 50 years, conservatives opposed to affirmative action have attempted to use the courts to eliminate any consideration of race in university admissions. In case after case, their attempts ended in failure.

Yet judging from events at the Supreme Court on Monday, that may soon change. In a pair of closely related casesStudents for Fair Admissions Inc v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, and Students for Fair Admissions Inc v. University of North Carolinathe plaintiffs called for the total elimination of race-sensitive admissions. Their argument in these cases was not the traditional one that affirmative action discriminates against whites, but rather that it discriminates against Asians. One central argument that came up again and again in oral arguments is that just as Harvard imposed quotas in the 1920 to limit the number of academically talented Jewish students, it is now imposing quotas to limit the number of academically talented Asian American students.

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The comparison is superficially compelling. A longstanding body of scholarshipby Stephen Steinberg, Marcia Graham Synnott, myself, and othersdoes in fact establish that Harvard, threatened by an influx of high-achieving Jewish students, did impose quotas on Jewish applicants in the 1920s, using elusive nonacademic qualities such as character and personality to limit their numbers. And in recent years, Harvard and other elite institutions have faced a surge in applications from Asian Americans with outstanding academic records, and they, too, have often been plagued by lower scores on personality assessments. Over the past decade, the portrayal of Asian Americans as the New Jews has gained traction, appearing everywhere from the Wall Street Journal to the New York Times, from the Atlantic to the Times of London.

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Again, this notion that discriminated-against Asian American students in the 2020s are equivalent to discriminated-against Jewish students in the 1920s played a central role in Mondays oral arguments. Three separate times, Justice Neil Gorsuch raised the issue of the origins of holistic admissions at Harvard in the 1920s and noted how the policy was used to impose a quota on Jewish students. Cameron T. Norris, the lawyer arguing for the petitioners, made the comparison between Asian Americans and Jews explicit, declaring What Harvard is doing to Asians, like what it was doing to Jews in the 1920s, is shameful.

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When pressed on the issue, Seth Waxman, the lawyer representing Harvard, acknowledged that the imposition of quotas, though a terrible stain on Harvards history, has no bearing whatsoever on the way Harvard currently conducts its admissions process. Justice Samuel Alito, apparently unsatisfied, raised the issue of Jewish quotas yet again. Observing that Justice Lewis Powells deciding opinion in the landmark 1978 affirmative action case of Regents of the University of California v. Bakke failed to address the historical origins of Harvards admissions policies, Alito asked pointedly did Harvard sell Justice Powell a bill of goods?

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Yet the comparison to the 1920s fails to capture some critical differences between the two cases. Unlike affirmative action, which the Students for Fair Admissions, or SFFA, wants to eliminate, the quotas against Jews were enacted for purposes of exclusionpart of a larger xenophobic and antisemitic movement that resulted in the highly restrictive Immigration Act of 1924. In sharp contrast, affirmative action policies at Harvard and elsewhere were enacted during the civil rights movement for purposes of inclusionto increase the number of Black students and later Latinos and Native Americans, who had historically not had the opportunity to attend institutions like Harvard. As late as 1960, Harvard enrolled just nine black students in a freshman class of 1,212, Yale five in a class of 1,000, and Princeton a total of one in a class of 826.

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In truth, holistic admissions can be used for purposes of exclusion, as it was in the case of Jewish students, but it can also be used for purposes of inclusion, as it was during the late 1960s in the case of Black students. This fundamental distinction between both the purposes and practices of exclusion (versus inclusion) is vital to understanding the radically different responses of the Jewish community of the early 20th century compared with the ways in which Asian American communities have responded in the first decades of this century. The Jewish response to the change in Harvards admissions policies in the 1920s was unanimousand fierceopposition. Prominent Jews, including ACLU founder and later Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter as well as famed political journalist Walter Lippmann, did not hesitate to express their outrage. In an editorial in the New York World, for instance, Lippmann criticized the bigoted Harvard president A. Lawrence Lowell, who had installed the new policy. Lippmann wrote that at Harvard there had been a change of soul at the top  in the place of [the previous president], who embodied the stern but liberal virtues of New England, there sits a man who has lost his grip on the great tradition which made Harvard one of the true spiritual centers of American life. Harvard, with the prejudices of summer hotel; Harvard, with the standards of a country club, is not the Harvard of her greatest sons. There has been no such similarly unanimous response among the Asian American community to rally against Harvards admissions policies as clearly bigoted, because they are not even close to equivalent to the 1920s policies.

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The claim that Harvard has imposed a secret quota, though, is at the center of the SFFAs portrayal of Asian Americans as the New Jews. But the claim of a quota is not supported by the facts; the proportion of Asian American freshman at Harvard has risen gradually from 3.6 percent in 1976 to 10.8 percent in 1985, to 17.9 percent in 2010, to 27.8 percent in 2022. The contrast with Jewish quotas could not be more stark; at Harvard, Jewish enrollment, which had surpassed one-quarter of the freshman class in 1925, quickly plummeted to 15 percent with the imposition of the quota, while even more draconian quotas limited Jewish enrollments at Yale and Princeton to 10 and 3 percent, respectively. Nothing remotely like this happened in recent years in any of these institutions, rendering deeply problematic the portrayal of Asian Americans as the New Jews. In the fall of 2022, the entering class at both Yale and Princeton was 25 percent Asian American.

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Make no mistake: The SFFA, while presenting the Harvard and University of North Carolina cases as a defense of the rights of Asian Americans, is an arrow aimed directly at the heart of affirmative action. Recognizing this, many Asian American groups have taken the side of Harvard in the current case; numerous Asian American organizations have submitted amicus briefs urging the court not to eliminate affirmative action, including the Asian American Legal Defense Fund (in a brief filed with 58 other organizations), and Asian Americans Advancing Justice (in a brief filed with 37 other organizations). To be sure, Asian American communities are in fact deeply divided on the issue, and a number of other organizations have submitted amicus briefs on the side of SFFA.

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Throughout their history in the United States, Asian Americans have faced formidable obstacles, including violence, exclusion, and gross discrimination. In the current situation, Asian Americans, who continue to confront hate crimes as well as employment discrimination and may still be judged less generously than white applicants in college admissions, find themselves caught in the middle of a bitter debate about affirmative action not of their own making. Unfortunately, forces long opposed to the civil rights aspirations of Black and Latino Americans have found in Asian American communities a convenient vehicle to convince the Supreme Court to finally end race-conscious admissions. This is a role that many Asian Americans, well aware of Americas troubled racial history, understandably reject.

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For its part, Harvard, like all institutions, may engage in practices that, when subject to public scrutiny, are difficult to defend. In the evidence presented in documents released during the case now before the Supreme Court, a number of such practices have been revealed. It has long been known, for example, that Harvard gives preference to the children of alumni (known as legacies); what was not known, however, was that they are admitted at a rate of 33 percent, compared to 5 percent for non-legacy applicants, and still comprise 1415 percent of the freshman class. Even more striking is the extraordinary preference granted to recruited athletes; 79.5 percent of such applicants with a mediocre academic rating of 4 (on a scale of 1 to 6, with 1 highest) were admitted, compared to an admissions rate for non-athletes with the same academic rating of less than 1 in 6,000.

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Numbers like these suggest that some of the admissions practices of Harvard and similar institutions, including the preference given to the children of donorswitness the case of Jared Kushnerneed to change. Some of these changes, such as the abolition of legacy preferences and the reduction of the remarkable weight given to recruited athletes, would almost certainly redound to the benefit of Asian Americans. But the proposed elimination of affirmative action would be far too high a price to pay, and a flawed analogy that portrays Asian Americans as the New Jews fails to justify the adoption of a policy that would reverse decades of hard-won progress.
States throughout the country are targeting LGBTQ+ youth. Bills and regulations banning youth access to transgender medical care or forbidding discussion of LGBTQ+ issues in the classroom have been enacted or proposed in at least 25 states. Most often these bills are defended on the grounds that they protect parental rights.

The Florida House Judiciary Committee, for example, argued that HB 1557, the Dont Say Gay Bill, protects a parents fundamental right to make decisions regarding the care and upbringing of his or her child, language echoed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Parental rights rhetoric has spread not only to other states but also to other right-wing causes. According to one Heritage Foundation report, parental rights require banning not just LGBTQ+ content but also critical race theory from the classroom.

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The parental rights framing of these bills is likely effective. Who, after all, would deny that parents should be the primary decisionmakers when it comes their minor childs upbringing? Certainly not the Supreme Court, which in the 1979 case Wisconsin v. Yoder declared that the primary role of the parents in the upbringing of their children was established beyond debate as an enduring American tradition. Indeed, parental rights are among the oldest fundamental rights still recognized by the contemporary court.

Herein lies another reason why the parental rights framing has gained so much traction: the foundational parental rights cases are now nearly a century old, and not well known to the general public. In its defense of HB 1557, the Florida House Judiciary Committee cited Meyer v. Nebraska and Pierce v. Society of Sisters, two canonical parental rights cases from 1925. Meyer, Pierce, and a similar case from 1927, Farrington v. Tokushige, are hugely significant in terms of Supreme Court doctrine, but they arent exactly a Roe, a Miranda, or an Obergefell in terms of public awareness. In other words, parental rights are an effective framing device because theyre something of a blank canvas: if you start with the general principle that parents have the right to control their childs upbringing, then practically any assertion of control over a childs upbringinglike forcing a kid to use a particular bathroomcan be portrayed as an extension of parental rights.

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Yet there are two glaring flaws in this line of reasoning. First, it entirely ignores the historical context in which those early parental rights cases were decided. America in the 1920s was riven by the same kinds of social and political anxietiesanxieties over race, ethnicity, and the inclusion of perceived outsidersthat have become fixtures of the contemporary far right. These anxieties were often expressed through state legislation dictating what children could and could not be exposed to.

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The Meyer decision, for example, overturned a Nebraska law which forbad teaching non-English languages in public and private schools. The real target of the law was the local German population, a despised minority group in the aftermath of World War I. Similarly, in Tokushige the court stopped the Hawaiian government from effectively shutting down the many private language academies serving the islands Chinese, Korean, and Japanese populations. Pierce struck down an Oregon law that would have shuttered local parochial schools, a measure targeting Catholics that was endorsed by the Oregon Ku Klux Klan.

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In each case the court noted that the offending laws infringed upon parental rights. But in each case the court describes parental rights in admirably anti-forced assimilationist terms. In Meyer, the court noted that the desire of the Legislature to foster a homogeneous people is hardly a sufficient justification for requiring the children of German immigrants to study in English. In Tokushige, the court is even more forthright: [t]he Japanese parent has the right to direct the education of his own child without unreasonable restrictions the court observed, because the Constitution protects him as well as those who speak another tongue.

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The courts parental rights precedents speak clearly: all parents possess the right to direct their childs upbringing, evenperhaps especiallyfamilies from stigmatized minority groups. This point is easy to lose sight of, given the ferocity with which right wing parents are now embracing parental rights rhetoric. But for every parent shouting down their local school board members over critical race theory, there are other parents who want their children to be educated about Americas history of racial injustice. Likewise, for every parent furious over drag queen story hour, there are other parents who are simply trying to find acceptance and appropriate care for their gender non-conforming teenager. The Constitution, as past courts have interpreted it, protects these parents no less than any others.

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The second major problem for the parental rights argument is that while parents possess the general right to control their childs upbringing, courts have repeatedly rejected the idea that parents possess the more specific right to control the content of public school curriculum. In fact, the early parental rights cases laid the groundwork for this distinction. In Meyer, for example, the court acknowledged that parental rights do not supersede [t]he power of the Stateto make reasonable regulations for all schools or the power to prescribe a curriculum for public schools.

Appellate courts in the First, Second, Third, Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth Circuits have followed Meyer and Pierce in explicitly denying parents the right to dictate public school curriculum, even when public schools teach materials that some parents find controversial. As one court wrote, [w]hile parents may have a fundamental right to decide whether to send their child to a public school, they do not have a fundamental right generally to direct how a public school teaches their child. This is true even when the content taught involves human sexuality: as the First Circuit concluded in Brown v. Hot, Sexy, and Safer, Meyer and Pierce do not encompass a broad-based right to restrict the flow of information in the public schools. So well established is this line of appellate decisions that, as one homeschool proponent lamented, [i]t is almost impossible, in the absence of an obvious Establishment Clause violation, for parents to cause the complete removal of offensive materials from the public school curriculum.

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Parents who want to eliminate conversations about race, gender, and sexual orientation from the classroom are not just wrong about their rights, they are also out of step with the broader public. Public opinion polling consistently reveals that a clear majority of parents want their children educated, in an age appropriate fashion, about topics like systemic racism and gender identity. As is so often the case in American politics, this is less a fight over the meaning of a particular right and more a fight over whose rights ultimately matter. Conservative parents have the right to control their own childs upbringing; they dont have the right to control anyone elses.
Refuge for six people available.

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The new Slavicek tourist shelter with unique architecture opened to the public in the Trstie nature reserve in Muranska planina national park.

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Free refuge for hikers

The new facility has six beds and a small wood heater, and will provide hikers free and safe refuge. Hikers can reach the shelter by following the yellow route from Tisovec or the green route from Rimavska Pila.

During construction, the organisers of the project took into account the need to develop tourism in a sustainable way, while they expect interest in tourism in the region to increase thanks to the shelter's unique appearance.

"Slovakia has a lot to offer local and foreign tourists. That's why we decided to offer a new generation of shelters with high-quality architecture, with the least possible impact on the surroundings of the Slovak mountains," explained the project's co-creator, Patrik Pajta, from the Hikemates tourist club, who oversaw the shelter's construction, as quoted by SITA. The shelter in Muranska planina will provide a safe haven for all mountain lovers."

Efforts to build new generation of tourist shelters spark enormous interest Read more

In the vicinity of Muranska Planina, tourists can see one of the most numerous colonies of ground squirrels in Slovakia, or the famous Telgartsky viaduct.

The shelter has a six-bed capacity, a dining area, and a stove that will provide warmth even during the cold months.

Design emerged from competition

The design of the Slavicek tourist shelter arose from an architectural competition organised by the Hikemates hiking club. The architects took into account the character of the surroundings and selected natural materials.

"The basic element of the shelter is red spruce wood, which we chose for its high durability and easy maintenance. We took care of a functional solution that will serve tourists and also align with the character of the surrounding landscape," explained architect Darina Bartkova, as quoted by SITA.

https://sk.frame.mapy.cz/s/fenovabubo

The tourist shelter was built thanks to funds from a public collection alongside the financial support of the SPP energy utility company.

"Respect for nature, interest in getting to know it, as well as protecting nature for future generations, unites us with the largest hiking club in Slovakia. The shelter project caught our attention from the very beginning. Muranska planina is an exceptional nature reserve and we believe that thanks to the Slavicek shelter, people's interest in this location will increase. At the same time, we believe that it will provide a good refuge for nature lovers and all visitors to the mountains, serving for many years," concluded Ondrej Sebesta, director of SPP's corporate communications department.

Spectacular Slovakia travel guides
It all started with one parents complaint about a book in the childrens section of the Lincolnwood library this summer.

The mother, there with her twins, objected to the shelf display of The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish, a colorful 40-page childrens book that had been featured at the librarys story time in June, and confronted a staff member about whether the book was appropriate for children. She filed a formal challenge to the book Sept. 2, records show.

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What happened next is a scene being played out at board meetings in schools and libraries across the country as parents, activists, politicians and educators argue over programming and materials dealing with gender and sexuality at public institutions in an escalating battle about who has the right to make the call. Last week, that debate took an explosive turn at the Lincolnwood Public Library Board meeting when police were called, the meeting was cut short and staff were left thinking about their safety at work.

Ill be very honest with you, its one of those things that I never really thought would come to this community, Lincolnwood Public Library Deputy Director Chris Renkosiak told the Tribune.

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The children's section of the Lincolnwood Public Library. (Victor Hilitski/for the Chicago Tribune)

In interviews and in emails obtained through a public records request, the Tribune learned the fiery meeting was weeks in the making. Preparations included a petition from residents opposed to the books bearing more than 100 signatures, residents on both sides of the issue peppering the library with comments and, about a week before the Oct. 24 meeting, parents dubious about the books meeting with conservative activist organization Heritage Action for America, based in Washington, D.C., for tips on getting out their message.

More than 60 people packed the Oct. 24 meeting of the library board after being dissatisfied with the outcome from the boards September meeting. Video and audio of the Oct. 24 meeting obtained by the Tribune showed the meeting quickly devolved into shouting and police dispersed attendees.

Heritage Action for America spokesperson Carson Steelman confirmed that the organizations regional director, Matt Crouch, met before the Oct. 24 meeting with Lincolnwood parents concerned about the book and the librarys programming.

In a statement, Crouch said Heritage Action for America strives to equip activists and concerned citizens with the resources and training they need to make their voices heard at the local, state, and federal levels of government. This includes the Lincolnwood Library, where citizens are rightly concerned about the presence of inappropriate material in the childrens section of the library.

The day after the meeting, Awake Niles Township, a local chapter of the activist organization Awake Illinois, posted a copy of the librarys response to the book challenge on its social media page.

Awake Illinois, which describes itself as a parental and constitutional rights organization and has opposed mask mandates, has expanded its activism to oppose critical race theory and discussions of sex education in schools. It has issued calls to action against family-friendly drag show events across Chicagoland, including a drag queen bingo event at the Downers Grove Public Library that was eventually canceled after receiving numerous threats and aggressive emails.

Emily Knox, an expert on book banning and an associate professor in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said the American Library Association has been tracking book challenges for 40 years, and this is the biggest increase they have seen at any time, starting in the fall of 2021.

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Its really related to several things. The pandemic was a big part of it. So, school came home, and people were seeing what their kids were learning. Another part is really just the general culture wars that were going through at the moment, said Knox, who called the book challenges and bannings reactionary.

People wonder: Where did someone hear about this in the first place? Wheres my child learning about this? she said. And theyre like, Oh, they must be learning about it from books. And so if I take the book away, maybe my child wont question their identity.

According to a recent study by PEN America, book bans are on the rise in schools across the United States, including a few cases in Illinois. About a third of book bannings between July 2021 and April 2022 explicitly addressed LGBTQ themes, or had protagonists or prominent secondary characters who were LGBTQ. The mounting challenges to books inspired the city of Chicago to establish book sanctuaries for books that have been banned, or attempted to be banned, in other libraries across the country.

The increased scrutiny on libraries spurred Renkosiak and his colleagues to devote significant time to training workers for the very worst-case scenario, he said. The last staff development day in August trained library workers in active assailant training, he said.

Lincolnwood Public Library Deputy Director Chris Renkosiak goes through books in the children's section at Lincolnwood Public Library on Oct. 27, 2022. (Victor Hilitski/for the Chicago Tribune)

We needed to start preparing people, Renkosiak said. Its something that terrifies staff  not having to deal with conflict or having difficult conversations, but just how quickly it can escalate.

The events of Oct. 24 were proof of that, he added.

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The mother who launched the initial complaint did not return phone calls requesting comment. Minutes from the library boards Sept. 19 meeting show that 11 people made public comments regarding her challenge, which got a formal discussion later in the meeting but no action was taken by the library board.

Library Director Josephine Tucci told the Tribune that she had expected public commenters to attend the October meeting to discuss that challenge.

I assumed that it was just a carry-over of the initial book that was challenged, she said.

The book had first stirred a quiet controversy when it was featured in a Pride-themed story time the library sponsored in Drake Park on June 16. At that public event, a librarian read the book, and there was a coloring sheet featuring a parent or a caregiver hugging a child with the words or the letters LGBTQ plus on it, Renkosiak said.

The library received some negative feedback over that programming, he recalled. We got some interesting comments from members of the public, saying that it was inappropriate and that it was disgusting, he said.

Communications reviewed by the Tribune from a public records request show the library fielded five email complaints about the story time.

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But perhaps in a sign of the mounting controversy, the records also showed that on June 21, a Lincolnwood law firm, McCabe Kirshner, filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the participants registered for the story time, including the title and author of any books read at the event, copies of the songs performed and any handouts distributed at the event, the names of the library staff who were present at the event and all communication related to planning, executing or discussing the event.

Lincolnwood Public Library is seen on Oct. 27, 2022. (Victor Hilitski/for the Chicago Tribune)

A partner for the law firm did not return a call or email seeking comment about the records request.

Were certainly seeing a lot of challenges to library materials. And the materials seem to be very specific, said Executive Director of the Illinois Library Association Cynthia Robinson. Theyre focused on LGBTQIA books and materials. And what were seeing is, the same challenges are happening across the country.

Robinson said parents have a right to not read books to their children that they disagree with. But you dont get to make decisions for other people and other peoples children, she added.

Libraries are doing what theyve always done, Robinson said, which is to serve the community and to provide materials for people in the community.

ckubzansky@chicagotribune.com

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Listen to four foreigners discuss the ins and outs of the Slovak immigration system.

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The Na Slovensku Aj Po Anglicky podcast, with the support of Fjuzn is continuing its series on the migrant experience in Slovakia. In this episode, we look at how migrants navigate the process of legal immigration through setbacks, surprises and frightening uncertainty.

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Legal immigration in Slovakia, like in most other countries, is a highly variable process. Migrant's country of origin, purposes of their stay, and other legal and economic factors can either help or hinder this process. For example, migrants having arrived from other EU member countries often find obtaining residency in Slovakia uncomplicated. The process and requirements for these migrants are simplified and streamlined in keeping with EU law.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/6I1ScZDzXJxbSp1yFWFBFt?utm_source=generator

Perhaps, the most complex of cases is that of asylum seekers. That was certainly true for the young Turkish student Yunus. As he was nearing the end of his Erasmus program in Bratislava, his father was arrested on suspicion of participating in the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. Yunus feared returning home would also put him at risk for arrest, so he decided to apply for asylum in Slovakia. The process was full of rejection and uncertainty, but after two and a half years, his application was finally approved.

For temporary and permanent residents, their immigration difficulties often begin and end with the Foreign Police, the department that oversees their cases. Migrants often complain about a lack of English speaking officers and impolite interactions, to put it mildly. These communication challenges often require migrants to bring interpreters who may not understand the complexity of the immigration process. Sometimes these advocates are offered by employers, but others must hire a professional or request help from friends or family. That is true for Elle from Malta, who asked her Slovak partner's cousin for assistance.

Listen to the Na Slovensku Aj Po Anglicky podcast:

Listen to the Na Slovensku Aj Po Anglicky podcast: What does it mean to be homesick in Slovakia? Read more

Unfortunately, the problems do not end with communication troubles. Obtaining the correct information and documents for each unique case can be difficult. Each Foreign Police officer may have differing interpretations of the law and request different documents, confounding even the most prepared. That can be taxing when coming from a less developed country. Craig from the United States, who had just moved from Zambia, was sent to Berlin only to find out the document he needed was in South Africa. This runaround, of course, is costly and simply impossible for some.

Thankfully, these problems are just temporary setbacks for most migrants. They celebrate the arrival of their id cards and focus on what they enjoy about life in Slovakia. For them, the heartaches and headaches of the immigration process are worth enduring for the chance to live in a country that offers freedom, a rich culture, and a high standard of living.

Guests: Craig Williams, Yunus, Aubrey Mathis, and Elle Ibbotson
https://sputniknews.com/20221101/afghan-women-collect-saffron-flowers-1102908785.html

Afghan Women Collect Saffron Flowers

Afghan Women Collect Saffron Flowers

Saffron is a spice derived from Crocus sativus flowers, commonly known as saffron crocus. Its cultivation in Afghanistan was promoted in a bid to take local... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

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The stigma and styles of saffron flowers are first collected, dried, and then used for seasoning food and coloring substances, varying from orange to red. Saffron is believed to originate in Iran, although Greece and Mesopotamia have also been suggested as the possible places of origin. Being traded and used for thousands of years, saffron is now the worlds most expensive spice by weight.Afghan saffron was once recognized as the best kind. In 2022, the approximate price range for Afghan saffron is between $776.94 and $1,011.19 per kilogram, or between $352.41 and $458.67 per pound. Referred to as "red gold," Afghan saffron has become one of the top items of export for the country, while crocus plantations have become a place of employment and source of income for many Afghan farmers. Now, more and more of them are turning to growing this kind of spice, as it is highly economically beneficial and not "haram," like drugs.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/africa-should-create-common-economic-interest-group-with-brics-ex-algerian-minister-says-1102914337.html

Africa Should Create Common Economic Interest Group With BRICS, Ex-Algerian Minister Says

Africa Should Create Common Economic Interest Group With BRICS, Ex-Algerian Minister Says

Algerias former minister of industry believes that African countries should join BRICS as soon as possible, aiming to create a common economic interest group... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T11:57+0000

2022-11-01T11:57+0000

2022-11-23T11:37+0000

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In an interview with Sputnik, former Minister of Industry and Mines Ferhat Ait Ali Braham welcomed the election of Workers' Party leader Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva as president of Brazil. The latter has forged strong ties with African countries."Lula Da Silva, in visiting virtually all the countries of Africa, did not just do it as a good Samaritan. He did it simply because he believes that emerging countries like Brazil have a lot to contribute to Africa, because at one point they were equivalent in terms of development. But also, it [Brazil] has a lot to learn from Africa," Ferhat Ait Ali said.The former Algerian minister believes that it is with this kind of emerging power and also with the rest of the BRICS [which brings together Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa] that we must create a group of common economic interests. We have a common destiny (...), because we are facing a system that believes in the accumulation of capital at any cost by any means imaginable."I think that the members of BRICS should invite the countries closest in terms of economic emergence to join, and African countries that are more balanced economically should try to join the group as soon as possible. Because the capitalist logic that allows 10% of humanity to consume 80% of wealth is no longer an option," Ferhat Ait Ali said.Brazil Has a Role to PlayAccording to Sputnik's interlocutor, Brazil would like to expand its activities to a continent that shares several common features with South America."In terms of rainfall, which is lower than in the Sahel, and in terms of the nature of the soil. So, we can say that Brazil has a role to play from Burkina Faso to the Congo. Also, in the mining sector, the Brazilians are well equipped and have two centuries of experience in this area, and can bring their expertise to Africans who, today, give mining concessions to capitalist groups that do not give even a tenth or a fifth to these countries, where the resources come from," Ferhat Ait Ali said.In the case of [cooperation with] BRICS, "it would be better," he says. There are BRICS countries that are also specialized in mining and have shown interest in it, such as China and Russia. "To be able to take charge of the exploitation of African mining resources for the benefit of all parties, namely Africans themselves, who are the owners of these resources," the former minister stressed.Da Silva's ElectionFerhat Ait Ali also stressed that he expected the reelection of Lula Da Silva."He wanted to make Brazil great. He still wants it. The Brazilian people believe in his will and his vision (...). He wanted to create a dynamic Brazilian economy, but not disconnected from its natural environment," he said.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/at-least-14-people-injured-in-shooting-during-halloween-festivities-in-chicago-1102904056.html

At Least 14 People Injured in Shooting During Halloween Festivities in Chicago

At Least 14 People Injured in Shooting During Halloween Festivities in Chicago

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Fourteen people, including three minors, were injured in a shooting during Halloween festivities in the US city of Chicago, local police... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

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The incident occurred at about 09:30 p.m. on Monday (02:30 GMT on Tuesday), when unidentified assailants opened fire from a car at a group of people gathered in a popular place. The shooting lasted for a few seconds. Preliminary data showed that there were two shooters.Investigation into the incident is underway. The motives of the shooters are unknown, the police said.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/beijing-ready-to-deepen-security-cooperation-with-all-sco-states-1102930474.html

Beijing Ready to Deepen Security Cooperation With All SCO States

Beijing Ready to Deepen Security Cooperation With All SCO States

BEIJING (Sputnik) - China is ready to deepen security cooperation with all Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T18:56+0000

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"China is ready to continuously deepen law enforcement and security cooperation together with other parties to guarantee the social and economic development of each country," Li Keqiang said during the SCO Council of Heads of Government.The prime minister also reiterated that it was necessary to create an open and global economy and simplify procedures for international trade and investment.The SCO high-level summit took place on November 1 via videolink and was focused on reviewing implementation of decisions reached at the previous meeting.The latest SCO summit was held in the Uzbek city of Samarkand from September 15-16, resulting in the signing of 42 documents. In particular, Iran signed a memorandum of obligations with the SCO, paving the way for the country to join the organization. A document was also signed concerning the beginning of the procedure for the accession of Belarus.The SCO is an international organization founded by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Russia and Uzbekistan in 2001. In 2017, India and Pakistan were admitted to the organization. SCO observer countries include Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia, while the partner countries are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/china-pledges-cooperation-with-comrade-and-brother-vietnam-as-communist-party-chiefs-meet-1102930083.html

China Pledges Cooperation With Comrade and Brother Vietnam as Communist Party Chiefs Meet

China Pledges Cooperation With Comrade and Brother Vietnam as Communist Party Chiefs Meet

For decades, Hanoi and Beijing were in rival socialist camps, even fighting a war in the 1970s. However, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T19:19+0000

2022-11-01T19:19+0000

2022-11-01T19:19+0000

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Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, was the first world leader to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping after the Chinese Communist Partys historic 20th Congress last month. The meeting saw the two leaders pledge greater cooperation between the socialist states.Xi told Trong China would work to build a stable supply chain with its comrade and brother Vietnam, including encouraging Chinese tech companies to invest in Vietnam and promoting cooperation in healthcare, the digital economy, and efforts to combat climate change. Many of these would take place via the Two Corridors, One Belt (TCOB), part of the Belt and Road Initiative focused specifically on China and Vietnam.Trong pledged to remain unaligned in global affairs, telling Xi the Southeast Asian state would never allow a foreign military base on its soil or join an alliance against another country.The US has worked to divide China from its neighbors, especially in Southeast Asia and the Pacific region, as part of a strategy to contain Chinese expansion, which Washington characterizes as being done at the expense of other states. The Pentagons recently released National Defense Strategy calls for working with groups like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to build a networked security architecture capable of deterring aggression, maintaining stability, and ensuring free access to common domains - Washington shorthand for pushing nations to become hostile to China.In the South China Sea, that has meant supporting other nations territorial claims against Chinas, and characterizing ASEAN-China talks on writing a code of conduct for the waterway as Beijing bullying smaller nations. Washington has postured as willing to support ASEAN nations against Beijing, and one influential policy think tank even encouraged Washington to sabotage the ASEAN-China talks, then work with ASEAN to impose a new anti-Chinese document on Beijing.The two nations were once bitter enemies, with Vietnam siding with the Soviet Union after the USSR and China went their separate ways in the early 1960s. At the nadir of their relations, Vietnam invaded Chinese ally Cambodia in 1978 and deposed its nominally socialist government, and China launched a brief but bloody invasion of Vietnam the following year.However, after the USSR was dissolved and the Eastern European socialist governments were overthrown, China and Vietnam quickly drew closer together, re-establishing normal relations in 1991 and issued a joint statement on cooperation in 2000, when they settled their land border disputes. Last year, China was Vietnams largest trading partner, with $165 billion in bilateral trade between them that year - a 24% increase over the previous year, according to Hanois statistics.Xi is also due to receive several other world leaders later this week, including German Chancellor Olaf Schotz, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/colombian-president-to-visit-caracas-november-1-to-meet-with-maduro-1102898502.html

Colombian President to Visit Caracas November 1 to Meet With Maduro

Colombian President to Visit Caracas November 1 to Meet With Maduro

MEXICO CITY, (Sputnik) - Colombian President Gustavo Petro, as head of a working group, will visit Caracas on November 1, where he will meet for the first time... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T02:07+0000

2022-11-01T02:07+0000

2022-11-01T02:07+0000

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"On November 1, there will be a meeting between President Gustavo Petro and President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro," the statement, posted on the Petro administration's press service blog, says.The neighboring countries' leaders plan to discuss bilateral relations, the opening of borders and the return of the Bolivarian Republic to the inter-American human rights protection system.The first meeting of the two presidents was announced in Colombia in September when the official border opening ceremony took place, but the Venezuelan side was represented by Foreign Minister Carlos Faria.Relations between Venezuela and Colombia were severed in 2019 due to the recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president by Bogota. New Colombian President Gustavo Petro took office on August 7 with the intention to restore ties with Venezuela. In addition to the humanitarian aspect - millions of people in both countries have relatives in neighboring countries - the restoration of trade ties is important for Venezuela and Colombia. Trade between them reached $8 billion.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/crowded-uk-migrant-center-plagued-with-violence--infections-amid-breach-of-humane-conditions-1102899037.html

Crowded UK Migrant Center Plagued With 'Violence & Infections' Amid 'Breach of Humane Conditions'

Crowded UK Migrant Center Plagued With 'Violence & Infections' Amid 'Breach of Humane Conditions'

The report into the deplorable situation at the Manston migrant processing center in Kent comes as recent official figures showed that 468 migrants were... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T05:51+0000

2022-11-01T05:51+0000

2022-11-01T11:22+0000

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Migrants at the severely overcrowded Manston processing center in Kent are making improvised weapons from tent parts, toilet roll holders and fragments of wire fencing as frustration grows over the rapidly deteriorating conditions, sources have told UK media.After 700 more migrants were brought in from Dover, where the UK Border Force immigration center was attacked by someone using petrol bombs on 30 October, the Manston center swelled even more. Since May, the site - formerly a Royal Air Force (RAF) base - has tripled in size, with 21 tents housing migrants instead of the seven used in spring. Though the maximum capacity of the site is 1,600, it is now reportedly housing 4,000 asylum-seekers. The overpopulation has resulted in outbreaks of infections such as diphtheria and scabies, and has triggered outbursts of violence.Staff in Manston have voiced concerns over the spiraling situation in the past 24 hours, according to Lucy Moreton, an officer at the Union for Borders, Immigration and Customs.She added that the site was at present housing families with children in "utterly inadequate" facilities.The migrants were described as getting into fights with each other, as staff have discovered improvised weapons. According to insiders, there have been fights between Albanians and Eritreans, as well as other migrants with criminal backgrounds, held at the site for processing. Residents in nearby areas were also cited as expressing safety concerns amid speculation that the migrants might be rehomed in empty accommodation in the neighborhood without thorough background checks.As some migrants reportedly attacked Border Force officials and scared and outnumbered security staff, a small army detachment was said to be inside the facility attempting to maintain order. Riot police were also said to be on standby, with the whole situation described as a tinderbox".'Breach of Humane Conditions'The signs of worsening conditions at Manston come as a report into the center by HM Inspectorate of Prisons revealed previous concerns that had been left unresolved. With the migrant situation showing no sign of easing as ever more desperate asylum-seekers embark on the dangerous journey across the Channel in small boats and dinghies, Charlie Taylor, chief inspector of prisons, carried out an unannounced visit to the Manston site back in July. The resulting 37-page report revealed that some migrants were forced to wait up to 70 hours to be processed, and exhausted detainees were forced to hunker down on mats on the floor or on wooden benches. There was evidence of migrants not being allowed to close toilet doors fully, denied access to mobile phones to tell relatives of their safety, and no access to fresh air or exercise. There were also serious concerns raised as a considerable minority of migrants had been moved to hotels temporarily without screening.Weighing in on the new credible reports from Manson suggesting that the situation there had worsened since the July inspection, Taylor said:The dire situation at Manston was described as a 'breach of humane conditions by local Conservative MP, Sir Roger Gale, who told UK media:Taylor said that the UK Home Office needed to get a grip on the situation and speed up the processing of migrants, as well as ensure that people can be moved from the site as quickly as possible and housed in humane and decent conditions. Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration David Neal, also told MPs he was speechless when confronted with conditions at the center.UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman faced growing criticism amid reports suggesting she has been blocking the transfer of migrants from the overcrowded center because of the soaring cost of housing them in hotels. Braverman, however, pushed back at the accusations, saying she "never ignored legal advice" and had "worked hard to find accommodation to relieve pressure at Manston." At the same time, she admitted that illegal migration was "out of control" amid an "invasion on our south coast."Asked to comment, a Home Office spokesman said Manston remained resourced and equipped to process migrants securely and we will provide alternative accommodation as soon as possible".The inundated facility in Kent is struggling to process migrants as some 468 people crossed the Channel in eight small boats on Sunday, according to data provided by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Overall, there have been 39,864 such arrivals this year, with no end in sight to the crisis.Environment minister Mark Spencer acknowledged to media outlets that there remain huge challenges regarding the migrant crisis, adding: Clearly there's more to do, but we're making progress.

https://sputniknews.com/20221030/video-explosion-rips-through-dover-uk-migrant-center-after-alleged-suicide-attack-1102847693.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221031/channel-migrants-may-share-hotels-with-public-as-uk-struggles-to-curb-illegal-crossings-1102857394.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/death-toll-from-typhoon-nalgae-in-philippines-reportedly-reaches-110-63-others-injured-1102912162.html

Death Toll From Typhoon Nalgae in Philippines Reportedly Reaches 110

Death Toll From Typhoon Nalgae in Philippines Reportedly Reaches 110

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The death toll from the Nalgae typhoon (locally known as Paeng) has increased to 110 people, with 63 others injured and 23 individuals still... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T11:04+0000

2022-11-01T11:04+0000

2022-11-01T11:04+0000

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The death of 79 people was confirmed, while the identities of 31 victims are being determined, a local news website reported.The typhoon has already affected 2 million people and caused damages worth $20.6 million to the Philippine agriculture. The two local Philippine airline companies, AirAsia Philippines and Cebu Pacific Air, on Monday canceled 28 flights because of the severe storm.Nalgae struck the territory of the Philippines on October 27. It barreled across 14 provinces and districts of the country and caused severe floods and landslides. The storm left the Philippines on Monday and is forecast to head toward southern China, while weakening tropical storm Paeng is approaching the country.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/eighty-percent-of-america-feels-the-country-is-out-of-control-1102897153.html

Eighty Percent of America Feels the Country Is 'Out of Control'

Eighty Percent of America Feels the Country Is 'Out of Control'

On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including the beginning of the criminal trial of Donald Trump's real estate... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T08:44+0000

2022-11-01T08:44+0000

2022-11-01T08:50+0000

the backstory

brazil

dnc

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radio

donald trump

barack obama

elon musk

paul pelosi

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Eighty Percent of America Feels the Country is " Out of Control" On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including the beginning of the criminal trial of Donald Trump's real estate business, and Delta Air pilots vote to authorize a strike.

Jamarl Thomas - Co-Host of Fault Lines | Compulsory Voting, Lula Wins in Brazil, and Election DenialJim Hoft - Founder of The Gateway Pundit | The Media Collude with the Deep State, Paul Pelosi Attacked, and Twitter Resorting Free Speech OnlineIn the first hour, Lee spoke with Jamarl Thomas about working in media, self taught media career, and Barack Obama campaigning without Joe Biden. Jamarl discussed the amount of research he does and understanding global politics. Jamarl spoke about his trip to cover the elections in Brazil and the lack of response from the election loss by Jair Bolsonaro.In the second hour, Lee and Carmine Sabia spoke with Jim Hoft about the attacks on Elon Musk, the Paul Pelosi story, and leftist journalists who come out against free speech. Jim commented on the Paul Pelosi story and the mainstream media blaming the attack on MAGA supporters. Jim discussed the censorship happening on social media and evidence of social media companies directly working with the US government.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik

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brazil, dnc, voting, , radio, donald trump, barack obama, elon musk, paul pelosi
Evan Milligan, center, plaintiff in Merrill v. Milligan, an Alabama redistricting case that could have far-reaching effects on minority voting power across the United States, speaks with members of the press following oral arguments outside the Supreme Court Oct. 4, 2022. Standing behind Milligan are Milligan's counsel Deuel Ross, from left, Letetia Jackson, Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., and Janai Nelson, President and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. (Patrick Semansky/AP/AP)

South suburban Black voters can make several statements by turning out for next weeks midterm elections.

Blacks who vote show they care about protecting hard-won civil rights. Bad faith actors have worked to suppress the vote by making it more difficult to cast ballots. Well-funded operations want to dampen enthusiasm and crush hopes that things will ever get better under Democratic rule.

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Black turnout was critically important in Atlanta, Philadelphia and Detroit during the 2020 presidential election. The Black vote delivered the key states of Georgia, Pennsylvania and Michigan for Democrat Joe Biden, according to The Brookings Institution.

Black Americans represented over 50% of all Democratic voters in Georgia (33% of state population is Black), 20% of all Democratic voters in Michigan (14% of state population is Black), and 21% of all Democratic voters in Pennsylvania (12% of state population), according to Brookings.

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The strength of Black vote turnout in densely populated metropolitan areas drives the right crazy. The fact that urban Blacks vote in high numbers is one reason Republicans like to bash big cities. Thats partly why Darren Bailey, the GOP nominee for governor, called Chicago a hellhole.

Black voters in the Southland are a big reason why Democrats enjoy one-party rule in Illinois. The concentration of likely Democratic voters on Chicagos South Side and in the south suburbs makes this place ground zero for political power.

Consider how many federal, state and county legislative districts touch the Southland before spreading in various directions. The Black vote is why the 1st and 2nd congressional districts extend deep into farmland in Will and Kankakee counties and beyond.

At the state level, the lack of competitive districts in the region gives strength to the Legislative Black Caucus. Black lawmakers and Democratic colleagues helped pass historic legislation that addresses racial inequality in the criminal justice system.

Now Black lawmakers are being attacked for achieving part of their legislative agenda with passage of the Illinois Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity Today, or SAFE-T Act. Part of the law takes effect Jan. 1 and will eliminate cash bail, a system that penalizes lower income suspects and allows wealthier offenders to walk free.

Members of the caucus recently responded after racist lawn signs popped up in the suburbs declaring, Do Not Let Black Caucus Write Our Laws.

Signs with the sort of racist and inflammatory language that we have seen this week are an obscene example of unvarnished bigotry that should remain a relic of our past, the caucus said in a statement issued Oct. 14.

Individual members of the caucus also responded, including state Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago.

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To dismiss the responsibility of members of the Black Caucus to respond to the needs of both the communities we were elected to represent as well as of our great state by ridding it of the systemic racism which is still taking place in the 21st century is offensive and wrong, Sims said in the statement.

Sims represents the 17th District that extends from Chicagos Chatham neighborhood through south suburban Burnham, Calumet City, Lansing, Ford Heights, Lynwood, Sauk Village, Beecher, Manteno and Grant Park near Kankakee.

Blacks tend to vote in huge numbers partly because the struggle for civil rights in the 1960s. Police used water cannons to disperse peaceful protesters at times. The assassinations of Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others showed how some paid for freedom with their lives.

Black voters are so powerful, Republicans made up lies about widespread voter fraud to enact voter suppression measures in states where they could. Republicans would love to siphon the reliable Black vote away from Democrats.

Then-candidate Donald Trump asked a question of hypothetical Black voters during a Michigan campaign stop in 2016.

Youre living in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58% of your youth is unemployed  what the hell do you have to lose? Trump said.

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Black voters know the answer. They know Republicans would never allow an equality minded justice like Kentanji Brown Jackson to be the first Black woman appointed to the Supreme Court if they were in power.

They know the conservative Supreme Court majority is likely to strike down affirmative action in college admissions and deliver a blow to the value of diversity in American society.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

They know the Supreme Court has weakened the 1965 Voting Rights Act and made it more difficult for states to police the racial fairness of voting laws.

It seems like the more difficult it becomes for Blacks to vote, the more determined they are to cast ballots. Thats the takeaway I got from a piece Bloomberg published last year by professors Tonja Jacobi of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and Matthew Sag of Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Voters, especially those of color, waited in long lines, navigated the complexities of postal voting, endured a deluge of misinformation, and voted despite the fact that their districts are so gerrymandered that their votes count for little, they wrote.

Thats why Black voters in Bloom, Rich, Thornton and other south suburban townships ought to turn out and cast ballots in this years midterm election.

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If American democracy survives, it will be thanks to Black voters.

Ted Slowik is a columnist for the Daily Southtown.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/elon-musk-confirms-8-monthly-fee-for-twitter-accounts-to-be-verified-1102930204.html

Elon Musk Confirms $8 Monthly Fee for Twitter Accounts to be Verified

Elon Musk Confirms $8 Monthly Fee for Twitter Accounts to be Verified

Twitter's new owner, Elon Musk, confirmed widespread rumors on Tuesday, announcing that Verified accounts will be charged $8 a month to retain their blue... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T18:46+0000

2022-11-01T18:46+0000

2022-11-01T19:06+0000

science & tech

twitter

elon musk

fee

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"Twitters current lords & peasants system for who has or doesnt have a blue checkmark is bulls***," Musk tweeted. "Power to the people! Blue for $8/month," adding that the price would be adjusted by country according to their nation's purchasing power parity (PPP).He added that this would "give Twitter a revenue stream to reward content creators."Rumors have swirled that Musk was planning to charge Twitter users for their Verified status since he finalized the deal to buy the social media giant last week, although most claims estimated a far higher monthly fee.Twitter paused the feature in 2017 after protests over it giving a blue check to Jason Kessler, a self-described leader of the alt-right who planned the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, which drew thousands of neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and fascists of other stripes. That rally resulted in widespread violence, including a car ramming attack into a crowd by an attendee that killed a counter-demonstrator. Verification was later revived in late 2021.Musk bought Twitter last week for $44 billion. He has pledged to combat spam bots and make the app financially solvent again, as well as to protect free speech on the platform. While he has said that former US President Donald Trump should not remain banned from Twitter forever, he has not announced plans to restore the former leader's account, either. Twitter deleted it in January 2021, claiming he was using it to promote violence after tweeting in support of the attack on the US Capitol by his supporters.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/grim--tone-deaf-netizens-cringe-as-us-army-uses-himars-to-launch-halloween-candy-at-kids-1102923351.html

'Grim & Tone Deaf': Netizens Cringe as US Army Uses HIMARS to Launch Halloween Candy at Kids

'Grim & Tone Deaf': Netizens Cringe as US Army Uses HIMARS to Launch Halloween Candy at Kids

Oklahoma US Army base Fort Sill, housing a Field Artillery School where soldiers train to use weapons like the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T14:32+0000

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2022-11-01T14:32+0000

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high mobility artillery rocket system (himars)

himars

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Oklahoma-based Fort Sill, where soldiers train at its US Army Field Artillery School to fire weapons like the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), celebrated Halloween this year by launching candy at kids from a weapons system currently used by Kiev to kill civilians in Ukraine. The HIMARS was loaded with treats, after which the candy was blasted at youngsters dressed in costumes. A video of the event was uploaded to the official Twitter account of the Army base. It added that the blast was carried out by the 1-78 Field Artillery Battalion."How else would you expect us to give children candy on Halloween?" quipped the post. "FIRE MISSION!!!"The HIMARS is a multiple rocket launcher on wheels, 16 of which have already been delivered to the Kiev regime amid Russia's ongoing special operation there. The Pentagon is planning to send more of the systems, despite Russia warning that funneling weapons there only prolongs the conflict.The footage triggered outrage on social media, with many deploring it as "grim and utterly tone deaf."

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Medvedev: Russia's Victory in Ukraine is the Only Guarantee Against Global Conflict

Western countries are pushing the world toward a global war, only a complete and final victory of Russia is a guarantee against global conflict, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday.

"Western countries are pushing the world toward a global war. And only the complete and final victory of Russia is a guarantee against world conflict," he said on Telegram.

Medvedev cited the thesis of Western countries: "Russia cannot be allowed to win the war," and wondered what it really meant.

"Trace a simple formal logic. If it is not Russia that wins, then, apparently, Ukraine. The goal of Ukraine in the war was declared by the Kiev regime  the return of all territories that previously belonged to it. That is, their rejection from Russia. This is a threat to the existence of our state and the collapse of today's Russia. And this means a direct reason for the application of paragraph 19 of the Fundamentals of the State Policy of the Russian Federation in the field of nuclear deterrence," he said.

"And then who is planning a nuclear conflict, let me know? What is this if not a direct provocation of a world war with the use of nuclear weapons?" Medvedev continued.
https://sputniknews.com/20221101/moscow-wants-answers-over-truss-alleged-its-done-sms-to-blinken-moments-after-nord-stream-blasts-1102909463.html

Moscow Wants Answers Over Truss' Alleged 'It's Done' SMS to Blinken Moments After Nord Stream Blasts

Moscow Wants Answers Over Truss' Alleged 'It's Done' SMS to Blinken Moments After Nord Stream Blasts

Europe lost access to up to 110 billion cubic meters worth of natural gas on September 26, when a series of explosions rocked the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T10:28+0000

2022-11-01T10:28+0000

2022-11-01T10:47+0000

nord stream sabotage

nord stream

maria zakharova

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liz truss

antony blinken

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wants answers regarding the mysterious Its done iPhone message allegedly sent by then-Prime Minister Liz Truss to the US secretary of state moments after the sabotage attacks against the Nord Stream network in late September.The spokeswoman suggested that millions of people around the world were waiting for answers to the question of how the planets energy security was undermined, and what role the Anglo-Saxons played in this terrorist attack.On Monday, a US defense and national security news outlet reported that among the information suspected to have been leaked from Trusss "hacked cell phone" was the aforementioned text message between the now former UK leader and the US top diplomat.Internet entrepreneur and free speech activist Kim Dotcom mentioned the Its Done message in a Twitter thread Sunday, shortly after British media ran a piece on Trusss hacked phone.iCloud admin access rocks, sarcastically Dotcom wrote, referring to the Apple service allowing for iPhone text messages, files, photos and other information to be saved to the cloud and accessed by authorized computers (thus making user files vulnerable to hacking). Its not just the Five Eyes that have backdoor admin access to all Big Tech databases, Dotcom added, referencing the intelligence alliance of Anglosphere nations including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Russia and China have sophisticated cyber units too.The funny thing is Govt officials with top security clearance still prefer using iPhones over their NSA & GCHQ issued encrypted shit-phones, Dotcom wrote.A series of explosions knocked out three of the four strings of the Nord Stream network on September 26. Western officials and media immediately began singing in unison that Russia blew up its own $20 billion pipeline infrastructure for reasons unknown. The Kremlin accused the West of an unprecedented act of state terrorism involving Nord Stream, but did not name any specific states, with President Vladimir Putin only hinting involvement by the Anglo-Saxons (typically a reference to Brits and Americans in Russian usage).After a month-long investigation, the Russian Ministry of Defense revealed Saturday that Britains Royal Navy took part in the planning, organization and carrying out of the Nord Stream attack.The damage to the Nord Stream network has robbed Central and Western Europe of a major traditional source of natural gas ahead of the winter heating season. Yamal-Europe and Soyuz, two major Russian overland pipelines delivering natural gas to Europe, have also been halted, or experienced a major drop in usage, sparking questions about the regions energy security. Late last month, French President Emmanuel Macron complained that Pariss American allies had jacked up the price on natural gas deliveries to Europe, and that Europeans were being made to pay 3-4 times more than Americans for the same gas. That is unfair. These are double standards, Macron complained.

https://sputniknews.com/20221029/russian-mod-uk-royal-navy-officials-involved--in-nord-stream-terrorist-act-1102824104.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/norwegian-arms-manufacturer-lands-massive-contract-with-us-army-1102899191.html

Norwegian Arms Manufacturer Lands Massive Contract With US Army

Norwegian Arms Manufacturer Lands Massive Contract With US Army

Since the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine and the West's huge arms flow to Kiev, shares in Kongsberg Group have soared by more than 30... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T05:00+0000

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2022-11-01T05:27+0000

military

military & intelligence

news

norway

scandinavia

arms

export

weapons

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Norways Kongsberg Group has entered a five-year contract with the US Army to deliver weapons systems worth NOK 15.5Bln (nearly $1.5Bln).The contract is for Common Remotely Operated Weapon Stations (CROWS) - a series of remote weapon station used on armored vehicles and ships. It allows weapon operators to engage targets without leaving the protection of their vehicle.So far, Kongsberg Group has delivered more than 18,000 weapon station systems distributed across all the branches of the US Armed Forces, the company reported. Worldwide, more than 23,000 systems have been sold to 26 different nations.Last week, Kongsberg presented its third-quarter results, where the operating profit reached a record of almost NOK 1.4Bln ($140Mln).Since the start of the Ukraine conflict and the West's massive arms support to Kiev, shares in Kongsberg Group have climbed more than 30 percent on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Its products include the air defense system NASAMS which the US recently sent to Kiev. The air defense was developed by Kongsberg in collaboration with US-based Raytheon.In recent months, Kongsbergs order backlog has ballooned and is estimated at NOK 54.1Bln ($5.4Bln) in the third quarter.Headquartered in the city of Kongsberg, the business not only supplies the military but also provides high-technology systems for the merchant navy, offshore oil and gas industries, and the renewable and utilities industries. It employs nearly 7,000 staff in more than 25 countries.Despite its rather peaceful reputation, between 2015 and 2020 Norway ranked as the worlds 19th-largest arms exporter, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.Moscow has repeatedly warned the US and its allies not to provide Kiev with arms, especially against the backdrop of the ongoing Russian special military operation in Ukraine, cautioning that the deliveries may further exacerbate the conflict. Among others, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed that any weapons shipped to or stationed in Ukraine would be considered a legitimate target by Russia's military.

https://sputniknews.com/20220812/norway-joins-training-of-ukrainian-soldiers-amid-calls-to-produce-arms-for-kiev-1099499079.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/regional-peace-stability-at-risk-as-aukus-hypes-tokyo-membership-1102910469.html

Regional Peace, Stability At Risk as AUKUS Hypes Tokyo Membership

Regional Peace, Stability At Risk as AUKUS Hypes Tokyo Membership

It is not surprising to see that the US media once again hyped the idea of bringing Japan into AUKUS, but Tokyo has to think twice on whether its gain can... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T10:39+0000

2022-11-01T10:39+0000

2022-11-01T10:39+0000

opinion & analysis

aukus

japan

asia & pacific

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It is not surprising to see that the US media once again hyped the idea of bringing Japan into AUKUS, but Tokyo has to think twice on whether its gain can outweigh its loss by doing so.The magazine Foreign Affairs on Friday published an article entitled "Why Japan Belongs in AUKUS" by Michael Auslin, research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. The article calls for an expansion of AUKUS into JAUKUS by bringing Japan into the group, underlining that "amid rising tensions with China," Tokyo's largest-ever increase in defense spending was a "reminder that Japan's technological and security policies and ambitions are increasingly aligned with those of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States," members of AUKUS.Since the Japanese newspaper Sankei Shimbun in April reported that each AUKUS member had informally asked Japan about the possibility of it joining the partnership, related hype has never stopped. It is anticipated that Japan will join AUKUS sooner or later and it's just a matter of time, both Yang Xiyu, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, and Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times. Yang noted that tensions with Beijing or the so-called China threat is just the pretext, Tokyo's increase in its defense spending or its willingness to join military groups is because it desires to turn itself into a military power. Today, Japan seems to have become a right-leaning society, and regards China as its biggest imaginary enemy, repeatedly interfering in China's Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue. Tokyo is aware that it is hard to gain leverage against China on its own. It needs to rely on the US and other members of AUKUS to forge a multilateral military alliance, noted Song.The US is also keen on bringing Japan into the bloc. Apart from Australia and Britain, Japan is US' closest and most obedient ally, and is highly coordinated with Washington's military strategy. Furthermore, as the US now intends to shift its military strategic focus from the Western hemisphere to the Eastern one, considering Japan's economic size, political influence and capabilities in defense military, it is an ideal candidate for AUKUS' expansion, and adding China's neighboring country can shorten the military mechanism's distance with China.If Japan does become a member of AUKUS, it will create more strategic instability for the whole Asia-Pacific region, and regional countries should be highly vigilant toward Tokyo's intention in this regard. A membership to AUKUS will mean a subversive change to Japan's own Pacifist Constitution, resulting in substantial change of Japan's role and status in the existing regional security structure. The rise of Japan as a military power as well as the US-led AUKUS' northward expansion will naturally undermine regional peace and stability, which will exacerbate the security dilemma among AUKUS, Japan and other regional countries.When discussing Japan's potential accession to AUKUS, some voices argue that Japan will become a victim of US' China strategy and AUKUS will contain China at the expense of Japan. Gal Luft, co-director of the Washington-based think tank Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, commented on the piece in Foreign Affairs saying, "Latest from neocon central: Now that we are almost done impoverishing Europe, it's time to take down Japan."Japan needs to keep prudent in deciding whether it is worth to join AUKUS. According to Song, since the end of World War II, Japan has always been exploited by the US, with a large number of US troops stationing on its territory, and the cases of US military there bullying the local Japanese are widely seen. If Japan joins AUKUS, the US will use it as a front-line military base against China and Russia. The US will not hesitate to sacrifice Japan's interests in a bid to safeguard its homeland security and defend its hegemony.The US does not want to see an independent Japan, but an obedient little brother. Therefore, if Japan wants to take advantage of the US-led AUKUS as an instrument to realize its ambitions and strategy to become a normal country, the path will be very winding and bumpy.This article was originally published by the Global Times.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/russians-sailing-on-historical-boat-replica-say-alaskans-helped-them-keep-warm-1102929254.html

Russians Sailing on Historical Boat Replica Say Alaskans Helped Them Keep Warm

Russians Sailing on Historical Boat Replica Say Alaskans Helped Them Keep Warm

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States and Russia may be experiencing tensions in their bilateral relations, but ordinary Americans and Russians are treating... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T17:43+0000

2022-11-01T17:43+0000

2022-11-01T17:43+0000

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We began preparing our boat for the trip at a big dock in the US city of Homer, where the Pilgrim was stationed during winter. All the people who were near us treated us very well. Alaskans are hard workers and they have no time to think about politics: everyone needs to catch the summer season that feeds them during the entire year, Sinelnik said.A dock guard, who had previously served in the US military, asked the Russian crew not to come back to Russia out of concern for their well-being.However, Sinelnik said he was determined to follow his plan to return to Russia.The guard then said he would pray about the Pilgrim teams safety and for peace in the region.I am praying for you and for peace, he said.Sinelnik noted the guard was so determined to help that he even stopped cutting the electricity supply during his night shifts so that the crew of the Pilgrim could sleep in warmer conditions and other guards also began doing so.The Pilgrim team experienced numerous other examples of hospitality by ordinary Americans. The Russian old believers, who have lived in the United States for decades, invited the Pilgrim crew to their school. The local administration provided water, while others shared fish, fishing rods and additional supplies.Although nature there is harsh, the locals attitude was the warmest and this is very important. If, after the current events in the world, people were also evil, then it would be three times harder for us, Sinelnik said.Sinelnik also recalled how warmly the crew was treated when they stopped near a small village on the island of Kodiak.The Pilgrim, a 40-foot sailboat, started its voyage around the world in 2017 from the city of Petrozavodsk in Russias Karelia region. En route to the United States, the vessel visited multiple European countries, the Canary and Caribbean islands and Cape Verde.This year, the Pilgrim completed the route from the city of Homer in Alaska to the Russian city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/teenage-boy-dies-while-enacting-execution-scene-of-indian-freedom-fighter-bhagat-singh-1102900475.html

Teenage Boy Dies While Enacting Execution Scene of Indian Freedom Fighter Bhagat Singh

Teenage Boy Dies While Enacting Execution Scene of Indian Freedom Fighter Bhagat Singh

Back in 2020, a similar incident took place in the Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh state when 12-year-old Priyansh Malvya died accidentally while enacting... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T11:35+0000

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A 12-year-old boy in Chitradurga district in the Indian state of Karnataka died on Saturday night while rehearsing an execution at his home, police said on Tuesday.Sanjay Gowda, a seventh grade pupil of SLV School in Kolar city, was given the leading role of Bhagat Singh in a school play. Singh was hanged by the British government for fatally shooting police superintendent John Saunders.The boy was home alone when the tragic incident took place. According to media reports, he was trying to recreate the original scene of Singh's execution and got a noose around his neck, which led to his death on the spot.The school authorities have expressed deep grief over the boy's death and have cancelled the play. The police have recovered the body and sent it for a postmortem.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/uk-accused-in-nord-stream-attack-lula-wins-in-brazil-haitians-to-gitmo-1102897958.html

UK Accused in Nord Stream Attack; Lula Wins in Brazil; Haitians to Gitmo

UK Accused in Nord Stream Attack; Lula Wins in Brazil; Haitians to Gitmo

Former Brazilian president Lula De Silva won a squeaker to retake the presidency of Latin America's most consequential nation. 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T08:44+0000

2022-11-01T08:44+0000

2022-11-01T08:44+0000

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UK Accused in Nord Stream Attack; Lula Wins in Brazil; Haitians to Gitmo Former Brazilian president Lula De Silva won a squeaker to retake the presidency of Latin America's most consequential nation.

Jamarl Thomas, co-host of Fault Lines, joins us to discuss Brazil. Former Brazilian president Lula De Silva won a squeaker to retake the presidency of Latin America's most consequential nation.Scott Ritter, former UN weapon inspector in Iraq, joins us to discuss Ukraine. Britain stands accused of launching a violent terrorist attack on the infrastructure of ostensible ally, Germany. Also, a former Italian prime minister is suggesting a method to end the conflict in Ukraine.Ted Rall, political cartoonist and syndicated columnist, joins us to discuss the new world order. President Putin made a powerful speech at the Valdai conference in which he outlined the dangers and opportunities presented by the multi-polar order that is organically arranging itself.Dr. Gerald Horne, Professor of History at the University of Houston, TX, author, historian, and researcher, joins us to discuss Africa. President Biden is considering increasing drone attacks in Somalia. Also, Ethiopia nears victory over the TPLF.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon, joins us to discuss the Middle East. A new investigative article outlines Israel's use of chemical and biological weapons against Arabs and Palestinians. Also, Black people die in the custody of UK police but the US empire only pushes the abuse trope against Iran.Kim Ives, filmmaker, journalist, and editor at Haiti Liberte, joins us to discuss Haiti. The White House is considering putting Haitian immigrants in Gitmo. Also, peace groups push back against Cuba's sanctions.Dan Lazare, investigative journalist, and author of America's Undeclared War, joins us to discuss foreign policy. Britons look to face more austerity and weaker rights under Rishi Sunak. Also, Czech protesters rail against the Ukraine proxy war.Barbara Arnwine, president and founder of Transformative Justice Coalition, and internationally renowned for contributions to critical justice issues including the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1991, joins us to discuss SCOTUS. We examine the potential outcome of the SCOTUS examination of college affirmative action policies.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/uk-government-claims-british-cyber-agents-guarding-ukraine-online-1102910033.html

UK Government Claims British Cyber-Agents Guarding Ukraine Online

UK Government Claims British Cyber-Agents Guarding Ukraine Online

While junior minister Leo Docherty claimed that aid to Kiev by the National Cyber Security Center "was not an escalatory thing to do," Moscow has accused... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T12:27+0000

2022-11-01T12:27+0000

2022-11-01T12:49+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

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The British government has claimed that its cyber-spying agencies are defending Ukraine from Russian cyber-attacks.Junior foreign office minister Leo Docherty told a British television news channel on Tuesday that the UK was itself facing "a very significant cyber threat from Russia" and was helping its allies in Kiev defend against the same menace.He admitted that no serious cyber-attacks had yet been carried out, but claimed that was due to the vigilance of the UK's National Cyber Security Center (NCSC).The minister insisted that the NCSC's work on behalf of the Zelensky regime did not represent direct British intervention in the conflict in Ukraine, something which Russia has already accused the UK of.He instead compared it to the government's arms supplies to Kiev's forces  which began before Russia launched its special military operation on February 24.Russia has accused British intelligence agencies of coordinating the Ukrainian attack on the port of Sevastopol in Crimea on Saturday  which used British-supplied submersible drones  as well as the bombing of the Kerch Bridge to Crimea on October 8 and the Nord Steam 1 and 2 gas pipelines across the Baltic Sea.A major British newspaper reported on Sunday that Russian agents had hacked the mobile phone of Liz Truss, who resigned as prime minister earlier this month after just six weeks in office, in the summer when she was serving as foreign secretary.Later, on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova demanded Downing Street respond to claims circulating on alternative media that Truss sent an SMS message to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken a mere minute after the Nord Stream explosion stating: "It's done."The NCSC is a unit of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), the UK's signals intelligence service, which also gathers telephone and Internet usage data on British citizens.Four former Ukrainian regions  Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson  have been formally incorporated into the Russian Federation since the start of the military operation in February.

https://sputniknews.com/20221024/south-korea-to-take-part-in-us-multinational-exercise-cyber-flag-for-first-time-1102565004.html

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A Wilmette man is facing felony weapons and drug charges after Evanston police found a semi-automatic rifle, ammunition, brass knuckles and drugs in his vehicle following an early Tuesday morning crash, police said.

Stephanos A. Baslaal, 27, of the 800 block of LeClaire Avenue, Wilmette, is charged with felony aggravated use of a weapon by a felon, felony possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor violating the Firearms Owners Identification Act, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and was also cited under a city ordinance for violation of transportation of cannabis, police said in a release Friday.

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It said that on Oct. 25, shortly before 3 a.m. Evanston police responded to the 2700 block of Sheridan Road for a traffic crash. It said that when officers arrived they saw a crash that involved one vehicle, a 2019 gray Jeep Cherokee. Baslall, the driver, had accidentally struck the curb and damaged the Jeep, which was not drivable, said the release.

While investigating the crash, officers saw a gun box inside the vehicle and could smell an odor of cannabis coming the interior, the release said. It said that officers searched the vehicle and saw a small amounts of cannabis on the floor board and in the center console cup holder.

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Police then searched the trunk where they found of a semi-automatic Keltec Sub 2000 9 mm rifle inside a bookbag, the release said. It said the search of trunk area also produced an extended magazine containing live ammunition and that, officers also found a locked bookbag in the vehicle.

An investigation revealed that Baslaal was a convicted felon and did not have a Concealed Carry License or FOID card, the release said. It said Baslaal was arrested and transported to the Evanston police station where the investigation continued and his vehicle was towed and impounded pending seizure.

Evanston detectives assisted with the investigation and attained a search warrant for the locked bookbag where they found about six grams of suspected cannabis, a pair of brass knuckles, a glass and a metal pipe and approximately three grams of suspected methamphetamine, the release said.

The Cook County states attorneys office reviewed the case and approved charges.

Baslaal appeared in bond court on Oct. 26 where he received a $75,000 bond and remains in custody. His next court date is Nov. 2, at the Skokie courthouse, said the release.

Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
https://sputniknews.com/20221101/unctad-first-batch-of-russian-fertilizer-to-be-shipped-to-africa-in-early-november-1102904960.html

UNCTAD: First Batch of Russian Fertilizer to Be Shipped to Africa in Early November

UNCTAD: First Batch of Russian Fertilizer to Be Shipped to Africa in Early November

Although the "grain deal" was aimed at mitigating the food crisis in the poorest countries, most of the grain ended up being shipped to rich nations. For its... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T13:08+0000

2022-11-01T13:08+0000

2022-11-23T11:36+0000

africa

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The first batch of fertilizers Russia is donating to Africa free of charge will be sent to the African continent in the first week of November, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Rebeca Grynspan said.Concrete actions bring certain results, especially with regard to fertilizers that are currently stored in ports and warehouses of European ports. These fertilizers are provided free of charge by Uralchem for humanitarian needs in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America with the direct participation of the World Food program. We expect the first batch of fertilizers to go to Africa in the first week of November," Grynspan said at a meeting of the UN Security Council.After Kiev's terrorist attack on ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian ships in the waters of Sevastopol on Saturday, Russia announced it was suspending its participation in exporting grain from Ukrainian ports.According to the Russian Federation's Ministry of Defense, the terrorist attack was planned with the assistance of British specialists.Commenting on the decision, the Ministry stated that in the present situation Moscow cannot guarantee the safety of civilian dry cargo ships involved in the export of Ukrainian grain.Later, the Russian Federation's Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev said that Russia was ready to supply the poorest countries with up to 500,000 tons of grain free of charge over the next four months, as well as to replace Ukrainian grain and to supply all interested countries at a reasonable price.On Monday, The Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed Russia's willingness to compensate the poorest countries for their shortage in grain volumes, at its own expense.The package grain deal consists of two documents signed on 22 July in Istanbul by representatives from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the United Nations. The first memorandum considers the UN commitment to remove restrictions on Russian fertilizer and agricultural product exports to global markets. The second defines the algorithm for exporting Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports.The first ship under the grain deal left the port of Odessa on 1 August. However, Russia almost immediately raised concerns about how the West and Ukraine were interpreting the agreements.Initially, it was assumed that one of the main goals of this agreement was to prevent a food crisis in poorer states.However, the Russian Foreign Ministry drew attention to the fact that half of all deliveries arrived in the European Union, Great Britain, Israel and South Korea, whereas states in need - specifically Somalia, Ethiopia, Yemen, Sudan, and Afghanistan - received only 3 percent of the grain.Russian President Vladimir Putin said that with the West behaving like that, the global food crisis would only worsen.For its part, Russia has already shipped about 10.5Mln tons of grain, mainly wheat, to African and Asian countries in late October.The deal was signed amid Russias ongoing special military operation in Ukraine, that was launched on 24 February in response to calls by the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics for protection from Ukrainian troops. In response, the West issued sanctions against Russia that affected, among other things, the export of Russian grain, and exacerbated the global food crisis.

https://sputniknews.com/20221101/russia-to-continue-dialogue-with-un-turkey-on-grain-deal-1102916123.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221101/russia-to-donate-wheat-fuel-to-lebanon-after-suspending-grain-deal-lebanese-minister-says-1102909629.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221031/why-did-russia-leave-grain-deal-and-whos-to-blame--1102875661.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/us-diesel-provider-warns-of-extremely-high-prices--supply-outages-1102903126.html

US Diesel Provider Warns of 'Extremely High Prices & Supply Outages'

US Diesel Provider Warns of 'Extremely High Prices & Supply Outages'

Surging diesel prices in the US are nearly 50 percent higher than they were at this time last year, with fuel costs feeding into Democrats concerns as... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T07:54+0000

2022-11-01T07:54+0000

2022-11-01T07:54+0000

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joe biden

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A diesel supply alert has been issued on the US east coast, with Mansfield Energy, a leader in petroleum marketing and fuel supply, describing the current market as rapidly devolving.Markets are now seeing extremely high prices in the Northeast along with supply outages along the Southeast, the warning issued by the fuel logistics company noted. The alert in the memo was extended to states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Maryland.As it issued its advisory to businesses that rely on diesel, Mansfield Energy underscored that while typically the East Coast markets have 50 million barrels in storage, there were less than 25 million barrels available currently. The looming fuel shortages were due to poor pipeline shipping economics and historically low diesel inventories which are combining to cause shortages in various markets throughout the Southeast. These have been occurring sporadically, with areas like Tennessee seeing particularly acute challenges, the company added in its press statement.However, a tight diesel supply will bring prices up, eventually making diesel too costly for many consumers, the fuel logistics company ventured. Looking ahead, it suggested that high prices would lower demand enough to balance it with limited supply."Bulk fuel buyers were urged by Mansfield to avoid panic buying ahead of checking first to ensure their orders will fit in the storage tanks.Mansfield explained in a memo on October 28 that the East Coast relies on just two pipelines and is supplied by Gulf Coast refiners that have no difficulty redirecting supplies to other countries for a profit. It was also added that while American diesel markets could feel relatively comfortable when inventories were at around 35-40 days, a 25 days supply was a critically low fuel level.Previously, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) had warned in its report that the US East Coasts gasoline stockpiles were at their lowest since 2007. Challenges of moving fuel from the Gulf Coast refining hub to domestic consumer centers dotting the East Coast make exporting the fuel to other countries more profitable for companies, experts were cited as saying. As some East Coast terminals were forced to ration fuel supplies, exports of gasoline and diesel had spiked to reach two-week highs, the Energy Information Administration said on October 26.The low fuel inventories and the high costs at the pump have been worrying Democrats ahead of the November 8 midterm elections. The fuel issue could become a make or break one for the Biden administration, deciding whether or not the Democrats maintain control over Congress. Fuel costs in key swing states have been tied to Democrat approval ratings, which have taken successive hits. Diesel prices reached a national average of $5.309 per gallon as of October 31, compared to $3.634 a year ago, according to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA). In June, diesel reached a record-high average price of $5.703 a gallon. Faced with looming midterm elections, Democratic POTUS Joe Biden has been trying to address the challenges amid low stockpile levels and a limited ability for companies to boost their supply. Trying to appease voters, he had resorted to unprecedented crude releases from the US strategic reserves, while also pressuring oil companies to boost production and threatening them with a windfall tax. With days to go before the midterms, the Democrats and Republicans faced neck-and-neck races for Senate control, a Times/Siena College Poll showed. As for Joe Bidens job approval rating, it has been consistently below 50 percent in all the states most likely to determine the Senate majority, according to public polls cited by US media.

https://sputniknews.com/20221027/latest-fuel-supply-crisis-hits-us-east-coast-as-stockpiles-hit-their-lowest-since-2007-1102783105.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221031/biden-mulls-raising-taxes-on-oil-companies-team-will-meet-us-lawmakers-to-look-at-options-1102896845.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221027/how-joe-bidens-approval-rating-has-changed-in-2022-1102756479.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221101/us-senate-candidate-washington-must-end-military-aid-to-ukraine-stop-fueling-conflict-1102902637.html

US Senate Candidate: Washington Must End Military Aid to Ukraine, Stop Fueling Conflict

US Senate Candidate: Washington Must End Military Aid to Ukraine, Stop Fueling Conflict

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States should end its military assistance to Ukraine and stop inflaming the ongoing conflict, LaRouche independent Senate... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T07:36+0000

2022-11-01T07:36+0000

2022-11-01T07:36+0000

americas

us

ukraine

military aid

2022 us midterms

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US voters head to the polls on November 8 to determine who will control ongress, with the Democrats at risk of losing both chambers. The Senate is likely to be decided by six tight races. 35 of the 100 seats in the US Senate - and all 435 House seats - are up for grabs this year, in addition to statewide and local positions.Sare, who is competing for the New York seat currently occupied by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in the November 8 midterm elections, is the founder and co-director of the Schiller Institute New York City Chorus. According to her campaign site, Sare is running against the interests of Wall Street and in support of a new world economic order.Biden recently expressed concern that Republicans could jeopardize future aid for Ukraine after current House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy warned of need to stop writing "blank checks" to Kiev if Republicans get the majority after the elections. The Republicans are highly favored to seize the House, according to recent polls, while control of the Senate appears to remain "up for grabs."Then Boris Johnson, who was the UK prime minster at the time, Sare added, flew over there and said, "don't negotiate. We'll send you more weapons.""We [the United States] have to completely change our policy," Sare said.Sare said it is a definite possibility that the funding for weapons and aid to Ukraine will be cut if Republicans take Congress.She believes that by changing Washington's policy on military assistance to Ukraine, the situation can be resolved and a diplomatic solution to the conflict can be found."I can't imagine myself how the soldiers on the ground, at least the ones who are not Nazis, on both sides, I mean, the Russian troops, and the regular Ukrainian people who are not in Azov* or these extremist groups are feeling about this because the people of Ukraine, the people of Russia are very close. It's the same family," she said. "Therefore, you're going to have, I think, an approach like Abraham Lincoln after the Civil War. We're going to have to have a massive plan for reconstruction."The United States, the CIA, and British intelligence will have to stop backing Nazi insurgent groups, Sare added.When asked what role Congress can play in doing that, Sare pointed out the situation with the letter recently sent by the American lawmakers to US President Joe Biden.Last Monday, a group of 30 Democratic Congressmen sent a letter to Biden urging him to fundamentally change his administrations strategy with respect to the crisis in Ukraine and seek direct negotiations with Russia. However, the following day, the Congressional Progressive Caucus said it had withdrawn the letter.However, Sare said the situation is not completely doomed."I don't think it's hopeless. I think the Congress could be moved to demand that we stop fueling the fire," Sare said.Repairing Inter-Parliamentary Ties With RussiaShe also assured that she is determined to do her best to revive inter-parliamntary relations with Russia."I would absolutely do it," Sare said when asked about reviving the process. "I would do whatever I could do to repair this [US-Russian] relationship."Regarding her possible travel to Russia in the capacity of a lawmaker, Sare said, "You know, I would have to convince people at the State Department, I suppose.""I don't know what the restrictions are on that right now," she said. "I think we have an enormous amount of work to do here... You know, I say everything, somewhat hypothetically, because I don't know what the conditions will be. I don't know what conditions this regime will place on US senators."Cancel Culture War Against Russia is a 'Complete Outrage'The outrageous cancel culture war waged against Russia limits the ability of people to communicate in a domain of common interests, Sare told Sputnik.Canceling great artists or great writers, whether it's Tchaikovsky, the Bolshoi Ballet, Tolstoy, or Dostoevsky, she added, is "very ugly" because culture is universal among human beings."So, trying to stop this, to nullify it, you really are limiting the ability for human beings to communicate with each other in the domain where we have common interests and a common identity," she added.Sare went on to say that 2024 will mark the 200th anniversary of of the Missa Solemnis of Beethoven, which was premiered in St. Petersburg.Sare said it is impossible to erase somebody's culture."The media, the news media are really making a terrible mistake. They think that they control the narrative because they control the airwaves," she said.Since the beginning of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, performances of many representatives of Russian arts and culture, ballet troupes, and musicians have been canceled, while works of Russian composers Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Sergei Rachmaninoff have been removed from posters.Idea of Democracy in US 'Complete Fraud'The affirmations that the United States has democracy is a complete fraud in light of the challenges third party candidates face in trying to run for office, Sare told Sputnik."I want the world to know that the idea of democracy in the United States is a complete fraud," Sare said. "I'm telling you this without saying anything about what happened in 2020, but merely my own experience, what I had to do to get on the ballot, and then a blatantly rigged opinion poll to keep me out of the debate."Sare said in order to get on the ballot she had to get triple the signatures of the Democrats and Republicans. They were only required to get 15,000 signatures in a statewide race, whereas Sare was required to get 45,000 signatures in six weeks.Sare said she was the only statewide Independent candidate to make it on the ballot in New York but was excluded from a debate between Schumer and the Republican challenger.Spectrum News told her she was not invited to the debate because she did not meet the criterion of 15% in the opinion poll. However, Dare said there was a major problem with the surveys."Not one of the polls allows the voters to choose Diane Sare," she pointed out.Sare wrote to the station and said this is rigged, "you must include me. 66,000 people want me in this debate." The station said there is an option to pick "other."Sare said regardless of the results she is not going to disappear as a political voice."This fight is not going to go away. My point of this campaign is to win the policy. And I intend to win the policy, whether I'm in the Senate or whether I'm not," she said."If Republicans don't take the majority of the seats, I'm afraid the lunatic wing of the Democratic Party will see this as a mandate to continue their insane policies, first of all," Sare concluded. "If the Republicans do take the majority, then we perhaps have an opportunity for change but I really fear that change is not going to be made through the electoral process, but through the citizenry, raising their voices and forcing our so-called representatives to actually represent us."According to recent polling, Republicans appear well-positioned to take the US House while the battle for control of the Senate is expected to come down to the wire and may hinge on the outcome of six tight races.*Azov is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.

https://sputniknews.com/20221024/us-military-aid-sent-to-ukraine-burdening-american-defense-industry-ex-pentagon-official-1102564726.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221025/thirty-us-democratic-lawmakers-u-turn-on-call-for-biden-shift-on-ukraine-within-hours-1102599452.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221030/kremlin-us-potential-willingness-to-heed-russias-concerns-could-be-platform-for-putin-biden-talks-1102841386.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220906/chess-grandmaster-disqualified-for-backing-russias-ukraine-op-lambasts-western-cancel-culture-1100454203.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220307/why-canceling-cultural-figures-is-assault-on-free-speech--another-display-of-russophobia-1093645879.html

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us, ukraine, military aid
https://sputniknews.com/20221101/which-high-profile-celebs-have-been-slapped-with-twitter-bans-1102910125.html

Which High-Profile Celebs Have Been Slapped With Twitter Bans?

Which High-Profile Celebs Have Been Slapped With Twitter Bans?

Since Tesla CEO Elon Musk officially took control of Twitter after completing his $44 billion acquisition, speculation has been rife as to what the billionaire... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T13:26+0000

2022-11-01T13:26+0000

2022-11-01T13:26+0000

twitter

ban

donald trump

elon musk

world

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Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk, who finally took over Twitter on October 27, buying it for $44 billion, has been tight-lipped regarding the changes he has up his sleeve for the social media network. After discarding several top Twitter executives and hinting at more personnel shakeups in store for the microblogging website, the self-proclaimed "Chief Twit" has given no indication regarding looming decisions on content moderation or reinstating banned accounts. Specifically, Musk said that such moves would be scrutinized by a content moderation council embracing diverse viewpoints.However, speculation has been rife among Twitter users as to whether the worlds richest man may welcome back onto the platform some of the famous and influential figures that have been banned for violating Twitters rules. Ex-President Donald Trump, who was kicked off the platform in 2021, applauded the fact that Twitter was now in sane hands, as he touted his own social media site, Truth Social.In the digital age, maintaining a prominent social media presence has become imperative for government officials and notable personalities in all walks of life. However, over the years, online platforms have been developing increased policing rules to react to the behavior of users and the content they post. Here are some of the prominent figures who have at some point run afoul of these rules and been ditched by the Twitter platform.Roger StoneDonald Trump's former campaign adviser Roger Stone, banned from Twitter in 2017, was one of the first to voice the hope that Elon Musks acquisition would allow him back onto the social media platform. Im anxious to see how strong Elon Musks commitment to free speech is, the American author and strategist wrote in April, when Twitter accepted Musk's offer to acquire the company.Stone was originally suspended from Twitter for lashing out at CNN reporters Jake Tapper and Don Lemon and New York Times columnist Charles Blow, who were reporting on Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. Stone wielded derogatory verbal broadsides at what he slammed as "fake news."Special Counsel Robert Muellers years-long investigation into Democrat-spouted claims of criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russian officials during the 2016 presidential election established that the accusations were unsubstantiated."The battle against free speech has just begun. This is a strange way to do business and part and parcel of the systematic effort by the tech left to censor and silence conservative voices," Stone told US media after his Twitter ban. In 2019, Stone was sentenced to 40 months in prison for procedural crimes associated with Robert Mueller's Russiagate investigation. However, Trump commuted his sentence in July 2020, and then fully pardoned him in December 2020.Alex Jones Alex Jones, radio host and founder of conspiracy website InfoWars, was kicked off Twitter in 2018, with his account "permanently suspended" along with his outlet. Twitter cited reports of tweets and videos that violate our abusive behavior policy." YouTube, Apple, Facebook*, and Spotify all banned Jones' main platforms for inciting hatred or violence and peddling conspiracy theories. Jones faced tremendous backlash and multiple lawsuits over claims that the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting was faked. He has since apologized for these claims.Milo YiannopoulosIn 2016, Twitter announced it had moved to permanently suspend the user accounts of British-born activist and former Breitbart tech editor Milo Yiannopoulos for "abuse" of comedian and Ghostbusters actress Leslie Jones. Yiannopoulos, known for his harsh criticism of feminism, social justice, and political correctness, triggered backlash after expressing controversial statements on immigration and Islam. In 2017, Yiannopoulos resigned after a video emerged where he seemingly spoke in favor of sexual relationships between men and younger boys. After the ban, the journalist stated:Steve BannonFormer White House chief strategist Steve Bannon had his Twitter account blocked in November 2020 for violating its "policy on the glorification of violence." In comments made in a video posted to his Twitter account, as well as other social media sites, Bannon suggested that Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and FBI Director Christopher Wray should be fired, as he echoed then-President Donald Trumps claim that he had won reelection. Furthermore, Bannon, then indicted for wire fraud and awaiting trial, said:Donald TrumpProlific Twitter user and then-POTUS Donald Trump had his account banned temporarily on January 7, 2021, after his use of the platform to claim the results of the 2020 presidential election were rigged to favor his opponent, Democrat Joe Biden. Following a riot at the US Capitol on 6 January, when Trump supporters attempted to block the certification of the presidential election results and stormed the building, temporarily disrupting the work of the joint session of Congress, Trump was suspended permanently after allegedly violating the social media networks policies regarding the incitement of violence. Donald Trumps supporters regarded the move as an act of censorship and voiced their concerns about social media giants impact on free speech online.As a result of the Capitol events, five people, including a police officer, died. Trump was also banned on Facebook*, Instagram*, and Snapchat. Accused of "incitement of insurrection" and impeached by the US House of Representatives, Trump was later acquitted by the US Senate in a trial weeks after he left office. The former POTUS denied wrongdoing, while denouncing the committees work as a witch-hunt. Last month, Trump said that he has no intention to return to Twitter, even if his account were to be reinstated, and he preferred to stick with his own app, called Truth Social.Marjorie Taylor GreeneUS Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene had her personal Twitter account permanently suspended on January 2, 2022 for ostensibly repeated violations of the platforms policy regarding COVID-19 misinformation. Greenes final tweets falsely referenced extremely high amounts of covid vaccine deaths," US media reports said. Previously, Twitter had repeatedly suspended Greenes account for "sharing misinformation" about the pandemic. In response to the lasting measure by the platform, Greene slammed the site as an "enemy to America" that "can't handle the truth."Kanye WestTwitter "restricted" American rapper Kanye West's account in October following a slew of rants on social media and in TV interviews that were perceived as anti-Semitic. Such accounts cannot post or interact on the platform, while remaining visible on the service. The Jesus Walks musician and fashion mogul, 45, now going by the name of Ye, had written he was going to go death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE in a social media post. He also alleged that Jews control the music industry and the media. Not long afterwards, prominent fashion house Balenciaga and sportswear giant Adidas, as well as retailer Gap Inc., Vogue Magazine, and talent agency CAA sought to distance themselves from Kanye West.*Meta is a company banned in Russia over extremism.

https://sputniknews.com/20221101/elon-musk-officially-takes-over-as-twitter-ceo-after-44-bln-acquisition-1102899624.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220321/roger-stone-russia-is-acting-defensively-in-ukrainian-conflict-1094055465.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220803/watch-infowars-alex-jones-admit-sandy-hook-shooting-was-100-real-at-defamation-trial-1098091218.html

https://sputniknews.com/20210310/milo-yiannopoulos-says-hes-ex-gay-and-wants-to-rehabilitate-conversion-therapy-1082303531.html

https://sputniknews.com/20201106/twitter-suspends-steve-bannons-account-soon-after-heads-on-pikes-comments-1081041486.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220511/prospect-of-musk-lifting-trumps-twitter-ban-sends-ripples-online-1095431520.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220104/trump-blasts-twitter-as-a-disgrace-to-democracy-for-booting-off-marjorie-taylor-greene--1092010011.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221030/scandal-plagued-kanye-west-may-be-on-the-brink-of-financial-catastrophe-1102851577.html

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2022

Svetlana Ekimenko

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Svetlana Ekimenko

twitter, ban, donald trump, elon musk
https://sputniknews.com/20221101/why-are-concerns-about-western-weapons-flowing-to-ukraine-growing-louder-1102919086.html

Why Are Concerns About Western Weapons Flowing to Ukraine Growing Louder?

Why Are Concerns About Western Weapons Flowing to Ukraine Growing Louder?

The US and its allies have earmarked nearly $100 billion in security and economic aid to Ukraine so far this year. Last month, the White House asked Congress... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T13:15+0000

2022-11-01T13:15+0000

2022-11-18T09:20+0000

ukraine

weapons

arms

us

russia

smuggling

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As the Ukrainian security crisis enters its ninth month and the seemingly bottomless pit of Western military and economic support for Kiev continues to expand, some US media and lawmakers have expressed growing weariness about the prospect of shoveling even more cash into the conflict in the weeks and months to come.On Monday, the editors of Bloomberg, the New York-based financial and business media empire, sent a signal to Americas business community through a rare collective editorial requesting more transparency from the Biden administration about where American aid to Ukraine is going.At least $27.5 billion of that is for military needs, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economys Ukraine Support Tracker.Pointing out that Kiev hasnt exactly been a paragon of good governance and anti-corruption, even before the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, Bloomberg made the unprecedented admission that theres the possibility, however slight, that US-made weaponry could fall into the wrong hands or be sold to actors outside Ukraine. Accordingly, the outlet asked Washington to appoint a special watchdog on Ukraine aid, similar to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction created in 2008.The effectiveness of such an appointment would be questionable at best, and futile at worst. Last year, Brown Universitys Costs of War project calculated that the United States spent over $2 trillion in Afghanistan, equivalent to over $300 million per day for 20 straight years. Still, the effort to turn the war-torn West Asian nation into a model of Western-style governance and democracy collapsed like a house of cards in August 2021, when the Taliban* smashed the countrys NATO-trained army in ten days as US and allied forces evacuated. The inspector generals appointment seems to have done little in stopping or even stemming the largess of spending on the war in Afghanistan.Nevertheless, even the mere admission that US arms could destabilize the situation and cause a spike in weapons flows to international black markets and criminal groups is significant, as it echoes concerns that Russian officials from the president to the foreign and defense ministries have been expressing for many months.Last month, Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, whose party appears poised to take the House and possibly the Senate in the upcoming midterm elections, expressed opposition to giving Ukraine a never-ending blank check of American aid as ordinary Americans suffer the consequences of a recession. President Biden admitted that he was worried about McCarthys rhetoric, accusing the GOP of not getting that Washingtons assistance to Kiev wasnt about Ukraine, but about Eastern Europe, NATO, and really serious, serious consequential outcomes.As domestic weapons stocks show signs of running low and amid US media reports citing behind-the-scenes grumbling from the military and government over the issue continue to mount, it bears repeating the question about where Western arms support for Ukraine is actually going.Where are the Weapons Zelensky?It turns out the White House and the Pentagon dont actually know where the aid goes, with sources telling US media back in April that the Pentagon has zero clue where most of the arms end up after they drop into the big black hole of the conflict. This is especially the case with small and compact arms like Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger man-portable air defense missiles, which cant be tracked via satellites and with nobody on the ground to keep a lookout.From time to time, moments of clarity poke through the fog of war.On Sunday, Finlands National Bureau of Investigation reported that weapons sent to Ukraine had somehow found their way into the hands of local motorcycle gangs, as well as criminal groups in Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands.Earlier this year, Sputnik Arabic plunged into the seedy recesses of the so-called dark web, finding a Ukraine-based arms dealer willing to ship US-made M4 assault rifles to the conflict zone in Yemen via Poland and Portugal, for a fee.Separately, in August, a major US television network posted and then quietly scrubbed an investigative feature which revealed that as little as 30 percent of the Western military aid sent to Ukraine was actually reaching the frontline.Some Western-dominated regional and international security cooperation agencies have also given an indication (mostly underreported by the mainstream media) on the danger of sending weapons to Kiev.Europol, the European Union criminal policing agency subordinated to Brussels, continues to resist admitting the scale of the weapons smuggling problem, assuring in July that it is working with Ukrainian officials to mitigate the threat of arms trafficking into the European Union and that it has full confidence in Kievs measures to monitor and track these firearms.However, Interpol, Europols older and more respected cousin, has urged the international community to brace for weapons that have been sent to Ukraine ending up in criminal hands. Agency secretary general Juergen Stock warned in June that the high availability of weapons during the current conflict will result in the proliferation in illicit arms in the post-conflict phase. Criminal groups are already preparing. This will come, I have no doubts, Stock said.True Extent of Problem Still Shrouded in ShadowsGiven the scale of the Ukrainian crisis, and the shady nature of criminal weapons smugglers activities to begin with, the real extent and scope of illicit arms smuggling operations, and just how far up the totem pole of Ukrainian and Western administrative power it goes, has yet to be revealed, and probably wont be revealed, until years or even decades from now.During the 1980s Soviet War in Afghanistan, the Central Intelligence Agency ran Operation Cyclone, a drugs and weapons running operation which armed the Afghan Mujahedeen with over $3 billion in US- and European-made weaponry, including Stinger missiles and other sophisticated equipment.In the decades that followed, Washington discovered how difficult it is to recover these arms from the Afghan freedom fighters, who eventually morphed into the Taliban*, and fought a two decade-long war against the US and NATO occupation, including using weapons sent in the 1980s. In the meantime, Osama Bin Laden, the al-Qaeda** leader who served as one of the Arab commanders in Afghanistan in the 1980s, wound up declaring a holy war against the US, with Washington ultimately fingering his terrorist group for the deaths of over 3,000 Americans on 9/11 and in other attacks.* The Taliban is under United Nations sanctions for terrorist activities.** Al-Qaeda is a terrorist group outlawed in the US and many other countries.

https://sputniknews.com/20221015/us-running-out-of-resources-to-supply-weapons-to-ukraine-1101884974.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220804/exclusive-ukrainians-sell-nato-supplied-weapons-abroad-1098120922.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220603/weapons-sent-to-ukraine-will-no-doubt-fuel-uptick-in-global-arms-trafficking-warns-interpol-chief-1095957509.html

https://sputniknews.com/20210420/how-the-cyclone-which-us-whipped-up-in-1980s-came-back-to-blow-them-out-of-afghanistan-1082677153.html

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Ilya Tsukanov

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Ilya Tsukanov

ukraine, weapons, arms, us, russia, smuggling
https://sputniknews.com/20221101/why-capping-russian-gas-price-wont-stop-eus-economic-slide-1102928545.html

Why Capping Russian Gas Price Won't Stop EUs Economic Slide

Why Capping Russian Gas Price Won't Stop EUs Economic Slide

Qatar has denounced the EU's proposal to set a price cap for natural gas as "hypocritical." The European Commission is seeking to take the measure as soon as... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T17:42+0000

2022-11-01T17:42+0000

2022-11-18T13:41+0000

opinion & analysis

eu

europe

russia

qatar

lng

natural gas

energy crisis

gas

sanctions

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"The EUs energy policies are muddled," said Dr. Mamdouh G. Salameh, an international oil economist and a global energy expert. "They are torn between their energy needs and their green policies. The EUs proposed policies of capping the price of Russian gas exports and banning these exports arent only doomed to fail miserably, but they are bound to cause shortages in the global gas market and a further staggering rise in gas prices."Qatars Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi on October 30 warned the EU against resorting to the price cap initiative while speaking to a US broadcaster. According to al-Kaabi, interfering in markets clearly contradicts the free market rules that Europe has previously applied to producers."The free market is always the best solution," highlighted al-Kaabi, who is also CEO of Qatar Energy, the worlds biggest liquefied natural gas-producing company.The Qatari energy minister explained that the price capping initiative could reduce incentives to invest in natural gas production. What's worse, it could deprive some buyers of energy supplies, he pointed out, explaining that by "offering just one cent," other gas importing countries could persuade LNG producers to sell gas to them rather than to Europe. According to al-Kaabi, Europe should not take additional risks, given that it is already facing a lot of trouble until at least 2025 if winters are harsh and Russian natural gas flows dont return to previous levels.According to the oil economist, Europe is already paying "an extraordinary price for its sanctions against Russia and its failed policies, with many sectors of the German economy and the EU on the verge of collapse." In addition to that, the EU's policies have de facto retarded their energy transition and declared zero-emissions by many years."The proof is the rising demand for coal globally, particularly in the EU, where coal-fired electricity plants are being resurrected," Salameh underscored. "In Germany, which has always prided itself as the leader of green policies, it has extended the life of the last two nuclear plants which were destined for closure at the end of 2022 and re-activated many coal-fired electricity plants. When Germany dismantles turbines on a wind farm in the West region to make way for an expansion of an open-pit of lignite coal, it shows how much the energy crisis has retarded the march of renewables."Still, the EU has only itself to blame for the unfolding energy crisis, noted the expert, referring to unintended negative consequences of Western green energy policies, as well as "short-sighted and futile measures of politicizing the oil and gas trade like imposing sanctions against Russia and trying to cap the prices of Russian oil and gas and banning them." The EU is set to become the largest loser in the energy war, the oil economist warned, adding that the living standards of Europeans are already crumpling with the bloc's economy balancing on the verge of a harsh recession.Still, Salameh does not believe that the EU will manage to change its course: "The EU has neither the political will nor the courage to stand up to the United States and therein lies the rub," the expert concluded.

https://sputniknews.com/20221028/eu-may-survive-till-spring-without-russian-gas-but-what-about-next-winter-1102794603.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221028/thousands-of-czech-protesters-demand-new-government-gas-talks-with-russia---reports-1102814418.html

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2022

Ekaterina Blinova

Ekaterina Blinova

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Ekaterina Blinova

eu, europe, russia, qatar, lng, natural gas, energy crisis, gas, sanctions
https://sputniknews.com/20221101/will-netanyahu-make-a-comeback-and-how-could-it-pan-out-for-israel--world-1102926302.html

Will Netanyahu Make a Comeback and How Could It Pan Out for Israel & World?

Will Netanyahu Make a Comeback and How Could It Pan Out for Israel & World?

Israelis are heading to polling stations on November 1 for a fifth time in four years. A survey released shortly before the general election indicated that... 01.11.2022, Sputnik International

2022-11-01T16:30+0000

2022-11-01T16:30+0000

2022-11-01T16:30+0000

opinion & analysis

us

opinion

israel

elections

benjamin netanyahu

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"It looks that the chances are very good that Netanyahu will form his coalition with two religious and one religious right party," said Avigdor Eskin, Israeli political commentator and publicist. "Even the official polls admitted that he was about to gain 60 or 61 seats out of 120. And these polls always tend to undermine Netanyahu."General elections for the 25th Knesset kicked off on November 1 at 7 a.m. (GMT+2). At noon, voting percentages in Israel reached 28.4%, the highest since 1999, according to the Central Election Committee. All in all, there are around 6.8 million eligible Israeli voters. The electoral enthusiasm is quite understandable, given that the nation is casting ballots for a fifth time in four years. The latest government coalition, which comprised unusual political bedfellows, collapsed in June.The latest polls have suggested that Netanyahu's bloc may be running short of just one seat necessary to get the mandate to form the government. In July 2022, a Panels Politics survey projected that Netanyahu's bloc would receive 61 of the Knessets 120 seats. Currently, the election outcome appears to be teetering on the edge of yet another political stalemate.Netanyahu's Right-Wing CoalitionNetanyahu's coalition consists of conservative and religious parties, namely Likud, which is projected to gain 31 seats, Religious Zionism (14), United Torah Judaism (7), and Shas (8). His major rivals are current caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, the head of the centrist Yesh Atid, and Defense Minister Benny Gantz, the leader of another centrist political force, the National Unity party.Meanwhile, the media singles out Religious Zionism, led by lawyer Bezalel Smotrich, as especially powerful among the nation's Orthodox parties. Moreover, the party is projected to become nothing short of the third-largest force in the Knesset. Religious Zionism comprises three groups; one of them, Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Strength), led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, already dubbed a nationalist "rock star" by the international press. It seems that Smotrich and Ben-Gvir's support could come in handy for Netanyahu: the former prime minister signaled on October 31 that he would appoint both as ministers if he ends up at the helm of the government.A day earlier, Ben-Gvir told the press that he is set to get the position of public security minister, responsible for the police, if Netanyahu takes the reins. According to Ben-Gvir, he raised the issue with Netanyahu on October 27 and that the former prime minister gave the nod. "Im not quoting word-for-word, but there was considerable enthusiasm [for the idea]," said the Otzma Yehudit leader. He and his people said it would bring in votes from outside the [Netanyahu-led] bloc and bring us the 61st seat.Economy and SecurityIf Netanyahu's coalition manages to win and he is elected as the nation's prime minister, he could make certain changes to Israel's political course. As of now, Likud has sent three major messages to its voters: first, that it remains the only party that can form a stable government; second, that it will focus on a "non-populist emergency plan" to recover the economy; third, that its economic plan envisages curbing the increase in prices and reducing taxes.National security matters are expected to be high on the next Israeli prime minister's agenda, as attacks on civilians and clashes between Palestinian militants and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have ramped up in the Palestinian Authority and West Bank since the beginning of the year.The former prime minister has never missed an opportunity to chastise the incumbent government for the upsurge in violence. Although he hailed the government's operation in the Gaza Strip against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group as well as military deployments in the West Bank earlier this year, the media admits that the IDF was the main addressee of his praises.During his prime ministership, Netanyahu also repeatedly came under criticism over his security policies in the troublesome regions. However, Israeli conservatives still consider him "Mr. Security," citing his decades-long experience in dealing with the challenges posed by Hezbollah, Hamas, and other militant groups.Israel-Lebanon DealWhen it comes to foreign policy, it is expected that Netanyahu will pursue his longtime agenda, which includes stepping up pressure on Tehran, fighting against the Iran nuclear deal, and opposing the "two-state solution" for Israel and the Palestinians.In addition to this, the former prime minister has announced that he will neutralize Israels recent accord with Lebanon demarcating natural gas fields in the Mediterranean Sea. Last week, Israel and Lebanon inked the US-brokered deal which covers part of the Karish and Qana gas fields.The deal would allow both Israel and Lebanon to tap potentially lucrative offshore gas deposits. However, Netanyahu accused Prime Minister Lapid and Defense Minister Gantz, of "not want[ing] to extract the gas in the first place" and seeking "to surrender it to Hezbollah." Hezbollah, a powerful Lebanese Shia political party and militant group, is designated as a terrorist organization by Israel.Russo-Israeli RelationsMeanwhile, the Western mainstream press has raised concerns about Israel's relations with Russia in the event Netanyahu wins the elections. The crux of the matter is that during his 12 years as prime minister, Netanyahu maintained good working relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Furthermore, the former Israeli prime minister described Putin as "smart, sophisticated and focused on one goal  returning Russia to its historical greatness," in his recently published book.Earlier, in July 2022, Netanyahu openly criticized the Israeli government for mismanaging the nation's relationship with Russia amid Moscow's special operation to demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine. He said that they had created a dangerous crisis after he had developed a "measured, balanced and responsible relationship with the Kremlin." In his recent interviews, he praised the Russo-Israeli ability to cooperate, emphasizing at the same time that Israel has sympathy for Ukraine. The former prime minister hinted that he could consider brokering peace between Moscow and Kiev if he wins the elections. Earlier, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett tried to mediate between Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but his efforts bore no fruit.When asked by a US broadcaster on October 21 whether he could provide weapons to Ukraine  something that the present Israeli leadership has refused to do  Netanyahu answered ambiguously: "I was asked about that recently, and I said Ill look into it when I get into office." Two days earlier, the former prime minister was more straightforward, explaining to the US media outlet that "time and againweapons that [Israel] supplied in one battlefield end up in Iranian hands used against us."Bibi and Biden AdministrationAt the same time, Netanyahu is expected to maintain close ties with the US, which the Israeli political heavyweight calls an "indispensable ally." He received unprecedented support from then-US President Donald Trump and openly allied himself with Trump Republicans. Having assumed office in January 2021, Joe Biden reversed many of his predecessor's policies concerning Israel. For instance, the Biden administration immediately restored aid to the Palestinian Authority, which Trump had previously cut off, and signaled support for a "two-state solution" in the region. However, differences between Biden and Netanyahu's approach to regional politics won't become an obstacle for US-Israeli relations if Bibi wins, according to Eskin."The relations with Washington  this is Netanyahus expertise. He will keep them strong, despite all the difficulties with the Biden administration," the Israeli publicist said.Middle East & Abraham AccordsOne might also expect that the Netanyahu-led Abraham Accords, joint normalization agreements struck between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and some other Arab states starting from September 15, 2020 could gain their second wind, according to the Israeli commentator. He does not rule out Saudi Arabia inking "normalization" accords with Israel if Donald Trump retakes the Oval Office in 2024."Israel is becoming stronger and more influential as a result of demographic and economic growth, spiritual uplifting, scientific development and military strength, supplied with good intelligence," said Eskin. "We are not in the midst of a crisis but on the contrary. We are expecting more Arab countries to sign peace treaties with Israel. The Saudis will do it after Trump wins the elections in the US."

https://sputniknews.com/20221101/key-rivals-lapid-netanyahu-vote-in-israeli-legislative-polls-1102912025.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221027/israeli-government-approves-agreement-on-border-demarcation-with-lebanon-1102757106.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220915/us-committed-to-expanding-abraham-accords-to-enhance-peace-security---state-dept-1100832309.html

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A Scottsbluff man charged with assaulting a police officer with a knife in 2017 has died while serving time in the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln.

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) reported that Phillip M. Garcia, 26, died on Saturday, Oct. 29. The cause of death is under investigation. He was serving a sentence of 26 to 46 years for felony theft by unlawful taking, use of a knife to commit a felony and assault on a law enforcement officer.

On July 27, 2017, Scottsbluff Police Department officers arrested Garcia for domestic assault where he slashed two tires on his girlfriends vehicle. While fleeing from officers, he cut one officer in the face with an eight-inch folding knife. He was also charged for a separate incident where he stole stereo equipment from his grandmother and pawned it off.

Garcia was sentenced to prison in 2018.

Under state law, whenever an inmate dies in NDCS custody or while being apprehended by law enforcement, a grand jury is summoned to conduct an investigation.
As the University of Nebraska system works to reverse consecutive years of enrollment losses, its campuses are putting added emphasis on drawing more out-of-state students.

The 49,560 students enrolled on NUs campuses in Lincoln, Omaha and Kearney mark the lowest total since 2009, and the 23,805 students counted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln reflected its smallest student body since 2008.

The vast majority of NUs students still hail from the Cornhusker State, but the number of college-bound high school graduates in the state is projected to remain flat before tapering off in 2027, according to the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education.

The result, the commission said in its Comprehensive Statewide Plan for Postsecondary Education, will be increased competition for traditional-age students, both in-state and out-of-state.

Nebraska institutions will intensify efforts to recruit out-of-state students, including international students, and will work harder to retain Nebraska students, the most recent report states.

Enrollment managers at two NU campuses say they will continue to prioritize recruiting in-state students while also pursuing recruitment opportunities beyond the states borders.

James Volkmer, UNLs interim associate vice chancellor for academic services and enrollment management, said universities in other states with declining college-bound student populations have reached recruiting tentacles into Nebraska.

Thats made in-state recruitment more competitive, Volkmer said in an email, and made UNL realize that it needs to expand its net elsewhere, too, touting its new and renovated facilities, specialized academic programs, and the offerings of the Lincoln community.

As an institution, we will look to markets with higher populations and competitive in-state markets, he said.

Last year, UNL began offering what it referred to as a scholarship  what in reality is a discounted tuition rate closer to the per-credit hour cost paid by Nebraska students  to students from California, Colorado, New Jersey and Texas in an attempt to draw more students.

The result was evident in the numbers, according to Volkmer. UNL saw an increase in applications, admissions and deposits for undergraduate students from each of the states included in the pilot project.

It also led UNL to expand the out-of-state recruiting program as recruiters seek to get students to enroll for the 2023-24 school year, while using existing recruiting staff and relationships to reach students.

Chancellor Ronnie Green informed leaders of UNLs Faculty Senate on Oct. 11 that recruiters were focusing on students from California, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Texas and Wisconsin.

UNL has welcomed more students from each of those states over the last 15 years, according to a review of enrollment trends maintained by the university.

In 2008, for example, there were 214 students from Colorado enrolled at UNL. This year, there are 450.

The number of Kansans attending UNL has grown from 340 to 574 over the same period; enrollment of students from Wisconsin tripled from 68 to 213 in 2019, before tapering off to 182 this fall; and those from Minnesota has more than doubled from 264 in 2008 to 656 this year.

Logan Miller is one of those Minnesotans who came to UNL to fulfill his dream of attending college out of state and preferably in a state capital, which would give the aspiring political science and economics student an up-close view of elected officials at work.

Along with being the center of government in Nebraska, Lincolns location  not too far from Millers home in the Twin Cities  and a welcoming campus checked several of the boxes he was looking for, he said.

But a big draw for Miller was the financial package UNL was able to offer.

Through the Ruth Leverton Scholarship available to nonresident undergraduate students, Miller said he was able to discount tuition by $13,000 annually, making UNL an attractive option.

Without aid, UNL estimates the cost of attendance for a student from the state living on campus at $27,000 this academic year. It's $44,000 for out-of-state students.

The main thing was getting a pretty good scholarship, said Miller, now a junior. It made it cheaper to go here than the University of Minnesota, and a bit more affordable than other state schools.

Another NU campus  the University of Nebraska at Kearney, which saw more nonresident students this year even as overall enrollment dropped 3.7% to 6,041 students  is also seeking to discount tuition in order to make itself an attractive option for college students across the country.

UNK began offering in-state tuition prices to students from Colorado and Kansas beginning in the 2018-19 school year and saw an immediate boost in the numbers of students from both states.

The number of Colorado students attending UNK jumped from 97 in 2017, the year before the Advantage Scholarship program began, to 167 students this year. Students attending UNK from Kansas increased from 71 in 2017 to 109 this fall.

The success led UNK to launch the New Nebraskan Scholarship  which, like UNLs scholarship is actually a tuition discount  for any nonresident undergraduate students who move to Kearney to attend classes from anywhere across the U.S.

The offer doesn't apply to online programs.

Kelly Bartling, UNKs vice chancellor for enrollment management and marketing, said the regional campus saw an immediate, but small increase in the number of out-of-state students after it was announced ahead of this school year.

We know were going to get the growth, Bartling said, its a matter of how much growth do we want to get and how many resources do we want to put in to getting it.

Both UNL and UNK said they see going outside of the state as an economic development opportunity as well. College graduates are more likely to remain near where they earn their degree after graduation, Volkmer and Bartling both said, which carries other potential benefits.

This strategy helps UNL, but also helps the states workforce, Volkmer said.
The General Federation of Womens Clubs of NC (GFWC of NC) Statesville Womans Club has a long history in Statesville. The Statesville Womans Club (SWC) was organized in 1920 and incorporated in 1927. The same year the SWC was incorporated, they purchased the house on 515 W. End Ave. to function as its clubhouse, with a formal opening on Sept. 13, 1927.

Six months later, in February 1928, the clubhouse was almost completely burned down. With great fortitude and determination, the women of the SWC had the house rebuilt in the summer of 1928 and held their first meeting in the present clubhouse in December 1928.

The SWC historic clubhouse has been Statesvilles house in many ways. For 95 years, the Statesville Womans Clubhouse has been a hub for cultural, educational and political growth and enlightenment for the communities the SWC serves. How many of you or your families attended wedding, receptions, showers, political forums, poetry readings or book clubs at the SWC Clubhouse?

Did you know that the plans for the Statesville public library took place in the meeting room of the clubhouse? Or that during the Great Depression, the clubhouses kitchen was opened up to the women of the community as a public cannery? The club women worked with the Welfare Department to start a hot soup lunch program in the public schools with the canned food donated to the clubhouse. Further, sewing rooms were established to make garments for needy children in the schools from donated materials.

During World War II, the clubhouse became a site for collection of many needed items for the war effort, including metal, hosiery and comfort items for the soldiers. Additionally, the club women worked closely with the American Red Cross to utilize the clubhouse effectively. It was used to host classes for home nurses and make surgical gowns One of the greatest efforts that took place in the clubhouse was selling war bonds, which were used to help purchase several carrier ships.

In 1955, the Golden Age Club was established for senior citizens in Iredell County. At 130 strong, in 1962, the SWC hosted the Golden Age Clubs meetings at the clubhouse, served refreshments, provided transportation and hosted Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. The National Recreation Association recognized the SWC for its work with senior citizens in the community.

Throughout its history, the SWC has also been involved in international issues which included collecting and mending 240 pounds of used clothing for European refugees and sponsoring a public presentation by the Head of Womens Affairs of the Israeli Embassy.

In modern times, the clubhouse continues to be a central meeting place for its club women for planning and implementing community projects and several different fundraisers to support many area charities. The Mardi Bra Parties for My Sisters House collected hundreds of womens undergarments. During the pandemic, the Holiday Cheer drawing raised thousands of dollars for the McKinney Vento Homeless Education Program.

Sponsorship has been a large part of the history of the SWC. As part of the education and arts departments, the SWC provided scholarships to nursing and art students at Mitchell Community College. A GFWC International project that the SWC participated in was Success for Survivors, which is a scholarship to assist domestic violence survivors attend college. The clubhouse has been used as the base for the SWCs Sallie Southall Cotten Scholarship, a GFWC-NC initiative, providing a 1,000 scholarship to the students college of choice. The SWC set up a night school at the clubhouse for girls who wanted to finish their education but needed to work during regular school hours.

The SWC initiates projects and holds fundraisers for the benefit of the community, but in keeping with the founders mission of the betterment of Iredell County, they cannot use money raised in those ways to repair and update the property. Therefore, over the years, they have been placing bandage on the Grand Ol Lady, as they lovingly refer to the clubhouse. Through grants, rentals and a carefully planned five-year capital campaign, the SWC hopes to fund immediate needs and provide for worry-free upkeep well into the future of the club.

In honor of the historic clubhouse turning 95 years old, the SWC will be host An Afternoon Tea at The Clubhouse Preservation Fundraiser. The fundraiser will be held on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. each day. There will be a chance to experience culinary delights, music and more with gluten-free and vegetarian options available. Tickets are $60 per person or a table of eight may be reserved for $480. All proceeds will be directed to the Statesville Womans Club Capital Campaign Fund.

The Capital Campaign Fund will help revive and protect the Grand Ol Lady. Anyone who has ever owned an older home or business will understand the challenge of keeping such a structure in good working order. The years certainly take their toll on aged plumbing, HVAC systems and rooftops!

The Statesville Womans Club invites the public to join them for An Afternoon Tea at the Clubhouse Preservation Fundraiser. In addition to enjoying an afternoon of delightful treats, there are sponsorship opportunities available, including, not limited to, being a member of the Circle of Grand Sponsors at a $1,000 level. Anyone who joins the Circle of Grand Sponsors will receive a complimentary one-day rental at the beautiful, historic clubhouse, valued at $450. For information about sponsorship, contact Dana White at 704-641-8199 or swcwhite424@aol.com.

If you would like more information about the club or about renting the GFWC of NC Statesville Womans Club for your meeting or event, inquiries may be directed to the club at Statesvillewomansclub@gmail.com or by calling 704-761-8208. For details on joining the club, contact Membership Chair Stephanie Gill at 704-657-5008.

For tickets for the Afternoon Tea, contact White at the previously provided number or email address. The club has also updated their website to www.statesvillewomansclub.org.
The following items were taken from area police department reports and releases. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.

La Grange

Criminal damage to property

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A resident reported 11:10 a.m. Oct. 26 that the front door that led to a stairway was smashed on the 100 block of West Burlington Avenue.

Disorderly conduct

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A resident on the 100 block of Shawmut Avenue reported at 8:36 a.m. Oct. 27 that they received four threatening phone calls from a number that had been blocked. The resident said that the person on the other end of the line also swore at them, and suspects they were related to a former co-worker.

Josefa Martinez, 34, of the 4500 block of South Pulaski Avenue, Lyons, was charged at 3:53 a.m. Oct. 26 at Advent LaGrange Hospital, 5101 S. Willow Springs Road, with disorderly conduct after threatening members of hospital staff.

Domestic battery

Cecilia Ewing, 33, of the 900 block of South 7th Avenue, was charged at 9:12 p.m. Oct. 23 at her residence with domestic battery.

Joseph Truax, 23, of the 200 block of South 7th Avenue, was charged at 2:14 p.m. Oct. 22 at his residence with domestic battery and interfering with the reporting of domestic violence.

Theft

A resident on the 1000 block of South La Grange Road reported at 7:49 p.m. Oct. 25 that someone took their cellphone the previous day. They suspect it might have been a utility worker in their home.

There were no police reports from La Grange Park this week.

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Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving recognized a local legislator for a bill he sponsored to help survivors of parents killed in drunken or drugged traffic crashes.

Delegate Jeff Campbell of Saltville was named a 2022 Legislator of the Year by the national organization MADD.

Campbell represents the 6th House of Delegates District, which includes Wythe and Carroll counties and parts of Smyth County. A Republican, he has served in the House since 2014.

Campbell was one of four Virginia lawmakers honored with the designation.

A MADD news release said they were being honored for their tireless efforts to eliminate the 100% preventable crime of drunk driving.

MADD National President Alex Otte said, MADD honors these four lawmakers for protecting the rights of impaired driving victims. MADD applauds representative Jeffrey Campbell for introducing Bentleys Law to ensure justice for victims while holding impaired drivers accountable. We applaud Delegate Chris Runion, Senator Mark Obenshain, and Senator Emmett Hanger for authoring bills that help victims of impaired driving crashes seek just compensation.

Across the country, MADD recognized the work of 65 state legislators.

MADD emphasized that the problem of impaired driving persists.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the MADD release said, drunk driving deaths increased in Virginia by 21% from 2019 to 2020 resulting in 286 fatalities. Preliminary estimates for 2021 indicate another increase in drunk driving deaths nationally.

Campbell authored Bentleys Law (HB 136) that requires impaired drivers to pay child support when they cause a crash that kills a parent or guardian.

Bentleys Law was first adopted in Missouri as an initiative Cecilia Williams. It was named for her grandson, Bentley, whose parents Lacey Newton and Cordell Shawn Michael Williams and their 4-month-old son, Cordell Shawn Michael Williams II, were killed in an alleged drunk driving crash on April 13, 2021.

Earlier this year, the Tennessee legislature supported Ethans, Haileys, and Bentleys Law. Ethan and Hailey are the two surviving children of Tennessee Police Officer Nicholas Galinger, who was killed by a hit-and-run drunk driver.

Bentleys Law has now been adopted or is being considered in about 20 states.

Hanger authored SB 230, which allows victims to obtain just compensation if an alcoholic beverage retail licensee overserves a drinking driver who causes a crash resulting in bodily injury or property damage. Specifically, SB 230 creates a course of action against an alcoholic beverage control retail licensee who sells alcohol to a customer who subsequently injures another by driving while impaired if the consumption of the alcohol caused or contributed to an injury or property damage while the customer operated a motor vehicle.

I am honored to be recognized by MADD, the leading national organization working to stop drunk driving and educate citizens on the tragic impact it has on families, said Hanger (R-Augusta County) in the release. Highlighting all the ways restaurants can help curb drunk driving and the responsibility they have serving patrons is an important component of keeping drunks off the roads. Everyone should do what they can to help a friend or other customer find an alternative way home when they have consumed too much alcohol. Do your part to help break the link that leads to tragedies resulting from drunk driving.

Runion authored HB 984, which allows the ability for victims to obtain just compensation if an alcohol beverage or cannabis retail licensee overserves an underage drinking driver who causes a crash resulting in bodily injury or property damage.

Obenshain authored SB 555, which allows the ability for victims to obtain just compensation if an alcohol beverage retail licensee overserves an underage drinking driver who causes a crash resulting in bodily injury or property damage. Specifically, SB 555 creates a course of action against an alcoholic beverage control retail licensee who sells alcohol to an underage person who was visibly intoxicated if the consumption of the alcohol caused or contributed to an injury or property damage while the underage person operated a motor vehicle. The plaintiff must prove such negligence by a clear and convincing evidence standard.
Do you know who pays our police officers? Or provides the money and plans to update critical infrastructure like public water and roads in our county? Or who funds the local school system?

In other words, do you pay attention to the government officials who affect your daily life?

The media likes to focus on Washington. The politicians up there are more interesting, or at least thats what Twitter and the big newspapers would like us to believe. Yet reading stories and hearing sound bites of lawmakers calling each other names does little to convince us that the government works for our benefit. In fact, some experts connect the rise in extremist groups and political violence to the helplessness many people feel about what is happening in our country. We hear so much about how locked up Congress is we think nothing we do, by voting or otherwise, will positively impact our lives. Some of us are growing frustrated and desperate. Hence, the uptick in violent rhetoric.

When we find ourselves getting upset about the latest national debate, we should remember what we have access to and influence upon: local government. Our local councils and boards have significant impact on our daily lives, but sadly, few of us choose to pay attention. According to a 2018 Johns Hopkins University study of 1500 people, many Americans lack basic civic knowledge. For example, 25% of people interviewed for the study didnt know if federal or state government was in charge of law enforcement or which governmental bodies make and enforce zoning laws. Benjamin Ginsberg, a professor of politics at Johns Hopkins, said about the results of the study, Lack of attention could lead not just to an uninformed public, but to an environment where special interest politics and corruption flourish.

If thats not a call to action, Im not sure what is.

Most of the time, local government focuses on helping people in a community live safe and healthy lives. Local government in Wythe County has provided many benefits for its citizens. We now have School Resource Officers at each county school thanks to financial and logistical cooperation between the Wythe County Board of Supervisors and the Wythe County Public School Board. The Town Council of Wytheville recently funded a fully paid Fire and Rescue Department to cover not just town citizens but also many jurisdictions and citizens in the county. County schools are sending students to local businesses to learn about careers so students can plan appropriately for education and training and businesses can recruit more local graduates. All of these are examples of local government doing good things for our community.

However, we can also find concerning matters. Wythe County spent millions of dollars developing an Apex Center that now stands dormant. And recently, the Board of Supervisors debated the future of Ager Park after it did not get the $500,000 it requested from the Wythe Bland Foundation. (It was offered $50,000 and voted to decline the funding.) What will the future of these two projects be? These issues affect where our children play and how we attract business and income to our county.

As Election Day approaches, I encourage you to start paying attention to local government. In Wythe County, we are voting for either Morgan Griffith (Republican) or Taysha DeVaughn (Democrat) to represent the 9th district of Virginia in the US House of Representatives. This position represents the needs of southwest Virginia in our federal government, so it is an important vote although not for a local position. In the towns of Wytheville and Rural Retreat, citizens will be voting for Mayor and Town Council seats. Early in-person voting has already started. To learn more about your localitys ballot, visit https://ballotpedia.org/Sample_Ballot_Lookup or your county website.

Outside of election seasons, we still need to pay attention to and support what our local governments are doing for our communities. How are they planning their budgets? Are they updating infrastructure? What are they going to do with that Apex Center?

Please note that paying attention to and supporting does not translate to complaining. It means staying informed about the issues and figuring out how we, as members of the community, can contribute to solutions. Lets stop wasting our energy and time getting angry about overly simplified national trigger issues. Lets work with our local government to make our community a healthy, happy place to thrive.

Cited: Jill Rosen, Dec 14, 2018. Americans dont know much about state government, survey finds. The Hub. https://hub.jhu.edu/2018/12/14/americans-dont-understand-state-government/
Police say two people were shot and killed in Tacoma and a man has been arrested. The Tacoma Police Department says someone called 911 just after 8 a.m. Monday reporting they found a man who appeared to be deceased. Police say responding officers found the person with an apparent fatal gunshot wound. Officers found another man nearby who also appeared to have died of a gunshot wound. Police say detectives identified and arrested a 28-year-old man who is suspected in the shootings. The man was booked into jail on murder charges.
Woman sues L'Oreal over claim that hair straightener spurred uterine cancer

A Missouri woman has sued L'Oreal and several other beauty product companies, alleging that their hair-straightening products caused her uterine cancer.

The lawsuit claims that Jenny Mitchell's cancer "was directly and proximately caused by her regular and prolonged exposure to phthalates and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in defendants' hair care products."

Mitchell, now 32, was diagnosed with cancer on Aug. 10, 2018, and had a hysterectomy the following month. Mitchell first used chemical relaxers in third grade. She used the products from about 2000 to March 2022.

Read more here:

Too often, women aren't told of sexual side effects of cancer treatments

When a man has cancer in an area that affects sexual function, his doctor is likely to discuss it with him.

But the same is not true for a woman who has cancer in a sex organ, according to new research. Investigators found 9 in 10 men were asked about their sexual health, yet only 1 in 10 women received the same care.

"There seems to be a big disparity in the way we approach sexual dysfunction with our patients, where female patients are asked about sexual issues much less often than male patients are," said lead author Dr. Jamie Takayesu. She is a radiation oncology resident physician at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center.

Read more here:

Toddlers nap a lot, then they don't  now we know why

Why do some preschoolers refuse naps while others have a meltdown without an afternoon snooze? Researchers suspect it may have a lot to do with a specific memory-related part of the brain.

While young children all need a lot of sleep, they do vary widely in when they stop napping during the day: Some leave naps behind by the time they are 3, while many others happily take an afternoon nap through age 5 or even longer.

Parents typically care a lot about that timing, said Rebecca Spencer, a professor of psychological and brain sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Read more here:

Hate long workouts? 'Activity snacks' may work for you

Taking a quick walk or doing squats after you eat may help you retain muscle mass as you age, new research suggests.

So-called activity snacks  short bouts of exercise  may help maintain muscle mass and quality by allowing your body to use more amino acids from food, explained study author Daniel Moore, an associate professor of muscle physiology at the University of Toronto, in Canada. When you eat protein, your body breaks the protein down into amino acids to repair and grow new muscle mass.

If we move, we are better able to use the food that we eat to build and maintain muscle mass, Moore said.

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Who's got the higher sex drive  men or women?

Perhaps to no one's surprise, new research has determined that men do, in fact, have a much stronger sex drive than women.

After reviewing more than 200 studies, investigators "found that men consistently report a higher sex drive," said study author Julius Frankenbach, a doctoral student of psychology at Saarland University in Saarbrucken, Germany.

En masse, the research showed that men say they spend considerably more time thinking about sex, fantasizing about sex, feeling sexual desire and masturbating, compared to women.

Read more here:

Your cat wants a talk with you, and only you

For cat owners who are convinced that their furry feline understands and even responds to the sound of their voice, heres the reward theyve been waiting for: A new French study finds that, yes, cats can identify their owners cooing and calling.

After extensive work with 16 cats, the investigators concluded that cats can perceive and respond to the words of a human being, with two big caveats  that human must be the cats owner and that owner must be speaking directly to their cat, rather than to another human.

It is the first time that a study demonstrates that cats can discriminate between human speech specifically addressed to them [cat-directed speech] and speech addressed to other humans [adult-directed speech], explained study author Charlotte de Mouzon.

Read more here:

Black licorice is a candy that should inspire caution

"How do you feel about black licorice?" sounds like a question for starting a simple chat at a Halloween party  or a silly internet fight. It's a love-it-or-hate-it candy that inspires intense opinions.

But if you ask a health expert, expect a serious conversation  because eating lots of black licorice can cause complications that are "acutely life-threatening," said Dr. Christopher Newton-Cheh, a cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Nobody is saying a twist or two now and then is a problem. But before you dive in, you'll want to know the dangers of overindulging.

Read more here:

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While COVID-19 activity in Washington and Cowlitz County remains relatively low, the region is seeing an uptick in respiratory viruses, according to health officials and the most recent surveillance data.

RSV, a common respiratory virus, is spreading statewide and nationally, with some areas of the country seeing a bump in related emergency department visits and hospitalizations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The increase in respiratory virus infections is driving up emergency department visits at Seattle Childrens Hospital and Mary Bridge Childrens Hospital in Tacoma, The Seattle Times reported on Wednesday.

With many hospitals already at high capacity, residents should take prevention efforts  like handwashing, covering coughs and staying home when sick  to prevent further strain on the system, said Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, state chief science officer, during a Department of Health press briefing last week.

RSV, respiratory syncytial virus, usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms that most people can recover from in a week or two, according to the CDC. The virus can cause more serious illness in infants and elderly people. Symptoms usually appear in stages, not all at once, and include coughing, runny nose, fever, wheezing and a decrease in appetite.

In Washington, influenza activity is minimal, but appears to be increasing, according to the Department of Healths weekly influenza surveillance report.

The state has recorded two lab-confirmed influenza deaths of residents who were 50- to 64-years-old, according to the report. Last flu season, the state recorded 26 deaths total, compared to 114 in 2019-2020 and 245 the prior season.

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State health officials encouraged residents to get a flu shot to help prevent severe illness and hospitalization.

COVID-19 activity remains flat, with the state recording about a seven-day average of 50 new cases per 100,000 people as of mid-October, compared to about 200 per 100,000 this time last year. The state recorded 3.8 new COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 during the same week.

Cowlitz Countys case rate was about half the states at 25 per 100,000. The countys hospitalizations remain above the state average, at 4.5 per 100,000.

Immunity from vaccinations and exposure should mean less of a chance for big spikes like last year, said Secretary of Health Umair Shah during last weeks press briefing.

That doesnt mean it cant happen, but were hopeful that we dont see it happen, he said.

COVID-19 activity is hard to predict, but its important to prepare for possibility of a surge in cases, Kwan-Gett said.

The department encourages eligible people to get the new bivalent booster, as any potential new strain will likely be more closely related to the omicron variant than the original virus, Kwan-Gett said. The bivalent boosters combine the original vaccine with BA.4 and BA.5 omicron variant spike protein components, according to state Department of Health.

The more people that can get the updated COVID-19 booster, the more people we can keep out of the hospital, the more lives we can save, and the less severe and shorter duration of a surge, Kwan-Gett said.
VANCOUVER  P.E., math and history arent the only classes starting up again. At Cottage Dance Academy, the coming school year has dance students of all ages leaping and bounding for joy.

Heidi Mason is the owner of the newly renamed Cottage Dance Academy, at 404 E. Evergreen Blvd., on the grounds of Providence Academy in downtown Vancouver.

Long-time Vancouver residents may remember the studio as Liz Borromeo Dance. Masons daughters had been dancers under Borromeos tutelage for many years when Borromeo decided to close the studio and leave the area.

Mason knew she couldnt let a good thing end. So, after Liz Borromeo Dance moved out, Cottage Dance Academy moved in.

Stepping into the field of dance studio management proved to be a whole new world for Mason, as she had no professional dance experience prior to creating the academy earlier this year. However, she had 16 years of experience being the parent of young dancers and had developed a strong sense of what she liked and disliked about her familys experiences in previous studio settings.

Its very important to me that all our dancers feel welcomed and included, Mason said. I want dance to be a positive experience for them. Theres so much joy to be found in this art form.

Ballet and other classical dance forms are steeped in tradition. An unfortunate side effect of these traditions are rigid expectations for what a dancer should look like. Historically, these expectations have dissuaded many prospective dancers from pursuing the art simply because their bodies do not fit the mold of the traditional ballerina.

At Cottage Dance Academy, we believe that anyone who wants to dance can and should, Mason explained. We believe that students dont have to look a certain way or have a certain kind of body to dance well. Dance is an experience meant to be shared, so we open our doors to anyone who wants to share in the joy of it.

Cottage Dance Academy Address: 404 E Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver Info: 360-718-0099 or www.cottagedanceacademy.com

Mason and her team of instructors create this culture of positivity and inclusion through their unique curriculum and approach to teaching.

Instead of rigorous schedules and prerequisites, Cottage Dance Academy offers flexible options for dancers to take classes at their own pace while still learning the skills and techniques theyd acquire at more traditional pre-professional or competitive studios.

Cottage Dance Academy offers classes for adults and children as young as 3 and features instruction for each skill level, from beginners to veterans.

Mason is ecstatic to share the art that has been so near and dear to her family. What started as an unfamiliar new challenge has become a passion, one that Mason hopes will continue to grow.

I feel like Clark County is really experiencing a push for the arts right now, Mason said. People are hungry for it. Our world needs the arts now more than ever. Its something that brings people together and allows us to escape into a beautiful place.
Schiller with the robotic arm in INL's Research Collaboration Building. Credit: Idaho National Laboratory

Scientific progress is anything but automatic. The path to new discoveries is not a straight line. But while the route to nuclear energy breakthroughs may be circuitous, automated solutions can enhance the efficiency of the research process and get to the innovation a little sooner.

For example, Kamrynn Schiller, an Idaho National Laboratory nuclear research facility engineer, has designed a robotic system to support post-irradiation examination work at INL's Irradiated Materials Characterization Laboratory (IMCL).

IMCL is home to an impressive array of highly sophisticated analytical instruments, with capabilities ranging from transmission electron microscopy to atom probe tomography. Researchers use its capabilities to examine irradiated materialssuch as samples of nuclear fuel or its protective claddingat the microstructural level to figure out why they responded to irradiation in particular ways. The data generated from this work is vital to ongoing efforts to develop advanced nuclear fuels and reactor materials.

The robotic arm automatically positions samples within a hot cell according to both the sample attributes and the type of examination being performed. This tool was developed on an off-the-shelf platform known as UR3e. The arm can lift up to 3 kilograms and has been developed to handle samples within a glovebox housing instruments for thermophysical property measurements. To this point, most glovebox and hot cell work has been performed with manipulatorsmanually controlled mechanical claws that can take months of training and are somewhat cumbersome to use.

"We first had to determine if the robot would be capable of doing the work we had in mind for it, so we tested its capabilities with pieces of a straw as well as salt to see if it could handle granular samples," said Schiller. "We started with basic movements and expanded the repertoire from there, with more specialized tooling and more precise programming to retrieve specimens." The robot can operate autonomously or be manually controlled by a researcher, she added.

The robotic arm automatically positions samples within a hot cell according to both the sample attributes and the type of examination being performed. Credit: Idaho National Laboratory

Schiller is a relatively new hire who joined INL in late 2020. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Tarleton State University and is pursuing a master's degree in mechanical engineering at Texas Tech University.

"I thought the job posting sounded interesting and wanted to take on a fun challenge outside of my wheelhouse," said Schiller. "I did not have prior experience with nuclear science but really liked the idea of supporting this kind of research."

To configure the robot, Schiller utilized a series of kinematic equations to determine how it moves, whether in a straight line, along the path of least resistance or via arced motions. She programmed a series of waypoints to allow the robot to perform specific functions, further customizing the system to accommodate a range of sample types.

"One of the challenges in developing this tool was the uncertainty as far as what exactly the robot would be handling, so I tried to account for a wide variety of potential samples as I built out the programming," said Schiller. "There was a definitely a learning curve to figure out how to program the tool as I had never worked with this kind of robot before, but ultimately I was able to develop a flexible, dynamic tool that is well-suited for numerous applications."

This tool is playing an important role in research at IMCL and helping lay the groundwork for the automated capabilities that will be a cornerstone of operations at the Sample Preparation Laboratory (SPL), which is under construction and scheduled to begin research activities in 2025. SPL will significantly expand INL's post-irradiation examination capacity, serving as a dedicated facility for nonfuel materials such as cladding and structural components. When complete, it will rely heavily on robotic systems like the one Schiller developed.

"The lessons learned from the design of the IMCL robot have been indispensable to the ongoing development of robotics for SPL," said Schiller. "It's an exciting time to work at INL and I'm grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such important research."
Researchers from Japan and the USA propose a deformation reduction strategy in LPBF-based additive manufacturing involving a synergetic optimization of laser hatching orientation and lattice density distribution. Credit: Akihiro Takezawa from Waseda University, Japan

In additive manufacturing (AM), metal parts are commonly 3D-printed using a fabrication technique called "laser powder bed fusion" (LPBF). LPBF involves repeated rapid metal powder melting and solidification using a laser heat source to form a 3D object. The local high-temperature molten metal fits the surrounding solid part owing to thermal expansion.

However, the molten metal generates a negative thermal stress following solidification, which produces an in-plane residual stress. This residual stress accumulates toward the upper layer with the repetitive formation process on each layer and often leads to undesirable effects like delamination, cracking, and warpage. Moreover, residual warpage and deformation are asymmetric in nature and scale with the size of the fabricated metal part. As a result, the integrated molding of large metal parts, such as rocket nozzles, is extremely challenging.

To tackle this issue, a team of researchers from Japan and the U.S., led by Professor Akihiro Takezawa from Waseda University, have now proposed an optimized design strategy for AM. "LPBF metal 3D printing, which has been the focus of much attention in recent years, suffers from large warping of molded parts. In this study, we developed a method to reduce residual deformation by simultaneously optimizing the internal structure of the fabricated part and the laser scanning direction," explains Takezawa.

A team of researchers from Japan and USA propose a deformation reduction strategy in LPBF-based additive manufacturing (AM) involving a synergetic optimization of laser hatching orientation and lattice density distribution. This novel methodology promises to facilitate 3D printing of large metal components in AM through significant reduction of residual warping. Credit: Akihiro Takezawa from Waseda University, Japan

In their study made available online in Additive Manufacturing, the team, including Dr. Qian Chen and Professor Albert C. To from University of Pittsburgh, U.S., studied the reduction of residual warpage while focusing on layer-wise residual stacking and utilized the lattice infill distribution technique.

They employed a numerical methodology called "recurrent formula inherent strain method" to analyze the residual deformation. In this, they modeled the lattice based on the effective stiffness and anisotropic inherent strain using a gradient-based optimization algorithm.

In LPBF AM, the team simultaneously optimized two aspects of the fabrication process: the laser "hatching orientation" or scanning direction that utilizes the asymmetry of residual stress, and the internal structure of the fabricated material or the "lattice density distribution" by considering layer-wise residual stress stacking. Accordingly, they fine-tuned their methodology to ensure the synergetic influence of simultaneous optimization.

Credit: Akihiro Takezawa from Waseda University, Japan

In addition, the team performed experiments to verify their novel methodology using quasi-2D plates, 3D brackets, and 3D connecting rods. Compared to the standard benchmark designs in use, their design strategy reduced vertical edge deformations by 2339% in quasi-2D plates. In the cases of 3D brackets and connecting rods, the warpage reductions ranged between 1320%.

Overall, the methodology proposed in this study could herald a remarkable development in 3D printing using LPBF fabrication. Reduction in residual warping and deformation is critical to molding large metal components. "Recent improvements in metal 3D printing technology have made it possible to produce larger molded parts. In this light, our methodology should ideally enable 3D printing of any large metal part," concludes Takezawa.

More information: Akihiro Takezawa et al, Simultaneous optimization of hatching orientations and lattice density distribution for residual warpage reduction in laser powder bed fusion considering layerwise residual stress stacking, Additive Manufacturing (2022). Akihiro Takezawa et al, Simultaneous optimization of hatching orientations and lattice density distribution for residual warpage reduction in laser powder bed fusion considering layerwise residual stress stacking,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.addma.2022.103194
Chinese tracking vessel sets sail for new missions

Xinhua) 09:04, November 01, 2022

NANJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- China's third-generation space tracking ship Yuanwang-5 departed from a port on Monday for spacecraft monitoring missions.

This is the third ocean voyage of the ship in 2022, during which it has spent more than 110 days at sea.

Yuanwang-5 mainly undertakes maritime tracking, monitoring and communication tasks concerning rockets, high, medium and low-orbit satellites, spaceships and the Chinese space station.

Before the voyage, crew members improved equipment maintenance and inspections to ensure the success of future missions, said vice-captain Liu Mingyue.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)
The following items were taken from Morton Grove Police Department bulletins. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.

Burglary attempt

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Three unidentified men appeared on video footage opening a business garage door, attempting to open office door, entering and attempting to start a vehicle in the garage and driving away in a white Toyota Rav 4 on the 9000 block of Waukegan Road Oct. 25, police said.

Burglary

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A wallet containing credit cards and social security cards was taken from an unlocked Honda Pilot on the 7000 block of Palma Avenue, and someone later attempted to use the cards Oct. 17, police said.

Theft

A red iPhoneX was taken from a shopping cart on the 6300 block of Oakton Street Oct. 23, police said.

A complainant residing on the 8300 block of Concord Avenue stated a Costco gift card worth $300 had been redeemed in California Oct. 20, police said.

Identity Theft

A complainant residing on the 8800 block of Oswego Avenue stated somebody tried to open a Bank of America checking account in her name Oct. 23, police said.

A complainant residing on the 8900 block of Harms Avenue stated someone had opened a Discover card in his name that was sent to Brooklyn, New York, and used for $7,200 of purchases Oct. 20, police said.

A complainant residing on the 9200 block of Linder Avenue stated someone opened a ComEd account in his name and charged $1,166.20 to an address in Chicago Oct. 17, police said.

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Antonio Luciano OKeefe, 26, of the 6100 block of Eddy Street, Chicago, was charged Oct. 21 with possession of a stolen ID card and narcotic possession on the 6300 block of Oakton Street, police said. A court date is set for Nov. 30.

Leaving the scene of an accident

Francisco Ramirez, 27, of the 5700 block of Lyons Avenue, Morton Grove, was charged Oct. 23 with leaving the scene of a traffic accident on the 5800 block of Dempster Street, police said. A court date is set for Dec. 6.

Suspended drivers license

Calixto Maso, 23, of the 7100 block of Ionia Avenue, Chicago, was charged Oct. 26 with driving on a suspended drivers license at the intersection of Caldwell Avenue and Main Street, police said.

Criminal trespass

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A complainant residing on the 7800 block of Lotus Avenue stated she parked her Audi Q3 in front of her residence and found her center console and glove box open Oct. 19, though nothing had been taken, police said.
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Enter the Island of the Dolls - if you dare. But whatever you do, dont take one away with you.
FILE - Indiana State Police Peru Post Public Information Officer Tony Slocum provides the latest details of the investigation into the murders of teenage girls Liberty German, left, and Abigail Williams in Delphi, Ind., Feb. 22, 2017. Police investigating the unsolved slayings of the two teenage girls killed during a 2017 hiking trip in northern Indiana said Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, they will hold a news conference Monday, Oct. 31, to provide an update on their investigation. (J. Kyle Keener/The Pharos-Tribune via AP, File) (J. Kyle Keener/AP)

DELPHI, Ind.  Authorities on Monday announced an arrest in the unsolved murders of two teenage girls  a drugstore worker who has been living in the same small northern Indiana community where their bodies were found after they went on a hike nearly six years ago.

Richard Matthew Allen, 50, was arrested Friday on two murder counts in the killings of Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, in a case that has haunted the Indiana city of about 3,000 people.

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The investigation is far from complete, State Police Superintendent Doug Carter said at a news conference on Monday. He encouraged the community to come forward with more information, and said if any other people had any involvement in these murders in any way, that person or persons will be held accountable.

Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland described Allens arrest as a step in the right direction.

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Its concerning that hes a local guy, McLeland said.

A makeshift memorial to Liberty German, and Abigail Williams near where they were last seen and where the bodies were discovered stands along the Monon Trail leading to the Monon High Bridge Trail in Delphi, Ind., Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. The Indiana State Police announced an arrest in the murders of the two teenage girls killed during a 2017 hiking trip in northern Indiana. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) (Michael Conroy/AP)

The evidence against Allen, a licensed pharmacy technician who worked at a local CVS store, has been temporarily sealed to avoid jeopardizing the integrity of their investigation, authorities said. While I know you were all expecting final details today concerning this arrest, today is not that day, Carter said.

The deaths of Libby and Abby were ruled a double homicide, but police have never disclosed how they died or described what evidence they gathered. A relative had dropped them off at a hiking trail near the Monon High Bridge just outside their hometown of Delphi, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) northwest of Indianapolis. Their bodies were found the next day, Feb. 14, 2017, in a rugged, heavily wooded area near the trail.

Libbys grandmother, Becky Patty, told reporters that Allen once processed photos for the family at the CVS store in Delphi where Allen worked. He didnt charge them for the photos, she added.

The families always knew that the suspect could have been living right amongst us, hiding in plain sight, said Libbys grandfather, Mike Patty. Thats why we never stopped searching anywhere, because we didnt know where he was.

Grandparents of Liberty German  Mike Patty, left, and Becky Patty, right  speak with reporters after a news conference Oct. 31, 2022, in Delphi, Ind. Indiana authorities that day announced the arrest of a man in the unsolved slayings of German and her friend Abigail Williams, who were killed while hiking five years ago near their small community in northern Indiana. (Arleigh Rodgers/Report for America via AP) (Arleigh Rodgers/AP)

The Pattys wore gray shirts that read Today is the Day ... Justice will be served for Abby and Libby, to Mondays news conference.

A judge found probable cause to arrest Allen, who entered a not-guilty plea at his initial hearing on Friday, authorities said. All persons arrested are presumed innocent, Carter said.

Sheriff Bill Brooks in adjacent White County, where Allen is being held without bond, said he did not know whether Allen has an attorney. No murder case was listed Monday afternoon under his name in Indianas online court system.

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We havent closed the door on the investigation, McLeland said when asked if authorities were investigating others. Were not presuming anything at this point.

No one answered the door Monday at Allens house, on a street of single-family homes where some put Keep Out signs in their yards.

Outside the CVS store, just down Main Street from the historic courthouse square where wanted posters still seek information in the murder case, Ralph Barnaby, a Delphi resident who knows the girls families, told The Associated Press that hed be more comfortable if hes indicted.

Within days of the killings, investigators released two grainy photos of a suspect walking on the abandoned railroad bridge the girls had visited, and an audio recording of a man believed to be the suspect saying down the hill.

Flowers are placed at the Monon High Bridge Trail in Delphi, Ind., Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, near where Liberty German and Abigail Williams were last seen and where the bodies were discovered. The Indiana State Police announced an arrest in the murders of the two teenage girls killed during a 2017 hiking trip in northern Indiana. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) (Michael Conroy/AP)

Authorities released an initial sketch of the suspected killer in July 2017, and then another in April 2019 based on video released in April 2019 showing a suspect walking on the abandoned railroad bridge the girls had visited. The images and audio of the suspect came from Libbys cellphone. Authorities hailed her as a hero for recording potentially crucial evidence before she was killed.

In December 2021, state police announced they were seeking information from people who had contact with someone who used a fictitious online profile to communicate with young girls. State Police said investigators determined the profile anthony_shots was used from 2016 to 2017 on Snapchat, Instagram and other social media platforms.

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A statement from CVS said the company is shocked and saddened to learn that one of our store employees was arrested as a suspect in these crimes. We stand ready to cooperate with the police investigation in any way we can.

We remain devastated by these murders and our hearts go out to the German and Williams families, the statement said.

The case has been followed closely over the years by true-crime enthusiasts who have offered plenty of theories, but Carter urged people not to subjectively interpret the case while officers continue to gather information. If you choose to be critical of our silence be critical of me, not the front line, he said.

Sheryl McCollum, who has appeared on television as a cold case consultant, traveled to the news conference from Atlanta after meeting the Germans at a true-crime convention. She praised the authorities for holding the facts close to their vests.

I think the integrity of this case, and not telling every single thing they know, I think thats powerful, Sheryl said. If you start showing your hand, you know, you can mess things up and you can tell too much ... The investigation does not stop at arrest. It really just begins. So now is when theyre really going to go to work.

Rick Callahan reported from Indianapolis. Arleigh Rodgers is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative.
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Mostly clear skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 52F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 52F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
I made a convert with my last column, the one about buying and using ultra-processed milk at my house. One of the ladies I work with read my column as she was proofing the page the column was on, and declared that she had never heard of such a thing and thought she might have to buy some and try it for herself. She, like me, lives alone these days and has gotten tired of buying milk only to have to throw it out because it had spoiled before she could drink it all.
Marion Police Department arrested a 15-year-old juvenile who was wanted on a warrant from Jackson County related to a shooting incident on Oct. 23 in the 200 block of West College St. in Carbondale.

Detectives obtained a juvenile arrest warrant for a 15-year-old male for the charge of unlawful possession of a weapon related to the shooting.

The juvenile was transported to the Carbondale Police Department where he was processed and then taken to the Jackson County Jail pending incarceration in a juvenile detention facility.

During the course of the investigation of the shooting, Carbondale Police identified the suspect in the shooting as Daurice T. Morse, 20, of Cairo. Officers learned he and the victim, identified as Jacob C. Gary, 19, of Marion, were involved in a dispute at the time of the incident.

Morse is still wanted on an arrest warrant charging him with first degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm. The charges carry a $2 million bond. Morse is considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information about the incident or the whereabouts of Morse is urged to call the Carbondale Police Department at 618-457-3200.

 Marilyn Halstead, The Southern
When Putin speaks of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine, he has indirectly threatened the world and his own people. If he was to do this, the NATO countries and all the free world would bring havoc and demise to him. He surely understands this.

The United States has the power to defend against such actions by any country. He should tread lightly, for he is in dangerous waters with such threats.

Not many people, including Americans, are aware that from the 1950s to date, the United States is maintaining in the Mediterranean, along a thousand miles of Russias southern flank, one of the mightiest mass' of naval power ever concentrated in one area. It was designated The Sixth Fleet. It is capable of delivering nuclear rockets and bombs. I was proud in 1950, and still am, to have been on a ship that was part of that fleet which numbered 115 or more Naval Vessels.

This fleet has played a major role in deterring Soviet aggression, up to this day, both in Central Europe and the Balkans and along the incendiary frontiers of the Middle East. Its carrier-based bombers could range the whole of Europe and return nonstop if necessary, to their mother ships. Should Russia invade Yugoslavia, they could have powerful Sixth Fleet air support within 30 minutes, if it was American policy to aid them. Far to the east, along the border of Iran, the fleet on an hours notice, could launch an air attack and maintain it around the clock.

Putin is nothing more than a murdering war mongering idiot, dealing in death and has narcissistic behavior. His attack on Ukraine was out of greed and hunger for more power. Certainly he has no legal reason for his rueful actions that is killing women, children and elderly people. He is losing the war he started with Ukraine which he thought would be a fast and easy operation.

I believe that some of his own people will assassinate him if he continues to talk using dirty bombs on Ukraine, as they understand a possible retaliation against their country. The Hell fires surely awaits him.

May the Lord be with all the souls that he has murdered. Thanks be to God.
Bamberg County held a groundbreaking ceremony last month for the Holmans Bridge fire substation.

Jody Reeves generously donated property to Bamberg County in 2021.

The new state-of-the-art substation, located at 1500 Charleston-Augusta Highway, will be strategically located in the northeastern section of Bamberg County which includes the communities of Sweden, Finland and Jamiesonville.

A crowd of local residents and public officials gathered to hear remarks from Joey Preston, Bamberg County administrator; Dr. Gerald Wright, mayor of Denmark; Spencer Donaldson, the Rev. Evert Comer Jr. and Sharon Hammond, members of the Bamberg County Council; state Rep. Justin Bamberg, and Paul Eubanks, Bamberg County fire coordinator.

Denmark Fire Chief Charles Breland opened the ceremony with a blessing over the grounds and Donaldson, who spearheaded the project, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

County Treasurer Alice Johnson, Denmark City Councilman Calvin Odom and former Bamberg County Councilman Joe Guess also addressed the crowd.

We have been engaged in capital improvements for our Fire Service operations for the past several years with new equipment and fire apparatuses. This new fire substation is another step to improving overall emergency response times and providing excellent public safety services to every corner of Bamberg County, Preston said.

Without the donation of land from Mr. Reeves and the collective efforts of county staff, elected officials and many others, this station would not have been possible, he said.

Preston also stated, A homeowner with a home valued at $125,000 will save approximately 27% annually on insurance costs; for this resident, it means his or her family will save $533 a year on their annual insurance premium.

Donaldson, the chairman of the Bamberg County Council, said The construction of a fire substation in this part of the county will improve the ISO - Insurance Service Office - rating for the county and the residents in the Holmans Bridge area.

The ISO rating will improve to a Class 6; the area is currently rated by the ISO as a Class 10, which essentially means unprotected. This will save residents on their insurance premiums as well as reduce response time in the area. Also, the vast majority of firefighters in Bamberg County are volunteers. I appreciate that we can support their selfless efforts and donation of time in the service of others by providing modernized, safe equipment and facilities they can take pride in when on duty.

Comer commended the teamwork that led to the event, "I am proud to see the construction of a fire substation in the northeastern section of Bamberg County.

He thanked Donaldson for his leadership on the project, and noted we can't underscore enough our appreciation to Jody Reeves for his generous donation that will benefit his neighbors.

After the benediction from Comer, elected officials and citizens broke ground on the new Holmans Bridge fire substation.
Chase Bank plans to open a branch location in the outlot of a shopping center on Skokie Boulevard in Skokie that contains a Jewel-Osco, Marshall's and Old Navy. (Elena Ferrarin / Pioneer Press)

Chase Bank plans to close three branches  two in Skokie and one in Wilmette  and build a new location with drive-up services in Skokie.

Those plans were presented at the village board meeting Oct. 17 by Jon Krissoff, market director of real estate for Chase Bank in Illinois and Northwest Indiana.

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Chase Bank will phase out its Skokie branches at Dempster Street and Keeler Avenue, and at Dempster Street and Gross Point Road, and its Wilmette branch at Skokie Boulevard and Old Glenview Road, Krissoff said. He described the three locations as obsolete.

The new Skokie branch will be built at 9401-9445 Skokie Boulevard, on the southwest corner of the shopping center at Emerson Street that includes Old Navy, Marshalls and Jewel-Osco. The one-story bank building will be about 4,500 square feet and will have a separate structure for drive-up services with two ATMs, village documents show.

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The new location will be more central, to better serve customers in the way banks are going to be used in the future, Krissoff said. That means more private offices for consultations, rather than transactions, he said.

Its going to be a refreshed brand, refreshed presence, he said.

The village board unanimously approved Chase Banks plans for the new branch.

Trustee James Johnson said some residents were concerned about the new branch taking up parking spots in the shopping center. Community Development Director Johanna Nyden said there is plenty of parking in the shopping center, citing a traffic study and her own observation.

Resident Lauren Grodnicki asked why Chase couldnt open its new branch in an unoccupied building that used to be a bank with a drive-through at Skokie Boulevard and Dempster Street in Skokie. Building a new structure is a colossal waste of real estate and resources, she said.

Krissoff said Chase Bank examined that location, but decided it would not work for its purposes.

Chase Bank owns the location at Dempster Street and Keeler Avenue, which will be put up for sale, he said. The other two locations are leased, he said.
MONCKS CORNER  Advancing its leaner, greener resource plan put forth in 2020, the Santee Cooper Board of Directors today discussed plans for a new natural gas unit to partially replace retiring coal units, help integrate more renewable power and meet expected customer load growth.

The proposed natural gas unit, combined with already contracted solar, new solar, battery storage and demand-side management proposed in Santee Coopers 2020 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and currently being analyzed as part of its 2023 IRP, offer critical reliability, affordability and resiliency for Santee Cooper customers. These new generating resources will also help South Carolina, as the State considers how to meet overall anticipated growth and other electric system needs.

South Carolina is fortunate to be planning for a growing economy, and Santee Cooper understands our responsibility to make sure were meeting customer demand, and doing it in a way that is cost-effective, environmentally sensitive and protects system reliability, said Jimmy Staton, Santee Cooper President and CEO. The resource proposed today meets Santee Coopers obligation resulting from Centrals election to opt out of a proposed resource. We look forward to continued work alongside Central and other utilities in the State to not only meet future electric needs, but to meaningfully lower our carbon footprint, take advantage of economies of scale and keep the lights on at the same time.

Central Electric Power Cooperative purchases power from Santee Cooper on behalf of the States 20 electric cooperatives is also planning resources to meet its share of new demand beginning in 2029. Ultimately, resources proposed to serve our combined system will be analyzed as part of Santee Coopers 2023 Integrated Resource Plan to be presented to the South Carolina Public Service Commission, next May.

Specifically, Santee Cooper is proposing a 1x1 natural gas combined cycle unit with a summer capacity exceeding 338 megawatts (MW) and with the potential for conversion to emissions-free hydrogen fuel when hydrogen is more commercially available. The preferred site at this point is in Hampton County, which offers lower risk related to gas availability. Continued analysis and potential collaboration with other utilities will determine the specific size and location that will be presented to the Public Service Commission.

Santee Cooper needs additional natural gas generation to provide the flexibility to add more solar power, Staton said. Solar power is an intermittent resource, and natural gas can be ramped up or down quickly as the sun rises, falls, or hides behind an afternoon thunderstorm, which provides the system reliability we need. The unit were planning also could be switched to hydrogen fuel when that market matures, which will further decrease our carbon footprint.

Santee Coopers IRP also includes 1,500 MWs of solar, utility-scale battery storage, new demand-side management programs and other new technologies to further reduce emissions while maintaining reliability. Learn more about Santee Coopers IRP process and how you can get involved at www.santeecooper.com/IRP.

Santee Cooper is South Carolinas largest power provider, the ultimate source of electricity for 2 million people across the State, and one of Americas Best Midsize Employers as named by Forbes. Through its low-cost, reliable and environmentally responsible electricity and water services, and through innovative partnerships and initiatives that attract and retain industry and jobs, Santee Cooper helps power South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.santeecooper.com and follow #PoweringSC on social media.
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP)  Officials in South Carolina's most populous county are scheduled to vote Tuesday on a resolution that would restrict children from accessing public library books and electronic materials that are promoting sexuality.

Local news outlets report the proposed Greenville County Council measure would direct trustees of the Greenville County Library System to order books and electronic materials removed from the county's 12 libraries. The resolution also orders the library trustees to report how such books ever found their way into the childrens sections of our public libraries" and to say how they will prevent them returning.

As is true nationwide, controversies over materials dealing with LGBTQ and racial themes have been roiling South Carolina schools and public libraries for a year, particularly in the heavily Republican Upstate region.

A large number of opponents spoke against restricting books during a Greenville County Council meeting in September, saying it targets books with LGBTQ themes.

These materials are not innately sexualized, they are not innately about sex, they are just about who we are and those should continue to exist, Tyler Prescott of the Upstate LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce told councilors then.

Republican Councilor Joe Dill, who is sponsoring the resolution, said in September that the county needs to also consider other people who are offended.

Greenville library trustees have also debated the issue, announcing this month that a committee would develop a policy to preserve the system's neutrality on LGBTQ and other disputed issues. In the meantime, library trustees voted to drop names from library-affiliated book clubs after the formation of the LGBTQ-themed Rainbow Book Club.

The controversy began in June when LGBTQ Pride Month displays were removed from a county library branch. The displays were later replaced, but the debate over LGBTQ materials continued.

The Greenville County Republican Party passed a resolution on Sept. 12 asking that materials be removed.

A year ago, Republican Gov. Henry McMaster urged Republican state Superintendent Molly Spearman to investigate the presence of sexually explicit and pornographic books, citing the removal of Gender Queer from Fort Mill schools.

In September, the Pickens County school board voted unanimously to remove the book Stamped: Racism, Anti-racism, and You for at least five years, after complaints that its discussion of the history of white supremacy was anti-white.

In August, Republican state Sen. Josh Kimbrell, backed by the conservative Palmetto Family Council, threatened to cut off funding to Spartanburg County libraries if it didn't remove all books that depict sex, gender identity or even cartoon nudity from its children's sections.
A prominent Trump ally and political operative will be making a visit to Casper next week to speak at a Wyoming Republican Party film screening.

David Bossie, the longtime Republican political operative and former president of Citizens United, will talk at a screening of Rigged: The Zuckerberg Funded Plot to Defeat Donald Trump, a film which he co-wrote with producer Jason Killian Meath.

Bossie has strong ties with former president Donald Trump. He was the former presidents 2016 deputy campaign manager and also a senior advisor to Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence during the 2020 presidential election. In 2020, the Trump administration appointed Bossie to the Commission on Presidential Scholars and the Department of Defense Business Board.

In 2019, allegations emerged that Bossie was using Trumps name as a front to an illegal fundraising scheme meant for personal gains, Axios reported. The Trump campaign condemned the alleged activity in a statement. But not too long afterward, Bossie was once again a frequent face at Trump events.

In addition to his partnership with Trump, Bossie was also a Fox News contributor from 2017 to 2020 and served as the senior strategist for the 2020 re-election campaign of former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump and Netanyahu were close allies during Trumps time in office. Under Bossies leadership, Citizens United won a Supreme Court case that lifted political spending restrictions for corporations and unions. Hes also authored several books and produced multiple other films.

The film that the Wyoming GOP will be screening concerns the millions of dollars that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg donated in 2020 to nonprofits that gave grants to local elections offices. It stars conservative figures like Ken Blackwell, a former Ohio secretary of state who served on Trumps voter fraud commission, Kellyanne Conway, a top Trump adviser and his 2016 campaign manager and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

In September, Trump-backed Republican nominee for U.S. House Harriet Hageman brought up in a statement her concern that private money from Zuckerberg may have impacted the 2020 presidential election. (Hageman was responding to a letter from a group of lawyers denouncing her public claim that the 2020 presidential election was rigged.)

Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, donated more than $400 million to nonprofits that gave grants to local election offices, according to the Associated Press. The donations, however, were not contributions to President Joe Bidens campaign, and they didnt violate campaign finance law.

The movie screening will be at 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 12 at the Restoration Church events room in Casper. There will also be a limited attendance meet and greet with Bossie for an hour prior to the screening.

Natrona County Grassroots Patriots and Libertys Place 4 U Wyoming helped organize the event, according to the state GOP. Tickets are available for sale at www.Wyoming.gop.
Rep. Liz Cheney on Tuesday called out Republicans who mocked Paul Pelosi  Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosis husband  following an attack that landed him in an intensive care unit.

Paul Pelosi was attacked Friday morning at the couples home in San Francisco by a man wielding a hammer. He had surgery to repair a skull fracture and other serious injuries. Hes expected to make a full recovery, according to a statement from a spokesperson with Nancy Pelosi.

The attacker, David DePape, reportedly shouted Where is Nancy? before descending on Paul Pelosi. (Nancy Pelosi wasnt home.) According to reports, the attack appears to have been politically motivated.

Following the incident, some Republicans  including members of former president Donald Trumps family  mocked the attack.

Donald Trump Jr. tweeted several posts about the attack. One retweet shows a photo of a pair of underwear and a hammer with a caption that says: Got my Pelosi Halloween costume ready.

The internet remains undefeated, Trump Jr. commented on the post. Also if you switch out the hammer for a red feather boa you could be Hunter Biden in an instant.

At a Tuesday event organized by the City Club of Cleveland, Cheney called these responses to the attack disgraceful.

We all should recognize that we cannot go over an abyss of not being able to have the common human decency to stand against that violence, to condemn the violence, to pray for Mr. Pelosi and his family and to reject those who are acting in a way that frankly is inhumane, Cheney said, speaking with PBS anchor Judy Woodruff.

Cheney, one of Trumps most outspoken critics, has been working for the past several months on investigating the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol as vice chair for the Jan. 6 select committee. Nancy Pelosi established the select committee after Senate Republicans blocked an effort to create an outside commission to look into the historic incident.

Cheney said she did not really know Pelosi before beginning her work on the Jan. 6 committee, and was unsure if she had ever even spoken to her before that. The two are nearly on polar opposites of the political spectrum  Pelosi, a Democrat, is a liberal from San Francisco, and Cheney is a Wyoming conservative.

There are many, many issues  maybe most issues  on which we disagree, Cheney said.

But she thinks nonetheless that Pelosi is a tremendous leader of historic consequence, and that she has demonstrated her commitment to the truth.

I think that the demonization that goes on on both sides  certainly Republicans have through the years demonized Speaker Pelosi, Democrats have demonized Republicans, including my dad  and it all has to stop, Cheney said, adding that violence in political discourse is a road we just cant go down.

Pelosi has long drawn the ire of Republicans, something which, as one of Trumps most outspoken GOP critics, Cheney has also experienced over the past couple of years. Cheney voted to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol. She has repeatedly criticized Trump for claiming that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him.

Her stance against Trump has cost her politically.

Last November, the Wyoming Republican Party voted to no longer recognize Cheney as a member of the party. The Republican National Committee followed suit in February.

And in perhaps the most damning rebuke of Cheneys criticisms toward Trump, Republican voters ousted the incumbent during the primaries this year in favor of Trump-backed Republican nominee Harriet Hageman.

Its a sobering defeat, particularly when compared with the 2020 elections, in which Cheney took more than 70% of the Republican vote in the primary race for U.S. House, then went on to win the general election with roughly 70% of the vote.

Last month, the Jan. 6 committee announced that it had officially sent a subpoena to Trump for testimony under oath and records relevant to the Jan. 6 investigation.

Cheney said during the interview that Trump has a legal obligation to testify and that this isnt a situation where the committee is going to put itself at the mercy of Donald Trump in terms of his efforts to create a circus.

The subpoena requires that Trump turn over documents to the select committee by Friday and show up for testimony sometime around mid-November.

Cheney connected Trumps claims that the 2020 election was stolen to the violence at the capitol on Jan. 6.

He continues to make those claims to this day, others continue to make those claims to this day, she said. Its entirely foreseeable that those will lead to violence.
One person was killed and a Laramie County sheriff's deputy was wounded in a Monday night shootout in Cheyenne, the agency reported.

The sheriff's office said deputies were serving a warrant on the city's east side when "shots were exchanged between deputies and the suspect."

The suspect died in the exchange. The deputy who was shot was taken to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center and was in stable condition when the department posted about the incident on its Facebook page late Monday.

The post did not indicate the nature of the warrant or what touched off the shooting.

The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation took over the scene on Monday evening. The agency typically investigates law enforcement shootings.
As a bridge linking China and Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs), the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has remained committed to promoting cultural exchanges between the two sides.

Over the weekend, the annual Lusofonia Festival drew local residents and tourists alike to the Taipa Houses Museum, a complex consisting of five Portuguese-style houses on Taipa Island, where they could enjoy food and traditional performances from PSCs.

Taking place simultaneously with the "carnival" of Portuguese appeal was a cultural festival featuring a series of activities such as the Chinese and Portuguese picture book fair, screenings of films in Chinese and Portuguese languages, and wine tasting.

David Leung, a four-year-old boy from Macao, listened attentively while pupils from the Macao Portuguese School sang chorus on an outdoor stage, giving his applause together with an enthusiastic crowd.

"The songs are beautiful," he told Xinhua. "I want to learn how to sing them."

Leong Wai Man, head of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR government, said the festival is aimed at further playing Macao's role of a bridge linking China and PSCs and building the city into a place where the Chinese culture dominates and multiple cultures co-exist.

During the past week, the Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Macao SAR joined hands with the Macao SAR government to organize an exchange plan for young people from China and PSCs who are studying in Macao.

Scores of college students from China and eight PSCs, including Portugal, Brazil and Angola, took part in the plan and attended a contest of short videos telling their stories with the city from the perspectives of cultural exchanges and integration, "one country, two systems" practices, as well as Macao's role as a platform linking China and PSCs.

A student with the surname of Cheng was one of the prize winners. Born and raised in Macao, Cheng said she had been studying the Portuguese language and thinking about how she could leverage her strengths to help promote friendship between Chinese and Portuguese-speaking students.

"Macao is a city where the Chinese and Portuguese cultures meet," Cheng said. "The building of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin, Zhuhai, will also bring opportunities to Macao."

Liu Xianfa, commissioner of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao SAR, said Macao plays an irreplaceable role in promoting cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and PSCs, calling on young people from these countries to learn from each other and make joint contributions to the common development and prosperity of China and PSCs.

Ip Kuai Peng, vice rector of the City University of Macao, suggested that the Macao SAR government fully support deepening cooperation with PSCs on higher education and personnel training and continuously support Macao's universities in carrying out academic exchanges with their counterparts in PSCs.

"Macao should also leverage its unique advantages and help tell the stories of China to the outside world," Ip added.
T&Ts Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF) declined by 15.14 per cent between January 1, 2022 and June 30, 2022, according to the two quarterly reports for the Fund for this year.

The HSF reports, which are published on the Ministry of Finance website, indicate that at the start of 2022, the value of the assets in the Fund totaled US$5.62 billion.

At the end of March 2022, the total net asset value of the HSF was US$5.29 billion, approximately US$323.63 million lower than the previous quarters closing value. And at the end of June 2022, the total net asset value of the HSF was US$4.77 bllion, approximately US$528 million lower than the previous quarters closing value of US$5,299.5 million.
AN 89-year-old woman was found dead in Tunapuna yesterday morning after a fire at her home.

The deceased has been identified as Zubida Mohammed of Prescott Lane in Tunapuna.

Residents of the area told the Express that around 8.45 a.m. they heard a loud explosion, and then observed flames coming from one of the rooms of the bottom floor of the two-storey home.
A total of 2,381 km of new railway lines were put into operation across China in the first three quarters of this year, according to the country's railway operator.



That figure includes 1,198 km of new high-speed tracks, data from China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. showed on Monday.

During the period, the country injected 475 billion yuan (about 66.19 billion U.S. dollars) of fixed-asset investment into the railway sector, the operator said.

China plans to launch new rail lines totaling 3,300 km this year, according to the Ministry of Transport. By the end of last year, the total operating length of China's high-speed railway network had exceeded 40,000 km.
With the latest Commission of Enquiry into the Paria tragedy and all the brouhaha, angst and
A Marana High School student who was heard making comments about weapons was arrested on Tuesday.

On Monday night, Marana police were contacted in reference to a student making threats after the student reportedly was heard making concerning comments about weapons during an afternoon class, police said.

The student admitted to making the statements when officers interviewed them Tuesday morning, police said. The student was then arrested on suspicion of disrupting an educational institution. The student's name was not released.

Police said no direct threats were made toward any student or staff member.

MPD will continue to make school reports of this nature a top priority and will remain steadfast in pursuing charges when probable cause is developed, a Facebook post from Marana police said. Please continue to speak to your children about the seriousness about making statements on school grounds, via social media, text messaging, etc. referencing weapons, threats or anything else that may cause alarm or concern for the safety of students and staff within our schools.
PHOENIX  The federal judge who refused last week to block the activities of those watching drop boxes agreed Monday to give another group a chance to convince him to restrain their actions.

Judge Michael Liburdi acknowledged that the arguments and evidence of voter intimidation being offered by the League of Women Voters are different than outlined by two other groups that had unsuccessfully sought an injunction. And that, he said, entitles the organization to make its case that there is a legal basis for him to issue an injunction.

But something else also has changed.

The Biden administration now is weighing in with legal arguments that back the allegations by the League that the activities of Clean Elections USA and its founder, Melody Jennings, are not constitutionally protected. Potentially more significant, the filing by Assistant Attorney General Michael Stewart contends that some of Liburdis conclusions last week when he denied an injunction were legally flawed.

In that ruling, the judge refused to prohibit those monitoring the drop boxes from taking photos of people as they deposited ballots or even of their license plates. Liburdi said that as long as the watchers stayed at least 75 feet away  the zone of protection around polling places  they were doing nothing wrong.

It is well established that there is a First Amendment right to film matters of public interest, he wrote. And Liburdi cited a recent ruling by another federal judge in Phoenix who overturned a state law prohibiting people from taking videos within 8 feet of police activity.

Critical differences exist, Stewart said in his legal filing Monday.

Video recording, accosting, threatening or accusing voters of engaging in criminal activities at ballot drop box locations is manifestly different from the publics clearly established right to record law enforcement officers engaged in the exercise of their official duties in public places under the First Amendment, he said. And Stewart said the claims by Jennings that people might be depositing more ballots than allowed under Arizona law does not mean box watchers have a right to take pictures of them and their vehicles.

Although the First Amendment generally protects the right to film matters of public interest, the mere existence of concerns with drop-box voting does not automatically transform individual acts of voting into matters of public interest, he said.

Video taping aside, Stewart said his agency takes a narrower view of the First Amendment rights of ballot box watchers than Liburdi.

In refusing to grant the injunction, the judge acknowledged that the Constitution does not protect activities that amount to threats or intimidation.

An individuals right to vote is fundamental, Luburdi said. But so to is an individuals right to engage in political speech, assemble peacefully, and associate with others.

And the judge said any injunction he would issue in that case would likely have a chilling effect on others constitutionally protected activity.

Stewart acknowledged that the 1965 Voting Rights Act does not have a specific definition of what amounts to illegal threats or intimidation. But he said that does not preclude judges from taking into account not just the specific acts but also everything else going on when deciding if an injunction is appropriate.

Context matters, Stewart said.

The challenged activities cannot be viewed in isolation but instead must be considered against the background of contemporaneous events and the general climate prevailing at the time, he wrote. Although voters need not actually be intimidated or threatened in order to give rise to liability under (the Voting Rights Act), whether challenged activities have created a fear or fostered concerns about threats and intimidation in the community may be probative.

Separately attorney Orion Danjuma of the Protect Democracy Project, representing the League of Women Voters, told the judge there are differences in his request for an injunction than the one Liburdi rejected last week.

Danjuma said he wants the judge to hear from voters who actually had their personal information circulated online or that they were subject to true threats, evidence he said was lacking when Liburdi heard the arguments last week by attorneys for the Arizona Association of Retired Americans.

And attorneys in the earlier case did not seek to prohibit those watching the drop boxes from openly carrying firearms as long as they stayed outside that 75-foot perimeter. By contrast, Danjuma is asking Liburdi to not only bar such activity but extend that no-firearm zone out to 250 feet.

He acknowledged a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that overturned a New York law which required a state permit to carry concealed weapons in public places.

But Danjuma said even in that case the justices said that prohibiting firearms in sensitive places is a longstanding type of regulation permitted under the Second Amendment. And he said the court included polling places, which he said includes drop boxes, in what are considered sensitive.

Danjuma also said the 250-foot request is not out of line, citing a provision in the 1776 Delaware Constitution that prohibited both firearms and armed militia within a mile of polling places 24 hours before or after an election to prevent any violence or force being used at said elections.

Liburdi also has to decide whether to constrain those watching the boxes from making certain false statements to those dropping off their ballots.

He noted there are allegations that these watchers are telling people who drop off more than one ballot that they are breaking the law. That is not true, Liburdi noted, as the statute does allow people to turn in not just their own ballot but also those of family members, those in the same household and those for whom they are caregivers.

But Alexander Kolodin, representing Jennings and Clean Elections USA, said that could amount to illegal prior restraint of speech.

There also is the question of what good an order against Kolodins clients might do, even if Jennings agrees to certain restrictions, with Clean Elections USA not being any sort of organized entity.

She cant control folks that just decide to go and maybe copycat, or maybe they have their other ideas, Liburdi acknowledged to Kolodin. I think thats a strong and well-taken point.

The original lawsuit by the League of Women Voters had sought not only to enjoin the activities of Jennings and Clean Elections USA but also the Lions of Liberty and the Yavapai County Preparedness Team. But Liburdi agreed to dismiss them from the case after board members from both organizations confirmed in court Monday that they had scrapped their plans to monitor drop boxes in Yavapai County.
Actors are accustomed to change, always beginning and ending new projects in various locations with new people. But for Melissa Fumero, who starred in Brooklyn Nine-Nine for eight seasons, taking on a new role in the Netflix series  Blockbuster " was anxiety-inducing.

I told myself Look, that kind of magic doesnt happen again. You had your one unicorn in your career. Its probably never going to be that good again," Fumero said in a recent interview. Those jitters went away when co-star Randall Park and the rest of the cast assembled to film the 10-episode show about the employees of the sole surviving Blockbuster video store.

I met this cast and met Randall, and we started all working together, and it was literally the same magic unicorn again. I cant believe it.

Park  best known for the ABC comedy Fresh off The Boat which aired for six seasons  plays Timmy, the proud manager of a Blockbuster store in a small town in Michigan. Quickly into the first episode he gets word that all remaining Blockbusters will be shut down effective immediately, corporate's office is being turned into a WeWork, but Timmy's Blockbuster can remain open because it still generates a small amount of business. He becomes the de facto owner of the last Blockbuster in the world. (The actual last remaining Blockbuster is in Bend, Ore.)

Timmy loves his job, his coworkers, and connecting with the people who come to his store. In the pilot episode, as Timmy chats with a customer who hasn't rented a movie in a while, he says, What's it been? Three years this March? The customer breaks it to him that he's been using Netflix, but ends up renting Under the Tuscan Sun on Timmy's recommendation to help get through a breakup.

Timmy's genuine belief is that the in-person exchange of renting a movie, or just leaving the house to visit any brick-and-mortar store, is valuable because human beings need socialization. His employees (played by actors including Madeleine Arthur, Olga Merediz and Tyler Alvarez) don't exactly match his conviction, but they'll go along with his lofty ideas to bring attention to the store  and to keep working.

Timmy is the same kind of boss I would be, I think. Which is not necessarily a good thing," said Park. "The problem with Timmy and the problem with me, is this deep desire to be liked. ... He puts out a lot of positivity and a lot of love. Thats what really speaks to me about the character. But his need to be liked gets him in trouble often."

Vanessa Ramos, Blockbuster creator and showrunner, says when she was coming up with its characters Park is who she had in mind all along for Timmy.

In my original pitch, Timmy was described as a Randall Park- type, and that was because theyre like, theres no way we can get Randall Park." Enter Netflix, which suggested sending it to Park and seeing what happened.

"He read it and was in. In my brain I was like, OK, this is as good as it going to get. Like, Ive really lucked out here, said Ramos.

That good fortune continued when her pal and former colleague Fumero, whom she wrote for on Brooklyn Nine-Nine," became available. Fumero plays Eliza, a down on her luck Blockbuster employee who previously worked with Timmy at the store when they were in high school and he's had a secret crush on her ever since. Eliza went to Harvard  for a semester  but dropped out because she got pregnant. She married, had a baby and is now separated from her husband whom she caught on a date with another woman in the Costco cafe.

The thing about Eliza that I was really drawn to was this woman who things didnt go exactly the way she thought they would," said Fumero. We're catching her at this moment in her life where shes figuring out whats next and who she is after shes already raised a kid.

Timmy and Eliza have a classic will they/won't they running storyline which the actors say they enjoy.

Everyone loves a romance," said Park. "The fact that these two characters also had a history before, makes it so special and different and complicated and all those things. I'm very invested.

Fumero says Blockbuster, like Brooklyn Nine-Nine," is a workplace comedy where employees become family and in some ways know each other better than family.

No matter what industry you work in are these little dysfunctional families that exist everywhere and these people that you spend all these hours with every day and its a part of everyones life."

Follow Alicia Rancilio at http://www.twitter.com/aliciar
CUMMING, Ga. (AP)  Former Vice President Mike Pence took the stage Tuesday in Georgia to reinforce the main thrusts of Gov. Brian Kemp's case for reelection against Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams, arguing that Kemp has been good for Georgia's economy and Abrams is soft on crime.

No one in Georgias history has done more to create jobs, cut taxes, restore sanity to your schools, put criminals behind bars, protect the unborn and secure all the God-given liberties enshrined in the Constitution of the United States than Gov. Brian Kemp," Pence told about 150 people in Cumming, part of a belt of Republican-dominated Atlanta exurbs key to Kemp's reelection.

Abrams, who lost narrowly to Kemp four years ago, used Pence's Georgia swing to amplify her long-running critique of Kemps refusal to expand the Medicaid health insurance program. She stood outside a major Atlanta hospital that closed its doors permanently at midnight Monday and noted that Pence, as governor of Indiana, embraced Medicaid expansion even though it was part of Democrats 2010 health insurance overhaul.

Pences visit, along with subsequent appearances this week by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, will spotlight Kemp's campaign in the closing days of advance voting and ahead of what the GOP hopes is a surge of Election Day ballots.

But the former vice presidents appearance also spotlights Georgia Republicans tightrope in assembling a winning coalition of voters still loyal to former President Donald Trump and Republican traditionalists while luring moderates back to the GOP.

Both Kemp and Pence ran afoul of Trump after the 2020 presidential election when they refused to help the defeated president block certification of Democrat Joe Bidens win. Trumps midterm campaign circuit has excluded Georgia, where his presence in 2020 and ahead of two January 2021 Senate runoffs was ultimately viewed as harmful to Republicans.

Kemp gave a four-minute speech slimmed down to his essential message  that Georgia's economy thrived after he decided to lift pandemic restrictions, while Abrams is disqualified because she's insufficiently supportive of police.

Weve been doing good in this day because we have been saying no to Stacey Abrams, Kemp said, speaking in the parking lot of a cigar bar in heavily Republican Forsyth County.

We were listening to you, and because weve done that, weve got an incredible economy," Kemp said. "We've got the most people ever working in the history of the state, the lowest unemployment rate in the history of the state.

Pence jabbed that Stacey Abrams may be the weakest candidate on crime in the history of Georgia," after Abrams in a Sunday debate dismissed Kemp's endorsement by more than 100 sheriffs. She said she was not a part of a good ol' boys club and said I dont have 107 sheriffs who want to be able to take Black people off the street, who want to be able to go without accountability," before backtracking and saying I dont believe every sheriff wants that.

Pence, in a common Republican move this year, linked Abrams with an unpopular Biden.

If she found her way back in the statehouse as governor, shell fall right in line with the failed Biden-Harris agenda," Pence said.

In Atlanta, Abrams stood in front the Atlanta Medical Center just east of downtown as a crane lowered a sign from the massive facility that shut its doors permanently overnight, leaving metro Atlanta with just one top level trauma center.

We have lost more hospitals under this one governor than most states have lost in the last decades, Abrams said, blaming Kemp for leaving billions in federal money untapped because hes declined to expand Medicaid.

Brian Kemp is aggressively undermining, dismantling and harming the provision of health care in the state of Georgia, Abrams said.

Georgia remains one of 12 states, nearly all Republican-dominated, that haven't expanded Medicaid. Abrams emphasized that Pence and Christie both expanded Medicaid as governors and that Ducey campaigned on a promise to repeal Arizonas expansion only to relent once he took office and saw that it was working.

Kemp, she said, is so unconcerned with the health and welfare of the people of Georgia that he would rather stand by a confounding ideology that is not shared by fellow Republicans.

Abrams made Medicaid expansion a centerpiece of her 2018 bid against Kemp and has renewed her push, launching her 2022 campaign in a southwest Georgia town where a hospital closed in 2021. Medicaid is a joint state-federal program used to provide insurance to low-income Americans and subsidies to hospitals that treat them.

We are losing money because hes literally sending it to New Jersey, to New York, to California, the states that he seems to revile, Abrams said. Its as though a Brink's truck backed up to the state of Georgia with $12 billion in it, and Brian Kemp said give it to other people.

Tuesday's show of GOP strength noticeably did not include Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker, who has been dogged by multiple allegations that he paid for and pressured two women to have abortions, in opposition to the anti-abortion views hes expressed as a candidate. Kemp has for weeks sidestepped questions about Walker, saying only that hes trying to lead the whole ticket to victory. Walker campaigned on his own Tuesday.

A Walker aide said Tuesday that he was not aware whether there had been contact between the campaign and Pence's team, but he added that Walkers closing bus tour had been planned for weeks. When Pence came to Georgia in late 2020, he campaign jointly with then-Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, who both lost runoffs.

Barrow reported from Atlanta

Follow Jeff Amy at http://twitter.com/jeffamy.

Learn more about the issues and factors at play in the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections. And follow the APs election coverage of the 2022 elections at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections.
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP)  Serbia said Tuesday it has placed its troops on the border with Kosovo on a heightened state of alert over a row about car license plates that has threatened to further escalate tensions between the two Balkan foes.

Earlier, authorities warned members of the ethnic Serbian minority living in Kosovo, a former province of Serbia, to replace their vehicle registration plates with Kosovar ones.

The warnings came despite calls from the U.S. and the European Union to postpone any such requirement.

In response to Kosovo's move, Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said that President Aleksandar Vucic, who is the supreme commander of Serbia's armed forces, placed the military on a state of readiness.

We are not getting ready for a war, but we must not be unprepared, Vucevic said. We are ready to continue our dialogue with Pristina.

It was not clear what the state of readiness meant practically. The populist Serbian president has been prone to saber rattling when tensions get high with Kosovo, whose independence Belgrade does not recognize.

Serbian state-controlled media reported later that unmarked drones appeared on the Kosovo-Serbia border observing the barracks and the positions of the Serbian army.

The reports said Serbian fighter jets were scrambled under Vucic's "command, but the drones left the Serbian airspace before the warplanes reached their targets. The reports could not be independently verified.

The EU has told Kosovo and Serbia that they must normalize ties if they want to advance toward membership in the 27-nation bloc. Brussels and Washington recently have stepped up mediation efforts, fearing uncertainties over the war in Ukraine and Serbias close ties with Russia could aggravate matters.

Trouble started brewing in the summer over Serbias and Kosovos refusal to recognize each others identity documents as well as car license plates. Kosovo Serbs living in the north erected roadblocks, sounded air raid sirens and fired guns into the air in protest of the move.

In June Kosovo passed a law requiring vehicles with Serbian number plates to replace them with Kosovo ones. But following pressure from the United States and the EU and the tension in the Serb-populated north, it agreed to postpone implementation until Nov. 1.

As the measure came into effect Tuesday, Kosovo authorities said enforcement would be gradual. For the first three weeks in November, drivers who fail to comply will receive warnings. After that they will be fined and from late January only vehicles with new temporary plates will be allowed to circulate until April 21, the final date after which no old license plates will be allowed and drivers risk the impounding of their vehicles.

Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla urged ethnic Serbs Tuesday to comply, and not remain pawns to political interests. Last week Svecla said only 20 Serbs had changed plates and at least one of their cars was torched.

Kosovos 2008 independence has been recognized by Washington and most EU countries, while Serbia has relied on support from Moscow and China for its bid to retain the former province. Belgrade lost control over Kosovo in 1999 after NATO bombed the country to stop its brutal crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatist rebels.

NATO has a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, and any Serbian military intervention would risk reviving widespread tensions that plunged the Balkans into a series of wars in the 1990s.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

In her recent op-ed, You can  and should  be both a progressive and a Zionist, Arizona House of Representatives Democrat Alma Hernandez goes on a 15-paragraph rampage against Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib for something she didnt say.

Hernandez writes that Tlaib shocked the world when she recently argued that progressives who support the worlds only Jewish state are not progressives at all. I read Tlaibs remarks as well, and nowhere does she make this claim. Tlaib stated that you cannot claim to hold progressive values yet back Israels apartheid government.

Backing an apartheid regime and supporting Israel are not the same thing. People protesting South African apartheid were not calling for the downfall of the South African state; they were calling for an end to its apartheid regime. I include myself among those people, just as I now oppose apartheid in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories where two sets of laws are applied: one for Jewish Israelis, who are treated as first-class citizens in both places, and one for Palestinians, who cant even be called second-class citizens under the existing laws and regulations pertinent to them.

I lived in Israel twice  in 1963-64, and as a student in 1981. I also lived in Palestine: in Gaza in 2002, and temporarily in Ramallah. I have been back to both places so often Ive lost count. I was last in Israel/Palestine again this past summer (2022), and the brutal regime that dictates its discriminatory measures against Palestinians both in Israel and occupied Palestine has become more grotesque, more oppressive and frightening, than ever. There is no question that a complex system of apartheid separates Palestinians and Israeli Jews, and that under this system the ultimate goals are separation, dispossession and ultimately expulsion (if not worse) of the Palestinian Arabs. If the current Israeli government considers itself the rightful expression of modern Zionism, then that Zionism is profoundly racist.

Last I checked, upholding the values of liberty, equality, fraternite and demanding that universal human rights be applied unconditionally to all people everywhere is not anti-Semitic. In fact, it bothers me more and more that champions of Palestinian human rights are labeled anti-Semitic as if by demanding rights for one group of people you are asking that human rights for another group of people be rescinded. This couldnt be further from the truth.

Progressives, more than any other group, claim to uphold these values, and therefore  as Rashida Tlaib said  should not be supporting apartheid anywhere. Tlaib is right, and Hernandez, who might benefit from a stay in Jenin or Nablus, needs to learn how to read more carefully or to stop calling herself a progressive Democrat.
China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) on Monday handed over Nigeria's first deep sea port to the government after the completion of the huge maritime project in the country's economic hub city of Lagos.



The port will meet the needs of Nigeria's economic development, said Cui Jianchun, Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, in an interview with Xinhua at the handing over ceremony held in Lagos.

As a commercial project of tripartite cooperation between China, France and Nigeria, Lekki port is of great significance for promoting the Belt and Road cooperation in Africa, said the ambassador.

Constructed by the CHEC, the Lekki Deep Sea Port is the largest seaport in Nigeria, and one of the biggest in West Africa. The construction of the port commenced in June 2020, and is designed to handle 1.2 million standard containers annually.

"This new port will position Lagos as a new maritime logistics hub not only in West Africa, but in the whole Central and West African region," said the Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the ceremony.

The newly completed project will create nearly 200,000 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria in the coming years, unlock the country's economic potential, and boost the country's revenue, he said.

With the construction of Lekki port, Lagos' Lekki area has become a hot place for investment, Deputy General Manager of the CHEC Wu Di told Xinhua, adding that the port will soon be put into commercial operation and is full of development prospects.

"I believe this largest deep sea port in West Africa will bring new development opportunities to Nigeria," he said.
For the thousands of folks who spent Halloween inside the BOK Center instead of trick or treating, the treat was homegrown music superstar Carrie Underwood putting on a vocal and aerial show.

The ninth stop on Underwoods Denim & Rhinestones Tour featured the Checotah songbird taking flight. By way of a swing and wings, she traveled by air from one end of the arena to the other. She was on familiar turf  and above it  all on the same Monday.

It feels good to be home tonight, Underwood said early in the show. Welcome to the Denim & Rhinestones Tour. Lets have some fun on this Halloween night, shall we?

Later, Underwood told a story about her new album, which shares the same name as the tour. When it came time to get a game plan cooking for the album, Underwoods co-producer asked her what she wanted to do. Her reply: I just want to have fun.

Underwood looked every bit like someone who was having fun inside BOK Center, whether she was singing and dancing with supporting act Jimmie Allen (he returned to team up with her on one song) or briefly playing drums (who knew she could do that?) or channeling Axl Rose during a rocking cover of Welcome to the Jungle.

About a third of the nearly two-hour homecoming show was devoted to material from the new album. The set list included eight of the albums 12 tracks.

Underwood plucked hits from her 17-year recording career in fleshing out the rest of the set list. She has recorded 28 No. 1 singles since a 2005 American Idol triumph put her on the fast track to stardom.

Maybe Simon Cowell was a prophet? Cowell was among American Idol judges when Underwood was among competitors on the show. He said this two months before she was crowned: Carrie, youre not just the girl to beat, youre the person to beat. Ill make a prediction: Not only will you win this show, youll sell more records than any other previous Idol winner.

Actually, Cowell undersold Underwoods future. She has sold more than 66 million records and, in the singles department, is the most awarded female country artist in RIAA history.

Underwood was a Northeastern State University student before winning American Idol. She made history when her first single (Inside Your Heaven) helped her become the first country artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her second single, Jesus, Take the Wheel (she got emotional when talking about it Monday) was a No. 1 country song. You know the rest of the story  a constant stream of radio gold ever since.

Underwood opened (Good Girl) and closed (Before He Cheats) her performance with No. 1 songs and, in between, sprinkled in everything from gospel (How Great Thou Art, a track on her My Savior album) to a duet with Jason Aldean, never mind that he wasnt in the building.

It was announced a few hours before showtime that Underwood will perform Crazy Angels from the new album at the 2022 American Music Awards, which is scheduled to air on ABC Nov. 20. Its another sign that her gigs have gotten more significant since her early days in Oklahoma.

According to electronic archives, Underwoods name first appeared in the Tulsa World on June 23, 1998. Then 15, she was listed among performers for a Woolaroc KidsFest event in Bartlesville, where the talent roster included gun-slinging ghost riders, rope-twirling Polecat Annie, Huffy the Clown, the Silver City Ramblers and magician/music man P.T. Farquar.

Underwood has gone from sharing bills with ghost riders to performing Ghost Story (the lead single on the new album) for an adoring home-state crowd. Said Underwood: I feel like Im very blessed to be from Oklahoma.

For the second consecutive year, an Oklahoma music artist graced a BOK stage on Halloween. LANY, fronted by Tulsas Paul Klein, performed at BOK Center on Halloween of 2021.
Early in-person voting for next weeks city, county, state and federal elections begins across the state Wednesday.

If that sounds a little early, thats because it is. House Bill 2663, approved by state lawmakers last year, adds one day to the early in-person voting period for elections held in even-numbered years.

Tulsa County Election Board Secretary Gwen Freeman said registered voters wishing to cast their ballots before Tuesdays elections will get to choose from two sites: the Tulsa County Election Board, 555 N. Denver Ave., or the Hardesty Regional Library, 8316 E. 93rd St.

Show up for early voting if you want to avoid Election Day crowds, Freeman said. We are not going to guarantee that there wont be lines at either location, but we can tell you that we will be working diligently to get our early voters through those lines as quickly as possible.

Early voting hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

There is no early voting on Sunday or Monday. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, which is Tuesday. On that day, voters only option is to cast their votes at their precincts polling stations.

Voters are required to provide an approved form of identification. Those can be a voter identification card issued by the county Election Board or a current photo ID issued by the state, federal or tribal government.

Freeman is encouraging county residents who intend to vote by absentee ballot to get their completed ballots to the Election Board as soon as possible. Absentee ballots returned by mail must be received by the Election Board no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Voters who want to deliver their absentee ballots in person must do so by 5 p.m. Monday. A voter can deliver only his or her own absentee ballot and must provide proof of identification.

You cannot turn in your absentee ballots in person at Hardesty, Freeman said. You can only turn in your absentee ballots in person at the Election Board itself, according to law.

Oklahomans can track the status of their absentee ballot online on the states OK Voter Portal, oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp. Election officials note that absentee ballots are not counted until Election Day, so voters should not expect the portal to show absentee votes as counted until after the election is completed.

Freeman said voters can also go to the OK Voter Portal to view sample ballots for their precincts.

I encourage people to log on and look at the sample ballots ahead of time so that they will be able to make very thoughtful choices, and it also helps get voters through the lines quicker, she said.

Just months ago, the Election Board was short hundreds of poll workers, but Freeman said Tuesday that that problem has been addressed.

We are fully staffed for Election Day  and grateful, she said.

Tulsa County residents will be voting for statewide offices, including governor and superintendent of education, and for the District 1 county commission seat and county assessor.

District 1 Commissioner Stan Sallee, a Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Sean Johnson. In the assessors race, incumbent John Wright has two challengers: Libertarian Todd Hagopian and Democrat John Swoboda.

Three Tulsa City Council races will also be decided Tuesday. The three runoff elections pit first-term District 5 Councilor Mykey Arthrell against challenger Grant Miller; longtime District 6 Councilor Connie Dodson against challenger Christian Bengel; and incumbent District 7 Councilor Lori Decter Wright against challenger Ken Reddick.

Federal offices, including both of the states U.S. Senate seats and congressional districts, will also be on the ballot.

The city of Collinsville also will hold a special election on a sales tax proposition.
In one of the country's premier battleground states, a last-ditch effort from Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon has helped her pull closer with incumbent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Dixon, who has never held elected office before, went silent across the state after draining her resources in the Republican primary, but two prime-time debates and help from the Republican Governors Association are making the race increasingly competitive. It remains to be seen whether the late push will be enough to help Dixon overcome attack ads that defined her early on. Whitmer has incumbency and a multimillion-dollar campaign fund on her side.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) forecasts that pork consumption in Vietnam will grow 3.1 percent per year to around 3.4 million metric tons from 2022 to 2030, with the consumption of chilled meat increasing sharply thanks to the convenience and quality factors.

According to Euromonitor data cited by VNDirect Securities, the market value of all kinds of meat in Vietnam was about US$12.5 billion in 2021, of which pork accounted for 49.7 percent, poultry 23.4 percent, and beef 21.7 percent.

Many experts have predicted that the trend of higher meat consumption in Vietnam will be similar to that in China.

Consumption of chilled meat in China quadruples

According to a report by DBS Vickers Hong Kong Securities Company, the proportion of chilled meat consumption in China quadrupled to 34 percent from eight percent between 2008 and 2015.

This rapid growth reflected changes in Chinese peoples pork consumption trend  switching from warm meat, or meat slaughtered at room temperature and delivered immediately after slaughter, to chilled meat.

At the end of 2015, although warm meat consumption in China still accounted for a large proportion (55 percent), it decreased significantly compared to 82 percent in 2008.

According to experts, the rising income of people and the strong development of modern retail channels in China are the driving forces of this consumption trend.

When peoples income and living standards are improved, consumers tend to choose higher-quality food with clear origins and convenience for shopping and processing.

MEATDeli chilled meat is strictly examined for quality. Photo: MML

According to experts in the field of meat supply, the common chilled meat production process in the world today is that the meat must be chilled immediately after slaughter.

Particularly, the meat needs to be lowered to a threshold temperature from zero to four degrees Celsius to inhibit the growth of most harmful bacteria and have enough time to transition to the biochemical ripening stage.

MEATDeli chilled meat has hit the shelves at nearly 4,000 points of sale nationwide. Photo: MML

Chilled meat has enormous potential in Vietnam

Vietnams current GDP per capita is $3,700, near identical to Chinas $3,500 in 2008. The figure is forecast to equal that of China in 2012, which was estimated at about $6,000, by 2027.

With higher incomes, peoples living standards will improve, leading to an increase in consumption of branded, quality-assured, and convenient foods, said a food expert in Ho Chi Minh City.

Therefore, chilled meat is forecast to be increasingly favored by Vietnamese consumers.

MEATDeli chilled meat products. Photo: MML

Many companies in Vietnam have engaged in the production of chilled meat after realizing its great potential, including Masan MEATLife (MML), which launched MEATDeli, a chilled meat brand, in 2018 and is developing a factory in Ha Nam Province.

In 2020, MML expanded by opening the VND1.8-trillion ($72.4 million) MEATDeli Saigon complex.

MML mapped out a development plan to achieve a revenue of VND17.5 trillion ($704.2 million) by 2027, of which fresh meat will contribute nearly VND10 trillion ($402.4 million), equivalent to 20 percent of the market share of chilled meat in Vietnam in 2027.

This is projected on the basis of a 2012 chilled meat penetration rate of 14 percent in China.

The penetration rate of chilled meat in Vietnam is estimated to be around 12 percent by 2027, translating to a chilled meat market value of approximately VND51 trillion ($2.05 billion), according to MML.

MEATDeli clean pork is produced using modern technology that meets safety standards, so that it is tender, delicious, and full of nutrition. Photo: MML

According to experts, the success of WH Group, a Chinese supplier of chilled and processed meat with U.S.-famous brand Smithfield and Shuanghui in China, provides a good example for MML.

In the past 10 years, the contribution of chilled meat and processed meat to Shuanghuis total meat production in China has increased from 10 percent to 25 percent and seven percent to 14 percent, respectively.
The death toll from an Indian foot bridge collapse rose to 135 on Tuesday with search operations entering a third day, although authorities said nearly all those believed to have been missing are now accounted for.

The colonial-era suspension bridge over the Machchhu river in Morbi was packed with sightseers - many in town to celebrate the Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals - when it broke on Sunday evening, sending people plunging about 10 metres (33 feet) into the water.

Authorities said they believe that around 200 people were on the bridge when it collapsed.

"One person who was injured in the incident and admitted to the hospital succumbed to his injuries, taking the toll to 135," GT Pandya, a senior administrative official in Morbi, told Reuters.

"Search operations have begun again today. We believe one person is missing at present."

Local residents at the scene of the wrecked bridge on Tuesday told Reuters, however, that they believed more than 200 people were on the bridge and fear the death toll could rise further.

People carry coffins containing the bodies of the victims for their burial after a suspension bridge collapsed in Morbi town in the western state of Gujarat, India, October 31, 2022. Photo: Reuters

Indian army, navy and national disaster response teams continued search operations as locals gathered on the banks of the river. The bridge - 233 metres in length and 1.25 metres wide - was originally built in 1877 and had been closed for six months for repairs until last week.

CCTV footage of the incident showed a group of young men trying to rock the bridge from side to side while others took the photos before they tumbled into the river below as the cables gave way.

Indian police arrested nine people on Monday on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Those arrested included ticketing clerks accused of letting too many people onto the bridge and contractors that had been in charge of repair work.

People remove debris after a suspension bridge collapsed in Morbi town in the western state of Gujarat, India, October 31, 2022. Photo: Reuters

The western state of Gujarat, where Morbi is located, declared Wednesday would be a day of mourning.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hails from Gujarat and was the state's chief minister for close to 13 years, will visit the industrial town later in the day.

Modi, who had been touring the state which has elections due by early next year, is expected to visit the disaster site and Morbi hospital, officials said.

Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party was attacked by opposition parties for what they called an unseemingly fresh paint job for the hospital ahead of the prime minister's visit.

U.S. President Joe Biden was the latest to mourn the loss of lives, many of whom were children.

"In this difficult hour, we will continue to stand with and support the Indian people," Biden said in a statement.

A shoe lies near a damaged suspension bridge after it collapsed on Sunday, in Morbi town in the western state of Gujarat, India, November 1, 2022. Photo: Reuters
The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rochelle Walensky, experienced a COVID-19 rebound after completing a course of Pfizer Inc's COVID-19 pill, the agency said on Monday.

Walensky had experienced mild COVID-19 symptoms less than ten days ago. After completing a course of Pfizer's Paxlovid, and a period of isolation, she had tested negative for the virus, but on Sunday, she tested positive again, CDC added.

Walensky is the third government executive, after U.S. President Joe Biden and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, to experience a recurrent viral infection following the first course of Paxlovid.

Some people who took the antiviral drug have suffered from a relapse or a rebound that occurred days after the five-day treatment course had ended, studies have shown.

Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked Pfizer to test the effects of an additional course of its antiviral Paxlovid among people who had experienced a rebound in COVID-19 after treatment.

Walensky is up to date on vaccines and isolating at home, where she will participate in planned meetings virtually.
Chinese officials on Tuesday pledged more efforts to support self-employed businesses amid difficulties as the country unveiled a new regulation on advancing the development of self-employed businesses.

Guo Qimin, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission, said more will be done to enhance macro policy implementation, improve the business environment, and promote employment and entrepreneurship.

Efforts will also be made to lower burdens on small firms and self-employed businesses, help them with financing, and stimulate consumer demand, Guo told a press conference on the new regulation.

The regulation, which came into effect Tuesday, has set out specific preferential policies in areas including optimizing the business environment and protecting the lawful rights and interests of self-employed businesses.

Pu Chun, deputy head of the State Administration for Market Regulation, said the regulation has given full consideration to the concerns of self-employed businesses and put forward practical and effective measures.

For instance, he said, local governments should, according to the new regulation, provide more business sites while reducing the cost of using such sites. They should fully consider the needs and difficulties of self-employed businesses in decision-making.

"To advance the development of self-employed businesses is to support the real economy," said Pu.

To cushion the epidemic impact and other difficulties, China has made constant efforts to reduce burdens on self-employed businesses. From 2020 to the end of September this year, tax and fee cuts for self-employed businesses reached nearly 1.03 trillion yuan (about 142.9 billion U.S. dollars).

Currently, over 80 percent of China's self-employed businesses are free from taxes, according to Dai Shiyou, an official with the State Taxation Administration.

By the end of September, China had 111 million registered self-employed businesses, accounting for two-thirds of the country's market entities, official data showed. Nearly 90 percent of these are in the service sector, while over 30 percent have engaged in new businesses like online streaming and e-commerce.




General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese President Xi Jinping presented Chinas Friendship Medal to General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong on Trongs visit to China.

At the award ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday, Xi hailed the Vietnamese leader as a staunch Marxist and a good and sincere friend of the CPC and the Chinese people.

The Chinese leader also appreciated General Secretary Trong for his consistency in maintaining the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam, directing and promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, and consolidating the bilateral political trust.

The CPC is willing to coordinate with the CPV, led by Trong, to inherit the traditional friendship created and cultivated by Mao Zedong, Ho Chi Minh, and other older-generation leaders of the two Parties and two nations, and to lead China-Vietnam relations to gain greater achievements, Xi told his guest.

Trong, who arrived in Beijing on October 30 for his three-day visit at Xis invitation, thanked Xi for awarding him the medal, which the former said was not only an honor to him but also reflected the friendship and respect the CPC, Chinese state, and Xi himself have for the CPV and the Vietnamese state and people.

Vietnam will continue to further deepen the Vietnam-China friendly relations as comrades and brothers toward "realizing a brighter future," Xinhua news agency cited Trong as saying.

The Vietnamese Party chief also expressed his hope for the friendship between the two nations to last forever, and that the bilateral relations will become a model of international relations from generation to generation.

General Secretary Trong is the eighth foreign political leader to be awarded the Friendship Medal by China, and the tenth foreign individual to receive the honor.

As the highest recognition and honor of the Peoples Republic of China for foreigners, the Friendship Medal is bestowed on individuals who have greatly contributed to Chinas modernization, promoted exchange and cooperation between China and other countries, and maintained world peace.

After the ceremony, Xi hosted a tea party for Trong at the Great Hall, during which the two sides exchanged the tea culture of each country and discussed the relationship of the two Parties and states.

Earlier on the same day, the two leaders witnessed the signing of 13 documents on bilateral cooperation in various fields after they had talks that focused on steps to further bolster the comprehensive strategic cooperation ties between the two countries.

Currently, China is the largest trade partner and the second-biggest export market for Vietnam, while Vietnam tops the list of Chinas trade partners in ASEAN and is Chinas sixth-largest trade partner in the world.

At their talks, Trong invited Xi to visit Vietnam soon and the latter accepted the invitation with pleasure.

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Here are todays leading news stories:

Politics

-- A grand welcome ceremony at the highest level was held for Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Beijing on Monday as part of his official visit to China from October 30 to November 2.

Society

-- The Department of Public Security in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai confirmed on Monday it had stripped a policewoman of her title as she had caused a traffic accident while driving a car under the influence of alcohol last Friday night.

-- Storm Nalgae is expected to weaken into a tropical depression in the northern part of the East Vietnam Sea over the next three days and is unlikely to affect the weather conditions in Vietnams mainland, the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting reported.

-- A man allegedly murdered his wife before committing suicide at a beauty spa in Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City, police confirmed, adding that their bodies were discovered by their eldest daughter.

-- The Supreme Peoples Procuracy has completed the indictment against seven officials at a branch of Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) over illegal lending that resulted in losses worth VND360 billion (US$14,480).

Business

-- The Vietnamese government will create favorable conditions for Adidas to expand its operations in Vietnam, PM Pham Minh Chinh told the German company's CEO Kasper Rorsted during a reception in Hanoi on Monday.

-- Despite a strong increase in revenue, Bamboo Airways and Vietnam Airlines still suffer big losses this year due to high fuel prices and slow recovery of the international market, the two airlines reported.

Health

-- As of Monday, Vietnam had reported 11,502,885 COVID-19 cases, with 10,603,212 recoveries and 43,163 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

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Police in An Giang Province, located Vietnams Mekong Delta region, have arrested and initiated legal proceedings against a man hailing from north-central Thanh Hoa Province for the use of fake dentist certificates.

Vu Xuan Tu, 44, who is residing in An Giangs Long Xuyen City, is being prosecuted for forging documents of competent agencies and organizations.

Investigation results showed that Tu bought two full-time university diplomas in dentomaxillofacial major bearing his full name in southern Binh Duong Province in 2008.

He used the two diplomas to register for a certificate of medical examination and treatment in odontology and dentures at the Department of Health of Thanh Hoa in 2014 and was successfully granted the document.

Police officers search Vu Xuan Tus deceitfully-registered dental clinic in An Giang Province, Vietnam. Photo: Tien Van / Tuoi Tre

Tu then submitted the odontology and dentures certificate to the Department of Planning and Investment of An Giang in 2021 to apply for the establishment of a dental clinic in the Mekong Delta province.

He worked as the CEO of the clinic before the deceitful act was busted by an inspection team of the Department of Health of An Giang in May.

The case was then handed over to the provincial Department of Public Security for handling in accordance with their authority.

During the investigation, Tu admitted all his violations.

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The Department of Public Security in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai confirmed on Monday that it had stripped a policewoman of her title after she caused a traffic accident while driving a car under the influence of alcohol last Friday night.

The policewoman, Tran Thi Luan, was dismissed from her position as captain of a team at the public security division of Dak Doa District, according to Major General Rah Lan Lam, director of the Department of Public Security of Gia Lai.

The accident occurred at 6:00 pm on Friday, when a five-seater car driven by Luan crashed into a motorbike at a three-way junction in Pleiku, which is adjacent to Dak Doa.

Luan then reversed her car before colliding with another car and stopping.

In a video clip posted on social media by witnesses at the scene, Luan, in a police uniform, showed signs of being drunk and vomited after causing the accident.

When a local asked her if she had been drinking, she answered yes.

The accident caused no casualties but resulted in damage to the three vehicles, according to Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper.

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The Action Plan for Global Youth Development and Global Youth Climate Week kicked off at Tsinghua University on Oct. 31. [Photo courtesy of Tsinghua University]





The Action Plan for Global Youth Development and Global Youth Climate Week kicked off at Tsinghua University on Oct. 31 under the auspices of the World Youth Development Forum and the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC).



The Action Plan for Global Youth Development and Global Youth Climate Week kicked off at Tsinghua University on Oct. 31. [Photo courtesy of Tsinghua University]





Over 100 institutions and organizations from six continents jointly launched the week-long event online, including UNESCO, Bloomberg, Rockefeller Foundation, and the UK Universities Climate Network.

Scheduled a week ahead of the annual UN Climate Change Conference, the climate week aims to build a mechanism for global climate governance by convening the actions of youth worldwide to help them voice their climate dedication and prepare them to take the lead in building a net-zero future for all.

Fu Zhenbang, vice president of the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF), noted at the launch ceremony that the event provides an international platform for youth to contribute to global development. He hoped that young people from all countries could share their wisdom and take action to help deliver the challenging priorities set in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and jointly deal with the uncertainties in global development.

Yang Bin, chairman of the Executive Committee of GAUC and vice president of Tsinghua University, emphasized how the event as a mechanism to convene youth climate actions to more concrete contributions for the progress of global climate governance. He added that youth, as the backbone of a net-zero future, are the inheritor, owner, creator, and leader of such a future.

Justine Coulson, United Nations Population Fund Representative to China, said that the action plan would enable young people to share their best practices to promote sustainable development and provide relevant training and exchange opportunities for young leaders worldwide.

Xie Zhenhua, Chinas special envoy for climate change, expressed his hope via video link that the climate week can be institutionalized to build momentum for the annual UN Climate Change Conference and make more innovative contributions so as to achieve carbon neutrality.

During the event, deputy secretary-general of ACYF Liu Kai explained the action plan, including its role, programs, and application requirements. The Global Youth Summit on Net-Zero Future, the flagship project of the event, was also introduced by GAUC Global Youth Ambassadors to present their interdisciplinary approach to the climate challenge.

Global Youth Climate Week was first proposed by GAUC to UNFCCC back in January 2022. The inaugural week, which will last for five days, featured a range of events that offered young people different perspectives on addressing the climate challenge.
Man Utd forward Cristiano Ronaldo, Tottenham striker Harry Kane, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. Credit: Alamy

Three-quarters of the last 16 qualifiers are already known, but Tottenham go to Marseille desperate to join them. And Man Utd need to score goals in Spain

Game to watch  Marseille v Tottenham

With a dozen teams already through to the Champions League knockout stages, eight teams are vying to join them on the final matchday of the group stage. Four of them are in Tottenhams group.

Spurs currently top Group D but Antonio Contes men could finish the day in third and bundled into the Europa League knockout round play-offs if they lose at Marseille. OM are currently bottom, but could finish top if they turn over Tottenham and Sporting draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.

It could be an anxious night for Spurs to wrap up a fraught week. They could have enjoyed a serene trip to the south of France had Harry Kanes last-gasp goal against Sporting last week not been ruled out, causing Conte to lose his sh*t. As a consequence, the Italian boss will be confined to the stands at Stade Velodrome. Thoughts and prayers go out to the poor sod allocated the seat next to him.

Because Kanes strike was chalked off, Spurs are left needing to avoid defeat to progress. A draw would be enough to go through; a win would guarantee top spot and earn seeding for the last-16 draw.

At least Conte and his men go to France in better mood than they travelled to Bournemouth, where they scored another injury-time winner which, this time, was allowed to stand after coming from 2-0 down. Marseille, in contrast, were 2-0 up against Strasbourg at the weekend, before they caved and conceded a leveller in the 93rd minute.

This win has to give us enthusiasm and passion to go to Marseille and play a final, said Conte on Saturday, like all of us, unaware which Spurs will show up on the Mediterranean coast. The significance isnt lost on Marseille either  they also view it as a final  and a bit more. Its going to be a war, said Chancel Mbemba after they lost in Frankfurt.

Story continues

Team to watch  Manchester United

In the Europa League, Arsenal and Manchester United could each finish first or second in their respective groups, with the Gunners heavy favourites to finish the Group A campaign at the summit, despite dropping points to PSV last week.

In Group E, however, United are playing catch-up. They go to Real Sociedad on Thursday needing to win while scoring twice to overturn the Spaniards head-to-head advantage after they won 1-0 at Old Trafford earlier in the campaign. If United win 1-0, then Sociedad progress as group winners by a single goal on overall goal difference, while United will go into the play-offs against Champions League cast-offs such as Barcelona, Atletico or Ajax.

Breaching Sociedads defence twice will be no mean feat, especially given Uniteds undeniable goalscoring problems. Erik ten Hag has firmed the Red Devils up at the back, which was his primary objective upon taking over. Now he has to tease some creativity and ruthlessness from his men.

United havent achieved an xG of two or higher in the Premier League this season, the only times they have succeeded in doing so coming in the Europa League against Sheriff Tiraspol and Omonia twice. Fortunately, Sociedad arent watertight at the back. They sit fifth in La Liga but have conceded more goals than anyone else in the top half.

At least United can go to Spain with one clear objective: attack, attack, attack.

Manager to watch  Jurgen Klopp

During a season in which were having to reassess everything we thought we knew about Liverpool, at least one certainty for the Reds is a place in the Champions League last 16. They could even qualify as Group A winners if they beat Napoli by four or more tonight. Klopp, though, wont be thinking about an unlikely seat at the summit. No doubt the Liverpool boss would settle just for a serene night at Anfield without his players soiling their sheets again.

One of the lowest points of a miserable campaign so far was the trip to Naples to face Luciano Spallettis Serie A leaders, who ripped the Reds to shreds with astonishing ease. Napoli have looked a lot like the Liverpool of old this season, so far unbeaten domestically and in Europe while playing an expansive, thrilling style, with Victor Oshimhen scoring for fun and Khvicha Kvaratskheila catching everyones eye, not only because of his eight goals and 10 assists in 16 games.

Klopp could be forgiven for hoping that, with progress secure and top spot all but locked in, Spalletti opts to keep some of his biggest performers in reserve or leave them out completely. But the Liverpool boss has enough to worry about with his own side before he frets about Spallettis.

What do you think I want to see, that we start passing around them, back-heels and bicycle kicks? Of course not. Jurgen Klopp says he just wants to see fight from his Liverpool side against Napoli in their UEFA Champions League fixture. pic.twitter.com/W0qJlmobMw  Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 31, 2022

Klopp somewhat contradicted himself in his pre-match press conference by suggesting that he wants to see fight above all else from his side, before then suggesting that fight hasnt been lacking this season. The German perhaps tied himself up by trying to offer a simple answer where there isnt one. Liverpools problems  massive in scale, according to Jamie Carragher  are multifaceted and too grand to be solved in one night. But we wait to see how Klopp implements some much-needed quick fixes.

Read more: Can Klopp be arsed with dragging Liverpool back up the mountain? They need the next Van Dijk

Player to watch  Edouard Mendy

Like Liverpool, Chelsea are already secure of their place in the last 16. The Blues host Dinamo Zagreb under no threat at the top of Group E, which means Graham Potter could rotate his squad, especially in the wake of their battering at Brighton.

Mendy played a part in that miserable return to the AmEx for Potter, with the keeper coming on for the second half, his first appearance under the new-ish Blues boss. The Senegal stopper has been benched for Kepa, who came in for Thomas Tuchels final game in charge and hadnt relinquished the gloves prior to a foot injury at the weekend.

Mendy might feel hard-done-by for the manner in which hes been replaced, but his form prior to Tuchels sacking warranted scrutiny. Unfortunately for him, Kepa has made a decent fist of his opportunity, with Potter describing the worlds most expensive keeper as being in a really good moment prior to his injury.

Neither keeper was directly at fault for the goals conceded to Brighton but Mendy didnt cover himself in glory when parrying a long-distance drive straight back into play to give the Seagulls the chance to score their fourth. Potter said he doesnt have a set first-choice just yet but Kepa was certainly closer to achieving that status than last years FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year. This is a chance Mendy might not have been given had Kepa not been crocked and he has to seize it by showing a safer pair of hands than he displayed prior to his demotion.

Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga Credit: Alamy



EFL game to watch  Hull v Middlesbrough

Theres another full Championship programme split over the midweek, with fifth-placed Norwich hosting third-placed QPR on Wednesday when the Canaries will look to leapfrog Rangers after returning to winning ways at the weekend.

But were just as interested in Tuesday nights 18th v 21st at the MKM Stadium, where Michael Carrick takes his Middlesbrough side to face still-managerless Hull.

Carricks first game as Boro boss ended in disappointment after the Teessiders blew a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 in injury-time at Preston. In the unlikely event that it had to be spelled out to Carrick, the defeat served to illustrate the size of the task ahead of the former Manchester United assistant boss in his first senior management gig.

One of Carricks first priorities is to firm his side up at set-pieces. That should be easier to fix than another of their major flaws: a lack of creativity.

For Hull, this could be their final game under caretaker management, with Liam Rosenior apparently expected to be in place before the trip to Millwall at the weekend. But the Tigers have been this close to appointment before only for the Pedro Martins deal to fall through. Since sacking Shota Arveladze, Hull have lost three out of their four home games.

The article Big Midweek: Marseille v Spurs, Man Utd on the attack, Klopp on the ropes, Mendys chance appeared first on Football365.com.
EQS-News: Media and Games Invest SE / Key word(s): AGM/EGM

Media and Games Invest held its Extraordinary General Meeting - Shareholders a.o. resolve to relocate the company's registered office from Malta to Sweden and to appoint Deloitte Sweden as new auditor



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Media and Games Invest held its Extraordinary General Meeting - Shareholders a.o. resolve to relocate the company's registered office from Malta to Sweden and to appoint Deloitte Sweden as new auditor Tuesday, November 01, 2022 - Media and Games Invest SE (MGI or the Company, ISIN: MT0000580101; Ticker M8G; Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market and Scale Segment Frankfurt Stock Exchange, OTCQX: MDGIF), held its Extraordinary General Meeting today on November 01, 2022. Remco Westermann, CEO and Member of the Board of Directors Sweden will be Media and Games Invest SEs new domicile. At todays EGM all remaining necessary and formal resolutions were passed. Following this final approval by our shareholders, the technical execution of the relocation is planned for January 2023. Together with the expansion of the Board, the implementation of an Audit and a Remuneration Committee as well as the appointment of Deloitte as the Groups new Swedish Auditor, we have taken significant steps on the governance side in line with previous communication. Having grown quite fast, these changes were necessary to further professionalize and to support our future growth path. When we started this process, we did not envision how difficult a change of jurisdictions for a dual listed European company is. So, we are even happier now that the remaining part of the relocation is sheer implementation. Additionally, Deloitte was elected today as our new auditor; I am looking forward to work with them. Results of the Extraordinary General Meeting In accordance with the proposals of the Board of Directors, the Extraordinary General Meeting resolved on the following agenda topics: Ordinary resolutions The following ordinary resolutions, each as described in detail in the notice for the Extraordinary General Meeting as previously published by the Company, were unanimously approved by the votes present: Resolution to adopt principles and instructions for the nomination committee.

Approve the appointment of Deloitte Sweden AB as Auditors of the Company for FY 2023, effective from the date the Companys registration as a Swedish company (pursuant to agenda item 11 below), and to authorize the Board of Directors to fix their remuneration. The following ordinary resolution was approved with 99.97% of the votes present: Resolution on the ESOP. Extraordinary resolutions The following extraordinary resolutions, each as described in detail in the notice for the Extraordinary General Meeting as previously published by the Company, were unanimously approved by the votes present: Extraordinary resolution to approve the change in name of the Company from Media and Games Invest SE to MGI  Media and Games Invest SE and, to approve the new Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company to effect this change.

Extraordinary resolution to approve a transfer proposal for the re-domiciliation of the Company from Malta to Sweden and to approve the new statutes of the Company to be adopted following its re-domiciliation and upon registration as a Swedish company. The following extraordinary resolution was approved with 99.54% of the votes present: Extraordinary resolution to authorise the Board of Directors to issue shares, options, warrants and convertibles in the Company. As such all resolutions of the EGM have been approved by the shareholders. A total of 45,917,167 shares were present at the Extraordinary General Meeting corresponding to 28.83% of total shares issued. For more information on the resolution items, please see the Notice and Agenda at the following link: https://mgi-se.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/MGI-SE-EGM-2022-Notice-and-Agenda.pdf Responsible parties The information in this release has been made public through the agency of the responsible persons at MGI set out below for publication at the time stated by MGI's news distributor EQS Newswire at the publication of this release. The responsible persons below may be contacted for further information. For further information, please contact: Soren Barz

Head of Investor Relations

+49 170 376 9571

soeren.barz@mgi-se.com, info@mgi-se.com

www.mgi-se.com Jenny Rosberg, ROPA, IR contact Stockholm

+46707472741

Jenny.rosberg@ropa.se Axel Muhlhaus / Dr. Sonke Knop, edicto GmbH, IR contact Frankfurt

+49 69 9055 05 51

mgi@edicto.de About Media and Games Invest SE Media and Games Invest SE (MGI) is an advertising software platform with strong first party games content. MGIs main operational presence is in North America and Europe. The company combines organic growth with value-generating synergetic acquisitions, which has demonstrated continuous strong profitable growth with a revenue CAGR of 77% (2018 2021). Next to strong organic growth, the MGI Group has successfully acquired more than 35 companies and assets in the past 6 years. The acquired assets and companies have been integrated and amongst others cloud technology is actively used to achieve efficiency gains and competitive advantages. MGI is registered as Societas Europaea in Malta (registration number SE 15) and its shares are listed on Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market in Stockholm and in the Scale segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The Company has two secured bonds that are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange Open Market. The Company's certified advisor on Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market is FNCA Sweden AB; info@fnca.se, +46-8-528 00 399.

01.11.2022 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


November got off to a wet and windy start as parts of the UK felt the effects of a storm in France.

Gusts of more than 70 miles per hour were expected in some coastal areas of England as strong winds hit southern coasts on Tuesday morning with the fallout of Storm Claudio.

Southern and western areas of the country were forecast to face blustery winds and frequent heavy rain showers.

What type of weather will the first day of #November bring? Here's how it's looking in terms of rain, cloud, sunshine, wind and temperatures with a look at our daily #4cast  pic.twitter.com/oVvpmt4ROY  Met Office (@metoffice) October 31, 2022

The Met Office has a yellow weather warning in place for wind for the south until 8am on Tuesday, warning the weather could risk causing disruption.

Storm Claudios move eastwards on Tuesday is expected to leave in its wake a showery day for much of the UK, with Wales and areas in southern and central England predicted to see the most frequent rainfall, the Met Office added.

A yellow warning for rain is in place until 8am across much of England and parts of Wales.

(PA Graphics)

The Environment Agency has issued 49 flood alerts (meaning flooding is possible) across much of central England, from Middlesbrough down to Cheltenham.

Meanwhile, there are three active flood alerts in Wales for areas surrounding the Gwendraeths, Loughor, Amman, Bran and Gwydderig rivers.

Neil Armstrong, chief meteorologist, said: The biggest impacts from Storm Claudio are expected in northern France, which is why it has been named as a system by Meteo-France.

What it means for us in the UK is for some high winds to be possible along much of the southern coast of England.

Story continues

Some isolated and especially exposed coastal areas could see gusts in excess of 70mph, while much of the warning area will see gusts of between 50 and 60mph.

 Yellow weather warning issued  Strong Winds in some southern coastal counties of England Tuesday 0000  0800 Latest info  https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/h9O0s0bXWs  Met Office (@metoffice) October 31, 2022

Conditions are unlikely to improve by midweek as low pressure moving in from the west is forecast to bring wet and windy weather.

The Met Office said winds are likely to be strongest along Irish Sea coastal areas, including western Wales, north-west England and south-west Scotland, as well as the east coast of Northern Ireland.

It has issued a yellow weather warning for wind on Wednesday from the morning until the early evening.

Deputy chief meteorologist Steven Keates said: Within the warning area, gusts are expected of between 55 and 65mph.

This is associated with low pressure moving towards the north-west of the UK, which is bringing with it some heavy rain on Wednesday, especially across parts of south-west Scotland, Cumbria and western Wales, although much of the UK will see some rain through the day.

In addition to high winds in the warning area, many parts of the UK will experience strong and gusty winds, at least for a time, during Wednesday.

The windy weather comes after the UK enjoyed above-average temperatures as October came to an end, with the mercury reaching the low 20s in some parts resulting in balmy conditions for this time of year.
SOFIA (Reuters) -Bulgaria's Kozloduy nuclear power plant is expected to reconnect its Unit 6 to the power grid by the end of the week, the country's energy minister said on Tuesday.

The state-owned plant had to shut down one of its two Russian-designed units late on Saturday after detecting a problem with the cooling system of the reactor's power generator.

Energy Minister Rossen Hristov said the repairs would take a bit longer than initially planned, but outlined that the problem was not in the nuclear part of the reactor and that there is no change in the radiation levels at the plant's site.

"All tests point to a technical problem. We expect the repairing process to be finalised by the end of the week," Hristov told reporters.

The Unit 6 was shut down just eight hours after it was reconnected to the power grid after a month-long annual maintenance and refuelling.

(Reporting by Tsvetelia TsolovaEditing by David Goodman and Jane Merriman)
A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, in October.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, in October.

Albanians have been pushed to the forefront of the ongoing row about refugees coming to the UK this week.

After a petrol bomb attack on a migrant processing centre in Dover, MPs are once again asking how the government plans to approach the arrival of asylum seekers arriving in the UK.

Home secretary Suella Braverman has claimed she will tackle the invasion of migrants coming to British shores with her new policies, prompting major backlash for her inflammatory language.

Although the government has repeatedly questioned why refugees come to the UK, around 76% of all asylum claims made here are accepted, according to the charity Refugee Councils data.

Albanian refugees have been particularly targeted in the political clash, amid worries about the overcrowding conditions migrants face at British processing centres.

The Albanian government has now waded in to criticise Downing Street over the chaos, too.

Heres what you need to know.

Why are people talking about Albanian refugees now?

Concerns about people coming from Albania to the UK erupted after a warning issued by Dan OMahoney, the home offices clandestine Channel threat commander, to the Commons last Wednesday.

He said: Two years ago, 50 Albanians arrived in the UK in small boats, last year it was 800 and this year so far its been 12,000 of which about 10,000 are single adult men.

So the rise has been exponential.

He claimed this was because Albanian criminal gangs have a foothold in northern France and are facilitating the small boat crossings.

OMahoney added the number of Albanians crossing into the UK this year is between one and two percent of the entire male population of Albania.

For context, Albania has a population of 2.81 million (according to the World Bank).

The total number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats is currently at 39,430 (the highest since records began in 2018).

Story continues

OMahoney also alleged: There is a huge amount of very harmful serious and organised criminality in the UK committed by Albanian criminal gangs.

Whatever serious criminality you can think of, there are Albanian criminal gangs who are dominating: Drug smuggling, human trafficking, guns, prostitution.

A lot of the Albanian migrants we see at the moment are coming into the UK in small boats because its a very successful way of getting here.

Some of course need our help but the asylum grant rate for single Albanian men is quite low.

Typically they may choose not to claim asylum, they will get put in a hotel for a few days and then disappear.

They are able to do that because the way the asylum system works and the way the NRM (the referral mechanism for modern slavery) works makes it easy to do so.

What have Suella Braverman and Priti Patel said?

Suella Braverman, current home secretary

Suella Braverman, current home secretary

Priti Patel, Bravermans predecessor, tried to organise a deal with the Albanian government in August so those who arrived in the UK could be returned.

Patel said at the time: These Albanian nationals are brought here illegally by organised criminal networks travelling through multiple EU countries. They are asylum shopping, making attempts to claim asylum in the UK in the hope that they can remain here.

This would have removed Albanians right to a fair hearing for asylum claims in the UK.

However, the governments legal department later confirmed in September that this programme did not apply to Albanians who had applied for asylum in the UK, after refugee charity Care4Calais challenged it.

The charitys founder, Clare Moseley, pointed out the 53% of Albanian asylum claims are accepted by the Home Office, demonstrating that for many Albanians their country is not a safe place to live.

But, Braverman also used the Albanians to take a jab at the Labour Party on Monday.

If Labour were in charge they would be allowing all the Albanian criminals to come to this country, they would be allowing all the small boats to come to the UK, they would open our borders and totally undermine the trust of the British people in controlling our sovereignty.

Suella Braverman back to playing silly ERG/Nigel Farage games.



"If Labour were in charge they would be allowing all the Albanian criminals to come to this country, they would be allowing all the small boats to come to the UK, they would open our borders... " pic.twitter.com/cWCeQk4S2I  Haggis_UK   (@Haggis_UK) October 31, 2022

Braverman made specific comments about Albanians at the Conservative Party conference in October, too.

She claimed Albania was a safe country, adding: Many of them claim to be trafficked as modern slaves...the truth is that many of them are not modern slaves and their claims of being trafficked are lies.

Her comments prompted a review of the home office guidance used to decide asylum claims from Albania by the borders watchdog.

The government is now trying to work on proposals for the Albanian government to try to deter this influx of people, as well as working on a fast-track route to deport those who arrived in the UK in the last 10 months.

According to The Telegraph, this includes potentially giving the country millions to improve its infrastructure schemes.

Braverman said on Monday that there has been some success in removing people back to Albania but we need to go further and faster.

What does the Albanian government think?

The Albanian government are now accusing the home office of failing to share the routes taken by those arriving in the UK. Its claiming that this is preventing the country from stopping the Channel crossings.

Allegedly, this comes down to the home offices deal with Albania, which states the UK will not pass on information if it could be used to give refugees an advantage.

Albania has provided border force officers to Dover, as the home office requested, and officials have been monitoring people flying out of the country.

However, if a refugee leaves Albania via a bus or a train, they cannot be stopped  the illegal action only begins when they step onto the boats to cross the Channel.

Some of the Albanians coming to the UK may also have come from other parts of Europe.

According to The Guardian, the primary frustration is the UKs failure to agree on fast-tracking the deportation of Albanians who arrive in the UK illegally (via a third safe nation).

An Albanian government source said: They would stop coming if they were faced with the risk of being sent back immediately. It worked in Germany and France.

The country also wants Downing Street to offer more legal routes for migrants, as the visa application is expensive and slow.

How have MPs and experts reacted?

Suella Braverman agrees with Tory MP Lee Anderson that migrants can get on a dinghy and go straight back to France if they believe accommodation in the UK is not good enough, adds: "Any complaints that the accommodation isn't good enough is frankly indulgent and ungrateful." pic.twitter.com/mOYwx5RKOw  Graeme Demianyk (@GraemeDemianyk) October 31, 2022

Tory MPs, including Lee Anderson and James Daly, have since lashed out at the Albanian population said to be coming to UK shores.

Daly told the Commons on Monday: There is no reason for these people to be here. We should follow the route of other European countries and ensure they are returned immediately to Albania.

Anderson also claimed that Albanian criminals are coming to the UK, after setting up shop in France. He claimed: If the accommodation is not good enough for them, they can get on a dinghy and go straight back to France.

However, Lucy Moreton, from the ISU, works at Dover processing migrants.

She told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: The UK asylum system has always attracted both those who do qualify for international protection and those who dont.

The problem is when it takes us so long to make that decision  the evidence to home affairs select committee last week it takes over 450 days to make that first decision  we have to treat everybody who claims asylum as if they qualify until we know they dont.

Theres also been backlash on Twitter over the focus on Albanians.

Albanians are the first and main target of Albanian gangs. Trafficking isn't just widespread, it is carried out with the alleged complicity of the Albanian government. Additional concerns surround ongoing "blood feuds" leading some to face persecution. 1/ #r4today  Daniel Sohege  (@stand_for_all) October 31, 2022

Why are people treating Albanians differently to other nationalities seeking refuge?

Albania is a European country which has applied to join the EU and is part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato). This means critics have cast doubt on whether Albanians leaving the country actually need refuge, if it has these international connections.

Anyone fleeing home for a range of reasons is considered an asylum seeker. Amnesty International points out that this does not have to be because of war, but persecution, serious human rights violations and risks to their safety.

Others also suggest that asylum seekers can only seek asylum in the first safe country they arrive in, according to the Geneva Convention. For most of those coming to the UK via the English Channel, its assumed they were in France first.

However, as refugee charity Care4Calais points out: There is no legal requirement for a refugee to claim asylum in any particular country.

There is a requirement for the first safe country in which they arrive to hear their asylum claim, but, if this does not happen for any reason, the refugee is then free to make their asylum claim elsewhere.

FullFact  a fact-checking organisation  also points out: The UN Refugee Convention does not make this requirement of refugees, and UK case law supports this interpretation. Refugees can legitimately make a claim for asylum in the UK after passing through other safe countries.

Related...
Social media posts shared thousands of times in several African countries, including South Africa and Nigeria, allege that a Tanzanian pastor opened a sex church in Kenya where people can drink alcohol and engage in lewd acts. But the claim is false: the photos show a preacher named Onesmo Machibya, based in Tanzania, who was arrested for religious incitement in 2018 before being deemed mentally ill and released from custody.

A Tanzanian pastor opened a sex church in Kenya, where they drink beer, have one hour of sex with whoever is seating next to you, exchange wives & husband for sexual desire, teaching women not to be jealous when the husband want to have sex with the other ladies, reads the caption in a Twitter post published on January 30, 2018.

A screenshot of the misleading tweet, taken on October 28, 2022







The tweet, which has been shared more than 3,600 times, shows a man in a long white robe with crosses, kissing two women, one of whom is wearing a similar outfit.

The same claim has surfaced on other platforms, including Facebook, blogs, and online tabloids.

B ut AFP Fact Check found that the allegation involving Machibya, widely known as Nabii Tito, is false.

Arrested for religious incitement

Using a reverse image search, AFP found an article by Kenyan newspaper The Standard in 2018 detailing the arrest and release of Machibya after he was deemed mentally ill.

The paper said the photos show Machibya kissing his wife and in-home help. The preacher was arrested in Tanzanias capital city Dodoma for incitement against religion and misleading his followers with a non-existent doctrine. Following his detention, Machibya was declared mentally ill during a medical check-up and released in 2018.

In a video released by law enforcement, police said Machibya has no registered church but uses his house and public spaces to preach about how drinking alcohol and having an affair with his in-home help are not sins.

Police also said that Machibya has been broadcasting videos and photos that condemn other religions hence propagating hate among people. He has been broadcasting these on various social media platforms while he is in nightclubs and preaching a religion that goes against the values upheld in the country.

A YouTube account described as the official Nabil Tito channel posted a video on October 26, 2022, allegedly showing Machibya preaching against homosexuality in Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania. The account regularly posts videos featuring the preacher.
A man has been charged with the murder of two teenage girls in Indiana five years ago, US police have said.

Richard Allen, 50, was arrested last Wednesday over the killings of Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, who died while hiking during a day off school.

On 13 February 2017, a relative of one of the girls dropped them off at a trail near the Monon High Bridge just outside their hometown of Delphi, about 60 miles (97km) northwest of Indianapolis.

They were reported missing that evening after they failed to appear at a predetermined meeting place.

The following day the youngsters' bodies were found in a rugged area near the trail.

Their deaths were ruled a double homicide, but more than five years after the killings, police have not disclosed how the girls died or described what evidence they had in the case.

Allen, from Delphi, was formally charged with two counts of murder on Friday.

He is being held without bond at the White County Jail.

Carroll County prosecutor Nicholas McLeland said of Allen: "It's concerning that he's a local guy."

Allen entered a not-guilty plea at his initial hearing on Friday.

"We haven't closed the door on the investigation," Mr McLeland said when asked if authorities were investigating other people.

"We're not presuming anything at this point."

Within days of the killings, investigators released two grainy photos of a suspect walking on the abandoned railroad bridge the girls had visited, and an audio recording of a man, believed to be the suspect, saying "down the hill".

Authorities later released two sketches of the suspected killer, including one in April 2019 based on video from Liberty's mobile phone that is believed to be more accurate than a sketch released in July 2017.

Police also released footage in April 2019 that showed the man suspected of killing the teens walking on the abandoned railroad bridge the girls had visited.
Coldplay was joined live on stage by Iranian actress, Golshifteh Farahani, at a huge concert in Buenos Aires. Together they performed an Iranian song called "Baraye."

The performance was to show support for the situation in Iran, where there have been recent country-wide protests after the death of a young woman in police custody.

Iranian singer Shervin Hajipour performed the song a month ago on social media and since then it has become the unofficial anthem of the turmoil in Iran. While Coldplay and Farahani performed in the River Plate stadium, Hajipour's original performance was played on the stadium's big screens.

Coldplay is currently in the middle of a ten sold-out show run in the Argentinean capital. Their performance was broadcast to thousands of cinemas in 81 countries around the world.
The weather in Europe is unseasonably warm for late October with temperatures in some areas closer to those expected at the end of summer and early autumn.

The position of the jet stream, lower pressure systems in the Atlantic and a warming planet are all making temperatures higher than normal, according to meteorologists.

The warm weather comes ahead of Cop27, a crucial international climate summit in Egypt next week.

Meteorologist Scott Duncan said Europe had never observed warmth like this so late in the year and that records had been broken across the continent.

In Austria this weekend the country recorded its warmest October night since records began, with 20.4C the minimum temperature recorded overnight on Saturday making it a tropical night in October, he said.

In the UK temperatures have been well above average for the time of year, but have yet to break any individual records for warmth in October, according to the Met Office.

A spokesperson for the national weather service said while there was nothing to suggest that this weather pattern wouldnt have happened without climate change, global heating means the warm spell is warmer than it would have been otherwise.

The highest temperature ever recorded in the UK in October was 29.9C at Gravesend in Kent on 1 October 2011.

While the recent heat has not reached to that level, the Met Office spokesperson said what was notable was how late in October weve been seeing temperatures reach into 20C in the south of the UK.

The highest temperature recorded this October was 22.9C, at Kew Gardens on Saturday.

Local residents and tourists enjoy the warm weather at the Saint Francois beach in Ajaccio on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica on October 19, 2022. (AFP via Getty Images)

The warm weather will be welcomed by many hoping not to switch on their heating due to the soaring energy prices and broader cost-of-living crisis, but it is also another reminder that planet earth is warming ahead of the Cop27 summit in Egypt next week.

The United Nations warned last week that there was no credible pathway in place to limit temperature rises to 1.5C - the objective of the Paris Agreement. Thats because countries have not come back with ambitious-enough emissions reduction plans ahead of Cop27.

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The climate summit is seen as the latest opportunity to course correct and to try to get emissions reductions back on track.

But there is scepticism from some climate activists as to whether it will make a difference.

Greta Thunberg told an event in London last night that climate summits like Cop27 are a scam that is failing humanity and the planet.

It remains unclear whether or not Britains new prime minister will attend the summit with his spokesperson telling reporters on Monday that his decision to skip the summit was now under review.
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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone conversation on Monday with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the latter's request, with the two sides exchanging views on the current and future China-U.S. relations.

The United States, Blinken said, pays close attention to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and its report.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said the 20th CPC National Congress was a united, democratic and progressive one.

The most important achievement of the congress, Wang said, is that it responded to the common aspirations of the whole party and the people of the whole country, established General Secretary Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guiding ideology that must be adhered to for a long time.

China will continue to unswervingly follow the proven path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Wang said, adding that the major policies of the Chinese party and government will retain a high degree of continuity and stability.

Wang stressed that the important message sent by the congress is that China will stick to the foreign policy objectives of maintaining world peace and promoting common development, continue to pursue the fundamental national policy of opening up, promote the overall progress of mankind with the Chinese path to modernization, and bring new opportunities to the world with China's new developments, which is the greatest stability China offers to the turbulent international situation.

The United States should carefully study the report of the 20th CPC National Congress if it really wants to understand China, Wang said, adding that China's domestic and foreign policies are open and transparent, and its strategic intentions are open and aboveboard. He also cautioned the United States against making conjectures by looking through tinted glasses and allowing ideological biases to cloud its eyes.

Wang said that bringing China-U.S. relations back to the track of stable development not only serves the common interests of China and the United States, but also meets the common expectations of the international community. The United States should stop containing and suppressing China and refrain from creating new obstacles for bilateral relations, he said.

The United States has adopted new export control regulations against China and restricted its investment in China, seriously violating free trade rules and gravely undermining China's legitimate rights and interests, and thus must correct those practices, Wang added.

The world is looking forward to U.S.-China cooperation, Blinken said, adding that the United States stands ready to maintain communication and cooperation with China on the next stage of U.S.-China relations and explore the basis of their bilateral relations.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Wang said that all parties should exercise restraint, make calm decisions and step up diplomatic efforts to prevent the crisis from escalating or even getting out of control.

The door of negotiations must not be shut as long as there is a glimmer of hope, and 100 percent efforts should be made for peace as long as there is a 1 percent chance, Wang said.
Investing in stocks inevitably means buying into some companies that perform poorly. But long term Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad (KLSE:MHB) shareholders have had a particularly rough ride in the last three year. Regrettably, they have had to cope with a 53% drop in the share price over that period.

With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies.

See our latest analysis for Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad

Because Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad made a loss in the last twelve months, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually expect strong revenue growth. That's because it's hard to be confident a company will be sustainable if revenue growth is negligible, and it never makes a profit.

In the last three years, Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad saw its revenue grow by 19% per year, compound. That's a pretty good rate of top-line growth. That contrasts with the weak share price, which has fallen 15% compounded, over three years. The market must have had really high expectations to be disappointed with this progress. So this is one stock that might be worth investigating further, or even adding to your watchlist.

You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic.

A Different Perspective

While it's certainly disappointing to see that Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad shares lost 3.6% throughout the year, that wasn't as bad as the market loss of 5.8%. Of far more concern is the 8% p.a. loss served to shareholders over the last five years. While the losses are slowing we doubt many shareholders are happy with the stock. You might want to assess this data-rich visualization of its earnings, revenue and cash flow.

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For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on MY exchanges.

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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Storm Claudio hit Britain with blustery weather overnight, with winds reaching above 70mph in some coastal areas of England.

A yellow weather warning for wind was issued in the South by the Met Office, which warned of possible disruptions until 8am this morning.

England and Wales saw a showery night as well as strong winds in the early hours of the morning.

The storm is expected to move eastwards on Tuesday, resulting in a wet day for much of the UK, with Wales and areas in southern and central England predicted to see the most frequent rainfall, the Met Office added.

Neil Armstrong, chief meteorologist, said: "The biggest impacts from Storm Claudio are expected in northern France, which is why is has been named as a system by Meteo-France.

"What it means for us in the UK is for some high winds to be possible along much of the southern coast of England.

"Some isolated and especially exposed coastal areas could see gusts in excess of 70mph, while much of the warning area will see gusts of between 50 and 60mph."

Forecasters say conditions are unlikely to improve by mid-week as low pressure comes in from the west and is predicted to bring in wet and windy weather.

Irish Sea coastal areas are likely to feel the strongest winds, including western Wales, northwest England and southwest Scotland, as well as the east coast of Northern Ireland.

The Met Office issued another yellow weather warning for wind on Wednesday.

Steven Keates, Deputy chief meteorologist said: "This weather is associated with low pressure moving towards the northwest of the UK, which is bringing with it some heavy rain on Wednesday, especially across parts of southwest Scotland, Cumbria and western Wales, although much of the UK will see some rain through the day.

"In addition to high winds in the warning area, many parts of the UK will experience strong and gusty winds, at least for a time, during Wednesday."

Storm Claudio comes after the UK enjoyed above-average temperatures in October, with temperatures reaching the low 20s in some parts of the country resulting in mild conditions for this time of the year.
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam arrived in Hanoi on November 1 evening. (Photo: VNA)

During his visit from October 30-November 1, Party General Secretary Trong held talks with Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping, received the Friendship Order of China, and met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China Li Zhanshu, and Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee Wang Yang.At the talks and meetings, the two sides had in-depth exchanges, and reached many important common perceptions on the relations of the two Parties and countries.On the occasion, 13 cooperation documents between the countries ministries, sectors and localities were signed.Concluding the visit, the two sides issued a joint statement on continuing to promote and deepen the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. The two sides held that Vietnam and China are both good neighbours and good friends sharing one strip of mountains and rivers, and good comrades and good partners with the same purpose, sharing a common destiny and making joint efforts for peoples happiness, wealthy and strong countries, and the noble cause of peace and development of mankind.The two sides agreed to continue to maintain and strengthen the good tradition of high-level exchanges between the two Parties and countries in such forms as mutual visits, sending special envoys, phone talks, exchange of letters and messages, annual meetings as well as meetings at multilateral forums, exchange of views on important issues in the bilateral relations as well as in the international and regional situation in a timely manner; give orientations and directions at a strategic level for the stable and healthy development of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era.The two sides agreed to promote the overall directing and coordinating role of the high-level meeting mechanism between the two Parties and the coordinating role of the two Parties external relations agencies, continue to effectively implement the "Cooperation plan between the CPV and the CPC in 2021-2025" and The plan for cooperation in personnel training between the CPV and the CPC in 2021-2025, organise theoretical seminars between the two Parties, enhance exchanges and cooperation between agencies of the two Parties at the central level and Party organisations in localities, especially border provinces/regions, continue with exchanges in both theory and experience in Party building, national governance, prevention and control of corruption and negative phenomena; actively encouraged friendly exchanges and cooperation between the Government and National Assembly of Vietnam, and the Government and the National People's Congress of China, as well as between the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.They also agreed to increase people-to-people friendship exchange education on Vietnam  China friendship, thus raising mutual understanding between the two peoples, especially young generations.The two sides conducted sincere and frank in-depth exchanges on issues at sea; held that satisfactorily controlling disagreements, maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea is extremely important; and agree to properly handle issues at sea, contributing to long-term peace and security in the region.The official visit to China by Party General Secretary Trong is a success, positively contributing to strengthening the solidarity and traditional friendship between Vietnam and China, enhancing and deepening the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era, and promoting peace, stability and prosperous development in the region and the world. The two Parties and peoples are delighted at these achievements.Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong cabled a thank-you message to Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping following his visit to the neighbouring country from October 30 to November 1.
HA NOI  There are still shortcomings in the implementation of public-private partnership (PPP) projects, which need to be resolved promptly and thoroughly, in order to show the attention and support from the State, and create an equal investment environment.

The Vietnamese Association of Road Systems Investors (VARSI) held a seminar on removing inadequacies of PPP transport infrastructure projects in Ha Noi on Monday.

Speaking at the seminar, Tran Chung, President of VARSI, emphasised that transport infrastructure projects invested in the PPP method have played an important role in the country's socio-economic development.

The Government set a target that Viet Nam will have 5,000 km of highways by 2030.

Thus, the overall picture of the field of road transport infrastructure has a very large space, opening up many development opportunities for investment in traffic projects under the PPP method, he added.

The National Assembly (NA) and Government have made many policies to attract social resources and create confidence for private investors to participate in PPP projects.

Chung also said that in the context of the ongoing public debt crisis in developing countries, investment in the PPP form was an effective solution to develop the country, while reducing government guarantees and risks of increasing public debt.

However, the problems over the years had been waiting for the State agencies to "remove" and push investors while financial difficulties were becoming more and more prominent, he added.

Acknowledging the shortcomings that need to be removed in PPP projects, Nguyen Van Khang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of National Highway 91 Investment Joint Stock Company, said that the reduction of prices for vehicles near the station, suspension of toll collection due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the absence of fee increases according to the signed schedule has had a significant impact on the financial performance of the BOT project.

Le Minh Nghia, director of Phu Ha BOT Co., Ltd, suggested that with the current revenue stream, the project enterprise could not build a financial plan to pay back and could not determine the payback period for the project, the longer the project operated, the more investors lose without financial resources to make up for it.

Without the sharing, support and mechanisms to remove difficulties from the NA, the Government and ministries and branches for the project, investors and project enterprises could not continue to maintain toll collection and road maintenance and would be unable to fulfil obligations to banks and had to face the risk of bankruptcy, he said.

Therefore, the investor proposed the NA, the Government and the Ministry of Transport allow the termination of the project contract before signing.

VARSI President said that opinions at the seminar were the basis for the association's recommendations to the Government, ministries and branches to not only rescue stuck projects and save investors, but also create confidence to strongly mobilise social resources to participate in PPP investment, especially with national key projects and many important local projects.  VNS
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Iranian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that Tehran has imposed sanctions against 10 U.S. individuals and four institutions for violating human rights, interfering in Iran's internal affairs, and inciting violence and riots in Iran.

In a statement published on its website, the foreign ministry said the sanctions have been imposed based on a law adopted by the Iranian authorities to counter U.S. human rights violations as well as its "adventurist and terrorist moves in the region."

The U.S. individuals on the list include Commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Michael Kurilla, CENTCOM's Deputy Commander Gregory Guillot, U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo, and others.

The list of the sanctioned institutions comprises an advocacy organization United Against Nuclear Iran, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Ninth Air Force, and the National Guard of the United States.

The sanctions will prohibit the targeted individuals from obtaining visas and entering Iran and will freeze their assets and bank accounts inside Iran.
HA NOI  KB Securities Vietnam Joint Stock Company, a member of KB Securities under Koreas KB Financial Group, and Vietnam National University, Hanoi, have signed a cooperation agreement to train and nurture young talents.

Under the agreement, KBSV will grant VN4.2 billion (US$169,037) to the universitys scholarship fund called "Incubating young scientists at Vietnam National University, Hanoi". Each year, the company will grant 20 scholarships for students majoring in basic science and 20 scholarships for students majoring in finance, banking, accounting, auditing, and business administration.

Students can also participate in training programmes and learn from science and technology lectures, and some will have internship opportunities at KBSV.

In addition, KBSVs experienced experts and staff will participate in creating course outlines to teach and provide practical guidance to interns, as well as attend and share at events organised by the university.

KBSV will also provide funds to the university to send some excellent and potential lecturers and students to visit and attend training programmes abroad in their fields of training and research programmes.

Kim SungHyun, general director of KB Securities Company, said, KBSV hopes this cooperation will be the beginning of comprehensive development in the relationship between KB Securities Vietnam and Vietnam National University, Hanoi. We will continue to work closely with the school, and create the best conditions for Vietnamese students to have the opportunity to interact and experience the business environment to improve the quality of students upon graduation."  VNS
THUA THIEN-HUE  The central province has been closely cooperating with international organisations and partners in boosting 'green' traffic by encouraging electric vehicles in the Master Plan 2021-2030 for submission to the Government for approval by the end of this year.

The plan was discussed at a workshop on 'Electric traffic contributes to promoting the development of green Hue City' that was organised by Thua Thien Hue Institute for Development Studies (HueIDS), the provincial women's union and UNDP.

At the workshop, participants shared local authorities' national strategies and practical contributions. In addition, they introduced pilot activities to encourage the transition to cleaner modes of transport as well as opportunities and challenges, solutions and initiatives in supporting the development of electric and green transport in turning Hue into a sustainable local.

The development of electric vehicles towards green traffic development in Hue City has been seen as a positive solution in implementing the public transport project that the province and UNDP have been focusing on.

The transportation sector is one of the sectors that use fossil fuels and emit large greenhouse gases in the Vietnamese economy. Therefore, the Government of Viet Nam has approved the transport sector's action programme on green transformation and carbon and methane reduction, with the overall goal of developing a green transport system. By 2050, Viet Nam intends to strongly implement this shift in the direction of 100 per cent of road vehicles being electric.

"We always look forward to learning about electric transport models of countries around the world, the orientations and goals of the Government as well as pilot models deployed in Vie Nam to be able to learn and implement in Thua Thien Hue", Phan Quy Phuong, Vice Chairman of provincial people's committee said.

Speaking at the workshop, Patrick Haverman, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Viet Nam, emphasised that 'Green transport offers the potential to be the mode of transport of the future in realising Hue's long-term goals on low-carbon urban development.

Hue City needs construction planning with an overall green transport development plan that integrates with other development activities, in which appropriate roadmaps and infrastructure networks are needed. Traffic needs to be designed to be integrated and friendly to the environment. At the same time, it is necessary to develop an institutional and policy framework for management, operation and encouragement of greening initiatives. Stakeholder engagement and consideration of policies across different sectors are important factors contributing to the sustainability of green transport solutions, increasing urban accessibility, and increasing urban mobility market and developing solutions to promote electric traffic."

This seminar is part of the project 'Promoting the sustainable transition of electric traffic in Viet Nam' supported by the Government of Japan, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through improving policies, environment for electric transport development at the national level and implementation of pilot activities on promoting electric traffic in Hue City.

Hue City has launched the first phase of the Public Bike Sharing System  an innovative public bike-sharing scheme by the International Co-operation Agency of Germany (GIZ), tech firm Vietsoftpro and the central provincial people's committee  has been launched in Hue city to develop a bicycle transportation plan for 2021-2026.

The pilot project used 80 bicycles for seven stations in the inner city and destinations along the Huong River in the first phase before expanding to 19 or 20 stations with a total of 500 bicycles in 2023.

The Public Bike Sharing System will help visitors and residents access public bicycles in the wider smart city concept for turning Hue City into a low-carbon city.

It is also expected to improve physical and mental health and quality of life in Hue, a UNESCO-recognised world heritage site and tourist attraction.  VNS
HA NOI  A documentary written, produced and directed by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) has won six awards at international film festivals.

Walking through the valley of death chronicles the lives of a number heroin addicts caught in an ever decreasing spiral of drugs, crime and desperation.

But thanks to an unlikely source, the addicts managed to kick the habit, and slowly rebuild their lives much to the delight of their families who have endured a life of disappointment and anguish.

The 60-minute documentary has been recognised by judges of film festivals in India and Singapore where it has been screened and won top prizes.

Jointly directed by Ngo Kim Anh, Nguyen Huu Trung and Paul Kennedy and filmed by young cameraman Ha Van Quynh, Walking through the valley of death follows the lives of a number of addicts living in Ha Noi and Quang Ninh. For years many of them stooped to new lows in order to feed their addictions.

In this honest and revealing production, they open their hearts to discuss how they brought shame to their families, stealing money set aside to raise their own children to spend on drugs.

With many HIV positive, they struggled to see light at the end of the tunnel, trying and failing over and over again to quit drugs through rehabilitation centres.

Eventually they found salvation through an unlikely source, the power of prayer.

Director Paul Kennedy said: While it is obviously a great privilege to have our work praised by peers in the film industry, what brings us the most joy is being able to highlight the plight and pain of the addicts featured to an international audience.

Addiction to hardcore drugs is a huge problem all over the world. And this was our opportunity to shine a positive light on the problem and look at the amazing work carried out to drag people out of their pain and suffering.

And its not just the addicts themselves. Its also their families and loved-ones who suffer.

Director Trung said: The documentary does not focus on drug addiction but emphasises the burning desire to be saved of those who fell into the vicious circle of drugs and crime. Drugs made their desire hopeless and helpless. But a miracle came, saving them and now its their turn to save others who had a similar past and share that same burning desire.

Whats key in their rehabilitation is the approach taken by the New Life Christian Centre, Assistant Director Nguyen Xuan Hung said.

Instead of being under lock and key, they were left to their own devices to work on their addiction, channeling support from other addicts in the same situation or former drug users who had managed to get themselves clean.

Its their honestly and transparency that has helped to make Walking through the valley of death a success. They and their family members, wives, mothers, and fathers, that are the real stars of our documentary.

One of the challenges faced by the documentary crew was bringing to life the moments of despair and heartache shared by the addicts.

Director Kennedy said: Obviously we were unable to recreate some of the more harrowing accounts discussed by the addicts.

Like the mother talking about how she wished she was a worm so she could crawl into the ground and die, or the addict recounting how he stole money set aside for milk for his new born baby to spend on drugs.

To bring this to life we experimented and used chalk sketches by traditional Vietnamese artist, o uc Khai, and its through his talent we were able to create what we have.

To date, Walking through the valley of death has won film awards at the Knight of the Reel Awards, the Luis Bunuel Memorial Awards, the Gangtok International Film Festival, Virgin Spring Cinefest, and the Calcutta International Cult Film Festival, all in India.

The movie was really interesting and exciting and it has been a true motivation for other filmmakers across the globe, wrote the Gangtok International Film Festival organisers.

It also won the Critics Choice Award at the World Film Carnival - Singapore, and is currently being considered for more screenings and awards at 10 film festival. Each year the World Film Carnival  Singapore sees hundreds of entries from filmmakers worldwide, including the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, and China among others.

A quote from the World Film Carnival - Singapore says You have snatched away the Winner position from the crowd of hundreds of promising filmmakers across the globe.

You carved the rocks to make a sculpture that resembles your achievement. Your hard work really pays off. VNS
BEIJING  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong and President, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xi Jinping held official talks on Monday in China's capital city Beijing.

The Chinese Party leader highlighted the importance of Trong's visit in bilateral ties, underlining that is the first foreign leader to be received in China immediately following the conclusion of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, and this is also the first official overseas trip by Trong after the 13th National Congress of the CPV in 2021.

In a sincere and frank atmosphere, the two leaders discussed the situation of each Party and country as well as bilateral relations.

General Secretary Trong once again congratulated the success of the 20th National Congress of the CPC and congratulated Comrade Xi Jinping on being trusted by the congress to continue to be elected as its General Secretary, and established as the "leadership nucleus" of the CPC.

He viewed the 20th National Congress as an important one with long-term significance for China's development, opening a new journey to build a modern Socialist State by 2035, towards the direction of achieving the Two Centenaries goals.

The Vietnamese Party leader affirmed that Viet Nam and China are two neighboring countries with "shared mountains and rivers," and both are Socialist countries led by the Communist Party.

Viet Nam is deeply grateful for the great and valuable assistance of the Chinese Party, State and people to the cause of national liberation of Viet Nam before as well as to the efforts in building socialism today, he said, adding that Viet Nam always attaches great importance to and gives top priority to developing a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China.

Regarding foreign policy, Viet Nam adheres to the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateral relations; harnesses the strength of great national unity with the strength of the times, proactively and actively integrates into the world; and that the country is committed to being a friend, a reliable partner and an active and responsible member in the international community.

Chinese Party leader, President Xi Jinping warmly congratulated Viet Nam on its achievements in recent years, especially in implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the CPV; highly appreciated that the congress has set out development goals and guidelines in various fields for the periods to 2025, 2030, and 2045, the 100th anniversary of the country's founding.

Xi expressed the belief that under the leadership of the CPV led by General Secretary Trong, the Vietnamese people will successfully accomplish the goals and tasks set out by the Congress, to soon turn Viet Nam into a "basically a modern industrialised country," successfully realise the aim of "prosperous people, strong country, and a fair, democratic, and civilised society."

The Chinese leader stressed China attaches a great level of importance to relations with Viet Nam, and said he stands ready to enhance the friendship and cooperation between the two countries with the motto of "friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability and future-oriented thinking" and lifting bilateral ties to new heights.

The two general secretaries expressed their delight at the healthy development trend of the relations between the two Parties and countries.

In the challenging times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the two sides continued to maintain regular high-level meetings and exchanges. Since the beginning of 2020, the two leaders have had four phone calls and exchanged letters and telegrams multiple times on the occasion of important political events of each side.

Cooperation between departments and branches of the Party, Government, National Assembly (Chinese National People's Congress), Fatherland Front (Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference), defence and public security has been effectively and substantively strengthened.

Trade and investment continue to be the highlight in bilateral cooperation, with Viet Nam being China's sixth largest partner in the world and the largest partner in ASEAN (Viet Nam-China's trade volume accounting for one-fourth of the volume between China and ASEAN).

Some bottlenecks in cooperation projects have been resolved, including the Cat Linh-Ha ong metro in Ha Noi which has been put into commercial operation.

The two sides agreed that in the current context of crises and instability in many parts of the world, the stable development and achievements of Viet Nam and China are of great significance to the two countries and peoples.

The two leaders had in-depth discussions on major orientations to enhance trust, strengthen friendship, improve the effectiveness of substantive cooperation in all fields, maintain peace and stability at sea, and promote bilateral relations in a healthy, stable, and sustainable manner in the future.

The two sides agreed on further high-level exchanges, especially at the Party level, to seek better mutual understanding and address the emerging issues in bilateral relations.

In discussions on trade, Vietnamese Party leader Trong emphasised that Viet Nam attaches special importance to the Chinese market, wishes to increase exports to China of products in which Viet Nam has strengths, and wants China to continue creating favorable conditions for and speeding up the opening of its market for Viet Nam's agricultural, forestry and fishery products, at the same time maintaining a stable supply chain and facilitating customs clearance between the two countries.

He also sought China's facilitation on procedures and raising the limit of Vietnamese goods transiting China to a third country by rail, and favorable conditions for cooperation in air, road and rail transport.

Viet Nam welcomes and is willing to create favorable conditions for China's large, high-tech enterprises to expand investment in the country, Trong remarked.

Chinese leader Xi affirmed that China will make efforts to ensure bilateral trade relations grow in a more balanced direction, and facilitate the imports of Viet Nam's agricultural, forestry and fishery products to the Chinese market.

The two sides have made, and will make further efforts to resolve outstanding issues in the bilateral relationship, strengthen cooperation in production capacity, and actively promote the connectivity between the "Two Corridors, One Belt" and the "Belt and Road" initiatives on the basis of suitability with each other's demands, needs, and sustainable development strategies.

The two also agreed to expand cooperation in the fields of agriculture, environment, science and technology, and health.

The Chinese side is committed to providing Viet Nam with no less than 1,000 government scholarships, and training no less than 1,000 Chinese teachers for Viet Nam.

The two leaders had in-depth exchanges on many international and regional issues of mutual concern.

The two General Secretaries suggested that each side continue to create favourable travel conditions for the people of the two countries, soon restore commercial flights and cooperation in tourism and trade; continue to facilitate exchanges and cooperation between each country's localities, especially border localities.

Regarding border and territory issues, the two sides agreed to strengthen the effective management of the borderline according to the documents and agreements signed between the two sides, promote the early operation of tourism cooperation pilot in the Ban Gioc (Viet Nam)  Detian (China) Waterfall.

Regarding the issue of the sea, the two General Secretary concurred that this is an "existing unresolved problem" in bilateral relations and that the maintenance of peace and stability at sea is very important for the development of both Parties and countries.

The Vietnamese leader suggested the two sides adhere to high-level common perceptions, respect each other's legal and legitimate interests, and settle disputes and disagreements by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), promote maritime negotiation mechanisms, expedite delimitation and discussion on development cooperation, fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), striving to build a substantive, effective Code of Conduct (COC) in accordance with international laws, including UNCLOS 1982.

On behalf of the Party and State of Viet Nam, General Secretary Trong cordially invites General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping to visit Viet Nam soon, which he gladly accepted.

Prior to the talks, a grand welcome ceremony at the highest level for a head of state was held for the Vietnamese Party leader.

The ceremony was chaired by Party leader Xi Jinping, and attended by many Chinese high-ranking officials, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, and Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao.

As the cars of the Vietnamese Party leader and the Vietnamese delegation arrived at the site, 21-gun salute was fired.  VNS
BEIJING  Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong had a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing on Tuesday, affirming that Viet Nam attaches great importance to and places the development of ties with China as a top priority.

Offering congratulations on the success of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) as well as the great achievements the country has gained so far, the Party leader said he hoped the Party, State and people of China would successfully implement the Resolution of the congress.

Briefing Li on the outcomes of his talks with CPC General Secretary and State President Xi Jinping, he lauded the Chinese Governments important contributions to the reinforcement and development of the relations between the two countries.

He suggested that with their important role, the two Governments direct ministries, sectors and agencies to successfully realise cooperation agreements reached between the two sides during this visit.

The leader highlighted that Viet Nam and China are close neighbours sharing a long-standing friendship and many similarities in political system and development path. The two Parties, countries and peoples had given each other priceless support and help during the past struggle for national independence and the current socialism building, he said, adding that Viet Nam had stayed persistent to the One China policy.

For his part, the Chinese Premier expressed his belief that the visit by the Vietnamese Party leader would contribute to promoting the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Viet Nam and China in a healthy, stable and sustainable manner in the new period.

Affirming that China attaches great importance to developing relations with Viet Nam, Li highlighted the similarities between the two countries.

He said he believed that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) led by General Secretary Trong, the Party, State and people of Viet Nam would successfully implement the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the CPV as well as the countrys goals for 2030 and 2045.

At the meeting, the two sides shared delight at the positive and healthy growth of the relationship between the two Parties and countries over the years. They agreed that in the new development period of the two Parties and countries and amid the current international situation, the two sides should further strengthen cooperation in all fields, while maintaining high-level exchanges and contacts, fostering political trust, beefing up trade and investment collaboration, and creating a material foundation and motivation for the development of the bilateral partnership.

The two countries should also work together to ensure stable and sustainable development of trade ties, while strengthening cooperation in maintaining the stability of the supply chain, coordinating with each other and making full use of free trade agreements, and increasing the strategic connectivity to contribute to the post-pandemic recovery and development, they concurred.

They also agreed to enhance coordination at multilateral, regional and international forums, and work together to maintain peace and stability in the region.  VNS
BEIJING  Viet Nam and China pledged to continue to promote people-to-people exchanges at all levels through new models and formats to solidify relations between the two countries.

The statement was made as Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong met with Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee on Tuesday during the formers official visit to China.

During talks, Wang congratulated the great achievements that the Vietnamese people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam have gained in the cause of socialism building and country development.

Wang expressed his delight at the continuous development of relations between the two countries and parties which are people-centred while affirming that the Chinese Party and Government attached great importance to the friendly neighbourly relationship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Viet Nam.

CPPCC National Committee would work with the Viet Nam Fatherland Front to actively promote exchanges and cooperation relations between the two countries; constantly innovating forms of people-to-people exchanges in order to contribute to consolidating and strengthening a solid social foundation, bringing the two countries' relations to a healthy and stable development.

Trong expressed his appreciation for the Chinese official for his important contributions to Viet Nam-China relations and emphasised that the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and the CPPCC National Committee played a very important role in the socio-political life of each country.

He said Viet Nam attached great importance to the role of the two organisations in the relationship between the two countries, and highly appreciated the effectiveness of cooperation between the two sides in the past.

He suggested continuing to strengthen exchanges and contacts at all levels; promote practical and more effective cooperation through flexible and creative forms, expand people-to-people exchanges in order to contribute to enhancing mutual understanding and cultivating a solid foundation of friendship between the two peoples.  VNS
HA TINH  Hoang Thi Thuu, a teacher at a primary school in a disadvantaged area in central Ha Tinh Province, spent the summer of 2016 studying the Chut ethnic language to get to know her students better.

Early that year, Thuu had been assigned a class of soley Chut ethnic minority students.

Despite eight years of work experience at Huong Lien Primary School in Huong Khe District, Thuu was worried.

The Chut students couldn't speak Vietnamese and were at different academic levels and ages. It was a recipe for disaster.

For three months of summer, Thuu rode her motorbike to Rao Tre Village to practise the Chut language, get acquainted with the villagers and her future students, and encourage the students to come to school after the summer.

After talks, the teacher found that poverty was not the biggest challenge stopping children from attending school.

"A sense of belonging at school is key. Most Chut children are shy and have difficulties fitting in with other students, so when they go to school, they usually feel left behind," she said.

It took the teacher two months to help these students get acquainted with the school. To improve their confidence and build the habit of going to school, Thuu arrived at the village early to take students to school on cold and rainy days.

With the help from Ban Giang border soldiers, Thuu could get more students to class.

After six years, the class has helped many Chut students improve their knowledge and continue to study at higher levels.

Thuu graduated from an accelerated teacher training course in 1998 and was assigned to work at Huong Lien Primary School later.

The school was located in Huong Lien Commune, a remote area of Huong Khe District. There were five villages in the commune, one of which was the living place of 2,414 Chut ethnic minorities.

The majority of Chut people lived in poverty and depended on forestry and farming. Education, as a result, was the last thing people could think of when they wanted to improve their life.

To ensure the right to study for Chut ethnic children, Ha Tinh Province's Department of Education set up a class for Chut students at Huong Lien Primary School in 2015. Thuu was the first teacher to take responsibility for the special class.

Thuu said developing a love for teachers and classmates among students would help them get motivated in school.

She and other teachers prepare a box of sticky rice for students before the class, as most go to school with an empty bellies.

The students attend school regularly with the teachers' love, perseverance, and enthusiasm. As a result, many can read and write and do maths well, and some show good academic performance.

Sharing her methods to teach the social class, Thuu said: "The compound class always has fewer students than other classes. Therefore, the teacher has more time to tutor students."

She usually divides the students into two groups. The students will sit back to back, and the teacher will use two different blackboards to teach them.

The first group will practice reading and writing while the second will learn maths.

After one or two years of studying, students who pass the test move on to learn with students of their age.

Recalling her years of teaching Chut students, Thuu said she would never forget an 11-year-old girl with a disability.

She stood at the school's gate and refused to enter, fearing being ridiculed.

Undeterred, Thuu found ways to encourage her and help her overcome her fear. After years of studying at the school, the girl is now a seventh-grade student at the boarding school for ethnic minorities in Huong Khe District.

This May, a group from the Ministry of Education and Training's Department of Primary Education and the provincial education department came and checked the quality of the class.

All students are standard and have been moved to study with other fellow students since this academic year.

Ho Thi Oanh, a student of class 4A1, said: "This is the first year I have joined to study with other students at my age. I am thrilled because I feel I fit well in the new class. I am grateful to my teacher for supporting me and making me more confident."

The class has completed its mission, but Thuu never stops working for Chut students.

She has built a Chut  Vietnamese language book with common words to help other teachers understand their students more and make teaching and learning easier.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Health is calling on local authorities to continue administering COVID-19 vaccines as coverage lags in several localities.

In an official document sent by Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong to the people's committees of provinces and cities it was noted that, to date, 261 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered to Viet Nam's population of 98 million people.

The third and fourth dose coverage for people over 18 years is at 78.5 per cent and 81.3 per cent.

Third-dose coverage for children from 12-18 years has reached 62 per cent.

So far, 88.9 per cent of children aged five to 11 have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 62.1 per cent have completed the primary course of two doses.

In Viet Nam, only the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna are cleared for use in children.

Deputy Minister Huong said that while many localities have "basically completed" the inoculation for many groups of people as per the health ministry's guidelines, there remain some localities where inoculation progress has not hit the target  especially the administration of the third vaccine dose for children in the 12-18 years age group and the administration of the second dose for children aged five to under 12 years.

"To urgently complete vaccination targets under the direction of the Government and the Prime Minister, increase the coverage of COVID-19 vaccine for target groups, and maintain the effectiveness of the vaccines' immunity, the Ministry of Health asked the people's committees of provinces and cities to direct relevant units to further accelerate the vaccination against COVID-19, ensuring safety and the effective use of distributed vaccines," the document noted.

The people's committees of provinces and cities also need to direct the health departments to coordinate with the education and training departments and relevant units to quicken COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5 to under 18 years  especially in reviewing and making a list of eligible students for vaccination.

The local departments of information and communications are asked to coordinate with health departments and related units to continue communicating and urging people to receive the vaccines  with special attention paid to injections of the third dose for people aged 12 years and older, the fourth dose for people aged 18 years and older in the high-risk group according to the ministry's guidance, and injection of full two doses for children aged 5 to 11 years old.

According to the health ministry, although the COVID-19 situation is still under control, the Omicron strain has prevailed in some provinces and cities, and cases of infection with sub-variant BA.4, BA.5 and BA.2.75 have been registered.  VNS
The Crown Prince couple of Denmark leads business promotion to Vietnam

Denmark is deemed to attach great importance to Vietnam - as a bilateral partner and an increasingly significant actor in the global efforts against climate change.

With the signing of the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement in 2013, Denmark and Vietnam moved from traditional development cooperation to a full-fledged and mutually beneficial partnership on trade and investment, green growth, political dialogue, energy, food safety, education, health, and culture.

The official programme of the visit continued with the grand opening of the Denmark  Vietnam Sustainable Energy Summit where the Crown Prince couple, together with several representatives of the government of Vietnam, witnessed the signing of 14 MoUs between Danish and Vietnamese companies.

Offshore wind power and energy efficiency, which play a critical role in supporting Vietnams efforts to transition to a low-carbon economy, are also the two areas that Danish companies possess solid and well-proven solutions and technology.

"The visit to Vietnam has great value  both practically and symbolically  as it underlines the great friendship and cooperation between Denmark and Vietnam. It also helps step up the two countries high-ranking discussion on the path towards a greener and more sustainable societies, said Nicolai Prytz, Ambassador of Denmark in Vietnam.

Following the grand opening of the Denmark  Vietnam Sustainable Energy Summit were two seminars: "Exploring the role of Danish know-how and technology in building a wind industry in Vietnam" and "Improving energy efficiency in the industry towards net zero emissions target by 2050."

Nearly 70 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in Vietnam come from energy production and consumption. Therefore, action in the energy sector is paramount for the green transition of the economy.

"The visit to Vietnam by the Crown Prince couple has great value  both practically and symbolically  as it underlines the great friendship and cooperation between Denmark and Vietnam. It also helps step up the two countries high-ranking discussion on the path towards a greener and more sustainable societies, said Nicolai Prytz, Ambassador of Denmark in Vietnam.

The two seminars, one on offshore wind power and the other on energy efficiency, hosted today respectively by the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, have created great platforms for further strengthening the ongoing debates and exchanges of knowledge and experience between Danish and Vietnamese sector decision makers, business people and potential investors, he added.

The first day of the official visit concluded with a grand dinner and a gala performance by renowned Vietnamese and Danish artists at the Hanoi Opera Theatre to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Denmark and Vietnam.

On the second day of the official visit, the Crown Prince will attend a trade and investment promotion event between Danish and Vietnamese offshore wind power businesses and investors in Haiphong and visit the largest industrial port in northern Vietnam, which could be powered by offshore wind energy in the future.

The Crown Prince will also attend an Offshore Wind for Kids event at Ocean Dragon Beach in Haiphong, where children can play with small-scale offshore wind turbines and learn various aspects of offshore wind energy.

The official visit to Vietnam by the Crown Prince couple is part of the 50th-anniversary celebration of diplomatic relations between Denmark and Vietnam, which was delayed a year due to the pandemic.

Uplifting capacity for renewable investors in Vietnam There could be a bright future for Vietnamese renewables businesses. Bui Trung Kien, vice chairman of CME Solar Investment JSC, talked to VIRs Hue Anh about the related policies and government support that could kickstart long-term renewables projects in this country.

All options on table for climate transition Vietnam is now facing big pressure to carry out its energy transition in a greener manner, with the government advised to place high priority on limiting coal-fired power development while developing more renewable energy.

Energy-saving taking top spot in solutions for electricity crisis With the demand for electricity increasing rapidly and supply and a sense of economical use more limited, saving electricity is deemed an important tool during possible periods of crisis in the future.
From October 2028, an inspection team from the EC flew to Vietnam to investigate 28 areas with indications of IUU fishing.

According to information provided by the Vietnamese government, the EC delegation has recognised the transparency of information and capacity building for fisheries management staff in coastal localities, as well as the addition of policy frameworks to combat IUU fishing, but application at the local level remains inadequate.

On October 28, the EC's inspection team collaborated with the Vietnamese government to combat IUU fishing

The EC delegation advises that Vietnam develop an effective monitoring framework with rigorous legislative requirements, guaranteeing uniform and synchronous execution from central to local levels; enhancing punishments; providing a sufficient deterrent; and severely punishing violators.

In addition, the EC delegation said that Vietnam should establish a comprehensive strategy to manage its aquatic resources, closely regulate the entry of aquatic materials for export processing, and eliminate the practice of fishermen illegally entering international waterways.

Vietnam must develop a comprehensive strategy to manage its aquatic resources, carefully regulate the entry of aquatic materials for export processing, and eliminate the practice of fishermen entering other waterways.

Roberto Cesari said that tackling IUU fishing is a growing concern for the EU. Photo: VGP

Roberto Cesari, head EC inspector on IUU, told Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh in Hanoi on October 28, "Mitigating IUU fishing is a primary concern in the bloc's and each member nation's partnership with partner countries."

The DPM said that most of the EC inspection team's suggestions were consistent with the policy of responsible fishing management and contributed to sustainable fishing development. The policy in Vietnam is to encourage fishermen to register for ecologically responsible fishing activities to safeguard sustainable aquatic resources, he added.

However, Vietnam's fisheries are tropical and multi-species, and the growth of fisheries in the East Sea is influenced by several variables, and Vietnam's resources are limited. Consequently, preventing IUU fishing is a job that requires much planning and sufficient time.

"Vietnam is striving to implement the European Commission's proposals, combat IUU fishing, and establish a sustainable, accountable, and responsible fishing sector," said DPM Thanh.

Vietnam is currently undertaking marine conservation actions such as stocking, repairing, and regenerating aquatic resources as well as setting limits for fishing permits, and has short-term and long-term strategies for each stage to minimise fishing intensity in harmony with aquatic resources.

In implementing the EC's recommendations, DPM Thanh proposed that EC and EU member nations maintain close cooperation and offer prompt technical support, considering the unique characteristics of Vietnam's fisheries. "It is suggested that the EC recognise Vietnam's efforts against IUU fishing and the favourable outcomes it has accomplished and withdraw Vietnam's yellow card warning as soon as possible," he added.

EC official impressed by Vietnams outcomes in IUU fishing combat Director for the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries International Ocean Governance and Sustainable Fisheries of the European Union Veronika Veits has expressed impression on Vietnams outcomes in following the ECs recommendations regarding the settlement of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

EC to visit Vietnam to examine measures against IUU fishing The European Commission's (EC) yellow-card warning is an opportunity for Vietnams fisheries sector, the business community, and fishermen to turn into responsible and sustainable fisheries.
Ukraine suspends foodstuffs exports due to blockage of "grain corridor": minister

Xinhua) 09:16, November 01, 2022

KIEV, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine had suspended foodstuffs exports due to blockage of the "grain corridor," Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov has said.

"Due to the blockage of the grain corridor by Russia the export is impossible," Kubrakov tweeted on Sunday.

The minister said a vessel carrying 40,000 tons of grain intended for Ethiopia got stuck in the port in Ukraine on Sunday.

On Saturday, the Ukrainian government-run Ukrinform news agency reported that Russia had announced its withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative after accusing Ukraine of "terrorist attacks against ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian vessels involved in guaranteeing the security of the grain corridor."

Ukraine and Russia separately signed a document on July 22 with Turkiye and the United Nations in Istanbul to resume food and fertilizer shipments from Ukrainian ports to international markets via the Black Sea.

Since the deal came into effect on Aug. 1, Ukraine has exported more than 9 million tons of foodstuffs via its seaports. The agreement was due to expire on Nov. 19.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)
 Flash

Azerbaijan and Armenia, with Russia as a mediator, agreed on Monday to actively prepare for the conclusion of a peace treaty in order to achieve long-term peace in the South Caucasus.

The consensus was part of a statement by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin adopted during their trilateral talks in Russia's Sochi.

In the statement, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strict observance of all the previous tripartite agreements in the interests of the comprehensive normalization of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations, ensuring peace, stability, security and sustainable economic development in the South Caucasus.

They pledged to make additional efforts to urgently resolve the remaining issues, including those in the humanitarian sphere.

Aliyev and Pashinyan agreed to refrain from the use of force or the threat of its use, and to resolve all the problems solely on the basis of mutual recognition of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders.

"It was a very useful meeting. It, in my opinion, has created a very good atmosphere for possible future agreements on certain fundamental issues," Putin said after the talks.
How do Japanese businesses evaluate the business climate and attractiveness of the northern province of Quang Ninh?

Nakajima Takeo, chief representative of the Hanoi Office of the Japan Trade Promotion Organisation and vice president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam

Quang Ninh is progressive and active in attracting foreign direct investment from all over the world, including South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, China, and Singapore.

The province is particularly noteworthy for maintaining the best spot in the Provincial Competitiveness Index since 2017. The area leads in terms of market entry cost and managing administrative procedures, thanks to the leadership, past and present, who strongly advocate for the state being the most business-friendly location.

The province has invited industrial park developers to build competitive business sites. Also, the state has invested in ports, roads, and an airport with public funds and private finances.

It was far from the Hanoi area ten years ago when highways and bridges were still under planning. However, the administration updated the infrastructure to be modern and smooth, shortening the time to get there.

Last November, the province and JETRO coordinated an industrial tour and investment promotion seminar with more than 30 Japanese business delegates. Secretary of the provincial Partys Committee Nguyen Xuan Ky and other leaders were clear that they would try to do everything to make the state attractive to investors.

With Quang Ninhs advantages, which sectors are attracting Japanese investors?

From its strategic location, logistics services, manufacturing, green energy, LNG, aquaculture, and agriculture are all attractive sectors for the Japanese. Within manufacturing sectors  automotive and parts, electric and electronics, machinery, semiconductors, and industrial materials  the Japanese will have the potential to expand production in Vietnam.

In certain areas like Ha Long and Uong Bi, tourism and hotel businesses have the potential for exploration.

Japanese investment in Quang Ninh is not as high as expected. What are the reasons? And what should Quang Ninh's authorities do to attract more Japanese investment?

In the past, investments from Japan accumulated in Hanoi and its vicinity in the north  namely, Hung Yen, Ha Nam, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Hai Duong, and Haiphong. Half of the Japanese manufacturers in Vietnam are export-oriented, and the other half are domestic market-oriented.

It took time to move products when the road and port infrastructure was still cumbersome ten years ago. The areas between Hanoi and Haiphong were convenient for reaching both the local market and the ports.

But currently, the situation has changed. Around the big city, the cost of human resources and land acquisition increased and traffic jams worsened. On the other hand, the infrastructure in the northern east has improved significantly, and the Quang Ninh area has become a viable option for the Japanese.

Another situational change is that most large Japanese manufacturers already have factories in Vietnam, and they are looking for second, third, and fourth production sites. Notably, the supply-chain crisis during the pandemic called for the diversification of manufacturing and distribution networks.

Human resources scarcity in the big cities of Hanoi and Haiphong also impacted current Japanese operations. Quang Ninh has several notable universities and vocational schools, which provide attractive labour forces for the firms.

Halong University, Quang Ninh University of Industry, and Foreign Trade University Quang Ninh Campus are excellent institutions for training young business talent. Also, there are dozens of vocational schools in the province.

I want the leadership of Quang Ninh to acknowledge and support Japanese business expansion.

Now, the world economy and energy crisis create uncertainty when making decisions. However, the investments by the Japanese groups located in Vietnam and those still in Japan will resume when they are ready.

Quang Ninh starts work on large industrial factory complex The Quang Ninh provincial Peoples Committee started construction work on an industrial factory complex worth over 2.7 trillion VND (115 million USD) in total in Quang Yen town on September 1 and also granted investment registration certificates to two projects in the complex.

New expressway put into use in Quang Ninh province Van Don - Mong Cai Expressway, expected to open up a new development space for the northern province of Quang Ninh and the entire Red River Delta, was inaugurated on September 1.

Quang Ninh working hard to develop night-time economy Its tourist attractions, unique culinary culture and pleasant night weather are great assets that will enable Quang Ninh Province to develop its night-time economy, according to its People's Committee.

Quang Ninh issues series of commitments to attract investors Quang Ninh Peoples Committee will implement seven commitments to attract investors and simultaneously support the business community to expand operations.
According to Truong Huu Thanh, deputy general director of National Power Transmission Corporation under state-owned Electricity of Vietnam (EVNNPT), the body has entrusted the Southern Vietnam Power Projects Management Board (SPMB) to oversee the implementation of the 220kV Nam Can power transformer station and 220kV Nam Can-Ca Mau 2 transmission line project in Ca Mau province.

The meeting of Ca Mau leaders and power sector management leaders

The project is important to the provinces socioeconomic development and has been put among key projects for implementation in the province since December 2020.

As planned, the transformer station will be located in Lam Hai commune and the 57.8km transmission line will run through the districts of U Minh, Tran Van Thoi, Cai Nuoc, Phu Tan, and Nam Can, encompassing 160 foundation buttresses.

To date, the projects have seen many obstacles related to space handover in localities affected by the passage of the transmission lines.

EVNSPC is working with the Ca Mau Department of Industry and Trade to seek solutions to be able to jump-start the project shortly.

To ensure the projects progress, EVNNPT has asked Ca Mau Peoples Committee to urge the stakeholder districts of U Minh, Tran Van Thoi, Cai Nuoc, and Nam Can to further convince relevant households about the projects significance and encourage them to willingly receive compensation and hand over the needed space to ensure the projects progress.

EVNNPT has also requested that relevant sectors and localities support procedures on changing land use function from production forest into land for energy development, as well as forest planting for replacement.

The district-level compensation council and provincial land fund development centre are required to soon complete an inventory, make a compensation plan, and submit it to competent agencies for approval. From there, EVNNPT and SPMB will work on compensating affected households. The ultimate target is to ensure the projects progress.

The householders showing disobedience and denying compensation could receive severe sanctions.

Sanction measures would also apply to disobedient households at two other power projects belonging to Southern Power Corporation (EVNSPC), including the 110kV An Xuyen-Vinh Thanh transmission line and the 110kV double-circuit transmission line associated with the 220kV Nam Can transmission station.

EVNSPC is working with the Ca Mau Department of Industry and Trade to seek solutions to be able to jump-start the project shortly.

Conducting the field survey at the 220kV Nam Can power station and 220kV Nam Can-Ca Mau 2 transmission line project

Present at the meeting, Hoang Trong Hieu, deputy chief of Office at the National Steering Committee for Electricity Development, noted that these power projects are of special importance to Ca Maus development.

Besides enhancing the credibility of power supply to spur socioeconomic development, these projects contribute to unleashing local wind power and solar power sources in order to replenish the provincial budget.

Hieu also asked Ca Mau province to push forward with the space handover from local householders.

Hieu simultaneously required the project's developers to work closely with relevant localities to increase support for local people, thus facilitating the project's pace as it gears towards completion.

The steering committee will be working closely with Ca Maus competent agencies to troubleshoot arising issues. The contractors must assure project progress with the lowest impact on the lives of local inhabitants at the project sites.

From the point of view of the province, Lam Van Bi, Deputy Chairman of Ca Mau Peoples Committee, unveiled that as these are pivotal projects to the provinces development, the management has given consistent guidance to gradually resolve the bottlenecks.

Bi also asked relevant districts to join efforts with the project units to raise peoples awareness about the project, striving to complete the handover this November.

Transmission boost to remove major power bottlenecks Structural changes to remove the bottlenecks for power generation and create competition in the energy sector are necessary, according to local experts, for example by allowing private investments in the transmission system.
Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that the plaza is between Franklin and Austin Avenues.

The painted and decorated Seventh Street Plaza just off Austin Avenue will live on beyond the Summer of Downtown campaign that launched it last year, giving the space a second life as a gathering place for shoppers and a spot for small events.

The stretch of Seventh Street between Austin and Franklin Avenues was closed off and converted into a temporary plaza with lighting and picnic tables in summer 2021.

Local artists painted the multistory building walls that shade the side street, and groups of Wacoans covered the rest with chalk drawings during the Chalk Waco event this spring. City Center Waco held events throughout the summer. Now, the space is quiet and mostly unused.

City Center Waco interim director Chris McGowan said the downtown Public Improvement District budgeted in $50,000 design services on the project, which doesnt yet have a final price tag.

City Center Waco, which administers the PID, has issued a request for qualifications from designers, the first step toward redeveloping the plaza into a permanent fixture. The PID is funded by a surcharge on taxes that downtown property owners pay.

The block of Seventh Street didnt get much use when it was open, other than delivery trucks that parked on the street to access Cameron Trading Co., the antique shop next door.

But shop owner Mark Arnold said the plaza doesnt block trucks access to the shop, and hes in favor of making the plaza permanent because providing a place for visitors to sit and relax is a necessity for Austin Avenue.

Its a nice thing to have, he said. We have no green space unless you go down to Indian Spring Park.

He said the Chalk Walk and the Every Color is Beautiful fashion show in May drew in thousands of people this year.

Ann Noble, a Cameron Trading Co. employee, said she also watches cyclists take a break at the plaza before continuing along.

From their spot catercorner to the plaza, employees of Suit City said they watch as passersby stop at the plaza to get pictures of the art or use them as backdrops for their own photos.

We had a customer that came all the way from Laredo, he was buying a suit he had to take to New Mexico, saleswoman Karen Clark said. He and his wife, they stopped to take a picture, and I ran across the street so they could both be in it.

Clark said turning the intersection into a pedestrian-only area also cuts down on Austin Avenue traffic, making it safer and quicker for people on foot.

Suit City Owner Dustin Evans said out-of-the-way areas for people to sit will help draw people into the environment.

This is part of the Art District type thing, and I think its good for tourism, he said.
A man who drove through a barricaded area during a neighborhood Halloween celebration was shot by an Omaha police officer Monday night.

The incident occurred during the well-known annual Halloween block party in the Minne Lusa neighborhood north of Miller Park.

Omaha Police Lt. Neal Bonacci said a car was seen driving recklessly through a blocked-off area shortly after 7 p.m. Children and adults were out in the neighborhood for trick-or-treating at the time of the incident.

The driver of the vehicle was shot by an Omaha police officer and taken to Nebraska Medical Center with serious injuries. Police say that no one else was injured in the incident.

Chrissy Lopez, a Minne Lusa resident, said that the vehicle initially drove slowly through the crowd as people yelled at the driver to stop.

He would stop and then drive a little more, she said. I heard his engine rev and people started screaming, and I thought Oh no. And then I heard the gunshots, and everybody just started screaming and running and crying.

Police and firefighters were already on the scene for the block party, which is put on by the Miller Park Minne Lusa Neighborhood Association and draws thousands of people to the area each year.

The incident is still under investigation, and the name of the driver has not yet been released.
WATERLOO -- Parents and students interested in learning more about the middle school and high school programs offered at Cedar Valley Catholic Schools are invited to join us for one or more of our Explore night events. Staff members at each campus will be on hand to answer questions, and student ambassadors will provide tours of the facilities.

An event for grades nine through 12 will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at Columbus Catholic High School, 3231 W. Ninth St.

An event for grades six through eight will be held at Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta Middle School, 3225 W. Ninth St., from 6 to 7 p.m. Nov. 8.

Check in begins at 5:45 p.m. for both events.

Cedar Valley Catholic Schools represents four schools in the Cedar Valley: Blessed Sacrament Early Childhood Center, Saint Edward Elementary School, Blessed Maria Assunta Pollatta Middle School, and Columbus Catholic High School.
WATERLOO  A Waterloo woman has been arrested after she allegedly set a fire near a home over the weekend.

Police arrested Linsie Michelle Refshauge, 39, on Sunday on a charge of first-degree arson. Bond was set at $25,000.

Authorities allege she set fire to a box containing another womans belongings outside 621 W. Ninth St. around 10:24 p.m. on Saturday because she was upset with her. She then left.

The burning box was next to other combustible items on the lawn, and two adults and two children were inside the house at the time.

The other woman ran outside and put out the flames before the fire could spread.
WATERLOO  Enrollment at Waterloo Community Schools is down after more than 100 students open enrolled out of the district.

The school district is sitting at 10,006 students, which is 108 less students than last year.

We had a feeling wed be down but we fully expected to be above 10,000 students, Superintendent Jared Smith said. Obviously, you never want to see enrollment go down but I still feel like that number of 10,000  were still there.

Smith said the decline in numbers is proportional at each level. There are 44 less elementary students, 33 less middle schoolers and 31 less high schoolers than last year.

He said relaxed open enrollment rules are to blame. The school open-enrolled 114 more students out of the district this year, for a total of 548.

Had we been able to keep those kids, our enrollment would have been the same, Smith said. One of my goals is to figure out why kids are leaving and put some procedures in place to catch those kids and families before they do leave.

Earlier in the year, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill which eliminated the March 1 deadline for open enrollment. Now, parents and guardians can apply for open enrollment at any time without the need for good cause, according to the Iowa Department of Education.

Last year, the district was dealing with another new state law that removed all local rules and restrictions related to open enrollment for districts that previously had voluntary diversity plans. Waterloo Schools was one of the few districts in the state had such a plan.

However, 32.7 more students did open enroll into the district this year for a total of 62.3 students. The decimal point accounts for students who are not full time, such as home-schooled students.

While Smith doesnt want to lose students, he said the problem has created an opportunity for him to talk about the district.

I think we keep telling our story and talk about the great opportunities we have and options we have for students, Smith said. We want to make it very difficult for anyone to want to leave because of what we can offer, due to our size and the resources we have.

Also down this school year is the number of students virtually enrolled. In the elementary schools, there were 71 less virtual students. In middle and high schools there were 140 less students. Smith said the majority of these children returned to the district in person and are represented in the building numbers.

There are a total of 213 students still attending classes virtually.

Along with open enrollment out of the district, students may also go to school elsewhere because of special needs or other designations. Home-schooled or private school students who live within the district and take a class at its buildings are added to Waterloo Schools enrollment for per-pupil state funding purposes.

These are among the numerous adjustments made to the actual number of students attending classes in the district to arrive at this budget enrollment.

After increasing last year, the districts budget enrollment dropped slightly lowered for this school year to 10,672.34. This is 7.55 students less than last year.
WATERLOO -- Veridian Credit Union is accepting public votes for nonprofit organizations across Iowa and eastern Nebraska to receive $38,000 in celebration of Giving Tuesday, Nov. 29, including five organizations in the Cedar Valley. Veridians annual Spark the Spirit campaign is designed to be a reminder that Giving Tuesday is coming up and an invitation for public input on where a portion of the credit unions giving should be directed to celebrate. This year, votes are accepted through Friday, Nov. 11, at veridiancu.org/sparkthespirit.

Twenty organizations across Iowa and eastern Nebraska have been nominated for Spark the Spirit by Veridian employees. Local organizations accepting votes include Better Together Animal Rescue, Exceptional Persons Inc., Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity, NAMI Black Hawk County and Oelwein Community Kitchen.

The top vote-getting organization in each region -- including Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, the Des Moines metro area and Omaha/Council Bluffs -- will receive $5,000 each. Organizations receiving the second- and third-most votes in each region will receive $2,500 and $1,000, respectively. Organizations receiving the least votes will receive $500. Details are also available at veridiancu.org/sparkthespirit.
MOBILE, Ala. (AP)  A man with a gun held police at bay outside a government building for more than five hours Monday, shutting down part of downtown Mobile, Alabama, before shooting himself, authorities said.

The man, who wasn't immediately identified, was believed to have suffered a life-threatening wound, but his condition wasn't immediately available, Police Chief Paul Prine told news outlets.

Before the standoff ended, Prince said the man seemed incoherent in discussions with mental health workers.

Katrina Frazier, a police spokeswoman, told reporters that a man with an apparent gunshot wound was spotted in a parked car outside Government Plaza, which contains multiple Mobile County offices and courts. She said the man pointed a gun at his head when officers approached to see if he needed help, al.com reported.

Officers backed away from the scene and we called in the SWAT teams and a negotiator, said Frazier. It wasn't clear whether the man may have shot himself or was shot by someone else.

Photos and video from the scene showed dozens of officers pointing handguns and rifles toward a car parked along a curb. Mental health professionals were on the scene talking to the person, and no hostages were involved, James Barber, an aide in the mayor's office, told WALA-TV.

A window in the backseat of the car shattered moments before a man holding a gun to his head briefly exited the vehicle, stood on the sidewalk for a few moments and got back inside. An armored police vehicle was used to pin the car to a pole after the man attempted to drive away, Prine said, and the man shot himself after officers fired tear gas toward the car.

A main road through the city was blocked during the episode, as was a tunnel that passes under the Mobile River leading out of the city.
 Flash

Military teams were searching on Monday for people missing after a century-old cable suspension bridge collapsed into a river on Sunday in the western Indian state of Gujarat, sending hundreds of people plunging into the water and killing at least 134.



At least 177 survivors were pulled from the river and teams from the Army, Navy and Air Force were searching for others still missing, said Jigar Khunt, an information department official in Gujarat.

Live video reports showed hundreds of others desperately clinging to the broken structure and trying to make their way to safety, as crowds onshore shouted or swam to try to rescue those who had fallen in.

Police in Gujarat said they had detained nine people after registering a criminal case against unnamed individuals responsible for the renovation, maintenance and management of the bridge.

Authorities said the 19th-century, colonial-era pedestrian bridge over the Machchu River collapsed because it could not handle the weight of the large crowd, as the Hindu festival season drew hundreds of sightseers to the recently reopened tourist attraction.

The 232-meter bridge had been closed for repairs for almost six months and reopened just four days earlier for the Gujarati New Year. Visuals of the disaster site showed the bridge split in the middle and the metal carriageway hanging down, its metal cables snapped.

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi told reporters that 132 people were confirmed dead and many were admitted to hospitals in critical condition. Sanghavi said emergency responders and rescuers worked overnight to search for survivors. Most of the victims were teenagers, women and older people.

It was not immediately clear how many people were on the bridge when it collapsed, but survivors said it was so densely packed that the crowd was unable to move to safety when the cable strings began to snap.

"There were just too many people on the bridge. We could barely move," Sidik Bai, 27, said from a hospital bed while recovering from injuries.

Sidik said he jumped into the water when the bridge began to crack and saw his friend being crushed by the metal carriageway. He survived the disaster by climbing onto the bridge and holding onto its cables, but his friend did not make it.

"Everyone was crying for help, but one by one they all began disappearing in the water," Sidik said.

Local news channels ran photos of missing people shared by concerned relatives searching for their loved ones. Many family members raced to overcrowded hospitals looking for their kin.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in his home state of Gujarat on a three-day visit, said he was "deeply saddened" by the tragedy. His office announced compensation to the families of the dead and urged speedy rescue efforts.

"Rarely in my life would I have experienced such pain," Modi said during a public event in the state on Monday.

Modi was Gujarat's top elected official for 12 years before becoming India's prime minister in 2014.

A Gujarat state government election is expected in the coming months, and opposition parties have demanded an investigation into the collapse, saying that the bridge was reopened without having safety clearance. The claim could not be independently verified, but the state government said it has formed a special team to investigate the disaster.

State officials told local news media that the bridge  built by the British during the Victorian era and touted by the Gujarat government as an "engineering marvel"  might have been opened by the private company that runs it without a "fitness certificate".
To be honest, I dont care who and how got this information. Im interested in Londons answer to the following question:

Did British Prime Minister Liz Truss send a message to US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken immediately after the Nord Stream gas pipeline was blown up with the words its done?

An official answer to this question is expected by millions of people around the world who have the right to know what happened to world energy security and what is the role of the Anglo-Saxons in the terrorist attack.

Maria Zakharova

***

Yes we really do deserve an answer and thank you for asking

WtR
It will be interesting for our defectors to know how the benefactors for an hour will deal with them.

Increasingly, in the political science and near-state circles in Washington, there is an unobtrusive thesis: Juan Guaido (recognized by the United States and its satellites as the President of Venezuela) is not coping, and its time for the Americans to get off this sinking ship.

Now diplomats are also seriously talking about this, in particular, Carrie Filipetti, the former Assistant Secretary of State for Cuba and Venezuela. According to her, the Maduro regime has become stronger, and the opposition is weaker than it was before. Under Guaido, his already imaginary throne really swayed.

In parallel, more and more information is leaking into the media about the split within the non-systemic opposition in Venezuela. Already, most parties oppose the extension of the mandate of Guaido as the president of Venezuela. Their own people are actively draining Juan after the Americans.

The fact that the United States would go towards the legitimate government of Maduro was clear even when Washington allowed the Italians and Spaniards to buy Venezuelan oil. Now there is talk of allowing the American oil and gas giant Chevron to do business with the Venezuelans.

The regime of unilateral sanctions, albeit gradually, is being weakened, and no dollar handouts to the opposition will fix this.

The biggest defender of sanctions against Venezuela  Senator Bob Menendez  is unlikely to stand up for Guaido now, as he himself is expected in court.

Venezuelan oil was urgently needed against the backdrop of the energy crisis, and experts predict that the date of reconciliation talks with official Caracas is approaching.

Of course, this is bad news for Juan Guaido. Is the US reliable as a partner? Thousands of abandoned Afghans  former employees of the pro-American administration in Kabul  could tell a lot about this. Guaido will soon join them. By the way, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and Vladimir Zelensky can also quietly prepare. Its a one-way street, theres no going back.

Remember: you need a candy, a candy wrapper is thrown away. And the expired candy is thrown away without even unpacking.

Marie Z
It is already announced that star actor Jr. NTR will be gracing a special function today in Karnataka as the state celebrates its formation day. He will be doing the honors of presenting the Karnataka Ratna Award to the late Puneet Rajkumar,

The actor started his journey to Bangalore on a plane to attend the Kannada Rajyotsava, and his pic surfaced on the internet. Tarak looks so smart and handsome in formal wear with his goggles on. The fans are very much pleased with the latest looks of the actor.

On the work front, he will be associating with Koratala Siva for a PAN India project which starts rolling soon. This also marks the 30th film of NTR and the second collaboration with the blockbuster director.

Articles that might interest you:
Janhvi Kapoor is in that stage of her career where she needs a big blockbuster hit. She has multiple films lined up but all of them are female oriented projects.

Somehow she is not getting those star hero films which she is looking for. The likes of Kiara Advani, Kriti Sanon, and now Rashmika have dominated the scene by bagging big projects.

Back in the day, Janhvi Kapoor was offered so many Telugu films but she ignored them citing Hindi offers. Now she is repenting and in every interview of hers, she is hinting at bagging a Telugu film.

Time and again, she is taking the name of NTR and says she wants to do a film with him at any cost. Well, looks like she has seen enough in Hindi and feels that getting a south film and being in the news is the biggest achievement these days. Lets see if she gets any Telugu offers or not.

Articles that might interest you:
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 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a message of condolence to Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a bridge collapse in India's western state of Gujarat, which had caused serious casualties.

In his message, Xi said he was shocked to learn of the deadly collapse. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi extended deep condolences over the deaths and sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also sent a message of condolence to Modi.
In this photo provided by the Greek Coast Guard, some of the nine men who survived a shipwreck and were found on an uninhabited islet are covered with a thermal blankets as they sit aboard a Greek Coast guard vessel, in the Aegean Sea, Greece, on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. A major search and rescue operation was underway Tuesday for dozens of people missing after the boat they were on capsized and sank in stormy weather overnight off the coast of an island near the Greek capital. The coast guard said nine survivors, all men, had been found on an uninhabited islet south of the island of Evia and had been picked up by a coast guard vessel.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

When it comes to learning basic military skills, La Cueva High School is one of the top schools in the country.

For the second year in a row, La Cueva was named a Naval Honor School for its Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program. According to a release from Albuquerque Public Schools, that makes it just one of 13 schools across the United States to receive the award.

We try our absolute best in everything that we do, Cadet Staff Sgt. Ethan Wood said in a video posted to an APS YouTube page. Its a huge honor that we got the award, but were just going to keep striving forward to do our best.

I think what got us  there is the help of our senior Marine instructors. They have been so helpful and important, Cadet Capt. Iris Matthews added.

Master Sgt. Roberto Valdez, director of JROTC instruction at APS, particularly commended La Cuevas program on its marksmanship and drills in a news release.

Theyre winning competitions, theyre participating, theyre engaging in the community, he said.

That includes two rifle matches in New Mexico, according to 1st Sgt. Alberto Griego.

Every public high school in Albuquerque has a JROTC program, Griego said, adding that the students at La Cueva, where he is an instructor, went above and beyond.

He said this is the sixth time overall that La Cueva has received the honor, which is presented based on community service events, competitions, graduation and scholarship rates, and other achievements of JROTC students.

This is not something thats actually required of them to do; this is something that they choose to do, he told the Journal. The more involved the students are, the more points you earn toward that Naval Honor School recognition.

Valdez said that JROTC teaches students skills they dont often get in their ordinary schooling.

The students are taught life skills  some of the things we dont get in English class or math class, but more of the critical thinking, Valdez said.

Many of the La Cueva students also highlighted leadership as one of their main takeaways from their schools program. For Matthews, though, it was the physical challenges that come along with the program that proved the most formative.

I came into this program actually not being able to do any pushups at all, which is super embarrassing, she said. But now I am at the top of my class in all physical fitness.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

A sword, a dead body and a secret society called Ghost.

These were all pieces of a puzzle Santa Fe police sorted out in the weekend stabbing death of 19-year-old Grace Jennings, whose body was found Saturday in a garage apartment.

Santa Fe police on Saturday arrested Isaac Apodaca, 25, and his girlfriend, Kiara McCulley, 19, each on an open count of murder in Jennings death, according to criminal complaints filed in Santa Fe County Magistrate Court. It was unclear Monday whether Apodaca or McCulley have attorneys.

Police found Jennings body and a blood-covered sword Saturday in a detached garage in the 5900 block of Jaguar Drive in Santa Fe.

Jennings body appeared to have several puncture wounds consistent with being stabbed by a sword, the complaint said. Jennings neck appeared to have injuries consistent with attempts to decapitate.

Police said they found text messages on Apodacas cellphone in which he urged McCulley to kill Jennings and promised her rewards for doing so, according to the complaint.

Remember, youll move up in the ranks, Apodaca allegedly texted McCulley. Plus you get perks in the black market since this is your first.

McCulley later told investigators that Apodaca leads a secret organization called Ghost, which she described as a group that gets rid of people who are in charge of sex trafficking or hurting kids, police wrote in the complaint.

Apodaca told McCulley that by killing Jennings, McCulley could get ranked up in her platoon, she told police.

Apodaca allegedly told McCulley in a text message: I am wanting you to kill her, you have to end your suffering by ending her joy, the complaint said. When an investigator asked Apodaca what he meant by the text, Apodaca said, I do mean what it says in that text, and explained he had wanted McCulley to kill Jennings.

Apodaca and McCulley lived together in the garage apartment on Jaguar Drive owned by McCulleys mother, police said.

McCulley told police that she became upset after Apodaca invited Jennings  a former girlfriend  to spend the night in the apartment. Jennings, Apodaca and McCulley all slept together in the same bed on Friday night, the complaint said.

When questioned, McCulley told police that she could not remember what had happened on Saturday, possibly because she has undiagnosed multiple personality disorder, the complaint said.

McCulley told officers she was partially hopeful Ms. Jennings was dead but could not remember what happened to her, the complaint said. McCulley allegedly told officers that she was angry with Jennings as a result of a past incident and had previously fantasized about killing Jennings, it said.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

Six people were killed and several more were injured in separate car crashes around the state Friday and Saturday  three of which were head-on collisions.

Alcohol is not believed to have contributed to four of the incidents, according to New Mexico State Police, but does appear to have been a factor in a Saturday afternoon head-on crash involving 24-year-old Leanna Florez in San Juan County.

The first crash occurred around 10:30 a.m. Friday on State Road 11 in Luna County.

Officer Ray Wilson, a State Police spokesman, said 20-year-old Caleb De Santiago, of Las Cruces, was traveling north in a Nissan Tsuru when he crossed the center line and collided head-on with a 43-year-old Columbus man driving a Toyota Corolla.

De Santiago died at the scene. The other driver was taken to the hospital and his condition was unknown.

Several hours later, around 3 p.m., there was another head-on collision in Luna County  this time leaving two people dead.

Wilson said a 15-year-old was driving a Toyota Tacoma east on State Road 26 when he crossed the center line and struck a Dodge pickup truck head-on. Both of his passengers  Martyn Pearson, 38, and Alexandra Olsen, 40  died at the scene.

The 70-year-old driver of the Dodge pickup and the 15-year-old were taken to the hospital for non life-threatening injuries.

Pearson and Olsen owned Gila Hike and Bike shop in downtown Silver City and were well-known in the area, according the Las Cruces Sun News.

The following morning across the state in Quay County a 32-year-old man had parked his Chevrolet Impala on the north side of U.S. 53 westbound lanes, with the drivers side of the vehicle still partially in the lane.

Wilson said around 10 a.m. a truck rear-ended the Impala, knocking it off the road. Both the driver, Ervin Burton Jr. of Chicago, Illinois, and his 27-year-old passenger were injured. Burton died at the hospital; his passengers condition is not known. Wilson said they were not wearing seatbelts.

The 42-year-old truck driver was not injured.

Then, on Saturday afternoon, Florez of Blanco, New Mexico, was traveling west on U.S. 64 in San Juan County when she crossed the center line and crashed head-on into a Toyota Tundra.

Wilson said Florez was not wearing a seatbelt and died at the scene. He said the 58-year-old driver of the Tundra and his three passengers were injured and taken to the hospital.

That night, around 8 p.m., on the same highway but more than 40 miles away a pedestrian was crossing the road when he was struck by a 51-year-old driving a Mitsubishi Outlander, Wilson said.

Ramon Natividad-Garcia, 40, of Bloomfield was taken to the hospital, where he died. The driver and passenger of the Mitsubishi were not injured.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that one of the crashes did involve alcohol
It used to be parents had to check for needles and razor blades in trick-or-treat bags. Now, a rash of cannabis exposures has health officials rightfully concerned about THC edibles getting into the hands of children, especially during Halloween activities.

Weve complained before about cannabis products and packaging appealing to children, but the problem persists.

Health officials were concerned enough that, last week, they held a press conference tied to Halloween and warning about edibles getting into the hands of children.

Also, just Friday, a 2-year-old boy was hospitalized after eating part of a chocolate bar containing THC. He was one of 11 New Mexicans  including eight children  with reported cannabis exposure from edible products since Oct. 17.

Three days after recreational sales began April 1, an Algodones Elementary student took THC-infused candies that mimicked fruit rolls to school and shared them with 14 third- and fourth-grade classmates. The Bernalillo Public Schools superintendent said the child didnt know the candy had THC.

According to the Cannabis Regulation Act passed by lawmakers in a special session in 2021, packages and labels shall not be designed to be appealing to a child. Regulations promulgated by the Cannabis Control Division state containers shall not be designed to be appealing to a child and shouldnt use words like candy or candies.

But photos of cannabis edibles taken recently by a Journal photographer show that, with the wrappers off, it is far too easy to mistake edibles for such well-known treats as chocolate bars, gummies and lollipops. And some packaging even looks like a copycat of popular brands.

So, why do cannabis edibles look like ordinary candy? Its currently up to the manufacturer and retailer to determine what does not appeal to children, and they are doing an awful job. A bar of cannabis-infused chocolate containing a total of 100 milligrams of THC should not look like a brand-name candy bar, down to the break-away squares. It may have THC stamped on it, but kids like that 2-year-old cant recognize the difference and it could just as easily stand for The Hershey Company. Once out of the package, the edibles can be practicably indistinguishable from candies.

Parents should be aware of the signs of cannabis exposure: Children may appear drowsy or lethargic and be unsteady on their feet. If a child has consumed cannabis, call the N.M. Poison and Drug Information Center at 1 (800) 222-1222.

We reiterate what we said in July when a 2-year-old girl was taken to a Rio Rancho hospital after eating cannabis-infused gummies: State regulators need to better define manufacturing and packaging standards, and prohibit the sale of cannabis products that look like candy.

Until then, adults need to keep their cannabis edibles safely put away, and parents will need to keep their guard up, starting with the assumption anything in those trick-or-treat bags could be dangerous.

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.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  As the campaign enters its final week, Democratic candidates are leading a series of statewide races in New Mexico  the closest of which is a seven-point edge for Laura Montoya in the race for treasurer, according to a Journal Poll.

Democratic Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver ran up the biggest margin, outdistancing her closest competitor by 15 percentage points, according to the scientific survey conducted Oct. 20-27 by Research & Polling Inc.

Democrat Raul Torrez was up 10 points in the open race for attorney general, and Stephanie Garcia Richard had an eight-point lead in her bid for reelection as land commissioner.

Four years ago, Democrats swept every statewide race in New Mexico, but Republicans have had some success in other election cycles. In 2014, for example, Democrats and Republicans each won three of the six statewide executive offices.

More times than not, the Democrats win these races unless theres an outlier, such as the mood for the state leaning more Republican, or the Democratic candidate having some baggage, said Brian Sanderoff, president of Research & Polling Inc.

Democrats hold a structural advantage, with 44% of the states voters registered with the Democratic Party. About 31% are Republican, and the remainder are independents, Libertarians or members of a minor party.

In these low-profile races, Sanderoff said, often the voter doesnt have that much information to go on, and theyre more likely to go on their party affiliation.

But the poll results outline some differences in this years campaigns.

Secretary of state

Toulouse Oliver, who has served for 16 years as either Bernalillo County clerk or secretary of state, has built a public record that makes her familiar to voters.

She had support from 50% of voters in the Journal Poll, while Republican Audrey Trujillo had 35%.

Libertarian Mayna Myers picked up support from 4% of voters.

Maggie Toulouse Oliver has a lot of name recognition and experience in administering elections, Sanderoff said. In fact, she may end up leading the ticket among Democrats in the statewide races.

Toulouse Oliver was especially strong among Hispanic and female voters.

Attorney generals race

Torrez, the district attorney in Bernalillo County, is also a familiar face to the public as a prosecutor in the Albuquerque area.

But his record in office has also been targeted by Republicans who have linked him to the states high crime rate.

In the Journal Poll, Torrez won support from 49% of voters while Republican Jeremy Gay was favored by 39%.

Gay, a former judge advocate in the Marine Corps, showed strength on the east side of the state, which includes the conservative oil patch in southeastern New Mexico.

He had support from 56% of voters on the east side, to just 25% for Torrez.

Torrez, by contrast, was favored by 61% of voters in north-central New Mexico, which includes Santa Fe and traditional Democratic strongholds. Gay was favored by 21% of voters in the area.

The geographic pattern  with Republicans doing especially well in the east, Democrats in the north  held true in all four races.

Torrez and Gay are competing to succeed Democrat Hector Balderas, who couldnt run for attorney general this year because of term limits.

Race for treasurer

The narrowest race of the four was the contest for treasurer  an open seat held for the last eight years by Democrat Tim Eichenberg.

Laura Montoya, the Democratic candidate, had a seven-point advantage over Republican Harry Montoya. They arent related.

She picked up support from 46% of likely voters while Harry Montoya had support from 39%.

The race pits two lesser-known candidates against each other. Laura Montoya is a former Sandoval County treasurer, and Harry Montoya is a former Santa Fe County commissioner, a position he held while registered as a Democrat.

Harry Montoya also served on the Pojoaque school board.

Land commissioner

Garcia Richard, a Democrat and former state legislator, was up by eight points as she seeks reelection to the state Land Office.

In the poll, 46% of voters supported her while Republican Jefferson Byrd, a member of the Public Regulation Commission, was favored by 38%.

Garcia Richard had especially strong support among Hispanic voters. Byrd, meanwhile, had a two-point edge among male voters.

About the poll

The Journal Poll is based on a scientific, statewide sample of 625 voters who cast ballots in the 2018 and/or 2020 general election and who said they are likely to vote in the upcoming election. The sample also includes people who registered to vote since January 2021 who said they are likely to vote in the upcoming election.

The poll was conducted from Oct. 20 through Oct. 27. The voter sample has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points. The margin of error grows for subsamples.

All interviews were conducted by live, professional interviewers, with multiple callbacks to households that did not initially answer the phone.

Both cellphone numbers (83%) and landlines (17%) of proven general election voters were used.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

The city of Rio Rancho must pay more than $43,000 in fees and costs after a state district judge found the city violated New Mexico law in keeping police records confidential in the fatal shooting of a 2-year-old last year.

District Judge James Noel of Sandoval County awarded a total of $43,729 to the Rodey Law Firm, which represented the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government and the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper in a lawsuit filed earlier this year challenging the citys refusal to turn over the requested police records.

It is unfortunate when public officials dont fulfill their obligation under the law concerning the release of records, Melanie J. Majors, NMFOG director, said. Not only did these public officials unnecessarily delay the disclosure of a public record, Majors added, they also imposed a substantial financial burden on the City of Rio Rancho. Rio Rancho is now legally obligated to pay the attorneys fees.

Initial incident reports and 911 calls are released routinely as public records in cases that involve the public and law enforcement officers, Majors said, but Rio Rancho officials argued for months that such records were protected from disclosure by the state Childrens Code.

Noel concluded the records, which included a police incident report and 911 recordings, were public under the state Inspection of Public Records Act. He dismissed claims that the Childrens Code prevented such disclosure.

The Dec. 8 death of Lincoln Harmon at his familys Rio Rancho home was shrouded in mystery for months after Rio Rancho police refused to release initial police reports in what was ultimately determined to be an accidental death. The boy, whose father is a Santa Fe police officer, had been shot by his brother, who had been handling his fathers off-duty gun.

The refusal to release the records led the state Attorney Generals Office last March to conclude that Rio Rancho was violating IPRA, but Rio Rancho officials argued the AGs office was wrong and continued to deny media requests for the records.

After FOG and the Santa Fe New Mexican filed suit seeking a judicial ruling in the case, Rio Rancho said it would await the outcome of the lawsuit.

The City believes it was legislative intent of the Childrens Code to protect children from ongoing trauma and mental anguish, and not for IPRA to expose victims information as content for the media, guerrilla journalism, and the dark web, a spokeswoman for the city said in April.

Prevailing parties in an IPRA lawsuit are entitled to reasonable attorneys fees and costs under the law. The city of Rio Rancho didnt oppose the amount, which was submitted by attorney Charles Kip Purcell.

Purcell, attorney and a member of the NMFOG Board of Directors, said in a statement that Noels decision is important because it makes clear that the confidentiality required by the Childrens Code applies only to the Children, Youth & Families Departments file. Documents generated by law enforcement agencies are subject to public inspection in the files of those agencies, even if CYFD has obtained copies of them.

Santa Fe New Mexican editor Phill Casaus said last week, We and FOG, and a lot of other folks really disagreed with the city of Rio Ranchos position and we felt it was important to bring before a court. Im really gratified by the judges decision. Its unfortunate they took that position.

Peter Wells, Rio Rancho deputy city manager, told the Journal that city officials and its insurance provider, the New Mexico Municipal Leagues self insurers fund, havent yet finalized the cost allocation.

Any amount the city would pay related to litigation costs would come from already budgeted general purpose funds, he said in an email.

The amount of legal fees charged to defend the case wasnt disclosed. The law firm representing the city in the case, Montgomery & Andrews, billed the citys insurance provider, Wells said.

No criminal charges resulted after the fatal shooting, which is still under review by the state Attorney Generals Office. That office was referred the case by the district attorneys office in Sandoval County. In April, the AGs office released 53 pages of records related to the Rio Rancho police investigation of the shooting.

The records showed that Lincoln and his older brother were in the kitchen by themselves the morning of the shooting, when the 4-year-old pushed a kitchen chair to a countertop to get chewing gun inside a cabinet and found the loaded gun on the top shelf. The older boy either was pulling the gun from its holster or pointing it up and unintentionally fired the gun, the records showed. The bullet hit his younger brother beneath his lip, exiting in the back of his head.

Their mother was in another room at the time tending to a newborn baby, the records showed, and their father was just waking up.

A GoFundMe page was set up for the family shortly after the shooting.

Back in April, a city spokeswoman said Rio Rancho wanted the Legislature in its upcoming session to enact a statutory fix to clarify the contradictions and ambiguities that currently exist in IPRA, the Childrens Code, and other sections of law including the victims rights provisions in the NM Constitution.

Wells told the Journal that modernizing IPRA, and concerns related to individual citizen privacy, has been an identified issue for the Rio Rancho Governing Body previously.

He said the members of the governing body will consider their priority legislation list/resolution for the 2023 legislative session on Dec. 15.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  An Albuquerque pastor has once again waded into New Mexicos gubernatorial race, saying in a recent sermon that Republican Mark Ronchetti had publicly misrepresented a previous discussion between the two of them about abortion.

Specifically, Steve Smothermon, senior pastor of Legacy Church, cited Ronchettis remarks during an Oct. 17 televised debate when the GOP candidate was asked about whether he had previously told the pastor his goal would be to end abortion in New Mexico.

Youd have to ask Pastor Smothermon that, but I told him everything Ive told everybody else in this (race), Ronchetti said during the debate. And that is that I am pro-life, but I believe this is a very personal issue and we need to treat it as such.

He also said he has never called for a complete abortion ban, an assertion he has also made in interviews.

But Smothermon appeared to dispute that in his recent sermon, in which he also insisted he had not betrayed Ronchetti since the churchs vetting of candidates is not intended to be confidential.

Folks, I assure you, he told me exactly what I said. Exactly. But he got on TV and said he didnt, Smothermon said in the sermon.

It doesnt matter what we say we believe, it matters what we do and that determines what we believe, he added.

Abortion has emerged as a hot-button issue in this years race for governor between Ronchetti and Michelle Lujan Grisham, the Democratic incumbent.

Lujan Grisham, who is seeking reelection to a second term, opposes limiting abortion rights and pushed lawmakers last year to repeal a long-dormant 1969 state law that banned abortion in most situations.

That law likely could have been reimposed in New Mexico after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned its landmark 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to an abortion and empowering states to set new restrictions.

Amid the national debate, Ronchetti has called for abortion to be banned after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with allowable exceptions in cases of rape, incest and when a mothers life is in jeopardy.

He has also said statewide voters should decide the issue via a constitutional amendment that would require legislative approval.

However, Smothermon told his massive congregation in July that Ronchetti believes pushing for a total ban would keep him from getting elected, so hes starting with a

less expansive proposal.

His goal would be to end abortion in New Mexico, just so you know, Smothermon said at the time. You say, how do I know that? Because I talked to him for hours.

In a subsequent statement, however, Smothermon said his remarks werent intended to convey what Ronchetti would do in office and that Ronchettis private remarks to him were not at odds with his campaign stance.

Smothermon has also been critical of Lujan Grisham, calling her a murderer and reprobate in his recent sermon for her stance on abortion.

With the Nov. 8 general election nearing, former President Donald Trump endorsed Ronchetti on Monday in a post on the social media site Truth Social.

In response, Ronchetti campaign spokesman Ryan Sabel cited Ronchettis support from other political figures, including former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

Over $100 million will start flowing into rural New Mexico for a massive effort aimed at boosting the availability of high-speed internet in the state.

The money was included in an infrastructure bill. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., traveled to Abiquiu Elementary on Monday to announce that Rio Arriba County will receive $23.6 million for a broadband project.

Its going to do exactly what we wanted to happen when we passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. And that is to make sure that we are taking internet to the communities, to the businesses, to the farmers and to the schools that need it, Leger Fernandez said. Because, without broadband, you are no longer part of the economy. Youre no longer part of the education system.

Lawmakers included $65 billion in the infrastructure law to expand affordable, high-speed internet across the U.S.

A spokesman for Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., said New Mexico will receive more than $100 million for broadband projects. Those projects include:

 $23.6 million for Kit Carson Electric Cooperative Inc. for a network that connects 2,693 people, 42 businesses, 34 farms and eight educational facilities to high-speed internet in Rio Arriba County.

 $25 million for Leaco Rural Telephone Cooperative Inc. to deploy a network to connect 2,970 people and 56 businesses to high-speed internet in Chaves and Lea counties.

 Nearly $35 million for Western New Mexico Telephone Company Inc. to build a network that connects 678 people, 10 businesses and a farm to high-speed internet in Catron, Grant and Hidalgo counties.

 $25 million for WNM Communications Corporation for a network that connects 3,093 people, 30 businesses, five farms and four educational facilities to the internet in Grant and Luna counties.

Thats a total of over $108 million that will be awarded to the four New Mexico-based companies. The money will flow through the U.S. Department of Agricultures Rural Development Reconnect Loan and Grant Program.

BroadbandNow, an industry website, said that 80.8% of New Mexico residents have access to 100Mbps broadband, ranking the state 43rd in the country.

Its a great use of public money because we cannot have an America that grows together if we do not have an America that has equal access to the basic foundations you need in an economy and in education, Leger Fernandez said. That is simply because we want everybody in America to have the same ability to succeed, regardless of whether you live in Chattanooga or Abiquiu.
SEOUL, South Korea  South Korean officials admitted responsibility and apologized on Tuesday for failures in preventing and responding to a Halloween crowd surge that killed more than 150 people and left citizens shocked and angry.

The government is facing growing public scrutiny over whether the crush Saturday night in Seouls Itaewon district, a popular nightlife neighborhood, could have been prevented and who should take responsibility for the countrys worst disaster in years.

National police chief Yoon Hee Keun said an initial investigation found there were many urgent calls from citizens notifying authorities about the potential danger of the crowd gathering in Itaewon. He said police officers who received the calls failed to handle them effectively.

I feel a heavy responsibility (for the disaster) as the head of one of the related government offices, Yoon said in a televised news conference. Police will do their best to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.

Yoon said police have launched an intense internal probe into the officers handling of the emergency calls and other issues, such as the on-the-spot response to the crowd surge in Itaewon that night.

Separately, South Koreas interior minister, emergency office chief, Seoul mayor and the head of a ward office that includes the Itaewon neighborhood all offered public apologies.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon apologized deeply and wept and briefly halted his news conference as he talked about the parent of a 20-year-old woman who was declared dead earlier in the day.

When I tried to comfort a person with a daughter hospitalized at the National Medical Center yesterday, they said their daughter would survive and they believed so, he said. But I heard she passed away this morning. I am sorry that my apology has come late.

The disaster  which left at least 156 people dead and 151 others injured  was concentrated in a narrow downhill alley in Itaewon. Witnesses described people falling on one another, suffering severe breathing difficulties and falling unconscious. They said rescuers and ambulances failed to reach the crammed alleys in time because the entire Itaewon area was packed with slow-moving vehicles and partygoers clad in Halloween costumes.

Most of the dead were in their 20s and 30s, and about two-thirds were women.

During a Cabinet council meeting Tuesday, President Yoon Suk Yeol acknowledged that South Korea lacks research on crowd management. He called for the use of drones and other high-tech resources to develop an effective crowd control capability, and said the government will soon meet with experts to review national safety rules.

The crowd surge is South Koreas deadliest disaster since a 2014 ferry sinking that killed 304 people and exposed lax safety rules and regulatory failures. Saturdays surge has raised public questions about what South Korea has done since then to prevent human-made disasters.

My heart is aching a lot as all the victims were like my grandchildren, 74-year-old Chung Kil-soon said after paying respects at a mourning station Tuesday. People say our country is an advanced country, but I dont think we are truly advanced.

After the Itaewon disaster, police launched a 475-member task force to find its cause.

Senior police officer Nam Gu-Jun told reporters Monday that officers have obtained videos taken by about 50 security cameras in the area and were analyzing video clips posted on social media. Nam said police had also interviewed more than 40 witnesses and survivors so far.

Police said they had sent 137 officers to maintain order during the Halloween festivities on Saturday, much more than the 34-90 officers mobilized in 2017, 2018 and 2019 before the pandemic. But some observers questioned whether the 137 officers were enough to handle the estimated 100,00 people gathered Saturday in Itaewon.

Adding more questions about the role of police was the fact that they sent 7,000 officers to another part of Seoul earlier Saturday to monitor dueling protests involving tens of thousands of people. Police also acknowledged that the 137 officers dispatched to Itaewon were primarily assigned to monitor crime, with a particular focus on narcotics use, not crowd control.

The death toll could rise as officials said that 29 of the injured were in serious condition. The dead included 26 foreign nationals from Iran, China, Russia, the United States, Japan and elsewhere.

President Yoon asked officials to provide the same government support to the bereaved families of the foreign victims as for the South Korean dead and injured people. He also thanked many world leaders for sending condolence messages.

The Itaewon area, known for its expat-friendly, cosmopolitan atmosphere, is the countrys hottest spot for Halloween events and parties, with young South Koreans taking part in costume competitions at bars, clubs and restaurants. Saturdays gathering was the biggest Halloween celebration in the area since the pandemic.

Halloween festivities in Itaewon have no official organizers. South Korean police said Monday they dont have any specific procedures for handling incidents such as crowd surges during an event that has no organizers.
MELBOURNE, Australia  French-bred six-year-old Gold Trip won the 162nd running of the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday ahead of Emissary and High Emocean over 3,200 meters in Australias most famous horse race.

One of five runners for co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in the race, Gold Trip was ridden by Mark Zahra and won by a length and a half.

More than 80,000 spectators packed Flemington race track under mostly rainy and cloudy conditions. It was the first time the grandstand held unlimited fans since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Favorite and English stayer Deauville Legend was fourth, and Realm of Flowers finished fifth.

From barrier 13, Zahra had Gold Trip settled among the back markers off a strong start by Serpentine. The race changed complexion about 900 meters from the finish when Tim Clark, riding Knights Order, picked up the pace.

Gold Trip claimed the lead just before the 300-meter mark, kicking clear before holding off a spirited charge from Emissary while High Emocean  also from the Maher and Eustace stable  came home late for third.

I feel like crying. Its unbelievable. What a day, Zahra said.

Hes a horse that when you go, you dont give him a chance to think about it. I was hoping no one would come near him. Its just elation when I crossed the line.

Zahra said he hoped Gold Trip could ambush his rivals late in the race.

I literally thought Im a bit far back here but my one plan was not to be too close because I thought if I used fuel early Id be weak late, Zahra said. As they jammed up, I got to travel up and up and I thought Im still traveling so good here.

I waited and waited and with the horse, Ive always said when you go youve got to go.

There were 22 horses in the field after two late scratches.

The race day was hit by two groups of protesters. Animal rights activists held signs calling for an end to the archaic sport of horse racing. The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses urged people to say Nup to the Cup, saying 139 racehorses died on Australian tracks in the past racing year.

In an unrelated incident, footage of an unidentified person allegedly breaking into the course ahead of the race surfaced. A video posted on social media appears to show the person pouring oil on a grassy area to protest toxic racing industry, but the track was not damaged.

Police also dealt with climate protesters outside the gates of the track, but there were no reports of arrests.

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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
KYIV, Ukraine  Russia reinforced its fighting force Tuesday with an annual fall draft of 120,000 men, and doubled the number of civilians its trying to evacuate in anticipation of a major Ukrainian push to recapture the strategically vital southern port city of Kherson.

Russian military officials have assured that conscripts to be called up over the next two months will not be sent to fight in Ukraine, including to the Kherson region, three other Ukrainian areas that Russia recently illegally annexed or to Crimea, which the Kremlin made part of Russia in 2014.

However, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War said the Russian Defense Ministry is attempting to deceive the Russian population into believing that autumn conscripts will not be sent to fight in Ukraine, likely to prevent draft dodging.

This years fall draft was delayed because of an extraordinary partial mobilization of 300,000 reservists that President Vladimir Putin ordered Sept. 21 specifically to bolster his Ukraine invasion force. While Russian officials have declared the partial mobilization complete, critics have warned it could resume after military enlistment offices are freed up from processing fall conscripts.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday that 87,000 of 300,000 reservists have been deployed for combat in Ukraine and that 3,000 military instructors with fighting experience in the country are training them.

Reports suggest that many of the mobilized reservists are inexperienced, were told to procure basic items such as medical kits and flak jackets themselves, and did not receive proper training before deployment. Some were killed within days. After Putins order, tens of thousands of men fled Russia to avoid serving in the military.

Some of the fresh troops have reportedly been sent to Kherson, on the 1,100-kilometer (684-mile) front line. Russian-installed authorities in Kherson, fearing a major Ukrainian counterattack, on Tuesday reported relocating 70,000 residents, and they expanded an evacuation area to people living within 15 kilometers (9 miles) of the Dnieper River.

The regions Kremlin-appointed governor, Vladimir Saldo, said the relocation of an additional 70,000 residents from the expanded evacuation zone would be completed this week and claimed it was ordered because Kyiv is preparing a massive missile strike on the Kakhovka hydroelectric station to flood Kherson.

Ukraines military on Tuesday described the new evacuations as forced displacement, and the Russian-installed government of the Kherson regional district where the Kakhovka hydroelectric station and associated dam and reservoir are located announced it would undertake a forced evacuation on Sunday. The Ukrainian military said the Kherson regional administration had been relocated to Skadovsk, 100 kms (62 miles) south of the city of Kherson.

In addition to the Kremlins military draft, it moved on another front to bolster its forces. Authorities in Belarus on Tuesday approved the creation of two joint troop training centers with Moscow on the territory of the east European country, which borders Ukraine. Russia has previously used Belarus, its long-standing and economically dependent ally, as a springboard to send troops and missiles into Ukraine. Kyiv fears the Belarusian army could be drawn directly into the war.

Elsewhere, concerns about radiation figured in two developments.

Experts from the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency inspected two Ukrainian sites that Russia identified as involved in its unfounded claims that Ukrainian authorities planned to set off radioactive dirty bombs in their own invaded country. International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said the inspections for evidence of dirty bombs would be completed soon.

Russias U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, claimed in a letter to the U.N. Security Council members last week that Ukraines nuclear research facility and mining company received direct orders from (President Volodymyr) Zelenskyys regime to develop such a dirty bomb.

Western nations have called Moscows repeated claim transparently false. Ukrainian authorities dismissed it as an attempt to distract attention from alleged Russian plans to detonate a dirty bomb as a way to justify an escalation of hostilities.

A second radiation concern involves fighting near Europes largest nuclear power plant. The IAEA has stationed monitors at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, where a radiation leak could have catastrophic consequences.

The Ukrainian presidents office said Tuesday that cities and towns around the plant experienced more heavy shelling. In Nikopol, a city which faces the plant from across the wide Dnieper River, more than a dozen apartment buildings, a kindergarten, and businesses were damaged, the office said.

Elsewhere on the battlefront, Russian strikes targeting eight regions of southeastern Ukraine killed at least four civilians and wounded four in 24 hours, Zelenskyys office said.

Russian shelling hit 14 towns and villages in the eastern Donetsk region Monday and Tuesday, destroying sections of railway track, damaging a power line and taking down mobile communications in some areas.

The shelling killed three civilians, the regions governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said. Donetsk is one of four regions Moscow illegally annexed last month, and continues to see fierce clashes as Russian forces press their grinding attack on the cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka.

A woman was killed after Russian rockets hit apartment buildings and a school in the southern city of Mykolayiv, its mayor reported Tuesday.

Ukraine was still grappling with the consequences of Mondays massive barrage of Russian strikes, which disrupted power and water supplies. Zelenskyy announced Tuesday night that water supply had been restored nationwide, and that for the majority of the population, the same is true for electricity, although he said planned blackouts are still possible to protect the system in nine regions.

In Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, subway service was suspended again on Tuesday, according to the subways Telegram page. No reason was given.

Separately, ships loaded with grain continued to depart Ukraine on Tuesday despite Russias suspension of its participation in a U.N.-brokered deal to deliver critical food supplies to countries facing hunger. The U.N. said three ships carrying 84,490 metric tons of corn, wheat and sunflower meal left through a humanitarian sea corridor.

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Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Mark Ronchetti for governor, the latest twist in a combative race thats drawn increasing national attention in the run-up to next weeks Election Day.

In a Monday post on the social media site Truth Social, Trump criticized incumbent Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for being weak on crime and border enforcement issues.

In contrast, he said Ronchetti, a Republican, would be tough & smart on crime, the border & everything else before adding that Ronchetti has his total endorsement.

Trump has not campaigned for Ronchetti in New Mexico  he last appeared in the state for a 2019 rally in Rio Rancho as president  and the endorsement was not solicited, according to the Ronchetti campaign.

Ronchetti campaign spokesman Ryan Sabel addressed the endorsement in a statement sent to the Journal.

Mark is supported by people from all walks of life and all different viewpoints  including Democratic sheriffs, a former Libertarian presidential candidate and New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, (former) United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and now former President Trump, Sabel said.

He also said Ronchetti is trying to win support from Democrats, Republicans and independents alike during a 42-stop tour across New Mexico leading up to Election Day.

However, Democrats seized on Trumps endorsement of Ronchetti in a state in which Trump was defeated by Democrat Joe Biden by 11 percentage points  or nearly 100,000 votes  in the 2020 presidential election.

Mark Ronchetti has been in lock-step with the MAGA GOP since day one, so its no surprise Trump is backing his campaign, said Christina Amestoy, senior communications advisor for the Washington, D.C.-based Democratic Governors Association.

Ronchetti faced questions from other Republicans during this years primary race about his loyalty to Trump, with some GOP rivals citing the former KRQE-TV meteorologist referring to Trump as the orange one during a 2019 climate symposium.

In response, Ronchettis campaign said the comments about Trump were old jokes taken out of context.

In addition, a spokesman said in April that Ronchetti will vote for the Republican Partys presidential nominee in 2024  whether it ends up being Trump or someone else.

But Ronchetti has also sought to distance himself from Trump in some ways, saying in response to a Journal candidate questionnaire this fall that he does not believe Trumps unsubstantiated claims that he was the rightful winner of the 2020 election.

Meanwhile, the Trump endorsement comes after Vice President Kamala Harris made a quick stop in New Mexico last week to attend a private fundraiser for Lujan Grisham and take part in a moderated discussion about reproductive rights.

President Joe Biden will also travel to the state Thursday, when hes expected to take part in an Albuquerque rally with Lujan Grisham aimed at energizing supporters before the Nov. 8 general election.

Several Republican governors have stumped for Ronchetti in New Mexico, including Youngkin, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
SAN FRANCISCO  The man accused of breaking into House Speaker Nancy Pelosis home, beating her husband and seeking to kidnap her told police he was on a suicide mission and had plans to target other California and federal politicians, according to a Tuesday court filing.

David DePape was ordered held without bail during his arraignment Tuesday in San Francisco Superior Court. His public defender entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. It was his first public appearance since the early Friday attack.

In the court filing, prosecutors detailed the attack in stark terms as part of their bid to keep DePape behind bars. Paul Pelosi was knocked unconscious by the hammer attack and woke up in a pool of his own blood, the filing said.

DePapes intent could not have been clearer, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins wrote in the filing: He forced his way into the Pelosi home intending to take the person third in line to the presidency of the United States hostage and to seriously harm her. Thwarted by Speaker Pelosis absence, Defendant continued on his quest and would not be stopped, culminating in the near fatal attack on Mr. Pelosi.

Without being questioned, DePape told officers and medics at the scene that he was sick of the lies coming out of Washington D.C., the filing said. I didnt really want to hurt him, but you know this was a suicide mission. Im not going to stand here and do nothing even if it cost me my life.

DePape allegedly told first responders he had other targets, including a local professor as well as several prominent state and federal politicians and members of their families. The filing did not name any potential targets.

This case demands detention, Jenkins wrote. Nothing less.

Wearing orange jail clothing and with his right arm in a sling, DePape only spoke during his arraignment Tuesday to tell Judge Diane Northway how to pronounce his last name (dih-PAP).

After the hearing, DePapes public defender Adam Lipson said he looks forward to providing him with a vigorous legal defense. He said his 42-year-old clients shoulder was dislocated during the arrest.

Were going to be doing a comprehensive investigation of what happened. Were going to be looking into Mr. DePapes mental state, and Im not going to talk any further about that until I have more information, Lipson said.

He later said he was pleased that Paul Pelosi was improving and urged the public not to pass judgment on what he called a complicated situation.

The attack on 82-year-old Paul Pelosi sent shockwaves through the political world just days before the hotly contested midterm elections. Threats against lawmakers and elections officials have been at all-time highs in this first nationwide election since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, and authorities have issued warnings about rising extremism in the U.S.

DePape faces state charges of attempted murder, burglary and elder abuse. He also faces federal charges including attempted kidnapping of a U.S. official.

While prosecutors have not offered a timeline prior to Fridays events, Jenkins previously told The Associated Press that the attack appeared premeditated.

This was not something that he did at the spur of the moment, she told the AP on Monday.

The court filing said DePape smashed his shoulder through a glass window early Friday in the back of the Pelosis Pacific Heights home and confronted a sleeping Paul Pelosi, clad only in boxer shorts and a pajama top.

Are you Paul Pelosi? DePape said, standing over him around 2 a.m. holding a hammer and zip ties. Wheres Nancy? Wheres Nancy?

A groggy Pelosi told DePape that his wife was not home and would be gone for several days. DePape then allegedly threatened to tie Paul Pelosi up  the first of 10 such threats, the filing says.

Paul Pelosi was eventually able to call 911 from the homes bathroom, where his cellphone was charging. While speaking to the dispatcher, DePape was gesturing and telling Pelosi to hang up, the filing said.

Pelosi then told the dispatcher that he did not need police, fire or medical assistance but he instead asked for the Capitol Police because they are usually at the house protecting his wife.

Moments later the dispatcher heard him interacting with a man and Paul Pelosi said Uh, he thinks everythings good. Uh, Ive got a problem, but he thinks everythings good.

Two officers who raced to the home witnessed DePape hit Pelosi with the hammer at least once, striking him in the head, the filing states. Jenkins has said the assault was captured on the officers body cameras.

Speaker Pelosi was in Washington at the time and under the protection of her security detail, which does not extend to family members. She quickly returned to San Francisco, where her husband was hospitalized and underwent surgery for a skull fracture and other injuries.

In Washington, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger provided a sobering update Tuesday of security protocols for members of Congress.

Manger said that although many improvements have been made since the Capitol attack, including the hiring of nearly 280 officers by the end of this year, there is still a lot of work to do.

We believe todays political climate calls for more resources to provide additional layers of physical security for members of Congress, he said.

Manger said the attack on Pelosis husband was an alarming reminder of the dangerous threats elected officials and public figures face during todays contentious political climate.

___

Dazio reported from Los Angeles.

___

Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Michael Balsamo in Washington, DC also contributed to this report.
On Saturday, Nov. 12, three of New Mexicos most experienced physicians involved in treating the ever-changing landscape of prostate cancer will speak at the 11th Annual Prostate Cancer Support Association of New Mexico (PCSANM) conference.

The event, which is free, will be the first held in-person since 2019 and will be held from 9 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 114 Carlisle Blvd. SE. Anyone interested may attend in-person or remotely via Zoom.

The organization has been active for more than 30 years and at some point, back before I was involved, the decision was made to start having these conferences, said Rod Geer, PCSANM chairperson. The goal of the organization is a pretty simple one, the group exists to provide men and their families in New Mexico with the most current information about prostate cancer detection and treatment and to provide emotional support, following diagnosis and during treatment.

Dr. Damara Kaplan, a urologist with the New Mexico Cancer Center, will begin the conference with a discussion on diagnosis and staging and the first steps along prostate cancers treatment path.

Kaplan is going to talk about what the man who suspiciously may have prostate cancer or have just learned that they have been diagnosed with it, Geer said. The first kind of discussion you would have for instance is getting a biopsy.

Then, Dr. Thomas Schroeder, a radiation oncologist with the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, will emphasize local treatment of the cancer contained within the prostate gland.

The second presentation is for a person who has already been diagnosed and wanting to learn about prostate cancer they have, and the various treatments, Geer said.

Dr. Jose Avitia, a medical oncologist with New Mexico Cancer Center, will discuss cancer that has spread throughout the body and disease that reoccurs after initial treatment.

The third presentation is the person who would get treated at some point whether that be one or two years later or 10 years later, Geer said.

As a male, it is never too early to get tested.

When you reach the middle 40s start talking with your doctor about doing an annual physical for instance, Geer said.  having a PSA test, could be crucial to your long-term health.

It is extremely critical that men get tested before it is too late.

A very important thing is for men to get educated about their prostate, but also recognize the value of early screening and testing, Geer said. Thats actually true for just about any cancer, and what we believe very firmly is that most men should be screened as early as possible.

Additional details about the conference, including how to join via Zoom, are available at pcsanm.org.

PCSANM also has a support group and the office is located at 2533 Virginia St. NE, Suite C, with office hours from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Thursday.

We meet the first and third Saturdays of the month at Bear Canyon Senior Center and do a variety of things in those meetings, Geer said. Sometimes we have what we call a sharing session, and that quickly helps the new person realize that what they are talking about is something that just about everybody in the room may have experienced as well.

Call 505-254-7786 for more information.
Considered one of the most beautiful women in the world, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been straddling the world of films and fashion since 1991. Known for her mesmerising beauty, Aishwarya has been an epitome of grace and diginity and has mostly stayed away from any controversy throughout her career (barring the Salman Khan-Vivek Oberoi episode). Some consider her to be an ice maiden and not very responsive. However, she has built a legion of fans with her beauty, graceful dance moves and some wonderful performances.

Aishwarya won an international supermodel contest in 1991, which was organised by Ford. She received huge recognition for her Pepsi ad in 1993, where she appeared alongside Aamir Khan and Mahima Chaudhary. A year later, in 1994, she won the Miss World crown, while Sushmita Sen was crowned as Miss Universe.

She made her foray intp the film industry in Mani Rathnams Tamil film Iruvar. Her first Hindi film was Aur Pyar Ho Gaya. Aishwarya didnt see much commercial success in Bollywood in her initial days, being almost dismissed as a pretty doll by critics. However, she went on to prove her mettle in films like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Chokher Bali, Taal, Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai, Devdas, Jodha Akbar, Guru, Sarbjit, among others.

Ever since her marriage to her Guru co-star Abhishek Bachchan and subsequently becoming a mother to a daughter, Aishwaryas presence in films became sporadic and has not been very noteworthy. Nevertheless, she impressed in the role of a sister fighting to free her brother from a Pakistan prison in Sarbjit and in the role of a poet in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Aishwarya also starred in Mani Rathnams epic hit movie of 2022  Ponniyin Selvan  1.

Beauty and the brands

Given her ethereal beauty and dignity, Aishwarya is a favourite of brands that stand for elegance, luxury, and timeless appeal. She has been a long time brand ambassador for beauty brand LOreal, and has also been associated with Longines, Cadbury Dark Milk, Nakshatra Diamond Jewellery, and Kalyan Jewellers, among others.

Take a look at some ad campaigns featuring Aishwarya below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G75YF6Bq1hI&t=1s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_J7Zeqye_k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsycmvObt5E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaJX4QbG4sI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEy_Pisk4DQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XktIuUOb8d0&feature=emb_imp_woyt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeXal9Qr7EA&feature=emb_imp_woyt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLUR370B-jg

Aishwarya has also been a regular at the Cannes Film festival for two decades now  appearing to promote her films as well as part of being the LOreal team.

Not a social media butterfly

Contrary to most movie stars, Aishwarya has a limited presence on social media. Though she is on Instagram and has amassed a follower base of 10.6 million, she is not available on either Facebook or Twitter. She has always shielded her private life, though she frequently features on the social media feeds of her husband Abhishek Bachchan and father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan. In fact, her last post was with director Mani Rathnam to promote the film Ponniyin Selvan  1 on social media.
With the changing world dynamics around digital media, it has been observed that Public Relations has expanded its strategies and workings in line with expanding digital media presence for organisations and groups.

In conversation with Adgully, Kunal Gupta  PR and Communications Strategist, speaks at length about change in the PR industry, how is PR industry transitioning from traditional to digital medium, challenges faced by PR practitioners and much more.

You have been in the PR industry for over 16 years now. How has PR evolved in the last 10 to 15 years, and what are some of the significant changes that you have noticed?

Until two decades back, public relations professionals heavily relied on fax machines, in-person meetings, and phone calls to engage with the media and help a brand reach the outside world. Fast forward to the present times, the PR landscape has transformed drastically. Long gone are the days when PR practitioners like us disseminated a hard copy of a press release or brand profile to media houses with the intent to convey the brand message across multiple channels. The onset of digital mediums like Telegram and WhatsApp has led to a paradigm shift in the industry  whether it is with respect to researching media targets or establishing new connections, sending out a brand pitch to circulating highly-awaited coverage. Take for instance the Media & PR Folks group on WhatsApp  my brainchild that connects media and PR professionals from across the country. The group acts as a medium for exchanging journalist co-ordinates and can be used as a platform for reaching out sector specific journalists for PR professionals looking to explore opportunities for their client. This is a classic example of how transitioning to the digital world has made access to information easy.

Having said this, one thing that has not changed is the need for fortifying relationships with the media that matter to your brand. It may be tempting, especially for newcomers, to send text messages and pitch emails to a journalist, but it is most likely that they will go unnoticed amid an overflowing email inbox unless you share an exclusive relationship with the members of the media. Ultimately, embracing the changing episodes in PR is essential to succeed, but weaving traditional tactics with emerging modern practices will help you and your brand sustain and rise above the crowd.

What are some of the challenges you faced in your journey while dealing with clients or journalists?

Given that the media is narrowing and the reach of the internet is increasingly expanding, brands  both start-ups and well-established companies  are wanting to be noticed right from day one. But realistically, even the best planned and implemented media relations efforts can lead to poor or no coverage if the brand lacks presence, relevance, credibility, and differentiation. Here is where the role of PR professionals comes into play. It is important for professionals to set the right expectations and make the client aware of what the potential outcome might be during and after outreach.

A timeline of at least 6 months is ideal to be brought to build a brand in the eyes of the media. What helps in this context and yet remains a challenge is arranging non-agenda-based meetings among members of media and the client.

Another persistent challenge faced by PR professionals is delivering quick responses to media requests. Though the importance of time-critical queries is known among the fraternity, the need to deliver responses with the same urgency is barely realised by clients, leading to a loss of opportunity and deterioration of media relations. With regards to experiencing challenges when dealing with journalists, the larger problem occurs when a reporter inaccurately portrays a brand story or misrepresents an article to grab eyeballs. If there is an unintended error, reporters often agree to correct it. Unfortunately, the journalists also refuse to rectify the story if it deems fit, even when the information is blown out of proportion. Here, too, having strong media contacts helps!

Has India adapted to the changes in digital as compared to other countries around the globe?

Digital transformation has come a long way from being a mere loosely-used corporate buzzword to a present-day strategic priority. But the digital universe in the PR domain is still in its infancy as compared to international markets. Though professionals in the industry have come to grips with the digital era and progressive brands have begun to take note of online mediums, most are yet to completely embrace and capitalise on the digital mediums. In simple terms, the ratio of preference between print and digital remains 60:40 as of today! But despite the inclination towards print (newspapers and magazines), brands are slowly realising the traction they can gain via digital mediums and are thus optimising their spends in the same direction.

The upside is - whether it is LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube, a single post with a brand mention from a considerably reputed journalist is considered equally noteworthy coverage as any other medium would offer. That being said, we  both brands and PR professionals  are still a long way from comprehending the potential of digital PR, which holds enormous promise. The onus is on us to leverage new practices to boost growth and competitiveness for brands.

What are your suggestions to clients who are dealing with PR for the first time?

PR is a great tool for brands looking to further their reach and grab the attention of potential customers and other stakeholders. For new brands, especially, it is essential to invest in PR, as it can help build an industry presence and brand identity. In the process of employing a PR agency or independent expert, it is extremely important for brands to facilitate a realistic timeline to observe the measurable outcome. The ability to build awareness in the media, craft an engaging brand story, and garner authentic coverage are huge PR assets that require time. PR, by its very nature, is not an overnight job. So, clients, along with their PR professionals, must take into account the following strategies for PR success:

Focus on targeting and encompassing various news angles

Be proactive and responsive, and build strong media relations

Diversify your media outreach across different platforms like the financials, mainlines, online, and trade publications

Keep up with the trends in the media fraternity

Give importance to events, conferences, and forums to build a robust network

There is still a strong belief that PR in India still works on strong media relations. What is your view on the same?

I completely agree. PR and media relations go hand in hand. In the Indian market, especially, it is essential for PR professionals to establish and fortify relations with the media in order to serve clients better. If you look around, there are thousands to lakhs of brands seeking media presence through diverse agencies. In this highly-competitive world, if I want to make my brand cut through the noise; disseminating releases, publishing paid articles, and making announcements alone will not make an impact. What will certainly deliver tangible results, that is, positive coverage for the brand, is your contacts in the media world.

When you invest time in identifying the relevant media channels for your brand, you increase the brands chances of reaching the targeted audience, which invariably improves the potential customer base for the brand. The newbies in the industry should especially spend time building better relationships with journalists. These efforts taken at the foundation level will go a long way.
Nearly 700 million Indians use the Internet regularly. Indians make digital payments and engage in e-commerce worth around 350 million (as per IAMAI). In fact, during the pandemic period, this number of users involved in online transactions increased more than 2X from 230 million in India in 2019.

This rapid rise in the use of the Internet and changing customer expectations (speed, transparency, privacy, etc.) have brought into even sharper focus the role of customer experience as a strategic differentiator for brands.

In an exclusive conversation with Adgully, Udit Agarwal, VP and Global Head of Marketing, Exotel, speaks at length about customer engagement trends and how Exotel is helping brands build a world of connections for a strategic advantage.

How has the landscape changed for brands post COVID-19?

The pandemic significantly increased adoption of e-commerce platforms in the country. Consumers who were previously hesitant towards online shopping and making online payments have now wholeheartedly accepted the phenomenon. From payment, to ordering and delivery, to customer engagement, business processes have moved almost entirely online. India has left many advanced economies behind in IT-enabled business practices. The use of AI and Machine Learning has become an integral part of business processes.

The massive flux in online shopping and online interactions with businesses has created a pressing need for brands to have efficient systems for customer communications across voice, SMS and WhatsApp. Businesses which have implemented remote or hybrid working practices just cannot do without adopting cloud-based solutions that not only help service their clients, but also offer privacy and security.

Today, customers are spoilt for choice like never before, and businesses which have been able to service them have a distinct advantage.

What are the key customer engagement trends to look out for?

Customer expectations have moved into an altogether different territory post-COVID. They have gotten used to faster deliveries, variety in products, easy payment methods, and expect 24/7 redressal of any concerns.

There are a few trends that will stand out in the near future. Data analytics, we believe, has become a big game changer. Through the use of Customer Data Platforms (CDPs), which act as aggregators that track activities across customer touchpoints, one can develop robust customer profiles that provide detailed insights into consumer behaviour. These tools provide a high degree of accuracy in predicting future trends, which are the basis of creating focused and targeted campaigns, as well as customising products and services.

The other trend that businesses need to be smart about is being omnichannel. Web, brick, logistic-agility, social media presence  are all essential for a business to flourish. Businesses will have to ensure a strong presence in multiple spaces  be they physical or virtual.

Advances in telephony have also made it essential for businesses to be agile about their communications strategies. AI-enabled chatbots will need to supplement voice-only calls in sales and marketing practices. Advancements in Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology will drive this change and allow for seamless customer interactions. We believe that bots will be an important part of the customer journey going forward, acting as companions to human agents to enhance customer support. In the post-pandemic world, there has been an irrational exuberance about AI-enabled solutions doing away with human intervention in support activities altogether. At Exotel, the belief is that they will become a more prominent tool in the customer engagement space, but are not meant to substitute human interaction.

The first customer contact will be a bot, further assisted by chats with humans and then, if required, a call with the customer service agent. We envisage that in the future, the communication between the customer and company will be seamless, frictionless and move across channels: SMS, messaging apps, voice and video.

Customer engagement is an essential marketing tool. What are the pitfalls that brands should therefore avoid?

Notification fatigue is a real challenge when it comes to customer engagement. Too many messages, emails and pop-up notifications irk customers, who are already stretched for time and attention due to information overload. However, the old adage out of sight is out of mind, is also true. Ensuring an optimum mix of being visible, but not intrusive is extremely important.

Privacy concerns should also be kept in mind, not just from the point of view of data protection laws, but increasing customer awareness and demand for transparent business operations.

Navigating this maze can be difficult not just for start-ups, but also for legacy businesses  sometimes even more so for the latter. Professional expertise and guidance on how best to use the latest technology and tools is absolutely essential.

What can brands do to prepare for the festive surge?

After 2 years, the world is moving back to a semblance of normalcy. COVID-19 fatigue is finally wearing off, and with restrictions being removed, the exuberance amongst people to participate in festivities is evidently and clearly palpable.

The festive season necessitates e-commerce businesses to act with agility to target their audience better than their competition and have robust customer communications systems in place to handle the massive influx of engagements and enquiries. Every year, around this time, we see tremendous growth in activity with our clients in the last-mile delivery space.

With WhatsApps capabilities in handling business communications growing, brands must leverage the tool to be where their customers interact and build end-to-end commerce journeys through delivering personalised messages at scale.

It is also of utmost importance for brands to begin incorporating AI-powered tools in their CX suite to enable 24x7 support. Self-service bots prove to be useful in resolving simple demands and also may route customers to the right agent for more complex queries.

Please share some interesting cases of brands such as Ola, Swiggy and the role that Exotel has played in helping manage their customer engagement Exotel can be described as the Lego of communications. In simple words, what value does Exotel bring to brands, especially D2C brands?

Exotel enables customisation of customer engagement. As a fullstack customer engagement platform, Exotel has built business communication tools that justify the scale of various brands. The aim behind this was that companies must not lose any customers, due to inefficient strategies or unanswered calls or messages.

Our cloud-telephony solutions have benefited businesses like Swiggy, where speed of response is all important. Automated calls to restaurants once an order is placed; number-masking to ensure that even if a restaurant or a delivery agent needs to call the customer, their number remains private; and verifying Cash on Delivery Orders (CODs) to weed out bogus orders are just some of the solutions that Exotel has enabled for Swiggy.

Number masking was also an essential requirement for cab-aggregator Ola, and Exotel had the solution to ensure that while their drivers could call customers when required, they wouldnt get to know the number that they were calling. Additionally, Exotel built a smart IVR solution for Ola, which enabled them to track that drivers were aware about new features, as well as fully cognizant with the training videos that Ola regularly shares with its driver partners.

We would say that we add value to the brand in the entire chain of customer engagement right from getting leads, to converting them into sales to sustaining customer loyalty for the company. We strive to help companies enjoy high brand equity in the market and interact with their clients in the best possible manner.
GPPL has acquired the majority stake in Eye Media Networks Pvt Ltd, a digital media agency having offices across Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Ahead of the acquisition, GPPL hopes to strengthen its business and enter new markets with new zeal.

In light of substantial expansion, GPPL will concentrate on advancing its business by focusing on consumer insights and interests. With more opportunities to explore in terms of the digital ecosystem, marketing 3.0, and advertising in the metaverse, GPPL aims to reach its target audience in further regions of the country.

We understood during the very initial meetings with the Eye Media team that it is a perfect complement to GPPL in this transformation phase of the industry. The robustness and the vision will strengthen our path for the team and the clients, said Anjali Chauhan, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, GPPL

Our core focus will be on propelling better outcomes that enable our clients to grow. With Eye Media's strength now, we possess more power in digital and creative transformation. She added.

A full-service digital creative agency with a reputation for innovative ideas, GPPL envisages itself to be a renowned global leader in digital marketing cosmos. Their mission is to be a trusted, favoured, and respected long-term partner for top clients while fostering employee development and satisfaction at work. GPPL will use this partnership as one of its stepping stones toward achieving its objective.

Mr.Saurabh Gupta, Founder and Managing Director of GPPL added, After several meetings with the Eye Media Founding team we realised that they complement us and do exactly what we do. Our synergies matched and over the next few meetings we decided to acquire them.

Mr.Umanng Mathur the Founder of Eye Media Networks shared, We are happy and overwhelmed to be associated with GPPL. Together we will be able to reach a larger audience and work together to get more clients. Creatively we will be able to enhance our minds and deliver innovative content. This is a great opportunity for us and we are excited to be working together.

Eye Media Networks Pvt Ltd, a company that started in 2015 as an advertising and digital marketing platform, serving customers from a variety of sectors, including Lotus, Sun Pharma, Indiabulls Pharma, Weikfield, Reli spray, and Adani (Belvedere club).

Established in 2015 GPPL operates under an adaptive thinking framework. As of 2022, they have completed over 160 projects for a variety of clientele. Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra are among the states where GPPL has a presence. In the upcoming year, they anticipate growth in the eastern and southern markets and likely in AMEA regions as well.
South Indias most celebrated legacy Biryani brand, Dindigul Thalappakatti, launches brand films in three languages- Kannada, Malayalam and Tamil focussing on time-tested culinary legacy and heritage passed down from generations. The legendary brand is known for authentic Thalappakatti biryani crafted with artfully blended spices that trace back over 65 years. Parallel to the narrative, the brand film also introduces the new tagline Our Secret Recipes Served with Love, that echo the sentiment of DT, tailor-made to resonate with each of the markets where the brand enjoys customer patronage.

Conceptualised and directed by Group M's Msix, the brand film highlights the culinary experience offered by DT, while connecting the consumers with cultural nuances of South Indias authentic non-vegetarian flavours. While Biryani remains at the heart of DT, the brand offers authenticity coupled with variety. The films capture the simple, candid and true-to-life- brand heritage that mirrors DTs warm and inviting brand persona. In line with the market segmentation, the brand films for Karnataka, Kerala and Tamilnadu outline aspects around the origin, legacy, consumer demographics and brand perception in each of the markets.

Speaking on the brand films Mr. Nagasamy Dhanabalan, Managing Director of Dindigul Thalappakatti Restaurants shares As we grow in scale and operations, building a connection with consumers is our paramount goal. Through these brand films, we aim to provide Dindigul Thalappakatti loyalists with a closer look at our heritage and make them a part of the brands journey. The tagline, Our Secret Recipes Served with Love mirrors the brand ethos and our focus on heirloom recipes that have stood the test of time. In a diverse marketplace like ours, it is very important to gain mindshare through meaningful communication that instils a sense of pride in the brand. We are excited to bring a slice of our history to our consumers, served with a modern twist

The storyline for each of the films opens with the origin of DT and further goes on to highlight consumer insights in each of the markets. For Tamil Nadu, the focus is on owning years of legacy as well as the roots of the brand. The Bangalore- centric film showcases DT as a go-to option for people on a quest for authentic, South- Indian non-vegetarian delicacies. In a stark parallel, the Kerala narrative highlights how DT is bringing authentic Dindigul cuisine to the state which is known for its culinary diversity.

Subhamay Mukhopadhyay, Managing Partner, mSix&Partners said, For over 65 years, Thalappakatti has proudly served consumers traditional Dindigul Biryanis, based on its secret recipes. Having handled both media and creative duties for Dindigul Thalappakatti, we have enjoyed a long-standing partnership. This enables our teams to use dynamic data to produce customized creative routes that are aligned with the brand objective in their respective core markets of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Bangalore. With our comprehensive analysis of the video consumption patterns of Biryani lovers across multiple screens, we want to help Dindigul Thalappakatti bring smiles to all Biryani enthusiasts. The results of all the analysis are the 3 commercials we produced for them. All three commercials convey the brand story.

With a 360-degree approach, the brand film will go live on Television, Print, Digital, Radio, OOH and Cinema.
PrepInsta, Indias most popular and visited placement website, has announced the appointment of Vaibhav Jain as its new Chief of Staff- Marketing and Strategy. Vaibhav brings an industry experience in Content Management, Marketing and Production to his new role at PrepInsta. Taking on his new part, he would be responsible for fueling PrepInstas subscription growth among first and second-year students. He will also carve out the target audience's placement approach to widen their horizon. Vaibhav will also look into adding several new courses to the platform t8o help first and second-year students from non-CS IT backgrounds stay up to date on the latest technologies and innovations.

With a degree in B.Tech Computer Science and Engineering, Vaibhav previously worked as a Technical Content Intern and Technical Content Lead at PrepInsta, where he helped the company establish a technical team vertical and increase growth and revenue through performance marketing. He has contributed to the brand's growth over the period and now takes on new responsibilities to enable other facets.

Atulya Kaushik, Co-Founder, and CEO, PrepInsta, said, Marketing and strategy are two significant variables that affect a companys growth and development. Our responsibility to our stakeholders and our promise to facilitate the best service possible can only be realised through a strong strategy and marketing. Vaibhavs broad experience in marketing and consulting will not only supplement this critical business vertical but will also aid in strengthening our offerings which surely will add value to our business. I wish Vaibhav the best in his new position.



I started at PrepInsta as an intern in the content team 3.5 years ago and have come a long way with my sheer dedication and hard work. Its exhilarating to be a part of PrepInsta as it continues to grow in the Ed-tech industry. The companys steady evolution trajectory, from humble beginnings to becoming a robust technology-equipped upskilling platform, is truly impressive. I envision PrepInsta as one of the top Ed-tech firms in India, and I am excited to contribute to this growth and make the experience in the organisation as enriching as possible, said, Vaibhav Jain, Chief of Staff- Marketing and Strategy, PrepInsta.

PrepInsta is a one-stop placement destination, with the primary goal of addressing Indias current disparity in job prospects. PrepInsta, through its product PrepInsta Prime, trains students in the entire process of placement preparation, skill development, coding learning, and interview prepping. PrepInsta offers 200+ courses which increase the chance of students getting a high-paying job. Any interested student can enrol by subscribing to Prepinsta Prime, and gain access to courses such as AI/ Machine Learning, Cyber Security, Coding courses in C/C++, Competitive Coding, Ethical Hacking, Cyber Security, Python, and DSA. PrepInsta also recently announced the addition of new courses to its Prime module. The new courses include FAANG placement preparation, service-based company placement, web development, data analytics, Power BI, and Salesforce.
PVR NEST, the CSR arm of Indias leading film exhibition company, PVR Limited in association with Municipal Corporation of Delhi today dedicated a large public health infrastructure, Garima Grih to women and children in Delhis slums and disadvantaged sections of the community. Garima Grih is designed to provide safe, sanitation and hygiene spaces along with skill development and income generation opportunities for empowering women of marginalized population. It will serve multifaceted needs of the community residing in Jawahar Camp, Chuna Bhatti Camp and Harijan Camp in Kirti Nagar comprising a user base of more than 10 lac annually. The First of the Garima Grih in the city was inaugurated today at Jawahar Camp, Kirti Nagar.

One of the most complex challenges our country is facing today is the pace of urbanization. The urban population is growing with migration to cities adding to the pressure on cities. Policies to manage urban growth need to focus on the vulnerable groups for housing, education, health care, livelihood and safe environment. High density of population instills fears of catching communicable diseases living in slums that are unregulated and have congested conditions characterized by four air and no sunlight. Delhi is projected to continue growing and to become the most populous city in the world around 2028. The citys significant population lives in slums among substandard conditions aggravated by dirty water, clogged and open drains, narrow lanes, cramped houses, heaps of garbage devoid of basic necessities like proper sanitation and water supply.

Garima Grih will cater to the needs of this section of society and play a contributory role in Urbanism. It will bring about a basic change in the health and sanitation habits of the inhabitants of this diverse population group. It will lead them to interact with the environment in a positive manner being a part of a liveable sustainable community. Developed on the basis of a thorough understanding of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), Garima Grih will protect the citys underprivileged population, enhance their social well-being to live a decent life with access to basic services. Garima Grih is aligned to the governments Smart Cities Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission and The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT 2.0) and National Skill Development Mission.

Commenting on the launch of Garima Grih, Ms. Deepa Menon, Founder Head, PVR NEST said, The social relevance and the impact which the Pink Centres created inspired us to take an ambitious step towards expanding the scope of our Safe Centres catering to a wider demographic and bring disadvantaged communities to the mainstream. Urban spaces like Garima Grih, a one-of-its-kind unique concept of multi-utility safe centre have the ability to create sustainable jobs which in turn leads to socio-economic development among women.

Garima Grih is completely accessible through ramps and is inclusive (friendly for Persons with Disabilities friendly, senior citizen and children). Women can get access to Menstrual Hygiene products through a Sanitary Napkin Vending Machine and can dispose them in a most sustainable way through incinerators. Besides toilets, there are changing rooms, bathing and handwashing areas. It has a Common Services Centre Jan Seva Kendra offering digital services for public completely run by women. The Women Empowerment Centre will be used for skill development of women teaching them essential skills for earning their livelihood. Additionally there is a covered open space for women to take rest after a hard days work which adds up as an area to run capacity building workshops for increasing or developing skills and competencies of the neighborhood community. Towards meeting the skill development objective, 200 unique stakeholders will be provided computer skills, 100 reading and writing skills with over 2000 women expected to be skilled in the next 3 years. Garima Grih will enlist the support of multidisciplinary organizations such as Water Aid India, Deakin University, Lady Irwin College, NIFT, Read India and PVR Pictures to realize its objectives.

Shashanka Ala (IAS) Deputy Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (Karol Bagh Zone) said,

PVR NEST has been a sustainable excellence partner running various programs at its 20 Pink Centres in Delhi contributing to the development and empowerment of women in the community. We are extremely pleased that our partnership has progressed over the years to eventually take the shape of a project of such magnitude. The location of the complex is extremely strategic with a densely populated community reaping immense benefits from the multifaceted role that Garima Grih will deliver.

PVR NEST in association with Municipal Corporation of Delhi and National Commission of Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) operates 20 Pink Centres in Delhi that provide free-to-use, women-exclusive sanitation facilities managed by well-trained women sanitation workers known as WASH Champions. These centres are considered as Beyond-Toilet facilities because they offer essential amenities such as grooming space, resting/reading space, bathing facility, breast-feeding space, changing room and menstrual hygiene products. These safe accessible spaces uphold the right to hygiene, dignity and safety among women. During the covid outbreak in 2021, with several vital facilities being shut, Pink Centres continued to operate with covid protocols thanks to the immense courage and determination displayed by these WASH Champions. In its endeavor to make sanitation equitable, the centres have garnered 5 Lakh + users.

Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Joint Managing Director, PVR Limited and the CSR Committee Member of PVR NEST who built a strong foundation and a shared vision for PVR NEST said, The PPP model is a sustainable development model that can be replicated across the country. We feel proud that our Pink Centres have becomes a model of quality sanitation and playing a role in nation building while meeting the social development goals of government schemes.

PVR Cinemas has been serving the communities where it operates for more than 25 years. PVR's mission is centered on serving the community, and this value is at the core of everything it does. Through its CSR arm, PVR NEST over the last 16 years has made a vital contribution to various sustainable community development programmes such as Aaanchal Care and Protection Centres, Child Friendly Railway Stations, Paalan and Pink Centres through the immensely successful Public Private Partnership model.

Women and children are some of the most vulnerable members of societies in India and across the world. Health, safety and well-being are pivotal facets which get compromised due to lack of accessibility to toilets and Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM). The lack of awareness of MHM, taboos and inaccessibility to toilets have compounded the problem with women and girls taking refuge in open defecation, becoming more susceptible to Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and eventually Cervical Cancer.

Pink Centres have helped in attaining resilience from safety and hygiene concerns regarding open defecation, UTIs, zero inclusivity for PWDs/transgender persons, women safety and privacy at the public toilet facilities. They have accounted for behavioral shifts among the users which resulted in their higher consciousness towards sanitation and increase in the usage of sanitary pads. These centres further paved the way for over 100 WASH Champions to lead a dignity-rich, sustainable living through employment opportunity and the skilling workshops have empowered them to get better opportunities in future.
A fierce battle is underway in Michigan over Proposal 2, the Right to Voting Policies Amendment (also known as the Promote the Vote initiative). If this passes in the midterm election on November 8, it would embed into the state constitution practices and procedures that would strike a death blow to the notion of election security and integrity. Amendments to the constitution are nearly impossible to change. It would be permanent.

Grassroots Republican conservatives have called for an all hands on deck approach to fight this proposal. They have instituted the Manhattan Project, named after the American led effort in World War II to develop an atomic weapon so as to prevail against the Axis enemies.

The real intent and danger of Proposal 2 has been in full view from the get-go for those who have read the fine print of this initiative. But for those people who have not, the deceptive marketing and promotion of this proposal has confused them and is leading them to approve of something they ordinarily would not have. Polls are showing a 70% approval rate for this proposal.

What are the items in this proposal that are dangerous to election security?

1. No absolute requirement for photo ID

Proposal 2 is being promoted by Democrats as the right to vote with photo ID. Most Americans support the requirement for photo ID in elections. It is already the law in Michigan that you must vote with photo ID, but if you dont have one, you can sign an affidavit to simply declare you are who you say you are! This, in effect, cancels out the requirement for a photo ID and renders it meaningless. The ballot is tabulated anyway. No one checks the affidavits after the fact and if they did, there is no way to tie the voter back to their ballot which will have been counted.

So, why put this item in this proposal if it is already the law in Michigan?

Because under this proposal, this fake vote with photo ID requirement would be embedded into the state constitution. Furthermore, it is designed to get the votes of Republicans and independents who just see the daily your right to vote with photo ID TV and digital ads and assume it is a Republican, conservative sort of proposal to endorse.

2. The legalization of third-party, non-government funding of elections

In 2020, Mark Zuckerberg flooded the nation's cities and counties with more than $400 million for the obvious purpose of influencing the outcome of the election. About $20 million of that funding came to Michigan with 90% of it targeted for deep blue, urban areas. The grant money came with clawback provisions, meaning that recipients needed to follow the directives of those granting the money or they had to give it back.

After the 2020 election, 24 states banned or restricted the acceptance of private money flowing into elections. The Michigan legislature also voted on a bipartisan basis to ban it, but Democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer vetoed the bill.

Do Americans really want billionaires to blatantly influence the outcome of our elections?

3. Absentee ballots would automatically be mass mailed in perpetuity to voters

Currently, Michigan voters can choose to be on a permanent absentee ballot application list. They can then choose to fill out the application and send it in for a ballot to be mailed to them. Under Proposal 2, once they are on the permanent list actual absentee ballots would permanently be sent to them. But these voters may not be interested in voting or they may have moved or died. Millions of absentee ballots would be circulating in the state which would make ballot-harvesting and ballot-trafficking so much easier. It would also incentivize keeping inaccurate voter rolls and not cleaning them up.

4. Expansion of the number of unmanned drop boxes to over 2000!

Michigan Citizens for Election Integrity (MC4EI.com) was the team which investigated and analyzed over 1,600 hours of drop box surveillance videos from the Detroit 2020 general election. They witnessed hundreds of hours of multiple ballot drops to drop boxes suggesting ballot trafficking. They also observed multiple people taking pictures of their ballots as they deposited them and often in surreptitious manners from the sleeve of their jackets or palms of their hands held down to evade camera surveillance. This would suggest a payment validation scheme for ballot trafficking as was observed elsewhere in the nation. Election officials collected ballots into garbage bags with no bipartisan oversight into their delivery to the absentee counting boards at the TCF center in Detroit. Surveillance videos are not the answer to ensure drop box security. No one watches them in real time, and the recordings can be "lost," illegally discarded, or fail to function. The Republican-dominated Michigan legislature had access to these videos for over a year and didnt bother to review them. Why expand drop boxes when they are such a magnet for ballot traffickers?

5. Only the Secretary of State would be allowed to conduct post-election audits

This would eliminate the right of citizens to seek redress of grievances against election officials when election malfeasance and fraud is being investigated. If election officials are implicated in wrongdoing, how can they be the ones tasked with investigating themselves?

6. More than 33,000 prison inmates statewide would be given the ability to vote

This would permit more Michigan prisoners to vote than the total number of voters that decided the 2016 election in Michigan! The proposal says that no law, rule, regulation, etc can be used to deny an individuals fundamental right to vote. Existing laws which exclude prisoners from voting would be abrogated by this constitutional amendment provision. Prisons, like nursing homes, are the kind of environment that vote-traffickers exploit, and don't imagine that some prisoners would not hand their ballots to ballot "brokers" for a price. Do we really want prisoners potentially voting in judicial races against the judges who put them in jail?

There is even more in Proposal 2 which further erodes election integrity but these are the main items.

Paid Promote the Vote petitioners have been observed in red, conservative cities and towns such as Frankenmuth, the famous German tourist mecca. They had tables set up with American flags from which they spouted their stump speech of Support Voter ID or Support the Military. (There is a provision in the proposal to accept military ballots if postmarked by election day.) What red blooded all-American Republican would not vote for that?

Talk about a massive political bait and switch! Too many Michigan citizens were not aware of what they were signing when they bought into all the media hype and misinformation regarding this proposal. They have confused this proposal with the SecureMiVote Petition effort which would have truly endorsed election security. But this petition was defeated by a liberal-dominated court.

Many Michigan citizens have already voted via absentee ballot in this 40 day period of early voting. But it is not too late for them to go in person to their township, city clerks and ask to spoil their ballot and request a new absentee ballot to vote with.

If the leftist election scammers can pull off Proposal 2 in Michigan, there will be no stopping them in attempting the same in the rest of the nation.

Voters need to be vigilant and always read the fine print before they sign anything!

Rebecca Behrends, M.D. is a retired ED physician and vice president of research for Michigan Citizens for Election Integrity (MC4EI.com).

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
So, the second thing that Elon Musk did with Twitter -- after appointing himself "Chief Twit" -- was to arrive at Twitter HQ with a "let that sink in" troll. And then a couple of folks pretended they were being laid off with a LIGMA meme and they trolled the media.

But whatabout Twitter and "safety?"

The now-fired Vijaya Gadde, head of legal policy, trust, and safety, was in charge of "safety." Larry O'Connor is all riled up about that.

Let's be clear: Twitter is not an airline. There is no way to use their product that would result in personal injury. "Safety" is an odd and duplicitous term when employed in the context of providing policies for a website where millions of people trade paragraphs with each other and the world. There's no such thing as "unsafe Tweeting."

Ah, but there is. Let's do an Ike and make the whole thing bigger. "Safety" is a consequence of women in the public square, on my interpretation of sociologist Georg Simmel. He understood that the public square had been created by men for men, but that women entering the public square would adapt it to suit "a more feminine sensibility." Men in the public square "debate" the issues, and may the best man win. In a highly refined and evolved debate, men exchange theories and arguments. In a bar, workingmen exchange insults. But for women, the exchange of insults is unsafe, because women want to be safe, and safe especially from crude lower-class men with foul mouths. That's why I say that:

Men have a Culture of Insult; women have a Culture of Complaint.

So the whole question of "safety" is a girl thing. As I say: "women expect to be protected." And women don't just expect to be "safe" from physical violence, but from verbal violence. That's why "safetyism" has become such an issue at the university. Of course, it has, because women are coming to dominate the administration of universities, and that means replacing the old culture of insult, of the free exchange of ideas, with the women's culture of complaint, whenever some man's colorful one-liner makes her feel unsafe.

By the way, when Gadde "cries" about Musk taking over Twitter, we sexists call it "women's tears win."

But will Musk's Free Bird make a difference? I'd say: not much. Because, after all, the fact that South Asian Americans like Gadde and Agrawal made Twitter into a ruling-class echo chamber is because that's the "safest" thing to do when a regime mafioso from the White House is breathing down your neck, muttering about "nice little job you got there"

But what do we do?

The answer, writes Francis P. Sempa, is a "counter-revolution" against a "culture of wokeness [in] American society that today permeates our major education and cultural institutions," a culture through which all young people are forced to run the gauntlet of woke school, woke university, and woke professional accreditation.

But "counter-revolution" for what? That's where the "politics is downstream from culture" thing comes in.

In other words, what should be the culture that our fearless political leaders suck up in their mother's milk and that regime mafiosi dispense from the White House?

I say we have to experience modern society using a Three Layers theory. Curtis Yarvin says think: Educated Gentry, Commoners, and Gentry Clients. My reductive Three Peoples theory says think: Creatives, Responsibles, and Subordinates.

Do you see how these views just accept people as they are? Unlike the lefty Allyship narrative that experiences modern society as World War Woke of Allies fighting for Oppressed Peoples against the White Oppressors.

In other words, in lefty world the only people that matter are the educated Gentry, and everybody else better get in line, peasant.

I Have a Dream, that one day this nation will acknowledge that everyone has a right to live in their own benighted way. Educated Gentry have a right to live as noble activists smearing paintings to save the world; ordinary Commoners have a right to live an ordinary life in the suburbs, obeying the law, going to work, and following the rules; Subordinates have a right to sign up for benefits from their political masters, and live as the modern equivalent of serfs.

Dreams aside, I would like politicians, when they are out trolling for votes and lying their heads off -- as politicians have ever done -- to think, as they gaze out over the adoring throng: what are educated Gentry going to think about my speech; what are ordinary Commoners going to think; and what are the Subordinate masses going to think?

If politicians and swank blue-check tweeters started thinking like that, because all little kiddies were taught that in school, we wouldn't need a counter-revolution.

Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class.

Image: Steve Jurvetson
In the Oct. 14 debate between pastor Raphael Warnock and college/NFL running back great Herschel Walker for Warnock's current seat in the U.S. Senate, the subject turned to abortion. In opposition to bans on abortion, Warnock said [at 15:20] that "a patient's room is too narrow and small and cramped for a woman, her doctor, and the United States government."

In his response, Walker said, "Did he [Warnock] not mention that there's a baby in that room as well?"

It was a simple point. It did not settle the issue, but it did make clear that the issue is not so simple as to be decided by a pregnant woman and her doctor. Rather, there is a third party, whose existence the pastor did not even acknowledge.

(With more time for reflection, we might also ask whether there was space enough for a pastor in the room. A video clip that appeared later in the debate did show Warnock mentioning that possibility, but leaving such inclusion of a pastor to the woman's discretion. But if "pastor" is effectively a reference to God, is such inclusion really "discretionary"? Some might argue that it is, but one would not expect such argument to be made by a pastor himself.)

In his response, Walker went on to say, "And also, did [Warnock] not mention that he's asking the taxpayer to pay for it? So he's bringing the government back into the room."

Warnock acted as though he was going to rebut, but when he was given the floor again, he ignored Walker's points and changed the subject, talking about "maternal mortality" and how he had worked with Sen. Rubio to pass legislation to address it. Then, in a grand manner, he concluded, "Do you want a senator who wants to control your life, or a senator who wants to save your life?"

The problem here is that, in the first part, Warnock was talking about the abortion issue, and in the second part, he was speaking about the maternity mortality legislation. He never addressed Walker's mention of the taxpayer in the room, whose decision about financing abortion Warnock is apparently entirely comfortable controlling.

Can one say that the reverse is true about Walker  that he is comfortable controlling the pregnant woman? Not exactly. For if you accept the premise that an unborn child is legally a person, then Walker's position is not simply about control, but about the basis for such control: the protection of the unborn child.

The real dispute is about whether an unborn child is legally a person or not. But if we accept Walker's premise, then he is logically consistent. Pastor Warnock is not.

Following abortion, the moderators ran a clip of a college student asking if the candidates would support additional "forgiveness"  cancelation of required repayment  of student loans. To this, Warnock pointed out that, but for student loans and grants, he himself would not have been able to attend college. He went on to claim responsibility for persuading Pres. Biden to raise the present relief from $10,000 to $20,000. (Warnock closed on a different subject, saying he was working on bringing college costs down.)

Before we turn to Walker, this writer would point out that usually, when people oppose such cancelation, the justification is that such a measure would be unfair to those students who repaid their debt.

In his response, Walker in fact opposed it, but his justification was not the usual one. After an initial comment about Warnock's preceding response, Walker said:

As I was traveling around the state of Georgia, some people that wanted to go to college, they couldn't, so they end up, working on their father's farms  some military, wanted to go to college, but they didn't. So they went to the military, may have lost an arm. So this is not right! Georgia people say it's not right, and they say it's unfair.

This is the real, the foremost argument against cancelation of student debt, but it is one that, in print or through broadcast, is rarely made. Apparently, it's made only by people Walker talks to, who perhaps include a great number who did not go to college. Apparently, to those who dominate print and broadcasting, if you don't go to college, you don't matter  at least not as much as those who do. Apparently, this is the way Warnock thinks. But not Walker.

Image: Herschel Walker. DVIDSHUB via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
The story was big: Pennsylvania had sent 255,000 mail-in ballots to unverified voters. The basis for this claim was the fact that the statewide computer system showed that 255,000 mail-in ballots that had already been mailed had the designation NV or not verified. The AP countered this claim with a fact check claiming this assertion is False. Except that, when you read through the AP article, Republicans are correct: 255,000 mail-in and absentee ballots went to people who did not prove their identity at the time they applied for those ballots.

The Gateway Pundit had the story:

Pennsylvania Democrat officials sent out 240,000 255,000 ballots to people they could not verify either by their Social Security or Drivers License numbers. The ballots should NEVER have been sent out to these voters. Fifteen Republican State Representatives sent a letter to Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth Leigh Chapman after they discovered that over 240,000 illicit ballots were sent out in the state prior to the 2022 midterm elections. [snip] According to Pennsylvania law, these ballots must now be set aside. They cant be counted in the November 8th election until the voter produces an identification. You can bet that very few of these counties will set these ballots aside. This is how Democrats cheat.

The AP rates the story as false, but then, through a wall of words, proceeds to validate the claim.

Image: Mounds of absentee ballots by Lance Fisher. CC BY-SA 2.0.

It all begins with a statement from Pennsylvania Department of State spokeswoman Amy Gulli, who states definitely that There are not 240,000+ unverified ballots, as certain lawmakers are claiming. I know nothing about Ms. Gulli and have no reason to question her honesty. That said, on her LinkedIn page, the second most important thing she lists for how I get results is create and sustain diverse, equitable and inclusive work environments, and her Twitter feed reveals that she opposed Trumps efforts to control our borders and seemingly believes in apocalyptic climate change.

The meat of the APs fact check is that those who apply for mail-in or absentee ballots must provide proof of identification. If they apply online and provide proof of ID as part of that application, theyre instantly labeled verified.

However, in other cases, the voters identifying information must go through further verification processes. When that happens, the application enters the statewide system under a designation labeled NV, or not verified. Notably, the not verified designation doesnt mean the voter didnt provide accurate identification information, nor does it mean their ID wasnt later verified.

In other words, not verified means exactly that: At the time the people applied for a ballot, they did not provide a reliable means of verifying their identity. Nevertheless, despite not being verified, the state must still send out that ballot:

If a voters identification cant be verified at the time they apply for a ballot, state law does require that the voter still be issued a ballot and be provided an opportunity until the sixth day after the election to provide the proper proof of identification. But counties are not to count the ballot unless the voter provides proof of identification.

Regarding that last sentence, the law is very specific: For those applicants whose proof of identification was not provided with the application or could not be verified by the board, the board shall send notice to the elector with the absentee ballot requiring the elector to provide proof of identification with the absentee ballot or the ballot will not be counted. Pa. Stats. Title 25 (Elections & Electoral Districts)  3146.2b(d).

In other words, despite the APs long song and dance, Gateway Pundit and the Republican state lawmakers were correct: The state mailed out 255,000 unverified ballots. In theory, those ballots must be returned with valid proof of identity to be counted, but with that great a number, who really believes that overwhelmed counties will keep track of this kind of thing?

The greatest likelihood is that ballots will come in and, whether they were verified or not, counties will treat them as valid. No wonder that Verity Vote, which first revealed the story, says the law as written is an invitation to fraud and must be changed:

Verity Vote argues all verification should occur before a ballot is issued. It seems reckless in the modern era, to send a ballot based on an unverified mail ballot application with the intention of verifying later, the group said in a statement to the AP.

For the above reasons, I rate as false the APs contention that its untrue that Pennsylvania mailed 255,000 ballots to people who have not been vetted. While they may eventually be vetted, the sheer volume of unvetted absentee ballots is a problem that the legislature must address before 2024.

Its always useful to be reminded that the modern media exists to conceal or, in this case, obfuscate anything that might be harmful to Democrat party interests.

(See also, Election fraud in Pennsylvaniaand how to stop it.)
True the Vote, the reliable electoral integrity group, whose work served as the base for Dinesh D'Souza's "2,000 Mules" documentary, and which at times seems like the last thing standing between America and total election fraud, is now under heavy fire from the Bidenites.

According to the Washington Post, in an infuriatingly biased report:

The leaders of True the Vote, an organization that has spread unfounded claims questioning the results of the 2020 election, were taken into custody Monday morning after a federal judge in Texas ruled them in contempt of court. Founder Catherine Engelbrecht and former board member Gregg Phillips were escorted by federal marshals out of a Houston courthouse and into a holding cell following the judges decision. The order marked the latest twist in a defamation case brought last month by Konnech, an election software company that True the Vote claimed allowed the Chinese government to have access to a server in China that held the personal information of nearly 2 million U.S. election workers. Konnech has vigorously disputed the claim. The judge overseeing the case, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt, had ordered Engelbrecht and Phillips to reveal the name of a person who allegedly helped True the Vote access Konnechs computer systems. When they declined to meet the courts 9 a.m. deadline, the judge found them in contempt. The pair have claimed, without evidence, that the person who helped them was a confidential FBI informant.

Correction: No, those claims questioning the result of the 2020 election were not "unfounded," nor were they "spread." They were carefully sourced and documented reports that repeatedly have been the basis for the electoral integrity laws now sweeping the nation, which is an important thing, given the number of Americans who now question whether the U.S. has free and fair elections. The "spread" is another loaded word brimming with bias bacteria, but more on that later.

The logic of the arrests and jailings is outrageous, given that the libel case ought to be thrown out of court at this point.

The two True the Vote officials were being sued by Konnech, an election management software company, for libel, after the former argued that their servers, allegedly full of personally identifying information of U.S. election workers, was being held in communist China, which was against the contract it signed with the City of Los Angeles.

True the Vote is being ordered by the judge in the libel case to reveal their source for the information they had, which has nothing to do with whether what True the Vote said was true or not, which is what libel cases are about, and True the Vote is resisting that illegal order in the true journalistic tradition by refusing to reveal their source, saying that the source is an FBI informant and in danger of retaliation from the communist Chinese government. Those are pretty valid reasons. Does revealing the source shed light on whether what True the Vote said was true or not, which is the purpose of a libel case? Don't think so.

The case against Konnech storing the information in China was apparently so egregious that none other than George Gascon, the farthest of the far-left Sorosian district attorneys, actually busted Konnech for violating its contract with the city, which prohibited the transfer of such data abroad, which is exactly what True the Vote said was going on. So as Konnech was being busted, this libel case against the people who accused them of what they are being busted for now, is allowed to carry on, to the extreme extent that the True the Vote officials are actually being thrown into prison. The bust, by the way, left egg all over the face of the New York Times, which shortly before the arrest, had called the claims conspiracy theories.

That's quite the tyranny the judge has got going there. It won't help Konnech's case any, but it sure as heck has some interesting timing -- coming right before midterms, when True the Vote is at its most impactful.

It looks like an effort to shut the group down so it can't collect data on all the coming election fraud as midterms approach. It reminds me of all the other busts of truth tellers -- from Project Veritas to that reporter who disappeared -- who tell inconvenient truths for the Biden administration. Its timing is beyond suspicious.

It comes just as The Intercept has gotten hold of a witches' brew of utterly unconstitutional plottings by the Department of Homeland Security to suppress free speech in the U.S.:

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY is quietly broadening its efforts to curb speech it considers dangerous, an investigation by The Intercept has found. Years of internal DHS memos, emails, and documents  obtained via leaks and an ongoing lawsuit, as well as public documents  illustrate an expansive effort by the agency to influence tech platforms. The work, much of which remains unknown to the American public, came into clearer view earlier this year when DHS announced a new Disinformation Governance Board: a panel designed to police misinformation (false information spread unintentionally), disinformation (false information spread intentionally), and malinformation (factual information shared, typically out of context, with harmful intent) that allegedly threatens U.S. interests. While the board was widely ridiculed, immediately scaled back, and then shut down within a few months, other initiatives are underway as DHS pivots to monitoring social media now that its original mandate  the war on terror  has been wound down. Behind closed doors, and through pressure on private platforms, the U.S. government has used its power to try to shape online discourse.

What are their favorite topics? Elections. In the document, they claim they are targeting election "disinformation."

And suddenly we see a lot of arrests from those who question the integrity of Joe Biden's election.

Any questions as to the real motive of these jailings?

Image: Gage Skidmore, via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0
In Colorado, candidates for governor select lieutenant governors to run with them. Republican Heidi Ganahl selected a cancel culture survivor to run with her. How apropos for the times.

In April 2021, Danny Moore was removed as chair of the Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission in a unanimous vote by his fellow commissioners after left-leaning 9News reported that he had questioned the 2020 presidential election on Facebook.

A badge of honor, many would say. (Has 9News ever reported on the Mother of Election Deniers, Hillary Clinton, and her claims about the 2016 election? Don't think so.)

In an interview with John Caldara of the Independence Institute, Moore said, "To be put down and criticized for simply asking the question  that is un-American."

Lexi Swearingen spoke for Heidi Ganahl on the subject to The Colorado Sun. "Heidi and Danny are united in their commitment and focus on winning this November. They agree Joe Biden is our president and Jared Polis is our governor and that we need to do everything we can to change that this November and in 2024. Election integrity is paramount, and we must work to restore voter confidence."

The truth is, the left has tried to distract with this red herring of an issue because Danny Moore is a Coloradoan of substance who adds value to the Ganahl campaign and will help Ganahl govern in the state.

Jared Polis is running with Dianne Primavera, a former state representative who currently serves in his administration, helping with health care policy.

If you'd rather not reduce Moore to a political meme, as the Colorado media seem to want to, you can look instead at what the Ganahl website says about him: "served 24 years in the United States Navy"; "over 19 years of leadership experience in the aerospace and defense industry"; "nearly 43 years of operational and business experience in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance"; and much more. Moore said of himself, "I will be mission-focused and deliver what is best for Colorado."

In addition, Moore can reach out to minority communities in Colorado more effectively than can Polis and Primavera because he is African-American. Word is that he has been doing so with Ganahl already during the campaign. Also, the two are scheduled for a Black Voices for Heidi and Danny Meet and Greet and Q&A with Casper Stockham and SPARK in this week before the election. "The Colorado Community SPARK plan will bring real solutions to underserved communities."

If you are in Colorado, contact the Ganahl campaign and ask for an invitation to Wednesday's event in Aurora.

Said Ganahl of her running mate, "Danny is a wonderful addition to our winning team. We share a common vision to lower Colorado's soaring cost of living, gas prices, and crime rates."

When has Colorado had the chance to have a distinguished veteran and businessman serve the state as lieutenant governor? Like never. Voters should jump on the opportunity now and vote for Ganahl and Moore. They will get a survivor of cancel culture also.

C.S. Boddie writes for Meadowlark Press, LLC.

Image: cagdesign via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Democrats are beginning to figure out that their power spree during the first two years of COVID was wrong in every single way, and that Americans suffered terribly because of these manifestly wrong decisions. Moreover, its becoming obvious that, at all times, they should have known better. For that reason, Democrats are getting excited about a concept The Atlantic is proposing: a pandemic amnesty. Its to be hoped that the millions of ordinary Americans damaged by the Democrats COVID policies wont buy this proposal.

One of the things thats become apparent almost three years after COVID first hit America is that everything the left said and did was wrong. As was apparent from the cruise ships that had COVID outbreaks in the first half of 2020, we knew from the get-go that COVID victimized old people and people with compromised immune systems, while leaving children and healthy adults almost untouched.

Nevertheless, Democrats shunted COVID-infected people into old-age homes, leading to mass deaths among the most vulnerable. At the same time, they shut down schools, destroying childrens academic development; closed houses of worship, denying people spiritual support during a frightening time; and locked up businesses, except for the big box stores, Democrat donors, alcohol purveyors, pot stores, casinos, etc., effectively destroying working- and middle-class concerns. They lifted the shutdowns only to allow radical leftists to burn American cities.

Democrats then mandated relatively untested vaccines (in government, the military, healthcare, schools, and left-leaning corporations), leading to massive job losses and unnecessary deaths. They also did everything they could to protect China from responsibility, although its pretty clear now, as intelligent people realized early on, that COVID originated in a lab, not a wet market.

Image made using Begging for forgiveness (edited) by benzoix, and Lockdown protest (edited) by Becker1999 (CC BY 2.0).

Perhaps worst of all, Democrats used COVID to launch a ferocious attack on free speech. Were only now learningthanks to an investigation by the Interceptjust how broad, deep, and comprehensive that attack was. It saw the government actively conspire with social media and other tech companies to silence anyone who opposed the Democrat narrative.

From the get-go, COVID allowed Democrats to exercise raw power to drive Trump from office, game the elections with mail-in voting, terrorize cities, reward supporters and punish opponents, weaken the middle class, and expand the governments reach. Everything they did was destructive and, often, intentionally so. Their response, in a word, was evil and, again, intentionally so.

But nowlike the old cartoon showing a husband amid an utterly chaotic, filthy house, on the phone with his wife while saying, Come home, dear. All is forgiventhe Democrats want us to forgive them for their sins and shoulder the clean-up to make America function again.

The Atlantic gets credit for widely promoting the idea in an article from Emily Oster entitled, Lets Declare A Pandemic Amnesty: We need to forgive one another for what we did and said when we were in the dark about COVID. Oster instantly concedes the madness: the social distancing, the useless cloth masks, etc, but excuses it all by saying We didnt know.

Au contraire, Emily. We knew all along. For example, most Trump supporters immediately pointed out that viruses go through cloth masks like a mosquito through a chain-link fence, that 6 feet is meaningless to a virus, that the old are vulnerable and the young are not, that affordable treatments existed if given early enough, and on and on. We knew it all but were shouted down as conspiracy theorists and mass murderers.

So no, you dont get cheap grace by claiming ignorance. You guys were aggressive, vicious, intentionally ignorant, and totally destructive. Saying the equivalent of whatever doesnt cut it. We need remorse, repentance, and some serious movements toward redemption. However, given the damage caused, its hard to imagine how you can redeem yourselves, other than voluntarily confessing guilt and heading to the local federal or state prison.

Of course, leftists dont see it that way. Exhibit A is Randy Weingarten, the utterly toxic head of the American Federation of Teachers, a childless woman who frantically advocated for school shutdowns, and who is now a big proponent of amnesty:

Weingarten doesnt deserve amnesty; she deserves prison for her assault on children. And as I already noted, the same goes for everyone on her side of the COVID aisle (including some Republicans).

I know that forgiveness is a virtue, but forgiveness for people who take no responsibility for what they did and are sorry only that they were caught is bad for society at large. A society functions only if we hold people responsible for their intentional or malevolent errors in order to ensure that neither they nor others will ever commit those sins again.
Unlike their Greatest Generation predecessors, many Vietnam veterans returned home from war to both an unappreciative and hostile country. In previous wars, victory parades and jubilant celebrations marked the end of the conflict and celebrated our veterans return. However, during Vietnam anti-war sentiment caused many veterans to return to a country ungrateful for their dedicated military service and self-sacrifice. It is now time to acknowledge and right this long overdue wrong.

As today, in the 1960s we were a divided nation -- you were either for the war My country right or wrong, or against it Hell no, we wont go! There was no middle ground. Protestors took to the streets often spewing hate and inflicting physical violence on those serving our nation. The war in Vietnam became both a lightning rod and quagmire, and unfortunately our service men and women bore the full brunt of the nations frustration.

In Vietnam they endured both constant physical and mental danger in a faraway war only to come home to face a similar assault not by the enemy but by the American public. It was not only the hateful rhetoric that was directed at them but also the physical rejection as many were ostracized and treated by their peers like outsiders in their own country. Many returned not as heroes but rather as strangers in a strange land. This often led to a deepening of the psychological scars of war we know today as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Fifty years later, contrary to popular misconception, we have a resilient and vibrant veteran population formed in the crucible of war. Many Vietnam veterans have utilized their leadership skills and commitment to service as leaders in our local communities. In addition, they served as the genesis for many contemporary physical and mental health programs that have been developed to assist veterans from subsequent conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan. They too are integrating back into civilian life while coping with external and internal battle scars.

Mental health remains a leading issue for all veterans. For many veterans, the sound and fury of battle haunt them both day and night. We still have too many homeless vets, too many broken families as well too many veterans taking their own lives. As a nation we need to ensure all of our veterans get the proper care and service they have rightfully earned. Many have pushed through to the other side of their personal darkness overcoming insurmountable burdens, but unfortunately others remain held hostage to a conflict that has held them captive for more than fifty years.

As we approach Veterans Day, we should honor all but especially the overlooked veterans of Vietnam. They fought in a war that was not popular and returned to a country where many of them were shunned because of their faithful and honorable service. Rest assured that you are not forgotten -- you will always have a place of honor in American history.

Image: PxHere
In 2007, a very disturbing video was smuggled out of the Islamic Republic in Iran, recording the stoning of a number of Iranians.

Watching the video is extremely upsetting.

The disturbing video begins with a lashing of one person. After that, Hojjatoleslam Ali Razini, who was the head of Tehran's judiciary at the time, announced the verdict for the accused men on the amplifier. They were brought to the center of an arena like lambs to the slaughter, surrounded by a baying crowd of fanatics, who had scavenged rocks to use as weapons, and drooled like bloodthirsty wolves for their first kill. The condemned men were covered in white shrouds, as men with spades dug and filled their death pits around them.

Half buried in the pits, Razini threw the first stone at the accused  as if he were giving the Roman thumbs down. The four men, who were buried up to their waists, could only aimlessly try and attempt to somehow avoid the avalanche of rocks, but like prey caught in a trap, they could not avoid the inevitable. Soon their white shrouds were broken open and reddened with the color that symbolizes the character of the Islamic regime occupying Iran.

Stoning is an age-old ancient punishment, but who would ever think that today, in this new Millennium that there are still people on the planet who are forced to live under such barbaric and brutal laws?

However, cases of stoning to death, prescribed in Islamic canons for certain offenses, are in widespread practice. In October 2004, a 13-year-old child was stoned to death in Marivan, Iran. She had been accused of a moral sin by falling pregnant.

The video featured male victims, but this outrage is indicative of a second problem well beyond the barbaric punishment itself: That women and girls are more often targets.

This is not as widely publicized as it should be. Even though the practice is applied to both men and women, because stoning is usually a punishment implemented against offenses such as adultery, women are more likely to be blamed and accused of such social misbehavior offenses.

Thirteen-year-old Jilas horrific murder follows the death of 16-year-old Atabeh Rajabi, who was executed on August 15, 2004, for engaging in acts incompatible with chastity. Atabeh was refused a defense attorney in court. During an appearance in court, Atabeh bravely defied the adjudicator who sat in judgment of her and in doing so, the sociopathic judge sentenced her to death by hanging and personally volunteered to help with the noose. The free world stood by in silence and did nothing.

Fast forward to Sept. 16, 2022, the unjust arrest of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini for the "crime" of improper hijab attire.

Mahsa was so brutally abused and beaten while in custody, that she eventually died while in a coma.

In its sixth consecutive week, Mahsas death has unleashed the anger of the Iranian people in what can only be defined as an uprising against the clerical regime such as has never been seen before, as well as the first ever female-led revolution.

Fearless Iranian women and teenage girls are disobeying the clerics by removing and burning their headscarves while courageous Iranian men proudly stand defiantly strong by their side against the brutal regimes forces with the slogan: Zan, Zendegi, Azadi, meaning, Woman, Life, Freedom.

This grassroots movement has taken the world by surprise is the antithesis of the Islamic Republics ethos.

Now teenage girls are burning posters of the so-called supreme leader Ali Khamenei and shouting Death to Khamenei and We want regime change, while risking their lives to do so.

Countless people have been killed, including children in these protests.

Never before in the history of women, anywhere, in any timeline has there ever been a female-led revolution, where the women have faced such a dangerous and brutal enemy. Not even the womens suffrage movement had to endure such threats. It cannot be denied this is historic and unprecedented.

So, this begs a question as to why the Western world is not demanding those responsible to be tried for crimes against humanity?

The Islamic Republic in Iran is a signatory of Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

To add insult to injury, the regime's minions are sitting members of the United Nations Commission on Womens Rights. It is debatable as to whether this is more a reflection of the Western worlds lack of integrity or the audacity of the clerical regime. The world's democratic leaders must surely give thought as to whether they can rightly carry on "business as usual" with the Islamic Republic, given Iran's clear desecrations of human rights.

Contrary to what is frequently said, dialogue with the Islamic Republic has not improved the human rights situation  quite the reverse.

But nobody can ignore the demands of the Iranian people.

In reality, todays human rights abuses are the cause of tomorrows conflicts.

Facing a collapsing economy and social uprising, the ruling mullahs have always responded with intensified oppression. A government that collaborates with such a regime is neither ethical nor principled. They should have no business cooperating with such a regime and no business interests can justify such involvement. No resolution, however diplomatically it is drafted, can deny the fact that the people of Iran live in terror.

Under the standards of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, can one argue that the Iranian people are not entitled to them? In the wonderful civilization that we enjoy in the West, it is difficult to understand how any civilized government can have dealings with an illegitimate regime that executes its own defenseless people, including women and children who effectively live in a necropolis for the living. Ignoring such crimes is a stain on the free world.

Nicole Sadighi is President of the non-profit Angels in Blue and also the Director of the award-winning movie I Am Neda.

Image: Screen shot from Associated Press video, via shareable YouTube
Could the Democrat party be any more hypocritical and disingenuous? Perhaps, but their use and abuse of the attack on Paul Pelosi as allegedly the result of Republican rhetoric would be hilarious if it were not so egregious.

This is the party that gleefully incited violence against Justice Kavanaugh. They invented the case against Kavanaugh out of whole cloth with that ridiculous woman, Christine Blasey Ford. The news of the man who attempted to enter Justice Kavanaughs home and kill his family was a one-day story because they buried it.

Rand Pauls neighbor that attacked him is Joy Reids hero! When Steve Scalise was nearly killed by a Bernie Sanders supporter, no one on the right blamed Sanders or his supporters. Senator Schumer threatened all the originalist members of the Supreme Court if they dared to overturn Roe. Maxine Waters of course regularly encouraged violence against conservatives. And sadly, the left usually cooperates and acts out like small children throwing tantrums. They embrace Antifa and BLM as actors for their cause.

So it is no surprise that the most lunatic Dems saw the incident at the Pelosi mansion in SF as an opportunity to blame the least responsible people on the planet, conservatives. Hillary was first right out of the barn. Her deranged tweet falsely blaming the Republican Party for what occurred proves beyond reasonable doubt that she has gone round the bend of mental stability.

Leftists never wait for the facts to emerge; they go for the jugular at the first seeming opportunity to slime anyone they perceive as insufficiently in their thrall.

The rest of the media of course followed suit, embarrassing themselves one after another. Every one of them who could get their face on CNN or MSNBC, Amy Klobuchar, Chris Coons, etc., spewed the Republicans are responsible for the attack on Mr. Pelosi talking point. They did not wait two minutes for the facts to be revealed: David DePapes miserable history as a drug addicted nudist who lived in a broken-down bus with BLM and Pride flags.

But the Dems are so certain their narrative will prevail, they stampeded each other to indict any and all conservatives for what happened to the 82-year-old Pelosi, who may or may not have an unorthodox personal life. Apparently there have long been rumors about his activities when his wife is not at home. But rumors are rumors; they may be invented or may have a kernel of truth. Someone knows but not us. The powers that be in SF are subordinates of Nancy Pelosi; not one of them will dare to deviate from the Pelosi-approved narrative.

Bottom line? The lefts desperation to make what happened in SF at 2 am that morning about Republicans is so much more than pathetic. It reeks of furious misery, so much so that theyve exposed themselves for all to see as the cheats they are. They cannot win without lying and cheating and they know it. Blaming Trump and Trump supporters for a deranged persons violent act, a person with no grasp of reality, is their last gasp at relevance.

They have yet to realize that their policies - CRT, DEI, ESG, unrestricted abortion (up to and including birth), unrestricted mutilation of minors confused about their gender, the propagation of porn in schools, all things woke, their green agenda that starves civilization of energy, lockdowns, vaccine mandates, etc.  are abhorrent to most Americans who want their country back. They revere the nation as founded. They cherish the freedom that they once took for granted but that they now see slipping away.

While many questions remain unanswered, the lefts pretense that anyone other than David DePape is responsible for what happened to Mr. Pelosi should be a wake-up call to those few Democrats who may not be thoroughly mind-numbed by the partys radicalization that their party is clearly headed toward communist totalitarianism. Vote these people out of the offices they hold, for their intentions are not decent or remotely moral. Their intentions are globalist. They see themselves as superior to the masses for whom they feel only disdain. They believe they are entitled to control how the rest of us live our lives. They pass laws and impose regulations that affect how we live but they are not required to obey. The men and women of the World Economic Forum will never live by the rules they decree for us. Be afraid. Be very afraid. Vote to preserve America, for freedom and justice for all.
Just yesterday, Gov. Kathy Hochul appeared on MSNBCs Politics Nation to make some very starling claims.

MSNBC is the foremost platform for Democrats seeking to peddle misinformation. The other mainstream media outlets are also welcoming, but there is a slight chance of some pushback when the fabrication goes too far. However, on MSNBC there will only be nods of approval.

YouTube screengrab

Hochul claimed the following about the GOP and her rival in the gubernatorial race Lee Zeldin :

They have this conspiracy going all across America trying to convince people in Democratic states that theyre not as safe. Well, guess what? Theyre also not only election deniers, theyre data deniers."

Hochul recently drew heat when she dismissed concerns of New Yorkers about violent crimes as a sense of fear.

The polls show Hochuls lead slipping.

Hochul was 20 points ahead of Zeldin over the summer; however recent polls showed Zeldin just seven points behind Hochul. Real Clear Politics which does an average of all polls now shows New York as a toss-up state.

As Election Day approaches, biased polling agencies are compelled to show more factual polls in order to retain some credibility.

Some have attributed Hochuls sinking polls to Zeldin's focused messaging on crime during his campaign.

So what is the situation relating to crime in New York State?

Lets take NYC as an example.

The NYPD Website states the following:

For the month of September 2022, the number of overall shooting incidents decreased in New York City compared with September 2021

Citywide shooting incidents decreased by 13.2% (118 v. 136), driven by significant declines in Brooklyn, southern Queens, the Bronx, and northern Manhattan.

The number of murders citywide decreased for the month of September by 23.5% (39 v. 51) compared to the same period last year.

In September, there were 118 shooting incidences and 39 murders in NYC alone.

Statistics that crime is declining may be a matter of pride for the likes of Gov. Hochul but it offers no hope to those who have suffered due to violent crimes.

Those who lost loved ones or suffered serious injuries cannot be consoled by statistics. People dreading venturing out after dark for fear of being attacked cannot be comforted and encouraged to step out merely because the rate of crime shows a slight decrease.

It must be noted that all other major crimes have surged  including a 33% rise in robberies.

Violent incidents in New York are up since the pandemic began  and New Yorkers are nervous.

A lot of it has got to do with the Democrats advocacy of defunding the police. Hochul may have pledged 100 percent support for law enforcement but there are many within her administration that support the defund the police movement.

Liberal judges being lenient with violent criminals instead of sending them to prison are equally part of the problem

Hochul then mentioned Zeldins opposition to gun control measures.

This is how Democrats usually operate; every crisis is exploited to push their unpopular agenda.

In this case, it is gun control i.e., policing of legal gun owners.

He (Zeldin) doesnt support a single one of our gun safety measures and thinks that the way to get people safe in New York is to arm our teachers. Now thats, thats next-level. We cannot be arming our teachers, we have to get the guns off the street, something Lee Zeldin refuses to do.

Gun control measures are meaningless because illegal weapons are not controlled under the measures and crimes could occur with illegally obtained weapons and other weapons such as knives.

Hochul probably forgets that guns are the only affordable means for regular people to defend themselves. In the event of a home invasion or a street attack or a mugging incident, a gun could be the sole hope of self-defense.

Hochul is out of touch, like most Democrats, because she doesnt suffer the consequences of her misgovernance.

Hochul won't be affected by the crime wave or gun control. She lives in a mansion with her family and is protected by armed bodyguards who also travel with her wherever she goes. Hence she dismisses the concerns of New Yorkers about crimes.

Apart from crime, there are other serious questions about Hochul.

The New York Post recently reported that Hochuls administration granted a government contract of around $637 million for millions of COVID-19 test kits to a New Jersey-based firm called Digital Gadgets. Critics pointed the cost per test kit was twice that of test kits offered by other firms. It was then revealed that Digital Gadgets donated over $300,000 to Hochuls campaign.

The NY Post also reported that Hochul backed the Penn Station redevelopment project that could offer more than $1 billion in tax breaks to Vornado Realty Trust, a real estate investment firm. The head of Vornado, Steve Roth, donated $68,700 to Hochuls campaign.

Both of these deals look like shady quid pro quo deals.

Hochul also backed an $850 million, taxpayer-funded deal to build a $1.4 billion stadium for the Buffalo Bills. The deal includes a potential contract with Delaware North, the major food concessionaire at the current Buffalo Bills Stadium. It was revealed later that Kathy's husband, Bill Hochul is senior vice president and general counsel at Delaware North. Bill eventually recused himself from Delaware Norths work in New York. But this is a clear case of conflict of interest.

Recently it was reported that Hochuls administration was accused in a lawsuit of secretly slashing access to specialty doctors and potentially life-saving medical treatment. 1.2 million government workers and retirees are impacted by this. The suit claims that the health insurance program has dramatically slashed the reimbursement rates that out-of-network doctors could receive for providing services to plan members. This refers to doctors who do not have a contract with the health insurance provider. The impact of such actions could be life-threatening since patients will not be able to choose the best doctor or surgeon available.

So, what is the situation in New York state currently?

New Yorkers have a governor who hasnt been democratically elected but who took over only after Governor Andrew Cuomo was compelled to quit following a series of sexual harassment allegations. She has been proven to be incompetent, apathetic, and perhaps even corrupt owing to her myriad deals that show major conflicts of interest.

It will be interesting to see if New Yorkers can break through the relentless Democrat brainwashing and choose against the groupthink that is peddled to them interminably.

If Zeldin is indeed elected, it won't be the end but the beginning of his challenges.

The Democrat machinery in New York could claim he is illegitimate for a variety of reasons; it doesn't take them long to invent. They could also misuse the bureaucracy and permanent administration to place impediments before him and prevent him from implementing his agenda.

The question remains: are Zeldin and New York Republicans ready for the fight?
Anti-liberty leftists and their national media apparatus are in their final desperate days before their well-deserved midterm (rhetorical) mangling, with the latter dropping any remaining microscopic vestiges of objectivity. They know that everything hinges on what happens over the next few days and if they can conjure up some reason for their side to maintain their death grip on power, they will do it. This is why they are trying to carefully exploit the horrific assault on Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband. It should go without saying that such acts of violence are to be condemned.

However, as Tucker Carlson detailed in his Fox News show Monday night, this disturbing incident brought forth some rather unsavory reactions from those who like to falsely portray themselves as liberal. These are the times that bring out the best and the worst in people, the stressful situations when their true nature shines through.

YouTube screengrab

Tucker Carlson: Without censorship, the Democratic Party can't continue to hold power

How did the left react to this recent crisis?

Do they try to consider all aspects of an issue and solve the problem with intelligent solutions?

Or do they simply react and call for another suppression of our liberty?

Consider how Politico framed the current crisis in their piece:

The brutal assault on Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband Paul inside their San Francisco home early Friday morning reverberated across the campaign trail Saturday, with some Democratic campaigns acknowledging increased threats of violence and some Republican campaigns exercising extra caution in their rhetoric.

With the conservative Max Boot ( pause for laughter) of the Washington Post ignoring the 2017 Inauguration Riot and the 2020 George Floyd Riots that were far more violent and caused far more destruction than Jan. 6, 2021.

Followed by another alleged conservative (sure, whatever Jen) from the same media source sounding the alarm over the people ruling in our Constitutional Republic:

First, and perhaps most troubling, the nearly 300 GOP election deniers/liars on the ballot are likely to whip up anger about a rigged system or stolen election, priming aggrieved supporters for violence. Many high-profile Republicans have refused to pledge to respect the results. Given Republicans embrace of the big lie in 2020, we should prepare for a plethora of baseless accusations, some of which could incite unstable individuals.

She of course goes on to carefully tie the nudist hemp jewelry maker from Berkeley to a totally unrelated event that took place almost 22 months ago all the way across the country. But were guessing that since they're floundering in the face of utter defeat, theyll grasp at anything they can think of.

What is the common thread in all the coverage from the far-left media?

The almost subliminal message that runs just beneath the surface of all of their screeds. Its that our freedom of speech must be suppressed, lest it cause any other nudist hemp jewelry makers from Berkeley to lose the plot and attack someone of the leftist ruling class. Just as its their knee-jerk reaction to call for gun confiscation whenever a leftist start shooting at people.

We could cite several other examples, but that should give you the picture. We call them the anti-liberty left to make the point that restricting your freedom and common-sense civil rights is their go-to action to solve any problem.

Whats even worse about this is that these actions never work as advertised, they just empower the left, as intended. They must know this, but they dont care, they only care about their control over society. Because none of those measures ever solves the problem, they only empower the left.

The term anti-liberty left also acts as a reminder that those people are only exploiting the term liberal as just another form of gaslighting on their part, and a reason for everyone to stop complimenting the far-left with that term that they do not deserve.

The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name.  Confucius

D Parker is an engineer, inventor, wordsmith, and student of history, the director of communications for a Bill of Rights organization, and a longtime contributor to conservative websites. Find him on Substack.
PlayStation Plus subscriber numbers are down according to Sonys latest fiscal earnings report. The company states that PlayStation Plus subscriber numbers have dropped by almost 2 million since the reworked tiered plans were launched earlier this year. Total time spent playing games on PlayStation also dropped by about 10% year-on-year the company says. For those unaware, back in June Sony launched its new PlayStation Plus plans, offering Essential, Extra, and Premium tiers.

Essential is basically the same PS Plus offering Sony already had, and it even kept the same $9.99 a month price. Extra and Premium give subscribers a chance to experience additional membership benefits. Like a catalog of downloadable games from current and past generation consoles. And for Premium members, cloud gaming and game demos. For a higher monthly cost, naturally. The plans are definitely intriguing and do have plenty to offer.

But it seems Sonys plan revamp isnt necessarily killing it. With subscriptions having dropped from 47.3 million at the end of June to 45.4 million by the end of September. Sony suggests that a large portion of these dropped subscriptions may be due to the lack of a PS5.

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Sony plans to increase PlayStation Plus subscriber numbers by increasing PS5 sales

According to Sonys financial report, the majority of subscribers are using a PS5. So it plans to ramp up production of the PS5 and sell more of those consoles. Which it hopes will help it recoup some of the lost subscribers from this past quarter. Sony also reported that its PS5 sales had now reached 25 million units. 5.7 million of which were from the first half of the fiscal year 2023 that ends on March 31 of next year.

This is also quite a bit below Sonys planned goal to sell 18 million PS5 consoles throughout the entirety of the fiscal year 2023. Though Sony hopes to push through high sales numbers during the holidays, the company seems less likely to reach that 18 million target. Since it will have to sell another 12.3 million consoles by the end of March 2023 to hit that number. About 6.6 million more than it has sold so far this fiscal year.
Sony has reported its latest fiscal year 2023 earnings report, and PS5 sales have now reached 25 million units since launch in November of 2020. So far this fiscal year, the company has sold about 5.7 million PS5s. That might sound like a lot but its actually well below the companys planned goal. Sony wants to sell 18 million PS5 units for the fiscal year 2023, which ends on March 31 of next year.

Giving the company just about six months to not only meet its current sales number but exceed it by another 6.6 million units. Its a tall order. One that Sony is hoping will be possible with an uptick in sales through the holiday season. A lofty goal to be sure but not necessarily impossible. Whats probably more likely though is that Sony will fall short of that goal and end up matching last years sales total. Which was 11.5 million.

PS5 sales for the fiscal year 2023 are likely to fall below target

With Sony sitting so far behind its fiscal 2023 goal, the company has a lot of catching up to do. And as Engadget points out, a lot of that catching up is going to be reliant on how many consoles Sony can sell during the holidays. Which in turn is going to depend on Sony being able to meet the demand with a steady supply.

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The PS5 is still a challenge to acquire. In many cases you cant just walk into a retailer and find the console on the shelf. Though it is more possible now than it was two years ago. Sony is also more consistently offering PS5s and PS5 bundles on PlayStation Direct. And without having to sit in a queue to get one. One only needs to have a PlayStation account and sign in. At which point you can add the console to your cart and make the purchase, provided there are some in stock.

In the past, Sony has said it expects the PS5 to catch back up to PS4 sales by its fourth year. And with supply issues dwindling that will become easier to do.
A Supreme Court ruling could change the way we use social media and other internet platforms forever. The court last month decided to hear a set of cases that seek to hold internet companies such as Google, Meta, and Twitter accountable for content posted by users on their platforms. An unfavorable ruling for these companies could shake the internet economy once and for all.

Supreme Court ruling could shake the internet economy

These cases challenge Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. It shields social media companies against content users post on their platforms. They are not liable for any harmful content posted by users. But the Supreme Court has taken up two major Section 230 cases against Google and Twitter. They allege these platforms of facilitating terrorist propaganda.

The first case is an appeal by the family of Nohemi Gonzalez, a 23-year-old American citizen killed in an ISIS attack in Paris in 2015. The family alleges that YouTube, a subsidiary of Googles parent company Alphabet, provided ISIS with an algorithmic lift to spread videos inciting violence. Its recommendation algorithm helped the terrorist organization to find and recruit potential supporters of their violent acts. YouTube continued recommending such harmful videos to users despite recognizing that they are showing active interest in violence.

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The other case is a similar appeal against Twitter, Google, and Meta. It is filed by the family of Nawras Alassaf, a victim of another ISIS attack at a nightclub in Istanbul in 2017. This case also alleges these companies of facilitating terrorist propaganda by allowing them to share and spread materials inciting violence. These platforms were the vehicle of choice for the attackers to communicate and hatch the plot for the attack that killed Mr. Nawras five years back.

Of course, the social media giants do not agree. Their lawyers have stated that they regularly filter and remove content that incites violence. They also deny any link between their platforms and the Paris and Istanbul attacks. But the matter has now reached the Supreme Court and an unfavorable ruling could change the face of the internet forever.

There are more similar cases against Section 230

These arent the only cases challenging Section 230. In January this year, Angela Underwood Jacobs, sister of Dave Patrick Underwood who was shot and killed by two men outside a federal building in May 2020, filed a similar case against Meta. The two attackers connected through Facebook where they shared an interest in promoting violence against federal law enforcement officers. They planned the attack on the social media app and had never met before the day of the attack.

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Lawmakers have been long calling for lifting or amending Section 230. And the time might have finally come. The law shielded internet companies and any change will have an adverse effect on their functioning. Social media platforms heavily rely on algorithmic recommendations to drive engagement. Any amendment to Section 230 will require them to change their business model and also focus more on moderating. This will affect the internet economy as well.

Companies have already started preparing for the worst, though. According to a WSJ report, the tech industry is pressing Congress to rewrite Section 230 with more clear-cut liability protections. The implications of the changes may be pretty big, though.
Germany warns Serbia: choose between EU and Russia A Western Balkans summit is scheduled in Berlin on Thursday

(ANSA-AFP) - BERLIN, 01 NOV - Germany has cautioned Serbia against cultivating deeper ties with Russia, warning that it could thwart its bid to join the European Union, a German government source said on Tuesday. Two days ahead of a Western Balkans summit in the German capital intended to bolster relations with the six countries of the region, the senior official said Belgrade needed to decide whose side it was on: Moscow's or the EU's. "The relationship with Serbia is complex -- there is light as well as shadows," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Serbia's relations with Russia are certainly part of the shadows." The source said the German government had been, for example, "surprised and disappointed" when Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic in September signed an agreement with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov agreeing to confer on foreign policy. The German official said it was time for Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to get off the fence. "If he takes the path to Europe, he will have support, from the EU as a whole and from the German government," the source said. "Should he choose the other path, it will have ensuing consequences" for Belgrade's future with the EU, the official said. (ANSA-AFP).





 Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved
Chinese-aided poverty reduction project to benefit rural Zambia villagers

Xinhua) 09:39, November 01, 2022

Simushi Liswaniso, the project coordinator of the Demonstration Village for China-Africa Agricultural Development and Poverty Reduction, receives an interview with Xinhua at the Shimwengwe Village in Chongwe District, Lusaka Province, Zambia, on Oct. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Peng Lijun)

LUSAKA, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Villagers in Zambia's rural areas are hoping to raise their farming productivity and make an increased income through a Chinese-aided project that aims to make a positive impact on poverty reduction in the southern African country.

The project, namely the Demonstration Village for China-Africa Agricultural Development and Poverty Reduction that was proposed during the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in November last year, will see the establishment of 10 village demonstration centers in the rural parts of Zambia over the next few years.

Earlier this month, a demonstration village has been set up at the Shimwengwe Village in Chongwe District, Lusaka Province. Through the project, villagers will be equipped with the knowledge and small-scale technologies to improve their productivity in the chicken-rearing business.

Simushi Liswaniso, the project coordinator, said the project, which runs from this year to 2025, has been financed by China under the Belt and Road/South-South Cooperation Agricultural Education, Science and Technology Innovation League (BRSSCAL) through China's Jilin Agricultural University.

He thanked the Chinese government for supporting the project, adding that such projects will enhance the friendship between the two countries since it was aimed at improving people's lives.

He further thanked Jilin Agricultural University for spearheading the project and hoped that more funds will be secured to ensure the smooth implementation of the project.

Liswaniso said the results from the pilot project will be used to assess whether to extend the project to other parts of the country in order to improve the lives of vulnerable families in rural areas.

Zambia has a lot to learn from China which has managed to lift millions of its people out of poverty because of its robust poverty reduction programs, he added.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)
The Government is disappointed with the BBCs plans to make extensive cuts to local radio, culture minister Julia Lopez has said.

In the Commons, a Conservative former minister also urged the broadcaster to take half a million pounds from the salary of its top talent, such as Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker, to fund its smaller stations.

The BBC announced plans on Monday for its local radio stations to share more content and broadcast less programming unique to their area, with the proposals resulting in the loss of 48 jobs overall.

Julia Lopez (Ian West/PA)

After 2pm on weekdays, the BBC will produce 18 afternoon programmes across England that will be shared between its 39 stations.

Ten local programmes will then be shared between 6-10pm on weekdays, across the day on Saturday and on Sunday mornings, serving areas broadly mirroring the existing local TV areas.

Answering an urgent question in the Commons on Tuesday, Ms Lopez said: Overall, we do have concerns about the proposals, which we were not given notice of.

I want to take this opportunity to stress that the BBC is rightly operationally and editorially independent from the Government, and decisions on service delivery are ultimately a matter for them.

However, the Government is disappointed that the BBC is reportedly planning to make such extensive cuts to its local radio output.

She added: For those older residents living in rural areas, it can be a particular lifeline.

The BBC must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK.

We recognise in the current fiscal context the BBC, like other organisations, is facing difficult financial decisions.

But we are also concerned that the BBC is making such far-reaching decisions, particularly about its local news provision, without setting out further detail on how it will impact its audiences and the communities it serves.

Gary Lineker (Ian Walton/PA)

Sir Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, told the Commons: The public trust local radio, like they dont trust Newsnight or the Today programme.

Frankly, because they dont listen to it and they trust local radio. If its about money, then take half a million pounds out Gary Linekers salary or one of the others who earn extortionate salaries.

Mr Lineker was the BBCs top earning on-air talent in 2021/22 with a salary of between 1,350,000 and 1,354,999.

The BBC has said it needs to save 285 million in response to the announcement in January that the licence fee will be frozen for the next two years.

The proposals were announced as part of its new strategy, announced in May, to create a modern, digital-led broadcaster.

It said the changes will see around 19 million reprioritised from broadcast services towards online and multi-media production.

BBC Radio Humberside journalist Andy Comfort criticised the move, writing on Twitter that staff were stunned and upset.

Labour MP Emma Hardy told the Commons local radio cannot call itself local when it stops being local after 2pm,

Conservative chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee Julian Knight spoke of the very real concerns over potential loss of local distinctiveness through these proposed cuts.

He added: These cuts make reforms to radio prominence absolutely crucial and will the minister quash growing rumours that the main potential vehicle for such reforms, the Media Bill, is set to be shelved or delayed in any way.

They need to think again. This is effectively fire and rehire. https://t.co/g2zkpYOzIr  Karl Turner MP (@KarlTurnerMP) November 1, 2022

Rhodri Talfan Davies, BBC director of nations, said: These proposals aim to maintain the distinctiveness of our local services while allowing the BBC to adapt with our audiences and ensure we remain relevant.

Taken together they will ensure our network of local services  across TV, radio, online and Sounds  offer more value for audiences.

Of course, change is never easy  and we will work closely with all our colleagues to introduce these plans sensitively and fairly.

BBC Local Radio remains an essential service for millions of listeners  the very best local radio network in the world  but its also essential we make difficult choices that will enable us to reach out to many people that increasingly rely on their mobiles for local content.

In response to a tweet by Labour MP Karl Turner claiming the BBCs action were effectively fire and rehire, a BBC spokesperson said: This is completely untrue.

Our proposals clearly set out the need for a number of new and different roles. Adapting our services requires a completely different way of working and fewer presenters.

We are conducting this process fairly and in consultation with staff, doing our very best to avoid compulsory redundancies.

Gary Lineker has been contacted for comment.
The funeral for rock n roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis will take place on Saturday, his family has announced.

The ceremony will take place in the US musicians birthplace of Ferriday, Louisiana, and be officiated by his cousin, Reverend Jimmy Swaggart.

Lewis, who was as well known for his controversial private life as his music, died on Friday aged 87.

Known for hits including Great Balls Of Fire and Whole Lot Of Shakin Going On, he was one of the last survivors of a generation of groundbreaking performers which included Elvis Presley and Little Richard.

Jerry Lee Lewis at a press reception at the Mayfair Hotel, London (PA)

In a statement on Monday, the Lewis family said there will be two memorial services available for the public to attend.

One will take place on Thursday November 3 at the Hernando Funeral Home in Mississippi, with a second one on Saturday in Ferriday.

The funeral will be live streamed for those unable to attend, with details still to be announced.

A private burial will take place after the service, as well as a celebration of the musicians life at the Arcade Theatre in Ferriday.

Lewis, nicknamed The Killer, died at his home in Desoto County, Mississippi, south of Memphis, with his wife Judith by his side, his publicist announced on Friday.

After his death, global stars including Sir Elton John, Ronnie Wood and Sir Ringo Starr paid tribute to his trailblazing inspiration in the world of music.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame said his hit songs served as a foundation of the sound and spirit of youth culture, and praised his rock and roll swagger.

Lewis was part of the Hall of Fames inaugural class in 1986 and inducted alongside other groundbreaking performers including Chuck Berry, James Brown, Buddy Holly, Little Richard and Presley.

On Thursday, his death was falsely reported before a representative for Lewis confirmed he was still alive.

Lewis is survived by his seventh wife, Judith Coghlan Lewis, his children Jerry Lee Lewis III, Ronnie Lewis, Phoebe Lewis and Lori Lancaster.
The SNP MSP who quit the Scottish Government in a row over plans to allow self-identification for transgender people has been hailed as a heroine by JK Rowling.

The author, who is known as a vocal critic of the reforms, praised Ash Regan, saying: This is what a principled politician looks like.

Her comments on Twitter came after Ms Regan stood down as community safety minister in the Scottish Government.

On Tuesday, the SNP MSP said there should have been a free vote on the legislation last week.

This is what a principled politician looks like. @AshtenRegan will rightly be seen as a heroine when future generations of Scottish women look back at the profoundly misogynistic legislation currently being pushed through by the Sturgeon government. https://t.co/zqYv7Ycmb7 https://t.co/RCst0AByHN  J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 30, 2022

She said then that her conscience would not allow her to vote for the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, quitting her ministerial post just hours before it faced its first vote at Holyrood.

Ms Rowling, who has previously tweeted a picture of herself wearing a T-shirt calling Scotlands First Minister a destroyer of womens rights took to social media to praise Ms Regan.

The Harry Potter author wrote: This is what a principled politician looks like.

@AshtenRegan will rightly be seen as a heroine when future generations of Scottish women look back at the profoundly misogynistic legislation currently being pushed through by the Sturgeon government.

Ash Regan stood down as community safety minister in the Scottish Government, saying she could not support the changes (Fraser Bremner/Scottish Daily Mail/PA)

The legislation, which passed its first Holyrood vote by 88 to 33 last week, includes proposals that will remove the requirement for someone to obtain a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria before they can seek a gender recognition certificate (GRC).

The controversial proposals also set out to reduce the amount of time someone must live in their acquired gender from two years to three months, with an additional three-month reflection period  while the minimum age for obtaining a certificate will be cut from 18 to 16.

Groups representing women and girls have raised concerns over safety if the Bill is passed in its current form.

Ms Regan tweeted her thanks to the hundreds of constituents and others across Scotland who had contacted her since she left the Government to support her stance.

She added: This is an issue of a deep concern to many and I am touched that some have shared their experiences of trauma with me and their need for safe spaces.

Giving a statement to journalists in the Scottish Parliament later, Ms Regan said she had got into politics to improve the lives of women.

She said: I deeply regret that I will not be able to continue in that work.

My beliefs and my commitment to building a better Scotland for all of us, but especially for women and girls, is what drives me as a politician.

It drives my politics, it drives me as a person as well.

I think last week  for the SNP  the vote should have been a free vote.

She said she had concerns around legal protections for women and her conscience would not allow her to vote for the Bill.

Ms Regan added: I want to be really clear on this point, I am not against reforms that make the lives of trans people better.

But I want us to get into a place where we can respect everybodys rights.

She said First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was well aware of her concerns about the Bill.

Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison, however, told Holyrood that the changes would make the process of obtaining a gender recognition certificate simpler, more streamlined, and more respectful of the privacy and dignity of trans men and women.

The Bill is needed because many trans people find the current system overly medicalised, complex, intrusive and invasive, Ms Robison said.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: A minister who considers they cannot comply with collective responsibility should approach the First Minister to discuss the issue.

Ms Regan was free to do so  at any stage from her accepting appointment as a minister, in full knowledge of Scottish Government policy on this issue, up until the parliamentary vote last week  but chose not to.

Ms Regans concerns were well known, publicly and privately, and the First Ministers letter does not say she was unaware of Ms Regans views.

Rather, the letter makes clear that at no point did Ms Regan make use of the well-established practice by which any minister can approach the First Minister when they have a difficulty.

Nor did she make use of the specific facility to meet with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice on this issue, as other MSPs have done.
Just Stop Oil protesters have attempted to climb the gates of Downing Street on their 32nd day of action calling on the Government to halt all new oil and gas licences.

At 11.20am on Tuesday, 22 protesters arrived in Whitehall with one group blocking the busy central London route by sitting in the road, with some gluing themselves to the Tarmac, while others tried to climb the gates to Downing Street.

A video posted on the groups Twitter account showed several protesters in their distinctive orange reflective waistcoats jumping over a smaller gate in an attempt to climb the main entrance to the street where the Prime Minister lives and works.

Officers shouted make way and come back please as armed police prevented some protesters from jumping over the smaller gate, and removed a woman who was climbing up the main gate.

Activists were dragged by officers towards police vans as members of the public filmed and watched.

The Metropolitan Police Events Twitter account said officers were aware of the protesters in Whitehall and Downing Street and that they were on the scene dealing with the matter.

A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said: Rishi Sunak is about to U-turn on attending Cop27.

We demand that he also U-turn on new oil and gas. This genocidal policy will kill millions of people, while failing to address the worst cost of living crisis this country has ever seen.

Its time for a serious windfall tax on big oil, without the get-out-of-jail-free tax credits that will encourage more oil and gas that we cannot afford.

Vulnerable people will be freezing to death in their homes this winter, unable to afford a can of soup, while his Government refuses to tax the rich and the big energy companies that are profiting from our misery.

We owe it to our young people to stop fossil fuels, we owe it to our workers to create a just transition to a zero-carbon economy, we owe it to our old people to enable them to live with dignity. We are not prepared to stand by and watch while everything we love is destroyed.

Met police are aware of protesters in Whitehall/Downing Street and are on the scene and dealing.  Metropolitan Police Events (@MetPoliceEvents) November 1, 2022

Several videos posted on Just Stop Oils Twitter feed showed protesters marching through Trafalgar Square where they were followed by rows of police officers as the activists chanted: No new oil, no new gas, no new coal, insulate Britain, we are Just Stop Oil.

One protester shouted this isnt what democracy looks like while pointing towards the crowd of police.

Another one said: This is how a peaceful protest gets policed these days. This is ridiculous.

The group of activists also chanted: Protests will continue.

The Metropolitan Police tweeted that they were aware of protesters blocking the road by Trafalgar Square and that officers were rapidly on the scene and were dealing with the situation.

The force has been contacted for further comment.
Embattled Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been referred to a financial watchdog by Labour over concerns of a breach of insider trading laws.

Shadow city minister Tulip Siddiq has asked the Financial Conduct Authority to investigate the leaking of information that led to Ms Bravermans resignation.

Rishi Sunak has been under sustained pressure since deciding to reappoint Ms Braverman to the role six days after she was forced out by Liz Truss while she was still prime minister.

Shadow city minister Tulip Siddiq has asked the Financial Conduct Authority to investigate the leaking of information that led to Ms Bravermans resignation (PA)

Without authorisation, Ms Braverman sent draft immigration policy to Tory backbencher Sir John Hayes from a personal email address, inadvertently also sending it to a staff member of another Conservative MP.

Ms Siddiq questioned whether the minister sharing highly sensitive information regarding growth visas could have been a breach under market abuse regulation.

She said the information could have affected Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts, saying policy changes can constitute inside information.

I believe this is a case to answer, the Labour MP wrote.

A spokesman for Ms Braverman, who has apologised for her errors of judgment, declined to comment.
A man has been jailed for nine years for killing a father-to-be whose body was dumped and set on fire on a London common.

Jean Loeike Gueis remains were discovered by a cyclist who spotted flames coming from bushes on Mitcham Common in south London early on September 17 2020.

The Old Bailey was told the 23-year-old was dumped there and, as a final humiliation, stripped so his underpants were pulled down around his thighs.

Post-mortem tests failed to determine a cause of death but did identify blunt force trauma to the face and head.

Around the time of his death, Mr Guei was excited about becoming a father  with his partner giving birth to their son three weeks later.

Mr Guei had made over 100 phone calls to Raphael Kokkinos as he became increasingly desperate to be repaid 40,000, jurors heard.

That was the value of a parcel of cocaine Kokkinos was storing for him when his flat was burgled in August 2020, the jury was told.

The defendant had reported it to police but said 18,000 in jewellery was taken and failed to mention Mr Gueis missing drugs.

Mr Guei was killed by Kokkinos at his home in Streatham, south London, jurors heard.

The defendant claimed he acted in excessive self defence when there was a struggle and 6ft 2in tall Mr Guei fell and hit his head.

Immediately after the fatal attack, Kokkinos, 35, got help to cover up the crime, including from his mother Sophia Kokkinos, 71, and friend Aaron Williams, 30, jurors heard.

Over 48 hours, Mr Gueis car and phone were disposed of and the crime scene cleaned up so only two blood spots were found on the kitchen worktop, the court was told.

The body was dumped under cover of darkness and set alight.

Kokkinos, of Polworth Road, south west London, admitted manslaughter and perverting the course of justice.

On Tuesday, Judge Angela Rafferty KC sentenced him to nine years in prison for manslaughter and four years to run concurrently for the lesser offence.

She told Kokkinos he unlawfully killed Mr Guei, a deeply loved member of a family which was left devastated.

She said: There was no attempt whatsoever to get any help for this man or to call the authorities in any way.

The cover up was premeditated, sustained and orchestrated by you for your benefit.

The condition of Mr Gueis body when recovered was appalling and something that haunts the members of his family.

Sophia Kokkinos, 71, Chelsham Road, south west London, and Williams, 30, of Warwick Gardens, Thornton Heath, south London, were found guilty of perverting the course of justice and jailed for three years each.
The Duchess of Sussex has revealed she found the British citizenship test so hard and even the Duke of Sussex had no idea of some of the answers.

The American-born actress spoke about studying for the Life in the UK test on the latest episode of her Archetypes podcast.

Meghan said she turned to Harry for help while practicing for the official government quiz, but she also appeared to suggest the British-born duke  who is fifth in line to the throne  was also stuck on the questions.

The couple during their engagement photocall (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

When Meghans engagement to Harry was confirmed in 2017, Buckingham Palace announced that the former Suits star would become a British citizen.

But the Sussexes quit the working monarchy in 2020 and moved to the US, amid reports Meghan had abandoned the process of seeking citizenship.

Chatting to actress and director Pamela Adlon, who recently became a British citizen, Meghan said: That citizenship exam is so hard. I was studying for it and I remember going Oh my goodness.

I would ask my husband Did you know this? Did you know this? and people went Oh, I had no idea.

Adlon, best known for voicing Bobby Hill in the animated comedy show King Of The Hill, joked: I think they made it harder for you. They were like Were gonna really throw up walls on this one.

Meghan laughed and said, You think?

The Duchess of Sussex on an official tour to South Africa (Daily Mail/PA)

The Duchess also chatted with her dear friend Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, the First Lady of Canada  wife of the Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Meghan spoke about how they spent time together in the summer with their children, and how she bought an inflatable pizza slice pool float online which proved to be a big hit.

This wasnt our day of being the wives and moms, all perfectly quaffed with up dos and pearls and demure smiles, the duchess said.

This was the other version of us, both with wild curly hair and swimsuits and loose linen and huge belly laughs, big cuddles with our little ones and quiet whispers of girl talk on the terrace, giddy like absolute school girls.

We were just having so much fun.

Meghan described the episode called Good Wife/Bad Wife, Good Mom/Bad Mom as digging into the roles women play on the home front and looking at how to break out of the limiting version of these moulds society has carved out for us.

The Life in the UK test costs 50, lasts for 45 minutes and features 24 multiple choice questions about British traditions and customs.

Canadian Prime minister Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau at the Queens funeral (Geoff Pugh/Daily Telegraph/PA)

The score needed to pass is 75%  18 out of 24.

The test can be rebooked an unlimited number of times, but applicants must pay each time.

Example questions include which King was executed in 1649 and who establised the Church of England.

Meghan also spoke about her familys whirlwind morning routine and how she makes breakfast for Harry, Archie and Lilibet every day, saying it is important to her and she loves doing it.

The Duchess said: Lili has just started walking. shes a year and a couple months old, and Archies just over three years old, so Im in the thick of it. Toddling.

She went on: So the morning rush  Im sure itll only get more chaotic as they get older.

But for me, its, you know, both monitors on for the kids to hear them, always up with Lili, get her downstairs, then a half hour later Archies up.

Start doing his lunch box right before hes up, while I have her, getting her a little nibble.

My husbands helping me get him downstairs. I make breakfast for all three of them. Its very important to me. I love doing it.

For me its just feels like the greatest way to start the morning. And then its like, feed all three of the dogs because we just got another dog and then get Archie out the door to school and, you know, but it does, it feels like a whirlwind.

The podcast cover of Archetypes (Archewell Audio/Spotify/PA)

Adlon asked of Harry: I hope daddys being a good contributor?

Meghan replied: Oh my husband, oh hes great. I mean, to do this as a single mom, I like bow down to you.

The Duchess went on: Why is it still so judgmental and hard out there? And why  theres an expectation for it to look so easy for some?  just so put togethercan we just all be real?

Meghans mother Doria Ragland also featured in the podcast for the first time, with a recording of her FaceTiming while the Duchess was working on the episode.

Meghan greets her with Hey Mommy and Ms Ragland can be heard saying Hey. Hows my girl?.

The Duchess replies: Im okay. Im hanging in there. Its okay. Im recording right now. Do you want to see?

As they chat, Ms Ragland says: You have on a smiley face.

The pair tell each other they love one another and Meghans mother signs off by clicking her fingers in a cool handshake the Duchess taught her when she was eight, which Meghan describes as snap, scissors, cut, chicken wing.
The UK must future-proof its economy by investing in cutting-edge green technologies, International Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch has said.

In a speech to the green trade and investment expo in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, on Tuesday, Ms Badenoch will say new technologies to combat climate change are creating high-paying skilled jobs while providing a route to future energy security.

Her call comes amid warnings that the UK battery start-up, Britishvolt, which had been developing a 3.8 billion gigafactory in Blyth, Northumberland, is facing potential administration, putting almost 300 jobs at risk.

In her speech, Ms Badenoch is expected to highlight the UKs success over the past two years in securing almost 20 billion in green inward investment, creating more than 11,000 new jobs.

In a statement ahead of her address, she said: We know trade and investment grows our economy, creates jobs and puts money in peoples pockets  but it also has the power to tackle the challenges we see around the world.

Now is the time to future-proof our economy by investing in cutting-edge green technology, protecting our long-term energy security and creating thousands of jobs in industries of the future.

I am committed to continuing to bang the trading drum for Britain to boost economic growth and level up the UK for generations to come.

Among the announcements expected at the event is confirmation of a 26 million finance package for the Northern Ireland-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus, to support the export of zero emission buses around the world  including to Australia and Germany.

Meanwhile Flogas will confirm a 50 million investment to upgrade the Avonmouth terminal to store liquid petroleum gas and to handle renewable biogas and hydrogen, opening up a potential global supply of renewable fuels to the UK.
Battery start-up Britishvolt is holding emergency talks as it seeks a last-minute reprieve to avoid tumbling into administration.

The company has been developing a 3.8 billion gigafactory in Blyth, Northumberland, which it had hoped would employ up to 3,000 workers.

However, it is teetering on the brink of insolvency as it seeks fresh funding in order to continue operations.

It is understood the business has fielded interest from potential investors and has not yet entered administration.

Nevertheless, it has lined up advisers from EY to oversee any potential insolvency process.

There were reports on Tuesday that the company has secured funding to avert collapse but the PA news agency understands discussions are still taking place.

The Government backed Britishvolts plans for the gigafactory in January (Britishvolt/PA)

The Government backed the plans for the firms gigafactory in January and said it would support Britishvolt with undisclosed funding, understood to be around 100 million. However, the firm has not yet received this funding.

Britishvolt has also received tens of millions of pounds of financial backing from FTSE 100 metals firm Glencore.

On Monday, a spokesman for Britishvolt said it was working on several potential scenarios that offer the required stability for it to continue operating.

The company has faced challenges since first announcing plans for the battery site, with co-founder Orral Nadjari leaving the firm in July this year.

In 2020 then-chairman and co-founder Lars Carlstrom said he would resign from the business after PA revealed his historical fraud conviction.

However, he has since turned up in Italy and California, founding companies called Italvolt and Statevolt with plans to create gigafactories there. It is unclear how far these projects have progressed.
The president of the National Union of Students (NUS) has had her contract terminated after an investigation into allegations of antisemitism.

In May, it was announced that Rebecca Tuck KC would lead an independent investigation into allegations of antisemitism within the union, as well as an investigation into the then president-elect Shaima Dallali under the NUS code of conduct.

In an update on Tuesday  first reported by Jewish News  the NUS said it had taken the decision to terminate Ms Dallalis contract after an independent panel found that significant breaches of NUS policies have taken place.

Antisemitism in the student movement goes beyond the actions of any one individual and this case is a symptom of a wider problem pic.twitter.com/MBNTm13Tb4  Union of Jewish Students (@UJS_UK) November 1, 2022

The union said the panels decision could be subject to an appeal.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism organisation described Ms Dallalis removal as an an encouraging first step while the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) said this case is a symptom of a wider problem.

The NUS said it wanted to keep working closely with the UJS on the wider investigation into the allegations about the NUS and is exploring actions that NUS can take in the near future to build trust and confidence with Jewish students.

The NUS apologised for the harm that has been caused, adding that it hopes to rebuild the NUS in an inclusive way  fighting for all students as we have done for the past 100 years.

NUS vice-president of higher education Chloe Field has been made acting chair of the NUS UK board.

She said: I am proud to fight on behalf of all of our students and therefore I am determined to work together with the Union of Jewish Students to re-establish trust in our organisation and tackle some of the biggest issues facing students right now.

Education minister Robert Halfon said: We welcome the verdict to this initial investigation and look forward to seeing the outcome of the next stage, which will provide more detail on National Union of Students plans to address antisemitism within the organisation.

Home Office minister Robert Jenrick also welcomed the action.

He tweeted: Antisemitism is abhorrent. There can be no place for it on our university campuses. I welcome this step and look forward to further action, so Jewish students can enjoy their student years free from racism.

In a statement, the UJS said: UJS respects the decision of the National Union of Students to dismiss their President. Antisemitism in the student movement goes beyond the actions of any one individual and this case is a symptom of a wider problem.

Jewish students across the country will be asking how an individual deemed unfit for office by NUS was elected in the first place. We await the findings of the substantive inquiry into NUS treatment of Jewish students.

Binyomin Gilbert, programme manager at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: The removal of Shaima Dallali as NUS President is an encouraging first step, and may represent the first acknowledgement by NUS of how dreadful its relations with Jewish students have become.

Nobody with a history of expressing antisemitic sentiments has a place in student leadership, and while her removal is certainly the right decision, the culture in NUS and student politics that allowed somebody like Ms Dallali to rise so high must still be addressed.

This is hardly the first time that we have had to raise concerns about antisemitism at the top of NUS. That is why Rebecca Tuck KCs investigation into antisemitism in NUS more widely, to which we have contributed, is so important.
The original model used in Steven Spielbergs classic 1982 film ET is expected to fetch up to three million dollars (2.6 million) when it goes under the hammer in December.

Predating CGI technology, the mechatronic features 85 points of movement and was operated by twelve professional animators.

Regarded as an engineering masterpiece, it was originally created by Italian special effects designer Carlo Rambaldi.

The model was originally created by Italian special effects designer Carlo Rambaldi (Juliens Auctions/PA)

The sale of the model is part of the Icons and Idols: Hollywood auction, organised by Juliens Auctions and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) which coincides with the films 40th anniversary year.

ET The Extra Terrestrial was nominated for nine Academy Awards, winning four including best visual effects, which was awarded to Rambaldi and his team.

It starred Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore, and featured a score by legendary composer John Williams.

A series of original ET blueprint mechanical illustrations are also estimated at between 10 and 20,000 dollars (8,600-17,000) each (Juliens Auctions/PA)

Other items from the film that will go up for sale at the auction include the original ET maquette model made for Steven Spielberg to approve the ET design, which is estimated at between 80 and 100,000 dollars (70-87,000)

A series of original ET blueprint mechanical illustrations are also estimated at between 10 and 20,000 dollars (8,600-17,000) each.

Elsewhere, items from the Harry Potter franchise are also expected to fetch hundreds of thousands, including a selection of prop broomsticks belonging to Daniel Radcliffe.

Harry Potter franchise items are also expected to fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars (Juliens Auctions/PA)

The models include the original Nimbus 2000 from Harry Potter And The Philosophers Stone, which could go for up to 100,000 dollars (87,000), and a Shooting Star prop broom, which is estimated at between 30-50,000 dollars (26-43,000).

An original Gryffindor wool overcoat and red and yellow Gryffindor scarf designed for Harry Potter is priced at between 20-30,000 dollars (17-26,000).

A Gryffindor Quidditch team stunt robe from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets may fetch up to 20,000 dollars (17,000).

The Icons and Idols: Hollywood auction is due to take place live on Saturday, December 17 and Sunday December 18 in Beverly Hills.
A priest who gave a widely condemned address in Co Kerry church over the weekend is to be prevented from saying Mass again after the Bishop of Kerry rebuked his comments as unchristian.

Retired priest Fr Sean Sheehy told worshippers at St Marys Church in Listowel that gay couples were sinful, and criticised free contraception being provided by the HSE as it was promoting promiscuity.

A video of Fr Sheehys comments, where he also criticised abortion and the trans community, has been shared widely online and has prompted condemnation of his views.

What is so sad today is you rarely hear about sin but its rampant. Its rampant, Fr Sheehy said during his homily delivered over the weekend.

We see it, for example, in the legislation of our governments.

We see it in the promotion of abortion.

We see it in the example of this lunatic approach of transgenderism.

We see it, for example, in the promotion of sex between two men and two women.

That is sinful, that is mortal sin.

And people dont seem to realise it, but its a fact, its a reality.

Some people attending the Mass left the church as a result, to which the priest told them God help you and God bless you who are here, who are worshipping God.

In response to the comments, Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne apologised to those who were offended by Fr Sheehys offending homily and said his views do not represent the Christian position.

He said that to have total respect for one another was a fundamental Christian teaching, and for these issues to be spoken of in such terms a weekend parish Mass was not appropriate.

I am aware of the deep upset and hurt caused by the contents of the homilies in question delivered over the weekend.

I apologise to all who were offended.

The views expressed do not represent the Christian position.

I regret that this has occurred while a parish pilgrimage to the Holy Land is taking place, he added, in reference to parish priest Father Declan OConnor, who is away.

Speaking to local radio station Radio Kerry on Tuesday afternoon, Fr Sheehy said the bishop had told him he was to be taken off all Masses.

I know myself that what I said cannot be disproven by any honest-to-God Catholic, Christian or Catholic teaching, and thats the bottom line.

He added that he believed that the bishop was muzzling the truth in order to appease people.

Human rights advocate and former head of Amnesty International Ireland Colm OGorman said in response to the priests homily: I can only hope that this man finds his way back to love.

To genuine, open hearted, joyful love, love without judgment, love that expands rather than diminishes ones connection with ones own humanity. I am not lost. He is, he said on Twitter.
Dame Prue Leith has called on the government to give proper time when considering changing the law to allow medically assisted dying.

The Great British Bake Off judge, 82, is making a documentary about assisted dying with her son and Tory MP for Devizes, Danny Kruger, who is of a different opinion from her on the debate.

The chef and TV presenter told Times Radio on Tuesday that her son has a principled stand on the topic as he feels there is a danger it will lead to people feeling pressurised into an assisted death.

She continued: Whereas, I keep saying to him, when you get to my age you speak about death quite a lot. I just feel its my life and if I want to end it  which I dont by the way, Im really keen on my life  but I would like to have the option.

Dame Prue Leith is making a documentary about assisted dying (Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/PA)

I think the law should change. I think we should be allowed to ask for medical assistance to help us die when weve absolutely had enough of life.

She recalled how she watched her elder brother David die in pain from cancer, saying: He just had the most awful, awful, awful death and its true that palliative care can be really great but the truth is its not great in this country.

And there are some cancers and some complaints, the drugs just do not touch. There are something like 7,000 people who die in unrelieved pain.

Dame Prue added that Parliament needs to address the issue seriously with a Bill that the government promises will not be talked out.

What Id mostly like is Parliament to give it proper time, she said.

I mean, up until now it has been debated in the Commons a couple of times but its always a Private Members Bill, which can be talked out by filibustering.

What happens is the people who are opposed to it  especially which happened in the Lords most recently  they just propose all sorts of amendments that they dont really mean.

They just want to talk for two days, in which case it collapses. So it has to be a Government Bill or a Bill that the Government promises will not be talked out, and then people wont just prevent it happening.

The Bake Off star has previously spoken about the painful death of her brother and how her late husband Rayne Kruger asked doctors if he could have a bit of assistance with dying.

She said Kruger, who she was married to for almost 30 years before the authors death from emphysema in 2002, had wanted to go peacefully.

Assisted dying has been legalised in several states in the US, in Australia and in several European countries, and a Bill is set to be introduced in the Scottish Parliament next year.
Under-pressure Home Secretary Suella Braverman has vowed to fix the UKs broken asylum system as she rejected calls to resign over her response to the migrant crisis.

In a combative Commons performance on Monday, Ms Braverman denied ignoring legal advice to procure more accommodation amid warnings a temporary holding centre at Manston in Kent was dangerously overcrowded.

With the Government spending 6.8 million a day putting up migrants in hotels  at an average cost of 150 per person per night  she insisted she was right to order a review of the way the system was working.

But she faced criticism from some opposition MPs for inflaming the situation after she said the Government is committed to stopping the invasion on our southern coast.

Labour questioned how  with Ms Braverman facing multiple accusations of breaching the Ministerial Code  the public could have confidence in her ability to discharge her responsibilities for national security.

Earlier, in a lengthy letter to MPs, the Home Secretary apologised for a series of errors of judgment in which she used her personal email to send official government documents.

The disclosure led to her resignation from former prime minister Liz Trusss government, only for new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to reappoint her six days later as part of what Labour claimed was a grubby deal to secure her support in the Tory leadership race.

While Ms Braverman insisted there was no risk to national security, she was forced to admit she had sent official documents to her personal email address on six separate occasions.

On the day of her resignation, she waited several hours before alerting officials to the fact she inadvertently sent a document to a member of staff working for a Conservative MP, she also admitted.

In the Commons, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said Ms Braverman may have committed as many as three breaches of the Ministerial Code in a day.

The Home Secretary, however, strongly denied claims she ignored legal advice and rejected calls by officials to procure more hotel accommodation for migrants amid mounting concern about the situation at Manston.

The Manston holding centre (Gareth Fuller/PA)

She said she will be visiting the facility shortly and will continue to personally oversee efforts to resolve the problems there.

Last week, the chief inspector of borders and immigration David Neal told MPs the conditions he found at the centre left him speechless.

There are thought to be around 4,000 migrants at the processing facility, which is designed to hold a maximum of 1,600, with some said to have been there for up to a month, even though they are supposed to be moved on after 24 hours.

Some families are reported to have been sleeping on the floor and there are reports of outbreaks of disease including cases of diphtheria, MRSA and scabies.
The widow of murdered prison officer David Black has issued a plea for information to help catch his killers 10 years on and bring her family some level of peace.

An increased reward of 20,000 has been offered for information leading to the prosecution of those responsible.

David Black, 52, a father-of-two from Cookstown, Co Tyrone, was killed in a drive-by shooting on November 1 2012.

He was targeted as he drove to work at Maghaberry Prison around 7.30am on the M1 motorway between Portadown and Lurgan.

A republican organisation calling itself the New IRA said it carried out the murder.

To date, detectives from the PSNI and Garda Siochana have made 12 arrests on both sides of the Irish border, undertaken numerous searches of premises and vehicles and taken more than 1,000 statements.

But no-one has yet been convicted of Mr Blacks murder.

Mr Blacks widow Yvonne has called for the help and support of the broader community to bring those responsible to justice.

Mr Blacks widow Yvonne, left, and their son Kyle, together with other family members leaving Belfast Crown Court (Niall Carson/PA)

We would issue a plea to those who hold information concerning the events leading up to the murder of David, information concerning what happened that fateful morning and the aftermath, she said.

Loyalties change and we are appealing for information to be given, however small, which could help build the jigsaw, progressing justice and accountability.

We continue to try to build our lives as best we can, we have in many ways concealed our own hurt and pain to the outside world but we require the help and support of the broader community in order to give us an opportunity to have some level of peace, currently denied us through the lack of successful convictions against those responsible for Davids murder.

Mrs Black continued: Ten years have passed since David was stolen away from us; David was a good man, he was a wonderful husband and father and he worked extremely hard fulfilling a role as provider.

When he was murdered, our lives were shattered, everything we had come to know had been taken away from us.

David Black, centre, with son Kyle, left, and daughter Kyra (Family handout/PA)

We mourn him every day and there have been very difficult times down the years as we have tried to come to terms with the new life weve all been forced to live.

I have tried to keep going for our children, Kyle and Kyra, who have also helped lift me up at points when life is challenging for me.

My husband and our childrens father wasnt a danger or threat to anyone and he most certainly was no-ones legitimate target; he was highly respected across the community and indeed by his former colleagues and inmates alike.

David lived his life by the adage respect breeds respect and this is how he conducted his life, personally and professionally within his work as a prison officer.

Mrs Black said her husbands loss has left a massive gaping hole in the family.

You put a face on for the world and you do, because you have to get on, life is precious, but you realise that your life will never be the same, she said.

I remember in the beginning saying that you drop something and it smashes into 1,000 pieces. You can lift it up and stick it all together and if you stand far enough back it looks like the same thing, but it doesnt. And I will never be the same. My children will never be the same. My family will never be the same because we have been robbed from a very precious person who loved life and was just about to retire.

Theres so many things that we had planned and none of that has came to fruition and we have been robbed and Ive been robbed of my future in regards to all the plans that we had made.

Yvonne Black holds picture of her late husband David (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mrs Black said the family wanted to see justice done.

I suppose I was always brought up that right was right and wrong was wrong and murder is never and can never be justified, she said.

And if it can never be justified, then there has to be consequences for that and there should be justice.

Kenny Donaldson of the victims group SEFF said Mr Black was a respected, hard-working family man who was contributing as best he could to make this society a better place for all to live.

David Black, left, with his wife Yvonne (Family handout/PA)

He said prisoners had spoken of their respect for Mr Black.

It is a matter of huge regret that those responsible for Davids murder have yet to be held accountable and there remains individuals within the community who continue to hold information which would strengthen the case against the perpetrators, he added.

Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Kelly has appealed to the communities of both Cookstown and Lurgan to come forward with information regarding the investigation.

Our investigation into Davids murder, is very much active, he said.

We believe there are members of the communities of Lurgan and Cookstown who have information that will bring those responsible for Davids murder to justice.

Police officers revisit the scene of David Blacks murder on the M1 motorway a week after the incident in 2012 (Paul Faith/PA)

Davids family deserves closure and although it wont bring him back, it will help bring those responsible before the courts. Time may have passed, but it is not too late to do the right thing for Davids family.

On Thursday November 1 2012, David was shot and killed as he drove from his Cookstown home to work at Maghaberry prison in his black Audi A4 car along the motorway between Portadown (Junction 11) and Lurgan (Junction 10).

The dark blue Toyota Camry used in the murder was in Lurgan prior to the shooting on the evening of October 31.

The following morning, November 1, less than one mile from the Lurgan exit on the M1, the dark blue Toyota Camry car with a Republic of Ireland registration, 94 D 50997, pulled alongside David Black and a number of shots were fired, killing him.

The Toyota Camry was found burnt out in the Inglewood area of Lurgan a short time later at 7.45am.

I would appeal to people in Cookstown to think about what they saw in the days and weeks before Davids murder. Did you see any unusual activity around Davids home or the places he frequented? If you have any information, please contact us.

A Toyota Camry, the type of vehicle believed to have been involved in Mr Blacks murder (PSNI handout/PA)

Mick Duthie, director of operations at the charity Crimestoppers which is offering the 20,000 reward for information, added: We hope that our charitys reward for anonymous information will go some way to helping secure justice for David and his family and friends.

With Crimestoppers, we dont want to know who you are, only what you know.

Anyone with information for police which could help bring Davids killers before the courts can be provided to detectives on 101.

Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously via Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Mr Black was the first prison officer to be killed by paramilitaries in Northern Ireland in almost 20 years.

His killing in 2012 prompted united political condemnation from then-DUP leader Peter Robinson, Sinn Feins Martin McGuinness, the then-Irish premier Enda Kenny and members of the US administration.
Baroness May Bloods dedication and conviction to the causes she believed in were clear to all who met her, mourners at her funeral service heard.

The trade unionist and integrated schools advocate Baroness Blood died last month aged 84.

Politicians from across Northern Ireland paid tribute to the working-class activist in the wake of her death, as did President of Ireland Michael D Higgins and Archbishop John McDowell.

The order of service for the funeral of Baroness May Blood at Ballygomartin Presbyterian Church in Belfast (Niall Carson/PA)

Speaking at her funeral service, campaign director at the Integrated Education Fund Paul Caskey said, it was Mays honest straight talking, no-nonsense, common-sense approach that earned her huge respect.

He said that the Baroness was an inspiration to all and said her death had prompted messages of praise from all sections of society.

Having grown up in a working class community of Belfast and starting work from the age of 14 at a Belfast mill, she would go on to fight for better work conditions at the mill and for opportunities for those in her local community.

She sought nothing in return, Mr Caskey said. She never ever sought personal benefit from her efforts.

Mr Caskey said that the experience of her family home being set on fire for defending their Catholic neighbours, as well as her time in the mill, helped give her a unique and natural ability to transcend the sectarian division of this society.

It didnt matter what social class or religious background you came from, for May believed that the day-to-day issues of employment, education and health were far more important things in life to worry about.

The coffin of Baroness May Blood is carried from Ballygomartin Presbyterian Church in Belfast after her funeral (Niall Carson/PA)

He also retold a story of how the late Baroness mulled over whether to accept her title.

Initially she wasnt sure if she should take the title. She asked to think it over. Not the usual response.

What would people think of me? Surely people like her didnt go to the House of Lords?

But typical May, she was determined to use her position to help others not herself. If I can use the title to help the Shankill, help Early Years and young people, then I will, and she did.

May Blood went on to become a founding member of the Northern Ireland Womens Coalition and helped raise money and awareness for the Integrated Education Fund since 2001.

Mr Caskey said she used her title to promote the fund and helped to raise millions of pounds for the cause.

Her passion, conviction and dedication was clear to all that met her. She inspired countless people to become supporters. They adored her. We all did.

As he concluded his tribute to his late friend, Mr Caskey broke down.

May yearned for the day that Northern Ireland would be at peace with itself. It was that desire for peace that drove her to do exceptional things for so many people.

She always said this little phrase: There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen, and there are people who wonder what happened.

May Blood made things happen. Thank you May for all you did  I knew this would happen  to make Northern Ireland a better place.

Among those in attendance at the funeral were Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill; Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Mervyn Gibson; actor Jimmy Nesbitt, US Consul General Paul Narain, veterans commissioner Danny Kinahan; childrens commissioner Koulla Yiasouma, and Belfast Lord Mayor Tina Black.

Actor James Nesbitt at the funeral of Baroness May Blood (Niall Carson/PA)

Also present were DUP MLA Brian Kingston, UUP MLA Mike Nesbit, Alliance Party MLA Kellie Armstrong, comedian John Linehan, and several former colleagues of Baroness Blood from the Northern Ireland Womens Coalition, including Monica McWilliams and Jane Morrice.

Mourners walked in cortege after the coffin as it was brought from Ballygomartin Presbyterian Church down Ballygomartin Road.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration is moving forward with an overhaul of several student debt forgiveness programs, aiming to make it easier for borrowers to get relief if they are duped by their colleges or if they put in a decade of work as public servants.

The Education Department on Monday finalized a package of rules that it proposed earlier this year. The new rules take hold in July and are separate from President Joe Bidens sweeping student debt forgiveness plan, which has been held up in court amid a legal challenge from Republican-led states.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona called it a monumental step" that will make it faster and simpler to get debt relief. The Biden administration is fixing a broken system and putting borrowers first, Cardona told reporters on Monday.

Chief among the changes is a revamp of a program known as borrower defense, which offers debt forgiveness to students whose colleges make false advertising claims or otherwise commit fraud. The program aims to help the victims of predatory for-profit colleges, but it has been bogged down by complex rules and political battles, resulting in a mounting backlog of applications.

The new policy clarifies that the Education Department can review claims from individual borrowers or it can grant forgiveness to huge swaths of students from the same college, if it has been found to have committed fraud. The department can pursue such group discharge claims on its own or in response to requests from states or nonprofit legal groups.

Its a reversal from Trump-era policies that eliminated group discharges and made it harder for individuals to qualify for relief. The new rule cements the departments ability to erase debt for thousands of borrowers in a single action, as the Biden administration has already done for those who attended ITT Tech, Corinthian Colleges and other for-profit college chains.

In a major shift, the federal government will also be able to force colleges to cover the cost when their students are granted loan cancellation because of fraud. Those costs have typically been passed to taxpayers, prompting complaints from conservative critics who say the program too freely cancels debt at the publics expense.

Were putting students ahead of special interests, said Cardona, adding that his agency will go after shady schools that leave students with heavy debt and useless college degrees.

The rules were embraced by student advocates but blasted by an industry group representing for-profit colleges. The group said the rules will deprive schools of due process protections, and it questioned how closely the department reviewed the more than 5,000 public comments responding to its initial proposal.

The department has cut corners in a rush to ram through a punitive borrower defense rule with serious legal and regulatory flaws that could undermine the American education system, said Jason Altmire, a former Democratic congressman and president and CEO of Career Education Colleges and Universities.

The overhaul also brings big changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which was created by Congress as an incentive for government and nonprofit workers but has failed to deliver its promise because of notoriously complex rules.

Under the existing rules, teachers, nurses and other public workers can get the rest of their federal student debt erased after making 120 monthly payments. All payments must be made in full and within 15 days of their due date, otherwise they don't get counted toward the 120 monthly payments.

The new rule erases the 15-day rule, allowing payments to count even if they are made late or in multiple installments. It also allows borrowers to make up to a year of payments in advance in a single sum, rather than making monthly payments.

Borrowers in certain situations will also be able to make progress toward debt forgiveness even if they arent making payments. Those who get their student loans paused for cancer treatment, military service or the Peace Corps, for example, will be treated as if they are still making monthly payments during that time.

More flexibility will also be added to a separate program offering debt cancellation to those with disabilities.

That program cancels federal student debt for people who are permanently disabled and unable to generate significant income. But many have been granted that relief later had their debt reinstated because they failed to submit paperwork during a three-year monitoring period.

The new rule will eliminate the monitoring period and make more types of disabilities eligible for cancellation.

Loosening the rules around existing debt forgiveness programs has been a priority for the Biden administration, which has already granted $38 billion in debt cancellation for defrauded students, public students and others. That doesn't include Biden's broad cancellation plan, which is estimated to cost about $400 billion.

A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked Biden's plan, creating uncertainty for millions of borrowers who were told they would get up to $20,000 canceled. The Education Department has said it's still processing applications even while it's barred from erasing the debt. Cardona on Monday said his agency is moving full steam ahead with the plan.

___

The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
There is a legitimate basis for a discussion on whether there is a need to reform and recalibrate the governance system in Northern Ireland, the Irish premier has said.

Micheal Martin said there should be a move towards a more normal government and opposition-style politics in the region.

Mr Martin made the comments as political instability in Northern Ireland rumbles on, with the DUPs continued boycott of the devolved institutions in protest at Brexits protocol.

The DUP used its veto last week to block an attempt to elect a new speaker of the Assembly.

Speaking in Dublin on Tuesday, Mr Martin said a reform of the powersharing institutions would facilitate the growing centre ground politics in Northern Ireland.

He added that Mays election in Northern Ireland should be vindicated and validated.

The elections took place in the existing framework, therefore the first minister and the deputy first minister should be allocated in terms of how people voted, Mr Martin said.

However, once that happens, I think there is a legitimate basis for a discussion between the political parties and the two governments, as to whether the mechanisms and the framework that was designed 25 years ago, should be recalibrated.

In particular, to facilitate opinion thats now evident in Northern Ireland politics of growing centre ground.

I dont think its satisfactory that the party like Alliance, which had a significant breakthrough are essentially excluded. I dont think that can stand up too much longer. That would be my view on that.

Again, its a matter of discussion now between the priorities of government as to how one constructs an alternative to that, but I think it would be a move towards a more normal government, opposition-style politics.

Given whats happening across Europe, in terms of coalition governments forming and so on, I think theres options now that may not have been there 25 years ago.

He also said that a deal reached between the European Union and the British Government could see the restoration of the institutions in Northern Ireland.

Mr Martin said the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Assembly is essential.

There are legal realities that the British government has to deal with, Mr Martin said.

On the other hand, we have to ensure that the discussions between the European Union and the United Kingdom can continue which they will, and objectively if we could get a result on that front, then there may be opportunities in terms of the Assembly and the executive.

But fundamentally, I put it to the DUP that they should go back into the assembly and into the executive. Its a denial of democracy not to do so.

It is imperative on all political parties to make the institutions work and it cant be an option to close down the executive and the assembly because you may have a disagreement with a political position.

The constitutional position of Northern Ireland was not undermined in any way by the protocol. It was designed to reflect the unique situation that Northern Ireland is in, as per the Good Friday Agreement.

Many people in industry and business speak positively about the impact the protocol is having in terms of manufacturing or in terms of the food chain, in terms of agriculture and food production. There are areas that legitimately do need to be worked on.

Mr Martin said it was a matter for the European Union and the British to hammer out an agreement that would deal with the Northern Ireland Protocol issues.

Meanwhile, Mr Martin also urged those at the centre of a loyalist threat against the Irish government to stop and desist.

It was reported in recent days that a letter issued by a loyalist group warned of dire consequences if there was a form of joint authority to resolve powersharing issues.

Mr Martin said he may get a security briefing later on the matter.

He added: I would condemn any person who advocates violence. Weve all seen and witnessed in our lives the appalling impact that violence has had on people on this island.

People do not want violence back. I would say to those involved to stop and to desist from those kinds of threats.

Politics is supreme now, its politics and politicians engaging with each other that can resolve these issues and its reprehensible that anybody would threaten any politician in my view.
.

More than a decade ago, I suffered from debilitating panic attacks. Over time, with the help of exercise and meditation, I managed to kick them to the curb. But for some reason, the second I even think about getting on a plane, they come powering back. I often fly for work, and as a New Zealander living in the US face a few long flights to get home, so being grounded during the pandemic was a kind of sweet relief for my mental health.

New Zealand just reopened and for the first time ever, Air New Zealand offered direct flights from New York. So I booked myself on a flight home.

When it dawned on me that I was going to be on a plane for 18 hours my anxiety began. Just thinking about the flight gave me panic attacks. I needed to figure out how I was going to deal. So I consulted MH advisor and psychiatrist Gregory S. Brown, MD. Not only was he an expert in dealing with anxiety, it turns out he had a parent in the airline industry, so he was well aware of the issues and solutions around flying. Working with him, I came up with a plan. I had 18 hours to test it in the air24 door-to-door. Many of them sitting next to people I knew would be freaking out a little bit (I was right), just like I was worried Id do. Would my plan hold up? Heres what I discovered:

Pre-Gaming is Key

The week before the flight, I downloaded some meditation apps as Dr. Brown suggested. He taught me a 4-7-8 breathing sequence: Inhale for 4, hold for 7, exhale for 8 seconds. This breath work acts like a literal chill pill for your mind and body, so every time I got nervous thinking about the flight, I practiced it. By the time takeoff rolled around, I felt I had it down pretty solid. I downloaded all the shows I wanted to binge but never had the time to. Looking forward to a serious long day of tv binging gave me something to look forward to for the flight ahead.

Give Yourself Time

I usually arrive at the airport hot and sweaty, stressed out and late. This time, I purposely arrived early and took a minute to just sit down and do some 4-7-8 breathing to calm me before checking in. To my surprise, it worked.

Practice Radical Acceptance

When a plane takes off, I usually think about all the different airline tragediesthe plane that crashed over NYC, the Air France one from BrazilI just go there. But this time was different, instead of thinking of all the horrible possibilities I focused on radical acceptance. Basically, Dr. Brown explained, thats the practice of boldly accepting what we cant change and focusing our energy on things we have control over. I visualized a cog on the side of my head and just turned it. Im on a plane, Im going to accept the ride. What an absolute game changer that was. Takeoff was an entirely new experience.

And Maybe Add Some More Breathing

Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean, we hit what I can only describe as wicked turbulence for a few hours. The pilot said we were skirting the edge of a tropical cyclone. People were visibly scared. I instantly moved to 4-7-8 breathing, and around 5 minutes later, despite the turbulence continuing, I found myself not so bothered.

Do What Calms You

Air New Zealand serves a calming tray consisting of sleep balm, chamomile tea, a hot towel, almonds and dark chocolate which I found helpful, dipping into a little of each here and there on the flight. It seemed to give me some control over the calm I wanted to feel, despite the ongoing turbulence.

I eventually fell asleep and woke up a few hours before landing. I ordered a flat white onboard, the g- to New Zealand coffee. I sipped on it thinking how wild it was to have flown nearly 18 hours without any anxiety.

.

Keep Doing It

While in New Zealand, I got to do what Tom Cruise does, and fly on a twin engine helicopter and land on a glacier. To my surprise, it was no big deal. Old me would have spent the flight thinking about how high risk a helicopter is and how often they go downand they do go down a lot. Plus, Im going to land on freaking ice, so Id be thinking, what if I slide down a glacier and die a cold, slow, broken-bone death? New me pulled some 4-7-8 breathing out, ducked low and ran onto that helicopter. I thought screw it, if Im going to die on a glacier, thats a pretty good way to go, Im just going to accept this.

Five of us were on that helicopter flight and when Taupo, our pilot put us down clean smack on top of the glacier, the rotors roared and two people decided in the moment not to get out, scared out of their minds. What a bummer for them. I crouched super slow to avoid the spinning blades and like a kid, ran onto the glacier, topped with deep powder snow. This was one of the best moments of my life. I was mere feet from the tops of the other snowy peaks, in absolute silence and insane beauty I could hardly take in. I was standing on a glacier on the top of the world. No anxiety, just joy.

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MEXICO CITY  Jose Garcia Lopez was sweating profusely as he stirred a cauldron of boiling oil in which dozens of potatoes were swimming, though his mind, he said, was on something else.

When Im done Im going to buy the paper and candles that I need; I cant let my grandparents down, he said Friday afternoon, referring to the decorations he's going to make to honor his deceased relatives, as he spoke on the sidewalk of the Panteon Frances de la Piedad, an old cemetery in Mexico City.

Garcia Lopez is a street vendor who, like millions of Mexicans inside and outside the country, was getting ready to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, a holiday in which Indigenous and Catholic traditions blend to honor loved ones who have died.

"I like that Mexicans do not forget our dead. In that way we are different," he said. "We live here, while relatives remember us."

The idea is magical and powerful: celebrating the dead for a few days while their souls return to Earth to share with the living. Nov. 1 honors deceased children and Nov. 2 focuses on adults.

The

"In Mexico, Nov. 1 and 2 are very special days because they celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls Day, respectively," said Diana Martinez, an academic at the Institute of Anthropological Research at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, or UNAM.

Dia de los Muertos is celebrated not just across Mexico, but also in U.S. cities such as Los Angeles and New York, where large offerings, parades and cultural events are held. Countries like Spain, the Philippines, Brazil and Guatemala, among others, also have traditions to celebrate their deceased.

Both public places and homes are filled with altars or offerings to commemorate loved ones with their favorite things, and decorations include cempasuchil flowers (marigolds), paper cut-outs, candles, salt, water, chocolate, sugar skulls, pan de muerto (bread of the dead) and the favorite foods and liquor of the deceased.

"It is a purely Catholic tradition that the Spaniards bring to Mexico and merges with the entire worldview or form of Mesoamerican thought. It is a festival that gives us belonging and unites us," Martinez said.

Popular beliefs vary depending on the Mexican region. Apart from Nov. 1 and 2, Oct. 28 is celebrated for those who died tragically or accidentally, and Oct. 30 is dedicated to those who died without being baptized and are in limbo.

From the 11th century to 'Coco' and 'Spectre'

The festivity dates back to the 11th century, when the abbot of Cluny created a special day to honor believers who died when Christianity was still considered a sect and persecutions and executions were frequent. By the 13th century, the Roman Catholic Church established Nov. 1 as All Saints Day.

In Spain, "the kingdoms of Leon, Aragon and Castile prepared sweets and breads similar to relics, which are the remains or bones of saints," Martinez said.

This ritual was combined with ancient festivals related to the end of the rainy season, harvest and drought. "It is that duality of abundance and scarcity, of life and death," she said.

Since before Spaniards and Christianity came to Latin America, Indigenous groups such as the Nahuas established rites and festivals that celebrated the deceased, as is the case of Miccailhuitontli, the Aztec Festival of the Little Dead.

The 23rd Annual Dia De Los Muertos at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Oct. 29, 2022, in Hollywood, Calif. (Emma McIntyre / Getty Images)

The ancient Mexicans considered death a transition, not the end of existence but the beginning of the journey to Mictlan, the place of eternal rest in Aztec mythology.

Following the Mexican Revolution and the first years of independence, what it meant to be Mexican was re-evaluated, Martinez said, and that promoted a series of traditions such as the Day of the Dead. In the 1930s, President Lazaro Cardenas promoted the celebration, trying to distance it a little from the Catholic Church and emphasizing its Indigenous, pre-Hispanic roots.

In 2008, UNESCO declared Dia de los Muertos an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and in recent years it has transcended borders, becoming a cultural phenomenon enhanced by movies such as Pixar's "Coco," which grossed more than $800 million worldwide.

The Day of the Dead was prominent in the memorable opening scene of the 2015 James Bond movie "Spectre," in which actor Daniel Craig seduces a catrina  the female skeleton  while running, jumping, shooting and exploding a building in the Historic Center of Mexico City during the Dia de los Muertos parade.

It's a case in which reality imitates fiction because that parade had never been done, but now it's celebrated every year; in 2021 over 400,000 people participated.

"There are people who say that this is pure cultural marketing, but they don't understand that culture is culture because it changes, adapts and transforms," said Enrique Rodriguez Balam, a researcher at UNAM'S Peninsular Center for Humanities and Social Sciences in Merida, Yucatan. "For me it is a triumph that this parade is popular and brings together thousands of people."

Altars, dancing, even cleaning bones

From Oct. 28, offerings begin to be made at altars, both public and private, and of all sizes. Although there are variations, there seems to be a consensus among experts about the shape of the altars: They are three steps or levels that, from bottom to top, represent the underworld, the earthly plane and the upper stage.

"Although it began with the saints and the faithful departed, now it has become popular to put movie stars, grandparents, saints and even pets," Martinez said. "In general, the offerings contain salt, water, copal (tree resin), candles, flowers, papel picado (paper cut-outs), skulls, photographs of loved ones and the deceaseds favorite dishes. Depending on the region there are changes. For example, in the Huasteca arches with flowers and fruits are placed that invite the dead to enter to the earthly world."

According to the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples, each element has a specific meaning.

Water is a symbol of life and is included so that the souls recover after their long journey. Since ancient times, salt has been an element of purification because, among other things, it helps prevent bodies from becoming corrupted.

The Day of the Dead parade on Oct. 30, 2022, in Brooklyn, N.Y. (Stephanie Keith / Getty Images)

The candles are light and guide the souls so they can return to their old places: The number of candles on the altar will depend on the souls that the family wants to receive. If the candles are placed in the shape of a cross, they represent the cardinal points so that souls can find their way home.

Copal or incense is used to cleanse places of evil spirits. In general, flowers adorn the room of the soul; marigolds are stripped in some places to make paths of petals and guide the deceased to the offering.

The izcuintle dog helps the souls to cross the powerful river before entering Mictlan. Bread is a Christian element that symbolizes "the Body of Christ," according to the Institute. Portraits of loved ones are the physical representation of those who are no longer on Earth, and their favorite dishes are also part of the celebration.

Some practices include making altars on tombstones. In some towns in Mexico there are dances with masks; it's believed that the souls of the dead temporarily take over the bodies of the living. In some towns in Guatemala, the celebrations lead to parties where people end up singing in cemeteries among the dead.

Few celebrations are as peculiar as those that take place in the Pomuch cemetery, in the Mexican state of Campeche, where the Cleaning of the Holy Remains takes place. In that town, the remains of loved ones rest in boxes at the cemetery and, every year, people gather to clean their relatives' bones.

'A beautiful tradition'

Mexican culture's fascination with and respect for death has been a recurring motif in the countrys literary tradition. Important writers such as Jose Revueltas, Carlos Fuentes, Octavio Paz and Juan Rulfo have reflected on this in their works.

"What is a fact is that the Mexican's obsession with mixing death with a celebration of rituals and daily life is something very much ours," Rodriguez Balam said, "and that is what draws attention in other parts of the world."

People take part in the

Raul Flores, 57, is a gravedigger at the Panteon Frances de la Piedad cemetery. He lives among the bowels of the Earth where everything changes, even the notion of time  he measures time by how long it takes to dig pits.

In this job we deal with so many things, and, in the end, death is something very, very common, right? Its just one more step that all people, rich and poor, have to go through, he said.

He's worked at the cemetery from a very young age and has witnessed many Dia de los Muertos celebrations.

"It is a beautiful tradition, because people remember their grandparents, their parents, their brothers," he said. "It is not sad. Rather many times they look happy when they make the altars. People think that cemeteries are scary, but no. They are the quietest places."

An earlier version of this story was first published on Noticias Telemundo.

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Online furniture firm Made.com is set to appoint administrators after rescue talks to find a buyer for the group failed.

The company  which employs up to 700 staff  said its operating arm, Made.com Design Ltd (MDL), has filed a notice to appoint administrators, with PricewaterhouseCoopers lined up, while shares in the London-listed group have been suspended.

Made.com has offices in London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, China and Vietnam.

It comes after the company recently halted orders to new customers after abandoning hopes of getting a buyer to save it and inject the cash needed to stay afloat.

Made.com said: In light of MDLs requirement for further funding, and in order to preserve value for its creditors, the board of MDL took the decision on 26 October 2022 to temporarily suspend new customer orders.

Made has now been notified that the board of MDL has resolved to file notice of its intention to appoint administrators, with a view to appointing Zelf Hussain, Peter David Dickens and Rachael Maria Wilkinson of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as administrators of MDL.

The group said PwC would still seek to secure a sale of the firm, given that it received proposals from interested suitors during the aborted month-long sale process, but added that there is no certainty a deal can be reached.

It said shares in Made.com will be suspended and that the board currently expects that, in due course, the listing of the companys ordinary shares will be cancelled, any residual value will be distributed to the companys shareholders and the company will be wound up.
Up to 14 people were shot in a drive-by shooting in Chicago on Monday night, police said, including a 3-year-old and two other children.

No deaths had been reported. The condition of those wounded ranged from critical to not life-threatening, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said at a news conference. An additional person was struck by a vehicle, he said.

The violence at the intersection of California Avenue and Polk Street in the area of Garfield Park was partially captured on surveillance video, police said.

We know its a drive-by. We know it happens in just a few seconds, Brown said. It begins and then its over, about three seconds the car is pulling out after driving by and shooting randomly, really, into the crowd.

He said that a motive was unknown, no offender has been identified, and police are not aware of any conflicts on that corner, although detectives will be conducting interviews.

The three children injured were 3 years old, 11 and 13, Brown said. All the other victims were adults, he said.

There could be two shooters, Brown said, although he stressed the information is preliminary.

A vigil was being held at the corner with a balloon release at the time, but there could have been other reasons that some of the people were gathered there, Brown said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
FILE - Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, attends the opening of the Tesla factory Berlin Brandenburg in Gruenheide, Germany, March 22, 2022. Musk is already floating major changes for Twitter  and faces major hurdles as he begins his first week as owner of the social-media platform. Twitter's new owner fired the company's board of directors and made himself the board's sole member, according to a company filing Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. (Patrick Pleul/Pool via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Billionaire Elon Musk is already floating major changes for Twitter  and faces major hurdles as he begins his first week as owner of the social-media platform.

Twitter's new owner fired the company's board of directors and made himself the board's sole member, according to a company filing Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

He's also testing the waters on asking users to pay for verification. A venture capitalist working with Musk tweeted a poll asking how much users would be willing to pay for the blue check mark that Twitter has historically used to verify higher-profile accounts so other users know its really them.

Musk, whose account is verified, replied, Interesting.

Critics have derided the mark, often granted to celebrities, politicians, business leaders and journalists, as an elite status symbol.

But Twitter also uses the blue check mark to verify activists and people who suddenly find themselves in the news, as well as little-known journalists at small publications around the globe, as an extra tool to curb misinformation coming from accounts that are impersonating people.

The whole verification process is being revamped right now, Musk tweeted Sunday in response to a user who asked for help getting verified.

On Friday, meanwhile, billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal said he and his Kingdom Holding Company rolled over a combined $1.89 billion in existing Twitter shares, making them the companys largest shareholder after Musk. The news raised concerns among some lawmakers, including Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut.

Murphy tweeted that he is requesting the Committee on Foreign Investment  which reviews acquisitions of U.S. businesses by foreign buyers  to investigate the national security implications of the kingdom's investment in Twitter

We should be concerned that the Saudis, who have a clear interest in repressing political speech and impacting U.S. politics, are now the second-largest owner of a major social media platform, Murphy tweeted. There is a clear national security issue at stake and CFIUS should do a review.

Having taken ownership of the social media service, Musk has invited a group of tech-world friends and investors to help guide the San Francisco-based company's transformation, which is likely to include a shakeup of its staff. Musk last week fired CEO Parag Agrawal and other top executives.

There's been uncertainty about if and when he could begin larger-scale layoffs.

I do think there will be a lot of layoffs, said Matthew Faulkner, an assistant finance professor at San Jose State University. Faulkner noted the need for cost-cutting after Musk bought Twitter for a premium and the platforms longtime struggles trying to turn a profit. But Musk might also want as quickly as possible to weed out employees who dont believe in his mission so that those who stay feel more secure.

You dont want to have frantically scared employees working for you, Faulkner said. That doesnt motivate people.

Those who have revealed they are helping Musk include Sriram Krishnan, a partner at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, which pledged back in the spring to chip in to Musk's plan to buy the company and take it private.

Krishnan, who is also a former Twitter product executive, said in a tweet that it is a hugely important company and can have great impact on the world and Elon is the person to make it happen.

Jason Calacanis, the venture capitalist who tweeted the poll about whether users would pay for verification, said over the weekend he is hanging out at Twitter a bit and simply trying to be as helpful as possible during the transition.

Calacanis said the team already has a very comprehensive plan to reduce the number of (and visibility of) bots, spammers, & bad actors on the platform. And in the Twitter poll, he asked if users would pay between $5 and $15 monthly to be verified & get a blue check mark on Twitter. Twitter is currently free for most users because it depends on advertising for its revenue.

Musk agreed to buy Twitter for $44 billion in April but it wasn't until Thursday evening that he finally closed the deal, after his attempts to back out of it led to a protracted legal fight with the company. Musk's lawyers are now asking the Delaware Chancery Court to throw out the case, according to a court filing made public Monday. The two sides were supposed to go to trial in November if they didn't close the deal by the end of last week.

Musk has made a number of pronouncements since early this year about how to fix Twitter, and it remains unclear which proposals he will prioritize.

He has promised to cut back some of Twitter's content restrictions to promote free speech, but said Friday that no major decisions on content or reinstating of banned accounts will be made until a content moderation council with diverse viewpoints is put in place. He later qualified that remark, tweeting anyone suspended for minor & dubious reasons will be freed from Twitter jail.

The head of a cryptocurrency exchange that invested $500 million in Musks Twitter takeover said he had a number of reasons for supporting the deal, including the possibility Musk would transition Twitter into a company supporting cryptocurrency and the concept known as Web3, which many cryptocurrency enthusiasts envision as the next generation of the internet.

We want to make sure that crypto has a seat at the table when it comes to free speech, Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao told CNBC on Monday. And there are more tactical things, like we want to help bring Twitter into Web3 when theyre ready.

He said cryptocurrency could be useful for solving some of Musks immediate challenges, such as the plan to charge a premium membership fee for more users.

That can be done very easily, globally, by using cryptocurrency as a means of payment, he said.

___

Associated Press Writer Randall Chase contributed to this story.
A teenager died after a young driver crashed an SUV near a Georgia high school, officials said.

The teen was riding in the SUV when it approached a curve. The SUV then hit a curb, causing the driver to over-correct and lose control, according to the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office.

The vehicle began to roll and as it did the passenger side struck (an) electrical pole, deputies wrote Nov. 1 in a news release.

The 16-year-old  who wasnt identified in the news release  died at the scene of the crash.

The 17-year-old driver was left with minor injuries, according to officials.

Deputies were called at about 8 a.m. to Mullinax Road. A school traffic officer responded minutes after the crash, which WSB-TV reported was across from the sign to Denmark High School in Alpharetta, outside of Atlanta.

The deceased student didnt attend Denmark High School but instead was enrolled at Alliance Academy for Innovation, roughly 10 miles to the northeast, officials said.

Its a horrible tragedy, Sheriff Ron Freeman told Forsyth County News. Weve lost a student.

Both Denmark High School and Alliance Academy are within the Forsyth County school district, which told McClatchy News in an email that it planned to have extra counselors at the deceased students campus on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2.

An investigation into the crash continues.

16-year-old cheerleader dies in car crash, Georgia police say. Driver charged with DUI

High school mourns loss of 3 students killed in Georgia crash. Terrible tragedy
James Gray at the "Armageddon Time" premiere during the 60th New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center. (Charles Sykes / Invision / Associated Press)

Director James Gray is defending his latest film, "Armageddon Time," just days into its theatrical release.

Gray addressed concerns over the casting in his new coming-of-age movie in a New York Times interview published Friday. Amid calls for more authentic representation in Hollywood projects, "Armageddon Time" stars a handful of actors who are not Jewish, including Anthony Hopkins, portraying members of a Jewish immigrant family. Gray, who is Jewish himself, said he isn't too worried about what critics have to say.

"I reserve the right to cast someone like Anthony Hopkins," the "Ad Astra" director said. "Does that person watch 'The Godfather' and complain that Marlon Brando is from Omaha, Neb., and not an Italian New York guy?"

In "Armageddon Time," Hopkins portrays Aaron Rabinowitz, a Jewish immigrant from Ukraine, a Holocaust survivor and grandfather to the film's young protagonist, Paul Graff (Banks Repeta). The movie opened Friday in limited release and goes wider this coming weekend.

Gray said he takes "huge offense" at the backlash, adding that exclusively casting Jewish actors to portray Jewish characters contributes to stereotypes.

"At some point, we have to acknowledge that our whole function as artists is to try and step into the consciousness of someone else and find compassion and find something of emotional power in doing that," he said.

"Armageddon Time," inspired by Gray's own upbringing, is set in Queens, N.Y., in 1980 and follows the friendship between Paul and his Black classmate Johnny Davis (Jaylin Webb). While following Paul's transition from public to private school, "Armageddon Time" also touches on assimilation, the American Dream and privilege.

Gray said the criticism would be "valid" if he tried telling the story through the eyes of his Black character, Johnny, instead of from his own perspective as a white Jewish man.

"But it's my story, he said. "And you don't have to say that my story is of value, but that's a different criticism."

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Gray said that as close to home as "Armageddon Time" is for him, it's not a documentary.

Banks Repeta, left, and Anthony Hopkins in "Armageddon Time." (Anne Joyce / Focus Features)

"I wanted it to be personal, which is much more important," he said. "Autobiographical is Im reciting the facts of the case. And personal means that your emotional life and what is important to you emotionally is in the work.

"Armageddon Time," which comes to theaters amid a rise in antisemitic hate, also stars Jeremy Strong, Anne Hathaway, Tovah Feldshuh and Ryan Sell.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The attempted kidnapping of three air traffic controllers over the weekend near the international airport in Port-au-Prince is raising concerns about the safety of the Caribbean countrys airspace.

The International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Association, in a statement posted on its website, said it is gravely concerned following the armed attack, which took place Saturday afternoon near Toussaint Louverture International Airport while the employees were being transported to work.

Following the incident, which left one air traffic controller with a gunshot wound to the right leg and in need of surgery, Haitis National Office of Civil Aviation has been using unqualified and unlicensed individuals to control the countrys skies, said Trish Gilbert, executive vice president for the Americas region of the air traffic controllers group. The independent professional organization, which is based in Montreal, represents more than 50,000 air traffic controllers in 133 countries.

I get that they dont know what to do to keep their air traffic controllers safe. But we dont believe the answer is to just find people who have just never been air traffic controllers or were air traffic controllers 10 years ago and plug them in and have them move airplanes, said Gilbert. There has to be a better plan than that.

Gilbert said she planned to meet with Dominican officials about the concerns. The country, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, has regular flights to Port-au-Prince. She had not yet spoken to the Federal Aviation Administration, which responded to a Miami Herald inquiry by directing the reporter to the State Departments Level 4 travel advisory and an advisory website for pilots. U.S. carriers American Airlines, Jetblue and Spirit all have regular flights to Haiti.

Gilbert said the association has tried to reach out to Haitis civil aviation authority to discuss options, including perhaps moving to a skeletal crew or limiting air traffic to only humanitarian or flights deemed essential. But there has been no response.

The federation asked the National Office of Civil Aviation (OFNAC) for their immediate and thorough attention to the significant matters involving the safety and security of air traffic control professionals and subsequently the aviation system in Haiti, the organization said in its statement. Unfortunately, to date IFATCA has received no response from OFNAC.

Attempts by the Miami Herald to reach the director general of the civil aviation agency, Col. Laurent Dumas, were also unsuccessful.

A source with knowledge of the incident but not authorized to speak told the Herald on Tuesday after the story was published that there are active duty traffic controllers currently at work and armored vehicles will be available to protect them. The controllers will also be housed nearby to limit their travel time to work. Plans are being made to provide the injured air traffic controller and the others with psychological evaluations, the source said.

The safety of Haitis airspace is the latest in a list of issues being raised about the country, which is undergoing one of its worse humanitarian, security, economic and political crises in decades.

Since last month, a gang blockade of the countrys main fuel terminal and seaports has created shortages of fuel, food and water amid an outbreak in cholera and ongoing kidnappings As of Monday, the Varreux fuel terminal had still not been reopened, though there were unconfirmed reports that it may soon be.

The international air traffic controllers group said while it acknowledges the ongoing difficulties in Haiti, more must be done to protect civil aviation workers. The health and well-being of this essential workforce is of the utmost concern to us, the organization said.

No one is immune from Haitis escalating gang violence. Days before the attack against the civil aviation employees, journalist Roberson Alphonse was injured during an armed attack while heading to work. Three days later, Eric Jean-Baptiste, a former presidential candidate and well-known political leader, was killed, along with a bodyguard, as they traveled through a gang-controlled region in Laboule, the hills above the capital. Their vehicle was fired on and overturned.

Stopping Haitis gang violence by providing assistance to the national police is the focus of a United Nations resolution written by the United States and Mexico. The resolution would deploy a rapid action force to Haiti to help police take back control of the seaports and the access road.

But the U.S. doesnt want to lead the force and other countries have been reluctant to volunteer. Canada has asked that a vote on the resolution be put off, two sources confirmed to the Herald. Last week Canada sent an assessment team to Port-au-Prince to evaluate its possible involvement. That determination has not yet been made, the countrys ambassador to Haiti told a Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Committee meeting Monday via a live webcast.

On Tuesday, as President Joe Biden traveled to South Florida onboard Air Force One in support of Democratic candidates in the Nov. 8 midterm election, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told McClatchy and the Herald that Biden is personally involved in the Haiti strategy. This includes the U.S. push to have a foreign force deployed to help the Haitian police under Chapter 7 of the U.N. charter. Chapter 7 would put the operation under U.N. Security Council oversight and allow the use of force.

We remain committed to supporting the people of Haiti. We are devastated as well at what were seeing in the country, Jean-Pierre said. Conversations are ongoing with partners on the U.N. Security Council to advance the draft solution authorizing under Chapter 7  as you know... the non-U.N. mission. We recently delivered Haitian government-purchased security equipment, including tactical and armed vehicles and supplies that will assist the Haitian national police in their fight.

McClatchy Senior White House Correspondent Michael Wilner contributed to this report.
Russian missile strikes across Ukraine on Monday had widespread impact on the countrys power grid, sparking concerns in the West.

Well share details on the strikes and the U.S. response, plus what Ukrainian officials hope will convice Israel to abandon its position of withholding military assistance to Kyiv.

This is Defense & National Security, your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. For The Hill, Im Ellen Mitchell.

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Pentagon: Widespread impact from Russian strikes

Western officials are concerned over a barrage of Russian missile strikes across Ukraine on Monday that had widespread impact on the countrys power grid.

Ukraine has been able to defend against some of these attacks, but damage to the electric grid and water supply are serious concerns directly harming the civilian population, a senior U.S. defense official told reporters.

An earlier barrage Russian missiles rained down on several Ukrainian cities early Monday, leaving about 80 percent of Kyiv without water and other large swaths of the population without electricity, according to the citys mayor.

The damage: The missile attack, which took place at about 7 a.m. local time, targeted military and civilian infrastructure facilities with 55 aircraft guided missiles, 45 of which were shot down by our defenders, the Ukrainian militarys General Staff later claimed.

And Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said 18 targets were hit in 10 regions, according to The Washington Post.

Limited information: Another U.S. military official said they did not have specific information to provide as far as the extent of the damage but were keeping a close eye on it and still gathering information.

In terms of the infrastructure, by virtue of the electrical grid being impacted, we are seeing impacts in terms of water supply systems, water treatment, things like that, which is affecting access to water among the civilian population, they said.

Earlier attacks: The Russian strikes mark the most widespread missile barrage since a similar campaign earlier this month, when Moscow over several days pummeled Ukraines infrastructure and power grid. Ukrainian and Western officials have expressed concern over the countrys energy output as winter looms, with fears that a humanitarian crisis will soon be at hand as the days grow colder.

Read more here





Ukraine: Iran moves should push Israel on neutrality

Ukrainian officials say Irans wartime aid to Russia should convince Israel to abandon its position of withholding military assistance to Kyiv.

Ukraine also wants the Biden administration to step up pressure on Israel, which has condemned Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion and delivered humanitarian support to Kyiv but refrained from offering arms.

The hope: Officials in Kyiv are hoping that Tehrans provision of suicide drones to Russia will lead to a shift in position for Israel. They are particularly pushing for Israeli help with air defenses that would provide protection against the Iranian drones.

And they are making clear that the Biden administration should play a role in the pressure campaign on Israel.

The Americans are the only country that Israel is listening to, Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevgen Korniychuk said in a phone call with The Hill from Tel Aviv.

Positive development: Korniychuk said relations with Israel have advanced in recent weeks on some technical issues related to defense, including an advanced warning system to help alert civilians of incoming missile and rocket attacks from the Russians.

Thats a positive development, and we are expecting more from Israel of course, he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sought to further convince Israel by raising the possibility that Russia could help Iran with its nuclear program. The White House has declined to comment on the allegation but said it remains committed to keeping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Noncommittal: Israeli officials have generally been noncommittal but say they are watching Irans involvement with Russia closely.

Iranian drones  were definitely analyzing the situation, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in an interview with CNN this week.

Israel maintains strategic relations with Moscow in part to carry out attacks against Iranian activities in Syria and to disrupt weapons transfers to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Officials also say Jerusalem has to maintain communication with Moscow over the Jewish diaspora in Russia.

Irans weapons shipments to Russia are a concern for Jerusalem, though it does present an intelligence-gathering opportunity for Israel.

Read that here





Pelosi suspect charged with attempted murder

The San Francisco district attorney on Monday announced an attempted murder charge for the man accused of violently attacking Paul Pelosi, the husband of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), in the couples California home last week.

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced that David Wayne DePape, 42, will be charged with residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, false imprisonment of an elder and threats to a public official and their family, in addition to attempted murder.

He is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday.

The state charges were announced shortly after the Department of Justice charged DePape with federal assault and attempted kidnapping.

Read more here





Pence: Post-2020 election meeting a new low

Former Vice President Mike Pence reportedly writes in a forthcoming book that a meeting between former President Trump, campaign lawyers and outside attorneys after the 2020 election was a new low.

Pence describes a contentious back-and-forth between Trump campaign lawyers and outside attorneys in November 2020 while discussing legal issues associated with challenging the election, according to an excerpt of his book obtained by Axios.

Pence writes in the book that his relationship with Trump broke down when the former president pressured Pence to overturn the 2020 election, according to the description.

The vice president refused to leave the Capitol, and once the riot was quelled, he reconvened Congress to complete the work of a peaceful transfer of power, the publisher adds, referring to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Read more





ON TAP TOMORROW

The Naval Submarine League will hold its 2022 symposium on Expanding the Reach of the Undersea Force, with Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Adm. Christopher Grady, Naval Reactors Director Adm. Frank Caldwell, and Submarine Force Commander Vice Adm. Bill Houston, at 8:15 a.m.

The Brookings Institution will hold a virtual discussion on Terminator on the battlefield: Emerging and evolving tech in the Russia-Ukraine war, at 9 a.m.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies will hold a talk on CISA Strategic Plan for 2023-2025: The Future of U.S. Cyber and Infrastructure Security, with CISA Director Jen Easterly and CISA Chief Strategy Officer Valerie Cofield, at 10 a.m.

The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft will host a virtual discussion on The Pentagon, Climate Change, and War, with former Gov. Jerry Brown (D-Calif.), at 12 p.m.

Government Executive Media Group will hold a virtual talk on Focused on Resilience: Future Proofing Government Networks At Scale, with Air Force CIO Lauren Barrett Knausenberger and other defense officials at 1 p.m.

The Atlantic Council will host a discussion on The future of U.S. nuclear strategy: Releasing the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review, with Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Nuclear and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Policy Richard Johnson; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance Alexandra Bell; and Cindy Lersten, director of the National Nuclear Security Administrations Office of Policy and Strategic Planning, at 2 p.m.

Former CIA Director John Brennan will speak at Stevenson University at 8 p.m.





WHAT WERE READING

OP-EDS IN THE HILL

Biden must act on Irans drone and missile transfers

Isolationist Republicans and progressive Democrats are having their shameful Munich moment





Thats it for today. Check out The Hills Defense and National Security pages for the latest coverage. See you tomorrow!

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A broad coalition of civil society groups called on President Biden to permanently discard the possibility of a military intervention in Haiti as the country descends further into chaos.

In a letter to Biden Tuesday, the groups also called on the president to reevaluate his administrations support for acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who has clung to power since July of 2021, even as conditions in Haiti have deteriorated.

We were heartened to see in your 2022 National Security Strategy a commitment to not use our military to change regimes or remake societies, and we encourage you to follow through on that commitment in Haiti, wrote the groups.

The coalition expands beyond Haitian advocates, including more than 90 civil society, faith-based, humanitarian, peacebuilding and diaspora groups ranging from the Washington Office for Latin America to the Chicago-based civil rights group Mi Villita Neighbors and the Quaker pro-peace lobby Friends Committee on National Legislation.

In their letter, the groups recognize the challenging conditions in Haiti, which have quickly deteriorated since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise shortly before Henry took power.

We are acutely aware of the dire situation on the ground in Haiti. Nearly half the country is facing severe food insecurity and limited access to clean water; cholera, introduced by UN peacekeepers more than a decade ago, has rapidly reemerged; and fuel  critical to basic life, including water purification and electronic communication  is unavailable or prohibitively expensive, wrote the groups.

Compounding these issues, violence and insecurity have reached exceptional levels, and have particularly affected women, children, and the most marginalized, they added.

Haitis gang violence has intensified under the Henry government, leading to widespread accusations of collusion between government and economic elites and gang leaders.

Beyond rising crime, the intensified gang activity has blocked traditional avenues of international humanitarian aid, aggravating shortages of basic supplies.

While many civil society groups were pleading with the Biden administration to reverse course on its support for Henry, the United States and Canada in October instead sent a shipment of armored vehicles to reinforce the Haitian National Police.

Earlier in October, Henry and 18 of his top officials signed a document allowing Henry to request from abroad the immediate deployment of a specialized armed force, in sufficient quantity.

In their letter to Biden, the groups said Haitian civil society has flatly rejected foreign military intervention as a solution, despite Henrys appeal.

We write to once again encourage your administration to listen to Haitian civil society; respect the fundamental rights of the Haitian people to shape Haitian solutions; and reevaluate U.S. support to the de facto Prime Minister Henry, as that unconditional support has removed any incentive for him to negotiate with opponents in good faith, they wrote.

We are deeply worried that the deployment of a military force now will only perpetuate and strengthen Henrys grasp on power, while doing little to ameliorate the root causes of todays crisis.

The letter in part stems from frustration that the Biden administration has all but ignored Haitian civil societys repeated pleas to disavow Henry and allow Haitians to rebuild their constitutional order.

Moises assassination came amid an existing constitutional crisis prompted in large part by a decade of rule under the Pati Ayisyen Tet Kale (PHTK), a party once seen as a modernizing force in the country.

Civil society groups say the PHTK dismantled the countrys democratic and economic institutions, all the while fostering the gang violence that is now ravaging Haiti.

Henry, who has been accused of involvement in Moises assassination, essentially took over the PHTK government.

Still, U.S. officials are wary of withdrawing support for Henry, in part because they fear a power vacuum could further worsen conditions in the country.

Obviously we all want a next chapter in Haitian life as a democracy, but you cant get to that until you deal with security issues, said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.

We are supporting those who want to bring order into the situation where much of the country is controlled by criminal gangs, added Kaine, who proposed legislation to explore the ties between the countrys elites and criminal gangs.

And Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), a Dominican-born lawmaker who accompanied Kaine on a visit to Haitis neighboring Dominican Republic, said conditions in Haiti are not there for a democratic process.

If the elections were held today, they would get elected  some of the members of those criminal organizations, Espaillat said.

Espaillat added that the Dominican Republic  the only country that shares a land border with Haiti  is pushing for the United Nations and the Organization of American States to support the Haitian National Police.

But the letters writers pointed to a diplomatic and economic toolkit still available to improve daily life in Haiti.

At the heart of the insecurity plaguing Haiti is the continuation of a political and economic system that excludes the vast majority of its citizenry. A long-term solution can only be achieved by addressing these underlying dynamics of inequality and exclusion and by providing for the population as a whole, they wrote.

The letters recommendations included extending U.N. sanctions against violent actors, but warned that is a welcome but insufficient step.

The U.S can and should go further through the enforcement of U.S. laws on illicit arms trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion, with a particular focus on those actors that are contributing to the violence. We also urge your administration to halt all deportations and expulsions to Haiti and redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

TPS is a program that allows the Department of Homeland Security to offer deferral from deportation and work permits to nationals of a country undergoing crisis; Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in May of 2021 extended TPS for Haiti.

That extension did grant protection from deportation to all Haitians in the country before May 21, 2021, through the TPS designation, but the Biden administration continued to repatriate thousands.

Perhaps the most criticized Biden administration policy toward Haiti has been the unrestrained use of Title 42  a Trump-era border control policy that allows U.S. officials to quickly expel foreign nationals without screening for asylum claims.

Starting in September of 2021, the Biden administration expelled more than 25,000 Haitians, despite worsening conditions in Haiti.

But above sanctions or an end to repatriations, Haitian advocates have consistently called for the United States to take its thumb off the countrys political scale and to oppose foreign military intervention.

The United States should support the Haitian peoples desire for democracy, peace, and economic stability by listening to Haitian civil society and championing Haitian-led solutions, through support to peacebuilding and equitable development, reads the letter.

Peaceful ends must be achieved through peaceful means. We strongly urge you to reject the imposition of an international military intervention in Haiti which will merely perpetuate and strengthen the anti-democratic system that is responsible for todays conditions.

Updated at 9:38 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
For more than three weeks, prisoners in Alabama went on strike  refusing to work and demanding humane prison conditions.

Alabama's prisons have some of the highest rates of homicide and rape in the country, according to a 2019 Department of Justice report. The Department of Justice has called the state "deliberately indifferent" to prisoner harm.

During the strike, social media posts from inside showed prisoners refusing to cook, clean and carry out other administrative tasks in dozens of facilities across the state. In response, the Alabama Department of Corrections cut the number of meals served per day from three to two, served cold meals rather than hot ones and cut visitation at various facilities. Prisoner advocates claim the changes were a form of retaliation against the strike. The Alabama DOC said it made these changes because of the loss in manpower. Either way, all of this highlights just how critical prison labor has become  not just in Alabama  but across the country.

Yale professor and attorney Claudia Flores co-authored a nationwide report on prison labor.

"Put a captive group of people in a prison where their jailer and employer are the same entity without any supervision, and without any standards, and it's not that surprising that you end up with really abusive and exploitative situations," said Flores. Her study found 65% of inmates, roughly 800,000 people, report working behind bars. And more than 75% of inmates surveyed said they have been punished for refusing to work.

"There are all sorts of ways that people were coerced into doing work; sometimes their free time would be taken away from them, sometimes they would have privileges taken away from them, sometimes they would just be straight up forced, and if not, they were punished," said Flores.

Sam Nathaniel Brown spent 24 years in prison before being released on parole. But Brown's last job behind bars forced him to the front lines of the COVID pandemic.

SEE MORE: DNA Evidence Frees California Man Imprisoned For Decades

"Before I came out, the last job that I had was a health care facility maintenance worker," said Brown. "I was one of the first people in the state in a causal setting to have to disinfect and clean a cell and an office where a staff member, and then a prisoner, tested positive for COVID-19, so I was terrified for my life."

Brown said when he refused to work, he was threatened with a disciplinary measure that would have made him ineligible for parole for an additional eight years.

"I would have been looking at a minimum of eight years  period. Just because I didn't want to risk my life to go clean up COVID-19 and I couldn't say no," said Brown.

Because of his experience during the pandemic, Brown drafted an amendment to the California constitution from his prison cell; The California Abolition Act (ACA 3). The amendment called for an end to involuntary servitude across the state. Like the 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, California is one of 20 states nationally that allows involuntary work as a criminal punishment.

"Being incarcerated is the punishment. So, if you commit a crime, your freedom is taken away, that's the punishment. It's not, and now, we're gonna force you to mop floors, and we're gonna force you to fight fires without proper equipment, or whatever it is that's happening," said Flores.

"There is no place for slavery, involuntary servitude on our books," said the California State Assembly.

Brown's amendment was picked up by California State Senator Sydney Kamlager and made its way through the state legislature.

Supporters of prison labor have pointed to job experience as the real benefit of working behind bars and raised concerns that increasing prisoner pay would be unsustainable financially. Brown's amendment to the California constitution stalled after the State Department of Finance estimated it would cost $1.5 billion in 2022 to pay the state's $15 minimum wage to incarcerated Californians. Despite ACA 3 not going the distance, other states are following Brown's lead. Voters in Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Oregon and Vermont are all going to vote on a version of this proposal in November  banning involuntary servitude for everyone, including those convicted of a crime. Colorado, Nebraska and Utah have already removed the language from their state constitutions via a statewide ballot measure.
A new intelligence bulletin is warning that domestic extremists are heightening threats before the election.

The federal government sent the bulletin to state and local officials on Friday, the same day that an intruder attacked House speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer in their San Francisco home. The joint memo from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, National Counterterrorism Center and U.S. Capitol police warns that the "most plausible" danger comes from "lone offenders who leverage election-related issues to justify violence."

Analysts said the list of targets for domestic extremists includes candidates running for office, election workers, elected officials, and racial and religious minorities. The memo also highlights sites vulnerable to attacks, "publicly accessible locations like polling places, ballot drop-box locations, voter registration sites, campaign events, and political party offices." Extremists may target these locations "in hopes of swaying voting habits" and undermining the electoral process.

Experts tell Newsy voter intimidation is another major concern. Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, says a trend is emerging, where the line is blurring between extremists and some who claim without evidence that the 2020 election was fraudulent, especially in the swing state of Arizona.

"Arizona has become a real hotbed for election deniers, and they're really mixed up with bonafide extremists like Proud Boys, people who are into QAnon conspiracies, anti-government militia types," Beirich said.

SEE MORE: Son Of Ex-Spy: Saudi Crown Prince Is Abusing Counterterrorism System

Beirich says dozens of organizations that deny the legitimacy of the 2020 election have sprung up across the country, inspired by former President Donald Trump. But Arizona is the headquarters for numerous anti-government groups, including the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, which she says has recruited law enforcement.

"There are people involved in the group  sheriffs, it seems like from every single state," Beirich said. "What's been going on lately is CSPOA and another sheriff's organization have decided that they believe in election denialism. The 2020 election was rigged and that they're going to get sheriffs involved in rooting out voter fraud, which could lead to potentially some ugly conflicts between law enforcement and people who are trying to cast their vote."

In other swing states, like Wisconsin, poll workers are preparing to handle potential disruptions.

"If there is an election disturbance, if someone's refusing to leave the polling place and you've issued them in order to leave, we have a direct line and there will be officers that will respond to support you," said Claire Woodall-Vogg, head of the Milwaukee Election Commission in Wisconsin.

Milwaukee election workers are being trained to tape off sections where observers can stand.

"I have fears that there will be people outside of polling places who look intimidating, that they may carry arms because we're an open carry place and intimidate immigrants who are just became citizens," said Jaime Alvarado, a chief election inspector.

In Arizona, for example, armed activists have monitored ballot dropboxes, leading to complaints from groups like Voto Latino.

Threats of political violence may continue after the election, according to the intelligence bulletin, especially in states or counties that conduct recounts or audits. Extremists may target officials or organizations involved in vote counting or judicial figures involved in lawsuits.

The intelligence bulletin also warned that domestic violent extremists have made violent threats on people, places and businesses associated with abortion or LGBTQ+ issues. The Justice Department's Threats to Election Workers Task Force has reviewed more than 1,000 reports describing hostile or threatening behavior, indicating that election officials in states with recounts, audits and lawsuits  Arizona, Wisconsin and Georgia  were more likely to receive criminal threats.
A Johnston County man faces a criminal charge after his 2-year-old son fatally shot himself after finding a loaded gun in his fathers truck.

Warren Tyler Oser is charged with failure to properly and safely store a firearm to protect a minor, District Attorney Susan Doyle said in a statement Monday.

Oser is accused of violating North Carolina General Statute 14-315.1, which states that a person can be found guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor for leaving a loaded firearm where an unsupervised minor can knowingly access it and cause personal injury.

The toddler, Warren Bennett Oser, died from a single gunshot wound after finding his fathers loaded Smith & Wesson 40 caliber handgun in the front seat of his fathers truck on Oct. 15.

The child climbed into a pickup truck through an open door and discharged the firearm while playing with it, the Johnston County Sheriffs Office said previously.

My heart goes out to the parents as they grieve the loss of their son, Doyle said in a statement. These tragedies are 100% preventable by safely storing all weapons away from minor children as required by statute. This is not about the rightful ownership of guns. This is about the responsibility of gun owners to protect minors by ensuring all weapons are kept safely away from children.

Child gun fatalities in NC

The firearm death rate for children in North Carolina doubled between 2019 and 2020, according to the N.C. Child Safety Task Force. It reported 105 children died from firearms in 2020 and hundreds more were injured.

In a May 2022 report, the task force reported 21 unintentional firearm deaths among children up to 17 years old between 2016 and 2020. It recommended funding a $155,000 two-year statewide firearm safe storage awareness initiative.

More than half of gun owners in a 2016 Johns Hopkins University study reported storing at least one gun unsafely, according to the May report.
ATLANTA (AP)  A federal judge on Monday declined to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed against former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani by two women who served as election workers in Georgia in November 2020.

In the lawsuit filed last December, Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Shaye Moss accused Giuliani of defaming them by falsely stating that the pair had engaged in election fraud while counting ballots at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The lawsuit says Giuliani repeatedly pushed debunked claims that the mother-and-daughter pair pulled out suitcases of illegal ballots and committed other acts of fraud to try to alter the outcome of the presidential election in Georgia.

In an opinion accompanying Monday's order, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Beryl Howell in Washington described the situation that followed the November 2020 election, when the vote totals in several key states were so close that the results were not immediately clear.

As election workers across the state worked long hours carefully ensuring the accuracy of the election, the Trump Campaign and its allies, including Giuliani, engaged in a media offensive that at best questioned, and at worse condemned, their work, Howell wrote.

Rudy Giuliani argued the lawsuit should be dismissed because the claims against him are inadequately pleaded and are barred by First Amendment protections for free speech. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Moss had worked for the Fulton County elections department since 2012 and supervised the absentee ballot operation during the 2020 election. Freeman, her mother, was a temporary election worker, verifying signatures on absentee ballots and preparing them to be counted and processed.

As the false allegations about them circulated online, the two women said, they suffered intense harassment, both in person and online. Moss detailed her experiences in emotional testimony before the U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The committee also played video testimony from Freeman during the hearing in June.

Moss, who is Black, said she received messages wishing death upon me. Telling me that Ill be in jail with my mother. And saying things like, Be glad its 2020 and not 1920.

A lot of them were racist, Moss said. A lot of them were just hateful.

In a court filing in June, Giuliani argued the lawsuit should be dismissed because the claims against him are inadequately pleaded and are barred by First Amendment protections for free speech. Howell rejected those arguments, allowing the lawsuit to move forward.

Despite the repeated debunking of the Trump Campaigns claims of voter fraud in the election in Georgia by state officials and private organizations, Giuliani persisted in pushing those very claims  and began taking direct aim at plaintiffs in the process," Howell wrote.

A lawyer representing Giuliani in the defamation lawsuit did not immediately respond Monday to an email seeking comment on the ruling.

Wandrea "Shaye" Moss, a former Georgia election worker, is comforted by her mother Ruby Freeman, right, as the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol continues to reveal its findings of a year-long investigation, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman served their community and their country. In return, Rudy Giuliani and his allies  and others  told vicious lies that turned their lives upside down, one of their lawyers, Von Dubose, said in a news release.

Giuliani's spreading of debunked claims about Freeman and Moss has also caught the attention of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who's investigating whether Trump and others illegally tried to influence Georgia's 2020 election. Willis has told Giuliani's lawyers he could face criminal charges in that investigation.

The defamation lawsuit originally named right-wing cable news channel One America News Network, its owners and its chief White House correspondent for also pushing the debunked claims. They were dismissed from the suit in May after reaching an undisclosed settlement with Moss and Freeman.

The two women also have filed a separate defamation lawsuit against The Gateway Pundit, its owner Jim Hoft and his brother Joe Hoft, a contributor to the conservative website. That lawsuit is pending in Missouri.
Author Julie Powell attends the 2009 premiere of "Julie & Julia" in New York. (Peter Kramer / Associated Press)

Julie Powell, the bestselling author of "Julie & Julia" who famously documented her yearlong mission to cook every recipe in Julia Child's book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," died Oct. 26 at her home in Olivebridge, N.Y. She was 49.

The influential food writer's brother-in-law, Ethan Powell, confirmed her death to the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday and said the cause was cardiac arrest caused by a heart arrhythmia, defined by the Mayo Clinic as an irregular heartbeat.

Powell rose to prominence in the early 2000s when  unsatisfied with her mundane 9-to-5 job in the Big Apple  she resolved to prepare all the meals in Child's cookbook over the course of a year. She wrote candidly and vividly about her journey through French cuisine in a blog for Salon.com, The Julie/Julia Project,



which soon amassed hundreds of thousands of readers left rapt by her ambitiousness and relatability.

That first [blog] was like standing on top of the high dive, she told The Times in 2003. There was a definite flush of excitement. I posted it and it was out there and I couldnt take it back. That was the top of the roller coaster.

In 2005, Powell published a book about the life-altering, whirlwind experience titled "Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen," which writer and director Nora Ephron later adapted into an Oscar-nominated film starring Meryl Streep as Child and Amy Adams as Powell. Through cooking and writing, Powell learned and imparted valuable life lessons that extended far beyond the ability to steam a live lobster or bone a duck.

'Julie & Julia' became an instant classic and it is with gratitude for her unique voice that we will now remember Julies dazzling brilliance and originality," Powell's editor, Julie Clain, head of the Little, Brown publishing company, said in a statement provided to The Times.

"We mourn her loss with her husband Eric and her family. We are sending our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved Julie, whether personally or through the deep connections she forged with readers of her memoirs. She was a brilliant writer and a daring, original person and she will not be forgotten."

On the heels of her "Julie & Julia" success, Powell penned a second memoir, "Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat, and Obsession," exploring her marriage to Eric Powell. In addition to blogs and books, Powell also lent her writing talents to several publications, including the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Food & Wine and Bon Appetit.

"By the time Julia [Child] died, just short of her 92nd birthday, in 2004, I was trying to embrace her approach both to food and to life," Powell wrote in a 2012 essay for the Los Angeles Times.

"The discipline, hard work and fascination she emphasized had led me, unexpectedly, to the beginnings of a career and, less unexpectedly but perhaps more essentially, to a truly beautiful boeuf bourguignonne. Now I try to continue to be guided by her example. Not simply to follow my bliss but to hunt it down, nose to the ground, unrelentingly."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Napa, Schmapa.

For the better part of a hundred years, as the wine historian Thomas Pinney has remarked, California wine meant Los Angeles wine.

Think Im pulling your hollow leg? Not in the least.

The glory that now haloes the vineyard valleys of Sonoma and Santa Ynez, Alexander and Edna, the Russian River, and other dales and vales, once belonged to Los Angeles.

Years before the reign of King Citrus, dozens of wineries and more than a million grapevines made up an enormous L.A. cash crop. In 1869, when L.A.s wineries were squeezing out as much as 5 million gallons, 3 out of every 4 Los Angeles manufacturing workers were earning their pay in some fashion from the wine business.

So supreme was the power of the vine that, according to Judith Gerber, co-author of From Cows to Concrete: The Rise and Fall of Farming in Los Angeles, that in 1854, the first Los Angeles city seal was just a cluster of grapes surrounded by leaves; it was used for more than half a century, until it was replaced with the current seal in 1905.

Now: Set the wayback machine to 100 years before then, when Spanish soldiers and priests were threading their way up here in Alta California, bringing with them, as The Times wine critic once wrote, the cross, the sword, and the vine.

For a while, the missions sacramental wine was shipped up from Mexico, but pretty soon vine cuttings were bundled and sent north too. St. Junipero Serra, the founder of the California missions, found the wine supply critical enough to write a letter from the San Gabriel Mission to his superiors on Oct. 27, 1783: Many masses have not been said because of our lack of wine. We have plenty everywhere at present, except at this mission.

Thus, a Spanish wine grape made a big splash in the New World, where it was known for a time as the Los Angeles grape, and enduringly as the Mission grape, one of the top crops at the San Gabriel and San Fernando missions.

Just about every culture has its own intoxicant, and native Californians had already long concocted pispibata, a wooze-inducing substance from native cherries. California had a native grape, but neither the Indigenous Californians nor the arriving padres found it palatable.

Like the Mother Hass avocado tree in La Habra Heights, the San Gabriel Missions vineyards provided the founding madre stock of much of L.A.s emerging commercial wine industry.

The 1880 History of Los Angeles County declares, with a likely margin of error, that when the missions were secularized by the Mexican government in the 1830s, the padres told the missions Native American workers to destroy the grapevines, but they refused. In the same account, locals hacked up some vines for firewood.

Whatever happened, enough survived to beget L.A.s secular wine grape trade. It became what the orange-tree-in-every-yard would soon be for gentleman farmers: a few grapevines grown for the family table, or eventually tens of thousands for profit.

One of these  more farmer than gentleman  was New Englander John Chapman. He was among the first Yankee Americans to show up in Southern California, a sailor-buccaneer whose industry and ingenuity impressed the Mexican officials. He was a dab hand at carpentering, doctoring, shipbuilding and grape growing. In 1826, he owned a house and several thousand grapevines in Los Angeles, shared with his Mexican wife, Guadalupe, and their 11 children.

L.A. had a couple of dozen wineries by the 1830s, most of them along the west side of the L.A. River. In the 1860s, a man named Andrew Boyle began growing grapes on the unfashionable flats east of the river, and sold the wine under the Paredon Blanc name  the White Wall. We know the neighborhood as Boyle Heights.

Lets take a moment here to define what that early wine was. The principal grape drink was aguardiente, a portmanteau meaning burning water, a brandy of considerable ferocity. Actual wine was a pretty basic plonk at first, unornamented by comments about bouquet or terroir, so cheap and so plentiful that it was often poured free with restaurant meals. The locals also favored a white fortified wine called Angelica.

Around 1857, vintner Manuel Requena and future citrus tycoon William Wolfskill sent gifts of vino to President James Buchanan, packing red and white wine, brandy and Angelica; the winemaking Sainsevains brothers sent their own rudimentary sparkling wine to the White House. In a thank-you letter from Washington City, Buchanan thanked the freres Sainsevain and predicted a great future for California wine.

The San Fernando Mission had its own laudable vineyards, and in 1846, Spanish native Eulogio de Celis bought much of the mission land, lock, stock and grapevines, from Mexican officials. He and the Californio statesman and land baron Andres Pico made a wine that one visitor found to be of good quality.

Jean-Louis Vignes  his last name by happy chance means vines  arrived from Frances Bordeaux wine region in about 1831, and his riverside vineyards, where Union Station now stands, produced some hundreds of barrels a year. His history is muzzy: Either he hightailed it out of France on the sly, and his nephews, the Sainsevain brothers, scoured the world to find him, or he settled here and then invited his relatives to join him and prosper.

A vineyard on Alameda Street? It wasn't so strange when Los Angeles was California's winemaking king. Here corks from the present day rest on a depiction of an orchard and vineyard from the book "History of Los Angeles County, California, 1880." (Matthew Ballinger / Los Angeles Times)

His name  Vignes  is still on a downtown L.A. street, as is Aliso, the name he gave his vineyard. So is Mateo, for Matthew Keller, an Irishman who grew grapes near Vignes and Wolfskills property. He called his the Rising Sun Vineyard, and in her book Towers of Gold, Frances Dinkenspiel writes that Keller was always taking up new viticulture technology to make his wine better.

Bauchet Street  address of the Mens Central Jail  recalls Louis Bauchet, once a stalwart in Napoleons Imperial Guard, who began growing wine grapes in 1831.

Kohler Street was named for Charles Kohler, a German violinist who partnered with flutist John Frohling to make a California wine that made a splash on the East Coast. (Five years ago, the Daily Beast reported, Kohlers great-great-grandson was reviving the label that Prohibition had killed off.)

San Pedro Street was once Vineyard Street. Sainsevain Street was eventually renamed Commercial Street, and Wine Street you know by the name Olvera Street, for the countys first elected judge, Agustin Olvera. Azusa still has a Dalton Avenue, named for an energetic Englishman who, in the 1840s, bought up wide swaths of rancho land in the San Gabriel foothills and started up a winery and a distillery, among his many enterprises.

The hundreds of acres of the San Gabriel Winery  south of South Pasadena, west of Alhambra  supposedly had cellars that could hold a million and a half gallons, but according to books by Pomona College emeritus professor and wine historian Pinney, the company fell afoul of untrustworthy agents and critical consumers. One Philadelphia merchant disdained the port wine as nothing but trash. I would not give it away, much less sell it to my customers.

Even though, by the 1960s, the average Californian was quaffing two gallons of wine a year to his countrymens one, it took time for many Californians to cultivate what is called a sophisticated palate. In 1967, The Times related what happened to Robert Mondavi, a founding father of modern California wine. He was served a glass of boiling-hot wine in a restaurant  hot! When he complained, the waiter said, Its supposed to be hot, and pointed indignantly to the label. See? Haut Sauterne.

The Gold Rush populated Northern California with drinking men, and L.A. wine was close by, plentiful, and at least relatively cheap. The year gold was discovered at Sutters Mill, a thriving vineyard in L.A. could bring as much as $1,000 an acre.

And then, some men who didnt strike it rich with gold stayed on in Northern California to cultivate grapes, and others joined them. The prospering wine business  and threats like tariffs, temperance movements and disease  nudged the state to create a viticultural commission board, which still exists.

By 1859, L.A. County already had a cooperative founded by a vineyard society to manage the cornucopia of wine grapes cultivated and grown by French, Italian, German, Swiss and Spanish growers.

Some years ago, I ran across a song, published in the centennial year 1876, extolling The Wines of Los Angeles County in five rumtey-tum verses whose refrain goes, For of all to be proud for which were endowed / And for which were to thank natures bounty / There are none anywhere to be found to compare / To the wines of Los Angeles County.

By the 1880s, Northern California vineyards were far along their march to international renown with sophisticated varietal wines, and Los Angeles County was far along in making fortunes in citrus.

But first, they had to survive phylloxera  a kind of black plague for wine grapes, probably carried west from resistant East Coast vines. It walloped Californias wine grapes, and managed to make it from here to French vineyards, where it just about killed French winemaking, before vines were grafted onto bug-resistant American rootstock  a plan that just about killed French winemakers pride.

No such solution presented itself to save winemaking from Prohibition. All across Southern California, vineyards were torn up and plowed under.

Beginning in 1919, Charles Sterns winery in Wineville, in Riverside County, was planting fruits and nuts instead, turning the winery into a cannery, and changing Wineville to Windsor. Its now in an area called Mira Loma. The region east of Los Angeles had flourished in viticulture, and now its renowned wineries such as Italian Vineyard Co., east of Ontario, at one time the nations largest, were turning over vineyards to walnuts. By 1930, according to The Times, the vineyard founded by Secondo Guasti was still producing grape seed  and using it as hog feed. The Mission Vineyard Co. of Cucamonga sold off 1,600 acres to a fruit producer.

Some growers turned to table grapes and raisins, but federal agents were always on alert for anything that smelled of wine-in-the-bud. In 1931, The Times headlined a story, Eight Face Grape Juice Trial Today. The men were charged with conspiring to distribute and well unfermented grape juice with the intention that it might later turn into wine. Sure, it may be grape juice now, the feds argued  but heat it up and it could become wine! The men ended up with misdemeanor fines but got off on the conspiracy charges.

A very few wineries still made sacramental and medicinal wine, under very strict scrutiny. One of them was San Antonio Winery, which opened in 1917 on the banks of the river and survived Prohibition and the Depression and today is L.A.s oldest producing winery.

As much as Prohibition or an impoverished economy, prosperity doomed the vineyards. Every month in 1967, Californians lost more than 11,000 acres of farmland and open space to subdivisions and shopping centers, and Los Angeles was pedal-to-the-metal on giving up farmland for housing.

Wineries still hang on here. New, young winemakers operate in the Antelope Valley. The Angeleno Wine Co. produces natural vegan wine not far from the San Antonio Winery, and Centralas does the same farther south, bottling its Crenshaw Cru. Byron Blatty Wines uses L.A. County grapes.

And then of course theres Moraga Bel Air vineyards and winery in the city limits of L.A., about 14 acres of some of the richest and ritziest real estate around, half of which grows grapes.

Its owned by Rupert Murdoch. He bought it in 2013 for a reported $28.8 million.

He learned that it was for sale when he read it in a story  in his own Wall Street Journal. Fifteen years before the boss bought the winery, the paper dropped into a review of California sauvignon blancs a tidbit about Moragas 1993 meritage. The almost-impossible-to-find wine was then an almost-impossible-to-afford $95. The Journal-ists adjudged it remarkable.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Stanford University in October 2021. (David Madison / Getty Images)

An Alabama man pretending to be a student at Stanford University was found to have been living in campus dormitories for nearly 10 months, according to university officials.

William Curry, from Birmingham, Ala., was removed from campus on Thursday after a resident assistant for Crothers Hall found the man living in the basement of the dorm, the Stanford Daily reported. Resident assistants at Crothers Hall told the student newspaper that Curry posed as a sophomore studying pre-med and falsely claimed he was recruited to the Stanford men's track and field team in 2020.

Stanford spokesperson Dee Mostofi told the San Francisco Chronicle that Curry was reportedly on campus "several times" since December 2021  despite receiving multiple stay-away letters. However, campus officials said they were unable to locate him until Thursday, after he was accused of stealing a TV from the dorm's basement.

University administrators and campus police knew about Curry for months and removed him from various campus buildings at least four times, the Stanford Daily reported. He was previously accused of breaking into several campus dorm rooms and harassing multiple students, the newspaper reported, and at one point he allegedly told campus police he was homeless and "trying to escape the rain."

Students living at the dorm where Curry was caught said he had been living in the building since the second week of the fall semester and was let in regularly by "sympathetic resident assistants." According to the newspaper, dorm RAs frequently requested  but were denied access to  rosters of residents who live in the basement's rooms, where Curry was found living.

On several occasions, weve asked for a roster of residents living in the basement and have been told that the request couldnt be accommodated because it would be a student privacy violation, read a screenshot published by the Stanford Daily. Without such a roster, we ultimately cant verify who should and shouldnt be in the dorm. This is a policy we have pushed back against and will continue to push back against.

In a statement, Stanford officials said that although the university has protocols and policies in place to prevent non-students from entering and living in student housing, "the unique aspects of Mr. Curry's persistence and ability to integrate himself with our student community has made it clear that gaps exist in those protocols."

"We will immediately undertake a review to ensure our procedures do not allow for this type of incident to happen again," the statement read.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Since Sunday, more than 100 Cuban migrants have arrived in the Florida Keys, with another landing happening Tuesday morning, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Nine people came ashore in a makeshift boat around 10:30 a.m. on Fat Deer Key in the Middle Keys, said Adam Hoffner, division chief for U.S. Customs and Border Protections Miami operations.

On Monday, Walter Slosar, chief patrol agent for Miami operations, said in a statement on Twitter that agents took 101 people from Cuba into custody who landed in seven separate landings in the Keys since Sunday.

Hoffner said there was another Cuban migrant landing late Monday night in the Marquesas, a group of uninhabited islands located west of Key West.

Over the weekend, the Coast Guard said crews returned 106 people to Cuba who the agency intercepted at sea off the Keys. That brings the total number of Cuban migrants the Coast Guard stopped on the water since Oct. 1 to 1,132 people, a monthly average not seen in several years.

The exodus from Cuba  with South Florida, and mostly the Keys, being the destination  is at its highest level in nearly a decade, with no signs of slowing down.

The fiscal year that ended in October was the busiest in eight years for Coast Guard crews patrolling the Florida Straits  with 6,182 people stopped at sea. That number will more than double if the rate seen last month continues.
The former New York Post employee who hijacked the outlets content management system and Twitter account to post a series of racist and sexist headlines last week has apologized for his actions. I deserved to get fired for a very volatile, irresponsible, and disgusting action and an utmost betrayal of the New York Post, Miguel Gonzalez told the Daily Beast, revealing his identity to the outlet and public.

The 25-year-old claims he went on his publishing spree after suffering an emotional tantrum, further claiming his actions werent politically motivated. Among the things Gonzalez posted on October 27th were fake headlines calling for the murder of President Joe Biden and House Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. I let my own stupidity get the best of me, he told the outlet.

Gonzalez began working for The Post in 2019. It was his first job out of journalism school. When the incident first occured, The Post said it was the victim of a hacking attack, before later sharing that an employee had been the one to gain access to its systems. As a digital producer at the outlet, Gonzalez used his credentials to access The Posts publishing tools with relative ease, and did so from his home in New Jersey. Gonzalez says he hopes to stay in journalism and he has started applying for jobs at outlets like Gothamist.
Customers buy lottery tickets Monday at a 7-Eleven in Chino Hills. Monday's Powerball jackpot was estimated at $1 billion. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

After no ticket won Monday's $1-billion Powerball jackpot, the second-largest in the lottery's history, the next grand prize in Wednesday's multistate drawing is estimated at $1.2 billion.

Monday's winning numbers, drawn at the Florida Lottery studio in Tallahassee at 7:59 p.m. Pacific time, are 13, 19, 36, 39, 59 and the Powerball number 13.

No jackpot-winning tickets were sold, according to the Powerball results website.

Although there were also no jackpot winners in Saturday's drawing, some Powerball players won lower-tier prizes, including six tickets that matched all five white balls but missed the Powerball  two of which were sold at California retailers, according to Powerball officials.

The jackpots are growing and so is our excitement!  Get ready to play for the biggest treat on Halloween, #Powerball is at $1 Billion! Don't miss out and pick up your tickets at your favorite Lottery retailer today! #JackpotAlert#PlayResponsibly#CALotterypic.twitter.com/YRllPofv5G  California Lottery (@calottery) October 31, 2022

The tickets worth more than $550,000 were sold at Ramirez Liquor in Pico Rivera and Mad Dog Cafe in Alpine County, east of Sacramento, according to California Lottery.

Mondays jackpot would have been the fifth-largest grand prize in U.S. lottery history, according to Powerball officials. The current record was set in 2016 at $1.586 billion, shared by Powerball winners in California, Florida and Tennessee.

There have been 38 Powerball drawings since August without a grand prize winner, according to Powerball officials. The last jackpot was hit Aug. 3 in Pennsylvania.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, according to Powerball officials.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks Thursday at a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club outside Moscow. (Sergei Karpukhin / Associated Press)

Vladimir Putin is a murderer and tyrant. Hes also a hypocrite.

It is no coincidence that the West claims that it is its culture and worldview that should be universal, Putin explained last week at a pro-Putin Moscow think tank, the Valdai Discussion Club. His remarks echoed previous statements of his worldview, which many of his apologists  at home and abroad  take to be a very serious thing.

In July, he declared that a new stage in world history is coming, spelling the end of "the model of total domination" by the West. In 2019, he told the Financial Times that the the liberal idea had outlived its purpose.

Putin has long propped up his rule by claiming that the West was at war with Russia. So thats not new. His more recent rhetoric, however, is pitched at explaining the catastrophic failure of his Ukrainian invasion.

Putin told the Russian people that the Ukrainians are really ethnic Russians, either duped into believing in the myth of the Ukrainian nation or held hostage by a weak and criminal government run by a gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis. How could Russia possibly lose to such misfits in a fair fight? His claim, of course, is that Russias failure to defeat Ukraine must be the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the West pushing back Russian liberators.

Putin knows that these talking points will get picked up by apologists and assets in the West, which the Russian state feeds back to its own populace.

On this point, Putin isnt merely the worlds leading producer of propaganda; hes also its chief consumer. He still trots out the golden oldies of Soviet talking points about the Wests racist and neocolonial imperialism. He claims that Russia and China provide an alternative to this approach to the world order.

And thats where the hypocrisy comes in.

Its certainly true that Western history has a lot of racism and colonialism, and we can debate how much of that is left. But it is a strange critique coming from Putin, given that both the Soviet Union he loved, not to mention the Russian Empire he lionizes, were nothing if not imperialist and racist.

The Soviet Union colonized vast swaths of Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Protocols of the Elders of Zion, the fabricated antisemitic tract, was a tool of czarist state propaganda. The Soviet Union committed cultural genocide and ethniccleansing on a gargantuan scale. And what, if anything, is the attempted annexation of Ukraine other than an imperial project?

Whats interesting about Putins attacks on the West is that hes implicitly claiming them as his own values. Racism is a universal problem and dominant in many societies, but rejection of racism is central to the contemporary Wests liberal ideals.

Or consider democracy. Theres a reason nearly every authoritarian regime tries to legitimize itself by using false claims of democratic accountability and fraudulent elections. North Korea calls itself the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. Its neither democratic nor a republic. The Peoples Republic of China is no republic. Russia calls itself a federation of republics, but just ask the Chechens how voluntary that federation is (or how republican). When Russia annexed four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine in September, it held rigged referendums to give the seizures legitimacy.

Why? If democracy is a corrupt Western concept, why pretend what youre doing is democratic?

The same goes for the rule of law and human rights. Theres a lot of diversity in legal systems, but due process and the right to self-defense are Western liberal ideals. Even in Russia, where the courts are mostly corrupt, the regime still wants to pay lip service to impartiality and fairness.

Putins political philosophy, like his understanding of history, is entirely self-serving and nothing more. He grabs random facts, half-truths and whole lies off the shelf to serve his desire for power and glory. Indeed, he now says Russia is at war with Western satanism because the cupboard is bare of more plausible lies. What he doesnt do is offer an actual alternative to Western values. He uses liberal labels to justify his brutal will to power. Maybe thats because those values really are universal now.

@JonahDispatch

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
In the fews days since Elon Musk closed his deal to buy Twitter, far-right users have started to celebrate what they hope will be the ability to freely use homophobic and transphobic rhetoric and make threats on the social media platform.

On Saturday, former UFC fighter Jake Shields, who has over 340,000 Twitter followers, appeared to be testing the boundaries of the company's moderation apparatus by posting a photo of a drag queen smiling at a young girl with the caption, "This is a groomer."

Shields added, "I was suspended for this exact tweet a month ago so we will see if Twitter is now free."

The word grooming has long been associated with mischaracterizing LGBTQ people, particularly gay men and transgender women, as child sex abusers.

On Friday, conservative podcaster Matt Walsh, who describes himself as a theocratic fascist, lauded Musk's acquisition of the company and encouraged his over one million followers to start misgendering trans people.

"We have made huge strides against the trans agenda," Walsh tweeted. "In just a year weve recovered many years worth of ground conservatives had previously surrendered. The liberation of Twitter couldnt have come at a more opportune time. Now we can ramp up our efforts even more."

"Laws are changing and public opinion is changing," Walsh, who held an anti-trans protest in Nashville, Tennessee, attended by thousands last month, continued. "We have done all of this intentionally. It was all part of the plan we laid out and executed."

The day before, within hours of Musk's Twitter acquisition, the far-right group Libs of TikTok  which has over 1.4 million Twitter followers and has largely built its following by mocking liberals  tweeted out a post with the word "groomer" written over a dozen times.

The far-right celebration comes as homophobic and transphobic slurs and rhetoric have had a resurgence within Republican politics this year. Conservative lawmakers and pundits have repeatedly accused supporters of LGBTQ rights, critics of legislation like Florida's Parental Rights in Education law (dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" law) and drag performers of trying to "groom" or "indoctrinate" children.

Twitter did not immediately respond to a request for comment concerning several of the more high-profile tweets that included anti-LGBTQ slurs or sentiments.

Since the start of his takeover bid in April, Musk has emphasized that he will allow for looser rules over what people can say on the platform. In May, he announced that he would repeal the permanent ban on former President Donald Trump's account. (The former president was banned from the site in the days following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.)

For Alejandra Caraballo, a clinical instructor at the Harvard Law School Cyberlaw Clinic who is trans and has over 57,000 Twitter followers, the effects of Musk's takeover were immediate. Caraballo said she and several of her friends received a flood of transphobic messages within hours of Musk's takeover Thursday.

"You have several multimillion-follower accounts basically declaring open season on trans people," Caraballo said. "They're immediately taking glee and joy in the fact of bullying trans people on the site, and they think that, that's going to be OK now because Elon's in charge."

"This was never about free speech," she added. "This is literally about their ability to bully people on the site, harass them and then direct their followers who they know are going to launch death threats."

Despite concerns, Musk vowed on Thursday that he would prevent Twitter from becoming a "free-for-all hellscape" and make it "warm and welcoming to all." By Sunday, however, he tweeted and deleted what many described as an anti-LGBTQ conspiracy theory about the attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband. The unfounded theory, which originated from a website that has a history of publishing false information, suggested that Pelosi's assailant was actually a male nudist hippie prostitute.

Caraballo said that going forward, her biggest fear is that most Americans will become "exhausted" by what she predicts will become a "nonstop drumbeat" of anti-LGBTQ tweets.

"In a lot of ways, apathy is probably the most dangerous emotion at this point," she said.

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Russian missile strikes across Ukraine on Monday had widespread impact on the countrys power grid, sparking concerns in the West, according to Pentagon officials.

Ukraine has been able to defend against some of these attacks, but damage to the electric grid and water supply are serious concerns directly harming the civilian population, a senior U.S. defense official told reporters.

Russian missiles rained down on several Ukrainian cities early Monday, leaving about 80 percent of Kyiv without water and other large swaths of the population without electricity, according to the citys mayor.

The missile barrage, which took place at about 7 a.m. local time, targeted military and civilian infrastructure facilities with 55 aircraft guided missiles, 45 of which were shot down by our defenders, the Ukrainian militarys General Staff later claimed.

And Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said 18 targets were hit in 10 regions, according to The Washington Post.

Another U.S. military official said they did not have specific information to provide as far as the extent of the damage but were keeping a close eye on it and still gathering information.

In terms of the infrastructure, by virtue of the electrical grid being impacted, we are seeing impacts in terms of water supply systems, water treatment, things like that, which is affecting access to water among the civilian population, they said.

The Russian strikes mark the most widespread missile barrage since a similar campaign earlier this month, when Moscow over several days pummeled Ukraines infrastructure and power grid. Ukrainian and Western officials have expressed concern over the countrys energy output as winter looms, with fears that a humanitarian crisis will soon be at hand as the days grow colder.

The most recent Kremlin strikes are in retaliation for what Moscow claims are weekend drone attacks that targeted Russian warships in the Crimean Peninsula, though Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the attack.

The U.S. military official said the Biden administration is tracking reports of an alleged attack against Russian navy vessels in Sevastopol, a city on the Black Sea in the annexed territory of Crimea. They also confirmed there were explosions there, but would not say what caused the explosions and did not have a damage assessment to share.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A former longshot Idaho gubernatorial candidate was convicted Monday of kidnapping and killing a 12-year-old Colorado girl who went missing nearly 40 years ago.

Jurors found Steve Pankey, 71, guilty of felony murder, second-degree kidnapping and false reporting in the disappearance and death of Jonelle Matthews in 1984, the office of district attorney Michael Rourke said. A judge then sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole, the Greeley Tribune reported.

It was Pankeys second trial in the case. Last year, jurors were unable to reach verdicts on the kidnapping and murder charges, and prosecutors decided to put him on trial again.

Jonelle Matthews

Pankey was a neighbor of Jonelle and her family when she vanished after being dropped off at her empty home by a family friend after performing at a Christmas concert in Greeley, Colorado, a city about 50 miles north of Denver. He emerged as a person of interest in the case three decades later  shortly before Jonelles body was found in 2019  after claiming to have information about what happened to her and asking for immunity from prosecution.

Pankeys lawyers said his behavior may have seemed unusual, but they argued that police did not secure hard evidence against him and failed to clear an alternate suspect who died in 2007, the Tribune reported.

Prosecutors said Pankey kept up to date on the case throughout the years even as he moved his family to several states before settling in Idaho. He ran unsuccessfully as a Constitution Party candidate for Idaho governor in 2014 and in the Republican gubernatorial primary in 2018, the year that authorities said he was named as a person of interest in the girls death.

Jonelle remained missing for decades until a construction crew found her remains on July 24, 2019, in a field while excavating for a pipeline. Investigators later ruled that Matthews death was a homicide. She died from a single gunshot wound to the head, prosecutors said.

Just weeks after the girls body was found, Twin Falls police served a search warrant on Pankeys condo on Elm Street North, according to previous Idaho Statesman reporting.

That same month, Pankey  who was labeled a person of interest during the initial police investigation in 1984  was interviewed by the Idaho Statesman and said he had nothing to do with Matthews disappearance or death. Pankey told the Statesman that he was home with his then-wife on the night Matthews went missing. His family drove to California the following day to visit relatives, according to Pankey.

At the time of the girls disappearance, Pankey lived roughly 2 miles from the Matthews home. Her body was found about 10 miles from Pankeys old residence.

Jonelles case came to the attention of then-President Ronald Reagan as his administration launched a national effort to find missing children. Her picture was printed on milk cartons across the United States as part of a project by the National Child Safety Council.

She was considered missing until workers digging a pipeline in a rural area near Greeley in July 2019 discovered human remains matching her dental records.

Idaho Statesman staff contributed.
Shaw University President Paulette Dillard wrote that the scene was reminiscent of the 1950s and 60s: armed police, interrogating innocent Black students, conducting searches without probable cause, and blood-thirsty dogs.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  A South Carolina sheriff said a historically Black university presidents statement accusing law enforcement officers of racial profiling in a recent bus stop was just false.

Shaw University President Paulette Dillard wrote she was outraged after law enforcement officers in Spartanburg County on Oct. 5 stopped a contract bus transporting students from the historically Black university in Raleigh, North Carolina to a conference in Atlanta.

Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright emphasized at a Monday morning press conference that police officers stopped the unmarked, Greyhound-like bus with tinted windows because it had been swerving. The stop occurred as part of Operation Rolling Thunder, the departments annual weeklong anti-drug campaign in which deputies and officers with agencies from around the state patrol the countys highways.

In this image taken from FOX Carolina livestream, Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright speaks at a news conference Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Spartanburg, S.C. (FOX Carolina via AP)

Democratic members of North Carolinas congressional delegation last week asked the Justice Department to investigate the incident.

Dillard wrote that the scene was reminiscent of the 1950s and 60s: armed police, interrogating innocent Black students, conducting searches without probable cause, and blood-thirsty dogs.

This behavior of targeting Black students is unacceptable and will not be ignored nor tolerated, Dillard wrote. Had the students been White, I doubt this detention and search would have occurred.

Wright said that a student helped the driver answer officers questions and that none of the students were asked to leave the bus. A leashed dog ran through the baggage, turning up nothing illegal, according to Wright. Police body camera footage show officers searching several bags in the bus underbelly storage. The driver received a warning.

I wish racism would die the ugly, cruel death it deserves, Wright said. If anything were ever doing is racist, I want to know it, I want to fix it and I want to never let it happen again. But this case right here has absolutely nothing to do with racism.

Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller said the officers didnt do anything wrong and could not have known the races of the people inside the bus when they pulled it over.

In this screenshot of a video released by Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office, law enforcement officers stop a contracted bus in Spartanburg County, S.C., transporting students from Shaw University, an HBCU in Raleigh, N.C., to a conference in Atlanta on Oct. 5, 2022. (Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office via AP)

Mueller added that the leading cause of death in buses and commercial vehicles is driver fatigue. Interestate 85, the highway where officers stopped the bus, is a deadly corridor, according to Mueller.

If my guys see a bus weaving in their lane, and they fail to stop it to check that driver to make sure theyre not too sleepy, then we could have a busload of Shaw students that was involved in a tragic traffic fatality, Mueller said.

Body camera footage did not show any Shaw University insignia on the contract bus, which had the words CHAUFFERED TRANSPORTATION printed on its side. The Shaw University Communications Office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The traffic stop comes after an April incident in Georgia, where sheriffs deputies pulled over the Delaware State University womens lacrosse team bus and searched it for drugs. Tony Allen, the president of the HBCU, said he was incensed and accused the law enforcement officers of intimidation and humiliation.

Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman, who is Black, said in May that deputies had found drugs on a different bus that same morning. The teams chartered bus was stopped because it was traveling in the left lane, a violation of Georgia law, according to Bowman, who said deputies searched the bus after a drug-sniffing dog alerted alongside it. No one was arrested or charged and the driver received a warning.

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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), shown at a March 2021 news conference, has been subpoenaed by a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday turned away Sen. Lindsey Graham's plea to be shielded from testifying before a Georgia grand jury looking into President Trump's bid to overturn his 2020 election loss.

With no dissenting votes, the court refused an emergency appeal from the South Carolina Republican that was filed by former White House counsel Don McGahn. He argued the senator was "immune" from being questioned under the Constitution's "speech or debate" clause.

The court's action has the effect of upholding a subpoena issued by the grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia.

Justice Clarence Thomas had put the case on hold temporarily last month while the full court considered Graham's appeal.

Though Graham lost his emergency appeal, the court also appeared to validate part of his claim, possibly setting the stage for continued legal fighting.

The brief order noted that lower courts had "assumed that the informal investigative fact-finding that Sen. Graham assertedly engaged in constitutes legislative activity," which is protected under the law.

Graham admitted he made several phone calls to Brad Raffensperger, Georgia's secretary of state, but said they were "investigatory" and in line with his duties as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Georgia election officials said Graham placed phone calls to them raising questions about the results of the November 2020 election, which Trump narrowly lost in Georgia. Trump was recorded in one call urging an election official to "find" enough votes to change the result.

Raffensperger said Graham suggested that the state could discard or invalidate large numbers of mail-in ballots from certain areas.

It is not clear why prosecutors are seeking Graham's testimony, but they indicated the senator was viewed as a witness, not the target of a criminal probe. They said he may be called to testify in mid-November.

The Constitution protects members of Congress from being punished and questioned for "any speech or debate in either house," and Graham maintained he was acting as a Senate investigator when he made the calls to the Georgia officials.

But the 11th Circuit Court in Atlanta disagreed in a 3-0 ruling and said the constitutional immunity did not extend that far.

The judges said the Constitution's limited immunity for lawmakers "protects the integrity of the legislative process by insuring the independence of individual legislators ... but not everything a member of Congress may regularly do is a legislative act within the protection of the speech and debate clause."

Two of the three appellate judges who turned away Graham's appeal were nominated by Trump and confirmed when Graham chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The Supreme Court's order suggested Graham may still be able to challenge exactly what sort of information should be off-limits to the grand jury.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Federal prosecutors on Monday charged the man accused of invading the San Francisco home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with attempting to kidnap Pelosi and with assaulting her husband, Paul, according to documents filed in federal court on Monday.

The assailant, 42-year-old David DePape, forcibly barged into the Pelosis home in the early morning hours on Friday in pursuit of Ms. Pelosi and attacked Paul Pelosi with a hammer. Paul Pelosi is still in the intensive care unit, where he is recovering from surgeries to mend a skull fracture and injuries to his right arm and hands. The 82-year-old is expected to recover.

DePape was allegedly planning to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage and interrogate her about an unspecified political issue.

In an interview with officers after his arrest, Depape said if she told him the truth, he would let her go, and if she lied, he was going to break her kneecaps, according to the criminal complaint. DePape continued, saying that he considered Nancy the leader of the pack of lies told by the Democratic Party, the complaint states.

DePape is being charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with assault of a family member of a United States official, with the intent of retaliating against said official, and attempted kidnapping of a U.S. lawmaker, according to the charging documents. The first carries a maximum of 30 years in the prison; the second, a maximum of 20.

Those charges are in addition to a case filed by San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins on Monday, which includes charges for attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elderly abuse, burglary and threatening the family member of a public official. Those charges carry a sentence of 13 years to life in prison. DePape is expected to be arraigned in superior court on Tuesday, where Jenkins said her office will request he be detained without bail.

David DePape is shown in Berkeley in 2013. An intruder attacked and severely beat House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband with a hammer in the couples San Francisco home early Friday.

The FBI San Francisco Field Office, the U.S. Capitol Police and the San Francisco Police Department are still investigating the case. The Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of California will prosecute.

Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, was in Washington D.C. with her security detail during the attack.

Our children, our grandchildren and I are heartbroken and traumatized by the life-threatening attack on our Pop, she said in her first public comments about the assault on Saturday.

According to the criminal complaint, DePape forced his way into the home early Friday morning through a rear glass door, which he broke to gain entry. There was no security at the time of the intrusion, Jenkins said on Monday.

He then made his way up to the Pelosis second-floor bedroom, where Paul Pelosi was sleeping. DePape allegedly woke Paul Pelosi up and informed him that he wanted to talk to Nancy.

When Paul said his wife was not home, DePape told him that he would sit and wait until she returned. He remained adamant when Paul said she wouldnt be back in San Francisco for several days, the criminal complaint states.

At some point, Paul Pelosi asked to use the bathroom and dialed 9-1-1. Eight minutes after Paul Pelosi phoned 911, two officers arrived at the scene to find Paul Pelosi and DePape struggling over a hammer. When the officers asked them what was occuring, DePape responded that everything was good, an F.B.I. agent wrote in an affidavit. DePape then quickly yanked the hammer out of the hands of Pelosi and swung at Paul Pelosis head, striking him at least once and rendering Pelosi unconscious.

Officers then restrained DePape and transported him and Paul Pelosi to the hospital.

The police recovered zip ties in Pelosis bedroom and in the hallway near the front door of the home. They also discovered white rope, a roll of tape, a journal and gloves in DePapes backpack inside the home.

Investigators also searched a Richmond garage, where DePape had been allegedly living for the past two years, and seized two hammers, a sword and a pair of rubber and cloth gloves.

Authorities have not yet release the specific motive for the attack, but Jenkins confirmed Monday that it based on DePapes comments and interviews with law enforcement, it was politically motivated.

In the months leading up to Fridays attack, DePape spewed conspiracy theories, extremist views and antisemitic messages, including the idea that the Holocaust was a hoax.
Last month, Paul Harrington heard about active shooter reports at two schools in Connecticut, reminding him of the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting, which left 26 people, including 20 children, dead in 2012.

As I was gathering as much information as I could, I, unfortunately, received the call that where my daughter attends had a potential active shooter situation there, Harrington, the first selectman  a city job similar to a mayor of a town  in Windsor Locks, Conn., told Yahoo News.

My heart literally went into my stomach, just like any other parent, he said.

Paul Harrington and his daughter. (Courtesy Paul Harrington)

But from the first call made on Oct. 21, Harrington said the reports seemed suspicious, as the calls came from someone outside of the school. Usually we're getting calls from the school stating that there's an active shooter going on  we're getting a call from either a student, a teacher or somebody in the front office, he explained.

On that same day, at least 17 communities across Connecticut faced calls making fake reports of gun violence. Dozens of law enforcement officials responded to the schools but found no active shooters, and within two hours the lockdowns were lifted.

As soon as we were given the all-clear, I tried to reunite the kids with their parents as quickly as possible. And what I saw on parents' faces and kids faces was an image I never want to see ever again, Harrington said.

Over 250 schools nationwide have experienced gun violence in 2022, according to David Riedman, the founder of K-12 School Shooting Database, a source that documents anytime a gun is brandished or fired on school property in the United States.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department takes part in an active shooter training drill at Rosemead High School in Rosemead, Calif., in July. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

We're already seeing violence that's four to eight times higher than it's been in the last 50 years, Riedman said.

But as for fake reports of gun violence  otherwise known as swatting  NPR recently reported that there have been over 180 such reports of school threats in 28 states between Sept. 13 and Oct. 21 alone. Students in the classroom dont know that its not a shooting. So mentally, theyre thinking that theyre about to die, Riedman said.

Hollywood High School in Los Angeles was one of the schools that received a swatting call on Sept. 13. While no shooter or shooting victims were found, Ashley Castillo, a student and volunteer with Students Demand Action, says she shouldnt have to live "in this constant state of fear."

For a generation that has been forced to grow up practicing how to stay alive when the shooting starts, every lockdown feels real. Theres nothing fake about the trauma of realizing you might not make it out of school alive, and its unacceptable that students like me have to live this way, Castillo said.

Students participate in a mass casualty exercise at an elementary school in Clearwater, Fla. (Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via Zuma Press)

In 2019, Wisconsin state Rep. LaKeshia Myers introduced the BBQ Becky Bill to reduce false calls to law enforcement and prevent the misuse of police resources. The bill would have charged an individual with a misdemeanor for calling law enforcement to a location without a verifiable reason.

I am aware of the swatting incidents that have occurred at schools in our region over the past few days. I wholly condemn anyone who calls 911 as a prank, it is the very reason I authored a bill to prosecute individuals who do it. We must preserve our police resources.  Rep. LaKeshia Myers (@RepMyers) October 20, 2022

As schools in Wisconsin receive swatting calls, Myers says this is a bill she hopes to get back on the table. Its a waste of the public resources that we have when you send law enforcement into situations where they are utilizing their resources and the time commitment that they have, and the manpower to respond to something that turns out to be a hoax, Myers told Yahoo News.

The other part of it puts the community on heightened alert, with the history of school shootings that we have in this country, and also with shootings, mass shootings, in public spaces, she added.

Mac Hardy, director of operations at the National Association of School Resource Officers, says schools that have resource officers on campus are in a better position to respond to swatting calls.

By having a school resource officer on campus, if a swatting call does occur, [they] can assess the situation within seconds to minutes, to figure out if this is a real threat or a hoax. And then by radio or by other forms of communication, inform incoming police officers, dispatchers and school officials, Hardy said.

But he said finding and prosecuting the individuals responsible for these threats is crucial. Theres also thought that some of these calls are coming from overseas. And the FBI is investigating these, and hopefully, they can come up to some conclusions and help stop some of these calls from being made, Hardy said.

A police department school resource officer is stationed at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va. (Matt McClain/Washington Post via Getty Images)

Authorities say these hoax calls are dangerous and the public should stay alert and inform law enforcement of any suspicious activity. The FBI is aware of the numerous swatting incidents wherein a report of an active shooter at a school is made. The FBI takes swatting very seriously because it puts innocent people at risk, the FBI said in a statement.

And experts are concerned that the number of swatting calls is continuing to increase. If there's a continued flood of different jokes and hoaxes and false reports like this, people may stop taking them seriously, Riedman said. And the consequences of either police or schools not taking something seriously is that if a real shooting were to happen, nobody would respond.

Each of these incidents is another infuriating reminder that this is the reality for our kids in school, said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. Even false alarms of shootings on school grounds can be traumatizing for entire communities, from the students and staff who have to experience it, the first responders who have to prepare themselves to respond to the unimaginable, and parents who wait to hear whether or not their kids are safe. We have to do more to end gun violence in this country so that when we send our kids to school, we dont have to wonder whether or not theyll come home safe.
A man wearing a black skull mask broke into a Florida home in the middle of the night and shot a woman twice as she sat in bed with two sleeping children, according to the Pasco Sheriffs Office.

Investigators are calling it a targeted hit and have not released an identity for the victim.

The shooting occurred around 12:40 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at a home on Menifee Court in New Port Richey, the sheriffs office said in a news release. New Port Richey is about 35 miles northwest of Tampa.

Two women were in the home at the time, one of whom was sleeping on the couch when a masked man knocked at the door and then kicked it in, Sheriff Chris Nocco said at a press conference.

The suspect walks in. He points the gun directly at her, then he keeps moving towards the bedroom, Nocco said, noting the man did not speak at any time.

The victim was laying in bed with two young children. ... The light comes on, she sees the suspect walk in the door. The suspect points a gun directly at her, she sits up. As she sits up, she says, Dont shoot me. The suspect then fires one round at her, she falls off the bed. He fires another round directly at her, striking her.

The man then walked out and is believed to have fled the neighborhood in a car, officials said.

First responders performed life-saving measures on the woman, but she died after being taken to a hospital.

Investigators believe the suspect knew exactly what he was doing, and the killing was not a random act. However, it remains unclear if he personally knew the victim, officials said.

It appears that the suspect knew the layout of the home and who his intended victim was, officials said.

He was described as having a heavy build, around (5-10), wearing dark clothing and a black skull-type mask.

The two children are under age 12, Nocco said. Their relationship to the victim was not revealed.

I can imagine (the children) were out last night trick-or-treating. I can imagine they went to bed a little bit later like all the kids last night, Nocco said at the press conference.

But to be woken up by this ... to have a suspect walk in, turn that light on and shoot the person in the bed with them, you know. Its horrific. Thats the only word I can think of.

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Voters in five states received text messages in recent days containing false information about how to vote, but the company that sent them says it was an error.

Courtesy Kansas Secretary of State's office

The secretaries of state in Kansas and New Jersey warned Monday that voters had been sent incorrect instructions about where to find their polling places. It wasnt immediately clear how many people received the messages.

The messages appeared to have been personally tailored, with voters getting similar texts identifying names and addresses and purported polling locations, signed by a group called Voting Futures.

Movement Labs, a company that specializes in political text message campaigns encouraging progressives to vote, said late Monday that it was behind the texts and that it took full responsibility for these mistakes and have issued correction texts.

In a statement published to its website, it said that three campaigns that used its services  Voto Latino, Black Voters Matter and Voting Futures  had sent the texts to voters in Kansas, New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina and Virginia.

"In some of our texts, we sent addresses and images of drop-box locations when we intended only to include in-person early vote locations," it said.

"We didnt specify in our text that we were trying to encourage voters to vote early. Some voters familiar with their election day location thought we were telling them to vote on election day at an early vote location," the statement said.

Movement Labs was behind a similarly misleading text message campaign in Oregon in October.

At least one text message seen by NBC News that was sent in New Jersey on Sunday was followed Monday by another message: We may have sent you a picture and address of a dropbox or early voting location, and that information might not have been correct.

Both states recommended that voters visit their official elections websites for authoritative voting locations: vote.nj.gov for New Jersey and VoterView for Kansas.

(Obtained by NBC News)

Experts have warned that text messages that mislead people about how to vote are a particularly tricky problem. Its not difficult for a malicious sender to hide where a text message comes from, and the Federal Communications Commission loosened restrictions on political text messaging before the 2020 election.

Kansans were targeted with misleading text messages this year in relation to an abortion referendum.

Scott Goodstein, who built the text message operation for Barack Obamas 2008 presidential campaign and now warns of the dangers of political text messages, said its possible the texts are a mistake by a group that took phone numbers and matched them to outdated addresses. If the texts were an honest mistake by a group trying to help people vote, he said, the group did a poor job of it.

Just because you can do a digital match to a phone number doesnt mean you should, he said. Because its suppressing some voters when the information is wrong if every piece of the data isnt verified.
Students participate in the "Talk With Taikonauts" event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nov. 1, 2022. Hundreds of students across Southeast Asian countries attended Tuesday a live class delivered from China's space station and talked with Chinese taikonauts aboard the Shenzhou-14 spaceship, which inspired them to pursue their space dream.(Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

MANILA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of students across Southeast Asian countries attended Tuesday a live class delivered from China's space station and talked with Chinese taikonauts aboard the Shenzhou-14 spaceship, which inspired them to pursue their space dream.

Although it was a holiday, scores of Philippine students from high schools gathered for a special session named "Talk With Taikonauts," a unique opportunity for young space enthusiasts from the 10-country bloc Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to have first-hand knowledge of space science and outer space exploration.

Jeanel Dimayuga, a 12th grader from Makati High School, had a chance to ask Shenzhou-14 crew members Chen Dong, Liu Yang, and Cai Xuzhe how they felt the time pass in outer space and the impact of the zero-gravity environment on their bodies.

The trio of taikonauts answered various questions from the students and shared with the Asian youth their life and scientific work in the space station since early June when the Shenzhou-14 spaceship was successfully launched.

One day earlier, China launched the 17.88-meter-long space lab module Mengtian, bringing the construction of the space station Tiangong into the final stage. The building of Tiangong into a national space laboratory with three modules marks a milestone in China's three-decade effort to advance its manned space program.

Richard Shao from Philippine Cultural College said China having made such achievements in space technologies has inspired him to continue exploring the mysteries of the universe.

During the live lecture, Philippine First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos said the dialogue with Chinese taikonauts provided "an opportunity for our younger generation to learn more about space engineering."

"We hope this exchange will further stimulate the curiosity of our Philippine youth regarding space and the bigger frontier out there," she added.

Philippine Space Agency deputy director general Gay Jane Perez hailed China's advancement in space and highlighted China's contribution to sharing and promoting space technologies.

"Young minds are curious and imaginative, and the space offers limitless possibility of pushing the boundary of knowledge, exploring the unknown and creating new technologies and innovations," Perez said.

She said China has created opportunities for cooperation in the ASEAN region. The space lecture would be an "inspiration to our students to pursue their dreams, to explore the vastness of the space."

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said outer space is the "common wealth of humanity" and should be explored, developed, and utilized peacefully.

"China advocates for joint efforts with nations around the world to build a community with a shared future for humanity and to enhance international exchange and cooperation in outer space on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, peaceful use, and inclusive development," the Chinese envoy said.

He added that China is willing to share the achievements of aerospace development with the Philippines in various forms and discuss strengthening exchanges and cooperation in the field of aerospace science and technology for the power of science and technology to benefit the people of both countries. 

A woman takes a photo during the "Talk With Taikonauts" event in Taguig City, the Philippines, Nov. 1, 2022. Hundreds of students across Southeast Asian countries attended Tuesday a live class delivered from China's space station and talked with Chinese taikonauts aboard the Shenzhou-14 spaceship, which inspired them to pursue their space dream.(Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

(221102) -- BANGKOK, Nov. 2, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Students participate in the "Talk With Taikonauts" event in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 1, 2022. Hundreds of students across Southeast Asian countries attended Tuesday a live class delivered from China's space station and talked with Chinese taikonauts aboard the Shenzhou-14 spaceship, which inspired them to pursue their space dream.(Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

Students participate in the "Talk With Taikonauts" event in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 1, 2022. Hundreds of students across Southeast Asian countries attended Tuesday a live class delivered from China's space station and talked with Chinese taikonauts aboard the Shenzhou-14 spaceship, which inspired them to pursue their space dream.(Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

Students participate in the "Talk With Taikonauts" event in Taguig City, the Philippines, Nov. 1, 2022. Hundreds of students across Southeast Asian countries attended Tuesday a live class delivered from China's space station and talked with Chinese taikonauts aboard the Shenzhou-14 spaceship, which inspired them to pursue their space dream.(Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

A student raises a question to Chinese taikonauts during the "Talk With Taikonauts" event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nov. 1, 2022. Hundreds of students across Southeast Asian countries attended Tuesday a live class delivered from China's space station and talked with Chinese taikonauts aboard the Shenzhou-14 spaceship, which inspired them to pursue their space dream.(Xinhua/Zhu Wei)
The Biden administration says it will not "waste time" on trying to revive talks with Iran regarding its dormant nuclear deal in light of Tehrans brutal crackdown on antigovernment protesters and its support of Russia in its war against Ukraine.

While speaking at an event hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Monday, U.S. envoy for Iran Rob Malley said the administration "makes no apology" for "trying to do everything we can to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon."

Malleys comments were the closest a Biden administration official has come to admitting it was abandoning its efforts to resurrect the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Over the summer, Iranian officials rejected an EU proposal and made more demands in late August and early September. Since that time, antigovernment protests have broken in Iran in response to the police custody death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Morality police detained Amini in September for not properly covering her hair with the Islamic headscarf, known as the hijab, which is mandatory for Iranian women.

At least 270 people have been killed and 14,000 arrested, according to the group Human Rights Activists in Iran. Demonstrations have continued, even as the feared paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has warned young Iranians to stop.

The administration announced sanctions against Iranian officials for the brutal treatment of demonstrators. The administration has also hit Iran with sanctions for supplying drones and technical assistance to Russia and ordered U.S. military strikes in August against Iranian-backed militias in Syria in response to attacks on U.S. forces in the region.

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"I think people have to understand that were not tying our hands because of ... this hope that someday maybe there'll be a deal," Malley said. "No, we are taking action. We're not waiting. We're taking the action that we think is consistent and necessary to promote our values and our national security interests."

FILE: The flag of Iran is seen in front of the building of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Headquarters ahead of a press conference by Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, about the agency's monitoring of Iran's nuclear energy program on May 24, 2021, in Vienna, Austria.

The Iran nuclear deal already has been teetering toward collapse despite President Biden's efforts to revive it since August, with his administration saying Tehran has sought to push extraneous issues into the indirect talks. Still, the administration has not given up all hope for a turnaround.

The pact, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, would provide Tehran with billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for the country agreeing to roll back its nuclear program to the limits set by the 2015 deal.

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The deal was brokered by the Obama administration before being abandoned by the Trump administration in 2018. It includes caps on enrichment and how much material Iran can stockpile and limits the operation of advanced centrifuges needed to enrich.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A long-term patient at Western State Hospital in Lakewood has been arrested on suspicion of killing his 69-year-old roommate at the state psychiatric hospital, according to police.

Lakewood Police Department officers were called to the hospital at about 7:15 p.m. Friday after crews with West Pierce Fire & Rescue responded for a report of an unresponsive patient, police spokesperson Lt. Chris Lawler said in a Tuesday email to The News Tribune. Lawler said fire crews requested a police response after noticing the death looked suspicious.

We responded and noticed the victim patient had a lot of trauma, indicating not a natural or expected death, Lawler wrote.

Police said detectives investigated and developed probable cause to arrest the victims roommate, a 51-year-old man, on suspicion of second-degree murder. Lawler said the suspect was booked into Pierce County Jail, and detectives are continuing to investigate.

The victim has not yet been publicly identified. A spokesperson for the Department of Social and Health Services, Tyler Hemstreet, said the victim had been a patient at the hospital since 1989. He said the man was sent there after he was found not guilty by reason of insanity on a first-degree murder charge. The victims roommate had been at the hospital since 2014 on a first-degree assault charge.

Western State Hospital patient found Sunday after stealing truck, leaving grounds,

Both men were housed in one of four wings of the hospital reserved for patients found not guilty of a criminal charge by reason of insanity, Hemstreet said. He said the hospital has about 120 patients who are there under the same circumstances. According to the DSHS website, the facility is one of two state-owned psychiatric hospitals in Washington, and WSH has more than 800 beds and 2,500 employees.

Were offering support to our staff and other patients throughout the hospital who have been affected by this sad and tragic incident, Hemstreet said. Our thoughts are with the victim and his family during this difficult time.

The death occurred in a 15-minute window between when hospital staff makes rounds, Hemstreet said. There were 29 other patients in that wing of the hospital, and the men lived in a two-bed room.
Steve Hohe, the Libertarian candidate running for Congress in Kansas 3rd Congressional District is getting campaign help from an unlikely source  a Democratic voting rights advocacy group.

The group, a Super PAC called the Voter Protection Project, has spent more than $349,534 supporting Hohes campaign this cycle as it appears to be attempting to siphon votes away from Republican candidate Amanda Adkins.

On their website, the group says it supports legislation to expand voting rights, which Davids has voted for in Congress. Adkins has criticized that vote, saying Davids is attempting to hand power over elections to the federal government, a line of argument that has been used by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to oppose the Democrats large voting rights bills.

So far the group has sent out at least three mailers urging voters to support Hohe instead of Adkins, saying Hohe is for lower taxes and less government and calling on voters to Say no to corruption by voting against Adkins.

The group also launched a website calling Adkins a typical DC swamp creature and contrasting Adkins and Hohe. It includes claims that she spent her career as a lobbyist and political operative, that she supports raising taxes and that she supports shipping jobs overseas.

Adkins managed Sam Brownbacks 2004 Senate campaign before becoming a lobbyist at Cerner, where she rose through the ranks to become a vice president of the company. She has campaigned on balancing the federal governments budget and getting more women into the workforce.

Its not uncommon for political groups to attempt to prop up a candidate in the hopes that they might play spoiler in a tight election. The race in Kansas 3rd Congressional District is one of the most tightly contested in the country. By directing voters to a third party candidate with ads geared toward conservatives, the Voter Protection Project may believe that it will make it easier for Davids to defeat Adkins.

The Voter Protection Project did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Adkins attempted to tie the ads to Rep. Sharice Davids.

On Twitter, Hohe embraced the mailers, saying he appreciated the publicity for his campaign.

Adkins, theres some truth to the mailers, Hohe wrote. Davids, thanks for the Free Publicity. The Swamp Creatures are already out before Halloween!

We're up to three mailers distributed throughout the Third! I was interviewed by the Sunflower State Journal and the Washington Free Beacon. Adkins, there's some truth to the mailers. Davids, thanks for the Free Publicity. The Swamp Creatures are already out before Halloween! pic.twitter.com/Ns8DJCEjxb  Steve For Congress KS3 (@Hohe4CongressKS) October 30, 2022

In recent weeks, Adkins has accused Davids of dishonest and has been particularly critical of attack ads that use Adkins support for conservative groups or policies to highlight their more extreme stances. The Voter Protection Project has donated $5,000 to Davids campaign.

It is so disappointing to see Davids accept an endorsement from yet another group, the Voter Protection Project, who is doing nothing but meddling in this race, Adkins said in an email. Voters in KS-03 deserve more from their congresswoman than deceptive campaign tactics.

Davids has accused Adkins of obfuscating her record in order to appeal to voters. Her campaign said it was not associated with the ad.

Our campaign isnt responsible and its absurd to suggest that, said Ellie Turner, the spokeswoman for Davids campaign. Were focused on making clear the choice between Rep. Sharice Davids and Amanda Adkins, who not only supported the extreme anti-choice constitutional amendment in August, but has also endorsed a complete ban on abortions without exception.
Boris Johnson has confirmed he will attend the Cop27 conference in Egypt, piling further pressure on Rishi Sunak to backtrack on his decision to snub the climate summit.

The former prime minister said he was happy to go to Sharm El Sheikh for the United Nations meeting opening on Sunday.

However, Mr Sunak is leaving his own decision to the last minute, having initially ruled out attending before signalling he could U-turn in the face of widespread criticism.

Is Boris Johnson going to COP27? The former prime minister confirms to @markaustintv in an exclusive interview that he is attending the climate summit, adding that he's "very happy to go".https://t.co/bwBIZhhZrz  Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/t0WJN8ERys  Sky News (@SkyNews) November 1, 2022

The Prime Ministers own climate adviser Alok Sharma had said he was disappointed that Mr Sunak was not planning to attend.

But the decision of his arch-rival and former Downing Street neighbour to attend will make it even harder for Mr Sunak to resist going.

Mr Johnson told Sky News yes, as it happens he will be attending, adding: I was invited by the Egyptians so Im very happy to go.

Asked if his successor in No 10 should go too, he said Mr Sunak has a massive amount to do with the Governments domestic agenda, adding: I happen to have a particular interest.

Mr Johnson argued it has become unfashionable to talk about the Cop26, which he hosted in Glasgow last year.

I want to talk a little bit about how I see things and how we see things in the UK, Mr Johnson added.

Initially Downing Street said Mr Johnson would not be attending because he must focus on the depressing domestic challenges, as he works on the autumn budget.

But on Monday he changed tack, with No 10 saying that the decision was now under review as substantial progress was being made on his economic plans.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman could not confirm on Tuesday afternoon whether Mr Sunak would be attending, saying talks are ongoing between him and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.
Rishi Sunak distanced himself from Suella Bravermans claim the country was facing an invasion by migrants as counter-terror police took control of an investigation into the firebombing of an immigration processing centre.

The Prime Minister told his Cabinet that the UK will always be a compassionate, welcoming country after the Home Secretary faced a backlash over her comments.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman suggested Ms Braverman was seeking to express the sheer scale of the challenge at hand.

Children play inside the Manston immigration short-term holding facility (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Ms Bravermans Home Office colleague, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, warned against demonising people seeking to come to the UK and stressed the importance of choosing words carefully.

It is understood that Ms Bravermans comment to MPs  that the British people deserve to know which party is serious about stopping the invasion on our southern coast, and which party is not  had not been cleared with No 10.

On Tuesday, counter-terrorism police took over the investigation into the petrol bomb attack in Dover, Kent, on Sunday, which detectives believe was sparked by some form of hate filled grievance.

Andrew Leak, 66, from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, is believed to have killed himself after throwing two or three crude incendiary devices.

Detective Chief Superintendent Olly Wright, head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE), said: What appears clear is that this despicable offence was targeted and likely to be driven by some form of hate filled grievance, though this may not necessarily meet the threshold of terrorism.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister told his Cabinet at a meeting on Tuesday that the UK would always be a welcoming country, while Ms Braverman said a whole Government approach would be needed to tackle the migrant crisis.

In a combative Commons performance on Monday, Ms Braverman denied ignoring legal advice to procure more accommodation amid warnings that a temporary holding centre at Manston in Kent had become dangerously overcrowded.

With the Government spending 6.8 million a day putting up migrants in hotels  at an average cost of 150 per person per night  she insisted she was right to order a review of the way the system was working.

Questioned about her invasion comments, immigration minister Robert Jenrick told the BBC: It is not a phrase that I have used, but I do understand the need to be straightforward with the general public about the challenge that we as ministers face.

On Sky News, Mr Jenrick said: In a job like mine you have to choose your words very carefully. And I would never demonise people coming to this country in pursuit of a better life.

Almost 40,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year.

Invasion is a way of describing the sheer scale of the challenge, Mr Jenrick said.

Thats what Suella Braverman was trying to express. She was also speaking, I think  and this is an important point  for those people who live on the south coast, who, day in, day out, are seeing migrant boats landing on their beaches.

The Home Secretary has denied claims that she ignored legal advice and rejected calls by officials to procure more hotel accommodation for migrants amid mounting concern about the situation at Manston.

Asked about an LBC report that the Home Secretary refused to sign off on hotels because they were in Tory-supporting areas, Mr Jenrick told the radio station: We are working to try to disperse individuals across the whole of the United Kingdom so that this burden is borne fairly.

Theres no politics in that, its a simple matter of practicality, but that is a symptom of the problem, which is that too many people are crossing the Channel illegally in the small boats and our job is to try to tackle that. There are no easy answers to that.

No 10 said Ms Braverman told the Cabinet that large numbers of people were being taken from Manston to other accommodation, in a bid to help relieve pressure.

A union representing Border Force workers at Manston said the Home Office hoped to move 400 people out of the site on Tuesday.

The Manston holding centre (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Some families were said to have been sleeping on the floor and there were reports of outbreaks of disease.

Asked about reports of cases of diphtheria, MRSA and scabies there, Mr Jenrick told BBC Breakfast: Well, those reports are not correct. Theyve been exaggerated. 

He said there have been four cases of diphtheria but those are all individuals who came into the site with that condition.

Serious challenges remain for migrants arriving in Kent by small boats. Read our inspection report  https://t.co/iLUeb0owtT And our media release  https://t.co/PZNkuA2Sag pic.twitter.com/l63aJpypR1  HMI Prisons (@HMIPrisonsnews) November 1, 2022

Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor said the Home Office needs to get a grip of the situation.

He told Sky News: Whats happening at Manston, when I visited, was people were sleeping on the floors, on the rubber mats down on the floors, and then very thin blankets or mattresses. Lots and lots of people in a room, all squished in together, very uncomfortable.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: No home secretary serious about public safety or national security would use the language Suella Braverman did the day after a petrol bomb attack on a Dover centre.

But thats the point. She isnt serious about any of those things.
A new taskforce has been announced to protect British democratic institutions from foreign interference as the Government warned of a growing threat from hostile states.

The body will look at both physical and online threats to MPs, security minister Tom Tugendhat said.

He warned that dictatorships are trying to write new rules for a new world and said Russias invasion of Ukraine was an example of the growing threat from hostile states.

 While not as prominent as Russia's operations in cyberspace, threats from state actors such as China continued to develop alongside their capabilities.  Chinas technical evolution is likely to be the single biggest factor affecting the UKs cyber security in the future. pic.twitter.com/xrUDIPiVIQ  NCSC UK (@NCSC) November 1, 2022

Mr Tugendhats announcement follows reports that Liz Trusss personal phone was hacked while she was foreign secretary by Moscows agents and warnings from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) about an acute online threat to the UK from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

The security minister told MPs: The advanced technologies our rivals have spent time and money developing have levelled the field and made us more vulnerable.

Britain has been on the front line of the defence of liberty for generations; our agencies, and businesses have faced the reality of this danger for decades.

Our Parliament and our politics are now no different, whether its ministers or shadow ministers on committee, or when leading a campaign, this is about every party and every member of this House.

He told MPs there had been attempts by unfriendly states to influence our politics in recent years.

Mr Tugendhat said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had asked him to lead the new taskforce to work with Parliament, government departments, the security and intelligence agencies, the devolved administrations and the private sector.

The taskforce will look at the full range of threats facing our democratic institutions, he told MPs.

This will include the physical threats to members of this Parliament and those elected to serve across the country, so tragically brought home by the murder of our dear friends Sir David Amess last year and Jo Cox in 2016.

The taskforce will report to the National Security Council and would involve cross-party co-operation.

The security minister added: This work is for all of us in this House, and those who have asked us to represent their interests.

The Government has robust systems in place to protect against cyber threats. We are vigilant in ensuring that these are up to date and meet the challenges of the modern world.

The National Cyber Security Centre, Government and parliamentary security offer all members specific advice on protecting personal data and managing online profiles as well as best practice guidance.

In a message to shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, he said he would welcome her thoughts, adding: There is an awful lot that we must do together. The next few years, sadly, are likely to be more challenging than the last.

The indications are not great. We need to work together, this is not about one party or one government, this is about defending the right of the British people to choose their future, democratically and freely without the influence of foreign states.

Ms Cooper said: We will support his taskforce, but he will need to show us that there is some kind of grip in Government on attitudes towards security right across the heart of this Government.

Highlighting actions by Boris Johnson, Ms Truss and Mr Sunak, she said: When you have one prime minister (Mr Johnson) who put security at risk to go to Italy for a party, another (Ms Truss) who is allegedly using a personal phone for Government ministers and a third (Mr Sunak) who is defending his predecessors and reappointing as Home Secretary someone described on the Governments own backbenches as leaky, this undermines our national security.

And national security is too important for this kind of chaos.

The announcement of the new taskforce came as NCSCs annual report set out details of the cyber threats facing the UK.

Over the last year, the NCSC has continued to see state actors present a significant threat towards the UK and global cyber security, the report said.

While many countries use malign cyber capabilities to some extent, including to control their domestic information environments, the regimes that continued to present the most acute cyber threat to the UK and its interests were Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

The report said that over the last year, businesses and organisations in the UK reported hundreds of cyber incidents to the NCSC, 63 of which were significant enough to require a national level response.

They included 18 ransomware incidents, including attacks on a supplier to NHS 111, and a water utility company, South Staffordshire Water.


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This photo taken on Nov. 1, 2022 shows a scene of the 31st session of the Arab League Summit in Algiers, Algeria. The summit kicked off on Tuesday evening in the Algerian capital of Algiers with regional food security and Palestinian issue being on top of agenda. (Algerian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)

ALGIERS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The 31st session of the Arab League (AL) summit kicked off on Tuesday evening in the Algerian capital of Algiers with regional food security and Palestinian issue being on top of agenda.

Tunisian President Kais Saied, whose country hosted the last AL summit in 2019, handed over the presidency of the summit to his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune at a symbolic ceremony.

In his opening address, Saied said the summit's slogan "reunion" sums up the hope to overcome all the differences that led to the discord in the Arab region.

"We hope that the Algiers summit will be the summit of brothers and solutions," he said, hailing the efforts of Algeria to help Palestinian factions to achieve reconciliation.

For his part, Tebboune noted that "the summit is being held under complex and sensitive regional and international circumstances, characterized in particular by the escalation of tensions and crises, especially in the Arab world."

He urged Arab countries to boost their economic cooperation with the aim to secure the region's food security.

"The Palestinian issue remains at the core of our preoccupations and on the top of our priorities," the Algerian leader stressed, calling for "renewing Arab collective commitment to the Arab Peace Initiative to guarantee the Palestinian people for the establishment of their independent state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as capital."

In his address to the summit, AL Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit called for boosting the pan-Arab organization's work to settle all the armed conflicts in the region.

"I call upon the Arab leaders to stop the bloodshed which threatens the present and the future of the Arab nation," Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said, referring to armed conflicts raging in several Arab countries, including Libya, Yemen, Sudan and Syria.

In addition to the leaders from AL member countries, some guests of honor, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the president of the Non-Aligned Movement, and President of Senegal Macky Sall, the current chairperson of the African Union, attended the AL summit. 

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune attends the 31st session of the Arab League Summit in Algiers, Algeria, Nov. 1, 2022. The summit kicked off on Tuesday evening in the Algerian capital of Algiers with regional food security and Palestinian issue being on top of agenda. (Algerian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (2nd R, front), the rotating president of the Council of the Arab League (AL), attends the 31st AL Summit in Algiers, Algeria, Nov. 1, 2022. The summit kicked off on Tuesday evening in the Algerian capital of Algiers with regional food security and Palestinian issue being on top of agenda. (Xinhua)

Attendees pose for a group photo before the opening ceremony of the 31st session of the Arab League Summit in Algiers, Algeria, Nov. 1, 2022. The summit kicked off on Tuesday evening in the Algerian capital of Algiers with regional food security and Palestinian issue being on top of agenda. (Algerian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (R, front) and Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul-Gheit (L, front) attend the 31st session of the Arab League Summit in Algiers, Algeria, Nov. 1, 2022. The summit kicked off on Tuesday evening in the Algerian capital of Algiers with regional food security and Palestinian issue being on top of agenda. (Algerian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (1st L) attends the 31st session of the Arab League Summit in Algiers, Algeria, Nov. 1, 2022. The summit kicked off on Tuesday evening in the Algerian capital of Algiers with regional food security and Palestinian issue being on top of agenda. (Algerian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)
Lt Gen Kalita also emphasised the capability enhancement and infrastructure development for the armed forces in the region

Kolkata: General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita on Tuesday hinted at fresh denotifications of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in areas of the North East (N-E) if and when violence drops further in the region.

Speaking on the Raising Day of the Eastern Command at Fort William, he said, "As far as the internal security is concerned, you are all aware that in the last nine months there has been a considerable drop in violence parameters in various insurgency-affected areas of N-E which has led to de notifications of the AFSPA from certain areas. There is peace and development that is taking place. Let me state that this has been possible due to the sacrifice made by the Indian armed forces in ensuring violence parameters brought down to an acceptable level."

Asked about the possibility of the AFSPA withdrawal from remaining parts of the region, the Eastern Army Commander explained, "Yes. You see the situation remains dynamic. The enactment of the AFSPA was done in 1958 to facilitate cooperation by the armed forces and to give a certain amount of legal protection for operating in the notified areas."

He elaborated, "As the situation improves and the violence parameter, which is the basic thing, comes down, we are confident that the local police would be able to ensure the maintenance of the law and order. That is the call of the local state government in consultation with the central government has to take. Once that confidence level is reached, more and more areas will find denotification taking place."

Lt Gen Kalita also emphasised the capability enhancement and infrastructure development for the armed forces in the region.
Danubius Hotel Hungaria City Center is seen in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 1, 2022. The European energy crisis is coming straight at Hungary's largest hotel: the 499-room Danubius Hotel Hungaria City Center will be closed for four months starting on Tuesday. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

BUDAPEST, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The European energy crisis is coming straight at Hungary's largest hotel: the 499-room Danubius Hotel Hungaria City Center will be closed for four months starting on Tuesday.

According to a statement on its website, the hotel in the heart of Budapest will reopen on Feb. 28.

Other hotels of the Danubius chain, however, will remain open, management of the hotel said in a letter to Xinhua.

The main reason behind the temporary closure is the difficulty in efficiently running such a big hotel in winter in an overall gloomy economic situation, said the hotel.

The hotel has informed its guests of the closure and relocated its staff.

The hotel has been struggling with high utility bills since Aug. 1 when the government released an amendment to the relevant legislation, asking businesses to pay market prices for gas and electricity.

Although the Hungarian government has capped energy prices for households up to the "national average consumption," those who consume more than this average volume -- including businesses -- have to pay market prices which are twice more expensive for electricity and seven times more expensive for gas.

In addition to the Danubius Hotel Hungaria, many other businesses are facing shutdowns. According to Hungary's local media, dozens of small businesses, including bakeries, butchers, and small theaters, are closing down, or planning to close.

"Kiado/Elado", which means "to let/for sale", are among the most frequently seen signboards along the streets of any Hungary city nowadays.

Tamas Flesch, honorary president of the Hungarian Hotels and Restaurants Association, gave a gloomy picture of the situation in a recent interview on Inforadio. "Hotels with high gas and electricity consumptions will most likely have to close due to their staggering energy bills."

Flesch said the monthly energy bill for a 150-room hotel has rocketed from 10-12 million Hungarian forints (24,128-28,953 U.S. dollars) to 100 million forints. "Working together with the National Hospitality Employers' Association, we are trying to get state support for hotels," he said.

The hotels that will remain open will inevitably raise prices considerably, he said.

While hotels and restaurants are waiting for a state subsidy, up to half of the spas in Hungary will be forced to close in the first six months of next year due to energy price hikes and a significant drop in the number of guests, said Zoltan Kantas, president of the Hungarian Spa Association.

Hotels, restaurants and thermal spas are the backbone of Hungary's tourism industry that plays a major role in the national economy. (1 forint = 0.0024 U.S. dollars) 

Danubius Hotel Hungaria City Center is seen with the statement on its website announcing its temporary closure in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 1, 2022. The European energy crisis is coming straight at Hungary's largest hotel: the 499-room Danubius Hotel Hungaria City Center will be closed for four months starting on Tuesday. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Danubius Hotel Hungaria City Center is seen in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 1, 2022. The European energy crisis is coming straight at Hungary's largest hotel: the 499-room Danubius Hotel Hungaria City Center will be closed for four months starting on Tuesday. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Danubius Hotel Hungaria City Center is seen in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 1, 2022. The European energy crisis is coming straight at Hungary's largest hotel: the 499-room Danubius Hotel Hungaria City Center will be closed for four months starting on Tuesday. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

People pass by Danubius Hotel Hungaria City Center in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 1, 2022. The European energy crisis is coming straight at Hungary's largest hotel: the 499-room Danubius Hotel Hungaria City Center will be closed for four months starting on Tuesday. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)
As many as 135 people have been killed in the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy and 170 others rescued

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent condolence messages to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he was shocked to learn about the deadly bridge collapse in Gujarat's Morbi city that claimed 135 lives.

In his message, President Xi said he was shocked to learn of the deadly collapse, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

"On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi extended deep condolences over the deaths and sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured," it added.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also sent a message of condolence to Prime Minister Modi.

Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also sent a condolence message to his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar over the bridge collapse.

Wang extended deep condolences over the deaths and sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured.

The more than a-century-old bridge, which had reopened five days back after extensive repairs and renovation, was crammed with people when it collapsed on Sunday evening.

As many as 135 people have been killed in the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy and 170 others rescued.

Several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, on Monday extended their condolences to the families of the people who lost their lives in the tragic bridge collapse.
The other news of the day: Pakistan's prime minister visits China, Taiwan admits to breaking three ancient Chinese artefacts, Vietnam petrol stations are running out of fuel, Azerbaijan protests against the presence of Russian troops.

AFGHANISTAN

A group of women held a small rally in central Kabul to protest against the ban on girls and young women from going to school and the lack of job opportunities for women. Many showed their degrees, complaining that they could not work despite their training. The protest, the third of its kind in three days, was broken up by the Taliban.

PAKISTAN

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is in China on a two-day visit, during which he will try to convince Chinese President Xi Jinping to extend a loan to help Pakistan cope with its current economic woes. Beijing, which has repeatedly come to the rescue of its ally, fears negative implications in the medium term. Since taking office in April, Sharif has prioritised the revival of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the infrastructure project linking Xinjiang to Gwadar Port.

VIETNAM

The fuel crisis in Ho Chi Minh City has not been resolved. In recent weeks, the government has asked two local refineries to increase production, but it will take time before they can meet domestic demand. Meanwhile, petrol stations have closed due to lack of fuel because of oil price caps imposed by the government (which do not adapt quickly to international market trends).

INDONESIA

Indonesia's good and drug agency announced yesterday that it had revoked the licence to make throat syrups from two local companies. The death toll from the presence of toxic elements in syrups has risen to 150. The agency has also opened an investigation.

NORTH KOREA

North Korea has threatened to respond with powerful measures if the United States and South Korea do not stop joint exercises. The US-South Korean air drills began yesterday until Friday. According to US intelligence, Pyongyang is preparing for its first nuclear weapons test since 2017.

TAIWAN

Taiwan's National Palace Museum has admitted to breaking three Ming and Qing Dynasty artefacts worth US million. The items  a bowl, a teacup and a plate  were uninsured and were broken in three separate incidents in the past 18 months, but the news only came to light last week. The museum, on the outskirts of Taipei, houses the world's largest collection of Chinese artefacts, much of which was brought by Chiang Kai-shek after his nationalist forces fled to Taiwan at the end of Chinas civil war.

RUSSIA

Minsk-based Orthodox priest Vladislav Bogomolnikov was arrested for the fifth time and sentenced to 15 days in prison. He has already spent 59 days in prison for his support of Lukashenko's opponents and his refusal to cooperate with the special services, and for organising prayer meetings for peace and in the memory of the victims of war and repression.

AZERBAIJAN

Inspired by Gubad Ibadoglu, leader of the Azerbaijan Democracy and Prosperity Party (ADR), protests are taking place in Azerbaijan against the continuation of the mandate authorising the presence of Russia's peacekeeping forces in Nagorno Karabakh for another 15-20 years. Protesters are calling on Azeri President Ilham Aliyev to refuse to sign any agreement in Sochi with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On the Solemnity of All Saints, Pope Francis spoke about the Beatitudes, made relevant more than ever today by war. Noting that often what we want is not really peace, but to be at peace, to be left in peace, the pope said that the Gospel reminds us that peace does not fall from above, but it is built with commitment, collaboration [and] patience. He also called on the faithful to pray for his upcoming apostolic journey to Bahrain.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  In todays Angelus, Pope Francis spoke to the faithful in St Peters Square for the Solemnity of All Saints, saying we must disarm the heart in order to become peacemakers.

Commenting on the Gospel passage about the Beatitudes in todays liturgy, the pontiff noted how much it is far from celebrating those sisters and brothers who in life were perfect, always straight, precise, or rather starched. Contrary to a "picture-perfect holiness, the Beatitudes of Jesus speak of a countercultural life, a revolutionary life.

With respect to today's world marked by war, Francis stressed how Blessed are the peacemakers turns the worlds view of peace upside down. We all long for peace, but often what we want is not really peace, it is to be at peace, to be left in peace, to have no problems but to have tranquillity.

For the pope, Jesus, instead, does not call blessed the calm, those who are in peace, but those who make peace and strive to make peace, for peace does not rain down from above; it must be built with effort, collaboration, [and] patience.

More importantly, peace does not come by force and power. The life of Jesus and that of the saints tell us that the seed of peace, in order to grow and bear fruit, must first die. Peace is not achieved by conquering or defeating someone, it is never violent, it is never armed.

The first step to become peacemakers is to disarm the heart. Yes, because we are all equipped with aggressive thoughts against each other, and cutting words, and we think to defend ourselves with the barbed wire of lamentation and the concrete walls of indifference.

Disarming the heart is possible only if we accept Jesuss forgiveness and peace since being peacemakers, being saints, is not our ability, they are gifts, it is one of his gifts, it is grace.

Finally, the pope asked if it is better to live like this? Isn't he a loser? Jesus's answer is that peacemakers will be called children of God (Mt 5:9).

[I]n the world they (the peacemakers) seem out of place, because they do not yield to the logic of power and prevailing, in Heaven they will be the closest to God, the most like him. But, in reality, even here those who prevail remain empty-handed, while those who love everyone and hurt no one win.

After the Angelus, Pope Francis said that he is getting ready to travel to Bahrain on 3 November, entrusting the visit to the prayer of the faithful.

Noting that the key moment will be his participation in the Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence together with many Muslim leaders, the pontiff expressed hope that it will provide an opportunity to help people to grow in the fraternity and peace that the world needs today.

For the latter, Francis renewed his call to continue to pray for peace, and not forget Ukraine maimed by war.
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by Xin Ping

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Sept. 30, 2022 marked the second annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, a day to remember the tragedy of the children who died in residential schools, the bereaved families and the survivors of these institutions.

The colonial past shapes the present profoundly. In Canada, Indigenous people continue to experience ongoing racial discrimination, negative stereotyping and injustice.

A survey by Statistics Canada in February showed that a third of Indigenous people have experienced discrimination in the past five years, more than double the proportion of non-Indigenous people. Institutional racism has disadvantaged Indigenous people across the education, employment, health care, judicial and prison systems.

A Canadian National Defense report published in January revealed that only 8 percent of Aboriginal people have attained a post-secondary credential compared to 20 percent of non-Aboriginal Canadians. Gaps in education attainment have much to do with insufficient funding. In some communities, First Nations students get 30 percent less funding than other children.

With fewer education and training opportunities, it is only natural that Indigenous people have higher unemployment rates and lower wages. Figures from December 2019 to February 2020 showed the Indigenous unemployment rate at 10 percent, while it was just 5.5 percent for non-Indigenous people.

The proportion of Indigenous people employed in goods-producing, health care, social assistance, retail, public administration and construction sector -- jobs with lower possibilities of promotion and more exposure to occupational hazards -- is higher than that of non-Indigenous people, said Professor Quentin Durand-Moreau of the University of Alberta in his study.

Meanwhile, only 3.4 percent of Indigenous people work in professional, scientific and technical services, a much under-represented figure compared with 7.8 percent for non-Indigenous populations, Durand-Moreau said.

Widespread health disparities continue to exist for Indigenous people in Canada. Lack of access to quality health care is a big problem, especially in remote communities.

In 2015, then auditor general of Canada said that Health Canada failed to ensure that First Nations individuals living in remote communities in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada's first and fifth most populous provinces, had access to clinical and client care services.

A survey done by a retired judge in British Columbia found that 84 percent of Indigenous respondents reported discrimination in health care. Institutional racism in the health system is so pervasive and severe that Indigenous people strategically avoid public hospitals. In contrast, clinics managed and staffed by Indigenous people are always their first choice.

Indigenous people are over-represented in Canada's criminal justice system, both as people convicted of crime and as victims. More than 30 percent of inmates in Canadian prisons are Indigenous people, even though they make up just 5 percent of the country's population, a Canadian correctional investigator estimated.

At the same time, Indigenous people accounted for 22 percent of all homicide victims in Canada in 2018. Last year, police reported that the homicide rate for Indigenous people was approximately six times higher than that for non-Indigenous people. More than one-quarter of Indigenous women experienced sexual violence during their childhood, compared with 9.2 percent of non-Indigenous women.

Anti-Indigenous racism has become embedded in everyday life. The result has been that many Indigenous people have grown up normalizing racial profiling and inequities. At the same time, Canadian society shows an appalling apathy to addressing the issue at the government and public levels.

In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was entrusted with revealing the truth about the history of the residential school system, presented 94 Calls to Action that would help redress the legacy of residential schools and advance reconciliation. Months later, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed his government's commitment to implementing every single one.

However, based on information in government documents, by July 2021, only 13 of the recommendations had been completely enacted, and 21 saw no tangible steps taken. And over two-thirds of Canadians surveyed in 2021 said they knew little or nothing about the residential school system. This lack of historical knowledge is the root cause of poor institutional policy, and breeds racist attitudes and mistrust between Indigenous people and other Canadians.

"This important work of reconciliation is not a one-day affair," said Murray Sinclair, former Truth and Reconciliation Commission chair.

Suppose the voices of Indigenous people are not heard and honored. In that case, there will be no truth, no reconciliation and no healing of the relationship between settlers and Indigenous communities in Canada. Enditem

(The author is a commentator on international affairs, writing regularly for CGTN, Global Times, Xinhua News Agency, etc. He can be reached at xinping604@gmail.com)
kW

Sporting exclusive updates inside and out, the new Dacia Duster Extreme SE builds on the range-topping Journey, and benefits from a generous host of equipment for a vehicle in this segment.We will detail the gizmos in a few moments, as first, we have to tell you that it has orange accents on the side mirror caps, and roof rails, and orange Duster emblem on the tailgate. The companys new logo further decorates the Romanian crossover, which rides on glossy black 17-inch wheels in this configuration.On the inside, the Duster Extreme SE has signature orange inserts on the door cards, and the same shade was used for the upholstery stitching. Satin chrome air vent surrounds are part of the makeover. As far as the equipment goes, Dacia mentions keyless entry, rear parking sensors, Multiview camera, 8-inch infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, automatic air conditioning, and heated front seats, all of which are offered at no extra cost.The new Duster Extreme SE is available with gasoline, bi-fuel, and diesel engines. The gasoline family comprises the 90 ps (89 hp / 66), 130 ps (128 hp / 96 kW), and 150 ps (148 hp / 110 kW) variants. The bi-fuel has 100 ps (99 hp / 74 kW), and the diesel is rated at 115 ps (113 hp / 85 kW). All of them are offered with front-wheel drive, and the all-wheel drive system is an option compatible only with the oil burner. The EDC automatic transmission is reserved for the TCe 150 model.Dacia is already accepting orders for this version of the crossover in the United Kingdom, where deliveries will commence next year. Pricing starts at 18,295 ($21,097) OTR, and goes up to at least 22,445 ($25,883) for the Blue dCi 115 4x4.
4MATIC

kWh

The creme de la creme, at least until the AMG variants roll out in the United States of America, comes in the guise of the EQE 500. Depending on specification, prospective customers are charged $85,900, $88,000, or $91,500 sans the $1,150 destination charge mentioned earlier.What are you getting for your hard-earned cash? For starters, the all-electric sibling of the E-Class is rocking 64-color ambient light, MBUX EQ Navigation Services that include Navigation with Electric Intelligence, Parking Package with Surround View System and PARKTRONIC, heated front seats, MB-Tex upholstery, a power tilt-and-sliding panoramic roof, a trick audio system from Burmester, and the Keyless-Go Comfort Package.The EQE 500 4MATIC levels up to rear-axle steering and leather upholstery. Stepping up to the Exclusive trim level, the Stuttgart-based manufacturer sweetens the deal with MBUX Augmented Reality for Navigation, Active Ambient Light, and the Driver Assistance Package. As for the Pinnacle trim level, prospective customers are treated to four-zone climate control, the DIGITAL LIGHT Package, 100W USB-C Package, a head-up display, Energizing Comfort, and the so-called Air Balance Package.As per EPA testing, the 2023 model year Mercedes-Benz EQE achieves up to 305 miles (thats 491 kilometers) of driving range in one go. This rating is for the EQE 350+. Ratings for the dual-motor variant and the 500 arent currently listed on the Environmental Protection Agencys website.Taking its mojo from a 90.6-battery, the EQE 350+ cranks out 288 horsepower and 391 pound-foot (530 Nm) of torque. The EQE 350 4MATIC maintains the 288-hp net rating but improves to 564 pound-foot (765 Nm) of torque. As for the EQE 500 4MATIC, the German automaker quotes 402 horsepower and a rather impressive 633 pound-foot (858 Nm).
The prototype seen in the photo gallery comes with what the industry calls a "floating roof," which involves black paint for the A and B pillars to make the roof appear to float above the vehicle. With window tint, it results in something that looks quite cool, if you ask us. Without window tinting, it still works, but only from a moderate distance.The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe will also get square-shaped headlights, with a small H pattern that is mildly visible inside them. The latter might be just an optical illusion of sorts, so we may be mistaken here. What is not boxy about the Hyundai Santa Fe is the shape of its exterior rearview mirrors and mirror caps, which are unexpectedly rounded. They remind us of the Palisade , if we think about it, and this is not the only part of the prototype that leads us to the Palisade.Also noticeable from the side, the upcoming Santa Fe prototype comes with unusually large wheels, which are a choice linked to proportions relative to the overall height of the vehicle, but they have a set of brake discs that are not nearly as large as you might expect them to be when looking at such massive wheels.The prototype that is being tested comes with an internal combustion engine, and Hyundai is not making any effort to conceal that, since its exhaust is visible, as are parts of its rear suspension design. We also spot a small hole in the camouflage that is meant to leave space for the rearview camera, while the license plate has been moved on the rear bumper. Hyundai has a tow-bar fitted to the prototype, so the next-gen Santa Fe is considered for this kind of duty. It should thus come with features that will make the driver's life easier when pulling a trailer with their Hyundai.The Korean brand is expected to offer a multitude of engine options, which will feature various degrees of hybrid integration. It is believed that the production version might be revealed by the summer of 2023, but we shall see if that information is correct.
There are a multitude of videos available on social media showing such instances and the ordeal local residents go through as all of this is going on around them - and we even get to see American-made weaponry in action there, mostly in the form of artillery, air defense, and drones.But, at least for now, there are no American airplanes flying combat missions in the European war, and there is no need for them to do so at home. So, despite the U.S. Air Forces ( USAF ) habit of constantly releasing images of its aircraft in action, were never shown American aircraft combat, and in very rare instances we get to see them in offensive or defensive action.By dynamic offensive of defensive action, we understand something like the main photo of this pic: an American-made, American-flown C-17 Globemaster III , deployed with the 305th Air Mobility Wing based at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, shown here in a scary posture well hopefully never get to see in real life, neither at home nor elsewhere: shooting flares as it tries to escape incoming enemy fire.More importantly, the plane is doing that not over some battlefield in a remote location, but over Americas Bollen Range on Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania, forming in the head of the viewer an image rarely seen on American soil.The pic was captured back in August, at a time when the plane was flying a resupply mission with a low-level ingress into a hostile location while responding to simulated surface-to-air missiles fired by an enemy, but was only recently made public by the USAF.
If youre unfamiliar with Frank Abagnale, its okay, weve got you. He is an American author, famous for his autobiography Catch Me If You Can, which was turned into a Steven Spielberg movie in 2002, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Abagnale is also a convicted felon, who used to claim he had different careers, including an assistant state attorney general, a physician, and a Pan American World Airways pilot.This year, Frank Abagnale was also Conor McGregors Halloween costume, but the athlete didnt have a plane at his disposal. Instead, he had one of the cars from his extensive collection, and he seems to have gone for his black Rolls-Royce Phantom Similar to other famous athletes and celebrities, Conor McGregor has a car collection filled with expensive models and the Phantom is among the several Rolls-Royces he owns.For Halloween, Conor posed in his pilot costume next to the Phantom, which was parked behind a black Range Rover. We could also get a glimpse of its interior, which comes in white. His fiancee, Dee Devlin, also wore a matching flight attendant costume, and he captioned the set of pictures, The sky is the limit, come fly with me.The luxurious saloon has reached the eighth generation, the latest being introduced in 2017. It's put in motion by the British luxury carmakers 6.75-liter V12 twin-turbocharged engine. The power mill delivers 563 horsepower (571 ps) at 5,000 revs and a torque of 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) at 1,700 rpm to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.Based on these figures, the Phantom is able to hit 62 mph (100 kph) from naught in just 5.3 seconds and reach a top speed electronically limited to 155 mph (249 kph). And since a regular airplane takes off with an average speed of around 149-177 mph (240-285 kph), the Phantom makes a perfect companion to his Frank Abagnale costume.
SUV

Let us look back for a moment and remember the arrival of the all-new HR-V (now called ZR-V internationally because it has grown in size). Or the introduction of the sixth iteration of the best-selling CR-V compact crossover, among others. And Honda is even keen on trying to save the passenger car with star attractions such as the all-new Civic Type R But what about mid-size fans? No worries, the Japanese automaker will soon have them covered with the Honda Pilot TrailSport adventurer , and they also recently teased their decision to plug the mid-size sedan segment into life support alongside the popular Camry. So, an eleventh Honda Accord is coming, and soon.Naturally, that made a lot of folks eager to check out the goodies well in advance of the OEM reveal. Of course, that is only possible with help from the virtual automotive artist establishment. And they had their work cut out for them trying their best to imagine the Accord Hybrid Touring looks based on the information and images that are already available.The most recent attempt at an unofficial reveal of the Honda Accord XI comes from the pixel master better known as Carbizzy on his YouTube channel. He (or she) has imagined a swanky mid-size sedan that is seemingly ready to prove that passenger cars are not ready to go down without a fight in the face of great crossover, SUV, and truck adversity.Now, do take all these virtual presentations with the usual, healthy dose of salt. But at least we know the official introduction is just around the corner. And that Honda promised its Accord will arrive with sleek new styling, a more responsive and fun-to-drive hybrid powertrain, and Hondas first integration of Google built-in for seamless on-the-go connectivity.
At many motor shows, its not the car companies that have the most interesting cars on display, its the suppliers. SEMA is a supplier show by definition, so its probably one of the most exciting shows out there. ENEOS might not ring many bells outside the racing enthusiast circles, but it has some exciting cars on show. Centerstage is one of the most outrageous engine swaps, which would undoubtedly make Porsche fans shed a tear.After last years E30 BMW with an FC20 Honda swap, engine-swap expert and professional drift racer Faruk Kugay from DevSpeed Motorsports debuted its latest creation, a 2007 997.1 Porsche 911 GT3. Interestingly, the base car was bought at auction as a rolling shell after it was crashed and stripped by a previous owner. With no engine to boot, it was the perfect project for Faruks crazy ideas.The team opted for a 2008 Subaru Impreza STI EJ25 engine out of respect for the boxer configuration. Of course, Porsche fans would disagree about the respect, but the results, we must agree, is worth it. The Subaru engine is 179 lb (77 kg) lighter than the GT3 powerplant and can be easily tweaked to exceed the 911s stock 415-horsepower output. We dont know the final figure, but Faruk said he was aiming for 550 horsepower.To get there, the engine was upgraded with a BorgWarner EFR 7064-C turbo and a massive Vibrant Vertical Flow intercooler. Faruk also fitted Deatschwerks fuel injectors, rails, and pumps, which draw from a Nuke Performance fuel cell and fuel system. Finally, the exhaust system is custom-made, contributing to the overall performance. The six-speed transmission is sourced from the Impreza, modified with a reverse-cut ring gear and bell housing supplied by Subarugears in Australia and assembled by SubiWorks in California.If the livery looks a little too Subaru, it was intended. Nevertheless, ENEOS assures us that the classic Salzburg Porsche 917 lent some of its cues. The design was created by Sean Smith Design and applied by Landmark Grafix. The ENEOS Porsche 911 GT3 STI shares the stage with an equally impressive Nissan Frontier Race Truck and the Tesla Model 3 that raced the Pikes Peak in 2021. A Datsun 521 pickup and a 1997 Acura Integra Type R round up ENEOSs lineup for this years SEMA
ABS

SUV

Instead of having a classic mechanical locking differential, the Italian carmaker developed an alternative that relied solely onsensors. When the system was active, it would detect which wheel was spinning faster and apply the brakes on it so that the other wheel would get some of the torque. It was cheap and effective, but the problem was that most people had no idea how to use it. That was when Fiat used jungle animals and Bob Marley to educate its customers in a commercial.This film shows a driver getting stuck in the mud with a Palio Weekend Adventure, the very first model to get this derivative. Like most customers, he just decides to step out of the car to check what to do, but an alligator prevents him from doing so. Soon he sees a lion, a bear, and a monkey. To his surprise, the monkey starts to sing.The song is Three Little Birds by Bob Marley. And it states: Dont worry about a thing because every little thing is gonna be alright. That is what the monkey and his friends try to tell the driver with the song. The bear, the snake, and the hippo help the monkey with backing vocals while the monkey shows the driver how to use the Fiat Locker.There was a button on the dashboard that read ELD (Electronic Locker Differential). You had to push that button, wait for a message on the dashboard warning it was active, and then start to accelerate slowly, trying to find the grip as much as possible. Thats how the Palio Weekend Adventure driver manages to escape the mud and gets going again.On his way out, the driver looks at the lion, and it blinks an eye, proud that the driver finally learned how to use the feature. He just accelerates as fast as possible to get out of there, praying not to be crazy.We have no idea if Fiat customers learned the same lesson, but the fact is that the company offered the feature in Adventure derivatives for many years after that. When Sergio Marchionne created FCA, Jeep made it easier for Fiat to just forget about selling cheaper-wannabes: it was finally selling the real deal, even with another brand. Nowadays, the company sells unibody pickup trucks, crossovers, and only three compact cars in the Brazilian market: the Mobi, Argo, and Cronos.The first one is an A-segment hatchback. The other two are, respectively, a hatchback and a sedan, both competing in the B-segment. Quite a change from when most of Fiats vehicles were affordable small cars. Hopefully, the company still makes funny commercials to sell whatever it has to offer.
You could say that the James Bond frenzy has peaked this year, but then again, you could say the same every year as the long-standing and ever-popular film franchise hits another anniversary milestone. If youre a fan and a collector, the latest anniversary brings the auction of the ultimate collectible.

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AWD

For example, the Japanese luxury automaker Lexus just announced this years corporate booth would feature a much larger exhibition space. Well, it is at least more than enough to fit six stellar vehicles showcasing the future of the brand. They continued by saying that their four key pillars representing the driving force for the company include bold design, intuitive technology, electrification and the Lexus Driving Signature are all present and accounted for.Well, that remains to be seen and decided by the visitors of the Las Vegas Convention Center who get to dwell around them between November 1 and 4. But let us meet the heroes. First on the roster for the newly compiled Lexus SEMA guide is the DSPORT IS 600+ project build, an IS 350 F Sport that morphed into the companys most aggressive performance-focused project car Lexus has displayed at SEMA.And it has what it takes to support the case, starting with over 600 horsepower on E85 fuel, a Samsonas full-sequential six-speed transmission, and lots of other tuning bits and pieces. The Lexus Electrified Sport makes its SEMA debut , while the LX 600 Urban Concept is a fashionable, attainable aftermarket build based on last years 2022 Lexus LX 600 F Sport.But, of course, some fans might be a little more interested in the LX 600 Alpine Lifestyle concept, which mixes the luxury ethos with an adventurous spirit and might never look back. 4x4 enthusiasts will also not be disappointed by the GX 460 Overland concept, for sure. And last, but certainly not least, the RX 500h F Sport Performancewraps the best-selling premium Lexus crossover in Matte Violet Metallic.And does so while seated on 22-inch Rays Engineering Homura 2x15BD wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport performance tires. By the way, this also marks the introduction of a new hybrid electric system consisting of a high-torque 2.4-liter turbo engine, six-speed automatic transmission, inverter, and an electric motor, with an eAxle rear unit that integrates a high output electric motor, inverter, and reduction gearbox.
Customizers usually reimagine the motorcycle in different builds, which is precisely what the Dutch custom shop LM Creations did. It converted a 2021 Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber 100th Anniversary into a retro racer.LM Creations is a design and engineering bureau specializing in automotive design. It implements CAD design, reverse engineering, and craftsmanship to build creations with a unique signature.According to Bike Exif , LM Creations founder Luuc Muis worked on this project with Frances Motoplex Metz, a flagship store for Piaggio. A while ago, he went to their showroom in the Lorraine region and ended up talking about an anniversary project for Guzzis 100th birthday.Back at his studio, Luuc whipped up a rendering based on the V8 racer. Both parties loved the idea, so the project was signed off on and eventually came to fruition.The standard V9 Bobber mainly stayed intact, but a few elements were added to distinguish the build. LM Creations installed a hand-shaped aluminum fairing and a GP-style gas tank. Initially, for the V8, the fairing was hand built of aluminum, so no two pieces were identical. It also looked a bit rough around the edges, so Luuc tried to replicate this detail.It took him multiple tries until he managed to get it right. He kept the scoops on each side as a nod to Guzzis design but also made the fairing so that it could direct air into the V9s cylinder heads.The gas tank was built from scratch  it features knee indents and wings that mimic those on the V8. It has a classic raw aluminum effect that blends perfectly with the green finishes. Lots of effort went into creating this old-school look, with particular attention devoted to minor details.Typically, welds are hidden by using strips of the same aluminum as filler rods. Luuc Muis wanted to preserve the V8s handmade aesthetic, so instead, he opted for a different, darker aluminum to emphasize the way it was built.An element that definitely stands out is the custom solo seat, upholstered in the Netherlands, further adding to the classy look. Luuc designed a new top yoke with integrated clip-ons and a mount for the OEM speedometer.Regarding lighting, the motorcycle has a discreet taillight and combo LEDs for turn signals. The headlights are hidden away below the large fairing.The team behind this motorcycle knew it had to be green, just like the V8. They chose a green hue out of Moto Guzzis modern-day catalog to add a bit of a modern twist to the two-wheeler.Keeping the hand-built theme was critical for Luuc. He said, So instead of smoothing the fairing with Bondo and a glossy paint, I asked Custom Coatings to put a matte metallic powder-coating on it. This will never chip off, and you can still see a few of the imperfections that you would with hand-built bikes and cars in the 50s.Motoplex added some other notable details  the shoulders on the V9 black wheels were polished, and longer rear shocks were installed. The off-white grips complete the vintage look. Of course, the bold Moto Guzzi logo couldnt miss from the build  its proudly emblazoned on the front.This modern recreation of the iconic V8 is a fantastic way of celebrating Moto Guzzi entering its second century  well done to all those involved in the project.
Chassis number U15NLB44485, with U15 standing for the wagon, is anything but a garage-kept survivor. Presently located in San Diego, this nicely modified Bronco was refurbished by the selling owner just after he acquired the rig in 2018. The body was repainted in white by SOS Customs in Oceanside. This otherwise bland color really pops due to black-painted tubular step bars, black-finished Fuel wheels mounted with 265/70 R17 tires, and blue for the Ford scripts up front and out back.Currently showing 20,538 miles (33,053 kilometers) on the clock, although true mileage isnt known, the 55-year-old utility vehicle also flaunts a body-color hardtop, dual exhaust outlets that exit sideways, a roll bar, painted bumpers, and an LED light bar to boot. Offered on Bring a Trailer with a clean title in the sellers name, this example had its front radius arms, drum brakes, drum shoes, cylinders, fluid, and hoses replaced.The differential bushings have been replaced as well. Fitted with a C6 three-speed automatic plus a cast-iron transfer case, for which the linkage hasnt been hooked up, this rig further sweetens the deal with fresh transmission fluid and a replacement filter for the said transmission.Hopping inside reveals low-back seats and a rear bench upholstered in brown leather with diamond-stitched leather, white-painted surfaces, a digital radio with a retro design, a suedecloth headliner, tan carpets, lap belts, and leather on the transmission and transfer case boots. The steering wheel features leather on the rim as well. Equus auxiliary instruments mounted below the dash complement the piston-shaped gear knob.Under the hood, the original engine was yanked out in favor of a 302 that was rebuilt under current ownership. Keith Black .060 oversize pistons and rings open the list of goodies, followed by MSD ignition, a Mallory distributor cap, Manley intake and exhaust valves, a double roller timing chain from Cloyes, lifters from Isky, an aluminum intake manifold, a camshaft from Engle Performance, and ARP cylinder head bolts.With seven days left on the ticker, this Bronco currently stands on a high bid of $29,500. The auction ends Tuesday, November 8th, at 1:18 AM.
According to the manufacturer, this flight represents an important milestone for the advancement of the drone delivery industry in Switzerland and an important step in the companys expansion journey in the healthcare sector. RigiTechs flagship drone , the Eiger, flew over Lake Geneva to a laboratory and back, with this first route between the Swiss cantons connecting Cologny (Geneva) with the rooftop of the aforementioned laboratory in Coppet (Vaud).The Eiger landed on the labs rooftop to allow easy access for the medical staff to the delivered package and then returned to Geneva in less than 10 minutes. Getting the approval for the BVLOS route was a project that took RigiTech several months to complete, with the company requiring several organizations to collaborate, including the Geneve Police, the Cologny Municipality, the Office cantonal de lagriculture et de la nature (OCAN), as well as the FOCA (Federal Office of Civil Aviation).With the newly established drone delivery route, RigiTech can now offer urgent transportation of medical goods and supplies, saving up to 90 minutes in delivery time compared to ground transportation during rush hour. The Eiger is rugged and capable, being able to access difficult areas and withstand winds up to 33 mph (54 kph). It offers a maximum payload capacity of 6.6 lb (3 kg) and can fly over 62 miles (100 km) on a battery charge.Eigers delivery route over Lake Geneva was a challenging one that required consideration and attention toward the local fauna, which had to be protected. Moreover, RigiTech had to also be vigilant about the ongoing boat traffic on the water. But even so, the Swiss drone technology company managed to successfully coordinate the flights relying on valuable info from the CGN (Compagnie Generale de Navigation).The recently achieved milestone marks the fifth European country to grant BVLOS authorizations and the fourth one for RigiTech's Eiger drone.
EV

Toyota gained an eco-image from selling its hybrids like the Prius, but it tarnished it by going against the electrification trend. The Japanese carmaker not only resisted therevolution but actively tried to hamper efforts to accelerate EV adoption. As is usually the case, sometimes the market changes direction faster than some players might like to admit. In the case of Toyota, the writing was on the wall for a long time.The Japanese carmaker continued its downward trend, with the Q2 results showing a significant steam loss. Operating profit fell 25 percent to 562.7 billion yen ($3.89 billion) in the July-September quarter. Toyotas operating profit margin shrank to 6.1 percent from 9.9 percent in 2021. This erodes one of the key stats where Toyota was considered the industry leader. Now Tesla, with its revolutionary production techniques, is set to lead the charge.The 25% drop in quarterly profit announced on Tuesday is ground-shaking and prompts Toyota executives to consider raising the prices to retain its profitability. The results are disappointing, marking the fourth consecutive quarterly profit decline. Toyota also cut the annual production target for the 2022 Japanese fiscal year from 9.7 million vehicles to 9.2 million. The automaker blames the results on semiconductor shortages and surging material costs But theres one thing that sticks throughout those missed quarterly targets. Every time, Toyota insists it has the best tools to appease its customers. Two years ago, Toyota boss Akio Toyoda spoke in charades about having the best kitchen and chefs, unlike Tesla, which only has a recipe. Throughout this year, weve heard various executives say that electric vehicles are not the right way.That was even after the surprise announcement of a $38 billion plan to launch 30 new EVs on the market. Since then, the plan was scrapped, and Toyota got back to the drawing board. This happened after its first EV, the bZ4X, was recalled because the wheels would fall off. The new change of plans means that Toyota would face even more delays in addressing the market shift toward electrification.For the first time, the Japanese carmaker does not consider Tesla a recipe-seller but wants to copy its kitchen and train new cooks to help with the profitability. Toyota is so far ahead in the cost war that Toyota finally noticed. While Toyotas operating margin dropped to 6.1 percent in the second quarter, Tesla reported an eye-popping 14.95% margin, which is unheard of in the automotive industry.
World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit to be held in November

Xinhua) 09:52, November 01, 2022

BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The 2022 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit is slated to be held from Nov. 9 to 11 in Wuzhen, east China's Zhejiang Province, according to a press conference on Monday.

This year's event will be the first summit convened by the WIC since the international organization's inauguration in July, and it will be held both online and offline.

Some 2,000 representatives from over 120 countries and regions will attend the conference in person or virtually, contributing their wisdom to the construction of a community with a shared future in cyberspace, said Ren Xianliang, secretary-general of the WIC.

The event will feature 20 sub-forums and a series of activities, including a ceremony to announce the world's leading scientific and technological internet achievements, a showcase of excellent projects on the joint construction of a community with a shared future in cyberspace, a themed expo conference, and a global internet competition.

Two reports, namely the "World Internet Development Report 2022" and the "China Internet Development Report 2022," will be released during the event.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)
In our opinion, the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is an issue that should be left to the next generations, when the conditions for a solution to the problem acceptable and fair to all are in place, Sergei Kopyrkin, the Russian ambassador in Yerevan, told reporters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin implicitly made a case for such a delay last week. Putin juxtaposed it with what he described as a U.S.-drafted peace plan that would commit Armenia to recognizing Nagorno-Karabakh as an integral part of Azerbaijan.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, who is accused by the Armenian opposition of being ready to agree to Azerbaijani control of Karabakh at the behest of the West, responded by voicing support for the interim settlement proposed by Moscow. Speaking ahead of his meeting with Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held in Sochi on Monday, Pashinian suggested that the three leaders incorporate it into their joint statement.

The statement issued by them late on Monday makes no references to the Russian peace formula or even Karabakh itself. Aliyev reiterated in Sochi that Azerbaijans victory in the 2020 war with Armenia put an end to the Karabakh conflict. He had repeatedly ruled out agreeing to any status for the Armenian-populated territory.

In televised remarks aired at the end of the summit, Putin said that some things had to be taken out of an initial version of the joint statement drafted beforehand. He refused to shed light on them at an ensuing news conference.

These are very sensitive and delicate issues for both [conflicting] sides, explained Putin. Yerevan and Baku should try to reach common ground on them in a serene, closed regime, he said.

Putin indicated that the two sides are still not close to negotiating a bilateral peace treaty. He reaffirmed Russias strong disapproval of U.S. and European Union efforts to broker such an accord which intensified following the September 13-14 fighting on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The Western powers will fail to sideline Moscow, he said.

The U.S. State Department on Friday accused Putin of spreading disinformation about its peace efforts. But it did not comment on the essence of an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal favored by Washington.
Pashinian said he briefed Raisi on his trilateral meeting with Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin during their discussion of issues on the regional agenda.

We consider it important that our Iranian partners are informed about what is happening in the context of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, Armenia-Turkey relations and the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he told a joint news briefing with Raisi.

The Caucasus region is a part of Iran's history, civilization and culture, and we are sensitive to the Caucasus region, Raisi said for his part. Security and peace in the Caucasus region is very important for Iran.

In that regard, he reiterated Irans opposition to the presence of outside forces in the region, saying that it can only aggravate regional problems.

It was not clear whether the Iranian leader referred to Western powers that have been trying hard to broker a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Russia has denounced those peace efforts as disingenuous.

Tehran is also worried about Azerbaijani demands for the opening of a land corridor that would connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave through Syunik, the sole Armenian region bordering the Islamic Republic. It has repeatedly warned Baku against attempting to strip Iran of the common border and transport links with Armenia.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian reiterated that red line when he visited Armenia ten days ago. Amir-Abdollahian inaugurated the Iranian consulate in Syuniks capital Kapan during the trip.

Pashinian praised Irans principled position on regional peace and security.

In their statements to the press, Raisi and Pashinian spoke at greater length about their plans to deepen Armenian-Iranian commercial ties.

The Iranian president hailed a 43 percent rise in bilateral trade registered this year and said the two governments want to help increase it to $3 billion per annum in the near future. We will definitely achieve this goal, he said.

According to Armenian government data, Armenias trade with Iran reached $427 million in January-August 2022.

Pashinian spoke of a huge potential for closer Armenian-Iranian cooperation in the energy, agriculture and road construction sectors.

Armenias Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Minister Gnel Sanosian, who accompanied the prime minister on the trip, met in Tehran with Irans Road Construction and Urban Development Minister Rostam Ghasemi and Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian.

A statement by Sanosians ministry cited him as calling for Iranian companies participation in road construction projects in Armenia and Syunik in particular. It said he discussed with Ghasemi the planned construction of a 4-kilometer tunnel under a mountain pass in Syunik leading to the Iranian border.

The tortuous Kajaran pass situated over 2,500 meters above the sea level is frequently closed to traffic in winter months because of snowstorms and ice.
You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @_ishanidesai on Twitter.
To commemorate Pramukh Swami Maharaj's birth centenary, a grand nine-day festival was celebrated in Nairobi, Kenya, from 17 to 25 September 2022. The festival took place on the 10-acre grounds of Jamhuri High School and the adjacent City Primary School also permitted the use of another 10 acres for parking facilities. The grounds were transformed into the festival site called Swaminarayan Nagar.

Around 1,575 volunteers (783 men and 792 women) from Nairobi and various centers across Kenya served in 38 departments performing various duties before, during and after the festival.

On Saturday, 17 September, the Swaminarayan Nagar festival site was inaugurated with a mahapuja ceremony in the presence of revered swamis, senior devotees, and Shri Rohit Wadhwana, Deputy High Commissioner of India to Kenya.

More than 80,000 people from all over Kenya attended and were inspired by this festival, which was open to all from 10.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. every day. Of these, 10,371 students from 67 schools in Kenya visited the festival and gained inspiration on how to progress in studies and life.

An Overview of the Swaminarayan Nagar: An Oasis of Inspiration

A magnificent gate, Mayur Dwar, artistically carved from styrofoam welcomed everyone to the Swaminarayan Nagar. Murtis of twelve great sages and devotees of India, conveying the message of unity in diversity, greeted everyone at the entrance of the festival site. The heartbeat of Swaminarayan Nagar, the grand murti of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, was enshrined at the center of the festival grounds.

Three inspiring video exhibitions were also shown at regular intervals during the day throughout the nine days of the festival. The Transcend video show was based on living an addiction-free life. The Family Unity video show inspired a harmonious family life and the video themed Bliss imparted life lessons on how to attain ultimate happiness.

In the joy of others lies our own was Pramukh Swami Maharajs life motto and he had continuously worked for the betterment of society. Highlighting this, a special exhibition showcased the social services undertaken by BAPS Charities in Kenya. Inspired by the exhibition, visitors resolved to plant 1,000 trees and donated 565 pints of blood in the blood donation camp.

Another elegant exhibition depicting the life and work of Pramukh Swami Maharaj inspired both young and old visitors.

Daily, after a festive band procession, the evening maha-arti was performed at 7.00 p.m. in front of the grand murti of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Lighted lamps were distributed to visitors for the arti. This divine moment felt like stars had descended from the sky to illuminate the festival grounds. After the arti, devotees placed the lamps in the river surrounding the Smruti Mandir of Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

Every evening, entertaining and enlightening stage programs were organized in which kirtan-bhakti, traditional dances, thematic dramas and other cultural programs were presented by social and religious organizations from Kenya. The glory of Pramukh Swami Maharaj was sung through creative presentations by devotees and well-wishers.

Special kutirs exemplifying Indias devotional rituals and culture were set up, such as Nilkanth abhishek kutir, bhajan kutir, yoga kutir, womens satsang activity kutir and vyasan mukti kutir, in which 109 visitors pledged to quit their addictions.

Shantilals Wonderland was a special area for children to have fun based and gain practical life skills based on the stories of role models like Shravan, Dhruv and Nachiketa. They learnt about the great heroes of India who brought life to virtues such as courage, patriotism, integrity, duty and others. Values such as respecting elders, sustaining the environment, offering daily prayers, remaining addiction-free and others were also conveyed to the children through participative activities and vivid poster presentations to help them become more responsible and caring citizens.

On 19 September, Guruhari Mahant Swami Maharajs 89th birthday was celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm. On 25 September, a procession to honor and welcome Mahamahopadhyay Pujya Bhadreshdas Swami and the Swaminarayan Bhashya was carried out. Devotees also took the opportunity to perform tulsi tula of the commentaries on the Prasthanatrayi. Pujya Gnaneshwardas Swami, Kothari of Sarangpur Mandir, was also present and blessed the assembly.

The grand finale program of the nine-day centenary celebrations of Pramukh Swami Maharaj featured a dance by kishores from Nairobi and a fireworks with light show.

As part of these centenary celebrations, a wonderful souvenir book depicting the life and work of Pramukh Swami Maharaj was also published.

This festival was widely covered by various media houses across Kenya, such as Nation, The Standard, KBC, KTN, K24, The Asian Weekly and People Daily. Many dignitaries and well-wishers also visited and found inspiration from the festival. Thus, the centenary celebrations of Pramukh Swami Maharaj had great resonance throughout Kenya.

Guest Experiences

Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, Second Lady of Kenya: Here to attend the inspirational experience that gives me the joy to see a humble president giving time, himself, and love to make children, families, women, villages, and cities happy.

Rev. Father Joseph Muite, Chairman of Inter-religious Council of Kenya: Pramukh Swami Maharaj was a contemporary figure and pillar for us as religious leaders and servants of God in our respective faiths.

Mr. Nelson Havi, President of the Law Society of Kenya: I am inspired and encouraged by how the dedication of one individual has achieved such great impact in the entire world. It is a motivation to many on how selflessness and unity is vital to bringing joy and happiness in the world.
A group of Rohingya who ran aground are seen at the Bogale Police Station in Myanmar in this undated photo.

A boat carrying at least 80 Rohingya sank when it ran aground near Pyapon township in Myanmars southern Ayeyarwady region.

About 20 are still missing and feared dead after Mondays accident, local residents told Radio Free Asia.

Only 60 people could be rescued, the remaining 20 just floated away, a Pyapon resident told RFA on condition of anonymity over safety concerns.

They told us there were more than 80 of them. They were sent  to Bogale Police Station, said the man, adding that it was not clear whether the Rohingya came from Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Rakhine state or from Bangladesh.

The man said the Rohingya planned to go to Malaysia.

Among those rescued were 45 children who were being held at Bogale Police Station along with 15 adults, the local said. It is not clear whether the group will be prosecuted.

Junta spokesman Maung Maung Than, minister of Social Affairs for the Ayeyarwady region, did not respond to RFA requests for comment.

In September, 58 Rohingya were sentenced in Bogale township court to two years in prison each following their arrest a month earlier near an island in a river off Pyapon township. Pyapon lies on a tributary of the Ayeyarwady River about 15 km (9.3 miles) from the Andaman Sea.

RFA data compiled between December 2021 and September 2022 found that nearly 800 Rohingya who tried to leave Myanmars Rakhine state by land and water were arrested in different parts of country.

A military crackdown on the Rohingya, which started five years ago, led to more than 740,000 the ethnic minority Muslims fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh. Of the more than 600,000 Rohingya who stayed in Myanmar, an estimated 125,000 have been confined to IDP camps in Rakhine state.

This story was produced by Radio Free Asia, a news service affiliated with BenarNews.
Papua activist Filep Karma speaks after being released from prison in Jayapura, Indonesia, Nov. 19, 2015.

Filep Karma, a prominent Papuan pro-independence activist and longtime former political prisoner of Indonesia, was found dead on a Jayapura beach Tuesday after apparently drowning during a diving trip, police said. He was 63.

Police and Fileps family said they had no reason to believe that his death resulted from foul play. Filep had been released from an Indonesian prison in 2015 after serving nearly 11 years for raising the Morning Star flag of the Papuan separatist movement.

I followed the post-mortem process and it was determined that my father died from drowning while diving, Fileps daughter, Andrefina Karma, told reporters.

The activists body was found early Tuesday at Base-G Beach in North Jayapura district.

Filep had made frequent diving trips to the area recently, his family and friends said. Last year he was found alive on Skouw Beach near the border with Papua New Guinea after a current swept him away during a dive.

Victor Makbon, the Jayapura city police chief, said Fileps body showed no signs of violence, but he would not comment on a potential cause of death.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Filep Karma. Please dont speculate, Victor told BenarNews.

Papua, on the western side of New Guinea island, has been the scene of a low-level separatist insurgency since the mainly Melanesian region was incorporated into Indonesia in a United Nations-administered ballot in the late 1960s.

In 1963, Indonesian forces invaded Papua  like Indonesia, a former Dutch colony  and annexed the region.

Only about 1,000 people voted in the U.N.-sponsored referendum in 1969, called a sham by locals and activists. The U.N. accepted the vote, essentially endorsing Jakartas rule.

Mourners line streets

On Tuesday, thousands of people filled the streets of Kotaraja in Jayapura to mourn for Filep as his body was transported back from the Bhayangkara Police Hospital.

We have come to pay homage to the deceased and escort him to his home, Jayapura resident Domi Lani said.

Markus Haluk, executive director of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, said Fileps death was a big loss for the Papuan people.

Filep Karma was one of those who persevered in the fight for the liberation of Papua. His life was dedicated to the nation and people of Papua, Haluk said. He was even willing to live in prison for his fight for Papuan independence.

Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International in Indonesia, called for an investigation into the death because many activists who have spoken out about Papua have become targets of violence.

This is especially considering the deceaseds work in defending the human rights of indigenous Papuans, he told BenarNews.

Taking a different view, Beka Ulung Hapsara, a member of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), said Fileps family said he had died from drowning and their statement should be respected.

Nonviolence advocate

Filep, a former civil servant and son of former Wamena Regent Andreas Karma, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after participating in the raising of the Morning Star flag on Dec. 1, 2004.

He was released in November 2015 after rejecting an offer of clemency from President Joko Jokowi Widodo.

If I accepted it, it would mean that I admit guilt. I had expected to be released in 2019 because I refused all sentence cuts, Filep told reporters at the time while attributing his release to international pressure on the government over treatment of political prisoners.

They forced me out of prison because I didnt want to accept clemency, he said.

Filep was tortured and subjected to other degrading treatment while in prison, including being denied access to proper medical care, according to Amnesty International.

Before the flag incident, Filep led what started as a peaceful rally in Biak in 1998 to demand a referendum on self-determination, but it ended in violence when police used force to disband the protesters.

At least eight Papuans were killed, dozens were injured and three went missing, according to a 1999 investigation by Papuan human rights group Elsham.

I heard stories that people were asked to board an Indonesian Navy ship. It was not clear where they were taken. Later there was news that mutilated bodies were thrown into the sea, Filep told local media in 2020.
Updated at 1:22 a.m. ET on 2022-11-01

Plans to station nuclear capable B-52 bombers in the far north of Australia show that the U.S. military is seeking more deterrence options against China as its military strength increases, defense experts said.

In August, the U.S. Department of Defense sought preliminary information from contractors about building a parking apron to accommodate six B-52 bombers at the Australian air forces Tindal base southeast of Darwin, according to the U.S. governments contracting site. Australian broadcaster ABC reported on Monday that it had seen detailed plans for the air base expansion.

For more than a decade, Australia and the United States have extended their defense alliance with what they call force posture initiatives that have involved deployments of U.S. marines in Darwin as well as joint air force exercises and military infrastructure investment in Australia.

This deployment has been a long time coming, said Brian Harding, a former Pentagon official who helped negotiate the initial Australia-U.S. force posture arrangements under President Barack Obama.

The development of new infrastructure in northern Australia to support U.S. Air Force operations has long been seen as potentially far more strategically important than the rotations of U.S. Marines, but has flown below the radar, he told BenarNews.

Chinas Foreign Ministry criticized the U.S.-Australian plans and said the two countries have an outdated Cold War zero-sum mentality.

Such a move by the U.S. and Australia escalates regional tensions, gravely undermines regional peace and stability, and may trigger an arms race in the region, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a ministry press conference.

Chinas military buildup, its expansive claims tothe South China Sea, a busy global shipping route, and its forays into Taiwans airspace have contributed to heightened tensions in East Asia for several years.

Chinas annual military spending will reach U.S. $230 billion this year compared with $60 billion in 2008, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which cites official Chinese government figures. U.S. military spending was nearly $770 billion in 2021, according to CSIS.

On Tuesday, the Pentagon said that infrastructure works at the Tindal air base would support the rotational presence of a range of U.S. military aircraft in Australia following commitments for enhanced cooperation made at ministerial talks in 2021.

U.S. military aircraft, including B-52s and other bombers, have visited Australia for years to participate in joint exercises, which would continue, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense said in an email. Australia hosted four U.S. stealth bombers at its Amberley air force base in July.

The B-52 strategic bombers can carry both conventional and nuclear weapons. Since 1970, Australia has been a signatory to the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which commits it not to acquire nuclear weapons and to support efforts at disarmament.

Paul Dibb, a former director of Australias Defence Intelligence Organization, said in a television interview that Australias prohibition of nuclear weapons would be unlikely to change unless there was a conflict or imminent threat of one.

What this [B-52] presence does  is to show to China it cant just keep pushing south and south through the straits and waterways of the South China Sea, he said.

It would also be reassuring for U.S. allies South Korea and Japan, Dibb said.

Meanwhile, Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said Taiwan, which China regards as a breakaway province, had not asked for a B-52 deployment in Australia.

Weve been making efforts to defend ourselves. To improve our capabilities is our permanent goal. Of course we pay close attention to other countries activities and developments but we dont take part in them, he said.

Ashley Townshend, a security expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Chinas military buildup had contributed to regional instability and eroded American primacy in the Pacific by threatening U.S. ports and airstrips in places such as Guam.

Chinas missile threat is so severe that [the] U.S. needs more, safer places to operate. Australia is one such place. Dispersal here is part of efforts to bolster deterrence by making bombers more survivable, effective, he said on Twitter.

Australia sees a robust U.S. military presence as crucial to its own security and a boost to U.S.-Australian navy cooperation is likely to be next, Townshend said.

This report has been updated to add comments from Taiwan Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng. Staff at Radio Free Asia, a news service affiliated with BenarNews, contributed to this report.
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Two years after states around the country passed an unprecedented number of police reforms after the killing of George Floyd, some are struggling to make the new policies stick
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Amanda Burke is Cops and Courts Reporter for The Berkshire Eagle. An Ithaca, New York native, she previously worked at The Herald News of Fall River and the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise.
PITTSFIELD  Homelessness, housing and panhandling in the city have been thrust into the spotlight by a recent special forum that came after a city councilor raised questions on code enforcement in relation to homeless camps in the city.

Brian Andrews, a city resident, recently wrote a very insightful and compassionate op-ed that effectively illustrates why code enforcement and the use of law enforcement to move homeless camps are not effective long-term solutions. After all, doing so merely pushes homeless people to other properties and does nothing to change their circumstances of being homeless.

Indeed, many of the complaints brought up during this communitywide conversation have been centered around the nuisance homeless people cause, and while the conversation as a whole has brushed on some of the key causes of homelessness, it has mostly highlighted the perspectives of those that feel inconvenienced by homeless people. The fact that so much time during Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyers forum on homelessness centered around panhandling exemplifies that, which Brad Gordon, the executive director of the Berkshire Regional Housing Authority, noted came from a fundamental misunderstanding of people experiencing homelessness.

Mayor Linda Tyer says officials hear residents' complaints about pandhandling in Pittsfield. But there's little they can do Calls have been growing for some kind of response to people begging near busy intersections and grocery stores in Pittsfield. But Mayor Linda Tyer says there's little the city can do, unless the behavior becomes aggressive.

The fact that were integrating this issue into our conversation on homelessness is interesting to me, because what it tells me is that we, as a public or as a community, sometimes conflate those two issues, he said. I see it as at best tangentially related.

The framing of homeless people as a community nuisance is problematic and ineffective not only because it does not attempt to address any of the underlying causes of homelessness, but it often lacks empathy or respect for homeless people.

Some are more worried about property values than how they could help those human beings that have no choice but live in a tent, Andrews concluded in his column, later adding: Either you care about people, regardless of their circumstances, or you dont.

Its important to note that this issue of framing arose when Pittsfield City Councilor Charles Kronick brought attention to the issue more than a month ago, and it can be reframed. Kronick initially pushed for a public forum on the subject, but introduced it in terms of your turn to show the council how the camps hurt your homes and businesses and code enforcement, not one of humanitarian aid.

This angle has clearly caught on, as is evident by the aforementioned time focused on panhandling in the mayors forum and rhetoric found in letters to the editor, social media and overall public discourse on the subject.

In order for this communitywide conversation to create notable change, though, it needs to be refocused on the root causes of homelessness and the needs of the countys homeless population. It also needs to ascertain actionable steps city government can take to better serve not only its homeless residents but its population as a whole by focusing on preventative measures to homelessness. This might include supporting more affordable housing, bolstering local employers and encouraging them to hire locally, investing in community health care and other resources.

It can also benefit from getting more people who either have experienced homelessness or are experiencing homelessness in the county involved by having their stories heard and seeing what common barriers to both housing and employment theyve faced. If the conversation is reframed to focus on their stories and shared experiences, it stands a much better chance of getting a full diagnosis of the issue of homelessness in Berkshire County, which makes obtainable solutions more visible.

Most importantly, this issue requires empathy  a desire to understand it in its entirety and a willingness to help our homeless neighbors.

The golden rule, a pretty good guiding principle for life I was taught in elementary school, comes to mind: Treat others the way you want to be treated. Or, as it pertains to this conversation: Talk about others the way you would like to be talked about.

Imagine if you were homeless and trying your best to get back on your feet: How would you feel if the dominant notion in public discourse was how much of a nuisance you are?

At the very least, we owe our homeless neighbors basic human dignity and respect.
The average household paying more for heat this winter, the White House urges Americans to wear facemasks, Covid causing a surge in alcoholism, a new survey ranks the unhappiest places in the country.

Plus, the true story of the pilgrims and the voyage of the Mayflower.

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Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) continues to pose a significant public health problem in terms of mortality and economic loss. The rising AMR is a matter of huge concern that needs to be tactfully handled and health authorities of several countries, including India, have formulated action plans for its containment. Significant efforts by the government, an active involvement of startups and diagnostic players is a good start. The question remains, whether this will be enough. Let's find out.

According to an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study, a big chunk of patients in India may no longer benefit from carbapenem, a powerful antibiotic administered mainly in ICU settings to treat pneumonia and septicemia, as they have developed antimicrobial resistance to it. This is alarming as Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is on the rise in India and continues to pose a significant public health problem in terms of mortality and economic loss. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that AMR is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity.



Timely and accurate diagnosis through rapid tests can reduce the time to pathogen identification and facilitate faster, optimised antimicrobial treatment. Diagnostic players can play a major role when it comes to counter AMR. While there are diagnostic tests available to rapid detection of AMR in a hospital setting, there is a clear unmet need for a point of care (POC) diagnostic test to guide antibiotic prescriptions, in both urban and rural settings.

Current lab based tests such as Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), microbiology cultures and immunoassays that are used to determine the causative infectious agent are either time consuming, costly, or difficult to access. These may not be sufficient to quickly differentiate between bacterial and viral infections. In addition, strong AMR surveillance along with rapid diagnostics will help in finding the correct treatment fast.



While attending the 26th Maharashtra Chapter conference of the Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists in Pune, Prof. Justin OGrady, Professor of Medical Microbiology at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, spoke about the rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which could cause 10 million deaths per year by 2050 unless authorities take steps to prevent this.



Microbial culture is the gold standard for the diagnosis of bacterial/fungal pathogens and AMR and takes 48 hours or longer. Hence, antibiotic prescriptions are empiric and patients often receive inappropriate treatment. Rapid tools are urgently required to guide appropriate antimicrobial therapy, thereby improving patient outcomes and slowing the development of AMR, feels Prof. OGrady.



Drastic measures should be in place to prevent AMRs and proper diagnosis can make a difference in how treatment can be done. A report by Grand View Research states that the growth of the AMR diagnostics market is attributed to the increased risk of developing drug-resistant bacterial infections, the introduction of novel technologies, and increasing government initiatives to diagnose and reduce AMR infections. To address the global health challenge of AMR, government bodies such as the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) support the development of next-generation sequencing-based diagnostic tests to identify the right pathogen to help healthcare providers to treat infections more accurately. The Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest rate for AMR diagnostics.



Government in combat mode



India, one of the many developing countries of the world, is intending to be future ready through the National Patient Safety Implementation Programme and National Action Plan  AMR (2018-2025) to combat multi drug resistant organisms (MDRO). The Government of India has increased its focus on combating AMR through various national and state level programmes.



As a step in this direction ICMR has developed a real time online AMR data entry system for its network and will have AMR data analysis capacity. It is a user-friendly web-based informatics solution/suite for collection, storage and analysis of surveillance data. ICMR initiated Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance and Research Network (AMRSN) a few years back that includes six Nodal Centers (NCs) for each pathogenic group and are located in four tertiary care medical institutions. There are 16 Regional Centers (RCs) in the network. 16 regional labs from tertiary care hospitals provide data across the country as RCs which are providing data on fixed number of isolates for each pathogenic group.



The NCs and RCs follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) of Bacteriology and Mycology formulated by ICMR to collect resistance data. The NCs focus on the identified resistant organisms and also exchange organisms amongst each other according to their expertise for in-depth molecular studies of the group of pathogens for which they are responsible.



In developing countries, the major source of antibiotic contamination in surface water is improper disposal of effluents from industries, hospitals and domestic wastewater treatment plants. Industrial emissions of antibiotics can contribute to AMR. Awareness of AMR and monitoring of antibiotics from manufacturing needs to improve to address the issue of discharged antibiotics as significant contributors to AMR. Industry and government competence, policy and access to technical solutions can play a pivotal role in controlling the contribution of antibiotic manufacturing to AMR, says Dr Suman Kapur, Senior Professor, BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus.



Dr Suman Kapur and her team have developed a platform called RightBiotic for rapid bacterial culture and antibiotic sensitivity test results in just four hours as opposed to two to four days and is suitable for both biological and environmental samples.



In addition to BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), an initiative supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, has a key focus area on AMR. Bangalore-based C-CAMP has funded, incubated and mentored many innovative startups in this domain. C-CAMP is also part of the CARB-X Global Accelerator Network. CARB-X is one of the largest not-for-profit partnerships, dedicated to accelerating the early development of antibacterial products. C-CAMP, in association with CARB-X, conducts an AMR Quest annually, to identify and support promising innovations that can combat AMR. The three month AMR Accelerator Programme that follows the AMR Quest, supports innovators, startups and SMEs to validate and fast-track their solutions to the market.



C-CAMPs AMR portfolio in diagnostics includes Achira Labs that has developed Bug Check, a rapid molecular diagnostics platform for identification of microbial species and antimicrobial resistance genes in urinary tract infections (UTI); Module Innovations, which is developing Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) assays for UTI that has a rapid turnaround time of less than two hours, and WeInnovate Biosolutions RAPID, is a device for fast and affordable solution for AST of various pathogens.



The C-CAMP expects to see many exciting innovations reaching the market to create wider impact at scale. This can be further boosted by a collective effort among stakeholders, including product developers, policy makers, regulatory bodies, and health organisations. Concerted efforts can bring in the required policies for quality systems, supply-chain, incentivising the healthcare system, etc., for the deployment of these new-age diagnostics.



The AST determines the most effective antibiotic treatment for bacterial infection. Antimicrobial stewardship is advocated for the rational use of antibiotics to preserve their efficacy in the long term. Rapid diagnostic tests can play a pivotal role in efficient and timely treatment. Many startups have been working in this area and have developed devices / tests related to AMR.



Gizmos from startups



Papyrus Diagnostics has developed Papyrus UTI AST, a paper-based device that can determine AMR in urinary tract infections. The device is designed to be used at the doctor's clinic and has the capability to test the response of the infection-causing organism to at least six antibiotics. The device is designed to give a colorimetric signal to report whether the organism is sensitive or resistant to each antibiotic. This device will enable the clinician to prescribe antibiotics that are already proven to work on the infection-causing organism, and prevent empirical prescription of antibiotics.



Given the historic indiscriminate use of antibiotics in India, the burden of AMR in India is very high. Therefore, funding agencies as well as diagnostic companies are currently very keen on developing solutions for the diagnosis of antimicrobial resistance. CARB-X, an international AMR innovations accelerator, is now working closely with Bengaluru-based C-CAMP to scout for innovations in AMR diagnostics. The AMR diagnostics market in India is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, says Dr Bhushan J Toley, Co-Founder, Papyrus Diagnostics.



Other players in this field include Bengaluru-based Spotsense headed by Amrita Sukrity, is fast developing a test for diagnosing sepsis in newborns followed by Pune-based startup Module Innovations, that is building innovative solutions for infectious diseases and AMR. It is revolutionising the UTI management and treatment clinical pathway with solutions that work at all levels of healthcare settings. Bengaluru-based Achira has developed and commercialised innovative technologies for POC medical testing.



It may be noted that the Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR) is working on developing a POC test that can differentiate between viral and bacterial infections based on a combination of host and pathogen biomarkers that are found in the patients blood. The biomarkers are validated in the preclinical setting and have completed an initial proof of concept clinical study in patients with fever of unknown origin. FNDR is also working on a device that eliminates antibiotics from wastewater, thereby helping reduce AMR in the environment (can share more information if needed). Both of these projects have been funded by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).



Shridhar Narayanan, CEO, FNDR, says, An affordable rapid POC that can determine whether the infection is bacterial or viral, and the drug resistance profile of the infection, will be essential. The goal is that the right drugs be administered in a timely manner. The currently available technologies will continue to evolve to become quicker and accurate, and will be guided by technologies like artificial intelligence/machine learning.



Market potential



Looking at the growth of the POC market in India, a leading pharma player such as Cipla is showing keen interest in this area and started making investments in. Cipla has acquired 21.05 per cent stake (on a fully diluted basis) for Rs 25 crore in Achira Labs. The pharma major said that this investment will facilitate a Cipla entitys strategic participation in the POC diagnostics and AMR space through the design, development, and manufacturing of microfluidics-based technologies.

Achin Gupta, CEO, One India Business, Cipla said, This investment will further our commitment of bringing innovative, affordable and quality diagnostic solutions for all. We are guided by our purpose of caring for life and will continue to make strategic investments to ensure access to POC test kit solutions.



Besides making investments in startups focussing on POC, creating awareness and providing education to the healthcare professionals has become an integral part of the healthcare system. In this regard Pfizer India and Americares India Foundation announced the launch of OPEN-AMR, an Online Platform for Education among Nurses on Antimicrobial Resistance. Americares India Foundation, a health-focused relief and development organisation, has joined as the execution partner.



Speaking about the market potential Manish Dattatraya Karekar, Chief Operating Officer - Lab Operations, Krsnaa Diagnostics says, With rising incidences of AMR, treatment based on evidence-based medicine, greater acceptance of health insurance, availability of sensitive value for money diagnostics, shall all result in increase in adoption and starting of antimicrobial (resistance) tests in tier III and smaller cities.



Sharing his views on AMR tests, Dr Vishal Wadhwa, Head Scientific Affairs, Metropolis Healthcare, says Health will come at a cost and when a doctor prescribes a diagnostic test patients should undertake it. Information coming out of laboratory tests is needed to supplement and complement the clinical inputs for treatment. Labs entrusted with testing samples for infectious agents and reporting AMR should follow international standards of testing.



Diagnostic tests can help doctors wield antimicrobial treatments more effectively. It can play a key role in community and primary care settings to lower unnecessary antibiotic prescribing, particularly in respiratory tract infections, and protect the healthcare system in the decades to come. Policy and frontline challenges need to be looked into and then only AMR can be eradicated by using proper diagnostic measures. Public private partnership in this regard is going to make a positive impact in combating AMR in the long run.



Sanjiv Das



sanjiv.das@mmactiv.com
Expands specialty diagnostics segment with industry leader in oncology testing for detection and monitoring of multiple myeloma

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire The Binding Site Group, a global leader in specialty diagnostics, from a shareholder group led by European private equity firm Nordic Capital, in an all-cash transaction valued at 2.25 billion, or $2.6 billion at current exchange rates.

Serving clinicians and laboratory professionals worldwide, The Binding Site provides specialty diagnostic assays and instruments to improve the diagnosis and management of blood cancers and immune system disorders. The Binding Sites Freelite offering is widely recommended for multiple myeloma diagnosis and monitoring across all stages of the disease by major clinical guideline publications.

Headquartered in Birmingham, United Kingdom, The Binding Site has more than 1,100 employees globally and is an active and influential contributor to the broader scientific community. As an established leader in a fast-growing segment in which patient care has shifted towards early diagnosis and monitoring via regular testing, The Binding Site has an attractive financial profile. Its business has been growing approximately 10% annually and is on track to deliver more than $220 million of revenue in 2022. The strong clinical value of The Binding Site offering enables doctors across the globe to support millions of patients every year.
Medtronic expects the separation to be completed in the next 12 to 18 months

Ireland headquartered medical technology firm Medtronic plc has announced its intention to pursue a separation of the company's combined Patient Monitoring and Respiratory Interventions businesses (NewCo), which are part of the company's Medical Surgical Portfolio.

The separation will enable greater investment focus in the areas of highest strategic priority across the company, and will facilitate the execution of its leadership strategy in attractive medtech markets that leverage the company's strengths.

NewCo is expected to be a premier partner for connected care solutions with best-in-class brands and leading positions in patient monitoring and critical care:

The Patient Monitoring technology portfolio includes Nellcor pulse oximetry, Microstream capnography, BIS brain monitoring, INVOS perfusion monitoring, and HealthCast connected care solutions.

The Respiratory Interventions technology portfolio includes Puritan Bennett ventilators, Shiley airway portfolio, McGrath MAC video laryngoscopy, DAR breathing systems, as well as PAV+, NIV+ and IE Sync ventilation software solutions designed to improve workflow and care delivery.

Patient Monitoring and Respiratory Interventions reside in the Respiratory, Gastrointestinal & Renal division within the Medtronic Medical Surgical Portfolio. In fiscal year 2022, the combined business generated global revenue of approximately $2.2 billion. The combined business has a constant currency revenue growth profile and gross margin profile slightly below overall Medtronic and an operating margin profile slightly higher than overall Medtronic. The combined business has a global commercial footprint and a team of more than 8,000 employees worldwide.
We are in the Genomics era, cherished by Nobel Prize winners like Dr Jennifer A. Doudna and Dr Emmanuelle Charpentier in 2020 for Genome editing CRISPR technology and Dr Svante Paabo in 2022 for paleogenomics. The 13 years of Human Genome Sequencing project gave hope to modern medicine in understanding disease as well as disease management. Many innovative advanced technologies in screening, diagnostics and treatment options were adopted in this last decade.

Scope of Clinical Genomics: Clinical genomics is a combination of understanding the medical conditions through both biological and computational skills sets to improve the patient's life. Clinical genomics has several segments like Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), Whole Exome Sequencing (WES), Genotyping, Immune-Profiling, Epigenomics Profiling, Metagenomics and so on. Clinical genomics focuses on all segments of important clinical conditions like cancer, rare genetic disorders, neonatal and prenatal screening, lifestyle disease, infectious disease and in vitro fertility, etc.

Therefore, the immense growth in the scope of study. Understanding technology, following the protocols and guidelines, applying strategies over clinical cases in order to prevent the disease by knowing the risk factors in pharmacogenomics prospects, improve patients survival rates of cancer patients with target therapy or advanced therapy options recommendation, suggesting better lifestyle to enhance the wellness of future generations are important milestones goals of clinical genomics.

Demand for Clinical Genomics:

There is huge demand for people who specialise in different skills relevant to clinical genomics directly or indirectly would get the opportunity to work in either segment as mentioned below.

 Technology Enablers [TE]: Companies providing sequencers and third party machines, reagent providers, bioinformatics companies developing and enabling analysis software, IT companies enabling computational needs and policy makers in government bodies.

 End Users [EU]: Hospitals, medical laboratories, government funded CSIR/DBT/DST/ICMR/DRDO/ research labs, government bodies/organisations, healthcare organisation, industries (pharma, CROs, genomics service providers).







Career Opportunities Possibilities:

Based on the above-mentioned segments [TE/EU] the job roles and the skillsets needed mostly vary. In technology enablers context the possible roles and relevant skills sets needed are as follows.

Click here to read the full article...

Rajavarman Kittu, Clinical Bioinformatics Specialist, Bioinformatics Department, Premas Life Sciences
The South African consumer is concerned with being misled financially, particularly in automotive advertisements.

Gail Schimmel. Source: Supplied.

This is the sentiment of the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) which has had an increase in complaints about the cost of products.

Bizcommunity sat down with the ARBs CEO Gail Schimmel ahead of its fourth birthday to get an insight into what is currently causing consumers to complain to the regulator.

Feeling the pinch

Misleading advertisements are the biggest area of complaints. I often get questions on whether we get a lot of complaints about racism or violence, but the reality is South African consumers are worried about money. And when advertising misleads them about the value of what they are getting, that is where we then get complaints. This big trend of misleading car advertisements has led us to release an advisory for the motor industry on how they should be doing their advertising, she said.

Some of the recent complaints were to brands such as Suzuki, Volkswagen, and Nissan. Consumers said they felt misled about how much it would cost to finance a car.

Other financial complaints include costs of data with MTN recently making the news after a consumer complained about their one-day data bundle expiration date.

Small percentage of investigations

Only 20% of complaints sent to the ARB are investigated because consumers do not provide them with adequate information to take their case forward.

There are a few reasons why we only go forward with 20% of complaints. Firstly the consumer does not give us all the information required and when we reach out to them, they refuse to cooperate. Secondly its jurisdiction, sometimes the complaint is not about advertising and thirdly there are people who complain without any merit, she said.

Memorable cases

Schimmel said since the ARB was founded four years ago, the most memorable and controversial case they ruled on was the Chicken Licken Big John ad which satirised colonisation.

In the very early days, we made a decision about Chicken Licken which caused a huge uproar in the industry and on social media. Everyone was very angry with us about the Big John advert. We (the board) all agreed the advertisement was discriminatory but there was a huge backlash.

She said there are also rulings where she feels they made a difference and made the world safer for consumers.

Importance of the ARB

The ARB was born out of the ashes of the Advertising Standards Authority which went defunct in 2018.

The question was are we going to fight to save the ASA or do we save self-regulation? The industry decided to save self-regulation and the option was to start a new body and that is what the ARB is. The industry appointed the ARB as the new administrator of the code of advertising practice and the new arbitrator of the complaints of advertising content, she said.

Schimmel said self-regulation is the gold standard in advertising globally and this makes international advertisers more confident in advertising in the country.

It gives multinational corporations confidence to advertise in South Africa when they know we have similar standards to international regulations, she said.

Schimmel said consumers will also be more likely to trust advertising if they know there is a regulatory board.

We need the advertising space to be a trusted space, and the only way it can be a trusted space is if the consumer knows that if there is something they do not like, there is somewhere they can go and it can be investigated and they can get a fair decision, said Schimmel.

Not all advertisers are bound to the ARB as is seen in many of their responses to the regulator. Often the ARB then makes a decision in the hope that the advertiser will still take their findings into consideration and as a guide for their own members.

Non-membership is an issue, but we had a court case with Bliss Brands at the Supreme Court of Appeal where the court found we are allowed to make a decision on a non-member for the guidance of our members, she said.

Their decision will often be taken seriously by broadcasters and newspapers that will not run the advert.

Our powers are finite and we will not always be able to enforce the decision, said Schimmel.

Looking forward

Although the ARB is a reactive body they are looking toward international trends to foresee any trends that may come up in South Africa.

Internationally they are dealing with environmental and sustainability claims such as something is recyclable [when its not]. Internationally they find that 25% of their complaints [about misleading advertising] are about environmental sustainability. We are rewriting our code to prepare ourselves for something like that, but South African consumers are very different to international consumers, she said.

They are also working on a cryptocurrency code to allow them to regulate the industry.
Maximising media effectiveness is vital for marketers and media agencies, which need to prove that budgets are optimised through the most fruitful advertising on the right platforms.

Source:  Fauxels pexels Independent Agency Search & Selection Company and Eley Consulting have formed a partnership offering media assurance auditing

While both parties are pivotal in this process, the question of who is checking the measurable return on investment (ROI) is not always easily answered.

To ensure in-depth, independent media analysis, Johanna McDowell, CEO of the Independent Agency Search & Selection Company (IAS) and Scopen partner, has announced a partnership between the IAS and global media and marketing consultancy, Eley Consulting.

In offering media assurance auditing, we review every area of a media process across all platforms to help marketers and media agencies see whether each area is aligned with best practice, while also ensuring good governance and compliance, says McDowell.

Eley consultant Richard Edwards highlights the importance of impartiality in the auditing process: We are not agents and our fees are fixed and entirely transparent. Not only does this enable us to give clients the assurance that their money is being well spent, it also means we can suggest a more profitable direction for the agency to take if their return on investment is lagging.

Multi-platform audits and analysis

McDowell notes that by conducting a series of interviews and collecting media data and supporting documents from a client over a two to four week period, the IAS and Eley are able to undertake regular analysis over a number of campaigns.

While the traditional platforms like TV and print are still a mainstay, digital is growing and changing rapidly, and often presents complications with the benchmarking of costs, she says.

Through regular auditing, were able to give media agencies and marketers the figures and direction that are the vital ingredients in delivering media effectiveness.

Edwards adds that improvement is always a good thing, especially where it results in time and cost savings. Our audits may not necessarily mean cheaper media in cash terms, but will certainly ensure an agency is delivering as rich a schedule as possible.

Both Edwards and McDowell believe the partnerships independence is key to its ability to empower clients to better understand the spectrum of advertising opportunities and take control of it, in conjunction with their media agencies.

We see media assurance auditing as an enormous benefit to marketers, agencies and media houses, enabling the transparency in cost and compliance industry-wide that is vital to the trust that long-term relationships between all parties require, McDowell concludes
Join FusionDesign in proudly celebrating our 20-year journey as a marketing solution provider to Southern Africa's travel and tourism industry. Over the years, our Cape Town based team has collaborated with local A-list brands such as West Coast Way, City Sightseeing, Cape Town International Convention Centre, Groot Constantia, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, and Cape Town Big 6.

Photo: Tobias Reich on Unsplash

Our story

The year was 2002, the backdrop was our beautiful Mother City. The event? FusionDesign lands its first travel industry client, Heritage Africa. Michael Giles and Bernadette Moffat, who left the United States to pursue their passion for conservation in Africa, tasked FusionDesign with crafting striking visual designs for their beloved brand. From this pioneer client in non-hunting safaris, our team strode onwards, honing our skills along the way. Today we offer 360 marketing solutions to the travel and tourism industry of Southern Africa.

As a South African integrated communications agency with a bold vision, we believe that authentic storytelling has the power to sway consumers and business leaders alike. Our team of experts strives to amplify our clients voices by providing creative, skilled, and dynamic communications solutions.



- Carmen Lerm, founder of FusionDesign

Welcoming our new talent

Bilqees Bailey recently joined the FusionDesign team as a travel writer and content creator. After obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History and Discourse of Art and Media and Writing from the University of Cape Town in 2021, she is ready to make her mark by writing engaging content for our clientele.

I am a proud Capetonian who enjoys exploring and highlighting the Western Capes hidden gems and unique experiences. Wherever I go, my camera goes too! I collect pictures that tell authentic stories, especially of life in small town South Africa.



- Bilqees Bailey

FusionDesign

From world-class attractions, to travel companies and tourism organisations  our clientele has benefited from the buzzing traction that FusionDesign brings through innovative concepts that deliver on client goals through public relations, social media presence and successful product launches.

For more information or to contact us, visit www.fusiondesign.co.za or connect with Carmen Lerm at az.oc.ngisednoisuf@nemraC.

Follow @fusiondesignsa on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.




Ford South Africa says it has helped two learners who represented South Africa at the 2022 International WorldSkills Competition in the Mechatronics Technology category. The South African team competed in regional and national rounds before heading off to Stuttgart, Germany for the final round which finished on 8 October 2022.

Image supplied

WorldSkills competition

The WorldSkills competition aims to encourage young people to pursue artisanal vocations as a career choice to help ease the skills shortage in South Africa.

One of its primary objectives is to influence the development and employability of South African youth and act as an effective means of increasing awareness of apprenticeships.

To date, WorldSkills has helped develop careers in multiple areas including mechatronics, mobile robotics, water technology, automotive technology, auto body repairs, spray painting, computer numerical control turning, graphic design, and plumbing, as well as careers in a number of beauty, cooking and service related industries.

South Africa has been a member of WorldSkills International (WSI) since 1990 and is one of 85 actively participating countries.

Pontso Mashumu and Ernest Ndou

Ford South Africas involvement in WorldSkills started in 2019 with the sponsorship of automotive equipment, such as engines and gearboxes, required for a national event in Durban.

After seeing the immediate impact that WorldSkills was having on artisanal trade and skills development of the youth, Ford South Africa procured the necessary mechatronics equipment required for upskilling learners in automation technology.

This years team, comprising Pontso Mashumu and Ernest Ndou, was selected from a group of unemployed NQF Level 2 learners from various colleges in Gauteng.

The pair were enrolled on Fords Technical Training Centre, which incubates young learners from previously disadvantaged backgrounds to help them acquire mechatronics technology skills up to NQF Level 4. These qualifications can be used to advance their careers within the automotive sector.

Mashumu and Ndou initially took part in the provincial competition during November 2021, which was hosted at Festo in Kempton Park. With great determination, the team claimed the first position in the provincial competition where they were assessed on all aspects of mechatronics and automation systems.

In June 2022 the team secured another first place in the following national competition, which included designing Modular Production Systems (MPS) needed to build handling and sorting stations. This qualified them for the WorldSkills International event held over 12 weeks across Europe, North America, and East Asia.

Competing against the very best in the world, the team built MPS stations with three distribution links integrated with Robotino pick-and-sorting modules.

Their design was awarded 677 points which meant they narrowly missed out on the Medallion of Excellence - but managed to rank among the top 22 countries alongside teams from Japan, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, and India.
The Department of Basic Education says it is pleased that the first official day of the 2022 National Senior Certificate (NSC) Examinations has gone without major challenges.

Image source: Getty Images

More than 794,000 candidates sat for the 2-hour English Paper 1 in 6,800 centres around the country yesterday.

Despite the rain in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, there were no reported disruptions in all provinces.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga praised the Class of 2022 for their resilience and perseverance.

She said the Class of 2022 was the worst affected in terms of the impact of Covid-19. She appealed to South Africans to continue to support the NSC candidates throughout the exam period which ends in the first week of December.

Today, more than 165,360 candidates will write Economics P1, also a 2-hour paper.
If you need to reach South African investment and finance decision-makers, Daily Investor is the ideal platform.

If you need to reach South African investment and finance decision-makers, Daily Investor is the ideal platform.

Daily Investor is South Africas premier investment news and analysis platform.

It is read by 358,000 South African fund managers, analysts, investors, and financial professionals each month.

This is complemented by 19,800 of these readers having created a personal account on the site, and 22,500 professionals signing up for the Daily Investor newsletter.

Best investment content

Launched on 1 August by Broad Media, Daily Investor has quickly cemented its position as South Africas premier investment news and analysis platform.

It provides the countrys investment and finance community with the latest news, investing insights, and financial data.

Insightful perspectives on JSE-listed companies, coverage of international stocks, insights into macroeconomic events, and regular stock pick features augment Daily Investors stellar offering.

Partner with Daily Investor

Daily Investor has a dedicated marketing team that helps businesses partner with it and reach South Africas investment and finance decision-makers.

It offers a range of marketing solutions which ensure your message reaches your target market, while providing a trusted and brand-safe environment.

To find out more about partnering with Daily Investor, contact Broad Media CCO Kevin Lancaster.




Elon Musk has finally completed his $44bn deal to acquire Twitter and take it private.

The worlds richest man has already begun putting his imprint on the social network by firing four of its top executives.

While most people are likely familiar with the idea of taking a private company public  the process that allows individuals to buy and sell a companys shares in the stock market  the reverse process is not as well understood and happens far less often.

As a business and law professor, I have been analysing mergers, privatisations and other corporate deals for over two decades. The most common question I have been getting from students and faculty colleagues is why would Musk want to take Twitter private? Or more simply, what does it mean to go private?

The answers to these question help address a more interesting one: Will he succeed?

Public vs. private

Lets start with the basic differences between a public and private company.

For starters, a public company is widely held, meaning it has a lot of shareholders. Anyone can buy shares of most public companies, their shares trade on stock exchanges, and their market price is widely available on websites and apps.

Federal securities law requires public companies to disclose a lot of information about their operations and financial condition in reports that are posted on the Security and Exchange Commission website. Basically, anything that happens to a public company thats of consequence to investors must be disclosed publicly.

A private company, on the other hand, is closely held. It has few shareholders  sometimes just one. It usually is impossible to buy shares of a private company. When it is possible, it is difficult because shares dont trade on exchanges. You have to find someone who is willing and able under restrictive securities laws to sell you their shares.

In addition, a private company is not required to file disclosures or anything else with the SEC.

Another key difference is the power the chief executive has. While public company CEOs have a lot of power, that power is constrained by things like a board of directors and rules on compensation.

Private companies have no meddlesome boards or rules governing compensation or other issues. And with few or no pesky outside shareholders, leaders of private companies dont have to worry about the effect their decisions might have on the share price.

Going private

Many, if not most, companies begin their lives as a private company  perhaps in a family garage, as seems to be the case in so many startup origin stories.

As a young company grows, it needs more funding, a problem often solved by doing an initial public offering that pulls in a lot of cash and opens up ownership to anyone.

Taking a company private, as Musk did, reverses the IPO. The Tesla billionaire paid Twitter shareholders $54.20 a share, which is a 64% premium over the price Twitter stock was trading at a few weeks before Musks offer was disclosed on 14 April 2022.

A success story

So why would Musk or anyone want to take a company private? One key reason is control, which allows a buyer to impose his or her vision and singular strategy.

Now the shares have changed hands, Twitter is Musks to do with as he pleases  from reopening the accounts of former President Donald Trump and Ye, the artist formally known as Kanye West, to slashing the workforce and firing executives.

Thats why Michael Dell decided to take the computer company that bears his name private in 2013.

At the time, the company was struggling as personal computer sales slumped amid the rise of the smartphone. As he explained in a securities filing, Dell believed it was essential to quickly transform the company from primarily a PC maker to one focused on providing large organisations with entire information technology systems and managing them.

He said he couldnt make the transformation as a public company because it would hurt short-term profits, which would likely cause the share price to fall. That in turn could harm consumers perception of Dell and lead to employee turnover.

In other words, Dells plan was perhaps too bold for a public company. But the strategy paid off  for him, his fellow investors and his company.

Dell himself chipped in $750m in cash and over $3bn in the form of his 16% stake in the company, with about $3.4bn coming from other investors and $16bn in debt.

By 2018, when the company went public for the second time, Dells stake was worth $32bn , with similar large payouts for his co-investors. The company thrived as well, with sales and profits soaring after a period of low growth, as Dell predicted. Workforces often fall when a company goes private, but Dells was up about 50% in 2020 compared with 2013.

A classic fail

But it doesnt always end well.

In the early 2000s, Toys R Us was in serious trouble. Although e-commerce was still in its infancy, it was beginning to disrupt brick-and-mortar retailers, increasing competition  especially in the market for childrens toys. A plan to sell its wares online via Amazon fizzled, leaving Toys R Us way behind in e-commerce. Meanwhile, its stores were growing old and shabby, customer service was lousy and Target and Walmart were gaining market share.

In 2005, two buyout firms and a real estate trust won the bidding to take Toys R Us private for $6.6bn , using $5bn in debt. Unlike Dell, who knew his business cold, Bain Capital, KKR & Co. and Vornado Realty Trust didnt have much experience in the toy industry. And they followed a classic private equity strategy of consolidation, closing marginal stores and cutting costs.

Also unlike Dell, Toys R Us never recovered. The significant debt incurred in the buyout saddled the company with large interest payments that left little money to invest in remodelling stores or building a competitive online business. Toys R Us filed for bankruptcy in 2017, 12 years after going private.

As I see it, Dell had a plan that fit his companys environment  a key concept in the study of business strategy. Toys R Us buyers did not.

Does Musk have a vision?

So what does this all mean for Musks potential success at Twitter?

We still dont know a lot about what he plans to do.

In his April letter to Twitter shareholders, he said, I invested in Twitter as I believe in its potential to be the platform for free speech around the globe, and I believe free speech is a societal imperative for a functioning democracy. One could ask whether that is a business model or a statement of sociopolitical philosophy.

In any case, he said Twitter cant thrive nor serve this societal imperative as a public company. Hes also tweeted that he would fight bots on the social network, let Trump and others rejoin and potentially let users pay bills via tweet  part of his Project X super app idea.

More recently, The Washington Post reported that Musk plans to cut Twitters 7,500 employees by about 75%  though on 26 October he told Twitter employees in San Francisco that he wouldnt get rid of that many. He also promised Twitter wouldnt turn into a free-for-all hellscape.

Musk understands the physics of launching rockets and the engineering behind building an electric car, but he doesnt have deep experience running a social media platform or in building super apps. I believe he doesnt have a thoroughly thought-out strategy that fits Twitters difficult environment.

What he does have is a huge amount of debt. Last year, Twitter owed about $51m in interest on its debt. After going private, the estimates are that Twitter will owe at least a billion dollars annually on about $13bn in new debt.

In 2021, the company generated just $630bn in cash from operations. That means Musk wont have much cash to fund a super app or any other big ideas, unless he is able to attract additional investment in the company.

With the company in his hands, Musk can, of course, do what he likes. He can implement any free speech policy that suits his fancy. He can let Trump and Ye tweet. He can ban Tesla short sellers and anyone who questions his foreign policy initiatives. He can fire 75% of his staff in a heartbeat  something a public CEO would have a very hard time doing.

Its too soon to tell if taking Twitter private will be a Dell-like success or a Toys R Us disaster. But given Musk has said he doesnt care about the economics, it may not matter.

This article was updated to reflect deal was completed.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Women continue to face various issues in the workplace. One of those is discrimination by employers on the grounds of pregnancy.

Image source: Matilda Wormwood from Pexels

Unfair discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy is prohibited under South African law. Despite the protections afforded to employees who are pregnant, or who intend to become pregnant, and the many inroads South African labour legislation has made on gender equality, provisions and practical application may be inadequate.

During the application and recruitment stage of employment, some women are still discriminated against on the grounds of pregnancy and/or family responsibility as a result of the interview questions they are asked. Women are often asked whether they intend or are currently family planning and whether they have children or are married. Arguably, these questions may constitute forms of indirect discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy and/or family responsibility.

To what extent does a womans response to these types of questions determine whether she moves to the next phase of the recruitment process and whether she is ultimately employed? Similarly, are women employees who are pregnant, or family planning still faced with barriers to advancement within the workplace?

When women employees allege discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy, it is often couched in terms of gender or sex, not pregnancy or family responsibility. This is because, in most instances, discrimination against a woman based on a reason related to pregnancy is also discrimination on the grounds of gender and sex. By couching the discrimination in this manner, woman employees arguably have a better chance of succeeding in their claim, since discrimination based on pregnancy, and family responsibility, is less developed in our law. This approach is not always appropriate, because discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy is a standalone basis for discrimination.

Intersectional approach

We suggest that grounds of discrimination should not be considered in isolation, but as overlapping vulnerabilities. This fits with the approach of intersectionality, which has been endorsed by our courts, particularly the Constitutional Court in the recent judgment of Mahlangu and Another v Minister of Labour and Others. In that case, the Court found that, given South Africas historical background and socioeconomic landscape, intersectionality is a relevant and necessary tool to use in deciding unfair discrimination cases and understanding the nuances of how discrimination can affect individuals in many ways.

The purpose of using an intersectional approach is to understand that individual experiences may vary because of the multiple combinations of privilege, power, and vulnerability when an individual is faced with discrimination. The concept of intersectionality is increasingly incorporated into workplace matters through the courts and the legislature.

Pregnancy as a standalone basis of discrimination must be acknowledged. While pregnant women may be discriminated against on other grounds, such as sex, gender and potentially on the grounds of family responsibility, there is no need to prove gender or sex discrimination when an allegation of pregnancy discrimination is made. Instead, employers should note that different grounds of discrimination intersect and add to the vulnerability of pregnant women.

Employers must ensure that they do not indirectly discriminate against women on any of the grounds of discrimination which may intersect. Policies and procedures must take account of the ways that individuals in the workplace can be discriminated against, and how the grounds of discrimination may overlap, rather than expecting that grounds of discrimination be viewed and dealt with in isolation.
State-owned logistics firm Transnet said on Monday that its port terminals division had lifted force majeure across all terminals, including its container terminals, after a strike earlier in the month.

Container ships are seen outside the harbour as workers at state-owned logistics firm Transnet continue to protest outside the Port of Cape Town on their nationwide strike action that could paralyse ports and freight rail services in Cape Town, South Africa, October 17, 2022. REUTERS/Esa Alexander

Transnet workers went on strike for nearly two weeks from 6 October, paralysing freight rail and port operations and throttling exports from Africa's most advanced economy.

Force majeure declared in its automotive, bulk and multi-purpose terminals was lifted on 21 October but backlogs and the impact on operations meant force majeure at its container terminals remained in place.

"This follows the successful implementation of recovery plans to stabilise operational performance and efficiencies across all container handling terminals," Transnet said in a statement. "The terminals are now ready to return to pre-strike planning of operations, which promote maximum imports and exports."
Nominations are now open for the inaugural National Presidential SMME Awards, which will be hosted by the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) in Bryanston, Johannesburg on 13 November 2022. Entrants are encouraged to get their nominations in ahead of the closing date.

The awards are in partnership with the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (Sefa), the European Union and 22 On Sloane.

The National Presidential SMME Awards aim to cultivate an enabling environment for the development; and nurturing of innovative ideas and best practices across the whole spectrum of small business development in the country.

The awards will recognise and celebrate outstanding SMMEs, SMME financiers, entrepreneur support organisations and success stories from enterprise supplier development programmes. Additionally, the DSBD aims to award businesses that have shown resilience and have managed to sustain operations during and post the Covid 19 pandemic.

The awards will also serve as a platform to launch the annual Global Entrepreneurship Week 2022 (Gew). This global event is celebrated in over 200 countries with over 10,000 partners and 40,000 activities. Furthermore, Gew aims to inspire nations to empower entrepreneurs and encourage citizens to become self-starters by finding innovative ways of doing business. Gew is a call to action for societies to promote resilience and leverage the power of new ideas to impact societies globally.

"We are incredibly proud to be hosting this celebration of entrepreneurial excellence to showcase entrepreneurial activities through identifying and showcasing innovative stakeholders that are driving economic development and job creations," says Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, the minister of small business development.

Furthermore, the DSBD will also host the Inaugural National Presidential SMMEs and Cooperatives Summit from 14-15 November. The primary focus of the summit will be to solicit tangible inputs on areas of potential collaboration from key role players in the small enterprise ecosystem as guided by the National Integrated Small Enterprise Development Masterplan.

Nominations for the Inaugural National Presidential SMME Awards are open and will close on Friday, 4 November. The award prizes consist of cash prizes worth R100,000 to winning SMMEs and access to the Global Entrepreneurship Congress+ Africa which will take place on 1314 September 2023 in Cape Town.

To nominate an SMME, SMME financiers, entrepreneur support organisations and success stories from enterprise supplier development programmes for an award, click here.
The Department of Homeland Security has been working to influence big tech platforms. This became originally evident when the Biden administration launched the ill-fated Disinformation Governance Board early in 2022, but has been a focus of their efforts even beyond that now-defunct unit, and before.



Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit that revealed via appended meeting minutes that former Microsoft executive Matt Masterson, who was formerly an official with DHS, told a DHS director in February 2022 that "Platforms have got to get comfortable with gov't. It's really interesteding how hesitant they remain." This according to The Intercept.



Prior to 2020, it was reported that DHS met with Twitter, Facebook, Wikipedia, and other platforms in order to coordinate "content moderation" operations. These meetings were part of an ongoing initiative which saw collusion and collaboration between DHS and big tech to determine how "misinformation" would be dealt with on those platforms.



Areas that came under this purview included the withdrawal from Afghanistan, undertaken disastrously by President Joe Biden in August 2021 as well as the origins of the Covid-19 virus, which became controversial enough that users were kicked off social media platforms for expressing the hypothesis that the virus originated in a Wuhan, China lab. A Senate report found last week that this was the most likely scenario. Information that could undermine trust in financial institutions was also targeted.



The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act, signed by President Donald Trump, opened the door to this as it formed a new branch within DHS, which then undertook to deal with online "disinformation." CISA stated its understanding that the mission of that branch of DHS was "evolved," and meant to communicate their concerns on "disinformation" to social media companies. Social media companies took DHS' word for it.



DHS used concerns about "marginialized communities" to justify their reach.



Much of this effort became evidence as a result of an attempt to "fight disinformation" in the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election. Both Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and then-Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey spoke about their platform's effort to suppress and censor reporting from the New York Post. They did this, in part, because the FBI had told these platforms to watch out for a "misinformation" dump.



During the elction, there were "weekly teleconference to coordinate Intelligence Community activities to counter election-related disinformation." Since then, meetings have taken place every two weeks.



The government had its fingers all over social media companies. DHS would tell social media companies what they wanted off the platforms via "takedown requests," and then the platforms would submit reports to government. They would be "called on to 'process reports and provide timely responses, to include the removal of reported misinformation from the platform where possible.'"



This was specifically done with election information, which would be flagged by state election officials, submitted to DHS, which would then tell social media companies to pull it.



FBI official Laura Dehmlow stated her concern in March that big tech companies were not accountable to the government, saying "we need a media infrastructure that is held accountable."







"There is also a formalized process for government officials to directly flag content on Facebook or Instagram and request that it be throttled or suppressed through a special Facebook portal that requires a government or law enforcement email to use. At the time of writing, the 'content request system' at facebook.com/xtakedowns/login is still live. DHS and Meta, the parent company of Facebook, did not respond to a request for comment. The FBI declined to comment," The Intercept reports.



"The extent to which the DHS initiatives affect Americans daily social feeds is unclear. During the 2020 election, the government flagged numerous posts as suspicious, many of which were then taken down, documents cited in the Missouri attorney generals lawsuit disclosed. And a 2021 report by the Election Integrity Partnership at Stanford University found that of nearly 4,800 flagged items, technology platforms took action on 35 percent  either removing, labeling, or soft-blocking speech, meaning the users were only able to view content after bypassing a warning screen. The research was done 'in consultation with CISA,' the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency," The Intercept reports.



When the Hunter Biden laptop story broke, revealing the Biden family's influence peddling and shady overseas business dealings with Ukraine and China, social media platforms took the bait from the government and ditched the story. Countless other mainstream media outlets followed suit, going so far as to report on why they would not report on the story, citing "hacking," "misinformation," and a "Russian plot."



All of these were incorrect, and many outlets, including The New York Times, had to walk it back.



As a result of documents revealed in Schmitt's suit, it is now apparent that DHS officials were in fact "leading the push to expand the government's reach into disinformation," and that the government "also played a quiet role in shaping the decisions of social media giants around the New York Post story." Post-election polling showed that many Americans would not have voted for Joe Biden had they known the Hunter Biden laptop story was fact and not a disinformation plot.



The case that revealed the information was brought this spring by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry against top administration officials in US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.



It alleged that President Joe Biden and other administration officials "pressured and colluded" with Big Tech companies to censor the Hunter Biden laptop story as well as information regarding the lab leak origin theory of COVID-19 and the security of voting by mail.



The suit claimed that government officials of colluded with social media and big tech companies "under the guise of combating misinformation" and that the goal, and the goal, and the result, was censorship and suppression of free speech online. This discovery shows that the Attorneys General who brought the case.



The lawsuit named White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, Chief Medical Advisor and NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and newly announced director of the DHSs Disinformation Governance Board.

Also named were the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

The lawsuit alleges that the federal government had violated constitutional rights to suppress free speech in "one of its greatest assaults by federal government officials in the Nations history."

This is a breaking story and will be updated.
Fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation may recall the episode where extra-dimensional dickhead "Q" is stripped of his powers for spreading chaos throughout the universe.

Well, Elon Musk just did that to Twitter's content moderation thought police with just weeks to go before midterms - cutting the number of employees who can access censorship tools from hundreds to around 15 people last week, and reducing their ability to influence discussion on the platform.

According to Bloomberg, Musk and his 'war cabinet' have frozen some employee access to internal tools used for content moderation and the enforcement of other policies, neutering staff's abilities to 'alter or penalize accounts that break rules around misleading information, offensive posts and hate speech.'

They also won't be able to banish highly credentialed doctors and researchers posting divergent Covid-19 narratives.

All but the most 'high-impact violations set for manual review' will remain on the platform, according to people familiar with the matter.

Twitter staff use dashboards, known as agent tools, to carry out actions like banning or suspending an account that is deemed to have breached policy. Detection of policy breaches can either be flagged by other Twitter users or detected automatically, but taking action on them requires human input and access to the dashboard tools. Those tools have been suspended since last week, the people said. This restriction is part of a broader plan to freeze Twitters software code to keep employees from pushing changes to the app during the transition to new ownership. Typically this level of access is given to a group of people numbering in the hundreds, and that was initially reduced to about 15 people last week, according to two of the people, who asked not to be named discussing internal decisions. Musk completed his $44 billion deal to take the company private on Oct. 27. -Bloomberg

On Sunday,Twitter employees had limited access to the internal tools to police Brazil's presidential election.

Meanwhile, the company is still using automated enforcement technology as well as third-party contractors.

The restricted ability to restrict free speech has given Twitter's Trust and Safety Team the vapors - with employees worried that the company will be short-handed during the runup to the Nov. 8 midterm election. Recall the Trust and Safety Team was headed by now-fired Vijaya Gadde - who would have had a large role (perhaps even the final decision) to ban ZeroHedge in February, 2020 for suggesting that Covid-19 was the result of a lab leak (and that we 'doxxed' a Wuhan lab employee using publicly available data - aka not doxxing).

Photo via Latestfinancenews

Internally, employees say, Musk has raised questions about a number of the policies, and has zeroed in on a few specific rules that he wants the team to review. The first is Twitters general misinformation policy, which penalizes posts that include falsehoods about topics like election outcomes and Covid-19. Musk wants the policy to be more specific, according to people familiar with the matter. Musk has also asked the team to review Twitters hateful conduct policy, according to the people, specifically a section that says users can be penalized for targeted misgendering or deadnaming of transgender individuals. -Bloomberg

On Monday, Yoel Roth, Twitter's head of safety and integrity, tweeted on Monday that the company was addressing an increase in offensive posts.

"Since Saturday, weve been focused on addressing the surge in hateful conduct on Twitter. Weve made measurable progress, removing more than 1500 accounts and reducing impressions on this content to nearly zero," he wrote, adding "Were primarily dealing with a focused, short-term trolling campaign."

In short:
Sign an open letter to support Muriel Blaive

1. 11. 2022

cas cteni 5 minut

Dear Board members of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes, In October 2022, the internationally renowned scholar and historian Muriel Blaive was fired from the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes in Prague. She had worked in its research department since 2014. Six other staff members were fired with her, five of them women. The official reason for Blaive's dismissal was to make the Institute more efficient.

However, this argument is unacceptable. Muriel Blaive was extremely productive, as evidenced by her published scientific articles in top international journals and scientific publications. She was the first member of the Institute to be awarded a grant from the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic in 2016. In 2019-2020 she was awarded a prestigious EU fellowship, EURIAS, at the Institut fur die Wissenschaften vom Menschen in Vienna, an equally prestigious Marie Curie Senior Fellowship at the University of Aarhus, Denmark, and a Senior Fellowship at the Internationales Forschungszentrum Kulturwissenschaften in 2020-21. She has now been awarded the highly prestigious Elise Richter Fellowship at the University of Graz in Austria and would be ideally placed to strengthen the international dimension of the Institute.

She has an H-index of 2 on Web of Science, an international metrics database that measures the impact and importance of scientists through references to their work in impacted peer-reviewed journals. Which is no small feat, if we compare it with the director of USTR, Ladislav Kudrna, who is not on the Web of Science at all, i.e. his index is less than zero and he is invisible at the international level. All the other men in charge of the Institute have a worse scientific rating than Muriel Blaive on the international level, or none at all. Why is the Institute's management trying to terminate the employment of the most published and one of the most erudite scientists in the Institute?

Surely the problem is also not that she has had too little involvement in the Czech scientific and public sphere. On the contrary. The problem lies precisely in her public appearances, in which she presents the results of her scientific research to the public. Her area of interest is, for example, the instrumentalization of medical power to implement communist domination over the female body through medical and social practices. USTR has long been insufficiently involved in the topic of violence against women under the previous regime. As part of her broad research, Blaive has also dared to challenge the concept of totalitarianism, as have most Western historians of the new generation. However, her gravest offense against the conservative clique that dominates the institution was that instead of adding to the long, thoroughly researched, topic of the underground and dissent, she is interested in the nature of the negotiations between the authoritarian power and the overwhelming majority of the population, the so-called grey zone.

It is precisely because of our ignorance of this complex and ambiguous past that we do not understand the mechanisms of mass submission to the illegitimate power installed by the occupying forces during the era of normalization. This ignorance could become fatal nowadays, when we are entering a very turbulent period and social dynamics tend towards undemocratic and authoritarian leadership, albeit in the colors of the opposite political spectrum.

The main problem for Muriel Blaive's superiors is her public engagement, in which she has shared her positions, views and research results, which are unique in the Czech environment. Historian Muriel Blaive, as a native Frenchwoman, looks at the development of our society from an external perspective, and it is thanks to this unique viewpoint that she has had something new to learn and to say about our society. From the position of the power-based leadership of the Institute, however, any deviation from the predetermined results, even just asking the "wrong" questions, is blasphemy. This is why she had to be fired from her position  the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes in its current leadership does not want to find out anything new, it only wants to confirm its pre-existing dogma. It wants to turn a research institute into a propaganda department.

The Institute of Marxism-Leninism of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia also collected a huge number of archive files and documents at the time, but allowed only a fraction of these to be processed, published and made public, because the data did not fit the official interpretation of history of the time, or would have unnecessarily raised many uncomfortable questions. We ask from the Board of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes to prevent the ongoing transformation of this socially extremely important scientific institution into an upside-down twin of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism.

We demand that the USTR Board put an end to the power mechanisms whereby opinion and scientific opponents are allowed to be excluded from a scientific institution.

We are frightened by the increasingly visible situation in which the Institute's employees are afraid to speak out against injustice for fear of losing their jobs (especially in the ongoing economic crisis). Firing people from their jobs for political reasons is a practice that we should avoid at all costs, otherwise we will find ourselves repeating our past due to our ignorance.

If you would like to officially sign the open letter, please fill in the following form. Your name, position and organisation name will then be added to the list of signatories. Your signatures can be found in this link.

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The Density of Unexpected Encounters

1. 11. 2022 / Derek Sayer

cas cteni 15 minut

(This picture comes from Derek Sayer's upcoming book Postcards from Absurdistan.) In May 2021, Jill Massino and I organized a roundtable at the annual congress of the Association for the Study of Nationalities in New York. It was entitled The Benefits and Burdens of the Invisible Suitcase: Writing Contemporary History as an Outsider. Some of the greatest historians of the contemporary period are outsiders to their country of study, for instance Robert Paxton and Christopher Browning in the case of France and Germany during the Second World War. Outsider perspectives enhance, complement, and complicate existing narratives, and, as such, help to produce a more nuanced and complex portrait of the past. Yet our collective experience is that Western historians of communism in Central Europe struggle to establish their legitimacy among societies that remain attached to an ethnonationalist definition of identity. Also, many people believe that only contemporary witnesses are entitled to speak about contemporary history. This roundtable offered the cumulated experience of four scholars: Marci Shore, Jill Massino, Jan Culik, and Muriel Blaive. We reflected on the way in which our status has affected our research, our writing, and our reception. As a result, our roundtable also offered insight into the societies we are studying and into the stakes involved in the production of history. Britske listy has kindly offered us to publish our texts, as well as a few others on the part of colleagues who attended the panel and participated in a very lively discussion. What follows is a contribution by Derek Sayer

Muriel Blaive

Sometime late in 1992, I was having a beer with the distinguished Czech sociologist Jiri Musil at U Vejvodu, just around the corner from the Sociological Institute on Jilska Street in Pragues Old Town. U Vejvodu was still a local pub then rather than the noisy, touristy beer hall it became later. The food was indifferent, the service was vintage communist era, but the beer was excellent. I had with me a Specialist Handbook for Collectors of Czechoslovak Postage Stamps which I had recently bought not because I was a stamp collector, but because as a cultural historian I was interested in postage stamps as a medium through which state authorities convey political messages. I showed the book to Jiri, drawing his attention to one set of stamps, issued in 1949 under the title Political and Cultural Personalities. (see the picture above)

These stamps commemorated one Slovak, the poet and writer Pavol Orszagh Hviezdoslav, and five Czechs: the writers Vladislav Vancura and Alois Jirasek; the poet Jiri Wolker; the journalist, politician, and organizer of the antifascist resistance Jan Sverma; and the literary critic, journalist, writer, and resistance organizer Julius Fucik. Jiri couldnt understand why I was getting so excited. Our different responses to this set of postage stampsan apparently very trivial, insignificant, everyday thingillustrate a lot about the respective advantages and limitations of "insider" and "outsider" perspectives on the writing of history.

An odd assemblage of would-be cultural icons

Of the six, Pavol OrszaghHviezdoslav (1849-1921) and Alois Jirasek (1851-1930) made it to old age. The proletkult poet Jiri Wolker (1900-1924) died romantically young of tuberculosis, a student and a socialist / Believing in myself, in steel inventions, and in the good Jesus Christ. The others were martyrs of the Nazi occupation. Vladislav Vancura (1891-1942) was shot in Prague, one of thousands of innocent Czechs executed in revenge for the assassination of Reichsprotektor Reinhard Heydrich by Czechoslovak parachutists based in Britain. Julius Fucik (1903-1943) was arrested for resistance activities and hanged at Plotzensee prison in Berlin. His prison writings Report from the Gallows were read by every Czechoslovak schoolchild. Jan Sverma (1901-1944), a one-time editor-in-chief of the KSC daily Rude pravo, froze to death in the Tatra Mountains during the 1944 Slovak National Rising.

For my friend Jiri, who turned twenty-one the year these stamps were issued, there was nothing remarkable about this pantheon at all. They were wearily familiar figures, part of the wallpaper of the communist Czechoslovakia in which he had spent his entire adult life. But for me, coming from the outside, it was a strikingly discordant assemblage.

Leaving aside Hviezdoslav, who was there as the token Slovak, the odd man out was clearly Alois Jirasek. Apart from being two generations older than the other Czechs, he was at the opposite pole from them politically. Karel Capek described him as our most essentially national writer. Jiraseks prolific historical novels and plays, which narrate the entire odyssey of the Czech nation from its arrival in Bohemia to the revolution of 1848, made him a household name in his day, the Czech Walter Scott. He was a member of the National Committee that seized power in Prague on 28 October 1918 and he sat in the revolutionary National Assembly. When Tomas Masaryk returned from his World War I exile as Czechoslovakias first president on 21 December, it was Jirasek who was chosen to greet him in the name of the nation at Woodrow Wilson Station.

The novelist then headed the list of National Democratic Party candidates for the senate, where he served from 1920-1925. But theres the rub. These National Democrats, led by Karel Kramar, were an emphatically right-wing party, a party which was banned from standing in the 1946 election because of its betrayal of Czechoslovakias interests during the Nazi occupation. Vancura, Wolker, Sverma, and Fucik, by contrast, were all members of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. Jirasek would certainly not have endorsed Vancuras famous declaration in 1921, New, new, new is the star of communism ... and outside it there is no modernity.

Jiraseks presence in this company was no less dissonant from a literary point of view. Ever since the Manifesto of Czech Modernism of 1895 threw down the gauntlet against "imitation national songs, versified folkloristic baubles," most of the Czech left had associated itself with international modernism and distanced itself from attempts to create a national art based in local traditions. Vancura was not only a determinedly modernist writer and filmmaker but the first president of Devetsil, the avant-garde group of writers, artists, architects and theatrical performers that dominated Pragues avant-garde scene in the 1920s, of which Julius Fucik was also a member. In his article Art Today and Tomorrow, the groups theorist Karel Teige dismissed Jiraseks writings as commonplace kitsch, repulsive and sentimental. Ironically, this very passage would be indignantly quoted by the Stalinists upon Teiges death in 1951 as evidence of his disregard for all the healthy roots of the national culture, hiding his cosmopolitan propaganda behind pseudo-internationalist slogans.





Czechoslovak communists appropriated the national heritage





For me, the puzzlement was that Jiri would fail to see the flagrant erasures, the flattening of differences between causes and eras that underpinned this dogs dinner of signifiers. In what conceivable world could Alois Jirasek, Vladislav Vancura, and Julius Fucik blend in as political and cultural bedfellows?





As I researched further into Czech history, I discovered that there was a historical answer to that question, and it became a central theme of my 1998 book The Coasts of Bohemia. Jirasek was far from being the only nineteenth-century awakener to share the Czechoslovak philatelic landscape with Lenin and Stalin, smokestacks and tractors, miners and construction workers, not to mention student girls bearing doves of peace. After 1948 the KSC recycled figures, tropes, and symbols from the nineteenth-century Czech National Revival, repositioning them within a teleological narrative in which the communists were, in the title of a famous 1946 text by Zdenek Nejedly, heirs to the great traditions of the Czech nation. A 1951 stamp commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the KSC with a montage of a worker-militiaman and a Hussite warrior spoke volumes about the ways in which the KSC was revising the significance of the past to suit its priorities in the present.





This post-1948 revival of the revival was manifest in every corner of culture from art exhibitions and films to theatrical productions and book publications, which included a 32-volume edition of Jirasek's works titled Jirasek's Legacy to the Nation. Of course this new narrative was a tendentious simplification of Czech historybut no more so than its nineteenth-century nationalist predecessor, as incarnated in Frantisek Palackys History of the Czech Nation in Bohemia and Moravia and as popularized in the voluminous novels and plays of Alois Jirasek.





This appropriation was possible, I argued in The Coasts of Bohemia, only because there had always been a strong populist strand in Czech nationalism. This was a consequence of the Germanization of the Bohemian aristocracy after 1620. Centering identity on the Czech language, as the awakeners did, meant rooting it in the people who spoke it, who for the most part were the lower classes. Czech was the tongue of the fields, the factories, and the kitchens, not the salons, the universities, or the offices of state. Tomas Masaryk was no Marxist, but he insisted in The Czech Question (1894) that younger writers and poets . . . are seeking a more concrete Czech human being, and they are naturally discovering him in the Czech countryside and in those classes of the people who were least touched by cultural development . . . nationality is perceived as the folk [lidovost]. In the folk [lidovost] Czechness [ceskost] and Slavness [slovanskost] are definite, concrete, living.





Despite his conservative politics, there were strong elements of populism in Alois Jirasek too. The critic F. X. Salda noted in 1930 that Jirasek's protagonists are the people ... the little folk without historic titles and functions in their everyday struggle with the soil. The elision of nationality and class in newly created Czechoslovakia was to be enormously consequential, from the land reforms of 1920 (Today we are ridding ourselves once and for all of that aristocracy that played such an infamous role in the history of our nation, and the especially sad role after the Battle of White Mountain up to the present," explained one parliamentary deputy) to the forced expulsion of three million Bohemian Germans in 1945-6, one of the largest ethnic cleansings in twentieth-century Europe. It proved critical to the legitimation of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia as the authentic representatives of the long-suffering Czech people in the years 1945-48, and it goes a long way toward explaining the communists' widespread support in the 1946 elections and after.

Insider vs outsider: the relationship between Czech nationalism and communism





Thinking back on that conversation in U Vejvodu, what strikes me most is the limitations of internal and external perspectives. Jiri undoubtedly knew much more about Czech history and culture than I did. It was not ignorance but familiarity that blinded him to the importance of things whose strangeness I thought obvious. The couplings of Jirasek and Fucik, nineteenth and twentieth centuries, nationalist and communist narratives were so ubiquitous a part of his surroundings that they went unnoticed. It was only my distance, my coming from somewhere else, that made them seem incongruous. This was a clear-cut case of Marci Shores ostranenie, where the familiar is made strange. My perception of the personalities on these stamps as a surreal assemblage helped launch what I believe was a productive exploration of the filiations between nineteenth-century nationalist and twentieth-century communist narratives, which would yield conclusions many Czechs might not be comfortable with: most obviously, they undermine the widespread belief that communism in Czechia was an alien imposition on an intrinsically democratic culture. This is not to say that to be an outsider made me in any way an objective, neutral observer. For Jiri was right: from a Czech point of view, there was nothing at all surreal about these couplings.





The pantheon on the stamps struck me as odd only because I brought a different set of expectations to bearexpectations, for instance, that the political and literary chasm that separated Jirasek from Wolker, Vancura, Sverma, and Fucik would count for more than their respective roles in a national narrative in which endurance, resistance, and martyrdom are recurrent motifs. My perspective was no less conditioned by history, but it was conditioned by a very different history, in which ones language is not a cathedral and a fortress and those who write in it are not regarded as representatives of the nation whether they want to be or not.





An imperial language and a small nation





I was born and raised in Britain, which not so long ago ruled a quarter of the world. I later emigrated to Canada, where they speak English too. In fact, I can be pretty sure of finding someone with whom I can communicate in my native tongue almost anywhere I go. And many of them will not be my compatriots, even if English happens to be their native language too. In short, I do not belong to one of Milan Kunderas small nations. The concept is not quantitative, he explains, it describes a situation; a destiny: small nations havent the comfortable sense of being there always, past and future; they have all, at some point or another in their history, passed through the antechamber of death; always faced with the arrogant ignorance of the large nations, they see their existence perpetually threatened or called into question; for their very existence is a question. To put it another way, what made the stamps seem odd was precisely that arrogant ignorance.





Alois Jirasek titled one of his novels, which is set in the rural environs of his hometown Hronov during the first half of the nineteenth century, U nas (four volumes, 1897-1904). U nas is a potent phrase in Czech. Depending on context, it can mean among us, at our place, in our village/town/region/country, or simply here (which would be my preferred translation in this instance). It sometimes has a touch of the communal imperative about it: we do things this way, this is how things are done here. It always has a weight of attachment. It is impossible to translate it with a single English phrase; the brilliance of Jiraseks title lies in its playing on these multiple connotations, gathering up the domestic and the national into a single sentimental semiotic bundle in whichto use another common Czech phraseeverything is maly, ale nase (little, but ours).





The ultimate reason why the phrase u nas cannot be easily translated into English is not linguistic. As Wittgenstein said long ago, languages are bound up with forms of life. U nas, here, in the land of the maly cesky clovek (little Czech guy), your home is not your castle, the world is not your oyster, and your navies dont rule the waves. But you will find yourself in a warmif sometimes suffocatingfamilial embrace of fellow speakers and fellow survivors. A small nation resembles a big family and likes to describe itself that way, writes Milan Kundera, a family in which everything and everyone (critics, historians, compatriots as well as foreigners) hooks the art onto the great national family portrait and will not let it get away.





There is no Archimedean point outside language from which we can look down and establish definitive, objective truths. Different languages constitute their worlds differently. To be an outsider cuts two ways. It may allow you to see things insiders do not. Marginality has its advantages, and ostranenie can be a powerful methodological tool. But if you immerse yourself long enough in another history, language, or culture, what you take for granted will also at some point begin to appear strange and in need of explanation. Learning the language of the other may help you see things about yourself that otherwise remain invisible. For me, this is the major benefit of writing contemporary history as an outsider, even if it doesnt overcome the perpetual imposter syndrome that inevitably comes with the job. What begins as mutual incomprehension may end as mutual enlightenment. Milan Kundera calls it the density of unexpected encounters.





Biographical note. Derek Sayer is a British/Canadian sociologist and cultural historian. He is the author of a trilogy of books on Czech history, all published by Princeton University Press: The Coasts of Bohemia: A Czech History (1998); Prague, Capital of the Twentieth Century: A Surrealist History (2013, translated into Czech as Praha, hlavni mesto dvacateho stoleti, Volvox Globator, 2021); and Postcards from Absurdistan: Prague at the End of History, which will be published in the United States on November 1, 2022 and in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2023.









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A planned $US2.2 billion ($3.4 billion) merger of Penguin Random House, the worlds largest book publisher, and rival Simon & Schuster cannot go forward, a US judge ruled.

Unlike most merger fights, which are focused on what consumers pay, this one focused on authors earnings. The government argued the deal should be stopped because it would lead to less competition for blockbuster books and lower advances for authors who earn $US250,000 or more.

Bestselling author Stephen King testified during the trial. Credit:Ulf Anderson/Getty

Judge Florence Pan of the US District Court for the District of Columbia said in a brief order that she had found the Justice Department had shown the deal may substantially lessen competition in the market for the US publishing rights to anticipated top-selling books.

Penguin writers include cookbook author Ina Garten and novelists Zadie Smith and Danielle Steele, while Simon & Schuster publishes Stephen King, Jennifer Weiner and Hillary Rodham Clinton, among others.
The argument in workplaces goes something like this. We, of course, aspire to treating others equitably. This begs the question of how do we measure our aspirations? What measures can we put in place to ensure equity? Notice, here, the move from aspiration to accountancy. This is a mistake.

Setting sail on the good ship equity we leave behind those petty sorts who cheat the system. But if we are not careful, we might run onto the rocks of accountability. The siren call of the bean-counting mermaids at a distance seem alluring. Frequently only when it is too late do we realise these mermaids are distinctly fishy.

Who is not for fairness, impartiality and even-handed dealing? OK, OK, I get it  you have already made a long list, including several previous bosses and organisations even. Or that bloke on the bus who deliberately takes up both seats to prevent other commuters sitting down. Or. Or.

It is a mistake because the logic from this point on is inexorably perfused with measurement. For instance, having decided we wish to champion equity, we decide we must define what we mean by equity. Because we want to initiate measures, it follows that our definition must permit us to be able to measure whether or not we are achieving our goal of equity.

Fairness seems a promising place to start. From there it is but a short step to declaring that everyone must be treated the same. But that does not seem very equitable given people differ in many (most?) things including their needs, their level of effort, their investment, their performance, their results, and a whole range of other factors.

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Should all clients and customers be treated the same? What about accommodations for those who have particular needs? Does equity mean that everyone gets exactly the same experience? This is the McDonalds versus the local restaurant debate. I could walk into any gin joint or Scottish burger bar in the world and my Gordons will taste the same, as will my Big Mac. This is what commoditisation aims to achieve. Consistency of experience, product, and service.

This consistency comes with some costs. Churning out the same old, same old is hardly a receipt for innovation or creativity. It robs consumers of the chance to experience the brilliance of a local chef or an artisanal distillery. It is conformity to the mean average in the name of equity. Too frequently this is a receipt for mediocrity.
It took three minutes and 24 seconds to run this Melbourne Cup. And for not much more than three minutes and 24 seconds, the rain stopped, the wind calmed, and the sun finally shone on a race that has weathered its share of storms.

After two years of plague and two weeks of floods, after overhauling the rules and make-up of the Cup to stop horses dying in pursuit of its riches, this was the first time since 2019 that we had heard the full roar of Flemingtons towering grandstands.

VRC chairman Neil Wilson, standing in the mounting yard as the connections of Gold Trip leapt and hollered around their winning horse, was relieved to learn every runner had safely returned to their stalls, and elated to see the course come back to life.

Just seeing the crowd and hearing that noise again when the gates opened ... everyone is just up and about and enjoying the racing life, he said.
Best cup view is in Sydney

Sydney had a better view of the Melbourne Cup than Flemington, where it was run with a clear, sharp, 46-minute television transmission direct from the course. The race was history-making as the Centenary Melbourne Cup and for the outstanding success of the first interstate telecast of the event ever attempted. Television viewers saw Dow Street lose his rider, the great Tulloch well back in the field for most of the race, and Hi Jinx and Howsie flash past the post.

Adult polio campaign

Doctors in Australia will be asked to start a new campaign to persuade adults to be immunised against poliomyelitis and tetanus. This follows a warning from the National Health and Medical Research Council that there is danger of further outbreaks due to the low state of adult immunity. The council has sent a resolution to the Minister for Health, Dr D. A. Cameron, urging the introduction of a nation-wide campaign to encourage adult, as well as child, immunisation.

Sociological merit in Chatterley

LONDON. Counsel Gerald Gardiner, Q.C., told an Old Bailey jury that Lady Chatterleys Lover was not obscene but had sociological merit. He said the book was a description of life in the English midlands, describing the beauty of the countryside and showing the sympathy which the author, D. H. Lawrence, had for nature and all living things. It was the fifth day of the trial in which Penguin Books Ltd is charged with publishing an unexpurgated edition of the novel.
From sparkling breakfasts in Flemingtons car parks to Mumm in the Birdcage, champagne is the traditional drink of choice at Melbourne Cup  although hot toddies were also welcome on Tuesday.

Chelsea Matters, 33, had a plastic glass of bubbles in hand as she sheltered with friends under a mini marquee in the Victoria Racing Club members nursery car park.

Caroline Knipe, Jasmine Ryan-Watson and Chelsea Matters crack open a champagne in the rain at the Melbourne Cup. Credit:Chris Hopkins

Of course, starting the day with champagne is a Melbourne Cup tradition, she said.

Matters, who was celebrating completing her psychology degree, was undeterred by the rain and hail.
Campion (W.A.) Thursday  The Lewis gunners in the Campion district appear to be on a wild emu chase. The country has echoed to the sound of gunfire, but the ranks of the emus, which are estimated at about 10,000, have not been seriously affected. The first days operations saw the enemy suffer only a dozen or so deaths, although many appear to be wounded.

Two days ago the birds were in flocks of hundreds, but the Lewis gunners have so far not had a target of more than thirty or forty in a group, nor a range of less than half a mile. Even when the party waited in ambush at sunset for the emus to come and drink they waited in vain.

A group of about thirty appeared about a mile away, and 150 rounds were fired at them from two guns, but no birds were killed outright, although some were evidently hit.

The settlers show the greatest interest in the gunners activities, and nine cars today followed the lorry on which the Lewis guns were mounted.

In future the number of the attacked the attacking party will be reduced, and attention will be paid to small holdings.

First published in the Age on November 7, 1932
South Africa: Second Presidential Summit on GBVF kicks off

The second Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) has kicked off at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, where President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the keynote address this afternoon.

The two-day summit is being held under the theme: Accountability. Acceleration and Amplification, NOW!.

The summit will reflect on the work undertaken since the first Presidential Summit on GBVF in November 2018, report on key successes and challenges, and outline clear strategies to overcome them.

The objectives of the summit are:

To demonstrate continued high-level commitment and state accountability for the national response to GBVF;

To accelerate actions and accountability by key government departments and all stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector and labour;

To be a platform through which to share areas of progress by government, civil society, the private sector, labour and other sectors to inspire similar actions across all stakeholders; and

To provide a space for wider collaborative engagement between all stakeholders to strategise on strengthening the overall response to and prevention of GBVF in the country, bringing the -whole-of society approach strongly into focus.

Cabinet Ministers attending the summit include Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disability Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane; Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma; Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele; Police Minister Bheki Cele; Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu; and Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, among others.

The summit will also be attended by Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and members of civil societies.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-11-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Education paves broader way for students in former China revolutionary base

Xinhua) 10:04, November 01, 2022

XI'AN, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Toward evening, heated discussions and laughter emanated from a brightly-lit senior high school campus in Yan'an, a former revolutionary base in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Even in their first grade at Yan'an High School, several students passionately shared their understanding of topics such as cultural confidence.

"Cultural confidence is about inclusiveness, openness, pride, and self-confidence," said 16-year-old Chang Ruixue, adding that the rich history of her school has always propelled them to look at a far bigger picture and thrive on challenges and difficulties.

Yan'an High School was the first school of its kind set up by the Communist Party of China in 1938. It has a glorious history as well as fine revolutionary traditions and has fostered many talent for the old revolutionary base areas.

Starting from a campus of several cave dwellings, the school now has two campuses with modern facilities and a total of 5,500 students.

Over the past decade, Yan'an City has invested 11.5 billion yuan (1.59 billion U.S. dollars) in building and expanding 501 kindergartens, and primary and middle schools, according to the local education bureau.

Modern educational philosophy has also been introduced across schools in Yan'an to help broaden the horizons of the youth, such as organizing plenty of extracurricular activities.

Zhang Yazun, a 13-year-old local middle school student, said she felt fulfilled volunteering as a part-time guide at several revolutionary sites during weekends.

"The opportunity has greatly boosted my daughter's confidence, and she has shown more interest in broadcasting and hosting," said Zhang's mother, Hou Junyu.

Now, nearly 50,000 student volunteers like Zhang have helped at museums, memorial halls, and revolutionary sites in Yan'an as tour guides during their spare time.

Yan'an has built cooperation partnerships with 88 schools in over 10 provinces and municipalities nationwide, including Beijing and Shanghai, which has helped improve the education quality of the old revolutionary base.

"Being a diplomat is a big dream for me as I'm eager to shine in the global arena when I grow up," said Chang Ruixue.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)
In 1989, my army unit deployed to Katherine as part of the massive Exercise Kangaroo 89 with our American allies. As a new lieutenant, I learnt much on this activity. One of my clearest memories of this exercise, now 33 years ago, was sitting near Tindal airfield and watching a massive B-52 bomber conduct its very slow but enormously impressive take-off.

The huge, lumbering bombers  for some a symbol of a bygone era  are being modernised and will serve into the 2040s. These aircraft and their crews have been flying out of the Northern Territory for decades. Indeed, the relationship between American B-52 Squadrons and the Northern Territory is so close that one of the bombers was gifted to the Darwin Aviation Museum.

A USAF B-52 lands during exercise Lightning Focus at an RAAF Base in Darwin in 2018. Credit:AP

While the B-52s have been flying in the north of Australia for decades, their operations were stepped up in 2012 as part of a US-Australia program called the Enhanced Air Cooperation initiative. This agreement has also covered deployments of United States Air Force B2 bombers to RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland in mid-2022.

Therefore, stories in the media over the past 48 hours about enhanced infrastructure for basing B-52s in northern Australia should not surprise anyone with even a passing interest in defence issues. There are, however, several issues associated with this potential basing of USAF bombers Down Under.
A second group of relatives of Islamic State fighters is expected to be rescued from Syria and resettled in Sydney within weeks, while a separate contingent bound for Melbourne is unlikely to arrive until after this months Victorian state election.

Sources familiar with the planning of the operations said they believed the federal government was conscious of the fact Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was seeking a third successive term on November 26.

Kirsty Rosse-Emile, pictured with son Yahya in 2019, is expected to be resettled in Melbourne. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Several of the women likely to settle in Melbourne also have particularly complex cases, which helps explain why they are set to be left until last in the repatriation process.

A spokesman for Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil said the timing of repatriations was based on advice from national security agencies and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday denied the decision to send families to NSW before Victoria was politically motivated.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size A global human trafficking syndicate has exploited flaws in Australian border security and the immigration system. See all 15 stories . Australias anti-money laundering watchdog has granted a government licence to a cash-transfer company used by alleged money launderers involved in sex trafficking and drug syndicates. AUSTRAC registered the money-moving firm owned by Jintao Jerry Li despite red flags that his business empire had long been used by people laundering money. Businesses founded by Li were implicated in a major money-laundering case in New Zealand in 2020. Authorities in Australia have also linked his local money-moving businesses to more than $1.4 billion in fund transfers over eight years, many of which appear suspect or to have links to Chinese organised crime and underground Asian sex rings. Jintao Jerry Li AUSTRACs authorisation of Lis business, ACSF International Trading, to operate as a financial services entity exposes the struggle facing state and federal agencies in policing suspected money laundering. This is AUSTRACs key role, but after it passes its intelligence about suspect money movers to other agencies, it mostly relies on them to take operational action. Two official sources aware of the situation said no law enforcement agency had acted on AUSTRACs confidential warnings about Lis businesses.

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There are limited circumstances under which AUSTRAC can deny a licence to a financial services firm, and this combined with the failure of law enforcement agencies to act, led to ACSF securing its required registration, the sources said. It is unlawful to operate a money-moving business in Australia without an AUSTRAC registration. But while businesses must meet a fit and proper test to obtain such a licence, AUSTRAC cannot strip a licence based only on intelligence suggesting a business is being used for organised crime. The registered address for Lis business in Sydney. Credit:Janie Barrett AUSTRAC declined to comment but stressed it had provided extensive intelligence to support law enforcement investigations in these matters. The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald were unable to contact Li. The failure to prevent a decade of suspected money laundering throws light on the serious problem facing Australian authorities and the Albanese government in containing a practice by which criminal enterprises move money around and make it look like legitimate income. With limited resources, agencies such as the AFP must triage AUSTRAC intelligence and make hard decisions about which businesses to target. This leaves some firms free to continue operating despite obvious risks they may be moving dirty money.

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On Monday, senior Queensland police organised crime fighter Brad Phelps warned that illegal sex traffickers involved in serious exploitation of vulnerable Asian women were earning hundreds of millions of dollars. This money was then circulated overseas before moving back into the Australian property market. He called for these money trails to be investigated. Detective Inspector Phelps also described how his investigators had exposed an underground sex trade involving Asian women moved around Australia like cattle. Phelps was interviewed by Trafficked, a project led by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, 60 Minutes and Stans Revealed documentary. The investigation exposed exploitation of Australias border security and immigration system by criminal syndicates involved in human trafficking and other crimes. In June, this masthead revealed how police were tracking another suspected Chinese money laundering syndicate headquartered in Victoria and NSW that moves hundreds of millions of dollars annually to China and elsewhere. The Chen Organisation counts as its customers a relative of Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with Asian triads and bikies, according to briefings from law enforcement officials. In a thinly veiled reference to the Chinese government, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw spoke out in June about governments turning a blind eye to the proceeds of crime washing through their economies. Officials in the United States have directly called out Beijings failure to combat money laundering trails that flow through Western countries. Australian authorities, including the AFP, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, AUSTRAC and the ATO, have recently ramped up efforts to target money laundering, but more than half a dozen sources say they are being hampered by the sheer scale of the problem, inadequate resources and the failure of Beijing to act.

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There have been some successes. A recent operation codenamed Sunnybank and led by the tax office targeted a money-moving business in Queensland (not Lis) that sent tens of millions of dollars offshore for underground Asian sex rings. The principal is also involved in local Chinese Communist Party-linked organisations. Attorney General Mark Dreyfus declined to comment on the Li case but AUSTRAC said Australia had a robust anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regime. AUSTRAC registration of the Li-owned ACSF International Trading enables it to move funds overseas in return for a cut of every dollar shifted. This masthead is not suggesting that Li is personally engaging in money laundering, only that his businesses are suspected of being used by money launderers and criminals. Similarly, it is not suggested that he is personally involved in the crime syndicates that use his business. Li was a director at a money transfer business identified by the Australian Federal Police in 2016 as moving funds for a drug network. It is not suggested Li was aware of the source of the funds. Documents released by the AFP under freedom of information laws cast light on Lis remittance business in Sydney being used to move drug funds.

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The documents reveal high-level members of a [Chinese] criminal syndicate were depositing large amounts of cash which were suspected to be the proceeds of crime. Policing sources have also confirmed that networks suspected of involvement in sex trafficking regularly used Lis remittance businesses to transfer money. In February, AUSTRAC released a briefing paper urging financial institutions to beware of money movements that may be indicators of sex-trafficking activity. Most instances of forced sexual servitude have occurred in NSW and Victoria, AUSTRAC wrote. There is consistent demand for illegal and forced paid sexual services in Australia. Forced sexual servitude coordinators have adapted to take advantage of environmental and technological changes to include online services in their illegal operations. When providing paid sexual services to customers online, forced sexual servitude coordinators continue exploiting their victims and profiting from their activities. In New Zealand, the Department of Internal Affairs prosecuted two companies founded by Li that breached anti-money laundering obligations between 2014 and 2019. The companies moved up to $400 million between New Zealand, Australia and China.

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Recent data breaches have dealt a huge blow to the privacy of millions of Australians. While the culprits have no doubt been the hackers, big companies who hoard data unnecessarily and without limit have been put on notice.

It has raised the question of why so many organisations have held on to  and often squirrelled away or sold  our personal data long after it was first required, with no mechanism in place to permanently delete or forget this information. For too long, this has gone unchecked, and we have been compelled to share more than we should.

The hack of Optus exposed millions of peoples data. Should there have been a way for the company to forget it? Credit:AP

Many of us have now been online and used digital services for decades, sharing many details about our lives in the process. As these vast troves of data have been collected, the science of data analysis has developed exponentially through machine learning and AI to the point where a great deal about a person can be revealed by connecting seemingly banal details and even re-identified through the analysis of so-called anonymous datasets.

Just as these advances have allowed programs to systematically identify us, so too are computer scientists coming up with new ways to give people control of their data once it has been obtained and shared by a whole raft of third parties. Machine unlearning is an approach that could mitigate privacy risks by providing a rigorous technological basis for the right to be forgotten. Using this technique, systems would be hard-wired to either forget data on request or after a particular timescale.
Singapore: China has accused Australia and the United States of fuelling an arms race by planning to station B-52 bombers near Darwin.

Beijing criticised the development on Monday night by warning that it threatened to escalate regional tension, gravely undermine regional peace and stability, and trigger an arms race in the region.

A USAF B-52 lands during exercise Lightning Focus at an RAAF Base in Darwin in 2018. Credit:AP

All countries defence and security co-operation needs to contribute to regional peace and stability and must not target any third party or undermine their interests, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.

China urges parties concerned to abandon the outdated Cold War zero-sum mentality and narrow geopolitical mindset, and do more things that are good for regional peace and stability and mutual trust among all parties.
London: The minister responsible for the UKs pandemic response two years ago has been suspended from the ruling Conservative Party after signing up to appear on Im a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!, which is filmed in Australia.

Furious Tories dumped on former health secretary Matt Hancock, whose career dived after leaked CCTV footage from inside his office revealed that he was conducting an affair at work while requiring social-distancing measures from the public.

Britains former health secretary Matt Hancock has angered fellow Tory MPs by signing up for a reality-TV show filmed in Australia. Credit:Getty

Unlike in Australia, sitting MPs in the UK are allowed to have second or even third jobs.

But chief whip Simon Hart took a strong stand after Hancocks deal with the reality-TV show was revealed.
Houston: The rapper Takeoff, best known for his work with the Grammy-nominated trio Migos, is dead after a shooting outside a bowling alley in Houston, a representative confirmed. He was 28.

Kirsnick Khari Ball, known as Takeoff, was part of Migos along with Quavo and Offset. A representative for members of Migos who was not authorised to speak publicly confirmed the death to The Associated Press.

Migos performs during the 2019 BET Experience in Los Angeles on June 22, 2019. Credit:AP

Police responded shortly after 2.30am on Tuesday (Texas time) to reports of a shooting at 810 Billiards & Bowling, where dozens of people had gathered on a balcony outside of the third-floor bowling alley, police said. Officers discovered one man dead when they arrived. An AP reporter at the scene observed a body loaded into a medical examiners van around 10 am, more than seven hours after the shooting.

Security guards who were in the area heard the shooting but did not see who did it, a police spokesperson said. Two other people were injured and taken to hospitals in private vehicles.
The significance of the Amazon, a region that occupies about 40 per cent of South Americas land mass and contains a third of the worlds trees, in the fight against climate change can hardly be overstated. The Brazilian Amazon recorded more fires in the first week of September alone than in the whole of the same month last year, according to Brazil Institute for Space Research. Fires are a common way to clear land for crops and grazing. Credit:AP When healthy, the rainforests annual carbon uptake is similar to Germanys total greenhouse gas emissions. The landscape also plays a crucial role in regulating weather patterns. Its trees release huge amounts of moisture into the air, generating a river of rain that can affect precipitation half a continent away. The rainforest spreads across nine nations, but some 60 per cent is in Brazil. Under Bolsonaro, who campaigned promised to open up the Amazon to business, rates of deforestation in the Amazon have reached record highs. Satellite images reveal the ecosystem has shrunk by about 17 per cent and parts of the forest now emit more carbon dioxide than they absorb. More than 2 billion trees in the Amazon have been cut down or burnt on Bolsonaros watch, according to Imazon and MapBiomas, two of Brazils most renowned environmental research groups.

A billboard supporting Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at the entrance of a farm in the municipality of Humaita, Amazonas state, Brazil, where deforestation is rife. Credit:AP A study published in the journal Nature Climate Change in March showed the Amazon could soon approach a tipping point, at which swaths of the rainforest convert irreversibly to drier, more open grasslands. This would release millions of tonnes of carbon stored in the rainforests soils and trees, making it almost impossible for the world to achieve its most ambitious climate goals and averting catastrophic warming, scientists have warned. A recent analysis published by the website Carbon Brief found that if Lula follows through on a pledge to enforce Brazils Forest Code, a law that requires private landowners to preserve native vegetation on a certain fraction of their property, he could reduce deforestation by 89 per cent by the end of the decade. This is a key element of stabilising global climate, second to stopping fossil fuel use, tweeted climatologist Stefan Rahmstorf, head of Earth systems analysis at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany. The morning after Lulas win, he wrote, was a day of hope for the world. The victory was inspiring for Manoela Machado, an ecologist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center who studies fire prevention in the Amazon.

The promise or the hope now is the government wont be so permissive of illegal logging and land clearing, she said. It means Im more energetic to fight than ever before. The government of Norway said on Monday it would resume financial aid to Brazil to reduce deforestation through a global protection fund, Brazilian media reported. Norwegian Environmental Minister Espen Barth Eide told the news agency NTB that his government would contact Lulas team to resume the aid that was halted in 2019. But Lula faces a tremendous challenge, given the scope and impact of policies passed under Bolsonaro and the accumulated damage, analysts and activists say.

It will be very difficult to reverse the environmental policy overnight, said Marcio Astrini, executive secretary of the advocacy network Climate Observatory. Bolsonaro has sabotaged the institutions that fight environmental crimes. It will take time to restructure these public agencies. Brazil has long struggled to bring order to the Amazon, but conditions have worsened significantly under Bolsonaro. Loading Environmentalists say he has emboldened criminals by siding with those who want to exploit resources for economic gain, assailing the institutions charged with protecting the rainforest and its indigenous communities and permitting illegal mining. Some analysts warn that a bloc of lawmakers with ties to agriculture could try to block Lulas environmental policies and pass legislation to facilitate land-grabbing and illegal mining.

Lula, who has spoken of turning Brazil into a climate champion, said his administration would be open to international cooperation to preserve the Amazon through investment or scientific research. What is new about this time is that he sees climate and the Amazon as an economic asset, and as a vehicle to put Brazil back in the international scenario, after Bolsonaros years of isolation, said Pedro Abramovay, executive director for Latin America and the Caribbean at Open Society. In Colombia, 42 per cent of which is considered part of the Amazon, President Gustavo Petro has pledged to work with Lula and other South American leaders to combat deforestation. But those plans are already proving difficult to implement for Petro, and have exposed differences in vision between the two leftist leaders. While Petro suggested building an anti-oil bloc in the region, Lula has rejected the idea for Brazil. When governments change, it doesnt automatically change what happens to the forest, said Federal University of Minas Gerais professor Raoni Rajao, one of Brazils leading researchers on deforestation. He said it was unclear how Lula would bring new infrastructure projects in the Amazon without causing more damage.
Domestic passenger vehicle (PV) sales saw a significant growth in October due to increased availability of semiconductor chips and rising consumer confidence.

The sales figures during the month  which coincided with the first post-Covid festival season  released by the top ten carmakers saw a jump of 30.7 per cent to 322,885 units in October. (see table 1) Auto companies count wholesales  units dispatched to dealers  as sales.

Domestic dispatches of Indias largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki increased from 108,991 units in October 2021 to 140,337 units. Shashank Srivastava, executive director, sales, Maruti Suzuki, said at a virtual press conference that the carmakers recorded the third highest monthly sales of this year in October. The highest and the second highest unit sales were recorded in September and July, respectively.

Clearly, the high wholesales are being driven by better availability of semiconductor chips. The shortage, which started last year in August, seems to have been resolved to a great extent, he said.

He said that the domestic auto industry has pending bookings of about 800,000 units. Going by the average of the last five years, at an industry level, 28-31 per cent bookings get cancelled and do not translate into retail sales for various reasons, Srivastava noted.

Hyundai said its domestic sales increased 29.6 per cent to 48,001 units in October. Tarun Garg, director (sales, marketing & service), Hyundai Motor India, said, Our new models like Tucson continue to receive an overwhelming customer response with excellent booking numbersWe are set to register record domestic sales volume in 2022 with our proven range of super performer SUV (sport utility vehicle) brands. About 50 per cent Hyundai sales come from the SUV segment.

Among car companies, Mahindra and Mahindras monthly domestic unit dispatches jumped the highest (60.4 per cent).

Veejay Nakra, president, automotive division, Mahindra and Mahindra said, Our sales volume continued to grow in October on the back of strong festive demand. We sold 32,226 SUVs in October, registering a growth of 61 per cent fuelled by robust demand across our portfolio.

Tata Motors domestic monthly sales of PVs jumped 33 per cent to 45,423 units in October this year.

A planned shutdown of the Pune plant for preventive maintenance and debottlenecking actions led to reduced production in October 2022, Tata Motors noted.

The two-wheeler makers  except Indias largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp  also saw their dispatches to dealers increase healthily in October (see table 2).

Atsushi Ogata, managing director, president and CEO, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), said this years festival season has ushered in a period of real growth and positive sentiment after a challenging period of two-years. HMSIs unit sales jumped 7.9 per cent in October to 425,969 units.

TVS Motor Companys domestic two-wheeler sales increased 6.6 per cent to 275,934 units in October 2022. The company said the market sentiments for its products have been very positive and it was optimistic that the demand for its two-wheelers will continue to rise.

(With inputs from Shally Seth Mohile)
& Industries on Tuesday said its consolidated net profit declined 23 per cent to Rs 50 crore for the second quarter ended September 30, 2022.

The tyre maker had reported a net profit of Rs 65 crore in the July-September period of last fiscal.

Total income, however, increased to Rs 3,764 crore in the September quarter as against Rs 2,998 crore in the year-ago period.

& Industries Chairman and Managing Director Raghupati Singhania said the company's operating margins have somewhat improved due to better market conditions.

"We continue to achieve robust growth in domestic volumes across products, i.e., commercial and passenger tyre segments. During the quarter, OEM offtake improved post-easing in semiconductor supplies, festive season and good traction in economic activities," he noted.

He further said: "We believe domestic demand shall continue to grow on the strength of improved economic activities, sustained focus of government on infrastructural spends and making India an integral part of global value chain."



Furthermore, exports continue to contribute significantly to the company's revenue growth, despite an increasingly challenging geopolitical and economic situation, Singhania said.

Cavendish Industries and JK Tornel, Mexico -- subsidiaries of the company -- have contributed well to the overall growth of the company, he added.

The company's shares on Tuesday ended 3.38 per cent at Rs 168.65 apiece on the BSE.

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The business of commuters booking autorickshaws via apps is "under a cloud" in Bengaluru, said on Thursday as it warned it could limit its service in the city if a tussle with the state government persists.

and other are operating in under a stay order granted by the Karnataka after the government banned aggregators from running autorickshaws, or autos.

More than 10 lakh residents use monthly; some 50,000 drivers supplement earnings by taking bookings on the companys app.

Uber said its service allows customers doorstep pickups and is popular for that reason. Despite these benefits, the future of the e-hail sector in is under a cloud, said Nitish Bhushan, head of central operations, Uber India & South Asia, in an interview. Drivers need to be compensated for the additional distance they travel and time they spend on providing these doorstep pickups. Not compensating drivers for pickups will lead to poor consumer experience and take us back to pre-ridesharing times.

Ubers commission in Bengaluru is capped at 10 per cent of the fare collected. For example, the minimum fare for the first two kilometres is Rs 30, which comes to around Rs 35 after adding 10 per cent commission and 5 per cent GST (goods and services tax).

This is not financially sustainable, said Bhushan. If our costs cannot be covered through commissions, we will have to find ways to offload costs that could impact the experience of drivers and riders.

In the face of these commission caps, Uber said it may have to limit the autorickshaw service to select parts of Bengaluru. The firm said that the current fixed metered fare does not adequately compensate drivers for the additional distance traveled and time spent in picking up a passenger from their doorstep. Over time, this will result in fewer autos for e-hailing.

Since removing the doorstep compensation, Uber said the cancellations have increased by over 50 per cent in the city, as availability reduces and drivers turn down trips that are not economically viable for them, said Bhushan.

He said platforms like Uber provide services that enhance safety, convenience and digitization. provides services like GPS tracking, a safety helpline, 247 phone-call and in-person support, rider and driver on-trip insurance, and law enforcement response assistance. Street hailed autos dont come with any of these features. Platforms incur significant costs to provide these value-added services.

The Karnataka last month asked the state government to meet cab aggregators Ola and Uber to reach an understanding on the fare charge for autorickshaw services through apps. It issued the direction related to the petitions by ANI Technologies (owner of Ola) and Uber. Ola and Uber moved the court challenging an order issued by the State Transport Department effectively banning auto-rickshaw rides through the companies' apps. The government declared such services illegal following multiple complaints of overcharging.

The gave 15 days to government regulators and cab aggregators to work out a fare pricing mechanism. The High Court said in the interim, while the transport department comes back with the fare pricing mechanism, the can charge 10 per cent of the base fare.

Bhushan said the 25 per cent commission on top of the base fare is the minimum needed for a viable business model. A meeting called by the transport department on Saturday didnt reach any consensus.

We have submitted a proposal with a very detailed rationale, both on why we feel that drivers should get compensated for the additional pickup distance and why we believe 25 per cent is the right commission for providing the services and making the business model viable, said Bhushan. We have engaged very deeply with the transport department and are awaiting the next steps from them.
In an emergency bid to secure stable Liquefied (LNG) supply, state-run Gas Authority of India (GAIL) has signed an agreement with the National Oil Company (ADNOC) to expedite talks on short- and long-term sales agreements.

Signed on the sidelines of the International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC-2022), one of the worlds largest oil, gas, and exhibitions, the pact explores collaboration opportunities in supply, decarbonisation, and future sales. The pact, signed in the presence of Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, came after India reached out to the UAE with an eye on relieving its woes in the near future, officials said.

The agreement represents a reworking of Indias gas-sourcing strategy. The issue is being treated with urgency as the government feels India needs to quickly negotiate purchase agreements, and ensure a steady supply of going forward, an official with the petroleum and ministry said.

Up to 55 per cent of Indias local gas demand is met through imports. On the other hand, while gas meets only 6.2 per cent of Indias needs, the Centre has been planning to raise this figure substantially, in order to reduce the dependence on petroleum.

The agreement with includes parallel issues, such as the potential optimisation of trading activities, the review of joint equity investments in renewables, and the monitoring of greenhouse gasses for LNG cargoes to support low-carbon LNG supplies.

was the first LNG producer in the Middle East and has over 40 years experience in the LNG market. It is currently in the midst of a major expansion of its natural gas business, accelerating production to meet both domestic and international demand.

New Delhi is advocating for an aggressive gas purchase policy, and balancing sources of import, most of which have originated from in recent years, the official added.

A LNG term contract with Qatar, the biggest currently, expires this decade. and the United States  the two largest producers globally  currently supply India with LNG through multiple contracts. Third largest producer Australia mostly supplies China.

Troubled times

had been struggling to replace supply from a former trading arm of Gazprom, which has not delivered on scheduled shipments since May. Back in 2012, Gazproms former subsidiary, Gazprom Marketing and Trading Singapore (GMTS), had entered into a 20-year contract to supply with 2.85 million tonnes of LNG a year. Supplies under the deal had started in 2018 and the full volume was expected to be reached in 2023.

But earlier this year, GMTS got housed under Gazprom Germania GMBH, after which Gazprom gave up its ownership of the company in April without any explanation, and imposed sanctions. As the diplomatic fallout of the Ukraine war escalated, Germany seized control of Gazprom Germania in April. While officials say they are discussing the matter with Russian authorities, has been left without a crucial chunk of gas supplies.

The stretched supply chains as a result of the Covid pandemic, the global marine logistics challenge, and the war in Ukraine are all unprecedented events. But it shows we need to shelter our supply chains even more, another official said.

Even beyond the deal, the Ukraine war has affected Indias gas supplies in an unprecedented manner. Russia was the largest exporter of natural gas globally till 2021, with nations in the European Union being the largest buyers. But the invasion of Ukraine, subsequent economic sanctions and sabre rattling over energy supply chains have led to that that gas flow fast reducing. While Russia used to supply up to 40 per cent of Europes gas requirement before the Ukraine invasion, it has now come down to 9 percent, according to the European Union.

As a result, more European nations have circled around on Middle Eastern gas, driving up prices. Meanwhile, domestic gas production has also stagnated in recent months. According to figures from the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell, net production of natural gas fell to a three-month low of 2791 million standard cubic meters.




India has begun an inquiry into India Private Ltd. over alleged financial irregularities, according to people with knowledge of the matter, deepening a scrutiny of operating in the country.

The probe against the local unit of the Chinese carmaker Corp Ltd. has been initiated by Indias . The scrutiny started after a detailed analysis of the companys financial statements indicated suspicious related-party transactions, alleged tax evasion, under and over-invoicing of bills and other irregularities, the people said, asking not to be identified as the matter is not public.

The companys top management, including directors, managing director and auditors have been summoned next month by the ministry seeking more clarification, the people said.

The move follows similar action against other China-based firms including Xiaomi Corp., local units of ZTE Corp., Oppo and Vivo Mobile Communications Co Ltd. amid continued hostility between the two nuclear-armed neighbors since 2020 when the deadliest fighting in decades erupted along their disputed Himalayan border.

said it has been a sent a notice seeking clarifications on why the company posted an operational loss in the first year of business in 2019-2020.

We fully cooperate with the government authorities on all issues and are in process of providing the desired records and information to the Registrar of within the stipulated time frame, the company said in a statement.

The company added that it is impossible for any company to be profitable in the first year of operations.

This is because of the huge capex investment required and the long gestation period in a highly competitive market such as India where many multinationals have struggled for decades and have accumulated losses, said, adding that its accounts were audited.

The ministry declined to comment for this story.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis government has banned more than 300 Chinese mobile applications, including shopping services from Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., the TikTok short video hit from ByteDance Ltd. and apps used on Xiaomi phones.

The ministry is already investigating the account books of more than 500 Chinese to look into allegations of significant financial impropriety, Bloomberg had reported earlier.
The countrys second-largest listed defence major by market capitalisation, (BEL) has delivered a mixed performance during the July-September quarter. While revenues met Street estimates, it lagged on the operating and net profit fronts.
Personal care products major (P&G) India announced a Rs 200-crore  Technovate Fund on Tuesday, to solve business challenges by fostering innovation and leveraging innovative technology in collaboration with existing and new external suppliers.

The fund is part of Indias vGrow initiative that focuses on identifying and collaborating with start-ups, small businesses, individuals, and large organisations offering innovative industry-leading business solutions.

The firm has also committed to spend more than Rs 1300 crore in business solutions through its vGrow platform.

The funds will be used to bolster the companys capabilities in brand building and awareness, consumer research, go-to-market, supply chain, digital analytics, and warehousing, sustainability, and the future of payments.

This is in line with the governments vision of driving digital revolution and transformation in the country, leading to this decade being termed a Techade for India, said the company.

We have set up the  Technovate Fund to collaborate with external partners who understand and specialise in technology, are operating with a digital-first mindset and are confident that through these partnerships, we will be able to better serve our consumers, customers, and communities, said L V Vaidyanathan, CEO, P&G India Subcontinent.

Launched five years ago, vGrow aims to create a platform to foster collaboration and partnerships with external partners and suppliers, in order to solve business challenges and provide a breeding ground to emerging across the country, he said.

Through vGrow, the company engages with over 2,300 suppliers including start-ups, small businesses, and large firms embracing a range of industries and services, from creative agencies to technology partners to material suppliers.

The Company has also launched the fifth edition of P&G vGrow External Business Partner Summit, that is being held on November 1-2.
India's Varun Beverages reported a better-than-expected third-quarter profit on Tuesday as the bottler benefited from price increases it had implemented to protect its margins.

Profit grew by 59% to 3.81 billion Indian rupees ($46.1 million) in the three months ended Sept. 30. Analysts on average had expected a profit of 2.32 billion rupees, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

Varun Beverages, like most consumer majors including Nestle India, and Dabur India, raised prices of its products, while a broader customer return to pre-pandemic routines has pushed demand from restaurants and bars higher.

Revenue from operations increased 33% to 32.48 billion rupees for the company, which makes and bottles several Inc-branded drinks such as Mirinda, Mountain Dew, and Tropicana.

Consumer packaged-goods makers have reeled from COVID-19-led high costs of raw materials, including that of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic used in packaging sodas, with the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war pushing expenses higher.

For Varun Beverages, total expenses soared 29% to 27.48 billion rupees.

The company's move to increase its prices helped make up for higher expenses, but a few analysts had raised concerns that more expensive sodas and juices could deter cash-strapped consumers, particularly in rural India.

A few packaged foods makers, including Saffola cooking oil maker Marico, have indicated that product prices could drop from here on as inputs costs also fall from their recent highs.

Varun Beverages added its Morocco business would begin distribution and sale of several chips brands such as Lays, Doritos, and Cheetos from January in the country.

Shares were up nearly 4% at 1,087.50 rupees, adding to their 77% gain this year.

($1 = 82.6980 Indian rupees)

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State-owned (PNB) on Tuesday reported a 63 per cent decline in standalone net profit to Rs 411 crore for the September quarter on account of higher provisioning for .

The bank had posted a net profit of Rs 1,105 crore in the year-ago period.

Total income in the second quarter of the current fiscal increased to Rs 23,001.26 crore as against Rs 21,262.32 in the July-September period a year ago, PNB said in a regulatory filing.

The lender's interest income also rose to Rs 20,154 crore from Rs 17,980 crore in the same quarter a year ago.

The gross Non Performing Assets (NPAs) declined to 10.48 per cent of the gross advances from 13.36 per cent earlier.

In absolute terms, the gross NPAs or stood at Rs 87,034.79 crore at the end of the second quarter of FY23, compared to Rs 1,00,290.85 crore a year earlier.

The net NPA too declined to 3.80 per cent as against 5.49 per cent.

However, provisions for increased to Rs 3,555.98 crore in the July-September quarter of FY23 as against Rs 2,692.74 crore in the year-ago period.

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PRI ECO GEN NAT .HOSUR DCM74 Sales Grows by 2 percent in October 2022 Hosur, Tamil Nadu, India (NewsVoir) registered a growth of 2% with sales increasing from 355,033 units in October 2021 to 360,288 units in October 2022. Two-Wheeler Total two-wheelers registered sales of 344,630 units in October 2022 as against sales of 341,513 in October 2021. Domestic two-wheeler sales registered growth of 7% increasing from 258,777 units in October 2021 to 275,934 units in October 2022. Motorcycle registered sales of 164,568 units as against sales of 172,361 units in October 2021. Scooter registered a growth of 20% with sales increasing from 113,124 units in October 2021 to 135,190 units in October 2022. The market sentiments for all our products have been very positive. We are optimistic that the demand in domestic two-wheeler market will continue. Electric Vehicle TVS iQube Electric continues to garner great response from customers, showcasing a strong sales growth of 8,103 units in October 2022 as against sales of 395 units in October 2021. International Business The Company's total exports registered sales of 82,816 units in October 2022 as against sales of 95,191 units in October 2021. Two-wheeler exports registered sales of 68,696 units in October 2022 as against 82,736 units in October 2021. In some international markets, there has been a slowdown due to macro-economic factors. These are predominantly two-wheeler markets and hence we have moderated despatches in these countries. However, we have seen some retail improvement in these markets in October which will support improved despatches in the coming months. Three-Wheeler Three-wheeler of the Company grew by 16% registering sales of 15,658 units in October 2022 as against 13,520 units in October 2021. About TVS Motor Company TVS Motor Company is a reputed two and three-wheeler manufacturer globally, championing progress through Sustainable Mobility with four state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Hosur, Mysuru and Nalagarh in India and Karawang in Indonesia. Rooted in our 100-year legacy of Trust, Value, and Passion for Customers and Exactness, we take pride in making internationally aspirational products of the highest quality through innovative and sustainable processes. We are the only two-wheeler company to have received the prestigious Deming Prize. Our products lead in their respective categories in the J.D. Power IQS and APEAL surveys. We have been ranked No. 1 Company in the J.D. Power Customer Service Satisfaction Survey for consecutive four years. Our group company Norton Motorcycles, based in the United Kingdom, is one of the most emotive motorcycle brands in the world. Our subsidiaries in the personal e-mobility space, Swiss E-Mobility Group (SEMG) and EGO Movement have a leading position in the e-bike market in Switzerland. TVS Motor Company endeavours to deliver the most superior customer experience across 80 countries in which we operate. For more information, please visit www.tvsmotor.com. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Newsvoir and

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Organisations representing victims of the on Tuesday urged the Central and state governments to honour their promise of providing additional compensation to survivors and announced a month-long campaign on the issue.

The NGOs fighting for the victims will also hold a peaceful rally in New Delhi on December 3 to mark the 38th anniversary of the disaster.

Five organisations representing survivors of the tragedy announced the launch of a month-long campaign starting Wednesday to make Central and state governments honour their promises of additional compensation before the 38th anniversary of the disaster, said Rachna Dhingra, a member of NGO Bhopal Group for Information and Action (BGIA).

We are launching our campaign to remind the governments at the state and Centre about the promises they made regarding additional compensation. We will spend the month of November convincing the state government and lead a peaceful rally on December 3 at Jantar Mantar to remind the Centre of its promises, said Rashida Bee, the president of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh.

Dhingra presented copies of a letter written by the current chief minister to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in January 2012, in which the official death count was made to be 15,342 and not 5,295 as presented in the curative petition.

In his letter, the chief minister had sought Rs 5 lakh to be paid as compensation to each person exposed to the toxic gas. What is stopping him from sending a similar letter to the present Prime Minister? she said.

Representatives of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, Children Against Dow Carbide and Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogi Sangharsh Morcha were also present on the occasion.

Over 15,000 people were killed after methyl isocyanate leaked on the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984 from the pesticide plant of Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) on the outskirts of Bhopal city. More than five lakh people were affected due to the toxic leak.

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Union Minister said on Monday that the Centre is making efforts to ensure that mineral resources are properly exploited in the northeast for the benefit of the region.

He stated that the Union government is also examining the environmental implications of coal and oil exploration in the northeast.

Talking to media persons in Chumoukedima district of Nagaland after the day-long 'Northeast Geology & Mining Ministers Conclave', he said efforts to encourage quarrying activities were being made across the country.

"The Ministry of Mines is making continuous efforts to encourage mining activities pan India. Accordingly, to further encourage exploration activities in the mineral-rich northeast region, the first such conclave was held in Nagaland," he said.

"The Centre is also keenly examining the environmental implications of coal and oil exploration in the region," the Union minister of mines and coal maintained.

Joshi said that the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has taken up 108 projects in the northeast on different mineral commodities in the last five years.

The government is also funding projects through National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET), he said, adding that a joint working group has been constituted by Ministry of Mines for different states to resolve issues related to the process of auctioning.

"The establishment of resources and their successful auctioning will bring economic prosperity through revenue augmentation, employment generation, industry influx, which will further lead to overall growth and development of the northeast. The successful auctioning of the blocks can also act as a catalyst to bring other financing sources to the region," he pointed out.

Assuring the region of complete support, Joshi further said that the ministry, through GSI and Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), can organise training programmes for state geologists and other functionaries for their capacity building.

Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Mines Sanjay Lohiya stated that the Centre is focused on increasing the pace of exploration of minerals in the country.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio hoped that this conclave will open a new chapter in the history of mineral exploration in the region.

He said that the "visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and dynamic leadership of Union Minister of Mines and Coal, has brought about major reforms in the mining sector" of the country.

Expressing concern that the northeastern states are yet to make a mark in the mineral block auction, he said "such issues need to be addressed".

Nagaland, besides oil and natural gas, has economically viable resources such as coal, limestone (cement & chemical grade) and multi-metal magnetite, the CM said.

The state has not been able to exploit the resources due to rugged terrain, remote locations that does not have sufficient connectivity, land ownership systems and other factors, apart from prolonged non-settlement of the Naga political issue, Rio pointed out.

"These factors have inhibited the proactive participation of exploration and extraction agencies in the state," he lamented.

Among others, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also attended the conclave.

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Sriram Krishnan, the Indian-origin investor handpicked by to revamp after the business magnate bought the microblogging platform for $44 billion, tweeted about homecoming on October 23. I will be back home in for a few days next month. If anyone here is interested in a meet up especially students!), let us know, he wrote.

Since then, he has been getting hundreds of requests online for meetings.

His alma mater SRM College in Kattankulathur, a suburb of Chennai, is gearing up to host Krishnan. We are very closely working with him and our management is planning something. We will be honouring him, said an SRM official, who indicated that Krishnan will be visiting the campus. The dates are yet to be confirmed. Musks chosen man studied at the college between 2001 and 2005.

At present, Krishnan is a partner at venture capital firm Andreesen Horowitz (a16z) that invests in and start-ups. On October 31, Krishnan made it public that he will be helping out Musk temporarily in with some others.

Krishnan, who is also a former employee, is expected to guide Musk in his ambitious plan to monetise the giant. According to Musks road map, the Twitter verification or blue tick will be made a paid feature, where customers may have to pay around $20 for the label. Krishnans prior experience with Twitter (between 2017 and 2019), when he claims to have driven its growth by 20 per cent year-on-year and launched several products including a redesigned events experience, is expected to be handy for the new stint.

In addition to Twitter, he has led product and teams at Meta (2013-16) and (2005-11). After completing studies, Krishnan shifted to Washington, where he worked with till 2011 on various application programming interfaces and services for Windows Azure. At Meta (Facebook), he was instrumental in creating Facebook Audience Network, which is now one of the leading monetisation solutions for publishers in the industry. Krishnan and his wife Aarthi Ramamurthy, both born and brought up in Chennai, also met during their college days in 2003.

His LinkedIn profile mentions that Krishnan became a part of Andreesen Horowitz in January 2021 and that the venture capital firm is a major investor in Clubhouse, a social audio application. Krishnan and his wife also host a show on called Good Time Show, in which prominent personalities such as Musk, Metas Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and American fashion designer Virgil Abloh have made appearances.

After the merger, Musk became the sole director of Twitter as the erstwhile directors  Bret Taylor, Parag Agrawal, Omid Kordestani, David Rosenblatt, Martha Lane Fox, Patrick Pichette, Egon Durban, Fei-Fei Li and Mimi Alemayehou  are no longer a part of the company. According to media reports, Musk is likely to revamp the board as well, as he termed the changes temporary.

After taking charge, Musk fired several officials of Twitters top leadership, including Chief Executive Officer Agrawal, and also set up a content moderation council. According to media reports, Musk is set to appoint a new product leadership for the company.
The ED on Tuesday opposed in the the bail plea of former MD of Stock Exchange in a money laundering case related to alleged illegal phone tapping of NSE employees, saying she was the mastermind behind the criminal conspiracy in the matter.

The (ED) told Justice Jasmeet Singh that the proposal for call interception and monitoring, which was in the guise of study of cyber vulnerability, was processed through Ramkrishna who was the deputy managing director at the relevant time, and that she identified the telephone numbers and the employees for monitoring.

It said that all the approvals were either processed through her or given by her and that the illegal interception was co-terminus with her tenure at NSE.

She represented NSE at an initial meeting for the award of the contract. The telephone numbers and the employees who were identified for monitoring were identified by her.

"We have statements of multiple people who were working at NSE at that time, who all corroborate that she was identifying the telephone numbers and the employees. When confronted with them, she admits to these. There is no denial. In fact, the mastermind of this entire criminal conspiracy is the applicant before my lord, submitted advocate Zoheb Hossain on behalf of the ED.

The phone-tapping case, according to the ED, pertains to a period from 2009 to 2017 when former NSE CEO Ravi Narain, Ramkrishna, Executive Vice-President Ravi Varanasi, and Head (Premises) Mahesh Haldipur and others allegedly conspired to cheat NSE and its employees.

For this purpose, they engaged iSEC Services Pvt Ltd for illegal interception of phone calls of employees of NSE in the guise of doing a periodic study of cyber vulnerabilities of NSE, the agency alleged,



Chitra Ramkrishna, who was earlier arrested by the CBI in the alleged NSE co-location scam, was taken into custody by the ED on July 14.

Hossain told the court that the payment of over Rs 4 crore made by NSE to iSEC for the illegal actions from January 2009 till February 2017 are proceeds of crime and the acts of the accused were in violation of the law including the Telegraph Act.

Responding to Ramkrishna's claim that she should be given bail for being a woman, he contended that the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) only provides for discretion with courts to grant bail to certain classes of accused persons, including a woman, and it was not a matter of thumb rule.

The lawyer emphasised that economic offences stand at a grave footing and argued, The court says (in a judgement) if you are educated, your professionally savvy, you are qualified, you are running companies and committing economic offences, you will be treated at par with men, You can't be given some special benefit.

The entire surrounding circumstances, the statements of people confirm the fact, along with the material found, that it was her brainchild throughout, he said.

Ramkrishna was appointed as Joint MD NSE in 2009 and remained in the position till March 31, 2013. She got elevated as MD and CEO on April 1, 2013. Her tenure at NSE ended in December 2016.

Ramkrishna, represented by senior advocate Rebecca John, has sought bail on the grounds that no scheduled offence was made out against her and the allegations also do not fall within the rigours of the PMLA.

Earlier this year, the trial court had refused to grant bail to Ramkrishna in the matter at this stage.

The trial court had said that the accused not only infringed the privacy and confidentiality of NSE employees but also committed a criminal breach of trust in respect of NSE's fund and property over which she had dominion.

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The Ukraine-Russia war has put a strain on global supply chains and while transportation of various commodities have been severely impacted, India's were hit to such an extent that there is a two-month waiting period for overseas shipments.

According to industry sources, there has been a 42.8 per cent increase in price of paper due to delay in supplies.

Lockdowns in China have also compounded the problem further, they added.

Before the war in Ukraine began in February, the price of paper was Rs 70,000 per tonne, which has now gone up to Rs 1,00,000 per tonne, an industry representative said.

India mainly depends on imported raw material for making paper.

Whether it is newsprint which is used for printing newspapers or map litho paper which is needed for printing books, the pulp strands needed for making paper pulp are sourced from China and several European nations.

Orders for both kinds of paper have been hit ever since the geopolitical tensions began, a production executive of a reputed publishing firm said.

As of now there is a delay of around two months in paper supplies from abroad, which has led to a rise in production costs and also in the cost of raw materials, he informed.

Paper orders placed for October are expected only by December this year, the official informed.

Due to the delays in paper supplies, publishers are not able to fix the prices of books, he added. This demand and supply gap is expected to rise further once the new academic season sets in early next year and the demand for books goes up.

As raw material is sourced from China and Europe, the paucity of containers due to the Ukraine crisis has mainly led to paper supply constraints, industry sources informed.

Shortage of containers which are needed for supplies are not easily available due to the ongoing disruptions in Europe.

Though paper is produced in India, it is the specialised pulp strand sourced from abroad, on which its manufacturing is dependent, sources said.

So with dependency on domestically produced paper being less and imports getting costlier, the country is likely to face paper shortage crisis for some more time, as sources said that shipments may remain impacted till March 2023, even as the Ukraine war continued to rage on.

Moreover lockdowns in China, a major supplier of map litho paper, has seen paper mills shutting down there, industry representatives said, which too has led to supply gaps.

(Animesh Singh can be reached at animesh.s@ians.in)

--IANS

ans/khz/

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Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday said crops suffered heavy damage due to unseasonal rains, which is a fallout of .

He said state governments are assessing losses incurred by farmers due to in their respective regions.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Pune, Tomar said the income of farmers should be increased and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is fully committed to this goal.

"No one has control over natural calamities. is being witnessed due to which unseasonal rains occur in one place while other region sees drought. Because of these factors, farmers are affected. This time, crops suffered heavy damage due to rains," the Union minister said.

Tomar was in Pune to attend the Level Horticulture Value Chain Function, organized at Vaikunth Mehta Institute of Cooperative Management.

He said state governments are conducting surveys of the damage caused due to and farmers will be provided help from the state Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF).

In Maharashtra, the Opposition is demanding that the state government declare a wet drought in view of the damage caused to crops by retreating rains.

Tomar said 75 per cent of funds in SDRF are contributed by the Central government and 25 per cent by the respective state governments.

"If losses are higher than the SDRF limit, state governments send a memorandum to the Center, which provides the additional help," he added.

He called for all-around efforts to increase the income of farmers which can be achieved by reducing the input cost incurred by agriculturists.

"The farmer should become prosperous. He should be connected to technology. It is imperative to use technology to become a leader in the agriculture sector in global competition," the Union minister added.

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Union Labour Minister Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday said retirement fund body EPFO's coverage will be expanded to 10 crore subscribers from the existing level of 6.5 crore.

At a function to mark the 70th foundation day of the Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), Yadav said, "EPFO social security schemes ambit will be expanded. It will be increased from 6.5 crore subscribers to 10 crore."



He also launched the EPFO Vision 2047 document.

According to him, it is the biggest responsibility of the EPFO to reduce its litigations and increase the coverage.

"We have subsumed 29 labour laws into four broad codes. These codes provide for expansion of social security schemes, including EPFO," the minister said.

This rationalisation and simplification of laws will minimize litigations and bring in ease of doing business.

The minister expressed happiness over the way EPFO has grown in the years gone by and the way it is managing its huge corpus of savings of the members.

As per a statement issued by the labour ministry, the five objectives of Chintan Shivir namely Mission 10 crore, ease of compliance, EPFO Karmayogi, Satisfied members and Preparing for the future have been identified as mission areas for work to be taken up by EPFO.

Minister of State for Labour and Employment Rameswar Teli said implementation of issues identified in the EPFO Vision 2047 will help the organisation fulfil the vision of universalisation of social security in the country.

Union Labour Secretary Arti Ahuja state that this is an occasion to look back on what EPFO have achieved in the decades gone by and from here on how EPFO would innovate and deliver on the rising expectation of the members.

Dagmar Walter, Director at ILO Decent Work, lauded the good work done by the organisation during the pandemic and its efforts towards providing Nirbaad services to its members.

Yadav inaugurated an exhibition named 'EPFO @70 The journey'. A special cover commemorating 70 years of the organisation was released in collaboration with the Department of Post.

Yadav also laid the foundation stone of the regional office building in Pune and inaugurated the regional office building in Ranchi in virtual mode.

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Jamshed J Irani, known as the steel man of India, died in Jamshedpur late Monday night, said. He was 85.

Russia warns it will not allow ships with Ukraine grain without consent

Russia's UN ambassador on Monday accused Ukraine of using the Black Sea shipping corridor to get grain to world markets for military and sabotage purposes against its fleet, saying this is why it suspended implementation of the deal and warning that it will not allow the unimpeded passage of vessels without its consent which is currently taking place.

Irani was associated with for over four decades. He retired from the board of in June 2011, leaving behind a legacy of 43 years, which won him and the Company international acclaim in various fields.
Senior Congress leader has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel over the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy.

A Congress delegation led by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, party president Jagdish Thakor and former Madhya Pradesh CM visited Morbi on Monday, a day after the suspension bridge over the Machchhu river collapsed.

Rajkot Range Inspector General Ashok Yadav told PTI on Monday that 134 people were killed after the bridge collapsed on Sunday evening.

Talking to reporters on Monday, claimed it was a "government-made tragedy" and demanded that the state chief minister resign on moral grounds.

"I don't want to do politics, but I have learnt that BJP ministers, MPs, collector and Morbi district superintendent of police were holding a meeting at a nearby place when the bridge collapsed on Sunday evening. They did not stop the meeting to come here," the Congress veteran further claimed.

Singh also asked how the bridge was thrown open for the public without any (fitness) certificate from the authorities.

"This is not a man-made but a government-made tragedy and the CM must apologise to the public and tender his resignation. Why were so many people allowed to come on the bridge? The liability must be fixed and culprits must be arrested at the earliest," he added.

Police on Monday arrested nine persons, including four from the Oreva group that was managing the suspension bridge, and filed a case against firms tasked with maintenance and operation of the British-era structure.

Video footage emerged of the moments before Sunday evening's deadly collapse, showing the bridge snapping in a few seconds, taking down scores of visitors seen walking on the swaying structure which had reopened six days ago after extensive repair but sans a fitness certificate.

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on Monday extended his deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the bridge collapse tragedy in Morbi, Gujarat, on Sunday in which 141 people were killed.

"Today, our hearts are with India. Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones during the bridge collapse, and join the people of in mourning the loss of too many lives cut short.

"The United States and India are indispensable partners, with deep bonds between our citizens. In this difficult hour, we will continue to stand with and support the Indian people," Biden said in a statement issued by the White House.

The British era suspension bridge over Machchu river, which was reopened just five days back after renovation work, was filled with people when it collapsed on Sunday evening, snuffing out 141 innocent lives.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased from the PM's Relief Fund, and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

--IANS

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Aviation consultancy firm CAPA said on Tuesday said that more than 75 planes of Indian carriers are currently grounded due to maintenance and engine-related issues.

These planes, which account for around 10-12 per cent of the Indian fleet, are grounded due to maintenance or engine-related issues. "These will have a significant impact on financials in the second half," CAPA said in its India Mid-Year Outlook 2023 released on Tuesday.

As per the report, more than 75 aircraft are currently grounded, creating serious challenges against the backdrop of an already hostile cost environment and contributing to increased losses.

The capacity has been impacted by serious supply chain issues impacting current and future deliveries, it said, adding that these issues are likely to proliferate in the fiscal starting April 2023 which, in turn, will impact future deliveries, the report said.

Significantly none of the domestic airlines, including two listed companies -- IndiGo and SpiceJet -- have so far made any public announcement on the grounding of the planes.

According to CAPA, delays in future deliveries could also reflect in liquidity issues as the income from sale and lease back financing may be less-than planned.

Delays in aircraft deliveries may also result in increased unit costs for carriers due to the need to extend the leases of older aircraft in the fleet, which have higher maintenance cost and fuel consumption than the new aircraft that would have replaced them, it said.

The report also said that non-supply issues are also expected to emerge next year such as shortages of pilots and engineers.

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Prime Minister on Tuesday asked the governments of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to hold detailed discussions and prepare a roadmap to develop the Mangarh Dham.

The dham, a memorial for around 1,500 tribals massacred by the British army in 1913, is located in Rajasthan's Banswara district on the and the desert state's border, a region with a large tribal population.

The four states together under the leadership of the Centre can develop the memorial more so that tribal leader Govind Guru's place, Mangarh Dham, can create an identity at the global level, Modi said addressing a gathering.

The tribals massacred in 1913 were being led by social reformer and tribal leader Govind Guru.

"These four states and the government of India has to take it (the dham) to a new height. In that direction, the government is fully committed," he said while addressing a gathering at the memorial.

He said that it can be called a national monument or any other name can be given to it.

When the programme was going on, the Press Information Bureau tweeted, "PM@narendarmodi declares Mangadh Dham as National Monument,# ."



At the event, the prime minister shared the dais with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and chief ministers Ashok Gehlot, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Bhupendra Patel.

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Prime Minister on Tuesday said the Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra governments should prepare a roadmap to develop Mangarh Dham, the site of a tribal uprising against the British that has now been declared a monument.

The dham, a memorial for around 1,500 tribals massacred by the British army in 1913, is located in Rajasthan's Banswara district close to the borders of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, a region with a large tribal population.

The four states together under the leadership of the Centre can develop the dham more so that tribal leader Govind Guru's place, Mangarh Dham, can get a global identity, the prime minister said addressing a gathering, comprising tribals, among others, here.

Those massacred in 1913 were being led by social reformer and tribal leader Govind Guru, who the prime minister said was a hero to lakhs of tribal people and a revolutionary.

The event is also being seen as the BJP's outreach to the community ahead of the assembly polls in Gujarat in the next few weeks and in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh next year.

While the Union culture ministry-organised event was underway, the Press Information Bureau tweeted, "PM@narendarmodi declares Mangadh Dham as Monument,#Rajasthan."



"Over 1,500 innocent tribals were killed in firing by Britishers on November 17, 1913, but unfortunately, in the history written post-Independence, this was not given its due place. Now, the country is correcting the mistake committed decades ago," Prime Minister Modi said.

Sharing the dais with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat chief ministers Ashok Gehlot, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Bhupendra Patel, he also said that a discussion about the comprehensive development of Mangarh Dham has been held here.

Modi said that "all of us have a strong desire for the magnificent expansion of Mangarh Dham and for this, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra need to work together".

"It is my request to all the four state governments to hold a detailed discussion in this direction, prepare a roadmap so that Govind Guru's place too can create its identity in the whole world," he said.

The prime minister said he believes that the development of the dham will make this area "an awakened place for the inspiration for the new generation".

Some may call it a monument or any name can be given to it, but the central government and tribal communities in all these four states have a direct connection to the dham, Modi said.

"These four states and the government of India can take it to a new height and in that direction, the central government is fully committed," the prime minister added.

Highlighting the contribution of tribals to the freedom struggle, he said that the Centre is working with a clear policy for the development of tribals across the country, from Rajasthan and Gujarat to the Northeast.

Water, electricity and health, among other facilities, are being provided and they are being linked to employment opportunities while forest wealth is also being protected, Modi said.

Tribals had started the freedom struggle even before the revolt of 1857, he said, adding that the community has a rich history of sacrifice in the freedom movement.

Speaking about Govind Guru, Modi said that he was a social reformer, revolutionary, saint and religious leader and he not only opened a front against the atrocities under the British rule but was also against social evils.

Govind Guru was not a king from a princely state yet he was a hero to lakhs of tribal people. Though he lost his family but he never lost his courage, the prime minister said.

Modi said that developmental works were carried out in the portion of the Mangarh Dham which falls in Gujarat when he was the chief minister. This helped in spreading the teachings of Govind Guru and also improving the quality of life of the people, he said.

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Prime Minister on Tuesday called for a detailed and extensive inquiry into the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy and said its key learnings must be implemented at the earliest.

Modi, who chaired a high-level meeting here to review the situation, was also briefed on the rescue operation and the assistance provided to the affected families, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement. The need of the hour is to conduct a detailed and extensive inquiry which will identify all aspects relating to this mishap, Modi said.

Authorities must stay in touch with the affected families and ensure that they receive all possible help in this tragic hour, he said.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi were among those who attended the meeting.

Earlier, Modi visited the site of the bridge collapse and also went to the local hospital where the injured are recovering. He also interacted with those involved in rescue and relief work and lauded their efforts.

At least 135 people died in Sunday's Morbi bridge collapse tragedy and 170 others rescued, minister Rajendra Trivedi said on Tuesday.

Ahead of the PMs visit, the government hospital at Morbi got a makeover with workers seen cleaning and painting a portion of the 300-bed hospital, which is a ground plus two-storey structure of three wings.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would list for hearing on November 14 a plea seeking constitution of a judicial commission to probe the bridge collapse incident in .

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Prime Minister will visit Morbi in today after the cable suspension bridge claimed the lives of at least 132 people, informed the state Chief Minister's office.

At least 132 people, including women and children, were killed and over 100 are receiving treatment for their injuries sustained after a cable suspension bridge in Morbi town collapsed on Sunday, plunging people into the Machchhu River.

Prime Minister Modi, in Kevadia, said that rescue operations were underway and there would be no laxity in rescue and relief efforts.

"The Government has been carrying out relief and rescue operations since Sunday evening. Centre too is extending all help to the State Government," PM Modi said.

"The State Government has constituted a committee to investigate this incident. I assure the people of the country that there will be no laxity in rescue and relief operations," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing a gathering on the occasion of the 147th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Ekta Nagar in Kevadia.

"I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. In this hour of grief, the government is with the bereaved families in every manner. The Government has been carrying out relief and rescue operations since the incident. Centre too is extending all help to the State Government," PM Modi said.

"I am in Ekta Nagar but my mind is with the victims of Morbi. Rarely in my life, would I have experienced such pain. On one hand, there is a pain-riddled heart and on the other hand, there is the path to duty," the prime minister said.

The prime minister said that Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel had reached Morbi and has been holding the command of search and rescue operations since Sunday.

"The State Government has constituted a committee to investigate this incident. I assure the people of the country that there will be no laxity in rescue and relief operations," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister who is on a three-day tour to Gujarat and Rajasthan also cancelled his roadshow to be held in Ahmedabad.

Prime Minister got emotional while addressing the audience as he laid the foundation stones of several projects worth over Rs 8,000 crore in Banaskantha's Tharad.

Addressing the audience during the event, PM Modi also remembered the deceased who died after the century-old suspension bridge collapsed in Gujarat's Morbi yesterday. "I am very distressed after the Morbi mishap," Modi said.

"I was distraught about whether to do the development programs or not. But because of your love and service and the 'Sanskar' of performing the duty, brought me here with a strong heart. Banaskantha means the whole of North Gujarat," PM Modi said in a breaking voice.

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Prime Minister is likely to pay homage to 1,500 tribals, who were martyred 109 years ago in Mangarh Dham, during his visit on Tuesday.

Thereafter, he will address a large public gathering to be attended by around 1 lakh people.

During his 'Mann ki Baat' programme on Sunday, the Prime Minister had spoken on the significance of Mangarh Dham.

"Tribal society is the protector of nature and the tribal community serves Mother Earth. Everyone should learn the work of environmental protection from them," he had said. He also mentioned the incident of 1500 tribals being killed by British rule in Mangarh in 1913.

On Tuesday, he is expected to declare this 'dham' as a national monument while addressing a massive crowd in Mangarh Dham.

Along with Modi, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan will also be present in the Mangarh Dham event.

BJP is also one of the main organisers of this event.

The event will affect around 99 Assembly seats (tribal majority) of these three states. Mangarh is a place where the borders of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and meet. The tribals of these states are revered by the people here.

Ahead of Modi's visit, Chief Minister Gehlot started talking about declaring Mangarh as a national monument. He has written two letters to the Prime Minister recently in this regard.

Located in Banswara district, Mangarh Dham is built on a hill. While one part of the hill falls under Gujarat, another is included in Rajasthan. In this hilly region, a tribal leader named Govind Guru had participated in the freedom movement against British rule.

In 1913, the British government surrounded him and his tribal companions on this dham and massacred 1500 tribals.

Mangarh Dham is built in his memory.

--IANS

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Prime Minister will inaugurate 3,024 newly constructed Economically Weaker Section flats in as part of an in-situ slum rehabilitation project on Wednesday evening, his office has said.

During the programme at Vigyan Bhawan here, the slum dwellers at Bhoomihin camp will also be handed over keys to the flats, thereby giving them the ownership and a sense of security, a PMO statement said.

The in-situ slum rehabilitation in 376 Jhuggi Jhopri clusters is being undertaken by the Development Authority (DDA) in line with the prime minister's vision to provide housing for all, it said.

"The objective of the rehabilitation project is to provide a better and healthy living environment to the residents of Jhuggi Jhopri clusters, with proper amenities and facilities," the statement added.

The 3,024 flats under Phase I have been constructed at a cost of about Rs 345 crore and are equipped with amenities such as vitrified floor tiles, ceramics tiles and Udaipur green marble counter in kitchen.

Public amenities like community parks, electric sub-stations, sewage treatment plant, dual water pipelines, lifts and underground reservoir for hygienic water supply have also been provided, it said.

The DDA has undertaken three such projects at Kalkaji Extension, Jailorwala Bagh and Kathputli Colony. Under the Kalkaji Extension Project, rehabilitation of three slum clusters -- Bhoomiheen, Navjeevan and Jawahar camps -- are being taken up in a phased manner.

The slum at Bhoomiheen camp will be vacated by rehabilitating eligible households living there to the newly constructed EWS flats. In phase II, the vacated site will be utilised for rehabilitation of Navjeevan and Jawahar camps, the statement said.

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Industry body Southern India Mills Association (SIMA) has welcomed the decision of the Directorate General of Trade Remedies for rejecting the proposed anti-dumping duty on Monoetheylene Glycol.

The MEG is one of the major raw materials used for the manufacture of polyester staple fibre.

SIMA chairman Ravi Sam in a statement said the rejection of the levy of anti-dumping duty on MEG is a step in the right direction for the growth of Man Made Fibre sector.

Extending his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of Textiles Piyush Goyal for the decision, Sam said the Man Made Fibre sector used particularly in the polyester would be the growth engine and job creation.

Adequate availability of polyester staple fibre at an internationally competitive rate would fuel the growth of emerging technical textile segment, he said.

"As the country started facing cotton shortage, several hundreds of spinning, weaving mills were switching over to polyester textile clothing manufacturing..", he pointed out.

The government has been taking various policy initiatives and the structural issues relating to raw materials especially MMF, fibres and filament yarns to gain global competitivity, he said.

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The (SP) has started the process of collecting evidence regarding the alleged deletion of voters' names in the recent Assembly elections.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked SP president Akhilesh Yadav to "submit documentary proof" to substantiate his allegation about the deletion of voter names in 2022 UP Assembly polls.

The SP president has now asked all the party candidates (winners and losers) and district units' top office-bearers to gather evidence of names that were 'wrongfully struck off voters' lists'.

They have been directed to compile photocopies of complaints made to returning officers at the time.

The party has set November 3 as the deadline for the candidates to submit the documents to the party headquarters so that they could be sent to the Election Commission in time.

A letter to this effect has been sent to all by SP state president Naresh Uttam Patel.

Patel's letter also asks to collect affidavits from such voters whose names were wrongfully struck off the voters' lists.

It may be recalled that on October 27, the EC had asked Akhilesh Yadav to submit proof to back up his charges by November 10.

Akhilesh hit back at the poll panel on October 28 and said, "Had the Election Commission itself followed the rules related to the voters' list in the 2022 UP Assembly polls, then thousands of voters would not have been deprived of their vote."

Last month, the SP chief had alleged that the names of 20,000 voters from the Yadav and Muslim communities had been deleted from almost all 403 Assembly constituencies ahead of the state elections in February-March.

--IANS

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The on Tuesday refused to entertain a seeking directions to the Centre and the states to publish draft laws prominently on government websites and in the public domain at least 60 days before they are introduced in and state assemblies.

A bench of Chief Justice U U Lalit and Justice Bela M Trivedi, however, hoped that the governments would put the laws in public domain in local languages so that citizens know about the legislations made for them.

With regard to the pleas seeking a direction to put future laws in public domain, the bench said, It would not be proper on our part to direct the government to publish draft legislations.

It is entirely left up to the government to take such decisions. As regards to the second prayer, we do believe that people must know the legislations made for them and such legislations must be provided in public domain in local languages.

Senior lawyer Gopal Sankarnarayanan, appearing for petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay, said that discussion and posting in local languages should be necessary part of the lawmaking process.

In the United Kingdom, there is a process of consultation, he said.

The bench then disposed of the .

The plea had also sought a direction to the Centre to ensure that all draft and final legislations are put in the public domain in all regional languages.

It had said any draft legislation, except those related to security, must be published on government websites at least 60 days before they are introduced in or state legislature.

"In today's democratic process, with the advent of advanced media and technology, it is no longer appropriate for governments, both Central and State, to suddenly pass laws overnight with scarcely any legislative debate and no wider consultation at all, said the plea.

The plea said at least as far as central laws are concerned, the proposed legislations should be translated into regional languages and published on website at least 60 days prior to their introduction in so that citizens have a full understanding of them.

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Seatbelts for all drivers and passengers will become mandatory in from Tuesday. The order was issued on October 14 following the amendment to the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act's Section 194(b)(1), which has mandated that any person driving without a seat belt or carrying passengers not wearing the same shall be liable for punishment.

According to the provisions of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, whosoever drives a motor vehicle without wearing a safety belt or carries passengers not wearing shall be punished. The Traffic Police had given time to all vehicle owners who do not have seat-belt facilities for all to install them by the deadline of October 31.

The implementation comes nearly two months after the death of eminent industrialist Cyrus P. Mistry in a road accident on September 4 ostensibly in a speeding vehicle while travelling from Gujarat to Mumbai, when he was not wearing a seatbelt.

Prior to that, on August 14, prominent Maharashtra politician Vinayak Mete had been killed in a road accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway near Raigad, en route to . Earlier, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had issued the Draft Rules making it incumbent upon all car manufacturers to install seat-belt alarms for all seats in the cars.

"While taking action against motorists and co-passengers, our focus will be to sensitise the drivers and co-passengers found not wearing seat belts," a police official told media.

"Traffic Police have been directed to take action against the drivers not wearing seat belts, but we will issue warnings to four-wheelers which do not have rear seat belts", he added.

"The Mumbai Traffic Police shall deploy special teams at vantage points to check the compliance to the rule, make random checks of vehicles on the two highways and other roads, at key signals or junctions to ensure all follow the new safety rule," said another department.
Chief minister has claimed that the cases of in Haryana are not even 10 per cent of that in Punjab.

"There are not even 10 per cent cases of in Haryana as compared to Punjab. Last year there were 2,561 incidents of stubble burning, whereas it has decreased to 1,925 this year while 13,873 incidents have taken place in Punjab this year," Haryana CM said while addressing a press conference in Chandigarh on Monday.

He further added that they have also appealed to Punjab regarding and the pollution it causes.

"NGT has given directions to Punjab. We have also appealed (to them) that the pollution will not remain in one state but will spread to many states," he said.

"We created awareness among the farmers and also took legal action besides imposing penalties and registering FIRs. Incidents of stubble burning have reduced significantly in Haryana as compared to Punjab," Haryana CM said.

Notably, Stubble burning had turned worse across Punjab, giving no hope of improvement in Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) as the capital gasps for clean air.

Increasing incidents of stubble burning in Punjab this year have become a matter of serious concern with the Union Environment Ministry pointing out that the AQI is likely to sharply deteriorate as only about 45-50 per cent of sown area in the state had been harvested till October 24.

Sources in the Environment Ministry had told ANI that the contribution of stubble burning to the adverse air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region has been increasing sharply and is about 18-20 per cent currently with the trend only likely to increase further.

As per the Standard Protocol developed by ISRO for Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), for the period September 15, 2022, to October 26, 2022, total paddy residue burning events reported in Punjab were 7,036 compared to 6,463 for the same period during the last year.

CAQM further stated that about 70 per cent of farm fires during the current paddy harvesting season were reported only from six districts namely Amritsar, Firozpur, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Patiala, and Tarn Taran.

These districts account for 4,899 cases against a total of 7,036 incidents in Punjab. These traditional six hotspot districts also accounted for about 65 per cent of the total burning incidents during the last year for the same period. Out of a total of 7,036 reported cases, 4,315 stubble-burning incidences were reported during the last six days alone i.e., about 61 per cent.

As per the Standard ISRO Protocol, for the period of September 15 - October 28 this year, a total of 10,214 paddy residue burning events have been reported in Punjab compared to 7,648 for the same period during the last year, which is a significant increase of about 33.5 per cent.

Out of the total 10,214 reported cases, 7,100 stubble-burning incidents were reported in the last 7 days alone which is about 69 per cent, added the official.

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A special court here has sentenced a 22-year-old to five years simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 for making derogatory comments on Facebook posts after the terrorist attack on CRPF jawans in in 2019.

The order was passed by Judge Gangadhara C M of the Additional City Civil & Sessions Judge (Special Judge for trial of NIA Cases).

The accused, Faiz Rasheed, was 19 and a college student at the time of the crime and has been in custody for three-and-a-half years.

The court found him guilty under Section 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion,) and Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence).

However, the trial was not conducted on Section 124A (Sedition) and it was kept in abeyance as per the Supreme Court directions keeping it in suspension.

He was sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of three years and pay a fine of Rs 10,000 for the offence under Section 153-A of the IPC. He was sentenced to simple imprisonment for a period of three years and fine of Rs 5,000 for the offence under Section 201 of the IPC.

He was sentenced to five years and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 for the offence under Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The sentences will run concurrently.

Rasheed had made 23 comments on the posts of various media outlets celebrating the terrorist attack and mocking the Army.

The court in its recent judgement said the prosecution has produced the evidence to show that the accused made the derogatory posts on his Facebook account by supporting the suicide attack made on CRPF Jawans at with an intention to promote enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, which is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religions which was likely to disturb the public tranquility.

It also noted that the prosecution has "adduced evidence to show that the accused made the posts and comments with an intention to disrupt the sovereignty and integrity of India and the comments made by the accused clearly go to show that he was felt happy with the incident attack on CRPF Jawans at by terrorists which caused disaffection against India."



Since he was 19 years of age at the time of committing the offence, Rasheed was eligible for probation.

His advocate argued that he was below 21 years and had not committed any other offence and should be released on probation.

The court, however, cited reasons to deny him probation and sentenced him to imprisonment.

It reasoned that it was a deliberate act by Rasheed.

"The accused has not made derogatory comments one or two times. He made the comments to all the posts made by all the news channels on Facebook. Moreover, he was not an illiterate or ordinary man. He was an engineering student at the time of commission of the offence and he made the posts and comments intentionally on his facebook account," the court observed.

The court pointed out that the accused "felt happy about killing of the great souls and celebrated the death of the great souls as (if) he was not an Indian. Therefore, the offence committed by the accused is against this great nation and heinous in nature."



"He commented for more than 24 times and he celebrated the death of the great souls as (if) he is not an Indian. Therefore, in the opinion of the court, if three years imprisonment is imposed for the offence punishable under section 153A and 201 of IPC respectively and five years imprisonment is imposed for the offence punishable under section 13 of UA (P) Act, it is proportionate to the crime committed by the accused," it said deciding the quantum of punishment.

Forty CRPF personnel were killed in the terrorist attack carried out by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad in 2019.

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As many as 43 new COVID-19 cases have been detected in Maharashtra's district, taking the tally of infections to 7,46,733, a health official said on Tuesday.

With the addition of the latest cases on Monday, the district currently has 300 active COVID-19 cases, he said.

The in the district remained unchanged at 11,965, he said, adding that the recovery count has reached 7,35,174.

(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.)
National Conference leader has claimed that authorities in Union Territory of tried to dissuade him from visiting .

"They told me not come here. There (Eastern Ladakh) China has come in, you could not stop them, you could not send them back. We are only going from Srinagar to via Drass. We were not here to occupy the town," Omar told a gathering of his supporters in Drass on Monday.

The National Conference leader alleged he was denied the permission to use a public address system and the Day Bungalow facility in Drass.

"I have been a chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir for six years, but I fail to understand certain decisions made by them. At best, I would have only used the Dak Bungalow to freshen up," he added.

Abdullah said the government had no confidence in its own decisions.

"In August 2019, they separated you (Ladakh) from Jammu and Kashmir. If that was your heartfelt demand, why are they scared of allowing us in?" he asked.

Hitting out at the BJP-led government at the Centre, he said they cannot sever the centuries-old ties between people of Jammu and Kashmir and by drawing imaginary lines.

"Our relations are very strong, and these fake lines cannot weaken that. We can feel your pain, we know you are being ignored," 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.)
India may have to wait a bit longer for winter as the weather office on Tuesday forecast above-normal night temperatures for most parts of the country in November.

Addressing a press conference here, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said minimum temperatures were expected to be above normal during November over most parts of the country.

Large parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand are also likely to experience above-normal day temperatures, Mohapatra said, virtually ruling out coldwave conditions during the month.

"There could be cloudy conditions in the region as minimum temperatures are likely to be above normal. This would mean that coldwave conditions were less likely during November," he said.

In north India, the indication of winter starts from mid-November when minimum temperatures drop gradually to settle below 15 degrees Celsius and nights turn chilly.

According to the long range forecast for rainfall and temperature for November, Mohapatra said south peninsular India was likely to experience above-normal rainfall during the month as showers were set to drench the region.

The long period average rainfall for south peninsular India for November is 118.7 mm with an error margin of 23 per cent.

Mohapatra said the set in over Tamil Nadu and adjoining areas on October 29, almost a fortnight later than the normal onset date of October 15.

He said withdrawal of the southwest monsoon, which starts from extreme west Rajasthan on September 15, too had been delayed over the past few years.

Mohapatra said the current sea surface temperatures and atmospheric conditions over the equatorial Pacific Ocean indicated La Nia conditions, which are likely to continue during the upcoming season.

Other factors such as the negative Indian Ocean Dipole conditions are prevailing over the equatorial Indian Ocean, which are expected to gradually weaken by the end of the year, he said.

Mohapatra said the weather office had issued the extended range outlook about Cyclone Sitrang on October 13, nine days before the formation of a depression over the north Andaman Sea and also forecast its landfall in Bangladesh four days in advance.

He said regular updates were issued to Bangladesh since October 6 and 23 special tropical weather outlook & tropical cyclone advisories were shared with the neighbouring country on the formation of the cyclonic storm.

(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 free trade agreement that was signed by India and earlier this year is expected to be implemented soon, an official statement released by the commerce and industry ministry said.

While both nations had signed an interim free trade dealEconomic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) in April, the ratification of the deal in the Australias Parliament remains pending amid the procedural delays caused by the formation of a new in .

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and Don Farrell, Minister of Trade and Tourism of on Tuesday virtually discussed the trade pactIndAus ECTA--that was signed seven months ago. The ministers noted that an early implementation of the trade pact is in the best interest of both the countries.

During the meeting, Farrell informed that the IndAus ECTA as well as the amendments to the domestic regulation of Australia for resolving the issues related to Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) had been introduced in the Australia Parliament.

The trade agreement is likely to be ratified shortly after a joint standing committee on the treaty submits its report to the Australian Parliament. He also said that the processes related to the ratification of the agreement will be completed in the following weeks.

The Parliament session after the formation of the new in Australia started in July. The deal can be ratified after they get an approval from the Parliamentary committee.

Both nations also agreed to hold the annual Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting sometime early next year. In the meantime, experts from both sides will have their first round of discussions, which will lay a roadmap for the JMC meeting.

Delegations noted that both nations share a special partnership based on mutual values of pluralistic parliamentary democracies, expanding economic strategic engagement and long-standing people to people ties. Meeting concluded with both the parties acknowledging the need to redefine their economic relations exploring the opportunities offered in trade and investment, an official statement said.

Under the interim trade deal, Canberaa will provide duty-free access in its market for over 6,000 sectors of India and help in taking bilateral trade to $50 billion in next five years. The deal will also offer relief to Indian operating in Australia, as Canberra has agreed to amend its domestic laws to stop taxing offshore income of such companies, as part of ECTA.
Climate and sustainable development financing, multilateral institution reforms, regulation of digital assets, the spillover effect on developing economies from actions of western central banks, energy and food security in the backdrop of war in Europe, and sanctions on Russia and their impact on the global economy are some of the agenda items that will take up as President of G-20, said on Tuesday.

will take over as President of the powerful international grouping on December 1 for a year.

There will be around 200 meetings throughout the country, with the summit Heads of State meeting expected to be held in New Delhi next September.

We are almost at the fag end of all consultations and discussions officially to release what would be India's priorities as G20 President, and will be releasing them in a few days, Sitharaman said at an event organized by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations.

We have to understand how multilateral institutions, international financing institutions, are going to be better-reformed institutions. Are they going to serve with better vigourdo they have newer thoughts, are they looking at 21st century ways of leveraging the funds they have? Do they know or do they want to bring in greater resources? the said, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already set the tone of this debate by calling for the reform of institutions like the UN, IMF, and World Bank.

Sitharaman said all countries would have to work together to regulate crypto assets because no single country can succeed individually being in a solo and trying to regulate them. So we need to have all members of G-20 to come on board and see best how it can be done, she said, reiterating that would not bring its own regulations without wider consensus at international level.

She said India was in a very unique position after having maintained an independent position in todays global geopolitical situation. India is very carefully maintaining its position and voicing for the emerging markets, the low and middle-income countries and trying to make sure all our voices are heard, particularly at a time when we are also facing the collateral spillovers, she said.

The said a detailed discussion on sustainable development goals and climate financing was also needed.

The process of financing SDGs should be a lot more friendly towards lower income and developing countries, she said.

With Indonesia, India and Brazil set to chair G-20 in three consecutive years, policymakers of these nations are confident that the voice of developing nations can be pushed further in the global order.

For low and middle-income countries, the process of financing has got to be clearer for all of us. It can't be blind to achieving goals and forget the process itself, she said.

The topic of sanctions and other actions by countries is something we will discuss with other G20 members, including the actions taken at the earlier stages of the Russia-Ukraine war and the ones taken later, she said.

Sitharaman said India has a lot to learn from Indonesias presidency, as the south-east Asian nation chaired the grouping at a time of the Omicron wave and the geopolitical fallout of the war in Europe. By the culture and tradition of G-20, we are also going to make sure that we carry forward some of the agenda items from earlier presidencies which need to be taken forward and brought to a conclusion, she said.

These included further discussions on health and financing in order to better deal with future pandemics, debt distress of some of the low-income nations, and global taxation.

The digital achievement of India will have to be showcased because many of the G-20 members have expressed a desire to know how they could really do it and many of them are also engaging with us to see if their systems and our systems can be interoperable, she said.
Trade figures from India and left experts perplexed with a mismatch of $12 billion. According to China's data, its trade with India touched $103 billion in the first 9 months of 2022. On the other hand, according to India's data, the bilateral trade stood at $91 billion, according to a report in Mint.

Under-invoicing of shipments by Indian importers is believed to be the main reason behind the gap in figures. Underreporting is often done to evade taxes. The latest figures reveal that despite government's monitoring, the gap is higher than usually anticipated.

"To reap maximum benefits, traders manipulate the values on invoices submitted to the customs authorities to avoid tariffs that should be levied. Empirical studies also show that when the tariffs are high, firms tend to under-report imports," the Mint report quoted Biswajit Dhar, a professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, as saying.

Data from China's General Administration of Customs showed that the country's exports to India stood at $89.99 billion till September. According to India's figure, the from were worth $79.16 billion. This shows a gap of over $10 billion.

Similarly, a gap of $2 billion was noted in the data on exports from India. India's data showed exports to worth $12 billion, while China's respective data showed a figure of $13.97 billion.

According to Mint, the trade deficit between the two countries, according to China was $75.67 billion. According to India, it was $67.17 billion, bringing the difference to over $8 billion.

"Exporters would choose to misreport if the exchange rate is overvalued. Similarly, an importer would under-invoice if the tariffs are higher than the market exchange rate. Trade mis-invoicing may be driven by a desire to bypass administrative hurdles instead of tariff avoidance," Dhar added.

However, on being asked about the gap, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry told Mint, "India is a sovereign country and our numbers are quite solid, based on data collected from various sources, including ports. We cannot comment on how other countries gather their data, particularly countries that are very opaque. India abides by international norms and UN conventions for maintaining robust data."
The is on track to realise its estimated potential of Rs 50,000 crore, former Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria has said.

Bhadauria, who is now the Chief Nodal Officer of the UP Defence Industrial Corridor, said the state government has taken a slew of policy measures to actualise the potential of the mega project of national importance.

He said memoranda of understanding (MoU) for worth nearly Rs 12,000 crore had already been signed with private companies and institutional entities.

Apart from the MoUs already signed, fruitful discussions are underway with other companies looking to invest in the Corridor, he told Business Standard.

Bhadauria said efforts were being made to rope in anchor players and innovative startups to foster defence manufacturing ecosystem and a robust supply chain for maximising the benefits of the Corridor project.

The UP Corridor comprises six nodes, namely, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, Aligarh, Chitrakoot and Agra. So far, nodal agency UP Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) has acquired about 1,600 hectares of land for allotment to the private companies.

Besides, the state has suitably amended the UP Defence and Aerospace Employment Promotion Policy to woo the private sector defence players.

In fact, the Corridor is positioned as an important component for India to achieve desired self-reliance in defence and military ware production, and to become a net defence exporter through indigenous production, import substitution and tapping the lucrative export markets.

Meanwhile, among the prominent UP projects, which have already been launched, include the Indo-Russian joint venture of BrahMos missile project in Lucknow.

BrahMos is a joint venture between Indias Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Russias NPOM to develop next generation supersonic missiles for the Indian forces.

Moreover, the Adani Group had announced plans to develop South Asias largest integrated ammunition manufacturing facility spread over 250 acres. For the estimated Rs 1,500 crore project, Adani Defence & Aerospace has already signed an MoU with UPEIDA.

Any is a complex project and requires mutually supportive industries and linkages with segments such as training, skilling, education, human resources, warehousing etc. The private companies also need active support of the central and state governments, Bhadauria opined.

However, he claimed the UP Corridor has been successful in attracting a number of startups working on innovative and novel technologies in the defence sector.

Meanwhile, the government is planning to showcase the state defence manufacturing capability at the proposed UP global investor summit 2023, wherein the state has set the target of attracting of Rs 10 trillion.

The defence spectrum will play a vital role in the summit and we are tentatively targetting to net fresh investment of Rs 30,000 crore in the defence manufacturing sector, Bhadauria added.

Leading defence manufactures from the US, Europe and Russia are expected to participate in the summit to be held on February 10-12, 2023 in Lucknow.

Some top companies include US missile company Northrop Grumman; UKs missile launch systems and ammunition maker BAE Systems; German rifle company Umarex; Swedish firm SAAB, which makes Carl Gustaf M4 rifles; Russias Almaz-Antey, which is among the top military hardware exporters; Frances Dassault Aviation which manufacturers Rafale jets; and Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) which makes unmanned aerial vehicle helicopter systems.
Penguin Random Houses $2.18 billion acquisition of rival book publisher Simon & Schuster was blocked by a federal judge who found the merger would lessen competition.

Judge Florence Y Pan ruled in favor of the Justice Department, which sued last year arguing the tie-up would give Penguin  the largest US book publisher owned by Bertelsmann SE  too much leverage over author payouts. Simon & Schuster is the fourth largest book publisher, owned by Paramount Global.

The court finds that the United States has shown that the effect of (the proposed merger) may be substantially to lessen competition in the market for the US publishing rights to anticipated top-selling books, the judge wrote in a two-page order Monday.

The reasons for the decision will be released later, after the agree on what confidential information should be redacted, the judge said.

Penguin Random House said in a statement that it strongly disagrees with the decision and would seek an expedited appeal immediately. The Department of Justices (DoJs) antitrust division has stepped up its enforcement under President Joe Biden, bringing an unprecedented 10 merger challenges since taking over last year.

The win in the book publisher case comes after DoJs antitrust lawyers lost three challenges in a row, though some of those cases are now being appealed.

The ruling also represents a victory for the Biden administrations increased focus on competition issues in labor markets. At trial, DoJ lawyers leaned heavily on the argument that authors would be harmed by having fewer publishing houses to compete for their titles.
A climate activist group recently targeted landmark buildings in by spray painting them in an act of protest against fossil fuels.

The group named Just Stop Oil, on Monday, sprayed orange paint on buildings in dubbed as "four pillars of economy" by them. These included the Home Office, the MI5 building, the Bank of England, and the headquarters of News Corp at Bridge.

The Twitter page of the climate activist group shared videos of their protest, where they were seen spraying orange paint on the buildings from a fire extinguisher.

The group demands that the UK government should halt all new oil and gas consents and licenses.

In a tweet, the group's spokesperson said, "We are not prepared to stand by and watch while everything we love is destroyed, while vulnerable people go hungry and companies and the rich profit from our misery. The era of fossil fuels should be long gone, but the creeping tentacles of interests continue to corrupt our politics, government and media as they have for decades."

https://twitter.com/JustStop_Oil/status/1587009684317274112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1587009832774688769%7Ctwgr%5E1c653778acbf48a87ef64c3b8f6e26731bee0092%7Ctwcon%5Es2_ & ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiatoday.in%2Fworld%2Fstory%2Fclimate-activists-paint-london-orange-protesting-fossil-fuel-use-2291555-2022-10-31

Previously, members of the Just Stop Oil group have spilt soup over Van Gogh's world-famous 'Sunflowers' painting in London and vandalised King Charles III's wax statue in Madame Tussauds.

Two climate activists smeared chocolate cake over the wax statue of Britain's King Charles III at London's Madame Tussauds Museum just last week.

Before that, Claude Monet's famous painting in Germany's Museum Barberini became the target of members of climate protestors. Two environmental protestors threw mashed potatoes over the piece of art.

(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 order to address acute labour shortage, plans to welcome a record 500,000 new permanent residents in 2025, the government said while announcing the Levels Plan for 2023-2025 on Tuesday.

The North American nation increased its 2023 target to 465,000 and its 2024 target to 485,000, up 4 per cent and 7.5 per cent, respectively.

Canada's goals include growing the economy, reuniting families, and offering asylum to refugees fleeing hardship abroad, CIC News reported.

In 2021, broke its all-time immigration record by welcoming over 405,000 immigrants.

The majority of new permanent residents immigrate through economic class programs such as those within the Express Entry system or through Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs).

According to the new plan, there will be 82,880 Express Entry landings in 2023, 109,020 in 2024 and 114,000 in 2025.

The PNP will remain Canada's leading admissions program for economic class immigrants with 105,500 PNP landings in 2023, 110,000 in 2024 and 117,500 in 2025.

According to CIC News, will continue to look to welcome some 80,000 new immigrants per year under the Spouses, Partners and Children program.

Targets for the Parents and Grandparents Program will rise to 28,500 in 2023, followed by 34,000 in 2024, and 36,000 in 2025.

The most recent job vacancy data showed there were 958,500 open roles in Canada in August and 1 million unemployed people.

The economy lost almost $13 billion over the past year due to a nationwide labour and skill shortage in the manufacturing sector, the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters' labour survey of 563 manufacturers in 17 industries across the country found.

Labour shortages are further impacted by Canada's low birth rate of 1.4 children per woman, one of the lowest globally, according to media reports.

According to a CIC News report, nine million people, or nearly a quarter of Canada's population, will reach retirement age by 2030, which will create an urgent shortage of workers throughout all sectors of the economy.

--IANS

mi/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.)
For two years, bad news has kept piling on for Chinese property developers.

The nations worsening credit crisis has led to defaults, failure to deliver homes on time and an unrelenting market selloff. Now a new phenomenon has emerged: Builders founders are leaving.

Longfor Group Holdings Ltd.s Wu Yajun resigned on Friday as executive director and chair, shortly after Soho Ltd.s Pan Shiyi quit in September. While Wu cited health reasons, the timing has startled analysts.

Its very likely that we will see more mainland property founders leaving important roles in their firms, said Kakei Lam, fund investment officer at Metaverse Securities in Hong Kong. The golden age of Chinese property is gone, and they probably dont see too much they can do to help.

The surprise move sent Longfors stock and bonds tumbling on Monday, even as Wus family spent HK$28.6 million ($3.6 million) snapping up shares to shore up market confidence and the company partially repaid a syndicated loan early. The resignation is only adding to concerns that the developer -- which has the highest credit rating among private peers in -- wont be able to rely on its relatively strong position to stave off the ongoing national crisis.

While the trend is only starting in the property sector, Chinas tech industry has seen several high-profile founders resign following a crackdown that began with Ant Group Co.s torpedoed initial public offering, costing the firms billions of dollars in market value. Entrepreneurs are quitting because theyre worried about Xi Jinpings drive to regulate wealth accumulation, said Alicia Garcia Herrero, chief Asia Pacific economist at Natixis SA.

In the case of Soho China, the stock has tumbled to a record low since Pan left the company to focus on philanthropic pursuits.

Once Chinas richest woman, Wu has lost two-thirds of her wealth this year and has dropped out of the Bloomberg Index, which tracks the worlds 500 richest people. As of Mondays close, she was worth $4.5 billion.

While Wus resignation sent shock waves through the market, the 58-year-old said shed been preparing her succession for three years, inspired by He Xiangjian, the billionaire founder of appliance maker Midea Group Co. who handed the reins to a group of professional managers a decade ago.

In a call over the weekend, Wu told investors shes been suffering from diabetes and thyroid disease for years and initially planned to announce her departure after Longfors most recent earnings report in August, state media reported. She decided to postpone to wait for a better time and mentioned the company bought some plots of land in September.

Chen Xuping, Longfors chief executive officer since March, succeeded Wu as chair and two other new directors were appointed to the board on Friday. Wu vowed to remain as a strategic development consultant to help with the business model and look for growth opportunities, the state media report said.

Wu Yajun

The selloff reflects the market doubts on the ability of the successor and whether the firm can maintain its development plans in the future, Metaverse Securities Lam said.

Known as one of the top self-made female entrepreneurs in China, Wu lost her title as the countrys richest woman after divorcing Cai Kui in 2012 and transferring to him more than one-third of the Longfor shares they held together. The following year, she set up her own family office, Wu Capital, to diversify her investments into private equity and technology.

In 2018, Wu conveyed all her Longfor stake to a discretionary trust established by her daughter, Cai Xinyi, citing family wealth and succession planning. She put her in charge of the family office two years later, though Wu still holds the Longfor voting rights from the trust.

INSIGHT: Housing Rout Spells LGFV Defaults, Not Crisis

Wus rise is an example of Chinas massive wealth creation over the past decades. Born into a humble family in the southwestern city of Chongqing, she studied thermal power torpedo equipment design at the Northwestern Polytechnical University of Xian and was assigned to a state-owned factory after graduating in 1984. Inspired by the economic growth unleashed by the countrys opening up, she quit her stable job to become a reporter.

Wu decided to start her own property firm after she bought her first apartment in her hometown, an experience that left her disappointed after its delivery was delayed and she discovered when she moved in that the elevator service was spotty. She founded Longfors predecessor in 1993 to cater to demand for new, better quality homes. The firm sold its first residential project four years later, and the business soon expanded to other major Chinese cities.

Longfor started trading publicly in Hong Kong in 2009 and has been considered a healthy developer as it meets the three red lines -- the debt restrictions China imposed as part of its crackdown on leverage. The firm remains one of the rare builders in the nation that managed to post net income growth in the first half of this year and hand out cash dividends.

But Chinas dimming economic outlook amid its punishing Covid policies and limited financing channels are hampering confidence in Longfors growth. And Wus stepping down isnt helping.

We are concerned the resignation may have an impact on confidence among Longfors stakeholders, e.g. suppliers, homebuyers and financial institutions, UBS Group AG analysts including John Lam wrote in a note Monday. That could bring pressure on the companys liquidity, they added.
Any bargain hunters hoping to snap up Group AG now that the lenders revamp has pushed its stock down yet again may find themselves getting short shrift in .

We are going to thrive again, so we dont have any takeover discussions, Chairman Axel Lehmann said in an interview with Bloomberg Television in Hong Kong on Monday. We want to stay independent.

With its share price slumping by more than half this year, the 166-year-old institution has been vulnerable to rumors of takeover bids and concerns over its stability.

Lehmann said the 4 billion Swiss franc ($4 billion) capital increase would make the lender rock solid, helping it to carry out a vital restructuring that radically downsizes the loss-making investment bank and shrinks its trading operations.

Going forward, is really a wealth management-centric franchise, centered around entrepreneurs, wealthy clients, said Lehmann, adding the bank plans to push ahead with growth efforts in key Latin America, Asia Pacific and Middle East markets. We are a wealth manager, and asset management goes alongside.

The executive said hes highly confident that Credit Suisse can secure an agreement over the next week in relation to the sale of the majority of a securitisedproducts trading business to a group led by private equity firm Apollo Global Management.

The bank plans to retain a stream of revenues from the business, Lehmann said.

The bank detailed plans to raise capital through a rights issue and selling shares to investors including Saudi National Bank, which is set to become one of the lenders top shareholders. To assist with the process, the company announced an enlarged syndicate of banks that includes Wall Street nams such as Goldman Sachs.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who recently acquired Twitter, on Monday took to the micro-blogging site and addressed the question whether will be permitted back on the social media platform.

The new boss tweeted, "If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if Trump is coming back on this platform, would be minting money!"

The NY Post has reported that after taking over in a USD 44 billion deal last week, Musk began cleaning house by firing its top executives.

He fired a number of Twitter executives including CEO Parag Agrawal and Vijaya Gadde, Twitter's longtime head of legal, policy and trust, who was in charge of significant account decisions, including suspending Trump.

The entrepreneur said that the social media company "will be forming a content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints." That means suspended accounts like those held by Trump won't immediately return to Twitter.

In the weeks and months leading up to his purchase, Musk, who calls himself a "free speech absolutist," had pledged to reinstate Trump's account.

Reinstating Trump can have repercussions for Musk as the NY Post has shared that the Wall Street Journal reported several top brands preparing to cut ties with Twitter if Musk followed through with it.

According to the NY Post, Musk, who appears mindful of what an advertiser exodus might mean for his company's bottom line, tried to calm jittery Madison Avenue last week, pledging that he would not allow Twitter to descend into a "free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences! In addition to adhering to the laws of the land, our platform must be warm and welcoming to all."

Trump was banned from Twitter, his preferred method of communicating to the masses, in the wake of the events at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Since then, the former US President has been active on his own social networking app, Truth Social.

(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.)
Hundreds of worshipped the Sun God on Sunday evening and Monday night at several places in the country, ranging from the Potomac river in a suburb of this city and Query Lake front in Fremont, to a makeshift pond in Connecticut and Donaldson Park in New Jersey.

In New Jersey, India's Consul General in New York Randhir Singh Jaiswal and his spouse Dr Abha Jaiswal joined the Morning Arag or the worship of the rising sun at Donaldson Park, Highland, along with nearly a thousand from the New York and New Jersey area.

Organised by the Bihar and Jharkhand Association of North America and Bihar Foundation, one of the largest Chhath celebrations in the US saw the participation of families of top corporate leaders.

In his brief remarks, Jaiswal highlighted the significance of the diaspora community in celebrating Indian festivals thousands of miles away from the country of their origin.

Pushpa Mishra from New Jersey celebrated Chhath with friends and family. A first time Vrati or faster, she celebrated the festival with her spouse, Nirmal Mishra, a Director at Centroid Systems.

Among those who joined the celebrations in New Jersey were Manish Varma, Global VP at GlaxoSmithKline, Amit Choudhry, COO of Wipro, Vikas Varma, Dr Director at Johnson & Johnson.

All families came together to prepare Chhath Prasad and celebrate the puja at the ghaat, extremely well organised by BAJANA and their never tiring executive committee and their volunteers, said Alok Kumar, chairman Bihar Foundation.

Braving the biting cold, a large number of Indian American gathered on the banks of the Potomac River, in a Virginia suburb of Washington DC, to participate in what is now considered as one of the oldest Chhath celebrations in the country.

It was a community effort led by software engineer Kripa Shankar Singh, who along with his wife Manisha started the celebrations in a small way in 2006. On the same bank, the annual celebrations now attract several hundred people not only from those who trace their origin to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where Chhath is celebrated, but also from neighbouring Nepal as well.

To keep the participants warm in the wee hours of Monday, community leaders lit a bonfire and served hot Samosa and tea. It's matter of pride that the manner in which the community has come together to celebrate the sacred Chhath festival, said Sunil Singh, an eminent Indian American from Virginia.

In Connecticut, Chhath was performed in a makeshift pool, as celebrants enthralled the audience with the traditional Chhath songs at the indoor auditorium there. Devotees were seen carrying the offerings in baskets wrapped in yellow cloth over their heads.

More than a 1,000 joined the Chhath celebrations in Quarry Lake, Fremont California. Participants came dressed in colourful Indian dresses, including saree, even as organisers played traditional Chhath songs. Just felt like being in India, said Reena Gupta.

(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.)
India on Tuesday gifted 200 vehicles to the Nepalese government for logistical support to various Nepali institutions for the smooth conduct of the November 20 general elections.

Nepal, which is going for elections for the federal Parliament as well as the provincial assemblies on November 20, had requested the Indian government for the vehicles, according to an Indian embassy press release.

In a ceremony organised at the Ministry of Finance, Indian Ambassador to Naveen Srivastava, on behalf of the Indian government, handed over 200 vehicles to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma, as a gift for logistical support to various Nepali institutions for the smooth conduct of elections.

Out of the 200 vehicles, 120 are for the security forces while 80 vehicles are for the Election Commission of Nepal, the press release said.

The vehicles would prove to be useful in further augmenting the logistical arrangements of various institutions of across the country for conducting the polls.

"I hope that these vehicles will help in arranging election programmes by the government," the ambassador said while handing over the vehicles' keys to the minister.

He also wished for an effective and successful conduction of the elections in Nepal.

"I, on behalf of the government and the people of Nepal, extend best wishes that the Nepal government will be able to conduct the elections successfully," he said.

The Finance Minister expressed gratitude to the government and the people of India for their continued support in the form of development partnerships with Nepal, including the gifting of these vehicles.

The November 20 elections will be important for Nepal to consolidate the democratic process and maintain stability in the landlocked Himalayan country.

India had extended vehicular support to Nepal at the request of the Himalayan nation's government during previous elections too.

According to the release, more than 2,400 vehicles have been gifted to various Nepalese institutions for support during elections, including around 2,000 vehicles to the Nepal Police and Armed Police Forces, and around 400 vehicles to the Nepalese Army and the Election Commission.

India and Nepal enjoy multi-faceted and multi-sectoral development partnership that is reflective of the closeness of the people of both countries. The extending of these logistical provisions reflects the continued support of the Government of India for contributing to development of people to people links, the Indian Embassy press release 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.)
and have signed contracts worth around $6.5 billion for cooperation in the gas sector, a Minister announced here.

The newly signed deals are parts of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) valued at $40 billion signed between the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and Russia's Gazprom in July, that have recently turned into contracts, Xinhua news agency quoted Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mehdi Safari as saying on Monday.

Safari expressed hope that the remaining parts of the MoU would also turn into contracts within one month, adding that negotiations in this regard are underway.

He noted that the gas swap deal between and is also being finalized, saying the only issue left undecided is choosing an intermediary country for sending the Russian gas to .

The Minister said Iran's plan is to import Russia's gas while exporting Iranian gas to foreign markets, noting that it benefits his country by reducing the costs of transferring Iranian gas from the southern regions to the north.

The joint project will also help increase political solidarity among Iran, and intermediary countries, such as Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, and thus, will contribute to the region's political stability, security and peace, Safari added.

He noted that in the coming days, the two countries would also agree on the details of a contract for swapping oil and petroleum products, which was discussed in October during a visit by Oil Minister Javad Owji to Russia.

Safari said the two countries' focus in their oil swap negotiations is on an annual target of 10 million tonnes.

--IANS

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(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.)
A 40-minute outage across three stalled in Canada, leaving some frustrated and others refusing to place orders even after it reopened.



was halted on the Toronto Stock Exchange, TSX Venture and Alpha around 10:30 a.m. New York time and resumed at 11:10 a.m. All three exchanges are owned by TMX Group Ltd., which stopped due to a connection problem that affected order entries.

I feel like Im trading on a third world exchange, said Eric Nuttall, partner and senior portfolio manager at Ninepoint Partners. I have multiple orders for $20 million to $40 million that I cannot execute. It is unacceptable, he added during the trading halt.

The exchange does not know the cause of the breakdown and is continuing to investigate, TMX Group spokesperson Catherine Kee said by phone. The exchange sent its first notice that it was having trouble shortly after 10 a.m. Shares of TMX Group erased earlier gains to fall about 0.6%.

Kee confirmed that the issue began with a problem that affected trading in stocks with tickers beginning with the letters M through S. That would have impacted shares in major companies including Manulife Financial Corp. and Suncor Energy Inc.



Laura Lau, chief investment officer at Toronto-based Brompton Funds, said she decided not to trade on the Canadian exchange for the rest of the day because the bourse had yet to explain what caused the problem. I dont want to execute now, she said.

Lau likened the very disruptive trading halt Tuesday to a recent network breakdown by Rogers Communications Inc. that caused problems for payment systems, automated teller machines and phone connections in .

In Canada, we have outages for Rogers and we have outages for this, Lau said. I dont want to have a reputation for outages.

Total trading volume for the 236 stocks on the S&P/TSX Composite Index is 34% below its 30-day average for this time of day. Roughly 136 million shares have traded hands as of 1:28 pm in New York, compared to the 206 million averaged over the last month. Based on that trajectory, trading volume will end the day at about 286 million, its lowest since July 4, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

TMX Group is the dominant player in equity exchanges in Canada, though it has some competition now from Cboe Global Inc., which last year acquired the parent of the NEO Exchange, a smaller rival to TMX.

The Toronto bourse last experienced a major trading breakdown during the Covid-19 pandemic crash in February 2020, when an interruption was caused by a system capacity issue within the messaging technology component of TMXs trading engine. That halt came in the midst of a week-long dive in global as anxiety over the spread of the coronavirus. Chief Executive Officer John McKenzie apologized at the time and said the companys absolute focus was to stay reliable.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index was 0.7% higher at about 19,557 as of 1:30 p.m.
North Korea's Foreign Ministry criticised the for expanding joint military exercises with that it claims are practice for a potential invasion and it warned Tuesday of more powerful follow-up measures in response.

The statement from the ministry came as the US and conduct aerial drills involving more than 200 warplanes, including their advanced F35 fighter jets, as they step up their defence posture in the face of North Korea's increased weapons testing and growing nuclear threat.

has ramped up its weapons demonstrations to a record place this year, launching more than 40 ballistic missiles, including developmental intercontinental ballistic missiles and an intermediate range missile fired over Japan.

The North has punctuated those tests with an escalatory nuclear doctrine that authorises preemptive nuclear attacks in loosely defined crisis situations.

The US and have resumed large-scale military drills this year after downsizing or suspending them in past years as part of efforts to create diplomatic space with Pyongyang and because of the pandemic.

The and South Korea's Vigilant Storm air force drills, which are to continue through Friday, came after South Korea completed its annual 12-day Hoguk field exercises that officials say also involved an unspecified number of American troops.

North Korea's latest statement came just days after the country fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, extending a barrage of launches since late September. Some of those launches have been described by the North as simulated nuclear attacks on South Korean and US targets.

has said its testing activities are meant as a warning amid the joint military drills. But some experts say Pyongyang has also used the drills as a chance to test new weapons systems, boost its nuclear capability and increase its leverage in future dealings with Washington and Seoul.

In comments attributed to an unidentified spokesperson, the North Korean Foreign Ministry statement said the military drills exposed the as the chief culprit in destroying peace and security. It said the North was ready to take all necessary measures to defend against outside military threats.

If the US continuously persists in the grave military provocations, the DPRK will take into account more powerful follow-up measures, the spokesperson said, using North Korea's formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The statement did not specify what those measures could be.

South Korean officials have said could up the ante in coming weeks by detonating its first nuclear test device since September 2017, which could possibly take the country a step closer to its goals of building a full-fledged nuclear arsenal capable of threatening regional US allies and the American mainland.

In recent weeks, North Korea has also fired hundreds of shells in inter-Korean maritime buffer zones that the two Koreas established in 2018 to reduce frontline military tensions.

North Korea has said that firing was in reaction to South Korean live-fire exercises at land border areas.

The rival Koreas last Monday exchanged warning shots along their disputed western sea boundary, a scene of past bloodshed and naval battles, as they accused each other of violating the boundary.

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Pakistan Prime Minister will embark on a two-day official visit to China on Tuesday during which he will meet the top Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping, for a series of meetings aimed at boosting business and strategic all-weather ties.

Sharif is visiting China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang.

Radio Pakistan reported that he will be accompanied by a high-level delegation and meet President Xi and hold delegation-level talks with Premier Li.

Sharif will be the first head of the government to felicitate 69-year-old Xi in person for securing an unprecedented third five-year term at the recently held Communist Party Congress, becoming the first leader after party founder Mao Zedong to continue in power after 10-year tenure.

The two sides will review the all-weather strategic cooperation partnership and exchange views on regional and global developments.

This will be Sharif's first visit to China since assuming office in April this year.

His visit represents the continuity of the frequent leadership-level exchanges between Pakistan and China.

The Prime Minister's Office said Prime Minister Sharif was looking forward to meeting the Chinese leadership for a series of productive and fruitful meetings aimed at boosting business, strategic and people-to-people relations.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian during his briefing in Beijing said China warmly welcomes Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's upcoming visit, Radio Pakistan reported.

He said China looks forward to further advancing high-level strategic cooperation with Pakistan and bringing more fruitful outcomes from the Sino-Pak friendship to the benefit of the two peoples.

The spokesperson said no matter how the or domestic situations evolve, the friendship between the two nations has been carried on from generation to generation.

He said both countries have always supported each other on issues concerning respective major interests and have stood together.

Separately, Dawn reported Prime Minister Sharif during a two-day official visit will try to revive the multi-billion-dollar Economic Corridor (CPEC) and expand trade and investment ties with the neighbouring country by making optimal use of the second phase of the Free Trade Agreement.

Launched in 2013, the CPEC is a corridor linking Pakistan's Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which highlights energy, transport and industrial cooperation.

The USD 60 billion CPEC is part of China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a pet project of President Xi.

Pakistan can serve as the manufacturing base for China and an extension of its industrial and supply chain network, wrote in an opinion article published in the Chinese newspaper Global Times on Sunday.

There are three types of good friends: one that is direct and honest; one that is trustworthy, dependable and generous when you need help; and one that is knowledgeable and talented to guide you and show you what you can't see, he quoted Confucius as having once said about friends and friendships.

Sharif further said in the article that the 21st century demanded a new paradigm to deal with the emerging challenges as well as opportunities and to wean the region away from conflict and conflagration.

He also wrote that the two countries could fast-track bilateral cooperation to boost corporate farming, efficient water usage, development of hybrid seeds and high-yield crops and establish cold storage chains.

This cooperation has assumed an added importance to address common concerns related to food security, he added.

He said the CPEC's next phase would encompass key areas such as industry, energy, agriculture, ICT, rail and road network and developing Gwadar port as a hub of trade and transhipment, investment and regional connectivity.

Our overall aim is to harness the potential of CPEC for Pakistan's inclusive and sustainable growth, socio-economic development and for improving the livelihoods of our people, he added.

In a press conference, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal while terming Pakistan and China iron brothers stressed the need for exploiting the potential of their economic cooperation.

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Pakistani Prime Minister has announced a financial support package for to boost the agriculture sector of the country as well as provide a helping hand to the ones in the flood-affected areas.

Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad on Monday, the Prime Minister said that the government would provide loans of 1.8 trillion PKR ($8.1 billion) to this year, four times more than in 2021, reports Xinhua news agency.

Sharif added that the package would help stand on their own feet following the cataclysmic floods in the country, which devastated crops on hundreds of thousands of acres of farmlands and perished over 1 million livestock animals.

According to the package, the government would provide loans at concessional rates to small farmers in flood-affected areas as well as to young villagers who are willing to become professional farmers.

The package also includes reducing the price of fertilizer, conversion of 300,000 tube wells to solar energy, provision of loans to small and medium enterprises in the agriculture sector, and duty concession to new tractor manufacturers who will invest in the country.

--IANS

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The man accused of attacking Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, told police he wanted to hold the House Speaker hostage and break her kneecaps," authorities said Monday.

David DePape, 42, confronted a sleeping Paul Pelosi in the couple's San Francisco bedroom early Friday morning, according to a federal affidavit filed in court Monday.

Federal prosecutors have filed two charges against DePape, days after police say he broke into the Pelosi's home and struck the Democratic leader's 82-year-old husband in the head with a hammer. He was left seriously injured in the attack, underwent surgery for a skull fracture, and suffered other injuries to his arms and hands.

DePape is charged federally with influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official by threatening or injuring a family member. He also faces one count of attempted kidnapping of a official on account of the performance of official duties.

The announcement of the federal charges comes as San Francisco's district attorney is set to announce state criminal charges as well against DePape. He was arrested Friday on suspicion of attempted murder, elder abuse and burglary and is expected to be arraigned on state charges Tuesday.

San Francisco's district attorney, Brooke Jenkins, also rejected conspiracy theories about the attack, confirming the assailant was targeting the Democratic leader when he broke into the couple's home and confronted Paul Pelosi.

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Russia's UN ambassador on Monday accused of using the Black Sea shipping corridor to get grain to world markets for military and sabotage purposes against its fleet, saying this is why it suspended implementation of the deal and warning that it will not allow the unimpeded passage of vessels without its consent which is currently taking place.

Vassily Nebenzia told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council called by that the Black Sea remains an area of hostilities and we cannot allow an unimpeded passage of vessels without our inspection. He said will undertake our own measures to control the ongoing ship movements but gave no details.

Nebenzia accused Ukraine, with help from the West, especially the United Kingdom, of carrying out massive aviation and sea strikes on Russia's Black Sea fleet and infrastructure in Sevastopol in the early morning hours of October 29, under the cover of the humanitarian grain corridor which was established under the July 22 gain deal. As a result, the Russian side cannot guarantee the safety of civilian vessels participating in the Black Seat Initiative, he said.

Under the Black Sea Initiative, a Joint Coordination Center in Turkey was established to control and inspect ships heading to load Ukrainian ships from three Black Sea ports and fully loaded vessels en route to world markets. It comprises representatives from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations.

UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths rejected Nebenzia's claim that the October 29 attack violated the Black Sea Initiative, saying the shipping corridor for civilian vessels protecting ships participating in the grain deal is not open at 4 am and only operates when ships move down the corridor.

He said the UN remains very actively engaged with Russian members of the Joint Coordination Center and he reiterated several times that Moscow's concerns about the October 29 attack should be investigated by its experts, as have other reported breaches of the initiative.

Griffiths, who is a lawyer, told reporters after the council meeting that has not withdrawn from the initiative and therefore remains bound by the July 22 grain deal despite its suspension of participation. Under the agreement, he stressed that signatories are obliged not to attack ships, or movements, or relevant port facilities.

Therefore, he said, the UN, Turkey and are able to continue inspecting outbound ships and will continue to do so.

Griffiths said there are 86 outbound ships that have left ports and have gone to the Bosphorous where they await inspection in what he called a maritime traffic jam, and they are carrying nearly 2 million tons, which is part of the 9 million tons. In addition, there are 12 ships in Ukrainian ports loaded and ready to leave, and five ships in the Bosphorous that have been inspected by all four parties that are ready to move into the Ukraine ports to pick up cargo, he said.

The deal to export Ukrainian grain lasts for 120 days and will be automatically extended on November 18 if there are no objections.

I believe the Black Sea Grain Initiative is going to be renewed, Griffiths said. I believe in that and we are going to make sure of it. We're going to do everything we can between now and Nov. 18 to do so. And we will not let this get in our way.

But whether Russia ends its suspension and returns to active support of the deal remains to be seen.

Nebenzia said last week that first Russia needs to see the export of its grain and fertilizers in the world market, which has never happened since the beginning of the deal.

Grynspan, the secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, told the Security Council Monday that the grain agreements have had a major impact: wheat exports from Russia tripled between July and September while wheat exports from Ukraine more than quadrupled, resulting in lower food prices.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization's Food Price Index has declined for six months, by about 16 per cent, and according to World Bank models this decline may have prevented over 100 million people from falling into poverty, she said. But uncertainty over continuation of the Ukraine deal saw wheat futures rise by over 6 per cent on Monday.

In addition, Grynspan said, fertilizer prices are still 2 times their 2019 levels, leading to the inability of farmers especially in Africa to use fertilizer, lowering lowers crop production at the next harvest.

Due to this, we know that today's crisis of affordability may become tomorrow's crisis of availability and a crisis of huge proportions, she warned.

There are no sanctions on exporting food and fertilizer but Grynspan said the UN has been working to overcome the chilling effect of the sanctions on the private sector -- overcompliance, reputational risks and market avoidance.

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The Supreme Court on Monday appeared ready to rule that the race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina were unlawful, based on questioning over five hours of vigorous and sometimes testy arguments, a move that would overrule decades of precedents.

Such a decision would jeopardise affirmative action at colleges and universities around the nation, particularly elite institutions, decreasing the representation of Black and Latino students and bolstering the number of white and Asian ones.

Questioning from members of the courts six-justice conservative majority was sharp and skeptical. Ive heard the word diversity quite a few times, and I dont have a clue what it means, Justice Clarence Thomas said. It seems to mean everything for everyone.

If the court does away with affirmative action by the end of its current term, it would represent the second time in the space of a year that its conservative super-majority has jettisoned decades of precedent to overturn a policy that has helped define American life. But as its decision in June eliminating the constitutional right to abortion made plain, members of that majority have not hesitated to take bold steps on divisive issues.

A ruling against the universities would be further evidence of the courts rightward lurch after President Donald J. Trumps appointment of three justices, and it could raise fresh questions about whether the courts approach to precedent threatens the stability of the law and the courts own legitimacy.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who views himself as the custodian of the courts independence and authority, may have conflicting impulses in the cases argued Monday. He has long been critical of drawing distinctions based on race. His questions about race-neutral means of achieving diversity suggested that he might be pursuing a characteristically incremental path.

That approach could limit the sweep of a decision rejecting race-conscious programs.

In general, two themes ran through questions from the courts conservatives: that educational diversity can be achieved without directly taking account of race and that there must come a time when colleges and universities stop making

such distinctions.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor said race does correlate to some experiences and not .

If youre Black, she said, youre more likely to be in an underresourced school. Youre more likely to be taught by teachers who are not as qualified as . Youre more likely to be viewed as having less academic potential.

A conservative super-majority Supreme Court has heard arguments in two cases that put the fate of affirmative action in higher education into question, imperiling decades of precedent.

Harvard is accused of discriminating against Asian American students by using a subjective standard to gauge traits like likability, courage and kindness, and effectively creating a ceiling for those students in admissions.

In the other case, plaintiffs said the University of North Carolina had discriminated against white and Asian applicants by giving preference to Black, Hispanic and Native American ones.



2022 The New York Times News Service
Shares of Wiring India (MSWIL) slipped 6 per cent to Rs 82.25 on the BSE in Tuesdays intra-day trade, in an otherwise strong market, on profit booking after margin disappointment in September quarter (Q2FY23).

The company's reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (Ebitda) for the quarter stood at Rs 190 crore, up 2 per cent year-on-year (YoY). However, reported Ebitda margin was 10.4 per cent, down 290 bps YoY.

MSWIL said margin wasimpacted due to initial one-time startup costs of new programs at Bengaluru, and a new facility at Chennai. "To meet the increased volume, additional costs on expedited freight / extra ordinary manpower costs have been incurred, further aggravated by supply chain constraints," the company said.

Revenue during the quarter grew 31 per cent YoY at Rs 1,835 crore, while profit after tax increased 2 per cent YoY at Rs 116 crore over the previous year quarter.

The management said significant growth in business was seen on the back of strong capabilities, and long-standing customer relationships. The company also expanded capacities to meet enhanced requirements of customers. "Indian automotive industry is showing signs of revival, and our customers are also ramping up production. This has resulted in one-time costs which should be mitigated in the coming quarters," the management added.

ICICI Securities said MSWIL's performance, in terms of topline, was broadly on expected lines; however disappointment was witnessed on the margins front. Muted margin performance was on account of decline in gross margin which declined 130 bps QoQ & was further aggravated by employee expense which grew 90 bps QoQ.

"Part of rise in input costs is explained by initial ramp up costs involved as company commissioned new facilities in Bengaluru and Chennai resulting into additional manpower requirement while the other part is due to delay in passing the incremental costs incurred to customers. However, over the long term, we continue to like the stock given the tailwinds of increasing wiring harness content amidst electrification and increase in electronic content in vehicles and superlative return ratios profile (~50 per cent)," the brokerage firm said in a result note.

At 10:32 AM, MSWIL was trading 5.5 per cent lower at Rs 82.85, as compared to 0.85 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. In the past six months, it has outperformed the market by gaining 19 per cent, as against 7 per cent rise in the benchmark index. The stock had hit a record high of Rs 94 on September 9, 2022.
Shares of moved higher by 4.5 per cent, hitting a nearly five-year high of Rs 180.85 on the BSE in Tuesdays intra-day trade, lifted by heavy volumes. Currently, it is quoting at its highest level since December 2017. The stock had hit a record high of Rs 243 on January 15, 2008, data shows.

At 12:50 PM, was trading 4 per cent higher at Rs 179.35, and was the top gainer among the Sensex stocks. In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 0.55 per cent. The average trading volumes on the counter more-than-doubled today with a combined 28.62 million shares having changed hands on the NSE and BSE.

is India's largest power generation company with a total installed capacity of 69134 MW at the group level. NTPC has 17 per cent of total installed capacity in India with 24 per cent generation share. The company's vision is to become a 130 GW+ company by 2032, of which 60 GW would be contributed by renewable energy.

"Many power sector reforms are being introduced by the Government to bring efficiency, promote de-carbonization and ensure (24X7) reliable and affordable power supply. As the largest generator of the country, the Company carries the responsibility of providing adequate power to meet the grid requirement. This provides enough opportunities for multifold growth," NTPC had said in its FY22 annual report.

Considering the changes happening across the globe, while giving utmost thrust for adding renewable capacity, need has been felt for adding some coal-based capacity as it will provide resilience to the sector for meeting the increasing demand. Accordingly, the Company is considering a few expansion projects at the existing pit-head plant locations. In this direction, the company have already finalized the tender for (2X660 MW) capacity at Talcher (TTPS) as a replacement project, NTPC said.

With a strong focus on alternate energy spectrum, analysts at ICICI Securities believe NTPC may be able to break the underperformance of the last decade, and witness a re-rating coupled with monetisation of the renewable energy arm in FY23E.

"NTPC has 2000 MW commercialised renewable capacity while ~5000 MW is under construction. Capacity addition to be around 13 GW in FY24-25. The company expects to spend around 40 per cent of total capex planned for FY23, FY24 on renewable projects are key triggers for future price performance," the brokerage firm said in its result update report.

Management plans to dilute a 10-20 per cent stake in its renewable business portfolio of 2.9GW by Q4FY23, which will enhance the value proposition for stakeholders, said those at HDFC Securities. The brokerage firm maintains 'BUY' rating on the stock with a target price of Rs 192/share (vs Rs 185 earlier), assigning a 1.3x BV to its regulated equity and a 1.1x BV to its equity investment in 12GW of new solar capacities.
The Sensex and Nifty indices are likely to open firmly higher Tuesday as indicated by SGX Nifty futures. At 07:30 am, the SGX Nifty quoted at 18,150, indicating an opening gain of around 100 points on the Nifty index.

That said, here are some out in trade today:

Q2 earnings: Sun Pharma, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, Tech Mahindra, UPL, Punjab National Bank, FSN E-Commerce Ventures (Nykaa), Karnataka Bank, LIC Housing Finance, Chambal Fertilisers & Chemicals, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company, CMS Info Systems will release their results today.



Axis Bank: Private investment firm Bain Capital is likely to sell a portion of its stake in on Tuesday through a block deal, according to media reports. Reports suggested and were conformed by some industry sources that Bain Capital will dilute a 1.24 per cent stake in the lender worth Rs 3,350 crore. Read here

Bharti Airtel: Airtels consolidated net profit jumped 89.1 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 2,145 crore in the second quarter (Q2) of 2022-23, led by strong revenue growth and 4G customer additions, the company said on Monday. Read more

L&T: Engineering major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Monday reported a 22.5 per cent growth in consolidated net profit to Rs 2,229 crore for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 (Q2). Sequentially, the net profit was up nearly 31 per cent in Q2. Read here

Tata Steel: reported a consolidated net profit at Rs 1,514.42 crore in July to September quarter (Q2FY23), down by 87.3 per cent, on the back of declining margins. In the year-ago period, net profit was at Rs 11,918.11 crore. Revenues from operations at Rs 59,877.52 crore was marginally down from Rs 60,387.13 crore in the year-ago period. Read more

Zomato: The company has liquidated its Doha-based Joint venture Media WLL.

Castrol India: The company reported flat growth in its PAT at Rs 187 crore, while the revenues rose 4 per cent to Rs 1,121 crore in Q2FY23.



Glenmark Pharmaceuticals: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc (USA) launched Fingolimod capsules, 0.5 mg, the generic version of Gilenya1 Capsules, 0.5 mg, of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

GHCL: The company posted a 212 per cent YoY growth in its net profit to Rs 289 crore as compared to Rs 93 crore a year ago. The standalone revenue was up 73 per cent to Rs 1,389 crore and was aided by doubling of its inorganic chemicals business, the revenue for which grew by 98 per cent on year to Rs 1,130 crore. EBITDA was up 159 per cent on year to Rs 442 crore.

Equitas Small Finance Bank: The small finance bank recorded profit at Rs 116 crore for the quarter ended September FY23, an increase of 183 per cent YoY. Net interest income for Q2FY23 at Rs 610 crore increased by 26 per cent YoY.

Timken India: The company has recorded a 23 per cent year-on-year growth in profit at Rs 97.6 crore for the quarter ended September FY23, supported partly by other income and top line. Revenue from operations grew by 25 per cent YoY to Rs 695.4 crore for the quarter.

Data Patterns: Data Patterns reported a growth of 63 per cent in PAT to Rs 21 crore aided by the decline in operating costs which resulted in a 47 per cent in the companys EBITDA. The total revenue grew 51 per cent to Rs 90 crore. The company has Rs 884 crore worth of orders in hand.

Cupid: The company has received a purchase order from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for supply of Male Condoms and water Based Lubricants worth Rs 3.7 crore.
From CRISIL

IDFC First Bank announced that CRISIL Ratings (CRISIL) have re-affirmed its 'CRISIL AA' rating on the Tier II Bonds (Under Basel III) of IDFC FIRST Bank (Bank) amounting to Rs 5,000 crore and revised the outlook from 'Stable' to 'Positive'.

CRISIL has also re-affirmed 'CRISIL A1+' rating on the Bank's existing Certificate of Deposits amounting to Rs 45,000 crore.

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Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) said that its overall auto sales for the month of October 2022 stood at 61,114 vehicles, registering a growth of 45.83% as against 41,908 vehicles sold in October 2021.

In the Utility Vehicles segment, Mahindra sold 32,226 vehicles in October 2022. The Passenger Vehicles segment (which includes UVs, Cars and Vans) sold 32,298 vehicles in October 2022, up 60% YoY from 20,130 units sold in October 2021.

The company sold 20,980 units of commercial vehicles (LCV+MHCV) in October 2022 as against 15,077 units sold in October 2021, recording a growth of 39.15%. 3 Wheeler (including electric 3Ws) sales soared 44% to 5,081 units in October 2022 from 3,527 units sold in the same period a year ago.

Exports for the month were at 2,755 vehicles (down 13% YoY).

According to Veejay Nakra, President, Automotive Division, M&M, Our sales volume continued to grow in October on the back of strong festive demand. We sold 32,226 SUVs in October, registering a growth of 61% fueled by robust demand across our portfolio. Our Commercial Vehicles also registered strong growth for the month.

Further, M&M's Farm Equipment Sector (FES) announced its tractor sales numbers for October 2022. The company's total tractor sales (domestic + exports) jumped 11% YoY to 51,994 units in October 2022 from 47,017 units sold in October 2021.

Domestic tractor sales rose 11% to 50,539 units while tractor exports declined 9% to 1,455 units during the period under review.

Commenting on the performance, Hemant Sikka, President - Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, We have sold 50,539 tractors in the domestic market during October 2022, a growth of 11% over last year. Festive season kept the spirits high and led to very strong momentum in demand for tractors and farm machinery. The recent Government announcement of higher MSP for key Rabi crops, good moisture content in the soil, high reservoir levels and good progress in sowing for Rabi crops are all positives for continued good demand for tractors in coming months. In the exports market, we have sold 1,455 tractors.

M&M Group enjoys a leadership position in farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology and financial services in India. It is the world's largest tractor company by volume. It has a strong presence in renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, hospitality and real estate.

The company reported 66.9% rise in standalone net profit to Rs 1,430 crore on a 66.7% jump in revenue to Rs 19,613 crore in Q1 FY23 over Q1 FY22.

Shares of Mahindra & Mahindra were up 0.52% to Rs 1,353.70 on the BSE.

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Sales rise 31.20% to Rs 602.12 crore

Net profit of Tamil Nadu Petro Products declined 40.00% to Rs 27.88 crore in the quarter ended September 2022 as against Rs 46.47 crore during the previous quarter ended September 2021. Sales rose 31.20% to Rs 602.12 crore in the quarter ended September 2022 as against Rs 458.94 crore during the previous quarter ended September 2021.602.12458.947.0314.0245.6268.3240.3962.3527.8846.47

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Sales decline 0.73% to Rs 59512.54 crore

Net profit of Tata Steel declined 87.29% to Rs 1514.42 crore in the quarter ended September 2022 as against Rs 11918.11 crore during the previous quarter ended September 2021. Sales declined 0.73% to Rs 59512.54 crore in the quarter ended September 2022 as against Rs 59949.33 crore during the previous quarter ended September 2021.59512.5459949.3310.1827.454972.3715892.462624.5513603.611514.4211918.11

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Congress president joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra here on Tuesday, the first time he did so after taking on the party president's mantle.

Kharge, who arrived here in the afternoon, joined the Yatra at its final destination for the day at the Indira Gandhi statue on Necklace Road where a street corner meeting was held.

Gandhi, along with other leaders, party workers and a crowd of supporters who had joined him from the Charminar where he unfurled the flag, reached Necklace Road. Minutes later, Kharge joined him on stage and the two leaders hugged each other as supporters cheered on.

The corner meeting saw a huge crowd and screens were put up so that those who were unable to reach close to the stage could watch the event from afar.

The last time Kharge participated in the Yatra was on October 16 in Karnataka's Bellary. He had joined Gandhi in Bellary for the Yatra and later addressed a public meeting there.

On October 17, polling was held for the post of Congress president between Kharge and Shashi Tharoor in which the former came out victorious.

The march on Tuesday resumed from Matha Temple in Shamshabad and halted at the Legacy Palace at Bahadurpura in Hyderabad for an afternoon break.

The Yatra's night halt will be at Gandhi Ideology Center in Bowenpally.

(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 will take out the ' Parivartan Sankalp Yatra' in five zones of the poll-bound state from Tuesday, during which 145 public meetings and 95 rallies will be held along the route covering more than 5,400 km.

It will be launched from Vadgam, Bhuj, Somnath, Vadgam, Fagvel and Jambusar, party leaders said.

The yatra was earlier scheduled to start on Monday, but was postponed by a day following the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy on Sunday.

The Assembly polls are due this year-end the Election Commission is yet to announce its schedule.

Senior leaders, including Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, his Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel, former Madhya Pradesh chief ministers Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath, and MLA Sachin Pilot, are expected to join the yatra, party leaders said.

"The Congress' 'Parivartan Sankalp Yatra' will be launched in five zones of Gujarat, and 145 public meetings and 95 rallies will be organised throughout the journey. The yatra, which will cover 5,432 km, aims to establish a direct contact with 4.5 crore people," state president Jagdish Thakor earlier said.

More than 10 lakh party workers will join the yatra and the opposition party will spread the message of 11 promises that it has said it will fulfil if voted to power, he had said.

The Congress has promised to provide free treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh, farmers' debt waiver of up to Rs 3 lakh, electricity bill waiver, 10 lakh government jobs to youth, unemployment allowance of Rs 3,000 per month, opening of 3,000 government English medium schools, Rs 4 lakh compensation for COVID-19 deaths, among other things.

(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.)
convenor on Tuesday said that Bhupendra Patel has no right to continue as Chief Minister after the Morbi bridge collapse.

While addressing a press briefing here, Kejriwal said, "Morbi bridge collapse in was a result of massive corruption. Prayed for those who lost their lives in the incident. The CM has no moral grounds to continue on the post".

"This is a case of big corruption and efforts are being made to suppress it. A watch company was given the contract to build the bridge. Maintenance work was given without any tender. Neither the name of the company nor the owner is mentioned in the FIR. The CM has no moral right to continue", said Delhi CM Kejriwal.

On the ongoing tussle between Delhi government and the L-G over discontinuation of Yoga classes in the city, CM Kejriwal said, "Last December, we had started 'Dilli ki Yogshala' programme. We have made excellent health arrangements but we think why should anyone need treatment, people should do Yoga Pranayama daily. For this, 25 people from any locality can call a yoga trainer. In 11 months, 17,000 people were taking advantage of it. From today it is closed".

Without taking names, he said that from today onwards, he has said that there will be no yoga classes. They have done this intoxicated by power and arrogance. People are very angry about this.

"Today I announce that yoga classes will not stop. Two crore people of Delhi will get this done together. Will ensure that it happens even if I have to pay by begging", he said.

"I have spoken with the Punjab Chief Minister on this. If we get into power in Gujarat, we will start free Yoga classes in both the states".

On the allegation of money being paid to jailed minister Satyendar Jain, Kejriwal said this is an attempt to divert attention from the Morbi bridge collapse.

"Before the Punjab elections, he had brought Kumar Vishwas, now is in such a bad condition that PM Modi needs a thug like Sukesh Chandrasekaran locked up in Tihar. This is an attempt to divert attention from Morbi", he stated.

--IANS

avr/shb/

(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 accused Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Tuesday of advancing the political objectives of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by attempting to destabilise the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in the state.

Addressing a press conference here, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury alleged that Khan's actions had no sanction of the Constitution.

"The Central Committee strongly denounced the steps being taken by the governor of to advance the political objectives of the to destabilise the LDF government. The manner in which he demanded the resignation of the vice-chancellors of various universities in the southern state and later, the resignation of the state finance minister, has no sanction of the Indian Constitution.

"The governor, in his capacity as the chancellor of the universities in the state, has no authority given by the University Acts passed by the state legislature to initiate such actions," he said.

Yechury further said these steps taken by the governor target Kerala's secular, democratic and scientific higher education system to "facilitate the promotion of the Hindutva ideological agenda and control higher education".

He said the Left party will discuss the issue of governors with all the political parties in the states that are not ruled by the saffron party.

(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.)
West Bengal Chief Minister will visit Chennai on November 2 and is likely to hold a meeting with her Tamil Nadu counterpart to discuss their strategies for the 2024 Lok Sabha poll, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

Banerjee will travel to the southern metropolis on Wednesday as she has been invited by West Bengal Governor La Ganesan to his elder brother's birthday on November 3.

The CM, who is likely to stay a night in Chennai, may pay a visit to Stalin at his camp office on November 2 soon after reaching there, the official said.

The Trinamool Congress supremo may also meet several top politicians of Tamil Nadu who are expected to be present at Ganesan's family function, the official added.

Expressing doubt over the outcome of the meeting, opposition party leaders questioned Banerjee's trip to Chennai on taxpayers' money to attend a family programme of a "temporary' governor.

La Ganesan had taken up the additional charge of West Bengal on July 18, 2022, besides Manipur after Jagdeep Dhankhar was nominated the vice-presidential candidate by the NDA.

West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury described Banerjee's visit as "Nothing but an attempt to restore her lost credentials in Indian politics".

Chowdhury told PTI, "I see no reason why Banerjee is going to Chennai to attend the birthday party of one of the family members of the governor. I think this is a ploy to develop a good relationship with the Centre so that West Bengal does not get another Jagdeep Dhankhar as its governor".

On the proposed meeting between Banerjee and Stalin, who is also the DMK president, the Congress leader said, "Didi (Banerjee is often called so and means elder sister) knows that she has lost her credibility in . She had held several such meetings with many leaders earlier but those had failed miserably. This is the reason she planned this so-called meeting with Stalin. I see this as her attempt to try to restore her lost relevance in Indian ."



CPI-M leader Sujan Chakraborty too questioned Banerjee's Chennai travel and called it an "excuse" to leave Bengal at a time when people are demonstrating demanding jobs.

"I don't see any logic behind a chief minister visiting the family programme of the governor on taxpayers' money. She is actually escaping the state when job aspirants are holding demonstrations demanding employment. She is not at all bothered about them and is fleeing from reality," Chakraborty told PTI when contacted.

The School Service Commission scam, which is rocking the state, refused to die down as nearly 100 aspirants demanding appointment in schools blocked the thoroughfares and were detained in the Salt Lake area here on Tuesday. They claimed to have been deprived of teaching jobs in state-run and state-aided upper primary, secondary and higher secondary schools despite having qualified in the recruitment tests conducted by the Commission.

Sit-in is on by another 100 SSC candidates continued for about 600 days at Mayo Road in the heart of the city. They claim to have qualified for school teachers' jobs in the past years but "did not find a place in merit lists".

Former West Bengal Education minister Partha Chatterjee, a former SSC chairman, a former advisor and a former president of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education have been arrested by central agencies in connection with the High Court-monitored probe into teacher appointment irregularity scam.

Senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha echoed the CPI-M and described the proposed meeting between Banerjee and Stalin as an "absolutely meaningless" one.

"She went to Goa, Tripura and Assam and she could nothing anywhere. The point is TMC has no relevance outside Bengal. She can roam around the country, but that will not yield any result," Sinha said when contacted.

Banerjee, he said, must think about her party's business in Bengal before holding meetings with Stalin and others.

The TMC supremo has in the past met several opposition leaders to try to forge opposition unity. She had at a mega rally of her party in September claimed that she would join hands with other opposition and regional leaders to defeat the BJP in 2024.

All opposition parties will join hands to defeat the BJP. All of us will be on one side and the BJP on the other. BJP's arrogance of 300 seats will be its nemesis. There will be Khela Hobe' in 2024, she 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.)
AAP leader Raaj Kumar Anand will soon assume charge as a minister in the Delhi Cabinet, with President accepting the city government's recommendation in this regard.

The appointment was announced in a gazette notification issued on Tuesday.

"The President is pleased to appoint, on the advice of the Chief Minister of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Shri Raaj Kumar Anand as a Minister in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, with effect from the date he is sworn in," the gazette notification said.

Days after Rajendra Pal Gautam resigned from the Cabinet on October 9 following a row over his presence at a religious conversion event, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said he had recommended the name of Anand, the Patel Nagar MLA, to the lieutenant governor for including him in his ministry.

Gautam was the minister for departments of social welfare, SC and ST, registrar of co-operative societies and gurudwara elections.

Like Gautam, Anand is also from the Jatav community.

(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 senior BJP leader used the "ma-beta" barb on Tuesday to hit out at the in Himachal Pradesh as well as in Delhi, wondering how can those facing a chargesheet provide a good government in the hill state.

He also said gone are the days of "raja-rani" and it is the time of common people in a democracy like India, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has focused on the of performance instead.

The home minister addressed a series of public meetings in Chamba, Karsog and Kasumpti to launch an attack on the Congress, saying no one believes in the "guarantees" given by the party.

Shah, who is on a two-day tour of poll-bound Himachal Pradesh, will spend the night in Shimla. He is scheduled to address poll meetings in the hill state on Wednesday as well.

Addressing a public rally in Chamba in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate in the November 12 Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls and Bhattiyat MLA Bikram Singh Jaryal, Shah urged the voters to re-elect the saffron party to power in the state by breaking the tradition of not repeating a government.

He later addressed another "Vijay Sankalp Rally" at Karsog and a third one in Kasumpti, near Shimla, in favour of outgoing minister Suresh Bhardwaj.

Shah said he has heard the speeches of leaders and they have nothing to say apart from banking on the tradition of alternative governments in the hill state.

"Change this tradition of alternative governments and repeat the BJP government in the state. Form a BJP government for the second time by breaking this tradition and we will ensure a drugs-free Himachal by putting an end to the business of narcotics here. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji has taken a pledge for a drugs-free India in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav," the home minister said to a roaring audience in Chamba.

"I have heard the speeches of the leaders. They have nothing to say except stressing on the 'riwaz' (tradition)," he said, coining a new slogan -- "Ek bar BJP, bar bar BJP".

Accusing the Congress of trying to create divisions between upper and lower Himachal, Shah said, "But Rahul baba, upper Himachal and lower Himachal both belong to the BJP and so does every nook and corner of the state."



Alleging that the Congress was responsible for "scams" involving a total amount Rs 12 lakh crore during its government at the Centre, the home minister said, "Still not satiated, they have now come to Himachal Pradesh. How can those facing a chargesheet give a good government to the state?"



"There is democracy in the country and gone are the days of raja-rani. It is the time of the common people. We have to elect a government that works for the development of the state," he quipped.

Noting that there is nothing in the name of development in the speeches of the Congress leaders, Shah said, "In Delhi, it is a ma-beta party and here too, it is a ma-beta party, where there is no place for youngsters. Youngsters have a place only in the BJP."



His remarks came in an apparent reference to Congress leaders and in Delhi and Pratibha Singh and her son Vikramaditya Singh in Himachal Pradesh.

"If ma and beta run the party, then where is the place for youngsters?" Shah asked at the Karsog rally.

He said Modi has ended the vices of casteism, appeasement and nepotism in the country.

Shah said the Congress carried on with Jawaharlal Nehru's mistake of Article 370 of the Constitution, which accorded a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, for 60 years, due to which India's "crown" had to suffer.

What the Congress could not achieve in 60 years, Modi made it possible eight years, he said.

"Rahul baba, gone are the days of raja-rani. Now, whoever works will rule. Modiji has given importance to the of performance," Shah said at Kasumpti, adding that the prime minister has taken the country's pride to new heights.

The Congress did not reconstruct temples such as Kashi Vishwanath, the Ram temple or the Badrinath Dham, he said, adding that it did not restore the pristine glory of these shrines due to appeasement and vote-bank .

Shah also made light of the promises made by the Congress in the poll-bound state, saying, "Who will believe in your guarantees.... Guarantees are given by those who have credibility. In the BJP, we work without giving guarantees."



Stressing on Modi's development plank and his fondness for Himachal Pradesh, he said the prime minister has worked here for years and that is why he is familiar with every corner of the state.

"When there is a double-engine government, it has its own strength. If anyone has benefitted the most during the Modi government, it is the 80 crore poor people of the country," Shah said, enumerating a number of central schemes.

He alleged that during the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule in the country, terrorists used to behead Indian soldiers every now and then but the Congress leaders would not even say a word as they feared losing their vote bank.

"But now, it is the Modi government and not that of mauni baba Manmohan Singh," Shah said, referring to the surgical strikes inside Pakistan.

He also reminded people of the abrogation of Article 370 and the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying it was Modi who made these things possible.

"You will see a magnificent, sky-touching Ram temple after 2024 and you should book your tickets," Shah said while also highlighting the construction of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi.

"The Congress was trying to insult our heritage, our religious sites and icons, but Modiji, without worrying about vote banks, made these possible," Shah said.

The home minister paid homage to the jawans from Himachal Pradesh who laid down their lives for the nation and said the state sends the highest number of soldiers to the armed forces.

Polling will be held in Himachal Pradesh on November 12 and the counting of votes taken up on December 8. The BJP is seeking a re-election in the state, while the Congress is eyeing to wrest power from the saffron party, even as new entrant Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is looking to make inroads.

(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 Tuesday launched a scathing attack on his predecessor Bhupinder Singh Hooda, asking the people of Adampur, which goes to bypolls on November 3, to "teach a lesson" to those who "betrayed" former chief minister Bhajan Lal.

Khattar while addressing a rally in Adampur in Hisar on the last day of the campaigning, said "this is not just a by-election, but an opportunity" to end the long gap of 26 years for the Bhajan Lal family for being out of government.

Before his address, Khattar gently held the hand of Bhajan Lal's widow and former MLA Jasma Devi, who was also present at the rally, referring to her as his elder sister. She made a brief appeal to voters from the stage telling them to make her grandson Bhavya, a BJP candidate, victorious.

On the last day of poll campaigning, the BJP fielded senior ministers in the Khattar government including Anil Vij, party MLAs and MPs from the state. Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, a Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader, also addressed the rally.

Former Youth Congress president Sanjay Chokkar joined the BJP on the occasion.

The bypolls were necessitated after Kuldeep Bishnoi, the younger son of former chief minister Bhajan Lal, resigned as MLA from the seat and switched sides from the Congress to the BJP in August. His son Bhavya is contesting the by-election.

Khattar also made a mention of the year 2005, when the Congress had won 67 seats in the 90-member assembly under Bhajan Lal's leadership, but he was edged out of the chief ministerial race by Hooda.

Lunching an attack on Hooda, the chief minister told the gathering, "Chaudhary Bhajan Lal was contender for CM, but overnight a conspiracy was hatched and those who hatched it are now seeking votes from you today. They betrayed the people of Adampur".

He then told the voters it is time to "teach a lesson to them and settle the scores".

Khattar also accused Hooda, who served two terms as the chief minister between 2005 and 2014, of not doing any work in Adampur because it was Kuldeep Bishnoi's area and he was MLA from there.

Khattar appealed to the people of Adampur to make Bhavya victorious, saying it is the BJP candidate's job to take care of the rest.

He spoke about several good governance initiatives and transparency measures of his government that had reduced crime and corruption in the state.

He also said the BJP ended caste-based politics, which prevailed in the state earlier.

"During the Congress rule at the Centre and in Haryana, there were scams and corruption was rampant," he alleged.

"Today, they talk about their love for the Dalit community. But everyone knows what they did to their state president Ashok Tanwar (now in AAP) and Kumari Selja," he said, again hitting out at Hooda.

Everyone knows about Mirchpur (Dalit killings) incident in Hisar during Congress' time, he said.

Calling Congress a "sinking ship", Khattar said, "Congress Mukt Bharat is almost complete. Their government is left only in Rajasthan and Chattisgarh".

Attacking Hooda and his MP-son Deepender Singh, Khattar said the Congress in Haryana has been reduced to a party of "Bapu beta" and because of this their party senior leaders like Kumari Selja, Randeep Singh Surjewala and Kiran Choudhary stayed away from campaigning.

He dubbed Congress' "imported candidate" and former MP Jai Prakash like a "fused bulb who will be rejected by the people".

In his speech, Kuldeep Bishnoi appealed to the voters in Adampur to elect Bhavya, to once again bring back the "golden period" in the region.

He said he resigned as MLA and quit the Congress after consulting his constituents and added he did so because he was impressed by programme and policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his vision, by Khattar's work and because he wanted to fulfil Bhajan Lal's vision for a prosperous Adampur.

"Joining the BJP was my life's best decision," he said.

Bishnoi, who had also entered into a tie-up with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the BJP when he headed his Haryana Janhit Congress earlier, said the people of his constituency may have formed different opinions about the decisions he took in the past, but they always stood by him.

Bishnoi alleged that when Hooda was the CM he discriminated against Adampur.

"With what face Hooda and Deepender are seeking votes from you," he asked the gathering.

Praising Khattar, Bishnoi said even when he was in the Congress and an opposition MLA, the chief minister always accepted the demands which he put forth before him relating to Adampur's development.

He said projects worth Rs 530 crore for Adampur were already sanctioned by Khattar.

In his address, Haryana Home Minister Vij dubbed the Congress as a sinking ship and said it is ironic that Rahul Gandhi is holding "Bharat Jodo Yatra" whereas "Bharat Todo is Congress' DNA".

The AAP "poses no challenge", Vij said, calling the Arvind Kejriwal-led party "Kharpatwar" (weed) asking the people to "throw it out in bypolls".

(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.)
leader along with other party leaders and workers resumed the Bharat Jodo Yatra from here on Tuesday and is expected to cover about 24 km during the day.

"Day 55 of Bharat Jodo Yatra is special. will hoist the national flag from Charminar where on 19.10.1990, Rajiv Gandhi started Sadbhavna Yatra," general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet.

"Every year on that day, @INCIndia has since raised the national flag here. INC President @kharge will join us today evening," he said.

The padayatra resumed from Matha Temple in Shamshabad and will be halting at Legacy Palace at Bahadurpura in Hyderabad for an afternoon break.

president will walk with Gandhi in the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in Hyderabad later in the day, the first time he will do so after taking on the party mantle.

Kharge will reach Hyderabad in the afternoon and join Gandhi in the evening leg of the Yatra.

Kharge and Gandhi will hoist the tricolour near the Charminar at the same spot where former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had hoisted the flag while starting the 'Sadbhavna Yatra' in the 1980s.

Both the Congress president and Gandhi are likely to address a gathering at the Indira Gandhi statue on Necklace Road in Hyderabad.

The Yatra's night halt will be at Gandhi Ideology Center in Bowenpally.

(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 acquired cozy game developer 'Spry Fox' to expand its in-house games studio.

Spry Fox has joined the streaming platform to become its sixth in-house games studio, said in a blogpost.

"Our goal is to create a place where creative people could make original games in a supportive environment that brought happiness to the people who played them," said Daniel Cook, co-founder of Spry Fox.

According to Netflix, Spry Fox's approach to game development and success will help to accelerate the creative development in another genre and will add more games to the growing variety of the platform's games catalog.

"Our games journey has only just begun, but I'm proud of the foundational work we've been doing to build out our in-house creative capacity so that we can deliver the best possible games experience --including no advertisements and no in-app purchases--to our members as part of their membership," the company said.

Recently, had announced the 'Profile Transfer' feature to prevent password sharing

The "much requested" feature allowed users to transfer their personalised recommendations, viewing history, My List, saved games, and other preferences to a new account when they start their own membership, it said.

--IANS

aj/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.)
The Draft Indian Telecommunication Bill 2022, when it was released for public consultation in September, had raised fears that its scope went beyond telecom issues and pointed to the return of the Licence Raj under the Department of Telecommunications.

Much of the controversy is around the broad definition of telecommunication service. It included, among others, email, broadcasting services, video and data communication services, communication services such as WhatsApp and interpersonal communication services. The definition of message is broad too.

An industry insider had told Business Standard that e-commerce, banking, gaming and social media apps as well as any platform where there is two-way messaging will come under the definition, requiring a licence.

Telcos have argued that communication services are usurping their SMS and voice call businesses and, therefore, should be licensed just as they are.

The definition was amended after providers such as Airtel and Reliance Jio said that they require a level-playing field as communications and satellite-based services offer audio and video calls and messaging without paying for licence or spectrum.

OTT players meanwhile said they use telecom networks to offer value added services for which telcos get paid by customers, based on the latters data utilisation. Plus, they are already regulated under the IT Act as intermediaries.

The Bill, in its current form, empowers the government to direct service providers to intercept, detain and disclose messages sent through these channels in the case of an emergency or in the interest of public safety.

This can undermine the security benefits of end-to-end encryption because the government will have the power to intercept messages, compromising user privacy.

However, telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has recently said that the government will only introduce light-touch regulations for OTT communication services like WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram, keeping consumer interest and cyber fraud issues in mind.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India was also not in favour of regulation for OTT service providers, sources had told Business Standard. The telecom regulator had shot down proposal for OTT regulation in 2020 as well.

A report in a financial daily on Monday said, OTT apps may not require licences to operate in India but will have to step up user protection. A consensus that user protection must be prioritised has reportedly emerged from the discussions between the government and the stakeholders on the draft telecom bill.

The report said that various stakeholders will continue to discuss the "light-touch regulations" for the OTT communication platforms.

Salman Waris, Managing Partner, TechLegis Advocates & Solicitors says, government is not putting regulation on encryption on the backburner. OTT communication players provide backdoor access to govt. Govt may update interception regulations in future

Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said the new telecom bill is expected to be in place in the next 6-10 months but the government is not in a hurry.

While OTT communication players may have reason to rejoice, questions around privacy and how far the government can go in the name of security remain. In future, regulations may have to revisit these aspects of the digital world.
What is a collegium system?

So what exactly is a collegium system? It is a system through which judges are appointed and transferred in the and high courts across the country. In the Supreme Court, a group of five senior-most judges -- led by the chief justice of India -- decides on all the appointments and transfers of judges in the apex court. These appointments include elevation of judges to the apex court and direct appointments of senior advocates as apex court judges.

High courts have their own collegiums, comprising the courts chief justice and two senior-most judges. It only makes recommendations for appointments. A final decision about appointing judges is taken by the collegium of the chief justice of India and two senior-most judges of the .

What Constitution says on appointment of judges

According to Article 124 of the Constitution, judicial appointments to the must be made by the President in consultation with Indias chief justice and other senior judges of both the SC and High Courts.

While Article 217 says that appointments to the high courts should be fixed by the President, CJI and the Governors of states.

Why collegium system is at the centre of row

The collegium system has for long been a bone of contention between the executive and the judiciary. Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju recently alleged that the collegium system was opaque and it was the governments job to appoint judges.

The NDA government had passed the National Judicial Appointment Commission (NJAC) Act in August 2014, through the 99th constitutional amendment of Article 124A. The then law proposed a group of CJI, the two senior-most judges of the SC, the law minister, and two eminent people in place of collegium. The NJAC had given the veto power to the CJI and other two senior judges in any appointment. It had also stipulated that the CJI would need the support of the other members of the commission.

But the apex court on October 16, 2015, struck down the two laws related to the formation of NJAC terming them unconstitutional.

Alok Prasanna Kumar, Co-founder, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy says, the collegium system is aimed at upholding independence of the judiciary. The system (allegedly) failed to prevent the union government from choosing nominees and appointing them at their discretion. The system has entrenched the hold of certain classes over the higher judiciary in the country.

Three crucial cases on collegium system

The debate around the collegium system is long-standing. The Supreme Court gave three decisions on this matter. In the first case of 1981, SP Gupta Vs Union of India, the Supreme Court ruled that the President can turn down the recommendations of the CJI.

In the second case, Supreme Court Advocates-on Record Association vs Union of India in 1993, the apex court overturned the judgment and upheld the primal role of the CJI in appointing judges. The SC reiterated its stand in 1998, responding to a query by then President K R Narayanan about the role of the collegium.

Law minister Rijiju wants to reintroduce the NAJC, saying that the collegium system is not correct; not transparent; and not accountable. Rijiju is not alone. There are other proponents for overhauling the system.

Some experts believe that while major changes are necessary, the collegium should not be completely scrapped.

Let us listen in to senior advocate Sanjay Hegde

Sanjay Hegde, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India says, we should not consider doing away with the collegium system just yet. Doing away with the recommendations of the judiciary would allow the the Law Minister, Prime Minister and Chief Ministers high stakes in judicial appointments

And any reform will require time and rigorous engagement from both the judiciary and the executive.

Sanjay Hegde, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India says, need constitutional amendment to completely remove the collegium system. Present government made an attempt to set aside collegium as soon as it came to power and bring in the National Judicial Appointments Committee

But Prasanna Kumar believes there needs to be a third stakeholder in the reformation process.

Alok Prasanna Kumar, Co-founder, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy says, two stakeholders in the appointment system will lead to conflicts. Propose third stakeholder - the bar and civil society - those who are beneficiaries of the system. Introduction of third stakeholder would possibly lead to a better balance

Evidently, the collegium system needs reforms. The long history of the politics surrounding the debate between the judiciary and the government, means that the process will require all stakeholders to come to a mutual understanding.
Union telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently said that over-the-top or communication services, like Whatsapp and Telegram, will fall under the ambit of the draft telecom bill. But, at the same time, the minister also said that the regulation will be light-touch. So, does this mean India has figured out how to regulate such apps?

The government also wants to introduce transparency in judicial appointments. It claims that appointments and transfers in the judiciary have been opaque. But the Supreme Court too has been holding its ground, saying that scrapping the collegium system will compromise its independence.

After the corridors of courts, let us shift our focus to the realm of financial markets. Four firms are looking to raise over Rs 4,000 crore this week via IPOs. Among them, DCX Systems, and Bikaji Foods International are already seeing increased investors interest in the grey market. But is the grey market buzz worth it? Which one of these IPOs deserve your money?

Companies go to the primary market to borrow funds, which they use for expansion and other activities. And in this process, new securities are created. But ever wondered how new cryptocurrencies are generated. We answer this in this episode of the podcast.
This is going to be one of the busiest weeks for primary market investors in a long time.

A relay of four initial public offers kick started yesterday, with cables and wire harness assemblies manufacturer DCX Systems launching its public offer.

The Rs 500 crore was subscribed 2 times on the first day of the issue, supported by retail investors.

DCXs will be followed by that of Fusion Microfinance, which will run between November 2 and 4.

Fusion Microfinance has fixed a price band of Rs 350-368 per share for its Rs 1,104 crore initial public offering.

The issue will have fresh issue worth 600 crore rupees, and an offer-for-sale of 13.69 million equity shares.

Later in the week, the IPOs of Global Health and Bikaji Foods will open for subscription on November 3 and close on November 7.

While Global Health Limited, which operates and manages hospitals under the brand, has set a price band of 319-336 rupees per share for its Rs 2,206 crore .

Confectionary and savouries company Bikaji Foods has set its price band at Rs 285 to Rs 300 per equity share.

It aims to raise around Rs 900 crore via an OFS of 29.37 million shares.

Together, these four companies are expected to fetch around Rs 4,100-4,500 crore.

Experts say this litmus test for the IPO market, which has remained subdued this year, may push the revival button.

G Chokkalingam, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Equinomics Research says, the 4 IPOs may mark revival of primary market. Rate cycle has likely peaked. Global, domestic to recover from now on. Only Brent crudes breach of $100/barrel-mark can trigger a correction.

Only 22 companies have floated their IPOs in the first 10 months of 2022, raising over Rs 44,000 crore.

By comparison, 63 companies raised over Rs 1.2 trillion via IPOs in 2021.

So, which of the latest 4 IPOs are worth investors' money?

ASTHA JAIN, SENIOR RESEARCH ANALYST, HEM SECURITIES recommends subscribe DCX Systems for listing and long-term gains. Recommend Subscribe Fusion Microfinance on attractive valuation, strong rural focus. Global Health has large-scale hospital chain with strong financial performance; recommend Subscribe

Meanwhile, apart from the IPO market buzz, auto sales data, manufacturing PMI data, and Q2 results season will guide investors today.

Adani Ports, JK Tyres, LIC Housing Finance, Nykaa, Punjab National Bank, Tech Mahindra, and Varun Beverages are among the major companies due to report their numbers.
EY has today announced 900 net new jobs on the island of Ireland which will grow its total head count to 5,100. It is estimated that 550 of the positions will be for experienced hires while 350 will be filled by new university graduates.

It is the intention of the company to fill these 550 experienced roles as soon as possible. The majority of the 350 university graduates who were offered roles in EY for this financial year are now in the process of being onboarded with the remainder due to take up their new roles over the coming months.

EY will be actively recruiting candidates to fill a wide variety of roles across its core areas of tax, audit, corporate finance and consulting as well as in new growth areas including technology consulting, digital and emerging technology, data analytics, cyber security, sustainability, law, strategy and transformation. The firm is also recruiting heavily across other growth areas such as workforce and organisation design and planning, change management, transaction diligence, and valuations, modelling and economics.

Speaking this week, Managing Partner at EY Ireland, Frank OKeeffe said, "Our plan to increase our current headcount on the island of Ireland from 4,200 to 5,100 people is hugely exciting for us. Strong client demand for our services gives us confidence to continue with our ambitious growth plans. Were seeking to recruit the brightest and most diverse talent across a host of disciplines to join our brilliant teams. We recognise the important role we play in supporting the development of Irelands future business leaders and so we have a laser focus on ensuring our people have access to world class training and mentoring throughout their career at EY."

This comes after EY has reported record levels of growth for its business on the island of Ireland, with revenues to the end of June 2022 up 26% to 536 million (up from 425 million in the prior Financial Year).

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Irish firm Davis Events Agency today announced it will open a base in the city of Austin, Texas. The multi-award winning agency has established a reputation for delivering virtual and live shows, conferences, cultural experiences and corporate events for some of the worlds leading companies from its Dublin headquarters since 2013. It currently employs twelve people and has an annual turnover of 6m.

In Ireland, Davis Events has worked with global brands and corporate clients to stage hundreds of internal events and has also produced high profile occasions like Culture Night and Irelands New Years Festivals. The company has clients in the UK, France, China and Canada, however its American business has grown more quickly than any other market.

Much of Davis Events initial US-based work came through recommendations from Irish branches of large IT and pharmaceutical corporations. CEO Paul Davis also believes that although the first two years of the pandemic were a very difficult time, being able to work virtually created a level playing field. Paul is aiming to grow the companys US presence to five people over the next six months, while members of the team will also continue to travel from Ireland to support their Austin-based colleagues.

Commenting on the expansion, CEO Paul Davis says, "Im thrilled to be able to announce this news, which has come about thanks to a lot of hard work from everyone on the team. Austin is rapidly gaining a reputation as a major tech hub, with one district earning the nickname the Silicon Hills, so its an exciting time to be there. Since we began working on events in the US, weve received excellent feedback from our clients and its reassured us that this is the right time and Austin is the right place for us to open a US office."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
The race kicked off Sunday after a two-year suspension due to the pandemic. Around 18,000 runners participated in the event, which has been held annually since 1996. Before this years marathon, all the runners had to stay in the city for seven days and pass a Covid test for three consecutive days

Nov 28, 2022 06:11 PM
Feature: Chinese agripreneur providing new lease of life to Kenya's dryland communities

Xinhua) 10:14, November 01, 2022

NAIROBI, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Located about 85 km south-east of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, Li Changhong's 25-acre Moringa plantation has withstood a prolonged dry spell to retain some luster.

The expansive farm that sits next to the busy highway connecting Nairobi to the port city of Mombasa, is a cherished getaway for the Chinese agripreneur who defied naysayers to introduce Moringa and Aloe Vera farming in a region renowned for acute droughts.

During a balmy mid-morning weather in October, Li huddled with a group of workers from nearby villages to survey the farm filled with succulent Moringa trees and Aloe Vera underneath.

The Moringa and Aloe Vera farm has not only thrived in the face of extreme weather events but has also provided steady income flows to the local workforce.

Teresia Mutua, a 43-year-old mother of four who has been working at the farm for the last seven years, was in high spirits as she explained how her fortunes have changed for the better.

"Since I was employed here, my life has changed a lot because I have managed to educate my children and I live a better life than when I was a housewife," said Mutua.

In addition, Mutua who is a widow said she has acquired essential skills like how to plant Moringa, prune, and harvest the flowers and seeds that are renowned for their medicinal and nutritional value.

Born at a village near Li's farm, Mutua said the tropical tree that is native to Kenya's arid zones has proved to be a viable alternative for local small-holder farmers reeling from the escalating climate crisis.

According to Mutua, planting conventional staples in her locality including maize and legumes has become unsustainable in the face of acute and recurrent dry spells.

Besides employing locals, Li's Moringa farm has also served as a demonstration center on how to plant, apply fertilizer, water, and harvest seeds and flowers from the plant.

Li said he has signed an agreement with 700 local farmers and plans to supply them with free Moringa seedlings for free, to enable them to diversify the crop varieties that can cope with harsh weather patterns.

"We hope to get more farmers on board when the rainy season commences so that they can plant Moringa trees. We can buy the seeds and flowers from the farmers and boost their income," said Li.

Li, who is the Director of Eshine Agricultural Planting Company Limited settled in Kenya in 2008 and was an early pioneer of Moringa farming in the drylands to help meet the high demand in the Chinese market.

Already, the entrepreneur has established a factory on the outskirts of Nairobi where Moringa leaves and seeds are processed into powder and exported to China.

Li said Moringa seedlings and leaves have proved effective in managing chronic ailments including diabetes and high blood pressure, adding that the tree is a cash crop that can provide sustainable livelihoods to dryland communities in Kenya.

His Moringa plantation in the semi-arid Makueni county has twenty salaried employees who tend to the crop and also train local farmers how to grow it to maturity, and earn a decent income from the sale of seeds and leaves.

In the near future, Li plans to establish a Moringa factory near his farm with the hope it will ease the processing of seeds and flowers besides creating additional jobs for locals. Li believes that the country required a new market, enhanced access to capital, technologies, and investments in value addition to boost income from agricultural products

He revealed that through "Company + Model", he plans to scale up the cultivation of Aloe Vera by a critical mass of small-holder farmers in Makueni county through the provision of free seedlings and training on the best agronomic practices for the crop.

Drought tolerant and mainly used as food and cosmetics in China, Aloe Vera can transform the livelihoods of farmers in the arid parts of Makueni county, already grappling with the adverse effects of drought, said Li.

Popular in Kenya for its medicinal value, Li said that once his plans to cultivate 5,000 acres of the crop in Makueni county are actualized, the benefits will trickle down to the villagers in terms of employment across all value chains.

Daniel Munyao, a 61-year-old retired administrator and father of five, said that training at Li's farm motivated him to start growing Aloe Vera which he believes is an ideal alternative to some traditional crops whose future is at stake due to climatic shocks.

"I have chosen to grow Aloe Vera since it does not require a lot of work, is drought tolerant, and has a ready market," said Munyao.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)
Registration is now open for the 10th Annual Stuffing Strut Run/Walk. This years event will begin at 8:30 am on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 24, at Chester Frost Park.

The Stuffing Strut is an annual community 5k that benefits four nonprofits in northern Hamilton County: Northside Neighborhood House, the Soddy-Daisy Food Bank, the Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department and the Soddy-Daisy Middle School's Jim Wilson Fund.

This really is a fun, family oriented event, said Stuffing Strut committee member Dakota Gouger, its an amazing time for these organizations to receive funding, as they all are taking care of families in need during the holiday season.

To register, visit nnhouse.org/events. Registration is $30 per person. The deadline to be guaranteed a T-shirt in ones requested size is Thursday.

The Stuffing Strut began as an outreach project by Dallas Bay Baptist Church. They saw a lack of fundraising for non-profit organizations in their area, and dreamed of an event that would build community and raise money. Over the years, the Stuffing Strut has become its own community tradition, bringing together hundreds of individuals each year. It now serves four agencies that both meet practical needs of Soddy Daisy, Lakesite, and Hixson community members and that have special projects during the holiday season. The Northside Neighborhood House operates Santa's Workshop and continuous wrap-around services for families. The Soddy-Daisy Food Bank provides holiday food boxes, in addition to food and needed supplies year-round. The Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Rescue operates an annual Christmas toy giveaway. Soddy-Daisy Middle School's Jim Wilson Fund provides warm winter clothing for its students.
The Hunter Museum of American Art announce Daisy Maurya-Ballard has assumed the role of director of Development, leading organizational fundraising efforts including major giving and corporate partnerships.

Ms. Maurya-Ballard joins the Hunter Museum following a successful 14-year career in specialty device and pharmaceutical sales as well as healthcare business development and partner relations. A graduate of Leadership Chattanooga and a Woman of Distinction, Ms. Maurya-Ballard has served on numerous community boards and chaired several area fundraisers, including CWLIs Impact, the Womens Funds Voices, the CSOs Uncorked, and most recently, Erlangers Believe Bash. She was awarded the 2021 Leadership Fundraiser of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Daisys fundraising, sales and business development experience, as well as her deep community ties, will allow her to serve the museum well in this role, said Virginia Anne Sharber, executive director of the Hunter. Her passion for and knowledge of the community will be instrumental as the museum works to continue meeting its mission of connecting people of every background with knowledge, creativity and ideas.

Of her new role, Ms. Maurya-Ballard said, I am honored to join the Hunter Museum team. I have always respected the Hunter's commitment and dedication to excellence. With such incredible exhibitions and programs and immense community support, there are great opportunities to build new partnerships to further the museums efforts of sharing art and creativity with community members of every background. I look forward to playing a key part in helping the museum meet this important mission.
A woman on Wheeler Avenue called police because she said she was concerned about a call police had just been on at a residence on Cleveland Avenue. She said she lives at that residence on Cleveland Avenue and knew one of the people who lives there has made false statements about her before. Police assured the woman that her name had never come up and that she did not have anything to worry about.



* * *

A woman called police from the Lookout Mountain Conservancy at 1919 Old Wauhatchie

Pike. Police spoke to the woman and a man, who was the driver of a box truck. The woman said the man accidentally backed into the fence of the Lookout Mountain Conservancy. The man did confirm the incident and the truck did not have any visible damage. The fence did have a small amount of damage.

* * *

A woman told police someone damaged her vehicle between 8 a.m.-3 p.m. while she was at work. She said she parked at 1975 E 3rd St. and upon return she noticed her grill was burned.

* * *

A man on S. Beech Street told police someone stole his pistol from his residence. He said he last saw the pistol two weeks ago in his home. He told police he has been out and his mom has had visitors, but he is not sure if any of them took it. The firearm was entered into NCIC.

* * *

Police responded to reports of a "door ding" at Hixson High School. Police spoke to two women who both had their vehicles parked behind the school. The woman driver of a Camry had her back driver side door make contact with a Hyundai driven by the other woman. Police observed a small spot on the Hyundai. No damage was apparent on the Camry. The driver of the Hyundai requested a property damage report.

* * *

A man told police that while he was driving through the tunnels on Brainerd Road headed east, another driver in a black Mazda 3 hatchback was driving erratically and cut him off. The man said he told the driver of the Mazda that he was "going to get someone hurt if he kept driving recklessly," which caused the other driver to get angry and begin throwing things at the man's vehicle. The man did not wish to report the new damage to his vehicle. Police were unable to locate a vehicle registered to the Alabama tag that the man provided as belonging to the Mazda.

* * *

A woman at an apartment on S. Germantown Road told police she wanted her brother to leave her residence. Before police arrival, the brother had already collected his belongings and was in the process of leaving. Police stayed on the scene until he left the area.

* * *

A man at Gestamp, 3063 Hickory Valley Road, called police and said his sister's vehicle had been stolen. The man said he had borrowed his sister's car to go to work and at around 1 a.m. while he was at work, he saw the vehicle being driven out of the parking lot. The man told police he did leave the keys in the vehicle and the doors unlocked. The vehicle was entered into NCIC. There was no suspect information.

* * *

Police witnessed a motorcycle traveling south at a high rate of speed in the 2500 block of Market Street. Once police got behind the motorcycle, the driver slowed down. Police initiated a stop in the 3500 block of Alton Park Boulevard. Police got out and spoke with the driver. The motorcycle he was riding was black with red rims, displaying a TN tag. The man apologized for his speed. Police gave him a verbal warning for his speed and let him go on his way.

* * *

Both a man and a woman called into police from Brainerd Coin Laundry at 4011 Brainerd Road. Police spoke with both of them. The woman told police the man owes her a ride through Lyft and the man told police he does not owe her a ride, as she canceled it on the Lyft app. The man told police he believes the woman was attempting to find a shortcut in Lyft's phone app by adding a separate stop and then canceling it last minute. The woman had a separate ride arrive while police were on scene. Both of them left without incident.

* * *

A woman on Artesian Circle told police she mailed a personal check through the Post Office. She said that when she received her bank records, she saw where someone had falsified the check and made it out for $8,000.32. The woman said she is working with the bank to recover her loss.

* * *

Police were called for a found gun inside a car at CARMAX at 2211 Overnite Dr. Police found it was an airsoft pistol in the center glove box. CARMAX said the vehicle was traded in and did not have easy access to the trader's information. The Airsoft gun was taken by police and turned into Property.

* * *

A man at Gestamp, 3063 Hickory Valley Road, called police and said his sister's vehicle had been stolen. The man said he had borrowed his sister's car to go to work and at around 1 a.m. while he was at work, he saw the vehicle being driven out of the parking lot. The man told police he did leave the keys in the vehicle and the doors unlocked. The vehicle was entered into NCIC. There was no suspect information.
11/28/2022

A woman on N. Germantown Road told police a man had made an inappropriate comment to her and she informed him she was not interested. He left and she locked her door. Roughly 45 minutes later, ... more
Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C. announces the addition of Drew Ellis, an attorney who will support the firm's intellectual property section.



"Drew has quickly proven himself to be a strong addition to the firm," said Stephen Adams, shareholder and intellectual property section chair at Chambliss. "With his prior engineering and design knowledge, Drew is a great value to our team and our clients."



Officials said, "Through his past work as a mechanical engineer and designer in various patent-heavy industries, Mr.

Ellis developed a deep understanding of the innovation cycle, the creation and development of patentable ideas and the process of bringing those ideas to fruition. Now, with Chambliss, Mr. Ellis uses his design background in working with innovators and entrepreneurs of all sizes to protect their intellectual property in a practical and cost-effective way. His work includes obtaining and enforcing patents for simple to complex inventions in a number of technology sectors, working with clients to develop and build meaningful trademark protection for their brands and advising on various other intellectual concerns."Mr. Ellis attended the University of Tennessee College of Law, where he graduated cum laude. He also holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Mr. Ellis is licensed to practice in Tennessee and is a member of the Tennessee and Knoxville Bar Associations.
The Hamilton County Health Department will be participating in the statewide, Fight Flu TN initiative by offering free flu shots to adults 18+. The event will take place Wednesday, Nov. 9 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Orchard Knob Baptist Church, 1734 East 3rd St. in Chattanooga.Details No appointment is needed. Drive-thru and walk-up options available. Adults 18+ may participate. Free - while supplies last. People are encouraged to wear a face mask while getting vaccinated. Bilingual staff & ASL interpreters will be on site.As we move into the winter months and flu season, we encourage all eligible residents to make their health a priority by receiving their flu shot as soon as possible, says Hamilton County Health Department Health Officer Dr.Stephen C. Miller. We are also thankful to continue our partnership with Orchard Knob Baptist Church and thankful they are willing to serve as an event host this year.Officials said, "Per the CDC, those at the highest risk for serious complications from the flu include children under five years, adults 65 years and over, pregnant women and those with preexisting medical conditions or a compromised immune system."Both the flu and COVID-19 viruses can be spread at the same time, and you can be infected with both simultaneously. In addition to getting the vaccine for both, it is important to continue wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing your hands."In addition to the Fight Flu TN event, flu shots are widely available at primary care offices, local pharmacies and with participating community partners. To find a flu shot near you, visit https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/.Additional resources Call the Health Departments hotline at 423-209-8383 if you have questions about COVID-19, the flu, or the Fight Flu TN event. Visit the Health Departments online vaccine calendar at vaccine.hamiltontn.gov to see where they are offering COVID-19 or flu vaccine events throughout the week. Both the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine can be administered simultaneously; however, the COVID-19 vaccine will not be administered at the Fight Flu TN event. To read this information in Spanish, visit the Health Departments Spanish Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SaludHamiltonTN.
The public is invited to help the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency select the winning photos for the 2023 Tennessee Wildlife Calendar contest and the collectible license hard cards. Votes can be submitted online at this website: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SXZTPXJ.



More than 5,000 entries for the photo contest were made this year and the field was narrowed down to these finalists. Voters will have the opportunity to select their favorite photo from eight categories.

Photos with the most votes will be featured in the 2023 Tennessee Wildlife calendar, which will be available in December. The deadline for voting is Monday, Nov. 7.
Jackson Crabtree, CPA, has been named chief financial officer of Parkridge East Hospital. In this role, he will oversee all financial aspects of Parkridge East. He brings nearly 10 years of accounting experience with more than five years spent in healthcare.

Parkridge East is poised to continue growing and expanding to meet the needs of our community and Jacksons background and depth of healthcare knowledge will be a key asset to helping us achieve our goals, said Will Windham, CEO of Parkridge East Hospital. Jackson brings a wealth of experience to Parkridge East and we are excited to welcome him to our team.

Prior to joining Parkridge East, Mr. Crabtree served as assistant chief financial officer at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital, a 510-bed acute-care facility in Gainesville, Fl., and internal audit senior manager for HCA Healthcare in Nashville.

Mr. Crabtree earned a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Tennessee Technological University and a Masters of Accountancy from University of Mississippi.

Mr. Crabtree enjoys being involved at his church, spending time with family and running. He and his wife Kathryn are expecting their second child in January.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at 1 p.m. on Thursday, in the University Centers UC Foundation Room on the UTC campus.



The purpose of the MOU between UTC and EPA Region 4 is to increase cooperation and promote collaboration in areas of mutual interest. In signing the agreement, both parties recognize many possible benefits of an enhanced partnership, including: UTC faculty and students invited to participate in EPA public policy forums, presentations, seminars and other public events.

EPA participation in career fairs and other outreach with UTC students, faculty and alumni regarding employment opportunities.

In accordance with its mission and purpose, EPA may assist UTC in advancing environmental education through distance learning technology.

EPA staff may voluntarily participate in UTC lectures, webinars, conferences and other events.

Collaboration on methods of increasing interest in careers protecting human health and the environment as well as awareness about publicly available recruitment and environmental education opportunities. Through a grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the UTC Master of Public Health program is currently testing drinking water for lead in licensed childcare centers in Hamilton, Bradley and Marion counties. The lead testing project is affiliated with the EPAs College/Underserved Community Partnership Program.



EPA Region 4, based in Atlanta, serves Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and six Native American Tribes.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students are launching Pouring for Purpose, a pour painting art gallery, on Nov. 9 at UTCs University Center to support Partnership for Families, Children and Adults victim support services.

The art gallery will feature more than 40 hand-poured paintings made by UTC students for a project in an Ethics in Criminal Justice course within the Department of Social, Cultural and Justice Studies. The painting project is sponsored by a classroom mini-grant from UTCs Walker Center for Teaching and Learning.



Course instructor and Assistant Professor Dr. Katelyn P. Hancock organized the charity art gallery. Through a vote, students selected Partnership to receive funds raised.



I really wanted a project that allowed our students to think and create in a critical way that would ultimately do some good in our community, said Hancock. This grant has really allowed us to do just that, and Im excited to lift up Partnership through the gallery.



The gallery is open to the public on Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 642 E. Fifth St. in Chattanooga Room C 220. Student paintings can be purchased with cash. All proceeds will then be donated to Partnership's victim support services.



Partnerships victim support services offer a multitude of programs to help and protect those affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. Critical services include the overnight domestic violence shelter for victims of domestic violence, forensic medical exams for sexual assault victims and a 24-hour crisis hotline. In the last year, Partnerships emergency shelter provided 13,162 nights of safe refuge and responded to 2,229 crisis hotline calls.



Partnership is so grateful to be the beneficiary of this wonderful event, as our many programs are only made possible thanks to the generosity of our community, said Partnerships Director of Philanthropy Sharon Love.



Partnership welcomes local businesses and organizations interested in giving back through charitable initiatives, such as a charity sale or round-up campaign, to reach out to the Partnership philanthropy department at rrickman@partnershipfca.com.


Fans know Emma Watson for her acting projects and humanitarian efforts. She got into philanthropy to deal with the unwanted parts of immense fame. The actor has helped raise money for organizations dealing with various issues.

Watson had wanted to help with different causes, and she got her chance after graduating from college. She went to Brown University, and the campus broadened her views. For instance, she saw how the overall American curriculum taught British history.

Emma Watson | Dave Benett/Getty Images

Emma Watson enrolled at Brown University

While filming the last films of the Harry Potter series, Watson took some time off from schooling. She decided to resume her education in 2009, and she enrolled in a school in the United States. Her school of choice was Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

Brown University is a private university and a part of the Ivy League. It is one of the leading research schools, and the curriculum appealed to Watson. She enjoyed being able to choose various subjects for her classes while focusing on a degree in English literature.

#NotJustActors Emma Watson earned a bachelor's in English literature at Brown University pic.twitter.com/EzJspRSA7d  Movies Now (@moviesnowtv) November 18, 2016

Watson was able to do different things due to that increased agency, like an independent study. The study she completed centered around the psychology and philosophy of human interaction. Specifically, she focused her research on how and why people fall in love.

It is unknown what conclusions Watson found when she finished her study. Nevertheless, she enjoyed the opportunities Brown University provided her. However, the curriculum had some aspects that surprised her and gave her a new perspective.

Emma Watson learned British history from an American perspective

Self-education is an essential part of any anti-racist journey, and reading has always been a huge part of my personal learning, says @EmmaWatson. https://t.co/vyWXSgd3GX  British Vogue (@BritishVogue) June 5, 2020

Many college students take at least one history course, depending on their major. History classes can cover a wide range of topics from the American Civil War to Non-Western history. While at Brown University, Watson took a course on British history.

Some fans may have wondered what her thoughts were about the class. In an interview with British Vogue, Watson explained what it was like to study Britains history in the United States. She learned the facts differently in an American university compared to her education in England.

I remember sitting in my lecture hall, and you know, listening to my professor and genuinely turning around in the middle, and Im like, is anyone else having some kind of breakdown here?' Watson stated. It was the first time I had a first-hand experience of realizing oh my goodness, history is genuinely told from the perspective of who its told by.

Nevertheless, one takeaway that Watson had was that she felt Britains education system needed reforming. She realized that there are some historical things schools barely talk about in Britain.

Emma Watsons college experience influenced her activism

Watsons experience with Brown University helped start her journey to activism. Watson realized she needed to analyze what she learned and the sources she read. She had an awakening and became involved in social justice movements like feminism.

Much of Watsons work has involved promoting equal rights for women at home and worldwide. She has traveled to places like Bangladesh to spread awareness about the specific conditions women face. Other locations include Zambia in Africa.

In Zambia, Watson worked with the charity Camfed and pledged to get bikes to help women travel. Her efforts to advocate gender equality led to her becoming a UN Ambassador for women. Her activism also has led her to point out societal pressures.

Watson mentioned women experience more pressure to date and get married than men. She acknowledged it by creating a new dating term to describe her relationship status. While she has received criticism, she continues to strive to be a better advocate.

RELATED: Emma Watson Once Revealed Her Education Wasnt the Only Reason She Wanted to Quit Harry Potter
Arkema announces the proposed divestment of Febex, a company specialized in phosphorus-based chemistry, to Belgian group Prayon. Arkema thus continues its dynamic business portfolio management.

Febex is a global player in phosphorus derivatives (high purity phosphoric acid, sodium hypophosphite and derivatives), used primarily in electronics and in the pharmaceuticals industry. Part of the Performance Additives Business Line and with little integration within the Groups other activities, Febex reported sales of around 30 million in 2021, employs 59 people, and operates 1 site in Switzerland.

By joining Prayon, an industrial group specialized in phosphorus-based chemistry, the Febex teams will benefit from the Belgian groups growth ambitions in this area.

This project, which is expected to be finalized in 1st quarter 2023, is subject to information and prior consultation process with employee representative bodies in France and to approval by the relevant Swiss authorities.
Citizens must opt-in via the Gadugi Portal by Nov. 30 to continue receiving the Cherokee Phoenix for free in 2023.
As the leaves start to turn and that brisk autumn wind chills the air, its time to dive into Halloween. Of course, when you think about Halloween, youre probably picturing haunted houses, horror movies, pumpkin carving, and kids dressed up in costumes eagerly going trick-or-treating.

All festivities aside, you might be wondering when the tradition of trick-or-treating even began. What exactly is the origin of Halloween? Why is it celebrated every October 31?

The ancient Celtic festival of Samhain is the earliest known root of our current Halloween traditions today. The Celts celebrated their new year on November 1 but kicked off their festivities the night before.

It was thought to be a time when the boundary between the living world and the world of the dead grew thin, allowing humans to be able to connect with the dead. Thats where the concept of ghosts and haunting come in.

Their celebrations consisted of sacrificing crops and animals in a giant sacred bonfire to the Celtic gods. They also dressed up in costumes made of animal hides.

In the eighth century, Pope Gregory the Third created All Saints Day and chose the date November 1 to observe it. All Saints Day had a lot of similarities to the Samhain festival.

It was also called All-Hallows Day, and the night before was All-Hallows Eve, thus leading to the shortened name of Halloween.

When Halloween arrived in America, it was not yet widely celebrated. The first Halloween celebrations in America included sharing stories of the dead or ghost stories, as well as playing pranks.

By the late 19th century, as Irish immigrants fled to America, the new influx of people helped solidify Halloween as a nationally celebrated event.

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In September of 1994, a disaster occurred when the cruise ferry ship named the MS Estonia tragically sank in the Baltic Sea, and over 800 passengers died.

It is one of the more well-known ship disaster stories. But did you know that the exact same boat with a different name was the scene of two murders years earlier?

Before it was the Estonia, the ship had begun service in Finland. It was first purchased in 1980 and built larger than most shipping vessels being used at the time to accommodate for more vehicles and up to 2,000 passengers. Its owners slapped on a coat of red and white paint before naming it the Viking Sally.

Life on the Viking Sally was pretty luxurious as the ship would make its daily trips between Stockholm and Turku.

Guests could enjoy massive buffets, have drinks at the bar, get free merchandise, etc. The ship ran successfully for 6 years until its reputation took a drastic turn for the worst after some heinous incidents occurred.

On July 10th, 1986, Reijo Hammar, a man that was eventually dubbed the most dangerous criminal in Finland, boarded the Viking Sally with a female accomplice.

The couple met a Finnish businessman named Antti Eljaala at one of the bars on the ship and accompanied him back to his cabin.

That was where they robbed him, stabbed him multiple times with a dinner knife, and strangled him to death with a bed sheet.

After being found guilty of Eljaalas murder, Hammar was sentenced to life in prison. He did, however, escape two years later, only to commit multiple crimes for weeks before being recaptured in Stockholm.

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No matter how big or small, humans are confronted with decisions every day. Do you opt for a bagel or English muffin in the morning? Are you going to visit the gym or cozy up with some Netflix?

And, of course, the larger the decision, the more stressful actually making a choice can feel. Is now a good time to sell your home, or will the real estate market see an even bigger upswing? Should you try out a new career path or stick to what you know?

Making decisions is just a normal part of the human experience. So, the exact mechanisms that underly our decision-making processes have long been a focus of neuroscientific research.

And interestingly, a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Tsukuba in Japan has confirmed a proposed idea known as Prospect Theory.

Prospect Theory was first introduced during the 1970s and stated that people are loss-averse. In other words, humans are more likely to make decisions or take risks that will help them avoid economic losses.

The general concept is that if two choices are put before an individual, both equal, with one presented in terms of potential gains and the other in terms of possible losses, the former option will be chosen, according to Investopedia.

And over the past decades, this theory has been widely accepted and supported by thousands of studies.

However, there have been severe limitations in terms of human neuroimaging. Essentially, scientists were unable to determine if individual brain neurons actually follow the theorys proposed thought pattern until now.

The research team was able to observe this theory in action by first training rhesus monkeys to perform two different lottery tasks.

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Do you ever feel pressure to stay silent to fit into your political partys talking points? Justin Giboney, attorney, ordained minister and co-founder of the AND Campaign, joins VOICES Where Ya From? podcast to explore how bringing our full witness to our political decisions and conversations can be a way of loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Guest Bio:

Justin Giboney is an attorney, political strategist, and ordained minister in Atlanta, GA. He is also the cofounder and president of the AND Campaign, which is a coalition of urban Christians who are determined to address the sociopolitical arena with the compassion and conviction of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has managed successful campaigns for elected officials in the state and referendums relating to the citys transportation and water infrastructure.

Hes the co-author of Compassion (&) ConvictionThe AND Campaigns Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement and has written op-eds for publications such as Christianity Today and The Hill.

Notes & Quotes:

Im seeing Black Christian candidates who want to run for city council in Black districts being forced to run as secular progressives. And Im like, I know you dont believe that. It just really made me feel uncomfortable.

Because Im in one party or the other, do I have to deny my witness? I just thought Christians werent having the opportunity to bring their whole witness into the conversation.

if youre going to love your neighbor as yourself, then youve got to care about their wellbeing. Youve got to be socially concerned about your neighbor. Politics isnt the only way to do that. But its certainly a robust way to show that you care about your neighbor.

You need to know what you believe and you need to, regardless of the circumstances, be able to speak the truth in love.

The gospel is love and truth. And in many instances, these two ideologies that were fighting over and were somehow trying to fit ourselves into are missing one or the other. Thats where AND comes fromthe love and truth. Its the compassion and the conviction. Its finding a way to combine the social justice and the moral order.

Links Mentioned:

Visit AND Campaign website: https://andcampaign.org

Explore Church Politics podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4DpmN1RMOH9aCpj3ZKl3nu

Visit our website to sign up for emails: whereyafrom.org

Leave us a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-ya-from-podcast/id1581145346

Check out our Voices Collection from Our Daily Bread Ministries

Follow Where Ya From? podcast on Instagram: @whereyafrompodcast

Verses Mentioned:
Fatal shooting of 81-year-old pastor under investigation, police say

Despite some reports suggesting he might have been killed in self-defense, the Topeka Police Department in Kansas said they are still investigating the fatal shooting of 81-year-old Arizona Pastor Donald Woolridge during a recent visit with his family.

The Topeka Police Department said that just after 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 24, officers were called to the 3300 block of SE Fremont St. in response to a shooting. When they arrived, Woolridge, who leads Union Baptist Church in Florence, Arizona, was found dead at the scene.

Police took one person into custody for questioning but that person was released. No other suspects were reported. Investigators reportedly told local media that self-defense was being considered in the pastor's death.

The Pinal Central Newspaper reported that Woolridge had made frequent trips to Topeka to help a family member who was experiencing legal problems.

When asked about the report that Woolridge might have been killed in self-defense, Detective Jesse Sherer of the Topeka Police Department told The Christian Post that the case remained an ongoing investigation.

What I can tell you is its an ongoing investigation, Sherer told CP. Ive done two search warrants this morning. I am still seeking evidence in the case. I cant tell you what the final outcome is going to be because I dont have all my information yet.

Steven Salazar, one of Woolridges neighbors in Arizona, told AZ Family that the pastors killing was senseless.

It shouldnt have happened. He was such a nice man, Salazar said.

The pastors wife, Vallarie, told the news outlet that she did not expect to get a call about her husbands death after he left their home in Arizona to go visit family in Kansas.

If somebody is sick and youre expecting them to go, you kind of prepare for it, Vallarie Woolridge said, recalling how she learned that her husband of more than 40 years had died.

Its never easy, but for it to be so sudden and happen like that, its very different, she told the CBS News affiliate. He was just a person who loved people, he loved God first, and thats the kind of heart God gave him. To be a helper of people, thats what he did, she added.
Pastor under investigation for campaigning during church services 'The individual who is running against me even came and spoke from my pulpit'

A Virginia pastor is facing allegations that he used his pulpit to promote his campaign for Newport News City Council, a move that critics contend runs afoul of the law.

Willard Maxwell serves as pastor of New Beech Grove Baptist Church in Newport News, Virginia. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, Maxwell is running as an independent for a seat on the Newport News City Council against fellow independent candidate Curtis Bethany. The candidates campaign website reveals that he is seeking Newport News City Councils North District Seat B.

Documents obtained by The Christian Post reveal that Maxwell encouraged his congregants to support his campaign during a recent sermon. We have signs out there if you want to take a sign to your house, that would be great, he said in the speech.

Anytime you want to donate $5, $25  it doesnt matter, or get other people to donate, I would really appreciate it, he added. Maxwell acknowledged the concerns that political campaigning from the pulpit constitutes a violation of the law, which prohibits tax-exempt churches from engaging in political campaigning.

Specifically, the Internal Revenue Code prohibits tax-exempt organizations such as churches, religious organizations and charitable organizations from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. The Internal Revenue Code identifies contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or opposition to any candidate for public office as a violation of federal law.

I know a lot of people say you cant use certain things or say stuff at church, Maxwell added. Republicans and Democrats alike have been trying to tell me I cant say nothing. If I cant say nothing, you cant say nothing because its my house.

Maxwells comments at the pulpit prompted a woman identified as Sharon Richardson to contact Newport News Commonwealths Attorneys Office, the Voter Registrars Office and the Daily Press. An Oct. 17 email from Newport News Commonwealths Attorney Howard Gwynn to Richardson, obtained by the Daily Press, described the content of the video as very disturbing. He assured her that this matter is under investigation and is being taken very seriously.

The Christian Post reached out to Maxwell, the attorneys office and the voter registrars office for comment. A response was not received by press time.

In addition to the comments made during the video, Richardson provided The Christian Post with supporting documentation including a screenshot from an email advertising an Aug. 27 campaign event titled Leading Ladies for Maxwell. The email informed recipients that tickets for the event were available in the New Beech Grove Baptist Church office, suggesting a direct link between the pastors campaign for public office and the church itself.

Additionally, Richardson included a picture of campaign literature passed out during a church service. Richardson also shared a screenshot of the New Beech Grove Baptist Church website that had a link to Maxwells campaign website.

Maxwell denied all allegations of wrongdoing to the Daily Press. He maintained that the link to his campaign website appeared on the churchs website because the group he hired to work on his various websites added a link to the campaign on the church website by accident. The Christian Post confirmed Tuesday that a link to the campaigns website is not on the churchs website.

That hasnt been there for months, he assured the publication. Addressing claims that he was improperly using the pulpit to advance his political campaign, Maxwell stressed that I let Democrats come; I let Republicans come, recalling that the individual who is running against me even came and spoke from my pulpit. Bethany spoke at New Beech Grove Baptist Churchs 11 a.m. service on Oct. 9.

If found to have violated any portion of the Internal Revenue Code, churches could have their tax-exempt status revoked. While churches can engage in some forms of political speech, including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides or other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, they cannot explicitly endorse candidates.

The situation involving Maxwell and New Beech Grove Baptist Church is not the first time Virginia churches have faced scrutiny for dabbling in electoral politics. Last year, ahead of the Virginia gubernatorial election, the secular group Americans United for Separation of Church and State raised concerns about a campaign ad slated for viewing at more than 300 predominantly African American churches featuring Vice President Kamala Harris urging congregants to support Democrat Terry McAuliffe.

This year, the elections for the North District Seat B and other seats on the Newport City Council will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 8. The winners will go on to serve four-year terms.
Republicans seeking to block Pentagon from funding abortion travel via defense bill

Republican lawmakers are drafting an amendment to a Department of Defense spending bill to block the Pentagon's new policy of funding abortion travel for its employees who must travel out of state to receive an abortion.

On Oct. 20, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin sent a memorandum to senior Pentagon leadership, announcing that the department will reimburse the travel expenses of service members traveling out-of-state to obtain an abortion.

Austin claimed the new policy is necessary following the U.S. Supreme Court's June 24 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, finding that the U.S. Constitution doesn't contain a right to abortion. After the court's ruling, which struck down the 1973 ruling of Roe v. Wade, several states banned or severely restricted abortion.

The memorandum received pushback from Republican lawmakers, with at least one drafting an amendment to the 2023 defense spending package to block the department's abortion travel policy.

Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, said in an Oct. 24 tweet that he couldn't believe the department is considering using tax dollars to "improperly" fund abortion travel.

I cannot believe the DoD is even considering improperly using taxpayer $$ to fund abortion travel. Ive drafted an NDAA amendment to put a stop to this. With all of the challenges we face globally, DoD needs to make our national security their top priority.  Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) October 24, 2022

"I've drafted a [National Defense Authorization Act] amendment to put a stop to this," Marshall, an OB-GYN, added. "With all of the challenges we face globally, DoD needs to make our national security their top priority. Sen. [Majority Leader Chuck] Schumer must allow for a robust amendment process when the Senate returns so we can vote to block this outrageous memorandum."

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., the ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, also insists that the new Department of Defense policy "must be blocked."

"I am deeply disappointed that the Department of Defense has allowed President [Joe] Biden to blatantly misuse the United States military for political purposes," Rogers said in a statement. "Yesterday's memo from DoD, released nearly two weeks before the election, is a desperate campaign tactic that undermines the core mission of our military."

Rogers demands "answers from the Department of Defense on how this memo came to be."

"[T]axpayer dollars meant for deterring China and other adversaries should not be squandered on campaign politics," Rogers said. "DoD must be blocked from wasting any portion of their budget on this horrendous policy."

While Rogers didn't explicitly identify the National Defense Authorization Act as the vehicle of choice to torpedo the new abortion travel policy, Marshall's tweet suggests Republicans concerned about the use of tax dollars to pay for abortion travel see an amendment to the spending package as the most effective way to do so.

The nearly 3,900-page bill, which "[authorizes] appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy," has already been approved by the House in a bipartisan vote.

However, the measure must still secure the approval of the evenly divided U.S. Senate before becoming law. The amendment to block the Department of Defense abortion policy hasn't been introduced. However, Politico reports that Republicans could push for a vote when lawmakers return following the Nov. 8 midterm elections.

The NDAA passed the House on July 28, nearly three months before the Pentagon unveiled its abortion travel policy. Should the bill pass the Senate with or without Marshall's suggested amendment, the two chambers must reconcile the differences between their respective bills before the package can go to the president's desk for final approval.

The Senate currently has 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote in favor of the Democrats. An amendment blocking the use of tax dollars to pay for abortion travel would require the support of all Senate Republicans and at least one Senate Democrat to become part of the bill.

The Democrats maintain a narrow majority in the House, meaning that at least a small number of Democrats would have to support the NDAA if the Senate version includes an amendment blocking the Defense Department's abortion travel policy.

Biden, who has made abortion access an issue of focus during his presidency, may elect not to sign the bill if it includes the amendment when it reaches his desk.

The U.S. Congress will convene for a "lame duck" session following the midterms, with debate about the NDAA expected to occur at this time.

A continuing resolution that funds the government at existing levels is set to expire on Dec. 16.

Should Congress fail to reach an agreement regarding the NDAA or if Biden refuses to sign it, a partial government shutdown may commence unless Congress decides to pass another short-term continuing resolution funding the government at existing levels to avert a government shutdown.

The department implemented the abortion travel policy less than three weeks before the midterm elections will determine which party controls Congress for the next two years.

The FiveThirtyEight Deluxe Model, which predicts the outcome of elections based on "polls, fundraising, past voting patterns" and the opinions of political experts, gives Republicans an 81% chance of taking control of the House while giving Democrats a 51% chance of keeping control of the Senate.

Republican majorities in one or both houses of Congress could give opponents of the abortion travel policy more leverage to block it in the form of amendments to a future version of the NDAA or other legislative initiatives.

However, Biden would still have the final say on what legislation becomes law in a Republican-controlled Congress. Disagreements between pro-life lawmakers and the pro-abortion administration on the abortion travel policy and other abortion-related issues look likely to persist for the foreseeable future.
Hundreds of Southern Baptist pastors call for SBC amendment to ban female pastors

More than 700 Southern Baptist pastors are calling on the Southern Baptist Convention to prohibit women from serving as a pastor of any kind at SBC-affiliated churches.

Pastor Mike Law of Arlington Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia, penned an open letter to the SBCs Executive Committee calling on the board to amend the conventions constitution to include verbiage requiring Southern Baptist churches to not affirm, appoint, or employ a woman as a pastor of any kind.

Titled A Call To Keep Our Unity, Laws letter warns of what he described as a trend of SBC-affiliated churches hiring women in pastoral roles of various kinds.

Personally, I felt the need to offer this amendment because five Southern Baptist churches, roughly within a five-mile radius of my own congregation, are employing women as pastors of various kinds, including women serving as Sr. Pastor, Law wrote. Many others have found that a number of Southern Baptist churches appoint, affirm, or employ women as pastors in their areas, too.

While often using modified titles like co-pastor, worship pastor, or youth pastor, these roles, added Law, all trade on the office of pastor.

The proposed motion would amend Article III, paragraph 1 of the SBC Constitution on Composition.

Law noted the Baptist Faith & Message statement adopted in 2000 already affirms that while both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.

Prior to that, Law said the Convention  through its Resolution On Ordination And The Role Of Women In Ministry  already recognizes the Bible excludes women from pastoral leadership and pastoral functions.

This matter has long been settled by Southern Baptists, he wrote.

Citing a number of passages from Scripture that state only qualified men can hold the office of elder or overseer, terms Law described as synonymous with pastor, including 1 Timothy 3:17 and Titus 1:59, the letter also warns of dire consequences for the Convention if the issue is left unsettled.

Abiding women in the pastoral office materially harms the work of the Convention because it cultivates disunity where we have long been united, wrote Law. It contaminates the soil of our Convention with distrust of and disobedience to the Scriptures, particularly 1 Timothy 2:12 and 3:1-7.

Devaluing our doctrine will not lead to faithfulness or fruitfulness. Rather, if we learn anything from history, embracing empty doctrines will soon empty our Convention too. Consider the exodus among the liberal and mainline denominations. They abided with women as pastors for a time, then they embraced the practice  thereby abandoning sound doctrine  and so began their rapid decline.

The next SBC Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for February 2023. It's unclear whether the issue will be taken up by the committee.

While theres little data on the number of women serving in pastoral roles in Southern Baptist churches, fewer than one-tenth of 1% of SBC-affiliated churches in 2000 had a woman serving as senior pastor, according to a study from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Last year, Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, drew scrutiny from many within the SBC when the church ordained three women  Liz Puffer, Cynthia Petty and Katie Edwards.

Since then, the prominent California megachurch has received increased attention for its support of female pastors.

Recently installed lead Pastor Andy Wood, who replaced pastor and bestselling author Rick Warren as leader of Saddleback, listed his wife Stacie as a teaching pastor on the churchs website.

Earlier in October, Stacie preached a sermon at Saddleback, with her being identified as a Teaching Pastor.

Also earlier this month, trustees at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, unanimously approved a resolution encouraging the seminary's administration to continue theologically training both men and women, "but with men alone reserved for the office and function, and thereby title of pastor."

"It is further resolved that this Board encourages The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary administration and faculty to continue its theological training with this stated conviction graduating both men and women for service to the church, but with men alone reserved for the office and function, and thereby title of pastor," the resolution states in part.

Shortly after the SBC's Annual Meeting in June, Southern Baptist theologians published a statement clarifying the meaning of the word "pastor" amid controversy stemming from Saddleback Church ordaining female pastors last year.

The document, titled, "A Statement Concerning the Baptist Faith & Message and the Word' Pastor,'" was released by a Southern Baptist seminary president, a former seminary president, and the former head of the denomination's public policy arm.

The signatories are Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; and Dr. Richard Land, who served as the president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission from 1988-2013 and is the president emeritus of Southern Evangelical Seminary in North Carolina. The Confession Revision Committee assigned the three men to write a study guide for the new 2000 Baptist Faith & Message Confession.

Aiming to bring clarity to a fractious debate within SBC life, the theologians said that when it comes to the word "pastor," Southern Baptists have always understood the term "pastor." In keeping with the spirit of Baptist Faith and Message 2000, "pastor" means "one who fulfills the pastoral office and carries out the pastor's functions."
Supreme Court weighs if race should factor in college admissions, hears affirmative action cases

The U.S. Supreme Court heard several hours of arguments on whether education institutions can consider race as one of many factors in determining student admissions, with both sides invoking concerns over discrimination and diversity.

The nation's highest court held oral arguments Monday in the cases of Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina and Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College.

At issue are race-based affirmative action policies for the two institutions, with SFFA arguing that these measures have led to discrimination against white and Asian students.

The academic institutions and their allies argued that the policies were necessary to help foster diverse campus communities, which would benefit minorities and the overall student body.

The high court first heard arguments on UNC's affirmative action policy. After a brief recess, justices heard arguments on Harvard's policy. For the latter, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson recused herself, as she spent six years on Harvard's board of overseers, which often debated the school's affirmative action policy.

Some have speculated that the cases might lead to the overturning of the 2003 Supreme Court ruling in the case of Grutter v. Bollinger, in which a five-justice majority upheld a University of Michigan Law School policy that used race as a factor in admissions.

A majority of the Supreme Court justices concluded in 2003 that the Michigan policy was lawful because racial preference was only one of many parameters for admission.

The majority opinion authored by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor stated that "race-conscious admissions policies must be limited in time" and predicted that "25 years from now, the use of racial preferences will no longer be necessary to further the interest approved today."

During arguments for both cases, there was considerable debate over how long these schools will keep their affirmative action policies in light of the 25-year timeline mentioned in the 2003 decision.

Attorneys defending UNC and Harvard did not provide an exact date for when they would discontinue their policies, arguing that it would be dependent on various campus climate factors.

Justice Samuel Alito asked North Carolina Solicitor General Ryan Y. Park, who was arguing on behalf of UNC, if the UNC student body's racial makeup would "coincide almost exactly to the percentage of those racial groups in the general population," would Park believe that have "achieved diversity"?

Park said "no," adding that he did not believe that UNC needs "to reach those levels," but noted that UNC officials were "trying to comply" with Supreme Court precedent, "which require the minimum consideration of race on a holistic basis."

Justice Amy Coney Barrett then asked Park when consideration of race in the application process would end, invoking the Grutter decision's timeline.

Park replied, "we enthusiastically embrace the durational requirement," but "we don't think that the compelling interest in diversity will ever expire."

Jackson expressed concern during the UNC oral arguments that the rule advocated by SFFA attorney Patrick Strawbridge was that a school "can take into account and value all of the other background and personal characteristics of other applicants, but they can't value race."

"What I am worried about is that that seems to me to have the potential of causing more of an equal protection problem than it is actually solving," said Jackson.

As a hypothetical, Jackson asked if an applicant who wanted to go to UNC would have less chance of being admitted if their application spoke about a family history of slavery instead of a family history of attending UNC.

"As I understand, your no race-conscious admissions rule, these two applicants would have a dramatically different opportunity to tell their family stories and to have them count," she continued.

Strawbridge answered that "nothing stops UNC from honoring those who have overcome slavery," however, he critically asked if that is "a basis to make decisions about admission of students who were born in 2003?"

"And I don't think that it necessarily is," he added. "I don't think that the Equal Protection Clause suggests that it is."

Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar, representing the Biden administration in support of UNC and Harvard, argued that the policies were necessary to help prepare students for life in a racially diverse United States.

"A blanket ban on race-conscious admissions would cause racial diversity to plummet at many of our nation's leading educational institutions," Prelogar argued.

"Race-neutral alternatives right now can't make up the difference, so all students at those schools would be denied the benefits of learning in a diverse educational environment. And because college is the training ground for America's future leaders, the negative consequences would have reverberations throughout just about every important institution in America."

In recent years, SFFA filed challenges to the UNC and Harvard policies, only to have different lower courts reject both lawsuits.

In January, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the SFFA cases, with SFFA President Edward Blum saying in a statement he is "grateful" for the appeal.

"It is our hope that the justices will end the use of race as an admissions factor at Harvard, UNC and all colleges and universities," stated Blum earlier this year.
A lesson from women in Iran on human rights

The Iranian womens uprising that prompted arrests and deaths is difficult to watch. It started with 22-year-old Mahsa Aminis death in the custody of Irans morality police. Shed been arrested for allowing hair strands to escape her traditional hijab.

Why would relations between Iranian women and its rulers come to this? When will Islams religious leaders and political powers realize that when it comes to womens rights, it is impossible for things to remain the same?

Local oppression cannot be hidden, nor can it be argued as a local problem. Islam, like all religions, must contend with modern times and the incessant, innate human quest for fundamental rights. With the worlds global communications, increased education, and the freedom to engage in global exchange, people cannot be kept in the dark about what happens in the rest of the world. The world is utterly transparent on issues of human dignity, justice, and freedom.

The issues are religious as well as traditional. Nowhere in most major religions, including Islam, is the quest for fundamental rights and freedom barred as an act against a god. Traditionally, men in many cultures have oppressed, subjugated, or denied women their freedoms and still do. Combining the two is a lethal cocktail. The Iranian struggle for human freedom comes in a majority Islamic government where the male Mullahs word is final on issues of womens culture.

While the world cheers Iranian women who revolt for their rights, they must not turn their struggle into an attack on their religion or on other women who want to wear the hijab by choice.

In my country of India, for example, exactly the opposite development is at work. In Indias vastly diverse populace, we have both hijab-wearing and hijab-ignoring Muslim students. But in the state of Karnataka, the government banned Muslim girls from wearing the hijab to school. As a result, many Muslim girls are fighting for the right to wear the hijab at school. The case has now landed in the Supreme Court.

Some dress codes are understandable. Wearing a Burqa has become extremely complex both in Muslim and other nations because of the wearers' ability to hide their features and bodies. Reports abound of both men and women terrorists hiding themselves under the Burqa to carry out violence. Todays security concerns make it extremely difficult to allow this.

In the case of the hijab, however, critics allege that it is being driven by the Hindu party that is in power in the state. The same government recently passed a stringent anti-conversion law directed mostly against Christians.

As a matter of human freedoms, doesnt the right to wear or not to wear a religious symbol be decided by the women themselves and not by the State legislature? Will religions put blanket restrictions on dress codes in countries like France and the UK? Can a Christian woman be prevented from wearing a cross? Or a Sikh prevented from wearing a turban?

In these troubled times, as the world copes with the after-effects of the Covid pandemic, a faltering world economy, a senseless war, and Chinas tensions over Taiwan, it is more important for religious leaders to compromise aspects of culture for the sake of protecting life. When we are asked to comply with security procedures for the sake of safety, we must not take offense or automatically associate it with discrimination.

What the world desperately needs today are religious and political leaders who adopt as their chief priority the seeking of peace among their peoples. Without civil harmony, we risk spiraling down into further religious intolerance and violence and risk the highest good of all people worldwide.
Mainstream media, campaign cover-ups and Honest Abe

If you are currently experiencing some deja vu, you are not alone. The mainstream media has once again concealed the crippled cognitive abilities of a struggling political candidate. First, it was Joe Bidens presidential campaign two years ago, and now John Fettermans Senate campaign in Pennsylvania.

Author Howie Carr opined in October 2020, Media Continue to Cover Up Joe Bidens Mental Decline. Matt Viser of the Washington Postreported: Joe Biden Spent Much of the General Election in His Basement." Historian Victor Davis Hanson explained: The Strategies of Dementia Politics.

Joe Bidens forgetfulness and penchant for seclusion over the past two years are consistent with the mental impairment witnessed during his 2020 presidential campaign. And the mainstream media has remained firmly committed to concealing Bidens mental health challenges whenever possible, as highlighted in this report last year: President Biden Still in Media-Protected Hiding."

Sadly, we have now witnessed in the case of John Fetterman yet another blatant example of a campaign cover-up involving a cognitively impaired Democratic politician.

ABC ran a piece a few weeks ago titled: Republicans Suggest John Fetterman is Too Sick to Serve. Neurologists Call Attacks Uninformed. Anyone who watched Fettermans Painful Debate last week now understands why Republicans raised concerns. And with the cat now out of the bag, ABC has been forced to abandon its neurologist narrative.

While John Fetterman certainly deserves much compassion, Pennsylvania voters should nevertheless have been made fully aware of the complications which arose after Fetterman had a stroke nearly six months ago. It is now too late for the early voters to cast an informed vote. As reported a week ago, 500k Votes Already Cast in Pennsylvania Midterm Election."

CBS recently published an article about Fettermans current condition, quoting the Senate candidate's primary care physician: He has no work restrictions and can work full duty in public office. Fettermans dismal debate performance flew right in the face of that wildly inaccurate narrative. Nice try doctor and nice try CBS, but no dice.

Prayers for this stroke victim are needed, but hiding his true condition from the voters represents journalistic malpractice. America suffers whenever political campaigns and impaired candidates are deceptively promoted by the mainstream media.

Scientific American, a popular science magazine, had never backed a presidential candidate in its 175-year history. But that all changed in 2020, when they endorsed Joe Biden. A few weeks ago they published this article: John Fetterman Shows How Well the Brain Recovers after Stroke. The article concluded with Fetterman asserting, I feel like Im going to get better and better every day. I believe Im going to be able to serve effectively.

It will come as no surprise if Scientific American stops making political endorsements after stumbling so badly on their only attempt in 175 years.

Dasha Burns is a journalist with NBC who recently interviewed John Fetterman. Afterwards, she tactfully brought up some troubling issues she observed with the Senate candidate's inability to process and articulate basic thoughts and ideas. Burns was then vilified by media peers for noting Fetterman had problems communicating with her when she attempted to make small talk before a rare interview granted by the Democratic candidate. What crime did Dasha Burns commit? This NBC journalist simply shared what she witnessed when visiting with a man who is running for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Isnt that what journalists are supposed to do?

After the debate last week, there was plenty of righteous indignation over the way her peers lambasted her honest disclosure: Critics Say NBCs Dasha Burns is Owed an Apology After Fettermans Debate Performance: Should Be Ashamed. It is no wonder so many Americans simply do not trust the mainstream media. After all, how many journalists in their circles would have shared with the world what Dasha Burns was willing to reveal?

The mainstream media cover-up of John Fettermans weakened mental processes is reminiscent of the crafty campaign coverage Joe Biden (and Hunter Biden) received in 2020. Tens of millions of Americans recognize the danger the mainstream media poses to our nation, as reported several weeks ago: Nearly 60% See Mainstream Media as a Threat to Democracy: Poll.

How many cover-ups must there be among your ranks for Americans to view your entire coalition as a threat to democracy? That is a brutal indictment.

Politicians and journalists today would be wise to follow the example of Abraham Lincoln. The first reported instance of Lincoln being called Honest Abe was when he was a general store owner. After realizing one time that he had overcharged a woman by a small amount, he walked to her house over two miles away to return the change he owed her.

Lincolns political opponents were well aware of his unwavering honesty. I shall have my hands full, a worried Stephen Douglas said when told that the Republicans had chosen Lincoln to run against him for the U.S. Senate in 1858. He is the strong man of his party - full of wit, facts, dates  and the best stump speakerHe is as honest as he is shrewd.

President Abraham Lincoln famously issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which declared "that all persons held as slaves within the rebellious states are, and henceforward shall be free.

History is replete with honest people who stood up for the oppressed and fought for freedom. Dishonest people, on the other hand, enslave others, lie, cheat and steal. They constantly look for ways to gain control over people.

Abraham Lincoln gave some excellent advice in a lecture to young lawyers: Resolve to be honest at all events; and if in your own judgment you cannot be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer.

Likewise, I believe Honest Abe would advise aspiring young journalists today: "If you cannot be an honest journalist, resolve to be honest without being a journalist.

If the mainstream media was as honest as Abraham Lincoln, and as determined as Dasha Burns to stop covering up inconvenient truths about Democratic politicians, Americans would no longer view these journalists as a threat to democracy. The predicament the mainstream media find themselves in today can be summed up in another quote from Honest Abe: What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself."
Only 13% of pastors advise Christians to avoid Halloween completely, survey finds

The majority of Protestant pastors in the United States do not advise Christians to avoid Halloween entirely, and many instead encouraged churchgoers to use the holiday to build relationships with neighbors and share the Gospel, according to a new poll.

A new survey of over 1,000 Protestant pastors in the U.S. released this month by Lifeway Research finds that 71% say they encourage church members to invite friends or neighbors to church events on or near Halloween, such as a fall festival, trunk-or-treat or judgment house.

Nearly three in five pastors (58%) say they want church members to build relationships with neighbors who trick-or-treat, and about a third (34%) encourage church members to hand out Gospel tracts to trick-or-treaters.

Just over one out of 10 pastors surveyed (13%) say they discourage their church members from participating in Halloween festivities, an increase from 8% of pastors who said the same in a 2016 survey.

Across the board, Lifeway finds that pastors are more likely to try to influence congregants' engagement in Halloween in 2022 compared to 2016. According to Lifeway, the largest increase is among pastors who encourage church members to hand out Gospel tracts to trick-or-treaters, up from 26% in 2016.

Compared to 2016, higher percentages of pastors also said they encouraged church members to invite friends to church events (67% to 71%) and build relationships with trick-or-treaters (52% to 58%).

The Lifeway poll comes as a Numerator survey suggests that 78% of Americans say they will "definitely" or "probably" celebrate Halloween this year.

"Few pastors simply ignore the fact that so many Americans participate in Halloween celebrations," Lifeway Research Executive Director Scott McConnell said in a statement. "Most pastors focus on the social nature of these celebrations, encouraging their congregations to engage with others outside their church."

According to a Lifeway analysis, the increase in pastors trying to influence churchgoers' involvement in Halloween could indicate that churches are recovering from the impact of COVID and trying to utilize the holiday as an opportunity to "reconnect with their members and communities."

"Whether it comes from a desire to reconnect with their community after the pandemic prevented much of this or from deepened convictions about the holiday itself, pastors appear more resolute in their convictions around Halloween," McConnell said.

The survey also shows that younger pastors  ages 18 to 44 and 45 to 54  are more likely to encourage their congregations to engage in Halloween by inviting friends and neighbors to church events or building relationships with neighbors who trick-or-treat.

But older pastors  55 to 64 and older  are more likely to encourage their churches to hand out Gospel tracts to trick-or-treaters.

"The majority of even the smallest churches offer church events this time of year and encourage their members to invite people from the community," McConnell says. "In a society that is increasingly distant and divided, most pastors see opportunities within the interactions that take place around Halloween."

Each year during the Halloween season, Christians debate whether they should celebrate, and if they should, then how.

Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The celebration was traditionally held halfway between the autumn equinox and winter solstice. It was seen as a period when the veil separating the world and the spirit realms was at its thinnest.

Many pastors warn that Christians shouldn't tempt Satanic influences by participating in Halloween. But some pastors contend that the watered-down version of Halloween celebrated today has become more about a "candy acquisition" that can be separated from demonic influences.

The Lifeway survey found that non-denominational pastors (22%) and Pentecostal pastors (20%) were over twice as likely than Lutheran (9%), Methodist (7%) and Church of Christ (7%) pastors to say they urge their congregants to avoid Halloween entirely.

African American pastors (32%) were almost three times more likely than white pastors (11%) to say they encourage their congregations to avoid Halloween celebrations altogether. Meanwhile, nearly a quarter of Hispanic pastors (24%) said they encourage churchgoers to avoid Halloween celebrations completely.

White pastors (73%) were also more likely than African American pastors

(56%) to say they encourage members to invite friends or neighbors to church events on or around Halloween.
Some pastors see Halloween as innocent fun, others view the holiday as demonic'

As most Americans plan to celebrate Halloween on Monday night, many Christian parents will try to keep their children from being exposed to occultic ideas like witchcraft, demons and evil spirits. But other Christian families will embrace the time for candy, costumes and fun.

Many pastors and churches urge members to avoid the annual observance altogether or suggest alternative activities like harvest festivals. However, others are less bothered by Halloween even though they acknowledge its pagan origin.

In a series of interviews, The Christian Post asked pastors with children of their own about how their families approach Halloween.

Most of the church leaders interviewed say they do not celebrate Halloween because it originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The celebration was traditionally held halfway between the autumn equinox and winter solstice and is seen as a period when the veil separating the world and the spirit realms is at its thinnest.

But some are more open to allowing their children to participate in what they believe has become a watered-down, commercialized version of the holiday.

In their perspective, the last day in October has adopted a new meaning over time by becoming more about costumes, trick-or-treating and carving pumpkins than a celebration to ward off evil spirits.

As polling shows that 78% of Americans plan to celebrate Halloween this year, a recent survey from Lifeway Research of over 1,000 Protestant pastors finds that only 13% say they urge their congregations to avoid celebrating Halloween altogether, up from 8% in a 2016 survey.

Seventy-one percent of pastors say they encourage their church members to invite friends or neighbors to church events on or near Halloween, such as a fall festival, trunk-or-treat or judgment house. About a third of pastors (34%) encourage their members to give out tracts to trick-or-treaters.

Charles Washington, the pastor of Regeneration Temple in Raleigh, North Carolina, said he doesn't celebrate Halloween with his two children  Nathan, 11, and Taylor, 8.

My family believes its wrong after we conducted research to better understand the origins, said Washington, whose church belongs to the Church of God in Christ denomination.

And as Christians, we are called to be the light of the world. And as we know, this is a day that is for the celebration of evil spirits.

Even though Washington grew up in a Christian home, his family did not teach him about the origins of Halloween right away. He recalls celebrating the holiday as a child on one occasion.

The following year, his family became aware of the celebrations origins and stopped celebrating.

Some people celebrate it based on ignorance and not knowing the origins. Growing up, I didn't know the origins of Halloween. I just thought it was a date that we all dressed up, and I grew up in a Christian home, he said. But as I got older and I got wiser, I researched and I understood. This is not a day that Christians participate in.

Over 2,500 years ago, the Celtic festival of Samhain was believed to have taken place at dusk on Oct. 31 annually. Celtic communities in Europe celebrated for about three days, starting on the 31st. They would light bonfires, wear costumes and spend the evening summoning the spirits of the dead.

The Celts are believed to have called on the spirits to come and roam throughout the Earth. The costumes are believed to have been worn because they thought the disguises would keep the evil spirits from recognizing them.

It's a pagan holiday that honors ancestors going back to the Celtic people who are known as the Celts, Washington said. They would honor this day. Witches would honor this day, honoring the dead. A lot of it was a festival that was created to appease the spirits of the dead.

Children 'susceptible' to Satan

Washington believes Halloween can never be separated from its origins, and Christian parents who celebrate Halloween in any way with their children are likely to make themselves and their children more susceptible to the negative impact of the devil and his plots, schemes and evil plans carried out through his demons on that night.

This day is supposed to be a gateway between the dead and the living. And at this time, it is easier, or it is more possible, for dead spirits to interact with human beings. So with all that being said, according to our Christian belief, to celebrate Halloween is to drink the cup of the devil, Washington asserted, quoting 1 Corinthians 10:21, which warns that it is impossible to partake in the Lords cup and the cup of devils.

During Halloween, Washington said, it is believed by witches and warlocks that the veil that separates the demonic realm from the earthly realm is thinner than usual, which can make the ability for those practicing witchcraft to have access to more of the demonic realm.

Its important for Christian parents to be aware that Christians are in spiritual warfare all the time, according to Washington.

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6:12 about how we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness, Washington added. So, at all times, we are wrestling with this. But, if this day is dedicated to that, for witches and warlocks to be even stronger, and to call on those evil spirits, even more, you don't know what could happen.

Washington said, anything that a Christian does that is idol worship, that is not godly, you are more susceptible to demonic spirits. The pastor warned that celebrating evil spirits could lead to something tragic.

You never know what can happen with this type of celebration, he warned.

The Lifeway survey found that African-American pastors (32%) were almost three times more likely than white pastors (11%) to say they encourage their congregations to avoid Halloween celebrations completely. About a quarter of Hispanic pastors (24%) agreed. Non-denominational (22%) and Pentecostal (20%) pastors were over twice as likely than Lutheran (9%), Methodist (7%) and Church of Christ (7%) pastors to say they urge their congregants to avoid Halloween.

A candy acquisition

John Reichart, one of the pastors at The Experience Vineyard Church in Rockville Centre, New York, believes Halloween can be separated from its origins because its a day that has adapted over time to become mostly innocent.

Reichart told CP he recognizes there is a dark side to Halloween dating back to its origins and present day.

But he believes it is possible for Christian parents to separate Halloween from demonic activity by teaching their children to avoid the holidays dark side. The pastor has three children in their late 20s and early 30s with whom he once celebrated Halloween.

When our children were very young, before they were old enough to think about going out trick-or-treating, we were able to bring them to a church that hosted a harvest party where they could dress up and gather with other Christians for fun activities. They didnt call it a Halloween party, Reichart said.

Though waves of immigrants brought many Celtic traditions to America, Reichart said there have been generations of adaptations of Halloween. Over the decades, he says, the holiday has become more of a candy acquisition.

I am aware of the Celtic origins and the spirituality and fear aspects that were woven into it.  I am familiar with the details there, particularly what the Roman Catholic Church started doing to essentially co-opt some of those harvest time festivals that the Celts were celebrating where they viewed there is a thin barrier between the living and the dead and that people in the community that was dead might appear and need to be appeased, Reichart stated.

Reichart said Halloween should be a time for Christians to be keenly aware that the spiritual realm exists in both a heavenly way with the Holy Spirit and a demonic way with Satan and his demons.

When his children were younger, Reichart allowed them to dress up and go trick-or-treating. But he prohibited any costumes viewed as gory or overtly gullish or occult and on the demonic side.

Its a holiday that goes along with the residuals of some spiritual aspects. There is a layer here that remains created by the commercial costume thats available and through the frightening Hollywood movies that have been created. But at the kid level, they could dress up as crazy funny things where they are trying to look like some celebrity. But not in those gruesome ways. Reichart stated.

In that way, we tried to protect our kids and educate them about this topic and the origins a bit. I dont minimize the reality of there being a rich spiritual world with the presence of the Holy Spirit and the presence of demons and Satan. But, I dont believe that going to a Halloween festivity is demonic and that if someone does, they will be unduly influenced by demonic spirits.
'Celebrity Evangelist' shares evidence of Gods existence with Halloween Director John Carpenter

Pastor Dylan Novak, who goes by the name "Celebrity Evangelist" on social media, said he recently shared evidence of God's existence with horror film creator John Carpenter.

Novak, who's a youth pastor at Henard's Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Rogersville, Tennessee, has also devoted his life to sharing the Gospel with celebrities.

The minister shared on social media one of his most recent encounters with Carpenter, the director of the horror film Halloween, when he talked to him about Christianity.

In 1998, Mr. Carpenter told BigO magazine, Im an atheist, but I have a great fascination with this issue  over God and whether there is one or not. I come to (my belief) personally for my own reasons and my own decisions. But I respect anybody who believes anything, I dont have the ultimate answers about anything, Novak shared in a recent Facebook post.

Since 2015, the evangelist has thought a lot about celebrities who are questioning faith and prayed that God would allow him to have an opportunity to witness to them about Christ. He realized that a good way to make a connection with famous celebrities would be to talk to them during autograph signings.

Novak said he first met Carpenter in 2018 and gave him a Bible and a letter.

Just a couple weeks ago, I had the privilege of getting to meet him again, Novak wrote. I brought up the interview from above, which he said was where he still stood spiritually. I told him the reason we came to meet him was to bring facts and evidence about the issue of God so that he had historical and scientific evidence to research.

The evangelist gave the famous director Lee Strobel's books, The Case for a Creator, The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith, as resources. Novak also left tracts and a letter with Carpenter.

Christian author and former investigative journalist Lee Strobel regularly interviews scholars and experts around the country and worldwide to help his readers trust the validity of the Bible.

Novak asked his followers to please be praying that Mr. Carpenter accepts the truth of Jesus before it is eternally too late.

The evangelist and his family regularly travel to celebrity signings use the opportunity to witness. According to Novak's website, the first celebrity he shared the Gospel with was Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer James Taylor. He researched what he believed and "saw that he was agnostic, but would be open to listening if anyone took the time to share with him."

I decided to write him a personal letter explaining the Gospel in case I didn't have much time to talk with him, Novak recounted. Long story short, God worked a miracle where I was able to meet James that day. We had a very nice conversation which ended with him telling me that he would treasure that gift and read everything I gave him.

Novak's website adds, Sharing the Gospel with Hollywood is a forgotten mission field and a much needed one. Since this ministry began, God has opened the door for me to share the Gospel with over 700 celebrities, and several life changing decisions have been made!
Generation Indoctrination: Inside the roots of the trans movement

As the public become increasingly aware of what's happening to children in gender clinics, many are bewildered, asking: How did this happen so quickly?

While many social changes have occurred quickly in recent years, given shifts in politics and biomedical ethics, the philosophical roots of gender ideology that the world is experiencing today have a long history that has evolved over time, according to Dr. Abigail Favale, author of The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory a professor at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame.

In the third installment of The Christian Posts investigative podcast series Generation Indoctrination: Inside the Transgender Battle, Favale explained that much of what is now seen within the gender dogma of today can be traced back to the early 20th century. Two revolutions, the conceptual and the contraceptual, have indelibly shaped how people have thought about what it means to be male and female, particularly with the introduction of reproductive technologies such as hormonal birth control.

Regarding the conceptual revolution, Favale argues that the seeds of the gender revolution were sown in part by French existentialist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir, who authored The Second Sex in 1949.

When she was writing, she does not even use the term gender because that was a linguistic term, Favale told CP.

But she introduces the idea that gender would soon come to name, Favale added, noting that this theme emerges most pointedly in de Beauvoir's famous line, One is not born, but rather, becomes a woman," distinguishing femaleness from womanhood.

Second-wave radical feminists  many of whom are among the most vocal opponents of transgender ideology and who often approvingly cite de Beauvoir  respond by saying that the feminist writer was speaking of female socialization and the cultural and societal expectations imposed on women as a whole.

Nowhere in her writing did she outright deny the material reality of biological sex, as trans activists do, feminists maintain. In addition to modern gender ideology, these same feminists strongly push back against other scourges that disproportionately harm women, such as pornography, prostitution and surrogacy, stances that coincide with small-o orthodox Christian ethics. When asked to respond to this contention, Favale concurred but reiterated that these ideas about gender have still evolved from this particular moment in history.

Another major figure who is arguably the godfather of the transgender movement is John Money, a psychologist originally from New Zealand who was a professor at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. He made considerable waves in the 1960s with his published papers. Money experimented on human subjects, particularly on Canadian twin boys Brian and David Reimer.

Speaking of the experiments on the Reimer twins, Carla, a therapist from Loudoun County, Virginia, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, recounted how Money believed that babies were born gender neutral. He was the one who coined the phrase gender identity and believed that males could be raised as females, irrespective of their biology.

In the case of the Reimer twins, one of the boys, David (who was originally named Bruce), endured a botched circumcision and was, at Moneys advice, raised as a girl. David Reimer ultimately learned the truth of what happened to him, but the mental torment of what he had lived through was so overwhelming that he killed himself in 2004. Davids brother, Brian, died of a drug overdose.

In Carlas counseling practice, she now sees many young people who are distressed about their sex. The shift was sudden, and she felt unprepared to see the sharp increase. As she researched the problem further, she discovered a troubling trend among youth, not only were they spending inordinate amounts of time on their phones and social media, but they had been inculcated with the language of mental health conditions and therapy.

This generation has a rush to label and/or diagnose. And were doing it to kids at younger and younger [ages]. More and more, its becoming the norm that we construe normal feelings and label it as an illness, an abnormality or a disorder, Carla said.

People are calling kids as young as 11 pansexual, bi or probably gay before the child themself even knows, she added.



Contemporary trans activism relies upon an especially radical notion of selfhood, the idea that the self is sovereign, according to Mary Rice Hasson, an attorney and scholar at The Ethics & Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. In the United States, she said, society arrived at a critical juncture approximately seven years ago, when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in Obergefell v. Hodges.

Once Obergefell came down in 2015, the deal that was struck between the transgender groups and the activists who were very much about queer theory was Alright, we were backing you, now youve got same-sex marriage, its our turn. The T was added to the LGB because, in some respects, they were kept under wraps, Hasson said.

And that was one of the complaints of the transgender movement and the activists, that they felt like [they were] not embraced by the larger movement. They wanted to be front and center and have their agenda pushed forward. It was very much a tradeoff, very much a deal.

Thus, to many, it seemed it flipped overnight from same-sex marriage fights to promoting trans ideology, but the gender identity activists had been preparing long before the landmark high court decision. Most alarming for Hasson is the way this ideology has infiltrated the public school system. The gender dogma is so pervasive and destructive that in 2018, she co-authored a book with Theresa Farnan urging parents to withdraw their children from public schools, Get Out Now: Why You Should Pull Your Child from Public School Before It's Too Late.

Also weighing in on the dark philosophical history of gender ideology are doctors Quentin Van Meter and Andre Van Mol, both of whom were featured in episode two of "Generation Indoctrination" to discuss the emerging medical scandal manifesting in transgender clinics and hospitals nationwide.

In the fourth episode, CP will talk with lawmakers and public policy experts on the front lines of these issues, addressing what can be done from a legal standpoint.
2 Christians unexpectedly released from Iran's notorious Evin Prison after fire damages facility

Two Christians imprisoned in Iran for their church leadership roles were released a few days after a fire broke out in Tehrans Evin Prison on Oct. 15, but rights advocates were mystified about why they were freed.

Pastor Naser Navard Goltapeh, who had spent two months in solitary confinement, was released from Evin Prison on Oct. 17 after receiving a pardon from Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei, rights advocates said. On Oct. 18 Fariba Dalir, who had spent 38 days in solitary confinement after her arrest in July 2021 for starting a house church, was also released from Evin Prison.

She also was pardoned, though by whose authority remained unclear. Both pardons were unexpected and had previously been denied, according to religious freedom advocates.

We know that various bodies, the U.K. government and the U.N., were advocating for [Pastor Goltapehs] release, and we know that Evin Prison is hosting protestors and running out of space, but we dont know what made Khamanei do this out of the blue, said an expert on Iran for advocacy group Middle East Concern (MEC).

Pastor Goltapeh had requested early release and leave multiple times and had been denied, said the MEC source, on condition of anonymity. Dalir had made a request for early release in August and was denied. Both Pastor Goltapeh and Dalir had served over one-third of their sentences, and under Iranian law were eligible for early release.

Pastor Goltapeh was arrested with three other Christians at an engagement party in Karaj, near Tehran, in June 2016, according to MEC. He and three men from Azerbaijan were taken to Evin Prison, interrogated repeatedly and held in solitary confinement for two months.

They were charged in October 2016 with missionary activities and actions against national security and released on bail. A month later, the three Azerbaijani men were allowed to leave Iran, but Pastor Goltapeh, an Iranian convert from Islam, had to stay to face trial.

In May 2017, Pastor Goltapeh was convicted of acting against national security through forming and establishing illegal house churches and sentenced to 10 years in prison. His appeal failed, and he reported to Evin Prison in January 2018.

Pastor Goltapeh endured mistreatment by guards and denial of medical treatment for a painful gum infection and COVID-19 after an outbreak of coronavirus at the prison. The COVID-19 infection eventually passed, and the pastor received dental treatment in 2021.

Dalir, a convert from Islam, was sentenced in November 2021 to five years in prison for acting against national security by establishing and leading an evangelical Christian church. According to rights group Article 18, Dalir was denied parole for a fifth time in July. She also had been denied retrial several times.

Her sentence was later reduced to two years after the presiding judge realized he had made an administrative mistake in her case.

Members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard had arrested Dalir with five other Christians in July 2021. The Guard held Dalir in solitary confinement for 38 days and then transferred her to a womens prison until she was released on bail in November of that year.

Dalir began serving her sentence in April. At the time of her release, she had completed more than one-third of her sentence, making her eligible for parole, but in August her application for conditional release was denied.

Pastor Goltapeh (also spelled Gol-Tapeh) was halfway through a 10-year prison sentence when he was released. With unknown plans for the future, Goltapeh was staying with members of his family at this writing.

Fire and riot

Although officials have made no comment to explain the release of Pastor Goltapeh and Dalir, the releases came in the wake of a riot that broke out Oct. 15 at Evin Prison and a subsequent fire that destroyed much of the complex, including the area where Pastor Goltapeh had been held at one time.

Eight prisoners died and about 60 were injured in the incident. Iranian authorities claimed the fatalities were the result of smoke inhalation, but Amnesty International reported that some of the wounded prisoners had been shot, and that the government likely under-reported total casualties.

No Christian prisoners were harmed in the fire, according to MEC. At least a dozen Christian prisoners of conscience were incarcerated at Evin Prison when the fire broke out, many held in Ward 8, adjacent to Ward 7 where the worst damage reportedly occurred, according to Article 18.

The rioting and fire destroyed enough of the prison that authorities were forced to transfer an unknown but significant number of prisoners to other facilities. The possibility exists that Christian prisoners were transferred, but there were no reports of such transfers at this writing.

Built in 1972, Evin Prison was originally meant to hold political prisoners arrested by SAVAK, the Shah of Irans secret police. After the fall of the Shahs regime in the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Evin Prison became known internationally not just as a place for political prisoners but also where the Shia Islamist regime imprisoned and tortured religious adherents to break their will to follow their beliefs.

Iran ranked ninth on Christian support organization Open Doors USAs 2022 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

This article was originally published by Morning Star News.
Inside End Times expert Joel C Rosenbergs prophetic take on world events

Have you ever been around someone and thought to yourself, This person is brilliant?

The individual is able to win you over with their wealth of knowledge in a given area, but even more engrossing is that they present themselves in such a manner that you are not threatened by them in the least.

Their winning personality draws you in, but their intellect leaves you hanging on every last word they say. Thats the case with author Joel C. Rosenberg.

Rosenberg has developed a reputation over the years not only for his keen sense of intelligence but also for his uncanny ability to predict and detail scenarios surrounding world events before they happen. For example, consider the description for his first novel, The Last Jihad, literally written nine months before the horrific events of 9/11:

Nothing has prepared Jon or Erin for the terror that lies ahead.

Terrorists hijack a jet plane and fly a kamikaze mission into an American city

Israeli commandos foil a nuclear attack but find evidence that the next targets could be Washington and New York

And suddenly the United States finds itself in a war in the Middle East over terrorism and weapons of mass destruction that forever changes the course of human history

Lets be clear. This eerily prophetic novel predicted an attack on the U.S. and the war in Iraq ... but was written before any of it happened. Thats deeply notable, to say the least.

Listen to Rosenberg tell his story on The Crossmap Podcast:

Rosenbergs latest endeavor is hosting a new weekly news commentary program called The Rosenberg Report on TBN. Airing on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET, this program offers a close-up view of current events and issues across Israel and the Middle East as he brings important insights and biblical perspective that proves to be both informative and encouraging.

Rosenberg joins us on The Crossmap Podcast to talk about why he chose to host a television program after being on the other side of the microphone as a guest for more than two decades.

Listen as he shares why he is so passionate about the events of the Middle East and why he has chosen to have a front-row seat to observing worldwide events as they pertain to End Times prophecy.

Subscribe and listen to The Crossmap Podcast.
Paul Pelosi's accused attacker David DePape: 4 things to know

New details have emerged about the perpetrator behind the attack on Paul Pelosi, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, as investigators search for a political motive amid conflicting information about the suspects views.

On Tuesday, San Francisco Judge Diane Northway ordered the accused attacker, David DePape, 42, to be held in jail without bail.

Attorney Adam Lipson, a public defender appointed to represent DePape, entered a not guilty plea on behalf of his client during a hearing in Superior Court in San Francisco. DePape is scheduled to return to court on Friday.

Paul Pelosi, 82, was attacked at his home in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco early Friday morning. After the attack, the San Francisco Police Department released a statement saying, ... at approximately 2:27 a.m., San Francisco Police Officers from Northern Station were dispatched to the residence of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for an 'A-priority' well-being check.

When officers arrived on [the] scene, they encountered an adult male suspect and Mrs. Pelosis husband, Paul. Officers observed Mr. Pelosi and the suspect, each with one hand on a single hammer. Moments later the suspect gained control of the hammer and violently assaulted Mr. Pelosi with it, the statement added.

The police then tackled the DePape to the ground and disarmed him.

DePape faces a variety of charges including attempted homicide, first-degree burglary, violent felony enhancement, assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with serious bodily injury and elder abuse.

Nearly a week after the assault, much remains unknown about the circumstances that led to the attack as details continue to emerge about the perpetrator. Here are four facts that have become known about the attacker.

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Steve Douglass, former president of Cru, dies at 77

Steve Douglass, the former president of Cru and Campus Crusade for Christ International, has died due to complications from cancer at the age of 77.

In a recent announcement from Cru, the Christian campus ministry organization said Douglass died last Saturday, leaving behind his wife, Judy, three adult children, and 10 grandchildren.

Even though we all rejoice that Steve is with Jesus, this is a tremendous loss for the family and Campus Crusade for Christ/Cru, said Cru President Steve Sellers in a statement shared with The Christian Post. A great missionary statesman has gone home.

Greg Stier, a preacher and founder of Dare 2 Share Ministries, shared his condolences in a post on Twitter last week.

He was a man who was passionate about Jesus and relentlessly committed to the advancement of the Gospel. A great servant of God has passed into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, Stier tweeted.

Douglass initially joined Cru in 1969, shortly after earning a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA from Harvard University.

What I saw in those meetings was the love and joy of Jesus beaming forth from the faces and lives of the people in a small group of students, Douglass recalled.

They didnt just talk about Jesus; they lived out His presence and power in their lives. It was magnetic and irresistible. One night that summer I sat up in bed and said, God, thats what I want.

Douglass served in various roles for Cru before becoming president in 2001, succeeding Cru founder Bill Bright. He remained in the leadership position until October 2020.

In 2011, under Douglass' watch, the United States wing of Campus Crusade for Christ changed its name to Cru, a nickname that had become popular at the grassroots level.

According to the ministry organizations board of directors, the name change had come under the belief that many Americans are inherently alienated by the word Crusade.

Our mission and DNA remain the same, Douglass stressed in comments released at the time. "It is all about fulfilling The Great Commission."

In addition to leading Cru, Douglass was a member of the board of directors for the National Religious Broadcasters and the host of the national radio program Making Your Life Count.

Douglass also authored or co-authored multiple books, including Managing Yourself, How to Achieve Your Potential and Enjoy Life, How to Get Better Grades and Have More Fun and Enjoying Your Walk with God.
American Christian Stance On Halloween, Pro-Trans Activists Shred Bible, Pastor Imprisoned In Hong Kong

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:53 07:53

The majority of Protestant pastors in the United States do not advise Christians to avoid Halloween entirely, and many encouraged churchgoers to use the holiday to build relationships and spread the Gospel.



Activists protesting conservative commentator Matt Walsh's college tour at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where his documentary film What is a Woman was being shown, grabbed a Bible from a young man who was reading it aloud and ripped out the pages.



A judge in Hong Kong sentenced a 59-year-old Protestant pastor to more than one year in prison for sedition, making him the first Christian clergy in the city to be convicted under the draconian national security law that mainland China imposed two years ago to crush the pro- democracy movement.



As media attention on "Christian nationalism" looms large in American politics heading into the 2022 midterms, scholars this week debated the definition of the term and whether the increased media focus is an attempt to intimidate Christians from sharing their values in the public square.



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Round 2: Lila Rose debates Ben Crump on 'Dr. Phil Show,' rebukes 'mischaracterization' of pro-lifers

Live Action Founder Lila Rose raised concerns about the harms of abortion on women's mental health in part two of a contentious debate over the issue on "The Dr. Phil Show."

Rose, a lifelong pro-life advocate, refuted often repeated claims by abortion activists that the movement doesn't help pregnant women, despite the numerous pregnancy centers that offer support to mothers and their families before, during and after birth.

Representing the pro-life argument on the show, which aired Wednesday, Rose was joined by Democratic state Sen. Katrina Jackson of Louisiana, vice president of legal affairs for The Right to Life League Susan Swift Arnall, and Democrats for Life Communications Director Jess Meeth.

Those arguing in favor of abortion included attorney Ben Crump and National Organization for Women President Christian Nunes.

Democrats have focused heavily on abortion ahead of the midterm elections as they try to maintain control in Congress. Whereas Republicans have focused on parental rights in education, the economy and crime.

The two-part episode with host Dr. Phil McGraw was broadcast in September and on Oct. 26, two weeks ahead of the midterm elections and just months after the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization last summer. In the court's abortion ruling, the justices also overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Now, each state has the power to decide whether to set limits on abortion, like most nations, or allow abortion up to birth.

At one point during last week's episode, a man in the audience said that, as a husband and father, he was opposed to what he deemed as "government-mandated pregnancy." Nunes agreed with his talking points, adding that states nor the federal government have the right to interfere with a persons autonomy, saying thats part of our human rights.

Rose agreed that the government should not control a womans body but noted that once she becomes pregnant, an additional human life is involved.

Whats the point of rule of law? Whats the point of law in a society? Rose asked. Its to protect the weak, right? The strong can care for themselves, but the weak are vulnerable. They need the support of the law and the law should protect the first human right, of course, which is life. The right to live, to not be killed in a violent abortion.

The Live Action founder went on to say that abortion is violence and it traumatizes women, citing data from a 2002 study that suggested women were 150% more likely to attempt suicide in the year after she has an abortion.

The study derived its conclusion by examining the records of 173,279 low-income California Medicaid recipients who underwent abortions.

McGraw disagreed, claiming that there is no evidence for any post-abortion syndrome, adding that some data suggests women experience higher levels of stress before the abortion instead of after.

According to a 2008 American Psychological Association study, which reviewed scientific literature published on abortion 10 years earlier, purports women who abort in the first trimester do not experience a higher risk of mental health problems than women who carry their pregnancy to term. The study also asserts that the state of a womans mental health before the abortion is the strongest predictor of how she will feel afterward.

Other studies, however, indicate that having an abortion can increase a womans risk of experiencing mental health problems, including a 2011 quantitative analysis study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. The study found that post-abortive women experience an 81% increased risk of having subsequent mental health issues.

Rose informed McGraw that her organization would soon publish a white paper that includes metadata from dozens of studies across the world to analyze the impact abortion has on womens mental health.

The pro-life advocate also debated abortion with Crump, the attorney for Nancy Davis, a Louisiana woman whose child was diagnosed with a fetal anomaly. A hospital in her state had purportedly refused to perform an abortion, fearing it would violate Louisianas abortion law. Davis said she had to travel to New York to get an abortion at 16 weeks into her pregnancy.

As part of his argument, Crump said he would respect pro-life people more if they focused their advocacy on people after birth instead of advocating for the pre-born.

McGraw spoke up in Live Actions defense, saying that the organization is proactive about supporting children after birth and connecting them to resources. The Live Action founder thanked the talk show host, saying that the idea that pro-lifers dont help children after birth is a mischaracterization.

The reality is, were out there offering solutions, offering options; financial care for women, job placement, adoption plan options, fostering kids, she said. Working with families, thats the pro-life solution. Seeing the value of the mother and the child, bringing the family together, supporting families; there are thousands of pregnancy centers.

In the first episode that aired in September, Rose debated McGraw over when life begins.

McGraw claimed that there is a lack of consensus within the scientific community about when life begins in response to Roses claim that 95% of scientists agree it starts at conception. The talk show host noted that some neuroscientists think it starts once brain waves become detectable.

"But Dr. Phil, in an abortion, if it's not a human life, why do you have to kill it?" Rose asked.

The pro-life leader also listened to Davis story of having an abortion due to her babys adverse diagnosis. As a mother who lost a child to a miscarriage, Rose sympathized, agreeing that news of their babys death is one of the worst things for a mother to hear.

"Those were some of the darkest days of my life, and they were dark days because it was our child," she said.

"We knew this was a baby, and I think that's the fundamental point here is that we're talking about a baby. We're talking about a human life. And the pro-life position is that all humans have human rights, and the first right is life  to not be killed."

The Live Action Founder said that in Davis case, the doctors should have offered her hospice or palliative care so that her child could die naturally "instead of at the abortionist's tools."
Student's Bible torn to shreds by activists protesting Matt Walsh's 'What is a Woman' screening

Activists protesting conservative commentator Matt Walsh's college tour at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where his documentary film What is a Woman was being shown, grabbed a Bible from a young man who was reading it aloud and ripped out the pages. One protester used his teeth to shred the ripped-out pages and spat them on the cement ground.

Young Americas Foundation, which is hosting Walshs college tour, shade a video of the protesters desecrating the Bible, including a female with red-dyed hair who shoved pages from a torn-up Bible into her mouth.

Protestors have now shredded The Bible and one began eating pages pic.twitter.com/o5DACq64LP  YAF (@yaf) October 24, 2022

A young counter-protester was reading the Bible in support of the YAF event.

In another video, protesters can be seen using megaphones to call white people f------ racist and saying the protest was to collectively chase Nazis off the U-W campus, the New York Post reported Saturday.

Speaking to the crowd, a student protestor said white people needed to realize how hard it is every single f------ day for BIPOC people, especially at this institution, the Daily Mail reported.

Rayna Cordon, who was part of a pro-abortion group protesting Walsh, was quoted as saying, Its like a double standard to allow the Nazis and the transphobes and the self-proclaimed fascists to have the mic and not give it to the actual community members that are funding your school, that are attending your classes, that are teaching your classes.

Protesters had also vandalized Memorial Union and other locations around campus with spraypainted graffiti and messages opposing the event, according to NBC15.

Despite the loud protests, about 400 people attended the screening.

I want to thank also the leftist crybabies for the free advertising spray-painted all over campus, Walsh told attendees.

The Daily Wire commentator also addressed the heads of the school and quoted a message the university had sent out before the event warning students that the speaker is someone whose views we believe are harmful toward our trans community.

To the UW-Madison administration: you should be ashamed of yourselves, Walsh continued. You are disgraceful, self-debasing cowards, and you spineless, gutless clowns owe me an apology.

What is a Woman is a documentary about gender and trans activist movement presented by Walsh and produced and released by The Daily Wire.

The documentary features Walsh asking, What is a woman? and related questions to a variety of people, including politicians, a pediatrician, a gender studies professor, a psychiatrist, a gender-affirming family and marriage therapist, a trans opponent of medical transitions for minors and a surgeon who performs body mutilating surgeries.

In one part of the documentary, Scott (Kellie) Newgent, the trans founder of TReVoices, raises her arm to reveal her severed arm and says:

"We have five childrens hospitals in the United States telling girls that they can be boys at $70,000 a pop in a surgery that has a 67 percent complication rate that will kill me from infection  that I cant sue on. Were butchering a generation of children because no one is willing to talk about anything. I have three kids at the age theyre doing this to kids. Im not transphobic. I love my kids. And I love other peoples kids, and you should too. This is wrong on so many levels.  I get infections every three to four months.  Im probably not going to live very long."
The clearest sign that God has given America over to depravity

Drag queens reading to toddlers in libraries and schools. Drag queens engaging in acts with children in gay bars. Drag queens performing in our churches.

If anything was a sign that God has given America over to depravity, it is this.

Rampant porn addiction is bad enough, as is the redefining of the very meaning of marriage.

Radical shouting their abortions and the government openly advocating for the chemical castration and genital mutilation of confused children is yet another telltale sign.

But the drag queen depravity goes one step further.

It celebrates that which is shameful and normalizes that which is perverse. And it does so in the most exaggerated, even overtly demonic form, with Drag Queens wearing Satanic horns while reading to tiny little children.

As proclaimed openly, proudly, and boldly on the Drag Story Hour website,

DSH captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role model. DSH captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. Kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present as they wish, where dress up is real.

This is called grooming!

Yes, your kids are being targeted! Your impressionable, innocent children, as young as toddlers with the enthusiastic support of the American Library Association, not to mention the support of parents and educators, are being targeted!

As reported by Fox News,

New York City shelled out more than $200,000 in taxpayer funding in the past five years to have drag queens come into classrooms and interact with schoolchildren as young as age 3. The nonprofit Drag Story Hour NYC, previously known as Drag Queen Story Hour NYC, received approximately $207,000 in taxpayer funding since 2018.

This is madness. This is depravity. This is perverse.

But this is what happens when God gives people over to their sinful imaginations. A clear and definite line is crossed, as people not only tolerate evil, they celebrate it.

That which is despicable is now honored and that which is shameful is paraded openly. The conscience is seared and the folly is revealed.

It is as if God said, If thats what you want, then have at it, without restraint and without reserve. The seat belts are off and the brakes do not work. You are in free fall now. I will let the whole world see your folly.

Yet there is something more shocking still.

Consider these words, which I wrote in 1991:

In some schools, it is legal to pass out and recommend condoms to the teenage students, and illegal to distribute Bibles and Gospel tracts. Teachers can talk freely about homosexuality and Planned Parenthood can boldly recommend incest (five million booklets that contain such trash were distributed to our kids), but try to proclaim Jesus clearly in our public schools and you may find yourself locked up.

This was written more than 30 years ago!

And consider this, which I wrote in 1993:

Yes, America has hit bottom. . . . We venerate the degenerate. People of God awake! The judgment is already here! When a nation slaughters almost 30 million of its precious unborn, judgment is already here! When radical feminists are elected to public office, judgment is already here! When homosexuals march through our cities, accompanied by our mayors, proclaiming, God is gay, and We want your boys, judgment is already here! When 100,000 of our young people carry guns to school, judgment is already here! When we have become the worlds greatest debtor nation, when new diseases outpace new cures, when homeless children roam the streets, judgment is already here! When there is one murder every half hour and one reported rape every hour, when the courts convict the innocent and acquit the guilty, judgment is already here!

Those words, too, are almost 30 years old. What has happened since then? How much further have we fallen? And how is it that so many Americans, including Christians, still seem oblivious and unaware?

The painful truth is that a nation does not die overnight. The decline and fall can take many decades, even centuries.

But when we see the celebration, even adoration, of something as ridiculous and depraved as drag queens, on full display in front of little children, it is a sure sign that we have lost our minds (and our souls).

The good news is that not everyone has gone crazy and lost their moral bearings. The bad news is that so many have, and God is clearly giving us over to our folly.

Can we feel anything but holy urgency in our prayers, our witness, our standing for righteousness, our rebuke of evil, and our compassionate outreach?

As I wrote in 2021 (and have been shouting for many years now), it is revival or we die. Only God can save our country.
A New York judge delivers justice for the unvaccinated. When will pastors and Christian leaders do the same?

One of the most frustrating things in life is knowing that you are owed a meaningful apology but not knowing if it will ever come.

For New York City municipal employees fired for bravely refusing to let their bodies be used as guinea pigs in one of the most extraordinary and hasty lab experiments in world history  the COVID-19 vaccines  that apology finally came last Tuesday. Although to be accurate, it didnt come from the offending party and it had to be forced.

In a groundbreaking ruling, Judge Ralph J. Porzio of the New York Supreme Court (the states trial court tier) ordered New York City to reinstate city workers fired for refusing to comply with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. To top it off, he instructed the city to issue them back-pay, along with their reinstatement.

In the decision itself, Judge Porzio made it crystal clear what he thought the city was actually doing with the mandate:

The vaccination mandate for City employees was not just about safety and public health; it was about compliance.

Compliance. Ding ding ding! That was the whole game. He went further, stating the obvious truth that most of us already knew:

Being vaccinated does not prevent an individual from contracting or transmitting COVID-19.

Good on him for putting into a legal decision a sentence that would have gotten most of us banned from Twitter just a few months ago when the regime and their enforcers were still pretending the COVID emperor had clothes on  and silencing all the dissenting (tweeting) children to keep the ruse going.

And good for the New York City workers who get their jobs back, which amounts to a significant mandated financial mea culpa.

As a Christian who weathered the COVID nonsense while part of a local church body, I want to pivot now from sanitation workers to my fellow saints. Even while I celebrate their victory, I have to ask, on behalf of thousands, if not millions, of my brothers and sisters in Christ who also refused the overwhelming pressure to get vaccinated: When do we get our apology?

Not from New York City, but from our churches. Not from the mayor, but from our pastors. Not from the health commissioner, but from the Christian leaders who twisted Scripture to make it sound like the Christ-like thing to do was to get double-vaxxed and boosted every six months, or else we didnt love our neighbors.

Megan Basham documented many of these failings in her bombshell report How The Federal Government Used Evangelical Leaders To Spread Covid Propaganda To Churches. She recounts that:

In September, Wheaton College dean Ed Stetzer interviewed National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins on his podcast, Church Leadership about why Christians who want to obey Christs command to love their neighbors should get the Covid vaccine and avoid indulging in misinformation.

The encouragement for pastors to use their God-given authority to manipulate their members into getting vaccinated was presented as if it were a no-brainer, as if the vaccine was a pre-fall good  unsullied by sin, myocarditis, and blood clots:

During their discussion, Collins and Stetzer were hardly shy about the fact that they were asking ministers to act as the administrations go-between with their congregants. I want to exhort pastors once again to try to use your credibility with your flock to put forward the public health measures that we know can work, Collins said.

It didnt end with Collins and Stetzer. The Gospel Coalition (TGC) pushed the undiluted pro-vaccine narrative as well. Joe Carter, associate pastor of McLean Bible Church, wrote articles throwing shade on the skeptics, comparing those who raised questions about the origins of COVID possibly being the result of a lab leak as crazy QAnon-ers (despite the early and real evidence this was a possibility, recently confirmed, again, in a Senate report).

Where do lab leak theory supporters go to get an apology from Pastor Joe? Which judge will mandate a retraction (something TGC is notoriously unwilling to do)?

Or consider how Curtis Chang, host of the Good Faith podcast and self-described theological wingman of his frequent guest David French, argued that the vaccines were part of Gods redemption plan:

The COVID vaccinemay have a distant origin story in abortion, but that past has been reworked + redeemed into something that saves life. We can point to the vaccine and say: Jesus redemption is kind of like that. Each of us has had our story reworked by Jesus into new life. Thats what it ultimately means to be pro-life. To be pro-life is to be pro-redemption. And to be pro-redemption, in my view, means being pro-vaccine.

Are you kidding me? Being pro-vaccine (which doesnt even stop transmission) is the same thing as being pro-life, that is, being pro-lets-stop-millions-of-unborn-babies-from-being-killed-in-the-womb-each-year? Thats quite the comparison.

Biologos, an ostensibly Christian organization that promotes Christians in science, put together a remarkably brazen campaign and signed statement literally entitled, LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, GET THE SHOT!

When framed in the emotionally fraught and imperatival way of love your neighbor, get the shot, what this group is doing is making it sound like obedience to the Bible entails getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Just like for the NYC sanitation workers obedience to the mandate meant getting vaccinated or losing their jobs, so too for the Christian obedience to Gods Word under this framework meant getting vaccinated or sinning against their neighbors.

They are drawing on whats called the second greatest commandment in all of Scripture, found in Matthew 22:36-40 (and Mark 12:30-31), which reads:

Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

To couch the admonition to get the jab as an act of love for neighbor is to very clearly imply that if you do not get vaccinated, you are not loving; you are, in fact, failing to fulfill the second greatest commandment.

Thats quite a heavy load of guilt manipulation.

Not only did this tact go against the Bible, but it also went against historical Christian confessions about the freedom of the conscience. Even the more recent Baptist Faith & Message clearly states that God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it.

Whats the truth? As Judge Porzio also reminds us  the vaccines dont stop contraction or transmission of COVID. So how can anyone claim that getting vaccinated is a moral imperative on par with the second greatest commandment?

They cant. Well, not honestly.

But that didnt stop pastors and evangelical leaders from doing it anyway. They used this falsity to, among other things, force Christians to violate their consciences by submitting to extra-biblical mandates, like wearing masks just to come to church and worship God like they are actually commanded to in the Bible (Hebrews 10:24-25); frame the vaccines as an unquestionable good, even though many members felt differently; and even going so far as to pressure them into taking a possibly life-destroying injection.

When we think about it, its clear the issue at hand for Christians who were mistreated by their churches and their pastors is worse than the sanitation workers on at least two counts.

First, it is worse because they have suffered at the hands of men who represent God in a way the mayor of New York never will. James 3:1 tells us that Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. Why is this? Because teachers (pastors) are men who represent the authority of God.

Second, it is worse because there are no means by which a Christian can be reinstated to a congregation that drove them away over the vaccine. Of course, I doubt many would want to. But there is no such thing as spiritual back-pay to right the wrong of the emotional manipulation inflicted on so many when their pastors stood up in the pulpits, week after week, and told them to get vaccinated because it was their Christian duty.

As I said, it can be frustrating when you know you deserve an apology and yet have very slim hopes of ever receiving one. But this is where the Gospel gives us hope that extends beyond earthly horizons. A great and dreadful day of judgment is coming for all mankind, vaccinated and unvaccinated, shepherd and sheep. In C.S. Lewis classic Christian allegory The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Mr. Beaver reminds us that Wrong will be right when Aslan comes in sight. At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more.

So where do the saints go to get the same apology as the New York City sanitation workers? Its hard to be sure exactly on this side of Heaven. Of course, this is not to say that Christians who have been sinned against by their church or pastors shouldnt work to show grace and forgiveness even if they never hear those two important words: Im sorry.

Just as surely as this earthly judge delivered some measure of justice for the wrongly fired workers, we can count on the fact that the Heavenly Judge will deliver even greater justice for all His sheep, and especially those who suffered vaccine injuries after being pressured to get vaccinated by their pastors.

On that day, the only transmission that will matter is if the blood of Christ is credited to your account. Because, unlike the vaccines, the blood of Christ is 100% effective  and eternally so. No booster required.

Originally published at the Standing for Freedom Center.
Annual Halloween display at London train station could come to an end after complaint

An annual tradition of erecting an array of life-size Halloween decorations and figurines outside a train station in London to raise funds for charity could potentially come to an end after a complaint was made and police were called.

For several years, a railway booking officer at Shortlands station for Southeastern train operating company in Bromley, south London, has made Halloween decorations for a display outside a local railroad station. But after receiving complaints that her displays are "un-Christian," the 63-year-old Denise Janes has announced she will not make any more displays in the future.

Throughout the years, Janes has fundraised over $450,000 (400,000) for charity as part of her vibrant and elaborate displays, The Daily Mail reports.

"I'm the unsung hero for Shortlands, I'm the unsung hero for Bromley, I'm a national customer service champion, everything I do is for the community," Janes said in a statement shared by media outlets.

"I help the homeless, I've raised 400,000 for charity, and we're only a small station. I've said I'm standing down because of complaints. I'm not going to do the displays anymore."

Janes' decorations differ each year and typically consist of various imaginative Halloween decor. She makes them all by hand and pays the costs out of her pocket.

For Halloween this year, one decoration included a fake body being run over by a car driven by a skeleton. Part of the display was taped off and had a police blockade.

Janes also requested that local British Transport Police officers have a car parked near the display to enhance the visuals for passersby by making it appear as though the police were investigating the scene.

Janes decorated one corner of the booking hall with creepy figurines, including the Grim Reaper overlooking a coffin and a skeleton adorning a Southeastern work uniform.

The 2022 display also consisted of decapitated heads, clowns and dolls.

This year's displays aimed to raise funds for Demelza Hospice Care for Children in South London.

Janes said a local woman had issued multiple complaints over the years about her displays. This year, the woman complained to the Southeastern railway and made a phone call to the police stating that the Halloween displays were offensive to the religious, according to The Telegraph.

Janes says she is hurt by the complaints.

A spokesperson for Southeastern told The Telegraph the company supports the displays and assured that the "customers and the wider community love them."

Janes has been involved in various fundraisers in her community over the years.

Halloween festivities and parties have taken place at the station booking hall for local children, where Janes would provide treats with a motorized skeleton that would pop out to grab children as they took the goodies.

Janes' spearheaded a Halloween event in 2020 at the station, which incorporated a children's disco, sweets, cakes and a bouncy castle. For the event, she requested that passengers donate to charity.

Although a complaint was allegedly lodged with police, a spokesman for the British Transport Police said, "it would be unlikely any complaint would be logged as an offense."

Janes said her artwork takes time to create and decorate the station.

"I'm very community engaged. I put a car out the front of the station. I put a body underneath. I put a skeleton driving the car. I cordoned it off with police tape, and then we have transport police. So I got them to park their van outside," Janes said. "I put it all out there, and she phoned up, and she called the police on us, and then she called the company."

Halloween time isn't the only season that the same local woman has reported Janes' displays.

"I did the Grinch at Christmas, and she said that the Grinch wasn't religious," Janes noted.
Christian leaders denounce attack by Muslim men hurling stones at churchgoers near Bethlehem

Christian leaders have condemned an attack on a church near Bethlehem by a group of Muslim men, with calls being made for the Palestinian Authority to take swift action.

A group of Muslims attacked an Orthodox church in Beit Sahur, a predominantly Christian neighborhood near Bethlehem, throwing stones and injuring several people.

Christian Israeli rights activist and Knesset candidate Shadi khalloul posted a short video of the attack on Twitter, asking, Have you seen in your life a Christian in the Arab world attacking a mosque in Christian towns, and why not?

Archbishop Atallah Hanna of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem released a statement denouncing the assault, describing the attack as an unprecedented phenomenon.

What happened on Friday night in Beit Sahur distorts the image of our people and harms civil peace and the good relationship that binds us as the sons of the Palestinian people, Hanna stated, as quoted by the Jerusalem Post on Sunday.

The church is not a place for settling accounts, fomenting sedition and undermining the unity of our people. What happened in Beit Sahur was horrific.

Wadie Abunassar of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, took to his Facebook account to condemn last weeks attack, saying he was sad and angry to watch what happened.

I demand the Palestinian Authority not to be tolerant of the aggressors, but to bring them to justice as soon as possible! Pray this morning for the Palestinian people to be free from the tyranny and occupation alike, said Abunassar, who added it was heartwarming to also see the solidarity of the majority of the citys people, with all its religious and family components supporting the church.

According to Open Doors USA, a U.S.-based Christian persecution watchdog group, Palestinian Christians often find themselves at odds with both Israeli authorities and the Muslim-majority Palestinian Territories.

Palestinian Christians face ethnic persecution from Israelis as a result of the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Their ethnicity results in many restrictions from the Israeli side, stated Open Doors. Palestinian society is conservative, and conversion from Islam to Christianity or changing from one church denomination to another is unacceptable or socially undesirable because of the close links between family and religion. Laws in the West Bank generally protect religious freedom, whereas those in Gaza are restrictive.
The story of how Tanice and her family benefited from the 50/50 raffle win is just one example of the many ways Hospice Northwest offers support to the caregivers in our community, as well as to those who are dealing with illness and grief.
The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p.
The Immigration Levels Plan acts as a guide for the number of immigrants Canada aims to welcome over the next three years.

Canada to welcome 500,000 new immigrants in 2025

Canada to welcome 500,000 new immigrants in 2025 The Immigration Levels Plan acts as a guide for the number of immigrants Canada aims to welcome over the next three years.

Canada to welcome 500,000 new immigrants in 2025 The Immigration Levels Plan acts as a guide for the number of immigrants Canada aims to welcome over the next three years.

Canada to welcome 500,000 new immigrants in 2025 The Immigration Levels Plan acts as a guide for the number of immigrants Canada aims to welcome over the next three years. Edana Robitaille Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

Sans Font Size A

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Canada has just released its Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025.

Canada will aim to welcome 465,000 new immigrants in 2023.

The target will rise to 485,000 new immigrants in 2024.

It will further rise to 500,000 new immigrants 2025.

Canada broke its all-time immigration record by welcoming over 405,000 immigrants in 2021 and is looking to welcome nearly 432,000 immigrants this year.

The Immigration Levels Plan acts as a guide for the number of immigrants Canada aims to welcome each year. Canadas immigration goals include growing the economy, reuniting families, and offering asylum to refugees fleeing hardship abroad.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

Express Entry and PNP targets will rise

The majority of new permanent residents immigrate through economic class programs such as those within the Express Entry system or through Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs).

The targets for Express Entry landings (principal applicants, spouses, and dependents) will rise as follows:

82,880 in 2023

109,020 in 2024

114,000 in 2025

The PNP will remain Canadas leading admissions program for economic class immigrants and targets will also increase to:

105,500 in 2023

110,000 in 2024

117,500 in 2025

Higher PGP admissions

IRCC also has a mandate to reunite families. After economic class programs, family class sponsorship is the second largest permanent residence class set out by the Immigration Levels Plan. Under family class immigration programs, applicants are sponsored for permanent residence by a spouse, partner, children, or other family member.

Canada will continue to look to welcome some 80,000 new immigrants per year under the Spouses, Partners and Children program.

Targets for the Parents and Grandparents Program will rise to 28,500 in 2023, followed by 34,000 in 2024, and 36,000 in 2025.

Refugee and humanitarian class targets to decline

Refugees and humanitarian class immigrants also have an allocation under the Immigration Levels Plan. Canada has a long-standing reputation of extending asylum to displaced persons fleeing unsafe situations in their home countries.

Canada currently has high humanitarian class targets due to its ongoing efforts to complete several campaigns such as welcoming some 40,000 refugees from Afghanistan.

The overall refugee class target will be just over 76,000 new landings in each of 2023 and 2024, before dipping to 72,750 in 2025.

The same goes for the humanitarian class target which is declining from nearly 16,000 in 2023 to 8,000 in 2025.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

Canadas immigration strategy

Canadas current immigration strategy began to take its current form in the 1980s. At that time, the government did not look as far into the future and often based immigration targets on the economy of the day.

In 1984, Canada welcomed fewer than 90,000 immigrants. Leading into the 1990s, the Canadian government under the Conservatives recognized the impending shortage of labour and increased immigration targets to 250,000 new permanent residents in the space of eight years.

The following Liberal government built on these targets but due to an economic recession, also began to place more emphasis on inviting newcomers more economic class immigrants and reducing Canadas family and humanitarian class shares.

Canada welcomed some 260,000 immigrants annually until current Liberal government took power in 2015. The targets were increased to 300,000, followed by 340,000 right before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The closure of borders and other travel restrictions in 2020 made it difficult for IRCC to process applications. Still, Canada exceeded its 2021 immigration target and broke the record for the most permanent residents invited in a year, at 405,000. These targets were reached through large allocations of spots through the Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs).

Canada is currently in a unique period where there is a labour shortage alongside nearly one million job vacancies. Both are driving factors in the countrys growing immigration targets.

Labour shortages are further impacted by Canadas low birth rate of 1.4 children per women, one of the lowest globally. Due to the slow natural increase in the population (the number of births still exceeds the number of deaths each year), immigration will soon be the only way that Canadas population and labour force will be able to grow. Newcomers are also needed to maintain a strong tax base, which is a key factor in Canadas efforts to provide essential services such as education and healthcare.

Canada has one of the worlds oldest populations. Approximately nine million people, or nearly a quarter of Canadas population, will reach retirement age by 2030. This will create an urgent shortage of workers throughout all sectors of the economy.

The government must announce the Immigration Levels Plan each year by November 1 as per the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), which is Canadas main immigration law. However, the 2022-2024 immigration levels plan was the second announced in 2022, the first occurred in February after the most recent federal election on September 20, 2021, caused the 2021 announcement to be delayed.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

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The pace of population aging is accelerating. In 2020, people aged 60 and older already outnumbered children younger than five, and by 2050, the worlds population of those 60 and older will double according to the World Health Organization. So, for instance, its not surprising that retirees represent the largest growth segment in Israels insurance sector. Yet the system for claiming pensions through insurance companies is known to be slow and cumbersome.

Menora Mivtachim, Israels leading and largest pension fund with over a million clients, knew there was a better way and came up with a new system that would alleviate dissatisfaction with the existing process, which was entirely manual, complicated and exhausting, says Moshe Morgenstern, deputy CEO and CIO. In practical terms, the new approach resulted in a drastic speeding up of the process, meaning that today, pensioners receive their first pension payment on average 10 days earlier than before.

Most of us dream of our retirement, planning to reach it with enough money to live in dignity and enjoy the free time retirement affords, says Morgenstern, But then reality kicks in, and we find ourselves dealing with filling out forms in an unclear language, coping with missing information and a flood of relevant and irrelevant information, and we do all this in a manual, outdated and complex process.

The companys operations and control teams also had to input all the information manually, resulting in tremendous costs in processing requests, as well as in correcting customer mistakes, he explains.

Something had to give.

So a new project was devised by the companys digital and innovation section. I saw that while this project had huge commercial potential, there was an even greater benefit on a socio-cultural level, he says.

Turning existing problems into opportunities

After conducting market research and running focus groups to better understand how retirees feel about digital processes in general, as well as the retirement claims process in particular, the company hit on one of the major impediments to innovation.

We found that this age group feels excluded in these regards, and when they do wish to participate in digital tasks, existing platforms usually dont cater to their needs, he says. Moreover, we found that retirees feel incredibly frustrated, emotional, and sensitive, and at times fearful and anxious when it comes to filling out multiple complex forms.

Rather than improving on the existing system, the team decided to tear everything down and start from scratch.

One of the first steps was to cut down on what the user had to do. This meant first aggregating all the information stored in the companys systems. Working together with the companys legal team, we removed redundant questions and unnecessary statements to produce a product that uses simple and easy to understand language for the customer, says Morgenstern.

Moshe Morgenstern

Once initial aspects of information gathering was assessed, the company turned its attention to develop a way for customers to seek help in real time when they need it.

We developed dedicated screens for customer service representatives who could see that exact point of the process where a customer is currently asking for help, Morgenstern says, adding that service representatives were trained specifically to help this age group. Now when someone reaches out for assistance, a screen pops up where the customers actions are visible, and the representative can carry out the process on the customers behalf from beginning to end.

The team also follows up by phone if necessary. We proactively call customers who completed the process in order to receive feedback about their experience, as well as to those who started the process but did not complete it, with the goal of understanding why they stopped mid-way and helping them finish it, he says. We caused thinking patterns to shift laterally across the company, primarily about digital processes and how their impact extends far beyond the digital space.

Finding solutions along the way

The complexity of the project was considerable; no other company in the industry had done such a digital transformation of this nature. There was no roadmap for how to transform a complex form-saturated process involving archaic government services into a system that would enable the customer to complete the claims process in one sitting, says Morgenstern.

A lot of innovation was required, he says, starting with the fact that the system was built as a private cloud infrastructure based on Kubernetes (also known as K8s) in ICP.

So the company deployed a team of executive and non-executive employees, including project and product managers, as well as many software developers and testers. Integrating the firms legacy core systems alongside Israels Ministry of Interior records and internal systems was no small feat either.

The company also introduced new infrastructure to handle all the project traffic, and developed reusable components for future use.

Many micro-services and micro-frontend components were needed to be integrated into the platform in order to make this functional, he says. We had to build a data ecosystem that enlisted the underlying tools, frameworks, and libraries needed to run the application. This included areas associated with infrastructure, massive data compilation, and dashboards.

The company also developed advanced simulators that enabled customers to make important decisions about their retirement in a simple, user-friendly interface.

Success in the making

The results from the new system became apparent very quickly. Just three months after launch, a quarter of all pension claim requests began to be carried out without any human contact. We estimate that this will increase to 75% in the medium and long-term, says Morgenstern.

Compared to the previous system, the new system operates with significantly fewer errors compared to the former manual process, and is now able to identify common problems such as missing signatures, certificates and personal detail verifications.

As a consequence, each individual claim call also now takes less time, decreasing on average from over one hour to just 10 minutes. Clients also now have more time to submit applications, which can now be submitted up to 10 days later than before without any payment delays.

As a result, increased customer satisfaction has been clear, with a 30% increase in the usability of the platform among clients over 60, and significant positive customer feedback received through direct communications and over social media. Despite the first phase of the project taking an entire department several months to achieve, Morgenstern and his team were able to find a solution to a problem that has plagued this industry for a long time, he says. But the hard work continues as the second phase of the project is already underway. This will include transferring funds from third-party pension funds and automating the calculation of pension benefits after the transfer occurs, which will encourage increased fund transfers and assist the company in expanding its competitive advantage.
CIOs need to try a lot harder these days to find IT talent, particularly when it comes to the most difficult-to-fill positions. Strategies most IT leaders are deploying include offering signing bonuses and more paid time off, being open to hiring people with different types of life experiences, and looking for cultural fit in addition to  or instead of  specific technical know-how. And some are simply looking to build the talent themselves.

You have to be willing to hire someone who knows nothing, advises Jim Johnson, senior vice president at recruitment firm Robert Half. Everything we use as a skill can be learned and can be taught.

Although it may be a stretch, it could be worthwhile to take a second look at a musician or a teacher, for instance, who wants to make a career change, especially if their previous jobs included a strong tech component. Look for personality and a track record of success, Johnson says, or what he calls aptitude and attitude. Ask the candidate to explain how they best learn new things, he suggests, or how theyve done so in the past.

Not everyone is a fan of the culture-first approach. Victor Janulaitis, CEO of Janco, an IT consultancy, does not recommend it. Yes, culture is important, but you dont want to hire a warm body just to fill a spot, he says. Youd be creating a legacy disaster. Youll spend a lot of management time bringing the person up to speed, your teams productivity goes down, and your existing staff gets pissed off.

Even proponents say the hiring-then-upskilling method may not work for every IT job. According to the most recent State of the CIO survey, the positions that IT leaders are having the most trouble filling this year include cybersecurity (34%), data science/analytics (23%), AI and machine learning (19%), application development (15%), and software engineering (15%). Some of these positions require solid technical chops, while others incorporate skills that can be learned.

Another hot job category these days, Robert Halfs Johnson says, is from the way-back machine: help desk professionals. Theres a huge demand for deployment experts to acquire systems, image software, and get those into the hands of users. Theres been a bit of a change in that regard over the past few years.

Heres how IT leaders are currently approaching the challenge of hiring for those difficult-to-fill IT roles.

Flexibility is essential

Eduardo Ruiz, CIO at the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) in Washington, DC, has had trouble finding help desk personnel, project managers who know agile methodology, and technical developers. His organization is a nonprofit, meaning he has always been in competition with larger, better-funded organizations for talent, he explains.

Not too long ago, one benefit he could offer was tremendous flexibility regarding remote work because his organization has been in the cloud for several years  even before the pandemic  and is now fully virtual. But today, most companies are offering the ability to work remotely, at least for part of the time if not fully. That differentiator has vanished, he says.

These days hes relying more on nearshoring, with mixed results, he says. He needs to pay a premium for those resources, and it can take some time to onboard these employees and get them up to speed. He also needs to spend time managing the work from outsourcers. Its a good stopgap, Ruiz says, although his preference is to still hire permanent staffers.

Tsvi Gal, head of enterprise technology services at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York, says that remote work is baked into the hospitals culture. We have a social agreement that staffers can live and work anywhere in the Eastern US time zone, he explains. But when we need you on-site for meetings, you commit to show up. No excuses, no complaining about how far away you live. You can ride a camel as long as you get there.

Its a fair deal, he says.

Although there are some jobs that cant be done remotely  supporting the advanced robotics systems used during surgery, for one  mostly people can work from where they choose, and the hospital provides a laptop, noise-canceling headset, software, security, and other gear to help make that happen. Its the difference, Gal says, between being remote-tolerant and truly remote-friendly.

Cast your net widely

Matt Schwartz, CTO at Sage Hospitality Group, was looking for a SaaS administrator who could juggle both administration and strategy for the companys critical cloud systems, including Office 365, Box.com, Zoom, and Okta. It was tricky to find someone because they were looking for a specific mix of technical and business skills.

After several months, they located someone in Chicago; Sage is based in Denver, Colo. You have to be open to remote associates if you want to fill a specific role, Schwartz says.

Schwartz calls this a generational adjustment, saying, why live or work somewhere you dont like? Life is short. Plus, he says, finding people who already live where they want gives you a better chance of retaining staffers for longer periods of time.

Robert Halfs Johnson agrees that a national approach is the way to go. Companies are 20 times more likely to find a top performer when they open their search to national candidates versus local talent only, he says. It also can save money, at least for salary, depending on where the candidate lives.

Other hiring sources, Jancos Janulaitis says, can be competitors and professional societies.

Look ahead and plan accordingly

MSKCCs Gal reassigns existing IT staffers to new posts depending on what he thinks hell need in the next three to five years and which areas may be overstaffed in that same timeframe. And in the meantime, those who are moving to new posts get training and the opportunity to do the new work. As the need starts to mount, well have an internal channel of supply, he explains.

For instance, the hospital will be unplugging its last mainframe by the end of the year. Rather than lay off existing staffers or hire other people with new skills, theyre going to reassign as many of their existing mainframe staff as possible and move them into other roles. Though Gal declines to specify what those roles will be, he says hed rather rely on existing staffers than start over with new employees whenever he can.

When assessing candidates, Gal says, he looks at three important aspects:

Skills, which can be learned if people are willing to spend the time.

Abilities, which also can be taught, but these generally take longer to learn; there can also be some innate ability in these, such as people who are naturally good at math or music.

Values, which involve the type of person you are, and values dont change, Gal says. Id rather have a person who has the right values and abilities over specific skills.

Perks still matter

Adding extra vacation time, for instance, to existing corporate policies may be easier than changing up salary structures and other perks, Jancos Janulatis says. Just dont forget to assess your current employees also and make sure their benefits keep pace.

Robert Halfs Johnson says that 44% of the companies they work with are offering signing bonuses and 41% are offering more time off.

On the other hand, Janulatis says, 401k plans and other retirement plans may not be as important to younger workers as they once were. Theyd rather have cash on the barrelhead, he explains. They have a different set of priorities and are more interested in getting experience that helps them in the short term instead of having to work for 10 or more years to cash out of a 401k. Part of the hiring process is trying to isolate some of those characteristics.

Move quickly, but dont skip steps

Hire for speed, and fire for speed, Janulaitis advises. In other words, the traditional months-long hiring and onboarding process no longer works, if it ever really did. Have metrics to measure a new employees performance, he suggests, including a reasonable set of deliverables and expectations, and if they persons not working out, let them go within a week or two.

Sage Hospitalitys Schwartz says theyve truncated their hiring process and do fewer interviews in less time  say, two rounds over two weeks, with more panel interviews and fewer one-on-ones. For this to work well, he says, you need to figure out who the critical interviewers are.

In todays ultra-competitive market, hiring success will probably come down to whos willing to move quickest and give an offer, Robert Halfs Johnson says. The trick, he says, is to move quickly but dont hurry. And, as always, dont neglect the reference and background checks.

Tap into the local college scene

ASPPHs Ruiz is also working more proactively with local colleges and universities, particularly for entry-level jobs in the analytics space. We didnt have to do that several years ago, he says. Hes also working with multiple recruiters, instead of relying on only one, and advertising on different social media venues popular with younger workers. Hes also hiring green and training up, particularly for developers.

Community colleges are also great resources for retraining existing IT staffers and connecting with another stream of potential candidates.

Offer meaningful work and create a healthy culture

We always hire for culture first, not technical qualifications, Sage Hospitalitys Schwartz says. The more qualified person may not be a good cultural fit.

Culture includes providing a safe work environment that nurtures collaboration, and investing in people for training and certification. It might also include paid time off to do volunteer work of the employees choosing, as well as flex time to accommodate family needs.

One way ASPPHs Ruiz says he can compete with the tech giants and others is to offer candidates meaningful work in the public health field, a need thats unfortunately been highlighted by the pandemic, he says. We teach the future Faucis of the world, he says, referring to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the epidemiologist who has often been the public face of Covid-19 policy in the United States.

MSKCCs Gal agrees. We cant guarantee that everyone will be able to work on the next algorithm to help cure cancer. But we can offer an intellectual and technology challenge, and meaningful work, not just the money, and the opportunity to work with some of the best minds in the world.

Its also a matter of showing how the work that individuals are doing contributes to the whole, Gal explains. We all celebrate when a significant milestone is reached, whether its saving lives with a new research protocol or helping make the hospital and the people who work there more productive.

At the end of the day, Gal says, just about every organization has a sign somewhere about putting their people first. But its not enough to just have a slogan; you need to live it, he advises. Do you actually act as if its important? People are smart and will know if you mean it or are just saying it.
The barriers confronting organizations in South Africa that want to achieve carbon neutral status by 2030 are significant. Among them is the simple reality that most of the nations power production originates from coal-fired plants located in the northeastern part of the country while the greatest potential impact for sustainable approaches like solar and wind lie in the south. We cant immediately upend the entire power grid structure, but together with a willing and enthusiastic government and strong partners like VMware, we can make a difference. We now have a framework in place to support Africas nascent efforts to achieve zero carbon emissions and support providers intent to achieve and apply the tenets of VMware Zero Carbon Committed program to their operations.

 Bryce Allan, head of sustainability at Teraco Data Environments

Sumeeth Singh, head of VMwares Cloud Provider Business in sub-Saharan Africa, was not surprised when the regions leading cloud solutions and services companies enthusiastically embraced the VMware Cloud Verified initiative. With an established track record of success and extensive experience with the full VMware stack, many were ideally prepared to complete the rigorous process to apply for and receive the distinction.

The VMware Zero Carbon Committed initiative was, however, a different story. Singh knew that among providers the intent and desire to decrease their carbon footprints was strong. But the requirements, difficult in areas with an already mature sustainable energy infrastructure in place, were overwhelming in sub-Saharan Africa.

Specifically, partners would be required to commit that their data centers achieve zero carbon emissions by 2030, an effort that would require the use of 100% renewable energy. For partners in Europe where significant renewable energy sources exist in conjunction with a mature regulatory system of carbon offsets and credits, the process is still difficult.

Like their counterparts in Europe, South African companies are increasingly mindful of resource constraints and the impact of fossil fuels on climate change, said Singh. They are also becoming more and more aware that their data center operations are a very large contributor to their overall carbon footprint. They also know that electricity in sub-Saharan Africa is primarily sourced from coal-fired plants. They want to do the right thing and minimize their emissions, but they are also seeing a dramatic increase in demand for hybrid and multi-cloud solutions and services  a reality that means they need more power, not less.

Singh notes that for most partners, the resulting reality is that it would simply be unrealistic to pledge to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2030 because there are not enough renewable sources of energy in place to make it feasible. When no partners signed up for the VMware Zero Carbon Committed initiative, it was both a disappointment and a validation.

Partners here didnt sign up for this initiative not because they didnt want to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2030, but because they didnt think it was a realistic goal, he says. More to the point, they didnt view VMware Zero Carbon Committed as a marketing effort, but rather as a genuine commitment that should only be made if they believed they could achieve what they signed up for.

Singh had a choice. He could either accept that the requirements for VMware Zero Carbon Committed were too challenging for the region, or he could find an alternative.

We dont have the luxury to postpone taking action when it comes to climate change, he adds. We have to do something now. In our case, we could either wait to ramp up the Zero Carbon Committed initiative until South Africas sustainability efforts are more mature  in other words do nothing now  or we could modify the requirements to find a more manageable solution.

That solution came in the form of Teraco, South Africas largest and most interconnected data center platform. With four ultra high-performance data centers in South Africa  including facilities in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg  the company forms the core of the nations internet backbone, and serves as the interconnection for both local and global cloud services. Providing the connectivity for the Africa Cloud Exchange, Teracos carrier and cloud neutral platform is also Africas largest hub for AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure.

In addition, it serves as the direct access point for more than 300 network providers, including telecommunications, terrestrial fiber, satellite connectivity, and submarine cable carriers; as well as more than 130 IT service providers, leading enterprises and financial services companies, and innumerable Internet eXchange points. Recently acquired by Digital Reality  the worlds largest provider of cloud and carrier neutral data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions  the companys role connecting Africa to the worlds IT infrastructure will only increase.

Teraco is also the co-location provider of choice for most VMware Cloud Verified partners. But perhaps most importantly for those organizations that want to embrace VMware Zero Carbon committed, it is also no stranger to efforts to reduce carbon emissions. In fact, it was already in the midst of Africas most ambitious effort to produce 100% sustainable power.

Singh saw an opportunity. If VMware Cloud Verified partners could engage Teraco for data center services that use the companys renewable energy, they could offset their own power usage and realistically commit to significantly decrease their own carbon footprint.

It was an effort Bryce Allan, head of sustainability at Teraco Data Environments, immediately embraced.

At Teraco we are aggressively pushing to increase our use of renewable energy sources, he says. One of our two newest and most significant solar projects is already under construction and weve set aside nearly $250 million over the next five years for the development of renewable energy sources and facilities. We also entered into a development service agreement with an experienced renewable energy developer and are already working with them to build two 100 megawatt solar facilities in Cape Town.

Allan expects the first of those to go online early in 2023 and to produce 500 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year. Notably, this is in addition to the companys extensive solar projects at its data centers, with the facility in Johannesburg already including a high-output solar system that is the first of its kind on the continent. Similar systems are being constructed for each of the companys data centers, with those expected to be operational by the end of this year.

Were really excited to start building big solar plants that make a real impact on the regions use of fossil fuels, says Allan. The fact that we can simultaneously provide motivated VMware Cloud Verified partners with the access to the power they need to make zero carbon emissions a realistic goal is another great benefit.

Notably, Teraco committed to achieving the use of 50% renewable energy sources by 2027 and 100% renewable energy sources by 2035. Given the difficulty of achieving both goals in Africa, the decision was made to allow VMware Cloud Verified Partners who want to achieve the VMware Zero Carbon Committed distinction to pursue it in conjunction with Teraco and those metrics.

We are years behind our partners in other areas of the world in our efforts to lower emissions, adds Singh. But if we can work together to achieve the use of 50% renewable sources of energy in five years, we will have accomplished something truly significant while simultaneously enabling Africas cloud solutions and services providers to pursue contracts that reward and encourage additional efforts to decrease emissions. That is a win for all involved.

Within days of the partnership with Teraco being announced, five companies in South Africa joined the VMware Zero Carbon Committed initiative.

The inaugural partners in Africas VMware Zero Carbon Committed initiative

The first five VMware Cloud Verified partners to embrace the tenets of the VMware Zero Carbon Committed initiative  and to make the transition to renewable sources of energy a key focus with the goal of using only renewable sources of energy by 2035  include Network Platforms, Routed, Saicom, Silicon Sky, and Strategix. We recently asked senior leaders at each company to share why they believe its crucial to radically decrease carbon emissions.

Network Platforms  Servicing businesses since 2003, Network Platforms provides a host of solutions to create effective ICT business environments. Its services are tailored to help businesses grow through increased productivity, profitability, and peace of mind. Its range of world-class, innovative products and services enables businesses to connect, communicate, and collaborate.

It is imperative for all companies in Africa to look at the big picture and how we can collectively transition to renewable sources of energy. By transitioning to the cloud and software-defined data centers enterprises are taking a positive step for the environment. If we can run the hardware required for those endeavors with renewable sources of energy, we can collectively make a huge difference.

 Bradley Love, founder and CEO of Network Platforms.

Routed  Routed is an experienced South African specialist VMware Cloud Operator offering scalable  full or hybrid cloud  vendor neutral hosting solutions. As a VMware Principal Partner, Routed proudly boast many firsts: first VMware Cloud Verified provider in Africa; first Validated VMware DRaaS provider in Africa; and now also a VMware Zero Carbon Committed partner, backed by the highest levels of sales, service, and support for its partners and customers.

Routed empowers its partners and its customers to prosper and grow, grounded by solid and secure cloud infrastructure foundations. In much the same way, the baobob tree, our company symbol, provides for people in Africas savannah regions  serving as the tree of life and giving them the materials they need for shelter, clothing, food, and water  all while providing the roots that serve as a strong foundation. We like to think of ourselves as the baobob of cloud infrastructure providers. That means we must safeguard our environment here in Africa and that starts with a commitment to decrease emissions.

 Andrew Cruise, managing director of Routed

Saicom  Saicom is a leading service provider in the local market delivering a host of solutions designed to help organizations move to the cloud, improve their collaboration and deliver an unsurpassed customer experience. Saicom understands that what businesses need most, as they navigate the move to the cloud, is choice, support, and flexible solution architecture.

The environment in Africa is one of the worlds richest and most beautiful. We must take action to ensure that we can pass it on to future generations. Climate change is a horrific danger, but its also a wakeup call that we cannot continue to build our businesses and our lives around sources of energy that are finite and that once used cannot be replaced. As an ICT leader, we have an opportunity to help our customers do more with less impact on the environment by embracing a software-defined approach that simultaneously delivers unprecedented computing power and potential.

 Kyle Woolf, CEO of Saicom

Silicon Sky  Silicon Sky is a specialist IT infrastructure service provider. Silicon Sky specializes in Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Silicon Sky has a vast IaaS portfolio including compute, network, storage, security, backup, recovery and disaster recovery. Silicon Sky has enterprise grade managed cloud platforms co-located in multiple carrier natural data centers in South Africa and the USA.

ICT has transformed how companies do business and so many aspects of how we live our lives. As a cloud services and solutions leaders, we have an opportunity, and an obligation, to demonstrate in our words and more importantly in our actions, how technology can combat climate change and make a difference. VMware Zero Carbon Committed presents us with an exceptional opportunity to do just that.

 Brenton Halsted, CEO of Silicon Sky

Strategix  Strategix Cloud Services provides flexible, scalable, secure, simplified costings easy to scale. Strategix is the only certified cloud provider as well as VMware PSO certified (Professional Services Organization), thereby offering assurances to assist customers in their digital evolution including, application modernization and digital workspace in public, private, or hybrid Clouds.

We strive to always make an impact in a positive manner in our work with customers and our interactions with each other. That same philosophy applies to imperatives like sustainability and efforts to address climate change. Action and positive impact begin with making a commitment. For Strategix, that begins with pursuing the VMware Zero Carbon Committed distinction.

 Jaco Stoltz, CEO of Strategix

For more information on VMwares partnership with Teraco, view VMwares Feature Friday video podcast here.
The finance department within a charity has often been perceived as a back-office function. Traditionally, the view has been that it only manages cash flows, fills out spreadsheets, processes payrolls and oversees the organisations financial reporting. This in turn has resulted in many finance professionals working in silos and not feeling connected to their colleagues.

The Covid-19 pandemic challenged this misconception and kickstarted a change in working habits. Faced with significant reductions in income, charities had to revise their budgets and correct their cash flows to stay afloat. Finance teams were involved early in strategic discussions made by senior leadership teams and boards and helped to lead the sectors response to the global health crisis.

An increasing number of charities are trying to bridge the gap between finance and other departments. But some still fail to see that the finance function is key to the success of their organisation and not an afterthought.

A changing role

The role of finance leaders has undergone significant changes over the years. No longer are they solely focusing on data and numbers to inform decision-making. They have become strategic leaders with oversight not only of finance but often also other areas such as HR, procurement and IT.

There is growing recognition across the sector that finance should play a driving role, as it does in the private sector, to create a solid foundation upon which charities can thrive and grow.

Robert Humphreys, who has held a number of finance positions including finance director and chief financial officer (CFO) at Oxfam GB and Oxfam International, agrees that finance teams used to be seen internally as purely administrative.

He says: If you turn the clock back 20 or 25 years, I would agree that this would have been the norm in most charities. My experience is that medium and large-sized charities have all changed. Theyre all now much more focused, professional and engaged. Charities have to listen to their staff and outside stakeholders. They cant just carry on [thinking]: Thats just the finance department. Thats the challenge for charity leadership, to break down those old tropes and replace them with a new dynamic thats about were all in this together.

Despite this, being a finance leader can be a lonely job. They can be seen as the no people and feel detached from the other departments. Humphreys believes that it is a natural tendency for individuals to work in silos. The challenge for charities, though, is to build both a structure and culture that encourage people to work across teams and boundaries.

The silo mentality

James Abbott, director of performance and corporate services at the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), has worked in charities where finance teams operated in silos.

He recounts: In my first role I was in fundraising. What I found was that the finance team was demanding of its staff but wasnt thinking about what value it was having or how it could help support the charity to achieve its objectives. It was just doing what finance always does and wasnt considering itself to be providing a service to the organisation  almost thinking the other way around.

At the time, Abbott had no financial experience but was being asked in his fundraising role to do things that the finance team should have been doing to help make decisions. This is wrong and isnt how it should be, he says.

He now leads RNIDs finance and performance team, contact centre, people team, and governance and legal team. Since April, the charity has been producing a monthly pack that includes financial data and information about its reach, people and fundraising.

This wider performance brief, as he calls it, is shared with the whole charity, which allows staff to have access to data and trends in one place. Not only that, it also opens the door to help people understand what role the finance team can have and to start conversations.

He comments: It breaks down those silos because to do a job of performance, finance has got to be in all of the conversations and plugged into everything. Its just a good way of structurally setting out the vision for what you want to achieve.

The initiative is part of RNIDs strategy to become a digital-first charity. To succeed, the charity identified that it had to crack corporate performance management. Abbott says: Thats always been the gap. Weve always had performance data but weve never been good at pulling it together and understanding the relationships between the different things. We just saw an opportunity to do it and pull it into the finance teams brief.

Another person who has had similar experiences of silos is Janie Oliver, CFO at Stewardship, a donor-advised fund for Christian givers.

Oliver says Stewardship has been on a journey to change that culture. The charity realised that it needed to take a business partnering approach to break down the silo mentality. It divided its team into financial control and business partnering and made a couple of strategic hires.

Business partnering is an approach whereby a member of the finance team is embedded in operations teams such as marketing. Their role is to bridge the gap between non-financial staff and leadership while guiding the organisations decision-making and strategy. They interpret raw data and financial jargon and present it in plain language so that everyone in the charity understands and feels involved.

Oliver says: The financial control team needs to make sure that the numbers are all correct and the business partnering team needs to face off against the rest of the charity. Their skill set is around the relationship piece and reporting. Beforehand, we were expecting the main financial controller to do everything. Actually, hes the details guy whose skill set isnt about telling the story beautifully to non-financial people  hes all about the numbers and spreadsheets.

Before she joined the charity last year, Oliver explains that the finance director and other members of the leadership team would, for instance, do the budget without consulting the rest of the charity. Now, it is very much a process that involves everyone.

We have an iterative process but what you have at the end is a budget that everybodys signed up to, is accountable for and can report on over the year. Everybody understands their targets and all those sorts of things whereas before everybody said: Well, I didnt sign up to that budget at the beginning, and it was quite easy [for them] to dodge their way around it.

Finance teams have power

According to Abbott, finance teams have the power to change the way they are perceived across their organisations. Its the finance teams job to build the bridges and show and prove what value it could have. I dont think it ever starts with the charity knowing what it needs and how finance can help. A good finance team proactively goes and shows what it can do and changes the perception.

As someone who oversees HR, he believes that the first step is to have a good finance business partner. Ive always put the most efforts into recruiting for those roles because those are the ones that make or break the approach. Those are the people who are out there building relationships. When Im working with agencies on this recruitment, I always say: This is far more about approach and mindset than it is about technical qualifications. What I want is somebody who can build relationships, open doors, make their way into the right meetings and demonstrate how they can help.

In Abbotts experience, fundraising and finance tend to have a difficult relationship because of how different their people are. Fundraising teams may view finance as blockers, throwing a spanner in the works. Finance departments may see fundraising as doing its own things without considering the implications. That, he says, is where business partnering is crucial. Once youve got that relationship, you can be there as a critical friend to help them and it opens the door. But youve got to open the door first and cant just assume that its open and they get it.

Seeing the bigger picture

Good communication and people skills are vital for finance teams. Often, the finance director  or CFO  is the sounding board for the chief executive officer and other members of the leadership team. They need to have a good overview of the organisation and be able to foresee any issues, risks and opportunities before they arise.

As well as understanding the intricacies of financial strategy, they need to be a strategic thinker, Oliver points out. The person responsible for the finances has to be an effective communicator. The numbers will be used to make decisions so its up to the CFO to ensure the story that the numbers are telling is accurate, timely and understandable to everyone, not just to a select few people. If not, then poor decisions will be made.

She continues: Because of the nature of the information that youre privy to, you also are often asked to provide input and advice about projects or initiatives that others come to you and seek advice and guidance on. This can sometimes be a bit of a sensitive nature so its important that you also have emotional intelligence and empathy to navigate those conversations.

Abbott adds three more skills to the mix: relationship building, problem solving and pragmatism. Without relationships, people do not know what matters for the charity and do not keep their ears to the ground. And those who are good at solving problems and pragmatic come up with the right solutions and priorities. All of that matters far more than technical ability because you can bring technical ability into your team and you can have the right experts to rely on. But if youve not got that mindset at the top, you wont be able to do what the organisation needs you to do.

He thinks that finance people who are obsessed over every last penny tend to be less effective. Charities have limited resources and youve got to work out what matters and what doesnt matter. Its a bit like a spinning plate problem: which plates are you prepared to smash, which [ones] are critical? Its standing back and seeing the big picture and understanding which things matter and which things dont.

Collective responsibility

Ultimately, accountability for the finances of a charity lies with its trustees. Guidance published by the Charity Commission in 2020 states: As a trustee, you must take steps to make sure that your charitys money is safe, properly used and accounted for. Every trustee has to do this. Even if your charity has an expert to manage its finances, youre still responsible for overseeing your charitys money.

The closure of the high-profile youth charity Kids Company in 2015 thrust the financial responsibilities of trustees into the spotlight. The charity failed to build sufficient reserves despite warnings on the accounts seen by the trustees. Subsequent investigations revealed an extraordinary catalogue of failures.

In September, the Directory of Social Change (DSC) hosted its annual Charity Accountants Online Conference. The chief executive officer, Debra Allcock Tyler, gave attendees tips and advice on how to engage trustees with finance. She said there are five core challenges:

Trustees say they dont do the money.

Trustees dont understand and dont ask.

Trustees think they understand and dont listen.

They get lots of numbers and might then not feel confident to ask about them.

Finance leaders do not explain the numbers and wait for trustees to ask.

A trustee herself, Allcock Tyler argued that it is part of finance professionals job to ensure that trustees are empowered to ask questions and engage with them.

However, she warned that trustees cannot delegate accountability either. They need to understand the information theyve been given and how to interrogate it. Very often, they dont. Its easy to blame trustees for not understanding but the reality is youre coming to a meeting once a quarter, youve got a whole load of other things that have happened in the intervening three months and youve been worried about your own situation or organisation. Coming into a lengthy and detailed board meeting without help, it can be quite difficult to understand what youre being told.

She added: There will be one or two trustees who dive into a tiny amount of detail, which isnt particularly relevant to the organisation. Very often, theyre doing that because they havent understood the big picture. We have to give them the big picture, the information right up-front, which helps them understand what it is were telling them with the numbers, rather than just expecting them to be able to interpret the numbers for themselves.

There are also examples of trustees who do not engage with finance and rely on their peers to support decisions that have financial ramifications. Oliver recalls being a treasurer at several small charities where trustees would look to her and say: Janie, if youre happy, were all happy.

She says: There are many charities where thats probably similar, where youll have one trustee who knows a bit about the finances and thats why theyve been appointed and everybody looks to them. I would often encourage my fellow trustees to be happy with something because its not great for that trustee whos got all that pressure and accountability sitting on their shoulders, but also because of the legalities around this in terms of all trustees needing to be comfortable.

Regardless of their background and level of expertise, trustees need to have a basic understanding of, for instance, the difference between restricted and unrestricted funds and key papers such as the balance sheet and statement of financial activities.

Getting the culture right

Setting the right tone at the top is important, too. If charity finance teams are not integrated and do not work well with the other teams, then their organisations will struggle to thrive.

Humphreys comments: If marketing staff bully finance for always saying no and if finance staff think that fundraisers are just genetically incapable of working within the budgets that have been set, then thats a real failure of leadership and communication.

The finance director, CFO or chief operating officer is a leading part of the leadership team, not just somebody to tell them how much money is left in the bank. They should be fully participating in strategic discussions and representing the executive with the trustee body.

For him, the finance leaders of the future will be at the forefront of steering their organisations to success. The real excitement about being a finance director is about keeping the radar firmly fixed on the horizon so that the organisation doesnt have any unpleasant surprises. Its about working with your colleagues to structure the organisation so that everybody understands what its strategic priorities are.

The external volatility means that it is more important than ever that were agile. We need calm hands at the wheel, particularly within the finance director role. People need to know somebody is there with their views firmly fixed on the horizon, and can see the icebergs coming up, and is going to make sure that we make those course corrections to avoid them.

Six important tips

Here are some tips that Directory of Social Changes Debra Allcock Tyler gave finance professionals during this years Charity Accountants Conference.

Its in your power . Very often, we complain as the executive and finance folk that trustees arent staying at a strategic level but its our fault because were giving them non-strategic information. If we give them detail, its almost impossible for them to stay up there at the right level. How you present financial information to them will dictate where they stay in those conversations.

. Very often, we complain as the executive and finance folk that trustees arent staying at a strategic level but its our fault because were giving them non-strategic information. If we give them detail, its almost impossible for them to stay up there at the right level. How you present financial information to them will dictate where they stay in those conversations. Detail is distracting. The more detail you give them, the harder it will be for them to understand what it is youre telling them.

The more detail you give them, the harder it will be for them to understand what it is youre telling them. Detail is the enemy of information. Giving trustees a whole bunch of numbers isnt giving them information. As finance folk, you need to be thinking: Whats the information I want my trustees to understand as a result of reading my finance summary/report for the year or quarter? What is it you want them to take away? Frame your verbal section so thats the information theyre getting. They dont know how to interpret the data in the way we do when were so familiar with it.

Giving trustees a whole bunch of numbers isnt giving them information. As finance folk, you need to be thinking: Whats the information I want my trustees to understand as a result of reading my finance summary/report for the year or quarter? What is it you want them to take away? Frame your verbal section so thats the information theyre getting. They dont know how to interpret the data in the way we do when were so familiar with it. Look at high level comparisons over time. At DSC, we find it very useful to look at our performance, not just to get the budget for the year, but also what it looked like [the previous] year because that gives us a better sense of whether were moving in the right direction. It gives you information about whether your ambitions are too high and so forth. Always think about comparisons with previous years because that helps keep them at the right level.

At DSC, we find it very useful to look at our performance, not just to get the budget for the year, but also what it looked like [the previous] year because that gives us a better sense of whether were moving in the right direction. It gives you information about whether your ambitions are too high and so forth. Always think about comparisons with previous years because that helps keep them at the right level. Focus on forecasts. If your trustees are spending most of their time talking about the figures that have gone, thats partly our fault. Its not necessarily helpful because thats happened and theres nothing to do about it. Its making sure that youre focusing on forecasts, saying: Heres the picture for the next coming few months; these are the actions were taking; this is what we anticipate happening. In your finance report, always include an opening summary paragraph of all the detail so that theyve got something to cling on to.

If your trustees are spending most of their time talking about the figures that have gone, thats partly our fault. Its not necessarily helpful because thats happened and theres nothing to do about it. Its making sure that youre focusing on forecasts, saying: Heres the picture for the next coming few months; these are the actions were taking; this is what we anticipate happening. In your finance report, always include an opening summary paragraph of all the detail so that theyve got something to cling on to. Visuals, visuals, visuals. Do not just give pages and pages of numbers, theyre not helpful. Its much easier to stay at a strategic level if you see a graph, chart or something that gives you a sense of the patterns. If you want your trustees to stay at the right level, give them information that keeps them at that level and that will tend to be charts, graphs and pictures rather than sheets and sheets of detailed numbers. Use words, never just put a chart or a graph in without explaining what that information is telling them.



Lea Legraien is senior reporter for Charity Finance

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Lord Kamall is no longer minister for civil society, though DCMS has yet to confirm who will take over the brief.

It was only in September that Lord Kamall was appointed minister for civil society, after Nigel Huddleston was moved from his role after less than a year in the post, as part of Liz Truss reshuffle.

After replacing Liz Truss as prime minister last Tuesday, Rishi Sunak began appointing ministers to his government.

A new minister for development has been announced, as has a new charity tax minister.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay was appointed parliamentary under secretary of state at DCMS on 30 October 2022, but the department has yet to confirm whether he would become minister for civil society.

He was a Lord in Waiting between 14 February 2020 and 20 September 2022.

 Roger Harris, Wikimedia Commons: Official portrait of Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay

Charities welcome development minister

Andrew Mitchell MP was appointed minister of state (minister for development) in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) on 25 October 2022.

He was previously secretary of state for International Development from May 2010 to September 2012, and recently criticised the merging of the DFID with the foreign office as a big mistake as it leads to a lack of expertise when tackling issues of foreign aid.

Mitchell has also said ending the pause on the FCDOs spending on Official Development Assistance (ODA) as soon as possible and returning certainty to ODA spending this year and in future years is a priority.

The news came in correspondence from the newly appointed mnister, with the chair of the International Development Committee, Sarah Champion MP.

He wrote to notify the chair that the FCDOs temporary pause on non-essential ODA spending will be extended to November 17, to work with HM Treasurys revised timetable for the Autumn Statement.

Simon Starling, director of policy, advocacy & research at Bond, said: We welcome Andrew Mitchell back to the job and cause that he has passionately continued to advocate for since his first tenure as development secretary  a UK aid budget that is both sufficient in quantity and goes to people facing poverty, conflict, and climate change.

We hope, under his leadership, we will see a much-needed rapid return to 0.7% and a UK aid budget that is effective, transparent, and accountable to both the British taxpayer and the communities we work with.We are looking forward to continuing to work with him on these critical issues.

 Richard Townshend, Wikimedia Commons: Official portrait of Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP

New charity tax minister

Meanwhile, James Cartlidge was appointed as exchequer secretary to the Treasury, which will give him responsibility for charity tax issues.

Suffolk South MP and former justice minister Cartlidge took over from Felicity Buchan, who had been in post for one month, on Friday.

Charity Tax Group chair Richard Bray said the organisation would work engage constructively with Cartlidge.

At a time of unprecedented fiscal pressure on charities we will lobby for a tax system that helps charities rather than hinders them, he said.

This includes the Future of Gift Aid project to make Gift Aid fit for purpose in the digital age. We also encourage the minister to support the charities during the cost of living crisis and beyond by introducing a lower rate of VAT for charities on their purchases.

 David Woolfall, Wikimedia Commons: Official portrait of James Cartlidge MP

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The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into the Saint George Educational Trust (SGET) over serious regulatory concerns.

This is the fourth statutory inquiry the regulator has opened into the charity since 1997 and the second opened due concerns regarding the charitys association with a far-right group.

The regulator wrote that concerns have been raised over the charitys activities that do not seem to further its religious purposes, including material it has posted online and political activity or campaigning.

Anti-lockdown campaigning

The regulator ordered the trustees to review and remove content from its website and social media pages. Its Facebook page only shows three posts and its website is no longer accessible.

In 2020, the charity's chair Mick Fishwick raised 7,000 raised for the charity to support Italian organisation Vicit Leo, which opposed global Covid-19 lockdowns.

In a campaign letter Fishwick references, Vicit Leo suggests measures to control the spread of Covid-19 were a crime against human rights. The campaign letter asks for funds to be donated directly to SGET.

The Charity Commission launched its third inquiry into the charity in July 2022 after it failed to submit financial information for two or more years over the last five years. The fourth inquiry was opened last month, making its former inquiry cease; however, these financial concerns will be considered by the regulator in its new inquiry.

Bank account frozen

The Charity Commissions inquiry will examine the administration, governance and management of the charity by the trustees including its relationship with external organisations and individuals. It will also examine the trustees conduct.

SGETs financial accounts for the years 2020 and 2021 were both filed late. The Commission will look into the charitys financial controls and management during the inquiry.

After opening the inquiry the Commission froze a bank account holding the charitys funds so no one can access of move them without the regulators consent.

Civil Society News contacted Saint George Educational Trust for comment but did not receive a response.

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Nonprofits and political action committees (pacs) are using Metric Medias extended network of local news sites to provide a range of campaign services to conservative candidates in the run-up to the November midterm elections, new research by the Tow Center shows.

The tactic of using partisan newspapers to launder advocacy is being taken up increasingly by both the left and the right, and while its not necessarily fake news, it does fracture the information ecosystem. However, tracing the astroturf activities of the extended Metric Media news network over the past year demonstrates that it is being used not just to place favorable stories, but to provide additional services that might influence the voting public.

Overall, we found that this network acts as a convergence of special interests for free-market advocates, multiple political action committees, the fossil fuel industry, a politically motivated Catholic group, and a group propagating notions of election fraud. The network has received at least $1.6 million from three pacs so far this election cycle. While $1.6 million is an extremely small sum in an election where costs are projected to exceed $9 billion, our research demonstrates the extent of the services provided by this network to numerous conservative pacs tied to big conservative funders and groups.

While its difficult to trace the minutiae of the scope and scale of each of the services, and to match them to individual transactions seen in public records, our investigation found websites targeting certain politicians or policies paid for by a pac hosted on the networks infrastructure, articles boosting candidates supported by the pacs published on the local news network, and an interactive Web application devoted to a single hot-button issue. Newspapers with mastheads belonging to this network have been mailed to citizens in at least three states. These newspapers promote the public positions of advocacy groups, pacs, and candidates associated with this network.

The services provided include advertising (to the Defend Texas Liberty pac, largely funded by West Texas oil-and-gas billionaire Timothy Dunn); SMS messages, robocalls, and websites (to the Illinois-centric People Who Play by the Rules pac, largely funded by Republican mega-donor and shipping magnate Richard Uihlein and run by conservative activist Dan Proft); and consulting and production costs (to Restoration pac, also largely funded by Uihlein). Through public records, we also found that Dunn currently holds a managerial position in Pipeline Media, one of the corporate entities within this extended network. Dunns links to the extended Metric Media network have not previously been reported.

The news sites can easily be mistaken for independent local outlets andas previous investigations by the Tow Center have shownare part of a larger network that received funding from multiple dark-money groups and pacs. The funding is not disclosed; neither are the networks collaborations with special-interest groups. The practice of publishing stories that boost the positions of special-interest groups interspersed between thousands of algorithmically generated stories and republished press releases across the networks twelve hundred sites continues. This filler content is referred to as pink-slime journalism, a term that references the meat byproduct added to ground beef.

Digital investigations conducted by the Tow Center also found that Restoration pacs VoteRefa Web application that allows users to browse voter rolls in each state, as well as the number of ballots cast, under the guise of ensuring election integrityrelies on custom software from LocalLabs (one of the corporate entities in this network) and shares an analytics identifier (NewRelic) with other sites in this network. We found multiple sites sharing these traits attacking the incumbent governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, hosted on a server used by other websites on this network and paid for by the People Who Play by the Rules pac. These sites have names like pritzkermustgo [dot] com and toomuchjb [dot] com.

In this report, with the help of public records and threat intelligence tools (including RiskIQ, FarSight DNSDB, and BuiltWith), the Tow Center examines the key players, funding, and interests influencing this network in the run-up to the midterms. This is the latest report in a research project established in 2019 to trace the use and provenance of local news sites created and operated for the purpose of exercising influence, be it electorally or to promote the interests of corporate clients or advocacy groups. While publishing news sites or newspapers to exert influence is not new, the increasingly involved campaign tools and tactics deployed through these networks create a challenge for independent local journalism and demonstrate how modern political campaigning makes it harder for readers to distinguish between political advertising and journalism.

This extended network is operated by a conglomerate of corporate entitiesMetric Media, Newsinator (alias Franklin Archer), Local Government Information Services (LGIS), Pipeline Media (alias LocalityLabs or LocalLabs)each of which claims ownership of different subsets of the network. In the past year, the network added ten new domains under the Federal Newswire banner (DOJ Newswire, USDA Newswire, EPA Newswire, etc.) along with a handful of standalone sites. The Catholic Tribune networka group of seven sites that had been inactive since December 6, 2020resumed publishing in October 2021.

A full list of the domains we associate with this network is published here, and a repository of the physical papers that we have found so far has been uploaded here. We intend to update these data sets regularly as and when new domains are identified or new editions of the newspapers flagged. If you have received any of these papers, have examples of similar papers operating in your area, or want access to more granular data, please get in touch here.

Who Is Behind the Network?

The two primary officers behind these entities are Brian Timpone (an Illinois-based conservative businessman with a history in low-cost automated and outsourced journalism) and Bradley Cameron (the founder and chief executive of a Texas-based management consultancy whose clientsincluding Acellus and Ashford Inc.have received favorable coverage across the local news network). Cameron and Timpone are also executives of Pipeline Advisors, a private equity investment company registered in Texas.

Other officers of these corporate entities, past and present, have held executive roles in conservative pacs or conservative think tanks funded by Charles Koch and his network of allied donors. Over the past five decades, Koch has been instrumental in setting up and backing numerous think tanks that promote his vision of free-market economics, often at the cost of cutting public welfare spending. One of the groups backed by Koch and his donor allies to steer funds into conservative causes, Donors Trust, gave the Metric Media Foundation $1.27 million in 2020, which was just under half the annual revenue the Metric Media Foundation reported that year.

Currently, Timothy Dunn is listed as a manager for Pipeline Media, according to Illinois state records. Dunn, the chief executive officer of CrownQuest, an oil-and-gas exploration and production venture in West Texas, has been involved in Texas politics since at least 2007, when he bankrolled the Tea Partyaligned group Empower Texans, which pushed for limited government and lower taxes. This election cycle, Dunn has been a major contributor to the Defend Texas Liberty pac, which has spent over $5 million since January to challenge GOP incumbents deemed insufficiently Republican. The pac spent $57,075 on advertising expenses with Pipeline Advisors.

Dunn is also on the board of numerous conservative organizations, at least two of which are connected to this extended network of local news sites: the largely Koch-funded free-market think tank Texas Public Policy Foundation and Citizens for Self-Governance (which he helped launch).

As the Tow Center reported last year, Metric Media and Citizens for Self-Governance have collaborated directly: the two organizations launched the news crowdsourcing tool Community Newsmaker, and the Metric Media local news network ran over a hundred stories promoting the interests of Citizens for Self-Governance, a national organization whose overriding mission is to combat federal overreach. Our analysis also found that the network has run just under a hundred stories this year across twenty-eight sites (twenty-five of which are Texas-centric) that directly or indirectly advocate the Texas Public Policy Foundations policies, including property tax relief in the state. These stories include headlines like TPPFs Ginn: Local property taxes are out of control in Texas, TPPF director on property taxes: Its not a stretch to say that property taxes are out of control in the Lone Star State, Texas Public Policy Foundations James Quintero: Texas property taxes out of control, taxpayers should defend their wallets, and Chief economist of TPPF: Laredo, all Texas residents face affordability crisis that can be helped with property tax relief. As first reported by Gizmodo, the network has also run multiple stories attacking renewable energya recurrent line for the Texas Public Policy Foundationwhich were then featured in Campaign Nucleuss newsletters. Campaign Nucleus is the political consultancy set up by former President Donald Trumps excampaign manager Brad Parscale.

Dunn isnt the only executive with ties to think tanks that have wealthy conservative benefactors. John Tillman, an influential conservative activist based out of Illinois, holds executive positions in at least nine organizations that, through a dizzying series of transactions, move millions of dollars around interconnected non- and for-profit organizations. As we reported last year, Tillman is also currently listed as the secretary for LGIS, the Illinois-centric subset of the network comprising thirty-four local news websites and eleven physical newspapers, which was subject to an FEC lawsuit for disguising campaign materials as local community newspapers (the suit was dismissed in 2019). Timpone is listed as the president of LGIS, a position previously held by Proft. In the run-up to the midterms this November, newspapers from the LGIS outlets have started appearing on doorsteps in Illinois attacking Pritzker for his policies on crime, covid, and LGBTQ rights.

Profts pac is financially backing Republican candidate Darren Bailey against Pritzker in the November election. Proft ran for office in 2010, currently hosts a show on the Salem Radio Network (which syndicates Christian political talk, conservative programming, and music), and his now-defunct pac Liberty Principles paid Newsinator (one of the organizations in the extended network) over $300,000 for advertising. This year he started a new pac, People Who Play by the Rules, whichat the time of writinghas received over $28 million from Uihlein, the shipping magnate and Republican mega-donor. The pac has paid Pipeline Media just over $225,000 for services that include websites, SMS messages, and robocalls.

Neither Dunn nor Proft responded to our request for comment over email.

Newspapers in the Mail

While we were unable to trace the funding, residents of key electoral counties in Arizona, Kansas, and Illinois found copies of physical newspapers appearing at their doors that originated from this network. The publications, with titles that include the Grand Canyon Times, the Kansas Catholic Tribune, and Chicago City Wire, started appearing during primary season and have continued to appear ahead of the midterms, promoting candidates like Blake Masters and J.D. Vance, espousing conspiracies around election security, and hitting divisive topics like abortion, LGBT rights, immigration, and crime.

Sample pages from newspapers that appeared on doorsteps in multiple states. Weve collected more papers here.

Stories in the Grand Canyon Times, part of Metric Medias Arizona network, promoted Masters alongside claims of duplicate voter registrations while attacking Bidens policies around student loan relief and immigration. The two editions of the newspaper (dated July 18 and September 19) seen by the Tow Center ran pages paid for by the Saving Arizona pac (largely funded by Peter Thiel). Not all stories within the printed papers are available in the corresponding online editions; multiple stories have bylines from the Center Square (a conservative publication thats part of the Franklin News Foundation, whose chairman is John Tillman); the Franklin News Foundation is an associate of the State Policy Network of conservative think tanks largely backed by Koch and his allied donors). One of the stories, headlined One Million Migrants: Bidens Asylum Abuse, is from Steve Cortess Substack. Cortes was a campaign adviser to Donald Trump and a host on Newsmax.

The stories on the Kansas Catholic Tribune, a part of Franklin Archers American Catholic Tribune network, on the other hand, focused almost exclusively on anti-abortion rhetoric in the run-up to the August vote on a state constitutional amendment that would have barred access to abortion services. The return address on these papers was CatholicVotes. CatholicVote launched a $9.7 million campaign to expose Joe Bidens anti-Catholic record and policies in September 2020, and has previously collaborated with the Metric Media network, as we reported last year. Based on the lack of articles on the Kansas Catholic Tribune website, it appears that it was produced simply to campaign ahead of the referendum. Like with the Grand Canyon Times, not all stories that appear in the physical copies are in the digital edition, though most of them appear on its sister site American Catholic Tribune. The story titled Summer of Rage: Tracking Attacks on Pregnancy Centers & Pro-Life Groups bears the byline of CatholicVote News Feed.

We were unable to locate any transactions between the Metric Media entities and either CatholicVote or the Saving Arizona pac in federal or state records, but this may be attributed to the FEC requiring reporting for a very narrow category of ads.

The PACs that pay Pipeline Media and Pipeline Advisors

Even though we werent able to find transactions related to the physical mailers, we found other pacs that paid Pipeline Media and Pipeline Advisors for a host of different services: advertising, robocalls, SMS messages, and consulting. Brian Timpone, an officer at both Pipeline Media and Pipeline Advisors, did not respond to multiple requests for comment over email. Bradley Cameron, also an executive at both companies, responded through his lawyers who, in an email, said, Pipeline Advisors LLC has never received pac funding. It is a private equity investment company with no relation to Pipeline Media. Filings for both the Defend Texas Liberty pac and Restoration pac show that they have paid Pipeline Advisors LLC. Restoration pac has also paid Pipeline Media. We asked their lawyers to clarify these discrepancies, but did not receive a response.

Defend Texas Liberty PAC

In this election cycle, West Texas oil-and-gas magnate and Pipeline Media officer Timothy Dunn donated over $5 million to the Defend Texas Liberty pac, an organization that attacked GOP incumbents during the Texas primaries, with minimal success. The pacs website says it believes life starts at conception, there are only two genders, children should not be indoctrinated in public schools, the Second Amendment should never be infringed, property taxes must go down, the Texas Border must be secured, and we must stop giving illegal aliens taxpayer benefits. The pac paid Pipeline Advisors just over $57,000 in March 2022, a transaction that was labeled advertising expense.

Not all the candidates the pac supported featured on the Metric Media sites, but Donald Huffines, the Republican primary challenger to Texas governor Greg Abbott, did. We found that over fifty stories featuring Huffines were published in January and February across sixteen of the Texas Metric Media sites. Broadly, the themes of these stories can be broken down into:

Border security (The Texas border is out of control: Huffines condemns Abbotts handling of Texas National Guard, Huffines: The drugs pouring across our border are a threat to our very way of life, Huffines: I will never ask permission from the federal government to secure the Texas Border)

covid policies including mask and vaccine mandates (Abbotts weakness is taking a toll on Texans well-being: Huffines criticizes Abbott for Texan school districts reinstating mask mandates, Huffines: Mask mandates are an attack on Texans God-given liberties, Huffines: Dr. Fauci is a fraud and a liar who should be in jail)

Election fraud (Its time to fire Abbott: Texas gubernatorial candidate pledges to boost election security, Huffines reacts to Texas law limiting mail-in ballot applications: We know theres fraud in our elections, Our elections are not secureHuffines demands action, prosecution in response to audit)

Abortions , prior to the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade (Gubernatorial candidate Huffines: As governor, I will abolish abortion in Texas, Huffines praises efforts by pro-life activists to cultivate a culture of life, Huffines: It is right for Texas to seek to take back public funds from abortionists)

A host of other culture war topics including China, critical race theory, and LGBTQ rights (Huffines calls for prohibiting Chinese students at Texas universities, Huffines: Critical race theory is a disgusting Marxist ideology that is dedicated to pitting Texans against each other, Our children are in danger: Huffines denounces the availability of LGBTQ+ books in Texas schools)

Huffines lost the primary, coming in third with 12 percent of the vote. Abbott, the incumbent, received over 66 percent to win the race.

People Who Play by the Rules PAC

Only a small fraction of the $28 million that Profts People Who Play by the Rules PAC received from Uihlein$226,668was spent on Pipeline Media to cover services like website, SMS messages, and robocalls. Most of that money$216,668was spent opposing GOP primary candidate Richard Irvin for governor through text messages and robocalls.

Overall, of the $19.7 million the pac had spent at the time of writing, $7 million was spent on the primary race opposing Irvin, who came in third in the race that Bailey (the candidate the pac is backing) won. After the Illinois primaries, the pac started targeting Pritzker, the incumbent governor. Since July 13, it has spent over $12 million opposing Pritzker, of which $10,000 was disbursed to Pipeline Media for website.

A handful of domains were registered in July 2022 with names like howmuchworse [dot] com, truthaboutjb [dot] com, toomuchjb [dot] com, and thetruthaboutjb [dot] com, all of which redirect to the same site with the disclaimer  People Who Play By The Rules PAC. The site states Too Much JB Pritzker Leaves No Room for You.

Other anti-Pritzker domains registered in mid-September include pritzkermustgo [dot] com (which features a new ad campaign by the pac) and pritzkerbook [dot] com (which presents users with a book about what every Illinoisan should know about the incumbent). The book, too, is paid for by the People Who Play by the Rules pac.

All these domains share digital identifiers like IP addresses and analytics infrastructure with other sites in the extended local news network, including the Will County Gazette, Kane County Reporter, Chicago City Wire, and DuPage Policy Journal. (You can read more about our methodology for DNS investigations here.)

Not only are these four sites part of LGIS, the Illinois-specific subset of the network, but as the Tow Center has reported, physical copies of these papers have shown up on the doorsteps of Illinois residents attacking Pritzker on various topics including criminal reform. As reported by the Chicago Tribune, Pritzker has called out Proft for adopting scare tactics and using racist rhetoric due to a two-page spread on the physical papers featuring photographs of Black suspects who could be released on bail when the states no-cash bail policy comes into effect. Unlike the Arizonian Grand Canyon Times paper and Kansas Catholic Tribune, these Illinois papers dont have a disclaimerinstead, they contain a note from the publisher, LGIS, saying, Our goal is two-fold: 1) to provide news about state and local policy matters and politics to help you assess whether the policy decisions made by your elected officials are aligned with your values and to explain how those decisions impact your quality of life; and (2) to offer quality local content to help you stay abreast of whats happening in the community you call home.

Restoration PAC

People Who Play by the Rules isnt the only pac thats received millions from Uihlein this election cycle. Restoration pac, whose raison detre is to provide support to truly conservative candidates and to oppose Leftists and the woke agenda, received at least $13.7 million from the founder of Uline, the privately held shipping-supply company. Of this, $1.37 million went to Pipeline Advisors LLC ($1,336,109) and Pipeline Media ($30,463) for various types of consulting and production costs.

As originally reported by ProPublica and Open Secrets, one of the big initiatives by the affiliated Restoration Action pac is the Voter Reference Foundation or VoteRef, which is an effort to put voter registration rolls from all fifty states online, thereby allowing people to search for discrepancies in an effort to find election fraudelection officials have said the methodology is flawed and the organizations actions may be illegal. VoteRef has dismissed these concerns. The voter rolls that are being made public as part of this initiative include the registration address, birthdate, party affiliation, registration date, and registration status of individuals, along with whether they voted in the past five elections.

The networks role in this endeavor appears to be twofold: publishing stories about the initiative and broadcasting as and when voter rolls become available, and providing technical support for the public-facing Web application.

Analysis by the Tow Center found that over fifty stories were published across the Metric Media news network about VoteRefs activities, with headlines like Transparency site and pending Georgia bill make ballots open to public inspection, Truax: Not going to be deterred in First Amendment voter rolls lawsuit against New Mexico officials, and Voter Reference Foundation executive director: Publishing voter registration data increases transparency which will help to restore public confidence. A handful of these were verbatim press releases issued by the Voter Reference Foundation.

The Web application shares an analytics ID and analytics code with other publications in the extended Metric Media network, and explicitly states that it is a subsidiary of Restoration Action. According to a document obtained by ProPublica, Local Labs (an entity in this network) is also building functionality for the application. At the time of writing, the Web application allows users to browse voter rolls in thirty-two states, as well as explore the number of ballots cast in the 2020 election (versus how many registered voters cast ballots) on a state-by-state level. This then allows the database to flag net ballot discrepancies and total incorrect records. ProPublica, as part of its investigation, contacted election officialsa mix of Democrats and Republicansin twelve of the states where VoteRef has voter rolls, and in every case the officials said that the methodology used to identify the discrepancies was flawed, the data incomplete or the math wrong.

Our analysis thus far has relied on disclosed disbursements filed in accordance with federal and state campaign finance requirements. Even so, its unlikely that our analysis is complete. Not only is FEC reporting only required for a narrow category of ads, but there is no way to tell if there are intermediary groups that help facilitate transactions between different parties. While trust in news is declining and partisan antipathy is on the rise, both the left and the right are attempting to use any and all tactics to get their desired electoral outcomes. Inevitably, this leads to the information ecosystem becoming more fragmented, facts being dismissed as false, and independent local news left with the challenging task of navigating the new reality of political campaigning.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Priyanjana Bengani is a Tow Computational Fellow at Columbia Journalism School's Tow Center for Digital Journalism.
A federal judge on Monday said a lawsuit accusing Geico Corp. of overcharging more than 2 million California policyholders on car insurance early in the COVID-19 pandemic may proceed as a class action.

U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman in San Jose, California, rejected Geicos contention that a group lawsuit over the alleged inadequacy of its Geico Giveback program would create insurmountable manageability problems.

Geico, part of Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway Inc., said a class action would not sufficiently account for differences among policyholders, including the time periods they had insurance.

The Chevy Chase, Maryland-based insurer also said it would be difficult to assess damages, isolate pandemic costs and adjust rates retroactively.

But the judge said a class action was preferable to individual lawsuits, and the plaintiffs damages model could present an appropriate percentage refund over a sufficiently long time to address manageability concerns.

Lawyers for Geico did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The plaintiffs lawyers did not immediately respond to similar requests.

Policyholders objected to Geicos decision to provide $2.5 billion of credits, including 15% on renewals, starting in April 2020, reflecting how people were at the time driving and getting into accidents less often.

They said Geico reaped a windfall because the credit fell well short of adequate given the lessened risks, and accused the insurer of falsely claiming that its credits provided substantial and full relief.

Some insurers, including State Farm and Allstate Corp., offered pandemic-related refunds to policyholders.

The class covers California residents who bought Geico car, motorcycle or RV insurance between March 1, 2020 and now.

Geico is defending against a similar federal lawsuit in Chicago, and in May persuaded an appeals court in Manhattan to uphold a judges dismissal of a similar lawsuit there.

Berkshire, based in Omaha, Nebraska, has owned all of Geico since 1996.

The case is Day v. Geico Casualty Co et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 21-02103.
Profile: Former Brazilian leader Lula elected president

Xinhua) 10:25, November 01, 2022

BRASILIA, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of the Workers' Party (PT) won the second round in the presidential elections on Sunday and is set to serve a third four-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2023.

He defeated current President Jair Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party by a slight margin, according to figures released by the Superior Electoral Tribunal.

Widely known as "Lula" by his Brazilian fellows, the son of a poor farming family born in October 1945 and leader of trade union activities in his early years, he co-founded the left-wing PT in 1980 along with intellectuals and union leaders.

Lula was elected president as a candidate for the PT in October 2002, becoming the first worker-turned-president in Brazil. He assumed office in January 2003.

In October 2006, he secured a second term until January 2011.

During Lula's presidency, Brazil saw an annual growth rate of 4.3 percent and returned to the world's top 10 largest economies. He was also credited with welfare programs, including Fome Zero ("Zero Hunger" in English) and Bolsa Familia ("Family Allowance" in English), which lifted millions of Brazilians out of poverty.

Lula was caught up in Brazil's massive corruption probe code-named Operation Car Wash in 2014, leading to his imprisonment in April 2018.

In March 2021, Brazil's Supreme Federal Court annulled all the convictions on corruption charges against Lula.

Lula paid state visits to China in 2004 and 2009.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)
Vijayawada: Nobel laureate Sir Richard J. Roberts has laid emphasis to encourage students to do basic research to nurture their skills to become industrialists.

Taking part in the three-day international conference Frontiers in Nutrition, Medical Genomics and Drug Discovery (INBIX-22) at Vignan University virtually on Monday, the Nobel laureate said he was the best example as his academic set up basic research allowed him to start New England Labs in Boston in US and added that it had become a billion dollar company at present. He opined that the drug discovery would play an important role in the field of medical genomics research and would also be more beneficial to students to connect to the research institutions.

Former director of IISC and chairman of Bhairac, Bengaluru, prof. G. Padmanabhan called for development of leadership skills.
Complaining that turning off the music has been causing a loss of revenue as customers preferred music to unwind, the managements of several pubs and bars filed appeal petitions challenging the order. Some filed implead petitions before the single judge bench, which had given the order.  DC File Image

HYDERABAD: Upset by the recent order of the Telangana High Court against using loud music after 10 pm, pubs and bars have lined up at the High Court stating that it was affecting their business adversely. They said police were harassing them.

Complaining that turning off the music has been causing a loss of revenue as customers preferred music to unwind, the managements of several pubs and bars filed appeal petitions challenging the order. Some filed implead petitions before the single judge bench, which had given the order.

The Hyderabad Restro Lounges Association filed two appeals challenging the single judge orders. Others also ahve filed implead petitions before the single judge.

Senior counsel Bollam Chandrasen Reddy, representing the implead petitioners, submitted to the court that the owners had invested a lot of money, including for procuring licences and clearances from excise, fire, police, GHMC and others.

Though the renewal of police licence, grants permission to run the outlet up to 11 pm, the state revenue excise department has issued GO 339 (01.08.2018) granting permission to run bars till midnight from Sunday to Thursday and till 1 am from Friday to Saturday, Chandrasen Reddy said.

He argued that when rules clearly mentioned the level of noise during the day and at night, stopping music after 10 pm was a violation of Article 19.

After hearing the arguments, Justice Kanneganti Lalitha adjourned the hearing to October 27 because appeals challenging the restrictions are to be heard by the division bench of the High Court headed by Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan.
HYDERABAD: Telangana state BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar said that the TRS was trying to use every trick in the book to postpone the Munugode byelection, fearing a defeat, following violent clashes at Palivela village in Munugode on Tuesday.

He said the TRS had unleashed vicious attacks on BJP leader Etala Rajendar and BJP workers.

As all surveys were indicating a win for the BJP, TRS is making desperate efforts to postpone the election. I request the Election Commission and police to be on high alert to thwart such attempts, Sanjay said.

Union minister G. Kishan Reddy condemned the attacks on their party workers and staff. People of Munugode are closely watching these developments. They will definitely bury the TRS at Munugode crossroads. These kinds of attacks are not at all acceptable. Even Etalas personal staffer Chaitanya was severely injured in the attack, he said.

Meanwhile, when Sanjay was addressing a roadshow, along with senior leaders D.K. Aruna and party candidate Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy at Tandarpet, said TRS cadres charged towards their campaign chariot, creating commotion.

Sanjay said that TRS goons were trying to attack them but police are staying mute. If you do not act, we will have to act. If BJP workers also resort to attacks like them, TRS leaders cannot roam around safely, warned Sanjay.

Rajgopal Reddy alleged that he was campaigning peacefully, but TRS leaders were trying to provoke him by attacking his rallies.

TRS strongly condemned the incidents of violence incidents in Palivela. The party alleged that the BJP was resorting to such attacks, unable to digest the fact that TRS was going to win the bypoll even after the BJP had spent hundreds of crores of rupees.

TRS working president and IT minister K.T. Rama Rao, while addressing a road show in Munugode on Tuesday, accused the BJP of bringing a culture of electoral violence to Telangana by resorting to attacks on TRS leaders and workers in Palivela.

Telangana never witnessed violent incidents during elections. All parties used to conduct their campaign peacefully. But BJP has brought violent culture in elections in Telangana with this Munugode bypoll. This shows their frustration at the prospect of losing the bypoll even after spending hundreds of crores of rupees, Rama Rao said.

Finance minister T. Harish Rao said that since TRS enjoyed peoples support, BJP had become desperate. But he urged party cadres to act with restraint in view of the polling.

Violence was first reported in the afternoon when TRS and BJP cadres allegedly resorted to stone pelting against each other. Head constable Anjaiah, who was among BJP MLA Etala Rajendars security detail, received bleeding injuries during the clashes.

The TRS claimed that their party MLC Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, MLA Peddi Sudershan Reddy and ZP chairman Jagadeesh and several other workers received injuries.

When Rajendar along with his wife Jamuna were addressing a BJP rally in Palivela, a bike rally of TRS workers was passing by. The pink party workers took objection to Rajendars address, which led to an argument between both parties, followed by stone pelting.

Security personnel immediately brought down Rajendar and Jamuna and shifted them out safely. However his vehicle was damaged in the stone pelting. One of the security personnel present at the spot said that there were stones raining suddenly and they had to rush the VIPs to safety and in the process, their men were also injured.

Responding to the Palivela incident, police said that both parties have lodged complaints against each other, following which cases have been registered at Munugode police station and are being investigated.

TRS MLC Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, in his complaint at Munugode police station said that BJP MLA Rajendar hurled abuses at them and instigated their party workers, following which, BJP goons attacked them with stones and sticks and injured several party workers.

He sought action against the Rajendar, his wife Jamuna and Rajagopal Reddy.

Meanwhile, Rajendars personal staffer M. Chaitanya, who was injured in the incident, in his complaint told the police that when the MLA and other party leaders were holding a meeting, TRS MLC Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, MLA Peddi Sudershan Reddy, along with their followers attacked them, leaving Rajender, a head constable, party workers and common people injured.

They attempted to kill us, Chaitanya said in his complaint.
The Protect Our Kids political action committee warned against a Colorado ballot measure seeking to decriminalize the hallucinogenic compounds in magic mushrooms during a town hall Tuesday.

The town hall  hosted by Colorado Politics, The Denver Gazette and The Colorado Springs Gazette  was a public forum for the proponents and opponents of Proposition 122 to debate their positions. However, the pro-Prop 122 campaign declined to participate.

Luke Niforatos, CEO of Protect Our Kids, called the campaigns refusal to debate a profound disappointment.

I had a PBS debate last week and they also declined that, as well, Niforatos said. I think that voters should take that into account. If the proponents of the measure cannot even defend it in a public forum, what does that say about their ideas?

If passed by voters, Prop 122 would make "magic mushrooms"  more specifically the hallucinogenic compounds psilocybin and psilocin  legally accessible to individuals 21 years or older, to be administered mostly at state licensed healing centers, under rules to be promulgated by the state Department of Regulatory Agencies.

While the measure would not legalize the retail sale of mushrooms, it would allow growing mushrooms for personal use and consuming them without legal penalty. A home grower would also be able to give away the product to those 21 years of age or older so long as its not being sold.

Niforatos argued that this part of the measure would create a loophole, opening the door for people to gift mushrooms to others by charging them high prices for unrelated products, such as clothing or souvenirs.

Its by design, Niforatos said. While its not explicitly retail sales, what this measure does is create a retail market.

The group backing Prop 122, Natural Medicine Colorado, has raised over $4.5 million in support of the measure, according to filings with the Secretary of States Office. Of that money, nearly $3.6 million is from the Washington D.C.-based political action committee, New Approach. New Approach has poured millions of dollars into efforts to legalize medical and recreational marijuana in at least 10 states.

Clearly theres a process here to introduce drugs and get people used to them from a medical perspective, and then try to legalize them recreationally, Niforatos said. Its very clear thats what theyre trying to do here.

Natural Medicine Colorado has argued that Prop 122 would give Coloradans access to psychedelic therapies to treat mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder.

In 2018 and 2019, the Food and Drug Administration granted psilocybin as a breakthrough therapy, accelerating the development and review of using the drug to treat major depressive disorder. New York University researchers also have seen promising results when looking at the effects of using psilocybin to treat alcohol addiction.

Under Prop 122, licensed facilitators could provide psychedelic treatment with the drugs to patients in hospitals, hospice facilities, community mental health centers, rural health clinics, long-term care facilities or retirement communities  but only with the facility's permission, according to Natural Medicine Colorado.

Niforatos argued that, since the FDA is already conducting clinical trials, Coloradans should wait for the federal government to make a move regarding access to mushrooms.

We will have federally approved prescription drug versions of some of these substances very, very soon, Niforatos said. That process is working, so why would we put the cart in front of the horse and shotgun state-level legalization where we let entrepreneurs take the lead on our medicine?

At some point, we need to let the experts make the decisions, he added.

Supporters of Prop 122 also champion how it would eliminate criminal prosecution for personal use and possession of mushrooms, allowing those with previous criminal records tied to natural medicines to petition courts to seal their records at no charge.

Those under age 21 who use mushrooms could be charged with a petty drug offense  but subject only to a penalty of four hours of drug education or counseling. That would apply both to possession, as well as giving it away to others without cost.

Prop 122 would ban local jurisdictions from enacting regulations more restrictive than the measure  a restriction criticized by elected officials on both sides of the aisle for violating local control.

Denver became the first city in the nation to remove criminal penalties for possessing mushrooms in 2019. If Prop 122 passes on Election Day on Nov. 8, Colorado would be the second state in the country to legalize and regulate the market for mushrooms, following Oregon in 2020.
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HYDERABAD: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday ruled out any possibility of the Congress having an alliance with the TRS or the BRS. He felt that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, who recently announced BRS, has the right to think of himself as a 'global leader' but that would not change the ground situation.

Addressing a press conference at Kottur, where the Bharat Jodo Yatra stopped for lunch, he made light of Raos aspirations. Rao believes that TRS is a big party even at the national level, let him believe that. He may also believe that his party will contest elections in the US or even in China, the Congress leader said, while stating that the Congress cannot partner a corrupt party like the TRS. He was confident that the Congress would come to power in Telangana.

He said the plan to walk across India was in his mind when he was around 26 years old.

The Congress slammed the Centre for causing damage to the constitutional institutions. Once the Congress returns to power at the Centre, it will liberate the country from the clutches of RSS.

He lamented at the unemployment problem and the financial crisis while the Union government was concentrating on helping select capitalist businessmen to become richer.

On the internal clashes within his party, Rahul Gandhi clarified that the DNA of the Congress was democracy where each member has a right to question and express his view. It was this very governing principle that saw the party elect a new president.

A photo exhibition on Indra Gandhi, to mark her death anniversary, was organised at Kottur by the Youth Congress. The yatris camped for the night at Shamshabad and will enter Hyderabad on Tuesday.
Uttam Kumar said that the TRS and the BJP were trying to distract attention from the real issues in the name of 'Operation Lotus' and 'Operation Farmhouse'.  DC File Image

Hyderabad: Congress MP N. Uttam Kumar Reddy accused Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao of intimidating the Munugode voters. He said it was ridiculous of Rao to blame the Opposition for the lack of development in the constituency.

In a media statement after the CMs public meeting at Munugode, the Congress leader said, His tone was highly intimidating. By stating that Opposition parties will not be seen in Munugode after the election, and that he will get back control of the constituency, KCR has indirectly threatened the cadre and supporters of other parties. This is highly intolerable and the Election Commission should take note of it," he said.

The Congress MP said that the TRS and the BJP were trying to distract attention from the real issues in the name of 'Operation Lotus' and 'Operation Farmhouse'. Everyone knows that both TRS and BJP don't believe in the politics of ethics and morals. KCR has engineered the defection of 47 MPs, MLAs and MLCs in his first term. After winning the second term, he again engineered the defection of 12 Congress MLAs. The BJP has toppled the elected governments in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states, he said.

Congress Munugode candidate Palvai Sravanthi, who attended the Bharat Jodo Yatra of party leader Rahul Gandhi, felt that Raos public meeting was a 'huge flop'. Several videos have been posted on social media platforms showing how people were paid Rs 500 each to attend TRS meetings. The TRS and The BJP can mobilise crowds by spending money, but they cannot win the hearts of Munugode people who have already decided to vote in favour of the Congress, she said.
The biggest technology-driven trend to affect business in the coming years is synthetic media. Yet this phrase is rarely even uttered in boardrooms and on Zoom meetings.

Its time to clarify what synthetic media is, and why its going to be so impactful.

Synthetic media is any kind of video, pictures, virtual objects, sound or words that is produced by, or with the help of, artificial intelligence (AI). This category includes deepfake content, text-prompted AI-generated art, virtual content in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) environments, and other new content types.

Many synthetic media tools started as obscure academic research or limited-beta online playthings. But its now on the brink of making a colossal splash in business, marketing, media and, well, human culture.

How colossal? In the book Deepfakes: The Coming Infocalypse, author and synthetic media analyst Nina Schick estimates that some 90% of all online content may be synthetic media within four years.

There are very good reasons for that.

Businesses need design, marketing, communication and creativity, generally. Synthetic media will drive revolutionary changes in all of these spaces, accelerating them and enabling very fast prototyping, creative content and improved communication and design.

Futurists have pondered for decades whether AI would replace or augment people in the workforce. Synthetic media represents a major point in the augment ledger, expanding human ability and offering tools for humans to reach new levels of performance.

No need to hire a spokesperson, mascot, or celebrity to serve as the face of your brand. Just create your own  or rent a synthetic human.

In fact, this is already happening. Lil Miquela is a fake person created by a Los Angeles software company called Brud. The simulated human influencer has 3 million followers on Instagram and previously did "modeling" work for Calvin Klein. The clothing store PacSun recently hired Lil Miquela as their new model.

And today synthetic media is already available free as a replacement for stock photography at specialized sites like Lexica and even at industry leader Shutterstock. These services will soon be rendered obsolete, as it will become trivial for marketers to conjure their own custom stock photography, which can match 3D characters in virtual environments.

Why the public misunderstands synthetic media

So far, synthetic media is making headlines mostly around anxiety about the abuse of deepfake videos. Deepfake impersonations of political figures saying things they never said (or of celebrities superimposed on pornographic videos) dominate the headlines.

The use of deepfake to cast actors  living or dead  in their prime in perpetuity is causing anxiety or glee in Hollywood, depending on whether youre an actor who might lose their job or a movie studio executive who might be able to make blockbuster movies without paying movie stars.

Actor Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with aphasia, which is a brain condition that, when sufficiently advanced, makes acting impossible. The actor said he would continue to star in movies and TV commercials through deepfake technology. (Willis has not, as falsely reported, sold the rights to his moving image to the Russian synthetic media company, Deepcake.)

Williss deepfake has already appeared in a series of Russian telecom ads, with Willis permission. But deepfakes of actors like Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, and tech titan Elon Musk have been used in ads without their permission.

So far, the laws around rights and permissions involving the use of synthetic media to impersonate real people are essentially non-existent.

Of course, deepfake technology will remain a cybersecurity issue. Deepfake audio is already impersonating CEOs on calls demanding the transfer of funds. And real-time deepfake video is already being used by fraudulent job candidates to fool hiring managers.

Though the story today is that deepfake tech is a threat, the story tomorrow is that it will be a huge boon for business. Because what tech taketh away, tech also giveth.

Companies like Deeptrace and Truepic make tools that can detect synthetic videos, and the market for fake-detection is just getting started. AI-based writing tools may appear to threaten the future jobs of journalists and copyrighters, but the real threat is that theyll become a crutch for business people, causing our ability to write (and think) to atrophy the way cursive handwriting skills have.

Synthetic content will rule the metaverse

The world is on the brink of a revolution in various realities  virtual, augmented, and mixed (VR, AR and MR).

Mark Zuckerbergs Meta is planning a grand pivot from old-school social networking to next-generation virtual or mixed reality, which Zuckerberg famously branded the Metaverse. (Significantly, Apple is expected to enter the augmented reality market next year with its Reality line of goggles.)

By definition, AR, VR, and MR involve digital content, either existing in a digital world (VR) or superimposed on the real world (AR). Very close to all of this content will come in the form of synthetic media.

In fact, Meta has already introduced a new AI-powered synthetic media engine, called Make-A-Video. As with the new generation of AI-art engines, Make-A-Video uses text prompts to create videos. Meta is currently promoting this engine as a very fast way for creators to create video content or virtual environments.

Normally, a company making, say, marketing content would need to hire a production crew, pay for post-production work, hire actors, find a location  all that. But products like Make-A-Video suggest that, in the near future, a single creative could make video productions alone in a few hours.

In fact, with the future of text-prompted AI image, video and object creation, one can easily imagine a VR or AR meeting where concepts, charts, data, people, designs and other content are conjured on the spot with voice commands, displayed holographically in the meeting for all participants to see.

Thats just one small, hypothetical example of how business media creation will be transformed from a huge project involving dozens of people, big budgets and months of time to a handful of people, tiny budgets and hours or days of time.

So, while we stare in awe at the fast evolution of AI art services like Stable Diffusion and DreamStudio, we should realize that this technology will soon be perfected, democratized, and widely distributed in a way that massively disrupts how businesses communicate and visualize everything.

Its time to start talking about synthetic media, not just as a job threat, cybersecurity threat, or online distraction. In reality, the category will totally transform how business operates. And the move to ubiquitous synthetic media will be similar to the move from mainframes to PCs  sophisticated content creation, including virtual content, will become something everyone in an organization can quickly, easily and cheaply do.

The impact of AI-generated content is about to disrupt business totally. Its time to get real about synthetic media.
The truism that Hell is other people is proving true once again as companies that have standardized their brand assets using Pantone colors in documents created in the industry leading Adobe Creative Suite may now find those valuable items unusable thanks to reasons that make little sense.

** Updated to add statement received from Adobe.

Whats the story?

For decades, Adobe has offered support for Pantone spot colors within its creative apps, including Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.

Given that Adobes products are the go-to design suites for most creative departments, and that most companies wield a mix of print and online graphics assets for their brands, its reasonable to think that at least some of your companys brand assets have been created using Pantone.

Pantone is, after all, a standardized set of colors to ensure what is printed matches the colors designers choose. Printers use these colors (and purchase them) to ensure this kind of print veracity. Its also why companies invest in color calibration for their print assets, usually around Pantone  and anyone who has ever worked in branding with large companies knows the value they place in accurate color reproduction.

After November, the only Pantone Color books remaining for use without a license will be Pantone + CMYK Coated, Pantone + CMYK Uncoated, and Pantone + Metallic Coated.

The spirit of free enterprise?

While the standard is a standard, its ownership is private.

This was fine for years. Pantone licensing was included with the cost of Creative Suite. But under a new arrangement, Adobe customers must now take out a separate subscription for a Pantone license. This is called Pantone Connect and costs $15/month or $90 each year.

Adobe flagged that this change was coming in June.

Now, that kind of cost may seem to be small potatoes when you consider the value of your brand assets, but as companies struggle with increasing energy costs, accelerating pressures on supply chains, and unravelling consumer confidence, this represents yet another challenge to resolve.

That it comes now will do nothing to build user loyalty for either firm.

Paint it black

So, what happens if you dont pay? In theory, your company assets should be fine  they were made before the new arrangement, right? Sadly, this is not the case. Existing PSD files replace Pantone spot colors with black when opened, even if those documents are decades old.

Thats right. That logo you have plastered on everything from letter heads to T-shirts no longer works, which means whoever in your supply chain has access to and needs to use that logo no longer do.

By extension, every single partner with which your company works that need access to your brand assets will face the same problem. That small repro house you like to use to print point-of-sale flyers? Theyll need a Pantone license. As will any remote designers you employ for small emergency tasks.

If they use Pantone with Adobe, theyll need to pay.

This also means that if you have people working on branded campaigns today, they will likely need to cough up this cash to Pantone for use of what has always been made available for free for decades or more.

Who thought this was a good idea?

I dont know the genesis of this decision. I understand that companies in general like to make money. But I can recognize an ineptly applied decision when I see one.

It doesnt really matter if this clumsy exercise is the brainchild of Adobe, Pantone, or both, because the way it has been applied it will have unwanted repercussions across so many levels of the brand asset/company supply chain.

Adobe isnt saying much, it simply writes: Pantones licensing with Adobe was adjusted. Due to this change, customers will need to purchase Pantone Connect licenses to access Pantone colors in Adobe Creative Cloud products.

Pantone has given what seems to be a highly confused account of what drove its decision. In an FAQ (widely reported as outdated), it claims: Pantone and Adobe have together decided to remove the outdated libraries and jointly focus on an improved in-app experience that better serves our users.

Both companies have had a few months to deliver an "improved in-app experience." They dont seem to have done so.

Instead, the result feels like one of those terrible Kafka-esque situations in which customers are promised a better user experience while quite plainly experiencing a dramatically reduced one.

It would be good if Adobe could deliver some solace soon, perhaps in the form of a software update to make it possible to at least export documents created using Pantone colors to another format, rather than holding peoples creative suites hostage.

Are there workarounds?

Some. Print Week suggests one, but you need to have a backup of the Adobe software that pre-dates the current version.

But such is the power of the Pantone brand that for many big firms (and their down- and up-stream suppliers) there will be little choice if color consistency matters to them but to cough up the cash and seek alternatives further down the line.

The way this decision is being executed is already upsetting users, including tens of thousands of companies worldwide. To my mind, it matches the anger felt by owners when BMW announced plans to charge car drivers $15/month for the luxury of heated seats.

The decision and the way it is being applied represents a horrifying own goal for both firms, and may well be a business study lecture in how not to create good customer experiences for the future.

Adobe statement

We received a statement from Adobe at c. 6:42pm Eastern, November 4. This follows in full below:

"As we had shared in June, Pantone decided to change its business model. Some of the Pantone Color Books that are pre-loaded in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign were phased-out from future software updates in August 2022. To access the complete set of Pantone Color Books, Pantone now requires customers to purchase a premium license through Pantone Connect and install a plug-in using Adobe Exchange.

"We are currently looking at ways to lessen the impact on our customers. In the meantime, customers also have access to up to 14 extensive color books through Creative Cloud subscriptions.

"Adobe Creative Cloud empowers creators with flagship apps like Photoshop, Illustrator etc. to create wherever inspiration strikes and now offers innovations like Share for Review for collaboration, new AI tools to simplify complex tasks, and powerful image editing within the browser."

Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.
It all started after a team of forest and revenue officials inspected the podu land and asked the villagers Chamanapalli to set up boundaries to the podu lands.  DC File Image

ADILABAD: Amid the ongoing podu lands survey, podu land cultivators and those who have stopped cultivation of such lands a few years ago have become active and are claiming their right on such lands.

This created differences between people as those in adjacent villages too staked their claim on the same podu lands amid realization the state government would issue pattas to these lands sooner or later.

The land disputes between different groups and between villages are coming to the fore while the survey progressed. The forest and revenue staff are conducting the field-level survey for physical verification of the podu lands being cultivated by the tribals and non-tribals, who have applied for the pattas in December last.

The people of two villages clashed over podu lands and sprinkled mirchi powder against each other and fought with sticks on October 29. Tribals and SCs who claimed the rights on podu lands were involved in the clashes.

Rival groups lodged complaints against each other at the police station in Mancherial district. Police said the incident took place between the villagers of Chamanapalli of Vemanpalli mandal and Konapet villagers of Nennal mandal.

Both the villages have started claiming rights on the podu lands being cultivated in survey number 67. The land is located between two villages.

As many as 300 people from two villages gathered on the lands of their village shivaram and clashed over the podu land that was not under cultivation now.

It all started after a team of forest and revenue officials inspected the podu land and asked the villagers Chamanapalli to set up boundaries to the podu lands.

Then, the villagers of Konaraopet raised objections against the setting up of boundaries, saying they have been cultivating the land and both groups have clashed with sticks, injuring about 20 persons.

Later, the people of the two villages lodged complaints with the Neemvai police against each other.

Arun Kumar of Mancherial said, The people who stopped cultivation of the podu lands four or five years ago due to pressure from the forest department and were filing cases are demanding pattas to such lands when forest and revenue staff visit their villages.
The decision of the Madhya Pradesh government to introduce Hindi as the medium of instruction in the MBBS course has triggered a debate over the feasibility of teaching technical courses in Indian languages. Union home minister Amit Shah, who launched a set of three medical textbooks in Bhopal last week, announced that engineering courses would also be introduced in Hindi. Textbooks are being translated into different Indian languages. The logic is that students can better comprehend technical subjects in their mother tongue rather than in English. The example of Russia, Germany and Japan is being cited to demonstrate the feasibility of teaching medicine and engineering in languages other than English. Closer home, Osmania University is a pioneer in this regard and has valuable lessons to offer.

The Osmania University was the first Indian higher education institution to teach all subjects  from philosophy to medicine  in Urdu when it was founded in 1917. Sir Akbar Hydari, who was secretary in-charge of the judicial, police and education departments, mooted the idea of a new university in the Urdu medium. In his view, making English the sole vehicle of higher education was a mistake as most of the time which should be spent on the acquisition of the sciences and arts is spent on the acquisition of the foreign medium. He gave the example of the English medium Nizam College which admitted 253 students from 1907 to 1914 only 13 of whom could graduate from Madras University.

Hydari suggested Urdu because it was the official language of the State and was understood by a vast majority of the population, besides being an Aryan language with direct kinship with other Indian languages. Based on Hydaris appeal, the Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, signed a firman-e-mubarak on the 1st of Rajab which was his birthday. While Urdu was made the medium of instruction, proficiency in English was compulsory for all students.

In the present context, it would help to see how the idea of teaching in Urdu was implemented. Soon after the university was announced, representative committees were formed to prepare draft curricula and the same were circulated among educational experts in England and India to see if they were in line with contemporary teaching. A bureau of translation and compilation was established for preparing standard textbooks in Urdu. Texts for translation were selected with help from linguists, subject experts and educationists as well members of various faculties (arts, law, science, engineering, medicine and education). For coining suitable technical terms and finding proper Urdu equivalents, the bureau held regular meetings of committees of technical terms.

The university council in 1920 decided that international nomenclature should be adopted for branches of medicine and engineering. For the translation of technical texts, scientific terms were divided into three groups  nomenclature, notations and terminology. For scientific nomenclature (like names of various elements and compounds, their symbols etc), transliteration was rendered into Urdu along with the terms of European languages. Terminology and notations were translated and compiled in Urdu with the help of classical and Indian languages like Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Urdu and Hindi. The methodology adopted in Osmania was similar to what Hyderabad official Syed Ross Masood had seen in Japan. To transplant Western sciences into Japan, the Japanese created equivalents of Western scientific concepts. While some were replaced with existing Japanese words, others were assigned new Japanese words coined deliberately.

Subjects of the books translated at the bureau included all branches of philosophy, history, law, economics, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine and engineering. Copies of translated books were sent to leading university libraries in India, Asia and Europe. By 1946, the bureau had published a total of 356 textbooks on these subjects. In three decades, nearly 100,000 technical terms in all subjects were compiled and incorporated into translated books.

Political and cultural reasons apart, making Urdu the medium of instruction was a well-planned exercise. It was introduced after wide consultation among experts from India and Europe, including Rabindranath Tagore. The curriculum-making was an elaborate exercise and educational experts were involved at every stage. The Nizams government made a heavy investment in the translation bureau, hiring of experts, the printing of textbooks, etc. A proper translation strategy was evolved, keeping in mind the ground realities. The idea was implemented in such a way that students did not get isolated from their peers. Proficiency in the English language was made compulsory so that students could develop requisite communication skills. Osmania stopped teaching in Urdu in 1948 but the learnings from the experiment remain relevant.
The Supreme Courts decision to declare a medical practitioner who conducts a two-finger test on a rape survivor guilty of misconduct will hopefully end the obnoxious practice which the top court had initially prohibited in 2013 while dealing with the Nirbhaya case. It is also noteworthy that the Supreme Court has reiterated that a womans sexual history is wholly immaterial while adjudicating on a rape case.

The Supreme Court issued the order while reinstating the conviction by the sessions court of a man who raped and set a minor ablaze. The Jharkhand high court set aside the order based on a two finger-test which said the girl was sexually active. It is beyond human comprehension to subject a raped teen with burn injuries to such a test, and then set the rapist free based on such a conclusion.

In India, courts can look at laws, rules, regulations and practices only when they are called upon to; it is for the legislature or the executive to make timely revisits of these, and make necessary alterations and amendments. Moreover, the courts can only call for an end to practices such as the two-finger test; it is for the executive to implement its directive. If the court has to make a repeat intervention to stop the test, which includes a direction to remove it from MBBS curriculum, it points to gross negligence on the part of the executive.

This is not the first instance in which the changes that the Supreme Court sought were not implemented on the ground because the executive found the original modus operandi to be handy. Two such examples are the sedition law (Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code) and Section 66A of the Information Technology Act. While the former is a relic of the Raj on which the court has put a stay, the latter was declared unconstitutional by the apex court in 2015 as it violated the right to freedom and expression. Still, cases are being framed under these sections, inviting its wrath.

The government must take early steps to ensure that judicial pronouncements are respected.
WTI Eyeing a Breakout of Triangle Pattern .

WTI Ends October with First Monthly Gain Since May.

Further Cuts by OPEC+ and Federal Reserve Rate Hikes to Drive Future Moves.

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WTI Fundamental Outlook

Crude Oil is on the march higher this morning following yesterdays less than stellar start to the week. Losses incurred yesterday were not enough to prevent WTI posting its first month of gains since May. Todays rally coincided with better-than-expected Caixin Manufacturing PMI numbers out of China, potentially renewing hope around persistent demand concerns.

In a further boost from China in regard to its Zero-Covid policy, Chinese city Zhengzhou which plays host to Foxxconns iPhone factory announced the loosening of some covid controls from 6AM this morning. There still remains skepticism around demand from China as crude imports in the first three quarters of the year declined for the first time since 2014. YoY imports declining around 4.3%. This is undoubtedly an area of concern as WTI prices look to make their way higher.

WTI Crude Oil-US Domestic Production

The continued back and forth between OPEC+ and the United States continues following the announced production cuts on October 5th. The US responded in kind with a 1.9 million barrels release from the strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) last week which did not seem to have the desired effect on oil prices. This comes as US crude production rose 0.9% in August to 11.98 million barrels a day, its highest since the beginning of the pandemic. OPEC+ for its part looks likely to announce further cuts to production moving forward as it expects a slowdown in demand from the Eurozone as a recession looms and winter approaches.

Trade Smarter - Sign up for the DailyFX Newsletter Receive timely and compelling market commentary from the DailyFX team Subscribe to Newsletter

The remainder of the week brings a lot of promise in terms of volatility as well as in regard to WTIs next move. We first have crude oil inventory data from EIA on Wednesday followed by the Federal Reserve meeting expected to provide clues as to the tightening cycle and US outlook for the rest of the year. Any hint of dovishness from Fed policymakers could propel WTI higher.

WTI Crude Oil Daily Chart  November 1, 2022

Source: TradingView

From a technical perspective, WTI arrested its slide on the monthly timeframe with its first month of gains since May. The positive month propelled the price back above the 20-SMA having dipped below it in September. The weekly reinforced the idea of higher prices with a bullish engulfing candle close above the 38.2% fib level.

The daily timeframe gives us a good view of the triangle pattern in play. A breakout could occur as early as this week given the host of data events expected. A bullish daily candle close should see price remain above the 20 and 50-SMA while maintaining momentum with the $90.00 psychological level back in play.

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Written by: Zain Vawda, Market Writer for DailyFX.com

Contact and follow Zain on Twitter: @zvawda
Nothing gets opposition MPs' nostrils flapping quite like the whiff of wounded minister in the air.

So naturally Suella Braverman's arrival in the Commons late yesterday afternoon had them all baring their teeth  a school of sharks circling in freshly chummed water.

The Home Secretary had come to make a statement on the Manston migrant processing centre in Kent, where conditions are said to have deteriorated dramatically on her watch.

What with all that boring hoo-haa about using her private email to send official documents which forced her resignation first time round, Labour hopes were raised for getting her booted out again by the end of the week.

As a steely-eyed Suella took her seat, the atmosphere tingled. Sat glaring at her over the Despatch Box opposite were the unlovely trio of Yvette Cooper, Emily Thornberry and the Shadow Leader of the House, Thangam Debbonaire.

HENRY DEEDES: Nothing gets opposition MPs' nostrils flapping quite like the whiff of wounded minister in the air

A sight, surely, to strike fear into cauliflower-eared scrum front-rows everywhere.

Mrs Braverman, though, is not someone who is easily pushed around the playground. If anything, she appears to derive strength from her critics.

When metropolitan snoots such as Thornberry and Cooper start getting all hoity-toity with her she takes it as confirmation that she is upsetting exactly the right people.

As she took her place at the Despatch Box she greeted her audience with a nonchalant sang-froid.

A smile here, a casual toss of the fringe there. She even had the brass neck to look up at the Press Gallery and give an unfriendly Guardian journalist a dainty little wave. Coo-ee!

And then she came out swinging.

She denounced the whole immigration system as a mess. Broken. 'We need to be straight with the public. Illegal migration is out of control,' she informed the House.

Enter Yvette, little coils of steam already emanating from her ears. While waiting her turn, Miss Cooper had been so eager to get stuck into her opposite number she managed to dribble water all down her front

Some 40,000 immigrants had already arrived this year and Government was spending the 6.8million a day on hotels for them. There was an ongoing 'invasion on our southern coast'. Cripes.

Suella denied claims that she had ignored legal advice about sending migrants to hotels and accused Labour and the other opposition parties of playing 'political parlour games'. It was all part of a witch-hunt.

They were simply trying to get rid of her because she, Suella, is the only one with the guts to try to get a grip on the problem.

'Let them try!' she cried with Boudicca-like defiance.

Enter Yvette, little coils of steam already emanating from her ears. While waiting her turn, Miss Cooper had been so eager to get stuck into her opposite number she managed to dribble water all down her front. Oops.

The Home Secretary was 'failing,' she announced, that ear-grinding voice chewier than boiled scrag end.

'Failing to provide proper accommodation failing and letting everyone down'

She then launched into the Government's proposed Rwanda scheme which she demanded be dropped along with the other 'gimmick policies'.

Yet once again she offered no solution to halting the thousands of illegal and dangerous crossings of the Channel made by boats each week.

Mrs Braverman, though, is not someone who is easily pushed around the playground (Pictured on her way to the Commons to make a statement on October 31)

Indeed, her only suggestion was for the Government to engage in greater co-operation with France. What, like send them another 45million spondoolicks?

Some Tory MPs were not wholly supportive. William Wragg (Con, Hazel Grove) spent most of the session smirking at her words dismissively.

Sir Roger Gale, in whose North Thanet constituency Manston lies, was full of praise for the centre, saying it 'operated wonderfully' before Braverman took office. Do Sir Roger's constituents share his enthusiasm for it, I wonder?

Most of the other claret-nosed grandees, though, were right behind her in getting tough on migrants. Sir Edward Leigh (Con, Gainsborough) belongs firmly in the 'send 'em back' camp.

'If they don't want to be in Manston, they can stay in France,' he chuntered.

Sir John Redwood (Con, Wokingham) announced that Mrs Braverman had 'spoken for the nation'. It's rather sweet when Sir John speaks up for Suella.

Despite his rather limited emotional repertoire, he tends to go all gooey. Such affection he previously only reserved for Margaret Thatcher.

The Prime Minister might have found Suella's 'I'm telling it like it is' approach a bit, well, trenchant, at times yesterday, but many voters will undoubtedly share Redwood's admiration for her.
We faced the same crisis in Australia  and fixed it. If Rishi has the courage to do the same, he could win the next election, writes ALEXANDER DOWNER

Tackling Britains migrant crisis means answering one simple question. Who do you want to control immigration policy: the Government or people smugglers?

It is as basic as that. If Britain is not to be at the mercy of criminal gangs, firm action is needed.

I know, because 26 years ago, when I became Australias foreign minister, we faced the same crisis. And we fixed it.

It was tough: we needed a policy that was unbending yet humane. But it proved popular with voters. They too wanted immigration controlled fairly and firmly.

If Rishi Sunaks government can learn from our experience, they could turn the polls around and reap the benefits at the next General Election.

Tackling Britains migrant crisis means answering one simple question. Who do you want to control immigration policy: the Government or people smugglers? It is as basic as that. If Britain is not to be at the mercy of criminal gangs, firm action is needed

Daily Mail readers do not need me to tell them Britains borders are out of control. In the past 20 years, Office for National Statistics figures show uncapped immigration has seen the UK population rise by 9 million to more than 67 million  a 15 per cent increase in less than a generation. So far this year, criminal gangs have brought 40,000 people across the Channel in boats. Thats five times the number in 2020  and this is set to hit 50,000 by 2023.

Illegal immigration is placing huge pressure on almost every aspect of British life. The NHS, housing, social services, schools and the police are struggling to cope. Everyone suffers, except for organised criminals who have a limitless opportunity to make money.

Clearly, this is an astonishingly lucrative business. You can expect the number of Channel asylum seekers to increase exponentially unless the Government gets a grip.

So what did we do in Australia? In our well-run immigration programme, new visas are capped at 160,000 annually, with our population of about 26 million.

This brings us a managed influx of skilled workers, plus people with money to invest in our country and others who are joining their families (usually people who have married Australian residents).

We also have a humane quota for resettling genuine refugees: about 20,000 each year.

Once all the visas are allocated, thats it. Anyone caught trying to break the rules is permanently denied entry.

When these rules came in, people smugglers tried their damnedest to break them. We had to be tough and vigilant.

Illegal immigration is placing huge pressure on almost every aspect of British life. The NHS, housing, social services, schools and the police are struggling to cope. Everyone suffers, except for organised criminals who have a limitless opportunity to make money. Migrants are seen being brought into Dover via Lifeboat last week

That did not mean turning back boats (except rarely). That would not have been safe.Instead, when illegal immigrants arrived on Australian shores, we put them on a ship and sent them to another country  the island of Nauru in the Pacific Ocean.

This stopped illegal immigration stone dead. The gangs quickly found they couldnt make money, as they were unable to guarantee entry into Australia to their clients.

Lets compare that to Britains unsustainable, uncapped and frankly chaotic policy. Theres no doubt many businesses benefit from a skilled, willing migrant workforce.

But thats a world away from allowing people ashore in huge numbers, to be put up in hotels at a cost to the taxpayer of more than 6 million a day  with some being criminals.

What is stopping Britain from copying the Australian model? Former Home Secretary Priti Patel tried to send migrants to Rwanda while applications were processed.

But that bold idea was thwarted by political opponents, many within her own party, who protested it was unthinkable. Theyre wrong. I know from experience in government it does work well.

It is not racist or barbaric or any of those inflammatory terms thrown by people who offer no alternatives. Its safe, civilised and sensible.

To anyone opposing the Rwanda plan, I ask: how many more migrants should Britain take? If nine million is workable, why not 19 million, 90 million? Where does it stop?

Current Home Secretary Suella Braverman has used emphatic language to describe the problem, calling it an invasion on our southern coast.

And she has been pilloried. This happened in Australia, when one politician talked about a swarm of migrants.

To listen to the BBC, anyone might assume, foremost in peoples minds is the need to avoid strong language, rather than flinging open Britains borders to a social crisis.

Confected outrage about the words we use is a deliberate distraction. The real outrage should be reserved for the damage done to peoples lives as hospitals and schools groan under the strain of uncontrolled immigration.

Australia had one big advantage. Unlike the UK, we have not signed the European Convention of Human Rights [ECHR]. This has enabled political opponents to stymie the Governments efforts to send migrants to Rwanda.

After Brexit, Britain needs to find a lasting legal basis for exemption from European Court of Human Rights diktats. The nation has to be free to control its own borders.

Exiting the ECHR should be a last resort. Britain could draw up its own human rights legislation, but it could set a dangerous precedent for other countries to ditch their commitment to human rights.

Instead, the UK must find a legal way to bypass 11th-hour interventions from Strasbourg, and restart Rwanda flights.

This would be popular with Conservative voters and Red Wall supporters. Ordinary Brits  not the chattering classes  whose taxes keep the country running, have no illusions about the problem of uncontrolled immigration.

Voters want to see bold action from politicians to keep this countrys essential services safe. If Labour and some in her own party keep attacking Suella Braverman for trying to solve the crisis, voters will remember and wont forgive.

And if the Tories have the courage to fix immigration, this could be the single most important vote-winning issue, right across the country.

Alexander Downer was Australias Minister for Foreign Affairs, 1996-2007.

Suellas brave enough to admit how serious this is  thats why the BBC, Twitter and her own civil servants are coming for her, writes SARAH VINE

Note to Rishi Sunak: every successful Prime Minister needs a bad cop  someone who makes them look saintly by comparison; someone who doesnt particularly mind if theyre on no ones Christmas card list, and who can assume responsibility for the less salubrious aspects of government.

Margaret Thatcher had Norman Tebbit; David Cameron had my former husband, Michael Gove, who did lots of difficult but necessary work for him on education, and was unceremoniously fired for his pains.

Boris Johnson had his adviser Dominic Cummings, who turned out not so much to be bad cop as mad cop.

Doesnt matter: point is, there are always those tricky problems in government that cant easily be solved without upsetting an awful lot of people. And for that you need a real tough nut.

Illegal immigration is one such problem, and Suella Braverman is one of the few Cabinet nuts tough enough to acknowledge it and to tackle it head on.

If I were the PM, I would let her do her job. Because, quite honestly, who else is going to take that kind of flak? Suella Braverman is that rarest of politicians, someone who speaks as she finds, writes Sarah Vine

Which is why, of course, the whole world is coming for her.

Theres all of team Truss; several former Johnson acolytes; Priti Patels allies; and, inevitably, one of her own ministers, Robert Jenrick, whos clearly eyeing a promotion if she gets fired. And thats just in her own party.

Throw in His Majestys Opposition, the BBC, the entire population of North London and Twitter users  not to mention the boatloads of civil servants flouting their own codes of conduct by leaking to the media because theyve decided their views are morally superior  and its a wonder the poor woman can even get out of bed in the morning.

She faces some of the most complex challenges of our times: how to stop desperate people risking life and limb at the hands of people traffickers to reach Britains shores; how to separate real refugees from ruthless opportunists; and how to ensure a fair and functioning immigration system.

Shes also dealing with the racist attacks of the Left, who believe that anyone of her ethnicity who does not espouse their cause is a traitor.

She has to cope, too, with a Conservative Party thats still fighting like rats in a sack  and a Home Office which has not been remotely fit for purpose for a very long time.

As for the stuff about her emails . . . all I can say is: Oh, get off your high horses.

Braverman says she sent work documents to her personal email account so that she could join in virtual meetings outside the office. It was not possible to use a single device to conduct the meetings and read the documents at the same time, she explained.

Yes, it was wrong, but for an understandable  even laudable  reason, and she has apologised. Time to move on.

Illegal immigration is one such problem, and Suella Braverman is one of the few Cabinet nuts tough enough to acknowledge it and to tackle it head on

If I were Sunak, Id think very carefully before cutting her loose. She has become a lightning rod, and Prime Ministers need lightning rods.

I would ignore all the pearl-clutching at her use of so-called inflammatory language  her description of the soaring numbers disembarking on the coast of East Kent as an invasion.

If I were the PM, I would let her do her job. Because, quite honestly, who else is going to take that kind of flak?

Suella Braverman is that rarest of politicians, someone who speaks as she finds.

And the truth is that beyond the bubble of Westminster, beyond the rarefied salons of those whose privilege affords them the right to judge others, her words resonate. Were in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis where working families who pay their taxes cant afford to heat their homes, run their cars or feed their children properly.

Given this state of affairs, the fact that the Home Office has not only wasted millions paying the French to fail to stop the small boat crossings, but is also splurging 6.8 million per day  PER DAY  accommodating migrants in four-star hotels, is simply not acceptable.

What about those British citizens whove been priced out of the rental market, or whose mortgages have shot up, or who are fleeing domestic violence, or battling ill-health or dementia or disability. Wheres their paid-for accommodation? Why does it feel as though they are somehow always the last in line?

Of course, thats not really the case. Nothing is ever so straightforward. But that is the problem with letting something like this spiral out of control: people get angry and resentful. They feel marginalised and let down. They become paranoid.

What theyre thinking may not be right or even rational, but its what they believe. And history teaches us that such sentiments can turn very nasty.

That is why its the duty of government to make sure the system works  and why its so important that they fix it.

In truth, none of this is Bravermans fault. Shes been in the job for only five minutes.

This mess is the culmination of years of government incompetence at the hands of successive Home Secretaries, each of whom has tried  and failed  to tackle the problem.

And it is because the real obstacle here is no single individual but the department itself  the Home Office.

It is a department that, with the possible exception of Education, has come to epitomise the so-called Blob: that amorphous, all-consuming mass of sticky inertia that ensures no amount of reforming zeal or intelligent policy thinking can prevent the second-rate status quo from staying stolidly, stubbornly, in place.

How many political careers have perished in its bloated, slobbering Jabba the Hutt-like jaws?

The only Home Secretary in recent years who emerged from that place remotely unscathed was Theresa May, and that was largely because she had two highly skilled political Rottweilers  Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy  by her side at all times.

Whether or not Braverman is capable of succeeding where so many before her have failed, and galvanising her necrotic department, is not yet clear.

If it were down to sheer guts alone, shed have more than a fighting chance.

But it will take brains as well as brawn to defeat the Blob.

The prevailing narrative  bandied about by Bravermans many enemies  is that she is none too clever and cant make up her mind about anything.

But she went to the world-renowned Sorbonne university in Paris and to Cambridge; she speaks French and did a pupillage to become a barrister. Shes achieved far more than many of her detractors.

And I dont know about you, but the woman who stood at the dispatch box on Monday seemed like a pretty sharp cookie to me.

This is a complex, thorny mess which, if left unresolved, will only get worse.

And while the Conservatives, as a party, certainly cant afford that  nor can the country. Because nothing fosters bigotry and resentment, nothing fans the flames of division more than people thinking theyre being taken for a ride.

Its clear now that the Government has no choice but to bite this particular bullet.

Since Braverman seems willing to get her teeth into it, why not let her have a go? She will either succeed or (metaphorically) die trying. Neither outcome will disadvantage the Prime Minister.
She moved from Nashville to Western Australia and shares the differences online

The Au Pair drives around the carpark looking for a space to pull into instead

An American au pair has slammed Australian drivers for the 'weird' driving habit of backing into parking spaces, something she says no American does.

Caroline Armstrong, from Nashville, moved to Western Australia in September and was surprised that 'almost all Aussies back into car spaces' no matter where they are.

She's so aware of the habit that she drives around car parks looking for a space to drive through so she can pretend she backed in and 'fit in' with the locals.

Scroll down for video

An American au pair living in Western Australia has slammed Aussies for always reversing into car spaces

The Nashville woman was surprised to witness the 'weird' habit since moving here in September. She confessed that she can't reverse park, and instead drives around the lot looking for a space to drive through so she can pretend she did

'I've noticed that every single person backs into their parking space here, which is weird. I can't do that,' the au pair said.

Poll Do you back into your car space? Yes No Do you back into your car space? Yes 652 votes

No 437 votes Now share your opinion





'So in order to fit in, I'm still driving around the whole parking lot to pull through and look like I backed in. Why does everyone back in here?'

Several commenters were shocked the woman couldn't reverse into a parking space.

'What do you mean you can't do that?' one man said.

Others advised her that not everyone in Australia does it.

'Not everyone reverses in to car spots. It is safer when you are leaving, but you do you, no one will notice,' another man wrote.

One explained that so many people parallel park because of the ease of 'reverse cameras,' and because 'it's easy for the quick getaway.'

This isn't the first time the expat has shared her difficulty driving in Australia, she also uploaded a video to TikTok explaining the main hardships of driving on a different continent..

'Can't find PRNDL on the left,' she captioned the video of her confused driving.

'Go down the one way road on the wrong way. No idea which way to go.'

'Turn on wipers instead of the blinker.'

Biggest culture shocks moving from the US to Australia * Everything closes earlier in Australia * There are fewer product options in supermarkets * Advertisements are not the same, they aren't all about shopping * Coffee orders are different, the US doesn't have terms like piccolo * Work life balance changes, Aussies work to live whereas Americans live to work * People go barefoot more in Australia * The wildlife is different, 'bin chickens' are everywhere in Australia Advertisement

Ms Armstrong also previously shared a step by step guide for how she gets in to her car in Australia.

Step number one was to 'check the door handle for scorpions.' Her second step was to 'look for crocs under the car,' then 'see if there is a dingo under the seat'.

Most importantly, she made sure to 'check the visor for spiders'.

In case she missed a potential animal, her final tip was to, 'roll the window down so you can jump out at any time.'
It's seen as a 'safer' alternative to smoking, but this month federally funded American month suggests that vapers are at the same risk of heart disease as cigarette users.

One glance at social media will show a glimpse into Gen Z's latest obsession with the eclectically flavoured smoking substitutes.

A scroll through TikTok will offer accounts from vendors advertising a selection of the 'bars' on offer, with the 'vapinguk' tag amassing some 54,600 views; peanuts compared to the 2.2 billion views under '#vaping' and 16.6 million under '#vapingtricks'.

Moreover, a recent report from Action On Smoking And Health (ASH) found that this year, 7 per cent of 11-17 year olds were current users compared to 3.3 per cent in 2021 and 4.1 per cent in 2020.

Meanwhile, next month sees the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), set up to 'develop and promote the 1bn vaping industry', hosting a forum and awards dinner.

Here, FEMAIL lists everything you need to know about the e-cigarette phenomenon, including health risks and other factors to consider.

A scroll through TikTok will offer accounts from vendors advertising a selection of the 'bars' on offer, with the 'vapinguk' tag amassing some 54,600 views. Stock photo used

What are e-cigarettes?

The NHS defines an e-cigarette as a 'device that allows you to inhale nicotine in a vapour rather than smoke'.

Many take up vaping to quit smoking altogether, or to moderate their habit because they see e-cigarettes as less harmful.

E-cigarettes are safer in that they don't burn tobacco, nor produce tar or carbon monoxide, but rather heat a liquid which contains nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, and various flavourings.

There are different types and selections of these, including vape pens, bars and others, which include rechargeable or disposable models.

Are vapes 'better' than smoking?

The US has in particular seen a push back on vaping due to health-risk worries.

British health agencies have not been so stringent with their advice. According to the NHS, while the act is 'not completely risk-free', it poses a 'small fraction of the risk of smoking cigarettes', adding that longer term effects are not yet clear.

Meanwhile, a 2020 blog post from the UK Health Security Agency suggested more research is needed and continued into the practice.

It also said: 'Our advice remains that people who smoke are better to switch completely to vaping but if you have never been a smoker, don't start to vape.'

Moreover, a recent report from Action On Smoking And Health (ASH) found that this year, 7 per cent of 11-17 year olds were current users. Stock photo used

While concerns have been posed over the harm nicotine in vapes may cause, the NHS says most of the harm from smoking comes from the 'thousands of other chemicals in tobacco smoke, many of which are toxic' and advises that nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) has been used widely for many years.

However, while e-cigarettes are often marketed as healthy alternatives to typical cigarettes - they contain many harmful chemicals of their own.

E-liquids contain nitrosamines, which have been linked to cancer, while flavored vapes often include diacetyl, an irritant that's been linked to the deadly condition 'popcorn lung'.

WHAT IS POPCORN LUNG? 'Popcorn lung' is the nickname for bronchiolitis obliterans, a condition which damages the smallest airways in the lungs. It is a rare disease which can develop after an injury to the lung caused by a chemical or infection  known possible causes include chlorine, ammonia, welding fumes or food flavourings. It got its nickname from the buttery food flavouring chemical, diacetyl, which used to be in microwaved popcorn may cause it. Cancer Research UK says that although there are concerns e-cigarettes may cause the condition there is 'no good evidence' of a link so far. People who have had lung transplants may also get the condition if their body tries to reject the organs. Symptoms include a dry cough, difficulty breathing, wheezing or exhaustion. The illness damages the lungs by causing swelling and scarring which block up the small airways in the organs, known as the bronchioles. Obstruction in the bronchioles means the lungs have a smaller surface area through which they can absorb oxygen, so people may struggle to breathe efficiently. Sources: WebMD, Cancer Research UK and National Institutes of Health Advertisement

What are the health risks of vaping?

Vaping was previously billed as a safer alternative to cigarettes, which dramatically raise the risk of lung cancer, heart disease and other chronic conditions.

But evidence in recent years suggest the electronic alternatives cause similar damage in the body.

A recent US study found vaping and smoking cause people's heart rates to spike 15 minutes after use and put the body in 'fight or flight' mode.

Both groups also suffered a constricted brachial artery, which is the major blood vessel supplying blood to the arms and hands.

High blood pressure and constricted arteries can deprive the heart of oxygen-rich blood and, over time, increase the risk of heart disease.

In a second study, researchers carried out a series of cardiovascular tests after getting participants to run on a treadmill for 90 minutes.

Those who smoked or vaped performed significantly worse on all metrics, including how quickly heart rate recovered after exercise and how hard the heart had to work at peak levels.

Lead author of the study Dr Christina Hughey, from the University of Wisconsin, said: 'The exercise performance of those who vaped was not significantly different than people who used combustible cigarettes, even though they had vaped for fewer years than the people who smoked and were much younger.'

Co-lead author Matthew Tattersall, an assistant professor of medicine at the university, added: 'Immediately after vaping or smoking, there were worrisome changes in blood pressure, heart rate, heart rate variability and blood vessel tone (constriction).'

The results of both studies were presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2022.

Meanwhile, speaking on This Morning, Dr Nighat Arif said she feels the UK is 'quite behind in regards to understanding the risks of vaping'.

The GP flagged that while it's a good option if you're trying to quit smoking, there is a surge of teens taking it up as a lifestyle.

'I'm seeing a lot more young people doing it,' she said. They come in these bright lovely colours, all the flavours.

'My son goes to secondary school and when I pick him up and they're walking down the street from the school I would say every other child who is sort of 14-15 and above is vaping.'

Dr Nighat also pointed out there are rarely discussed dental consequences to vapes due to the sweeteners used in them.

She explained: 'I was talking to a dental colleague of mine recently and they were saying, "yes it's a great alternative for stopping smoking" but actually what they're seeing is that people who are vaping - because some people are using this now as a cool lifestyle choice - there's lots of sweeteners that come into [it].'

The GP explained that this can cause a coating on the 'tongue and on the teeth', which may well lead to gum disease.

What are the risks to young people?

The Us Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) however warns against dangers of e-cigarette use for kids, teens and young adults.

It cites a study which suggests that 'nicotine is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s' and says that 'young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future'.

The CDC also slams the idea that the 'e-liquid' in vapes is harmless, saying the aerosol may contain harmful substances, including heavy metals and carcinogens.

However, the NHS site stresses that vapes in the UK are 'tightly regulated', and it is illegal to sell these to under-18s.

However, a teen recently told the Evening Standard that they were as young as 13 when first trying a vape, and the publication cited a rise in Gen Z culture flaunting the devices as part of their aesthetic, sometimes even matching them to their outfits.

Last year also saw concerns that children are buying super-strength vapes  equivalent to smoking 125 cigarettes  in a craze sparking health fears. They are so powerful that young users had reported lengthy nosebleeds, coughing up blood, headaches, chest pains and dizzy spells.

More than 53,000 of the Geek Bars brand were then being sold every week in shops  up from around 2,000 in May 2021  despite many having more than twice the legal level of nicotine, industry figures leaked to the Daily Mail showed.

E-cigarettes are said to be safer because they don't burn tobacco, nor produce tar or carbon monoxide. Stock image used

In 2021, illegal super-strength vapes popular with children were also being sold online disguised as Cadbury chocolates to get past worried parents.

The high level smoking ElfBar and GeekBarPro devices - which feature liquid with two times the legal nicotine strength and three the capacity - were being promoted on TikTok.

And in footage sure to horrify chocolate giants Cadbury, their packaging was being exploited to sneak the banned gadgets past parents.

One video from a now-deactivated account showed the caption 'Heroes anyone' then the vapes being packed into the branded confectionary box.

A hand was then seen sprinkling some individually wrapped chocolates over the top to hide the vapes and the package is put into an envelope for posting.

The disguise meant if parents open up the delivery, nothing would suggest it was anything other than a sweet treat for their children.

Last year also saw concerns that children are buying super-strength vapes  equivalent to smoking 125 cigarettes  in a craze sparking health fears. Stock image used

How popular is vaping?

According to the latest ASH report on e-cigarette use in the UK, most 11-17 year olds (83.8 per cent) have never tried, or are unaware of e-cigarettes.

However, it would still appear the practice is on the rise in underage communities, with 15 per cent of 11-17 year olds having tried it in 2022, compared to 11.2 per cent in 2021 and 13.9 per cent in 2020.

The report also said 10.4 per cent of 11-15 year olds tried vaping, compared to 29.1 per cent of those aged 16-17. Meanwhile, 40.8 per cent of 18 year old had tried a vape.

The report however suggested that 11-17 year old who have never smoked had vaped mostly for experimental reasons.

Among adults, ASH says that e-cigarette use is at its highest rate ever among adults, with 8.3 per cent of the population vaping, amounting to 4.3 million people.
West spoke of his admiration for King Charles - whom he has met several times

But the King did not accept his offer or show any objections over his portrayal

He feared his new role would be create a conflict of interest with his charity work

West had contacted the King to resign as an ambassador for the Prince's Trust

Dominic West has claimed that King Charles appeared relaxed when informed that the actor would be playing him in the new series of The Crown.

West had contacted the King to resign as an ambassador from the Prince's Trust after being cast in series five over the Netflix drama, over fears his new role would be a conflict of interest.

But The Crown actor said the King did not express any objections when informed that West would be portraying him, refusing his offer.

West told the Radio Times that he received a written response from the King's private secretary. The actor said it read along the lines of: 'You do what you like, you're an actor. It's nothing to do with us.'

Luckily, it seems the King and Queen Consort have made peace with West's role - as the actor revealed Camilla jokingly called him 'Your Majesty' at a party last year.

Dominic West (pictured as King Charles in The Crown), 53, admitted he was glued to the TV following the Queen's death as it was a 'goldmine' for learning more about the role he played in series five and will reprise in series six

The actor added he believes 'that's probably how (the King) regards it'. No guidance or opinion, however, was expressed in the letter.

The 53-year-old star also admitted he was glued to Her late Majesty's state funeral which he described as a 'goldmine' for research into his role as King (then Prince) Charles.

He said back-to-back coverage of the Queen's death and state funeral during the national period of mourning was crucial to his understanding of the role he was playing, claiming he 'watched the television for a week solidly'.

As he sat glued to the TV following the Queen's death on 8 September, West described the events of the mourning period, including Her late Majesty's state funeral, as 'fascinating'.

Imelda Staunton (pictured as the Queen in series five of The Crown), 66, revealed she was 'inconsolable' upon hearing the news Queen Elizabeth II had died on 8 September

He added that, while he had always been fond of the King, his affection for the new monarch grew after watching his accession and his involvement in the funeral - and in particular a moment in which he grew frustrated with a leaking pen.

In the joint-interview, Imelda Staunton, who plays the Queen in the new series of The Crown, claimed she was 'inconsolable' after the monarch's death in September.

Multi award-winning actress Staunton, 66, admitted the death of Queen Elizabeth II hit her hard, and also revealed she had been playing the late monarch on set when news of her death broke - but the thespian didn't find out until she had wrapped filming for the day.

The pair spoke of the pressure they felt taking on the enormous roles, with West playing the man who is now King while Staunton took on the role of the longest-serving monarch in British history.

Staunton, who has won a BAFTA and an Olivier award among a dozen other gongs, said she felt she had been handed a 'heavy baton' as she took over a role that had been played by Claire Foy and Olivia Colman in previous seasons, and she feared she may 'let the whole thing down'.

She added that, after learning the Queen had died, she had burst into tears - and was grateful she hadn't been due to film for the next few days because her sadness was so evident on her face.

'They couldnt have filmed on this face,' she admitted.

The new series of The Crown will depict the 1990s, including the Queen's 'annus horribilis' in 1992, which saw several of her children getting divorced, as well as the fire at Windsor Castle (pictured: The Queen's official portrait, 1992)

The new series will also focus on King Charles after his split from Princess Diana, as he and his ex-wife gave contrasting media interviews about their marriage. Pictured: King Charles in Ukraine, 1996

The actress stars alongside Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip, who hit back at criticism of the storyline between the late Duke of Edinburgh and his long-time friend, Penny Knatchbull.

Amid uproar from royal fans about the depiction of the relationship between the pair, Pryce insisted the storyline was essential to understanding Prince Philip's personality.

In particular, he pointed to the Duke's 'empathy' as he became a confidante to Penny in the early 1990s when her daughter Leonora died at the age of five from kidney cancer.

In an apparent nod to rumours the plot would show the Duke 'attempting to pursue a sexual relationship' with Knatchbull, Pryce said: 'Its not what people think it is.'

West also revealed the pros and cons of working with his son on set - Senan, who plays his onscreen son Prince William.

The trailer debuted with Windsor Castle's Great fire of 1992, with the Queen looking on in disarray. She later referred to the year as her 'annus horribilis'

He said he 'loved' watching the 13-year-old, who has never acted before, play the role and added the pair have a 'natural physical bond'.

However, the 53-year-old added he found it difficult to watch his son acting out emotional scenes - recalling it was 'horrible' watching him cry.

As Senan sat down to film a scene with Staunton, West said he mde sure his son knew how lucky he was to be sharing the screen with such a revered actress.

Series five of The Crown is due to premiere in the UK on 9 November on Netflix.

Earlier this month, the streaming service dropped its explosive trailer for the new series, which depicts the breakdown of Charles and Diana's marriage and the fallout of the split.

The trailer debuted Imelda Staunton as the late sovereign reacting to the Windsor Castle Fire of 1992, the Queen's 'annus horribilis', and suggested the show would re-enact the lead up to Diana's Panorama 1995 interview with Martin Bashir.

The trailer focused heavily on the fall out between Princess Diana, played by Elizabeth Debicki and King Charles, then Prince of Wales, culminating in their very public divorce.
Someone else set their profile picture as their knees and couldn't remove it

One person revealed a horrifying incident over a post, thinking it was private

The Poke rounded up times when technology has beaten the older generation

It can be quite challenging trying to get used to using new technology, especially if you weren't brought up with it.

So, it's hardly surprising that social media will trip some of the older generation up - which these hilarious photographs capture.

The Poke, a British website, rounded up examples of older people's mishaps online, after they were shared on the r/oldpeoplefacebook Reddit forum from people around the world.

From finding it difficult to upload pictures to Facebook marketplace to not understanding the difference between the search bar and creating a post, these images show some of the funniest mistakes made.

Knee in your bonnet! This person appeared to get extremely frustrated by their inability to change their profile picture

Uploading can be tricky! This gentleman in the US hasn't grasped many things here; you can upload pictures from your phone and you can download Facebook on it

Check before you post! This man, thought to be from the UK, may have been a tad mortified after he mastered marketplace to sell his interestingly shaped lamp, only to accidentally upload one too many pictures

We wish you ALL a happy birthday! This 89-year-old was very sweet when he didn't understand that everyone was actually wishing him a happy birthday

Ermm....! We don't really know what happened here and we're not sure this woman in the US did either when she seemingly updated her profile picture

Helpful? Peter, from the US, is either being really helpful or hasn't realised that this isn't delivery instructions, but reviews instead

Can't please everyone! This British reviewer hasn't been helpful after all, a one star is a one star, regardless of the colour

Sliding into your feed! This American person hasn't realised that they need to unfollow the snake page not the other way around

Drama! Phylis, from Australia, means war Christine, unfortunately she doesn't understand tactics and has publicly revealed your situation

This person, from Australia, didn't quite understand that the Greens NSW account wasn't posting directly on their Twitter feed
Anderson Cooper has opened up about how his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, was haunted by his older brother's suicide up until the day she died, saying she could never accept the loss.

The CNN anchor, 55, reflected on the many tragedies that have plagued his prominent family during an interview with his friend and colleague Christiane Amanpour on her eponymous show Thursday.

In 1988, his 23-year-old brother Carter Cooper jumped to his death from their family's 14th-floor penthouse apartment in front of their socialite mother as she pleaded with him to get down from the ledge.

'She relived it constantly. She replayed it in her head every single day of her life for the rest of her life,' Cooper said of his brother's suicide.

Anderon Cooper, 55, opened up about his brother Carter Cooper's suicide in 1988 and how it affected their mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, during an interview with Christiane Amanpour

A 23-year-old Carter jumped to his death from the family's penthouse apartment as his mother begged him to get off the ledge. Gloria is pictured with Carter in 1985

The journalist explained that Carter's death left his family with so many questions, especially his mother, who wondered if he would still be alive if she had done something differently that day.

'My mom, until the day she died, she would out of the blue say to me, "Maybe if I had grabbed an iron from the fireplace and hit Carter, it would have knocked him out, and maybe that would have stopped him. I could have stopped him from going to the balcony,"' he recalled.

'She could never get to a place where she could accept the death, but she got to a place where she could continue to live.'

Cooper shared that the tragic loss of his older brother also made him question their relationship before he died.

'You end up, at least in my case, wondering, "Did I even really know my brother?"' he explained. 'Because I didn't know he was going to do this, and if I didn't know that, did I even know really who he was?'

Cooper (pictured with his mother and brother in 1976) said his mother 'relived it constantly' and 'replayed it in her head every single day of her life for the rest of her life'

The CNN anchor added that she was always thinking of things she could have done differently that day that might have stopped Carter from jumping

Carter's death was one of the many tragedies the family has suffered over the years.

The Vanderbilts were once one of the most powerful dynasties in the U.S. after having risen to prominence and wealth during the Gilded Age.

Cooper's great-great-great-grandfather Cornelius Vanderbilt amassed a fortune through his shipping and railroad empires.

Cornelius was the richest man in America when he died in 1877. He left behind an estimated $100 million, which was equivalent to $2.5 billion in today's currency, but it was later squandered by his heirs.

Born in 1924, Cooper's mother, Gloria, was the only child of Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt and his second wife, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt.

"Sometimes you need to get to a place where you can live without a why."



My friend and colleague @andersoncooper has a new podcast 'All There Is' with conversations exploring grief, starting with his own.



Take a listen to his profound words on loss: pic.twitter.com/nGBzRFqwbr  Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) October 31, 2022

'My mom had experienced great losses throughout her life, and that really shaped the course of her life,' Cooper told Amanpour

Carter's suicide came ten years after their father, Wyatt Cooper, died, and Cooper shared that he was unable to articulate his grief for years

'My mom had experienced great losses throughout her life, and that really shaped the course of her life,' he told Amanpour.

Gloria's father was an alcoholic who died of cirrhosis of the liver when she was one, leaving her in the care of her mother Gloria Morgan.

Reginald had a mountain of debt that pillaged his wealth, but he did set up a $5 million trust fund for Gloria to share with her older half-sister Cathleen Vanderbilt, his only child with his first wife Cathleen Neilson.

Gloria Morgan, who was 20 at the time of her husband's death and therefore considered a minor, was not given access to her daughter's portion of the trust fund.

Instead, she was issued $4,000 monthly installments to care for her daughter, but she used it frivolously.

Cooper's great-great-great-grandfather Cornelius Vanderbilt (pictured) amassed a fortune through his shipping and railroad empires during the Gilded Age

Gloria was the daughter of Reginald and Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt (pictured). Her father, Cornelius II's son, was an alcoholic who died of cirrhosis of the liver when she was one

As a child, Gloria lived in France and was unaware of the Vanderbilts or the trust fund she was set to inherit at age 21. She was predominantly cared for by her beloved nanny Emma Sullivan Kieslich nanny, whom she called 'Dodo.'

In 1934, when Gloria was 10, her aunt, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, sued Gloria Morgan for custody of her, claiming she was an unfit mother. The trial exposed the dysfunction of one of America's wealthiest and most high-profile families at the time.

Whitney accused Gloria Morgan of being a lesbian. In turn, she claimed Whitney's art, which was full of nudism, would influence her daughter.

The tabloids feasted on the court battle, dubbing it the 'trial of the century' and giving the young Gloria the nickname 'poor little rich girl.'

In the end, Whitney was given custody of the child and the judge fired Dodo. Years later, Gloria recalled her heartache at the decision.

Gloria was left in the care of her mother Gloria Morgan, who was 20 when Reginald died. She grew up in France and didn't know anything about the Vanderbilts or her trust fund

In 1934, when Gloria was 10, her aunt, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, sued her mother Gloria Morgan for custody of her, claiming she was an unfit mother

'She was my mother, my father, my everything. She was my lifeline; she was all I had,' she told her son in an interview.

As she grew up, she socialized in Manhattan and charmed film and play directors until she made connections in Hollywood where she would find three of her four husbands.

In 1941, a 17-year-old Gloria married Hollywood agent Pat DiCicco, a decision she instantly knew was a mistake, according to Cooper. The pair were together for four years before they divorced.

She married her second husband, the conductor Leopold Stokowski, in 1945, when she was 21. He was 63 and she described it as love at first sight, despite the age gap.

They had two children together, Stanley and Christopher, and were married for 10 years before divorcing. She was later linked to a host of famous men, including Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando.

Whitney (pictured) was eventually given custody of Gloria, and the judge fired her beloved nanny, whom she called 'Dodo'

Gloria (pictured with her mother in 1939) socialized in Manhattan as she grew up and charmed film and play directors until she made connections in Hollywood

In 1956, she married her third husband, the famous director and producer Sidney Lumet. They were together until 1963.

Her fourth marriage, to Cooper's father, Wyatt Cooper, began four months after her divorce from Lumet. Together, they had Cooper and his brother Carter, who was two years older.

While raising her children, Gloria acted on Broadway and in films, wrote poetry and novels, and produced wildly popular art.

In the 1970s, she made a name for herself in the fashion industry with her line of denim  Gloria Vanderbilt Jeans  which were emblazoned with a swan and her name.

Cooper was 10 when his father, Wyatt, died during heart surgery in 1978. It was the first of many painful losses that he has only recently been able to talk about.

In 1941, a 17-year-old Gloria married Hollywood agent Pat DiCicco, a decision she instantly knew was a mistake, according to Cooper

Cooper was raised by his mother and writer father, Wyatt (pictured in 1970), who was Gloria's fourth husband

'She would try to keep my father's name alive in our house. She would tell stories about him,' he said of his mother. 'For me, it was so painful. It was like the third rail. It was something I couldn't touch. So I would listen, but I couldn't really break out of myself.'

Ten years after the death of their father, Carter died by suicide.

'They changed the course of my life. They changed the person that I started out being, and yet, like so many people, I found it hard to talk about,' he said of his father and brother's deaths. 'It just seemed so overwhelming that to even broach it would be cataclysmic.'

Gloria remained close with Cooper and Stanley throughout their lives, but she and Christopher became estranged in 1978 when he accused her therapist of meddling in his love life.

Cooper was overcome with emotion as he recalled how he started running toward grief early on in his career as a war correspondent.

'I couldn't talk about these things, but I wanted to be places where the pain I was feeling inside was matched by the pain outside, and I felt I understood some of these places,' he explained.

Cooper (pictured with his mother as a baby) also has two older half-brothers, Stanley and Christopher, from his mother's marriage to her second husband, conductor Leopold Stokowski

Cooper (pictured with his parents and brother in 1972) said he ran toward grief early on in his career as a war correspondent because he wanted to be places that matched his pain

'I wanted to be in places where the language of loss was spoken, and I wanted to learn from others how they survive because I wanted to know how I would survive,' he added.

In 2014, Cooper suffered the loss of his beloved nanny May McLinden, who died at age 92 after a decade-long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Five years later, his mother, Gloria, passed away at age 95 after a short battle with stomach cancer.

When she died, the mother of four left the majority of her estate to Cooper. Her youngest son reportedly inherited all of his mother's belongings except for her co-op apartment at 30 Beekman Place in Manhattan, which went to Stanley.

Gloria did not leave anything in her will for her estranged son Christopher.

'Toward the end of her life, she and I had very deep conversations and we connected and we had nothing left unsaid between us,' Cooper told Amanpour.

'She could never get to a place where she could accept the death, but she got to a place where she could continue to live,' Cooper said of his mother's grief after Carter's suicide

The journalist later suffered the loss of his beloved nanny, May McLinden, in 2014, and his mother, Gloria, who died at age 95 in 2019

The journalist welcomed his two-year-old son, Wyatt Morgan, via surrogate on April 27, 2020, and named after him after his father. He is also dad to a baby boy, Sebastian Luke, who was born in February.

Cooper said that the foundation for his new podcast about grief and loss, All There Is with Anderson Cooper, started when he was going through his mother's things after she died.

The father of two explained that he 'felt very alone in that process' and started narrating and recording his thoughts like a correspondent to help distance himself from his grief and understand it better.

Cooper said he still struggles with the loss of his father, brother, nanny, and mother, but his grief has allowed him 'to connect with people in the darkest moments of their life.'

'I didn't think to make it a podcast. It was just something for me, but then I realized this is this universal thing,' he said. 'Everybody will go through the things of their parents or their loved ones who have died, and I didn't really see anything out there about it. No one really talks about it.

'I just decided to put it out there and I've been really just stunned by the response.'
Another crafted a stunning black fascinator out of a $1.75 placemat

Many who saw her stunning creation said it was 'fit for Melbourne Cup day'

Fashion lover Selika Harris, 37, from Victoria, made the dress from Kmart towels

A shopper has revealed how she made a stunning dress from 20 $1.50 tea towels

For those looking for a last minute Melbourne Cup look today, two women have shared how they transformed cheap Kmart buys into stand-out looks in a matter of minutes.

'Fashion lover' Selika Harris, 37, from Victoria, previously transformed the 'gorgeous $1.50 lemon tea towels' from Kmart to create a 'puff sleeve doll style summer dress'.

To make the dress, Selika first bought 20 lemon-print tea towels from Kmart for $1.50 each, totalling $30.

'Fashion lover' Selika Harris, 37, from Victoria, previously transformed the 'gorgeous $1.50 lemon tea towels' from Kmart to create a 'puff sleeve doll style summer dress'

'Fashion lover' Selika Harris (pictured), 37, from Victoria, has made a name for herself on Instagram, where thousands turn to her for advice on styling tips

Selika first made the bustier of the dress using one tea towel for front and back, before she added three tea towels for each sleeve (pictured)

How did Selika make her lemon-print dress? 1. Buy 20 lemon-print tea towels from Kmart. Selika's finished dress is pictured 2. Pre-wash the lemon tea towels before using. 3. Stitch and overlock the tea towels together and trim down the bodice, using four tea towels for the front and back of the bodice. 4. Make the puffy sleeves from three tea towels and attach them to your bodice. 5. Stitch five tea towels together as one panel and make two panels for the skirt, front and back. Cut the back panel to make two pieces to add a zipper later. 6. Add extra tulle and cotton inside the skirt to make it 'puffier'. 7. Attach the skirt to the bodice and attach the zipper to the back. 8. Hem the dress to your preferred length. Source: Selika Harris Advertisement

To make the dress, Selika first bought 20 lemon-print tea towels from Kmart for $1.50 each, totalling $30 (tea towels pictured)

She then separated the tea towels out and pre-washed them before sewing them together.

Selika told FEMAIL she used three tea towels for each sleeve, two for the front and back of the bodice of the dress and 10 for the full skirt.

Next, Selika explained that she added some tulle and cotton underneath the skirt to create more volume.

'That lemon print made it into a totally summer vibe outfit, while the tulle and cotton made it puffier,' she said.

Meanwhile, Louise, from Sydney, previously wanted to get dressed up to celebrate the races at work but she couldn't bear the thought of forking out $50 on a head piece that she would likely wear once.

Next, Selika explained that she added some tulle and cotton underneath the skirt to create more volume (pictured)

Meanwhile, Louise, from Sydney, previously wanted to get dressed up to celebrate the races at work but she couldn't bear the thought of forking out $50 on a head piece that she would likely wear once.

So she created her accessory using budget items - including feathers, a $2 hair clip, $2.50 piece of tulle, $10 fabric glue and a black round placemat.

'When you refuse to pay $50+ for a hat/fascinator for Melbourne Cup, so you use your creativity,' she said. 'Some feathers, $2 hair clip, $10 fabric glue and (the piece de resistance) a placemat from Kmart to make one.'

Louise assembled her statement piece, which cost her about $16, by using clothes pegs to hold its unique shape while the glue dried, and she styled it with a piece of tulle and feathers.

Meanwhile, Louise, from Sydney, previously wanted to get dressed up to celebrate the races at work but she couldn't bear the thought of forking out $50 on a head piece that she would likely wear once

After sharing her stunning creation on social media, dozens of people praised her for doing a 'great job' on her DIY fascinator

Louise (pictured), from Sydney, created her accessory using budget items - including feathers, a $2 hair clip, $2.50 piece of tulle, $10 fabric glue and a black round placemat

After sharing her stunning creation on social media, dozens of people praised her for doing a 'great job' on her DIY fascinator.

'I'd actually pay $50 for that,' one woman wrote.

Another said: 'Oh yes I saw this craze on in Kmart groups last year. Yours looks awesome. Nice job,' while one added: 'That's awesome and so creative.'
Queen Maxima is bang on trend with a hot pink Barbiecore gown as she stepped out with her husband King Willem-Alexander in Athens this evening as part of their Greek tour.

The royals posed for pictures alongside Greek president Katerina Sakellaropoulou during Contraperformance at Megaron Mousikis in Athens for the second day of their royal tour to the country.

The Queen of the Netherlands is known for her fashion forward outfits, and this evening was no exception as she paired the one shoulder dress with a matching velvet clutch and silver statement earrings.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands arrive at the Megaron Mousikis theatre in Athens

The 51-year-old wore a Barbiecore hot pink dress with a jeweled applique at the shoulder and matching accessories

Queen Maxima was the picture of poise this morning as she and her husband King Willem-Alexander stepped out ahead of a day busy with engagements in Athens.

The couple are currently on day two of a three-day state visit to Greece, and started today by touring the World Press Photo Exhibition at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.

For her day out, the Dutch Queen, 51, opted for a stylish form-fitting blush pink sleeveless cape dress, and added a personal touch with a floral headband.

The mother-of-three has a busy day ahead of her today, where she and her husband, 55, are due to visit several start-ups, an oncology centre, a school and two shelters.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou during Contraperformance at Megaron Mousikis in Athens

The pair looked the picture of elegance, with King Willem-Alexander donning a blue suit and matching tie as he stood alongside his stylish wife

The theatre visit is part of a three day royal tour to Greece, where the Dutch royals have been pictured visiting arts centers

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou during a Contraperformance

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, 51, was the picture of poise this morning as she and her husband King Willem-Alexander stepped out ahead of a day busy with engagements on day two of their visit to Greece

The Dutch royal, who landed in Athens yesterday with her husband, donned a stylish blush pink number with a cape

Maxima looked stunning in her tailored midi dress, which accentuated her petite waist and curvy silhouette with a large ribbon belt.

The number was perfect for the Greek weather, with an elegant built-in cape that covered the mother-of-three's arms from the November breeze without overwhelming her.

The stylish royal, who is known for her love of colour coordination, paired the dress with blush pink velvet heels and a matching leather clutch bag.

Studious Maxima got herself ready for some serious notetaking ahead of her visit and was seen carrying a small notepad.

The royal added a personal touch to the elegant outfit with a flower headpiece that matched the colour of her dress

Maxima sported a glamourous makeup with a doe-eye liner, mascara and a sunkissed blush. She also sported a nude pink lip

However, the look's centre piece was the blush pink flower crown she wore on her head, keeping her lush blonde locks in place.

The delicate accessory added a romantic touch to the stylish outfit, and the mother-of-three completed the look with a stunning pair of stud earrings adorned with pastel gems.

She was also seen wearing a diamond bracelet she received for her 50th birthday, which bears the initials of her husband and their three daughters, Crown Princess Amalia, 18, Princess Alexia, 17, and Princess Ariane, 15.

The stylish royal opted for a wavy blow-dry for her day out, and a glamorous sunkissed makeup with a doe-like smoky eye and a pink lip.

The Dutch Monarch, who was wearing exquisite jewellery, listened intently as she started the day with a meeting

Maxima styled her blonde locks in a luscious wavy blow-dry and kept it all in place thanks to her floral headband

Willem-Alexander and Maxima have a busy day ahead of them today, with several engagements and visits to be completed around Athens.

They will visit several start-ups, before heading to a school where they will meet staff and pupils.

The couple will also tour two homeless shelters today that rescue homeless children from poverty.

Yesterday, the Dutch royal couple were treated to a state banquet in Athens, hosted in their honour by President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and her partner Pavlos Kotsonis.

Maxima looked as regal as ever as she stepped out in a 1,897 Costarellos plum-coloured lace-trimmed maxi dress.

The Dutch royal, who was seen carrying a notepad moments earlier, took her first meeting very seriously

Made from purple velvet, Queen Maxima's dress featured a delicate scalloped neckline and A-line silhouette striped with Guipure lace trims.

The stylish Queen paired her gown, which is available on mythersea.com, with diamond bracelets and stunning jewelled stud earrings.

She swept her golden tresses into a loose up-do, which she set alight with a shimmering white gold tiara, encrusted with matching diamonds and red stones.

The dinner marked the end of the Dutch royals first day of their three day state visit.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands looked elegantly regal as she attended an official dinner hosted by the President of the Republic of Greece in Athens last night
Experts, officials commend China's inclusive, win-win engagement in Africa

Xinhua) 10:30, November 01, 2022

ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- China's growing engagement in Africa is inclusive and based on a win-win approach, aiming at promoting a shared future among the global community, experts and officials have said.

"China's growing engagement in Africa is positive because it is inclusive, not prescriptive. It respects the culture of the African context," Yonas Adaye, commissioner of the Ethiopian National Dialogue, a think tank, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Commending China's respect for the sovereignty of others, non-aggression and peaceful co-existence, Adaye said China is winning the world owing to its respect for others' culture, history and unique features.

"The beauty of Chinese foreign relations policy relies on non-interference, no naming and shaming, no stopping of aid to damage bilateral relations and no prescription of development -- these make China really unique in the world," he said.

The rise of China's foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa has promoted the continent's economic growth, said Tadele Alamneh, a PhD candidate in economics at Debre Markos University.

"Chinese investment in Africa is not biased toward resource-rich and institution-poor countries," said Alamneh, indicating that Ethiopia is a resource-poor country but is China's top FDI recipient in Africa.

According to the expert, Ethiopia's GDP grew at a rate of between 8 to 10.9 percent from 2003 to 2018, compared with an average of 4 percent from 1993 to 2003.

He said the period of high growth rates in Ethiopia was marked by an intensification of Ethiopia-China economic relations as bilateral trade between the two countries expanded rapidly.

He made the remarks during a recent forum held Thursday in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa under the theme "Prospects of China-Africa Cooperation: Youth Leaders Forum".

The one-day forum organized by the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia and the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) dwelt upon possible ways to boost China-Africa multidimensional relations as well as promote peace and development in Africa through increased participation of the youth in leadership positions.

Speaking about the significance of the forum, Ethiopian Minister of Women and Social Affairs Ergogie Tesfaye said the platform helps create competent young leaders in Africa and China.

"Having such a platform will help the youth both in Africa and China exchange their experiences and share knowledge and skills," Tesfaye told Xinhua.

Recalling the opening of Amharic language classes in China and Chinese language classes in Ethiopia, the minister said China and Africa should help their young people understand each other by exchanging cultures and opening more education and training centers for a common destiny.

"The Chinese government is supporting the youth in Ethiopia to study in China and that has helped bring the most wanted skills and technology here in Ethiopia and Africa," Tesfaye said.

The minister is optimistic that the implementation of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative will help boost the existing trade, cultural and business-to-business relations between China and Africa.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)
But it will 'trample on people and the system he felt trapped in', royal expert says

Prince Harry will 'trample on people and the system he felt trapped in' - but will stay 'very loving towards his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II' in his explosive upcoming memoir, a royal expert has claimed.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK! magazine that the book, titled Spare, will make difficult reading for the entire royal family when its published on January 10, 2023, after it was delayed following the Queens death.

Publishers Penguin Random House say the Duke of Sussex's book is written with 'raw unflinching honesty' and is expected to contain explosive new material addressing Harry's childhood and his rift with 'The Firm' after meeting wife Meghan Markle, 41.

Commenting on the memoir, Jennie said: 'Im afraid people are going to get trampled on by this book. Raw and unflinching arent words the palace will be happy to hear.'

Prince Harry will 'trample on people and the system he felt trapped in' - but will stay 'very loving towards his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II' in his explosive upcoming memoir, a royal expert has claimed. Pictured, Her late Majesty with Harry in 2013

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK! magazine that the book (pictured), titled Spare, will make difficult reading for the entire royal family when its published on January 10, 2023, after it was delayed following the Queens death

However, the royal expert suggested that 'any bile, if there is any, will be mostly directed at the system - the system in which Harry feels he was so trapped and in which he still believes his father [King Charles] and his brother [Prince William] are trapped.'

She continued: 'I think hell be very loving towards his grandmother. She very much loved Harry.'

The royal expert's comments come after PEOPLE reported that Harry, 38, will acknowledge his grandmother's death in his memoir.

The Dukes book was largely penned before the death of Her Majesty on September 8 - however, the magazine confirmed that the prince will touch on her passing in his memoir.

In his statement paying tribute to his grandmother shortly after her death, Harry praised her 'sound advice' and 'infectious smile' and called her a 'guiding compass' through her commitment to service and duty.

Prince Harry will acknowledge his grandmother Queen Elizabeth IIs death in his upcoming memoir, according to PEOPLE. Pictured, Harry and the Queen in 2018

Released on September 12, 2022, his remarks also referred to his 'darling wife' Meghan Markle; said he was grateful that the Queen had hugged her 'beloved great-grandchildren'; and spoke of how he 'cherished' the times spent with the 96-year-old.

He said: 'In celebrating the life of my grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen - and in mourning her loss - we are all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her commitment to service and duty.

'She was globally admired and respected. Her unwavering grace and dignity remained true throughout her life and now her everlasting legacy.

'Let us echo the words she spoke after the passing of her husband, Prince Philip, words which can bring comfort to all of us now: 'Life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings.'

'Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings - from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren.

Royal commentators said the release of Prince Harry's book would be 'unhelpful' to King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort

'I cherish these times shared with you, and the many other special moments in between. You are already sorely missed, not just by us, but by the world over. And as it comes to first meetings, we now honour my father in his new role as King Charles III.

'Thank you for your commitment to service. Thank you for your sound advice. Thank you for your infectious smile.

'We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace.'

Harry and Meghan, 41, were in the UK for charity events when Queen Elizabeth died. The couple stayed in Britain to attend ceremonies honouring Her Majesty, including her state funeral and committal service on September 19.

Royal experts have claimed US-based Harry may travel to the UK to promote his controversial memoir, which could see retaliation from the palace including stripping him and Meghan of their Sussex titles.

Prince Harry pictured with Prince William, King Charles and the Princess Royal during the Queen's funeral in September

Reports claimed Harry may fly to Britain in the New Year to explain his 'intent' in writing the book  which is set to cast a shadow over the Royal Family's Christmas - the first since the Queen died.

Senior royals are said to be bracing themselves' for the publication of the 416-page title on January 10. Biographer Tom Bower has warned the memoir's reception will be a make or break moment for the Sussexes.

'Put it this way, it's not going to make for a relaxing family Christmas,' a source told the Mail on Sunday.

Prince William 'has barely spoken' to Harry since news broke of memoir title Prince William 'has barely spoken' to Prince Harry since news broke of his brother's memoir Spare, royal experts have said. The Royal Family are also apparently on 'tenterhooks' to read the memoir, which is to be released on January 10, and have lawyers ready. Prince William, 40, has barely spoken a word to his brother Harry, 38, since the news of the book broke. Billed as a work of 'raw, unflinching honesty', the controversial book will be called Spare  a 'loaded' reference to his position as the younger brother of the heir to the throne. Royal author Angela Levin said she thought the palace were on 'tenterhooks' for the book's release. 'They have lawyers ready to read it but they won't see it until it's out. If it's too bland it won't be worth the millions they've already paid him,' she told The Sun Online. Details of the bombshell book were revealed and publisher Penguin Random House's description read: 'With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief. 'Spare takes readers immediately back to one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother's coffin as the world watched in sorrowand horror. 'As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling - and how their lives would play out from that point on.' Family members were not informed of the title of the book before the announcement yesterday, while the Spanish language version is even more pointed, having been given the subtitle En La Sombra, or 'in the shadow'. The publishers of the delayed memoir have made it clear that Harry will not shy away from sensitive subjects, such as the family's decision to encourage him and his elder brother Prince William to walk behind their mother Diana's coffin. He could also reveal which member of the monarchy he claims made a racist comment about the potential skin colour of his then unborn son Archie, or shine a light on his strained relationship with his father and troubled times with William. The brothers have had a troubled relationship since Harry moved to the US with his wife Meghan Markle. Advertisement

It has now been claimed that Prince Harry had to submit his book more than once before it was accepted by publishers, sparking fears that it was 'sexed up' with revelations about the Royal Family.

A source told The Sun: 'The book has been back and forth between Harry and [ghost writer] JR Moehringer and the publishers a few times. They wanted more than was in the first draft, and then Harry wanted to refine things after the Queen passed away.

'But there has been extra toing and froing that people don't know about. This is because the publishers wanted more areas covered and more detail on some things that were already included.

'There is a real concern that that means Harry has had to sex up the book and include revelations that even he might not even be that comfortable with.'

It is now reportedly feared that Harry will expand upon a claim made to Oprah Winfrey that a family member questioned what the skin colour of his and Meghan's son Archie would be.

Bower told The Sun: 'This book is really make or break. I imagine that King Charles has been warned that any retaliation won't be pretty.

'All that King Charles can really do is to withhold the titles for his grandchildren Archie and Lilibet. Ultimately, I suppose, he could take away Harry and Meghan's titles as well, but that's pretty drastic.

'I don't know what else he can do. If it is as bad as I think it is, then Harry and Meghan have gone fully rogue.'

He added that the best thing the royal family could do in this scenario would be to 'break ties' with the pair.

The title is presumed to refer to Harry being the 'spare' to Prince William's 'heir' but has been translated to sound more ominous in other languages.

In Spain it will be called In The Shadow, in Sweden The Other, and in Denmark, The Reservist.

Harry will narrate the audio version himself, but voice artist Emily Woo Zeller warned: 'To take words off a page and make them sound like dialogue is a skill. I don't know if Harry has that skill.'

Another source close to Prince Harry told the Telegraph last night that the Duke of Sussex wrote his controversial memoir for himself, rather than being a 'takedown of his family'.

It was described by those familiar with the manuscript as a 'beautiful read', that readers from all walks of life will identify with.

The experience of addressing his past struggles is said to have been cathartic for Prince Harry.

The source said: 'You can't always live your life trying to make your family or your siblings happy. You have to choose your own happiness.'

It comes after it was reported on Friday night that Prince Harry will not return to the UK to spend the first Christmas since Queen Elizabeth II died with his family amid the controversy.

Sources close to the couple told The Mirror relations between Harry and wife Meghan and the rest of the royal family are 'near rock bottom' and they could decline an invitation to spend the festive period with Harry's family.

It had been hoped that relations would thaw somewhat after the Queen's death, but sources told The Mirror that the couple have 'no plans' to travel to the UK for Christmas.

The rest of the royal family were reportedly surprised at the memoir's title.

Another source told The Mirror the book could spell 'the end' for any reconciliation efforts between the Sussexes and the royals: 'This book could spell the end for any relationship Harry wants to have with his family, it's desperately sad.'

An initial release date had been pencilled in for 'late 2022' to capitalise on the lucrative Christmas market, but the book will not be on the shelves until January 10  said to be as a mark of respect following the death of the Queen, and, it is rumoured, due to last-minute alterations requested by the duke.

A spokesman for the King declined to comment on the book. But it is understood that the Royal Household has already been warned that the 416-page, 28 book is 'critical of everyone and everything' and they are 'dreading' it.

The memoir has already topped Amazon charts in the UK and US, as well as reaching the second spot in Canada, despite publication still being several months away.
A new mum has spoken of her joy after finally completing her family following a battle with infertility - after strangers paid for her to have one last try at IVF.

Michelle, 41, and Terry Britton, from Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, welcomed their son Sonny Britton into the world in August after 12 years of trying and emptying their savings on fertility treatments.

The couple were on the verge of giving up hope of ever becoming biological parents.

However after channelling her energy into volunteering for a fertility charity, Michelle was gobsmacked when the head of the charity The Fertility Foundation offered her a grant - made up of donations - to have one last round of IVF.

Michelle, 41, and Terry Britton, from Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, have spoken of their joy after finally completing their family following a battle with infertility

Miraculously, the IVF cycle, which was their third, worked and they are now enjoying life as the family of three they always dreamed of.

Michelle, a professional nanny and Terry, 46, a retail worker, first tried to conceive when they first met in their 20s, but now feel being older parents has worked out better for them.

Michelle said: 'There was a point where I thought I was never going to become a mum. We'd tried two rounds of IVF, and both failed, it was soul destroying.

'I'd thrown myself into volunteering for a fertility charity, so I was surrounded by people who understood what I was going through.

The couple welcomed their son Sonny Britton into the world in August after 12 years of trying and emptying their savings on fertility treatments

Newborn Sonny was a healthy baby (pictured) but Michelle had been carrying twins, but sadly lost one in the early weeks

'But one day the owner of the charity came into the shop and told me in front of everyone they were able to give me a grant to try one last round of IVF, funded by donations.

'I just broke down and fell to the floor in front of all the customers. I couldn't believe people were so kind to donate money to help someone they'd never met have a baby.

'I still tried not to get my hopes up, even after we found out I was pregnant.

'But when Sonny arrived, and I held him in my arms for the first time, I just couldn't believe my luck.'

Michelle and Terry had been trying for a baby for years without any joy.

Michelle and Terry had been trying for a baby for 12 years without any joy and medics could never find a biological reason as to why they were never able to conceive

Michelle said she wakes up every day and can't believe her son is hers and she admitted it was all worth it in the end

Despite them both undergoing years of tests, medics could never find a biological reason as to why they were never able to conceive - known as unexplained infertility.

Michelle explained: 'I think it would have been easier to accept if we had known the reason we couldn't get pregnant.

'Because we never knew what the problem was, I blamed myself for everything, I thought I was too anxious, or I'd done something wrong.

'The longer it went on the more stressed and anxious we both became, and it was a vicious cycle.'

The couple were eventually granted two rounds of IVF on the NHS - but sadly, both attempts failed.

The Fertility Foundation were able to give the couple a 2,500 grant, which they added to 3,000 of their own money to try one last time.

Terry and Michelle beamed with happiness as they walked down the isle hand in hand on their wedding day

Michelle and Terry's son Sonny, who is now two months old, is a happy healthy baby who was longed for by his parents

Michelle said: 'I do struggle with anxiety, and I was also having to care for my husband as he'd been badly injured and was hit by a car, so it was a difficult time to try to let my body relax.

'The two-week wait is terrifying and so stressful - when I did the test, and it came up saying not pregnant I was just crushed.

'By our third attempt, it was a lot easier. I knew what to expect, I could self-inject, and I was a little more relaxed.

'Even though we knew it was our last attempt, as I was almost 40, we tried our hardest just to go with the flow.

'I had that much treatment that eventually, injecting myself became like making a cup of tea.

'It didn't sink in when I found out I was actually pregnant, I did the test before I went to work and was doubting myself as it hadn't worked the first two times so why would it work now.

'I had taken a break from the treatment and had done everything right, I had been away on holiday, I kept myself relaxed but of course it was always in the back of my mind, but it was obviously the right timing.

'The pregnancy was tinged with sadness as we found out I had been carrying twins, but sadly lost one in the early weeks.

'It was devastating and made the whole pregnancy fraught with worry - but Sonny is a fighter, and the further along we got the easier it became.'

'I wake up every day and can't believe he is ours.

Michelle is now over the moon with her miracle baby boy thanks to her final attempt of IVF thanks to the grant

The couple were previously granted two rounds of IVF on the NHS - but sadly, both attempts failed

HOW DOES IVF WORK? The menstrual cycle is first suppressed with medication before other drugs are used to encourage the ovaries to produce more eggs than usual. An ultrasound scan is carried out to check the development of the eggs, and medication is used to help them mature. The eggs are then collected by a needle inserted into the ovaries, via the vagina, before the eggs are fertilised with sperm. Finally the fertilised embryo is transferred into the womb to grow and develop. A single IVF cycle has an average success rate of 32.3 per cent for those under 35, dropping to five per cent for women aged 43 and 44 and only 1.9 per cent for those 45 and older. Despite IVF being most effective for the under 35s, 57 per cent of IVF cycles are undergone by women 35 or older. Advertisement

'He is all worth it in the end. All of the stress has been worth it. It has been an emotional roller coaster, not easy but when you're there it's amazing.

'He is so loved, all of our families cried when we announced it. They all know the hard journey we have been on to get to where we are now.

'Everyone gets so emotional when they meet him, and he is the first grandson on both sides, so he's well and truly spoilt. Everyone wants to always come and visit him.

'Being older parents has worked out well for us, we're very relaxed and chilled out and I think that has rubbed off on him because he is a very chilled out baby which is amazing.'

Tone Jarvis-Mack, CEO of the Fertility Foundation, said: 'Michelle has often mentioned having Sonny has been due to the kindness of strangers, but it's more than that.

'Both Michelle and Terry's genuine and honest helpfulness towards others was a huge factor in us deciding to help them in what they viewed as their last best hope of becoming parents.

'Their desire to help us in helping others did not stop when they were pregnant.

'With the help of Terry, Michelle completed a fundraising walk in support of our charity and raised over 1,500.

'We are an independent family-run charity, and we receive no government or guaranteed funding, so this money goes such a long way in helping us to help others.

'We are so proud to have been involved in their journey and now have the opportunity to be part of Sonny's life.'
An army veteran who lost both his legs and an arm while serving in Afghanistan has opened up about his inspirational trek up to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Thirteen years ago, Andy Reid MBE had stepped on a Taliban IED, resulting in the loss of three of his limbs - and this month he celebrated having conquered the world's highest single free-standing mountain above sea level.

The former Corporal, from St Helens, Merseyside, reached the Uhuru Peak summit in Tanzania on October 12, accompanied by his support crew and local guides.

The hero war vet incredibly scaled the 19,341ft high peak, despite having two prosthetic legs, in 13 days.

Appearing on Lorraine today, he explained he had let his mind wander to nice memories and focused on 'putting one foot in front of the other'.

He said: 'It was hard work...I'm still trying to sink in what I've actually achieved

Andy Reid (pictured) - who lost both his legs and an arm while serving in Afghanistan in 2009 - has opened up about his inspirational trek up to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

The former Corporal (pictured during the climb) braved the mammoth achievement to raise money for his mental health charity, the Standing Tall Foundation

Andy lost both his legs and his right arm when he was blown up by a Taliban IED in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2009.

He was injured so badly that medics thought he wouldn't make it.

But, incredibly he was back socialising with members of his patrol within the month, and threw himself into charity work once he was fully recovered.

The 46-year-old was recognised for his unstinting commitment to charity work with an MBE in the Birthday Honours three years ago.

The veteran (pictured during the climb) admitted the trek was 'hard', and revealed he now feels like he's been 'run over by a car' - but said the thoughts of his family kept him going

The 46-year-old has raised 80,000 for The Standing Tall Foundation with the climb, a charity he started to help others with mental health, addiction and wellbeing-related issues.

He puts being able to complete the climb down to using a Thinair oxygen therapy machine which helped him prepare.

Andy initially used the machine for "mental clarity" but found it helped his physical health too - with the dad crediting the contraption with helping him and his crew beat altitude sickness, with only one member having to turn back.

Today, he explained: 'Obviously I've got an amazing team of people around me from Preston Limb Centre, my surgeon, physio...helping me achieve that goal of climbing the mountain.'

It took his team 14 days to reach the summit, comprised of 12-hour walking days, including ones dedicated to rest and recovery. Pictured at Mount Kilimanjaro

Andy said he hopes his goal helps and inspires others who will be facing their own challenges.

'Everyone's got their own mountain to climb,' he explained. 'I climbed that mountain, and if that can inspire someone to get out of bed the next day or make a phone call or maybe leave the house then hopefully that's a great thing to achieve.'

The veteran admitted the trek was 'hard', and revealed he now feels like he's been 'run over by a car' - but said the thoughts of his family kept him going.

It took his team 14 days to reach the summit, comprised of 12-hour walking days, including ones dedicated to rest and recovery.

Andy said most people endeavour to complete the climb in a week, but they wanted to pace themselves and give best chance to get to top - as they 'weren't trying to break a record'.

Andy (pictured with Lorraine Kelly) also candidly opened up about the upcoming Remembrance Day, admitting it's a challenging time of the year for him

Despite that, the former soldier revealed that they did achieve 'the world's highest food delivery' by bringing a hamburger to the summit, albeit those who ate it 'got quite ill'.

Andy also candidly opened up about the upcoming Remembrance Day, admitting it's a challenging time of the year for him.

'It's a tough day for me,' he said. 'Some of my colleagues didn't come home from Afghanistan...so out of respect for them, that's why I push myself and keep moving myself forward.'

He added: 'The NHS did an amazing job to keep me alive and get me where I am today...I'm very grateful to be here.'

Andy - who commemorated the thirteenth anniversary of the day he was injured in Afghanistan a day after he summitted - said he hopes his story offers people some hope and inspiration.

'Thirteen years ago, I was on a stretcher in Afghanistan fighting for my life...and thirteen years later, top of the world,' he said. 'It shows what can be achieved with the right mindset and the right support.'
The latest episode of Meghan Markle's Archetypes podcast saw her delve into the poetry of celebrity parenting guru Dr Shefali Tsabary - including reading lines on how women feel a manic compulsion to be perfect and an obsession to be voted popular.

During the latest installment of the Spotify podcast, in which the Duchess, 41, welcomed her good friend, the First Lady of Canada, Sophie Trudeau, as her main guest, she read out Sacred Dreams, a poem by the best-selling Indian-born, New York-based author and clinical psychologist - who also counts Oprah as a fan.

Other guests on the podcast included actor Pamela Adlon and Saturday Night Live comic Sam Jay.

The 55-minute podcast, entitled 'Good Wife/Bad Wife, Good Mom/Bad Mom' - the ninth in the series - saw Meghan read the impassioned poem out in full, including the final line: 'I'm ready to awaken into my renaissance'.

Dr Shefali describes herself as a 'wisdom teacher' and clinical psychologist, who uses Eastern mindfulness to help people deal with modern stresses.

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The Duchess of Sussex was heard reading the poem Sacred Dreams by celebrity parenting guru Dr Shefali Tsabary, 49, who was born in India but lives in New York, in the latest episode of her Spotify podcast

Poetic justice? The 55-minute podcast saw Meghan read Dr Shefali's poem in full - including the lines: 'I'm ready to awaken into my renaissance' (Pictured: Dr Shefali Tsabary)

One section of the poem included the lines: 'There comes a time in the life of a woman when her desire to fit in with the crowd dissolves.

'When her manic compulsion to be perfect vaporizes, and when her obsession to be voted popular, eviscerates.'

The Duchess of Sussex, who is currently living in her $14million mansion in California, alongside her husband Prince Harry, 38, and their two children, Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, released her latest episode on Tuesday.

The podcast also included clips from an interview with Dr Shefali about how women are perceived - and how Eastern mindfulness can help; the pair discussed the 'loathing and shame' that women can often feel.

Dr Shefali told Meghan: 'We have fallen into this trap that we, as a modern woman, can do anything. Now, that sounds like a liberating message but it's not so liberating, I would go as far and boldly to say it is toxic.

'We are falling into this misguided beliefs about who we should be, these personas of perfectionism and grandiose delusion that we can do it all.

'The pendulum swings the other way to great self-abnegation, loathing and shame, that's the other side of that pendulum.

The US-based author has written four books, all of which have flown high in the New York Times' best-sellers chart, with The Conscious Parent and The Awakened Family particularly fawned over by A-listers including Oprah Winfrey.

Meghan Markle's star guest on her new Spotify podcast is First Lady of Canada Sophie Trudeau. Pictured in a photo booth in 2016

Clearly also a huge fan of her work, the Duchess of Sussex urged her listeners to take on board Dr Shefali's advice on seeking perfectionism.

The expert said: 'Don't destroy your essence for this illusion of perfectionism or this image of The Good Wife of the good mother because those are just images their Illusions.

'The best mother and the best woman you can be is the authentic one the one who is deeply connected to her own knowing and that doesn't take effort that takes Stillness.

Meghan Markle (pictured with Prince Harry and their children) has shared a glimpse of her 'whirlwind' morning routine on her latest Spotify podcast episode

It takes quiet, it takes relaxation and And, you know, most women in their 50s and 60s learn this.'

Meghan Markle's star guest on her new Spotify podcast is First Lady of Canada Sophie Trudeau - alongside Pamela Adlon and Sam Jay.

The friends spoke about the challenges of parenting and being a partner to two famous men in an episode called: 'Good Wife/Bad Wife, Good Mom/Bad Mom'.

Introducing her friend Mrs Trudeau, Meghan calls he a 'humanitarian mother' who she met in Toronto at the city's fashion week around seven years ago, when she was starring in Suits.

She said: 'Sophie has become a dear friend and someone who I think is so implemented of strength that comes from embracing your Humanity, even in the face of all these family and home and public pressures, keeping that sense of self while holding up the mantle of what comes with being a parent and a spouse'.

Ms Markle and Canada's First Lady became friends when Meghan was filming Suits. The Duchess of Sussex became part of Toronto's 'platinum elite', which also included their mutual friend Jessica Mulroney.

They posed together cheek-to-cheek on a Toronto rooftop bar in 2016 at the exclusive Soho House.

And it was Mrs Trudeau's husband, who has been Canada's PM since 2015, who urged his country to welcome the Sussexes after they emigrated from the UK. They would later move to LA.
Meghan Markle's mother Doria Ragland made a surprise cameo in her Spotify podcast today.

In a soundbite shared by Meghan on the podcast, which was released this morning, Doria could be heard FaceTiming her and speaking to her daughter for a few seconds as she was recording the show from her Montecito home in California.

The Duchess of Sussex said the spontaneous moment made her reflect on the way in which Doria, who lives close by in Los Angeles, has supported her throughout her life.

She also joked that they still do a handshake she came up with when she was eight-years-old, and said that being mother can be 'the most thankless unpaid labor there is.'

Meghan Markle's mother Doria Ragland made a surprise cameo in her Spotify podcast today. Pictured in 2018 before the royal wedding

In a soundbite shared by Meghan on the podcast, Doria could be heard FaceTiming her and speaking for a few seconds before they hung up as she was recording the show from her Montecito home in California

Meghan played the soundbite of the FaceTime call during the podcast, explaining Doria had interrupted her recording a few weeks beforehand by calling her.

'So, a few weeks ago while I was working on this very episode, my mom called. She actually FaceTimed,' she said, before the clip played.

In the outtake, Meghan could be heard saying: 'Oh sugar, my mom's FaceTiming me.'

She then picked up the phone and could be heard saying: 'Hey, Mommy,' with Doria replying "Hey, how's my girl?".

Meghan Markle's star guest on her new Spotify podcast is First Lady of Canada Sophie Trudeau. Pictured in a photo booth in 2016

'Hey, I'm okay, I'm hanging in there,' Meghan could be heard chuckling, before adding: 'It's okay, I'm recording right now. Do you want to see?'

'We're just doing some podcasting. Can I call you back in a little bit,' she was then heard asking.

'It was just your run-of-the-mill mother-daughter, conversation,' Meghan can be heard saying in a voiceover playing midway through the soundbite.

'I have on a smiley face,' Doria could be heard saying, with Meghan repeating 'I have on a smiley face,' and 'I love you.'

Meghan took the occasion of her mother calling her while she was recording to bring up something they have been sharing since she was a child.

Speaking to her guest First Lady of Canada Sophie Trudeau, whom she describes as a close friend, the Duchess of Sussex, 41, revealed what mornings where like for her and Prince Harry in their Montecito home, where they care for their son Archie, three and daughter Lilibet, who is 17-months old

'My mom, she did this thing I do. You may have heard this clicking sound that she was doing,' she said.

'All right, gang, my mom literally just pulled out a reference of what I came up with as a cool handshake to do with her when I was about eight, which was snap scissors, cut chicken,' she said, laughing.

'I'm 41-years-old. And she's like, "okay",' she laughed into the microphone. 'It's great. And it just put me right back into the past thinking about my childhood and our little quirks together.

'And then with this episode on my brain, it got me thinking about all the ways my mom supported me, how she took care of me and the house and herself and how she just juggled so much,' she went on.

'The amount that women carry, that they navigate - it's immense, and it's often the most thankless unpaid labor there is,' she added.

'There's no union, there's no lunch break. There's nothing like that. At home, women just work really, really hard,' she added.

'A lot of that work is born out of necessity, but so much of it is also born out of expectations,' she said.

Sophie Trudeau attended the funeral of the Queen with her husband, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on September 19, pictured. Meghan described her as a friend

The Duchess of Sussex's spoke of her relationship with motherhood in her podcast this week, with First Lady of Canada Sophie Trudeau as a star guest.

The friends spoke about the challenges of parenting and being a partner to two famous men in an episode called: 'Good Wife/Bad Wife, Good Mom/Bad Mom'.

The pair also described the 'crushing guilt of being a mother in public eye with Meghan admitting Sophie 'used to send me little meditations during my pregnancy' and voice notes 'of encouragement', adding: 'I've gone to her over the years for advice'.

And Meghan also revealed she threw a pool party this summer for Mrs Trudeau, where the two 'giggled like schoolgirls' and drank wine on the terrace of her Montecito mansion.

But Meghan also chatted to comedian Pamela Adlon, best known as the voice of Bobby Hill in the animated comedy series King of the Hill, who became a British citizen in 2020.

Meghan then revealed that she prepared for the 'Life in the UK' test 'a couple of years ago', although LA born and based Ms Markle is not believed to be a British Citizen, having reportedly 'abandoned' the idea after Megxit. Experts said that she did not live in the UK for the three years required to get spousal citizenship after marrying Harry in 2018.

She said: 'That citizenship exam is so hard. I was studying for it [the test] and I remember going: "Oh my goodness". I would ask my husband: "Did you know this? Did you know this?" And he would say: "I had no idea". But she did not expand on whether she ever took the test - or just studied for it.

According to the explosive biography Finding Freedom, when she began dating Harry in 2016, Meghan was urged to take advice from Sophie Trudeau by her friend Jessica Mulroney, who deemed the two women 'now had a lot in common' because of their famous husbands.

They would become close pals and confidants with Justin Trudeau urging his country to welcome the Sussexes after they emigrated from the UK in 2020.

Introducing her friend Mrs Trudeau, Meghan calls he a 'humanitarian mother' who she met in Toronto at the city's fashion week around seven years ago, when she was starring in Suits.

She said: 'Sophie has become a dear friend and someone who I think is so emblematic of strength that comes from embracing your humanity, even in the face of all these family and home and public pressures, keeping that sense of self while holding up the mantle of what comes with being a parent and a spouse, that's a full plate'.

Ms Markle and Canada's First Lady became friends when Meghan was filming Suits. The Duchess of Sussex became part of Toronto's 'platinum elite', which also included their mutual friend Jessica Mulroney.

They posed together cheek-to-cheek on a Toronto rooftop bar in 2016 at the exclusive Soho House. And it was Mrs Trudeau's husband, who has been Canada's PM since 2015, who urged his country to welcome the Sussexes after they emigrated from the UK. They would later move to LA.

Opening the podcast, Meghan describes a day of laughter and fun at her Montecito mansion with Mrs Trudeau. Their children played in the swimming pool on pizza-shaped floats while they drank wine 'on the terrace' and were 'giddy like absolute schoolgirls.'

Meghan said: 'This wasn't our day of being the wives and moms, all perfectly quaffed with updos and pearls and demure smiles.

'This was the other version of us both with wild curly hair and swimsuits and loose linen and huge belly laughs. Big cuddles with our little ones, quiet whispers of girl talk on the terrace, giddy like absolute schoolgirls. We were just having so much fun.'
The Countess of Wessex appeared in great spirits today as she visited an early learning centre in Forfar.

Sophie, 57, who is known as the Countess of Forfar when she travels to Scotland, oozed elegance in a longline cream coat, teamed with an equally sophisticated pink floral blouse.

The Countess was left beaming as she chatted with children at the Forfar Early Learning Centre, helping them to participate in seasonal and outdoor play activities, including creating an Autumn collage and a potion-making activity.

The Countess of Wessex appeared in great spirits today as she visited an early learning centre in Forfar

Sophie, 57, who is known as the Countess of Forfar when she travels to Scotland, oozed elegance in a longline cream coat, teamed with an equally sophisticated pink floral blouse

The Countess was left beaming as she chatted with children at the Forfar Early Learning Centre, helping them to participate in seasonal and outdoor play activities, including creating an Autumn collage and a potion-making activity

Looking typically stylish, mother-of-two Sophie donned a brown flowing skirt with her ensemble, as well as matching knee-high boots.

She kept her accessories in a metallic clutch and added a smattering of glamorous makeup to her features.

Adding a touch of glitz to her outfit, the royal opted for a golden necklace as well as matching hoop earrings to complete her attire.

Looking typically stylish, mother-of-two Sophie (pictured) donned a brown flowing skirt with her ensemble, as well as matching knee-high boots

Sophie kept her accessories in a metallic clutch and added a smattering of glamorous makeup to her features

Last month, Sophie showcased her fashion credentials when arriving in Ethiopia as part of her tour of Africa.

In her first appearance in the country, the Countess met President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Sahle-Work Zewde at the Presidential Palace in Addis Ababa.

The mother-of-two looked typically stylish in a white blazer teamed with a pink patterned skirt as she chatted with Sahle-Work.

She had spent the last few days in Malawi, where she gave a speech saying how 'proud' her late mother-in-law the Queen was of the Commonwealth.

During her final appearance in Malawi, Sophie looked pensive as she visited a neonatal unit at a hospital to meet premature babies.

Adding a touch of glitz to her outfit, the royal (pictured) opted for a golden necklace as well as matching hoop earrings to complete her attire

Last month, Sophie (pictured during today's outing) showcased her fashion credentials when arriving in Ethiopia as part of her tour of Africa

Staff gathered to greet the royal as she wandered the wards of Kamuzu Hospital, stopping to say hello to small children who are patients and chatting with doctors about the facility.

She was seen clasping her hands together as she met young patients on the paediatric unit, and also took a trip to the Kangaroo maternity department to speak with expectant mothers.

Elsewhere, she told how her 'dear mother-in-law' the late Queen was 'so happy' for the people of Malawi at the country's elimination of the eye disease trachoma.

Sophie, in a speech in Malawi to mark World Sight Day, said the Queen knew the summer before she died that the Countess would be returning to the southern African nation soon to celebrate its success in battling the condition, which can cause blindness.

The Countess seems to be in deep concentration as she listens to the children at the Forfar Early Learning Centre

Sophie was all smiles as she met the children at the Forfar Early Learning Centre today

The countess, global ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), said: 'We owe a dept of thanks to Her late Majesty for this incredible legacy and we say 'zikomo' (thank you).'

The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust Fund focused - on the instruction of the Queen - on offering financial support to help combat avoidable blindness across the Commonwealth including in Malawi.

Sophie travelled to Malawi five years ago as vice patron of the Trust, and said the Queen had been 'so moved' to hear of the work being carried out.

Malawi is the first country supported by the Trust to reach the milestone of trachoma elimination.
Some people put more effort into their Halloween celebrations than others, choosing to spend lots of money on their outfits and decorations.

For the most enthusiastic observers of the spooky holiday, their creativity extends to their office attire as they bring their scary outfits to work.

From pumpkins to witches and even the occasional vampire, office workers add a little spice to their 9-5 job by dressing up for the day.

But they don't always get the tone right - with some Halloween revelers finding themselves in the embarrassing predicament of being the only person dressed up for the occasion.

After a woman in the US dressed up as famed Sacha Baron Cohen character Ali G for a work meeting, only to find her colleagues hadn't followed suit, she may be comforted to know she's not alone in her Halloween faux pas, as several others around the world have made the same error.

Here, FEMAIL rounds up some of the people who got caught out this year after going all-out with their costumes...

TikTok user Meg Beadry went viral this Halloween after she revealed she had dressed up as Ali G for work to mark the fancy dress holiday, only to attend a buisness meeting where she discovered no one else was dressed up. FEMAIL has rounded up other people who made the same error this Halloween

This office worker based in Canada also had a Halloween faux pas after she spent what must have been hours on her spooky make up, giving herself six extra eyes. However despite being in the minority in her office, she looks fantastic

A UK-based supermarket worker got dolled up as a character from the 'Fallout' video game series, wearing the Vault-tec jumpsuit, and posed for a sneaky toilet selfie to show off her well-thought out costume - however after posting the photo on Twitter she admitted: 'Shame no one else is dressed up in the ASDA'

This Stranger Things fan, based in the UK, evoked the 1980s with his denim/leather shirt and wild curly black wig as he dressed up as Eddie Munson in series four of the Netflix show, complete with the character's 'Hellfire Club' t-shirt. Getting into character, he posed with the rock n' roll 'sign of the horns' with his hand - but admitted 'absolutely no one else at work dressed up'

This US-based worker, who must have some level of seniority at her company, admitted she had to carry out interviews for new staff members in her office on Halloween - while dressed as one of America's founding fathers. Although his face is not visible in the photo, the candidate looks unfazed by his interviewer's costume

This hospital worker, based in the US, decided to give a subtle nod to Halloween this year in her work outfit, seeing as it's probably not very hygienic to add fancy dress elements to hospital scrubs. Instead she wore a simple pair of animal ears, but she claims her co-workers, who had decided not to dress up, gave her unusual looks and 'side-eye' all day, as if she had turned up in 'fetish gear'

Always look on the bright side! Although this worker, based in the US, was the only person dressed up at her place of work after donning rat ears, she took it to mean that she would be crowned champion of the best-dressed for Halloween in her job this year

It's not just workplaces where people are being caught out - this student claims she was the only person dressed up at school for Halloween after casually slipping a Spiderman skin on underneath her usual outfit - but we think this one is subtle enough to be quite cool

This Twitter user, from the US, decided to dress up as Jamie Lee Curtis's character from the film Everything, Everywhere All at Once - and claims he was pulled into a serious work meeting (about something other than the outfit) during the day, which prompted him to ask his bosses if he should take off the wig

Embarrassing or actually quite stylish? This young worker revealed she was one of the only people at work dressed up for Halloween after donning a chic purple jumper dress, white knee-high boots and a green scarf to embody Daphne from Scooby Doo - but she probably could have passed it off for a tribute to the 1960s
Twins are common in Kaitlin's family and she has is now debating having her tubes tied because she got pregnant twice despite being on birth control

Kaitlin claims that she'll conceive twins each time she falls pregnant because she releases two eggs during ovulation - a process known as hyperovulation

She first welcomed two baby boys, Denver and Dayton, then welcomed her second set, Pierce and Piper Brooks in August 2021

A single mother has revealed how she became a mom of four at age 21 after she welcomed two 'miracle' sets of twins within two years - despite being on birth control the second time she conceived.

Kaitlin Brooks, now 22, from Little Rock, Arkansas, was over the moon to discover she was expecting twins in March 2019 and she welcomed her boys, Denver and Dayton Brooks, into the world that October at the age of 19.

But the full-time mom couldn't believe her luck when just after their first birthday she found out she was pregnant with twins again - despite being on birth control - and she gave birth to Pierce and Piper Brooks in August 2021.

Remarkably, the mom-of-four claims that she'll likely conceive twins each time she falls pregnant because she releases two eggs during ovulation - a process known as hyperovulation.

Kaitlin Brooks, now 22, from Arkansas, gave birth to two sets of twins by the time she was 21 and claims her pregnancies that defied the odds were a 'miracle'

The single mom-of-four gave birth to her first set of twins in October 2019 (left) and discovered she was pregnant with another set of twins in November 2020 (right)

She first welcomed two baby boys, Denver and Dayton, then welcomed her second set, Pierce and Piper Brooks last August

How Kaitlin had two sets of twins: What is hyperovoulation? The ovaries usually release just one egg per ovulation cycle, but sometimes more than one egg can mature and be released by an ovary in a process called hyperovulation, which can lead to getting pregnant with multiple babies.

Multiple ovulation, or hyperovulation, occurs when both ovaries release an egg or when more than one egg is released by an ovary.

Source: Flo.Health Advertisement

Due to this, the 22-year-old - who conceived her second set of twins while on the pill - has vowed to eventually have her tubes tied.

But for now, Kaitlin, who described herself as 'blessed' to have two sets of fraternal twins, said that she's looking into becoming a surrogate to help those who are unable to conceive their own children.

Kaitlin said: 'I had two sets of twins by the age of 21. I had my first set at 19 and second at 21.

'I feel that what's happened is a miracle because for the longest time I didn't think I could get pregnant.

'My doctor told me that every time I get pregnant it will be twins because I drop two eggs every time.

'The boys have just turned three and the babies are one and I have four toddlers and they're into everything.'

After having four children before the age of 22, Kaitlin decided it was too difficult for her to risk having another set.

And although the single mom-of-four is on birth control, she has debated having her tubes tied to ensure she won't have any more children, since the pill has failed her in the past.

Remarkably, the mom-of-four claims that she'll likely conceive twins each time she falls pregnant because she releases two eggs during ovulation - a process known as hyperovulation

Due to this, the 22-year-old - who conceived her second set of twins while on the pill - has vowed to eventually have her tubes tied

But for now, Kaitlin said that she's looking into becoming a surrogate to help those who are unable to conceive their own children

Kaitlin described herself as 'blessed' to have two sets of fraternal twins and said that she was 'shocked'

'Knowing that if I fall pregnant again I'll have multiples again is scary because I don't see how I could do another set.

'I think I'm going to get my tubes tied because I don't want to have to worry about that happening again.'

Kaitlin found out she was expecting for the first time in March 2019 and although twins run in her family, she was still 'shocked'.

Kaitlin said: 'I found out that I was pregnant at five weeks and had my first ultrasound at eight weeks and it was twins.

'I was shocked.

'Twins do run in my family but it was way back in the day when my family had twins - my great grandmother's sisters had twins and triplets.

'Denver is my wild child, it seems like he doesn't have a fear in the world.

'Knowing that if I fall pregnant again I'll have multiples again is scary because I don't see how I could do another set,' Kaitlin said

Kaitlin had to stay in the hospital for a week after due to having postpartum preeclampsia- which is a rare condition that occurs when you have high blood pressure after childbirth

She found out she was expecting again in November 2020, a month after the boys' first birthday

'Dayton is more shy and he keeps to himself more, he can be like Denver sometimes because they're always around each other but their personalities are totally different.'

The 22-year-old said she gave birth on October 29th 2019 when she was 38 weeks pregnant.

Denver arrived first weighing 6lbs 10.5oz and his little brother Dayton followed eight minutes later weighing 6lbs 7.7oz.

Kaitlin had a great pregnancy but had to stay in the hospital for a week after due to having postpartum preeclampsia- which is a rare condition that occurs when you have high blood pressure and excess protein in your urine soon after childbirth, according to Mayo Clinic.

She found out she was expecting again in November 2020, a month after the boys' first birthday.

Kaitlin said: 'It was a surprise again and another shock for me.

'I definitely didn't think it was twins again. I found out that I was pregnant a little bit earlier on when I was three weeks and found out they were twins at six weeks.

'I definitely didn't think it was twins again. I found out that I was pregnant a little bit earlier on when I was three weeks and found out they were twins at six weeks,' the single mom said

Kaitlin added: 'It was so funny because my mom thought that I was lying to her about having twins again'

After another stellar pregnancy, Kaitlin gave birth to her second set of twins after carrying them for 38 weeks and five days

'It was so funny because my mom thought that I was lying to her about having twins again.

'I was on birth control [the pill] when I got pregnant with the babies.

'I thought I was going to have to have a C-section because Piper was breaching and within the last minute she flipped, so I was able to give birth to them naturally too.

'I had both of my sets naturally, I did have to have an epidural but I didn't have a C-section.'

After another stellar pregnancy, Kaitlin gave birth to her second set of twins after carrying them for 38 weeks and five days.

She had another boy, Pierce Brooks who weighed 7lbs 5oz and a girl Piper Brooks, who was 6lbs 13oz.

And luckily she had no complications after the birth and was able to return home after 24 hours.

Kaitlin said: 'People are very shocked when I tell them that I've got two sets of twins because I'm only 22'

She added: 'A lot of people are shocked and they're like ''I don't see how you do it?'' and I was like 'I don't really have a choice you know, this is my life'

Kaitlin said she's not 'planning on having' having any more of her 'own' children and that she's 'happy' with four she has now

Kaitlin said: 'People are very shocked when I tell them that I've got two sets of twins because I'm only 22.

'A lot of people are shocked and they're like ''I don't see how you do it?'' and I was like 'I don't really have a choice you know, this is my life'.

'I'm not planning on having any more of my own children. I'm happy with my four that I have now.

'I don't know about getting it [tubal ligation] done at this age.

'I was looking into being a surrogate because I know there's a lot of mom's out there that can't carry their own, like I've been blessed to be able to do that and to be able to do that twice with twins.

'I've looked into that a little bit because that would be awesome.

'But I was just wanting to wait until the kids get older for when I did that.'
A mother-of-two who took on supermarket giant Morrisons single-handedly in court after a job she'd been promised 'disappeared' when she told her bosses she was pregnant says she was left 'drained' by 'gruelling' days representing her own legal case.

Donna Patterson, 38, has been dubbed the Bradford 'Erin Brockovich' after she prepped and won the discrimination case alone - despite having no legal training.

Speaking to Radio 4's Woman's Hour, she told host Emma Barnett that she was left exhausted by the pressure of detailing her case in front of a judge - but still went to bed every night feeling like 'it was worth it'.

Patterson won 60,000 at the tribunal, after the judge found she was discriminated against by the supermarket when she returned to work after maternity leave.

Donna Patterson told BBC's Woman's Hour that single-handedly taking on the supermarket in an employment tribunal left her 'drained every night' - but said she knew she wouldn't regret the court case, which saw her awarded 60,000

The former food buyer Mrs Patterson challenged Morrisons' lawyers herself in 'David and Goliath' battle despite having no legal training

The groceries giant had wanted her to be a confectionary buyer, but when she became pregnant the role disappeared, with HR informing her there had been restructure.

When she returned after giving birth she was told she now had to work in 'core grocery', which as a parent carried an 'overwhelming' workload and saw her signed off with stress.

When asked what toll the court case took on her, she told the Radio 2 programme: 'It's huge. I will never underplay how big it was. It was gruelling, it was exhausting, I was up until very late at night preparing, going through documents, and even during the hearing, each day I would go home each evening and I would be drained, I had nothing left in me.

'But pretty much every night, I would lie in bed, thinking 'I'm glad I've done this'

She added: 'What I hope is that, just like I did, with the likes of Helen Larkin and others that I read about, that other people, women and men, will read about my case and what I did and think: "Yeah, I've got an opportunity here'".

The mother said it was 'strange' being compared to Erin Brockovich - who famously took on US utility company Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) over water contaminated by a carcinogenic chemical from the local power station in Hinkley, California.

The company eventually paid $333 million (210 million) in an out-of-court settlement to more than 600 residents, the biggest award of its time in American legal history.

The mother-of-two told Woman's Hour host, Emma Barnett: 'What I hope is that, just like I did, with the likes of Helen Larkin and others that I read about, that other people, women and men, will read about my case and what I did and think: "Yeah, I've got an opportunity here'".

Patterson said 'because of the work I had put in it was quite clear that employment law had been broken'

Speaking of the immediate impact of her own victory, Patterson said: 'I just sat there and tears streamed down my face. Just from the sheer relief that it was worth it - worth all of the stress, all of the effort and worth everybody saying 'why not just walk away and move on'. It was a complete relief.

'I was conscious that what had happened was morally wrong but might not have broken the right legal criteria. Fortunately I had a really great judge and panel and because of the work I had put in it was quite clear that employment law had been broken.'

The married mother of two's win has now seen her likened to Erin Brockovich, a comparison she says she does not want

The tribunal heard Morrisons had planned to demote her when she was pregnant, which sent the judge 'ballistic'.

Unable to afford legal fees of 300 an hour, the former food buyer challenged Morrisons' lawyers herself and cross-examined eight former colleagues.

The married mother of two's win has now seen her likened to Erin Brockovich, the Julia Roberts character in the Oscar-winning film of the same name.

The movie tells the real-life story of a mother who, despite a lack of legal knowledge, won a case against a firm that was poisoning the water in her town.

Mrs Patterson has received messages of support since her David-versus-Goliath victory, adding: 'Somebody wrote, 'Oh she's like Erin Brockovich.'

Unable to afford legal fees of 300 an hour, the former food buyer challenged Morrisons' lawyers herself and cross-examined eight former colleagues

The mother, from Wetherby, West Yorkshire, already had a son, Rory, now five, and then had another boy Lorcan, two

Who is the real Erin Brockovich? Erin Brockovich was working as a paralegal when she realised people were getting sick in the same area. Pacific Gas & Electric agreed to a $333 million settlement with Hinkley, near Barstow in southern California, in 1997 after scientists found hexavalent chromium 6 in the local wells, a result of pollution caused by the company. Before the movie - starring Julia Roberts - was released Erin was said to have been extremely nervous. She said at the time: 'There were a lot of other people that were involved in this case, other firms, and everybody played a role. 'I wish they all could have just been seen in the movie. I did worry about how they would feel.' Advertisement

'I can see how it comes across as that, but it makes me sound like a pioneer. I don't want it.' In August 2020 Mrs Patterson took a year's maternity leave from her part-time job as a food buyer at the Morrisons HQ in Bradford.

The mother, from Wetherby, West Yorkshire, already had a son, Rory, now five, and then had another boy Lorcan, two.

But when she returned to her role last year, bosses assigned her to a different, full-time role.

With no extra pay and a newborn baby to look after, she struggled through the 'horrendous' new job and raised several unsuccessful grievances.

'They had decided that the new full-time role I was in was perfectly suitable for me because I was very experienced, and I should be able to do it with my eyes shut,' she said.

Mrs Patterson added to the Yorkshire Evening Post: 'My baby was around two months old and it was during the pandemic so my head probably was not in the right place to have a discussion like that.

'At the tribunal that was what the judge was most frustrated about  there being no duty of care.'

The demand took its toll and she was signed off sick with stress.

She later resigned on the grounds of constructive dismissal.

Mrs Patterson initiated legal proceedings and spoke to a few solicitors, with one encouraging her to reach a settlement.

The married mother of two's win has now seen her likened to Erin Brockovich, pictured, who was working as a paralegal when she realised people were getting sick in an area of California. Despite her lack of experience, the case she helped to build led to Pacific Gas & Electric agreeing to a $333million settlement over water contamination

A film about Erin Brockovich's legal battle was released in 2000 with Julia Roberts playing the eponymous lead role, pictured

With no extra pay and a newborn baby to look after, Mrs Patterson struggled through the 'horrendous' new job and raised several unsuccessful grievances. A Morrisons store is pictured above

But she said: 'I just fundamentally couldn't accept that. It wasn't ever about the money.

'It was for Morrisons to say we did wrong... and we were sorry and we will do better.

'I just want to see my children, but I also want to be mentally stimulated by going to work. I don't understand why employers still find it so hard to accommodate those two things.'

Realising she couldn't afford a lawyer, she represented herself  and won after a five-day hearing.

Recalling the moment, she said: 'I just felt these tears streaming down my face.'

Morrisons said: 'We don't accept we acted in an unfair way and believe a number of the facts have been misrepresented. We are considering an appeal.'
A single mother who had a baby at the age of 50 through IVF says it was 'the right time' because now she's no longer partying - and she can 'bring her up as she sees fit'.

Kelly Clarke, 52, a swimming teacher from Crawley, Sussex, flew to Athens for IVF treatment and claimed she was met with a 'huge amount of resistance' from family.

The swimming teacher's family were apparently concerned at the thought of her being an older mother and using a sperm donor to welcome a child - and not to co-parent, she says.

52-year-old Kelly Clarke from Sussex pictured with her one-year-old daughter Lyla Rae Clarke - she says it was 'the right time' to have a baby and flew to Athens in 2020 for fertility treatment

Kelly smiles after the birth of her daughter, Lyla Rae Clarke in 2021 weighing a healthy 7lbs and 60oz

Despite her age, Kelly knew that becoming a mother was her dream, and she welcomed Lyla Rae Clarke in March 2021 weighing 7lbs 8oz.

The first-time mother said Lyla Rae was 'the perfect baby - and she couldn't ask for anything more'.

Kelly, of Crawley, Sussex, said she didn't realise how 'deeply in love' with now 18-month-old Lyla Rae she would be.

Kelly, a former North Terminal manager for Gatwick Airport, said: 'My life is good right now to be a mummy.

The mother travelled alone to Athens to have treatment at the fertility clinic at the age of 50

Kelly Clarke pictured waiting to fly back to the UK from Athens having just had embryos implanted, the scan shows the womb after the implantation

The swimming teacher and now mother of one documented her pregnancy after the IVF was a success

Kelly from Sussex during her pregnancy in 2021 at the age of 50, after catching a flight to a fertility clinic in Athens

''Right now, I'm the best mummy I can be to Lyla.

'It's been the best experience of my life - she's so funny, so incredible and I didn't realise how deeply in love with her I'd be.

'I'd been met with a huge amount of resistance from family for deciding to become a single mum at 50.

'They were worried about me and the implications of using a donor - but in that moment I knew I'd made the right decision.'

She added: 'Now that Lyla's here they are incredibly supportive and couldn't be a better family to her. I don't know what I'd do without them.'

Kelly signed an agreement with the fertility clinic agreeing she would tell her daughter the truth about her conception

The former flight attendant admits that sometimes she worries about her daughter having an older mother

Kelly's family tried to dissuade her from having Lyla Rae due to her age, but Kelly is adamant she made the right choice

Kelly and her daughter Lyla Rae Clarke, who was born last year after her mother flew to Athens to have IVF

Despite being a single parent, the swimming teacher is happy she had Lyla at a later age as her lifestyle 'wasn't suitable'

Kelly worked as a flight attendant for 23 years before working in high-profile roles at Gatwick Airport - where she met a whole host of celebrities, including Tom Jones, Kate Moss and Princess Diana.

Despite always wanting a family, Kelly says having Lyla Rae in her later years was 'the right time' due to her previous life in the sky.

She said: 'Now I don't feel the need to be travelling and partying, I just feel the need to watch every minute of Lyla Rae growing up.'

Despite many of her friend's having children when they were younger, Kelly doesn't feel that she's had Lyla Rae too late and thinks that she is now better equipped to deal with life as a mother.

The former flight attendant said: 'I am pleased they can start new chapters.

The 52-year-old loves her new role as a mother to Lyla Rae and says the way her journey to motherhood came about was right for her

Ms Clarke feels blessed that she has life experience she can use to guide Lyla Rae better than she would have in her younger years

'But for me, I feel super blessed that with the life experience I have I can better guide Lyla Rae now than I would have in my younger years.

'I can focus solely on her as I am content with what I've done. I don't have to rush her youth to be able to carry on with mine.

'Everyone is different, that's just how I feel about the way round I've started my family.

'No one's right or wrong this is just how my journey to motherhood came about and was right for me.'

The mother-of-one also says she is 'glad' that she's not co-parenting as it allows her to bring up Lyla Rae in her own way.

She said: 'I'm happy not to co-parent as I can bring her up as I see fit and not have to disagree with anyone or have a partner do the opposite of what I do when I'm not there.

'I get to spend all my time with her.

'She has two amazing cousins who adore her and who she adores, a fantastic aunty and brilliant grandparents, so as far as I'm concerned, she is very grounded.

'She is 19 months old this month and already sings nursery rhymes, counts to five and says the alphabet to F.

'She knows her colours and also traffic lights. So I think the two of us are doing very well.'

Lyla Rae Clarke(pictured) at nursery, is now a happy, healthy one-year-old that mother Kelly calls the 'perfect baby'

Lyla Rae, who is now one-year-old explores - her mother will be 72 years of age when her daughter is 22

After being made redundant during the pandemic, Kelly was forced to turn to universal credit - which she says was the 'most difficult' thing.

Wanting a job that would fit with her new life as a mum, Kelly decided to retrain and became a swimming teacher.

Kelly signed an agreement with the fertility clinic agreeing she would tell her daughter the truth about her conception and admits that she sometimes thinks about the fact she's an older mum.

She said: 'When she's old enough to understand the situation, I'll explain it to her. I'll be honest, upfront and she'll know that everything's in place.

'It has hit me that in 20 years' time when she's 22, I'll be 72.

'Those kind of things about life insurance and a will are now in my mind which they weren't before.

'But I haven't got too much left to pay on my mortgage and once that's in place that's hers.

'One thing's for sure, Lyla is going to know she is loved and how much I wanted her - she'll know the lengths I went to bring her into my world.'
This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices.
Royal expert claimed he is likely 'furious' over coverage of Bashir interview in the Netflix royal drama

William, 40, who is patron of Tusk, presented awards at the annual ceremony, the 10th of its kind

The Prince of Wales looked serious as he attended the Tusk Conservation Awards at Hampton Court Palace

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Prince William remained professional as ever as he presented awards this evening in his first public appearance since The Crown confirmed its new series will show Princess Diana's infamous Panorama interview with Martin Bashir.

The Prince of Wales attended the annual Tusk Conservation Awards, of which he is patron, in Hampton Court Palace after Netflix dropped the trailer for series five of the fictionalised royal drama which included a tease of the 1995 interview - which William had previously asked media outlets never to air again.

Describing the BBC interview as 'unethical', he claimed it triggered the events that caused his mother to lose her life two years later. Despite fans of the show initially thinking just a few seconds of the interview would be depicted, it has now been reported that it will instead be shortened to a four-minute and 23-second segment.

This evening the Prince of Wales, 40, looked focused as he attended the event in a display of stoicism, and later greeted guests including opera singer Katherine Jenkins with a beaming smile on his face. Wearing a black tuxedo with a shiny black bow-tie and a poppy on his lapel ahead of Remembrance Day on 11 November, he was professional as ever.

During the ceremony he praised the 'truly remarkable people working on the frontline of conservation in Africa today' as he presented them with awards for their work.

William, 40, showed professionalism and commitment to royal duties as he appeared focused despite the Netflix show confirming it would show four minutes of Princess Diana's 1995 interview with Martin Bashir, which the Prince of Wales has since blasted as 'unethical'

The Prince of Wales showed his professionalism and commitment to his royal duty as he shook hands with Charlie Mayhew and another guest upon arrival

William, 40 (pictured right) smiled as he greeted opera singer Katherine Jenkins, known as the Queen's favourite performer, and her husband Andrew Levitas

After helping to launch the ceremony in 2013, the father-of-three has continued to work with Tusk as it celebrates the work of conservation leaders and wildlife rangers in Africa.

This year, awards alumni from across Africa came together to attend the event in London, including Benson Kanyembo, a Law Enforcement Advisor at Conservation South Luangwa in Zambia, who helped to reduce elephant mortality rates by 66% between 2018-2020.

Another guest of honour is Edward Ndiritu, the Head of Anti-Poaching at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, who has sustained a poaching level of near zero for seven years and counting across the Lewa landscape.

Addressing the audience at the awards ceremony, Prince William stressed the importance of environmental conservation despite living in 'turbulent times'.

He said: 'It is all too easy to lose sight of how critical it is that we look after our natural world. But we must remain focused on investing in nature and the environment, protecting it for future generations.

'We must not pass on the baton to our children and grandchildren, apologising for our lack of collective action.'

Prince William put his arm around delighted and proud award winner Neddy Mulimo with the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award for Conservation in Africa

The Prince of Wales hands over another award to Achilles Brunnel Byaruhanga, who is known for conservation work in Uganda

Prince William, 40, presented another award to Miguel Goncalves as part of the 10th annual Tusk Conservation Awards Ceremony

Father-of-two William also shook hands with Ian Craig as he presented him with an award as the conservationist looked thrilled with his accolade

Prince William stressed the importance of environmental conservation, even in 'turbulent times', so that future generations were not burdened

Ahead of the awards ceremony Prince William appeared deep in conversation as he chatted to guests

The Prince of Wales smiled as he walked into Hampton Court Palace with CEO of Tusk, Charlie Mayhew (pictured left of William) and another guest

The Prince of Wales shook hands with CEO of Tusk, Charlie Mayhew as he arrived at the Awards Ceremony at Hampton Court Palace this evening

Prince William, 40, was professional as ever on the red carpet as he attended the annual awards ceremony after he first helped to found Tusk in 2013

The Prince of Wales looked dapper in his black tuxedo, white shirt and shiny black bow-tie as he shook hands with Mr Mayhew

The father-of-two appeared to entertain the guests as he arrived at the annual Tusk Conservation Awards at Hampton Court Palace

The Prince of Wales smiled as he shook hands with a guest on the red carpet ahead of the 10th annual awards ceremony

A royal expert claimed Prince William, 40 (pictured), could well have been upset by The Crown's depiction of Princess Diana's interview with the BBC's Martin Bashir

Despite a royal expert claiming William would likely be 'furious' about The Crown revelations earlier today, the Prince of Wales seemed optimistic about the evening ahead

The Prince of Wales (pictured) looked stoic and focused on the task at hand as he attended the annual Tusk Conservation Awards at Hampton Court Palace this evening after it was confirmed The Crown will show an interview he hoped would never be aired again

William looked suave in a black tuxedo with a shiny black bow tie and a poppy on his lapel ahead of Remembrance Day on 11 November

Earlier today it was reported series five of The Crown, which will depict the 1990s and the split between Prince William's parents, will show a four-minute long dramatisation of Diana's infamous BBC Panorama interview, which the Prince of Wales has since described as 'unethical'

As the Prince of Wales approached guests on the red carpet he appeared jovial, allowing himself to get excited about the evening's events, which will celebrate conservation work

William looked ready for businedd as he clasped his hands together while chatting to guests on the red carpet ahead of the awards ceremony

Prince William's cousin, Peter Phillips, attended the annual Tusk Conservation Awards at Hampton Court Palace, in his first appearance since his brother-in-law Mike Tindall was confirmed in the line up for the new series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Peter Phillips (pictured) is the brother of Zara Phillips and the son of Princess Anne, making him the Prince of Wales's first cousin

Other guests at the star-studded awards ceremony included Dragons Den businesswoman Deborah Meaden, journalist Kate Silverton and William's cousin, Peter Phillips.

Princess Anne's son, 44, made his first public appearance since his brother-in-law Mike Tindall was confirmed in the line-up for the new series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here following weeks of speculation.

As the Prince of Wales remained professional while carrying out his charitable duty, royal commentator Ingrid Seaward told The Sun he is likely to be 'furious' about the revelations regarding the depiction of his late mother's interview in the new series of The Crown.

The Majesty Magazine editor-in-chief told the newspaper: '[William] said his piece when he said it should never be aired again. This is his mother and her memory they are doing this to.

'They should have listened to him. The interview has no credibility after the investigation. Everyone knows it has no legitimacy now.

'Charles will think they can say whatever they want about him but leave Harry and William out of it. He wont give a stuff about how he comes across but just dont attack his sons this way.'

The newspaper also reported that scenes will show Prince William watching the interview on TV while in his Eton uniform while Charles will be seen shouting and sobbing as she casts doubts on his ability to be King.

After carrying out an investigation into how Martin Bashir secured the 1995 interview, in which Diana famously declared there had been 'three people' in her marriage, Lord Dyson concluded the journalist had 'acted inappropriately' in securing the interview by mocking up fake bank statements and showing them to Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer in order to get access to her.

Reacting to Lord Dyson's damning report into how the original interview was obtained, Prince William made a televised statement which was deeply critical of The BBC.

He said: 'It is welcome that the BBC accepts Lord Dyson's findings in full  which are extremely concerning  that BBC employees: lied and used fake documents to obtain the interview with my mother; made lurid and false claims about the Royal Family which played on her fears and fuelled paranoia; displayed woeful incompetence when investigating complaints and concerns about the programme; and were evasive in their reporting to the media and covered up what they knew from their internal investigation.'
However some mum's believe the product can cause more damage than good

Mum's were grateful for the tip online, many already love the cult pink product

It took under 10 minutes to transform her filthy oven using The Pink Stuff paste

The mum took off eight months of 'filth' using one $9 secret miracle product

An Aussie mum has took to Facebook to share her 'amazing' oven cleaning hack

An Aussie mum has revealed the miracle product that removed 'eight months of filth' from her oven in under 10 minutes.

The mum used the 'smallest amount' of the $9 The Pink Stuff paste from Coles to transform her oven.

She shared her secret hack to popular Facebook group Mums Who Clean, thanking other mums for the 'amazing' tip.

An Australian mum swears by The Pink Stuff to clean her oven, before she used the cleaner (left) the oven had 'eight months of filth.' It took under 10 minutes of gentle pressure to transform the oven (right)

'I paid $9 and used the smallest amount. Seriously took less then 10 mins to clean my oven,' the mum said about the miracle paste.

'First time using this product and I'm super impressed. Ive seen so many mums posting how good it was and decided to try for myself.'

'I used an Aldi sponge and scouring pad, very little pressure and it came off so easily.'

'Thanks so much to every Mum that posted this product, your posts help so many others battle these crappy cleaning tasks with ease.'

The mum used the cleaner all over her oven, 'inside, outside and glass top as well,' she used cold water and didn't heat the oven.

She was pleasantly 'surprised' the product had 'no smell at all'.

Mums shared their love for the cult product, chiming in to say where you can get the best deal for the product.

The $9 cleaning product is a cult favourite among Aussie mums, although some worry it could scratch glass surfaces

Although it's available in Coles, Ebay, Bunnings, The Reject Shop and more, the best deal is apparently Chemist Warehouse where it can go for as low as $4.

'I'm unsure how I lived so long without this pink magic paste honestly. Brings my walls up like new I love it!' one mum said.

'I love this product, I use it on nearly everything,' another mum said.

'I like that it leaves no smell, other oven cleaners really stink , but this stuff works so well, I use the cream cleanser on my sink, and the multi-purpose cleaner works great,' another wrote.

'I'm a cleaner and I swear by all of the pink stuff products the bathroom spray is amazing,' one expert said.

Natural oven cleaning hacks * Add one cup of boiling water and one cup of vinegar to a tray, put it in a hot oven and leave it for 20 minutes. The use the scraper to remove the tough food build-up with ease. Then pour dishwashing liquid onto the glass oven door and use a scour to remove any remaining grease * Mix dishwashing liquid and bicarbonate of soda together to make a paste then coat the inside of oven in the solution and leave it, then scrub the surface with a scourer and wipe the excess paste away with a damp cloth Mix dishwashing liquid and bicarbonate of soda together to make a paste, coat the inside of oven in the solution and leave it to eat away at the grime then scrub it away Advertisement

Some were concerned it would scratch glass ovens or showers.

'Does it scratch the glass? Someone I know used it on her shower screens and she said it left some noticeable scratches,' one mum said.

'I've used it once. Never again. Small scratches on chrome and glass,' another agreed.

The mum said it didn't negatively affect hers, 'the container says to use a sponge and little pressure on glass which I did, no scratches.'
She hasn't been seen at the carnival since 2019 when she also impressed all

Jaimee Belle Kennedy was once dubbed Australia's 'future style icon' and her recent appearance at this year's Melbourne Cup proves she hasn't lost her touch.

The 29-year-old creative advisor at fine jewellers Kennedy Luxury Group wore a stunning minty green bejewelled jacket dress by Tamara Ralph with diamante fishnets race side on Tuesday.

The fashion-forward beauty wore her long locks in a plait down her back, adding a dozen pink, purple and blue bows and flowers before finishing it off with a chic veil scattered in butterflies.

Jaimee Belle Kennedy was once dubbed Australia's 'future style icon' and her recent appearance at this year's Melbourne Cup proves she hasn't lost her touch

The 29-year-old matched her eyeliner with her jacket dressed which had delicate bejewelled accents

She finished the look off with a $9,600 Louis Vuitton mini capucine which tied the whole outfit together perfectly and delighted her 17,000 Instagram followers.

Jaimee first made headlines after her appearance at the 2019 Melbourne Cup Spring Racing Carnival.

This year was her first opportunity to prove she still has what it takes to impress the masses after she took a break from the spotlight when the Covid pandemic hit.

The Melbourne-based fashionista regularly works with Sydney celebrity hairstylist Sarah Laidlaw, who created some of her most iconic looks for the spring racing season.

Vintage Hollywood sirens serve as inspiration for her memorable looks, with stars like Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and Jean Harlow among Jaimee Belle's favourite style icons.

'I grew up in dance and I think my love of fashion started there. I have fond memories of wearing costumes and makeup and being able to transform my character. As an adult, fashion allows me to emulate that feeling,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

The fashionista decked her hair out with a dozen bows and flowers which matched perfectly with her butterfly veil

Jaimee may be on the fast track to becoming Australia's most stylish woman thanks to her recent, incredibly elegant public appearances

Her style harkens back to a bygone era, with vintage screen sirens like Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and Jean Harlow serving as Jaimee Belle's biggest inspirations

High-end fashion is evidently Jaimee Belle's medium of choice, if her appearances at the Spring Racing Carnival are anything to go by.

On Melbourne Cup Day in 2019, her choice of pastel pink Gucci dress coat and yellow headpiece placed her at the top of 'best dressed' lists from the moment she arrived at Flemington Racecourse.

'There is always one piece that I absolutely fall in love with, and then I build around that item. It could be a dress, a pair of shoes or even a bag,' she explained.

Jaimee Belle's choice of a pastel pink Gucci dress coat and yellow headpiece placed her at the top of 'best dressed' lists from the moment she arrived at Flemington Racecourse on Melbourne Cup Day in 2019

'My Melbourne Cup outfit was built around my neon Kelly Cut Clutch,' she said, referring to the yellow Hermes handbag which starts from $26,225.

On Oaks Day, she braved the breeze at Flemington in a matching baby blue dress and draped blazer by Ralph and Russo - the designer of her ornate, corseted bridal gown which she wore for her wedding to Kennedy Group heir James Kennedy in Florence, Italy in 2018.

Taking cues from a bygone era, she added a touch of old Hollywood sparkle with a diamonds from fine jewellers Graff and metallic silver stilettos, and had Sarah Laidlaw style her blonde tresses into a chic chignon at the side of her head.

JAIMEE BELLE KENNEDY'S TOP FASHION TIPS - Never follow seasonal trends  shop according to your personal style and brand instead. - Find staple pieces for your wardrobe that you can mix with anything, like Jaimee Belle's go-to piece, a bodysuit from Wolford which she owns in a rainbow of colours. - Always own a fresh white dress  dress it up with wedges and down with sneakers all summer long. - Style outfits around one key piece  shoes, dress or bag. Advertisement

Jaimee Belle braved the breeze at Flemington Racecourse on Oaks Day 2019 in this baby blue dress and draped blazer by Ralph and Russo, finished with leather gloves and a matching hat

She added a touch of old Hollywood sparkle to her ensemble with a diamond necklace and bracelet from fine jewellers Graff, styling her blonde locks in a chic chignon at the side of her head

Jaimee Belle wore this ornate corseted bridal gown by Ralph and Russo for her wedding to Kennedy Group heir James Kennedy in Florence, Italy in 2018

'Sarah and I have a wonderful working relationship as well as a very close friendship,' she said of her longtime collaborator.

'I really trust her and often give her complete creative control. Sometimes I don't even know what she is doing until she is finished, and I look in the mirror two minutes before walking out the door and realise I am rocking a giant beehive today!'

For Jaimee Belle's appearance at the Brownlow Medal Count in September 2019, Sarah created a particularly dramatic look inspired by the hair of Claudia Schiffer in Chanel's Haute Couture Fall/Winter 1995 fashion show.

Sydney session stylist Sarah Laidlaw is the creative mastermind behind many of Jaimee Belle's most iconic looks, including this ornate ribboned ponytail which she wore to the Brownlow Medal Count in September

Her Brownlow hairstyle was inspired by Claudia Schiffer's look from Chanel's Haute Couture Fall/Winter 1995 fashion show

When she's not parading her glamorous looks in the Bird Cage or posing up a storm on various red carpets, Jaimee likes to keep her style adaptable and simple.

Her staple for every season is a Wolford bodysuit, which she owns in almost every colour.

'They are great quality and so long-wearing. They're easily styled with denim for the day, under a blazer for the office or with a leather skirt in the evening,' she said.

For summer, she always falls back on a fresh linen dress, 'styled with sneakers for a day at the park with my dogs, or wedges for a relaxed lunch with friends and family.'

Shunning seasonal trends, Jaimee Belle prefers to focus on pieces that suit her personal style and brand, noting: 'Just because something is on trend, doesn't mean it looks flattering on everyone.'

Asked about her favourite trends, Jaimee Belle said she avoids jumping on seasonal bandwagons and prefers to focus on what suits her personal brand instead.

'I really just love a piece when I see it. Just because something is on trend, doesn't mean it looks flattering on everyone,' she said.

'We all have different shapes and proportions, so it's about finding the perfect piece for you as an individual.'
But it appeared the trend is harder to do well than many thought - with most unable to pull it off

Punters at the 2022 Melbourne Cup have jumped on the Barbie Core 'pretty in pink' bandwagon

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The pretty-in-pink trend may have dominated the trackside at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, but if the list of best and worst dressed is anything to go by the 'Barbie Core' movement can be hard to get right.

Australian celebs were among those to jump on the bandwagon donning every shade of pink from blush to magenta - but only four, including Brooke Jowett and Kate Waterhouse managed to nail the trend.

Pretty in pink

Former Survivor star, Brooke was dressed in a beautiful floral gown which she paired with a lavender headband. Her white bag and heels had natural elements which tied in nicely with her demure look, on the softer side of the Barbie trend.

But the show stopping outfits weren't all for the wrong reasons - with some A-listers absolutely nailing their look on the day. (L-R: Demi Brereton in a floral Olgaberg number, Olivia Molly Rogers in Oglia Loro Couture and Delta Goodrem in Dolce & Gabbana)

While, Brooke Jowett (pictured left) looked demure as she stepped out in a beautiful floral gown which she paired with a lavender headband, white mini bag and matching heels, Amy Pejkovic (centre) donned a playful floral number and Kate Waterhouse (right) stunned in head-to-toe Gucci

Martha Kalifatidis didn't quite meet the brief as she showed off her baby bump on Tuesday

Kate Waterhouse stepped out in her typical high-brow style, dressed head-to-toe in Gucci. She wore he hair loosely tussled to the top of head and fixed with a crown, cementing her status as one of Australia's favourite style queens.

They were joined by Olivia Molly Rogers, who wore a peachy-pink take on the trend and Amy Pejkovic who topped her outfit off with a white wide-brimmed hat.

Olivia had heads turning for all of the right reasons with her classic tea-length Oglia Loro Couture gown and a custom made headpiece by Ezaraj.

She smiled as she posed for cameras in the Bird Cage, after managing to be one of the few to nail the trend.

Amy, a high jumper and model, risked everything by wearing a white collared shirt under a cute floral dress by Aje.

But her gamble played off in what is one of the highest-stakes fashion meets of the year.

Nadia Fairfax stepped out in a long-sleeved kimono-inspired get-up that swamped her small frame and resembled a bathrobe

She finished the outfit off with hot pink heels and a micro clutch, signing off on her Barbie Core status effortlessly.

For every punter who managed to pull of the look there were many who didn't and the A-list was no exception.

Pity in pink

The usually sophisticated Nadia Fairfax was the first to fall into the worst dressed category with her attempt at carrying off the global trend.

The style icon missed the mark with her bathrobe-esque kimono which failed to flatter her with shape or colour.

Television presenter Caty Price also proved how not to take on the Barbie-core trend with his crumpled gown, Former Miss Universe Tegan Martin missed the mark in this Rebecca Vallance dress which overwhelmed her petit frame

The outfit was topped off with a small hat which hid her face, and while not quite a fascinator, the hat definitely didn't help get her outfit over the line.

The next to fall for Barbie Core only to end up at the bottom of the barrel was former Miss Universe Tegan Martin whose dress was so short it seemed to overwhelm her tiny frame.

The magenta pink frock by Rebecca Vallance was paired with chunky platform heels, a small clutch and large hat of the same colour.

Caty Price missed the mark with her attempt at the trend opting for a satin-style knee-length dress which appeared crumpled as she posed at the Bird Cage.

The dress looked unbalance with its large shoulder puffs which continued down the television presenter's arm.

MasterChef judge Melissa Leong made an early run for worst dressed with this satin suit which she coupled with a patent-leather hat. The odd ensemble was topped off with a shiny silver bag which clashed with the suit.

Melissa Leong made an early run for worst dressed with this satin suit which she coupled with a patent-leather

Terry Biviano (pictured left with Anthony Minichiello) failed to impress with her abstract pink and white gown, while Love Island winner Anna McEvoy (centre) won no new admirers with her pink-on-pink attire. Television 'besties' Sarah-Jane and Rachel from The Block faded into the crowd in their pastel gowns

Love Island winner Anna McEvoy won no new admirers with her outfit, despite her efforts to top it off with a very fluffy hat and bag.

The glamorous star combined five shades of pink in her attempt to dazzle at the Cup, but ended up in a sea of less-than-impressive Barbie inspired punters instead.

Terry Biviano also failed to impress with her abstract pink and white gown, with the sleeves resembling meringues drowning out her figure.

Television 'besties' Sarah-Jane and Rachel from The Block lacked inspiration with their fashion efforts, with Sarah jumping on the Barbie bandwagon early.

Martha Kalifatidis also failed to meet the brief as she showed off her baby bump on Tuesday. The MAFS star wore a lose power suit on top of a mesh gown but the quirky outfit didn't quite come together for the mum-to-be.
Mum's and childcare workers largely agree, except for on one divisive item

She feels parents shouldn't dress kids in overalls, designer clothing and Crocs

The 18-year-old warned against burdensome clothes for childcare workers sake

An Aussie childcare worker revealed the clothes kids shouldn't wear to daycare

An Australian childcare worker has revealed the clothes she would never dress her child in for daycare because they are too 'burdensome' for childcare workers.

Parents and childcare workers are mostly in agreement with her suggestions, except for about one very divisive item that's splitting opinion.

The 18-year-old advised against overalls, designer clothing and Crocs, however mums and childcare workers argue that Crocs are convenient rather than awkward.

An Aussie childcare worker revealed the clothes parents should never sent their kids to daycare in

The daycare workers number one no-go was overalls as they are inconvenient for nappy changing

'Things I wouldn't send my kid to childcare in as a childcare worker. Parents please take note,' she said.

Poll Would you dress your kids in these clothes for daycare? Absolutely! No way! Would you dress your kids in these clothes for daycare? Absolutely! 12 votes

No way! 32 votes Now share your opinion





Her first no-go was overalls. 'Please stop,' she said to parents, adding that they're inconvenient for nappy changing.

Although designer clothing is not bothersome for workers, from her experience she believes it's 'not worth it.'

Another popular kids item she advised against was Crocs or slip on shoes, because of how easily they come off.

'Easily removed and I have to put them back on 1000 times,' she explained.

Her final pet peeve was sippy cups that can spill.

'I do not like cleaning up water all day,' she said.

Fellow childcare workers largely agreed with the message, and even added some of their own no-gos for daycare.

'Converse! A nightmare to get back on them,' one woman said.

'Pull ups and lace shoes,' another added.

'Laces, seriously, ditch the fancy runners. Velcro is the easy way to go,' a third agreed.

'Also, complicated hairstyles, expecting them to stay perfect,' another wrote.

Other childcare workers complained about costumes with props, and easily lost jewellery like rings.

'We just want old, loose fitting T-shirts, tie up shorts or pants and velcro shoes or sandals please,' one daycare worker said.

Opinion was split on whether Crocs are a convenient shoe for kids to wear to daycare or whether they cause too much hassle

What items do daycare workers hate? * Overalls * Designer clothing * Slip on shoes * Sippy cups that spill * Pull ups * Lace-up shoes * Complicated hairstyles * Costumes with props * Jewellery * Lots of toys * Unlabeled belongings Advertisement

However, the daycare workers advise not to wear crocs caused a particular split in opinion.

'Agreed with you until the Crocs. Crocs are life lol,' one woman said.

'I sent Crocs during potty training because if they had an accident their shoes could be wiped clean and be dry to keep wearing,' another added.

'I personally love Crocs on preschool children. Means they are able to put on their own shoes instead of me having to do it,' another wrote.

Another woman felt she shouldn't be told how to dress her child for a service she pays so heavily for.

'I agree with not sending them in expensive clothes, but when I spend over $130 a week to send them to nursery I'll dress them in what I like,' she said.

The woman often shares tips for parents with kids in daycare.

She has also recommended that parents 'label everything' to prevent kids belongings getting mixed up.

She advised parents to pack as many spare clothes and dummies as possible, and to 'only send your child with their comforter, no other toys.'
But the ticket costs and eye-watering $20,000

First class offers five-star service, food on-demand and a even shower

Paris Marchant, 22, and her partner were travelling from Sydney to France

A young Aussie has shared what a first class Emirates ticket gets you

A 22-year-old high school drop out turned business woman has shared what it's like flying first class from Sydney to Paris with Emirates.

Paris Marchant shared a video on TikTok documenting the international trip with her husband Lawrence Lees.

Unlike a business class ticket, first class offers nearly anything you may need - from five-star service to food on-demand and even a shower.

But the lush travel option with Emirates comes at a cost of an eye-watering $20,000.

Scroll down for video

Paris Marchant, 22, (pictured) and her her husband Lawrence Lees travelled from Sydney to France first class aboard Emirates

In a TikTok video Paris documented everything that's included - from freshly served meals to the huge cabins and additional perks. But the lush travel option with Emirates comes at a cost of an eye-watering $20,000

Poll Would you pay $20,000 to fly first class internationally with Emirates? Yes, for the experience and comfort No way, too expensive Only if I could afford it Would you pay $20,000 to fly first class internationally with Emirates? Yes, for the experience and comfort 48 votes

No way, too expensive 126 votes

Only if I could afford it 172 votes Now share your opinion





In the video Paris highly recommended traveling first class if you can afford it, as she boasted about enjoying the comfort, food, and products supplied.

For the first leg flight from Sydney to Dubai the couple were treated to a cabin each that was equipped with a huge television, mini bar, snacks, and doors on either side for privacy.

'These were both of our first class suites - as you can see there's ample room, they're super luxurious and really comfortable,' Paris said.

The huge cabin chairs transform into beds for added comfort, and tiny lights are embedded into the ceiling to make it appear like the night sky.

They were also given personal care items such as toothbrush, tooth paste, deodorant, towelettes, moisturisers and hand wipes.

Perhaps the most impressive inclusion on board the flight was the in-build shower and bathroom (left). The pair were also given personal care items such as toothbrush, tooth paste, deodorant, towelettes, moisturisers, hand wipes and perfume (right)

Perhaps the most impressive inclusion on board the flight was the in-build shower and bathroom.

Sounding impressed and excited, Paris said: 'This is epic; this is a shower in the sky, which you only get on Emirates first class. Absolutely amazing.'

'The menu was completely on-demand, so whenever you wanted any food you just press a buzzer and they (the staff) would come.'

Paris chose between caviar, porcini mushroom soup, traditional Arabic mezze, tea-smoked duck, grilled courgettes or a seasonal salad. There was also an extensive wine selection.

'The food was actually SO good and fresh,' Paris said.

At the stop-over in Dubai the pair ordered sushi and received a complimentary massage in the Emirates lounge before continuing the second leg of the flight and arriving in Paris.

The huge cabin chairs (left) transform into beds for added comfort, and tiny lights are embedded into the ceiling to make it appear like the night sky. Guests can also choose from a lavish menu (right)

The video was viewed more than 391,000 times and received more than 15,000 'likes', but most TikTok users were in disbelief over the huge cost

What's included in a first class international flight on Emirates? Luxury food and beverages to choose from A chair that can recline all the way back for sleeping Ample room A huge television Personal hygiene products - deodorant, perfume, moisturisers Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages A button to call staff whenever you need Sliding doors for maximum privacy to your cabin area A shower A bar to order drinks from Advertisement

The video was viewed more than 391,000 times and received more than 15,000 'likes' from other TikTok users, but many were in disbelief over the price.

'$20,000!!! My car cost that,' one person wrote with a laughing emoji.

'At least I get to see this without wasting $20K. Sweet,' another wrote.

A third said: 'Strongly recommend not watching this 10 hours before a 16-hour economy flight from Los Angeles to Sydney.'

'You obviously have worked very hard to be able to afford it, well done,' another said.

And they have worked hard - Paris and Lawrence are the duo behind online women's clothing store Generation Outcast Clothing that has even caught the eye of Kylie Jenner.
Millions of asthmatics were today warned bonfire night might be 'deadly' and told to be extra careful when celebrating this weekend.

Asthma and Lung UK said the triple whammy of smoke, cold air and seasonal viruses could trigger life-threatening attacks.

The charity urged sufferers who are worried about the potential threat to avoid going to firework displays and stay indoors if possible.

Around 5.4million people are thought to have have asthma in the UK, while 25million live with the incurable condition in the US.

Sufferers can use reliever inhalers to quickly widen their airways during flare-ups and are supposed to take their preventer inhalers daily to stop flare-ups.

Bonfire night causes a 'deadly' combination of firewood smoke, cold air and viruses for asthmatics, charities warned today. Michelle Hicks (pictured in hospital following an asthma attack on the night three years ago), 48, from Derbyshire, was diagnosed with breathing pattern disorder, which doctors believe was brought on by the medical episode

Ms Wainwright-Hicks's children Beth, 21, and twins Jake and Isaac, 10, (pictured together, with their inhalers) also have asthma, so November 5 is always a worrying time of year for her

WHAT IS ASTHMA? Asthma is a common but incurable condition which affects the small tubes inside the lungs. It can cause them to become inflamed, or swollen, which restricts the airways and makes it harder to breathe. The condition affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood. Symptoms may improve or even go away as children grow older, but can return in adulthood. Symptoms include wheezing, breathlessness, a tight chest and coughing, and these may get worse during an asthma attack. Treatment usually involves medication which is inhaled to calm down the lungs. Triggers for the condition include allergies, dust, air pollution, exercise and infections such as cold or flu. If you think you or your child has asthma you should visit a doctor, because it can develop into more serious complications like fatigue or lung infections. Source: NHS Advertisement

Asthma attacks can be fatal, with around four people in the UK dying from one every day.

Smoke, pollution and cold air can cause the airways to tighten up and a build-up of sticky mucus, making it harder to breathe.

More than 7,600 people in Britain were admitted to hospital for emergency care for their asthma symptoms in November 2018, the latest date data is available for.

Emma Rubach, head of health advice at Asthma and Lung UK, said: 'Fireworks and bonfire displays might be fun.

'But if you have asthma triggered by smoke, they could land you in hospital.

'Smoke fumes from burning wood and fireworks can linger in the air for hours, creating localised pollution which can cause asthma attacks or lead to a worsening of symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing and coughing for those with asthma.

'Cold air due to the drop in temperatures can also make symptoms worse, meaning that next week people with asthma or other lung conditions could face a dangerous combination of triggers.'

The charity said asthma sufferers planning to go to a Bonfire Night event should take their preventer medicines as prescribed.

People with asthma should take their reliever inhalers with them and stand well back from the fire if the smoke is making them cough.

They should also ensure the friends or family they go with are aware of what to do if an asthma attack is happening.

The charity also recommends wearing a thin scarf over the nose and mouth to warm the air that is being breathed in, preventing it being too cold and triggering symptoms.

Ms Rubach said: 'If you have a lung condition and are worried, the best thing you can do is take your medicines as prescribed, especially your preventer inhaler as this builds up protection in your lungs.

'We would advise you to consider staying indoors if fireworks have brought on your asthma symptoms before.

'But if you are planning to go to a display, stand well back from bonfires and make sure you have your reliever inhaler with you to relieve symptoms as they come on and that people you are with know what to do in an asthma attack.'
Food Sagety and Inspection Service (FSIS) urged customers to throw them away

Those affected are the 80oz bags, which contain about 20 burgers each

Hundreds of thousands of frozen chicken patties sold at Costco are being recalled over fears they may contain pieces of plastic.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) warned customers the plastic shards 'could be sharp and possibly cause an injury'.

More than 150,000 pounds (lbs) of the Foster Farms burgers  sold in packets of 20 for $18  are thought to be affected.

The FSIS is telling Americans to either throw them away or return them to the store where they were purchased for a refund.

No injuries have been reported to date. But the agency warned plastic shards could cause cuts to the mouth, throat and digestive system if ingested.

The issue only came to light when customers complained to the manufacturer after finding plastic 'embedded' in their chicken burgers.

Thousands of frozen chicken patties sold by Costco are being recalled over fears they may be contaminated with 'hard and sharp' plastic. The product, Foster Farms 80oz breaded frozen chicken patties, is pictured above. It has already been pulled from the Costco website

They were distributed in five states in August: Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah and Washington. But agency staff admitted others may be affected

The alert is a 'Class I' recall, meaning there is a 'high risk' that eating the food will cause health problems or death.

The burgers are described as 'breaded chicken breast patties with rib meat', and the best before date of August 11 next year.

What is being recalled? The FSIS is recalling frozen breaded chicken patties sold in 80oz bags that contain 20 burgers. The product is sold in Costco for about $18. The agency said consumers could work out whether they had the product in their freezer by checking the sell-by date. Affected products are dated to expire on August 11, 2023. Advertisement

Approximately 30,000 bags are affected, containing nearly 600,000 chicken patties.

They were distributed in five states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah and Washington.

But Foster Farms have admitted that products contaminated with the pieces could have been sold in other states too.

Costco has already pulled the product from its website.

It was not clear how the plastic shards got into the burgers, but previously this has been due to parts breaking off machines during the manufacturing process.

The FSIS did not detail how many customers had complained over the plastic pieces.

Health risks from accidentally biting down on shards of plastic include cuts to the mouth and, if swallowed, throat or digestive tract. It could also damage teeth.

Previously medics have warned that eating shards of metal may lead to the intestine being punctured when they move into the digestive tract.

This leads to intestinal contents leaking into the body, which risks someone facing severe abdominal pain.

Foster Foods is based in Farmerville, Louisiana.
Cash-strapped NHS bosses advertised hundreds of thousands of pounds' worth of diversity roles in just one month, it was revealed today.

Sixteen vacancies for diversity, equality, inclusion and wellbeing officers were put online by trusts in England and Wales in October.

The roles have a combined annual salary of more than 700,000. For comparison, the same cash could pay for six GPs, 19 nurses or 20 paramedics.

Campaign groups hit out at the health service for forking out ads for more 'diversity demagogues'.

With the NHS backlog spiralling to 7million, there is 'no excuse for resources to be wasted', they said.

It comes amid the never-ending NHS crisis, which has seen ambulance, emergency department and cancer performances plummet to record lows in recent months.

Health chiefs have warned the situation will get even worse due to a 21billion black hole in their funding, which may see services cut.

Ex-Health Secretary Sajid Javid vowed to stamp out 'waste or wokery' in the health service. But Steve Barclay, who now holds the role after being appointed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is yet to set out his position.

The NHS posted 16 job vacancies at trusts in England and Wales in October that focused on diversity, equality, inclusion and wellbeing. The roles have a combined annual salary of more than 700,000. The same cash could pay for six GPs, 19 nurses or 20 paramedics. The graphic shows the annual salaries of a nurse, paramedic and GP in England and the diversity roles

Former Health Secretary Sajid Javid (right) vowed to stamp out 'waste or wokery' in the health service. But Steve Barclay (left), who now holds the role, is yet to set out his position

WHAT 'WOKE' DIVERSITY ROLES IS THE NHS HIRING? Diversity and Inclusion Officer Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust Annual Salary: 32,934 Involvement and Lived Experience Diversity Officer Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Trust Annual Salary: 40,588 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Leader Dorset Healthcare University Trust Annual Salary: 47,672 Equality Diversity and Inclusion Officer Gloucestershire Hospitals Trust Annual Salary: 26,282 Equality , Diversity and Inclusion Specialist Black Country ICB Annual Salary: 77,274 Adjusted: 32,198 Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing Digital Health and Care Wales Annual Salary: 47,673 Adjusted: 23,837 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust Annual Salary: 47,672 Group Associate Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manchester University Trust Annual Salary: 63,862 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion/Staff Experience Coordinator Gloucestershire Hospitals Trust Annual Salary: 32,934 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practitioner Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust Annual Salary: 32,934 Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement Manager Royal Free London Trust Annual Salary: 55,049 Wellbeing and Inclusion Advisor East Midlands Ambulance Service Trust Annual Salary: 32,934 Deputy Head of Patient Experience & Inclusion Warrington and Halton Hospitals Trust Annual Salary: 47,672 EDI projects manager - Research University Hospital Southampton Trust Annual Salary: 46,672 Equality and Inclusion Practitioner Northern Care Alliance Trust Annual Salary: 40,588 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practitioner Midlands Partnership Trust Annual Salary: 40,588 Source: Taxpayers' Alliance Advertisement

The NHS roles had a combined annual salary of 713,328, with each job paying between 26,282 and 77,274 per year.

But two of the jobs have short-term contracts of less than a year, meaning the actual total cost to the health service is 644,415.

Jobs included a five-month stint as an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Specialist at the Black Country Integrated Care Board in Wolverhampton, which paid an annualised salary of 77,274 (32,198 for five months).

Key tasks include ensuring that EDI is 'central' to all work across local NHS organisations and ensure colleagues have the 'knowledge and skills' to be 'champions of inclusion'.

Meanwhile, Manchester University Trust is hiring a Group Associate Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, which comes with a 63,862 salary.

And a 55,049-per-year Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement Manager is being sought by the Royal Free London Trust.

The East Midlands Ambulance Service is looking for a Wellbeing and Inclusion Advisor, who will pocket 32,934 per year.

Joe Ventre, digital campaign manager at the TaxPayers' Alliance, which compiled the figures, told MailOnline: 'The last thing taxpayers expect to fork out for is diversity demagogues in the health service.

'While patients face mounting backlogs, there can be no excuse for resources to be wasted on these right-on roles.

'Now more than ever, NHS trusts should be focusing funds on frontline services.'

An NHS spokesperson said: 'The NHS in England employs more than 1.4million staff across more than 800 hospitals and while it is up to individual trusts to decide how best they support their own staff, NHS England is reducing its workforce by up to 40 per cent.

'The NHS remains one of the most efficient health services in the world, spending a far lower proportion on administration costs than comparable countries, to ensure we deliver maximum benefit for patients for every pound of taxpayer funding.'

The NHS has repeatedly complained about a crippling lack of resources to fund its services.

A previous investigation by MailOnline in August found five diversity roles, offering 76,000 per year to staff in senior equality roles.

Four out of the five roles offered flexible working, with some actively encouraging people to work from home.

And NHS pay data, released this month, showed the health service spent a mammoth 57million on communications last year, a 13 per cent hike year-on-year, with some staff taking home 108,000 per year.

Health bosses this month warned cancer, mental health and GP services may be squeezed as a result of the 21billion funding blackhole.

Officials told an NHS meeting that there would be short of 14billion by 2024, rising by an additional 6 to 7billion by 2025.

They said there was no room to cut costs without turning to core services, such as the amount spent on cancer, mental health and primary care  which medics and campaigners already say is too little.

Meanwhile, more than 7million people in England waiting for routine NHS ops such as hip and knee replacements.

Leading experts fear the 'grim milestone'  the equivalent of one in eight people  will only get topped as the pressures of winter, Covid and flu kick in.

It marks the highest total since NHS records began in 2007. Almost 390,000 patients have been forced to endure year-long waits for their treatment, often while in serious pain.

And analysis suggests the NHS is carrying out fewer operations and treatments than before the pandemic, despite pledges to shrink the ever-growing list.

In the past year, an average of nearly 257,500 inpatient treatments, including hip and knee replacements, have been performed each month  roughly 12 per cent lower than the year before the pandemic.
Millions of people shower in the morning as part of their routine to wake up and feel fresh for the day.

But, according to one hygiene expert, bathing every day is 'really not important' and does not need to be done ever.

Professor Sally Bloomfield, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the only reason we do it is to be 'socially acceptable' by warding off 'nasty' body odour.

Last week, Amou Haji, nicknamed the 'world's dirtiest man' because he did not wash for nearly seven decades, died at the age of 94 in Iran.

And Professor Bloomfield, who endorsed the Government's handwashing campaign during the Covid pandemic, implied there was nothing wrong with his lifestyle from a hygiene perspective.

She said washing too much could strip the body of its self-regulating microbiome  the microorganisms that live in our body and help control oil levels on skin. In theory, dermatologists say it may leave skin more susceptible to irritants.

Despite her claims, Professor Bloomfield admitted that she still showers every day to keep her hair looking 'reasonable'.

One expert claims showering every day is 'really not important' for preventing disease and does not really need to be done ever

Mr Haji, nicknamed 'the dirtiest man in the world', has died at the age of 94. He is pictured here in 2018 in Dezhgah in Iran

Professor Sally Bloomfield, a hygiene expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, says showering is only needed to ward off bad body odour

'World's dirtiest man' dies aged 94 An Iranian man dubbed the 'dirtiest man in the world' for not taking a shower for more than half a century has died at the age of 94, state media has reported. Amou Haji, who did not wash for around 67 years, died on Sunday in the village of Dejgah in Iran, IRNA news agency said. Mr Haji chose to avoid showering over fears that it would bring him bad luck and make him sick. But 'for the first time a few months ago, villagers had taken him to a bathroom to wash,' a local official told the Iranian state media. 'Not long after, he fell ill and finally, on Sunday he gave up his life,' IRNA reported. Mr Haji, who was covered in soot and dirt, had an aversion to soap and water. He said he hated even the thought of bathing. The Iranian has previously said that he chose this eccentric way of life after experiencing 'emotional setbacks in his youth'. Since then he became isolated. As well as cleanliness, Mr Haji also had an aversion to fresh food and drink. His favourite food was rotten porcupine, and he would choose to drink five litres of water a day from a rusty oil can. He would often collect the water from nearby puddles. Mr Haji would also eat roadkill and if his life wasn't unique enough, he also liked to smoke animal faeces out of an old pipe, rather than tobacco. Photos from 2018 show the Iranian spoking multiple cigarettes at once. Mr Haji had spent most of his life in Dejgah village in the province of Fars in southern Iran where he had no wife and apparently no family. Advertisement

Professor Bloomfield told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast: 'In my opinion we don't need to bath and shower every day. In fact, we don't need to bath and shower at all.

'There are microbes on our body that produce nasty odours but they're not harmful to us.

'And the reason we bath and shower is that we want to get rid of those odours and we want to feel comfortable.

'That's fine  but as far as preventing disease, it's really not important.'

She added: 'We don't need to shower or wash at all. The reason we do it is to be socially acceptable.

'We do it in the summer to get rid of sweat, to make us feel more comfortable.

'But we also have some harmless bugs that set up home in places that are dark and moist and they break down sweat and they break down urine to produce nasty odours, which make us unacceptable to other people.

'So those are the reasons that we mainly shower ourselves.'

She said the body has evolved to have a microbiome that is 'nice and stable and looks after it' but can be stripped off by constantly washing with soap.

She said: 'We don't have any absolute evidence as to what [daily showering with soap] does but we do know from the Covid pandemic that when people were washing their hands in a very obsessive way, their hands were being stripped of oils and became dry.

'So it's not good for us to wash too regularly.'

Shocked listeners hit back at the claims, arguing daily showers are vital for getting rid of nasty smells caused by sweating.

One wrote in saying: 'Ask anyone who does a manual job and they'll tell you "yes, I shower every day".

'Anyone fortunate not to do hard physical work, do what you want.'

Another said: 'Night sweats and menopause  I shower every morning.'

Even Professor Bloomfield admitted just because you don't need to shower everyday, it doesn't mean she doesn't.

Asked if she practices what she preaches, she said: 'I have a shower every day as part of washing my hair.

'I happen to be vain and I like my hair to look reasonable and in order to do that, it has to be done every other day and so that's what I do.'

And she said people should always wash their whole bodies before going into a swimming pool.

She said: 'We can harbour all sorts of microbes on our body that we're perfectly comfortable with but put them into a swimming pool and we can pass them on to other people.

'So I would say that's the only time where we really should have a shower.'

She also urged people to wash their hand regularly, even if they do not have to shower.

Professor Bloomfield said: 'Hand-washing is still vital to prevent the spread of infections and diseases.

'We're very confused about the difference between cleanliness and hygiene.

'Cleanliness is what we do to look and feel clean but hygiene is the cleaning we do in order to prevent the spread of germs.

'One of the key things for preventing the spread of germs, as we saw during the pandemic, was handwashing.

'So it's very important to wash our hands but [so] it's targeted.

'We have to wash our hands at certain particular moments like when we're handling raw food, when we've been using the toilet, when we've been touching a lot surfaces we know a lot of other people have been touching and before we eat.'
Men wanting to know how potent their sperm are can now find out on the high street, if they're willing to fork out 150.

Superdrug today started offering a 'male fertility service'.

Men pay for a standard sperm test, similar to ones already sold at private clinics, which is delivered to their home.

Couriers pick up the samples, before whisking them away to a laboratory where sperm is put under a microscope.

Doctors look at the quantity, quality, motility  how quickly and efficiently sperm can move  and volume.

A breakdown of the results are then available within 48 hours, mirroring the time taken for a Covid PCR test to come back.

Men are able to access Superdrug's medical team to ask any questions about their results and any next steps they should take.

Superdrug today started offering the high street's first ever 'male fertility service'

Men pay for a standard sperm test (pictured)  similar to ones already sold at pharmacies  which is delivered to their home

Couriers pick up the samples (pictured), before whisking them away to a laboratory where sperm is put under a microscope

Superdrug said its test, which it claims is the first of its kind available on the high street, will help men 'more easily access information about their own fertility and take greater control of their reproductive health'.

Men can get the tests, which cost 148, online. They are not available in-store.

Lab technicians produce a report on 22 different parameters.

These include how much sperm is in the sample, how well the sperm can move, how much sperm in contained within the semen and the quality of the sperm  which covers how many look normal and abnormal.

HOW COMMON IS INFERTILITY? Infertility is when a couple cannot get pregnant (conceive) despite having regular unprotected sex. Around 1 in 7 couples may have difficulty conceiving. About 84 per cent of couples will conceive naturally within a year if they have regular unprotected sex  defined as every two to three days. For couples who have been trying to conceive for more than three years without success, the likelihood of getting pregnant naturally within the next year is one in four, or less. Britons are advised to speak to their GP if they were unable to get pregnant after one year of trying. Infertility is usually caused by a lack of regular ovulation, poor quality semen, blocked or damaged fallopian tubes and endometriosis. Fertility can also be impacted by age, weight, sexually transmitted infections, smoking, alcohol, exposure to pesticides and stress. Fertility treatments include medicines to encourage regular ovulation, surgical procedures to repair fallopian tubes or scarring and assisted contraception, such as IVF. Source: NHS Advertisement

Customers then have unlimited access to Superdrug's online doctors  a team of 'highly trained' and General Medical Council-registered doctors  who share the results and answers questions about the test, results and next steps.

If results are abnormal, the medical team can provide advice to improve sperm quality or where to get help to boost the chance of conceiving.

Dr Babak Ashrafi, one of Superdrug's online doctors, noted that the NHS advises people to try to conceive for 12 months before approaching their GP.

He said: 'A year can make a difference to fertility levels so the sooner you know, the sooner you can act.

'This is a discrete and convenient service and for people trying to conceive, these test results may help provide answers and signpost them in the right direction.'

Caris Newson, Superdrug's healthcare director, said the new fertility testing service makes it 'as convenient as possible' for men to get advice, support and a 'more informed understanding of their fertility'.

Superdrug said the results 'gives both the patient and a clinician a clear understanding of the analysis of the sample and the implications on fertility, rather than simply finding out whether the sperm count is low'.

This means it can be used for referrals or reviews with a fertility specialist, as the test is 'comparable to a World Health Organization or NHS test', the pharmacy said.

Professor Allan Pacey, an andrologist at the University of Sheffield and former chair of the British Fertility Society, told MailOnline that home fertility tests for men, in addition to those provided at clinics, is a good move.

He said the approach makes it more likely that a man will produce a semen sample, doesn't require time off work and may be greener as less travel is involved.

Clinics often require men to produce samples there and then, where they are analysed.

However, Professor Pacey said it is unclear which system or testing method will be the most successful.

He said: 'Over the years there have been a number of different approaches to home sperm testing launched, some of which are still around and others which have come and gone.

'I think it is true, that the service being offered by Superdrug is the first in which samples have been picked up by courier from the man's home and (presumably) shipped off to a lab somewhere.

'I have no idea whether this will work, produce good test results and be a commercial success. Only time will tell.

'The cost of 148 sounds about on a par with what I would expect a semen analysis to cost in a private lab, so their margins must be pretty tight.

'Men can, of course, get a free semen analysis on the NHS but only if they have been trying to conceive with their partner for 12 months without success.

'A key part of this for me is the aftercare and it is reassuring to see that the men have unlimited access to discuss their results with the Superdrug doctors.

'However, I would want to know what training they have to deal with male fertility issues which can be quite complex. However, overall I wish them success with the venture.'

Sperm-checking tests are available at Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy and online already for around 30. They claim to give accurate results within minutes.

However, these just check sperm quality and count. Experts have previously told MailOnline that they fail to put results into context.

They warned any test results from tests sold online have to be 'carefully confirmed and discussed with healthcare professionals'.

Superdrug's offering comes amid a collapse in global sperm levels.

Reproductive experts have raised the alarm that falling sperm counts could 'threaten human survival'.

Dr Shanna Swan, an epidemiologist at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, authored a ground-breaking 2017 study that revealed that global sperm counts have dropped by more than half over the past four decades.

She warned that 'everywhere chemicals', such as phthalates found in toiletries, food packaging and children's toys, are to blame.

The chemicals cause hormonal imbalance which can trigger 'reproductive havoc', she said.

Factors including pollution, smoking and rising obesity rates may also play a role, experts say.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may carry a risk of depression, a controversial study suggests.

Researchers in Denmark monitored around 800,000 menopausal women for more than a decade.

Women taking HRT were up to twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression than those not on the tablets, patches and gels.

Results also showed that the risk was highest in the first year after being prescribed HRT and among women aged 45 to 50. But those taking vaginal oestrogen were not more vulnerable, the data concluded.

However, independent experts today criticised the study, which was published in a major journal.

Researchers in Denmark monitored around 800,000 middle-aged women for more than a decade. They found that those taking HRT were up to twice as likely to have their depression confirmed, compared to those not taking the tablets, patches and gels

Top scientists not involved in the research insisted it was impossible for the study to rule that HRT causes depression because of how it was carried out.

The study, in JAMA Network Open, was observational, meaning it monitored patients without controlling which groups were given HRT.

This compares to gold-standard placebo controlled trials, which allow researchers to tease apart the effects of a drug in very similar groups.

Experts also argued women might become depressed due to their severe symptoms of 'the change'.

Or women with severe mental health problems were given HRT to see if that boosted their mood before they were diagnosed with depression, scientists explained.

WHAT IS THE MENOPAUSE? Menopause is when a woman stops having periods naturally and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally. It is a normal part of ageing and usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55 when a woman's levels of the sex hormone oestrogen drop. Eight in 10 women will experience menopausal symptoms including hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, difficulty sleeping, low mood or anxiety and problems with memory. Women are advised to see their GP if their symptoms are difficult to manage. Treatments doctors can provide include hormone replacement therapy, such as tablets, skin patches and gels that replace oestrogen. Source: NHS Advertisement

The menopause is when a woman's periods stops  usually between the ages of 45 and 55  and is a normal part of ageing.

It is caused by a drop in hormone levels, such as oestrogen.

Around seven in 10 women experience symptoms, which can be severe and disrupt day-to-day life.

These include mental health problems, such as anxiety, mood swings and brain fog, which can last for months or years and might change over time.

The menopause can also cause physical symptoms, including hot flushes, sleeping difficulties, heart palpitations, headaches, muscle pains and vaginal dryness.

HRT  described as a lifeline by some women  can help ease these symptoms by replacing lost hormones.

Nearly 2million women in England were prescribed HRT in 2021/22, up by nearly a third year-on-year. More than four in 10 menopausal women in the US take the drugs.

Some small studies, each with fewer than 200 participants, have linked the drugs to a higher risk of depression.

Researchers at the Center for Clinical Research and Prevention in Copenhagen set out to examine the link.

They studied data on 825,238 women in Denmark, contained in the Danish National Patient Registry database, who turned 45 between 1995 and 2015.

The team, led by Dr Marie Wium-Andersen, monitored the women for 11 years, on average, and logged all HRT prescriptions and depression diagnoses.

Some 189,821 women were given menopause treatment, typically at the age of 55, and went on to redeem around 33 prescriptions, on average.

Meanwhile, 13,069 were diagnosed with depression.

Nearly 2million women in England struggling with hot flushes, night sweats and mood swings were prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the year to March 2022 (black line). The figure is up by nearly a third on one year earlier, when 1.5million women were prescribed tablets, skin patches and gels to manage menopause symptoms. Meanwhile, nearly 8million items of HRT were dished out (blue line), up 35 per cent year-on-year

The graph shows the number of HRT prescriptions per month in England (blue line) and the number of patients receiving them between July 2020 and June 2022. Some 870,000 HRT products were prescribed in June 2022. This was an increase of 270,000 (45.1 per cent) from 600,000 items in June 2021

The graph shows the number of patients in England who received HRT prescriptions by age. The most common group to receive prescribing for HRT in 2021/22 was patients aged 50 to 54 with an estimated 437,000 identified patients, 22.7 per cent of all patients

Some of the medications were classified as systemic HRT  those which tend to contain a higher dose of hormones and come in pill, patch, ring, gel and cream form.

They also included findings on locally administered HRT, which are creams placed directly inside the vagina.

The results show that depression rates were higher among women after they started taking HRT, compared to non-users.

Overall, the risk was highest in the first year after women started taking the hormones, when HRT users were 72 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with depression.

But the risk was 'especially elevated' in the first year women took systemic HRT  oestrogen alone or combined oestrogen with progestin  when depression rates doubled.

Additionally, women prescribed systemic menopause drugs between the age of 48 and 50 were 50 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with depression, falling to 13 per cent for those aged 51 to 53.

However, locally administered HRT was not linked with depression among women.

And those taking this version aged 54 to 56 were actually 20 per cent less likely to suffer depression than those not taking the treatment.

Dr Wium-Andersen and team said their findings are based on a massive pool of women who were followed for up to 22 years and included accurate data on HRT usage.

But they noted menopause itself increases the risk of depression, which may explain some of the cases among HRT users.

And they wrote HRT users may be more likely to have depression if doctors assume their depressive symptoms are down to the menopause and give them HRT.

The team concluded: 'The findings suggest during menopause, use of systemically administered HRT is associated with risk of a subsequent diagnosis of depression.

'Locally administered HRT is not associated with depression risk and is even associated with a possible lower risk for women older than 54 years, and may therefore be recommended when appropriate.'

However, Professor Ciara McCabe, a neuroscientist at the University of Reading who was not involved in the study, said that many women begin taking HRT 'precisely because of negative changes in their mood'.

This fits with the finding that depression rates among HRT users were 'greatest after initiation and then gradually declined', she said.

'If HRT was causing the depression I wonder why the depression would gradually decline with continued HRT use.' Professor McCabe added.

Professor David Curtis, of the University College London Genetics Institute and was not involved in the study, said the finding 'might be because HRT increases depression risk'.

But he noted it may also be down to women suffering severe menopausal symptoms were more likely to be prescribed HRT but also more likely to become depressed.

'Alternatively, women who were developing depression might complain of exacerbated menopausal symptoms and be prescribed HRT, but only later be diagnosed with depression at a hospital,' Professor Curtis explained.

He added: 'Overall, I'm afraid I don't think study can really throw any light as to whether or not HRT has any effect on depression risk.'
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Alcohol use is linked to as many as one in five US deaths from all causes, according to an official study  with states in the Plains suffering the highest mortality.

Research led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found there were around 90,000 fatalities among adults aged 20 to 65 per year between 2015-2019 in which booze was an underlying or contributing cause.

Alcohol accounted for 12 per cent of deaths from all causes during the five year period. When reduced to those aged 20 to 49, alcohol made up 20.3 per cent of deaths.

Causes of death attributable to alcohol use include alcoholic liver disease, poisoning, motor vehicle crashes, homicides, cirrhosis and hypertension.

The figures do not include the period of the Covid pandemic, when stacks of studies suggest binge drinking has increased due to boredom and economic troubles.

Alcohol use is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the US.

New Mexico has the highest alcohol mortality of any state, with 21.7 per cent of deaths in the state among the age group being linked to alcohol abuse. In Alaska and Wyoming, alcohol-related deaths accounted for nearly 20 per cent of deaths in the age group.

Mississippi and Alabama suffer the lowest share of alcohol related deaths, with both states attributing nine per cent of fatalities to the substance.

Separate National Institutes of Health (NIH) data indicates a quarter of American adults have engaged in binge drinking in the past month.

The CDC researchers, who published their findings Tuesday in JAMA Network Open, gathered national data from January 2015 to December 2019.

In total, there are 58 causes of death that could be tied to alcohol, including chronic conditions fatty liver disease and cirrhosis, cancers, car accidents.

Alcohol accounts for a bigger share of deaths among young people as they are both more likely to take part in risky drinking behaviors while also being less likely to die of many other common causes.

The CDC reports that nearly a quarter of Americans between 25 and 34 binge drink.

The study found that each year around 20,000 people between ages 20 and 34 die because of excessive alcohol use, accounting for more than one in four total deaths in the age group.

Meanwhile, alcohol abuse accounts for 17.5 per cent of deaths for people 35 to 49, or 25,199 deaths per year.

Just under 10 percent of deaths for people aged 50 to 64 were related to drinking - or 45,000 total.

Dr Patricia Molina, director of the Louisiana State University Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center of Excellence who was not involved in the study, told DailyMail.com that she was not surprised by these findings.

'The results from this study are not shocking, though some may consider them as a rude awakening,' she wrote in an email.

'Alcohol consumption at this level has been scientifically demonstrated to lead to increased risk for injury (traumatic brain injury, burn, drowning, motor vehicle accidents, and gun shot wounds) ... and to contribute to the development of disease.'

Younger people between the ages of 25 to 34 are most likely to binge drink, with a quarter taking part in the activity, according to CDC

10 states where alcohol abuse causes the highest share of deaths 1. New Mexico (21.7% of deaths among people 20 to 64 from 2015 to 2019 tied to excessive alcohol use 2. Alaska (19.7) 3. Wyoming (19) 4. Colorado (18.2) 5. South Dakota (17) 6. Montana (16.7) 7. Arizona (16.4) 8. North Dakota (16.1) 9. Oregon (16.1) 10. New Hampshire (14.9) Advertisement

10 states where alcohol abuse causes the lowest share of deaths 1. Mississippi (9.3% of deaths among people 20 to 64 from 2015 to 2019 tied to excessive alcohol use 2. Alabama (9.9) 3. Arkansas (10.3) 4. Georgia (10.7) 5. Kentucky (11.1) 6. New York (11.2) 7. Tennessee (11.4) 8. West Virginia (11.6) 9. Virginia (11.6) 10. Louisiana (11.6) Advertisement

The NIH reports that 70 per cent of American adults have drank in the past year and 55 per cent within the last month.

Binge drinking, which is consuming five or more drinks on one occasion as a man or four or more for a woman, is especially dangerous.

The CDC warns that 25 per cent of adults binge drink weekly. The habit accounts for almost all excessive drinking in America.

Nearly all Americans who report excessive drinking also binge drink.

'Part of the problem is the social acceptability of alcohol drinking, the effective and massive campaigns promoting alcohol consumption, and the overall lack of knowledge by individuals of what constitutes excessive alcohol consumption,' Dr Molina explained.

'...Few individuals keep 'tabs' of the alcohol consumed [when they are going out] and easily fall into the category of at risk alcohol use.'

Dr Amit Sachdev, director of the Division of Neuromuscular Medicine and Michigan State University, told DailyMail.com last month that these habits are incredibly risky.

'[Alcohol abuse] will cause the brain to atrophy or shrink,' he explained.

'In the long run that can result in dementia, people can have problems with memory, sequencing, coordination, behavior.'
It comes as the Biden Admin promises to crack down on this type of research

Some fear the strain would be 1,000 times as deadly as the one circulating

House Republicans are probing monkeypox research being carried out by government scientists that involves making the virus 1,000 times more deadly.

Policymakers are demanding the NIH hands over documents proving the experiment was subject to proper oversight.

They also want the research agency to produce a risk-benefit analysis to justify taxpayer money being spent on research that poses 'potentially serious risks'.

There is growing alarm that virus manipulation research continues to go on in the US despite concerns similar experiments may have led to the Covid pandemic.

Last week it was revealed that a National Institutes of Health (NIH) lab in Bethesda, Maryland was performing research that would create a more deadly virus strain.

Researchers want to equip the dominant clade - which mostly causes a rash and flu-like symptoms - with genes from another strain that causes severe disease.

Some fear that it would make the virus up to 1,000 times more deadly than it is in its original form.

But the team in Maryland would argue their work does not involve 'enhancing' a pathogen because they are swapping natural mutations rather than creating new ones.

In a letter published Tuesday, Rep Cathy McMorris Rodgers, of Washington, Rep Brett Guthrie, of Kentucky, and Rep Morgan Griffith, of Virginia, said they want researchers to prove there is practical application of their findings that would make the risks worth it.

They have set out 12 questions they want the researchers to answer.

The Maryland study will involve extracting dozens genes from the more severe clade 1 (pictured left) monkeypox virus and putting them into the less virulent clade 2 virus. They will then infect mice with the hybrid virus and monitor how the disease progresses

The Maryland team's work is being led by NIAID scientist Bernard Moss at the agency's headquarters in Bethesda (shown)

Rep Cathy McMorris Rodgers (left), of Washington, is the Republican leader on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Rep Brett Guthrie (center), of Kentucky, is the party's leader on the Subcommittee on Health. Rep Morgan Griffith (right), of Virginia, leads Republicans on the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

The group of Republicans want the NIH research team to answer 12 key questions about their experiment

'It appears that the project is reasonably anticipated to yield a lab-generated monkeypox virus that is 1,000 times more lethal in mice than the monkeypox virus currently circulating in humans and that transmits as efficiently as the monkeypox virus currently circulating in humans,' the letter reads.

Rep McMorris is the Republican leader on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce while Rep Guthrie is the party's leader on the Subcommittee on Health.

Rep Griffith leads Republicans on the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

They continue: 'The risk-benefit ratio indicates potentially serious risks without clear civilian practical applications.'

The committees warn that this type of research would open the door for the pathogen to spread and cause severe harm to humans.

They are asking for the NIH to provide a risk-benefit analysis and an explanation of the required checks and approval it received before being undertaken.

Research is being funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) - an arm of the NIH - and being held at its Maryland headquarters.

Dr Bernard Moss, a NIAID virologist, is leading the research.

This phase of the study will involve extracting dozens genes from the more severe clade 1 monkeypox virus and putting them into the milder clade 2 virus.

They will then infect mice with the hybrid virus and monitor how the disease progresses.

The team had initially attempted the reverse: swapping genetic materials in the less virulent clade into clade 1 to make it less deadly, but without success.

There have been more than 27,000 cases of monkeypox in the US since the current outbreak took hold earlier this year

Cases of monkeypox are in decline after peaking over the summer

The current global outbreak is confirmed to be driven by clade 2, the less deadly West African monkeypox strain, which has a mortality rate of less than one percent.

Clade 1, meanwhile, kills one in 10 people it infects. It has its origins in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and primarily spreads in the Congo Basin.

The Maryland experiment was exempt from oversight when it was given the green light in 2018 because monkeypox did not meet the threshold for a 'potential pandemic pathogen'.

To be considered a PPP, the pathogen has to be widely transmissible with the potential of spreading uncontrollably and being highly dangerous.

Biden promises to crackdown on virus manipulation research The White House announced plans to crackdown on viruses manipulation research only days after DailyMail.com uncovered similar research being undertaken at Boston University. In a national biodefense strategy unveiled last week, the Biden Administration laid out plans to prevent and respond to future biological disaster situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. The report highlights the risk of 'accidental biological threats' caused by accidents in biosafety labs which work with dangerous pathogens. Last Monday, DailyMail.com revealed that Boston University's National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, had developed a hybrid strain of Covid with an 80 per cent lethality rate in mice. Researchers defended the work, claiming it could advance our understanding of Covid and how to treat and vaccinate against it, but critics warn the benefits do not outweigh the risk of a potential leak. Biden's biosafety plans, which were published two days later on October 19, says the 'United States has a responsibility to ensure our technology, development, and assistance programs do not exacerbate this risk [a lab leak] unintentionally'. The White House report also accepts that the 'risk of laboratory accidents may be increasing with the rise in the number of laboratories around the world conducting high-risk life sciences research and research with potential pandemic pathogens'. There is no suggestion that the report is a response to the work at Boston University, and DailyMail.com has approached the White House for comment. But the report gives a nod to the potential dangers of so-called 'gain of function' research, when a virus is enhanced to be more dangerous or infectious so scientists can get ahead of potential outbreaks or develop therapies. Boston University has argued that their research was not gain of function, as the original wild strain killed 100 per cent of mice exposed to it, which they argue means their work actually reduced the lethality of the virus. Researchers equipped the original Wuhan strain of Covid with Omicron's spike protein - the part which helps it invade cells and makes it more infectious. Critics say the combination of increased infectiousness and lethality made it dangerous. Advertisement

But at that time, monkeypox outbreaks were confined to Africa and the virus did not spread easily between people.

US cases could almost always be traced back to imported animals or travelers who had visited Central or Western African countries.

Now, with monkeypox widespread and more than 26,000 US cases, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is planning to reexamine the work.

But the study still might not qualify as 'enhancing' a PPP, the agency says, because the team are using existing mutations.

Dr Ebright told DailyMail.com: 'A laboratory-generated monkeypox virus... more lethal than, and as transmissible as, the monkeypox virus currently circulating in humans potentially likely would defeat protection by vaccines and likely would spread beyond current at-risk populations to the general population.

'The risk-benefit ratio is essentially infinite, comprising potentially existential risks.'

Amid growing concern about such experiments, the NIH and the Department of Health and Human Services met last month to devise recommended rule changes to the NIH's Potential Pandemic Pathogen Care and Oversight policy.

Among those proposed changes is an expansion of what constitutes a 'potential pandemic pathogen' to include those that are highly transmissible though less virulent, as well as those that are less transmissible but have more severe negative outcomes.

The rule change, if adopted next year, would place stricter regulations on the kind of research on monkeypox viruses set to begin at NIH.

The latest controversy surrounding risky monkeypox research comes on the back of years of ferocious debate over gain of function research, which many believe resulted in the Covid pandemic.

The pandemic shed a light on the risky research practices, which the government has funded for decades with pushback, having temporarily paused in 2014 only to resume three years later.

High-profile debates about the merits of gain of function remain centered on the unproven theory that the coronavirus escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China.

It comes after DailyMail.com revealed that a team from Boston University had developed a hybrid Covid virus  combining the Omicron and original Wuhan strains  which had an 80 per cent lethality rate in mice.

Boston University has argued that their research was not gain of function, as the original wild strain killed 100 per cent of mice exposed to it, which they argue means their work actually reduced the lethality of the virus.

Researchers equipped the original Wuhan strain of Covid with Omicron's spike protein - the part which helps it invade cells and makes it more infectious.

Some experts defended the work, claiming it could advance our understanding of Covid and how to treat and vaccinate against it, but critics warn the benefits did not outweigh the risk of a potential leak.

The hybrid strain was of immediate concern due to its combination of the worst attributes of the virus - Omicron's high rate of transmissibility and the original's high lethality.
With colder weather fast approaching and the clocks having just gone back, many will be switching on their heating for the first time in the coming weeks.

But there is already widespread confusion over the gargantuan hikes to gas and electricity bills being pushed through by the energy giants this autumn.

We have heard from scores of customers whose direct debits have been increased aggressively without warning from their supplier.

Pressure: Incorrect energy costs could push millions to the brink, with three in five Britons - 32 million adults - already struggling to keep up with bills

These increases  in some cases worth thousands of pounds  bear no relation to their energy usage.

Then, when customers have tried to challenge these increases, they have faced huge difficulty  with long waits to speak to staff over the phone or an instruction to go online and speak to an automated chatbot instead.

Earlier this year, Ofgem vowed to crack down on energy giants that hiked direct debits excessively.

Last month a new higher price cap came into effect. The average household should now be paying no more than the equivalent of 2,500 a year.

Plus, they will get a 400 rebate automatically taken off their bills over the winter.

However, we heard from a number of readers whose bills have shot up by more than they were expecting.

Many are diligently cutting back their usage to combat higher prices, and are worried this is not being reflected in their estimated bills.

But you dont have to put up with unfair charges. Here, Money Mail explains what is going on  and how you can fight back.

Direct debits that don't seem fair

Adam OConnor, 42, says monthly bills have nearly doubled  despite him cutting down on his energy consumption.

In October, the father of four, who lives in a four-bedroom house with his wife and one daughter, used 183.85 according to his smart meter  and his account was 140 in credit. But British Gas raised his direct debit from 190 to 393 a month without warning.

He says he only discovered the jump after checking his online app; and when trying to query the bill, he says he was left on hold for 75 minutes.

Homeowners complain their estimated bills have been completely overbaked after tracking their usage with a smart meter

Adam, a fund analyst from Shoeburyness, Essex, says: I explained that I am more than capable of adjusting my direct debit accordingly to make sure I dont build up arrears. But British Gas werent interested.

After Money Mail intervened, British Gas agreed to put Adam on to a monthly usage plan. This is where you get billed based on the actual energy you have consumed as measured by your meter. This will bring his direct debits back down to 250 a month. He has also been offered a 30 goodwill gesture.

A British Gas spokesman says: We take customer complaints seriously and looked into each case  but we refute the broad claim that we are not communicating with customers about changes to direct debits.

Our teams are helping around a million energy customers each month with their bills, Ofgem recently carried out comprehensive compliance reviews; one on whether suppliers were overcharging through the direct debit process and one on supporting customers in payment difficulty - in both reviews weve led the sector in the top category with no significant issues being found.

Billing was the most complained about energy issue in the first three months of this year, according to data from the Energy Ombudsman.

Dennis Reed, of campaigning body Silver Voices, says: [Excessive bill hikes] is sharp practice by suppliers and shows a disgraceful lack of empathy for millions of households trying to keep their heads above water.

'We are calling on the Government to do more to rein in the rapacious energy companies.

EDF customer John Welton, 71, who is on the firms list of vulnerable customers, received a letter saying his direct debit was increasing from 279 to 818  despite being 1,204 in credit.

After contacting the firm, a customer service adviser immediately saw it was a mistake, claiming it was a good job he had phoned before the first payment was taken. He is deemed vulnerable because he has recently suffered two heart attacks.

John, from Carlisle, Cumbria, wrote: How can energy firms get away with not having a simple check system so that where direct debits are increased by more than 100 pc they are scrutinised before being sent out? Particularly to customers over 60 who are more likely to be vulnerable.

Joe Malinowski, founder of comparison service The Energy Shop, warns that households might be tempted to accept higher bills because they know wholesale costs have risen substantially.

He says: Its important now more than ever that customers keep an eye on their energy usage and really understand what they are being charged for on their bills. Always speak to your supplier if you think your bill is too high.

We were shocked our bill soared to 7,300 In limbo: Stephen and Jo Blennerhassett have been waiting for months for the supplier to adjust their bill Stephen and Jo Blennerhassett, both 69, say theyve been left in the dark by British Gas after receiving a shock bill equal to 7,300 a year, up from 2,200 in 2021. The pensioners from West Derby, Liverpool, have been waiting for months for the supplier to get to the bottom of the problem. Stephen says: The frustration is making us ill. I feel like Im banging my head against the wall. The couple, who live in a three-bedroom semi-detached home, say they have checked with neighbours and their bills do not come to a quarter of the eye-watering sum they have been quoted. British Gas has changed their electricity and gas meters three times. It said the bills were off by 10 per cent  but this still leaves the couple (pictured) with payments of more than 500 a month. The provider also fitted a smart meter in their home, but Stephen says it has not turned on. The couple are terrified about how bills could soar even further next year, and are at a loss as to what to do. Its impossible to get in touch with them, says Stephen. We are at our wits end. British Gas insists the bill it sent to the couple was accurate and is helping them to lower their energy usage. It has agreed to monitor their modified consumption.

Hit or miss on estimated bills

Suppliers tend to use past energy usage as a gauge for future billing. But this approach is hit or miss in terms of providing accurate bills, industry experts warn. It means some customers will lose out.

Energy companies must explain to households how their charges relate to their consumption, according to the watchdog. This is typically done on a bill, or a regular statement if the household pays via direct debit.

Adam OConnor, for example, found his projected energy usage and initial bill hike to 393 was based on his households consumption last year.

But not only was he with a different supplier, he was also then living with two more young adults in the house.

David Lindores, 70, from Sheffield, says he was horrified to find his bill has increased despite also using less energy.

The pensioners energy consumption was superficially high last year because he was living with his sister, who was terminally ill.

She needed the heating on round the clock to stay warm. Now, he lives alone and, according to his smart meter, his energy usage hovers between 150 and 210 a month. He is also more than 700 in credit.

But he is paying 318 a month to British Gas after it upped his direct debit payments over the summer.

David, who has been a British Gas customer for more than 30 years, says: When I received the bill I nearly passed out with fright. I dont see how British Gas can justify it.

The company says its estimated usage for David was accurate, based on last years bills. But it has now agreed to switch him to a monthly usage plan and partially refund the credit in his account.

Gareth Kloet, of price comparison site GoCompare, explains that an estimate is a best guess by the supplier as to how much a household might use.

It can take time for these calculations to match up with your usage if you move home or are switched over from a different supplier  as millions have been this year.

He says: It can be really hit or miss whether they are going to bill you with any level of accuracy that youre going to be happy with.

The best way to have accurate bills and to stay on top of it is to have a good idea of what youre consuming, and take regular meter readings and supply them to your energy company.

He adds that if you get a bill based on an estimate reading, do not hesitate to call your energy company and ask for a replacement based on your actual meter readings.

A British Gas spokesman says: We take customer complaints seriously and looked into each case  but we refute the broad claim that we are not communicating with customers about changes to direct debits.

Our teams are helping around a million energy customers each month with their bills.

Botched estimates: Many households say their bills have soared despite having diligently cut back energy usage to combat the new higher price cap

Why hasn't the watchdog acted?

Earlier this year, energy watchdog Ofgem identified the issue and launched a review.

The regulators chief executive Jonathan Brearley said there were troubling signs of direct debits being hiked by more than is necessary, and pledged to fine any offending companies.

Under the Governments Energy Price Guarantee, the average household should be paying around 2,500 a year for their energy bills.

As part of the crackdown, suppliers were forced to review all direct debits that had increased by 100 per cent or more between February and April.

In July, it reported that no significant issues were found at British Gas and EDF. Yet our postbag tells a different story. And campaigners warn that the regulator is not doing enough to keep tabs on the issue.

Matt Copeland, of charity National Energy Action, says: It is concerning that there are reports of suppliers doing this again over winter.

'This will have the biggest impact on low-income households who will find it difficult to pay even with accurate direct debits. Suppliers must follow the rules. If not, Ofgem must go further with enforcement.

Ofgem failed to confirm that suppliers have had to monitor increases since April. A spokesman says: Protecting consumers is our top priority and suppliers must ensure direct debit payments are based on best information about a customers actual consumption of gas and electricity.

'As energy regulator, we monitor suppliers closely to make sure they are setting these rates fairly.

Trade association Energy UK says: If customers have any concerns with how their own direct debit has been calculated, they should contact their supplier.

Left on hold to major suppliers

When landed with such big bills, worried customers typically want to run through the increase on the telephone.

But many say firms are difficult to contact. Money Mail readers have told us they have been left on hold for hours at a time.

Consumer champion Jane Hawkes says: Excessive waits on hold are unacceptable at the best of times, but particularly during the cost-of-living crisis when the biggest worry is increasing energy prices. Companies falling short in this respect need to step up urgently their support provision.

After our consumer champion Sally Hamilton wrote last week about a British Gas customer who had trouble sorting out a huge bill hike, many fellow customers have got in touch about similar woes.

British Gas says it has invested 25 million and 700 extra staff to improve customer service since last year.

moneymail@dailymail.co.uk
Troubled UK battery start-up Britishvolt has averted slipping into insolvency having secured additional funding to keep the business afloat.

The identity of the backer - or backers - has not been revealed, though sources close to the project have told the BBC that it is enough to keep the company operating for the 'short to medium term'.

It emerged on Monday that the company plotting Britain's largest electric car battery manufacturing plant in the North East was on the brink of going into administration, having failed in a bid to get an advance on Government funding previously promised for the project.

British firm behind battery-making factory plans stays afloat following new funding: Britishvolt has reportedly received cash from an unknown backer

The Financial Times broke the story yesterday that the battery company was on the brink of administration having failed in a bid to receive a 30million advance in funding from the Government.

It said back in January it would back the plans for Britain's largest gigafactory with undisclosed funding, believed to be 100million.

However, the company has reportedly missed certain targets required to receive this, including pushing back the start of the construction of the factory twice this year, putting it on the brink of insolvency and 300 UK jobs in jeopardy.

The BBC reports on Tuesday afternoon that it has now secured cash for the business to stay afloat, having spoken to sources with an 'understanding of the matter' - though the sources would not comment on the identity of the new backer or backers.

Britishvolt has confirmed these reports on Wednesday.

It said in an official statement: 'Given the recent speculation concerning the future of Britishvolt, we want to make our situation clear for all our stakeholders.

'We have previously spoken about the need to evolve our business strategy in response to challenging external factors and continue to explore both short- and long-term funding streams that will enable us to deliver on our plans to build a thriving localised, sustainable battery ecosystem based on next-generation cell technology.

'While the weakening economic situation is negatively impacting much business investment at present, at Britishvolt we are continuing to pursue positive ongoing discussions with potential investors. In addition, we have also received promising approaches from several more international investors in the past few days.

'The result is we have now secured the necessary near-term investment that we believe enables us to bridge over the coming weeks to a more secure funding position for the future.

'To further reduce our near-term costs, our dedicated employee team has also voluntarily agreed to a temporary salary reduction for the month of November.'

On Monday it was revealed that the battery company was on the brink of administration having failed in a bid to receive a 30million advance in funding from the Government

Plans have been drawn up to build the battery manufacturing site on the expansive 235-acre (95 hectare) grounds of the old power station in Blyth, which would see 3,000 new jobs created in the North East

The British start-up added: 'We want to thank our employees, suppliers and investors, for their continuing belief in Britishvolt.

'It is important that Britishvolt is a success not only for the close to 300 employees currently working for the company, but also for the many thousands of jobs we intend to create in the UK as we progress our plans.

'The Britishvolt Effect is also of huge strategic importance to UK plc. and the countrys standing on the global battery stage.'

Britishvolt had been heavily promoted by former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, as part of his efforts to champion the UK as an electric vehicle battery producer

Britishvolt has struggled to find investors to help fund the construction of its battery-making gigafactory in Blyth, Northumberland.

Plans have been drawn up to build the manufacturing site on the expansive 235-acre (95 hectare) grounds of the old power station in the North East.

Not only would it become one of the biggest 'gigafactories' in Europe, once completed it would be the fourth largest building in the whole of the UK, providing up to 3,000 extra jobs in the region.

However, construction of the 3.8billion battery-making plant has already been delayed several times this year and, according to Britishvolt's latest update, is not likely to begin until 2025.

As well as acquired tens of millions of pounds of financial backing from FTSE 100 metals firm Glencore, the Government's 100million pledge at the beginning of the year triggered fresh investors to come onboard, with a further 1.7billion secured from UK asset investment giant Abrdn and fund manager Tritax.

However, the company has faced uncertainty in recent months, with co-founder Orral Nadjari leaving the firm in July.

If built, the facility, which will cost around 3.8billion, would become one of the biggest 'gigafactories' in Europe and the fourth largest building in the whole of the UK

It has held urgent talks to access more funding to pump into its development until it can start production and deliver its own revenues.

Reportedly, there have already been attempts to raise 200million or to sell the company outright with a number of talks with potential suitors, including India's Tata Motors, which is the parent company of British car maker Jaguar Land Rover.

Jim Holder, editorial director at Autocar magazine said the demise of the gigafactory project would have been a 'blow to the prospects of car manufacturing in the UK'.

He added: 'As the industry transitions away from traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, it will need five or six facilities of this scale to maintain production at its current levels  we currently have only one of note in the pipeline.

'The UK car industry supports 180,000 manufacturing jobs and exports worth 77billion, and without the planned gigafactory in Northumberland we are at risk of falling further behind the likes of Asia, EU and US in the race to provide essential infrastructure.'
When Sarah Jordan was travelling around Uganda in 2016, she was shocked by how many women and children didn't have access to something we all take for granted - underwear.

This doesn't just cause obvious health and hygiene issues, it also means many girls are forced to miss school during their periods, significantly harming their education and personal development.

Sarah, 46, wanted to do something that would make a difference long term, so decided to set up her own ethical underwear business, Y.O.U Underwear. For every pair of underwear that is bought, another two are donated to adults and children in need.

Sarah Jordan is CEO of Y.O.U Underwear, an ethical business producing 100% organic cotton underwear for women, girls and men

'I believe underwear should be universally available to people in all communities,' she says. 'So, I decided to create a business that sells underwear on a buy-one-give-two model. Its really quite simple!'

Y.O.U ensures its whole supply chain lives up to its ethical principles, with all products made using Fairtrade-certified organic cotton by workers paid a fair wage. Meanwhile, the company's B Corp categorisation means it is regularly audited to ensure it is meeting strict social and environmental standards.

Sarah started selling comfortable, stylish underwear through her website in 2018 and found shoppers quickly embraced her ethical business model.

Ad Manager: The results Type of campaign used: Targeted Targeting: Women interested in health and beauty, shopping and travel High impact ad formats: Double MPU & Billboard The campaign was seen by 1,300,317 people, and delivered 1,355 potential new customers to their website.

Then, in 2019, the company faced a series of challenges after Covid outbreaks led to lockdowns across the world.

'We had problems supply wise over Covid because everything shut down, with India - where most of our cotton is from - also affected,' says Sarah.

'Our sales did quite well though because everyone was shopping online and looking for comfortable underwear - 2021 was actually harder because many people began returning to physical shops.'

In November last year, Sarah seized at the chance to open a pop-up stall at the Oxford Covered Market. Recently, she signed a one-year lease, and the store now accounts for about half of her company's revenues.

Sarah says the store has been great for raising Y.O.U's profile locally, but she also wanted to reach more customers across the rest of the UK to boost online sales.

With this in mind, she seized the chance to try MailOnline's new advertising platform, Ad Manager, which was set up to help small and medium sized businesses like hers market to its huge audience.

The system is simple to use and much more affordable than conventional newspaper advertising. Entrepreneurs can create their own campaign, set the budget and choose their target audience. Ads can be live in less than 24 hours.

'We've never done any paid advertising before, so this was a massive opportunity to get our message out there,' says Sarah.

'Reaching people nationally was a real attraction because we want people across the whole country to come onto our website to hear about us.'

Y.O.U uses normal people in its publicity photos to ensure its images are representative of how real women look

Ad Manager lets you find your ideal customer among MailOnline's 25million readers by targeting them through specific characteristics such as age, gender, interests and location.

'We did quite a lot of targeting around travel, leisure interests and mostly women - because about 70 or 80 per cent of our customers are female,' says Sarah. 'Most buyers of underwear are women, even when they are getting it for their partners or children.

'We were looking at a younger demographic from their mid-20s to mid-40s, who were interested in fashion, sustainability and lifestyle.

'The ads themselves looked really nice. We tried to be representative, so showed real people in our images rather than models - the aim was to produce something that was intriguing and inspiring.'

Over just a week, ads for Y.O.U Underwear were viewed more than a million times, with over 1,100 clicks through to the company's website.

'The numbers were excellent and there was a good click rate as well,' says Sarah. 'The more people who know and talk about us the better. It should make a real difference.

'We see that people who visit our site tend to come back. More site visits doesn't just help us sell more underwear, it also starts those conversations about the ethical issues we are trying to raise awareness about.'

Here's how you can advertise YOUR small business on MailOnline:

Behind the business

After her trip to Uganda, Sarah did some research to find out if a lack of access to underwear was a problem that affected women and girls in other parts of the world as well.

'I went on to discover this problem wasn't unique to the country - about 10 per cent of girls globally are affected,' she says. 'And in the UK, we all know about the issue of period poverty.'

Keen to do something to help, Sarah began examining the idea of making her own underwear to raise money for people who can't afford their own. But she soon hit a stumbling block.

'I found out that conventional cotton is one of the world's most polluting crops, which requires a huge amount of pesticides to grow and can expose your skin to chemicals,' she says.

Y.O.U's underwear is made in India by the country's leading ethical and sustainable manufacturer

'It took about a year from learning all of that to decide I was going to make underwear that was fully sustainable. It took a few years to get up and running and in 2017 we had a crowdfunding campaign to get the first products launched.'

Y.O.U started selling underwear in 2018. For each pair bought from the core women's, men's and girls' collections, two pairs are donated to charity Smalls for All. The business also supports menstrual hygiene projects.

As evidence of its high ethical standards, Y.O.U is now the highest scoring B Corp in the UK, with the highest rating for a fashion brand in the world. Its underwear is made in India by the country's leading ethical and sustainable manufacturer.

While Sarah is proud of her company's ethical principles, she also focuses heavily on product quality to keep shoppers coming back. Alongside sleek, traditional designs you'll also find underwear with bright, vivid colours.

Visiting one of the factories where the underwear is produced before being shipped to the UK

'We do underwear in what we call an ''everyday style'' for men, women, and girls, but we also have what we call our Mara range of bright African-style prints,' says Sarah.

'We've got a designer in Nairobi that does those for us. They are totally different to the rest of our range.

'We use normal people in all our photos because we want to show representative images. We don't airbrush anything and also offer bigger sizes to be inclusive for all customers.

'The focus is on the products. The story is good, but people won't come back if the products aren't great. So that means keeping them stylish, relevant and comfortable. Fortunately, we've got amazing customer reviews.'

Click here to find out how Ad Manager can help YOUR small business
A wannabe influencer, who tried to launch 'rich people only' holidays in Australia filled with young models and social media stars, has been issued a bankruptcy notice.

New Zealand-born Benjamin Morris faced backlash after he used investors' money to take a luxury holiday in Hamilton Island, Queensland, with a group of models in late August last year.

The 33-year-old promised Bondi-based company Vacay Seltzer, which gave him $20,000 for attendees' accommodation, flights and activities, that the luxury trip would be pitched to wealthy businessmen taking part in a getaway.

Benjamin Morris was issued a bankruptcy notice after using investor's money to go on a luxury holiday on Hamilton Island with a group of social media influences and models (pictured, Mr Morris at Palazzo Versace, Queensland)

Mr Morris was joined by some of Australia's top social media followers for a weekend in a high-end Airbnb where they enjoyed a yacht cruise, seaplane flight and gourmet meals and drinks.

Gold Coast entrepreneur Hunter Johnson filed a claim against Mr Morris and his company after he spent $12,000 to attend the trip along with influencers including Annabelle Gelly, Evie Maree, Sasha Morpeth and Julia Zeito.

Southport Magistrates Court initiated proceedings in the Federal Court over the holiday and slapped Mr Morris with a bankruptcy notice after he proved difficult to locate.

The notice would be served once it was sent to Mr Morris' known phone number, addresses, social media and messaging accounts, according to the Gold Coast Bulletin.

Mr Johnson could file a petition to declare Mr Morris bankrupt if he fails to comply with the notice.

The influencers and models were told they were on a free holiday to promote Bondi-based start-up Vacay Seltzer, which they tagged in posts on Instagram (pictured)

Mr Johnson told the court he became suspicious about the holiday when he asked for an invoice and was not sent an itinerary or any trip confirmation and was then blocked from communicating with Mr Morris.

A Gold Coast entrepreneur claims he paid $12,000 to attend but was never received an itinerary and then was blocked by Morris (pictured, Morris on a yacht in Hamilton Island in a video published by one of the models)

The social media influencers - who have a combined following of 850,000 - were told they were on an all-expenses paid holiday to promote Vacay Seltzer, which they tagged in posts on Instagram showing them in bikini's by the sea.

Seltzer was promised the exposure from the influencers would promote the start-up business.

The women have not been accused of any wrongdoing and there is no suggestion they had any involvement in the organisation of the event.

Mr Morris was the on and off director of Boss Media Empire from March 2018 until the company was struck off by ASIC in July 2020.

His other company, Boss Yacht Club, with an Instagram bio stating 'for rich people only', promoted luxury getaways to international events including the Grammys, Super Bowl and Monaco F1 Grand Prix.
Haunting images show the personal belongings of the victims of a horrific Halloween crush in South Korea - as it emerges that Seoul police assigned just 137 officers to manage a crowd of revellers anticipated to number more than 100,000 over the weekend.

The decision that has come under intense criticism following the deaths of more than 150 people when the group surged.

By comparison, nearly 7,000 police officers were sent to another part of the South Korean capital on Saturday to monitor dueling protests that drew tens of thousands but still fewer people than flocked to the popular nightlife district of Itaewon the same night.

Even the task force created to investigate why the crowd surged, with 475 members, is more three times larger than the detail assigned to crowd control.

As South Korea mourns, officials are facing tough questions about preparations for the celebrations and demands for accountability in the wake of the countrys worst disaster in nearly a decade.

The national government has insisted there was no way to predict the crowd would get out of control.

Officials take photos of belongings of victims at a gym, where recovered belongings of the victims of a crowd crush that happened during Halloween festivities are kept, in Seoul, South Korea, November 1, 2022

Belongings of victims of a crowd crush that happened during Halloween festivities are kept in a gym in Seoul, South Korea, November 1, 2022

Shoes belonging to victims are arranged at a gym, where recovered belongings of the victims of a crowd crush that happened during Halloween festivities are kept, in Seoul, South Korea, November 1, 2022

Belongings of victims are photographed at a gym, where recovered belongings of the victims of a crowd crush that happened during Halloween festivities

Mourners react as they pay tribute to victims of a deadly accident following Saturday night's Halloween festivities

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, and his wife Kim Keon Hee arrive to pay tribute for victims of a deadly accident following Saturday night's Halloween festivities at a joint memorial altar for victims at Seoul Square in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. (Ahn Jung-hwan/Yonhap via AP)

Experts disagree. Deploying so few police officers, they said, showed officials were poorly prepared despite knowing ahead of time that there would be a huge gathering following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in recent months.

On top of assigning more personnel, police and officials in the Yongsan district, which governs Itaewon, should have banned cars from some streets and taken other measures to ease the crowding in narrow lanes like the one where the deaths occurred, experts said.

Instead, the 137 officers in Itaewon were assigned to monitor crime, with a particular focus on narcotics use, meaning that for all practical purposes 'no one was looking after pedestrian safety,' said Kong Ha-song, a disaster prevention professor at South Koreas Woosuk University.

The deaths should be seen as a 'manmade disaster,' said Lee Changmoo, an urban planning professor at Seouls Hanyang University.

Authorities have come under similar criticism in national media and on social networks. The headline of an editorial in the Hankyoreh newspaper on Sunday described the tragedy as 'all too avoidable.' The paper said its reporting showed that a pedestrian got knocked down by a crowd in Itaewon a day before the Halloween festivities - although no one was hurt.

Saturday's crowd surge occurred in a downhill alley running between a dense row of storefronts and the landmark Hamilton Hotel. The path became clogged by a huge throng of partygoers before some of them fell and toppled over 'like dominoes,' according to witnesses.

South Korean investigators inspect the scene of a deadly accident following Saturday night's Halloween festivities in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. A crowd surge killed more than 150 people during Halloween festivities in Seoul over the weekend in the country's worst disasters in years. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A mourner places flower to pay tribute to victims of a deadly accident following Saturday night's Halloween festivities on the street near the scene in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Police are investigating what caused a crowd surge that killed more than 150 people during Halloween festivities in Seoul over the weekend in the country's worst disasters in years. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Emergency workers were so overwhelmed by the number of people lying motionless on the ground that they asked pedestrians to help them with CPR. But Choi Sukjae, an emergency medicine specialist and chief spokesperson of the Korean Emergency Medical Association, said CPR, which ideally should be administered within a handful of minutes, wouldnt have made much of a difference in many cases since the paramedics were delayed getting to the scene because the area was so packed.

Kong, the disaster prevention professor, said more police and government workers should have been called on to monitor potential bottleneck points. He suggested that the crush may have been prevented if authorities had enforced one-way walking lanes, blocked entry to some narrow pathways, and temporarily closed Itaewons subway station to prevent an excessive number of people moving in the same direction.

Officials could have also temporarily closed Itaewons main road to cars, as they did during the annual Itaewon Global Village Festival earlier in October, thereby giving people more room to spread out, Kong said.

Lee, the urban planning professor, criticized Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min, who claimed, without elaborating, that having more police and fire department personnel on the ground wouldnt have prevented the tragedy.

When asked about the number of officers assigned, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said 137 was still more than it sent in 2020 and 2021, excluding units specifically assigned to virus control measures. Police and government officials have acknowledged this year's crowd was bigger - but it was not clear by how much.

Kong added that the lack of a central organizer on Saturday - when young people flocked to bars and night clubs to celebrate Halloween but there was not one specific event promoted - may have contributed to the tragedy.

'Our country usually does a good job in following the manual and maintaining crowd control at events where theres a specific organizer,' he said. 'But officials are often unsure what to do or even don't care about events that arent created by a specific organizer ... although its those events that usually require a closer watch.'

Hong Ki-hyeon, a senior official with the national police agency, acknowledged that problem during a news conference Monday, saying police do not have an established way to deal with such gatherings.

Rescue workers try to carry victims near the scene where scores of people died and were injured in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. Witnesses say the nightmarish scene intensified as people performed CPR on the dying and carried limp bodies to ambulances, while dance music pulsed from garish clubs lit in bright neon. Others tried desperately to pull out those who were trapped underneath the crush of people, but failed because too many in the crowd had fallen on top of them. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Ambulances and rescue workers arrive at the street near the scene of a crowd surge in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. Witnesses say the nightmarish scene intensified as people performed CPR on the dying and carried limp bodies to ambulances, while dance music pulsed from garish clubs lit in bright neon. Others tried desperately to pull out those who were trapped underneath the crush of people, but failed because too many in the crowd had fallen on top of them. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

The scene of a deadly accident sits empty following Saturday night's Halloween festivities is seen in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Police are investigating what caused a crowd surge that killed more than 150 people during Halloween festivities in Seoul over the weekend in the country's worst disasters in years. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

'In events like festivals that have a specific organizer, discussions are made between related municipalities, police, fire departments and medical experts who prepare and cooperate under different roles,' Hong said. 'That is what we lacked regarding this accident.'

Yongsan district refused to answer questions about preparations. District Mayor Park Hee-young instead said in a statement Monday that her office was deploying 'all administrative resources' to support the injured and families of the victims.

In the two previous years, the district's preparations for the Halloween festivities were focused on preventing the spread of COVID-19 among partygoers. Workers toured bars, restaurants and nightclubs to monitor whether they were abiding by social distancing rules, and checkpoints were established in crowded areas where public workers and volunteers took the temperatures of partygoers.

Saturdays crush was the countrys biggest disaster since 304 people, mostly high school students, died in a ferry sinking in April 2014. The sinking exposed lax safety rules and regulatory failures.

South Korea has a long history of deadly crowd crushes and stampedes, although none as deadly as Saturday's. In 2005, 11 people were killed and dozens were injured in a pop concert during a crowd crush in the southern city of Sangju.

In 1960, 31 people died after being crushed on the stairs of a train station as large crowds rushed to board a train during the Lunar New Year holidays.
The University of East Anglia (UEA) is offering its students a 'mindfulness' course to help ease their 'eco-anxiety' - a condition that scientists say is spreading fast among the world's younger population.

The course of six sessions, one per week and each lasting two hours, will begin on Wednesday after being developed together with mental health charity Norfolk and Waveney Mind.

The university said that eco-anxiety was a 'direct result of the feelings of grief and distress stemming from the knowledge of climate concerns and its psychological impact'.

A UEA spokesperson said that 'more widespread support for eco-anxiety has been developed in response to local needs in Norfolk, where people are becoming acutely conscious of rising sea levels as local coastal communities experience dramatic coastal erosion'.

Claire Pratt, associate director of student services at UEA, said: 'We know that eco-anxiety is a massive issue for our students today, and so we wanted to get involved and do something to tackle these feelings.'

She said that she hoped the course could help students to 'feel better about climate anxiety and provide a supportive atmosphere for discussion and mindfulness'.

The course of six sessions, one per week and each lasting two hours, is being launched at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and was developed together with mental health charity Norfolk and Waveney Mind (Pictured: UEA campus)

It comes after a study published in The Lancet last year declared climate anxiety a 'widespread' condition among children and young people around the world (Pictured: An out of control bushfire in Australia)

Norfolk is one of Britain's most affected areas when it comes to coastal erosion caused by climate change, with Happisburgh (pictured) topping the list of the most at risk towns in the UK

UEA post-graduate student Azza Dirar, who helped design the Mindfulness and Active Hope course, said: 'The focus is not on the overwhelming bleak evidence of climate change and environmental degradation, but rather on how we can act with courage and wisdom during a time of looming ecological and societal collapse.'

Ruth Taylor, social development manager at Norfolk and Waveney Mind, said: 'It's totally normal to feel worried, upset, overwhelmed, ashamed or angry about the climate emergency.

'But there are many things we can do to increase our emotional resilience and keep a helpful and engaged perspective on the crisis.'

The course 'combines aspects of mindfulness and the Active Hope model  taken from the best-selling book of the same name by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone  to offer support around climate anxiety and eco-grief', the UEA said.

UEA is hosting the first of the sessions on Wednesday this week.

It comes after a study published in The Lancet last year declared climate anxiety a 'widespread' condition among children and young people around the world.

The study spoke to 10,000 citizens aged 16 to 25 in the UK, Australia, Brazil, Finland, France, India, Nigeria, Philippines, Portugal, and the US.

The research found that 59 per cent of young people were 'extremely worried', while 84 per cent were at least 'moderately worried', with more than half reporting feeling 'sad, anxious, powerless, helpless and guilty.'

Just under half (45 per cent) said their feelings about climate change 'negatively affected their daily life and functioning.'

The authors of the study wrote: 'A perceived failure by governments to respond to the climate crisis is associated with increased distress.

The university said that eco-anxiety was a 'direct result of the feelings of grief and distress stemming from the knowledge of climate concerns and its psychological impact' (Pictured: Cracked earth in the Cotswolds following drought this year)

Ruth Taylor, social development manager at Norfolk and Waveney Mind, said: 'It's totally normal to feel worried, upset, overwhelmed, ashamed or angry about the climate emergency. But there are many things we can do to increase our emotional resilience and keep a helpful and engaged perspective on the crisis.' (Pictured: A Norfolk and Waveney Mind centre)

'There is an urgent need for further research into the emotional impact of climate change on children and young people and for governments to validate their distress by taking urgent action on climate change.'

The UEA's eco-anxiety course comes more than a decade after it was embroiled in the so-called Climategate scandal.

In November 2009, hackers accessed thousands of emails and documents from the university's Climate Research Unit (CRU), just weeks before the Copenhagen Summit on climate change.

Climate change denialists pounced on the emails and claimed they showed that scientists were manipulating data in an attempt to suppress critics. The CRU rejected this and said the emails had been taken out of context.

A series of investigations was launched in what was described as 'one of the most rigorous scrutiny processes in UK academic history'. The claims against the scientists were found to be were false, and the emails to have been 'misrepresented'.

Norfolk is one of Britain's most affected areas when it comes to coastal erosion caused by climate change, with Happisburgh topping the list of the most at risk towns in the UK.

WHICH PARTS OF THE ENGLISH COASTLINE WILL BE THE WORST HIT BY EROSION? Figures published in 2019 by confused.com, based on data collected by the Environmental Agency's National Coastal Erosion Risk Mapping project, suggest the following areas of England's coastline will be the worst hit by erosion: COASTAL EROSION: THE AREAS MOST AT RISK BY 2040 COASTAL AREA: LAND ERODED AFTER 20 YEARS: 1. Happisburgh, Norfolk 318 feet (97m) 2. Kessingland, Suffolk 230 feet (70m) 3. Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire 223 feet (68m) 4. Withernsea, East Riding of Yorkshire 200 feet (61m) 5. Sunderland, Tyne & Wear 131 feet (40m) 6. Filey, North Yorkshire 131 feet (40m) 7. Camber, East Sussex 131 feet (40m) Advertisement

Home to around 900 people, houses in Happisburgh that were once 20ft from the sea are now on a cliff edge. The village has lost at least 35 homes to erosion over the past two decades.

Figures published in 2019 by confused.com, based on data collected by the Environmental Agency's National Coastal Erosion Risk Mapping project, also show that Kessingland in Suffolk, Hornsea and Withernsea in Yorkshire and Camber in East Sussex are likely to suffer the most coastal erosion over the next 20 years.

Experts found that the east coast is being hardest hit by erosion, with the rate the fastest in Yorkshire and the Humber, where 56 per cent of the coastline is at risk.

Sea levels around the UK have risen by 15.4cm since 1900, and the Met Office predicts modern levels could increase a further 1.12m by 2100, threatening communities on sea cliffs and coastal floodplains around much of the east and south coast of England.

Professor Andrew Shepherd, director of the Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling at the University of Leeds, warned this summer: 'With every centimetre of sea level rise, 2 to 3 million more people worldwide experience coastal flooding each year.

'In the UK alone, a million citizens will be exposed to annual flooding by the end of this century, and so its right to start a planned retreat from the most vulnerable parts of our shoreline.'

Professor Jim Hall, of the University of Oxford, added: 'The Environment Agency is recognising that the coast is inevitably going to be impacted by sea level rise.

'Even if the Environment Agency could afford to build coast protection everywhere  which they cannot  the things that many people cherish about the coast, like beaches and sand dunes, will eventually become submerged, unless we start to plan now for how the coastline can adjust to rising sea levels.

'There need to be honest conversations within coastal communities about what the future holds, and a strategic approach to deciding how to manage the coast sustainably in the future.'
According to court documents, David DePape, a 42-year-old Canadian illegal immigrant accused of breaking into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's house last week and hitting her husband with a hammer, wanted to hold the congresswoman hostage and threatened to break "her kneecaps" if he discovered her lying.

When San Francisco police arrived to the house, they found DePape and Paul Pelosi arguing over a hammer.

Suspect Wants to Break Nancy Pelosi's Kneecaps

DePape is accused of seizing hold of the firearm and swinging it towards Pelosi's head after the cops told them to put it down. According to the FBI affidavit, police discovered gloves, a journal, tape, rope, and zip ties in Pelosi's bedroom in addition to shattered glass.

Before being transported to a medical facility for immediate treatment of a cracked skull, Pelosi admitted to authorities in the ambulance that he had never seen DePape before and that the intruder had entered his bedroom at approximately 2:30 in the morning. requesting to speak with the House Speaker, "Nancy."

Per Fox News, DePape was informed by the lawmaker's spouse that his wife was absent, and he reportedly chose to wait for her to come back. The affidavit states that after Pelosi said his wife wouldn't be home for a few days, DePape maintained that he would wait.

The suspect may spend 30 years in prison if found guilty of the assault allegation and 20 years for the attempted kidnapping. The 82-year-old Pelosi was able to make a covert 911 call during the break-in on Friday, which led to the arrival of two San Francisco police officers.

Read Also: Tax Rebates: You May Either Get $500 or $1,000 in 2 Days If You Meet The Requirements!

Nancy Pelosi Home Attack

According to the criminal complaint, when the pair knocked on the door, Pelosi and DePape were engaged in a fight over a hammer. When asked what was going on, DePape said that "everything was okay," according to the complaint, and Pelosi then "greeted the cops."

DePape grabbed the gun out of Pelosi's hand as the cops ordered both men to drop it and swung it, hitting him in the head. DePape was detained while Pelosi fell to the ground and appeared to be unconscious. A roll of tape, a white rope, a second hammer, a pair of rubber and cloth gloves, and zip ties were subsequently discovered by the investigators at the site.

The attack's purpose has not been officially stated by the police. But according to The Daily Beast, DePape engaged in a long list of far-right conspiracy nonsense, including spreading hate speech against Jews, spreading false information about COVID-19, and speculating about the 2020 election.

DePape published far-right memes, made mention of the anonymous message network 4chan, made fun of Amber Heard, and repeated QAnon conspiracy theories on a personal site he maintained. Pelosi admitted to authorities that he had been asleep when DePape entered the room during an interview conducted in an ambulance on the route to a hospital.

As Pelosi tried to explain that his wife would be gone for the next several days, DePape stated he was searching for "Nancy" and that he would sit and wait for her, he subsequently said.

Following the attack on Friday, Pelosi excused himself to go the restroom while his phone was still charging, as per Politico. The same day, a source told CNN that Pelosi called 911 and started speaking to DePape in what the operator later described as code. Two minutes later, the cops showed up.

According to a Pelosi spokesman, the speaker's husband was brought to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Friday with a skull fracture and severe damage to his hands and right arm. He was anticipated to fully recover.

Related Article: US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Husband Attacked with a Hammer; Suspect Arrested

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'There is absolutely no truth to what she said. Nothing,' Wright said. 'I wish racism would die the ugly, cruel death it deserves'

Dillard had claimed the students were searched by 'blood-thirsty dogs' by 'armed officers,' but Wright said there was only 'one' dog who was 'on a leash'

The only thing the dog found in the baggage was a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts, bodycam footage showed

A South Carolina sheriff said a historically black university president's statement accusing law enforcement officers of racial profiling during a recent bus stop was 'just false.'

Shaw University President Paulette Dillard wrote in a letter that she was 'outraged' after Spartanburg County deputies stopped a contract bus transporting 18 students from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, to a conference in Atlanta on October 5.

Dillard wrote that the scene was reminiscent of the 1950s and '60s: 'Armed police, interrogating innocent black students, conducting searches without probable cause, and blood-thirsty dogs.'

'This behavior of targeting black students is unacceptable and will not be ignored nor tolerated,' Dillard wrote. 'Had the students been white, I doubt this detention and search would have occurred.'

Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright denied her claims at a press conference on Monday and said he tried to communicate with Dillard after the event, and even had a pastor try to help him make contact, but he was unable to, which delayed his response to the public.

'I wish racism would die the ugly, cruel death it deserves,' Wright said. 'If anything we ever do is racist, I want to know, I want to fix it, and I want to never let it happen again, but this case right here has nothing to do with racism.'

He also said he was 'very disappointed' with Dillard for making such an 'uneducated statement to the press to try and get some people stirred up over this.'

'There is absolutely no truth to what she said. Nothing,' he said during a press conference.

Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright slammed the president of Shaw University, saying her racial profiling claims were 'just false'

President Paulette Dillard wrote in a letter that she was 'outraged' after deputies stopped the charter bus and 'targeted black students' by searching them. Wright said no student was searched and that the baggage under the bus was searched after the driver gave consent

Wright also claimed that Dillard did not come see the bodycam footage, despite being reached out to three times to come view it.

He also disputed her 'blood-thirsty dog' claim by saying there was only 'one dog,' who had no interaction with students and that officers are always armed.

'President Dillard said they were searched by blood-thirsty dogs...there was one dog, he was on a leash, the students were never even close to that dog,' he said. 'The students were never even asked off the bus.

'She also said something about armed police officers. I don't know why she had to go say something like that, because we're all armed. I don't know any unarmed police officers.'

Dillard wrote that the scene was reminiscent of the 1950s and '60s: 'Armed police, interrogating innocent black students, conducting searches without probable cause, and blood-thirsty dogs.' Wright shot back, saying all officers are armed and there was only 'one' dog that searched and did not go near the students

Dillard (left) was recently seen at an event with Vice President Kamala Harris (right)

The only person who was searched was the bus driver, who consented while he was standing outside of the vehicle. An officer asked him if he had 'any weapons' on him because he kept sticking his hands in his 'pockets.'

However, the only thing the driver had on him was peppermint candy, which he always keeps on him since he stopped smoking in 1986, he amicably told the officer while they chatting as others continued to search the luggage.

Wright also said that police officers stopped the unmarked, 'Greyhound-like bus' with tinted windows because it had been swerving.

The stop occurred as part of 'Operation Rolling Thunder,' the department's annual weeklong anti-drug campaign in which deputies and officers with agencies from around the state patrol the county's highways.

The search - which the bus driver consented too - did not find anything illegal, only turning up a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts melting in a duffle bag under the hot bus.

Wright also said that a student helped the driver answer officers' questions - which can be seen on the nearly 20 minutes of bodycam footage the Sheriff's Office released.

A dog was seen sniffing through bags and briefly on the bus near the driver, but never once near the students.

After the search, the driver received a warning.

Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller, who was at the joint press conference, also reiterated that the officers 'didn't do anything wrong' and could not have known the races of the people inside the bus when they pulled it over as the windows were tinted.

The charter bus was pulled over for swerving and the bus driver (pictured) agreed to let officers search the luggage compartment

The students were never asked to leave the bus, nor at had any interaction with the dog (pictured) while he searched through the bags

The driver was issued a warning and he was also consensually searched after officers asked him if he had weapons when he put his hands in his pockets. He only had peppermint candy that he keeps on him since he stopped smoking in 1986

Mueller added that the leading cause of death in buses and commercial vehicles is driver fatigue. Interstate 85, the highway where officers stopped the bus, is a 'deadly corridor,' according to Mueller.

'If my guys see a bus weaving in their lane, and they fail to stop it to check that driver to make sure they're not too sleepy, then we could have a busload of Shaw students that was involved in a tragic traffic fatality,' Mueller said.

Body camera footage did not show any Shaw University insignia on the contract bus, which had the words 'CHAUFFERED TRANSPORTATION' printed on its side.

The Shaw University Communications Office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Dillard also wrote to North Carolina congressman, seeking an investigation by the Justice Department.

Five Congressman - Deborah Ross, David Price, Kathy Manning, Alma Adams, GK Butterfield - wrote to the US Attorney General, encouraging him to 'expedited and independent review of the unfounded search of eighteen Shaw University students earlier this month.'

'We believe transparency and accountability are necessary for ensuring justice for the Shaw students directly involved in the incident, as well as the larger Shaw and Raleigh communities,' the letter read.

Wright said there is no need for the investigation, as none of Dillard's claims were true.
'Missing' ABC producer James Gordon Meek has emerged from hiding  but refuses to discuss the mysterious FBI raid that brought his storied journalism career to an abrupt halt.

Meek, an Emmy winner and celebrated investigative reporter, resigned from the network just hours after heavily-armed agents swooped on his penthouse apartment in Arlington, Virginia in April.

DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal that Meek also ducked out of a glittering award ceremony held one week later where he was due to collect a prize for his coverage of Joe Biden's chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Instead, the 53-year-old news veteran contacted stunned organizers at the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation to tell them he couldn't accept.

Meek's pals say he's been AWOL for the past six months after he packed his stuff and moved out of his upscale digs at the six-story Siena Park building in the wake of the raid.

DailyMail.com finally spotted ABC journalist James Gordon Meek last Thursday at his elderly mother's townhouse in McLean, Virginia, where he refused to answer questions

Meek, 53, has been keeping a low profile and has been AWOL for the past six months, after a mysterious FBI raid at his Siena Park apartment in Arlington, Virginia

The Emmy-winning producer is now living with his mother at her townhouse in McLean, Virginia, 15 minutes outside Washington, D.C..

'I sent him a text to ask if he was OK. He said he wasn't able to talk about what was going on, on the advice of his lawyer,' a confused friend told DailyMail.com. 'That's the last I heard from him.'

Meek was similarly reluctant to speak when DailyMail.com finally spotted him Thursday at his elderly mom's townhouse in McLean, Virginia, 15 minutes outside Washington, D.C..

The divorced dad-of-two appeared to be keeping a low profile, parking his Chevy SUV several blocks from the property and ignoring questions as he slipped inside via a back door.

He was still wearing his typical military-style getup, including an army field jacket with an Afghan flag patch, backpack, aviator shades and a keffiyeh scarf  a nod to Meek's celebrated dispatches from the frontline in Afghanistan.

The April 27 swoop sparked fears Meek was being targeted for his trailblazing journalism which has exposed shocking military cover-ups, friendly fire deaths and foiled terror plots.

'Independent observers believe the raid is among the first  and quite possibly, the first  to be carried out on a journalist by the Biden administration,' read a bombshell report in Rolling Stone.

Meek resigned and withdrew from the spotlight in April. Rolling Stone reported that the circumstances were suspicious, but The Daily Beast later said there was little evidence of a conspiracy

DailyMail.com can also reveal that a week after the raid, Meek was due to accept an award for his coverage of the US's military withdrawal from Afghanistan  but ducked out

The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation had planned to honor Meek with its 2022 World Press Freedom Award on May 4, but the journalist stunned organizers when he told them he couldn't accept

The magazine alleged that agents spent ten minutes inside Meek's top-floor pad and found a laptop containing classified information, citing 'sources familiar with the matter'  but friends and former colleagues of the popular, well-regarded reporter say that doesn't add up.

They point out that ABC has not made any legal intervention, nor voiced its support for the star correspondent, who is said to have cited 'personal reasons' for abruptly quitting after nine successful years at the alphabet network.

'If he did have anything like that, classified documents or similar materials, that would presumably be for a story he was working on,' said a former colleague.

'This is a guy who has done a lot of good in the world. ABC would be firmly in his corner if it was for legitimate journalism. None of it adds up.'

The Department of Justice has not disclosed its reason for targeting Meek but  in an unusual step  Dena Iverson, principal deputy director in the DOJ's Office of Public Affairs, released a statement insisting that agents had acted lawfully.

'While the department cannot speak to any specific case or activity, the Department strictly adheres to the Attorney General's July 2021 memorandum prohibiting the use of compulsory process with regards to members of the news media acting within the scope of newsgathering activities,' she told the Daily Beast.

The policy was brought in last year by the Biden administration to prohibit feds from seizing materials from reporters without authorization from the deputy attorney general.

The Department of Justice did not respond to multiple emails from DailyMail.com asking for an update on Meek's case.

Previous presidents including Trump and Obama had been accused of secretly targeting journalists and their sources.

There are, however, several exceptions included in the policy, such as when a journalist is suspected of working for a foreign power or a terror group.

The journalist had made a documentary about the U.S. army's activities in Niger

Meek is pictured in a photo from his Twitter account  which has been inactive since April

Meek built his reputation at the New York Daily News where his five-year investigation forced military brass to admit that Army Private First Class David Sharrett II was shot by his own commanding officer.

He served as senior counterterrorism advisor to the chairman of the US House Homeland Security committee before joining Disney-owned ABC in 2013 where his team won an Emmy for their documentary on the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando.

Meek's recent work includes 3212 Un-Redacted, a feature-length Hulu documentary revealing how the Pentagon covered up a botched 2017 mission in Niger, West Africa, in which four Green Berets were killed by ISIS insurgents.

Earlier this year he was announced as the recipient of a World Press Freedom Award at the James W. Foley Freedom awards recognizing his extensive reporting on the Afghan pullout and his efforts to help Afghan allies and their families escape from the Taliban.

The divorced dad-of-two parked his Chevy SUV several blocks from the property and ignored questions as he slipped inside via a back door

'James Gordon Meek is a towering 6'7", gregarious punk rock art student-turned investigative reporter,' read a promotional profile which has since been scrubbed from the internet.

'James is known for news scoops such as the killing of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the hostage rescue of an American in Nigeria, as well as his deep dive investigations of friendly fire incidents, military cover-ups and cases of Americans held hostage by terrorist groups and rogue regimes.'

There was no reference to Meek however when the award ceremony  named in honor of journalist James Foley who was murdered by ISIS  took place at the National Press Club on May 4.

'The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation had planned to honor James Gordon Meek with its 2022 World Press Freedom Award for his years of foreign correspondence and his efforts to evacuate Afghan special operators and their families after the fall of Afghanistan in August 2021,' a spokeswoman told DailyMail.com.

'Mr. Meek noted he would not be able to accept and we withdrew the honor. The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation has no knowledge of or comment on current reported allegations regarding Mr. Meek.'

Around the same time Meek suddenly ended his involvement in a book he was co-writing with Lt. Col. Scott Mann, a retired Green Beret, entitled Operation Pineapple Express: The Incredible Story of a Group of Americans Who Undertook One Last Mission and Honored a Promise in Afghanistan.

Meek was writing this book with Lt. Col. Scott Mann but he withdrew from the project in spring, citing personal issues. It was around the same time as his home was raided

Meek previewed the book on social media and the first sentence on its jacket read: 'In April, ABC News correspondent James Gordon Meek got an urgent call from a Special Forces operator serving overseas.'

When it came out in August Lt. Col. Mann was listed as its sole author and the line had changed to: 'In April, an urgent call was placed from a Special Forces operator serving overseas.'

Mann told Rolling Stone: 'He contacted me in the spring, and was really distraught, and told me that he had some serious personal issues going on and that he needed to withdraw from the project.

'As a guy who's a combat veteran who has seen that kind of strain  I don't know what it was  I honored it. And he went on his way, and I continued on the project.'

Friends told DailyMail.com there were no outward signs of unrest in Meek's life before he cut them off.

They described him as a highly-driven individual but said he was popular, outgoing and widely respected by rivals on the national security beat.

He never touched drugs and drank socially, but not to excess, said one.

'There are certain red flags you might look for if someone is going off the rails. One of those might be failing to hold down a job but James had been at ABC for almost a decade' the pal told DailyMail.com.

'He's a good person, he maintained important relationships. It just seemed like James was doing the best work of his life.

Meek's apartment building, where he lived until April in Arlington, Virginia

Meek's final tweet on April 27, the morning of the raid, was about how the US was helping Ukraine in the war against Russia

'He was finally getting the recognition he deserved. That's why none of this makes sense.'

Meek had lived on Columbia Pike, scene of the raid, for the previous decade after divorcing Jessica Lenard, 49, a former US Senate and House staffer with whom he has two girls, aged 15 and 19.

Their ten-year marriage ended acrimoniously as Lenard accused her then-spouse of having an extra-marital affair in a 2011 filing.

Meek responded by alleging that she was abusive towards him, on one occasion 'punching him in the testicles' and 'striking him repeatedly in the chest with her fists' when he wouldn't agree to a divorce.

The split was finalized in November 2012 and Meek continued to have a close relationship with his two daughters, according to friends.

Eugene Gorokhov, Meek's attorney, did not respond to a request for comment.

In earlier remarks, reported by Rolling Stone, he said: 'Mr Meek is unaware of what allegations anonymous sources are making about his possession of classified documents.

'If such documents exist, as claimed, this would be within the scope of Mr. Meek's long career as an investigative journalist covering government wrongdoing.

'Press inquiries on this issue are troubling for a different reason: they appear to be based on statements from a source inside the government.

'It is highly inappropriate, and illegal, for individuals in the government to leak information about an ongoing investigation.'
A car-jacker on an alleged crime spree has threatened Melbourne residents with a knife before breaking into a woman's home and sparking a two-hour standoff, police allege.

The 44-year-old man allegedly rammed vehicles with a stolen car in the city's south-east before arriving in the wealthy suburb of Brighton about 1pm on Monday where he threatened locals with the weapon and holed up in the house on Cluden St.

Police launched a large scale operation, which included the critical incident response team, and the man was eventually arrested about 3pm after being tasered was and taken to hospital where he remains under police guard.

The woman who owns the house on Cluden St, understood to be in her 60s, was not at home when the alleged break-in occurred on Monday afternoon and is not known to the man, police said.

A 44-year-old man was arrested and taken to hospital after being tasered (pictured)

Shocked residents witnessed the massive police operation in Brighton on Monday afternoon

The suburb is one of Melbourne's wealthiest and is home to a number of high profile residents including Bec Judd with her husband Chris and My Kitchen Rules star Zana Pali, who both have complained of rising crime rates.

Ms Pali, who was out trick-or-treating with her young family on Monday, shared a video of a police helicopter circling the suburb.

Earlier this year, Ms Judd claimed violent crimes were 'escalating' in the exclusive suburb leading to residents feeling unsafe and that the 'state government don't seem to care'.

'The increasing nature of home invasion-type crimes in our local community is what makes residents, particularly women, feel unsafe,' she told The Australian.

Premier Dan Andrews said there were 500 additional police in Victoria's ranks, 70 in the Bayside area, and he didn't want to get into an argument with Ms Judd.

My Kitchen Rules star and Brighton resident Zana Pali (right) was out trick-or-treating on Monday and spotted Victoria Police helicopters circling her suburb (left)

Brighton resident Bec Judd has called for more to be done about the alleged crime rise in the city

Victoria Police issued a statement saying the 44-year-old was first spotted in an allegedly stolen Audi sedan in St Kilda about 11.40am which allegedly rammed two police cars when they tried to intercept it.

'Investigators have been told the man, who was armed with an edged weapon, then drove to Elwood where he allegedly dumped the Audi and car-jacked a Volvo wagon,' the statement said.

'With assistance from the Air Wing, police followed the vehicle, which was allegedly driving erratically through the St Kilda, Elwood and Brighton areas.'

The man then allegedly entered a Davies St property and threatened a resident - but was chased out with a rake - before entering the Cluden St house.

Local Brighton MP James Newbury has been fighting for a police station in the suburb

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews previously said that he was 'not interested in having an argument with Bec Judd' after she complained she didn't feel safe in her multi-million dollar Bayside mansion

'An investigator told me he (the man) locked himself in the bathroom of one of the lady's houses,' a resident who lives opposite the house told The Herald Sun.

'What I do know is that he had to be tasered. It was scary, because I've got my son and his friend in the house.'

The 44-year-old is assisting inquiries under police guard.
A woman testified on Monday that Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted her in a hotel room during the Toronto Film Festival in 1991, then did it again when she went to confront him in the same hotel during the same festival 17 years later.

Kelly Sipherd told a Los Angeles jury that she was a 24-year-old aspiring actor at the 1991 festival and didn't know who Weinstein was before she met him at a party.

Later that evening, she was invited to his hotel room to discuss a film script, but once there, Weinstein went into the bathroom and emerged wearing only an open shirt and holding a hot washcloth, Sipherd testified.

'It all happened very, very very quickly,' she said. 'I was in shock. It was so unexpected.' She said he then pulled her skirt off, put the washcloth on her and told her 'my wife loves this.'

Weinstein, 70, is not charged with the alleged assaults described in Monday's testimony. Sipherd is one of four women being allowed to testify so prosecutors can attempt to show his propensity for the crimes he's charged with.

Kelly Sipherd testified Monday that Weinstein sexually assaulted her in a hotel during the Toronto Film Festival in 1991, again when she went to confront him in same hotel 17 years later

Sipherd told a Los Angeles jury on Monday that she was a 24-year-old aspiring actor at the 1991 festival and didn't know who Weinstein was before she met him at a party

One of those women being allowed to testify was a dancer in the sequel to Dirty Dancing who went by the name Ashley M in court.

She told the jury last week that Harvey Weinstein made her feel 'like a piece of meat' by luring her to his hotel room for a business meeting, then pinning her onto a bed, ripping off her clothes and masturbating onto her chest.

Already serving a 23-year sentence in New York, Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of rape and sexual assault involving five women in Los Angeles and has denied engaging in any non-consensual sex.

The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused, but Kelly Sipherd agreed Monday to be named through her attorney.

Sipherd testified that her friends there were abuzz about the man whose company Miramax had surged to the forefront of independent film and was making its mark at the Oscars.

She said she was charmed by Weinstein at first as they discussed books and films.

'We got along very well,' she said. 'He was very intelligent. We had a wonderful conversation.'

She said the two of them left the party for a glass of wine at a nearby cafe, then she went with him to his room at the Four Seasons Hotel because he said he had a script for a film with a role that would be perfect for her.

Once there, the situation escalated quickly, she said, as she described how he pulled up her skirt.

She testified that she felt 'nauseous, scared, terrified' and repeatedly told him to stop and asked 'what are you doing?'

Sipherd said he held her down and sexually assaulted her with his mouth and his hand. He then climbed on top of her and started to rape her but she was able to slip away and leave the room.

Weinstein, 70, is not charged with the alleged assaults described in Monday's testimony. Sipherd, along with three others, is being allowed to testify so prosecutors can attempt to show his propensity for the crimes he's charged with

Weinstein is seen in court on October 4 with Werksman, his attorney

THE LOS ANGELES CHARGES AGAINST WEINSTEIN JANE DOE #1 - Unidentified Italian actress Forced oral copulation - February 18, 2013 Sexual penetration by foreign object - February 18, 2013 Forcible rape against the same woman on the same day - February 18, 2013 JANE DOE #2 Sexual battery - February 19, 2013 JANE DOE #3 Sexual battery by restraint - May 11, 2010. 'Weinstein unlawfully touched an intimate part of Jane Doe #3 while she was unlawfully restrained'. JANE DOE #4 - Jennifer Siebel Newsom Forcible oral copulation - September 2005 Forcible rape - September 2005 JANE DOE #5 Forcible oral copulation November - 2009 Forcible rape - November 2009 Forcible oral copulation - November 2010 Forcible rape - November 2010 Advertisement

Sipherd testified that Weinstein called her at home repeatedly in the weeks that followed, and she often hung up, but eventually spoke to him.

'The encounter that you describe sounds horrifying,' Weinstein attorney Alan Jackson told Sipherd in his cross-examination, saying Weinstein seemed like someone one would cross the street to avoid at all costs.

'But you didn't walk the other way, or cross the street, or spit on him, you actually took his phone calls.'

Sipherd eventually accepted an offer from him to come to New York and talk to a woman who does casting for him, but took a friend with plans to keep her constantly at her side.

'Your rapist was persuasive in trying to get you to come with him to see him in New York?' he asked. Sipherd replied, 'yes.'

In New York, she said Weinstein called her in her hotel room from the lobby and told her to get rid of her friend and he was coming up. She refused, and left New York having never seen him or the casting agent.

Sipherd testified that she did not see Weinstein again until 2008, when she was 41 and temporarily living at the Four Seasons with her husband and children. She ran into Weinstein in the lobby during that year's festival.

'My blood kind of stopped,' she said. 'I was very angry.'

When Weinstein's assistant came to her room to say he wanted to meet with her, she agreed.

'I wanted to confront him,' she said. 'I felt like I was ready to give it to him.'

Once in his room, she remembered asking, 'How does it feel to be in front of the one woman who said no to you?'

Weinstein then dismissed his assistant from the room, and quickly guided Sipherd toward a door. She said before she realized it she was in a closed bathroom with Weinstein, where he was blocking her way out.

She said Weinstein grabbed her breasts and masturbated in front of her before letting her leave the room.

Jackson said it sounded like Weinstein 'escorted' her into the bathroom 'politely.'

She replied that she didn't know she was being led into the bathroom.

'You didn't see the sink, the vanity, the mirror?' Jackson asked.

'It was dark,' she replied.

'So you went with him in a dark room?' Jackson said.

Then Jackson asked why she didn't leave, or make greater efforts to sound an alarm.

'You find yourself for the second time alone with this rapist and you didn't scream?' he asked.

'I was mortified and in shock,' Sipherd said.

Sipherd said she didn't tell anyone about the second assault for years because of the 'sheer embarrassment' of having it happen again.

'I was in shock,' she said. 'So embarrassed, just so embarrassed.'

Her testimony, which appears to be the first time she has told her story in a public setting, comes after others who are being allowed to testify to show Weinstein's propensity for such acts.

Another woman Ashley M, who testified last week, told jurors in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County on Friday that she was 'meek', and he was 'the boss' on set.

She told the court she was 22 years old when she met Weinstein on the set of his movie 'Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights' in Puerto Rico, in which she had a job dancing for the lead couple.

A woman identified only as Ashley M. testified Thursday at the Los Angeles rape and sexual assault trial of fallen Hollywood titan Harvey Weinstein. Ashley told the jury how Weinstein assaulted her in a hotel room during the filming of Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights

Ashley M. was in Puerto Rico filming Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004) when Weinstein allegedly assaulted her. The film went on to be both a critical and box office failure

'I felt really violated and part of me was really  you know, still emotional,' she said, explaining why she left the set the day after the alleged attack and did not return.

She said she was approached by Weinstein on set, and was unnerved by the imposing film maestro, but was reassured by his assistant Bonnie Hung.

Hung, Ashley testified, told her: 'Don't worry, I'll be with you the whole time, we're just going to talk about future projects.'

Ashley told the jury she went to the meeting with Weinstein because she felt obliged - not because she wanted to advance her career.

'I just basically did what I thought the people that were running the meeting wanted me to do,' she said.

'I really had no interest in being an actress.

'I had spent my life dancing. I was engaged to be married. I wanted to finally start my life, maybe finally wanted to start a family at that time.'

Ashley M, a dancer, is seen in court on Friday wiping away tears as she testifies against Harvey Weinstein. She accused him of luring her to a hotel room in Puerto Rico for a business meeting, and then pinned her to a bed before masturbating on her

The woman, known only as Ashley M., broke down in tears as she told a Los Angeles courtroom how Weinstein had sexually assaulted her and demanded that she give him a 'naked massage'. Pictured: Court sketch of Weinstein from October 26

Mark Werksman, Weinstein's lawyer, pushed Ashley on why she entered the hotel if she was not interested in business offers.

'I'm now entering a hotel, this isn't about work. Did that dawn on you at any moment?' Werksman asked.

'Did you have a second thought where you just said  I'm just going to walk right back out that door?'

Ashley replied: 'I was worried. I knew he was big and I didn't know what to do.'

On Thursday, Ashley told the court that, as they walked down the hall of Weinstein's hotel toward a door: 'I started to get more worried, but Bonnie was there with her clipboard.

'Harvey opened it and then he went in and I went in,' she said, pausing as she began to cry.

'And then Bonnie shut the door behind us. I was like, 'oh no, what do I do?''

She said Weinstein quickly became aggressive, pushing her on to the bed and taking her top off before performing a sex act on top of her.

Close to sobbing, the woman testified that the former Miramax head told her 'it would just be a naked massage...and not to worry about it.'

Werksman is seen arriving for trial on October 24

'He said: 'Look at Gwyneth Paltrow and what it did for her career,'' she said.

Gwyneth Paltrow pictured with Harvey Weinstein. On Thursday, a witness in Weinstein's LA rape and sexual assault trial told the jury the former mogul told her a naked massage could improve her career prospects as it had for Paltrow

Mr. C's hotel in Beverly Hills, where Weinstein would often attend functions. A woman identified only as Jane Doe 1 testified for three days that he raped her at the hotel in 2013

She told the jury: 'He just said 'it's OK, it's not like we're having sex.''

Describing what happened after Weinstein had finished, she said: 'I was just really thankful that I wasn't raped. I remember thinking and I remember wiping off just getting dressed really fast and leaving really fast.'

Weinstein's attorney countered in his opening statements that 'transactional sex' was common.

The court heard first, on Wednesday, from Jane Doe 1, who claimed she was sexually assaulted by Weinstein in 2013 and forced to perform oral sex as he had problems maintaining an erection.

On Thursday, Weinstein's driver testified that he drove the producer to a Los Angeles hotel on the night that he allegedly raped a woman at a hotel a short distance away. He said he had no idea what went on inside the hotel rooms.

The trial is expected to last several more weeks.

The LA proceedings were originally seen as symbolic but have taken on a new importance after New York's highest court granted him permission to appeal his conviction.

If Weinstein wins in New York, the Los Angeles trial will determine whether or not he walks free.

Weinstein faces a life sentence in California if convicted.
It comes as the Liberal Party is under investigation over fundraising activities

The private event was held on October 2 at Farm Vigano in Melbourne's north

Indian community members and migration agents made $1,000 donations to Victorian Labor's election campaign for access to Andrew Giles, the Federal Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, to discuss visa issues.

A private dinner was held at Farm Vigano in Melbourne's north on October 2, where community members and two agents discussed immigration and visa delays with the minister in the hope Labor can remedy the problems.

Tickets for the event cost $1,000 and were organised by former Labor branch secretary Jasvinder Sidhu, who was suspended from the party two years ago, according to The Australian.

That money has gone towards funding the re-election campaign of the state's energy minister, Lily DAmbrosio.

Indian community members and migration agents in Victoria attended a private dinner with Federal Immigration Minister Andrew Giles (pictured centre with Victorian Energy Minister Lily DAmbrosio

Attendees reported that Mr Giles was sympathetic towards the concerns of the community and agreed there was problems with visas and immigration in the country.

'We were pleased to note that Minister Giles admitted that the Australian visa system is not working as his government would expect,' wrote Indian community member Sabhi Singh in a post to Facebook.

Mr Singh recounted how the minister explained that the department had lost 'large number of its staff' in the past nine years and the number of visa applications had 'increased significantly'.

'He (Mr Giles) is committed to improve the system and bring many changes in visa processing,' Mr Singh continued.

'He also shared that we do need to provide an answer to visa applicants, it may be a YES or NO. But delays of weeks and months was unacceptable.

'We hope to see big changes in immigration department under his leadership and will continue to raise community issues at such forums in future,' he added.

Labor's Jasvinder Sidhu noted in a separate post about the event that nine years of incompetence from previous governments had led to the current issues affecting the visa system.

Mr Giles spoke about problems with immigration and visa delays at the private dinner

The event was organised by controversial Labor politician Jasvinder Sidhu (pictured right) with Mr Giles and Ms DAmbrosio in attendance. There were no officers from the Immigration Department present

The private dinner had members of the Indian community, two migration agents, Mr Sidhu, Mr Giles and Ms DAmbrosio in attendance.

There were no officers from the Immigration Department present at the event.

One guest told The Australian that the meeting was a 'general discussion' and no specific immigration cases were raised with Mr Giles.

Both Victorian Labor and Liberal parties have accepted large sums of money in the lead up to this month's state election, raising some concerns over donations.

The state Liberal Party is currently under investigation after collecting $500,000 for their controversial 'Ditch Dan' campaign.

The Electoral Commission launched a second probe into the party's cloudy fundraising efforts in September.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Mr Giles' office for comment.
If the airline meets these goals, CEO Alan Joyce will pocket $4million in shares

Includes goals such as returning the airline to profit by end of financial year

The scheme features performance targets not 'challenging', according to ISS

Qantas shareholders are being urged to vote down a scheme under which CEO Alan Joyce would receive a bonus payment worth millions.

Investors were advised to vote down the carrier's 'executive retention scheme' by major proxy firm ISS at an AGM last Friday, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

ISS claimed the performance targets set up by the airline for Mr Joyce to meet were not 'sufficiently challenging'.

The targets include returning the airline to profit by the end of the current financial year, keeping the airline's net debt below a target level and cutting $1billion of costs by June.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce (pictured) has been accused by major proxy firm, ISS, of not setting 'challenging' performance targets under a bonus scheme

If the airline achieves those goals, Mr Joyce will receive 698,000 performance rights on shares - or about $4million at the current share price.

Qantas is currently on track to meet all three performance targets.

'Shareholders are being given a false choice because the company intends to make a cash equivalent payment rather than an equity award if shareholder approval is not obtained,' the ISS report read.

Proxy firms like ISS provide services to shareholders such as institutional investors to vote their shares at shareholder meetings.

ISS was the only proxy advisor to recommend to shareholders they vote against the plan, with all other firms supporting it.

A Qantas spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: 'All of the other major shareholder advisors - CGI Glass Lewis, Ownership Matters, ACSI and the ASA - are supporting the FY22 remuneration report and incentives.'

The spokesperson explained that Mr Joyce had not received a pay rise since 2018, is the only CEO in the ASX 100 to not get a bonus in the last three years, and all Qantas executives had also not received a bonus in that time.

'Our executives weren't paid annual bonuses in FY22, for the third consecutive year, and their contracted base pay remained frozen. Overall their pay was 64 per cent below what it was pre-Covid in FY19.

'Under the policy it applies, ISS has been selective in its assessment on Alan's remuneration based on benchmarking of non-comparable firms.

'Our recovery and retention plan is a two-year plan, covering FY22 and FY23, tied to achieving key performance targets of our Covid recovery plan,' the spokesperson added.

The airline's shareholders were recommended by ISS to reject the executive retention scheme at an AGM meeting on Friday (stock image)

Qantas's return to profitability comes despite ongoing complaints from customers about the airline's service (stock image)

It comes as Qantas reported a return to profitability after five consecutive half-year losses.

Mr Joyce says the carrier expected a 'very strong' profit before tax of between $1.2billion and $1.3billion for the first half of 2022/23.

'It's a remarkable turnaround,' he said last month.

'The main drivers of this performance are strong travel demand, both domestically and internationally.'

He claimed Qantas will boost worker pay by 10 per cent.

This comes despite ongoing complaints from customers about the airline's service such as wait times, flight delays and cancellations in recent months.

Qantas has also faced aviation supply chain issues, where plane manufacturers are struggling to quickly supply parts - further hampering the airline's operations.

Industrial action is also being undertaken by 1,500 flight cabin staff against Qantas over a new agreement that reduces breaks and extends working hours.

The Flight Attendants Association of Australia claim Qantas had threatened to outsource work if crews didn't sign the agreement.

Qantas has firmly rejected the allegations.
An Aboriginal elder has publicly confronted mining magnate Andrew Forrest, using a Welcome to Country ceremony to tell him indigenous people are 'suffering ... when you going to stop these handouts?'

Nyamai woman Doris Mitchell-Eaton attended Monday's ceremonial opening of the $5.9billion Iron Bridge mine developed by Mr Forrest's Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) in Western Australia's Pilbara.

After taking to the stage, Ms Mitchell-Eaton began by saying 'Good morning everyone and welcome to this place that's getting destroyed, our country, so beautiful.'

Her speech got more forthright, in front of WA Deputy Premier Roger Cook, Mr Forrest and attending media.

Aboriginal elder Doris Mitchell-Eaton (pictured centre) slammed mining magnate Andrew Forrest after hijacking her own Welcome to Country speech

It was also broadcast live to the Fortescue head office in Perth.

Ms Mitchell-Easton asked Mr Forrest at the event if she could have an opportunity to speak, and the billionaire miner agreed and had to listen to the raw criticism.

The former Aboriginal elder of the year claimed the local Nyamai people agreed to the mine going ahead after they were given assurances locals would be hired to work at the site.

But they have since been denied jobs because they 'didn't have the capability'.

'People think we're illiterate ... (that we) know nothing,' said Ms Mitchell-Easton.

'How can we build our capability? Give us the opportunity to build our capability to mine our own country ...

'It hurts my feelings to see ... people coming in here digging in our country and we haven't got our opportunity,' she said.

She said while traditional owners did not oppose mining, they wanted to have the final say on projects.

Ms Mitchell-Easton finished by saying: 'You take good care of our country, because we are the ones suffering. We don't get rich, we are still on handouts.

Andrew Forrest (pictured) looked taken aback by the ferocity of Ms Mitchell-Eaton's speech, but said he had known her for 40 years

'When you going to stop these handouts? We want to build this capability, that's the word I learned from FMG, Andrew. I'm coming with the capability.'

When Mr Forrest took to the lectern, he said that her speech was warranted and reflected the struggles of Aboriginal people

'I really hope that everyone heard Auntie Doris,' said Mr Forrest, who has known her for 40 years.

'Auntie Doris told me that she wanted to say that little story and I was only too pleased, because that's the raw future of Aboriginal people.

Mr Forrest then spoke about indigenous people being 'held back by even the best intentioned bureaucrats'.

Andrew Forrest (pictured right) embraced Ms Mitchell-Eaton (centre) after her powerful speech

He said the life of Indigenous Australians would not improve 'If we cover people with welfare, with drugs and alcohol, remove the planks of support ... and burden them with low expectations.'

Ms Mitchell-Eaton said she wanted to have a meeting with Mr Forrest about getting more job opportunities for the Nyamai people, saying 'Give us that opportunity, to dig in our own country.'

But Mr Forrest dismissed the idea of further talks on the issue, saying the original agreement remained in place.

'What we shook hands on in the first place stands,' he said. 'We don't need a meeting to keep to our word.'

He echoed her comments on welfare, deploring 'the useless handout mentality, the no education, no skills, no jobs and the low expectations'.

'Auntie Doris, thank you for making sure it doesn't happen here. I'm really, really proud to ensure that what we shook hands on in the first place always stays.'

Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Price said the widespread use of Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies had weakened their message and impact

Welcome to country ceremonies also came into the spotlight in July when new Aboriginal senator Jacinta Price slammed them for being token gestures and 'throwaway lines'.

'I've had my fill of being symbolically recognised,' she told 2GB's Ben Fordham.

'I've had enough - they've done really nothing to improve the lives of really marginalised people.
Top-performing NSW teachers could earn as much as $150,000 a year under proposed reforms to combat an exodus from the profession and keep the best and brightest in the classroom.

The proposal to reward excellent teachers with higher pay and enhanced status was unveiled on Tuesday in a government options paper developed by Melbourne University education expert John Hattie.

Professor Hattie recently told a NSW parliamentary committee probing the crisis that a lack of a financial incentive tied to career progression was a major contributor to teachers leaving.

Classroom teachers assessed as 'expert' under the 'Rewarding Excellence in Teaching' program could attract salaries up to $147,000 a year or beyond in recognition of their skills and impact

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell (pictured) said the aim of higher salaries was to recognises and reward teacher excellence

Prof Hattie's paper proposes the creation of new teaching roles across schools with salaries ranging from $117,000 to $147,000, depending on the proportion of mentoring and collaboration time undertaken (pictured, Prof Hattie)

'The biggest issue we have in terms of attraction to the profession is not the starting salary ... but it's what happens about 10 years into the profession,' he said in August.

Under options released for consultation, classroom teachers assessed as 'expert' under the 'Rewarding Excellence in Teaching' program could attract salaries up to $147,000 a year or beyond in recognition of their skills and impact.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the program was a key component of the government's focus on building an education system that recognises and rewards excellence.

'This approach is about recognising and rewarding the great teachers we have in our public schools, with the aim of keeping them in the classroom where they do their magic,' she said.

Initial feedback showed around three out of four teachers in NSW would be interested in putting themselves forward for the senior role.

'I'm looking forward to hearing more from the profession on our proposed plans,' Ms Mitchell said.

Prof Hattie's paper proposes the creation of new teaching roles across schools with salaries ranging from $117,000 to $147,000, depending on the proportion of mentoring and collaboration time undertaken.

Over the next month more than 100 roundtables will be held with teachers and other school staff to get feedback on the paper, while others will be able to share their thoughts online through a survey.

'We want to hear from teachers across this entire state to ensure we get the policy right and to find the best way to get great teachers to remain in the classroom,' Prof Hattie said.

'We already know from feedback to date that schools see this reform as worthwhile but it's important in this next step to hear exactly how they want to see it work.'

The 'Rewarding Excellence in Teaching' program is expected to start next year and scale up over time.

The proposal comes after a year when thousands of NSW public and Catholic school teachers walked off the job, demanding better pay and conditions.

The unions want a pay rise of five to seven per cent to stem the flow of teachers abandoning the job. The NSW government has offered an increase of three per cent.
An independent politician has accused the government of 'secrecy' around the return of four ISIS brides after hearing fear from Syrian refugees in her community.

Four women repatriated to Australia after spending several years in Syrian refugee camps arrived in Sydney from Dubai at 6.20am on Saturday.

The women were joined by their 13 children and taken to a secure hotel to be briefed and assessed by authorities before reintegrating back into Australian society.

However, independent MP Dai Le, who is the member for the western Sydney seat of Fowler, said Anthony Albanese's government wasn't being transparent enough for her to have no fears about the Syrian refugees who fled ISIS now living in her community.

Four women and 13 children rescued from Syrian refugee camps have arrived back in Australia after going to the country to join ISIS (pictured, women in al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria in 2019)

'It seems like the government is doing all of this under a cloak of secrecy,' she told Sunrise on Tuesday.

'It is unfortunate because our community is one of the most multicultural electorates in the whole of Australia.

'A large proportion of our population are people who have fled the ISIS state and they are very concerned.'

As a refugee herself from Vietnam, Ms Le said it was vital the government addressed community fear.

'The people fleeing the ISIS regime, they remember the trauma, they remember the atrocity in their country,' she said.

'The fear that the word ISIS brings for these families has brought on the reason why they left in the first place.'

Independent MP Dai Le (above) condemned the government's 'cloak of secrecy' around the mission as the return of former ISIS members is worrying for Syrian refugees who already living in Australia

The 16 women, alongside their 42 children, to be rescued are Australian-born citizens who were either taken or went of their own will to Syria to marry Islamic soldiers (pictured, al-Roj camp in 2021)

All of the 16 women to be rescued are Australian-born citizens who were either taken or went of their own will to Syria to marry Islamic soldiers.

They will be repatriated alongside their 42 children, many of which were born in Syria and have never seen Australia before.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation officials will evacuate the women and children from their camp in Syria's north-eastern Rojava region, where they've been held since March 2019.

The women and children were previously removed from the al-Hol and al-Roj camps near the Iraqi border in an operation involving Australian officials and the Syrian Democratic Forces.

The first to arrive back in Australia were assessed as the most vulnerable in the Syrian camp and have already undergone vigorous physical and psychological testing, reportedly including DNA tests to prove they are Australian.

Once the rescued women and children return to Australia after vigorous physical and psychological tests, they will be subject to intense monitoring by security agencies (pictured, al-Roj in 2021)

The Albanese Government said its priority is the safety of all Australian citizens and argued leaving the women and children in the camps poses a bigger risk than bringing them home (pictured, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese)

It is understood all those rescued will be intensely monitored by security agencies once back in Australia with many facing possible terror charges for travelling to Syria and Iraq when it was illegal to do so.

There have also been discussion on whether tracking devices will be used on the women and children and if they will face restrictions on travel and social media, including encrypted messaging apps.

The controversial operation to bring Australian citizens back 'home' from Syrian camps has been largely hidden from the public due to the volatile nature of the mission but was confirmed by officials in October.

It follows a complete reversal of the former Morrison Government's policy which outlawed the return of ISIS members.

Mariam Dabboussy was one of the first former ISIS brides to be brought home to Australia with her children.

Many leaders of the Opposition, refugees and Australians have expressed concern over the return of 'radicalised' women and children (pictured, Mariam Dabboussy, who claims she was tricked into going to Syria and is one of the women rescued, with her family in Syria)

News of the mission has seen massive criticism from refugees and concerned Australians that believe the women and children are 'radicalised' to the point of posing a threat.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has been one of many politicians vocal against their return.

'I do worry about people coming back from the theatre of war, particularly when they've been in the circumstance where they've been mixing with people who hate our country and hate our way of life,' Mr Dutton told Sky News last week.

It is understood all those rescued will be intensely monitored by security agencies once back in Australia with many facing possible terror charges (pictured, al-Roj in 2021)

Intelligence agencies said leaving Australian citizens in the harsh camps poses a bigger risk than the rescue as their suffering could be used to recruit future terror fighters.

Shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan also called for the government to be clear about what reintegration into Australian society will look like for the women and children.
London Stratford descended into mayhem on Halloween as suspected gangs allegedly hurled fireworks at crowds.

Video shared on social media shows fireworks going off outside Stratford station near the Westfield shopping centre this evening.

The Metropolitan Police said a teenage girl was arrested and remains in custody at an east London police station.

London Stratford descended into mayhem on Halloween as suspected gangs allegedly hurled fireworks at crowds

Video shared on social media shows fireworks going off outside Stratford station near the Westfield shopping centre this evening

Police at the scene of the mayhem at Stratford station this evening

A force spokesperson said: 'Police were called at 18:24hrs on Monday, 31 October to reports that a group of people were setting off fireworks near to Stratford Bus Station.

'Officers attended. No injuries were reported.

A teenage girl was arrested after a firework was thrown towards officers. She remains in custody at an east London police station.

'Enquiries are ongoing.'
United States President Joe Biden allegedly lost his temper during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in June when the European leader asked for more military aid.

The moment reportedly came shortly before the American president was able to finish telling Zelensky that he had already approved another $1 billion in military assistance for Ukraine. The European leader interjected and quickly listed all the additional help that his country needed to fight off Russia's aggression.

Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky Tensions

Despite phone calls between Biden and Zelensky becoming routine after the US approves a new set of aid, one conversation they had in June played out differently than the rest. According to four people familiar with the call, Biden lost his temper when Zelensky rushed in to request additional assistance.

The Democrat reportedly said that the American people were already being quite generous to Ukraine, noting that his administration and the US military were working hard to assist the European nation. Biden allegedly raised his voice at his Ukrainian counterpart, arguing that the letter could show a little more gratitude, as per NBC News.

Biden administration officials said that the US president and the Ukrainian president's relationship has only improved since the tense June phone call. Zelensky allegedly made a statement where he praised the American government for its generous assistance to Ukraine.

Despite the ultimate reconciliation of the two world leaders, the clash reflects Biden's early awareness that both congressional and public support for sending billions of dollars to Ukraine could begin to fade.

According to the New York Post, a separate source disputed that the call between Biden and Zelensky was heated or angry. They claimed that the US president recommended his Ukrainian counterpart direct his concerns through the appropriate military channel.

Read Also: Brazil Election: 2-Time Ex-President Lula da Silva Wins Against Far-Right Leader Jair Bolsonaro as Nation's Political Environment Shifts

Ukraine Aid

Prior to the June 15 call, the US president's frustrations allegedly were on the rise for weeks, confiding to his aides that he believed his administration was pulling out all the stops to assist Ukraine. However, Zelensky reportedly turned the focus on what was not being done to help his nation.

The report also noted that several Eastern European governments and American politicians were concerned with the efforts of the White House to approve the weapons request. This came to a point of dawdling over some of Ukraine's pleas before giving in weeks or months later as pressure mounted.

The Ukrainian president's advisers worked to resolve any lingering tensions between the two world leaders after their June call. The officials ultimately decided that it was not beneficial to be at odds with Biden amid the war with Russia.

In recent weeks, resistance to US assistance to Ukraine has increased with Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy declaring that there will be "no blank check" should his party take control of Congress in the midterms.

Meanwhile, the Democrats' Congressional Progressive Caucus also urged the White House to negotiate directly with Russia, before later withdrawing their request. Biden was reportedly discussing asking Congress for roughly $50 billion in additional funding after the November midterms, the Independent reported.

Related Article: 'Putin's Only Goal Is Death and Destruction': Ukraine Condemns Russia After Rain of Missiles Hit Kyiv

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
An Indiana man charged with murdering two teenage girls in 2017, in a case which transfixed the nation, posed for a photograph in front of a 'wanted' poster issued by police searching for the suspect, it has emerged.

Richard Allen, 50, was arrested on Wednesday and charged two days later with killing 13-year-old Abigail Williams and her friend Liberty German, 14, in February 2017.

The two girls had gone for a walk together along a bridge in Delphi, Indiana, but failed to show up to meet their parents. They were documenting their walk on Snapchat, and police released grainy footage of a man walking towards them, and a voice in the distance - footage which intrigued amateur sleuths.

The bodies of the teenage girls were found close to the bridge the day after they vanished, and several suspects were named over the years, but no arrests were made until last week.

The case had haunted Delphi, home to almost 3,000 people, ever since.

On Monday, the owner of the bar in Delphi where Allen, a pharmacy technician, used to drink with his wife Kathy told of his shock at the arrest.

Bob Matlock, owner of JC's Bar - which closed in December 2021 - said Allen even posed for a photo in front of the 'wanted' picture.

Richard Allen, 50, was charged with two counts of felony murder for the deaths of Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13

The photo shows Richard Allen, 50, smiling with his wife - while over his shoulder, a police sketch strongly resembling him is posted on the wall inside Bob Matlock's bar

Allen was photographed sitting close to this sketch. It is one of several released following the February 2017 murders

Abigail Williams, left, and Liberty German, right, were murdered in February 2017 after going for a walk

'I just couldn't believe it when they said they arrested him,' said Matlock.

'I said, 'Well, that can't be the Rick we know.' And then we come to find out it was.

'There wouldn't have been any inkling to anyone that knew him that would expect him to do something like that. He just didn't seem that type of person. But you never know.'

A composite sketch was released in 2017 showing a possible suspect in the case

Matlock, 75, told The Daily Beast that he saw Allen and his wife as 'good friends', who were active in the community and the bar's pool league.

'We were all sitting at the table there, we were having a pool night, and just having fun - we were snapping pictures and everything,' said Matlock, explaining that Allen posed in front of the 'wanted' sketch.

'Every business in town had those [sketches] up. It just happened to be, he was sitting there at the time.

'But to me, that did not resemble Rick.

'My other patrons around town [would] come in for breakfast or lunch, everybody would say: 'Christ, that don't look like anybody,' or, 'It could be anybody.'

It is unclear when and where the photo of Allen in the sketch was taken.

The version of the suspect sketch in the image was not released until April 2019, so the photo would have been taken at least two years after the murders.

Matlock said they all discussed the case, but did not want to go into detail as they knew the families of the victims.

'He would come in and we would always talk about the girls and everything,' said Matlock.

'We would carry on conversations about it, he would say, you know, it's such a tragedy, and we'd say we felt sorry for the families and all that, but we tried not to talk about it too much because we all knew the families, and were friends with the families.'

Anna Williams, the mother of Abigail, told DailyMail.com they did not know Allen.

She said she did not want to discuss his arrest.

Indiana State Police announced on Monday that Allen has been charged in the murders

Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland said Allen's arrest is a 'step in the right direction'

The family members of Libby German and Abigail Williams listened intently during the news conference

Allen is due back in court on January 13, 2023, with a presumptive trial date of March 20, 2023.

He is not cooperating with authorities, according to WISH-TV.

He does not appear to have a prior criminal record and previously worked at the local CVS.

Nicholas McLeland, the Carroll County Prosecutor, said of Allen's arrest: 'It's a step in the right direction.'

He told a press conference on Monday it was 'disappointing' that the suspect is a local resident, and said he can now bring the evidence against Allen to court.

Asked whether anyone else may have been involved in the murders, McLeland said: 'We have not closed the door on this case.'

It remains unclear what led police to ultimately arrest Allen. State police will not be releasing evidence in the case, under a court order.

A probable cause document has been temporarily sealed, with McLeland saying he requested the documents be sealed due to the 'extra scrutiny' of the case.

McLeland said he wanted to protect the integrity of the investigation.

'The investigation is far from complete, and we will not jeopardize its integrity by releasing information before it's time,' added Doug Carter, superintendent of Indiana State Police.

'If you choose to be critical of our silence, be critical of me, not the frontline,' he said.

'These are folks who have devoted their entire lives to a conclusion  in other words, a guilty verdict.'

The killer has long been presumed to be the unidentified man seen approaching German and Williams, when they were crossing the Monon High Bridge in the woods outside Delphi in February 2017.

The bridge is located just a few miles from Allen's home  which is also just a half-mile from the middle school the two teens attended.

Libby had shared a 'snap' on Snapchat of herself walking along the railroad tracks on the day of her murder, with the social media updates causing a sensation that made the case one of the United States' most notorious unsolved murders.

The girls' bloodied bodies were found about a half mile from the bridge.

Following the news on Monday, Kelsi German, the sister of Libby German, tweeted: 'We got him.'

After news of Allen's arrest broke on Friday, a disturbing photo emerged showing his own daughter posing in the same spot where the teenage victims were last seen alive.

Brittany Zapanta, 28, is pictured posing on the Monon High Bridge.

The photo was posted to Facebook by Allen's wife Kathy, 50, in 2018 just over a year after the girls disappeared in February 2017.

It's unclear when the photo was taken.

There is also no indication as to who took the snap on the Monon High Bridge Trail.

The photo of Allen's daughter, 28-year-old Brittany, was posted to Facebook by his wife Kathy, 50, in 2018 - just over a year after the girls disappeared in February, 2017

Libby German was filmed by her friend and fellow victim Abigail Williams in February, 2017, moments before they were murdered -

The arrest of Allen could be the end of a years-long investigation during which numerous possible leads have led nowhere, and police have remained tight-lipped about the details of the case.

Exactly how the girls died remains unknown to the public, and the state their bodies were discovered also remains shrouded in mystery.

Over the summer, the details of a search warrant revealed that Libby and Abigail were found covered in blood and that their killer appeared to have taken a souvenir of some sort from the murder site.

The warrant, obtained by the Murder Sheet podcast and released to Indianapolis FOX59, offered no further detail on what the souvenir was - although it did say that 'the rest of [the girls'] clothing was recovered,' implying that the killer had taken something they'd been wearing.

The murderer also reportedly 'staged' the girls' bodies in a particular way after killing them - although it remains unclear exactly how he did this.

Investigators believed photographs or videos were likely shot of the grotesque set-up to 'memorialize' the crime scene.

Allen is pictured here with his wife, Kathy, in an undated picture. They live just miles from the bridge from where the two teens disappeared in 2017

Allen is seen with his wife Kathy in an undated photo. He does not appear to have a prior criminal history and was known locally for working in the local CVS

An unidentified man  now believed to be Allen  was filmed approaching Libby and Abby before their deaths

The 2017 murder of Abby and Libby became notorious after investigators released chilling footage the girls recorded of a man following and approaching them across the Monon High Bridge.

A heavily-built man in jeans and a blue jacket could be seen approaching the girls.

In a brief snippet of audio that was released, the man could be heard saying to the girls: 'down the hill.'

The full clip is reportedly 43 seconds long, but its contents are believed to be too disturbing to share in full.

Over the years numerous people have been put forth as possible suspects in the case.

Ron Logan, who died in 2020, had long been the prime suspect.

The girls' bodies were discovered on his property - just 1,400ft from his house - and it was revealed over the summer that his alibi for the day of the murder did not line up.

His home was searched and he was arrested shortly after the killings, but he was released and never charged.

The voice in the clip was described as being 'not inconsistent' with that of Logan, the FBI investigation concluded.

A brief clip of the man walking toward the girls on the trail was released too.

Another man, Kegan Kline, 27, of Peru, Indiana, was also previously named as a suspect in the murders.

He is said to have admitted to talking to Libby German using a fake Instagram profile called Anthony_shots.

Kline - who is heavy-set and pasty-faced - used an image of a ripped and muscular young man to trick underage girls into speaking to him.

He is said to have arranged to meet with Libby on the Delphi High Bridge the day before she was murdered while walking along it.

But he is also said to have shared his Anthony_shots password with others - including his father - and said his father could be a prime suspect in the killings.

Kline is being held in jail after being arrested on separate child porn charges in 2020.
Finding a seat at the Melbourne Cup is a tough task with 80,000 punters cramming into Flemington, but there's one chair you don't want to end up in.

St John Ambulance has for years used a Ferno 2045 carry chair to ferry racegoers who've grossly overindulged out of the event.

Nicknamed the 'drunks chair', every year a few unfortunate punters have to be strapped in a wheeled past friends and strangers to medical tents.

Often motionless and slumped in the rescue chair as they are evacuated, their humiliation is immortalised by the cameras of dozens looking on.

St John Ambulance has for years used a Ferno 2045 carry chair to ferry racegoers who've grossly overindulged out of the Melbourne Cup and other races (Stakes Day 2017 pictuered)

Paramedics prepare the chair for a worse for wear punter at the Geelong Cup in 2016

Those not in enough distress to need the chair are infamously seen lying passed out or worse for wear on the grass at the end of the day, or stumbling to a taxi.

The device is used at events all over Australia as a patient rescue device but the top use at the Melbourne Cup and other Spring Racing events is for drunks.

St John already had the chair in use on Saturday for Derby Day and with the carnival finally back to full capacity after being capped at 10,000 during the coronavirus pandemic, more are expected to fall victim to the chair on Tuesday.

More will follow on the follow up Oaks Day on Thursday and Stakes Day on Saturday, along with other minor dates on the calendar.

The lightweight seat 'unfolds instantly ready for use' and imobilises patients with ankle, thigh, and chest straps to stop them falling out.

Those not in enough distress to need the chair are infamously seen lying passed out or worse for wear on the grass at the end of the day, or stumbling to a taxi

Some models have extendable head extensions, fold out footrests, and storage pockets that swap the restraints for the patient's belongings.

The version most often seen at the races sells for about $2,200 and one with a track for easily getting up or down stairs costs about $4,000.

Ferno's chairs can evacuate patients weighing up to 227kg and move them up or down stairs.

The manufacturer advertises the device as 'removing the need to lift the patient when descending, minimising operator injury risk'.
Billionaire Elon Musk said on Monday in a filing that he will be the chief executive officer of Twitter, the social media company he recently acquired for $44 billion.

Musk previously changed his Twitter bio to 'Chief Twit' in a sign alluding to the move.

It comes after Musk, who also runs Tesla and SpaceX, fired Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal and other top company officials last week, making himself the board's sole member, according to a company filing Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

'The following persons, who were directors of Twitter prior to the effective time of the merger, are no longer directors of Twitter: Bret Taylor, Parag Agrawal, Omid Kordestani, David Rosenblatt, Martha Lane Fox, Patrick Pichette, Egon Durban, Fei-Fei Li and Mimi Alemayehou,' Musk said in the filing.

Shortly afterward, Musk tweeted that the move to dissolve the board 'is just temporary,' without elaborating.

Over the weekend, Musk consulted with Twitter's remaining senior executives to discuss the future of the site together with plans to lay off 25 percent of the workforce to start, reports The Washington Post.

Musk pictured leaving Twitter's New York City headquarters on October 31. The South African is apparently on the guestlist for Heidi Klum's exclusive Halloween party

Musk has dissolved Twitter's board of directors and has made himself 'the sole director of Twitter' according to an SEC filing.

Almost immediately after Musk completed his $44 billion deal to acquire Twitter last Thursday, Musk terminated four of its top executives

Celebrity lawyer, Alex Spiro, who has represented Musk for several years, is believed to have led the conversations with various teams at the company including legal, government relations, policy and marketing.

A couple of other longtime Musk associates David Sacks and Jason Calacanis also appeared in a company directory obtained by the Post with company emails and titles of 'staff software engineer.'

The team is now deciding which departments will be targeted in the first round of layoffs which will see roughly a quarter of Twitter's 7,000 staff fired.

Virtually no department will be left untouched with sales, product, engineering, legal, and trust and safety all being looked at. Some of the highest-paid workers are in the sales department with some pulling in $300,000 a year.

The leadership team is said to be asking questions about all aspects of the business, including everything from content moderation, spam, and the risks of the upcoming elections.

Musk pictured at the Twitter headquarters last week

Musk pictured speaking with company employees shortly after his acquisition was complete

Over the weekend, Musk consulted with Twitter's remaining senior executives to discuss the future of the site together with plans to lay off 25 percent of the workforce to start

Employees at tables inside Twitter headquarters in San Francisco, California (file photo)

Identity verification is also high on the agenda including verifying high-profile users with blue check marks. Last week, Musk's takeover of the social media company for $44 billion concluded a months-long saga.

Since then, Musk has moved quickly to begin making changes at the company, which he had ridiculed for months for being slow to introduce product changes or take down spam accounts.

Musk's teams began meeting with some employees to investigate Twitter's software code and understand how aspects of the platform worked, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Some staff said they had received little communication from Musk or other leaders and were using news reports to piece together what was happening at the company.

Musk is already floating major changes for the social media platform and testing the waters on asking users to pay for verification

Musk is already floating major changes for the social media platform and testing the waters on asking users to pay for verification.

A venture capitalist working with Musk tweeted a poll asking how much users would be willing to pay for the blue check mark that Twitter has historically used to verify higher-profile accounts so other users know it's really them.

Musk, whose account is verified, replied, 'Interesting.'

Critics have derided the mark, often granted to celebrities, politicians, business leaders, and journalists, as an elite status symbol.

But Twitter also uses the blue check mark to verify activists and people who suddenly find themselves in the news, as well as little-known journalists at small publications around the globe, as an extra tool to curb misinformation coming from accounts that are impersonating people.

Elon Musk was pictured at Twitter offices carrying a sink

In responding to ProPublica's Eric Umansky tweeting the Times story, Musk simply wrote: 'This is false'

Longtime ally to Musk David Sacks is reportedly working with the Tesla CEO as a 'staff software engineer'

'The whole verification process is being revamped right now,' Musk tweeted Sunday in response to a user who asked for help getting verified.

Having taken ownership of the social media service, Musk has invited a group of tech-world friends and investors to help guide the San Francisco-based company's transformation, which is likely to include a shakeup of its staff.

There's been uncertainty about if and when he could begin larger-scale layoffs.

'I do think there will be a lot of layoffs,' said Matthew Faulkner, an assistant finance professor at San Jose State University. Faulkner noted the need for cost-cutting after Musk bought Twitter for a premium and the platform's longtime struggles trying to turn a profit. But Musk might also want as quickly as possible to weed out employees who don't believe in his mission so that those who stay feel more secure.

'You don't want to have frantically scared employees working for you,' Faulkner said. 'That doesn't motivate people.'

Those who have revealed they are helping Musk include Sriram Krishnan, a partner at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, which pledged back in the spring to chip into Musk's plan to buy the company and take it private.

Krishnan, who is also a former Twitter product executive, said in a tweet that it is 'a hugely important company and can have a great impact on the world and Elon is the person to make it happen.'

Jason Calacanis, the venture capitalist who tweeted the poll about whether users would pay for verification, said over the weekend he is 'hanging out at Twitter a bit and simply trying to be as helpful as possible during the transition.'

Calacanis said the team already 'has a very comprehensive plan to reduce the number of (and visibility of) bots, spammers, & bad actors on the platform.' And in the Twitter poll, he asked if users would pay between $5 and $15 monthly to 'be verified & get a blue check mark' on Twitter. Twitter is currently free for most users because it depends on advertising for its revenue.

Musk agreed to buy Twitter for $44 billion in April but it wasn't until last Thursday evening that he finally closed the deal, after his attempts to back out of it led to a protracted legal fight with the company.

Musk's lawyers are now asking the Delaware Chancery Court to throw out the case, according to a court filing made public Monday. The two sides were supposed to go to trial in November if they didn't close the deal by the end of last week.

Musk has made a number of pronouncements since early this year about how to fix Twitter, and it remains unclear which proposals he will prioritize.

He has promised to cut back some of Twitter's content restrictions to promote free speech, but said Friday that no major decisions on content or reinstating of banned accounts will be made until a 'content moderation council' with diverse viewpoints is put in place. He later qualified that remark, tweeting 'anyone suspended for minor & dubious reasons will be freed from Twitter jail.'

The head of a cryptocurrency exchange that invested $500 million in Musks Twitter takeover said he had a number of reasons for supporting the deal, including the possibility Musk would transition Twitter into a company supporting cryptocurrency and the concept known as Web3, which many cryptocurrency enthusiasts envision as the next generation of the internet.

'We want to make sure that crypto has a seat at the table when it comes to free speech,' Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao told CNBC on Monday. 'And there are more tactical things like we want to help bring Twitter into Web3 when they're ready.'

He said cryptocurrency could be useful for solving some of Musk's immediate challenges, such as the plan to charge a premium membership fee for more users.

'That can be done very easily, globally, by using cryptocurrency as a means of payment,' he said.
Sir Keir Starmer has signalled that Labour would force tech giants to pay news publishers for their content if the party wins the next election.

He said it was only fair that news providers should be rewarded for their work and that platforms such as Google and Facebook shouldnt be the only organisations profiting from it.

The Labour leader added that newspapers and publishers also needed to be given greater control of their data and content. The Government has faced calls to tackle the negative impact US online giants are having on journalism in the UK with their market dominance.

Sir Keir Starmer has signalled that Labour would force tech giants to pay news publishers for their content if the party wins the next election

In April last year ministers launched the Digital Markets Unit aimed at redressing the imbalance. But well over a year on, the body still only exists in a shadow form and has yet to be given statutory powers.

A news media bargaining code has been introduced in Australia, to give businesses more power when negotiating payment with tech platforms.

In a piece written to coincide with the annual Journalism Matters campaign, Sir Keir wrote that the sustainability of journalism was under threat.

He said it was only fair that news providers should be rewarded for their work and that platforms such as Google and Facebook shouldnt be the only organisations profiting from it

In the platform age, its only fair that creators are fairly rewarded for their work and not just the platforms that profit from it, he continued.

Thats why we support moves to make platforms pay for news content and to give newspapers and publishers greater control of their data and content.

Sir Keir added: The Government must act to secure the future of our media.

In September, a Lords committee warned that the digital watchdog must be brought into law urgently to stop mounting harm to UK companies and consumers.
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She was the talk of the Melbourne Cup when she was pictured straddling a wheelie bin in a blue dress and large fascinator.

But Kiwi-born punter Jade Jillings' brush with fame - where she was dubbed 'Wheelie Bin Girl' for her antics after the 2016 race - hasn't dimmed her love of horse racing.

Years after putting the incident behind her with a series of sheepish appearances on radio and TV, Ms Jillings, now 29, is understood to have carved out a career working as a horse trainer.

Her social media profiles list her as having been employed with a number of stables in the wake of her headline-making appearance, which led her to defend her actions as 'having a good time.'

Jade Jillings (left) made headlines around the world when she decided to ride a wheelie bin as if it was a horse, while her housemate Tyler Johnson and a security guard watched on

The red-faced Jade and her housemate Tyler Johnson, who was dressed in a beige suit in the photos, appeared on The Project from Oaks Day where they told the panel they were 'just having a laugh'

Life has been decidedly quieter for Ms Jillings since that Cup - although she clearly enjoys her time at the races, sharing photos of herself on the sidelines with her mates and tenderly patting horses.

Ms Jillings, with a friend at the races recently

Her love of animals clearly shines through in social media posts. Ms Jillings earlier this year publicly shared the news her beloved English bulldog, Winston, had died.

In an emotional message to locals in Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Ms Jillings, 29, said she 'just wanted to let you guys know unfortunately yesterday Winston passed.

'I know how much everyone and his friends meant to him down at the park and how much he loved going there. It's been a tough time but thank you all for being a part of his life.'

The last Ms Jillings has been heard from on the subject of her wheelie bin ride was in a series of interviews immediately after she went viral.

In one such interview with Nova, she admitted she 'woke up a bit drunk this morning still'.

The New Zealander said free champagne on the day had contributed to the bin ride.

She, along with her then-housemate Tyler Johnson, also appeared on Channel 10's The Project, where they said they 'were just having a laugh'.

In the years since her momentary brush with fame, Jade Jillings has used social media to show her great love of animals

Ms Jillings' beloved English bulldog Winston (pictured) died on August 9. She posted an emotional tribute to him on Facebook

Ms Jillings said she was embarrassed when the photos emerged, but joked that she was just having 'a wheelie good time'.

Mr Johnson pointed out that they didn't bother anyone else. 'There was no trouble. We were having a good time. I feel like that's what racing is about. We didn't harm anyone.'

They even said their mums were 'proud' back home in their native New Zealand.

'Our mums agreed that "they were just having a good time and didn't harm anyone,"' said Ms Jillings.

Mr Johnson chimed in: 'Mum said 40 years ago she was dancing around at the races and snapped her ankles.

'They all said lucky there were no photographers back in their day.'

How life has changed forever for 'Fairy Floss Girl', the Australian races icon who set the internet alight - and the very loose off-track hits that got the country talking ahead of Melbourne Cup day

By Ashley Knickel and Charlotte Karp

One of Australia's all-time favourite racegoers - 'Fairy Floss Girl' - is no longer a wild-child, having settled down and raising a little boy.

Karly Tsivoglou, 19, set the internet alight when she was snapped by Daily Mail Australia scoffing fairy floss, without using her hands, at Melbourne's Ladies Day in 2016.

The photos went viral across the country - with KIIS FM Kyle Sandilands gushing that she was 'hotter' than Selena Gomez.

Along with 'Fairy Floss Girl', several other racegoers have stopped the nation with their antics, including 'Wheelie Bin Girl' and the 'Cop Pusher' in 2015.

When asked how she feels about her famous photos reemerging every year on Melbourne Cup, Ms Tsivoglou told Daily Mail Australia recently: 'I'm happy with that'.

'Fairy Floss Girl' Karly Tsivoglou (above) was snapped chowing down on fairy floss while at the Melbourne Ladies Day by Daily Mail Australia in 2016

Ms Tsivoglou (pictured with her son, Apollo) was launched to internet stardom after her fairy floss pics in 2016 but is now focused on her family life

Ms Tsivoglou said she and her friend Alice Woodfall 'had a few glasses of champagne, put a few bets on and just enjoyed the sun' at the races and had no idea about her internet stardom until the next morning.

'I woke up this morning with so many messages and screenshots of the photos! I was honestly shocked!' she said at the time.

'My social media accounts have been going crazy all morning!'

Ms Tsivoglou said she'd received her share of compliments at the races but was shocked by the number of people 'professing their love' once her photos went viral.

'A few people claimed they were in love with me,' she said.

'But both Alice and I were getting a lot of positive compliments throughout the day.'

Ms Tsivoglou said she and her friend Alice Woodfall (pictured together at Ladies Day) had received their share of compliments at the races but was shocked by people 'professing their love' once she viral

Ms Tsivoglou (above) became known as 'Fairy Floss Girl' after she was snapped snacking at Ladies Day in 2016

From then on, Ms Tsivoglou regularly shared photos of nights out and poolside holidays to her social media.

However, her online presence has taken a turn in the last few years with the new-mum focusing on her little boy.

Pictures show the mother-son duo enjoying arts and crafts, days at the beach and bath-time.

However, she Ms Tsivoglou still does manage to get in the occasional glamorous snap.

Almost every year at Melbourne Cup time Sandilands brings up Ms Tsivoglou's memorable pictures.

Ms Tsivoglou (above) still manages to sneak in glamorous photos online among her family snaps

The former social media star's snaps have taken a drastic turn in the last few years with glamorous photos swapped for snaps of her time with her son, Apollo (above)

Ms Tsivoglou (above) said she had no idea about her internet fame until the morning after the races

'She looks amazing, she's got cotton candy hanging out of her mouth... it's all happening,' he frothed at the time.

'She's kinda like a Selena Gomez looking girl,' Jackie O said.

'But hotter,' Kyle added.

The Sydney radio host brought up the 'Fairy Floss Girl' again in a November, 2020, segment about the Melbourne Cup's most iconic moments.

'God, I can't remember,' his co-host 'Jackie O' told him. 'Why was that so memorable?'

Kyle defensively shot back: 'Because she was a beautiful brown girl. She was just gorgeous. She was hoeing into that big fairy floss stick.'

After producers brought up Ms Tsivoglou's photos, Jackie admitted: 'Oh, I remember her. Every guy fell in love with that girl at the time, didn't they?'

Other memorable races attendees included 'Wheelie Bin Girl' - who made headlines after riding a Sulo bin like a horse at the 2016 cup - and Sarah Finn, who infamously pushed a police officer into a bush.

That woman, Jade Jillings, later came forward and said she was just 'having a laugh' and blamed free champagne available at the event.

'It's really hard and embarrassing,' the 23-year-old told Daily Mail Australia at the time.

Ms Jillings is now believed to work in the racing industry.

Sarah Finn became famous in 2015 after she was promptly arrested (above) for pushing a policeman into bushes at the 2015 Melbourne Cup

Ms Finn said she was 'somewhat tipsy' when she pushed a police officer into the bushes (above) at the 2015 Melbourne Cup

Ms Finn appeared was convicted a year later while wearing a blue dress similar to her Melbourne Cup outfit (pictured, Ms Finn outside the court)

A year earlier at the 2015 Melbourne Cup event a 23-year-old Sarah Finn grabbed the country's attention for dramatically pushing a policeman into a bush.

Ms Finn was filmed running towards the officer and shoving him into a the bushes outside the event before two other officers swooped in and arrested her.

She was fined and convicted for the assault a year later while wearing a blue dress eerily similar to her infamous Melbourne Cup outfit.

Diuring proceedings Ms Finn told the court she hadn't had much to drink at the event but was 'somewhat tipsy' and had asked media personnel what she needed to do to 'get on the news'.

Ms FInn was fined $800 by a court and hasn't been heard from publicly since.
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Netflix has ignored pleas from Prince William not to exploit Princess Diana's bombshell Panorama interview with Martin Bashir during the fifth series of The Crown in a two-episode bombshell - which even shows her eldest son watching it on TV as a schoolboy and his father Charles crying while declaring: 'What the hell is she doing?'

The popular series, which airs on November 9, is set to show the hour-long 1995 interview with the disgraced BBC journalist over two episodes and will include its most inflammatory parts.

It was initially thought that producers had cut the recreation to show just seconds of the interview, but it will instead be shortened to a four-minute and 23-second segment.

The recreation will show William watching on as a schoolboy at Eton, while Charles will be seen shouting and sobbing as she casts doubts on his ability to be King, The Sun reports.

The interview will also include Diana's sensational remarks that 'there were three of us in the marriage' - a reference to Charles and Camilla.

She will say she wanted to be a 'Queen in people's hearts', but does not believe she will ever become Queen.

But the decision to recreate the interview puts Netflix at odds with William, who has called for the groundbreaking scenes never to be aired again.

It also comes despite Prince Harry, who claimed the interview 'lost his mother her life', having signed a 112million deal with the streaming service for him and his wife Meghan.

He branded it 'unethical' and claimed the interview triggered the events that caused his mother to lose her life two years later.

Meanwhile, William said Bashir's deceit in obtaining his 1995 chat with Diana hastened his parents' divorce and 'hurt countless others' and called for it to never be aired again.

Netflix is also said to have exaggerated language and made up sections of the interview, according to The Sun.

The popular series is set to show the hour-long 1995 interview with the disgraced BBC journalist over two episodes

The then Prince of Wales, played by Dominic West in The Crown, shown crying in the trailer for the show as Diana casts doubts on his ability to be King

Princess Diana pictured during her Panorama interview with Martin Bashir for the BBC in 1995

Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, Princess of Wales appearing in the fifth season of the streaming giant's show, The Crown

Elizabeth Debicki plays Princess Diana in the Netflix series, which is now likely to face a backlash from royals

The decision to recreate the interview puts Netflix at odds with William, who has called for the groundbreaking scenes never to be aired again

The decision to recreate the interview comes despite Prince Harry, who claimed the interview 'lost his mother her life', having signed a 112million deal with the streaming service for him and his wife Meghan

How Charles and William reacted while watching the BBC Bashir interview with Princess Diana, according to The Crown SCENE 1 Martin Bashir (MB): Your Royal Highness, do you genuinely believe that members of the royal household have been out to get you? Princess Diana (PD): When I separated from the Prince of Wales I was seen as problem number one, the first of my kind. SCENE 2 MB: When your first son was born, that must have been a very happy moment? PD: When William was born I became unwell with postnatal depression. I just wanted to stay in bed all day. I was in a very dark place. MB: Did you reach out for help? PD: I suppose if youre the first person in a family to ever feel low then its pretty hard to get the support you need, so you suffer alone. SCENE 3 MB: Your husband is said to have rekindled his relationship with Mrs Camilla Parker Bowles around 1986, did this continue to the breakdown of your marriage? PD: Well there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded. Was I devastated? Yes. Did I feel like a failure? Mmm. MB: Reflecting back you say the Royal Family has effectively given up on you? Why do you think that is? PD: Because I dont do things the way they do. Because I want to connect with people emotionally and comfort them in distress. MB: And this isnt something that the Royal Family provides? PD: You have to remember I didnt just marry into a family I married into a system. But I wont go quietly. Ill battle till the end. MB: What impact do you think the breakdown of your marriage had on Prince William? PD: Well, hes a boy thats a serious thinker so its hard to know the impact just yet, well have to wait a few years to see. SCENE 4 William is watching it on TV at Eton but moves away from the screen when a teacher asks: 'Are you ok?' SCENE 5 MB: Do you believe Prince Charles will be King? PD: Who knows what fate will bring, its a very demanding and suffocating role and Charles was always conflicted about it SCENE 6 Prince Charles is watching the interview and exclaims: 'Oh God' He adds: 'What the hell is she doing?' SCENE 7 MB: Some might view this as you taking revenge on the Prince of Wales PD: I dont speak with bitterness or anger, but sorrow, because our marriage has failed. SCENE 8 Charles is shown crying SCENE 9 MB: Do you think you will ever be Queen? PD: Id like to be a queen of peoples hearts. But I dont envisage myself ever being queen of this country, no. I dont think many people will be calling for that, when I say people I mean those at the top, on my husbands side, because theyve decided Im an issue, full stop. A liability. But someones got to go out on to the streets and give people the love that they need. Advertisement

Majesty Magazine editor-in-chief Ingrid Seward told the newspaper: 'William will be furious. He said his piece when he said it should never be aired again. This is his mother and her memory they are doing this to.

'It must be very frustrating as he cant say any more because it will just give Netflix more publicity.

'They should have listened to him. The interview has no credibility after the investigation. Everyone knows it has no legitimacy now.

'Charles will think they can say whatever they want about him but leave Harry and William out of it. He wont give a stuff about how he comes across but just dont attack his sons this way.'

The dramatisation of the interview will attribute blame to King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, and depict Diana in a sympathetic light.

Charles is shown yelling and swearing as Diana gives the interview, with the scene ending with him breaking down in tears alongside Camilla.

William, meanwhile, is shown watching the interview as a young boy attending Eton.

Visibly upset, his schoolmaster begins to console him, but William insists he is 'fine' before walking away from the TV.

A spokesperson for the prince has been approached for comment, but William said in April that the interview 'played on her fears and fuelled paranoia'.

Reacting to Lord Dyson's damning report into how the original interview was obtained, he said: 'It is welcome that the BBC accepts Lord Dyson's findings in full  which are extremely concerning  that BBC employees: lied and used fake documents to obtain the interview with my mother; made lurid and false claims about the Royal Family which played on her fears and fuelled paranoia; displayed woeful incompetence when investigating complaints and concerns about the programme; and were evasive in their reporting to the media and covered up what they knew from their internal investigation.'

He added: 'It is my view that the deceitful way the interview was obtained substantially influenced what my mother said.'

'This Panorama programme holds no legitimacy and should never be aired again. It effectively established a false narrative which, for over a quarter of a century, has been commercialised by the BBC and others.'

The independent report plunged the BBC into one of the worst crises in its history, with the two royals accusing it of ruining their mother's life and helping to bring about the events that led to her death two years later.

Despite this, the episodes have gone ahead as planned.

Insiders said: 'The Crown's creators see the interview as the keystone moment in series five. To the writers, the stormy marriage between Charles and Di led up to her outpouring on Panorama, and the aftermath of that decision defined her final months.

'They are making a huge investment in that. The Crown has a track record of delving into areas of the Royal Family's history they'd rather be left alone.'

Bashir commissioned forged bank statements in flagrant breach of BBC rules to convince Earl Spencer to introduce him to Diana, Lord Dyson concluded in his excoriating inquiry.

Bashir admitted at the time to having the documents forged, but denied ever showing them to anybody.

It comes as Netflix is already facing accusations of 'insensitivity' from Diana's friends after crew from The Crown were spotted filming the moments leading up to her fatal car crash - just 100 yards from the Paris tunnel where she died 25 years ago.

Our exclusive photographs showed filming of a Mercedes in Paris near the site of the car crash that claimed her and Dodi Al Fayed's lives.

Onlookers said Netflix crew were seen filming between 2am and 3am today around 100 yards from the Alma tunnel, where the crash happened in the early hours of August 31, 1997.

The pictures show a black Mercedes like the one the couple were travelling in on that tragic day being filmed in another nearby tunnel on the same road.

Netflix has insisted the 'exact moment' of the crash will not feature in the controversial drama, which has recently come under fire for sensationalism and inaccuracy.

A friend of Diana's said the show's makers could face accusations of 'insensitivity' over the filming in Paris. Debbie Frank, who was Diana's astrologer, said it would be 'terrible' for Princes William and Harry to see a recreation of the moments leading up to their mother's death.

'It's obviously terrible for Diana's children to have to see that again. It's insensitive,' she said.

She added: 'I feel Diana's death and the crash was the biggest shock our generation. It had such a huge impact across the national psyche.

'I guess the makers of The Crown feel they are entitled to show a re-enactment of scenes leading up to her death and that it has dramatic impact. But relatives would think otherwise.'

William (pictured during a filmed response to the report) privately vowed to continue his battle to uncover 'the truth' about how his mother came to be callously duped

An inquiry by Lord Dyson in May found Bashir (pictured) had lied to obtain the interview, using 'deceitful' methods later covered up by a 'woefully ineffective' internal investigation by Tony Hall, who later became BBC director-general

Bashir commissioned forged bank statements in flagrant breach of BBC rules to convince Earl Spencer to introduce him to Diana

Netflix crews film just moments before Princess Diana's car crashed in Paris for The Crown last week

Netflix crews were spotted filming late at night on Voies Georges Pompidou

There are no depths of bad taste The Crown does not plumb: Netflix series portrays Charles, Philip and The Queen with disdain bordering on mockery while William is seen as slightly dim and sulky and Harry is let off lightly, writes CHRISTOPHER STEVENS

There are no depths of bad taste that writer Peter Morgan does not plumb in the new ten-part series of The Crown on Netflix.

Divorces, infidelities, the most intimate conversations, the infamous interview with Princess Diana and Martin Bashir, even the death of a five-year-old from cancer, all are exploited for lurid drama.

As the eight-and-a-half hours of new film were made available to journalists last night, under a stringent embargo, the sheer virulence of the storylines became shockingly clear.

Charles, Philip and at times the Queen herself are portrayed with disdain bordering on mockery. A teenage Prince William is also shown in an unflattering light, as slightly dim and sulky, though his younger brother Harry is let off lightly and barely features.

Netflix may well find that, with the international grief and mourning that marked the death of the Queen less than two months ago, viewers' appetite for royal muck-raking has disappeared.

Insiders at the streaming video giant say the mood in the company is already uneasy, with some American executives surprised by the backlash from fans who fear the death of the Princess of Wales will be re-enacted in graphic detail.

Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, Princess of Wales from season five of The Crown, which will air next week

Bashir is shown meeting Diana in a dimly lit car park and feeding lies to her, urging her to trust no one

Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, Princess of Wales, Dominic West as Charles, Teddy Hawley as Prince Harry and Timothee Sambor as Prince William, from season five of The Crown

Divorces, infidelities, the most intimate conversations, the infamous interview with Princess Diana and Martin Bashir, even the death of a five-year-old from cancer, all are exploited for lurid drama. Pictured: The recreation from the series

Olivia Williams as Camilla and Dominic West as Charles, from season five of The Crown

Diana pictured during her Panorama interview with Martin Bashir for the BBC in November 1995

A teenage Prince William is also shown in an unflattering light, as slightly dim and sulky, though his younger brother Harry is let off lightly and barely features

This series stops short of that moment. It ends with Diana, divorced from Charles, preparing for a Mediterranean holiday with her friend Dodi Fayed.

Full reviews, with assessments of individual performances and an analysis of how far the script strays from historical fact, are embargoed until Saturday morning.

But no spoiler alert is needed when I say that this series of The Crown is unrecognisable in its tone, compared to the original series in 2016.

This show with its almost unlimited budget and all-star cast has become a monstrous perversion of itself.

At the beginning, The Crown charted the affectionate romance of the Princess Elizabeth and her prince, the Duke of Edinburgh, played with touching vulnerability by Claire Foy and Matt Smith.

But it has descended into scandal-mongering, intent on inflicting every possible embarrassment on the Royal Family.

The Crown is now a nakedly republican polemic, using embarrassment as its chief weapon against the monarchy.

Chief victim is the monarch himself. Perhaps Morgan and his Netflix paymasters imagined, like most of us, that the Queen would survive, ruling above reproach, for a number of years to come  and that the Prince of Wales was fair game.

Certainly, none of the preview episodes (labelled, it ought to be said, as 'work in progress') carried an acknowledgment of Her Majesty's death. Any viewers expecting a respectful caption, saluting her 70 years on the throne, will be disappointed.

But from the outset, the campaign against Charles is lacerating. In scene after scene, he is depicted as devious, impatient, resentful, devoid of self-awareness in his desperation to be king.

How Prince Harry, who professes hatred of any media exploitation of his mother's memory or intrusion into his own life, can continue to be associated with Netflix defies belief

When the interview airs, long sections of it are restaged, despite Prince William's insistence that it should never be aired because it harmed his mother so much

Insiders at the streaming video giant say the mood in the company is already uneasy, with some American executives surprised by the backlash

This prince is a plotter whose mind works constantly, even during holidays with friends, on ways to dislodge his mother and force her aside. His aides talk of little else.

Despite the fact that former Prime Minister John Major has categorically dismissed this picture as nonsense, Charles is seen making a pathetic fool of himself as he tries to recruit the Tory PM into his treacherous schemes.

Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles  now the King and Queen Consort, a fact shamefully ignored by Netflix  suffer greater indignity still, with the replay of that excruciating phonecall.

Dominic West as Charles and Olivia Williams as Camilla, then his married mistress, re-enact every word of it... including that awful extended metaphor about being reincarnated as a tampon.

It is performed without mercy, and to emphasise the humiliation we see the reaction of other royals when the transcript is published. Princess Margaret reads it in bed. Diana holds her head in her hands.

But even this is overshadowed by Netflix's relish for the way the Princess of Wales was tricked into a damaging TV interview by Martin Bashir of the BBC.

The affair is spread across two episodes, as Bashir is shown meeting Diana in a dimly lit car park and feeding lies to her, urging her to trust no one, at a time when her mental health was at its most fragile.

When the interview airs, long sections of it are restaged, despite Prince William's insistence that it should never be aired because it harmed his mother so much.

We hear Elizabeth Debicki, as Diana, discussing her post-natal depression after William was born, her conviction that allegations that she was 'crazy' were used to discredit her, her fears for her children and her belief that Charles would never be king.

Some of these lines are spoken as we watch other members of the Royal Family, either glued to their TV sets or pointedly ignoring the broadcast. Charles reacts with rage, shouting, 'What the hell is she doing?'

Undated handout photo issued by Netflix of Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, Princess of Wales appearing in the fifth season of the streaming website's show, The Crown

The affair is spread across two episodes, as Bashir (pictured) is shown meeting Diana in a dimly lit car park and feeding lies to her

Prince William (played by Senan West, Dominic's son) is seen at Eton: a teacher asks if he is all right, and the boy, then 13, says, 'Yes, I'm fine,' before getting up and walking away.

But the camera is trained on Diana's face as she murmurs the most famous line from the interview: 'Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.'

Equally callous is the decision by Morgan to include the death of Leonora Knatchbull, granddaughter of Lord Mountbatten, who was just five when she died from kidney cancer in 1991.

We see her in the first ten minutes of episode one, as Charles and the girl's father, his friend Norton, admire the child's curly hair and discuss her treatment.

In the second episode, Prince Philip (Jonathan Pryce) visits Leonora's grave with her mother, Penny. Both Norton and Penny are still alive, and friends say they are distressed at the thought of their child's death being presented on screen.

Their feelings, and those of all the Royal Family, are ignored. Netflix and Peter Morgan treat them with cold-blooded contempt. Rarely has a drama been more cruel.

How Prince Harry, who professes hatred of any media exploitation of his mother's memory or intrusion into his own life, can continue to be associated with Netflix defies belief.

His own media company, Archewell Productions, has signed a deal with Netflix worth a rumoured $100 million (87.2m). That will have to be a matter between Harry and his conscience.

'Let's stop talking about it and move on': The Crown star Elizabeth Debicki urges critics to stop complaining about show's plotlines now producers have added disclaimer to latest trailer

Critics who have condemned The Crown for its portrayal of the Royal Family have been told to move on by one of the shows stars.

Elizabeth Debicki, who plays Princess Diana in the upcoming season of the Netflix show, said it was an interpretation of events and we can maybe stop talking about the controversy.

The streaming giant was recently forced by the row to add a disclaimer to its trailer for season five saying it was a fictional dramatisation inspired by real events.

It followed accusations of callousness amid reports the show will recreate the Paris car chase that resulted in Dianas death and scenes of young princes William and Harry following their mothers coffin in a future season.

Crown's Diana: Critics who have condemned The Crown for its portrayal of the Royal Family have been told to move on by one of the shows stars Elizabeth Debicki, who plays Princess Diana

But Miss Debicki, who features in new photos as Diana in Radio Times, told the magazine: I respect peoples points of view and I, being an actor in the show, understand the nature of what the show is.

It was always very clear to me that one can never know what happens behind closed doors and that a writer is interpreting what may have happened.

Now the disclaimer is up there, we can maybe stop talking about it and move on. If thats helpful for certain people, so be it, and now the conversation can be returned to the creative endeavour of what the show is.

She added: Theres a huge amount of room for interpretation and thats the value and beauty of The Crown as well, that you receive a different message depending on who you are. Thats good drama to me.

New series: It will document Dianas split from the then Prince Charles. It includes a re-enactment of the moment the princess wore what became known as her revenge dress (pictured)

The new series, which begins next week, will document Dianas split from the then Prince Charles. It includes a re-enactment of the moment the princess wore what became known as her revenge dress  an off-the-shoulder silk number by Christina Stambolian.

Diana wore it to a Vanity Fair party at the Serpentine Gallery in June 1994 on the same night a documentary was broadcast in which Prince Charles admitted to being unfaithful with Camilla.

Miss Debicki, who has replaced Emma Corrin as Diana, revealed she had been so nervous after accepting the role that she was unable to get on with simple chores at home.

The Australian-born actress said: My sister would find me staring at the sink full of dishes and would go, Oh my God, whats wrong? and Id say, I cant do it. I dont know how to do it.

It was enormous pressure. It feels insurmountable until the scripts get delivered to you and the entire process begins.

Friends: Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip and Natascha McElhone as Penny Knatchbull, who bonded over a shared passion for equestrian sport

The upcoming series covers the 1990s and will reportedly include controversial scenes such as a re-enactment of the tampongate phone call between Charles and Camilla.

Taped by an amateur radio enthusiast and leaked to the press, it recorded them discussing their intimate relationship.

Dominic West, who plays Prince Charles alongside Olivia Williams as Camilla, said his research on the 1993 scandal showed him how badly Camilla was treated.

I dont think that would happen today. It happened for many reasons, one of them being shes a woman, he added.

Striking resemblance: Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana in a gold sweater vest

I remember thinking it was a sordid, embarrassing discussion but, revisiting it, I found it was just an intensely personal conversation, and what was sordid was the prurient interest in it.

Its very sweet, tender and gauche but, like any intensely personal conversation, just not for public consumption.

The series will also air fictional scenes in which Prince Charles discusses the possibility of the Queens abdication with Sir John Major, which the former prime minister has dismissed as malicious nonsense.

New pictures also show Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip with his confidante Penny Knatchbull, the Countess Mountbatten of Burma, played by Natascha McElhone, on a carriage ride after the pair bonded in 1975 over their shared love for equestrian sport.
North Korea's Foreign Ministry criticized the United States for expanding joint military exercises with South Korea that it claims are practice for a potential invasion, and it warned Tuesday of 'more powerful follow-up measures' in response.

The statement from the ministry came as the U.S. and South Korea conduct aerial drills involving more than 200 warplanes, including their advanced F-35 fighter jets, as they step up their defense posture in the face of North Korea's increased weapons testing and growing nuclear threat.

North Korea has ramped up its weapons demonstrations to a record pace this year, launching more than 40 ballistic missiles, including developmental intercontinental ballistic missiles and an intermediate-range missile fired over Japan.

The North has punctuated those tests with an escalatory nuclear doctrine that authorizes preemptive nuclear attacks in loosely defined crisis situations.

The U.S. and South Korea have resumed large-scale military drills this year after downsizing or suspending them in past years as part of efforts to create diplomatic space with Pyongyang and because of the pandemic.

FILE - South Korean Army K2 tanks cross a floating bridge on the Namhan River during a joint river-crossing drill between South Korea and the United States in Yeoju, South Korea on Oct. 19, 2022. North Korea's Foreign Ministry criticized the United States for expanding joint military exercises with South Korea that it claims are practice for a potential invasion and it warned Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022 of 'more powerful follow-up measures' in response. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

The United States and South Korea's 'Vigilant Storm' air force drills, which are to continue through Friday, came after South Korea completed its annual 12-day 'Hoguk' field exercises that officials say also involved an unspecified number of American troops.

North Korea's latest statement came just days after the country fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, extending a barrage of launches since late September. Some of those launches have been described by the North as simulated nuclear attacks on South Korean and U.S. targets.

North Korea has said its testing activities are meant as a warning amid the joint military drills.

But some experts say Pyongyang has also used the drills as a chance to test new weapons systems, boost its nuclear capability and increase its leverage in future dealings with Washington and Seoul.

In comments attributed to an unidentified spokesperson, the North Korean Foreign Ministry statement said the military drills exposed the United States as the 'chief culprit in destroying peace and security.'

It said the North was ready to take 'all necessary measures' to defend against outside military threats.

FILE - Flags of South Korea and the United States flutter before a joint river-crossing drill between South Korea and the United States in Yeoju, South Korea on Oct. 19, 2022. North Korea's Foreign Ministry criticized the United States for expanding joint military exercises with South Korea that it claims are practice for a potential invasion and it warned Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022 of 'more powerful follow-up measures' in response. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

'If the U.S. continuously persists in the grave military provocations, the DPRK will take into account more powerful follow-up measures,' the spokesperson said, using North Korea's formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The statement did not specify what those measures could be.

South Korean officials have said North Korea could up the ante in coming weeks by detonating its first nuclear test device since September 2017, which could possibly take the country a step closer to its goals of building a full-fledged nuclear arsenal capable of threatening regional U.S. allies and the American mainland.

In recent weeks, North Korea has also fired hundreds of shells in inter-Korean maritime buffer zones that the two Koreas established in 2018 to reduce frontline military tensions.

North Korea has said that firing was in reaction to South Korean live-fire exercises at land border areas.

The rival Koreas exchanged warning shots Oct. 24 along their disputed western sea boundary, a scene of past bloodshed and naval battles, as they accused each other of violating the boundary.
A shuttle bus driver has unleashed a foul-mouthed rant on a passenger who complained about the bus being delayed.

Vision of the driver's diatribe at Port Douglas in far north Queensland last week went viral on social media.

The video showed the driver exploding in anger when a passenger grumbled over having to wait 45 minutes.

The footage showed the driver exploding in anger when a passenger grumbled over having to wait 45 minutes to be picked up (pictured)

'Don't tell us 20 minutes when it's 45,' the customer is heard saying, before the driver bursts into the rant, screaming, 'I don't know what it f****** is.'

The passenger then said 'it's pretty simple', before the bus driver yelled back, complaining about his job.

'No, it's not f****** simple, you haven't got a f****** clue, this is the most f***** job in Port Douglas,' he screamed.

The passenger apologised to the driver, patting him on the shoulder but the driver continues to shout and scream, clenching his arm in frustration.

'Do you wanna do one day in this f****** bus, when you are getting a phone call every three f****** minutes and every c*** wants to know what f****** time.'

Then it escalated as the driver screamed, 'Where do you wanna go?', before a traveler replied 'to the surf club'.

'What to go and get p*****?' the driver yelled back, before someone replied they were going there for dinner.

'And that's your f****** hurry?' the driver shouted, before the passenger continued to argue with the driver.

It is not known if the worker was disciplined by the company he drives for.

The video was captioned 'it's true that everything in Australia can kill you ... including our shuttle drivers', which drew ire from social media commenters this week

The video was captioned 'it's true that everything in Australia can kill you ... including our shuttle drivers'.

But the post drew ire from social media commenters this week.

'Which company?? Name and shame this company... this is not what we want visitors to encounter,' one said.

'Bro really thinks driving a bus is the worst job in Queensland,' said another.

But one social media user had sympathy for the driver saying, 'funny but totally understandable, poor guy'.

The rant comes as the tropical resort town has come under pressure as a post-Covid spike in tourists stream in despite chronic staff shortages in the tourism and hospitality industry

The rant comes as the tropical resort town has come under pressure as a post-Covid spike in tourists stream in despite chronic staff shortages in the tourism and hospitality industry.

A Port Douglas tourist operator not connected to the driver in the video told the Cairns Post drivers in the town have been under the pump.

'Everyone is short-staffed. A lot of drivers are doing overtime and the pressure is on for everyone,' he said.

'Most of the restaurants are suffering too, instead of opening seven days they are opening for four days.

'It's creating a bit of heavy stress everywhere.'

The beach resort town has experienced its biggest influx of tourists this year since the start of the pandemic.
It's believed he fell 14 metres after he got lost while looking for the bathroom

Family have asked attendees to wear 's*** shirts and birks' to 'celebrate' his life

His funeral will be at Dolphins Stadium in Redcliffe, Queensland on November 7

The body of rising footy star Liam Hampson will soon begin its journey home from Spain as his family advised of a quirky dress code for his funeral.

The High Court of Catalonia authorised the release of Hampson's body on Monday, allowing the Australian Consulate in Barcelona to help the family bring him back to Queensland.

Hampson's distraught family are now organising a funeral service for the 24-year-old to be held at his home ground, the Dolphins Stadium (Moreton Daily Stadium) in Redcliffe on November 7.

rising footy star Liam Hampson's body has been released from Spain and will make its journey back to Queensland for his funeral (pictured, Liam with his mum Lorna Morton on Mother's Day this year)

A funeral invitation sent by his father, Brett, asks those attending to dress the way his son would, in 's*** shirts and birks', as part of a service that will be a 'celebration of life'.

'As Liam will have wanted we ask that those attending come dressed in, as Liam would say, 'S*** Shirts and Birks' or casual comfy clothes,' the invitation read.

'We thank everyone for their support and for those who have reached out as we honour Liam's memory as a community, as a team and as a family.

'A live stream will be provided for those who are overseas or interstate and unable to attend.'

The 24-year-old had been on a trip of a lifetime with friends when he was found dead inside the Sala Apolo, a Barcelona nighctlub, on October 20.

Hampson was on a trip of a lifetime travelling around Europe with friends and fellow NRL stars including Titans' fullback Alexander 'AJ' Brimson and Broncos stars Jordan Riki and Jesse Arthars.

He is believed to have scaled a wall in the dark after he became 'lost' in the club while in search of a bathroom and made his way through an emergency exit.

Invitations for Liam's (pictured) funeral asked for all those in attendance to wear 'S*** Shirts and Birks' as a tribute to celebrate his life

Hampson was on a trip of a lifetime travelling around Europe with friends and fellow NRL stars (pictured) when he tragically died

Liam Hampson, 24, pictured (right, in cap) during his night out at Spanish nightclub Sala Apolo - just hours before he vanished and plunged 14 metres to his death

Hampson is then believed to have plunged 14 metres to his death onto an internal patio closed off to the public while trying to jump a neighbouring wall.

His lifeless body lay undiscovered on the patio in an out-of-bounds area of the club at the bottom of the huge drop for more than 30 hours before Sala Apolo staff found him.

Regional Mossos d'Esquadra police officers told Daily Mail Australia where Hampson was found.

'It was in an internal patio which was not part of the public area of the nightclub,' a policeman told Daily Mail Australia.

'I don't know how he would have got into that part of the building but he accessed it and from there fell to an interior patio.

'The fact it wasn't a public area helps to explain why the workers who raised the alarm didn't do so until Wednesday lunchtime local time.'

Police said Hampson's death was being treated as accidental in the early stages of the investigation.
It is also looking at his words and actions as part of its sweeping January 6 probe

The federal government is investigating Trump for his handling of classified documents sought by the National Archives

'A couple of weeks after the election, I assume that [Attorney General Merrick Garland] will indict Trump,' one person described as a 'veteran aide' said

Republicans on Capitol Hill are bracing for Donald Trump to be slapped with federal charges sometime before the 2024 election cycle, a new report claims on Monday.

Members of the former president's party predicted he could be indicted as soon as 60 to 90 days after the November 8 midterm elections, GOP aides reportedly told The Hill.

It comes as Trump finds himself embroiled in a litany of state, federal and Congressional inquiries - ranging from fraud allegations against his family real estate empire, to his handling of classified records, to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

'A couple of weeks after the election, I assume that [Attorney General Merrick Garland] will indict Trump,' one person described as a 'veteran aide' said.

Another person, who believes an indictment will only rally more Republicans to Trump's cause, said charging Trump would only be viewed as more political the closer it got to 2024.

'Theres a substantial risk in waiting,' they said.

The litany of investigations linked to Donald Trump are helping bolster GOP support of him for a potential 2024 bid, multiple aides suggested to The Hill

Though he hasn't formally declared, Trump has dropped countless hints that he's considering a third White House campaign and has even been on the attack against potential Republican primary rivals.

But any fears Trump may have had about fading from relevance once he left office are likely quashed by the publicity surrounding the federal investigations that he's at the center of, the aides said.

'People have been talking about splintering support and dampening enthusiasm among Republican voters for him,' the second source said.

'An indictment could actually galvanize and reunify Republicans around him.'

The said it could end up 'helping' Trump 'politically.'

Already, Trump's allies and even others within the GOP who have distanced themselves from him have coalesced around his cause.

They've accused Garland and President Joe Biden of weaponizing the Justice Department against a likely 2024 rival.

Garland has dismissed accusations of partisanship and insists that he will follow the letter of the law - and has been shown to be meticulous and deliberate in his steps thus far.

One suggested that the odds of a successful prosecution are significantly lower if Attorney General Merrick Garland (pictured) brings charges closer to the 2024 cycle

Among the other investigations Trump is facing is a civil probe into his family real estate empire by New York Attorney General Letitia James (pictured)

So far, Trump has not been charged in any of the current high-profile cases against him or the Trump Organization.

But there's two federal probes that could result in an indictment if Garland decides to bring one.

Trump is being investigated for his handling of classified documents sought by the National Archives, an inquiry that was widely criticized after the FBI raided his Mar-a-Lago mansion in search of top secret records he's accused of improperly storing.

Among the potential violations the ex-president is being investigated for there is running afoul of the Espionage Act.

The Justice Department also widened its earlier probe of attempts to steal the 2020 election to include Trump's actions on and around January 6 in July, NBC reported at the time.

Trump, for his part, has denounced both investigations as 'witch hunts' and continues to maintain his innocence.
China has expressed concern that the deployment of US B-52 bombers to the Northern Territory could "start an arms race" and worsen regional tensions.

The government of Alba has reached an agreement with the US to enlarge Tindal Royal Australian Airforce Base to accommodate nuclear-capable bombers.

China Expresses Concern Over B-52 Bombers

The B-52 bomber would go via the Top End as part of a regular rotation of American military and air force assets. Beijing, however, reacted angrily to reports of growing military power in Australia amid already heightened regional tensions.

Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for China's foreign ministry, issued repeated warnings for regional stability and asked the US and Australia to abandon a "outdated Cold War zero-sum mentality."

Madeleine King, the minister for resources and northern Australia, rejected any concerns regarding China and asserted that Australia "always acts with its own interests at the center of its thinking."

Per Sky News, the B-52 bomber is a large, long-range bomber with the potential of carrying "nuclear or precision guided conventional weapons" with global navigation.

The past administration started discussions with Washington to increase the US air force's deployment in Australia. During the Australia-US ministerial meetings in 2021, the two nations decided to improve their cooperation by rotating the deployment of "all sorts" of US aircraft.

Peter Dutton, the leader of the opposition, declared that improving Australia's defense capabilities in the Northern Territory and its military cooperation with the US and allies were "absolutely necessary."

Critics in Australia also cautioned that the action would involve their nation in a battle between China and the US in the future. The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, seemed to downplay the information by stating that Australia and the US discussed defense alliances "from time to time."

Albanese noted at a press conference that "there are trips to Australia of course, including in Darwin where of course, on a rotating basis, US Marines are stationed," Telegraph via MSN reported.

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US B-52 Bombers

According to Becca Wasser, senior fellow at the Washington, DC-based Center for a New American Security, deploying the B-52 bombers to Australia will serve as a message to Beijing as worries about an attack on Taiwan rise.

This year, the US deployed four B-52 bombers to its Andersen Air Force base in Guam, a US island territory in the Western Pacific. The ability to dispatch US bombers to Australia "sends a powerful message to enemies about our capacity to project deadly air power," according to the US Air Force.

When asked about the US nuclear bombers based in Australia, Zhao Lijian stressed that military and security cooperation between nations "should not target any third parties or hurt third parties' interests."

Dutton said that while in government, he had explored rotating every component of the US Air Force through sparsely populated northern Australia with US officials. The US Defense Department intends to construct an aircraft parking apron at Tindal to house six B-52 bombers, according to the US tender papers.

Per Washington Post, comprehensive plans for a maintenance facility, jet fuel storage tanks, and an ammunition bunker as well as a "squadron operations complicated" for the US Force at Tindal were also there. The US Defense Department stated that "the RAAF's capability to host USAF bombers, as well as train alongside them, illustrates how integrated our two air forces are."

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A federal judge has blocked a bid from publishing giant Penguin Random House to purchase rival Simon & Schuster, in a $2.175 billion deal that would have seen the two mammoth companies merge as one.

The judgment comes as a significant accomplishment for the federal government, as it strives to set a precedent for antitrust enforcement.

U.S. District Court Judge Florence Pan announced the decision in a brief statement Monday, adding that much of her ruling remained under seal due to it containing 'highly confidential information.'

Proceedings saw the Washington, DC, jurist agree with the Justice Department, in that the joining of two of the world's biggest publishers could 'lessen competition' for 'top-selling books.'

Penguin, the country's biggest book publisher, has since condemned the ruling, calling it 'an unfortunate setback for readers and authors.'

The company said it would appeal the decision, as it prepares to publish Prince Harry's memoir 'Spare,' which will acknowledge death of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, his marriage to Meghan Markle, and his relationship with the Royal Family.

The book has an on-sale date of January 10, 2023 - though it is not clear if the recent judgment will affect that rollout.

In its statement Monday, Penguin said it would seek an expedited appeal, after attempting to fight off the federal regulations for the better part of a year.

A judge has blocked a bid from publishing giant Penguin Random House to purchase Simon & Schuster, in a $2.175 billion deal that would have seen the two mammoth companies merge

The judgment comes as a significant accomplishment for the federal government, as it strives to set a precedent for antitrust enforcement.

The ruling served as a crucial victory for the Biden administration's tougher approach to proposed mergers - a break from decades of precedent under both Democratic and Republican leadership.

Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division praised the decision, declaring in a statement it 'protects vital competition for books and is a victory for authors, readers, and the free exchange of ideas.'

He added: 'The proposed merger would have reduced competition, decreased author compensation, diminished the breadth, depth, and diversity of our stories and ideas, and ultimately impoverished our democracy.'

Pan's finding was not surprising - through much of the 3-week trial in August she had indicated agreement with the Justice Departments contention that Penguin Random Houses plan to buy Simon & Schuster for $2.2 billion might damage a vital cultural industry.

But it was still a dramatic departure from recent history in the book world and beyond.

The publishing industry has been consolidating for years with little interference from the government, even when Random House and Penguin merged in 2013 and formed what was then the biggest publishing house in memory.

The joining of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster would have created a company far exceeding any rival and those opposing the merger included one of Simon & Schuster's signature writers, Stephen King, who testified last summer on behalf of the government.

Second-biggest publisher Simon and Schuster will remain its own entity after Monday's judgement. Pictured is the publisher's headquarters in Midtown Manhattan

At the time, the author of 'The Shining,' 'Carrie' and other blockbusters, told the court that if the two mammoth publishing houses merge and still fight against each other for books, it will be like 'a husband and wife bidding against each other for the same house.'

With those sentiments likely in mind, the 75-year-old horror icon tweeted Monday he was 'delighted' by the ruling, adding: 'The proposed merger was never about readers and writers; it was about preserving (and growing) PRHs market share.'

He would go on to clarify: 'In other words: $$$.'

The Biden Justice Department has been pushing forward with aggressive enforcement of federal antitrust laws that officials say aim to ensure a fair and competitive market.

Monday's news follows recent losses for the department in two significant antitrust cases in separate federal courts.

Legendary horror writer Stephen King tweeted Monday he was 'delighted' by the ruling after testifying it was unjust over the summer, stating: 'The proposed merger was never about readers and writers; it was about preserving (and growing) PRHs market share'

The DOJ lost its bid to block a major U.S. sugar manufacturer, U.S. sugar, from acquiring its rival Imperial Sugar Co., one of the largest sugar refiners in the nation. The prosecutors signaled that they intended to appeal the decision.

They also were stymied in their effort to block the roughly $8 billion acquisition by UnitedHealth Group, which runs the largest U.S. health insurer, of Change Healthcare, a healthcare technology company.

The DOJ also has been battling American Airlines and JetBlue in an antitrust trial in federal court in Boston, challenging their regional partnership in the Northeast, which the government calls a de facto merger.

The Justice Department's case against Penguin Random House did not focus on market share overall or on potential price hikes for customers.

The DOJ instead argued that the new company would so dominate the market for commercial books, those with author advances of $250,000 and higher, that the size of advances would go down and the number of releases would decrease.

For Penguin Random House and the New York-based publishing world, the trial in August proved an often-uncomfortable airing of business practices, internal disagreements and missed opportunities.

Executives on the stand spoke of bestselling works they failed to acquire and acknowledged that most books don't make money. Emails and private text messages revealed tension among top Penguin Random House officials.

'I apologize for the passionate language,' Penguin Random House's global, CEO Markus Dohle, testified after some text messages were displayed.

Dohle had promised that imprints of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster would still be permitted to bid against each other for books. But he acknowledged under oath during the trial that his guarantee was not legally binding.

The company said it would appeal the decision, as it prepares to publish Prince Harry's memoir 'Spare,' which will acknowledge death of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II , his marriage, and his relationship with the Royal Family

Pan otherwise persistently challenged Penguin Random Houses assurances that the merger would not reduce competition.

Simon & Schuster will likely end up under new ownership, no matter the outcome of any legal appeals.

The publisher had been up for sale well before the Penguin Random House deal was announced late in 2020 and the publisher's corporate parent, Paramount Global, has said it did not see Simon & Schuster as part of its future.

Under bidders against Penguin Random House included Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, which owns HarperCollins Publishers.

Penguin Random House and corporate owner Bertelsmann would have to pay a termination fee of around $200 million to Paramount should the merger fall through, according to the terms of the proposed sale.

The book has on-sale date of January 10, 2023 - though it is not clear if the recent judgment will affect that rollout

Simon & Schuster is one of the country's oldest and most successful publishers, with authors ranging from King and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Colleen Hoover and Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Authors at Penguin Random House include Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, 'Where the Crawdads Sing' novelist Delia Owens and historian Robert A. Caro.

In a company memo Monday shared with The Associated Press, Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp sought to reassure employees that 'despite this news, our company continues to thrive.

'We are more successful and valuable today than we have ever been, thanks to the efforts of all of you on behalf of our many magnificent authors,' the notice read.

Pan, meanwhile, has since been appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, replacing Ketanji Brown Jackson after she was nominated by Biden and approved by the Senate for the Supreme Court.

The bombshell judgment comes as it was revealed by People magazine that Prince Harry will acknowledge Queen Elizabeth IIs death in his upcoming memoir.

The book, titled Spare, was largely penned before the death of Her Majesty on September 8 - but the magazine this week revealed that the prince will touch on her passing in his book, after it was delayed following the Queens death.

In his statement paying tribute to his grandmother shortly after her death, Harry praised her 'sound advice' and 'infectious smile' and called her a 'guiding compass' through her commitment to service and duty.

Released on September 12, 2022, his remarks also referred to his 'darling wife' Markle.

Harry, 38, also spoke on how grateful he was that the Queen had hugged her 'beloved great-grandchildren' and of how he 'cherished' the times spent with the 96-year-old monarch.

He said: 'In celebrating the life of my grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen - and in mourning her loss - we are all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her commitment to service and duty.

The joining of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster would have created a company far exceeding any rival - an occurrence the federal judge presiding over the case determined was unjust

'She was globally admired and respected. Her unwavering grace and dignity remained true throughout her life and now her everlasting legacy.

'Let us echo the words she spoke after the passing of her husband, Prince Philip, words which can bring comfort to all of us now: 'Life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings.'

'Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings - from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren.

'I cherish these times shared with you, and the many other special moments in between. You are already sorely missed, not just by us, but by the world over. And as it comes to first meetings, we now honor my father in his new role as King Charles III.

'Thank you for your commitment to service. Thank you for your sound advice. Thank you for your infectious smile.

'We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace.'
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Monday that her husband Paul is 'making steady progress' after suffering a skull fracture at the hands of an intruder who is accused of breaking into their home and assaulting him with a hammer.

It's the California Democrat's second statement in the wake of the violent attack, which occurred while she was not home.

Pelosi has been busy at work on the campaign trail in an effort to give her party momentum ahead of next week's midterm elections.

She said on Monday evening, 'Since the horrific attack on Paul early Friday, we have been deluged with thousands of messages conveying concern, prayers and warm wishes.'

'We are most grateful,' Pelosi added.

'Thanks to the excellent trauma care medical team at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Paul is making steady progress on what will be a long recovery process.'

Pelosi ended the statement, 'Our family thanks everyone for their kindness.'

She broke her silence on the ordeal with a House-wide letter on Saturday night.

'Our children, our grandchildren and I are heartbroken and traumatized by the life-threatening attack on our Pop,' Pelosi had said in that statement.

Her spokesman revealed on Friday that Paul Pelosi had to undergo surgery 'to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands.'

The FBI said Monday that the man accused of breaking into the home also wanted to hold the House Speaker hostage and break her kneecaps.

David DePape, 42, walked into the bedroom of the Pelosi's $6million San Francisco home just before 3am on Friday, woke 82-year-old Paul up and said he would wait for his wife to get home.

Nancy was in Washington, DC at the time her husband was attacked

He told investigators he wanted 'kneecap her' if she 'lied' to him and so she would have to be 'wheeled into Congress, showing other Members there were consequences to actions'.

The shocking new details were unveiled as DePape slapped with federal charges including attempted kidnapping, and as a new Fox News report suggested he was in the U.S. illegally from Canada.

The suspect allegedly had zip ties with him when he broke into the couple's San Francisco home - and was calling out 'Where's Nancy?'

DePape on Monday was charged with assault and attempted kidnapping by the Department of Justice.

The suspect, who is now in custody, is expected to appear in court this week on separate state charges. San Francisco police said DePape would be arraigned on charges of attempted homicide, first-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with serious bodily injury, elder abuse, threatening a public official, or family member, among others.

DePape, 42. is accused of breaking into Pelosi's $6million home and attacking Paul Pelosi, 82, with a hammer as he shouted: 'Where's Nancy?'

Pelosi is pictured above leaving her San Francisco home on Sunday as her husband recovers in the ICU from a skull fracture

Paul Pelosi Jr., son of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi, walks outside his parent's home in San Francisco, Saturday, one day after the attack

Paul Pelosi, who was the only one home when DePape broke in, called the police who arrived two minutes later to find the 82-year-old and DePape, 42, struggling over a hammer, according to a Department of Justice press release.

Officers told the men to drop the hammer. DePape then gained control of it and swung at Pelosi's head, before he was arrested as Pelosi lay unconscious on the ground, San Francisco FBI special agent Stephanie Minor wrote in a request for a federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant.

Pelosi had been asleep when DePape entered his bedroom and demanded to talk to 'Nancy.'

'Where's Nancy?' he asked.

Nancy Pelosi, who gets a security detail, was in Washington, D.C. at the time of the attack.

Pelosi told the intruder his wife was not there and would not be there for several days, and DePape said he would wait. Pelosi was somehow able to get into the bathroom while he called 911.

DePape was listening in on the phone call, and knew police were going to arrive, according to FBI interrogators, but 'explained that he did not leave after Pelosis call to 9-1-1 because, much like the American founding fathers with the British, he was fighting against tyranny without the option of surrender.'

DePape had been renting out this garage in Richmond, Calif. and living in it for two years

DePape told investigators he wanted to hold Nancy Pelosi captive and talk to her. He said that if the speaker told 'the truth' he would let her go, and if she 'lied' he would 'break her kneecaps.'

'She would then have to be wheeled into Congress, which would show other Members of Congress there were consequences to actions,' he explained.

DePape also explained that he broke into the house through a glass door using the hammer.

Pelosi now remains in the intensive care unit recovering from a skull fracture surrounded by family members.

When cops arrived at the exclusive property (pictured), they said they saw DePape assaulting Pelosi with a hammer

Taub (right, pictured with DePape in 2013) was accused of sending messages to a former friend of her son, telling the minor that she wanted to date him and trying to lure him to meet with her secretly

Following his attack on Pelosi, DePape has been accused by his daughter of sexually assaulting his three children when they were kids.

The nudist longtime ex-partner of DePape revealed in an interview from jail that he had been 'mentally ill for a long time' and had paranoid delusions.

Oxane 'Gypsy' Taub, 53, who was convicted in 2021 for trying to kidnap a 14-year-old boy, is also a longtime nudist activist. She says during her two decades with DePape says she saw him transform following a disappearance of more than a year.

'He came back in very bad shape. He thought he was Jesus. He was constantly paranoid, thinking people were after him,' Taub told Bay area affiliate ABC 7 in a phone call from prison. 'And it took a good year or two to get back to, you know, being halfway normal.'

'He is mentally ill. He has been mentally ill for a long time,' she said from the Californian Institution For Women in Corona, California, where she is serving time. The two previously lived together in Berkeley.

Taub says she first met DePape two decades ago when he had political views like her own, although the 'hemp jewelry maker's' more recent postings have contain anti-semitic themes and QAnon conspiracies as well as election fraud claims.

'Well when I met him, he was only 20 years old, and he didn't have any experience in politics, and he was very much in alignment with my views and I've always been very progressive. I absolutely admire Nancy Pelosi,' said Taub.

The couple raised two sons and a daughter, and split seven years ago, she said.

Taub described herself as the 'ex-life partner of David DePape and the mother of his children.'

DePape was also found to have run the website frenlyfrens.com, where he discussed how he had an invisible fairy friend that sometimes appeared to him in the form of a bird and shared images of Hillary Clinton as a zombie.

During one post he even ranted about not being able to buy a fairy house with a working door.

Many of his posts were filled with tirades against Jewish people, black people, Democrats, the media and transgender people, under categories such as 'Trannies,' 'Da Jewbs' and 'Great Reset.'

DePape created his blog just months before the attack, registering it in August.

His very first post on the now-deleted site was entitled Mary Poppins, amid Disney World's dispute with Florida Gov Ron DeSantis over his so-called Don't Say Gay bill.

It included a video depicting a SWAT team firing at the magical nanny.

In the months since, he filled the blog with hundreds of posts depicting anti-Semitic and dystopian images.

One such post featured the Devil kneeling and asking a caricature of a Jewish person to teach him the arts of 'lying, deception cheating and incitement.'

Several others contained images of rotting human flesh and blood, including zombified versions of Bill Gates and Hillary Clinton as he promoted his far-right conspiracy theories.

By late August, DePape seemed to become engrossed in Twitter's decision to ban Jordan Peterson for his posts about transgender people after the Canadian psychologist compared being transgender to 'satanic ritual abuse.'

More recently, amid backlash to rapper Kanye West's tweet declaring war on the Jewish people, DePape posted: 'We are ALL the Jews' slave race.

In just the past month alone, DePape had published hundreds of blog posts promoting far-right conspiracy theories before he allegedly broke into Pelosi's home, the Boston Globe reports.

In recent weeks, after Kanye West faced backlash for a tweet declaring war on the Jews, DePape shared his own anti-Semitic views on his blog

DePape was also active on 4chan, positing memes and debating other anonymous users about his beliefs.

In an October 24 post on the website, DePape complained he was being targeted by law enforcement officials he described as 'paid shills' trying to manipulate the message board.

'I would come in and lay out the facts, and so all the paid shills would jump on me,' he wrote. 'To try and suppress it.'

DePape would also share some photos from a construction site he worked at, one highlighting a jackhammer with the number 33 on it, an apparent reference to a conspiracy theory about Free Masons and world domination.

But other posts on his blog seemed to be more personal, offering a glance into his delusions.

DePape wrote in recent months how he was becoming suicidal as his relationship with Oxane 'Gypsy' Taub, 53, was falling apart.

'I was extremely suicidal,' he posted four days before the attack, writing in an apparent letter to Inti Gonzalez, who has identified DePape as her father: 'Mentally I would beg you guys daily to let me kill myself.'
Two races had already ran before news of the unknown-liquid protest emerged

Video shows more than one person spraying a dark liquid around the 1500 mark

The person filmed themselves and said it was to protest the Victoria Racing Club

A self-admitted 'problem gambler' has broken into the Flemington racecourse hours before the Melbourne Cup to pour an oily substance on the track.

Alarming footage showed at least two people running onto the track in Flemington at about 6am on Tuesday to spray a dark liquid over the course in apparent protest against the Victoria Racing Club.

The substance has not officially been identified but was labelled 'oily'. One person has surrendered themselves to police.

The VRC confirmed officials cleaned a section of the track around the 1500 mark on Tuesday morning and said it was safe for the race to continue.

A statement issued by the protester cited as motivation the building of a wall which was designed to keep potential floodwaters from the neighbouring Maribyrnong River from getting into the racecourse and damaging the turf.

Some local residents had been angered by the construction of the wall, saying it diverted water toward their homes and increased the likelihood of future floodwaters inundating their streets.

'That wall should never have been built. What is a racecourse to them is a crucial natural floodplain that would have lowered flood levels in homes if not for the interest of the racing and gambling industry,' the statement said.

'This is about Victoria Racing Club and the toxic industry of which they are leaders choosing to proted their racecourse against the impacts of climate change at the expense of people's homes and livelihoods.'

Climate action protest group Extinction Rebellion in Victoria said on Tuesday 1,000 litres of 'sludge' had been dumped onto Flemington by 'friends' of the group.

'We fully endorse the message of this person,' the group said, drawing a broad connection between horse racing and climate change.

'The privileged in our society are on notice that as crises deepen and we do not see justice for communities, individuals and animals, ordinary people will be drive more and more to undertake these sorts of desperate actions.'

The person who broke onto the track released their own statement via Extinction Rebellion which claimed they were 'a problem gambler'.

The 'problem gambler' protester (above), with the aid of at least one other person, filmed as they sprayed a dark-coloured unknown liquid near the 1500 marker of the Flemington track

Two races had already run by the when news of the protest emerged.

The Simon Zahra-trained colt Krakarib, ridden by Damien Thornton, won the first race of the day, taking the Group 3 Darley Maribyrnong Plate.

Thornton later said he was proud of the result but was excited to improve.

'He (Krakarib) did a little bit wrong. He's got a few attitude issues but if you can iron them out, he'll be alright. It laid out well, he jumped OK. Wasn't worried, just wanted to get him into the rhythm, and relax and cruise down,' he said after the race.

White Marlin trained by legendary horse figure Gai Waterhouse took out the second race by more than five lengths.

Ridden by Tim Clark, the horse had eye of many punters taking $2.30 bets.

'He (White Marlin) is the real deal and I hope we will see him here this time next year. My husband (Robbie Waterhouse) spotted him. He came to Australia, and quite a few people wanted a white or grey horse but he has just grown so much. A perfect way to start Cup day,' said Waterhouse after the race.
A prominent Chinese commentator has warned Australia that China's missiles 'fly faster' than the US's nuclear-capable B-52 bombers - amid plans to station them in the country's north.

The ominous message was posted to Twitter by a commentator who is closely linked to the Communist Party regime after reports the US will station up to six of the bombers at a remote facility south of Darwin.

'The PLA's (People's Liberation Army's) Dongfeng missiles definitely fly faster than the B-52 bombers,' tweeted Hu Xijin, the former editor of China's state-run Global Times newspaper.

'If Australia wants to become a 'big Guam,' then it must bear the corresponding strategic risks.'

The United States is set to deploy at least six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Northern Territory

Guam is an American territory in the Pacific which is home to a major American military presence.

It was revealed on Monday that dedicated facilities for B-52 bombers will be set up at the Royal Australian Air Force's remote Tindal base, about 300 km south of Darwin.

The development was first reported by the ABC's Four Corners programme, citing U.S. documents.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia engages with the United States on defence alliances 'from time to time'.

'There are visits, of course, to Australia, including in Darwin, that has U.S. Marines, of course, on a rotating basis stationed there,' Albanese said during a media conference.

Above, the People's Liberation Army's 'Rocket Force' conducts a missile test off the eastern coast of Taiwan

Australia's Northern Territory is already host to frequent military collaborations with the United States.

Thousands of US Marines rotate through the territory annually for training and joint exercises, started under President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Defence Minister Richard Marles' office declined to comment.

When asked for a comment at a regular briefing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said defence and security cooperation between countries should not target third parties.

'The relevant practices of the U.S. side have increased tensions in the region, seriously undermined regional peace and stability, and may trigger an arms race in the region,' Zhao said.

'China urges the parties concerned to abandon the old Cold War zero-sum mentality and narrow geopolitical concepts, and do more to contribute to regional peace and stability and to enhance mutual trust.'
Using blasphemous words can help reduce pain and show solidarity with others

The new study from Keele, Ulter and Westminster universities explore the pros

Swearing is not as vulgar as it seems and can 'produce an emotional arousal'

Researchers from the UK and Sweden have found swearing has lots of benefits

Swearing is useful if we want to make people laugh, help deal with pain, road rage and express joy, a study has found.

Researchers from the UK and Sweden have been looking into the power behind swearing, explaining that blasphemous words can actually have a positive impact on our relationships.

Scientists have said swearing is no longer seen as vulgar or a sign of low intelligence, instead claiming it can 'produce an emotional arousal' more effectively than any other words.

According to the new study, conducted by Keele, Ulster and Westminster universities, when swear words are used in solidarity or to express joy, it can be a powerful tool to lower pain, make people laugh and even deal with road rage.

Swearing is no longer seen as vulgar or a sign of low intelligence, with scientists claiming it can 'produce an emotional arousal' more effectively than other words. Pictured: Stock image of man shouting down the phone

The study did point out, however, that people still need to be careful with who they swear around as the words can still be seen as 'offensive, inappropriate and objectionable' in certain circumstances.

The researchers, according to The Times, said: 'Swearing was long dismissed as a topic of serious research because it was assumed to be simply a sign of aggression, weak language proficiency or even low intelligence.

'We now have quite a lot of evidence that challenges this view, prompting us to reconsider the nature and power of swearing.'

According to the new study, conducted by Keele, Ulster and Westminster universities, when swear words are used in solidarity or to express joy, it can be a powerful tool to lower pain, make people laugh and even deal with road rage. Pictured: Stock image of couple fighting

The academics studied more than 100 papers on swearing believing that the powerful use of swear words may even come from a different part of the brain to normal speech.

They also discovered that the rude words were 'undeniably different from and more powerful than other forms of language'.

The main positives aspects of 'everyday swearing' included helping express emotions such as fear, joy, anger and excitement as well as humour and solidarity.

The researchers added that the explicit language holds the capacity to 'posses an emotional force' that is not shared by other words used.

It creates an 'emotional arousal' in both the listener and speaker. The words can even increase credibility and persuasiveness.
In the real world  that workaday place beyond the Westminster bubble  which of the following is more important?

That Home Secretary Suella Braverman sent some official documents from her government email to her personal account in breach of ministerial guidelines.

Or that hundreds of migrants a day are entering Britain illegally, bringing the asylum system to its knees, leading to dangerous overcrowding at processing centres and overwhelming the available housing and hotel accommodation.

We dont need an opinion poll to tell us the answer. While the political class obsesses over the mind-numbing minutiae of Mrs Bravermans online conduct, a massive crisis is unfolding.

Tackling the scale of the migrant influx would challenge any Home Secretary. Mrs Braverman has the added burden of being undermined by her own officials, hounded by the liberal Left and briefed against by malicious Tory colleagues.

DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Tackling the scale of the migrant influx would challenge any Home Secretary. Mrs Braverman has the added burden of being undermined by her own officials

Then there is her sanctimonious Labour shadow, Yvette Cooper. In priggish tones she scolds Mrs Braverman for not getting a grip on the Channel crisis.

Yet she was a key member of the Blair/Brown government which deliberately encouraged mass immigration in order to rub the Rights noses in diversity. Todays problems are a direct legacy of that time.

And what is her solution now? Better liaison with the French (good luck with that!), stronger enforcement against traffickers (because no one has thought of it before) and speeding up the asylum process (which Mr Blairs human rights legislation has made fiendishly difficult).

If anyone embodies Labours hypocrisy and paucity of ideas, its Miss Cooper  good at carping from the sidelines but, when it comes to solutions, nothing to contribute.

Mrs Braverman gave a spirited Commons performance yesterday, saying she would not shrink from radical action, including changing the law to counter this invasion.

Illegal migration is out of control and too many people are more interested in playing political parlour games, covering up the truth, than solving the problem, she said.

Of course migrants must be treated with respect and overcrowding at the Manston centre is deeply troubling. But they are arriving in such numbers that housing is a serious problem.

Even when hotel accommodation is identified or new centres proposed, growing numbers of councils  including Labour ones  are blocking them on the grounds their communities would be disrupted.

Then there is her sanctimonious Labour shadow, Yvette Cooper. In priggish tones she scolds Mrs Braverman for not getting a grip on the Channel crisis

Miss Cooper once volunteered to take refugees into her home  but then found she couldnt. Perhaps she could make up for that now by proposing a large facility for asylum seekers in her marginal West Yorkshire constituency.

The debate has centred in recent days on what to do with Channel migrants once they are here. Mrs Braverman rightly points out that the greater imperative is to reduce the numbers arriving.

While some may have originally fled persecution, they are coming here from France  hardly an oppressive state. One in three is from Albania, attracted by employment and welfare opportunities here. Such economic migrants and the gangs who traffic them will be deterred only when there is a realistic possibility they will intercepted and sent back.

Yes, better cooperation with France and tougher enforcement will help but claims must be dealt with more quickly and failed asylum seekers routinely deported.

It will take steely political will to take on the migration lobby. Whether Mrs Braverman can succeed where others failed remains to be seen.

But the potential rewards of solving, or at least alleviating this crisis are huge. It could mean the difference between winning and losing the next election.
Surely Environment Secretary Therese Coffey's claim that 'the Government doesn't have a view' on whether the King should go, or not, to the Cop27 environment conference  saying: 'It's a matter for the King'  is absurd.

The King can go only where his Prime Minister allows him to go and say things the PM has approved.

In his old role, Charles could summon whichever ministers he chose to Clarence House and write to whom he pleased.

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: The King can go only where his Prime Minister allows him to go and say things the PM has approved. In his old role, Charles could summon whichever ministers he chose to Clarence House and write to whom he pleased

Surely Environment Secretary Therese Coffey's (pictured) claim that 'the Government doesn't have a view' on whether the King should go, or not, to the Cop27 environment conference  saying: 'It's a matter for the King'  is absurd

Charles can still let the Government know what he's thinking.

As Sunak was doubling-down on Liz Truss's ban on Charles attending Cop27, the King made a show of giving an audience to his old friend Senator John Kerry, who is currently Joe Biden's special presidential envoy for climate and has called for Charles to attend Cop27.

Sunak is allowing the King to give a pre-Cop reception at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

Charles will speak 'from the heart' rather than being forced to have his words approved by ministers, says my source, adding: 'He will behave himself impeccably as he adjusts to life in the monarchical straitjacket.'

Perhaps not if he senses the public is on his side.

Society gadfly Nicky Haslam's latest annual list of what and who he deems 'common'  printed on tea towels that he sells  includes 'Bond Street, coriander, divorce, porn, hydrangeas and Stanley Johnson'.

The latter citing might embarrass Lord and Lady Bamford of the JCB digger empire.

Haslam, pictured, occupies a grace-and-favour cottage on their estate in Daylesford, Gloucestershire  as does Stanley's prone-to-freeloading son Boris.

Might the helicopter-borne Bamfords feature on Haslam's list if he did not rely on their hospitality?

Ex-Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman snipes at Kent-born frontman Mick Jagger: 'Mick always tries on his Cockney accent, which he doesn't deserve, really.'

Londoner Bill, who left the Stones in 1993, adds: 'The only working-class ones in the Stones were me and [drummer] Charlie [Watts].'

Maureen Lipman tells The Oldie that she noticed during a train journey from London to Manchester a large fellow passenger 'pleasuring himself'.

She says she told the steward on duty  mocking the half-witted security advice given over train loudspeakers: 'I see it. I'm saying it. SORT IT!'

Who will write the official biography of the Queen? Robert Lacey deserves consideration.

In Monarch: The Life And Reign Of Elizabeth II, he shrewdly explained that she respected emotion but couldn't fake it.

Early in her reign, due to visit Kingston upon Hull, she read a speech prepared by aides that said she was 'very pleased' to be in the East Yorkshire town.

HM crossed out 'very', explaining: 'I will be pleased to be in Kingston. But I will not be very pleased.'
A bystander watching the scuffle intervened and managed to stop Canning

They ended up at a creek where it's alleged Canning forced his head under water

Police claim Sergeant Mark Maxwell chased him down in Murwillumbah, NSW

Ronald Charles Canning, 33, was charged after he allegedly tried to drown a cop

A man has faced court charged with attempted murder after he allegedly tried to drown a police sergeant in a creek - before a hero bystander stepped in to save the officer.

Sergeant Mark Maxwell, who is from Tweed-Byron Police District, was patrolling a road in Murwillumbah in Northern NSW when he came across an injured man and woman around 4:45pm on Monday.

After checking on the woman, the officer realised there was an outstanding warrant for the man, Ronald Charles Canning, 33.

Police claim Ronald Charles Canning, 33, tried to drown sergeant Mark Maxwell at a creek in Murwillumbah in Northern NSW on Monday before a bystander stopped him (stock image)

Sergeant Maxwell returned to arrest the Queensland man who then ran away, according to police.

The officer chased Canning down to a nearby creek where a struggle ensued between the two men.

Police allege Canning forced the sergeant's head under water, in an attempt to drown him.

A bystander who saw the scuffle unfold managed to step in and stop Canning.

'A member of the public intervened, freeing the officer and assisted to restrain the man, before the officer was able to affect the arrest,' police alleged in a statement.

Sergeant Maxwell was taken to Murwillumbah Hospital with water in his lungs. He has since been released.

Canning fronted Tweed Heads Local Court (pictured) on Tuesday charged with attempted murder

Canning was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

He was refused bail and faced Tweed Heads Local Court on Tuesday.

Police said they will review the actions of the bystander who helped Sergeant Maxwell, 'with a view to make recommendations to formally acknowledge his assistance'.
Comes as Russia tries to round up as many men as possible and push them to the front lines, regardless of skill

Footage has emerged showing panicked soldiers fleeing an attack on armoured vehicle - only for it to flip over

It marks the deadliest day for the Russian president's forces since the invasion started in February

It follows the claim from Ukraine that 950 Russian soldiers were killed on Sunday as its forces make gains

Ukraine denied responsibility for Saturday's attack in Crimea, saying Russia mishandled its weapons

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Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of abusing a safe shipping corridor to strike his Black Sea Fleet after the warmonger suffered the worst day of his invasion when 'nearly 1,000 Kremlin soldiers were killed by Kyiv troops'.

On Monday the Russian president called for Kyiv to guarantee the safety of maritime traffic after Moscow suspended its role in a grain shipment deal, alleging Ukraine had misused a safe shipping corridor.

'Ukraine must guarantee that there will be no threat to the safety of civilian vessels,' Putin told a press conference.

He accused Kyiv of using the corridor to attack Russia's Crimea fleet, which prompted Moscow to suspend a deal allowing Ukrainian food exports.

'This attack was launched by Ukraine against the Black Sea fleet... They created a danger for our ships and civilian vessels,' Putin said.

'It's a threat to our ships and our civilian vessels,' Putin said, stressing Russia did not withdraw from the deal but 'suspended' involvement.

Yesterday a massive barrage of cruise missile and drone strikes hit critical infrastructure in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other Ukrainian cities early, knocking out water and power supplies in retaliation for the attack in Crimea.

Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine's power plants and other key infrastructure as the war enters its ninth month, forcing rolling power cuts.

'The Kremlin is taking revenge for military failures on peaceful people who are left without electricity and heat before the winter,' Kyiv regional governor Oleksii Kuleba said.

Putin confirmed that Monday's bombardment was meant to retaliate for what he said was Saturday's unsuccessful Ukrainian aerial and underwater drone attack on Russia's Sevastopol-based fleet on the Russian-annexed Crimea Peninsula.

'Partly, yes. But it's not all we could have done,' Mr Putin responded, regarding retaliation, at a press conference in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi.

It comes as Sunday saw nearly 1,000 Russian soldiers killed in one day in Ukraine Kyiv claimed, marking the deadliest day for Vladimir Putin since his troops invaded eight months ago.

Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of abusing a safe shipping corridor to strike a Black Sea Fleet after the Russian warmonger suffered his worst ever day of his invasion

In July, Russia and Ukraine signed a deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations to unlock critical grain from Ukraine needed to avert a global food crisis caused by the conflict.

The agreement established a safe corridor through which vessels could travel to Istanbul for inspections.

It had already allowed more than 9.5million tons of Ukrainian grain to be exported and was due to be renewed on November 19.

The Russian and Turkish foreign ministers, Sergei Lavrov and Mevlut Cavusoglu, raised the issue in a telephone call on Monday, according to Moscow.

'Mr Lavrov stressed the need to ensure that Ukraine guarantees that it will not use Ukraine's humanitarian corridor and ports for agricultural exports to conduct military operations against Russia,' the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

'Only under these conditions can we discuss the resumption of movement along the security corridor,' he added.

Putin claimed Ukrainian drones had travelled to their targets through an internationally-agreed zone meant to ensure the safety of ships exporting grain from Ukrainian ports.

The threat from such a trajectory endangered Russian ships patrolling the zone as well as the grain ships themselves, Mr Putin said, justifying his country's suspension of its participation in the deal that enabled the exports.

Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces carried out 'strikes with long-range, high-precision air- and sea-based weapons against the military command and energy systems of Ukraine'.

'The goals of the strikes were achieved. All designated targets were hit,' the ministry said.

Meanwhile, 12 ships with grain left Ukrainian ports on Monday despite a Russian threat to reimpose a blockade that threatened hunger across the world, Ukraine's Ministry of Infrastructure said.

Footage, apparently from Kherson, shows Russian soldiers running towards an armoured vehicle as Ukrainian missiles rain down on them

The soldiers scramble on top of the armoured vehicle and are seen smiling as they speed off down a road away from the Ukrainian attack. But the transport suddenly veers to the right and into a ditch, causing the Russian soldiers - no longer smiling - to scream in fear

The driver quickly steers to the left (pictured), but the speeding vehicle flips over - flinging the Russian troops on to the road below them. The video then cuts out

Ukrainian soldiers inspect a damaged Russian tank near the recently retaken village of Kamianka, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on Sunday

But the grain transport was thrown into doubt after Russia's Defence Ministry said in a statement late on Monday that 'traffic along the security corridor defined by the Black Sea Initiative has been suspended' over allegations that Ukraine has been using the zone to strike Russian forces.

In Monday's ground attacks, Ukraine's air force said it shot down 44 of more than 50 cruise missiles that Russia launched.

Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal said Russian missiles and drones hit 10 Ukrainian regions and damaged 18 sites, mostly energy facilities.

Hundreds of localities were left without power, he said on Facebook. Thirteen people were wounded, Ukrainian Police Chief Ihor Klymenko said.

Loud explosions were heard across the Ukrainian capital as residents prepared for work. The emergency services sent out text messages warning about the threat of a missile attack, and air raid sirens wailed for three hours.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said 80 per cent of consumers in the city of three million were left without water because of damage to a power facility.

By Monday evening, workers had reduced the percentage to 40 per cent and the number of apartments without electricity from 350,000 to 270,000.

To cut power consumption, Kyiv authorities extended intervals between underground trains and replaced electric trolleybuses and trams with buses, Mr Klitschko said.

Across Kyiv, hundreds lined up, often for more than an hour, to pump water by hand from wells to fill plastic bottles and cans.

'It is really inconvenient,' one 34-year-old resident, who agreed to provide only his first name, Denis, said as he collected water. 'But the truth is, it's not a problem. The problem is we have a war.'

Smoke rose from the left bank of the Dnieper River in Kyiv, either from a missile strike or where Ukrainian forces shot it down.

Reporters saw soldiers inspecting a crater and debris from where a missile landed on the outskirts of Kyiv. The missiles flew fast and low and sounded like bombs exploding, according to witnesses.

'It was scary,' said Oleksandr Ryabtsev, 28, who was on his way to work. 'I raised my head and it was flying there. You could see this cruise missile. I didn't even go to work. I went home.'

Prime Minister Shmyhal said that in the Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions, emergency power shutdowns were underway.

In the eastern city of Kharkiv, two strikes hit critical infrastructure facilities, according to authorities.

Critical infrastructure sites were also hit in the Cherkasy region south-east of Kyiv. In the Kirovohrad region of central Ukraine, an energy facility was hit.

UN says no ships in grain corridor when Russia says it was attacked The United Nations on Monday said no ships involved in a UN-brokered Ukraine grain export deal were transiting a Black Sea maritime humanitarian corridor on the night of October 29, when Russia says its vessels in Crimea were attacked. Russia has accused Ukraine of using air and maritime drones to target vessels in the Bay of Sevastopol early on Saturday and suggested one of the drones may have been launched from a civilian vessel chartered to export food from Ukrainian ports. Ukraine has neither confirmed nor denied it was behind the attack but says Russia's navy is a legitimate military target. Responding to Russia's accusation about possible misuse of cargo ships, UN aid chief Martin Griffiths told the UN Security Council on Monday: 'None were in the corridor on the night of the 29th of October when the reported attacks took place, and no vessel reported an incident over the weekend.' Advertisement

In Vinnytsia, remnants of a missile that was shot down landed on civilian buildings, causing damage but no casualties, according to regional governor Serhii Borzov.

Power was cut to parts of Ukraine's train network, the Ukrainian Railways reported.

Ukraine has denied responsibility for Saturday's Black Sea Fleet attack, saying Russia mishandled its own weapons, but Moscow still announced it was retaliating by halting its participation in the grain deal.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar urged his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, in a phone call on Monday to 'reconsider' Moscow's suspension.

According to a statement, Mr Akar hailed the deal as an example of how problems can be solved through 'co-operation and dialogue' and argued it is a 'completely humanitarian activity' that should be kept separate from the conflict.

At the United Nations in New York, Martin Griffiths, who leads the UN team facilitating the deal, told the Security Council that Monday's ship movements and inspections were undertaken as emergency measures.

The United Nations trade chief, Rebeca Grynspan warned the council that uncertainty over the deal and high global fertiliser prices may turn today's crisis over the affordability of food into 'tomorrow's crisis of availability and a crisis of huge proportions'.

She said the agreements enabled wheat exports from Russia to triple between July and September and wheat exports from Ukraine to more than quadruple, lowering food prices.

It comes as Ukrainian forces have been making gains across Russian-occupied areas, with fighting intensifying in the country's east and in the southern city of Kherson.

And in yet another example of Putin's forces' incompetence, video shows panic-stricken Russian soldiers fleeing a Ukrainian attack on an armoured vehicle - only for it to flip over and fling the troops into the air.

Footage, apparently from Kherson, shows Russian soldiers running towards an armoured vehicle as Ukrainian missiles rain down on them.

The soldiers scramble on top of the armoured vehicle and are seen smiling as they speed off down a road away from the attack.

But the vehicle then veers to the right and into a ditch, causing the troopers- no longer smiling - to scream in fear.

The driver quickly steers to the left, but the speeding vehicle flips over - flinging the troops on to the road below them. The video then cuts out.

It comes as as Russia tries to round up as many men as possible and quickly push them to the front lines, regardless of skill, training and equipment.

The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in its latest intelligence briefing that Russia has deployed several thousand newly mobilised reservists to the front line in Ukraine - but in many cases they are 'poorly equipped'.

'In September, Russian officers were concerned that some recently mobilised reservists were arriving in Ukraine without weapons,' the MoD said in its Monday morning briefing.

For those Russian soldiers who are turning up with weapons, they are often being issued AKM rifles, which fires 7.62 mm ammunition. This is different to the ammunition required in the rifles issued to Russia's regular combat units.

'The integration of reservists with contract soldiers and combat veterans in Ukraine will mean Russian logisticians will have to push two types of small arms ammunition to front line positions, rather than one,' the MoD added.

It continued: 'This will likely further complicate Russia's already strained logistics systems.'

Russian targets are hit by grad rockets of Grad Rocket Company of the 53rd Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Military forces in Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on October 28

Since Putin announced the mobilisation of 300,000 Russians on September 21, independent media, human rights activists and those called up have painted a bleak picture of a haphazard and chaotic effort to call up reservists.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov last week acknowledged persisting problems with equipment for the draftees, but 'vigorous measures taken to rectify the situation are already yielding the first positive results'.

He said regional authorities are involved in providing 'the missing gear,' and now deputy prime minister Denis Manturov 'is personally responsible for this' in a coordination council Putin has created.

Russian media reported multiple deaths of reservists in Ukraine, with their relatives telling news outlets that they had received very little training.

When asked by a reporter why several reservists had died in Ukraine only three weeks after being called up, Putin confirmed that training could last as few as 10 days and as many as 25.

Military analyst Pavel Luzin said Russia is not able to train hundreds of thousands of men. 'The army was not ready for mobilisation. It never prepared for it,' he said.

Putin has promised to finish the call-up drive by November, when the regular autumn draft is scheduled.

Military experts and rights groups say enlistment offices and training camps can't process both at the same time, warning that mobilisation may resume months later.

As of mid-October, 222,000 reservists have been recruited, Putin said. Whether it will be possible to enlist another 80,000 in the remaining two weeks is unclear.

To try to broaden the pool, the Russian parliament on Wednesday lifted a ban on mobilising men who have been convicted of a grave criminal offense and who have released from prison but whose convictions are still on the books.

It comes as Nato member Norway will raise its military readiness, its prime minister said today, pointing to ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine as cause for greater caution.

'The military will as of tomorrow raise its preparedness in Norway,' Jonas Gahr Store, whose nation shares a land border with Russia in the Arctic circle, told reporters.

'We currently have no reason to believe that Russia wants to involve Norway or any other country directly in the war, but the war in Ukraine means it is necessary for all Nato countries to be increasingly on their guard', he added.

Norway has overtaken Russia as Europe's main natural gas supplier following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The Scandinavian country has already raised security around its strategic sites after mysterious drone flights were observed near its offshore oil and gas platforms and the suspected sabotage of Nord Stream's Baltic Sea pipelines.

Ukrainians collect water from public fountains after Russian shelling knocked out around 80 per cent of supplies in the capital Kyiv on Monday

Smoke rises over Kyiv after Russia launched cruise missiles at the city early Monday, targeting civilian infrastructure including power and water networks

Following Monday's strikes on cities across Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, the head of the office of President Volodymyr Zelensky, vowed that the attacks on civilian facilities would not weaken Ukraine's resistance.

'We will persevere, and generations of Russians will pay a high price for their disgrace,' Yermak said.

Russian missiles are shot down over Kyiv on Monday morning amidst a barrage by Moscow's troops which hit Ukrainian power stations

Ukrainian ships carrying grain destined to feed some of the world's poorest departed the country on Monday, in defiance of Russia pulling out of a deal granting them safe passage

Twelve ships were inspected by Turkey and the UN early Monday before setting out across the heavily-mined Black Sea, as the UN vowed 'cargo ships can never be held hostage'

The attacks occurred just before Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and many top members of his government, including the foreign, defense and interior ministers, arrived in Kyiv in the latest show of support from European leaders for Ukraine.

'The Ukrainians are fighting not only for their country but also for the whole of Europe. Our support must continue,' Fiala tweeted from Kyiv.

Smoke was seen rising from the left bank of the Dnieper River in Kyiv, either from a missile strike or where it was shot down by Ukrainian forces.

In the eastern city of Kharkiv, two strikes hit critical infrastructure facilities, according to authorities, and the subway ceased operating.

The Lviv region in western Ukraine was also targeted but the missiles were shot down, Lviv governor Maksym Kozytskyy said.

Meanwhile, 12 ships loaded with grain still left Ukraine's ports on Monday despite Russia withdrawing from the pact granting them safe passage through the Black Sea.

Tracking data showed the vessels departing ports around Odesa, in southern Ukraine, and heading out across a stretch of heavily-mined sea towards the Bosphorus Strait and onwards to the Mediterranean Sea.

Turkey and the United Nations said teams had inspected the vessels and were watching over them.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country was determined to press forward with the grain deal, which has allowed more than nine million tons of grain to be exported from Ukraine.

'The suspension of the agreement affects all humanity. We remind the parties concerned to reconsider their decisions,' said Turkish defence minister Mr Akar said.

'Those in need were already urgently awaiting the grains. The situation will only get worse.'

Meanwhile, a Ukrainian great-grandmother has described how a Russian soldier raped and beat her until dawn after he burst into her home.

Lyudmila, 75, detailed how the Russian soldier punched her so hard that he broke her nose and knocked out two of her teeth before he beat her with his rifle.

The great-grandmother said the soldier, who was in his 60s, threw her on to the sofa and strangled her before he maimed her after he broke into her home in the village of Myroliubivka, near Kherson.

Lyudmila, her voice cracking with emotion, said the soldier then ripped off her clothes and raped her.

She still has the scars from where the rapist cut her stomach. 'The deep ones still haven't healed,' Lyudmila told Radio 4's Today programme.

Lyudmila's horrific ordeal - and the testimonies of hundreds of other Ukrainian women - shows how Russian soldiers have used rape as a weapon of war in the eight months since the invasion began.

The 75-year-old, detailing the hours of abuse at the hands of the Russian soldier, said: 'One night, I heard a very loud knock at my window. I saw a soldier there.

'When I opened the door, he immediately punched me in the face, knocked out two of my teeth and broke my nose. I was covered with blood.'

Lyudmila, who later fled her home with her family, continued: 'He started beating me in the chest with his rifle butt. He pulled my hair, threw me on to the sofa and began to strangle me.

'Then he began to undress me and after, he raped me.'

The great-grandmother added: 'He cut my stomach. Until now, I have scars on my stomach. The deep ones still haven't healed.'

The soldier beat Lyudmila for hours and sprayed the room with bullets. He left at dawn.

Recalling what she was thinking as she endured the hours of abuse, Lyudmila said: 'I said goodbye to my children, my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren.

'I never thought I would stay alive. Putin and the Russians will never be forgiven. There will be no forgiveness.'
On Monday, Elon Musk dissolved Twitter's board of directors and has made himself 'the sole director of Twitter' according to an SEC filing

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Billionaire Elon Musk was pictured arriving at Heidi Klum's Halloween party in a red Samurai-style costume as reports emerge that he is preparing to cut close to 2,000 Twitter jobs, amounting to around 25 percent of its workforce.

The world's wealthiest looked triumphant posing on the red-carpet in his armor, with his street clothes still visible underneath.

According to the website for the high-end costume store, Abracadabra NYC, Musk's outfit is the Devil's Champion-Leather Armor set that retails for $7,500. At the time of writing, the website says that there is only one costume remaining in stock.

Musk said on Monday in a filing that he will be the chief executive officer of Twitter, the social media company he recently acquired for $44 billion.

Later that night, Musk was seen leaving Twitter's headquarters with a large entourage, that included security, his mother and one of his ten children.

Prior to Musk emerging from the building, his young child was placed in an SUV by a woman to wait for the new CEO. At one point, a Twitter employee emerged from the building wearing a full face mask representing the company's iconic bird logo.

The billionaire's mother, Maye, was also present inside Twitter's offices on West 17th street in New York City.

Maye Musk later made an appearance to Heidi Klum's 21st annual party alongside her son. The Sport's Illustrated model also accompanied her son to this year's Met Gala in May.

That same month Maye filmed an episode of the German edition of Next Top Model alongside Klum.

The supermodel's party was held at Sake No Hana at Moxy Lower East Side and was sponsored by Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur.

Musk pictured leaving Twitter's New York City headquarters on October 31. The South African is apparently on the guest list for Heidi Klum's exclusive Halloween party

Musk arrives with his mother, Maye, at Klum's annual bash in New York City's Lower East Side neighborhood

Musk, clad in red Samurai armor, shows up at Heidi Klum's 21st annual Halloween Party at the Moxy Hotel

It's not clear what Musk was supposed to be dressed as for Klum's celebration

Hours earlier emerging from Twitter HQ. Musk has dissolved Twitter's board of directors and has made himself 'the sole director of Twitter' according to an SEC filing

Almost immediately after Musk completed his $44 billion deal to acquire Twitter last Thursday, he terminated four of its top executives

Musk previously changed his Twitter bio to 'Chief Twit' in a sign alluding to his plan to become CEO.

It comes after Musk, who also runs Tesla and SpaceX, fired Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal and other top company officials last week, making himself the board's sole member, according to a company filing Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

'The following persons, who were directors of Twitter prior to the effective time of the merger, are no longer directors of Twitter: Bret Taylor, Parag Agrawal, Omid Kordestani, David Rosenblatt, Martha Lane Fox, Patrick Pichette, Egon Durban, Fei-Fei Li and Mimi Alemayehou,' Musk said in the filing.

Shortly afterward, Musk tweeted that the move to dissolve the board 'is just temporary,' without elaborating.

Over the weekend, Musk consulted with Twitter's remaining senior executives to discuss the future of the site together with plans to lay off 25 percent of the workforce to start, reports The Washington Post.

In addition, Twitter engineers have raised concerns about the lack of access they had to tools designed to help limit the amount of fake information being shared in relation to Sunday's Brazilian presidential election, reports Bloomberg. According to the publication, Twitters 'Trust and Safety organization' is currently largely unable to police accounts that post misleading information and hate speech.

This comes amid worries about the spread of misinformation in relation to next week's midterm elections in the US.

On the same day that Musk showed up at Twitter's New York headquarters, Axios reported that the site's founder, Jack Dorsey, had retained a 2.4 percent stake in the company. That share is worth around $1 billion.

A woman with dark hair spotted putting baby in back of Elon Musks car, the woman then got into a different SUV, leaving the child in the car

Later, Musk emerged from the Twitter HQ and got in the SUV where the child had been placed

Celebrity lawyer, Alex Spiro, who has represented Musk for several years, is believed to have led the conversations with various teams at the company including legal, government relations, policy and marketing.

A couple of other longtime Musk associates David Sacks and Jason Calacanis also appeared in a company directory obtained by the Post with company emails and titles of 'staff software engineer.'

The team are now deciding which departments will be targeted in the first round of layoffs which will see roughly a quarter of Twitter's 7,000 staff fired.

Virtually no department will be left untouched with sales, product, engineering, legal, and trust and safety all being looked at. Some of the highest-paid workers are in the sales department with some pulling in $300,000 a year.

The leadership team is said to be asking questions about all aspects of the business, including everything from content moderation, spam and the risks of the upcoming elections.

Elon Musk's model mother Maye was seen leaving the Twitter headquarters in Manhattan

An identified Twitter employee emerges from the social media giant's New York City office wearing a full mask mimicking the company's bird logo

Some staff said they had received little communication from Musk or other leaders and were using news reports to piece together what was happening at the company

Identity verification is also high on the agenda including verifying high profile users with blue check marks. Last week, Musk's takeover of the social media company for $44 billion concluded a months-long saga.

Since then, Musk has moved quickly to begin making changes at the company, which he had ridiculed for months for being slow to introduce product changes or take down spam accounts.

Musk's teams began meeting with some employees to investigate Twitter's software code and understand how aspects of the platform worked, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Some staff said they had received little communication from Musk or other leaders and were using news reports to piece together what was happening at the company.

Musk pictured at the Twitter headquarters last week. Musk's teams have begun meeting with some employees to investigate Twitter's software code and understand how aspects of the platform work

Musk pictured speaking with company employees shortly after his acquisition was complete

Over the weekend, Musk consulted with Twitter's remaining senior executives to discuss the future of the site together with plans to lay off 25 percent of the workforce to start

Employees at tables inside Twitter headquarters in San Francisco, California (file photo)

Musk is already floating major changes for the social media platform and testing the waters on asking users to pay for verification

Musk is already floating major changes for the social media platform and testing the waters on asking users to pay for verification.

A venture capitalist working with Musk tweeted a poll asking how much users would be willing to pay for the blue check mark that Twitter has historically used to verify higher-profile accounts so other users know it's really them.

Musk, whose account is verified, replied, 'Interesting.'

Critics have derided the mark, often granted to celebrities, politicians, business leaders and journalists, as an elite status symbol.

But Twitter also uses the blue check mark to verify activists and people who suddenly find themselves in the news, as well as little-known journalists at small publications around the globe, as an extra tool to curb misinformation coming from accounts that are impersonating people.

Elon Musk was pictured at Twitter offices carrying a sink into the building on October 26

In responding to ProPublica's Eric Umansky tweeting the Times story, Musk simply wrote: 'This is false'

Longtime ally to Musk David Sacks is reportedly working with the Tesla CEO as a 'staff software engineer'

'The whole verification process is being revamped right now,' Musk tweeted Sunday in response to a user who asked for help getting verified.

Having taken ownership of the social media service, Musk has invited a group of tech-world friends and investors to help guide the San Francisco-based company's transformation, which is likely to include a shakeup of its staff.

There's been uncertainty about if and when he could begin larger-scale layoffs.

'I do think there will be a lot of layoffs,' said Matthew Faulkner, an assistant finance professor at San Jose State University. Faulkner noted the need for cost-cutting after Musk bought Twitter for a premium and the platform's longtime struggles trying to turn a profit. But Musk might also want as quickly as possible to weed out employees who do't believe in his mission so that those who stay feel more secure.

'You don't want to have frantically scared employees working for you,' Faulkner said. 'That doesn't motivate people.'

Those who have revealed they are helping Musk include Sriram Krishnan, a partner at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, which pledged back in the spring to chip in to Musk's plan to buy the company and take it private.

Krishnan, who is also a former Twitter product executive, said in a tweet that it is 'a hugely important company and can have great impact on the world and Elon is the person to make it happen.'

Jason Calacanis, the venture capitalist who tweeted the poll about whether users would pay for verification, said over the weekend he is 'hanging out at Twitter a bit and simply trying to be as helpful as possible during the transition.'

Calacanis said the team already 'has a very comprehensive plan to reduce the number of (and visibility of) bots, spammers, & bad actors on the platform.' And in the Twitter poll, he asked if users would pay between $5 and $15 monthly to 'be verified & get a blue check mark' on Twitter. Twitter is currently free for most users because it depends on advertising for its revenue.

Musk agreed to buy Twitter for $44 billion in April but it wasn't until last Thursday evening that he finally closed the deal, after his attempts to back out of it led to a protracted legal fight with the company.

Musk's lawyers are now asking the Delaware Chancery Court to throw out the case, according to a court filing made public Monday. The two sides were supposed to go to trial in November if they didn't close the deal by the end of last week.

Musk has made a number of pronouncements since early this year about how to fix Twitter, and it remains unclear which proposals he will prioritize.

He has promised to cut back some of Twitter's content restrictions to promote free speech, but said Friday that no major decisions on content or reinstating of banned accounts will be made until a 'content moderation council' with diverse viewpoints is put in place. He later qualified that remark, tweeting 'anyone suspended for minor & dubious reasons will be freed from Twitter jail.'

The head of a cryptocurrency exchange that invested $500 million in Musks Twitter takeover said he had a number of reasons for supporting the deal, including the possibility Musk would transition Twitter into a company supporting cryptocurrency and the concept known as Web3, which many cryptocurrency enthusiasts envision as the next generation of the internet.

'We want to make sure that crypto has a seat at the table when it comes to free speech,' Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao told CNBC on Monday. 'And there are more tactical things, like we want to help bring Twitter into Web3 when they're ready.'

He said cryptocurrency could be useful for solving some of Musk's immediate challenges, such as the plan to charge a premium membership fee for more users.

'That can be done very easily, globally, by using cryptocurrency as a means of payment,' he said.
The Trump Organization tax fraud trial begins in New York as the defense team is planning to steer the blame away from the former president, prosecutors claim.

The defense team has already given their opening statements in the case as former United States President Donald Trump's company was charged with tax fraud in July 2021. The case was over allegations that the company helped executives cheat their own taxes.

Trump Organization Tax Fraud Trial

The case has been one of many legal challenges that the 76-year-old Republican businessman is facing as he teases a potential 2024 presidential run. Despite charging the Trump Organization, the case did not file criminal charges against the former president himself.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger made her opening statement when she said that Trump's real estate company cheated tax authorities for one and a half decades. Hoffinger argued that the Trump Organization paid certain executives, including former chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, in perks, including rent and cars without reporting the benefits to tax officials, as per ABC.net.

The prosecutor added that the company's officials also falsely reported the bonuses as non-employee compensation. Hoffinger told the court that the case was about greed and cheating on taxes. She argued that the scheme was conducted, directed, and authorized at the highest levels of the accounting department at the company.

Hoffinger added that when Trump was elected as the president of the United States in 2016, Weisselberg and the Trump Organization "had to clean up these fraudulent tax practices" due to concerns about additional scrutiny.

According to Politico, Hoffinger, who is the chief of investigations for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, detailed in her opening statements that Trump personally paid private school tuition for Weisselberg's grandchildren and also signed a lease for the top lieutenant's Upper West Side apartment that was overlooking the Hudson River.

Read Also: Hunter Biden Is Part of the Chinese Intelligence Mission; Photo Shows Business Partner Interacting with Russian President Vladimir Putin

Steer Blame Away From Trump Family

On the other hand, attorney Susan Necheles for Trump Corp. tried to insulate the former president and urged jurors not to let their opinions of the former president cloud their judgment. She said that the jury must not consider the tax fraud case to be a referendum on the former president or his politics, laying the blame on Weisselberg.

In August, Weisselberg pleaded guilty to all 15 counts that he was charged with, including tax fraud and larceny. Now, he is expected to play the role of a star witness in the expected month-long trial where prosecutors must convince a jury that Trump Org. units, the Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corporation, share responsibility for concealing $1.76 million in compensation.

Necheles argued that Weisselberg only confessed to avoid a lengthy prison sentence that would have been handed to him. If he maintains his plea deal, he is expected to be sentenced to only five months on Rikers Island but could face up to 15 years if he violates his agreement.

Michael van der Veen, another Trump Org. attorney, made his opening statements where he repeated "Weisselberg did it for Weisselberg" no fewer than four times. He likened Weisselberg to a "prodigal son" whose greedy scheming resulted in him betraying his "family," which was the Trump family, Business Insider reported.

Related Article: Jan. 6 Committee Acquires Disputed Emails Allegedly Showing Plans To Defraud Courts, Obstruct Congressional Vote

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The Melbourne Cup is back with a full crowd for the first time since 2019, but for the expected 80,000 punters it's turning out to be a tale of two races.

There is the glitz and glam long associated with the race that legendarily stops a nation, and there are soaking wet race goers being pelted with the double whammy of a rainstorm and the coldest Cup day since 1995.

ABC reporter Stephanie Ferrier showed just how wet it got during a live cross, valiantly trying to smile as her umbrella almost blew away.

'It has been hailing out here,' she said. 'This is the worst of Melbourne weather.'

Three glamorous women - protected from the elements - appear at the Millinery Awards at the Melbourne Cup, possibly oblivious to the rain outside

A tale of two races: Fans watch on from under umbrellas during 2022 Lexus Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse on November 1, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia

ABC's Stephanie Ferrier is pictured fighting a brave battle with the elements while also trying to do a live report from the Melbourne Cup

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has been warning for days that this would be coldest Melbourne Cup Day in more than a quarter century, but it doesn't seem to have put off the punters.

You might say that Melburnians are well used to the rain and cold, but it's more likely they didn't want to miss the chance to put on their finery again in what was the world's most locked down city during the pandemic.

The crowd has, by and large, heeded BoM's advice to bring an umbrella or a poncho to guard against the rain bomb.

But a lot of women seem to have missed the part of the memo that said to dress warm.

If you're not prepared to dress warm, then it's wise to combine your lovely outfits with umbrellas as these ladies have done

These Melbourne Cup racegoers braved the rain using a makeshift poncho as protection

Sometimes it's so wet, the smartest thing to do with your strappy shoes is to go barefoot and carry them

This young woman looks despairingly up at the sky, presumably wondering if it will ever stop raining

For some punters, matching blue ponchos were the best fashion statement they could make at the Melbourne Cup

With a sky like this over Flemington it's a wonder the horses didn't refuse to run

Rebecca Judd is pictured at the 2022 Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse

Sarah-Jane and Rachel of The Block are pictured at the Melbourne Cup 2022 at Flemington

There are lovely dresses galore at the Melbourne Cup, but a poncho has turned out to be the must have fashion item

Well dressed fans watch on during 2022 Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse

A race fan dressed as Kim Jong-un is seen during 2022 Melbourne Cup Day. He is wearing a facemask, though, so maybe it really is Kim Jong-un

A participant is seen during Myer's Fashion on the Field at the 2022 Melbourne Cup at Flemington

The Bureau of Meteorology advised punters to bring an umbrella with them to Flemington on Tuesday. They didn't guarantee it wouldn't blow inside out, though

A picnic blanket makes for a good makeshift umbrella if you're desperate, which these guys are
The Justice Department has waded into the legal row over armed vigilantes 'monitoring' voting drop boxes in Arizona - expressing concern about the situation, but stopping short of issuing any orders.

The officials on Monday issued a 'statement of interest' in a court case filed in response to armed men patrolling voting sites near Phoenix.

The League of Women Voters of Arizona is attempting to prevent Lions of Liberty and other right-wing groups from organizing what they term 'monitoring' of drop boxes.

On Friday, a federal judge refused to ban the Lions of Liberty's patrols, saying there was a legitimate concern but not enough evidence to show that anyone's rights were being curtailed.

On Monday, the DOJ said that the allegations made by the League 'raise serious concerns of voter intimidation.'

A handout photo by Maricopa County Elections shows two armed individuals dressed in tactical gear on October 21 watching a drop box in Mesa, a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona

A man in tactical gear is seen on October 21 in Mesa, Arizona by a voter drop box

Their presence triggered a string of complaints and a legal effort to bar watcher groups

They said that 'vigilante ballot security efforts' and 'private campaigns to video record voters' likely violate the federal Voting Rights Act.

'Citizen-led election monitoring activities are more likely to put voters in reasonable fear of harassment, intimidation, coercion, or interference with their voting rights,' the DOJ added.

The Department said that the First Amendment's right to assembly does not permit people assembling for the purpose of coercing voters.

The League of Women Voters is seeking a court order banning armed vigilantes from congregating near the drop boxes, and a hearing is due to be held on Tuesday.

The Justice Department's intervention came after U.S. District Court Judge Michael Liburdi ruled that the vigilante patrols were not violating anyone's rights.

The issue has taken on national prominence amid reports of armed men patrolling outdoor drop boxes in Maricopa County - the state's most populous county  and rural Yavapai County as midterm elections near.

In mid-October, apparently armed men positioned themselves close to a drop box in Mesa, a suburb of Phoenix.

They wore tactical gear which reportedly included ballistic vests and left when police arrived.

Their presence triggered legal action, as activists sought to prevent the intimidation of voters.

Dave Brehmer and Chad Maier drop their ballot for the upcoming midterm elections in the drop box near the Maricopa County Juvenile Court Center in Mesa, Arizona

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, a Republican, has called on voters to immediately report any intimidation to police and file a complaint with his office.

The state's secretary of state last week said her office had received six cases of potential voter intimidation to the state attorney general and the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as a threatening email sent to the state elections director.

State law requires candidates, their campaigns and monitors to stay at least 75 feet from voting locations.

'Plaintiffs have not provided the court with any evidence that defendants' conduct constitutes a true threat,' wrote Judge Liburdi on Friday.

'On this record, defendants have not made any statements threatening to commit acts of unlawful violence to a particular individual or group of individuals.'

Drop boxes such as these are common across Arizona, but have become highly contentious

The state is one of the centers of tussles over voter rights and election fraud.

President Joe Biden won the divided state by only 10,000 votes, ending a run of decades of Republican victories.

The result generated a string of conspiracy theories about how it could have happened.

But multiple investigations, including a partisan 'audit' of Maricopa County by Cyber Ninjas, a company hired by Republicans, found no widespread fraud in the 2020 vote.

This time around, those conspiracies have spawned multiple efforts to monitor voting.

The U.S. attorney's office in Arizona vowed to prosecute any violations of federal law but said local police were in charge of 'front line in efforts to ensure that all qualified voters are able to exercise their right to vote free of intimidation or other election abuses.'

'We will vigorously safeguard all Arizonans' rights to freely and lawfully cast their ballot during the election,' the office said Wednesday.

'As the several election threat-related cases pending federal felony charges from alleged criminal activity arising out of our State show, acts which cross the line will not go unaddressed.'
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is challenging a court's decision ordering her to pay $250,000 for defaming Brian Burston despite the former senator having sexually harassed his staff.

Her appeal, launched on Monday, takes issue with an October 19 decision by Federal Court Justice Robert Bromwich finding Ms Hanson defamed Mr Burston through 'seriously damaging' comments made on Nine's Today Show in March 2019.

On the Today Show, Ms Hanson falsely claimed her former One Nation colleague had sexually abused a female colleague and had assaulted the party's chief of staff James Ashby without provocation in the Great Hall of Parliament.

Pauline Hanson (above) is appealing the $250K ruling on defamatory comments made on Nine's Today Show in 2019

'I find that both (imputations) were seriously damaging to Mr Burston's reputation, being broadcast on a nationally broadcast television program watched by over 290,000 people at the time. They were both false,' the judge said.

However, the judge found Mr Burston sexually harassed staff in his office, harassed a female staffer, and brought the senate into disrepute through his shocking behaviour.

Justice Bromwich called Mr Burston's conduct 'objectively wrong and inappropriate', including that he told staffer Wendy Leach, 'Oh Wendy, you probably just need a good f***'.

'Mr Burston had apparently not kept up with changes in society in relation to the rights of women, with the tide having turned even more decisively in recent years, most particularly in relation to the conduct of and around elected representatives and their staff,' the judge wrote.

The 74-year-old had sexually propositioned Ms Leach and had sexually harassed another staffer Terri-lea Vairy, the judge found.

While being found to have sexually harassed female staff, Brian Burston (above) still won the initial case against Pauline Hanson

In November 2020, Ms Hanson also filed a counter-suit claiming Mr Burston's defamation case and sexual harassment allegations made against her amounted to sexual discrimination.

This case is ongoing.

Mr Burston quit Ms Hanson's One Nation to join United Australia Party in June 2018 after falling out with his former colleagues over his stance on then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull's proposed tax cuts. He failed to retain his seat at the 2019 federal election.

A date for the appeal hearing has yet to be set.
Mark McGowan admits he will need to import coal to keep Western Australian households running, as the state braces itself for more potential power cuts and prepares to spam households with warnings.

Major concerns have been raised about the state's coal supply with power generation suspended to rebuild stocks, in one case, and a huge coal mine in receivership.

The WA premier said the coal would be purchased from interstate, probably from New South Wales, for several years, the ABC reported.

Mark McGowan admits he will need to import coal to keep Western Australian households running - possibly for the next eight years

Residents of Western Australia face another uncertain summer when it comes to regular power electricity supply

WA is planning to transition to a power generation mix of 80 per cent renewables, 20 per cent gas by 2030.

Mr McGowan announced WA will exit the coal-fired electricity market before 2030 and invest billions of dollars in renewable energy.

WA energy minister Bill Johnston said people shouldn't be worried about power blackouts - but this week said SMS warnings were likely this summer (Pictured, an example of the type of message WA households might receive)

The forecast coal shortages are a big worry for WA ahead of summer after power outages affected 100,000 people in the state during the 2021 Christmas period.

WA energy minister Bill Johnston said at the start of October that people 'shouldn't be any more worried about blackouts this summer than any previous summer'.

But this week he discussed the SMS warnings they might receive, the ABC reported.

As part of its planning for what is expected to be a hotter-than-average summer in the west, the WA government will be sending customers warnings to switch appliances down or off.

The messages will state households need to cut power use at peak times during summer in order to maintain electricity supply.

'Western Power can see when things are becoming congested in a specific location, [and can] text people in that area and say 'turn your air conditioner down and you're less likely to lose power supply',' Mr Johnston said.

News of the SMS warnings comes after Western Power sent thousands of west Australians poorly-worded texts that had them believing they'd been spammed in September.

A new advertising campaign will also run advising households to reduce power use between 5pm and 9pm.

Mark McGowan concedes WA will need to import coal from other Australian states, most likely from NSW (Pictured, Mount Piper coal Power Station, Portland NSW)

WA government-owned utility Synergy announced last month it would shut down Collie Power Station for three months 'to further build its coal stockpiles' ahead of summer.

In September Griffin Coal, one of the state's main coal mines, went into receivership owing $1.5billion to creditors.

WA's Bluewaters power station had attempted to gain control of Griffin coal after continual disruption to deliveries.

But Griffin's creditors appointed Deloitte as receivers and Griffin's board called up Cor Cordis as liquidators.

In June Mr McGowan and Mr Johnston announced state-owned power provider Synergy plans to close its remaining coal-fired plants by 2029.
Ms Strafela claimed Mr McCarthy and Smith had feuded over money and CDs

Her friend and Mr McCarthy's neighbour Julia Strafela gave evidence at the trial

Smith is charged with his murder, which occurred in Coogee in December 2020

A woman accused of murdering an elderly man with a frying pan in Sydney's eastern suburbs called him 'a dog' and feuded with him over CDs and money.

Giving evidence at the murder trial of her former friend Narelle Fiona Smith, Julia Strafela said her South Coogee neighbour and sometimes lover Peter McCarthy had become irritated with the accused before his death in December 2020.

'Peter told me he loaned Narelle some CDs  and he was having trouble getting them back,' Ms Strafela said.

She could not recall when the issue arose but said the 77-year-old talked about wanting the CDs returned.

Peter McCarthy (pictured), 77, was allegedly murdered with a frying pan in South Coogee in December 2020 after he got into an argument with Narelle Fiona Smith

The pair also argued over $30 the aged pensioner had loaned to Smith.

When Ms Strafela raised Mr McCarthy in conversation, Smith responded negatively, the Supreme Court jury was told.

'She called him a dog,' Ms Strafela said.

'I decided to stop doing that (mentioning Mr McCarthy) as I didn't want to get involved in dramas.'

After learning of Mr McCarthy's death, the witness said she went into shock and began drinking at her apartment, before meeting friends for drinks.

She also texted Smith telling her: 'Not to worry about the CDs. Peter's dead.'

No reply was received.

She later ran into Smith near the Coogee Cemetery, where she spotted her yelling at an unknown man, before the pair began talking.

'As I approached I think she recognised me  I was still upset about what happened to Peter,' she said.

'I just said  leave me alone. I don't want to cuddle.'

She said Smith then became upset, before getting angry with her and yelling at her about Peter.

'She yelled out 'me and my team got rid of him, they'll get rid of you next'.'

'I didn't believe it. I just thought she was being stupid. I was numb'.

Ms Strafela then left and continued drinking on the beach, before returning home and talking with her friends Donna and Kylie about what Smith had said.

The group then decided they would go to the police.

Julia Strafela (pictured) gave evidence at the murder trial of Smith. She said that Mr McCarthy had feuded with Smith over money and CDs

She later confronted Smith about the conversation in a text message, after TV news reports claimed the accused had been with McCarthy in the week before his death.

Smith has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr McCarthy after spending the day celebrating her 46th birthday on December 17, 2020.

Mr McCarthy's bloody body wasn't found until December 20, face-up on the loungeroom floor, loosely covered in a tarp and a jumper, and surrounded by broken furniture, glasses and a frying pan.

Prosecutors allege a man known by Smith used Mr McCarthy's ATM cards after the murder and that Smith herself used his Opal card to travel around Sydney.

On Tuesday, Ms Strafela said she and Mr McCarthy used one another's cards and had exchanged PINs - but said she did not have his PIN memorised.

'I didn't need it,' she said

'We would use it (one another's cards) when we were hungover.'

The trial continues.
A man in his 70s is being treated for cuts on his arms, legs and head after he was viciously attacked by a kangaroo.

NSW Ambulance Services were called to a home near Port Macquarie on Tuesday at about 12.20pm following reports a man had been attacked by a wild animal.

The man was walking to his shed on his property on Apanie Road in Lake Innes when the kangaroo knocked him over and attacked him.

A man in his 70s is being treated for cuts to his head, arms and legs and a dislocated shoulder after he was attacked by a kangaroo on his property in NSW (stock image)

The man tried to fight the kangaroo off but suffered cuts all over his head, arms and legs, as well as a dislocated shoulder.

In a statement given to Daily Mail Australia, NSW Ambulance paramedic Cameron Maher praised an onlooker who took action and tended to the man's wounds.

'A witness already wrapped towels around the wounds before we got there, which helped control the bleeding,' Mr Maher said.

'This would've been a really frightening experience for the patient and acts as a reminder to the public that wildlife can be unpredictable.'

Kangaroo attacks are usually rare, with fewer than five people seeking medical attention each year in NSW.

While the marsupial's first response is to flee, they will normally attack when provoked or cornered, with two fatal kangaroo encounters recorded in Australia.

The man in his 70s was walking to his shed on his property on Apanie Road in Lake Innes when the kangaroo knocked him over and attacked him (pictured, Lake Innes)

Kangaroo (pictured) attacks are usually rare, with fewer than five people seeking medical attention each year in NSW and only two fatal kangaroo encounters recorded in Australia

On September 11, a 77-year-old man in Western Australia died after his pet kangaroo left him with serious injuries.

Paramedics were called to the man's property in Redmond, near Albany, after the 77-year-old was found by a relative with serious injuries.

Police were called to assist after the kangaroo became aggressive and prevented paramedics from accessing the injured man, who tragically died at the scene.

The last reported fatal kangaroo encounter in Australia occurred in 1936 in NSW when 38-year-old William Cruickshank succumbed to injuries he had sustained months earlier when he tried to rescue his two pet dogs from a large kangaroo.
A pensioner who had a massive library of child abuse material and admitted to being infatuated with girls under 12 has died.

John Hamilton Doyle, 82, passed away last month at Blacktown Hospital in Sydney's west, weeks before he was to face another charge of possessing child abuse material.

He had been transported there from Parklea Correctional Centre.

Doyle had pleaded guilty in June last year at Manly Court to keeping an illegal library of images of children.

John Hamilton Doyle (pictured) had an infatuation with young girls under 12, a court heard

Material was found on his computers, a mobile phone, a USB and on hard drives in his flat on the north shore, the Daily Telegraph reported.

One of his devices had 109,950 images and 858 videos of vile child abuse material.

Doyle, who the court heard had an infatuation with young girls under 12, also printed out 20 A3- and A4-sized pictures of children to add to his collection.

On a raid of his Milsons Point home in February 2021, police also found 815 printed colour images of child abuse material.

He told 7News last year he 'liked' watching explicit videos of 'young girls' and complained about his stash coming to light.

'They were private,' Doyle told the Manly Daily. 'Nobody was supposed to know about them.'

Doyle (pictured, in June 2021) passed away last month at Blacktown Hospital, weeks before he was to face another charge of possessing child abuse material

Doyle said the reason why he collected the material was because he had an 'obsession'.

'It goes back a long time,' he said. 'It's not something I'm proud of, but it's happened.'

He was asked if he thought the children in his images were being exploited.

'I think they are, but they look happy enough though,' he replied.

He was convicted of four counts of possessing child abuse material at the Manly Court last December but was not sent to jail.

Instead he was put on good behaviour bonds at the sentencing.

Magistrate Michelle Goodwin described his offences as 'repugnant and repulsive'.

Doyle was recently on remand facing another charge of possessing child abuse material after being caught with graphic images last March.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and had a hearing scheduled for next month.

Doyle had spent 23 years flying under the radar before his material was discovered due to his growing library.

His Adobe Cloud service had uploaded the material after his external hard drive became too full.

He was convicted of four counts of possessing child abuse material at the Manly Court House (pictured) last December but was not sent to jail

The software firm immediately told police about the images.

Doyle told police he had spent most mornings, between 8am and 11am, at a cafe where he would 'people watch', according to documents tendered to the court last December.

'The accused was able to tell police the number of schools within the area he would frequent and the various routes children would take,' the Daily Telegraph reported.

Doyle was first discovered in 1998 possessing child abuse material, 7News said.

On Tuesday Magistrate Robyn Denes noted the man's death and formally withdrew the new charges.

The court did not release the cause of his death.
This time a year ago, jockey Mark Zahra was drinking heavily and in the depths of despair after missing out on the winning Melbourne Cup ride.

Now, in the ultimate turnaround, Zahra is the Cup champion - having guided Gold Trip to victory on Tuesday in Australia's biggest race at Flemington.

Zahra, 40, was at the centre of scandal last year when he was suspended for three months over the notorious AirBnb Covid party scandal.

He had been tipped to steer 2021 winner Verry Elleegant to glory that year. Instead, he watched the race from Byron Bay - and admits he was told he was drinking too much as he drowned his sorrows.

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Mark Zahra has revealed how he was drinking heavily and in the depths of despair after being suspended and missing out on the 2021 winning Cup ride

'This time last year in Byron Bay, I was getting told off for drinking too much and [Verry Elleegant] could have been my ride,' he admitted after the win.

'Redemption day today. Just a miracle. 12 months ago, I felt terrible and probably drinking my way out of it and [my wife] was saying, "don't drink too much".

'I said, "What do you want me to do? My horse just won the Melbourne Cup!"

'For today, to come today - it's unbelievable.'

Zahra was banned for three months for lying to stewards and being at an illicit party in Victoria's Mornington Pensinsula along with several other jockeys in August 2021.

He was the fifth jockey to be banned for breaching Covid restrictions at the party.

It cost him his ride on Verry Elleegant at Flemington, which was given to winning jockey James Macdonald instead.

Jamie Kah, Ben Melham, Ethan Brown, Celine Gaudray were also hit by three month bans over the party.

They were caught after police were called to the AirBnb home at 11.50pm on a Saturday night after a noise complaint from a neighbour, in breach of Victoria's then-existing 9pm Covid curfew.

Mark Zahra, 40, (pictured celebrating his win with his wife Elyse) missed steering 2021 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant to glory after he was suspended for three months over the notorious AirBNB Covid party scandal

Emotional Zahra twice let fly an F-bomb live on air while he was being interviewed moments after his Cup win and celebrating with his overjoyed wife Elyse.

'The last 50m I was thinking, f***, Im going to win this!' the father of one year old daughter Harper let slip on Ten's TV coverage.

''[I was thinking] just p*** off, no one come near me. It just went forever the last bit. And I still cant believe it. Melbourne Cup, its unbelievable.

'I literally thought Im a bit far back here but my one plan was not to be too close because I thought if I spent fuel early Id be a bit late.

'As they jammed up, I got to travel up and up and I thought Im still travelling so good here. I waited and waited and with the horse, Ive always said when you go, youve got to go. F*** I was righto.

'Its just amazing. Its going to be a good night.'

He added: 'I feel like crying. It's unbelievable. What a day.

'He's a horse that when you go, you don't give him a chance to think about it. I was hoping no-one would come near me.

'It was just elation when I crossed the line.'

Delighted wife Elyse interrupted the post-race interview to reveal her husband's winning philosophy behind the victory.

'Were not doing seconds anymore he said this week,' she said. 'No more seconds.'

Marka Zahra redeemed himself on Tuesday when he guided Gold Trip to victory in Australia's biggest race

The 52kg jockey - who has more than 1300 race wins to his name, including 23 Group One wins - paid tribute to his grandfather for getting him into the sport.

'Probably got to thank my grandfather who was a mad punter and used to bring me and my two brothers along to the races,' he said.

'I got a bit of a bug - I wasnt bad at school but had trouble paying attention and behaving.

'I decided to leave in Year 10 and decided I should come over and do three months [apprenticeship] - and I never left.

'I have to shout out to Mum, Dad, and all back in Western Australia. If they havent had a heart attack, theyd be going crazy right now.

'Im sure theyre having a shindig somewhere and drinking lots of champagne. Drink some for me.'
An Indiana pharmacy technician charged with murdering two teenage girls in 2017 processed the family's photos while working at CVS but refused to accept payment, it has been revealed.

Richard Allen, 50, was arrested on Wednesday and charged two days later with killing 13-year-old Abigail Williams and her friend Liberty German, 14, in February 2017.

On Monday the grandmother of Libby, Becky Patty, told reporters that Allen once processed photos for the family at the CVS store in Delphi where he worked.

He did not charge them for the photos, she added.

Asked whether the rumor of the free photo processing was true, Patty replied: 'That is accurate.'

Pressed on whether she knew it first hand, she replied: 'That is correct. We know that.'

Allen worked as a pharmacist at the store.

Becky Patty, standing next to her husband Mike, spoke on Monday about the arrest in the 2017 murder of their granddaughter, Liberty German. She said that the accused killer refused to accept payment when the family took some photos to him to be developed

Richard Allen, 50, was charged with two counts of felony murder for the deaths of Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13

Abigail Williams, left, and Liberty German, right, were murdered in February 2017 after going for a walk

Mike Patty, Liberty German's grandfather, said they still have 'a hill to climb' until they can rest

A statement from CVS said the company is 'shocked and saddened to learn that one of our store employees was arrested as a suspect in these crimes.'

The company said: 'We stand ready to cooperate with the police investigation in any way we can.

'We remain devastated by these murders and our hearts go out to the German and Williams families.'

The two girls had gone for a walk together along a bridge in Delphi, Indiana, but failed to show up to meet their parents. They were documenting their walk on Snapchat, and police released grainy footage of a man walking towards them, and a voice in the distance - footage which intrigued amateur sleuths.

The bodies of the teenage girls were found close to the bridge the day after they vanished, and several suspects were named over the years, but no arrests were made until last week.

The case had haunted Delphi, home to almost 3,000 people, ever since.

Mike Patty, Libby German's grandfather, said they had long been warned the killer could be living amongst them.

'I don't know the gentleman personally at all,' he said.

'I've probably seen him. It's a small county.'

He said that the detectives working on the case 'had made mention that he could be living right amongst us, hiding in plain sight.

'And that's - that's what came about.'

Anna Williams, the mother of Abigail, told DailyMail.com they did not know Allen.

She said she did not want to discuss his arrest.

Mike Patty urged anyone with information in the case, including anything relating to potential accomplices, to come forward.

He said the families still have 'a hill to climb' until they can finally rest.

On Monday, the owner of the bar in Delphi where Allen, a pharmacist, used to drink with his wife Kathy told of his shock at the arrest.

Bob Matlock, owner of JC's Bar - which closed in December 2021 - said Allen even posed for a photo in front of the 'wanted' picture.

The photo shows Richard Allen, 50, smiling with his wife - while over his shoulder, a police sketch strongly resembling him is posted on the wall inside Bob Matlock's bar

Allen was photographed sitting close to this sketch. It is one of several released following the February 2017 murders

'I just couldn't believe it when they said they arrested him,' said Matlock.

'I said, 'Well, that can't be the Rick we know.' And then we come to find out it was.

'There wouldn't have been any inkling to anyone that knew him that would expect him to do something like that. He just didn't seem that type of person. But you never know.'

A composite sketch was released in 2017 showing a possible suspect in the case

Matlock, 75, told The Daily Beast that he saw Allen and his wife as 'good friends', who were active in the community and the bar's pool league.

'We were all sitting at the table there, we were having a pool night, and just having fun - we were snapping pictures and everything,' said Matlock, explaining that Allen posed in front of the 'wanted' sketch.

'Every business in town had those [sketches] up. It just happened to be, he was sitting there at the time.

'But to me, that did not resemble Rick.

'My other patrons around town [would] come in for breakfast or lunch, everybody would say: 'Christ, that don't look like anybody,' or, 'It could be anybody.'

It is unclear when and where the photo of Allen in the sketch was taken.

The version of the suspect sketch in the image was not released until April 2019, so the photo would have been taken at least two years after the murders.

Matlock said they all discussed the case, but did not want to go into detail as they knew the families of the victims.

'He would come in and we would always talk about the girls and everything,' said Matlock.

'We would carry on conversations about it, he would say, you know, it's such a tragedy, and we'd say we felt sorry for the families and all that, but we tried not to talk about it too much because we all knew the families, and were friends with the families.'

Indiana State Police announced on Monday that Allen has been charged in the murders

Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland said Allen's arrest is a 'step in the right direction'

The family members of Libby German and Abigail Williams listened intently during the news conference

Allen is due back in court on January 13, 2023, with a presumptive trial date of March 20, 2023.

He is not cooperating with authorities, according to WISH-TV.

He does not appear to have a prior criminal record and previously worked at the local CVS.

Nicholas McLeland, the Carroll County Prosecutor, said of Allen's arrest: 'It's a step in the right direction.'

He told a press conference on Monday it was 'disappointing' that the suspect is a local resident, and said he can now bring the evidence against Allen to court.

Asked whether anyone else may have been involved in the murders, McLeland said: 'We have not closed the door on this case.'

It remains unclear what led police to ultimately arrest Allen. State police will not be releasing evidence in the case, under a court order.

A probable cause document has been temporarily sealed, with McLeland saying he requested the documents be sealed due to the 'extra scrutiny' of the case.

McLeland said he wanted to protect the integrity of the investigation.

'The investigation is far from complete, and we will not jeopardize its integrity by releasing information before it's time,' added Doug Carter, superintendent of Indiana State Police.

'If you choose to be critical of our silence, be critical of me, not the frontline,' he said.

'These are folks who have devoted their entire lives to a conclusion  in other words, a guilty verdict.'

The killer has long been presumed to be the unidentified man seen approaching German and Williams, when they were crossing the Monon High Bridge in the woods outside Delphi in February 2017.

The bridge is located just a few miles from Allen's home  which is also just a half-mile from the middle school the two teens attended.

Libby had shared a 'snap' on Snapchat of herself walking along the railroad tracks on the day of her murder, with the social media updates causing a sensation that made the case one of the United States' most notorious unsolved murders.

The girls' bloodied bodies were found about a half mile from the bridge.

Following the news on Monday, Kelsi German, the sister of Libby German, tweeted: 'We got him.'

After news of Allen's arrest broke on Friday, a disturbing photo emerged showing his own daughter posing in the same spot where the teenage victims were last seen alive.

Brittany Zapanta, 28, is pictured posing on the Monon High Bridge.

The photo was posted to Facebook by Allen's wife Kathy, 50, in 2018 just over a year after the girls disappeared in February 2017.

It's unclear when the photo was taken.

There is also no indication as to who took the snap on the Monon High Bridge Trail.

The photo of Allen's daughter, 28-year-old Brittany, was posted to Facebook by his wife Kathy, 50, in 2018 - just over a year after the girls disappeared in February, 2017

Libby German was filmed by her friend and fellow victim Abigail Williams in February, 2017, moments before they were murdered -

The arrest of Allen could be the end of a years-long investigation during which numerous possible leads have led nowhere, and police have remained tight-lipped about the details of the case.

Exactly how the girls died remains unknown to the public, and the state their bodies were discovered also remains shrouded in mystery.

Over the summer, the details of a search warrant revealed that Libby and Abigail were found covered in blood and that their killer appeared to have taken a souvenir of some sort from the murder site.

The warrant, obtained by the Murder Sheet podcast and released to Indianapolis FOX59, offered no further detail on what the souvenir was - although it did say that 'the rest of [the girls'] clothing was recovered,' implying that the killer had taken something they'd been wearing.

The murderer also reportedly 'staged' the girls' bodies in a particular way after killing them - although it remains unclear exactly how he did this.

Investigators believed photographs or videos were likely shot of the grotesque set-up to 'memorialize' the crime scene.

Allen is pictured here with his wife, Kathy, in an undated picture. They live just miles from the bridge from where the two teens disappeared in 2017

Allen is seen with his wife Kathy in an undated photo. He does not appear to have a prior criminal history and was known locally for working in the local CVS

An unidentified man  now believed to be Allen  was filmed approaching Libby and Abby before their deaths

The 2017 murder of Abby and Libby became notorious after investigators released chilling footage the girls recorded of a man following and approaching them across the Monon High Bridge.

A heavily-built man in jeans and a blue jacket could be seen approaching the girls.

In a brief snippet of audio that was released, the man could be heard saying to the girls: 'down the hill.'

The full clip is reportedly 43 seconds long, but its contents are believed to be too disturbing to share in full.

Over the years numerous people have been put forth as possible suspects in the case.

Ron Logan, who died in 2020, had long been the prime suspect.

The girls' bodies were discovered on his property - just 1,400ft from his house - and it was revealed over the summer that his alibi for the day of the murder did not line up.

His home was searched and he was arrested shortly after the killings, but he was released and never charged.

The voice in the clip was described as being 'not inconsistent' with that of Logan, the FBI investigation concluded.

A brief clip of the man walking toward the girls on the trail was released too.

Another man, Kegan Kline, 27, of Peru, Indiana, was also previously named as a suspect in the murders.

He is said to have admitted to talking to Libby German using a fake Instagram profile called Anthony_shots.

Kline - who is heavy-set and pasty-faced - used an image of a ripped and muscular young man to trick underage girls into speaking to him.

He is said to have arranged to meet with Libby on the Delphi High Bridge the day before she was murdered while walking along it.

But he is also said to have shared his Anthony_shots password with others - including his father - and said his father could be a prime suspect in the killings.

Kline is being held in jail after being arrested on separate child porn charges in 2020.
Many staff who will be transferred have raised 'lots of concerns' with the plan

The ABC are moving 300 Ultimo-based staff to a new workplace in Parramatta

The ABC's plans to relocate from its inner-city Sydney headquarters to a new site in Parramatta has garnered 'mixed responses' from disgruntled staff members.

A parliamentary committee on Tuesday grilled ABC executives over their proposal to move more than 300 of 2000 Ultimo-based staff to western Sydney from 2024.

But the ABC board said the journalists and content producers who have been asked to move have mixed feelings about the plan.

The ABC's plan to move 300 staff from the inner-city to Parramatta has garnered mixed emotions from staff (pictured, the existing ABC headquarters in Ultimo, Sydney)

'There are some people that are very happy about this and there are other people who aren't very happy at all,' the ABC's managing director David Anderson said.

'I understand that concern, you build your life around your place of employment and it means great change.

'There are lots of concerns that have been raised with regard to that, that we're taking on board and considering very carefully.'

In response, the ABC plans to subsidise child care and parking for some employees, and ensure there are enough car spots in Parramatta.

Some teams like the Sydney newsroom and daytime radio will permanently work from the west. Others, including ABC Radio National and Triple J will rotate between Parramatta and Ultimo depending on calendar events.

However, the staff consultation process is ongoing and plans are not set in stone.

'We've got a lot more consulting to do but we are consulting in good faith and want to make this as painless as possible for people who are relocating out to Parramatta,' he told the parliamentary hearing.

The move is part of the ABC's five-year plan to better reflect Australia's diversity which Mr Anderson says is necessary to 'stay close to the source of our stories.'

'As Australia evolves, so must the ABC,' he said.

'We're very confident that this investment will pay off for a better and greater ABC.'

The ABC's Managing Director, David Anderson (above) is confident the move will help the ABC better reflect Australia's diversity

The national broadcaster said the relocation plan will not incur additional costs to taxpayers.

Instead, ABC will foot the bill by sub-leasing seven floors of their Sydney CBD facilities in February.

Parliamentary approval will still be needed before the ABC can fit out the Parramatta facility.

Providing approval is granted, fit-out works will begin in early 2023 and staff will move in from 2024.

The public broadcaster recently had its funding cycle increased from three years to five years in the federal budget, to support its independence and long-term planning arrangements.
Brazilian truckers have taken to the streets to protest after leftist presidential candidate Luis Inacio Lula da Silva won over far-right Jair Bolsonaro by a slim margin as the latter remains silent and has not publicly acknowledged his defeat.

Lula da Silva made a stunning comeback to become the president-elect of the country following a tight run-off race on Sunday. His win marks a shift in the political environment of Latin America's largest country, after four years of being under the rule of Bolsonaro's administration.

Lula da Silva's Win

The 76-year-old leftist politician represents the return of the country to the left and also concludes a triumphant personal comeback for Lula da Silva. He has been facing a series of corruption allegations that lead to his imprisonment for 580 days. The charges against him were later annulled by the Brazilian Supreme Court, which cleared the path for his re-election.

In his statement following his win, Lula da Silva spoke in front of supporters and journalists on Sunday evening, noting that his rivals tried to bury him alive but he stood firm. He also described his victory to become Brazil's next president as his political "resurrection," as per CNN.

The leftist president-elect said that he would govern the country of roughly 215 million Brazilians starting on Jan. 1, 2023. He said that he would be the leader of not only the people who supported him but also those who supported his rivals. He called for not two Brazils, but one country, one people, and one great nation.

Lula da Silva will take the reins of Brazil which has been plagued by gross inequality that is still struggling to stand back from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Between 2019 and 2021, roughly 9.6 million people fell under the poverty line as literacy and school attendance rates fell.

According to the Financial Times, Truckers blocked highways at more than 300 points across the country to protest Lula da Silva's win. More than 24 hours after the declaration that the leftist candidate had won the election, the hard-right president was ignoring appeals by allies to concede and had not appeared in public or made a statement.

Read Also: China Warns Australia as US Sends B-52 Nuclear-Capable Bombers to Northern Territory That Could Reach Beijing

Brazilian Truckers Protest

Brazil's top electoral official, Alexandre de Moraes, ordered highway police on late Monday to "take all necessary measures" to clear the truckers' blockades that were disrupting traffic in more than 300 points across the nation. He also threatened to imprison the force's chief if he did not obey the orders.

Truckers are considered a critical group of supporters for the far-right president and have already benefited from lower fuel costs under Bolsonaro's governance. However, there was no sign that other groups were joining the protests and the majority of the country remained quiet after the presidential election.

Bolsonaro's continued silence on the results of the election is raising concern as he has previously cast unfounded doubts about Brazil's voting system. The far-right politician also made combative statements, including that only "God" could remove him from office, making his absence from the public eye even more worrying, BBC reported.

Related Article: Russia-Ukraine War: Why Did Joe Biden Lose His Temper with Volodymyr Zelensky?

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Cruz had pleaded guilty to the murders and attempted murders in the Valentine's Day shooting, but is not expected to speak during the sentencing

A jury in his penalty trial could not reach a unanimous decision about whether the 24-year-old deserved the death penalty

Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer will formally sentence Cruz to life in prison without parole for his massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz's two day sentencing hearing begins Tuesday, when the families of the victims are expected to address him

Family members of the 17 people who were killed in the largest school shooting in American history condemned Nikolas Cruz to suffer for the rest of his life.

Thomas Hixon, whose father Christopher worked as an athletic director at Marjory Stoneman Douglas when he was gunned down on February 14, 2018 looked directly at his father's murderer Tuesday morning and told him he will die forgotten  'a name on a tombstone that no one ever visits.'

He said Cruz will die as 'nothing, because you are nothing.' 'Your defense preyed on the idea of your humanity.' he aid. 'Yet you had none for those you encountered on February 14.'

Others who spoke in court on Tuesday wished Cruz a slow, excruciating death as they slammed a jury for failing to sentence the 24-year-old to death.

They claimed Cruz 'got exactly what he wanted,' and blamed the defense for painting a picture of Cruz as the victim of an alcoholic and drug-addicted birth mother and a negligent adoptive mother.

The jury found there were aggravating factors to the mass murder  like the murders being especially heinous, atrocious and cruel, and committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner beyond a reasonable doubt  but three of the 12 jurors did not believe that was enough to sentence Cruz to death.

Under Florida state law, a convict can only be sentenced to death if the jury agrees unanimously. But last month, the jury in Cruz's penalty hearing could not reach a unanimous decision  letting the mass murderer narrowly escape the death penalty.

Scherer is now expected to formally sentence Cruz to 34 consecutive life sentences without parole on Wednesday one for each person shot by Cruz's AR-15 style rifle in the massacre  after every victims' family members finally get their chance to address Cruz directly.

He had pleaded guilty to the murders and attempted murders more than one year ago.

Cruz, 24, is pictured in court on Tuesday as family members of the 17 people he murdered described the heartbreak he wrought. He will be sentenced Wednesday to life in prison

The defense had tried to paint Cruz, left, as the victim of a painful childhood

PARKLAND SCHOOL SHOOTING VICTIMS: Top Row L-R: Jaime Guttenberg, Nicholas Dworet, Martin Duque, Meadow Pollack, Cara Loughran -- Second Row L-R: Alyssa Alhadeff, Luke Hoyer, Joaquin Oliver, Gina Montalto -- Third Row L-R: Alaina Petty, Carmen Schentrup, Peter Wang, Alex Schachter -- Fourth Row L-R: Helena Ramsey, Scott Beigel, Aaron Feis, Chris Hixon

The mass murderer sat staring at the families who lost loved ones in the Valentine's Day shooting, as well as some of the 17 people he injured, as they described the heartbreak he wrought on their lives.

Prosecutors had asked for the full day to present the victim impact statements, but said one of the family members of a victim who was murdered in the massacre  the mother of Aaron Feis  died last Thursday.

Fred Guttenberg, who has made a name for himself speaking out against gun violence in the years since his 14-year-old daughter, Jamie, was gunned down at the school also declined to give a victim impact statement.

'I have decided that it simply won't change reality of the way I feel,' he wrote of his decision on Twitter Tuesday morning.

'The reality is that I will still visit Jamie at the cemetery and monster's fate will not change. It has already been decided.

'With that decision made, the monster is out of my head. I have no need to think about him or to address him.'

Victims' statements are expected to conclude tomorrow.

Family members and friends are pictured comforting Meghan Petty, the sister of victim Alaina Petty before she gave her victim impact statement on Tuesday

Family members were seen in court reacting to the heartfelt testimony

Many of those who spoke argued that the Cruz should not be allowed to continue living his life as they slammed the attorneys defending the mass murderer and the jury for not sentencing him to the death penalty.

But sparks really started to fly when the defense attorneys claimed they were being verbally 'attacked' by the parents.

They accused at least two parents of bringing their children up when discussing the long-term effects the mass shooting has had on their lives, after one father used his victim impact statement to tear apart the defense's arguments.

'Attacking the judicial system is not permissible,' lead defense attorney Melissa McNeill said as she slammed the parents for talking about their children.

'I did my job and every member of this team did our job,' she said, 'and we should not be attacked for that, and neither should our children.'

Prosecutors argued, however, that McNeill was trying to 'curtail' the victims' testimonies saying they are exercising their Freedom of Speech.

'These victims now have the right to express themselves,' one of the state prosecutors said. 'They have a right to address this court.'

Still, McNeill tried to ask the judge not to allow victims to speak about the defense attorneys' children, leading the judge to ask her: 'Stop suggesting that something is impermissible.'

But the defense did not rest their case, bringing the matter up again after a short lunch recess, when one of the attorneys stepped forward and accused the families and the victims of the shooting of 'inciting violence'

Scherer then seemed to get heated as she dismissed the arguments, saying: 'I feel that 99 percent of what has been said has been appropriate.'

She went on to dismiss several of the defense attorneys after they asked her how she would feel if the victims brought up her children in their statements.

'You need to sit down, you're out of line,' Scherer said. 'No one knows if I'm barren or not.'

Defense attorneys in Cruz's penalty hearing felt the need to defend themselves after Schachter sought to destroy their arguments

Following a short lunch recess, defense attorneys accused the victims of trying to incite violence against them and the jurors

One of the defense attorneys got into a verbal spat with Judge Elizabeth Scherer, leading her to dismiss him

She said: 'No one knows if I'm barren or not' when asked how she would feel about victims bringing up her children in their statements

During the hearing on Tuesday, Cruz heard for the first time directly from the parents and the victims of his deadly Valentine's Day massacre.

Anthony Vincent Montalto III, brother of 14-year-old Gina Montalto: 'He shouldn't live while my sister rots in the grave'

One of the last people to speak at the hearing on Tuesday was Anthony Vincent Montalto III, who told how he was in middle school when the shooting happened.

He said he regretted not saying 'goodbye' to his older sister that morning, and decried the jury's decision not to sentence Cruz to death.

'He shouldn't live while my sister rots in the grave,' Anthony Vincent Montalto III said of his sister Gina, calling Cruz a 'b*****.'

Tony Vincent Montalto III, father of 14-year-old Gina Montalto: Slams jury for not giving death penalty

Anthony's father also said the jury was wrong in not condemning Cruz to the death penalty saying massacres like the one at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in 2018 are 'why we have the death penalty in Florida.'

He then questioned whether the State Legislature should change the sentencing rules in Florida to allow for a simple majority or even a supermajority to approve the death penalty for convicts as he argued the legal system is biased against victims.

'I applaud the court and the prosecution team for following the ideals of our justice system as the evil murderer enjoyed a fair trial,' he said.

'I don't believe this case was fair to the victims. How could it be a fair trial when the only people who speak for the victims, those who cannot speak for themselves, have the jury instructed to disregard our words?'

Victim's families were previously able to give highly emotional statements during the trial, but were restricted about what they could tell jurors: They could only describe their loved ones and the toll the killings had on their lives, while those who were wounded could only describe what happened to them.

They were barred from addressing Cruz directly or saying anything about him, a violation of which would have resulted in a mistrial. And the jurors were told they couldn't consider the family statements as aggravating factors as they weighed whether Cruz should die.

Anthony Vincent Montalto III, right, said Cruz should not be able to live while his sister rots in a grave, before his father suggested Florida should rethink how it doles out the death penalty

Meghan Petty, the sister of 14-year-old victim Alaina Petty: 'He is too scared to get what he dished out'

Meghan Petty, the sister of victim Alaina Petty also spoke out about the jury's decision not to sentence Cruz to death.

She said through tears: 'A minority of the jury was able to overturn the [decision] of the majority of the jury who saw him for what he is.

She added that Cruz was able to get 'everything he wanted in this case, save three other victims.'

'He is too scared to get what he dished out,' Petty said.

'The defendant and I are the same age,' she said. 'And I can say for a fact that at the time he murdered Alaina, he was old enough and mentally aware enough to understand the permanence of death, what that menat.

'He understood how much it hurt from his own personal experiences, and he fully understood what the consequences would be for murdering someone, yet he chose to do it anyway.'

Meghan Petty, the sister of 14-year-old victim Alaina Petty, said

She had to sit back down and compose herself before she was able to give her statement

Theresa Rabinovitz, grandmother of 14-year-old victim Alyssa Alhadeff: 'Burn in hell'

Theresa Rabinovitz, the grandmother of victim Alyssa Alhadeff, also told Cruz: 'You should write a book on how you and your defense counsel beat the judicial system and got away with murder.

'I'm too old to see you live out your life sentence, but I hope your every breathing moment here on Earth is miserable and you repent for your sins, Nikolas, and burn in Hell.'

David Rabinovitz, grandfather of 14-year-old victim Alyssa Alhadeff: 'I hope they burn your ashes and throw them in the garbage'

David Rabinovitz, a grandfather of Alhadeff, said Cruz won 'for now.'

But, he said, 'there's going to come a day  it could be a week from now, it could be a month from now, it could be 40 years from now  you're going to die.

'When you die, it is my fondest hope that they take you and burn you and take your ashes and throw them in the garbage dump. You know why? Because garbage to garbage.

'And at that time, Parkland murderer, it is my hope that you go somewhere to meet your maker or whatever it is. And Parkland murderer, I hope your maker sends you directly to hell to burn for the rest of your eternity.'

Theresa Robinovitz, the grandmother of victim Alyssa Alhadeff, told Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz in court on Tuesday that he should burn in hell as she said the state legislature has to rethink how people could be sentenced to life in prison

#AlyssaAlhadeff's grandfather went off on the Parkland murderer saying that he hopes the gunman burns in hell and has his ashes thrown in the garbage. pic.twitter.com/iQrhHOuVit  Law&Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) November 1, 2022

Stacey Lippel, teacher injured in the shooting: 'My hope for you is that you die soon'

Stacey Lippel, a language arts teacher who was injured in the shooting, also looked directly at the 24-year-old mass murderer and said: 'You do not know me  but you tried to kill me.

'My hope for you is that you die soon,' she said. 'I have no remorse for you.'

Stacey Lippel, a language arts teacher he injured in the shooting, said she has no remorse for Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz saying: 'You don't know me  but you tried to kill me'

Debbi Hixon, the wife of former Marjory Stoneman Douglas athletic director Chris Hixon said he does not deserve life in prison. She was pictured wearing her husband's face in a necklace

Debbi Hixon, wife of athletic director Chris Hixon: 'For me, you will cease to exist'

Debbi Hixon, the wife of Chris Hixon  the athletic director at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who was killed in the massacre  was one of the first to speak at the hearing on Tuesday.

She started the hearings off strong as she told Cruz he 'did not get the justice you deserved.'

'You were given the grace of grace and mercy, something you did not show to any of your victims,' she told Cruz, who sat in his prison garb.

'For me, you will cease to exist. You have taken enough ... You wanted to see the families suffer, well no more.'

Inez Hixon, daughter-in-law of Chris Hixon: 'I hope every breath you take, you remember that's a breath you stole'

Debbi's daughter in law, Inez Hixon, recounted how she was deployed to Iran at the time, and never got a chance to check her cellphone on February 14, 2018.

When she finally did, she said she saw a text from her husband reading 'Babe, I'm on my way, but dad didn't make it.'

Hixon said she remembered coming home, and her husband, Thomas, telling her: 'I just wish the killer would have reached out to my dad, because my dad would have given him the love he deserved.'

'I'm not he only servicemember that has had to go through the loss and murder of a family member in recent years due to the plague like him that's becoming a cancer in society,' Inez told the judge before speaking directly to Cruz.

'I hope every breath you take, you remember that's a breath you stole,' she told the mass murderer.

Inez Hixon described Cruz as part of a plague that is spreading like a cancer across the country

Patricia Oliver, mother of 17-year-old victim Joaquin Oliver: 'Your living hell is about to get started'

Patricia Oliver, the mother of 17-year-old victim Joaquin Oliver, used her victim impact statement on Tuesday to attack the defense and the jury for letting Cruz live, asking: 'If this does not deserve the death penalty, what does?'

'I am broken,' she repeated several times. 'All of us now are broken.'

Oliver then addressed the jury and the defense team directly, saying they will face karma and have 'sleepless nights where you hear your heart pounding.'

'One thought comes to mind at this moment: Karma, karma,' she said. 'This is what you all will face for the rest of your miserable life. The fact of facing your children, your family members, your society.

'Your living Hell is about to get started,' she also told Cruz.

Patricia Padauy Oliver, the mother of victim Joaquin Oliver, asked: 'If this does not deserve the death penalty, what does?'

She told the defense attorneys they will soon face karma for their actions

Max Schachter, the father of 14-year-old victim Alex Schacther: 'You can't fix evil'

Sparks really started to fly in the courtroom when Max Schachter, the father of Alex Schacter, tore apart the defense's arguments in his victim impact statement, suggesting the Parkland school shooter did not, in fact, 'slip through the grid.'

'He was on medicine after medicine,' Schachter said, incredulously. 'He's on medicine now, but he still wanted to kill.'

The grieving father went on to describe the various services that were offered to Cruz before he committed the deadliest school shooting in American history saying, 'He received more than most kids in America will ever receive.

'The Parkland murderer did have love in his life, he even had a girlfriend,' Schacter noted. 'But you can't fix evil.'

Schachter also slammed the defense for suggesting Cruz committed the heinous crime due to his mental illness  noting that many others in the country suffer from mental illnesses but do not go on murder sprees.

'This murder was well planned out, researched, planned, premeditated,' Schachter said. 'He wanted to do this. This was an act of pure evil.'

'This wasn't someone who fell through the cracks, and you know it.

'He is a sociopath who does not deserve to live amongst us,' Schachter said, claiming Cruz wanted to get life in prison where he 'gets to fall in love, he gets to receive fan mail.

'How is that punishment?'
Gene DePape said that he hadn't seen his son in 20 years and was very surprised by recent events

The adoptive father of the man accused of attempting to murder Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's husband has spoken out about his son's actions.

David DePape, 42, is accused of breaking into the Pelosi's home and beating Paul Pelosi over the head with a hammer and intending to hold Nancy hostage and break her kneecaps.

Gene DePape of Powell River in British Columbia told KRON in an interview said that he first met DePape when he was a toddler and had adopted him by the time the suspect turned three.

At the time, Gene was married to the suspect's biological mother. The couple split in 1993 but DePape remained living with his adoptive father until 1999.

Gene told the station that the suspect was 'never in trouble as a kid' and said that he was a 'mild, gentle and kind' child. He also stated his surprise when he found out about the incident at the Pelosi's home.

DePape's adoptive father went on to say that he hasn't seen his son in nearly 20 years, recalling a dinner in 2003 as possibly the last time the pair were in each other's presence.

He described DePape as 'reclusive' but said that he never exhibited any signs of violence. Gene said that he did not know of any abuse in the suspect's childhood.

David told his own stepchildren - who have accused him of abuse - that he also suffered horrible abuse as a child, according to a blog post by his estranged daughter.

Gene DePape of Powell River in British Columbia told KRON in an interview said that he first met DePape when he was a toddler and had adopted him by the time the suspect turned three

DePape, 42. is accused of breaking into Pelosi's $6million home and attacking Paul Pelosi, 82, with a hammer as he shouted: 'Where's Nancy?'

Shortly after the crime, Gene told the Association Press that the suspect had lived with him in Canada until he was 14 and had been a quiet boy.

'David was never violent that I seen and was never in any trouble although he was very reclusive and played too much video games,' Gene DePape said.

'In 2007, I tried to get in touch but his girlfriend hung up on me when I asked to talk to him,' Gene DePape said. He named that girlfriend as a woman named Gypsy.

Officials in California have formally charged David DePape with attempted murder among other felony charges in relation to Friday's hammer attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

In a press conference on Monday, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins explicitly referred to the attack as 'politically motivated.' Jenkins also stated her belief that DePape intended to murder Paul Pelosi.

Jenkins told the media: 'What is clear based on the evidence that we have thus far is that this house, and the speaker herself, were specifically targets of the defendant.'

DePape is also facing charges of the attempted kidnapping of a US official and one count of assault of an immediate family member of a US official. The suspect will be arraigned on Tuesday.

Jenkins said in the press conference that Paul Pelosi was asleep in a loose-fitting pajama shirt and a pair of boxer shorts when he was awoken by DePape around 2:30 am.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announcing the charges against David DePape on Monday afternoon

During the press conference, Jenkins said: 'What is clear based on the evidence that we have thus far is that this house, and the speaker herself, were specifically targets of the defendant'

At some point during the ordeal, Paul Pelosi attempted to escape into an elevator to call 911. When that avenue was closed off to him, he did manage to get to a bathroom where he was able to call the police.

DePape was listening in on the phone call, and knew police were going to arrive, according to FBI interrogators, but 'explained that he did not leave after Pelosi's call to 9-1-1 because, much like the American founding fathers with the British, he was fighting against tyranny without the option of surrender.'

Other state charges include residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse and false imprisonment of an elder.

If convicted on all charges, DePape could face life in prison. Jenkins said that her office will file a motion to keep DePape in custody without bail.

She continued: 'One last thing that I want to say today is that as leaders and as citizens, it is incumbent upon us all, to watch the words that we say and to turn down the volume of our political rhetoric.'

DePape's landlord is renowned photographer Malcolm Lubliner, shown here removing the suspect's belongings from the home that they shared in Richmond, California

According to the criminal complaint, the day after the attack, authorities traced DePape to a home along Shasta Road in Richmond, California, around 18 miles north of San Francisco.

The home belongs to renowned Bay Area photographer Malcolm Lubliner who served as DePape's landlord. DePape lived at the address for two years.

Investigators said that inside of the home, they found additional hammers, a sword, and pairs of gloves.

Lubliner has been a fixture in the California arts scene since the 1960s and has had his work displayed at the San Francisco Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art as well as at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC.

He has photographed American icons such as Jasper Johns and Janis Joplin.

At some point during the ordeal, Paul Pelosi attempted to escape into an elevator to call 911. When that avenue was closed off to him, he managed to get to a bathroom where he was able to call the police

On Friday, DePape walked into a bedroom of the $6million San Francisco home just before 3am on Friday, woke Paul Pelosi up and said he would wait for his wife to get home.

He told investigators he wanted 'kneecap her' if she 'lied' to him so she would have to be 'wheeled into Congress, showing other Members there were consequences to actions'.

The shocking new details were unveiled as DePape was slapped with federal charges including attempted kidnapping, and as a new Fox News report suggested he was in the U.S. illegally from Canada.

The suspect allegedly had zip ties with him when he broke into the couple's San Francisco home - and was calling out 'Where's Nancy?'

DePape on Monday was charged with assault and attempted kidnapping by the Department of Justice.

The suspect, who is now in custody, is expected to appear in court this week on separate state charges. San Francisco police said DePape would be arraigned on charges of attempted homicide, first-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with serious bodily injury, elder abuse, threatening a public official, or family member, among others.

Paul Pelosi, who was the only one home when DePape broke in, called the police who arrived two minutes later to find the 82-year-old and DePape, 42, struggling over a hammer, according to a Department of Justice press release.

Officers told the men to drop the hammer. DePape then gained control of it and swung at Pelosi's head, before he was arrested as Pelosi lay unconscious on the ground, San Francisco FBI special agent Stephanie Minor wrote in a request for a federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant.

Pelosi is pictured above leaving her San Francisco home on Sunday as her husband recovers in the ICU from a skull fracture

Paul Pelosi Jr., son of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi, walks outside his parent's home in San Francisco, Saturday, one day after the attack

Pelosi had been asleep when DePape entered his bedroom and demanded to talk to 'Nancy.'

'Where's Nancy?' he asked.

Nancy Pelosi, who gets a security detail, was in Washington, D.C. at the time of the attack.

Pelosi told the intruder his wife was not there and would not be there for several days, and DePape said he would wait. Pelosi was somehow able to get into the bathroom while he called 911.

DePape told investigators he wanted to hold Nancy Pelosi captive and talk to her. He said that if the speaker told 'the truth' he would let her go, and if she 'lied' he would 'break her kneecaps.'

'She would then have to be wheeled into Congress, which would show other Members of Congress there were consequences to actions,' he explained.

DePape also explained that he broke into the house through a glass door using the hammer.

Pelosi now remains in the intensive care unit recovering from a skull fracture surrounded by family members.

When cops arrived at the exclusive property (pictured), they said they saw DePape assaulting Pelosi with a hammer

Gypsy Taub (right, pictured with DePape in 2013) was accused of sending messages to a former friend of her son, telling the minor that she wanted to date him and trying to lure him to meet with her secretly

Nancy was in Washington, DC at the time her husband was attacked

Following his attack on Pelosi, DePape has been accused by his daughter of sexually assaulting his three children when they were kids.

The nudist longtime ex-partner of DePape revealed in an interview from jail that he had been 'mentally ill for a long time' and had paranoid delusions.

Oxane 'Gypsy' Taub, 53, who was convicted in 2021 for trying to kidnap a 14-year-old boy, is also a longtime nudist activist. She says during her two decades with DePape she saw him transform following a disappearance of more than a year.

'He came back in very bad shape. He thought he was Jesus. He was constantly paranoid, thinking people were after him,' Taub told Bay area affiliate ABC 7 in a phone call from prison. 'And it took a good year or two to get back to, you know, being halfway normal.'

'He is mentally ill. He has been mentally ill for a long time,' she said from the Californian Institution for Women in Corona, California, where she is serving time. The two previously lived together in Berkeley.

Taub says she first met DePape two decades ago when he had political views like her own, although the 'hemp jewelry maker's' more recent postings have contain anti-Semitic themes and QAnon conspiracies as well as election fraud claims.

'Well when I met him, he was only 20 years old, and he didn't have any experience in politics, and he was very much in alignment with my views and I've always been very progressive. I absolutely admire Nancy Pelosi,' said Taub.

The couple raised two sons and a daughter, and split seven years ago, she said.

Taub described herself as the 'ex-life partner of David DePape and the mother of his children.'

DePape was also found to have run the website frenlyfrens.com, where he discussed how he had an invisible fairy friend that sometimes appeared to him in the form of a bird and shared images of Hillary Clinton as a zombie.

During one post he even ranted about not being able to buy a fairy house with a working door.

Many of his posts were filled with tirades against Jewish people, black people, Democrats, the media and transgender people, under categories such as 'Trannies,' 'Da Jewbs' and 'Great Reset.'

DePape created his blog just months before the attack, registering it in August.

His very first post on the now-deleted site was entitled Mary Poppins, amid Disney World's dispute with Florida Gov Ron DeSantis over his so-called Don't Say Gay bill.

It included a video depicting a SWAT team firing at the magical nanny.

In the months since, he filled the blog with hundreds of posts depicting anti-Semitic and dystopian images.

One such post featured the Devil kneeling and asking a caricature of a Jewish person to teach him the arts of 'lying, deception cheating and incitement.'

Several others contained images of rotting human flesh and blood, including zombified versions of Bill Gates and Hillary Clinton as he promoted his far-right conspiracy theories.

By late August, DePape seemed to become engrossed in Twitter's decision to ban Jordan Peterson for his posts about transgender people after the Canadian psychologist compared being transgender to 'satanic ritual abuse.'

More recently, amid backlash to rapper Kanye West's tweet declaring war on the Jewish people, DePape posted: 'We are ALL the Jews' slave race.

In just the past month alone, DePape had published hundreds of blog posts promoting far-right conspiracy theories before he allegedly broke into Pelosi's home, the Boston Globe reports.

In recent weeks, after Kanye West faced backlash for a tweet declaring war on the Jews, DePape shared his own anti-Semitic views on his blog

DePape was also active on 4chan, positing memes and debating other anonymous users about his beliefs.

In an October 24 post on the website, DePape complained he was being targeted by law enforcement officials he described as 'paid shills' trying to manipulate the message board.

'I would come in and lay out the facts, and so all the paid shills would jump on me,' he wrote. 'To try and suppress it.'

DePape would also share some photos from a construction site he worked at, one highlighting a jackhammer with the number 33 on it, an apparent reference to a conspiracy theory about Free Masons and world domination.

But other posts on his blog seemed to be more personal, offering a glance into his delusions.

DePape wrote in recent months how he was becoming suicidal as his relationship with Taub was falling apart.

'I was extremely suicidal,' he posted four days before the attack, writing in an apparent letter to Inti Gonzalez, who has identified DePape as her father: 'Mentally I would beg you guys daily to let me kill myself.'
Punters have been left fuming after new betting agency betr deactivated the accounts of Melbourne Cup winners instead of paying out their $1000 windfall.

Betr - which is 33 per cent-owned by media giant News Corp and launched last month - offered anyone 100/1 odds on any horse in the Melbourne Cup for a $10 stake as a promotion - meaning a return of $1010 if their selection crossed first.

In the 2022 edition of the Cup, Gold Trip stormed home at Flemington to win.

The victory was quickly soured for some punters who found emails saying their account had been inexplicably shut down.

One punter told Daily Mail Australia he received an exciting call from his wife they were $1000 richer after backing the winner, only to then discover the betting agency deactivated her account.

Tyler Chalwell (right) told Daily Mail Australia he received an exciting call from his wife Kelly (left) that her $10 bet on Gold Trip at $100/1 won and they were $1000 richer

Just 23 minutes before the race got underway she received an email that read; 'Your betr account has been deactivated. You will not have any access to your account until you choose to activate it by sending an account activation request to cutomerservice@betr.com.au'

Ms Chalwell emailed back just four minutes later asking for her account to be reactivated

Tyler Chalwell told Daily Mail Australia his wife Kelly is 'pretty p***** off'.

'We opened the account a few weeks ago when having a few drinks with friends and family,' Mr Chalwell said.

'So my wife and some friends signed up as I was talking about the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup offer.

'She chose Gold Trip in the account, and her account was verified.'

Ms Chalwell also backed Anamoe at 21/1 odds - another betr offer for a max $10 stake - and was able to withdraw her winnings from that win.

Kelly emailed, called, started a live chat and messaged betr customer support but she did not receive a response

In the 2022 Melbourne Cup, Gold Trip stormed home at Flemington to win

'Today she saw Gold Trip won and she was stoked but went to login and saw her account had been deactivated,' he said.

Just 23 minutes before the race got underway she received an email that read; 'Your betr account has been deactivated. You will not have any access to your account until you choose to activate it by sending an account activation request to cutomerservice@betr.com.au.'

'Please do not consider opening a further account as any transactions occurring within this period will be voided and any winnings forfeited.'

Ms Chalwell emailed back just four minutes later asking for her account to be reactivated.

'Hi, Can you please reactivate my account. I see no reason why I should have been deactivated. Cheers, Kelly.'

Betr - which is 33 per cent-owned by media giant NewsCorp and launched last month - offered anyone 100/1 odds on any horse in the Melbourne Cup for a $10 stake as a promotion - meaning a return of $1010 if their selection won

She then proceeded to call and live chat but received no response from betr.

Both Mr and Ms Chalwell are irate with the betting agency and are continuing to try to get in touch and access their winnings.

Ms Chalwell also said the live chat she started ended up being closed by an agent after two hours of her message and she never received a response.

Others online have also voiced similar stories.

'You are a joke, why have I been deactivated. So angry,' one social media user commented.

'Same happened to my wife,' another wrote.

While others also chimed in saying, 'same here' in reference to accounts being deactivated.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted betr for comment.

Betr urged punters on Tuesday morning to scrap their bets after a promotion offered crazy 100-1 odds on every horse in the Melbourne Cup, including favourite Deauville Legend

On Tuesday morning in attempt to stem the massive losses betr offered $150 in free bets to anyone who backed Deauville Legend - the $4 favourite for the race - under the offer.

They sent out frantic texts to customers who snapped up the promo with the lure of $150 in bonus bets and a refund of their $10 stake if they scrap the wager before the first race at Flemington.

'EXCLUSIVE to your account. Lock in a win with Deauville Legend,' reads the begging betr text to Melbourne Cup punters who backed the favourite at 100/1.

'Follow the steps below before Race 1 at Flemington tomorrow and you can cash out your bet on Deauville Legend for $150 in Bonus Cash + your original stake refunded.'

Betr is desperately trying to stem the massive losses with a frantic text offering $150 in free bets to anyone who backed Deauville Legend under the offer.

As well as the $150 in free bets, punters will also get a refund of their $10 stake if they scrap the wager on Deauville Legend before the first race at Flemington

Sources within the betting industry claimed betr chiefs also hedged their bets by placing wagers on the favourite with rival agencies to try to minimise the damage.

Tabcorp are understood to have taken on some of betr's liability as the company scrambled to avoid disaster.

The offer has also sparked an investigation by gambling watchdog NSW Liquor and Gaming under the state's strict rules on betting advertisements which ban any promotions which could induce someone to bet or open an account.

'Liquor & Gaming NSW has serious concerns that this advertising may constitute a prohibited inducement under NSW gambling laws,' a statement from the regulator said.

'Broadly speaking, L&GNSW considers that an inducement includes any offer that may be capable of persuading or encouraging a person to participate, or to participate frequently, in any gambling activity, including to open a betting account.

'We are investigating and will respond to any breaches with the full force of the law.'

The probe could also cost part-owner News Corp after the company's newspapers published adverts for the offer nationwide which may also have been in breach of local state laws.

Betr was launched less than three weeks ago in time for racing's Spring Carnival in a joint venture with bookie entrepreneur Matthew Tripp, who previously launched Sportsbet and BetEasy (pictured, early arrivals at Flemington for the 2022 Melbourne Cup)

Betr launched with 60 staff and plans to quickly expand to 120 by targeting the lucrative under 35s market (pictured, early arrivals at Flemington for the 2022 Melbourne Cup)

Betr was launched less than three weeks ago in time for racing's Spring Carnival in a joint venture with bookie entrepreneur Matthew Tripp, who previously launched Sportsbet and BetEasy.

It was designed to harness and leverage the reach and power of broadcaster Foxtel and state newspapers to maximise betting potential, based on the successful Sky BET in the UK and FOX Bet in the US.

Betr launched with 60 staff and plans to quickly expand to 120 by targeting the lucrative under 35s market.

It is currently said to be bidding for the $1billion licence for wagering rights in Western Australia in a major investment and expansion.
Britons are being told to brace for blackouts this winter if energy supplies run low - while weather experts warn of the potential for a colder-than-usual winter.

UK energy bosses warn short rolling power cuts are a possibility this winter, as Vladimir Putin's tactical tightening of gas pipelines in Europe starts to bite.

The warning comes from John Pettigrew, the boss of the National Grid, who also believes British households will find the upcoming winter 'financially very, very hard'.

To make matters worse, weather experts at the Met Office are now warning of an increased chance of a colder-than-usual winter this year.

This could further up demand on gas and electricity supplies, as Britons turn up the heat to keep their homes warm.

In one sign of hope, Mr Pettigrew today attempted to calm fears the UK could run out of gas and electricity this winter.

He said it was the National Grid's 'base case' assumption was that the UK would have enough energy supplies to meet heating and lighting demand this winter.

But he added that short rolling power cuts were a possibility. Speaking to the BBC, he said: 'There could be energy shortfalls in the UK and we will manage that very carefully.'

Britons are being told to brace for blackouts this winter if energy supplies run low - while weather experts warn of the potential for a colder-than-usual winter. Pictured: Library image of someone using a torch to check an electric metre

The warning comes from John Pettigrew (pictured), the boss of the National Grid, who also believes British households will find the upcoming 'financially very, very hard'

To make matters worse, weather experts at the Met Office are now warning of an increased chance of a colder-than-usual winter this year. This could further up demand on gas and electricity supplies, as Britons turn up the heat to keep their homes warm. Pictured: The Met Office's long term forecast

Experts fear Russia 'is plotting to sabotage Norway-UK pipeline' in a move that could leave households freezing this winter Russia is plotting to strike a key gas pipeline between the UK and Norway to punish Britain over its support for Ukraine and leave households in the cold this winter. Senior military and intelligence sources told the Mail that Moscow could try and sabotage the Langeled pipeline that provides one-fifth of the countrys gas demand. The Kremlin has repeatedly weaponised energy supplies to Europe since it invaded Ukraine, slashing deliveries to the EU in response to sanctions. A series of unexplained leaks to energy connections under the Baltic Sea, including Germanys controversial Nord Stream projects, are believed to be the work of Russian saboteurs. Any strike on Langeled would be a further squeeze on supplies to the UK and Europe. Sabotage is the next step if they want to escalate by attacking Britains critical energy infrastructure because we are so fragile, said one NATO source. And its no coincidence that Britain has been one of Ukraines biggest backers. Both the British and Norwegian governments have spoken about a general threat to North Sea energy infrastructure in the past. But officials in Oslo and London have refused to be drawn on specific targets. Another NATO official who works directly on threats to critical infrastructure said the 725-mile-long Langeled pipeline is an obvious target. Advertisement

However he said it was 'not time for people to panic', adding: 'What we're doing is making sure that the infrastructure that we have and the networks are robust and ready for the winter, and I've got thousands of engineers making sure that the network is ready for whatever weather we see over the winter.'

Mr Pettigrew said the National Grid was working on a number of emergency plans to protect the UK against an energy shortfall from Europe.

Gas supplies had already been disrupted post-Covid lockdowns, as countries battled to resupply for the big restart, leading to a huge increase demand and subsequently prices.

And this has been compounded by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with gas supplies from Russia being limited to Europe.

Although the UK gets much of its gas from other countries, and gets nearly 40 per cent of its energy from gas, it is still impacted by the disruption to the European energy price market.

Mr Pettigrew told the BBC that one emergency option to help power Britain this winter if fuel supplies drop is to restart mothballed coal-fired power stations.

The UK is already looking at delaying the closure of part of a coal-fired power station in Nottinghamshire due to fears about energy.

Mr Pettigrew added: 'The next step would be to pay households and businesses to reduce consumption during peak times, with short rolling regional outages a last resort.

'If we saw that shortfall coming, the most effective way to manage the rest of the network is to ask the distribution companies to reduce demand and they would do that over that rolling period of around 4 to 7pm.'

It comes as the Met Office has published its latest three-month long forecast - which covers this month, December and January.

The Met Office warns that the chance of a colder three month period overall is 'slightly greater than normal' - by around 1.3 times.

It means there is a 60 per cent chance of a normal winter, a 25 per cent chance of a cold winter and a 15 per cent chance of a mild winter.

The Met Office also warns of a higher possibility of a slightly calmer winter in terms of wind - also by around 1.3 times.

The Met Office warns that the chance of a colder three month period overall is 'slightly greater than normal' - by around 1.3 times. It means there is a 60 per cent chance of a normal winter, a 25 per cent chance of a cold winter and a 15 per cent chance of a mild winter

The Met Office also warns of a higher possibility of a slightly calmer winter in terms of wind - also by around 1.3 times

Mr Pettigrew told the BBC that one emergency option to help power Britain this winter if fuel supplies drop is to restart mothballed coal-fired power stations. Pictured: Library image of a coal fired power station in Lincolnshire

A calmer winter in terms of wind could impact on the ability to fill energy shortfalls with extra wind power capacity.

The prediction comes from the Met Office's three-month forecast, which is used for emergency planning.

The forecast itself does not look at day to day weather or spells, but at the weather overall over three month period.

According to the Met Office, its prediction of a higher possibility of a slightly colder winter comes from its tracking of global weather patterns, including El Nina.

It says the weather phenomenon this year could bring colder spells, particularly when combined with other long term patterns over the Indian Ocean.

Exact times YOUR house would face winter blackouts are REVEALED: Official plans show which set of three-hour electricity cuts each home will face - if Britain's lights go out due to energy crisis

By Matt Powell for MailOnline

Official Government documents reveal a plan for UK households to have three-hour blackouts at least three times a week if Russian president Vladimir Putin restricts gas supplies to Europe this winter.

There have been warnings that Russia, which is accused of sabotaging the Nord Stream pipelines, may cut its gas supply and use the colder months as a weapon against the West over its support for Ukraine.

While the UK does not rely on imported gas from Russia, it would be heavily impacted as we import large amounts of electricity and gas from European countries that do.

The Electricity Supply Emergency Code (ESEC) allows the Prime Minister to introduce rolling power cuts across the country in an effort to conserve electricity.

It comes as National Grid chief John Pettigrew said blackouts could occur on particularly cold nights in January and February if electricity generators did not have enough gas.

Here, MailOnline shows you exactly when your household would be affected by power cuts and for how long.

The lowest level of rolling blackouts: The black squares indicate a three-hour-long power cut while the letters on the chart refer to the 'load block' - which all houses are divided up into. If you live in block A, you would have power cuts on Monday from 12:30am to 3:30am, Wednesday 3:30pm to 6:30pm and on Sunday 12:30am to 3:30am

You can find which load block you live in by looking for a letter in a square box (pictured) on your energy bills

Each day of the week is split into eight three-hour slots, starting with 12:30am to 3:30am and ending with 9:30pm to 12:30am

Level 2: The second level of blackouts will see houses going without power around six times a week - the rota tries to keep the blackouts close together

Level 3: If energy supplies in the UK dwindle during the winter the number of blackouts could increase significantly

The ESEC aims to provide an equal distribution of electricity to customers 'as far as reasonably practicable' in the case of shortages.

The document states there are three methods that would be implemented to reduce energy consumption.

How to find out exactly when you would be hit by a blackout First you need to find which 'load block' you live in. This should appear on your energy bills as a letter in a square box. Although not every energy company provides this information on bills. It will be between A and U, letters F, I and O are not used. You can find your load block letter on the blackout chart. The chart will show which days three-hour blackouts will occur for you and exactly what times. Advertisement

The first is direct appeals to the public and industry to reduce their electricity demand.

The second is placing restrictions on industrial electricity consumption - for example requiring companies to reduce consumption by a certain percentage.

The final option is 'rota disconnections', or rolling blackouts for households.

Energy in the UK is provided by a number of suppliers that divide their distribution networks into 18 'load blocks' - which work in a similar way to postcodes.

Each of these load blocks is assigned a letter between A and U, though the letters F, I and O are not used.

You can find which block you live in by looking for a letter, often boxed, on your energy bills.

But not every energy provider prints load blocks on bills - if this is the case for you, you can try calling them directly to find out.

Knowing your load block letter will allow you to find out when blackouts would affect you.

It is based on where you live and how your electricity is supplied - potentially meaning properties close to yours would not experience a blackout at the same time as you.

The areas are spread across the country, so customers with the same load block letter across the UK would be affected at the same time.

Each day of the week is split into eight three-hour slots, with the first slot of the day starting at 12.30am.

The rota is designed to let businesses operate as normally as possible for three days in succession.

This means that power cuts are concentrated between Monday and Wednesday or Thursday and Saturday, with Sunday being shared between all blocks.

Level 1

The first level of rolling blackouts would hit houses three times a week, four for some load blocks. The distribution is spread so that most cuts are at the start or the end of the week.

Level 2

The rota still tries to keep blackouts close together but the number doubles from the previous level, with houses going without power around six times a week.

Level 3

The third level increases the number of three-hour powers cuts by three again - meaning households will experience 27 hours a week without any electricity.

And heres what could happen if the power situation gets worse.

Below are more ESEC graphs showing how energy suppliers would have to respond to increasing levels of shortages.

There are 18 levels of 'rota disconnections' which each gradually increase the frequency of power cuts - level 9 is the first where houses will spend more time without power than with it.

The final graph depicts the extremely unlikely worst-case scenario of a 'total shutdown' where there is no energy supply at all.

Level 18: The worst-case scenario would be total shutdown in energy production in the UK - leaving all houses completely without power

The document specifies that there are 'protected sites' which would not be affected by rolling blackouts.

Hospitals, food manufacturers, oil refineries, some ports, financial services, essential water and sewerage installations, major airports and digital and telecommunication services would not be affected.

The document says: 'All protected sites are expected to, as far as is reasonably practicable, reduce load broadly in line with the level of disconnections applied to non-protected sites.'

But if energy supply becomes extremely sparse, protected sites may be ordered to reduce their consumption to the minimum load necessary for the avoidance of damage.

In the event of electricity supplies being insufficient to meet the needs of all the protected sites, network operators may need to 'exercise discretion' in allocating available electricity supplies.

The ESEC says in such cases, priority should be given to the 'maintenance of life' and 'minimising the risk of disasters'.

The BBC has reportedly prepared a series of secret scripts to be read out on air in case of blackouts this winter.

The scripts would advise the public to use car radios or battery-powered devices to tune into emergency BBC broadcasts via FM frequencies and would seek to keep the public informed in the event of a 'major loss of power', The Guardian reported.

One script seen by a Guardian reporter allegedly warns that a blackout could last for up to two days, with hospitals and police placed under 'extreme pressure'. Another says: 'The government has said it's hoped power will be restored in the next 36 to 48 hours.'

The texts are said to have been produced as part of the BBC's role in broadcasting vital health and safety communications to the public on behalf of the government in the event of national emergencies.

National Grid meanwhile is setting up a scheme that will pay households and companies for reducing their demand during periods of limited supply.

A Government spokesman said: 'The UK has a secure and diverse energy system.

'To strengthen this position further, we have put plans in place to secure supply and National Grid, working alongside energy suppliers and [energy watchdog] Ofgem, will launch a voluntary service to reward users who reduce demand at peak times.'

But Britons are already preparing for the worst-case scenario by stocking up on portable generators and torches in addition to winter clothing, thermal underwear and candles, according to industry reports.
Tories warned of 'fireworks' if Suella Braverman is axed today as she faces a backlash over an 'inflammatory' warning that Channel migrants are 'invading' Britain.

The Home Secretary has come under fire from opposition parties and some of her own side over the stark language in the Commons yesterday.

Defending her handling of the crisis amid reports of overcrowding and outbreaks of disease at the Manston processing facility, Ms Braverman said the UK asylum system is 'broken' and illegal migration is 'out of control'.

She suggested only the Tories were 'serious about stopping the invasion on our southern coast'. Right-wing MPs have lined up behind her, saying she was only 'speaking the truth' after nearly 40,000 cross the Channel this year.

There have been complaints about an 'obsessional' effort to get her ousted - for what would be the second time in a fortnight - over 'micro-details'.

However, immigration minister Robert Jenrick appeared to distance himself from Ms Braverman's remarks in a round of interviews this morning.

'In a job like mine, you have to choose your words very carefully. And I would never demonise people coming to this country in pursuit of a better life. I understand and appreciate our obligation to refugees,' he told Sky News.

'The scale of the challenge we're facing is very, very significant.

'Fifty thousand people, and the number could well be significantly higher over the course of this year, is a major challenge for this country.

'It is leading to the infrastructure that we have in terms of reception centres, like Manston, in terms of hotel accommodation, and asylum and social housing, essentially being overwhelmed.

'Invasion is a way of describing the sheer scale of the challenge.

'That's what Suella Braverman was trying to express. She was also speaking, I think, and this is an important point, for those people who live on the south coast, who day in, day out are seeing migrant boats landing on their beaches.'

Mr Jenrick added on the BBC: 'It is not a phrase that I have used, but I do understand the need to be straightforward with the general public about the challenge that we as ministers face.'

In other twists and turns today:

There are claims that Ms Braverman refused to approve migrants being moved into hotels in Tory areas;

Rishi Sunak has gathered Cabinet after signalling that everyone will have to pay more tax and spending will be cut to fill the 50billion hole in the government finances;

The Bank of England has started selling government debt accumulated during its quantitative easing programme;

A poll has shown Mr Sunak is preferred to Keir Starmer as PM, with Labour's advantage dropping from near record highs.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman arrives at Cabinet today after coming under fire from Tories and opposition parties over stark language in the Commons yesterday

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick appeared to distance himself from the remarks in a round of interviews this morning

A shower facility at the Manston processing facility in Kent - where migrants are only expected to stay 24 hours

Two Red Wall MPs, Marco Longhi and Mark Jenkinson, were among those standing up for Ms Braverman today

Mrs Braverman has been fighting for survival on two fronts.

As well as the anger about overcrowding at Manston, she is also contending with a continuing controversy over security breaches following her use of a personal email address to send official documents.

The Home Secretary initially resigned over that row but was reappointed just six days later by new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Criticism of his rehiring of Mrs Braverman - as well as a focus on her record at the Home Office - has threatened to overshadow his first few days in No10.

But last night Mrs Braverman suggested she was the victim of a 'political witch-hunt' as she attempts to survive the double scandal.

And some Tory MPs have been defiantly posting dictionary definitions of an 'invasion'.

Dudley MP Marco Longhi tweeted: 'To Labour speaking the truth is 'far-right'. 10,000 Albanians in a couple of months.'

Replying to another user who suggested Ms Braverman would not be Home Secretary much longer, he added: 'Watch the fireworks if that happens.'

Former Cabinet minister Lord Frost said last night: 'The continued pursuit of the Home Sec over micro-details by Labour & some of the media looks unreasonable, even obsessional, if also maybe understandable as a way of distracting from Labour's preference for policies that would make the migration problem worse not better.'

More than 4,000 people are claimed to be on the Manston site, which is designed to accommodate only 1,600, with concerns the 'inhumane' conditions are leading to a risk of fire, disorder and infection.

Around 40,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year and Mr Jenrick acknowledged the number could reach 50,000.

Home Office officials previously warned the total for 2022 could exceed 60,000.

The Government has been spending 6.8million a day putting up migrants in hotels  at an average cost of 150 per person per night.

Asked about an LBC report that the Home Secretary refused to sign off on hotels because they were in Tory-supporting areas, Mr Jenrick told the radio station: 'We are working to try to disperse individuals across the whole of the United Kingdom so that this burden is borne fairly.

'There's no politics in that, it's simple matter of practicality, but that is a symptom of the problem, which is that too many people are crossing the Channel illegally in the small boats and our job is to try to tackle that. There are no easy answers to that.'

There are thought to be around 4,000 migrants at the Manston processing facility, which is designed to hold a maximum of 1,600, with some said to have been there for up to a month, even though they are supposed to be moved on after 24 hours.

Some families are reported to have been sleeping on the floor and there are reports of outbreaks of disease.

Mr Jenrick said cases of diphtheria, MRSA and scabies had been 'exaggerated'.

'Well, those reports are not correct. They've been exaggerated. I spoke to the doctors who are on site and there is a very good medical centre there with  when I was there  three doctors plus paramedics supporting people with medical conditions,' he told BBC Breakfast.

'There have been four cases of diphtheria in a population of around 4,000. But those are all individuals who came into the site with that condition.

'They didn't pick it up there, as far as we're aware. They've been isolated and they're being treated appropriately.

'But that's not to say that I'm content with the condition of the site. I'm not.'

Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor said the Home Office needs to 'get a grip' of the situation.

He told Sky News: 'What's happening at Manston, when I visited, was people were sleeping on the floors, on the rubber mats down on the floors, and then very thin blankets or mattresses. Lots and lots of people in a room, all squished in together, very uncomfortable.

'The room for families has lots and lots of different families all sharing the same room, very young children, older children.

'For a few hours, that would be acceptable, but where people are spending long periods of time there, it just isn't.'

He added: 'It's extremely concerning that children are being asked to sleep on the floor in accommodation that's wholly unsuitable.'

A poll has shown Mr Sunak is preferred to Keir Starmer as PM, with Labour's advantage dropping from near record highs

Aerial photos show large tents that have been set up at Manston, a migrant processing centre in Kent that is said to be heavily overcrowded

Migrants and staff could be seen milling around in the field outside the large tents

More than 4,000 people are claimed to be on the Manston site, which is designed to accommodate only 1,600, with concerns the 'inhumane' conditions are leading to a risk of fire, disorder and infection

A man walks near a shower area inside the processing centre in Manston, Kent

Ms Braverman cautioned MPs against using 'inflammatory language' in relation to the severity of the situation at Manston, although she admitted it was 'indisputably concerning'.

But the Home Secretary attracted condemnation for her own comments when she referred to the Channel migrant crisis as an 'invasion'.

Furious MPs accused her of 'inflaming hate' and highlighted how her remarks came just a day after petrol bombs were thrown at another Home Office facility in Kent.

The embattled Home Secretary gave her wider assessment of the Channel migrant crisis, which has seen 40,000 people arrive on the South Coast already this year.

'We need to be straight with the public. The system is broken. Illegal migration is out of control,' Ms Braverman told MPs.

She suggested only the Tories were 'serious about stopping the invasion on our southern coast'.

'Some 40,000 people have arrived on the South Coast this year alone,' the Home Secretary added.

'Many of them facilitated by criminal gangs, some of them actual members of criminal gangs. So let's stop pretending that they are all refugees in distress. The whole country knows that is not true.'

Ms Braverman's reference to an 'invasion' on England's southern coast was swiftly condemned by opposition MPs.

'Disgusted' Labour MP Zarah Sultana accused the Home Secretary of using language that 'whips up hate and spreads division'.

Fellow Labour backbencher Kim Johnson posted on Twitter: 'The Government needs to stop inflaming hate.'

Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael, the party's home affairs spokesperson, said: 'If the asylum system is broken it is because the Conservatives have broken it.

'This scandal-ridden Home Secretary has no credibility left. These refugees are not an invasion, they are people who want to build a life for themselves and their families, contribute to our society and our economy, and support themselves instead of relying on handouts.'

Veteran Tory MP Roger Gale, whose constituency includes Manston, told The Times: 'I fear that there is a very great danger with her inflammatory language. People need to use their language carefully because extremists latch on to those words.'

A former Home Office minister said she was alienating her supporters on the right of the party.

'It just shows what a thug she is,' they told the newspaper. 'She's facile, totally uncompassionate and insincere, hamming it up and that's the reputation she has now. The ERG is abandoning her, it's only the dinosaurs left defending her now.'

The Home Secretary has come under pressure over the situation at Manston following reports she failed to act on legal advice that migrants were being detained for unlawfully long periods at the site.

She was also alleged to have blocked the transfer of thousands of migrants to hotels this summer, which was claimed to have directly led to overcrowding and outbreaks of scabies and diptheria.

In her statement to the Commons, Mrs Braverman denied blocking migrants from staying in hotels and insisted she had 'never ignored legal advice' in relation to accommodation for asylum seekers.

'To be clear, like the majority of the British people I am very concerned about hotels but I have never blocked their usage,' the Home Secretary said.

'Indeed since I took over 12,000 people have arrived, 9,500 people have been transferred out of Manston or Western Jet Foil, many of them into hotels.

'And I have never ignored legal advice, as a former attorney general I know the importance of taking legal advice into account.'

Mrs Braverman outlined how it costs taxpayers 6.8million a day to fund hotel accommodation for migrants and asylum seekers.

'Let me set out to the House the situation that I found when I arrived as Home Secretary in September at the Home Office,' she said.

'I was appalled to learn there were over 35,000 migrants staying in hotel accommodation around the country at exorbitant cost to the taxpayer.

'I instigated an urgent review. I pushed officials to identify accommodation options which would be more cost-effective and delivered swiftly while meeting our legal obligations to migrants.'

Migrants who have crossed the Channel in small boats arrive at the Dover centre before being taken to the Manston facility for processing

Mrs Braverman faced a grilling from her own Tory benches amid the 'crisis' at Manston.

Veteran Conservative backbencher Sir Roger Gale, the MP for North Thanet - the Kent constituency where the Manston site is located, claimed the facility had been operating 'absolutely magnificently' and 'very efficiently' until five weeks ago.

'I'm afraid the Home Secretary took the policy decision not to commission further accommodation and it is that, that has led to the crisis at Manston,' he said.

Sir Roger urged Mrs Braverman to offer assurances that the Manston processing facility won't become 'a permanent refugee camp'.

The Home Secretary replied: 'On no occasion have I blocked the procurement of hotels or alternative accommodation to ease the pressure on Manston, I'm afraid that simply isn't true.'

Labour's Rachel Maskell said conditions at Manston were 'clearly unsafe and inhumane'.

'We know obviously the suffering that people have experienced there, after 12 years of shameful watch of this Government,' she added.

In her reply, Mrs Braverman urged MPs not to 'create alarm unnecessarily', adding: 'So when she talks about the language that she uses, I do gently urge her not to use inflammatory language.'
Joel Fitzpatrick Burtt is accused of committing violent assault and rape in hotel

A guest at a Sydney five-star hotel heard a woman in another room say 'stop stop stop' numerous times during an hour-long violent assault and rape, a court has been told.

Joel Nathan Fitzpatrick Burtt, 20, from Byron Bay, is accused of attacking the woman on Saturday night in a room of the Star Grand at the city's casino.

Police allege he choked her, caused damage to her face and sexually assaulted her between 8pm and 9pm.

Police have alleged a violent rape and assault took place at the five-star Sydney Star Grand hotel on Saturday night

A witness heard a woman say 'stop stop stop' numerous times, further 'thuds' and then silence, a magistrate was told on Tuesday.

The witness then recalled hearing another woman say 'look what you have done to her face', according to a police summary of the allegations.

Blood was found on the sheets while a call to room service for an ice bucket was consistent with an alleged effort to stop the woman's swelling, the court was told.

Fitzpatrick Burtt presented himself to police on Monday and was charged with three offences including aggravated sexual assault.

He was refused bail by magistrate Robert Williams on Tuesday over concerns he posed a risk to the woman, would fail to appear for future court dates and would commit serious offences if granted bail.

The hotel guest also told the court they heard another woman say 'look what you have done to her face' (stock image pictured)

The court was told he was serving a nine-month intensive corrections order for driving under the influence of alcohol, for which he was meant to abstain from alcohol.

He allegedly consumed alcohol on Saturday before the alleged rape.

Noting results of tests from hospital and the hotel room were not yet available, Mr Williams said the police case appeared reasonably strong that a 'serious sexual assault including choking' by Fitzpatrick Burtt had occurred for a period of time.

'(There) appears to have been an opportunity to stop and some promises were made, as to the victim being able to call to help, which don't appear to have been complied with by the accused,' the magistrate said.

A witness at the trial of Joel Fitzpatrick Burtt said they were staying at the Star hotel and heard a woman cry 'stop, stop, stop' amid 'thuds'

Promises of a surety and potential house arrest could not allay the bail concerns, he said.

Appearing via video link from custody, Fitzpatrick Burtt looked to the ceiling and then appeared to tear up as he placed his head in his handcuffed hands.

He was remanded until another court mention on January 12, leaving him to celebrate his 21st birthday in custody.
ISIS brides and their children have been allowed to visit Kmart and McDonald's just 48 hours after returning to Australia - and they will not be monitored by police going forward.

Four brides and their 13 children touched down in Sydney on Saturday morning after being removed from the al-Roj camp in Syria near the Iraqi border in an operation involving Australian officials and the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Authorities were expected to mull over potential charges for the women but it has now been revealed they are unlikely to face police action, will not have to wear ankle monitoring bracelet and will also not be subject to 24 hour police supervision.

Some of the women were spotted reuniting in a McDonalds in Punchbowl, south-west Sydney on Tuesday, while one, Mariam Dabboussy, also visited Kmart.

Kamalle Dabboussy with his daughter Mariam Dabboussy (right) and her daughters in al-Hawl camp in north-eastern Syria. She is one of the ISIS brides who returned to Australia on Saturday

Some of the women were spotted reuniting in a McDonalds in Punchbowl, south-west Sydney on Tuesday

Dabboussy is the subject of voluntary orders but is not subject to strict terrorism control orders.

She is now back at her family home near Blacktown and has been spotted enjoying a visit to a park with her three children.

In a 2019 interview, Bankstown-born Dabboussy previously said she was tricked into entering Syria in mid-2015 by her terrorist husband Kaled Zahab, who died shortly after they arrived.

Shayma Assaad, 22, and her four children are also believed to have returned to Sydney on Saturday, according to the Australian.

She was taken to Syria when she was just 15 and married to an older Islamic State member, Sydney tradie Mohammed Noor Masri, who remains in jail in Syria.

Dabboussy's sister-in-law, 31-year-old Mariam Raad, was also on Saturday's plane home with her four children.

Raad is the widow of Muhammad Zahab, a former western Sydney maths teacher who became one of Australia's most senior IS leaders.

He is accused of luring at least a dozen of his extended family to Syria, including brother Kaled.

In a statement, the women said: 'We are deeply thankful to be back home in Australia with our children.

Shayma Assaad (pictured) was 15 when she moved to Syria from Australia with her parents, and later married Mohammed Noor Masri, 26. She and her four children are also believed to have now returned to Sydney

The women and children were removed from the al-Roj camp near the Iraqi border in an operation involving Australian officials and the Syrian Democratic Forces. They are now in Sydney. Pictured: Female ISIS fighters

Earlier this month, the Albanese government confirmed a rescue plan to bring home 16 women and 42 children who are families of IS members from the camp

'We want to express our regret for the trouble and hurt we have caused, especially to our families. We are willing to do whatever is asked of us by the government authorities to ensure the safety of our families and the Australian community and we will fully cooperate with all Australian law enforcement agencies.

'Once our children have received medical treatment, are healthy, and are ready, we want to see them lead a normal and safe life in Australia, surrounded by friends and family. We also want to be able to contribute to the Australian community and are grateful for the opportunity to do so.

'Together with our children, we have been through a terrible ordeal over many years. We ask for space, privacy and time to heal and reconnect with our loved ones in Australia.'

They are the first Australians from ISIS to be repatriated from the Middle East since eight children and grandchildren of dead fighters in 2019.

Pictured: Islamic State terrorists march through Syria

Earlier this month, the Albanese government confirmed a rescue plan to bring home 16 women and 42 children who are families of IS members from the camp.

The first people removed were assessed as the most vulnerable of those being held.

The federal government worked with Kurdish authorities on the extraction, which reportedly included DNA testing the individuals to prove they were Australian citizens.

Most of the children were born in Syria, meaning they'll be seeing Australia for the first time.

Aussie intelligence agencies believe that leaving Australians in squalid camps may present more of a threat to national security than bringing them back, as their plight could be used to recruit more Australian Muslims to join terror organisations.
He is just the latest in a long line of Russian elites to meet unfortunate fates since Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February

A Russian lawmaker who called for an end to Putin's war in Ukraine is comatose in hospital after suffering serious head injuries.

Anatoly Karpov, 71, who was a chess grandmaster in the 1970s before turning to politics, is thought to have been injured in Moscow some time overnight on Saturday - amid claims he 'suffered a fall'.

He is now on a neurology ward at the renowned Sklifosovsky Institute and has been placed in a medically induced coma, with allies describing his condition as 'serious'.

Karpov is known as a Putin ultra-loyalist but has called for an end to the war in Ukraine 'so that peaceful people will stop dying.' He is just the latest member of Russia's elite to end up dead or seriously hurt since the invasion began.

Anatoly Karpov, 71, a former Russian chess grandmaster turned politician, is in a coma in hospital with 'serious' head injures after an incident at the weekend

Karpov, known as a Putin loyalist but who had voiced opposition to the Ukraine war, was alternately reported to have been attacked, suffered a domestic incident, or fallen

Mystery surrounds exactly when and how Karpov was hurt.

Andrey Kovalev, head of the All-Russian Movement of Entrepreneurs, claimed he was attacked and hit over the head as he was leaving Moscow's State Duma building.

Kovalev said the politician suffered a fractured neck and head injures when he was battered over the head by unknown assailants and was found unconscious.

But Kirill Zangalis, spokesman for the Russian Chess Federation, said reports of a beating were 'fake news'. Karpov's daughter Sofia also denied those claims.

Other reports suggested he suffered a 'domestic' incident or had an 'unfortunate fall'. One claimed he was drunk at the time.

It is thought the attack happened late on Saturday or early on Sunday, though reports only began emerging yesterday.

While Karpov is seen as an ultra-loyalist and supporter of Putin's invasion of Ukraine, he has also publicly called for an end to the war.

He told a TV channel in Kazakhstan: 'I wish [the war] would end sooner, so that peaceful people would stop dying.'

He added: 'In the end ordinary people are the victims. Ordinary people fight, politicians and generals decide, and ordinary people fight, civilians die.

'I am not even talking about soldiers and officers. No, I could not imagine at all that Russians and Ukrainians would go to war. I have many friends in Ukraine.'

Russian MP Nikolay Petrunin (pictured) has become the latest high-profile energy executive to die since Vladimir Putin launched his brutal war in Ukraine

Pavel Pchelnikov, 52, a railways PR executive, has been found dead at his home in Moscow in what has been reported as a 'suicide'

Ivan Pechorin (circled) was managing director of Putin's Far East and Arctic Development Corporation. The 39-year-old was responsible for the development of Russia's resources in the Arctic and the air industry in eastern Russia

Igor Nosov, CEO of the Corporation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, also died this year in his early 40s, reportedly from a 'stroke'

His heartfelt 'end the war' plea came in April in an interview with Armanzhan Baytasov, a businessman who publishes Forbes Kazakhstan.

Karpov is just the latest in a long line of Russian elites to meet with misfortune following Putin's decision to invade Ukraine.

While Putin has cracked down on opposition to the war, it is unclear whether all of the attacks relate directly to that.

Some have speculated that elites in Russia's notoriously gangster-ish business world are taking revenge on each other while Putin is distracted with the war.

The latest to die was Nikolay Petrunin, 47, dubbed the 'Gas wonderkid', who allegedly died from complications from Covid in mid-October after being in a coma for a month.

His businesses built gas pipelines for major Russian energy operators and he had links to Kremlin gas behemoth Gazprom - now starving the West of Russian supplies over the war - and Rosneft.

Pavel Pchelnikov, 52, a PR manager for the Russian Railways, was found shot dead at his home in the leafy Kolomenskaya Embankment neighbourhood on September 28.

In July, Yuri Voronov, 61, head of a transport and logistics company for a Gazprom-linked company, was found dead in his swimming pool, with a leading friend who is a top criminologist warning of foul play.

Two more deaths of Gazprom-linked executives were reported in elite homes near St Petersburg amid suspicions that apparent suicides may have been murders.

Alexander Tyulakov, 61, a senior Gazprom financial and security official at deputy general director level, was discovered by his lover the day after war started in Ukraine in February.

His neck was in a noose in his 500,000 home.

Ravil Maganov, chairman of Russian oil giant Lukoil, died after falling from a window at Central Clinical Hospital, Moscow (pictured with Vladimir Putin in 2019)

Yuri Voronov, 61, was found dead in August

Two more deaths of Gazprom-linked executives were reported in elite homes near St Petersburg, stoking suspicions that the deaths may well have been murders

Billionaire Alexander Subbotin, 43 former top executive with energy giant Lukoil, died in May

Yet reports say he had been badly beaten shortly before he 'took his own life', leading to speculation he was under intense pressure.

In the same elite Leninsky gated housing development in Leningrad region three weeks earlier, Leonid Shulman, 60, head of transport at Gazprom Invest, was found dead with multiple stab wounds in a pool of blood on his bathroom floor.

Billionaire Alexander Subbotin, 43, also linked to Kremlin-friendly energy giant Lukoil where he was a top manager, was found dead in May after 'taking advice from shamans'.

One theory is that Subbotin - who also owned a shipping company - was poisoned by toad venom triggering a heart attack.

In April, wealthy Vladislav Avayev, 51, a former Kremlin official, appeared to have taken his own life after killing his wife Yelena, 47, and daughter, 13.

He had high-level links to leading Russian financial institution Gazprombank.

Friends have disputed reports that he was jealous after his wife admitted she was pregnant by their driver.

There are claims he had access to the financial secrets of the Kremlin elite.

Former Kremlin official and Gazprombank vice-president Vladislav Avayev, 51, appeared to have taken his own life after killing his wife and one of his daughters in April

Russian gas tycoon Sergey Protosenya (pictured), his wife Natalya, 53, and their teenage daughter Maria were found dead in their Spanish mansion, in Lloret de Mar, on April 19

Ukrainian born multi-millionaire Yevgeny Palant, 47, and his wife Olga Palant, 50, were found stabbed to death in their family house in Moscow region last week

Several days later multimillionaire Sergey Protosenya, 55, was found hanged in Spain, after appearing to kill his wife Natalia, 53, and their teenage daughter, Maria, with an axe.

He was a former deputy chairman of Novatek, a company also closely linked to the Kremlin.

There have also been questions over the death of Putin's point man for developing Russia's vast Arctic resources who 'fell overboard' to his death from a boat sailing off the country's Pacific coast.

Ivan Pechorin, 39, had recently attended a major conference hosted by the Kremlin warmonger in Vladivostok.

The high-flyer was managing director of Putin's Far East and Arctic Development Corporation.

And in another case a mobile phone multi-millionaire and his wife were found stabbed to death, with the official version of events raising questions.

Naked Yevgeny Palant, 47, and his wife Olga, 50, both Ukrainian-born, were found with multiple knife wounds by their daughter Polina, 20.

Immediate briefing to the media claimed the woman took her own life in a jealous rage after Palant said he was leaving her.

Yet this was strongly disputed by the couple's best friend.
Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and his wife Michelle have unfollowed each other on Instagram in the wake of his narrow election defeat to his left-wing rival Lula.

The right-wing leader is yet to break his silence on the loss amid fears he could refuse to concede, further solidifying his 'Trump of the Tropics' moniker.

In the hours after the result was announced, eagle-eyed observers noticed both Bolsonaro and his wife were no longer following each other on Instagram amid rumours of a split.

The first lady also unfollowed her stepson Carlos, the president's second eldest son, Carlos Bolsonaro, who is believed to run his father's social media.

Bolsonaro has not posted anything online or spoken to reporters since the defeat, and his furious supporters have blocked roads with trucks and flaming barricades across the country.

Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and his wife Michelle have unfollowed each other on Instagram in the wake of his narrow election defeat to his left-wing rival Lula

In the hours after the result was announced, eagle-eyed observers noticed both Bolsonaro and his wife were no longer following each other

The first lady also unfollowed her stepson Carlos, the president's second eldest son, Carlos Bolsonaro, who is believed to run his father's social media

Addressing the rumours, Michelle, 40, posted a statement on her Instagram stories without following her husband back.

She said: 'With regards to today's article about my husband having unfollowed me on his Instagram, as Jair explained in several Lives, he does not manage his network.

'My husband and I remain firm, united, believing in God and believing in the best for Brazil.

'We will always be together, loving each other in joy and in sadness. May God bless our beloved nation.'

The couple wed in 2007 and is Bolsonaro's third wife and they share a daughter Laura together.

The president shares three sons with his first wife Rogeria Nantes Braga, and a son with his second wife Ana Cristina Valle.

Addressing the rumours, Michelle, 40, posted a statement on her Instagram stories without following her husband back

The couple wed in 2007 and is Bolsonaro's third wife and they share a daughter Laura together

Furious Bolsonaro supporters have blocked roads with trucks and flaming barricades across the country

When he was in congress, Bolsonaro hired Michelle as a secretary and received a number of unexpected promotions and her salary tripled under his management.

He was then force to fire her over nepotism after the Supreme Federal Court ruled against him.

Ricardo Barros, Bolsonaro's whip in the country's Lower House, told The Associated Press by phone that he was with the president on Monday and that the president was 'still deciding' whether to speak about the election's results.

Much like his political hero Trump, the outgoing Brazilian leader has repeatedly questioned the reliability of the nation's electronic voting system.

At one point he said he possessed proof of fraud, though he provided no evidence.

Last month, he remarked that if he did not win in the election's first round, something was 'abnormal' - even as most polls showed him trailing.

One meme that went viral earlier Monday featured a picture of a vaguely disoriented-looking Bolsonaro, with the caption, 'Missing: elderly man, very talkative, has not been heard from in 12 hours.'

Pro-Bolsonaro truckers have set up roadblocks throughout the country to protest Lula's return to power. Some truckers posted videos calling for a military coup

Supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro protest for intervention by the armed forces outside of a military command facility in Sao Paulo on October 31

Truckers - who have benefited from Bolsonaro lowering diesel costs - are one of the president's key constituencies, and they have been known to disrupt Brazil's economy when they shut down highways

Charismatic but tarnished ex-president Lula defeated Bolsonaro by the narrowest margin in Brazil's modern history - 50.9 percent to 49.1 percent - to return for an unprecedented third term.

Pro-Bolsonaro truckers and protesters have blocked highways in at least 11 states across the country, burning tires and parking vehicles in the middle of the road to halt traffic.

Wearing the yellow and green of the Brazilian flag - which the outgoing president has adopted as his own - the protesters wielded pro-Bolsonaro signs and sang the national anthem, before gradually being broken up by the authorities in some areas.

On Monday night Judge Alexander de Moraes of the Supreme Court ordered police to disperse the blockades immediately.

He was acting in response to a request by a transport federation that complained it was losing business.

Supporters of president-elect Luiz listen to his speech at the Paulista avenue after his victory on the presidential runoff election

A demonstrator waves a Brazilian flag as truck drivers and supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro block a road

Some key Bolsonaro allies have publicly recognized his loss, including the powerful speaker of the lower house of Congress, Arthur Lira.

And international congratulations for Lula poured in from the US, China, India, France, Britain, South Africa and numerous others.

Lula, who previously led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, criticized his nemesis Sunday night for not acknowledging the result.

'Anyplace else in the world, the defeated president would have called me to recognize his defeat,' he said in his victory speech to a euphoric sea of red-clad supporters in Sao Paulo.

The ex-metalworker, making his return from controversial, since-quashed corruption charges that sent him to prison for 18 months, vowed to work for 'peace and unity' in the divided nation.

Easier said than done, according to political analysts.

'It was a very narrow victory (that left) half the population unhappy,' said political scientist Leandro Consentino of Insper university in Sao Paulo.

'Lula will have to show a lot of political skill to pacify the country.'
A man in China is keeping his 219 million yuan (26 million) lottery winnings a secret from his wife and child because he fears knowledge of the jackpot would make them lazy.

To protect his anonymity, the man, who only identified himself by the pseudonym 'Mr Li', dressed in a yellow cartoon character costume to claim his winnings at the lottery office in Nanning, in the southern region of Guangxi, last week on October 24, Nanning Evening News reported.

'Mr Li' said he was thrilled about the win but wanted to hide his identity and keep the jackpot a secret from his wife and child.

'Mr Li' dressed in a yellow cartoon character costume to protect his anonymity as he collected his lottery winnings from Guangxi Welfare Lottery Center in Nanning on October 24.

'I did not tell my wife and child for fear that they would be too complacent and would not work or work hard in the future,' he told Nanning Evening News.

'Mr Li' bought 40 tickets for the draw in shop in Litang, a town east of the regional capital of Nanning. Each ticket purchased had the same seven numbers, with the lottery company paying out 5.48 million yuan for each ticket.

After realising he held the winning numbers of 2, 15, 19, 26, 27, 29, and 2, the man said he took a train to the state capital on Friday October 21 to collect his winnings.

'Mr Li' then stayed in a hotel over the weekend before claiming his prize on the Monday.

'I did not leave the hotel because I was afraid to go out and lose the lottery ticket,' he told Nanning Evening News.

After collecting the 171.6 million yuan after tax, 'Mr Li' said that he had donated 5 million yuan to charity and had not yet decided what to do with the rest of his newfound fortune.

'Mr Li' said he had been playing the lottery for over a decade and had only ever won a few dozen yen. He said his previous strategy was to choose a new set of numbers each time but chose to stick to a favoured set of numbers a few years ago after having no luck.

The Chinese government holds national lotteries to raise money for welfare and cultural programmes. Winners are taxed on their payout.
A sudden uptick of rapidly spreading viral infection (RSV) cases among young children has forced officials in Orange County to declare a health emergency.

In Michigan, a wave of RSV cases has taxed pediatric hospitals across the region where hundreds of children have been found to require hospital care. The situation comes amid an October wave of the infection, which causes the most serious illness in babies, people with compromised immune systems, and the elderly.

Rapidly Spreading Viral Infection

Because RSV cases are not required to be reported to public health departments, it makes them much more difficult to track. However, the chief medical executive for the state Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, said that it was clear Michigan was experiencing an RSV surge.

She noted that their partners in pediatric hospitals reported seeing a lot of kids who were infected by the virus. Bagdasarian added that emergency departments were starting to get filled up and that pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) beds were nearing capacity, as per the Detroit Free Press.

In an interview, Bagdasarian noted that she was not saying the situation was already at a critical point or that ICUs were already over capacity. She would say that things were dire now but noted that it is something that health officials are keeping a close eye on.

Despite Michigan lacking a statewide tally, Corewell Health East, the new name for Beaumont Health, reports that it has seen a 567% increase in the number of patients hospitalized with RSV just in the last month.

According to CBS News, the situation has also forced Orange County officials to declare a health emergency due to the spread of RSV cases in the region. The order would allow the county to use state and federal resources to address the issue and get a better handle on the situation while getting mutual aid from other counties.

Read Also: Monkeypox Cases in the US: CDC Warns of 'Tragic' and 'Devastating' Effects of Virus for Patients with HIV

Public Health Emergency

The area was previously struck by a perfect storm of COVID-19, the flu, and the respiratory syncytial virus, which is especially threatening to young children. The chief medical officer of the OC Health Care Agency, Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, said that while there was no vaccine for RSV, there are many ways to protect children and at0-risk individuals from the virus.

The medical expert also urged residents to stay up-to-date with their vaccinations to help reduce the strain on the county's hospitals. She added that the region's best shot at protecting its citizens and children from respiratory illnesses is practicing what has been recommended throughout the pandemic, including the use of masks and staying home when sick.

The rise in the number of cases of RSV also comes with an increase in adenovirus and rhinovirus infections. Furthermore, the spread is exacerbated with children coming back to school and families returning to many in-person activities and settings, more often without the mitigation measures that were applied during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen, who is an emergency physician, noted that there are certain infections that can be treated at home using fluids, fever-reducing medicines, and rest. The medical expert noted that the determining factor of whether an individual needs hospital care is not what is causing it, but how the patient is doing, CNN reported.

Related Article: Respiratory Virus Threatening US Babies, Toddlers: What Is the Cause of RSV Surge and How Do You Avoid It?

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A diesel supplier has warned businesses on the US East Coast that there may be a shortage for a few days after Russia cut off imports.

Mansfield Energy, the supplier, led by CEO Michael Mansfield, issued the advisory in a bid to make sure that companies are prepared.

Businesses which rely on the fuel have been told to take steps to plan for the potential lack of supply which is mostly caused by Russia cutting off imports.

This means that businesses are not receiving the high number of petroleum products that they were before the invasion of Ukraine.

It has had an impact on refineries as they have had to shift production from gasoline to make some diesel. This means that they may run low on gasoline.

The diesel shortage is also caused by high distallate (heating oil and diesel) demand, refinery maintenance and lower refinery capacity.

Mansfield Energy, the supplier, led by CEO Michael Mansfield, issued the advisory in a bid to make sure that companies are prepared. Pictured: Mansfield Energy's headquarters

Businesses which rely on the fuel have been told to take steps to plan for the potential lack of supply which is mostly caused by Russia cutting off imports. Pictured: The Strategic Petroleum Reserve storage in Texas

Also, the company said that consumers may be affected by the high prices when they go to fill up their cars. Pictured: Fuel costs in Pennsylvania on October 19

Why does America have a diesel shortage? High distallate (heating oil and diesel) demand amid low inventories. Refinery maintenance- this happens in the spring and fall and means lower capacity. Capacity has fallen in the past few years because several unprofitable refineries were closed. The primary reason is the cutoff of Russian imports. Prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US was importing nearly 700,000 barrels per day of petroleum and petroleum products. Most of those imports were finished products and refinery inputs that boosted distillate supplies in the U.S. Source: Forbes Advertisement

Mansfield Energy first mentioned the potential diesel shortage last week. The company had questioned if the lack of fuel would be due to 'poor pipeline shipping economies.'

And they added that there was also a low supply of reserves with only 25 million barrels in storage at the moment.

This is in comparison to the usual 50 million barrels along the East Coast.

Mansfield Energy on Monday warned in a press release that prices will surge because of the lack of diesel supply.

It added that due to the spike in prices, demand will decrease to the point that it will balance with limited supply.

Also, the company said that consumers may be affected by the high prices when they go to fill up their cars.

However, they added that there will still be diesel for businesses following a few days of shortages.

Mansfield Energy said that the supply chain within the fuel industry is dynamic and that suppliers will work to fill supply gaps.

People were told not to panic by the fuel supplier and to only order more when it is needed.

The company said that people will have access to fuel by normal means in most areas.

In cases where there is not a large storage tank on site, the fleet may be out of commission if the fuel supplier runs out of fuel.

Mansfield Energy reassured consumers that fuel stations will mostly find supply and stay running. Pictured: A Strategic Petroleum Reserve storage at the Bryan Mound site in Texas

Companies can protect their fuel supplies and lower their risk of being out of commission by issuing emergency fleet cards.

These give access to fuel in a trackable way. They can also use a small tank for emergency fuel.

Mansfield Energy reassured consumers that fuel stations will mostly find supply and stay running.

It added that for this reason, it is unlikely fuel stations will have bags over the pumps and the ongoing main impact is likely to be higher prices for customers.

It comes as Biden considers limiting US fuel exports to bring prices down and restore inventories.

But this is an idea that is not supported by refiners. They have said that this measure would probably decrease inventory levels.

The refiners added that it would reduce domestic refining capacity and put pressure on consumer fuel prices and alienate US allies amid the war in Ukraine.

Last week, Tom Kloza, Global Head of Energy Analysis at OPIS, spoke to USA Today.

He said: 'Between now and the end of November, if we don't build inventories, the wolf will be at the door.'

'And it will look like a big ugly wolf if it's a cold winter.'
Comes amid ratcheting calls for stiffer windfall taxes of energy producers in UK

BP has today announced a staggering 7.1billion profits in the last three months - as struggling Britons face mounting petrol and energy bills.

The British-based oil giant says its profits have more than doubled for July to September compared to 2021, when it made 2.9billion.

The huge figure, which comes amid soaring natural gas prices following Covid lockdowns and then Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is also significantly ahead of the 5.3billion expected by market analysts.

It comes amid growing calls for stiffer windfall taxes for energy producers, in the face of families bracing for huge gas and electricity bills this winter.

Today the energy firm, which is a producer of fuel and natural gas, confirmed it will be hit by the windfall tax on its UK operations this year - unlike rival Shell.

BP said it expected to pay out 2.2billion in taxes for its UK North Sea business this year - including 695million relating to the Government's new energy profits levy.

The company also said profits were weaker than the previous quarter - after a dip in the average oil price.

However this is unlikely garner much sympathy with Britons, who face soaring gas costs and petrol prices still 20p per litre higher than they were at this time last year.

Meanwhile, Labour, has today hit out at the figures, saying they provided 'damning evidence of the failure of the Government to levy a proper windfall tax'.

Chief executive Bernard Looney said: 'This quarter's results reflect us continuing to perform while transforming.

The British-based oil giant (pictured: Library image) says its profits have more than doubled for the past three months compared to 2021, when it made 2.9billion

Chief executive Bernard Looney (pictured) said: 'This quarter's results reflect us continuing to perform while transforming. 'We remain focused on helping to solve the energy trilemma - secure, affordable and lower carbon energy.'

The British-based oil giant says its profits have more than doubled for July to September compared to 2021, when it made 2.9billion.

'We remain focused on helping to solve the energy trilemma - secure, affordable and lower carbon energy.

'We are providing the oil and gas the world needs today - while at the same time investing to accelerate the energy transition.

'Our agreement on Archaea Energy is the most recent step in our strategic transformation of BP.'

Britons face more pain at the pumps as experts fear price of diesel could hit record 2-A-LITRE before Christmas with average cost now hitting 190.12p Struggling Britons are to face more pain at the pumps as the price of diesel continues to skyrocket, sparking fresh fears it could hit an all-time high before Christmas. The average cost of a litre of the fuel at UK forecourts on Monday was an eye-watering 190.12p, according to the RAC Fuel Watch, with one Tesco in Cambridge selling diesel for a whopping 197.9p. It's the first time diesel has topped 1.90 since it hit a crippling record high back in July of 199.05p, leading to warnings by the RAC of an imminent 'national fuel crisis'. The soaring prices come as hard-pressed families continue to battle the cost-of-living crisis, which has seen inflation balloon to a bank-busting 10.1 per cent as food prices continue to spiral due to the war in Ukraine. The latest spike in fuel means fed-up motorists will need to splurge out 104.57 to fill the average 55-litre diesel tank - 23.46 more than this time last year, when the average cost was 147.48p per litre, or 81.11 to fill a tank. RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams said: 'RAC Fuel Watch data shows the gap between the average price of petrol and diesel now stands at a record 24p a litre. As of Thursday, drivers were paying an average of 166p for unleaded while diesel has climbed to above 190p. Advertisement

BP confirmed today it would give its shareholders a boost by increasing its dividend payment by 10 per cent, and will also spend $2.5billion buying back shares.

The energy giant also confirmed it will pay UK windfall taxes this year. The Government launched the energy profits levy windfall tax in May for North Sea oil and gas producers.

However, Shell confirmed last week that it does not expect to pay out for the tax this year as firms are able to offset potential tax payments through investment.

Today, BP told shareholders it will pay out 2.5billion dollars (2.2billion) in taxes for its UK North Sea business in 2022, including 800 million dollars (695 million) of tax related to the energy profits levy.

Rival Shell said its adjusted earnings more than doubled to 9.5 billion dollars (8.2 billion) over its latest quarter as gas prices remained high.

Meanwhile, BP said its profits were weaker than the previous quarter, due to falling oil prices.

In June, the cost of a barrel of Brent crude oil hovered at around 114 dollars per barrel, but since early July the measure has rarely risen above the 100-dollar line.

On Tuesday, a barrel of crude would set a buyer back around 94 dollars (81).

Energy prices are, however, still at elevated levels following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and therefore set to weigh heavily on household budgets over winter.

Meanwhile, BP's profit reveal follows big profit announcements from other large oil firms such as Total and Exxon Mobil.

Meanwhile, oil giant Saudi Aramco said it had made a profit of $42.4bn over just three months due to higher prices.

Following today's profit announcement, environmental group Friends of the Earth called on the Government to widen the windfall tax in response to BP's latest profit haul.

Energy campaigner Sana Yusuf said: 'With the economy sinking, energy bills soaring and the climate crisis deepening, Rishi Sunak must surely act on the excessive profits that fossil fuel firms like BP are raking in.

'The case for a bigger, bolder windfall tax is now overwhelming.

'This must address the ridiculous loophole that undermines the levy by enabling companies to pay the bare minimum if they invest in more planet-warming gas and oil projects.'

Dr George Dibb, head of the Centre for Economic Justice at the IPPR think tank, said: 'Companies like BP are making huge profits and channelling these straight back to already-wealthy shareholders through share buyback schemes.

BP said its profits were weaker than the previous quarter, due to falling oil prices. In June, the cost of a barrel of Brent crude oil hovered at around 114 dollars per barrel, but since early July the measure has rarely risen above the 100-dollar line. On Tuesday, a barrel of crude would set a buyer back around 94 dollars (81)

'Instead of reducing costs for consumers or investing in renewable energy, these fossil fuel giants are prioritising transfers to shareholders.'

Shadow climate change secretary Ed Miliband said: 'Today's profits at BP are damning evidence of the failure of the Government to levy a proper windfall tax.

'Rishi Sunak should be hanging his head in shame that he has left billions of windfall profits in the pockets of oil and gas companies, while the British people face a cost-of-living crisis.'

Meanwhile, Tessa Khan, director of Uplift, added: 'BPs soaring profits are not because of anything it has done, but because of the surge in gas prices caused by the Ukraine war.

'BP must be laughing all the way to the bank. While oil and gas giants like BP are making these obscene profits, seven million UK households face fuel poverty this winter.

'The government must stop sitting on its hands and claw some of this money back to help families keep the heat on.

'Whats needed is a windfall tax that is fit for purpose, with a higher tax rate, over a longer period.'

It comes as already struggling Britons are to face more pain at the pumps as the price of diesel continues to skyrocket, sparking fresh fears it could hit an all-time high before Christmas.

The average cost of a litre of the fuel at UK forecourts on Monday was an eye-watering 190.12p, according to the RAC Fuel Watch, with one Tesco in Cambridge selling diesel for a whopping 197.9p.

It's the first time diesel has topped 1.90 since it hit a crippling record high back in July of 199.05p, leading to warnings by the RAC of an imminent 'national fuel crisis'.

The soaring prices come as hard-pressed families continue to battle the cost-of-living crisis, which has seen inflation balloon to a bank-busting 10.1 per cent as food prices continue to spiral due to the war in Ukraine.

The latest spike in fuel means fed-up motorists will need to splurge out 104.57 to fill the average 55-litre diesel tank - 23.46 more than this time last year, when the average cost was 147.48p per litre, or 81.11 to fill a tank.

RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams said: 'RAC Fuel Watch data shows the gap between the average price of petrol and diesel now stands at a record 24p a litre. As of Thursday, drivers were paying an average of 166p for unleaded while diesel has climbed to above 190p.

The price of diesel has skyrocketed with one Tesco petrol station in Cambridge (pictured) selling it for 197.9p per litre on Monday morning

There are fears that the cost of diesel could continue to soar, hitting more than 2-a-litre before Christmas. Pictured is the Tesco in Cambridge today

The average cost to fill a 55-litre family car with diesel now stands at a staggering 104.57 to - 23.46 more than this time last year. Pictured are drivers filling up at a Tesco in Cambridge on Mondsy

'Following the announcement from oil producer group OPEC+ early this month that it was cutting production by two million barrels a day, the wholesale price of refined fuel has increased as a result of oil trading well above $90 having previously been below that mark at the end of last month.

'Since OPEC and its allies agreed to reduce oil supply substantially weve seen the price of the average price of diesel going up by almost 10p a litre and petrol by nearly 3p.

'Sadly, for diesel drivers, the situation could yet get worse with prices now back above 190p a litre for the first time since the beginning of August. Hopefully the average price record of 199p for a litre of diesel set in late June wont be surpassed.

'The price hikes have added 5 to a tank of diesel and nearly 2 to a full petrol fill-up. Due to the war in Ukraine and the UK moving away from Russian diesel, the cost of buying in wholesale diesel from other countries has gone up considerably.'

Fuel prices have been driven up over the last few months by the war in Ukraine and moves to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian oil. But diesel has seen far steeper hike in prices than unleaded, with the average cost per litre of petrol remaining at 166.17p.

Financial expert Robert Alster, Chief Investment Officer at Close Brothers Asset Management, said diesel was soaring ahead of petrol as it was used not just for transport but to power generators, too.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 this morning, Mr Alster warned the combination of the war in Ukraine and soaring living costs would continue to drive up inflation and punish family finances.

'Its adding all to a general inflationary higher level than we have seen before,' he said. 'Obviously, its been caused by the conflict of Russia and Ukraine. But even allowing for that, its shortages driven by Covid, supply chain issues, geopolitical issues between the US and China.'

The 'workaholic' BP boss who took home 4.5MILLION last year as firm's profits hit 6.9BN: How 'woke' Bernard Looney, 51, grew up on dairy farm, divorced his life coach wife after two years - and once described energy giant as a 'cash machine'

By Charlotte McLaughlin for MailOnline

The boss of BP is said to be a 'woke' workaholic who last year took home 4.5million in pay.

Bernard Looney, who rose through the ranks after joining as a drill engineer in 1991 to become CEO in 2020, could now be in line for an 11.7m pay packet - just as households across the country struggle amid a cost-of-living crisis.

Irishman Looney, 51, who once called BP a 'cash machine' is often referred to as a 'company man', and boasts about his 'green credentials', commitment to diversity and humble beginnings on a dairy farm in Kerry.

Looney also lists his pronouns as he/him on his social media profile - and is often pictured wearing jeans in online posts.

He divorced his wife of two years shortly before he became chief executive.

Life coach Jacqueline Hurst has reportedly spoken about their marriage, claiming he used her to get a 'promotion' - and even dumped her via WhatsApp.

Mr Looney, who is now based at BP's London headquarters, grew up on a farm in Ashgrove near Kenmare as one of five children.

Bernard Looney, whose company posted record profits of 6.9bn, a 14-year high, has been at BP since 1991 where he started off a drill engineer in the North Sea

Mr Looney's life coach wife Jacqueline Hurst (pictured) has also reportedly spoke about her marriage to a 'company man' who was using her to get a 'promotion' and dumped her via WhatsApp

Mr Looney took his first job on graduating with BP at the age of 20 as a BP drilling engineer in the North Sea near Aberdeen

The Irishman also boasts about his 'green credentials', commitment to diversity and humble beginnings on a dairy farm in Kerry (pictured sheep at Gleninchaquin Park near Kenmare, Kerry) on LinkedIn

He has explained how tough it was before he became the first of his family to go to University, the Irish Independent reported.

He said: 'Only about eight acres out of the 90 we had were actually arable. We had 14 cows and it was pretty much subsistence farming'.

Mr Looney would also help out on the farm as 'the gopher, bringing them whichever tool they needed' while his mother encouraged him to get on in life. He added: 'She said if I could read, I could do anything.'

While his parents, Mary and Tom Looney, left school when they were 11, he graduated from University College Dublin, which has produced many of Ireland's Prime Ministers.

He took his first job at the age of 20 as a BP drilling engineer in the North Sea near Aberdeen. He then was part of the Deep Horizon team in Mexico, which is forever associated with the largest oil spill in 2010 which dumped 210m gallons into the sea.

Mr Looney also worked in Alaska, the Gulf of Mexico and Vietnam before getting more senior roles and becoming chief executive of BP in February 2020.

He announced a net zero ambition by 2050 and a 'new purpose of reimagining energy for people and our planet' on being made the top man at BP.

Mr Looney (pictured) has been described as inspiration for his commitment to inclusivity

Mr Looney said: 'Two of the most distinctive aspects of the strategy are our plans to reduce BP's oil and gas production by 40% by 2030 and a 10-fold increase in annual spending on low carbon activities.'

But this has also brought his detractors who refer to him as the 'woke' evangelist of green initiatives.

An industry source suggested to The Sunday Times he was 'playing to the woke group' and said there was 'a degree of disenfranchisement, as you'd expect' among BP's 'older generation'.

Mr Looney has also come under fire within BP for his commitment to a 40 per cent cut in oil and gas production to meet environmental commitments.

'That's a hell of a hydrocarbon reduction at a time when the world obviously needs it. No one else has got anything like that projection,' a former senior insider told The Sunday Times.

'He was just a little too ambitious,' he added. 'It's the right direction of travel ... [but] it's the judgment about the pace. My view  and one that's widely shared  is they have been too aggressive.'

Another former employee also raised eyebrows at his pledges. 'The question is, will it come off? And will he get the rate of return that he predicted?' He added: 'I wish he'd given himself a bit more wiggle room.'

Mr Looney was also part of the Deep Horizon team in Mexico (pictured while part of the team 20 years ago), which is forever associated with the largest oil spill in 2010 which dumped 210m gallons into the sea, hurting wildlife

Mr Looney also wants a 10-fold increase in annual spending on low carbon activities.

'Oil is increasingly becoming socially challenged.' Mr Looney said 'I would talk about the people we've hired into BP in the past six months that we would have struggled to hire had we not laid out the [net zero] ambition.'

He has also been outspoken on mental health which he feels is his 'great responsibility' and on diversity including LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace.

Mr Looney also regularly posts on Instagram where he spoke directly to the public, saying: 'I look forward to sharing what I am up to, who I am meeting and offering a window into the decisions, challenges and opportunities that are ahead.'

He said he wanted people to open up about their oil and gas industry concerns. 'I encourage you all to be candid - I consider honest and open discussion crucial,' he wrote.

Mr Looney is still known for his jeans and jumpers years on from his beginnings at BP

His estranged wife Ms Hurst wrote in her self-published book How To Do You: the Life Changing Art of Mastering Your Thoughts and Taking Control of Your Life about a marriage which The Sunday Times understands refers to Mr Looney. She claims that her husband only married her to get ahead at BP.

Ms Hurst, who has been married twice, wrote: 'When my husband ended our marriage suddenly and without warning via a WhatsApp message, I was naturally devastated.

'I learned later that he had only married me because he wanted to get to the next level of seniority in the company he worked for and he had to be seen to be married, in order to be given the promotion.

'Unbelievable, I know, but that was the case. Getting my mind - and thoughts -around what had happened took time.'

Her and Mr Looney married in October 2017 and divorced in 2019, three months before he became chief executive.

A friend of Mr Looney's told the Sunday Times: 'He was briefly married during a period in which he wasn't promoted. So if he married her to get promoted, that didn't seem to have worked. Maybe he divorced her to get promoted.'

BP has seen its profits grow off the back of a global surge in price, in part ramped up by the war in Ukraine and inflation pressures post-Covid.

The energy giant also warned that energy prices will continue to soar as the invasion of Ukraine will continue to disrupt Russian supply and cause crude oil and gas prices to stay high over the third quarter.

And now in light of the 'eye watering profits' at the oil company which are seen as an 'insult' to hardworking families, Mr Looney is expected this year to take home 11.7m this year after his pay ballooned to nearly 4.5m in 2021

Mr Looney said in 2021: When the market is strong, when oil prices are strong and when gas prices are strong, this is literally a cash machine.

He took a different tack today when BP delivered cheer to investors, with a 10% rise in the dividend shareholder payout and by ramping up its share buyback plan with another 3.5 billion US dollars (2.9 billion) due before the end of September.

Looney insisted on Tuesday the group was continuing to 'perform while transforming'.

He said: 'Our people have continued to work hard throughout the quarter helping to solve the energy trilemma - secure, affordable and lower carbon energy.

'We do this by providing the oil and gas the world needs today - while at the same time, investing to accelerate the energy transition.'

Mr Looney has a popular Instagram account where he regularly posts casual pictures in jeans and jumpers

The Government is introducing a windfall tax on the profits of energy companies, but it has faced criticism for giving strong incentives to allow companies to invest in oil and gas, while there are no tax incentives in the policy for green investment.

He has also dismissed the idea that any tax would change the energy giant's plans.

Mr Looney said earlier this year: 'We're backing Britain. It's been our home for over 110 years, and we've been investing in North Sea oil and gas for more than 50 years.'

He added: 'Our plans go beyond just infrastructure  they see us supporting the economy and skills and jobs in the communities where we operate. We are all in.'

Asked by The Times what investments might be cancelled if there was a windfall tax, Mr Looney said: 'There are none that we wouldn't do.'
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The first coaches carrying migrants out of the overcrowded immigration centre in Kent where conditions have been described as 'inhumane' have set off - as Government ministers made the startling warning that 50,000 people are expected to cross the Channel this year.

Dozens of coaches with heavily tinted windows have today taken migrants at a former RAF base in Manston to hotels or hostels around Britain.

Some of those inside waved or gave thumbs up signs as they left, clearly relieved at leaving the centre which was described as 'being like a pressure cooker.'

The Manston migrant centre, which opened in January 2022 was initially designed to hold up to 1,600 people for no more than 48 hours but instead has become a temporary home to almost 4,000 migrants, leading to outbreaks of diphtheria, scabies, MRSA and violence. Many of those staying in Manston are women and children and are believed to come from Syria, Afghanistan and Iran.

The exodus of the migrants came as the union representing Border Force workers at Manston said that the Home Office intended to move 400 people out of the site on Tuesday followed by a similar number over the proceeding days.

Lucy Moreton of the Union for Borders, Immigration and Customs (ISU): 'There are now coaches on site with the intention of moving some migrants on to more suitable accommodation. I don't know yet how many will go today but yesterday (Monday) we were told the aim was to move 400.'

Ms Moreton also called on the Home Office to increase support for staff working at Manston.

She added: 'Sadly, nothing is being done to relieve the pressure on staff. We have asked the Home Office for increased support, for wellbeing and mental health services and for assurances to address staff concerns around the legality of instructions they are being given, the sustainability for the short and medium term and any ongoing threat to staff. The Home Office have not replied.'

It comes as Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick today warned that as many as 50,000 migrants could cross the Channel this year - which would be not only nearly double the total number of people who made the perilous crossing last year, but a new annual record.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman earlier told the Cabinet that the Home Office had reopened its Dover immigration centre following a fire-bomb attack.

A coach full of migrants smiled and waved as they left the Manston camp in Kent

Migrants smile and wave as they are taken out of Manston to hotels and hostels around Britain

A coach arrives at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility

Migrants at the controversial Manston camp (pictured) in Kent have been sleeping on the floor of marquees for a month, are not allowed to use toilets with the doors closed and have not had a GP stationed on site until this week, it was claimed today

A coach full of migrants smiled and waved as they left the Manston camp in Kent

People thought to be migrants at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility

People thought to be migrants queue for the showers inside the Manston immigration short-term holding facility located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent

People, thought to be migrants, queue for the shower facilities at Manston, a former RAF base which is being used as a short-term holding facility

Charlie Taylor, Chief Inspector of Prisons, carried out an unannounced visit in July and found evidence of 'exhausted' migrants sleeping on floors, and 'impatient staff'. Pictured: People, believed to be migrants, inside the Manston immigration centre

Staff at the immigration centre near Ramsgate in Kent have also witnessed 'incredibly tense' scenes in the last 24 hours - with some telling bosses they are terrified for their safety and local reporting regular escapes

The site has tripled in size since May, when seven tents were being used to house asylum seekers compared to 21 yesterday as numbers have swelled. Pictured: Tents at the immigration site at Manston

Some 4,000 people are now packed into a space designed for just 1,600 on the former RAF base in Kent and severe overcrowding has led to outbreaks of violence and diphtheria. Pictured: Detainees gesture through a fence at an immigration processing centre in Manston

The situation became even more dire yesterday with the arrival of another 700, bused from a site in Dover attacked with petrol bombs on Sunday. Pictured: A view of people thought to be migrants at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility

The Western Jet Foil centre, used to process asylum seekers after their arrival in the UK, was closed following the attack on Sunday. Two people inside the migrant centre reported minor injuries. The 66-year-old man suspected of carrying out the attack was later found dead at a nearby petrol station.

The closure has led to a large build up of migrants at its Manston site in Kent, which has been labelled 'inhuman' amid reports of severe overcrowding and outbreaks of violence and diphtheria.

A 'large number' of migrants will now be taken from the site and moved to over locations in a bid to 'relieve pressure on Manston', Ms Braverman is said to have told the Cabinet.

During a press briefing today, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: '(At Cabinet) The Home Secretary provided a further update on the situation in Manston.

'She said the Western Jet Foil centre (in Dover) had reopened and that large numbers of people were being taken from Manston to other accommodation to help relieve pressure.

'She said unprecedented numbers of crossings continue to cause challenges and a whole-government approach would be needed to tackle it.'

It comes as it was claimed today that migrants at the controversial Manston camp in Kent have been sleeping on the floor of marquees for a month, are not allowed to use toilets with the doors closed and have not had a GP stationed on site until this week.

Staff at the immigration centre near Ramsgate in Kent have also witnessed 'incredibly tense' scenes in the last 24 hours - with some telling bosses they are terrified for their safety and locals reporting regular escapes.

The site has tripled in size since May, when seven tents were being used to house asylum seekers compared to 21 yesterday as numbers have swelled.

Some 4,000 people are now packed into a space designed for just 1,600 on the former RAF base in Kent and severe overcrowding has led to outbreaks of violence and diphtheria.

And the situation became even more dire yesterday with the arrival of another 700, bused from a site in Dover attacked with petrol bombs on Sunday.

David Neal, the chief inspector of borders and immigration, said he was left 'speechless' by what he say. He said: 'I spoke to an Afghan family who had been in a marquee for 32 days. So that's in a marquee . . . with a kit mat on the floor, with blankets, for 32 days.'

He added: 'I was very concerned about Manston when I visited on Monday. As concerned, perhaps, as I've ever been about anything over the recent years.

'It's a really dangerous situation. It's failing to address vulnerability . . . There are risks there in terms of fire, in terms of disorder, in terms of medical and infection.'

The POA union, which represents staff at the Manston centre, said there were eight confirmed cases of diptheria at the site.

Afghan migrant, Abed, told The Times that he slept on the floor of a marquee for 15 days, and dexcribed an outbreak of scabies.

He said: 'Everybody was sleeping near with each other. Some people were sleeping in chairs. Also they are sharing the blankets with people.

'The people [were] putting the blankets on the floor and then people are sleeping on it. Some people were sleeping on the floor side by side'. The Times reported that until Monday, a GP was not stationed at the centre.

Staff on the ground in Manston have warned that migrants are making weapons out of tent parts, loo roll holders, and broken bits from the wired fence. Others claimed that combs have been crafted into blades.

Lucy Moreton, spokesperson for the Union for Borders, Immigration & Customs, said it is a 'really frightening' time for staff working with migrants.

Asked about whether it is a frightening time after incendiary devices were thrown at a Border Force migrant centre in Dover on Sunday, she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Absolutely.

'The members are reporting real concerns not only that there could be a copycat attack, or that may have been part of a broader programme, although that appears unlikely, but certainly it could be copied.

The site has tripled in size since May, when seven tents were being used to house asylum seekers compared to 21 yesterday as numbers have swelled

'There's been a lot of drones flying over the site in the last 24 hours. There's a lot of tensions on the site. The migrants are very keen to be moving, to be moved on, to get their freedom back.

'Staff face, on a daily basis, sitdown protests, being chanted at, being shouted out. Constant searches going on, improvised weapons are always being found.

'It's a really frightening time for the staff and no prison in the UK has over 4,000 people uncontained face to face with those who are responsible for controlling them. That's an utterly unsustainable position.'

One local business owner said: 'They [detainees] have been getting out. We had one who jumped over the fence and security jumped after.' He added: 'All we hear is chanting every night now.'

Charlie Taylor, Chief Inspector of Prisons, carried out an unannounced visit in July and found evidence of 'exhausted' migrants sleeping on floors, and 'impatient staff'.

Today he said he was planning a 'swift return' after 'a number of credible sources' suggested the situation at the centre had become much worse.

He said: 'What's happening at Manston when I visited was people were sleeping on the floors, on the rubber mats down on the floors and then very thin blankets or mattresses. Lots and lots of people in a room, all squished in together, very uncomfortable.

'The room for families has lots and lots of different families all sharing the same room, very young children, older children. For a few hours, that would be acceptable, but where people are spending long periods of time there, it just isn't.

'I would be horrified if I went into a prison where prisoners didn't have mattresses, where prisoners didn't have flushing lavatories, where prisoners didn't have telephones that they can stay in touch with family and friends.

'Those are three things that we see at Manston - similarly if they couldn't get out into the fresh air. As I said before, the Home Office needs to get a grip'.

Staff on the ground in Manston have warned that migrants are making weapons out of tent parts, loo roll holders, and broken bits from the wired fence. Others claimed that combs have been crafted into blades. Pictured: The facility at Manston Airfield

Charlie Taylor, Chief Inspector of Prisons, carried out an unannounced visit in July and found evidence of 'exhausted' migrants sleeping on floors, and 'impatient staff'. Pictured: Clothes are hung out to dry at Manston immigration facility in Kent

His comments came as he published the findings of an inspection, carried out at the facility in July, which warned serious challenges remain for migrants crossing the Channel and arriving in Kent.

Manston, at a disused airfield near Ramsgate, is supposed to be a short-term holding facility where immigration documents are issued and some migrants begin the asylum screening process. They are only meant to stay for a maximum of 24 hours.

While there is food, water, showers and toilets, the prisons watchdog said there are no beds or access to fresh air or exercise.

When migrants initially arrive in Kent after crossing the Channel from Calais, they are taken to sites at Western Jet Foil in Dover and Lydd Airport in Romney Marsh for health checks. The Lydd Airport site was unoccupied at the time of the inspection.

In the watchdog's findings, published on Tuesday, inspectors highlighted 'failings' in procedures at Manston which 'undermine the resilience of the centre for dealing with increasing volumes of detainees'.

But they also found the accommodation was suitable for short-term detention and noted efforts by staff to 'create a calm and even welcoming atmosphere'.

Manston was described as having a 'good amount' of accommodation available but, at the time of the inspection, 'much of it was out of use because there were not enough staff'.

Further 'signs of strain' included 'exhausted detainees' sleeping on the floor, including some who had been waiting more than 30 hours to be processed.

Last week, David Neal, the chief inspector of borders and immigration, said during a visit to Manston he met families who had been at the facility for over a month.

The prisons watchdog also found:

Victims of trafficking, people with disabilities and severe mental health problems and other vulnerable detainees were 'not always assessed or recorded appropriately', with some not identified as 'adults at risk';

The inspection raised concerns over the welfare and dignity of detainees. Some were not allowed to use mobile phones to let their families know they were safe and, in parts of the site, others were 'inexplicably' not allowed to close toilet doors fully;

Translation services were not always used to make sure detainees understood what was happening;

Mr Taylor said the inspection revealed a number of 'risks' linked to the facilities and that since then, information from 'a number of credible sources', including other watchdogs, suggested the current situation has 'significantly deteriorated'.

As a result, he is planning a 'swift return' to Manston for another inspection when he will 'expect to see substantial improvements'.

'In the meantime, the Home Office and its contractors need to get a grip and urgently act on the findings of this report to make sure all detainees are held in safe, decent and humane conditions,' he said.

A Home Office spokesman said: 'We welcome the report's finding that there have been considerable improvements to the infrastructure and processes in place to accommodate record numbers of people arriving in the UK illegally via small boats.

'As a result of these numbers, our asylum system has been put under incredible strain, but we recognise there is more to do to provide alternative accommodation for people arriving in the UK. We continue to work hard to resolve the current pressures at Manston as an urgent priority.

'Manston remains resourced and equipped to process migrants securely, and we will provide alternative accommodation as soon as possible.'

It comes as Home Secretary Suella Braverman is today facing a backlash today over her 'inflammatory' warning that Channel migrants are 'invading' Britain.

Manston was described as having a 'good amount' of accommodation available but, at the time of the inspection, 'much of it was out of use because there were not enough staff'. Pictured: Families sit inside a migrant holding facility at Manston Airfield

A view of bags containing items relating to people thought to be migrants at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent

The Home Secretary has come under fire from Tories and opposition parties over the stark language in the Commons yesterday.

Defending her own handling of the crisis amid reports of overcrowding and outbreaks of disease at the Manston processing facility, Ms Braverman said the UK asylum system is 'broken' and illegal migration is 'out of control'.

She suggested only the Tories were 'serious about stopping the invasion on our southern coast'.

However, immigration minister Robert Jenrick appeared to distance himself from the remarks in a round of interviews this morning.

'In a job like mine, you have to choose your words very carefully. And I would never demonise people coming to this country in pursuit of a better life. I understand and appreciate our obligation to refugees,' he told Sky News.

'The scale of the challenge we're facing is very, very significant.

'Fifty thousand people, and the number could well be significantly higher over the course of this year, is a major challenge for this country.

'It is leading to the infrastructure that we have in terms of reception centres, like Manston, in terms of hotel accommodation, and asylum and social housing, essentially being overwhelmed.

'Invasion is a way of describing the sheer scale of the challenge.

'That's what Suella Braverman was trying to express. She was also speaking, I think, and this is an important point, for those people who live on the south coast, who day in, day out are seeing migrant boats landing on their beaches.'

Meanwhile, Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale today said that he shares with Ms Braverman the view that the asylum system is 'broken'.

When asked if he had any hope that they will be able to grip the issue, Mr Gale said: 'Are we going to get to grips with this?

'Well, I hope that the Prime Minister's approach to President Macron will yield results. If it does, that's a very good thing. That is the right approach and the right direction of travel. The Home Secretary's approach is the wrong direction of travel, I believe.'

Meanwhile, Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said she imagines policymakers in France and Germany looking at the UK immigration numbers and 'wondering what the fuss is about'.

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Ultimately this is about... it's a combination of the number of people coming in and the resources that we have for processing.

'And the UK experienced a period for most of the 2010s where there were actually very low numbers of asylum claims by historical standards.'

She said as the numbers have increased, not only has capacity for decision-making not increased but there are fewer asylum claim decisions being made over the last year or so than before the pandemic.

Ms Sumption said this is one reason that the UK is struggling with a significant backlog of people who are still waiting for a decision on their claim.

'Typically the things that people who have come to claim asylum have cited are family members, so having family members in the UK that they're coming to join.

'In some cases it's the English language, so maybe they only speak English and so they feel that they're not able to build a life in another country.

'And more generally there's a perception that the UK is a tolerant and safe place where they will be able to build a life,' she said.
A tree surgeon left paralysed after a 60-foot ash fell on him at work is suing his bosses for a 8 million compensation payout at the High Court.

Richard Millard, 36, suffered life-changing injuries when the tree which he was cutting down fell in the wrong direction and landed on him in January 2019.

The impact fractured his spine and, despite being air lifted to hospital, he has been left paralysed in both of his legs.

Mr Millard is now suing his former bosses at Chorley-based Cornthwaite Tree Care Ltd for 8 million.

Tree surgeon Richard Millard (pictured) suffered 'life-altering' injuries when a 60ft tree fell on him at work at Bollington Recreation Ground, Cheshire in January 2019. He is now suing his former employees for a 8m compensation payout at the High Court

The company has accepted liability to pay damages, but the amount is set to be disputed at the High Court.

In a statement following his accident, 'warm-hearted and gregarious' Mr Millard's family said his life had been 'changed forever' by his injury.

According to court documents, the incident happened when Mr Millard was sent to the Bollington Recreation Ground, near Macclesfield, Cheshire, to fell a tree on an embankment.

He and his colleagues were given a photograph of the tree, but the image did not show the full extent of the giant ash, says his barrister, Matthew Snarr.

'On arrival on site it was clear that the tree was much bigger than appeared in the photograph - it was an ash tree approximately 18 to 20 metres tall,' he said.

'It had snapped approximately five to six metres up the trunk and had partly fallen, such that the top of the tree was caught up in the branches of two nearby oak trees.

'The tree was also located on a very steep bank.'

Bollington Reaction Ground, near Macclesfield, Cheshire, (pictured) is where Richard Millard suffered his injury in January 2019

Mr Snarr said Mr Millard had planned an escape route to ensure his safety, before beginning to cut into it with his chainsaw while it was pulled by a rope.

'He immediately began running along his pre-planned escape route,' says his barrister.

'However, rather than the tree falling towards the direction in which it was being pulled by the ropes, the tree fell towards Mr Millard, striking him, knocking him to the ground and causing serious personal injury.'

Mr Millard was rushed via an air ambulance to Royal Stoke University Hospital, having suffered a fracture and dislocation of his spine and fractured ribs.

He was eventually transferred to the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital for rehabilitation.

However, he has been left paralysed in both legs, with sensory impairment and painful spasms in his chest and abdomen.

Richard was airlifted to Royal Stoke University Hospital (pictured) after being crushed by a 60ft ash tree, resulting in life-changing injuries

In a statement on Go Fund Me following his accident, Mr Millard's family said it had been 'life altering' for him.

'His life has changed forever and he has a long and difficult road to recovery ahead of him,' they said.

'Many of you who know Richard know how warm-hearted and gregarious he is and even now this side of him is shining through.'

Cornthwaite have agreed liability to make a payout to Mr Millard totalling 80 per cent of the value of his claim once assessed by the court at a later date.

In court papers, the company says: 'Whilst no admissions are made in relation to any specific allegations of negligence/breach of duty made by the claimant, for the purposes of this action only it is admitted that the accident was caused by the negligence of the defendant.'

Unless a settlement can be agreed, the case, which reached the High Court for a short preliminary hearing this month, will proceed to a full trial of the level of damages to be paid.
A British army veteran who went to fight for Ukraine has survived being shot multiple times and blown up by artillery during the bloody war against Russia.

Shareef Amin, 40, who served nine years in Britain's 1st Battalion 'The Rifles' including two tours of Afghanistan, was wounded two weeks ago while on a reconnaissance mission deep behind enemy lines.

Amin - nicknamed 'Rambo' by his comrades - and his unit were spotted by the Russians, shot at and then relentlessly shelled, leaving him with bullet wounds, punctures to both his lungs and shrapnel embedded in all four limbs.

Despite suffering horrific injures, Amin was rescued by his comrades and has defied doctor's expectations and started walking again - though he has lost most of the feeling in his right hand and foot.

Shareef Amin, 40, a veteran of 1st Battalion 'The Rifles' who served two tours of Afghanistan, was badly wounded a fortnight ago while fighting in Ukraine (right)

Friends are now fundraising to get Amin - originally from Bristol - back to the UK along with his Ukrainian fiancee Helen Vitvickaja, 33, and her ten-year-old son Platon,

Speaking from his hospital bed, Amin told how he had gone to Ukraine almost as soon as the war broke out in February and initially provided humanitarian support.

But as the fighting ramped up he began using the skills he had learned in the British military to train the Ukrainians, before eventually signing up as a soldier.

Amin and his unit were then attacked by Russian troops while patrolling the frontlines a fortnight ago.

Amin - nicknamed 'Rambo' by his comrades - went to Ukraine to provide humanitarian assistance before signing up to fight

He described sheltering in a shallow trench alongside a Ukrainian comrade known as 'the Professor' as they were shelled.

He said: '[We were] helmet to helmet, hand in hand, as the artillery rounds just kept coming. The next thing I know I hear this almighty thud.

'It felt like someone had dragged me underground. I just saw red. Professor's body just went limp like a rag doll. He landed on top of me.

'At that point I knew I'd been hit. I thought, "I'm dead here. This is where I die." So I accepted it. Professor was gone, I couldn't get him off me.'

Amin recalled shouting to another comrade - Oleh Shumov, known as 'Sham' - to say that he was still alive and needed help.

He described how, despite still being under fire, Sham jumped out of his own trench and dragged the Professor's body away.

It was then that Amin was confronted with the horrifying extent of his own injures: His right hand was hanging off at the wrist and a piece of shrapnel 'the size of a tin can' was embedded in his right leg.

Though he didn't know it at the time, shrapnel had also found its way under his body armour and into his back, puncturing both lungs.

'I pushed myself up and felt this almighty agony through my lungs, through my arm,' he recalled.

'All I had was my left arm. I had my belt kit around me, my body armour, everything on me. I don't know how I got the strength to pull myself out of that ditch but I did.

'As I did, I sort of rolled myself into a front crawl and could see this huge piece of shrapnel sticking out of my leg. It was like a tin can.

Amin was shot multiple times by Russian troops and then blown up by an artillery round that left him with two punctured lungs, shrapnel in every limb, and his right hand 'hanging off'

Friends are now fundraising so that Amin and his Ukrainian fiancee Helen Vitvickaja, 33 (left) can come back to the UK

'So I forced myself onto my back, and my commander pulled me away into some sort of cover as the rounds kept coming down.

'It started to rain and I told my commander "you need to get me off these rocks, I'm lying on rocks here and I'm in agony."

'He says "you're not on rocks mate, that's the shrapnel that's gone up through your body armour and into your back."

'He said "don't worry, I don't know how, but I'm going to get you out of here".'

Shareef and Sham were soon rescued by Kozak Warrior armoured personnel vehicles and driven for 20 minutes to waiting ambulances and on to hospital.

Three pieces of shrapnel were removed from his body still sit in a glass jar next to his bedside.

At one point, he recalled doctors standing over him and whispering that he wasn't going to make it.

Despite his massive injuries he's defied medics' expectations and is already walking again - though he still has little feeling in his right hand and foot.

Shareef, who has since been awarded a Ukrainian bravery medal, said: 'I have no regrets. I couldn't sit by.

'If I sat at home on my laurels, despite having skills that can help, what kind of human being am I?'
Friends and family of UK flight attendant Sarm Heslop, 41, who went missing in the US Virgin Islands a year-and-a-half ago on board her boyfriend's luxury catamaran, are pleading with police to release surveillance footage showing her last known whereabouts.

Police showed video of Heslop to her parents, Peter Heslop and Brenda Street, from Essex, in March last year, but denied to give them a copy.

They say the footage contradicts what Heslop's boyfriend, the only suspect in the case, told police after she disappeared.

'In the CCTV footage Sarm is seen wearing skirt/shorts and a top but her boyfriend, Ryan Bane, told police and Sarms parents and friends that she was wearing a black dress with flowers on,' a statement from Sarm's friends reads, according to Fox News.

The parents also say they weren't shown the whole video back in 2021, alleging that US Virgin Islands Police stopped the recording before the end.

Her parents travelled to the islands to seek answers on the anniversary of her disappearance in March 2022.

Since returning, they are requesting that US Virgin Islands Police accept an offer of assistance from the FBI, 'to find answers to the disappearance of Sarm Heslop'.

Nearly 20 months after her disappearance, #FindSarm, the group of friends set up to publicize the search, say they feel abandoned by the USVI and UK authorities.

The family of missing Sarm Heslop (pictured) have pleaded with her boyfriend to come forward and give them answers after she disappeared from his boat in the Caribbean

Heslop (left), 41, vanished on March 8, 2021, from Bane's boat, which was moored off the US Virgin Islands. The 44-year-old Bane (right) said he had last seen Heslop onboard but would not allow police to search the vessel

Heslop, 41, vanished on March 8, 2021, from Bane's boat (pictured), which was moored off the US Virgin Islands

Pictured: A map showing where the Siren Song was moored in the US Virgin islands when Sarm Heslop, 41, was reported missing on March 8, 2021. with American Ryan Bane, 44, telling officers that she may have fallen from the couple's catamaran

Bane, 44, has not surfaced since detectives admitted losing track of him in early July.

Heslop, 41, vanished on March 8, 2021, from Bane's boat, which was moored off the US Virgin Islands.

Her parents are appealing for Bane to come forward and answer questions about her sudden disappearance.

According to Bane, the couple had dinner together on March 7 at around 10pm before returning to the catamaran where they watched a movie.

He claims he woke up at around 2am by the boat's anchor alarm and found his girlfriend missing.

The US Coast Guard was alerted to Heslop's disappearance at 11.46am, when Bane phoned the station reporting that 'his girlfriend may have fallen' from the yacht.

Bane said he had last seen Heslop onboard but has never allowed police to search the vessel.

But coast guard case logs and incident reports paint a different picture.

The documents state Bane was 'heavily intoxicated' when officers arrived on board on March 8, that he refused to provide paperwork, handed over expired credentials, blocked a doorway to prevent a search, and cited his right to remain silent.

Bane went between all the boats near his Leopard 4700 luxury catamaran off the coast of St John, asking for witnesses, but nobody was able to help, according to the logs.

A photo of Sarm Heslop, 41, is seen in downtown Cruz Bay in St. John, just a couple blocks from 420 to Center, a bar and restaurant, where Heslop was last seen

Heslop was last seen with Bane leaving dinner at the 420 to Center bar and restaurant (pictured) on the island of St John at about 10pm on March 7, 2021

However, many skippers said they did not know Heslop was missing until the following day.

Police issued a fresh appeal for Bane earlier this month, asking him to explain what happened on the night Sarm Heslop disappeared.

In March, lawyers representing Bane said that he is 'devastated' that his girlfriend is missing, but said he would not be speaking to the media.

A friend of Heslop's said the former flight attendant met her boyfriend while she was in quarantine having sailed to the Caribbean with two friends in 2019.

The couple then locked-down together during the coronavirus pandemic.

Police have been unable to find any evidence that Heslop returned to the boat after the couple were seen leaving dinner at the 420 to Center bar and restaurant on the island of St John at about 10pm on March 7.

Ryan Bane has a conviction for assaulting his ex-wife. The booking photo from Bane's 2011 domestic violence arrest is shown

Nor did they find any evidence that she had gone into the water. Her phone, passport and other belongings had reportedly been found on the catamaran.

Bane, who has a conviction for assaulting his ex-wife, was charged with obstructing law agents by refusing to let US Coast Guard officials search his boat.

When the officials boarded, Bane is reported to have stood in a doorway and told them they could not enter. He was handed a citation, which does not result in a criminal record.

The investigation has been further complicated by a power outage knocking out CCTV in the bar where the couple was last seen.

Divers from various law enforcement agencies have searched hundreds of square feet of water for Heslop.

Volunteers from the Virgin Islands have also scoured the area around Cruz Bay during daylight hours, police said.

Friends and family have said Heslop would not have abandoned her life freely or without contacting any of her loved ones. Some have expressed disbelief that she might have fallen overboard.

Her parents said in March that they would 'never give up' looking for her and still hoped to find her alive.

In May, Heslop's friends set up a GoFundMe page to provide a reward for information and to cover her parent's travel costs to reach the islands.

The page had beaten its 10K goal to raise 10,486 at the time of writing.
A married nurse who stole 7,500 from her 18-year-old foster daughter while she was bullied for wearing 'cheap and dirty' clothes to college has been jailed for 12 months.

Married Carol Toft, 57, treated herself to new shoes, handbags, hair appointments and meals out for herself and her secret boyfriend.

Meanwhile her 18-year-old foster daughter Chloe Creevy was made to take packed lunches to college where she was bullied for wearing 'dirty and cheap' clothes.

Over a three year period Toft from Warrington, Cheshire, used Miss Creevy's bank card to steal up to 7,500 which had been accumulated through a bursary and welfare entitlements approved due to the teenager's special needs.

Her lover Mark Jebb who was wrongly told by Toff that her husband Neil had passed away was treated to series of nights out in various restaurants in which she always paid the bill with the teenager's bank card. In one incident Toft had her hair done using her foster daughter's cash whilst the victim sat in her car outside the salon.

The thefts emerged when Miss Creevy who is treated as a 'vulnerable adult' was assigned new carers in 2019 and they found suspicious transactions on her bank account.

Carole Toft, 57, splashed out on fancy shoes, hair appointments and meals using the money

Conniving Toft paid for all of it on her foster daughter's card using her bursary money grant

In a statement to police Miss Creevy, now 24, said: 'I loved and trusted Carol and called her 'mum' but now I feel betrayed. She never allowed me to have my own money and she would never allow me to have my bank card.

'I had to take packed lunches to college and I was there because my clothes were dirty and cheap. In the end I was given shoes and clothing by another foster child. Carol never allowed me to speak to a doctor or a social worker on my own as she told me what to say. She made me and others believe that my disability was worse than it is.'

She added: 'I am so angry and upset. 'The first thing I saw was the payment to the hairdresser. I was never allowed to have my hair done.

'I felt so betrayed and sad. I trusted her. I believed that she had my best interests at heart.

'I never thought that she would do something like this. I now find it difficult to trust people. Due to what I am going through I am self-harming and I have been seeing a psychiatrist to make myself better. I thought she loved me.

'I feel stupid, worthless and heart-broken by what has happened. I hope that she will be punished as a result and I also hope that she will be prevented from hurting other people like myself.'

At Chester Crown Court, Toft admitted fraud by false representation and was jailed for 12 months. She and her husband are now in the process of getting a divorce.

Toft, pictured before, has admitted fraud by false representation and was jailed for 12 months

The court heard the couple became foster parents to Chloe in 2012 having been approved as carers by the National Fostering Agency (NFA) in 2008. The NFA would deduct 5 per week from money given for each child to put towards a savings fund the child receives when they turn 18 so they can 'achieve economic wellbeing and work towards a successful adult life'.

That lump sum was given to Chloe when she turned 18, the prosecutor said, after which she also received various benefits including DLA (which became PIP), Universal Credit, allowance for a mobility car, and also a bursary from her college. Toft had been entitled to pay herself some money as part of a Shared Lives Agreement which was equivalent to board and lodgings - but then used the money for herself.

Mr Richard Edwards prosecuting said: 'Chloe has special needs and is classed as a vulnerable adult. She lived with the defendant and her husband from June 2012 until August 2019. When she was 18 years old, in 2016, the defendant took her to Lloyds Bank to open a bank account in order for her to receive the benefits.

'When she opened the account, the defendant told her that she did not have the ability to use the card that came with the account. Miss Creevy did say that she used the card once, in 2018, to withdraw 50 but she did not have access to the account or access to another account.

'In August 2018 there was just over 15,000 in the account which included the savings payment from the National Fostering Association and payments from Warrington College. The defendant has used money from that account to a total amount of 7,500.

'She used Chloe's bank card for such things as shoes and haircuts, shopping at Argos, Mothercare, Toys R Us, B&Q and O'Brien's Hair Salon. At the hair salon she provided her name for the appointment and paid for the haircut using the bank card belonging to Chloe, who was sitting outside in the car at the time she had her hair cut.

'The defendant started a relationship with Mark Jebb in 2013 and told him that her husband had passed away, that she was a nurse at Alder Hey Hospital and that she looked after children in foster care.

'During the time she was seeing Mr Jebb she used the card belonging to Chloe to pay for meals. Mr Jebb indicated in a statement that the defendant paid for nearly everything during their time together.

'The defendant knew she could spend Chloes Creevy's money for Chloe's benefit but she clearly used her card it to purchase things that were not for Chloe's benefit, such as when she was in a relationship with Mr Jebb.'

In mitigation defence counsel, Richard Brigden, said Toft had not set out to defraud her foster daughter, and that the financial arrangements were complicated.

'This was a confusing financial situation,' Mr Brigden said: ' Chloe was a young woman receiving various benefits from various different places and was expected to pay towards certain things that were not always for her benefit. That just put into the mix of confusion.

'It was not dishonest use of the bank card from the outset, it was a chaotic use and at some point, objectively, that became criminal and not simply incompetent.'

Sentencing Toft the judge Mr Recorder Mr Lawrence MacDonald, told herd: 'Chloe Creevy lived with you for seven years from 2012 to 2019 from the ages of 14 to 21.

'When she turned 18, a bank account was opened for her with Lloyds Bank. Her various benefits were paid into her bank account and that was her money - a lot of money particularly for an 18-year old girl.

'For a girl in foster care, with the vulnerabilities and dependencies that entails, it is a potentially life-changing sum of money. You did not set out to steal her money but there came a point, when you knew full well that you were spending Chloe's money for the benefit of yourself - for shoes, handbags, payments to Argos, Toys R Us, and B&Q.

'Money was spent on your new partner during the course of that relationship. You paid for meals out, you paid for almost everything in that relationship. Chloe's victim statement was heart rending and detailed a shattered young life that you were supposed to care for.

'It is clear to me that this offending had a profound and long-lasting effect upon her. A person who she trusted and treated as a mother and who saw her at her most vulnerable had abused her trust and took her money and compromised her start in life as an independent adult.

'Fraudulent activity by a foster parent taking a foster child's money is an offence such that an appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody. Society will not tolerate foster parents stealing the money of children they are supposed to be looking after.'

Toft faces a Proceeds of Crime hearing next year.

National Fostering Agency stressed that Miss Creevy was no longer under its care when the fraud took place.

A spokeswoman said: 'All appropriate checks were completed by the agency when Carole Toft first became a foster carer.'
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A couple had to be rescued when their 150,000 yacht moored off Sandbanks capsized in gale force winds, as Storm Claudio brought winds in excess of 80mph across the south coast, toppling trees, battering buildings and leaving hundreds of homes without power.

The man and woman, aged in their 40s, were sleeping onboard the sailing yacht in Poole Harbour, Dorset, when its anchor broke loose at around 11.55pm on Monday, just as Storm Claudico hit the south coast.

An 80mph south westerly winds started to blow the 50ft long vessel, called 'Juno Lucina', towards the multi-million pound harbourside homes.

At one stage it was feared the yacht might crash into the private jetties of the mansions before its keel ran aground on a small sandbar, tipping it onto its side.

Earlier that evening, eight people had to be airlifted to safety from a sailing boat off the Cornish coast on Mondayin the 'extremely rough and unpredictable' weather.

It comes as hundreds of homes across the south of England were left without power overnight, while coastal communities battled flash floods and toppled trees blocking pedestrian paths and roads in the wake of the storm.

And overnight, a woman in her 20s was killed, and another seriously injured, when her car veered out of control in strong winds and torrential rain, causing it to crash into a bridge parapet in Lightwater, Surrey.

The Met Office has warned more gales and downpours are to come after it had issued a yellow weather warning for wind for the south from midnight until 8am on Tuesday as November got off to a blustery start.

The 150,000 luxury yacht's (pictured) keel ran aground on a small sandbar in Poole, Dorset, tipping it onto its side due to the 80mph winds brought by Storm Claudico

The luxury yacht (circled) was stranded off Sandbanks in Poole Harbour this morning due to gusts of 80mph brought by Storm Claudico

The waves at Chesil beach, Dorset, were high this morning as Storm Claudio swept through the south of England in the early hours of Tuesday, bringing with it strong gusts and torrential rain

In Poole, the luxury yacht owners called 999 just before midnight on Tuesday, with an RNLI lifeboat from Swanage dispatched to rescue them.

However, the lifeboatmen were unable to reach them without running the risk of getting stranded themselves.

Fearing they would sink, the couple got into their dinghy tender and rowed 160ft in the wind and rain towards the all-weather lifeboat.

They were taken back to the Poole lifeboat station and given dry clothes by the rescue team

Local residents on the Millionaire's Row of Panorama Road, Sandbanks, said they were thankful the large yacht was caught by the sandbar.

Rob Wiley, an entrepreneur who lives at one of the properties, said: 'It is a good thing the sandbank was in the way - otherwise it would have crashed into one of the houses here on the seafront. That would have caused a lot of damage to the jetties.

Dave Turnbull, one of the volunteers at Swanage lifeboat station, which attended the emergency, described the weather conditions as 'awful'.

He said: 'The owners of the vessel were sleeping and the first thing they knew about it was when the bottom of the boat hit the sandbar.

'They called 999 as the as the vessel went aground and was listing heavily. The keel was above the side of the boat, meaning water was coming over and it could have sank

'The Swanage lifeboat quickly arrived on scene. The wind was very strong - gusting over 70 knots.

Flash flooding also hit the south coast with a driver wading through high waters near Branksome Beach, Poole, Dorset today

Overnight, Storm Claudio brought gusts in excess of 80mph overnight, toppling trees such as this one in Old Christchurch Road in Bournemouth town centre, Dorset

Commuters battled winds as they headed to work in Westminster, central London, this morning. The Met Office has warned more gales are to come today after it had issued a yellow weather warning for wind for the south until 8am on Tuesday.O

'As the yacht was hard aground the casualties used their dinghy to reach us.. We didn't want to get too close in case we ran aground ourselves.

'They drifted and sort of rowed 50 meters down to us. It wasn't easy for them because of the wind.

'We took them ashore and left the yacht in position. With the casualties safely ashore, the lifeboat was free to return to station in the early hours of the morning'.

Eight people had to be airlifted to safety earlier from a sailing boat off the Cornish coast earlier on Monday evening due to the 'extremely rough and unpredictable' weather.

The rescue came after HM Coastguard received a mayday call from a 12-metre French yacht sinking in Mounts Bay, two miles southwest of Porthleven on Monday evening.

A Penlee RNLI Lifeboat, with Coxswain Patch Harvey at the helm, launched from Newlyn at around 8.30pm.

Teams who attended the call faced wind speeds of up to 85mph as they attempted to carry out the operation in driving heavy rain, rough seas and extremely poor visibility.

A dog walker braved wind and rain as he took a stroll on Brighton Beach today, amid warnings from the RNLI to take extra caution on the coast due to high waves and choppy conditions

The RNLI has urged Britons to take extra caution by the coast today after Storm Claudio brought winds and torrential rain overnight. Pictured: The RNLI in Christchurch, Dorset, this morning.

The Met Office has forecast 'persistent rain across north-east Scotland' with 'bands of heavy showers' to follow in the south, where they say there is a chance of hail and thunder on Tuesday

On arrival the team decided they were unable to safely transfer a crew member across to the yacht and the skipper of the troubled vessel said he did not have sufficient safety equipment for those on board to abandon the boat.

And more than 800 homes across Cornwall where left without power overnight due to the stormy weather conditions, leaving dozens without electricity for more than 12 hours.

As well as strong winds in the early hours of the morning, people across much of England and Wales can expect more wintery showers on the way today.

Storm Claudio's move eastwards on Tuesday is expected to leave in its wake a wet, windy day for much of the UK, with Wales and areas in southern and central England predicted to see the most frequent rainfall, the Met Office added.

Drivers grappled with flash flooding near Branksome Beach, Poole on Tuesday after Storm Claudico brought high winds and torrential rain

West Pier in Brighton saw a partial collapse on Tuesday after the south coast was ravaged by Storm Claudico's 80mph gusts of wind and lashings of rain

Flash flooding also hit the south coast with a lory driver wading through high waters near Branksome Beach, Poole, Dorset today

A fallen tree in Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth town centre, Dorset, after Storm Claudio saw winds of up to 80mph sweep across the south coast

Overnight, a woman in her 20s was killed, and another seriously injured, when their car veered out of control in strong winds and torrential rain, causing it to crash into a bridge parapet.

Paramedics were called to the scene, on the A322 road in Lightwater, Surrey, where she was pronounced dead.

A passenger in the Fiesta Zetec was trapped in the wreckage and had to be cut free by firefighters before she was rushed to hospital to be treated for serious injuries.

Meanwhile, hundreds of homes were left without power in the coastal town of Eastbourne, East Sussex, as gusts brought trees and branches crashing down on power lines, causing outages.

Power repair teams were up overnight to try and restore the supply to 570 homes in the area, with similar scenes along the coast in Bournemouth, Dorset, which saw a tree come crashing down in the town centre.

A commuter holds her rucksack over her head to protect her from the downpours in Westminster, central London, with more wet conditions on the way, according to the Met Office

Trees have toppled overnight including this one blocking a road in Walditch, Dorset, as Storm Claudio brought heavy rain and gusts of up to 80mph last night

A commuter battles with downpours on her way to work this morning in Westminster, central London, with more showers on the way, according to the Met Office

More rain is expected today with commuters on their way to work during the wet weather in Trafalgar Square, central London, on Tuesday morning

In Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, horrified homeowners had to battle to stop flood water from entering their properties after torrential rain hit parts of the county overnight.

The Royal National Lifeboat Association is urging Britons to take extra care by the coast today with strong winds likely to whip up large waves and create choppy conditions.

Gusts of 61mph were recorded at 7am on Tuesday in Langdon Bay in Kent, while 59mph was recorded at Heathrow at 4am.

A yellow weather warning was issued by the Met Office from midnight to 8am on Tuesday, with strong gusts in excess of 80mph sweeping through coastal communities

A deluge in Westminster, central London, on Tuesday saw this woman trying to take cover under her coat, after Storm Claudio brought 80mph wind and torrential rain overnight

The Royal National Lifeboat Association is urging Britons to take extra care by the coast today with strong winds likely to whip up large waves and create choppy conditions. Pictured: Bright Marina this morning

A commuter battles with downpours on their way to work this morning in Trafalgar Sqaure, central London, with more showers on the way, according to the Met Office

In Christchurch, Dorset, heavy winds overnight saw boats being toppled in the harbour, with more windy gusts forecast today

Commuters battled wind and rain on their way to work through the park in Westminster, central London, this morning

Trees have toppled overnight including this one blocking a road in Walditch, Dorset, as Storm Claudio brought heavy rain and gusts of up to 80mph last night

Neil Armstrong, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'The biggest impacts from Storm Claudio are expected in northern France, which is why is has been named as a system by Meteo-France.

'What it means for us in the UK is for some high winds to be possible along much of the southern coast of England.

'Some isolated and especially exposed coastal areas could see gusts in excess of 70mph, while much of the warning area will see gusts of between 50 and 60mph.'

Conditions are unlikely to improve by midweek as low pressure moving in from the west is forecast to bring wet and windy weather.

The Met Office said winds are likely to be strongest along Irish Sea coastal areas, including western Wales, north west England and south west Scotland, as well as the east coast of Northern Ireland.

The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for wind and rain on Wednesday, with a spell of very windy weather expected to hit Irish Sea coastal areas before spreading to parts of northern England.

Flash flooding in central Brighton was caused by heavy downpours brought by Storm Claudico on Tuesday

Dog walkers braved the choppy conditions to stroll along West Bay in Dorset following a night of torrential rain and strong winds brought by Storm Claudico

Forecasters expect gusts of 55-65mph particularly in exposed coastal areas and over higher ground, with some sudden strong gusts of wind also possible.

The wind warning covers the eastern part of Northern Ireland, parts of Wales and Scotland, North East and North West England, and Yorkshire and Humber from 7am to 8pm.

Further heavy rain is also likely during Wednesday with forecasters warning of potential travel disruption and flooding.

A yellow warning is in place in Northern Ireland from 8am to 3pm with 20mm to 30mm of rain likely to fall in some areas before it clears up in the afternoon.

A separate yellow warning for rain is in place in South West Scotland, Lothian Borders and Strathclyde from 10am to 6pm, with 30mm to 40mm of rain expected.

The Met Office's deputy chief meteorologist, Steven Keates, said: 'Within the warning area, gusts are expected of between 55 and 65mph.

'This is associated with low pressure moving towards the north west of the UK, which is bringing with it some heavy rain on Wednesday, especially across parts of south west Scotland, Cumbria and western Wales, although much of the UK will see some rain through the day.

'In addition to high winds in the warning area, many parts of the UK will experience strong and gusty winds, at least for a time, during Wednesday.'

The windy weather comes after the UK enjoyed above-average temperatures as October came to an end, with the mercury reaching the low 20s in some parts resulting in balmy conditions for this time of year.
A mother-of-three hunt saboteur has recalled the terrifying moment she was mowed down by a car on a country estate, leaving her in intense pain when she walks.

Lisa Jaffray, 47, sustained severe bruising during the incident caught on video at Knossington, Leicestershire, on October 25.

Police later arrested a 59-year-old local woman on suspicion of attempted wounding with intent.

Ms Jaffray, who lives in Cambridgeshire, was hurt as she 'sabbed' at a meeting of the Cottesmore Hunt.

Despite being hit by a car Ms Jaffray says she will carry on as a hunt saboteur - claiming some hunts are still hunting foxes despite the ban.

Lisa Jaffray, 47, sustained severe bruising during the incident caught on video at Knossington, Leicestershire, on October 25

Lisa Jaffrey (left), 47, was filmed 'sabbing' in Knossington, Leicestershire, when suddenly, a passing 4x4 knocked into her before the driver sped off (right)

The force of the impact knocked Ms Jaffray to the ground and she has been unable to walk without pain since

She said: 'I have a love of animals.

'It's not just the fact we're all vegan, it's about any animal that's killed for sport that we feel so passionately about.

'Trail hunting is a smokescreen that's been used since the fox hunting ban came into law in 2004.

'Hunts are still allowed to hunt a trail, which is a rag soaked in a certain scent.

'It's supposed to be put all over the area so the dogs can pick up on the hunt but I've only been to one hunt where we didn't see them hunting a fox.

'I've seen foxes running for their lives and terrier men on quadbikes with their dogs in boxes - you'd only have them with you for one reason.

'I've seen huntmasters encouraging the dogs when they pick up on the scene of a fox, by voice calls and the horn.

Despite being hit by a car Ms Jaffray says she will carry on as a hunt saboteur - claiming some hunts are still hunting foxes despite the ban

Describing the recent incident, Ms Jaffray said: 'I remember that I was on the floor in pain - there is a gap where I don't remember anything'

'As soon as they are on the scene of a fox, you can tell - they get really excited.'

Describing the recent incident, she said: 'I remember that I was on the floor in pain - there is a gap where I don't remember anything.

'I was in complete shock and shaking head-to-toe.'

Doctors found severe bruising across parts of her body.

She avoided any significant injury but has struggled to walk without intense pain since the incident.

Lisa says she will continue to volunteer as a hunt saboteur and wants to get back out in the field as soon as she can - once she's recovered.

Leicestershire Police have arrested a 59-year-old local woman on suspicion of attempted wounding with intent.

A spokesman said: 'A woman has been arrested following a collision in Knossington on Tuesday morning (25 October).

'Police were called to Braunston Road shortly before midday following a report a woman in her 40s had been struck by a car - a grey Mercedes.

'The victim was taken to hospital to be treated for injuries that were not life-threatening or life-changing.

'She has since been discharged and officers are in regular contact with her.

'A 59-year-old woman, from Knossington, was arrested on suspicion of attempted wounding with intent. She has since been released under investigation.'
Ukraine has shot down two Russian attack helicopters in just three minutes in the latest blow to Putin's botched invasion.

Anti-aircraft gunners hit the Ka-52 Alligators in the southern Kherson region yesterday evening, Ukraine's Air Force said.

The 12million single-seat attack helicopter is nicknamed the Black Shark and has been described as Russia's 'deadliest helicopter'.

Its battlefield management system allows it to share data with other aircraft to coordinate attack operations.

It came weeks after Ukrainian troops shot down four Russian helicopters in 18 minutes.

Ukraine also blew up a Mi-8 helicopter gunship in Donetsk after a surface-to-air missile picked it out of the sky yesterday.

Ukraine has shot down two Russian attack helicopters in just three minutes in the latest blow to Putin's botched invasion. File image of Ka-52 Alligator

Footage shows a Russian attack helicopter flying low across a field before it is hit by a missile in Donetsk

Footage shows the Russian attack helicopter flying low across a field before it is hit by a missile which explodes on impact - but the chopper continues to fly for some time with flames gushing out of its left side.

The helicopter begins emitting black smoke and then comes crashing down in a fireball in a field, rolling on to its roof as its rotor breaks off.

The images were obtained from the 54th Separate Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Monday, along with statement saying that the images were filmed on the 'administrative borders of Luhansk and Donetsk regions'.

They added: 'Somehow a Russian helicopter flew in to bring death to Ukrainian families, but the sky is tightly controlled by the glorious soldiers of the anti-aircraft missile division of the 54th Separate Mechanised Brigade.

The missile explodes on impact but the chopper continues to fly for some time with flames gushing out of its left side

The helicopter begins emitting black smoke and then comes crashing down in a fireball in a field, rolling onto its roof as its rotor breaks off

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv's forces had shot down 45 of 55 cruise missiles yesterday, and a further Ka-52 alligator was downed

'The soldiers saw a foreign "bird" in the sky and did what had to be done - they "destroyed the harmful fly" together with its crew.'

They signed off with 'Glory to Ukraine!'

Last month Ukraine carried off a similar rampage, downing four helicopters in 18 minutes in the country's south.

The helicopters - presumed to be Soviet-era KA-52 models - were taken down by Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile units.

During his evening address, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the country's forces had shot down 45 of 55 cruise missiles on Monday, and a Ka-52 alligator was downed.

'Today our air forces and everyone involved in protecting the skies did a great job,' said Zelensky. 'Most of the objects that the terrorists identified as targets were saved.'

Ukraine claims Russia has now lost about 72,470 personnel, 2,698 tanks, 5,501 armoured combat vehicles, 1,730 artillery units, 383 multiple launch rocket systems, 197 air defence systems, 276 warplanes, 257 helicopters, 1,415 drones, 397 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,143 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 154 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

A dog walks past a crater in the road from a missile strike, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in the eastern Donbas region of Drobysheve

A view shows debris of a residential house destroyed by a Russian missile attack in Mykolaiv

A destroyed bridge leading to the Orthodox Christian monastery The Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra over the Siverskyi Donets river is seen

Just north of Kherson, Russia fired four missiles into the Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv overnight, demolishing half an apartment building.

Reuters saw rescue workers recover the body of an elderly woman from the rubble.

As rush hour was under way, people walked past a two-storey school, the front of which had been torn off by the force of the blast that left a massive crater.

'This is what the barbarian horde does,' said Irena Siden, 48, the school's deputy director, standing in front of the gutted building as workers swept up the rubble.

'They [the Russians] are the descendants of the barbarian horde. They stole our history and how they are trying to steal our culture.'

Russia fired a huge volley of missiles at Ukrainian cities on Monday in what Putin called retaliation for an attack on Russia's Black Sea Fleet at the weekend.

Ukraine said it shot most of those missiles down but some had hit power stations, knocking out electricity and water supplies.

'That's not all we could have done,' Putin said at a televised news conference.
A Halloween night shooting spree on Chicago's West Side left at least 14 people hurt; among the victims were children.

The incident occurred near South California Avenue and West Polk Street, the Chicago Police Department confirmed to Fox News.

The injured people included a 3-year-old, an 11-year-old, and a 13-year-old, according to the police in a press conference. The other victims were adults, police added.

In addition to the shooting victims, a car hit another person.The police did not release any other details regarding the hit-and-run victim.

Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said that, according to pod camera footage, at least one automobile and two gunmen are believed to have opened fire on a crowd that gathered at the crossroads for a vigil.

The drive-by shooting only lasted three seconds, and the perpetrators fired into the gathering at random, according to the police. Brown said no suspects have been apprehended and the attack's motivation remains unknown.

No Fatalities Reported

It has been reported that no one was killed in the gunshot, but authorities are still investigating. According to police, victims are in different conditions.

CBS News reports that while most victims were brought to Stroger Hospital of Cook County, several were also taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Mount Sinai Hospital.

Brown claimed that the street intersection where the shooting took place had no prior violent incidents.

Multiple gunshots were heard, according to one eyewitness per Fox News.

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The witness said four people seemed to have sustained the most severe injuries, including a child who sustained a wound in the left leg and a man who got hit in the head.

He then went on to detail the victims he claimed to have seen on the street, including a young girl who didn't appear to be gravely hurt and a baby wounded in the gunshot.

The eyewitness witnessed a car flee the area quickly. On Monday night, nobody had been taken into custody.

Number of Illegal Guns in Chicago Increase

A recent NPR story discussed how the proliferation of homemade machine guns may be to blame for the rise in the frequency of mass shootings in Chicago.

Economist Philip Cook from Duke University has studied the issue of gun violence prevention for over 40 years. He believes that there is "a lot of gang violence" in Chicago and the gangs are well-informed about the choices in terms of weaponry.

He explained that auto sears operate on many pistols, however, illegal machine guns are "attractive" to gang members because such weapons have the capability to rapidly fire off multiple shots, therefore making them useful in battle and more effective at shooting and killing.

Cook further noted that, unlike a rifle, homemade weapons are simple to hide in a coat or waistline, thus they are highly sought after by gang members.

In 2018, Chicago police officers first encountered firearms with switches installed. At the same time, there was an increase in mass shootings, with many perpetrators resorting to high-capacity magazines.

One of the bloodiest shootings in city history occurred in the parking area of a South Side hospital in November of that year.

Related Article: Nancy Pelosi Home Attack: Suspect Wanted to Kidnap and Interrogate House Speaker, Break Her Kneecaps If She Lied

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A risque lingerie chain directly opposite two toys stores has angered parents with its 'soft porn' ads displayed on its shopfront.

Honey Birdette rotates photos and videos of near naked women in bondage situations with explicit slogans across it's windows at it's inner west Sydney shop in Broadway Shopping Centre.

On Monday local Labor councillor Linda Scott and a group parents protested outside the store complaining the advertisements are too extreme given the close proximity to a Lego toy store and a Smiggles stationery outlet for children.

Giant screens play Honey Birdette's controversial video clips in storefront windows as families walk past in Broadway Shopping Centre (pictured)

Parents say their pleas to 'protect the innocence of children' have fallen on deaf ears despite Honey Birdette's promotions falling foul of the advertising watchdog on 61 occasions.

The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) ruled five Honey Birdette ads breached community standards last December and noted the commercials could be seen by children walking past the chain's stores.

One ad featured two women in red lingerie with the words 'Tease me. F**k me' and another showed a woman in pink lingerie being pulled by a chain attached to a collar.

These promotions were deemed to be exploitative, degrading and too sexually explicit for their surroundings by the watchdog.

Other Honey Birdette ads judged to have met the watchdog's standards have featured a topless man in a pig mask and women sucking icy poles in a sexually suggestive manner with the slogan get 'ready to get wet'.

The Honey Birdette store in the Broadway Shopping Centre (pictured) has long been a target of parents concerned about what their children are being exposed to

The advertising standards watchdog has ruled that 61 Honey Birdette ads have failed to meet community standards (model pictured in campaign advert for Honey Birdette)

'Children have not given their consent, but they still suffer these violations at their local shops,' protest spokesperson Leigh Morgan told the Daily Telegraph.

'In May, State Planning Minister Anthony Roberts met with us and said he'd take action, but we have been forced to take the protection of our children into our own hands.'

Morgan said his group, the Forest Lodge and Inner West Parents, wanted Mr Roberts to take into account where businesses had breached advertising standards when giving permits that over-rode council regulations.

'That clear statement would mean council can protect children in public spaces,' Morgan said.

One local mother branded the Honey Birdette ads as 'soft porn' (model pictured in campaign advert for Honey Birdette)

The Honey Birdette store in the Broadway Centre sits opposite Lego (pictured) and Smiggles outlets, with both being popular shops for kids

City of Sydney Cr Scott said it was 'disappointing' the state government was not addressing community concerns.

Breaching an AANA advertising standard results in a removal order but this is voluntary as there is no fine or enforcement.

In responding to complaints about their ads in July last year Honey Birdette denied they were pornographic, exploitative or degrading.

'It is never our intent to create controversy and they couldn't be further away from being 'porn' style videos,' the said.

'We are a company run by woman, for women, who believe firmly in female empowerment.'

Honey Birdette has built a multinational brand with raunchy ads after Australian businesswoman Eloise Monaghan opened her first shop in Sydney 15 years ago (models pictured in campaign advert for Honey Birdette)

Inner west mother Sarah Lalor created an online petition to force Honey Birdette to stop showing 'sexually offensive video clips', which she labelled as 'sort porn' in July of 2021.

'The advertising commodifies/objectifies women's bodies and is too overtly sexual for shopping centres where children are inadvertently exposed to it,' the petition, which gathered 654 signatures, stated.

At around the same time an online poll started by Dani Elizabeth, who is a member of the Glebe Locals Facebook group, asked a wider general group who were not only parents, whether they had concerns over Honey Birdette's advertising.

A resounding 86 percent of respondents 'had no concerns' compared to only 14 percent who did.

Honey Birdette has grown to be a multinational brand after being started in Sydney 15 years ago by Australian businesswoman, Eloise Monaghan.
Duchess of Sussex also spoke to TV star Pamela Adlon and SNL comedian Sam Jay, who has a Netflix series

Meghan also described how she had bought an 'inflatable pizza slice online' which they 'splashed about on'

She said there were 'quiet whispers of girl talk on the terrace, giddy like absolute schoolgirls. We were just having so much fun'

Meghan said Sophie Trudeau recently came to her mansion to drink wine and swim with kids in the pool

They became friends after meeting in Toronto when Meghan was filming Suits, before she met Prince Harry

Ms Markle and First Lady of Canada appear in Spotify episode: 'Good Wife/Bad Wife, Good Mom/Bad Mom'

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Meghan Markle today revealed she studied for the UK's citizenship test after meeting Prince Harry, who had 'no idea' about some answers when she asked for help because it was 'so hard'.

The Duchess of Sussex's guest on her latest Spotify podcast episode is First Lady of Canada Sophie Trudeau. The friends spoke about the challenges of parenting and being a partner to two famous men.

The pair described the 'crushing guilt' of being a mother in the public eye. Meghan, 41, revealed she threw a pool party this summer for Mrs Trudeau, in which the two 'giggled like schoolgirls' and drank wine on the terrace of her Montecito mansion.

On episode eight of her Archetypes show, called Good Wife/Bad Wife, Good Mom/Bad Mom, Meghan also chatted to comedian Pamela Adlon, best known as the voice of Bobby Hill in animated comedy series King of the Hill, who became a British citizen in 2020.

Meghan also revealed that she prepared for the Life in the UK test. Although she is LA born and based, Ms Markle is not believed to be a British citizen, having reportedly abandoned the idea after Megxit in 2020.

Experts said she did not live in the UK for the three years required to get spousal citizenship after marrying Harry, 38, in 2018. She arrived in Britain in November 2017 and left by December 2019.

The Duchess of Sussex said: 'That citizenship exam is so hard. I was studying for it [the test] and I remember going, "Oh my goodness". I would ask my husband, "Did you know this? Did you know this?" And he would say, "I had no idea".'

She did not expand on whether she ever took the test - or just studied for it. But Ms Adlon joked: 'I think they made it harder for you. They were like, "We're gonna really throw up walls on this one".'

Meghan would have needed to pass the Life in the UK Test, which costs 50 per try and has a 75 per cent pass mark, before applying for citizenship.

The 45-minute test features 24 multiple choice questions about UK laws and the legal system, working in the country, its history, culture and other details of British life. It can be rebooked an unlimited number of times, but applicants must pay each time.

It can also contain questions about the Royal Family - which she remains a member of - such as which King was executed in 1649 and who established the Church of England.

When her engagement to Harry was confirmed in 2017, Buckingham Palace announced the former Suits star would become a British citizen.

But the Sussexes quit the working monarchy in 2020 and moved to the US via Canada, amid reports Meghan had abandoned the process.

In the latest podcast episode:

Meghan's mother Doria pops up halfway through the podcast when she Facetimed her daughter;

There was a long chat with Sophie Trudeau, who is one of Meghan's closest friends. There were rumours that Justin Trudeau and his wife were consulted about Megxit before the Royal Family and even the late Queen;

Meghan described Sophie as a 'humanitarian mother'. She said: 'Sophie has become a dear friend and someone who I think is so emblematic of strength that comes from embracing your humanity, even in the face of all these family and home and public pressures';

Meghan revealed how she and Harry start the day by looking after their children - from prepping Archie's lunch box to feeding their three dogs and making breakfast for her family, which is 'very important to her';

The Duchess of Sussex went on to say she 'bows down' to women who go through the same morning rush as single mothers and added 'it is so hard being a mum';

Meghan has revealed she studied for the UK citizenship test - and Harry struggled with some of the answers - but it has long been reported that she did not end up taking British citizenship

Meghan Markle's star guest on her new Spotify podcast is First Lady of Canada, Sophie Trudeau. Both are pictured together in a photo booth at the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards (CAFA) at Soho House in Toronto in 2016

The Duke, 38, and Duchess of Sussex, 41, bought the sprawling nine-bedroom and 16-bathroom mansion (pictured) in upscale Montecito, Santa Barbara, for $14.65million. It appears they and the Trudeaus enjoyed some recent pool time when the two mothers were 'giddy like schoolgirls'

What is the 'Life in the UK' test? When can you take it and how much does it cost? The UK citizenship costs 50 to sit. The test consists of 24 questions, which you have 45 minutes to answer. Questions are based on 3,500 facts about British history, culture and values - based on the official handbook for life in the UK. You must get at least 75 per cent of answers correct - 18 out of 24. If you fail, you can resit as many times as it takes but you must pay 50 again each time. A study by Essex University found that around two thirds of Brits would fail the test. There are more than 30 centres around the UK where you can take the test. If you pass, you are awarded with an official citizenship ceremony which involves an oath of allegiance. In total, it costs around 1,330 to apply for British citizenship. Advertisement

Meghan described the episode as digging into roles women play on the home front and looking at how to 'break out of the limiting version of these moulds society has carved out for us'.

According to the explosive biography Finding Freedom, when she began dating Harry in 2016, Meghan was urged to take advice from Mrs Trudeau by her friend Jessica Mulroney, who deemed the two women 'now had a lot in common' due to their famous husbands.

The podcast refers to Mrs Trudeau as the 'First Lady of Canada' but in fact the proper term is 'Spouse of the Prime Minister'.

Meghan admitted Sophie 'used to send me little meditations during my pregnancy' and voice notes 'of encouragement', adding: 'I've gone to her over the years for advice.'

Meghan introduced Mrs Trudeau as a 'humanitarian mother' she met in Toronto, where Meghan was living while filming Suits, at the city's fashion week seven years ago.

The Duchess of Sussex became part of Toronto's 'platinum elite', which included their mutual friend Ms Mulroney.

She said: 'Sophie has become a dear friend and someone who I think is so emblematic of strength that comes from embracing your humanity, even in the face of all these family and home and public pressures, keeping that sense of self while holding up the mantle of what comes with being a parent and a spouse, that's a full plate.'

They were pictured posing cheek-to-cheek in a photobooth at the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards (CAFA) at exclusive Soho House in the city in 2016.

Mrs Trudeau's husband Justin, who has been Canada's prime minister since 2015, urged his country to welcome the Sussexes after they emigrated from the UK. They would later move to Los Angeles.

In the podcast, Meghan describes a day of laughter and fun at her Montecito mansion with Mrs Trudeau. Their children played in the swimming pool on pizza-shaped floats while they drank wine 'on the terrace' and were 'giddy like absolute schoolgirls.'

Meghan said: 'This wasn't our day of being the wives and moms, all perfectly quaffed with up-dos and pearls and demure smiles.

'This was the other version of us both with wild curly hair and swimsuits and loose linen and huge belly laughs. Big cuddles with our little ones, quiet whispers of girl talk on the terrace, giddy like absolute schoolgirls. We were just having so much fun.'

The Duchess of Sussex also spoke to TV star Pamela Adlon (left) and SNL comedian Sam Jay (right), who has a Netflix series

According to Finding Freedom, Meghan had met Mrs Trudeau's husband at the One Young World summit in Ottawa that year, with the pair pictured deep in conversation.

'Sophie had given up a career in television, where she had been working as a correspondent on CTV's eTalk, to take on a more formal role alongside her husband as he hit the campaign trail,' the authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand claim.

'The pair became fast email friends, Meghan was interested to hear how Sophie had successfully made the move from an entertainment news correspondent to much-beloved First Lady, all while skillfully dodging controversy.'

A close friend of Trudeau and a former cabinet member told the authors: 'Sophie would have made it clear that every single aspect of Meghan's past would be dug up, so the most important thing was to be honest with Harry - tell him everything.

'Sophie's a smart woman and the perfect brain for Meghan to pick. She knows how difficult something like this is. Few people can relate or truly sympathise. For those of us that knew about their friendship, it was amazing to see the change in Meghan that followed.'

Sophie Trudeau attended the funeral of the Queen with her husband, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on September 19, pictured. Meghan described her as a friend

In January 2020 there was speculation Mr Trudeau may even have given a cryptic Twitter clue about Meghan and Harry's departure from the Royal Family.

Diplomatic sources claimed Mr Trudeau and his wife were consulted about the decision before members of the Royal Family and even the Queen.

Prince Harry and Mr Trudeau have always looked to enjoy each other's company at events such as Commonwealth commemorations and have encountered each other on multiple occasions through Harry's Invictus Games for disabled servicemen.

In today's podcast, Meghan also spoke about her family's whirlwind morning routine and how she makes breakfast for Harry, Archie and Lilibet every day, saying it is important to her and she loves doing it.

The duchess said: 'Lili has just started walking. she's a year and a couple months old, and Archie's just over three years old, so ... I'm in the thick of it. Toddling.'

She went on: 'So the morning rush - I'm sure it'll only get more chaotic as they get older.

'But for me, it's, you know, both monitors on for the kids to hear them, always up with Lili, get her downstairs, then a half hour later Archie's up. Start doing his lunch box right before he's up, while I have her, getting her a little nibble.

'My husband's helping me get him downstairs. I make breakfast for all three of them. It's very important to me. I love doing it.

'For me it just feels like the greatest way to start the morning. And then it's like, feed all three of the dogs because we just got another dog and then get Archie out the door to school and... it feels like a whirlwind.'

Adlon asked: 'I hope daddy's being a good contributor?' Meghan replied: 'Oh my husband, oh he's great. I mean, to do this as a single mom, I like bow down to you.'

The duchess added: 'Why is it still so judgmental and hard out there? And why - there's an expectation for it to look so easy for some? - just so put together... can we just all be real?'

Meghan's mother Doria Ragland also featured in the podcast for the first time, with a recording of her FaceTiming while the duchess was working on the episode.

Meghan greets her with 'Hey Mommy' and Ms Ragland can be heard saying: 'Hey. How's my girl?'

The duchess replies: 'I'm okay. I'm hanging in there. It's okay. I'm recording right now. Do you want to see?'

As they chat, Ms Ragland says: 'You have on a smiley face.'

The pair tell each other they love one another and Meghan's mother signs off by clicking her fingers in a 'cool handshake' Meghan taught her when she was eight, which she describes as 'snap, scissors, cut, chicken wing'.

Can you pass the 50 UK citizenship test that Meghan Markle insists was 'so hard' for her and Prince Harry? You must get at least 18 out of 24 questions (75 per cent) to pass the test 1. Which of these UK landmarks is in Wales? A The Giant's Causeway B Loch Lomond C Snowdonia D The Lake District 2. Which flower is associated with England? A Shamrock B Rose C Daffodil D Thistle 3. Who built the Tower of London? A Oliver Cromwell B Henry VII C William the Conqueror D Henry VIII 4. Who was supported by clansmen from the Scottish highlands and raised an army in 1745? A Bonnie Prince Charlie B Robert Burns C Oliver Cromwell D Kenneth MacAlpin 5. Which two houses fought in the Wars of the Roses? A The House of Chester B The House of York C The House of Lancaster D The House of Newcastle 6. What did Sir Frank Whittle invent in the 1930s? A Radar B Hovercraft C Jet engine D Ballpoint pen 7. Who was given the title of Lord Protector? A Charles I B Charles II C Winston Churchill D Oliver Cromwell 8. Several Church of England bishops sit in the House of Lords. True False 9. Under which king did the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England unite to defeat the Vikings? A William of Orange B King Alfred the Great C Henry VIII D Robert the Bruce 10. Where are the Crown Jewels kept? A At the House of Commons B At the Tower of London C At Buckingham Palace D At Windsor Castle 11. Which sport can be traced back to the 15th century in Scotland? A Golf B Tennis C Football D Rugby 12. In which country of the British Empire did the Boer War (1899-1902) take place? A Netherlands B Falkland Islands C Gibraltar D South Africa 13. What was Edward Elgar famous for? A He was a musician B He was a tennis player C He was a comedian D He was an actor 14. Which flag has a white cross with a blue background? A Irish B English C Welsh D Scottish 15. In which year did the Allies comprehensively defeat Germany in World War Two? A 1912 B 1918 C 1939 D 1945 16. Who is the patron Saint of Wales? A St David B St George C St Patrick D St Andrew 17. Who was the first man in the world to run 1 mile in under 4 minutes? A Sir Chris Hoy B Sir Roger Bannister C David Weir D Mo Farah 18. Which of the following is not a valid UK coin? A 1p B 5p C 25p D 1 19. What sort of church is the Church of Scotland? A Catholic B Baptist C Presbyterian D Methodist 20. What king was defeated by Oliver Cromwell during the Civil War and hid in an oak tree before escaping to Europe? A Richard III B Charles II C James I D Henry IV 21. Complaints against the police can only be made by writing to the Police Complaints Commissioner. True False 22. When is St David's day? A 1st of March B 23rd of April C 17th of March D 30th of November 23. What stories are associated with Geoffrey Chaucer? A The Cambridge Tales B The Eastbourne Tales C The Canterbury Tales D The London Tales 24. Where does the Fringe festival take place? A Fraserburgh B Edinburgh C Inverness D St Andrews Answers: 1. C 2. B 3. C 4. A 5. B and C 6. C 7. D 8. True 9. B 10. B 11. A 12. D 13. A 14. D 15. D 16. A 17. B 18. C 19. C 20. B 21. False 22. A 23. C 24. B Advertisement

'Hi Mommy!' Doria Ragland makes a cameo in Meghan Markle's podcast Archetypes after FaceTiming while she was recording - as Duchess praises her mother for 'juggling so much' while raising her

Meghan Markle's mother Doria Ragland made a surprise cameo in her Spotify podcast today.

In a soundbite shared by Meghan on the podcast, which was releaed this morning, Doria could be heard FaceTiming her and speaking to her daughter for a few seconds as she was recording the show from her Montecito home in California.

The Duchess of Sussex said the spontaneous moment made her reflect on the way in which Doria, who lives close by in Los Angeles, has supported her throughout her life.

She also joked that they still do a handshake she came up with when she was eight, and said that being mother can be 'the most thankless unpaid labor there is.'

Meghan Markle's mother Doria Ragland made a surprise cameo in her Spotify podcast today. Pictured in 2018 before the royal wedding

Meghan played the soundbite of the FaceTime call during the podcast, explaining Doria had interrupted her recording a few weeks beforehand by calling her.

'So, a few weeks ago while I was working on this very episode, my mom called. She actually FaceTimed,' she said, before the clip played.

In the outtake, Meghan could be heard saying: 'Oh sugar, my mom's FaceTiming me.'

She then picked up the phone and could be heard saying: 'Hey, Mommy,' with Doria replying 'Hey, how's my girl?'.

'Hey, I'm okay, I'm hanging in there,' Meghan could be heard chuckling, before adding: 'It's okay, I'm recording right now. Do you want to see?'

'We're just doing some podcasting. Can I call you back in a little bit,' she was then heard asking.

'It was just your run-of-the-mill mother-daughter, conversation,' Meghan can be heard saying in a voiceover playing midway through the soundbite.

'I have on a smiley face,' Doria could be heard saying, with Meghan repeating 'I have on a smiley face,' and 'I love you.'

Meghan took the occasion of her mother calling her while she was recording to bring up something they have been sharing since she was a child.

'My mom, she did this thing I do. You may have heard this clicking sound that she was doing,' she said.

'All right, gang, my mom literally just pulled out a reference of what I came up with as a cool handshake to do with her when I was about eight, which was snap scissors, cut chicken,' she said, laughing.

'I'm 41-years-old. And she's like, 'okay',' she laughed into the microphone. 'It's great. And it just put me right back into the past thinking about my childhood and our little quirks together.

'And then with this episode on my brain, it got me thinking about all the ways my mom supported me, how she took care of me and the house and herself and how she just juggled so much,' she went on.

'The amount that women carry, that they navigate - it's immense, and it's often the most thankless unpaid labor there is,' she added.

'There's no union, there's no lunch break. There's nothing like that. At home, women just work really, really hard,' she added.

'A lot of that work is born out of necessity, but so much of it is also born out of expectations,' she said.

Meghan's political pool party! Duchess reveals she 'giggled like a schoolgirl' with Sophie Trudeau at her $14 million mansion where they 'splashed about on an inflatable pizza slice' and 'drank wine'

Meghan Markle has revealed how she threw a pool party this summer with First Lady of Canada Sophie Trudeau where the two 'giggled like schoolgirls' on her latest podcast episode.

The Duchess of Sussex, 41, who is currently living in her $14 million mansion in California, released the seventh show from her Archetypes series today, describing her guest Sophie as 'a dear friend.'

During the introduction, the royal mother-of-two described how she hosted the event at her home in Santa Barbara earlier this year, adding it was a chance to 'get the kids together, drink wine, swim.'

She described how she had bought an 'inflatable pizza slice online' which the family 'splashed about on' calling it 'a big hit.'

According to the explosive biography Finding Freedom, when she began dating Harry in 2016, Meghan was urged to take advice from Sophie by her friend Jessica Mulroney, who deemed the two women 'now had a lot in common'.

Meghan Markle has revealed how she threw a pool party this summer with First Lady of Canada Sophie Trudeau where the two 'giggled like schoolgirls' on her latest podcast episode.

Meghan had previously met her husband Justin Trudeau at the One Young World summit in Ottawa in 2016, with the pair pictured deep in conversation

Starting the podcast today, Meghan said: 'This past summer, a friend of mine was in town with her kids, for a few days.

'Now, this to me was very exciting because I hadn't seen her for a while, and the idea of getting our kids together, this was a real treat - [to] swim and drink wine.

'We splashed in the water, then threw some pool floats in.

'By the way, the inflatable pizza, slice proved to be a big hit, which I found online.

'And I kid you not the one without pepperoni was a few dollars less than the one with pepperoni.

'And yes, I'm still talking about the inflatable Pizza, float for the pool. We all got a good laugh out of that.

She continued: 'But all that aside, this wasn't our day of being the wives and moms.

'All perfectly quaffed with updos and pearls and demure smiles.'

'This was the other version of us both with wild curly hair and swimsuits and loose linen and huge belly laughs, big cuddles with our little ones.

'And quiet whispers of girl talk on the terrace, like absolute schoolgirls.'

'We were just having so much fun.'

Meghan went on to reveal she was talking about an event with Sophie, whom she has known for a number of years before joining the royal family.

Elsewhere, she described how she had 'gone to Sophie for advice' over the years, after meeting 'seven years ago.'

Meghan Markle's 'morning rush': Duchess details her 'whirlwind' Montecito routine - including prepping Archie's lunch box, feeding their three dogs and making breakfast for her family, which is 'very important to her'

Meghan Markle has shared a glimpse of her 'whirlwind' morning routine on her latest Spotify podcast episode.

The Duchess of Sussex, 41, who is currently living in her $14million mansion in California, alongside her husband Prince Harry, 38, and their two children, Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, released the seventh show from her Archetypes series today.

Speaking to one of her guests, American actress Pamela Adlon, in the episode 'Good Wife/Bad Wife, Good Mom/Bad Mom', Meghan revealed what mornings are like for her and the Duke of Sussex in their Montecito home.

Describing her 'morning rush,' Meghan revealed how she and Prince Harry start the day by looking after their children - from prepping Archie's lunch box to feeding their three dogs and making breakfast for her family, which is 'very important to her'.

Meghan Markle (pictured with Prince Harry and their children) has shared a glimpse of her 'whirlwind' morning routine on her latest Spotify podcast episode

The Duchess of Sussex, 41, who is currently living in her $14million mansion in California , alongside her husband Prince Harry, 38, and their two children, Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, released the seventh show from her Archetypes series today (pictured)

'So the morning rush I'm sure it'll only get more chaotic as they get older,' Meghan said. 'But for me, it's, you know, both monitors on for the kids to hear them, always up with Lily, get her downstairs, then a half hour later Archie's up.'

She went on to say she 'start[s] doing his lunch box right before he's up while I have her, getting her a little nibble, my husband's help me get him downstairs.'

Meghan added: I make breakfast for all three of them. It's very important to me. I love doing it. For me it just feels like the greatest way to start the morning.

After breakfast, the mother-of-two moves to feed the family's dogs, and revealed Harry and her recently got a third pet.

'And then it's like feed all three of the dogs - because we just got another dog - and then it's get Archie out the door for school and, you know, but it does, it feels like a whirlwind,' she said.

Pamela then said she hopes Prince Harry contributes to this demanding morning routine and 'kid time.'

'Also, I hope dad is being a good contributor to like the time, the kid time,' she said. To which Meghan replied: 'Oh my husband? He's great.'

Inside King Charles's Buckingham Palace: Harry and Meghan's photo still takes pride of place, finds SIOFRA BRENNAN on her video tour of what's changed under the new monarch

King Charles has been on the throne for just over a month, and he is already reshaping the monarchy.

In this video guide Mail Online takes a look at how Buckingham Palace has changed since he took over.
This is the terrifying moment a duo ambushed their victims in a 'revenge' stabbing so violent it left two men in comas.

Remi Loader, 27, and Jacob Montique, 19, were each convicted of one count of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon at Cambridge Crown Court and jailed last week.

Loader, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 27 years jail over the savage attack, which was captured on CCTV, while Montique, of Trumpington, Cambs, was sentenced to a total of 21 years.

The pair spotted their victims while drinking in a bar in Cambridge on the evening of August 20, 2021.

The pair are believed to have plotted their attack before leaving the university city boozer, walking to Montique's vehicle and changing into black clothes and face masks.

Remi Loader (right), 27, and Jacob Montique (left), 19, were each convicted of one count of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon at Cambridge Crown Court and jailed last week

Armed with weapons, they lay in wait in the city's market square waiting for their victims.

Detective Sergeant Hamish Cowley said: 'Loader and Montique are both high harm, prolific offenders who have caused fear within their communities.

'This was a planned and premeditated attack, believed to be motivated by revenge from a previous incident, with one using a large hunting knife.

'Both victims were fortunate to survive the attack.'

The vicious assault left a 30-year-old man with stab wounds to the stomach, left leg and left hand.

A 37-year-old man was stabbed in the stomach, chest and head.

They were both placed in induced comas at Cambridge University's Addenbrookes' Hospital where doctors said the injuries would have been fatal without swift medical intervention.

More than a year on, the two men are still in recovery.

Armed with weapons, the two assailants lay in wait in the city's market square waiting for their victims (Pictured: CCTV during the attack)

The attack was caught on CCTV, with a shocking bird's eye view showing the pair sprinting from the market stalls and brutally assaulting the men as they walked along the street.

In a terrifying moment, one victim is shown to panic, choosing to help his friend before fleeing himself and chasing down one attacker.

He then falls as he is chased by the second man, who appears to attack him when he is down.

The two then disappear into the dark market, with one appearing to raise his arms in celebration.

Detective Cowley described the investigation as 'extremely complex with limited witnesses or forensic opportunities.

'With the help of CCTV and mobile phone evidence we were able to place the pair at the scene and this dangerous duo will now be locked away from the public for a considerable amount of time,' he said.
Twitter chief executive Elon Musk has hinted he might lower the $20 per month blue tick verification fee during an exchange with horror writer Stephen King, where he offered him a discount.

The billionaire is looking to make good on his promise to make the social media platform turn a profit by introducing a charge for Twitter users wanting to keep their verification badge.

But in a sign that the price might not be a done deal, Musk responded to a tweet from the author of The Shining complaining about the new charge.

'$20 a month to keep my blue check? F*** that, they should pay me,' wrote King, who has 6.9million followers. 'If that gets instituted, Im gone like Enron.'

But Musk, noticing the author's complaints, seemed to be in the mood to haggle.

Author Stephen King, who wrote The Shining, said he will leave the platform if Musk introduces a blue-tick verification charge

'We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers. How about $8?' he replied.

It wasn't immediately clear whether the discount would apply only to King or to the wider Twitter user base as well, but the comments suggested the $20 figure was not exactly set in stone.

Musk went on to say that he will 'explain the rationale in longer form' before the charge is implemented, but added that it is 'the only way to defeat the bots & trolls'.

When users replied to say King could more than afford the fee, he replied: 'It ain't the money, it's the principle of the thing.'

The author, who has previously said he 'admires Elon Musk', hasn't yet responded to the chief executive directly. But many of his fans rushed in to comment in his stead.

'44 Billion to buy the place and his new revenue stream is to push a tin cup at Stephen King,' said one Twitter user.

'Its nice of you to give Stephen King who is worth $500M a $12/mo discount,' said another.

'Hes not leaving. They all threaten but they need this platform,' said a third user.

Actress, writer and comedian Kathy Burke also said she wouldn't pay if a charge is introduced tot he platform

King isn't the only blue-tick Twitter user to threaten to abandon their blue ticks if a charge is introduced to the platform.

Actress, writer and comedian Kathy Burke also said she wouldn't pay.

'Musk can f*** off with his idea of charging blue-tickers. I give my all to this hell site for FREE. Cheeky b**** should be paying ME. Dont need the poxy thing anyway.'

Celebrities who have threatened to boycott the site include TV screenwriter Shonda Rhimes, actor Mia Farrow, as well as Madam Secretary star Tea Leoni, She Hulk actor Jameela Jamil, as well as authors and activists Shaun King and Amy Siskind.

George Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek, also said he would consider heading for the digital door.

Entrepreneur Jason Calacanis posted a poll on Monday asking people if they would pay $5, $10 or $15 a month, or nothing for verification. Around 81 per cent said they wouldn't pay, as of the time of writing.

'Interesting,' said Musk in response to the poll.

Since Elon's take over, the social media site has limited some content moderation tools.

Elon Musk is pictured speaking with employees at Twitter HQ. The CEO allegedly issued an ultimatum to the platform's engineers, telling them to revamp the platform in two weeks

A blue tick badge allows other Twitter users to verify that other users are who they say they are. The feature has always been free since Twitter's inception, but Musk is promising to shake up the company's operations

A blue tick badge allows other Twitter users to verify that other users are who they say they are.

The feature has always been free since Twitter's inception, but since Musk first promised to buy Twitter, the world's wealthiest man has made it clear he planned to shake things up at the social media giant.

The price will cover unspecified features which have not yet been revealed.

The exchange comes after the new Twitter boss allegedly issued an ultimatum to the platform's engineers, telling them to revamp Twitter's verification system in less than a fortnight or face the sack.

Employees were only told of the project on October 30, and have until November 7 to deliver.
Ms Pole also called for 'urgent systemic change' in the industry immediately

A top female Qantas pilot claims she was once told by a colleague that 'if women were meant to fly the sky would be pink'.

Louise Pole, the first female president of the Australian Federation of Air Pilots, has made a series of shocking claims about her time as a QantasLink captain.

Ms Pole said the alleged discrimination she faced spanned across several generations of staff as she calls for 'urgent systemic change immediately'.

Louise Pole, the first female president of the Australian Federation of Air Pilots, revealed that one male colleague told her she was not 'big enough' to fly a plane

Pilot Ms Pole made a series of shocking claims about her time as a QantasLink captain

'(The discrimination) starts with comments that are made insinuating a woman isn't able to do the job when it's well known that women are equally capable of being pilots,' she told the Oz.

'I've had all sorts of things said to me, ranging from "You're not big enough to fly the aeroplane" to "If women were meant to fly the sky would be pink".

'I've also had passengers say "If I had known a woman was flying, I would have gotten off the plane".'

Her comments come after another female Qantas pilot, who advocated for gender equality at the airline, revealed that she is now suing the company, claiming she was sexually harassed and discriminated against.

Davida Forshaw, who has been with Qantas for 23 years and is still employed as a first officer, alleges she was sexually harassed by some of her male colleagues during her career in a statement of claim she filed to the Federal Court on Wednesday.

Ms Pole is also the founding Convenor of the AFAP Women's Network which consists of almost 500 women pilots and students.

She added: 'The workplace for a pilot has been very set up for men and lifestyles of men, not women,' she said. 'The numbers of female pilots may be increased, but we need to have more female seniors to help women in junior positions to access help and advice when needed.'

However, she did not wish to comment on whether gender quotas should be implemented for pilots, despite Ms Forshaw calling for them in her court filing.

In the court documents, Ms Forshaw alleges she was told to dye her hair and wear a push-up bra, received a poor performance review after rejecting sexual advances and fetched coffee for pilots.

Ms Forshaw also made five complaints to human resources in the space of three months alleging three senior pilots discriminated against her because of her gender.

The veteran pilot has been the face of gender equality for the airline and mentored women pilots and pushed for more females to join the workforce.

Ms Forshaw claimed she was told by Qantas she would do 'a lot better' if she decided to 'dye her hair blonde and wear a push-up bra,' The Australian reported.

Qantas pilot Davida Forshaw who helped bring gender equality to the airline is suing the company for sexual harassment

She claimed she also rejected the sexual advances of a superior at a hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, before she received a poor performance review.

In court documents, Ms Forshaw alleged she was also told to fetch coffee for male pilots while she was attending an engineering briefing.

Ms Forshaw alleged two male pilots complained about International Women's Day and said they couldn't wait for 'this s**t' to be over in 2018.

She also claimed she shared an exchange with a captain who made a sexually explicit joke by asking her if she was 'one of these "O" women' during a flight in 2019.

Ms Forshaw asked what he meant before he allegedly responded, 'Women who are O-ffended at everything'.

Ms Forshaw claimed another captain appeared shocked when he found out she was a woman pilot during a separate flight to Rome in 2022.

She is seeking monetary compensation from Qantas and is also demanding the airline increase its number of female pilots by introducing a quota.

Ms Forshaw (pictured centre) said in her claim she was told she would do 'a lot better' if she decided to 'dye her hair blonde and wear a push-up bra'

A Qantas spokesperson said the airline took Ms Forshaw's allegations 'extremely seriously'.

'We took immediate action when Ms Forshaw made her complaint after being unsuccessful in a module required to be promoted to a captain,' they said.

'The employees she accused of discrimination or misconduct were stood down from work while we investigated. The claims of discrimination were not substantiated.

'Ms Forshaw has recently made additional allegations about other historical incidents.

'We were not previously aware of these incidents and have asked Ms Forshaw for further information so we can investigate'.

Qantas said 16 per cent of its female pilots are captains - an increase of around 10 per cent over the past five years.

Some 10 women first officers have attempted to become captain since 2019 with Ms Forshaw bring the only unsuccessful one, according to the airline.
Rishi Sunak has been handed an early boost during his first week in No10 after Britons were shown to favour him over Labour's Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.

A new poll by Redfield & Wilton Strategies found two-fifths of voters (41 per cent) thought Mr Sunak is a better PM for the UK at this moment.

This compared to one-third (37 per cent) who backed Sir Keir as the best premier when asked to choose between the pair.

Mr Sunak has moved ahead of Sir Keir in a head-to-head comparison among voters since succeeding Liz Truss as PM last Tuesday.

He also received a further boost as the survey revealed Labour's lead over the Tories had fallen by nine points since last week.

But half of voters (50 per cent) still said they would support Labour at a general election.

This is compared to little more than a quarter (27 per cent) who said they would back the Conservatives.

Labour's poll rating fell by five points since the last Redfield & Wilton Strategies survey, while Mr Sunak's Tories were up by four points.

Yet, with Sir Keir's party still riding high and the Conservatives languishing, Labour remain on course for a huge majority at a general election.

Under an Electoral Calculus prediction, Labour at 50 per cent and the Tories at 27 per cent would give Sir Keir a majority of more than 280 seats in the House of Commons.

A new poll by Redfield & Wilton Strategies revealed Labour's lead over the Tories had fallen by nine points since last week

The survey found two-fifths of voters (41 per cent) thought Rishi Sunak is a better PM for the UK at this moment than Sir Keir Starmer

More than half of voters (54 per cent) think there would be a Labour Government if a general election were held in the next six months

There were signs Mr Sunak has begun to claw back the Tories' competency rating, which plummeted during Liz Truss's disastrous spell in No10

The Redfield & Wilton Strategies poll showed the Tories are still struggling to retain the support of those who voted for them at the 2019 general election.

The survey found 89 per cent of those who voted Labour in 2019 said they would vote Labour again, while just 52 per cent of those who voted Conservative in 2019 said they would vote Conservative again.

But there were signs Mr Sunak has begun to claw back the Tories' competency rating, which plummeted during Ms Truss's disastrous spell in No10.

The Governments net competency rating stood at -34 per cent in the latest Redfield & Wilton Strategies poll, up 30 points from last Sunday.

Altogether, 15 per cent find the Government competent and 49 per cent find the Government incompetent.

Ahead of Mr Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement on 17 November, nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of voters cited the economy as one of the three most important issues that would determine how they would vote in a general election.

This was above healthcare (53 per cent), education (30 per cent), taxation (26 per cent), and immigration (22 per cent).

More than two-fifths (45 per cent) of respondents believed a Labour majority would be the most likely outcome if a general election were held in the next six months.

Less than one-fifth (16 per cent) expected a Conservative majority.

A further nine per cent expected a Labour-led minority Government and 11 per cent expected a Conservative-led minority Government.
A police officer who sexually assaulted a colleague on a drunken night out has been spared jail.

PC James Holt, an officer with Greater Manchester Police, told his victim he had a 'sizeable package' before grabbing his penis over his clothes.

The victim felt 'violated' after the incident, which happened while the pair were on a night out in Manchester city centre with fellow GMP trainees in April last year.

Liverpool and Knowsley Magistrates' Court heard that after 'having had far too much to drink', Holt told the officer he had a 'large penis'.

He also told the victim he had a 'sizeable package' before grabbing his penis over his clothing.

Holt then grabbed the man's penis a second time, the court heard.

James Holt, of Wigan, Greater Manchester, is an officer with Greater Manchester Police

Liverpool & Knowsley Magistrates' Court (pictured) heard how Holt and the officer had joined other trainees for a night out in Manchester in April, last year

The victim immediately felt 'violated' and 'uncomfortable' and told colleagues what had happened.

Christopher Fallows, mitigating on behalf of Holt, told the court his client was remorseful about his actions.

Holt, 33, of Tyldesley, was found guilty of one count of sexual assault after a trial in September.

At a hearing today, District Judge Timothy Boswell made Holt the subject of a nine-month community order. Sentencing Holt, the judge said he did not believe his actions were sexually motivated.

Case heard after 'having had far too much to drink', Holt told the officer he had a 'large penis'

'There is no evidence that it was motivated by any form of sexual attraction or gratification,' he said.

The judge added: 'It seems to me you had far too much to drink and you lost your sense or personal boundaries and behaved in a quite appalling fashion.

'A fashion which left your victim feeling uncomfortable and violated by what you had done.'

Holt was also ordered to complete a 90-day alcohol abstinence programme, ten rehabilitation days and will be monitored by an electronic tag. He was ordered to pay 700 in costs as well as a 95 victim surcharge.

A spokesman for GMP's Professional Standards Branch said: 'PC Holt remains suspended from duty. Following the conclusion of criminal proceedings, misconduct proceedings will now recommence.'
A murder suspect wanted by police after a mother was stabbed to death and her daughter was left wounded has been found dead in a canal.

The body of a man recovered in the vicinity of City Mill Lock off Blaker Road in Newham, east London, on Friday evening is believed to be Miguel Angel Alvarez Florentino.

Florentino, 38, was wanted in connection with the murder of Yolanda Saldana Feliz, 53, who was found stabbed to death at her Stratford home in the early hours of Sunday October 23.

Her 30-year-old daughter named as Lauris by the Evening Standard was also stabbed in the same incident and hospitalised with serious injuries.

A murder investigation was launched and detectives said they believed the suspect was known to both victims.

Police are treating the man's death as unexpected but not suspicious.

Miguel Angel Alvarez Florentino was wanted by police over the death of Yolanda Saldana Feliz

Yolanda Saldana Feliz was found stabbed to death in the early hours of Sunday, October 23

On Wednesday, October 26 detectives issued a public appeal naming the suspect.

A statement issued today said: 'As part of their enquiries, at around 19:30hrs on Friday, 28 October detectives were in the vicinity of Blaker Road, E15 when they became aware of the body of a man in a river.

'The body was retrieved and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

'The death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious.

'While formal identification is yet to take place, they are confident it is the body of Miguel Angel Alvarez Florentino.'

His next of kin have been informed.

Forensics at the scene behind a police cordon following the double stabbing last month

The body of a man recovered in the vicinity of City Mill Lock off Blaker Road in Newham, east London, on Friday evening is believed to be Miguel Angel Alvarez Florentino (stock image)

Yolanda's family has also been updated and continue to be supported by specialist officers.

Officers rushed to an address on Windmill Lane, Newham at 3.35am on October 23.

Police cordoned off an area of the street and staff in blue forensic suits were seen going to and from the scene.

Following the incident, Chief Inspector Lisa Parker of the Met's North East BCU said: 'My thoughts and sympathies are with both of these women as well as their friends and family.

'I know that people in Newham and in particular those in the Stratford area will be shocked and concerned by this tragic incident.

'I share their concern, and can assure them that specialist detectives are working at pace to identify and arrest whoever was responsible.

'Local officers will be patrolling the area, and I urge anyone with information or concerns to speak with those officers. They are there to protect and support you.'
A great-grandfather was killed by a delivery truck reversing up a one-way street, an inquest heard.

Retired barber Patrick McDonald, 82, was out walking when he was knocked over by the van as it reversed up the road in the seaside town.

Emergency services rushed to the scene to take Mr McDonald, known as Vinny, to hospital five miles away.

An inquest heard his injuries were not thought to be life threatening - but his condition deteriorated and he died the next day.

Police are investigating the incident which took place in Rhyl, North Wales, on October 21 after the van was caught reversing on CCTV.

Retired barber Patrick McDonald, 82, was out walking when he was knocked over by the van as it reversed up the road in Rhyl, north Wales, on October 21

Senior coroner John Gittins adjourned Mr McDonald's inquest in Ruthin County Hall (pictured) until a date to be fixed when the police investigation is over

A postmortem by pathologist Dr Bryan Rogers gave a provisional cause of death of severe head and chest injuries at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd hospital.

Senior coroner John Gittins adjourned the inquest in Ruthin until a date to be fixed when the investigation is over.

Mr McDonald previously worked as a bar manager at 'many of the local pubs' and had also been known as 'the best barber in Rhyl'.

His family said: 'Patrick or 'Vinny' as everyone knew him was a loving father, grandfather, great grandfather and brother, he was everyone's friend and was well known and loved by everyone that knew and met him.

'Born in Liverpool, Vinny came to North Wales as a teenager seeking work and loved the area so much that he remained, meeting his wife Lilly, who passed away in 2004, raising his children and grandchildren in the area.

'Vinny latterly met Kath who was his companion for the last 16 years.'
Peterson then joined other protesters outside the venue on Melbourne Cup day

She poured red paint and yelled at racegoers at Ascot Racecourse in Perth

Infamous animal rights activist Tash Peterson has made headlines once again, this time for protesting at Ascot Racecourse by pouring red paint on the ground and screaming at punters as they entered the venue.

The 28-year-old in a video posted to her Facebook page is seen holding a wooden cross with the letters RIP as patrons entered the Perth racecourse on Melbourne Cup Day.

The irate herbivore is heard asking a supporter 'should I start the blood now?' before tipping out the paint and yelling comments such as, 'Horse racing kills, 'You bet they die' and 'If you go to the races you've got blood on your hands'.

She engaged patrons entering the racecourse, including one man who confronted her over oil being put on a track in Melbourne, calling Ms Peterson a 'w***er'.

Ms Peterson responded by saying, 'If you're not vegan you're an animal abuser' before pouring pouring the red paint near his shoes.

Infamous animal rights activist Tash Peterson (pictured) has made headlines once again, this time for protesting at Ascot Racecourse by pouring red paint on the ground and screaming at punters as they entered the venue

She engaged patrons entering the racecourse, including one man (pictured in cream suit) who confronted her over oil being put on a track in Melbourne, calling Ms Peterson a 'w...er'

Ms Peterson told punters, 'You should be ashamed of yourselves, blatant animal abusers' and 'These are the sounds of horses being brutally murdered' as she blared the sound of a horse in distress.

After around ten minutes, two police officers approached the OnlyFans star and asked her to move on and join the peaceful protest opposite the racecourse.

Ms Peterson complied with police orders and as she joined the other protesters she was met with wild cheers.

The stunt comes as she lost her appeals against two disorderly behaviour convictions in the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

In August she said she was on the 'wrong side of the law' but the 'right side of history' as she made it clear she would appeal the convictions.

Ms Peterson yelled at people, 'You should be ashamed of yourselves, blatant animal abusers' and 'These are the sounds of horses being brutally murdered' as she blared the sound of horses in distress

After around ten minutes, two police officers approached Ms Peterson and asked her to move on and join the peaceful protest opposite the racecourse

'I have received a prosecution notice and summons to court for three criminal offences for one protest that I did in June,' she posted to Instagram.

'Two charges of trespass in Outback Jack's and Old Shanghai in Northbridge and one charge of disorderly conduct as a result of raising awareness about the animal holocaust in the meat, dairy and egg industries.

'I currently have a criminal record of three convictions as a result of my activism and will be appealing two convictions of disorderly conduct in the Supreme Court this September.'

In the Outback Jacks incident, Ms Peterson screamed at diners and blasted distressing sounds of animals in pain from a loudspeaker.

She roamed around the restaurant shouting at people as they ate, 'There is blood on your hands if you're not a vegan'.

Ms Peterson is now banned from all licensed venues in WA.

The activist is known for dressing up as a cow and demonstrating in the meat section of supermarkets, invading the pitch at an AFLW match, and donning a blood-soaked apron while screaming at patrons in a KFC and Coles

In September she laid down in a human-sized meat tray in Sydney's busy Pitt Street Mall almost naked, covered in blood and wrapped up in plastic like a slab of meat.

In August she also celebrated the anniversary of her 'most powerful protest' by stripping down and smearing 'blood' in a Louis Vuitton store for a second time, one year after pulling a similar stunt.

In the original protest, she marched topless through the Louis Vuitton store in Perth, smeared with her own menstrual blood.

She was subsequently fined $3,500 by a Perth magistrate for the display.

The activist also has dressed up as a cow and demonstrated in the meat section of supermarkets, invaded the pitch at an AFLW match, and donned a blood-soaked apron while screaming at patrons in a KFC and Coles.
Russia suspends, not withdraws from grain export deal with Ukraine: Defense Ministry

Xinhua) 13:05, November 01, 2022

MOSCOW, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Defense Ministry announced Monday that as the main participant in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia does not withdraw from it but suspends it.

Russia has halted traffic along the security corridor in the Black Sea defined by the grain export deal with Ukraine, the ministry said in a statement, accusing Kiev of launching military attacks via the humanitarian route.

"The movement of ships along the security corridor is unacceptable since the Ukrainian leadership and the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces use it to conduct military operations against Russia," the statement said.

"There is no question of guaranteeing the security of any object in the corridor until the Ukrainian side accepts additional obligations not to use this route for military purposes," it said.

The ministry said the Russian side has conveyed its position to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council, and hopes that the UN will assist in obtaining guarantees from Ukraine "not to use the humanitarian corridor and Ukrainian ports designated for the export of agricultural products for conducting military operations against Russia."

On July 22, Russia and Ukraine separately signed a document in Istanbul with Turkiye and the United Nations on grain and fertilizer exports from Ukraine and Russia to ensure supplies to global markets amid the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict.

On Oct. 29, Russia announced the decision to immediately and indefinitely suspend its implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, accusing Ukraine of launching drone attacks against the Russian Black Sea Fleet's ships and infrastructure at the naval base in Sevastopol.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)
The Oklahoma state archeologist disclosed Monday the discovery of 17 more adult burials at an excavation site at Oaklawn Cemetery as part of Tulsa's efforts to identify unidentified victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre was committed by a violent White gang who targeted Black citizens and devastated Tulsa's Greenwood area, a booming Black industrial hub.

Years later, the city is still investigating the events of the bloodbath. The Tulsa Historical Society and Museum said there were as many as 300 individuals killed and over a thousand houses wrecked, according to CNN.

According to the city, 26 death certificates were issued in 1921 for Black victims of the Tulsa Massacre, and 21 were interred in Oaklawn Cemetery.

Investigation Efforts Intensified

Following the success of last year's cemetery excavation, which resulted in 19 exhumations, a new round of digging began on October 26 this year, as reported in the latest investigative update, Tulsa World reported.

According to Oklahoma State Archaeologist Kary Stackelbeck, 17 adult graves were uncovered.

Stackelbeck updated her Facebook page with the news that hand excavation had begun around the caskets to assist select which bones would be suitable for exhumation and analysis in a forensics lab.

The city has also announced that a forensics team will be present to help gather workable DNA samples.

Stackelbeck underscored that they are working on every phase of the process as cautiously as possible.

"And so we're also anticipating having members of the Public Oversight Committee who are going to help us with the process of transporting remains from the excavation area to the forensics lab," the expert remarked, as reported by 2News Oklahoma.



Read Also: India Bridge Collapse Videos Show Devastating Aftermath of Tragedy That Killed At Least 78

According to the city website, the Public Oversight Committee comprises descendants and prominent Black personalities from the Tulsa neighborhood, who offer guidance to the city during its investigation.

She explained that scientists are interested in identifying the coffins' building method, form, and whether or not any equipment was left behind.

Stackelbeck explained that this would be done as part of the procedure by which the team would decide which remains from the Tulsa Race Massacre would be exhumed and which would be left where they were.

Seven additional DNA samples were collected last week as part of the work done at the original excavation site.

A Productive Effort For Tulsa City

On Monday, researchers in fluorescent vests removed buckets of dirt from the pit where the 12 coffins were discovered on Friday and brought them to a neighboring workspace, where it was sifted.

Stackelbeck claims that they widened their gravesite excavation. Researchers uncovered 17 graves, including 16 that were completely visible and one that was just partially visible.

The presumed victims of the Tulsa Massacre, who are buried at Oaklawn, will be exhumed, and their remains will be transported to a laboratory for further testing and comparison with historical records and reports.

The second time that an excavation has been conducted to investigate unmarked graves, it has been fruitful. This winter, researchers are still trying to identify the 19 bodies found after the initial excavation last summer.

Tulsa Race Massacre grave exhumation is set to conclude by November 18.

When attempting to identify the remains of potential victims, per NPR, Intermountain Forensics is looking for people who believe they are descendants of massacre victims to donate genetic samples.

Follow 1921 Graves' Facebook page for excavation updates.

Related Article: Russian Archaeologists' Amazing Find of a 2,100-Year-Old Burial Containing Aphrodite 'Priestess' in Black Sea Coast

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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The Crown's desire to 'knock' the Monarchy 'whenever possible' will cause a 'good deal of pain', a royal expert has today claimed, after Netflix released a new trailer featuring acted scenes from the discredited Martin Bashir interview.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams says he fears the new season of the hit royal drama, set to air later this month, could harm the reputation of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla.

Season 5 of the big-budget series will focus on the 1990s, Princess Diana's failing marriage to Charles and the lead up to her tragic death in 1997.

It is also set to feature her bombshell interview with BBC Panorama in 1995, in which she alluded to Charles' affair with Camilla by saying 'there were three of us in this marriage'.

But the dramatisation of the interview by a private streaming service could cause tension with the royal family. It follows a report last year which found Bashir had used forged documents to play on Diana's paranoia and coax her into the exclusive sit-down.

Following the report, by Lord Dyson, Prince William said Bashir's deceit had hastened his parents' divorce and 'hurt countless others' and called for it to never be aired again.

He also said those intending to write about it 'need to address the false narrative' that it had established. It is understood Netflix will feature a four-minute acted-out segment in the new series and that the show's creators will contextualise the event with details now known about how it was obtained.

But royal commentator Mr Fitzwilliams believes bringing up the interview, and other parts of Diana's final years, could bring up 'a good deal of pain' for the royal family, including both William and Prince Harry.

He told MailOnline: 'There were always dangers which The Crown had to surmount as it moved into the 1990s.

The Crown's desire to 'knock' the Monarchy 'whenever possible' will cause a 'good deal of pain', a royal expert has today claimed, after Netflix released a new trailer featuring acted scenes from the discredited Martin Bashir interview. Pictured: Elizabeth Debicki plays Princess Diana during the interview with Martin Bashir

Season 5 of the big-budget series will focus on the 1990s, Princess Diana's failing marriage to Charles and the lead up to her tragic death in 1997. It is also set to feature her bombshell interview with BBC Panorama in 1995, in which she alluded to Charles' affair with Camilla by saying 'there were three of us in this marriage'. Pictured: Olivia Williams as Camilla and Dominic West as Charles, from season five of The Crown

The dramatisation of the 1995 interview (pictured) by a private streaming service could cause tension with the royal family following a report last year which found Bashir had used forged documents to play on Diana's paranoia her and coax her into the exclusive sit-down

Following the report, by Lord Dyson, Prince William (pictured giving a statement following Lord Dyson's report) said Bashir's deceit in obtaining his interview Diana hastened his parents' divorce and 'hurt countless others' and called for it to never be aired again

'Apart from calls for a disclaimer before each episode, only observed so far in the marketing for the 5th series, it obviously had to show Diana's interview on Panorama, probably the most famous television interview ever given, in some form. This interview has been totally discredited and the subsequent cover up by the BBC is notorious.

'William has called for it never to be screened again and this depiction is bound to increase interest in it. Yet no series which purports to cover this period, as The Crown does, could possibly ignore it.

'I am pretty certain it will be shown as a discredited and dubious enterprise and Bashir as the shockingly duplicitous character that he is.

'I fear what is coming will cause a good deal of pain to those involved, Netflix will probably get a vast audience for it but indications from previews are that, for the royals, this is nothing short of a horror show.'

PR expert Mr Fitzwilliams believes the series will continue to 'take Diana's side' in Season 5, following criticism of the last season, in which Diana was portrayed as naive and overly trusting and Charles as uncaring

PR expert Mr Fitzwilliams also believes the series will continue to 'take Diana's side' in Season 5, following criticism of the last season, in which Diana was portrayed as naive and overly trusting and Charles as uncaring.

He said: 'If The Crown continues to show Charles, as played by Josh O'Connor in the last series, as a laughably selfish and ineffective wimp it will be grotesque. Dominic West is a fine actor as is O'Connor.

'The series as expected takes Diana's side, at least up to now, but mocks the King and will do damage to his reputation and probably that of the Queen Consort too.

Given The Crown's desire to knock the monarchy whenever possible, the 1990s, which was a nightmare for the royal family, is clearly the perfect opportunity.

'Early reports indicate that they are portrayed as nothing better than a callous mafia, which Olivia Colman glumly presided over in Series 4 playing the Queen as an ill mannered and undignified creature without feelings.'

Meanwhile, royal writer Robert Jobson, believes the interview is a vital part of covering The Crown covering the royals in the 1990s.

Mr Jobson, co-author of Diana: Closely Guarded Secret written with Diana's Scotland Yard Personal Protection Officer Ken Wharfe, told MailOnline: 'My feeling about the Diana Interview has always been although it was obtained by nacreous means - lies in fact - Princess Diana at that time in her life wanted to have her say about a number of issues.

'If she had not spoken to Martin Bashir in time she would have found a media outlet to do it. Nobody can change or rewrite history and the Diana interview was part of history watched by many millions.'

It comes after Netflix was accused of ignoring pleas from Prince William not to exploit Princess Diana's bombshell Panorama interview with Martin Bashir during the fifth series of The Crown in a two-episode bombshell - which even shows her eldest son watching it on TV as a schoolboy and his father Charles crying while declaring: 'What the hell is she doing?'

The popular series, which airs on November 9, is set to show recreate parts of the hour-long 1995 interview with the disgraced BBC journalist over two episodes and will include its most inflammatory parts.

Royal writer Robert Jobson, believes the interview is a vital part of covering The Crown covering the royals in the 1990s

It was initially thought that producers had cut the recreation to show just seconds of the interview, but it will instead be shortened to a four-minute and 23-second segment.

The recreation will show William watching on as a schoolboy at Eton, while Charles will be seen shouting and sobbing as she casts doubts on his ability to be King, The Sun reports.

The interview will also include Diana's sensational remarks that 'there were three of us in the marriage' - a reference to Charles and Camilla.

She will say she wanted to be a 'Queen in people's hearts', but does not believe she will ever become Queen.

But the decision to recreate the interview puts Netflix at odds with William, who has called for the groundbreaking scenes never to be aired again.

In a highly critical statement - a rarity for the royals - given after the findings of the Dyson report, William said: 'It is my firm view that this Panorama programme holds no legitimacy and should never be aired again.

'It effectively established a false narrative, which for over a quarter of a century has been commercialised by the BBC and others.

'This narrative now needs to be addressed by the BBC and anyone else who has written, or intends to write about these events.'

It also comes despite Prince Harry, who claimed the interview 'lost his mother her life', having signed a 112million deal with the streaming service for him and his wife Meghan.

He branded it 'unethical' and claimed the interview triggered the events that caused his mother to lose her life two years later.

Meanwhile, William said Bashir's deceit in obtaining his 1995 chat with Diana hastened his parents' divorce and 'hurt countless others' and called for it to never be aired again.

Netflix is also said to have exaggerated language and made up sections of the interview, according to The Sun.

The popular series is set to show the hour-long 1995 interview with the disgraced BBC journalist over two episodes

The then Prince of Wales, played by Dominic West in The Crown, shown crying in the trailer for the show as Diana casts doubts on his ability to be King

Princess Diana pictured during her Panorama interview with Martin Bashir for the BBC in 1995

Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, Princess of Wales appearing in the fifth season of the streaming giant's show, The Crown

Elizabeth Debicki plays Princess Diana in the Netflix series, which is now likely to face a backlash from royals

The decision to recreate the interview puts Netflix at odds with William, who has called for the groundbreaking scenes never to be aired again

The decision to recreate the interview comes despite Prince Harry, who claimed the interview 'lost his mother her life', having signed a 112million deal with the streaming service for him and his wife Meghan

How Charles and William reacted while watching the BBC Bashir interview with Princess Diana, according to The Crown SCENE 1 Martin Bashir (MB): Your Royal Highness, do you genuinely believe that members of the royal household have been out to get you? Princess Diana (PD): When I separated from the Prince of Wales I was seen as problem number one, the first of my kind. SCENE 2 MB: When your first son was born, that must have been a very happy moment? PD: When William was born I became unwell with postnatal depression. I just wanted to stay in bed all day. I was in a very dark place. MB: Did you reach out for help? PD: I suppose if you're the first person in a family to ever feel low then it's pretty hard to get the support you need, so you suffer alone. SCENE 3 MB: Your husband is said to have rekindled his relationship with Mrs Camilla Parker Bowles around 1986, did this continue to the breakdown of your marriage? PD: Well there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded. Was I devastated? Yes. Did I feel like a failure? Mmm. MB: Reflecting back you say the Royal Family has effectively given up on you? Why do you think that is? PD: Because I don't do things the way they do. Because I want to connect with people emotionally and comfort them in distress. MB: And this isn't something that the Royal Family provides? PD: You have to remember I didn't just marry into a family I married into a system. But I won't go quietly. I'll battle till the end. MB: What impact do you think the breakdown of your marriage had on Prince William? PD: Well, he's a boy that's a serious thinker so it's hard to know the impact just yet, we'll have to wait a few years to see. SCENE 4 William is watching it on TV at Eton but moves away from the screen when a teacher asks: 'Are you ok?' SCENE 5 MB: Do you believe Prince Charles will be King? PD: Who knows what fate will bring, it's a very demanding and suffocating role and Charles was always conflicted about it SCENE 6 Prince Charles is watching the interview and exclaims: 'Oh God' He adds: 'What the hell is she doing?' SCENE 7 MB: Some might view this as you taking revenge on the Prince of Wales PD: I don't speak with bitterness or anger, but sorrow, because our marriage has failed. SCENE 8 Charles is shown crying SCENE 9 MB: Do you think you will ever be Queen? PD: I'd like to be a queen of people's hearts. But I don't envisage myself ever being queen of this country, no. I don't think many people will be calling for that, when I say people I mean those at the top, on my husband's side, because they've decided I'm an issue, full stop. A liability. But someone's got to go out on to the streets and give people the love that they need. Advertisement

Majesty Magazine editor-in-chief Ingrid Seward told the newspaper: 'William will be furious. He said his piece when he said it should never be aired again. This is his mother and her memory they are doing this to.

'It must be very frustrating as he can't say any more because it will just give Netflix more publicity.

'They should have listened to him. The interview has no credibility after the investigation. Everyone knows it has no legitimacy now.

'Charles will think they can say whatever they want about him but leave Harry and William out of it. He won't give a stuff about how he comes across but just don't attack his sons this way.'

The dramatisation of the interview will attribute blame to King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, and depict Diana in a sympathetic light.

Charles is shown yelling and swearing as Diana gives the interview, with the scene ending with him breaking down in tears alongside Camilla.

William, meanwhile, is shown watching the interview as a young boy attending Eton.

Visibly upset, his schoolmaster begins to console him, but William insists he is 'fine' before walking away from the TV.

A spokesperson for the prince has been approached for comment, but William said in April that the interview 'played on her fears and fuelled paranoia'.

Reacting to Lord Dyson's damning report into how the original interview was obtained, he said: 'It is welcome that the BBC accepts Lord Dyson's findings in full  which are extremely concerning  that BBC employees: lied and used fake documents to obtain the interview with my mother; made lurid and false claims about the Royal Family which played on her fears and fuelled paranoia; displayed woeful incompetence when investigating complaints and concerns about the programme; and were evasive in their reporting to the media and covered up what they knew from their internal investigation.'

He added: 'It is my view that the deceitful way the interview was obtained substantially influenced what my mother said.'

'This Panorama programme holds no legitimacy and should never be aired again. It effectively established a false narrative which, for over a quarter of a century, has been commercialised by the BBC and others.'

The independent report plunged the BBC into one of the worst crises in its history, with the two royals accusing it of ruining their mother's life and helping to bring about the events that led to her death two years later.

Despite this, the episodes have gone ahead as planned.

Insiders said: 'The Crown's creators see the interview as the keystone moment in series five. To the writers, the stormy marriage between Charles and Di led up to her outpouring on Panorama, and the aftermath of that decision defined her final months.

'They are making a huge investment in that. The Crown has a track record of delving into areas of the Royal Family's history they'd rather be left alone.'

Bashir commissioned forged bank statements in flagrant breach of BBC rules to convince Earl Spencer to introduce him to Diana, Lord Dyson concluded in his excoriating inquiry.

Bashir admitted at the time to having the documents forged, but denied ever showing them to anybody.

A Netflix spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Season 5 of The Crown will dramatise events surrounding the Panorama interview, given the pivotal part it played during the time period the series covers. It will reflect what we now know about how the interview was obtained and how Diana was treated. The interview is not recreated in full.'

It comes as Netflix is already facing accusations of 'insensitivity' from Diana's friends after crew from The Crown were spotted filming the moments leading up to her fatal car crash - just 100 yards from the Paris tunnel where she died 25 years ago.

Our exclusive photographs showed filming of a Mercedes in Paris near the site of the car crash that claimed her and Dodi Al Fayed's lives.

Onlookers said Netflix crew were seen filming between 2am and 3am today around 100 yards from the Alma tunnel, where the crash happened in the early hours of August 31, 1997.

The pictures show a black Mercedes like the one the couple were travelling in on that tragic day being filmed in another nearby tunnel on the same road.

Netflix has insisted the 'exact moment' of the crash will not feature in the controversial drama, which has recently come under fire for sensationalism and inaccuracy.

A friend of Diana's said the show's makers could face accusations of 'insensitivity' over the filming in Paris. Debbie Frank, who was Diana's astrologer, said it would be 'terrible' for Princes William and Harry to see a recreation of the moments leading up to their mother's death.

'It's obviously terrible for Diana's children to have to see that again. It's insensitive,' she said.

She added: 'I feel Diana's death and the crash was the biggest shock our generation. It had such a huge impact across the national psyche.

'I guess the makers of The Crown feel they are entitled to show a re-enactment of scenes leading up to her death and that it has dramatic impact. But relatives would think otherwise.'
Russia is considering what 'further steps' to take after accusing Britain of coordinating attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipes.

Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin's spokesman, said Kremlin intelligence agents 'have data indicating British military specialists were directing and coordinating the attack' which destroyed two gas lines running from Russia to Germany in September.

'There is evidence that Britain is involved in sabotage...a terrorist act against vital energy infrastructure,' he told reporters.

'Such actions cannot be put aside. Of course, we will think about further steps. It definitely cannot be left like this.'

It comes after Kim Dotcom, who ran site Megaupload before he was convicted of fraud, began circulating a conspiracy theory that Liz Truss had texted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken immediately after the attack saying 'it's done'.

Kim claimed to have learned of the message from Truss's iCloud, after it was revealed that Russia hacked her phone while she was foreign secretary.

Neither Kim nor Peskov have released the evidence they claim to have seen.

But the accusation represents a new line of attack from Russia at the US and Britain, which have led support for Ukraine in resisting Putin's invasion.

London has rejected the claims.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesman said on Tuesday that London would not be drawn into 'distractions which are part of the Russian playbook'.

On Monday, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told the Commons that Russian allegations against the UK were 'increasingly detached from reality'.

'They are designed to distract the Russian people from the reality of Russian failures on the battlefield,' he told MPs.

Russia has accused the UK of orchestrating the blasts which destroyed the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines with the US, saying security services have 'data' proving it

It comes after conspiracy theory circulated online claiming Liz Truss texted US secretary of state Antony Blinken after the attack saying 'it's done' while her phone was hacked

Western leaders have stopped short of publicly blaming Russia for the attack - which blew two holes in each pipeline and may have permanently disabled them - but have been privately briefing their suspicions that the Russian president was behind it.

Kim's claim about Truss's iPhone was also picked up and parroted by Russian foreign ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova, who demanded answers.

'Frankly, I don't care who got this information or how,' she said. 'I am interested in London's response to the following question:

Did British Prime Minister Liz Truss send a message to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the immediate aftermath of the bombing of the Nord Stream pipeline saying "It's done?"'

Russia's claims appear inconsistent with what is known about Truss's phone hack, which was first reported by the Mail on Sunday.

Kim Dotcom (pictured), who ran site Megaupload before he was convicted of fraud, began circulating a conspiracy theory that Liz Truss had texted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken immediately after the attack saying 'it's done'

According to the paper, the hack was discovered 'over the summer' while Truss was still Foreign Secretary and in the running to replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister.

The pipe blast did not occur until September 26, more than two weeks after the contest concluded with Truss declared the victor.

While the public did not learn about the hack until recently, the Mail on Sunday reports those in government did know about it and decided to hush it up.

It therefore seems highly unlikely that Truss would have been allowed to keep using the phone until the time of the blast - especially to send sensitive messages to America's top diplomat.

The US has denied having anything to do with the blast but has stopped short of publicly blaming Russia amid confusion over how exactly the attack was carried out

Sources told the Mail on Sunday that the device is now being kept inside a locked safe at at secure government location.

Russia and Putin have repeatedly denied carrying out attacks on the Nord Stream pipes, pointing the finger of blame at the US.

Nord Stream 2 was due to become the main route for Russian gas reaching Europe but was scrapped by Germany when Putin invaded.

Nord Stream 1 had been operating for a decade and ferried huge amounts of gas to the continent, which it relied upon for almost 40 per cent of its energy.

But it was barely in use at the time of the explosion after Russia throttled supplies to just 10 per cent capacity - blaming maintenance issues.

Nobody is sure exactly how the attack was carried out, but theories include that Russia may have used one of its underwater sabotage submarines.

Others suggest some kind of explosive could have been dropped from the surface days or weeks ahead of time and then detonated, or that a drone controlled by a nearby ship or sub could have done it.

The area of the blasts - which sits just outside of Swedish and Danish territorial waters - is now cordoned off and Stockholm is leading a probe into what happened.

A series of powerful explosions on September 26 tore four large holes in the Nord Stream pipes, which may have permanently disabled them (pictured, one of the pipes)

Nord Stream 1 was the main route for Russian gas reaching Europe but had been largely shut down before the blast. Nord Stream 2 was due to double capacity, but never opened

Ukraine shoots down two Russian choppers in three minutes - weeks after blasting four helicopters in 18 minutes - as Putin's forces increase air attacks in bid to reverse defeats in Kherson

By Jack Newman for MailOnline

Ukraine has shot down two Russian attack helicopters in just three minutes in the latest blow to Putin's botched invasion.

Anti-aircraft gunners hit the Ka-52 Alligators in the southern Kherson region yesterday evening, Ukraine's Air Force said.

The 12million single-seat attack helicopter is nicknamed the Black Shark and has been described as Russia's 'deadliest helicopter'.

Its battlefield management system allows it to share data with other aircraft to coordinate attack operations.

It came weeks after Ukrainian troops shot down four Russian helicopters in 18 minutes.

Ukraine also blew up a Mi-8 helicopter gunship in Donetsk after a surface-to-air missile picked it out of the sky yesterday.

Footage shows the Russian attack helicopter flying low across a field before it is hit by a missile which explodes on impact - but the chopper continues to fly for some time with flames gushing out of its left side.

Ukraine has shot down two Russian attack helicopters in just three minutes in the latest blow to Putin's botched invasion. File image of Ka-52 Alligator

Footage shows a Russian attack helicopter flying low across a field before it is hit by a missile in Donetsk

The helicopter begins emitting black smoke and then comes crashing down in a fireball in a field, rolling on to its roof as its rotor breaks off.

The images were obtained from the 54th Separate Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Monday, along with statement saying that the images were filmed on the 'administrative borders of Luhansk and Donetsk regions'.

They added: 'Somehow a Russian helicopter flew in to bring death to Ukrainian families, but the sky is tightly controlled by the glorious soldiers of the anti-aircraft missile division of the 54th Separate Mechanised Brigade.

'The soldiers saw a foreign 'bird' in the sky and did what had to be done - they 'destroyed the harmful fly' together with its crew.'

They signed off with 'Glory to Ukraine!'

Last month Ukraine carried off a similar rampage, downing four helicopters in 18 minutes in the country's south.

The missile explodes on impact but the chopper continues to fly for some time with flames gushing out of its left side

The helicopter begins emitting black smoke and then comes crashing down in a fireball in a field, rolling onto its roof as its rotor breaks off

The helicopters - presumed to be Soviet-era KA-52 models - were taken down by Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile units.

During his evening address, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the country's forces had shot down 45 of 55 cruise missiles on Monday, and a Ka-52 alligator was downed.

'Today our air forces and everyone involved in protecting the skies did a great job,' said Zelensky. 'Most of the objects that the terrorists identified as targets were saved.'

Ukraine claims Russia has now lost about 72,470 personnel, 2,698 tanks, 5,501 armoured combat vehicles, 1,730 artillery units, 383 multiple launch rocket systems, 197 air defence systems, 276 warplanes, 257 helicopters, 1,415 drones, 397 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,143 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 154 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv's forces had shot down 45 of 55 cruise missiles yesterday, and a further Ka-52 alligator was downed

Just north of Kherson, Russia fired four missiles into the Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv overnight, demolishing half an apartment building.

Reuters saw rescue workers recover the body of an elderly woman from the rubble.

As rush hour was under way, people walked past a two-storey school, the front of which had been torn off by the force of the blast that left a massive crater.

'This is what the barbarian horde does,' said Irena Siden, 48, the school's deputy director, standing in front of the gutted building as workers swept up the rubble.

'They [the Russians] are the descendants of the barbarian horde. They stole our history and how they are trying to steal our culture.'

Russia fired a huge volley of missiles at Ukrainian cities on Monday in what Putin called retaliation for an attack on Russia's Black Sea Fleet at the weekend.

Ukraine said it shot most of those missiles down but some had hit power stations, knocking out electricity and water supplies.

'That's not all we could have done,' Putin said at a televised news conference.'

Russia orders tens of thousands civilians to evacuate Kherson, raising fears Putin's men will detonate 'dirty bomb' or blow up dam and flood towns in the region in false flag attack

Russia has ordered the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians in Ukraine, raising fears of a massive escalation of the war.

Up to 70,000 residents in the Russian-controlled eastern bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson have been told to flee their homes because of imminent danger.

The region's Kremlin-backed leader warned Ukraine is preparing to detonate a 'dirty bomb' or carry out a missile strike on the nearby hydroelectric station to deliberately flood the area.

But the dire warnings have raised fears that Russia will carry out those attacks after previous false flag threats.

Ukraine says the evacuations represent a war crime because civilians are being forcibly deported from occupied territory.

Russia, which claims to have annexed the area, says it is taking civilians to safety because of a threat Ukraine might use unconventional weapons.

Russia had previously ordered civilians out of a pocket it controls on the west bank of the river, where Ukrainian forces have been advancing to capture the city of Kherson.

Residents in the Russian-controlled eastern bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson have been told to flee their homes because of imminent danger. The region is near intense fighting and surrounds the Kakhovka Dam which is a feared target for missile strikes

A man comforts an elderly woman as they board a ferry during the evacuation of Kherson residents yesterday

Ferries with civilian evacuees depart from Kherson River Port in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict

A boy holds a cat on board a ferry carrying civilians away from their homes in Kherson after the evacuation order

Ukraine says the evacuations represent a war crime because civilians are being forcibly deported from occupied territory

But now the order has been extended to the eastern bank due to the latest threats.

'Due to the possibility of the use of prohibited methods of war by the Ukrainian regime, as well as information that Kyiv is preparing a massive missile strike on the Kakhovka hydroelectric station, there is an immediate danger of the Kherson region being flooded,' Vladimir Saldo, Russian-installed head of occupied Kherson province, said in a video message.

'Given the situation, I have decided to expand the evacuation zone by 15 km from the Dnipro,' he said.

'The decision will make it possible to create a layered defence in order to repel Ukrainian attacks and protect civilians.'

Kyiv has denied it plans to attack the Kakhovka dam, a 100 ft high, two-mile-long facility and unleash a reservoir the size of the Great Salt Lake across southern Ukraine, flooding towns and villages, several of which Russian forces seized at the start of the war.

Ukraine said repeated Russian claims that Ukraine is preparing an attack on the dam, which regulates water supplies to the annexed Crimean peninsula and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, were a sign that Russia itself was considering staging an attack and blaming it on Kyiv and its Western supporters.

Moscow has also accused Kyiv of planning to use a so-called 'dirty bomb' to spread radiation, or to blow up a dam to flood towns and villages in Kherson province.

Kyiv says accusations it would use such tactics on its own territory are absurd, but that Russia might be planning such actions itself to blame Ukraine.

People wait for departure on board a ferry during the evacuation of Kherson residents

Russia, which claims to have annexed the area, says it is taking civilians to safety because of a threat Ukraine might use unconventional weapons

Russia had previously ordered civilians out of a pocket it controls on the west bank of the river

Experts from the United Nations' nuclear power agency inspected two sites in Ukraine on Tuesday that Russia identified in unfounded claims that Ukrainian authorities planned to set off the dirty bombs.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said the inspections for evidence of a so-called dirty bomb, requested by Kyiv in the wake of the unsubstantiated Russian allegations, would be completed soon.

In the wake of battlefield setbacks for Russia in its war in Ukraine, top Russian officials including Putin, made unsubstantiated accusations that Ukraine was manufacturing such an explosive device, which scatters radioactive waste.

The Russians, without providing evidence, alleged the Ukrainians planned to make the purported bomb look like Russia's doing.

Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, alleged in a letter to Security Council members last week that Ukraine's nuclear research facility and mining company 'received direct orders from Zelensky's regime to develop such a dirty bomb.'

Western nations have called Moscow's repeated claim 'transparently false.'

Ukrainian authorities dismissed it as an attempt to distract attention from Moscow's own alleged plans to detonate a dirty bomb as a way to justify a further escalation of hostilities.

The region's Kremlin-backed leader warned Ukraine is preparing to detonate a 'dirty bomb' or carry out a missile strike

Russia fired four missiles into the Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv overnight, demolishing half an apartment building (pictured)

Lilia and daughter Christina inspect their damaged flat in Mykolaiv after the strike

The International Atomic Energy Agency has said the investigated sites 'are under IAEA safeguards and have been visited regularly by IAEA inspectors,' whose mission is detecting undeclared nuclear activities and materials related to the development of dirty bombs.

'The IAEA inspected one of the two locations a month ago and no undeclared nuclear activities or materials were found there,' the agency said in a statement Monday.

The U.N.'s atomic energy watchdog also has had on-site monitors at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Fighting around near Europe's largest nuclear power station has created worries of a possibly catastrophic leak there.

The mouth of the wide Dnipro River has also become one of the most consequential frontlines in the war in recent weeks, with Ukrainian forces advancing to expel Russian troops from their only pocket on the west bank.

Russia has thousands of troops there and has been trying to reinforce the area.

Ukraine's advance has slowed in recent days, with commanders citing weather and tougher terrain.

Saldo, the Russian-imposed occupation leader for the province, identified seven towns on the east bank that would now be evacuated, comprising the main populated settlements along that stretch of the river.

The European Union accused Moscow on Tuesday of launching a new programme to illegally conscript men in Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014, to fight in its forces.

The EU statement said Moscow was disproportionately conscripting members of Crimea's indigenous Tatar minority to fight in its war.

Russia, which launched its 'special military operation' in Ukraine in February, has announced it has completed a mobilisation drive ordered in September by President Vladimir Putin, saying it had called up 300,000 reservists and more were not needed.

But Putin has not issued a decree ending the mobilisation, raising concern he could restart it without notice.

A dog walks past a crater in the road from a missile strike, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in the eastern Donbas region of Drobysheve

A view shows debris of a residential house destroyed by a Russian missile attack in Mykolaiv

A destroyed bridge leading to the Orthodox Christian monastery The Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra over the Siverskyi Donets river is seen

A senior Russian ruling party senator said on Tuesday a decree formally ending the mobilisation was not needed.

Thousands of Russian men have fled abroad to escape conscription to a conflict which has killed thousands, displaced millions, shaken the global economy and reopened Cold War-era divisions.

Just north of Kherson, Russia fired four missiles into the Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv overnight, demolishing half an apartment building.

Reuters saw rescue workers recover the body of an elderly woman from the rubble.

As rush hour was under way, passersby walked past a two-storey school, the front of which had been torn off by the force of the blast that left a massive crater.

'This is what the barbarian horde does,' said Irena Siden, 48, the school's deputy director, standing in front of the gutted building as workers began sweeping up the rubble.

'They (the Russians) are the descendants of the barbarian horde. They stole our history and how they are trying to steal our culture.'

Russia fired a huge volley of missiles at Ukrainian cities on Monday in what Putin called retaliation for an attack on Russia's Black Sea Fleet at the weekend. Ukraine said it shot most of those missiles down, but some had hit power stations, knocking out electricity and water supplies.

'That's not all we could have done,' Putin said at a televised news conference.

Putin has also suspended cooperation with a U.N.-backed programme to escort cargo ships carrying grain out of the war zone. The three-month-old programme had lifted a de facto Russian blockade of Ukraine, one of the world's biggest grain producers, and averted a global food crisis.

Russia's suspension of cooperation had raised international fears that a food crisis could return, but so far Moscow has not restored its blockade, with 12 ships able to depart Ukraine on Monday carrying grain, and three more sailing on Tuesday.

Whether those shipments can continue may depend on whether insurers are still willing to underwrite them.
British comedian Ricky Gervais today called out James Corden for repeating his 2018 stand-up joke about guitar lessons 'word for word' on his Late Late Show.

Gervais, 61, tweeted a clip from Corden's show, which aired on Halloween night, in which the host jokes about Twitter users getting angry about a poster in a town square about guitar lessons.

But Corden's joke is directly repeating Gervais' gag from his 2018 Netflix stand-up comedy gig Ricky Gervais: Humanity.

Gervais, retweeting a clip of Corden repeating his joke on The Late Late Show last night, said in a since deleted tweet: 'The bit about the town square advert for guitar lessons is brilliant.'

Gervais said he deleted the original tweet because he 'felt sorry for Corden'.

Gervais, 61, tweeted a clip from Corden's show, which aired on Halloween night, in which the host jokes about Twitter users getting angry about a poster in a town square about guitar lessons

But Corden's joke is directly repeating Gervais' joke from his 2018 Netflix stand-up comedy gig Ricky Gervais: Humanity

But Corden's joke is a copy - practically word for word - of Gervais' joke that he made in 2018. In 2018, Gervais said that people were taking things too personally on Twitter

Gervais said in 2018: 'They choose to read my tweet, and then take that personally. 'That's like going into a town square, seeing a big notice board and there's a notice - guitar lessons - and you go, 'But I don't want f***ing guitar lessons'.'

How Corden used Gervais joke four years later What Corden said: 'If someone puts up a poster in a town square that says 'guitar lessons available', like you don't get people in the town going: 'I don't want to play guitar! I want to play the piano you piece of s**t'!' 'Well that sign wasn't for you. It was for somebody else! You don't have to get mad about all of it.' What Gervais said in 2018: 'They choose to read my tweet, and then take that personally. 'That's like going into a town square, seeing a big notice board and there's a notice - guitar lessons - and you go, 'But I don't want f***ing guitar lessons'.' Gervais added: 'Fine, it's not for you then, just walk away. Don't worry about it!' Advertisement

On an episode of his Halloween show, released last night, Corden was speaking about Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter when he made the joke.

Corden, who has been embroiled in controversy in recent months over the omelette saga, said: 'If someone puts up a poster in a town square that says 'guitar lessons available', like you don't get people in the town going: 'I don't want to play guitar! I want to play the piano you piece of s**t'!'

'Well that sign wasn't for you. It was for somebody else! You don't have to get mad about all of it.'

But Corden's joke is a copy - practically word for word - of Gervais' joke that he made in 2018.

In 2018, Gervais, the star of the UK's version of The Office and who has hosted the Golden Globes five times, said that people were taking things too personally on Twitter.

He said in his comedy sketch: 'They choose to read my tweet, and then take that personally.

'That's like going into a town square, seeing a big notice board and there's a notice - guitar lessons - and you go, 'But I don't want f***ing guitar lessons'.'

Gervais added: 'Fine, it's not for you then, just walk away. Don't worry about it!'

Gervais noticed how Corden's sketch was copied from his own 2018 and tweeted about it.

When a fan asked the British comedian whether Corden had asked permission to use the joke, Gervais said: 'No. I reckon one of the writers 'came up with it' for him. I doubt he would knowingly just copy such a famous stand up routine word for word like that.'

The Late Late Show has also deleted the video of Corden making the joke from their Twitter page.

DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Corden and Gervais for comment.

Corden has been embroiled in controversy after he was accused by staff at the Balthazar restaurant in New York of screaming at them after they served his wife received an egg-yolk omelet with egg-white in it.

Gervais mocked Corden for his behavior by re-sharing a tweet from a fun poking fun at the talk show host.

The tweet included a clip from Gervais' Netflix show After Life, where his character Tony mocks Corden by saying 'f**k me* when a star of the show said Corden would be in her top five dinner party guests.

When a fan asked the British comedian whether Corden had asked permission to use the joke, Gervais said: 'No. I reckon one of the writers 'came up with it' for him. I doubt he would knowingly just copy such a famous stand up routine word for word like that'

Earlier this month, Balthazar owner Keith McNally announced on Instagram that Corden was banned from the restaurant as punishment for rude and childish behavior on two occasions.

On the first occasion, Corden was upset that a hair had been found in his food and demanded free drinks to make up for it, according to McNally.

The second occasion involved his wife Julia ordering an egg-yolk omelet and receiving a plate with egg white on it. The final straw was when the remade omelet was sent out with a side of home fries instead of salad.

Corden apologized for his behavior on an episode of The Late Late Show earlier this month and McNally lifted his ban on Corden visiting the restaurant.

But McNally reignited the feud this week, saying Corden 'will say anything to save his bacon'.

McNally was reacting to recently-revealed text messages Corden sent to a journalist which said he 'never screamed at anyone' after an omelet served to his wife was supposedly cooked incorrectly.

McNally claimed Corden's messages to a journalist claiming he didn't shout were 'a massive lie'

McNally, owner of celeb favorite Balthazar, used this photo of Corden for his Instagram post

McNally said recently-revealed texts from Corden showed he'll 'say anything to save his bacon'

It had appeared the feud was over after Corden issued an apology and McNally lifted his ban

In a post on Instagram yesterday, McNally said: 'LAST POST ON THIS NON-STORY:

'I don't want to over-egg the pudding, but in Friday's London Times Corden flip-flopped and told a massive lie AGAIN:

''I never screamed at anyone, I didn't shout, didn't call anyone a name or swear or use derogatory language How is it remotely a thing? When that person who posted the story wasn't even there.'

'On second viewing, I found his TV 'confessional' contrived and phony. The actor will say anything to save his bacon.

'In the scheme of things my opinion means nothing, but after Friday's interview and a second look at his fraudulent confessional, I've given up on James Corden. For Good.

'END OF STORY.'

Corden apologized on The Late Late Show and McNally accepted, but the feud has restarted

He didn't clarify whether Corden was formally re-banned, but the post suggest he's unlikely ever to return to the restaurant.

The infamous omelet saga began on October 9 when Corden and his wife Julia dined at the restaurant with friends. Julia asked for an all-yolk omelet - something that is not on the extensive brunch menu.

When it arrived, the dish contained some egg whites. Corden sent it back to the kitchen and when it returned, he says it was still 'wrong'.

McNally first shamed Corden on Instagram, telling his followers how the comedian had twice abused staff.

He said: 'James Corden began yelling like crazy to the server: 'You can't do your job! You can't do your job! Maybe I should go into the kitchen and cook the omelet myself!'

Corden addressed the controversy on his show last Monday and issued an apology, causing McNally to forgive the comic and unban him.

But McNally once again tore into Corden over the text messages reported in The Times.

Julia, Corden's wife (pictured), ordered an egg-yolk omelet because of an allergy to egg whites

In a stream of text messages, Corden said the incident and its backlash has 'been the most surreal moment,' while adding that McNally was not present when his wife Julia was served the wrong order.

'I mean, it's so odd,' he writes.

'I never screamed at anyone, I didn't shout, didn't call anyone a name or swear or use derogatory language  how is it remotely a thing? And that be OK?

'And now it's fact, and that's that. When the person who posted the story wasn't even there. Just so odd.'

He added: 'I have never talked about eggs this much.'

McNally also owns Pastis, Minetta Tavern and Morandi in the West Village - three well-known, well-respected New York institutions that are regularly frequented by celebrities.

There are only two omelets on the menu at Balthazar; the $25 Omelet with Herbs, and the $27, Egg-White Omelet. Both come with a side of home fries or salad.

Servers explained to DailyMail.com that Corden was asking for something that is not offered and was angry when it wasn't up to his standards.

'He wanted an omelet that had only egg yolks. Not the egg-white omelet, just egg yolks,' said one.

'Why then would you even bother ordering an omelet if you're allergic to eggs?'

In his apology for the outburst, Corden said: 'Because I didn't shout or scream, I didn't get up out of my seat, I didn't call anyone names or use derogatory language, I have been walking around thinking that I've not done anything wrong.

'But I have. I made a rude comment,' he said, adding that he 'values and respects' anyone and everyone in the service industry.

Corden's current contract with Viacom CBS for his Late Late Show expires next year.

He and his wife are selling their $9.7million home in Brentwood and are planning to return to the UK next year.
Russia has ordered the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians in Ukraine, raising fears of a massive escalation of the war.

Up to 70,000 residents in the Russian-controlled eastern bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson have been told to flee their homes because of imminent danger.

The region's Kremlin-backed leader warned Ukraine is preparing to detonate a 'dirty bomb' or carry out a missile strike on the nearby hydroelectric station to deliberately flood the area.

But the dire warnings have raised fears that Russia will carry out those attacks after previous false flag threats.

Ukraine says the evacuations represent a war crime because civilians are being forcibly deported from occupied territory.

A man comforts an elderly woman as they board a ferry during the evacuation of Kherson residents yesterday

Residents in the Russian-controlled eastern bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson have been told to flee their homes because of imminent danger. The region is near intense fighting and surrounds the Kakhovka Dam which is a feared target for missile strikes

Ferries with civilian evacuees depart from Kherson River Port in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict

A boy holds a cat on board a ferry carrying civilians away from their homes in Kherson after the evacuation order

Ukraine says the evacuations represent a war crime because civilians are being forcibly deported from occupied territory

Russia, which claims to have annexed the area, says it is taking civilians to safety because of a threat Ukraine might use unconventional weapons.

Russia had previously ordered civilians out of a pocket it controls on the west bank of the river, where Ukrainian forces have been advancing to capture the city of Kherson.

But now the order has been extended to the eastern bank due to the latest threats.

'Due to the possibility of the use of prohibited methods of war by the Ukrainian regime, as well as information that Kyiv is preparing a massive missile strike on the Kakhovka hydroelectric station, there is an immediate danger of the Kherson region being flooded,' Vladimir Saldo, Russian-installed head of occupied Kherson province, said in a video message.

'Given the situation, I have decided to expand the evacuation zone by 15 km from the Dnipro,' he said.

'The decision will make it possible to create a layered defence in order to repel Ukrainian attacks and protect civilians.'

People wait for departure on board a ferry during the evacuation of Kherson residents

Russia, which claims to have annexed the area, says it is taking civilians to safety because of a threat Ukraine might use unconventional weapons

Kyiv has denied it plans to attack the Kakhovka dam, a 100 ft high, two-mile-long facility and unleash a reservoir the size of the Great Salt Lake across southern Ukraine, flooding towns and villages, several of which Russian forces seized at the start of the war.

Ukraine said repeated Russian claims that Ukraine is preparing an attack on the dam, which regulates water supplies to the annexed Crimean peninsula and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, were a sign that Russia itself was considering staging an attack and blaming it on Kyiv and its Western supporters.

Moscow has also accused Kyiv of planning to use a so-called 'dirty bomb' to spread radiation, or to blow up a dam to flood towns and villages in Kherson province.

Kyiv says accusations it would use such tactics on its own territory are absurd, but that Russia might be planning such actions itself to blame Ukraine.

Experts from the United Nations' nuclear power agency inspected two sites in Ukraine on Tuesday that Russia identified in unfounded claims that Ukrainian authorities planned to set off the dirty bombs.

Russia had previously ordered civilians out of a pocket it controls on the west bank of the river

The region's Kremlin-backed leader warned Ukraine is preparing to detonate a 'dirty bomb' or carry out a missile strike

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said the inspections for evidence of a so-called dirty bomb, requested by Kyiv in the wake of the unsubstantiated Russian allegations, would be completed soon.

In the wake of battlefield setbacks for Russia in its war in Ukraine, top Russian officials including Putin, made unsubstantiated accusations that Ukraine was manufacturing such an explosive device, which scatters radioactive waste.

The Russians, without providing evidence, alleged the Ukrainians planned to make the purported bomb look like Russia's doing.

Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, alleged in a letter to Security Council members last week that Ukraine's nuclear research facility and mining company 'received direct orders from Zelensky's regime to develop such a dirty bomb.'

Western nations have called Moscow's repeated claim 'transparently false.'

Russia fired four missiles into the Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv overnight, demolishing half an apartment building (pictured)

Lilia and daughter Christina inspect their damaged flat in Mykolaiv after the strike

Ukrainian authorities dismissed it as an attempt to distract attention from Moscow's own alleged plans to detonate a dirty bomb as a way to justify a further escalation of hostilities.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has said the investigated sites 'are under IAEA safeguards and have been visited regularly by IAEA inspectors,' whose mission is detecting undeclared nuclear activities and materials related to the development of dirty bombs.

'The IAEA inspected one of the two locations a month ago and no undeclared nuclear activities or materials were found there,' the agency said in a statement Monday.

The U.N.'s atomic energy watchdog also has had on-site monitors at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Fighting around near Europe's largest nuclear power station has created worries of a possibly catastrophic leak there.

The mouth of the wide Dnipro River has also become one of the most consequential frontlines in the war in recent weeks, with Ukrainian forces advancing to expel Russian troops from their only pocket on the west bank.

Russia has thousands of troops there and has been trying to reinforce the area.

A dog walks past a crater in the road from a missile strike, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in the eastern Donbas region of Drobysheve

A view shows debris of a residential house destroyed by a Russian missile attack in Mykolaiv

A destroyed bridge leading to the Orthodox Christian monastery The Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra over the Siverskyi Donets river is seen

Ukraine's advance has slowed in recent days, with commanders citing weather and tougher terrain.

Saldo, the Russian-imposed occupation leader for the province, identified seven towns on the east bank that would now be evacuated, comprising the main populated settlements along that stretch of the river.

The European Union accused Moscow on Tuesday of launching a new programme to illegally conscript men in Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014, to fight in its forces.

The EU statement said Moscow was disproportionately conscripting members of Crimea's indigenous Tatar minority to fight in its war.

Russia, which launched its 'special military operation' in Ukraine in February, has announced it has completed a mobilisation drive ordered in September by President Vladimir Putin, saying it had called up 300,000 reservists and more were not needed.

But Putin has not issued a decree ending the mobilisation, raising concern he could restart it without notice.

A senior Russian ruling party senator said on Tuesday a decree formally ending the mobilisation was not needed.

Thousands of Russian men have fled abroad to escape conscription to a conflict which has killed thousands, displaced millions, shaken the global economy and reopened Cold War-era divisions.

Just north of Kherson, Russia fired four missiles into the Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv overnight, demolishing half an apartment building.

Reuters saw rescue workers recover the body of an elderly woman from the rubble.

As rush hour was under way, passersby walked past a two-storey school, the front of which had been torn off by the force of the blast that left a massive crater.

'This is what the barbarian horde does,' said Irena Siden, 48, the school's deputy director, standing in front of the gutted building as workers began sweeping up the rubble.

'They (the Russians) are the descendants of the barbarian horde. They stole our history and how they are trying to steal our culture.'

Russia fired a huge volley of missiles at Ukrainian cities on Monday in what Putin called retaliation for an attack on Russia's Black Sea Fleet at the weekend. Ukraine said it shot most of those missiles down, but some had hit power stations, knocking out electricity and water supplies.

'That's not all we could have done,' Putin said at a televised news conference.

Putin has also suspended cooperation with a U.N.-backed programme to escort cargo ships carrying grain out of the war zone. The three-month-old programme had lifted a de facto Russian blockade of Ukraine, one of the world's biggest grain producers, and averted a global food crisis.

Russia's suspension of cooperation had raised international fears that a food crisis could return, but so far Moscow has not restored its blockade, with 12 ships able to depart Ukraine on Monday carrying grain, and three more sailing on Tuesday.

Whether those shipments can continue may depend on whether insurers are still willing to underwrite them.
A Putin propagandist said watching Friends when she was younger was when she learned there was a 'fundamental divide' between the East and West.

Margarita Simonyan, 42, is the editor-in-chief of the RT network, which is funded by the Kremlin and is a mouthpiece for Putin.

On Russian television on Sunday, she also excused the invasion of Ukraine as a war 'about our right to raise our children to be just like us not them.'

Thirty years ago, Ms Simonyan, currently subject to western sanctions, had studied in America while on a school exchange programme and said she thought the two nationalities were very alike.

But she said that she soon realised there were already signs of differences and a divide when she watched Friends.

She added: 'Things were just coming to the surface with the first gurgles of this boiling ultra-liberal borscht, they were small then, it was hard to notice them.

'You had to have very good eyesight to notice it in the 1994 TV series Friends, for example, which is probably the most popular American TV series of all time, such a personification of American culture.'

Ms Simonyan then spoke of references to homosexuality in the show, talking about the pilot of Friends in which Ross discovered his wife had left him for another woman.

Ross had walked into the cafe looking sad. The 42-year-old added: 'Why did he look confused and sad? Because he discovered his wife left him for a woman.

'All of this is depicted with sympathy - good for her, and too bad for him! It was impossible then to recognise this as blatant propaganda because it was so rare, so fresh, so interesting.'

She called the portrayal of homosexuality in the series a 'fundamental divide' with Russian culture.

Margarita Simonyan, 42, is the editor-in-chief of the RT network, which is funded by the Kremlin and is a mouthpiece for Putin

Ms Simonyan then spoke of the references to homosexuality in Friends, talking about the pilot episode which aired in 1994 in which Ross discovered his wife had left him for another woman, pictured are the characters at their wedding in Season 2 episode 11

The 42-year-old called the portrayal of homosexuality in the series, pictured, a 'fundamental divide' with Russian culture

The propagandist said that Russia was using the invasion to wage a war over traditional values in Ukraine.

Ms Simonyan added: 'This war is about our right to raise our children to be just like us and not like them. There is a chasm between us and our children and them and their children.'

She had also used an appearance on Sunday Evening with Vladimir Solovyov to declare Russians should choose to martyr themselves instead of facing being defeated in the war.

Russia is currently ramping up missile strikes and continuing to try and push back in its war against Ukraine.

Thirty years ago, Ms Simonyan, currently subject to western sanctions, had studied in America while on a school exchange programme and said that she thought the two nationalities were very alike. But she said that she soon realised there were already signs of differences and a divide' after watching Friends

Speaking on Russian television on Sunday, she also excused the invasion of Ukraine as a war 'about our right to raise our children to be just like us not them'

Putin himself had declared that the war was a battle against western interpretations of freedom and tolerance.

The West was last week accused by Putin of trying to 'overthrow faith and traditional values' in Russia.

He also said the West were promoting 'outright satanism' in a ranting annual speech at the Valdai Club.

Despite his speech on traditional values, Russians have become increasingly tolerant of homosexuality.

Opinion polls have discovered Putin's views are mainly shared by Russians over 60.

The 42-year-old, pictured, had also used an appearance on Sunday Evening with Vladimir Solovyov to declare that Russians should choose to martyr themselves instead of facing being defeated in the war (file image)

Putin himself had declared that the war was a battle against western interpretations of freedom and tolerance

Ms Simonyan's words come after another one of Vladimir Putin's leading propagandists apologised and pleaded to keep his job after launching a 'genocidal' diatribe on air in which he called for Ukrainian children to be drowned.

Anton Krasovsky, 47, is a star presenter and a director of broadcasting with RT.

Putin's pundits regularly advocate decimating Ukraine or laying waste to the West with nuclear weapons across multiple state TV channels.

But Krasovsky's savage rant on drowning Ukrainian children caused horror even among his own chiefs.

'Just drown those children, drown them in the Tysyna [River],' he said in recorded TV comments that were not edited.

'You throw them in the river with a strong undercurrent Shove them right into their huts and burn them.'

He was promptly suspended from RT by Ms Simonyan and faces possible criminal action after the head of the Russia's Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin - a former university classmate of Putin's - ordered an investigation into his remarks.

Krasovsky issued an apology to anyone he had offended and begged his boss to allow him to come back to work - but he stopped short of retracting the comments.

Krasovsky's savage rant on drowning Ukrainian children caused horror even among his own chiefs. 'Just drown those children, drown them in the Tysyna [River],' he said. 'You throw them in the river with a strong undercurrent Shove them right into their huts and burn them'

Krasovsky's comments prompted widespread outrage, with Margarita Simonyan suspending him and demanding that he 'explain himself'

Ms Simonyan - who usually exchanges loving messages and warm praise with Krasovsky - said his TV comments were 'savage and disgusting'.

'Perhaps Anton would explain himself by saying what temporary insanity it was caused by, and how it slipped off his tongue,' she said, adding: 'It is hard to believe Krasovsky truly thinks children should be drowned.

'As of now I am suspending our co-operation, because neither myself, nor the rest of the RT team can allow even a hint of thought that any of us can share such nonsense.'

Despite having advocated for a Russian crackdown in Ukraine, Ms Simonyan concluded: 'To the children of Ukraine, as well as to children of Donbas and to all other children, I wish for it all to end as soon as possible, so that they can live peacefully and study in the language they consider to be their mother tongue.'

Krasovsky's comments came in response to writer Sergei Lukyanenko's account about how, when he first visited Ukraine in the 1980s, children told him they would live better lives were it not for Moscow occupying their country.

Margarita Simonyan and Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba condemned Krasovsky's comments on Twitter

Krasovsky went on to declare that all Ukrainians should be killed, and that he would burn them alive in their homes and shoot them.

In a short segment of the interview, shared on social media, Krasovsky also laughed at reports that Russian troops raped elderly Ukrainian women during the invasion.

Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba called for a global ban on RT in the wake of the shocking interview.

He said on Twitter: 'Governments which still have not banned RT must watch this excerpt. This is what you side with if you allow RT to operate in your countries.

'Aggressive genocide incitement (we will put this person on trial for it), which has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Ban RT worldwide!'
A motorist has been busted using a PlayStation steering wheel controller to steer his vehicle down a busy Queensland street.

Police video reveals the moment a gob-smacked police officer realises the yellow car he has stopped for inspection in the inner west Brisbane suburb of Indooroopilly doesn't have standard steering equipment.

'Is that steering wheel actually a steering wheel from a gaming computer?' the officer asks.

A police officer was astonished to find that the car he pulled in Indooroopilly in Brisbane's inner west was being steered by a PlayStation console steering wheel

Initially the officer explained to the driver he had been pulled over for a vehicle inspection with the first obvious problem being how far the tires stick out from the wheels.

'The vehicle track, my God!' the officer exclaims.

'How far is it sticking out?'

After finding further faults the officer issues a major defect notice to get it immediately off the road.

The car was also found to also have tires sticking out too far from the wheel among other safety defects

The officer says the notice is 'for the safety issues and the fact you are using a gaming steering wheel and your seatbelts don't retract and also the cut bonnet structure.'

He also discovered fitted air horns, which are illegal.

The traffic stop was part of a major crackdown on hoons which has been conducted across south east Queensland in recent weeks.

The officer discovered illegal air horns had been fitted to the vehicle, which he issued a major defect notice to

Almost 60 cars have been impounded and 2048 fines have been handed out.

Assistant Police Commissioner Ben Marcus said there was one offender who made it unnecessary to impound his vehicle.

'We saw one guy doing a burnout to a point where his car exploded and caught fire,' AC Marcus said.

'They had to pull him out of the vehicle quickly.

A major crackdown on hoon drivers in south east Queensland has seen over 2000 fines issued and nearly 60 vehicles impounded

'We didn't seize that car because he destroyed it on our behalf.'

Among the offences were 219 unlicensed drivers, 72 drink drivers and 92 people driving under the influence of drugs.
President Joe Biden is kicking off the final week before the midterms on Tuesday with a trip to Florida as Democrats brace for a potential Republican red wave in next week's election.

Biden boarded Air Force One for the flight south with a copy of Jon Meacham's new book 'And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle'.

The biography looks into how Lincoln prioritized his policies and ending slavery over his own future before the 1864 election and during the Civil War.

Lincoln's Republican party also performed poorly during the 1862 midterm elections, with the Democrats gaining several seats and ending their majority.

Polls suggest Biden could be facing a similar fate with the 2022 midterms with polls suggesting Republicans will decisively take control of the House and have a path to winning a majority in the Senate.

'Lincoln was a politician, but he was a politician who ultimately was driven by conscience,' Meacham told NPR. 'This is my entire argument in the book. If he had solely been a cynical political creature, he would have made radically different decisions at critical points.'

Biden will appear in Donald Trump's home state to blast 'MAGA Republicans,' who he claims want to cut social programs and increase taxes for the wealthy.

Biden will be campaigning for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist and Senate hopeful Val Demings in the Sunshine State even as he avoids some of the bigger battleground contests like Georgia, Nevada and Arizona.

President Joe Biden kicks off the week before midterms with a visit to Florida on Tuesday. He was holding Jon Meacham's book 'And There Was Light - Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle' as he boarded the flight

Meacham's book looks at how Lincoln wanted to prioritize emancipation and democracy ahead of his own political future. Lincoln's Republican party also performed badly in the midterms

He'll appear in Donald Trump 's home state to blast 'MAGA Republicans,' who he claims want to cut social programs and increase taxes for the wealthy

Crist is trailing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is seeking a second term. And Deming is down against GOP Senator Marco Rubio in a contest that will help decide which party controls the Senate next year.

The president, who is battling low approval ratings, is trying to contrast how his Democrats will govern versus Republicans as voters prepare to head to the polls on Nov. 8.

He will make his closing argument at stops in New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Maryland over the next seven days.

He's not the only Democrat hitting the campaign trail. Jill Biden heads to Pennsylvania on Wednesday. Obama, meanwhile, will be in Nevada on Tuesday for Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, who faces a tough re-election campaign and he heads to Arizona on Wednesday to campaign for Senator Mark Kelly.

In Florida, Biden will blast Republicans over proposals to undo prescription drug price caps and change Social Security and Medicare - topics of interest to its older population of retirees.

The president has made Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott's policy proposals a boogeyman in the election, calling out the senator by name in his criticism of the GOP.

Scott, who heads the Republicans' campaign committee for Senate races, has laid out a plan that would put Medicare, Social Security and other government programs up for a vote every five years.

University of North Florida pollster Michael Binder told the Palm Beach Post that Biden's visit might be 'six months too late,' because millions of Florida voters have already cast their ballots in early voting.

Election forecasters see Republicans having a strong chance of winning control of the House of Representatives. The Senate is seen as more up for grabs.

Winning control of even one chamber of Congress would allow the GOP to stymie Biden's legislative agenda for the next two years.

Trump, meanwhile, will hold a rally in Miami on Sunday although he'll be campaigning for Republicans in general. DeSantis, who is rumored to a 2024 presidential contender, is not scheduled to appear with him.

President Biden is not appearing in battlegrounds like Georgia, Arizona and Nevada but Barack Obama will be in Nevada on Tuesday and Arizona on Wednesday; above former President Obama campaigns in Wisconsin on Saturday

Florida has become an increasingly difficult state for Democrats to win. Trump carried it in 2016 and 2020.

DeSantis capitalized on anti-covid sentiments to push back against shut down restrictions and signed legislation against vaccine mandates.

Biden is looking to drive up voter turn out but is staying away from most of the battleground states.

The president hasn't been to Arizona, Nevada or Georgia - three states that helped put in the White House - nor is he expected to. All three states have closely-contested Senate races.

President Joe Biden will be campaigning for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist in the Sunshine State

Donald Trump will hold a rally for Republicans on Sunday in Miami

The president will join Barack Obama in Philadelphia on Saturday to campaign for gubernatorial candidate Josh Shaprio and Senate contender John Fetterman.

With the Senate currently sitting at 50-50 - and Vice President Kamala Harris providing the tie breaking vote - any race could decide which party is in the majority next year.
John Fettermen suggested he would not allow his doctors to brief the press on his medical condition before Election Day as questions persist over his fitness for office following a stroke in May.

Even the Democratic Lieutenant Governor's hometown newspaper backed his Republican opponent Dr. Mehmet Oz, 62, over the weekend.

Fetterman, 53, insisted he is fit to serve and told CNN Tuesday morning that he and his doctors have been 'transparent' about his stroke recovery. He claims his improved condition is proven further by showing up for the debate with Oz last week and appearing at events in front of thousands of Pennsylvanians.

'I always understood it wasn't going to be easy,' he told Don Lemon, adding: 'It was no secret that I was going to miss some words  that I was going to mush some words together.'

The Democratic candidate said he doesn't regret debating Oz despite criticism that emerged following the appearance.

'I thought it was important that I show up,' he told CNN.

Donald Trump said that Fetterman's team shouldn't have let him participate in the debate, telling conservative radio host Chris Stigall on Tuesday morning: 'I thought it was terrible.'

'I said I wonder if it would affect the polls much? And it doesn't seem to and that's the scary part.' the former president said.

Democrat John Fetterman rejected a suggestion he allow his doctors to brief the press on his medical condition following a May stroke as criticism mounts regarding his fitness for office the week after his debate with Dr. Mehmet Oz

Oz, however, claims earning the endorsement of Fetterman's hometown newspaper just days after their debate proves the Democrat is unable to 'defend his radical views'.

The Trump-backed Republican celebrated earning the endorsement from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which is located just 10 miles from Fetterman's hometown of Braddock, Pennsylvania.

The paper said that all candidates for public office should have to release their medical records to prove their fitness for office  and said that if people want privacy they shouldn't run in the first place.

Fetterman's team, when reached for comment, pointed out to DailyMail.com that Oz's 'hometown' paper the Philadelphia Inquirer endorsed the Democratic candidate.

Oz, since launching his Senate bid in Pennsylvania, has been accused of carpetbagger, which is a negative term used to describe a political candidate who seeks election where they largely don't have connections.

The Republican candidate and famous television doctor is a longtime New Jersey resident. But in addition to his mansion in northern Jersey, the celebrity surgeon said he also owns another home in Pennsylvania.

While Fetterman continues to average higher favorability as a future Senator than Oz in Pennsylvania, some surveys taken after their debate last week shows the television doctor pulling ahead with just one week until Election Day.

A poll taken by Wick the two days following the debate last Tuesday showed Oz pulling ahead of Fetterman by nearly two percentage points.

The Post-Gazette said Oz had 'legitimate' reason to call for Fetterman to release his medical records.

'I think what you witnessed during the debate was that John Fetterman can't defend his radical views,' Oz said. 'I don't think Barack Obama can either.'

Dr. Oz said that Fetterman's hometown newspaper the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette endorsing him proves the Democratic candidate is unable to 'defend his radical views'

Former President Barack Obama is scheduled to stump for Fetterman with President Joe Biden in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday  just three days before Election Day.

More than 780,500 Pennsylvanians have already cast early mail-in ballots, according to the United States Elections Project.

Oz called the Post-Gazette a 'fabulous paper' and said the paper would not normally endorse a Republican candidate  even though the outlet did back Donald Trump in his 2020 reelection bid.

'But God bless them,' he added. 'They've had enough as well  they're a big paper in Pittsburgh.'

The effects of Fetterman's stroke were on full display during the debate on October 25 as he struggled to get through some sentences and gave some confusing arguments for his stances, including whether he is for or against fracking.

He also faced criticism following an NBC News interview last month that showed the candidate using closed captioning to better understand the questions being posed to him.

Dr. Mehmet Oz pulled slightly ahead of John Fetterman in a poll taken after their high-profile Pennsylvania Senate debate last week

Fetterman's wife Gisele said that the criticism is insulting to the disabled community and demanded apologies from press who pointed to concerns over the health of the Democratic candidate.

'Mr. Fetterman's health  he suffered a serious stroke in May  is not the issue. His lack of transparency, however, in refusing to release his medical records is troubling,' the Post-Gazette wrote in its Sunday endorsement. 'It suggests an impulse to conceal and a mistrust of the people.'

'All candidates for a major elected office should release their medical records, as did Mr. Oz,' they added. 'If you want privacy, don't run for public office.'

Fetterman grew up in York, Pennsylvania, but his adopted hometown of Braddock is where he served as mayor from 2006-2019. He left his mayoral post to become Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania for Democratic Governor Tom Wolf.

Braddock is a tiny borough of about 1,700 people in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in Allegheny County.

The current Senate seat Fetterman and Oz are competing for is being vacated by Allentown Republican Senator Pat Toomey.

The victor next week will become junior to Democratic Senator Bob Casey.
Kari Lake claimed she was being 'attacked by the media' in a Monday night television interview after the Arizona gubernatorial candidate was widely criticized for making a joke about the violent break-in of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home.

An intruder broke into Pelosi's San Francisco home in the early hours of Friday morning. The speaker was away but her 82-year-old husband Paul, who confronted the man, was assaulted with a hammer and left needing emergency surgery to repair a skull fracture.

Lake, who is locked in a tight race for the Arizona governor's mansion with Democrat secretary of state Katie Hobbs, made light of the situation on Monday.

'Nancy Pelosi, well, shes got protection when shes in D.C. Apparently her house doesnt have a lot of protection,' the Donald Trump-endorsed Republican said at the time.

While her crowd of supporters laughed, the comment was widely panned for being insensitive to Paul Pelosi's life threatening ordeal.

Lake reacted to the criticism during an interview with Tucker Carlson on Fox News Monday night - though she brought it up without being asked.

Carlson had asked Lake about why certain Republicans not affiliated with Arizona, like Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, were openly campaigning against her cause.

Republican Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake accused the media of 'attacking' her in an interview on Fox News primetime and brought up criticism of her joke at Paul Pelosi's expense unprompted

'I think the same reason I'm being attacked by the media, I'm speaking the truth,' Lake responded. 'We can't talk about all these issues, because the media has told us they're prohibited.'

'You can't talk about vaccines, you can't talk about elections, you can't talk about Paul Pelosi, now you can't talk about Nancy Pelosi.'

She added, 'And I'm talking about all those things, because I still believe we have a little bit of the First Amendment left.'

The intruder, named as 42-year-old David DePape, walked into the bedroom of the Pelosi's $6million San Francisco home just before 3am on Friday, woke Paul Pelosi up and said he would wait for his wife to get home.

DePape later told investigators he wanted 'kneecap' the Speaker if she 'lied' to him and so she would have to be 'wheeled into Congress, showing other Members there were consequences to actions'.

He was allegedly shouting 'Where's Nancy?' when he broke into the home.

The Justice Department charged DePape with attempted kidnapping of a US official as well as 'assault of an immediate family member of a United States official with the intent to retaliate against the official on account of the performance of official duties.'

For the most part, the attack earned bipartisan condemnation.

Both Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy condemned DePape's actions, with the latter telling Fox News on Sunday that he called and texted Pelosi personally after her husband's attack.

Even Donald Trump, an arch-rival of Pelosi's, called it 'a terrible thing' during an interview with conservative Spanish-language outlet Americano Media.

Paul Pelosi needed life-saving surgery to repair a skull fracture and other injuries after a man broke into the Pelosis' San Francisco home and assaulted him with a hammer

David DePape, 42, was identified as the man who attacked Paul Pelosi after shouting 'Where's Nancy?'

The Pelosis own a four-bedroom San Francisco home that sits in the middle of her congressional district and was purchased in 2007 for $2.2 million but is thought to be worth at least $6 million now

But Democrats, universally speaking out against the attack, have laid blame with Republicans for fomenting an environment where demonizing rhetoric online, in commercials and in-person has led to real world threats against elected officials.

And Lake was not the only Republican who reacted callously to Paul Pelosi's injuries.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, who has campaigned alongside Lake despite sailing to victory on a more moderate version of GOP politics, turned the attack into an electoral message when stumping for Virginia GOP House candidate Yesli Vega.

'Speaker Pelosis husband, they had a break-in last night in their house and he was assaulted. Theres no room for violence anywhere, but were going to send her back to be with him in California,' he said.

His spokesperson cleaned up the comments to NBC News: 'As the governor clearly said, the assault on Paul Pelosi was wrong and there is no place for violence. He wishes him a full recovery and is keeping the Pelosi family in his prayers.'

And Trump's eldest child, Donald Trump Jr., shared an image on social media of underwear and a hammer with the caption: 'Got my Paul Pelosi Halloween costume ready.'

He later deleted the post.
By Henry Chia

October 31, 2022: Information Clearing House -- " Asia Markets "- Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss sent a text message saying its done to the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken immediately after the Nord Stream attack, according to a controversial online commentator.

Kim Dotcom, a self-proclaimed Internet Freedom Fighter, says the text message is the reason Russia believes the United Kingdom was involved in blowing up the gas pipeline.

Liz Truss used her iPhone to send a message to Secretary Blinken saying its done a minute after the pipeline blew up and before anybody else knew, he told his nearly one million Twitter followers.

Dotcom, who was born Kim Schmitz in West Germany, suggested the data was obtained through an iCloud hack.

Its not just the Five Eyes that have backdoor admin access to all Big Tech databases, he said.

Russia and China have sophisticated cyber units too. The funny thing is Govt officials with top security clearance still prefer using iPhones over their NSA & GCHQ issued encrypted shit-phones.

Liz Truss text: Fact or fiction?

Its is important to note that Kim Dotcom, who now resides in New Zealand, did not offer any form of factual evidence to back up his claim.

There are indeed reports that Liz Truss phone was hacked, however that dates back to her time as UK foreign secretary.

The UKs Mail on Sunday reported that private messages between Truss and other international foreign ministers, including some about Ukraine, fell into foreign hands.

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Liz Truss phone hack claim prompts calls for investigation

Former U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss Phone Allegedly Hacked By Kremlin Spies: Report

Phenomenal Security Breach As New U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss Mobile Phone Number Leaked
Protests broke out across Iran after the killing of Mahsa Amini in September

She was beaten in front of her class after Iranian police stormed the school

Parmis Hamnava was killed by Iranian police for ripping out pictures of Khomeini

Iranian security forces have killed another schoolgirl after she ripped portraits of the founder of the Islamic Republic from her schoolbooks.

A riot squad stormed a secondary school in the eastern city of Iranshahr last Tuesday to find any trace of schoolgirls' participation in the nationwide anti-government protests.

Schoolgirls across Iran have joined the nationwide protests in recent days, leading to clashes with teachers and armed security forces, who have arrested some teenage girls they suspect of having taken part in demonstrations.

Halwash news agency and Baloch Activists' Campaign, which monitor human rights violations in the Balochistan region of Iran, reported the girl's name as Parmis Hamnava.

Parmis Hamnava (pictured) was beaten to death by Iranian security forces after she ripped portraits of the founder of the Islamic Republic from her schoolbooks.

She was severely beaten with batons after security forces spotted her books without portraits of the founder of the Islamic Republic and died a few hours after arriving at the hospital, it is claimed.

Schoolbooks in Iran start with a portrait and a quote from Rohullah Khomeini, the founder of the current regime.

Intelligence agencies later threatened her family and friends not to disclose her death to the media, Halwash reported.

'Security guards stormed the school last Tuesday and searched the books of all the students, she had ripped pictures of Khomeini, for this crime, and they started beating her in front of other students,' a source told Halwash.

'Her nose was bleeding badly, and she was taken to a hospital... She died on Wednesday and was taken to Zahedan for burial,' it added.

Local officials rejected the reports of her death and blamed 'enemy media' for spreading propaganda against the regime.

Iranian authorities have also blamed the media for 'making up deaths' for those who have been killed since the unrest began, including at least 32 children.

Clashes at Iran's University of North Tehran shows a man in plain clothes (L) firing a weapon from a position among protesters at Iran's University of North Tehran on October 30.

Iranshar, located in the Sistan and Balochistan province has seen violent clashes over the past few days.

Zahedan, the capital of Sistan and Baluchistan province, was the scene of a violent crackdown on September 30 in which security forces killed 92 people, including 12 children which was dubbed Zahedan's Black Friday.

The protests were triggered by the killing of Mahsa Amini by Iranian forces in September. Her death was followed by days of angry rallies that then continued after the alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl by a police officer.

Two police officials in Zahedan were sacked last week.

Sistan and Baluchistan is one of poorest provinces in predominantly Shia Iran and home to a Baluch minority estimated to number up to 2 million people.

The September 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of Tehran's notorious 'morality' police has flared a wave of nationwide public anger against Iran's clerical establishment.

Iranians gather in Arak to mourn the death of a demonstrator who was beaten to death by Iranian security forces on October 26.

Nationwide protests have broken out across Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini in September. This image shows protesters clashing at the University of North Tehran on October 30.

Security services have unleashed a fierce crackdown on the mainly peaceful protests in which at least 253 people have been killed, including 34 children.

Schoolgirls apparently pose a major challenge to the political establishment in Tehran. Security and intelligence agencies are now considering how to suppress crowds of children calling for their freedom as they join the biggest demonstrations in Iran since 2019.

Iranian protesters rallied again Sunday, defying an order by the powerful Revolutionary Guards to stop the demonstrations, which are now in their seventh week.

The commander of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, warned protesters that Saturday would be their last day of taking to the streets.

'We tell the youth and those who were deceived that today is the last day of the riots, and that they should not go to the streets again,' Salami said.

A video posted on October 30, shows protesters avoiding projectiles during clashes at Iran's University of North Tehran.

However, students gathered overnight and Sunday across Iran, even after Major General Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, had warned demonstrators: 'Do not come to the streets!'

Security forces on Sunday fired gunshots and tear gas at a gathering of students in the flashpoint western city of Sanandaj, where videos showed billowing clouds of smoke amid chants of 'freedom', the Norway-based Hengaw organisation reported.

It also posted a video with the sound of echoing gunfire, and of a 12-year-old girl wailing with her bloody arm peppered with metal pellets, in reports AFP could not independently verify.

Security forces have struggled to contain the protests, which started with women taking to the streets and burning their hijab headscarves and which have evolved into a broader campaign to end the Islamic republic founded in 1979.
Nancy Pelosi's former neighbor is questioning why a violent home invasion triggered no alarms  as security experts condemn the apparent ease with which David DePape broke in, and predict federal protections will be extended to her family.

Residents of tony Broadway Street in San Francisco are used to fleets of black SUVs surrounding the Speaker's red brick mansion 24/7, a heavy police response to any disturbances, and even their computers getting scrambled by alleged security measures to protect the nation's Number Three.

So when Marjorie Campbell read that her old neighbor had to call 911 himself while negotiating with a hammer-wielding madman, she was deeply perplexed.

'There were black cars outside that house, particularly up on Normandie Terrace, all of the time,' the 66-year-old, who lived opposite the Pelosis for a decade, told DailyMail.com.

'I don't distinguish between her being there and not being there. There were always multiple cars.'

Police statements and the criminal complaint against David DePape, 42, released Monday suggest that he broke in by smashing a back patio door. He confronted Paul Pelosi Sr., who phoned police and tried to talk down the crazed man. When cops burst in, DePape slugged Pelosi Sr. with a hammer.

'Everybody in the neighborhood had alarms on our windows,' the former neighbor said. 'So if glass smashed, an alarm went off. We all had alarms that had chimed if the door opened or closed.'

Marjorie Campbell, 66, was Nancy Pelosi's neighbor for 10 years on Broadway Street in San Francisco, California

Nancy and Paul Pelosi's former neighbor is questioning why a violent home invasion triggered no alarms as she recalls high security presence at the San Francisco home

The neighbor tells DailyMail.com she remembers fleets of black SUVS surrounding the Speaker's San Francisco mansion 24/7

Pelosi is pictured being escorted by her security detail as she leaves her San Francisco home as her on Tuesday. She was in Washington, DC at the time of the attack

David DePape, 42, is accused of breaking into Pelosi's $6million home and attacking Paul Pelosi, 82, with a hammer as he shouted: 'Where's Nancy?'

Former CIA agent and private security chief to billionaires Tony Schiena (pictured) told DailyMail.com that the break in was an 'obvious security failure for the family of a high profile politician to be so vulnerable and exposed'

The mysterious attack early Friday morning has left residents with a long list of questions  some of which are slowly being answered by law enforcement, and others which still leave even top private security experts scratching their heads.

Gavin DeBecker ran Jeff Bezos' security and is widely regarded as one of the nation's authorities on protection of public figures.

He was surprised there appeared to be 'no security' on the house  though pointed out that federal protection currently only applies to Nancy herself, and she was out of town at the time.

'There is absolutely no security assigned to the Pelosi house. There is security provided by the US Capitol Police for the Speaker of the House personally, with her when she travels or appears publicly, but no security is provided for spouses or family of members of Congress. So, there was no security to get around.

'I don't know if a security system was on or not, but it appears not.'

DeBecker said the Pelosis' taxpayer-paid protection could be beefed up as a result of the attack, adding that the multi-millionaires could also afford their own private detail.

'I think it is likely that Paul Pelosi will receive some official protection for a time,' he told DailyMail.com. 'They also have the ability to hire security on their own, by which I mean they have the financial ability.'

Former CIA agent and private security chief to billionaires Tony Schiena told DailyMail.com that the break in was an 'obvious security failure for the family of a high profile politician to be so vulnerable and exposed.'

Campbell said residents' electrical equipment would sometimes malfunction from alleged jamming to prevent spying on the speaker. Pelosi's home is pictured

'Everybody in the neighborhood had alarms on our windows,' the former neighbor said. 'So if glass smashed, an alarm went off.' Aerial footage shows broken glass at the backdoor of Pelosi's home where DePape entered

Paul Pelosi Jr., son of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi, was seen walking outside his parent's home in San Francisco, Saturday, one day after the attack

He slammed the 'unacceptable security planning' including 'poor physical security on premises as well as procedures in case of a threat or attack' and a 'lack of security technology, i.e. cameras and infrared motion detectors.'

'There was a recent alert by NYPD that politicians were likely to be targeted, and yet nothing was done to secure her house, even though she was not there,' he said.

Gavin DeBecker (pictured) ran Jeff Bezos' security and said he was surprised there appeared to be 'no security' on the house

'There's a general failure to adapt to the new norm: right wing terrorism in the US. I feel we are going to experience the emergence of more vigilance. Reactive management will include more protection for congressional leadership and their families.

'The key is to assess the situation and provide protection to the family members as well.'

Campbell, who now lives in Utah, recalled private security and police responding nearly instantly to anything untoward on the two blocks of Broadway Street near Pelosi's home.

'My daughter came home from a Christmas dance one year. It had got through the entire event that she was having a party. So we had cars descend on that block. We had cars just coming from both directions and parking and lining up at the back gate.

'Within 10 minutes, there were police everywhere,' she said.

Campbell said that when protesters from women's antiwar group Code Pink camped outside the Speaker's house 'that whole situation was being watched like a hawk'.

'It didn't take too long before the curb that runs down Broadway right in front of her house was painted red. The protesters were not allowed to protest where the curb was red. So you know that they [Pelosi's security] were all over that,' she said.

'There is absolutely no security assigned to the Pelosi house. There is security provided by the US Capitol Police for the Speaker of the House personally, with her when she travels or appears publicly, but no security is provided for spouses or family of members of Congress. So, there was no security to get around,' DeBecker said

The former neighbor said residents' electrical equipment would sometimes malfunction from alleged jamming to prevent spying on the speaker.

'We had a computer in our kitchen that just didn't work on the internet very well. And I was told that because of the level of monitoring equipment at that residence,' she said.

'There was monitoring equipment to make sure that residents couldn't be spied on remotely from any place in the neighborhood, which involved something that interfered with our computer.'

Campbell recalled eating with her family at their local restaurant, Jackson Fillmore, one night when the place was taken over by bodyguards.

'This entire security detail came in because the Pelosis wanted to eat dinner there. There were three or four black cars outside, a huge detail.

'When she was there, there certainly was a huge presence. And my impression was that the house was constantly monitored.'
Three thieves broke into the store room of a sneaker shop in Texas but left almost empty-handed because most shoe boxes had just one shoe in them.

Chad Steward, owner of Laced Connection in Fort Worth, took a number of steps to protect his store against theft.

The thieves were unable to get from the back storage room to the front of the shop so were left only with access to hundreds of boxes of right shoes and no complete pairs to steal.

The thieves still left with a handful of right shoes including Air Jordans, Adidas Yeezys and Nike Dunks.

Three thieves broke two padlocks to enter the back room of a Fort Worth sneaker store only to find that the shoeboxes only contained only right shoes

At around 8.10am on Friday morning the three masked thieves broke past the back door of Steward's shop hoping to leave with valuable trainers but instead they came away with around five single shoes in their boxes, with little value.

They tried breaking into a bathroom window but were unsuccessful so instead breached two padlocks to enter the shop via a store room.

Surveillance cameras captured the thieves as they burst into the shop frantically only to leave disappointed around a minute later.

'Its only got one shoe,' one of the thieves can be heard saying before the three of them pile out of the store.

Owner of Laced Connection, said that he knew that theft was a problem in the industry and took measures against it

Pictured, the left shoes in the front of the store which thieves did not have access to

The three thieves burst into the shop frantically only to leave disappointed around a minute later

Steward was aware of the risk of theft to a sneaker store and took that into consideration when he opened his a year ago, he told KDFW.

'I had bars, security alarms from day one. I talked to previous people I knew in this industry that had stores, and they told me that's one of the most important things to prevent things like this,' Steward said.

Although the thieves were able to get past two padlocks into the back, they were unable to get into the store itself - that's where the other half of the shoes were.

After the thieves first tried to smash a bathroom window they gave up and worked on the padlocked back door.

'I think they came through this fenced area over here. They originally came over here to this bathroom window,' said Steward.

'It was two double padlocks. They had to of taken a crowbar,' he added.

Once through that door they would have had another to get through to reach the front. According to Steward to reach there they would need to have made it around a steel gate.

The thieves used crowbars to breach two padlocks and enter the back room, the store's owner said

Stanford sells limited-run exclusive trainers including Air Jordans

Stanford took to social media after the robbery and is now offering a $1,000 reward to anybody that can provide information about the three thieves

In social media posts after the robbery Steward indicated that he wanted the stolen shoes back and help identifying the 'rats' that broke into his store.

After all, he still has the left shoes that correspond to those stolen sitting in the front of his shop.

Now he's offering a $1,000 reward to anyone that is able to help him track down the thieves.

'It's sad. You can tell in the video these kids are young,' Steward said. 'There will be more gates more bars put in place. We'll put in alarms.'

'I 100% want them to go to jail. It's not right,' he added.
Allan Meehan's perch at the top of the notorious Comancheros bikie gang is under threat by ex-leader Mick Murray, it has been revealed.

The 'Bathrobe Bikie' replaced Murray as the Comanchero national president after his former boss was charged over a 2019 murder.

However, a power struggle has now broken out between the two underworld figures with Murray now keen to be reinstalled as head of the club.

But Meehan still retains robust support within the ranks and has no intention of stepping aside.

NSW Police and underworld sources are said to be aware of the bitter feud between Meehan and Murray.

Allan Meehan (pictured with his wife) replaced Murray as the Comanchero national president after his ex-boss was charged over a 2019 murder

Murray is believed to be keen to be reinstalled as the boss of the gang (pictured left to right: Tarek Zahed, Mick Murray and Allan Meehan)

However, sources believe that Mark Buddle is still the boss of the bikie gang, despite currently being in a Melbourne jail after he was extradited and charged with drug importations from Cyprus.

'Buddle still calls the shots,' an underworld source told the Daily Telegraph.

'It will be his decision at the end of the day and some in Victoria believe Mick (Murray) should never have been flicked.

'But I think most don't want to have their president behind bars, so Meehan is their choice.'

Murray was arrested in April over the alleged murder of Mitat Rasimi, an associate of high-profile drug lord Tony Mokbel and will face trial in February next year.

Meehan was dubbed 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.

Allan Meehan (second left) dressed in Versace and celebrating with Taren Zahed

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)

The flamboyant national 'Commander' of the outlaw gang and prominent Comanchero members were recently raided in a crackdown by detectives as a direct result of '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.

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 after a failed gangland hit.

And also after Meehan posted to Instagram a video of his imported gold-plated V-rod Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Sources said the frozen accounts had caused headaches with the older guard like Murray.

Meehan is one of several Comanchero and other senior bikies to have had Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPOs) taken out against them.
Woke MSNBC contributor Dean Obeidallah has been ridiculed for pledging to investigate new Twitter boss Elon Musk's immigration status and 'strip him of US citizenship' if there are errors.

Obeidallah, a lawyer-turned-comedian, posted details of a Freedom of Information Act request for Musk's application documents.

The radio show host, who also writes for CNN, told his 150.9k followers: 'As a lawyer Im going to do research to see if @elonmusk in any way lied on his application for US citizenship.

'I'll be making a FOIA request for his immigration application. If he lied anywhere on application we will move to strip him of US citizenship. Stay tuned.'

Tweeting a photo of the FOIA request, Obeidallah added: 'I formally made a request via FOIA today for Elon Musk's immigration application documents.

'I will let you know what I hear back. The application may be 100% fine with no misinformation or lies. Then again... We will see'.

Obeidallah said he'll 'strip Musk of US citizenship' if there are errors in his immigration papers

The irony of the left-wing comedian's threat to strip Musk's citizenship wasn't lost on followers

CNBC contributor Dean Obeidallah made a FOIA request for Musk's immigration application

He later conceded that the documents can't be released without the Twitter boss's permission

The post on Monday immediately triggered a flood of mocking responses.

Louise Mensch, a former member of the UK parliament, said: 'This is silly tbh. Leave him alone. It's better to encourage the guy to do right than to threaten him.'

School safety activist Ryan Petty responded: 'You really aren't very bright, are you?' Arthur Schwartz branded the FOIA request 'dumb'.

Nicholas Fondacaro, a conservative journalist, joked: 'Dean wants to strip US citizenship from an African-American man.'

Obeidallah's plan immediately drew ridicule and he accepted the FOIA is unlikely to succeed

Obeidallah's tweet about Musk's immigration status came during a bizarre tirade against the Tesla founder and his recent acquisition of Twitter.

Another tweet said: 'MAGA has been unleashed thanks to Elon musk. I actually think Musk is trying to manipulate both sides into violence.

'Reminder: Elon musk does NOT the love the USA. He is using us to attack each other. Is Elon Putin funded? China funded? Unclear. But he's anti-American.'

He also wrote: 'Elon Musk does not LOVE the USA. Period.'

But his plan seem to doomed from the outset, as Obeidallah was forced to concede that the documents cannot be released without Musk's permission.

Obeidallah, 52, hosts a show on SirusXM and contributes to news outlets including CNN, the Daily Beast and MSNBC.

Obeidallah's bizarre rant against Musk included wild suspicions that he could be 'Putin funded'

Musk, pictured at Heidi Klum's Halloween party, would need to agree to release his documents

Musk's acquisition of Twitter has triggered a fierce backlash from some left-wing activists

Musk confirmed last Thursday that he'd bought Twitter just hours before a court-imposed deadline to seal the $44billion takeover.

He immediately dismissed several executives, including the CEO, chief financial officer, head of legal and general counsel.

His purchase of the social media firm has been viewed by the right as a victory for free speech.

But some left-wing figureheads have claimed the Tesla chief will turn Twitter into a right-wing platform, even suggesting it will turn into 'a platform that is a sewer of hateful and harmful content'.

Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1971.

A profile of Musk by the not-for-profit Immigration Learning Center details how Musk left South Africa as a 17-year-old to avoid compulsory military service.

He initially moved to Canada, where he had relatives, then took up a scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania.

He's described himself as 'nauseatingly pro-American'.

Musk also enrolled to pursue a PhD in energy physics at Stanford but quit after just two days to start Zip2, which was later sold for $341million.

He became a US citizen in 2002.

Elon Musk is pictured speaking with employees at Twitter HQ. The CEO allegedly issued an ultimatum to the platform's engineers, telling them to revamp the platform in two weeks

Musk has floated the idea of charging $20 for a blue tick to tackle spam accounts on Twitter

One of Musk's first moves has been to suggest charging a $20 fee for a blue tick - which is used to verify accounts on Twitter.

He later said he could lower the charge during an exchange with horror writer Stephen King, where he offered him a discount.

'$20 a month to keep my blue check? F*** that, they should pay me,' wrote King, author of The Shinning who has 6.9million followers. 'If that gets instituted, I'm gone like Enron.'

But Musk, noticing the author's complaints, seemed to be in the mood to haggle.

Author Stephen King said he will leave Twitter if Musk introduces a blue-tick verification fee

Celebrities who have threatened to boycott the site include TV screenwriter Shonda Rhimes, actor Mia Farrow, as well as Madam Secretary star Tea Leoni, She Hulk actor Jameela Jamil, as well as authors and activists Shaun King and Amy Siskind.

George Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek, also said he would consider heading for the digital door.
The National Park Service recommends avoiding wild bears and recommends either playing dead or fighting back with everything you have

After Levow played dead, the bear eventually wandered away and she was airlifted to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore

The predator swatted her down and tossed her around, biting into her knee and face as she heard the 'crunch' of a bite on her skull

A woman in Maryland has revealed how she played dead to avoid being killed by a bear as the predator attacked her while she walked a trail with her two German shepherds.

Renee Levow, 55, was walking near her home in Frederick County when a bear attacked, and while she tried to scare it away, it swatted her down and mauled her leg and face.

She recalls hearing a 'crunch' when the bear bit down on her skull and says she felt like she was going to die.

The angered animal swatted Levow down, giving her a deep chest gash, and she recalled the gruesome details of how she got her injuries.

'He bit my skull and the side of my face twice  [and with] the first bite on the left side of my face and head, I heard my skull crunch,' said Levow.

Levow then made loud sounds and tried to make herself bigger - common advice when faced with a bear - but the plan backfired and the bear rushed at her.

Renee Levow of Maryland was attacked in September 2020, and recalls how she heard her 'skull crunch' when the bear bit down, among other grisly details

Levow realized the only thing she could do during the attack was to play dead, and her idea paid off as the bear then left her alone and wandered away

The 150 pound male black bear was angered after one of Levow's dogs rushed at it, and the bear then swatted her to the floor, leaving a deep gash in her chest

One of her dogs, Kylie, had charged at the wild bear, prompting it to set its sights on Levow.

'After a few seconds, he swatted me down and then bit my left leg twice just above my knee, and then he tossed me to the side and continued to bite me,' she said. 'I felt like a rag doll.'

She estimates the 'super fast' male black bear was approximately 150 pounds and stood around the same height as when he reared up.

The Maryland woman said the sound of the bear crunching down was 'awful' and she was convinced she was about to die.

'Then, he bit me again on the right side of my scalp, above my eye, severing the nerves,' she recalled.

Levow said the only thing she could think to do at that point was play dead so the bear would lose interest, so she covered her head with her arms and rolled flat on the ground.

Her idea paid off, and the bear wandered away from Levow after he 'gruffed or grumbled a little.'

Over two years later, many of her scars are healed and she said she is 'thankful to be alive,' but has permanent nerve damage

She laid at the scene for 10 minutes, and waited until she couldn't hear the bear anymore before pulling out her cellphone and calling authorities, recalling she had to wipe blood off her phone screen.

Levow said she was lucky because 'we have a local fire department and the chief that was on call lives just at the end of my street  so he came to my aid and started wrapping my injuries.'

She was then airlifted to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore before undergoing surgery to fix an orbital fracture, severed nerves and many open wounds on her scalp, chest, face and left leg.

The Maryland woman said the sound of the bear crunching down was terrible, and she thought she was going to die

Levow recalled she could not feel any of her severe injuries at the time because her adrenaline was so high.

Now, two years on from her harrowing ordeal in 2020, Levow says she has 'permanent nerve damage on my scalp, face and leg,' and a 'scar on my chest from where he initially swatted me to the ground.'

Luckily, neither of Levow's dogs were injured in the attack, and she says 'I'm thankful he left me alone, and I'm alive.'
Meredith Kercher's heartbroken family have released an emotional tribute to her marking the 15th anniversary of her murder - just days after pictures of former suspects Amanda Knox and ex-lover Raffaele Sollecito smiling together at a reunion in Italy were slammed as 'poor taste'.

Leeds University student Meredith, 21, was found lifeless in her bedroom of the apartment she shared with Knox in the Italian hilltop town of Perugia on November 2, 2007.

The Kercher family have always maintained a respectful silence following the death of Meredith and in their statement, it emerged parents John and Arline had died within weeks of each other in 2020.

In a tribute to Meredith, who was known by the nickname Mez, her surviving siblings said: 'Every anniversary of Meredith's death gives us pause for thought, but of course as with anyone who has lost a loved one - especially in such tragic circumstances - it does not take an anniversary to remember them; it's something you carry with you every day.

'Fifteen years has passed in the blink of an eye but yet we have lived a lifetime in between - something Meredith sadly, was never afforded.

'Losing both our parents within just four months of each other in early 2020 brought its own tragedy but we can take some solace in knowing that they are now united with Mez and no longer have to live with the grief which consumed them.

'Meredith will always be in our thoughts and forever in our hearts.'

Meredith Kercher, from Coulsdon, Surrey, was killed just three months after moving to Italy for a study abroad programme at Perugia's prestigious university (pictured: in an undated photo released in November 2007)

Meredith's parents Arline (centre) and John (right) Kercher - who both died in 2020 - and her sister Stephanie (left) at a press conference in Perugia in November 2007

Amanda Knox, left, and her then-boyfriend Italian Raffaele Sollecito, after they were named as suspects

Covid curbs had meant little was known of 74-year-old Arline's death, but she is thought to have died at a hospital in Carshalton, Surrey, during the initial phase of the pandemic and is buried next to Meredith in Croydon cemetery, south London.

Brave Arline earned widespread praise for the dignified manner in which she dealt with the aftermath of Meredith's gruesome killing, when she was stabbed and sexually assaulted while an exchange student in Perugia, Italy.

Arline travelled to the country to identify her daughter's body, vowing to fight for justice alongside her ex-husband and Meredith's father John, even though they divorced in 1997.

Tragically, she never got the closure she wanted and questions have once again resurfaced after Rudy Guede, 34, who was convicted of Meredith's killing, was released from prison after serving 13 years of a 30-year term and made the pointed suggestion that Knox 'knows the truth and I know the truth'.

Supported by her two remaining devoted children, Arline rarely spoke about the family's anguish but once described it as a 'nightmare' while insisting 'there are a lot of unanswered questions that seem to have been ignored'.

Her death in May 2020 was four months after her ex-husband John, 77, passed away.

He was found in a road close to his home in Croydon, south London with two fractured legs, a broken arm and a head injury in January 2020 and died in hospital three weeks later.

At a later inquest a coroner was unable to conclude whether he had died from a hit and run incident.

American Knox, 35, and computer engineer Sollecito, 38, were initially arrested and convicted twice of the brutal murder and spent four years in jail before being eventually cleared on appeal by Italy's Supreme Court over lack of evidence.

Amanda Knox (left), from Seattle, was falsely convicted of Meredith's murder twice and served four years in prison and Raffaele Sollecito (right), 38, originally from Milan, was convicted alongside his former lover

Amanda Knox (pictured speaking in 2019, file photo) wrote an article called 'Patrolling the Trolls: The Sorry State of Reporting Online Abuse' - recalling when she received death threats in prison

Meredith Kercher's killer Rudy Guede (pictured waving from the window of a volunteer centre in 2016, file photo) was formally released from prison 13 years after the grisly murder

Meredith, from Coulsdon, south London, was in Perugia as part of her university course year abroad.

Knox and Sollecito met earlier this year in the town of Gubbio, the place they had planned to visit the day Meredith's body was found. They had not seen each other for ten years and described it as a 'bitter-sweet reunion'.

A source close to the family told MailOnline: 'Of course they have seen the picture of Knox and Sollecito together in Italy but they don't want to comment publicly on that as neither of them are of any interest to them  and they don't want to add to their media visibility.

'What they have found astonishing is the timing of the decision to publicise this reunion, [it] beggars belief in terms of respect for Meredith.'

Knox and Sollecito were arrested four days after the murder and convicted along with Ivory Coast drifter Guede, whose bloody fingerprints and DNA were found at the scene.

He is now working in a local library in Viterbo and has written a book called 'The Benefit of the Doubt' and has continued to insist he is innocent of Meredith's murder.

In an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera, Guede, said:' I was convicted of acting in conjunction with Knox and Sollecito but the judges said I didn't materially commit the crime so if they are innocent who was I supposed to have been with ?'

Guede confirmed he was in the house at the time and added: ' I was there, I'm not denying it. I wasn't in a corner. I was with Meredith and we had been making out, we started to have sex but I then went to the bathroom, we didn't have any condoms.'

He has always insisted that when he came out he found Meredith on the floor fatally stabbed and a man and a woman in the house. Guede added:' The man said 'Let's go they will find the negro.'

Guede said: 'What I will never forgive myself for is not doing enough to save Meredith. There were not enough towels to soak up the blood, I panicked and I fled. For this I will never forgive myself. I accept I behaved badly but I am not a murderer.'

Detective tracked Guede down to Germany after listening in on Skype calls he made to a friend in Italy and he was later extradited to face trial.
A former actor who repeatedly punched his elderly mother as she lay in bed has been jailed for nearly four years.

Joshua Malin, 34, appeared in Eastenders when he was a teenager in 2003 and The Bill in 2006, according to the IMDB website.

Malim assaulted 71-year-old Diana Malin in her home in Wood Green, north London, on 1 March while a restraining order was in place to protect her following previous attacks.

Yesterday at the Old Bailey, Mrs Malin sobbed in the well of the court as her only child was jailed for three years and eight months and prevented from contacting her for a decade.

Malin has previously been convicted of five offences against his mother, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 2010 and 2020, battery in 2018 and 2020 and criminal damage in 2013.

He has also breached a restraining order to see her on two previous occasions.

Former child actor Joshua Malin, 34, was jailed for three years and eight months yesterday at the Old Bailey after he beat up his 71-year-old mother Diana at her home in Wood Green, north London (pictured in Eastenders in 2003)

Malin has previously been convicted of five offences against his mother, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 2010 and 2020, battery in 2018 and 2020 and criminal damage in 2013

Malin had punched her in the head on two occasions in June 2020, until she decided enough was enough and called the police.

He had also grabbed her hand while she was driving and pulled her thumb back several times, back on 13 August 2017.

In a victim impact statement read in court Malins mother said: The assault made me feel vulnerable, it made me worry about who is going to be on my doorstep.

Before he was arrested I was always scared of opening my front door worried it could be him.

Im sad for both of us, it has had an impact on my mental health and I feel scared, lonely and sad every day.

According to the online film and TV database IMDB, Malin appeared as Camcorder Lad in two episodes of Eastenders in 2003 and as Jimi da Costa in The Bill in 2006.

Malin also had a role in Lock, Stock, in 2000 - the TV spin-off from Guy Ritchies 1998 film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

He was most recently working as a waiter in a hotel in Chelsea, the court heard.

Joshua Malin (left) as 'Camcorder Lad' in an episode of EastEnders from 2003

Prosecutor Martin Lewis said: On 1 March this year Mrs Malin received a knock on her door.

She allowed her son into her home, and initially he was calm.

She was lying on her bed in a bit of pain from her long standing condition, spondylitis. Her son started to accuse her of always lying in bed.

During the conversation an ex-partner of Diana was mentioned, someone that the defendant didnt get on with. But he found out that they were speaking again.

They then discussed another friend that the defendant disapproved of. The defendant started getting very angry about her making a new friend.

Out of nowhere he started punching her several times in the face. He said: If you dont stop seeing them Ill kill you.

It was a sustained attack.

Mrs Malin received a bruise to her eye socket and to her knee.

Charles Burton, defending, said there had been issues between Malin and his mother dating back to childhood.

He said: He has a deep love and affection for his mother which unfortunately has been affected by these very deep rooted issues.

He believes he has now learnt to let go of these issues.

He has led within his field of film, acting and the creative profession and lived a full and industrious life.

This was not gratuitous violence towards his mother, there are factors beyond his control- triggers that cause him to behave in a certain way.

It is inconceivable that he would set out to visit mother with intent to harm her. He would want nothing more in the world than at some point to reconcile himself with his mother who he loves.

Judge Simon Mayo told Malin: The victim was your elderly mother, but this is not the first time you have used violence against her, nor the first time you had breached a restraining order that tried to protect her.

You went to her home while she was in bed and when you went into her room you struck her multiple times.

She was 71 years of age and suffering with serious health issues which confined her to bed for long periods of time.

I find it difficult to have a high degree of confidence that things will change.

Addressing a distraught Mrs Malin he said: I hope you understand why a lengthy prison sentence was appropriate.

I know that will give rise to conflicting emotions within you as his mother.

I have made a restraining order today [to] last for 10 years which is designed to mean you are not at risk of being assaulted again.

Malin, of Wood Green, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and breach of a restraining order,

He was sentenced to three years and eight months imprisonment.

Malin was also made subject of a 10-year restraining order, preventing him from contacting his mother directly or indirectly, attending her address or entering the Peabody Estate where she lives.
If you are interested in adopting Bob, applications can be found here

Julie recommended a loving owner 'with a lot of patience' to adopt the small pup, as he is 'timid' upon first meeting

It was the tiny, 10-pound pup's first adoption event and Julie said he was a little nervous and people sensed it and gave him his space

'It's so nice that so many people care about Bob,' Julie said on Instagram. 'Literally hundreds are reaching out about adopting him because of this video...'

Bob, three, was caught on video by Andrea Caceres, an illustrator, looking lonely at an NYC adoption event in Central Park, while other dogs had plenty of visitors

Julie Zeilinger, the foster mom of dog, Bob Parr, said 'hundreds' of adoption applications have come in since a TikTok of him went viral

The foster mom of lonely dog, Bob, who no one wanted at a New York City adoption event, said 'hundreds' are filing adoption applications after a video of him went viral.

Julie Zeilinger took to social media to express her happiness about hearing how many people are interested in adopting Bob Parr - the name given to him by the shelter - after a video of him went viral on TikTok.

'It's so nice that so many people care about Bob,' she wrote on her Instagram story. 'Literally hundreds are reaching out about adopting him because of this video...'

Julie, who already has a permanent dog Baloo, is also encouraging others to look at other pups available through the Brooklyn animal rescue.

'He is one dog who is being lovingly fostered while millions need homes.'

Bob went viral over the weekend as thousands of users empathized with the pup who was being ignored by the crowd.

The video, posted by Andrea Caceres, an illustrator who goes by PetArtByAndrea on TikTok, captioned the post with a sad face emoji and a message to his future family: 'He is the sweetest pup.'

Julie Zeilinger took to social media to express her happiness about hearing how many people are interested in adopting Bob Parr (pictured together) - the name given to him by the shelter - after a video of him went viral on TikTok

'It's so nice that so many people care about Bob,' she wrote on her Instagram story. 'Literally hundreds are reaching out about adopting him because of this video...' she wrote on Instagram

Bob went viral over the weekend as thousands of users empathized with the pup who was being ignored by the crowd

She also encouraged other to look at all the dogs available through the shelter

In the TikTok, the person filming shows off the busy event in Central Park, hosted by Badass Animal Shelter Brooklyn, and writes: 'POV: You are at an adoption event and all the adoptable dogs are getting attention except for... Bob.'

DailyMail.com spoke with Bob's foster mom, Julie Zeilinger, on Monday who said that some people did come up and interact with him, but that it was hard because he is very shy. Julie said Bob has been with them for just about four months and that it 'took him a while to warm up to us.'

She thinks that the reason he wasn't as popular among those in attendance was because he was scared since it was his first time at an event like that.

'He was very overwhelmed, and I think people sensed that and wanted to give him space,' Julie said, adding, however, that whoever adopts him are in for a treat.

'He is an incredibly sweet dog who just wants to love and be loved,' she said.

The dog was dropped off alongside several of his pups during a shelter outing, representatives said

Bob is named after Pixar character Bob Parr from 'The Incredibles,' due to his 'super strength'

The pup is described as timid and representatives with the shelter say that he can take some time to get used to a person

As Bob's name pops up on the screen, the camera pans to show off the three-year-old, 10-pound dog sitting patiently and waiting for someone to play with him.

Bob, a terrier according to his PetFinder page, looks around at the crowd at dozens of people, waiting for someone to approach him.

As he sits on the grass, the woman accompanying Bob calmly pets him as she too looks around to see if anyone is coming.

It was also Bob's first outing at an adoption event after undergoing treatment for heart worms.

The pup is also 'very timid' and needs a loving owner 'with a lot of patience.'

Caceres says that Bob would be an ideal dog for a home or family that lives in a quieter area.

Since being posted Sunday, the video has racked up 3.1millions of views and hundreds of thousands of reactions.

More than 400,000 people have liked the TikTok video and the post has received nearly 3,000 comments.

'COME ON, PEOPLE!! Bob is clearly top-tier dog material!!' said one commenter.

'Look. I don't cry a lot. But even a vaguely sad story around a dog and I cannot control my tears. I'll hyperventilate,' said another person.

'Awwww my poor heart can't take it. The way he's looking around like "what about me,"' wrote another commenter.

Bob became so popular with his first viral TikTok that Caceres posted a follow up video with more information on the dog.

Bob is just three years old and is looking for his 'forever home' on a quiet street

The TikToks of Bob have led to a major spike in applications for the pup, Bob's foster mom said

'I will not be able to sleep until I hear hes been adopted,' wrote one person.

'If he doesnt get adopted I will loose my absolute mind. We love Bob,' wrote another.

Bob's bio on PetFinder.com says that he was named after the Pixar character from 'The Incredibles' due to his 'super strength.'

'He was unfortunately dropped off at the shelter, along with his puppies, on one of our rescue trips,' the page says.

'But given his super strength, we know he'll be able to put the past behind him and become the perfect companion he was always destined to be,' his bio continues.

His foster mom also said she thinks it could take some time for him to feel comfortable with whoever adopts him, 'but once he knows he can trust you and that youre there to protect him, hes all yours.'

Julie also posted a video to TikTok Monday, sharing even more details about the 10-pound pup.

'He often struggles to stay awake and has the cutest little butt pop when hes feeling frisky,' Julie wrote in the caption of the video, which shows said 'butt pop.'

She said that he came to the shelter from Georgia in June and has been with her and her family ever since.

@petartbyandrea Replying to @dani_d37 thank you all for wishing Bob good luck! he is available for adoption at @badassanimalrescue and his foster @juliezeilinger is open to any questions about him if you are interested in knowing more  #adoptabledogs #rescuedog #momdogslife  Oh Klahoma - Jack Stauber

Bob has been neutered and is ready to be brought home, officials say.

@juliezeilinger More Bob content! He often struggles to stay awake and has the cutest little butt pop when hes feeling frisky. He wasnt allowed to get his heart rate up for 2 months while undergoing medical treatment so he has clearly spent a lot of time on our couch. He has a lot of applications now thanks to @petartbyandrea but you can apply here! https://badassanimalrescue.com/adoption-application  Cool Kids (our sped up version) - Echosmith

She said that he has been undergoing treatment for most of the time that he's been in their home and that Sunday's outing was his first adoption event.

The foster mom also said that Bob is used to spending 'a lot of time' on the couch thanks to the time in which he couldn't get his heartrate up while undergoing treatment for worms.

The foster mom also said that the dog may have hit a stroke of good luck going viral on TikTok.

'He has a lot of applications now thanks to @PetArtByAndrea, but you can apply here!' Julie wrote in her TikTok caption.

If you would like to put in an application to adopt Bob, you can do so by clicking here.
A House of Commons probe has found there was no bullying or 'physical pressure' applied to MPs during a chaotic vote on fracking last month.

According to an investigation into the 'very intense' scenes in Parliament on 19 October, voices were raised and some MPs were 'clearly stressed and intemperate'.

But Commons officials found this 'did not amount to sustained personalised abuse, bullying or physical pressure to vote'.

The probe had been sparked by claims from Labour MPs of 'open warfare' in the Commons' voting lobbies.

This included allegations from senior Labour MP Chris Bryant that one Tory was 'physically manhandled' in a bid to get them to vote with the Government.

The vote on fracking was held at a time when Liz Truss was battling to stay on as Prime Minister.

At one point, Downing Street had turned the vote into a confidence motion on Ms Truss's Government.

But last-minute confusion on whether No10 was seeing through its threat to make the vote a matter of confidence in the Government prompted the chaos.

Amid the fall-out from the Commons drama - which also saw the Tory chief whip and her deputy try and quit their roles - Ms Truss announced her own resignation as PM the very next day.

Labour MP Chris Bryant had been among those to post pictures of the chaos in the voting lobbies on social media

Commons' Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle ordered the investigation into the fracking vote following claims some Tory MPs had been 'bullied'

Mr Bryant, who lost to Sir Lindsay in the 2019 contest to become Speaker, has apologised for taking a photo of the incident

Commons' Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle ordered the investigation into the fracking vote following claims some Tory MPs had been 'bullied'.

Revealing the results of the probe to MPs this morning, Sir Lindsay said: 'The atmosphere was tense and members were raising their voices to make themselves heard.

'But there is no evidence of any bullying or undue influence placed on other members.

'The crowding made it hard to see what was really taking place.

'While some members thought that physical contact was being used to force a member into the lobby, the member concerned has said very clearly that this did not happen.'

Sir Lindsay also reminded MPs they are banned from taking photos from inside the Commons during proceedings.

Mr Bryant, who lost to Sir Lindsay in the 2019 contest to become Speaker, had been among those to post pictures of the voting lobbies on social media.

On the night of the fracking vote, Mr Bryant had told Sky News that Tory MP Alex Stafford had been 'physically manhandled' into the 'no' lobby.

He claimed Therese Coffey and Jacob Rees-Mogg, both Cabinet ministers at the time, had been among a group who were 'basically shouting at' Tory MPs.

'The group all moved forward with one member,' Mr Bryant added.

'It was Alex Stafford. He was to my mind physically manhandled into the lobby.'

But Mr Stafford later said that, while he had held a 'frank and robust conversation' with ministers, there was 'nothing more'.

'No one pushes me around,' he added.

Labour MP Ian Murray, the party's shadow Scotland secretary, posted on Twitter on the night of the vote: 'Ive never seen scenes like it at the entrance to a voting lobby. Tories on open warfare.

'Jostling and Rees Mogg shouting at his colleagues. Whips screaming at Tories.'

But, despite the findings of the probe into the fracking vote, Mr Bryant today insisted he would not be withdrawing his claims about what happened that night.

'I'm not challenging the ruling of the Speaker but I know what I saw and I'm not withdrawing a single word,' he told BBC Radio 4's World At One.

'Because it may be that some people feel they weren't bullied, but I saw intimidatory behaviour.

'One of the things I feel quite strongly is that some of the worst behaviour in Parliament happens in the division lobbies where there's no filming.

'That's a decision of the House, I understand that, I think we need to overturn that.'

Mr Bryant had already apologised for taking a photo of the incident in the voting lobbies, which breached the etiquette of the House.

The report into the events of 19 October, prepared for the Speaker by three senior Commons officials, had concluded: 'It is undoubtedly the case that it was very intense in the lobby  voices were raised; some Members were clearly stressed and intemperate.

'But their conduct did not amount to sustained personalised abuse, bullying or physical pressure to vote.'
By Brad Wolf

Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania  The U.S. Armys 101st Airborne Division has been deployed to Europe for the first time in almost 80 years amid soaring tension between Russia and the American-led NATO military alliance. The light infantry unit, nicknamed the Screaming Eagles, is trained to deploy on any battlefield in the world within hours, ready to fight.  CBS News, October 21, 2022.

October 31, 2022: Information Clearing House -- " Counterpunch " - We live in a time when Opinion Pieces write themselves, when mainstream newswithout realizing itcaptures all the irony, duplicity, and insanity of the U.S. War Industry in its self-glorified march toward World War. Writers dont need to warn of the worst because the worst is already happening.

The U.S. Screaming Eagles have been deployed three miles from Ukraine and are ready to fight the Russians. World War III beckons. God help us.

It all could have been different.

When the Soviet Union fell and the Cold War ended, NATO could have disbanded, and a new security arrangement created which included Russia. But like the Leviathan it is, NATO went in search of a new mission. It grew to a size larger than it had ever been at the height of the Cold War. All without an enemy. It found small enemies in Serbia and Afghanistan, but NATO needed a real enemy. And eventually it found one. Russia.

It is evident now that the Eastern European countries who sought NATO membership would have been better protected under a security arrangement with Russia as a member. But that would leave the War Industry without an enemy and, accordingly, without profits.

And so, for the sake of profit, the Screaming Eagles have landed, hovering three miles from the Ukraine border waiting for the order to go in. And we, the people, the human beings spanning this planet, wait to learn if we will live or die in a game of brinksmanship.

We should have a say in this matter, this business of the fate of our world. Its obvious we cant leave it up to our leaders. Look where theyve led us: Another land war in Europe. Havent they taken us here twice before? This is strike three for them, and quite possibly for us.

If we all live through this proxy war the U.S. is fighting with Russia, we must fully realize our power as members of the masses and be relentless in pursuit of global systemic change.

In the U.S., the Authorization of Military Force passed in 2001 (AUMF) must be repealed; the powers of war must return to a Congress answerable to the people and not weapons manufacturers; NATO must be disbanded; and a new global security system must be created which dismantles armaments as it increases peace and security through education, nonviolent resistance, and unarmed civilian protection.

As for weapons manufacturers, those Masters of War, those Merchants of Death, they must return their gluttonous profits and pay for the carnage they created. Profit must be taken out of war once and for all. Let them sacrifice for their country, let them give instead of take. And let them never again be placed in positions of such influence.

Do the planets six billion inhabitants have more power than a handful of corporations and the politicians in their pockets to accomplish all this? Im betting we do, and I hope to find out.

If more incentive is needed, heres another line from the same CBS story cited above:

The Screaming Eagles commanders told CBS News repeatedly that they are always ready to fight tonight, and while theyre there to defend NATO territory, if the fighting escalates or theres any attack on NATO, theyre fully prepared to cross the border into Ukraine.

I didnt agree to this, none of it, and Im guessing nether did you.

If its war with Russia and nuclear weapons are used, we all will perish. If Russia is somehow defeated or turned away from Ukraine, the War Industry will increase its stranglehold on the worlds political and economic systems such that even the air we breathe will be packaged and priced beyond our power to purchase.

Can we, the people living in this world of plenty who simply desire to live free from war and want, be fully prepared to cross the border laid down by leviathans and profiteers? Can we reclaim the power over our own fate that is rightfully ours? The answer to Can we? is an unequivocal Yes. We have the combined power, intelligence, and resources to do it. But will we? Will we assert our power? We have seen nonviolent movements succeed when people unite. We know how they are organized and deployed. We too can be ready to fight tonight in our nonviolent way, resisting all authority dragging us into war and repression. It is truly within our hands. We have the power to make peace. But will we? The War Industry is betting we wont. Lets cross the border and prove them wrong.

Brad Wolf is a former prosecutor, professor, and college dean. He is the Executive Director of Peace Action Network of Lancaster and writes for numerous publications.
He was canned for advising his disgraced brother - former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo - through sexual misconduct allegations in 2021

Cuomo joined NewsNation in early October after being fired from CNN

Those numbers are a far cry from Cuomo's viewership at CNN - roughly one-sixth of the 849,000 he drew in at this time last year

Abrams told viewers on Monday Cuomo is 'hitting homeruns every night' with this viewership figures which NewsNation claim have gone up by 276 percent

Chris Cuomo and Dan Abrams denied claims made in the New York Post that the fired CNN host was vying for the NewsNation standby's primetime slot.

On Sunday the Post reported that Cuomo had been fuming throughout the NewsNation offices, raging against bad ratings and demanding that executives give him Abram's 9pm slot.

As Cuomo wrapped up his 8pm show and Abrams took the stage at 9pm, the production team appeared to ask Cuomo to stay on to discuss it with Abrams.

Abrams feigned anger at Cuomo, saying he had 'a bone to pick' with him and demanding to know why he was going behind his back to vie for the 9pm slot.

'I read the New York Post and theyre telling me that youve been vying for my hour, and that youve been going to the bosses and saying Oh I want Abrams to move to 8 and Im gonna move to 9,' and Ive got a problem with that,' Abrams said.

He then told Cuomo: 'I would prefer to do eight o'clock.'

After Cuomo said 'but you're the big dog, that's how it goes', Abrams replied: 'No, apparently I'm not, because if I was the big dog, I'd be still doing eight o'clock.'

Abrams then said: 'What your ratings in our little world here like whoa, Cuomo is hitting homeruns every night.'

During the back and forth, Cuomo denied the Post's report.

NewsNation also previously denied the Post's report, calling the claims of Cuomo's rage 'completely, totally, 100% inaccurate.'

Chris Cuomo appeared on the show of fellow NewsNation anchor Dan Abrams' show to deny reports from the New York Post that he was vying for a new slot

Abrams continued his segment on Monday to poke fun at the way Cuomo is characterized in the New York Post's stories.

'Every week you're yelling at somebody apparently, you're angry about this and you're angry about that and Cuomo was furious,' Abrams said, then touted Cuomo's ratings at NewsNation.

According to the Post, Cuomo's viewership ratings have been declining since his new show aired in early October, citing an average viewership of 119,000 viewers in the week of the 17th.

NewsNation pushed back on that characterization, telling DailyMail.com that viewership for Cuomo had increased 276 percent since his show aired.

The pair staged a joking confrontation over the Post's reports, then proceeded to lambast the report and the Post's coverage of Cuomo

Cuomo joined NewsNation in early October after being fired from CNN

Cuomo, seen in October 2018, was fired by CNN in December last year

Chris Cuomo on set at his new NewsNation show, which has been airing for the last four weeks

Cuomo's debut pulled in 147,000 on October 4. According to Nielsen Media Research the show has pulled in 193,000 viewers on October 4, and then 174,000 and 159,000 the following two days.

But the show has seemingly dropped off since then, bringing in just 129,000 viewers during his interview with Kanye West.

Those numbers are a far cry from Cuomo's viewership at CNN - roughly one-sixth of the 849,000 he drew in at this time last year, according to Barrett Media.

NewsNation is a relatively new broadcaster which bills itself as offering neutral reporting on current events - a marked departure for Cuomo, who enjoyed inserting his opinions into stories while on CNN.

Cuomo is reportedly earning $1 million the hosting gig - a fraction of his former $6 million-a-year paycheck at CNN.

Cuomo was canned by CNN executives for violating journalistic ethics by advising his disgraced brother - former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo - through sexual misconduct allegations in 2021.

Cuomo was found to have helped his brother, ex-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (pictured here), defend himself from sexual harassment allegations from 11 women

Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Allison Gollust, who resigned along with Zucker, is thought to have engaged in the relationship with him for years

Cuomo has since maintained he did nothing wrong in advising his older brother and is currently suing CNN for $125million for lost wages, with the lawsuit claiming the firing left his reputation so marred that it would be 'difficult if not impossible for Cuomo to find similar work in the future.'

During a promotional interview for the new show earlier this month, Cuomo appeared to try to distance himself from the partisan reporting of his past.

'Everything's gotta be context, and balance,' he said in an interview with NewsNation. 'It can't just be that everything is wrong, everything is bad, and I see that now having been outside of it for while, and I hope to bring that perspective in.

'NewsNation is just getting going, the idea of developing an audience, growing something, that's really important to me. Cause I'm really trying to speak to a group, which the good news is it's the biggest group, which is regular people who don't identify with either extreme of a party,' he said.

Despite his hiatus from the broadcaster's chair, Cuomo has remained in the headlines since his departure from CNN.

Many have speculated Cuomo may have sparked the shakeup currently rocking CNN by ratting on former CEO Jeff Zucker over a consensual relationship with the network's Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Allison Gollus, which led directly to the executive's firing.

Cuomo has described Zucker as 'one of the best makers of television' and the relationship being revealed gave him 'no joy,' adding that Zucker 'gave me tremendous opportunities.'

Despite the kind words for his former boss, Cuomo bitterly lamented that he was 'recognized in Malawi as much as I would be in Milwaukee' before his firing.

Cuomo continues to maintain he doesn't see anything wrong with his actions, and says because he wasn't covering his brother's allegations, he was free to help him.

'I was helping him in ways that I thought were reasonable,' said Cuomo in an interview earlier in October.

Former CNN boss Jeff Zucker was terminated from his position when he didn't disclose a relationship with CNN executive Allison Gollust, though Cuomo denies exposing them

'I was helping him in ways that I thought were reasonable,' said Chris Cuomo, right, of helping his brother Andrew, left, defend himself against sexual harassment allegations

'I don't know how it hurt the audience. I've never heard that it hurt the audience,' he said of his helping shape his brother's defense against sexual harassment allegations.

At the time he issued an on-air apology on CNN, Cuomo said that he 'knows where the line is'.

He addressed the conflict of interest again in his podcast, saying: 'I really do regret how everything ended, but I will never regret helping my family.'

Andrew Cuomo's career collapsed as a politician after he was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior towards 11 women.

He resigned in August 2021 after months of pushback and eventually all criminal charges were dropped against him.

The charges against Cuomo were based on allegations by Brittany Commisso, who said Cuomo reached up her blouse and grabbed her breast in late 2020 while they were alone in his Executive Mansion office, where shed been summoned to help with his cellphone.

He insisted he did no such thing, saying 'it would be an act of insanity.'

Commisso's testimony was among the most damning in a report released in August 2021 by Democratic state Attorney General Letitia James that concluded Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women.

Chris Cuomo maintains that he was not 'the main guy' in helping his brother overcome the allegations and was merely a 'side piece' in the efforts.

This notion is backed up by notes from his brother's top aide Melissa DeRosa, who noted 'Chris sends me a lot of things a lot of the time. Half of it I don't engage in. He gives unsolicited advice.'

The former governor was also blamed for many of New York's 15,000 nursing home COVID deaths after forcing the facilities to accept COVID-positive patients at the start of the pandemic.

Chris chummily interviewed his brother on his CNN show during the time and has admitted he knew having his brother on his show was a conflict of interest 'all day long.'
Ministers have rejected claims that the Home Secretary blocked moves to put migrants in hotel rooms if they were situated in 'Tory voting areas'.

Suella Braverman has been accused of vetoing the movement of people out of the heavily overcrowded Manston holding centre if their destinations was a Conservative constituency.

The radio station LBC cited a Home Office source who said three hotels in Labour areas were approved last week, but claimed Ms Braverman continued a policy started by predecessor Priti Patel of blocking this in areas controlled by her party.

However Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick denied there was a political motive.

'The people who live in Kent have faced a huge burden as a result of illegal migration - not just this year but over many, many years,' he told LBC.

'I have huge sympathy for them and their local councils and the work they've had to do on behalf of the whole country.

'We are working to try to disperse individuals across the whole of the United Kingdom so this burden is fair  there's no politics in that - it's simply a matter of practicality.'

Suella Braverman has been accused of vetoing the movement of people out of the heavily overcrowded Manston holding centre if their destinations was a Conservative constituency.

The radio station LBC cited a Home Office source who said three hotels in Labour areas were approved last week, but claimed Ms Braverman continued a policy started by predecessor Priti Patel of blocking this in areas controlled by her party.

Manston has tripled in size since May, when seven tents were being used to house asylum seekers compared to 21 yesterday as numbers have swelled

However Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick denied there was a political motive.

But Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokeswoman Christine Jardine said: 'If this is true, it's yet another example of the Conservatives putting their party's interests ahead of the national interest and the rule of law.

'Suella Braverman has yet more serious questions to answer about her conduct as Home Secretary.

'Now more than ever there must be a Cabinet Office Inquiry, this is the final straw.'

As many as 50,000 migrants could could cross the Channel this year, a minister has today warned, as Home Officials prepare to bus out 'large numbers' of asylum seekers from one of its overcrowded processing centres.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick today gave the prediction during a round of broadcast and radio interviews - as pressure builds on the Government to solve the growing migrant crisis.

If correct, the 50,000 prediction - roughly equal to the population of the Hampshire county town of Winchester - would be a new yearly record. It would also be nearly double the total number of people who made the perilous crossing last year.

It comes as the Home Secretary Suella Braverman today told the Cabinet that the Home Office had reopened its Dover immigration centre following a fire-bomb attack on Sunday.

The Western Jet Foil centre, used to process asylum seekers after their arrival in the UK, was closed following the attack - which was carried out by a man who later took his own life.

It had led to a large build up of migrants at its Manston site in Kent, which has been labelled 'inhuman' amid reports of severe overcrowding and outbreaks of violence and diphtheria.

A 'large number' of migrants will now be taken from the site and moved to over locations in a bid to 'relieve pressure on Manston', Ms Braverman is said to have told the Cabinet.

During a press briefing today, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: (At Cabinet) The Home Secretary provided a further update on the situation in Manston.

'She said the Western Jet Foil centre (in Dover) had reopened and that large numbers of people were being taken from Manston to other accommodation to help relieve pressure.

She said unprecedented numbers of crossings continue to cause challenges and a whole-government approach would be needed to tackle it.

It comes as it was claimed today that migrants at the controversial Manston camp in Kent have been sleeping on the floor of marquees for a month, are not allowed to use toilets with the doors closed and have not had a GP stationed on site until this week.

Staff at the immigration centre near Ramsgate in Kent have also witnessed 'incredibly tense' scenes in the last 24 hours - with some telling bosses they are terrified for their safety and locals reporting regular escapes.
Police are on the hunt for a suspect that beat a Democratic candidate in his backyard days after he received multiple threats.

Richard Ringer, a Pennsylvania state house candidate out to unseat Republican Rep. Matt Dowling in the upcoming election, was attacked Monday at 5am when he approached a man trying to open his garage.

Ringer has received other threats in the past few weeks, including a brick that was thrown through a window in his house and a message on his garage that read: 'Your race' and 'dead.'

The democratic candidate said he left his home on Monday to find a man with a flashlight.

'A guy was standing with his back to me,' Ringer told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 'He was larger than I am and he pinned me down on my left side.

'I'm right-handed and he had my right arm pulled back and he hit me 10 to 12 times in the head, in the face and by the eye and he knocked me out.'

He couldn't provide the cops with a description of the suspect. It's unclear if the attacker was linked to the previous attacks.

Richard Ringer, a Democrat in Pennsylvania, was attacked in his yard on Monday morning after he caught a man attempting to break into his garage. He is running in the upcoming election for a state House seat against Rep. Matt Dowling

Ringer suffered from multiple cuts to his hand shown above. He said he was knocked out by the suspect

The attack comes weeks after Ringer woke up to words on his garage that read: 'your race' and 'dead'

The first time Ringer's property was violated he found a brick that was tossed through the window of his backdoor

Ringer is a Pennsylvania state house candidate out to unseat Republican Rep. Matt Dowling in the upcoming election

Ringer didn't need medical assistance but pointed out the multiple incidents have occurred weeks away from the November 8 election.

'My neighborhood is safe,' Ringer told WTAE. 'It's calm, and there's no crime whatsoever. If you just try to connect the dots, maybe. But I can't say definitively.'

It's unclear if the recent attack was politically motivated, Ringer said.

The chilling attack comes days after a man is accused of breaking into Paul Pelosi's home and beating him over the head with a hammer.

The husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was attacked by a suspect at around 3am on Friday by a man that entered the Pelosi's $6 million San Francisco.

David DePape, 42, entered the bedroom where Paul, 82, was sleeping said he would wait for his wife to get home.

DePape later told investigators he wanted to hold Nancy hostage and break her kneecaps.

The recent attack comes days after a man is accused of breaking into Paul Pelosi's home and beating him over the head with a hammer while Nancy was away

DePape, 42. is accused of breaking into Pelosi's $6million home and attacking Paul Pelosi, 82, with a hammer as he shouted: 'Where's Nancy?'

When cops arrived at the exclusive property (pictured), they said they saw DePape assaulting Pelosi with a hammer. The suspect had broken into the home early in the morning

The suspect allegedly had zip ties with him when he broke into the Pelosi's home and was calling out 'Where's Nancy?'

Paul was able to call police, who arrived two minutes later, and found him struggling over a hammer with the suspect, according to a Department of Justice press release.

DePape was charged on Monday with assault and attempted kidnapping.
The State Department slammed Russia's 'baseless' accusation that Britain and the U.S. of conspiring to blow up the Nord Stream gas pipes, claiming former Prime Minister Liz Truss texted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken after the explosion saying 'it's done.'

'Russias baseless accusations against the United Kingdom, and before that the United States, are just another attempt to distract from their brutal war against Ukraine,' State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement to DailyMail.com.

'These ridiculous claims have no factual basis. Russia has a long history of spreading disinformation and it is doing so again here.'

Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Kremlin intelligence agents are in possession of data indicating British military specialists 'were directing and coordinating the attack' that destroyed two gas lines running from Russia to Germany in September.

Peskov has not released any evidence to back up the claim.

The claim comes after Kim Dotcom, who ran website Megaupload before he was convicted of fraud, began circulating the conspiracy that Truss had texted Blinken 'it's done' after the attack. He claims the information came from Truss's iCloud after Russia hacked her phone while she was foreign secretary.

Comes after conspiracy theory circulated online claiming Liz Truss texted Antony Blinken after the attack saying 'it's done' while her phone was hacked

Russia's claims appear inconsistent with what is known about Truss's phone hack, which was first reported by the UK Mail on Sunday.

According to the paper, the hack was discovered 'over the summer' while Truss was still foreign secretary and in the running to replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister.

The pipe blast did not occur until September 26, more than two weeks after the contest concluded with Truss declared the victor.

While the public did not learn about the hack until recently, the Mail on Sunday reports those in government did know about it and decided to hush it up.

It seems highly unlikely that Truss would have been allowed to keep using the phone for weeks after the breach was uncovered.

Nonetheless, Kim's claim about Truss's iPhone was also picked up and parroted by Maria Zakharova, spokesman for Russia's foreign ministry, who demanded answers.

'Frankly, I don't care who got this information or how,' she said. 'I am interested in London's response to the following question:

Russia has accused the UK of orchestrating the blasts which destroyed the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines with the US, saying security services have 'data' proving it

A series of powerful explosions on September 26 tore four large holes in the Nord Stream pipes, which may have permanently disabled them (pictured, one of the pipes)

Nord Stream 1 was the main route for Russian gas reaching Europe but had been largely shut down before the blast. Nord Stream 2 was due to double capacity, but never opened

'Did British Prime Minister Liz Truss send a message to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the immediate aftermath of the bombing of the Nord Stream pipeline saying "It's done?"'

The State Department could not immediately be reached for comment on the allegations, and the UK government has yet to respond.

Western leaders have stopped short of publicly blaming Russia for the attack - which blew two holes in Nord Stream I and II and may have permanently disabled them - but have privately been briefing their suspicions that Putin was behind it.

Ukraine came out and publicly claimed Russia was behind the 'terrorist attack' which spiked gas prices.

Russia and President Putin have repeatedly denied carrying out attacks on the Nord Stream pipes, pointing the finger of blame at the US.

Nord Stream 2 was due to become the main route for Russian gas reaching Europe but was scrapped by Germany when Putin invaded.

Nord Stream 1 had been operating for a decade and ferried huge amounts of gas to the continent, which it relied upon for almost 40 per cent of its energy.

However, it was barely in use at the time of the explosion after Russia throttled supplies to just 10 per cent capacity - blaming maintenance issues.

Nobody is sure exactly how the attack was carried out, but theories include that Russia may have used one of its underwater sabotage submarines to carry it out.

Three thousand-foot wide plumes of oil leaked out into the Baltic Sea, causing significant environmental damage.
TikTok influencer Dylan Mulvaney looks set to earn more than $1 million this year from promoting teeth-whitening strips, lipstick and other products to her 8.8 million followers, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Industry insiders who broker commercial endorsement deals for TikTok creators say Mulvaney nets at least $100,000 each month from showcasing brands in her hugely popular 'Days of Girlhood' series.

They describe Mulvaney, who is represented by LA-based Creative Artists Agency (CAA), as a savvy operator who likely gets paid $25,000-$50,000 each time she posts about clients like Ulta Beauty, Haus Labs, Crest, Instacart, EOS, and CeraVe.

They also said Mulvaney's meteoric TikTok rise could ascend further  buoyed in part by her recent sit-down with President Joe Biden at the White House, which has already bagged her an extra half-million followers.

Dylan Mulvaney earns as much as $100,000 per month pushing brands like EOS, CeraVe and Crest, industry insiders told DailyMail.com

Mulvaney may try to emulate the success of TikTok megastar Charlie D'Amelio, who has 149.4 million followers and is worth a reported $20 million. The two appeared together on Day 181 of the 'girlhood' series

She could close in on TikTok stars like Charlie D'Amelio, with 148.4 million followers, and Addison Rae, with 88.7 million followers, who make $65,000-$105,000 per post, according to Hopper HQ, a social media marketing firm.

This is all to the chagrin of Mulvaney's critics, who question everything from her theatrical caricature of biological women, her promotion of trans ideology, and the appropriateness of a 25-year-old ex-male projecting herself as a 'girl'.

Kendall Fargo, president of GrowMojo, a California-based social media marketing consultancy, told DailyMail.com that Mulvaney's trajectory was impressive and predicted her 8.8 million fan base could double by year's end.

'I absolutely believe Dylan will make over $1m this year,' Fargo told DailyMail.com.

'If Dylan stays on this track, it could easily become double-digit millions of dollars in several years, by remaining authentic, and producing good, entertaining content for a follower base that just continues to grow.'

Assil Dayri, founder of London-based AMD Consulting Group, which helps companies grow their reach on social media, said Mulvaney's platform was 'very lucrative' and 'easily' netted her $100,000 per month.

Trans TikTok influencer Dylan Mulvaney was among a panel of progressives who interviewed President Joe Biden, a Democrat, at the White House for NowThis News. It was aired last month

Trans TikTok influencer Dylan Mulvaney was among a panel of progressives who interviewed President Joe Biden, a Democrat, at the White House for NowThis News. It was aired last month

'Dylan could become more of a public figure, appear more on TV, get more press coverage, and even become a brand ambassador and collaborate with LGBTQ organizations to drive awareness around transitioning,' Dayri told DailyMail.com.

Mulvaney's estimated income easily covers the costs of her transition.

According to her posts and interviews, her cross-sex hormones are covered by insurance, and the facial feminization surgery she plans to receive next month typically costs between $20,000 and $50,000, out of pocket.

Mulvaney, who first joined TikTok in 2020 after a stint playing Elder White in the Book of Mormon on Broadway, has said previously that 'Days of Girlhood' effectively pays for the male-to-female transition that it documents.

'A lot of the initial deals were tailored to my queerness and to my transness,' she told The Creators newsletter last month.

'For some of these major corporations, I was actually their first trans creator. It's exciting to make money to support myself since I lost my job, and to have my transition surgeries be covered too.'

Her agency, CAA, did not answer DailyMail.com's interview request.

Mulvaney's ascent has not been without hiccups. Her appearance on Ulta Beauty last month led to controversy and calls to boycott the cosmetics firm. Critics called her 'misogynistic' for 'appropriating' womanhood.

Likewise, a post about Tampax feminine hygiene products left some viewers shocked and confused. Two replied: 'Is this a joke?' She is frequently bashed for referring to the vagina as a 'Barbie pouch'.

She has gained a massive following on TikTok as she documents her transition to a transgender female  originally identifying as 'nonbinary' but telling followers in March that she was a girl.

Mulvaney interviewed Biden last month as part of a panel of six progressive activists for NowThis News. In the interview, the Democrat vowed to protect 'gender-affirming care,' saying states should not limit access to transgender treatments.

TikTok influencer Dylan Mulvaney gained half a million followers in the days after her appearance with Joe Biden at the White House, in Washington DC

Dylan Mulvaney's posts clock up millions of views from legions of adoring fans, but childcare experts warn that social media is driving a spike in teens seeking sex-change procedures

For those experiencing gender dysphoria, transitioning with drugs and surgery can be life-saving. Yet some experts warn against providing irreversible treatments to adolescents, pointing to growing numbers who come to regret procedures and seek to de-transition.

Poll Are social media influencers behind the rise in teenage transitioners? Yes No Are social media influencers behind the rise in teenage transitioners? Yes 1228 votes

No 83 votes Now share your opinion





Statistics on this issue are contested, but there does appear to be a rise in the number of young people seeking to transition, and studies suggest that peer groups and social media influencers like Mulvaney play a role in the uptick.

Experts are divided over the rise and its likely causes. Many link it to growing understanding and acceptance of gender dysphoria, others liken it to a 'contagion' or fad driven by peers and social media.

Whether to allow young people to take puberty-blockers, hormones or undergo surgery has become a hot-button issue in America's culture wars, and Republican officials in Arkansas, Alabama, and Texas have sought to limit access to procedures.

Several medical groups, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, support gender-affirming care and say sexual reassignment procedures are safe if properly administered.

But the picture is different in Europe. Britain's National Health Service recently unveiled plans to restrict puberty blockers and other treatments for children, saying they are often only going through a 'transient phase'. Sweden and Finland have made similar moves.
Three people, including a teenager, have been arrested after police launched a murder investigation into the suspicious death of a baby.

The five-week-old boy was rushed to Salisbury District Hospital on September 1 before being pronounced dead on September 9.

Detectives said the baby was initially taken into hospital amid concerns for his welfare. He was in a serious condition and given emergency medical treatment.

Officers today confirmed two women and a man, aged 18, 23 and 54, are suspected of murder and allowing or causing a child to suffer significant harm.

Crime scene investigators, the dog squad and search teams attended an address in Salisbury, Wilts, earlier today as part of the investigation.

Three people, including a teenager, have been arrested after police launched a murder investigation into the suspicious death of a baby

Today police were at a house with crime scene investigators, dog units and search teams carrying out work at the address in Salisbury

In a statement, Wiltshire Police said: 'We've arrested three people following the death of a five week old baby from the Salisbury area.

'The child was admitted to Salisbury District Hospital on September 1 but sadly died on September 9.

'As a result of our extensive enquiries, we have today arrested an 18-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman in relation to the investigation.'

Police confirmed to MailOnline the 'three people have been arrested on suspicion of murder and allowing/causing significant harm'.

Enquiries remain ongoing.
The 24-year-old avoided jail despite one passenger fracturing skull and spine

A mother-of-one crashed a BMW at 80mph in a 30mph zone in Pembrokeshire

A young mother smashed her BMW car onto a beach at 80mph on a night out, leaving one of her passengers with a fractured skull and spine.

Macauly Boswell-Morgan, 24, was 'more concerned' with removing a vodka bottle and laughing gas canisters from her crashed car than helping her injured passenger, a court heard.

Boswell-Morgan drove her BMW at high speeds through 30mph zones on narrow lanes a seaside town, reaching nearly three times the limit.

Her terrified passengers pleaded for her to slow down before she smashed into a low brick wall without pushing the brakes.

Swansea Crown Court heard the car was sent flying through the air until it nosedived down an embankment onto the beach below.

Macauly Boswell-Morgan, 24, was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years after crashing her BMW through a wall onto a Pembroke Dock beach at 80mph - leaving her friend seriously injured

Swansea Crown Court heard that Boswell-Morgan hurried to remove a vodka bottle and gas cannisters from her car while her passenger was seriously injured and trapped in the car

The BMW was travelling around 80mph when it hit the small beach wall in Pembroke Dock (pictured)

Prosecutor Helen Randall said an off-duty policeman ran to help after hearing the crash in Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire.

Miss Randall said rear seat passenger Camran Quinn was trapped in the wreckage after suffering injuries to his head and spine.

But Boswell-Morgan and a front seat passenger 'appeared to be more concerned about removing a vodka bottle and canisters of laughing gas.'

Swansea Crown Court heard Boswell-Morgan and her two male friends had been driving to different locations in June last year.

They reached a long straight lane called Fort Road at 10.45pm which comes to a dead end at a car park and down to the sea.

The court heard Boswell-Morgan suddenly accelerated hitting around 80mph while both passengers told her to slow down.

She smashed into the low wall without making an attempt to brake or swerve causing the car to launch off the ground.

The car travelled ten metres up to 32ft after it 'nosedived' down an embankment and crashed on its side on the pebble beach below.

Boswell-Morgan and her front seat passenger both escaped without injury.

The car travelled ten metres up to 32ft after it 'nosedived' down an embankment and crashed on its side on the pebble beach below

The 24-year-old avoided jail after Swansea Crown Court heard she was a primary carer for her son

The court heard victim Mr Quinn had to be cut from the vehicle and suffered four fractures to the skull, a bleed to the brain, multiple bone contusions and a fracture to the spine and fingers.

Mr Quinn had to remain hospitalised for 13 weeks following his injuries.

In a victim impact statement, he said: 'I'm still suffering the effects of these injuries and will do for the foreseeable future.

'I'm fearful that these after-effects will be with me for years to come and I've been depressed to the point of staying in my room and avoiding others.

'At times I wish I had died.'

The court heard drugs tests on Boswell-Morgan confirmed she had a small quantity of cannabis in her system at 1.2mcg - below the legal limit of 2.

Mother-of-one Boswell-Morgan, of Pennar, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty on a basis to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Judge Paul Thomas said: 'Had Mr Quinn been killed that day as opposed to seriously injured, your sentence would be at least seven years in prison.

'But one factor is more than any other in this case, and that's the fact that you're a primary carer for your son.'

Boswell-Morgan was sentenced to two years suspended for two years.

She was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and was disqualified from driving for two years.
Two dognappers nabbed a 66-year-old California woman's 110-pound service dog from her front yard before taking off in their getaway car.

The devastated dog owner, Lisa Hartouni said when she stepped into her house to get her German shepherd Jack some doggie treats the pooch was gone.

Hartouni, who relies on a motorized scooter to get around, said the pair had just returned from their daily dog walk, KTLA News reported.

The harrowing ordeal happened on Saturday outside of Hartouni's townhouse located on Orange Avenue and Anaheim Street in Long Beach, California .

Shocking video shows two men pull up to Hartouni's home and grab the dog from her fenced in yard. The suspects placed the dog in a white sedan before riding off.

The assailants were dressed in black with one of the perpetrators wearing a shirt with the words, 'Long Beach Certified.'

On Monday, the heartbroken owner posted a photo of Jack sitting on a leather recliner on the Lakewood and Long Beach Lost and Found Pets hoping someone will recognize him and bring him home.

'He is not aggressive, very curious, loves treats and will come when called by his name Jack. He is chipped, vaccinated and up to date with shots.' Hartouni said,

Jack, a six-year-old German shepherd was abudcted from the front yard of his owner Long Beach, California, home on Saturday. Police are searching for the missing canine

A photo of Jack hanging out with another pooch in front of the his owner's home

Shocking video shows two men (pictured) pull up to Hartouni's Long Beach, California home and grab the dog right out of her fenced in yard. The suspects placed the dog in a white sedan before riding off

One of the dognappers (pictured) stealing the German shepherd from the fenced in yard

One of the assailants (pictured) was wearing a shirt with the words, 'Long Beach Certified'

Weeks before the brazen abduction, Hartouni had been approached by an unidentified male while she was out with her dog. The man claimed that her shepherd belonged to a friend of his, and then the man began to trail her.

Hartouni believes that she was being 'watched.

'He saw the dog and for some reason wanted the dog. I don't think it was a friend's dog. It was an excuse, a made-up story,' she said, the news outlet reported.

Days before the doggie abduction, a neighbor's security camera caught two men in separate cars pull up to Hartouni's townhouse and corner the pooch.

Since Jack has been missing, neighbors have rallied to try and help the devastated dog owner find her four-legged friends. Flyers have been posted in and around the area.

Hartouni hopes that someone will come forward and bring her boy Jack back to his loving home.

She explained that she didn't need the person's name or number, she just pleaded to 'just take him somewhere safe.'

The Long Beach Police Department is also investigating the case.
A second woman who claims Herschel Walker pressured her to get an abortion spoke out about their six-year affair during a morning television interview on Tuesday.

The woman, whose name was withheld for her privacy, told Good Morning America that she 'felt threatened' into having the abortion after Walker allegedly told her the baby would not be 'safe.'

Walker denied the allegation when it first emerged last week, dismissing it as 'foolishness.' He repeated that denial in a statement on Tuesday and claimed to not know the woman at all.

The anti-abortion candidate is locked in a tight race with freshman Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock, a Democrat who preaches at the Atlanta church that Martin Luther King Jr. once led.

His second accuser, known only as 'Jane Doe,' told ABC that she felt compelled to come forward after Walker's reaction to claims first published in the Daily Beast that he had paid for another woman to get an abortion.

'When I saw the first woman coming forward a few weeks ago, he immediately called her a liar and said, I never signed anything with the letter "H" and I knew I had many cards from him where he signed the letter "H." And so I believed then that she was telling the truth,' Jane Doe said.

She and her lawyer, Gloria Allred, produced purported proof of her six-year relationship with Walker via cards with his signature 'H' and a short voicemail that she says is from his stint in the Olympics in 1992.

A woman known only as 'Jane Doe' spoke out on Good Morning America Tuesday morning to detail her accusation that Herschel Walker pressured her into having an abortion - the second person to come forward with such a claim

.@ABC EXCLUSIVE: He waited in the car while I went in and had the procedure.



A second woman who claimed Herschel Walker encouraged and paid for her to have an abortion in 1993 talks to @jujuchangabc about her alleged relationship with the Georgia Senate candidate. pic.twitter.com/jZR19PQTiZ  Good Morning America (@GMA) November 1, 2022

The woman's lawyer Gloria Allred shared this image purportedly taken by the woman's friend of the pair reuniting by chance at a conference in 2019

But Jane Doe had no physical proof of the medical procedure - she claimed that Walker had her pay for the abortion in cash as to not leave a paper trail.

She recalled telling Walker that she was pregnant in 1993, despite being on birth control.

'He was very clear that he did not want me to have the child and he said that - he said that, because of his wife's family and powerful people around him, that I would not be safe and that the child would not be safe,' the woman said.

'It is very menacing, and I felt threatened, and I- I thought I had no choice.'

She claimed Walker was so insistent on her not having the baby that he drove her to an abortion clinic after she got cold feet when going by herself.

'He came to my house, and picked me up and drove me to the clinic, and I went in alone and he waited in the car while I went in and had the procedure,' the woman said.

She said Walker 'distanced himself from me almost immediately' after the abortion.

The woman also said she lied to her parents by claiming she had a miscarriage, explaining: 'It just was very shameful and I felt like I had been manipulated.'

Walker denied the allegations and even knowing the woman in a statement on Tuesday, after previously denying them when they first emerged last week

DailyMail.com asked Walker's campaign for a response and was sent a press statement from the ex-NFL star on Tuesday morning by communications director Will Kiley.

'This was a lie a week ago and it is a lie today. Seven days before an election, the Democrats trot out Gloria Allred and some woman I do not know,' Walker said in the statement.

'My opponents will do and say anything to win this election. The entire Democrat machine is coming after me and the people of Georgia. I am not intimidated. Once again, they messed with the wrong Georgian.'

But later in the Good Morning America interview, two women who Allred said were friends of Jane Doe claimed that she told them about the abortion and that it was the result of her six-year affair with Walker.

One recalled the pair reuniting at a conference in 2019, seemingly by chance.

'He embraced her. And the embrace, it was very emotional. It lasted longer than a normal embrace,' the friend said.

'It was like they had known each other for years and years and years, which I had known they had.'

Jane Doe told Good Morning America that she was a registered Independent who had voted for Donald Trump for president, an ally and friend of Walker's, twice.
A Washington DC mother, who fled to Virginia with her two-year-old daughter after losing a custody battle, has been charged with murder.

Leandra Andrade, 38, is currently being held without bail in Virginia Beach after her daughter Lanoix Andrade, two, was found dead inside Cutty Sark motel on August 1.

The medical examiner's office declared the little girl died from an 'acute diphenhydramine toxicity,' with is commonly known as Benadryl.

Her mother was also found unconscious in the same room and was given Narcan and taken to the hospital, according to investigators.

Andrade fled DC after she lost custody of Lanoix to the child's father Fabio E. Andrade, Jr., who told WTVR that his daughter will 'always be the love of my life.'

'I look forward to seeing justice served for Lanoix and continue to ask for privacy so that I may mourn my beloved angel,' he said.

Fabio had been granted full custody of their daughter, but they shared joint physical custody, according to People.

He had been fighting since March to get custody of his daughter, but the August ruling did not effect the court-order temporary shared physical custody.

Leandra Andrade, 38, (pictured) is currently being held without bail on a murder charge in Virginia Beach after her daughter Lanoix Andrade, two, was found dead inside Cutty Sark motel on August 1

The medical examiner's office declared the little girl (right) died from an 'acute diphenhydramine toxicity,' with is commonly known as Benadryl. Andrade took off with Lanoix after losing legal custody to the child's father Fabio E. Andrade, Jr. (left) in late-July

Andrade was found unconscious in Cutty Sark motel (pictured) and was given Narcan before being taken to the hospital. Her daughter was pronounced dead at the scene

Virginia doctor Dr. Ryan Light told WTVR that overdoses from Benadryl are rare, but could lead to seizures and death.

'It can make you very irritable,' he told the outlet. 'It can cause headaches; it can cause visual disturbances; it can cause hallucinations.

'When you get to the point of toxicity, it's not as just putting you to sleep. Some people do go to sleep, and that's where it leads into a coma and then either a cardiac arrest or arrest of the heart because of the arrhythmia that it can cause because of the toxicity.'

The little girl was found dead around 3.30am and investigators ruled Lanoix's death suspicious.

The pair were found after Virginia Beach executed a search warrant after a family friend called to report they had received a text message from the mother, reading: 'they would look down on [the friend] from heaven,' according to WTKR.

Andrade also reportedly posted about her daughter on social media, referring to her in the past tense.

Her Instagram posts, viewed DC News Now, show the mother apologizing to her daughter, saying she 'deserved the world' and she was ' so sorry, baby.'

'You are stunning, conversational and beautiful,' she wrote.

In a second post, she reportedly referred to Fabio as an abuser, who was 'fabricating evidence' against her.

I wish I left when I saw him for who he was by Feb 2019, but I got pregnant. I wish I left when it felt uncomfortable staying. I wish I left when I knew things in our home were escalating in 2021,' she reportedly wrote.

'I wish Ieft when he tried to get aggressive with me and necessitating the police to be called to our house in Jan 2022. I wish I never told him I was leaving the morning of March 16, 2022 or I would have finally successfully escaped his physical and emotional abuse.

They were supposed to check out of the motel on August 2, but a friend called police saying Andrade told them she'd 'look down on them in heaven'

'Most importantly, I wish I left for my daughter, because she deserved the world. I am disappointed in myself that this was the only way I could finally get out of his reigns and be free from my abuser and manipulator.'

After the friend provided police with the motel's address, police found them unconscious.

Police reportedly seized an empty pill container, a glass powder with powder, a latop, two cell phones, and several flash drives from the room, which the mother and daughter were due to check out of on August 2.

Andrade's lawyer James Broccoletti admitted the circumstances were 'very upsetting' and that the mother is 'looking forward to their day in court.'

'It's very distressing, all the circumstances. We're looking forward to the preliminary hearing to test all the evidence,' he told WTVR.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Broccoletti for comment.

She is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on December 14.
Question Everything! Purpose and Intent of this website: Washington's Plan to Break Up Russia By Mike Whitney The Western goal is to weaken, divide and ultimately destroy our nation. They are openly stating that, since they managed to break up the Soviet Union in 1991, now its time to split Russia into many separate regions that will be at each others throats. Russian President Vladimir Putin Cheney wanted to see the dismantlement not only of the Soviet Union and the Russian empire but of Russia itself, so it could never again be a threat to the rest of the world....The West must complete the project that began in 1991 . Until Moscows empire is toppled, though, the regionand the worldwill not be safe (Decolonize Russia, The Atlantic) October 31, 2022: Information Clearing House -- " UNZ " - Washingtons animus towards Russia has a long history dating back to 1918 when Woodrow Wilson deployed over 7,000 troops to Siberia as part of an Allied effort to roll back the gains of the Bolshevik Revolution. The activities of the American Expeditionary Force, which remained in the country for 18 months, have long vanished from history books in the US, but Russians still point to the incident as yet another example of Americas relentless intervention in the affairs of its neighbors. The fact is, Washington elites have always meddled in Russias business despite Moscows strong objections. In fact, a great number western elites not only think that Russia should be split-up into smaller geographical units, but that the Russian people should welcome such an outcome. Western leaders in the Anglosphere are so consumed by hubris and their own blinkered sense of entitlement, they honestly believe that ordinary Russians would like to see their country splintered into bite-sized statelets that remain open to the voracious exploitation of the western oil giants, mining corporations and, of course, the Pentagon. Heres how Washingtons geopolitical mastermind Zbigniew Brzezinski summed it up an article in Foreign Affairs: Given (Russias) size and diversity, a decentralized political system and free-market economics would be most likely to unleash the creative potential of the Russian people and Russias vast natural resources. A loosely confederated Russia  composed of a European Russia, a Siberian Republic, and a Far Eastern Republic  would also find it easier to cultivate closer economic relations with its neighbors. Each of the confederated entitles would be able to tap its local creative potential, stifled for centuries by Moscows heavy bureaucratic hand. In turn, a decentralized Russia would be less susceptible to imperial mobilization. (Zbigniew Brzezinski, A Geostrategy for Eurasia, Foreign Affairs, 1997) The loosely confederated Russia, that Brzezinski imagines, would be a toothless, dependent nation that could not defend its own borders or sovereignty. It would not be able to prevent more powerful countries from invading, occupying and establishing military bases on its soil. Nor would it be able to unify its disparate people beneath a single banner or pursue a positive unified vision for the future of the country. A confederal Russia fragmented into a myriad of smaller parts would allow the US to maintain its dominant role in the region without threat of challenge or interference. And that appears to be Brzezinskis real goal as he pointed out in this passage in his magnum opus The Grand Chessboard. Heres what he said: For America, the chief geopolitical prize is Eurasiaand Americas global primacy is directly dependent on how long and how effectively its preponderance on the Eurasian continent is sustained. (THE GRAND CHESSBOARD  American Primacy And Its Geostrategic Imperatives, Zbigniew Brzezinski, page 30, Basic Books, 1997) Brzezinski sums up US imperial ambitions succinctly. Washington plans to establish its primacy in the worlds most prosperous and populous region, Eurasia. Andin order to do so Russia must be decimated and partitioned, its leaders must be toppled and replaced, and its vast resources must be transferred to the iron grip of global transnationals who will use them to perpetuate the flow of wealth from east to west. In other words, Moscow must accept its humble role in the new order as Americas de-facto Gas and Mining Company. Washington has never really veered from its aim of obliterating the Russian state, in fact, the recently released National Security Strategy (NSS) along with a congressional report titled Renewed Great Power Competition: Implications for DefenseIssues for Congress, confirm much of what we have said here, that the US plans to crush any emerging opposition to its expansion into Central Asia in order to become the dominant player in that region. Heres an excerpt from the congressional report: The U.S. goal of preventing the emergence of regional hegemons in Eurasia, though long-standing, is not written in stoneit is a policy choice reflecting two judgments: (1) that given the amount of people, resources, and economic activity in Eurasia, a regional hegemon in Eurasia would represent a concentration of power large enough to be able to threaten vital U.S. interests; and (2) that Eurasia is not dependably self-regulating in terms of preventing the emergence of regional hegemons, meaning that the countries of Eurasia cannot be counted on to be able to prevent, though their own actions, the emergence of regional hegemons, and may need assistance from one or more countries outside Eurasia to be able to do this dependably. (Renewed Great Power Competition: Implications for DefenseIssues for Congress, US Congress) How different is this new iteration of official US foreign policy than the so-called Wolfowitz Doctrine that was delivered prior to the War in Iraq. Here it is: Our first objective is to prevent the re-emergence of a new rival, either on the territory of the former Soviet Union or elsewhere, that poses a threat on the order of that posed formerly by the Soviet Union. This is a dominant consideration underlying the new regional defense strategy and requires that we endeavor to prevent any hostile power from dominating a region whose resources would, under consolidated control, be sufficient to generate global power. As you can see, there has been no meaningful change in the policy since Wolfowitz articulated his doctrine nearly 2 decades ago. The US foreign policy establishment still resolutely asserts Washingtons right to dominate Central Asia and to regard any competitor in the region as national security threat. This is further underscored by the fact that both Russia and China have been identified in the latest National Security Strategy as strategic competitors which is a deep-state euphemism for mortal enemies. Check out this excerpt from an article titled Partitioning Russia After World War III?: The end goal of the US and NATO is to divide and pacify the worlds biggest country, the Russian Federation, and to even establish a blanket of perpetual disorder (somalization) over its vast territory or, at a minimum, over a portion of Russia and the post-Soviet space The ultimate goal of the US is to prevent any alternatives from emerging in Europe and Eurasia to Euro-Atlantic integration. This is why the destruction of Russia is one of its strategic objectives. Redrawing Eurasia: Washingtons Maps of a Divided Russia With the division of the Russian Federation, (the) article claims that any bipolar rivalry between Moscow and Washington would end after World War III. In a stark contradiction, it claims that only when Russia is destroyed will there be a genuine multipolar world, but also implies that the US will be the most dominant global power even though Washington and the European Union will be weakened from the anticipated major war with the Russians. (Partitioning Russia after World War 3, Global Research) Washingtons relations with Russia have always been contentious but that has more to do with Washingtons geostrategic ambitions than any disruptive behavior on Moscows part. Russias only crime is that happens to occupy real estate in a part of the world the US wants to control by any means necessary. When Hillary Clinton first announced US plans to pivot to Asia most people thought it sounded like a reasonable scheme for shifting resources from the Middle East to Asia in order to increase US participation in the worlds fastest growing market. They didnt realize at the time, that policymakers intended to goad Russia into a bloody ground-war in Ukraine to weaken Russia so that Washington could spread its military bases across the Eurasian landmass unopposed. Nor did anyone foresee the lengths to which Washington would go to provoke, isolate and demonize Russia for the express purpose of removing its political leaders and splitting the country into multiple statlets. Heres Hillary making the case back in 2011: Harnessing Asias growth and dynamism is central to American economic and strategic interests Open markets in Asia provide the United States with unprecedented opportunities for investment, trade, and access to cutting-edge technology..American firms (need) to tap into the vast and growing consumer base of Asia The region already generates more than half of global output and nearly half of global trade. we are looking for opportunities to do even more business in Asiaand our investment opportunities in Asias dynamic markets.(Americas Pacific Century, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Foreign Policy Magazine, 2011) A careful reading of Clintons speech along with a review of the Wolfowitz Doctrine will help even the most obtuse reader to draw some obvious conclusions about the current conflict in Ukraine which has almost nothing to do with so-called Russian aggression, but everything to do with Washingtons plan to project power across Asia , control Russias massive oil and gas reserves, encircle China with military bases, and establish American domination at the epicenter of this centurys most prosperous market. Heres Putin again: In order to free itself from the latest web of challenges, they need to dismantle Russia as well as other states that choose a sovereign path of development, at all costs, to be able to further plunder other nations wealth and use it to patch their own holes. If this does not happen, I cannot rule out that they will try to trigger a collapse of the entire system, and blame everything on that, or, God forbid, decide to use the old formula of economic growth through war. US foreign policy experts are shameless in their promotion of theories that threaten to trigger a direct military confrontation with Russia that could result in a nuclear exchange. In a recent webinar for congressmen and women hosted on June 23 under the title Decolonizing Russia. The webinar, staffed by CIA operatives and right-wing nationalists from Ukraine and the Caucasus, effectively argued that Russia was a colonial empire that had to be broken up with the support of Washington. (WSWS) The author explores the reasons why some experts want to brand Russia as imperialist? An article at the WSWS explains why: ...the claim that Russia is imperialist serves a vital political function: It provides a political cover for the imperialist aggression against Russia and the war aims of the imperialist powers. It is this strategy which the pro-NATO pseudo-left covers up for with its clamor about Russian imperialism. The fostering of nationalist, regionalist and ethnic tensions has been a key component of imperialist war policy for decades.. Through a combination of NATO expansion, coups on its borders and military interventions in countries allied with Russia and China, the imperialist powers have systematically and relentlessly encircled Russia Indeed, if one reviews the history of the wars waged by US imperialism over the past thirty years, the unfolding war for the carve-up of Russia and China appears like a brutal inevitability. Despite their reintegration into the world capitalist system, the imperialist powers have been barred by the ruling oligarchic regimes from directly plundering the vast resources of these countries. Vying for these resources between themselves, and driven by irresolvable domestic crises, they are now determined to change this.  the draft resolution describes the basic aims of the US war against Russia as follows: the removal of the present regime in Russia, its replacement by an American-controlled puppet, and the breakup of Russia itselfin what is referred to as decolonizing Russiainto a dozen or more impotent statelets whose valuable resources will be owned and exploited by US and European finance capital. This passage is central for understanding both the unfolding conflict and the politics of the pro-NATO pseudo-left and their insistence that Russia is an imperialist country. (The historical and political principles of the socialist opposition to imperialist war and the Putin regime, Clara Weiss, World Socialist Web Site) As you can see, elite members of the foreign policy establishment are doggedly searching for new and more convincing justifications for a confrontation with Russia the ultimate purpose of which is to fragment the country paving the way for Washingtons strategic rebalancing or pivot. 20 years ago, during the Bush administration, politicians were not nearly as circumspect in their views about Russia. Former Vice President Dick Cheney, for example, made no attempt to conceal his utter contempt for Russia and was surprisingly candid about the policy he supported. Check out this excerpt from an article by Ben Norton: Former US Vice President Dick Cheney, a lead architect of the Iraq War, not only wanted to dismantle the Soviet Union; he also wanted to break up Russia itself, to prevent it from rising again as a significant political power. Former US Defense Secretary Robert Gates wrote that, When the Soviet Union was collapsing in late 1991, Dick wanted to see the dismantlement not only of the Soviet Union and the Russian empire but of Russia itself, so it could never again be a threat. The fact that a figure at the helm of the US government not-so-secretly sought the permanent dissolution of Russia as a country, and straightforwardly communicated this to colleagues like Robert Gates, partially explains the aggressive posturing Washington has taken toward the Russian Federation since the overthrow of the USSR. The reality is that the US empire will simply never allow Russia to challenge its unilateral domination of Eurasia, despite the fact that the government in Moscow restored capitalism. This is why it is not surprising that Washington has utterly ignored Russias security concerns, breaking its promise not to expand NATO once inch eastward after German reunification, surrounding Moscow with militarized adversaries hell bent on destabilizing it. Russian security services have published evidence that the United States supported Chechen separatists in their wars on the central Russian government. British academic John Laughland stressed in a 2004 article in The Guardian, titled The Chechens American friends, that several Chechen secessionist leaders were living in the West, and were even given grant money by the US government. Laughland noted that the most important US-based pro-Chechen secessionist group, the deceptively named American Committee for Peace in Chechnya (ACPC), listed as its members a rollcall of the most prominent neoconservatives who so enthusiastically support the war on terror: They include Richard Perle, the notorious Pentagon adviser; Elliott Abrams of Iran-Contra fame; Kenneth Adelman, the former US ambassador to the UN who egged on the invasion of Iraq by predicting it would be a cakewalk; Midge Decter, biographer of Donald Rumsfeld and a director of the rightwing Heritage Foundation; Frank Gaffney of the militarist Centre for Security Policy; Bruce Jackson, former US military intelligence officer and one-time vice-president of Lockheed Martin, now president of the US Committee on Nato; Michael Ledeen of the American Enterprise Institute, a former admirer of Italian fascism and now a leading proponent of regime change in Iran; and R James Woolsey, the former CIA director who is one of the leading cheerleaders behind George Bushs plans to re-model the Muslim world along pro-US lines. The fact that far-right Salafi-jihadists made up a significant percentage of the Chechen insurgency didnt bother these anti-Muslim neocons  just as Islamophobic War on Terror veterans had no problem supporting extremist head-chopping Takfiri Islamists in the subsequent US wars on Syria and Libya. . Victoria Nuland, the third-most powerful official in the Joe Biden administrations State Department, served as Vice President Cheneys principal deputy foreign policy adviser from 2003 to 2005. (She also helped to sponsor the violent coup in Ukraine in 2014 that toppled the democratically-elected government.) Like her mentor Cheney, Nuland is a hard-line neoconservative. The fact that he is a Republican and she works primarily in Democratic administrations is irrelevant; this hawkish foreign-policy consensus is completely bipartisan. Nuland (a former member of the bipartisan board of directors of the NED) is also married to Robert Kagan, a patron saint of neoconservatism, and co-founder of the Project for the New American Century  the cozy home of the neocons in Washington, where he worked alongside Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, and other top Bush administration officials. Kagan was a longtime Republican, but in 2016 he joined the Democrats and openly campaigned for Hillary Clinton for president. (Ex VP Dick Cheney confirmed US goal is to break up Russia, not just USSR, Ben Norton, Multipolarista) US foreign policy is now exclusively in the hands of a small group of neocon extremists who reject diplomacy outright and who genuinely believe that Americas strategic interests can only be achieved through a military conflict with Russia. That said, we can say with some degree of certainty, that things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. Mike lives in Washington state. He can be reached at fergiewhitney@msn.com. Views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Reader financed- No Advertising - No Government Grants - No Algorithm - This Is Independent Get Our Free Newsletter Registration is not necessary to post comments. We ask only that you do not use obscene or offensive language. Please be respectful of others. See also Former US Marine Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter says Russia is winning and it is winning decisively. pic.twitter.com/7x8THF1MYd  Hassan Mafi  (@thatdayin1992) November 1, 2022
Luis Balcazar Soto (pictured), 24, was today sentenced to a total of nine years and nine months for causing death by dangerous driving and serious injury by dangerous driving

A drunk driver who killed a woman when he careered into her rickshaw while she was out celebrating her birthday with friends has been jailed for nearly 10 years.

Luis Balcazar Soto, 24, was driving up to 56mph in a 30mph zone when he hit Sophie Strickland's pedicab in a bus lane in New Kent Road, Southwark, on July 10 this year.

Ms Strickland, 31, of Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, was pronounced dead at the scene at 4.30am after suffering significant head and neck injuries.

Soto, of Southwark, was today sentenced to a total of nine years and nine months for causing death by dangerous driving and serious injury by dangerous driving.

Soto, who had previous convictions for driving with excess alcohol as well as driving while uninsured and disqualified, has also been banned from the road for 10 years and nine months.

He had been in breach of a previous suspended sentence and a restraining order at the time of the July 10 incident.

The court heard how rickshaw driver Tanzir Ahmed was taken to King's College Hospital with fractures to his skull head, right arm and leg. He has subsequently developed a blood clot in his lung.

Soto ran off after the incident and was chased and stopped by witnesses.

Prosecutor Fiona Robertson told Southwark Crown Court how witnesses saw 'a silver car travelling 60mph swerve into bollards and land by the Tesco Express on New Kent Road.

She said: 'It collided with the rickshaw and spun around. There was no evidence of braking or evasive action prior to impact.'

Sophie Strickland (pictured), 31, of Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, was pronounced dead at the scene at 4.30am after suffering significant head and neck injuries.

Luis Balcazar Soto, 24, crashed his Kia Carens (pictured immediately after the crash) into the rickshaw

Luis Balcazar Soto, 24, was driving up to 56mph in a 30mph zone when he hit Sophie Strickland's pedicab in a bus lane in New Kent Road, Southwark, on July 10 this year (Pictured: Ms Strickland)

A taxi driver had described seeing Soto accelerate harshly at the roundabout by Elephant and Castle at 3:47am and commented: 'Oh my God, I've got this mentalist in front of me driving like a mad man.'

Police investigators estimated Soto to be travelling between 45 and 56mph when he hit the rickshaw.

'Ms Strickland was catastrophically injured and the defendant was aware of it,' said the prosecutor.

'He made no effort or attempt to assist Ms Strickland or Mr Ahmed. It is significantly telling that people had to chase after him to stop them escaping.'

When approached by members of the public, Soto said: 'Let me go or I'll fist you up,' and tried to punch a witness.

Soto even offered money to a member of the public as he begged for them to let him go. He was twice the legal limit of alcohol.

'He was sweating and his eyes were bloodshot,' the prosecutor said.

When told of Ms Strickland he became hysterical saying: 'I can't believe I killed her' and 'I'm so sorry.'

Sophie's mother Glynis said in an impact statement she had lost 'the most beautiful thing in my life.'

Ms Strickland said: 'Never seeing her again is killing me. As a mother I cannot imagine any greater pain in my life. She was a kind and loyal person and in seconds my life was destroyed.'

Police investigators estimated Soto to be travelling between 45 and 56mph when he hit the rickshaw. 'Ms Strickland was catastrophically injured and the defendant was aware of it,' said the prosecutor (Pictured: Tragic Ms Strickland)

Sophie's three brothers also provided impact statements to the court about their sister, who worked as a material and resource planner at PCI Pharma Services.

David Strickland told the court that 'the impact of Sophie's sudden and ultimately avoidable death has left us numb.'

He added: 'The fact that we have to live with the impact of this reckless, selfish and mindless act fills us all with dread.

'We need to face up to the fact that we will never see her again. Never laugh with her, joke with her.

'She was a beautiful, caring and thoughtful young lady.'

Jade Redford, a friend of Sophie who was with her when she died, said the memory will haunt her for the rest of her life.

She said: 'I remember praying that the ambulance would arrive, but it was too late. I remember stroking her hair and telling her how much she was loved.'

Another friend Lucy Smith described having anxiety walking down the street in fear of passing cars.

Ms Strickland was pronounced dead at the scene while Mr Ahmed was taken to hospital with a suspected broken arm. A second passenger had stepped out of the cab to withdraw some cash moments before the tragedy

Attempting to explain Soto's actions that night, Ms Robertson said: 'There must have been some form of distraction that meant he wasn't looking ahead of him.

'The fact that he was occupying the bus lane demonstrated that he had no proper regard for vulnerable road users.

'He took a deliberate decision to ignore, or [had a] flagrant disregard for, the rules.'

Judge Deborah Taylor said: 'Ms Strickland was catastrophically injured. Mr Ahmed was thrown further down the road and he was seriously injured.

'You made no attempt to assist those who were injured and were only looking out for yourself. You were talking about leaving the scene.

'I have heard the very moving victim impact statements from family and friends of Ms Strickland. They all express the intense pain and deep loss caused by your dangerous driving.

'Sophie Strickland was a much loved young woman, 31 years of age in the prime of her life. She came to London to celebrate a birthday and due to your selfish actions she never returned to her family.

'In my judgement, the overall picture was clear to you and you tried to run away because you knew how serious the offences were and what you had done.'

Charges of causing death by dangerous driving while unlicensed and uninsured, which Soto denied, were ordered to lie on the court file.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has delayed the handover of Donald Trump's tax returns from the IRS to a Democrat-led Congressional committee.

Trump filed an emergency appeal with the court on Monday, claiming the House Ways and Means Committee were trying to get hold of the records for political purposes.

Roberts has put the case on hold until the nine justices reach a full decision, and has given the committee until November 10 to respond.

Without his intervention, the committee could have gotten the records as early as Thursday.

It is the latest twist in the long legal battle between the former President and Congress over his financial files.

In August an appeals court sided with Ways and Means and said they could get access to his returns as part of an investigation into the IRS audit process.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has delayed the handover of Donald Trump's tax returns to a Democrat-led Congressional committee

They were set to get access to the tax returns on Wednesday, before Justice Roberts issued the temporary stay.

Trump's legal team asked the Supreme Court to intervene because the case raises 'important questions about the separation of powers'.

'The only way to preserve these certiorari-worthy questions and to avoid causing [Trump, his eponymous family business, and other associated entities] irreparable harm is for this Court to grant an administrative stay,' the filing read.

If Trump's appeal is successful, it could stop the committee from getting his records for years.

And if Republicans take control of the House after the midterms, they will likely end the bid of Democrats to get their hands on the returns.

Trump has refused to release his tax returns and has relied on the courts to keep them under wraps.

Most other Presidents regularly release their returns, but they are kept confidential under federal law.
Faulty equipment, a shoestring budget, and a 'doom loop of pressure' at a Covid lab in Wuhan could have contributed to a virus escaping right before the pandemic began, experts have said.

Staff at the Wuhan Institute of Virology appear to have struggled with corroded tools and may have broken an air filter just before Covid first began infecting humans, according to analysis drawn from evidence gathered in a new US Senate report.

The experts pointed to worrying messages and patterns of behaviour suggesting ongoing problems and then a sudden crisis at the Wuhan lab in November 2019, though they could not conclusively prove a leak had occurred.

Senators have concluded that the 'lab leak' theory of Covid's origins is now the 'most likely' explanation and the idea that it jumped from animals into humans- an idea backed by Beijing - 'no longer deserves the benefit of the doubt'.

The Wuhan Institute of Virology - which was involved in controversial 'gain of function' research on coronaviruses - is at the centre of theories about the origins of Covid

The question of whether the global outbreak began with a spillover from wildlife sold at the market or leaked out of the Wuhan lab just eight miles across the Yangtze River has given rise to fierce debate about how to prevent the next pandemic. New studies point to a natural spillover at the Huanan wildlife market. Positive swab samples of floors, cages and counters also track the virus back to stalls in the southwestern corner of the market (bottom left), where animals with the potential to harbor Covid were sold for meat or fur at the time (bottom right)

The new analysis was published by Pro Publica and Vanity Fair, which obtained a full copy of Senate report and submitted it to their own experts for verification.

What they uncovered was a portrait of a lab operating under huge pressure, on tight deadlines, with a shoestring budget and a general lack of expertise.

Among problems they highlighted were staff apparently struggling with disinfectant liquids corroding lab equipment, which may have breached lab security.

Staff also looked to purchase a specific kind of air disinfecting system which may indicate a filter at the lab broke just before the pandemic began.

The Wuhan Institute of Virology houses China's first biosecurity level-4 facility, the top grade of lab safety which means it is designed to safely handle some of the world's most-dangerous viruses.

Opened in 2018, the level 4 lab is also pivotal to Xi Jinping's vision to make China a research and development pioneer and a global superpower on par with the US.

But it appears staff struggled to maintain proper safety procedures while facing huge pressure to deliver results.

Reports detail how workers spent up to six hours inside pressurised suits handling deadly pathogens, while two hours is normally considered 'excessive'.

Meanwhile Yuan Zhiming, director of the lab, had sent emails to colleagues saying lab technicians were struggling to find a disinfectant that would work without corroding his equipment.

'We have found a good candidates,' he wrote in a 2016 email asking for help in tracking down such a disinfectant.

He also penned an article that described 'general neglect' of lab maintenance costs and said 'high-level [labs] have insufficient funds for routine yet vital processes.'

A week after officials first signalled a problem in their reports, a Beijing official arrived at the lab to give a safety briefing to high-level scientists (file image, Wuhan lab)

Gerald Parker, an expert adviser on biomedical sciences, described the lab and its staff as being caught in 'a doom loop of pressure' that incentivised them to ignore problems and cover up mistakes.

Against that backdrop, the experts drew attention to a series of product patents and purchase requests issued by the Wuhan institute around the time Covid emerged as signalling potential problems.

The first was a patent filed for a disinfectant in November 2020 that would reduce 'the corrosion effect to metal, especially stainless steel' - suggesting that, until then, the lab had been working with a disinfectant that was corrosive.

In the application, Yuan appears to describe issues with the old disinfectant by saying it shortens the life of lab equipment and could also 'lead to the escape of highly pathogenic microorganisms into the external environment of the laboratory.'

This could 'result in loss of life and property and serious social problems,' he added.

Second, is another patent filed in December 2019 for a device to filter and contain hazardous gases inside a chamber such as one used to transport infected animals.

The application says a filtering device with a corrosion-resistant frame is 'urgently needed', warning that defective animal carriers can cause 'multi-stage' risks.

Last was a bid issued by the lab on November 19 - the same day an official from Beijing arrived for a high-level meeting - for an air incinerator.

Bob Hawley, former safety chief at the Armys Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease, told Vanity Fair and Pro Publica that such devices are used to decontaminate air and were common before advanced air filters were introduced.

Looking to buy one, Hawley said, could indicate that an air filter at the lab had failed and their quick-fix solution was to bring in one of the incinerators.

It is just the latest in a growing body of evidence suggesting Covid did not jump naturally from animals into humans in a 'spillover event' and may have been engineered as part of research at the WIV before escaping.

Scientists researching the 'spillover' theory of Covid's origins believe the virus likely originated in bats, before moving into an intermediate host that would have made it more infectious to humans, before making the final jump.

While viruses that look similar to Covid have been found in the wild, researchers have never been able to identify that second host animal or explain how exactly the 'spillover' happened.

The leading theory is that an infected animal was sold as food at the Wuhan Seafood Market where the first cluster of cases was found.

However, scientists have been unable to rule out the possibility that the virus was brought into the market by an already-infected person before spreading.

WHO inspectors were given tightly-controlled access to the Wuhan lab as part of a 2021 probe, but nobody has yet been allowed to ask pressing questions of its staff

Many of these riddles could be answered by identifying 'patient zero' - the first person to be infected - but scientists have been unable to track that person.

Theories that the virus leaked from the Wuhan Institute centre around highly controversial 'gain of function' research that the lab was engaged in.

Such research involves tinkering with viruses to make them more infectious or deadly in order to study their effects or develop treatments before such a scenario plays out for real.

However, many within the scientific community argue the risks of such research - releasing a highly infectious or deadly virus into the world - outweigh the benefits.

Proponents of this theory say it solves the problem of the intermediate host because, if scientists extracted the virus from a bat then modified it themselves, it would explain how it was so well-suited to spread in humans.

It would also explain how a bat-borne virus made it into the city of Wuhan - hundreds of miles from areas where bats naturally congregate - undetected.

The Wuhan institute was well-known for studying bat coronaviruses, with one of its doctors - Shi Zhengli - dubbed 'China's batwoman' due to her specialty in this area.

China has denied being responsible for leaking the pathogen and has instead leaned heavily on the idea it was imported from outside the country on frozen meat - which would conveniently shift the blame beyond its borders.

Beijing has refused to allow an independent team of experts free reign to investigate the virus's origins, including detailed examination of the Wuhan lab.

A WHO team was allowed into the country to conduct a heavily stage-managed investigation back in February 2021, which dismissed the lab leak theory in favour of the spillover hypothesis.

Their report was panned as little more than a whitewashing of Chinese propaganda and the UN body has since backtracked - insisting a lab leak remains a possible.

The coronavirus pandemic has led to some 6.6million deaths worldwide according to official estimates - though the true toll is likely far higher - and has wreaked havoc on global markets which appear headed for a deep recession.
A pond has been left looking like a horror scene after nearly thirty swans died in another bird flu outbreak.

Liden Lagoon in Swindon in Wiltshire became the latest waterway to be affected by the avian disease that is sweeping Britain.

Distressing photos of the scene show dozens of dead swans littering the water and shore.

Locals say corpses started appearing on Saturday October 22 and took to Facebook to call for action.

One person said: 'There must have been something like 20-plus swans, many of which had been there since Saturday last weekend.'

On Thursday last week Thames Water said they removed 30 dead birds, 29 swans and one pigeon from the area within two hours of being notified.

Walkers and members of the public have now been asked to avoid the area despite the corpses of the birds being removed.

Signs have also been placed by the local rangers team urging members of the public to alert any further fatalities to Thames Water.

The country is currently gripped by its worst ever outbreak of bird flu. An 'Avian Influenza Prevention Zone' was declared across the country in October.

A pond has been left looking like a horror scene after nearly thirty swans died in a possible bird flu outbreak. Liden Lagoon in Swindon in Wiltshire became the latest waterway thought to be affected by the avian disease

Locals say corpses started appearing on Saturday October 22 and took to Facebook to call for action

Despite a rise in avian deaths in recent weeks around the south Gloucestershire area, the only previously confirmed cases of bird flu in the area were at nearby Shaftesbury Lake two weeks ago.

A Thames Water spokesperson said: 'We confirmed a significant number of swan fatalities at Liden Lagoon in Swindon.

'Our pollution control centre was contacted about the birds on Thursday morning and we attended within two hours.

'We also contacted DEFRA and the RSPCA who arrived on site shortly after our teams.

From November 7, all birdkeepers in Britain must follow strict measures by law to protect flocks from bird flu, including keeping free range birds in fenced areas and stringent biosecurity for staff on farms. The map shows the prevention zone (red), where mandatory housing is already in place (purple) and the areas under a 10km surveillance zone (yellow)

The highly contagious virus  which experts fear could jump to humans and trigger another pandemic  usually dies out in the summer. Yet this year, avian influenza has persisted all-year round

'Once we had confirmed fatalities, we removed the dead as well as live birds that were affected by bird flu.

'We will be carrying out daily checks to monitor the situation and if we find any more dead or distressed birds, we will go back out to the site to remove them.'

Farmers have culled 3.5million birds this year - nearly a third of the country's production - in the face of the 'Covid of the poultry industry' and have been ordered to keep flocks on lockdown to prevent 'catastrophic' outbreaks.

Widespread infection means Christmas shortages of turkey is a real possibility, so farmers are killing their birds early to prevent them catching the H5N1 virus and guarantee they will be available on December 25.

From November 7, birdkeepers must keep flocks housed 'until further notice', Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs bosses ruled.

The legal requirement comes amid the 'rapid escalation' of avian influenza cases in farms and backyard birds, with the UK logging 80 cases this month.
A California man in his 40s has been arrested after police found him hiding in a woman's closet with duct tape, a folding knife and a glove in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Benicia police responded to a call at 2.45am when a woman reported hearing noises coming from the bedroom of her home in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Police said in a post on Facebook the woman stayed on the phone and waited outside her home until officers arrived at the scene.

Timothy Allen Allison, 41, was arrested after a 'brief struggle' and booked into the Solano County Jail.

Allison had been found by police inside a closet in possession of the items while his car was later found in the area.

A photo of a blackened white Hyflex Ansell glove, what appear to a slightly rusted Milwaukee folding knife and black roll of duct tape were pictured in the police post.

Timothy Allen Allison, 41, was arrested after authorities found him allegedly hiding inside the closet of a woman in possession of a blackened glove, folding knife and black duct tape (pictured)

The 41-year-old was arrested after what police have described as a 'brief struggle' and booked into the Solano County Jail (pictured)

'The victim was physically unharmed, and we are providing as much support as possible after this traumatizing incident,' police said.

'The suspect information will be available shortly and this post will be updated with the information as soon as it becomes available.'

According to comments made to the police Facebook post this wasn't the first incident to occur in that area.

One Facebook user wrote: 'This is terrifying! My friend and I were almost attacked by a man carrying a bat at night on West K street.

'He came charging at us we were able to get away and dialled 911 he was arrested that night but later released... PLEASE BE VIGILANT and look out for each other.'

When asked whether the man was known to the victim Police commented: 'There does not seem to be any connection between the suspect and the victim. Thank you for the question.'

The victim was not physically harmed and stayed on the phone to police while she waited outside for officers to arrive, according to a post to a Benicia Police Facebook post

Police confirmed that 41-year-old Allison was not known to the victim, whose age was left undisclosed

The Benicia Police Department charged Allison with a first degree felony including breaking and entering, misdemeanor disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Benicia is a small waterside city in the San Francisco Bay Area with about 27,000 inhabitants.

The crime rate is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in the United States from the largest to the smallest, according to neighborhood scout.

Although it has a crime rate of 16 crimes per 1000 residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate nationally.

The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Benicia is 1 in 63.

Based on FBI crime data, Benicia is not one of the safest communities and relative to California, Benicia has a crime rate that is higher than 36 percent of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.
A controversial unit of elite NYPD cops will be deployed to New York City's crime-ridden precincts amid surging rates of serious offenses.

Officers from the Strategic Response Group, which has been criticized for its handing of BLM protests, will be stationed to areas with 'a high volume' of crime.

The measures, part of wider plans to boost cop numbers in 20 NYPD precincts, come amid a 30.4 percent rise in serious crime this year.

There have been 102,914 serious offenses reported since the beginning of the year, compared with 78,892 in the same period of 2021, latest NYPD data reveals.

Plans to deploy the Strategic Response Group are detailed in a police memo which also lists 20 precincts that will receive extra officers to deal with soaring crime.

20 precincts will get extra cops to deal with rising crime, which is up citywide by 30% this year

The NYPD's Strategic Response Group is an elite unit deployed to violent crime and protests

The unit's heavy-handed tactics have led some civil rights group to demand it be disbanded

They include eight precincts in the Bronx, six in Manhattan, three in Brooklyn and three in Queens, the New York Post reported.

Latest NYPD crime stats show a worrying spike this year in violent crimes.

Rape is up 11.1 percent, robbery by 33.3 percent and felony assaults have risen by 14.1 percent.

Murder rates have fallen 14.3 percent and shooting incidents are also down 14.6percent.

The NYPD's Strategic Response Group is an elite unit which is deployed to areas facing surging crime.

The unit, which is made up of 'highly trained personnel and specialized equipment', is also skilled in crowd control and can be deployed for major events, including parades and protests.

Police officers at 14th Street Union Square station on November 1 in an effort to curb crime

The unit will be deployed

More police are riding New York's subway amid a worrying increase in crime on the network

The Strategic Response Group will be deployed under plans to tackle crime in 20 precincts

Elite unit was accused of zip-tying and beating BLM protesters after George Floyd's murder

It also deals with 'shootings, bank robberies, missing persons, demonstrations, or other significant incidents,' the NYPD says.

But civil liberty groups have said the unit, formed in 2015, must be disbanded over its heavy-handed tactics.

The unit faced fierce criticism for its handling of BLM protests in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. Officers faced accusations of zip-tying and beating some protesters.

NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell announced the force's 'enhanced deployment strategy' in February.

The plan involved 658 police officers being moved from desk work onto the streets to deal with serious crime.

David Martin, 32, suffered a fractured collarbone when a shove from behind sent him flying

Aspiring rapper Lamale McRae was charged with attempted murder over the attack on Martin

Two people have been killed being shoved onto tracks this year, with 25 cases in total so far

Crime has been one of the hottest topics dictating New York's Midterm elections.

Rising overall crime rates have been compounded by a worrying surge in incidents on the New York subway - including a spate of deadly shoving attacks.

Mayor Eric Adams has also come under pressure to take tough action against crime in the city.

Adams was criticized for recently suggesting the media was creating a false 'perception' of crime.

The rise in push attacks has left two people dead and overall subway crime is up by 41 percent

Violent killings on subway in 2022 Good Samaritan Roland Hueston struck and killed by train as he tried to rescue man thrown onto tracks by New Year's Day. Michelle Alyssa Go, 49, was killed on January 15 when she was shoved onto the subway tracks on the southbound N/Q/R/W platform at West 42nd Street and Broadway. Marcus Bethea, 24, was shot and killed at the Jamaica Center subway station on April 25 while working as a subway card swiper. Daniel Enriquez, 48, was riding on the Q train that was heading over the Manhattan Bridge, when a gunman opened fire without warning on May 22. Ethan Reyes, 14, fatally stabbed at the the 137 Street-City College station in Hamilton Heights on July 9. Tommy Bailey, a father of three, died after he was slashed in the neck by a homeless man on the L train to Atlantic Ave Station on September 30. Charles Moore, 38, a father, was stabbed in the back and chest after leaving a northbound four train in the Bronx at 10.30pm on October 6. Jayjon Burnett, 15, was shot dead on Friday October 14 by a known gangbanger just on a Far Rockaway A train just days before his 16th birthday. Heriberto Quintana, 48, was hit by train on October 17 after an altercation at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue station located in Queens Advertisement

In one of the latest subway crimes, a teenage girl was stabbed and injured on a New York subway after she got into an argument with two other girls.

The 14-year-old was on a train at Saint Nicholas Avenue and 191st Street in Washington Heights on Sunday when she was stabbed in the torso.

She was taken to hospital in stable condition.

Officials are struggling to explain the uptick in crime.

Many have blamed the COVID-19 pandemic, when they say resources like homeless shelters and mental health outreach programs stopped.

Others say it's down to relaxed bail policies in liberal cities like New York and San Francisco.

Before the pandemic, New York State brought in sweeping bail reforms in an effort to reduce low-level offender prison populations.

It released many repeat offenders back into the community.

The group walked in sporadically and spent several minutes grabbing the expensive clothing

A man loaded a cart with luxury goods and strolled out as a store security guard stood idly by

Thieves also appear to be employing increasingly brazen tactics.

New York City 's high-end stores have become a target for looters as a gang of thieves stole $30,000 worth of clothing from upmarket sportwear brand Lululemon while a security guard stood by.

Seven thieves, believed to be aged from 30 to 50-years-old, entered the store on 14th Street and 9th Avenue with empty carts and laundry bags while the guard casually glanced over as they grabbed piles of clothing on August 16.

The brazen thieves, targeting the posh West Village neighborhood, rushed out of the store with their finds - without being apprehended by the security guard.

Store surveillance footage showed the thieves walk in and out the store around noon - looting thousands of dollars worth of merchandise as the seemingly unbothered guard, dressed in a white shirt and black tie, stood by.
Paul Pelosi, 82, spoke with investigators from his hospital bed following the brutal hammer attack at his San Francisco home that landed him in the ICU, a source told NBC Bay Area News.

He provided statements on Sunday to San Francisco police investigators, Capitol Police, the FBI and San Francisco District Attorney's Office regarding the home invasion where Pelosi was beaten over the head with a hammer.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband is awake, has all cognitive functions and remembers the events of the attack  he is cooperating with multiple agencies, according to the source with knowledge of the investigation.

Federal charges of attempted kidnapping and retaliation against a federal official by threatening a family member were filed Monday against suspect David DePape.

Officials in California have also formally charged DePape with attempted murder among other felony charges in relation to Friday's hammer attack. He will be arraigned in court on Tuesday.

DePape is accused of breaking into Pelosi's home in Pacific Heights and beating Paul's head with a hammer with the goal of holding Nancy hostage and breaking her kneecaps.

Fox News reported that DePape is in the U.S. illegally from Canada and is a 'longtime' visa overstayer.

Paul Pelosi (right) gave statements from his ICU bed to investigators with the San Francisco police, Capitol Police, the FBI and San Francisco District Attorney's Office, according to a source familiar with the investigation. The husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (left) was attacked with a hammer at their home on Friday

A police car is situated outside Nancy and Paul Pelosi's $6 million home in San Francisco, California on Saturday, October 29  the day after the attack

David DePape, 42, (left) is accused of breaking into Pelosi's $6million home and attacking Paul Pelosi, 82, with a hammer as he shouted: 'Where's Nancy?'

In a press conference on Monday, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins explicitly referred to the attack as 'politically motivated.' She also said she believes that DePape intended to murder Paul Pelosi.

Gene DePape, the adopted father of David, told KRON that he first met the suspect when he was a toddler and adopted him by the time he turned three

Jenkins told the media: 'What is clear based on the evidence that we have thus far is that this house, and the speaker herself, were specifically targets of the defendant.'

Mr. Pelosi was home alone at the time of the attack.

Gene DePape, the adoptive father of the lone suspect, has spoken out about his son's actions.

He told KRON in an interview that he first met the suspect when he was a toddler and adopted him by the time he turned three. At the time of adoption, Gene was married to the suspect's biological mother. The couple split in 1993 but DePape remained living with his adoptive father until 1999.

Gene told the station that the suspect was 'never in trouble as a kid' and said that he was a 'mild, gentle and kind' child. He also stated his surprise when he found out about the incident at the Pelosi's home.

DePape's adoptive father went on to say that he hasn't seen his son in nearly 20 years, recalling a dinner in 2003 as possibly the last time the pair were in each other's presence.

He described DePape as 'reclusive' but said that he never exhibited any signs of violence. Gene said that he did not know of any abuse in the suspect's childhood.

David told his own stepchildren - who have accused him of abuse - that he also suffered horrible abuse as a child, according to a blog post by his estranged daughter.

A San Francisco police vehicle blocks the street leading to Speaker Pelosi's home the day of the attack

U.S. CAPITOL POLICE SAYS CURRENT 'POLITICAL CLIMATE CALLS FOR MORE RESOURCES' TO PROTECT LAWMAKERS Friday's attack against Paul Pelosi is an alarming reminder of the dangerous threats elected officials and public figures face during today's contentious political climate. After the 2011 shooting of Representative Gabby Giffords and the 2017 shooting of Representative Steve Scalise, the United States Capitol Police (USCP) made security improvements. With the increasing number of threats against elected officials from city council members to federal judges, our work to further our efforts to protect the Members of Congress becomes increasingly urgent. The USCP has worked diligently to investigate reported threats, improve intelligence collection and analysis, and strengthen our partnerships with law enforcement agencies across the country to provide security for Members when they are traveling outside Washington, DC. Since January 6, 2021, we have implimented (sic) a long list of improvements, including adding significant staffing to address the security in and around the U.S. Capitol Complex. The Department is on track to meet our goal of hiring nearly 280 officers by the end of the year. It takes the better part of a year to put recruits through the academy. While progress has been made, there is still a lot of work to do. The Department's long-term plans to expand our protective operations are already underway-- their importance only emphasized by Friday's brutal attack. We will continue to work with our Congressional partners to add additional agents and security enhancements to support our protective operations mission. The USCP has engaged in a review of Friday's incident. We believe today's political climate calls for more resources to provide additional layers of physical security for Members of Congress. This plan would include an emphasis on adding redundancies to the measures that are already in place for Congressional leadership. Hopefully you can understand that we cannot disclose the details about these improvements because our country cannot afford to make it easier for any potential bad actors. The assistance we receive from our partner agencies is crucial to ensure the safety and security of the Members of Congress while they are away from the U.S. Capitol. The Department will continue to coordinate with state and local law enforcement agencies on Member security. During this time of heightened political tension, we continue to monitor thousands of cases across the country-- in an effort to stop potential threats before they make headlines. During the past five-years, roughly 12-percent of cases -- in which we identified people making threats -- have been prosecuted. We hope to see more of these cases prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The USCP is working tirelessly to keep everyone safe during this tense time in American politics. We understand the urgency of today's challenges and remain committed to our mission. - U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger Advertisement

Shortly after the crime, Gene told the Association Press that the suspect had lived with him in Canada until he was 14 and had been a quiet boy.

'David was never violent that I seen and was never in any trouble although he was very reclusive and played too much video games,' Gene DePape said.

'In 2007, I tried to get in touch but his girlfriend hung up on me when I asked to talk to him,' Gene DePape said. He named that girlfriend as a woman named Gypsy.

Jenkins said in the press conference that Paul Pelosi was asleep in a loose-fitting pajama shirt and a pair of boxer shorts when he was awoken by DePape around 2:30 am.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announcing the charges against David DePape on Monday afternoon. During the press conference she said: 'What is clear based on the evidence that we have thus far is that this house, and the speaker herself, were specifically targets of the defendant'

At some point during the ordeal, Paul Pelosi attempted to escape into an elevator to call 911. When that avenue was closed off to him, he did manage to get to a bathroom where he was able to call the police.

DePape was listening in on the phone call, and knew police were going to arrive, according to FBI interrogators, but 'explained that he did not leave after Pelosi's call to 9-1-1 because, much like the American founding fathers with the British, he was fighting against tyranny without the option of surrender.'

Other state charges include residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse and false imprisonment of an elder.

If convicted on all charges, DePape could face life in prison. Jenkins said that her office will file a motion to keep DePape in custody without bail.

She continued: 'One last thing that I want to say today is that as leaders and as citizens, it is incumbent upon us all, to watch the words that we say and to turn down the volume of our political rhetoric.'

DePape's landlord is renowned photographer Malcolm Lubliner, shown here removing the suspect's belongings from the home that they shared in Richmond, California

According to the criminal complaint, the day after the attack, authorities traced DePape to a home along Shasta Road in Richmond, California, around 18 miles north of San Francisco.

The home belongs to renowned Bay Area photographer Malcolm Lubliner who served as DePape's landlord. DePape lived at the address for two years.

Investigators said that inside of the home, they found additional hammers, a sword, and pairs of gloves.

Lubliner has been a fixture in the California arts scene since the 1960s and has had his work displayed at the San Francisco Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art as well as at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC.

He has photographed American icons such as Jasper Johns and Janis Joplin.

At some point during the ordeal, Paul Pelosi attempted to escape into an elevator to call 911. When that avenue was closed off to him, he managed to get to a bathroom where he was able to call the police

On Friday, DePape walked into a bedroom of the $6million San Francisco home just before 3am on Friday, woke Paul Pelosi up and said he would wait for his wife to get home.

He told investigators he wanted 'kneecap her' if she 'lied' to him so she would have to be 'wheeled into Congress, showing other Members there were consequences to actions'.

The suspect allegedly had zip ties with him when he broke into the couple's San Francisco home - and was calling out 'Where's Nancy?'

DePape on Monday was charged with assault and attempted kidnapping by the Department of Justice.

The suspect, who is now in custody, is expected to appear in court this week on separate state charges. San Francisco police said DePape would be arraigned on charges of attempted homicide, first-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with serious bodily injury, elder abuse, threatening a public official, or family member, among others.

Paul Pelosi, who was the only one home when DePape broke in, called the police who arrived two minutes later to find the 82-year-old and DePape, 42, struggling over a hammer, according to a Department of Justice press release.

Officers told the men to drop the hammer. DePape then gained control of it and swung at Pelosi's head, before he was arrested as Pelosi lay unconscious on the ground, San Francisco FBI special agent Stephanie Minor wrote in a request for a federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant.

Pelosi is pictured above leaving her San Francisco home on Sunday as her husband recovers in the ICU from a skull fracture

Paul Pelosi Jr., son of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi, walks outside his parent's home in San Francisco, Saturday, one day after the attack

Pelosi had been asleep when DePape entered his bedroom and demanded to talk to 'Nancy.'

'Where's Nancy?' he asked.

Nancy Pelosi, who gets a security detail, was in Washington, D.C. at the time of the attack.

Pelosi told the intruder his wife was not there and would not be there for several days, and DePape said he would wait. Pelosi was somehow able to get into the bathroom while he called 911.

DePape told investigators he wanted to hold Nancy Pelosi captive and talk to her. He said that if the speaker told 'the truth' he would let her go, and if she 'lied' he would 'break her kneecaps.'

'She would then have to be wheeled into Congress, which would show other Members of Congress there were consequences to actions,' he explained.

DePape also explained that he broke into the house through a glass door using the hammer.

Pelosi now remains in the intensive care unit recovering from a skull fracture surrounded by family members.

When cops arrived at the exclusive property (pictured), they said they saw DePape assaulting Pelosi with a hammer

Gypsy Taub (right, pictured with DePape in 2013) was accused of sending messages to a former friend of her son, telling the minor that she wanted to date him and trying to lure him to meet with her secretly

Nancy was in Washington, DC at the time her husband was attacked

Following his attack on Pelosi, DePape has been accused by his daughter of sexually assaulting his three children when they were kids.

The nudist longtime ex-partner of DePape revealed in an interview from jail that he had been 'mentally ill for a long time' and had paranoid delusions.

Oxane 'Gypsy' Taub, 53, who was convicted in 2021 for trying to kidnap a 14-year-old boy, is also a longtime nudist activist. She says during her two decades with DePape she saw him transform following a disappearance of more than a year.

'He came back in very bad shape. He thought he was Jesus. He was constantly paranoid, thinking people were after him,' Taub told Bay area affiliate ABC 7 in a phone call from prison. 'And it took a good year or two to get back to, you know, being halfway normal.'

'He is mentally ill. He has been mentally ill for a long time,' she said from the Californian Institution for Women in Corona, California, where she is serving time. The two previously lived together in Berkeley.

Taub says she first met DePape two decades ago when he had political views like her own, although the 'hemp jewelry maker's' more recent postings have contain anti-Semitic themes and QAnon conspiracies as well as election fraud claims.

'Well when I met him, he was only 20 years old, and he didn't have any experience in politics, and he was very much in alignment with my views and I've always been very progressive. I absolutely admire Nancy Pelosi,' said Taub.

The couple raised two sons and a daughter, and split seven years ago, she said.

Taub described herself as the 'ex-life partner of David DePape and the mother of his children.'

DePape was also found to have run the website frenlyfrens.com, where he discussed how he had an invisible fairy friend that sometimes appeared to him in the form of a bird and shared images of Hillary Clinton as a zombie.

During one post he even ranted about not being able to buy a fairy house with a working door.

Many of his posts were filled with tirades against Jewish people, black people, Democrats, the media and transgender people, under categories such as 'Trannies,' 'Da Jewbs' and 'Great Reset.'

DePape created his blog just months before the attack, registering it in August.

His very first post on the now-deleted site was entitled Mary Poppins, amid Disney World's dispute with Florida Gov Ron DeSantis over his so-called Don't Say Gay bill.

It included a video depicting a SWAT team firing at the magical nanny.

In the months since, he filled the blog with hundreds of posts depicting anti-Semitic and dystopian images.

One such post featured the Devil kneeling and asking a caricature of a Jewish person to teach him the arts of 'lying, deception cheating and incitement.'

Several others contained images of rotting human flesh and blood, including zombified versions of Bill Gates and Hillary Clinton as he promoted his far-right conspiracy theories.

By late August, DePape seemed to become engrossed in Twitter's decision to ban Jordan Peterson for his posts about transgender people after the Canadian psychologist compared being transgender to 'satanic ritual abuse.'

More recently, amid backlash to rapper Kanye West's tweet declaring war on the Jewish people, DePape posted: 'We are ALL the Jews' slave race.

In just the past month alone, DePape had published hundreds of blog posts promoting far-right conspiracy theories before he allegedly broke into Pelosi's home, the Boston Globe reports.

In recent weeks, after Kanye West faced backlash for a tweet declaring war on the Jews, DePape shared his own anti-Semitic views on his blog

DePape was also active on 4chan, posting memes and debating other anonymous users about his beliefs.

In an October 24 post on the website, DePape complained he was being targeted by law enforcement officials he described as 'paid shills' trying to manipulate the message board.

'I would come in and lay out the facts, and so all the paid shills would jump on me,' he wrote. 'To try and suppress it.'

DePape would also share some photos from a construction site he worked at, one highlighting a jackhammer with the number 33 on it, an apparent reference to a conspiracy theory about Free Masons and world domination.

But other posts on his blog seemed to be more personal, offering a glance into his delusions.

DePape wrote in recent months how he was becoming suicidal as his relationship with Taub was falling apart.

'I was extremely suicidal,' he posted four days before the attack, writing in an apparent letter to Inti Gonzalez, who has identified DePape as her father: 'Mentally I would beg you guys daily to let me kill myself.'
A group of teenagers painted their faces black and dressed up as prisoners for Halloween as onlookers warned their futures would be ruined for the alleged hate crime.

The youngsters were spotted in a video inside a Cedar City, Utah, Walmart on October 31.

Three teenage boys in the group of about eight were dressed up as prisoners, and a teenage girl was dressed up as a police officer.

The video went viral on Monday night as spectators were outraged to see the giddy teenagers disregard their actions.

'You guys are not going to get into a college,' the person behind the camera said. 'You guys are not going to get any scholarships because this is a hate crime.'

One of the boys said: 'We all dropped out of high school, it's okay.' The group simply laughed before walking away.

A group of Utah teenagers are slammed after they painted their faces black and dressed up as prisoners for Halloween

The teens were spotted inside a Walmart in Cedar City by an upset camera woman who scolded the group for the costumes. The teen simply just laughed and walked away

The viral video gained traction overnight with spectators disappointed at parents for allowing their children leave their homes with the chosen costumes.

'Their parents really let them go out like that,' one person wrote on Reddit. 'The apple doesn't fall from the tree.'

Another added: 'I imagine their parents helped with the costumes, told them they looked cute, took pictures before they left the house, and told them to have fun and drive safe.'

'What concerns me even more is the parents. There's no way they didn't see them walk out the door like that. They probably were OK with it.'

Many commenters said the teenagers unknowingly wrecked their lives.

'They think it's so funny, but that joke just ruined their entire life of opportunities,' one person commented. 'They will regret it.'

'The sad part is they think it's okay,' another person wrote.

Meanwhile, others filmed their reactions to the video on TikTok and said they weren't 'surprised nowadays.'

'The sad part is, I feel extremely numb to this,' one woman said in a video about the incident. 'I don't feel shocked. I'm not surprised.'

'The fact that someone, or a group of people thought this was perfectly okay to do this in 2022,' one woman added.

'The fact that they collectively decided to wear those costumes to a point where they went out, purchased those costumes, came home, put on the costumes and the black face... Left their homes in their costumes together - collectively together - and then when they are confronted are trying to defend why they think it's okay.'

The viral video gained traction overnight with spectators disappointed at parents for allowing their children leave their homes with the chosen costumes

Others were upset the group confidently went out with each other

Some commenters slammed the teenagers amid the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020.

Meanwhile, a group of teenagers in Colorado were condemned last year for a disturbing and disgusting' re-enactment of Floyd's death that saw one boy pose in blackface with a white student's knee on his neck.

The shocking image was taken on the grounds of Mead High School.

It shows one student in blackface lying on the ground, while another student presses their knee into his neck and the third kneels on his back - the very same position black 46-year-old Floyd was forced into during his murder by cop Derek Chauvin.

The third teen appeared to be pretending to hold the boy in blackface down on the ground. Their photo was captioned: 'Bye bye seniors.'

The photo went viral and resulted in protests outside of the school.

A group of teenagers in Colorado were condemned last year for a disturbing and disgusting' re-enactment of Floyd's death that saw one boy pose in blackface with a white student's knee on his neck
Rumours about his ill health have been circulating for many months, fuelled by his public appearances

Spy documents say the Russian leader is 'stuffed' with steroids and also has pancreatic and prostate cancer

Leaked emails from a Kremlin insider allegedly claim Putin has been diagnosed with Parkinson's

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Vladimir Putin does have early stage Parkinson's disease and pancreatic cancer, leaked spy documents have alleged in the latest unverified claim about the tyrant's ill health.

The Russian leader has been plagued with rumours about his illnesses for months and he has regularly appeared twitching and unsteady in public, sparking hope in Ukraine and the West the despot could soon relinquish power.

Claims have been circulating among opposition figures, fuelled by his unexplained absences and his shaky public appearances, that he is battling serious health problems but they have always been rubbished by the Kremlin.

But now emails from a Russian intelligence source appear to confirm the 70-year-old has been diagnosed with cancer and Parkinson's, according to The Sun.

The leaked documents allegedly read: 'I can confirm he has been diagnosed with early stage Parkinson's disease, but it's already progressing. This fact will be denied in every possible way and hidden.

The tyrant was recently spotted with apparent track marks from IV treatment on the back of his hand

Vladimir Putin does have early stage Parkinson's disease and pancreatic cancer, bombshell leaked spy documents have claimed (pictured yesterday)

Vladimir Putin's five medically-related disappearances November 2012: Business trips and long-distance flights of the president are canceled, some of Putin's meetings shown by the Kremlin turn out to be 'canned food' March 5  15, 2015: Putin does not appear in public, all meetings are 'canned' - in other words pre-recorded events were shown with the pretense they were in real time August 9-16, 2017: The President, with journalists, visits Abkhazia and Sochi, and then for a week the Kremlin publishes only 'canned food' February 2018: In the midst of an election campaign, the president cancels public events. Peskov admits that the head of state 'had a cold' September 13-29, 2021: Putin goes into 'self-isolation', all events are held via video link Advertisement

'Putin is regularly stuffed with all kinds of heavy steroids and innovative painkilling injections to stop the spread of pancreatic cancer he was recently diagnosed with.

'It not only causes a lot of pain, Putin has a state of puffiness of the face and other side effects - including memory lapses.

'In his close circle, there are rumours that in addition to pancreatic cancer, which is gradually spreading, Putin also has prostate cancer.'

The tyrant was recently spotted with apparent track marks from IV treatment on the back of his hand, adding further fuel to the fire.

Telegram channel General SVR has long been pushing the claims that Putin is suffering from cancer and Parkinson's.

Last week, it reported that the despot's relatives are concerned about coughing fits, constant nausea and a lack of appetite, after he allegedly underwent a medical examination.

His circle is worried that his 'thinness and persistent cough' is becoming noticeable and will be seen by elites in Russia as a 'sign of the leader's rapidly deteriorating health'.

Despite appearing considerably bloated and puffy in the face, the Russian president has lost 18lb in recent months, said the channel which purports to have sources inside the Kremlin.

Ever since Putin ordered his military forces to invade Ukraine on February 24, rumours have been swirling about the state of his health.

APRIL 21: Putin is seen gripping his desk with his right hand while meeting Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in the early stages of the war. Footage from the meeting raised questions about Putin's health

JULY 26: Putin listens to Yury Borisov, the chief executive of Russia's space agency Roscosmos, while he grips his desk with his right hand

JULY 19: Russian president Vladimir Putin is seen hobbling from his presidential plane during the welcoming ceremony in Tehran

AUGUST 25: Vladimir Putin is seen gripping the same desk with his right hand during a meeting with Head of the Federal Taxation Service Daniil Yegorov

What's wrong with Putin? Rumours have been circling for years that Vladimir Putin is suffering from health problems, and they have intensified since he launched his brutal invasion of Ukraine. Critics and Kremlin sources have indicated he may be suffering from cancer and Parkinson's, supported by footage showing the leader shaking uncontrollably and gripping a table for support. He has also disappeared from the public eye for weeks at a time, with suggestions he is undergoing surgery. Valery Solovey, professor at Moscow State Institute of Foreign Affairs first hinted at Putin's health problems, saying in 2020 he had undergone surgery for cancer. Another unnamed source suggested the operation was on Putin's abdomen. He said: 'One is of a psycho-neurological nature, the other is a cancer problem. 'If anyone is interested in the exact diagnosis, I'm not a doctor, and I have no ethical right to reveal these problems. 'The second diagnosis is a lot, lot more dangerous than the first named diagnosis as Parkinson's does not threaten physical state, but just limits public appearances. 'Based on this information people will be able to make a conclusion about his life horizon, which wouldn't even require specialist medical education.' The Kremlin has consistently denied there is anything wrong with Putin's health. Others have previously noted his 'gunslinger's gait'  a clearly reduced right arm swing compared to his left, giving him a lilting swagger. An asymmetrically reduced arm swing is a classic feature of Parkinson's and can manifest in 'clinically intact subjects with a predisposition to later develop' the disease, according to the British Medical Journal. In February, Putin was seen with a shaking hand as he firmly gripped the side of his chair for support. The clip, which was taken on February 18, just before the onset of his invasion of Ukraine, shows him welcoming fellow strongman Alexander Lukashenko at the Kremlin. He pulls his trembling hand into his body in an attempt to quell the shakes, but then he almost stumbles as he unsteadily walks towards the Belarusian leader. Later, Putin sits on a chair but is unable to remain still, constantly fidgeting and tapping his feet while he grips on to the arm for support. In a meeting with defence minister Sergei Shoigu, Putin's poor posture and his apparently bloated face and neck fuelled the speculation. Video showed Putin speaking to Shoigu whilst gripping the edge of the table with his right hand - so hard that it appears white - and tapping his foot consistently. He has since been seen limping and shaking his hands and legs, further bolstering the rumours. Advertisement

He has been seen uncontrollably shaking, gripping tables and chairs for support, and appeared bloated and ill-at-ease.

The president has also frequently disappeared from the public eye for weeks at a time in recent years amid rumours he is undergoing surgery.

Over the summer, the Russian president was pictured awkwardly swatting mosquitos from his face with one arm while the other hung limply by his side.

Similarly, at a huge Victory Day parade in Moscow in May, the now 70-year-old autocrat appeared to walk with a limp and had a blanket over his lap, while in April he was seen gripping a table in a televised meeting with his defence minister Sergei Shoigu.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also quashed any health rumours about Putin as 'nothing but fakes'.

The General SVR channel has long claimed that Putin is suffering from abdominal cancer, Parkinson's disease and a schizoaffective disorder.

Its claims cannot be verified but it was among the first to report in advance the shape of Putin's recent mobilisation strategy.

The channel is reportedly authored by an exiled Kremlin lieutenant-general, known by the alias Viktor Mikhailovich.

Meanwhile in Ukraine today, Russia ordered the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians in Ukraine, raising fears of a massive escalation of the war.

Up to 70,000 residents in the Russian-controlled eastern bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson have been told to flee their homes because of imminent danger.

The region's Kremlin-backed leader warned Ukraine is preparing to detonate a 'dirty bomb' or carry out a missile strike on the nearby hydroelectric station to deliberately flood the area.

But the dire warnings have raised fears that Russia will carry out those attacks after previous false flag threats.

Ukraine says the evacuations represent a war crime because civilians are being forcibly deported from occupied territory.

Russia, which claims to have annexed the area, says it is taking civilians to safety because of a threat Ukraine might use unconventional weapons.

Russia had previously ordered civilians out of a pocket it controls on the west bank of the river, where Ukrainian forces have been advancing to capture the city of Kherson.

But now the order has been extended to the eastern bank due to the latest threats.

'Due to the possibility of the use of prohibited methods of war by the Ukrainian regime, as well as information that Kyiv is preparing a massive missile strike on the Kakhovka hydroelectric station, there is an immediate danger of the Kherson region being flooded,' Vladimir Saldo, Russian-installed head of occupied Kherson province, said in a video message.

'Given the situation, I have decided to expand the evacuation zone by 15 km from the Dnipro,' he said.

'The decision will make it possible to create a layered defence in order to repel Ukrainian attacks and protect civilians.'

Kyiv has denied it plans to attack the Kakhovka dam, a 100 ft high, two-mile-long facility and unleash a reservoir the size of the Great Salt Lake across southern Ukraine, flooding towns and villages, several of which Russian forces seized at the start of the war.

Ukraine said repeated Russian claims that Ukraine is preparing an attack on the dam, which regulates water supplies to the annexed Crimean peninsula and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, were a sign that Russia itself was considering staging an attack and blaming it on Kyiv and its Western supporters.

Moscow has also accused Kyiv of planning to use a so-called 'dirty bomb' to spread radiation, or to blow up a dam to flood towns and villages in Kherson province.

Kyiv says accusations it would use such tactics on its own territory are absurd, but that Russia might be planning such actions itself to blame Ukraine.

In similar brazen claims today, Moscow accused Britain of coordinating attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipes.

Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin's spokesman, said Kremlin intelligence agents 'have data indicating British military specialists were directing and coordinating the attack' which destroyed two gas lines running from Russia to Germany in September.

It comes after Kim Dotcom, who ran site Megaupload before he was convicted of fraud, began circulating a conspiracy theory that Liz Truss had texted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken immediately after the attack saying 'it's done'.

Kim claimed to have learned of the message from Truss's iCloud, after it was revealed that Russia hacked her phone while she was foreign secretary.

Neither Kim nor Peskov have released the evidence they claim to have seen.

But the accusation represents a new line of attack from Russia at the US and Britain, which have led support for Ukraine in resisting Putin's invasion. London has rejected the claims.

A man comforts an elderly woman as they board a ferry during the evacuation of Kherson residents yesterday

Residents in the Russian-controlled eastern bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson have been told to flee their homes because of imminent danger. The region is near intense fighting and surrounds the Kakhovka Dam which is a feared target for missile strikes

Ferries with civilian evacuees depart from Kherson River Port in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict

A boy holds a cat on board a ferry carrying civilians away from their homes in Kherson after the evacuation order

Ukraine says the evacuations represent a war crime because civilians are being forcibly deported from occupied territory

People wait for departure on board a ferry during the evacuation of Kherson residents

Russia, which claims to have annexed the area, says it is taking civilians to safety because of a threat Ukraine might use unconventional weapons

Russia had previously ordered civilians out of a pocket it controls on the west bank of the river

The region's Kremlin-backed leader warned Ukraine is preparing to detonate a 'dirty bomb' or carry out a missile strike

Experts from the United Nations' nuclear power agency inspected two sites in Ukraine on Tuesday that Russia identified in unfounded claims that Ukrainian authorities planned to set off the dirty bombs.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said the inspections for evidence of a so-called dirty bomb, requested by Kyiv in the wake of the unsubstantiated Russian allegations, would be completed soon.

In the wake of battlefield setbacks for Russia in its war in Ukraine, top Russian officials including Putin, made unsubstantiated accusations that Ukraine was manufacturing such an explosive device, which scatters radioactive waste.

The Russians, without providing evidence, alleged the Ukrainians planned to make the purported bomb look like Russia's doing.

Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, alleged in a letter to Security Council members last week that Ukraine's nuclear research facility and mining company 'received direct orders from Zelensky's regime to develop such a dirty bomb.'

Western nations have called Moscow's repeated claim 'transparently false.'

Russia fired four missiles into the Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv overnight, demolishing half an apartment building (pictured)

Lilia and daughter Christina inspect their damaged flat in Mykolaiv after the strike

Ukrainian authorities dismissed it as an attempt to distract attention from Moscow's own alleged plans to detonate a dirty bomb as a way to justify a further escalation of hostilities.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has said the investigated sites 'are under IAEA safeguards and have been visited regularly by IAEA inspectors,' whose mission is detecting undeclared nuclear activities and materials related to the development of dirty bombs.

'The IAEA inspected one of the two locations a month ago and no undeclared nuclear activities or materials were found there,' the agency said in a statement Monday.

The U.N.'s atomic energy watchdog also has had on-site monitors at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Fighting around near Europe's largest nuclear power station has created worries of a possibly catastrophic leak there.

The mouth of the wide Dnipro River has also become one of the most consequential frontlines in the war in recent weeks, with Ukrainian forces advancing to expel Russian troops from their only pocket on the west bank.

Russia has thousands of troops there and has been trying to reinforce the area.

A dog walks past a crater in the road from a missile strike, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in the eastern Donbas region of Drobysheve

A view shows debris of a residential house destroyed by a Russian missile attack in Mykolaiv

A destroyed bridge leading to the Orthodox Christian monastery The Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra over the Siverskyi Donets river is seen

Ukraine's advance has slowed in recent days, with commanders citing weather and tougher terrain.

Saldo, the Russian-imposed occupation leader for the province, identified seven towns on the east bank that would now be evacuated, comprising the main populated settlements along that stretch of the river.

The European Union accused Moscow on Tuesday of launching a new programme to illegally conscript men in Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014, to fight in its forces.

The EU statement said Moscow was disproportionately conscripting members of Crimea's indigenous Tatar minority to fight in its war.

Russia, which launched its 'special military operation' in Ukraine in February, has announced it has completed a mobilisation drive ordered in September by President Vladimir Putin, saying it had called up 300,000 reservists and more were not needed.

But Putin has not issued a decree ending the mobilisation, raising concern he could restart it without notice.

A senior Russian ruling party senator said on Tuesday a decree formally ending the mobilisation was not needed.

Thousands of Russian men have fled abroad to escape conscription to a conflict which has killed thousands, displaced millions, shaken the global economy and reopened Cold War-era divisions.

Just north of Kherson, Russia fired four missiles into the Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv overnight, demolishing half an apartment building.

Reuters saw rescue workers recover the body of an elderly woman from the rubble.

As rush hour was under way, passersby walked past a two-storey school, the front of which had been torn off by the force of the blast that left a massive crater.

'This is what the barbarian horde does,' said Irena Siden, 48, the school's deputy director, standing in front of the gutted building as workers began sweeping up the rubble.

'They (the Russians) are the descendants of the barbarian horde. They stole our history and how they are trying to steal our culture.'

Russia fired a huge volley of missiles at Ukrainian cities on Monday in what Putin called retaliation for an attack on Russia's Black Sea Fleet at the weekend.

Ukraine said it shot most of those missiles down, but some had hit power stations, knocking out electricity and water supplies.

Kyiv forces also shot down two Russian attack helicopters in just three minutes in another blow to Putin's botched invasion.

Anti-aircraft gunners hit the Ka-52 Alligators in the southern Kherson region yesterday evening, Ukraine's Air Force said.

The 12million single-seat attack helicopter is nicknamed the Black Shark and has been described as Russia's 'deadliest helicopter'.

Its battlefield management system allows it to share data with other aircraft to coordinate attack operations.

It came weeks after Ukrainian troops shot down four Russian helicopters in 18 minutes.

Ukraine also blew up a Mi-8 helicopter gunship in Donetsk after a surface-to-air missile picked it out of the sky yesterday.

Ukraine has shot down two Russian attack helicopters in just three minutes in the latest blow to Putin's botched invasion. File image of Ka-52 Alligator

Footage shows a Russian attack helicopter flying low across a field before it is hit by a missile in Donetsk

Footage shows the Russian attack helicopter flying low across a field before it is hit by a missile which explodes on impact - but the chopper continues to fly for some time with flames gushing out of its left side.

The helicopter begins emitting black smoke and then comes crashing down in a fireball in a field, rolling on to its roof as its rotor breaks off.

The images were obtained from the 54th Separate Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Monday, along with statement saying that the images were filmed on the 'administrative borders of Luhansk and Donetsk regions'.

They added: 'Somehow a Russian helicopter flew in to bring death to Ukrainian families, but the sky is tightly controlled by the glorious soldiers of the anti-aircraft missile division of the 54th Separate Mechanised Brigade.

The missile explodes on impact but the chopper continues to fly for some time with flames gushing out of its left side

The helicopter begins emitting black smoke and then comes crashing down in a fireball in a field, rolling onto its roof as its rotor breaks off

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv's forces had shot down 45 of 55 cruise missiles yesterday, and a further Ka-52 alligator was downed

'The soldiers saw a foreign "bird" in the sky and did what had to be done - they "destroyed the harmful fly" together with its crew.'

They signed off with 'Glory to Ukraine!'

Last month Ukraine carried off a similar rampage, downing four helicopters in 18 minutes in the country's south.

The helicopters - presumed to be Soviet-era KA-52 models - were taken down by Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile units.

During his evening address, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the country's forces had shot down 45 of 55 cruise missiles on Monday, and a Ka-52 alligator was downed.

'Today our air forces and everyone involved in protecting the skies did a great job,' said Zelensky. 'Most of the objects that the terrorists identified as targets were saved.'

Ukraine claims Russia has now lost about 72,470 personnel, 2,698 tanks, 5,501 armoured combat vehicles, 1,730 artillery units, 383 multiple launch rocket systems, 197 air defence systems, 276 warplanes, 257 helicopters, 1,415 drones, 397 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,143 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 154 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Baubles are an art installation by Tom Shannon which were in St Giles' Square

It comes as the Met Office last night announced the arrival of Storm Claudio

The baubles were being swept by high winds in bizarre footage shared online

This is the bizarre moment two giant baubles bounced down London's Tottenham Court Road after being swept by high winds.

A video posted on social media - believed to have been taken in the early hours of Tuesday morning - shows the baubles rolling down the street in the capital's centre.

The enormous baubles caused chaos amongst traffic with one appearing to blow into a moving car as the Met Office announced the arrival of Storm Claudio, set to bring gales of up to 70mph in parts of the country.

They are reportedly part of an art installation by artist Tom Shannon which was due to remain on display in St Giles' Square until Friday.

Musician Kai Campos, one half of electronic band Mount Kimbie, wrote in an Instagram post: 'Heartbroken to report that the extreme winds in London last night took down Tom's beautiful 'Four World Set'.

'Seeing it completed on Sunday night was one of the most exciting things I've been involved with. The fact that it was so out in the open and public was one of the best parts of the work and when seeing the joy and intrigue it brought to everyone who walked through the square.

'It felt like it had a life of it's own and one that was just getting started. I'm absolutely gutted that more people won't get to see it this week.'

Looks like these #Christmas decorations couldnt withstand the heavy winds in central London last night! Two giant baubles were spotted flying through Tottenham Court Road. 



[ CC: teeblund (TikTok)] pic.twitter.com/HdUZMfFDRe  The Shade Borough (@TheShadeBorough) November 1, 2022

Two massive baubles were seen rolling down the street in Tottenham Court Road, in the centre of London

The baubles were seen causing chaos for traffic in the footage - and one appeared to bounce in to a car

The bizarre incident was filmed and shared on social media as high winds hit

The art installation by Tom Shannon which was meant to be on display from Monday 31 October until Friday 4 November in St Giles Square, Tottenham Court Road

A tweet which shared the video said: 'Looks like these #Christmas decorations couldn't withstand the heavy winds in central London last night! Two giant baubles were spotted flying through Tottenham Court Road.'

One who commented on the post wrote: 'The first bauble shedding its wrapper on impact with the signpost is perfection.'

Another said: 'Imagine walking down the road staring at your phone then getting cleaned out by a bauble.'

One of the baubles being swept down the road by high winds as Storm Claudio sweeps in

The musician was disappointed the sculptures were blown away by 'extreme winds'

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning in force until 8am on Tuesday, saying the weather could risk causing disruption.

Neil Armstrong, chief meteorologist, said: 'The biggest impacts from Storm Claudio are expected in northern France, which is why is has been named as a system by Meteo-France.

'What it means for us in the UK is for some high winds to be possible along much of the southern coast of England.

'Some isolated and especially exposed coastal areas could see gusts in excess of 70mph, while much of the warning area will see gusts of between 50 and 60mph.'

Conditions are unlikely to improve by midweek as low pressure moving in from the west is forecast to bring wet and windy weather.

The Met Office said winds are likely to be strongest along Irish Sea coastal areas, including western Wales, north west England and south west Scotland, as well as the east coast of Northern Ireland.

It has issued a yellow weather warning for wind on Wednesday.
By i24 News

November 01, 2022: Information Clearing House -- " Five countries opposed the resolution on the 'risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East'

The United Nations General Assembly First Committee, which deals with disarmament and international security issues, called on Israel to get rid of all its atomic weapons and place its nuclear sites under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency in a 152 to 5 vote.

Five countries - Canada, Israel, Micronesia, Palau and the United States - opposed the resolution on Friday over the "risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East." Twenty-four other countries abstained, including members of the European Union.

The resolution, submitted by Egypt, was sponsored by the Palestinian Authority and 19 countries, including Bahrain, Jordan, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.

Egypts text focuses on Israel as one of the nine countries believed to possess nuclear weapons, which the Jewish state has never officially acknowledged.

The results of a General Assembly vote on a resolution is shown on a screen during a special session of the General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, United States.

The resolution notes that Israel is the only country in the Middle East and one of the few among the 193 UN member states not to have signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

It further calls on the Jewish state "to accede to the Treaty without further delay, not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, to renounce possession of nuclear weapons, and to place all of its unsafeguarded nuclear facilities under full-scope Agency safeguards as an important confidence-building measure among all states in the region and as a step towards strengthening peace and security."

In a debate on the issue earlier this month, Israeli envoy to the UN Michal Maayan said the NPT is only relevant as long as it is respected and is not a remedy for the "unique security challenges" of the Middle East.

"Four out of five cases of serious violations of the NPT have occurred in the Middle East since it came into force," she explained, referring to Iran's illicit nuclear program and undeclared nuclear activities in Syria.

Maayan also explained that it is impossible to talk about a regional security architecture around the nuclear issue in a situation where Middle Eastern countries do not recognize Israel's right to exist, stressing that this position is "untenable.
A 23-year-old Arizona woman was arrested for driving drunk and charged with child abuse after leaving her five-month-old baby home alone so she could go out to booze it up in the middle of the afternoon.

Clare Margaret Meacham was nabbed on Thursday after police received calls about a possible drunk driver. Once in custody, the intoxicated mother revealed to cops that she 'may' have left her baby home alone, according to court documents, CBS 5 Arizona reported.

When police arrived at Meacham's east Mesa home- near Signal Butte and Ray roads, they said they could hear the baby's loud wails from outside the house.

Once inside the home police contacted the Department of Child Safety.

The baby was not injured and the authorities waited for a family member to arrive at the home and take custody of the child, the news outlet reported.

Clare Margaret Meacham was nabbed on Thursday after police received calls about a possible drunk driver. Once in custody, the intoxicated mother revealed to cops that she may have left her baby home alone, according to court documents, CBS 5 Arizona reported.

According to the woman's doorbell camera, footage shows the young mother leaving her home around 12:44pm in the afternoon.

Less than two hours later, around 2:20pm, cops caught up with the deadbeat mother and charged her with child abuse.

Meacham told officials that she didn't remember anything after leaving her baby in the crib before heading out.

Records show that Meacham did not call a friend, neighbor or family member to help watch her infant before abandoning her baby, the news outlet reported.

The 23-year-old mom reportedly lives alone, The New York Post reported.

The only other person who has access to Meacham's Arizona home is the girl's mother, the news outlet said.
Perkins says that Reed's new role has proven that the board is 'ideologically driven' and that her appointment has made the district 'a laughing stock'

Reed has an 'extensive' criminal background including charges related to theft, domestic violence, assault, and driving with a suspended license

Alesha Perkins, a mom in the district, spoke with 'FOX and Friends' about Reed's appointment and the anger from parents

Talauna Reed, 47, was named member of the school board during a meeting where public comments were taken after she was sworn-in

Parents in the Olympia School District in Washington are expressing outrage over the appointment of a woke activist to the school board

Parents in one Washington school district have slammed the decision to appoint a woke activist with a criminal record to the board after she was filmed calling police officers 'pigs' during a rally.

Talauna Reed, 47, was appointed to the board on October 27 despite her criminal history, which includes domestic violence, embezzlement, theft, unlawful issuance of bank checks, driving with a suspended license, and assault.

Last week, video emerged of Reed calling police 'pigs' and saying 'f*** the police' during a rally in 2021.

A mother with children in the Olympia School District told 'FOX and Friends' on Tuesday that Reed's appointment was 'ideologically driven'.

'It's made a laughingstock of our school board, and it's just really unfortunate for our community, for our students that deserve better representation,' Alesha Perkins told the network.

'I think the larger issue here, Ms. Reed aside, is that we clearly have a school board that was bound and determined to place her in this position, proving themselves incapable of making reasonable decisions,' Perkins said.

Talauna Reed, 47, was appointed to the board on October 27 despite her criminal history, which includes domestic violence, embezzlement, theft, unlawful issuance of bank checks, driving with a suspended license, and assault

Reed's speech from a protest held last year has sparked outrage in the Olympia, Washington community for comments calling police officers 'pigs'

Alesha Perkins, mother with children in the Olympia School District told 'FOX and Friends ' on Tuesday that Reed's appointment was 'ideologically driven'. 'It's made a laughingstock of our school board, and it's just really unfortunate for our community, for our students that deserve better representation'

Video unearthed of Reed last week also showed the woman telling a crowd of people who had gathered for a demonstration to 'tear everything up in this f**king city,' referring to the state's capital city of Olympia.

Her engagement in local activism was prompted when in 2018 her aunt Yvonne McDonald was found dead on an Olympia street. Reed has alleged that McDonald was murdered and the city covered up the crime.

No arrests have been made in the case. Police said she died of blunt force trauma to her abdomen, with complications related to alcohol.

She ran for the city council last year but was unsuccessful, securing around 40 percent of the vote.

On Tuesday morning, Perkins spoke to Fox & Friends after she gave a rousing speech at the school board meeting where Reed was appointed.

Talauna Reed's criminal record 2019: Driving with a suspended license (charge dismissed) 2017: Property crime -- theft (pleaded guilty) 2016: Driving with a suspended license (fined $150) 2016: Criminal charge, non-traffic (unspecified plea and fine) 2003: Domestic violence, assault (sentenced to two years probation) Advertisement

Reed's criminal background is far more recent than what would make some parents comfortable.

The newly-appointed board member has criminal charges connected to domestic violence, embezzlement, theft, unlawful issuance of bank checks, driving with a suspended license, and assault. Reed has pleaded both guilty and not-guilty to various charges she has faced over the years.

'[Reed is] someone who has a clear disregard for law and order and common sense.' one woman wrote in an October 27 Facebook post.

While concerned by the appointment of Reed to the position, Perkins said she is more concerned by the agenda that the board is 'clearly' pushing on children.

The mom also said that she has spoken with staff, employees, community members, and parents who all said that they were not asked for input on the decision to appoint Reed.

She also claimed that the position is usually voted on, but that did not happen in this case since Reed was filling a spot left by a former board director.

Perkins said that the lack of input taken from the public and the district's own employees prove that the board was 'ideologically driven' and set on putting her in the position.

'They were determined, at all costs, to have Ms. Reed appointed,' Perkins said.

The mom didn't specify what type of agenda the school board is allegedly pushing on students, however. Although, many parents have recently gotten involved in their local school district's policies and plans amid a discussion of Critical Race Theory.

The board has since doubled down on their appointment of Reed, releasing the following statement in response to the backlash: 'During the interview process, she showed herself to be a committed and thoughtful advocate for the students of our school district.'

'We look forward to working with her to address pressing equity and inclusion issues in our school district,' the board continued.

Talauna Reed, featured in the center of the photo wearing the striped shirt, stands with fellow Olympia School Board members

Perkins' statement on 'FOX and Friends' aligns with comments from other parents and family members in the district who expressed their outrage over the board's decision to ratify Reed during an October 27 meeting before taking comments from the public.

'When adults think about themselves and their agenda before the joy of the children they serve. This district has their priorities wrong and they are failing our kids and families. Do better OSD,' wrote one parent.

Many parents were also angered after the district posted a photo of employees in Halloween costumes, which were not allowed in school for children.

'My kids at Garfield were also informed that costumes are not allowed. How is this fair,' wrote one mom.

'OSD isn't about fair,' responded another parent. 'Fair would allow kids to opt out of content against their values. Fair would be a balanced school board.'

'Fair would be open communication where families are heard and respected. Fair would be following survey data on year round calendar and move on like NTPS did. Fair doesn't align with their control and far-left agrnda,' the commenter continued.

'I am glad I don't have any kids going to any school covered by the Olympia School District,' said another person.

'Hopefully there are no incidences or felons showing up. Your new leadership is both a cop hater AND felon. So don't expect police if you yell for help,' one person wrote.

'As Talauna would say, that's f****d up,' said another Facebook user, commenting on the costume policy.

The Olympia School District posted a series of photos showing employees in costume over the weekend. The post received heavy backlash with many parents calling the district 'unfair' due to the reported rule about children not being allowed to wear costumes on Halloween

Comments stacked up on a recent Facebook post made by the Olympia School District

Parents and family members expressed outrage over the district's 'unfair' policies

Reed was one of six candidates interviewed for the position by the school board. She also gave a presentation focused on an equity policy the school district is currently working on

The school board said in a press release that it interviewed six candidates for the position, but ultimately awarded it to Reed.

'It amazes me how those pigs can sit over there to watch us peacefully talk about what we want to change in this state,' she said.

'It amazes me. And they don't pay attention until we tear s**t up. So, before I get started, tear everything up in this f**king city until they do what we want them to do.'

Earlier in the short clip Reed asks the crowd to say aloud the name of two women. First was Breonna Taylor, a black medical worker who was shot and killed by police officers in Kentucky in 2020, causing protests throughout the US.

The second woman was Yvonne McDonald - a black woman and Reed's aunt who was mysteriously found dead in 2018 by a street sweeper in west Olympia.

Reed became involved in activism in 2018 after the mysterious death of her aunt Yvonne McDonald. In the controversial video Reed asks the crowd to chant her name

Activists have argued that the city's investigation of the 58-year-old McDonald was insufficient and improper, alleging that they are either 'incompetent or they are covering something up,' the group Justice for Yvonne McDonald said in a press release.

Reed has personally said she believes that the police 'know something' and they were 'protecting their employee'. She has alleged that the death of her aunt was a murder and called for the street sweeper, Henry Morales, who found her aunt dead to resign.

In a separate video Reed can be heard chanting: 'Fire Henry Morales'.

Reed was described as 'an outspoken community organizer' by local news outlet KOMO News. According to a recent press release from the school board Reed has worked as an Advocacy Navigator at Interfaith Works, a group that helps homeless people.

'Reed facilitates training in Cultural Diversity, de-escalation, restorative justice models, anti-racism and trauma-informed care across multiple organizations and in collaboration with other Thurston County providers,' the statement says.

'There's a lot of classism in the school district and there's a lot of exclusion,' Reed said during a presentation to the board. Hers focused on an equity policy the school district is currently working on.

'I know students feel shut down and isolated,' she said. 'There's probably a lack of teachers from different ethnicities in the state of Washington but I know they're round - they're somewhere.'

Reed will serve a one-year term until December 2023.
The sister of Delphi murder victim Libby German has called the man accused of killing her and her 13-year-old friend a 'monster' who 'doesn't deserve' her attention.

Kelsi German said she had 'no idea' murder suspect Richard Allen, who was a pharmacy technician at the family's local CVS, existed until Friday when he was formally charged with two counts of murder.

German said 'I'm sure there were times where I was in CVS and he was there.'

It comes after her grandmother, Becky Patty, told reporters on Monday that Allen once processed photos for the family free of charge at the store in Delphi.

German has now spoken out about Allen, 50, who is accused of murdering her sister Liberty and friend Abigail Williams, in an interview published on Dave Bangert's Substack.

German said: 'I know someday I'm going to say something to him  hopefully, in the form of a victim impact statement at the end of the trial.

'I don't know what those words are going to be it, but I'm looking forward to figuring that out.

'I will always be out there sharing our girls' story and continuing to make sure people know that they're at the forefront.

'And they will be the ones that are on my page every day, not this monster that we have a face for now.

'He doesn't deserve that.'

Kelsi German, whose sister Liberty was murdered in 2017, has spoken out about the suspect Richard Allen, 50, and called him a 'monster'

Richard Allen, 50, was charged with two counts of felony murder for the deaths of Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13

Abigail Williams, left, and Liberty German, right, were murdered in February 2017 after going for a walk

While the charges against Allen have brought the German family 'a little bit more peace and relief,' Kelsi said they weren't as elated as they though they'd be, and the renewed publicity has 'reopened old wounds.'

'We shouldn't have to be here. And we shouldn't have to be going through this. So, it's definitely hard. As glad as we are that this day is here, it's a hard thing to get through,' she said.

On Tuesday, Kelsi sent a tweet to her followers saying: 'All parties are innocent until proven guilty. Please do not wish harm on anyone or convict anyone before there is a trial.

'At this point there has been an arrest, but the investigation is not over.'

Before German and Williams were found dead in February 2017, they had gone for a walk along a bridge in Delphi, Indiana, but failed to show up to meet their parents.

They were documenting their walk on Snapchat, and police released grainy footage of a man walking towards them, and a voice in the distance - footage which intrigued amateur sleuths.

The bodies of the teenage girls were found close to the bridge the day after they vanished, and several suspects were named over the years - but no arrests were made until last week.

The killer has long been presumed to be the unidentified man seen approaching German and Williams, when they were crossing the Monon High Bridge in the woods outside Delphi in February 2017.

The bridge is located just a few miles from Allen's home  which is also just a half-mile from the middle school the two teens attended.

Kelsi made sure to note the investigation is still ongoing, and commended the police and detectives for their hard work.

'Our guys know what they're doing. They're doing all of the hard work. Just keep turning tips in. They're going to keep going through them. Whether you think it's important or not, it might be important to them,' she said.

Allen is due back in court on January 13, 2023, with a presumptive trial date of March 20, 2023.

He is not cooperating with authorities, according to WISH-TV.

Allen does not appear to have a prior criminal record and previously worked at the local CVS.

Kelsi also said that the family did get some 'relief' and 'peace' from the charges, but talking about the case again has 'reopened old wounds'

Abby Williams, left, and Liberty German, right, were documenting their walk on Snapchat , and police released grainy footage of a man walking towards them, and a voice in the distance

Family members of Liberty German, and Abigail Williams listen as police announce the arrest of Richard Allen

Mike Patty, Libby German's grandfather, said they had long been warned the killer could be living amongst them.

'I don't know the gentleman personally at all,' he said.

'I've probably seen him. It's a small county.'

He said that the detectives working on the case 'had made mention that he could be living right amongst us, hiding in plain sight.

'And that's - that's what came about.

Anna Williams, the mother of Abigail, told DailyMail.com they did not know Allen.

She said she did not want to discuss his arrest.

Nicholas McLeland, the Carroll County Prosecutor, said of Allen's arrest: 'It's a step in the right direction.'

He told a press conference on Monday it was 'disappointing' that the suspect is a local resident, and said he can now bring the evidence against Allen to court.

Asked whether anyone else may have been involved in the murders, McLeland said: 'We have not closed the door on this case.'

Becky Patty, grandmother of Liberty German, said that the accused killer refused to accept payment when the family took some photos to him to be developed

Allen was photographed sitting close to this sketch. It is one of several released following the February 2017 murders

The photo shows Richard Allen, 50, smiling with his wife - while over his shoulder, a police sketch strongly resembling him is posted on the wall inside Bob Matlock's bar

It remains unclear what led police to ultimately arrest Allen. State police will not be releasing evidence in the case, under a court order.

A probable cause document has been temporarily sealed, with McLeland saying he requested the documents be sealed due to the 'extra scrutiny' of the case.

McLeland said he wanted to protect the integrity of the investigation.

'The investigation is far from complete, and we will not jeopardize its integrity by releasing information before it's time,' added Doug Carter, superintendent of Indiana State Police.

'If you choose to be critical of our silence, be critical of me, not the frontline,' he said.

'These are folks who have devoted their entire lives to a conclusion  in other words, a guilty verdict.'

On Monday, the owner of the bar in Delphi where Allen, a pharmacist, used to drink with his wife Kathy told of his shock at the arrest.

Bob Matlock, owner of JC's Bar - which closed in December 2021 - said Allen even posed for a photo in front of the 'wanted' picture.

'I just couldn't believe it when they said they arrested him,' said Matlock.

'I said, 'Well, that can't be the Rick we know.' And then we come to find out it was.

'There wouldn't have been any inkling to anyone that knew him that would expect him to do something like that. He just didn't seem that type of person. But you never know.'

A composite sketch was released in 2017 showing a possible suspect in the case

Matlock, 75, told The Daily Beast that he saw Allen and his wife as 'good friends', who were active in the community and the bar's pool league.

'We were all sitting at the table there, we were having a pool night, and just having fun - we were snapping pictures and everything,' said Matlock, explaining that Allen posed in front of the 'wanted' sketch.

'Every business in town had those [sketches] up. It just happened to be, he was sitting there at the time.

'But to me, that did not resemble Rick.

'My other patrons around town [would] come in for breakfast or lunch, everybody would say: 'Christ, that don't look like anybody,' or, 'It could be anybody.'

It is unclear when and where the photo of Allen in the sketch was taken.

The version of the suspect sketch in the image was not released until April 2019, so the photo would have been taken at least two years after the murders.

Matlock said they all discussed the case, but did not want to go into detail as they knew the families of the victims.

'He would come in and we would always talk about the girls and everything,' said Matlock.

'We would carry on conversations about it, he would say, you know, it's such a tragedy, and we'd say we felt sorry for the families and all that, but we tried not to talk about it too much because we all knew the families, and were friends with the families.'

After news of Allen's arrest broke on Friday, a disturbing photo emerged showing his own daughter posing in the same spot where the teenage victims were last seen alive.

Brittany Zapanta, 28, is pictured posing on the Monon High Bridge.

The photo was posted to Facebook by Allen's wife Kathy, 50, in 2018 just over a year after the girls disappeared in February 2017.

It's unclear when the photo was taken.

There is also no indication as to who took the snap on the Monon High Bridge Trail.

The photo of Allen's daughter, 28-year-old Brittany, was posted to Facebook by his wife Kathy, 50, in 2018 - just over a year after the girls disappeared in February, 2017

Libby German was filmed by her friend and fellow victim Abigail Williams in February, 2017, moments before they were murdered -

The arrest of Allen could be the end of a years-long investigation during which numerous possible leads have led nowhere, and police have remained tight-lipped about the details of the case.

Exactly how the girls died remains unknown to the public, and the state their bodies were discovered also remains shrouded in mystery.

Over the summer, the details of a search warrant revealed that Libby and Abigail were found covered in blood and that their killer appeared to have taken a souvenir of some sort from the murder site.

The warrant, obtained by the Murder Sheet podcast and released to Indianapolis FOX59, offered no further detail on what the souvenir was - although it did say that 'the rest of [the girls'] clothing was recovered,' implying that the killer had taken something they'd been wearing.

The murderer also reportedly 'staged' the girls' bodies in a particular way after killing them - although it remains unclear exactly how he did this.

Investigators believed photographs or videos were likely shot of the grotesque set-up to 'memorialize' the crime scene.

Allen is pictured here with his wife, Kathy, in an undated picture. They live just miles from the bridge from where the two teens disappeared in 2017

Allen is seen with his wife Kathy in an undated photo. He does not appear to have a prior criminal history and was known locally for working in the local CVS

An unidentified man  now believed to be Allen  was filmed approaching Libby and Abby before their deaths

The 2017 murder of Abby and Libby became notorious after investigators released chilling footage the girls recorded of a man following and approaching them across the Monon High Bridge.

A heavily-built man in jeans and a blue jacket could be seen approaching the girls.

In a brief snippet of audio that was released, the man could be heard saying to the girls: 'down the hill.'

The full clip is reportedly 43 seconds long, but its contents are believed to be too disturbing to share in full.

Over the years numerous people have been put forth as possible suspects in the case.

Ron Logan, who died in 2020, had long been the prime suspect.

The girls' bodies were discovered on his property - just 1,400ft from his house - and it was revealed over the summer that his alibi for the day of the murder did not line up.

His home was searched and he was arrested shortly after the killings, but he was released and never charged.

The voice in the clip was described as being 'not inconsistent' with that of Logan, the FBI investigation concluded.

A brief clip of the man walking toward the girls on the trail was released too.

Another man, Kegan Kline, 27, of Peru, Indiana, was also previously named as a suspect in the murders.

He is said to have admitted to talking to Libby German using a fake Instagram profile called Anthony_shots.

Kline - who is heavy-set and pasty-faced - used an image of a ripped and muscular young man to trick underage girls into speaking to him.

He is said to have arranged to meet with Libby on the Delphi High Bridge the day before she was murdered while walking along it.

But he is also said to have shared his Anthony_shots password with others - including his father - and said his father could be a prime suspect in the killings.

Kline is being held in jail after being arrested on separate child porn charges in 2020.
Oliver Smail, was convicted of sexual assault by penetration at a two-bedroom apartment in Walworth on September 8, 2019

An architect who molested a drunken fellow-graduate while she slept on a sofa after an all-you-can-drink 'bottomless Prosecco brunch' has been jailed for three and a half years.

Oliver Smail, 31, who has a Master of Architecture qualification from Kingston University, groped the 29-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, after they met on an all-day bar crawl.

When questioned by police Smail admitted: 'Obviously she is a pretty girl and I am a man so I may make a few moves.'

One of Smail's university friends even sent a text to a mutual friend saying the architect was: 'literally attempting rape on the sofa.'

An Inner London Crown Court jury convicted Smail, of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire of sexual assault by penetration at a two-bedroom apartment in Walworth on September 8, 2019.

The judge discounted the sentence by six months because Smail, a former Planning Support Officer with Aylesbury Vale District Council, had to wait over two years for the Crown Prosecution Service to charge him. He also placed him on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Judge Benedict Kelleher told Smail: 'You all ended up at a flat of your friend's. You had consumed a very large quantity of alcohol and took cocaine as did the victim, who also took ecstasy.

'By the early hours she had fallen asleep on the sofa and there can be no doubt she was asleep when you committed this offence.

'You had shown an interest that afternoon and evening in her and were attracted to her, but you had not behaved inappropriately and had not concerned her.

'You took that opportunity to assault her and when she woke she found you were penetrating her with your finger and had pulled down the underwear that she had been wearing.'

Oliver Smail, 31, who has a Master of Architecture qualification from Kingston University, groped a 29-year-old as she slept on a sofa

During the trial the woman told the jury from behind a screen: 'I remember him trying to touch me and moving to the other side of the sofa,' adding she woke at 6.30am with her underwear and tight spanx shorts around her knees.

She felt his hand between her legs and kicked him off the couch. 'I woke up and that's what was happening. There was a point in the night I was aware of him.

'I was aware of this because of the way he was touching me. I think he was completely out of it. Very intoxicated.'

The woman told the trial she began drinking in Dalston's trendy 'Jones & Sons' which offers a two-hour 'Off The Wagon' brunch of never-ending Prosecco.

'We were drinking for two-and-a-half hours,' she told the court.

She was celebrating a birthday and she and her two female friend's joined Smail's mostly male group and continued drinking cocktails at the nearby 'Three Sheets' bar.

Smail and friends Tom Madden and Alexander Hodgson-Doughty, who was celebrating his birthday, all know each other from the University of Kent.

They moved onto other local pubs and bars, continuing to drink and both the woman and Smail snorted cocaine during the evening and she also took an 'ecstasy' pill.

'I have been very honest that I took 'ecstasy' and cocaine. I have no recollection of who gave it to me, it was one of the three men.'

The group then took a minicab to Elephant & Castle with the vague idea of going to the Ministry of Sound nightclub, but instead bought a bottle of gin from an off licence and continued drinking at Alex's flat.

'I am not denying I was drunk,' she added, recalling a short chat she had with Smail that evening. 'I got the feeling he was flirting, but from early on I was not interested and made that clear.'

The woman told the trial she began drinking in Dalston's trendy 'Jones & Sons' which offers a two-hour 'Off The Wagon' brunch of never-ending Prosecco (stock image)

After a few rounds of gin and tonics at the flat Alex disappeared into his bedroom with the complainant's friend, leaving her to sleep on the living-room couch.

The next morning she burst into the bedroom to complain about Smail to her friend, who asked him: 'Did you finger my friend while she was asleep? Did you do that?'

The friend said Smail tried to hide under a pillow and replied: 'I thought she consented.'

When cross-examined he insisted he was referring to her consent to leg touching and nothing more intimate.

He quickly put his jacket on and left the apartment as the complainant's friend continued shouting and demanding the police be called.

Smail, who runs his own design firm, told the jury all he did was rub the woman's leg when he woke up in the middle of the night to find it in his crotch.

He was also drinking in 'Jones & Sons', where he also confessed to taking cocaine. 'It is not something I regularly do, it was pushed towards me during brunch.'

Regarding the complainant he said: 'I didn't find her sexually attractive,' but admitted texting a friend during the evening to describe her as 'cute.'

'I was really quite drunk,' he admitted, explaining his motivation for squeezing onto the couch was to sleep and not any sexual motive.

'I woke up with something rubbing against my crotch.

'I was in a very deep sleep, very hazy and my reaction was to feel the leg. I kind of rubbed it, squeezed it like a massage just to see if it was a girl or a guy or a reaction of some sort.

'She kind of squeezed my hand and rubbed it and nothing was said by anyone.'

Smail claims he got up to sleep in the spare room, but Alex told him it was being rented via Air B&B so he returned to the couch.

'When I woke up I was being kicked in the head. It was not a hard kick and I took it as a meaning she did not want me on the sofa I had been rubbing her calf earlier on.

'I was so dazed and confused. I did not understand why I was being kicked.'

Smail denied pulling down the woman's underwear. 'I was not aware of what she was wearing under her dress. I never moved any of her clothing.

'I only had one hand that was free at any time.'

He was questioned two weeks later and charged over two years after that. 'It was upsetting. I remember my heart racing and having this massive weight on my shoulders and having to trust in this system that I am going through.'

Insisting he would do nothing without the woman's consent he recalled the moment she kicked him in the head. 'I remember thinking: 'Oh God. I totally misread that situation.'

'I grabbed a pillow and slept on the floor until I was woken up by her friend pulling it away.'

In her victim impact statement the woman said: 'I don't think the assault will be something I can ever comprehend. I often wonder if there was more I could have done.

'I was vulnerable when he decided to assault me. I was asleep and had no way of defending myself.

'Since the assault I suffer panic attacks and drive myself into a state of panic. I have serious issues sleeping and wake up with night terrors.

'He waited until I was asleep and vulnerable before he attacked me. I believe his ego was hurt by me rejecting him earlier that night and took matters into his own hands.'

Smail's KC Chris Henley told the court: 'This is very sad in many respects. This is a man who has been through a great deal.

'He has a great deal of remorse and empathy for what this woman went through and his letter to the court is heartfelt with a real degree of understanding.

'His life is very different now than in September, 2019. He bitterly regrets going out with these people.'

Smail felt sorry for birthday buddy Mr Hodgson-Doughty's lack of guest numbers and felt obliged to stick with him that night, despite the evening descending into drunkenness and drug-taking, the court heard.

'He still finds it shocking and shaming what he did that night,' added the KC. 'His behaviour just wasn't out of character, it was off the scale.

'He has built up a business, but has found it very difficult to focus on that since the conviction and is on anti-depressants.

'It has been a publicly shaming experience with reports in the national press and Mr Smail has struggled to leave his house, wondering if photographers were waiting for him.

'When he last left court there was a man outside with a camera and he could not believe he was there to take a picture of him.'

Judge Kelleher told the first-time offender: 'The offence you committed was brief and there is nothing to say it lasted for more than a moment.

'You were still under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time. It was not a planned offence, but in an uninhibited and intoxicated state you made that fateful decision to do that.

'You were a man of completely good character with no convictions and many people have spoken very highly of your personal qualities.

'Your letter to the court expresses genuine and serious remorse on your part for what you did, but this is a case where your victim being asleep was particularly vulnerable.'
A teenager today pleaded not guilty to the murder of 'much loved' 18-year-old Kajetan Migdal, who was killed while walking home from his school prom in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

Patrick Sharp, also aged 18, did plea guilty to possession of a blade and possession of cocaine during an appearance via video link from Bedford Prison to Luton Crown Court.

Prosecutor Simon Wilshire said a date for the murder trial had been set for February 20 next year.

Patrick Sharp, 18, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 18-year-old Kajetan Migdal (pictured), also 18, who was killed after his school prom in Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Police pictured at the scene of the in scene on Cuttys Lane on May 27 this year

Police forensics at the scene of the alleged murder earlier this year

The trial is expected to last for between two and three weeks.

Police were called at around 11.20pm on Friday May 27 this year to Cuttys Lane in Stevenage, where Kajetan Migdal had received fatal stab injuries.

The schoolboy was rushed 2.4 miles away to the nearby Lister Hospital where despite the efforts of emergency doctors, he was pronounced dead in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Sharp did plea guilty to possession of a blade and possession of cocaine during an appearance via video link from Bedford Prison to Luton Crown Court (pictured)

After his death Kajetan's family said: 'Kajetan was a loving, joy-filled young man with a bright future.

'He was known for his love of dance, animals, hard work and caring friendships. As a high achiever academically and in his hobbies, he was set for big things. He had just finished school and had his life to look forward to.

'The entire family is devastated at the loss of a much loved family member, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.'
Boris Johnson is set for another money-spinning speaking gig after signing up to appear at an international cryptocurrency conference in Singapore next month.

The ex-prime minister - who last month abandoned his bid to make a swift return to No10 - is due to appear at the International Symposium on Blockchain Advancements on 2 December.

Mr Johnson is listed as a keynote speaker at the day-long gathering, which is being hosted at the city-state's five-star InterContinental hotel.

Former US vice-president Dick Cheney is also listed as a guest speaker.

A picture of Mr Johnson appears on the conference website underneath a description of the meeting as a 'new interoperability dimension coupling DeFi and CeFi'.

Boris Johnson is due to appear at the International Symposium on Blockchain Advancements in Singapore on 2 December

Mr Johnson is listed as a keynote speaker at the day-long gathering, which is being hosted at the city-state's five-star InterContinental hotel

Former US vice-president Dick Cheney is also listed as a guest speaker

The meeting is described as a 'new interoperability dimension coupling DeFi and CeFi'

The Singapore summit is set to be a continuation of Mr Johnson's globe-trotting since he announced his resignation as PM.

This summer, before he formally left Downing Street, Mr Johnson enjoyed a belated honeymoon in Slovenia with his wife Carrie.

The couple also enjoyed a holiday in Greece.

Since moving out of No10, the Johnsons have since holidayed in the Dominican Republic.

Mr Johnson was said to have interrupted this break when he made his appearance at an insurance industry conference in Colorado on 11 October.

It was reported he earned more than $150,000 (131,000) for a 90-minute speech and 'fireside chat' at the Insurance Leadership Forum.

The ex-PM reportedly earned more than $150,000 (131,000) for a 90-minute speech and 'fireside chat' at the Insurance Leadership Forum in Colorado last month

Mr Johnson and his wife Carrie flew back from the Dominican Republic on 21 October as he attempted to stage an audacious political comeback

On arriving back in London, Mr Johnson spent a frantic weekend trying to drum up support among Conservative MPs for his return as PM

When Liz Truss announced her own resignation as PM on 20 October - following a disastrous 44 days as Mr Johnson's successor - he cut short his Dominican Republic stay in order to mount an audacious political comeback bid.

On his return to London, Mr Johnson spent a frantic weekend trying to drum up support among Conservative MPs.

But - despite claiming to have secured the required backing of 100 Tory MPs in order to formally enter the contest to replace Ms Truss - Mr Johnson subsequently dropped out the leadership race.

He insisted it was 'simply not the right time' for him to return to Downing Street.

The ex-PM now appears to have returned to boosting his income through speaking gigs.

Allies of Mr Johnson have previously spoken of how he wishes to 'put hay in the loft' after departing frontline politics.

As well as speaking engagements, he is also tipped to return to journalism, as well as complete a biography of Shakespeare he began prior to entering Downing Street.

Yesterday, Mr Johnson shared a video on social media of him receiving his Covid booster jab at Hillingdon Hospital in his Greater London constituency.

He urged all over-50s to get their booster jabs as well as the flu vaccine.

As well as Mr Johnson and Mr Cheney, other guests at next month's Singapore cryptocurrency conference include a speaker known as 'gmoney'.

They are described as a 'renowned NFT cultural thought leader, educator and community authority, known for sporting his iconic orange beanie CryptoPunk'.
He said protests since then were the fruit of 'indignation and a sense of injustice'

He didn't mention election results but reiterated he would follow the constitution

In a national address that lasted just a few minutes, Bolsonaro thanked Brazilians

Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro failed to concede defeat to leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in his first public remarks since losing Sunday's election.

In a national address on Tuesday that lasted just a few minutes, Bolsonaro thanked Brazilians who voted for him.

He didn't mention election results, but reiterated that he would follow the country's constitution, which stipulates a transition of power on January 1.

He said that protests since then were the fruit of 'indignation and a sense of injustice' over the vote and referred to the demonstrations as a 'popular movement' saying they should avoid destroying property or 'impeding the right to come and go.'

'I have always been labeled as anti-democratic and, unlike my accusers, I have always played within the four lines of the constitution,' Bolsonaro, flanked by more than a dozen ministers and allies, told reporters in the official residence in capital Brasilia.

He added: 'Peaceful protests will always be welcome. But our methods must not be those of the left, which always harm the population, like invading property... and impeding the right to come and go.'

His chief of staff, Ciro Nogueira, speaking after Bolsonaro's brief public address, said they would begin the process of a transition to Lula's government.

It took Bolsonaro more than 44 hours to make his first public remarks since the election was decided by electoral authorities, making him the first Brazilian president to lose a re-election bid. He has still not spoken with Lula.

Amid his silence, supporters blocked highways to protest his defeat, with some calling for a military coup to stop former President Lula from returning to power.

Bolsonaro's delay in recognizing Lula's election raised fear that he would contest the narrow result of the election.

Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro (pictured on October 28) failed to concede defeat to leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in his first public remarks since losing Sunday's election

The presidential address may defuse protests by his angry supporters who have blocked highways in many states across Brazil, along with pro-Bolsonaro truckers calling for him to defy the electoral victory of leftist Lula

Supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro gesture at a Military Police vehicle during a blockade on the outskirts of Sao Paulo on Tuesday

Bolsonaro had remained silent after veteran leftist Lula (pictured celebrating election win) beat him in the election with 50.83 per cent of the vote compared to 49.17 per cent on Sunday night

The presidential address may defuse protests by his angry supporters who have blocked highways in many states across Brazil, along with pro-Bolsonaro truckers calling for him to defy the electoral victory of Lula.

Bolsonaro had remained silent after veteran leftist Lula beat him in the election with 50.83 per cent of the vote compared to 49.17 per cent on Sunday night.

Bolsonaro's political allies, including his chief of staff Ciro Nogueira, have already begun to establish contact with the Lula camp to discuss a transition.

Some, including the speaker of the lower house of Congress, have publicly said the Bolsonaro government should respect the election result.

But truckers, who have benefited from Bolsonaro lowering diesel costs, have called on Bolsonaro to defy the result. They have blocked highways with their vehicles and burning tyres across Brazil in protest against Lula's victory.

Some truckers posted videos calling for a military coup to stop Lula from taking office.

The Brazilian supermarkets lobby has reported supply problems due to the protests and appealed to Bolsonaro to resolve the situation before shop shelves begin to empty.

The Supreme Court ordered police to remove scores of blockades that had blocked access to a key grains-exporting port, shut off the country's largest airport started to affect the transportation of food and fuel.

The highways blocked by Bolsonaro supporters included key roads used to move grains from farm states to ports, as well as a major road linking the two largest cities, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.

Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and his wife Michelle have unfollowed each other on Instagram in the wake of his narrow election defeat to his left-wing rival Lula

In the hours after the result was announced, eagle-eyed observers noticed both Bolsonaro and his wife were no longer following each other

The main access road to Sao Paulo's Guarulhos international airport, the busiest in the country, was temporarily blocked by dozens of demonstrators and 25 flights were canceled, the airport said. But Governor Rodrigo Garcia said the highway was reopened on Tuesday morning.

'We honest Brazilians are against the return of that gang that looted state coffers,' said truck driver Vando Soares, opposed to the return to office of Lula, whose 2003-2010 presidency was marked by widespread corruption.

'We are not moving until that bandit is stopped from assuming as president,' he said.

Another demonstrator, Naiele Souza, said she thought Bolsonaro was waiting to see how the demonstrations went before addressing the nation.

Lula's win represents a stunning comeback for the 77-year-old former metalworker, who governed Brazil from 2003 to 2010 but then spent time in prison for corruption convictions that were later annulled.

Lula has vowed to overturn many of Bolsonaro's policies, including pro-gun measures and weak protection of the Amazon rainforest.

The first lady also unfollowed her stepson Carlos, the president's second eldest son, Carlos Bolsonaro, who is believed to run his father's social media

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Bolsonaro and his wife Michelle have unfollowed each other on Instagram following the election defeat, sparking rumours of a split.

The first lady also unfollowed her stepson Carlos, the president's second eldest son, Carlos Bolsonaro, who is believed to run his father's social media.

Addressing the rumours, Michelle, 40, posted a statement on her Instagram stories without following her husband back.

She said: 'With regards to today's article about my husband having unfollowed me on his Instagram, as Jair explained in several Lives, he does not manage his network.

'My husband and I remain firm, united, believing in God and believing in the best for Brazil.

'We will always be together, loving each other in joy and in sadness. May God bless our beloved nation.'

The couple wed in 2007 and is Bolsonaro's third wife and they share a daughter Laura together.

The president shares three sons with his first wife Rogeria Nantes Braga, and a son with his second wife Ana Cristina Valle.

Addressing the rumours, Michelle, 40, posted a statement on her Instagram stories without following her husband back

The couple wed in 2007 and is Bolsonaro's third wife and they share a daughter Laura together

Furious Bolsonaro supporters have blocked roads with trucks and flaming barricades across the country

When he was in congress, Bolsonaro hired Michelle as a secretary and received a number of unexpected promotions and her salary tripled under his management.

He was then force to fire her over nepotism after the Supreme Federal Court ruled against him.

Ricardo Barros, Bolsonaro's whip in the country's Lower House, told The Associated Press by phone that he was with the president on Monday and that the president was 'still deciding' whether to speak about the election's results.

Much like his political hero Trump, the outgoing Brazilian leader has repeatedly questioned the reliability of the nation's electronic voting system.

At one point he said he possessed proof of fraud, though he provided no evidence.

Last month, he remarked that if he did not win in the election's first round, something was 'abnormal' - even as most polls showed him trailing.

One meme that went viral earlier Monday featured a picture of a vaguely disoriented-looking Bolsonaro, with the caption, 'Missing: elderly man, very talkative, has not been heard from in 12 hours.'

Pro-Bolsonaro truckers have set up roadblocks throughout the country to protest Lula's return to power. Some truckers posted videos calling for a military coup

Supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro protest for intervention by the armed forces outside of a military command facility in Sao Paulo on October 31

Truckers - who have benefited from Bolsonaro lowering diesel costs - are one of the president's key constituencies, and they have been known to disrupt Brazil's economy when they shut down highways

Charismatic but tarnished ex-president Lula defeated Bolsonaro by the narrowest margin in Brazil's modern history - 50.9 percent to 49.1 percent - to return for an unprecedented third term.

Pro-Bolsonaro truckers and protesters have blocked highways in at least 11 states across the country, burning tires and parking vehicles in the middle of the road to halt traffic.

Wearing the yellow and green of the Brazilian flag - which the outgoing president has adopted as his own - the protesters wielded pro-Bolsonaro signs and sang the national anthem, before gradually being broken up by the authorities in some areas.

On Monday night Judge Alexander de Moraes of the Supreme Court ordered police to disperse the blockades immediately.

He was acting in response to a request by a transport federation that complained it was losing business.

Supporters of president-elect Luiz listen to his speech at the Paulista avenue after his victory on the presidential runoff election

A demonstrator waves a Brazilian flag as truck drivers and supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro block a road

Some key Bolsonaro allies have publicly recognized his loss, including the powerful speaker of the lower house of Congress, Arthur Lira.

And international congratulations for Lula poured in from the US, China, India, France, Britain, South Africa and numerous others.

Lula, who previously led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, criticized his nemesis Sunday night for not acknowledging the result.

'Anyplace else in the world, the defeated president would have called me to recognize his defeat,' he said in his victory speech to a euphoric sea of red-clad supporters in Sao Paulo.

The ex-metalworker, making his return from controversial, since-quashed corruption charges that sent him to prison for 18 months, vowed to work for 'peace and unity' in the divided nation.

Easier said than done, according to political analysts.

'It was a very narrow victory (that left) half the population unhappy,' said political scientist Leandro Consentino of Insper university in Sao Paulo.

'Lula will have to show a lot of political skill to pacify the country.'
A Maryland family who ordered a prop casket for their spooky Halloween themed-party experienced their own horror when they discovered the dead person's belonging and ashes were still inside their rental coffin.

Baltimore resident Brooke Wozniak had ordered the casket from Facebook Marketplace, but was horrified when she learned that the casket wasn't exactly - empty.

Inside the white steel casket was a photograph of the deceased, a death certificate, the person's social security number, a hospital bracelet from George Washington University Hospital, and white long envelope the Wozniak's believe contained the person's ashes, Fox5 DC reported.

All the items had been taped along the inside of the coffin's lining, the news outlet reported.

'Everyone was in shock,' Wozniak revealed.

After the initial shock wore off Wozniak felt compelled to find the family of the deceased and created a TikTok video hoping the right person would see it.

'We gotta find whoever the next of kin is or whoever knows her,' she said.

After the video went viral the dead woman's granddaughter saw it and showed it to her mother, Sabrina Jones.

It was Jones, who confirmed that the items in the rental coffin were indeed her mother, Edith Crews Meriedy, a community pastor, who died in January from COVID.

Baltimore resident Brooke Wozniak had ordered the casket from Facebook Marketplace, but was horrified when she learned that the casket wasn't exactly - empty

Brooke Wozniak holding an envelope that the family suspects were the deceased women's ashes. Also inside the casket was a photo of the the deceased, the death certificate, the person's social security number, and hospital bracelet from George Washington University Hospital, Fox5 DC reported

As grateful as Sabrina Jones was she also expressed the heartache she felt in reliving her mother's loss. 'It doesn't ease the pain of her being gone, you know? She was my best friend. I loved my mom dearly,' Jones said. 'I'm the only girl. I'm the one who took her to George Washington University and left her there.'

Pictured is a photo of Edith Crews Meriedy, a community pastor, who died in January from COVID. Her photograph were among several personal documents found inside the coffin

At the time, family members were not permitted to see their ailing loved one due to COVID.

Soon after the discovery, Jones met the Wozniak family to retrieve the treasured items.

As grateful as Jones was for the cherished mementoes, she also expressed the heartache she felt in reliving her mother's loss.

'It doesn't ease the pain of her being gone, you know? She was my best friend. I loved my mom dearly,' Jones said. 'I'm the only girl. I'm the one who took her to George Washington University and left her there.'

Brooke Wozniak hugging an unidentified male during the meeting with Sabrina Jones

Wozniak about to embrace a young male during the emotional reunion that included returning Edith Crews Meriedy's personal belongings to her family after she died in January from Covid

After the ordeal, Jones met with Glenda Freeman, owner of Freeman Funeral Services in Clinton. The funeral home was where Jones had rented her mother's casket and place that took care of her mother's cremation.

Jones told Fox5 DC that Freeman was very apologetic and took ownership of the mishap, specifically the discovery of the sensitive documents. She also told her at the time, a number of caskets were transferred to a scrap metal business for destruction.

During the bizarre incident, the Wozniak's also made a second discovery, when they found information from another deceased person that was also left inside the casket.

Jones, who was distressed over the matter, was told by the funeral owner that she was investigating and needed until Thursday to sort it out.
Additionally, AAA estimated that more than 109 million Americans flew home for the December holiday season

Last year, more than 27 million Americans flew for the Thanksgiving holiday

The issues with Delta and United signal possible chaos for the upcoming holiday season, which typically sees peak travel

Nearly 10,000 pilots will now begin picketing, according to the union representing the pilots

The contract would have given the pilots each a 14.5 percent raise

United Airlines pilots have rejected a new contract offer from the major airline, signaling possible trouble for the holiday travel season, just weeks away.

The Air Line Pilots Association on Tuesday announced that the group had 'overwhelmingly' rejected the tentative contract. The union represents 65,000 pilots across more than three dozen companies in the U.S. and Canada.

According to the organization, 94 percent of the nearly 10,000 pilots employed by United voted to turn down the contract, which offered a nearly 15 percent pay raise.

The Air Line Pilots Association said in a statement that the offer 'fell short' of what the pilots were looking for.

The group will 'immediately' begin a series of informational picketing sessions as they await another offer from the major airline.

United Airlines pilots rejected the contract proposed by the airline, according to the union that represents the pilots

The Thanksgiving holiday is just three weeks away. Last year, more than 27 million Americans took a plane during the holiday weekend

United customers could be in for a major headache ahead of the holiday season if the pilots call for a strike-authorization vote

The rejection and picketing announcement comes just three weeks out from Thanksgiving.

According to the Travel Channel, the American holiday 'is undoubtedly the busiest travel time of the year.'

The holiday and weeks surrounding it are known for their large number of delays and cancelations, as well as traffic issues for those hitting the road.

Last year, data found that roughly 27 million Americans planned to fly during the Thanksgiving weekend- roughly 10 percent of the country's population.

AAA reported in December that 109 million Americans planned to travel 50 or more miles for the holidays after a sparse year in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The United picketing could mean major headaches for those looking to utilize any of the roughly 4,500 flights that the airline operates on any given day.

United is also one of the biggest airline servicers in the country, flying to 200 domestic locations and making it one of the most accessible airlines for many Americans.

It's unknown just how many of the daily flights could be affected should the United pilots move to authorize a strike.

The timeline could also be flexible as the United pilots have yet to call for a strike authorization vote, which would be followed by a decision from the National Mediation Board. They would have to rule that no further action or negotiations would be productive for the strike to move forward.

Passengers have already faced heavy bouts of delays and cancelations from airlines this year

Should delays and cancelations occur, it will cost the airline a hefty sum.

Airlines lose about $74 a minute, or $4,500 an hour for delayed flights. Companies are also charged for defying tarmac delay rules, up to $27,500 per passenger, meaning one plane with 200 passengers could cost a $5.5million fine.

The Tuesday announcement comes less than one day after Delta pilots voted in favor of a strike authorization vote.

'99 percent of Delta pilots authorized union leaders to call a strike, if necessary, to achieve a new contractual agreement with Delta Air Lines,' the Air Line Pilots Association said Monday.

That group of pilots is currently still working under contracts last settled in 2016, according to the union.

The trouble with Delta and United could signal heavy travel delays and cancelations for the upcoming holiday season. This comes after a year already riddled with flight problems

'Our goal is to reach an agreement, not to strike. The ball is in management's court. It's time for the Company to get serious at the bargaining table and invest in the Delta pilots,' said Capt. Jason Ambrosi, chair of the Delta Master Executive Council, in a release on October 31.

Following the decision issued by the National Mediation Board, the parties will be offered a chance to arbitrate the contract dispute. A 30-day 'cooling off' period will then be entered if either party declines to arbitrate.

Earlier this year, hundreds of Delta Airlines pilots picketed over the ongoing contract dispute, which they say stems from low pay and long hours.

The average Delta Pilot yearly pay in the United States is approximately $157,912, which is 119 percent above the national average, according to Indeed.

Delta Airline pilots picketed earlier this year amid their ongoing contact dispute

Delta pilots have already voted to authorize a strike, with 99 percent of the pilots calling for the strike to take place

The airline operated roughly 4,000 flights per day, spanning six continents and flying to more than 275 destinations, according to their website.

Should a strike move forward, the decision could cripple the airline industry during the busiest time of year.

During a recent conference call, Delta's own CEO said that travel demand for the upcoming holiday season would be 'very strong.'

'It's going to be a very strong holiday season  Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's,' said Delta CEO Ed Bastian.

Delta's potential strike could also possibly move along discussions with United Airlines and their pilots as the airline may look to avoid following Delta's path.

The United pilots are hopeful that they will agree upon a better contract soon

'By the Company's own admission, this agreement missed the mark. That's why both parties agreed to reengage at the bargaining table for a new, improved agreement,' said United Master Executive Council chair Capt. Mike Hamilton.

The Air Line Pilots Association issued a press release Tuesday morning, detailing the rejection from the United pilots

'It is vital United management recognizes that an industry-leading contract is required to hire, train, and retain the best pilots in the world for the United Next growth plan to succeed.'

The Air Line Pilots Association said Tuesday that United pilots have 'earned and deserve' a better contract 'after leading the airline through the pandemic and back to profitability.'

'United pilots are unified and committed to reaching a comprehensive agreement that fully recognizes their contributions to the success of the airline,' union representatives said Tuesday.

Millions of Americans are expected to hit the skies during November and December for Thanksgiving and the broader holiday season

In addition to the pay increase, the pilots would receive enhanced overtime and training pay under the tentative deal that was agreed upon in June.

United Airlines representatives released the following statement to DailyMail.com on Tuesday, stating that they are already working on new terms.

'This outcome was expected after we and ALPA identified issues with the original agreement from June and jointly agreed to resolve them. We are already working with ALPA on a new, industry-leading agreement that we expect to include improved pay rates and other enhancements.'

Pilots have complained in the past that thinly staffed airlines are asking them to work too many flights, with more pilots reporting fatigue.

The FAA has admitted it is understaffed, especially in an important air control center in Florida, which has meant a decrease in the quality of service and an increase in delays and cancellations.
A violent brawl between two teenagers from upstate New York has been caught on camera showing a 17-year-old student stabbing his 18-year-old classmate in the hand and back before being stopped by teachers.

The vicious attack took place at Proctor High School Utica on Monday and was filmed by onlookers and posted on social media.

The footage shows the student running toward his classmate in the hallway of their school before he is seen lunging at him and the man quickly retaliates, slamming his rival against a wall.

The 18-year-old can be seen throwing a series of punches into the 17-year-old who is then brought to the ground and pummeled in the head.

The attacker appears to be carrying something in his hand while the victim is heard repeatedly yelling that his attacker has a knife.

The violent brawl between two students from upstate New York was caught on camera showing a student, 17, stabbing his classmate, 18, in the 'hand and back'

The vicious attack took place at Proctor High School Utica on Monday  was filmed by onlookers  and posted to social media showing the two in a heated brawl

'He got a knife, he got a knife,' the teen can be heard yelling in desperation as his attacker grips him from behind. 'You, can see that right? He got a knife.'

A crowd can then be seen starting to form around the pair who continue to tussle.

Members of the crowd can be heard pleading with the young attacker to 'drop the knife'.

The 17-year-old student is seen continuing to brandish an object, later confirmed to be a knife, in a stabbing motion.

He can be seen ignoring the pleas to stop the attack, before a female is seen entering the frame and trying to help.

'He got a knife,' members of the crowd can be heard repeating.

A male staff member can be seen approaching the pair before retrieving the knife from the attacker. 'Are you out of your mind,' said the male staff member.

'He just stabbed the sh*t out of my hands,' the 18-year-old student can be heard telling the male staffer.

The male staff member calls out to another staff member to come help in the fight telling his colleague that he now has the knife in his hand.

The 17-year-old student is seen continuing to brandish the object in his hand in a stabbing motion

Ignoring the pleas to stop the attack the victim is seen trying to remove the knife from his alleged attacker's hand

Three staff members are seen trying to pull the pair apart, the Asian student slammed to the ground by a staff member - his attacker remaining upright as the two are separated

The Utica Police Department said they will have an increased presence both within the high school building and outside

Three staff members are seen trying to pull the pair apart, the victim was slammed to the ground by a staff member while his attacker remained upright as the two were separated.

Utica Police Department and Utica City School District released a joint statement about the altercation to social media.

'The teachers took immediate action, without regard for their safety, and attempted to separate the two parties,' read the post.

'The teachers grabbed the suspect and forcibly disarmed him, and held him until security staff arrived.'

Authorities said that the suspect was immediately removed from the scene and taken to a secure area.

The 18-year-old victim who suffered multiple stab wounds to his back and hands was given aid by school nursing staff before being taken to hospital. Police said that the injuries were not considered life-threatening.

Following an investigation, police said the 17-year-old has been charged with attempted first-degree assault, a class C felony, and fourth-degree possession of a weapon, according to the Daily Sentinel.

He will answer to his charges in Oneida County Family Court. The Utica Police Department said they will have an increased presence both within the school building and outside.

'For the remainder of the week, the Proctor High School campus will remain closed,' police said.

'Students will not be allowed to exit the building during free periods and for lunch. This process will be re-evaluated next week.'

Students were also advised to get in touch with school officials if they felt traumatized by the event.
Putin Skewers US Ineptitude

By Ray McGovern

November 01, 2022: Information Clearing House -- " Anti War " - Speaking on Oct. 27 at the Valdai International Discussion Club, Russian President Vladimir Putin questioned the sanity of those who would "spoil relations with China at the same time they are supplying billions-worth of weapons to Ukraine in a fight against Russia."

In answer to a question on "the growing tensions between China and the United States over Taiwan," Putin labeled visits by top U.S. officials to Taiwan a "provocation." Putin added:

"Frankly, I do not know why they are doing this.  Are they sane? It seems that this runs completely counter to common sense and logic  This is simply crazy.

"It may seem that there is a subtle, profound plot behind this. But I think there is nothing there, no subtle thought. It is just nonsense and arrogance, nothing else.  Such irrational actions are rooted in arrogance and a sense of impunity."

Elite, Exceptional People

What kind of people are behind what Putin describes? It turns out they come from the same stock of white-privileged, exceptional, ivy-mantled "Best and Brightest" that brought us Vietnam. This time, it is President Joe Biden who brought them in. Giving Biden the benefit of the doubt, I believe he was/is not smart enough to understand that they have made a big mess of things.

These are the sophomores, totally ignorant of how the Russia-China relationship had evolved, who told Biden at the Geneva summit on June 16, 2021 that "Russia is in a very, very difficult spot right now  being squeezed by China. ," which Biden parroted planeside before departing Geneva.

In his Valdai speech Putin quoted from a Harvard Commencement address by Alexander Solzhenitsyn:

"A continuous blindness of superiority is typical of the West; it upholds the belief that vast regions everywhere on our planet should develop and mature to the level of present-day Western Systems."

Putin adds:

"Solzhenitsyn said this in 1978. Nothing has changed.  Belief in ones infallibility is very dangerous; it is only one step away from the desire of the infallible to destroy those they do not like.  "They arrogantly rejected all other variants and forms of government by the people and, I want to emphasize this, did so contemptuously and disdainfully  as if everyone else were second-rate, while they were exceptional."

The day after Putins speech, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, asked for comment, said: "We highly appreciate the positive remarks by President Putin on China-Russia relations; they have maintained the momentum of robust development." The foreign ministry spokesman added that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the day Putin spoke at Valdai, and that the two diplomats "exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis."

Rules-Based International Order

Putin lampooned the Antony Blinken/Jake Sullivan concoction of the "rules-based order." As for the idea of "substituting rules for international law." Putin quipped, as he began his prepared remarks at Valdai:

"I was tempted to say We are clear about who made up these rules, but perhaps that would not be an accurate statement. We have no idea whatsoever who made these rules up, what these rules are based on, or what is contained inside these rules.

"It looks like we are witnessing an attempt to enforce just one rule where those in power  could live without following any rules at all and could get away with anything."

Later, during the Q and A, Putin rang some changes on the "rules-based" concept:

"They are talking about rules  what rules? Where are they written and who has approved them? It is nonsense  nothing more than rubbish. Still, they keep drumming it into peoples heads indefinitely. And those who do not observe these rules will be subject to restrictions and sanctions.

Relaxed, Jocular, in Control

Putin appeared vigorous and fully alert, with a prodigious grasp of detail, during his three and a half hours on stage at Valdai. He even told a couple of jokes  one about Russia being blamed for everything  including broken toilets. In this connection, readers might enjoy this short video showing who was to blame for sabotaging the Nord Stream pipelines. (Perhaps one reason Putin seemed in such high spirits is that he had already seen this video.)

Nonetheless, in his earlier, prepared remarks, Putin was dead serious in addressing what he called, multiple times, the "tectonic shift" in the world correlation of forces.

"Now this historical period of boundless Western domination in world affairs is coming to an end. The unipolar world is being relegated to the past. We are at a historical crossroads. We are in for probably the most dangerous, unpredictable and at the same time most important decade since the end of World War II. The West is unable to rule humanity single-handedly and the majority of nations no longer want to put up with this. This is the main contradiction of the new era. To cite a classic, this is a revolutionary situation to some extent  the elites cannot and the people do not want to live like that any longer."

Ray McGovern works with Tell the Word, a publishing arm of the ecumenical Church of the Saviour in inner-city Washington. His 27-year career as a CIA analyst includes serving as Chief of the Soviet Foreign Policy Branch and preparer/briefer of the Presidents Daily Brief. He is co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS).
A premature baby allegedly murdered by a nurse 'suffocated' after having air deliberately injected into his stomach, a court heard today.

The tiny baby boy had been born 10 weeks early, weighing just 1lbs 12oz, after his growth was restricted in the womb because of problems with his mother's pregnancy.

The child, Baby C, had pneumonia and needed some respiratory support but was considered stable by doctors at the Countess of Chester Hospital, in Cheshire, when he suddenly collapsed aged three days in June 2015.

Neo-natal nurse Lucy Letby, 32, is accused of killing Baby C - her second alleged victim in a week - during a night shift. She denies murdering seven babies and attempting to murder ten others between June 2015 and June 2016.

Neo-natal nurse Lucy Letby, 32, is accused of killing Baby C - her second alleged victim in a week - during a night shift

Expert Dr Dewi Evans, a retired paediatrician, told the jury at Manchester Crown Court that Baby C was 'vulnerable' because of his prematurity

Click here to listen to The Mail+ podcast: The Trial of Lucy Letby In the latest episode of the Trial of Lucy Letby podcast, Liz and Caroline focus on the case of Baby B, the twin of Baby A. She was allegedly attacked 27 hours after her brother, but survived. We'll hear testimony from nurses and doctors who successfully resuscitated Baby B when she collapsed. Liz and Caroline also chat to experienced journalist Kim Pilling, who works for the Press Association and has one of just a handful of media seats in the actual courtroom. Advertisement

Expert Dr Dewi Evans, a retired paediatrician, told the jury at Manchester Crown Court that Baby C was 'vulnerable' because of his prematurity and his growth problems, which meant he was around a pound lighter than normal for his 30 week gestation.

He said he was at risk of breathing problems and feeding issues, including a dangerous bowel condition often found in premature babies called necrotising enterocolitis.

Baby C also had pneumonia and was at risk of fluctuations in his sugar levels and jaundice.

But none of those problems could explain why he suddenly collapsed around 11.15pm on June 13, shortly after he was given his first milk feed, Dr Evans said.

'His collapse is consistent with a volume of air being injected into his stomach,' Dr Evans said.

'A sufficient injection of air into the stomach will cause what is called the splinting of the diaphragm.

'This has to be able to move up and down for the patient to breathe properly.

'With a lot of air, the diaphragm can't move and you will soon suffocate, you won't be able to breathe and you collapse pretty quickly.

'The lungs cannot get fresh air or oxygen and without fresh oxygen you become hypoxic and you cannot survive without oxygen and you collapse.'

Ben Myers KC, defending Letby, suggested Dr Evans had changed his mind about Baby C's cause of death after subsequently reading the reports of other experts, including pathologist Andreas Marnerides, who carried out a post-mortem following his death.

Mr Myers said that, in the five reports written by Dr Evans between 2017 and 2021, he had initially said Baby C's death could not be explained and yesterday was the first time that he had claimed Baby C's diaphragm had 'splinted' because he had been deliberately harmed.

Letby denies murdering seven babies and attempting to murder ten others between June 2015 and June 2016

But Dr Evans insisted: 'This baby was put in harm's way.'

Mr Myers repeatedly challenged the paediatrician, stating that he had failed to mention a cause of death in five years of writing eight independent reports on the case and contributing to a review by medical experts as recently as August this year.

He put it to Dr Evans: 'You're coming up with things as we go along, aren't you? I'm suggesting to you that you are reaching for things that support the allegations rather than reflecting the facts'.

Mr Evans denied the allegation, saying that clinicians worked as a team and he was always open to amending his views depending on the information in front of him.

'I don't jump to conclusions,' he said.

The paediatrician acknowledged that Baby C had pneumonia in one of his lungs, but added that he had been recovering at the time of his sudden collapse. He said that he had been well enough to enjoy two periods of about two hours of skin-to-skin contact with his parents.

'His pneumonia was under control and he was requiring hardly any additional oxygen. Infection was a factor in his life It didn't kill him,' Dr Evans said.

Again Mr Myers put it to him that he was trying to anticipate future evidence in the trial that harm was done to the 800g infant on June 13, 2015.

Mr Evans replied: 'Sorry, this baby was put into harm's way'.

Mr Myers said: 'You're coming up with things now to try to support an allegation of harm, aren't you?'

Mr Evans said: 'No. I'm trying to come up with an explanation of why this baby collapsed'.

The barrister retorted: 'You're not independent at all'.

Another expert paediatrician, Dr Sandie Bohin, said she believed the only plausible explanation for Baby C's collapse was an introduction of air into his system.

'Babies like this don't just suddenly collapse and then be unresponsive to resuscitation'.

Ben Myers KC, defending Letby, suggested Dr Evans had changed his mind about Baby C's cause of death after subsequently reading the reports of other experts

Earlier Mr Myers claimed medical notes showed Baby C had vomited bile and bile had also been drawn out from his stomach four times over 12 hours before his death. He showed the jury an X-ray which he said showed more air in the small intestine, than in the large intestine and rectum and highlighted that Baby C had not opened his bowels since birth.

All suggested he had an intestinal blockage which explained why he collapsed, Mr Myers said.

But Dr John Gibbs, the paediatric consultant who treated him, said none was diagnostic of a blockage. He said the air was more likely inhaled by the baby via the respiratory support he was receiving and the bile was not increasing in amount so was not necessarily evidence of a bowel obstruction.

Letby, of Hereford, denies 22 charges relating to 17 alleged victims.

The case continues.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul finds herself tied with Republican challenger Rep. Lee Zeldin in a new survey released just a week before Election Day in a state where Democrats have a huge built-in advantage.

The poll, by Trafalgar Group, comes after three successive surveys showed a lead for Hochul, who assumed office upon the resignation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo amid sexual harassment allegations last August.

Hochul, who drew a visit from President Biden last week where both Democrats touted new outside investments in microchip manufacturing, is now just below 50 per cent in the RealClearPolitics poll average.

Her average lead is still about 4 per cent, which could be enough to hold even if a red wave emerges nationwide, although Hochuls hectic campaign schedule is meant to keep that from happening.

A new poll shows New York Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul and her challenger, House GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin, in a dead heat

Trafalgar uses different methods than other pollsters, allowing people to participate through brief surveys by phone, text, or email. The group says the tactics allow it to locate harder-to-reach voters. There were widespread polling flops in 2016 as organizations struggled to pick up Trump supporters who may have been resistant to traditional polling methods.

Hochul signaled she knows she has a race on her hands in the state with a two-to-one Democratic registration advantage. She visited a Bronx subway station Tuesday morning, with plans for a rally in Brooklyn.

On Monday, Zeldin was on Hochuls home turf upstate, visiting a town north of her hometown of Buffalo. He stumped with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who snatched the state out of Democratic hands with his attacks on Critical Race Theory in schools.

The issue of crime has become a political lightening rod in the race between Hochul (left) and Zeldin (right)

He stumped with Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis over the weekend. This is about all of you taking control your government again, Zeldin said Monday. He says he wants to declare a crime emergency in the state.

Hochul was in Harlem Monday, campaigning with Democratic Reps. Jamaal Bowman and Adriano Espaillat, and ripping Zeldins attacks on New Yorks crime record.

Dont come here today and tell us that youve got a tough on crime plan thats just soft and squishy on guns, she said, ripping his plans to arm school safety officers or even teachers.

We've been in the streets. We've been focusing on this the entire time I've been governor and we're going to continue focusing on it, she said.

Democrats are trying to cling to control of Congress with visits and late financial investments even in blue-leaning strongholds. New York Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, who heads the partys House campaign arm, finds himself in a close race in his district north of New York City.
After hearing two cases challenging affirmative action at colleges and universities on Monday, the Supreme Court could be poised to outlaw race-conscious admissions policies altogether.

Legal experts told DailyMail.com that the conservative-majority court will likely view the policy as a 'racial checkbox' and overrule it because it presents a 'disadvantage' to some students.

Specifically, the two cases brought before the high court deal with University of North Carolina's admissions policy and that of Harvard University.

Students for Fair Admissions, the group that brought the suits, claims that affirmative action measures discriminate against equally qualified Asian American and white applicants.

'The Supreme Court will likely hold that public and private universities cannot rely on the racial "checkbox," but instead can only consider race as part of one's experience--for example, in a personal statement,' Law Professor Josh Blackman of the George Mason University School of Law told DailyMail.com.

'I suspect Universities will adapt, and find ways to admit their desired number of under-represented minority students through other means.'

The Supreme Court has issued more that one decision in the past to safeguard affirmative action.

Constitutional scholar and attorney Mark W. Smith told DailyMail.com, 'That the Court decided to revisit the legal issues regarding racial preferences in college admission question is telling.'

'They are very deliberate in selecting the cases they hear. They pick cases with a view toward how they want to shape and influence American law across the country,' Smith explained.

'There doesnt appear to be any reason for them to look at these two cases unless they intend to end racial preferences in college admissions.'

The Supreme Court heard two cases challenging affirmative action at colleges and universities on Monday

If they do, Smith said that all references to race on college sites and applications will likely have to be erased.

'Any written references to race could potentially be used against colleges if they are sued in the future under federal civil rights laws. So, practically speaking, they will probably have to steer clear of race during the admissions process whenever possible,' he said.

Linda Chavez, Chairman of the Center for Equal Opportunity, which specializes in race law, said the main takeaway from Monday's court session was that neither school uses affirmative action 'to boost diversity.'

'The clear message out of todays oral arguments before the Court is that neither Harvard nor University of North Carolina have sought race-neutral means to boost diversity,' Chavez said.

Legal experts told DailyMail.com that the policy in regards to college admissions will likely be overturned

'Instead, the schools use race as a proxy for disadvantage for black students, even for these who come from affluent homes, while ignoring actual economic disadvantage for poor white and Asian American students. Its time to end this pernicious practice.'

Fox News contributor and George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley told his outlet that it appears Students For Fair Admissions came out on top in both oral arguments - and noted their contentious nature.

'This proved to be a full-contact oral argument for both the advocates and the justices,' Turley said.

'The challengers clearly had a better day before the court.'

The Supreme Court's conservative supermajority heaped skepticism on affirmative action-based college admissions policies on Monday in yet another case that could see the high court overturn its own precedent.

The Supreme Court's six conservative justices appeared poised to agree with an anti-affirmative action group asking them to overturn prior rulings that greenlit race-conscious admissions policies

During the UNC case, Trump-appointed Justice Brett Kavanaugh suggested race-based admissions policies are 'potentially dangerous' while longtime Justice Clarence Thomas claimed to not 'have a clue' of what diversity means during the tense hearing.

Conservative activists are claiming that the 14th Amendment, which ended slavery and guaranteed all Americans equal protection under the law, means that governments and other such institutions cannot enact race-based policies - even if they aid people who have suffered from discrimination.

The universities have said they use race as only one factor in a host of individualized evaluations for admission without quotas - permissible under Supreme Court precedents - and that curbing the consideration of race would result in a significant drop in the number of students from under-represented groups.

A diverse school body is also prized by most college and universities as a more enriching educational experience for all involved.

But Kavanaugh told the lawyer defending UNC's policy that 'these racial classifications are potentially dangerous and must have a logical end point.'

'When is your sunset? When does this end?' conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked about UNC's consideration of race in admissions.

Thomas, one of two Black members of the court, said, 'I've heard the word diversity quite a few times, and I don't have a clue what it means.'

Activists demonstrate as the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on a pair of cases that could decide the future of affirmative action in college admissions, in Washington, Monday, Oct. 31

One case comes from University of North Carolina, while another is against Harvard University (pictured: Supreme Court Police hand out tickets to members of the public to attend oral arguments on Monday)

'I didn't go to racially diverse schools but there were educational benefits,' Thomas added.

Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts said that if schools no longer are permitted to solicit applicants' race through 'checking a box' on an admissions application as they now can, 'maybe there'd be an incentive for a university to, in fact, pursue race-neutral alternatives.'

The court as recently as 2016 upheld a race-conscious admissions policy in a case involving the University of Texas, but it has shifted rightward since then.

But only the court's three liberal justices appeared sympathetic to the schools' cause on Monday.

The suits were filed separately against the two schools in 2014.

Newly-minted Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson (right), only participated in the UNC case because she previously agreed to recuse herself from Harvard's

One accused Harvard of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination based on race, color or national origin under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. The other accused UNC violating the 14th Amendment.

Blum's group has argued that the Constitution requires colorblind admissions.

'The assumption that race necessarily informs something about anyone's qualifications is antithetical to this court's precedents and to our Constitution,' Strawbridge told the justices.

New Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first black woman to serve on the court, grilled Strawbridge about his definition of race-based admissions.

Jackson only participated in the UNC case, having previously agreed to recuse herself from Harvard's.

'You keep saying that you object to the use of race standing alone' in deciding which applicants to admit, Jackson, told Strawbridge.

'But as I read the record and understand their process, it's never standing alone, that it's in the context of all of the other factors - there are 40 factors about all sorts of things that the admissions office is looking at. And you haven't demonstrated or shown one situation in which all they look at is race.'

Strawbridge asked the Supreme Court to overturn a 2003 Supreme Court ruling that held that colleges could consider race as one factor in the admissions process because of the compelling interest of creating a diverse student body.

The Supreme Court first upheld affirmative action in college admissions in a 1978 ruling that held that actions to achieve diversity were permissible but racial quotas were not.
The Libertarian Arizona Senate candidate dropped out of the race Tuesday and gave more momentum to Republican Blake Masters with an endorsement following the announcement.

Marc Victor, who was siphoning off a few percentage points with already tight margins, will no longer threaten to play spoiler in the closely-watched race.

Democratic Senator Mark Kelly is trying to hold onto his upper chamber seat in Arizona, which he won in a 2020 special election after the death of establishment GOP Senator John McCain.

McCain became increasingly moderate in his later years and a vocal critic of Trump. As a sign of Arizona's swing status, the Republican was succeeded by a Democrat senator to finish out his term.

Early polling showed Masters trailing Kelly by nearly 10 percentage points.

Libertarian candidate Marc Victor (center) dropped out of the Arizona Senate race on Tuesday and will no longer siphon votes in the race between Democratic Senator Mark Kelly (left) and Republican challenger Blake Masters (right)

But in recent surveys as Election Day nears, the Trump-backed candidate is only showing up 3-4 percent behind the incumbent  and with Victor out of the way, that gap could close even further.

'This is another major boost of momentum as we consolidate our support,' Masters told the New York Times of Victor dropping out of the race.

When announcing his withdrawal from the race, Victor endorsed Masters (pictured), who also has the backing from Donald Trump

It appears that Masters is now trying to court voters of a more Libertarian mindset, which many times is associated with a more fiscally conservative but generally more socially liberal ideology.

Masters posted last Thursday a picture of himself from 2010 with Libertarian and former Kentucky Representative Ron Paul, saying he was 'honored' to have his endorsement.

He also made recent appearances on Paul's podcast and another libertarian podcast.

Arizona is one of the most watched states in the 2022 midterms as the Senate race could contribute to determining control of the U.S. Congress' upper chamber in the second half of President Joe Biden's term.

Average polling from FiveThirtyEight shows Masters railing Kelly by 3 percentage points and a New York Times/Siena College poll released Monday shows the Democrat ahead by 6 percent  but that included another 1 percent going to Victor.

A poll in mid-October showed Victor earning 3 percent while Masters and Kelly were tied.

The gubernatorial race between Republican Kari Lake and Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs is also under a microscope as razor-thin margins.

Kelly, Masters and Victor all participated in one debate last month.

Victor conditioned his drop-out and endorsement on recording and publishing a phone conversation, and offered it to both Masters and Kelly.

Masters spoke with Victor for 20 minutes on Monday and Victor is expected to publish the conversation, a person familiar with the talk told the Times.

Victor's statement notes that he's backing Masters because he is 'generally supportive of the Live and Let Live Global Peace Movement.'

An average of polls tracked by FiveThirtyEight shows Masters trailing Kelly by 3 percent just a week before the 2022 midterm elections  but without Victor in the race, Masters could be boosted to a tie with the Democratic senator

'After that discussion, I believe it is in the best interests of freedom and peace to withdraw my candidacy and enthusiastically support Blake Masters for United States Senate,' he said of their phone call.

Victor earned some funding from Democrats who were presumably trying to redirect votes away from Masters. This included $5,000 for the Save Democracy PAC and another $5,000 from Defeat Republicans PAC.

More than $45,000 in donations for Victor came from people with the family name of Ron Conway, a California-based Democratic investor.
A fleet of high-tech emissions-free buses are set to hit the streets of London from next year.

The 'tram buses' will offer passengers a trip home in a stylish modern design - replacing small buses currently in use.

Transport for London said 20 new buses will be on the capital's roads from 2023 - the first of their kind in the UK.

Initial plans for the electrically-powered vehicles will see them used on the 358 route in south London between Crystal Palace and Orpington.

Built by Spanish engineering firm Irizar, the ieTram is designed to be a hybrid between a tram and bus by being both highly-accessible and track free.

The electrically-powered buses are the latest step in efforts to make cut down on London's emissions

The modern interior on the buses offers comfort and space for passengers, in place of the city's older models

All the seats on the 'tram buses' come with USB charging ports for commuters

Pictures show the new bus with large windows and a high roof in the shape of a tram car.

It also has covered wheels under the body of the vehicle to make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians in busy urban traffic.

All the seats also come with USB charging ports for passengers and 360-degree cameras for drivers in place of wing mirrors.

The buses will be charged by cutting-edge charging points recently installed in south London for the city's electric bus fleet.

The high-tech buses will come with 360-degree cameras for drivers in place of wing mirrors

The buses are designed to combine the best of trams and buses together with high roofs and easy accessibility for passengers

The emissions-free cars will be on London's streets by early next year, Transport for London said

Inigo Etxeberria, Managing Director of Irizar e-mobility said: 'We are delighted that Go Ahead, London largest bus operator, has chosen our technology; this is a clear testament to the confidence placed in our products and proof of their quality and reliability.

'London is investing heavily in sustainable public transport solutions and we are honoured for Irizar e-mobility to play a part in this goal.

'Our technological race continues, and this operation will see our company launching the first super-fast charging route in London, complying with the high standards set by Transport for London.'

TfL's head of bus business development, Tom Cunnington, said the buses would not be ready for the road until the start of 2023 at the earliest.

He told MyLondon: 'We don't expect the buses to be in service until early next year.

'Our first bus needs to go through comprehensive testing, it's a new technology and it [this model] is the first of it's type being built for the UK market.

'We have to make sure the infrastructure's in place, test it properly, driver training, and do everything else. While I'd love to have them in service now, we need to make sure it's truly ready for our customers.'
Oprah Winfrey backed a death row inmate that is convicted of murdering a corrections officer in 1985 as he maintains his innocence and attempts to clear his name.

Jarvis Jay Masters had been booked at the San Quentin State Prison for armed robbery when he was charged with the fatal stabbing of correctional officer Sgt. Hal Burchfield four years into his sentencing in June 1985.

Masters, who was 23-years-old when Hal was killed, alleged that he was a few floors above where the murder happened and was forced to write out the details of the officer's death by a gang member.

Prosecutors later used the notes to convict him of murder, along with two others in 1990. He was also convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced to death, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Oprah Winfrey has supported the death row inmate since reading his 2009 autobiography, 'That Bird Has My Wings: The Autobiography of an Innocent Man on Death Row.'

'I believe that he is absolutely innocent of this crime,' Winfrey told The Times.

Jarvis Jay Masters is attempting to overturn his murder conviction after prosecutors said he murdered a correctional officer in 1985. Masters has maintained his innocence and said gang members in the correctional center pinned the crime on him

Sgt. Hal Burchfield was fatally stabbed in the chest by metal ripped off of a bed frame to make a spear

Oprah Winfrey has backed Masters' innocence and recently read his 2009 autobiography in her famous book club. The book explains how Masters is innocent while sitting on death row

Masters is booked at the San Quentin State Prison where Hal was also stabbed to death

Masters is currently waiting for a federal judge to rule on his conviction and sentence appeal after he filed it in federal court in November 2020, according to The Times.

Winfrey has helped Masters build a team of attorneys, and chose to read his autobiography in her famous book club last month.

Her interest in the case has helped Masters recent appeal for freedom gain traction.

'I just feel that any reasonable person, reading the facts of this case, would want to at least have the case reopened so that you could at least know what you made the greatest effort for justice to be served.'

Winfrey has once spoken to Masters as he sits at the San Francisco Bay prison. She was amazed at how he kept himself together and maintained a sense of humor.

'I was fascinated at how normal he is, and how coherent and present he was, because that would be a struggle for, I think, most people. To hold on to yourself in the midst of that. I know that I would not be capable of doing it.'

Masters is currently behind bars and waiting for a federal judge to rule on his conviction and sentence appeal after he filed it in federal court in November 2020

Winfrey has helped Masters build a team of attorneys, and chose to read his autobiography in her famous book club last month

The inmate, who prosecutors said stabbed Hal with metal torn off from a bed frame that was used to make a spear-like weapon, has previously filed an appeal with the California Supreme Court but was rejected.

He is optimistic that this time will be different.

'I feel like now I'm in good hands,' Masters told The Times. 'Now my case can get some speed to it, get some traction.

'I was a bandit, I was a crook, I stole, I robbed people. I did a lot of stuff, but not that.'

As Masters waits for his last chance for freedom, he is practicing his Buddhist faith to keep him calm during the uncertainty.

Hal's children are indifferent about Masters' appeal decades after their father was killed.

Majorie Buchfield, Hal's daughter, said the murder of her father when she was 14-years-old led her down a path of addiction and homelessness before she followed in her father's footsteps as a correctional officer, according to The Times.

She believes that Masters killed her fatherhood.

'You can ask for forgiveness,' Majorie said. 'You can become a Buddhist. I don't care [if] you were the pope. You did the crime, you have to pay.'

Meanwhile, Jeremiah Burchfield, who was 2-years-old at the time of the murder, believes Masters is innocent.

'Sometimes the judge just looking at the support of the victim's family does help,' Jeremiah said.

JD Burchfield didn't comment on Masters' appeal but recalled his dad as being a 'hash and violent' man. JD was 12 when his dad died but said Hal used to beat him and his siblings.

'I don't know if I'm ashamed of this or not, but I've never been so relieved in my life,' JD said about his father's death. 'I'd been afraid for most of my childhood, and that was the night I wasn't afraid anymore.'

As Masters waits for his last chance for freedom, he is practicing his Buddhist faith to keep him calm during the uncertainty. Pictured: Masters when he was younger

At the time of the original trial for Hal's death, inmates testified against Masters and said he played a role in the officer's death.

The death row inmate claimed that gang leader Rufus Willis, who ordered him to copy the notes about Hal's death, was urged to plot evidence against him by a Marin County investigator.

Masters said he only followed Willis' orders because he feared retaliation.

Before Masters was convicted of murder, inmate Harlod Richardson confessed in 1986 to prepare the weapon that was used to kill Hal, according to The Times. Richardson's confession was never referenced in the trial.

Decades later in 2001, inmate Charles Drume later signed an affidavit that he made the weapon that killed Hal.

Masters believed during the 1980s trial that jurors wouldn't believe the testimony against him and would find him innocent.

Despite his optimism, Masters was sentenced to death with Marin County Superior Court Judge Beverly Savitt later adding that there may have been other violent crimes Masters was never found guilty of.

Defense attorney's attempted to beg Savitt to take into consideration Masters' childhood with his mother that struggled with addiction and physically abusive foster parents.

Savitt responded by saying Masters had the choice to choose a better life for himself but didn't.

'I have to conclude that the verdict of the jury of death must be upheld,' Savitt said.

She also added that 'if people don't want children, they should have them,' according to the times.

It's unclear why the gang members targeted Hal.

Masters is optimistic that his appeal with go farther than the rest of his failed attempts

Masters later went on to file an appeal in the California Supreme Court in 2008 - but was later requested to be reviewed by a 'special judge.'

A report of the case was then created by Marin County Superior Court Judge Lynn Duryee in 2011.

The judge found holes in the case and contradictory claims from the gang members that previously testified against Masters.

Despite noting that some witnesses may have lied, she concluded that the jury had the opportunity to question the reliability of the given testimonies.

Justice Goodwin Liu later added in 2019 that Masters hasn't provided a good enough a reason to support his claims that the witnesses were liars.

'At best, Masters has demonstrated that these witnesses are generally liars, but he does not offer any persuasive reason to credit their recantations over their trail testimony,' Goodwin said.

While Masters' appeal is currently under review, California Gov. Gavin Newson currently placed a moratorium on execution for the death penalty.

Unless this is removed, Masters will remain alive and behind bars.
Boris Johnson gave a wry smile when asked if he wanted to return to No10 as Prime Minister in an interview.

The former premier was speaking to Sky News when he was asked if he would like to return to the top role, and whether he had 'unfinished business'.

'You promised this was going to be about Ukraine,' he said. 'I harbour hopes of continuing to campaign for Ukraine and that is my priority.

'There are various other things that I'm doing but that is of course very dear to my heart.'

In the interview, Mr Johnson claimed Russia would be plunged into a 'cryogenic economic freeze' if Vladimir Putin launched a 'crazy' nuclear strike on Ukraine.

In a warning to the Russian President about the consequences of escalating his barbaric war, the former prime minister insisted Mr Putin would suffer a 'total disaster'.

Mr Johnson told Sky News that Mr Putin would 'immediately tender Russia's resignation from the club of civilised nations' if he used nuclear weapons.

He insisted the Russian President would be further isolated among global nations by losing the 'tacit acquiesence' of countries across Africa, South America and Asia, as well as the 'patronage of the Chinese'.

The ex-PM also claimed Mr Putin's launching of a nuclear strike would see 'an absolutely hysterical reaction' in Russia itself.

Meanwhile, in his first interview since leaving No10, Mr Johnson confirmed he would be attending the Cop-27 climate change summit in Egypt this month.

His attendance will increase pressure on current PM Rishi Sunak to reverse his initial decision to snub the Sharm El-Sheikh gathering in order to focus on his economic plans.

During his time as PM, Mr Johnson visited Ukrainian capital Kyiv three times as he forged a close bond with the country's President Volodmyr Zelensky

Mr Johnson claimed Mr Putin's launching of a nuclear strike would see 'an absolutely hysterical reaction' in Russia itself

During the interview with Sky News, Mr Johnson was asked if he has spoken to Rishi Sunak about a 'possible role', with which he said: 'What I can do and what I will want to do is to continue to champion the cause of Ukrainian freedom, of a free sovereign, independent Ukraine. It is a great cause. I think it is a cause that has mobilised a phenomenal level of support across the UK.'

When pressed as to whether he would like 'a formal role', Mr Johnson said: 'I'm happy doing what I'm doing. I think, my job is to talk up what I think are the immediate needs of the Ukrainians,' adding that he will 'inevitably' return to the country.

Mr Johnson was also asked if he feels 'more appreciated on the world stage than he does domestically'.

Responding, he said: 'I have an absolute passionate belief that the war in Ukraine, Putin's act of aggression, is something that we shouldn't accept, we shouldn't tolerate.

'I think that I can continue to campaign for Ukraine out of office and that's what I'm going to do.'

During the interview with Sky News, Mr Johnson was asked if he has spoken to Rishi Sunak about a 'possible role'

During the interview, the former prime minister said a nuclear act would 'immediately tender Russia's resignation from the club of civilised nations' and plunge the country into a 'kind of cryogenic economic freeze'.

He added that he suspects it would trigger an 'absolutely hysterical reaction' in Russia itself.

It comes as the Defence Secretary has said momentum on the ground remains with Ukraine, with Crimea expected to come within range of Ukrainian artillery by the end of November.

There have been suggestions that Moscow could attempt to escalate the conflict, but Mr Johnson said he does not think Mr Putin will resort to using a tactical nuclear weapon.

During his time as PM, Mr Johnson put Britain at the forefront of Western efforts in supporting Ukraine in the face of Russia's brutal assault.

He even visited Ukrainian capital Kyiv three times as he forged a close bond with the country's President Volodmyr Zelensky.

The ex-PM insisted it was not 'credible' for Mr Putin to keep hold of the four further Ukrainian regions the Russian leader has annexed since launching his most recent invasion effort in late February.

'He will lose those,' Mr Johnson added.

This sentiment was echoed by Mr Wallace at a meeting of the Lords International Relations and Defence Committee on Tuesday.

'The direction of travel is that I think it is likely that by the end of this month, the northern part of Kherson will be depleted of Russians or the Russians will have left that part, which brings into range parts of Crimea from long-range artillery that the Ukraine held or the HIMARS-type systems,' he said.

Reflecting on the start of the war, Mr Johnson told Sky News: 'Some of the defence intelligence people were saying look this is going to be very very one-sided, the Russians are just going to roll through and numerically they're so strong and they're so well-equipped.

'I've been to Ukraine a few times before and I kind of knew that they were going to fight, and you talk to people who've fought in the east in Donbas since 2014  these are hardened hardened fighters  so I thought it would be much tougher than Putin thought.'

When asked if Ukraine is on the verge of victory, he said that it's 'absolutely inevitable that the Ukrainians will eventually win... because this is a war of independence.

'Wars of independence only really end one way and the crucial thing for us all who believe in this cause, believe that the cause of the Ukrainian freedom is all of our cause, we just have to show strategic patience and continue to support them through this winter and beyond.'

When asked what victory looks like, the former Prime Minister said: 'I think the exact contours of victory are very much up to the Ukrainians. We can't be more Ukrainian than the Ukrainians, passionately though we may support them, it's up to them, it's up to Volodymyr Zelensky to decide.

Boris Johnson told Sky News that Mr Putin would 'immediately tender Russia's resignation from the club of civilised nations' if he used nuclear weapons

'I would have thought that it's going to be very difficult for anything to be acceptable that stops short of a full return of all the areas taken by the Russians since February 24th this year.'

Mr Johnson was asked whether there would be a solution with Putin keeping Crimea and all of the annexed areas.

'Well no frankly,' the former PM said. 'I think Crimea is a slightly separate issue, but again, it's for the Ukrainians, it's not for us to decide.'

He added: 'I think that Putin disastrously miscalculated and we kind of, in the UK Government, we all read his crackers essay on Ukraine summer last year, and we could see that he fundamentally misunderstood what Ukraine is.

'It was like reading Slobodan Milosevic on the subject of Kosovo. Slobo basically thought Kosovo was an integral part of Greater Serbia and the spiritual homeland, the origins of the Serb nation and I think that's how Putin thought about Kievan Rus' and the origins of the Orthodox faith and all the rest of it, and it's a total category error.

'Ukraine is a free, independent European culture with its own identity and its own ambitions and its own destiny, and he made a fundamental mistake and so he's fighting nationalism.'

Mr Johnson added that Putin is 'still overwhelmingly supported by the vast bulk of the Russian people'.

Mr Johnson - who spearheaded Britain's hosting of last year's Cop-26 summit in Glasgow - said he had been 'invited by the Egyptians' to Cop-27 and was 'very happy to go'

'Yes there's a bit of fraying now in the media coverage and I'm not saying it would be easy for him, but there is a world in which he can say to the Russian people: "Look, we had a special operation, we needed to de-Nazify Ukraine, we needed to make sure that it wasn't a haven for anti-Russian feeling, that the Russian minorities were treated properly, and that the Russian language was protected, and we've achieved that",' he said.

Asked whether he feared whether Mr Putin could use a 'tactical nuclear weapon' as the conflict moves away from him, the ex-PM replied: 'I don't think he will. I think he'd be crazy to do so.

'I think what would happen is he would immediately tender Russia's resignation from the club of civilised nations. It would be a total disaster for his country.

'The current economic punishment that the West has been able to dish out would be massively intensified.

'Russia would be put into a kind of cryogenic economic freeze.

'And I think he would lose a lot of the middle ground of global tacit acquiescence that's he had.

'If you look at sub-Saharan Africa, if you look at Latin America... look at South Asia, there is a lot of willingness to give Putin the benefit of the doubt.

'That will go the minute he does anything like that. He would also crucially lose the patronage of the Chinese.

'Above all, in his own country, I think he would trigger an absolutely hysterical reaction.'

He added: 'I think the crucial thing would be about strategic nuclear deterrence, and the logic of it is that you don't talk about it. But clearly there would have to be a response of some kind.'

'There are all sorts of options that I know we've talked about both in NATO and in the P3, the western nuclear powers have talked about. there would clearly have to be a response, but as I say, I think it's very very very unlikely that it'll come to that.

'I think its important that we don't waste too much time on this conversation because this is exactly how Putin wants to frame it, he wants to frame it as a stand off between a nuclear-armed Russia and a nuclear-armed NATO, and that's how he wants to present it  it's not.

'It's about a brutal invasion of an innocent country by conventional means, and what we are providing is the conventional support that will enable the Ukrainians to win.'

When asked how dangerous this moment is, Mr Johnson said it was a 'critical moment for the world, and I think it's a pivotal moment, it's a tuning moment'.

'I think the danger is that we will try to compromise and find some sort of deal, some sort of grubby bargain with Putin encouraging the Ukrainians to trade some of their territory, which will only encourage Putin to make further aggression,' he added.

'The prize for holding firm and continuing to support Ukraine is absolutely immense, because for the first time in decades, we'll have shown that we really believe in democracy and freedom and that we're really willing to support it, to support those values in Europe.

'So a Ukrainian victory could be an absolute turning point for the world.'

When asked further about the nuclear threat and how much time he spent worrying Putin would use a nuclear weapon, Mr Johnson said that he didn't want the whole debate to be 'framed in those terms', because '[Putin] wants to spook everybody out with this conversation'.

Mr Johnson added: 'I was Foreign Secretary in 2016 and one of the first things I did was go to Ukraine and I remember talking to Ukrainians who had been fighting in Donbas and I remember going to see this great wall, with pictures of thousands and thousands of Ukrainian soldiers who've given their lives for the freedom and independence of their country, and I became very sympathetic to their cause.

'I remember standing on that beautiful acropolis in Kyiv and talking about the possibility that Russia might be so insane as to take advantage of the fact that there was no security guarantee to Ukraine, because Ukraine was not given NATO membership and clearly it was a problem, and that is what we now have to fix.'

When pressed on how he felt leaving Downing Street and being out of power, Mr Johnson said that the UK has a 'seamless continuity of policy'.

He added: 'Rishi I know had an excellent talk the other night with Volodymyr Zelensky and we are going to continue flat out to support Ukraine and to make sure we give them everything they need.'

Mr Johnson said that he talked to a friend in Kyiv last night, adding: 'The lights are out, there is no water, they're having to queue for bottled water, because they're getting these missile attacks on their electricity facilities and it's absolutely inhumane.

'What the Ukrainians now need is more anti-aircraft kit, and ideally they need fixed wing aircraft to take out the drones and the missiles.'

Asked if he regrets losing the 'influence and power' of Downing Street due to the 'mistakes' he made, Mr Johnson said: 'The most important thing is to focus not on me or my political career or whatever but to focus on what matters.'

Mr Johnson said that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had an 'excellent talk the other night with Volodymyr Zelensky'

When pressed as to whether 'turfing out Prime Ministers' is a good idea during the worst crisis 'since the Second World War', Mr Johnson said: 'I think the important thing is for all of us, particularly in the United States, to remain focused on the needs of the Ukrainian people.'

He added: 'The UK... we did play an important part particularly in the beginning but actually throughout, in bringing our friends together, in organising, people donating arms. The crucial thing is in North America.'

Asked if he let Ukraine down when he resigned as PM, Mr Johnson said: 'I certainly want to do everything I can to help Ukraine and that's always been my commitment, I've said that to Volodymyr irrespective of whether I'm in office, and I think there are ways I can be useful.'

Mr Johnson added that his 'old friend Kevin McCarthy' said the other day that there is no blank cheque for Ukraine.

'I think that actually, when you talk to individual Republicans, they see the vital importance of this struggle,' he said.

'If I can be useful in trying to get over to people why I see this as such an absolutely critical test of Western will, then I think that would be a good thing to do, but it's America that is crucial. America has given so much of the military support, so much of the economic support.

'It's a lot to ask of any country, particularly in tough economic times, and America's been fantastic, and the UK's given a lot as well  a huge amount of money, a huge amount of military assistance.'

Asked if he saw the British Government persuading Zelenskyy to do a deal, Mr Johnsons said that he would argue 'passionately against that'.

'I don't think that it's realistic, because there is no deal that Zelenskyy can do, and there's no deal that Putin is offering.'

Reflecting on Britain's support to Ukraine, Mr Johnson said: 'We've given a huge amount of financial support and I think the decisive thing that we did was to read it early ad to read it right, partially with the anti-tank weapons on the early days.'

He said that while there is a practical limit on what the Government can provide, the Conservatives will continue to be 'very generous'.

During the interview, Mr Johnson was asked how worried he was that Russia 'hacked' the phone of the foreign secretary and 'potentially got details of dealings with Ukraine', to which Mr Johnson said that 'we never talk about security issues'.

Elsewhere in his Sky News interview, Mr Johnson - who spearheaded Britain's hosting of last year's Cop-26 summit in Glasgow - said he had been 'invited by the Egyptians' to Cop-27 and was 'very happy to go'.

The confirmation of his attendance will add to pressure on Mr Sunak to also travel to Sharm El-Sheikh.

Downing Street yesterday admitted Mr Sunak could perform a U-turn and travel to Egypt this month, despite initially having said the PM would not be attending Cop-27.

This had sparked a backlash among climate campaigners, including claims Mr Sunak was abandoning Britain's global leadership on environmental issues.

But No10 subsequently revealed the PM's attendance was now 'under review'.

This was due to Mr Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt having made 'substantial progress' on their plans for the Autumn Statement on 17 November, Downing Street said.

No 10 had previously defended Mr Sunak's planned absence from Cop-27 by pointing to his desire to focus on 'other pressing domestic commitments', such as the dire state of the public finances.

Mr Johnson also gave his backing to Mr Sunak, insisting the PM had 'a massive amount to do'.

'We've got to sort out a huge agenda - that's what's he's getting on with,' he said.

Mr Johnson spoke of his 'particular interest' in attending 'Cop-27', adding: 'I was at the Glasgow Cop - although it's become unfashionable to talk about it, was a fantastic global success.

'We did a huge amount of good for the planet, I want to talk a little bit about how I see things and how we see things in the UK.'

US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron are among other world leaders expected to attend Cop-27.
Change in telecoms rules may soon mean the fax machine will be consigned to the bin.

UK communications regulator Ofcom is looking to scrap the requirement to providers to offer the 'outdated' service.

The technology - which predates the telephone - was ever-present in the 80s and 90s and allowed businesses to send and receive printed pages or images.

The rise of digital messaging through phones and laptops made the fax machine less useful to business and individuals.

Telecom firms under UK law are required to ensure a minimum set of phone services are available at an affordable price to customers.

UK communications regulator Ofcom is looking to scrap the requirement to providers to offer the 'outdated' service (file image)

The technology - which predates the telephone - was ever-present in the 80s and 90s and allowed businesses to send and receive printed pages or images (file image)

This included the fax machine until Ofcom announced its proposals to reflect their diminishing use.

The watchdog said the move reflects that use of fax services in the UK is now very limited, and there are a range of free, or low-cost, alternatives available.

It added they could no longer guarantee faxing would work in the same way after the retirement of the old landline phone network by 2025.

The watchdog said the move reflects that use of fax services in the UK is now very limited, and there are a range of free, or low-cost, alternatives available (file image)

The technology behind the fax machine was first patented in 1843 - more than three decades before Scottish inventor Alexander Bell did so with the telephone.

Alexander Bain unsuccessfully created a device which could scan a message written with special ink on a metallic surface and transmit it using a telegraph circuit.

Years later an Italian priest developed the foundations of Mr Bain's project and built the first commercial fax machine in 1863.

By the early 1900s the pair were prized by several professions.

Newspapers relied on them to send photographs for urgent publication and the military used them to rapidly send maps and charts.

The rise of digital messaging through phones and laptops have made the fax machine less useful to business and individuals (file image)

It was the Japanese who popularised the technology for businesses in the 1970s - and over the next few decades they became ubiquitous in offices.

The rise of the internet has caused the slow death of the fax machine - yet they remain widely used in public services, particularly in the health service.

After a 2018 survey found 9,000 of them were still in use within the NHS, then health secretary Matt Hancock promised to phase out the archaic machines.

At the time the Royal College of Surgeons said it was ludicrous that hospitals remained stubbornly attached to them for a significant proportion of their communications.

Four years later however there are still over 800 fax machines still in use, with around one in six NHS trusts still using them.

After a 2018 survey found 9,000 of them were still in use within the NHS, then health secretary Matt Hancock promised to phase out the archaic machines (file image)

Ofcoms proposed rule change comes ahead of the old telephone network - which has become harder and more expensive to maintain - being retired by the end of 2025.

The whole infrastructure will instead be digitised, meaning certain devices that connect to the landline - including fax machines - will no longer function.

Ofcom is inviting comments on its proposed rule change by December 1 and expects to publish a statement early next year.
A driver has been fined 450 for careless driving after colliding with a retired lecturer who suffered a fractured thighbone and died after contracting Covid while recovering from surgery in hospital.

Smail Afafsa was driving the wrong way down a one-way street in his Ford Focus when his nearside wing mirror struck Christopher Pack.

The pensioner, who had been putting his rubbish bins out, was sent sprawling to the ground and left lying in the gutter in near freezing temperatures.

He later needed surgery to pin one of two fractures in his right thigh and was still in hospital when he was diagnosed with coronavirus three weeks after the collision.

Mr Pack, who had taught at the University of Kent, died a week later.

Smail Afafsa (pictured left), 54, hit Christopher Pack, 69, just outside his home in Maidstone, Kent, on December 29 last year

Pub chef Afafsa was alleged by the prosecution to have deliberately accelerated and hit Mr Pack in Milton Street, Maidstone, Kent, after ignoring his waving and warning cries of 'You're going the wrong way'.

He then drove off, only stopping a short while later to adjust his mirror which had been pushed inwards on impact, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

Married father-of-two Afafsa was arrested later that day and subsequently charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

But it was later accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service that Mr Pack had not died as a direct result of the collision which had occurred in the road outside his home on December 29, 2020

Afafsa went on trial accused of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and was found not guilty today.

He was convicted of careless driving, which carries a fine as the maximum sentence.

Christopher Pack (pictured), a retired university lecturer, fractured his right femur and was rushed to hospital - where he caught Covid three weeks later

Afafsa, who earns about 300 a week working at The Cock Inn in Maidstone, was given three months to pay or serve 14 days' imprisonment in default.

He was also banned from driving for six months and ordered to pay 100 towards court costs.

The jury of eight women and four men were not told the circumstances of Mr Pack's death, only that he had died since the collision in Milton Street, Maidstone.

But they did hear Mr Pack's accounts of what he said had happened to him.

Jurors were played the distressing 999 call in which Mr Pack described himself trying to jump out of the way as the car drove at him at what he said was 15mph to 20mph.

He could also be heard repeatedly wincing in pain and being informed he faced a wait of up to three hours for an ambulance to arrive.

The operator asked Mr Pack whether he had coronavirus or was showing any symptoms, to which he replied he did not.

A second account from the stricken pensioner was recorded by a police officer's bodyworn camera at the scene and also played to the court.

Afafsa, of Bazalgette Rise, Maidstone, told police following his arrest that he felt threatened by Mr Pack, claiming the pensioner had forcefully 'kicked or smacked' his wing mirror in anger, the jury heard.

Afafsa said he ignored him and drove on, suggesting Mr Pack may have lost his balance and fallen.

He accepted he had driven the wrong way but said that it was because a truck had been blocking his route.

Imposing the fine, Judge Philip St.John-Stevens told Afafsa he had made a 'deliberate and considered' decision to drive the wrong way.

He added he was not responsible for the resulting 'tragic chain of events'.

'You made a decision, whether borne from frustration or any other reason, to drive the wrong way up a one-way street,' said the judge.

'Perhaps you could not wait for a van to move but that was a deliberate and considered decision on your part.

'The consequences were that you chose to drive that way.

'I accept the jury's verdict that you were not driving dangerously and had not intended to strike Mr Pack.

'The driving on that day led to a tragic chain of events that do not fall at the defendant's door. Tragically, as others did, Mr Pack lost his life to Covid.'

Mr Pack's widow, Barbara Hagan, cried as she sat in the public gallery, with the judge praising the family's dignity throughout proceedings.

Mr Afafsa lives a few hundred yards from where Mr Pack, a social work course leader formerly of the University of Kent, was injured (Pictured: One way road where the collision occurred)

At the start of Afafsa's trial, the prosecution alleged that his driving was 'dangerous and deliberate', with Mr Pack's accounts providing 'strong and compelling' evidence.

'The defendant's manner of driving fell far below the standard of a competent and careful driver,' prosecutor Francesca Levett told the court.

'He was travelling the wrong way up a one-way street and despite seeing Mr Pack in the road, he carried on driving towards him, accelerating, and not leaving him with enough time to move out of the road.

'What you won't hear is any live evidence from Mr Pack as sadly he has died since this incident occurred.

'But the prosecution say his account taken shortly after the incident is strong and compelling evidence that the defendant's driving was dangerous and deliberate.'

An expert for the defence estimated Afafsa's speed to be 9mph and told the jury that having viewed the available CCTV footage, he could not hear any acceleration.

Mr Pack was putting both his bin out and that of an elderly neighbour ready for collection when he was struck by the Focus at about 1.15pm.

CCTV footage showed Afafsa turning into Milton Street the wrong way rather than negotiating a truck parked tightly on the junction to his right.

Mr Pack told police he had initially spotted the Focus stationary at the bottom of Bazalgette Rise after another vehicle sounded its horn at it.

He then began to cross the road to fetch his neighbour's bin, only to see the car pull out and drive in the wrong direction towards him, the court was told.

In the 999 call, the pensioner said: 'He was accelerating at me, say 15, 20mph. It was deliberate.

'I was getting the bin out ready for collection and then I was going to go over the road to my elderly neighbour because I always get her bin out for her.

'I saw this car... and he turned the wrong way into our street which is one-way. I put my hand up as I was crossing the road and mouthed at him 'You're going the wrong way' and he just accelerated.

'I tried to jump back and I remember hitting the wing mirror or the wing mirror hitting me, and the next thing I knew I was straight on my back. I thought I was alright until I tried to move.'

On being told of the potentially long wait for an ambulance, Mr Pack responded: 'I don't think I can lay here for two hours.'

The court heard the ambulance response status was upgraded once police arrived on the scene.

Mr Pack was complaining of pain in his back and leg and despite being assisted by neighbours with the offer of hot drinks and blankets, the temperature that day was between zero and five degrees.

In the police bodyworn camera footage, the former social work lecturer could be seen laying at the side of the road covered in blankets with his wife at his side and in what he described as 'excruciating' pain.

He gave the officer a similar account, adding that having fallen to the ground, he realised he could not get back up and so slowly dragged himself to the side of the road where another motorist stopped to help him.

'She rolled down her window and said "Are you alright?" and I said "No, I just got hit by a car",' he told the officer.

In the meantime, Afafsa had continued his journey and was arrested just after 3pm.

He accepted he had driven the wrong way but told police Mr Pack was 'not happy and causing trouble'.
Apple is coming out with the new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, which will bring exclusive features for its users next year.

However, rumors say that Apple's release for next year might not get its 8P lens due to the company's goal of differentiating their models from non-Pros, 9to5 Mac writes.

8P For The iPhone 15 Pro May Not Be An Option At All

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that the new iPhone 15 Pro will not get the 8P camera, an eight-plastic lens feature that improves image quality for wide-angle cameras.

This 8P lens is what will supposedly give the iPhone 15 Pro an optical edge over the iPhone 14 Pro, but Apple might stick to 7P instead, WCCF Tech reports.

The company says that there are definitely pros and cons to adding elements to the iPhone's lens, which is why there could still be a bigger change in the works for the iPhone 15 Pro Max instead.

According to Kuo, the iPhone 15 Pro Max might get a new periscope lens, which will be exclusive to the larger screen version of the iPhone 15 Pro.

This new iPhone Pro Max with a periscope camera might be called the iPhone 15 Ultra, and it will have a tailor-made lens that would give the device access to levels of zoom.

This technology relies on a prism to reflect light to multiple lenses at a wide angle, making the length of the iPhone 15 Pro's lens longer than that of the iPhone 14.

The periscope lens's optical zoom will allow up to 5 to 10x increase on the scope of the iPhone 15 Ultra's camera, WCCF Tech says.

Forbes believes that the switch to a periscope lens for Pro Max models is in accordance with European Union's law that requires all smartphones to use USB-C connectors for all models.

According to Laptop Mag, Apple's new flagship smartphone might launch in September 2023 and is expected to sell at around $1,099.

Read More: [RUMOR] iPhone 15 Pro Models Could Have Solid-State Buttons in the Future, Analyst Says

What Else Is There To Know About The 2023 iPhone 15

Mac Rumors reveals that the new iPhone 15 Ultra might be Apple's highest-end version of the iPhone, potentially replacing iPhone 14 Pro Max.

With this, Ultra is reportedly coming with a similar look to the iPhone 14 models, but it will have Dynamic Island technology in a no-notch design.

Ultra can also feature solid-state volume and power buttons that use haptic feedback to mimic the feel of a button, like the home button for the iPhone 7.

This solid-state design can protect the iPhone 15 Ultra against water ingress and can introduce additional Taptic engines at the sides of the device.

However, unlike other iPhone models, Ultra might not get Touch ID technology but will continue functioning with a Face ID feature.

Laptop Mag also believes that the iPhone 15 Pro and Ultra will have an A17 Bionic processor that can boost its performance by up to 10-15%.

This chip, built on a next-generation 3-nanometer node, is also believed to reduce the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max Ultra's power consumption by up to 30%, Mac Rumors reports.

Related Article: iPhone 15 Models Will Reportedly Have Dynamic Island - How About ProMotion Displays?
A son has been charged with the murder of his mother and the attempted killing of another woman.

Nicolas Aina, 28, is accused of stabbing 64-year-old Caroline Adeyelu to death at a house in Dagenham, east London, on Sunday.

He has also been charged with the attempted murder of a second woman, who has not been named, in her 30s.

Police were called to a property in Auriel Avenue shortly after 9.30pm on Sunday, where Ms Adeyelu was pronounced dead at the scene following an alleged attack.

The second woman, who also suffered stab wounds, was rushed to hospital for further treatment. Her condition is not believed to be life-threatening.

Aina, of of Auriel Avenue, appeared at Barkingside Magistrates' Court on today, where he was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Thursday.

Police officers investigate the house where the alleged attack took place in Dagenham, east London on Sunday

Police described the incident as 'truly shocking' and a neighbour told how she heard screaming on Sunday night.

The Met also said it is believed that it was an isolated incident and that the parties involved were known to each other.

Speaking after the incident on Sunday, Detective Superintendent Richard Vandenbergh of the East Area Command unit said: 'This is a truly shocking incident that has left one woman dead and a second with serious injuries and will understandably cause concern within the local community.

'A man has been arrested and remains in custody and it appears this was an isolated incident confined to a single address.

'Residents will have woken up this morning to find a large police presence in the area.

Police described the incident as 'truly shocking' and a neighbour told how she heard screaming on Sunday night

'I want to reassure people that this is standard practice when dealing with such a serious incident so specialist officers can gather evidence as quickly and securely as is possible.

'You will also see local officers in the area; if you have concerns or information that could help then please speak to them.'
Authorities have confirmed that they are planning to excavate another portion of land in Thurman, Iowa, close to the property

Iowa police are planning to dig up farmland after a woman claimed her father was a prolific serial killer who murdered up to 70 women  and ordered his kids to dump their bodies in a 100ft well.

Fremont County Sheriffs Office plan on excavating a portion of land in Thurman, Iowa, close to where Donald Dean Studey and his family lived.

His daughter Lucy Studey McKiddy, 53, made the bombshell claims last week, telling investigators that she and her three siblings were forced to move the corpse across the land.

She said that Studey, who died in March 2013 aged 75, was 'routinely drunk' and liked to kill women by smashing or kicking in their heads inside a trailer.

Investigators believe his daughter's claims, which would make Studey one of the most prolific serial killers in American history.

Deputy Sheriff Tim Bothwell told WHO-13 that McKiddy had previously told them about her father's alleged history in 2007  which prompted them to excavate a portion of the property.

The process cost the county more than $300,000 but deputies are now planning a second excavation after they searched land behind the Studey property.

Studey, who died in March 2013 aged 75, was 'routinely drunk' and liked to kill women by smashing or kicking in their heads inside a trailer

Fremont County Sheriffs Office plan on excavating a portion of land in Thurman, Iowa, close to where Donald Dean Studey and his family lived

Cadaver dogs alerted at least four spots on the property, with the last getting multiple 'hits' in the area surrounding the well.

Sheriffs office officials are planning to meet with the FBI and Iowas Division of Criminal Investigations this week to discuss plans.

However McKiddy has been accused of giving conflicting claims surrounding her father, with her elder sister Susan denying the allegations against their father.

Susan told Newsweek. said: Im two years older than Lucy. I think I would know if my father murdered.

I would know if my dad was a serial killer. He was not, and I want my fathers name restored.

He was strict, but he was a protective parent who loved his children. Strict fathers don't just turn into serial killers.

She also believes the cadaver dogs were fooled by the the remains of their stillborn infant sister, who was buried in a shoebox on the property, as well as the body of a golden retriever.

Investigators believe his daughter's claims, which would make Studey one of the most prolific serial killers in American history

However McKiddy has been accused of giving conflicting claims surrounding her father, with her elder sister Susan denying the allegations against their father

Deputy Bothwell said that he doubted McKiddys credibility, after she admitted stealing $16,000 from her father and the officer was unable to find the well.

But Sheriff Kevin Aistrope said that the FBI have backed away from the investigation in recent weeks, adding: Im not going to let it die. Im just not gonna let that happen.

Weve got to go with Lucy. No matter if they say its not true or say shes crazy or whatever they can say, we have to look into it. We have no other choice.

McKiddy told deputies in 2021 that she had heard stories that there could be up to 15 bodies buried on her fathers land but she only knew about five personally, the Des Moines Register reported.

Her claims were different to those she made to Newsweek, telling police that she watched her father and two others carry a body from the trunk of a vehicle.

Fremont County Sheriffs office confirmed that cadaver dogs alerted to several spots on the property, as well as some on neighboring land

According to Lucy, the four siblings did their father's bidding when he told them to 'go to the hills' because they were terrified they 'wouldn't come back' according to his daughter

Deputy Bothwell said that he doubted McKiddys credibility, after she admitted stealing $16,000 from her father and the officer was unable to find the well

She suspected that her father sexually assaulted and killed a 15-year-old girl in the 1970s or 80s when she was in the car with him. The girl vanished the next morning.

However she told Newsweek that the victims could be as many as 70, and that her father kept the gold teeth as trophies.

McKiddy claims that the women all had dark hair, were white and most were in their 20s and 30s except for a 15-year-old runaway.

Investigators believe that he lured woman, thought to be sex workers from Omaha, Nebraska, to his five acres of land before murdering them.

Police reports also confirm that Dtudeys two late wives killed themselves, with one dying by strangulation and the other shooting herself.

Studey reportedly had a history of violence and run-ins with the law, including threatening to kill relatives.

Sheriffs office officials are planning to meet with the FBI and Iowas Division of Criminal Investigations this week to discuss plans

The FBI and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are both assisting the local police force with the investigation

The property, on Green Hollow Road, is not an official crime scene because officers have not yet discovered any remains.

Studey, who had 'love' and 'hate' tattooed on his knuckles, is understood to have a criminal history but was known to use several aliases.

He was jailed in Missouri in the 1950s for petty larceny, in Omaha in 1989 for a drunk driving offense  as cops confirmed they rarely went to the trailer where he lived because they were 'wary' of him.

Studey reportedly forced his children to pile dirt and chemical lye on top of the bodies after dumping them into the well.

Lucy said: All I want is to get these sites dug up, and to bring closure for people and to give these women a proper burial. My father was a lifelong criminal and murderer.
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New Twitter CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the social media platform's verified checkmark system will cost $8-a-month after he was spotted leaving his mother's New York City apartment following Heidi Klum's Halloween bash.

Musk, who also serves as the CEO of Space X, was seen sporting his 'Occupy Mars' T-shirt as he left his mother's home to head into Twitter's New York City headquarters for the second-day following his $44 billion takeover.

As he made the rounds in his new business, Musk explained his plan for Twitter's verified system on the social media platform itself.

'Twitter's current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn't have a blue checkmark is bullshit,' the new Chief Twit wrote. 'Power to the people! Blue for $8/month.'

A blue tick badge allows other Twitter users to verify that other users are who they say they are.

Musk added that those who sign-up for the system will get 'priority in replies, mentions and search, which is essential to defeat spam/scam, ability to post long video and audio, half as many ads, and paywall bypass for publishers willing to work with us.'

The world's richest man previously mulled a $20 per month blue tick verification fee, but appeared to lower the cost following criticism from horror author Stephen King.

New Twitter CEO Elon Musk was pictured leaving his mother's New York City home to head back into Twitter's NYC office

It was the Chief Twit's second visit to the office this week following his $44 billion takeover

During his trip, Musk confirmed on Twitter that access to its verified program will go from being free to costing $8-a-month

The decision came following backlash over his plans to start the subscription charge, with celebrities, including horror author Stephen King, among the vocal critics of a previously proposed $20-a-month charge

Pictured: Musk following his security detail on Tuesday as he entered the back of Twitter's NYC headquarters

Musk, clad in red Samurai armor, showed up at Heidi Klum's 21st annual Halloween Party at the Moxy Hotel on Monday

Musk is looking to make good on his promise to make the social media platform turn a profit by introducing a charge for Twitter users wanting to keep their verification badge.

His plan to reportedly charge $20-a-month, however, appeared to sit poorly with King, who tweeted: '$20 a month to keep my blue check? F*** that, they should pay me,' wrote King, who has 6.9million followers. 'If that gets instituted, I'm gone like Enron.'

Musk replied, 'We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers.

'How about $8' he asked, which appears to be the price he's settled on.

King isn't the only blue-tick Twitter user to threaten to abandon their blue ticks if a charge is introduced to the platform.

Author Stephen King said he will leave Twitter if Musk brings in a $20-a-month charge for him to keep his blue check

Author Stephen King, who wrote The Shining, said he will leave the platform if Musk introduces a blue-tick verification charge

Musk appeared to haggle with the horror author, suggesting the $8 price he ultimately decided on

Musk is pictured leaving his mother's house in New York City, wearing an 'Occupy Mars' branded t-shirt as he walked with his security detail

Actress, writer and comedian Kathy Burke also said she wouldn't pay, tweeting: 'Musk can f*** off with his idea of charging blue-tickers. I give my all to this hell site for FREE.

'Cheeky b**** should be paying ME,' she added. 'Don't need the poxy thing anyway.'

Celebrities who have threatened to boycott the site include TV screenwriter Shonda Rhimes, actor Mia Farrow, as well as Madam Secretary star Tea Leoni, She Hulk actor Jameela Jamil, as well as authors and activists Shaun King and Amy Siskind.

George Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek, also said he would consider heading for the digital door.

Entrepreneur Jason Calacanis posted a poll on Monday asking people if they would pay $5, $10 or $15 a month, or nothing for verification. Around 81 per cent said they wouldn't pay, as of Tuesday.

'Interesting,' said Musk in response to the poll.

Critics have derided the mark, often granted to celebrities, politicians, business leaders and journalists, as an elite status symbol.

But Twitter also uses the blue check mark to verify activists and people who suddenly find themselves in the news, as well as little-known journalists at small publications around the globe, as an extra tool to curb misinformation coming from accounts that are impersonating people.

English actress, writer and comedian Kathy Burke also said she wouldn't pay if a charge is introduced tot he platform

Musk appears to have taken Monday's criticism from the public to heart as he opted to lower the proposed blue mark cost following his outing to Klum's premier Halloween party.

The world's richest man was pictured arriving at the party in a red Samurai-style costume as reports emerge that he is preparing to cut close to 2,000 Twitter jobs, amounting to around 25 percent of its workforce.

Musk looked triumphant as he posed on the red-carpet in his armor, with his street clothes still visible underneath. It's not clear what Musk was supposed to be dressed as for Klum's celebration

According to the website for the high-end costume store, Abracadabra NYC, Musk's outfit is the Devil's Champion-Leather Armor set that retails for $7,500. At the time of writing, the website says that there is only one costume remaining in stock.

The billionaire's mother, Maye, was also present at the party and inside Twitter's offices on West 17th Street.

Musk arrives with his mother, Maye, at Klum's annual bash in New York City's Lower East Side neighborhood

It's not clear what Musk was supposed to be dressed as for Klum's celebration
The killer of a father-to-be whose body was dumped and set on fire on a London common has been jailed for manslaughter.

Raphael Kokkinos admitted killing Jean Loeike Guei, 23, at his flat in Streatham in order to get out of paying a drugs debt during the coronavirus lockdown, the Old Bailey heard.

He covered-up the crime with the help of his pensioner mother Sophia Kokkinos and friend Aaron Williams by disposing of the drug dealer's 6ft 7in body and setting it alight on Mitcham Common in September 2020.

The body was discovered by a horrified cyclist at around 6am on September 17, jurors were told.

Raphael Kokkinos was jailed for nine years and his mother and Williams were both sentenced to three years for perverting the course of justice.

Prosecutors said that Mr Guei was killed after 40,000 worth of cocaine given to Raphael to store at his home in Streatham was stolen during a burglary in August 2020.

Undated handout photos issued by Metropolitan Police of Raphael Kokkinos (left) and his pensioner mother accomplice Sophia Kokkinos (right)

Undated handout photo issued by Metropolitan Police of Jean Loeike Guei

Bill Emlyn Jones KC said Mr Guei made it clear to Raphael he expected to get 40,000 back to replace the stolen cocaine and told his partner: 'The man owes me 40,000 bags... The man is going to pay me back.'

Raphael later told Mr Guei he had 9,000 and they discussed meeting up but the killer stopped taking his calls.

Mr Emlyn Jones said it was clear the victim met up with Raphael at his home in Polworth Road, Streatham, on the evening of September 15.

'Inside the address he must have been subjected to a violent assault. He suffered lacerations to his forehead and the back of his head,' the court heard.

The prosecutor said one of the injuries was consistent with Mr Guei's head slamming against a hard kitchen surface.

'That left, as you can probably imagine, Raphael Kokkinos with a problem - he had a dead body to get rid of,' he said.

'He plainly decided that he was not going to involve the authorities and phone the police or phone for an ambulance. What he did instead was he recruited his friends and family to help him with his problem.

Undated handout photo issued by Metropolitan Police of Aaron Williams

'Over the course of a little under 48 hours, they between them got rid of Mr Guei's car, in which he had arrived at the address where he was to be killed.

'They got rid of his mobile phone; they cleaned the place up. Ultimately they got Mr Guei's body out of the address, into a car, and in the middle of the night took the body to Mitcham Common, dumped it and set it on fire.

'They even, perhaps as a final humiliation, partially stripped Mr Guei, so that when he was found, dead and on fire, his underpants had been pulled down around his thighs.'

The victim's body had been moved into Williams' Mercedes A Class and driven to its final resting place. The Mercedes was then sold while Mr Guei's VW Scirocco was also disposed of.

'Williams' role was to assist with the clean-up job of both of the cars involved,' said Mr Emlyn Jones.

He said that the victim's burning body was found by a cyclist just after 6am.

'He too could see that something was on fire, but unlike the motorist he stopped and went closer to see what it was,' he said. 'And so it was him, the cyclist, who made a gruesome discovery: what was on fire was a dead man's body.'

Mr Guei was later identified by a tattoo on his right arm.

His partner Simone Hales-Johnson, who gave birth to their son three weeks after his death, said in a statement: 'I feel lost without him. His son will never get to meet his dad.'

She asked why Raphael made the 'sinister decision to set his body alight' before involving his mother in his chilling plan.

James Scobie, KC, for Raphael, said his client did not intend to cause anything more than 'minor harm' and attacked Mr Guei in defence of himself.

Mr Scobie alleged that Raphael was 'a victim of circumstance'.

Sophia's lawyers argued that she gave no 'physical assistance' in the crime and played a 'limited role'.

The court also heard that she looks after local animals and cares for her disabled son Joseph Kokkinos, who suffers from sickle cell anaemia. He was also accused but acquitted of perverting the course of justice.

Raphael Kokkinos admitted manslaughter and perverting the course of justice. He was jailed for nine years for manslaughter and four years concurrent for perverting the course of justice.

Sophia Kokkinos and Williams denied but were convicted of perverting the course of justice. They were both jailed for three years.

Benoni Thomas, who was allegedly present at the flat at the time of the killing, denied and was cleared by the jury of manslaughter.

Raphael's brother Joseph Kokkinos and Michael Brain were cleared by the jury of perverting the course of justice.
Chinas bid for technical supremacy through its army of hackers poses the biggest single threat to Britains future cyber security, a report warned yesterday.

The head of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Lindy Cameron said Chinas rapid technical development and global espionage threatens our national security.

She spoke out as a new taskforce was announced yesterday to protect British democratic institutions from foreign interference by hostile states.

Security minister Tom Tugendhat told MPs a new body will look at both physical and online threats to MPs.

The development comes after it was revealed last week that Liz Trusss personal phone was hacked while she was foreign secretary by Moscows agents.

The head of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Lindy Cameron said Chinas rapid technical development and global espionage threatens our national security

Yesterday an annual review by the NCSC warned of the acute online threat to the UK posed by hostile states including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

Miss Cameron suggested China posed the biggest threat to UK interests.

She said: Chinas technical development and evolution is likely to be the single biggest factor affecting the UKs cyber security in the years to come.

The NCSC report warned: Chinese cyber forces are by far the largest in the world.

Since taking power nearly a decade ago, President Xi has overseen extensive reform of Chinas intelligence and military apparatus, with a key priority being the fusion of military and civilian cyber capabilities.

Since then, Chinas Ministry of State Security (MSS) has emerged as a prolific and pervasive actor in cyberspace, undertaking a substantial global espionage campaign to meet political, socio-economic, and strategic objectives.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is pictured above last month. Miss Cameron suggested China posed the biggest threat to UK interests. She said: Chinas technical development and evolution is likely to be the single biggest factor affecting the UKs cyber security in the years to come'

In April FBI Director Christopher Wray said China has a bigger hacking programme than that of every other major nation combined.

The annual review by the cyber security organisation, which is part of GCHQ, also pointed to a threat of cyber attacks from Russia if President Putin changes tactics in the war against Ukraine.

Prior to the invasion, GCHQ boss Sir Jeremy Fleming and Miss Cameron led roundtables with CEOs of domestic energy, utilities, food, communications, transport and other essential service providers to brief them on the risks of Russian cyber aggression, although fears of a wave of cyber attacks on Britain proved unfounded.

Britain is currently the third most targeted country for cyber attacks, behind only the USA and Ukraine.

In April FBI Director Christopher Wray said China has a bigger hacking programme than that of every other major nation combined'

But the NCSC report warned that Russia could now change tactics: While UK organisations did not experience significant cyber impact resulting from Russias invasion of Ukraine, Russia continues to be a persistent and active threat to the UK and its interests, which is why the NCSC continues to advise against complacency.

In response to recent setbacks Russia has experienced on the battlefield in Ukraine, they could change their approach in the cyber domain of the conflict. The report warned threats posed by hostile states will grow in the future.

In the coming years, malicious and disruptive cyber tools will be available to a wider range of state and non-state actors due to the development of hackers-for-hire offering bespoke services and a growing grey market for cyber tools Over the last year, businesses and organisations in the UK reported hundreds of cyber incidents to the NCSC, 63 of which were significant enough to require a national level response.

They included 18 ransomware incidents, including attacks on a supplier to NHS 111, and a water utility company, South Staffordshire Water.

Later in the Commons, Mr Tugendhat announced yesterday he would be leading a new taskforce to combat threats to Britains democratic institutions.

He said: The advanced technologies our rivals have spent time and money developing have levelled the field and made us more vulnerable.

Britain has been on the front line of the defence of liberty for generations; our agencies, and businesses have faced the reality of this danger for decades.

Our Parliament and our politics are now no different, whether its ministers or shadow ministers on committee, or when leading a campaign, this is about every party and every member of this House.
The president of the National Union of Students has been sacked after an independent investigation into antisemitism allegations.

Shaima Dallali, 27, is the first president to have been fired in the 100-year history of the NUS after 'significant breaches of policy' were found.

It comes after she was suspended from her role at the end of August, just a month into her two-year term.

She was elected by delegates at the NUS national conference in March, but soon afterwards faced a backlash.

Historical tweets emerged, making offensive references to the killing of Jews in the 628 Battle of Khaybar.

Shaima Dallali, 27, is the first president to have been fired in the 100-year history of the NUS after 'significant breaches of policy' were found

She apologised for the 'wrong' and 'unacceptable' post she wrote as a teenager in 2012.

But other deleted tweets allegedly included statements which appeared to be supportive of the Islamist terror organisation Hamas.

In May, it emerged she may have broken an NUS rule by failing to commit to the International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA) definition of antisemitism before her appointment.

The same month, the Government announced it would completely freeze out the NUS until it addressed concerns about antisemitism.

The organisation was removed from all DfE stakeholder groups and replaced with alternative student representation.

Facing huge public pressure, the NUS then announced that it had appointed Rebecca Tuck KC to conduct an independent investigation into Miss Dallali, as well as allegations of institutional antisemitism.

Last night a spokesman for the NUS said: 'Following the independent KC-led investigation into allegations of antisemitism, specifically into the then President Elect under the NUS Code of Conduct, an independent panel has found that significant breaches of NUS' policies have taken place.

'As per this finding, we have terminated the President's contract.'

They said no further details would be shared due to 'employee confidentiality'.

'We can assure any interested parties that this process has been incredibly robust and that we can and must trust in the outcome,' they added.

It comes after she was suspended from her role at the end of August, just a month into her two-year term

Chloe Field, vice president of Higher Education, will now step up as acting chair of the NUS UK Board and plans to focus on students' concerns over the cost-of-living crisis.

The NUS said it wanted to 'explore actions... to build trust and confidence with Jewish students'.

It added: 'We are sorry for the harm that has been caused.'

Education Minister Robert Halfon, who is Jewish and previously campaigned in favour of the investigation, praised the move.

He said: 'We welcome the verdict to this initial investigation and look forward to seeing the outcome of the next stage, which will provide more detail on National Union of Students' plans to address antisemitism within the organisation.'

The Union of Jewish Students added: 'UJS respects the decision of the National Union of Students to dismiss their President. Antisemitism in the student movement goes beyond the actions of any one individual and this case is a symptom of a wider problem.

'Jewish students across the country will be asking how an individual deemed unfit for office by NUS was elected in the first place.'

The Daily Mail has tried to contact Miss Dallali for comment.

In an interview with the Guardian earlier this year, Miss Dallali said she welcomed the independent investigation, saying it was 'the right thing to do. I know quite a few Jewish students feel alienated.'

However, after her suspension as president she posted on Twitter: 'Don't ever believe that an organisation is 'progressive' or cares about justice before finding out how they treat women of colour and/or Muslim women.

'Many enable oppression and Islamophobia. They will punish us for daring to be political and make us believe it's our fault.'
The neighborhood was locked down, law enforcement officials said

The suspect has not yet been brought into custody but is surrounded, police said

Two police officers were shot and wounded by a gunman Tuesday afternoon, leading to a substantial response by law enforcement officials in Newark, New Jersey.

The shooter fired a handgun at the two officers at around 2pm on Tuesday as they were attempting to question him over potential links to a separate shooting last Friday.

One officer was shot in the neck while another was shot in his leg, probably multiple times, a police source told DailyMail.com. Both officers were taken to nearby University Hospital and were in stable condition.

Tuesday's shooting reportedly took place near the intersection of Van Velsor Place and Chancellor Avenue in a residential neighborhood in Weequahic, Newark.

The neighborhood was on lockdown as law enforcement officials search for the 30-year-old suspect, who was believed to still be barricaded inside the apartment building.

Multiple sources initially indicated the shots were fired from a rifle on the roof or a window at 103 Chancellor Avenue. Later, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said the police officers were shot at close range with a handgun during an altercation with the suspect.

The officers returned fire, the mayor said, and the suspect retreated back into the building.

NBC New York reports that the suspect's girlfriend may live on the block.

The gunman reportedly opened fired at around 2pm on Tuesday, injuring two officers. A huge law enforcement response ensued involving personnel from various departments

New Jersey Transit Police said on Twitter at around 3.30pm that people should stay clear of the area and that they are rerouting NJT buses to avoid it.

A SWAT team was on the scene assisting with a search for the suspect. Law enforcement officials have said that the situation is under control and the suspect is no longer a threat to the community.

The neighborhood was locked down and the suspect is believed to be confined to the apartment building.

A high-ranking law enforcement source said that only two shots were fired from the suspect's weapon, NBC New York said.

Video footage shows ambulances and police vehicles arriving at the Eric Munoz Trauma Center in University Medical Center in Newark.

The condition of the two officer that were shot is not currently known. Both officers were rushed to University Medical Center in a police car

Law enforcement officials had the building surrounding but had not yet brought the suspect into custody

DEVELOPING: Reports that a shooter in an elevated position, has shot 2 police officers in Newark, New Jersey. Shooter is reportedly using a rifle and is actively shooting at PD.



Tactical units on scene. Update to follow. pic.twitter.com/oOrKAOVr2K  Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) November 1, 2022

2 Newark Police officers were allegedly shot from an elevated position by a shooter with a Rifle. pic.twitter.com/7f5EKodKxD  New Jeru Media (@newjerumedia) November 1, 2022

Residents in the area were being asked to avoid the area around Chancellor Ave. and Velsor Place.

A spokesperson said Chancellor Avenue School was locked down out of an abundance of caution, but all students and staff were safe. Schools were dismissed as usual.

Newark Governor Phil Murphy said in a Tweet he was monitoring the situation:

'I am aware of and closely monitoring an unfolding situation in Newark. I am in touch with local authorities and the State is providing resources as requested. We will continue to support local law enforcement and ensure that all residents are safe.'
A San Antonio police officer who shot an unarmed teenage boy several times in a McDonalds had tried to pull him over the night before, according to police records.

Rookie cop James Brennand, 25, shot Erik Cantu, 17, on October 2 while he was eating his fast food in his car with a female companion in Texas.

It comes after DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that Brennand, 25, slapped handcuffs on the seriously wounded teen as her was gasping for air.

The now ex-police officer was arrested on October 11 on two counts of aggravated assault but a public servant but was released on a $200,000 bond the next day.

Cantu was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, where he remains after undergoing several surgeries  with his parents remaining hopeful he will be moved from the ICU soon.

New police reports have revealed that Brennand came into contact with Cantu the night before the horror shooting in the same maroon BMW he was driving the following night.

However officials have refused to reveal the reason why Brennand was approaching the teenager.

Rookie cop James Brennand shot Erik Cantu, 17, on October 2 while he was eating his fast food in his car with a female companion in Texas.

Brennand pulled up behind Cantu at around 8.45pm on October 1, activating his emergency lights before the car sped away and moved to the left

Body camera footage from the shooting on October 2 shows how Brennand fired a total of 10 shots at Cantu, who was eating McDonald's at the time, after suspecting him of stealing the car

Cantu was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, where he remains after undergoing several surgeries  with his parents remaining hopeful he will be moved from the ICU soon

Brennand pulled up behind Cantu at around 8.45pm on October 1, activating his emergency lights before the car sped away and moved to the left.

He was arrested on October 11 on two counts of aggravated assault but a public servant but was released on a $200,000 bond

The officer did not engage in a pursuit but noted that the licence plates of the vehicle came back to another car.

James Kopps, assistant city attorney for San Antonio attempted to keep the public records under seal, according to KSAT.

In a statement to officers, Cantu's teenage female passenger said that she was anxious to get back into his car the following evening after being upset by his actions.

She said that she told Erik she didnt want to get arrested or shot at because of him, but eventually allowed him to pick her up from a friends house.

Brennand suspected that the car was stolen and demanded that Cantu get out  with the teenager attempting to putt his car in the reverse.

But the door caught Brennand, who rapidly fired five times into the driver's side of the vehicle, wounding Cantu.

Brennand slapped handcuffs on Cantu after he opened fire and while the teen was on the pavement gasping for air

In an update posted on his GoFundMe page, his parents thanked god for all his miracles as they shared footage of their sons ICU room

When he was growing up, his parents revealed, Cantu actually wanted to be a police officer

Cantu continued to try to drive away, but Brennand continued shooting, firing a total of 10 shots, four or five of which hit the teen in his liver, diaphragm, bicep, chest and stomach.

Graphic body-worn footage of the incident shows Cantu being shot as Brennand handcuffed him while he was seriously injured.

Brennand, a probationary officer with seven-month experience, was fired from his job on October 4 and will not be able to re-join even if he is cleared. He will appear in court on November 23.

Prosecutors dismissed criminal charges against Cantu so his family could be at his side while he recovers in hospital.

At a press conference earlier this month Cantus parents demanded that Brennand be charged with attempted murder, claiming it was a racist attack.

They claim Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales told them that Brennand assumed their son was a suspect because he was 'a Hispanic kid with a bowl-shaped haircut.'

In an update posted on his GoFundMe page, his parents thanked god for all his miracles as they shared footage of their sons ICU room.

At a news conference Cantu's parents revealed that they are considering filing a civil suit against the former officer as well as the entire City of San Antonio

According to his LinkedIn page, Brennand previously served in the US Army as a military dog handler. He enlisted in 2016. Brennand was stationed outside of Seattle

Crump alleges that Brennand violated Cantu's Fourth Amendment rights by assuming Cantu had stolen the vehicle he was driving. He is pictured comforting Casarez at the news conference on Tuesday

In an interview with Good Morning America on Wednesday, Eric Cantu Sr, the father of 17-year-old police shooting victim Erik Cantu, claimed the shooting must have been racially motivated

They added that they had lost count of the number of surgeries that he had, and the teen has now spent 31 days in the hospital in critical condition.

Famed civil rights attorney Ben Crump alleges that Brennand violated Cantu's Fourth Amendment rights by assuming Cantu had stolen the vehicle he was driving.

'That's it,' Crump said. 'That's why we're here. That's why [Brennand] shot 10 times.'

The family also revealed that there is more body cam footage that has not been released to the public and are demanding Brennands bail to be revoked.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said he believes 'there is no question in anybody's mind looking at that video that the shooting is not justified' and that the body cam footage is 'horrific' to watch.
Security minister Tom Tugendhat could face a driving ban after he was caught using his mobile phone at the wheel.

The Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling, 49, has apologised after he was stopped by police in his Skoda 4x4 in Wandsworth in April.

Mr Tugendhat, who stood for the Tory leadership after Boris Johnson stepped down, told an officer he was using his mobile phone to navigate, according to court papers.

The Metropolitan Police sent him a conditional offer of a fixed penalty notice later that month, and Mr Tugendhat agreed to pay the fine and surrender his driving licence.

Mr Tugendhat, who stood for the Tory leadership after Boris Johnson stepped down, told an officer he was using his mobile phone at the wheel to navigate, according to court papers

But the alleged offence, first revealed by the Evening Standard, was sent to court for prosecution because Mr Tugendhat already had six penalty points on his driving record.

The case is due to be dealt with at Bromley Magistrates' Court on Friday under the single justice procedure, where prosecutions are heard in private.

Using a mobile phone while driving can attract six penalty points and a disqualification can be imposed if a driver tots up 12 points within three years.

In a statement to the court, Pc Joseph Robson said he spotted the politician's car shortly before 2.45pm in Wandsworth High Street.

'I noticed the driver of this vehicle was using a handheld mobile device whilst driving,' he said.

The case is due to be dealt with at Bromley Magistrates' Court on Friday under the single justice procedure, where prosecutions are heard in private

'The device was being held in their left hand to the front, in front of themselves. 'I saw this from around 3m, in good daylight with no obstructions, I saw this for around 20 seconds.

'The driver did appear to be having a conversation. 'The driver did not appear to be operating the device.

'I stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver. I confirmed they weren't making emergency contact to the 999 service.

'I pointed out the offence where they confirmed the communication was using maps.' Mr Tugendhat, who lives in Clapham, south-west London, made no comment when told he was being reported for a potential prosecution, the officer said.

A spokesman for Mr Tugendhat said on Tuesday: 'Tom was stopped by police in April this year for holding his phone while driving.

'He accepts that holding his phone while driving is an offence. 'Tom immediately put himself on a driving course of his own volition.

'He received the court documents six months later and has entered a guilty plea. 'He apologises unreservedly and will accept the outcome of the case.'

It is understood Mr Tugendhat informed the Home Office permanent secretary about the driving offence after he was appointed as a minister in September.
They ended up at a creek where it's alleged Canning forced his head under water

Police claim Sergeant Mark Maxwell chased him down in New South Wales

Ronald Charles Canning, 33, was charged after he allegedly tried to drown a cop

I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! staff were horrified after a man allegedly tried to drown a policeman five miles away from the show's campsite.

Sergeant Maxwell was taken to Murwillumbah Hospital, New South Wales with water in his lungs after Ronald Charles Canning reportedly forced and held the officer underwater.

The policeman - who has now been released from hospital - was on duty five miles away from the jungle where each of the 12 contestants will be living during the show.

'Security is incredibly tight but it puts everyone on alert when they hear wanted criminals are on the loose just a stone's throw from the camp,' a source told the Sun.

'The crew work around the clock to ensure that the camp is safe from trespassers.'

I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! staff were horrified after a man tried to drown a policeman five miles away from the show's campsite (Pictured: Presenters Ant and Dec)

Sergeant Maxwell was taken to Murwillumbah Hospital, New South Wales with water in his lungs after Ronald Charles Canning reportedly forced and held the officer underwater (pictured: the contestants for I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 2022)

They added: 'Luckily the celebrities have not moved in yet but it goes to show that the high level of security is certainly justified.'

Sergeant Mark Maxwell, who is from Tweed-Byron Police District, was patrolling a road in Murwillumbah in Northern NSW when he came across an injured man and woman around 4:45pm on Monday.

After checking on the woman, the officer realised there was an outstanding warrant for the man, Ronald Charles Canning, 33.

Police claim Ronald Charles Canning, 33, tried to drown sergeant Mark Maxwell at a creek in Murwillumbah in Northern NSW on Monday before a bystander stopped him (stock image)

Sergeant Maxwell returned to arrest the Queensland man who then ran away, according to police.

The officer chased Canning down to a nearby creek where a struggle ensued between the two men.

Police allege Canning forced the sergeant's head under water, in an attempt to drown him.

A bystander who saw the scuffle unfold managed to step in and stop Canning.

'A member of the public intervened, freeing the officer and assisted to restrain the man, before the officer was able to affect the arrest,' police alleged in a statement.

Canning fronted Tweed Heads Local Court (pictured) on Tuesday charged with attempted murder

Canning was arrested and charged with attempted murder and will face Tweed Heads Local Court on Tuesday.

Police said they will review the actions of the bystander who helped Sergeant Maxwell, 'with a view to make recommendations to formally acknowledge his assistance'.

The shocking news comes as the full lineup for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 2022 was unveiled.

Leading names which are set to appear on the show - which is set to start on Sunday - include former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, rugby star Mike Tindall, 80s hitmaker Boy George, Love Island star Olivia Attwood and DJ Chris Moyles.

The MP, who quit as Health Secretary after cheating on his wife during the pandemic with long-term aide Gina Coladangelo, will become the 12th celebrity heading Down Under.

This year I'm A Celebrity will make a much-anticipated return to Australia after beng forced to relocate to Wales for two years due to the Covid pandemic.

And once again Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly will be hosting the series, having already been spotted arriving on the Gold Coast to start filming.
iPhones could be quite difficult to come by in the future.

Foxconn predicts that iPhone production in its factory in Zhengzhou, China, could experience a drop owing to the COVID-19 restrictions in effect across the city.

This factory is mostly regarded as China's biggest iPhone factory and one of the largest iPhone factories in the world, per Reuters and Business Insider.

Foxconn iPhone Factory Production Decrease Details

A person with direct knowledge of the matter mentioned to Reuters that Foxconn is looking at a possible 30% drop in iPhone production in its factory in Zhengzhou, China, which is the biggest iPhone factory the country has.

As such, to offset the possible decrease and adapt to the situation, the company is planning on boosting production at one of its factories in the country, with its factory in Zhenzhen City being picked to do so.

The source declined to reveal their identity as the information was private, which could lead to them losing their job if they did so.

This potential move from Foxconn contradicts the company's statement that iPhone production in the factory will remain stable despite the outbreak.

You may remember that a Foxconn spokesperson said that the outbreak's impact in the city is "controllable," and that only a small number of employees were affected.

Read More: Google Pixel 7a Rumors: Camera, Upgrades, and Three Things You Need to Know

The company has 300,000 employees across 90 production lines in its three factories in Zhengzhou. These three sites make up the company's manufacturing base.

While the production target has not changed at the time, the outbreak is expected to hamper shipments of iPhone 14, per PanDaily.

Foxconn Workers Mass Exodus

Hundreds of Foxconn employees are believed to have fled the factory in China's central province of Henan. It comes after workers raised concerns about insufficient medical care and under-reported COVID infections put them at high risk.pic.twitter.com/8XBZa4eGc3  Bang Xiao  (@BangXiao_) October 30, 2022

Unfortunately, the outbreak led to the mass exodus of Foxconn workers from its factory in Zhengzhou. Many were photographed and recorded climbing over fences and walking down highways.

Those who saw the mass exodus went to social media, particularly Twitter, to post their pictures and videos.

Hundreds of Foxconn employees are believed to have fled the factory in China's central province of Henan. It comes after workers raised concerns about insufficient medical care and under-reported COVID infections put them at high risk.pic.twitter.com/8XBZa4eGc3  Bang Xiao  (@BangXiao_) October 30, 2022

Reports say that Foxconn's workers fled the facility due to a risk of food shortages, as only those working on production lines were given meal boxes, per Bloomberg's sources.

Meanwhile, those infected with the virulent virus were provided only with basic supplies, like bread and instant noodles.

What complicates matters is that the largest iPhone factory in the world also employs a large workforce; more than 200,000 workers are responsible for the factory's iPhone production.

Foxconn stated that it is aware of the situation in its Zhengzhou factory and that it is a "protracted battle" to protect the health and safety of all of its workers there.

Although Foxconn didn't refer to the social media posting regarding its workers' mass exodus, it did say it is continuing to implement its pandemic prevention measures in Zhengzhou Park, where its employees are living in.

Additionally, employees will soon receive an ample supply of daily necessities since the outbreak is stabilizing in the city. Those who wish to return to their homes can look forward to a point-to-point orderly return service.

Even with these measures, the outbreak is expected to cause delays of iPhone 14 units globally.

Related Article: COVID Outbreak in China Hits Foxconn's iPhone Factory, But Impact Is 'Controllable,' Company Says
Highland Park shooter Robert Crimo appeared in court Tuesday for the first time since August and even flashed a peace sign towards prosecutors as they handed his defense 2,500 pages of evidence against him.

Crimo was indicted on 117 felony counts for the deaths of seven people and dozens of injuries during a mass shooting during a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois.

Despite the evidence, which includes audio and video recordings, he has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being held without bail.

Prosecutors have said Crimo admitted to the shooting once police arrested him.

Crimo's defense lawyer, Anton Trizna, has not yet requested a trial for his client and said that based on the amount of evidence they needed to read and organize, there shouldn't be another court date in the near future.

Judge Victoria Rossetti set the next case management hearing for January 2023.

Highland Park shooter Robert Crimo appeared in court Tuesday and flashed a peace sign as prosecutors revealed they had over 2,500 pages of evidence against him

Crimo has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery

He fled from the shooting disguised as a female and hid for eight hours before police spotted him driving on a highway and arrested him

He has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery.

The multiple first-degree murder charges allege Crimo intended to kill, caused death or great bodily harm and took action with a strong probability of causing death or great bodily harm on the seven people who died.

He has been named in multiple civil lawsuits that have been filed against him, his father who approved his gun license and the manufacturer of the gun he used, Smith and Wesson.

Cops say Crimo opened fire from the rooftop of a local store, into a crowd who at first confused the sound of gunshots with Independence Day fireworks.

Many bystanders described multiple rounds being fired in quick succession, alleging they first confused the sound of gunshots with Independence Day fireworks.

Crimo dressed up as a woman to carry out the attack and was able to flee in the crowd because of the disguise, cops revealed.

After the attack, he fled among frightened paradegoers, pretending to be one of the victims, and went to his mother's house.

Police said they do not think she knew that he was the shooter when he asked her for her car.

She gave it to him and he fled the area, but only made it eight miles before an officer spotted him and made the arrest.

Crimo allegedly used an assault rifle to cause devastating injuries to the unsuspecting paradegoers.

He legally purchased the two rifles along with other guns in the local area, despite a ban on assault rifles in Highland Park, buying them at multiple locations.

'The people who were gone were blown up by that gunfire,' said Dr. David Baum, a long time obstetrician in Highland Park who attended the parade.

'The horrific scene of some of those bodies is unspeakable for the average person,' he added.

This is the moment Crimo was finally arrested, eight hours after unleashing terror at the parade in Highland Park

The gunman opened fire at 10.14am, barely 15 minutes into the parade. He then fled the scene and hid throughout the day before eventually being arrested

The 22-year-old owned multiple weapons, including two rifles - one that was allegedly used in the attack and another that was found in his vehicle when he was arrested at 6.30pm the same night.

Among the seven victims was also synagogue teacher Jacki Sundheim, a married mother, and grandfather Nicolas Toledo, 78.

Also killed were Irina McCarthy, 35, and her husband Kevin McCarthy, 37, whose two-year-old orphaned son was pulled from underneath his father's body.

The family of an eight-year-old boy have since confirmed their son was 'paralyzed from the waist down' and will likely never walk again after being shot during the Highland Park parade attack.

Cooper Roberts' spinal cord was severed during the attack. His twin brother and mother were also wounded in the incident.

'It's going to be a new normal for him moving forward,' family spokesman Anthony Loizzi said in a statement earlier this month. 'It sounds (like) he'll have significant issues moving forward, especially with walking.'

Horror on Independence Day: A police officer bows his head in grief next to abandoned strollers and chairs after a shooting that killed seven people in Highland Park, Ill.

Law enforcement officers inspect chairs and belongings left behind at the scene of the mass shooting in Highland Park

Due to the severity of his spinal cord injury, doctors have now confirmed that it is unlikely Cooper will ever walk again.

Police do not yet know exactly what the motive for the killing spree was, but they previously confirmed Crimo had a fixation on the numbers 47 - the inverse of 7/4, the date of July 4th.

Lake County Major Crime Task Force Deputy Chief Chris Covelli said after Crimo's court appearance earlier this month: 'His motivation isn't necessarily clear, I don't want to go into specifically what he told investigators, however he had some type of affinity towards the number 4 and 7, and inverse 7 and 4.'

It was revealed earlier that Crimo's father supported his application for a FOID card - the license needed to buy guns - in 2019 when he was 19 and just two months after an incident when police were called to the family home.

Police confiscated 16 knives after that incident because Crimo had 'threatened to kill everyone'.

He was not arrested and his family say cops gave the knives back two weeks later.
Paul Pelosi's alleged hammer attacker David DePape was formally charged with attempted murder in court in San Francisco Tuesday afternoon.

Hulking DePape, 42, wore a prison issue orange sweatshirt and sweat pants for the brief hearing and had his right arm strapped up in a sling  said to be the result of last Friday's early morning struggle with Pelosi.

His shoulder length hair was visibly graying and appeared unkempt and greasy.

The 42-year-old spoke once during the 15-minute appearance in front of Judge Diane Northway  replying with a brisk yep when she asked him if she had pronounced his name correctly.

DePape is facing six counts in total  which include residential burglary, false imprisonment of an elder and assault with a deadly weapon - and pleaded not guilty to all six via his lawyer, Public Defender Adam Lipson.

Despite facing a possible life sentence, he appeared impassive during the session, tipping his head to the side at one point to confer with Lipson.

A courtroom artist's sketch of Paul DePape as he appeared in court on Tuesday afternoon

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi leaves the Pacific Heights home where her husband was attacked on Tuesday morning surrounded by members of her security detail

Public defender Adam Lipson said after the hearing that his office will be looking into DePape's alleged 'vulnerability to propaganda and extreme political views'

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins spoke with the media after the hearing

The Canadian, who was slapped with federal attempted kidnapping charges on Monday, could be handed another 50 years if he is convicted of those crimes.

No member of the Pelosi family were in court but they said via their attorney that they had hoped to watch proceedings via a Zoom link.

In response, Judge Northway said there had not been enough time to prepare a remote link but said one will be provided during future hearings.

Paul Pelosi declined to give a statement to the court and issued a plea for privacy.

DePape has been locked up in the San Francisco County Jail since Monday and was booked in absentia after spending the weekend in the same hospital as his victim.

During the hearing, Judge Northway signed off on a protective order that bans DePape from going within 150ft of Paul and Nancy Pelosis San Francisco home and contacting them in any way except via their attorneys.

He now faces a second court appearance on Friday to set dates for future hearings, although a provisional preliminary hearing has been scheduled for January 4.

After the hearing public defender Lipson said: 'Given the high-profile nature of the parties involved, I want to acknowledge that there are a lot of rumors and speculation about this incident that will need to be sorted out in court once we review the evidence.

'I would ask the public to keep that in mind and try not to pass judgment on a complicated situation.

'There has also been a lot of discussion in the media about Mr. DePapes vulnerability to propaganda and extreme political views. Our office will certainly be looking into those issues, but Im unable to comment further on that because its so early in the process.

In a press conference on Monday, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins explicitly referred to the attack as 'politically motivated.' Jenkins also stated her belief that DePape intended to murder Paul Pelosi.

Jenkins told the media: 'What is clear based on the evidence that we have thus far is that this house, and the speaker herself, were specifically targets of the defendant.'

DePape lived in the garage of renowned photographer Malcolm Lubliner in Richmond, California. Lubliner removed DePape's belongings following the arrest

Nancy was in Washington, DC at the time her husband was attacked. Here they are pictured outside the British Prime Minister's residence, 10 Downing Street during a visit to London in 2021

He is accused of breaking into the Pelosi home and beating Paul Pelosi over the head with a hammer and intending to hold his House Speaker wife Nancy hostage and break her kneecaps.

Jenkins said Paul Pelosi was asleep in a loose-fitting pajama shirt and a pair of boxer shorts when he was awoken by DePape around 2:30 am.

At some point during the ordeal, Paul Pelosi attempted to escape into an elevator to call 911. When that avenue was closed off to him, he did manage to get to a bathroom where he was able to call the police.

DePape was listening in on the phone call, and knew police were going to arrive, according to FBI interrogators, but 'explained that he did not leave after Pelosis call to 9-1-1 because, much like the American founding fathers with the British, he was fighting against tyranny without the option of surrender.'

Public defender Adam Lipton talks to the media after the hearing

According to the criminal complaint, the day after the attack, authorities traced DePape to a home on Shasta Road in Richmond, California, around 18 miles north of San Francisco.

The home belongs to renowned Bay Area photographer Malcolm Lubliner who served as DePape's landlord. DePape lived at the address for two years.

Investigators said that inside of the home, they found additional hammers, a sword, and pairs of gloves.

Lubliner has been a fixture in the California arts scene since the 1960s and has had his work displayed at the San Francisco Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art as well as at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC.

He has photographed American icons such as Jasper Johns and Janis Joplin.

On Friday, DePape walked into a bedroom of the $6million San Francisco home just before 3am on Friday, woke Paul Pelosi up and said he would wait for his wife to get home.

He told investigators he wanted 'kneecap her' if she 'lied' to him so she would have to be 'wheeled into Congress, showing other Members there were consequences to actions'.

The shocking new details were unveiled as DePape was slapped with federal charges including attempted kidnapping, and as a new Fox News report suggested he was in the U.S. illegally from Canada.

DePape, 42. is accused of breaking into Pelosi's $6million home and attacking Paul Pelosi, 82, with a hammer as he shouted: 'Where's Nancy?'

Paul Pelosi Jr., son of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi, walks outside his parent's home in San Francisco, Saturday, one day after the attack

The suspect allegedly had zip ties with him when he broke into the couple's San Francisco home - and was calling out 'Where's Nancy?'

DePape on Monday was charged with assault and attempted kidnapping by the Department of Justice.

Paul Pelosi, who was the only one home when DePape broke in, called the police who arrived two minutes later to find the 82-year-old and DePape struggling over a hammer, according to a Department of Justice press release.

Officers told the men to drop the hammer. DePape then gained control of it and swung at Pelosi's head, before he was arrested as Pelosi lay unconscious on the ground, San Francisco FBI special agent Stephanie Minor wrote in a request for a federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant.

Pelosi had been asleep when DePape entered his bedroom and demanded to talk to 'Nancy.'

'Where's Nancy?' he asked.

Nancy Pelosi, who gets a security detail, was in Washington, D.C. at the time of the attack.

Pelosi told the intruder his wife was not there and would not be there for several days, and DePape said he would wait. Pelosi was somehow able to get into the bathroom while he called 911.

DePape told investigators he wanted to hold Nancy Pelosi captive and talk to her. He said that if the speaker told 'the truth' he would let her go, and if she 'lied' he would 'break her kneecaps.'

'She would then have to be wheeled into Congress, which would show other Members of Congress there were consequences to actions,' he explained.

DePape also explained that he broke into the house through a glass door using the hammer.

Pelosi now remains in the intensive care unit recovering from a skull fracture surrounded by family members.

When cops arrived at the exclusive property, they saw DePape assaulting Pelosi with a hammer

Gypsy Taub (right, pictured with DePape in 2013) was accused of sending messages to a former friend of her son, telling the minor that she wanted to date him and trying to lure him to meet with her secretly

Following his attack on Pelosi, DePape has been accused by his daughter of sexually assaulting his three children when they were kids.

The nudist longtime ex-partner of DePape revealed in an interview from jail that he had been 'mentally ill for a long time' and had paranoid delusions.

Oxane 'Gypsy' Taub, 53, who was convicted in 2021 for trying to kidnap a 14-year-old boy, is also a longtime nudist activist. She says during her two decades with DePape she saw him transform following a disappearance of more than a year.

'He came back in very bad shape. He thought he was Jesus. He was constantly paranoid, thinking people were after him,' Taub told Bay area affiliate ABC 7 in a phone call from prison. 'And it took a good year or two to get back to, you know, being halfway normal.'

'He is mentally ill. He has been mentally ill for a long time,' she said from the Californian Institution for Women in Corona, California, where she is serving time. The two previously lived together in Berkeley.

Taub says she first met DePape two decades ago when he had political views like her own, although the 'hemp jewelry maker's' more recent postings have contain anti-Semitic themes and QAnon conspiracies as well as election fraud claims.

The complaint against David DePape said the manner in which the crime was committed 'indicates planning, sophistication, or professionalism' with the meaning of California law

'Well when I met him, he was only 20 years old, and he didn't have any experience in politics, and he was very much in alignment with my views and I've always been very progressive. I absolutely admire Nancy Pelosi,' said Taub.

The couple raised two sons and a daughter, and split seven years ago, she said.

Taub described herself as the 'ex-life partner of David DePape and the mother of his children.'

DePape was also found to have run the website frenlyfrens.com, where he discussed how he had an invisible fairy friend that sometimes appeared to him in the form of a bird and shared images of Hillary Clinton as a zombie.

During one post he even ranted about not being able to buy a fairy house with a working door.

Many of his posts were filled with tirades against Jewish people, black people, Democrats, the media and transgender people, under categories such as 'Trannies,' 'Da Jewbs' and 'Great Reset.'

DePape created his blog just months before the attack, registering it in August.

His very first post on the now-deleted site was entitled Mary Poppins, amid Disney World's dispute with Florida Gov Ron DeSantis over his so-called Don't Say Gay bill.

It included a video depicting a SWAT team firing at the magical nanny.

In the months since, he filled the blog with hundreds of posts depicting anti-Semitic and dystopian images.

One such post featured the Devil kneeling and asking a caricature of a Jewish person to teach him the arts of 'lying, deception cheating and incitement.'

Several others contained images of rotting human flesh and blood, including zombified versions of Bill Gates and Hillary Clinton as he promoted his far-right conspiracy theories.

By late August, DePape seemed to become engrossed in Twitter's decision to ban Jordan Peterson for his posts about transgender people after the Canadian psychologist compared being transgender to 'satanic ritual abuse.'

More recently, amid backlash to rapper Kanye West's tweet declaring war on the Jewish people, DePape posted: 'We are ALL the Jews' slave race.

In just the past month alone, DePape had published hundreds of blog posts promoting far-right conspiracy theories before he allegedly broke into Pelosi's home, the Boston Globe reports.

In recent weeks, after Kanye West faced backlash for a tweet declaring war on the Jews, DePape shared his own anti-Semitic views on his blog

DePape was also active on 4chan, positing memes and debating other anonymous users about his beliefs.

In an October 24 post on the website, DePape complained he was being targeted by law enforcement officials he described as 'paid shills' trying to manipulate the message board.

'I would come in and lay out the facts, and so all the paid shills would jump on me,' he wrote. 'To try and suppress it.'

DePape would also share some photos from a construction site he worked at, one highlighting a jackhammer with the number 33 on it, an apparent reference to a conspiracy theory about Free Masons and world domination.

But other posts on his blog seemed to be more personal, offering a glance into his delusions.

DePape wrote in recent months how he was becoming suicidal as his relationship with Taub was falling apart.

'I was extremely suicidal,' he posted four days before the attack, writing in an apparent letter to Inti Gonzalez, who has identified DePape as her father: 'Mentally I would beg you guys daily to let me kill myself.'
The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to grant South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham an emergency stay to keep him from testifying in an investigation looking at Donald Trump and his allies' efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

The Republican lawmaker is currently slated to testify before a grand jury in Atlanta on November 17.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis summoned the grand jury to investigate alleged attempts to overturn the results of Georgia's 2020 electoral count.

The Peach State narrowly went to President Joe Biden and was critical in securing his overall victory.

Graham had previously attempted to leverage his elected office through the 'speech and debate clause' in a bid to block the grand jury's July subpoena. The provision allows lawmakers to avoid testifying about legislative work.

His argument was recently struck down by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on October 20.

It reached the Supreme Court shortly thereafter, where conservative Justice Clarence Thomas granted Graham temporary reprieve while the high court fully considered his plea.

Thomas was able to act unilaterally because the 11th Circuit Court falls within his jurisdiction.

South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham's request to delay his testimony in Georgia's 2020 election investigation was denied by the Supreme Court

'[A] stay or injunction is not necessary to safeguard the Senator's Speech or Debate Clause immunity,' the order stated, with no formal dissents

But the Tuesday decision reverses Thomas' order, ruling that Graham can be compelled to testify about non-legislative business or anything that doesn't touch on his work as a senator.

'[A] stay or injunction is not necessary to safeguard the Senator's Speech or Debate Clause immunity,' the order stated.

It does however leave room for him to avoid answering questions before the grand jury that might fall into the scope of his Congressional duties.

But it isn't clear that much of what Graham will be grilled on will fall into that category, after the lower courts compelling him to testify also ruled Willis 'may not ask about any investigatory conduct.'

There was no formal dissent from either the six conservative justices or three liberals.

The latest ruling is likely a sigh of relief for those who feared Graham's success could be a roadmap for other powerful Trump allies to avoid testifying in criminal or civil probes - a number of which the ex-president is currently embroiled in.

When asked by DailyMail.com for comment, Graham's office released a statement painting the ruling as somewhat of a victory, reaffirming Willis' inability to question him about legislative matters.

'Today, the Supreme Court confirmed that the Constitutions Speech or Debate Clause applies here. They also affirmed that Senator Graham may return to the District Court if the District Attorney tries to ask questions about his constitutionally protected activities,' Graham's office said.

'The Senators legal team intends to engage with the District Attorneys office on next steps to ensure respect for this constitutional immunity.'

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is looking into Donald Trump and his allies' alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia

The one-page ruling appeared to have no formal dissent, and overturned a previous temporary decision by Justice Clarence Thomas to halt Graham's testimony

Graham's testimony was first ordered for August 2 by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, according to WSB-TV.

McBurney had ruled in July that Graham was a 'necessary and material witness' to the investigation, though he was never a target.

What kicked off the Fulton County probe was a now-infamous phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in which the then-president pressed the GOP official to 'find' the number of votes needed for him to overcome Biden's slim electoral victory there.

Raffensperger had recorded the call, to Trump's apparent surprise at the time.

A July court filing reveals that Willis believes Graham made at least two phone calls to Raffensperger and his staff shortly after the 2020 presidential election.

Willis accused Graham of having 'questioned Secretary Raffensperger and his staff about reexamining certain absentee ballots cast in Georgia in order to explore the possibility of a more favorable outcome for former President Donald Trump.'

He also 'made reference to allegations of widespread voter fraud in the November 2020 election in Georgia, consistent with public statements made by known affiliates of the Trump Campaign,' according to the prosecutor.
This is the shocking moment a bare-chested thug was caught on police bodycam footage going berserk and attacking five officers.

Police were called to a hotel in Nottingham city centre at around 1am on Saturday after a woman was assaulted.

They were confronted by a muscle-bound Daniel Johnson, 39, who became aggressive when police attempted to arrest him.

Officers were punched, kicked and thrown to the ground when Johnson launched a frenzied attack in the hotel corridor.

No one was injured in the attack and Johnson was finally handcuffed.

This is the shocking moment a bare-chested Daniel Johnson was caught on police bodycam footage going berserk and attacking five officers

Johnson, of Camden, London, admitted five assaults by beating of an emergency worker, a racially aggravated common assault by beating, an assault by beating on a hotel employee and criminal damage.

On Monday he was jailed for 12 months at Nottingham Magistrates' Court.

Johnson, 39, of Camden, London, was jailed for 12 months at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Monday

Detective Sergeant Lisa Jones, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'This case highlights the sort of violent behaviour our officers have to deal with on a sadly regular basis.

'I am pleased Johnson has been swiftly dealt with and jailed for his totally unacceptable behaviour.

'We will not tolerate violence against women or attacks on officers who are simply working to keep the public safe.

'We do not expect our officers, or any emergency worker, to be assaulted while doing their duty.

'The force will not hesitate to take action against those suspected of assaulting any emergency worker.

'Johnson has been jailed within two days of the incident and I hope this sends a clear message that violent offenders will be rapidly and robustly brought to justice.

'Thankfully, the officers only suffered relatively minor injuries but were understandably extremely shaken by the incident.'
A relieved text has emerged from an employee of Australia's newest betting agency after the company dodged a devastating $50million payout on the Melbourne Cup.

Betr offered extraordinary odds of 100/1 on every horse in the Melbourne Cup - with a maximum bet of $10 - as a promotion designed to entice people to open an account with the News Corp-backed company.

Betr faced a massive payout if race favourite Deauville Legend had won, because huge numbers of punters had taken the 100/1 odds on a horse that was as short as 2/1 in early betting markets.

The English horse ran fourth while 20/1 shot Gold Trip won, and the Australian Financial Review reported that a relieved Betr company staffer texted a mate: 'Gold Tripp hahahah'.

While Betr dodged that bullet, the company isn't out of the firing line, with furious punters who backed Gold Trip accusing the company of deactivating their accounts rather than paying out their $1,000 windfall.

Australia's newest betting agency Betr has avoided disaster after Gold Trip won the Melbourne Cup. Pictured is winning jockey Mark Zahra with his wife

Tyler Chalwell told Daily Mail Australia he received an exciting call from his wife Kelly saying they were $1,000 richer after backing the winner, only to then discover the betting agency had deactivated her account.

'She is 'pretty p***** off,' Mr Chalwell said. 'We opened the account a few weeks ago when having a few drinks with friends and family.

'So my wife and some friends signed up as I was talking about the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup offer.

'She chose Gold Trip in the account, and her account was verified.'

Ms Chalwell also backed hot favourite Anamoe in the Cox Plate at Betr's promotional odds of 20/1 for any runner - and was able to withdraw her collect from that win.

'Today she saw Gold Trip won and she was stoked but went to login and saw her account had been deactivated,' her husband said.

Just 23 minutes before the race got underway she received an email that read; 'Your betr account has been deactivated. You will not have any access to your account until you choose to activate it by sending an account activation request to cutomerservice@betr.com.au.'

Desperate attempts to contact Betr to have her account reactivated were unsuccessful.

Others online have also voiced similar stories.

'You are a joke, why have I been deactivated. So angry,' one social media user commented.

'Same happened to my wife,' another wrote.

Tyler Chalwell (right) told Daily Mail Australia he received an exciting call from his wife Kelly (left) that her $10 bet on Gold Trip at $100/1 won and they were $1,000 richer

Betr had frantically been trying to lay off its exposure to a Deauville Legend win before Tuesday's race - offering customers $150 in bonus bets, plus a refund of $10, if they agreed to cancel their bet on the favourite.

'EXCLUSIVE to your account. Lock in a win with Deauville Legend,' read the begging Betr text to Melbourne Cup punters who backed the favourite at 100/1.

'Follow the steps below before Race one at Flemington tomorrow and you can cash out your bet on Deauville Legend for $150 in Bonus Cash + your original stake refunded.'

Betr's founder Matthew Tripp and his team would have had their hearts in their mouths when the Deauville Legend cruised up to the home turn and looked the likely winner.

But Gold Trip went past the favourite and held off Emissary and fast-finishing High Emocean to claim victory.

Deauville Legend tired in the closing stages of the staying test and ran fourth - allowing Betr to avoid financial disaster.

Betr's bold marketing ploy to attract punters almost backfired on Tuesday. Pictured are Melbourne Cup racegoers at Flemington on Tuesday

In another lucrative twist, Todd Buckingham - chief executive of wagering group Betmakers Technology Group which provides the technology platform for Betr - also is a part owner of Gold Trip.

While the company no doubt saved millions with Gold Trip winning, sources within the betting industry confirmed Betr had been channeling a lot of the bets on Deauville Legend onto other bookmaking firms to reduce their exposure, so they will not have the big collect they would have had if they did not lay off.

Tabcorp was understood to have taken on some of Betr's liability as the company scrambled to avoid disaster.

Punters could place one $10 bet on any horse in the race - including the favourite - with a guaranteed return of $1010 if their pick then won, a marketing ploy which almost backfired

In further bad news for Betr, which is 33 per cent-owned by media giant News Corp, the 100-1 promotion is now being probed by gambling watchdogs in NSW.

'Liquor & Gaming NSW has serious concerns that this advertising may constitute a prohibited inducement under NSW gambling laws,' a statement from the regulator said.

'Broadly speaking, L&GNSW considers that an inducement includes any offer that may be capable of persuading or encouraging a person to participate, or to participate frequently, in any gambling activity, including to open a betting account.

'We are investigating and will respond to any breaches with the full force of the law.'

The probe could also cost News Corp after its newspapers published adverts for the offer nationwide, which may also have been in breach of local state laws.

More than 80,000 racegoers (pictured) flocked to Flemington to see Gold Trip storm to victory in the 162nd Melbourne Cup

Betr was launched less than three weeks ago in time for racing's Spring Carnival in a joint venture with bookie entrepreneur Matthew Tripp, who previously launched Sportsbet and BetEasy.

It was designed to harness and leverage the reach and power of News Corp's Foxtel sports channel and state newspapers to boost its business, based on the successful Sky BET in the UK and FOX Bet in the US.

Betr launched with 60 staff and plans to quickly expand to 120 by targeting the lucrative under 35s market.

It had also looked at buying the $1billion licence for TAB wagering rights in Western Australia but later withdrew due to naming-rights restrictions.
U.S. security officials are concerned about potential threats from Iran, following a report that Saudi Arabia has shared intelligence of an imminent threat from its rival.

The U.S. is signaling that the country wont hesitate to respond if necessary, a White House spokesperson said on Tuesday.

We are concerned about the threat picture, and we remain in constant contact through military and intelligence channels with the Saudis, said the spokesperson from the National Security Council. We will not hesitate to act in the defense of our interests and partners in the region.

The official spoke after the Wall Street Journal reported that Saudi Arabia has shared intelligence with the United States warning of an imminent attack from Iran on targets in the kingdom.

The paper reported that Iran was also planning to step up attacks on Erbil in Northern Iraq, with the attacks meant to distract from turmoil inside Iran amid ongoing domestic protests.

Iranian protesters defied a deadly crackdown by security forces against nearly six weeks of women-led protests, as Tehran vowed to punish those behind a mass shooting

U.S. security officials are concerned about potential threats from Iran, following a report that Saudi Arabia has shared intelligence of an imminent threat from its rival

The United States has said Iran has supplied Russia with drones for use in its war against Ukraine, prompting Washington to set aside efforts to resurrect the Iran nuclear deal, which then-President Donald Trump abandoned in 2018.

Western officials say Iran is planning to send more of the killer drones, CNN reported Tuesday.

Saudi Arabias warning comes amid deep strains in the relationship with the U.S., which helps ensure security both through its military presence and through multi-billion arms sales of advanced weaponry.

President Joe Biden and his administration in recent weeks have been fuming over Saudi-led OPEC+ organizations decision to cut oil output, which raised fears of a gasoline price spike in the United States.

The administration considers the move, which got announced weeks before the elections here, a boon to Russias war on Ukraine since Moscow relies on energy exports to pay its bills.

Irans export of drones to Russia has helped reshape the war, with Russia using the technology, according to US officials, to wreak havoc on Ukrainian domestic infrastructure like water and power plants.

Above is the aftermath of an Iranian drone attack in Iraq's Kurdistan region

A view of the headquarters of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan (Komalah) destroyed by drones of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq's Kurdistan region, 28 September 2022

Tehran also has been launching missiles and drones at Northern Iraq, with U.S. forces shooting down one missile as it headed toward Erbil. Iran blames activities by Iranian Kurdish separatist groups.

Iran continues to crack down in an effort to keep a lid on protests that have raged for weeks. It has charged an estimated 1,000 people in Tehan province for protesting Aminis death while in policy custody after being arrested by morality police, IRNA reported Monday. Trials are set to begin in the coming days, it reported.

Tehran has blamed Saudi Arabia for meddling in its own internal affairs through Saudi-backed Farsi language news sites providing coverage of the protests.
Sir Keir Starmer sought to change the law so Channel migrants with a fear of return could qualify for asylum, it has emerged.

The Labour leader also tried to ensure small boats arriving in UK waters could not be pushed back at sea.

He was accused of trying to thwart efforts to stop boats crossing the Channel after his comments from 2015 were unearthed.

They show Sir Keir - then the shadow immigration minister under Jeremy Corbyn - wanted to change the law so that migrants crossing the Channel who expressed a fear of return may qualify for asylum.

The Labour leader (pictured) also tried ensure small boats arriving in UK waters could not be pushed back at sea

An amendment, which was dropped, to the Immigration Bill said: If in the course of questioning or otherwise a person expresses to or in the presence of an immigration officer, a fear of return that may be a claim for asylum then the person shall be taken to the UK for that case to be considered.

Sir Keir also sought assurances that powers granted in the Bill would not be used to push back asylum seekers at sea.

Tory MP Lee Anderson told the Mail: These comments show Keir Starmer was trying to thwart efforts to stop boats crossing the Channel as far back as 2015, when he was serving in Corbyns team.

Tory MP Lee Anderson (pictured) told the Mail: These comments show Keir Starmer was trying to thwart efforts to stop boats crossing the Channel as far back as 2015, when he was serving in Corbyns team.'

He has spent years campaigning to keep freedom of movement and it once again shows that Labour have no interest in protecting our borders or controlling immigration.

Almost 40,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year, provisional Government figures show.

The Ministry of Defence recorded 46 people arriving in one boat on Monday.

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick acknowledged that the number could reach 50,000 by the end of the year.

Sir Keir also sought assurances that powers granted in the Bill would not be used to push back asylum seekers at sea (Pictured: An inflatable craft carrying migrant men, women and children crosses the shipping lane in the English Channel in July)

Last year Sir Keir accused the Government of failing to deliver on its pledges to tackle the migrant crisis, and said the UK had not secured strong agreements with France.

The Home Secretary repeatedly says in strong language what she is going to do about the immediate problem and delivers absolutely nothing, he told the BBC at the time.

You have got to do the work upstream otherwise you will never solve this problem.

A Labour Party spokesman said: Keir has been consistent. The Labour Party has been consistent. What isnt consistent is a Tory governments excuses and scapegoating for why after 12 years, on their watch, 40,000 people are crossing the channel this year.

The Government has failed miserably. Labour is urging them to get a grip: fix their system, take stronger action, and implement Labours 5 point plan to prevent the dangerous boats crossing the Channel.
A Las Vegas grifter who had been on the lam for more than 40 years has been charged in the cold case murder of a mother of one after DNA was found underneath the victim's fingernails.

Paul Nuttall, 64, was arrested on Thursday for the 1980 cold-blooded murder of Sandra DiFelice, a young mother who was only 25 years old at the time of her death.

The young victim was raped and beaten before she was killed by Nuttall on December 26, 1980. The victim's roommate had known the 21-year-old suspect.

In late October, Nuttall was charged with open murder with the use of a deadly weapon, sexual assault with a deadly weapon, and burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon, officials said.

On Monday, detectives from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department made the stunning announcement in the 42-year-old cold case.

Nuttall is currently being held without bond at the Clark County Detention Center, authorities said. His next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.

LVMPD Lt. Jason Johansson was elated to share the news during a Monday press conference.

'My cold case investigators had the pleasure of making the one phone call that every cold case detective wants to make  and that was the call specifically to Sandra DiFelice's daughter,' Johansson said, the news outlet reported.

Sandra DeFelice, 25, was sexually assaulted before she was killed December 26, 1980, allegedly by Paul Nuttall, who was 21 years old at the time

Paul Nuttal was on the lam for more than 40 years after killing the young mother December 26, 1980. Las Vegas police made the stunning announcement of the suspects arrest on Thursday

DeFelice looking adoringly at her three-year-old child in an undated photo

At the time of the murder, detectives collected numerous items of evidence of the scene and developed a person of interest but the case went cold.

In February 2021, the four-decades-old case was reopened by detectives in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Cold Case Section. The team reviewed and then resubmitted additional evidence for testing using DNA technology.

Some of the new evidence collected was a DNA sample taken from Nuttal in 2021, a fingerprint that matched a sample collected from a drinking glass found in DeFelice's living room, according to CBS affiliate KLAS, which reviewed documents related to the case.

On October 27, Nuttall was taken into custody by the Criminal Apprehension Team, a multi-jurisdictional task force led by the FBI and staffed in the LMVPD's Major Violations Bureau. The team is compromised of the FBI, LVMPD, Henderson, and North Las Vegas Police Departments.

The social media posting put out by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department providing photos and information on the decades old cold-case

Before the brutal murder, DiFelice had been living with a female roommate near Bonanza Road and Maryland Parkway not far from downtown Las Vegas.

Police said DiFelice's roommate told them she knew the suspect, and later told them that Nutall had been lurking outside of their home on the day DiFelice was murdered, KLAS News reported.

According to a report, the roommate said that 'Nuttal asked if he could sleep in the house, as he had nowhere else to go.'

She told Nuttall that she could not allow that because [DiFelice] was in the house and didn't know him well,' the news outlet reported.

Around 9.30pm on December 26, police responded to a call of a dead body that was discovered inside an east Las Vegas home.

When the authorities arrived, they found DiFelice. The young woman was dead and evidence at the scene indicated that she had been raped and beaten.

Her three-year-old child was not home at the time of the killing, the news outlet reported.
A majority of Americans are in favor of implementing stronger voter ID policies, a new poll suggests exactly one week out from Election Day.

At least three quarters of white, black, Hispanic and Asian Americans agreed that some form of photo identification should be required to cast a ballot, according to the survey by CRC Research for the 85 Fund.

The poll's results were exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com.

Enhancing election security will be an issue on the ballot in eight states on November 8. Those measures include voter ID requirements in Nebraska and Arizona.

As of now, 21 states require photo identification to vote in person, and 14 require at least a non-photo form of ID.

Opponents of stricter voter identification measures argue that certain requirements, like a government-issued ID or requiring it to have proof of address, present an undue burden to citizens and disproportionately affects communities of color and low-income Americans.

Its supporters say that it's a reasonable step toward boosting voter confidence in American elections, which other surveys have shown to be at record lows.

According to Tuesday's poll, requiring photo ID to vote is supported by 75 percent of black Americans, 81 percent of Hispanic Americans and 88 percent of voters who identified as Asian American.

For the survey, 1,600 likely voters were polled between October 20 and 23

When broken down by race, Asian Americans were among the biggest supporters of photo ID for voting - though the sentiment was high among all groups

Eighty-five percent of respondents who elected their race as 'other' agreed, as did 85 percent of whites.

According to the survey, American voters also want more guardrails on mail-in voting - which has been the subject of partisan scrutiny since its unprecedentedly wide use during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the 2020 presidential election was held.

'The numbers are consistently clear: Americans overwhelmingly favor commonsense voting safeguards like photo ID and clear laws that keep Election Day from becoming election season,' said Jason Snead, Executive Director of Honest Elections Project.

'Voters want ballots to be protected, especially vulnerable mail ballots, and they want prompt and accurate election results.'

Eighty-five percent of people who answered the survey said they believe mail-in ballots should be received by Election Day, including 61 percent who said they 'strongly' agree with the sentiment.

A decisive majority also said all ballots should be in by Election Day, though it's unclear if that accounts for standard mail delays

Currently there are eight states that automatically send all registered voters mail-in ballots

Just 11 percent somewhat or strongly disagreed, while 4 percent were unsure.

Asked whether voters should have to request a ballot to vote by mail rather than getting sent one automatically, 68 percent said they were in favor, compared to a quarter of people who disagreed.

Currently, eight states automatically send all registered residents a ballot for mail-in voting, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures: California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington.

Snead said in the statement shared with DailyMail.com, ''No election system is perfect, but many conservative states have passed election reforms that have made it easier to vote and harder to cheat. As this poll shows us, that is exactly what Americans want.'

The poll, taken between October 20 through 23, sampled 1,600 likely US voters. Its margin of error is 2.45 percent.
Food writer Julie Powell, whose blog about cooking every recipe in Julia Child's 1961 'French Cooking' book was turned into an Oscar-nominated movie, has died aged 49.

Powell rose to fame in the early 2000s when she began a blog about her attempt to cook every recipe in Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking: Volume 1.

The project established her as one of the internet's first food bloggers and she went on to write the book Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen in 2005.

The late writer and director Nora Ephron adapted the book into an Oscar-nominated feature film, starring Meryl Streep as Child and Amy Adams as Powell.

Julie Powell, whose hit Julie/Julia Project blog was made into a hit movie, has died aged 49

The Oscar-nominated movie starred Amy Adams as Powell and Meryl Streep as Julia Child

Powell died at her home in Olivebridge, upstate New York, on October 26 of a cardiac arrest, her husband, Eric Powell, told the New York Times.

Powell was born Julie Foster on April 20, 1973, in Austin, Texas.

Disillusioned with her low-level administration job after moving to New York and seeking a creative outlet, Powell launched her Julie/Julia Project in the nascent era of internet writing.

She detailed her kitchen adventures using spiky humor in a direct, diaristic tone.

The project involved cooking all 524 recipes from Child's 1961 French Cooking classic from her tiny, broken-down apartment in Long Island City, Queens that she shared with her husband.

The self-deprecating drama of her mishaps and disappointments both in and out of the kitchen struck a chord with a crop of primarily Gen X readers.

The book based on her successful Julie/Julia Project blog went on to sell more than 1m copies

Powell died aged 49 after suffering a cardiac arrest at home in Olivebridge, upstate New York

Meryl Streep, who played Julia Child in the book's film adaptation, was nominated for an Oscar

The blog gained hundreds of thousands of views at a time when many people still used dial-up internet.

Within a year of launching on Salon.com, it had around 400,000 page views and thousands of regular readers.

The book which followed sold more than a million copies, mostly of the paperback version, which had the title Julie & Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously.

Powell's project inspired scores of food bloggers who followed, its template and tone apparent in the later successful web and social media projects of cooks including Dorie Greenspan, Ina Garten, Deb Perelman and Alison Roman.

'I was shocked to learn this morning of the passing of Julie Powell, the original food blogger,' Perelman tweeted Tuesday under the account of her famous social media and cookbook brand, Smitten Kitchen.

'Cooking through Julia Child's books, she made Child relevant to a new generation, and wrote about cooking in a fresh, conversational, this-is-my-real life tone that was rare back then.'
NASA has warned that a "potentially hazardous" asteroid almost as wide as the height of Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper, will zoom past planet Earth on November 1, just in time for Halloween.

The newly discovered asteroid 2002 RM4 has an estimated diameter of between 1,083 and 2,428 feet (330 and 740 meters). It is just a little below the height of Burj Khalifa, which stands 2,716-foot-tall (828 meters).

Asteroid 2022 RM4 will make a close approach to planet Earth at around 52,500 mph (84,500 km/h), as per Space.com.

NASA Classified 2022 RM4 as Potentially Hazardous

The newly discovered asteroid will come too close to Earth at about 1.43 million miles (2.3 million kilometers). This is around six times the average Earth-Moon distance. The said distance is a very small margin in terms of cosmic standards.

Any space object that approaches the Earth within 120 million miles (193 million km) of the planet is marked by NASA as a "near-Earth object."

Meanwhile, any large body which are within 4.65 million miles (7.5 million km) of Earth is classified as "potentially hazardous." Thus 2022 RM4 is given that tag.

Astronomers watch these identified bodies because these are potential threats to the planet.

They are being closely monitored for any deviation from their predicted trajectories since these objects could possibly head for a devastating collision with the planet.

Fortunately, according to MSN, the asteroid is just set to pass the Earth without any incident. Likewise, no imminent signs of danger are identified.

However, it is highly possible that the asteroid will be visible from just home telescopes. Thus, if you wish to observe its passing, you can check the skies on November 1.

"No danger, but newly-discovered asteroid 2022 RM4 will pass less than 6 lunar distances on November 1. Possibly as wide as 740 meters, it will brighten to mag 14.3, well within reach of backyard telescopes," Tony Dunn tweeted.

Read Also: NASA Warns 2 'Potentially Hazardous' Massive Asteroids to Get Close to Earth This January 2022; Will It Hit?

NASA Continuously Monitors Asteroids in Space

The asteroid 2022 RM4 was discovered on September 12, 2022 by astronomers at the Pan-STARRS 2 telescope in Haleakala, Hawaii, according to Forbes.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory classified it as a Near Earth Object (NEO), meaning it's an Apollo-type object, which is a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA).

Asteroids like the 2022 RM4 have an orbit that is bigger than the Earth's orbit around the Sun. The path of this kind of asteroid crosses the Earth's path.

The newly discovered asteroid is said to orbit the Sun every 1,397 days. Occasionally, its path crosses the Earth's orbital path around the Sun.

NASA uses the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) to pinpoint asteroids in space. It is an "array of four telescopes able to perform a total scan of the entire night sky every 24 hours."

Using ATLAS, around 28,000 asteroids in space are being tracked and monitored by the agency.

ATLAS has identified more than 700 near-Earth asteroids and 66 comets since NASA acquired it in 2017.

In 2019, ATLAS identified two small asteroids that actually crashed on Earth. The 2019 MO exploded on the southern coast of Puerto Rico.

Meanwhile, the 2018 LA crash landed somewhere near the border of Botswana and South Africa.

Related Article: Old Giant Asteroid That Could Destroy Earth Is Passing By: Best Time to Watch It on the Sky
James Corden issued an apology to Ricky Gervais after repeating his 2018 stand-up joke about guitar lessons

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James Corden has apologised to Ricky Gervais after 'inadvertently' using his 2018 stand-up joke on his Late Late Show.

It comes after Gervais, 61, tweeted a clip from the television host's show on Halloween night in which Corden repeated the joke from his 2018 Netflix stand-up comedy gig Ricky Gervais: Humanity.

Gervais' stolen joke is about Twitter users getting angry about a poster in a town square about guitar lessons.

Corden wrote on the social media site: 'Inadvertently told a brilliant Ricky Gervais joke on the show last night, obviously not knowing it came from him.

'It's brilliant, because it's a Ricky Gervais joke. You can watch all Ricky's excellent specials on Netflix.'

On Tuesday morning, Gervais shared a clip of Corden repeating the joke, saying: 'The bit about the town square advert for guitar lessons is brilliant.'

But the comedian said he deleted the tweet because he 'felt sorry for Corden'.

James Corden issued an apology to Ricky Gervais after repeating his 2018 stand-up joke about guitar lessons on The Late Late Show on Halloween night

Gervais, 61, tweeted a clip from Corden's show, which aired on Halloween night, in which the host jokes about Twitter users getting angry about a poster in a town square about guitar lessons

But Corden's joke is directly repeating Gervais' joke from his 2018 Netflix stand-up comedy gig Ricky Gervais: Humanity

But Corden's joke is a copy - practically word for word - of Gervais' joke that he made in 2018. That year, Gervais said that people were taking things too personally on Twitter

Gervais said in 2018: 'They choose to read my tweet, and then take that personally. That's like going into a town square, seeing a big notice board and there's a notice - guitar lessons - and you go, "But I don't want f***ing guitar lessons".'

How Corden used Gervais' joke four years later What Corden said: 'If someone puts up a poster in a town square that says 'guitar lessons available', like you don't get people in the town going: 'I don't want to play guitar! I want to play the piano you piece of s**t'!' 'Well that sign wasn't for you. It was for somebody else! You don't have to get mad about all of it.' What Gervais said in 2018: 'They choose to read my tweet, and then take that personally. 'That's like going into a town square, seeing a big notice board and there's a notice - guitar lessons - and you go, 'But I don't want f***ing guitar lessons'.' Gervais added: 'Fine, it's not for you then, just walk away. Don't worry about it!' Advertisement

On an episode of his Halloween show, Corden was speaking about Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter when he made the joke.

Corden, who has been embroiled in controversy in recent months over the omelette saga, said: 'If someone puts up a poster in a town square that says "guitar lessons available", like you don't get people in the town going, "I don't want to play guitar! I want to play the piano you piece of s**t!"

'Well that sign wasn't for you. It was for somebody else! You don't have to get mad about all of it.'

But Corden's joke is a copy - practically word for word - of Gervais' joke that he made in 2018.

In 2018, Gervais, the star of the UK's version of The Office and who has hosted the Golden Globes five times, said people were taking things too personally on Twitter.

He said in his comedy sketch: 'They choose to read my tweet, and then take that personally.

'That's like going into a town square, seeing a big notice board and there's a notice - guitar lessons - and you go, 'But I don't want f***ing guitar lessons'.'

Gervais added: 'Fine, it's not for you then, just walk away. Don't worry about it!'

Gervais noticed how Corden's sketch was copied from his own 2018 and tweeted about it.

When a fan asked the British comedian whether Corden had asked permission to use the joke, Gervais said: 'No. I reckon one of the writers "came up with it" for him. I doubt he would knowingly just copy such a famous stand up routine word for word like that.'

The Late Late Show has also deleted the video of Corden making the joke from their Twitter page.

DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Corden and Gervais for comment.

Corden has been embroiled in controversy after he was accused by staff at the Balthazar restaurant in New York of screaming at them after they served his wife received an egg-yolk omelette with egg-white in it.

Gervais mocked Corden for his behavior by re-sharing a tweet poking fun at the talk show host.

The tweet included a clip from Gervais' Netflix show After Life, where his character Tony mocks Corden by saying 'f**k me* when a star of the show said Corden would be in her top five dinner party guests.

When a fan asked the British comedian whether Corden had asked permission to use the joke, Gervais said: 'No. I reckon one of the writers 'came up with it' for him. I doubt he would knowingly just copy such a famous stand up routine word for word like that'

Earlier this month, Balthazar owner Keith McNally announced on Instagram that Corden was banned from the restaurant as punishment for rude and childish behavior on two occasions.

On the first occasion, Corden was upset that a hair had been found in his food and demanded free drinks to make up for it, according to McNally.

The second occasion involved his wife Julia ordering an egg-yolk omelette and receiving a plate with egg white on it. The final straw was when the remade omelette was sent out with a side of home fries instead of salad.

Corden apologized for his behavior earlier this month and McNally lifted his ban on Corden visiting the restaurant.

But McNally reignited the feud this week, saying Corden 'will say anything to save his bacon'.

McNally was reacting to recently-revealed text messages Corden sent to a journalist which said he 'never screamed at anyone' after an omelette served to his wife was supposedly cooked incorrectly.

Balthazar owner Keith McNally said in his most recent post that he has 'given up' on Corden after trying to forgive him. He called his apology on The Late Late Show 'contrived' and 'phony', and said he told a 'massive lie, AGAIN'

In a post on Instagram yesterday, McNally said: 'LAST POST ON THIS NON-STORY:

'I don't want to over-egg the pudding, but in Friday's London Times Corden flip-flopped and told a massive lie AGAIN:

'I never screamed at anyone, I didn't shout, didn't call anyone a name or swear or use derogatory language How is it remotely a thing? When that person who posted the story wasn't even there.'

'On second viewing, I found his TV "confessional" contrived and phony. The actor will say anything to save his bacon.

'In the scheme of things my opinion means nothing, but after Friday's interview and a second look at his fraudulent confessional, I've given up on James Corden. For Good.

'END OF STORY.'

Corden apologized on The Late Late Show and McNally accepted, but the feud has restarted

He didn't clarify whether Corden was formally re-banned, but the post suggest he's unlikely ever to return to the restaurant.

Julia, Corden's wife (pictured), ordered an egg-yolk omelette because of an allergy to egg whites

The infamous omelette saga began on October 9 when Corden and his wife dined at the restaurant with friends. Julia asked for an all-yolk omelette  something that is not on the extensive brunch menu.

When it arrived, the dish contained some egg whites. Corden sent it back to the kitchen and when it returned, he says it was still 'wrong'.

McNally first shamed Corden on Instagram, telling his followers how the comedian had twice abused staff.

He said: 'James Corden began yelling like crazy to the server, "You can't do your job! You can't do your job! Maybe I should go into the kitchen and cook the omelet myself!"'

McNally once again tore into Corden over the text messages reported in The Times.

In a stream of messages, Corden said the incident and its backlash has 'been the most surreal moment,' while adding that McNally was not present when his wife was served the wrong order.

'I mean, it's so odd,' he writes. 'I never screamed at anyone, I didn't shout, didn't call anyone a name or swear or use derogatory language  how is it remotely a thing? And that be OK?

'And now it's fact, and that's that. When the person who posted the story wasn't even there. Just so odd.'

He added: 'I have never talked about eggs this much.'

McNally also owns Pastis, Minetta Tavern and Morandi in the West Village  three well-known, well-respected New York institutions that are regularly frequented by celebrities.

Corden and Julia in 2018. He claimed she told Balthazar staff she had a 'serious food allergy'

The breakfast menu at Balthazar, which has two omelet options which contain egg whites. Corden insisted on an all-yolk omelet

There are only two omelettes on the menu at Balthazar; the $25 omelette with herbs, and the $27, egg-white omelette. Both come with a side of home fries or salad.

Servers explained to DailyMail.com that Corden was asking for something that is not offered and was angry when it wasn't up to his standards.

'He wanted an omelette that had only egg yolks. Not the egg-white omelette, just egg yolks,' said one.

'Why then would you even bother ordering an omelette if you're allergic to eggs?'

In his apology for the outburst, Corden said: 'Because I didn't shout or scream, I didn't get up out of my seat, I didn't call anyone names or use derogatory language, I have been walking around thinking that I've not done anything wrong.

'But I have. I made a rude comment,' he said, adding that he 'values and respects' anyone and everyone in the service industry.

On Monday, Corden was spotted wearing his wedding ring during a low-key outing in Los Angeles just days after his wife Julia was seen without her wedding ring while running errands.

The Late Late host - who has been married to Julia for a decade - attempted to go unnoticed as he made his way to his SUV with a bodyguard leading the way.

The TV host being spotted wearing his wedding ring comes days after his wife Julia was spotted without hers, while running errands with their youngest daughter Charlotte, four, near their home in Pacific Palisades.

Aside from Charlotte, the duo also share daughter Carey, eight, and son Max , 11.

Low-key: On Monday, James Corden, 44, was spotted wearing his wedding ring during a low-key outing

Spotted: James wore a blue hoodie and his gold wedding band on his ring finger

Keeping it casual: The TV star looked out of the window of his SUV before driving away

On the go: Just days ago, his wife Julia was seen without her wedding ring while running errands in Pacific Palisades

It comes after James gushed about Julia on Good Morning Britain earlier in the day, while joking that his wife must look at him every day and go 'What did I do? It's a huge mistake!'

The TV star has gushed about his wife and pride for Britain as the talk show host discussed his plans for his return to the UK.

The Late Late Show host spoke openly about his relationship with Julia describing the moment that he met her as a 'miracle.'

James and his family are preparing to leave Los Angeles to return to his native UK, with the move coming after he was hit with a huge backlash after being accused of abusing staff at Balthazar.

Corden's current contract with Viacom CBS for his Late Late Show expires next year. He and his wife are selling their $9.7million home in Brentwood and are planning to return to the UK next year.

He joked on Good Morning Britain that his wife must look at him every day and go 'What did I do? It's a huge mistake!'

Stylish: James rocked light wash jeans with a swanky pair of Gucci sneakers while his bodyguard led the way to the SUV

Why so serious? The British star failed to raise a smile during his outing

The funny man said that being in the US was never his 'final destination' and described the UK as 'amazing'.

James said: 'I love where we live, I love being in Los Angeles I love it but we always knew it was an adventure and not a final destination.'

'This place is amazing, this little island. The things it's created, the things it's given the world. I've always been very proud to call it home.'

He said: 'It's going to be really emotional. It's going to be a real thing to draw it to a close. I'm so proud of what we've done.'

Speaking about how he met his wife Julia he gushed: 'I absolutely knew minute one that I couldn't do any better than this. When I met Jules It's a miracle. Every day she must just look at me 'What did I do? It's a huge mistake!''
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Benjamin Netanyahu may have won enough seats to become Prime Minister again after Israel's fifth election in less than four years, exit polls show.

The polls conducted by the country's three major TV stations, which are preliminary and could change as votes are counted, indicated that Mr Netanyahu and his allies would capture the 61-seat majority in parliament required to form a new government.

Election officials said that by 8pm local time - two hours before polls close - turnout stood at 66.3%, over five points higher than the same hour in the 2021 election and the highest at that point since 1999, when the main issue was the flagging peace process with the Palestinians.

The exit polls also showed Itamar Ben Gvir's far-Right Religious Zionism as the third-largest party.

Mr Ben-Gvir is a disciple of a racist rabbi assassinated in the 1990s and has promised a hard line against the Palestinians and the deportation of Arab politicians from Israel. He is expected to seek a Cabinet position as head of the ministry that oversees police.

Celebrations erupted at his party's headquarters in Jerusalem late Tuesday, with supporters cheering and dancing with Israeli flags and party flags. Bezalel Smotrich, head of the Religious Zionism party that includes Ben-Gvir's faction, hailed the projected results as 'historic.'

Mr Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, would be able to battle the charges as Prime Minister, improving his chances of avoiding conviction or jail time. His opponents view him as a grave threat to Israel's democratic institutions and the rule of law.

Mr Netanyahu's main rival is the man who helped oust him last year, the centrist caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who has warned against the nationalist and religious alliance that would emerge should Mr Netanyahu return to power.

It follows more than three years of political gridlock and a string of elections, all of which largely turned on Mr Netanyahu's fitness to govern.

Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara cast their votes at a polling station in Jerusalem

Supporters of Israel's Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) far-right party cheer at a hotel in Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid arrives to cast his vote at a polling station in Tel Aviv

Itamar Ben-Gvir arrives to his party's headquarters in Jerusalem

Who are the key players? Israel's fifth election in less than four years Benjamin Netanyahu Netanyahu, currently opposition leader, paints himself as the consummate statesman and only leader capable of steering the country through its myriad challenges. He was ousted last year after 12 years in power by the diverse coalition forged by Lapid. The coalition was made up of nationalists who oppose Palestinian statehood, dovish parties that seek a peace agreement, as well as - for the first time in the country's history - a small Arab Islamist party. The groups united over their distaste for Netanyahu. But that coalition collapsed this spring because of infighting. Yair Lapid Netanyahu's main rival is the man who helped oust him last year, the centrist caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who has warned against the nationalist religious alliance that would emerge should Netanyahu return to power. The centrist Lapid, a former author and broadcaster who became premier as part of a power-sharing agreement, has portrayed himself as an honest and scandal-free change from the polarizing Netanyahu. In his short term as caretaker leader, Lapid welcomed President Joe Biden on a visit to Israel, led the country in a brief military operation against Gaza militants and signed a diplomatic agreement with Lebanon setting a maritime boundary between the enemy nations. Still, Lapid's chances to return to leadership are shaky. He is relying on voters from Israel's Palestinian minority, who make up one-fifth of the population. Their turnout is predicted to reach historic lows, but if they unexpectedly do come out to vote, that could slash the Netanyahu camp's numbers. Itamar Ben Gvir The polls also showed far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben Gvir's Religious Zionism as the third-largest party. Ben-Gvir is a disciple of a racist rabbi who was assassinated in the 1990s and has promised a hard line against the Palestinians. Ben-Gvir is expected to seek a Cabinet position as head of the ministry that oversees police. Just last month he brandished a handgun in a tense Palestinian neighborhood of Jerusalem and called on the police to shoot Palestinian stone-throwers. He has also called for deportation of Arab lawmakers. After he cast his vote in the West Bank settlement where he lives, Ben-Gvir promised that a vote for his party would bring about a 'fully right-wing government' with Netanyahu as prime minister. Ben-Gvir, who has been convicted of incitement for his anti-Arab rhetoric, had seen his clout rise in the polls ahead of the vote and has demanded a key portfolio should Netanyahu be tapped to form a government. Advertisement

'While the exit polls may indicate a trend, it is important to note that there have been discrepancies between these surveys and the actual results in past rounds of elections,' said Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, an independent think tank.

But if the results hold true, the next government 'is poised to propose a series of reforms that would seek to politicize the judiciary and weaken the checks and balances that exist between the branches of government and serve as fundamental components of Israeli democracy,' he added.

After he cast his vote in the West Bank settlement where he lives, Ben-Gvir promised that a vote for his party would bring about a 'fully right-wing government' with Netanyahu as prime minister.

Ben-Gvir, who has been convicted of incitement for his anti-Arab rhetoric had seen his clout rise in the polls ahead of the vote and has demanded a key portfolio should Netanyahu be tapped to form a government.

With former allies and proteges refusing to sit under him while he is on trial, Netanyahu has been unable to form a viable majority government in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament.

Netanyahu's opponents, an ideologically diverse constellation of parties, are equally hamstrung in cobbling together the 61 seats needed to rule.

That impasse has mired Israel in an unprecedented political crisis that has eroded Israelis' faith in their democracy, its institutions and their political leaders.

Buoyed by his followers' almost cult-like adoration, Netanyahu, 73, has rejected calls to step down by his opponents, who say someone on trial for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes cannot govern. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing, but embarrassing details from his ongoing trial repeatedly make front-page news.

In Israel's fragmented politics, no single party has ever won a parliamentary majority, and coalition-building is necessary to govern. Netanyahu's most likely path to the premiership requires an alliance with extreme nationalists and religious ultra-Orthodox parties.

Some of those parties have promised to enact reforms that could make Netanyahu's legal woes disappear.

Ben-Gvir's ultranationalist party has promised to support legislation that would alter the legal code, weaken the judiciary and could help Netanyahu evade a conviction.

Netanyahu's Likud party has tried to tamp down worries about the future of Israeli democracy, saying any changes to the legal code won't apply to Netanyahu's case and that the more extreme elements of his potential coalition will be reined in.

Netanyahu, currently opposition leader, paints himself as the consummate statesman and only leader capable of steering the country through its myriad challenges.

He was ousted last year after 12 years in power by the diverse coalition forged by Lapid.

The coalition was made up of nationalists who oppose Palestinian statehood, dovish parties that seek a peace agreement, as well as - for the first time in the country's history - a small Arab Islamist party. The groups united over their distaste for Netanyahu.

But that coalition collapsed this spring because of infighting.

The centrist Lapid, a former author and broadcaster who became premier as part of a power-sharing agreement, has portrayed himself as an honest and scandal-free change from the polarizing Netanyahu.

In his short term as caretaker leader, Lapid welcomed President Joe Biden on a visit to Israel, led the country in a brief military operation against Gaza militants and signed a diplomatic agreement with Lebanon setting a maritime boundary between the enemy nations.

Israel's Likud party supporters react at their campaign headquarters in Jerusalem

Supporters of Israel's Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) far-right party cheer at a hotel in Jerusalem after the end of voting in the fifth national election in less than four years

Israel's Likud party supporters react at their campaign headquarters in Jerusalem

A man kisses his dog after he cast his ballot in Tel Aviv during the election

Still, Lapid's chances to return to leadership are shaky. He is relying on voters from Israel's Palestinian minority, who make up one-fifth of the population.

Their turnout is predicted to reach historic lows, but if they unexpectedly do come out to vote, that could slash the Netanyahu camp's numbers.

'We must vote,' said Jiwad Abu Sharekh, 66, a Palestinian citizen of Israel from the mixed Arab-Jewish city of Lod. 'If you don't vote, the right wins. We want to stop the extremists on the right.'

After the votes are tallied, the parties have nearly three months to form a government. If they can't, Israel will head to yet another election.

'I hope this time it will be final,' said Avi Shlush, a voter in Tel Aviv. 'But it will not be final. We are heading to another election.'
BBC wants to share more content and have less

BBC staff at a regional TV news station pulled their live programme because they were 'too upset to work' following an announcement that employees would be made redundant next month.

Many of the broadcasting team at BBC Look East's Cambridge office decided not to go ahead with its scheduled 6.30pm and 10.30pm programmes after receiving the news hours earlier.

Staff were told yesterday that the final BBC Look East programme from the Cambridge office will be aired on December 16, with many journalists and production staff set to lose their jobs.

Viewers instead received broadcasts from Norwich last night, from where programmes will be permanently aired after next month.

Cambridge BBC journalist Mousumi Bakshi tweeted yesterday: 'Team, we have decided not to broadcast tonight. For reasons detailed below. Please accept our sincere apologies.

'We were split. Were here to serve you and we love broadcasting live.

'But thats not possible tonight. Well sup on the red bull and come back tomorrow, with wings on.'

Cambridge BBC journalist Mousumi Bakshi yesterday apologised after the office decided not to go ahead with its scheduled 6.30pm and 10.30pm programmes

The BBC has said it needs to save 285million in response to the announcement in January that the licence fee will be frozen for the next two years

A member of staff in the Cambridge office said the tech team took the news the hardest, while there were lots of tears as the news of the forthcoming redundancies sank in.

The BBC employee, who did not want to be named, said: 'Our young, talented and loyal tech team took the news the hardest.

'There were many tears, as colleagues and friends hugged and held hands as the news sank in that going forward there will be no technical roles at all based in the Cambridge building.

'Many others will have to re-apply for their own jobs and compete with colleagues. Staff took time to digest the news. We were walking around like zombies. We needed to talk, process what had happened.

'No one wanted to let our viewers down, but the decision was taken that it wouldnt be fair on those whose posts are closing, to output the programme under such stressful and emotional conditions.

'The decision was taken after much deliberation and discussion on all sides. After all, after mid-December the programme will come from Norwich anyway.'

The staff member added that the 'close-knit, hardworking team' was 'being ripped apart in the cruellest way possible'.

They continued: 'We have fewer resources than almost any other regional news programme and yet we are the ones at risk of losing our jobs.

'We are like a family and have been there to support each other, but the next few weeks and months will be very difficult for us all. We are sad for our loyal audiences who we feel will be underserved and short-changed in the future.

'After five months and five days of worry, sleepless nights, financial uncertainty, not knowing if we have the money to pay the bills, this was yet another slap in the face and a disappointment for those who were hoping they had a future in the brave new "digital" world.

'Some of us left wondering for all that time if we needed to move, pull our children out of school.'

A spokesperson for the BBC refused to deny the reasoning for the programme being pulled last night.

A statement said: 'BBC Look East from Cambridge didnt put out programmes last night, instead viewers received broadcasts from Norwich.

'The Cambridge programme will return tonight then on December 16th we are closing the service.'

It comes as Culture minister Julia Lopez today said the Government is 'disappointed' with the BBC's plans to make 'extensive' cuts to local radio.

Culture minister Julia Lopez pictured giving evidence to the Lords Communications and Digital Committee earlier this year

The BBC announced plans yesterday for its local radio stations to share more content and broadcast less programming unique to their area, with the proposals resulting in the loss of 48 jobs overall.

After 2pm on weekdays, the BBC will produce 18 afternoon programmes across England that will be shared between its 39 stations.

Ten local programmes will then be shared between 6-10pm on weekdays, across the day on Saturday and on Sunday mornings, serving areas broadly mirroring the existing local TV areas.

Answering an urgent question in the Commons on Tuesday, Ms Lopez said: 'Overall, we do have concerns about the proposals, which we were not given notice of.

'I want to take this opportunity to stress that the BBC is rightly operationally and editorially independent from the Government, and decisions on service delivery are ultimately a matter for them.

'However, the Government is disappointed that the BBC is reportedly planning to make such extensive cuts to its local radio output.

She added: 'For those older residents living in rural areas, it can be a particular lifeline. The BBC must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK.

'We recognise in the current fiscal context the BBC, like other organisations, is facing difficult financial decisions.

'But we are also concerned that the BBC is making such far-reaching decisions, particularly about its local news provision, without setting out further detail on how it will impact its audiences and the communities it serves.'

Sir Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, also told the Commons: 'The public trust local radio, like they dont trust Newsnight or the Today programme.

'Frankly, because they dont listen to it and they trust local radio. If its about money, then take half a million pounds out of Gary Linekers salary or one of the others who earn extortionate salaries.'

Mr Lineker was the BBCs top earning on-air talent in 2021/22 with a salary of between 1,350,000 and 1,354,999.

The BBC has said it needs to save 285million in response to the announcement in January that the licence fee will be frozen for the next two years.

The proposals were announced as part of its new strategy, announced in May, to create a 'modern, digital-led' broadcaster.

It said the changes will see around 19million 'reprioritised' from broadcast services towards online and multi-media production.

BBC Radio Humberside journalist Andy Comfort criticised the move, writing on Twitter that staff were 'stunned and upset'.

Labour MP Emma Hardy told the Commons local radio 'cannot call itself local when it stops being local after 2pm'.

Conservative chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee Julian Knight also spoke of the 'very real concerns over potential loss of local distinctiveness through these proposed cuts'.

He added: 'These cuts make reforms to radio prominence absolutely crucial and will the minister quash growing rumours that the main potential vehicle for such reforms, the Media Bill, is set to be shelved or delayed in any way.'
The zoo confirmed animals are back in their enclosures and it will open as usual

Police attended the scene but left lionkeepers to get animals back into captivity

Five lions have escaped their enclosure at Sydney's Taronga Zoo, just metres from where tourists were sleeping in tents as part of the 'Roar and Snore' experience.

Alarms sounded out across the zoo just before 7.30am on Wednesday as a Code One alert was issued, all staff were ordered to rush to a 'safe haven' away from the roaming animals, and police arrived.

Code One alarms are reserved for when a 'dangerous animal' has escaped or is causing an alarming situation.

It is unclear how the lions, who were eventually all caught, escaped the enclosure.

Helicopter footage showed zookeepers and dozens of police inside the lion enclosure inspecting what appeared to be a hole in the fence.

Taronga Zoo said in a statement it would open as normal today.

'An emergency situation occurred this morning at Taronga Zoo when five lions were located outside of their enclosure,' the zoo said.

'The zoo has strict safety protocols in place for such an incident. All persons onsite were moved to safe zones and there are no injuries to guests or staff.

'All animals are now in their exhibit and are being closely monitored by zoo staff. The zoo will open as normal today. Further details will be provided when possible.'

Police confirmed the zoo was 'managing the situation on its own'.

The lions escaped their enclosure - not far from the zoo's ferry terminal - before the tourist attraction opened its gates for the day, meaning only workers were present.

Taronga Zoo's James Dalziel said the Code One was the zoo's highest alert but that it was 'all over pretty quickly'.

Police and zoo workers were seen checking the fencelines at the lion's Savannah enclosure (above)

He would not confirm whether tranquilizer darts were used but said 'highly trained staff' had been involved in the lions' recapture.

Visitors from Gloucestershire, UK, Kirsty, Stuart and Isabelle McLaren said they weren't alarmed because they had the all clear to roam the entire zoo once it opened at 9.30am.

'We're just here to see the koalas,' Kirsty said.

The chimpanzees, giraffes and zebras exhibits are just metres away from the lion enclosure.

The zoo's popular Roar and Snore attraction, where people are able to sleep in luxury tents and see the animals at night and in the early morning, is also close by.

The Taronga Zoo Sydney welcomed a litter of five African lion cubs to its Savannah enclosure in August.

Four lions have escaped their enclosure at Sydney's Taronga Zoo (pictured, police seen at the fence near the lion viewing area)
One person is dead and another four are injured after a gunman opened fire in Denver, Colorado, on Tuesday afternoon.

The shooting occurred at the 1400 block of Verbena Street and the Colfax neighborhood, police stated in a 2:19pm tweet.

Police previously said there were six victims, but the number has since been updated to five.

One person was pronounced dead at the scene. Four other victims were transported to a local hospital. Three of them were in critical condition.

Police have not arrested the suspect but believe a dark SUV parked nearby is associated with the gunman.

The Denver Police Department is asking anyone with information to call them at 720-913-7867.

One person is dead after a shooting occurred at the 1400 block of Verbena and the Colfax neighborhood. Pictured: Neighborhood above

Police said five victims have been located and four have been transported to a local hospital
When Matt Hancock meets his first campmate in the Australian jungle, they will already share an unlikely bond: Both ended up on the front pages for kissing someone other than their partner.

Comedian Seann Walsh succumbed to the Strictly curse in October 2018 when he was pictured kissing his Russian dance partner Katya Jones, who was married at the time.

It ended his five-year relationship with actress Rebecca Humphries, while Miss Joness marriage to former Strictly Come Dancing professional Neil Jones broke down ten months later.

Miss Humphries accused Walsh of repeatedly calling her a psycho when she confronted him after suspecting something was going on.

Although Walsh and Miss Jones, pictured, apologised via the media, she said she did not get a personal apology from them at the time.

When Matt Hancock (pictured) meets his first campmate in the Australian jungle, they will already share an unlikely bond: Both ended up on the front pages for kissing someone other than their partner

Mr Hancock was forced to quit as health secretary in June 2021 after he was pictured breaking his own lockdown rules and kissing his aide Gina Coladangelo

Comedian Seann Walsh (pictured) succumbed to the Strictly curse in October 2018 when he was pictured kissing his Russian dance partner Katya Jones, who was married at the time

Walsh, 36, later admitted that cheating on his former girlfriend was a form of abuse and revealed he was in therapy and had cut the booze.

Earlier this year, he expressed regret at hurting Miss Humphries and said he was still unable to watch Strictly to this day because it messes my head up.

He added: I have such amazing memories of being on that show and then the repercussions of that kiss, it was crazy... One day I hope I can look back at that fondly, that first few weeks, because it was the best time of my life.

Mr Hancock was forced to quit as health secretary in June 2021 after he was pictured breaking his own lockdown rules and kissing his aide Gina Coladangelo.

He quickly separated from his wife of 15 years, Martha, while Miss Coladangelo separated from her husband Oliver Tress. Mr Hancock and Miss Coladangelo are still in a relationship.
The cap on social care costs promised by the Government could be delayed until after the next election, it emerged last night.

As part of plans to fill a 50billion black hole in the public finances, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Health Secretary Steve Barclay are understood to have approved a postponement of at least a year.

The two men also agreed that the NHS budget would be 'protected' from cuts.

However, hospitals will be asked to find 'efficiencies' to help fund work to cut the record waiting list, which has topped seven million.

As part of plans to fill a 50billion black hole in the public finances, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (pictured) and Health Secretary Steve Barclay are understood to have approved a postponement of at least a year

A one-year delay on the original start point would entail October 2024  close to the final date possible for the next election. But Whitehall sources said it might be pushed out further as ministers scramble to find savings.

One source pointed out that the health and social care levy, which was supposed to help pay for the care cap, has since been scrapped. They added: 'It's looking like at least a one-year postponement for now, but that could slip further by the time we get to the Budget on November 17.'

Further delay would mean the Government would fail to deliver on its 2019 manifesto pledge that 'nobody needing care should be forced to sell their home to pay for it'.

Mr Sunak and Mr Hunt are engaged in a series of behind-the-scenes meetings with ministers about filling the 50billion expected deficit

Former pensions minister Ros Altmann said it was 'another betrayal of older people'. The row came as:

Rishi Sunak warned the Cabinet that the NHS faced a 'challenging winter';

Downing Street dropped a target to cut 91,000 jobs from the Civil Service;

Tory MPs warned that raising taxes to fill the hole in the public finances risked 'shrinking the economy';

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace appeared to accept boosting his budget to 3 per cent of GDP might be dropped;

A former deputy governor of the Bank of England said a windfall tax on the banks could raise tens of billions;

Unions warned they would resist proposals to limit public sector pay rises to 2 per cent next year.

Mr Sunak and Mr Hunt are engaged in a series of behind-the-scenes meetings with ministers about filling the 50billion expected deficit.

The Chancellor is targeting 25billion in spending cuts and 25billion in tax rises and on Monday the Treasury warned that 'everybody' faced tax rises. Sources said a planned four-year freeze in income tax thresholds would now last for six years, dragging millions of workers into higher tax bands.

The social care cap is designed to limit the amount anyone will have to pay for care in later life to 86,000.

Delaying it for a year would save the Treasury 1billion, with savings of up to 3billion a year possible if it is postponed for longer.

Baroness Altmann said: 'Here we are again. The Cameron government legislated for a cap and it never happened. Then Boris said the problem was fixed and people would not have to sell their homes. Well it isn't fixed, and it looks like it is about to be put in the 'too difficult' box again.'

Caroline Abrahams, of the charity Age UK, said ditching the cap would 'leave Boris Johnson's promises on social care in shreds'.

She added: 'In the last year the cap was substantially weakened by the Government's decision to invest less money in it, so if its implementation is now going to be postponed it will feel like the whole idea is being kicked into the long grass. That will be a bitter disappointment to many older people who pay for their own care and for their families.'
He had high cheekbones, some freckles, small dark eyes and fair-colored skin

DNA was combined with machine learning to predict what he looked like

His remains were uncovered in 1994 and buried in a 'skull and crossbones' orientation, which people thought would keep him rising from the dead

This was due to the disease causing his skin to turn a pale yellow, his eyes red and swollen and he may have had bloodstains around his mouth from coughing

A 19th-century Connecticut man who died of tuberculosis was thought to be vampire during the 1800s

The face of a Connecticut farmer thought to be a vampire when he died of tuberculosis in the 19th century has been seen for the first time since his corpse was mutilated and tossed into a grave.

The disease turns people's skin a pale yellow, their eyes become red and swollen and they sometimes have bloodstains around their mouth from coughing, which was believed to be signs of the undead about 200 years ago.

The man's skeleton, buried in a casket with 'JB55' engraved on it, was used to performed a DNA analysis that was fed to a machine learning system to predict what he may have looked like before being riddled with the disease.

The results showed he had fair skin, brown or hazel eyes, brown or black hair and some freckles.

The man, a farmer who lived in Connecticut, died of tuberculosis in the 19th century, which led people to believe he was a vampire. Researches used DNA from his bones to predict what he may have looked like before he was infected

A study detailing JB55's DNA analysis in 2019 led to uncovering his true identity.

This research built on the original 1994 discovery, but was able to access the latest technologies to find historical records for 'John Barber' and determine he was 55 years old when he died.

The team of American researchers identified JB55 had a chronic lung infection after analyzing his ribs, which was an infectious disease running rampant in the 1800s.

The highly contagious bacterial infection left sufferers pale, gaunt and coughing up blood, according to author and folklorist Michael Bell.

'The emaciated figure strikes one with terror,' recounted an 18th-century doctor quoted by Bell in a 2013 essay in the journal Kritikos. 'The forehead covered with drops of sweat. The cheeks . . . a livid crimson. The eyes sunk. . . . The breath offensive, quick and laborious.'

When JB55 was found in the casket, his remains were in a 'skull and crossbones' orientation, which was believed to keep him from rising from the dead.

When JB55 was found in the casket, his remains were in a 'skull and crossbones' orientation, which was believed to keep him from rising from the dead

The latest research reconstructed the man's face into a 3D model (pictured)

The tale of how this man was deemed a vampire started with the famous Jewett City vampires, who were a large family living in the same town of Griswold - Jewett City was a small borough.

The family lost multiple males to tuberculosis over a nine-year time frame and when one of the younger sons became infected, the family was convinced they were plagued by vampires.

The family started disinterring the dead, burning and reburying their remains.

And when the young boy recovered, the surviving family members believed the practice had worked.

Such vampire folklore attributed the high number of deaths resulting from disease to vampires rising from the dead and feeding on living relatives, reads the 2019 study led by the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory.

In attempts to stop the vampire epidemic, the body of a diseased individual was often exhumed and examined.

The presence of certain characteristics (e.g., blood draining from the mouth and a bloated chest), while now known to be associated with the natural process of decomposition, were mistaken for indications of life.

They were able to upload a 3D model of his skull, allowing the machine learning system to predict what he may have looked like

The team of American researchers identified JB55 had a chronic lung infection after analyzing his ribs (pictured), which was an infectious disease running rampant in the 1800s

The DNA used to reconstruct JB55s face was taken from femoral bone powder, but Parabon NanoLabs, which conducted the facial reconstruction, notes that old remains are sometimes difficult to work with and used three approaches during testing.

This included shotgun sequencing, which breaks up the genome into small DNA fragments that are sequenced individually.

The others were targeting the whole human genome, and targeting ~850,000 custom Single nucleotide polymorphisms, frequently called SNPs, which are the most common type of genetic variation among people.

Once the team was able to create a complete genetic profile, they applied machine learning models to predict what JB55 looked like when he walked the Earth about 200 years ago.
The 229-foot-tall took off at 9:41am ET from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and delivered a payload for the US Department of Defense

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SpaceX has successfully launched its Falcon Heavy - the world's most powerful operational rocket- for the first time in three years in a mission that hauled US military satellites into space.

This rocket is 229 feet tall, equivalent to three Falcon 9 rockets stacked on top of each other, and features 27 Merlin engines, while Falcon 9 has just nine.

The launch pad was cloaked in a thick layer of fog, making it near impossible to see the rocket, but the Falcon Heavy light up the area when it ignited its engines and released about five million pounds of thrust before shooting off around 9:41am ET from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

However, the crowd at the launch site could not even see the pad three miles away, but heard the roar of the 27 first-stage engines.

The rocket's two side boosters landed in synchrony on adjacent concrete slabs along Florida's east coast roughly eight minutes after liftoff - and a sonic boom was heard when the pair touched down.

SpaceX plans to use this massive rocket to send a lander to the moon in 2023, ahead of the epic 2025 lunar landing that will see the first woman and person of color walk on the surface - the first time humans have been back in 50 years.

A thick blanket of fog cloaked the launch pad Tuesday morning, as SpaceX's Falcon Heavy stood tall waiting for the countdown clock to hit zero

The Falcon Heavy ignited its 27 engines and soared off into space at 9:41am ET to deliver satellites for the US military

The last mission to the moon was December 1972 during Apollo 17, which was also a 12-day stint in space that saw the longest space walk, longest lunar landing and largest lunar samples brought back to Earth.

Apollo 17 used the Saturn V SA-512 rocket, which produced 7.6 millions pounds of thrust- much more than the Falcon Heavy released Tuesday morning.

The joint SpaceX and Space Force teams began fueling the rocket with more than 1,400 tons of propellant at 8:48am ET. It burns about more than seven tons per second.

The rocket hit Max Q, the moment of peak mechanical stress on a rocket, at one minute and 11 seconds into flight and then at two minutes and 24 seconds, its side booster engine cutoff.

Approximately four seconds later, the side boosters separated from the core stage and the fairing deployed when the mission hit four minutes and 18 seconds.

And both boosters were back on the ground eight minutes and 11 seconds after liftoff.

Falcon Heavy's boosters are reusable, but the central core splashed down into the ocean and is lost forever - but this is the standard for rockets as per the Space Force's high-performance requirement for this mission.

The rocket's maiden voyage in 2018 launched CEO Elon Musk's cherry red Tesla Roadster into space - and it is still floating around to this day.

The two other missions were conducted in 2019, but these saw satellites packed inside the capsule.

The first launched a telecommunication satellite into orbit for Saudi Arabia-based Arabsat, and the other delivered a batch of experimental satellites for the US Department of Defense.

The rocket took off toward space with a camera attached to the booster, allowing the world to take the journey with it

The rocket hit Max Q, the moment of peak mechanical stress on a rocket, at one minute and 11 seconds into flight and then at two minutes and 24 seconds, its side booster engine cutoff

A camera on the launch pad (left) highlights the fog blanketing Cape Canaveral, Florida Tuesday morning, but all systems were a go for launch and weather was suitable for flight

The rocket boasts three reusable cores, each containing nine Merlin engines for a whopping total of 28 and although it is not as powerful as NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), it still holds the title for the most powerful in operation - the American space agency has yet to launch the SLS.

This mission was previously scheduled to liftoff in 2020, but an issue with the payload pushed it back - but details of what went wrong have not been revealed.

Falcon Heavy was chosen by NASA over the summer to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in 2026, which will explore the mysterious of dark matter, dark energy and hunt for exoplanets.

Former Administrator Jim Bridenstine also thought highly of the rocket when he was at the helm of NASA - in 2019 he said Falcon Heavy could take humans to the moon, and one day to Mars.

SpaceX is part of the epic return to the moon, but is using its massive Starship instead of the Falcon Heavy.

The Artemis mission is on hold at the moment, as the the first phase has been delayed several times due to technical and weather issues.

The entire mission last just a little over eight minutes. The two boosters made their way back to Earth and landed simultaneously on the return pad

However, SpaceX will eventually see its Starship Human Landing System (HLS) soar to the dark side of the moon to ensure it will be safe for the astronauts.

Once data gives NASA the green light, it will send astronauts aboard the Orion capsule to dock with the HLS.

Two crew members will then transfer to the Starship and head to their landing target.

However, the Starship rocket has yet to make its first suborbital flight - it has been grounded for more than a year due to an environmental review being conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration.

NASA announced Monday that SpaceX is now targeting early December to launch its giant Starship rocket system into orbit for the first time.

'We track four major Starship flights. The first one here is coming up in December, part of early December,' Mark Kirasich, a senior NASA official overseeing development of the agency's Artemis moon program, said during a live-streamed NASA Advisory Council meeting.

The Super Heavy booster would return to land, while the orbital Starship spacecraft would re-enter Earth's atmosphere roughly 90 minutes later to splashdown dozens of miles off a Hawaiian coast, according to regulatory documents SpaceX filed last year.

Further ground tests with the rocket and regulatory reviews could delay the debut orbital mission beyond December.
It is decentralized, meaning no single person, company or sever is running it

Launched in 2016, the open-source platform is collection of self-hosted services

Following Elon Musk's controversial takeover of Twitter, the platform's users seem to be fleeing in favour of a little-known rival.

Mastodon  named after the extinct elephant-like mammal  is a free, open-source platform that has microblogging features similar to Twitter.

It is decentralized, meaning there is no single person, company or sever running it, so it is seen by fans as a more democratic alternative.

According to Mastodon, it gained more than 70,000 new sign-ups on Friday, the day after Musk finalised his $44 billion takeover of Twitter.

Mastodon may be benefiting from a wave of outrage following Musk's controversial actions.

Since becoming owner, Musk has wasted no time making significant changes to Twitter, including firing top execs and dissolving the board of directors.

He's also reportedly going to make Twitter users pay $20 (17) per month to have a blue tick next to their account name.

Mastodon - named after the extinct elephant-like mammal (depicted here in this promo shot) - is decentralized, meaning there is no single person, company or sever running it

Pictured is the user interface of Mastodon, the free, open-source platform founded in 2016 by German Eugen Rochko

WHAT IS MASTODON? Mastodon, named after the extinct mammal, is a free, open-source platform that has microblogging features similar to Twitter. Each Mastodon post has a 500 character limit and its version of tweets are called Toots. Users can also set a post to private, visible to select people, which is a feature not available on Twitter. Mastadon is actually free open-source software, that groups can run and share to the main app and website. Some have Twitter-like microblogging features, others don't. It launched In March 2016, and is a collection of self-hosted social services, not a single, central platform like Twitter or Facebook. When you sign up, you select a network to join, each with its own rules and guidelines. Although similar to Twitter in appearance, the decentralised social network actually more like Discord. Users have to find specific Mastodon 'instances' to join, rather than everyone being in the same place. While each user is a member of the specific community, they can interoperate as a federal social network - so each group can interact with other groups. Advertisement

The official Mastodon account posted an update on Twitter.

'For anyone wondering, Mastodon got over 70K sign-ups yesterday [Friday, October 28] alone,' it wrote.

'Let's keep the momentum going! The "public square" of the web must not belong to any one person or corporation!'

MailOnline has asked Mastodon for official sign-up figures in the days since.

According to Eugen Rochko, Mastodon's German-born founder and CEO, the exact number of sign-ups on Friday was 70,849, up from 10,801 the day prior.

Mastodon claims to offer 'a vision of social media that cannot be bought and owned by any billionaire' - a pointed dig at Twitter owner Elon Musk, who is the richest person on the planet with a net worth of more than $210billion (180billion).

Mastodon says: 'Your ability to communicate online should not be at the whims of a single commercial company.'

Launched in March 2016, Mastodon is not a single website like Twitter but a network of users in independent communities that can set up their own guidelines.

Like Twitter, users can make profiles, follow other users and post messages, images or videos, but it does not track users' data to sell to advertisers.

Although its appearance is similar to Twitter, the decentralised social network actually has more in common with Discord, in that users have to find specific Mastodon 'instances' to join.

The network has a 500-character limit on 'toots'  its version of tweets  and allows users to set posts to private, which Twitter does not.

Mastodon also has a chronological, ad-free, non-algorithmic approach to its feed  different from Twitter.

According to app intelligence firm Sensor Tower, the Mastodon app was installed 91,000 times between October 28-30.

That's up 658 per cent compared with the 12,000 installs from the prior three days (October 25-27), TechCrunch reports.

Mastodon's app has also moved up to 21st in the 'social networking' category on the US App Store, although it's still yet to break into the top overall iPhone apps chart.

However, the influx of new users caused a processing delay for Mastodon due to the need for more powerful hardware, Rochko has admitted.

Mastodon claims to offer 'a vision of social media that cannot be bought and owned by any billionaire'

Elon Musk, the world's richest person with a net worth of more than $210billion (180billion), completed his purchase of Twitter on Thursday following protracted legal battle and months of uncertainty

Since finalising the takeover, Musk changed his Twitter profile description to 'Chief Twit' and updated his location to 'Twitter HQ'

TWITTER USERS ARE LOSING FOLLOWERS AFTER TAKEOVER Multiple Twitter users have posted that they've been losing followers since the $44 billion (38 billion) takeover was completed on Thursday. It's possible people are losing Twitter followers  described as 'The Great Purge' by one user  because users are deactivating their accounts in protest at Musk's purchase. Another possibility is that Musk has already got to work at reducing the number of bots on the platform, said to make up five per cent of all user accounts. On Friday, Star Wars actor Mark Hamill said he'd lost almost 6,000 followers in the last three days. Read more Advertisement

It's already thought that people have been fleeing Twitter following Musk's takeover, although the US platform is yet to reveal any official figures.

However, after news broke last week, users started to notice that their follower counts were drastically depleting.

Musk completed his purchase last Thursday following protracted legal battle and months of uncertainty and U-turns.

After finally completing the deal, Musk started his reign of Twitter in audacious fashion, by immediately firing some of Twitter's top executives at its San Francisco HQ on Thursday.

Within hours of taking the keys, he fired CEO Parag Agrawal and top counsel Vijaya Gadde  the woman responsible for banning President Trump after the January 6 riots last year  as well as CFO Ned Segal.

Musk said in May he would reverse Twitter's ban on Donald Trump, whose account was removed after the attack on the US Capitol.

Musk had previously accused the fired Twitter execs of misleading him and Twitter investors over the number of fake 'bot' accounts on the platform.

Agrawal and Segal were in Twitter's headquarters when the deal closed and were escorted out, according to people familiar with the matter.

Musk signaled the start of his ownership by tweeting 'the bird is freed', in reference to the Twitter logo, followed a few hours later by 'let the good times roll'.

Musk, who has called himself a 'free speech absolutist', wants Twitter to enforce fewer limits on content that can be posted.

However, he's also said he wants to prevent the platform from becoming an echo chamber for hate and division.

Other goals include wanting to 'defeat' spam bots on Twitter and make the algorithms that determine how content is presented to its users publicly available.

Before closing the deal, Musk walked into Twitter's headquarters last Wednesday with a big grin and a porcelain sink, subsequently tweeting 'let that sink in'.

He also changed his Twitter profile description to 'Chief Twit'.
Ahead of the "The Witcher" season three release, Netflix already announced that the beloved show is returning for its fourth season. However, there are some changes with the casting.

We would be missing Henry Cavill as Geralth of Rivia in the fourth season as the actor exits the show. He is passing the role to Liam Hemsworth, who says he's "over the moon about the opportunity to play Geralt of Rivia," as per The Verge.

Liam Hemsworth is Elated to Play Geralt of Rivia

Hemsworth is taking over the role of Geralt of Rivia in "The Witcher" season four. Both actors, Cavill and Hemsworth, issued a statement in their social media accounts regarding the matter.

"My journey as Geralt of Rivia has been filled with both monsters and adventures, and alas, I will be laying down my medallion and my swords for Season 4," Cavill posted on Instagram.

He further added that "the fantastic Mr. Liam Hemsworth" will be taking over the lead role of the White Wolf. He is then passing the role to the actor with great respect. Likewise, he expressed his enthusiasm to see the actor take over the role.

Meanwhile, Hemsworth is elated to play Geralt of Rivia, saying "Henry Cavill has been an incredible Geralt, and I'm honored that he's handing me the reins and allowing me to take up the White Wolf's blades for the next chapter of his adventure."

He said that he's been a fan of Cavill for years and he was inspired by what the actor brought to the characters

Hemsworth said that he is excited to step into "The Witcher" world despite having some big boots to fill.

Since "The Witcher" debuted in December 2019, Cavill has played the role of the monster hunter Geralt.

He continued to play the role until the show's upcoming third season, which is set to arrive this summer 2023.

Read Also: Next The Witcher Game Has Been Officially Announced by CD Projekt

Henry Cavill Will Return to Play Superman

The news of Cavill leaving "The Witcher" comes after the announcement that the actor would be returning as Superman in the DCEU, according to IGN.

While there is no confirmation if the two decisions are connected, it is highly possible that the actor's departure from the Netflix's show is because of his upcoming commitments to play Superman.

The actor recently made a cameo appearance as the iconic Superman in the film "Black Adam" starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

During the time that Cavill played the role of Geralt, the actor displayed excellent performance proving that he is the perfect casting choice for the character.

Over the years, "The Witcher" has become one of the flagship franchise of Netflix and Cavill's performance is one the contributory factors to the success of the series.

While the third season is set to arrive in summer 2023, the streaming platform will be releasing a four-part prequel series starring Michelle Yeoh, "The Witcher: Blood Origin," on Christmas Day.

Similarly, with stellar credentials, Hemsworth is expected is bring justice to the role of Geralt. The actor is well known for playing Gale Hawthorne in "Hunger Games." He also starred in the movies "The Last Song," and "Independence Day: Resurgence."

Hemsworth received an Emmy nomination for 2020's "Most Dangerous Game." He is also an outspoken fan of "The Witcher."

Related Article: 'The Witcher: Blood Origin' to Premiere on Netflix on Christmas Day
She tries a flaming cocktail in the restaurant and takes in 'impressive' views of the city from the rooftop

The 130-room Mama Shelter Lisboa is set right around the corner from Lisbon's buzzy Principe Real district

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'I think we compete with the sex shops here,' a staff member on the front desk tells me.

It's not something you'd expect to hear in a hotel lobby, but then Mama Shelter Lisboa isn't your typical hotel. He's referring to the adult toys on display in the glass cases by the check-in desk, which have been selling very well since the 130-room hotel opened in Lisbon earlier this year.

The hotel is based right around the corner from the buzzy, bar-heavy Principe Real district - one of Lisbon's most vibrant neighbourhoods. It's among the latest additions to the Parisian Mama Shelter chain, established by Serge Trigano - whose father co-founded Club Med, the brand behind all-inclusive resort villages around the world - and his sons Jeremie and Benjamin in 2008.

Ailbhe MacMahon checks in to Mama Shelter Lisboa, a new hotel set beside Lisbon's Principe Real district, one of the city's most vibrant neighbourhoods

The display cases in the hotel lobby display adult toys (left) that are up for sale. Mama Shelter hotels are said to be known for 'generosity, nurturing hospitality and just a sprinkling of cheekiness'. On the right is the hotel's exterior

But Club Med this is not. ''Mama' quickly became synonymous with generosity, nurturing hospitality and just a sprinkling of cheekiness,' the brand explains.

The adult toys aren't the only things for sale in the lobby - you can also buy the contents of your bedroom, from your pillow down to your toothbrush holder.

The mattress and bed frame can also be bought online.

Another thing for sale is the plastic masks in the room - mine, a 'Medium Mama' on the sixth floor, comes equipped with a Batman mask and a Star Wars stormtrooper mask.

A Large Mama guest room. The hotel is part of the Parisian Mama Shelter chain, established by Serge Trigano - whose father co-founded Club Med - and his sons Jeremie and Benjamin in 2008

The masks are in keeping with the room's decor - it's playful, painted in punchy colours and prints, with bedside tables that look like drafts and backgammon board games and a giant ceramic leaf over the headboard.

It sets out to be sustainable too - a bar of soap stamped with the words 'mama says have it all' doubles up as shampoo to cut down on waste.

On the downside, the room is lacking in storage space, but with rates starting from around 70 a night, it's serious value for money.

Plus, it's an easy walk to some of the Portuguese capital's hidden gems.

Ailbhe's Medium Mama guest room (pictured) is 'playful' and 'painted in punchy colours and prints'

Bedrooms come equipped with plastic masks, such as Batman masks, that guests can purchase

On the left is one of the stylish ensuite bathrooms. You can buy the contents of your bedroom in the lobby, down to your toothbrush holder, Ailbhe reveals. Rooms have bedside tables that look like drafts and backgammon boards, such as the one pictured right

Ailbhe visits Pavilhao Chines, pictured, a former grocery shop that's been transformed into a peculiar cocktail bar. You need to ring a doorbell to enter, she reveals. Picture courtesy of Creative Commons

Pictured above is the Arpad Szenes-Vieira da Silva Foundation, a silk-factory-turned-art-gallery near the hotel

I spend an afternoon mooching from painting to painting at the Arpad Szenes-Vieira da Silva Foundation, a nearby art gallery in a former silk factory, before checking out the bars of Principe Reale.

A highlight is Pavilhao Chines, a former grocery shop that's been transformed into a peculiar cocktail bar filled with wartime figurines - you need to ring the doorbell to enter. One of the old-school waiters, dressed in a red waistcoat, brings me a pisco sour with a flourish.

Down the road, there's Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara, a lookout that offers a beautiful panorama of Lisbon's hills.

Evening has fallen when I stop by, and there's a DJ playing a set before a crowd, the pinpricks of lights all over the city making for an atmospheric backdrop.

The hottest contender for offering the best views in Lisbon, however, has got to be the rooftop of Mama Shelter.

Enrique Garcia's 1980s hit Dr Beat is playing as I climb the stairs to the open-air bar, which is heaving with stylish revellers.

Above is Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara, a lookout that offers a beautiful panorama of Lisbon's hills. Ailbhe writes: 'Evening has fallen when I stop by, and there's a DJ playing a set before a crowd, the pinpricks of lights all over the city making for an atmospheric backdrop'

Mama Shelter's rooftop, pictured, is the 'hottest contender for offering the best views in Lisbon', according to Ailbhe

The rooftop bar comes complete with striped parasols, fuzzball tables, and an impressive 360-degree vista

Mama Shelter's rooftop offers a view of the 25 de Abril Bridge (silhouetted in the background), which, at a glance, looks near identical to San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge

I'm faced by striped parasols, fuzzball tables, and an impressive 360-degree vista that takes in everything from the expanse of the sea to the ketchup-red 25 de Abril Bridge, which, at a glance, looks near identical to San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge.

I finish the night downstairs, slotting into a table at the Mama Shelter restaurant. The lights are dimmed and the place is humming.

As for the interiors, it's a minimalist's nightmare - patterns and textures cover every surface, one wall is coated in a pink shell pattern, models of multicoloured fish hang from the ceiling, and old Betty Boop cartoons play on TV screens.

Patterns and textures cover every surface in Mama Shelter's ground-floor bar-restaurant (pictured)

Ailbhe dines on tangy salmon ceviche and tries a flaming Pedro Alvares Cabral cocktail in the Mama Shelter restaurant

One of the colourful dishes at Mama Shelter Lisboa

The food is colourful to match, with dishes such as milky burrata splashed with pesto and tangy salmon ceviche topped with lime and avocado cream.

I take our Brazilian waiter Hugo's advice and order the Pedro Alvares Cabral cocktail, a heady medley of rum, agave syrup and mint.

When the drink is delivered to our table, it's alight, with flames bursting out of a halved passion fruit. It seems a fitting drink to enjoy at Mama Shelter - rather than offering an escape from the firecracker energy of Lisbon, it's a hotel that blazes bright enough to match it.
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Happening upon one of Tirees wide, white-sand beaches rouses the same feelings as when humans unexpectedly exhibit lovely smiles  joy and awe.

Tiree (tie-ree) is the most westerly island of Scotlands Inner Hebrides, with no land between here and Canada. Its just over 30 square miles in size and populated by just 650 people.

Yet much distraction awaits. There are established surfing and windsurfing scenes in this Hawaii of the North. Visitors can also paddleboard in calmer coves.

Exotic: Richard Mellor travels to the Isle of Tiree (pictured), the most westerly island of Scotlands Inner Hebrides

Richard says Tirees white-sand beaches rouse feelings of 'joy and awe'. Pictured is Caolas Beach

This mesmerising picture shows boats berthed on Tiree at Scarinish harbour

Tiree Sea Tours runs a variety of boat trips: watching for whales, porpoises and basking sharks; visiting the puffin-packed island of Lunga; and circumnavigating Iona (from 55 pp, tireeseatours.co.uk).

Alas, an Atlantic squall forces the cancellation of my outing. Instead, I rent a bike (from 20 per day, tireefitness.co.uk). With traffic-light roads and few substantial hills, two-wheeling around seemed like it would be a doddle. But the firms thirtysomething founder Will Wright sounds a note of caution.

Do you ride regularly? he asks.

Oh, off and on. The truth: much off, barely any on. Gotcha, Will replies. Well, just to warn you, the wind can be a bit tiring here.

A bit tiring? Try exhausting. Stand still, and Tirees winds merely nag at sleeves; cycle into one, however, and iron-thighed stoicism is required. Nonetheless, Tiree has a mild climate, with more sunshine than almost anywhere else in the UK.

Far out: There's no land between the Isle of Tiree and Canada, reveals Richard

Tiree Sea Tours runs a variety of boat trips: watching for whales, porpoises and basking sharks; visiting the puffin-packed island of Lunga; and circumnavigating Iona (from 55 pp, tireeseatours.co.uk)

Pictured above are three surfers walking on the beach in Tiree's Balephuil Bay

Richard rents a bicycle from tireefitness.co.uk and finds that the strong wind means 'iron-thighed stoicism' is required to make progress

Richard discovers that there are established surfing and windsurfing scenes in the Hawaii of the North (above)

I head first to the most southerly hamlet, Hynish, where a museum describes how, in 1838, engineers daringly erected Scotlands still-tallest lighthouse, Skerryvore, on jagged rocks, 11 nautical miles south-west. The exhibition (free entry, visitscotland.com) has a scale model.

At Loch a Phuill, long-beaked godwits fish, and I watch an oystercatcher from a hide and relish the absence of midges.

Lunch comes courtesy of a Co-op, the islands sole supermarket in its village capital of Scarinish. Everyone I encounter is welcoming, including Janet Bowler, manager of the nearby An Iodhlann history museum (free entry, aniodhlann.org.uk). She describes the islands periods under Pictish, Gaelic and Viking control. The archives recount kelp-trading booms and even a mermaid sighting.

Beyond rocky shores in which grey seals loll, I reach the Ringing Stone. Geologists reckon this boulder  which clangs when struck  rolled over in the Ice Age, but local lore insists it was hurled by a giant on Mull. Should it be removed, so the myth goes, Tiree will vanish into the sea.

Then I find an especially blissful beach, Balephetrish Bay. Aside from one house, two dog-walkers and some sanderlings mining for crabs, its deserted.

Loganair flies from Glasgow to Tiree from 86 return (loganair.co.uk). Pictured above are lobster creels on the island

Richard stays at the Reef Inn where the eight rooms, bar and restaurant 'burst with boutique cool'

The island is just over 30 square miles in size and populated by just 650 people

Richard writes: 'Happening upon one of Tirees wide, white-sand beaches rouses the same feelings as when humans unexpectedly exhibit lovely smiles - joy and awe'

I stay at the Reef Inn, which was opened last year by ex-Londoner Sian Milne. The eight rooms, bar and restaurant burst with boutique cool: pendant lights, succulents, pine floors and bright white walls. The Scandi-style minimalism, Milne says, references those former Norse rulers.

I eat downstairs each night. The highlight is Sundays roast: exquisite beef alongside creamy potatoes and flavourful veg.

Over glasses of locally made Tyree Gin, fellow guest Viv admits this is her seventh visit. I love the sense of being in on a secret, she says. Everyone knows about Skye, Lewis and so on, but who has ever heard of Tiree?
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Whether youd love one last getaway this year or wish to plan a holiday for next year or 2024, there are some great cruises to book now. Here are Caroline Hendrie's pick of the best.

Escape the pre-Christmas hurly-burly at home and salute the sun on a teak deck under acres of billowing white sails in the Caribbean. Star Clippers has announced 15 new yoga-themed cruises on its tall ships this winter, with instructors on board to lead early-morning and late-afternoon sessions.

The four-masted Star Flyers one-week Caribbean Treasure Islands cruise, a round trip from St Maarten on December 17, hops through the British Virgin Islands and visits Anguilla, St Kitts and St Barts. Fares start at 1,530pp excluding flights (starclippers.co.uk).

Uniworld is offering a 16-day voyage through India aboard its luxury riverboat, Ganges Voyager II (pictured), from October 28, 2023

Uniworld's 16-day Ganges Voyager II tour combines a week on the tranquil lower Ganges, sailing from Kolkata, with a luxury private train journey through the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan. Above is one of the bedrooms on Ganges Voyager II

If you prefer a no-fly Advent adventure, you can sail for a week from Liverpool on December 14 from just 485pp on a Festive Spanish City Break.

Youll visit the delightful cities of Vigo, Gijon, La Coruna and Bilbao, where you can feast on churros dipped in hot chocolate and browse the Christmas markets, picking up foodie treats and presents to bring home.

Relax on board your ship Borealis with a swim in the glass-roofed pool. You can also enjoy daily afternoon tea, and shows and dancing in the evenings (iglucruise.com).

Caribbean queen: Star Clippers has announced 15 new yoga-themed cruises on its tall ships this winter, including the four-masted Star Flyer (above)

Star Flyers one-week Caribbean Treasure Islands cruise, a round trip from St Maarten on December 17, will take you to Anguilla, St Kitts and St Barts (pictured)

Enjoy a festive Spanish break onboard Fred Olsen's Borealis (left), departing December 14. Youll visit the cities of Vigo, Gijon, La Coruna and Bilbao (right)

With long-haul travel making a comeback, luxury river cruise line Uniworld has launched its new Exotics Collection, packaging up land tours with river cruises to create longer holidays filled with wow factors.

A 16-day Sacred Ganges & The Maharajas Express tour combines a week on the tranquil lower Ganges, sailing from Kolkata, with a luxury private train journey through the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan. You will visit Mumbai, New Delhi, Agra and the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Ranthambore National Park to hunt for tigers, among other fabulous experiences.

The tour, priced from 15,089pp, excluding flights to India, starts on October 28, 2023 (uniworld.com).

P&O Cruises' Iona will sail on a week-long itinerary to Northern Europe on November 2, 2024. Onboard activities include a trapeze show in the giant SkyDome (pictured)

Above is Iona's impressive exterior

Closer to home, English Holiday Cruises has teamed up with French line CroisiEurope for its first cruise abroad next summer.

Sailing on the intimate hotel barge MS Deborah, with a maximum of 22 passengers, youll explore the quieter reaches of the Seine and Yonne rivers, between Paris and charming Sens in Burgundy.

Highlights include visits to glorious baroque Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte, the village of Barbizon  beloved by 19th Century artists  and Fontainebleau palace.

Prices for six-night cruises departing in July 2023 start at 2,495pp. Travel to the barge is extra (river.englishholidaycruises.co.uk).

Looking further ahead, book now to bag a bargain. P&O has announced its winter 2024/2025 schedule and is offering deals for early bookers including discounts, low deposits and third and fourth guests sailing free.

English Holiday Cruises has teamed up with French line CroisiEurope for its first cruise abroad next summer. Sailing on the intimate hotel barge MS Deborah, youll explore the quieter reaches of the Seine (pictured) and Yonne rivers, between Paris and Burgundy

MS Deborah carries a maximum of 22 passengers. Above is a twin cabin

A weeks Northern Europe round-trip cruise aboard Iona from Southampton on November 2, 2024 starts at 1,042 for up to four people sharing a cabin (fares are from 521pp).

Ashore, you can explore Hamburg, take an excursion to Amsterdam from Rotterdam, visit Belgiums chocolate capital Bruges (from Zeebrugge) and tour Normandy from Le Havre.

On board, youll be kept busy with more than 30 places to eat and drink, including a gin distillery, and eye-popping trapeze shows in the giant SkyDome, movies in the four-screen cinema, fitness classes in the gym and massages and beauty treatments in the spa (pocruises.co.uk).
Gigi Hadid looked incredible on the cover of V Magazine on Monday, slaying a photoshoot for the fashion publication's Supermodel, Superhero issue.

The 27-year-old runway sensation also got to be interviewed by her 'ultimate muse'  the iconic supermodel Helena Christensen, 53.

'When I think back on what allured me to fashion,' Gigi told Helena, 'it was the images. It was the [pioneers] like you.'

Gigi Hadid, 27, looked incredible on the cover of V Magazine on Monday, slaying a photoshoot for the fashion publication's Supermodel, Superhero issue. Clad in a white Chanel romper, the stunner contorted her famous physique for the camera

Hadid rocked her cover shoot from start to finish.

Clad in Chanel, the stunner contorted her famous physique for the camera, striking powerful poses shot after shot.

Leonardo DiCaprio's rumored new girlfriend, placed her hands on her hips and wore a white Chanel romper in the cover photo.

A gold chain cinched her waist, matching a wrist cuff and a rose-shaped purse from the legendary French fashion house.

The top model's flawless makeup accentuated her natural beauty and her famous long blonde locks were blown-out and styled for maximum impact.

The theme of Chanel continued with Gigi's next look as she donned a vermilion leather vest over a black-and-white checkered shirt and bright white shorts.

Rumored romance: Hadid is rumored to be in a romantic relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio (pictured 2020)

Enviable: The mother of one  she shares her two-year-old daughter Khai with ex-partner Zayn Malik, 29  flaunted her enviable thighs and filled her eyes with intensity as her voluminous hair flowed behind her face (pictured Oct. 25, 2022)

A pair of gold cuffs adorned Hadid's wrists, leaving the rest of her slender arms completely bare as she held on to her head.

The mother of one  she shares her two-year-old daughter Khai with ex-partner Zayn Malik, 29  flaunted her enviable thighs and filled her eyes with intensity as her voluminous hair flowed behind her face.

The third look gave Gigi the chance to showcase her latest venture as she sported a dark blue sweater from her own cashmere clothing line called Guest in Residence.

As the brand's creative director, Gigi gave the luxurious blue sweater some edge by designing it to have no right sleeve.

She paired her blue sweater with a gold Chanel necklace with the CC logo prominently hanging down below her outstretched bare arm and killer expression.

Iconic interviewer: The 27-year-old runway sensation also got to be interviewed by her 'ultimate muse'  the iconic supermodel Helena Christensen (pictured in her '90s heyday)

Passion: During her interview with Christensen  a former Victoria's Secret Angel and one of the original supermodels  Gigi opened up about her passion for modeling and the origins of her inspiration (pictured Oct. 25 2022)

During her interview with Christensen  a former Victoria's Secret Angel and one of the original supermodels  Gigi opened up about her passion for modeling and the origins of her inspiration.

'What I really had a connection to was the photographers and image-making,' said Hadid. 'The supermodel view.'

Gigi went on to tell Helena the secret of why Christensen's era of supermodels were superior to Hadid and her contemporaries: 'You guys were the best of the best because you understood your place in an image, which is to bring life to it and make it part of a story.'

The budding fashion designer also offered some advice to aspiring models, telling them to 'look around and be present.'

'Being a model is not about just standing there and being a mannequin,' said Gigi. 'It's really about being a part of the creative process. The more you understand each part of it, the better model you become.'
Jimmy Fallon and Diane Kruger led the celebrities taking their children out to trick-or-treat on Halloween on Monday.

Fallon, 48, dressed casually in a beige sweater and matching slacks while walking from house to house with his wife of almost 15 years Nancy Juvonen and their two girls: nine-year-old Winnie and seven-year-old Frances.

Both girls appeared to be dressed up as cats while their mother bundled up in a puffy dark blue jacket and black pants.

Star-studded spooky night: Jimmy Fallon and Diane Kruger led the celebrities taking their children out to trick-or-treat on Halloween on Monday

The Tonight Show host wore dark shades, and added brown shoes with white trim to his laid back outfit.

He cracked a big smile while walking across one lawn with a pumpkin-shaped candy bucket in hand.

National Treasure star Diane Kruger, 46, didn't leave dressing up to the kids as she donned a dark blue witch's gown.

Though she wasn't wearing it, she carried a pointy black hat with her which she rested on top of her daughter Nova Tennessee's stroller.

Fun: National Treasure star Diane Kruger, 46, didn't leave dressing up to the kids as she donned a dark blue witch's gown

Heading to the next house: Jimmy's daughters were dressed up as cats while their mother bundled up in a puffy dark blue jacket and black pants

Grinning: He cracked a big smile while walking across one lawn with a pumpkin-shaped candy bucket in hand

The two were out in New York City without her longtime beau, and Nova's father, Walking Dead star Norman Reedus.

The 355 star shared a shot of her daughter standing in front of a huge wooden door , waiting to shout out the famous phrase of the evening.

'Papa ???,' Kruger wrote in the caption while tagging Reedus before adding some hearts and the hashtag 'itsbeenalonghalloweenweekend.'

Waiting for a treat: The 355 star Diane shared a shot of her daughter standing in front of a huge wooden door

Vintage outfit: While actress and model Kate Hudson wasn't spotted with her children on Monday night, the 43-year-old looked chic in a yellow top and colorful striped skirt while leaving a party in Brentwood

While actress and model Kate Hudson wasn't spotted with her children on Monday night, the 43-year-old looked chic in a yellow top and colorful striped skirt while leaving a party in Brentwood.

The star carried a ton of bags with her, including a gallon bag full of cut-up green apples.

Red-framed sunglasses protected her eyes from the afternoon sun.

Thick shades: Red-framed sunglasses protected her eyes from the afternoon sun

Out with the family: Alec Baldwin also stepped out with his wife, Hilaria, and their children in New York City

Relaxed outfit: The 64-year-old actor wore a black jacket over a maroon shirt with a pair of gray trousers

Not the full family: They were spotted with five of their seven kids out trick or treating including the new baby Ilaria who was born last month

Alec Baldwin also stepped out with his wife, Hilaria, and their children in New York City - as the actor waits to see if he will face charges in the death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

The 64-year-old actor wore a black jacket over a maroon shirt with a pair of gray trousers. He walked in black dress shoes, and his dark gray hair was brushed off and down to the right.

His better half, 38, wore a plaid green top with tight black leggings and a pair of brown slippers.

They were spotted with five of their seven kids, including the newborn daughter Ilaria, who was born last month.

Hilaria shared some close-up photos of Ilaria, resting comfortably on her chest.

The post comes after it emerged the Santa Fe prosecutor tasked with bringing charges in the fatal on-set shooting of Hutchins has received the sheriff's report and is now preparing to make a decision on who should face prosecution.

Alec was holding the gun when it fired towards Hutchins last October 21. He insists he did not pull the trigger.

For a year, police have been investigating the incident at painstaking pace. Now, they have handed over their final report to DA Mary Carmack-Altwies.

In a statement last week, her office said: 'The District Attorney and her team of investigators and prosecutors will now begin a thorough review of the information and evidence to make a thoughtful, timely decision about whether to bring charges.

'As with all cases that the District Attorney handles, her focus will be on upholding the integrity of the process, enforcing the laws of the state of New Mexico, and pursuing justice.'

She previously warned that Baldwin may be on the hook for charges, warning: 'No one is above the law'.

Baby photo: Hilaria shared close up photos of Ilaria, resting comfortably on her chest

Sweet: Jennifer Love Hewitt stepped out with her husband Brian Hallisay and their kids. The 43-year-old actress stood in a candy corn outfit, flashing a huge grin

Stars Wars: Alessandra Ambrosio and her fellow model, and boyfriend, Richard Lee complimented her son Noah's costume perfectly.

Jennifer Love Hewitt stepped out with her husband Brian Hallisay and their kids. The 43-year-old actress stood in a candy corn outfit, flashing a huge grin.

Her husband of almost a decade wore a suit covered in skulls with purple and green designs running all over it. He added a shining skull mask.

The couple share three children: eight-year-old Autumn, seven-year-old Atticus and one-year-old Aidan.

Alessandra Ambrosio and her fellow model, and boyfriend, Richard Lee complimented her son Noah's costume perfectly.

Ambrosio donned a Yoda onesie while Lee wore a Darth Vader mask and black cape. Her 10-year-old donned Jedi robes.

She was later spotted alongside a number of friends who wore a variety of outfits.
Katie 'Monty' Dimond has found herself without a job after her radio show The 3pm Pick-Up was axed by KIIS FM last week.

And the 40-year-old took a parting shot at her former employer shortly after the news broke, accusing the station's 'bigwigs' of failing to provide 'acceptable terms' for a contract extension.

She posted a farewell message on Instagram thanking her friends and colleagues, before turning her attention to KIIS FM management.

Katie 'Monty' Dimond (pictured) took a parting shot at KIIS FM after her radio show The 3pm Pick-Up was axed last week, accusing the station's 'bigwigs' of failing to provide 'acceptable terms' for a contract extension

'Bummer that the bigwigs at KIIS couldn't present acceptable terms for us to move forward buttttttttttt dry your tears!' she wrote.

Dimond then told her followers they can still listen to her 'dulcet tones' on her popular podcast Show and Tell.

Her farewell post began: 'After eight years of doing The 3pm Pick Up on the wireless, its time to hang up the headphones.

'It has been the worlds BEST job! Ive been lucky enough to work alongside a cracking little team and my goddd we have giggled hard EVERY SINGLE DAY!'

'Bummer that the bigwigs at KIIS couldn't present acceptable terms for us to move forward buttttttttttt dry your tears!' she wrote on Instagram. (Pictured: Dimond's Instagram post including a picture with co-host Kate Langbroek, centre, and producers Mel Davies, left, and Annalise Ball, right)

The radio presenter thanked her co-hosts Yumi Stynes and Kate Langbroek for all the work they did together 'squealing into the microphone' over the years.

She thanked others, including her producers and former presenters Bec Judd and Chrissie Swan, 'who all played a big part in this all-female powerhouse of a show'.

A long-running KIIS FM radio program, The 3pm Pick Up will broadcast its final show at the end of the year.

Dimond (left) thanked her co-hosts Yumi Stynes (right) and Kate Langbroek (centre) for all the work they did together 'squealing into the microphone' over the years

The news puts hosts Langbroek, Stynes and Dimond out of a job as the show is rested after 11 years on the air.

Industry rumours suggest The 3pm Pick-Up will be replaced by Life Uncut, a podcast and weekend radio show hosted by Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne.

The pair are said to have signed a multimillion-dollar deal with KIIS FM's parent company ARN to expand their role at the network.

Industry rumours suggest The 3pm Pick-Up will be replaced by Life Uncut, a podcast and weekend radio show hosted by Brittany Hockley (right) and Laura Byrne (left)

The 3pm Pick-Up's future had been looking uncertain for weeks before ARN finally pulled the plug last Friday.

In a statement, ARN Chief Content Officer Duncan Campbell thanked Langbroek, Stynes and Dimond for their years of hard work.

'Their infectious humour and relatable stories have seen The 3pm Pick-Up enjoy continued ratings success. We are truly sad to see them finish up,' he said.

'Their departure is in no way a reflection on the skills of these highly regarded presenters nor the success of the show.'
They have recently welcomed a seventh child into their family.

And the Baldwins were the picture of domestic bliss as they celebrated Halloween in New York on Monday.

Alec Baldwin, 64, beamed with joy as he took five of his children trick-or-treating with wife Hilaria Baldwin, 38, including the newest addition to their family, one-month-old daughter Ilaria.

Happy Halloween! The Baldwins were the picture of domestic bliss as they celebrated Halloween in New York on Monday

The infant stayed warm in a pink jacket as she rested in a carrier worn by her adoring mother.

Her elder siblings all carried orange bags filled with candy as they stood on the corner beside their parents.

The youngsters showcased their fun personality as they dressed up for the spooky season.

One of the children appeared to be dressed as a ninja, while another looked to be wearing a Pikachu costume.

Bundle of joy! The infant stayed warm in a pink jacket as she rested in a carrier worn by her mother

The outing comes as Alec waits to see if he will face charges in the death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

It recently emerged the Santa Fe prosecutor tasked with bringing charges in the fatal on-set shooting of Hutchins had received the sheriff's report and was preparing to make a decision on who should face prosecution.

Alec was holding the gun when it fired towards Hutchins last October 21. He insists he did not pull the trigger.

Trick-or-treat! Her elder siblings all carried orange bags filled with candy as they stood on the corner beside their parents

For a year, police have been investigating the incident at painstaking pace. Now, they have handed over their final report to DA Mary Carmack-Altwies.

In a statement last week, her office said: 'The District Attorney and her team of investigators and prosecutors will now begin a thorough review of the information and evidence to make a thoughtful, timely decision about whether to bring charges.

'As with all cases that the District Attorney handles, her focus will be on upholding the integrity of the process, enforcing the laws of the state of New Mexico, and pursuing justice.'

Doting mom! Hilaria beamed as she carried the newest addition to her family in a sling

She previously warned that Baldwin may be on the hook for charges, warning: 'No one is above the law'.

Baldwin, who is with his family in Vermont, has not commented.

He was eviscerated earlier this month for posting a tribute to Hutchins on Instagram on the anniversary of her death.

Sharing a photograph of her behind the camera, Baldwin captioned the image: 'One year ago today.'

Legal controversy: The outing comes as Alec waits to see if he will face charges in the death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

It has taken an entire year for the investigation into Hutchins' death to be completed.

During that time, several lawsuits have been filed in civil court including one filed by Hutchins' widower, against Baldwin and the rest of the production.

He sued them for wrongful death, but they settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.

On the go: The busy mom took a call at one point

Matthew will now be a producer on the film, once it resumes production.

Baldwin is not the only person in the frame.

Among others who have been blamed for the shooting are armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who Baldwin claims didn't check the gun properly, and Assistant Director Dave Halls.

By the time Halyna was killed, many of the film's crew had walked off-set in protest over conditions and pay.

Tragedy: Halyna Hutchins , 42, died last October 21 after being shot on the set of Rust

Baldwin was serving as a producer and starring actor in the movie.

On the anniversary of Hutchins' death last week, the DA issued a warning to all of those involved.

'On the anniversary of the tragedy on the Rust film set in Santa Fe County, District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altweis remains committed to pursuing justice for the victims, and getting answers for the community.

'As soon as the District Attorney receives the full report from the Santa Fe County Sheriff, she and her team of professional attorneys and investigators will thoroughly review all the evidence and make a thoughtful decision about whether to bring charges against those involved.

'No one is above the law and every victim deserves justice,' she warned.
Married At First Sight's Hayley Vernon has complained about Australians using the word 'candy' - an American term for lollies.

The porn star, 32, went on a rant on Instagram on Tuesday afternoon after hearing several people refer to 'Halloween candy' while trick-or-treating.

'What the f**k are you all calling lollies and bars of chocolate "candy"?' she wrote.

Married At First Sight's Hayley Vernon (pictured) has complained about Australians using the word 'candy' - an American term for lollies

'I'm dying at the sheep complex on most people copying and paraphrasing American terms,' she added.

Hayley noted that no ordinary Australian uses 'candy' in general conversation.

'Sure so what your telling me is that you send your husband to the shops to "pick up some candy"? Get f**ked,' she said.

The porn star, 32, went on a rant on Instagram on Tuesday afternoon after hearing several people refer to 'Halloween candy' while trick-or-treating

It comes after Hayley spoke candidly about her life as a high-class escort during a Q&A on Instagram last week.

A fan asked 'how many clients do you see per week?' and she replied that escorting isn't a regular gig for her, but something she does when 'on tour'.

The Gold Coast resident said: 'I see clients when I'm on tour or travelling. When I'm home, my OF [OnlyFans] is my primary business.'

It comes after Hayley spoke about her life as a high-class escort during a Q&A last week

She said she does make exceptions for special events taking place in Queensland.

'The Indy is up here this week, so I'll work. I have the ability to pick and choose, when and [with] whom,' she wrote.

Hayley recently claimed several stars from the upcoming season of Married At First Sight were already starting OnlyFans accounts.

One fan asked 'how many clients do you see per week?' and Hayley replied that escorting isn't a regular gig for her, but something she does when 'on tour'

The adult entertainer, who rose to fame on the seventh season of the Channel Nine show in 2020, said a handful of them had even sought her advice.

'It's funny because now I've got cast on the new season messaging me for advice and they're all filming up the street from my hotel,' she told Yahoo.

Hayley said the advice she was giving was mostly around 'how to handle media and paparazzi, but two are doing OnlyFans and were asking about that'.

The adult entertainer, who rose to fame on the seventh season of the Channel Nine show in 2020, said a handful of the new cast had even sought her advice

She added: 'One even joked about filming a scene with me to post when their wedding airs to get more subscribers.

'They're a lot smarter than [the cast on my season] were and are getting things ready to launch as soon as they get on television.'

The new season of Married At First Sight premieres on Channel Nine in early 2023.
Gwyneth Paltrow kept her eyes down while making her way into Jimmy Kimmel Live! in Hollywood on Monday.

The 50-year-old donned a cozy red knitted sweater and a black skirt that ended just above her tanned knees.

She walked in black sandals, and her long blonde hair was parted in the middle. It fell straight down the sides of her face and back.

Heading into the taping: Gwyneth Paltrow kept her eyes down while making her way into Jimmy Kimmel Live! in Hollywood on Monday

The Iron Man actress wore a big gold necklace with a large heart pendant sitting high on her chest.

While a pair of huge Paltrow fans half-climbed a fence, the Los Angeles native didn't seem to notice them on the barrier.

The fans held what appeared to be photos of the Oscar winner which they hoped she might sign on her way into the critically-acclaimed talk show.

Casual chic: The 50-year-old donned a cozy red knitted sweater and a black skirt which ended just above her tanned knees

Golden hair: Her long blonde hair was parted in the middle. It fell straight down the sides of her face and back

Accessories: The Iron Man actress wore a big gold necklace with a large heart pendant sitting high on her chest

Oblivious: While a pair of huge Paltrow fans half-climbed a fence, the Los Angeles native didn't seem to notice them on the barrier

While she was dressed in street clothes on the way in, the Shakespeare in Love star donned a yellow gown and matching bear ears inside her dressing room.

She appeared to be doing her take as Winnie the Pooh for Jimmy's Halloween show.

Though she seemed distracted on the way in, the Shallow Hal star looked much more relaxed on the way out.

She flashed a big smile, and her cheeks were painted a rosy pink as well. She cocked her head to the side and looked happy, if a little tired.

Paltrow's appearance on the show came as she's been busy with her brand Goop this month.

Classic costume: While she was dressed in street clothes on the way in, the Shakespeare in Love star donned a yellow gown and matching bear ears inside her dressing room

Relaxed: Though she seemed distracted on the way in, the Shallow Hal star looked much more relaxed on the way out

Grinning: She flashed a big smile, and her cheeks were painted a rosy pink as well. She cocked her head to the side and looked happy, if a little tired

Her brand: Gwyneth uploaded a make-up free shot of herself modeling the Fall/Winter Goop collection on Instagram Monday

Most recently, The Politician actress looked comfortable while modeling her brand Goop's new Fall/Winter looks in an Instagram advertisement.

In the first snap, the entrepreneur wore a long leather-looking skirt that came past her knees with a slit in the front.

The influencer's long blonde locks were tucked into the back of a navy turtle neck sweater with cream stripes.

Casual and comfortable: The beauty modeled a blanket-soft flannel shirt and high waisted, plaid-cuffed jeans

The snap was captioned, 'If you buy one sweater this season, make it this one. Cozy ribbed cuffs, classic sailor stripes...it's supremely chic whichever way you wear it.'

In the second look, the mother-of-two wore high-rise denim jeans that were rolled up to reveal the plaid pattern on the bottom-side of the fabric.

The beauty wore a blanket-soft flannel shirt to finish off the look.

The post read, 'It's cuffing season. These high waisted, plaid-cuffed jeans lend a tomboyish look to any top. Pair it with the matching blanket-soft flannel for the perfect off-duty uniform.'

The first snaps of Gwyneth modeling her new Goop collection were posted on Sunday when she appeared to be topless beneath a cream bomber jacket with goldenrod corduroy trim.

While many fans were thrilled with the new pieces, some wrote the price tags were too high for them.

'If I could only afford,' wrote one fan. 'Wish goop clothing line wasnt so over priced,' bemoaned another.
Critics who have condemned The Crown for its portrayal of the Royal Family have been told to move on by one of the shows stars.

Elizabeth Debicki, who plays Princess Diana in the upcoming season of the Netflix show, said it was an interpretation of events and we can maybe stop talking about the controversy.

The streaming giant was recently forced by the row to add a disclaimer to its trailer for season five saying it was a fictional dramatisation inspired by real events.

It followed accusations of callousness amid reports the show will recreate the Paris car chase that resulted in Dianas death and scenes of young princes William and Harry following their mothers coffin in a future season.

Crown's Diana: Critics who have condemned The Crown for its portrayal of the Royal Family have been told to move on by one of the shows stars Elizabeth Debicki, who plays Princess Diana

But Miss Debicki, who features in new photos as Diana in Radio Times, told the magazine: I respect peoples points of view and I, being an actor in the show, understand the nature of what the show is.

It was always very clear to me that one can never know what happens behind closed doors and that a writer is interpreting what may have happened.

Now the disclaimer is up there, we can maybe stop talking about it and move on. If thats helpful for certain people, so be it, and now the conversation can be returned to the creative endeavour of what the show is.

She added: Theres a huge amount of room for interpretation and thats the value and beauty of The Crown as well, that you receive a different message depending on who you are. Thats good drama to me.

New series: It will document Dianas split from the then Prince Charles. It includes a re-enactment of the moment the princess wore what became known as her revenge dress (pictured)

The new series, which begins next week, will document Dianas split from the then Prince Charles. It includes a re-enactment of the moment the princess wore what became known as her revenge dress  an off-the-shoulder silk number by Christina Stambolian.

Diana wore it to a Vanity Fair party at the Serpentine Gallery in June 1994 on the same night a documentary was broadcast in which Prince Charles admitted to being unfaithful with Camilla.

Miss Debicki, who has replaced Emma Corrin as Diana, revealed she had been so nervous after accepting the role that she was unable to get on with simple chores at home.

The Australian-born actress said: My sister would find me staring at the sink full of dishes and would go, Oh my God, whats wrong? and Id say, I cant do it. I dont know how to do it.

It was enormous pressure. It feels insurmountable until the scripts get delivered to you and the entire process begins.

Friends: Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip and Natascha McElhone as Penny Knatchbull, who bonded over a shared passion for equestrian sport

The upcoming series covers the 1990s and will reportedly include controversial scenes such as a re-enactment of the tampongate phone call between Charles and Camilla.

Taped by an amateur radio enthusiast and leaked to the press, it recorded them discussing their intimate relationship.

Dominic West, who plays Prince Charles alongside Olivia Williams as Camilla, said his research on the 1993 scandal showed him how badly Camilla was treated.

I dont think that would happen today. It happened for many reasons, one of them being shes a woman, he added.

Striking resemblance: Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana in a gold sweater vest

I remember thinking it was a sordid, embarrassing discussion but, revisiting it, I found it was just an intensely personal conversation, and what was sordid was the prurient interest in it.

Its very sweet, tender and gauche but, like any intensely personal conversation, just not for public consumption.

The series will also air fictional scenes in which Prince Charles discusses the possibility of the Queens abdication with Sir John Major, which the former prime minister has dismissed as malicious nonsense.

New pictures also show Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip with his confidante Penny Knatchbull, the Countess Mountbatten of Burma, played by Natascha McElhone, on a carriage ride after the pair bonded in 1975 over their shared love for equestrian sport.
China congratulates Lula da Silva on Brazil election win

(People's Daily App) 13:46, November 01, 2022

China was willing to work with the new Brazilian government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership, the foreign ministry said in Beijing on Monday.

"China sincerely congratulates Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on his re-election as president of Brazil and wishes Brazil continuous new achievements in its national development," ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a regular press briefing. "As two major developing countries and important emerging markets, China and Brazil are each other's comprehensive strategic partners."

Bilateral relations have seen "healthy and stable development with cooperation in various fields yielding fruitful results" since China and Brazil established diplomatic ties 48 years ago, he said.

China always viewed and developed its relations with Brazil "from a strategic and long-term perspective," Zhao said.

"China is willing to work with the new Brazilian government led by Lula da Silva to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership with Brazil to deliver more benefits to the two peoples and contribute significantly to world peace, stability and prosperity," the ministry spokesperson said.

(Produced by Xie Runjia)

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)
China's very own space station is on the verge of completion.

The country's human spaceflight agency, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), recently announced that it had launched the third and final module needed to complete the Tiangong Space Station into orbit.

China's space agency rolled out the final space module to its launch pad on Oct. 26 at Wenchang Spaceport, per Space.com.

Tiangong Space Station Completion Details

The CMSA reported that it had successfully launched the Mengtian space module to orbit aboard the country's most powerful rocket, the Long March 5B, at 7:37 AM GMT from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on Oct. 31, per Reuters.

"Mengtian" roughly translates to "Dreaming of the Heavens" in Mandarin.

The module is the third and final one needed to complete China's very own space station, the Tiangong Space Station, which China started constructing in April 2021.

Experts believe that Mengtian will spend 13 hours in flight before it joins the space station's core and experiment modules, the Tianhe and Wentian modules, respectively, per CBS News.

By then, the taikonauts (Chinese astronauts) already aboard the incomplete Tiangong Space Station will retrieve and connect Mengtian to the Tianhe space station core. This entire process is expected to be completed sometime in November.

Read More: These Five Survival Horror Games Will test Your Bravery in the Dark This Halloween  Care To Try?

Once the space station is completed, China will be the only country to have a space station of its own, according to a Bloomberg article. This achievement solidifies China's foothold in space and serves as a source of pride for its citizens.

You may remember that the CMSA successfully landed Tianwen 1, China's first Mars rover, and pictures of the far side of the moon in 2019.

The country decided to construct its own space station when the US excluded it from participating in the International Space Station due to the CMSA's ties to the People's Liberation Army, China's armed forces.

Mengtian Space Module Details

The Tiangoing Space Station's Mengtian module is 58.7 ft. long and weighs around 48,500lbs. It is designed to accommodate microgravity scientific research and other scientific experimentations.

According to China's Global Times, these experiments involve fluid physics, materials science, combustion science, basic physics, and space technology experiments.

Zhang Wei, director of the Space Utilization Development Center of the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization, said that the space module would also host the world's first space-based cold atomic clock system.

Wei mentioned that these clocks would provide "the most precise time and frequency system in space" as the time it tells won't drift off incorrectly even after a hundred-million-year period.

The space module also has a payload airlock to take and install science payloads on an experiment platform on its exterior, per a Space.com article.

When installed, the Tiangong Space Station will weigh about 66 tons - a fraction of the ISS' weight of around 463 tons, per NASA.

The space station is designed to last for at least 10 to 15 years and could be the only one in space if the ISS adheres to its 30-year plan.

Related Article: China's Shenzhou-14 Mission Has launched With the Goal of Expanding the Tiangong Space Station
The Bachelor's Tim Robards couldn't resist filming a thirst trap for Instagram while getting ready for the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday morning.

The chiropractor, 40, showcased his Adonis-like physique in a short video filmed in his hotel bathroom before the race that stops the nation.

He wore just a towel around his waist at the start of the clip, before hitting the camera and returning suited and booted, ready for a day in the Birdcage.

The Bachelor's Tim Robards couldn't resist filming a thirst trap for Instagram while getting ready for the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday morning

His Melbourne Cup look comprised a floral shirt, salmon tie and beige suit.

Tim's cheeky video was a sponsored post for Handsome Skincare, of which he is an ambassador.

'Thought I'd bring the big guns for Melbourne Cup and mask up,' he wrote in the caption. 'Side effects may include smooth, buffed-up and glowing skin.'

The chiropractor, 40, showcased his Adonis-like physique in a short video filmed in his hotel bathroom before the race that stops the nation

The father of one will likely be attending the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse with his wife Anna Heinrich.

Tim recently celebrated his 40th birthday with a glamorous yacht party in Sydney Harbour.

He fell in love with Anna, 36, on the first season of The Bachelor in 2013. They married in Italy in 2018 and welcomed daughter Elle in November 2020.

Tim's cheeky video was a sponsored post for Handsome Skincare, of which he is an ambassador

Anna told Stellar magazine in June the couple was hoping to fall pregnant with their second child by the end of the year.

She said there was a good chance her next pregnancy could be twins, which run in her family.

'My grandma was a twin, and this is something I've never spoken about, but I was a twin,' she revealed, adding that her twin sadly died in the womb.
Christian Wilkins has spoken out after a troll called him 'an attention-seeking r****d' while criticising his outfit at Penfolds Derby Day on Saturday.

The model and influencer told Daily Mail Australia at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday he would rather be called a 'f*g' than have trolls make fun of people with disabilities.

'My eldest brother has Down syndrome and I just don't think that people should use [that word],' the 27-year-old said.

Christian Wilkins (pictured) has spoken out after a troll called him 'an attention-seeking r****d' while criticising his outfit at Penfolds Derby Day on Saturday

'If people want to attack me, I would honestly prefer to be called a f*g. At least that's me and my community and I can defend it,' he added.

'I know, speaking of behalf of my brother, he doesn't necessarily have the ability to articulate.'

A keyboard warrior had called Christian 'an attention-seeking r****d' on Instagram over the weekend in response to his feminine outfit at Derby Day.

The model and influencer told Daily Mail Australia at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday he would rather be called a 'f*g' than have trolls make fun of people with disabilities

Christian responded by reposting the cruel meme on his Instagram Stories, adding that he found the term - a slur aimed at disabled people - objectionable.

'Honestly think what you want,' Christian wrote. 'But as a sibling of someone with a disability, I find this term extremely offensive.'

Christian, who has four siblings, is the son of Richard Wilkins, one of Channel Nine's longest-serving presenters.

'My eldest brother has Down syndrome and I just don't think that people should use [that word],' the 27-year-old said. (Pictured: Christian at Derby Day on Saturday)

Richard's eldest son, 47-year-old Adam, has Down syndrome.

The troll had mocked Christian's Derby Day outfit as if it were a Halloween costume.

The meme listed several 'features' on the costume's packaging, including 'tucking tape', 'chicken fillets' and 'Richard Wilkins' tick of approval'.
Lauren Goodger has posted an emotional final photo of her late baby daughter Lorena ahead of a walk in memory of her 'angel child'.

The former TOWIE star, 36, thanked fans for their support after the charity event in aid of The Lullaby Trust, which aims to prevent unexpected deaths in infancy and promote infant health, was suspended.

Lauren's newborn baby passed away earlier this year due to complications during her birth.

On pause: Lauren Goodger, 35, has thanked fans for their support after her late daughter Lorena's charity walk was suspended

Taking to Instagram to share a picture, Lauren wrote: 'This is to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone that has supported me this far in your kind words and in giving.

'Lorenas walk had to be postponed due to her big sister Larose and myself falling poorly with tonsillitis.

'Delighted to share we have a new walk date for the beginning of December.

Doing good: She'd organised the event in aid of The Lullaby Trust, which aims to prevent unexpected deaths in infancy

'I will be walking in Lorena's memory for the Lullaby Trust and invite you to support me at a time of year when we hold our loved ones that little bit closer in remembering our babies, the angel children we have lost in lighting up a life, with a shining star leading my way, we remember.

'My love, prayers and thoughts are with you all. Stay Strong.'

Lorena was born with two knots in her umbilical cord, tied around her neck and despite ten doctors fighting to save her, she passed away shortly after her birth.

She penned: 'I feel Lorena with me today. thank you for showing me the way and this is the hardest journey but i know your watching over and you are guiding mummy'

It comes after Lauren said she is on the 'hardest journey' after tragically losing her newborn baby Lorena earlier this year during birth due to complications.

The former reality star revealed she can 'feel Lorena with me' as she took to Instagram last month to share a sweet post.

She said she believes the newborn is 'watching over and guiding' her as she shared a black and white snap holding her daughter's feet.

Feeling lost: The reality star has admitted that she 'lost herself completely' and wanted to get back to her pre-pregnancy self

She penned: 'I feel Lorena with me today. thank you for showing me the way and this is the hardest journey but I know your watching over and you are guiding mummy.'

As she grieved the loss of her newborn, Lauren was allegedly assaulted on the day of her baby's funeral.

Her boyfriend Charles Drury, 25, was later arrested and bailed following the incident.

She also went through a 'horrendous whirlwind' dealing with the death of both Lorena and her ex-boyfriend Jake McLean - who lost his life when his car plunged 70ft off a cliff in Turkey in July.

Now, the reality star has admitted that she 'lost herself completely' and wanted to get back to her pre-pregnancy self after falling pregnant with Lorena just eight weeks after giving birth to her first daughter Larose, 13 months.

Taking to her Instagram Story on Sunday, she wrote: 'I've been through a lot lately and still have my hard days or night I wake up crying etc.

'But I am so strong and I have a little princess who I need to show how to be kind, strong and an independent women etc.

'I've had 2 babies back to back and my body I feel I hated I wasn't me I lost myself completely.'
Matthew Perry was seen arriving to Good Morning America on Monday morning to promote his new bombshell memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.

For the appearance, the American-Canadian actor, 53, wore a plain white t-shirt, navy blue blazer, clear glasses and black leather loafers.

As he entered at Times Square studio, located on the corner of West 44th Street and Broadway, he carried a hot coffee and sported a natural tan from playing pickleball.

Bright and early: Matthew Perry was seen arriving to Good Morning America on Monday morning to promote his new bombshell memoir , Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing

During his appearance on Monday's segment, the 17 Again star revealed a 'few' of his former Friends costars have already reached out about his upcoming new book.

'I've gotten some really nice texts from a few of them already, and the book isn't even out yet,' he said of Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and Courteney Cox.

He continued: 'So hopefully, [I get] more. Its very important to me that I didnt go after anyone and I wasnt gossipy [in the book].'

Casual: For the appearance, the American-Canadian actor actor, 53, wore a plain white t-shirt, navy blue blazer, clear glasses and black leather loafers

Healthy: As he entered at Times Square studio, located on the corner of West 44th Street and Broadway, he carried a hot coffee and sported a natural tan from playing pickleball

Additionally, Perry said he 'can't wait' for the world to read his story, which he hopes will 'help a lot of people.'

At its worst, his addiction had him drinking a quarter bottle of vodka a day and taking 55 Vicodin, methadone and Xanax. He talked at length about the addiction in an hour-long interview with Diane Sawyer that aired on Friday.

He added that while writing the book was easy, reading it back became a painful process for him.

Receiving support: During his appearance on Monday's segment, the 17 Again star revealed a 'few' of his former Friends costars have already reached out about his upcoming new book

Hopeful: He continued: 'So hopefully, [I get] more. Its very important to me that I didnt go after anyone and I wasnt gossipy [in the book]'

'It was a gratifying experience to write the book, it all just poured out of me. It came easily to me to write it but then I had to read it for the Audible part of it and that was really hard.

'Reading and it sort of disassociating a bit... thinking "God, what a terrible, hard life this guy has had and realizing, I'm talking about myself.

'I felt very sorry for that person because I know what was going on in his head and it all had to be a secret. I was on a show that a lot of people were watching and trying not to have a lot of people know that,' he said.

Friends cast: Perry with Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Anniston, David Schwimmer and Matt Le Blanc in 2004, before they filmed the final episode of Friends

He added that he had tried to 'not go after' anyone in the book, despite sharing previously secret details of romances with Julia Roberts and Valerie Bertinelli.

'It's very important to me that I didn't go after anyone and I wasn't gossipy,' he said.

He added that for years, he was unaware that he was an alcoholic.

'A lot of people have alcoholism and don't know that they do. They're wondering why they drink so much. I didn't know. I had to keep it a secret because I didn't understand what was going on.

Perry, left, in 1987 and right, at the height of his Friends fame. He previously told Diane Sawyer how viewers could 'track' his addiction with his weight: 'When Im carrying weight, its alcohol. When Im skinny, its pills.'

'Certain lines in the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous made me aware.

'I thought I was alone in this and then I read a passage that said drinkers think they are trying to escape but really what they're trying to do is get over an illness that they don't know they have. I went, "oh there's 30 million people that think like me."

Perry is now a sponsor to other alcoholics, something he said he takes joy from.

Perry's memoir goes on sale tomorrow

'If you've gone through anything close to what I've gone through, I can help. There's some light that comes on in people's eyes when they get it.'

He previously told Sawyer how he battled the lowest points in his addiction when he was at the top of his career.

'I should have been the toast of the town, but I was in a dark room meeting with nothing but drug dealers and completely alone,' he told Diane Sawyer in an hour-long interview that aired on Friday.

It began when he was 14, when he said he drank an entire bottle of wine. By 18, he was drinking every day, he said.

'I lay in the grass and was in heaven,' said Perry, who is promoting his new memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, which details his battle with addiction. 'I thought to myself, "This must be the way normal people feel all the time."'

In the book, he reveals how Aniston was among the most supportive of his Friends co-stars, telling Sawyer: 'She was the one that reached out the most. You know, Im really grateful to her for that.'

He also reveals in the book that he broke up with Julia Roberts because dating one of the world's biggest stars was 'way too much for him'.

He dished on asking Jennifer Anniston out on a date before they co-starred on Friends (she said no) and also claimed to have made out with Valerie Bertinelli while her husband was passed out.

Perry says he has been to rehab 15 times and estimates he has spent $9million on trying to be clean and sober throughout his life. Now, he says he craves a wife and children.

In his interview with Sawyer, he said viewers of Friends could 'track' which drug he was taking or if he was drinking by monitoring his weight.

'When Im carrying weight, its alcohol. When Im skinny, its pills.'

He guesses he has attended some 6,000 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and had detoxed 54 times, many of which were during his run on Friends.

He appeared on the show throughout its 10-year run but made a rule to never drink or take drugs on set.

'I made a rule that I would never drink or take anything at work,' Matthew said.

'So I would never do that, but I would show up blindly hungover. Like shaking. I loved Chandler, I loved the show. And I knew, "Remember this, because it's going to be the best time of your life."

'And I knew I would never forgive myself if I messed this up,' he said.
She confirmed her split from husband-of-seven-months Justin McKeone earlier this month.

And on Tuesday, Olivia Molly Rogers showed him just what he was missing at the Melbourne Cup.

The former Miss Universe Australia, 30, looked sensational in a lace beaded gown as she arrived at Flemington Racecourse.

Showing Justin what he's missing? Beauty queen Olivia Molly Rogers showed off her incredible figure in a red lace gown following split from husband McKeone after just seven months

Olivia completed her look with a pair of red stilettos, a metal fascinator and a floral bag.

She tied her brunette locks in a tight bun and opted for a natural palette of makeup.

Prior to arriving at the event, the glamazon documented her preparations for the big event on Instagram by uploading before and after selfies.

Olivia completed her look with a pair of red stilettos, a metal fascinator and a floral bag

Olivia showed off her flawless complexion as she started off by going makeup-free with her short locks clipped back.

The beauty queen then revealed a neutral makeup look consisting of eyeshadow, eyeliner and blush.

Olivia recently confirmed her split from husband Justin after just seven months of marriage.

She tied her brunette locks in a tight bun and opted for a natural palette of makeup

Prior to arriving at the event, the glamazon documented her preparations for the big event on Instagram by uploading before and after selfies

Rumours about Olivia and Justin's marriage began swirling last month after fans noticed she'd reverted to her maiden name on Instagram and unpinned all the photos from her February wedding.

The former couple, who met in 2018, were last pictured together in August in a series of loved-up holiday snaps from their trip to New York City.

Olivia finally addressed her break-up in an Instagram post on October 3.

Olivia's outing comes after she recently confirmed her split from husband Justin after just seven months of marriage

'After 4.5 years together, Justin and I have come to the difficult decision to separate as a couple,' read her break-up post on Instagram.

'I do not wish to make any further statements about this in the near future,' she added.

'Please respect our decision and privacy at this time. Thank you for all your private DMs, kindness and support.'
Advertisement

There are no depths of bad taste that writer Peter Morgan does not plumb in the new ten-part series of The Crown on Netflix.

Divorces, infidelities, the most intimate conversations, the infamous interview with Princess Diana and Martin Bashir, even the death of a five-year-old from cancer  all are exploited for lurid drama.

As the eight-and-a-half hours of new film were made available to journalists last night, under a stringent embargo, the sheer virulence of the storylines became shockingly clear.

Charles, Philip and at times the Queen herself are portrayed with disdain bordering on mockery. A teenage Prince William is also shown in an unflattering light, as slightly dim and sulky, though his younger brother Harry is let off lightly and barely features.

Netflix may well find that, with the international grief and mourning that marked the death of the Queen less than two months ago, viewers' appetite for royal muck-raking has disappeared.

Insiders at the streaming giant say the mood in the company is already uneasy, with some American executives surprised by the backlash from fans who fear the death of the Princess of Wales will be re-enacted in graphic detail.

Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, Princess of Wales from season five of The Crown, which will air next week

Bashir is shown meeting Diana in a dimly lit car park and feeding lies to her, urging her to trust no one

Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, Princess of Wales, Dominic West as Charles, Teddy Hawley as Prince Harry and Timothee Sambor as Prince William, from season five of The Crown

Divorces, infidelities, the most intimate conversations, the infamous interview with Princess Diana and Martin Bashir, even the death of a five-year-old from cancer  all are exploited for lurid drama. Pictured: The recreation from the series

Olivia Williams as Camilla and Dominic West as Charles, from season five of The Crown

Diana pictured during her Panorama interview with Martin Bashir for the BBC in November 1995

A teenage Prince William is also shown in an unflattering light, as slightly dim and sulky, though his younger brother Harry is let off lightly and barely features

This series stops short of that moment. It ends with Diana, divorced from Charles, preparing for a Mediterranean holiday with her friend Dodi Fayed.

Full reviews, with assessments of individual performances and an analysis of how far the script strays from historical fact, are embargoed until Saturday morning.

But no spoiler alert is needed when I say that this series of The Crown is unrecognisable in its tone, compared to the original series in 2016.

This show with its almost unlimited budget and all-star cast has become a monstrous perversion of itself.

At the beginning, The Crown charted the affectionate romance of the Princess Elizabeth and her prince, the Duke of Edinburgh, played with touching vulnerability by Claire Foy and Matt Smith.

But it has descended into scandal-mongering, intent on inflicting every possible embarrassment on the Royal Family.

The Crown is now a nakedly republican polemic, using embarrassment as its chief weapon against the monarchy.

Chief victim is the monarch himself. Perhaps Morgan and his Netflix paymasters imagined, like most of us, that the Queen would survive, ruling above reproach, for a number of years to come  and that the former Prince of Wales was fair game.

Certainly, none of the preview episodes (labelled, it ought to be said, as 'work in progress') carried an acknowledgment of Her Majesty's death. Any viewers expecting a respectful caption, saluting her 70 years on the throne, will be disappointed.

But from the outset, the campaign against Charles is lacerating. In scene after scene, he is depicted as devious, impatient, resentful, devoid of self-awareness in his desperation to be king.

How Prince Harry, who professes hatred of any media exploitation of his mother's memory or intrusion into his own life, can continue to be associated with Netflix defies belief

When the interview airs, long sections of it are restaged, despite Prince William's insistence that it should never be aired because it harmed his mother so much

Insiders at the streaming giant say the mood in the company is already uneasy, with some American executives surprised by the backlash

This prince is a plotter whose mind works constantly, even during holidays with friends, on ways to dislodge his mother and force her aside. His aides talk of little else.

Despite the fact that former Prime Minister John Major has categorically dismissed this picture as nonsense, Charles is seen making a pathetic fool of himself as he tries to recruit the Tory PM into his treacherous schemes.

Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles  now the King and Queen Consort, a fact shamefully ignored by Netflix  suffer greater indignity still, with the replay of that excruciating phonecall.

Dominic West as Charles and Olivia Williams as Camilla, then his married mistress, re-enact every word of it... including that awful extended metaphor about being reincarnated as a tampon.

It is performed without mercy, and to emphasise the humiliation we see the reaction of other royals when the transcript is published. Princess Margaret reads it in bed. Diana holds her head in her hands.

But even this is overshadowed by Netflix's relish for the way the Princess of Wales was tricked into a damaging TV interview by Martin Bashir of the BBC.

The affair is spread across two episodes, as Bashir is shown meeting Diana in a dimly lit car park and feeding lies to her, urging her to trust no one, at a time when her mental health was at its most fragile.

When the interview airs, long sections of it are restaged, despite Prince William's insistence that it should never be aired because it harmed his mother so much.

We hear Elizabeth Debicki, as Diana, discussing her post-natal depression after William was born, her conviction that allegations that she was 'crazy' were used to discredit her, her fears for her children and her belief that Charles would never be king.

Some of these lines are spoken as we watch other members of the Royal Family  either glued to their TV sets or pointedly ignoring the broadcast. Charles reacts with rage, shouting: 'What the hell is she doing?'

Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, Princess of Wales appearing in the fifth season of the streaming website's show, The Crown

The infamous interview is spread across two episodes, as Bashir (pictured) is shown meeting Diana in a dimly lit car park and feeding lies to her

Prince William (played by Senan West, Dominic's son) is seen at Eton: a teacher asks if he is all right, and the boy, then 13, says, 'Yes, I'm fine,' before getting up and walking away.

But the camera is trained on Diana's face as she murmurs the most famous line from the interview: 'Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.'

Equally callous is the decision by Morgan to include the death of Leonora Knatchbull, granddaughter of Lord Mountbatten, who was just five when she died from kidney cancer in 1991.

We see her in the first ten minutes of episode one, as Charles and the girl's father, his friend Norton, admire the child's curly hair and discuss her treatment.

In the second episode, Prince Philip (Jonathan Pryce) visits Leonora's grave with her mother, Penny. Both Norton and Penny are still alive, and friends say they are distressed at the thought of their child's death being presented on screen.

Their feelings, and those of all the Royal Family, are ignored. Netflix and Peter Morgan treat them with cold-blooded contempt. Rarely has a drama been more cruel.

How Prince Harry  who professes hatred of any media exploitation of his mother's memory or intrusion into his own life  can continue to be associated with Netflix defies belief.

His own media company, Archewell Productions, has signed a deal with Netflix worth a rumoured $100 million (86.7million). That will have to be a matter between Harry and his conscience.

'Let's stop talking about it and move on': The Crown star Elizabeth Debicki urges critics to stop complaining about show's plotlines now producers have added disclaimer to latest trailer

Critics who have condemned The Crown for its portrayal of the Royal Family have been told to move on by one of the shows stars.

Elizabeth Debicki, who plays Princess Diana in the upcoming season of the Netflix show, said it was an interpretation of events and we can maybe stop talking about the controversy.

The streaming giant was recently forced by the row to add a disclaimer to its trailer for season five saying it was a fictional dramatisation inspired by real events.

It followed accusations of callousness amid reports the show will recreate the Paris car chase that resulted in Dianas death and scenes of young princes William and Harry following their mothers coffin in a future season.

Crown's Diana: Critics who have condemned The Crown for its portrayal of the Royal Family have been told to move on by one of the shows stars Elizabeth Debicki, who plays Princess Diana

But Miss Debicki, who features in new photos as Diana in Radio Times, told the magazine: I respect peoples points of view and I, being an actor in the show, understand the nature of what the show is.

It was always very clear to me that one can never know what happens behind closed doors and that a writer is interpreting what may have happened.

Now the disclaimer is up there, we can maybe stop talking about it and move on. If thats helpful for certain people, so be it, and now the conversation can be returned to the creative endeavour of what the show is.

She added: Theres a huge amount of room for interpretation and thats the value and beauty of The Crown as well, that you receive a different message depending on who you are. Thats good drama to me.

New series: It will document Dianas split from the then Prince Charles. It includes a re-enactment of the moment the princess wore what became known as her revenge dress (pictured)

The new series, which begins next week, will document Dianas split from the then Prince Charles. It includes a re-enactment of the moment the princess wore what became known as her revenge dress  an off-the-shoulder silk number by Christina Stambolian.

Diana wore it to a Vanity Fair party at the Serpentine Gallery in June 1994 on the same night a documentary was broadcast in which Prince Charles admitted to being unfaithful with Camilla.

Miss Debicki, who has replaced Emma Corrin as Diana, revealed she had been so nervous after accepting the role that she was unable to get on with simple chores at home.

The Australian-born actress said: My sister would find me staring at the sink full of dishes and would go, Oh my God, whats wrong? and Id say, I cant do it. I dont know how to do it.

It was enormous pressure. It feels insurmountable until the scripts get delivered to you and the entire process begins.

Friends: Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip and Natascha McElhone as Penny Knatchbull, who bonded over a shared passion for equestrian sport

The upcoming series covers the 1990s and will reportedly include controversial scenes such as a re-enactment of the tampongate phone call between Charles and Camilla.

Taped by an amateur radio enthusiast and leaked to the press, it recorded them discussing their intimate relationship.

Dominic West, who plays Prince Charles alongside Olivia Williams as Camilla, said his research on the 1993 scandal showed him how badly Camilla was treated.

I dont think that would happen today. It happened for many reasons, one of them being shes a woman, he added.

Striking resemblance: Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana in a gold sweater vest

I remember thinking it was a sordid, embarrassing discussion but, revisiting it, I found it was just an intensely personal conversation, and what was sordid was the prurient interest in it.

Its very sweet, tender and gauche but, like any intensely personal conversation, just not for public consumption.

The series will also air fictional scenes in which Prince Charles discusses the possibility of the Queens abdication with Sir John Major, which the former prime minister has dismissed as malicious nonsense.

New pictures also show Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip with his confidante Penny Knatchbull, the Countess Mountbatten of Burma, played by Natascha McElhone, on a carriage ride after the pair bonded in 1975 over their shared love for equestrian sport.
Jimmy Carr and partner Karoline Copping wore their best ghoulish costumes at Jonathan Ross' star-studded Halloween party in London on Monday.

Comedian Jimmy, 50, wore a hilarious outfit that showed him being 'abducted by aliens,' while Karoline went for a more morbid look, dressing up as a witch being burned at the stake.

The pair joined the likes of Rita Ora, Oti Mabuse and Ashley James at the event, which was held at KOKO in Camden.

Spooky season! Jimmy Carr was 'abducted by aliens' and partner Karoline Copping dressed up as a witch burned at the stake at Jonathan Ross' Halloween party in London on Monday

Jimmy wore a blue plaid shirt and jeans, with an ornate scene on his head.

He pulled a series of funny facial impressions wearing a UFO space ship toy on his head, that was complete with streamers that covered his face.

Karoline, who is a commissioning editor for Channel 5, also wore a handmade outfit, wearing a black top and long white skirt which she painted with fake flames on the bottom.

Eye-catching costume! Jimmy wore a blue plaid shirt and jeans, with an ornate scene on his head

Having a laugh: He pulled a series of funny facial impressions wearing a UFO space ship toy on his head, that was complete with streamers that covered his face

She also placed hay on the bottom of the skirt for added effect, wore a fake stake at the back of her neck and had rope tied around her waist and wrists.

Stars including scantily clad Rita Ora, Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse and heavily pregnant presenter and DJ Ashley James led the way as the venue played host to the annual event for what appeared to be the first time in its history.

Rita Ora, 31, transformed into Lisle Von Rhuman from the film Death Becomes Her with an elaborately jewelled necklace in place of a top, and a red satin pareo for a skirt.

Details: Karoline, who is a commissioning editor for Channel 5, also wore a handmade outfit, wearing a black top and long white skirt which she painted with fake flames on the bottom

Jonathan Ross was returning to the Halloween party circuit after a two year absence initially brought about by the coronavirus pandemic and its subsequent global impact.

The comedian cancelled for a second time after his daughter Betty was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a long-term disorder characterised by chronic muscle pain.

Confirming his decision to cancel for the sake of his daughter in 2021, he told Good Morning Britain: 'One of our children isn't well... it's fibromyalgia which is quite debilitating. She's back home with us and we're looking after her.'
Gwyneth Paltrow insists she is 'done' with naked photo shoots.

The 50-year-old actress and Goop mogul made the declaration while appearing on Monday's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live where she went dressed as 'Gwynnie The Pooh'.

She sported a red T-shirt along with small yellow bear ears to go along with her full body bear costume for her Halloween night appearance on the ABC talk show.

While chatting to Jimmy, she revealed that her marketing team persuaded her to strip off and get drenched in gold paint to celebrate her 50th birthday.

Halloween visit: Gwyneth Paltrow wore a Gwynnie The Pooh costume on Monday's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live

Last naked shoot! Gwyneth revealed that her Goop marketing team persuaded her take a nude photo drenched in gold paint to celebrate her 50th birthday... but she has sworn off doing any more

'Well, they just sort of said, you know, "This would be great. It's your 50th birthday, 50's the golden jubilee, we want to paint you gold." And so I capitulated,' she explained.

But she has vowed that's the last time she'll take her clothes off in front of the camera.

'Then I said, "Okay, guys, this is the last naked photo shoot, that's it. I'm done'',' she insisted.

Gwyneth was on the talk show promoting the latest release of her Goop holiday guide.

'Our team starts working on this gift guide in June. So it's like six months of finding all these amazing things that we sell, but also link to, so it could be an amazing experience or a food thing or something that we then buy and sell,' Gwyneth said.

Gwyneth said she was 'very excited' about their 'very amazing lip balm trio.'

'This is one of our best sellers. There's a clear one. We have two new colors coming,' Gwyneth said before applying some balm on Jimmy who interviewed her in a Smokey The Bear costume.

Jimmy, 54, also asked Gwyneth if she went trick-or-treating around her childhood home in Santa Monica, California, that recently hit the market for $17.5 million.

'Would you be with other celebrity kids? Knocking on Jack Nicholson's door or whatever?,' Jimmy wondered.

'Arnold Schwarzenegger used to live on our street. We would knock on his door for candy,' Gwyneth said.

'Would he give out cigars?,' Jimmy quipped. 'I bet he gave out great stuff, huh?'

'I don't remember him giving out stuff. But he's Austrian, so maybe they don't celebrate there,' Gwyneth said.

Cute costume: The 50-year-old actress sported a red T-shirt along with small yellow bear ears to go along with her full body bear costume for her Halloween night appearance on the ABC talk show

Toilet papered: Arnold Schwarzenegger, shown in September 2021, had his house toilet papered by Gwyneth when she was a kid growing up in Santa Monica, California

'Oh, wow. That's very surprising to me,' Jimmy said.

'We did end up TPing his house, though,' Gwyneth said laughing at the memory.

'You did? Does he know this?,' Jimmy asked.

'Don't tell him,' Gwyneth said.

'You toilet papered Arnold Schwarzenegger's house?,' Jimmy asked again.

'We did,' Gwyneth confirmed.

Confirming it: 'You toilet papered Arnold Schwarzenegger's house?,' Jimmy asked again while wearing a Smokey The Bear costume

Jimmy asked what was the impetus and Gwyneth answered, 'Just being naughty kids.'

Gwyneth revealed that Arnold wasn't singled out for being famous and they did it to a few houses.

'But he was our pride and joy,' Gwyneth admitted.

'Sure. Yeah, you can tell everybody, ''We got the Terminator's house!'' Wow. Sounds like you have some making up to do,' Jimmy said.

'I do, I do,' Gwyneth said.
Marvel and Disney have finally found their Wonder Man, tapping Yahya Abdul-Mateen II for their new Wonder Man series on Disney Plus.

Abdul-Mateen II, 36, is set to play Simon Williams, the son of a wealthy industrialist who ultimately transforms himself into Wonder Man, via Screen Geek.

The role will be the third comic book character Abdul-Mateen II has tackled, following his portrayal of Black Manta in 2018's Aquaman and Dr. Manhattan in the 2019 HBO series Watchmen, which he won an Emmy Award for.

Wonder Man: Marvel and Disney have finally found their Wonder Man, tapping Yahya Abdul-Mateen II for their new Wonder Man series on Disney Plus

Wonder Man debuted in the Marvel Comics in The Avengers #9, which hit the shelves in October 1964, created by writer Stan Lee and artists Jack Kirby and Don Heck.

While the character appeared to be killed off in that issue, he would later be revived and become a member of The Avengers and later as a founding member of the West Coast Avengers.

Simon Williams inherited his father's munitions factory after his death though the company is ultimately decimated by Tony Stark's Stark Industries.

Comic: Wonder Man debuted in the Marvel Comics in The Avengers #9, which hit the shelves in October 1964, created by writer Stan Lee and artists Jack Kirby and Don Heck

He ultimately turns to the villainous Baron Zemo to give him superpowers to betray the Avengers... though he would go on to form the West Coast Avengers.

Williams is also a successful movie star, which may very well factor into the story as well, given another cast member's involvement.

It was revealed in late August that Ben Kingsley will return in Wonder Man as Trevor Slattery, who made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in 2013's Iron Man 3.

Satire: There have been reports that the show will be a satire of the Hollywood movie system, though those reports are unconfirmed

Slattery was a failed British actor who was hired to play a fake villain in Iron Man 3, and he returned in last year's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

There have been reports that the show will be a satire of the Hollywood movie system, though those reports are unconfirmed.

Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) is developing Wonder Man alongside head writer Andrew Guest (Community, Brooklyn Nine-Nine).

Coming soon: He will return as Black Manta in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom for Warner Bros., which is slated for release on December 25, 2023

Abdul-Mateen II is coming off his action-thriller Ambulance with Jake Gyllenhaal, which premiered this spring.

He will return as Black Manta in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom for Warner Bros., which is slated for release on December 25, 2023.

The actor is also attached to star in the TV series Scent of Burnt Flowers and the movie Emergency Contact.
Anna Heinrich and Simone Holtznagel made for a picture perfect pair at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

The two blondes both wore co-ordinating citrus dresses as they posed up inside the exclusive Lexus marquee in The Birdcage at Flemington Racecourse.

Anna, 35, rocked an eye-catching bright yellow plunging frock which highlighted her slender figure.

Anna Heinrich and Simone Holtznagel co-ordinated in citrus dresses as they partied inside the Lexus marquee at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday

The lawyer accessorised with a matching yellow headband, white heels and a designer clutch.

Meanwhile, Simone showed off her slimmed-down frame and eye-popping cleavage in a bright orange Alex Perry bodycon dress.

The blonde bombshell wore a matching wide-brimmed hat and boosted her already statuesque height with gold strappy heels.

Anna, 35, rocked an eye-catching bright yellow plunging frock which highlighted her slender figure. Meanwhile, Simone showed off her slimmed-down frame and eye-popping cleavage in a bright orange Alex Perry bodycon dress

The two women walked around the track together in their eye-catching dresses

She accessorised with a large gold vintage ring and matching earrings.

The 29-year-old had her blonde hair out in a sleek and straight style and rocked a nude lip and smoky eye for makeup.

She arrived on the arm of her boyfriend Jono Castano, while Anna attended the event with husband Tim Robards.

Tim, 40, cut a dashing figure in a smart grey suit, floral shirt and pink tie.

The former Neighbours star, 40, sported a rugged five o'clock shadow and completed his look with tailored dress shoes.

Both rocked deep tans as they posed in their brightly-coloured attire

Anna arrived at the event with her dashing husband Tim Robards

Tim, 40, cut a dashing figure in a smart grey suit, floral shirt and pink tie.

The happily married couple also flaunted their matching tans as they posed inside the Lexus marquee.

Tim fell in love with Anna, 36, on the first season of The Bachelor in 2013. They married in Italy in 2018 and welcomed daughter Elle in November 2020.

Anna told Stellar magazine in June the couple was hoping to fall pregnant with their second child by the end of the year.

She said there was a good chance her next pregnancy could be twins, which run in her family.

'My grandma was a twin. This is something I've never spoken about, but I was a twin,' she revealed, adding her twin sadly died in the womb.
Elon Musk posted a link of unfounded information to Twitter on Sunday, containing rumors about the attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi.

The tweet that contains an article that made allegations about Pelosi's husband has since been deleted, The New York Times reports.

The Billionaire Shares Unverified Claims On His Account

The new owner of Twitter posted an unfounded anti-LGBTQ claim about Pelosi's husband from a website known as a purveyor of false information.

This tweet links to a website called the Santa Monica Observer, which has previously reported false news that Hilary Clinton passed on September 11.

According to ABC News, this article, on the other hand, says that the speaker's husband had something to do with an intruder attack in a San Francisco home.

Musk tweeted this article in response to Clinton's post, which criticizes Republicans by saying that they spread hate and baseless conspiracy theories that result to violence.

In his response, the CEO links an article from the website, and says that there could be more to the story of the intrusion that the public does not know about.

This exchange between Musk and Clinton came after Twitter's head of safety and integrity Yoel Roth tweeted about the platform's content moderation policies.

The Santa Monica Observer has been known to publish false information and conspiracies that may be harmful to those who consume it.

Musk deleted the tweet after having more than 24,000 retweets and more than 86,000 likes, and has since been silent about the controversy.

Moreover, the billionaire's post containing unofficial information raises concern among Twitter users since it was the new owner of the platform leading the spread of disinformation.

The Street reports that this behavior is even more concerning when Musk promises advertisers on the platform that Twitter will not allow anything to be said without consequences.

Read More: Elon Musk's Twitter Takeover Sparks Organized Trolling

The San Francisco Police Shares Information About The Attack

NBC News writes that the authorities at San Francisco have shared information that proves the story from the Santa Monica Observer false.

The police report that on the day of the home invasion, only the attacker and Pelosi's husband were on the site of the incident.

The attacker had demanded to see the House Speaker in the violent break-in, but she was in Washington at the time.

Because of this, the attacker assaulted Pelosi's husband with a hammer, causing injuries to his right arm and hands, and a fractured skull that needed surgery.

The suspect was later on identified as David Dapepe, who, contrary to the Santa Monica Observer's report, is not in any acquaintance with the Pelosis.

Dapepe, a 42-year old far-right conspiracy theorist, is suspected of attempted murder, elder abuse, assault with a weapon, and burglary.

This incident happened less than two weeks before the congressional midterm elections on November 8, according to NBC News.

Until today, Dapepe's motivation for the intrusion is still unclear, but he is now in custody of the San Francisco Police, while the FBI is investigating the attack.

Related Article: Twitter Will Form A 'Content Moderation Council' Says Elon Musk
Fans have praised Cody Simpson on his performance of the National Anthem at the 2022 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old returned to the stage to perform the National Anthem in front of the nation after a long break from his singing career.

'That was absolutely phenomenal! One of the best renditions of the national anthem I've heard in such a long time! #MelbourneCup,' one person Tweeted.

Fans have praised Cody Simpson (pictured) on his 'phenomenal' performance of the National Anthem at the 2022 Melbourne Cup

'Well @CodySimpson definitely delivered on the anthem, great job #MelbourneCup,' another said.

A third person agreed: 'Now that was a very good rendition of the Australian National anthem by Cody Simpson #MelbourneCup.'

'Well Cody Simpson did a beautiful job of the national anthem. No theatrics, just beautiful singing. He was perfect #MelbourneCup,' one wrote.

The 25-year-old returned to the stage to perform the National Anthem in front of the nation after a long break from his singing career

Another said: 'Sing the second verse Codes @CodySimpson #AdvanceAustraliaFare #MelbourneCup what a ripper! So beautifully sung.'

'So Cody Simpson has managed to turn the national anthem into a Disney song. #MelbourneCup,' one person commented.

Cody looked dapper in a striped navy suit, matching trousers and a navy buttoned shirt for his performance.

Fans flocked to social media to praise Cody on his performance, with one writing: 'That was absolutely phenomenal! One of the best renditions of the national anthem I've heard in a such long time! #MelbourneCup'

He had put a pause on his music career in recent years to focus on his Olympic ambitions.

Cody told Daily Mail Australia on Monday, that singing at the Melbourne cup is an 'immense honour'.

'It's the first time I've ever done it, I couldn't be asked to do something more prestigious.'
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel paid homage to the 1990 classic film Home Alone with their Halloween costumes on Monday night.

The 41-year-old Timberlake and 40-year-old Biel both posted photos of their costumes as the 'wet bandits' from the film in a joint Instagram post.

They both also shared one particular Home Alone scene that informed their costumes on their Instagram stories on Monday evening.

Homage: Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel paid homage to the 1990 classic film Home Alone with their Halloween costumes on Monday night

Scene: They both also shared one particular Home Alone scene that informed their costumes on their Instagram stories on Monday evening

'Harry, it's our calling card! All the great ones leave their marks. We're the wet bandits!' they both said in their caption, mirroring a line from the film.

Timberlake dressed up as Daniel Stern's character Marv, fresh with a red 'iron' print over his face.

He also donned a fuzzy brown coat and a blue dress shirt for the costume.

Iron: Timberlake dressed up as Daniel Stern's character Marv, fresh with a red 'iron' print over his face

His wife - who he just celebrated his 10th anniversary with earlier this month - played Joe Pesci's character Harry.

She was wearing a black stocking hat with a black coat and blue shirt, matching Pesci's character with a number of white feathers stuck to her head.

Timberlake also had some fun with Photoshop, putting an iron print on old photos of both him and Biel.

Jessica as Joe: His wife - who he just celebrated his 10th anniversary with earlier this month - played Joe Pesci's character Harry

Old photos: Timberlake also had some fun with Photoshop, putting an iron print on old photos of both him and Biel

Both Timberlake and Biel shared a number of throwback snaps earlier this month to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary.

'10 years aint enough! You make me a better husband and father every day! I love you so much you beautiful human! Run it back!' Timberlake said in his Instagram post.

'Being married to you is the adventure of a lifetime! Run it back, baby. RUN IT BACK. I love you,' Biel said in her post.

Throwback: Both Timberlake and Biel shared a number of throwback snaps earlier this month to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary

Run it back: 'Being married to you is the adventure of a lifetime! Run it back, baby. RUN IT BACK. I love you,' Biel said in her post

Timberlake is attached to play Chuck Barris in a new TV series based on his, 'unauthorized autobiography' Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.

He is also is slated to return to voice Branch in DreamWorks Animation's Trolls 3 sequel, slated for release in 2023.

Biel is coming off her critically-acclaimed performance in the Hulu series Candy, which debuted back in May.

Coming soon: Timberlake is attached to play Chuck Barris in a new TV series based on his, 'unauthorized autobiography' Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
Megan Thee Stallion took her 'hot girl' moniker to a whole new level with a smoldering Halloween costume that she shared on Monday.

The 27-year-old rapper shared a number of snaps on Instagram of her in a fiery, original Halloween costume with her 30 million followers.

The post got over 305K likes in just over two hours, which she captioned, 'Real HOT GIRL SH**' with the hashtag, #hottieween22.

New level: Megan Thee Stallion took her 'hot girl' moniker to a whole new level with a smoldering Halloween costume that she shared on Monday

The first photo of the elaborate costume featured a flame orange bodysuit with a charred black collar wrapped around her neck.

The bodysuit featured clear and black dots with more charred black accents that wrap around her waist.

The shot also showcased custom nails with and orange and black fiery look, though the second snap showed the costume was much more elaborate.

First photo: The first photo of the elaborate costume featured a flame orange bodysuit with a charred black collar wrapped around her neck

The second snap showcased black gloves with charred pointy nails and a matching black headdress that spanned a few feet with accents that fell over her face.

Her full outfit also matching black boots while the third close-up shot offered a glimpse at how detailed these accents are.

She's seen licking one of the black nails in the close-up shot while another more provocative show showed her with her hand near her crotch.

Second snap: The second snap showcased black gloves with charred pointy nails and a matching black headdress that spanned a few feet with accents that fell over her face

Snaps: The rapper also shared more full-body snaps with her full headdress and black nail gloves, while final close-up shots show a closer look at her nails and makeup

The rapper also shared more full-body snaps with her full headdress and black nail gloves, while final close-up shots show a closer look at her nails and makeup.

The rapper has been dating rapper Pardison Fontaine, with rumors surfacing they were now engaged while celebrating their two-year anniversary.

While rumors surfaced, she tweeted, 'Lol as nice as last night was we are not engaged.'

Provocative: She's seen licking one of the black nails in the close-up shot while another more provocative show showed her with her hand near her crotch

The couple met while working on Megan's Savage remix (featuring Beyonce), which garnered two of her three Grammy Awards.

Then in February 2021, the rapper confirmed her romance with Fontaine during an Instagram Live session.

'That's my boo, and I really like him,' she confessed, later adding, 'I never said hot girls can't have boyfriends.'

Couple: The couple met while working on Megan's Savage remix (featuring Beyonce), which garnered two of her three Grammy Awards
Christian Wilkins was feeling footloose and fancy free on Tuesday.

The actor and model swanned around the celebrity-laden Birdcage at Derby Day in Melbourne and was quick to show off his dance moves.

The 27-year-old let loose and held a dance party of one, shimmying and shaking his money maker to the music playing on the grounds.

Christian Wilkins (pictured) was feeling footloose and fancy free on Tuesday

Flexing his long limbs, Christian, who was wearing a tiara and mint green suit, was having a ball while boogying to the Madonna hit Like a Prayer.

He was soon joined by a friend, the pair throwing their hands in the air as they sung along with the lyrics.

Christian kept the party going when the next track, Beyonce's Cuff It came on, and he whipped other partygoers up into a frenzy.

The actor and model swanned around the celebrity-laden Birdcage at Derby Day in Melbourne and was quick to show off his dance moves

The 27-year-old let loose and held a dance party of one, shimmying and shaking his money maker to the music playing on the grounds

Flexing his long limbs, Christian, who was wearing a tiara and mint green suit, was having a ball while boogying to the Madonna hit Like a Prayer

An excited group formed around the influencer, with a makeshift dance party breaking out.

Earlier in the day Christian spoke out after a troll called him 'an attention-seeking r****d' while criticising his outfit at Penfolds Derby Day on Saturday.

He told Daily Mail Australia at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday he would rather be called a 'f*g' than have trolls make fun of people with disabilities.

Christian kept the party going when the next track, Beyonce's Cuff It came on, and he whipped other partygoers up into a frenzy

An excited group formed around the influencer, with a makeshift dance party breaking out

Christian was throwing his hands in the air as he sung along with the lyrics

'My eldest brother has Down syndrome and I just don't think that people should use [that word],' the 27-year-old said.

'If people want to attack me, I would honestly prefer to be called a f*g. At least that's me and my community and I can defend it,' he added.

'I know, speaking of behalf of my brother, he doesn't necessarily have the ability to articulate.'

Earlier in the day Christian spoke out after a troll called him 'an attention-seeking r****d' while criticising his outfit at Penfolds Derby Day on Saturday

A keyboard warrior had called Christian 'an attention-seeking r****d' on Instagram over the weekend in response to his feminine outfit at Derby Day.

Christian responded by reposting the cruel meme on his Instagram Stories, adding that he found the term - a slur aimed at disabled people - objectionable.

'Honestly think what you want,' Christian wrote. 'But as a sibling of someone with a disability, I find this term extremely offensive.'

A keyboard warrior had called Christian 'an attention-seeking r****d' on Instagram in response to his feminine outfit at Derby Day. Pictured: Christian at Derby Day on Saturday

Christian, who has four siblings, is the son of Richard Wilkins, one of Channel Nine's longest-serving presenters.

Richard's eldest son, 47-year-old Adam, has Down syndrome.

The troll had mocked Christian's Derby Day outfit as if it were a Halloween costume.

The meme listed several 'features' on the costume's packaging, including 'tucking tape', 'chicken fillets' and 'Richard Wilkins' tick of approval'.
She's always styled to perfection.

And Tuesday was no exception for Rebecca Harding who looked perfect in head to toe pink at a Melbourne cup luncheon at Crown Towers in Perth.

The 30-year-old girlfriend of Andy Lee opted for full Barbie-style in a $1350 Zimmerman skin-tight semi sheer number with white floral embellishments.

Rebecca Harding looked perfect in head to toe pink at a Melbourne cup luncheon at Crown Towers in Perth

Cementing her status in the sartorial stake, the model paired the linen midi skirt with a high waist and hand applied 3D moulded flowers with towering white leather platform heels.

Adding even more style, Rebecca clutched onto a grey clutch bag which matched her mauve headpiece and fascinator.

Matching her make-up to the level of glamour, Rebecca went all out with a thick creamy foundation beneath heavy lashings of blusher and highlighter.

She added pencilled in brown eyebrows and black mascara before finishing off the look with a light pink lip.

The 30-year-old girlfriend of Andy Lee opted for full Barbie-style in a $1350 Zimmerman skin-tight semi sheer number with white floral embellishments

Cementing her status in the sartorial stake, the model paired the linen midi skirt with a high waist and hand applied 3D moulded flowers with towering white leather platform heels

Paying attention to every detail, the model added carefully manicured nails to complete the look.

The influencer has certainly been making the rounds with the glitterati with her appearance coming just days after she channelled Audrey Hepburn in $1,080 Valentino black silk gloves and a shift dress for Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

She opted for a crisp white hip-flare strapless number which she styled to perfection with old Hollywood glamour.

Rebecca was today without her boyfriend - who many fans believe she may have secretly wed or got engaged during a romantic trip to Paris.

On Sunday, the 41-year-old comedian shared a sweet snap of the couple looking loved-up as they posed for a sunset photo in front of the Eiffel Tower to Instagram.

Some followers were quick to suggest they had tied the knot because Andy had his left hand tucked in his pocket, while others speculated there was proposal or one was imminent.
Mariah Carey appeared on social media to declare that 'it's time' for '#MariahSZN' as Halloween came to an end on Monday night.

The famous pop star, 52, enchanted fans with a video of her transitioning from a witchy costume to the iconic red bodysuit she wore on the cover of her 1994 Merry Christmas album.

In a whistle tone singing voice she sang, 'It's time,' before her rendition of All I Want For Christmas Is You began to play.

Holiday season: Mariah Carey appeared on social media to declare that 'it's time' for '#MariahSZN' as Halloween came to an end on Monday night

The mother-of-two was clad in a black catsuit as she rode a stationary bike at the start of the visual.

Behind her was a computer generated image of a dark gray wooded scene with silhouettes of barren trees.

On the ground in the picture there were glowing carved pumpkins and her long, flowing hair was jet black.

She wore a tall, wide-brimmed cone hat and heavy, dramatic makeup as she let out a dark, boisterous laugh.

The end of Halloween: The mother-of-two was clad in a black catsuit as she rode a stationary bike at the start of the visual

The darkness gave way to a snowy scene as the bike transitioned to a reindeer draped in festive ornaments.

Mariah's mane evolved into frosty blonde locks that were styled in a side part and spiral curls.

The longtime hitmaker was overjoyed as she modeled her skintight, white fur-trimmed getup with a black belt around her waist.

She added black snow booties and small, sparkling hoop earrings as she flashed a bright smile.

Bright! The darkness gave way to a snowy scene as the bike transitioned to a reindeer draped in festive ornaments

In her Instagram caption the songstress - who shares 11-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe with ex-husband Nick Cannon - wrote, 'ITS TIIIIIIIIME!!!!!!!!'

Her 11.1 million followers liked the post hundreds of thousands of times as they relished in the fun.

It's become customary for Carey to promote her mid-90s studio album throughout the last two months of the year.

The lead single is ubiquitous around the holiday season as fans push it back to the top of the music charts year after year.

Famous look: The longtime hitmaker was overjoyed as she modeled her skintight, white fur-trimmed getup with a black belt around her waist

Her seemingly inextricable association with the holiday has earned her the informal title of Queen of Christmas.

Last year just days before the holiday the chart-topping track had more than 81 million streams and had been downloaded around 14,800 times, according to Billboard.

At the time, a fan wrote under one of the star's holiday Instagram posts: 'How does it feel to keep being the queen of Billboard after more than 30 years??'
She loves to play dress up and Amanda Holden well and truly got into the Halloween spirit on Monday night.

The TV and radio star, 51, transformed into Disney villain the Evil Queen, teaming up with her youngest daughter Hollie, ten, as Snow White for their spooky night.

Amanda was unrecognisable as she showed off her look in a series of chilling Instagram snaps, revealing she did the school run in full costume.

Disney villain: She loves to play dress up and Amanda Holden well and truly got into the Halloween spirit on Monday night, teaming up with her daughter Hollie, ten

Amanda got into character in a gold crown and tight purple mini dress, hiding her blonde hair under a black wig.

Hollie had her own take on Disney heroine Snow White, covering her blue and yellow dress with fake blood.

She completed her look with white face paint, dabbed with blood, and a black wig, while Amanda revealed that 'Uncle' Keith Lemon had made her daughter a 'poisoned apple.'

Wow: Amanda was unrecognisable as she showed off Evil Queen costume in a series of chilling Instagram snaps, revealing she did the school run in full costume

Committed to the costume: Hollie had her own take on Disney heroine Snow White, covering her blue and yellow dress with fake blood

The duo posed for photos outside their spookily decorated London home, after Amanda quipped she was 'off to capture Snow White from school'.

Halloween started early for Amanda, who teamed up with her Heart Breakfast show co-stars for another costume on Friday.

She joined Ashley Roberts and Jamie Theakston to recreate Hocus Pocus as they got into costume as the iconic Sanderson sisters.

Deadly duo: Amanda got into character in a gold crown and tight purple mini dress, hiding her blonde hair under a black wig

Always time for a selfie: Amanda also snapped photos with a mystery family member in a very spooky mask

Terrifying: The star committed to her costume with her vampy eye makeup and accessories

The presenter also took to her Instagram Stories to share a video of a huge spider crawling across her hands while she was at work for Heart Breakfast.

Amanda appeared to get the fright of her life as she was handed a spider and told about tarantula bites as the spider crawled along her palm.

As the spider crawled across her hand, a nervous Amanda asked: 'Hello darling, so is she poisonous?'

To which an expert responded: 'The worst case scenario would be like a bee sting. Yeah she's got two fangs, so a typical tarantula.

Eek! Halloween started early for Amanda, who teamed up with her Heart Breakfast show co-stars for another costume on Friday

'The bite itself I'm told is quite painful, I've never been bitten. My son likened it to a wasp sting or a bee sting. It's not fatal.'

As she continued with the spooky theme, Amanda joined Ashley and Jamie in dressing up as the Sanderson sisters from Hocus Pocus.

The radio hosts dressed up as the iconic characters from the 1993 movie and recreated the original film poster, after this year's release of Hocus Pocus 2.

New pal: The presenter also took to her Instagram Stories to share a video of a huge spider crawling across her hands while she was at work for Heart Breakfast

Amanda channelled Mary, played by Kathy Najimy, while Ashley dressed up as Sarah, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, and Jamie embodied Winifred, played by Bette Midler.

Amanda, 51, took to Instagram on Friday to share a video of her spooky transformation from her sparking black co-ord set to her Halloween costume.

The Heart Breakfast host perfected her witch look with a purple mini dress with a ruffled skirt and orange sleeves, which she teamed with a pair of pointed black stilettos.

Fun times: The radio hosts dressed up as the iconic characters from the 1993 movie and recreated the original film poster, after this year's release of Hocus Pocus 2
Simon Pegg put on a spooky display as he dressed up as a zombie and joined his wife Maureen and daughter Matilda at Jonathan Ross' Halloween party on Monday.

The actor, 52, got in the Halloween spirit as he embodied Bub from 1985's Day Of The Dead, which sees the world overrun by zombies.

He was joined by his wife Maureen, who dressed as Poison Ivy, and his child Matilda, 13, who embodied Tracy Mills from 1995's crime movie Se7en.

Horror: Simon Pegg put on a spooky display as he dressed up as a zombie and joined his wife Maureen and daughter Matilda at Jonathan Ross' Halloween party on Monday

Simon, who is the star of zombie classic Shaun Of The Dead, looked very spooky as he opted for green face paint and coloured his teeth brown for his zombie costume.

He kept it casual in black jeans and a red checkered shirt, which he teamed with a black denim jacket and boots.

The Mission Impossible star sported a pair of headphones, wore a collar and carried a fake gun as he perfected the look of Bub, played by Sherman Howard.

Day Of The Dead sees the world overrun by zombies with a group of scientists in an underground bunker in Florida deciding what they should do amid the apocalypse. Bub is a zombie who is domesticated by Dr Matthew Logan (Matt Rippy).

Dressed up: He was joined by his wife Maureen, who dressed as Poison Ivy, and his child Matilda, 13, who embodied Tracy Mills from 1995's Se7en. Also pictured with Matilda's friend

At the party, Simon was joined by his wife Maureen, who resembled Batman's Poison Ivy in a green dress and a blue cape, both covered with leaves.

She completed her look with fishnet tights and green stilettos and opted for a palette of smokey-eye green make-up.

The couple posed with their daughter Matilda, who dressed up as Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow) in the 1996 serial killer film Se7en.

She put on a bloody display and wore a cut-out cardboard box on her head as he dressed as the character in the moment of her shocking death.

In character: The actor, 52, got in the Halloween spirit as he embodied zombie Bub from 1985's Day Of The Dead, which sees the world overrun by zombies

Se7en ends with the devastating reveal that John Doe's pregnant wife was decapitated, with Matilda copying this infamous horror movie moment.

Simon has been married to wife Maureen McCann since 2005 and they welcomed daughter Matilda in 2009.

The family joined the star-studded guest list at Jonathan Ross' annual Halloween party, which was finally revived after two years of Covid-19 cancellations.

The likes of Rita Ora, Oti Mabuse and Ashley James arrived at his sprawling family home in Hampstead, north London, for the epic extravaganza.

Spooky: Simon and Maureen posed with their daughter Matilda, who dressed up as Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow) in the 1996 serial killer film Se7en and a friend of their child

It comes after Simon revealed Star Wars has the most 'toxic' fanbase and revealed he was once part of it.

The British actor, 52, is a film franchise expert having appeared in big names such as Star Trek, Mission: Impossible and Doctor Who.

During an interview on SiriusXM's Jim and Sam radio show, he was asked which franchise has 'the hardest fans to please'.

He instantly responded, Star Wars and added: 'To be honest  and as someone who kind of was, you know, kicked off about the prequels when they came out, the Star Wars fanbase really seems to be the most kind of toxic at the moment,'

Oh dear: It comes after Simon revealed Star Wars has the most 'toxic' fanbase and revealed he was once part of it

The star then admitted he himself was once a 'toxic' Star Wars fan as he spoke against Jar Jar Binks actor Ahmed Best when Star Wars: The Phantom Menace opened in theaters.

He said: 'I've apologised for the things I said about, you know, Jar Jar Binks because, of course, there was a f***ing actor involved.

'He was getting a lot of flack and it was a human being. And because it got a lot of hate, he suffered, you know, and I feel terrible about being part of that.'
Julia Fox had a sweet Halloween with her son Valentino, taking inspiration for their joint costume from classic children's book Where The Wild Things Are.

The actress enjoyed trick or treating in New York with her toddler, dressing as one of the Wild Things while little Valentino, 21, months, was the Maurice Sendak book's main character Max.

Julia looked incredible in her furry white monsters costume as she held hands with her son, who donned a cosy onesie and a crown.

Wild Things: Julia Fox had a sweet Halloween with her son Valentino, 21 months, taking inspiration for their joint costume from classic children's book Where The Wild Things Are

Julia put a risque twist on her costume, exposing her chest by going naked underneath the furry outfit.

She accessorised with black gloves, to give the illusion of claws and added horns to her forehead alongside vampy eye makeup.

Little Valentino was instantly recognisable as the book's hero Max, with a large gold foil crown and a buttoned onesie.

Monster: The actress enjoyed trick or treating in New York with her toddler, dressing as one of the Wild Things, while showing some skin

Julia also enlisted her pals Richie Shazam, Ben Draghi, Emma Fuji and stylist Briana Andalore to dress as Wild Things for their trick or treating session in their NYC neighbourhood, before the gang headed to Heidi Klum's annual Halloween costume party.

Julia shares her son with ex-husband Peter Artemiev. The couple were married in 2018 and divorced in 2020, before Valentino was born.

While she received accolades for her role in 2019's Uncut Gems opposite Adam Sandler, Julia is best known as Kanye West's ex-girlfriend. The two dated briefly.

Hero: Little Valentino was the Maurice Sendak book's main character Max, looking adorable in his crown and onesie

Beloved book: Julia took inspiration from the 1963 children's picture book by American writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak

The pair began dating earlier this year after meeting at a New Year's Eve party in Miami, but only lasted a few weeks with Julia's rep releasing a statement on Valentine's day saying 'Julia and Kanye remain good friends and collaborators but they are no longer together.'

In a New York Times interview published in March the busy actor blamed conflicting schedules on the split.

'I already had a jam-packed life. How do I fit this really big personality into this already full life? It just wasn't sustainable,' she said.

Group effort: Julia also enlisted her pals Richie Shazam, Ben Draghi, Emma Fuji and stylist Briana Andalore to dress as Wild Things for their trick or treating session

Committed! Her friends wowed in their own outlandish takes on the beloved characters

Racy: Julia put a risque twist on her costume, exposing her chest by going shirtless underneath the furry outfit

In an interview with ES, the Italian born beauty elaborated a bit more about her relationship with the troubled rapper, saying, that she noticed some red flags resulting from the Donda artist's divorce from ex-wife Kim Kardashian, 42.

'It just seems like he had a lot to work on, and I just don't have time for it, or energy. I don't have the bandwidth or emotional capacity for it.'

Kanye has been dropped recently by from deals with Balenciaga, Vogue, Gap, Adidas, Foot Locker and the CAA talent agency after making anti-Semitic remarks.

Julia meanwhile is currently the face and body of British brand KNWLS autumn and winter campaign.

Ready for her close up: She accessorised with black gloves, to give the illusion of claws and added horns to her forehead alongside vampy eye makeup

Busy night! After trick or treating with her son Julia enjoyed the festivities at Heidi Klum's annual Halloween party at Moxy Lower East Side

Pals: Julia, who shares her son with ex-husband Peter Artemiev, was joined by her equally fabulous friends for the Halloween night out

Fabulous: The group matched in their incredible costumes, with little Valentino the star of the night
Allison Langdon is known for her chic and and conservative clothing choices.

But on Tuesday, the Today show host branched out to make a fashion statement in an arty frock while attending Melbourne Cup festivities in Sydney.

The $820 High Tide mesh dress from designer Louisa Ballou, which is described as an 'unconventional perspective on resortwear', features bright splashes of colour.

Allison Langdon (pictured) branched out to make a fashion statement in an arty frock while attending Melbourne Cup festivities in Sydney. The $820 High Tide mesh dress from designer Louisa Ballou features bright splashes of colour

The 43-year-old divided opinion with the frock when she showed it off on an Instagram post.

'Love you Ali, but not that dress,' one follower of the television personality commented under the image.

'Is this a fake account? I don't think Alley would dress like this,' another person questioned.

The 43-year-old divided opinion with the frock when she showed it off on an Instagram post

'That's a definite no no,' someone else who wasn't a fan of the frock chimed in.

Others however loved the outfit, with one fan raving, 'Gorgeous outfit. Where is it from?'

'What a dress!' said someone else, while another wrote, 'Ally please wear this dress on the Today show'.

Posing alongside Todd Cummins, she looked radiant in the black frock with splashes of neon yellow and red, reminiscent of a bird of paradise flower

Allison is known for her chic and and conservative clothing choices

Allison flaunted the gown while posing for photos at Cafe Sydney where she was attending a Melbourne Cup Carnival event.

Posing alongside Todd Cummins, she looked radiant in the black frock with splashes of neon yellow and red, reminiscent of a bird of paradise flower.

She completed her look with towering pointed stiletto heels and a soft, peachy makeup look.
After the finalization of Elon Musk's $44 billion deal with Twitter, the billionaire fired former CEO Parag Agrawal and other top company officials. The question now is who is the new CEO of the social media platform?

Musk tweeted on Sunday, "My title is Chief Twit right there in the bio. No idea who the CEO is," causing further speculation on who is the current chief of the social media.

Now, the Securities and Exchange Commision (SEC) filling answered all questions surrounding the matter: Elon Musk is the new CEO of Twitter.

Twitter is Now One of the Companies Elon Musk Runs

Twitter will now be added to the companies that Musk runs, which include SpaceX, brain-chip startup Neuralink, automaker Tesla, and tunneling firm the Boring Company, as per Reuters.

The public confirmation from SEC is included in the 13th amendment to a document that Musk first filed on April 4 when he announced his bid to takeover Twitter, according to The Verge.

The SEC filing also stated that Twitter's new CEO has also offered to buy back all of social media's outstanding bonds.

Musk was able to complete his $44 billion bid to buy the company through a combination of his own wealth, investment funds, and bank loans.

One of those who invested on the social media's purchase is Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. A separate SEC filing showed that he had become Twitter's second-largest shareholder.

In a tweet, Chris Murphy, a Democratic senator for Connecticut, announced that he would ask the Committee on Foreign Investment to review the possible implication of Saudi Arabia's investment on the platform to national security.

Additional SEC filings also shows that Twitter co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey remains a part owner of the company.

There are other private investors on the list but majority of the shares are owned by Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Holding Company, and Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.

Read Also: Elon Musk, Twitter's Legal Battle Now Involve Signal Messages

Elon Musk Dissolves Twitter's Board of Directors

Twitter refused to comment on how long Musk will serve as CEO of the company or if he's going to appoint someone else to hold the post.

Previously, the billionaire had changed his bio to "Chief Twit" in an allusion to his planned move to take the reins of the social media platform.

According to Reuters, another SEC filing stated that Musk became the sole director of the company as a result of the takeover.

As part of the takeover, the new CEO of the company is quick to fire top officials and directors of the social media platform.

Musk said in the filing: "The following persons, who were directors of Twitter prior to the effective time of the merger, are no longer directors of Twitter: Bret Taylor, Parag Agrawal, Omid Kordestani, David Rosenblatt, Martha Lane Fox, Patrick Pichette, Egon Durban, Fei-Fei Li and Mimi Alemayehou."

Shortly after dissolving the board, Musk tweeted that this move "is just temporary." However, he did not elaborate his next plan for Twitter.

Musk's Twitter takeover last week concluded the months-long saga that started in April.

Related Article: Elon Musk's Twitter Takeover Sparks Organized Trolling
Love Island's Tasha Ghouri was back in her sizzling swimwear as she enjoyed a romantic getaway to Dubai with her co-star boyfriend Andrew Le Page.

The reality star, 24, looked nothing short of sensational as she flashed her toned physique in a bright orange two-piece as she posed by the pool in snaps posted to her Instagram page on Monday night.

The dancer showed off her natural beauty as she flipped her blonde tresses behind her while soaking up the sun.

Sizzling: Love Island's Tasha Ghouri looked nothing short of sensational as she flashed her toned physique in a bright orange bikini in Dubai on Monday

Tasha changed into an eye-catching khaki camouflage bikini for a second snap as she flashed her underboob in the tiny swimwear.

The TV personality looked away from the camera as she posed once again by the pool while holding a pair of dark sunglasses.

Tasha kept cool as she swept her blonde tresses up in a chic up do leaving her bangs to frame her makeup-free face.

The Love Island finalist was joined on the trip with boyfriend Andrew, 27, as they packed on the PDA.

Too hot! The Love Island star, 24, posed up a storm in an eye catching khaki camo bikini as she flashed her underboob while posing for a second snap by the pool

Chic: The dancer showed off her natural beauty as she soaked up the sun, wearing a chic shell necklace and a layered gold one with her name penned on it

Romantic: The Love Island finalist was joined on the trip with co-star boyfriend Andrew Le Page, 27, as they packed on the PDA

The couple looked smitten as they posed on a sunbed together, with Tasha wearing a black and white zebra print bikini.

This was the ITV2 star's first romantic getaway with Andrew since leaving the Love Island villa in Mallorca this summer - and the couple spared no expense during the trip.

The pair enjoyed the romantic destination while staying in a 700-a-night room with a private pool in a five-star hotel.

Tasha wrote alongside the gallery of snaps on Instagram: 'Holiday dump'.

Evening attire: Tasha swapped her bikini for a shimmering two-piece in the evening as she posed on a balcony in a crop top and maxi skirt

Selfie: The couple looked smitten as they posed on a sunbed together, with Tasha donning a black and white zebra print bikini as her beau placed an arm on her shoulder

Andrew wrote under the gallery: 'Another one soon please,' followed by a heart emoji.

Tasha and Andrew rose to fame when they reached the final of this year's Love Island.

They have since taken their relationship to the next level by moving into their first home together in London.

The Love Island finalists wasted no time in finding their 'dream' two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in London, with Tasha describing the commitment as a 'fresh start.'

Loved-up: This was the ITV2 star's first romantic getaway with Andrew since leaving the Love Island villa in Mallorca this summer - and the couple spared no expense during the trip
She gave birth to her baby boy Lucky three months ago.

But Lottie Tomlinson is not afraid to show off her incredible post-baby figure as she posed in stunning green lingerie for her 4.7million followers.

The influencer, 23, said she was 'proud' of her new body after losing 20kg since having her first child who she shares with model beau Lewis Burton, 30.

'I'm proud of my body!': Lottie Tomlinson is not afraid to show off her incredible post-baby figure as she posed in stunning green lingerie for her 4.7million followers

Sharing a video of her posing for the camera, Lottie wrote: '3 months postpartum... its so easy to edit photos and act like our bodies our perfect on Instagram but whats the point?

'This body grew my baby, birthed my baby and fed my baby, Im proud of my body!

'It can be so hard when you dont recognise your body or it doesnt look like it used to, but Im trying to embrace it and be real, this is me.

Candid: The Tanologist founder, 23, said she was 'proud' of her new body after losing 20kg since having her first child who she shares with model beau Lewis Burton, 30

'Our bodies are amazing.'

The lacy emerald green bra and pant set perfectly hugged her enviable frame, and she wore her blonde tresses straight.

Going for the natural look, Lottie had fluttering eyelashes and a clear gloss over her lips.

Unreal: Sharing a video of her posing for the camera, Lottie wrote: '3 months postpartum... its so easy to edit photos and act like our bodies our perfect on Instagram but whats the point?'

Playful: The lacy emerald green bra and pant set perfectly hugged her enviable frame, and she wore her blonde tresses straight

She wore a delicate pendant necklace to accessorised and smiled for the camera as she posed up a storm in her London pad.

It comes after the influencer admitted she had been 'hard' on herself and how she looked since giving birth in the summer.

Taking to her Instagram stories last week, Lottie told her followers that her boyfriend Lewis convinced her to lift her 20kg weight loss in kettlebell form to see just how far she had come.

She penned: 'Holding the amount of weight I've lost since having Lucky, I can be quite hard on myself about progress and how I look so Lewis told me to hold the 20Kg so I could feel how much weight I'd lost and how far I'd come...'.

'I know it's not necessary to get back into shape so soon after having a baby but it was really important for me as I gained a lot of weight and felt so unhealthy and low in energy and exercise has always been a key part of my routine to keep me strong mentally, I feel goood'. [sic]

The influencer, who is the younger sister of former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson, previously spoke about how she is slowly getting her confidence back after gaining 3.5st during her pregnancy.
Coco Austin stood out from the crowd on Monday night, as she attended Heidi Klum's 21st annual Halloween party at Sake No Hana in New York with husband Ice-T.

The 43-year-old vixen showed off her curves in a tiny red latex bodysuit, that barely contained her ample assets.

She paired it with fishnet tights and elevated her height in a pair of red sparkly high heels.

Voluptuous: Coco Austin stood out from the crowd on Monday night, as she attended Heidi Klum's 21st annual Halloween party at Sake No Hana in New York with husband Ice-T

Her peachy bum was on full display in the revealing outfit, and she added two gold bracelets round her wrist and arm.

Coco wore a long black wig on top of her head, and completed her daring look with a classic red lip.

She cosied up to Ice-T, 64, who dressed up as Count Dracula for the party, wearing a black suit and white shirt.

Turning heads: The 43-year-old vixen showed off her curves in a tiny red latex bodysuit, that barely contained her ample assets

Over the top he wore the iconic red and black cape with the popper collar and he added a black wig with white streaks.

The rapper and actor, real name Tracy Lauren Marrow, also hid his eyes behind a pair of black sunglasses.

Missing from the party was the couple's six-year-old daughter Chanel Nicole Marrow.

Exposed: Back in May Coco - legal name Nicole Natalie Marrow - caused a stir when she posted photos scantily clad while at a waterpark with the tot

Back in May Coco - legal name Nicole Natalie Marrow - caused a stir when she posted photos scantily clad while at a waterpark with the tot.

The images showed the curvaceous mother-of-one in a metallic pink and blue g-string bikini.

Chanel matched with her mom in an age-appropriate two-piece swimsuit of her own.

The flicks, which we taken by Ice-T, were snapped at Baha Bay Water Park in Baha Mar resort in the Bahamas.

Cute: Coco and Chanel coordinated in leopard print swimwear with center cutouts

The New York Post reported that the photos, which showed other children playing in the background 'have angered other parents' who called the bikini bottoms 'inappropriate.'

One of her 3M Instagram followers wrote: 'Your bathing suit is soooo NOT appropriate for a water park.'

Another follower added, 'So I gotta ask, don't you ever feel like maybe at a kid-friendly place a g-string is inappropriate? Just curious if you ever feel like that.'

However, the bombshell didn't break the resort's dress code, which states that 'swimsuits, pool attire and similar apparel are all acceptable clothing.'
Alison Steadman has spoken about finding out her father was adopted while appearing on DNA Journey, saying her family were completely unaware before.

The actress, 76, spoke about the shocking discovery on Tuesday's Good Morning Britain, saying she was 'so upset' to learn her grandmother wasn't biologically related to her.

Speaking to hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls, Alison admitted that she doesn't think her father knew he was adopted and revealed none of her family were aware.

Family: Alison Steadman has spoken about finding out her father was adopted while appearing on DNA Journey, saying her family were completely unaware before

When asked what discoveries she was faced with on ITV's DNA Journey, Alison said: 'My father was adopted, which I didn't know, none of us knew in our family.'

Her Gavin And Stacey co-star Larry Lamb, who appeared on DNA Journey with her and joined her on the morning chat show, said: 'It knocked her sideways!'

Alison explained that her father was eight months old when he was adopted and said she was 'so glad' Larry, 75, was there to support her after getting the difficult news.

'I don't think [my father] knew. He was eight months old,' Alison continued.

Revelation: The actress, 76, spoke about the shocking discovery on Tuesday's Good Morning Britain, saying she was 'so upset' to learn her grandmother wasn't biologically related to her

'I was so glad that I had Larry with me honestly because I was just so upset by it, I really was.'

The Life star said she found it 'so upsetting' that her grandmother, aunt and uncle all knew but didn't tell her father or any of her close family.

She said: 'My grandmother, my aunt, my uncle they all knew [and] they didn't tell me, but they were lovely people that's the main thing and I love them to bits.

'But to find out suddenly that my grandma wasn't my grandma as it was, was quite upsetting.'

'I was so upset': Appearing on the show with Larry Lamb, Alison admitted that she doesn't think her father knew he was adopted and revealed none of her family were aware

Alison was born in Liverpool to Marjorie and George Percival Steadman, and was the youngest of three sisters.

George worked as a production controller for electronics company Plessey and Alison went to school at state grammar school Childwall Valley High School for Girls, followed by East 15 Acting School.

Larry went on to share that he also found out that his mother was adopted in a similar family discovery, but said it was less of a shock to him than Alison.

'I'd found out the same sort of thing - my mother was adopted,' he explained.

'And there was a whole chain of things that sprang off that, so I kind of got where Alison was. Mine was kind of easier to accept but Ally's, this was a big shaking of the keystone.'

Difficult: Her Gavin And Stacey co-star Larry Lamb, who appeared on DNA Journey with her and joined her on the morning chat show, said: 'It knocked her sideways'

Unaware: The Life star said she found it 'so upsetting' that her grandmother, aunt and uncle all knew but didn't tell her father or any of her close family

The pair also dismissed claims that there would be an upcoming Christmas special of Gavin and Stacey this year.

'I wouldn't hold your breath - and certainly not this Christmas,' Larry, who plays Mick on the series, said.

James Corden's move back to the UK has fuelled speculation that he will once again team up with Ruth Jones to bring back Gavin and Stacey, which ended in 2010.

A record-breaking Christmas special in 2019 had people hoping for a new series, especially given what happened at the end.

Oh dear! The pair (pictured on the show with Matthew Horne) also dismissed claims that there would be an upcoming Christmas special of Gavin and Stacey this year

But Alison, who stars as Pam, recently said it's unlikely viewers will see the cast reunite.

She said: 'I wouldn't know. Honestly, it's the truth. I doubt it'll go again but that's what I said in the nine-year gap [between the sitcom finale and the Christmas special] and I was wrong.'

Gavin and Stacey ran for three series between 2007 and 2010 before returning for Christmas special - the most watched comedy in 17 years - in 2019.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV & ITV Hub.
TOWIE newcomer Hannah Voynan's love interest Kirk Holdrick is on the run from police following an altercation with her ex-boyfriend, MailOnline can reveal.

Kirk, 40, who once escaped prison after being sentenced for armed robbery, is said to have been seeing Hannah on and off for the past year.

The Essex gangster has now breached the the terms of his licence following an alleged altercation with Hannah's ex and is wanted by police.

Police have released a statement asking anyone who knows of his whereabouts to contact them but have been warned not to approach him.

Kirk was pictured leaving Sexy Fish restaurant in London holding hands with Hannah in September and friends of the reality star say they have a long-standing romance.

Reports: TOWIE newcomer Hannah Voynan's love interest Kirk Holdrick (pictured left) is on the run from police following an altercation with her ex-boyfriend

A source said: 'Hannah is upset and confused right now. It's a worrying time for everybody concerned and she is not getting any answers.'

Hannah joined the ITVBe show in June this year, her biggest storyline being dating co-star Liam 'Gatsby' Blackwell.

In recent episodes the Towie veteran, 34, was seen calling time on the romance with Hannah shortly before leaving the series.

However, sources close to Hannah claim her link with Gatsby was never serious, as she's been in a relationship with Kirk for over a year.

MailOnline has approached Hannah for comment.

Wanted: The Essex gangster has now breached the the terms of his licence following an alleged altercation with Hannah's ex and is wanted by police

Kirk, originally from Borehamwood, was arrested in May 2004 as he and an accomplice attempted to rob a Securicor vehicle at gunpoint.

Five months later, while on remand, he escaped Pentonville Prison by scaling a 30ft wall and climbing through razor wire, according to local news reports.

He was caught after four weeks on the run driving a stolen vehicle and in possession of a firearm.

In October 2005, a jury at Harrow Crown Court found Kirk guilty of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and being in possession of a loaded firearm. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

According to reports, the sentence took into account armed robberies on a Securicor vehicle at Costco, Bushey, and Wish Contemporary Jewellers in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, and his escape from Pentonville Prison.

Detective Inspector Mark Drew, from the Finchley Flying Squad, said at the time: 'Kirk Holdrick is a dangerous and determined criminal who carried out what can only be described as armed robbery sprees.'

New arrival: Hannah joined the ITVBe show in June this year with her biggest storyline being her romantic interest in Liam 'Gatsby' Blackwell

After breaching terms of his licence and going on the run, police issued a statement asking for information on his whereabouts.

The statement read: 'You can report information on his whereabouts online at herts.police.uk/report, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact or call the non-emergency number 101.

'Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Claims: sources close to Hannah claim her link with Gatsby (pictured left) was never serious, as she's been in a relationship with Kirk for over a year

'If you have seen him in the last few minutes, please do not approach him but instead call 999 straight away.'

Hannah isn't the first Towie star to fall for a bad boy.

In 2017, Ferne McCann's then boyfriend Arthur Collins was jailed for 20 years after hurling acid over revellers in an East London nightclub as part of a gangland war.

Jailed: Hannah isn't the first Towie star to fall for a bad boy. In 2017, Ferne McCann's then boyfriend Arthur Collins was jailed for 20 years after hurling acid over revellers

Sixteen people suffered chemical burn injuries and three people were temporarily blinded in what was described as one of Britain's worst acid attacks.

In the wake of his arrest, Ferne revealed she was expecting his baby and she gave birth to her daughter Sunday the following November - a month before her ex-partner was sentenced.

Ferne's former co-star Lauren Goodger dated Joey Morrison who was sentenced to 16 years behind bars in 2010 after he dressed like a postman and burgled properties in Enfield, North London.

Their relationship began while he was in prison and they broke up shortly before his release in 2018.

Gemma Collins had a brief relationship with Stephen Mortimer between February 2015 to April 2016 before he was handed a two-year sentence for burglary.

He broke into a house in the middle of the afternoon and stole 100 in coins.

Mortimer had previously been released early from a two-year jail term for GBH but breached the terms of his licence by moving into Gemma's house in Brentwood.
Trinny Woodall has taken her followers with her to get a mammogram, by filming her appointment and posting it on Instagram on Monday.

A mammogram is X-ray screening to check for signs of cancer which are too small to see or feel in order to treat it earlier.

The fashion and makeover expert, 58, said she was sharing the personal moment, to show women that they shouldn't be scared of the test.

Open: Trinny Woodall has taken her followers with her to get a mammogram, by filming her appointment and posting it on Instagram on Monday

Trinny, who is known for her TV work with Susannah Constantine explained: 'Some people put them off because they don't like the idea of going to a hospital and having it done.

'But we're going to go through the whole process today to see there is nothing to fear'.

She then met with a nurse who explained that they X-ray both breasts and under the arms as the breast tissue extends up across the axillary tail.

Test: A mammogram is X-ray screening to check for signs of cancer which are too small to see or feel to treat earlier

Trinny described the compression as 'so fine' and added: 'You know when you're in the hands of an expert'.

Jane, the nurse, added: 'Some ladies come through absolutely terrified because they've heard horror stories, it doesn't have to be like that. Just give it a go and see how you go.'

Trinny described the whole process as 'fantastic' and then took her followers through the process of getting an ultrasound on her breasts as well.

Intimate: The fashion and makeover expert, 58, said she was sharing the personal moment, to show women that they shouldn't be scared of the test

BREAST CANCER SCREENINGS What is breast cancer screening? Screening is a procedure which allows doctors to catch breast cancer while it is still in its infancy and therefore easier to treat. It involves an X-ray test - known as a mammogram - to check for signs of cancer which are too small to see or feel. The results of the mammogram will be sent to the women and her GP within two weeks. Around 5 per cent will be called back for further tests. Who is eligible? Any woman concerned that they might have breast cancer can see their GP and be referred for a screening. But in recognition that the risk of getting breast cancer increases with age, all women aged between 50 and 70 who are registered with a GP should automatically be invited for screening every three years. Women are first invited for screening between their 50th and 53rd birthday, although in some areas they are invited from age 47 as part of a trial. How are they invited? The screening process is overseen by Public Health England, which uses an IT system to send out invitations. Advertisement

The radiologist explained that women needn't be scared of the radiation from the test, as it is 'a very very low dose' and 'nothing we're not already exposed to'.

She revealed to Trinny that her tests had all come back clear, and Trinny concluded the video by saying: 'I'm glad you went through the experience with us, so that it is so important that when you get that card from the NHS, not to worry.

'We tried to show you today there's nothing to worry about and it's so much better to be safe and to be proactive in looking after our breasts.'

'Fantastic': Trinny described the whole process as 'fantastic' and then took her followers through the process of getting an ultrasound on her breasts as well

Captioning the clip on Instagram, she wrote: 'October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and this year I wanted to take you to my mammogram appointment.

'I know so many women feel nervous about mammograms and are reluctant to go because they fear it will be an awkward and uncomfortable experience.

'I filmed my appointment to assure you that its simply 15 minutes out of your day and could end up saving your life'
Ellie Bamber stunned in an unbuttoned cream cardigan and matching skirt as she posed on the red carpet for her new series Willow.

The 25-year-old British actress, who is best known for her roles in Les Miserables and BBC drama The Trial of Christine Keeler, made an appearance in Lucca, Italy, on Tuesday morning ahead of the release of the Disney+ show.

She was in Italy for the series panel for Willow at the 56th Lucca Comics & Games Festival 2022, in which she plays Dove.

Stunner: Ellie Bamber stunned in an unbuttoned cream cardigan and matching skirt as she posed on the red carpet for her new series Willow

Flawless: Her makeup was kept simple but classy, wearing a bronzey orange eyeshadow look which worked with her bright hair colour

In the show, an 'unlikely set of heroes' head onwards to make a dangerous trek away from home, they face 'inner demons' in order to save the world together.

Ellie stunned in the knitted co-ord which showcased her midriff and complimented her straight choppy auburn locks perfectly.

The collared cardigan was only joined at the first button, giving a glimpse of her taut frame.

Glimpse: Ellie stunned in the knitted co-ord which showcased her midriff and complimented her straight choppy auburn locks perfectly

New gig: The 25-year-old British actress, who is best known for her roles in Les Miserables and BBC drama The Trial of Christine Keeler, made an appearance in Lucca, Italy, on Tuesday

The midi-length skirt had a frilled panel at the bottom which fell over her cream white heeled boots.

She accessorised with a pair of Cartier yellow gold Juste Un Clou hoop earrings and a variety of gold rings.

Her makeup was kept simple but classy, wearing a bronzey orange eyeshadow look which worked with her bright hair colour.

Appearances: She was in Italy for the series panel for Willow at the 56th Lucca Comics & Games Festival 2022, in which she plays Dove

Chit chat: Appearing on the panel, Ellie accessorised with a pair of Cartier yellow gold Juste Un Clou hoop earrings and a variety of gold rings

Flushed: She added a flushed contour to her cheeks and a pink tint to her lips, while also keeping her eyebrows brushed in a fluffy effect

She added a flushed contour to her cheeks and a pink tint to her lips, while also keeping her eyebrows brushed in a fluffy effect.

The Surrey native arrived alongside her co-stars Amer Chadha-Patel and Erin Kellyman who also posed up a storm on the red carpet.

In the summer, Disney+ unveiled the first full trailer for its Willow sequel, in which Warwick Davis wields a flamethrower as the titular character Willow Ufgood.

Red carpet ready: The midi-length skirt had a frilled panel at the bottom which fell over her cream white heeled boots

Co-stars: The Surrey native arrived alongside her co-stars Amer Chadha-Patel and Erin Kellyman who also posed up a storm on the red carpet

Good time: The co-stars enjoyed talking about their new series while in Italy on Monday at the Lucca Comics and Games festival

The 52-year-old Englishman was only 17 when he landed the breakout role of the Nelwyn dwarf sorcerer apprentice, and his character has clearly grown tougher in the continuation set 20 years later.

The two-minute preview begins with a band of folks from Nockmaar Castle traveling to the village of Nelwyn to find Willow.

As soon as Willow lays eyes on Princess Kit (Ruby Cruz), who needs to rescue her abducted twin brother, he says: 'You remind me of your mother.'

Turns out Kit's mother is Queen Sorsha (Joanne Whalley), who later tells Willow: 'My dear friend, I thought I could prevent all this. I was wrong.'

Showrunners Jonathan Kasdan and Wendy Mericle's eight-episode fantasy adventure premieres November 30 on Disney+.

The ensemble cast also includes Erin Kellyman, Ellie Bamber, Tony Revolori, Amar Chadha-Patel, Dempsey Bryk, Rosabell Laurenti Sellers, Talisa Garcia, Ralph Ineson, and Annabelle Davis.

Ensemble: Alongside Erin Kellyman, Tony Revolori, Amar Chadha-Patel and more, Ellie Bamber plays the role of Dove in the new Disney+ series
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The Crown's Elizabeth Debicki slipped into a swimsuit as she filmed scenes of Princess Diana's Mediterranean cruise with Dodi Al Fayed in 1997, which came just weeks before her tragic death.

The Australian actress, 32, looked stunning in a backless animal print halter-neck swimsuit as she filmed scenes for the sixth season of the Netflix drama on a replica of yacht Jonikal, owned by Dodi's father Mohamed Al Fayed.

She embodied the late Princess of Wales she recreated one of Diana's very recognisable holiday looks from when she holidayed in St Tropez with Dodi back in July 1997.

The Crown are recreating the holiday when sailed from the South of France to Sardinia with her two sons and Dodi just weeks before she was killed in a car crash in Paris.

In character: The Crown's Elizabeth Debicki (left) slipped into a swimsuit as she filmed scenes of Princess Diana's Mediterranean cruise with Dodi Al Fayed in 1997, which came just weeks before her tragic death

Beachwear: The Australian actress, 32, looked stunning in a backless animal print halter-neck swimsuit as she filmed scenes for the sixth season of the Netflix drama on a replica of yacht Jonikal, owned by Dodi's father Mohamed Al Fayed

Elizabeth is set to make her debut as Princess Diana in the upcoming fifth season of The Crown, which is set for release on November 9, and the programme has already courted controversy with producers slammed over its which will include Diana's now-infamous 1995 interview on Panorama.

In the latest filming pictures, taken on October 19, Elizabeth was a dead ringer for the royal as she sported the animal print swimsuit while lounging on the luxurious yacht with Khalid Abdalla, who plays Diana's lover Dodi.

She shielded her eyes with a pair of oval sunglasses as she was joined by the crew on a smaller boat as they travelled out to a replica of Fayed's famous lavish liner.

Her co-stars Rufus Kampa, who is playing a young Prince William, and Will Powell who stars as Prince Harry, did not appear to be present during the scenes.

Spitting image: She embodied the late Princess of Wales she recreated one of Diana's very recognisable holiday looks from when she sailed from the South of France to Sardinia with her two sons and Dodi weeks before she was killed in Paris

Tragic: The Crown are recreating the holiday when sailed from the South of France to Sardinia with her two sons and Dodi weeks before she was killed in a car crash in Paris

Yacht Titania is set to act as a stand-in for Fayed's yacht Jonikal during both the fifth and sixth seasons of The Crown.

In May 2020, Omar's father's yacht - which had hosted the royals and Dodi - was sold for 171,000, with some observers telling The Sunday Express that the bid was surprisingly low, sparking fears that the memory of Diana was 'fading'.

Royal author Margaret Holder, who penned Diana: The Caring Princess, a look at the Princess of Wales' life published in 1999, said she felt it was: 'a shame that this historic boat didn't attract a higher bid as a remarkable souvenir of the last days of Diana's life.'

The boat was used by Dodi as the venue for lavish parties in the South of France, mainly in St Tropez.

Recognisable look: In the latest filming pictures, taken on October 19, Elizabeth was a dead ringer for the royal as she sported the animal print swimsuit while lounging on the luxurious yacht

Star: Elizabeth is set to make her debut as Princess Diana in the upcoming fifth season of The Crown, which is set for release on November 9

Relaxing: Elizabeth shielded her eyes with a pair of oval sunglasses as she was joined by the crew on a smaller boat as they travelled out to a replica of Fayed's famous lavish liner

Fashion: At one point, Elizabeth was seen with a bright blue sarong around her waist as she was joined by the crew on a boat

While he is not believed to feature in The Crown, Dodi's half-brother Omar Fayed previously spoke about his memories of holidaying with the Diana, her sons and Dodi.

Although he was just nine years old at the time of the trip, he recalled that spending time with Diana and her sons was 'delightful' and the period surrounding their relationship had 'lovely family vibes'.

In an interview with Tatler last year, Omar said: 'I met Princess Diana a few times and Princes William and Harry. They came to my dad's house, too, and were super delightful.

'There were so many stories that came out of that period, but for the people who were in it, it was lovely family vibes.'

Solo: Her co-stars Khalid Abdalla, who plays Diana's lover Dodi, Rufus Kampa, who is playing a young Prince William, and Will Powell who stars as Prince Harry, did not appear to be present during the scenes

Kicking back: Elizabeth stunned in her animal print swimsuit and sported Diana's signature blonde bob as she relaxed on a boat

All aboard: Elizabeth was seen climbing in between two boats as she was seen getting ready for filming the holiday scenes with the crew

Helping hand: Elizabeth was assisted with climbing from one yacht to another boat as they shot the famous St Tropez scenes

Netflix, which spends 11.5 million per episode on the show, which is one of its biggest global hits, is about to launch series five on November 9.

It will cover the years from 1991 to 1997, and will include details of Diana's Panorama interview in 1995.

King Charles, played by Dominic West, is the dominant figure in the drama. He is shown lobbying Prime Minister John Major in a bizarre attempt to force his mother's abdication.

It also depicts Charles bitterly arguing with Diana as their divorce looms, and romancing Camilla, now Queen Consort, including a dramatisation of the notorious 'tampongate' phone call.

All smiles: Elizabeth placed a hand on her co-star's shoulder as they docked on a smaller boat, which they used to travel out to the yacht

Casual look: Elizabeth sported a bright blue and yellow sarong thrown around her waist and kept comfortable in a pair of black sandals as she headed off the boat

Snapping away: Elizabeth was seen embodying Diana as she sat on a small boat, which was followed by a boat filled with photographers

The fifth series of The Crown, which will cover the years leading up to Princess Diana's 1995 Panorama interview, has already sparked anger before its release.

A production source said that media outrage over inaccuracies  and the lack of sensitivity in airing the series so close to the death of the Queen  is 'spooking' the broadcaster.

The source said: 'The show has never been about sensationalism but it has also always been a drama. For the first years it seemed that everyone was happy to tolerate it.'

But the source said writer Peter Morgan had become increasingly 'uncomfortable' as the series of The Crown edged closer to the present day.

Big scenes: Elizabeth was accompanied by a vast crew as they filmed the yacht scenes, which came weeks before Princess Diana's death in Paris

Posing: Elizabeth appeared to be the spitting image of Diana as she waved for photographs while in her beachwear look

Leggy display: She showed off her toned pins as she drank a bottle of water in between takes on the scorching day

They said: 'The truth is that it was easier to write the earlier series because, firstly, there is a wealth of historical documentation, plus a consensus over more of what happened, and you can be more broad brush dramatically and people don't find it hurtful.

'Peter is always trying to get to the truth. There is always reams and reams of research.

'However, people are more loose-lipped about Princess Margaret 50 years ago than John Major in 1991.

'Peter is very aware of all of it and it is a struggle. He insisted on announcing that series five would be the last, even though Netflix didn't want to announce it. It didn't want to kill the golden goose.

Lavish boat: Yacht Titania is set to act as a stand-in for Fayed's yacht Jonikal during both the fifth and sixth seasons of The Crown

Salute: She appeared to be in excellent form as she saluted photographers while filming on a lavish boat

Shielding her eyes: Elizabeth shielded her eyes from the sunshine with a chic pair of black sunglasses with gold embellishments

'Then, a few months, later he had changed his mind and he said that he was writing series six. But this will be it. He won't go any further towards the present day. It's already uncomfortable enough.'

But Elizabeth defended the series and said it was an 'interpretation' of events and 'we can maybe stop talking' about the controversy.

She told the Radio Times: 'I respect people's points of view and I, being an actor in the show, understand the nature of what the show is.

'It was always very clear to me that one can never know what happens behind closed doors and that a writer is interpreting what may have happened.

Cheerful: Elizabeth appeared to be in jovial spirits as she reclined on the boat

Glamorous: Elizabeth looked sensational in her orange animal print swimsuit, which she styled with silver earrings

Holiday: Elizabeth was seen standing on a boat as she jetted off to the lavish yacht during sun-soaked scenes

'Now the disclaimer is up there, we can maybe stop talking about it and move on. If that's helpful for certain people, so be it, and now the conversation can be returned to the creative endeavour of what the show is.'

She added: 'There's a huge amount of room for interpretation and that's the value and beauty of The Crown as well, that you receive a different message depending on who you are. That's good drama to me.'

Acting royalty Dame Judi Dench, who is close to King Charles and Camilla, recently accused the programme of being 'crude and hurtful'.

Dame Judi, 87, who has played Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria, told The Times the series risked damaging the monarchy. The Oscar-winning actress blamed it for 'crude sensationalism' and blurring fact and fiction.

Precarious: Elizabeth made her way across from one boat to another with the help of the crew during the busy day of filming

Comparison: Elizabeth embodied the late Princess of Wales in her backless swimsuit as she posed on a yacht

Looking out to sea: Elizabeth was seen leaning over the side of a boat as they approached the yacht during filming

Former Prime Minister Sir John Major criticised a scene which shows him having a conversation with then Prince Charles about the possibility of the Queen abdicating as 'malicious nonsense'.

Amid growing controversy about the way The Crown blurs reality and fiction, Netflix recently updated its description of the series to add a disclaimer to its trailer on YouTube which says it is a 'fictional dramatisation'.

Series six will show moped-riding paparazzi photographers swarming Princess Diana's car in the lead-up to the crash that killed her in Paris.

Netflix previously said the 'exact moment' of the crash will not feature in the controversial drama as filming for series six is well-underway.

Controversial: The fifth series of The Crown, which will cover the years leading up to Princess Diana's 1995 Panorama interview, has already sparked anger before its release

Defence: But Elizabeth defended the series and said it was an 'interpretation' of events and 'we can maybe stop talking' about the controversy

'I respect people's points of view': She told the Radio Times: 'It was always very clear to me that one can never know what happens behind closed doors and that a writer is interpreting what may have happened'

Slammed: Elizabeth's latest scenes for season six come after critics recently slammed the 'insensitivity' of Netflix amid outrage over the show's disregard for historical truth

Historical moments: As well as following Diana's holiday in St Tropez, The Crown will also show photographers chasing her car in Paris moments before her death. The actual crash will not be shown

The paparazzi infamously pursued the car being driven by drunk driver Henri Paul as it carried Diana and her lover Dodi Al Fayed away from the Ritz hotel in Paris.

Some then took pictures as Diana, Dodi and Paul lay gravely injured in the wrecked Mercedes after the crash.

Critics recently slammed the 'insensitivity' of Netflix amid outrage over the show's disregard for historical truth.

Speaking to MailOnline, royal biographer Andrew Lownie said the depiction of the minutes before Diana's death is 'distasteful', adding that 'a bit of sensitivity would not go amiss'. He said the show's makers could face accusations of 'insensitivity' over the filming in Paris.

Fashionista: Elizabeth was the spitting image of Diana and opted for pink lipstick to complete her look

Splashing around: Elizabeth looked out to sea and soaked up the views as they filmed out on the water for the St Tropez scenes

Lavish: In May 2020, Omar's father's yacht - which had hosted the royals and Dodi - was sold for 171,000, with some observers telling The Sunday Express that the bid was surprisingly low, sparking fears that the memory of Diana was 'fading'

Mr Lownie, the author of biographies of King Edward VIII and Lord Mountbatten and his wife, said of filming images in Paris: 'I agree it is distasteful [to recreate the scenes].

'It is such an important part of the story and they have got to show it, but a bit of sensitivity would not go amiss.

'There are lots of ways filmmakers can show something without showing it, shall we say.'

He added: It could all be off screen. It doesn't need to be so graphic. We have had documentaries even showing pictures of the bodies in the car. In some ways people have gone further.

'They will say this is drama, documentaries have been more blatant, so what is the fuss.'

His comments come after Debbie Frank, who was Diana's astrologer, said it would be 'terrible' for Princes William and Harry to see a recreation of the moments leading up to their mother's death.

'It's obviously terrible for Diana's children to have to see that again. It's insensitive,' she said.

Grinning: Elizabeth flashed a smile as she climbed from one boat to another during filming

Shielded: Elizabeth was shielded by a large black umbrella as she walked along the dock and towards the lavish boat for filming

Tanned: Elizabeth had a bronzed figure as she shot scenes under the scorching sunshine on a lavish yacht

Good spirits: Elizabeth appeared in excellent form as she chatted with someone who sat on another boat during the busy day of filming out at sea

She added: 'I feel Diana's death and the crash was the biggest shock of our generation. It had such a huge impact across the national psyche.

'I guess the makers of The Crown feel they are entitled to show a re-enactment of scenes leading up to her death and that it has dramatic impact. But relatives would think otherwise.'

Miss Frank, who knew Diana from 1989 until her death, also questioned if this was the right time for a dramatization of Diana's death so soon after the Queen's death.

Royal biographer Angela Levin said: 'I think they're appalling, it's so callous and particularly for William and Harry.

Wave: Elizabeth held her sarong around her waist and flashed a grin to photographers during the takes

Touch ups: A member of the crew was seen combing Elizabeth's hair and perfecting her look as they stood on a boat

Good spirits: Elizabeth was seen greeting photographers with a wave during filming as she was the spitting image of Diana

Shooting: Members of the crew were seen leaning over from one boat to another to film Elizabeth relaxing as Diana

'It's terrible, it's reliving something that happened a long time ago and is still in people's minds and making them have all those feelings again.

'You can do a dramatisation of events, but there is a limit  and I think this is going over the limit. It's not necessary. I feel very sorry for the Royal Family.

'It's very hurtful for them, and everyone who knew Diana. She was adored around the world and it will bring a lot of people a lot of unhappiness.'

The Crown has been a huge hit for Netflix. Each episode now costs around 11.5million.
Phoebe Burgess has revealed a new make-up look after style guru Trinny Woodall branded hers 'dated'.

The former NRL WAG, 33, took to Instagram to reveal her modernised beauty look with a more neutral skin tone and less heavy bronzing.

'When someone like Trinny Woodall tells you - to your bronzed face - that your make up 'look' is dated - take the advice,' she wrote.

Phoebe Burgess has revealed a new make-up look after style guru Trinny Woodall branded hers 'dated'

Phoebe added that she's 'over' heavily filtered looks and prefers 'seeing natural skin textures'.

'This is me freshening up my make-up routine that hadn't budged since 2014,' she added.

'Which means ditching the heavy-handed bronzing vibe I was married to and embracing fresher techniques (hello damp sponges & foundation dipped in water'.

Phoebe added she learned the techniques on TikTok and Instagram reels, but the look is 'definitely a work in progress'.

The former NRL WAG, 33, took to Instagram to reveal her modernised beauty look with a more neutral skin tone and less heavy bronzing. Left is her previous look, right now

The influencer recently met the British beauty guru - who found fame as a stylist on BBC show What Not To Wear - recently appeared on Phoebe's podcast Under The Gloss (pictured together)

She then shared several pictures of herself in the fresh new look alongside a stylish outfit of black jeans, a T-shirt and denim jacket.

The influencer recently met the British beauty guru - who found fame as a stylist on BBC show What Not To Wear - recently appeared on Phoebe's podcast Under The Gloss.

Trinny, 58, came up with the idea of her stackable cream makeup products at the age of 50, and has made a career out of beauty products.

The outing comes after Phoebe's ex-husband Sam Burgess went public with his new girlfriend at the premiere of Russell Crowe's new film Poker Face in Rome.

Phoebe added she learned the techniques on TikTok and Instagram reels, but the look is 'definitely a work in progress'

The Rabbitohs legend, 33, looked absolutely smitten as he cuddled up to Lucy Graham, who is a hairdresser from Leeds.

Sam's new partner is English and they have known each other for about 20 years, a source close to the footy player told Daily Mail Australia.

While it's not known how long they have been together, Sam has been telling friends they are 'taking things steady'.

Lucy is the co-founder of the sustainable fashion label Sentenced, which launched in September 2019, reported So Dramatic Online.

The Rabbitohs legend looked absolutely smitten as he cuddled up to his glamorous date, Lucy Graham, a hairdresser from Leeds. (Pictured left with Lucy, and right with Phoebe in 2016)

Sam's new relationship comes after a series of flings that followed his acrimonious split from ex-wife Phoebe in January 2019.

The father of two is said to have briefly dated Daily Mail Australia columnist Jana Hocking in January this year, as well as American waitress Oak Schuetz in late 2019.

Meanwhile, Phoebe, who shares daughter Poppy, four, and son Billy, three, with Sam, has remained single since their divorce.

The pair married in 2015 and separated in late 2018.

They resumed their relationship in early 2019 before breaking up for good on October 2 that year and later divorcing.
Carol Vorderman has spoken about her son's special educational needs and how there is a lack of support for disadvantaged children.

Talking on this week's episode of The Netmums Podcast, Carol, 61, spoke about her son, Cameron King, 25, who has high spectrum autism, ADD, dyslexia and ADHD.

Cameron, whose father is Carol's ex-husband Patrick King, has completed a master's in animation and VFX from University of Dunde

Speaking out: Carol Vorderman, 61, has discussed her son Cameron's (pictured) special needs and the lack of support for 'forgotten' disadvantaged children in a new podcast

Talking about the need for more support for children with special educational needs, Carol said more needs to be done.

She said: 'If a child has special educational needs, like my son did, he was off the scale dyslexic, he was in special school for about five years in the end.

'Sadly, there is not much support for them. Budgets have been cut in local authorities.

'Some people are waiting for years for that educational psychiatrist test. Its not a good place at all at the moment. I can only see it getting worse right now.

'They end up being the forgotten ones sadly.'

Carol said she wants to do her bit to show what needs to be done. She said: 'Im desperate to do a documentary about it on the telly to highlight it.

Not fair: Carol also spoke about dealing with ageist comments - she was criticised for wearing this short dress to the BAFTAs when she was aged 39, (pictured)

'It's a massive percentage, a majority of those in young offender institutes are severely dyslexic, yet 40% of self-made millionaires are also dyslexic, so there is a point in which they go one way or another

'We are wasting massive potential of young people who see the world differently. I spend my life giving back to education, giving bursaries to kids, doing reports, encouraging children from state schools, I was a free school meals kid, encouraging them to apply to some of the finer universities.'

Carol's other child, Katie King, 31, has a PHD in nanotechnology.

During the podcast, Carol spoke about dealing with ageist comments even when she was in her 30s.

She said: 'When I was 39, not my grandmother, not my mother, it was the 21st Century it was the year 2000.

That's my girl: Carol's daughter Katie has a PHD in nanotechnology.

'I went to the BAFTAs wearing a short dress, not a micro skirt, they made a Kilroy Show on the BBC and they flew in this dress in from Paris, it was an Ungaro dress, and the dress arrived and this huge debate in the studio was not is this a nice dress, but should a woman age 39 wear a dress above the knee! Oh the vitriol was incredible.

'Ive always rebelled.

'Be a bit selfish, or what were told is selfish, it's selfish at all, its just that its been ingrained in womens heads that looking after yourself a bit or having a bit of time for me is selfish, its not but if thats how you do then be a bit more selfish.'

Carol also spoke about her happy memories of her time on Countdown with ex co-presenter, Richard Whiteley, who died in 2005.

She said: 'It started 40 years ago it was a huge show.

'Countdown grew and then this love for Countdown really grew. It was Channel fours biggest show for about 15 years.

'Richard and I, we loved Countdown, it was a living thing for us. We never called people who watched Coundown veiwers, they were Countdowners because we were in this family together.

'So when Richard died very very suddenly it was the greatest amount of grief Ive ever ever had in my life. It was tragic when he died so young, he was only 61, the same age as I am now.

'He left the party too soon. He was a party animal. He was utterly ridiculous. Even in the days we werent on Countdown he was in my life.

'Life is a series of chapters and some of them are very happy and just because they end, doesnt negate how happy they were. I was very very privileged to work on it.'

She concluded: 'It was happy happy happy.'
The happiest place in the world is not-so-happy lately because of COVID-19, at least as far as the visitors of Shanghai Disneyland are concerned.

Shanghai Disneyland had reportedly closed its doors to the public again for an indefinite period due to COVID-19 concerns, trapping the visitors still inside the amusement park when it did.

The park's visitors are not allowed to leave the park unless they can show a negative COVID test, per the BBC.

Shanghai Disneyland Closure Situation Details

Shanghai Disneyland abruptly shut its gates on Oct. 31 following a snap lockdown due to a nationwide COVID-19 outbreak that has seen 2675 people testing positive for the virus, per Bloomberg.

According to reports from CNET and Channel News Asia, the implementation of the snap lockdown resulted in the trapping of Shanghai Disneyland visitors and Shanghai Disney Resort guests within the park and resort.

These people are unable to leave the amusement park and resort due to China's zero-COVID policy, which could be described as "draconian" as it implies "strict, targeted lockdowns and mass testing," per DW.

These lockdowns could last weeks, even months, as the city of Shanghai previously experienced from March to June.

Thousands are trapped inside Shanghai Disney and are not allowed to exit until theyre tested for COVID, as the Chinese governments strict zero-COVID policy goes into effect again. pic.twitter.com/3Ur52L41qy  Mike Sington (@MikeSington) October 31, 2022

This lockdown is evidenced by the pictures and videos posted on social media, particularly Twitter, showing guests being close together as they seem to listen to the closing's announcement.

Read More: Foxconn predicts Drop in iPhone Supply Following COVID Outbreak, Worker Exodus

Posts on the Chinese social media site Weibo also showed similar videos, with people rushing to the park's many exits as soon as the closing was announced, only to find them already locked.

The lockdown is also reflected on Shanghai Disneyland's website, which now has a notice stating that the park is closed indefinitely from Oct. 31 "with immediate effect."

Despite the park's closing, rides have been reported to be running to entertain those trapped within, possibly to help them take the edge of their situation off occasionally.

Disney Resort guests can also look forward to the limited offerings" the resort is providing in line with guidelines from the country's health authorities.

This instance isn't the first time Shanghai Disneyland closed its doors to the public in an abrupt manner. The Happiest Place in the World (or in Shanghai, at least) suddenly closed in Nov. 2021 due to a visitor testing positive for the virus after their visit, according to NPR.

This closing trapped around 30,000 people within the park's premises, which could only leave if they tested negative for the virus.

How Will Guests Leave Shanghai Disneyland?

Fortunately for the people inside Shanghai Disneyland, there is a way out. Much like the previous abrupt closing, visitors who have visited the park since Thursday will need to submit to a COVID-19 test for three consecutive days to confirm if they're infected or not.

Should a visitor be found negative in all three tests, they are free to go. It is unknown what would happen to visitors if they tested positive for the virus.

Disney Parks has yet to address the situation in its Shanghai park.

Related Article: COVID Outbreak in China Hits Foxconn's iPhone Factory, But Impact Is 'Controllable,' Company Says
Her film Don't Worry Darling was the talk of the 79th Venice Film Festival.

And Florence Pugh showed she was in on the joke as she shared a slew of pictures of her friend dressing up in one of her now 'iconic' press tour outfits for Halloween.

Rumours of a bitter feud between the movie star, 26, and her director Olivia Wilde caused Florence to skip out on the press conference for the film.

Florence Pugh has shared a slew of pictures of her friend dressing up in one of her now 'iconic' Don't Worry Darling press tour outfits for Halloween

But while Olivia trotted out the official line that the actress was tied up with filming commitments, Florence was seen enjoying a cocktail and avoiding the drama in a clip that has now gone viral.

As the press conference was taking place, Florence's stylist Rebecca Corbin Murray shared a video of her client strutting around Venice.

The actress, dressed in a stunning purple Valentino co-ord, paraded around her hotel terrace with a large Aperol Spritz in hand, making a cheers to the camera.

'Iconic': While Olivia trotted out the official line that the actress was tied up with filming commitments, Florence was seen enjoying a cocktail and avoiding the drama in a clip that has now gone viral

Fans went wild for the clip, with one saying: 'Not Olivia Wilde saying Florence Pugh couldnt make the the Dont Worry Darling press conference because of scheduling conflicts and her literally being in Venice at the same time with this energy'.

'florence pugh avoiding the conference and its drama at the venice film festival and enjoying a spritz. this is what i call iconic behaviour, no one is doing it like her,' added another.

Now Florence has poked fun at all the drama, by posing with her friend Theo Smith dressed up as her in the iconic video.

Fans: 'This is what i call iconic behaviour, no one is doing it like her,' quipped one tweeter as they reshared the video posted by Florence's stylist

Sporting a purple crop top and shorts, and carrying a matching purple handbag, Theo was instantly recognisable as an unbothered Florence.

He even wore similar sunglasses and held a large Aperol Spritz to perfectly recreate the viral moment.

Florence, dressed as Cruella Devil from 101 Dalmatians, looked incredible beside him, donning a black and white wig, skintight dalmatian print dress and Elhanati necklace.

Hilarious: Now Florence has poked fun at all the drama, by posing with her friend Theo Smith dressed up as her in the iconic video

Incredible: Sporting a purple crop top and shorts, and carrying a matching purple handbag, Theo was instantly recognisable as an unbothered Florence

Fans immediately recognised the outfit and took to the comments to praise Florence and Theo.

One commented: 'Not him wearing your iconic Venice look', while another praised: 'Theo's costume is legendary'.

And a third did a double take, writing: 'Wait is he wearing your outfit in Venice?'

Looking good: Florence, dressed as Cruella Devil from 101 Dalmatians, looked incredible beside him, donning a black and white wig and skintight dalmatian print dress

Florence captioned the slew of Halloween pics: 'Red lips, shit wigs, dogs both human and real, Aperol, Timberlake and sweaty upper lips.. Loved that Halloween.'

Don't Worry Darling, in which Harry Styles and Florence play a married couple, has been overshadowed by a series of controversies both before and after its memorably awkward premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September.

Notably, Florence failed to acknowledge Olivia on the red carpet following an on-set dispute - thought to be sparked by the actress's discomfort at her director embarking on a very public relationship with Harry while shooting the film on location in Los Angeles.

Halloween: Florence captioned the slew of Halloween pics: 'Red lips, shit wigs, dogs both human and real, Aperol, Timberlake and sweaty upper lips.. Loved that Halloween'

And sources claim their fall-out stems from the initial chemistry shared by Florence and her screen husband before he became romantically involved with Olivia.

There was already said to be tension between the two women, with Harry and Olivia's burgeoning romance making things worse.

Florence avoided promoting her leading role in Don't Worry Darling amid rumours of a feud between her and Olivia.

Gobsmacked: Fans immediately recognised the outfit and took to the comments to praise Florence and Theo

The actress missed the photocall for the movie during the Venice Film Festival and kept her distance from the director on the red carpet.

Others noticed that the actress sparsely posted about the film on her social media accounts, which has also fuelled rumours of friction on the set.

A report from Page Six in late July claimed that Florence was upset with Olivia because she was hooking up with leading man Harry during the production  while still engaged to Jason Sudeikis  before they split in November.

Drama: Don't Worry Darling, in which Harry Styles and Florence play a married couple, has been overshadowed by a series of controversies both before and after its memorably awkward premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September

'I can tell you for a fact that Flo seeing Olivia and Harry all over each other on set did not go down well as Olivia was still with Jason when she first hooked up with Harry,' the source said.

Florence was asked by an Italian journalist at the event about what she found 'inspiring' in the film and appeared to make a sly dig at Olivia.

She responded: 'I think it's very very inspiring to see a woman push back and say 'no', and question everything. It's very exciting to see a woman do that on and off camera.'

Asked when she 'says 'no' off camera, Florence jokingly responded: 'When do I say 'no'? When someone says I can't have cake.'

The rumours of tensions intensified after Olivia suggested Florence should have a 'wake-up call' in a leaked video this month.

The video was leaked after Shia LaBeouf refuted Olivia's claim that he had been fired from the project, and in the footage Olivia can be heard encouraging to stay signed on to the film, rather than leave it, while also hinting at some apparent tension with Florence.
Emily Ratajkowski says that she believes sexuality is on a 'sliding scale' and that she doesn't believe in straight people.

The 31-year-old supermodel - who is launching podcast High Low with Emrata today - recently spoke candidly about her views on sexuality in a recent interview with Harper's Bazaar.

She opened up about going viral during a TikTok trend she participated in last last month which said that women who own a green couch are bisexual.

Revealing: Emily Ratajkowski (pictured in Paris last month) says that she believes sexuality is on a 'sliding scale' and that she doesn't believe in straight people

When asked if there was any truth behind the post, Emily replied: 'I think sexuality is on a sliding scale. I dont really believe in straight people.'

Emily had divorced estranged husband Sebastian Bear-McClard less than a month earlier before making the eyebrow-raising post.

She explained: 'My girlfriend came over and was like, "B****, have you seen the green-couch thing?" She was laughing at me because my green couch is so big.

'I want to be able to have fun with how I present myself in the world without feeling like Im a bad feminist or a good feminist.

'I think sexuality is on a sliding scale. I dont really believe in straight people': The 31-year-old supermodel recently spoke candidly about her views on sexuality in a recent interview with Harper's Bazaar

'Duh. I dont want to be a part of your club if you dont want to have me. Its fine!'

Emily launched podcast High Low with EmRata on Tuesday which she will be touching on several topics including politics, philosophy, and feminism to sex, TikTok and relationships.

In the first episode, the stunner talked about whether you should have sex on the first date which she discusses with her best friend Barbara.

Racy: Emily launched podcast High Low with EmRata on Tuesday which she will be touching on several topics including politics, philosophy, and feminism to sex, TikTok and relationships

Just a few weeks prior, social media went into a meltdown as many believed that she had come out as bisexual over Tiktok while responding to a video that asked those who 'identify as bisexual' if they 'own a green velvet couch.'

The supermodel had dropped a not-so-subtle hint about her sexuality as she showed off her own green velvet couch.

In the footage, the mom-of-one appeared to open up about being attracted to both men and women as she gave the camera a mischievous look while lounging on her sofa in a baggy white and red sweatshirt.

Proud: Just a few weeks prior, social media went into a meltdown as many believed that she had come out as bisexual over Tiktok while responding to a video that asked those who 'identify as bisexual' if they 'own a green velvet couch'

Her comment section was flooded with congratulatory messages, with many writing: 'Yet another win for the ladies.'

'Lets just say this is probably one of the many things I never expected,' another wrote as other fans raved about the slew of celebrities that recently alluded to being in the LGBTQIA community this week, including Madonna and Shay Mitchell, ahead of national Coming Out Day on October 11th.

Ratajkowski's social media post came after actress Shay Mitchell participated in the same trend.

Coming out: Less than a month after filing for divorce from her estranged husband Sebastian Bear-McClard, the 31-year-old supermodel dropped a not-so-subtle hint about her sexuality as she showed off her own green velvet couch

Mitchell, who played the LGBTQ character of Emily Fields for seven seasons on Pretty Little Liars, previously discussed the similarities between Emilys sexuality and her own.

People always ask me, You play a gay character? Are you gay? Are you straight? Are you this? Are you that? the actress told Maxim in 2017.

Look, Emily doesnt label herself, and I dont label myself either. I fall in love with the spirit of somebody. Love is love, and thats something that Ill keep saying.

Since 2017, the Canadian star has been in a relationship with boyfriend Matte Babel. The couple are parents to two daughters: Atlas, 2, and Rome, 4 months.

Dropping hints: Ratajkowski's latest social media post comes after actress Shay Mitchell (seen left) participated in the same trend
Michelle Keegan kept it casual as she battled the chilly weather in Blackpool on Tuesday while filming scenes for season five of Brassic.

The actress, 35, cut a laidback figure in black jeans and a long-sleeved top, which she styled with a high-neck black gilet.

She kept warm amid the chilly temperatures with a large khaki Dry Robe coat and sported a pair of black boots to complete her autumnal look.

Laidback figure: Michelle Keegan kept it casual as she battled the chilly weather in Blackpool on Tuesday while filming scenes for season five of Brassic

Casual: The actress, 35, cut a laidback figure in black jeans and a long-sleeved top, which she styled with a high-neck black gilet

The Coronation Street star accessorised her ensemble with gold hoop earrings and accentuated her features with a slick of eyeliner and a touch of mascara.

Michelle, who stars as Erin Croft on Brassic, styled her chocolate tresses in a straight fashion swept away from her face in a half-up half-down style.

Comedy-drama Brassic follows Vinnie O'Neill (Joseph Gilgun) and his five friends, including Michelle's single mother character Erin.

Chic: The Coronation Street star accessorised her ensemble with gold hoop earrings and accentuated her features with a slick of eyeliner and a touch of mascara

Stylish: Michelle, who stars as Erin Croft on Brassic, styled her chocolate tresses in a straight fashion swept away from her face in a half-up half-down style

All smiles: Michelle appeared to be in excellent spirits as she flashed a grin in between takes

Cosy: She kept warm amid the chilly temperatures with a large khaki Dry Robe coat and sported a pair of black boots to complete her autumnal look

The group struggle to get by in the fictional town of Hawley, and often resort to petty crime for money.

The BAFTA-nominated series began back in 2019, as season four of the show was released last month on Sky Max and Now TV.

Lee Mack has joined the cast for the fifth series, with recently filmed comedy scenes showing him becoming stuck on a fence.

In October last year, Michelle admitted she had banned her family from watching one episode of the show due to a raunchy sex scene, she told Radio Times.

Hit show: Comedy-drama Brassic follows Vinnie O'Neill (Joseph Gilgun) and his five friends, including Michelle's single mother character Erin

Racy: In October last year, Michelle admitted she had banned her family from watching one episode of the show due to a raunchy sex scene, she told Radio Times

Gorgeous: Michelle caused onlookers to gawk and point on the Blackpool set

Beauty: She wore her chocolate tresses in a middle parting and a ponytail

Chilly? The former Corrie star clutched a waterbottle as she strolled through the cold city

'That first episode, I didn't let my family watch until 15 minutes in, and we all know why!' she said with a laugh.

And Michelle has certainly kept busy with her portfolio of acting gigs, as she starred as a young nurse named Kate in the six-part period BBC drama Ten Pound Poms.

She returned home to the UK after four months of filming for the show in Australia, which follows a group of Brits as they leave dreary post-war Britain in 1956 to embark on a life-altering adventure on the other side of the world.

Talented: Michelle has certainly kept busy with her portfolio of acting gigs, as she starred as a young nurse named Kate in the six-part period BBC drama Ten Pound Poms
Ralphie and the gang are back.

A Christmas Story Christmas trailer has finally been released on Tuesday as it showed Peter Billingsley back in his signature role and he did not come alone.

The near two minute clip showed the happy reunion with pals Schwartz and Flick played by R.D. Robb and Scott Schwartz, respectively, nearly 40 years after the release of the original film in 1983.

Nostalgia: A Christmas Story Christmas trailer has finally been released on Tuesday as it showed Peter Billingsley back in his signature role and he did not come alone

Squad goals: The near two minute clip showed the happy reunion with pals Schwartz and Flick played by R.D. Robb and Scott Schwartz, respectively, nearly 40 years after the release of the original film in 1983

Even Scott Farkus makes his return briefly in he trailer as he is once again portrayed by Zack Ward.

The trailer begins with footage from the original film as Ralphie could be heard in a voiceover saying: 'Oh, life moves fast. One day you're playing "kick the can" with kids named Flick and Schwartz. The next thing you know, you're a certified adult.'

He then meets up his old pals at a bar as they take a shot for 'your old man' as Flick said: 'He was the best.'

Uh oh: Even Scott Farkus makes his return briefly in he trailer as he is once again portrayed by Zack Ward

The trailer begins with footage from the original film as Ralphie could be heard in a voiceover saying: 'Oh, life moves fast. One day you're playing "kick the can" with kids named Flick and Schwartz. The next thing you know, you're a certified adult'

He then meets up his old pals at a bar as they take a shot for 'your old man' as Flick said: 'He was the best'

RIP: Darren McGavin - who played the character the Old Man in the 1983 film - died in 2006 as they showed a photo of him in the clip along with one of his signature lines: 'fra-gi-le.

Darren McGavin - who played the character the Old Man in the 1983 film - died in 2006 as they showed a photo of him in the clip along with one of his signature lines: 'fra-gi-le.'

Also not appearing in the film was Melinda Dillion who played Ralphie's mom Mother Parker as she retired from acting in 2007 and has been recast by Airplane!'s Julie Hagerty who was shown in the trailer being hugged by Ralphie's children.

Ralphie's wife Sandy Parker is played by actress Erin Hayes as the two brought their children back to the family house on Cleveland St. for Christmas.

Grandma: Also not appearing in the film was Melinda Dillion who played Ralphie's mom Mother Parker as she retired from acting in 2007 and has been recast by Airplane!'s Julie Hagerty who was shown in the trailer being hugged by Ralphie's children

Bond: Ralphie's wife Sandy Parker is played by actress Erin Hayes (center) as the two brought their children back to the family house on Cleveland St. for Christmas

Callback: No doubt there will be plenty of nostalgia as Ralphie's daughter is shown on Santa's lap much like Ralphie was in the most iconic scenes from the film

Hilarious: No doubt there will also be hilarious antics as Schwartz is once again shown giving in to peer pressure

Much of the trailer finds Ralphie trying to reconnect with his inner child while reconciling with the death of his father while trying to deliver the holidays to his children the way that he would have.

A Christmas Story Story will begin streaming on HBO Max on November 17.

Back in January it was announced that Peter would be coming back to his signature role to lead a sequel to the perennial holiday favorite.

Aww: Much of the trailer finds Ralphie trying to reconnect with his inner child while reconciling with the death of his father while trying to deliver the holidays to his children the way that he would have

Highly-anticipated: A Christmas Story Story will begin streaming on HBO Max on November 17

The starturnedfilmmaker will be reprising his role in the new film, which is expected to take place when Ralphie is an adult in the 1970s, The Hollywood Reporter revealed at the time.

In addition to starring in the sequel to the 1983 classic  titled A Christmas Story Christmas  Billingsley will produce for its production companies Legendary and Warner Bros.

The Christmas Chronicles director Clay Kaytis is attached to direct the film, which will be released on Warner's HBO Max streaming service.

It's a Christmas miracle! Back in January it was announced that Peter would be coming back to his signature role to lead a sequel to the perennial holiday favorite

Billingsley will be joined by his longtime friend Vince Vaughn to produce A Christmas Story Christmas for their company Wild West Picture Show Productions.

The original Christmas Story was an episodic period piece set sometime in the late 1930s to early 1940s that follows nine-year-old Ralphie as he navigates school and family relationships in a fictional Indiana town while dreaming of getting a Red Ryder BB rifle for Christmas.

In the '70s-set sequel, Ralphie will return home to his old house on Cleveland Street to give his own children the same kind of 'magical Christmas' he experienced as a child.

The original Christmas Story was a period piece set sometime in the late 1930s to early 1940s that follows Ralphie, nine, as he navigates school and family relationships in a fictional Indiana town while dreaming of getting a Red Ryder BB rifle for Christmas; still from A Christmas Story

All grown up: In the '70s-set sequel, Ralphie will return home to his old house on Cleveland Street to give his own children the same kind of 'magical Christmas' he experienced as a child, while also moving on from the death of his father; seen in 2018 in Beverly Hills

The original film was lauded for its realistic production design, which impeccably matched the time period and the Midwestern setting, and the publication writes that the new film will try to adopt a similar style.

Adult Ralphie will reunite with some of his childhood friends featured in the original movie while also trying to move on from the death of his father, often referred to as The Old Man in the original and played by Darren McGavin.

Although the original was filmed in Cleveland, Ohio, with some additional scenes shot in Ontario, Canada, the new production won't even be filming in the United States. Instead, Hungary will be filling in for Hammond, Indiana, when production begins in February.

There are expected to be plenty of references to the original film, which annually plays for 24 hours on TBS and TNT from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day.

Rise in standing: A Christmas Story was initially only modestly successful and received mixed reviews upon its 1983 release, but it became a perennial favorite over the years thanks to repeated TV broadcasts

A Christmas Story, which also starred Melinda Dillon as Ralphie's mother, was initially only modestly successful and received mixed reviews upon its 1983 release.

But over the years the film grew in estimation, and home video releases and television broadcasts elevated its stature year by year, until it came to be regarded as one of the best and most popular Christmas films of all time.

Following his acclaimed performance in A Christmas Story, Billingsley continued to act more sporadically as he grew older, before focusing on behind the camera work as a director and producer.

He directed the comedy Couple Retreat, starring his friends Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau, and he executive produced the animated comedy series F For Family with Vaughn.

In 2008, he played a small role as a scientist in Iron Man, which was directed by Favreau, and both actors were later featured in Spider-Man: Far From Home.
She played the wide-eyed princess who got her fairy tale ending in Enchanted 15 years ago.

Now Amy Adams has returned to the role of Giselle in the upcoming sequel Disenchanted- but she is learning happily ever after isn't all that it seems.

The princess and her husband Robert Philip (Patrick Dempsey) move out of the Big Apple and into the suburbs - where she transforms into the villain after a wish for a fairy tale life goes horribly wrong.

Not so happily ever after: Amy Adams' character Giselle transforms into the villain after a wish for a fairy tale life goes horribly wrong in a new trailer for the upcoming Enchanted sequel, Disenchanted

The trailer begins with Giselle preparing to move out of New York City, where she laments, 'I know that change can be scary, but it can also be exciting! Let's start our new life!'

The family move into a charming home out in the small town of Monroeville, where they are greeted by Prince Edward (James Marsden) and Nancy Tremaine (Idina Menzel), who magically appear in their backyard and present her with an Andalasian wishing wand.

Despite being in a charming small town, Giselle expresses doubts about her new life.

'This world feels very different,' Giselle confides to Nancy. 'Is it sometimes easier to live in Andalasia?'

Goodbye New York! Giselle laments 'Let's start our new life!' as she prepares to move out of the Big Apple

Farewell: The couple bid adieu to their New York digs

Hello Monroeville! The family relocates to the suburban town of Monroeville

'I wouldn't say easier,' Nancy replies. 'We have dragons, and ogre rebellions.'

'Last year the entire kingdom was trapped in a giant whale,' Prince Edward chimes in.

Giselle isn't the only person struggling to acclimate - her stepdaughter Rachel Convey also misses New York.

'This is not a magic land. It is a land far, far away from my friends,' she informs Giselle.

Welcome to your new home! The family are greeted by Prince Edward (James Marsden) and Nancy Tremaine (Idina Menzel), who magically appear in their backyard

Wish upon a star: The duo present her with an Andalasian wishing wand

And the reality of suburban life quickly begins to sink in for Robert.

As he sits in the commuter train en route to the city, one fellow rider has a bleak message for him.

'You're riding this train over and over and over and over and over and over and over and then you die,' one commuter informs him.

'This is not a magic land': Giselle isn't the only person struggling to acclimate - her stepdaughter Rachel Convey also misses New York

Reality bites: The shine of commuter life begins to quickly fade for Robert

Bleak message: 'You're riding this train over and over and over and over and over and over and over and then you die,' one commuter informs him

Giselle also is forced to contend with the town's queen bee, Malvina Monroe, played by Maya Rudolph.

'As you can see Giselle, everyone has their place,' Malvina informs Giselle as one woman fans her with a card. 'Once you've found where you fit, Monroeville can be whatever you wish.'

This all eventually leads to Giselle turning to the Andalasian wishing wand her friends had given her earlier.

'I wish for a fairy tale life,' she says.

'Everyone has their place': Giselle also is forced to contend with the town's queen bee, Malvina Monroe, played by Maya Rudolph

Drastic measures: Giselle's struggle to acclimate lead her to wish for a fairy tale life

'My hair, it's so high! And my dress, it's so low!' she remarks before a talking squirrel expresses its delight

Giselle's wish instantly comes true, and everything from her home to her appearance changes.

'My hair, it's so high! And my dress, it's so low!' she remarks before a talking squirrel expresses its delight.

'Jumping jelly sticks, we've got magic!' he says.

Monroeville begins to truly resemble a Disney film as she wanders into town and takes part in a jubilant dance with her fellow townspeople.

Fairy tale come true: Monroeville begins to truly resemble a Disney film as she wanders into town and takes part in a jubilant dance with her fellow townspeople

Magical: Everything changes as a result of her wish

Even Robert and Malvina transform, as her husband becomes a sword-wielder and the queen bee dons a crown and black gown.

But eventually, the magic begins to fade.

'This town is turning into a fairy tale,' Giselle remarks as flashes of destruction appear. 'But it's all gone terribly wrong.'

A talking scroll informs Giselle: 'On the last stroke of midnight, nothing will be as it was before.'

Foe: Even Robert and Malvina transform, as her husband becomes a sword-wielder and the queen bee dons a crown and black gown

Warning: A talking scroll informs Giselle: 'On the last stroke of midnight, nothing will be as it was before'

Indeed, everything including Giselle changes, as she transforms into an evil stepmother. Giants wreck havoc on Monroeville and chaos occurs in the town square.

She is shown banishing her stepdaughter Rachel to a run-down room with boarded windows.

'What is going on?' Rachel asks.

Uh-oh: It doesn't take long for the magic of the spell to fade

Chaos: The wish wrecks havoc on the small town

New look: No longer wearing a suit, Robert is seen descending a staircase in his new more fairy tale-esque attire

'You need to remember your place here!' Giselle tells her sternly just before leaving the room and closing the door.

'Stepmother, please,' Rachel says.

But fortunately her friends see through the spell.

'Giselle is under a curse!' Nancy says. 'We have to stop this or everything Andalasia will die!'

'Giselle is under a curse!' Fortunately her friends see through the spell

'There's only room for one villain in this town': Giselle even attempts to overthrow Malvina as the town's villain, much to Malvina's amusement

Coming soon: Disenchanted will debut on Disney+ on November 18

Giselle even attempts to overthrow Malvina as the town's villain, much to Malvina's amusement.

'You know there's only room for one villain in this town,' Giselle says smoothly.

'You're hilarious. Delusional, but hilarious,' Malvina replies before they face off in an epic magic battle.

Disenchanted will debut on Disney+ on November 18.
Eamonn Holmes has fractured his shoulder following a nasty fall at his Surrey mansion, which has left him in an 'an awful lot of pain'.

The presenter, 62, underwent spinal surgery just weeks ago to treat chronic pain in his back and legs but tumbled down the stairs shortly afterwards and then had to undergo another operation.

His representative told The Express: 'He's naturally gutted by the setback, but the good news is the surgery on his shoulder went well. He's now receiving fantastic care and resting.

'He's in an awful lot of pain!' Eamonn Holmes, 62, has fractured his shoulder from a fall down the stairs - causing him to undergo ANOTHER operation just weeks after spinal surgery (pictured earlier this year)

'Sadly it means Eamonn is likely to need a longer period off TV than he first thought in order to get himself better and heal.

'But despite being in an awful lot of pain, he's remaining positive and is looking forward to doing what he loves most and being back on TV and presenting on GB News just as soon as he can.'

The spokesperson concluded that the TV personality is thankful for the NHS's 'wonderful care' and is 'determined' to rest and get better.

MailOnline has contacted Eamonn's representative for further comment.

On the mend: His representative said: 'He's naturally gutted by the setback, but the good news is the surgery on his shoulder went well. He's now receiving fantastic care and resting'

Eamonn and his wife Ruth Langsford were no where to be seen at the NTAs last month - because of his recent vital back surgery and her QVC schedule clash.

The married presenting duo, who used to host NTA winning show This Morning on a regular schedule, are normally firm attendees of the biggest night in TV.

But his recent health woes and her work with teleshopping channel QVC meant that the pair were not sat with their industry colleagues as they usually do on a star-studded night in London.

Get well soon! The spokesperson concluded that the TV personality is thankful for the NHS's 'wonderful care' and is 'determined' to rest and get better (pictured earlier this year)

The Northern Irish presenter recently told his new channel GB News that he was operated on around two weeks ago, talking on 5 October: 'Its early days, itll probably be about three weeks before they know if its been a success or not.'

Ruth on the other hand shared her busy schedule to her Instagram stories, with one showing her travelling to and presenting at her fashion segment on the QVC teleshopping channel.

Eamonn - who suffers from shingles - was forced to take a step away from his show to prepare for the vital back surgery on 28 September.

The television personality said that he was 'praying' ahead of the operation which will relieve pressure on his static nerves.

No show: Eamonn and his wife Ruth Langsford were no where to be seen at the NTAs last month - because of his recent vital back surgery and her QVC schedule clash (pictured in 2021)

The broadcaster has suffered from long-term difficulties, previously telling of his battle with chronic back pain after a dislocated pelvis led to three slipped discs.

He told The Express: 'It's an operation that carries a 20 per cent risk of going wrong, but such is the pain and restrictions that I have been suffering for the past 18 months, I've decided it is a risk I am willing to take.

'In fact, it's a risk I want to take because, at this moment in time, nothing could seem worse than the constant pain that runs through my lower back and legs.'

He said that he 'prays that God will guide [his] surgeon's hand this week' to help him get back to the 'man he used to be.'

Busy woman: Ruth on the other hand shared her busy schedule to her Instagram stories, with one showing her travelling to and presenting at her fashion segment on the QVC channel

He went on to reveal to the publication that the agony can be so intense that sleep is sometimes his own 'escape'.

He added that someone can be surrounded by family and friends but that severe pain can feel like your companion.

Before saying that he hopes his recovery can offer hopes to those who can no longer deal with their depression at anger with chronic pain.

By missing the NTAs, the married couple missed out on seeing their former regular presenting gig This Morning bag a gong for the best daytime show.

Holly Willoughby snuck out of the National Television Awards before the ceremony had ended on Thursday, leaving Phillip Schofield to face the music as he was awkwardly asked about their 'queuegate' controversy.

Poorly: Eamonn recently revealed he felt 'humiliated' as his co-star Isabel Webster was forced to help him through the crowds while reporting on the Queen's funeral outside Buckingham Palace last month

The TV presenters were booed at the event when This Morning won the Best Daytime award, following allegations they had skipped the queue to see the Queen lying in state last month.

Holly departed the awards show - held at London's OVO Arena Wembley - just before 10pm, more than half an hour before the ceremony finished.

The GB News presenter previously made his feelings about their 'queue jumping' known. He made no bones about the fact he didn't believe his former colleagues and said they 'messed up'.

Chatting with presenter Clare Muldoon, Eamonn said: 'I'll tell you what's strategic. Why is Holly fighting to keep her job, according to The Sun, but Mr Phillip isn't?

Clare replied: 'Who knows? Twitter, last night, was saying she didn't want to vacate her job at This Morning.

'Who wouldn't want to give up 600,000 a year and everything else that comes with it? I think the brand is very damaged. There has to be a change from the top down to the bottom on This Morning.'

Eamonn, who presents his new show with Isabel Webster on GB News, temporarily stepped down from his role as the co-presenter in June while after receiving hospital treatment due to his painful condition.

Last week, he revealed that he felt 'humiliated' as his co-star Isabel Webster was forced to help him through the crowds while reporting on the Queen's funeral outside Buckingham Palace last month.

The broadcaster, 62, is currently recovering from back surgery after suffering long-term difficulties, previously telling of his battle with chronic back pain after a dislocated pelvis led to three slipped discs.

Scandal: Tearful Holly Willoughby was booed at the National Television Awards on Thursday before sneaking out of show early after backlash over 'queue-gate' - while flustered Phillip Schofield stumbled as he was quizzed over the scandal

And joining the show on Wednesday via video from him home following his operation last week, Eamonn reflected on how he felt with Isabel, 39, having to assist him as he stumbled and struggled on his crutch during the presenting stint, telling her: 'It was an issue for me'.

As they chatted through their coverage of the Queen's death and subsequent funeral in September, Isabel reflected that they were 'up against the crowds', explaining: 'There was a pack of around eight people wide, walking, all trying to see the royal procession and we were going against the crowd arm in arm, and it was a long walk.'

Praising his pal for helping him, Eamonn then said: 'You're one of my dearest friends in life Isabel, and you go above and beyond the call of duty.

'I mean, there is such a beautiful heart with you. But I mean it was humiliating for me. You took me through that crowd. And I stumbled a few times, and my leg gave way a few times.

'And after that I was a bit humiliated really. You didn't make any issue of it, but it was an issue for me.'

The broadcaster has suffered from long-term difficulties, previously telling of his battle with chronic back pain after a dislocated pelvis led to three slipped discs.

Former This Morning host Eamonn left GB News viewers wondering where he was when he wasn't on-screen, with the journalist taking to Twitter to clear things up, writing: 'Many of you have been asking why I haven't been presenting GB News.

'Unfortunately, due to a reoccurrence of a long-term back condition, I've had to undergo some unexpected hospital treatment and am now following Doctor's orders by taking a short time off.
Dermot O'Leary was awarded the Freedom of The City of London by the Lord Mayor in a ceremony in the capital on Tuesday.

The broadcaster, 49, was joined by proud wife Dee Koppang and revealed he was left a 'tiny bit teary' as he was honoured for his charitable work with the London Irish Centre.

Dermot's parents Sean and Maria emigrated to the UK from Wexford before his birth and he said he humbly accepted the award on behalf of all Irish immigrants.

Proud: Dermot O'Leary was awarded the Freedom of The City of London by the Lord Mayor in a ceremony in the capital on Tuesday (L-R) Lord Mayor Vincent Keaveny, Dermot and his wife Dee Koppang

He went onto tell the attendees that his two great loves were 'This city [London] and my Irish heritage'.

The This Morning host, who shares a son with his wife, cut a dapper figure for the occasion in a navy suit, which he layered over a crisp white shirt and completed with a dark tie.

Meanwhile Dee looked chic in a long brown coat which she teamed with a black polar neck sweater.

Tears: The broadcaster was joined by proud wife Dee Koppang and revealed he was left a 'tiny bit teary' as he was honoured for his charitable work with the London Irish Centre

Can't believe it: The This Morning host, who shares a son with his wife, cut a dapper figure for the occasion in a navy suit

After receiving the honour, Dermot said: 'I am genuinely honoured to receive the Freedom of the City of London'.

'Anyone who knows me will know that two of my great loves are this wonderful city and my Irish heritage so, to receive the Freedom alongside my London Irish Centre friends makes it all the more special'.

'Countless Irish people, like my own parents, brought so much to this great city, so I would like to sincerely thank the Lord Mayor in honouring those experiences and contributions today, and I proudly and humbly accept this on their behalf.'

Proud parents: Dermot's parent's Sean and Maria (right) emigrated to the UK from Wexford before his birth and he said he humbly accepted the award on behalf of all Irish immigrants (pictured on This Morning)

Pride: After receiving the honour, Dermot said: 'I am genuinely honoured to receive the Freedom of the City of London'

Dermot is a patron of Camden-based charity which provides advice, support, culture, and community services to the Irish community in London.

Taking to Instagram the host shared a slew of fun behind the scenes snaps and said he was 'standing on the shoulders of giants'.

He penned: 'Humbled to have been given the freedom of the city of London today from the man himself, Vincent Keaveny'.

'Truly privileged and felt a (tiny) bit teary to be patron of the @londonirishcentre Thanks so much to my dear friend @garydunneinsta'

Pals: Taking to Instagram the host shared a slew of fun behind the scenes snaps and said he was 'standing on the shoulders of giants'

Humble: He penned: 'Humbled to have been given the freedom of the city of london today from the man himself, Vincent Keaveny'

'They do incredible work. Keep the fires burning, and the drawbridge down. Im standing on the shoulders of giants. Now, bring me my sheep'.

Dermot was nominated for the Freedom of the City of London by Lord Mayor of the City of London, Vincent Keaveny, and member and court assistant of the Worshipful Company of Carmen, Vince Dignam.

Lord Mayor Vincent Keaveny said: 'Dermot is familiar to many millions of us, either, from watching him on TV or listening to his radio show but more than that, he is also a dedicated and much valued charity campaigner.

'As the City's first Irish National Lord Mayor, I was particularly delighted to nominate Dermot for the Freedom of the City of London, which is one of our most ancient and proud traditions, and which he richly deserves.'

While Dignam added: 'Through my membership of The Worshipful Company of Carmen and my links with the London Irish Centre, I was very pleased to join Lord Mayor Vincent Keaveny in nominating Dermot for the Freedom.
The wife of a famous nightclub mogul was caught ordering UberEats on her phone while inside the The Birdcage at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

Fashion influencer Rozalia Russian, who is married to businessman and former mayoral candidate Nick Russian, was seen browsing the food delivery app and selecting a Happy Meal option.

The 34-year-old appeared to be ordering food for her children back at home.

Fashion influencer Rozalia Russian was caught ordering UberEats on her phone while inside the exclusive Birdcage enclosure at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday

Footage of Rozalia ordering Macca's was posted on Instagram by hairstylist Hermiz Daniel, who wrote: 'Being a mum while working still. Thank god for UberEats.'

Hours later, Rozalia shared a photo with her two kids, Willow, eight, and Kingston, five, after a long day of celebrations.

'Now home to these two,' she wrote in her Instagram Story.

She was seen browsing the food delivery app and selecting a Happy Meal option. The 34-year-old appeared to be ordering food for her children back at home

Hours later, Rozalia shared a photo with her two kids, Willow, eight, and Kingston, five, after a long day of celebrations. 'Now home to these two,' she wrote in her Instagram Story

Rozalia and her husband Nick looked very stylish indeed as they arrived at Flemington Racecourse earlier on Tuesday.

She dressed modestly in an Indiana Jones-esque tan get-up by Effie Kats and matching brimmed hat by Lauren J Ritchie Millinery.

The long-sleeved dress has padded shoulders, making her look business-chic.

Rozalia and her husband Nick looked very stylish indeed as they arrived at Flemington Racecourse earlier on Tuesday

Rozalia is a former ballerina-turned-influencer who promotes major brands such as Dior, Louis Vuitton and L'Oreal Paris.

She tied the knot with Nick back in 2012, and they share two children together.

Nick rose to fame on dating show Temptation Island in 2002 and is Melbourne's most prolific nightclub owner and entrepreneur.

She dressed modestly in an Indiana Jones-esque tan get-up by Effie Kats and matching brimmed hat by Lauren J Ritchie Millinery

He became an official candidate for Lord Mayor of Melbourne in 2020, after the Liberal Party reportedly called for him to make a bid for the city's top job.

Following his stint as a reality TV star, Nick ran the popular nightclub Eve Bar, where he became friends with a slew of celebrities before selling the venue in 2015.

He now runs Together Events, which is 'a luxury lifestyle and events brand created for sophisticated, fun and fashion-conscious individuals'.
Gigi Hadid bared her statuesque legs in a flesh-flashing photoshoot for V magazine's new Supermodel, Superhero issue.

The 27-year-old joined a jaw-dropping global array of fashionistas covering the latest edition of the fashion publication.

Inside the magazine, she posed up a storm in a clinging chessboard top with a pair of tantalizingly high-cut white shorts.

Blonde bombshell: Hello, gorgeous: Gigi Hadid bared her statuesque legs in a flesh-flashing photoshoot for V magazine's new Supermodel, Superhero issue

The other cover girls for the latest issue of V included Dutch model Imaan Hammam, who has featured in Vogue in a whopping nine territories.

Imaan, who has North African roots, chatted with the pioneering Black American model Pat Cleveland about 'rocking my hair naturally.'

She recalled: 'People were so surprised, like: "Oh my God! Is that your hair?" I was like: "Yes, you guys have been messing it up and dont know what to do with it!"

Imaan confessed: 'It took me a while to really embrace my natural texture, [but] Im so glad I did. Because after that, a whole door opened and all these beautiful, young girls would rock their hair naturally.'

When you got it: The 27-year-old joined a jaw-dropping global array of fashionistas covering the latest edition of fashion publication

Swanking about: Chanel was a running theme in Gigi's pictures, including one where she wore a pendant of the fashion house's iconic double-C logo

'Rocking my hair naturally': The other cover girls for the latest issue of V included Dutch model Imaan Hammam, who has featured in Vogue in a whopping nine territories

Radiant: Imaan, who has North African roots, chatted with the pioneering Black American model Pat Cleveland about 'rocking my hair naturally'

Another cover girl for V's Supermodel, Superhero issue was the Chinese model He Cong, who said: 'The industry as a whole is much more diverse than it used to be.'

She added: 'Now, anyone can be a model if they want to. Its a very powerful message because it says anyone can wear these clothes and feel beautiful.'

Adut Akech, who was born in South Sudan but has lived in Australia since she was seven, flaunted her sculpted midriff on her V cover.

'Im trying to inspire anyone that I can,' she said in the magazine. 'No matter where you come from, your background, [or] your upbringing, everyone is capable. When God says its your time, its your time. Nobody can stop us.'

Gorgeous: Another cover girl for V's Supermodel, Superhero issue was the Chinese model He Cong, who said: 'The industry as a whole is much more diverse than it used to be'

Aglow: She added: 'Now, anyone can be a model if they want to'

Passion for fashion: She argued: 'Its a very powerful message because it says anyone can wear these clothes and feel beautiful'

Meanwhile, Gigi got to be interviewed by her 'ultimate muse'  the iconic supermodel Helena Christensen, 53.

'When I think back on what allured me to fashion,' Gigi told Helena, 'it was the images. It was the [pioneers] like you.'

Hadid rocked her cover shoot from start to finish.

Clad in Chanel, the stunner contorted her famous physique for the camera, striking powerful poses shot after shot.

When you got it: Adut Akech, who was born in South Sudan but has lived in Australia since she was seven, flaunted her sculpted midriff on her V cover

'Im trying to inspire anyone that I can': She said in the magazine: 'No matter where you come from, your background, [or] your upbringing, everyone is capable'

'Nobody can stop us': Said added, 'When God says its your time, its your time'

Leonardo DiCaprio's rumored new girlfriend, placed her hands on her hips and wore a white Chanel romper in the cover photo.

A gold chain cinched her waist, matching a wrist cuff and a rose-shaped purse from the legendary French fashion house.

The top model's flawless makeup accentuated her natural beauty and her famous long blonde locks were blown-out and styled for maximum impact.

The theme of Chanel continued with Gigi's next look as she donned a vermilion leather vest over a black-and-white checkered shirt and bright white shorts.

Rumored romance: Hadid is rumored to be in a romantic relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio (pictured 2020)

Enviable: The mother of one  she shares her two-year-old daughter Khai with ex-partner Zayn Malik, 29  flaunted her enviable thighs and filled her eyes with intensity as her voluminous hair flowed behind her face (pictured Oct. 25, 2022)

A pair of gold cuffs adorned Hadid's wrists, leaving the rest of her slender arms completely bare as she held on to her head.

The mother of one  she shares her two-year-old daughter Khai with ex-partner Zayn Malik, 29  flaunted her enviable thighs and filled her eyes with intensity as her voluminous hair flowed behind her face.

The third look gave Gigi the chance to showcase her latest venture as she sported a dark blue sweater from her own cashmere clothing line called Guest in Residence.

As the brand's creative director, Gigi gave the luxurious blue sweater some edge by designing it to have no right sleeve.

She paired her blue sweater with a gold Chanel necklace with the CC logo prominently hanging down below her outstretched bare arm and killer expression.

Iconic interviewer: The 27-year-old runway sensation also got to be interviewed by her 'ultimate muse'  the iconic supermodel Helena Christensen (pictured in her '90s heyday)

Passion: During her interview with Christensen  a former Victoria's Secret Angel and one of the original supermodels  Gigi opened up about her passion for modeling and the origins of her inspiration (pictured Oct. 25 2022)

During her interview with Christensen  a former Victoria's Secret Angel and one of the original supermodels  Gigi opened up about her passion for modeling and the origins of her inspiration.

'What I really had a connection to was the photographers and image-making,' said Hadid. 'The supermodel view.'

Gigi went on to tell Helena the secret of why Christensen's era of supermodels were superior to Hadid and her contemporaries: 'You guys were the best of the best because you understood your place in an image, which is to bring life to it and make it part of a story.'

The budding fashion designer also offered some advice to aspiring models, telling them to 'look around and be present.'

'Being a model is not about just standing there and being a mannequin,' said Gigi. 'It's really about being a part of the creative process. The more you understand each part of it, the better model you become.'
Few women can match the poise and flair of vivacious Caroline Dalmeny who, in addition to remaining on good terms with her former husband, Sotheby's chairman Lord Dalmeny, has forged a friendship with his new wife, Harriet Clapham, and is as at ease with high-flying politicians as she is with the Royal Family.

But a brutal snub to her new love  former Gurkha officer Jules Irens  has caused her to post a blistering alert on social media.

'Good morning everyone,' writes Caroline, 53, before outlining what's befallen Irens, 54, whom she playfully calls 'the Frog' in tribute to his late, French-speaking mother.

'A person who I thought was a very good and long-standing friend told me in writing this morning that the Frog couldn't be invited to a party,' Caroline records, explaining that she was told that the party would be 'crowded' and that 'priority was being given to married couples'.

Few women can match the poise and flair of vivacious Caroline Dalmeny (pictured right with the Countess of Wessex)

In addition to remaining on good terms with her former husband, Sotheby's chairman Lord Dalmeny, she has forged a friendship with his new wife, Harriet Clapham

Her hosts' assurance  'they would still love to see me'  cuts no ice. 'I'm so upset and angry I'm on the verge of naming and shaming the guilty,' she adds.

But she resists doing so, assuring me: 'I've said all I'm going to say.'

That is perhaps for the best, given that her post concludes: 'They are dead to me . . .'

New tragedy for City boss Horlick as husband dies

Nicola Horlick, whose eldest daughter died from leukaemia at the age of 12, has suffered new heartache.

Yesterday, her husband, Martin Baker, lost the battle against cancer that he had been secretly fighting for four years. 'He died this morning,' she tells me. 'He did really well to live so long.'

Horlick, 61, who was dubbed 'Superwoman' for juggling her high-flying career as a City fund manager with bringing up six children, says of Baker: 'He was a fighter, and I am heartbroken.'

Financial journalist Baker, who turned 64 last month, was diagnosed with stage-four prostate cancer in 2018.

He became Horlick's second husband in 2006. They had met when he interviewed her for the Sunday Telegraph the previous year.

Nicola Horlick, whose eldest daughter died from leukaemia at the age of 12, has suffered new heartache

When Baker wrote a thriller novel set in the world of high finance, Meltdown, she acted as technical editor.

Her six children were with her first husband, fellow investment banker Tim Horlick, whom she divorced in 2005 after a 21-year marriage.

Their daughter Georgina battled leukaemia for ten years until 1998. Her death is said to have been the catalyst that ended Nicola's marriage  her husband had an affair with a receptionist.

She doesn't blame him, however, saying that grief manifests itself in many different ways.

Talking about meeting Baker, the authorised biographer of West Ham manager David Moyes, she says: 'Martin came along to interview me for his newspaper and I thought, 'Oh, he is quite nice.' We were talking about Georgina and he started crying, because he is very emotional.

'He said he had three children himself, and that he just couldn't contemplate the death of one of them. So I ended up comforting him.'

With the contestants on Strictly, Anton Du Beke is friendly and constructive in his comments. With his wife, Hannah, the judge is more withering.

Asked whether the businesswoman shares his smart dress sense, he replies: 'Yes, to a degree. She's less, sort of, you know . . . Hannah's a bit more 'from the country' than I am, so she has a bit more of the . . . what's the expression? Functional. Oh, that sounds like Agent Provocateur meets Millets.' Charming.

Lyricist Sir Tim Rice handed 150 to a theatre-goer who complained about swearing in his West End musical From Here To Eternity.

'She said, 'I came all this way and I don't want to hear someone effing and blinding all night,' ' recalls the Oscar-winner, 77.

'So I said, 'I feel really bad about this. Don't tell your friends, but here's your money back.' '

Meghan's sister wild about Musk

The Duchess of Sussex can expect more barbs from her elder half-sister, Samantha Markle, who's been allowed back on Twitter after Elon Musk took over the social network.

Samantha claims she was 'unjustly targeted and shut down by bots and trolls falsely reporting my account'.

The Duchess of Sussex can expect more barbs from her elder half-sister, Samantha Markle, who's been allowed back on Twitter after Elon Musk took over the social network

Speaking to the Steeple Times website, she enthuses: 'I believe that this will be a historically positive change for our social and economic world.'

She also sings the praises of the Tesla billionaire: 'I'm glad that Elon Musk is going to save free speech . . . We can all have our opinions, and disagree.

'Elon Musk wants to make it fair for both the Right and the Left equally. Differing opinions and controversy make people think and grow.' Let's hope Meghan agrees.

Playtime for Bloom

Orlando Bloom is excited by his pop superstar fiancee Katy Perry's collaboration with toymaker Lego.

Perry, 38, wore a Lego costume for a Christmas advertising campaign, prompting Bloom, 45, to gush: 'You and Lego. Wow. My two favourite things to play with.'

The Lord Of The Rings star revealed his love of the pastime last year. 'During Covid, I started building Lego again,' Bloom explained.

'I dip in and out while I work. I build mostly cars and find this methodical nature of creating this little thing makes me feel like I'm achieving something else.'

Perry, 38, wore a Lego costume for a Christmas advertising campaign, prompting Bloom, 45, to gush: 'You and Lego. Wow. My two favourite things to play with'

Society jeweller Theo Fennell, whose quirky creations have been worn by everyone from Victoria Beckham to Sir Elton John, is worried about the future of his trade.

'It's appalling what's happening,' he says at the Petworth Literary Festival in West Sussex, referring to the lack of British apprentices. 'So many want to be on their own now.'

While teaching recently at the Royal College of Art, 29 of his 31 pupils were Chinese.

He adds of the new breed of designer: 'There are a lot of people called Lavinia who make jewellery out of feathers and bits of stone they found in Ibiza, so it's a bit difficult.'

Oscar-winner Danny Boyle chose a talk at the British Film Institute to offer some rather unwelcome judgments.

'It's a terrible thing to say at the home of British film but I am not sure we are great film-makers, to be absolutely honest,' the Slumdog Millionaire director says. '

As a nation, our two artforms are theatre, in a middle-class sense, and pop music, because we are extraordinary at it.'
Following the recent departures of some of its executives, Apple is once again seeing members of the management team leave the company.

The tech giant is reportedly losing two women that held important roles in the company as VP of Online Retail and Chief Information Officer, The Verge writes.

Apple Should Expect More Changes To Its Executive Team With The New Vacancies

Top executives from Apple Inc. are stepping down, bringing definite changes to key parts of the company's operations in the online retail and information systems divisions, Bloomberg reports.

VP Anna Matthiason is leaving the company after securing her position on Apple's executive team for three years, while CIO Mary Demby is retiring after three years of service.

The departures of the two will leave the space for the highest-level position that reports to Apple's Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook Vacant, according to Tech Times.

While it is still unclear why Matthiasson has decided to leave the company, she had a remarkable run with Apple before being an Operations Executive.

Karen Rasmussen, who worked as a senior director of digital experience and e-commerce at the California-based company, will take Matthiasson's place in her departure.

Matthiasson is known for her work as a significant figure that helped the Apple Online Store succeed during the pandemic.

On the other hand, Bloomberg says that Apple is yet to give any information about who may possibly replace Demby.

However, speculations are made that David Smoley will step into the position since he was the VP of her 2019 team and was a CIO for the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, Tech Times reports.

Read More: Remember the Apple Exec Against the Strict Return-to-Office Policy? He's Now With Google

Matthiasson And Demby Follows A String Of Executives Who Left The Company Recently

The departure of the two women from Apple's executive team is not the first of its kind, as Evans Hankey, who has been in charge of industrial design, says she was leaving earlier.

Hankey will remain in her post for the next six months during the transition period while the company finds someone to fill her post.

She was another fundamental person in Apple's development of many of its products as she worked closely with Jony Ive, who left in 2019.

Apple's Chief Privacy Officer Jane Horvath also left a few weeks ago to work for a law firm in Los Angeles named Gibson, Dunn, and Crutcher LLP.

Horvarth has been with the multi-billion-dollar company as it faced a lawsuit against Epic Games in 2020 for anti-competitive actions.

Meanwhile, Tony Blevins, who was the company's Vice President for Procurement, was fired from his position after a video of him making sexist remarks went viral on TikTok.

The Verge writes that it will also be important to note that except for Blevins, all of the executives who left the company are women.

CEO Tim Cook's management has been criticized in the past for prioritizing executive decisions rather than considering the opinion of the entire team.

According to WCCF Tech, this strategy delays the accomplishment of several important tasks and prevents executives from making progress in their respective areas of work.

Related Article: Apple Procurement VP Fired After Making Crude Remarks on TikTok
Lisa Curry has released a balloon filled with her daughter Jaimi's ashes at the top of Mount Kosciuszko, two years after the 33-year-old's tragic death.

The retired Olympic swimmer, 60, announced on Tuesday she'd scaled Australia's tallest mountain over the weekend, sharing a gallery of photos documenting the treacherous expedition.

'I needed something to help me find focus again and get out of bed, but my main purpose was to take my daughter's ashes to the top of Mt Kosciuszko,' she wrote on Instagram.

Lisa Curry has released a balloon filled with her daughter Jaimi's ashes at the top of Mount Kosciuszko, two years after the 33-year-old's tragic death

The trip, which had been postposed several times due to Covid restrictions, proved enormously challenging for the Commonwealth Games gold medalist.

'I can honestly say it was the hardest thing I've ever done. My beautiful friend Christine didn't leave my side which I was very grateful for. The water is my comfort zone, not mountains,' she explained.

'The conditions were very challenging, plenty of snow, ice, rain, sleet, baby hail (sago), 60-100kmh winds, we had it all. Once we headed out, we were committed. No turning back. One step at a time.'

The retired Olympic swimmer announced on Tuesday she'd scaled Australia's tallest mountain over the weekend, sharing a gallery of photos documenting the treacherous expedition

'I can honestly say it was the hardest thing I've ever done. My friend Christine didn't leave my side which I was very grateful for. The water is my comfort zone, not mountains,' she explained

Lisa found the hike particularly difficult due to her atrial fibrillation, a condition where the heart beats irregularly, often causing poor blood flow.

'There was one last hill to "walk" up. It was a complete struggle for me. I could see a blurry Glenn standing there waiting for me, every step I was getting closer but couldn't see through my tears,' she recalled.

Once at the mountain's peak, Lisa released a small pink balloon containing Jaimi's ashes and dried flowers from her funeral into the air.

Lisa found the hike particularly difficult due to her atrial fibrillation, a condition where the heart beats irregularly, often causing poor blood flow

Lisa also paid tribute to Jaimi by setting up a makeshift memorial at the mountain's peak, featuring a photo of the pair together, a gold plaque and two Kewpie dolls

'An overwhelming sense of achievement and emotional anxiety with what I was about to do. The wind was extreme, and took the balloon quickly, but it landed on the snow not far away, so [my friend] Glenn went and picked it up and let it go again,' she wrote.

'I honour our Jaimi by taking her ashes and dried petals from her funeral to amazing places around the country and the world. This spot on top of Mt Kosciusko is the closest to heaven that I could get so it was very meaningful to me. Everyone has their own way of honouring those that are special to them,' she continued.

Lisa completed her post with a touching tribute to her beloved Jaimi: 'Fly free beautiful angel. Never forgotten.'

Once at the mountain's peak, Lisa released a small pink balloon containing Jaimi's ashes and dried flowers from her funeral into the air

'An overwhelming sense of achievement and emotional anxiety with what I was about to do. The wind was extreme, and took the balloon quickly, but it landed on the snow not far away, so [my friend] Glenn went and picked it up and let it go again,' she wrote

Jaimi, Lisa's eldest daughter with ex-husband Grant Kenny, died in September 2020 following an 18-year battle with alcohol addiction and anorexia

Jaimi, Lisa's eldest daughter with ex-husband Grant Kenny, died in September 2020 following an 18-year battle with alcohol addiction and anorexia.

Lisa and Grant Kenny wed in 1984, separated in 2009 and during their marriage welcomed three children together: son Jett, 28, and daughters Morgan, 31, and Jaimi.

Jaimi died at Sunshine Coast University Hospital on September 14, 2020, surrounded by her family.

Lisa and Grant Kenny wed in 1984, separated in 2009 and during their marriage welcomed three children together: son Jett, 28, and daughters Morgan, 31, and Jaimi

Announcing the sad news on social media, Lisa wrote: 'Our beautiful daughter Jaimi has lost her battle with a long-term illness and passed away peacefully in hospital yesterday morning with her loving family by her side.'

Lisa suffered heartbreak yet again in April this year after losing her mother Pat at the age of 86.

For confidential support in Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14
Orlando Bloom left a rather cheeky comment on his fiancee Katy Perry's Instagram on Tuesday, as she celebrated her new campaign with Lego.

The Lord of the Rings star, 45, quipped that he loves to 'play' with both Katy and the building blocks underneath a clip she shared from the new advert.

With Katy, 38, stunning in a quirky LEGO costume in the campaign, he wrote underneath: 'You and Lego. Wow. My two favourite things to play with.'

'My two favourite things to play with': Orlando Bloom left a VERY cheeky comment on Instagram on Tuesday as fiancee Katy Perry celebrated her new campaign with LEGO

'@Lego asked a group of kids to dream up their perfect giving machine, so I thought I'd hop on in my finest Lego fit and help deliver some presents!' Katy's post read.

In the clip, the brand's new holiday campaign, Katy wears a red and blue LEGO minidress with a piece of red LEGO on her head.

She sings her hit Firework on top of a LEGO machine to give out presents to kids.

Looking good! Katy, 38, stuns in a quirky LEGO costume in the campaign (pictured)

'You and Lego. Wow. My two favourite things to play with,' Orlando wrote on Instagram

The Lord Of The Rings star revealed his love of the pasttime last year.

'During Covid, I started building Lego again,' Orlando said.

'I dip in and out while I work. I build mostly cars and find this methodical nature of creating this little thing makes me feel like I'm achieving something else.'

It comes after Katy shared a string of snaps last week from their recent trip to Australia while he filmed Wizards in far North Queensland with the likes of Pete Davidson.

Opening up their holiday album! It comes after Katy shared a string of snaps last week from their recent trip to Australia while he filmed Wizards in far North Queensland with the likes of Pete Davidson

Among the images posted by the 38-year-old songstress was a snapshot of the two lovebirds sharing a kiss.

The One Of The Boys music artist wrote in the caption: 'Daddy filmed a movie in AUS. I went down unda.'

Katy also held a cute koala in another fun snap.

Missing from the post was the couple's two-year-old daughter Daisy Dove Bloom.

The little girl is Perry's first child, while Orlando shares son Flynn Christopher Blanchard Copeland Bloom, eleven, with ex-wife Miranda Kerr.
Elle Macpherson dressed up as a gothic queen for a trip to Transylvania, Romania.

The Australian supermodel, 58, took to Instagram to showcase her look for an elaborate 'Dracula's Ball' Halloween party.

Elle looked nothing short of incredible in an elaborate medieval-style gown by high-end Romanian designer Chotronette.

Elle Macpherson dressed up as a gothic queen for a trip to Transylvania, Romania

Elle paired the floor-length number with fur draped over her shoulders and an ornate gold headpiece with dangling beads.

The mother of two finished her spooky look with a series of gold cuffs and bracelets.

The statuesque model captioned the snaps with the inspirational quote: 'To shine your brightest light is to be who you truly are.'

The Australian supermodel, 58, looked nothing short of incredible in an elaborate medieval-style gown by high-end Romanian designer Chotronette

She added: 'That baby bat screamed out in fright, "Turn on the dark, I'm afraid of the light."'

Elle also shared footage of herself sauntering along while several well-dressed classical musicians played violins.

A raging bonfire could also be seen as she was welcomed to the ball.

Elle paired the floor-length number with fur draped over her shoulders and an ornate gold headpiece with dangling beads

Inside the soiree, fake polar bears lit up with red effects created a wintry ambience for guests as they sat down for a meal.

Elle stood by a smoke machine on a balcony as she posed for dramatic photos.

It comes after Elle's new boyfriend was identified as Texas-born musician Doyle Bramhall II.

Elle also shared footage of herself sauntering along while several well-dressed classical musicians played violins

A raging bonfire could also be seen as she was welcomed to the ball

Things are already 'getting serious' between the couple, who have travelled around the world together, reports Australian magazine New Idea.

A source told the publication: 'Elle and Doyle have known each other for a while but their friendship recently turned romantic.'

'It's getting serious. Elle travels the world with Doyle and already knows his two adult daughters,' they added.

Elle's new boyfriend has been identified as Texas-born musician Doyle Bramhall II (The couple is pictured together at Paris Fashion Week on September 27)

'He worships her and is very supportive of her work in the wellness space, too.'

Doyle, who is best known for collaborating with Eric Clapton and Roger Waters, previously dated Renee Zellweger for seven years before they split in 2019.

Last month, the guitarist shared a photo to Instagram of himself and Macpherson gazing lovingly at one another backstage at Clapton's concert in Switzerland.

Things are already 'getting serious' between the couple, who have travelled around the world together, reports New Idea. (Macpherson is pictured in Paris on September 27)

It comes ten months after Elle confirmed her split from disgraced former British doctor Andrew Wakefield, who is a hero of the 'anti-vax' movement.

Her spokesperson revealed the news to Daily Mail Australia in a statement last December, saying the pair actually broke up 'almost two years ago'.

'As a spokesperson for Elle I can unequivocally confirm that the relationship between Elle and Dr [sic] Wakefield terminated almost two years ago,' they said.
He made his reality TV debut on Big Brother back in 2006.

And 'Farmer Dave' Graham has returned to the spotlight as a contestant on Channel Seven's Australia's Got Talent.

He auditioned for the show on Monday night alongside students from his program RuffTrack, a charity that aims to 'keep kids alive and out of prison'.

Big Brother fan favourite 'Farmer Dave' Graham (pictured) has returned to the spotlight on the new season of Australia's Got Talent

'I run a pretty unique program that utilises dogs to be able to transform kids, and we do it one paw at a time,' Dave explained.

'The kids come to us via police, the juvenile justice system, schools that just can't keep them engaged.'

Dave performed his act with six kids from the program and a dog named Jimmy.

He auditioned for the show on Monday night alongside students from his program RuffTrack, a charity that aims to 'keep kids alive and out of prison'

During the performance, Jimmy leapt over a series of planks directed by each child as Dave narrated their stories.

After the act, judge Kate Ritchie said: 'I was worried when the performance started that I hadn't asked enough about the kids standing beside you, but then we learned all about their wonderful journey.

'So thank you so much, and thank you for being up here tonight.'

Shane Jacobson added: 'It's so much more than just the act, like knowing what you do.

'That's the joy of what we're watching, and well done telling some of the stories while it was going on.'

During the performance, the dog named Jimmy leapt over a series of planks directed by each child as Dave narrated their stories

Alesha Dixon also said: 'I love what you're doing, I love what this represents, that all of us have a chance to start again and deserve a chance in life and can better our lives no matter what our circumstances are.'

David Walliams joked: 'Do you ever think you might take a camp 50-year-old comedian under your wing and turn his life around?

'Because you're kind of spunky... It was very, very charming and it's wonderful what these kids have. You've given them a fresh start in life, so I applaud you for that. And I'm going to Google you when I get home - "Farmer Dave, topless pictures".'

The four judges voted to take Dave and the teens to the next round.

The four judges voted to take Dave and the teens to the next round

Fans of Big Brother will remember Dave, better known as 'farmer Dave', for coming in third place on Big Brother in 2006.

He came out as gay live on the show, but told Mamamia he does not remember any of the details now because of the heightened emotion of the moment.

He returned to Big Brother this year as an 'OG' on the Fans vs Favourites season.
While many celebrities were out partying over Halloween weekend in Los Angeles, Jason Momoa went back home to Hawaii for a very good cause.

The 43-year-old actor appeared at an event at Brigham Young University - Hawaii on Friday, to promote people registering for the bone marrow registry.

He did this on behalf of his longtime friend Travis Snyder, who suffers from leukemia, and a six-year-old boy named Rhyder Lopez, who was born with the ultra-rare genetic disease Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).

Good cause: While many celebrities were out partying over Halloween weekend in Los Angeles, Jason Momoa went back home to Hawaii for a very good cause

Momoa took to his Instagram over the weekend to share videos from the event and to get his 17.2 million followers to get involved with his Be The Match campaign.

Momoa sent the first video on Friday, which showed the massive actor rolling up to campus on a motorcycle to cheering fans, while he met young Rhyder Lopez.

'Mahalo Nui to @byuhawaii for hosting @bethematch it was amazing meeting everyone in Laie yesterday, mahalo to everyone who came to get swabbed,' Momoa said in the caption.

Rhyder: He did this on behalf of his longtime friend Travis Snyder, who suffers from leukemia, and a six-year-old boy named Rhyder Lopez (left), who was born with the ultra rare genetic disease Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)

Involved: Momoa took to his Instagram over the weekend to share videos from the event and to get his 17.2 million followers to get involved with his Be The Match campaign

Meeting Rhyder: Momoa sent the first video on Friday, which showed the massive actor rolling up to campus on a motorcycle to cheering fans, while he met young Rhyder Lopez

'Hopefully one step closer to finding a match for Rhyder Lopez & @thetravissnyder, please! Go to link in bio and my story to learn more on how you could help be a super hero and save lives. Join the registry ! Please do your part and make a difference and help! Aloha j' he concluded.

The video also showed Jason and Rhyder getting leis while a haka was performed for them, before meeting Rhyder's family and signing a number of autographs.

He also went out to meet his fans and thanked them for coming, adding he would take a picture with anyone who got swabbed to try and, 'be the match.'

Autographs: The video also showed Jason and Rhyder getting leis while a haka was performed for them, before meeting Rhyder's family and signing a number of autographs

Fans: He also went out to meet his fans and thanked them for coming, adding he would take a picture with anyone who got swabbed to try and, 'be the match'

'I get emotional when I think about it. If it's my kids or your kids... it doesn't take much. You just got to swab a cheek, and you can save some lives,' Momoa said.

'From the bottom of my heart, thank you for coming. I love you, Aloha!' he said to the group.

He was also seen hanging out while two fans got swabbed as they mentioned how easy the whole process was, showing them swabbing the inside of their cheek with a cotton swab.

Emotional: 'I get emotional when I think about it. If it's my kids or your kids... it doesn't take much. You just got to swab a cheek, and you can save some lives,' Momoa said

Swab: He was also seen hanging out while two fans got swabbed as they mentioned how easy the whole process was, showing them swabbing the inside of their cheek with a cotton swab

Momoa also reposted BYU Hawaii's video from the event that was posted on Sunday, thanking everyone again for coming out to support his worthy cause.

'Mahalo again for everyone that took part and came down to BYU ! Please make a difference save a life, join the registry link in bio! Aloha j' Momoa said.

Momoa's friend Snyder has been battling acute myeloid leukemia since 2015, and finding a matching bone marrow donor is more complicated than just matching blood types.

Thanks: Momoa also reposted BYU Hawaii's video from the event that was posted on Sunday, thanking everyone again for coming out to support his worthy cause

Complicated: Momoa's friend Snyder has been battling acute myeloid leukemia since 2015, and finding a matching bone marrow donor is more complicated than just matching blood types

A person's ethnicity is a key factor, with Momoa revealing in the video that, even though Snyder is, 'the whitest guy I know,' he does have some Polynesian heritage, which is part of why the weekend event was so important.

As for young Rhyder Lopez, both he and his 9-year-old brother named Rhaiden were born with HLH, though Rhaiden found a matching donor seven years ago while Rhyder is still waiting for his blood stem cell match.

Fans can visit BeTheMatch.org/ForTravis to learn more about his story.
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Suh Min-hee, Phillips' newly appointed regional director of Korea / Courtesy of Phillips



By Park Han-sol



Phillips, one of the leading global auction houses along with Christie's and Sotheby's, has appointed Suh Min-hee as the new regional director of Korea.



Founded in 1796 in Westminster, London, Phillips focuses on sales in a select number of categories: 20th- and 21st-century art, design, photographs, editions, watches and jewelry.



The auction company made a foray into the Asian art market in 2015 by holding its first auction in Hong Kong. It opened a regional office in the posh Hannam-dong neighborhood of Seoul's Yongsan District in 2018. In 2021, the firm reported that transactions in global auctions from Korean collectors were up 323 percent compared to the previous year.



In time for the inaugural edition of Frieze Seoul in early September, Phillips hosted its first-ever curated exhibition in Korea titled "New Romantics," bringing the works of a pioneering generation of 23 contemporary artists who seek to revive a distinct spirit of Romanticism.



"I am delighted to welcome Min-hee to Phillips as we are building extraordinary momentum in South Korea," said Jonathan Crockett, the auction house's chairman for Asia, in a statement. "South Korea is indeed one of the world's fastest grow[ing] art markets and we feel the time is right to expand our footprint here."



"Our office will continually strive to serve as a window for Phillips to expand its presence in Korea and assist collectors here to smoothly take part in its international auctions," Suh said at a press luncheon in Seoul, Monday.



"With Phillips being an auction house that concentrates on the sale of 20th- and 21st-century art, I believe that one of the Seoul office's roles lies in introducing the contemporary art of Korea to the global art circle. I hope to be able to contribute to building a diversified profile of Korean art by discovering and presenting promising artists here  in addition to already well-known masters  on the international stage," she added in a statement.



Prior to joining Phillips, the director served as a senior specialist in modern and contemporary art for K Auction, one of the established Korean auction houses, securing consignments for major auctions and private sales as well as planning live and online auctions in Seoul and Hong Kong for over 12 years.



She has also previously held posts at the Japan Society in New York City, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York.


The private school where a four-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by the principal's driver in the school premises could get its licence on Tuesday. Representative Image/DC

HYDERABAD: The private school where a four-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by the principal's driver in the school premises could get its licence on Tuesday.

Information to this extent was given to parents of the schools students on Monday. The district education officer (DEO) is expected to confirm it on Tuesday.

The victim's parents reported the incident on October 18. They alleged that the driver of the school principal had been raping the girl for the past two months. Following the incident, the licence of the school was cancelled on orders from the education minister Sabitha Indra Reddy.

However, several parents of students studying at the school appealed to the government to reopen the school with a different management, so that the academics of students are not adversely affected.
This March 26, 2012 file photo shows dancers performing a traditional Korean mask dance during a local festival. Korea Times photo by Kim Ju-sung



The traditional Korean mask dance, or "talchum" in Korean, is almost certain to be added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.



According to the homepage of UNESCO on Tuesday, "Talchum, Mask Dance Drama in the Republic of Korea" was recommended for inscription on the list during a subpanel meeting of its Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.





This Oct. 13, 2009 file photo shows dancers performing a traditional Korean mask dance during a local festival. Korea Times file



The final decision will be made during the 17th committee meeting next month.



South Korea has 20 entries on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage lists  the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. They include "ssireum," or traditional Korean wrestling, which was inscribed in 2018 following joint efforts by South and North Korea.



Talchum combines dance with an accompanying narrative and has the characteristics of both performing arts and drama.



Like other traditional Korean communal performances, talchum relies on humor and satire to depict social problems.





This March 26, 2012 file photo shows dancers performing a traditional Korean mask dance during a local festival. Korea Times photo by Kim Ju-sung
The accused, 19-year-old S. Ajay, the boy's neighbour, took Raza Khan to his home with the intent of extorting ransom from his parents. (Representational Image)

HYDERABAD: Raza Khan, a nine-year-old boy who was reported missing on Saturday, was found murdered and his body dumped in the bushes near his home in Kodangal of Vikarabad district, packed in a suitcase.

His father Afroz Khan, a timber merchant, had offered a Rs. 5 lakh reward for clues leading to his sons rescue.

According to police, the accused, 19-year-old S. Ajay, the boy's neighbour, took Raza Khan to his home with the intent of extorting ransom from his parents. When the boy began screaming for help, Ajay grabbed a hammer and attacked Raza Khan.

Police said Ajay had been moving closely with Raza Khan for about two weeks and had befriended him. After he went missing on Saturday, police discovered that he rode his bicycle to Ajay's house, but the bicycle was discovered in a different location. Police apprehended Ajay using this clue, and, during interrogation, he confessed to the crime. He reportedly told the police that he planned to demand Rs. 25 lakh from Afroz Khan.

While it was initially speculated that the murder was carried out in order to unearth a treasure trove, police ruled it out stating that the only motive was to exact a ransom from the boy's family. Following Ajays confession, police recovered the body and handed it over to the family after conducting a postmortem.

According to N. Koti Reddy, superintendent of police, Vikarabad, only Ajay has been implicated in the crime. "The investigation is going on to determine whether any more people are involved in it.

He said the case began as a kidnapping, but after the body was discovered the murder charges were added. We will pursue the case for a fast-track trial to ensure that the accused is punished in court," he said. Meanwhile, the police deployed additional forces in Kodangal to prevent any untoward incidents in the aftermath of the murder.
The Congress appealed to all the people of Hyderabad to join party leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, which will enter Hyderabad on Tuesday. (DC)

HYDERABAD: The Congress appealed to all the people of Hyderabad to join party leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, which will enter the city on Tuesday. The party urged everyone to walk along with Gandhi for at least one hour from Charminar.

In an open letter to the people of Telangana, the party said, The TRS rule has been restricted to a farmhouse for eight years. The TRS supports the BJP's anarchy. The TRS supports Centre's black farm laws. There is destruction of democratic institutions.

Rahul Gandhi is one person who has stepped forward for sake of India. Questioning the plight of the nation breaking shackles of subjugation... unifying length and breadth of the country, Rahul Gandhi is entering the historic city of Hyderabad on November 1. Hope you will join us regardless of your political leanings... believing you will unite hands with Rahul for mother India, the party said.
Chennai: The DMK that has been hitting out at Governor R N Ravi, who too, on his part, has been consistently pointing fingers at the State government on various issues, has picked on the latest remark on the alleged delay in handing over the investigations relating to the blast in a car at Coimbatore to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday.

Giving a run down on five explosions in various parts of the country in the recent past, an editorial in DMKs party organ, Murasoli, compared the time taken for handing over the cases to the NIA and said that Chief Minister M K Stalin had handed over the Coimbatore case in just three days unlike the others that had taken three to four months.

Titled Ena kurai kandar azhunar? (What lapse did the Governor find?), the editorial said that if the Governor were to nitpick on everything on the government, many questions could also be raised against the others and referred to the person killed in the car blast on October 23 being let off by the NIA earlier and not being watched over properly by the previous AIADMK government.

Among the list of explosions that the editorial mentioned to underline the delay in handing over the cases to the NIA were the Delhi court complex blast that happened on December 23, 2021, and entrusted with the NIA on January 13, 2022 and the Khejuri explosion in West Bengal on January 4, 2022, that went to the NIA only on January 25 after a delay of three weeks.

Another incident in West Bengal that occurred at Naihati on January 27 was handed over to the NIA on February 8 and the blast at Police Bazar in Shillong on January 30 was given to the NIA on March 3 while it took more than four months to hand over the investigation relating to the blast at an automobile workshop in Durtlang, Mizoram, the editorial said, objecting to the manner in which the Governor had questioned the State governments action.

Terming the Governors allegation of delay in handing over to the NIA as a needless complaint, it said that as a former police officer he should have known where to raise what question. A select gathering of invitees at a private function organized to inaugurate a hostel at a yoga and naturopathy hospital was not the right place or forum to raise doubts on an issue like a bomb blast, it said.

Though the Governor had acknowledged the efficacy of the Tamil Nadu Police in dealing with such cases and the information that they had provided when he was in the Union Home Department, he had wanted to know why the delay in transferring the probe in the latest case as though it had taken one year or one month or one week to hand it over the NIA, it said.

Scathing editorials in the Murasoli, responding to Ravis averments and actions that earn the ire of the government, have become a regular feature, offering the DMK an additional platform to critique the governor, a post the party has been opposed to since the days of its founder C N Annadurai who likened the gubernatorial position to the stubs of a goat, meaning that it served no purpose.

By way of explaining that the DMK government had acted swiftly and not let anyone connected with the conspiracy behind the Coimbatore blast escape, the editorial also explained the various steps taken without any delay and efficient manner in which the police department had worked to book the suspects.
Hyderabad: Not wanting to leave anything to chance, TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao alerted party leaders and workers in Munugode to focus on better coordination in the execution of party's strategy in the campaign and micro-level booth management in the last days leading up to the November 3 byelection.

Party sources said the Chief Minister, after his successful public meeting at Chandur on Sunday, held a telephone conference with party leaders working in Munugode constituency. Over a dozen ministers, 80 MPs, MLAs and MLCs and party leaders from TRS have been continuously campaigning in the Munugode constituency, since Dasara.

Party sources said that in the teleconference, the Chief Minister pointed out that the party was far ahead of all the other parties in the bypoll campaigning and were effectively reaching out to voters.

But a lack of coordination among leaders and workers, especially with the friendly Left parties  the CPI and the CPM  could impact the party's winning chances. He asked party leaders and workers to address the issues of coordination on a war-footing in the remaining days until polling.

Chandrashekar Rao reportedly said that TRS leaders and workers in Munugode were not working in close coordination with Left parties leaders and workers. Both the parties were undertaking programmes parallely and separately, which was not sending right signals to the people.

This situation was being exploited by the opposition parties, the BJP and the Congress, Chandrashekar Rao told the party leaders.

The CM also expressed anger over lack of coordination in a few segments between TRS leaders and workers. He said TRS leaders who are camping in Munugode from other districts and constituencies were ignoring local TRS leaders and workers in respective villages and towns.

They were not involving local leaders and workers in their campaigning and undertaking activities with their own supporters mobilised from their respective districts. This was creating a divide between 'locals' and 'non locals' and this was not good for the party ahead of polling on November 3, he admonished leaders.

He said these 'gaps' in the TRS efforts were being exploited by the opposition parties to their advantage, who were luring disenchanted leaders and workers in TRS and Left Parties.

The CM issued strict instructions to address these issues on a war footing before crucial polling on November 3.
HYDERABAD: The vigorous Munugode bypoll campaign was fought in cyberspace as much as on the ground  with the three main parties, their leaders, candidates, activists, sympathisers, volunteers, paid agencies, trolls and party-slanted and neutral analysts pitching in on a plethora of social media platforms with their posts, reels, videos, images and tweets.

One of the most popular, and winner by sheer response of over a lakh engagements per day, was Telangana Atma Gouravam, which on Facebook garnered over two lakhs views within 48 hours.

In the video, senior BJP leader, former MLA and strategist Yennam Srinivas Reddy is seen describing various watermark elections in Telangana  Kalwakurthy (1989), Siddipet (2001), Karimnagar (2006), Palamoor (2012), Dubbak (2020) and Huzurabad (2021)  and then poignantly appeals to voter on behalf of his party by asking, will Munugode go down in history in 2022?

The campaign season has been dramatic, filled with rhetoric, counterfactuals, arguments and counter arguments, fake news, lies, abusive trolling  with all contesting parties trying their best to appeal to voters through all means available on social media.

While most visible political debate was on Twitter, the most appealing, engaging and influencing factors were videos, long and short, available on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and, shared stuff on WhatsApp.

In the Munugode season, many videos went viral, where leaders are seen attacking their rivals or showcasing their own achievements; while some videos went on to do rounds for the mischievous acts.

Videos by BJP highlighting alleged failures and poor governance of the TRS government in the state and appealing to voters to vote for Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy to reinstate Atma Gouravam found some of the highest levels of traction.

Satirical videos by Teenmaar Mallanna and his team, often making fun of all parties contesting the elections, were very popular. In one such video, the host could be seen making fun of the TRS, calling them names such as farmhouse party, in which he decodes the poaching incident that went viral.

An interesting video of TRS leader Rajanala Srihari distributing chicken and liquor to locals in Warangal went viral too, where the leader could be seen handing over a live chicken and a liquor bottle to every one of the locals who queued up to collect the freebies for Dasara.

The TRS also took to wrestling back in response by posting counter-attack videos. In some of the videos, including those shared by the party's official handle on Facebook, the TRS blamed the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the power shortage. The party appealed to voters to vote for TRS for development of farmers. Many of these vidoes had tens of thousands of views and engagements.

A top video in cyberspace across platforms was one made on Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, whose visit to Chandur for the public meeting and making a grand entry and interacting with people did rounds, with a caption Boss Entry.

While there were videos of attacks, counter-attacks, and accusations, some funny videos also caught the attention of people for their unique content. A video of evangelist K.A. Paul dancing with villagers in Munugode went viral, as people enjoyed his rattle fire against all leaders who visited the constituency to woo voters.

The video of speeches of almost all leaders went viral, but the hilarious goof-ups of TRS candidate K. Prabhakar Reddy, who fumbled in his nomination speech and engaged in unparalleled malapropism, calling KTR as NTR, and a video of Congress candidate Palvai Sravanthi breaking down into tears had the highest impact.
Former Congress leader and the first female Muslim minister in Karnataka, Nafees Fazal recounts her journey in politics in a book set for a launch on November 4.

Titled Breaking Barriers, Nafees has co-authored the book with Sandhya Mendoca.

It is the story of a liberal Muslim woman in India. It is an incredibly daring work and it took me a year to write. It covers topics like the physical and domestic violence I witnessed in my family, Nafees shares with Metrolife. It also touches upon gender inequality and harassment in the workplace.

Nafees was interested in politics since she was a teenager.

Except for late prime minister Indira Gandhi, there were no women role models in politics back then.

Before I got married, I asked for three wishes from my husband. We should try Chinese food. We should go dancing. And I must join politics, she recalls.

I am feisty and fearless, and speaking your mind comes with a price. My own community didnt support me, says Nafees, who was a minister in the

S M Krishna cabinet.

Recalling a difficult moment, she shares: Once a young Muslim boy was killed in police custody. The people knew who I was and asked for my help. When I addressed the crowd, they said Allahu Akbar, which means God is great.

Police thought this was a war cry, and a lathi charge (ensued). I was in the hospital for two nights. She has written this book to inspire other women, who have fewer opportunities and have to work twice as hard to be heard. She has three messages for them: One, dream as big as you want. Two, dont stand injustice. Third, give back to society.

*Priced at Rs 750, Breaking Barriers is published by Konark Publishers.
A Bengaluru court has sentenced a person to five year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000 for Facebook posts celebrating the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The special court judge Gangadhara C M convicted Faiz Rasheed, a resident of Kacharakanahalli in Bengaluru City, for the offences under IPC sections 153-A (promoting enmity), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) and Section 13 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Faiz Rasheed was a third year engineering student in 2019. After the Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019, he had posted certain comments on the news links hosted by various channels and websites. In these comments he had posted pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders with derogatory comments. He had also posted a photo of a suicide attacker with a rifle in his hand. The city police had registered a suo motu case and arrested Faiz. He had been in judicial custody since then as the court had rejected his application for bail.

The special court found that the accused had made derogatory comments with an intention to promote enmity between different groups on the ground of religion and committed an act prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony among various groups. The court also noted that the accused had deleted the posts with the intention to cause disappearance of evidence and screen himself from legal punishment.

On charging him under Section 13 of the UAPA, the court said that the comments posted by the accused showed that he supported or advocated the terrorist act committed by terrorists against the Indian Army with an intention to disrupt the sovereignty and integrity of India and with an intention to cause disaffection against India.

The prosecution has proved beyond all reasonable doubt that the accused has committed the offences punishable under section 153A and 201 of IPC and section 13 of U A (P) Act with cogent and convincing evidence, the court said. The court has not conducted trial insofar section 124A of IPC (sedition) since the Apex Court has directed all the courts to keep trial in abeyance till final verdict.
The CPI(M) is attempting to bring the Opposition parties under one umbrella to corner the Narendra Modi government at a time Governors are creating trouble in Opposition-ruled states and has started a reaching out exercise to fight the attack on the federal structure of the country.

Sources said CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury has spoken to newly elected Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday while he will soon be reaching out to NCP supremo Sharad Pawar after he is discharged from hospital and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, who is also the DMK chief.

The partys move comes at a time the CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala is at loggerheads with Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who, it alleged, was advancing the political objectives of the BJP by circumventing the Constitution. It also alleged the Governor was targeting Keralas secular, democratic and scientific higher education system to facilitate the promotion of the Hindutva ideological agenda.

Yechurys talk with Kharge on taking on Governors assumes significance as some Congress leaders in Kerala had come out in support of the Governor. There were also reports about Kharge expressing his displeasure about Congress leaders supporting the Governor though Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal denied any such development.

Sources said a plan of action to take forward the protest programmes would be drafted after initial consultations with senior leaders. The initial thinking in the CPI(M) is to hold a national seminar on the role of Governors and federalism with top Opposition leaders and eminent jurists in attendance. The leaders will also explore the possibility of a joint Opposition leaders meeting with President Droupadi Murmu.

Besides Pawar and Stalin, Yechury will also talk to Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal. Sources, however, are not confident about Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik or Telanganas K Chandrashekar Rao joining the initiative but there will be attempts to rope them in too.

Yechurys initiative came following the three-day CPI(M) Central Committee, which ended on Monday, discussed in detail the situation in Kerala and the Governors role. The party has decided to appeal to all secular democratic parties, especially those running state governments, to rally together against undemocratic anti-Constitutional acts of Governors and unitedly rise in defence of the Constitution.

However, the CPI(M) is unlikely to invite the Trinamool Congress. When asked about Trinamool also facing trouble from the Governor, Yechury said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had been talking about the Governor but when he fought the Vice Presidential election, her party helped him. He was referring to Trinamool abstaining from voting citing that there was no proper consultation in the Opposition.

On the developments in Kerala, Yechury told a press conference here on Tuesday that steps [were] being taken by the Kerala Governor is to advance the political objectives of the BJP to destabilise the LDF government. The manner in which he demanded the resignation of various Vice Chancellors and later the resignation of the Kerala Finance Minister have no sanction of the Indian Constitution.

Growing efforts continue to undermine Federalism, a fundamental feature of our Constitution, and the rights of elected state governments. Law and Order is a state subject. Modis call for One Country One Uniform for police violates this. The efforts to destabilise elected state governments continue as seen in the BJPs attempts to poach TRS MLAs in Telangana offering huge sums of money, he said.

Asked about AAPs political stand attracting criticism, he said it is up to the Kejriwal-led party to clear where it stands. One day it wants the images of Gods and Goddesses on currency notes while the next day it talks about welfare programmes for people. It has to clear where it stands, he said.
Maharashtra losing two back-to-back mega industrial projectsthe Vedanta-Foxconn and Tata-Airbusto the neighbouring state of Gujarat escalated to a full-blown blame game between the current Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis dispensation and the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

While the Shinde-Fadnavis government assured that bigger, better projects, including a textile park, were coming to Maharashtrafor which announcement is expected early next year. Both of them, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have assured us that some mega projects are being planned for Maharashtrayou will see the developments in the coming days, Shinde said during an informal chat with media persons on Sunday.

Also Read | 'PM has assured mega projects for Maharashtra,' says Eknath Shinde

Addressing a press conference on Monday, Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis announced that the Union government and the state government were working on a textile park/cluster to be set up in Maharashtra.

The assertion from Shinde and Fadnavis came on a day when Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar announced in New Delhi that an electronics manufacturing cluster would come in Ranjangaon, Pune, at a cost of Rs 500 crore.

Fadnavis said that a lot of work was being done towards it, however, some people were trying to create a false narrative.

According to Fadnavis, the Centre has allotted the biggest ever project in Indiaa super refinery project in Nanarbut because of Shiv Senas opposition, the project could not take off. It entailed an investment of Rs 3 lakh crore, he said, adding that alternative sites were being looked at. Come what may, we will ensure that the project comes to Maharashtra, he said.

Both Shinde and Fadnavis, have maintained that the Vedanta-Foxconn and Tata-Airbus projects went out of the state during the MVA regime and that the erstwhile government did nothing to secure the project and let it go. As Leader of Opposition, I tried my best that these two projects remain in Maharashtra, but the companies have made up their mind to go out because of the response and the (investment) climate, said Fadnavis.

Shiv Sena leader and former minister Aaditya Thackeray said that the Shinde-Fadnavis duo were trying to mislead the people of the state. It is because of their ineffectiveness that the project has slipped out of the state, Thackeray said.
Connectivity projects should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday with China and Pakistan set to announce revitalization of an economic corridor opposed by India.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Beijing on Tuesday. He will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday. The meetings are expected to result in the two sides announcing revitalization of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through parts of Indias Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh currently under illegal occupation of Pakistan.

Jaishankar, however, subtly sent out a message to Islamabad and Beijing, indicating that New Delhi would continue to oppose the CPEC, which it perceived as a move to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. Connectivity projects should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States and respect international law, he said, participating at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)  an eight-nation-bloc, with China, Pakistan and India among its members.

Also Read | Terrorism one of gravest threats to humanity, says S Jaishankar at UN meet

The external affairs minister represented the Government of India in the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Governments.

He, however, underlined that the SCO nations needed better regional connectivity built on the centrality of interests of Central Asian states. He said that the connectivity projects would unlock the economic potential of this region in which Chabahar port and the International North South Transport Corridor could become enablers.

Our total trade with SCO Members is only $141 billion, which has potential to increase manifold. Fair market access is to our mutual benefit & (and) only way to move forward, Jaishankar tweeted after participating at the SCO meet.

The CPEC is one of the flagship projects of Beijings ambitious cross-continental Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which the Chinese President launched a few years back, but triggered controversy due to predatory lending practices and debt-trap diplomacy by the government of the communist country.

New Delhi has been consistently opposing the CPEC in particular and the BRI in general. A joint statement issued after the SCO meet on Tuesday also noted that Chinas BRI had support of all other SCO nations, barring India.

My discussions with Chinese leadership will focus on revitalization of (the) CPEC among many other things. The 2nd (second) phase of CPEC promises to usher in a new era of socioeconomic progress that will uplift the quality of our people's lives. There is a lot to learn from the Chinese economic miracle, Pakistani Prime Minister tweeted before leaving for a two-day tour to China.

The CPEC was originally envisaged as a $ 46 billion economic corridor to link China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region and the port city of Gwadar in southern Pakistan.

Chinas debt-trap diplomacy over the past few years ballooned Pakistans total public and publicly guaranteed external debt from $44.35 billion in June 2013 to $90.12 billion in April 2021. Pakistan owed 9.3 % of its total external debt to China in 2013, but it went up to $24.7 billion in 2021.




By Dong Sun-hwa







"Talchum," a traditional Korean mask dance, is highly likely to be included on the list of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage.







The United Nations' culture agency announced on its official website Tuesday that "Talchum, Mask Dance Drama in the Republic of Korea" was recommended to be inscribed on the list during a subpanel meeting of its Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.







The final decision regarding the addition of talchum is set to be made during the 17th committee meeting, which will take place from Nov. 28 to Dec. 3 in Morocco. Historically speaking, cultural heritage that has been recommended for inscription has rarely failed to make it onto the list.







If talchum gets registered, it will mark Korea's 22nd entry on the UNESCO list. The 21 intangible cultural heritage elements include "pansori," the traditional genre of musical storytelling that was inscribed in 2003; the traditional folk song "arirang" in 2012; and "yeondeunghoe," a lantern lighting festival celebrating Buddha's Birthday, in 2020.







Talchum, a form of comprehensive art that involves singing, dancing and drama, often deals with different social issues through satire and humor. As of today, it has many variations, including Bongsan Talchum, which originated from Hwanghae Province in North Korea. It zeroes in on the frustrations faced by people of the lower classes during the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty.







Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) submitted talchum for review on UNESCO's list in 2020, saying, "Talchum has consistently inspired the artists of the modern day with its content, format and critical topics."


When Chinas outgoing ambassador to Nepal, Hou Yanqi, recently penned an article in The Kathmandu Post, she made it a point to take note of the upcoming parliamentary elections and hoped bilateral relations would continue to reach new levels.

Beijings broad hint seeking continuation of robust bilateral ties regardless of who wins was unmistakable. For China has a lot at stake in the November 20 poll outcome. So does Nepals other big neighbour, India.

The two Asian giants have been locked in a high stakes battle for influence in Nepal that lies geographically sandwiched between them. Both want a friendly government in Kathmandu a few weeks from now.

China and India arent the only two anxiously awaiting the results of Nepals polls, though. The US is equally interested in who emerges the winner amidst its bitter rivalry with China in the region.

To counter Chinas multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the Indo-Pacific, which Nepal has joined, the US invested a huge amount of diplomatic capital over the last one year to ensure it got Kathmandu on board for its own $500-million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact that envisages the building of roads and energy infrastructure in Nepal.

Washington, however, has been unable to get Kathmandu on board for its State Partnership Programme (SPP) which, on the face of it, involved the Nepal Army working with the Utah State National Guard on humanitarian and disaster management issues. But the SPP does have an underlying military intent and the intention to get Nepal on board the American Indo-Pacific strategy.

All three  New Delhi, Beijing and Washington  would be looking to have a government in Kathmandu that would protect, even promote, their strategic interests once elections for the 275-member House of Representatives (Pratinidhi Sabha) and its seven provincial assemblies are over.

For now, two motley electoral alliances have been forged with the same old, ageing warhorses seeking to lead the government. While one alliance is led by current Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba who leads the Nepali Congress, the other is helmed by former PM K P Sharma Oli of the Communist Party of NepalUnified Marxist Leninist.

With Nepalese leaders driven by political expediency and opportunism rather than ideology, its not surprising that Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, once part of the grand Communist alliance, is now part of the Deuba-led coalition.

Also part of the ruling alliance is another former PM, Madhav Kumar Nepal. He parted ways with Oli last year after complaining of his authoritarian ways, splitting the CPN-UML. He now leads the newly formed Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist).

For India, a stable government in Nepal that would keep its strategic interests in mind is critical. However, given the notoriety Nepalese leaders have acquired, driven by their unquenchable thirst for power and the prime ministership, stability is unlikely even in the next government.

The China-leaning Oli as PM gave New Delhi a rather rough time, apart from creating tremendous political turbulence within Nepal to ensure his governments survival. He whipped up nationalist sentiments to the hilt, even altering Nepals map over the Kalapani territorial dispute with India. As a result, New Delhi-Kathmandu ties turned decidedly frosty under him.

The thaw came after Deuba, perceived as being pro-India, took over as PM in July last year. New Delhi would probably be placing its bets on Deuba returning to helm the government, though a coalition government would make his position tenuous, too.

India, which once considered Nepal its backyard given its civilizational and cultural links and geographic proximity, has seen its influence wane there even as China has made deep inroads, wooing the country with its resources and infrastructure projects.

Even more worryingly for India, Beijing has managed to build close ties with Nepalese leaders straddling the political spectrum and not just with the Communist parties. The poll outcome, therefore, is all the more crucial for New Delhi.

A measure of Chinese tentacles having spread into Nepals polity can be had from the fact that the outgoing Chinese envoy openly tried to be peace-maker around two years ago to keep the warring factions of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) together when Oli was PM.

Beijing worked hard to get the Communists - the Oli-led CPN-UML and Dahal-led CPN (Maoist Centre)  to come together. While this front fell apart, thanks to the intense jostling for power between Oli and Dahal, India knows only too well that China will continue with its efforts to ensure that the Communist-led coalition wins. New Delhi will be keeping its fingers crossed, in the hope that the new political dispensation in Kathmandu is a stable and favourable one.

(The writer is a Delhi-based senior journalist)
Its true that some of the worlds most gorgeous scenery is off-limits to all but those who lace up their boots and head into the wild. This is what I did after landing in Bhutan to walk the Trans Bhutan Trail after the country finally reopened for tourism on September 23.

The trail history

For hundreds of years, the Trans Bhutan Trail was an important trade, pilgrimage and communication route. In fact, until the 1906s when the national highway was constructed, it was the only way to travel across the country. For the first time in 60 years, the kingdom of Bhutan has opened this sacred hiking trail that traverses from Haa in the west of Bhutan to Trashigang in the east (near the Tibet border) and spans 403 km.

Hiking the entire trail takes about a month, but because its broken into sections you can choose the length of your hike. Day hike or multi-day journey, solo or with a group  there is something for every trekker. I chose a three-hour trek from Dochula Pass to Thingleygang to dip my toes into the trail. This section of the trail is considered one of the most beautiful, coursing through rhododendron forests and soaring trees whispering the ancient secrets of this mystical region. The colourful prayer flags tied to the trees add a spiritual dimension while the mighty Himalayas behind the veil of thick mists look like a spectacular painting. Though the hike isnt technically difficult, I was soon breathless from the ascent and descent. After three hours and 30 minutes, a sloping pathway takes us to a small group of village houses built in the distinct Bhutanese style featuring carved timber windowpanes and wood-lined arched roofs. This is also the spot where our car for the onward journey is parked. The pleasantly exhausting day ends at a campsite with other hikers eager to swap stories and toast the days accomplishments.

A vacation beyond walks

The Trans Bhutan Trail is not just a series of endless treks but also involves Bhutans famous sights along the way. In Punakha, a visit to the Chimi Lhakhang (also known as the Fertility Temple) is on the itinerary. This revered place of magic and miracles is where women struggling to conceive are made to carry a wooden phallus around the temple three times. Then there is the Punakha Dzong arguably the most beautiful dzong in the country and one of the top three sights in Bhutan, the two others being the Tiger Nest Monastery and Dochula Pass. Access to the dzong is across through a suspension bridge and the entry is via steep wooden stairs. The massive gold statues of the Buddha, exceptional murals and courtyards studded with bodhi trees make this dzong one of the most impressive in Bhutan. Enthused by the success of my maiden trek in Bhutan, I attempted another one along the Trans Bhutan Trail  Simtokha to Hongtsho.

This one was epic mainly because of the scenery and the remoteness of the trek which was absolutely extraordinary. The well-marked trail is full of enchantment with plank walkways and bridges that cross swampy bogs and summer streams. But the thrills dont come easy. The path is rocky, uneven and frequently steep. But giddying views of mystical streams, sculpted mountains and deep and silent lakes make it all worth the extreme fatigue that follows the next day. Theres a definite Lost World feel to this hike full of character. The reward at the end of this four-hour trek is a Bhutanese picnic lunch in an apple orchard.

Food & accommodation

Scrumptious Bhutanese delicacies are a major highlight of the trail. Expect lots of ema datsi (which literally means chilli and cheese) with every meal and steamed and fried momos with Bhutanese chilli sauce ezay. Rice is omnipresent as also puta or buckwheat noodles. Puffed red rice called zaow dunked in savoury butter tea

is a national pastime. Stay options along the trail include campsites, heritage farmhouses, rural homestays and comfortable four-star hotels. No matter which part of the trail you choose to explore, youre in for head-spinning views and tranquillity. Even the drive in between the treks is littered with rainbows! So dust off those hiking boots and hit the trail.

Bhutan fact file

Bhutan has only one airport, located in Paro. Two airlines Bhutan Airlines and Druk Air fly to Bhutan from Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai in India.

Indians visiting Bhutan will have to pay a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of Rs 1200 (US$15) per person per day. A pre-arranged guide, hotel accommodation and permits are essential. This can be arranged through a Bhutanese agent or independently.

The best months to visit Bhutan are March/April  for warm temperatures and stunning rhododendron blooms  and October/November  for clear Himalayan views and the most popular festivals.

There are various itineraries and packages to get a taste of the trail which starts from a week to a month to explore the entire length of the trail (403 km). Prices depend on the length of stay and accommodation chosen.
Released: October 28, 2022

Delaware County voters have until 11:59 p.m. on Tues., Nov. 1, to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot for the upcoming Nov. 8, 2022 General Election. Delaware County Elections is issuing the following guidance for voters who plan to vote with a vote-by-mail ballot (either a no-excuse mail-in ballot or a traditional absentee ballot) during this election.

Guidance for voters who have not received their vote-by-mail ballot

All vote-by-mail ballot applicants receive an email from the Pennsylvania Department of State informing them that their vote-by-mail ballot has been mailed. Voters who do not receive their vote-by-mail ballot within 6 days of the email can do one of the following:

Visit the Delaware County Voter Service Center, located on the ground floor of the Delaware County Government Center Building in Media, to obtain a replacement vote-by-mail ballot and envelope packet. Voters may receive and then mark the ballot and submit the envelope during the same visit. The Voter Service Center is open:

- Mon-Tue-Thu-Fri: 8:30 a.m.  4:30 p.m.

- Wednesdays: 8:30 a.m.  8 p.m.

- Saturdays: 9:00 a.m.  12 noon

- Election Day, Nov. 8: 7 a.m.  8 p.m.

(or)

Send an email to the Delaware County Bureau of Elections at delcoelection@co.delaware.pa.us to request that their vote-by-mail ballot and envelope packet be re-mailed.

For identify verification purposes, voters must include:

- Full registration name

- Delaware County registration address

- Mailing address that was selected for ballot

- Date of birth

Guidance for voters who have not yet applied for a vote-by-mail ballot

Delaware County voters who still want to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot have two options:

Apply online at delcopa.gov/vbm-app by Mon., Nov. 1 at 11:59 p.m. A valid PennDOT drivers license or state ID number is required.

Apply in-person at the Voter Service Center, by Mon. Nov. 1, at 4:30 p.m. Valid ID is required.

- Fri., Oct. 28, 8:30 a.m.  4:30 p.m.

- Sat., Oct. 29, 9:00 a.m.  12 noon

- Mon., Oct. 31, 8:30 a.m.  4:30 p.m.

- Tues., Nov. 1, 8:30 a.m.  4:30 p.m.

Guidance for voters who only recently applied for a vote-by-mail ballot

Voters may check the status of their vote-by-mail ballot at delcopa.gov/ballot-tracker. Voters can also contact the Delaware County Election Hotline at (610) 891-VOTE (Mon.  Fri., 8:30 a.m.  4:30 p.m.) with questions on any election-related topic.

Guidance for voters who have not yet returned their vote-by-mail ballot

Marking your ballot: Use blue or black ink. Fill in the box to the left of each selection. Never use the Write-In space for a candidate whose name is already on the ballot. Such votes are not valid.

Dont Vote Naked! Voters must place their ballot inside the white secrecy envelope (marked Ballot Return Envelope), and then place that sealed white envelope inside the larger Ballot Return Envelope that the voter signs and dates. Failure to use both envelopes properly creates a naked ballot that is not eligible for counting. Voters who believe they sent a naked ballot can visit the Voter Service Center for a replacement.

How to Return Vote-by-Mail Ballot: Signed & sealed Ballot Return Envelopes may be placed in any of the Countys more than three dozen ballot drop boxes through 8 p.m. on Election Day (with the exception of Chadds Ford, which closes at 4 p.m. on Election Day) or returned through the US Postal Service (postage is provided). Note: To be counted, ballots must arrive in the Elections Department by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day if sent through the US Postal Service.

Voters are reminded that the return of a ballot by anyone other than the voter them self is prohibited unless the person returning the ballot is rendering assistance to a disabled voter or an emergency absentee voter. Such assistance requires a declaration signed by the voter and by the person rendering assistance.

Voters who attempt to return ballots on behalf of other voters without authorization will be referred to the Delaware County District Attorney for investigation.

Guidance for military and overseas voters

Per Pennsylvania Law, military and overseas voters must submit their completed ballot for delivery by mail no later than 11:59 p.m., Nov. 7 (the day BEFORE Election Day), and the Delaware County Bureau of Elections must receive the ballot by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Nov. 15 (one week after Election Day).

For more information, voters are reminded that the Delaware Countys election website  Delco Votes!  provides election news, sample ballots, ballot drop box locations, in-person polling location information, access to downloadable and online forms, livestreams and recordings of Board of Elections meetings, and more at delcopa.gov/vote.
A woman who had come 'perilously close' to going to Hydebank Prison has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrate's Court yesterday (October 31) for an incident in a shop in Newbuildings.

Sonia Thompson (53) of Primity Crescent in Newbuildings admitted stealing two litres of milk, assault and attempted criminal damage on October 29.

The court heard that Thompson entered the shop at 10.10am and asked for credit which was refused.

At that Thompson became aggressive and was asked to leave the shop.

She then made a gun gesture at the shop assistant and then entered the staff only area of the shop and lifted a carton of cigarettes and the milk.

She then lifted a charity box from the counter and tried to throw it at the shop assistant.

CCTV footage was viewed and Thompson was identified.

Police went to her address and recovered the cigarettes but the milk was not fit for resale.

Defence counsel Stephen Mooney said his client had made 'extensive admissions' at interview.

He said that the defendant had issues.

Thompson was sentenced to two months in prison suspended for 12 months and a Restraining Order was imposed for a period of three years that prevents her going within 10 metres of the shop.
Habinteg Housing Association (Ulster) has today announced that the company is committed to investing more than 48m in Derry and Strabane, and more than 9m in Belfast developments 57million in their current development programme.

With more than 320 units currently under construction, Habinteg is on track to invest 57m in more than 360 new social housing units across Northern Ireland in their current 2022/23 programme of development.

Completed in June, the 42 unit Duke Street site in the Waterside area of Derry has already been handed over to tenants with several more of the sites to be completed and handed over before the end of the year.

The remaining planned sites are due to be completed over the course of the next three years with the first phase of the 26m Beechmount Village, Adria site in Strabane, due to hand over to tenants in early 2023.

Darren McKinney, Chief Executive of Habinteg, commented on the investment: Our current 57M development programme is well underway in a particularly busy development period, with 42 housing units already handed over this year and another 320 still under construction.

We remain fully committed, during this intensive construction period, to building homes to the highest standards for our tenants.

"As we move to a Net Zero Carbon world, and an ongoing cost of living crisis, we are investing in delivering sustainable homes and focusing on energy efficiency to ensure our tenants are not heading into fuel poverty.

In 2023, we look forward to welcoming our new tenants into the first phase of our 158 homes scheme at Beechmount Village, Strabane.
Concern has been raised over the stability of a bridge on a busy County Derry road after part of the structure washed away during recent flooding.

The damage to Owenbeg bridge, on the Foreglen Road just outside Dungiven, was discovered following Friday morning's heavy rainfall.

The rising water levels caused significant structural damage below the bridge with many motorists expressing concerns about its safety.

One local man, who contacted the County Derry Post, said: "I'd be most concerned about the volume of traffic travelling over this bridge on a daily basis, particularly the amount of heavy lorries.

"It's the main road from Belfast to Derry and my concern would be that further heavy rainfall would cause more damage or lead to the bridge collapsing."

The man continued: "The damage caused to this bridge and the dangers it could pose is another reason why the A6 dual carriageway and bypass should be opened up to traffic sooner rather than later."

Structural damage was caused to the bridge following heavy rainfall on Friday. Pic by Mary K Burke.

Last night, Sinn Fein Councillor Kathleen McGurk said she had reported the damage to the Department for Infrastructure on Saturday.

Councillor McGurk said that she was informed that the bridge is 'piled' and the section that has come away is covering a bank and therefore it is unlikely to pose any danger to motorists.

Meanwhile, Friday morning's heavy rainfall caused widespread destruction in other parts of Dungiven.

Flood water coursed through lower Main Street and Drumrane Road making them impassable for many motorists.

The floods also caused significant structural damage to a local ice cream shop and part of the Crebarkey Road, close to Dungiven Ford, was torn up, forcing it to close to traffic.

A Department for Infrastructure (DfI) spokesperson last night said: The Department is aware of the reports concerning Owenbeg Bridge and Crebarkey Ford on the A6 and can confirm that inspections are being carried out within the area.

"The ford itself is currently closed. Damage will be assessed and associated repairs programmed."
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Police in Causeway Coast and Glens have made an arrest following a search at a property in the Lodge Road area of Coleraine, on Monday 31st October.

A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class A controlled drug and possession of a Class B controlled drug with intent to supply.

Several electronic devices were also seized as part of the search. The man has since been released on Police bail, to return for further questioning at a later date.

Chief Inspector Sinead McIldowney said: The search which took place yesterday, was part of a proactive policing operation led by our Local Policing Team, with the help from various other departments.

As a result of the search, Police seized suspected Class A and Class B controlled drugs, electronic devices and a number of other related items.

The illegal supply and use of drugs remains a priority for Police in the Causeway Coast and Glens area, and seizures such as this demonstrate our ongoing commitment to tackling the scourge of drugs in our society.

As always, we rely on the local community to help us and we ask that anyone who is concerned about drug related activity in their area, to contact Police on 101.

You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The Northern Ireland Secretary will hold talks with Stormont leaders later amid continuing uncertainty over whether he intends to call an election in the region.

Chris Heaton-Harris failed to set a date for a new poll last Friday, despite repeatedly indicating he would so the minute a legislative deadline for calling the poll passed.

The 24-week deadline for forming a functioning power-sharing executive in Belfast following Mays election ran out at midnight on Friday.

Once the deadline passed, the UK Government assumed a legal responsibility to call a fresh election within 12 weeks.

A DUP boycott of the devolved institutions  in protest at Brexits Northern Ireland Protocol  has prevented an administration being formed in the wake of Mays poll.

On Friday, Mr Heaton-Harris insisted he still intends to call an election but did not set a date, prompting Northern Irelands chief electoral officer, Virginia McVea, to apologise to election workers who are on standby to assist on the basis polling day will be December 15.

The Secretary of State said he will say more about an election this week after holding talks with the local parties  meetings which are scheduled to take place at the Northern Ireland Office in Belfast on Tuesday.

He also indicated he would potentially take action to cut MLAs pay.

But doubts remain around whether Mr Heaton-Harris will outline an election timetable to the parties during Tuesdays meetings.

Asked whether the Northern Ireland Secretary would be providing an update on the election during the talks with local politicians, a Downing Street spokesman said on Monday: Im not aware of any plans for that during those visits. The rules are the date needs to be announced as soon as reasonably practicable.

The DUP says it will not return to power-sharing until decisive action is taken to remove the protocols economic barriers on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Government has vowed to secure changes to the protocol, either by a negotiated compromise with the EU or through proposed unilateral domestic legislation, the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which would empower ministers to scrap the arrangements without the approval of Brussels.

The European Commission says the latter approach would breach the terms of an international treaty and potentially prompt retaliatory action.
The Northern Ireland Secretary has provided no clarity as to how he will deal with the ongoing crisis at Stormont, Michelle ONeill has said.

The Sinn Fein vice president met Chris Heaton-Harris on Tuesday as part of a series of talks involving the minister and Stormont leaders amid continuing uncertainty over whether he intends to call an election in the region.

Mr Heaton-Harris failed to set a date for a new poll last Friday, despite repeatedly indicating that he would do so the minute a legislative deadline for calling the poll passed.

Speaking after their meeting, Ms ONeill said he provided no clarity about the events on Friday or his bizarre U-turn in not immediately setting a date for an election.

The Secretary of State told us that he had a legal obligation, that he would call that election at one minute past midnight (on Friday), she said.

Then what we saw unfold last Friday was a bizarre U-turn, the failure to continue in that vein.

Weve met with him again this morning. Weve asked him a number of questions, but I have to say (he) provided no clarity, he provided no further information as to the U-turn.

Were left with no information in terms of what happens next, or at least what he intends to do next.

Its very clear he has a legal obligation in which to call an election if an Executive is not formed.

But he did not colour in the lines today. He certainly did not provide any clarity around what he intends to do next, apart from to say that hes here to meet with people.

The 24-week deadline for forming a functioning power-sharing executive in Belfast following Mays election ran out at midnight on Friday.

Once the deadline passed, the UK Government assumed a legal responsibility to call a fresh election within 12 weeks.

But Ms ONeill said she is none the wiser as to whether Mr Heaton-Harris intends to call a poll.

I think that the public, again, are left in limbo. I think hes (Chris Heaton-Harris) doubled-down in that approach again today. I just dont think thats acceptable, she added.

I am none the wiser today in terms of his next step; he didnt make that very clear.

He didnt say what his next move was. But you cant escape the reality that theres a legal obligation on him to call the election.

Instead, hes created a political vacuum.

She went on: It appears to be pandering to the DUP, and both the British Government and the DUP have left the public here in limbo and dont know whats going to happen next.

I think the public deserves good government. They voted for it back in May.

The DUP are the only one party that are continuing to block the outcome of the May election, and thats not lost on the wider public.

But people are living through the hardest times and living through a cost-of-living crisis like theyve never been through before.

A DUP boycott of the devolved institutions  in protest at Brexits Northern Ireland Protocol  has prevented an administration being formed in the wake of Mays poll.

On Friday, Mr Heaton-Harris insisted he still intends to call an election but did not set a date, prompting Northern Irelands chief electoral officer, Virginia McVea, to apologise to election workers who are on stand-by to assist on the basis that polling day will be December 15.

The minister said he will say more about an election this week after holding talks with the local parties in Belfast on Tuesday.

He also indicated he would potentially take action to cut MLAs pay.

The DUP has said it will not return to power-sharing until decisive action is taken to remove the protocols economic barriers on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Government has vowed to secure changes to the protocol, either by a negotiated compromise with the EU or through proposed unilateral domestic legislation, the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which would empower ministers to scrap the arrangements without the approval of Brussels.

The European Commission has said the latter approach would breach the terms of an international treaty and potentially prompt retaliatory action.
Kim Joo-Hyeon, second from right, speaks at a meeting with the chiefs of the country's five major financial holding companies at the Korea Federation of Banks headquarters in central Seoul, Nov. 1. Yonhap



Korea's five large financial groups decided Tuesday to inject a large amount of liquidity into the financial market to help ease its recent volatility.



The decision to pump 95 trillion won ($66.5 billion) into the market by year-end came after the country's top financial regulator met with the heads of those institutions, including KB Financial Group Inc., to ask for their cooperation.



It includes 73 trillion won in expanded liquidity into the market and 12 trillion won into the country's bond and securities market stabilization funds. An additional 10 trillion won will be provided to subsidiaries of those financial holding companies.



The money will thus be used to purchase corporate bonds and other debt, and provide more funds to state firms, small merchants and businesses.



Kim Joo-hyeon, chair of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), called on the chiefs of the financial groups to help stabilize the financial market.



"The financial market is showing signs of leveling off thanks to measures by the government, the central bank and commercial lenders," he said. "Market participants' cooperation is needed to make government-led steps effective."



The chairs of the financial groups echoed Kim's view, vowing to make efforts to help stabilize the local financial market.



The move came as the country's financial market volatility has been mounting in the wake of a recent default on a municipal government-guaranteed debt raised to finance the construction of the Legoland theme park in the eastern province of Gangwon.



Last week, the financial authorities urged 10 major institutional investors, including the National Pension Service, to cooperate in easing market swings by refraining from excessive "trend-following" trading and fund redemption.



To help stabilize the market that has been shaken by the so-called Legoland theme park debacle, the government has taken a series of steps, including the injection of 50 trillion won worth of liquidity. (Yonhap)




Baroness May Bloods dedication and conviction to the causes she believed in were clear to all who met her, mourners at her funeral service heard.

The trade unionist and integrated schools advocate Baroness Blood died last month aged 84.

Politicians from across Northern Ireland paid tribute to the working-class activist in the wake of her death, as did President of Ireland Michael D Higgins and Archbishop John McDowell.

Speaking at her funeral service, campaign director at the Integrated Education Fund Paul Caskey said, it was Mays honest straight talking, no-nonsense, common-sense approach that earned her huge respect.

He said that the Baroness was an inspiration to all and said her death had prompted messages of praise from all sections of society.

Having grown up in a working class community of Belfast and starting work from the age of 14 at a Belfast mill, she would go on to fight for better work conditions at the mill and for opportunities for those in her local community.

She sought nothing in return, Mr Caskey said. She never ever sought personal benefit from her efforts.

Mr Caskey said that the experience of her family home being set on fire for defending their Catholic neighbours, as well as her time in the mill, helped give her a unique and natural ability to transcend the sectarian division of this society.

It didnt matter what social class or religious background you came from, for May believed that the day-to-day issues of employment, education and health were far more important things in life to worry about.

He also retold a story of how the late Baroness mulled over whether to accept her title.

Initially she wasnt sure if she should take the title. She asked to think it over. Not the usual response.

What would people think of me? Surely people like her didnt go to the House of Lords?

But typical May, she was determined to use her position to help others not herself. If I can use the title to help the Shankill, help Early Years and young people, then I will, and she did.

May Blood went on to become a founding member of the Northern Ireland Womens Coalition and helped raise money and awareness for the Integrated Education Fund since 2001.

Mr Caskey said she used her title to promote the fund and helped to raise millions of pounds for the cause.

Her passion, conviction and dedication was clear to all that met her. She inspired countless people to become supporters. They adored her. We all did.

As he concluded his tribute to his late friend, Mr Caskey broke down.

May yearned for the day that Northern Ireland would be at peace with itself. It was that desire for peace that drove her to do exceptional things for so many people.

She always said this little phrase: There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen, and there are people who wonder what happened.

May Blood made things happen. Thank you May for all you did  I knew this would happen  to make Northern Ireland a better place.

Among those in attendance at the funeral were Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill; Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Mervyn Gibson; actor Jimmy Nesbitt, US Consul General Paul Narain, veterans commissioner Danny Kinahan; childrens commissioner Koulla Yiasouma, and Belfast Lord Mayor Tina Black.

Also present were DUP MLA Brian Kingston, UUP MLA Mike Nesbit, Alliance Party MLA Kellie Armstrong, comedian John Linehan, and several former colleagues of Baroness Blood from the Northern Ireland Womens Coalition, including Monica McWilliams and Jane Morrice.

Mourners walked in cortege after the coffin as it was brought from Ballygomartin Presbyterian Church down Ballygomartin Road.
Recently, the Competitions Commission of India (CCI) imposed a heavy fine of $113 million on Google, which roughly translates to Rs. 940 crores, for abusing its position as the developer of the Google Play Store. In response, Google has decided to pause its policy that requires app developers to use Google Play's billing system. This was the second time that CCI fined Google within a month. Before this, the Alphabet-owned company was also fined Rs. 1,337 crores for taking unfair advantage of its dominance in the Android ecosystem.

Google suspends Play Store billing in India

As per an article published on Google's website on November 1, 2022, the company is "pausing enforcement of the requirement for developers to use Google Play's billing system for the purchase of digital goods and services for transactions by users in India." Additionally, the company is reviewing its legal options as it aims to improve the Android operating system and the Google Play services that function on it.

Previously, Google had set a deadline of October 31, 2022, for developers to comply with its mandatory billing policy. However, on October 25, 2022, CCI directed Google not to limit developers from using third-party billing or payment processing services for in-app purchases via Google Play. The directive also contains other measures Google must take within three months. What is more interesting is that Apple has a similar App Store policy in place and is very strict in enforcing it.

The Play Store billing policy was introduced in 2020

Google announced the mandatory integration of the Play billing system in October 2020. As a part of the new rule, Google wanted developers to set up a Google Play billing system that takes 15% out as a service charge from every in-app transaction. However, the policy change faced immense criticism from Indian developers. Hence, Google delayed the deadline to comply with the policy to October 31, 2022, for the Indian market, citing unique circumstances in the region. Now, the company has paused the mandatory Play billing system.

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in.
Elon Musk on Tuesday changed his profile to 'Twitter Complaint Hotline Operator' from being a Chief Twit, as he celebrated Halloween festival with his mother.

Bombarded with requests to change Twitter, Musk decided to change his profile for 112.7 million followers.

Famous American author Stephen King asked him that $20 to get the Twitter blue badge is too much.

"$20 a month to keep my blue check? F*** that, they should pay me. If that gets instituted, I'm gone like Enron," he posted.

Musk replied: "We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers. How about $8?"

The new Twitter CEO further said that he will explain the rationale in longer form before this is implemented.

"It is the only way to defeat the bots and trolls," he mentioned.

Musk also told his followers to follow Yoel Roth, who is Head of Safety and Integrity at the micro-blogging platform, "for the most accurate understanding of what's happening with trust and safety at Twitter".

He also told a follower that Twitter will soon purge all inactive accounts, possibly if they are inactive for more than a year.

On dissolving the Twitter board, Musk said: "This is just temporary."

Musk is now officially the new CEO of Twitter as the micro-blogging platform braces for deeper layoffs.

He has reportedly brought more than 50 employees from Tesla into Twitter to help with the transition.

(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.
Indian central bank, the Reserve Bank of India, is all set to pilot its first central bank digital currency (CBDC) for the wholesale segment. Earlier, the bank talked about how it could release two types of CBDC, one for the retail sector and the other for the wholesale industry. Now, it is beginning with a total of nine banks on board. The pilot will decide the future of the Digital Rupee in India. The Digital Rupee for the retail sector is said to debut soon.

As per the official press release, the first pilot of the Digital Rupee - Wholesale segment (e-W) is commencing on November 1, 2022. "The use case for this pilot is settlement of secondary market transactions in government securities." Adding to it, the release mentions, "Settlement in central bank money would reduce transaction costs by pre-empting the need for settlement guarantee infrastructure or for collateral to mitigate settlement risk."

Here are the banks that are participating in the e-W pilot

State Bank of India Bank of Baroda Union Bank of India HDFC Bank ICICI Bank Kotak Mahindra Bank Yes Bank IDFC First Bank HSBC

The e-W pilot is expected to make the interbank market more efficient by enabling faster and more secure transactions. What's even more interesting is that the Reserve Bank of India is planning to release the first pilot in Digital Rupee - Retail segment (e-R) within a month. However, the pilot will be conducted in select locations amid closed user groups comprising customers and merchants.

Banks around the world are exploring ways to implement digital currency

More details regarding how the pilot will function will be shared soon. Earlier this month, the central bank released a 50-page concept note that discussed the opportunities, use cases and functionality of the Digital Rupee. The Indian central bank is not alone in exploring CBDCs.

Most recently, Australia's Central Bank rolled out a CBDC research project, with plans to announce the pilot next year. The Bank of International Settlements also conducted projects with central banks of the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Hong Kong to gather information about CBDCs and their implementation in cross-border transactions. The pilot project lasted six weeks and saw 160 transactions amounting to $22 million.
Although the iPhone 14 Pro has just moved out of the assembly line, tipsters and analysts have already started mining information about the iPhone 15 series. Expected to come out in 2023, the iPhone 15 series can significantly improve the camera and performance. However, the upgrades might be restricted to the Pro variants. Last week, we reported how the upcoming iPhone 15 series Pro models could feature an 8P camera lens. Recently, a known analyst has predicted otherwise.

Apple might stick to 8P lenses on the iPhone 15 Pro models

Analyst at TF International Securities, Ming-Chi Kuo, suggests that the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro series will stick to 7P camera lenses (also used on the iPhone 14 Pro series), contrary to recent rumours. Kuo writes in a tweet that he thinks the rumoured iPhone 15 Pro series' adoption of an 8P lens "won't likely come true." For the uninitiated, the words 7P and 8P refer to the number of elements in a lens.

I think the rumored iPhone 15 Pro series's adoption of an 8P lens won't likely come true.   (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) October 30, 2022

For instance, the iPhone 14 Pro comes with camera lenses made of seven elements. Now, the shift to 8P lenses on the iPhone 15 Pro would have been a considerable upgrade as the image quality increases with the number of elements in a lens. Since this might not happen, the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max will likely feature the same camera sensors as their predecessors.

Another report suggests otherwise

However, a recent report from TrendForce stated otherwise. As per the report, the Pro models in the upcoming iPhone series will come with an 8P primary camera and a periscope lens. Now that Kuo says that the 8P primary camera lens is unlikely, the only camera upgrade we will get with the models will be the periscope lens. To catch up, periscope lenses have been used in smartphones to provide optical zoom. Although the latest iPhones do not have a periscope lens, the Pixel 7 Pro comes with one that provides up to 5x optical zoom.

The same report suggests that the iPhone 15 Pro and non-Pro models will feature different chipsets. Just like the iPhone 14 series, the non-Pro iPhone 15 models will ship with an older chipset, while the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max are expected to feature the unreleased A17 Bionic processor.

Interestingly, a recent directive from the European Union asks all brands to include a USB-C port on their products, including smartphones, tablets, speakers and so on. Hence, Apple has no option but to comply with the directive and, for the first time, ship iPhones with USB-C ports. For what it's worth, a USB-C port on an iPhone will solve multiple connectivity issues and allow users to connect their smartphone to several devices.

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in.
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SEATTLE  The Atrium, at 3104 S. Day St., recently sold for nearly $10.4 million, according to King County records.

The seller was Day 31 LLC, which is associated with the late Ken Coleman. He developed the project after leaving Compass Construction, which he founded and led for many years. Coleman acquired the corner from WSDOT for about $1.1 million in 2102.





. . .




Korea's finance minister said Tuesday the country needs to foster new growth engines to seek a turnaround in monthly exports, although a rebound may take some time amid global economic jitters.







"Due to the deteriorating external conditions, including the downward trend in the global economy and China's lockdown, global trade has slowed, also affecting Korea's exports," Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho said during a meeting with economy-related ministers in Seoul.







"Chip prices have especially sharply lost ground, weighing on our exports, which depend highly on the information technology sector," Choo said, adding a rebound is not likely to happen for the time being.







Outbound shipments stood at $52.48 billion last month, down 5.7 percent from $55.7 billion a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.







Asia's No. 4 economy also suffered a trade deficit for the seventh consecutive month as imports grew on high global energy prices, sparking concerns over its growth momentum.







Amid the challenges, Choo said Korea needs to fundamentally revamp its export structure, including diversifying its portfolio and destinations, in order to seek a rebound when the global economy improves.







In line with such efforts, Korea plans to set new strategies to foster its rechargeable battery industry and seek new business opportunities in overseas construction projects, the minister said.







Korea will also spare no effort to support exports of small and medium-sized firms and startups, while seeking new growth engines, such as biotechnology and space industries, Choo added. (Yonhap)


The forestry industry generates an economic value of 2 billion to the Irish economy per year as well as creating employment in the forestry and harvesting sector, a new study shows.

The Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pippa Hackett, received a study from COFORD on the economic activity and employment levels in the Irish Forest Sector. The study has been funded by the Ministers Department, and authored by Henry Phillips and Forestry Services Ltd.

The study, Economic activity and employment levels in the Irish forest sector, finds the combined estimate for direct and indirect employment levels is 3,500 for the forestry and harvesting sector and 5,900 for the manufacturing of wood and wood products sector. These levels show a significant contribution to employment from forestry, mostly in rural areas.

The economic contribution to the economy is estimated at over 2 billion per annum.

Welcoming the publication, which was and facilitated by members of the COFORD Socio-Economic Working Group, the Minister said: Forestry provides a range of benefits for this country including social, environmental and economic. This study clearly demonstrates the important contribution that our forests make in providing employment throughout rural Ireland.

Producing the wood that we use in constructing and heating our homes requires many inputs along the forest chain over an extended period of time. This includes people employed in our nurseries growing the seedlings, those establishing and regenerating forests, and the many involved in harvesting those trees. What this study makes clear is that wood generates considerable employment in creating and renewing the forests of today and tomorrow. These forests also make a positive contribution to our economy, environment, and well-being, Minister Hackett said.

The study builds on previous work and provides solid information on the employment levels and economic activity across a broad range of forest activities. The focus is on arriving at robust estimates of employment within the forestry, harvesting and wood processing sector. Both direct and indirect employment are estimated, using and data from surveys and multipliers to estimate indirect employment.

Dr Eugene Hendrick, Chairperson of the COFORD Council stated: I would like to acknowledge the work and voluntary effort of all of the members of the COFORD Socio-Economic Working Group under its chair Professor Aine Ni Dhubhain, as well as the reports authors in fulfilling the mandate for this study, which accords well with COFORDs role as a provider of science-based information and advice to the Minister and the Department.

"This ground-breaking study provides new ways to update employment estimates for the Irish forest sector in a timely fashion. Based on activity data such as afforestation and regeneration levels, harvesting volumes and other inputs it will allow policy makers and the wider forest sector to arrive at well-founded, consistent and comparable employment estimates now and into the future," Dr Hendrick said.
Crosscause, a small charity based in Blackrock, has launched their Christmas appeal.

Crosscause supports homeless children in Ghana & Romania, who face daily violation of their rights, to feel safe & secure and their rights to education & healthcare.

Homeless children worldwide are one of the most vulnerable groups in society.

As a result of the Ukrainian crisis, they now home many refugees also residing in their home in Romania.

Crosscauses most recent project (September 2021 - ongoing) involved the building of two new homes in Ghana each to provide housing for up to forty children.

Each year the charity holds a fundraising day on the 26th December in Blackrock and this year they are asking for help either by donating food, bedding, furniture, warm clothing, toiletries or even a prize to raffle.

Collection of donations can also be arranged.

Should you wish a monetary donation you can do so online at www.crosscause.ie
Above LtoR: Tom Maguire - Development Advisor Enterprise Ireland, Patricia Monahan  Deputy CE Monaghan County Council, Peter McCaughey  Managing Director IJM Timber Engineering, Minister Heather Humphreys, Carol Gibbons  Divisional Manager Regions & Local Enterprise Enterprise Ireland & Ruairi O hAilin - Operational Excellence & Digital Department Enterprise Ireland

Monaghan-based IJM Timber Engineering has secured funding under Enterprise Irelands Built to Innovate initiative, a programme aimed at achieving faster, higher-quality construction of housing by providing funding support for productivity training, innovation and the introduction of digital, paperless systems.

According to the Irish Timber Frame Manufacturers Association, timber frame accounted for just under 50% of all low-rise scheme housing delivered in 2021. Off-site construction, and more specifically timber frame construction, has been identified as being key to the construction sector being able to halve its carbon emissions by 2030 as set out in the governments Climate Action Plan as well as meet the housing delivery objectives of the Governments Housing for All plan.

Established in 1965, IJM Timber Engineering was the pioneers of timber frame construction in Ireland and the UK. From their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility based in Monaghan town, IJM specialises in the design, manufacture, installation and certification of quality A-rated energy efficient timber frame buildings.

The Enterprise Ireland Built to Innovate funding under the Governments Housing for All plan will enable IJM to further enhance its digital technologies and upskill its staff in the latest Lean processes. Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys has welcomed the announcement, saying: I want to commend IJM who have been awarded Enterprise Ireland funding under the Built to Innovate initiative.

The Government, through Enterprise Ireland, is working with industry to strengthen the residential construction supply chain. Schemes such as this will help the construction sector prove new technologies that will ultimately help speed up the delivery of big infrastructure projects. Enterprise Ireland is helping companies such as IJM maximise the value of modern methods of construction, and I look forward to seeing this new technology being further utilised to deliver thousands of much-needed homes in the years ahead.

Above: Background: Gregory McKenna  Chairman IJM Timber Engineering, Tom Maguire - Development Advisor Enterprise Ireland. Middle Row: Peter McCaughey  Managing Director IJM Timber Engineering, Minister Heather Humphreys, Carol Gibbons  Divisional Manager Regions & Local Enterprise Enterprise Ireland & Aidan McKenna  NE Director, Enterprise Ireland. Front Row: Ciaran Deeney & Fintan Blacklock, Technical Designers, IJM Timber Engineering

Carol Gibbons, Divisional Manager, Regions and Local Enterprise in Enterprise Ireland, commented: The Enterprise Ireland Built to Innovate initiative aims to improve construction productivity by increasing offsite production in factory-controlled environments and by improving site and factory processes. IJM Timber Engineering is implementing an ambitious development plan which addresses these objectives, and we welcome the steps the company is taking to further enhance its digital technologies and upskill its staff in advanced Lean processes.

Peter McCaughey, Managing Director, IJM Timber Engineer said, We were delighted to work with Enterprise Ireland under the Built to Innovate programme as part of the national Housing for All plan. We have taken huge strides in achieving greater productivity through the integration of digital technologies and lean processes into our operations over the past few years. With the support of Enterprise Ireland, we are now entering a new phase of development that will be of enormous benefit to our clients and help us increase our output to meet the needs of the Housing for All plan.

By that the end of 2025, we plan to have nearly doubled our capacity from 1,100 to 2,000 units per annum, which will be achieved through increased productivity in our 10-acre facility in Monaghan and other facilities in Dundalk and Ardee. We look forward to bringing our operations to another level and using Lean to improve on efficiencies achieved to date.
Photo exhibition featuring Chinese photographers kicks off in Tokyo

Xinhua) 15:24, November 01, 2022

TOKYO, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Some 60 photographs from three Chinese photographers in Japan are shown here at an exhibition to mark the 50th anniversary of the normalization of the China-Japan diplomatic relations.

The exhibition, titled "Under the Same Sky" and featuring photographs from Feng Xuemin, Guo Yun and Jiang Ting, kicked off Monday in the China Cultural center in Tokyo.

Yang Yu, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Japan, Yasuo Fukuda, former Japanese prime minister, and Kiyomi Seno, chairman of the Japan-China Society, attended the opening ceremony.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Yang expressed his hope that the two countries will revisit their original aspiration for peace and friendship, stick to the right direction of peace and friendly cooperation, continuously expand exchanges and cooperation, and enhance understanding and mutual trust.

As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of the China-Japan diplomatic relations, a more mature, stable, healthy and resilient China-Japan relationship is expected to be advanced into the next five decades, said Yang.

The three photographers, whose artworks are featured at the exhibition, have all lived in Japan for more than 30 years, and they hope to enhance mutual understanding and trust between the people of the two countries through the exhibition.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)




South Korea has co-sponsored a U.N. draft resolution condemning North Korea's human rights conditions in an about-face from a low-key approach for four years under the preceding liberal administration, according to Seoul's foreign ministry Tuesday.







"Our government has actively joined in discussions on the U.N. resolution on North Korea's human rights and has participated (in the campaign) as a co-sponsor country," the ministry's spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said, announcing the decision during a press briefing.







It "maintains the stance that North Korea's human rights issue is a universal rights issue that requires a consistent response based on principles," he added.







The draft resolution, led by the European Union, was submitted to the 77th U.N. General Assembly on Monday (New York time).







The United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution condemning North Korea's human rights abuses for 20 consecutive years since 2003.







South Korea, however, has not co-sponsored such a resolution since 2019 under the Moon Jae-in administration that apparently sought to avoid antagonizing the North with more focus on inter-Korean dialogue and reconciliation.







The change of Seoul's stance on the matter followed the launch of the conservative Yoon Suk-yeol administration in May. (Yonhap)


This photo of Anne Marie Gieske at Seoul Grand Park and Zoo is from her Instagram account posted last Saturday.



By Ko Dong-hwan



The identities of more victims who died in the Itaewon crowd disaster last Saturday have been shared. Among the 155 deaths, 26 have been confirmed to have foreign nationality. Some of the foreign nationals have made headlines as their backgrounds have been disclosed along with how their bereaved family members and friends have responded to the tragic news of their deaths.



U.S. Congressman Rep. Brad Wenstrup on Monday released a statement online about the death of his niece, Anne Marie Gieske. Representing Ohio's second congressional district in the House of Representatives, Rep. Wenstrup said in the statement that his niece was among those who died in the Halloween crowd crush in Seoul.



"Monica and I, and our entire family, are grieving the loss of our niece, Anne Marie Gieske. She was a gift from God to our family. We loved her so much," Rep. Wenstrup said.



The deceased's parents, Dan and Madonna Gieske, also expressed their devastation in a statement. "We are completely devastated and heartbroken over the loss of Anne Marie. She was a bright light loved by all. We ask for your prayers but also the respect of our privacy. Anne's final gift to us was dying in the state of sanctifying grace. We know we will one day be reunited with her in God's kingdom," they said.



The University of Kentucky, which the victim attended, issued a campus message online last Sunday titled, "A tragic loss for our community." Issued by university President Eli Capilouto, it said that Gieske was a junior in nursing from northern Kentucky and was studying in South Korea this semester in a study abroad program.



"We will be there for those in our community who knew and loved Anne," Capilouto said. "We also have nearly 80 students from South Korea at the University of Kentucky  members of our community who will need our support."





This photo of Grace Rached on Instagram is from Oct. 6 when she said she was visiting the Gili Islands in Lombok, Indonesia.



The family of Grace Rached, an Australian film production assistant who died in the Itaewon disaster, issued a statement on Monday paying tribute to her. Working for the Singapore-based film producing company ElectricLime, the University of Technology Sydney graduate was just 12 days shy of her 24th birthday when she died. Reportedly traveling the world, she visited Itaewon with three friends, one of whom was injured in the accident and taken to an intensive care unit at a local hospital.



"We are missing our gorgeous angel Grace, who lit up the room with her infectious smile," the bereaved family said in the statement cited by The Guardian. "Grace always made others feel important and her kindness left an impression on everyone she ever met. Grace always cared about others and she was loved by allshe cared deeply about her two sisters and was a wonderful role model. Grace showed us what it meant to be an incredible human being. We will deeply miss our beautiful Grace, our life of the party."



Another deceased victim was Steven Blesi, a 20-year-old student from Kennesaw State University in the U.S. state of Georgia, who came to Korea on an exchange program at Hanyang University in Seoul in September.





This photo of Steven Blesi was shared on his father Steve Blesi's Twitter account last Sunday. He said: "Our son was in the area of the stampede in Seoul, we still have not heard from him. Authorities are trying to help. If anyone has any news please share."




By Jon Dunbar







Mental health is important in times like this. But for foreign nationals in Korea who might not speak Korean or don't have the financial resources to pay for regular counseling, seeking help can be difficult, frustrating and even feel impossible. However, there are counseling services and support groups available, some of which are free.







There are various hotlines available for those who speak Korean, such as LifeLine Korea (1588-9191), Korea Suicide Prevention Center (1393), Counsel24 (1566-2525), Mental Health Center Crisis Counseling (1577-0199) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare Call Center (129). Sometimes numbers like these are published at the end of articles that contain traumatizing information, often without mention of what languages services are offered in.







The Korea Times contacted all five of those hotlines to test whether they were suitable resources for non-Korean-speaking callers. All five answered with an automatic message in Korean language only, with no guidance in any foreign languages. By pressing 1 and 0 on the health ministry's hotline, this reporter was able to reach a live person only on the health ministry's line. The person on the other end, who spoke limited English, put the call through to someone else, who recommended the phone number 1345, the Immigration Contact Center, which seems more suited for visa consultations, not mental health counseling.







There's no denying these hotlines are doing important work, and are probably especially busy at the moment dealing with calls coming in from people they can help. They may be sufficient for our readers who know the local language well, but where do other language speakers turn when they're in distress?







There are plenty of psychologists, psychiatrists and counselors active here these days offering services in languages other than Korean, mostly English.







"It's hard to know where one can find foreign-language support because it's rarely advertised," said Emma Sparkes, founder of

and

, both of which she added are trans-inclusive. "Everyone needs support sometimes and living in a foreign country can be very isolating, especially if you're not fluent in the local language. Even though it's ideal for foreign residents to learn Korean, it shouldn't be a barrier that prevents people from accessing the help that they need. And even if you have good Korean skills, it can be daunting to try to express your difficulties or traumas in a foreign language."







She started the two Facebook groups in response to a growing community need for information on mental health resources available to foreign residents. They provide a forum for community-based emotional support and an extensive list of

, but do not offer professional psychiatric advice itself.



"Fortunately, English-language mental health resources have grown significantly in the past 10 years," Sparkes said. "There are more counseling services dedicated to providing help to foreigners and Seoul Global Center also offers five counseling sessions for 50,000won for those who need it. The increase in available services is very encouraging and as Korea becomes increasingly diverse, I hope that we'll continue to see more services available for those who need them."







Of course, most of these mental health services are likely to be extra busy these days, but they also likely recognize the need to be available to help those who are most vulnerable following the incident.







"It has been very busy with inquiries and referrals since the weekend," said Dr. Jill Dunbar, a clinical psychologist at

, a psychological counseling service in Seoul. "We have all seen the distressing numbers of those who lost their lives and have been seriously injured. However, there is a missing figure of the number of psychological and emotional injuries which occurred that night, many of which remain hidden. There will be hundreds of people trying to process the horrific events which they witnessed, dealing with flashbacks and surges of distress, anger and guilt, struggling to get through their day. These are the victims of such events which can often be forgotten."









Her clinic has announced that she will host a free support group for those who have been directly impacted by the tragedy in Itaewon.





"We have had a lot of interest in our free support group, highlighting just how many individuals have been impacted by this tragedy," she said. "The group is intended to be a safe and caring space for people to come together and know that they are not alone. We particularly wanted to have a space for our expat and student community. Often expat life can come with challenges of isolation and being far away from your support network. We recognize the unique experience of our expats and want to ensure they are supported."





The Korean Psychological Association has also announced it will offer a psychological consultation service for people who experienced or witnessed the disaster, directly or indirectly.Dr. Park Chan-min is a psychiatrist at Seoul Central Mental Health Clinic , which offers mental health services in Korean and English for people suffering depression, PTSD and trauma, as well as providing stress therapy and couples counseling.
Sonya McLean

A man who falsely registered himself as the father of six babies to facilitate their mothers in securing Irish passports for their children has been jailed for three years.

Alan Yip (47), of Parnell Street, Dublin city, is a British citizen and because he was from the European Union at that time of the registrations, each of the children were then entitled to apply for Irish citizenship.

This also allowed the parents to apply for leave to remain in Ireland as parents of an Irish child, Eoghan Cole BL, prosecuting, told the court.

Yip pleaded guilty to six counts of providing a registrar with information or particulars in respect of the birth of a child which you knew to be false or misleading at a number of Civic Registration Offices around the country on dates between August 2012 and July 2015.

Each of the offences represents the registration of the birth of each of the children and occurred in Civic Registration Offices in Drogheda, Tullamore and Dublin.

Mr Cole told Judge Martin Nolan that the offences carry a maximum penalty of five years. Additional charges of applying for passports using false documentation were taken into account.

Biological parents

Yips co-accused are the five biological mothers and one of the biological fathers of the five children. He also admitted falsely registering himself as the father of a sixth child, but that childs parents are not before the court.

Each of these women and the one man pleaded guilty to an offence of providing a registrar with information or particulars in respect of the birth of a child which they knew to be false or misleading, relating to their own child.

Detective Garda Joe Gavin told Mr Cole that in 2020 a couple came forward and told officials that Yip had been falsely registered as the father of their child and they wanted this to be rectified.

The Garda National Immigration Bureau set up an operation and reviewed the births in which Yip had been registered as a father. This led to the identification of the other cases before the court.

Det Gda Gavin said in many of the cases the mothers had come to Ireland from China on a student visa and their status was due to change around the time of the birth of their child. In many of the cases their husband or partner was in Ireland illegally.

One woman later told gardai that Yip approached her in Drogheda. She was pregnant at that point and he asked her what kind of visa she had and what status she had in the State.

He asked her what her plans were following the birth of her child and told her of the scheme. She later paid Yip 8,000 in three separate instalments to secure a passport for her child.

Cash payments

Det Gda Gavin said that the mothers handed over the cash once they received the Irish passport for their child. In most cases the passport would be posted out to Yip, he then met with their parents, received the cash and handed over the false passport.

Det Gda Gavin agreed with Oisin Clarke BL, defending, that there was at least one other person involved in the scheme. Many of the mothers handed over cash to this man, who they knew as Simon.

The women paid between 8,000 and 15,000 to secure the passports for their children. Mr Clarke suggested to the detective that the most his client ever received for the registration of a birth was 1,000.

Det Gda Gavin said he couldnt confirm that but he acknowledged that Yip had no trappings of wealth and does not seem to be a person of luxurious behaviour.

He accepted that people higher up the chain were getting most of the money. He further accepted that Yip had a gambling addiction and met one of the other people involved in scheme at a gambling emporium.

Judge Nolan acknowledged that Yip was unlikely to re-offend in the future and accepted that he had a gambling problem which created a need for extra money. He said however that Yip deserved a custodial sentence before he jailed him for three years.

'Crimes of desperation'

Judge Martin Nolan addressed the barristers representing the biological parents of the children.

These are crimes of desperation and there is only one way to deal with desperate people and that is to impose very harsh sentences, he said.

He acknowledged that each of the accused had perfect mitigation.

They all work very hard, cause no trouble, make full admissions and could be seen as additions to the country but they breached the law because they were desperate to stay.

I have to impose custodial sentences on all of them to stop other desperate people doing the same thing, Judge Nolan continued.

There is a lot of people in this country who have problems with status. One way to establish status is to do so through children. Does the court not have an onus to deter such behaviour? Judge Nolan asked before he asked each of the defence lawyers to address him in relation to his question.

It was suggested to Judge Nolan that imposing a custodial sentence on such people who are otherwise good people who have also suffered a financial loss would be cruel and over severe.

Deterrence

Kate Egan BL, defending one of the mothers, said deterrence is not the only aim of sentence and suggested that deterrence can be met in other ways.

Jane McGowan BL, defending another woman, reminded Judge Nolan that the Department of Justice would also most likely be looking at the immigration status of each of the accused and their children.

None of them have permanent status in this country, she said before she added that punishment has to fit both the crime and the offender.

Judge Nolan said he understood that sending mothers to prison does have an impact on the children while acknowledging another submission that custody should be a last resort.

Another lawyer submitted that such a conviction will have a lasting impact on the accuseds immigration status and hinder them in future in terms of travel and employment.

Judge Nolan said all six parents decided to participate in this scheme because they all wanted their children to get an Irish passport.

"They knew it was wrong, but they were all willing to take the chance to establish themselves and their children. I can see they were desperate people who wanted to stay here, every person understands that," he said.

"Should these six suffer prison terms to deter other parties? All six barristers have said that is going too far."

"I must consider the person before me rather than general deterrence. On balance, I have decided not to imprison them, but they have done wrong," Judge Nolan continued before he sentenced each accused to a two-year term which he suspended in full.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Is the climate crisis catching up to the Miami Beach waterfront?

On Thursday, October 27, an unsafe structure notice was posted on a 14-story oceanfront Miami Beach condominium, forcing its residents to evacuate in only two hours.

We dont know exactly whats going on inside there but we cant stay. Thats it, nine-year resident Samy Bosch said, as AP News reported.

But the incident may be reflective of a larger problem, as sea level rise and erosion intersect with aging, poorly constructed infrastructure. The evacuated building was on the same avenue as the Champlain Towers South condo in Surfside, Florida, which collapsed in 2021 killing nearly 100 people and prompting the largest emergency response in Florida history that wasnt caused by a hurricane.

The recently evacuated building is the Port Royale condominium at 6969 Collins Avenue, as NBC 6 reported. It is located a little more than a mile south of the site of the Champlain Towers South condo collapse.

The evacuation came as part of the 50-year building recertification process. Around 10 months ago, an inspection turned up areas of concern that we designated as a priority to be repaired, Arshad Vioar said in an email to the Miami Beach Building Department reported by AP News.

Repairs of those areas then started around four weeks ago, but the process revealed that one of the main support beams in need of work had shifted and a crack in it that needed to be filled had expanded, prompting the evacuation order for the buildings 164 units.

We take issues of building safety with utmost priority and wont compromise the safety of our residents and visitors, Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said in a statement reported by NBC 6 on Friday.

Inspection Engineers Inc. said it was waiting on a permit from the city to install comprehensive shoring within 10 days, after which another inspection will take place, according to AP News.

Investigations into the collapse of the Surfside condo turned up several underlying issues with South Floridas waterfront properties. One is that many condos built during the 1970s and 1980s were constructed in a hurry with little regard for best practices.

The situation in Miami is horrifying, and I fervently hope the missing victims will be found alive, writer Justin Gillis tweeted in the aftermath of the Surfside collapse. But, having worked as a newspaper reporter in Miami in the 1980s when condos like this one were being thrown up all over the place, I am not at all surprised.

Another factor is how the climate crisis interacts with Floridas geology. The area where the condo collapsed is sinking at a rate of two millimeters per year because of both sinkholes and sea level rise, according to Nexus Media News. Further, a study published in Ocean and Coastal Management in December of 2021 found that the number of times that sea levels rose past the buildings basement floor rose from an average of 244 times per year between 1994 and 2006 to an average of 636 times per year between 2007 and 2020, following the tripling of the rate of relative sea level rise in the area following 2006.

What happens when sea levels rise above a buildings basement level is that salt water can intrude into the basement, corroding the concrete foundation, the studys author and Florida International University coastal geologist Randall Parkinson explained to NBC. A Miami-Dade County grand jury investigating the collapse also thought saltwater intrusion had likely damaged the condos foundations. It still isnt clear if sea level rise was to blame for the tragedy, but the incident acts as a warning for what could happen along the Florida coast in the future.

The tragic collapse of the Surfside condominium was a bellwether moment in coastal zone management because it forever changed the way we think about risk and vulnerability of the built and human environment, Parkinson wrote in his 2021 paper.

After the collapse, Miami-Dade County changed its laws, requiring buildings to undergo a recertification process 30 years after construction instead of 40 years, and 25 years if they are within three miles of the coast, according to AP News. After the first recertification, buildings must be recertified every 10 years.

However, the case of the Port Royale evacuation indicates that the Surfside collapse may not have been the wake up call it seemed to be. Resident and renovation contractor Marash Markaj told AP News he had felt unsafe in the building because he had reported problems like standing water in the garage and cracked columns to no response.

Ive seen the issues for many years, he said.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

A trash-collecting wheel is cleaning up pollution from the Juan Diaz River in Panama before it makes its way to the ocean. The wheel, named Wanda Diaz, is powered with hydraulic and solar power and also uses a camera system and artificial intelligence to analyze waste and provide data for public education and policy.

Marea Verde, a nonprofit group started in 2017, installed the water wheel system, which is the first of its kind in Latin America. The wheel is located in the Juan Diaz River, one of the most polluted rivers in Panama. According to project partner Clean Currents Coalition, the Juan Diaz River  along with six other important rivers in Panama  moves over 100,000 tons of trash into Panama Bay per year. Juan Diaz River is especially vulnerable to pollution because of its location through Panama City, poor waste management and extensive real estate development.

Cleaning beaches is good, but it is more effective and cheaper to trap garbage in rivers because when it reaches the ocean, the environmental and economic cost becomes too high, project leader Robert Getman said.

The water wheel is inspired by the Mr. Trash Wheel and Professor Trash Wheel projects in Baltimore, Maryland. It features a water wheel that moves with the river current, and solar panels offer backup energy.

A floating boom spans the river to direct waste to the device, where it is then lifted out of the water by the wheel-powered conveyor and deposited into a container for appropriate waste disposal, Clean Currents Coalition explained on its website. Recyclables will be manually separated from the non-recyclables before reaching the container and carried to an on-shore sorting facility via a transverse conveyor.

The Wanda Diaz device was established in September and has since collected over 22 1.3-cubic-meter bags of plastic bottles, as reported by Reuters. The devices camera system has also collected images of the waste, analyzing and categorizing the data for educational use and to influence policies for waste management.

Although the Juan Diaz River is heavily polluted, it remains an important part of the mangrove ecosystem and leads out to the biodiverse Panama Bay, where nearly 1,000 humpback whales come to nurse their young each year.

Wanda Diaz is just one of the trash-collecting projects by Marea Verde. The nonprofit organizations first project, B.O.B Litter Trap, was a floating barrier that trapped trash floating down the Matias Hernandez River. In 1.5 years, the device kept over 100 tons of waste from reaching the ocean. According to the group, over 46.7% of the waste collected by B.O.B. was plastic bottles and disposable foam containers.

Although B.O.B. was uninstalled in 2020, Wanda Diaz is just getting started.

We want to raise awareness that we can prevent the death of this very important river, said Sandy Watemberg, head of Marea Verde, as reported by Reuters. The organization also hopes that Wanda Diaz and similar projects will convince consumers to rely less on single-use plastics.

The most important thing is to achieve a change in habits, Watemberg said.




Zimbabwe urged to back local poultry projects

Prominent Matabeleland South poultry farmer Peter Cunningham challenged the government of Zimbabwe to support poultry projects in the country.

Cunningham, who is also the director of Sondelani Ranching, said poultry production can be a game-changer for the economy. Addressing delegates at Shalom Campsite, he said talks were in progress with the government to acquire more land to revolutionise agriculture and turn Matabeleland green.

Cunningham dismissed the myth that Matabeleland is a dry region that cannot sustain itself in terms of food security.

"To say we are in region four or five, and, therefore, there is not enough rainfall to produce food for ourselves is a lie," he said. "We can produce more and even export to neighbouring countries. For example, in comparison with Israel, Matabeleland is six times the size of Israel's population of 3.5 million people.

"Israel's rainfall is 730mm, and Matabeleland's rainfall is three times that, yet Matabeleland is food insecure and has been importing food."

Cunningham, who is also the chairperson of Ebenezer Training Centre, said US$350 million were injected into the centre to improve agricultural activities. Hamara head of marketing and public relations manager Clemence Mutanga said the project was able to train over 14,000 people over the years.

"It has brought visible change to families and communities through generation of sustainable income. Another project, Africa Alive, has been launched for young people aged 18 to 28 years who are into poultry community projects and other small business ventures," Mutanga said.

Lupane Youth Development Trust programmes officer Zibusiso Moyo said 50 youths from Lupane were working in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation to train youth in poultry projects at the Shalom Training Centre.

"We realised that Lupane is easily affected by climate change issues, which has resulted in poverty in the area. Youths need hands-on experience and be able to start their own businesses,'' Moyo said.



- News Day




A Korean naval support ship is scheduled to arrive at a Japanese port Tuesday to take part in the country's international fleet review slated for next week, officials here said.







The 10,000-ton logistics support ship Soyang is to arrive in Yokosuka at around noon after departing from Jinhae, 410 kilometers south of Seoul, on Saturday, they said.







It plans to participate in the fleet review on the weekend, and join a multinational search and rescue exercise in the Tokyo Bay area to run through Nov. 7.







Korea's decision to take part in the fleet review comes despite public controversies here over the event, where the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is to hoist the Rising Sun Flag viewed by many Koreans as a symbol of Japan's imperialist past. The South last participated in Japan's fleet review in 2015.







Seoul's Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup told lawmakers the previous day the government made the decision primarily in consideration of national security, apparently referring to Seoul's efforts to bolster trilateral cooperation with Washington and Tokyo to counter threats from North Korea. (Yonhap)


Consultation session over planned wind farms

A consultation is underway with views wanted on the Morcambe and Morgan Offshore Wind Farms.

The two new wind farms are being developed in the Irish Sea.



A 480 MW capacity wind tourbine scheme by Offshore Wind Limited to be constructed west of Blackpool and south west of Morecambe Bay, and a 1,500 MW scheme by a consortium of EnBW and BP, west of Morecambe Bay.

A consultation event will be held at Douglas Town Hall on Thursday between 3pm and 7pm.
Meta has spent the GDP of a small country trying to make the metaverse a thing, and now we get to see the latest device designed to take us there. The Meta Quest Pro is a $1,500 flagship VR headset that should offer the best experience Mark Zuckerbergs money can buy. And our Sam Rutherford has spent plenty of time with one and is full of praise for it.

Rutherford lauded the comfort, the design, the power and pretty much everything else about it, at least on a hardware level. The sting, of course, is that fancy hardware doesnt mean much if there isnt compelling software to back it up. And while there are some cool new apps able to take advantage of the Pros more muscular performance, its still a pretty thin selection.

As someone who would love to spend more time in VR but cant find a headset that offers the right combination of eye (and neck) comfort, Im excited to try the Pro. But, like many people, Ill wait a year or two before investing in one, lest I wind up with a very pretty, very expensive piece of furniture gathering dust on my side table.

 Dan Cooper

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Who wants, or needs, a luxury Chromebook?

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A luxury Chromebook has always been a bit of a paradox because Chrome is designed to work on the dirtiest of dirt-cheap hardware. HPs Elite Dragonfly Chromebook fits the category, however, with a base model costing more than a grand, and our review model topping $1,500. Naturally, our Chromebook expert, Nathan Ingraham, put it through its paces and had plenty of nice things to say about it. Sadly, no matter how nice it is, its still 1,000-plus dollars for a Chromebook.

Continue Reading.

The process isnt transparent, with a massive accountability gap.

The UK has been playing around with live facial recognition technology (LFR) for several years, but not in a way thats ethical or legal. Thats the conclusion made by University of Cambridge researchers after analyzing its use by police forces in London and South Wales. The findings, published in a new study, said key information about how data is used has been kept from view, leaving unanswered questions around if the technology is used as a cover to justify racial profiling. Not to mention its overall efficacy, which third-party experts say is far lower than the forces themselves like to boast about.

Continue Reading.

Users also saw drops in follower counts and disrupted feeds.

NurPhoto via Getty Images

An Instagram bug caused users to receive notices their accounts were suspended without cause. The issue also saw individual follower counts fall, as well as disruptions to the platforms main image feed. Around eight hours later, Instagram said it had fixed the bug but declined to elaborate on what caused it. Its the second high-profile service disruption to the image-sharing network in a month, and another sign not all is well inside Metas gilded walls.

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Including students religions, sexual orientations and their parental income ranges.

Education provider Chegg is in the FTCs sights after it exposed the personal information of more than 40 million users. Officials have filed a complaint accusing the company of treating private data carelessly. That included letting employees access databases with a single sign-in, storing data in plain text and using outdated password encryption. Chegg has already responded to the complaint, saying it takes its obligations seriously and will fully comply with the FTCs order when its issued.

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Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, right, poses with his U.S. counterpart, Lloyd Austin, before their talks on the sidelines of a security forum in Singapore, June 11. Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense



Experts negative about South Korea acquiring nuclear weapons



By Kang Seung-woo



Upcoming security talks between the defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States are expected to focus on how to respond to North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile arsenal, better known as the U.S.' strategy of extended deterrence against Pyongyang's aggression, according to diplomatic observers, Tuesday.



Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, are scheduled to hold a Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in Washington, D.C., Thursday (local time).



The annual defense talks come as North Korea is anticipated to detonate another nuclear device before the U.S. midterm elections, which are scheduled for Nov. 8, based on its past track record of causing trouble around U.S. election time. In addition, the Kim Jong-un regime has ratcheted up tensions on the Korean Peninsula by staging a range of military provocations from dispatching warplanes near the border to firing a volley of ballistic missiles and artillery shells.



"The issue at the top of the SCM agenda is North Korean assertiveness in its barrage of testing ballistic missiles and lately firing artillery shells in their version of 'exercise diplomacy'  to demonstrate their hostility to U.S.-ROK military exercises," said Robert Manning, a distinguished senior fellow at Washington-based think tank the Stimson Center. The ROK refers to the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.



In October, the allies staged a combined naval exercise, involving a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, while the two nation's air forces are currently conducting large-scale joint air training featuring the F-35A and F-35B stealth fighters.



"The immediate challenge is how to respond to Pyongyang's provocative military actions  including a possible forthcoming seventh nuclear weapons test  without risking escalation. The long-term problem is how to strengthen deterrence, as the totality of North Korean short, medium and long-range ballistic missile tests, SLBM missiles over the past 18 months or so have altered the military balance," Manning said.



"They are seeking to create a triad to have a survivable nuclear second-strike capacity," Manning said.



During the May 21 summit, President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed on extended deterrence so as to deter North Korea's escalating missile and nuclear threats. In addition, the two nations have reactivated regular meetings of the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG), a high-level consultative mechanism to achieve the North's denuclearization through steadfast deterrence.



However, its first EDSCG meeting, held in September for the first time in nearly five years, failed to reach an agreement on the U.S.' immediate and automatic retaliation in response to a North Korean nuclear attack against its southern neighbor.



"Seoul, in light of its challenging security situation, will likely want to see deeper discussions on the credibility of the U.S. extended deterrence during the SCM," said Soo Kim, a policy analyst at U.S. think tank the RAND Corporation.



"This is of course an important topic for Washington, as well. But given the sensitivities surrounding the issue  and the allies appear to be wary of reactions from elsewhere  we probably should not expect significant progress in the way of concrete measures to enhance the credibility of extended deterrence," Kim said.



Amid the intensification of North Korea's nuclear threats and misgivings about the U.S.' commitment to extended deterrence, some in South Korea have called for nuclear weapons in the South or the reintroduction of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons on the peninsula, raising some speculation that the issue could possibly be on the table. The U.S. removed its tactical nuclear weapons from South Korea in 1991.



"Given the perceived sensitivities surrounding the prospects of a U.S. ally going nuclear, this has been one of the 'tread lightly' issues between the two countries," Kim said.



"At present, we're unlikely to see anything definitive on this front. The decision itself bears significant implications for the region beyond the Korean Peninsula  so the question has not only to do with Seoul's nuclearization, but whether the allies, and most importantly, Seoul, will be able to handle the consequences of such a decision," Kim said.



According to a September poll by the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University, slightly more than half of South Korean nationals, or 55.5 percent, supported the development of a domestic nuclear weapons program.



The U.S. government has shown signs of objection in response, as evidenced by U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg, who said last month that all talk about tactical nuclear weapons is "irresponsible and dangerous" because it doesn't help the situation.



Manning said that having nuclear weapons in South Korea would be a counter-productive move.



"The U.S. has the ability to respond to North Korean attacks with nuclear weapons on SLBMs and by other means. The calls to return tactical nuclear weapons to the ROK would make no military difference, and would (instead) make South Korea a target," he said.



"Similarly, Seoul obtaining its own nuclear weapons would raise questions in the US about the US-ROK alliance and still make South Korea a target," Manning stressed.



Kim also said the issue is an extremely "complex and provocative" topic.



"In short, it's difficult to gauge the pulse of the policy community's views on the matter. We know for sure that the issue is one that polarizes the community, but when push comes to shove and the allies are in a bind in managing the security threat from the North, are the current capabilities sufficient to successfully deal with a North Korean contingency?" Kim said.



"It's unclear how much of the public debate on this issue reflects the true concerns and deliberations of decision-makers in Seoul and Washington," she said.


Twitter is increasing the price of its subscription service. Moving forward, Twitter Blue will cost $8 per month in the US, with pricing in other countries adjusted for the purchasing power of consumers in those markets, Twitter owner and CEO Elon Musk announced today. The $3 jump from Blue's current $5 per month fee amounts to a 60 percent price increase.

At the same time, Twitter plans to add new perks to the service. As a subscriber, you'll see fewer ads and have the ability to post longer videos and audio  which Twitter had tested prior to Musk's takeover. It will also give you priority in replies, mentions and Twitter's search feature, perks Musk claims are essential to reducing the amount of spam on the platform. "Twitter's current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn't have a blue checkmark is bullshit," Musk said, all but confirming verification will be tied to Twitter Blue subscriptions. Lastly, Twitter Blue will include the ability to bypass paywalls  though that will come later and will depend on Twitter forging the necessary publisher partnerships.

Twitters current lords & peasants system for who has or doesnt have a blue checkmark is bullshit.



Power to the people! Blue for $8/month.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 1, 2022

Tuesday's announcement comes after days of speculation on how Twitter could change under Musk's ownership. On Sunday, two separate reports said the Tesla and SpaceX CEO was considering increasing the price of Twitter Blue to as much as $20 per month and making the subscription a requirement for verification. Musk appeared to reconsider pricing after a tweet from author Stephen King criticizing the plan went viral. "We need to pay the bills somehow," Musk said. "Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers. How about $8?"

Musk claimed the changes to Twitter Blue would also give the company a way to support content creators. On Monday, the owner of Nibellion, one of Twitter's most prolific and popular gaming news accounts, said he was abandoning the platform, citing Musk's takeover of the company and the difficulty he encountered monetizing his work.

I have miscalculated the value of my Twitter activity and realize that it is nothing worth supporting by itself for the vast majority of people," Nibel said. "It is not me who is popular, but it is that work that is useful. It is not valuable by itself, but a comfortable timesaver, and I get that now. Accounts like Nibel are the lifeblood of Twitter. While they only represent about 25 percent of the user base, they account for more than 97 percent of tweets you see on the platform.

Tweaks to Twitter Blue are likely only the start of the changes Musk has planned for Twitter. According to The New York Times, Musk has ordered company-wide layoffs that could affect as much as 50 percent of Twitter's 7,500-person workforce. He is also reportedly considering bringing back Vine, the company's long-defunct short-form video service. In the meantime, Musk did not say when the changes to Twitter Blue would begin rolling out.
Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly's relationship has been tested again with the emergence of breakup rumors.

In the past weeks, Fox and MGK have been enduring buzz that they have already ended their relationship. Some also alleged that the couple hit rock bottom.

But Fox had a racy but epic way to address it.

On Instagram, the 36-year-old "Legends of the Lost with Megan Fox" star commented on the singer's post, telling him to get her pregnant as she drooled over his handsome looks.

"Never has anyone with better bone structure walked this earth. Exquisitely, devastatingly handsome. And 6 foot 5? Kill me or get me pregnant. Those are the only options," she said.

The photo in question was taken during the Time100 Gala in New York City on Tuesday.

They are yet to ring the wedding bells months after confirming their engagement. They also have not tried expanding their family.

But Fox is currently mom to three sons - Journey River, Bodhi Random, and Noah Shannon. She shares them with her ex-husband, Brian Austin Green.

Meanwhile, Machine Gun Kelly has one daughter with Emma Cannon, 13-year-old Casie Colson Baker.

Megan Fox, Machine Gun Kelly Sealed Engagement in a Bizarre Way

The breakup rumors surfaced months after Fox and MGK confirmed their engagement. They shared the news with their fans through individual Instagram posts.

At that time, they revealed that they drank each other's blood as part of their union.

Some fans disapproved of the blood-drinking ritual, but she clarified to Glamour UK that they are only drinking drops of their blood for ritual purposes only. Fox is famously into astrology, metaphysical practices, and meditations.

READ ALSO: 'The Crown' Shock: Netflix Series Spotted Filming Princess Diana's Crash Despite Initial Decision It Wouldn't Include the Accident

Aside from that, she also shocked the public when she revealed during the red carpet of MGK's Hulu documentary "Life in Pink" that she asked the singer if he was breastfed by his mother because she wanted to learn more about his psychology and temperament.

Fox and MGK met while filming her movie, "Midnight in the Switchgrass." They eventually met again when she was tapped to appear in his "Bloody Valentine" music video.

According to the model, MGK is her "twin flame," and they immediately felt the spark on the music video set. That connection reportedly intensified when they began working together.

READ MORE: Grayson Murray Accident: PGA Tour Golfer Suffers Serious Injuries in Horrifying Accident [REPORT]
Henry Cavill has just quit the second famous role he is known for.

The British actor recently made headlines not just for his departure from Netflix's "The Witcher," but also for his appearance as "Man of Steel" in DCEU's "Black Adam."

In a social media post, he also announced his comeback as the DCEU's "Superman," and he was heard discussing it on a podcast and at the global premiere of "Enola Holmes 2."

Though Henry had not previously stated his intention to leave the series, he announced in a social media post that he was finally saying goodbye to his role in one of Netflix's most anticipated fantasy shows.

He also mentioned that he would be replaced by Australian actor and Chris Hemsworth's brother, Liam.

When Miley Cyrus' ex-husband was announced as Henry Cavill's replacement, many were outraged.

Many fans considered this to be "the worst casting downgrade," while others said that Henry should have paused production on "The Witcher" if he was filming for "Superman."

"Wow," one Twitter user commented. "No offense to Liam. But Henry was the ideal Geralt. I mean, 'The Witcher' distinguishes and separates Henry Cavill from others. I'm amazed he'd abandon 'The Witcher' to reprise his Superman role, which wasn't all that wonderful. So be it. Everything good comes to an end."

"This has had to be one of the biggest casting downgrades in recent history," said another.

READ ALSO: Kanye West Embarrassment: Is THIS A Sign Rapper Should Fix His Fashion Choices?

Why Is Henry Cavill Leaving 'The Witcher'?

The first obvious reason Henry Cavill is quitting "The Witcher" is to play "Superman" again for Zack Snyder.

The second factor, according to Forbes, is the future of "The Witcher," which debuted to dismal numbers in season two.

According to their analysis, the program exhibited indications of frailty as early as the second season, and they feel "it's plausible that [Henry] doesn't want to go down with the ship and is jumping out before things become worse."

A third notion circulating on Twitter is that Henry was dissatisfied with how the program was being scripted, which may have been one of the reasons for his departure.

"Well, it's not all Superman, but more because Henry Cavill wanted to keep faithful to the source material and the showrunners don't," one social media user stated. "This is the most correct explanation."

"This isn't about Superman; he's indicated he'd do both," a second individual remarked. "This is most likely due to the showrunners' blatant contempt for the books, games, and fans themselves; while Henry loves Geralt and the books, they clearly don't care about the world in the same way he does."

READ MORE: Gisele Bundchen's Final Straw Before Ending Marriage To Tom Brady: Additional Divorce Problem Revealed
Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min lowers his head as he apologizes over the deadly Itaewon crowd crush, at a parliamentary session in the National Assembly, Seoul, Tuesday. Newsis



Emergency calls for crowd management were ignored



By Jung Min-ho



Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min apologized on Tuesday over last week's crowd crush, which took the lives of more than 150 people in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul.



"I deeply apologize to the people as a Cabinet member in a position to be infinitely responsible for the people's safety," Lee said at a parliamentary session. "First of all, I pray for those who died. I also offer my deep condolences to the bereaved families  As the father of a son and a daughter, this incident is so tragic and regrettable. It is difficult for me to accept this surreal reality and my words cannot describe how terrible it was."



The apology comes amid growing criticism over his previous remarks suggesting that he was not responsible for the Oct. 28 incident, which killed at least 156 people and injured 151 others, mostly in their 20s, during their first restriction-free Halloween parties there since the COVID-19 pandemic began.



Yet Lee did not apologize in response to the specific criticism that an insufficient number of police officers in the area was attributable to the incident. He said it was his fault that he did not consider the broken hearts of the bereaved families when making the remarks.



Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also issued an apology, vowing to come up with better safety policies.





Yoon Hee-keun, head of the National Police Agency, lowers his head as he apologizes for the police's belated response to the fatal Itaewon crowd crush, at its headquarters in central Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap



Earlier on Tuesday, Yoon Hee-keun, head of the National Police Agency, also apologized. He said police failed to preemptively respond to emergency calls to control masses of partygoers in Itaewon before a crowd surge in a narrow alleyway suddenly turned deadly.



"We have confirmed that there was a surge of calls over the serious situation just before the incident," Yoon told reporters at its headquarters in central Seoul. "The urgent calls were about the dangers of a big crowd in the area."



According to Hwang Chang-sun, a senior police officer who attended a meeting by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters the same day, many people alerted police of the situation before the incident. But their calls were treated just as "reports of general inconvenience."



"I pray for the victims who died and offer my condolences to the bereaved families," Yoon said. "I hope for a speedy recovery of those injured. I feel great responsibility for the people shocked by the incident  I will try my best to prevent such a tragedy from happening again."



Apparently aware of growing criticism following the minister's insensitive remarks, Yoon said he ordered an internal investigation into those who responded to the emergency calls at Yongsan Police Station that night.





Police inspect the scene of a deadly crowd crush in Itaewon, a popular district for nightlife, central Seoul, Tuesday. AP-Yonhap



Meanwhile, police are interviewing witnesses, who have claimed that a group of men, some of whom were wearing "rabbit hairbands," deliberately pushed people, which caused others near them to fall down like "dominoes." They claim the alleged perpetrators shouted, "Push, push!" and "We're stronger!" before fleeing the chaotic scene.



So far, police have questioned more than 40 witnesses and crush survivors while analyzing footage from 52 CCTV cameras installed near the scene and monitoring messages on social media, according to Nam Koo-joon, who leads a 475-member investigation team.



They are also looking into accusations that some owners and employees of stores beside the alleyway blocked their entrances to people fleeing the crushing crowd at the last moment.



Hamilton Hotel, situated right next to the alleyway, is another target of investigation. A document from the Yongsan District Office shows that it illegally extended its 17.4-square-meter terrace on its northern side of the main building, taking up space in an already narrow path. Last year, the district office had told the hotel to remove the terrace and later levied fines for failing to comply with the order.





President Yoon Suk-yeol, center, arrives to pay tribute to victims of a deadly crowd crush in Itaewon, a popular district for nightlife, in central Seoul, Tuesday. Newsis
Shirley Baskin Familian, who notably founded the public television station KCET, died at the age of 101, her family confirmed.

Baskin Familian's bereaved family announced her death through a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, saying that she died on Sunday in her Los Angeles home. It did not disclose Shirley Baskin Familian's cause of death, but the family asked the public to donate in her honor to UCLA's Department of Neurosurgery and the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

But viewers who grew up watching KCET shows assumed that she either died of a health issue or an old age, though this should be taken with a grain of salt as the family has not released an update related to the potential cause.

Baskin Familian's memorial and funeral also remain unknown to the public.

"Shirley had an incredible thirst and joy for life and always promoted peace, understanding and generosity of spirit between everyone she knew, and she lived those values herself," her family said.

#RIP Shirley Baskin Familian, 101; co-founder and longtime board member of @KCET in L.A. was the wife and sister of the guys who launched @BaskinRobbins with six stores in 1945. She wrote out the "Free Birthday Ice Cream Cone" cards by hand. https://t.co/YBh0s8hA4M  Mike Barnes (@MikeBarnes4) October 29, 2022

According to Variety, she is survived by her children Edie, Richard, and Skip; her grandchildren Anabella, David, Scott, and Jon; and her great-granddaughter, Goldie Bronson.

Shirley Baskin Familian's Legacy

From Winnipeg, Canada, Baskin Familian and her family decided to move to Seattle before settling in Tacoma, Washington. She then attended the Annie Wright Seminary before studying art and design at the University of Washington.

Baskin Familian met the Chicago businessman Burton "Butch" Baskin when she was in college. She married him in 1942 after he spent four years in the US Navy.

Before entering the TV industry, she helped her brother, Irv Robbins, to launch his dairy business. He learned it from their father, and it eventually led them to open an ice cream shop.

After having six shops, Irv and Baskin Familian's husband started working together to create the famous Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream.

READ ALSO: Prince Harry's Memoir Called 'Overblown': Will Royal Family File Legal Case Against Him?

As for the late TV icon, she helped the business by writing the "Free Birthday Ice Cream Cone" cards to the Americans.

She and her husband also created KCET and signed as an affiliate of the National Educational Television network in 1964. Unfortunately, Baskin died of a heart attack three years later.

Baskin Familian married twice after Baskin's death - to Aaron Goldfarb (who died less than a year after the wedding) and Price Pfister CEO Isadore Familian (who died in 2002).

READ MORE: Kanye West Suicidal? Charlamagne Tha God Says Rapper Looks Like 'He Won't Be Here Much Longer's
The number of people killed by two car bombs that exploded outside the education ministry in Somalia's capital Mogadishu has risen to at least 120, the health minister said.
Tuesday, November 1, 2022

TODAY is the last day to register for my Create an Amazon Bestseller Campaign for Your eBook Online course. Available only to a limited number of participants starting this Wednesday, November 2 from 4 pm to 5.30 pm MT. All sessions are recorded for reference and in case you have to miss one. All dates are November 2, 9, 23, 30  we are skipping the 16th due to a previous commitment of mine.

There are only two spots left. This working lab is kept limited in size so that I can work one-on-one with each participant, guiding them through the process.

Can you get results?

Can you grab #1 for more than an hour like many of these campaigns?

Yes, yes you can.

REGISTER NOW: https://bit.ly/AMZBestseller

In each class, I also Guinea pig myself along with the rest of the participants who were setting up their books for a future campaign.

One of the power points of the How to Create an Amazon Best Seller is to set EVERYTHING up weeks in advance so authors can continue with whatever their routine is  a set it and forget it strategy  which was what I do for my own pushes. Last October 29-31, it dawned on me mid-morning on the 29th that I had planned the push out one of my books, How to Avoid 101 Book Publishing Blunders, Bloopers & Boo-Boos was published in 2016. It had been set up in my auto-scheduler  and I had forgotten this was the dayprepping on things I needed to have done because I would be away for a few days, having surgery early the following morning. Years later, I did the push-out for the eBook.

Bobby and I checked with my Amazon book detail page at 11 am on October 29th  heres what popped up:

Oh my  that got my attention. I then asked my staff to do a follow-up randomly through the rest of the day and Friday and Saturday, as I headed to the hospital for surgery. Nothing else needed to be done, since all posts were already scheduled. From the time above and throughout the next two days, How to Avoid 101 Book Publishing Blunders, Bloopers & Boo-Boos earned ELEVEN #1 spots in ELEVEN different categories during the 72-hour campaign. A campaign that all social media posts were created weeks before and scheduled. My team did nothing but check in on the book detail page and take screenshots, forwarding them to me.

Results for the three days achieved:

#1 Bibliographies & Indexes

#1 Adult Christian Education

#1 Words & Language Reference

#1 Education & Reference

#1 Authorship

#1 Marketing

#1 Creative Self Help

#1 Writing Skills

#1 Publishing & Books

#1 Writing, Research & Publishing Guides

#1 Reference

OK  was it a fluke?

NOPE  absolutely not. I did it again for hubby John Malings kids book The Alphabet Menagerie in November and it nailed multiple #1 slots and for my When God Says NO book in February duplicating the #1 run. In March, ditto with Johns Have You Ever Held a Mountain? ALL the participants who have pushed out their books since September 2020 have nailed down multiple #1s as well PLUS downloaded thousands of books. Every one of them! Charlie Best and Cathy Connally grabbed 16 #1s for their new book, Flavours with Benefits-France this month, including Germany, France, UK, Australia, and Canada.

My system works  it works for fiction, nonfiction, and for childrens books. IT WORKS!

Some pooh-pooh Amazon bestseller status. Dont. It does add credibility to your brag sheet. You can post on your details page on Amazon your achievement. You can write a press release. It will put a smile on your face. And who knows, you can fall in love with your book again and put energy behind itbringing new life. Thats a good thing.

REGISTER NOW: https://bit.ly/AMZBestseller

If you want to spend 90 minutes with me each Wednesday afternoon at 4 MT in the month of November, register NOW for How to Create an Amazon Best Seller. I would love to have you 

PS  If you are an Alumni of the Amazon Bestseller workshops, you can do a repeat at half price: $199 for each bookthat means I will be supporting you with my own social media pushes through and shout-outs your next campaign as well versus you doing it as a solo. Interested? Call me to be added: 303-885-2207.

Dr. Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. Often, she must roll up her writing sleeves and become a Book Doctor, juicing up storylines and author words. She empowers authors and works directly with authors who want to be seriously successful and has been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 42 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Success for Authors and Writers, and How to Create a Million Dollar Speech. Her personal memoir When God Says NO-Revealing the YES When Adversity and Loss Are Present is a #1 bestseller on Amazon. Collectively, her books have earned over 45 book awards. Judith speaks throughout the year at publishing conferences.

Throughout the year, she holds Judith Briles Book Unplugged in-person and online experiences: Publishing, Speaking, Marketing, and Social Media. All are two-day intensives limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. Join Judith live for the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast on the Toginet Radio Network HERE.

Follow @AuthorUYOUBooks and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a Like at AuthorYOU, and join the Facebook group Book Publishing with The Book Shepherd. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her.

2022 Judith Briles  The Book Shepherd All Rights Reserved.
A sampling of a collection of photos taken by Jacob Cowgill during the 2022 Swim Days. The collection are on display at the Fairfield Public Library.
The free range egg sector has highlighted their frustration with the new housing order for England as the country's largest ever bird flu outbreak continues.

A national housing order will be introduced across England only on Monday 7 November, making it a legal requirement to house flocks.

The move legally requires all bird keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow stringent biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the disease, regardless of type or size.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss said: We are now facing this year, the largest ever outbreak of bird flu and are seeing rapid escalation in the number of cases on commercial farms and in backyard birds across England.

"The risk of kept birds being exposed to disease has reached a point where it is now necessary for all birds to be housed until further notice."

Over 200 cases of avian influenza have been confirmed since late October 2021. The introduction of the housing measures comes after the disease was detected at over 70 sites since the start of October, as well as multiple reports of AI in wild birds.

As the mandatory housing order only applies to England, it has severe implications for the labelling of free range eggs.

And whilst most in the sector agrees with the need for a housing order, it is the consequences arising from the end of the 16 week derogation that producers need to see resolved.

Current EU regulations give a derogation to egg producers, allowing eggs to maintain their free-range status for 16 weeks  after that, they have to be labelled as barn.

In previous housing orders, the UK has maintained an 'all in, all out' policy which meant all eggs were labelled as barn after the 16-week derogation had ended.

Previously, retailers put signs on shelves explaining the housing order, and egg boxes carried a discrete message that they were officially labelled as barn.

Free range egg producers, already losing up to 10 a bird, maintained their premiums and could navigate the housing order without too many financial implications.

Unless Scotland and Wales follow suit, as each are large producers of free range eggs, there will be some confusion surrounding the labelling of eggs.

The UK follows EU rules which has draft legislation in progress that would allow EU egg producers to keep their free range status for as long as an official housing order is in place.

Defra has no plans to follow this legislation, meaning that English egg producers would be at a disadvantage when the derogation ends.

Most egg producers would agree that a housing order is needed, although most outbreaks have been in housed birds, including a 300,000 colony egg-laying unit and a 147,000 colony housing unit.

Free range producers have raised their biosecurity standards but have also been left with reduced insurance or no insurance as underwriters have exited the market.

Steven Smout, head of Agriculture at McLarens global loss adjusters explained: If you look back at the origins of Covid, whilst they may be unclear, the general accepted wisdom is that it was spread from animals.

"That is why avian influenza demands such strict measures, because of the risk of it transferring to humans in the same way.

The situation is dire for other poultry sectors as well and not just egg producers, with ducks, geese, and turkeys particularly susceptible to avian influenza.

The virus is wiping out a massive percentage of the fresh turkey market for this Christmas, which will create a shortage of fresh turkeys during the festive season. At the same time, broiler breeders have also been hit hard, with large units culled.

A source told FarmingUK that three million of the four and a half million farm fresh Christmas turkeys had been culled, likely leading to shortages during the festive season.

Robert Gooch, CEO of BFREPA (British Free Range Egg Producers Association), told FarmingUK that the body's approach had always been 'all in, or all out' when it came to a housing order because of the problem of packing and labelling eggs after the end of the 16 week derogation.

"Packers are collecting eggs from all over the UK to take to packing stations," he said, "It would cause a logistical problem for them to trace and label eggs either as free range or barn depending on the housing timetables of different UK countries or regions."

"For example, will the existing regional housing order in East Anglia run on a different 16-week clock to any other regional or national housing orders that will follow."

"Last year there was a separate housing order in Yorkshire that preceded the national housing order by one week. In that case, Defra harmonised the clocks so that the Yorkshire producers affected had an extra week's grace, and all eggs nationwide could be overstickered at the end of the 16 weeks.

"This time the gap between the East Anglian housing order and the national one will be much larger, suggesting that it will not be so easy to align the 16-week clock.

"If that is the case, packers and retailers will have to label East Anglian eggs as barn while the rest of the countries will still be free range. Yet they all might go through the same packing station."

Mr Gooch explained that this led to more fundamental problems: "These difficulties are multiplied if Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland put in place housing orders at different times to England.

"Think about it  a packer (and retailer) in central England collecting eggs from all over the country could be dealing with a spectrum of different clocks and thus changing labels/packaging depending on whether the eggs came from East Anglia, or the rest of England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland."

As of now, there have been 19 cases in England (74 in total) outside East Anglia since 1 October, only two each in Scotland and Wales, and one in Northern Ireland.

Mr Gooch said: "It is not surprising that the devolved countries do not see a case for housing yet. BFREPA and other industry representatives continue to argue for an 'all in' policy, despite the lack of cases in the devolved countries."

The all in, all out battle has seemingly been lost as Defra have now called a housing order for England only, with the devolved governments not yet ready to implement the same.

A Welsh government spokesperson said: "Having analysed the available scientific evidence, we are not introducing mandatory housing of poultry in Wales at this time.

"We will continue to monitor the situation in Wales. All keepers must keep their birds safe by rigorously applying the biosecurity measures in the Wales Avian Influenza Prevention Zone, and be vigilant for signs of the disease."
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Women talk at West Kowloon Cultural District near Victoria Harbour during sunset in Hong Kong, Oct. 28. Reuters-Yonhap



By Park Ji-won



HONG KONG  Some claim the Saturday crowd crush in Itaewon, which killed at least 154 people as of Monday, was like a natural disaster that no one could have prevented. However, many Hong Kongers who learned lessons from a similar incident in Lan Kwai Fong in 1993 think it was the government's job to control the crowds to prevent such a tragedy from happening.



"As a Hong Kong government official, what I thought first when I saw what happened in Itaewon was why the government did not control the crowd," an official working for a Hong Kong government administration said on condition of anonymity.



"That is what the government would do in Hong Kong during any events such as Christmas, Lunar New Year, fireworks, national holidays and of course Halloween. It is part of their responsibility preventing such incidents from happening."



In Hong Kong, the police can control crowds based on the Public Order Ordinance for every event that is expected to gather crowds.



According to the ordinance, the police can use their power over meetings, processions and gatherings in the name of public safety by preventing the holding of, stopping, dispersing or varying the place or route of any public gathering.



This Halloween was no exception. The government announced in a press release, "Police will implement special traffic arrangements at Lan Kwai Fong, Central from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 to facilitate the public celebrating Halloween."



It also announced road closures and possible additional road closures depending on the crowd situation while also announcing the suspension of parking spaces.



"There are fences here and there and police are herding people in one direction. Basically, I can go upwards and cannot go back where I just left," a person who went to the police-controlled district said.



The law was reportedly made after a stampede in Lan Kwai Fong in 1993.



Early on Jan. 1, 1993, about 20,000 people were crammed in the roads for the New Year's countdown in the Lan Kwai Fong district where there are a lot of bars and clubs.



"Witnesses said most people were initially well-behaved, but crowds started to sway alarmingly minutes after midnight  Witnesses said the pressure of the crowd coming down the hill was so overwhelming that people piled on those who had fallen, and more people fell on top of them," a South China Morning Post report reads.



"Hong Kong people learned a lot from the Lan Kwai Fong stampede incident that occurred in the countdown to the New Year in 1993, which killed 20 and made crowd control guidelines," a researcher surnamed Wong in a university in Hong Kong said.



According to press releases and reports, even before the 2019-20 protests in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong government has been announcing crowd control measures for some events such as National Day Fireworks and Christmas holidays.



The Itaewon tragedy made headlines for many Hong Kong local news outlets which compared it with what happened in Hong Kong in 1993.



Under the headline, "Itaewon tragedy reminiscent of the 1993 Lan Kwai Fong stampede that killed 20," the Standard, a local English media outlet, wrote, "The tragedy is reminiscent of a tragedy that occurred in Lan Kwai Fong in Hong Kong on January 1, 1993, when thousands of local and foreign partygoers stampeded through a packed bar and restaurant district in central Hong Kong."





Korean investigators talk to a restaurant owner as he tries to put a candle and food to mourn at the scene of a deadly accident following Saturday night's Halloween festivities in Seoul, Monday. A crowd surge killed more than 150 people during Halloween festivities in Seoul over the weekend in the country's worst disaster in years. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Nigeria expects to earn about $1 billion from the export of leather products by 2025a target proposed by the National Leather Policy, according to Mohammed Yakubu, chief executive officer and director general of the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST). Nigerias total exports of leather products have reached $800 million this year, he said.

He was speaking on the sidelines of a capacity building and study tour of the Portuguese leather sector. Yakubu said they want to identify ways to attract the Portuguese leather sector to set up manufacturing units in Nigeria.

Nigeria expects to earn about $1 billion from the export of leather products by 2025a target proposed by the National Leather Policy, according to Mohammed Yakubu, chief executive officer and director general of the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology. Nigeria's total exports of leather products have reached $800 million this year, he said.

The Nigerian delegates visited the Centro Tecnologico Do Calcado De Portugal (CTCP), or the Footwear Technology Centre of Portugal, its laboratory and workshop facilities, some leather organisations and tanneries in Porto, a Nigerian newspaper reported.

They held business meetings with the Portuguese footwear components and leather goods manufacturers association (APPICAPS) and interacted with some of their machine suppliers.

The high cost of imported processing materials was responsible for the rise in prices of most Nigerian leather products relative to foreign ones, the director general added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Cambodia is set to report robust growth this year as well as the next few years, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which recently projected that the country will grow at 5.1 per cent in 2022, 6.2 per cent in 2023 and 6.6 per cent in 2024 due to prudent trade promotion policies, including free trade agreements (FTAs) and high rate of vaccination against COVID-19.

In its Regional Economic Outlook Report for Asia and Pacific: Sailing into Headwinds, IMF noted that as of October 29 this year, the number of COVID-19 vaccination doses administered per 100 people in the country increased to 265, which was exceptional.

Cambodia is set to report robust growth this year as well as the next few years, according to the International Monetary Fund, which has projected that the country will grow at 5.1 per cent in 2022, 6.2 per cent in 2023 and 6.6 per cent in 2024 due to prudent trade promotion policies, including free trade agreements and high rate of COVID vaccination.

This makes Cambodia one of the most vaccinated countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as across the globe.

The country has reported strong consumption, growth of services and exports in the first half this year, the IMF report said.

IMF expects the recovery in the ASEAN region to be strong this year. Growth is projected at slightly more than 5 per cent in Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia, and 6.5 per cent in the Philippines, Cambodian media reported.

Vietnam is benefiting additionally from trade diversion from China and is expected to grow at 7 per cent. Myanmar is expected to begin a moderate recovery, with a growth of 2 per cent in 2022, the IMF report said.

The growth momentum is expected to moderate somewhat in 2023 for Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam. Cambodia and Thailand will instead expand faster as the recovery in foreign tourism is now expected to be more vigorous.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 31, 2022) - Slave Lake Zinc Corp. (CSE: SLZ) (the "Company") is actively exploring the O'Connor Lake zinc - lead project located in the South Slave region of the NWT. The Company has progressively advanced its project using a systematic exploration process.

Slave Lake Zinc has now compiled results from the recent prospecting undertaken at the O'Connor Lake zinc - lead project. As a result of this new information and interpretation of the project geology, regional setting and structure, the Company is planning a major follow up prospecting and development program for 2023.

This season's program was reduced in scale due to a lack of qualified field personnel and a late start. However, the cost-effective exploration during 2022 successfully achieved two main objectives. Trace element geochemistry from the regional scale sampling of quartz vein systems over a distance of approximately eight kilometers confirmed that the wide-spread mineralization is orogenic in nature originating from a deep seated magmatic hydrothermal source. The discovery of a new zinc - lead mineralized zone, approximately 5 kilometers north of the Shaft Zone (News Release October 12, 2022), demonstrates that there appears to be a "structural corridor" trending N-NW hosting mineralization similar to the known deposit; and validates the regional scale deep seated hydrothermal magmatic source model proposed by Dr. B. Prusti (1954).

Slave Lake Zinc was originally formed to search for metals deemed essential to the new environmental and technological age. The Federal Government of Canada has designated zinc to be one of the metals critical to Canada's economic security. Zinc is also essential for Canada's transition to a low - carbon economy. The O'Connor Lake project area originally attracted SLZ due to the extensive historic development work of high-grade zinc - lead mineralization prior to 1952 and primarily because no modern exploration has occurred since this time. Vein structures were delineated prior to 1952 with drilling, trench sampling, and underground methods. It is important to note that the South Slave region is underlain by the regional scale Talston Magmatic Zone ("TMZ"). Similar magmatic zones occur worldwide and contain, and produce, significant quantities of a variety of different, essential minerals, including zinc. As a result, Slave Lake Zinc has targeted the O'Connor deposit and the TMZ region as an attractive and underexplored geological environment.

Preliminary work by the Company included geophysical grid surveying and sampling of mineralization in the area of the historic work (The "Shaft Zone") and compilation of the historic data. Based on information generated by SLZ, the Company projected a northwest trending "structural corridor" to be controlling the location of mineralization. Additionally, a PhD thesis by Dr. B Prusti (1954) concluded that the mineralization was generated from a deep-seated hydrothermal source. This geological model is consistent with deposition in a structurally deformed regional magmatic zone. The 2022 sampling has allowed SLZ to verify that Shaft Zone type mineralization occurs some 5 kilometers to the N-NW providing significant potential for finding additional economic mineralization along this structural trend.

A 900-line km airborne geophysical survey has already been flown over the bulk of the corridor will be released in an upcoming news release.

Slave Lake Zinc has recently completed acquisition of a major land position by staking new mineral claims surrounding the Company's original mineral lease established in 2018. Acquisition of these claims was enabled for Slave Lake Zinc following extensive negotiations in the community of Fort Resolution with the Northwest Territory Metis Nation (NWTMN) council, leading to a formal Collaboration Agreement between the Company and NWTMN. After a complex process lasting over 2 years, the subject lands were made available to SLZ for staking through the lifting of the Interim Land Withdrawal (land dispositions selected for the purposes of settling land claims through federal negotiations) by a Territorial Government Order -in-Council. The interim land withdrawal covers a significant portion of the South Slave Region.

The Company selected the new land for staking based on discussions with the NWTMN and on analysis of the information created and compiled by SLZ. Slave Lake Zinc now holds the largest mineral claim assemblage in the South Slave Taltson Magmatic Zone.

Ritch Wigham, CEO, commented, "The Company's focus now is to develop new zinc and lead rich systems similar to our historic Shaft Zone mineralization, and to explore extensions to the known deposits themselves. The Company has also confirmed the original Dr. Prusti thesis that the O'Connor Lake area mineralization arises from a deep-seated hydrothermal source; and is consistent with the mineralization being derived from a regional magmatic zone environment. The new mineralized system discovered by SLZ approximately 5 kilometers north of the historic Shaft Zone also provides further evidence of the deep-seated hydrothermal origin of the known mineralization. Having generated this information confirming the nature of the zinc - lead mineralization, the Company can now proceed with confidence to design a major exploration program to evaluate multiple targets along the structural corridor. It should also be noted that Slave Lake Zinc has been issued a Land Use Permit and Water License to allow the Company to undertake exploration activities, including drilling."

Gary Vivian, P. GEO, a NI 43-101 Qualified Person has reviewed the information contained in this news release.

On October 31, 2022, the Company signed an agreement with CanaCom Group, pursuant to which CanaCom agreed to provide digital content, marketing, and media distribution services to the Company. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, such marketing services are to be provided over a 12-month period, commencing on November 3, 2022, for a fee of $100,000, plus applicable taxes. CanaCom is a full-service marketing agency based in Toronto, Ontario. CanaCom provides digital marketing awareness via advertising through its fully owned platform theDeepDive.ca, which includes both video and written content coverage of Canadian small-cap stories. To the best of the Company's knowledge CanaCom does not have any equity interest in the securities of the Company, or a right to acquire such an interest. CanaCom operates as an arm's length service provider to the Company.

On October 31, 2022, the Company has entered into an advertising and investor awareness campaign with Dig Media Inc. dba Investing News Network (INN). INN is a private company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, dedicated to providing independent news and education to investors since 2007. For the six (6) month term of the agreement starting November 3, 2022, INN will provide advertising on its website to increase awareness of the issuer. INN does not provide Investor Relations or Market Making services. The cost of the campaign is 40,000.00 CDN plus applicable taxes. INN can be reached at 604-688-8231 or info@investingnews.com.

The Company also announces the engagement of CFN Media, a division of CFN Enterprises Inc., a digital agency and financial media platform focused on advancing public companies in emerging industries across the globe.

Under the terms of the agreement entered into with CFN Media, CFN Media will convey the Company's message and value proposition to investors active in the metals and mining space to grow its shareholder base over a two-month campaign. The agreement has a starting date of November 3, 2022 and the cost of the campaign is 20,000.00 USD.

About Slave Lake Zinc

Slave Lake Zinc Corp. intends to develop the potential of its O'Connor Lake property, an historic zinc lead copper property located in the Northwest Territories of Canada. The property is located south of Great Slave Lake and to the east of Pine Point project. The property was initially developed after the Second World War and subsequently abandoned in 1952 when the prices of zinc and lead collapsed post war. Slave Lake Zinc Corp. believes that it is well positioned to advance this project and to expand significantly the historic potential of the property. For more information, please visit www.zinccorp.ca.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

Slave Lake Zinc Corp.

Per:

Ritch Wigham CEO & Director

Phone: 604-396-5762

Email: rwigham@zinccorp.ca

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release

Forward-Looking Statement

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in both Slave Lake Zinc's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "potential", "should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the progress of a definitive offtake agreement, potential development and production at the Company's O'Connor Lake project, future oriented events and other statements that are not facts. Forward-looking statements are based on a few assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which Slave Lake Zinc operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in light of such factors. Although Slave Lake Zinc has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and Slave Lake Zinc disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and Slave Lake Zinc does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company herein.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142541
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 31, 2022) - CARLYLE COMMODITIES CORP. (CSE: CCC) (FSE: BJ4) (OTC Pink: DLRYF) ("Carlyle" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated October 21, 2022, it has closed the second tranche (the "Second Tranche") of its previously announced unit offering which consisted of 2,810,000 units (each, a "Unit") of the Company for gross aggregate proceeds of $421,500.

Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Share") and one-half of one Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"), with each full Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one additional Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.30 per Warrant Share for a period of thirty-six months following issuance. The Warrants are subject to an acceleration provision (the "Acceleration Provision") whereby in the event the Shares have a closing price on the CSE (as defined below) (or such other exchange on which the Shares may be traded at such time) of $0.50 or greater per Share for a period of ten (10) consecutive trading days at any time from the date of issuance, the Company may accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by giving notice to the holders thereof (by disseminating a news release advising of the acceleration of the expiry date of the Warrants) and, in such case, the Warrants will expire on the thirtieth day after the date of such notice.

The aggregate proceeds of the first (the "First Tranche") and Second Tranche are approximately $1,459,249 and are anticipated to be used for exploration advancement of the Company's Flagship Newton Project in British Columbia, and general working capital.

Fees of $19,800 and 132,000 finder's warrants (each, a "Finder's Warrant") were paid in connection with the Second Tranche in accordance with the policies of the CSE and applicable securities laws. Together with the 298,266 Finder's Warrants issued in connection with the First Tranche, the Company has issued an aggregate of 430,266 Finder's Warrants under the offering, with each Finder's Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Share (each, a "Finder's Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.15 per Finder's Warrant Share for a period of thirty-six months following issuance.

The Company anticipates closing a final tranche over the coming weeks.

All securities issued in connection with the Second Tranche are subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day after the date of issuance, as set out in National Instrument 45-102 - Resale of Securities.

None of the securities sold in connection with the Second Tranche will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no such securities may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Carlyle

Carlyle is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties. Carlyle owns 100% of the Newton Project in the Clinton Mining Division of B.C. and is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the symbol "CCC".

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

CARLYLE COMMODITIES CORP.

"Morgan Good"

Morgan Good

President and Chief Executive Officer

For more information regarding this news release, please contact:

Morgan Good, CEO and Director

T: 604-715-4751

E: morgan@carlylecommodities.com

W: www.carlylecommodities.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information which is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed closing of a final tranche of the Unit offering as well as the anticipated use of proceeds of the first and second tranches of the offering. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include, but are not limited to, the Company not being able to close on any additional funds in connection with a final tranche of the offering; general business, economic and social uncertainties; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; and other risks outside of the Company's control. The ongoing dispute between the sovereign state of Ukraine and Russia also poses risks that are currently indescribable and immeasurable. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly, are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, unless required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release).

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142550
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 31, 2022) - Mijem Newcomm Tech Inc. (CSE: MJEM) ("Mijem" or the "Company"), a social media and technology company, announces that Maged Saad has resigned as director of the Company in order to focus on other business initiatives. Mr. Saad's resignation is effective October 31, 2022. The Company thanks Mr. Saad for his contribution and services, and wishes him well on his future endeavours.

About Mijem Newcomm Tech Inc.

Mijem is a Canadian-based social media and technology company that provides innovative solutions to create a vibrant social marketplace for Generation Z to connect and to efficiently buy, sell and trade goods and services. Mijem's patent-pending flagship technology currently permits thousands of university and college students across the United States and Canada to both connect on-line and engage in consumer-to-consumer commerce.

For further information, please contact:

Laurie Freudenberg

Chief Executive Officer

Mijem Newcomm Tech Inc.

media@mijem.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved".

Forward-looking information in this news release is based on certain assumptions and expected future events. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142519
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 1, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - After successful 14 editions of BFSI IT Summit, Exito is all set to host another milestone event - which serves as an ideal platform to enhance the experience to latest insights in "Re-Imagining the Future of BFSI in KSA". Accelerated digital transformation and fast changing business environments have been playing an important role in re-shaping the BFSI sector in Saudi Arabia. As the sector continues to drive innovation, the IT leaders find themselves looking for new ways to define their digital transformation strategy comprehensively, outgrow competition and stay relevant. With the risk of real challenges but great potential rewards, customer-centric approaches, automation of processes and security concerns continue to be top of mind for the IT leaders from the BFSI sector.





The 15th Edition of the BFSI IT Summit: Saudi is an in-person conference bringing together the top IT Leaders from the fraternity. It aims to be a learning and networking platform curated to deep dive into the imminent challenges in BFSI and the best practices to overcome the same. The key focus will be around Automation, Digital Customer Experience, Minimizing Evolving Cyber Security Threats in Enhancing the Customer Journey.

The summit is an ideal platform for Technology and Innovation Leaders to Meet, Interact and Gain new insights on the digital transformation and innovations from the Banking and Financial Services Industry. At BFSI IT Summit Saudi, you will hear from top IT experts on strategy, action plans and best practices towards building an agile digital organization.

The summit will bring together 150+ IT Leaders, CIO, CTO, VP/ AVP-IT, Director IT, CDO, General Manager IT to discuss the best practices in Cyber Security and engaging in panel discussions, industry keynotes and solution showcases that will enable IT leaders to chart out the optimal strategic path.

Advisory board :

Sanjeev Nawani - Digital Business Servicesleader for all portfolio companies, Public Investment Fund, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

- Digital Business Servicesleader for all portfolio companies, Public Investment Fund, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Younes AlMogerah - IT & Digitalization Director Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

- IT & Digitalization Director Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Ramyan Alramyan- Chief Risk Officer, Saudi Tadawul Group: Securities, Clearing Center Company "Muqassa", Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Speakers like Sanjeev Nawani- Digital Business Servicesleader for all portfolio companies, Public Investment Fund, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,Younes AlMogerah- IT & Digitalization Director Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,Ramyan Alramyan- Chief Risk Officer, Saudi Tadawul Group: Securities, Clearing Center Company "Muqassa", Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Issa Al Hurimmees- Group Chief Retail Risk Officer, Al Rajhi Bank, Osama Bukhari- Head of Banking Commission, The Saudi International Chambers of Commerce, Imran H hashim- IT Infrastructure Director, Medgulf Saudi Arabia, Dr. Ahmed Darwish- Head of Digital Delivery,Bank Albilad among many others will be sharing their experiences and expertise at the Summit.

Event registration has commenced for Delegates and Sponsors.

The delegates will be exposed to in-depth, trend-forward sessions & workshops - practical takeaways and ideas to keep you ahead in the digital

The sponsors will be able to create an overwhelming branding in the event along with meeting their prospects and displaying the products.

Hundreds of seasoned marketers, strategists, designers, and more to network and connect with. Meet your customers, vendors, expert resources, friends and colleagues on the 7th of November

Register Today to engage at this grand event as the slots are filling up fast.

To know more about the event, www.bfsiitsummit/saudi/

About Exito

We are a global B2B business events company focused on crafting bespoke solutions and contexts by designing platforms that create new business opportunities for our clients across concepts and industries. We cherish the trust over the last 12 years garnered from our partnering organizations globally, and with a growing team of young, vibrant, and creative individuals, Exito aims at success and perfection!

Source: ExitoCopyright 2022 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
A citizen is provided on-site mental health counseling at a tent set up next to the Itaewon disaster memorial in Seoul Plaza, Oct. 31. Newsis



Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Tuesday the government will actively provide mental health support to help heal the trauma in the wake of the deadly crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon area.



Bereaved families, injured people and ordinary citizens affected by the disaster, which left at least 155 people killed, will be subject to government-organized mental treatment programs, Han told a response meeting.



"Not only bereaved families who were saddened by the accident, but also many people who were at the scene or heard the news were traumatized," Han said.



The National Center for Disaster and Trauma and the mental health clinic at Seoul's city government will provide mental health care, Han said.





Prime Minister Han Duck-soo presides over a response meeting in Seoul on Nov. 1, 2022, on the deadly crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon area. Yonhap
XIAMEN, China, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- International authoritative research institution IHS Markit (now a part of S&P Global) announced the top 10 energy storage inverter suppliers in 2021. Kehua, with remarkable energy storage inverter shipments, becomes the No.5 energy storage inverter supplier globally. This ranking is a testament to the rapid growth of Kehua's presence in the energy storage inverter market and affirms its achievements in the renewable energy industry.





Despite labor shortages and supply chain issues associated with COVID-19 in the global marketplace, Kehua never lets difficulties and challenges stop its commitment to global sustainable development. The company has 20,000m2 manufacturing area of 4 manufacturing bases, over 4000 employees and 40GW annual solar production capacity. With the remarkable production capacity, the company continues the implementation of its overseas projects, ensuring the uninterrupted growth of revenue from the projects while contributing significantly to the rise of the company's ranking on the list.

The current global new round of energy revolution is being promoted, the business model of energy storage application scenarios is gradually maturing, and energy storage will become one of the key influencing factors of global energy transformation. In response to this development trend, Kehua attaches great importance to the energy storage market and advances its strategic layout, aiming to grasp the growth opportunities and will continue to escort the global energy transition.

In recent years, Kehua has been forging ahead in the field of energy storage, providing all-scenario ESS solutions, including residential ESS, C&I ESS and large-scale power plant solutions, leaving its excellent reputation all over the world.









As the energy storage market rises rapidly, Kehua has also made its response to the fast-growing residential energy storage needs. iStoragE series all-in-one residential ESS launched by Kehua in August this year has harvested over 20,000 sets of supply agreements with a total of 390Wh in less than three months after its release.





"PV+ESS for the future." This is the concept proposed by Kehua for the renewable energy segment, expressing the company's determination to make PV and ESS integrated solutions its long-term main business and thus help the world's sustainable development. This honor is a recognition of the past work, and in the future, Kehua will continue to provide safe and reliable renewable energy solutions and devote to building a greener world together with global users.

About Kehua

Founded in 1988, Kehua is a world-leading renewable energy solutions provider, offering PV inverters and energy storage systems solutions for utilities, C&I and residential applications. Up to now, Kehua has 21GW of PV installations and 2.6GW of energy storage installations globally. With 34 years of experience in the renewable energy industry, Kehua's products have served more than 100 countries worldwide. For now, Kehua has ranked TOP 10 solar inverter brands used in term-loan financed projects (Bloomberg) and No.5 world storage inverter supplier (IHS Markit). Kehua will continue to create green energy with R&D strength and devote to let the world enjoy a zero-carbon life safely.





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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kehua-ranked-as-the-no5-energy-storage-inverter-suppliers-globally-in-2021-301663441.html
Sydney, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 31, 2022) - Tomorrow global leaders will collaborate on trends in mining, investment, and innovation towards a sustainable future at the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) at the ICC Sydney.

The most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the sector's entire value chain will be explored during the three-day forum with leading experts in their fields sharing their valuable knowledge, experiences, and insights with a record number of delegates from 108 countries.

Ahead of the conference opening, industry specialists share their take on the trends that will be collaborated on at Australia's largest and most significant mining conference and expo.

NET ZERO MINING

Decarbonisation is arguably the biggest challenge facing the industry right now, which has historically been heavily reliant on fossil fuels not only as a resource, but also as a key fuel supporting much of its operations.

Given the ever-growing awareness around Greenhouse Gas emissions and climate change, Warm Springs Consulting Managing Partner Amber Bieg says mining companies and other emitter will likely only face more scrutiny until decarbonisation really kicks into gear.

"As always, money talks; while regulatory bodies may move slowly in their efforts to curb emissions, shareholders are not as patient. If a move toward more sustainable operations can help ease public pressure, build trust, reduce scrutiny and, in turn, improve the bottom line, shareholders will demand it. Investors are placing pressure on mining companies to take responsibility.

With the rise of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies as a key focus within a majority of businesses around the world, the entire mining value chain is working to change."

Ms. Bieg adds, "It's not just the largest mining companies that are taking action. According to a 2020 White & Case survey of mining sector companies, over 26% of respondents said ESG policies will be the main priority for the mining sector, and over 12% said climate change response would be the top priority.

"When combined, ESG and climate change responses emerge as the top priorities for mining companies. This makes sense given the mining sector's unique climate change vulnerability from both a financial standpoint, stakeholder concern, and physical infrastructure risk."

MINE REPURPOSING & REHABILITATION

In line with their commitment to sustainability, mining and resources operators are now looking years - sometimes decades - into the future, towards the rehabilitation or repurposing of their mine sites before they have even broken ground.

It's a vital process according to Planning and Environment Specialist and MinterEllison Partner Simon Ball, who says these sites can take many forms and have already been used to grow crops, create new bodies of water an even house underground scientific research centres.

He says, "Repurposing is critical because it defines the legacy left by an organisation that has usually operated in an area for many years, even decades. When done well, repurposing provides an opportunity for that legacy to be positive for the local communities and other stakeholders, whether that be in the form of social benefits, such as providing lakes for recreational activities, or economically productive land uses like agriculture or pumped hydro."

Mr. Ball notes the incredibly positive and meaningful impact these sites can have if planned correctly, with stakeholder and community engagement in mind.

"A successful re-purposing begins by considering and planning for sustainable post-mining land uses from the earliest stages of mine planning. It is also an iterative activity that continues throughout the mining lifecycle, adapting as further information, for example about community expectations, is gathered. Another key step in facilitating a successful repurposing is to engage early with the full range of stakeholders to gain their input as part of a thorough consultation process about post-mining land use," he says.

ELECTRIFICATION

One of the most talked about trends in mining is key to solving these challenges that are facing a sector at an unprecedented cross-roads.

Chair of Austmine, Dallas Wilkinson, says he sees the most exciting potential around electrification, with increasingly sophisticated technologies leading to incredible advances and innovations across the value chain.

"We're seeing a one in 100-year opportunity as an industry right now to make a change, and when coupled with the data aspects that leads us into AI and that leads us into ways of doing things differently with automation, robotics and digitisation as well as decarbonisation. So electrification is almost a trigger point for other trends," Mr. Wilkinson says.

"It brings with it an opportunity to influence the future for many, many generations. In my view, it's really a pivot point for us. It's going from classic diesel type situations into electrification. It's going from almost no governance to full on social governance and decarbonisation is driving that as we know it."

And the journey towards electrification, and the innovations that come with it, is being sped up by cross-industry collaboration with once siloed sectors now working together on technological advancements.

Mr Wilkinson says "We're seeing an exciting intersection of lot of different technologies now coming together. You're seeing organisations in the METS sector working across mining, military, space and agriculture as well, all utilizing the same sort of advances in technology to the advantage of all of those industries."

INVESTMENT IN FUTURE FACING & CRITICAL MINERALS

Much of that technology is leading to more sustainable operations, with mining increasing significantly to source enough future facing and critical minerals needed for a greener future.

This has seen many investors and businesses pivot away from the likes of coal - a necessary energy source right now but unlikely to be a long-term fixture.

IMARC Conference Director Sherene Asnasyous has worked closely with businesses across the entire mining value chain for several years and says there's been a significant shift in conversation ahead of this year's forum compared with previous events.

"Everyone in the industry knows that investment in and the use of coal isn't going to go away overnight. It's not something you just switch on and off. I think the question is how do you balance that shift from coal to future facing and critical minerals."

Ms. Asnasyous says the increased focus on future facing and critical minerals was a key topic of conversation at the SW Pre-IMARC Energy & Resources Industry Lunch.

"The key takeaway was the most lucrative investment from a short-term perspective is not necessarily where money's going to come from in the long term, so investors are having to pivot and invest in future projects that are going to be long-term and sustainable - not only in terms of the types of materials being mined, but also the innovative environmental strategies being used to operate mine sites, transport minerals and get the commodities around the world."

IMARC presents a key opportunity for investors to connect with businesses making meaningful changes to their operations but many more conversations and collaborations are required.

"These intentions, strategies and commitments are all well and good, but they can't happen in silo. There must be collaboration across the industry and with the government, mining communities and investors coming together to address all of the challenges facing the sector."

WORKFORCE & CULTURE

None of these challenges can be properly addressed without a skilled and sustained workforce employed right across the mining value chain - an issue that has been threatening to cripple the sector since before the pandemic struck.

PWC's National Mining Leader Debbie Smith points to a lack of new graduates combined with a major increase in competitive industries as a key reason for the shortage.

"If you looked at the number of mining engineers that were graduating from Australian universities 10 years ago, there was approximately 250. If you looked at how many mining engineers graduated in 2020 - it was 100.

"You've also had a huge investment in infrastructure and so a lot of those skills that are required in in big building projects are the same skills that you also need at the mine sites. So you've got some of those workers who now have a choice about whether they're out at a mine site, or working on a construction project in a metropolitan area."

Ms. Smith says the mining industry needs to come up with more creative solutions to address this crisis, one of which could involve reconsidering the effectiveness of FIFO mining sites.

"During COVID, the concept of everything having to be on-site has been challenged. How much can be done within regional hubs or from people's homes was really challenged and it was certainly found that in order to protect those essential workers on-site, more people were forced to work remotely," she says.

"I do think that they're going to have to look at whether FIFO is an attractive proposition going forward, or whether you have to look more to investment in vibrant regional towns and communities that facilitate not just the workers but their families as well."

"There is also a role the government needs to play in working with the industry to ensure they are properly investing in regional mining communities. Having communities that are solely reliant on single mine operations and not diversified is an opportunity to think through."

ENDS

About

The International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) is where global mining leaders collaborate on trends in mining, investment and innovation towards a sustainable future. As Australia's largest mining event, it brings together over 7,500 decision makers, mining leaders, policy makers, investors, commodity buyers, technical experts, innovators, and educators from more than 100 countries for three days of learning, deal-making and unparalleled networking. IMARC is developed in collaboration with its founding partners the Victorian State Government of Australia, Austmine, the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and Mines and Money.

Register for a media pass here.

Media Enquiries

Jim Carden

+61 429 112 381

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142565
On October 28, teachers and students from Chinese and German universities participated in the livestream activity hosted by China Eastern Airlines (CEA). The CEA chefs invited over 50 students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Konstanz University of Applied Sciences, University of Munich, Technical University of Munich and Munich University of Applied Sciences to carry out a cuisine exchange program across the three cities of the two countries.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221031005581/en/

Sino-German "Generation Z" Uncover In-flight Meals with CEA Chefs (Photo: Business Wire)

The CEA German chef Ludwig Strobel led the students to make a virtual tour in China Eastern Air Catering Corporation, where he introduced to the students how in-flight meals are designed and hosted a mystery box Gourmet Challenge. He also had had a heated discussion with students on topics such as "Explore Secrets of In-flight Meals" and "Sino-German Cuisine Culture".

The wonderful cooking performance and the animated discussion from the hosts triggered a warm interaction between the students of China and Germany. The on-site questions continued, and Chef Ludwig patiently answered the students' questions one by one.

"CEAir On Air" is an aviation cultural exchange activity for global universities organized by China Eastern Airlines since 2020. This year, the event took cuisine as the theme, which aims to build a platform for friendly exchanges between Chinese and German youngsters.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221031005581/en/

Contacts:

Company: China Eastern Airlines

Website: http://www.ceair.com/

Contact: Zhang Yun

TEL: (0086-21) 95530

Email: zhangyun3@ceair.com
On October 27 China Eastern Airlines (CEA) launched a direct flight between Whenzhou, China and Rome, Italy. From then on, the MU753 departs from Whenzhou every Thursday and is scheduled to arrive at Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport after 13 hours, while the returning MU754 departs from the Rome Fiumicino Airport every Friday evening and reaches Wenzhou the next day. (The flight information is subject to the actual situation.)

An episode of "CEAir On Air," the livestream activity organized by CEA, was held on the same day. The students from China's Nankai University and Italy's Sapienza University of Rome, as well as the Excellent Sky Chefs of CEA attended the activity. The event is aimed to enjoy the charm of Chinese and Italian cultures via the cuisines of the two countries.

Fraceschini Martina from CEAs Rome Office, as well as the students from the two universities shared their opinions on Chinese breakfast and Western high tea.

The wonderful performance of the two chefs and the interesting evaluation from the chief attendant Hu Anlun triggered the enthusiastic interaction of the students. They had an in-depth discussion on the Sino-Italian cuisine culture with the three CEA employees.

The three CEA employees ignited the passion of the students, who later had heated and in-depth discussions about the two countries' food cultures.

"CEAir On Air" was started from 2020. This activity takes cuisine as the theme, which is intended to lead the Chinese and Italian "Generation Z" to feel the harmony and difference of the two cultures, and deepen the resonance of each other's cultures.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221031005585/en/

Contacts:

Company: China Eastern Airlines

Website: http://www.ceair.com/

Contact: Zhang Yun

TEL: (0086-21) 95530

Email: zhangyun3@ceair.com
Singapore, Nov 1, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - The latest edition of Glasstech Asia and Fenestration Asia celebrates its success after its conclusion last Friday. In total more than 2000 attendees from over 28 countries were attracted to the event that held the fair alongside an all-inclusive variety of side events such as the inaugural Asia Facade & Glass Conference, Singapore facade tour, International Year of Glass (IYOG) art exhibition - Through the Looking Glass, buyer-seller meetings, and an annual networking gala dinner. The influx of exhibitors, delegates and visitors demonstrates the importance of the onsite exchanges of knowledge and the value of establishing our regional platform as the leading industry meeting place.A brief analysis of the post show statistics reflects a promising rise of international visitor and exhibitor support on having real time, in person display and sharing of new technology and innovations amongst the industry, proving an increasing confidence of the ASEAN market's role. The positive turnout at the event indicates the region's demand for a holistic space to conduct physical meetings in lieu of restrictions caused by the recent pandemic.Mr. Michael Wilton, CEO and Managing Director of MMI Asia underlined, "The importance of this event and its success shows a promising trajectory for the glass and facade sector. The personal touch of having face-to-face discussions remains undisputed as the most effective way to set growth in the industry. The event was very well received from both exhibitors and visitors alike to mediate companies in their endeavour to pursue deeper connections with their audiences. With more plans to integrate Glasstech Asia and Fenestration Asia into the global BAU Network, I foresee an exciting future in providing the industry with increasing opportunities to share their story with a wider global audience."Two-thirds of surveyed trade visitors expressed interest in returning for the next edition of the show, projecting a definite rise in numbers and traction in the trade fair's popularity. In addition to aisle discussions and hosted buyer gatherings, a total 519 private meetings were created to facilitate businesses in engaging the high-quality trades visitors present and expanding their global business contacts. "The success of this edition does not only represent a restoration of industry norms, but the revival of close knitted connections made possible by regional platforms such as Glasstech Asia and Fenestration Asia," emphasised Mr Gan Pay Yap, Chairman of Singapore Glass Association. "We are excited to see the continuation of the industry's success next year and witness the sharing of new developments and innovations in the region".The next Glasstech Asia - the 19th International Glass Products, Glass Manufacturing, Processing & Materials Exhibition, and Fenestration Asia - the 6th International Windows, Doors, Skylights, Curtain Wall & Facade Technology Exhibition, will take place from 29 November - 1 December 2023 at the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre in Bangkok, Thailand.For more information, please visit: www.glasstechasia.com.sg and www.fenestrationasia.comAbout Glasstech Asia and Fenestration Asia 2022Coined "The Glass Hub of Southeast Asia", Glasstech Asia is an annual rotating exhibition that focuses on all things glass. The upcoming 18th edition Glasstech Asia along with the concurrent Fenestration Asia will be held between the 26th to 28th of October at Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore. The three-day event brings together the best of the Southeast Asian glass and glazing sector, from glass manufacturing, processing, and machinery to accessories, raw materials, and finished glass products. Coupled with high- powered symposiums, forums, workshops, and an exciting Glass Installation Competition, it is an event not to be missed.Additionally, Glasstech Asia and Fenestration Asia aims to meet and satisfy the increasing global demands for eco-friendly windows, doors, and facades by focusing on new industry standards in sustainability, automation, and energy-efficiency topics. With a focus on green and smart fenestration technologies to bring about a more sustainable, energy-efficient, and liveable future, the exposition is strategically geared towards helping the architecture, building, and construction sectors in countries meet their energy targets.About BAU NetworkBAU is the World's Leading Trade Fair for Architecture, Materials and Systems. Everyone involved in the international community for planning, building and designing buildings comes together here--i.e., architects, planners, investors, representatives of the industrial and commercial sectors, the building trades, etc.Their primary interests include the latest techniques, materials and applications that can be used in actual practice. This is where visitors experience the future of building in persons.About Messe MunchenMesse Munchen is one of the leading exhibition organizers worldwide with more than 50 of its own trade shows for capital goods, consumer goods and new technologies. Every year, a total of over 50,000 exhibitors and around three million visitors take part in more than 200 events at the exhibition centre in Munich, at the ICM - Internationales Congress Centre Munchen and the MOC Veranstaltungs centre Munchen as well as abroad. Together with its subsidiary companies, Messe Munchen organizes trade shows in China, India, Brazil, Russia, Turkey, South Africa, Nigeria, Vietnam, and Iran.With a network of associated companies in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America as well as around 70 representations abroad for over 100 countries, Messe Munchen has a global presence.Press contact:Syafia Naniesya (Nanie) Marketing Executive MMI Asia Pte Ltd152 Beach Road, #10-07 Gateway East, Singapore 189721Tel: (65) 6236 0988 ext. 104Mobile: (65) 9780 0648Email: syafia@mmiasia.com.sgSource: MMI Asia Pte Ltd (MMI)Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2022) - Arrow Exploration Corp. (AIM: AXL) (TSXV: AXL) ("Arrow" or the "Company"), is pleased to provide an operations update.

Operations Update

Canadian operations

East Pepper tie-in Following reporting of successful testing of the East Pepper well in September, the Company is now pleased to confirm the tie-in has been completed, and production began on October 25 th Initial rate was 7.6 mmcf/d or approximately 1,260 boe/d The well has been choked back to produce at 6 mmcf/d or approximately 1,000 boe/d The Company expects typical production declines; accelerated initial declines which should level off to 4-5% per month



Colombian operations

RCS-1 and RCE-1 Workovers: The workover program on RCS-1 and RCE-1 is progressing as expected and the Company anticipates reporting on production rates in the next few weeks once the wells have cleaned-up



RCE-3 and RCE-4 Development Drilling: Operations remain on track for RCE-3 to spud in December, with RCE-4 operations to follow immediately after completion of RCE-3



Carrizales Norte After drilling RCE-3, RCE-4 and the RC water disposal well, the same rig will be moved to the Carrizales Norte field Currently Arrow is building a road and pad for the Carrizales Norte field Drilling at Carrizales 1 & 2 is anticipated to begin in Q1 2023



Corporate Production

Corporate production as of October 27, 2022, is approximately 2,530 boe/d net.

Total net production from the Rio Cravo field is 760 bopd prior to any contribution from the current workover program.

The Pepper Field has been producing approximately 1,270 boe/d, comprising approximately 270 boe/d from West Pepper and approximately 1,000 boe/d from East Pepper. Production at West Pepper is currently being curtailed due to third party facility constraints. Expectations are that production will return to approximately 400 boe/d in early Q4 2022.

The two wells, along with continuing and expected robust natural gas prices in North America, are expected to further enhance the value of the Pepper field. Arrow has 23,000 acres of contiguous Montney rights in the Pepper Area.

Marshall Abbott, CEO of Arrow Exploration Corp., commented:

"Arrow is extremely pleased with the results of the tie-in of the Alberta East Pepper Montney well. The East Pepper well results show the potential for the large, 100% owned, 23,000 acre Pepper land block. The workover program in Colombia is also progressing to plan, and we look forward to providing further updates on these wells as well as the development drilling of the RCE-3 and RCE-4 wells when updates are available. We are excited about the upcoming capital programs and we expect material production and reserve additions. The Arrow Team continues to execute our strategy to increase shareholder value."

For further Information, contact:

Arrow Exploration

Marshall Abbott, CEO

+1 403 651 5995

Joe McFarlane, CFO

+1 403 818 1033

Brookline Public Relations, Inc.

Shauna MacDonald

+1 403 538 5645

Canaccord Genuity (Nominated Advisor and Joint Broker)

Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor

Gordon Hamilton

+44 (0)20 7523 8000

Auctus Advisors (Joint Broker)

Jonathan Wright (Corporate)

+44 (0)7711 627449

Rupert Holdsworth Hunt

+44 7803 752399

Camarco (Financial PR)

Georgia Edmonds

Rebecca Waterworth

Billy Clegg

+44 (0)20 3781 8331

About Arrow Exploration Corp.

Arrow Exploration Corp. (operating in Colombia via a branch of its 100% owned subsidiary Carrao Energy S.A.) is a publicly traded company with a portfolio of premier Colombian oil assets that are underexploited, under-explored and offer high potential growth. The Company's business plan is to expand oil production from some of Colombia's most active basins, including the Llanos, Middle Magdalena Valley (MMV) and Putumayo Basin. The asset base is predominantly operated with high working interests, and the Brent-linked light oil pricing exposure combines with low royalties to yield attractive potential operating margins. Arrow's 50% interest in the Tapir Block is contingent on the assignment by Ecopetrol SA of such interest to Arrow. Arrow's seasoned team is led by a hands-on executive team supported by an experienced board. Arrow is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and on TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "AXL".

Cautionary Statement

This press release contains various references to the abbreviation "boe" which means barrels of oil equivalent. Where amounts are expressed on a BOE basis, natural gas volumes have been converted to oil equivalence at six thousand cubic feet (Mcf) per barrel (bbl). The term boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet per barrel is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements or disclosures relating to Arrow that are based on the expectations of its management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Arrow which may constitute forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements") under applicable securities laws. All such statements and disclosures, other than those of historical fact, which address activities, events, outcomes, results or developments that Arrow anticipates or expects may, could or will occur in the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of the words "continue", "expect", "opportunity", "plan", "potential" and "will" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release reflect several material factors and expectations and assumptions of Arrow, including without limitation, Arrow's evaluation of the impacts of COVID-19, the potential of Arrow's Colombian and/or Canadian assets (or any of them individually), the prices of oil and/or natural gas, and Arrow's business plan to expand oil and gas production and achieve attractive potential operating margins. Arrow believes the expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable at this time, but no assurance can be given that these factors, expectations, and assumptions will prove to be correct.

The forward-looking statements included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance and should not be unduly relied upon. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Glossary

Bbopd: Barrels of oil per day

boe/d: Barrels of oil equivalent per day

mcf/d: thousands of cubic feet of natural gas per day

Qualified Person's Statement

The technical information contained in this announcement has been reviewed and approved by Grant Carnie, senior non-executive director of Arrow Exploration Corp. Mr. Carnie is a member of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Engineers, holds a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of Alberta and has over 35 years' experience in the oil and gas industry.

This Announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK version of the market abuse regulation (EU No. 596/2014) as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("UK MAR").

NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION, PUBLICATION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO MIGHT CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142533
Lochem, 1 November 2022



ForFarmers Q3 2022 Trading Update



Highlights for third quarter of 20221:

Total Feed volume 2 : down by 7.2%; decline mainly in the swine and layer sectors

of which compound feed: down by 9.1%

: down by 7.2%; decline mainly in the swine and layer sectors of which compound feed: down by 9.1% Gross profit: up by 8.3%

Underlying EBITDA: down by 17.3%; higher expenses could not be passed on fully in the supply chain

1 Results and developments of the third quarter 2022 are compared to the third quarter 2021, unless otherwise stated

2 Total Feed comprises the entire product portfolio of ForFarmers and consists of compound feed, specialties, co-products (such as residual flows from the food industry, referred to by ForFarmers as DML products), seeds and other products (such as forage).

ForFarmers CFO Roeland Tjebbes said:

"Volatile markets due to the war in Ukraine and the exceptionally long and hot summer determined results in the third quarter. We could not fully pass on the higher energy costs nor the inbound freight costs due to the low water levels in the rivers. Particularly pig farmers and layer farmers were affected by the (financial) consequences of outbreaks of animal diseases. We consequently saw our volumes in these sectors drop. In Poland, however, we again sold more feed to broiler farmers and our volumes were also up in the ruminant sector in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Raw material prices were somewhat lower than in the second quarter. This was a positive development for all farmers, but not yet sufficient for pig farmers. In general, they continued to produce at a loss. The increase of gross profit was not enough to cover the higher operating expenses, which included energy costs which were roughly twice as high as a year before. This consequently resulted in our consolidated underlying EBITDA being a few million lower than a year earlier. On a quarterly basis this translates into a relatively high percentage. Excluding the higher energy costs, underlying EBITDA in the third quarter of 2022 would have been roughly the same as in the third quarter of 2021.

Our markets are and will likely continue to be volatile. In such challenging markets we are well aware that we can rely on loyal customers and dedicated employees. They make the difference, and we are grateful for that. We remain committed to our customers and other stakeholders and will provide more insight into how we intend to continue to do so in the coming years on 17 November. Moreover, we hope to soon be able to provide more clarity on the planned joint venture with 2Agriculture in the United Kingdom, with which we will further strengthen our position in the poultry sector."

Read the full press release on our websiteor download the file at the bottom of this message.



This press release contains information that qualifies as inside information within the meaning of Article 7 paragraph 1 of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.





Note to the editor / For further information:

Caroline Vogelzang, Director of Investor Relations

M +31

About ForFarmers

ForFarmers N.V. is an international organisation that provides complete innovative feed solutions to the livestock farming industry. With its For the Future of Farming mission ForFarmers underpins its commitment both to the continuity of farming and to further increasing the sustainability of the agricultural sector. ForFarmers is the market leader in Europe with annual sales of around 10 million tonnes of animal feed and is active in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom. ForFarmers has around 2,500 employees and in 2021 generated revenue of approximately 2.7 billion. ForFarmers N.V. is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

ForFarmers N.V.

P.O. Box 91

7240 AB Lochem

The Netherlands

T: +31, www.forfarmersgroup.eu

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements, for example relating to ForFarmers' legal obligations in terms of capital and liquidity positions in certain specified scenarios. In addition forward-looking statements may, without limitation, contain phrases such as "intends to", "expects", "takes into account", "is aimed at", 'plans to", "estimates" and/or words of a similar meaning. These statements pertain to or may affect matters in the future, such as ForFarmers' future financial results, business plans and current strategies. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties which may lead to material differences between the actual results and performance and the expected future results or performance as implicitly or explicitly contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may result in, or contribute to, deviations from current expectations include, but are not limited to developments in legislation, technology, taxation, jurisprudence and regulations, share price fluctuations, legal proceedings, investigations by regulatory bodies, the competitive landscape and general economic conditions. These and other factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect any forward-looking statements or the actual results of ForFarmers are discussed in the most recently published annual report. The forward-looking statements in this press release relate solely to statements as of the date of this document and ForFarmers accepts no obligation or responsibility whatsoever to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release, regardless of whether these pertain to new information, future events or otherwise, unless ForFarmers is legally obliged to do so.

Attachment
SHARE BUYBACK TRANSACTION DETAILS OCTOBER 24 OCTOBER 28, 2022

Regulatory News:

MotorK Plc (AMS: MTRK) ("MotorK" or the "Group") announces today that it has purchased the following number of ordinary shares in the Company.

This is part of a repurchase program announced on July 18, 2022. MotorK intends to buy back its own ordinary shares by way of off-market purchases on Euronext Amsterdam and via block trades up to a maximum aggregate value of 3,000,000 (the "Programme"). The authorization will expire following the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in 2023.

Aggregate Information

Date Transactions Number of Ordinary

Shares Total Consideration () Average price

( per share) Minimum price

( per share) Maximum price

( per share) 24/10/2022 Purchase 717 1 671 2,33 2,33 2,33 25/10/2022 Purchase 739 1 737 2,35 2,35 2,35 26/10/2022 Purchase 723 1 627 2,25 2,25 2,25 27/10/2022 Purchase 717 1 597 2,23 2,20 2,26 28/10/2022 Purchase 667 1 501 2,25 2,25 2,25 Total Weekly 3 563 8 132 2,28 2,20 2,35 Cumulated to date 72 793 202 266

The Programme is implemented within the limitations of the authority granted by the General Meeting on July 18, 2022. Any shares so repurchased shall be treated as cancelled pursuant to section 706(b) of the Companies Act 2006.

The Group has entered into non-discretionary instructions with Kepler Cheuvreux SA ("Kepler Cheuvreux") to conduct the Programme on its behalf and to make trading decisions under the Programme independently of MotorK.

REGULATED INFORMATION

This press release contains information that qualifies or may qualify as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014/EU)

ABOUT MOTORK PLC

MotorK (AMS: MTRK) is a leading software as a service ("SaaS") provider for the automotive retail industry in the EMEA region, with over 400 employees and eleven offices in eight countries (Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, the UK, Belgium and Israel). MotorK empowers car manufacturers and dealers to improve their customer experience through a broad suite of fully integrated digital products and services. MotorK provides its customers with an innovative combination of digital solutions, SaaS cloud products and the largest R&D department in the automotive digital sales and marketing industry in Europe. MotorK is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered office: 5th Floor One New Change, London, England, EC4M 9AF Company Registration: 9259000. For more information: www.motork.io or www.investors.motork.io.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221031005579/en/

Contacts:

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Etienne Jacquet

etienne.jacquet@motork.io

+33 6 22 18 39 09

MotorK Investor Relations

MotorK Corporate Communications

press@motork.io
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Nov. 01, 2022, to deliver a single platform solution to automate its debt case management and portfolio reporting processes in its Relationship Banking Business.



As the bank accelerates its digitization programme, nCino will deliver this cloud-based platform and help Absa reduce complexity and eliminate high-touch processes, ultimately enhancing its employee and customer experience and improving efficiency.

"The introduction of nCino will provide Absa with a single centralized workflow solution, which will streamline its internal processes," said Kate Jane Johnsen, Regional Vice President at nCino. "I am eager to see the results of this partnership in action."

"We are confident that the nCino platform will support our ambitions to be a digitally powered business," said Sugandree Mudely from Absa Relationship Banking. "The delivery of this solution is a meaningful milestone in our digital transformation."

About nCino

nCino.

About Absa Bank Limited

Absa Bank Limited ('Absa Bank') is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Absa Group Limited, which is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is one of Africa's largest financial services groups. Absa offers a range of retail, business, corporate and investment banking and wealth management and insurance products and services primarily in South Africa and Namibia.

For further information about Absa, please visit our website www.absa.co.za

Media Contacts

EMEA

Natalia Moose, nCino

+44 7825 211135

natalia.moose@ncino.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally include actions, events, results, strategies and expectations and are often identifiable by use of the words "believes," "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "seeks," "estimates," "projects," "may," "will," "could," "might," or "continues" or similar expressions. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon nCino's historical performance and its current plans, estimates, and expectations, and are not a representation that such plans, estimates, or expectations will be achieved. These forward-looking statements represent nCino's expectations as of the date of this press release. Subsequent events may cause these expectations to change and, except as may be required by law, nCino does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially including, among others, risks and uncertainties relating to the market adoption of our solution and privacy and data security matters. Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect nCino's business and financial results are included in reports filed by nCino with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (available on our web site at www.ncino.com or the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov). Further information on potential risks that could affect actual results will be included in other filings nCino makes with the SEC from time to time.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Pest control firm Rentokil Initial Plc. (RTOKY.PK, RTO.L) reported Tuesday that its third-quarter revenue was 901.3 million pounds, a growth of 18.9 percent on a reported basis and 10.3 percent at constant exchange rates. Group Ongoing Revenue, excluding disinfection services, was 897 million pounds, increasing 20.4 percent on a reported basis, and 11.7 percent at constant rates. Organic Revenue, supported by good price progression, was up 6.2 percent, while acquisition-led growth was 5.5 percent. In the quarter, ongoing revenue in Pest Control increased by 12.6 percent, sustaining the growth rates delivered in the first half. The company further said its cost synergy programme is progressing well with about $20 million to $25 million of annualised synergies expected to be realised by year end. 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.




A hotel located along a sloped alley, where the deadly crowd crush happened, illegally extended its terrace, a document showed Tuesday, suggesting the construction made the narrow path even narrower.







At least 156 people, mostly in their 20s, were killed and 30 others were seriously injured in Korea's deadliest crowd surge that happened in the famous nightlife district of Itaewon on Saturday night, after tens of thousands of people visited the area for Halloween.







The Hamilton Hotel  located right next to the downhill alley  illegally extended a 17.2-square-meter terrace on its northern side of the main building, according to the hotel's building ledger.







The terrace is located on the famous street  filled with bars and restaurants  that is connected to the 50-meter-long downhill alley with a width of about 5 meters at the top and 3.2 meters at the bottom.







The ward office of Yongsan, which includes Itaewon, already notified Hamilton Hotel of the violation and levied relevant fines last year, officials said.







Earlier in the day, National Police Agency Commissioner General Yoon Hee-keun told reporters that the police will look into whether Hamilton Hotel violated relevant laws. (Yonhap)


New venue for large spot FX trades with a unique Peer-To-Peer solution

Improves execution outcomes by centralising Peer-To-Peer buyside matching with bank interest

Backed by John Sievwright, Ivan Ritossa, Mike Soutar, Tim Ewington, and Martin Gilbert

Pilot phase launch in December 2022, full launch in H2 2023

LoopFX, the technology company revolutionising the Peer-To-Peer FX spot market, announces today it will launch its pilot phase in December 2022.

LoopFX aims to be the new liquidity venue for large spot FX trades by centralising Peer-To-Peer matching with bank interest. LoopFX enables traders to identify, in real-time, matches of large trades in excess of $10 million with other buyside institutions, whilst providing banks a new means to safely show their market axes. Matches through LoopFX will execute at an independent market mid-rate, meaning both risk and cost will be reduced. The new model is called Peer-To-Peer-To-Bank.

At the heart of LoopFX's tech stack is a unique matching engine. Built as an open architecture technology, LoopFX will integrate into current workflows on existing trading platforms, with minimal changes to legal documentation.

LoopFX's board includes John Sievwright, the former Chief Operating Officer, International, of Merrill Lynch, Ivan Ritossa, formerly an executive committee member of Barclays Capital and a foreign exchange leader, Mike Soutar who was most recently the CEO of the Evening Standard, Tim Ewington, an investor and strategist, and Martin Gilbert, currently Chairman of Revolut and the founder of Aberdeen Asset Management.

The management team is led by Blair Hawthorne Founder and CEO, a career FX trader most recently at abrdn. Simon Wilson-Taylor is Co-Founder and COO, formerly of State Street and UBS, and the CEO and Founder of Molten Markets. Timothy Johnson, Co-Founder and CCO held senior roles in American Express, 360T and CME Group. John Vause, Co-Founder and CTO is formerly of State Street, Molten Markets and CME Group.

John Sievwright, Chairman of LoopFX said: "I've been working with Blair and his team since the early days of the LoopFX concept, so it was a natural step to become Chairman and a lead investor. The executive team is top class, combining years of trader expertise with a track record of developing and implementing significant digital innovation in finance. Added to that we have a strong Board, a diverse investor base, and a dynamic new technological solution which tackles a persistent problem in the foreign exchange market. I believe LoopFX has global potential."

Ivan Ritossa, board member of LoopFX said: "It's obvious that LoopFX will deliver significant benefits to the market as a whole. This is the first time a venue has developed a means of safely allowing market participants to tap the holy grail of the Peer-To-Peer market in FX, without disenfranchising the sellside. I know LoopFX will go from strength to strength as they move to full launch next year."

Martin Gilbert, board member of LoopFX said: "LoopFX is a promising business with the right combination of technical understanding and excellent product and market fit in foreign exchange. I am delighted to be investing in Blair and the rest of his talented team."

Blair Hawthorne, Founder and CEO of LoopFX said: "We are thrilled to be going live with our pilot launch which we believe will transform how large trades are executed. After months of speaking to more than 30 large financial institutions, and gaining significant expressions of interest, we believe we have the right solution to the problem of identifying, in real-time, the optimum counterparty when executing large spot FX trades. LoopFX improves both execution outcomes and Best Execution processes, a material improvement for all market participants."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

LoopFX is the venue for large spot FX trades, centralising Peer-To-Peer matching with bank interest. LoopFX supports the buyside to identify, in real-time, who they are best placed to match their large trades with, whilst providing the sellside a new means to safely show their market axes. Backed by some of the markets' most experienced trading and FX executives and entrepreneurs, LoopFX's board comprises John Sievwright, Ivan Ritossa, Mike Soutar, Tim Ewington, and Martin Gilbert. The management team is led by Blair Hawthorne, Tim Johnson, Simon Wilson-Taylor and John Vause, highly experienced in the FX markets across major institutions including abrdn, CME/EBS, 360T, Amex and State Street. For more information, please visit our website, or LinkedIn page.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005225/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Eterna Partners for LoopFX

eternapartners@loopfx.com

Serra Balls: +44 7775 763018
Wondr Medical CEO, Dr. Justin Davies set to speak at the world's premier tech conference, Web Summit.

The keynote will focus on connecting and sharing data within healthcare to help create better patient outcomes.

With over 200,000 members , Wondr Medical is aiding medical discovery, education and collaboration in the healthcare community.

LONDON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Justin Davies, CEO of Wondr Medical, whose mission is to improve patient outcomes by building the world's most connected medical community, is a keynote speaker at Web Summit on Friday 4th November at 10:54 AM. Dr. Davies, formerly a clinical academic and consultant interventional cardiologist at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, will be speaking about how his encrypted software platform is changing the way doctors and other healthcare professionals collaborate and share knowledge.

To advance global health, clinical collaboration amongst the world's most knowledgeable physicians is imperative. Dr Davies' keynote will address some of the challenges of sharing healthcare knowledge and data in today's digitally-connected world and highlight how Wondr Medical is facilitating seamless and secure exchanges between doctors, surgeons, cardiologists and other healthcare specialists that are ultimately helping to create better patient outcomes.

Dr Davies ultimately believes Wondr Medical is changing the way healthcare professionals can use and interpret data.

He explains: "Ensuring the medical community has a safe and dedicated social media platform for the sharing and storing of data is fundamental for the future of online medical collaboration. Our data points have never been more disjointed, and we aren't utilising or harnessing the true potential of our collective data and knowledge as medical professionals.

"Our mission is simple. We are here to solve this. Wondr Medical exists to connect the global health community to each other. Encouraging collaboration that aids discovery, and ultimately helps medical professionals help more patients around the world."

Wondr Medical safely brings together medical professionals and its supporting industries, to aid collaboration, communication, and learning, via an encrypted and HIPAA compliant web and mobile software platform. The company closed its seed funding round of 12 million earlier this year. The seed funding round was co-led by Advent Life Sciences and Sonder Capital with participation from existing shareholders. The secure platform now has over 200,000 registered healthcare members.

Wondr Medical is currently being used in a broad range of settings and specialties globally, including clinical trials, medical education, advisory boards, and healthcare discussion groups, as well as knowledge-sharing between medical communities such as for referrals or second opinions.

"We are very much a professional network, where the medical community comes for professional discussions and to share information in a closed and secure environment," Dr. Davies explains. "Our users are safe in the knowledge that their communications are secure and always will be secure - we will not sell your data. "

About Wondr Medical

Wondr Medical is the platform for medical discovery, built around healthcare professionals. We believe medical knowledge starts with curiosity. From breakthrough research to advances in best practice, from meeting collaborators to learning from mentors and peers - it all starts with the drive to discover more. Wondr Medical exists to drive and feed that curiosity, pushing medicine forward, for medics and patients everywhere. Our mission is to accelerate medical learning and discovery by creating the world's most connected medical network. Find out more here .

Biography

Dr Justin Davies, MD, PhD, is a cardiologist, inventor and serial entrepreneur. After inventing iFR, a computational technique for detection of coronary artery disease commercialised by Philips in over 10,000 hospitals around the world, he realised the urgent need for an online platform to improve communications between the medical community around the world. Wondr Medical was founded to address this need, and to provide an integrated tool to facilitate safe and secure communications of medical or educational information. Now, Wondr Medical is revolutionising the way in which the medical community access data. Through building network infrastructure between different data streams and providers, removing barriers to access, and developing tools for better networking, Wondr Medical continues to pioneer and innovate to help improve global healthcare for all through better communications.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wondr-medical-ceo-were-transforming-the-way-doctors-collaborate-and-how-they-harness-data-301663712.html
EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act]

Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on the Progress of A-Share Repurchases through Centralized Bidding Transactions



01.11.2022 / 09:39 CET/CEST

Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG

Announcement on the Progress of A-Share Repurchases through Centralized Bidding Transactions

Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hong Kong, 1 November 2022 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) yesterday published an announcement in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Shanghai Stock Exchange and applicable PRC laws in relation to the Progress of A-Share Repurchases through Centralized Bidding Transactions.

The announcement is fully available at:

https://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/P020221101530241303419.pdf?appdesc=Announcement%20on%20the%20Progress%20of%20A-Share%20Repurchases%20through%20Centralized%20Bidding%20Transactions

IR Contact:

Haier Smart Home Hong Kong

T: +852 2169 0000

Email: ir@haier.hk

Press Contact:

CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH

Sara Pinto

Sven Pauly

pi@crossalliance.de

T: +49 (0) 89 1250903 35

About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.:

Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as small household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience.

01.11.2022 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


EQS-News: Eleving Group S.A. / Key word(s): 9 Month figures/9 Month figures

Eleving Group S.A.: Unaudited 9M 2022 results on 7 November 2022 - Invitation to earnings call on 9 November 2022



01.11.2022 / 09:45 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Riga, Latvia, 1 November 2022

Eleving Group and its group companies (the "Group"), specializing in vehicle and consumer financing, cordially invite investors and analysts to an earnings call with the Management Board on 9 November 2022, 15:00 CET, following the publication of its unaudited 9M 2022 results on 7 November 2022.

Group CEO Modestas Sudnius and CFO Maris Kreics will present and comment on the unaudited results by means of a presentation. The presentation will be held in English.



Conference call registration link:https://bit.ly/3gO1XAD

The presentation for the earnings call will be available here as of 9 November 2022.

For more information, please contact:

Toms Vecvagars, Investor Relations Manager

Email: toms.vecvagars@eleving.com



About Eleving Group

Eleving Group comprises a number of financial technology companies with a global presence. The Group operates in the vehicle and consumer finance segments on 3 continents, providing financial inclusion and disruptively changing financial services industries in its countries of operation. Founded in 2012 as Mogo in Latvia, the Group has revolutionized the way people purchase cars. Having expanded across the Baltics within its first year in business, the Group continued expanding in the following years, now servicing 13 active markets.

With its headquarters in Latvia, the Group operates in the Baltics, Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia, and Eastern Africa.

For two consecutive years (2020, 2021), the Group has appeared on the Financial Times list of Europe's 1000 fastest growing companies.

Read more: www.eleving.com



IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The information contained herein is not for release, publication, or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, or any other countries or otherwise in such circumstances in which the release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the bonds in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this announcement may come are required to inform themselves of and observe all such restrictions.

This announcement does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The bonds have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or under the applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

This announcement does not constitute a prospectus for the purposes of Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended (the "Prospectus Directive") and does not constitute a public offer of securities in any member state of the European Economic Area (the "EEA").

This announcement does not constitute an offer of bonds to the public in the United Kingdom. No prospectus has been or will be approved in the United Kingdom in respect of the bonds. Accordingly, this announcement is not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of this announcement as a financial promotion may only be distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons in (i), (ii) and (iii) above together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). Any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, Relevant Persons. Any person who is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this announcement or any of its contents.

PROFESSIONAL INVESTORS ONLY - Manufacturer target market (MIFID II product governance) is eligible counterparties and professional clients only (all distribution channels). No PRIIPs key information document (KID) has been prepared as the bonds do not constitute packaged products and will be offered to eligible counterparties and professional clients only.





01.11.2022 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


MUMBAI, India, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A well-guided effort is underway to seek the revocation of the inconsistent trade measures imposed by WTO at the next meeting of the World Trade Organisation - Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee (7th - 11th November 2022). At issue is the validity of the European Union import tolerance Maximum Residue Level (MRL) of 0.01 ppm (parts per million) for the majority of pesticides. This equals 1 gram of pesticide residue for every 100 tons of food commodity. At this trace level, a pesticide residue would not be biologically, toxicologically, or environmentally relevant. These trade measures could adversely affect agricultural exports from India and other developing countries to EU.

The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) enforced since 1st Jan 1995 with the establishment of World Trade Organization (WTO) carries strict science-based rules for applying the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for pesticides. MRL is the highest level of a pesticide residue that is legally tolerated in agricultural commodity when traded. The commodity may be food grains, fruits & vegetables, meat etc. MRLs are termed as SPS Measure in the WTO parlance. According to the WTO laws, the SPS measures should treat all WTO members equally so that all member countries get opportunities to increase international trade.

Commenting on the issue S Ganesan - Advisor to CENTEGRO (A Not for Profit Think-Tank focused on improving farm economy) asserted "As per the EU Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on Maximum Residue Levels of Pesticides, when a pesticide is not approved for use in the EU and /or withdrawn from the EU market, a default value of 0.01 ppm is set as import tolerance MRL. According to European Food Safety Authority (EFSA - 2021), MRLs are set for more than 1300 pesticides. Of this, a default MRL of 0.01 ppm applies to as many as 690 pesticides. In other words, for over 50% of the pesticides the EU applies 0.01 ppm as import tolerance MRL. This is as good as zero tolerance".

"Rejections of exported consignments applying the WTO inconsistent MRL of 0.01 ppm have serious consequences on agricultural production, price and farmers income not only in India but also in other developing countries. The use of pesticide widely varies among countries depending upon the climate, crops grown and prevalence of pests and diseases" S Ganesan further added.

The WTO-SPS Agreement stipulates that WTO members should minimize negative trade effects. The current EU MRL of 0.01 ppm is completely inconsistent with the provisions of the WTO SPS Agreement and GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade). These measures could be the disguised restriction on international trade as it would not stand WTO scrutiny. All countries that export to the EU and other stakeholders must work together to persuade the EU to reconsider the import tolerance MRL of 0.01 ppm at the WTO under the relevant provisions of SPS Agreement and the GATT. The withdrawal of the WTO inconsistent SPS measure of 0.01 ppm MRL by the EU would go a long way in enabling developing and even third world countries to export their agri products.

For further information Contact:

Mr S Ganesan,

Advisor to (Trade Related International Agreements) Centre for Environment and Agriculture (CENTEGRO - Mumbai, India)

Phone: + 919959552725

e-mail: ganesanicc@gmail.com/ info@centegro.org

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1933420/S_Ganesan_Advisor_CENTEGRO.jpg

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-pesticide-usage-norms-to-impact-agri-export-from-developing-countries--centegro-301663304.html
BOSTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Open Visibility Network (OVN) has announced that Vizion , an ocean freight container tracking visibility provider, has joined this rapidly-growing international network. Launched in collaboration between Tive , Project44 , and FourKites in 2021, the OVN is a consortium of supply chain, transportation, and logistics technology providers on a mission to optimize global supply chain efficiency via open visibility and collaboration. To date, several industry leaders have joined the network, including Everstream Analytics , TransVoyant , MarineTraffic , ParkourSC , WeatherOptics , FarEye , BlueBox Systems , TextLocate , Trucker Cloud , Resilinc and TruckerTools .





Tracking the journey of a containerized shipment from origin to destination remains a challenge. Lack of mobile/cellular coverage over the ocean reduces the ability of shippers, 3PLs, ports, and last-mile delivery providers to optimize their resources to ensure shipment delivery-on time and in full. Many cargo owners and freight forwarders track containers manually, which leads to significant inefficiencies. They spend their time calling carriers, and bouncing from website to website in search of location updates and ETAs-adding the information they find to Excel workbooks.

Vizion provides an innovative solution to this visibility problem. Its container tracking API connects carrier information with additional data sources to provide standardized and validated tracking events, enabling fully consolidated shipment overviews, actionable details, and performance statistics to increase efficiency long-term.

Vizion's API and data services provide ocean-freight shipment tracking in as close to real-time as possible based on a container number or master bill of lading. The ocean-freight tracking API pushes the most complete, standardized, and detailed container tracking events to any TMS, ERP or other software system or spreadsheet, providing shippers visibility into the freight that drives their business. As such, Vizion helps its customers avoid costs associated with not knowing where the products are located, poor customer experience, and detention and demurrage fees.

The Open Visibility Network offers an environment that opens the world's visibility data-and makes it accessible to everyone in the supply chain industry. By working in collaboration, OVN members integrate their technologies and provide all customers with improved speed to market, an optimized supply chain, and increased transparency and customer satisfaction. In the meantime, as members connect with other open visibility providers, their journey to partnerships and other collaborations accelerates as well.

OVN is excited to announce the joining of its newest member-Vizion-and add a critical visibility technology to its collective.

"We've always believed that visibility is the key to greater collaboration across the global supply chain," said Vizion CEO Kyle Henderson. "Joining the Open Visibility Network is an opportunity for Vizion to expand its role in delivering visibility and promoting much-needed collaboration throughout the industry."

"By aggregating and analyzing data from multiple sources, Vizion's open APIs provide supply chain stakeholders with critical container level real-time data," says Krenar Komoni, founding member of OVN and CEO & Founder of Tive Inc. "As such, VizionAPI complements visibility solutions offered by current OVN members and enhances collaboration towards end-to-end visibility for the customers. We are beyond excited to welcome them to the network."

OVN welcomes supply chain technology and visibility providers to join the ranks of membership. Reach out at hello@openvisibility.com , or visit the OVN website at www.openvisibility.com .

About Open Visibility Network

Open Visibility Network (OVN) is an open consortium of supply chain, transportation, and logistics technology providers on a mission to optimize global supply chain efficiency via open visibility and collaboration. OVN is the first platform that enables the stakeholders to collaborate openly and while exchanging data and insights (APIs) cultivate an ecosystem that strives to achieve end-to-end visibility across all shipment modes and lanes. For more information, visit openvisibility.com.

About VizionAPI

Vizion is an API-based solution for ocean freight visibility. The company's API helps logistics service providers, cargo owners, and other stakeholders act on their digital ambitions by integrating essential data and insights into existing enterprise systems and delivering a stronger customer experience. Vizion's products include visibility APIs, data benchmarking, and enriched, accessible datasets built on fundamentally sound information technology infrastructures. Contact Vizion at contact@vizionapi.com .

About Tive

Tive is a global leader in supply chain and logistics technology. With Tive, shippers, retailers, and logistics service providers (LSPs) have the ability to eliminate delays, avoid damage, and mitigate shipment failures. Tive's solution provides insights generated by its industry-leading products for clients to actively optimize their shipments, improve the customer experience, and unlock actionable data in real-time. For more information, visit www.tive.com .

Media contacts:

Iliriana Kacaniku

Open Visibility Network

VP, Strategy and Innovation

hello@openvisibility.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1686038/Open_Visibility_Network_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vizion-joins-the-rapidly-growing-open-visibility-network-301663591.html
Anglepoint expands its UK footprint, accelerates EMEA revenue growth

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anglepoint, the leading provider of Software Asset Management (SAM) Managed Services for the Global 2000, is announcing the completed acquisition of UK-based Fisher Information Technology Services (FisherITS). FisherITS brings a 10-year track record of providing high-quality SAM consulting and Managed Services to large and midsize clients in the UK, USA, Canada, and EMEA.

Anglepoint CEO Brian Papaysays of the acquisition, "The successful completion of this deal is a testament to the high-caliber organization that FisherITS has created. Anglepoint is committed to expanding our presence in the EMEA region. Adding the deep expertise of the FisherITS team, their outstanding partners, and long-time clients only bolsters Anglepoint's momentum."

The FisherITS team will join Anglepoint, bringing industry-leading clients, worldwide channel partners and the intellectual platform OpenSAM, FisherITS's SaaS-based BI automation solution. "Large enterprises are increasingly seeing the need and benefit of SAM Managed Services. Anglepoint has more than tripled since 2017, and that growth is because of the strong value that high-quality SAM services provide to our clients," adds Brian Papay.

Eric Chiu, founder and Managing Director of FisherITS, says, "FisherITS's DNA of focusing on business value, deep vendor expertise and automation is very similar to Anglepoint's. In addition to expanding our geographical service coverage, our global clients and partners can now leverage added areas of expertise such as SAM tooling, cloud cost management (FinOps) and information security."

ABOUT ANGLEPOINT

Anglepoint is the leading provider of Software Asset Management & Technology Asset Management services to the Fortune 500 & Global 2000. Anglepoint's services drive cost optimization, risk mitigation, & strategic planning within the cloud, SaaS, enterprise software & hardware estates of complex hybrid IT environments. Anglepoint delivers comprehensive managed services, including SAM strategy, execution, process automation, and technology selection & implementation.

For media inquiries, please contact: Alison Frederick, Analyst Relations at info@anglepoint.com.

Connect with Anglepoint on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and at Anglepoint.com.

ABOUT FISHER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

FisherITS provides Software Asset Management consultancy and managed services to large and fast-growing organisations across the world. Specialising in audit support, software optimisation and ITAM programme implementation, FisherITS provides expertise across all leading software publishers such as Microsoft, IBM, SAP, Oracle, Quest and Micro Focus.

OpenSAM is a SaaS-based automation platform built by FisherITS to deliver SAM-related business intelligence to its Managed Services clients.

Connect with FisherITS on LinkedInand at FisherITS.com.

Contact Information:

Alison Frederick

Analyst Relations Manager

info@anglepoint.com



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Attachment
1 November 2022

TWENTYFOUR SELECT MONTHLY INCOME FUND LIMITED

(the "Company")

(a non-cellular company limited by shares incorporated in the Island of Guernsey under the Companies (Guernsey) Law 2008, as amended, with registered number 57985 and registered as a Registered Closed-ended Collective Investment Scheme with the Guernsey Financial Services Commission. Legal entity identifier: 549300P9Q5O2B3RDNF78)

Directorate Change

1 November 2022

As part of its succession planning process, the Company announces the appointment of Sharon Parr as an independent Non-Executive Director of the Company with effect from 1 November 2022.

In 2003, Mrs Parr completed a private equity backed MBO of the trust and fund administration division of Deloitte and Touche, called Walbrook, selling it to Barclays Wealth in 2007. As a Managing Director of Barclays, she ultimately became global head of their trust and fund administration businesses, comprising over 450 staff in 10 countries. She stepped down from her executive roles in 2011 to focus on other areas and interests but has maintained directorships in several companies.

Mrs Parr is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, and is a resident of Guernsey.

There are no disclosures to be made in respect of LR 9.6.13 (2-6). All of Mrs Parr's current directorships in publicly quoted companies and in the past five years are noted below as required by LR 9.6.13 (1).

Directorships current

JZ Capital Partners Limited

Directorships in previous 5 years

Acorn Income Fund Limited

NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited

For further information, please contact:

Numis Securities Limited:

Hugh Jonathan +44 (0)20 7260 1000

Nathan Brown
The Cloud Geeks Team are experts at delivering enterprise grade cloud solutions to the SME - and at the CNA awards this year, they received well-earned recognition for its solution provided to Carnevale Group.

LONDON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloud Geeks a UK IT systems provider who specializes in helping SME's change the way they think about cloud technology, today, announced it had been crowned Best SME Managed Service Solution at the Comms Dealer Comms National Awards 2022 having provided a compelling managed services solution to its client Carnevale based on Microsoft Azure infrastructure.

Carnevale Group is a UK wholesale manufacturer, importer, and national distributor of ambient, fresh & frozen, high-quality, innovative food & drink products with over 55 years' experience. The organisation operates from multiple locations including London, Bedford, Bristol, Huddersfield, and Glasgow. Employing over 200 members of staff across the 5 sites.

During the pandemic, it was evident that the Carnevale infrastructure was not fit for purpose to support remote working and Carnevale staff experienced connectivity issues across the 5 sites which impacted response times for customer orders.

Cloud Geeks secured the cloud solution by conducting an in-depth discovery and assessment of Carnevale's technology estate. This assessment highlighted risks and potential vulnerabilities, impacting both the current service and future planning.

Cloud Geeks assigned a program director who led a team of experienced consultants to deploy the solution. The program team met virtually with the Carnevale team and had daily reviews during the design and rollout phases. The team were hands on and provided technical training and awareness for the end users.

The solution migrated all the existing systems to Microsoft Azure cloud, with Windows Virtual Desktop providing users with a feature rich environment, utilising file security and removing the requirement for upgrades and maintenance. And enabling users to work from anywhere. All devices are now managed centrally though the Azure Portal and system security is established though Azure backup with site recovery.

Contracting for three years, delivering a 40% discount and with an ROI of 12 months, the solution more than paid for itself, on top of which, the cloud solution also meant pcs were no longer needed to be upgraded - resulting in further savings.

Luigi Carnevale, Managing Director said; "If I could some up Cloud Geeks in three words they would be: Efficient, Knowledgeable and Professional. Partnering with Cloud Geeks has been really refreshing and exciting, the team's attention to detail, knowledge of the suite of Microsoft infrastructure and professionalism when engaging with us at the beginning of this project has been second to none. The team at Cloud Geeks are very efficient and have been extremely engaged with all aspects of our customer journey from the onboarding process to after sales. It's clear we have partnered with the right IT managed services provider, and I would not hesitate in recommending them.."

Mike Ianiri, Managing Director, Cloud Geeks said: I am absolutely delighted for the team to receive this award, they work tirelessly to deliver for our clients and it's a very proud moment for me, to see them up on stage receiving the recognition they deserve! The Pandemic was a very tough time for many of us, but it's moments like this, when we can come together again and celebrate, makes the effort very worthwhile.

About

Formed in 2020, Cloud Geeks employs expert cloud consultants, and partners with the best SME cloud technology providers in the industry. Primarily a managed IT systems provider, Cloud Geeks has a portfolio that gives power to the SME.

Cloud Geeks helps SMEs change the way they think about Cloud Technology and allow them to exploit the benefits larger enterprises enjoy.

The cloud centric solutions that Cloud Geeks deliver, are fully managed and built for the SME giving them the functional power of an enterprise with SME subscription price efficiency. With the Cloud Geeks portfolio SMEs are functional, secure and have digitally transformative solutions at their fingertips that provide 99.9% SLA reliability.

Contact Details:

Rachel Preston

rachelpreston@market2gether.com

+44 (0)750-198-7734

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cloud-based-it-solution-company--cloud-geeks--wins-at-comms-national-awards-301657532.html
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - U.K. stocks rallied on Tuesday, with miners leading the surge amid reports that China is looking at ways to exit its zero-COVID policy. The benchmark FTSE 100 was up 106 points, or 1.5 percent, at 7,201 after rising 0.7 percent on Monday. Miners Anglo American, Antofagasta and Glencore surged 3-5 percent while oil & gas giant BP Plc fell about 1 percent despite posting bumper profits. Peer Shell gained 1.6 percent, tracking higher oil prices after OPEC raised its forecasts for world oil demand in the medium- and longer-term in an annual outlook released on Monday. Shares of online grocery store Ocado soared 33 percent after the company partnered with South Korean retail company Lotte Shopping. Westminster Group plunged 25 percent after the supplier of managed services and technology-based security solutions said that fiscal 2022 revenue outturn will be approximately a third below market expectations. Alcoholic beverage firm Diageo added 1.5 percent after announcing it is starting the final phase of its share buyback. 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.
Flowers and a card with a message in English and German are placed at a memorial in front of Itaewon Station, Tuesday. Yonhap



Hate speeches, finger-pointing surge online



By Lee Yeon-woo



While the government has called for a national period of mourning until Nov. 5 over the massive crowd crush that killed 156 and injured 152 in Itaewon over the weekend, many are trying to find the cause of the tragedy, in order to hold those responsible to account.



Starting from Saturday night, some survivors and witnesses who were at the scene shared their experiences online. What dominated social media was discussion about a man who had been wearing a black headband with rabbit ears.



One individual who wrote online that he had barely managed to escape from the alley where the crush occurred, said that a man in his 20s and his friends had deliberately pushed the crowd, which was stuck in a narrow alley of the Hamilton Hotel, saying that what they did had caused a tragic domino effect on others, ultimately resulting in the crowd crush. The user described that man as wearing a headband with rabbit ears and that his hair had been parted down the middle.



Other netizens joined the search for the man, scrolling every video and photo uploaded on social media. One managed to lock in on the man and shared an image of his face online. Many pointed to him as "the main culprit" and asked him to turn himself in to the police. Meanwhile, images of his face continued to be circulated online.



The man responded with explanations on Instagram Tuesday, denying the allegations. "My friends and I are the victims of a witch hunt. It's true that I visited Itaewon that day, but we had already left Itaewon at that time," the man said.



He showed a receipt of a subway ticket he purchased on Saturday as evidence to back his claim that he is innocent. According to his screenshot from a banking app, he took the subway at Itaewon Station at 9:55 p.m. and got off at Hapjeong Station at 10:17 p.m. It is known that the first emergency calls concerning the crowd crush came in at 10:15 p.m.



"Stop the witch-hunting," the aggrieved man said.





Two people hug each other after paying tribute to those who passed away in the Itaewon crowd crush at the collective memorial altar located outside of Noksapyeong Station, Tuesday. Yonhap
Sotera, a California-based digital health company dedicated to detecting early signs of patient deterioration, announces its participation in the AMIA Annual Symposium on November 5 to 9, 2022.

Carlsbad, California--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2022) - Sotera will be occupying booth 416 in the upcoming event and will be discussing its various initiatives to improve patient data collection and reduce clinical burdens through stronger workflow efficiencies.

More details can be found at https://soteradigitalhealth.com/amia-we-will-be-there

Vital Sign Monitoring Device Developer Sotera Announces AMIA Event Participation

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/142578_bbae5acda4987a93_001full.jpg

Following the announcement, Sotera says that it will be pursuing contact with key opinion leaders to collaborate with and advise on the further development of its data solutions portal. In particular, the company seeks possible partnerships or feedback on its ViSi Mobile System.

ViSi Mobile is an innovative technology that allows patients to be continuously monitored even when not on a critical care floor. This not only gives the patients and their families peace of mind but it's a critical tool to detect early signs of deterioration by utilizing advanced machine learning. ViSi Mobile improves the automated vital signs collection process, seamlessly transcribing data into a patient's electronic medical records by utilizing highly efficient coding algorithms. Relieving the administrative burden of active charting allows clinical teams to focus on treatment plans, the patient's recovery, and the "patient experience" while in the recovery unit.

ViSi monitors blood pressure, SpO2 levels, heart rate, pulse rate, respiration rate, skin temperature, ECG, posture, and arrhythmias and offers fall detection.

Derek Sanz, Sotera's Vice President of Global Strategy and Partnerships, says, "We are excited to meet hospital informatics professionals during the AMIA Symposium and learn more about this growing community as we engage deeper with the American Medical Informatics Association."

This year's AMIA Symposium will focus on the topic "Informatics: Building the Evidence Base." The group says that the last few years have demonstrated the need for the US healthcare industry to have better access to information and innovative technologies to improve healthcare outcomes.

Mr. Sanz said, "Our goal is to help hospitals improve patient safety across the enterprise while reducing alarm burden and increasing clinical workflow efficiencies. If we can help clinicians detect patient deterioration early enough, further complications can be avoided."

Interested parties can find more information by visiting https://soteradigitalhealth.com/amia-we-will-be-there

Contact Info:

Name: Jody Greene

Email: jody.greene@soteradigitalhealth.com

Organization: Sotera Wireless, Inc. DBA Sotera

Address: 5841 Edison Place Suite 140, Carlsbad, California 92008, United States

Website: https://soteradigitalhealth.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142578
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.


Javier Cavada, President and CEO of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Mitsubishi Power

Cairo, Egypt, Nov 1, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Power, a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), signed a Long Term Service Agreement (LTSA) with Damietta LNG (DLNG), a leading producer and exporter of liquid natural gas in Egypt, to enhance the reliability, efficiency and availability of power supply, and protect LNG production at the plant.Damietta LNG, one of two LNG export plants in Egypt, with a capacity to produce up to five million tons of liquefied natural gas per year, is a long-term customer of Mitsubishi Power in Egypt. This latest service agreement follows Mitsubishi Power's first LTSA for the units which was signed in 2006.Under the terms of the agreement, Mitsubishi Power will undertake the parts, repairs and services for five Mitsubishi Power H-25 gas turbines installed at the facility, located in New Damietta Port in the northern region of Egypt.Commenting on the agreement, Javier Cavada, President and CEO of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Mitsubishi Power said: "It is a great honor to partner with Damietta LNG as we build the future of energy transition, using one of the cleanest and most efficient fuels. In the year when Egypt is hosting COP27, this agreement is even more vital as it helps to ensure energy security, not only for Egypt, but beyond its borders to the rest of the world where Damietta LNG exports to."Damietta LNG will also benefit from Mitsubishi Power's comprehensive warranties and extended service support, to enhance and drive performance and efficiency.Khalid Salem, President of Middle East and Africa at Mitsubishi Power, added: "We are proud to partner with Damietta LNG, a pioneer of Egypt's LNG sector, a cornerstone of the country's economic growth. We celebrate a new LTSA agreement, 16 years after our first one, which attests to our ongoing commitment to provide Damietta LNG with reliable and efficient power supply and support them in producing sustainable, clean energy, for many years to come."Through this agreement, Mitsubishi Power will also provide its award-winning suite of intelligent solutions TOMONI, a customizable suite of digital power plant solutions fueled by cutting-edge analytics and decades of turbine operating and monitoring data. TOMONI harnesses big data to provide real-time predictive insights and actionable knowledge, for higher power plant performance, reliability and optimization and to achieve environmental performance goals.Mitsubishi Power will continue to leverage decades of experience and innovation to equip customers across the Middle East and North Africa region with advanced, innovative, and clean energy solutions required to achieve a robust, reliable, and resilient energy infrastructure that brings it one step closer towards a carbon neutral society.About Mitsubishi PowerMitsubishi Power is a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI). Across more than 30 countries worldwide, Mitsubishi Power designs, manufactures and maintains equipment and systems that drive decarbonization and ensure delivery of reliable power around the world. Among its solutions are a wide range of gas turbines including hydrogen-fueled gas turbines, solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), and air quality control systems (AQCS). Committed to providing exemplary service and working with customers to imagine the future of energy, Mitsubishi Power is also spearheading the development of the digital power plant through its suite of AI-enabled TOMONI solutions.For more information, please visit https://power.mhi.com.Source: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / Faraday Copper Corp. ("Faraday" or the "Company") (CSE:FDY) (OTCQX:CPPKF) is pleased to announce the initiation of its planned 10,000-metre Phase II diamond drill program at its Copper Creek project, located in Arizona, U.S. ("Copper Creek").

Copper Creek Phase II Drill Program

Planned 10,000-metre diamond drilling program commenced on October 30, 2022.

The objectives of the drill program include: Expanding the open pit mineral resource; Better delineating the high-grade mineralized zones in the underground mineral resource; Collecting material for future metallurgical testwork and data for geotechnical studies; Installing additional piezometers for ongoing groundwater monitoring; and Commencing reconnaissance drilling on new targets outside of the current mineral resource.



About Faraday Copper

Faraday Copper is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing two copper projects in The United States of America. The Copper Creek project, located in Arizona, is one of the largest undeveloped copper projects in North America with open pit and bulk underground mining potential. The Contact Copper project, located in Nevada, provides potential for a low-cost open pit, heap leach, oxide project. The Company is well-funded to deliver on its key milestones and benefits from a management team and board of directors with senior mining company experience and expertise. Faraday trades on the CSE under the symbol "FDY".

For additional information please contact:

Stacey Pavlova, CFA

Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications

Faraday Copper Corp.

E-mail: info@faradaycopper.com

Website: www.faradaycopper.com

To receive news releases by e-mail, please register using the Faraday website at www.faradaycopper.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements" and are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Faraday to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements concerning expanding the mineral resource, delineation of mineralized zones, collection of material for future metallurgical testwork and geotechnical studies; installation of piezometers; and reconnaissance drilling on new targets outside of the current mineral resource.

Although Faraday believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed as guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include without limitation: market prices for metals; the conclusions of detailed feasibility and technical analyses; lower than expected grades and quantities of resources; receipt of regulatory approval; receipt of shareholder approval; mining rates and recovery rates; significant capital requirements; price volatility in the spot and forward markets for commodities; fluctuations in rates of exchange; taxation; controls, regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which Faraday does or may carry on business; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, competition; loss of key employees; rising costs of labour, supplies, fuel and equipment; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; accidents; labour disputes; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties; unexpected delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of Indigenous peoples and other groups; risks, uncertainties and unanticipated delays associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, permits and authorizations and complying with permitting requirements, including those associated with the Copper Creek property; and uncertainties with respect to any future acquisitions by Faraday. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental events and hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks as well as "Risk Factors" included in Faraday's disclosure documents filed on and available at www.sedar.com.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. This news release is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, a prospectus, an offering memorandum, an advertisement or a public offering of securities in Faraday in Canada, the United States or any other jurisdiction. No securities commission or similar authority in Canada or in the United States has reviewed or in any way passed upon this news release, and any representation to the contrary is an offence.

SOURCE: Faraday Copper Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/723199/Faraday-Copper-Initiates-10000-metre-Drill-Program-at-Copper-Creek-in-Arizona
New QORTEX DTC 3D Perception Release Provides Improved Classification Accuracy and Further Reduces Critical Infrastructures' Physical Security Costs

Quanergy Systems, Inc., (NYSE:QNGY) a leading provider of LiDAR sensors and smart 3D solutions, today announced upgrades to its QORTEX DTC and Q-View software solutions, which underpin the company's Flow Management portfolio, including its MQ-8 series of LiDAR sensors. The marquee features in these new releases include significantly improved accuracy and drastic reduction in false alarm, thanks to the industry's first motion-based noise reduction mechanism and first occlusion filter/object stitching mechanism.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005668/en/

Quanergy Announces Industry-first 3D LiDAR Movement-Based False Alarm Reduction Solution (Graphic: Business Wire)

The updates also offer improved security and flexibility, further solidifying Quanergy's Flow Management solution as the best-in-class end-to-end LiDAR-based solution for security, smart space and smart city applications.

A security incident can cause an immediate hassle, but its impact also often has a ripple effect with companies having to navigate everything from business disruption to impact to brand reputation and even potential legal ramifications.

QORTEX is Quanergy's LiDAR-based software solution that provides 3D perception and volumetric sensing to enable detection, tracking and classification of 3D vehicles and human-sized objects in real-time. Updates in QORTEX 2.3 include:

The industry's first motion-based noise reduction mechanism, called the movement threshold filter, which easily filters out noisy elements, such as bushes and foliage. This drastically reduces the amount of false alarms, turning those alarms from a roadblock to a security enabler

The industry's first occlusion filter, which relies on smart object stitching to ensure that even if a person being tracked goes behind a wall or another occlusion, the system doesn't recognize them as a new individual when they reappear and will continue tracking them where it left off

Anti-masking capability to detect and alert when an intruder has attempted to thwart the sensor by blocking or masking it with paper, tape, or spray paint

Enhanced user and password management for increased ability to set permissions and tiers of access in addition to easily accessible logs for auditing purposes

A counter line feature that builds onto existing occupancy detection capabilities to help keep track of how many people have gone into and out of an entrance or exit area

Zone object count by classification type if several objects enter a zone, QORTEX can now make a distinction between vehicles and human-sized objects in terms of counting

Support for Ubuntu 20.04 and IPv6 addressing to offer more flexibility to users

Additionally, Q-View, a software-based configuration toolkit for Quanergy's LiDAR-based sensors, has been updated in alignment with the upgrades made to QORTEX. Q-View provides robust information about a sensor network and its performance, along with intuitive tools to calibrate and align the sensors.

Sonny Sekhon, senior product manager, flow management, Quanergy Systems, Inc., said: "Cameras can't address all of the use cases our customers are grappling with when it comes to flow management, intrusion detection, privacy and other aspects of physical security. We continue to innovate and improve upon our Q-View and QORTEX software for enhanced flexibility, security and incremental functionality providing solutions and leapfrogging that supplements users' existing investments and takes their systems to the next level."

For more information, visit www.quanergy.com.

About Quanergy Systems, Inc.

Quanergy's (NYSE: QNGY) mission is to create powerful, affordable smart LiDAR solutions for IoT and automotive applications to enhance people's experiences and safety. Through Quanergy's smart LiDAR solutions, businesses can now leverage real-time, advanced 3D insights to transform their operations in a variety of industries including industrial automation, physical security, smart cities, smart spaces and much more. Quanergy solutions are deployed by nearly 400 customers across the globe. For more information, please visit us at www.quanergy.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain statements that are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," "project," "will likely result" and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the execution and impact of the reverse stock split on the trading price of Quanergy's Common Stock and Quanergy's ability to regain compliance with the NYSE listing requirements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results. Most of these factors are outside Quanergy's control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: Quanergy's history of operating losses; Quanergy's ability to obtain additional capital to meet its financial obligations and support planned business growth; Quanergy's ability to evaluate its business and prospects; the risk that markets for LiDAR products, including autonomous driving, security smart spaces, robotics, industrial and other commercial applications, develop more slowly than Quanergy expects, or long- term end-customer adoption rates and demand are slower than Quanergy expects; the risk that Quanergy's product integration could face complications or unpredictable difficulties, which may adversely impact customer adoption of its products; the competitive environment in which Quanergy operates; the ability of Quanergy's Optical Phased Array ("OPA") based product to meet industry requirements for range, resolution or general performance; developments in alternative non-LiDAR technologies may adversely affect the demand for LiDAR sensors; Quanergy's ability to effectively grow its global sales and marketing organization, or maintain or grow an effective network of distributors, value-added resellers, and integrators; Quanergy's business initiatives may prove more costly than its currently anticipates; Quanergy's limited manufacturing capacity and dependence primarily on a small number of contract manufacturers and manufacturing partners; Quanergy's reliance on sole source suppliers; the risk that Quanergy may incur significant direct or indirect liabilities in connection with its product warranties; Quanergy's ability to maintain the listing of Quanergy's its securities on the New York Stock Exchange; Quanergy has been and may continue to be subject to litigation regarding intellectual property rights that could be costly, including claims that it is infringing third-party intellectual property; Quanergy's ability to remain in compliance with numerous laws and governmental regulations across various jurisdictions concerning the manufacturing, use, distribution and sale of its products; global supply chain frictions, the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's aggression in Ukraine and other macroeconomic factors may adversely affect Quanergy's ability to source components in a timely or cost-effective manner from our third-party suppliers due to, among other things, work stoppages or interruptions; and other risks and uncertainties indicated in Quanergy's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Quanergy's expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views only as of the date of this press release. Quanergy anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its assessments to change. However, while Quanergy may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Quanergy specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005668/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Shannon Van Every

media@quanergy.com

Investors:

QuanergyIR@ICRinc.com
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Estonia's industrial production declined in September, amid a fall in manufacturing and mining output, data from Statistics Estonia showed on Tuesday. Industrial production fell 7.5 percent year-on-year in September. Manufacturing output decreased 7.56 percent annually in September, following a 3.8 percent fall in the prior month. Production in mining declined 27.1 percent, while electricity output rose 3.5 percent. 'In September, the volume of industrial production fell in more than half of the manufacturing activities,' Helle Bunder, analyst at Statistics Estonia, said. Data showed that export sales in the manufacturing sector grew 9.7 percent annually in September and domestic sales rose 8.0 percent. On a seasonally adjusted basis, industrial production decreased 3.5 percent monthly in September. Manufacturing output declined 1.5 percent. 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.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices rose more than 1 percent on Tuesday after media reports suggested that China will probably ease its disruptive COVID-Zero policy by the end of this year. A weaker dollar and the decision of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to lift its medium to long term demand forecasts also offered some support. Benchmark Brent crude futures rallied 1.5 percent to $94.16 a barrel, while WTI crude futures were up 1.3 percent at $87.64. Chinese and Hong Kong stocks posted strong gains today after a post on social media suggested Chinese officials were forming a committee to discuss rolling back some of the country's economically painful zero-COVID policies. The U.S. dollar fell from a one-week against a basket of major peers as markets held out hopes that the Federal Reserve might signal a slowdown of its tightening path after delivering a 75-bps rate hike on Wednesday. Also helping boost confidence, OPEC raised its forecasts for world oil demand in the medium- and longer-term in an annual outlook released on Monday. The group revised its previous forecast for 2023 higher by 1.4 million barrels per day, saying that the combination of a more robust recovery than previously expected and a global shift toward prioritizing energy security over an energy transition will drive this demand growth. According to OPEC, oil demand is seen rising to 108.3 million barrels per day in 2030. 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.




HONG KONG, Nov 1, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - Recently, the healthcare big data leader ClinBrain completed the Series C round of financing of nearly CNY200 million, led by Legend Capital. This round of financing will facilitate ClinBrain to continuously deepen its expertise in the field of healthcare big data, explore the deep integration of big data and AI in the healthcare industry, promote the R&D of underlying technologies and scenario-based applications, and accelerate the promotion of industrial digital and intelligent upgrading.As a high-tech enterprise focusing on the healthcare big data intelligence platform, digitalized and intelligent application services, ClinBrain was shortlisted as the SDRI (specialized, refined, differential and innovative) "little giant" enterprise by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology this year.At the beginning of its establishment in 2013, ClinBrain realized that healthcare, as a data-intensive and knowledge-intensive industry, is inseparable from the support of data, no matter in clinical services, operations management or medical research. ClinBrain has been committed to the direction of data governance and intelligent application of hospitals. By leveraging years of its industry experience and technical capabilities, the company has made breakthroughs in many fields, such as collecting data from hospital business systems without an interface, effectively identifying the data structure of complex business systems, effectively cleaning the business data of different versions and different manufacturers, forming effective and practical data quality rules to improve the data quality of hospitals, and conducting structured processing of unstructured data such as medical records and pathology. Moreover, with its powerful natural language processing (NLP) capabilities and robust rule and knowledge base, including more than 3900 data cleaning and quality rules embedded and tens of millions of medical concept term relationships accumulated, ClinBrain is also capable of automatically identifying the data structure of each version of more than 500 business manufacturers and realizing high-quality data cleaning and structured processing of unstructured data.LIU Huanchun, Chairman of ClinBrain, said, "Under the complex and volatile economic background and the ongoing pandemic situation, the recognition by many investors has reflected the market position, technological level and value of ClinBrain. After this round of financing, ClinBrain will promote the company's development to a new level by making further efforts in scientific and technological innovation and talent introduction."Raymond CHEN, Co-chief Investment Officer of Legend Capital, said, "Healthcare big data is a key driver of the digital and intelligent transformation of the pharmaceutical industry, which is in line with the long-term megatrend of new healthcare infrastructure. As a leading healthcare big data enterprise in China, ClinBrain provides full-link solutions from data governance to medical scenario applications based on its rich industrial theoretical knowledge and practical experience. We are optimistic that ClinBrain will create a new development form in healthcare big data by continuously expanding more products and customer application scenarios."About Legend CapitalFounded in 2001, Legend Capital is a leading VC&PE investor focusing on the early-stage and growth-stage opportunities in China, with offices across Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Seoul, Korea.It currently manages USD and RMB funds of over US$10 billion in commitments, and has invested in around 600 companies, covering technology, healthcare, consumer, enterprise service and intelligent manufacturing sectors. Rooted in China, Legend Capital participated in the rise of many world-leading companies by solid investment coverage and systematic post-investment value-add. Over the years, Legend Capital has also become a widely recognized name in bridging key resources in China and overseas through cross-border activities, and a valuable partner to Chinese and overseas investors.Legend Capital values long-term sustainable investment and incorporates ESG into its long-term development strategy. As a UNPRI signatory since November 2019, Legend Capital is among the first group of top VC/PE firms in China to join the initiative.For more information, please visit www.legendcapital.com.cn/index_en.aspx and follow us on LinkedIn @Legend Capital (https://www.linkedin.com/company/legend-capital).Source: Legend CapitalCopyright 2022 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Forsta clients will now be able to leverage predictive net promoter scores (pNPS) to foster a greater understanding of their full customer base

Forsta, a leading global provider of market research, customer experience (CX) and employee experience (EX) technology, today announced at Web Summit that it will expand its capabilities to include predictive net promoter scores (pNPS) created in cooperation with the CX data specialists at GemSeek. Through this solution built on the Forsta Human Experience (HX) Platform, Forsta clients will now have access to cutting-edge analytics-powered predictions of "silent customers," and those who don't provide the direct feedback needed to determine NPS or other customer experience metrics. This offering, which will enable deeper understanding of the experiences of each and every customer, will be available to Forsta clients beginning November 1.

This announcement comes as Predictive NPS will be one of the key topics at a Web Summit Master Class in Lisbon, Portugal by Forsta on storytelling, predictive analytics and the human experience of data. Web Summit attendees can join in person on November 2 from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. WET, in Room 4 near the Center Stage.

Why Predictive NPS (pNPS)?

Customer experience (CX) measurement traditionally relies on direct feedback responses that only come from a portion of the customer base. In certain cases where response rates are low or survey frequency doesn't correspond to the dynamics of the business model, organizations become vulnerable to unexpected churn, lower satisfaction rates and poorer performance in general. "Silent customers," who don't respond to surveys or don't submit feedback, can account for as much as 80% to 95% of a company's entire customer base, according to different estimations.

"To understand the full human experiences of their customers, companies need to look beyond customers' direct interactions and verbatim feedback," said Giles Whiting, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director at Forsta. "Smart analytics models like Forsta's Predictive NPS allow companies to not only understand but predict and act upon customer needs. These capabilities will enable our clients to cater to their customer needs in a proactive and personalized fashion and optimize their CX approach for better business outcomes."

How does Predictive NPS (pNPS) work?

Predictive NPS uses existing operational, customer and financial data as a source for an advanced machine learning model that assigns satisfaction scores to customers who don't respond to surveys or give direct feedback about their experience. pNPS runs on a library of advanced data science models that assesses which of these additional data points have the highest potential to predict satisfaction, "looks" for similarities and patterns between respondents and non-respondents and as a result determines predicted scores for "silent" customers. Predictive NPS scores can be used to direct action towards customers at both a strategic and tactical level to keep customers from churning, convert neutral customers to promoters, and upsell happy customers and prompt for referrals.

The model combines behavioral data (CRM and demographics, usage, and more) and customer satisfaction data (survey responses) from across a customer base and employs advanced data science methodologies to identify which factors in customer behavior have the highest impact on customer experience.

To learn more about Forsta's HX Platform, visit www.forsta.com, or visit Forsta at Booth E464 at Web Summit, November 2 4. To read more about Predictive NPS (pNPS), visit: https://gemseek.com/how-we-help/predictive-nps/.

About Forsta

Forsta powers the HX (Human Experience) Platform a comprehensive experience and research technology platform that breaks down the silos between CX (Customer Experience), Employee Experience (EX), and Market Research so that companies can get a deeper, more complete understanding of the experiences of their audiences. Forsta's technology, combined with its team of expert consultants, helps thousands of organizations across a variety of industries, including financial services, hospitality, market research, professional services, retail, and technology. Forsta is recognized as a Leader in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Voice of the Customer. Forsta is a PG Forsta company.

About GemSeek

GemSeek is a CX specialist company that helps companies proactively address customer needs and reach the next level of CX. We use our insight and analytics products and services to prove impact and predict what will make the most difference. Our clients across sectors including telecommunications, healthcare, consumer, insurance retail have seen customer acquisition, lifetime value and loyalty significantly increase.

Copyright NPS is a registered trademark, and Net Promoter Score? and Net Promoter System? are service marks, of Bain Company, Inc., Satmetrix Systems, Inc. and Fred Reichheld.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005126/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Forsta

Meghan Witthaus

meghan.witthaus@pressganey.com
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2022) - ET Money, which has managed to gain a commendable position around the wealth tech startup space, has announced that it has managed to cross a figure of Rs 30,000 crores, which totals up to USD 4bn in retail mutual fund investments on its platform.





ET Money



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8939/142313_e315aaba04c9bb6a_001full.jpg

The growth of the platform can be attributed to its vast range of powerful tools like Mutual Fund Report Card, Super-fast Portfolio Import, Mutual Fund Portfolio Health Check, Investor Personality, and much more which have helped in expanding its client base to a large extent. Moreover, it offers an entire range of mutual funds with SIP facility, which has attracted small investors too on its platform. What's more, the platform also has a SIP Calculator tool which helps investors check the exact numbers that would come out of their investments.

The platform recently introduced a subscription called ET Money Genius, which eases out investment strategies across mutual funds and stocks at the same time providing a robust investment advisory at low cost. The success of the platform can be attributed to its vast range of powerful tools.

Media Contact

Business Name: ET Money

Contact Person: Jigar Saraswat

Email: jigar@rajasimedia.com

Website: etmoney.com

Location: Gurgaon, Haryana, India

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142313
Senior CPC and CPV officials meet via video link

Xinhua) 15:54, November 01, 2022

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Cai Qi on Tuesday met via video link with Vo Van Thuong, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and permanent member of the Secretariat of the CPV Central Committee, who is accompanying Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the CPV Central Committee, on his visit to China.

Cai, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat, said that successful talks between General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong have charted the course and provided new impetus for the development of China-Vietnam relations and the socialist cause of the two countries.

China is ready to work with Vietnam to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties, continue to carry forward the fine tradition of friendship and mutual trust, and give full play to the political guiding role of inter-party exchanges, Cai said.

China also stands ready to work with Vietnam to strengthen strategic communication, enhance political mutual trust, deepen exchanges and cooperation, and jointly meet challenges, so as to push China-Vietnam relations to a higher level, Cai said.

Vo Van Thuong said that the meeting between General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary Xi Jinping was very successful and achieved important results.

Vietnam is willing to make full use of the exchange and cooperation mechanisms between the two parties to promote Vietnam-China friendship and cooperation in various fields in order to achieve greater results, he said.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)
Religious leaders pay tribute to victims of Korea's deadliest crowd crush in history at a joint memorial altar for victims at Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall, Nov. 1. Newsis



Religious leaders on Tuesday visited a mourning alter for those killed in the country's worst crowd crush in history.



The representatives of the country's seven main religious orders paid tribute to the victims at a joint memorial altar set up at the public plaza in front of Seoul City Hall.



At least 156 people, mostly in their 20s, were killed and dozens more injured when a surge of people tried to move through a narrow alley in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon during Halloween celebrations Saturday.





Buddhist monks chant a prayer near the site of a crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon district, Oct. 31. Yonhap



The leaders are affiliated with the Korean Conference of Religions for Peace  one of the country's two umbrella organizations made up of religious organizations for Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Won Buddhism, Confucianism, Cheondo-gyo and the Association for Korean Native Religions.



After paying their respects to the victims together, the leaders separately prayed for the victims with other delegates from their religion.



"There should never be such a disaster again, and we pray for the victims' rebirth in paradise," Ven. Jinwoo, executive chief of the Jogye Order, the largest Buddhist sect in South Korea, wrote in a guest book.



"I'm very sorry that an unthinkable disaster has occurred, and I think the people and everyone's hearts are broken," he told reporters after visiting the mourning altar. "The whole country should make efforts to prevent such an unfortunate accident from happening again."





Bishop Peter Chung Soon-ta, right, visits the mourning altar to pay tribute to the victims of a crowd crush in the capital's Itaewon district, Oct. 31. Yonhap
BIRMINGHAM, AL / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / Diversified Energy Company PLC (LSE:DEC) ("Diversified" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Oil & Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0) awarded Diversified its Gold Standard Pathway, recognizing the Company's commitment to reduce its methane emissions and provide measurement-based transparent reporting to the highest OGMP 2.0 standard available.

OGMP 2.0, a voluntary and multi-stakeholder initiative co-sponsored by the United Nations Environment Program, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, is the only comprehensive, measurement-based reporting framework created to accurately and transparently report methane emissions for the oil and gas industry. By awarding the Gold Standard Pathway, the OGMP 2.0 recognizes the recipient has demonstrated its commitment to set aggressive and achievable multi-year plans designed to accurately measure and significantly reduce methane emissions.

Rusty Hutson, Jr., CEO of Diversified, commented:

"We built our business on the premise of being responsible stewards of existing natural gas and oil assets, so we value the OGMP's recognition of our work. Their confidence in our comprehensive initiatives and transparent reporting elevate the visibility of this important, integrated element of our business. The Gold Standard Pathway designation complements our already strong ESG actions, highlighting our commitment to transparency and validating the important work we're doing to responsibly produce natural gas while making methane leaks rare."

To reach OGMP 2.0's highest recognition, Gold Standard Compliance, Diversified has set actionable Scope 1 emissions reduction targets driven by its commitment to annual investments in handheld and aerial emission detection and by its initiatives to remove or convert natural gas-driven pneumatic devices. Achieving the Gold Standard Pathway positions Diversified to offer Responsibly Sourced Gas (RSG), a differentiated commodity sought by utilities and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) buyers for its independently verified low-methane attributes.

Diversified joins over 80 companies, including EQT Corporation, BP, Royal Dutch Shell, Repsol, and Equinor, in the OGMP Partnership, which represents half of the world's oil and gas production. The United Nation's International Methane Emissions Observatory's (IMEO) recently released "An Eye on Methane" explains that the IMEO views OGMP 2.0 as the standard for transparency, catalyzing collective action amongst member companies to share good practices on methane measurement and management.

The Company joined OGMP 2.0 in May 2022 and its Gold Standard Pathway sets a 3-year timeframe for Diversified to achieve Gold Standard Compliance.

For further information, please contact:

Diversified Energy Company PLC

Doug Kris

+1 973 856 2757

dkris @dgoc.com

www.div.energy

FTI Consulting

US & UK Financial Public Relations

DEC@fticonsulting.com

About Diversified Energy Company PLC

Diversified Energy Company PLC is an independent energy company engaged in the production, marketing and transportation of primarily natural gas related to its synergistic US onshore upstream and midstream assets.

SOURCE: Diversified Energy Company PLC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/723207/Diversified-Energy-Achieves-Gold-Standard-Pathway-in-United-Nations-Oil-Gas-Methane-Partnership-20-for-Ambitious-Methane-Reduction-Plan
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2022) - Currie Rose Resources Inc. (TSXV: CUI) ("Currie Rose" or the "Company") is pleased to announce an updated independent mineral resource estimate ("MRE") for its Cambridge Vanadium Deposit that forms part of the North Queensland Vanadium Project ("NQVP") situated within the "Vanadium Hub" approximately 450 km west of the port of Townsville, Queensland, Australia.

Highlights:

Indicated Resource of 61.33Mt @ 0.34% V2O5. The initial 2018 MRE contained no indicated mineral resources.

Inferred Resource increased by 61Mt to 144.87Mt @ 0.33% V2O5, representing a 72% increase from the initial 2018 resource.

Updated resource estimate based on 65 drill holes, using 30 drill holes not included in the initial 2018 resource.

Estimated Molybdenum (MOO3) grade of 239.7ppm, up 51.8ppm ~28% increase.

The updated MRE is based on "reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction" and is constrained in a Lerchs Grossman (LG) open pit shell that was constructed using $AUD 23,152/tonne ($USD 7.5/lb) for V2O5. The MRE has an effective date of October 27, 2022 and is based on historical drilling from 2008 to 2019. Details of the MRE are shown in Table 1 below.

Additionally, the North Queensland Vanadium Project has multiple characteristics that are positive for potential future development. These include:

Existing road access on the western edge of the deposit.

Close to rail and power infrastructure.

Mineralization is flat lying and outcrops at surface in places.

Large property with multiple exploration targets.

Cambridge Deposit covers ~ 2,500Ha (or 2%) of the 124,000Ha package.

Mike Griffiths, CEO, President and Director, said: "With this update, we have more than doubled the in-situ metal, improved the overall grade and elevated a substantial amount of resources to Indicated Resource status. We believe that NQV Project presents a massive opportunity to make our mark in the ever-evolving battery and energy metals markets. Vanadium redox flow batteries will soon begin to play an integral role in supporting power grids and bridging the gap of reliable alternative sources of energy. There are plenty of exploration catalysts to communicate with shareholders over the next several quarters as we set on our path to de-risk the NQVP."

Table 1 - Mineral Resource Estimate for the NQVP at 0.25 % Vanadium Cut-Off Grade

Cut-Off

V2O5 (%) Classification Ore Tonnes

(Mt) V2O5

(t) V2O5

(%) MoO3

(t) MoO3

(ppm) 0.25 Indicated 61.33 210,300 0.34 14,600 234.6 Inferred 144.87 483,400 0.33 35,500 241.9

Notes :

Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. There has been insufficient exploration to define the inferred resources tabulated above as an indicated or measured mineral resource, however, it is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration. There is no guarantee that any part of the mineral resources discussed herein will be converted into a mineral reserve in the future. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, marketing or other relevant issues. The mineral resources have been classified according to the Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (May 2014) and CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practices Guidelines (2019).

The Mineral Resource Estimate is constrained in an LG pit optimization utilizing V2O5 at $USD 7.5/lb, Mining at $AUD 2.86/tonne, Processing and G&A at $AUD 7.86/tonne, pit slopes at 35 o .

Differences may occur in totals due to rounding.

Tonnage estimates are based on a bulk density of 1.8 g/cm 3 .

Mr. Mike Dufresne, P.Geol., P.Geo. and Mr. Steven Nicholls, M.AIG of APEX Geoscience Ltd. ("APEX"), who are deemed a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 is responsible for the completion of the updated mineral resource estimation.





Figure 1 - North Queensland Vanadium Project Location

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2005/142564_0bb8e9d7e4d87a56_002full.jpg

The NQVP is the merger of the Toolebuc and Flinders River Vanadium Projects and is situated approximately 450km west of the port of Townsville (Figure 1). The NQVP covers an area of approximately 124,000 Ha and is close to rail, road and power infrastructure.

The Cambridge vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) mineralisation is located within marine sediments of the Early Cretaceous Toolebuc Formation, a stratigraphic unit that occurs throughout the Eromanga Basin in Central Northern Queensland. The Toolebuc Formation is a flat-lying, early Cretaceous (Albian ~100 Ma) sedimentary package that consists predominantly of black carbonaceous and bituminous shale and minor siltstone, with limestone lenses and coquinites (mixed limestone and clays). The Cambridge MRE is situated within the flat lying Toolebuc Formation.

65 aircore drill holes totalling 1,577 m were completed to delineate the Cambridge Deposit between 2008 and 2019 by Horizon Minerals/Intermin Resources in 2008 ("Horizon/Intermin") and Liontown Resources Ltd in 2019 ("Liontown"). The drilling defined one flat lying horizon of V2O5 and MoO3 mineralization ranging in thickness from 2 m to around 15 m covering a lateral area of 5.8 x 4.3 km.

Photo 1 - Surface View of the Cambridge V2O5 Deposit - Looking South

To view an enhanced version of Photo 1, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2005/142564_0bb8e9d7e4d87a56_003full.jpg

About the Mineral Resource Estimate

Modelling was conducted in the Map Grid of Australia (MGA) coordinate space relative to the Geocentric Datum of Australia (GDA) 2020, and MGA zone 54 (EPSG:7854). The mineral resource block model utilized a block size of 100 m (X) x 50 m (Y) x 2 m (Z) to honour the mineralization wireframes. The percentage of the volume of each block below the bare earth surface and within the mineralization domain was calculated using the 3D geological models and a 3D surface model.

The Cambridge Deposit drill hole database consists of 58 drill holes that intersect the interpreted mineralization wireframe. The V2O5 and MoO3 assays were composited to 1m composite lengths, and the estimation utilized 575 composited samples. All intervals within the interpreted wireframe were visually checked to ensure the flagging process was completed correctly.

The MRE is based on the combination of geological modelling, geostatistics and conventional block modelling using the Ordinary Kriging ("OK") method of grade interpolation with locally varying anisotropy variogram models.

For grade estimation, 1m composites were used to create the interpreted mineralization boundaries. A lower cut-off grade of 0.12% V2O5 was used to define the domain outline. This lower cut-off was chosen as a natural inflection in the V2O5 assay population. A single mineralized domain was defined. Block tonnes were estimated using 1.8 g/cm3 for mineralized material.

The V2O5 and MoO3 grade estimations were completed independently of each other and were completed using OK. The search ellipsoid size used to estimate the V2O5 and MoO3 grades was informed by the modelled variograms for each variable. Block grade estimation employed locally varying anisotropy, which uses different rotation angles to define the principal directions of the variogram model and search ellipsoid on a per-block basis.

Blocks within estimation domains are assigned rotation angles using a modelled 3D mineralization trend surface wireframe. The estimation was performed using three estimation passes whereby each successive pass utilized a less restrictive sample search strategy for block estimation.

The search radii for the first estimation pass equals half of the variogram ranges. The second pass increases the search distance to the variogram range. The third pass further expanded the search distances up to twice the variogram range. Over 95% of the blocks were estimated within the first two estimation passes.

The resource is classified according to the CIM "Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines" dated November 29th, 2019, and CIM "Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves" dated May 10th, 2014. Mr. Dufresne believes the North Queensland Vanadium Project - Cambridge Deposit has the potential for future economic extraction.

The unconstrained resource block model was subjected to several open pit optimization scenarios and surface mining parameters. The following criteria, Table 2, were considered reasonable.

Table 2 - Assumptions Used for the LG Pit Shell and Reasonable Prospects of Eventual Economic Extraction

Item Unit Value Vanadium Price USD/lb 7.50 Molybdenum Price - - Mining Cost AUD/tonne 2.86 Processing + G&A AUD/tonne 7.86 AUD - USD Exchange Rate

0.70 Assumed V205 Recovery % 85 Assumed Molybdenum Recovery - -

*Molybdenum was treated as a by-product of Vanadium and as such not used in the economic parameters of reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction (LG Pit design).

Table 3 - Sensitivity Analysis of the Mineral Resource Estimate for the NQVP at Various Vanadium Cut-Off Grades

Classification Cutoff

V2O5 (%) Ore

Tonnes

(Mt) V2O5

(t) V2O5

(%) MoO3

(t) MoO3

(ppm) Indicated

0.2 87.63 269,700 0.301 19,200 214.6 0.25 61.33 210,300 0.339 14,600 234.6 0.3 38.32 147,400 0.383 10,100 263.3 0.35 22.15 95,200 0.429 6,300 283.5 0.4 12.59 59,500 0.473 3,900 306.8 Inferred

0.2 217.59 648,300 0.294 48,800 220.6 0.25 144.87 483,400 0.33 35,500 241.9 0.3 80.83 308,700 0.38 21,600 264.5 0.35 46.81 199,600 0.426 13,500 287.7 0.4 23.97 114,900 0.478 6,900 288.8

A National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report will be filed under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com within 45 days.

Data Verification

Currie Rose has not yet conducted any drilling on the North Queensland Vanadium Property. In 2018, Optiro Pty Ltd. completed an independent MRE report of the Cambridge Deposit, which is now superseded and is considered a historical estimate.

The QPs reviewed recent reports and other documents including a recent independent mineral resource estimate report ("Cambridge Resource") authored by Optiro Pty Ltd. (2018), a summary report by Mike Griffiths of Currie Rose (2021), and a number of ASX news releases (by Liontown Resources Ltd.). The Optiro Report documents a historical MRE that the QPs consider to having been compliant with recent CIM guidelines (2014) at the time it was constructed.

The Optiro Cambridge MRE was calculated based on 35 aircore holes completed in 2008 by Intermin. Mr. Dufresne and Mr. Steven Nicholls of APEX, both QP's reviewed the MRE and the underlying data. Liontown completed a total of 30 aircore holes in 2019 that are not included in the historical Optiro MRE but are available, well documented and were utilized in the current MRE.

The 2019 Liontown drill holes were drilled after the completion of the Optiro MRE and hence the MRE is now considered historical. The QPs have reviewed all the reports, the data that backs up the reports and the recent MRE data including drillhole data, wireframes and block models and confirm that the work and data are of a good standard and suitable for use for the calculation of a current MRE.

The drilling by Liontown in 2019 on the Cambridge Exploration License 26494 has confirmed the presence of vanadium mineralization in twin holes in the Cambridge Resource area identified in the Optiro (2018) Report and has likely extended the mineralization envelope.

Mr. Nicholls of APEX has performed a property visit and has reviewed the assay data for the seven twin drill holes in comparison with the historical Intermin drill holes, and the results returned show comparable V2O5% assay results between the two sets of data.





Figure 2 - Plan View of the NQVP - Cambridge Deposit Showing the Drill Hole Locations and the Interpreted Mineralization Extents

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2005/142564_0bb8e9d7e4d87a56_004full.jpg

Figure 3 - Cross-Sectional View 694700E of the NQVP - Cambridge Deposit Showing the V2O5 Estimated Grades, Drill Hole Assays and the Interpreted Mineralization Extents. The Vertical Exaggeration of This Cross Section is 1:25.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2005/142564_0bb8e9d7e4d87a56_005full.jpg

Figure 4 - Cross-Sectional View 692700E of the NQVP - Cambridge Deposit Showing the V2O5 Estimated Grades, Drill Hole Assays and the Interpreted Mineralization Extents. The Vertical Exaggeration of This Cross Section is 1:25.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2005/142564_0bb8e9d7e4d87a56_006full.jpg

Qualified Persons and 43-101 Disclosure

The updated Cambridge MRE was reviewed and approved for release by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., President and Principal of APEX in accordance with the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

During 2022, APEX was retained by Currie Rose to complete an updated NI 43-101 report and update the mineral resource estimate for the Cambridge Deposit. The authors of the report, Mr. Michael Dufresne and Mr. Steven Nicholls of APEX, both independent qualified persons as defined by the Canadian Securities Administration (CSA) National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Nicholls conducted the most recent property visit in November 2021 and compiled the mineralized domains for the mineral resource estimation of the Cambridge Deposit.

About Currie Rose Resources Inc.

Currie Rose is a publicly traded battery metals explorer and developer focused on identifying high-value assets in mining-friendly jurisdictions. The Company's immediate focus is the advanced North Queensland Vanadium Project in Queensland, Australia. Please visit our website at www.currierose.com.

For additional information, please contact:

Mike Griffiths, CEO

Office: 905-688-9115 ext. 104

Email: info@currierose.com

Iryna Zheliasko, Investor Relations

Office: 905-688-9115 ext. 322

Email: communications@currierose.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's expectations, estimates and projections regarding its business and the economic environment in which it operates. Statements about the closing of the transaction, expected terms of the transaction, the number of securities of Currie Rose that may be issued in connection with the transaction, and the parties' ability to satisfy closing conditions and receive necessary approvals are all forward-looking information. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements and readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. Statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update them publicly to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances, unless otherwise required to do so by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142564
Public Company Platform Will Enhance Gesturetek Brand Growth

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / Winning Brands Corporation (OTC PINK:WNBD) www.WinningBrands.com reports that its acquisition of the GestureTek brand and operations is now complete. The union of GestureTek's business interests with Winning Brands, by way of acquisition, was predicted by Winning Brands management in earlier disclosures as a key element of its VISION 21 program for growth of Winning Brands' intrinsic value.

A Receiver's Certificate has been filed with the Superior Court that states in part, "The Purchaser has paid and the Vendors have received the Purchase Price for the Purchased Assets payable on the Closing Date pursuant to the APA; The conditions to Closing as set out in the APA have been satisfied or waived by the Vendors; and the Transaction has been completed ." The appeals period has passed. There is no further recourse by other parties to the acquisition, and the transaction has therefore been fully closed.

The acquisition brings important benefits to GestureTek customers and associates. GestureTek is the inventor and early developer of the burgeoning tech sector of "immersive gesture control" of digital displays and devices. GestureTek's technology has for many years been at the leading edge of innovation in touchless immersive gesture control of a wide array of visual display systems, across diverse industries. The GestureTek brand is well known and respected in this market, and enjoys a large installed commercial customer base worldwide. A brief overview of GestureTek's award-winning history in medical and other sectors can be seen in its websites or easily found in any internet search with the search term "GestureTek". Company websites include: www.GestureTek.com and www.GestureTekHealth.com. Abundant video resources are also available at https://vimeo.com/search?q=GestureTek. The benefits of this union to GestureTek customers and associates flow from the enhanced visibility of the GestureTek brand in the public company realm. New resources will also become available to GestureTek to implement its next generation of applications and enhanced service.

Winning Brands CEO, Eric Lehner, describes for WNBD shareholders how Winning Brands will treat future financing to optimize the health of Winning Brands stock.

"As a result of this transaction, all previous GestureTek intellectual property and asset ownership held by others in these proceedings is now vested with Winning Brands instead. Winning Brands will be creating a new GestureTek corporate entity for all future commercialization of GestureTek and will utilize a minority portion of that new entity for the purpose of future GestureTek financing, rather than relying on Winning Brands common stock dilution. Therefore, future Winning Brands stock issuances can be utilized to accelerate the retirement of debt faster than would otherwise have been possible. The new GestureTek subsidiary will have a valuation that is significantly higher than Winning Brands' present market cap. This arises from many factors, including specific existing GestureTek patent rights and goodwill factors that follow from years of tech industry leadership. This will make it possible to raise significant GestureTek growth capital with only modest equity encroachment into the subsidiary, rather than utilizing WNBD common shares for that purpose. The new GestureTek equity investor positions will not enter the OTC market system for the foreseeable future. This approach will benefit current and future WNBD shareholders greatly."

Mr. Lehner will be addressing this topic and related issues continuously in social media www.Twitter.com/WinningCEO and other communications venues, in order to provide further context and discuss myriad associated details. Comments contained in this disclosure should be read in conjunction with such further official statements, to be provided publicly.

Going forward, GestureTek will retain its identity and culture, both in terms of legacy and operations, however, GestureTek customers will be informed that GestureTek has become a part of the Winning Brands organization.

ABOUT WINNING BRANDS CORPORATION

Winning Brands has been a manufacturer of record of a variety of environmentally oriented consumer products. Winning Brands indicated in its public communications that it seeks to enhance shareholder value by curating additional business ventures with broader scope, including the launch of a Tech Division. This Tech Division will be the new home of the GestureTek brand.

Safe Harbor: Statements contained in this news release, other than those identifying historical facts, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Safe Harbor provisions as contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements relating to the Company's future expectations, including but not limited to revenues and earnings, technology efficacy, strategies and plans, are subject to safe harbors protection. Actual Company results and performance may be materially different from any future results, performance, strategies, plans, or achievements that may be expressed or implied by any such forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

CONTACT:

Eric Lehner

Winning Brands

+1 705-737-4062 ext. 8

eric@winningbrands.ca

Visit us on social media:

Twitter

SOURCE: Winning Brands Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/723219/Winning-Brands-Acquisition-of-the-GestureTek-Brand-is-Complete
1 November 2022

KR1 PLC

("KR1" or the "Company")

Result of AGM and Statement

KR1 plc (KR1:AQSE), a leading digital asset investment company, announces that at the Annual General Meeting ("AGM") of the Company, held earlier today, all resolutions were duly passed.

George McDonaugh and Keld van Schreven, Managing Directors of KR1 plc, commented:

"Since the announcement of KR1's interim results on 30 September 2022, market conditions have remained as expected with the digital asset market still being in a prolonged downturn. Major factors contributing to the downward pressure include the volatile global macroeconomic environment, regulatory uncertainty as well as the deleveraging of various businesses in the crypto industry. However, we firmly believe that the investment case for digital assets remains strong, buoyed by increasing institutional buy-in and continued innovation utilising blockchain technology.

In the current period, the Company has been active in the Ethereum, Polkadot and Cosmos blockchain communities, attending key conferences including Ethereum's Devcon as well as Polkadot's Decoded, among others. With that, we continue to explore seed and early-stage investment opportunities, as valuations for early-stage funding rounds normalise in line with the progression of the 'bear market', and have been introduced to a wave of innovative new projects, which are yet to hit the market.

While overall portfolio asset prices remain depressed, revenue from staking activities, a core part of the Company's strategy, has been consistent throughout the period, providing a reliable source of income to the Company while protecting underlying assets from being diluted."

The Directors of KR1 plc accept responsibility for this announcement.

--ENDS--

For further information please contact:

KR1 PLC

George McDonaugh

Keld van Schreven +44 (0)1624 630 630 Peterhouse Capital Limited (AQSE Corporate Adviser)

Mark Anwyl +44 (0)20 7469 0930 FTI Consulting LLP (PR Adviser)

Laura Ewart

Gina Magnin +44 (0)7711 387 085

KR1@fticonsulting.com

About KR1 plc

KR1 plc is a leading digital asset investment company supporting early-stage decentralised and open source blockchain projects. Founded in 2016 and publicly traded in London on the AQSE Growth Market (KR1:AQSE), KR1 has one of the longest and most successful track records of investment in the digital assets space by investing in decentralised platforms and protocols that are emerging to form new financial and internet infrastructures.

www.KR1.io
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / Skeena Resources Limited (TSX:SKE)(NYSE:SKE) ("Skeena" or the "Company") is pleased to announce drilling results from the very first deep drill hole that successfully intersected the down dip extension of the Eskay Creek Deposits as part of the ongoing 2022 regional and near mine exploration programs at the Eskay Creek gold-silver Project ("Eskay Creek" or the "Project") in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia. Analytical results and reference images from the recently completed drill hole SK-22-1081 are detailed in this release as well as on the Company's website.

Eskay Creek Rift Extended to Depth with New Mineralization

Exploratory drill hole SK-22-1081 has identified a completely new occurrence of Rhyolite-hosted mineralization situated 650 metres down dip of the NEX Zone in the Eskay Deeps. This very broad interval grades 3.79 g/t Au, 59.4 g/t Ag (4.46 g/t AuEq) over 32.19 metres and includes numerous high tenor subintervals including 10.15 g/t Au, 44.0 g/t Ag (10.64 g/t AuEq) over 1.00 metres, and 2.33 g/t Au, 699.0 g/t Ag (10.18 g/t AuEq) over 1.00 metres. Full assays for the entire intersection are detailed in Table 1 below.

Situated at a vertical depth of 850 metres below surface, the new gold-silver mineralization is hosted entirely within altered Rhyolite Breccias which begin four metres below a very thin (<1 metre) and unmineralized layer of Contact Mudstone. The stratigraphic sequence, styles of mineralization, alteration and geochemical signatures are all analogous to those observed throughout the main Eskay Creek Deposits.

"This new discovery suggests significant exploration potential north and west of the currently defined resources for the Project. This also unequivocally demonstrates that the Eskay Creek mineralized system is still thriving at depth", commented Paul Geddes, the Company's Senior Vice President of Exploration and Resource Development.

Walter Coles, the Company's Executive Chairman goes on to explain, "Preliminary drill testing of the Eskay Deeps was necessary to investigate the true size potential of the Eskay Rift. It is still early days, but we are excited by this discovery as it opens up an entirely new area for underground exploration."

Interpretation and Implications for Further Exploration

Supported by modern geophysical data, lithogeochemical and structural studies, this new intersection corroborates the current thesis that the strike extension of the entire Eskay Creek Rift north of the NEX Zone has been offset northwest of its previously inferred trend. Due to the paucity of historical drilling, the area west of the formerly interpreted extension provides for exceptional exploration potential especially considering this new occurrence of feeder style mineralization.

Contact Mudstone Discussion

As previously mentioned, the new Eskay Deeps mineralization is entirely hosted within altered Rhyolite Breccias consistent with footwall feeder style mineralization observed throughout other ore bodies that comprise the Eskay Creek Deposits. The thin and unmineralized interval of Contact Mudstone immediately overlying the feeder mineralization is not uncommon at Eskay Creek especially within the 21 Zones and most recently in the newly outlined 21A West Zone. In the main deposits, exhalative, high-grade Contact Mudstone-hosted mineralization typically occurs within 150 metres of mineralized, synvolcanic feeder systems.

Historical Drilling Campaigns - Selective Sampling

Surface based drilling campaigns were performed by previous operators on very widely spaced drill centers in the Eskay Deeps, with an emphasis to the north-east and often exceeding 100 metres between holes. Unfortunately, as is the case with this era of drilling, sampling of the drill holes was selective and incomplete as the focus for exploration at the time was high grade Contact Mudstone hosted mineralization. An example of this situation is illustrated by historical 2004 drill hole C04-1291 which is situated approximately 100 metres grid east of the new discovery and was only selectively sampled. Due to the ground conditions and less advanced drilling technologies available at the time, many of the drill holes were unable to achieve target depth and were abandoned prematurely.

About Skeena

Skeena Resources Limited is a Canadian mining exploration and development company focused on revitalizing the past-producing Eskay Creek gold-silver mine located in Tahltan Territory in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Company released a Feasibility Study for Eskay Creek in September 2022 which highlights an open-pit average grade of 4.00 g/t AuEq, an after-tax NPV5% of C$1.4B, 50% IRR, and a 1-year payback at US$1,700/oz Au and US$19/oz Ag. Skeena is currently continuing exploration drilling at Eskay Creek.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Skeena Resources Limited,

Walter Coles Jr. Randy Reichert Executive Chairman President & CEO

Contact Information

Investor Inquiries: info@skeenaresources.com

Office Phone: +1 604 684 8725

Company Website: www.skeenaresources.com

Qualified Persons

Exploration activities at the Eskay Creek Project are administered on site by the Company's Exploration Managers, Raegan Markel, P.Geo. and Director of Exploration, Adrian Newton P.Geo. In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Paul Geddes, P.Geo. Senior Vice President Exploration and Resource Development, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has prepared, validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting the exploration activities on its projects.

Quality Assurance - Quality Control

Once received from the drill and processed, all drill core samples are sawn in half, labelled and bagged. The remaining drill core is subsequently securely stored on site. Numbered security tags are applied to lab shipments for chain of custody requirements. The Company inserts quality control (QC) samples at regular intervals in the sample stream, including blanks and reference materials with all sample shipments to monitor laboratory performance. The QAQC program was designed and approved by Lynda Bloom, P.Geo. of Analytical Solutions Ltd., and is overseen by the Company's Qualified Person, Paul Geddes, P.Geo, Vice President Exploration and Resource Development.

Drill core samples are submitted to ALS Geochemistry's analytical facility in North Vancouver, British Columbia for preparation and analysis. The ALS facility is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard for gold assays and all analytical methods include quality control materials at set frequencies with established data acceptance criteria. The entire sample is crushed and 1 kg is pulverized. Analysis for gold is by 50 g fire assay fusion with atomic absorption (AAS) finish with a lower limit of 0.01 ppm and upper limit of 100 ppm. Samples with gold assays greater than 100 ppm are re-analyzed using a 50 g fire assay fusion with gravimetric finish. Analysis for silver is by 50 g fire assay fusion with gravimetric finish with a lower limit of 5ppm and upper limit of 10,000 ppm. Samples with silver assays greater than 10,000 ppm are re-analyzed using a gravimetric silver concentrate method. A selected number of samples are also analyzed using a 48 multi-element geochemical package by a 4-acid digestion, followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and also for mercury using an aqua regia digest with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) finish. Samples with sulfur reporting greater than 10% from the multi-element analysis are re-analyzed for total sulfur by Leco furnace and infrared spectroscopy.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

Certain statements and information contained or incorporated by reference in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or our future performance. The use of words such as "anticipates", "believes", "proposes", "contemplates", "generates", "targets", "is projected", "is planned", "considers", "estimates", "expects", "is expected", "potential" and similar expressions, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "might", "will", "could", or "would" be taken, achieved, or occur, may identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Specific forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the results of the Feasibility Study, processing capacity of the mine, anticipated mine life, probable reserves, estimated project capital and operating costs, sustaining costs, results of test work and studies, planned environmental assessments, the future price of metals, metal concentrate, and future exploration and development. Such forward-looking statements are based on material factors and/or assumptions which include, but are not limited to, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and the assumptions set forth herein and in the Company's MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2021, its most recently filed interim MD&A, and the Company's Annual Information Form ("AIF") dated March 31, 2022. Such forward-looking statements represent the Company's management expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances on the date the statements are made, and are necessarily based on several estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date hereof, are not guarantees of future performance. Actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein, and are subject to significant operational, business, economic, and regulatory risks and uncertainties. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties, including permitting and other government approvals; changes in economic conditions, including changes in the price of gold and other key variables; changes in mine plans and other factors, including accidents, equipment breakdown, bad weather and other project execution delays, many of which are beyond the control of the Company; environmental risks and unanticipated reclamation expenses; and other risk factors identified in the Company's MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2021, its most recently filed interim MD&A, the AIF dated March 31, 2022, the base shelf prospectus dated November 11, 2020, the prospectus supplement to the Company's base shelf prospectus dated September 20, 2022 and in the Company's other periodic filings with securities and regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States that are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and Company does not undertake any obligations to update and/or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws.

Cautionary note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources

Skeena's mineral reserves and mineral resources included or incorporated by reference herein have been estimated in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") as required by Canadian securities regulatory authorities, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. The terms "mineral reserve", "proven mineral reserve", "probable mineral reserve", "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") "CIM Definition Standards - For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves" adopted by the CIM Council (as amended, the "CIM Definition Standards"). These standards differ significantly from the mineral property disclosure requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Regulation S-K Subpart 1300 (the "SEC Modernization Rules"). Skeena is not currently subject to the SEC Modernization Rules. Accordingly, Skeena's disclosure of mineralization and other technical information may differ significantly from the information that would be disclosed had Skeena prepared the information under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules.

In addition, investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of Skeena's mineral resources constitute or will be converted into reserves. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to assume that any "measured", "indicated", or "inferred" mineral resources that Skeena reports are or will be economically or legally mineable. Further, "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of "inferred mineral resources" may not form the basis of feasibility or prefeasibility studies, except in rare cases where permitted under NI 43-101.

For these reasons, the mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates and related information presented herein may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Table 1: SK-22-1081 Eskay Creek Project 2022 Exploratory Drilling Campaign Length-Weighted Drill Hole Composite and Assays:

Hole-ID From (m) To (m) Sample Length (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AuEq (g/t) SK-22-1081 855.69 887.88 32.19 3.79 59.4 4.46 INCLUDING 855.69 857.00 1.31 5.05 87.0 6.03 AND 857.00 858.50 1.50 2.53 72.3 3.34 AND 858.50 860.00 1.50 1.01 19.9 1.23 AND 860.00 861.50 1.50 1.51 13.2 1.66 AND 861.50 863.00 1.50 2.21 26.2 2.50 AND 863.00 863.76 0.76 1.96 14.6 2.12 AND 863.76 865.00 1.24 5.24 40.9 5.70 AND 865.00 866.00 1.00 3.91 18.4 4.12 AND 866.00 867.00 1.00 5.48 24.6 5.76 AND 867.00 868.00 1.00 10.15 44.0 10.64 AND 868.00 869.00 1.00 9.51 48.0 10.05 AND 869.00 870.00 1.00 6.39 22.7 6.65 AND 870.00 871.05 1.05 3.60 10.4 3.72 AND 871.05 872.25 1.20 4.26 6.8 4.34 AND 872.25 873.50 1.25 5.43 13.1 5.58 AND 873.50 875.00 1.50 2.31 11.5 2.44 AND 875.00 876.50 1.50 0.97 6.8 1.05 AND 876.50 878.00 1.50 2.49 6.5 2.56 AND 878.00 879.50 1.50 2.79 5.0 2.85 AND 879.50 881.00 1.50 4.80 28.3 5.12 AND 881.00 882.00 1.00 3.72 122.0 5.09 AND 882.00 883.00 1.00 2.33 699.0 10.18 AND 883.00 884.00 1.00 1.62 66.4 2.37 AND 884.00 885.50 1.50 2.48 92.8 3.52 AND 885.50 887.00 1.50 4.50 142.0 6.10 AND 887.00 887.88 0.88 8.34 21.1 8.58 SK-22-1081 892.00 893.50 1.50 4.77 6.5 4.84 SK-22-1081 982.71 988.00 5.29 1.01 2.4 1.04 SK-22-1081 995.50 997.00 1.50 2.08 1.2 2.09

Gold Equivalent (AuEq) calculated via the formula: Au (g/t) + [Ag (g/t) / 90]. True widths and zone geometries cannot be definitively determined at this time. Grade-capping of individual assays has not been applied to the Au and Ag assays informing the length-weighted AuEq composites. Metallurgical processing recoveries have not been applied to the AuEq calculation and are taken at 100%. Samples below detection limit were nulled to a value of zero.

Table 2: SK-22-1081 Mine Grid Drill Hole Location and Orientation:

Hole-ID Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (m) Length (m) Azimuth () Dip () SK-22-1081 9979.5 11939.6 813.5 1493.0 337.0 -90.0

SOURCE: Skeena Resources Limited

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SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global digital biomarkers market size is expected to reach USD 13,966.16 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 21.9% during the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Due to the rising acceptance of recent advancements and remote technologies, the market for digital biomarkers is anticipated to expand throughout the forecast period. Development of the remote data collecting technologies, which make up the largest segment of the market for digital biomarkers, has been propelled by the improvements in wearable and mobile technology. Additionally, this market segment is being further assisted by the growing use of the internet.





Key Industry Insights & Findings from the report:

Cardiovascular and metabolic disorders (CVMD) had the highest revenue share of more than 20.0% in the therapeutic area segment in 2021 and is anticipated that it will continue to have a significant major presence given the rising prevalence of cardiovascular diseases among patient populations around the globe. On the other hand, due to COVID-19 and emerging new technologies, it is anticipated that during the forecast period, market revenue share for respiratory disorders will expand at the fastest rate.

Due to the growing use of diagnostic monitoring meant for clinical disease and daily living, diagnostic digital biomarkers had the largest revenue share in the clinical practice segment in 2021. Moreover, the fastest revenue growth is anticipated for monitoring digital biomarkers during the forecast period.

Wearable had a revenue share of more than 39.0% in the digital biomarker type segment in 2021, due to the release of new, cutting-edge wearable smart watches and other products. As a result of the extensive usage of smartphones, worldwide, it is anticipated that revenue share growth for mobile-based applications would happen at the fastest rate during the forecast period. Additionally, rising usage of new technologies, and sensors, would also confront intense competition during the forecast period.

Healthcare companies hold the largest, more than 50.0% market share within the end-use category, in 2021, as a result of the rising indications and demands for cost-effective clinical trial and product analysis strategies.

North America dominated the market in 2021 and generated more than 59.0% share of the total revenue, as a result of its well-established advanced healthcare infrastructure and large expenditure in R&D activities. Furthermore, Europe would see the fastest rate of growth during the forecast period.

By engaging in partnerships, acquisitions, mergers, and product launches, key companies also help the market to expand. For instance, in 2021, Med able collaborated with the digital biomarkers business Aural Analytics to measure distant speech patterns and monitor their well-being and stage of decline.

Read 150-page market research report, "Digital Biomarkers Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Wearable, Mobile based Applications, Sensors), By Clinical Practice, By Therapeutic Area, By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030", published by Grand View Research.

Digital Biomarkers Market Growth & Trends

Vocal digital biomarkers in particular have lately come into existence and offer enormous business development potential. They enable easy data collection through voice recordings and through patient-owned technology like cell phones, wearables, and other devices. Vocal biomarkers are being utilized more frequently, which might ease the strain on the healthcare systems and improve patient outcomes by enhancing early intervention and before-time identification of physical or mental illnesses, boosting the market's expansion during the forecast period.

Furthermore, in order to acquire market presence and further boost its revenue market share during the forecast, players have also begun exploring the vocal digital biomarkers. For instance, in October 2021, Sonde health launched a voice-enabled mental fitness monitoring technology platform.

Additionally, the market is anticipated to experience substantial expansion during the forecast period due to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the growing need for enhanced drug development to successfully control these diseases. In comparison to the conventional clinical trial process, digital biomarkers accelerate the development of new drugs.

According to a study by one of the well-known decentralized trial platform providers, Med able, 85.0% of all clinical trials experience some sort of delay, with the financial impact of delays costing between USD 600,000 and USD 8 million per day, decentralized clinical trials could save up to 1 to 3 months of time in phase 2 studies. As a result, medicine manufacturers are spending money on a digital biomarker for DCT, which is anticipated to fuel market expansion. For instance, AstraZeneca stated in March 2022 that it had invested USD 33.0 million in Huma, a UK-based company that provides decentralized clinical trials based on remote digital biomarkers. Through this alliance, the company will quicken the adoption of DCT.

Forward-thinking market participants are expanding their decisions and moving beyond typical suppliers in order to strengthen the company's position in the global market for digital biomarkers by utilizing the wide range of technology capabilities and services required for future success. These companies have employed a variety of strategies such as product launches, joint ventures, and mergers & acquisitions. For instance, in April 2022, Pfizer acquired ResApp, an Australian- based startup that had created an app that uses artificial intelligence to gauge and determine the severity of respiratory problems using the coughing voice of a patient.

Digital Biomarkers Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global digital biomarkers market based on the type, clinical practice, therapeutic area, end-use, and region

Digital Biomarkers Market - Type Outlook (Revenue, Million, 2017 - 2030)

Wearable

Mobile based Applications

Sensors

Others

Digital Biomarkers Market - Clinical Practice Outlook (Revenue, Million, 2017 - 2030)

Diagnostic digital biomarkers

Monitoring digital biomarkers

Predictive and Prognostic digital biomarkers

Others (Safety, Pharmaco dynamics/ Response, Susceptibility, etc)

Digital Biomarkers Market - Therapeutic Area Outlook (Revenue, Million, 2017 - 2030)

Cardiovascular and metabolic disorders (CVMD)

Respiratory disorders

Psychiatric disorders

Sleep & Movement Disease

Neurological disorders

Musculoskeletal disorders

Others (Diabetes, Pain Management)

Digital Biomarkers Market - End-Use Outlook (Revenue, Million, 2017 - 2030)

Healthcare companies

Healthcare providers

Payers

Others

Digital Biomarkers Market - Regional Outlook (Revenue, Million, 2017 - 2030)

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

U.K.



Germany



Netherlands



Italy



Switzerland

Asia Pacific

Japan



India



China



Australia



South Korea

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico

Middle East & Africa

& South Africa



Israel

List of Key Players in Digital Biomarker Market

ActiGraph LLC

AliveCor Inc.

Koneksa

Altoida Inc.

Amgen Inc. (Public)

Biogen Inc. (Public)

Empatica Inc.

Vivo Sense

IXICO plc (Public)

Adherium Limited (Public)

Neurotrack Technologies, Inc.

Aural Analytic (Partnered with Med able)

Huma

Sonde Health, Inc.

ResApp (Pfizer)

Clario

Imagene AI

Brainomix

Kinsa Inc.

Feel Therapeutics

Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research:

U.S. Digital Therapeutics Market - The U.S. digital therapeutics market size is anticipated to reach USD 10.5 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a lucrative CAGR of 24.8% from 2022 to 2030. Growing healthcare consumerism, the availability & development of DTx products, and the rising number of market players are driving the regional market.

The U.S. digital therapeutics market size is anticipated to reach by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a lucrative CAGR of 24.8% from 2022 to 2030. Growing healthcare consumerism, the availability & development of DTx products, and the rising number of market players are driving the regional market. Europe Digital Health Market - The Europe digital health market size is expected to reach USD 323.4 billion by 2030 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 27.1% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing aging population, rise in prevalence of chronic disorders in Europe , and growing demand for remote patient monitoring are among the major factors driving the market growth in this region. In addition, improved IT infrastructure, growing digitalization of healthcare, and rising medical expenses are also anticipated to accelerate the market growth over the forecast period. Moreover, the shortage of healthcare professionals and overburdened healthcare facilities are also expected to increase the adoption of digital health platforms.

- The digital health market size is expected to reach by 2030 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 27.1% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing aging population, rise in prevalence of chronic disorders in , and growing demand for remote patient monitoring are among the major factors driving the market growth in this region. In addition, improved IT infrastructure, growing digitalization of healthcare, and rising medical expenses are also anticipated to accelerate the market growth over the forecast period. Moreover, the shortage of healthcare professionals and overburdened healthcare facilities are also expected to increase the adoption of digital health platforms. Digital Health Market - The global digital health market size is expected to reach USD 1.5 trillion by 2030 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 27.7% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Advancements in the internet connectivity, growing smartphone penetration, rising healthcare IT expenses, developing IT infrastructure, technology readiness, a growing shortage of healthcare providers, overburdened healthcare facilities, and rising medical expenses are driving the market growth.

Browse through Grand View Research's Healthcare IT Industry Research Reports.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

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With installers who cater to African businesses making the headlines this year, Jasper Graf von Hardenberg - whose C&I solar business was recently bought by Shell - explains here how the story of the continent's commercial and industrial (C&I) solar segment was far from an overnight success.For Africa's commercial and industrial (C&I) solar industry, 2022 has truly been a watershed year. The sector has seen an unprecedented level of activity in the form of mergers and acquisitions and large scale investments. Oslo-based Empower New Energy raised $100 million for 150 MW of industrial solar projects ...

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.
Iowa bank's implementation of Nexus Engagement and Nexus Origination strengthens its relationships with customers and real estate agents

LEHI, Utah, Nov. 01, 2022), an nCinohas completed the company-wide rollout of Nexus Engagement and Nexus Origination to offer customers a modern homebuying experience from the convenience of their phones.



Founded in 1917, Peoples Bank is a locally-owned, independent community bank with more than $422 million in assets and nine locations in central and west-central Iowa. The bank implemented SimpleNexus' mobile lead engagement toolset, Nexus Engagement, and its from-anywhere mortgage point-of-sale (POS) product, Nexus Origination, to enhance the customer experience, originate mortgage loans more efficiently and improve referral strategies with real estate professionals.

"Our loan officers love using SimpleNexus because it is so intuitive. When a prospect begins a mortgage inquiry or application, the app prompts them to snap and upload pictures of the documentation needed to get them pre-qualified," said Tracy Van Sickle, vice president, mortgage loan supervisor at Peoples Bank. "By automating time-consuming processes like chasing down documents and giving borrowers modern alternatives to scanning and faxing, SimpleNexus eliminates many of the pain points in the lending process, much to the delight of our customers and loan officers."

Leveraging SimpleNexus' native integrations with the bank's mortgage loan origination system (LOS) and document provider has allowed Peoples Bank to streamline its document workflow by prompting borrowers to eSign standard disclosures and specialty documents alike. Additionally, quickly generating pre-qualification letters from the SimpleNexus mobile app and sharing them with agents has helped loan officers bolster referrals.

"The forward-thinking leaders at Peoples Bank understand the importance of technology and the central role it plays in consumers' lives," said Ben Miller, CEO of SimpleNexus. "It is an honor to support a bank that, like SimpleNexus, pursues innovation and is passionate about providing excellent service to homebuyers."

About SimpleNexus

SimpleNexus, an nCinoor follow @SimpleNexus.

About Peoples Bank

As a family-owned bank with a history in Iowa since 1917, Peoples Bank has been committed to serving the personal and business banking needs of the communities we are honored to be a part of. Headquartered in Clive, Iowa, we serve Central Iowans with a total of nine branch locations across the metro and rural markets. Peoples Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Learn more about our company, history, community outreach and environmental initiatives that define us today and into tomorrow at https://www.mypeoples.bank/about-us.

Media Contacts

Leslie Colley

DepthPR for SimpleNexus

+1 678.622.6229

leslie@depthpr.com

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SimpleNexus

+1 414.688.6077

dbolin@simplenexus.com

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally include actions, events, results, strategies and expectations and are often identifiable by use of the words "believes," "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "seeks," "estimates," "projects," "may," "will," "could," "might," or "continues" or similar expressions. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon nCino's historical performance and its current plans, estimates, and expectations, and are not a representation that such plans, estimates, or expectations will be achieved. These forward-looking statements represent nCino's expectations as of the date of this press release. Subsequent events may cause these expectations to change and, except as may be required by law, nCino does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially including, among others, risks and uncertainties relating to the market adoption of our solution and privacy and data security matters. Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect nCino's business and financial results are included in reports filed by nCino with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (available on our web site at www.ncino.com or the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov). Further information on potential risks that could affect actual results will be included in other filings nCino makes with the SEC from time to time.
LONDON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Verisure UK has raised the bar in home protection yet again with the launch of its latest innovation in home security. Heralding the future of home security, the updated alarm suite gives homeowners a 360 approach to their home security with a whole new approach to home access, intruder detection and verification, and police notification.

The cutting-edge security system gives homeowners more control than ever before - with new features including photo burst motion sensor cameras and smokescreens to impair intruder vision. Homeowners can see what is happening in their home or business at all times and have the ability to remotely control the alarm system via the Verisure app or website.

The new system is also equipped with the latest anti-jamming technology to prevent criminals from blocking or bypassing more traditional alarm systems.

The Verisure system covers every step in protecting a property, including:

Deterrence - external cameras provide a strong deterrent to would be intruders

- Detection - shock sensors detect intruders before they enter the home

- Verification - remote monitoring will verify any incidence through high quality images and sound. These quality images can be used as evidence in any subsequent prosecution

- Response - Police notification and activation of a smokescreen

- Control - Homeowners have complete control of their system via an app or website

According to Horacio Perez, Operations Director at Verisure: "With criminals forever seeking ways to outsmart alarm systems, Verisure is making sure it stays one step ahead - using cutting edge technology to give homeowners the best possible protection."

Some of the innovative features of the latest system include:

SVK (Siren-Voice-Keypad): A full voice communications system, SVK combines an alarm siren, voice notification and SOS button into one device.

A full voice communications system, SVK combines an alarm siren, voice notification and SOS button into one device. Zerovision: Designed to generate a smokescreen in the event of a burglary, ZeroVision reduces visibility in a room to zero. By impairing intruder vision, the smokescreen forces them to leave and/or slow down, which increases the likelihood of arrest.

Designed to generate a smokescreen in the event of a burglary, ZeroVision reduces visibility in a room to zero. By impairing intruder vision, the smokescreen forces them to leave and/or slow down, which increases the likelihood of arrest. Photo Detector: Motion sensor cameras combine photo burst capture functionality with infrared technology - meaning that no matter what time of day or night, the system will capture, photograph, and display all intruders. These award-winning cameras can capture live video whenever movement is detected.

Motion sensor cameras combine photo burst capture functionality with infrared technology - meaning that no matter what time of day or night, the system will capture, photograph, and display all intruders. These award-winning cameras can capture live video whenever movement is detected. Control panel: Homeowners have total control over the system via the control panel. Not only does it include an SOS button and climate sensor (with notifications if thresholds are reached) but can also be controlled by voice for ease of use.

Perez continued: "Up until now alarm systems have focussed on monitoring, with some having the ability to contact emergency services in the event of an alarm. Verisure's latest offering goes much further - allowing homeowners to act in the event of a break in - giving them more control than ever before."

"This next generation technology will give homeowners the peace of mind that their properties will be protected 24/7."

About Verisure



Verisure is the leading European provider of professionally monitored security systems with 24/7 response services. It protects close to 4.5 million customers in 17 countries in Europe and Latin America. In late 2019 Arlo Europe also became part of Verisure. The Company's mission is to bring peace of mind to families and small business owners by providing them with the best security solutions and services. Verisure is known for category-creating marketing, sales excellence, innovative products and services and customer-centricity. Verisure protects a highly satisfied and loyal customer base, with some of the strongest growth rates and best retention rates globally in consumer-facing services, demonstrating its exceptional service levels and strong value proposition to its customers.

For more information: www.verisure.co.uk

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A police officer stands to control public access to the alley, Monday, where the deadly crowd crush took place during Itaewon's Halloween celebrations on Saturday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



Foreign ministry says Iranian official's criticism is his own, not Iran's position



By Lee Hae-rin



Foreign nationals and media have been accusing the Korean government of failing to control the crowd in Itaewon on Saturday, pointing to that as one of the main reasons the Halloween tragedy happened there, killing at least 156 people and injuring 152.



The Iranian government publicly criticized the Korean government for the lack of crowd control. Nasser Kanaani, a spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, said on Monday during a press briefing that the Korean government should have properly managed the situation and implemented safety measures to control the Halloween crowds.



The spokesman expressed condolences to Korea and said that he hopes the country manages the situation properly and takes necessary measures to respond to injuries and other issues with a systematic plan.



As of Tuesday, 26 foreign nationals from 14 different countries, including Iran, China, Russia, Japan, the U.S., Norway, France, Austria and Australia are confirmed dead and have been identified.



Iran tops the affected countries with five of its nationals having been killed in the tragedy, including four students pursuing their master's degrees and one exchange student who arrived in Korea less than two months ago. Two of the victims have been identified as a married couple.



Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs refuted the Iranian spokesman's criticism, saying that what he said represents his own stance, rather than the official stance of the Iranian government.



The ministry said Tuesday that it checked with the Iranian authorities about the spokesman's comments and confirmed that it was not an official stance. The Korean government expressed regret that such comments should not have been made regardless and requested the Iranian authorities to avoid a recurrence of such an incident.









In response, Iran's government expressed its condolences once again for the tragedy and reconfirmed its will to cooperate with Korea in taking follow-up measures, the ministry added.



Julia Cho, 24, an Australian tattoo artist who was at the site Saturday night and lost her friend and compatriot, Grace Rached, 23, due to the lethal crowd crush, criticized the Korean authorities.



In an interview with the U.K. newspaper, The Daily Mail, published on Monday, Cho said, "The local authorities were not on standby and left innocent people helpless, despite knowing that there was an excessive amount of people in the streets with nowhere to go  People were suffocating, toppling over one another and crushed."



Cho added, "The government had insufficient systems in place to help worried families trying to get status updates about the safety of their loved ones  The government hotline for missing people is down now and victims' families do not even know where the bodies of their loved ones are at the moment."



In her post on social media, Cho also wrote, "The leaders and authorities hold sole responsibility and have failed their people. I'm posting this here to raise awareness and to express my grief for those whose livelihoods are stolen as a result of neglect and poor management."



Many foreign nationals interviewed by The Korea Times at the site of the tragedy on Sunday and Monday also testified about the insufficient police presence, echoing that it aggravated the situation.



International media are also critical of the Korean government's failure to control the crowd.



The Korean authorities "would have anticipated the high numbers  before Saturday night  There is a responsibility on the part of the authorities to be monitoring crowd volume in real time, so they can sense the need to get people out," Juliette Kayyem, CNN's disaster management expert and national security analyst at the channel said on Monday.





Minister of Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, bows to apologize over the ministry's failure to control the crowd in Itaewon for Halloween on Saturday at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
This integrated solution called "Tresorit eSign" combines convenience with security with a touch of a button

Tresorit, the leading Swiss-Hungarian end-to-end encrypted ("e2ee") cloud collaboration specialist and subsidiary of Swiss Post, today announced that it is expanding its portfolio of integrated solutions tailored to the US market, supplementing its award-winning secure workspace and email encryption plugins with eSignature capabilities.

Tresorit's highly secure Digital Workspace protects all files and documents so workforce members can collaborate internally and externally without compromising data security or privacy. With the addition of Tresorit Simple eSign, users can conveniently request signatures and manage signed documents in a single, end-to-end encrypted workspace. By expanding its suite of US offerings, the company is taking another key step towards providing a comprehensive, protected, and legally secure document management workflow that covers the entire lifecycle of sensitive information and documents integrated in one platform.

"The US privacy and data protection landscape is evolving with five new state privacy laws going into effect in the US in 2023 and a proposed federal legislation. Our zero-knowledge, end-to-end encrypted workspace was built with privacy and compliance in mind ," explains Tresorit CEO and co-founder Istvan Lam. "Remote work models drive business initiatives, and companies need to protect themselves from insider threats, like accidental data misuse. We believe that data privacy is a human right that should include protecting all information from unnecessary access, including from us. Companies can protect their customers' information with our end-to-end encryption, but they also protect their own information, like passwords and encryption keys, because we take a zero-knowledge approach."

The portfolio of secure solutions now includes Tresorit eSign where people can sign documents in the form of a simple electronic signature (SES). The signature of the contracting party is logically linked to the respective document to document his agreement with the content. Electronic signatures are considered legally binding under the U.S Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (ESIGN) Act and the Uniform Electronic Transaction Act (UETA), giving companies a way to digitally transform their contracts processes. Since all documents to be signed are stored in the end-to-end encrypted Tresorit environment, companies will be able to retain complete control over them and their confidential content.

"The US really embraced remote and hybrid work models over the last few years so using a secure workspace to handle internal and external communications is fundamental to zero trust implementations," said Rodrigo Nieto, Senior Sales Manager for the Americas. "Controlling and monitoring all user and device access to data is mission critical. By combining these with end-to-end encryption, organizations can fill in security gaps, ensuring comprehensive data security. With all these new laws, companies need to prove that their security controls protect data privacy which is why we also work to support compliance and audit initiatives.

Tresorit eSign is available to all Tresorit customers and further details about the solution as well as the download option can be found here. (www.tresorit.com/esign)

About Tresorit

Tresorit is an end-to-end encrypted productivity solution for ultra-secure collaboration including managing, storing, syncing, and transferring files. More than 10,000 businesses use Tresorit to protect their confidential data and securely share information. Since July 2021, Tresorit's majority shareholder is Swiss Post. Learn more at www.tresorit.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005029/en/

Contacts:

Contact:

Sonia Awan PR for Tresorit at

soniaawanpr@gmail.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2022) - Datametrex AI Limited (TSXV: DM) (FSE: D4G) (OTCQB: DTMXF) (the "Company" or "Datametrex') is pleased to announce that further to the news release on October 25, 2022, Medi-Call Inc., ("Medi-Call"), the Company's wholly-owned telehealth company has received three (3) distribution agreements, signed October 28, 2022, with international student agencies following Medi-Call attending South Korea's International Education Fair last week to present its telehealth services to international students and agencies for studying in Canada.

These new partnerships now connect Medi-Call with agencies that introduce services, such as healthcare to students who are planning their new journey into Canada. With an influx of new patients coming in from these agencies, Medi-Call's patient roster and telehealth subscribers are expected to grow significantly.

Medi-Call is a growing telehealth platform designed to meet the current needs of Canadians and provide more affordable and accessible healthcare to those who need it.

The latest Canadian healthcare data reports that 9.7 million Canadians are still having difficulty accessing healthcare, which includes 58% of those surveyed saying they have difficulty accessing specialist appointments, 54% saying they had difficulty accessing emergency care, 44% reporting difficulty accessing non-emergency treatment and 41% unable to access diagnostic tests. (Source: https://angusreid.org/canada-health-care-issues/)

"With Medi-Call's team of highly skilled physicians and nurses, our telehealth services aim to fill the current void and help provide healthcare to those in need. Our affordable packages provide convenient and accessible healthcare at your fingertips. We are thrilled to now have partnerships that allow us to provide our telehealth services to international students. We are glad to see Medi-Call make progress and are expected to see more distribution agreements in the future," said Marshall Gunter, CEO of the Company.

About the International Education and Emigration Fair

The International Education & Emigration Fair is the largest show offering information on studying abroad, working abroad, emigration and investment which brings more than 500 schools and associations related studying internationally from 30 countries and 50 associations related emigration and foreign investment from 5 countries every single time. The fair is a one-stop service, face-to-face counseling on the spot. The fair has many supporters like embassies, state governments, education offices and emigration offices and also had some qualifications to exhibitors to enhance public confidence. The International Education & Emigration Fair offers various programs including high qualified presentations to help advance your education, career, and business.

For more information, please visit: https://www.uhak2min.com/en/.

About Medi-Call

Medi-call is a subscription-based software as a service (SaaS) mobile application that connects patients with doctors. It is an integrated grid system that connects patients with providers in real time. Medi-Call solves accessibility issues for patients living in rural or isolated communities and those also have limited mobility while improving coordination and communication of treatment among healthcare team members and their patients. Medi-Call facilitates mobile health care services, including prescriptions and is passionate about building doctor-patient relationships virtually.

Visit Medicallmd.ca to learn more about the Company.

Download the Medi-Call App for Android: https://bit.ly/MCGooglePlay

Download the Medi-Call App for iOS: https://apple.co/3oos9m2

About Datametrex

Datametrex AI Limited is a technology-focused company with exposure to artificial intelligence, machine learning, telehealth and has recently entered the electric vehicle (EV) market. Datametrex's mission is to provide tools and solutions that support companies in fulfilling their operational goals, including health and safety, with predictive and preventive technologies. By working with companies to set a new standard of protocols through artificial intelligence and health diagnostics, the Company provides progressive solutions to support the supply chain.

For additional information on Datametrex and other corporate information, please visit the Company's website at www.datametrex.com.

To learn more about how our AI is used in Cyber Security, Telehealth and EV, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApFk3sWAXtg.

For further information:

Investor Relations & Communications

Priya Monique Atwal, Director of Communications

Email: investors@datametrex.com

Tel: 416-901-5611 x 204

Marshall Gunter, CEO

Email: mgunter@datametrex.com

Tel: 514-295-2300

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Bid. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events.

###

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142526
Vertical B2B SaaS veteran will focus on accelerating the company's global growth trajectory

Kantata, the leading global supplier of purpose-built technology for professional services, has named JD Miller the company's new Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). In this role, JD, a proven vertical SaaS sales leader, will develop and execute sales and partner strategies to support the increasing demand for Kantata's purpose-built SaaS solutions for professional and embedded services organizations.

Miller brings over 20 years of sales experience with valuable insights into cloud computing, enterprise technologies, and workforce solutions. Prior to joining Kantata, Miller served as CRO at Motus, a Boston-based reimbursement solutions provider for the mobile workforce in the fleet industry. Under Miller's nearly five years of leadership, the company experienced rapid ARR growth, strong EBITDA margins, net retention of over 100%, and high levels of customer satisfaction.

"JD's extensive experience and proven track record growing vertical SaaS businesses bring immediate impact to Kantata and will help extend our leadership position in the market," said Michael Speranza, CEO at Kantata. "The Kantata team is honored to welcome an executive with such a wealth of knowledge and expertise who is completely aligned with our organizational values."

With a Ph.D. in organizational communication from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Miller's leadership is marked by the intersection of technology, business, and humanity. Miller is active in the Chicago philanthropic community serving as the Board Chair Emeritus of Care for Friends and a member of the Advisory Board of the Department of Communication at the University of Illinois. His professional and community work have seen him recognized as one of the 20 Most Inspiring Chicagoans and a Notable LGBTQ Executive by Crain's Chicago Business.

"I'm thrilled at the opportunity to join Kantata during an exciting time of high growth and transformation. Kantata has a great client list and innovative vertical SaaS solutions, on both Salesforce and open platforms, designed to tackle some of the most complex challenges services organizations face. I've been impressed by the values of the board, leadership team and sales organization, and look forward to working with them to further accelerate growth and scale for an industry-leading solutions provider," said Miller.

About Kantata:

Kantata takes professional services automation to a new level, giving people-powered businesses the clarity, control, and confidence they need to optimize resource planning and elevate operational performance. Our purpose-built cloud software is helping over 2,000 professional services organizations in more than 100 countries focus on all and optimize their most important asset: their people. By leveraging the Kantata Cloud for Professional Services, professionals gain access to the information and tools they need to win more business, ensure the right people are always available at the right time, and delight clients with project delivery and outcomes.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005374/en/

Contacts:

Jen Dodos

949-322-6181

jen.dodos@kantata.com
British Army and SPEE3D to Demonstrate WarpSPEE3D Printer to Showcase Benefits of Additive Manufacturing Technology for Defense

SPEE3D, makers of the world's fastest metal 3D printers, today announced that the British Army has requested their support throughout the U.S. Army Future Command's Project Convergence 2022 as part of a concept assessment. SPEE3D is one of the first additive manufacturing companies to partner with the British Army. Together, they will showcase the WarpSPEE3D printer's deployable technology to print metal 3D printed parts in the field and in various conditions.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005481/en/

WarpSPEE3D Printer (Photo: Business Wire)

The newest endeavor of the U.S. Army's Futures Command, Project Convergence is a flagship learning, experimentation, and demonstration campaign. From October 30 to November 9, 2022, in Fort Irwin, California, Project Convergence will evaluate approximately 300 technologies, focusing on advancing joint and multinational interoperability in future operational environments. Several thousand U.S., U.K., and Australian service members, researchers, and industry partners will experiment with and assess these new advancements.

"We are thrilled to be invited by the British Army to collaborate and explore the capabilities and logistical impact of our additive manufacturing technology for the military," said Byron Kennedy, Co-Founder, and CEO of SPEE3D. "Our partnership over the last two years with them has validated the need for 3D metal printing to solve a myriad of challenges the military faces, and in rough terrain where they need a deployable and easy-to-use solution to print important parts quickly."

"SPEE3D regularly works with defense worldwide to showcase their innovative additive manufacturing technologies to help solve some of the military's most pressing supply chain issues," said the British Army's Lieutenant Colonel Davidson Reith. "It's our pleasure to be able to work with SPEE3D, giving the British Army the opportunity to learn lessons from a world-leading additive manufacturing company."

SPEE3D's unique, patented technology is 1,000 times faster than traditional 3D metal printing and enables the world's most affordable additive manufacturing process to produce industrial quality metal parts from anywhere in just minutes. SPEE3D does not rely on helium or other gasses, unlike large additive manufacturing printers. In addition, it does not require melting metals to produce parts from over 12 material sets, including copper, stainless steel, titanium, high-strength aluminum, and nickel-based carbides.

SPEE3D is no stranger to partnering closely with the military worldwide. Last month, the company announced its WarpSPEE3D was the first-ever metal 3D printer to successfully print parts on a U.S. Naval ship. In addition, the company just unveiled XSPEE3D the world's fastest all-in-one containerised metal 3D printer that is highly mobile, easy to use, and prints parts from anywhere in minutes.

About SPEE3D

SPEE3D is a cutting-edge metal additive manufacturing technology supplier dedicated to the research, development, and delivery of metal 3D printers and integrated systems utilizing its patented cold-spray technology. As a result, SPEE3D products enable significantly faster, lower-cost, and more scalable production than traditional metal printing techniques for a wide range of metals, including copper, stainless steel, titanium, high-strength aluminum, and nickel-based carbides.

More information on SPEE3D can be found at: https://spee3d.com/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005481/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Heather Meeker, SPEE3D Communications

Telephone: 415.310.9551

Email: heather.meeker@spee3d.com
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2022) - Sixth Wave Innovations Inc. (CSE: SIXW) (OTCQB: SIXWF) (FSE: AHUH) ("Sixth Wave", "SIXW" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its patent pending Accelerated Molecularly Imprinted Polymer ("AMIPs") technology has expanded its library of detectable pathogens, such as E.coli, to include bacteria for Salmonella, Listeria, and Sarcina. Sixth Wave has integrated new bacteria-imprinted biosensor components into a prototype microfluidic device. Preliminary selectivity data shows very promising results paving the way for quick onsite multiplex testing capabilities (one test can simultaneously detect multiple pathogens).

This advancement allows for Sixth Wave to commercialize a set of rapid diagnostic tools for the $21.1B food safety testing industry and provide a truly global, revolutionary solution to food safety testing.

"E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria are three of the most prevalent bacteria associated with foodborne illnesses," explained Dr. Garrett Kraft, Vice President of Innovation at Sixth Wave. "The ability to rapidly test and detect these pathogens on food and processing equipment allows for immediate intervention and remediation that can reduce wide spread contamination that results in loss of product, foodborne illness and subsequent devastating economic impact to the food producers associated with product recalls."

The global market for food safety testing is estimated at USD 21.1 billion in 2022; it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.1% to reach USD 31.1 billion by 2027. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), each year, unsafe food contributes to 420,000 deaths and 600 million cases of foodborne illness worldwide. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) actively tracks foodborne illness cases and has identified 15 pathogens that account for over 95% of all cases in the United States.

2018 Estimates by the USDA include1:

Salmonella - 1.03 million cases, 378 deaths, costs $4.14 billion/year.

- 1.03 million cases, 378 deaths, E coli O157 - 63,153 cases, 30 deaths, costs $311 million/year.

- 63,153 cases, 30 deaths, costs Listeria - 1,591 cases, 247 deaths, costs $3.19 billion/year.

1) The economic impact model for foodborne illnesses used by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is based on the CDC case numbers and includes other factors such as hospitalization rate, mortality rate, and average length of stay to estimate costs. The Economic Research Service (ERS) at the USDA publishes an updated report estimating the costs of foodborne illness every 5 years. (https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/cost-estimates-of-foodborne-illnesses.aspx)

The largest food safety industry obstacle is the exorbitant cost of food safety testing equipment, skilled labour and lab testing. This problem is further exacerbated in 3rd world countries that lack the financial resources to comply to recommended best practices.

The most common testing techniques includes chromatography and spectroscopy for small molecule and heavy metals testing and polymerase chain reaction and immunoassay for pathogen detection. The cost of lab testing is one of the main challenges faced by importers and exporters when it comes to product compliance. The price of third-party lab testing can range from $100 to $100,000, depending on the number of applicable regulations, the tests that must be performed, and the number, material, and colour of the products.2 Even domestic markets in the U.S. an estimated 75% of producers use contract lab testing and a common E. coli test cost on average $30/sample.3 The expense of food safety testing and a lack of adequate infrastructure degrades compliance even though food safety testing is the backbone of the whole public health surveillance system.

Sixth Wave's AMIPs Testing Platform offers food producers a fast, reliable, and inexpensive platform for increasing testing frequency and ensuring the quality of all food products in a processing facility. The near instant testing time (seconds up to ~5 minutes) reduces test times from the days to weeklong turnaround of current methods. The rapid testing times can reduce facility down time and allow for more frequent testing to mitigate the need to issue recalls. Contaminated equipment can be quickly identified and cleaned, resulting in smaller batches of tainted products that are easily isolated before even leaving the facility. Furthermore, the testing can be done on-site at fractions of the cost required for the currently used certified lab testing.

In combination with the AMIPs rapid detection virus and bacteria (or pathogens) platform, Sixth Wave also developed its Pathogenic Amines Detection System (PADS). PADS is a sensing technology for detection of biomarkers associated with food spoilage. The prototype food sensor is easily integrated into individually packaged retail meat products and allows for the company to offer a suite of products to help food producers monitor the safety of their product throughout the production process. The AMIPs and PADS technologies address critical operational pain points in the food production sector and give consumers confidence in the safety of the products they are buying.

2) https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/food-safety-365.html

3) FSIS testing is conducted in three stages: potential screening, presumptive screening, and a confirmatory test. Most industry producers only conduct an initial screening test and make disposition decisions without waiting for confirmation.

(https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2020-07/FSIS-Non-0157-STEC-Testing-CBA-June-2020.pdf)

"Expanding the library of pathogens detected with the AMIPs platform allows us to identify new opportunities and applications of the technology," said Dr. Jon Gluckman, CEO at Sixth Wave. "The latest developments of common pathogens involved in foodborne illness couples perfectly with our legacy PADS technology to offer comprehensive solutions to food producers to reduce or eliminate the costs associated with recalls with a suite of Sixth Wave products. As a result of our breakthroughs in bacteria detection, the Company is actively seeking industry partners for licensing opportunities and gauging interest from major market players to determine if a standalone product division is required."

About Sixth Wave

Sixth Wave is a nanotechnology company with patented technologies that focus on extraction and detection of target substances at the molecular level using highly specialized Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs). The Company is in the process of a commercial rollout of its Affinity cannabinoid purification system, as well as IXOS, a line of extraction polymers for the gold mining industry. The Company is in the development stages of a rapid diagnostic test for viruses under the Accelerated MIPs (AMIPs) label.

Sixth Wave can design, develop, and commercialize MIP solutions across a broad spectrum of industries. The company is focused on nanotechnology architectures that are highly relevant for the detection and separation of viruses, biogenic amines, and other pathogens, for which the Company has products at various stages of development.

For more information about Sixth Wave, please visit our web site at: www.sixthwave.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Jonathan Gluckman"

Jonathan Gluckman, Ph.D., President & CEO

For information, please contact the Company:

Phone: (801) 582-0559

E-mail: info@sixthwave.com

Cautionary Notes

This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" including statements regarding the planned use of proceeds and performance of the AMIPs technologies. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future events or developments that the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual events or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In particular, successful development and commercialization of the AMIPs technology are subject to the risk that the AMIPs technology may not prove to be successful in detecting virus targets effectively or at all, the uncertainty of medical product development, the uncertainty of timing or availability of required regulatory approvals, lack of track record of developing products for medical applications and the need for additional capital to carry out product development activities. The value of any products ultimately developed could be negatively impacted if the patent is not granted. The Company has not yet completed the development of a prototype for the product that is subject of its patent application and has not yet applied for regulatory approval for the use of this product from any regulatory agency.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142588
Transaction increases Benefit Street Partners' assets under management to $75 billion and Franklin Templeton's alternative assets under management to $260 billion

Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN], a global investment management organization operating as Franklin Templeton, today announced the completion of its acquisition of BNY Alcentra Group Holdings, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, "Alcentra") from The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation ("BNY Mellon") [NYSE:BK]. Alcentra is one of the largest European credit and private debt managers with $35 billion in assets under management ("AUM") as of September 30, 2022 and has global expertise in senior secured loans, high yield bonds, private credit, structured credit, special situations and multi-strategy credit strategies.

With this closing, Franklin Templeton's U.S. alternative credit specialist investment manager, Benefit Street Partners ("BSP"), expands its capabilities and presence in Europe, nearly doubling its AUM to $75 billion globally, and increases the breadth and scale of Franklin Templeton's alternative asset strategies to $260 billion in aggregate, as of September 30, 2022. Alternative asset management is a priority for the firm, as investors are allocating more capital across the full spectrum of strategies. In addition to alternative credit through BSP and Alcentra, Franklin Templeton's alternative asset strategies include specialist investment managers focused on private real estate through Clarion Partners, global secondary private equity and co-investments via Lexington Partners, hedge fund strategies via K2 Advisors and venture capital through Franklin Venture Partners.

Founded in 2002, Alcentra employs a disciplined, value-oriented approach to evaluating individual investments and constructing portfolios across its investment strategies on behalf of more than 500 institutional investors. Alcentra's dedicated and highly experienced team is based in its London headquarters, as well as in New York and Boston.

In connection with this transaction, there will be no change to Alcentra's brand in Europe or Alcentra's investment strategies.

About Franklin Templeton

Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 155 countries. Franklin Templeton's mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the company offers boutique specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in fixed income, equity, alternatives, and multi-asset solutions. With offices in more than 30 countries and approximately 1,300 investment professionals, the California-based company has 75 years of investment experience and approximately $1.3 trillion in assets under management as of September 30, 2022. For more information, please visit franklinresources.com.

About Benefit Street Partners

Benefit Street Partners L.L.C. is a leading credit-focused alternative asset management firm with over $40 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2022. BSP manages assets across a broad range of complementary credit strategies, including private/opportunistic debt, structured credit, high yield, special situations, long-short liquid credit and commercial real estate debt. Based in New York, the BSP platform was established in 2008. BSP is a wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. For further information, please visit www.benefitstreetpartners.com.

Copyright 2022. Franklin Templeton. All rights reserved.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005839/en/

Contacts:

Franklin Resources, Inc.

Investor Relations: Selene Oh, (650) 312-4091, selene.oh@franklintempleton.com

Corporate Communications:

Lisa Gallegos, (650) 312-3395, lisa.gallegos@franklintempleton.com

Dorine Johnson, +44 (0)20 7073 8538, dorine.johnson@franklintempleton.co.uk

franklinresources.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2022) - You are welcome to join Forum Energy Metals at the Red Cloud Fall Mining Showcase at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Toronto, Ontario on Wednesday, November 9 and Thursday, November 10. Forum President & CEO, Richard Mazur and Senior Geologist Dr. Rebecca Hunter will be presenting on Wednesday, November 9 at 2pm. Mr. Mazur and Dr. Hunter will be available on both days of the conference for 1 X 1 meetings to update investors on the Company's planned exploration activities at its uranium,copper and battery metals portfolio. To register: https://redcloudfs.com/fallminingshowcase2022/

Technical meetings with management and partnering inquiries on Forum's portfolio of uranium, copper, nickel and cobalt projects in Saskatchewan, Nunavut and Idaho can be arranged by contacting: Rick Mazur, President & CEO at mazur@forumenergymetals.com or by calling 604-630-1585.

Forum has nine drill ready uranium exploration projects in the Athabasca Basin with recently completed drill programs on its 100% owned Wollaston project, an option on the Highrock project with Sassy Resources and an option with Orano Resources Canada on the Fir Island project. Forum acquired a strategic land position adjacent to the 133 million pound Orano/Denison/UEC Kiggavik uranium development project in the Thelon Basin, an Athabasca Basin equivalent in Nunavut. Cameco formerly explored the ground acquired by Forum resulting in the discovery of two uranium deposits and several high priority exploration targets.

The Company also has a portfolio of energy metal projects- copper, nickel and cobalt in Saskatchewan and in the Idaho Cobalt Belt. Rio Tinto Exploration Canada spent $14 million drilling Forum's 100% owned Janice Lake copper project in Saskatchewan which significantly advanced the potential for near surface, open pit copper deposits on the property.

About Forum Energy Metals

Forum Energy Metals Corp. (TSXV: FMC) (OTCQB: FDCFF) is a diversified energy metal company with uranium, copper, nickel, and cobalt projects in Saskatchewan, Canada's Number One Rated mining province for exploration and development, a strategic uranium land position in Nunavut and a strategic cobalt land position in the Idaho Cobalt Belt. For further information: https://forumenergymetals.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Richard J. Mazur, P.Geo.

President & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information contact:

Rick Mazur, P.Geo., President & CEO

mazur@forumenergymetals.com

Tel: 604-630-1585

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142546
SHYFT, an electronic light scheduling device, automates Fluence's entire LED product suite to help cultivators optimize environments wherever they are

Fluence, a leading global provider of energy-efficient LED lighting solutions for commercial cannabis and food production, announced today the launch of SHYFT Light Scheduler (SHYFT), a lighting automation tool built to offer cultivators expert-level, easy-to-use control over their grow environments.

In an industry with notoriously tight margins, cultivators must leverage every advantage to improve environmental management, enhance top-line performance and cut operating costs. SHYFT is a user-friendly, wall-mountable waterproof device with patented photoacclimation technology that allows growers to automate, control and monitor lighting conditions in multiple fixture zones simultaneously. It also provides the ability to configure and replicate precise conditions for crops to help cultivators maximize yields and increase growing cycles per season.

"The goal of every Fluence product is to help cultivators grow smarter," said David Cohen, CEO of Fluence. "We achieve that not only by building best-in-class lighting products that help improve yields and increase efficiency but also by creating products like SHYFT that empower cultivators to more effectively and accurately manage their lighting systems."

SHYFT, which is compatible with Fluence's full range of LED lighting technology, is designed to withstand a wide range of operating temperatures and humidity levels and can be mounted directly in cultivation environments. The product's photoacclimation and photoperiod modes regulate the intensity and duration of light delivered, enhancing growth while protecting plant health. SHYFT can also be installed with the DC Flex Dimming Cable or Wireless Flex Dimming, a revolutionary solution that leverages Bluetooth Mesh technology to wirelessly adjust Fluence luminaire light levels using any industry-standard 0-10V dimmer or environmental controller.

"Fluence's team of scientists and lighting experts works alongside our network of growers to collaborate on what cultivators need to maximize both crop and operational performance," said Jordon Musser, chief product officer of Fluence. "We've heard from cultivators of all sizes the importance of optimizing yield consistency through scheduling. SHYFT offers the flexibility to customize the growing environment to accommodate various growth stages."

SHYFT helps smaller growers make the transition to automated scheduling and assists larger growers to eliminate unnecessary integration costs in more complex control systems.

SHYFT is currently only available in North America. For more information on SHYFT, Fluence and the company's extended portfolio of luminaires and lighting controls, visit www.fluence.science.

About Fluence

Fluence Bioengineering, Inc. (Fluence) creates powerful and energy-efficient LED lighting solutions for commercial crop production and research applications. Fluence is a leading LED lighting supplier in the global cannabis market and is committed to enabling more efficient crop production with the world's top vertical farms and greenhouse produce growers. Fluence global headquarters are in Austin, Texas, with its EMEA headquarters in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Fluence operates as a business unit within Signify's Digital Solutions division. For more information about Fluence, visit www.fluence.science.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005509/en/

Contacts:

Nichole Hazard

nichole@redfancommunications.com

C: 512-960-7656
European Energy is ready to start building a 128.5 MW solar park in Sweden. The project was halted earlier this year, but that decision has since been reversed. The installation is expected to start generating electricity in 2024.Denmark-based project developer European Energy is set to start construction on a 128.5 MW solar park in Svedberga, outside the southern Swedish city of Helsingborg. Upon completion, the plant will be the country's largest solar facility, with an annual production capacity of 175 GWh per year. Completion is expected by 2023, with production starting in 2024. Construction ...

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.
NANNING, China, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In the first three quarters of this year, total trade between China and ASEAN has reached RMB 4.7 trillion, an increase of 15.2%, accounting for 15.1% of China's total foreign trade. Among which, export to ASEAN has climbed 22% to RMB 2.73 trillion, an import from ASEAN is RMB 1.97 trillion, a rise of 6.9%. Obviously, China and ASEAN are each other's largest trading partners.

With the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), trade and investment cooperation between China and ASEAN are ushering in an ever-increasing number of opportunities. There is no doubt that total trade between China and ASEAN will continue to expand rapidly in the future. Moreover, China is devoting unprecedented efforts to prepare for this development by constructing a canal, the Pinglu Canal, in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region neighboring the ASEAN bloc, with the intention to expedite the transportation of goods between China and ASEAN.

The construction of the Pinglu Canal, planned with a total length of about 135 kilometers and anticipated to cost an estimated total investment exceeding RMB 72 billion, has already commenced in August this year. It is scheduled to open to navigation in four years and is designed to handle 5,000-ton ships. The Pinglu Canal starts from county-level Hengzhou City of Nanning City, and enters Beibu Gulf via Qinjiang River in Lingshan County of Qinzhou City, according to Pinglu Canal Group Co., Ltd.

According to Wu Peng, an expert in the planning and design of the Pinglu Canal project, "The Pinglu Canal will be a pioneering feat in the history of canal construction in China, as it is the largest canal of its kind. Inland ships can sail directly to seaport. Upon completion, it will become a very busy canal noted for a large volume of freights, large-tonnage ships and a large number of vessels."

In the past, for goods from southwest China to go to the sea by waterway, options were either via the Yangtze River or the Xijiang River, but a river running southward to the sea was nonexistent. The estuary of Yangtze River is in eastern China, more than 2,000 kilometers away from the southwestern municipality of Chongqing, while the estuary of the Xijiang River is in Guangzhou in southeastern China. These two conduits of gaining access to the sea are both extremely time-consuming.

"The Pinglu Canal will open up a new channel for the main stream of the Xijiang River to enter the sea in the shortest distance. Through the Pinglu Canal, the inland river voyage of goods going from the southwestern region to the sea will be shortened by more than 560 kilometers compared with that through Guangzhou." Chen Hongqi, Secretary of the CPC Committee of the Transportation Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said that when the canal is completed, the southwestern and northwestern regions of China will be bolstered by the shortest, most economical and most convenient passage to the sea.

According to analysis from industry insiders, the Pinglu Canal will open up a new sea-entry avenue of the Xijiang Golden Waterway, forming a river-sea circulation waterway channel that will effectively connect with the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, promote the continuous deepening of Guangxi's and southwestern China's economic and trade cooperation with ASEAN and RCEP countries, and better integrate Guangxi and the southwestern region of China into the building of a China-ASEAN community of common destiny.

When the project is completed, the new canal will not only facilitate China-ASEAN trade, but will also bring forth tremendous opportunities for Guangxi, where the canal is located. At present, locations everywhere along the canal have begun to deploy more production factors and near-port industries around the project and in coastal ports. After the canal becomes navigable, these supporting industries along the route will form a huge competitive advantage.

As the starting point of the Pinglu Canal, Nanning, the capital of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, is planning the construction of the Nanning East New Town, taking the initiative to integrate into the Pinglu Canal economic belt, cultivating advantageous near-port industrial clusters, and vigorously establishing a new energy vehicle and spare parts manufacturing base to serve the ASEAN market, with the vision to develop the Nanning East New Town into a "model industry park for seaward economic development".

"Upon completion, the canal will bring forth immense opportunities to Guangxi, and foster the formation of an all-round opening-up structure characterized by interconnectivity both at home and abroad, linkage between land and sea, and complementariness between east and west. The project will profoundly change the industrial layout, economic and social development structure of Guangxi, and propel Guangxi to accelerate its transformation into a Beibu Gulf international gateway port and international hub seaport," said Ouyang Bin, a member of the CPC Committee of the Transportation Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-pinglu-canal-will-contribute-to-the-strengthening-of-even-closer-china-asean-community-of-common-destiny-301664709.html
President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, Nov. 1. Yonhap



President Yoon Suk-yeol thanked U.S. President Joe Biden and other foreign leaders Tuesday for their condolences over the Halloween crowd crush, saying the government will provide the same assistance to local and foreign victims of the tragedy.



Yoon expressed his thanks during a Cabinet meeting held three days after the incident. At least 156 people, including 26 foreign nationals, were killed during the crowd surge in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon on Saturday.



"U.S. President Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other foreign leaders sent their deep condolences," Yoon said. "On behalf of our people, I would like to deeply thank the foreign leaders and people for their warm consolation."



"We will do our best to assist the foreign casualties in the same way as our own people," he added.



The 26 foreign victims include five from Iran, four each from China and Russia, two from the United States, two from Japan, and one each from France, Australia, Norway, Austria, Vietnam, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Sri Lanka, officials said.





President Yoon Suk-yeol signs a condolence book at a mourning altar for victims of the Itaewon crowd crush near Noksapyeong Station in Seoul, Nov. 1. Yonhap
The Global Leader in Men's Grooming Debuts in First European Bricks-and-Mortar Grocery Retailer

MANSCAPED, the leading global men's grooming company and lifestyle consumer brand, today announces its launch in Tesco, one of Ireland's largest grocery retailers. As MANSCAPED's inaugural European bricks-and-mortar location, Tesco will be the first retailer in the region to stock MANSCAPED's highly sought grooming products and just in time for the festive shopping season. Known for its commitment to serving customers and delivering quality products, Tesco's core values are aligned with those of the MANSCAPED brand, making for a harmonious and symbiotic partnership dedicated to the offering of superior products and a customer-first approach. A core selection of MANSCAPED's premium grooming tools and formulations will be available in 110 Tesco stores across Ireland beginning today, November 1, 2022.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005943/en/

MANSCAPED brings a core selection of its premium grooming tools and formulations to Ireland's preferred grocery retailer, Tesco. (Photo: Business Wire)

"When sourcing our first European bricks-and-mortar retailer, it was important for us to partner with a reputable brand well-trusted by the local community, and one that offered multiple locations to provide a convenient shopping experience for our customers. Tesco easily checked both of these boxes and more," said Paul Tran, Founder and CEO of MANSCAPED.

"Europe is a major market for our direct-to-consumer business, so we're excited to have found the right partner to kick off our in-store retail presence," added Catherine Cronin, Vice President of Retail at MANSCAPED. "Our strategy has always been to meet our customers where they shop, and Tesco has long served as Ireland's go-to grocery retailer all across the country so we're thrilled to bring our premium grooming products to its health and beauty aisles."

A selection of MANSCAPED's core collection, featuring its best-selling tools and unique formulations, will be available in-store at Tesco Ireland, including:

The Lawn Mower 3.0 (79.99) - Expertly designed for below-the-waist grooming, this third-generation trimmer features a powerful 7,000 RPM motor, waterproof capabilities, and SkinSafe technology to help reduce nicks, snags, and tugs.

Weed Whacker (44.99) This nose and ear hair trimmer is equipped with SkinSafe technology and a 360 rotary dual-blade system to help reduce the risk of pulls and cuts, as well as a 9,000 RPM motor, and a waterproof, ergonomic design for maximum performance and comfort.

Crop Preserver (15.99) A specially formulated dual-action deodorant and moisturizer designed to keep sensitive areas fresh and hydrated all day long.

Crop Cleanser (15.99) - This gentle groin wash, with a clean, prebiotic-infused formula, is loaded with vitamin E, aloe, and menthol to keep your nether regions soft and supple.

Crop Reviver (12.99) A refreshing toner spray that features soothing aloe and witch hazel extracts to keep high-friction areas cool, calm, and protected.

The Essentials 3.0 (84.99) *Retail Exclusive*- The perfect pair for down there. This kit includes The Lawn Mower 3.0 trimmer and Crop Preserver anti-chafing deodorant.

The Shears 2.0 (19.99) This luxury four-piece nail kit features tempered stainless-steel tools housed in a compact leather case.

Whether you're looking for the perfect gift for the men in your life or to upgrade your own personal grooming routine, MANSCAPED has you covered. To shop MANSCAPED's premium line of products, visit your local Tesco today.

About MANSCAPED

Founded by Paul Tran in 2016, San Diego, California-based MANSCAPED is the global men's lifestyle consumer brand and male grooming category creator trusted by over seven million men worldwide. The product range includes a diversified line of premium tools, formulations, and accessories designed to introduce and elevate a whole new self-care routine for men. MANSCAPED's collection is available globally in 39 countries via DTC and on Amazon in more than 100 countries worldwide. Retail placement includes Target, Best Buy, Macy's, Walgreens, and Military Exchanges in the U.S., as well as Hairhouse and Woolworths in Australia and Tesco in Ireland. For more information, visit the website or follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Tumblr and YouTube.

About Tesco

Tesco is one of Ireland's largest grocery retailers having operated in the Irish retail market since 1997. With 158 stores nationwide, it employs over 13,000 people in cities and towns around Ireland, supporting almost 45,000 jobs directly and indirectly.

Tesco is the single largest buyer of Irish food and drink in the world, buying 1.6 Billion a year, more than any other single country in the European Union.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005943/en/

Contacts:

Allison Frazier

Director of Communications, MANSCAPED

allison@manscaped.com
CRANBROOK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / Eagle Plains Resources (TSX-V:"EPL") has successfully completed staking activity to acquire a strategic block of claims within current property boundaries of its' 100%-owned Adamant Property, located 80 km NE of Revelstoke, British Columbia. The 10319ha property is host to rare earth element ("REE") mineralization in syenite, carbonatite and pegmatite dyke systems that are numerous and widespread over an approximately 25 km strike length. 5 individual cells totaling 99.73ha were recently acquired to cover newly defined mineralized trends defined by a combination of geochemical and structural interpretations. BC government publications describe the Trident Mountain occurrence as a "Developed Prospect" which was sampled in the 1980s and reported that "processing results indicate that the nepheline syenite is low in magnetic impurities, has a high recovery rate of nonmagnetic materials and has, therefore, a very good potential to produce commercial grade nepheline syenite" (BC Minfile 082M173).

Eagle Plains, through contractor TerraLogic Exploration Ltd, completed fieldwork earlier this summer with a focus on defining and extending the Trident-Kin syenite and pegmatite swarms and evaluating additional targets generated by historic work. The 5-day field program completed in August generated 86 rock samples and 17 stream-silt samples, with results that both verify historical REE assays and expand the potential to define new mineralized trends. Results include the highest ever stream-silt sample REE assay recorded on the property with sample JMCADS009 from the Carmen trend returning 6365 ppm TREE*. Rock grab sampling returned 10 samples over 5000 ppm TREE, with a best result of 43331 ppm TREE (4.33% TREE) located upstream of this stream-silt anomaly. Two of the top-10 rock sample results also returned the highest ever reported heavy rare earth element (HREE**) assays on the property including 10103 ppm (1.01% HREE: sample JKADR010), and 8750 ppm HREE (sample JMCADR012). Other best-of strategic element rock results from the 2022 program include 1.44% Mo, 2.57% Nb, and 1480 ppm Ta.

Eagle Plains management is pleased with the results from their first field program on the Adamant project. 2022 sample results exceeded historical records on the property for HREE, and Ta, and verified grades and strike length of mineralized trends. Results of the 2022 program and historical compilation will be used to further refine target prioritization with emphasis on REE mineralization, with specific interest in determining the source of the strongly anomalous heavy rare earth element (HREE) mineralization discovered this year. Initial diamond drilling targets have been defined, and a permit application covering drilling, geophysical, and trenching activities with supporting camp infrastructure has been submitted to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.

*TREE (total rare earth elements sum) is inclusive of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu.

**HREE (heavy rare earth elements) is the heavy REE subset of TREE including Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu.

See Adamant Project Summary Map here

Adamant Geology and Project History

The Adamant Property overlies high-grade metamorphic rocks of the Upper Proterozic Horsethief Creek Group which have been intruded by a series of syenite sills. Critical metals were first reported in the area in1956 with the identification of niobium in placer samples from Trident Creek. The Geological Survey of Canada in 1965 identified a large REE-bearing nepheline syenite gneiss unit northwest of the Adamant property at Trident Mountain (BC MINFILE 082M 126). A study conducted in 1987 by the Government of British Columbia focused on the economic viability of feldspar and nepheline syenite occurrences in the area and concluded that potential exists for the production of feldspathic products meeting commercial specifications for use in glass/ceramic manufacturing.

The last systematic exploration work on the property was carried out in 2011 by Critical Elements Corporation which increased the known extent of the Trident Mountain syenite from 15 km to approximately 25 km. Grab samples collected in the Trident area saw results grading from trace quantities to up to 31,387 ppm (3.13%) TREE, 481.2 ppm Nb; and 50,655 ppm (5.06%) TREE, 1721 ppm Nb and >2000 ppm Mo. In this target area, 21 samples collected returned average values of 6829 ppm TREE, 265 ppm Nb and 195 ppm Mo.

2011 fieldwork in the Kin area saw the discovery of new mineralization named the "Amy-Carmen Trend" where 43 rock samples collected returned results ranging from between 38 ppm and 74,061 ppm (7.41%) TREE, 22 ppm to 21,126 ppm (2.12%) Nb and 0.7 ppm to 62,900 ppm (6.29%) Mo, with respective averages of 10,074 ppm TREE, 2684 ppm Nb and 2832 ppm Mo. Other elements of interest from the Amy-Carmen trend include values ranging from trace quantities to up to 1000 ppm HREE, 166 g/t Ag and 181 ppm Ta.

Also discovered in 2011 was the "Carmen Trend", which is located 500m south of the Amy-Carmen Trend. This parallel trend comprises a broad zone (~250m wide) containing many narrow, mineralized structures. The results from 9 samples collected over a 1 km strike in this zone returned values ranging from trace quantities to up to 107,989 ppm (10.79%) TREE, 34731 ppm (3.47%) Nb, 16.4 ppm Mo and 4089 ppm HREE. (Source: BCGS Assessment Report 32655). Rock grab samples are selective samples by nature and as such are not necessarily representative of the mineralization hosted across the property.

Many of the new hard rock discoveries in 2011 were made following up targets derived from combined 2010-2011 airborne radiometric surveys and a detailed heli-assisted silt-stream geochemical program. Until the commencement of 2022 work, no exploration work has been completed on the property since 2011.

Eagle Plains acquired the property by staking in 2021 and 2022 and currently holds a 100% interest with no underlying royalties or encumbrances.

2022 Fieldwork Summary

Dr. Anton Chakhmouradian, geology professor from the University of Manitoba, has been engaged to undertake detailed mineralogical and geochemical studies of the Ice River and Trident Mountain alkaline intrusions. The studies will lead to the publication of one Masters-level and two Bachelors-level theses which will aid in both the academic and economic evaluation of the project areas. Dr. Chakhmouradian is a world-renowned specialist with 30+ years of experience related to REE and Nb deposits in alkaline rocks and carbonatites. An NSERC research grant application has been made in support of the proposed studies.

Jarrod Brown, P.Geo., a "qualified person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has prepared, reviewed, and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in the news release.

About Eagle Plains Resources

Based in Cranbrook, B.C., Eagle Plains is a well-funded, prolific project generator that continues to conduct research, acquire and explore mineral projects throughout western Canada. The Company was formed in 1992 and is the ninth-oldest listed issuer on the TSX-V (and one of only three that has not seen a roll-back or restructuring of its shares). Eagle Plains has continued to deliver shareholder value over the years and through numerous spin outs has transferred over $100,000,000 in value directly to its shareholders, with Copper Canyon Resources and recently Taiga Gold being notable examples.

The Company is committed to steadily enhancing shareholder value by advancing our diverse portfolio of projects toward discovery through collaborative partnerships and development of a highly experienced technical team. Eagle Plains also holds significant royalty interests in western Canadian projects, covering a broad spectrum of commodities on projects controlled by Cameco Corp., Iso Energy Corp., Denison Mines Corp., Skeena Resources Ltd. and Hecla Mining Co./Banyan Gold Corp., among others. Management's focus is to advance its most promising exploration projects. Throughout the exploration process, our mission is to help maintain prosperous communities by exploring for and discovering resource opportunities while building lasting relationships through honest and respectful business practices.

Expenditures from 2011-2022 on Eagle Plains-related projects exceed $30M, the majority of which was funded by third-party partners. This exploration work resulted in approximately 45,000m of diamond-drilling and extensive ground-based exploration work facilitating the advancement of numerous projects at various stages of development.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Tim J. Termuende"

President and CEO

For further information on EPL, please contact Mike Labach at 1 866 HUNT ORE (486 8673)

Email: mgl@eagleplains.com or visit our website at https://www.eagleplains.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

SOURCE: Eagle Plains Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/723137/Eagle-Plains-Reports-2022-Exploration-Results-Acquires-Additional-Claims-at-Adamant-REE-Project-British-Columbia
WEST HEMPSTEAD, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / Online clothing retailer Something Greek (SomethingGreek.com), the premier source for made-to-order apparel and high-quality merchandise for fraternities and sororities, has been presented the 2022 Empire Award for business by the New York State Senate. The award is in recognition of Something Greek's outstanding contributions and dedication to the growth, prosperity, and betterment of their community and New York State. The award plaque was presented recently in person by State Senator Kevin Thomas of the 6th NY Senate District.

The Empire award is given to businesses that go above and beyond in demonstrating exceptional innovation, volunteerism, philanthropy, and service to their community. After a very hard 2020 where colleges closed their campuses due to Covid and Something Greek suffered a corresponding dip in sales they never lost the desire to serve their community. Thanks to the hard work of their staff and two years of improved sales they are expanding. This recognition is especially gratifying for a small business that survived hurricane Sandy on a barrier island, then stayed and rebuilt.

Something Greek CEO Scott McManus is grateful to be recognized for the company's efforts, "We are excited to have been nominated to receive New York State's "Excellence in Business" award. It is especially gratifying because Excellence is one of our 5 core values of Teamwork, Growth, Integrity, Accountability, and Excellence. The history of Something Greek shows that you can change as you see fit. We are currently in our fourth location in Long Island and plan on remaining a part of that community for years to come."

Founded in 1989, Something Greek is an embroidery and screen-printing company that also offers clothing and promotional products to sorority and fraternity clothing markets. The company has grown from a 300 to over 16,000 square feet. The company does all their custom twill applique lettering and screen-printing in-house using their own art department, screen-printing equipment, and embroidery equipment. This allows them to provide our Greek system customers with the absolute best quality, outstanding value, and fastest service.

Their other websites offering specialized imprinted apparel and other products include Firedepartmentclothing.com and EzCorporateclothing.com.

CONTACT: Scott McManus

PHONE: 800-247-3352

EMAIL: sales@somethinggreek.com

SOURCE: Something Greek

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/723081/Online-Clothing-Retailer-Something-Greek-Receives-New-York-State-Senate-Business-Award
Copenhagen, the Florida Keys, Istanbul, Lisbon and Mexico City are among the top places to visit

American Express Travel, today, published the 2023 Trending Destinations list1, featuring the ten most popular destinations for travel next year, identified by global American Express Card Member travel reservations. For each of these destinations, American Express Travel Consultants also created three-day itineraries, providing inspiration on the top places to stay, eat, shop and explore the local culture, including how Platinum Card Members can spend the "bonus vacation day" they receive with guaranteed 4:00 p.m. check-out when they book a Fine Hotels Resorts property through American Express Travel.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005452/en/

American Express Travel's 2023 Trending Destinations (Graphic: Business Wire)

"When Card Members book trips through American Express Travel, they're trusting us with their most valuable resource, their time," said Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel. "Our global footprint, over 100 years of travel expertise and deep understanding of our Card Members give us a unique ability to inspire travelers with this year's list of Trending Destinations, make the planning process easy, and confidently advise them on what to do when they get there."

The latest Amex Trendex2 survey found that 50% of adults say they spend at least five hours planning a vacation. To help travelers save time and make the most of their trips, American Express Travel Consultants crafted three-day weekend itineraries for each of the Trending Destinations to provide inspiration on the best places to stay, eat and activities to explore the local culture.

81% of Amex Trendex2 survey respondents agree they want to maximize every hour of their trips, making the expert guidance in the Trending Destinations itineraries a valuable resource. Whether venturing solo, exploring with a group of friends, or spending time with family, the itineraries include something for everyone, from finding the best churros in Mexico City and engaging with koalas in Sydney to treatments at a luxury spa in Paris and exploring a maple forest in Vermont.

Additionally, 88% of survey respondents agree they wish their trips were longer. Platinum Card Members have a guaranteed 4:00 p.m. late check-out benefit when they book a Fine Hotels Resorts property through American Express Travel. Late check-out, one of the many premium benefits unlocked when booking with American Express Travel, gives travelers a "bonus day" to extend their vacations. The Trending Destinations itineraries highlight ways to spend that time, so Card Members get the most out of their trips, including a master cheese class in Paris, sailing to the Prince's Islands in Istanbul, and a shopping excursion of authentic Portuguese goods in Lisbon.

In addition to top destinations, American Express Travel has identified key trends driving travel in 2023:

New adventures are in demand: 70% of respondents agree they want to travel to wish list destinations in 2023

70% of respondents agree they want to travel to wish list destinations in 2023 Vacationing with holistic health in mind: 89% of respondents agree they want to go on a trip to escape routine, and 74% plan to travel more in 2023 for their wellbeing

89% of respondents agree they want to go on a trip to escape routine, and 74% plan to travel more in 2023 for their wellbeing Seeking out personalized experiences 88% of respondents agree they like to seek out local experiences and learn about culture when they travel, and 73% are willing to spend more for the travel itinerary that they want

88% of respondents agree they like to seek out local experiences and learn about culture when they travel, and 73% are willing to spend more for the travel itinerary that they want From New Year's resolution to summer travel: 43% of respondents agree they want to travel more as their New Year's resolution, and 50% of respondents have already started to think about where they want to go on their upcoming summer 2023 vacations

43% of respondents agree they want to travel more as their New Year's resolution, and 50% of respondents have already started to think about where they want to go on their upcoming summer 2023 vacations Spending more for the ultimate getaway: 74% of respondents agree they are more likely to spend more on travel in 2023, and 40% say they are willing to pay more for late check-out when making their travel accommodations

12023 TRENDING DESTINATIONS METHODOLOGY

American Express Travel's 2023 Trending Destinations are selected based on global American Express Card Member bookings through American Express Travel, looking at year-over-year travel growth between 2019 and 2022.

2SURVEY METHODOLOGY

This Amex Trendex online poll was conducted by Morning Consult between September 30 October 3, 2022 among a sample of 2,000 US travelers who have a household income of at least $70K and are defined as adults who typically travel by air at least once a year. The interviews were conducted online. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

FINE HOTELS RESORTS PROGRAM TERMS CONDITIONS

Fine Hotels Resorts (FHR) program benefits are available for new bookings made through American Express Travel with participating properties and are valid only for eligible U.S. Consumer, Business, and Corporate Platinum Card Members and Centurion Members (Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card Members are not eligible). Bookings must be made using an eligible Card and must be paid using that Card, or another American Express Card, in the eligible Card Member's name, and that Card Member must be traveling on the itinerary booked. The average total value of the program benefits is based on prior-year bookings for stays of two nights; the actual value varies. Noon check-in and room upgrade are subject to availability and are provided at check-in; certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade. The type of experience credit varies by property; the experience credit will be applied to eligible charges up to the amount of the experience credit. Advance reservations are recommended for certain experience credits. The type and value of the daily breakfast (for two) varies by property; breakfast will be valued at a minimum of US$60 per room per day. If the cost of Wi-Fi is included in a mandatory property fee, a daily credit of that amount will be applied at check-out. Benefits are applied per room, per stay (with a three-room limit per stay). Back-to-back stays booked by a single Card Member, Card Members staying in the same room or Card Members traveling in the same party within a 24-hour period at the same property are considered one stay and are ineligible for additional FHR benefits ("Prohibited Action"). American Express and the Property reserve the right to modify or revoke FHR benefits at any time without notice if we or they determine, in our or their sole discretion, that you may have engaged in a Prohibited Action, or have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with your FHR benefits. Benefit restrictions vary by property. Benefits cannot be redeemed for cash and are not combinable with other offers unless indicated. Benefits must be used during the stay booked. Any credits applicable are applied at check-out in USD or the local currency equivalent. Benefits, participating properties, and availability and amenities at those properties are subject to change.

ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS

American Express (NYSE:AXP) is a globally integrated payments company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, instagram.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

Key links to products, services and corporate responsibility information: personal cards, business cards, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, Accertify, Kabbage, Resy, corporate card, business travel, diversity and inclusion, corporate responsibility and Environmental, Social, and Governance reports.

Location: New York

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005452/en/

Contacts:

AMERICAN EXPRESS

Emily Vicker

Emily.Vicker@aexp.com

Ali Barlow

Ali.Barlow@aexp.com
Industry Leading Link Management Platform Teams Up with .link Operator

Today, branded link management platform, Rebrandly, announced a partnership with Nova Registry, operator of the .link generic Top Level Domain (gTLD). Under the terms of the agreement, registrar partners of Nova Registry will be able to offer .link names combined with Rebrandly's powerful link management capabilities.

With this partnership, Rebrandly and Nova Registry are committed to making it easy for creators to generate and manage branded links while amplifying the availability of the new .link TLD. By combining the .link TLD and Rebrandly's suite of link management tools, businesses of all sizes will be better able to control their branding online and measure the performance of their linked assets.

"At Rebrandly, we're focused on giving our customers the tools they need to fully brand, own and manage their links," noted Rebrandly CEO, Carla Bourque. "We're happy to partner with Nova Registry to bring our industry-leading capabilities to their registrar partners."

In addition to providing customers private link analytics, Rebrandly links are also reusable users can easily redirect, revise or remove linked content without changing the text. This combination of branded trust and easy editability make Rebrandly a rising leader in the link management industry. Nova Registry was founded by a collective of tech entrepreneurs and domain industry professionals who are on a mission to make the .link TLD the de facto standard for links and link management.

"We are excited to partner with Rebrandly to offer our registrar partners an integrated solution for creating and managing .link domains," said Nova Registry General Manager Vaughn Liley. "This partnership will provide our customers with a competitive edge in the marketplace and help them better manage and measure their link performance."

For more information on Rebrandly, please visit https://www.rebrandly.com. For additional information about .link, please visit https://nova.link/.

About Rebrandly

Rebrandly is a link management platform that allows users to securely brand, analyze and share custom URLs via a suite of industry-leading link solutions, including ClickMeter, Rebrandly, and LinkGallery. Rebrandly increases brand awareness, improves conversion rates, and tracks advanced analytics, helping companies of all sizes securely manage and measure their link engagement. Founded in 2015, and headquartered in the US, Rebrandly serves tens of thousands of organizations worldwide, including Delta Airlines, Land Rover, and Zillow. For more information, visit https://www.rebrandly.com.

About Nova Registry

Nova Registry Ltd. is the Registry Operator for the .link generic top-level domain, based in Valletta, Malta. The company is on a mission to link the world by making .link the de facto standard for all things link-related. From websites to link in bios, from branded links to the creator economy, from apps and wallets to emerging web3 technologies. Universally understood and without limits, .link enables users to create unforgettable identities. Memorable. Shareable. Brandable.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005618/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Ashley Mann, Pinegrove PR for Rebrandly

ashley@pinegrovepr.com

206.300.9891
Leading provider of wellbeing solutions acquires EAP business of the Veretis Group

RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Workplace Options (WPO), a leading provider of holistic wellbeing solutions for more than 75 million people around the world, announced the company acquired the EAP business of the Veretis Group, a provider of wellness support across Australia. Prior to the acquisition, Veretis was WPO's local provider partner of employee assistance programs in Australia. WPO's decision to invest in the Australian market and launch WPO Australia points to the company's commitment in seeking new ways to propel WPO's services to the next level and help more people access immediate emotional, physical, and practical wellbeing care. The acquisition of the Veretis EAP business will further advance WPO's capabilities and expertise and will be a valuable complement to WPO's existing growth strategy.

"A person's holistic health is our top priority - our health impacts us all, every day, and everywhere - across countries, cultures, and communities," said Alan King, President, and CEO of WPO. "Our investment in Veretis and the Australian market will widen WPO's ability to lead innovative wellbeing solutions that drive positive outcomes for individuals and organizations while transforming people's lives for the better."

Veretis is a wellness company that currently supports the mental health and wellbeing of more than 200,000 people through its international network of more than 300 highly qualified and experienced psychologists and consultants. According to recent data from the Veretis EAP business, 53% of Australian employees are seeking help for personal problems. Specifically, emotional health and relationship concerns are the most common presenting issues. September was the busiest month for Veretis's EAP services, particularly around R U OK? Day, the annual suicide prevention day in Australia on the second Thursday of every September. A September report by Microsoft Work Trend Index showedthat Australian workers also suffered higher levels of burnout than other countries:

62% of Australians reported feeling burned out compared to a global average of 48%.

66% of managers in Australia also reported burnout, compared to a global average of 53%.

The Australian Productivity Commission in 2020 estimated that mental health conditions cost Australian workplaces $17 billion(US $13.6 billion) per year due to absenteeism, presenteeism, and other symptoms of poor psychological safety.

"Having our EAP business with WPO means that Veretis can help more people receive high-quality mental health care and ensure employers successfully address the psychological safety of their employees," said Veretis Managing Director Oliver Brecht. "WPO Australia will provide the resources of a global company while maintaining our local, personal touch. WPO truly stands apart from its competitors because WPO is a true human-centered wellbeing solution. Their services achieve positive outcomes because, when an individual connects to their support, they can immediately speak with an actual person."

WPO recognized the growing need for entering and investing in the cutting-edge Australian market. In terms of broader mental health issues across Australia, the recently released 2021 Census revealeda steep increase in mental health prevalence. Key data points:

43.7% of Australians had experienced a mental health disorder at some time in their life

21.4% had a 12-month mental disorder

Anxiety was most common (16.8%) Followed by affective disorder (7.5%) Followed by substance use disorder (3.3%)

Young people specifically were highly affected, with 39.6% of people aged 16 - 24 having a 12-month mental disorder

Females experienced higher rates of anxiety and affective disorders than males (21% compared with 12.4%, and 8.5% compared with 6.2% respectively)



Watch videoto learn more about WPO's acquisition of the Veretis EAP business.

About Workplace Options (WPO)

Founded in 1982, Workplace Options(WPO) is the largest independent provider of holistic wellbeing solutions. Through customized programs, and a comprehensive global network of credentialed providers and professionals, WPO supports individuals to become healthier, happier, and more productive both personally and professionally. Trusted by 51 percent of Fortune 500 companies, WPO delivers high-quality care digitally and in-person to more than 75 million people across 116,000 organizations in more than 200 countries and territories.

About Veretis Group

Veretis Groupis an Australian wellness company that currently supports the mental health and wellbeing of more than 200,000 people through its international network of more than 300 highly qualified and experienced psychologists and consultants.

With more than 30 years' experience helping individuals, business teams, and elite sporting groups across Australia - we are more than just a performance psychology consultancy. We understand the importance of strong leadership and committed team players, and our highly experienced team continually delivers real results.

Contact:

Jennifer Dart, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications -

Jennifer.Dart@workplaceoptions.com
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / Uplinq Financial Technologies - the first global credit assessment and scoring platform for SMB lenders - today announced the addition of Allison Sagraves to its board of advisors, where she will help steer Uplinq's strategic direction.

Sagraves is a prominent expert in data and analytics and previously served as founding Chief Data Officer of M&T Bank, a Top 20 U.S. bank. Named to 2022 Top 100 Global Data and Analytics Innovators, among multiple other accolades, Sagraves advises start-ups, companies, and leaders on data monetization and strategy.

"As in any purpose-driven company, our greatest asset is our people. Uplinq prides itself in bringing aboard some of the most brilliant minds in the industry to join our team - Allison embodies this in every way," said Ron Benegbi, Founder and CEO of Uplinq. "I'm grateful for this collaboration and look forward to seeing Allison's indelible mark reflected in all of our efforts to promote financial inclusion. A relentless champion for positive change, Allison will not only challenge but also improve the status quo - in both our data strategy and beyond."

"I'm thrilled to join Uplinq, where I have the opportunity to help advance a different kind of credit assessment for SMB lenders," said Allison Sagraves, board advisor for Uplinq. "I am no stranger to shaping the industry I'm in, as evidenced by more than three decades of my career in financial services and data and analytics - but transforming small business credit lending is an entirely different terrain for everybody. Of course, that makes this endeavor all the more exciting. Uplinq has been on such a promising growth trajectory in recent months, for good reason, and I look forward to the journey ahead together."

In addition to Uplinq, Sagraves also advises other innovative startups in the data sector, including DataOps.live and Ultranauts Inc. She also consults and delivers content on data management concepts for organizations like the American Bankers Association and Datacamp.

Sagraves holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, is a 3X Global Data Power Women recipient and is a founding Adjunct Faculty member and Advisor for the Carnegie Mellon University Chief Data and Analytics Officer Program, where she helps develop the next generation of data leaders.

About Uplinq

As the first global credit & scoring assessment platform for small business lenders, Uplinq is a purpose driven company with a mission to help small business owners gain access to fair and ethical credit, while enhancing SMB lending practices for all lenders globally. Uplinq's breakthrough technology empowers lenders to approve and manage risks on loans they would have otherwise declined based on traditional loan underwriting criteria, while incorporating environmental, market & community data to better understand the specific loan applicant. Its technology has served as a foundation for more than $1.4 Trillion in underwritten loans. Learn more about Uplinq at uplinq.co and connect with them on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Media Contact

Christina Levin

Caliber Corporate Advisers

uplinq@calibercorporateadvisers.com

SOURCE: Uplinq

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/723068/Bolstering-Its-Team-Uplinq-Financial-Technologies-Welcomes-Industry-Renowned-Data-Analytics-Leader-Allison-Sagraves-as-Board-Advisor
EQS-News: HeartCore Enterprises

HeartCore Enterprises Inc. Licenses Apromore, the Advanced Process Mining Tool from Japanese Tech Company TCDT



01.11.2022 / 14:31 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





HeartCore Enterprises, Inc., signed an agreement with Transcosmos Digital Technology Inc. ("TCDT") to license its advanced process mining tool, Apromore. Per an exclusive reseller agreement for the Japanese market with Apromore, within its suite of assets and strategic arrangements, HeartCore focuses on assisting Japanese enterprises accelerate their digital transformation.

With the capabilities of Apromore, TCDT will deliver cutting-edge business visualization and process mining services to clients in Japan, as an additional service to its current portfolio of offerings. In particular, Apromore allows the user to conduct critical analyses of business operations to identify bottlenecks, perform what-if scenarios and identify risks due to nonconformity. The technology features an intuitive design for ease of operation and analysis and is an open-source process mining tool supported by an active community of leading research institutions and experts worldwide.

"We are pleased to sign a licensing agreement with TCDT, a company that understands the magnitude and importance of digital transformation," said CEO Sumitaka Kanno (Yamamoto). "Though the prevalence of process mining is in its nascent stage, the growing concern among business managers struggling to optimize complex operations led us to pursue our initial exclusive reseller agreement with Apromore in June of last year. We intend to continue partnering with companies such as TCDT, as we expand our go-to-market efforts. We remain laser-focused on leveraging our exclusive right to resell Apromore in Japan as part of our own process mining service and plan to continue taking advantage of synergistic opportunities to scale our Digital Transformation initiative."

Learn More about HeartCore Enterprises, Inc. by gaining access to the latest research report

Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, HeartCore Enterprises, Inc. is a leading software development company offering Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions to enterprise customers in Japan and worldwide. The Company also provides data analytics to create tailored web experiences for their enterprise clients. HeartCore's customer experience management platform (CXM Platform) includes marketing, sales, service, and content management systems, as well as other tools and integrations, which enable companies to enhance the customer experience and drive engagement. HeartCore also operates a digital transformation business that provides customers with robotics process automation, process mining, and task mining to accelerate the digital transformation of enterprises.

This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice.

TraDigital IR - Malaika Temu

malaika@tradigitalir.com

https://heartcore-enterprises.com/

01.11.2022 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


Farfetch Limited (NYSE: FTCH), the leading global platform for the luxury fashion industry, announced that the company's third quarter 2022 financial results will be released after the U.S. market close on Thursday, November 17, 2022.

Farfetch will host a conference call to discuss its results at 4:30 p.m. ET the same day. The live webcast of the call, along with the company's earnings press release, can be accessed at the Farfetch Investor Relations website at www.farfetchinvestors.com. Following the call, a replay will be available at the same website.

About Farfetch

Farfetch Limited is the leading global platform for the luxury fashion industry. Founded in 2007 by Jose Neves for the love of fashion, and launched in 2008, Farfetch began as an e-commerce marketplace for luxury boutiques around the world. Today the Farfetch Marketplace connects customers in over 190 countries and territories with items from more than 50 countries and over 1,400 of the world's best brands, boutiques and department stores, delivering a truly unique shopping experience and access to the most extensive selection of luxury on a single platform. Farfetch's additional businesses include Browns and Stadium Goods, which offer luxury products to consumers, and New Guards Group, a platform for the development of global fashion brands. Farfetch offers its broad range of consumer-facing channels and enterprise level solutions to the luxury industry under its Luxury New Retail initiative. The Luxury New Retail initiative also encompasses Farfetch Platform Solutions, which services enterprise clients with e-commerce and technology capabilities and innovations such as Store of the Future, its connected retail solution.

For more information, please visit www.farfetchinvestors.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005829/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations:

Alice Ryder

VP Investor Relations

IR@farfetch.com

Media:

Susannah Clark

EVP Communications

susannah.clark@farfetch.com

+44 7788 405224

Brunswick Group

farfetch@brunswickgroup.com

US: +1 (212) 333 3810

UK: +44 (0) 207 404 5959
Los Angeles, California--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2022) - Antonio & Paris, the California-based branding agency, has unveiled its refined strategy of helping brands to establish an emotional connection with consumers. Through this announcement, the husband-and-wife team highlighted the ways in which the company helps brands better understand consumer's minds, motivations and interests. The company achieves this through a range of proprietary methods.

For instance, the branding firm has developed its unique 'PlayGround' program, which aims to go beyond typical focus-group studies in order to provide in-depth consumer insights. This trademarked process involves intensive, three-hour sessions where consumers partake in a series of tasks, surveys and creative activities. The last of these, which clients are encouraged to get involved in, plays a key role in helping the branding team to identify the emotional emphasis of the branding effort.

Senior officials from Antonio & Paris emphasize that there is no one-size-fits-all formula for achieving results, and tailoring each branding effort to each client is crucial for the overall strategy. The company focuses on creating a strong narrative and storytelling dimension for brands, which the Antonio & Paris team accomplishes by spending time with a variety of teams within the client's organization.



"Our team is passionate about igniting the love affair between brands and consumers and have experience doing this for Global Fortune 500 companies," says Paris Buchanan Co-CEO, Chief Creative Officer.

This comprehensive audit is the first part of the process, and then a specialized company video is created for Antonio & Paris' creative department. The team underlines that this provides a more in-depth, all-encompassing sense of the client's mission, rather than only providing a write-up of what the company is looking for in the campaign.

Antonio & Paris' creative team then work on articulating the brand and the core messaging that needs to be conveyed. Once the brand has been launched, the brand agency carries out regular data analytics in order to assess the impact of each communication, and then adjust and hone accordingly.

Antonio & Paris' approach of bringing more emotion into the branding equation reflects a broader shift in consumer motivation. Consumers are increasingly turning to brands that embody positive values, rather than focusing purely on practical issues such as the price and product. 88% of consumers state that authenticity is important when deciding which brands consumers want to support.

Covid-19 accelerated this disruption of traditional customer loyalty, with 75% of consumers trying new shopping behaviors during the pandemic. Furthermore, consumers that feel an emotional relationship with a firm are likely to recommend that brand at a rate of 71%, a significant increase compared to the average rate of 45%.

"We have found through our previous experience that there's a lot of humanity missing from branding and marketing. Firms have forgotten the power of the intersection between practicality and emotion. Brands that connect with values, ideas and feelings that are universal to all communities, regardless of culture or ethnicity, tend to see a lot more success in establishing deeper connections with their consumers. Through our branding strategy, we help companies to establish and strengthen these relationships," concludes Antonio Patric Buchanan, Co-CEO and Chief Strategy Officer of Antonio & Paris.

Media Name: Paris Buchanan

Media Contact: hello@antonioandparis.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142593
By Choe Chong-dae





Although I am not Buddhist, my enthusiastic interest in Korean Buddhist heritage has led me to explore many ancient temples, hermitages, and all things about Korean Buddhist art and culture. My family is from Gyeongju, the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom, and I am fortunate that my father, Choe Nam-ju, was a pioneer of Korean archaeology.







Among the many renowned Buddhist sites in the Gyeongju region, I am impressed by the lesser known Geumgok Temple that is nestled at the foot of Mt. Samgisan on the outskirts of Gyeongju. The great Master Wongwang (542-640 A.D.) studied and taught Buddhist principles there. The temple grounds enshrine the funerary relics or cremains (sari) of Master Wongwang in a stupa (or "tap" in Korean).







The stone stupa of the venerated teacher was first recognized by my archaeologist father at Geumgok Temple in 1970. What remained of the monument at that time was the pedestal base stone and the third story roof stone. Everything else was missing. The reliquary was reconstructed in 1997. Unlike other more famous cultural remains, Geumgok Temple is in a remote area outside the city of Gyeongju. It is out of the way. We can only reach it by driving a narrow, mountainous road.







?



Each side of the pedestal stone is sculptured in deep relief, with Buddha images inside a niche on each side. The hands of each Buddha display a different mudra or symbolic gesture. For instance, the Buddha on the east depicts a sitting Medicine Buddha holding a bowl of healing elixir on his lap with his left hand, and his right hand held up to form of a circle with finger and thumb. A similar, square, four-sided Buddha sculpture is found at other Silla-period hermitages such as Chilbul-am and Gulbul-am in Gyeongju.











Buddhist culture thrived during the Silla Kingdom (6th- 8th century, A.D.). Many eminent Korean monks and scholars ventured to China during the Sui and Tang Dynasties to pursue advanced studies. Most of them returned home and firmly established Buddhism on the peninsula. Master Wongwang is considered one of the greatest teachers among them.



Venerable Wongwang was the first monk of the Silla Kingdom who traveled to Chang-an, China to study Buddhism in great width and depth.







Returning to Korea in 600 after studying major Buddhist commentaries for more than a decade, Wongwang served as teacher of Silla's royal court and founded Geumgok Temple on Mt. Samgisan, Angang Township, outside the city of Gyeongju.



Teaching Buddha's wisdom to common people in a popular way, Venerable Wongwang played a significant role in spreading the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism in Korea.



He is especially well-known for devising an ethical code of lay precepts called the "Five Secular Injunctions" ("Sesok ogye" in Korean):



1. Serve your lord with loyalty







2. Honor and serve your parents (filial piety)



3. Treat your friends with faithfulness (trust)



4. Never retreat in battle



5. Do not kill wantonly







This code was followed by the Silla Kingdom's militant, elite, male youth, known as the hwarang "flower youth." This movement developed as a type of "Silla knighthood," an educated, warrior corps devoted to martial arts, mental acuity and artistic expression as well as spiritual teachings based on a spirit of patriotism.







One ancient Silla monument called the "Stone Tablet with Inscription of Oath, in the Year of Imsin" was erected to observe the principle of loyalty. It invokes one of the five secular injunctions adhered to by the hwarang.







Master Wongwang's universal teachings offer a guiding ethos, a roadmap for young Korean students who require moral direction. If it were not my father's efforts to trace the reliquary stupa of Master Wongwang, the historic imprint of this brilliant, pioneering Korean monk would have remained unknown.









Choe Chong-dae (





choecd@naver.com ) is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co. and director of the Korean-Swedish Association.
JTC, the global professional services business, has completed its acquisition of New York Private Trust Company ("NYPTC"), a Delaware-chartered non-deposit trust company.

NYPTC offers a range of fiduciary services, including trusts, estate administration and white label platforms to high net worth individuals, family offices and corporate clients who are based in the US and around the world.

The acquisition supports JTC's strategy to continue its growth in the US market and in particular, to develop its US domestic trust services offering in what is a large and growing market.

NYPTC is highly complementary to JTC's existing Private Client Services operations in the US, which were established in 2013 and now include offices in Delaware, Miami, New York and South Dakota.

Nigel Le Quesne, CEO of JTC, said:

"NYPTC is a high-quality private client business that expands our US footprint and supports our ambitions to grow a market-leading US domestic trust business. We are delighted to be one of the first non-US headquartered and non-bank businesses to receive regulatory approval in Delaware, which underlines our long-standing commitment to the US market and future growth. The NYPTC team has an outstanding reputation for delivering the highest levels of service and we extend a warm welcome to our new colleagues and clients."

EDITORS' NOTES

About JTC

JTC is a publicly listed, global professional services business with deep expertise in fund, corporate and private client services. Every JTC person is an owner of the business and this fundamental part of our culture aligns us with the best interests of all of our stakeholders. Our purpose is to maximise potential and our success is built on service excellence, long-term relationships and technology capabilities that drive efficiency and add value.

www.jtcgroup.com

REGULATION AND TERMS OF BUSINESS

JTC Group entities that carry on regulated business are (respectively): regulated by the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission; the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority; the Guernsey Financial Services Commission; the Jersey Financial Services Commission; the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier and the Ordre des Experts-Comptables (Luxembourg); the Financial Services Commission (Mauritius); De Nederlandsche Bank (Netherlands), the South African Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) as an authorised financial services provider; chartered and regulated to provide trust services by the South Dakota Division of Banking in South Dakota (USA); a member of l'Association Romande des Intermediaires Financiers (Switzerland)*; licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority; registered with the Dubai Financial Services Authority; authorised by the Department of Justice and Equality of the Republic of Ireland to operate as trust or company service provider and authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (UK).

l'Association Romande des Intermediaires Financiers (ARIF) is a self-regulatory body approved by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) for the supervision of financial intermediaries covered by Article 2 para.3 of the Swiss Federal Law on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism in the Financial Sector (LBA). ARIF is also recognized by FINMA as a professional organization for the outlawing of rules of conduct relating to the exercise of the profession of independent asset manager within the meaning of the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (CISA).

For our full website disclaimer, please visit: www.jtcgroup.com/disclaimer. For more information about JTC Group, its offices and alliances please visit: www.jtcgroup.com. For JTC Group's full terms of business, please visit: www.jtcgroup.com/terms-of-business.

jtcgroup.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005502/en/

Contacts:

For more information, please contact:

DAVID VIEIRA

Chief Communications Officer

T: +44 1534 816 246

M: +44 7797 735 444

E: david.vieira@jtcgroup.com
LONDON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Stem Cell Therapy Global Market Report 2022", grew from $ 197.30 Million in 2021 to $ 554.25 Million in 2028 at a growth rate (CAGR) of 15.90%.







Stem cell therapy is a clinical process that involves the adoption of stem cells for the prevention or treatment of various ailments. It is also referred to as regenerative medical therapy and is used by healthcare professionals to repair damaged cells. Stem cells are highly effective in treating inflammatory, neurological, autoimmune, neurological, and orthopedic conditions as they have the ability to penetrate and develop into any form of cell inside the body.

Get Sample of Report@ https://brandessenceresearch.com/requestSample/PostId/1246

Stem Cell Therapy Market: Scope

The growing pervasiveness of chronic ailments, rapidly evolving healthcare infrastructure, and rising R&D activities in the field are primarily the augmenting the outlook of this business vertical.

Furthermore, surging government initiatives to promote the adoption of stem cell therapy, technological advancements in the field along with growing medical expenditure across various regions are creating lucrative opportunities for the marketplace to prosper.

Also, increasing adoption of stem cell therapy in cancer treatment, rising geriatric population base, and favorable reimbursement scenarios across various regions are adding momentum to the progression of global stem cell therapy market.

On the contrary, rigid government regulations pertaining to the stem cell therapy along with ethical issues associated with the same are hindering the remuneration of this business vertical.

Stem Cell Therapy Market: Competitive Analysis

The prominent players defining the competitive terrain of this market sphere are Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., MEDIPOST, Anterogen, Ltd., Cynata, Pharmicell, Cytori Therapeutics, Holostem Terapie Avanzate S.r.l., JCR Pharmaceuticals, NuVasive, RTI Surgical, STEMCELL Technologies, BIOTIME, Osiris Therapeutics, Human Longevity, Advanced Cell Technology, Promethera Biosciences, Mesoblast and AlloSource, and Others.

Several inorganic and organic growth strategies are being adopted by the aforementioned players for further business expansion. They are extensively emphasizing toward strengthening their competitive edge by investing on R&D activities, new products launches, mergers & acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships, among others.

Stem Cell Therapy Market: Segmentation Analysis

By Type

Allogeneic Stem Cell Therapy Market, By Application

Musculoskeletal Disorders



Wounds and Injuries



Surgeries



Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease (AGVHD)



Other Applications

Autologous Market, By Application

Wounds and Injuries



Cardiovascular Diseases



Gastrointestinal Diseases



Other Applications

By Therapeutic Application

Musculoskeletal Disorders



Wounds and Injuries



Cardiovascular Diseases



Surgeries



Gastrointestinal Diseases



Other Applications

By Cell Source

Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells



Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells



Cord Blood/Embryonic Stem Cells



Other Cell Sources

Get Methodology @ https://brandessenceresearch.com/requestMethodology/PostId/1246

Growth Analysis:

A wide array of beneficial factors is positively influencing the trends of the global stem cell therapy market.

There has been a steep rise in the pervasiveness of rare genetic diseases across the globe. Millions of individuals are diagnosed with genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, thalassemia, and phenylketonuria, among others. It is clinically evident that advanced cell therapies are highly effective in treating such ailments as compared to conventional medications and therapies. The ability of stem cell therapy to repair or replace damaged cell is escalating its demand across the globe.

Moreover, the world is witnessing a rapid surge in the prevalence of chronic ailments. This is powered by the hectic work schedule of the masses coupled with the adoption of unhealthy eating habits. Also, rise in alcohol consumption and excessive smoking is further leading to the occurrence of various diseases. Stem cell based treatment has proven to be effective in treating such disorders. This in turn is stimulating the overall market dynamics.

Also, government across various nations are encouraging the adoption of advanced cell therapies in the disease diagnosis and treatment sector. Concerned bodies are providing R&D centers with sufficient funds for research activities in the field. This in turn has led to the emergence of innovative cell based therapies.

Region-wise Insights:

Which is the fastest growing region in global stem cell therapy market?

North America is presently dominating the industry in terms of revenue share. This is ascribed to the growing prevalence of genetic disorders, increasing geriatric population base, and rising healthcare expenditure.

Also, favorable government incentives aimed at the development of advanced cell therapies along with rapidly evolving healthcare infrastructure are adding momentum to the North America stem cell therapy market growth.

How is Asia Pacific faring in the industry?

Asia Pacific is reckoned to generate significant returns over the stipulated timeframe. This is attributable to the growing elderly populace, presence of favorable government regulations, rising prevalence of chronic ailments, surging per capita income of the masses, along with elevating R&D activities in the field.

Category-wise Outlook:

Which type segment is currently leading this business vertical?

The allogenic stem therapy segment is poised to amass notable gains over the forecast duration owing to the widespread use of this therapy in cancer treatment. It enables the donor stem cells to use their immune system cells to further attack and destroy the cancer cells.

Which is the fastest growing therapeutic application segment in the market?

The musculoskeletal disorders segment is the fastest growing segment in the global stem cell therapy market. This is attributable to the rising occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders especially among the elderly population base.

Which cell source segment holds the most significant proportion in global stem cell therapy market?

The adipose tissue-derived stem cell segment has captured a substantial revenue share due to the wide array of benefits offered by this cell source like simple isolation process.

On Special Requirement Stem Cell Therapy Market Report is also available for below region:

North America

U.S, Canada

Europe

Germany , France , U.K., Italy , Spain , Sweden , Netherland, Turkey , Switzerland , Belgium , Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific

South Korea , Japan , China , India , Australia , Philippines , Singapore , Malaysia , Thailand , Indonesia , Rest Of APAC

Latin America

Mexico , Colombia , Brazil , Argentina , Peru , Rest of Latin America

Middle East and Africa

Saudi Arabia , UAE, Egypt , South Africa , Rest Of MEA

Stem Cell Therapy Market: Major Developments

In January 2020 , Astellas Pharma, Inc. joined hands with Allele Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to jointly expand their cell therapy technology portfolio. This decision will further enable Astellas to access Allele's advanced induced pluripotent stem cell technologies.

Purchase Copy of Report @ https://brandessenceresearch.com/Checkout?report_id=1246

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by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 21.76%: Brandessence Market Research Global Specialty Coffee Market Size to Reach USD 71.21 Billion by 2028, Says Brandessence Market Research

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Holiday Marked with Virtual Experience to Celebrate the State of Israel's Founding Father and First Prime Minister

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / Americans for Ben-Gurion University (A4BGU) will commemorate the first-ever Ben-Gurion Day in the USA on November 30, 2022. The inaugural USA celebration will culminate with a virtual experience to celebrate the life and vision of David Ben-Gurion, the State of Israel's founder and first Prime Minister.

Celebrated annually in Israel, Ben-Gurion Day takes place on November 30th; on this day, the country honors the man who laid the foundation of the Modern State of Israel. By leading the celebration of Ben-Gurion Day in the USA, A4BGU embraces Ben-Gurion's inspirational Zionist mission from within the Diaspora. Connected to a university that bears his name, A4BGU raises awareness for and supports Ben-Gurion's goal of creating a world-class institution of education and research in the Negev desert region of Israel, which Ben-Gurion himself saw as the place where Israel's innovative future would emerge amidst a formerly inhospitable environment. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev's (BGU) academic and scientific ecosystem continues to embody Ben-Gurion's passion for global connectivity through scientific advancements.

"Ben-Gurion Day is a reminder of Ben-Gurion's vision for Israel: being a 'light unto the nations' by leading the world on addressing the biggest issues facing humanity, from water conservation to climate change and cybersecurity," said Doug Seserman, CEO of A4BGU. "Our mission, as BGU's partnering organization and host of this holiday commemoration in the USA, is to channel Ben-Gurion's spirit toward mobilizing American Jews to support a 21st century Zionism that celebrates the good in Israel. Our dream is to expand this historic day in the U.S. with future events, celebrations and partnerships to bring Ben-Gurion's legacy and impact to life."

A4BGU invites Americans to celebrate Ben-Gurion Day in the USA this year with an exclusive virtual experience. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the recently opened Ben-Gurion Archives at BGU and a collection of Ben-Gurion's most important artifacts, and discover how the ideas of Israel's founder have become a modern reality.

In a tandem Ben-Gurion Day celebration, BGU will host its annual award ceremony to pay tribute to noteworthy innovators and passionate philanthropists who fulfill the legacy of Ben-Gurion. This year, Chicago native Lester Crown will be one recipient of the 2022 Ben-Gurion Award for his deep commitment to philanthropy and his role in strengthening education and research in Israel.

For more information or to register for the event, please visit: BenGurionDayUSA.org

ABOUT AMERICANS FOR BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY

Americans for Ben-Gurion University plays a vital role in maintaining David Ben-Gurion's vision of an "Oxford in the Negev." By supporting a world-class academic institution that not only nurtures the Negev, but also shares its expertise locally and globally, Americans for Ben-Gurion University engages a community of Americans who are committed to improving the world. The Americans for Ben-Gurion University movement supports a 21st century unifying vision for Israel by rallying around BGU's remarkable work and role as an apolitical beacon of light in the Negev desert.

Media Contact

Brian Sherry

Stern Strategy Group

908-325-3860

bsherry@sternstrategy.com

SOURCE: Americans for Ben-Gurion University

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/723086/Americans-for-Ben-Gurion-University-Brings-Ben-Gurion-Day-to-the-USA
Leading provider of wellbeing solutions extends global footprint in Central and Eastern Europe

RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 01, 2022. Within the week of February 24, when the conflict began, WPO's Rapid Response Critical Incident (RRCI) Team united with The City Practice to quickly react to the call for action, with Ukrainian speakers in place to support clinical intake, as well as offer clinical sessions and critical incident delivery.



"The City Practice was a key partner to WPO in advancing access to essential hotlines and bridge services throughout Eastern Europe at the very start of the Ukraine crisis. Our trusted relationship allowed us to immediately provide in-the-moment and vital support," said Alan King, President, and CEO of WPO. "Every day and everywhere, WPO operates under three key business principles: Reach, Relevance, and Results. The City Practice investment achieves all three of these goals. Through this acquisition and WPO's innovative solutions, we will be able to help more people, providing direct care with qualified, empathetic professionals anytime, anywhere."

WPO's localized wellbeing services specialize in empowering organizations, in more than 200 countries and territories, to take holistic action for ensuring that their employees thrive. The City Practice acquisition will expand WPO's global footprint into Central and Eastern Europe and widen its capabilities in responding to crisis events. The investment will allow WPO to leverage The City Practice's rapid-response service delivery model into more global markets through WPO's wellness technologies.

"Everyone at The City Practice is looking forward to collaborating with WPO to extend and develop the services we currently provide in Central and Eastern Europe," said Dr. Craig McNulty, Founder, and Director of The City Practice. "There are certainly some unusual challenges in our region at the moment, and we believe that the closer working relationship with WPO will allow us to meet those challenges in the most effective way possible."

About Workplace Options (WPO)

Founded in 1982, Workplace Options(WPO) is the largest independent provider of holistic wellbeing solutions. Through customized programs, and a comprehensive global network of credentialed providers and professionals, WPO supports individuals to become healthier, happier, and more productive both personally and professionally. Trusted by 51 percent of Fortune 500 companies, WPO delivers high-quality care digitally and in-person to more than 75 million people across 116,000 organizations in more than 200 countries and territories.

About The City Practice

The City Practiceis a provider of psychological counselling, research, training, and work-life support to individuals and organizations in Czechia, London, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine.

Contact:

Jennifer Dart, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications -

Jennifer.Dart@workplaceoptions.com
SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Amazon Music has expanded its offering for Prime members, bringing them a full catalog of 100 million songs and the most top podcasts available ad-free, at no additional cost to their membership. Starting Tuesday, Prime members will enjoy an increase from 2 million to 100 million songs in shuffle mode, ad-free, and at no additional cost to their membership, the company said in a statement. The company noted that members can also upgrade to the Amazon Music Unlimited tier to enjoy on-demand access to albums, playlists, and over 100 million songs in HD and a growing catalog of songs in Ultra HD and Spatial audio. Prime members will also get access to the largest selection of ad-free top podcasts available, including the Wondery catalog of premium shows, podcasts from CNN, ESPN, and The New York Times, and exclusive shows including MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories, and the all-new original podcast created by superstar Keke Palmer, Baby, this is Keke Palmer, premiering worldwide on Amazon Music today. 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.
ELKO, NV / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / Lithium Corporation (OTCQB:LTUM) ("LTUM" or "the Company"), a North American company focused on energy metals for the growing energy storage sector and high-tech industries, is pleased to announce the Controlled Source Audio Frequency Magnetotelluric (CSAMT) geophysical survey on our San Emidio lithium-in-brine prospect in Washoe County, Nevada is complete. Preliminary results indicate the survey appears to have been particularly effective in mapping out the limits of the previously drill-detected brine zone on the property. The Company is awaiting final results and interpretation. Additionally, preliminary results from the recently completed CSAMT survey on our optioned North Big Smoky property have been received. Our partners are currently assessing the options with respect to continued exploration on this property.

Lithium Corporation personnel were on-site during a portion of the San Emidio survey and extracted a mini-bulk sample from the location where brine mineralized with 80 mg/l lithium is known to occur. The sample was shipped to Recion Technologies in Edmonton, Canada, for initial bench tests to determine its amenability to Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) using Recion's proprietary technology. Recion continues to work with brine from our Fish Lake Valley property and recently achieved up to 600% lithium concentration over a period of two hours, extracting up to 95% of the available lithium in the sample submitted. Recion recently completed building a prototype processing plant that conceivably could be utilized on-site for further testing in the future. Preparation is underway and exploratory drilling is slated to begin at Fish Lake Valley in late Q4 2022 or early Q1 2023.

Finally, earlier this year, a logo redesign updated the Lithium Corporation corporate identity. A new website is under development and anticipated to launch later in November.

About Lithium Corporation

Lithium Corporation is an exploration company based in Nevada devoted to the exploration for energy storage related resources throughout North America, and looking to capitalize on opportunities within the ever-expanding next generation energy storage markets. The Company has maintained a strategic alliance with Morella Corporation (the Company's single largest shareholder) for the past nine years, and also entered into a formal agreement with Morella with respect to earn-ins on the Company's Fish Lake Valley lithium-in-brine prospect in Esmeralda County, and the North Big Smoky lithium-in-brine prospect in Nye County, Nevada. Website: www.lithiumcorporation.com

Contact Info

Tom Lewis, CEO

775-410-5287

info@lithiumcorporation.com

About Morella Corporation

Morella is an exploration and resource development company focused on lithium and battery minerals. Morella is currently engaged in exploration, resource definition and development activities with projects strategically located in Tier 1 mining jurisdictions in both Australia and the United States. Morella will secure and develop lithium raw materials to support the surging demand for battery minerals, critical in enabling the global transition to green energy. Website: www.morellacorp.com

Contact Info

James Brown, Managing Director

info@morellacorp.com

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This current report contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of minerals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our most recent annual report for our last fiscal year, our quarterly reports, and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Lithium Corporation (OTC-LTUM) 1031 Railroad St. Ste 102B Elko NV 89801 (775) 410-5287 www.lithiumcorporation.com

SOURCE: Lithium Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/723140/Lithium-Corporation-Update-November-2022
Partners to Advance Product Knowledge with New NASBA-Certified CPE Learning Courses

DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / Trintech, a leading global provider of cloud-based financial close solutions for the Office of Finance, today announced the expansion of its partner offerings with the launch of its Adra Partner Accreditation Program. This new program builds upon the already extensive training offerings within the Trintech Partner Success Center, a training and accreditation platform designed to empower Trintech partners to advance their knowledge of its portfolio of financial solutions, including Cadency (for large enterprises) and Adra (for mid-market organizations).

"The demand for reconciliation and financial close automation solutions continue to rise as organizations around the world look to reduce costs, drive efficiencies and mitigate risk across their financial close processes," said Mekaela Davis, VP, Partner Ecosystem Success & Global Advisory at Trintech. "As the Office of Finance has evolved in recent years, so too has the partner ecosystem that works together to provide a holistic business vision and strategy. Together, Trintech and our Partners share a common goal in helping Finance & Accounting teams solve these challenges which is why we are committed to providing our partners with the necessary resources to deepen their product knowledge to better meet the needs of our customers."

Over the past year, Trintech has seen a 315% increase in Partner Training consumption within the Trintech Partner Success Center by Global Advisory & Consulting firms, Global System Integrators, and in-region specific consulting partners. The Trintech Partner Success Center offers comprehensive online, NASBA-certified courses that provide training for all partner skill levels and roles including sales, pre-sales, and implementation. The eLearning curriculum is just one way Trintech Partners can effectively build knowledge while adopting best practices with its' solutions. Trintech's Partner Enablement team also provides "Office Hours" twice a week, which encourages regular dialogue to build upon Trintech's training and certification programs and allows Partners to collaborate 1:1 with Trintech team members. Monthly training webinars also provide opportunities to dive deep into product features so partners can continually adopt additional functionality and drive toward optimization.

Over 3,500 clients across industries such as, retail, food and beverage, financial services, insurance, manufacturing, and software rely on Trintech's solutions to increase their efficiency and effectiveness, reduce costs, and improve governance and transparency across their finance and accounting processes. When you partner with Trintech, you are not getting a 'one-size-fits-all' approach. You are getting a complete solution, designed for the customers' unique needs, and a team of experienced professionals who will work hands-on to achieve fruitful partnerships underscored by successful client outcomes. Interested in becoming a Trintech Partner? Learn more here.

Trintech, Inc., is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 700, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417. Website: www.nasba.org.

###

About Trintech

Trintech Inc., a pioneer of financial corporate performance management software, combines technical and financial expertise to create innovative, cloud-based software solutions that deliver world-class financial operations and insights. From high volume transaction matching and streamlining daily operational reconciliations, to automating and managing balance sheet reconciliations, intercompany accounting, journal entries, disclosure reporting and bank fee analysis, to governance, risk and compliance - Trintech's portfolio of financial solutions, including Cadency Platform, Adra Suite, and targeted tools, ReconNET, T-Recs, and UPCS, help manage all aspects of the financial close process. Trintech's excellence in both innovation and client support have been recognized with a variety of awards over the years including most recently "Easiest to Do Business With" and "Fastest Implementation" in G2's Fall 2022 Report. Over 3,500 clients worldwide - including the majority of the Fortune 100 - rely on the company's cloud-based software to continuously improve the efficiency, reliability, and strategic insights of their financial operations.

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Trintech has offices located across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the Nordic countries, as well as strategic partners in South Africa, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. To learn more about Trintech, visit www.trintech.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Media Contact:

Kelli Shoevlin

Sr. Manager, Global Corporate Marketing & Communications

kelli.shoevlin@trintech.com

SOURCE: Trintech, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/722878/Trintech-Expands-Partner-Program-with-the-Launch-of-Adra-Partner-Accreditation
FRANKLIN, ID / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. (TSXV:IB)(OTCQB:IAALF) ("IBC" or the "Company"), a leading beryllium and copper advanced alloys company, is pleased to announce that it has received a purchase order valued at $2.9 million to supply specialized copper alloy forged components to a customer working as part of a classified U.S. Department of Defense program.

"We are very pleased with this major copper alloy supply initiative in support of the U.S. Department of Defense and our nation's national security," said IBC CEO and Chairman Mark A. Smith. "It is a thrilling time to watch the significant growth that the Copper Alloys Division is experiencing since the consolidation and expansion of our capabilities."

On Behalf of the Board of Directors:

"Mark A. Smith"

Board Chairman

Contacts:

Mark Smith, Board Chairman

Jim Sims, Investor and Public Relations

IBC Advanced Alloys Corp.

+1 (303) 503-6203

Email: jim.sims@ibcadvancedalloys.com

Website: www.ibcadvancedalloys.com

@IBCAdvanced $IB $IAALF MarkSmith missioncritical copper beryllium IBC

About IBC Advanced Alloys Corp.

IBC is a leading beryllium and copper advanced alloys company serving a variety of industries such as defense, aerospace, automotive, telecommunications, precision manufacturing, and others. IBC's Copper Division manufactures and distributes a variety of copper alloys as castings and forgings, including beryllium copper, chrome copper, and aluminum bronze. IBC's Engineered Materials Division makes the Beralcast family of alloys, which can be precision cast and are used in an increasing number of defense, aerospace, and other systems, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. IBC's has production facilities in Indiana and Massachusetts. The Company's common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "IB" and the OTCQB under the symbol "IAALF".

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy of this news release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

SOURCE: IBC Advanced Alloys Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/723203/IBC-Advanced-Alloys-Wins-29-Million-in-New-Defense-Sector-Business-for-Specialty-Copper-Alloys
Oslo, 1 November 2022



NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, HONG KONG, SOUTH AFRICA OR THE UNITED STATES, OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF ANY OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN.

PGS ASA ("PGS" or the "Company") today announces that it is contemplating a private placement (the "Private Placement") of new ordinary shares (the "New Shares") for gross proceeds of up to USD 150 million (corresponding to approximately NOK 1,537 million).

PGS is currently seeing an ongoing market recovery with strengthening demand for its marine geophysical services, and expects that markets will improve further in 2023.

It is known in the market that PGS is in the lead position for award of a significant 4D acquisition contract in Brazil scheduled to start in Q2 2023. PGS has not received a formal contract award, and until such time, the Company cannot be certain that an award will take place, but in the Company's view, it is currently moving towards a likely award to PGS. If awarded, this contract will significantly increase the Company's order backlog and booking.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Private Placement to reduce its leverage. The proceeds will position PGS to manage 2023 debt amortization and extend the re-financing window to March 2024. A strengthened balance sheet, together with the ongoing market recovery in the marine geophysics market, will reduce the refinancing risk and the expected cost of a refinancing.

The Private Placement is directed towards investors subject to, and in compliance with, applicable exemptions from relevant prospectus or registration requirements. PGS has retained Carnegie AS and Pareto Securities AS (the "Managers") as Joint Bookrunners in the Private Placement.

The subscription price for the New Shares (the "Subscription Price") will be determined by the Board of Directors in PGS ASA (the "Board") based on an accelerated book-building process.

The transaction has received strong support from existing shareholders in the Company, including indications of an aggregated amount of USD 65 million from Coltrane Asset Management LP, DNB Asset Management AS, MH Capital AS and funds managed by Vicama AS.

Members of the Company's management and Board have indicated an intention to subscribe for an aggregate of 1,375,758 New Shares, including the following individuals: Rune Olav Pedersen, CEO (175,000 shares) and Gottfred Langseth, CFO (300,000 shares).

The application period for the Private Placement will commence today, 1 November 2022 at 16:30 hours CET and is expected to close on or before 2 November 2022 at 08:00 hours CET. The Company, after consultation with the Managers, reserves the right to, at any time and in its sole discretion, close or extend the application period or to cancel the Private Placement in its entirety without notice.

Allocation of the New Shares will be determined after the expiry of the book-building process at the Board's sole discretion, based on criteria such as existing ownership in the Company, pre-commitments, timeliness of the application, price leadership, relative order size, sector knowledge, investment history, perceived investor quality and investment horizon. The New Shares will be allocated by the Board on a conditional basis subject to, among other things, the Company's shareholders resolving to issue the New Shares at the EGM (as defined below). No guarantee can be given that such resolution will be passed.

Completion of the Private Placement by delivery of New Shares to investors is conditional upon, among other things, (i) the Board resolving to proceed with the Private Placement, allocate the New Shares and call for an extraordinary general meeting (the "EGM") expected to be held on or about 23 November 2022; (ii) the EGM's approval of the Private Placement and issuance of the New Shares; and (iii) registration of the share capital increase pertaining to the New Shares with the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises (the "NRBE") and the New Shares being validly issued and registered in the VPS (the "Conditions"). Investors being allocated shares in the Private Placement and who hold shares in the Company as of the date of the EGM undertake to vote in favour of the Private Placement and any Subsequent Offering (as defined below) at the EGM. The Private Placement will be cancelled if the mentioned Conditions are not fulfilled or waived.

The Private Placement consists of one tranche with up to 110,822,311 New Shares ("Tranche 1") and a second tranche with a number of New Shares which results in a total transaction (i.e. both tranches) equal to the final offer size ("Tranche 2"). Applicants will receive a pro-rata portion of New Shares in Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 based on their overall allocation in the Private Placement (subject to rounding).

The Private Placement is expected to be settled on a delivery-versus payment (DVP) basis shortly after the EGM. The New Shares allocated to investors in Tranche 1 will be tradable on Oslo Brs following approval by the EGM and registration of the share capital increase pertaining to the Private Placement with the NRBE. The New Shares allocated to investors in Tranche 2 will not be tradable on Oslo Brs until a listing prospectus has been approved by the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway, and will be issued on a separate ISIN until such prospectus is published, expected to occur during December 2022 (the "Prospectus").

The Private Placement will be directed towards selected Norwegian and international investors (a) outside the United States, subject to applicable exemptions from any prospectus and registration requirements and in reliance on Regulation S. under the U.S, Securities Act 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and (b) to investors in the United States who are QIBs as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and to "major U.S. institutional investors" as defined in SEC Rule 15a-6 under the United States Exchange Act of 1934, in each case subject to an exemption being available from offer prospectus requirements and any other filing or registration requirements in the applicable jurisdictions and subject to other selling restrictions. The minimum application and allocation amount has been set to the NOK equivalent of EUR 100,000 per investor. The Company may, however, at its sole discretion, allocate an amount below EUR 100,000 to the extent applicable exemptions from the prospectus requirement pursuant to the Norwegian Securities Trading Act and ancillary regulations are available. Further selling restrictions and transaction terms will apply.

The contemplated Private Placement involves the setting aside of the shareholders' preferential rights to subscribe for the New Shares. The Board is of the view that it is in the common interest of the Company and its shareholders to raise equity through a private placement, in view of the current market conditions and the Company's need for refinancing of its debt. A private placement enables the Company to reduce execution and completion risk, allows for the Company to raise capital more quickly, raise capital at a lower discount compared to a rights issue and without the underwriting commissions normally seen with rights offerings.

The Subsequent Offering

Subject to among other things (i) completion of the Private Placement, (ii) relevant corporate resolutions including approval by the Board and the EGM, (iii) prevailing market price of PGS' shares being higher than the Subscription Price, and (iv) approval of the Prospectus by the Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority, PGS will consider to carry out a subsequent offering (the "Subsequent Offering") of new shares in the Company. A Subsequent Offering will, if made, be directed towards eligible shareholders in PGS who (i) are shareholders in the Company as of 1 November 2022, as registered in PGS' register of shareholders with Euronext Securities Oslo, the central securities depositary in Norway (Nw. Verdipapirsentralen) (the "VPS") on 3 November 2022, (ii) are not allocated New Shares in the Private Placement, and (iii) are not resident in a jurisdiction where such offering would be unlawful or, for jurisdictions other than Norway, would require any prospectus, filing, registration or similar action (the "Eligible Shareholders"). The Eligible Shareholders are expected to be granted non-tradable allocation rights. If carried out, the subscription period in a Subsequent Offering is expected to commence shortly after publication of the Prospectus, expected to occur during December 2022, and the subscription price in the Subsequent Offering will be the same as the Subscription Price in the Private Placement. PGS will issue a separate stock exchange notice with further details on the Subsequent Offering if and when finally resolved.

Advokatfirmaet BAHR AS is acting as legal advisor to the Company in connection with the Private Placement.

Contacts:

Bard Stenberg, VP IR & Corporate Communication

Mobile: +47 99 24 52 35

***



PGS is a fully integrated marine geophysical company that provides a broad range of seismic and reservoir services, including data acquisition, imaging, interpretation, and field evaluation. Our services are provided to the oil and gas industry, as well as to the broader and emerging new energy industries, including carbon storage and offshore wind. The Company operates on a worldwide basis with headquarters in Oslo, Norway and the PGS share is listed on the Oslo stock exchange.

***



IMPORTANT NOTICE

This announcement is not and does not form a part of any offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities of PGS. The distribution of this announcement and other information may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Copies of this announcement are not being made and may not be distributed or sent into any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful or would require registration or other measures. Persons into whose possession this announcement or such other information should come are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.

The securities referred to in this announcement have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and accordingly may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in accordance with applicable U.S. state securities laws. The Company does not intend to register any part of the offering or their securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of securities in the United States. Any sale in the United States of the securities mentioned in this announcement will be made solely to "qualified institutional buyers" as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act and "major U.S. institutional investors" as defined in SEC Rule 15a-6 under the United States Exchange Act of 1934.

In any EEA Member State, this communication is only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation, i.e., only to investors who can receive the offer without an approved prospectus in such EEA Member State. The expression "Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation 2017/1129, as amended, together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State.

This communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at persons in the United Kingdom that are (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order") or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom this announcement may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This communication must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available only for relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. Persons distributing this communication must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so.

Matters discussed in this announcement may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "strategy", "intends", "estimate", "will", "may", "continue", "should" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond its control.

Actual events may differ significantly from any anticipated development due to a number of factors, including without limitation, changes in investment levels and need for the Company's services, changes in the general economic, political and market conditions in the markets in which the Company operate, the Company's ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel, changes in the Company's ability to engage in commercially acceptable acquisitions and strategic investments, and changes in laws and regulation and the potential impact of legal proceedings and actions. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in this release by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not provide any guarantees that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements in this announcement are free from errors nor does it accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the opinions expressed in this announcement or any obligation to update or revise the statements in this announcement to reflect subsequent events. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this document.

The information, opinions and forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as at its date, and are subject to change without notice. The Company does not undertake any obligation to review, update, confirm, or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that arise in relation to the content of this announcement.

Neither the Managers nor any of their respective affiliates makes any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of this announcement and none of them accepts any responsibility for the contents of this announcement or any matters referred to herein.

This announcement is for information purposes only and is not to be relied upon in substitution for the exercise of independent judgment. It is not intended as investment advice and under no circumstances is it to be used or considered as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities in the Company. Neither the Managers nor any of their respective affiliates accepts any liability arising from the use of this announcement.

This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to MAR article 17 and Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This stock exchange announcement was published by Bard Stenberg, VP IR & Corporate Communications at PGS ASA on the time and date provided.




It's not time to spread fake news about tragedy



Some online commenters have invited public rage by posting hateful messages and spreading disinformation about the Halloween crowd disaster in Itaewon which killed at least 156 people, including 26 foreign nationals. They cannot avoid criticism for dishonoring the victims and aggravating the pain and sorrow of the bereaved families.



Now is not the time for fueling hate and circulating groundless allegations. It is a time for mourning and joining efforts to recover in the aftermath of the tragedy. In this regard, we urge netizens, social media users and YouTubers to refrain from irresponsible and reckless behavior. They are, of course, entitled to freedom of expression. But they need to exercise their rights in a responsible way at least as far as the deadly incident is concerned.



That's why Prime Minister Han Duck-soo called on the people to refrain from posting hate comments or sharing footage and disinformation on the mishap that took place Saturday night during Halloween festivities in central Seoul's Itaewon. Police have threatened to take stern action against those posting malicious comments and arousing hatred in cyberspace.



People should try not to repeat the case of the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking which killed 304 people, mostly high school students. The shipwreck caused chaos not least because civic activists and politicians with opposing views disseminated rumors and floated conspiracy theories regarding the cause of the accident.



As seen in the Sewol calamity, any type of malicious comments and fake news tends to inflict secondary damage on victims' families. The Itaewon catastrophe is, regrettably, no exception. Soon after the crowd surge, some people began to spread fake news on social media, making groundless claims that the disaster was caused by poison gas leaks, a fire or drugs. Others put the blame on the victims for triggering their own death.



One of the rumors circulated was that the appearance of famous entertainers at the scene drew a large crowd, creating the mayhem. Some comments were apparently intended to prompt xenophobia and hatred for women or men who allegedly shouted "Push them" before the surging crowd turned deadly. Provocative photos and videos of the accident and dead bodies were also circulated online, drawing backlash from the bereaved families and the public as well. Even some YouTubers were trying to reap profits by posting such material.



No less serious were some opposition politicians' attempts to take advantage of the disaster to step up their political offensive against the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. For instance, Nam Young-hee, deputy head of a think tank of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), claimed on Facebook that the tragedy was a manmade disaster caused by President Yoon's relocation of the presidential office to Seoul's central district of Yongsan. She implied that the police force could not dispatch enough officers to ensure public safety during the Halloween festivities because they had to focus more on the security of Yoon's office.



Her argument was not proven, and her Facebook post was deleted 30 minutes later. The DPK said that her claim had nothing to do with the party's official stance. However, the controversy has shown no signs of calming down. Politicians should not seek to use such a tragedy for political gains. We should not tolerate any hate speech or fake news, which are a grave threat to democracy.


Private equity real estate investment firm recognized for recent accomplishments, including surpassing $1B in 2021 annual acquisitions, hitting equity raise milestones, launching innovative new Fund and more

BROOKFIELD, WI / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / MLG Capital today announced it was named a top Influencer in Multifamily Real Estate by GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum. The awards recognize individuals, teams and organizations that are impactful leaders within the industry. MLG Capital was honored in the Organization category.

The private investment real estate investment firm headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., was recognized for several recent accomplishments, including surpassing $1 billion in annual commercial real estate acquisitions for the first time in 2021, closing its $350 million Private Fund V months ahead of schedule and introducing its largest fund yet - the $400 million Private Fund VI. MLG also recently launched unique investment products, including the Legacy Fund - a solution for wealth transfer and estate planning for families with appreciated real estate which achieves significant income and estate tax savings and the MAD Initiative for charitable-minded investors.

"It has been a record-breaking 18 months for MLG, and we are honored to receive this national recognition for our hard work," said Tim Wallen, CEO and Principal of MLG Capital. "It's exciting to see the dedication of our talented team continue to accelerate our growth and the trust of our external partners. This honor demonstrates their commitment to and expertise in the multifamily industry."

In addition to the Influencer in Multifamily honor, MLG Capital most recently received other recognitions, including again making the prestigious Inc. 5000 list for the 2nd year in a row and receiving the Milwaukee Business Journal "Best Places to Work" recognition for the fourth consecutive year. Individual employees at MLG have also recently been honored with industry awards, including Assistant Vice President Jade Hendricks, who in July was named one of GlobeSt.'s "Women of Influence" in the Humanitarian category and Austin Carlson, Divisional Controller, who was recognized as an Emerging Leader by the Waukesha County Business Alliance.

MLG Capital has been acquiring assets since 1987. Since 2012, the firm has operated under multiple fund strategies, providing investors the opportunity to participate in portfolios of assets rather than individual deals. MLG's property acquisitions focus on geographic, asset class and asset type diversification. The firm opened its MLG Private Fund VI in May 2022 with an equity raise goal of $400 million.

###

About MLG Capital

MLG Capital is the premier outsourced investment manager in private real estate for investment advisors, family offices and accredited high net worth individuals. Since its inception in 1987, the firm and associated entities have had active, exited, or pending investments totaling approximately 39.1 million square feet of total space across the United States, inclusive of more than 33,900 apartment units, with exited and estimated current value exceeding $5.6 billion, as of 9/30/22. For more information about MLG Capital and its investments, visit the firm's newsroom.

For more information, contact:

Katie Whitlock, Public Relations

Laughlin Constable

kwhitlock@laughlin.com

414-305-5927

This release does not constitute an offer to sell an investment in a security. Offers to sell an investment in a security can only be made to a qualified purchaser by delivery of a Confidential Private Placement Memorandum (the "Memorandum"), any supplements to the Memorandum and accompanied by a Subscription Document Booklet. The information contained in this release may be preliminary in nature and may have not been independently verified by MLG Capital or its affiliates. The recipient of this release should consult with its own investment, tax and/or legal professionals about the merits of the investment. MLG Capital does not make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information presented in this release. Any financial information or projections may be initial estimates and may be subject to change without notice to recipient. An investment into a private offering is subject to various risks, none of which are described herein. All figures as of 9/30/2022. Value consists of disposed of assets as well as the current internal valuation of currently held assets as of 9/30/2022. Values may not have been reviewed by an independent 3rd party and may be internal projections.

SOURCE: MLG Capital

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/723343/MLG-Capital-Named-Top-Influencer-in-Multifamily-by-GlobeSt-Real-Estate-Forum
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2022) - Kuya Silver Corporation (CSE: KUYA) (OTCQB: KUYAF) (FSE: 6MR1) (the "Company" or "Kuya Silver") has filed a preliminary short form base shelf prospectus with the securities regulators in each of the provinces of Canada, except Quebec. Once a receipt has been issued for a final short form base shelf prospectus (the "Shelf Prospectus"), the Shelf Prospectus will qualify the distribution of up to CDN$100,000,000 of common shares, warrants, subscription receipts, debt securities, and units of the Company (collectively, the "Securities"), or any combination of the Securities, during the 25-month period that the Shelf Prospectus is effective. The Shelf Prospectus is intended to give the Company the flexibility to take advantage of financing opportunities at its discretion and when market conditions are favourable. The specific terms of any future offering of Securities will be set forth in one or more prospectus supplements, which will be filed with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

The Securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the Securities, in any State or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

A copy of the preliminary short form base shelf prospectus is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

About Kuya Silver Corporation

Kuya Silver is a Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company with a focus on acquiring, exploring, and advancing precious metals assets in Peru and Canada.

For more information, please contact:

David Stein, President and Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: (604) 398-4493

info@kuyasilver.com

www.kuyasilver.com

Reader Advisory

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the issuance of a final receipt for the Shelf Prospectus, the Company's intention to take advantage of financing opportunities when market conditions are favourable, and the potential filing of one or more prospectus supplements in the future. The words "will," "intend," and "future," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking information. Investors are cautioned that statements including forward-looking information are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including but not limited to fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing, the Company's ability to obtain required regulatory approvals, and general economic, market, and business conditions. There can be no assurances that such forward-looking information will prove accurate, and therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of the risks and uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142637
LONDON, UK and DUBLIN, IRELAND / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / (CSE:POKO): Poko Group Innovations, an award-winning UK & EU-based collection of CBD-focused companies that bring innovative, inspiring solutions to the CBD industry, announces that it will be issued a cease trade order ("CTO") by the Ontario Securities Commission by virtue of not filing the following periodic disclosure documents (the "Annual Filings") by the filing deadline of October 31, 2022:

Audited annual financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2022;

Management's discussion and analysis relating to the audited annual financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2022; and

Certification of the foregoing filings as required by National Instrument 52-109 Certification of Disclosure in Issuers' Annual and Interim Filings.

The Company's 2021-22 audit currently remains ongoing due in large part to the Company's business in three regions, Canada, UK and the EU. Although the audit continues to progress well, it has taken longer to complete than originally anticipated in part due as Company moves from one with minimal sales to one launching multiple SKUs into two regions and reporting in a third, with each region having local as well as IFRS reporting standards. Notwithstanding the resultant delay, the Company will continue to operate normally and management is working diligently with its auditors to complete the Annual Filings. The Company anticipates that it will complete the Annual Filings on or before December 15th, 2022. Revocation of the CTO is expected to occur after the Annual Filings are made.

The Company is not currently subject to any insolvency proceedings. A copy of the CTO will be posted on the Ontario Securities Commission website once issued. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to remedy its filing default and have the CTO lifted in a timely manner or at all. If the default is remedied within 90 days of the date of the CTO, including any annual or interim financial statements, MD&A and certifications that subsequently became due, the filing of the documents constitutes the application to revoke the CTO and no application fee is required under Appendix C of OSC Rule 13-502

About The Poko Group, Ltd

The Poko Group is a collection of CBD focused companies that bring innovative, inspiring solutions to the CBD industry through the company's leading platforms which, when working together, form a complete ecosystem. The Poko Group is an award-winning UK CBD company that has developed a unique business model comprising complete "turnkey solutions," including fintech payment processing and white label opportunities. Poko plans to export its signature products to the EU and the USA. For more information on our edibles line visit www.canndid.co.uk , for corporate updates please visit https://www.pokogroup.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

With the exception of the historical information contained in this news release, the matters described herein, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements preceded by, followed by, or that otherwise, include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "projects," "estimates," "plans" and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would," "may" and "could", are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts, although not all forward-looking statements include the foregoing. These statements, involve unknown risks and uncertainties that may individually or materially impact the matters discussed, herein for a variety of reasons that are outside the control of the company, including, but not limited to, the company's ability to raise sufficient financing to implement its business plan, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company's business, operations and the economy in general, and the Company's ability to successfully develop and commercialize its proprietary products and technologies. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as actual results could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements contained herein. Readers are urged to read the risk factors set forth in the company's filings with the SEC, which are available at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update, or revise, any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE: Poko Innovations Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/723353/Poko-Announces-Cease-Trade-Order-to-Be-Issued-by-the-Ontario-Securities-Commission
St. Petersburg, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2022) - LeisurePay is thrilled to announce the addition of Mr. Armand Assante as its first Brand Ambassador. Mr. Assante will work to help promote and educate the market about the unique solutions LeisurePay is bringing to the merchant processing industry.





Mr. Armand Assante

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8902/142628_fc448596d4ce3a82_001full.jpg

"As a LeisurePay Brand Ambassador, Mr. Assante, of course, brings his immense talent as an incredible actor, but it's the intangibles about the man that makes this even more exciting. To meet and know Arman, it's quickly apparent that he is a man of values, trust, and integrity. It's those same values that LeisurePay and its team are striving to bring to the merchant processing industry, and we can't be more excited to work with him," stated Leanna Decker, Managing Member of LeisurePay.

"One of my passions in life is learning. It's helped shape my acting career, which has taken me all over the world while working with amazing people along the way. As I learned more about LeisurePay and the solutions it's bringing to the merchant processing industry, and after spending time with some of the team behind the company, I knew I wanted to be a part of it," said Armand Assante.

"Armand has already started his work as a Brand Ambassador, bringing his amazing style and professionalism, and we can't wait to share his work with the world!" said Ms. Decker.

About LeisurePay

LeisurePay's architecture brings blockchain and tokenization solutions to merchants who seek fast, safe, and effective payment solutions. LeisurePay's decentralized chargeback protocols are poised to revolutionize the systemic problems in today's chargeback policies. Backed by their token LPY, LeisurePay is dedicated to helping minority-owned merchants access low-cost and no-cost banking and payment solutions.

For more information, visit: www.leisurepay.io

Media Contact:

Company name: LeisurePay

Contact Person Name: Leanna Decker

Official Email: info@leisurepay.io

Website: https://www.leisurepay.io/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142628
SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / The Green Summit is a semi annual in-person event that brings together the biggest leaders in business, energy, finance, and tech to share their vision for a sustainable future via 15-minute TED talk style presentations. The Green Summit will take place in London, on March 18th, 2023, New York City on June 17th, 2023, and San Diego on September 16th, 2023.

The Green Summit announces their 2023 schedule in London, New York City, and San Diego

Dylan Welch, CEO of Green.org, at The Green Summit

The Green Summit brings together the biggest leaders in business, energy, tech, and finance, to share their vision for a sustainable future.

The Green Summit, founded by Green.org, launched in San Diego in Fall of 2020, and has now expanded to three events per year. The Green Summit is an in-person event, bringing together 300 business leaders, entrepreneurs, and young professionals, who are passionate about furthering their careers by listening to experts share the latest news and information in their industry, and giving action items to apply to their lives. At each event, Green.org brings together the biggest leaders they have featured on their news site, podcast, and newsletter, to give an in-person presentation which is also streamed around the world.

Hap Klopp, the founder of North Face, sits down with Dylan Welch, the CEO of Green.org at The Green Summit

Green.org is a leading media platform that highlights leaders, news, and organizations in business, energy, tech, finance, and sustainability. Green.org is a news site, social media platform, podcast, newsletter, and semi-annual event. Green.org is led by the CEO, Dylan Welch, who hosts the podcast. Dylan Welch founded Green.org in 2018 to bring fun, exciting, and unbiased information about renewable energy, business, cleantech, and sustainability to the masses, and put the spotlight on businesses that are doing well financially while also having a positive impact on the planet. The Green Summit is brought together by sponsors EVCharge4U, Don Owens, Adore Me, and Green.org

Reserve your spot at the 2023 Green Summits by clicking the link here. The Green Summit announces their 2023 schedule in London, New York City, and San Diego

About Green.org

Green.org was founded by Dylan Welch in 2018 to spotlight leaders in renewable energy, cleantech, business, finance, and sustainability, in the mainstream media. Green.org is a popular news website, social media channel, podcast, semi-annual event, and newsletter.

SOURCE: Dylan Welch Media, LLC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/723350/The-Biggest-Leaders-in-Business-Tech-and-Finance-Come-Together-at-The-Green-Summit
Parents have others options, despite TDSB schools being closed for in-person learning starting Friday November 4th, 2022

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / Ontario parents are in panic mode after being informed of an upcoming strike by CUPE education workers across the entire province. Many families will once again find themselves struggling to support their children's educational needs--particularly worrying since many students still haven't caught up after setbacks experienced during the pandemic. In an effort to relieve the situation, Schoolio is informing parents that it is ready to support their children when CUPE education workers go on strike, which is anticipated to start November 4rd, 2022.

Schoolio is an e-learning platform with a mission to revolutionize education delivery and create a space for students, parents, and educators to co-create personalized, holistic learning for every child. The platform's diverse content offers effective and personalized e-learning options that include over 4,000 turnkey, at-home multimedia lessons in all core subjects within the Ontario curriculum.

Schoolio fully understands that parents province-wide are concerned about the state of their children's education with all the current uncertainty, especially since COVID has already created a learning gap. On a mission to help avoid further learning disruption, the platform is now assuring Ontario parents that it is ready, willing, and able to support their children in the event of a strike.

"While we do empathize with the CUPE education workers, we feel the parents' pain-they're being put in an impossible position here. We want to do our best to help by providing affordable and effective learning to every single student in need," says founder and CEO of Schoolio, Sathish Bala, adding that e-learning offers far greater personalization, flexibility, and access that brick-and-mortar schools cannot provide.

The platform is also pleased to announce the upcoming release of new and exciting features, such as child-centred emotional check-ins, gamification and fun learning, testing and quizzes, and the world's first educational metaverse.

Currently, parents can continue their child's learning, interruption free, for as little as $9.99 per month per child. Recent announcements of the $200 catchup fund per student makes Schoolio a prime candidate for learning catchup and excellence.

For more information about Schoolio, or to register a child ahead of the CUPE strike mandate, please visit https://schoolio.com/nostrike/.

About Schoolio

Schoolio is an educational platform fusing core and interest-based programming in a choose-your-own-adventure model for K-Gr.8. Schoolio is helping parents and educators around the world access a variety of secular curriculum for math, language, science, social studies, the arts, social-emotional learning, and more that is customizable and easy to use. We believe that academic choice creates learning that is relevant and retained, with students who will own their outcomes.

Contact Information

Yan Katcharovski

CMO, Co-Founder

Yan@schoolio.com

SOURCE: Schoolio

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/723374/Amid-Fear-of-an-Upcoming-School-Strike-One-Toronto-E-Learning-Startup-is-Offering-Families-Immediate-Help-with-Education
RICHARDSON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / Optex Systems Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:OPXS), a leading manufacturer of precision optical sighting systems for domestic and worldwide military and commercial applications, announced today it has been awarded a $3.4 million order to repair and refurbish night vision equipment for the Government of Israel. The majority of this work will be performed in the Richardson facility in 2023.

Danny Schoening, CEO, Optex Systems, Inc. stated "We are pleased to have been chosen by the Ministry of Defense to repair and refurbish their mission critical night vision equipment. Optex's unique experience with night vision equipment combined with our vertical integration allows Optex to efficiently complete these repairs in-house and bring them back to original equipment manufacturer's specifications."

With this order, the current Optex backlog is in excess of $40 million.

ABOUT OPTEX SYSTEMS

Optex, which was founded in 1987, is a Richardson, Texas based ISO 9001:2015 certified concern, which manufactures optical sighting systems and assemblies, primarily for Department of Defense (DOD) applications. Its products are installed on various types of U.S. military land vehicles, such as the Abrams and Bradley fighting vehicles, Light Armored and Armored Security Vehicles, and have been selected for installation on the Stryker family of vehicles. Optex also manufactures and delivers numerous periscope configurations, rifle and surveillance sights, and night vision optical assemblies. Optex delivers its products both directly to the military services and to prime contractors. For additional information, please visit the Company's website at www.optexsys.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those relating to the products and services described herein. You can identify these statements by the use of the words "may," "will," "could," "should," "would," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "project," "intend," "likely," "forecast," "probable," and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, continued funding of defense programs and military spending, the timing of such funding, general economic and business conditions, including unforeseen weakness in the Company's markets, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing engineering and manufacturing programs, changes in customer order patterns, changes in product mix, continued success in technological advances and delivering technological innovations, changes in the U.S. Government's interpretation of federal procurement rules and regulations, changes in spending due to policy changes in any new federal presidential administration, market acceptance of the Company's products, shortages in components, production delays due to performance quality issues with outsourced components, inability to fully realize the expected benefits from acquisitions and restructurings or delays in realizing such benefits, challenges in integrating acquired businesses and achieving anticipated synergies, changes to export regulations, increases in tax rates, changes to generally accepted accounting principles, difficulties in retaining key employees and customers, unanticipated costs under fixed-price service and system integration engagements, changes in the market for microcap stocks regardless of growth and value and various other factors beyond our control.

You must carefully consider any such statement and should understand that many factors could cause actual results to differ from the Company's forward-looking statements. These factors include inaccurate assumptions and a broad variety of other risks and uncertainties, including some that are known and some that are not. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement. You should carefully evaluate such statements in light of factors described in the Company's filings with the SEC, especially on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. In various filings the Company has identified important factors that could cause actual results to differ from expected or historic results. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete list of all potential risks or uncertainties.

Contact:

IR@optexsys.com

(972) 764-5718

SOURCE: Optex Systems Holdings, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/723383/Optex-Systems-Announces-34-Million-Order-with-100-Option-from-the-Government-of-Israel--Ministry-of-Defense
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2022) - Myriad Metals Corp. (CSE: MMC) ("Myriad" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Thomas Lamb has joined the Company's board of directors and has been appointed the Company's President, Chief Executive Officer and Corporate Secretary.

Thomas Lamb is a lawyer and entrepreneur with extensive experience in resource exploration, having co-founded and served as an officer and director of a number of public and private mineral exploration companies over the past 20 years. For the past decade he's been focused on Africa in particular, having co-founded M2 Cobalt Corp., which was subsequently sold to Jervois Global Limited, one of the world's leading cobalt companies, and where Tom remained as an executive until February 2021. Other companies he co-founded include Rift Copper Inc., Goldgroup Mining Inc., and J2 Metals Inc. Mr. Lamb is currently a director of CSE-listed Sasquatch Resources Corp. Tom holds an MSc. from London Business School, where he was a Sloan Fellow. Mr. Lamb also holds Juris Doctor and BA degrees, and he speaks English, French, and Russian.

Peter Smith, Myriad's outgoing CEO, commented, "Thomas is an ideal person to help drive the project in Niger forward at this point. Given his wealth of experience and know-how in Africa, combined with his excellent track record of success in exploration generally, and of course his ability to speak the dominant business language in Niger, I feel he's the perfect person to help Myriad take its new assets in Niger to the next level."

In connection with Mr. Lamb's appointment, Peter Smith has resigned as an officer and director of the Company to focus on other interests. Mr. Smith will remain involved with the Company as an independent consultant for at least the next six months to ensure a smooth transition. The board of directors thanks Mr. Smith for his substantial efforts for the Company since its inception.

Tom Lamb, Myriad's incoming CEO, said, "It's thanks to Pete that Myriad has excellent projects in Canada and Niger and is advised by a top-notch technical team. Myriad's future success will be largely thanks to him. Although his focus is changing, we are very glad that Pete will continue to assist Myriad as an important advisor for the foreseeable future."

Myriad further bolsters Africa and uranium expertise though new Technical Committee membership

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has formed a technical committee for the Company's 1,822 km2 of uranium exploration licenses in the Tim Mersoi Basin, Niger (the "Loxcroft Properties"). The technical committee is comprised of five members, including three Myriad representatives: Thomas Lamb, David Miller and George van der Walt. The remaining two members of the technical committee will be appointed by Loxcroft Resources Ltd., the optionor under the property option agreement respecting the Loxcroft Properties (see Myriad's news release dated August 17, 2022 for further details), and are expected to have significant experience on the ground in Niger.

David Miller is a businessman and professional economic geologist with decades of experience in uranium exploration and mining, and is a recognized global expert surrounding ISR/ISL (injected solution recovery/mining) methods and technology for uranium. David served as the Chief Executive Officer of Strathmore Minerals Corp. before its merger with Energy Fuels in 2013. His career has spanned over 40 years with a chain of companies that started with Utah International in the United States, to AREVA (now Orano), the French nuclear power conglomerate. He has consulted for the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Commission) in Austria and China, and has been referenced as a uranium or nuclear energy expert by the New York Times, BBC, CNBC, CNN, Business News Network, Wall Street Journal, Globe and Mail, and Barron's. He is also the author of "Investing in the Great Uranium Bull Market." David graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in Geology. He is a Registered Professional Geologist in Wyoming, a Registered Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration and is a Fellow in the Society of Economic Geologists. Mr. Miller's professional career has taken him worldwide, working with companies in Japan and South Korea, evaluating projects from Laos to Mongolia, Bolivia to Alaska, and in Canada. His expertise in commodities also includes fissionable materials, precious and base metals, fossil fuels and lithium.

George van der Walt (MSc. Economic Geology, Pr.Sci.Nat.) holds the role of Geological Operations Manager at The MSA Group. He holds a MSc. in Economic Geology from the University of the Witwatersrand and is a registered professional geologist (Pr.Sci.Nat.) with over 18 years' multi-commodity experience. He has extensive uranium exploration experience, having excelled as Exploration Manager for Peninsula Energy's Karoo uranium projects in South Africa, during which time he implemented technical supervision of all exploration, pre-feasibility, due diligence and site rehabilitation activities for large project areas and a database in excess of 12,000 boreholes. He has been involved early greenfields to advanced exploration including Bushveld Complex PGE-Cu-Ni"rare earth carbonatite and Witwatersrand gold in South Africa, and rare/battery metal (Li, Sn, Ta, Nb) pegmatites in Nigeria.

Established in 1983, The MSA Group has grown to become a holistic consulting and contracting company providing specialist technical input into international projects in the resource, financial, infrastructure and development sectors. MSA has worked across multiple sectors, on all commodities and in diverse environments on five continents, for some of the largest multinational companies, listed juniors and private companies and investors. Having worked in over 30 countries in Africa, MSA has intimate, first-hand knowledge of the African continent and extensive knowledge of remote project environments. (see https://msagroupservices.com/ )

Thomas Lamb commented that "between Mr. Van der Walt and Mr. Miller, we have greatly improved our access to expertise in both uranium and Africa. Mr. Van der Walt will provide overall guidance to the team in Niger, and he obviously will have the support and infrastructure of MSA to draw from as well. That alone puts us in very capable hands with more than adequate support. But moreover, we also have access to the vast experience and expertise of Mr. Miller, who can greatly assist us in looking at our prospects for ISR down the road."

About Myriad

Myriad is a Vancouver-based mineral exploration company with an option to earn a 100% interest in over 1,800 km2 of uranium exploration licenses in the Tim Mersoi Basin, Niger. Myriad also has a 50% interest in the Millen Mountain Property located in Nova Scotia, Canada, with the other 50% held by Probe Metals Inc. For further information, please refer to the Company's disclosure record on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), contact the Company by telephone at +1.604.418.2877, or refer to the Company web-site, at www.myriadmetalscorp.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Thomas Lamb, CEO

+1.604.418.2877

tdlamb@gmail.com

###

This news release contains "forward-looking information" that is based on the Company's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, the Company's business, plans, outlook and business strategy. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "likely", "expect," "anticipate," "intend", "estimate", "plan", "forecast", "project" and "believe" or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: changes in economic conditions or financial markets; increases in costs; litigation; legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; and technological or operational difficulties. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our forward-looking information. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142670
LG CNS employees promote the Code Monster event, a programming contest offering jobs as prizes, to be held online later this month. The IT service provider said Tuesday that the contest winners will not need to have their resumes screened nor pass the written exam before they attend the final job interview to join the company as new employees. Courtesy of LG CNS


CUPERTINO (dpa-AFX) - According to reports, workers at the biggest Apple iPhone assembly factory in China have run away from the premises after a spurt of Covid cases forced a complete lockdown at the factory. There is still no clarity about the number of Covid positive people in the premises.



Many videos are being shared online of around 10 people climbing over a fence outside the plant, which is owned by manufacturer Foxconn, in the central city of Zhengzhou.



As per a Reuters report, during the last week, Zhengzhou, which is the capital of Henan province, had reported 167 locally transmitted infections, higher than last week's 97. Following the outbreak, the city with a population of 10 million was put under partial lockdown even as the Chinese Government makes use of strict lockdown measures to deal with Covid.



Foxconn, which is a supplier to US-based Apple, has many workers at its Zhengzhou complex and has not provided an official count of how many are infected. The Taiwan-based company said on Sunday that it would not stop workers from leaving.



However, in videos shared online, workers were shown escaping the grounds and walking long distances back to their hometowns in a bid to not being caught on public transport.



One 22-year-old worker, surnamed Xia, told the media that it was 'total chaos in the dormitories' he and colleagues were being kept in. 'We jumped a plastic fence and a metal fence to get out of the campus,' he added.



Workers also claimed the area surrounding the plant had been locked down for days, with Covid-positive workers being subjected to daily testing and quarantines to try to contain the outbreak.



On 19 October, Foxconn announced it was banning all dine-in catering at the Zhengzhou plant and workers would eat meals in their rooms. At the same time, the company told reporters that it was maintaining 'normal production' as the factory increased production of the latest iPhone 14 models.



The company said that for those wanting to return home, 'The [plant] is co-operating with the government to organise personnel and vehicles to provide a point-to-point orderly return service for employees from today'.



Under China's strict zero-Covid policy, cities have been given special powers to act swiftly to stop any virus outbreaks. This includes anything from full-scale lockdowns to regular testing and travel restrictions.



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Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2022) - Castlebar Capital Corp. (TSXV: CBAR.P) ("Castlebar" or the "Company"), a capital pool company under Policy 2.4 of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), announces that the sale, assignment, assumption and amending agreement dated January 22, 2021, as amended, respecting a proposed "Qualifying Transaction" for the Company has been terminated and the proposed transaction will not proceed. The agreement has been terminated because the Company will not be able to meet the closing conditions under the agreement, including in particular the requirement to raise at least $650,000 under a private placement financing.

The Qualifying Transaction was described in the Company's Amended and Restated TSXV Filing Statement dated as of November 29, 2021 and filed on SEDAR. In connection with the transaction, the Company paid a deposit of $20,000 to the vendor of the mineral property that was the subject of the agreement and paid an additional $17,545 in expenditures related to the mineral property. The deposit is non-refundable and will not be recovered by the Company, and the Company will not be reimbursed for the additional expenditures.

The directors of the Company following termination of the agreement remain as follows: Gerald Kelly, Lucas Birdsall, Robert Meister, Brian Morrison and Kosta Tsoutsis. The Company will continue to evaluate other acquisition opportunities with a view to completing a Qualifying Transaction in accordance with the policies of the TSXV.

About Castlebar

Castlebar is a capital pool company in accordance with Exchange Policy 2.4 and its principal business is the identification and evaluation of assets or businesses with a view to completing a Qualifying Transaction.

For additional information, please refer to the Company's disclosure record on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or contact the Company as follows: Lucas Birdsall, CEO, at (778) 549-6714.

Cautionary Statements and Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company, including the Company's goal of completing a Qualifying Transaction, are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. These factors include, without limitation: receipt of applicable director, shareholder and regulatory approval of a Qualifying Transaction; changes in law; the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities; state of the capital markets; the availability of funds and resources to pursue operations; as well as general economic, market and business conditions, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in disclosure documents filed by the Company with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this news release is made as of the date of this news release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142671
Rio Tinto has entered into agreements ("Agreements") with certain funds and other entities related to Pentwater Capital Management LP and SailingStone Capital Partners LLC (the "Securityholders") in relation to the special meeting ("Special Meeting") of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd ("Turquoise Hill") shareholders to vote on Rio Tinto's acquisition by way of plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") of the approximately 49% of the issued and outstanding shares of Turquoise Hill that Rio Tinto does not own for C$43.00 per share in cash (the "Consideration"). As announced by Turquoise Hill, the Special Meeting has been postponed until Tuesday 8th November.

Under the Agreements, the Securityholders have agreed to withhold their votes at the Special Meeting and exercise their dissent rights in respect of the Arrangement. Rio Tinto has agreed to increase the dissent condition under the Arrangement Agreement from 12.5% to 17.5% of Turquoise Hill shares issued and outstanding. Under the Agreements, the parties have also agreed that the dissent proceedings with the Securityholders and certain other claims shall be conducted by arbitration, and the Securityholders shall be paid C$34.40 of the Consideration following the completion of the Arrangement, with the remaining Consideration payable following the final determination of the arbitration. The Agreements contain customary releases of the parties.

Rio Tinto reconfirms that the proposal of C$43.00 per Turquoise Hill share is best and final.

Additional Disclaimers

Canadian Early Warning Disclosure

Rio Tinto currently beneficially owns 102,196,643 common shares of Turquoise Hill, representing approximately 51% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Turquoise Hill. Rio Tinto also has anti-dilution rights that permit it to acquire additional securities of Turquoise Hill so as to maintain its proportionate equity interest in Turquoise Hill from time to time.

This announcement is authorised for release to the market by, and a copy of the related early warning report may be obtained from, Rio Tinto's Group Company Secretary.

The head office of Turquoise Hill is located at 1 Place Ville-Marie, Suite 3680, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3B 3P2.

Forward-Looking Statements

The Information provided in this press release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian securities law, respectively. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this release, are forward-looking statements or information. The words "intend", "forecast", "project", "anticipate", "estimate", "plan", "believes", "expects", "may", "should", "will", "target", "pursue", "seek" or similar expressions, commonly identify such forward-looking statements or information. More particularly and without restriction, this press release contains forward-looking statements and information regarding: statements and implications about the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement for Rio Tinto, Turquoise Hill and their respective shareholders, shareholder and court approvals, the anticipated timing of the completion of the Arrangement and the anticipated funding and other risks for Turquoise Hill and the shareholders if the Arrangement does not proceed.

Such forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the failure of the parties to obtain the necessary shareholder and court approvals or to otherwise satisfy the conditions to the completion of the Arrangement; failure of the parties to obtain such approvals or satisfy such conditions in a timely manner or at all; significant transaction costs; failure to realize the expected benefits of the Arrangement and general economic conditions. Failure to obtain the necessary shareholder and court approvals, or the failure of the parties to otherwise satisfy the conditions to the completion of the Arrangement or to complete the Arrangement, may result in the Arrangement not being completed on the proposed terms, or at all. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements and information contained in the Information is qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements, and there can be no guarantee that the results or developments that we anticipate will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences or effects on our business, financial condition or results of operation.

Rio Tinto expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking (except as required by applicable law, the UK Listing Rules, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority and the Listing Rules of the Australian Securities Exchange) to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement or information contained in this press release to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement or information is based. All Information in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is accessed.

This announcement contains inside information.

The person responsible for arranging and authorising the release of this announcement on behalf of Rio Tinto is Steve Allen, Group Company Secretary.

LEI: 213800YOEO5OQ72G2R82

Classification: 3.1. Information disclosed under article 19 of the Market Abuse Regulation.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101006224/en/

Contacts:

Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations, UK

Matthew Klar

M+ 44 7796 630 637

David Outhwaite

M +44 7787 597 493

Media Relations, Americas

Simon Letendre

M +514 796 4973

Malika Cherry

M +1 418 592 7293

Media Relations, Australia

Matt Chambers

M +61 433 525 739

Jesse Riseborough

M +61 436 653 412

Investor Relations, UK

Menno Sanderse

M: +44 7825 195 178

David Ovington

M +44 7920 010 978

Clare Peever

M +44 7788 967 877

Investor Relations, Australia

Tom Gallop

M +61 439 353 948

Amar Jambaa

M +61 472 865 948

Rio Tinto plc

6 St James's Square

London SW1Y 4AD

United Kingdom

T +44 20 7781 2000

Registered in England

No. 719885

Rio Tinto Limited

Level 43, 120 Collins Street

Melbourne 3000

Australia

T +61 3 9283 3333

Registered in Australia

ABN 96 004 458 404

This announcement is authorised for release to the market by Steve Allen, Rio Tinto's Group Company Secretary.

riotinto.com

Category: Oyu Tolgoi
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2022) - Meteorite Capital Inc. (TSXV: MTR.P) ("Meteorite") announces that it has signed a binding letter agreement (the "Letter Agreement") with Kobo Resources Inc.. ("Kobo"), a corporation existing under the laws of the Province of Quebec, which outlines the general terms and conditions pursuant to which Meteorite and Kobo have agreed to complete a transaction that will result in a reverse take-over of Meteorite by the shareholders of Kobo (the "Transaction"). The Letter Agreement was negotiated at arm's length and is effective as of November 1, 2022. All dollar amounts set forth herein are in Canadian dollars.

Kobo was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Quebec) on December 14, 2015 under the name 9333-9141 Quebec Inc. On March 4, 2016, Kobo changed its name to Kobo Resources Inc.. Kobo's head office and registered office are located at 388 Grande-Allee East, Suite 101, Quebec, Quebec, G1R 2J4.

Kobo is a junior Canadian exploration and mining development company focused on acquiring, exploring and developing gold property assets located in West Africa and primarily in Cote d'Ivoire, which include the Kossou Permit and the Bongouanou Permit held by its wholly-owned subsidiary, KOBO Ressources C.I.. As at the date hereof, Kobo's sole material asset is the Kossou Permit.

Terms of the Transaction

Prior to the completion of the Transaction, Meteorite will file articles of amendment (i) to effect a name change (the "Name Change") to a name chosen by Kobo and acceptable to the applicable regulatory authorities and the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), (ii) to consolidate its shares (the "Consolidation"), and (iii) to take such other corporate or regulatory matters that may be required to implement the Transaction.

The Transaction is then expected to proceed by way of a three-cornered amalgamation (the "Amalgamation") pursuant to which Kobo shall amalgamate with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meteorite, and Meteorite will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Kobo (the "Kobo Shares"), in exchange for common shares of Meteorite ("Meteorite Common Shares") such that Kobo will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meteorite as it exists following the completion of the Transaction (the "Resulting Issuer"). As of the date hereof, the final valuation of Kobo and of the Resulting Issuer have not been finalized. At this stage, the parties have agreed that the valuation of Meteorite shall be $282,600 at $0.04/per share following a reverse split on a five-for-one basis. However, provided that Meteorite is successful in recuperating some of the advances made to Sparkit Technology Inc., its previous QT target company, Meteorite may be able to increase its pre-RTO Transaction value. The valuation of Kobo will be subject to an ongoing private placement currently being conducted by Kobo, priced at $0.20 per share ("Private Placement I") and the final pricing of Private Placement II (as defined below) and the policies of the TSXV. The current estimate of the pre-money value of Kobo (as of October 31, 2022), is $11,469,200 on a fully-diluted basis (outstanding Kobo Shares, options and warrants but excluding the ongoing Private Placement I).

It is anticipated that a private placement with aggregated gross proceeds of no less than $3,000,000 ("Private Placement II" and together with Private Placement I, collectively the "Private Placements") will be undertaken by Kobo to be completed on or prior to the closing of the Transaction whereby securities of Kobo will be issued at a price to be determined by the parties hereto and any investment dealers assisting in the financing based on market conditions and in compliance with the applicable securities laws and policies of the TSXV. The final pricing, the type of securities to be issued including, without limitation, subscription receipts, the amount of Private Placement II as well as the terms and conditions shall be satisfactory to the parties hereto and all documentation in connection therewith shall be satisfactory to the respective legal counsels of Kobo and Meteorite. It is expected that, upon completion of Private Placement II, the funds raised will be used as follows: (i) approximately $1,500,000 for exploration on the Kossou Permit (ii) approximately $600,000 for exploration on the Bongouanou Permit, and (iii) the balance of approximately $900,000 for operating and general corporate expenses, including those related to the Transaction.

Insiders, Officers and Board of Directors of the Resulting Issuer

Currently, Kobo's board and management team is comprised of international business leaders and mining industry professionals with expertise and experience working in Cote d'Ivoire. Several of Kobo's executives/directors have experience in conducting business in Africa. Upon completion of the Transaction, all of the officers and three of the four Meteorite directors will resign and be replaced by nominees of Kobo. The following sets out the names and backgrounds of the persons that are currently proposed to be the directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer.

Edouard Gosselin - Director, CEO and Corporate Secretary

Mr. Edouard Gosselin is an attorney, member of the Quebec Bar Association since 1984 and throughout his career exclusively in private practice represented financial institutions, corporations and individuals before the courts mainly in commercial law, banking and bankruptcy, reorganizations and start-ups in tech and industrial sectors. Mr. Gosselin is also President of EG Industrial Solutions Ltd. since August 2011, a Quebec-City based management-consulting and manufacturing company in specific industries. Mr. Gosselin was director of Wanted Technologies Inc. from 1999 to 2004, President of Gotar Technologies from 1999 to 2011 and Vice-President of Sawnode Technologies Ltd from 2011 to 2017 inclusively. Mr. Gosselin earned a Bachelor of Social Sciences, Conc. Political Science from Ottawa University (1980) and a License in Civil Law (L.L.L.) from Ottawa University (1983). Mr. Gosselin is also General Manager of Kobo Ressources C.I. since August 2016.

Paul Sarjeant ,P.Geo. - Director, President and COO

Mr. Paul Sarjeant is a mining professional having been involved in mining and exploration for over 35 years. He is the President and owner of Doublewood Consulting Inc., a consulting company with a focus on geological and management consulting to the mining industry created in August. . Most recently Mr. Sarjeant acted as Manager, Exploration for Largo Inc. supervising all exploration activities at the companies mine site in Brazil. Prior to that he worked for 15 years with Echo Bay Mines. Mr. Sarjeant serves as a board member to several junior mining companies and is currently President and COO of the Corporation. He also serves on the board of directors of Global Energy Metals Inc (GEMC.V) and Ares Strategic Mining Inc (ARS.V)and has held similar positons with a number of companies over the years. . He is a member in good standing with the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario. He graduated in 1983 from Queen's University, Kingston Ontario with a BSc, (Honours) in Geological Sciences.

Frank Ricciuti - Director

Mr. Frank Ricciuti was the President of Efjay Consulting Ltd., an Oakville-based management-consulting company providing a broad range of management and financial services, including organizational structuring, board advisory assignments and corporate finance advice to companies within a broad range of industries. Mr. Ricciuti was a director of Novik Inc. from 2006 to 2014, and of Petrolympic Ltd. from 2008 to 2019. Mr. Frank Ricciuti also acted as Kobo's Vice President, Corporate Development from December 2015 until November 12, 2021. Frank Ricciuti earned a diploma in Engineering Technology from Ryerson University, his Bachelor of Sciences degree (B.Sc.) in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University (1966) and his Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) in 1969 from York University.

Patrick Gagnon - Director, Independent

Mr. Patrick Gagnon is a retired executive having spent more than 25 years in the financial/brokerage industry. Nonetheless, Mr. Gagnon is an active private investor in technology, resources and consumer products industries. He obtained a bachelor's degree in Commerce from McGill University in 1986 and joined the brokerage industry first as a research assistant, research analyst, trader and institutional sales. From 1995 to 2015 Mr. Gagnon was a partner at GMP Securities Inc. and was Managing Director and Branch Manager, Institutional Sales of the firm's Montreal office. Mr. Gagnon was President of Palos Asset Management in Montreal from December 2016 to November 2017.

Jeff Hussey - Director, Independent

Mr. Jeff Hussey is a Professional Geologist with 36 years of professional experience in the mineral exploration, development, and mining industry. He graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Science in Geology in 1985. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Brunswick Exploration Inc. (TSXV: BRW) and of Osisko Metals Incorporated (TSXV: OM.V) ("Osisko"), a Canadian exploration and development company creating value in the base metal space with a particular focus on zinc mineral assets. He has served as President and CEO of Osisko between June 2017 until January 2020, and is President and COO of Osisko since January 2020. Mr. Hussey has worked in both open pit and underground mine operations at various stages of mine life, from start-up to mine closure. He spent 19 years with Noranda/Falconbridge, then as a consultant for 10 years, Jeff Hussey and Associates Inc. helped junior mine development companies, by offering services in exploration, mining and geometallurgy. Customers in Quebec included Champion Iron Mines and Focus Graphite, Puma Exploration in New Brunswick, and Starcore International in Mexico. For Champion Iron Mines he led a team that built a high-quality iron Mineral Resource Inventory of five billion tonnes completing a feasibility study and participating in raising more than $70 million for corporate development. He is also a member of the board of directors of CIM.

Gilles Couture - CPA, CA Auditor - CFO

Mr. Gilles Couture has acted as Kobo's CFO since February 2017. He obtained his Accounting Licence from Laval University in 1974 and is a CA and CPA. During his career, Mr. Couture was Audit Partner for PWC until July 2011 at the Quebec City office, responsible for the mining, life sciences and information technology sectors. He has taught accounting sciences at Laval University for over 10 years as well Universite du Quebec (Rimouski). Throughout his career, Mr. Couture was involved in numerous IPOs and public financings for companies operating in the mining, health sciences, information technology and manufacturing industries on the Canadian and US markets. He is a director and shareholder of two manufacturing companies and a service company.

Charles R. Spector - Director

Charles R. Spector will stay on as a director of the Resulting Issuer. Charles is a corporate finance, M&A and securities lawyer with over 30 years of experience, regularly advising public companies, and has previously acted as director of a TSX-listed company from 1996 through 2010. He is currently a partner in the Montreal office of Dentons Canada LLP. Charles holds a B.A. degree from McGill University, a law degree (L.L.B.) from Universite de Sherbrooke and a Masters of Law (L.L.M.) from Columbia University in New York. He has been a member in good standing of the Barreau du Quebec since 1986.

As at the date hereof, the above individuals collectively own, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, approximately 50.67% of the issued and outstanding Kobo Shares.

To the knowledge of Kobo, the only persons who currently hold more than 10% of the voting securities of Kobo currently outstanding are Edouard Gosselin (who owns 28.6% of the issued and outstanding Kobo securities and is expected to own 15,500,000 of the Common Shares (as defined below) on completion of the Transaction), Paul Sarjeant (who owns 14.76% of the issued and outstanding Kobo securities and is expected to own 8,000,000 of the Common Shares on completion of the Transaction) and Jean Cote (who owns, directly and indirectly through Gestion JCJC Inc., a company fully-controlled by Mr. Cote, 11.48% of the issued and outstanding Kobo securities).

Capitalization

As of the date hereof and prior to the completion of Private Placement I, (i) Meteorite has 7,065,000 Common Shares issued and outstanding and options to acquire an aggregate of 706,500 Common Shares at $0.15 per Common Share; and (ii) Kobo has 54,195,999 Kobo Shares outstanding and a total of 4,250,034 warrants of Kobo (the "Kobo Warrants") issued and outstanding, each Kobo Warrant being exercisable for one Kobo Share, with an exercise price of $0.30. There is also an employee stock option plan (the "ESOP") pursuant to which Kobo can issue options to acquire Kobo Shares. As of the date hereof, a total of 3,150,000 options have been issued at exercise prices between $0.15 and $0.20 per share upon the exercise of such options. Concurrently with the Transaction, the ESOP plan will be amended such that (i) the current options will be preserved but will now be exercisable for common shares at the existing exercise prices and (ii) the ESOP shall be in compliance with the rules and policies of the TSXV.

Based upon the number of issued and outstanding shares in each of Meteorite and Kobo on the date hereof, upon completion of the Transaction and the Private Placements, it is expected that the Resulting Issuer will have approximately 72,608,999 common shares ("Common Shares") issued and outstanding (non-diluted), of which the current shareholders of Meteorite will hold 1,413,000 Common Shares representing approximately 2% (assuming no exercise of any convertible securities of Meteorite prior to closing), the former shareholders of Kobo will hold 54,195,999 Common Shares representing approximately 75% and the purchasers under the Private Placements will hold 17,000,000 Common Shares representing approximately 23%.

In addition, upon completion of the Consolidation, the Transaction and the Private Placements, it is expected that the Resulting Issuer will also have outstanding approximately 3,263,040 stock options and 4,250,034 warrants (not accounting for any exercises thereof).

Financial Information for Kobo

Financial information for Kobo is available at the corporation's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Meteorite and Kobo will continue to provide further details in respect of the Transaction and financial information regarding Kobo, in due course by way of press release following completion of the Private Placements. Additionally, Meteorite will make available to the TSXV, all financial information as required by the TSXV and will provide, in a press release to be disseminated at a later date, summary financial information derived from such statements.

Upon completion of the Transaction, it is the intention of the parties that the Resulting Issuer will continue to focus on the current business and affairs of Kobo and will be a mining issuer listed on the TSXV.

Conditions to Transaction

The Transaction is subject to various conditions, including as follows:

completion of mutually satisfactory due diligence;

Meteorite and Kobo entering into a definitive agreement (the " Definitive Agreement ") in respect to the Transaction;

completion of the Private Placement II; and

all requisite shareholders and regulatory approvals relating to the Name Change, Consolidation and Transaction, including, without limitation, TSXV approval, will have been obtained.

Additional Information Regarding the Transaction

The final legal structure for the Transaction will be determined after the parties have considered all applicable tax, securities law, and accounting efficiencies.

The Letter Agreement contains standard confidentiality, access to information and non-solicitation provisions.

The Transaction is expected to be completed on or about December 15, 2022. The Letter Agreement may be terminated upon mutual written agreement of the parties, in the event of any breach by Kobo of the standstill provisions, in the event the Definitive Agreement is not entered into by February 15, 2023.

Meteorite exists under the provisions of the Canada Business Corporations Act with its registered and head office located at 1 Place Ville Marie, Suite 3900, Montreal, Quebec. It is a capital pool company and intends for the Transaction to constitute its "Qualifying Transaction" as such term is defined in the policies of the TSXV. Meteorite is a "reporting issuer" within the meaning of the Securities Act of each of the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.

Since the Transaction is an arm's length transaction, Meteorite is not required to obtain shareholder approval for the Transaction. However, it will be required to obtain shareholders approval of the Name Change and the Consolidation. The Transaction is also subject to shareholders approval of Kobo.

Sponsorship

Meteorite proposes to make an application for exemption from the sponsorship requirements of the TSXV in connection with the Transaction. However, there is no assurance that the TSXV will exempt Meteorite from all or part of applicable sponsorship requirements.

Further Information

All information contained in this news release with respect to Meteorite and Kobo was supplied by the parties respectively, for inclusion herein, without independent review by the other party, and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party.

For further information regarding the Transaction, please contact:

Charles R. Spector, Director, Meteorite Capital Inc.

Telephone: (514) 878-8847

Email: info@Meteoritecapital.com

Edouard Gosselin, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Kobo Resources Inc.

Telephone: 1-418-609-3587

Email: egosselin@kobores.com

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and if applicable pursuant to the requirements of the TSXV, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.

The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

NEITHER THE TSXV NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSXV) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the terms and conditions of the proposed Consolidation and Transaction; the terms and conditions of the proposed Offering; use of funds; and the business and operations of the Resulting Issuer after the proposed Transaction. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, Meteorite and Kobo assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142684
New office provides local support for Australia & New Zealand

ROSH HAAYIN, Israel, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Waterfall Security Solutions, the leader in OT cybersecurity, today announced the opening of its Australian office. The Australian expansion is in response to the increased demand for Waterfall products in the region. Regional instability and recent cyberattacks impairing industrial operations have motivated governments and private businesses to pay special attention to the protection of critical infrastructures. These factors have accelerated already strong interest in the region for Waterfall's Unidirectional Gateways and related products.





"We are happy to be expanding to Australia," said Lior Frenkel, CEO and Co-Founder of Waterfall Security. "We look forward to helping strengthen regional defenses against attacks on manufacturing and critical infrastructures."

Waterfall's Australia / New Zealand office is part of the company's continued rapid expansion, despite the global pandemic and economic downturn. Waterfall's expansion is fueled by a steadily worsening threat environment and by new expectations from governments and businesses for addressing cyber risk. With the new location, Waterfall will more effectively support existing customers and will more easily address the growing demand from both partners and end users in the region for Waterfall's Unidirectional Security Gateways and related products.

Waterfall Security's unbreachable, unlimited security solutions protect the world's most important critical infrastructures, manufacturing sites, and building automation systems. Waterfall's products assure safe, secure and reliable operations. Our hardware provides unbreachable protection against both today's cyber-challenges and those yet to come, while our innovative IT/OT integration software enables seamless enterprise-wide visibility for operations data. You don't have to choose between complete cybersecurity and operational efficiency - Waterfall delivers both.

About Waterfall Security Solutions

Waterfall Security Solutions' unbreachable OT cybersecurity technologies keep the world running. For more than 15 years, the most important industries and infrastructure have trusted Waterfall to guarantee safe, secure and reliable operations. The company's growing list of global customers includes national infrastructures, power plants, nuclear generators, onshore and offshore oil and gas facilities, refineries, manufacturing plants, utility companies, and more. Waterfall's patented Unidirectional Gateways and other evolutionary products combine the benefits of impenetrable hardware with unlimited software-based connectivity, enabling 100% safe visibility into industrial operations and automation systems.

For media inquiries:

Anna Plot

Waterfall Security Solutions

info@waterfall-security.com

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LONDON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On 26 October 2022, Cross Ocean Partners ("Cross Ocean"), a leading global credit investment manager with $6.2 billion of AUM, [i] completed Bosphorus CLO VII ("CLO VII"), the seventh CLO from the Bosphorus team and the first under Cross Ocean's management.





Cross Ocean acquired the Bosphorus European CLO platform, its three CLOs and five-person team from Commerzbank in December 2021. The transaction established Cross Ocean's footprint in the European CLO market, further deepening Cross Ocean's presence in the European credit space. Concurrent to the acquisition of the platform, Cross Ocean closed on a 130 million risk retention fund, alongside a strategic investor, to help fund the issuance of future Cross Ocean CLOs and enable the business to grow successfully. Since the team, led by London-based Guy Beeston, joined Cross Ocean, it has hired two new members and been fully integrated into the wider Cross Ocean business.

Graham Goldsmith and Steve Zander, co-CIOs of Cross Ocean, commented: "We are very happy to have welcomed Guy and his team to Cross Ocean. The team's ability to issue CLOs in the current market environment is a testament to their track record and experience. We are committed to building a best-in-class global credit manager and view the strategy as being highly complementary to our existing credit business."

Guy Beeston, Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of European CLOs for Cross Ocean, commented: "This transaction marks an exciting new step for the team as we look to scale up our capacity to issue new CLOs at Cross Ocean. Leveraging our collective relationships and resources will help catalyse the CLO business and be accretive to Cross Ocean's ability to deliver attractive risk adjusted returns for its investors and partners."

Deutsche Bank acted as arranger for the transaction. Cross Ocean was advised on CLO VII by Milbank LLP and Arthur Cox. It was advised on the acquisition of the Bosphorus platform by Macfarlanes LLP.

About Cross Ocean Partners

Cross Ocean Partners is a global credit investment manager with $6.2 billion of AUM and 67 employees across three offices (Greenwich (CT), London and Dublin), led by Graham Goldsmith, CEO and co-CIO, and Steve Zander, Head of Europe and co-CIO. It has three principal investment strategies: special situations credit, senior credit and CLOs. The firm was established in 2015 and is majority owned by its partners with a minority stake owned by the Trident VI Funds managed by Stone Point Capital LLC, a private equity manager focused on financial services with approximately $45 billion of AUM.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Email: info@crossoceanpartners.com

Tel (UK): +44 207 6536200 / Tel (US): +1 203 340 7850

[i] Estimated as of 30 September 2022. AUM defined as Gross Asset Value by Cross Ocean which equates to "NAV before carried interest" for funds in their harvest periods and "NAV before carried interest plus undrawn investor commitments" for funds within their investment periods. Numbers are subject to rounding.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cross-ocean-partners-launches-its-first-clo-post-acquisition-of-the-bosphorus-european-clo-platform-from-commerzbank-301665503.html
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / Black Tusk Resources Inc. (the "Company") (CSE:TUSK) (Frankfurt:0NB) (OTC PINK:BTKRF) announces that it plans to consolidate its issued and outstanding common shares at a ratio of ten (10) pre-consolidated shares to one (1) post-consolidation share (the "Consolidation"). The purpose of the Consolidation is to facilitate the Company's ability to attract future financings, generate greater investor interest and improve trading liquidity.

The Company currently has 205,746,409 common shares issued and outstanding. Upon completion of the Consolidation, the Company will have 20,574,640 common shares issued and outstanding.

In accordance with the Company's Articles, the Consolidation will not require the approval of the shareholders. The Consolidation is subject to the acceptance of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Richard Penn

CEO

(778) 384-8923

Cautionary Statement

Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law including statements relating exploration program expenditures. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the CSE, inability to effectively plan a program, third party land claims or failure to obtain permits. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for the Company as described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are available at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE: Black Tusk Resources Inc

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/723425/Black-Tusk-To-Complete-Share-Consolidation
VoloCity prototype flight testing in Germany

Volocopter, a Bruchsal, Germany-based urban air mobility (UAM) company, raised an additional USD 182m in the second signing of its Series E funding round.

NEOM  the Red Seas smart, cognitive region project  and GLy Capital Management of Hong Kong have joined Volocopters diverse investor base.

This will carry the company beyond the certification of its electric passenger aircraft, the VoloCity air taxi.

Led by Dirk Hoke, CEO, and Christian Bauer, CCO, Volocopter offers a suite of fully electric aircraft for urban missions. Its holistic UAM ecosystem approach connects all key global market players to get the industry off the ground. This includes developing multipurpose electric aircraft to bring passengers and goods safely to their destination (the VoloCity, VoloRegion, and VoloDrone), and enabling the physical and digital infrastructure to match (the VoloPort and VoloIQ).

Volocopter is a UAM leader, with over ten years of experience and upward of 1,500 test flights. As the first and only electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company to receive Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Volocopter expects to launch its first commercial air taxi routes in the next two years in megacities like Singapore, Rome, Paris, and the NEOM region.

Volocopter and NEOM signed a joint venture (JV) company in December 2021, becoming strategic partners to integrate the VoloCity and the VoloDrone into NEOMs sustainable and smart mobility systems. The JV will design, integrate, and operate all-electric public flight routes for the initial seven years.

FinSMEs

01/11/2022




Kakao Pay on Tuesday reported its third-quarter net loss of 4.7 billion won ($3.3 million), remaining in the red compared with a year ago.







The company said in a regulatory filing that it continued to post an operating loss of 9.7 billion won for the July-September period, compared with a loss of 1 billion won a year earlier. Sales rose 23 percent to 141.4 billion won.







The operating loss was 6.8 percent lower than the average estimate, according to a survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. (Yonhap)










Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong Korea Times file
Samsung Electronics' headquarters in Seoul / Korea Times file



By Kim Hyun-bin



Samsung Electronics celebrated its 53rd anniversary discreetly on Tuesday, out of consideration of the national mourning period called for by the government over the Itaewon crowd crush on Saturday that left at least 156 people dead.



The company announced that it held a ceremony to celebrate the 53rd anniversary of its founding in Suwon Digital City, Gyeonggi Province, in the presence of executives, including Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee and DS Division Head Kyung Kye-hyun.



"The more difficult the times, the more real skills are shown." Han said in a commemorative speech. "Based on Samsung Electronics' strength and will to take on challenges, let's make history by transforming ourselves once more."



The vice chairman emphasized the need for new growth by taking on limitless challenges and pursuing innovations, redefining core competitiveness with a focus on customers, actively practicing sustainable management, and changing the way Samsung communicates and works.



"Let's expand our growth momentum by creating new business opportunities that will change future lifestyles in new areas of opportunity such as AI (Artificial Intelligence), IoT (the Internet of Things), robots and the metaverse," Han added. "Let's contribute to creating a sustainable future society by strengthening eco-friendly technological innovation based on a long-term perspective."



Samsung Electronics was launched on January 13, 1969 under the name of Samsung Electronics Industries. But after merging with Samsung Semiconductor & Communications in November 1988, the founding anniversary was changed to November 1.



It is the first anniversary since Chairman Lee Jae-yong's inauguration, but he did not appear at the event. Lee has not attended the company's establishment ceremonies and only appeared via video message in 2019, which marked the 50th anniversary of the company's founding.



"Let's create a 100-year company that will be passed on to future generations through challenge, technology and coexistence'," Lee said in the video message that year.



Samsung Electronics canceled plans to celebrate the event and held a scaled down ceremony to mourn the victims of the Itaewon disaster.



The two CEOs posted condolence messages on the company's bulletin board the day before, saying, "I would like to express my deepest condolences to all those who have lost their precious family members and acquaintances."



Meanwhile, Samsung Electro-Mechanics and Samsung Display, which have the same founding anniversaries as Samsung Electronics, also decided to tone down the celebrations of their 49th and 10th anniversaries, respectively.



Samsung Electro-Mechanics, which was launched in March 1973, celebrated the date of its first shipment as its founding anniversary on November 1.


Fujitsu Global Delivery Center Philippines receives UN Women 2022 WEPs Award for Transparency and Reporting

Fujitsu Global Delivery

News Facts: Fujitsu Global Delivery Center (GDC) in the Philippines was conferred with the UN Womens Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Award as Champion for the Transparency and Reporting category.

The award recognizes a companys commitment to transparency and reporting of gender data that goes beyond minimum requirements and seeks to measure, analyze, and report on performance of their gender policies and practices across the value chain.

Fujitsu GDC Philippines was recognized for their gender-inclusive measures in evaluating gender-related workplace policies done on a regular basis.

Manila, October 31, 2022

Fujitsus Global Delivery Center (GDC) in the Philippines was conferred with the UN Women 2022 WEPs (Womens Empowerment Principles) Awards as Champion for the Transparency and Reporting category during the awarding ceremony (1) held at Discovery Primea Hotel in Makati City. The award was received by Geraldine Mabale, Deputy Head of Fujitsu GDC Philippines.

The Transparency and Reporting category recognizes a companys commitment to transparency and reporting of gender data that goes beyond minimum requirements and seeks to measure, analyze, and report on performance of their gender policies and practices across the value chain. This category also acknowledges a companys set targets and accountability frameworks in place that they consistently report. More than merely reporting data, these companies also take steps to improve their performance on gender indicators, such as recruitment and retention, and women in management among others.

Fujitsu GDC Philippines was recognized for their gender-inclusive measures within the company and its implementation of measures in evaluating gender-related workplace policies done on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.

The GDCs various trackers and reporting tools measure gender indicators such as gender-split data, percentage of women in the leadership team, percentage of women who are new hires, number of employees who participate in women-centric employee engagement events, and number of employees who graduated from the Women in Tech classes offered within the company among others.

These initiatives are aligned with Fujitsu Global Deliverys Global Responsible Business Programs Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Pillar. As a global signatory to the Womens Empowerment Principles, Fujitsu also uses the UN Sustainable Development Goals framework to focus on initiatives with positive, long-lasting impacts based on local needs.

Our transparency and reporting measures come from our commitment and drive in promoting gender equality especially in the Information Technology (IT) industry that we belong to. As a Responsible Business, continuous tracking of our performance against targets helps ensure that we are on track in reaching gender equality in our policies, programs, and services, not just with our employees, but also to our communities and customers, said Arlene Gregorio, Head of Fujitsu GDC Philippines.

[1]

About Fujitsu Fujitsus purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers in over 100 countries, our 124,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: Computing, Networks, AI, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$32 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. Find out more: www.fujitsu.com.

Press Contacts Alvin A. Marayan

Media Relations Director

Phone: +639989613729

E-mail:alvin.marayan@teamprcinc.com.ph

All company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.

31 October, 2022Manila, PhilippinesFujitsu Global Delivery
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi talks with Permanent Representative of Gabon to U.N. and President of the Security Council for the month of October Michel Xavier Biang, as he arrives to attend a closed-door meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Ukraine, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, U.S., Oct. 27. Reuters-Yonhap



The U.N.'s nuclear watchdog said Monday it had begun inspections in Ukraine as part of "independent verification" of Russian allegations Kyiv is producing so-called dirty bombs.



Inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have "begun  and would soon complete  verification activities at two locations in Ukraine", the agency said in a statement.



IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said he would later this week provide "his initial conclusions about the latest verification activities at the two sites", the statement added.



The inspections follow a written request from the Ukraine government to send IAEA teams there.



Russia has accused Ukraine of preparing to use dirty bombs against Moscow's troops, but Kyiv suspects Russia might itself use a dirty bomb in a "false flag" attack, possibly to justify use of conventional nuclear weapons by Moscow as it finds itself on the back foot in eastern and southern Ukraine.



The agency said last week it had inspected "one of the two locations a month ago and no undeclared nuclear activities or materials were found there."



A dirty bomb is a conventional bomb laced with radioactive, biological or chemical materials which are spread in an explosion.



Last Thursday Russian President Vladimir Putin called for the IAEA to inspect Ukraine's nuclear sites "as fast as possible".



The IAEA in Monday's statement also urged the release of an employee of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, who was detained some two weeks ago.



The plant  Europe's largest atomic facility  was captured by Russian troops in March in the early days of the invasion.



Grossi again stressed the plant's "precarious situation", including his concern for "the increasingly difficult and stressful working conditions for the plant's Ukrainian operating personnel".



Another employee detained some two weeks ago was released recently, the statement said.



Ukraine claims Moscow's forces are "kidnapping" the plant's staff and said recently that around 50 employees were held in "captivity".



Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of shelling the plant, sparking fears of a nuclear disaster.



The IAEA has been in contact with both Moscow and Kyiv to set up a security zone around the plant. (AFP)


Albany police have arrested an Albany man on suspicion of assaulting someone with a weapon.

Officers arrested Nicholas Burton Howell, 27, on Saturday, Oct. 29. He is accused of second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.

Court documents allege Howell caused physical injury to the victim using a deadly or dangerous weapon on Oct. 29. They do not describe the weapon. The alleged incident was an act of domestic violence, court documents said.

Howell was scheduled to be arraigned in Linn County Circuit Court on Monday afternoon, Oct. 31. According to Oregons online court database, Howell has retained Salem-based Matthew Gipson as his defense attorney.
Linn County Sheriffs deputies are looking for a missing California woman whose car was found off of Highway 20, about 30 miles east of Sweet Home.

At around 10:52 a.m. Oct. 29, someone reported a suspicious vehicle parked at the end of a dead-end U.S. Forest Service road off the highway, according to an agency news release. The caller said it was a gray Toyota Camry with California license plates.

Deputies responded and discovered the car was connected to Tammy Pitkin, 54. Pitkin had been reported missing out of the Tehama County Sheriffs Office in Northern California, the news release said. She was reported missing Oct. 26 but had not been seen by family since Oct. 14.

Pitkin was last known to have been in Sutherlin on Oct. 17. After contacting Pitkins family members, deputies learned Pitkin had no connections to Linn County.

The county search and rescue team has been searching the area but has found no signs of Pitkin, the agency said.

Pitkin is described as 54 and 160 pounds with blond hair and hazel eyes. She is most likely with her two small dogs: a white/black/brown Jack Russell terrier and another white dog.

Anyone who has seen Pitkin or may have given her a ride from the area is asked to contact LCSO at 541-967-3911.
A Pacific Green Party candidate for Oregons 4th Congressional District got an unsolicited advertising bump against his opponents  and hes taken the unusual step of telling people not to fall for it.

I do not discourage anyone from voting for me, Corvallis resident Mike Beilstein said in an email to Mid-Valley Media. On the other hand, the source of the campaign blitz appears to be what he calls dark money.

Beilstein isnt expected to overcome Democrat Val Hoyle, but shortly after an outside group calling itself Green Oregon was created on Oct. 19, it started backing his campaign. By a lot.

In an initial report, it spent around $37,000 on mailers, corresponding postage and digital media placement supporting Beilstein and attacking Hoyle, the candidate said.

As of Friday, Oct. 28, that number has jumped to $123,992, campaign finance records on file with the Federal Election Commission indicate.

Those numbers are a drop in the bucket compared to the two front-runners. As of Oct. 19, Hoyle has raised $2.2 million, spent $2.02 million and has $188,000 on hand. Her Republican opponent, Alek Skarlatos, has raised $4.06 million, spent $3.8 million and has $380,000 on hand.

Still, these are big numbers for Beilstein.

Who is Green Oregon?

Green Oregon is an independent expenditure group that was formed Oct. 19, paying for the pro-Beilstein mailers with messages about him fighting climate change and passing the Green New Deal.

I believe it is a tactic by supporters of Alek Skarlatos to take Progressive- and Green-leaning votes away from Val Hoyle, Beilstein said by email.

I do not approve of this activity, and it does not originate from me or anyone associated with the Pacific Green Party.

An independent expenditure supports or opposes a candidate and is not made in coordination with a candidate or their campaign or political party, according to federal election campaign rules.

"We know nothing about this," said Ross Purgason, Skarlatos' campaign manager, in an email.

The Green Oregon mailers accuse Hoyle of receiving nearly $500,000 from corporate political action committees and special interest groups during previous campaigns for state office. The group also funded a webpage promoting its message and urging voters to choose Beilstein over Hoyle.

Beilstein said Green Oregons goal appears to make him an unwilling spoiler, potentially handing a congressional seat to Skarlatos.

Voters wont be tricked by this desperate scheme fueled by Republican dark money, Logan Gilles, Hoyles campaign manager, said by email. Its clear that Alek Skarlatos backers have resorted to these deceitful tactics because they know that his extreme positions are out of step with Oregon, and he cant win by running an honest, straightforward campaign.

Citing support for Hoyle  who is stepping down from her role as commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries to run for federal office  from many environmental advocacy groups, Gilles said shes the only 4th District candidate who has delivered on climate action and a plan for Oregon to lead in clean energy technology and manufacturing.

Green Oregon lists its address at a mailbox rental service in Eugene. The registration information for the webpages domain was redacted for privacy, obscuring any contact information, according to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.

A super political action committee, Green Oregon was created by Nathaniel Lopez, who is listed as its treasurer and records custodian. Lopez, an entrepreneur from Virginia, previously gave $300 to former President Donald Trumps campaign as well as $895 to WinRed, a Republican-supporting political action committee, according to election records.

This is a desperate attempt to get an unpopular candidate with unlimited resources elected to national office, Beilstein said via email about Skarlatos.

Who is Mike Beilstein

A longtime Corvallis political fixture, Beilstein is a retired Oregon State University chemist who served 12 years on the Corvallis City Council. He ran five times under the Pacific Green standard against the 4th Districts longtime rep, Peter DeFazio, D-Springfield.

In 2020, Beilstein made his second run for the Benton County Board of Commissioners, having previously tried in 2000. The 2020 contest became the first ranked choice election in Benton County.

In response to the dark money efforts, Beilstein called for Oregonians to support the rapid adoption of statewide ranked choice voting to combat what said is abuse of the current system.

This abuse of the electoral system is possible because Oregon uses a plurality victory system which allows election of candidates with less than majority support, and thus encourages spoiler tactics, he said via email.

Beilstein is one of three nonmajor party candidates on the ballot, along with Levi Leatherberry and Jim Howard, who has said hes no longer actively campaigning.

Skarlatos outraised DeFazio in 2020, but the incumbent Democrat held his seat by 5 percentage points.

More Corvallis news

More mid-valley election coverage
If there was any doubt the race for Linn County sheriff mattered to the community, a review of campaign donations erases any uncertainty.

Between the two candidates  incumbent Sheriff Michelle Duncan and Deputy Jon Raymond  2022 campaign contributions total more than $250,000, according to Oregon Secretary of State records.

Both campaigns feature support from prominent community members and groups, demonstrating just how crucial this race is to the county.

Duncans donations

Oregon Secretary of State records show, as of Oct. 31, the current sheriff has raised $120,964.46 in financial contributions in 2022. That breaks down to $105,950 in cash contributions and $15,014 in in-kind donations.

Duncan has been endorsed by the last five Linn County sheriffs with a few of them putting money where their endorsements are. Art Martinak has donated $300; Bruce Riley has given $500; and Jim Yon has contributed $500.

Some current employees are also forking up some cash to keep their boss as their boss, including Undersheriff Micah Smith, Capt. Dave Snippen, jail commander Ted Langley and Sgt. Brad Kelley.

The single largest cash contribution to Duncans campaign, according to the Secretary of State, came from president of Coastal Farm Holdings Bruce Wheeler, who donated $10,000.

Other big contributors include James Young, co-founder of Lebanon-based Entek International, and Larry Keith, manager of Nevada-based company Ionic Investing. Young and Keith both contributed $7,500 each.

Lynn Merrill, owner of Albany-based Acreage Land Solutions, has contributed a total of $8,000 to Duncans campaign.

Other notable figures who have donated to the current sheriffs campaign include Albany Police Department Chief Marcia Harnden and Linn County Commissioners Will Tucker and Roger Nyquist.

The Albany Area Chamber of Commerces Good Government Council endorsed Duncan and contributed $5,000.

Despite the endorsement of Raymonds campaign from the political action committee arm of activist group Timber Unity, Duncan does have some financial backing from Frank Timber Resources, which donated $6,000, and Freres Lumber Co. which contributed $3,000.

Raymonds resources

Contributions to Raymonds campaign bests Duncans so far, Secretary of State records show. The challengers campaign has raised $136,776.28 in 2022. There have been $110,804.02 in cash contributions in 2022 and $25,972.26 in in-kind donations.

The largest single cash contribution made to Raymonds campaign is $10,000 from Oak Park Farms of Shedd. Multiple other farms have donated to Raymonds run for sheriff too: Cala Farms of Tangent, JW Farms of Albany, Goracke Farms of Junction City, Mid-Valley Farms of Tangent, Sand Ridge Farms of Lebanon, Hayes Farms of Lebanon, Mark Parker Farms of Halsey, L3 Farms of Shedd and Burkholder Farms of Albany.

The most notable supporters of Raymond, however, are current and former Linn County deputies. The agencys union, the Linn County Deputy Sheriffs Association, endorsed Raymond and contributed $5,000 to his campaign. Central Valley Lodge No. 16 Fraternal Order of Police has donated $5,000 as well.

Some LCSO employees who have put money into the hope for a new leader are Sgt. Chris Houdek, dispatchers Tina Hannon and Ginnette Gill and corrections deputy Tyler Plagmann. Multiple other former and current deputies have publicly voiced their support for Raymond.

Raymond is running for sheriff with current deputy Travis Boshart as his intended undersheriff. Although Raymond has stated he isnt running his campaign on Boshart money, the Boshart family has contributed some $15,000 to Raymonds funds, Secretary of State records show.

At least six different people with the Boshart last name have contributed money, as well as the group Friends of Shelly Boshart Davis.

Travis Boshart is cousin to State Representative Shelly Boshart Davis. The Boshart name has been in the mid-Willamette Valley for decades thanks to Boshart Trucking. The familys trucking business goes back to 1983.

Editor's note: This article has been edited to clarify the timeframe attached to the contribution totals.
Protection of minors enhanced under law

By Yang Zekun (China Daily) 16:18, November 01, 2022

Mei Mei, a prosecutor from Southwest China's Chongqing, talks with students at Chongqing No 37 Secondary School during a class interval last month. [Photo/XINHUA]

Procuratorates nationwide have been continuously working to improve judicial protection for minors, to rescue juveniles involved in crimes and to strictly punish those who commit crimes against minors, according to a recent report.

The procuratorates are working to improve the protection of minors by combining professional and social forces, Zhang Jun, procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, said while delivering the report to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, for deliberation on Friday.

Procurators insist on using education and rescue methods when handling juveniles, and that they make full use of the special prevention and correction function of conditional non-prosecution for youth involved in minor cases, Zhang said.

From 2018 to September this year, 63,000 people were exempt from prosecution with conditions; 169,000 juveniles were prosecuted; and 1,877 juveniles were prosecuted due to violating regulations and refusing to repent during the probation period of conditional nonprosecution.

Through customized conditions and whole-process supervision and investigation, the effectiveness of precise help and education has been improved. More than 97 percent of non-prosecuted juveniles are on the right path, the report said.

"Special protection and leniency for juveniles in accordance with the law is not indulgent," Zhang explained.

"Juveniles who commit crimes with deep subjective malignancy, cruel means and serious consequences will be resolutely punished," he said, adding that such efforts serve to educate society and act as a deterrent to would-be criminals.

Zhang said procuratorial organs have also shown zero tolerance for crimes against minors and suggest heavy punishment for such offenders.

In the process of handling cases, the judicial concepts and case-handling rules are constantly being improved, including those in which minors are forced to participate in organized crimes, school violence and sexual assault, he said.

From 2018 to September this year, 47,000 adults involved in crimes against minors were sentenced to more than three years in prison in the first instance, accounting for 42 percent of all people prosecuted for such crimes, said the report.

"Procuratorates also work closely with other departments to deepen the rectification and prevention for possible harms to minors at the source, such as improving the mechanisms for preventing sexual assault, sexual harassment and bullying in schools," he said.

In 2020, the SPP worked with the ministries of education and public security to establish the system of mandatory reporting of assaults on minors and the entry inquiry system for occupational practitioners involved with minors.

Prosecutors nationwide have handled about 3,700 cases against minors via the reporting system, and minor-related institutions fired about 4,400 people with criminal records after using the inquiry system.

The report also calls for enhancing the construction of the rule of law in the minor-protection sector, and updating the protection methods and concepts for minors, as the crimes committed both by and against minors are on the rise.

From 2018 to 2021, procuratorates prosecuted 249,000 juveniles, an average annual increase of 8.3 percent. The top prosecuted crimes of minors were theft, affray, picking quarrels and provoking trouble, robbery, rape and intentional injury, said the report.

About 232,000 people were prosecuted for crimes against minors from 2018 to 2021, an average annual increase of 6.1 percent. Sexual assault has been the most prominent crime against minors.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX: CXB; OTCQX: CXBMF) (Calibre or the Company) a Canadian company operating in Nevada and Nicaragua since 2009 is analyzing the recent announcement of the United States Treasury Department issued on October 24, 2022 (United States Treasury Announcement can be found here.) relating to sanctions imposed on the Nicaragua Directorate of Mines.



Calibre is proactively reviewing the recent sanctions and has reached out to the United States Treasury Department to ensure its full compliance with these provisions. Calibre reaffirms its commitment to continue complying with all relevant international laws and restrictions.

The Company will provide a market update once it has additional information, following discussions with its advisors and the United States Treasury Department.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Darren Hall

Darren Hall, President & Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Ryan King

Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations

T: 604.628.1010

E: calibre@calibremining.com

W: www.calibremining.com



About Calibre Mining Corp.

Calibre is a Canadian-listed, Americas focused, growing mid-tier gold producer with a strong pipeline of development and exploration opportunities across Nevada and Washington in the USA, and Nicaragua. Calibre is focused on delivering sustainable value for shareholders, local communities and all stakeholders through responsible operations and a disciplined approach to growth. With a strong balance sheet, no debt, a proven management team, strong operating cash flow, accretive development projects and district-scale exploration opportunities Calibre will unlock significant value.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Calibres control. For a listing of risk factors applicable to the Company, please refer to Calibres annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2021, available on www.sedar.com. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Calibres forward-looking statements.

Calibres forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. Calibre does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or managements beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
Pune, Oct. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fronthaul Market In 2022 (Short Description) : Mobile fronthaul involves the movement of data and voice from a cell site remote radio head (RRH) to a centralized baseband unit (BBU), which then connects to the mobile telephone switching office (MTSO)

"Fronthaul Market" Insights 2022 By Types, Applications, Regions and Forecast to 2028. The global Fronthaul market size is projected to reach multimillion USD by 2028, in comparison to 2022, with unexpected CAGR during the forecast period, the Fronthaul Market Report Contains 114 Pages with Full TOC, Tables & Figures, and Chart with In-depth Analysis Pre & Post COVID-19 Market Outbreak Impact Analysis & Situation by Region.

Fronthaul Market - Covid-19 Impact and Recovery Analysis:

We have been tracking the direct impact of COVID-19 on this market, as well as the indirect impact from other industries. This report analyzes the impact of the pandemic on the Fronthaul market from a Global and Regional perspective. The report outlines the market size, market characteristics, and market growth for Fronthaul industry, categorized by type, application, and consumer sector. In addition, it provides a comprehensive analysis of aspects involved in market development before and after the Covid-19 pandemic. Report also conducted a PESTEL analysis in the industry to study key influencers and barriers to entry.

Final Report will add the analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on this industry.

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It also provides accurate information and cutting-edge analysis that is necessary to formulate an ideal business plan, and to define the right path for rapid growth for all involved industry players. With this information, stakeholders will be more capable of developing new strategies, which focus on market opportunities that will benefit them, making their business endeavors profitable in the process.

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Fronthaul Market - Competitive and Segmentation Analysis:

This Fronthaul Market report offers detailed analysis supported by reliable statistics on sale and revenue by players for the period 2017-2022. The report also includes company description, major business, Fronthaul product introduction, recent developments and Fronthaul sales by region, type, application and by sales channel.

The major players covered in the Fronthaul market report are:

Cisco

Alcatel-Lucent

Ericsson

Huawei Technologies

Broadcom

Ciena

LS Networks

Nokia Networks

Fujitsu

RCR Wireless

Infinera

Omnitron Systems

ZTE

Short Summery About Fronthaul Market :

The Global Fronthaul market is anticipated to rise at a considerable rate during the forecast period, between 2022 and 2028. In 2021, the market is growing at a steady rate and with the rising adoption of strategies by key players, the market is expected to rise over the projected horizon.

Report Overview

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine War Influence, the global market for Mobile Fronthaul estimated at US$ million in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$ million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of % during the forecast period 2022-2028.

North America and Western Europe mobile fronthaul market is predominantly mature as compared to the other regional market as they are fast in the adoption of technology. Mobile fronthaul market in Asia Pacific excluding Japan and Japan are expected to possess maximum potential in the forecast period. Mobile fronthaul market in Latin America and Middle East and Africa are also projected to witness positive growth during the forecast period.

Report Scope

This latest report researches the industry structure, revenue and gross margin. Major players headquarters, market shares, industry ranking and profiles are presented. The primary and secondary research is done in order to access up-to-date government regulations, market information and industry data. Data were collected from the Mobile Fronthaul companies, distributors, end users, industry associations, governments' industry bureaus, industry publications, industry experts, third party database, and our in-house databases.

This report also includes a discussion of the major players across each regional Mobile Fronthaul market. Further, it explains the major drivers and regional dynamics of the global Mobile Fronthaul market and current trends within the industry.

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Report further studies the market development status and future Fronthaul Market trend across the world. Also, it splits Fronthaul market Segmentation by Type and by Applications to fully and deeply research and reveal market profile and prospects.

On the basis of product type this report displays the production, revenue, price and market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into:

Cloud RAN

Centralized RAN

Mobile Fronthau

On the basis of the end users/applications this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, including:

Telecommunications

Networking

Government

Enterprises

Other

Fronthaul Market - Regional Analysis:

Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share and growth Rate of Fronthaul in these regions, from 2015 to 2028, covering

North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)

Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia and Turkey etc.)

Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam)

South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)

Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)

Some of the key questions answered in this report:

What is the global ( North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East & Africa ) sales value, production value, consumption value, import and export of Fronthaul?

) sales value, production value, consumption value, import and export of Fronthaul? Who are the global key manufacturers of the Fronthaul Industry? How is their operating situation (capacity, production, sales, price, cost, gross, and revenue)?

What are the Fronthaul market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global Fronthaul Industry?

Which application/end-user or product type may seek incremental growth prospects? What is the market share of each type and application?

What focused approach and constraints are holding the Fronthaul market?

What are the different sales, marketing, and distribution channels in the global industry?

What are the upstream raw materials and manufacturing equipment of Fronthaul along with the manufacturing process of Fronthaul?

What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Fronthaul market?

Economic impact on the Fronthaul industry and development trend of the Fronthaul industry.

What are the market opportunities, market risk, and market overview of the Fronthaul market?

What are the key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges of the Fronthaul market, and how they are expected to impact the market?

What is the Fronthaul market size at the regional and country-level?

Our research analysts will help you to get customized details for your report, which can be modified in terms of a specific region, application or any statistical details. In addition, we are always willing to comply with the study, which triangulated with your own data to make the market research more comprehensive in your perspective.

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Detailed TOC of Global Fronthaul Market Research Report 2022

1 Fronthaul Market Overview

1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Fronthaul

1.2 Fronthaul Segment by Type

1.2.1 Global Fronthaul Market Size Growth Rate Analysis by Type 2022 VS 2028

1.3 Fronthaul Segment by Application

1.3.1 Global Fronthaul Consumption Comparison by Application: 2022 VS 2028

1.4 Global Market Growth Prospects

1.4.1 Global Fronthaul Revenue Estimates and Forecasts (2017-2028)

1.4.2 Global Fronthaul Production Capacity Estimates and Forecasts (2017-2028)

1.4.3 Global Fronthaul Production Estimates and Forecasts (2017-2028)

1.5 Global Market Size by Region

1.5.1 Global Fronthaul Market Size Estimates and Forecasts by Region: 2017 VS 2021 VS 2028

1.5.2 North America Fronthaul Estimates and Forecasts (2017-2028)

1.5.3 Europe Fronthaul Estimates and Forecasts (2017-2028)

1.5.4 China Fronthaul Estimates and Forecasts (2017-2028)

1.5.5 Japan Fronthaul Estimates and Forecasts (2017-2028)

2 Market Competition by Manufacturers

2.1 Global Fronthaul Production Capacity Market Share by Manufacturers (2017-2022)

2.2 Global Fronthaul Revenue Market Share by Manufacturers (2017-2022)

2.3 Fronthaul Market Share by Company Type (Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3)

2.4 Global Fronthaul Average Price by Manufacturers (2017-2022)

2.5 Manufacturers Fronthaul Production Sites, Area Served, Product Types

2.6 Fronthaul Market Competitive Situation and Trends

2.6.1 Fronthaul Market Concentration Rate

2.6.2 Global 5 and 10 Largest Fronthaul Players Market Share by Revenue

2.6.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion

3 Production Capacity by Region

3.1 Global Production Capacity of Fronthaul Market Share by Region (2017-2022)

3.2 Global Fronthaul Revenue Market Share by Region (2017-2022)

3.3 Global Fronthaul Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2017-2022)

3.4 North America Fronthaul Production

3.4.1 North America Fronthaul Production Growth Rate (2017-2022)

3.4.2 North America Fronthaul Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2017-2022)

3.5 Europe Fronthaul Production

3.5.1 Europe Fronthaul Production Growth Rate (2017-2022)

3.5.2 Europe Fronthaul Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2017-2022)

3.6 China Fronthaul Production

3.6.1 China Fronthaul Production Growth Rate (2017-2022)

3.6.2 China Fronthaul Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2017-2022)

3.7 Japan Fronthaul Production

3.7.1 Japan Fronthaul Production Growth Rate (2017-2022)

3.7.2 Japan Fronthaul Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2017-2022)

4 Global Fronthaul Consumption by Region

4.1 Global Fronthaul Consumption by Region

4.1.1 Global Fronthaul Consumption by Region

4.1.2 Global Fronthaul Consumption Market Share by Region

4.2 North America

4.2.1 North America Fronthaul Consumption by Country

4.2.2 United States

4.2.3 Canada

4.3 Europe

4.3.1 Europe Fronthaul Consumption by Country

4.3.2 Germany

4.3.3 France

4.3.4 U.K.

4.3.5 Italy

4.3.6 Russia

4.4 Asia Pacific

4.4.1 Asia Pacific Fronthaul Consumption by Region

4.4.2 China

4.4.3 Japan

4.4.4 South Korea

4.4.5 China Taiwan

4.4.6 Southeast Asia

4.4.7 India

4.4.8 Australia

4.5 Latin America

4.5.1 Latin America Fronthaul Consumption by Country

4.5.2 Mexico

4.5.3 Brazil

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5 Segment by Type

5.1 Global Fronthaul Production Market Share by Type (2017-2022)

5.2 Global Fronthaul Revenue Market Share by Type (2017-2022)

5.3 Global Fronthaul Price by Type (2017-2022)

6 Segment by Application

6.1 Global Fronthaul Production Market Share by Application (2017-2022)

6.2 Global Fronthaul Revenue Market Share by Application (2017-2022)

6.3 Global Fronthaul Price by Application (2017-2022)

7 Key Companies Profiled

7.1 Company

7.1.1 Fronthaul Corporation Information

7.1.2 Fronthaul Product Portfolio

7.1. CFronthaul Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2017-2022)

7.1.4 Companys Main Business and Markets Served

7.1.5 Companys Recent Developments/Updates



8 Fronthaul Manufacturing Cost Analysis

8.1 Fronthaul Key Raw Materials Analysis

8.1.1 Key Raw Materials

8.1.2 Key Suppliers of Raw Materials

8.2 Proportion of Manufacturing Cost Structure

8.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Fronthaul

8.4 Fronthaul Industrial Chain Analysis

9 Marketing Channel, Distributors and Customers

9.1 Marketing Channel

9.2 Fronthaul Distributors List

9.3 Fronthaul Customers

10 Market Dynamics

10.1 Fronthaul Industry Trends

10.2 Fronthaul Market Drivers

10.3 Fronthaul Market Challenges

10.4 Fronthaul Market Restraints

11 Production and Supply Forecast

11.1 Global Forecasted Production of Fronthaul by Region (2023-2028)

11.2 North America Fronthaul Production, Revenue Forecast (2023-2028)

11.3 Europe Fronthaul Production, Revenue Forecast (2023-2028)

11.4 China Fronthaul Production, Revenue Forecast (2023-2028)

11.5 Japan Fronthaul Production, Revenue Forecast (2023-2028)

12 Consumption and Demand Forecast

12.1 Global Forecasted Demand Analysis of Fronthaul

12.2 North America Forecasted Consumption of Fronthaul by Country

12.3 Europe Market Forecasted Consumption of Fronthaul by Country

12.4 Asia Pacific Market Forecasted Consumption of Fronthaul by Region

12.5 Latin America Forecasted Consumption of Fronthaul by Country

13 Forecast by Type and by Application (2023-2028)

13.1 Global Production, Revenue and Price Forecast by Type (2023-2028)

13.1.1 Global Forecasted Production of Fronthaul by Type (2023-2028)

13.1.2 Global Forecasted Revenue of Fronthaul by Type (2023-2028)

13.1.3 Global Forecasted Price of Fronthaul by Type (2023-2028)

13.2 Global Forecasted Consumption of Fronthaul by Application (2023-2028)

13.2.1 Global Forecasted Production of Fronthaul by Application (2023-2028)

13.2.2 Global Forecasted Revenue of Fronthaul by Application (2023-2028)

13.2.3 Global Forecasted Price of Fronthaul by Application (2023-2028)

14 Research Finding and Conclusion

15 Methodology and Data Source

15.1 Methodology/Research Approach

15.1.1 Research Programs/Design

15.1.2 Market Size Estimation

15.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation

15.2 Data Source

15.2.1 Secondary Sources

15.2.2 Primary Sources

15.3 Author List

15.4 Disclaimer

Continued.

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LONDON, Oct. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emerging Markets Global Advisory LLP (EMGA) for the second time working with Banco Improsa, secures this US$20M facility from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) - AECID (advised by COFIDES).

Commenting on the transaction, Felix Alpizar, General Manager of BANCO IMPROSA, said: "Banco Improsa is very honored to be recognized by AECID and COFIDES for both its track record and programs to finance and support Costa Rican micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). With this credit we will continue our contribution to the economic and social development of the country."

EMGAs Head of Investment Banking Sajeev Chakkalakal said, A pleasure again to facilitate Banco Improsas continued vision of supporting SMEs within Costa Rica and complete this funding solution with AECID (advised by COFIDES).

Jose Luis Curbelo, chairman and CEO of COFIDES, stated that we are pleased to support AECID in its first impact project with EMGA and IMPROSA in the Central American region. The transaction will be used to finance small and medium enterprises in Costa Rica, which will contribute to the creation and maintenance of quality jobs and reducing inequalities. We look forward to continuing these strategic partnerships, which enhance economic growth in developing countries by strengthening the private sector through sound financial support.

Carlos Jimenez Aguirre, General Manager of FONPRODE and Head AECIDs Financial Cooperation Department expressed that the formalization of this transaction reflects Spanish Cooperations aims to contribute to expand the financial support for Costa Rican micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), as MSMEs play a key role in creating and maintaining decent jobs and reducing inequalities. Our intention is to expand this kind of support to other Central American countries in providing access to finance to MSMEs, with a special focus on mainstreaming gender and climate change strategies in private sector activities.

Emerging Markets Global Advisory LLP, based in London, helps emerging market based financial institutions and corporates seeking new debt or equity capital.

Banco Improsa was founded in 1995 and is a niche bank with a specialization in providing financial solutions and services to MSMEs, which account for most of its portfolio. It has an extensive track record in providing support and advisory services to MSMEs. Banco Improsa's key success factor lies in its commitment to high standards of personalized, agile, and flexible service, which, together with customized financial solutions, have enabled it to achieve a solid position in these segments. Banco Improsa is part of Grupo Financiero Improsa (GFI).

Fund for the Promotion of Development (FONPRODE), managed by Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) with the support of COFIDES (Spanish Development Finance Institution). AECID is the main management body of Spanish Cooperation and is oriented towards the fight against poverty and the promotion of sustainable development. COFIDES provides support management for FONPRODE with reimbursable financing operations that promote social and economic development of partner countries through investments or transfers of economic resources with a reimbursable nature. FONPRODE may finance non-reimbursable and reimbursable debt and equity. Examples of refundable financing offered by FONPRODE are loans to financial service providers aimed at financial inclusion.

COFIDES, a state-owned company engaging in the management of State and third-party as well as its own funds, pursues several aims; internationalization of Spains economy, furtherance of economic development and fortification of the solvency of companies affected by COVID-19. In addition to the Spanish State, its shareholders include Banco Santander, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), Banco Sabadell and Development Bank of Latin America (CAF).

Jeremy Dobson

info@emergingmarketsglobaladvisory.com
10 Consecutive Quarters of Positive Adjusted EBITDA;

Q3/2022 revenue at $16.0 million increased by 3.3% versus Q3/2021 and 6.1% YTD

Posted 10 th consecutive quarter of positive adjusted EBITDA

Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) revenue increased by $4.7 million (7.9%)

TTM gross profit remains flat

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Oct. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smart Employee Benefits Inc. (SEB or the Company) (TSXV: SEB) (OTCQB: SEBFF) reports its financial results for the third quarter ending August 31, 2022 (Q3/2022). SEB is an Insurtech company focused on technologies that provide leading-edge, cloud based end-to-end IT and benefit processing software, solutions and services for the life and group benefits marketplace and government.

Please refer to the interim unaudited consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the nine months ended August 31, 2022, filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com for more information. Unless otherwise specified, all dollar amounts are denominated in Canadian dollars.

Q3/2022 Financial Highlights:

Consolidated: Revenue: Grew 3.3% to $16.0 million versus $15.5 million in Q3/2021 Ten consecutive quarters of positive Adjusted EBITDA



Benefits Solutions : Revenue: $4.7 million versus $4.5 million in Q3/2021 Nine consecutive quarters of positive EBITDA



: Technology Services : Revenue (adjusted for intercompany sales adjustment in Q3/22 of $311K vs Q3/21- $929K): $11.3 million versus $10.9 million in Q3/2021 The Technology Services has a long history of positive EBITDA Adjusted EBITDA: $0.6 million versus $0.9 million in Q3/2021 EBITDA: $0.5 million versus $0.9 million in Q3/2021



: Over 70% of year-to-date revenues come from clients who have been with SEB over 5-years



With over $70 million of contract wins in the last 9 months and over $470 million of total contract value, management expects year-over-year increases in fiscal 2022 Revenue.

States John McKimm, President/CEO/CIO of Smart Employee Benefits Inc.:

On the back of our recent three wins announced in September and new Vendor Management Agreements, SEB extended its record of delivering positive adjusted EBITDA to 10 consecutive quarters. Since our inception, SEB has invested in both Technology Services operations and more significantly in Benefits Solutions. Historically, Technology Services has strong profitability. Benefits Solutions has required significant investment, the majority of which has been expensed. The cost structure from acquisitions and integrations has been largely realigned and we anticipate both Technology Services and Benefits Solutions to show growth and positive cash flow in Fiscal 2022 and beyond. The contract values, including backlog, option years and evergreen, remain strong, with the Company continually renewing or winning sufficient new business to maintain and grow future annual revenues. The Company has established strong traction in multiple new business initiatives and is well positioned to win new business going forward. A one-time contract in the first half of 2022 increased the cost structure and reduced margins; however, this contract is considered an investment in the future as it contributes to both Intellectual Property assets opening opportunities with new clients and longer-term managed services revenue.

Business Development Activities Fiscal 2022:

Relationships have been consolidated and grown with multiple new business partners. The Companys Channel Partner strategy has gained strong traction, signing 3 new Vendor Management Agreements that authorize SEB to supply ITS software, solutions and services. These contracts give the Company the approval to participate in the IT budgets that exceed an estimated $40.0 million annually. The arrangements have terms up to 5 years, which typically are renewed once achieving approved vendor status.

SEB is also engaged in over a dozen active negotiations with brokerage organizations, Master General Agents, Third Party Administrators (TPA), insurers, unions, and corporate entities. Several agreements have been executed with Channel Partners; with revenue growth expected in 2022 and beyond.

The Companys RFP and Channel Partner sales pipeline is the largest it has ever been (in both corporate and government opportunities) for both Technology Services and Benefits software and solutions driven revenue streams.

Business Outlook:

Technology Services revenues have historically been cash flow positive, and net new business wins and renewals remain strong. Benefits Solutions revenue is becoming cash flow positive after considerable investments in technology, business infrastructure, and client acquisition. We expect both revenue streams to have continued strong sustainable growth going forward. Since November 30, 2020, the Company has won over $240 million of net new contracts, including option years.

COVID-19 has led to increasing demand for the Companys Benefits Solutions, including online medical care partnerships. We saw an increase in year-to-date revenues in the Technology Services in the first nine months of the year which was a direct result of the contract wins in the past 21 months. Total Contract Values for the Company continue to grow, and utilization of the contracts is gaining stronger traction as government and businesses streamline and adjust to COVID-19 operating business processes.

The majority of the Companys business is largely multi-year, managed services-driven recurring revenue contracts for managing and operating mission critical technology and people infrastructure for our clients. On a consolidated level, in Q3/2021 the Company applied for and received approximately $247,000 of COVID-19 government relief to support the Technology Services operations as opposed to no support in Q3/2022. This resulted in lower profitability when comparing the two quarters. However, this has allowed the Company to keep valuable full-time staff employed throughout the pandemic, who are now deployed to support the current and anticipated growth.

The consolidated sales pipeline is the strongest it has ever been. The cost savings initiatives taken over the past several years largely benefited the Company in 2020 and 2021 with some continued benefits into fiscal 2022.



Comparative Consolidated Results for the Third Quarter and Nine Months 2022 and 2021:

3 months ended YTD ended Aug-22 Aug-21 Aug-22 Aug-21 Revenue $ 15,990,075 $ 15,470,625 $ 48,653,945 $ 45,858,689 Cost of revenues 10,493,398 9,947,474 32,280,614 28,917,668 Gross Margin 5,496,677 5,523,151 16,373,331 16,941,021 Gross Margin as a % of Revenue 34.4 % 35.7 % 33.3 % 36.9 % Operating costs 5,150,373 4,776,608 15,411,614 13,883,192 Professional fees 117,244 154,389 531,213 780,204 Adjusted EBITDA 229,060 592,154 430,504 2,277,625 Change in Investment - - - 104,164 Gain on sale of investment - - (89,618 ) - Decommissioning costs - - 104,037 - Share-based compensation 175,871 80,618 578,451 698,904 Transaction costs 309,671 42,962 883,960 124,961 EBITDA $ (256,482 ) $ 468,574 $ (1,046,326 ) $ 1,349,596 Net loss from operations $ (2,323,446 ) $ (1,063,828 ) $ (6,744,814 ) $ (3,329,557 )



Consolidated Segmented results for the Nine Months ended August 31, 2022 and 2021:



Smart Employee Benefits Inc. Segmented Income Statement Detail for the Nine Months August 31, 2022 (in C$) Technology Benefits Corporate Intercompany

Sales/COS Total Company Revenue $ 35,938,117 $ 13,768,173 $ - $ (1,052,345 ) $ 48,653,945 Cost of revenues Cost of revenues 29,819,825 3,513,133 - (1,052,345 ) 32,280,614 Gross margin 6,118,292 10,255,040 - - 16,373,331 Expenses Salaries and other compensation costs 3,677,768 7,162,491 743,851 - 11,584,110 Office and general 519,035 2,205,926 1,102,541 - 3,827,502 Professional fees 88,293 29,013 413,907 - 531,213 4,285,096 9,397,431 2,260,298 - 15,942,825 Adjusted EBITDA 1,833,196 857,610 (2,260,298 ) - 430,505 Decommissioning cost 104,037 - - - 104,037 Gain on sale of investment - - (89,618 ) - (89,618 ) Transaction costs 87,031 - 796,929 - 883,960 Share-based compensation 6,517 12,617 559,317 - 578,451 EBITDA 1,635,611 844,993 (3,526,926 ) - (1,046,326 ) Amortization of intangible assets 8,922 346,646 59,865 - 415,434 Depreciation of equipment 60,615 33,312 - - 93,927 Depreciation of right-of-use assets 81,582 163,372 451,617 - 696,570 Interest and financing costs 125,020 139,353 4,227,913 - 4,492,287 Income tax recovery 268 - - - 268 Net income (loss) $ 1,359,205 $ 162,309 $ (8,266,322 ) $ - $ (6,744,814 )







Smart Employee Benefits Inc. Segmented Income Statement Detail for the Nine Months ended August 31, 2021 (in C$) Technology Benefits Corporate Intercompany

Sales/COS Total Company Revenue $ 34,509,633 $ 13,291,886 $ - $ (1,942,831 ) $ 45,858,689 Cost of revenues 27,746,198 3,114,302 - (1,942,831 ) 28,917,668 Gross margin 6,763,435 10,177,585 - - 16,941,021 Expenses Salaries and other compensation costs 3,203,338 7,006,011 901,180 - 11,110,530 Office and general 518,931 1,726,249 527,483 - 2,772,662 Professional fees 105,207 86,972 588,025 - 780,204 3,827,476 8,819,232 2,016,689 - 14,663,396 Adjusted EBITDA 2,935,959 1,358,353 (2,016,689 ) - 2,277,624 Investment loss - - 104,164 - 104,164 Transaction costs - - 124,961 - 124,961 Share-based compensation 121,217 208,681 369,006 - 698,904 EBITDA 2,814,742 1,149,672 (2,614,821 ) - 1,349,594 Amortization of intangible assets 7,688 312,416 59,866 - 379,970 Depreciation of equipment 81,668 61,908 - - 143,576 Depreciation of right-of-use assets 81,582 191,832 451,618 - 725,031 Interest and financing costs 124,951 92,505 3,212,175 - 3,429,632 Income tax recovery 943 - - - 943 Net income (loss) $ 2,517,911 $ 491,011 $ (6,338,480 ) $ - $ (3,329,557 )



Consolidated Segmented results for the Third Quarters ended August 31, 2022 and 2021:

Smart Employee Benefits Inc. Segmented Income Statement Detail for the quarter ended August 31, 2022 (in C$) Technology Benefits Corporate Intercompany

Sales/COS Total Company Revenue $ 11,651,134 $ 4,650,057 $ - $ (311,116 ) $ 15,990,075 Cost of revenues Cost of revenues 9,657,553 1,146,960 - (311,116 ) 10,493,398 Gross margin 1,993,581 3,503,097 - - 5,496,677 17.11 % 75.33 % Expenses Salaries and other compensation costs 1,156,982 2,423,869 248,511 - 3,829,362 Office and general 175,524 728,152 417,334 - 1,321,010 Professional fees 30,451 6,716 80,078 - 117,245 1,362,957 3,158,737 745,923 - 5,267,616 Adjusted EBITDA 630,624 344,360 (745,923 ) - 229,060 Decommissioning cost - - - - - Gain on sale of investment - - - - - Transaction costs 87,031 - 222,640 - 309,671 Share-based compensation 1,631 - 174,239 - 175,870 EBITDA 541,962 344,360 (1,142,802 ) - (256,482 ) Amortization of intangible assets 2,974 121,608 19,953 - 144,537 Depreciation of equipment 19,975 10,762 - - 30,737 Depreciation of right-of-use assets 27,493 36,186 152,195 - 215,872 Interest and financing costs 33,500 32,902 1,609,148 - 1,675,549 Net income (loss) $ 457,752 $ 142,901 $ (2,924,096 ) $ - $ (2,323,446 )





Smart Employee Benefits Inc. Segmented Income Statement Detail for the quarter ended August 31, 2021 (in C$) Technology Benefits Corporate Intercompany

Sales/COS Total Company Revenue $ 11,868,110 $ 4,531,197 $ - $ (928,682 ) $ 15,470,625 Cost of revenues Cost of revenues 9,747,283 1,128,873 - (928,682 ) 9,947,474 Gross margin 2,120,827 3,402,324 - - 5,523,151 17.87 % 75.09 % Expenses Salaries and other compensation costs 1,069,317 2,400,500 265,429 - 3,735,246 Office and general 156,213 577,344 307,806 - 1,041,363 Professional fees 973 37,687 115,729 - 154,389 1,226,503 3,015,532 688,963 - 4,930,998 Adjusted EBITDA 894,324 386,792 (688,963 ) - 592,154 Transaction costs - - 42,962 - 42,962 Share-based compensation - - 80,618 - 80,618 EBITDA 894,324 386,792 (812,544 ) - 468,574 Amortization of intangible assets 2,582 104,748 19,957 - 127,286 Depreciation of equipment 25,816 21,816 - - 47,632 Depreciation of right-of-use assets 27,493 64,647 152,195 - 244,333 Interest and financing costs 37,477 27,930 1,047,745 - 1,113,150 Net income (loss) $ 800,957 $ 167,651 $ (2,032,438 ) $ - $ (1,063,828 )



Reconciliation of Consolidated Net loss to EBITDA for the Nine Months ended August 31, 2022 and 2021:

3 months ended YTD ended Aug-22 Aug-21 Aug-22 Aug-21 Net loss from operations $ (2,323,446 ) $ (1,063,828 ) $ (6,744,814 ) $ (3,329,557 ) Interest and financing costs 1,675,549 1,113,151 4,492,287 3,429,633 Income tax expense 268 - 268 943 Depreciation and amortization 175,275 174,918 509,363 523,546 Depreciation of right-of-use assets 215,872 244,333 696,571 725,031 EBITDA (256,482 ) 468,574 (1,046,325 ) 1,349,596 Change in investment - - - 104,164 Gain on sale of investment - - (89,618 ) - Decommissioning costs - - 104,037 - Share- based compensation 175,871 80,618 578,451 698,904 Transaction costs 309,671 42,962 883,960 124,961 Adjusted EBITDA $ 229,060 $ 592,154 $ 430,505 $ 2,277,625

Revenue Increased 3.3% Quarter Over Quarter:

During Q3/2022, consolidated revenues from continuing operations was $16.0 million versus $15.5 million in Q2/2021. Technology Services revenue adjusted for intercompany sales increased by $0.4 million while the Benefits Solutions revenues increased by $0.1 million. Contract values remain high with over $240 million of new wins in the last 21 months. Approximately 80% of 2022 forecast consolidated revenue streams are under contract for the next 4 years, representing >90% for Benefits Solutions revenues and >70% for Technology Services revenue. The Companys growth focus is on the higher margin Benefit Solutions revenue, although Technology Services revenues also expected to continue to experience growth.

Gross Margin and Gross Profit:

The Company generated $5.5 million in Gross Profit in Q3/2022 versus $5.5 million in Q3/2021. Gross Margin was 34.4% in Q3/2022 compared to 35.7% in Q3/2021. The reduction in Gross Margin and Gross Profit in the Q3/2022 was largely due to a notable one-time project in Q3/2021.

Technology Services Gross Profit (Gross Margin) in Q3/2022 was $2.0 million (17.1%) versus $2.1 million (17.9%) in Q3/2021.

The Benefits Solutions Gross Profit (Gross Margin) was $3.5 million (75.3%) versus $3.4 million (75.1%) in Q3/2021.

Operational Costs:

Salaries and Other Compensation - Salaries and other compensation costs increased by $0.09 million during Q3/2022 compared to the same period the prior year. The increase is due to a reduction in COVID relief funding when compared to the same period last year.

Salaries and other compensation costs increased by $0.09 million during Q3/2022 compared to the same period the prior year. The increase is due to a reduction in COVID relief funding when compared to the same period last year. Office and General Costs   Office and general costs increased by nearly $0.28 million during Q3/2022 versus Q3/2021. The increase is largely due to no COVID-19 subsidy and rent credits in Q3/2022 as opposed Q3/2021.

  Office and general costs increased by nearly $0.28 million during Q3/2022 versus Q3/2021. The increase is largely due to no COVID-19 subsidy and rent credits in Q3/2022 as opposed Q3/2021. Professional Fees - Professional fees remained relatively flat in Q3/2022 compared to Q3/2021. Professional fees vary with the amount of financing or acquisition/disposition activity during the period.

Non-Cash Expenses:

Non-Cash expenses include amortization, depreciation and share-based (options, RSUs) compensation remain flat during Q3/2022 versus Q3/2021.

Interest and Financing Costs, Interest Accretion and Transaction Costs:

Interest and financing costs, interest accretion from continuing operations increased from $1.1 million in Q3/2021 to $1.7 million in Q3/2022, which is due to increased credit facility and convertible debt. The transaction costs expense increased by $0.267 million in Q3/2022 compared to Q3/2021. There were no significant transactions costs in fiscal 2021 as compared to the actively involved equity and debt financing that occurred in the current quarter.

Decommissioning Costs:

There are no decommissioning costs in Q3/2022.

Grant of Options and RSUs in Q3/2022:

A minimum of 25% of the directors fees for Fiscal 2021 and 2022 must be compensated in RSUs and the directors can choose to be either compensated in cash or RSUs for the remaining 75%. As a result, the Company has also committed to issue 212,714 RSUs at $0.20 per share, 296,807 RSUs at $0.16 per share and 937,500 RSUs at $0.12 per share to the directors for the service provided in Q1, Q2 and Q3 2022. The RSUs will vest 100% after 12 months.

About Smart Employee Benefits Inc. (SEB):

SEB is an Insurtech company focused on Benefits Administration Technology driving two interrelated revenue streams  Benefits Solutions and Technology Services. The Company is a proven provider of leading-edge IT and benefits processing software, solutions and services for the Life and Group benefits marketplace and government. We design, customize, build and manage mission critical, end-to-end technology, people and infrastructure solutions using SEBs proprietary technologies and expertise and partner technologies. We manage mission critical business processes for over 150 blue chip and government accounts, nationally and globally. Over 90% of our revenue and contracts are multi-year recurring revenue streams contracts related to government, insurance, healthcare, benefits and e-commerce. Our solutions are supported nationally and globally by over 600 multi-certified technical professionals in a multi-lingual infrastructure, from multiple offices across Canada and globally.

Our solutions include both software and services driven ecosystems including multiple SaaS solutions, cloud solutions & services, managed services offering smart sourcing (near shore/offshore), managed security services, custom software development and support, professional services, deep systems integration expertise and multiple specialty practice areas including AI, CRM, BI, Portals, EDI, e-commerce, digital transformation, analytics, project management to mention a few. The Company has more than 20 strategic partnerships/relationships with leading global and regional technology and consulting organizations.

Forward-looking statements:

Certain information in this release, may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, targets, expects or does not expect, is expected, an opportunity exists, is positioned, estimates, intends, assumes, anticipates or does not anticipate or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might, will or will be taken, occur or be achieved. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent managements expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE COMPANYS CURRENT EXPECTATIONS AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. HOWEVER, THE COMPANY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY INTENTION OR OBLIGATION TO UPDATE OR REVISE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION, WHETHER AS A RESULT OF NEW INFORMATION, FUTURE EVENTS OR OTHERWISE, EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange Inc.) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

Media and Investor Contact

John McKimm

President/CEO/CIO

Office (888) 939-8885 x 2354

Cell (416) 460-2817

john.mckimm@seb-inc.com
Washington, D.C., Oct. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) includes a Tax Cut Ban condition that requires States receiving federal rescue funds to give up their ability to decrease state taxes. This attempt by Congress to usurp state legislative powers violates bedrock provisions of the U.S. Constitution that define and constrain federal lawmaking. The New Civil Liberties Alliance, a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group, filed an amicus curiae brief today in State of Texas, et al. v. Janet Yellen, et al., arguing against the state Tax Cut Ban, because it places a coercive condition on spending, commandeers state government officials in violation of the Tenth Amendment, and assaults a core component of state sovereignty that is pre-Constitutional.

ARPA authorizes distributing roughly $195 billion directly to States to provide financial assistance to address the economic disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The funds at issue here represent 13 percent of Texass 2021 budget, 31 percent of Mississippis budget, and 7 percent of Louisianas budget. Those funds are available if and only if a recipient State agrees not to pass any laws or regulations that would decrease state taxes. After Congress passed the coercive ARPA legislation, it unconstitutionally delegated authority to the U.S. Department of Treasury, which in turn published a Final Rule on January 27, 2022, purporting to implement the Tax Cut Ban. A State must consult Treasurys rule to test every policy decision or else risk the clawback of rescue funds. But without full state control over tax and spending policy, the Constitutions guarantee of dual sovereignty is doomed to devolve into a Mother may I relationship between the subservient States and the federal government master.

Because money is fungible, any ARPA funds the Plaintiff States receive could be viewed as indirectly offsetting any reduction in net tax revenue from a change in state law or policy. When Congress purports to tell States by law or regulation what their tax policies mustor cannotbe, it violates state sovereignty. This structural violation of the Constitution intrudes upon the States core capability to direct their own fiscal affairs and make choices about how to tax their residents. The inescapable conclusion is that Congress has used revenue raised through federal taxation of States residents and businesses to purchase States sovereign taxation power.

The Tax Cut Ban unconstitutionally commandeers state officials, and Treasurys Final Rule compounds this violation by forcing state officials to establish and staff an unwanted and convoluted accounting-and-reporting bureaucracy. No enumerated power in the Constitution confers authority upon Congress to pass statutes that direct, let alone micromanage, state tax and accounting personnel. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit must not allow Congress to abuse its spending powers to regulate state taxation.

NCLA released the following statement:

This law purports to empower unelected bureaucrats at the Department of Treasury to police tax and budgetary policies of every state, eviscerating federalism and the vertical separation-of-powers structure that undergirds the Constitution. The potential for arbitrary or abusive enforcement against politically disfavored states is immense.

 Sheng Li, Litigation Counsel, NCLA

For more information visit the amicus page here.

ABOUT NCLA

NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights.

###
TORONTO, Oct. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virgo Group of Companies, the holding body of Canada's regulated cryptocurrency trading platform VirgoCX Inc. is going global by bringing its commission-free trading platform to Australia. The company is registered with Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and has become available for users to buy and sell 60+ cryptocurrencies.

"Australia is a fast-growing market with increasing crypto adoption and mature real-time bank transfers. I was excited to see the passionate and strong community during the visit several weeks ago," said Adam Cai, CEO of Virgo Group. "Virgo group fully trusts in the potential of Australian market and looks forward to this new chapter."

Based in Toronto, Ontario, VirgoCX is one of the most trusted crypto trading platforms in Canada. Under the highly competent leadership team, the platform grew immensely in the past few years and became a key contributor to Canada's crypto adoption by lowering the barriers and costs for entering the crypto markets, providing helpful trading tools with a beginner-friendly user interface, and taking a proactive approach to regulations to ensure consumers protection. It is one of the few companies in Canada that obtained the Restricted Dealer license from Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA). These ceaseless efforts have brought a record 1,700% year-on-year increase in trading volume from 2020 to 2021 with the total trading amount exceeding CAD $1 billion.

Albeit the bearish market sentiment, the firm affirms its mission to accelerate global crypto adoption by entering Australia. Virgo stands firm behind its belief in cryptocurrencies and other digital assets and strive to provide quality services for Australians to enjoy. It has officially launched the commission-free trading platform that offers a large selection of popular cryptocurrencies, free AUD & Crypto deposits and withdrawals, instant funding with PayID & BSB, as well as tight spreads on coin prices. It will soon introduce more comprehensive services, including staking and earning products. Virgo will keep innovating with a compliant approach to bring a trusted and transparent platform to Australian crypto users.

The firm's expansion to Australia is crucial for driving global crypto adoption. According to Finder's Crypto Adoption Index, Australia has the fourth highest rate of crypto adoption in the world. The country also has a forward-looking government determined to establish crypto regulations while encouraging technological innovation.

Virgo Group is set to emulate the success it has seen in Canada and become the trusted full-service solution for all things cryptocurrency to all Australians.

About Virgo Group

Virgo Group of Companies is dedicated to providing commission-free crypto trading services globally. It covers multiple business lines, including retail fiat to crypto trading, crypto wealth management, NFT liquidity management, and more. With continuous innovation in mind, Virgo Group is prepared to become an integrated global digital asset service provider.

Media Contact

Nora Anwar

Marketing Manager

nora.anwar@virgo.co

Contact Information:

Nora Anwar

Marketing Manager

nora.anwar@virgo.co

+16472177219



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TORONTO, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arthritis Society Canada is investing in entrepreneurs to help them change the lives of people living with arthritis.



For the second year in a row, Canadas leading arthritis charity is challenging entrepreneurs to invent and tailor practical solutions that could transform the lives of the 1 in 5 Canadians living with this debilitating disease.

Four innovations will be selected by panel of Canadian experts at the Arthritis Ideator Awards in April 2023, and each will receive $50,000 to help them grow their venture.

We need bold solutions to the challenges of arthritis, and we know bright minds can help create them. Thats something worth investing in, says Trish Barbato, President and CEO of Arthritis Society Canada.

Matthew Rosato, founder and president of PROVA Innovations, was the recipient of one of four inaugural Arthritis Ideator Awards earlier this year. He is using the funding he received to further develop WithinStride, a smart in-sole that aids in gait rehabilitation for people with early- and mid-stage knee and hip osteoarthritis.

This award has been a big deal for our team, says Rosato. Having Arthritis Society Canada as a long-term partner is fantastic. It really is a validation of our work and creates opportunities for our innovation to move forward.

In addition to funding, Arthritis Ideator Award winners also receive expert advice from Arthritis Society Canada and the broader arthritis ecosystem, as well as from people living with arthritis who can support beta testing or provide feedback through focus groups or surveys.

Innovations might include, for example, assistive devices for aiding mobility or making the activities of daily living easier for people with arthritis, or technology that can help people better manage their disease.

Arthritis affects six million Canadians and is a leading cause of disability. Most people, however, underestimate its seriousness. Arthritis causes excruciating pain, restricts mobility and diminishes quality of life. And, it impacts people of all ages, including children. More than half of people living with the disease are under 65.

Submissions for the Arthritis Ideator Awards are being accepted until Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. Learn more about the program and how to apply at arthritis.ca/arthritis-ideator-awards.

About the Arthritis Society

Arthritis Society Canada is a national health charity, fueled by donors and volunteers, with a mission to fight the fire of arthritis with the fire of research, advocacy, innovation, information and support. Arthritis Society Canada is accredited under Imagine Canadas Standards Program. For more information, visit arthritis.ca.



For more information or to arrange interviews:

Judy Noordermeer

Vice President, Marketing and Communications

647-393-8764

jnoordermeer@arthritis.ca

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/222e16b0-4f75-48e1-8aa7-872deaff6ac5
WASHINGTON, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inc. Business Media today announced the inaugural Power Partner Awards, honoring B2B organizations across the globe that have proven track records supporting businesses  from entrepreneurs to enterprises. The list recognizes 252 firms in marketing and advertising, health and human resources, financial planning, engineering, logistics, and security, as well as other areas of business.



Winning companies received top marks when their customers were asked how likely they were to recommend the companys product or service. These B2B partners support entrepreneurs and business leaders across various facets of the business, including hiring, compliance, infrastructure development, cloud migration, and fundraising, allowing company executives to focus on their core missions.

Trusted B2B partners provide guidance and expertise that founders rely on at various steps of their organizations journey. Partners that possess a demonstrated ability to deliver quality support are at the core of entrepreneurship and help bring big ideas to life, says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. Business Media.

More than 7,000 customers across healthcare, education, financial services and government rely on Virtrus data security solutions to protect sensitive and personally identifiable information, said John Ackerly, CEO of Virtru. Our team is proud to be named an Inc. Power Partner based on feedback directly from our customers.

Virtrus portfolio of data protection products are easy to use and implement, and they are built on the Trusted Data Format (TDF) open standard. This award builds on other accolades Virtru has earned this year, including being named a Washington Post Top Workplace ; winning G2s 2022 Best Software Award ; and being selected as the Overall Encryption Solution of the Year'' in the 2022 CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards .

Inc. partnered with leading global social and media intelligence platform Meltwater to develop a proprietary methodology that uses sentiment from online conversations about organizations and translates it into numerical scores. Companies were evaluated on commitment, reliability, trust, creativity, supportiveness, and other virtues that offer value to clients. Inc. also conducted surveys to gather client testimonials as part of the process.

To view the complete list, go to: https://www.inc.com/power-partner-awards/2022

The November 2022 Issue of Inc. magazine is available online now at https://www.inc.com/magazine and will be on newsstands beginning November 8, 2022.

About Inc. Business Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community they need to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com .

About Virtru:

At Virtru, we empower organizations to easily unlock the power of data while maintaining control everywhere its stored and shared. More than 7,000 global customers trust Virtru to power their Zero Trust strategies and safeguard their most sensitive data in accordance with the worlds strictest security standards. Creators of TDF (Trusted Data Format), the open industry standard for persistent data protection, Virtru provides encryption technology for data shared through email, collaboration tools, cloud environments, and enterprise SaaS applications. For more information, visit https://www.virtru.com or follow us on Twitter at @virtruprivacy.
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As of November 1st, 2022, La Peony's La Primera Capsule Collection, the most anticipated women's fashion collection of the year featuring a versatile style with exquisitely luxurious fabrics and globally crafted accents, is now available for pre-order at lapeony.com . Co-founded by Melony Huber and DeAnne Combs, two ambitious women pioneering the fashion industry with passion, bring together international artisans to source practical, sustainable, and functional fabrics that accentuate self-confidence and embody effortless style at every stage of life.



Partnering with a Mexico-based consultant and family member, the duo connected their brand with Union de Artesanos de Santo Tomas Jalieza, an Oaxacan artisan collective and fair-trade network of skilled Mexican textile craftswomen. The premiere La Peony line features beautifully handwoven, naturally dyed pieces showcasing traditional patterns that represent the rich history of Oaxaca while supporting its community of female artisans.

We are thrilled to introduce our initial capsule collection, with curated designs made to enhance the unique beauty of every woman, shares Huber. La Peony is our opportunity to create a foundational wardrobe we love while intentionally building a community of women dedicated to uplifting the worlds female artisans - and each other!

The La Primera Capsule Collection features buttery soft, sustainable Hemp Fleece and Hemp Stretch Denim in a spectrum of iconic colors: Cream, Fuschia, Olivine, Black, or medium wash Hemp Stretch Denim. Find timeless essentials that simplify day-to-night style, each featuring sustainable, cruelty-free materials and named for exemplary women in each of the founders lives, like:

The Caroline Stretch Hemp Fleece Jumpsuit ($459) - A polished, one-piece design elevated with gold zipper accents, tailored front double-pleats, and a flattering drawstring waist. Special interior lining provides a smooth silhouette, while handwoven Oaxacan fabric striping imbues an artistic touch to pants and sleeves. Hemp Stretch Denim edition ($529) features custom vintage fading that compliments the bodys natural curves.

- A polished, one-piece design elevated with gold zipper accents, tailored front double-pleats, and a flattering drawstring waist. Special interior lining provides a smooth silhouette, while handwoven Oaxacan fabric striping imbues an artistic touch to pants and sleeves. Hemp Stretch Denim edition features custom vintage fading that compliments the bodys natural curves. The Megan Hemp Fleece Top ($138) - Simplicity is the epitome of elegance. Complete an effortless seasonal ensemble with a signature structured La Peony neckline for a finished, runway-inspired look. A delicate cap sleeve evokes an air of Haute sophistication, perfectly balanced with a modern raw hem and partial zipper detailing that set a distinctively modern tone.

- Simplicity is the epitome of elegance. Complete an effortless seasonal ensemble with a signature structured La Peony neckline for a finished, runway-inspired look. A delicate cap sleeve evokes an air of Haute sophistication, perfectly balanced with a modern raw hem and partial zipper detailing that set a distinctively modern tone. The Annie Hemp Fleece and Cruelty-Free Lambskin Hoodie Dress ($525) - A flawless synergy of relaxed modern loungewear, edgy streetwear, and feminine couture. The tie waist expresses subtle shaping, while a two-way gold zipper accent empowers a versatile fit, either as a standalone dress with an adjustable neckline or an outer layer statement jacket. Dreamy oversized hood and raw hems distinguish this piece with just a hint of edgy spice.



Ethically sourced fabrics are finished with sustainable dyes in the heart of Los Angeles. Browse the complete line at LaPeony.com and see how the brand gives back, donating a portion of its proceeds to the Oaxacan artisan collective. Follow @La_Peony_Clothing on Instagram for style inspiration, behind-the-scenes artisan features, and brand updates. La Peony - Look within and find your beautiful.

About La Peony (PEE-UH-NEE) Clothing:

Co-Founders Melony Huber and DeAnne Combs introduce a sustainably-sourced collection of timeless fashion pieces for women designed to move with you through every stage of life. Proudly working with Oaxaca-based female artisans, La Peony is a brand that uplifts the modern wardrobe and supports the lives of the skilled women who create the fabrics. Each piece nurtures the unique beauty in every woman while supporting a lifestyle of love for the planet. Ethically sourced in Oaxaca, Mexico and made with sustainable dyes in Los Angeles, browse the complete line at LaPeony.com . Follow @La_Peony_Clothing on Instagram for style inspiration, behind-the-scenes artisan features, and brand updates. La Peony - Founded by women, made by women, for every woman. Look within and find your beautiful.

Affiliate Link: http://www.shareasale.com/join/LaPeony

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b8ac7939-256a-4d55-8502-e02271f0616c

Media Contact

Jessica Kopach

jessica@thejkoagency.com
New York, United States, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The demand for continuous blood glucose monitors (CGM) is rising. People with diabetes are among the most vulnerable to severe complications caused by COVID-19. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been more preference for the use of virtual clinics and telemedicine to monitor diabetics. For example, the UK's National Health Service revised its clinical guidance to promote remote contacts through mobile, email, and video conferencing. This has contributed to increased demand for apps for diabetic treatment, which can exchange data remotely.





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Market Overview

With CGM tools, there are considerably more data available, which can help patients and healthcare providers enhance glycemic control and eventually increase patients' self-management. CGM's increasing demand is driven mainly by growing product awareness and rapid responses from companies to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Dexcom and Abbott have been given FDA clearance to make available CGM systems for use in hospital settings and other health care facilities. Health Canada recently announced the Dexcom G6 CGM program's provisional authorization for expanded use of Canadian hospitals.

Remote monitoring of patients with diabetes with CGM devices will help minimize healthcare providers' exposure and conserve personal protective equipment. Along with the insulin giants Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, CGM firms have launched new patient aid services to help existing CGM patients who have lost insurance due to the US COVID-19 pandemic. Dexcom has reduced its CGM costs for its current, eligible patients to USD 45 per 90-day supply. The pandemic has increased demand for the establishment of electronic blood glucose records for diabetes patients. COVID-19 has opened up new possibilities for CGM systems to gain popularity in the diabetic care brand.





Report Scope

Report Metric Details Market Size USD 14.92 Billion by 2030 CAGR 12.3% (2022-2030) Historical Data 2019-2020 Base Year 2021 Forecast Period 2022-2030 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Product, End-User, Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, LAME and Rest of the World Key Companies Profiled/Vendors Abbott, Dexom Inc., Roche Diagnostics, Bayer AG, Medtronic Plc., Novo Nordisk, Ypsomed AG, Senseonics Incorporated, Insulet Corporation.

Key Market Opportunities Rapid Growth In Medical Devices Industry Enhances Continuous Blood Glucose Monitoring Market Key Market Drivers Increase in Diabetes Incidence and to Reduce the Complications Associated with the Disease

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Regional Analysis

The regions of North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, the Middle East, and Africa are majorly considered in the analysis of the global continuous blood glucose monitoring market.

Diabetes is prevalent in a significant number of North American nations. The United States commanded the highest proportion of the global market for glucose monitoring because of the vast number of patients and widespread adoption of cutting-edge technologies. The burden of high diabetes spending is felt by the nations in the Middle East and Africa. In the MENA region, diabetes affects one in every eleven people, according to IDF.

In the Middle East and North Africa, ALRT Diabetic Solution provides a user-friendly and accessible contact network between the patient and the diabetes healthcare team.

Market Highlights

The global continuous blood glucose monitoring market size was valued at USD 5.25 billion in 2021. It is projected to reach USD 14.92 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 12.3% during the forecast period (2022-2030).

size was valued at USD 5.25 billion in 2021. It is projected to reach USD 14.92 billion by 2030, growing at a during the forecast period (2022-2030). Based on the product types , sensors accounted for the largest revenue share in terms of the market revenue. Repeat purchase of the sensors instead of other components like receivers and transmitters is one of the key factors for the largest market share. However, combined insulin pumps with continuous blood glucose monitoring represent lucrative market opportunities.

, sensors accounted for the largest revenue share in terms of the market revenue. Repeat purchase of the sensors instead of other components like receivers and transmitters is one of the key factors for the largest market share. However, combined insulin pumps with continuous blood glucose monitoring represent lucrative market opportunities. Based on the end-user , the home care segment is expected to grow with the fastest CAGR. Increasing adoption of continuous blood glucose monitoring in homecare is driving the adoption in the homecare segment.

, the home care segment is expected to grow with the fastest CAGR. Increasing adoption of continuous blood glucose monitoring in homecare is driving the adoption in the homecare segment. Regionally, in terms of revenue, North America is the largest contributor in terms of market size.





Competitive Players in the Global Continuous Blood Glucose Monitoring Market

Abbott

Dexom Inc.

Roche Diagnostics

Bayer AG

Medtronic Plc.

Novo Nordisk

Ypsomed AG

Senseonics Incorporated

Insulet Corporation





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Market Segmentation

By Product

Transmitter

Receiver

Sensor

Insulin Pump

By End-User

Hospitals and Clinics

Homecare

Others

By Region

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Central and South America and the Caribbean

The Middle East and Africa





TABLE OF CONTENT

1 Introduction

1.1 Market Definition

1.2 Market Scope

2 Research Methodology

2.1 Primary Research

2.2 Research Methodology

2.3 Assumptions & Exclusions

2.4 Secondary Data Sources

3 Global Continuous Blood Glucose Monitoring Market insights

3.1 Industry Impact Forces

3.2 Drivers

3.2.1 Rising Diabetes Prevalence

3.2.2 Higher convenience and significant advantages offered by the CGM devices

3.3 Restraints

3.3.1 High cost and low availablity of CGM systems in the developing countries

3.3.2 Insufficient reimbursement

3.4 Opportunities

3.4.1 COVID-19 opens new opportunities for CGM systems

3.4.2 Extensive End-User range of CGM devices

3.5 Challenges

3.5.1 Low penetration of developing countries

3.6 Porters Five Forces Analysis

3.6.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

3.6.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers

3.6.3 Threat of Substitutes

3.6.4 Threat of New Entrants

3.6.5 Competitive Rivalry

3.7 Value Chain Analysis

3.8 Impact of COVID-19 on the market

3.9 Cost Structure Analysis

3.9.1 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis

3.10 Sales Channel Analysis

3.10.1 Product 1

3.10.2 Product 2

3.10.3 Product 3

3.11 Technology Encroachments focus on refining patient convenience and becoming integrated devices

3.11.1 Finger Pricks

3.11.2 Semi-Invasive Monitors

3.11.3 Implants

3.11.4 Non-Invasive Monitors

3.11.5 Groundbreaking Smart, Connected Monitors to Foster Care Delivery Support

4 Product Overview

4.1 Introduction

4.1.1 Market Size and forecast (Value)

4.1.2 Market Size and forecast (Volume)

4.2 Transmitter

4.2.1 Market Size &forecast (Value)

4.3.1 Market Size &forecast (Volume)

4.4 Sensor

4.4.1 Market Size &forecast (Value)

4.4.2 Market Size & forecast (Volume)

4.5 Insulin Pumps

4.5.1 Market Size &forecast (Value)

4.4.2 Market Size & forecast (Volume)

5 End-User Overview

5.1 Introduction

5.1.1 Market Size and forecast (Value)

5.1.2 Market Size and forecast (Volume)

5.2 Hospitals and clinics

5.2.1 Market Size & forecast (Value)

5.2.2 Market Size & forecast (Volume)

5.4 Home Care

5.4.1 Market Size & forecast (Value)

5.4.2 Market Size & forecast (Volume)

5.5 Other End-Users

5.5.1 Market Size & forecast (Value)

5.5.2 Market Size & forecast (Volume)

6 Regional Overview

6.1 Introduction

6.1.1 Market Size &forecast (Value)

6.2 America

6.2.1 North America

6.2.1.1 The U.S.

6.2.1.1.1 By Product

6.2.1.1.2 By End-User

6.2.1.2 Canada

6.2.1.2.1 By Product

6.2.1.2.2 By End-User

6.2.1.3 Mexico

6.2.1.3.1 By Product

6.2.1.3.2 By End-User

6.2.2 Central and South America and the Caribbean

6.2.2.1 By Product

6.2.2.2 By End-User

6.2.2.2.1 Brazil

6.2.2.2.1.1 By Product

6.2.2.2.1.2 By End-User

6.2.2.2.2 Argentina

6.2.2.2.2.1 By Product

6.2.2.2.2.2 By End-User

6.2.2.2.3 Rest ofCentral and South America and the Caribbean

6.2.2.2.3.1 By Product

6.2.2.2.3.2 By End-User

6.3 Europe

6.3.1 Market Size &forecast (Value)

6.3.1 Market Size & forecast (Volume)

6.3.3 Western Europe

6.3.3.1 The U.K.

6.3.3.1.1 By Product

6.3.3.1.2 By End-User

6.3.3.2 Germany

6.3.3.2.1 By Product

6.3.3.2.2 By End-User

6.3.3.3 France

6.3.3.3.1 By Product

6.3.3.3.2 By End-User

6.3.2.4 Spain

6.3.2.4.1 By ProductBy Product

6.3.2.4.2 By End-User

6.3.2.5 Italy

6.3.2.5.1 By Product

6.3.2.5.2 By End-User

6.3.2.6 Rest of Western Europe

6.3.2.6.1 By Product

6.3.2.6.2 By End-User

6.3.4 Eastern Europe

6.3.4.1 By Product

6.3.4.2 By End-User

6.3.5 Rest of Europe

6.3.5.1 By Product

6.3.5.2 By End-User

6.4 Asia-Pacific

6.4.1 Market Size &forecast (Value)

6.4.2 Market Size & forecast (Volume)

6.4.3 Japan

6.4.3.1 By Product

6.4.3.2 By End-User

6.4.4 China

6.4.4.1 By Product

6.4.4.2 By End-User

6.4.5 Australia

6.4.5.1 By Product

6.4.5.2 By End-User

6.4.6 India

6.4.6.1 By Product

6.4.6.2 By End-User

6.4.7 South Korea

6.4.7.1 By Product

6.4.7.2 By End-User

6.4.8 Rest of Asia-Pacific

6.4.8.1 By Product

6.4.8.2 By End-User

6.5 The Middle East & Africa

6.5.1 The Middle East

6.5.1.1 Market Size &forecast (Value)

6.5.1.2 Market Size & forecast (Volume)

6.5.1.3 Saudi Arabia

6.5.1.2.1 By Product

6.5.1.2.2 By End-User

6.5.1.4 The UAE

6.5.1.4.1 By Product

6.5.1.4.2 By End-User

6.5.1.5 Qatar

6.5.1.5.1 By Product

6.5.1.5.2 By End-User

6.5.2 The Africa

6.5.2.1 Market Size &forecast (Value)

6.5.2.2 Market Size & forecast (Volume)

7 Company Profile

7.1 Abbott

7.1.1 Company Overview

7.1.2 Financial Performance

7.1.3 Recent Developments

7.1.4 Product Portfolio

7.2 Roche Diagnostics

7.2.1 Company Overview

7.2.2 Financial Performance

7.2.3 Recent Developments

7.2.4 Product Portfolio

7.3 Bayer AG

7.3.1 Company Overview

7.3.2 Financial Performance

7.3.3 Recent Developments

7.3.4 Product Portfolio

7.4 Medtronic Plc.

7.4.1 Company Overview

7.4.2 Financial Performance

7.4.3 Recent Developments

7.4.4 Product Portfolio

7.5 Novo Nordisk

7.5.1 Company Overview

7.5.2 Financial Performance

7.5.3 Recent Developments

7.5.4 Product Portfolio

7.6 Ypsomed AG

7.6.1 Company Overview

7.6.2 Financial Performance

7.6.3 Recent Developments

7.6.4 Product Portfolio

7.7 Senseonics, Incorporated

7.7.1 Company Overview

7.7.2 Financial Performance

7.7.3 Recent Developments

7.7.4 Product Portfolio

7.8 Dexom Inc

7.8.1 Company Overview

7.8.2 Financial Performance

7.8.3 Recent Developments

7.8.4 Product Portfolio

7.9 Insulet Corporation

7.9.1 Company Overview

7.9.2 Financial Performance

7.9.3 Recent Developments

7.9.4 Product Portfolio

8 Conclusion & Recommendations

9 Acronyms & Abbreviations





Table of Content and Figure @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/continuous-blood-glucose-monitoring-market/toc





News Media

Vital Signs Monitoring Devices Market to Register a CAGR of 8.5%, with the Expanding Geriatric Population and Rising Prevalence of Cardiovascular Diseases Driving Growth

Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: Effectiveness of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices





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Blood Testing Market : Information by Test Type (Glucose Testing, Liquid Panel Testing), End-User and Regional Outlook  Forecast Till 2026

Blood Glucose Lancets Market : Information by Type (Push Button Lancets, Side Activated Lancets), End-User (Hospitals and Clinics, Diagnostics Center), and Region  Forecast till 2029

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Franklin, TN, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hamilton-Ryker kicked off this years efforts to recognize the contributions of the Staffing industry by celebrating National Staffing Employee Week, selecting the companys own Staffing Employee of the Year, attending the American Staffing Associations Staffing World conference, and ultimately receiving ASAs Elevate Award.

The staffing industry is a big contributor to our economy and provides outstanding career opportunities for some 11 million employees per year (based on ASAs data), said Kelly McCreight, CEO of Hamilton-Ryker. This past month, weve been very busy recognizing how important the Staffing industry is to the world of work, and celebrating those who have helped to make the industry what it is today,

National Staffing Employee Week 2022 ran September 12 - 18. Established by ASA, the event celebrates the contributions of the millions of individuals employed by staffing agencies across the U.S. Hamilton-Ryker hosted various special events and activities across the companys 40 offices to honor their Staffing Associates during this special week.

One of the highlights of Staffing Week is Hamilton-Rykers selection of their own Staffing Employee of the Year who embodies the companys core values. This years winner is Leahanne Costello, who began her career journey as an Administrative Assistant for a client in the Houston, TX area. From day 1 she wowed the client, and very quickly became an integral part of the clients operations. Leahanne exemplifies how the Staffing industry can be an excellent bridge to permanent employment, as she was hired on directly by the client in June of this year.

We are incredibly proud of all our Staffing Associates, and especially those like Leahanne who embody our companys culture and core values and represent us well with our clientele, said President Dedra Walker. It is because of our Associates that we are in business and more so that the industry as whole has been so successful.

Hamilton-Ryker received its own recognition in the form of ASAs Elevate Award. The ASA Elevate Award celebrates the staffing industrys most innovative and effective workforce development programs for temporary and contract employees. This years award was given to Hamilton-Rykers Workforce Development division, TalentGro for their TalentGro Military program. Through partnerships with entities such as the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Labor and US Army Reserves, TalentGro is among the first organizations to connect transitioning military members, reservists, veterans, and their families with benefits that are only accessible through apprenticeships and select employment opportunities. McCreight accepted the award while attending ASAs Staffing World conference held October 25  27 in Las Vegas, NV.

###

About Hamilton-Ryker

Hamilton-Ryker is a Total Workforce Solutions company and award-winning industry leader that helps address todays workforce challenges. For more information, visit www.hamilton-ryker.com .

About the American Staffing Association

The American Staffing Association is the voice of the U.S. staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry. ASA and its state affiliates advance the interests of the industry across all sectors through advocacy, research, education, and the promotion of high standards of legal, ethical, and professional practices. For more information about ASA, visit www.americanstaffing.net .

Attachments
MAPLE GROVE, Minn., Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TopLine Financial Credit Unions annual Personal Care Drive held during the month of September benefited three local non-profits, Avenues for Youth , Keystone Community Services and Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities . TopLine members and employees generously donated a variety of personal care items including body wash and soap, tooth paste and brushes, diapers, hair care products and so much more to help our neighbors in need.



Employees were able to participate by donating personal care items and money in exchange for a Foundation Friday/Saturday sticker, allowing them to wear jeans to work. TopLine members could also purchase items from our Amazon Wishlist or Target Registry and have them delivered directly to TopLine, and in return we delivered to our charitable partners. When the program ended TopLine employees and members had donated over 1,391 personal care items and nearly $1,006 in cash to assist local individuals and families in need.

We are so grateful for all the support we received to help our communities as basic needs continue to rise," says Tom Smith, TopLine President and CEO. Working together we can make a positive impact, as TopLine remains dedicated to our social mission of helping others.

Since 2002, TopLine Financial Credit Union employees and members have been involved in several programs each year to benefit Avenues for Youth, Keystone Community Services and Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities. In addition to the annual personal care drive these efforts have included drives for food, clothing, books, bikes, back-to-school supplies and holiday gifts.



Avenues for Yo uth provides emergency shelter, short-term housing and supportive services for homeless youth in a safe and nurturing environment. There are over 6,000 homeless youth in Minnesota each night. Avenues shelters in Brooklyn Park and Minneapolis help over 300 youth. Visit www.avenuesforyouth.org to learn more.

Keystone Commun i ty Services is a community-based volunteer organization in St. Paul that helps thousands of low-income individuals and families in the East Metro Area. Keystones mission is to strengthen the capacity of individual and families to improve their quality of life. Visit www.keystoneservi c es.org to learn more.

Union Gos p el Mission Twin Cities is a Christian ministry dedicated to serving people facing homelessness, poverty, or addiction in our community. By meeting physical, spiritual, emotional, and educational needs, our Mission is changing lives! Visit www.ugmtc.org to learn more.

TopLine Financial Credit Union , a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesotas 13th largest, with assets of more than $735 million and serves nearly 49,000 members. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit financial cooperative offers a complete line of financial services from its five branch locations  in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Pauls Como Park  as well as by phone, mobile app and online at www.TopLinecu.com . Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington and Wright counties in Minnesota and their immediate family members. Visit us on our Facebook page or Instagram . To learn more about the credit unions foundation , visit www.toplinecu.com/foundation .

CONTACT:

Vicki Roscoe Erickson

Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications, TopLine Financial Credit Union

President, TopLine Credit Union Foundation

verickson@toplinecu.com

763.391.0872

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d76cae72-39cd-41f4-a717-e7b312dd53b2




Fort Wayne, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fort Wayne, Indiana -

Ask An Audiologist is committed to raising awareness of the importance of educating consumers on hearing-related health, emphasizing the importance of having an audiologist and the impact that OTC hearing aids can have without one.

With the recent ruling by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), hearing health is getting well-deserved attention. The FDA ruled in favor of providing over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, and these products will be available for adults 18 and over in mid to late October. This rule helps those with hearing loss who do not wear hearing aids due to accessibility and affordability.

Those with mild to moderate hearing loss may benefit from OTC hearing aids. Hearing aids could potentially cover up a treatable underlying condition without using a hearing aid. Entheos Audiology is a co-op of hearing professionals from private independent practices.

Entheos operates AskAnAudiologist.com, a portal that provides a wealth of informative content on hearing loss and a comprehensive listing of audiologists and hearing-aid dispensaries.

Access to OTC hearing aids does not negate the need for audiologists, as not all hearing loss is the same. They differ from hearing aid dispensers, licensed and trained in hearing technology. Hearing aid dispensers provide hearing tests and aftercare for patients with hearing aids.

Audiologists undergo training to understand the auditory system and how hearing aid technology impacts how a person deciphers sounds. These doctors assess and manage disorders of hearing and balance. The audiologists participating in the Ask An Audiologist co-op are passionate about developing best practices for better patient outcomes. They do not represent any manufacturers interests, putting the focus on people and not the bottom line.

A visit to an audiologist could prevent misdiagnosis and footing a bill of hundreds of dollars on OTC hearing aids. Each persons ear canal has a unique shape that affects how sound passes to the eardrum.

Real-ear measurement is the tool that audiologists use to measure the sound pressure level in the ear canal while using a hearing aid. Audiologists use this tool during the hearing aid fitting to test soft, average, and loud speech to verify the prescription. Allowing an audiologist to perform a real-ear measurement provides the wearer with a custom device that considers ear anatomy and is verified to meet their needs.

Most people who believe they have hearing loss may have a wax build-up instead. Audiologists have undergone training to remove earwax. After an examination determining a build-up, an audiologist can use several methods to remove ita curette, suction, forceps, or irrigation to remove wax from the ear canal.

Another hearing-loss-related issue is Tinnitus. Approximately 25 million Americans experience thishearing a sound without an external source. These could be ringing, buzzing, clicking, or whooshing sounds. Tinnitus is typically a symptom associated with an underlying condition. Not all who experience Tinnitus are bothered by it and can go about their day. For others, it can impact their sleep quality and ability to concentrate, increasing their risk of depression and anxiety. The first step to treating Tinnitus is to seek help from a medical professional like an audiologist. A person's hearing loss is as unique as a thumbprint. It can be as simple as having wax build-up or something more serious.

At the core of Ask An Audiologist is a humanitarian arm. Many audiologists who contribute to AskAnAudiologist.com donate their time and knowledge to humanitarian audiology locally and internationally. Hearing the Call, aptly named, has provided aid to the underserved in 10 countries and 32 local USA non-profits.

About Ask An Audiologist

Entheos Audiology is a co-op of private practice audiologists. Owner of AskAnAudiologist.com, these hearing professionals strive for best practices to create the best outcome for their patients. Ask An Audiologist has educational hearing loss-related content from leaders in audiology across the United States. Unlike manufacturers or researchers, these audiologists deal with the day-to-day struggles of their patients. They see the first-hand results of what works and doesnt work. They believe there is no one size fits all solution and take cognizance of the need to stay up-to-date on treatment options for their patients.

###

For more information about Ask An Audiologist, contact the company here:



Ask An Audiologist

Nora Steward, CEO

info@entheoshearing.com

429 E Dupont Road #126 Fort Wayne, IN 46825. USA
Alexandria, Va., Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Andrea McKee, M.D. and the late Brady McKee, M.D. will be honored with the James L. Mulshine, M.D., National Leadership Award on Thursday, November 3 at the Prevent Cancer Foundations 19th annual Quantitative Imaging Workshop. The annual Mulshine Award is given to an individual or individuals who has had a profound impact on reducing the toll of lung cancer, COPD and cardiovascular disease on the health of Americans and people around the world.

Dr. Andrea McKee will accept the award on behalf of herself and her late husband for their contributions to ensuring community hospitals and cancer centers provide equitable access to the highest quality screenings. Their program, established at Lahey Hospital in Burlington, Mass., provides screenings free of charge.

Drs. Andrea and Brady McKee were instrumental in developing the LungRADS system, a quality assurance tool to standardize lung cancer screening reporting and management recommendations, reduce confusion in lung cancer screening interpretations and facilitate outcome monitoring. They also conducted critical studies demonstrating that high quality screening is possible in a variety of health care delivery institutions. They rallied a community of professionals to the cause, including Lahey faculty and staff and other collaborators in Boston, across the nation and around the world.

Drs. Andrea and Brady McKee have been dedicated to ensuring screening for lung cancer is not only implemented, but implemented at the highest quality available, said Prevent Cancer Foundation Founder Carolyn Bo Aldige. Their commitment to saving lives across all populations, especially those in medically underserved communities, deserves to be recognized. We are honored to do so at this years workshop.

Past recipients of the award include:

2021  Mary Pasquinelli, DNP, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC  Advanced Practice Nurse, Pulmonary and Medical Oncology, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Science System for her efforts to ensure that she and the team she leads were able to bring a new service to a community that represents a critical challenge from both a health and equity perspective.

2020  Daniel C. Sullivan, M.D. for his work in founding and chairing the Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (QIBA). QIBA is committed to transforming patient care by making radiology a more quantitative science.

2019  Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., Former Director, National Cancer Institute, for his design, implementation and management of the largest and most expensive clinical trial in its history, the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST).

2018  Sharon Y. Eubanks, U.S. Department of Justice, for her work as the lead Justice Department prosecutor in the landmark racketeering trial against Big Tobacco, a case which defied predictions and was won by the government.

2017  The late John Walsh, President and CEO of the COPD Foundation and President and Founder of the Alpha One Foundation.

2016  Laurie Fenton Ambrose, President and CEO of the Lung Cancer Alliance, for her efforts to guide patient advocacy groups in successful efforts to gain coverage of lung cancer screening by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

2015  Claudia Henschke, Ph.D., M.D., Mt. Sinai Medical Center, as a pioneer of the use of low-dose spiral CT to screen for lung cancer.

2014  CVS Health, award accepted by Nancy Gagliano, M.D., CVS Chief Medical Officer, in recognition of the companys bold decision to discontinue the sale of tobacco products in their stores.

The 19th annual Quantitative Imaging Workshop will frame early detection of lung cancer as part of the thoracic health imaging process and a cornerstone of effective public health. The Workshop will take place November 3-4 as a hybrid event, with the award ceremony happening on November 3.

Registration for QIW will close on Wednesday, November 2. You can view a recording of the award ceremony on the Prevent Cancer Foundations website following the event.

For more information about the Quantitative Imaging Workshop and the award, visit the Prevent Cancer Foundation website.

###

About the Prevent Cancer Foundation

The Prevent Cancer Foundation is the only U.S. nonprofit organization focused solely on saving lives across all populations through cancer prevention and early detection. Through research, education, outreach and advocacy, we have helped countless people avoid a cancer diagnosis or detect their cancer early enough to be successfully treated.

The Foundation is rising to meet the challenge of reducing cancer deaths by 40% by 2035. To achieve this, we are committed to investing $20 million for innovative technologies to detect cancer early and advance multi-cancer screening, $10 million to expand cancer screening and vaccination access to medically underserved communities, and $10 million to educate the public about screening and vaccination options.

For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.

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Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This November, Zest Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group, will release Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, a new edition of the best-selling Braiding Sweetgrass by Indigenous botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer. Adapted for young adults by Monique Gray Smith with illustrations from Nicole Neidhardt, this young readers edition weaves together the science of botany and Indigenous wisdom, exploring the importance of our relationship with and respect for the world around us.

As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer is trained to use the tools of science to ask questions of nature. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces plants and animals as our oldest teachers. Kimmerer brings these lenses of knowledge together to show that when we listen to the languages of other beings, we are capable of understanding the generosity of the earth and learning to give our own gifts in return. Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults highlights how acknowledging and celebrating our reciprocal relationship with the earth results in a wider, more complete understanding of our place and purpose.

Virtual Launch Party with the New York Public Library: Friday, November 18 at 11:00 AM EST

Join us for a conversation with Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults creators Robin Wall Kimmerer, Monique Gray Smith, and Nicole Neidhardt. They will discuss their work, writing process and more with moderator Angeline Boulley, bestselling author of Firekeeper's Daughter.

The New York Public Librarys launch party is being hosted virtually so the event is inclusive and accessible to all.

For additional information about Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults, videos with the creators, and more visit lernerbooks.com/braidingsweetgrass.

Advance Praise for Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults:

"Both an urgent, essential call to action and an uplifting love letter." starred, Kirkus Reviews

Smith smartly streamlines language while staying true to the narratives core concepts. starred, Publishers Weekly

"Urging a look toward history and tradition to teach us how to answer the questions of the future, Gray Smith adapts Wall Kimmerer's wisdom for a new, hungry audience."Foreword Reviews

"Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults is my new favorite book! What a great way for young people (and anyone, really) to learn about our healing medicines. Chii miigwech!"Angeline Boulley, #1 NYT Bestselling author of Firekeeper's Daughter

"This beautiful, imaginative revisioning is a gift to our children that teaches them how to follow the path of our ancestors."Diane Wilson, author of The Seed Keeper

"What a gift this adaptation is for all of us! Monique Gray Smith and Nicole Neidhardt have crafted a beautiful bookinviting reflection, conversation and activism that I hope young people will read and share in homes, communities, classrooms and libraries across the globe."Traci Sorell, two-time Sibert Honor winning author

About the Authors

Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. Her first book, Gathering Moss, was awarded the John Burroughs Medal for outstanding nature writing. Her writings have appeared in Orion, Whole Terrain, and numerous scientific journals. Robin lives in Syracuse, New York, where she is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental Biology and the founder and director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment.

Monique Gray Smith is an award winning, bestselling author, and professional consultant. She has written eight books including Speaking our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation, My Heart Fills with Happiness, You Hold Me Up, Lucy and Lola, Tilly: A Story of Hope and Resilience, and When We Are Kind. Monique's most recent novel, Tilly and the Crazy Eights, was longlisted for Canada Reads 2021. Monique is Cree, Lakota, and Scottish. She lives on the traditional territories of the Lkn and WSANEC Peoples with her family.

About the Illustrator

Nicole Neidhardt is a Dine (Navajo) artist of Kiiyaa'aanii clan. She received her MFA from OCAD University in Toronto, Ontario, and a bachelor of fine arts with a business minor from the University of Victoria. Her multi-disciplinary practice centers and uplifts Indigenous worldviews and voices in order to contribute to strong and vibrant Indigenous futures. Nicole is the cofounder of Groundswell Climate Collective, a group fighting the climate crisis through education and artwork. She currently resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

About the Publisher

Zest Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group  , is a leader in young adult nonfiction, publishing smart, compelling, and evocative books. Zest titles are irreverent and edgy, spanning a variety of topics from dating and sexuality to illustrated travelogues and lifestyle advice. Readers can explore their own identities and ideas while engaging with and thinking critically about current events and a broader worldview. For more information, visit www.lernerbooks.com or call 800-328-4929.

Follow us online:

Blog: lernerbooks.blog

Twitter: @LernerBooks

Facebook: Lerner Publishing Group

Look inside at lernerbooks.com.

Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants

November 2022

$39.99 Hardcover

$17.99 Paperback

eBook Also Available

Ages 1218

HC: 978-1-7284-5898-4

PB: 978-1-7284-5899-1

304 Pages  5 1/2 x 8 1/4

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LOS ANGELES, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maui and Sons / Corona collaborate on a limited-edition capsule collection celebrating Living the Fine Life and the spirit of Alohablending luxury loungewear with Hawaiian style. Inspired by the signature beach robes and paradisiac views of Corona's branding, the collection includes Terry fabric robes and lounge sets designed in an array of oceanic hues. All pieces in the collection are made in Los Angeles, California. Launching on November 4, 2022, at 10 a.m. PDT exclusively @ mauiandsons.com (IG: @mauiandsons) and coronausa.com (IG: coronausa)

The collection includes a Hawaiian shirt ($88.00), boardshort ($68.00), and robe ($128) featuring the collection's signature design, "Palm Fusion"  with cascades of Hawaiian hibiscus and palm leaves, adorned with Maui and Sons' signature shark logo and the Corona logo in vibrant, oceanic hues; a luxury lounge set in blue Terry toweling (top: $68, bottom: $78); and a t-shirt ($34) with Maui and Sons' vintage inspired "Enjoy" graphic of Sharkman relaxing by the pool, holding a bottle of Corona Extra Beer, printed in puffer ink. All of which are made in Los Angeles, California.

"Living the fine life is a whole lot more stylish with this limited-edition capsule collection," said Alex Schultz, vice president of brand marketing at Corona. "In addition to the beachside aesthetic, what we love most is the relaxed nature, which aligns with Corona's refreshed perspective. We're pleased to introduce this collaboration with Maui and Sons in time for the holiday season, bringing a beachy perspective to consumers across the country, wherever they celebrate."

"The conversation started with the Corona team wanting to bring the signature beach robes from the commercials to life for fans. From there, our designers were inspired to create a visual representation of the beachside oasis within that represents the Corona 'fine life', blended with the Aloha spirit of Maui and Sons. The combination of the two perspectives became a collection designed for the spa  to the beach  to poolside  to the home. An all-encompassing collection dedicated to wearers getting some much-needed R&R. We decided to make this a Holiday collection as a symbol of escaping the impending (in many places) cold weather and discovering somewhere bright and optimistic."  Chris Janci, Chief Brand Officer at Maui and Sons

The full collection will be available at https://mauiandsons.com and https://www.coronausa.com  dropping on Nov. 4, 2022, at 10 a.m. PDT.

Contact Information:

Dakota Scoppettuolo

Director of Marketing @ Maui and Sons

dakota@mauiandsons.com

(858) 401-0547



Related Files

Press Release Maui and Sons x Corona Holiday 22 Collection_11_4_22.docx

Maui_and_Sons_Corona_Holiday_22_Presentation.pdf

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Image 1: Maui and Sons x Corona Holiday '22 Collection





Maui and Sons / Corona collaborate on an exclusive limited-edition capsule collection celebrating Living the Fine Life and the spirit of Aloha.









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TORONTO, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On October 20, 2022, The Flowr Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, Flowr) were granted protection pursuant to an order, as amended, (the Initial Order) issued under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (the Court) and Ernst & Young Inc. (EY) was appointed Monitor. On October 28, 2022, the Court issued an order (the SISP Order) authorizing and directing Flowr to undertake a sale and investment solicitation process (the SISP).



Flowr is a licensed producer of cannabis in accordance with the Cannabis Act and the Cannabis Regulations that is licensed to cultivate, produce, distribute, and sell dried cannabis flower, pre-rolled cannabis and other cannabis products. Flowr currently supplies the Canadian markets, and has two international supply agreements, one for the EU and one for Israel, to support its vision for the future growth of the cannabis industry.

All qualified interested parties will be provided with an opportunity to participate in the SISP. The SISP is intended to solicit interest in an acquisition or refinancing of Flowrs business, or a sale of the assets and/or the business of Flowr on a going concern basis, which may include, among other things, a merger, reorganization, recapitalization, primary equity issuance or other similar transaction.

On November 1, 2022, Flowr executed a stalking horse purchase agreement to sell the shares of The Flowr Group (Okanagan) Inc. for $3,888,888.88 plus an amount reasonably necessary to fund the cash requirements of Flowr to close the transactions, if any, plus the assumption of certain liabilities, as may be adjusted in accordance with its terms. The stalking horse purchase agreement is subject to approval of the Court in order for it to be accepted as the stalking horse bid under the SISP. If approved, the stalking horse purchase agreement ensures that the business of Flowr will emerge from its CCAA proceedings as a going concern.

The deadline to submit a binding offer is set for December 2, 2022 (Eastern Time).

Those who are interested in participating in this SISP can contact the Monitor to receive additional information at:

Ernst & Young Inc.  The Court-Appointed Monitor of Flowr

100 Adelaide Street West, P.O. Box 1

Toronto, ON, M5H 0B3

Canada

Hotline: 1-833-681-0537 or 416 932 4923

Email: flowr.monitor@ca.ey.com

Copies of the SISP Order, and the SISP Process may be obtained from the website of Ernst & Young Inc., at www.ey.com/ca/flowr.

About The Flowr Corporation

The Flowr Corporation is a Canadian cannabis company with its operating campus, located in Kelowna, British Columbia. Flowr aims to support improving outcomes through responsible cannabis use and, as an established expert in cannabis cultivation, strives to be the brand of choice for consumers and patients seeking the highest-quality craftsmanship and product consistency across a portfolio of differentiated cannabis products.

Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements made in this press release may constitute forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking information) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to anticipated events or results including but not limited to: (i) the sale of the assets and/or business of Flowr under the SISP; and (ii) Flowrs emergence from CCAA as a going concern. Forward-looking information is current as of the date it is made and is based on reasonable estimates and assumptions made by us at the relevant time in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. We do not undertake to update any such forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws in Canada. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Many factors could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements or future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information as discussed in the Companys other publicly filed documents, which can be accessed under the Companys profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com, Readers are urged to consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking information and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information.



Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
English French

CHALK RIVER, Ontario, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canadas premier nuclear science and technology organization, is pleased to announce that it has signed a series of partnership agreements with a group of organizations that are strategically important to its future during a signing ceremony held earlier today at the Chalk River Laboratories. The new strategic delivery partnership agreements are designed to enhance and build the necessary capabilities and capacity to ensure the delivery of CNLs corporate strategy, Vision 2030, which includes the continued revitalization of the Chalk River Laboratories campus.



Joining CNLs President & CEO, Joe McBrearty, and AECLs President & CEO, Fred Dermarkar, in signing the agreements were representatives from the new strategic partners, including AECOM Canada Nuclear Services, Aecon Nuclear, Bird Construction, Bird  Chandos CDP Joint Venture, ECC, ES Fox Limited and Tetra Tech Canada Joint Venture, Hatch Limited, Johnson Controls Canada, M. Sullivan & Son, Stantec Consulting, and WSP Canada. These agreements enable CNL to more confidently plan and deliver its program of work, but also achieve broader organizational objectives including company-wide sustainability targets, improved engagement with Indigenous Peoples, and economic development through the use of local suppliers in the delivery of its projects.

With a significant program of work on the horizon at the Chalk River Laboratories campus, it is critical that we have a reliable supply chain in place to safely deliver this work on time, on schedule, and according to the high expectations of CNL, AECL and the Government of Canada, commented Mr. McBrearty. These agreements will facilitate improved engagement and relationships with our supply chain at a business-to-business level, which will strengthen our performance and the execution of the work. We can also leverage these agreements to prioritize the use of local suppliers and Indigenous businesses as part of our commitment to more sustainable operations.

Fred Dermarkar, President of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), said that the quality of the supply chain is essential to the success of both CNL and AECL, which owns the Chalk River Laboratories. Reliable partners who can enable the sites renewal and advance Indigenous reconciliation are key to CNLs success in achieving its corporate strategy. I welcome these partnership agreements and look forward to the progress that we shall achieve together.

While most of the work that will be carried out under these agreements will be construction-oriented, the partnerships were established to encompass a much broader program of work, from large-scale environmental impact assessments to energy efficiency improvements. The agreements prioritize the use of local resources in the delivery of the work, which includes the hiring of local vendors that live and work in the Ottawa Valley, and the use of Indigenous contractors. As part of its commitment to sustainable operations, CNL has also made it a requirement that environmental stewardship and sustainability are integrated into all areas of the work, including the use of environmentally-friendly materials, practices and organizations, in order to limit the impact of this work on future generations. Finally, there is also hope that these agreements could lead to more commercial opportunities for CNL, who plans to leverage these relationships to pursue collaborations on outside projects as a potential delivery partner.

In addition to CNLs existing 10-year capital program, which is funded through a $1.2 billion investment from AECL on behalf of the Government of Canada, and includes the construction of a series of new buildings, such as the Advanced Nuclear Materials Research Centre (ANMRC), CNL is poised to commence a multi-billion dollar program of work. This includes site-wide infrastructure upgrades to improve energy performance; a new facility to advance research related to nuclear medicine, radiopharmaceuticals, and low-dose radiation; ongoing environmental remediation and restoration activities as part of the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI); and, the construction of at least six major facilities representing over $2 billion in support of restoring and protecting Canadas environment. Proceeding with all of these projects requires the collaboration and support of many different companies and contractors, all of which are now in place.

CNL not only has a series of major projects poised to begin, but many of them are also concurrent, which means that we have to carefully plan and resource these projects if we want them to proceed efficiently, commented Brian Savage, CNLs Vice-President of Capital Projects, and one of many senior CNL executives who will be involved in managing relations with the new partners. These strategic delivery partnership agreements gives us long-term clarity on these projects, and cultivate stronger relationships with our supply chain, so we can ensure that they are being effectively managed. Overall, I think these agreements represent a more sophisticated and reliable supply chain strategy, and you will see that reflected in the delivery of the work.

For more information on CNL, including the revitalization of the Chalk River Laboratories campus, please visit www.cnl.ca. If you would like to learn more about doing business with CNL, you can visit CNLs Vendor Portal at www.cnl.ca/vendor-portal.

About CNL

As Canadas premier nuclear science and technology organization, CNL is a world leader in the development of innovative nuclear science and technology products and services. Guided by an ambitious corporate strategy known as Vision 2030, CNL fulfills three strategic priorities of national importance  restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of Canadians.

By leveraging the assets owned by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL also serves as the nexus between government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector and the academic community. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian products and services towards real-world use, including carbon-free energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation technologies and waste management solutions.

To learn more about CNL, please visit www.cnl.ca.

CNL Contact:

Patrick Quinn

Director, Corporate Communications

1-866-886-2325

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b51377d7-1b60-48a3-a5ee-1c26a254cf68
The Moto Edge X40 made an appearance on the Chinese TENAA certification website a couple of days ago the listing only contained a few shots and limited specs. Now TENAA has updated it to include most of the phone's details.

The handset will run on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC chipset and offer a 144Hz 6.67-inch slightly curved OLED screen. Memory options go from 8GB to 18GB while storage variants start at 128GB and go up to 512GB.



Motorola XT2301-5, likely the Moto X40 (and later the Edge 40 Pro)

We expect three cameras on the back - a 50MP main one, a 50MP ultrawide one and a 12MP telephoto unit. Last year the X30 Pro had a 12MP telephoto unit with 2x optical zoom, so it's likely that the vanilla X40 will inherit that.

The whole system draws power from a 5,000 mAh battery that supports 68W charging and expectedly, the X40 series will launch with Android 13 pre-installed.

The specs are further confirmed by another Chinese certification platform as the listed device has a model number XT2301-5.

As of now, we don't have any solid info on when to expect the new Moto X40 family, but given the frequency of leaks, it might be sooner than expected. For context, the Moto Edge X30 was released back in December 2021.

Source | Via
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Chemical castration for those convicted of sex crimes has been Guam law since 2015 but it has never been implemented and continues to draw opposing opinions from this years political candidates.

Crime and public safety have been big concerns during the election and in a debate last week, former Attorney General Douglas Moylan offered chemical castration as a solution to deal with repeat sex offenders. Guam has a high rate of sexual assaults and many of the victims are children.

On Monday, Moylan said if elected attorney general once again, he will urge that permanent chemical castration for pedophiles be required under Guam law.

Further, that pedophiles be incarcerated for life, without the possibility of a parole, he said, while also noting that the attorney general does not make public policy.

Pedophiles, he said, should be castrated so that they will no longer hurt and damage the innocence of Guams children.

He would advocate for permanent chemical castration against any first-degree and possibly other degrees of rapists that involve a rape victim being penetrated by the rapist with any object or body parts whatsoever.

Attorney Peter J. Santos, a write-in candidate for attorney general, said he does not disagree with the implementation of the law and that the job of the attorney general is to defend the law against any legal challenge.

Attorney General Leevin Camachos campaign team didn't issue a position statement on the topic.

Not implemented

The 2015 law allows the Department of Corrections to begin chemically castrating convicted sex offenders being released on parole. It is meant to help reduce the sex drive of convicted sex offenders.

DOC has not come up with the rules for a four-year pilot program. Under the law, DOC is supposed to come up with an evaluation report by the third year of the program implementation so lawmakers can decide whether to authorize its continuation.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero has not implemented the chemical castration law since taking office in January 2019, and in April 2021, she said at a public event that the process has not worked in other places.

Leon Guerrero, who is seeking reelection, had said its not the answer to curbing Guams sexual assault and child abuse cases.

Her administration will instead continue to address the root causes of sexual assaults such as poverty, lack of education and lack of jobs, she said at the time. The Leon Guerrero-Tenorio reelection campaign team didn't respond to a new request for comment.

Former Republican Gov. Felix Camacho and his running mate, Sen. Tony Ada, support the Chemical Castration for Sex Offenders Act. Ada was a co-author of the bill.

The candidates believe that the pilot treatment program should be implemented at the soonest to determine if this criminal justice effort can be a deterrent to sex offenses in our island community, the team said \Monday.

Opposite ends

The two delegate candidates  former Speaker Judi Won Pat and Sen. Jim Moylan  are on opposite ends of the chemical castration debate.

Won Pat voted against the bill when she was senator in 2015, while Moylan in 2019 introduced a bill seeking to make chemical castration mandatory rather than voluntary for every sex offender being released on probation or parole if their victim was a minor.

On Monday, Won Pat said she believes those who commit sexual violence against others, especially children, should remain behind bars.

That said, I certainly do not support practices like chemical castration being used to short-circuit jail time for acts of sexual violence, she said. We also cant forget that there is far more to be done for victims and it has been a part of my platform to fund programs for outreach and assistance for our community.

Moylan said chemical castration is not an inhumane procedure and while it may not be foolproof, it could help reduce the drive for repeating the crime once free.

But more importantly its about having tougher penalties in the books to encourage victims to step up and speak out, and to remind them that we are with them and not their perpetrator. This is also why I introduced a measure to increase the minimum sentencing for sex offenders, he said, adding that Guam laws need to support the victim and not just those convicted.

Violent acts

Senatorial candidate Fred Bordallo said in his decades of experience in law enforcement, including as chief of the Guam Police Department, many of the criminal sexual conduct cases had nothing to do with sexual drives but more to do with violent acts and anger, so implementing chemical castration wont be effective.

There are other treatment programs Guam should look into to address repeat sex offenders, he said, while also noting the need for continued education of children both at home and schools about respect for one another and how to report sexual assaults.

Republican senatorial candidate MiChelle Hope Taitano, a former chairperson of the Guam Parole Board, said the 2015 chemical castration law needs to be revisited. She said she previously opposed it and would want new research about its effectiveness.

Senatorial candidate Darrel Chris Barnett said he supports the implementation of this law but would support a better version of it if there are issues on implementation.

We have seen many instances where sexual predators have continued to commit crimes and the data shows that the alarming rate of recidivism among these offenders warrants programs that successfully address it, he said. We also need to increase and improve monitoring of convicted sexual predators and offenders.

Roy A.B. Quinata said he would want to learn how the issue has evolved since 2015.

Candidate Jonathan Savares said he doesnt disagree with the rationale behind chemical castration, but said there needs to be a reevaluation. A major issue in its implementation is the lack of funding or other resources that would allow the Department of Corrections to come up with the rules, he said.

Other options could also be cheaper, he said.

Under the 2015 law, the costs would be borne by convicted sex offenders.

Ken Leon-Guerrero, also a senatorial candidate, said he testified against chemical castration in 2015. Convicted sex offenders should be ineligible for early paroleand should undergo counseling, he said.

He also said it would be rare for any convicted sex offender to afford chemical castration, which he said could cost about $50,000, plus regular shots of $850.
A retired Guam Police Department lieutenant accused of terrorizing was found not guilty of all charges Tuesday.

Im very happy about it, Jojo Templo Garcia said after the verdict. Im retired, so Im just going to be enjoying my time.. Biba Guam.

He said he plans to move to the mainland with his family.

Garcia was on trial before Judge Maria T. Cenzon on three counts of terrorizing as a third-degree felony, four counts of reckless conduct, and one count of official misconduct as misdemeanors.

As a former police officer who worked with Garcia in the past, his attorney, Peter Santos, said he took on the case on a pro bono basis.

Everyone deserves their day in court this and other cases like it where law enforcement officers were being subjected to prosecution, said Santos.

Garcia was on trial before Judge Maria T. Cenzon on three counts of terrorizing as a third-degree felony, four counts of reckless conduct and one count of official misconduct as misdemeanors.

During the trial, neighbors and police officers testified about Garcias behavior during a Nov. 30, 2021, confrontation. Garcia testified the police officers who responded didnt do their jobs properly.

At the time of the incident, Garcia was commander of the Dededo Precinct.

Neighbor Joseph Andrew Borja testified a female neighbor knocked on his window late one night because she felt threatened as Garcia walked toward her with a flashlight. Borja described the woman as terrified.

Garcia said the woman was screaming at him and he was responding to her.

A police officer testified that Garcia was out of control and said Garcia was holding a pistol and wearing what appeared to be brown pants on his head when officers arrived. Garcia said he was holding a flashlight.

Garcia was the subject of a viral video that circulated in December 2021.

In the video, Garcia, dressed in all black with a long-sleeved T-shirt and pants, was holding what looked like a long, black gun, pointing it at a man who didnt appear to be armed.

Garcia testified he was protecting his family, who had been threatened. He also said he thought the people in the video were preparing to pull out weapons.
University of Guam President Thomas W. Krise announced Tuesday he will retire when his five-year term ends in August 2023.

Theres never a perfect time for a transition in jobs like this, but I think, given the great momentum in the university, coupled with superb leadership at all levels of the institution, the current academic year is a propitious one to search for the 12th president of UOG, Krise wrote in a letter to the university community.

University of Guam Board of Regents Chairperson Liza J. Provido said a search will begin for Krises replacement.

We value President Krises leadership as he guided UOG through the pandemic while elevating the universitys reputation throughout Asia Pacific, Provido said in a news release.

Krise stated that by next summer the university will:

complete its reaccreditation report for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

apply for the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification,

conclude a new five-year faculty union contract,

begin work on almost $40 million in new capital projects.

We have already accomplished many of the key tasks of our Para Hulo Strategic Plan and we have the next nine months to push to complete even more, Krise said. The 12th president will be fully settled in the job in time for the WASC campus visit in the Fanomnakan semester of 2024, and the university will be ready to start work on the next strategic plan, taking the institution to 2030 and beyond.

Krise said he will continue working hard with all of you to continue to realize our 70th anniversary vision of transforming lives and advancing communities.

In 2018, the Board of Regents selected Krise, who previously served as president of Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, to succeed Robert Underwood as head of the university.




Haiti - Death of journalist Vilsaint : The PNH explains and presents its sympathies





In a note, Frantz Elbe, the Director General a.i. of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) said to have "[...] learned with great pain, in the afternoon of Sunday, October 30, 2022 the death of Journalist Romelson Vilsaint https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-38017-ici-haiti-delmas-33-a-journalist-fatally-injured-by-a-projectile-in-the-courtyard-of-the-police-station.html occurred at the Bernard Mevs Hospital as a result of injuries caused by a tear gas canister, during the intervention of the security forces to control a hostile crowd entering the Delmas Police Station, despite the diligence of the police to rush him to the hospital.



In this painful circumstance, the High Command of the PNH presents its sympathies to his family, the members of the Press, particularly those of Jim Studio, Zenyez TV and Radio de Generation 80, as well as to all those affected by this unexpected disappearance.



Similarly, he takes the opportunity to inform the public in general and members of the press in particular, that instructions have been passed to the General Inspectorate of the PNH to conduct an investigation into this incident to determine the circumstances and fix, where appropriate, the responsibilities.



The General Directorate remains committed to its mission of guaranteeing public order, security and tranquility through the protection of lives and property and reiterates its commitment to freedom of the press and respect for human rights."



HL/ HaitiLibre




















THE United Kingdom Parliament is concerned that there is no sign that Zimbabwe will hold free and fair elections next year following political violence during recent by-elections.

It is also concerned about the countrys failure to implement 2018 electoral reforms recommended by international observer missions.

Contributing to debate in the British House of Lords last week, UKs Minister of State and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Lord Zac Goldsmith of Richmond Park said limited progress had been made in implementing electoral reforms.

Zimbabwe will hold its 2023 general elections in July or August next year.

We recognise that there has been only very limited progress to date on the electoral reforms recommended in the 2018 paper. Key outstanding areas include a transparent voter registration process, publication of an accurate voters roll, transparent use of State-owned resources and more effort to demonstrate the independence of the electoral commission. This remains a priority in our discussions with not just Zimbabwe but neighbouring countries as well, Lord Goldsmith said in response to questions from legislators.

In response, Lord Robert Hayward said: At that time (2018 elections) I was one of the observers from this country on behalf of the Commonwealth, with the noble Baroness, Lady Jay. The report was pretty damning, particularly in relation to the events after the general election. Can my noble friend ensure that very strong representations are made to the electoral commission (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) because it has been lamentable in any action? There is no sign that it will enforce any form of free and fair elections next year.





Another UK legislator, Jeremy Purvis of Tweed suggested that there be ministerial meetings with the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to come up with regional solutions to end political violence in Zimbabwe.

British legislators also suggested that they should take advantage of South African President Cyril Ramaphosas scheduled visit to the UK next month to engage with a view of influencing free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.

Ramaphosa and his wife, Tshepo Motsepe are set to make their first visit to Buckingham Palace late next month following King Charles takeover following the death of Queen Elizabeth last month.

The noble Baroness has been a champion of Zimbabwe for many years, and I pay tribute to her for that. She is right to identify this upcoming visit as an opportunity. There is no doubt that SA, and indeed southern African countries, not least through Sadc, have a particular ability to influence Zimbabwe, far more so than we can. I am sure that the topic we are discussing today will be on the agenda when the visit happens, Goldsmith responded.

Lord Oates then asked about the political incarceration of opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators Job Sikhala (Zengeza West) and Godfrey Sithole (Chitungwiza North) who have been detained at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison for 142 days and paraded in leg irons.

He said political violence would mar the credibility of 2023 polls, adding that King Charles should condemn Zimbabwes brutalisation of the opposition.

Lord Goldsmith responded: l thank the noble Lord for raising this enormously important issue. He is right; the world is watching and of course the UK is deeply concerned by the challenging human rights situation in Zimbabwe. Political parties, journalists and opponents should be able to operate without any form of harassment.

He said the UK would monitor the individual cases, including that of CCC proportional representation MP Jasmine Toffa and other women who were brutally beaten up by suspected Zanu PF activists while campaigning in Insiza and Matobo last week.

Lord St John of Blesto said indications were that the country would not conduct a free, fair and credible election next year.

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba refused to comment on the issue saying: Its just a Parliament, and I dont speak for the UK Parliament, I speak for the government of Zimbabwe.

Zec chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana referred NewsDay questions to Zec spokesperson Jasper Mangwana.

Mangwana said: We resist any attempt by outside forces to control the narrative of our electoral processes especially before they have been proclaimed. We totally condemn this conduct which seeks to undermine in advance the credibility of our 2023 harmonised elections,"

It is tantamount to writing a report before the elections. Our electoral processes are guided by our laws which the Commission has always adhered to and will continue.

Lord Goldsmith said Zimbabwe was a country with extraordinary potential and an extraordinary history.

And of course it is right that the current political approach inhibits that potential. The UK is a long standing partner of Zimbabwe and we provide significant levels of ODA (overseas development assistance). However, I want to be clear to the House that we do so in a way that avoids government to government bilateral financial aid, Goldsmith said

He said the UK would use whatever leverage at its disposal to maximise the chance of a free and fair election in Zimbabwe.

We know that President Emmerson Mnangagwa wants more engagement with the UK  that is clear  and in many respects we want him to have that too. However, deeper re-engagement with the UK will require meaningful political and economic reform and respect for human rights and the rule of law in line with the Presidents own commitments when he took office, he said. Newsday




Haiti - Diaspora Covid-19 : Daily Bulletin #955





GLOBAL SITUATION 2019-2022:

Tuesday, November 1, 2022 the number of people infected worldwide with the Covid-19 coronavirus and its variants since the start of the pandemic (March 11, 2020) amounts to 635,743,885 cases (+248,290 in 24 hours ), preceding (+339.557 in 24h)



Number of infected countries: 228



*Healings: 615,166,112 people have been cured of Covid-19 worldwide (+453,234 in 24 hours), previous (+282,577 in 24 hours)

*Deaths: 6,594,801 people have died of Covid-19 worldwide since the start of the pandemic (+1,012 in 24 hours), previous (+358 in 24 hours)

*Active cases (less deaths and recoveries) in the world is currently 13,982,972 cases (-205,956 in 24 hours), previous (-119,448 in in 24 hours)



World healing rate: 96.76% (+)



Death rate in the world: 1.03% (=)



HAITI:

Due to the climate of violence, insecurity for field staff and the lack of fuel in Haiti, the Ministry of Health has decided to publish weekly reports, called epidemiological weeks, instead of daily reports, including we publish the essential data.



Epidemiological Week (SE) 41 from October 9 to 15 (last SE available):



Tests carried out: 222,309 cumulative (+192 in 7 days)

The number of tests carried out for the whole of the national territory is statistically insufficient to be representative of the real health situation, which results in a number of confirmed cases that is largely underestimated in the opinion of specialists in the health (WHO, PAHO among others.





Confirmed cases: 33,811 cumulative (+20 new cases in 7 days)



Deaths: 857 cumulative (+0 in 7 days)



Hospitalizations: 5,680 cumulative (+3 in 7 days)



Recovered (heals): 32,177 cumulative (95.16%)



Cumulative cases are calculated from the first confirmed case in Haiti on March 19, 2020



Death rate: 2.53%



Positivity rate: 15.2%



Breakdown: Women: 48.8% Men 51.2%



Situation by department since March 19, 2020:

West: 21,361 cumulative cases (+12 in 7 days). Positivity rate 15.6%. Mortality rate 1.91%

Center: 1,958 cumulative cases (+0 in 7 days). Positivity rate 14.1%. Mortality rate 5.31%

Artibonite: 1,860 cumulative cases (+2 in 7 days). Positivity rate 11.5%. Mortality rate 4.46%

North: 1,743 cumulative cases (+0 in 7 days). Positivity rate 13.2%. Mortality rate 5.05%

South: 1,486 cumulative cases (+0 in 7 days). Positivity rate 20.5%. Mortality rate 3.90%

South-East: 1,427 cumulative cases (+1 in 7 days). Positivity rate 16.9%. Mortality rate 1.68%

GrandAnse: 1,350 cumulative cases (+0 in 7 days). Positivity rate 17.1%. Mortality rate 1.48%

North-West: 1,084 cumulative cases (+1 in 7 days). Positivity rate 15.7%. Mortality rate 1.68%

North-East: 1,003 cumulative cases (+0 in 7 days). Positivity rate 12.4%. Mortality rate 1.30%

Nippes: 539 cumulative cases (+4 in 7 days). Positivity rate 14.1%. Mortality rate 5.94%



Vaccination:

396,414 Haitians (3.41% of the population) have received a 1st dose of vaccine since July 16, 2021, the date of the first injection through 149 open vaccination centers and 235,288 Haitians are fully vaccinated (2 doses, 2.02% of the population). Update October 15, 2022 latest information available (source MSPP).



List of the 149 Vaccination centers open in Haiti (and hours) by department: (updated October 20, 2021, latest information available)

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35051-haiti-covid-19-list-of-149-vaccination-centers-open-in-the-country.html



DIASPORA:

Epidemiological situation:



USA:

*Cases since the first case (29 February 2020): 99,374,721 cases (+28,794 in 24h), previous (+4,480 in 24h)

*Healings: 96,937,743 healings (+40,091 in 24h), previous (+39,649 in 24h)

National Cure Rate: 97.54% (+)

*Deaths: 1,095,315 deaths (+111 in 24 hours), previous (+5 in 24 hours)

Mortality rate: 1.10% (=)

*Active cases (minus deaths and recoveries): 1,341,663 cases (-11,408 in 24 hours), previous (-35,174 in 24 hours)



DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

Confirmed cases since March 1, 2020: 647,484 cases (+59 in 48 hours), previous (+24 in 24 hours). First case (March 1, 2020)

Healings: 642,859 healings (+67 cases in 48 hours), previous (+19 in 24 hours)

National Cure Rate: 99.28% (=)

Deaths: 4,384 deaths (+0), previous (+0)

Death rate: 0.67% (=)

Positivity rate, average over 4 epidemiological weeks:1.47% (=)

Active cases: (excluding deaths and recoveries) 241 cases (-8 in 48 hours) previous (+5 in 24 hours)



QUEBEC:

Warning: Quebec health authorities have not released the October 31 data update. The figures below are therefore the latest available.



Confirmed cases since the first case (February 27, 2020): 1,225,874 cases (+965 in 24 hours), previous (+979 in 24 hours)

Deaths: 17,026 deaths (+12 in 24 hours) previous (+16 in 24 hours)

Death rate: 1.38% (=)

Healing: The Center for Expertise and Reference in Public Health no longer makes this information available.



FRANCE:

*Confirmed cases since first case (January 24, 2020): 36,813,385

case (+3.768 in 24h), previous (+16.456 in 24h)

*Healings: 35,813,385 healings (+94,591 in 24h), previous (+9,373 in 24h)

National Cure Rate: 97.28% (+)

Deaths: 156,994 deaths (+162 in 72 hours), previous (not available)

Death rate: 0.42% (=)

Active cases: 843,006 cases (-90,985 in 24h), previous (-7,083 in 24h)



Previous bulletin : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38022-haiti-diaspora-covid-19-daily-bulletin-954.html



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30165-haiti-flash-first-case-of-covid-19-in-the-dominican-republic.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





A bandit killed, a policeman injured

Sunday, October 30, an individual was fatally injured during exchanges of fire with the police in the Delmas 19 district (Imperial Cinema area). A weapon belonging to the victim was seized. A policeman was slightly injured.



Dominicans arrest 4 Haitian bandits

Sunday, October 30, the Dominican police arrested 4 Haitian bandits who were trying to cross into Dominican territory in two vehicles. Subsequently, these individuals were handed over to the Haitian police authorities of the border town of Belladere.



The RNDP demands justice

The "Rassemblement des Democrates Nationaux Progressives" (RNDP) political party calls on the judicial authorities to take public action against the perpetrators, co-perpetrators and accomplices of the assassination of its Secretary General, Eric Jean Baptiste, and his security, Peterson Vernius, in Laboule 12, on October 28 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38000-haiti-flash-assassination-of-eric-jean-baptiste-sg-of-the-rdnp.html "Mille too many times, a thousand times more, the angel of death continues to gut our already anemic society of honest women and men", regrets the RNDP, which says it is shocked by this "odious and revolting" double assassination. He calls on the actors of national life to surpass themselves in order to save the Nation. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38008-haiti-sympathies-assassination-of-eric-jean-baptiste-rain-of-messages.html



Increase and acceleration of deportations in Dom. Republic

The deportations of people in an irregular migration situation living in the Dominican Republic, regardless of their nationality, will continue, accelerate and increase https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37979-haiti-dom-republic-5-248-illegal-haitians-repatriated-in-one-week.html declared the Minister of Immigration, stressing that these operations will take place with respect for the rights of these people.



Cholera : 300 ASCP deployed in the field

Following their training by the Western Health Department with the support of PAHO/WHO, 300 Polyvalent Community Health Workers (ASCP) were deployed in the field and in particular in Cite Soleil where they have been undertaking for a week outreach surveillance and communication activities with communities affected by cholera. The work of ASCP is essential and allows the ministry to improve the collection and analysis of data as well as to sensitize the population by means of prevention and treatment of the disease.



Cholera Alert

In support of the Ministry of Public Health, the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) in coordination with WFP-UNHAS (UN Humanitarian Air Service) organized the delivery of cholera beds from of the Dominican Republic. This delivery will increase the reception capacity of cholera treatment centers in Haiti.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















VFW launches Wall of Honor to permanently display medals

Retired Army Maj. Bob Johnson shows a shadowbox containing his medals from miiltary service. The Hedrick-Rhodes VFW Post 5206 is introducing the Henderson County Wall of Honor on Saturday.

When he was gathering stories for Natural Born Heroes, his book about the experiences of dozens of World War II veterans who lived in Haywood Knolls, Bob Johnson noticed a similarity about the mementoes the men and women brought home from the war.

I interviewed 55 people, he said. I went to 55 homes and talked to them about World War II. And they had these little boxes of medals. And a lot of them said, Nobody wants it. Its just gonna get thrown away.

Johnson and his fellow veterans at Hedrick-Rhodes VFW Post 5206 want to make sure that doesnt happen. Theyve launched the Henderson County Wall of Honor to recognize all veterans service by publicly displaying their medals in shadowboxes at the post home at Five Points.

Johnson, a retired Army major who is also a homebuilder, got the idea from an exhibit at Virginia Military Institute, where he graduated in 1974 as the Vietnam War was drawing to a close.

Its interesting that here their criteria was what they call a valorous award, he said. So it had to be a specific act of valor (in combat) at a certain level. So starting with the Bronze Star with Valor (and going to) the Silver Star, the Distinguished Service Cross or the Medal of Honor, Purple Heart. Believe it or not, nobody in my class is on this wall. Nobody was eligible because we were mostly in peacetime.

Eligibility to be on the wall is simple.

Youve got to be honorably discharged, (and serve in) any component  active, reserve or National Guard  wartime or peacetime, he said. Next of kin, such as a widow, child or grandchild, can sponsor a shadowbox. They need to donate (the medals and ribbons) to us. We cant do all this work and then (have the donor) take it back. The other piece is no cost. Were not going to charge anybody to do it. Participants also must have a Henderson County connection.

Johnson thinks it will take two years to finish the project, which is fine because it will take about that long for Henderson County to finish a major $4.2 million renovation county commissioners have authorized for the Hedrick-Rhodes post home.

What do you leave in life?

Johnson said hes not aware of any project anywhere as inclusive as the Henderson County Wall of Honor.

I dont think anybody in the country is doing what Im doing, he said. The mission of our post is were gonna manage the program but we are looking for volunteers to help us.

Johnson will formally introduce the project at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Henderson County public library. He will narrate a slide presentation explaining the spirit behind the idea, who can participate and how.

We want to show veterans that the county honors their service, in deeds not words, he said. It honors the veterans of the county, living or dead  thats a piece of it. So you can do your grandparents or whatever.

The VFW is urging veterans to locate or obtain a replacement copy of their DD Form 214, a record of their military service, including awards and badges.

I want to make a big deal about the DD 214 because we want to verify that the awards are earned, he said. I have been told theres 9000 veterans in the county and any number of deceased veterans survived by a spouse, child or grandchild.

Johnson said hes not aware of any project anywhere as inclusive as the Henderson County Wall of Honor.

I dont think anybody in the country is doing what Im doing, he said. The mission of our post is were gonna manage the program but we are looking for volunteers to help us.

Instead of medals tossed in the trash and buried in the landfill, they will be displayed for friends, family and strangers to admire.

Think about it. How many times in your life do you get to have something in a public place that represents you only? he said. This is it. You feel really good to get these awards. Service members should be very proud of this. New kids coming out of the service can do it or people whose grandfathers served can be on the wall.

And maybe, Johnson added, the project will serve to make sure veterans know theyre respected.

What do you leave in life? At best a headstone, he said. This is something a service member can have. One of the missions of the VFW that I picked up on that other people dont or havent is it helps with (military) recruitment because how a community treats its veterans will show that the community respects their service. If theyre respected, youd be more prone to enlist.

* * * * *

The meeting to introduce the Henderson County Wall of Honor is at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, in the Kaplan Room of the main public library, 301 N. Washington St. To participate in the Wall of Honor project, veterans or family members may send an email to Post5206@vfwnc.com with Wall of Honor in the subject line. Someone will contact you to make an appointment for a meeting at the Henderson County downtown library. (The VFW has arranged for the use of a room.) Collect your ribbons and awards and a copy of DD Form 214 and bring them to the meeting. (To get a replacement DD 214 start by visiting archives.gov/veterans.)
AN army veteran who lost a leg while serving in Iraq attended a fundraising event in Henley in aid of the Poppy Appeal.

Yanto Evans, who is now Oxfordshire community

fundraiser for the Royal British Legion, was supporting volunteers promoting this years appeal.

The all-day event took place in Market Place where the Waterloo Band & Bugles of The Rifles, led by Serjeant Gary Hamilton, from Henley, played.

There was also a stall staffed by personnel from RAF Benson.

The appeal is held annually in the run up to Remembrance Day on November 11 so the Legion can continue to support military veterans and their families.

Mr Evans joined the army when he was 17 but his career came to an end 15 years later in 1995 when he lost his leg.

He said: After my recovery I started with the Legion. Having served, I know the sacrifice made by friends no longer with us. Ive been lucky in that Ive not needed help but some of my friends have.

Our key message this year is that our armed forces risk everything to protect you, despite never having met you.

Wearing a poppy shows serving personnel, veterans and their families that their service and sacrifice means something to you and will never be forgotten.

The Royal British Legion is there for the armed forces community throughout their lives whenever they need us.

Also during remembrance this year, we will be paying tribute to Her late Majesty the Queen, who was patron of the Legion for 70 years.

John Green, president of the Henley and Peppard branch of the Legion, was dressed in a replica uniform of a First World War soldier.

He said: My father fought in that war and he died when I was 16. Im wearing a medal ribbon which was awarded to him in 1915 at Hohenzollern. He also won the Military Cross.

Children come and ask questions about the uniform and the gun I carry as theyre curious. We do our little bit to try to educate them.

Support for the Legion is improving all the time but I dont know quite why that is. Maybe one day we wont have to collect in order to help those who served but that wont be in my lifetime.

Connie Butt, who was dressed in red and used to run dances in the town hall for the Legion, said: Ive been volunteering and supporting for about 25 years and I enjoy it because I believe in the Legion and the Poppy Appeal.

Richard Pinches, who was wearing a uniform from the Battle of El Alamein, had just returned from visiting Egypt to mark the 80th anniversary of the battle, which his father fought in.

He said: The sand on my boots is from El Alamein. We walked through Cairo, Alexandria and Mersa Matruh and had armed guards with us the whole time, supplied by the Egyptian government.

All the people there had relatives who fought in or died in that battle.

Ive long been a supporter of the Legion because my father served and it is great that people gravitate towards the uniforms and want to learn more.

Sara Abey, organiser of the appeal in Henley, said: It was wonderful how our community came together to support the appeal.

People were enjoying the music and several hundred people came to our stall. It will be exciting to find out how much we raised.

She thanked Hofs Bar and law firm Blandy & Blandy for sponsoring the band.

Also thank you to our amazing team of volunteers that helped me organise the event as well as collect donations around town to make it an uplifting and successful fundraiser, she added.
Chinese company hands over Nigeria's first deep sea port

Xinhua) 16:20, November 01, 2022

This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2022 shows a view of the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, Nigeria. China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) on Monday handed over Nigeria's first deep sea port to the government after the completion of the huge maritime project in the country's economic hub city of Lagos. (Xinhua/Guo Jun)

LAGOS, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) on Monday handed over Nigeria's first deep sea port to the government after the completion of the huge maritime project in the country's economic hub city of Lagos.

The port will meet the needs of Nigeria's economic development, said Cui Jianchun, Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, in an interview with Xinhua at the handing over ceremony held in Lagos.

As a commercial project of tripartite cooperation between China, France and Nigeria, Lekki port is of great significance for promoting the Belt and Road cooperation in Africa, said the ambassador.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, speaks at the handing over ceremony of the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, Nigeria, Oct. 31, 2022. China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) on Monday handed over Nigeria's first deep sea port to the government after the completion of the huge maritime project in the country's economic hub city of Lagos. (Xinhua/Guo Jun)

Constructed by the CHEC, the Lekki Deep Sea Port is the largest seaport in Nigeria, and one of the biggest in West Africa. The construction of the port commenced in June 2020, and is designed to handle 1.2 million standard containers annually.

"This new port will position Lagos as a new maritime logistics hub not only in West Africa, but in the whole Central and West African region," said the Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the ceremony.

The newly completed project will create nearly 200,000 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria in the coming years, unlock the country's economic potential, and boost the country's revenue, he said.

Cui Jianchun, Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, speaks at the handing over ceremony of the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, Nigeria, Oct. 31, 2022. China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) on Monday handed over Nigeria's first deep sea port to the government after the completion of the huge maritime project in the country's economic hub city of Lagos. (Xinhua/Guo Jun)

With the construction of Lekki port, Lagos' Lekki area has become a hot place for investment, Deputy General Manager of the CHEC Wu Di told Xinhua, adding that the port will soon be put into commercial operation and is full of development prospects.

"I believe this largest deep sea port in West Africa will bring new development opportunities to Nigeria," he said.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts Luxury & Lifestyle Collection, is today celebrating a new era of luxury with the unveiling of InterContinental Lusaka which reopens after a two year multi-million dollar renovation.

InterContinental Lusaka has been a landmark in the city for over 50 years and been deemed as one of Zambia's icons of hospitality. The property has now undergone a complete renovation and as one of the first international luxury hotel brands in Lusaka. The reopening marks a new standard set for luxury in the region.

Luxury design for functionality

With InterContinental Hotels & Resorts pioneering luxury travel across the globe since 1946, InterContinental Lusaka is one of the brand's legacy hotels. It was designed in 1968 by architect William B. Tabler under the lead of industry pioneer Neal Prince, IHG's Lead Designer at the time.

This time the hotel worked with London-based designer Dexter Moren Associates, who created a scheme influenced by rich Zambian materials, patterns and high-quality furnishings. Rooms & public areas have been designed to cater to local & international business & leisure guests seeking discreet luxury. For a distinctively luxurious atmosphere, the design also incorporated Zambia's unique lines and warm colours - emerald green and copper - creating harmony between materials for an exquisite finish.

Luxurious amenities and suites for all needs

InterContinental Lusaka now has four types of room that are tailored to various needs, including spacious Classic Rooms, Junior Suites, Executive Suites to Presidential suites.

The seven-storey hotel has 106 non-smoking guest rooms with 87 suites.

InterContinental Lusaka provides authentic experiences that amplify the spirit of both the city and the countryside with particular attention having been given to symbolic features of Zambia's beautiful scenery in the intricate details of the copper decor.

Delectable culinary journeys and meeting experiences

After a long hiatus, guests can now indulge in an array of new restaurants. The Makumbi Club Lounge on the 7th floor is a unique feature, offering a serene indoor and outdoor dining experience from breakfast, high tea and evening canapes with a wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The Makumbi Club Lounge also offers four private meeting rooms and an outdoor deck, a perfect place for relaxation.

Diners could also opt to savour the best tastes of Italian cuisine along with all international delicacies at "Curate" presented by seasoned chef Chef Giuliano. The all-day dining restaurant also offers freshly prepared breakfast, buffet selection of pastries, fresh squeezed juices, salads, cold cuts and a live cooking station.

Hotel signature Botanical Bar offers gin cocktails including the Zambian Signature "Iconic" Gin manufactured in Zambia with the art of Swiss precision, combined with Zambia's lushness and "lightness of being".

In addition to offering an outstanding ambiance, accommodation, food and beverage offerings and boasts a state-of-the-art conference facilities for both small and large meetings, conference and social events up to 700 guests.

IHG Hotels & Resorts has been delivering True Hospitality in meetings and events for decades, and has combined this wealth of knowledge, with industry best practices and the expertise behind IHG Way of Clean, to bolster the global Meet with Confidence commitment.

Hotel website
The signing aligns with IHG's expansion strategy in KSA.

Reaffirming its commitment to the Kingdom's Vision 2030, IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies in the world, has signed a Management Agreement with Dana Bay Tourism Company to open InterContinental Al Khobar Dana Bay and expand its luxury footprint in the Kingdom.

IHG Hotels & Resorts recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand. From one hotel to more than 200, InterContinental has grown with the advent of technology and evolving hotel operations, but its pioneering spirit of luxury travel endures.

Scheduled to open its doors to guests in December 2024, InterContinental Al Khobar Dana Bay will be situated just 30km from the city centre and 45km from King Fahed International Airport, making it the perfect destination for travelers wishing to explore the cultural sights of Al Khobar. The surrounding development of Dana Bay is spread over 2.8 million square meters with 14 km of beach line, provides overlooking views of the sea of the Half Moon Bay, and includes water sports, a diving centre, equestrian sports, aqua park, and an F&B strip.

Being developed as a best-in-class product, InterContinental Al Khobar Dana Bay will feature 133 luxuriously designed rooms, 90 InterContinental residences, and 36 villas, in addition to offering four dining options, an indoor and outdoor pool, a health club, and a spa. The hotel will also offer a business center and four meeting rooms, catering to the needs of both business and leisure guests

Hotel website
Growth market Economy: On November 1, Zleep Hotel opens its 15 hotel in Denmark. The hotel company is thus further expanding its market position in the Scandinavian economy segment. Located in Havneen, an urban district of Vejle, the hotel is nestled in an exclusive urban and residential area. Overlooking the Fjordenhus, a building designed by Olafur Eliasson, the hotel is located on Vejle's harbor.

Directly adjacent to the hotel is Kirk Stay, also newly opened by investment firm Kirk Kapital, which offers apartments for longer periods. The hotel is managed by Zleep Hotels. Peter Haaber, CEO of Zleep Hotels, said, "I would like to thank our business partners for their great work in building our new hotel. The entire development process has been extremely positive, and I am looking forward to the finished product that we present to the citizens of Vejle today." Property Director of Kirk Kapital, Flemming Hoff, adds, "The new Zleep Hotel is an asset to Havneen and a perfect fit for Kirk Stay. I look forward to our continued cooperation and wish everyone a wonderful opening."

Zleep Hotel Vejle offer 109 rooms including a new category called "Sky View" offering a wonderful view over the city and harbor. In addition, a fitness area and rooftop terrace are offered at Zleep Hotel Vejle. With the reception, bar and breakfast area on the 11th floor overlooking Vejle Fjord, the hotel's excellent location has been used to its full advantage in terms of the Guest Experience. Both hotel and apartment guests as well as external visitors can use the 11th floor and enjoy the services there. Zleep Hotels is the economy brand of Deutsche Hospitality. The brand's portfolio currently includes 16 hotels in Denmark and Sweden. In addition to Prague, Zleep Hotels are under construction in Hamburg, Frankfurt, Madrid and Zurich. Further hotel openings are in the planning stage. The brand is characterized by a combination of quality, service, Scandinavian design and attractive pricing .

Hotel website
CWT, the Business-to-Business-for-Employees (B2B4E) travel management platform, today announces the appointment of Victoria Berwick to the newly created Vice President role of Global Marketing Director, with effect from 1 November 2022. The UK-based position carries a remit to spearhead all brand-, customer-, digital-, event- and product-marketing initiatives, and further develop innovative channels to market.

Prior to her appointment, Victoria was Global Marketing Director with Reed & Mackay Travel Ltd., where she was globally responsible for marketing strategy, brand management, and digital marketing amongst other disciplines. She previously held senior marketing roles with professional services firms EY, Grant Thornton, PWC, and SNR Denton, other communications responsibilities at Bank of New York and CIBC Mellon, in addition to interim global marketing positions with WTT Group and YTKO Group. She is a Communications and Advertising Accredited Professional with the Institute of Communications and Advertising.
Fairmont Century Plaza, Los Angeles' luxury landmark hotel, today announced the appointment of Ron Pietruszka as executive chef. With decades of culinary experience spanning the globe, and numerous industry accolades, Pietruszka brings his expertise to the 400-room Los Angeles hotel.

With an extreme passion for the culinary arts, Pietruszka brings his extensive experience working with luxury resorts, business hotels, and Reserve destinations to Fairmont Century Plaza. Prior to joining Century Plaza, he held executive culinary roles at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel; The Ritz-Carlton Dubai; The Ritz-Carlton Osaka; and The Regent Hotels & Resorts, among others. At The Ritz-Carlton Osaka, he oversaw the opening of La Bae, French restaurant and Xiang Tao, Chinese restaurant - both of which earned a highly acclaimed Michelin Star during his tenure.

Pietruszka has received international acclaim and was awarded First Place in the American Culinary Gold Cup, as well as honors at the Bocuse D'or while representing the United States in Lyon, France. He has also appeared on numerous cooking shows including Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. He loves exploring new countries and has even cooked for royalty such as the Queen of Thailand and the Prime Ministers of Malaysia, Germany, and Japan.
Pavlos Papadimitriou is a Director with the Athens Office of HVS specializing in hotel valuation and financial consultancy, and a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He joined HVS Athens in late 2007 after completing the MBA programme of Les Roches School of Hotel Management in Switzerland and a BSc in Marketing and Communication from the Athens University of Economics and Business. Since then, he has conducted numerous valuations, feasibility studies, and market research analyses in the Balkans, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Turkey. Contact him at [email protected]
THE Networking Event for Digital Leaders from Europe's Top Airlines, Hotels & OTAs

A Unique Opportunity to Benchmark with Your Peers.

Customer's behaviour has shifted dramatically so it is critical to adopt to and predict their needs.

Only at Digital Travel - with its inspirational keynotes, small-group interactive learning, fun networking events and hundreds of peers to connect with - will you discover how Europe's top travel companies are:

Building digital-first strategies to respond to customer preferences in real-time

Reducing reliance on third parties to drive direct sales and build customer loyalty

Leveraging innovative tools to reduce friction across the booking process and improve CX

The Digital Travel Difference

1. Connecting you to more digital and marketing leaders from more top travel companies than anyone else

2. More engaging and immersive experiences than anywhere else

Where you really find out what the leading travel companies are doing to ready their digital initiatives for today and tomorrow.

Take part in small working discussion groups so you can learn from all the great minds in the audience as well as the speakers.

3. Focused on your travel industry specific digital and marketing needs better than anyone else

An agenda based on 50+ research interviews with digital and marketing leaders from top travel companies to ensure every challenge and opportunity you face is addressed.

This event is organized by WBR Research
Los Angeles, CA  The Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA) celebrated the 13th annual hospitality awards on October 25th during the organizations Boutique Hotel Owners Conference, which was held in the Los Angeles suburbs at the stunning Westlake Village Inn. The Awards recognize global leaders, innovators, and icons in every corner of the boutique, lifestyle, and luxury world.

Attendees were exclusively invited to partake in the Awards Celebration on the 1st night of the official opening of the conference, which included a 2-hour cocktail party at The Cave on the hotel grounds, followed by an exquisite full-course dinner. The festivities kicked off by announcing the first set of winners and runners-up for half of the awards. Frances Kiradjian, Founder & CEO of BLLA, announced the winners and runners-up, and the recipients were called to the stage to accept their official trophy or certificate from Ariela Kiradjian, COO of BLLA.

Frances stated, This years awards celebration was particularly exciting as it was the first time we were all together since 2019 to honor the winners. You could completely understand the emotions as the room was abuzz with people connecting with each other on a very personal, heartfelt level.

We are so proud of all the winners of this year's program, and we are grateful for all of the warm acceptance speeches, stated Ariela Kiradjian, Partner & COO, who oversaw this years Awards program. The love for our association was felt throughout the evening, and for that, we are humbled and grateful.

We at BLLA are honored to present the winners with this recognition! They can all be proud of their accomplishments while celebrating with fellow professionals.

FIRST PLACE WINNERS of the Awards included:

RUNNERS-UP:

Boutique Hotel GM of the Year 2022 - Justin Grimes, Regional Managing Director, EOS Hospitality

Boutique Hotel Owner of the Year 2022 - Rami Zeidan, Founder & CEO, Life House

Boutique Hotel of the Year 2022: North America - The Madrona in Healdsburg, CA

Thank you to this years Judges:

Anita Chan, CEO, Compass Edge

Cara Federici, CEO, The Madison Melle Agency & tech theory group

Jessica Kramer, CEO, Lodgistics

Nile Tuzun, Founder & Chief Creative Storyteller, Studio Nilebrand

Peter Gamez, CEO, Visit Oakland

Stacy Small, Founder & CEO, Elite Travel Club

Thank you to this years Sponsors:

Headline Sponsors included Greenberg Traurig, Lutron Electronics, Nestle Premium Waters, Selfbook, Lockton, Virdee, Mews, Englander, StayBoutique, and Boutique Money Group. Boutique Sponsors included Solonis, Orana Software, Chicago Marketing Consultancy, and Dragonfly Strategists. Lifestyle Sponsors included Salesforce, Hireology, Lightspeed, Cloud5 Communications, Marsh McLennan Agency, Studio Nilebrand, Vaask, World Cinema, ThinkReservations, Kickfin, and TakeUp.

The BLLA Awards were created as a platform to celebrate daring and brilliant efforts in the global boutique hospitality industry. All awards come with global recognition through BLLAs reach into the boutique lifestyle community.

BLLA Events is the in-person gathering community of BLLA. It is a safe haven for independent boutique hoteliers, their teams, and the companies that support them. It is for trailblazers who dare to think differently, who dare to evoke the spirit of originality, and who dare to break the status quo. Check out the purpose behind BLLA Events and the video directly.

View images from the Awards Celebration here.

About BLLA Events - The event extension of BLLA, gathering boutique believers around the world to come together as a united front and change everything that the hospitality industry thought it was. We are the voice and megaphone. With curated events that are both in-person and virtual, BLLA Events creates moments that advocate and support the new generation of hospitality, which is the Boutique Lifestyle. BLLAEvents.com.

About the Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA)

The official organization for the world's boutique lifestyle leaders promoting connection, education, and advocacy. As a pioneer in forecasting the boutique movement, the BLLA's network has grown beyond its hotel foundation to welcome more passionate entrepreneurs, businesses, and purveyors that amplify the boutique lifestyle. The corporate manifesto. BLLA is a catalyst for trends and the future of the boutique lifestyle. BLLA.org

Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA)

BLLA

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Charleston, SC  Charlestowne Hotels, a leading hospitality management company, today announces the addition of three new properties in Tennessee, California, and Colorado.

The Memphian (TN), The Darling (CA) and Inn at Aspen (CO) join Charlestownes collection of more than 50 hotels across the country. Charlestowne was selected as the management company of record for these three properties due to the companys four decades of experience with lifestyle independent, adaptive reuse, condo-hotel, and soft branded assets. In addition to the full management of the three hotels, Charlestowne will also oversee the food and beverage programs for The Memphian and The Darling, adding three restaurants to its rapidly growing portfolio.

We never tire of the excitement that comes with meeting new owners and supporting them as they evolve the visions for their properties, says Kyle Hughey, chief executive officer of Charlestowne Hotels. Each of these hotels provides something unique and necessary to their respective communities. For The Memphian, it's the locally curated art and interior design that provides a truly unique Memphis experience. Then out west, The Darlings historic ties and architecture transports guests back to Californias Art Deco period, while The Inn at Aspen offers unparalleled ski-in, ski-out access. Were looking forward to elevating those experiences through new operational and revenue programs, technology partnerships, and strategic guest marketing.

The Memphian is a lifestyle-independent Tribute Portfolio hotel located in Memphis vibrant Overton Square. The property features 106 rooms and suites, two eclectic dining outlets, and two event spaces for meetings and group gatherings.

Charlestowne will further amplify The Memphians bohemian style and connection to Memphis through creative guest programming, localized amenities, and an inspired food and beverage program at Complicated Pilgrim (a full-service restaurant serving regional Southern fare) and Tiger and Peacock (a warm and inviting rooftop cocktail bar and lounge known for its craft cocktails, small plates, and commanding views of Overton Square).

This adaptive reuse boutique hotel brings back to life the 1935 annex of the former Tulare County Courthouse, which was abandoned in the latter part of the 20th century. It has now been fully reimagined and redesigned for the modern traveler, complete with 1930s-inspired Art Deco decor. Located near Sequoia National Park, and within walking distance of the Visalia Convention Center, The Darling offers 32 guest rooms and suites for leisure and business travelers, as well as four distinct spaces for meetings and special occasions. The Elderwood rooftop restaurant and lounge offers seasonal cocktails, hearty entrees highlighting ingredients local to central California, and panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The Darling is Charlestownes newest managed property in California, increasing the companys growing footprint to 26 states.

For the first time, Charlestowne brings its management expertise to Aspen, one of the nations most renowned ski destinations. The only hotel at Buttermilk Mountain, the home of ESPNs iconic X Games and an ideal mountain for skiers of all levels, the Inn at Aspen is a quintessential gateway to the Rockies, providing a haven for both relaxation and adventure. This condo-hotel retreat offers 122 beautifully appointed, rustic rooms, and an outdoor hot tub and pool for easing sore muscles after a day spent on the slopes. Additional amenities of the ski-in, ski-out property include fire pits, a fitness center with Peloton bikes, complimentary shuttles from Aspen Airport, and a 5,000 square foot events space for weddings and group retreats and an on-site restaurant, Home Team BBQ.

The Inn at Aspen joins three other Charlestowne-managed properties in Colorado, including Hotel Maverick, Origin Red Rocks and Origin Westminster.

For more information about Charlestowne Hotels full suite of hospitality management services and its current portfolio of properties, visit CharlestowneHotels.com.

About Charlestowne Hotels

Independent hotel management has been a cornerstone of Charlestowne Hotels' business for more than 40 years. Ranked one of the industry's top management companies (Lodging, HOTELS), Charlestowne specializes in lifestyle, adaptive reuse, collegiate, branded, soft-branded and condo properties spanning a range of markets including urban city centers, secondary cities, and resort destinations. The company, which currently manages a portfolio of 50+ hotels, also includes a growing food and beverage division with more than four dozen food and beverage outlets, ranging from coffee shops and delis to rooftop bars and full-service restaurants. Charlestowne operates some of the country's most award-winning properties, many of which regularly top the "best hotels" lists by Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, USA Today and TripAdvisor. To achieve this, Charlestowne treats each property like its own brand, working with owners and on-site teams to develop revenue optimization, operation systems, creative programming and strategic marketing synergies that elevate the property's unique story and enhance the guest experience. As a result, Charlestowne properties consistently achieve above-average RevPAR growth. For more information visit www.CharlestowneHotels.com .

Casey Galasso

Charlestowne Hotels
Luxury is here to stay. But that doesnt mean things are about to get boring. Glions Academic Dean and Head of Luxury Brand Strategy BBA specialization, Dr Barbara Czyzewska, says these five key trends will make life very interesting for luxury marketers

It is easy to see why so many of our students at Glion set their sights on careers in the global luxury business. Leaving aside the glitz and glamor, its also an industry thats exceptionally resilient.

Why is this? Why does there always seem to be space for luxury amid economic recessions, political turmoil, and even  as weve seen in the past couple of years  a pandemic?

The pragmatic reason is that the typical luxury customer tends to have sufficient disposable income to weather any storm. Many are also citizens of the world who are thus unencumbered by the struggles of any particular country or region. And high net worth/ultra-high net worth individuals spread their assets and income sources across multiple markets and sectors, keeping them safer in times of crisis.

But there is a more fundamental  and primordial  reason, too. Luxury speaks to the innate human desire for status, as well as to our hedonistic need to feel good.

This has been the case through the ages. At Glion, I challenge students to think back to when we might first recognize luxury as a social factor. They often stop at ancient Egypt; but in reality you could go back to prehistoric times, when the greatest warriors would have been adorned with precious clothing and jewelry, while also enjoying the biggest caves!

This may sound flippant, but these human desires sit at the core of the luxury brand and the marketing which embellishes it. Remember, with a few exceptions (such as watchmaking) luxury brands do not base their marketing on functionality. As luxury consumers we are buying into a dream  a personal dream that this product or service can make come true.

Thats why so much luxury marketing relates to our personal values and, in particular, to meeting our hedonistic needs. If Im carrying a luxury handbag its a constant reminder to myself that I have worked hard and achieved something in life. That makes me feel good, with the added bonus that my friends and colleagues can see that I am successful.

At Glion, I challenge students to think back to when we might first recognize luxury as a social factor. They often stop at ancient Egypt; but in reality you could go back to prehistoric times, when the greatest warriors would have been adorned with precious clothing and jewelry, while also enjoying the biggest caves! Dr Barbara Czyzewska

Evidence for the luxury dream can be found within the advertising environment. For example, luxury car advertisements rarely show people actually driving the cars, in stark contrast to the mass-market brands. This is totally deliberate, with the idea being that it leaves more scope for you and I to picture ourselves behind the wheel, thus feeding the dream.

Another common tactic is to focus on the luxury lifestyle surrounding the product, rather than the actual product itself. The adverts speak to who we can aspire to be if we use this product, distinguishing them from the more everyman approach of the mass market brands.

To summarize, we are prepared to spend considerable amounts of money on luxury products not because of how useful they are, but because of the very special aura they create and the lifestyle they promise to deliver.

Millennials and Gen Z drive luxury growth at accelerating rates

While the human factors that drive luxury are perennial, the market itself is taking on a younger characteristic, with the ever-growing importance of the millennial and Gen Z consumers. According to consultants Bain & Co, these younger generations of affluent consumers are set to account for 70% of the luxury market by 2025, while contributing 130% of luxury market growth.

These are numbers which no luxury marketer can ignore, and they inform much of what Ill cover in the rest of this article.

What are the top luxury marketing trends?

If that sets the scene for luxury marketing, what do I see as the most significant trends right now?

For my first key trend, I cannot look past the so-called metaverse and the ability it offers to lead a dual luxury life  real and virtual. While not exclusively the preserve of the younger generations, this idea of status in the metaverse is definitely a youth-inspired trend and, judging from the students I speak with, it is something treated very seriously. Those hooked into this digital experience dont tend to see their metaverse luxury accessory as an add-on  it is just as important to them as the real-world item.

Luxury brands also feed this trend by giving products the characteristics of an NFT, making use of blockchain technology to create a unique digital identity for each product.

Linked to this, I also see augmented reality taking an increasingly important role in luxury digital marketing and the journey to purchase. We witnessed this becoming a major factor during Covid, when retail stores were closed and transactions moved online. The ability to try on products like watches, clothing and eyewear in an augmented reality environment undoubtedly helped to keep sales healthy, and this element of the customer journey will surely be further enhanced as digital technology improves.

The approachable luxury brand

The third significant trend driven by digital disruption is the way that luxury brands now interact with their consumers far more directly than has ever been the case before. Younger consumers, especially, have grown up in the social media era, where two-way interaction with their preferred brands is regarded as part of the customer experience.

Aside from transforming our interaction with brands, social media is also responsible for the seemingly unstoppable rise of influencer marketing. I must confess that Im constantly surprised by the level of trust my young students place in social media influencers. Even though they are well aware that influence is often bought and paid for, the accumulation of millions of followers on a platform like Instagram seems to trump this and confer an almost mystical power on the influencer.

Will the influencer bubble burst? Who knows. For now, though, it would be a brave luxury marketer indeed who ignores this channel.

At a more basic level, social media has turned us all into unpaid influencers to a lesser or greater degree. Any new purchase made  or exotic destination visited  that our friends share on social media becomes free marketing, with the added credibility that it has emanated from someone we know and trust.

Profitable partnerships

Trend number four involves innovative brand partnerships which serve to expand the audience of each brand within new territories. Perhaps the perfect example was the 2017 collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Supreme  unlikely bedfellows on the surface, but who created a major buzz (not to mention some very in-demand products) when they came together.

Since then, partnerships have proliferated. And they work! Witness the 2020 collaboration between Nike and Dior to create the Air Jordan 1 High OG Dior. In total, 3,000 pairs of the sneakers were made in Italy, with prices set at $2,000 for the low-top version and $2,200 for the high-top version. When Dior created a microsite for potential customers, some five million people registered in the first days of launch.

Luxury embraces sustainability

My fifth and final trend is both an opportunity and a challenge; and it is around sustainability. It may be less directly connected with purchase choice, but it is nonetheless extremely important, and likely to become even more so in the years ahead.

In many ways luxury  with its limited runs of hand made products, using authentic materials  is a natural beneficiary of this trend. We also see luxury brands increasingly adopting non-natural materials in place of leather and fur. Kering, for example, has publicly renounced the use of real fur in any future products, while Gucci has introduced vegan leather sneakers made from 77% plant-based materials such as wood pulp and viscose.

It is also true that for many people being sustainable means consuming less. While this does not in itself encourage sales, luxury brands can argue that their premium quality products are worth the investment as they will last forever. Patek Philippe is one of best examples of how luxury brands highlight this value of longevity.

The topic of sustainability carries significant risks too. Not least from todays climate of hyper-sensitivity around mistakes and miscommunications, which can quickly blow up into a damaging furor.

For me, luxury brands are especially threatened by this phenomenon given the close, highly personal relationships their customers tend to have with them. Social media  with its ability to make issues go viral in an instant  is a compounding factor in this particular equation.

I dont wish to appear overly negative when it comes to corporate social responsibility. Its a significant business opportunity, too, because if a brand is doing everything right, acting responsibly and with honesty and transparency, then loyal consumers will have no issues paying a premium to be part of that story.

What links these five trends is an overwhelming sensation that we have barely started on each of their journeys. How things look today will almost certainly bear little resemblance to how they will eventually look. I think thats especially true in areas such as the metaverse. And thats why I can be supremely confident that  even though luxury will always be with us  for a marketer it remains a dynamic, fascinating and supremely challenging environment.

About Glion Institute of Higher Education

Founded in 1962, Glion Institute of Higher Education is a Swiss institution offering bachelor's and master's degrees in hospitality, luxury and finance to an international student body across three campuses in Switzerland and London, UK.

Glion is ranked among the world's top five higher education institutions for hospitality and leisure management, and in the top three number for employer reputation since its entry in the ranking in 2018. (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2022).

Part of Sommet Education, worldwide leader in hospitality education, Glion is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

For more information, visit glion.edu

Anouck Weiss

Chief Communication Officer

Glion

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As well as being a member of our expert guest faculty, Mariana Palmeiro is a consultant to the global hospitality industry, specializing in the spa, wellness and health segments. Thus shes perfectly placed to highlight six key trends she believes could most influence the business of hospitality in the coming year

Having worked in the hospitality business for a long time, I feel we often underappreciate quite how resilient  and adaptive  this industry is.

In just the past couple of decades weve seen the hotel distribution model upended by the OTAs; a major competitor arrive in the shape of Airbnb (and its emulators); and then a global pandemic which forced hotels in many key markets to cease trading almost overnight, and for what turned out to be an extended period.

And yet the hospitality industry keeps on rolling; adapting to new realities and consistently treating trends as opportunities. Amid a backdrop of strong hotel development pipelines in many regions, Ive selected a few of the key hospitality trends to be aware of, while also looking at how hoteliers are responding.

1. Welcoming the working nomad

With major employers like PwC embracing hybrid working models, and others such as Airbnb committing to work-from-anywhere policies, theres a huge opportunity for the travel industry  and especially hospitality operators  to embrace this new generation of digital nomad remote workers who combine employment with international travel.

While accepting that there are many jobs that cannot be done remotely, the knowledge and services economy is less restrictive in this area, especially given the exponential rise in use of videoconferencing and collaborative working applications which was spurred by the constraints of lockdown.

For hotel operators, responding to this opportunity is about much more than just installing good Wi-Fi. Theres been a sea change in attitudes, too: these new generation remote workers are interested in community, in being among like-minded peers, and in enjoying a better-balanced life. At the same time, when they are working to a deadline they dont necessarily want to be surrounded by vacationers!

It means the age of the bland and forbidding hotel business center is over. I expect to see funkier coworking spaces established; also suites being reconfigured to include a desk/office setup as well as converting to a functional meeting space when required.

At the same time, I see a huge opportunity for travel destinations to create bespoke marketing programs to attract working nomads  ideally with tourism boards and hospitality companies working hand-in-hand to amplify the message as well as ensuring that promises are credible and can be delivered on the ground.

It means the age of the bland and forbidding hotel business center is over. I expect to see funkier coworking spaces established; also suites being reconfigured to include a desk/office setup as well as converting to a functional meeting space when required. Mariana Palmeiro

2. The rise and rise of wellness tourism

As a hospitality consultant, I get more calls from hotels looking to reposition into health and wellness tourism than any other trend. And no wonder  this market is booming.

However, hotels need to understand that such a repositioning may not be as simple as it seems; nor is it without risk. Much depends on location: given that most hotels cannot afford to have full-time medical and wellness experts on the payroll, are such professionals available close by? Also, several brands are already operating successfully in this sphere, so its important to check the local competitive set before making a significant financial commitment.

Often, it may be better to look at smaller changes which can appeal to health-conscious guests without breaking the bank  something I call light wellness. Putting healthier choices in the minibar is a tiny gesture that can create a warm glow around your brand. In addition, its increasingly common now to offer pillow and mattress menus; but why not go one step further by introducing sleep and wake-up rituals aligned to circadian rhythm cycles?

My message is that you dont necessarily have to open a bespoke vegan restaurant, or spend millions renovating your spa, to be thought of as a wellness-conscious hotel. That said, what you do spend should pay back, given that data shows health-conscious guests tend to be bigger spenders than average. This can be explained by the fact that they will happily pay for things like yoga sessions and personal trainers, as well as choosing the in-house F&B options because they trust them to produce healthier cooking instead of untried local competitors.

3. Embracing technology in spa & wellness

We are now much more engaged with our personal health and wellness; a trend which has been accelerated by a combination of the Covid pandemic and the explosion in wearable fitness technology.

For the spa & wellness industry, this offers the promise of both creating an opportunity and nullifying a threat simultaneously.

How? Because new technologies like hyperbaric chambers (see above), cryotherapy and the like are more demonstrably effective than many traditional spa rituals and treatments. At the same time, working with these scientifically proven treatments can also create fewer but more interesting and better paid spa & wellness roles; something thats essential for a segment which is struggling to attract workers amid the wider war for talent in hospitality.

4. Deploying smart technology in hotels

The hotel industry has an unbalanced relationship with technology. We tend not to be pioneers in technological development, choosing instead to take on applications developed for the commercial real estate sector, airports and the home, then look at how they can be integrated into so-called smart hotels.

But the hotel reception is not the same as an airport check-in  the need for a warmer welcome and a degree of personalization is much greater in a hotel setting. If Im your guest, why not give me the option to check-in from a smartphone app while Im still in my taxi heading from the airport? In that way I know theres a room waiting for me, and when I arrive I can head straight up to it without delay.

Crucially, though, if I wish for some human interaction there are employees who have been liberated from behind the reception desk and are in the lobby to greet me, answer my questions and give me tips on the best places to go for food, drinks or sightseeing. As a guest, it immediately makes me feel that the hotel is well integrated into its surrounding community.

This kind of customer-facing role requires excellent soft skills (as well as an encyclopedic knowledge of the destination) and is thus more rewarding both professionally and potentially in terms of remuneration. If youre a people person its a role you can enjoy and make your own  and these are exactly the sort of jobs that we need to offer as an industry if we want to attract and retain the talent we need.

5. Marketing gets transformational

We often talk about hospitality being part of the wider Experience Economy, which was a term coined by Pine & Gilmore just before the turn of the millennium.

More recently, the same authors have developed the notion of the Transformation Economy, where experiences are elevated from mere enjoyment to actual personal transformation.

What does this mean for hospitality marketing? I think we will see a shift in messaging to amplify this notion of transformation through travel experiences, particularly around the notion of health and wellness. Messaging will also become even more personalized  down to a granular level  especially in the luxury segment. The advantage with digitalization is that it makes such moves easier to pull off.

The message will thus evolve to something like I see that you are traveling because you are trying to change something in your life. We can be part of that journey by being the place where you sleep, where you look after your health and fitness, or by becoming your place of work while you explore how your career can move forwards.

One of the brands already doing this successfully is Equinox, which began in fitness but has now opened what it calls the fittest hotel on Earth (pictured above) in New Yorks ultra-trendy Hudson Yards. The promise is that a stay there will help you on your personal journey of being healthier, more focused and higher performing. It turns the transformation economy from theory to real-world practice!

6. Can the hotel brand explosion last?

While the other trends Ive highlighted can primarily be seen as opportunities rather than risks, this sixth and final one is perhaps a little more open to debate. It concerns the fragmentation of the hotel sector into a plethora of sub-segments, each with their own stable of competing brands.

While choice is generally a good thing for a consumer, has this process gone too far in the hotel business? Are customers becoming more confused than inspired by being faced with so many brands? Will they feel that once independent brands which are now part of a multinational group can still deliver authentic experiences?

I personally think that such concerns are valid, and that in time we may see some rationalization as the larger operators focus on one brand in lifestyle, one in boutique, etc.

Conclusion

These are just six hospitality trends Ive chosen to highlight today. There are plenty more items on the hospitality leaders strategic agenda; some of which  such as social responsibility  may ultimately prove more impactful than those mentioned above. And the red thread which runs through most if not all of them is the hotel industrys ongoing battle to attract and retain staff.

Much of what Ive talked about is centered on delivering transformational, ultra-personalized experiences to guests. But how can a hotel do this successfully if its frontline workforce is changing every six months?

As an industry, we need to address the way we engage and excite young people to work in hospitality; deploy technology to give us more freedom to invest in people and give them roles that captivate both them and their guests; and reclaim that notion of personalized, human-to-human interactions which Airbnb used to such great effect when it first emerged as a challenger to the traditional hotel business.

If the hotel industry can pull this off, it will deliver exceptional growth, because this is the way that guest demand is going.

About Glion Institute of Higher Education

Founded in 1962, Glion Institute of Higher Education is a Swiss institution offering bachelor's and master's degrees in hospitality, luxury and finance to an international student body across three campuses in Switzerland and London, UK.

Glion is ranked among the world's top five higher education institutions for hospitality and leisure management, and in the top three number for employer reputation since its entry in the ranking in 2018. (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2022).

Part of Sommet Education, worldwide leader in hospitality education, Glion is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

For more information, visit glion.edu

Anouck Weiss

Chief Communication Officer

Glion

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These days, much of our lives are documented online. Baby pictures, birthdays, holidays and, of course, picture-perfect sunsets or mouth-watering plates of food from far-flung locations can be found on any number of social media channels.

Travel, by its very nature, has always been about social networking. Whether its having a spontaneous conversation at an espresso cafe in Italy or deciding to sky dive in Abu Dhabi with a group of like-minded thrill seekers, the experience of travel has taken on a new dimension. Its grown from sharing the experience of your vacation upon your return to sharing these experiences as they happen. Social media is what has made all this possible. And now, its about more than experiencing a new adventure, a different country or meeting a new group of people, its about sharing these experiences with the world at large.

Why social media marketing is important for your campaigns

Theres no denying the pull and influence social media has when it comes to travel marketing. If youre a hotelier looking to fill rooms, an adventure company promoting unique activities or a destination, getting your message out to the masses via social media is essential. This messaging should be on your branded social channels and include partnering with other social creators, influencers and brands to spread your message to a highly qualified audience of travelers.

Every travel marketing campaign should include a social media component. Whether youre looking for a full-blown custom campaign or a finely tuned and targeted approach, using Expedia Groups social media channels can help you grow your reach exponentially.

Travelers are social: 87% of millennial travelers consult social media as one of their first stops for travel inspiration. This is your opportunity to build awareness around your brand, destination or experiences. And its important to grab travelers attention early in their search journey  45% of social medias influence on booking occurs at the beginning of their exploration.

Word of mouth is also integral to capitalizing on the benefits social media offers. Travelers looking to book a trip trust their friends, and with 97% of millennials sharing travel photos on social media there is a valuable amount of user-generated content that you can use to your advantage.

How to use social media for travel inspiration

With our social media solutions, you can take advantage of the social following and highly targeted audience of travelers across our brands like Expedia, Vrbo and Hotels.com to socialize your brand in ways that intrigues travelers. What we offer:

Social integration packages let you transform standard ads into a native social experience across travelers social feeds.

Instagram stories motivate travelers who are seeking inspiration and increase engagement with your brand.

Co-branded videos capture traveler interest with compelling video content. Videos generate more engagement than static posts: 58% of consumers trust brands that have video than those that do not. Destination marketers have found that 75% of social media users take action after viewing video content.

Custom social promotion lets you unlock the full potential of social storytelling across multiple platforms to create the most engaging social experience.

When you use our social media solutions, you also gain the benefit of tapping into loyal communities across all our brands. Expedia Group has more than 200 travel brand sites and Vrbo is our vacation rental brand  all of this provides an established entryway into engaging the right traveler.

Since users on social media are so active and provide you with a vast amount of user-generated content, its equally important that you manage your social media accounts in a manner that uses best practices while also consistently engaging travelers. To help you build your social media brand, here are some tips to follow:

Be authentic. Theres no need to treat your social posts like ads  that will simply turn travelers off. Being genuine will help you connect with more travelers and inspire them to book.

Use video. Consumers, on average, spend about 323 minutes per week watching video content, and that is on mobile phones alone, Mackenzie Bromley, director of social media at MMGY Global, says. Its important that videos are short and succinct for social media  save longer-form videos for your website, presentation or events.

Encourage travelers to use hashtags for your airline, hotel or destination  its an easy way for them to show off where theyve been and what theyre doing, and it helps expand your social reach.

Understand the value of user-generated content  our research shows that 32-39% of millennials wont book a hotel without seeing some source of user-generated content and 95% of travelers read reviews before they book.

Use your social channels as a customer-service tool. Comment on posts that applaud your brand, but also remember that its important to respond quickly to any issues travelers report. While you cant prevent an ice storm from delaying a flight or a hurricane from hitting the coast, how you respond to travelers when they post about a less-than-ideal travel situation will show that you pay attention to travelers needs, no matter what the situation.

Know the differences between social channels and create content specific to each. Facebook isnt like Instagram and TikTok isnt like Twitter. Each platform is different, and your posts should reflect how users interact with the channel.

Promote things that are unique to your brand, like loyalty programs. Encourage people to post to your channel or tag your brand and let them earn extra loyalty points.

Share broad info about your destination, hotel or experience. For example, if youre a hotelier, focus on more than rooms or hotel amenities and cast a wider net to include information about the area. Bonus: If you tag businesses in your area, they may return the favor and tag you in their social posts.

Be funny. Humor can go a long way in inspiring travelers.

Social media is here to stay

Social media isnt going away  and neither is travel. Travelers still have bucket lists, and they search and gather information about different destinations and experiences from the videos, photos and reviews they see across various social channels.

Our social media solutions can help you stand out with our highly engaged travel community. As travel demand continues to increase, and social media plays more of a role in inspiring, engaging and converting travelers to book travel, make sure that your brand is taking full advantage of what social media marketing can offer.

Contact us to learn more about our social media solutions and how we can help you reach your travel marketing goals.

About Expedia Group Media Solutions

Expedia Group Media Solutions is a global travel advertising platform that connects marketers with hundreds of millions of travelers across the Expedia Group brands. With our exclusive access to more than 70 petabytes of Expedia Group traveler search and booking data, we offer advertisers actionable insights, sophisticated targeting, and full-funnel results reporting. Our suite of solutions includes display, sponsored listings, audience extension, co-op campaigns, and custom creative campaigns  all designed to deliver on the objectives of our advertising partners and add value for travel shoppers on our branded sites globally. With a consultative approach and more than 20 years of travel and media experience, we help our advertising partners inspire, engage, and convert travelers for meaningful results. For more information, visit www.advertising.expedia.com.

 2022 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners. CST: 2029030-50

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Provider Profile: Christian Galvez, MD, BMC Thoracic Surgeon

For Dr. Christian Galvez, a Thoracic Surgeon at Berkshire Medical Center, the fight against lung cancer is ever present, and the latest screening methods and technology has given physicians like him an upper hand in detecting this deadly cancer early.

"In my own experience, a combination of technology and a major increase in the number of people who undergo lung cancer screening has produced a dramatic, encouraging flip," he said. "Ten years ago, two-thirds of the lung cancers we were finding through our screening program were in late stage, often too late for effective treatment. Today, two-thirds of the lung cancers we are finding through our screening program are in early-stage, when patients can have a nearly 90 percent survival rate five years following diagnosis."

The initial lung cancer screening that's universally recommended is a low-dose CT (computed tomography) scan. The CT scanner takes multiple, low-radiation X-ray pictures of the lungs. The scan can identify small nodules, spots or other abnormalities that may or not be cancerous but should be looked at further. Dr. Galvez and his colleagues recently began using another piece of state-of-the-art technology, which he calls the next level of diagnostic screening  robot-assisted bronchoscopy.

"It allows me to look at a patient's air passages with a tiny camera located at the end of a flexible tube inserted through a very small incision in the chest. The camera is connected to a video screen where we can actually view a 3-D image of the patient's lungs. The device is also able to collect small tissue samples or biopsies from even in the deepest areas of the lungs," he said. "Using the highly precise information gained through robotic bronchoscopy, we are able to detect early-stage lung cancer with greater accuracy than ever before possible, and that allows us to design and perform life-saving treatments."

Dr. Galvez joined BMC and Berkshire Surgical Services of BMC in 2010, and specializes in general, thoracic and vascular surgery. He received his medical degree from Francisco Marroquin University Medical School in Guatemala City, completed his residency in general surgery at Berkshire Medical Center and was fellowship trained in cardiothoracic surgery at Allegheny General Hospital. Dr. Galvez is board certified in general surgery.

For more information, call Berkshire Surgical Services of BMC, 413-445-6420.

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The funding will help finance electrical upgrades, HVAC, a new roof and an accessible new floor.

Adams Theater gets $800K Through State Program

ADAMS, Mass.  The state's Underutilized Properties Program has approved an $800,000 grant for Adams Theater, which will go towards several building improvements.



The funding will help finance electrical upgrades, HVAC improvements, a new roof and an accessible new floor said theater founder and executive director Yina Moore in a statement.



"The $800,000 bridges the critical gap that we need to close in order for the theater building to receive a Certificate of Occupancy as a four-season venue," she said.

The grant is through the Community One Stop for Growth program, which is part of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. It will fund upgrades that will accommodate a flexible sound and lighting system. HVAC upgrades will allow the theater to be used year-round, and roof upgrades will include solar panels.

Since taking office, we have been proud to make significant investments in helping our cities, towns and local partners achieve their economic development goals through a range of grant programs and legislation aimed at advancing the diverse needs of municipalities across the state, said Governor Charlie Baker in a press release announcing the funding. The projects awarded funding today build upon that work and will create jobs, build housing, revitalize spaces and empower communities in every region of the Commonwealth.

To provide direction and insight on future programming as upgrades continue, the theater has established an Artistic Advisory Board. Its members are are Carolyn Brooks; Reggie Carter; Stacy Cochran; George LeMaitre & Pat Fietta; Jodi Joseph; Susan Killam; Matti Kovler; Chris Kuo; Melissa Silverstein; Nana Simopoulous & Caryn Heilman; David Tochterman; and Joe Wheaton.

The theater is currently in the middle of a fundraiser, culminating in a benefit concert by the piano group Two Piano Journey on Nov. 11. The mother and son team, Michelle Chen Kuo and Christopher Kuo, is currently touring to raise money for philanthropic and charitable organizations.


Package Store Owners Supporting Question 3 on the November Ballot

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Berkshire Wine & Liquor and George's liquor store owner Jigar "Jay" Sinroza has been working to educate the community and other liquor store owners about the importance of passing Question 3 on the November ballot.

"Basically, this is going to be a compromise between the small stores and the big stores," he said last week.

"What Question 3 basically is is that it expands the number of beer and wine licenses from nine to 18 but it caps the total number of full liquor licenses that an individual can own from nine cutting down to seven."

Question 3 is one of four ballot questions voters will determine on election day, Nov. 8.

Placed on the ballot by petition, the proposed law would combine the total number of retail alcohol sale licenses statewide  beer and wine and all-alcohol  that an entity could have from nine to 12 beginning in 2023, and then an additional three in 2027 and 2031. At the same time, it would impose a maximum of seven all-alcohol licenses (exempting already held licenses).

This aims to leave more room for the smaller, mom-and-pop liquor stores, said Sinroza.

It is estimated that there are more than 700 privately owned liquor stores in the state. Sinroza said there are a lot of stores that could be affected by big-box stores selling alcohol. Larger corporations can often offer a greater variety and lower price because they can buy more in bulk.

The bill would also prohibit self-checkout of alcohol, make the fine for selling to a minor applicable to gross sales and not just the alcoholic beverages, and allow people to purchase alcohol with valid out-of-state identification cards.

Sinroza said these changes will allow for more employment, fairer penalties between large and small stores, and will help increase tourism by allowing people from out of town to purchase alcohol.

He said the Massachusetts Package Store Association spent money to put the question on the ballot after beating back Cumberland Farms and Total Wine corporations three times when they were pushing for unlimited liquor licenses.

Total Wine, a Maryland-based corporation with more than 200 stores and $5 billion in alcohol sales last year, has poured more than $2 million into advertising against Question 3, which is strongly supported by the Massachusetts Package Store Association.

The business owner said he has spoken to a number of other local liquor and package store owners about the ballot question and has been met with support.

"Every single one that I talked to, or who I know, support Question 3, we have been actually even telling our customers because not a lot of people knew that this was something that's on the ballot," he said.

"I would say at least 95 percent of the people agreed to it and they said, yes, theyre going to vote yes on Question 3 because it's going to affect all the small businesses out there."

Gov. Charlie Baker said last week that Question 3 is the only ballot question he's voting yes on.

Sinroza said there is a lot of support for the question and if the big box stores were to come back harder and stronger after the passage of the question, the local store owners would keep fighting.
Name: Damian Jaume

Company: Dynabook Europe GmbH

Job Title: President

Location: Europe

Damian Jaume recently celebrated his 20th anniversary at Dynabook, formerly Toshiba PC Company. He joined Toshiba as a Global Account Sales Manager in 2001, and since then has held various roles across the company from planning for retail and commercial business lines to operating financial planning and pricing management. He became President of Toshibas EMEA PC business back in 2014 and has overseen the transition to Dynabook since 2018.

What was the most valuable piece of career advice that you received? Its normal to not always feel completely comfortable in everything you do; it certainly doesnt mean you cannot do your job. Employees can feel inadequate when they find it difficult to complete a task that is within their job remit, but the truth is, its a constant learning curve for everyone. Even those in C-suite positions are faced with challenges they dont immediately know the answer to.

The key here is to push yourself when faced with these situations  being agile and proactive will deliver solutions. Challenging yourself on a constant basis is not only important for your own growth but can have a significant impact on overall business efficiency.

What was the worst piece of business advice that you received? You will never get anywhere in life by being nice. I disagree. Its true when people say strong leaders need to make difficult decisions, but they must also build a collaborative environment where people are encouraged and feel safe to challenge team members. Fostering a culture of fear and intimidation wont move your business forward, especially when not all the best ideas always come from the top.

At Dynabook, there is always room for fun in the workplace. Employees need it to destress, and a clear head helps to generate the best ideas. The importance of mental health is finally gaining the momentum it deserves, and in response to this, it is your duty as a leader to build a positive work environment for your employees.

What advice would you give to someone starting their career in IT/tech? The most important choice you will make when beginning a career in tech is that of the company you decide to start at. Some advice I would give is to select a growing brand where the opportunities are available to learn and evolve because of a high growth trajectory.

At Dynabook, we believe that each employee should step outside of their core competency and have a chance to grow in their career. We dont pigeonhole people into one role; instead, we encourage them to carve out a skill set that makes them invaluable. No single employee brings the same to the table. Taking such an approach will set you on a strong footing in your career, as essentially being invaluable is what makes you employable in the first place. At Dynabook, this allows for a dynamic workforce that matches our wider culture and business, but also keeps employee interest high. The more engaged our employees are in their own career, the better we are at doing what we do.

Did you always want to work in IT/tech? Surprisingly not, I initially wanted a career in music. At one point I was even in the biggest band in Taiwan! But I was also drawn to a career in IT procurement, and once I started, I soon discovered that I loved working in tech.

What was your first job in IT/tech? My first role in the industry was as an IT journalist. I set up my own company to write and publish technical manuals for a wide range of technology products. Then my first role in a company was Head of Quality and Service for a PC Monitor company.

What are some common misconceptions about working in IT/tech? That you dont need to be a people person  working in tech isnt just staring at a computer screen all day. Our business relies on connection: between our customers, channel partners, and internal employees. We rely on our staff to sell not only our products but the brand as well. People are at the heart of who we are and if you cant engage customers, partners, or clients your career is likely to plateau very quickly.

What tips would you give to someone aiming for a c-level position? All people stepping into c-level positions want to grow and drive financial success. Im no different - its essential to succeed in any leadership position. Yet, what I have found is when you focus on how you can make a significant cultural impact, you foster employees who are proud to work for your company and are passionate about what they do. To be promoted to a c-level suite position, its a given you are good at the technical side of your role, however, normally the leadership aspect is where individuals fall short. Use the team that is behind you, just because you are c-level it doesnt mean you are on your own.

What are your career ambitions, and have you reached them yet? My main ambition throughout my career has been to succeed at whatever I decided to turn my hand to next. A certain job title was never the end goal where if I didnt get there, Id be a failure. Having said this, reaching the leading position in EMEA at Dynabook, shows I have achieved what I set out to do at the most senior level.

Do you have a good work life balance in your current role? As the head of a growing business in a highly competitive market, the pressure can be constant. But I strongly believe in the importance of a work life balance, not just for myself, but for the well-being of my wider team as well. Thats why I always try and lead by example.

What, if anything, would you change about the route your career path has taken? I have been part of Dynabooks journey for over 20 years. For some it may seem dull and repetitive to remain at a single company, but I disagree, and I wouldnt change any of it. To find a business where you not only believe in the work you are doing but agree whole heartedly with its values and love its people is very rare - I have been lucky in that respect, which is probably why I have stayed with the same company for the majority of my career. No two years have been the same since I started my career, particularly when Dynabook separated form Toshiba Corporation and I was in a position to grow Dynabook as a brand in its own right. The path my career has taken has allowed me to grasp a true understanding of Dynabooks business operations from the bottom up, and the experience gained is hugely influential in how I currently lead the business every day in my role as President of Dynabook Europe.

Which would you recommend: A coding bootcamp or a computer science degree? I would always recommend a computer science degree over a coding bootcamp because it creates a more rounded and adaptable skill set, allowing individuals to pursue a varied career path. For me, education is not just about knowledge in one specific area but instead learning how to apply what you know in real life situations. But of course, if your passion in life is to write code then go for the bootcamp!

How important are specific certifications? Certifications are important to get your foot in the door, particularly when some companies wont see candidates that dont have certain qualifications. However, once you have cleared the hurdle of recruitment, they are not enough by themselves to deliver success, you then must apply all you know to the working environment.

What are the three skills or abilities you look for in prospective candidates? One, passion for the brand and a cultural fit. Two, a commitment to innovation and fresh thinking. Three, unrelenting dedication and belief in our tech and mission.

What would put you off a candidate? The cultural fit for us is invaluable, we have made a big effort to carve the Dynabook brand and define what it means. If candidates have an eagerness to learn and grow you can teach them that, what you cant change is how a candidate fits into your company culture. Candidates can try to pretend because they want a particular job, but this is just harmful to them in the long run  you spend 40 hours of your week working so it must fit perfectly.

What are the most common mistakes made by candidates in an interview? How can those mistakes be avoided? Most candidates Ive interviewed have had great technical skills and abilities, yet theyve not done the research into the company or the role in question. It is not effective to take a scattergun approach to job interviews, it must be somewhere you really want to work.

Be authentic and do your preparation. The interview is all about finding out whether you would fit in well with the company and the role, so relax! Rejection can be difficult, but sometimes, it can be for the best. I believe you always end up at the company you were meant to be working for.

Do you think it is better to have technical or business skills  or a mix of both? Both are important, you need to understand the technical side of your role, but you need the business skills to get clients excited about what you are doing.
South Africa: Practice real cultural norms of protecting women and children: Nkoana-Mashabane

Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, has called on citizens to practice the real cultural norms they know and love, which protect women and children.

Theres no culture that says you must kill women and kill children. We need to practice the real cultural norms we know, Nkoana-Mashabane said.

Nkoana-Mashabane made the remarks at the Second Presidential Summit on Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), currently underway at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.

The Minister argued that there is no need for South Africa to have many women and children dying as the country is not facing any war.

South Africa is not a war country, so, theres no need for children to feel unsafe in the streets and women feel unsafe in their bedrooms.

According to the Minister, the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP on GBV)) is the only way to deal with GBVF.

The NSP on GBVF (https://www.justice.gov.za/vg/gbv/NSP-GBVF-FINAL-DOC-04-05.pdf) provides a strategic roadmap and sets out specific plans for a multisectoral approach to end GBVF and build a society where women, children, and the LGBTQIA+ community are safe from violence directed at them because of patriarchal stereotyping.

The NSP is outlined in six pillars, which include accountability, coordination and leadership; prevention and rebuilding social cohesion; justice, safety and protection; response, care, support and healing; economic power; and research and information management.

Filling of forensic analysis vacancies

Highlighting progress made since the first Presidential Summit on GBVF held in November 2018, Police Minister Bheki Cele said the filling of 34 vacancies for forensic analysis is underway and at an advanced stage to capacitate the Eastern Cape with 28 analysts, and six for the Western Cape.

He also noted that the department has able to address backlog in DNA tests from 241 000 last year to 71 000 this year.

In terms of training and development, 22 forensic analysts from the Eastern Cape Biology Laboratory are undergoing training in DNA Analysis. The Western Cape and Gauteng FS laboratories have been equipped with additional thermos shakers, centrifuges, crime index lanes, and genetic analysers, Cele said.

Correctional Services Minister, Ronald Lamola, said the number of Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs), have been increased from 55 to 61, with the National Prosecuting Authoritys Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit redesigning the centres to allow the survivors of rape to report the cases direct to the Thuthuzela Care Centres.

The Thuthuzela Care Centres are one-stop facilities that have been introduced as a critical part of South Africas anti-rape strategy, aiming to reduce secondary victimisation and to build a case ready for successful prosecution.

Women also have rights to life

National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, emphasised that the Bill of Rights talks to the right to life, and as women we have the right to life.

Mapisa-Nqakula also warned that if women are not being attended to at the police stations when coming to report the cases of abuse, the number of women who are serving life at the correctional facilities, will keep on increasing.

Scores of women are serving life because they have been subjected to gender-based violence and at some point they had to retaliate and ended up killing their abusive partners, Mapisa-Nqakula said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-11-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
TAIYUAN, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Nestled deep in the Taihang Mountains, the Huangyadong area once lagged behind in development due to isolation, but it has since embarked on a new development path, with locals engaged in red tourism. Located in Licheng County of Changzhi City, north China's Shanxi Province, the Huangyadong area is famous for a former arsenal site founded by the Eighth Route Army, which was led by the Communist Party of China during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. "Tourists' appetites for history and revolutionary stories have increased significantly," said local farmer Li Yungang, who jumped on the red tourism bandwagon in 2006 and runs an agritainment business in Huangyadong. Li has seen a growing number of visitors pouring into Huangyadong to learn about red culture. "I can offer over 50 rooms and gain a monthly income of more than 300,000 yuan (about 41,801 U.S. dollars) in peak season," said Li. Over the years, the Huangyadong site has been developed into a national 4A scenic spot, the second-highest rating in a five-level assessment system for the country's scenic areas. The vitality of the Huangyadong area is the epitome of efforts made by Licheng's government in recent years to fully utilize its 521 revolutionary sites to develop red tourism around the county, with investments totaling nearly 10 billion yuan. With a slew of major red tourism projects developed by the local government, Licheng County saw 636,000 tourist trips in the first nine months of this year, according to the county's culture and tourism bureau. From January to September 2022, the tourism sector produced extra income for over 1,300 households in Licheng, the bureau said. In addition to tourism, other emerging industries have also promoted the development of old revolutionary bases in Shanxi Province. After a downpour, visitors surprisingly found that there was no ponding on some streets of Wuxiang County, known as "the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army" in Changzhi City. These streets are paved with a new type of permeable brick, which is produced by a local environmental protection technology company. "High-performance permeable bricks are among urgent demands for reducing waterlogging in urban areas," said Hao Jinting, chairman of the company, adding that their bricks with high permeability and freezing resistance had been applied in some 30 cities nationwide. Heavy reliance on the coal industry once hampered the development of Wuxiang. In recent years, the county has ramped up efforts to boost emerging industries and help a batch of traditional enterprises accelerate transformation and upgrading. Nearly half of the 29 industrial firms with annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan in Wuxiang are not related to coal mining. Among them, six are involved in emerging industries, including photovoltaic and wind power generation, as well as equipment manufacturing, said Wu Wei, deputy director of the local bureau of industry and information technology. Li Xiaobing, head of a calcium company in Wuxiang, has for over a decade witnessed the company transforming its business from quarrying to producing nano calcium carbonate -- a new material. "It can be used as raw material for making paper, plastic, and rubber," Li Xiaobing said, adding that the first phase of a nano calcium carbonate production line with an annual output of 50,000 tonnes will be put into operation at the end of this year. The flourishing emerging industries in Licheng and Wuxiang counties are fruits of a raft of support policies launched by China in recent years to boost the development of its old revolutionary bases. In early 2021, China's State Council issued a document setting development goals for old revolutionary base areas in the new era. By 2025, old revolutionary base areas are to reach higher levels of rural vitalization and a new type of urbanization.
India is launching the digital rupee on November 1 on a pilot basis and targeting just the wholesale segment (e-W). The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has identified nine banks for the e-W pilot launch  State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, YES Bank, IDFC First Bank, and HSBC Bank.

In its notification on October 31, the RBI also said that the pilot launch of the digital rupee for the retail segment (e-R) is planned within a month but it will be available only in closed user groups consisting of merchants and customers.

Earlier, in its concept note on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), also called the digital rupee, the RBI had indicated it would soon commence a limited pilot launch for specific use cases.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will commence the limited pilot launch of the digital rupee in the wholesale segment on November 1, 2022.

In a notification on October 31, the RBI said of the digital rupees pilot launch: The use case for this pilot is settlement of secondary market transactions in government securities. Use of e-W is expected to make the inter-bank market more efficient. Settlement in central bank money would reduce transaction costs by pre-empting the need for settlement guarantee infrastructure or for collateral to mitigate settlement risk. The first pilot in Digital Rupee  Retail segment (e-R) is planned for launch within a month in select locations in closed user groups comprising customers and merchants.

Nine banks have been approved by the RBI for the e-W pilot launch  State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, YES Bank, IDFC First Bank, and HSBC Bank.

In its concept note on the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) / digital rupee, released on October 7, 2022, the RBI had said that there would be two broad categories for the use of the digital rupee  retail and wholesale  enabling businesses and consumers to use the digital currency seamlessly for various transactions.

In introducing the digital rupee/CBDC, the RBI aims to bolster Indias digital economy, enhance financial inclusion, and make the monetary and payment systems more efficient. The central bank has clarified that the CBDC is aimed to complement, rather than replace, current forms of money and is envisaged to provide an additional payment avenue to users, not to replace the existing payment systems.

Below is a brief summary of how regulators understanding of the digital rupee and its use case scenarios has developed in India.

What is the digital rupee?

As per a 2018 report by CPMI-MC, CBDC or digital rupee is defined as a new variant of central bank money different from physical cash or central bank reserve/settlement accounts. That is, a central bank liability, denominated in an existing unit of account, which serves both as a medium of exchange and a store of value.

The RBI defines the digital rupee as the legal tender issued by the central bank in a digital form and postulates following features for a unit to be called an Indian digital rupee:

Digital rupee is a sovereign currency issued by the RBI in alignment with their monetary policy

It appears as a liability on RBIs balance sheet

It must be accepted as a medium of payment, legal tender, and a safe store of value by all citizens, enterprises, and government agencies.

Digital rupee must be freely convertible against commercial bank money and cash

It must be a fungible legal tender for which holders need not have a bank account

Reserve Bank Digital Payment Index (RBI- DPI) Period RBI- DPI March 2018 100 March 2019 153.47 September 2019 173.49 March 2020 207.84 September 2020 217.74 March 2021 270.59 September 2021 304.06 March 2022 349.30

The RBI-DPI index, which reached 349.30 in March 2022, demonstrates significant growth in adoption and deepening of digital payments across the country since its inception.

What are the different types of digital rupee?

Based on the usage and the functions performed by the digital rupee and considering the different levels of accessibility, the 2018 CPMI-MC report discussed two broad types of digital rupee:

General purpose or retail (CBDC-R) : They are an electronic version of cash primarily meant for retail consumption. They can be available for use by all private sector entities, non-financial consumers, and businesses.

: They are an electronic version of cash primarily meant for retail consumption. They can be available for use by all private sector entities, non-financial consumers, and businesses. Wholesale (CBDCW): They are designed for restricted access by financial institutions. They could be used for improving the efficiency of interbank payments or securities settlement, as seen in the Project Jasper (Canada) and Ubin (Singapore).

Rationale for launching digital rupee in India

India has witnessed notable strides in enablement of digital infrastructure, and has provided a robust ecosystem for the proliferation of Fintech companies. Indias digital payments ecosystem too has achieved remarkable success.

Supported by payment systems that are affordable, accessible, convenient, efficient, safe and secure, the RBI-backed digital rupee system will further propel Indias digital economy, and make the monetary and payment systems more efficient.

Other countries like Sweden, Denmark, Germany, etc. have also adopted CBDCs at a wide scale, owing to various factors like dwindling usage of paper currency and the willingness to make currency-issuance more efficient. Countries with geographical barriers like the Bahamas and the Caribbean, with small and large numbers of islands spread out, have adopted CBDCs to restrict the physical movement of cash.

How is the digital rupee different from other forms of digital money in India?

While money in digital form is predominant in India, for example  in bank accounts recorded as book entries on commercial bank ledgers, the digital rupee would differ from existing digital money available to the public because it would be a liability of the RBI, and not of a commercial bank.

How will the digital rupee function?

The transfer of digital rupee to the general public will be implemented through a token-based system. The party transferring the digital currency must have the recipients public key (similar to digital address). The transfer is then made using the recipients private key (a unique password) along with the public one.

Although issued by the Indian central bank, commercial banks in the country can distribute digital currency further. One has to hold it in an e-wallet provided by a bank or any registered service provider.

Transactions are likely to be partially anonymous, with possibility of mandatory disclosure for transactions with higher amounts, while those of smaller ones can remain anonymous, just like in cash transactions.

This article was originally published on October 10, 2022. It was last updated November 1, 2022.
With November 20 elections for the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly just three weeks away in Nepal, election fever is slowly gripping Madhes Province.

Rallies and campaigns have intensified across Terai ahead of the crucial elections that are being held for the second time after the country promulgated its first federal republican constitution in 2015. The first such elections took place in 2017.

#DidYouKnow The Election Commission had sought over NPR 8.9 billion with the Ministry of Finance to hold the local #elections in a single phase. Learn more about voting and EVMs in our latest #Neftake https://t.co/s5RHHZcWyF #Electronicvoting #NepalElections #Nepal #Politics pic.twitter.com/ii3cu9bSMS  Nepal Economic Forum (@NEFNepal) May 31, 2022

Madhes Province borders India and shares close socio-cultural affinities with the neighboring country. There are eight districts in the province, with 32 federal parliamentary seats. There are 107 seats in the provincial assembly headquartered in Janakpur.

As elections are inching closer, there are various projects and calculations over election results of Madhes.

The Madhes-centric parties are allying with traditional political parties in the elections, avoiding an electoral alliance with each other.

The Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) led by Upendra Yadav, a leading political force in Madhes, has allied with former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Olis CPN (UML). But, another Madhes-centric party Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP), led by Mahantha Thakur has partnered with the five-party ruling coalition under the Nepali Congress.

Madhes-centric parties electoral alliance with the ruling and opposition parties is not based on ideology, but rather on electoral calculations.The Madhes-centric parties, who once championed the agenda of federalism and inclusiveness, are struggling to ensure seats in the federal and provincial assemblies. In the upcoming polls they are partnering with the conventional political forces, which are mostly centrist and anti-federalist.

Analysts say that Madhes-centric parties are likely to lose elections this time around for their own past mistakes.

In the last elections, Madhes-centric parties lured voters claiming they would make ground for amending the constitution to meet their demands. But when they got into power, they failed to live up to their promisesthey could not lobby for creating a situation for the constitutional amendment. Rather, they got mired in the quagmire of power politics. Because of their failure to vocally advocate for Madhes agendas, the Madhesis are disassociating themselves from the regional parties and are yet to associate with the newer parties, Tula Narayan Shah, a political analyst who also comes from the Madhes region, told Kathmandu Post newspaper in an interview on Monday.

Shah projected that two key Madhes-centric parties Janata Samajbadi Party and the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party will fare poorly in the polls as they lack public trust.

They will get fewer seats than in the last elections. Loktantrik Samajbadi Party will witness a poorer performance than the Janata Samajbadi Party because they deviated from their core original agendas, he observed.

Apart from traditional and Madhes-centric parties, some other fringe parties such as CK Raut-led Janamat Party have made their presence felt on the ground in the upcoming elections.

Analyst Shah says that he does not think Rauts party will bring impactful results in the upcoming polls. Major Madhes-based parties will shrink, and emerging parties in Madhesh dont spark much hope, he added.

The Nepali Congress has been the most influential political force in the Terai-Madhes region even after the emergence of regional parties on account of a massive Madhes uprising in 2008.

Since then, Madhes-centric parties are dominant political force in Madhes. Over the years, these regional parties played a vital role in the formation and dissolution of successive governments in the Center.

Madhes-centric parties under fire

When Nepal promulgated its first federal republic constitution in 2015, the Madhes-centric parties collectively launched months-long protest in Terai region, seeking amendments to the national charter. The traditional parties including the Nepali Congress, the CPN (UML) and the Maoist enacted the constitution through a two-thirds majority despite the fierce agitation in Madhes region that saw the killings of over 50 people.

The situation of traditional parties Vs Madhes-centric parties did not last long. Because, the same Madhes-centric parties who protested the newly-promulgated constitution, joined elections along with major parties in the House of Representatives to pick a new prime minister in October 2015, inviting ire from theagitatingober 2015, inviting ire from theagitating population from Terai. Seven years later, the Madhes-centric parties were seen disoriented as they abandoned their constitutional amendment agenda. However, the present provincial government in Madhes is headed by Lal Babu Raut, a leader of the Janata Samajbadi Party led by Upendra Yadav. The provincial government is backed by the Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist) and the CPN (Unified Socialist). At the federal level, the JSP quit the party after it joined the UMl-led electoral alliance in mid-October.

Congress may also win in Madhes

Analysts say the existing ruling alliance is likely to emerge victorious in the upcoming elections in Madhes and chief ruling party the Nepali Congress will be benefited the most this time around.

Madhes has traditionally been a bastion of the Nepali Congress (NC). In the impending elections, too, every political force including Madhesis will have a fierce battle primarily with the NC as before. Ultimately, the NC will reap benefits from this alliance-based electoral competition, Sitaram Baral, a senior journalist, who follows regional politics of Madhes closely, told India Narrative.

In view of the upcoming elections, the ruling alliance over the past few months has given an impression to the Madhesi people that it can be their savior. For example, the ruling alliance endorsed the long-delayed Citizenship bill in August from the federal parliament as a matter of urgency. It was widely believed that the prime political motto of the ruling alliance was to secure electoral gains mainly in Madhes region.

UML may also gain more seats

Similarly, the main opposition, CPN (UML) which has been described as anti-Madhesi might also secure more seats in parliament from this region, according to analyst Shah.

The UML is not going to emerge victorious in Madhes. But, it will secure a better position than the past because there is a lack of public trust in Madhes-centric parties, Shah noted.

Also Read: https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/nepal-enters-full-campaign-mode-who-are-the-contestants-66095.html
Under its mischievous gameplan, Pakistan is now permanently housing Khalistani extremists in historic Gurudwaras that are visited by Sikh devotees from India and elsewhere in large numbers.

Ravinder Singh Pinka, who along with his 8 accomplices, hijacked an Indian Airlines plane from Srinagar to Lahore in 1984 is roaming free at Gurdwara Panja Sahib and mingling with Sikh devotees who have gone to Pakistan to observe the 100th anniversary of Saka Panja Sahib.

A picture shows that while Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh was visiting the gurudwara in Pakistan, Pinka saw a photo opportunity and started walking along with him. This photo went viral on social media.

When the SGPC officials were informed about the hijacker Ravinder Pinka, the video was immediately taken off the website of the religious body. But, by then several people had taken screenshots of the picture which is now stoking a controversy.

An official of the SGPC said that the Jathedar belongs to the entire community and nobody is prohibited from meeting him. Giani Ji might not even be knowing or recognising Pinka, he explained.

Ravinder Pinka and his 8 partners in crime were given a death sentence by a Pakistan court but were released under an amnesty scheme. Since then, all the hijackers, according to Indian agencies, have been residing in Pakistan. They continue to carry forward the anti-India agenda of the ISI.

It is common knowledge that Khalistanis like Harvinder Singh alias Rinda, Wadhawa Singh, Paramjit Singh Panjwar, Lakhbir Singh Rode, Ranjeet Singh Neeta, Gajender Singh, Manjit Fauji and Manjit Pinka, are regularly sighted at historical Gurdwaras in Pakistan and sermonise Sikh visitors.

Khalistanis in order to exploit religious sentiments always deliberately operate from Gurdwaras. They post profile pictures with the holy Panja Sahib Gurdwara which is linked to Guru Nanak Dev, in the background to convey that they are pious.

Also Read: Another 3 Hindu girls abducted in Pakistan and forced to marry Muslim men
A special court in Bengaluru has jailed an Engineering student for five years and fined him Rs 10,000 over derogatory Facebook posts about the Pulwama terrorist attack, police said Monday.

Unsplash

Faiz's arrest

The accused Faiz Rasheed was arrested by the Bengaluru police and was sentenced by Judge CM Gangadhara of the special court for National Investigation Agency under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Faiz was remanded in judicial custody in February 2019. He was never granted bail.

Since his arrest in February 2019, Rasheed has been lodged in prison as his application for bail was rejected. Many of the witnesses in the case were police personnel.



Faiz was arrested over a February 2019 post on social media hailing the terror attack in Pulwama and criticising the Indian army. He made several Facebook posts that celebrated the deaths of 40 CRPF jawans in an attack on their convoy in Jammu and Kashmir.

In his Facebook post, Faiz described it as a 'trailer of revenge' for mob lynchings and the Ram Mandir agitation, the FIR in the case stated. The police also stated that Faiz's comments could cause enmity between religions.



ANI

Police had seized his mobile phone and got it examined by a forensic science laboratory as part of their investigation. They filed a chargesheet under Indian Penal Code sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 124A (sedition) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) and section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

2019 Pulwama attack

The 2019 Pulwama attack occurred on 14 February 2019, when a convoy of vehicles carrying Indian security personnel on the JammuSrinagar National Highway was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber. The attack happened at Lethapora in the Pulwama district of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.





Reuters

The attack killed 40 Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel as well as the perpetratorAdil Ahmad Darwho was a local Kashmiri youth from the same district. The responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Pakistan-based Islamist terrorist group, Jaish-e-Mohammed.



For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News.
The European Southern Observatory has captured the aftermath of the death of a massive star, revealing filaments of brightly shining gas that erupted into space during the explosion, according to a Reuters report.

ESO/Reuters

The star, before its explosion, was believed to have a mass of at least eight times greater than our sun. It was around 800 light years away from Earth, in the direction of the constellation Vela.



The image represents a series of observations conducted between 2013 to 2016 with a wide-field camera dubbed OmegaCAM at the VLT Survey Telescope thats hosted at ESOs Paranal Observatory in Chile.

The image showcases clouds of gas that are reminiscent of pink and orange tendrils in the filters used by astronomers, showing us an expanse nearly 600 times larger than our solar system.

Bruno Leibundgut, an astronomer affiliated with the European Southern Observatory (ESO), explained, "The filamentary structure is the gas that was ejected from the supernova explosion, which created this nebula. We see the inside material of a star as it expands into space. When there are denser parts, some of the supernova material shocks with the surrounding gas and creates some of the filamentary structure."

The image shows the remains of the explosion that occurred nearly 11,000 years ago.

Leibundgut added, explaining how every tiny element shining in the image was in fact the materials that the star was made of, "Most of the material that shines is due to hydrogen atoms that are excited."

ESO

"The beauty of such images is that we can directly see what material was inside a star. The material that has been built up over many millions of years is now exposed and will cool down over millions of years until it eventually will form new stars. These supernovae produce many elements  calcium or iron  which we carry in our own bodies. This is a spectacular part of the path in the evolution of stars."

The explosion has reduced the star and turned it into a very dense spinning object, dubbed a pulsar -- a form of a neutron star and regarded as one of the most compact celestial objects known to exist -- rotating around 10 times per second.

Keep visiting Indiatimes.com for the latest science and technology news.


It ends the uncertainty in relation to whether the relevant insuring clauses within the business interruption policies will respond or not, said Faramarz Ostowari (pictured above), head of corporate insurance and risk solutions (CIRS) claims for Honan Insurance.

However, he said, theres still work to do for claimants who do now have coverage. What you'll find is that it's only certain insurers who have that wording who will have claims to deal with, he said.

That being said, the Honan claims expert said the BI claims situation has settled down. Clients who were hoping for coverage but didnt get it are getting on with their lives and rebuilding their businesses, he said.

Read more: What does the latest COVID-19 BI test case ruling mean?

He also said that some Honan clients would have qualified for insurance coverage under the latest court ruling if it wasnt for a further clause in their policies that brought in the Biosecurity Act.

They originally had the Quarantine Act [in their policies] but had an additional clause in there and that additional clause said that any replacement acts would be deemed as a replacement Act, he said. So, in the first instance, they had cover, but in the second instance, they have a clause that says, No, all your claims are going to be wiped out because the Biosecurity Act is going to provide an exclusion for us to rely on.

Ostowari said, after the latest court ruling, less than 5% of Honans clients have claims that can be prosecuted. For the rest of the firms clients, the latest ruling probably doesnt come as a surprise because it was more than two years in the making. During that time, Ostowari said Honan has been in constant contact with clients, managing their expectations.

They are, of course, disappointed because that was a really tough period that a lot of businesses went through, he said.

One of the next steps in this COVID-19 BI saga will be class actions, according to Ostowari.

There are civil class actions and we have the usual suspects: the Slater & Gordons, Shine Lawyers, Maddens - all these guys have either already filed or are getting together a class to proceed with a filing and, of course, they're all funded by litigation funders, he said.

However, Ostowari said, it could be very difficult to combine lots of contested BI policies into a class action.

They have to actually prove that there was an outbreak within the 20 kilometres, for example, of the premises, he said. That's a difficult thing to do for a class of people because itll have to be done pretty much on an individual basis.

Read more: High Court rejects leave to appeal on second round of BI test cases

Ostowari said hes struggling to see how the courts will deal with these class actions. However, if they do proceed, Ostowari said it might end up being easier for the insurers to deal with their outstanding COVID-19 BI claims.

For example, Slater & Gordon, funded by ICP funding are chasing CGU insurance because CGU was the only case that was found in favour of an insured, which is Meridian Travel, he said. Instead of the insurer having to review each individual case, they could have everybody in the one bucket and just deal with them all rather than having to assess individual claims.

Even if the class actions are successful, he said they may not work in favour of the insureds because a huge chunk of any settlement goes to the law firms and litigation funders.

Will that mean that an insured will possibly get less than they would otherwise by doing that class action because they're going to lose part of that overall settlement? he said.

In an earlier interview with Insurance Business, Gareth Horne, partner with Clyde & Co and faculty member with the Australian College of Insurance Studies (ACIS), said the Full Court judgement now stands as the leading authority on the range of [COVID-19 BI] issues considered.

There are now no further avenues to appeal, he said.
This was not because these two entities didnt use technology; they both used a bunch of systems. But those pieces of technology were very siloed from each other. There was no shared system that allowed for these two parties to work together and collaborate more deeply with each other as a result, Sachtjen observed.

After spending more than a decade at Sun Life Financial as a stop loss specialist, Sachtjen wanted to help build the tools that would deepen and streamline collaboration between brokers and carriers. The pain points manifested from my own experiences of the way an insurance company would work with a broker, he told Insurance Business.

We need to try to solve those core manual processing problems and allow for the two parties to have a shared system, which is a big deal now in insurance. Carriers and companies are trying to de-silo all their data so all the systems can talk to each other.

Read more: Average American doesnt have adequate employee benefit coverage - study

Interoperability is the key to unlocking the different systems and data troves in the insurance world, according to Sachtjen. The industry has evolved and invested heavily in modernizing legacy systems over the past few years, but the next level of the digital transformation should focus on integration.

According to the CEO, the employee benefits space has seen a real advent of technology that occurs at a certain point in the benefits brokering process. Within our company, we talk about that as the post-sale decision, which is after an employer decides what benefits they want to offer their employees, explained Sachtjen.

There's been an acceleration of technology and companies that help after that moment in time, such as benefit administration systems, enrolment firms, and payroll companies. Those have been wonderful and helped advanced the industry.

ThreeFlows technology instead focuses on the pre-sale portion, which Sachtjen defines as the time an employer is choosing benefits products, plans or insurance companies. At this point in the lifecycle, clients are working closely with benefit brokers, and benefit brokers with their carrier partners.

As someone who jumped from insurance to tech, Sachtjen has been able to see the digitization process from two unique perspectives. It's accelerating. But I don't think it's moving fast enough quite yet, he said. Its fun to watch [the digital transformation] materialize in the market.

Read more: Improving the insurance experience for small business owners

The technological innovation in the benefits space also provides insight into the changing relationship between employers and employees. Agile processes allow benefits brokers and carriers to see trends develop in real-time, allowing them to adapt and respond to clients needs.

Sachtjen explained: One of the things that weve observed is the generational shift in the labor force. We can see employers have different thoughts about how to provide employee benefits, based on the products they seek from their benefit brokers. Were seeing a real movement towards self-funding on the medical side, for example, and that helps push things forward as employers rethink their benefits structure.

It leads to more thoughtful interaction in the market, which is helping to advance technology further. It's interesting to watch the market course-correct in real time.

Aside from these real-time market insights, shared systems can help reduce manual tasks, slash errors, and empower better decision-making. Sachtjen said the next wave of technological innovation will be focused on interoperability. I think carriers understand that if they don't make the investment now, they are at risk of being left behind, he told Insurance Business.
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A nineteenth co-conspirator was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston this week in connection with a nationwide conspiracy to open fraudulent driver accounts with rideshare and delivery service companies, law enforcement officials reported.

Officials said Caio Felipe Oliveira Dos Santos was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Eighteen other Brazilian National co-conspirators from Massachusetts, California, Illinois and Florida were indicted in connection with the scheme in May 2021. Fifteen of those defendants have been arrested, while three remain at large, according to U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special FBI agent in Boston.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

According to the allegations in the indictment, Dos Santos and others conspired to use stolen identities or falsified documents to open fraudulent driver accounts and/or sell those accounts to individual drivers who might not otherwise qualify to drive for the rideshare or delivery services.

The indictment further alleges that the co-conspirators exploited referral bonus programs offered by the rideshare and delivery companies and used bots and GPS spoofing technology to increase the income earned from the companies. As a result of the scheme, Internal Revenue Service Forms 1099 were generated in victims names for income co-conspirators earned from the rideshare and delivery companies.

The indictment also alleges that Dos Santos and his co-conspirators used victims identifiers to apply for driver accounts with the rideshare and delivery companies, enabling them to pass those companies required background checks and create driver accounts in victims names. Officials said that at times, co-conspirators also edited victims drivers license images to display photos of the drivers renting or buying the fraudulent accounts in order to circumvent facial recognition technology that the companies used as a security measure.

Dos Santos and his co-conspirators allegedly obtained victims names, dates of birth, drivers license information, and/or Social Security numbers from co-conspirators and other sources, including sites on the Dark Net. They also obtained drivers license images directly from victims, by photographing victims licenses while completing an alcohol delivery through one of the services.

Topics Fraud
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New Yorks highest court reversed a $4.5 million judgment against an insurer that denied a fire damage claim by the owner of a vacant commercial building because the owner had not installed an automatic sprinkler system required by the policy.

The Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that both the New York Supreme Court and the Appellate Division erred when they decided that the exclusion was unenforceable because it was added to the policy by mutual mistake. The civil complaint against Seneca Insurance makes no mention of a mistake and in fact says that the owner of the building had complied with all terms of the policy, the unanimous opinion says.

In light of our heavy presumption that a deliberately prepared and executed written instrument manifests the true intention of the parties, defendant had every reason to rely on the original complaint, which provided no indication that the written policy failed to reflect the parties intent, the opinion says.

The decision may not put an end to the legal battle. The plaintiffs attorney on appeal, Dennis T. DAntonio, said since the jury never addressed the issues raised by the Court of Appeals, he intends to file a motion to set aside the jury verdict.

The dispute stems from fire damage to a building in Queens owned by34-06 73 LLC. Mohammad Malik, the sole owner of the corporation, says he told his insurance broker to buy a policy that did not require any fire-suppression equipment.

But Malik didnt read the policy. The contract included a Protective Safeguards Endorsement that required the property owner to maintain an automatic sprinkler system.

The owner of the property owns hundreds of millions of dollars in real estate and it was left in the hands of the broker, DAntonio said.

A fire caused extensive damage four months after the policy took effect. Malik filed a claim but Seneca denied it, citing the safeguards endorsement.

During the trial, testimony from Senecas vice president of underwriting and documents introduced into evidence supported the plaintiffs contention that the protective safeguards endorsement was added to the policy by mutual mistake. DAntonio said Seneca did not issue any credits for the presence of fire-suppression equipment and charged premiums as if the building had none. Whats more, Maliks broker inspected the building and did not cancel the policy despite the missing sprinklers.

In December 2019, a New York jury entered a verdict in plaintiffs favor in the amount of $4,541,957.73. The First Department of the Appellate Division affirmed in January 2021.

The Court of Appeals, however, said that the judgment must be reversed because nothing in the civil complaint indicated that the endorsement was added by mistake.

Defendant maintained that the complaint alleged only nonperformance and contained no indication that the contract failed to reflect the parties intent, the opinion says.

The high court said by the time the case was tried, a statute of limitations prevented the plaintiff from pleading for reformation, meaning to change the terms of the policy to match what the plaintiff contended was the parties true intent. Section 203(f) requires plaintiffs in a breach of contract claim to give notice of the transactions, occurrences, or series of transactions or occurrences, the opinion says.

DAntonio said he hopes to revive the lawsuit by filing a motion to set aside the jury verdict. He said the trial court never ruled on motions that Seneca was estopped from arguing that the protective safeguards endorsement was in force because of the brokers inspection and that it had waived that defense when it failed to enforce the insurance contract by requiring the owner to install fire sprinklers.

The photo above is for illustrative purposes only.

Topics New York
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A New Jersey legislative committee voted to require liability insurance for gun owners and restrict where they could carry their weapons, moving what would be some of the strictest US firearms limits closer to becoming law.

The vote by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee, a response to a US Supreme Court ruling in June that allowed more widespread carrying of firearms, was a preliminary step before the bills go to the full legislature, then the governors desk. The final voting dates have yet to be scheduled.

The bills almost certainly will become law, as they have support from the Democratic-controlled legislature and Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat who in July signed a series of gun restrictions. At the same time, the laws are likely to face legal challenges, as states including New York and Massachusetts have seen in their race to counter the high courts impact.

We believe were ready for it, Senate President Nick Scutari, a Democrat from Linden, said during the hearing in Trenton on Thursday.

Scott Bach, president of the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs, told lawmakers to expect a legal mess: Its going to wind up in a flaming ash heap.

The New Jersey proposals would require firearms owners to carry liability insurance and strengthen criminal penalties for gun trafficking. The state also would make it illegal to carry guns almost everywhere, including government-owned property, homeless shelters, businesses that serve alcohol, casinos, museums, stadiums, concert halls and hospitals. Weapons would be disallowed even on private residential property without an owners consent.

Gun Advocates

Gun-rights activists have criticized the pending New Jersey legislation. Beyond constitutional grounds, they argue that licensed, responsible gun owners can help protect innocent targets during increasingly prevalent mass shootings.

Gun-related deaths reached a US high of at least 45,222 in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among those fatalities, about 53% were suicides, a figure that is mostly stable year to year. Eight in 10 homicides involved firearms, for the highest percentage since at least 1968, according to a Pew Research analysis. Two-thirds of Americans favor stricter gun control, according to a June Gallup poll.

New Jersey, the most densely populated US state, has a long history of governors from both parties restricting firearms. Residents may not carry guns openly, and permits for concealed weapons were rare prior to the June order from the nations highest bench.

In 2021, New Jersey received 870 concealed-carry applications, according to the state administrative office of the courts. This year, through December, the office expects 11,000 applications to be submitted.

On Oct. 21, a federal judge blocked part of a New York law that banned where guns could be carried, including in Times Square and on public transit. The state is appealing the decision. On Oct. 5, the US Supreme Court ordered a lower court to vacate a Massachusetts law that imposed a lifetime gun-ownership ban on individuals who commit misdemeanors using firearms.

Photo: Bloomberg

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Legislation New Jersey Gun Liability
Tropical Storm Lisa has spun up in the Caribbean Sea south of Jamaica, on track to strike Belize late Wednesday as the 12th storm of this years Atlantic hurricane season.

Lisas top winds have reached 40 miles (64 kilometers) per hour south of Kingston, Jamaica, and it was moving west at 14 mph, the US National Hurricane Center said in an 11 a.m. advisory. The storm is forecast to reach hurricane strength with 75 mph winds Wednesday just before it makes landfall in Belize.

Interests along the coast of Central America, especially near Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, should monitor the progress of this system, wrote Eric Blake, a forecaster at the hurricane center.

The 2022 season has been marked by fewer storms than average, though hurricanes Ian and Fiona inflicted massive damage across Florida, the Caribbean and the Canadian Maritimes. Ian in particular left a deep trail of destruction when it hit near Fort Myers, Florida, as a Category 4 hurricane on the five-step Saffir Simpson scale on Sept. 28.

In addition to any wind damage it may bring, Lisa is forecast to drop heavy rain across Jamaica Monday and throughout the Cayman Islands, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Belize through the rest of the week, possibly causing flash flooding. Lisa wont be a threat to US offshore oil and natural gas production.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Windstorm
Top South Korean officials said a lack of proper crowd management was likely a factor behind a deadly surge of people that left at least 156 dead, with police faulted for not doing enough to heed warnings that masses were growing to dangerous levels.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said at a briefing with international media Tuesday that a lack of a sufficient system on crowd management may have caused the incident, adding a full review was ongoing. In parliament, Minister of Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, expressed his sincere apologies to the public over the incident.

Yoon Hee Keun, commissioner general of the South Korean National Police Agency, said at a separate news briefing that the countrys 112 emergency line received multiple calls warning authorities of the seriousness at the scene, as thousands packed the narrow streets of the Itaewon nightlife district in Seoul.

South Korea Begins Investigation Into Deadly Halloween Crush, as Death Toll Rises

If you look at the contents of the calls, these were urgently informing of the danger of an incident as large crowds gathered before the incident occurred, Yoon said. Nevertheless, it is judged that the response in the field handling the 112 calls was insufficient.

South Korea has launched a full-scale investigation into the countrys deadliest civilian crowd crushes. Those killed were trapped in an 3.2 meter-wide alley that connected a main street in the district to an area with restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

In order to clarify the truth of this case and establish responsibility, we will promptly and strictly conduct intensive inspections and investigations in all areas without exception, the police chief said.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, who put in place a week-long mourning period soon after the deaths, called on the government to come up with crowd control systems for events like the Halloween festivities in Itaewon that dont have any specific organizer but draw masses of people.

The governments response is shaping up as one of the biggest tests for the president, who came into office in May and has seen his support slump in recent months to hit around 30%.

There has been criticism in local media that the police presence was not large enough. Major national newspaper Chosun Ilbo said 137 officers were on the scene for the Halloween festivities on Saturday night that attracted about 100,000 people. The majority were there mainly for crime prevention.

Most of the victims were in their 20s and 30s, and 101 women were among the dead. At least 26 foreigners were killed. Maeil, a South Korean business newspaper, said it was the biggest loss of life among foreigners in the country since 2007, when a fire in an immigration office killed 9 people.

Experts say the density of people packed in the narrow and restricted alley may have reached a level that made such a disaster almost inevitable. Witnesses told local media that as people squeezed into the tiny space, some began to fall, causing others to tumble and pile into one another.

In Itaewon and near Seoul City Hall a few kilometers away, a steady stream of people brought flowers to memorials for the victims. The sense of loss has been amplified as TV, newspapers and social media share stories of the victims, most of whom died from asphyxiation as the breathe was squeezed out of the their body in the crowd crush.

With assistance from Jenni Marsh.

Photograph: Police and paramedics gather in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon following a deadly crowd crush in Seoul on Oct. 30. Photo credit: Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at AXA XL in Bermuda and the London-based insurance broker, Miller.

A summary of these new hires follows.

AXA XL Appoints Owen for Bermuda Professional Lines Team

AXA XL announced that Bermudian Tyler Owen will rejoin its Bermuda Professional Lines Team as SVP, Product Line Leader, effective Oct. 31.

Owen, who will report to AXA XLs Bermuda Professional Lines Chief Underwriting Officer Matthew Irvine, will primarily be responsible for managing AXA XLs Bermuda Professional Directors and Officers portfolio, as well as underwriting errors & omissions, employment practices liability, wage & hour, and cyber liability on a book of business comprised of large multi-national companies and professional service firms.

Owen began his insurance career in 2009 as a professional associate underwriter, Professional Lines, at Chubb (formerly ACE Ltd.) in New York. In 2011 he joined XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd., now known as AXA XL, as a professional lines underwriter and in 2013 was promoted to assistant vice president, Professional Lines. In that role, he was involved in the underwriting of a profitable portfolio and spearheaded the development of an innovative analytical tool to assess the risk of each account of the portfolio in real-time. In 2017 he left the company to focus on completing an MBA program and pursue his own business interests.

Owen, who attended The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK as a part of the Bermuda Regiments officer-training programme, has a Bachelor of Science degree in Risk Management and Insurance from St. Johns University in New York and an MBA from the Ivey Business School of Western University in Canada. He has also earned Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and Registered Professional Liability Underwriter designations.

Patrick Tannock, CEO of AXA XLs Bermuda Insurance Operations, commented: Tylers return to AXA XL in this senior position is testament to his professional progress and our culture and commitment to attract, develop and advance local talent. We welcome him back and wish him much success in his new role.

***

Miller Names Beazleys OConnor as Chief Information Officer

Miller, the London-based independent re/insurance broker, announced the appointment of Bradley OConnor as chief information officer, effective Oct. 31, 2022.

He reports to Dana Cuffe, Millers chief operating officer.

OConnor brings over 20 years industry experience to Miller, specializing over the course of his career in transformation, process optimisation and building high-performing technology and data teams. He joins from Beazley, where he was most recently head of Technology for five years, overseeing IT and Change for the UK and global markets. OConnor has also held IT Project Management roles at Hiscox, Brit Insurance, Cardiff Pinnacle, Aon Hewitt and Lloyds TSB.

Bradleys focus will be to create a scalable technology and data platform that enables smarter, faster, better broking. His key priorities will include enhancing the capabilities Miller provides to its clients, as well as delivering new internal capabilities to increase automation and efficiency and enable greater data-driven decision making.

Dana Cuffe, chief operating officer, commented: We are delighted to welcome Bradley to Miller. His extensive experience in building and leading technology teams across the insurance industry will strengthen our existing technology capabilities, ensuring that we continue to evolve with our clients and partners to deliver the best possible service. Bradley is highly regarded within the market as a technology and change expert and will make an excellent addition to us as we invest in making Miller the definition of a truly modern specialty broker.

Topics AXA XL
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ A Kansas City, Missouri, police officer who kneed a Black 15-year-old in the neck and pushed his face into the ground pleaded guilty Thursday to third-degree assault and lost his law enforcement license.

Sgt. Matthew Neal was sentenced to four years of probation for his actions against the juvenile, who was a passenger in a vehicle police pursued on Nov. 14, 2019.

Prosecutors said the teenager was handcuffed and on his stomach on the ground when Neal pressed his knee into the teens head and neck, pinning his face into the pavement while the victim said I cant breathe.

The teen suffered bruising, broken teeth and a gash on his head. He was not arrested or charged with a crime.

As part of his probation, Neal was required to give up his law enforcement license, prohibited from carrying a firearm, ordered to take an anger management course and to write a letter of apology to the victim.

Kansas City police said Neal left the force on Thursday, The Kansas City Star reported.

We are thankful to have resolved this case favorably, said Neals attorney, Molly Hastings.

The victims attorney, Tom Porto, said he and his client were pleased with the outcome of the case. Its significant that a sergeant voluntarily pleaded guilty, Porto said.

The victim did not appear in court Thursday because he wants to protect his privacy, the Jackson County Prosecutors office said.

In January 2021, the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners agreed to a $725,000 settlement of an excessive use of force claim filed by the teenager.

Police spokeswoman Capt. Leslie Foreman said in a statement the incident was reviewed and discussed at all levels of the department.

We expect Department members to treat all citizens with dignity and respect at all times, and it did not happen in this case. Foreman said.

A grand jury indicted Neal in August 2020. At the time, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said she was disturbed the incident occurred in November 2019 but her office was not made aware of it until the next spring.

Civil rights organizations have long criticized the police department and former police chief Rick Smith for their handling of excessive force complaints against Black people.

Lora McDonald, executive director of MORE2, the Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity, said the guilty plea on Thursday shows the criticism was valid.

He (Neal) should have been fired years ago. How long does it take them to complete an assault investigation of their own? McDonald said, noting that over 10 officers witnessed the confrontation but Smith was unaware of it for months.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Kansas
Wells Fargo & Co said on Monday that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has begun investigating its hiring practices, after the Department of Justice had opened a related probe.

In its quarterly report filed with the SEC, the fourth-largest U.S. bank said both agencies have undertaken formal or informal inquiries or investigations regarding the companys hiring practices related to diversity.

Wells Fargo drew scrutiny in June when it suspended a policy requiring that it interview a diverse group of people for some jobs, with half of the candidates being female or nonwhite.

The halt came after The New York Times said the policy had led some employees at the San Francisco-based bank to conduct fake interviews for jobs that had already been filled.

In reinstating the policy, Wells Fargo said on Aug. 1 it had interviewed recruiters and hiring managers to assess ways to improve hiring diversity, without the alleged abuses.

The SEC can pursue civil cases, while the Justice Department has criminal enforcement power.

Wells Fargo also said in Mondays filing that it is in talks with another federal agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB),to settle a number of probes, including for automobile lending, consumer deposit accounts and mortgage lending.

The bank had set aside $2 billion in the third quarter for legal bills. It estimated that its maximum legal exposure in excess of reserves was $3.7 billion on Sept. 30, up from $3.2 billion three months earlier.

An SEC spokeswoman declined to comment. The CFPB did not immediately respond to a request for comment after market hours.
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A federal judge on Monday said a lawsuit accusing Geico Corp. of overcharging more than 2 million California policyholders on car insurance early in the COVID-19 pandemic may proceed as a class action.

U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman in San Jose, California, rejected Geicos contention that a group lawsuit over the alleged inadequacy of its Geico Giveback program would create insurmountable manageability problems.

Geico, part of Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway Inc., said a class action would not sufficiently account for differences among policyholders, including the time periods they had insurance.

The Chevy Chase, Md.-based insurer also said it would be difficult to assess damages, isolate pandemic costs and adjust rates retroactively.

But the judge said a class action was preferable to individual lawsuits, and the plaintiffs damages model could present an appropriate percentage refund over a sufficiently long time to address manageability concerns.

Lawyers for Geico did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The plaintiffs lawyers did not immediately respond to similar requests.

Policyholders objected to Geicos decision to provide $2.5 billion of credits, including 15% on renewals, starting in April 2020, reflecting how people were at the time driving and getting into accidents less often.

They said Geico reaped a windfall because the credit fell well short of adequate given the lessened risks, and accused the insurer of falsely claiming that its credits provided substantial and full relief.

Some insurers, including State Farm and Allstate Corp., offered pandemic-related refunds to policyholders.

The class covers California residents who bought Geico car, motorcycle or RV insurance between March 1, 2020 and now.

Geico is defending against a similar federal lawsuit in Chicago, and in May persuaded an appeals court in Manhattan to uphold a judges dismissal of a similar lawsuit there.

Berkshire, based in Omaha, Nebraska, has owned all of Geico since 1996.

The case is Day v. Geico Casualty Co et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 21-02103.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Marguerita Choy)

Topics Lawsuits California Auto
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A former U.S. Navy chief petty officer, now living in Georgia, has pleaded guilty to being the ringleader in a $2 million scheme that claimed unusual injuries to defraud a military disability program administered by The Prudential.

Christopher Toups, 43, of Woodstock, Georgia, faces sentencing in February. He could see as much as 20 years in prison and full restitution for his role in the fraud that also involved his wife, a Navy nurse; a Navy doctor; and six others. Some of the defendants were members of the Navys famed ordinance disposal team in Coronado, California, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement.

The disability program was known as the Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance Program, or TSGLI for short, and was administered by Prudential Financial, one of the largest life insurance and retirement benefits companies. The program was created to help service members recover from serious injuries sustained during duty, prosecutors explained.

Fraudulently filing claims for unearned TSGLI benefits diverts compensation from deserving service members who suffered serious and debilitating injuries while on active duty, said Rebeccalynn Staples, special agent in charge with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. Worse yet, this defendant actively recruited others into the scheme to feed his greed for compensation he did not deserve.

Toups guilty plea is the culmination of more than four years of investigation into what the Department of Justice called a sweeping corruption and insurance fraud scheme.

Authorities said that from 2012 through 2015, Toups claimed fake injuries and received some $400,000 from the program. He also recruited comrades. His wife, nurse Kelene McGrath, also known as Kelene Meyer, of Jacksonville, Florida, falsified or doctored medical records to support the fake injuries, prosecutors said. Dr. Michael Villarroel, the Navy physician, certified that he had reviewed the records and that the claimants had lost some abilities and needed help, a requirement of the insurance program.

Toups, who at one time was a member of the Navys construction unit, known as the SeaBees, received a cut of the benefits provided to the other service members. McGrath and Villarroel received kickbacks, federal authorities said.

McGrath pleaded guilty in 2019. The doctor pleaded not guilty and his case is pending, court records show. Two other defendants have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced.

Some of the purported claims appeared to be far afield from combat injuries. McGrath, for example, claimed she fell from a horse. Another defendant said he fell from a ladder while attending to Christmas lights, according to a report in Military.com. Others claimed injuries from a rappelling accident, a fall down stairs, and a fall from equipment.

Prudential officials could not be reached for comment Tuesday morning. Prosecutors and indictments did not explain how the fraud was discovered. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the FBI were involved in the investigation.

Topics Fraud
Search online for the little town of Shishmaref and youll see homes perilously close to the ocean, and headlines that warn this Native community in western Alaska is on the verge of disappearing.

Climate change is partially to blame for the rising seas, flooding, erosion and loss of protective ice and land that are threatening this Inupiat village of about 600 people just a few miles from the Arctic Circle.

But the dire situation is only part of the story.

The people of Shishmaref are resourceful and resilient, said Rich Stasenko, who arrived to Shishmaref to teach in the 70s and never left. I dont see victims here.

Yes, residents have voted twice to relocate. But they havent moved. Theres not enough money to fund relocation. And perhaps, most importantly, there are no places like Shishmaref. Elsewhere they would be far from prime spots for subsistence hunting, fishing and berry picking that make up most of their nutrition. They would be dispersed from their close-knit community that takes pride in its traditions, and celebrates milestones at their homes, local school and one of the worlds northernmost Lutheran church.

But its too burdensome to only dwell on the climate crisis, said the Rev. Aaron Silco, who is co-pastor of the Shishmaref Lutheran Church with his wife, Anna. Theres still life happening.

On a recent Sunday, they celebrated Mass with about two dozen parishioners. The Rev. Anna Silco asked the children in the group to gather on the steps of the altar and gave them mustard seeds to explain the parable about keeping faith despite challenges. A mustard seed can grow into a huge tree, she told them. My faith can be as small as a mustard seed and that will be enough.

Ardith Weyiouanna and two of her grandchildren reflected on how the related to Shishmaref.

Its hard to see myself living elsewhere, said Weyiouanna, whose family first came to Shishmaref with a dogsled team in 1958.

My home means my way of life, carried down to me by my ancestors  living off the land, the ocean, the air. And its important to teach it to my children, to my grandchildren . so they can continue the life that weve known in our time and before our time, she said.

That traditional lifestyle is vulnerable to climate change effects. In Alaska, the average temperature has increased 2.5 degrees (1.4 degrees Celsius) since 1992, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Arctic had been warming twice as fast as the globe as a whole, but now has jumped to three times faster in some seasons, according to the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program.

Shishmaref sits on the small island of Sarichef. Only about half of it is habitable, but hundreds of feet of shore have been lost in past decades. A warmer climate also melts faster a protective layer of ice during the fall, making it more susceptible to storms. In 1997, about 30 feet of the north shore was eroded after a storm, prompting the relocation of 14 homes, according to a Alaska Department of Commerce report. Five more homes were moved in 2002.

Today, Shishmaref is one of dozens of Alaska Native villages that face significant environmental threats, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report published in May that says climate change is expected to exacerbate these threats.

Im scared we will have to move eventually, said Lloyd Kiyutelluk, president of the local tribal council. I dont want it to be declared an emergency. But the way things are . were getting storms that weve never seen before.

Ahead of a powerful storm in September, officials warned that some places in Alaska could see the worst flooding in 50 years. In Shishmaref, the storm wiped out a road leading to the garbage dump and sewage lagoon, creating a health hazard for a town that lacks running water. Molly Snell said she prayed for a miracle that would save her village from being forced to evacuate.

The right storm with the right wind could take out our whole island, said Snell, 35, the general manager of the Shishmaref Native Corporation.

For someone to say that climate change is not real kind of hurts a little bit because were seeing it firsthand, she said.

On a recent day, she prepared a dinner for the 31st birthday of her partner, Tyler Weyiouanna, who had just returned from a hunting trip. Their meal included turkey, a cake decorated with a photo of him and the last bear he had hunted, and akutuq, an ice cream-like dish traditionally made by Alaska indigenous cultures from berries, seal oil and the fat of caribou and other animals.

Other hunters also returned home that day with a catch of spotted seals that were laid outside ready to be skinned and cured, a traditional weeks-long process that is usually carried out by women. The fur of a polar bear dried in a rack next to the towns airstrip.

Residents drive snow machines and all-terrain vehicles, but there are no other vehicles on the sandy roads.

This is not a community that is responsible for greenhouse gas emissions and industrialization to the extent that we know Western Europe and North America have been, said Elizabeth Marino, an anthropologist and author of Fierce Climate, Sacred Ground: An ethnography of climate change in Shishmaref, Alaska. She described it as climate injustice, and some believe this injustice has claimed lives.

Ask John Kokeok about climate change effects and hell tell you that he started paying attention after a personal tragedy. His brother Norman, a skilled hunter, knew the ice and trails well. Yet during a hunting trip in 2007, his snow machine fell through ice that melted earlier than usual, and died.

John blames climate change and he has been retelling his story ever since in hopes of warning younger generations and finding solutions to protect Shishmaref. He voted to relocate the community to safer ground. But he also wants to protect their traditions. Only forced evacuation could make him leave now.

I know were not the only ones that are getting impacted, he said in his living room, near his brothers photo.

Im sure theres everybody else on the coastline. But this is home.

Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Flood
A sheriffs department submitted its investigative findings to prosecutors in the death of a cinematographer shot and killed by Alec Baldwin on a film set in New Mexico in October 2021.

Santa Fe Sheriffs Office spokesman Juan Rios said that two binders of information were turned over to the Santa Fe-based district attorneys office, without setting forth any recommendations about possible criminal charges.

He said the case file outlines all the evidence collected, including investigative interviews and forensic analysis of physical evidence by the FBI. District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said through a spokeswoman that investigators and prosecutors will now begin a thorough review to make a timely decision about whether to bring charges, without mention of specific deadlines.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died shortly after being wounded by a gunshot during setup for a scene in the western movie Rust at a filmset ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe on Oct. 21, 2021. Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when the gun went off went off, killing her and wounding the director, Joel Souza.

The Santa Fe Sheriffs Office already has made public a vast trove of law enforcement files concerning the deadly shooting, including lapel camera video of the mortally wounded Hutchins, witness interrogations, email threads, text conversations, inventories of ammunition and hundreds of photographs.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza has described a degree of neglect on the film set for Rust but is leaving decisions about potential criminal charges to prosecutors.

The family of Hutchins, widower Matthew Hutchins and 9-year-old son Andros, recently settled a lawsuit against producers of Rust under an agreement that aims to restart filming with Matthews involvement as executive producer.

Baldwin has said the gun went off accidentally and that he did not pull the trigger. But a recent FBI forensic report found the weapon could not not have fired unless the trigger was pulled.

New Mexicos Office of the Medical Investigator determined the shooting was an accident following the completion of an autopsy and a review of law enforcement reports.

Rust Movie Productions continues to challenge the basis of a $137,000 fine against the company by New Mexico occupational safety regulators who say production managers on the set failed to follow standard industry protocols for firearms safety. The state Occupational Health and Safety Review Commission has scheduled an eight-day hearing on the disputed sanctions in April 2023.

In April, New Mexicos Occupational Health and Safety Bureau imposed the maximum fine against Rust Movie Productions and distributed a scathing narrative of safety failures, including testimony that production managers took limited or no action to address two misfires of blank ammunition on set prior to the fatal shooting.

Rust Movie Productions told safety regulators that misfires prior to the fatal shooting of Hutchins did not violate safety protocols and that appropriate corrective actions were taken, including briefings of cast and crew.

Other legal troubles persist in relation to the film and the deadly shooting.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Mexico New Mexico
Record temperatures of 35C experienced in parts of Spain in recent days are "hard to believe", while Ireland's seemingly incessant rainfall is showing no sign of easing.

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has warned that climate change is impacting all sorts of weather norms, including unseasonably high temperatures across Europe coming into the winter months.

It pointed to "hard to believe" data from southern Spain that has seen temperatures of up to 35C, France experiencing nine days where the temperature was more than 4C above average for October, and more than 25 sites in the UK where the mercury reached 20C on October 27.

Meanwhile, according to Met Eireann, it has been much wetter than average in Ireland over the past seven days, with some areas up to 2.5 times as wet as they normally would be at this time of year.

And there will be no respite from the rain, the forecaster has warned. Most areas can expect between one and 2.5 times the average amount of rainfall for at least another week - although the temperature has also been unseasonably milder in Ireland.

The now semi-regular weather warnings from Met Eireann are set to continue, with a status yellow wind and rain warning for the south on Wednesday, following intense rainfall on Monday that brought flood warnings for the likes of Cork.

Connacht and the northwest are set for the worst of it on Wednesday however, with "some severe and damaging gusts" and the "potential for localised wave overtopping along Atlantic coasts. A spell of heavy rain will occur, leading to flooding in places," Met Eireann again warned.

Europe

In Spain, the picture is vastly different. The country's public meteorology agency Aemet said October will probably be the hottest ever on record, with data tracking the last 106 years. According to Aemet, temperatures reached above 30C in a number of provinces, while the rest of the country saw the mercury reach 25C. The data suggests the October monthly record will be beaten by 2C.

The heat has led to yet another round of devastating wildfires in Spain, which has already been weary fighting such blazes throughout the summer months, which were the hottest on record.

Figures released last week by the European Commission's data analysis wing Eurostat show that extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves have caused 145bn worth of economic losses in just a decade across Europe.

Repeated heatwaves across the continent throughout this summer, coupled with drought conditions, led to the scarring of large tranches of land in the likes of France and Portugal. According to the European Commission, 2022 has broken previous records.

Meanwhile, the UN has warned that the world is currently on track for global warming of 2.8C, which secretary general Antonio Guterres said is economy-destroying levels of global heating. The Cop27 climate change summit meeting of world leaders, environmental scientists, and policymakers takes place in Egypt next week.

It will look to build on pledges made to cut emissions at the Cop26 event in Glasgow last November, with the most vulnerable nations in the face of climate change demanding better protection from larger emitting countries.
Drivers in Cork are not imagining things  traffic jams are almost back to the mind-bendingly frustrating levels that they were before Covid-19.

Strong anecdotal evidence has suggested that gridlock is becoming more and more frequent in and out of the citys arteries  and official data is now backing this up.

Hopes that the Covid pandemic would be a watershed moment for getting more people out of their cars and into public transport, walking, and cycling seem to have been misguided, official data and real-time analysis show.

According to real-time data from GPS firm TomTom for last week, congestion around Cork was higher than 2019 levels.

Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday were busier than the same days in 2019 for both mornings and evening, but Tuesday was the worst day. Friday evening was only slightly better than the same day before the pandemic years.

Tuesday congestion levels at 8am were up 58% compared to last year, and 17% compared to 2019, while in the evening rush hour, it was 80% higher than last year, and 56% higher than the year before the pandemic.

In 2021, Cork was ranked 87th in the world for congestion. TomTom calculated the congestion level at 29%, a three percentage point increase from the year before that.

A 29% congestion level means that on average, travel times were 29% longer than during the baseline non-congested conditions," TomTom said.

This means that a 30-minute trip driven in free-flow conditions will take nine minutes longer when the congestion level is at 29%.

Tuesday mornings are consistently the worst time to get caught in traffic in Cork, but Friday evenings between 3pm and 4pm is the absolute peak nightmare for those in their cars.

The data reveals that 109 hours, or four days and 13 hours, are lost by people sitting in their cars in traffic rush hours.

Dublin was the 35th worst for traffic in the world last year, while Limerick was 105th.

According to Central Statistics Office (CSO) data earlier this month, car traffic count data remained below 2019 figures, but only slightly.

A number of roadworks have been going on around Cork City and its environs in recent months, stretching out to commuter towns in the county, while minor flooding during the week also contributed to delays.
The Bishop of Kerry has apologised over a controversial homily delivered to parishioners in a Listowel church on Sunday, saying the views expressed were not representative of Christianity.

Bishop Ray Browne issued a statement on Tuesday morning saying he was aware of the deep upset and hurt caused by the contents of the homilies in question delivered over the weekend.

At a sermon delivered on Sunday, Fr Sean Sheehy said sexual sin was rampant, adding that sex between two men and two women was a sin, and that promiscuous behaviour was being promoted by the HSE.

Fr Sheehy had also delivered a similarly controversial homily at the Saturday vigil mass, according to Listowel locals.

"You rarely hear about sin but its rampant. Its rampant," Fr Sheehy told worshippers from the altar. He was deputising for parish priest Canon Declan O'Connor.

"We see it for example in the legislation of our Government. We see it in the promotion of abortion. We see it in the example of this lunatic approach of transgenderism. We see it for example in the promotion of sex between two men and two women. That is sinful. That is mortal sin," Fr Sheehy said.

This video from St Marys Church in Listowel is absolutely shocking. pic.twitter.com/VYHu3Ktc3d  Shane McAuliffe  (@ShaneMcAuliffe1) November 1, 2022

People seemed not to realise this was a sin, the priest said, adding people had a responsibility to seek out those who are lost and to call people to awareness that sin was destructive" and "detrimental and would lead us to hell.

A number of parishioners left the mass in protest and as people apparently left the congregation, Fr Sheehy said: Those of you who happen to be leaving today, God help you is all I have to say. God bless you who are here and worshipping God. God bless all of you."

Bishop Browne this morning apologised to all who were offended by Fr Sheehy.

"The views expressed do not represent the Christian position. The homily at a regular weekend parish Mass is not appropriate for such issues to be spoken of in such terms," he said.

"I regret that this has occurred while a parish pilgrimage to the Holy Land is taking place, the bishop added, in an apparent reference to the fact Canon OConnor is away on pilgrimage.

Fr Sheehy, who returned to Kerry from Baton Rouge in Louisiana in the US in 2007, has been embroiled in controversy before after he supplied a character reference for convicted sex offender Danny Foley of Listowel in Tralee Circuit Court in 2009.
Suella Braverman claimed there is an invasion of England by migrants crossing the Channel, as she faced calls to quit during a stormy Commons appearance.

The British home secretary said around 40,000 people have arrived on the south coast of England in 2022, more than double the number of arrivals via the English Channel in 2021.

After questions about overcrowding, she said several four-star hotels are being used to house migrants and suggested the accommodation is quite nice.

Ms Braverman later agreed with suggestions from Conservative MP Lee Anderson (Ashfield) that some migrants can get on a dinghy and go straight back to France if they believe the accommodation in the UK is not good enough.

MPs were told 6.8 million a day is spent on hotel accommodation for migrants.

The remarks came during a House of Commons statement from Ms Braverman on overcrowding at the Manston migrant holding centre in Kent and an update on the Western Jet Foil incident, which saw theDover immigration centre firebombed.

Ms Braverman, responding to questions and criticism from Labour, recounted her apology for errors that led to her initial resignation as Home Secretary a fortnight ago.

The British home secretary, who was reappointed to the role just days later, added: Lets be clear about what is really going on here: the British people deserve to know which party is serious about stopping the invasion on our southern coast and which party is not.

Some 40,000 people have arrived on the south coast this year alone. Many of them facilitated by criminal gangs, some of them actual members of criminal gangs.

So lets stop pretending that they are all refugees in distress. The whole country knows that is not true. Its only the honourable members opposite who pretend otherwise.

(PA Graphics)

We need to be straight with the public. The system is broken. Illegal migration is out of control and too many people are interested in playing political parlour games, covering up the truth than solving the problem.

Labour MPs heckled Ms Braverman, shouting that the Conservatives are responsible for such a state of affairs.

Ms Braverman also told MPs she is circumspect of Albanian migrants claiming to be modern slavery victims.

Labours Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough) described Ms Bravermans first spell as UK home secretary as disastrous and accused her of trying to defend cruelty towards the most desperate of people.

He added: Doesnt she need to take a look in the mirror to see who is a threat to national security and accept shes totally unfit for the job?

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper earlier said decision-making for cases of migrants has collapsed and raised allegations that Ms Braverman was warned by officials and other ministers that she was acting outside the law by failing to provide alternative accommodation.

The Labour MP also said 4,000 people are on the site at Manston designed to accommodate 1,600, adding: Conditions have been described as inhumane with risks of fire, disorder and infection.

There are confirmed diphtheria outbreaks, reports of scabies and MSRA outbreaks, also reports of outbreaks of violence and untrained staff.
Burma Family Killed in Myanmar Junta Shelling in Rakhine State

Regime soldiers and police in Kyauktaw Township, Rakhine State.

A teenager and her parents were killed by Myanmar junta shelling in Kyauktaw Township, Rakhine State, on Monday night, according to media reports.

Troops based in Kyauktaw fired more than 10 shells at villages in the township, Western News reported, citing residents.

U Soe Win, 45, his wife Daw Than Than Wai, 44, and their 13-year-old daughter Ma Phyoe Phyoe Wai of Pi Si village were killed in their sleep.

Four of their cows were killed and two others injured, according to the reports.

Other villagers fled into the forests. No clashes with the Arakan Army (AA) were reported in the area.

On October 19 Ma Nyein Nyein San, 14, was killed in Rathedaung Township in the state when troops indiscriminately shelled Byeintaw village. Again no clashes were reported.

Two civilians were injured on October 19 in Kyauktaw Township in the state when regime forces guarding a bridge used explosives and firearms to attack villagers following a blast at the bridge.

Three civilians, including a 50-year-old teacher, were killed in Minbya Township on October 18 when junta Battalions 380, 379 and 541 based in Minbya shelled four villages after troops were ambushed in the township.

An informal ceasefire in Rakhine State broke down last November between the AA and regime with clashes breaking out in Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Rathedaung, Kyauktaw, Minbya and Mrauk-U townships and neighboring Paletwa Township in Chin State.

Since September the regime has escalated attacks on civilian targets.

From August to October, 13 civilians were killed and over 40 injured by regime attacks on civilian targets in the state, according to Western News, which is monitoring the conflict.
Burma Myanmar Junta Ridiculed for Saying Jailed Politician, Deceased Karen Commander Involved in Pagoda Attack

The ousted NLD government's Mon State Chief Minister Dr. Aye Zan (right) and late KNU Brigade-1 Commander Saw Pa Lae

The Myanmar military junta is known internationally for its transparent lies. When it launched bloody crackdowns on peaceful anti-regime protesters last year, it referred to them as rioters and anarchic mobs trying to destabilize the country. After it conducted a deadly air strike on a school killing children as young as 7, the regime claimed the students classrooms were sheltering anti-regime armed resistance forces.

These are just a few examples of the regimes habit of coming up with lame excuses to cover its atrocities. They show that the Myanmar juntas incompetence knows no bounds: It cant even tell a decent lie, let alone run a country properly.

But on Monday things became downright farcical when the regime accused a person who has been locked up in its prisons for nearly two years, and another who has been dead for over a year, of involvement in the recent deadly shootings at the Golden Rock Pagoda in Mon State.

According to multiple reports citing witnesses, the fatal shooting that killed three pilgrims last month was committed by junta troops, who began firing indiscriminately after they were attacked by resistance forces.

However, the regime has insisted the attack on the pilgrims was carried out by the Karen National Union (KNU) and anti-regime People Defense Force groups active in Mon State.

In their desperation to persuade the public that junta forces were not involved, regime-controlled media published a junta statement along with some headshots of 11 people, claiming they were involved in the shooting. Photos of the ousted National League for Democracys Mon State Chief Minister Dr. Aye Zan and KNU Brigade-1 commander Saw Pa Lae were among them. The statement claimed that the attack was led by Aye Min Tun, who they said was the personal assistant of Dr. Aye Zan.

But there are two small problems with this account: Dr. Aye Zan has been in regime custody since he was detained in February last year and is currently serving a 21-year prison term in Mon States Kyaikmaraw Prison.

Even more absurdly, the KNU commander the regime accuses of being involved in the attack drew his last breath more than a year ago. In an obituary notice last year, the KNU announced that Saw Pa Lae died of hypertension on Aug. 9, 2021.

An official from KNU Brigade-1 said the regime had no idea whom they were accusing. They dont know the people they mentioned are either not alive or not outside [prison], the official said.

Unsurprisingly, the juntas announcement was ridiculed by Myanmar netizens.

I take my hat off to the regime for daring to say someone whos behind bars, and someone whos dead, were involved in the attack, write one Facebook user.
Burma Myanmar Regime Seizes 5 Medics for Supplying Resistance Fighters

Doctors and health workers hold a banner and signs as they take part in a protest against the military coup in front of the Chinese Embassy in Yangon on February 11, 2021. / AFP

Myanmars military junta detained five striking health workers from Mandalay on Saturday for allegedly supplying medicines to Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs) fighting the regime.

Those detained were U Min Zaw Oo, who teaches in the Surgical Department of Mandalays University of Medicine, midwife Ma Poe Thant Aung, and nurses Ma Zin Mar Win from Mandalay General Hospital and Ma Kyi Thadar Phyu and Ma Yun Nandar Aung from the 300-bed teaching hospital.

They were arrested after junta troops acting on a tip seized a six-wheeled vehicle carrying pharmaceutical supplies heading to Sagaing, a hotbed of the armed resistance movement.

The regime said the instructor, midwife and two nurses from the teaching hospital joined the civil disobedience movement (CDM) shortly after the coup. It said they had been providing healthcare services for PDFs in Chin State and Sagaing Region, as well as training in first aid, and supplies of medicines and food.

Nurse Ma Zin Mar Win was also supplying PDFs in Htilin Township, Sagaing, the junta said.

The regime also detained three staff of the Shwe Metta long-distance bus service, accusing them of arranging transportation of medical supplies to PDFs.

More than 160 packages of medical supplies and other consumer goods were seized from the vehicle.

It is not yet known what the detainees have been charged with. But the regime said it would pay a large reward for information leading to the arrest of their accomplices.

Forty-six anti-regime health workers have been killed and more than 580 detained or imprisoned, according to the August report of the parallel National Unity Governments Health Ministry.

Health workers were among the first to take to the streets in demonstrations against last years coup, and were also the first to come out on strike. Health workers from public hospitals across the country have joined anti-coup protests and some hospitals have even hung signs declaring they are CDM hospitals.

In the wake of the coup, more than 60,000 of the countrys 110,000 medical workforce including doctors, nurses and pharmacists joined the CDM. The mass strike brought an already understaffed health sector close to collapse.
Burma Gen. Tun Aung: The Top Gun Directing Myanmar Juntas Brutal Aerial War

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Myanmars junta has stepped up its campaign of airstrikes on both military and non-military targets in an effort to crush resistance across the country.

The resulting massacres of civilians have shocked people both here and abroad and sparked international condemnation. Targets of regime airstrikes in recent weeks include a school in Let Yet Kone Village of Depayin Township in Sagaing, and a concert held by the Kachin Independence Organization in Hpakant, Kachin State.

In the past, only people in strife-torn ethnic border areas had to dive for cover at the sight of military aircraft. Now, even those in the heartlands of Anyar Region are being forced to do the same.

Regime forces have conducted around 240 airstrikes targeting civilians since last years coup, killing more than 240 people, according to the parallel civilian National Unity Government.

The man responsible for this deadly air campaign sits in a heavily guarded war office in Naypyitaw.

As chief of the Air Force, General Tun Aung must be held accountable for indiscriminate aerial bombing of Anyar and ethnic areas.

Last Friday saw the graduation ceremony of the 84th intake of trainee air force pilots at Meiktila air base. Gathered there were the military officers responsible for the Kachin concert airstrike that killed at least 75 people on Oct. 23. But they didnt look guilty.

Addressing the event, General Tun Aung ordered the pilot graduates to do their duty unto death.

Tun Aung himself graduated from the Defense Services Academy 29th intake and was a classmate of the regimes recently deposed chief of police, Lieutenant-General Than Hlaing.

Apparently, his talent for aerial warfare determined his fate, eventually placing him at the bloody helm of the juntas campaign.

When Myanmars military decided to bolster its air force with Russia-made MIG 29 fighters in the 2000s, it dispatched pilots to undergo training in Russia  now the regimes largest arms supplier. Tun Aung was one of those sent to Russia.

He gained a reputation as a top gun in the air force and was the first among his intake to win promotion.

Still, he had a long way to climb before reaching the top of the ladder.

Meanwhile, the air force was bombing ethnic armies on the border and its munitions were sometimes straying into neighboring countries.

In one well-known case, air force chief of staff Major-General Lwin Oo was forced to step down after bombs landed in China during airstrikes on the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army in Shan States Kokang in 2015. Maj-Gen Lwin Oo is currently the Myanmar regimes ambassador to Russia.

He was succeeded as chief of staff by Maung Maung Kyaw, with Tun Aung still out of the picture.

But when General Khin Aung Myint retired as air force chief, Maung Maung Kyaw replaced him and Tun Aung became chief of staff.

The chief of staff is known as the crown prince, being second in command to the air force chief.

Gen Maung Maung Kyaw is the son of the late Gen Thura Kyaw Htin, who served as armed forces chief under the Myanmar Socialist Programme Party government of General Ne Win.

The general and his family amassed wealth by importing and supplying aircraft parts for the air force. The debonair air force chief was described by his juniors as a playboy.

His subordinates called him James Bond behind his back. But he preferred Tom Cruise, said one air force officer, referring to the Hollywood movie Top Gun starring Cruise as a pilot.

Following the juntas military crackdown and atrocities against civilians, armed resistance has spread beyond the autonomy-seeking ethnic states of Kachin, Karen and Kayah (Karenni) to central Myanmar, which has not witnessed large-scale fighting since independence.

After resistance mine attacks and ambushes inflicted heavy casualties on junta personnel, the regime has increasingly relied on its air force. Gen Maung Maung Kyaw ordered heavy airstrikes for nearly a year following the coup. He was allowed to retire in January for reasons not revealed by the regime but thought to be linked with his sex scandal involving a female pilot.

The purge of his two seniors, Lwin Oo and Maung Maung Kyaw, made way for Gen Tun Aung to take the blood-soaked seat.

General Tun Aung is a different type from the previous air force chief [Maung Maung Kyaw]. He is obedient and does not complain, said an officer from the Naypyitaw war office.

Tun Aung was a director of the military-owned Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd when he was appointed as air force chief. Two months after his appointment, he faced sanctions from Canada, the UK, and the US.

Under the rules of the sanctions, which were announced on Armed Forces Day in March, he must now be held accountable for the indiscriminate airstrikes across the country.

Under Tun Aungs command, the air force has escalated its brutal campaign against Myanmars people. Warplanes that are now directed by a talented pilot are inflicting heavier civilian casualties and damage, even crossing the border into Bangladesh and Thailand on bombing missions.

In January and February, the air force carried out four airstrikes on camps for internally displaced people in Demoso Township, Kayah State. Other attacks included an airstrike on Yin Paung Taing in Sagaing Regions Yinmarbin Township that killed at least 18; on a school in Let Yet Kone Village in Sagaings Depayin Township that left 13 civilians including seven children dead; the nighttime attack on the Kachin concert that killed at least 75 and injured many others; and a strike on the office of the peoples authority in Sagaings Pale Township that killed at least 16. And these are just some of the notorious airstrikes ordered under Gen Tun Aungs command.

Daily regime airstrikes and airborne raids in October killed more than 100 people, injured at least 130 and destroyed or damaged numerous homes.

Air force personnel are generally thought to be more educated and civilized than ground troops as they have to handle sophisticated technology. But the murderous attacks on a school, IDP camps and concert contradict this idea.

A retired military officer lamented that academic credentials had nothing to do with the slaughter.

In short, it is because they are brainwashed, he said.
War Against the Junta Myanmar Military Sustains Heavy Losses in Battle for Key Hill in Kachin State

Myanmar regime troops / AFP

In 10 days of fighting, the Myanmar juntas military has suffered heavy casualties as it attempts to capture key positions held by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Peoples Defense Force (PDF) groups on Lung Ja Bum hill, a strategic location in Momauk Township, Kachin State, according to local residents.

The military launched a ground and air assault on Lung Ja Bum, to the east of Momauk Town, on Oct. 22 and has been shelling the KIA and PDF forces there daily.

According to residents and sources in Bhamo district who are monitoring the fighting, the juntas military has suffered at least 80 casualties since the operation began. The combined KIA/PDF force has also seized weapons, ammunition, grenades and other explosives from military troops.

However, the KIAs spokesperson could not be reached Tuesday for an update on the clashes in Momauk Township, and the regime has yet to issue any reports on the battle.

The military troops are now retreating after failing at Lung Ja Bum [on Monday]. But it is not finished yet since junta forces could launch more air strikes, and the clashes could resume at any time, said a peace activist living in Bhamo Township who is monitoring the conflict in Bhamo district.

After the junta attacked the hill from the air for three days, a military column of 50 troops approached Lung Ja Bum, but a number of soldiers including a battalion commander were killed when they were ambushed with land mines, the residents said.

The junta shelling is taking a toll on civilians. Man Khon Village resident Daw Than Htay, 45, was killed by an artillery shell explosion on Oct. 26, according to a rescue team in Momauk.

Most of the people who have fled the villages are children and elderly persons. They are still in need of food, medicine, blankets and clothing, said a member of the team.

Some houses in Man Pon and Kha Nan villages were destroyed and at least two residents injured by junta shelling on Oct. 29.

However, residents and local volunteers have not been able to keep detailed records of civilian casualties or property damage. Military troops are also restricting their movements.

Since the fighting between the military and the combined forces of the KIA and local resistance groups escalated on Oct. 25, residents of villages in the area have been fleeing into Momauk town, with about 1,000 seeking shelter at churches and Buddhist monasteries there so far.
Telco Singtel Optus has indicated that it will pay only the administrative costs incurred by VicRoads in issuing new licences  and not the costs of the licences themselves  to the hundreds of thousands affected by the disastrous data leak suffered by the company.

A spokesperson from the telco said in response to a query asking whether it would pick up the tab for the licences: "Optus will cover the incremental costs to VicRoads associated with replacing Victorian drivers licences where customers had a valid license compromised as a result of the cyber attack."

When the company was asked for a more direct statement, the response was: "Sorry, but unfortunately this line is all we can provide at this time. We will be in contact should our situation change."

VicRoads issued a statement on Saturday, saying it would issue new driving licences to 342,000 people in the state who were affected by the massive data breach.

A total of 942,000 Victorian licence holders had their details compromised due to the breach.

Initially, the licence records of 462,000 Victorians, who had registered their details with VicRoads, would be flagged, it said.

Optus has also not paid a single cent towards replacement of passports that were compromised in the attack.

The Federal Government, which made a big noise about getting the telco to bear the costs of its own mistakes, has now gone quieter than a mouse in a cathedral.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on 28 September, six days after the breach announcement, that he had told Optus it must pay the costs for customers who want to replace their passports if their data was caught up in the breach.

Two days later, Albanese tweeted: "After actions taken by myself, @SenatorWong and @ClareONeilMP, Optus has agreed to pay for replacement passports for those affected by the data breach."

After that, Albanese appears to have had other things occupying his mind. Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil, who initially was extremely robust in her statements about the breach, has also fallen silent.

Australia has recently witnessed nine data breaches in a little over a month, these being at Optus, Telstra, G4S, Costa Group, Dialog, MyDeal, EnergyAustralia, Medibank Group and Medlab.
GUEST OPINION Today marks the last day of Cybersecurity Awareness Month and what a month its been. Thanks to the ongoing fallout from a high-profile spate of cyber-attacks in Australia during October, cybersecurity awareness has perhaps never been higher among the public and anyone who relies on the web for their work.

The big theme of this years Cybersecurity Awareness Month was Have You Been Hacked?: an important campaign telling consumers the vital steps they need to take to protect themselves such as turning on automatic software updates, to backing up devices, switching on multi-factor authentication, and watching out for cyber scams.

But, as the big cyber-attacks have highlighted all too clearly, the question Have You Been Hacked? is just as pressing for businesses and organisations. The incidents have served as a stark reminder for Boards, Chief Technology Officers, and Chief Security Officers that they not only need to know how to answer the question of have you been hacked? but also what are you going to do about it when you are?

As many a company today will attest, the cost of a data breach is huge, resulting in financial loss, business disruption, and damage to reputation, which can result in stringent regulatory actions.

But, as fatalistic as it sounds, letting go of the idea that you can prevent every attack is the first step toward optimising your ability to recover when every second counts.

Indeed, if this is truly to be the reckoning Boards needed to fully confront the issue head on, their biggest need is to develop what we call cyber resilience.

Here are four simple steps to make a start:

The need of the hour is, firstly, to identify your crown jewels, in other words, which technology infrastructure is vital to operate as a minimally viable company, and then monitor it as the top priority.



Any modernisation projects, be it adding an application, API integrations, or moving to the cloud, must factor in the security and cyber resilience up front and not after the fact.



You must define your cyber recovery point objective (the maximum amount of data you can afford to lose, for instance, only ten minutes worth of data) and your recovery time objective (how long can your business afford to be down for business).



You must run a business impact analysis and risk analysis on your service level agreements (SLAs) with your IT and security providers to distinguish between disaster recovery  such as a flood knocking out your primary data centre in Sydney and switching to one in Milton  and recovery from cyber-attacks. Many people wrongly think disaster recovery mechanisms will protect them from severe cyber-attacks, but they may not. A cyber-attack is different; it is likely a malicious activity that means your data is still available but that it has been compromised and is of no use.

For many years, the industry has focused on risk identification, prevention, detection, and response. Because of this, many industry professionals, never wanted to admit that we couldnt achieve 100% protection, that recovery was inevitable.

The evolution to resilience creates a risk pragmatism that is long overdue. We cant protect everything  and we should not want to.

We should make 2022 the year that the business community and policymakers collectively embrace cyber resilience principles and prepare our economy and democratic institutions to survive and thrive despite the threats that await us.

What better time to start than today, the last day of Cybersecurity Awareness Month?
COMPANY NEWS: Freshworks Inc . (NASDAQ: FRSH), a software company empowering the people who power business, today announces Freshservice for Business Teams , which enables departments outside of the IT function like HR, facilities, legal and finance to securely provide uninterrupted service delivery within each department. Freshworks will host a virtual event on 9th November to demo a variety of new product innovations.

Launching Freshservice for Business Teams  an enterprise service management solution (ESM)  builds on Freshworkss mission of helping every employee thrive with modern, easy, affordable products.

Thousands of Freshworks customers already use Freshservice beyond IT to support internal stakeholders, said Prakash Ramamurthy, chief product officer at Freshworks. With Freshservice for Business Teams, companies of all sizes can benefit from service management principles in non-IT departments. Every part of the business deserves uninterrupted service delivery.

What makes Freshservice for Business Teams unique is its workspaces modules that empower the HR team or finance manager with the ability to securely manage and automate tasks using the Freshservice capabilities they specifically need. Multiple teams can coexist in one Freshservice instance and delegate administration to ensure business functions only see the data and capabilities relevant to their department.

In addition to extending service management beyond IT, Freshworks continues to invest in IT operations management capabilities to strengthen existing capabilities and help IT teams keep the business up and running. These include alert management notifications via WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams and the Freshservice mobile app (iOS and Android). Access to these channels streamlines incident management and enables 24x7 agent availability, resulting in faster resolution of critical incidents.



"In addition to Freshservice delivering everything required to support 70 agents and 1300 end-users a month, we also use the platform to support two other corporate teams  facilities management and accounting," said Robert Lyons, chief technology officer at Katz Media Group. "Our success with Freshworks goes beyond the IT use cases thanks to the ease-of-use and flexibility of the platform."

To learn more about the Freshworks launch, visit the Freshworks website or join us for our virtual event on 9th November to learn more about our new collection. Registration is open.
COMPANY NEWS: The Pearcey Foundation today announced founder and CEO of FiberSense, Dr Mark Englund, as the recipient of the 2022 NSW Pearcey Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Founded in 2015, FiberSense provides SONAR-like sensing capabilities to be switched on over existing optical fibre telecoms cables both on land and at sea. This SONAR sensitivity is continuous over the entire length of the cables, providing awareness of objects and events in the vicinity of the fibre cable infrastructure. Real time object and event data is delivered by location and time and is acquired by customers as a service. The FiberSense service is being taken up by the worlds most valuable companies including Amazon, Google and Meta.

The NSW Pearcey Awards recognise outstanding ICT professionals who have demonstrated innovation, taken risks, made a difference and are an inspiration to others in the industry and the wider community. Finalists for the award this year alongside Dr Mark Englund were Rupert Taylor-Price, Siobhan Savage, James and Robbie Ferguson, and Justus Hammer.

Our judging committee was impressed by Marks ability to leverage his own domain expertise both to commercialise deep technology and bring technology research to life. The solutions he and his team have developed at FiberSense are positively impacting society and inspiring technologists, said Benjamin Chong, partner at Right Click Capital and chair of the NSW Pearcey judging committee.

Dr Mark Englund, BENG PHD MAICD

Darwin-born and raised, Mark has always been fascinated with technology and in the last 20 years he has built two international deep tech businesses that have taken him around the world in areas like sonar, optical fibre networks, cloud, data centres and submarine cables.

An engineering graduate of Charles Darwin University, who says that he was fortunate to have parents who promoted the value in education, thinking big and backing yourself, Mark relocated to Adelaide to work at the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), before moving on again to Sydney to complete a PhD at the University of Sydney. Mark is now based in Sydney as the founder, executive director and CEO of multi award-winning sensing as a service company  FiberSense.

FiberSense has recently won a series of awards for its asset protection products in the 2022 CommsDay Edison Awards and the peak telecoms industry annual Acomm Awards. FiberSense was runner-up for Best Subsea Innovation at the 2022 Global Carrier Awards. FiberSense has also released functionality that can identify speeding vehicles, earthquake early warning alerts and high-resolution seismic measurement and tsunami detection. Mark and the FiberSense team have raised a total of $55 million in funding from high profile US and Australian investors, including Bevan Slattery. FiberSense has grown rapidly and is valued today at around $250 million with teams and deployments across 15 cities and 8 countries.

FibreSense recently announced a three-month field trial with nbn exploring the use of FiberSense DigitalAsset sensing services to detect certain vibrational frequencies on fibre, along with artificial intelligence to determine whether the activities causing those vibrations are likely to cause accidental damage.

We are thrilled by the rapid growth in demand for our sensing capability amongst telecoms operators. The nbn trial marks a further step forward in meeting our aspirations to scale globally. We aim to be operating on all the worlds preeminent fibre networks and Australias nbn is certainly recognised as one of the best of the best amongst other national operators, said Mark.

Marks first business, founded in 2001, developed and manufactured novel optical filtering technology that enabled both terrestrial and submarine telecoms cables to function over very long distances. The company was acquired by the US submarine telecom cable supplier TE SubCom in 2010.

Mark has also been a mentor to first-time start up founders and undergraduate engineering students over the years. His commitment to rewarding high-quality academic achievement is seen directly in the almost 20% of the FiberSense team having masters or PhD qualifications. Mark's passion for commercialising the opportunities arising from focused research is notable.

For more information about previous NSW Pearcey Entrepreneur of the Year Award recipients, go to https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pearcey.org.au/nsw&source=gmail&ust=1667395226328000&usg=AOvVaw3M8wtLohH-bgCSoNVqwLwy">https://pearcey.org.au/nsw.

Other State Awards

ACT Awards: the ACT Award was presented to Instaclustr co-founders Ben Bromhead and Adam Zegelin at an event in Canberra. See the full announcement at https://prwire.com.au/pr/ 105462/delivering-more-than- the-sum-of-its-parts- instaclustr-co-founders-ben- bromhead-and-adam-zegelin- receive-2022-act-chief- ministers-pearcey- entrepreneur-award.

QLD Awards: Rebecca McDonald, founder and CEO of Library for All, and Sarah-Jane Peterschlingmann, managing director and owner of ATech, were announced as joint recipients of the 2022 Queensland ICT Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The original press release is at https://www.google.com/url?q=https://prwire.com.au/pr/105489/2022-queensland-pearcey-ict-entrepreneur-award-recognises-two-award-winning-female-entrepreneurs&source=gmail&ust=1667395226328000&usg=AOvVaw0tsaxAR-N9LFyN8R6QBPiV">https://prwire.com.au/pr/105489/2022-queensland-pearcey-ict-entrepreneur-award-recognises-two-award-winning-female-entrepreneurs.

South Australian Awards: nominations can be submitted at https://www.pearcey.org.au/ awards/nominations/state- nomination-form.

Tasmanian Awards: held in conjunction with the national awards, the Tasmanian Awards are on 11 November 2022. Nominations can be submitted at https://www.pearcey.org.au/ awards/nominations/state- nomination-form.

Jason Lohrey, CEO and founder of Arcitecta was announced as the 2022 Pearcey Victorian Entrepreneur Award at an event in Melbourne that also featured the 2022 Pearcey Oration, which was given by The Honourable Ed Husic MP, Federal Minister for Industry and Science. See further https://prwire.com.au/pr/ 105051/technology-achievement- inspired-by-the-arts- arcitectas-jason-lohrey- receives-the-2022-pearcey- victorian-entrepreneur-award.

The 2022 Western Australian Pearcey Award was presented to Global Drone Solutions Mahmood Hussein as part of the 31st WAITTA Incite Awards on Friday 12 August 2022. More information here: https://prwire.com.au/pr/ 104607/global-drone-solutions- mahmood-hussein-top-gun-in- western-australian-pearcey- awards.

National Pearcey Awards

The recipients of the prestigious 2022 Pearcey National Awards  including the Pearcey Medal, Hall of Fame and National Entrepreneur Award  will be announced at the TasICT Gala Dinner in Hobart on Friday 11 November. More information on the event and registration details can be found at https://www.tasict.com.au/ event/2022-gala-dinner.

About the Pearcey Foundation

The Pearcey Foundation Inc. is a non-profit organisation established in 1998 to raise the profile of the Australian Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry and profession. It was created in the memory of one of the greatest pioneers of the Australian ICT industry, Dr Trevor Pearcey. By celebrating the heroes in our industry, past, present and future, the Foundation is looking to attract and encourage young Australians into this most exciting of global, high technology sectors of our nation.

Web: www.pearcey.org.au

Twitter:@Pearcey org

LinkedIn: Pearcy Foundation #PearceyAwards
GUEST OPINION: In todays modern world, an IT system has become an essential part of your business. It can handle your organizations activities and ensure they work effectively and smoothly. When the IT system experiences downtime, it may cause an adverse impact on your business, including significant financial losses. As such, ensuring your IT system is running properly is essential.

However, like other aspects of your business operations, your IT infrastructure may also need an improvement or overhaul, especially if it starts providing your company with outdated IT systems and vulnerability to cybersecurity threats. But how are you going to do that? This is where conducting an IT assessment enters into the picture.

Generally, an IT assessment refers to the process of evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of an organizations IT system. Its designed to inform the company about the things that need to be improved, and it's also used to analyze the organizations data security vulnerabilities. However, with these things being said, you may wonder why and when your business should perform an IT assessment.

Today, doing an IT assessment can be important for your business due to the following reasons:

It Helps Bolster Cybersecurity

With the increasing number of cybercriminals, conducting an IT assessment can help you establish cybersecurity requirements for your company. It can enable you to determine your IT system's vulnerabilities and develop solutions to strengthen your IT defences against cyberattacks.

Thankfully, there are many companies or organizations out there that can help you assess your IT infrastructure. For example, you may partner with professionals that provide managed IT services in Manhattan or wherever your business may be located for assistance.

It Helps Make Your Company More Efficient

An IT assessment can also improve the efficiency of your organization by evaluating your IT components, such as hardware and software and making sure theyre not outdated. Also, when you perform an IT assessment, you can improve certain aspects of your IT infrastructure that may cause it to slow down and compel your employees to stop working to fix the issues.

Consequently, you can keep running an efficient system, increasing productivity and revenues.

It Allows You To Stay On Top Of The Competition

In this digital world, many businesses have started to improve their IT systems to prevail over the competition. That said, conducting an IT assessment is crucial to know how you can enhance your IT infrastructure to stay on top of your competitors.

By assessing the strengths and weaknesses of your system, you can develop solutions that keep pace with the ones that work in the IT industry. Fortunately, there are professionals like managed IT service providers who can effectively do the job for you. But if youre planning to hire one, you may need to consider factors like the managed IT services pricing to find the provider that suits your budget.

Instances When Your Business Should Conduct An IT Assessment

Now that you know the reasons for performing an IT assessment, its time to familiarize yourself with the instances when you should go through this process. Heres when you should consider an IT assessment for your business:

Your IT System Has Become Vulnerable To Cyberattacks

Many cybercriminals continue to look for ways to infiltrate your companys IT system. When they become successful, your business may end up losing money and having a damaged reputation in the eyes of your clients.

Thus, if you feel like your system is no longer safe and secure from cybercriminals, then its time to do an IT assessment. That way, youll know the problem with your systems security and take steps to hunt cyberthreats and strengthen your IT security.

Your Business Is No Longer Updated With The Latest IT Technologies

The IT industry continuously looks for innovations to help businesses with their IT needs. But you may be in considerable trouble if your company doesnt get hold of the latest technologies that can help it generate more revenues.

For this reason, your business must do an IT assessment to determine what essential tools youre missing out on to improve your companys efficiency. With this process in place, your IT team will keep abreast of the latest trends and technologies that work perfectly for businesses.

Your Employees Can No Longer Perform Their Tasks Due To IT Problems

Your business will more likely suffer in terms of productivity if your employees cant perform their jobs. Hence, if your company is suffering from this problem, it may make sense to conduct an IT assessment. That way, you can determine if your IT technologies are already obsolete and need an update. When this happens, your employees will no longer be forced to stop working due to IT challenges.

Conclusion

Your IT system is crucial for the success of your business. Without this technology, your company may not become as efficient and profitable as it should be. Fortunately, an IT assessment may help ensure your IT system is running perfectly. So, if youve considered this process for your business, keep the information mentioned above in mind. That way, youll know why you should assess your IT system and when its the right time to do it.
COMPANY NEWS: Artificial intelligence compliance software specialist Castlepoint Systems co-founder and CEO Rachael Greaves has been named the RegTech Female Entrepreneur of the Year.

Greaves award was one of two presented to Castlepoint Systems, with the company awarded RegTech of the Year (Australian founded).

Announced at the RegTech Awards Gala Dinner, the Awards underpin The RegTech Association's mission to create a global centre of excellence and to accelerate RegTech adoption across regulated eco-systems.

Judged by expert cross-industry panel, the Awards celebrate the associations members who have achieved the greatest impact over the last year.

I am thrilled to be named the Female Entrepreneur of the Year for 2022, said Greaves.

"The awards are a great honour and its a real privilege to be named a winner and recognised for our business growth, innovation, contribution and our active participation that benefits the entire RegTech community.

I am also very proud of our Castlepoint team, our company and our mission, and to be recognised by the judges as the Australian Founded RegTech of 2022 is very humbling and rewarding.

The RegTech Association encourages more women into RegTech and by giving the Female Entrepreneur Award they play an active role in ensuring increased gender equity.

"We must strive to achieve an equitable gender balance and employ people who represent community demographics, including younger and older people, indigenous people, migrants, people with a disability, and LGBTQIA+ people, adds Greaves.

We must actively approach people who represent diverse attributes for consideration in our recruitment activities, to ensure the candidate pool is representative of the community. Although hiring decisions resulting from these activities will be based on merit, if women and other minorities are not represented in the recruitment round, none of their inherent merit can be noticed or nurtured.

Greaves also feels men must be supported to help challenge outdated and damaging ideas about parenting, care, and service in the community.

When men are not empowered and encouraged to take leave for these reasons, women in their families are left to carry the weight, perpetuating the cycle of exclusion from the workplace, she says.

We must also support men to carry their share of emotional labour in the workplace, including working to make all their colleagues feel included and valued.

It may seem counterintuitive, but my advice for other women in my position is to keep doing what we have always doneexpend some of our time and bandwidth helping others. Our investment in the next generation of men and women in RegTech will pay dividends in the future."

A full list of the RegTech Award winners can be found here.

About Castlepoint Systems

Castlepoint is a software solution that manages all the information in an organisations business systems. It automatically registers every digital record regardless of location or format and uses Artificial Intelligence to classify it against rules and regulations (including secrecy provisions, privacy rules, and Records Authorities for example) and apply appropriate lifecycle controls.

It acts as a single interface to find, relate, manage, and audit every record in an organisations network, no matter what system it is stored in, and it does this without any impact on existing systems or users, and without complex rules engines. This allows governance teams to finally have a complete view across the whole environment, and to apply security, discovery and compliance processes to every single system from a single interface.
Now, SNP has announced the launch of EXAs next-generation Product Carbon Footprint solution: SNP PCF is a cradle-to-gate solution that builds a global bill of material for each product based on finance and logistics data from source SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. This allows businesses to assign carbon emissions to the most granular level of activities such as procurement of each material from external suppliers as well as every value-added activity within the company.



Gerald Faust, managing director and CEO, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East, SNP, said, SNP PCF is a new milestone in the continued expansion of SNPs software portfolio in the SAP environment, which already includes data transformation, data management, and analytics. With the new solution, SNP is contributing to the worlds target of reducing the carbon footprint by 45 per cent and achieving net zero by 2050[1].

Divya Vir Rastogi, CEO and co-founder, EXA, said, There is an urgent need for manufacturers to address the challenge of decarbonisation. Proper carbon footprint determination and management not only happens at the level of single products but down to the level of each individual material and production activity. Only then, carbon emissions can be assigned correctly and rolled up to the product level. While carbon emission values can be secured from suppliers or from life cycle assessment (LCA) databases, companies can assign actual emission values to various activities. Most industry sectors struggle with getting reliable and verifiable data to build a global bill of materials to quantify CO2 emissions for their products. SNP PCF delivers the data they need and helps quantify greenhouse emissions associated with products.



About SNP

SNP is a world-leading provider of software for managing complex digital transformation processes. Instead of traditional IT consulting in the ERP environment, SNP offers an automated approach using specially developed software: The Data Transformation Platform CrystalBridge(R) and the SNP BLUEFIELDTM approach allows companies to restructure and modernise their IT landscapes much more quickly and securely as well as migrate to new systems or cloud environments more securely. This gives customers clear qualitative advantages while at the same time reducing their time and costs.



The SNP Group has around 1,300 employees worldwide. The company is headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, and generated revenues of around EUR 167 million in the 2021 fiscal year. It serves multinational companies in all industries. SNP was established in 1994, went public in 2000, and has been listed in the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since August 2014 (ISIN DE0007203705). Since 2017, the company has been trading as a European company (Societas Europaea/SE).

More information is available at www.snpgroup.com and www.exa-ag.com.



[1] https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/net-zero-coalition
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
The Tax Court held that the value of checks written prior to but paid after a decedents date of death were includible in the decedents gross estate.

Facts: William E. DeMuth Jr. was domiciled in Pennsylvania when he died testate on Sept. 11, 2015. He had executed a power of attorney in January 2007 giving his son, Donald DeMuth, authority to make gifts to family members up to the amount of the annual federal gift tax exclusion. Donald consistently made these gifts from 2007 to 2014. By September 2015, Williams health deteriorated. On Sept. 6, 2015, five days prior to Williams death, Donald wrote 11 gift checks totaling $464,000 from Williams investment account at Mighty Oak Strong America Investment Co. Of these 11 checks, one was deposited and paid by Mighty Oak prior to Williams death, three checks were deposited on the date of death and paid by Mighty Oak on Sept. 14, and the remaining seven checks were deposited and paid post-death. In short, Mighty Oak did not pay 10 of the 11 checks, totaling $436,000, until after Williams death.

On the decedents Form 706, United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return, Donald, as executor of his fathers estate, excluded the value of all 11 checks that were written on Sept. 6, 2015, and reported the value of the Mighty Oak account as $442,639. The IRS issued a notice stating that the Mighty Oak account was undervalued by $436,000, which equaled the value of the 10 checks that were paid after Williams death. The estate filed a Tax Court petition.

Issues: Sec. 2033 states that a decedents gross estate includes the value of all property to the extent of the interest therein of the decedent at the time of his death. Regs. Sec. 20.2031-5 states that the amount of cash belonging to the decedent at the date of his death, whether in his possession or in the possession of another, or deposited with a bank, is included in the decedents gross estate. Regs. Sec. 25.2511-2(b) states that a gift is not complete until the donor has parted with dominion and control as to leave him no power to change its disposition.

In determining whether the decedent had parted with dominion and control and therefore had made completed gifts, the court looked to the law in Williams home state of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania defines an inter vivos gift as having a clear, satisfactory, and unmistakable intention of the giver to part with and surrender dominion over the subject of the gift, with an intention to invest the donee with the right of disposition beyond recall, accompanied by an irrevocable delivery, actual or constructive. Accordingly, mere delivery of a check does not complete a gift (In re Melliers Estate, 182 A. 388 (Pa. 1936)). The court noted that so long as the drawer of a check can make a stop-payment order on that check, the delivery of the check is revocable. Although the drawer of a check may very well have the intention to invest the payee with the right of disposition beyond recall, if that intention is not coupled with an irrevocable delivery, the drawer has not surrendered dominion and the gift is incomplete under Pennsylvania law.

The court further looked to state law to understand at what point a drawer of a check is unable to make a stop-payment order, as that will dictate the time in which the gift of a check becomes irrevocable and complete. The court concluded that because Mighty Oak had not accepted, certified, or made final payment (13 Pa. Cons. Stat. 4303(a) (2015)) on any of the 10 checks, the possibility of a stop-payment order remained so that the gifts were to be construed as incomplete and, therefore, includible in the decedents gross estate.

However, the court was unable to stop its analysis there, due to a recurring error in terminology by both parties. Both sides mistakenly used the term drawee bank (the entity ordered by the drawer to make payment) when referring to the depository bank (the entity the payee uses to deposit the check). In its opening brief, the IRS conceded that the three checks (totaling $70,000) deposited by the payees on the day William died were not includible in his estate, seemingly because they were credited by drawee banks prior to Williams death. The court deemed this concession erroneous because simply depositing a check at a depository bank does not complete a gift; the drawee bank must also relinquish the funds. Nevertheless, the court ruled that the IRS concession stood because its withdrawal would be prejudicial to the petitioner.

Holding: Based on applicable law, the court would have ruled that the full value of all 10 checks ($436,000) should be includible in the decedents estate.

However, due to the IRSs erroneous concession rooted in a misunderstanding of the terms of art between a depository bank and a drawee bank, the court held that only the total value of the seven checks not deposited by the date of death ($366,000) was includible in the decedents estate.

 Estate of DeMuth, T.C. Memo. 2022-72

 David R. Silversmith, CPA, CFP, CFE, is a senior tax manager in Hauppauge, N.Y.; Mani Gupta, CPA, is a senior tax manager in Cranford, N.J.; and Bhakti Shah, CPA, J.D., is a partner in Cranford, N.J., all with PKF OConnor Davies LLP.
Talks between the Ethiopian government and the rebel authorities in Tigray aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to their devastating two-year conflict were continuing Monday, sources familiar with the discussions said.

The negotiations led by the African Union began last Tuesday in South Africa, the first formal dialogue to try to end a war that has killed many thousands of people and unleashed a desperate humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia.

In an interview with Chinese state media, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed voiced hope that peace could be achieved, without making any direct reference to the talks underway in Pretoria.

"We're working towards peace, we are trying to convince the TPLF (Tigray People's Liberation Front) to respect the law of the land, to respect the constitution and to act as one state in Ethiopia," Abiy told the English-language CGTN news channel in an undated interview posted on Twitter.

"Of course if there are lots of interventions from left and right, that is very difficult," he said.

"Ethiopians should understand, we can solve our own issue by ourselves. And instead of listening from afar, better to respect our own law, better to respect our own culture, better to respect our own (customs)," he said.

"If we could do that, peace is achievable. I hope we'll achieve that."

Since the negotiations began, intense fighting has continued unabated in Tigray, where government troops backed by the Eritrean army and regional forces have been waging artillery bombardments and air strikes, capturing a string of towns from the rebels.

The international community has voiced deep alarm over the combat and the human cost it has exacted on civilians caught in the crossfire.

Abiy said that in towns in Tigray now under the control of Ethiopian forces, such as Axum and neighbouring Adwa, the government was providing humanitarian aid but did not elaborate.

South Africa had initially said the discussions between the federal government and the Tigrayans would run until Sunday, but they remain shrouded in secrecy.

Ebba Kalondo, spokeswoman for AU Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat, said in a message to AFP that "there was no date limitation put on the talks".

A diplomat with knowledge of the discussions confirmed to AFP that the talks were continuing on Monday, but added: "They are very strict about confidentiality."

A source close to the Tigrayan delegation in South Africa had told AFP at the weekend that the talks would likely continue until Tuesday.

- Humanitarian response 'constrained' -

Diplomatic efforts to try to bring the government and the rebels to the negotiating table gathered pace after combat resumed in late August, torpedoing a five-month truce that had allowed limited amounts of aid into Tigray.

The international community is calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, humanitarian access to Tigray where many face hunger, and a withdrawal of Eritrean forces, whose return to the battleground has raised fears of renewed atrocities against civilians.

The conflict erupted on November 4, 2020, when Abiy sent troops into Tigray after accusing the TPLF, the regional ruling party, of attacking federal army camps.

Since then, the fighting in Africa's second most populous country has forced well over two million people from their homes, and according to US estimates, killed as many as half a million.

UN children's agency UNICEF said in a report issued at the weekend that about 574,000 people alone had been displaced in Tigray as well as the neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara since combat resumed in late August.

"Insecurity and restrictions on the movement of aid continue to constrain the humanitarian response across the three regions," it said.

Tigray remains largely closed off to the outside world with no communications and a shortage of food, fuel and medicines, while access to northern Ethiopia is restricted for journalists.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday reported that cases of malaria had increased by 80 percent in Tigray compared to a year ago.

And according to the UN's World Food Programme, the rate of global acute malnutrition among children under five in Tigray is 29 percent.

Last week, Amnesty International said every party involved in the war had committed crimes against humanity.

"Documented violations of human rights violations... (include) rapes, sexual violence... lootings, torture and extrajudicial killings," Fisseha Tekle, an Amnesty specialist on Ethiopia and Eritrea, told a press conference in Nairobi.
Prosecutors in France's first trial of a participant in Liberia's bloody civil wars on Monday sought a life sentence for a former rebel commander accused of crimes against humanity.

The allegations against Kunti Kamara, 47, date back to 1993 and 1994, early years in the back-to-back conflicts that would ultimately kill 250,000 people between 1989 and 2003.

The fighting was marked by mass murders, rape and mutilations, in many cases by child soldiers conscripted by warlords, with atrocities against civilians common.

Kamara was a regional commander of the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO), a rebel group that fought the National Patriotic Front of ex-president Charles Taylor.

He is accused of torture, complicity in crimes against humanity, civilian executions, facilitating the rape of two teenage girls, cannibalism and organising forced marches.

Prosecution lawyer Aurelie Belliot told the Paris criminal court that Kamara's crimes "destroyed lives, and their seriousness were an attack on all humanity".

"Your verdict will be historic and your decision and the sentence you pronounce will be scrutinised in Liberia and elsewhere," she said.

Another lawyer, Claire Thouault, said "the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes that humanity has known" was at the heart of the trial, drawing parallels with the prosecution of Nazi officials after World War II.

- 'Governance by terror' -

Prosecutors described ULIMO's control of Lofa county in northwestern Liberia in the 1990s as a "governance by terror" which Kamara allegedly took part in.

Belliot spoke of public executions, the distribution of human flesh and intestines used to mark checkpoints.

The defendant has denied the allegations throughout the investigation. On Monday, Kamara's defence team denounced a "smokescreen" and said there was insufficient proof against him.

A truth and reconciliation commission was set up in 2006 to probe crimes committed during the war, but its recommendations, published in 2009, have remained largely unimplemented in the name of keeping the peace.

And many warlords who were incriminated are still considered heroes in their communities.

The case was brought by the crimes against humanity division of the Paris court, which was set up in 2012 to try suspected perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide detained on French soil, irrespective of where their alleged crimes were committed.

This is the first case taken by the unit that is not related to the 1994 Rwanda genocide. A verdict is expected on Wednesday.

So far only a handful of people have been convicted in Liberia itself for their part in the conflict, and efforts to establish a war crimes court in the country have stalled.

Former Liberian warlord-turned-president Taylor was imprisoned in 2012, but for war crimes committed in neighbouring Sierra Leone, not in his own country, where he also rampaged.

Other former participants in the Liberian wars have been tried abroad in recent years.
Independent experts investigating the disappearance of 43 Mexican students in 2014 raised concerns on Monday about apparent inconsistencies in an official inquiry into the tragedy, which shocked the nation.

In August, a truth commission tasked by the government to investigate the atrocity branded it a "state crime" and said that the military shared responsibility, either directly or through negligence.

The Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI) questioned the credibility of purported WhatsApp messages presented by the commission as apparent evidence of collusion between criminals and authorities.

"It's not possible to guarantee the authenticity of the messages," which were shared as screen shots, a member of the group, Francisco Cox, told reporters.

The GIEI, created in 2014 under an agreement between Mexico and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, expressed concern that the government was trying "to speed up the results" without a full investigation.

The experts noted that some of the messages purportedly sent before the students disappeared had two blue ticks indicating they had been read -- a feature only later introduced by WhatsApp.

Last week, the truth commission's head, deputy interior minister Alejandro Encinas, said that of 154 screen shots, 99 were consistent with other evidence and 55 were not.

The teaching students had commandeered buses in the southern state of Guerrero to travel to a demonstration in Mexico City before they went missing.

Investigators believe that they were detained by corrupt police and handed over to a drug cartel that mistook them for members of a rival gang, but exactly what happened to them is unclear.

One theory put forward by the truth commission is that cartel members targeted the students because they had unknowingly taken a bus with drugs hidden inside.

An official report presented in 2015 by the government of then-president Enrique Pena Nieto concluded that cartel members killed the students and incinerated their remains at a garbage dump.

Those findings, which did not attribute any responsibility to members of the armed forces, were rejected by relatives and independent experts.

So far, the remains of only three victims have been identified.

Prosecutors announced in August that arrest warrants had been issued for more than 80 suspects, including military personnel and police officers, but so far only a handful of them have been detained.
NEW YORK, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)  Attorney Advertising  Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is notifying investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Rite Aid Corporation (Rite Aid or the Company) (NYSE : RAD) and certain of its officers on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Rite Aid securities between April 14, 2022 and September 28, 2022, both dates inclusive (the Collection Period). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the companys website: www.bgandg.com/rad.

This class action seeks damages against the defendants for alleged violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act).

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants made materially false and misleading statements about the Companys business, operations and prospects throughout the class period. Specifically, the Defendants provided false and/or misleading information and/or failed to disclose: (1) despite claims to the contrary, the number of new members (i.e., lives) that the Elixir PBM service business added during the Sales Season, which ended January 1, 2023 was essentially in decline; (2) Rite Aid would likely recognize a significant goodwill impairment charge related to Elixir due to a decrease in the lives covered by Elixirs PBM services business; and (3) as a result, the Companys public statements were, at all relevant times, materially false and misleading.

A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you would like to see a copy of the complaint, you can visit the firms website: www.bgandg.com/rad or contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 212-697-6484. If you suffered a loss at Rite Aid, you have until December 19, 2022 to request that the court appoint you lead plaintiff. Your ability to participate in a recovery doesnt require you to serve as a lead
Jeon So Min is known for her quirky participation in "Running Man," a show filled with laughter and bond. She has also now a beautiful list of filmography, boasting her versatility. But did you know that she was treated differently when she was still a rookie? Here's what we know!

Jeon So Min Reveals Horrible Treatment During Rookie Years

Now that she's one of the most successful stars in the industry, Jeon So Min looks back and recalls her humble beginnings during her rookie days!

Jeon So Min has now a number of successful dramas and television programs that she can be proud of including "Something About 1 Percent," "Show Window: The Queen's House," "Running Man," "Sixth Sense" and more.

In a recent Instagram post, the actress made a video of her photos from her old Cyworld account-a place where an idol or an actress interacts with fans in the early 2010s.

Jeon So Min's youthful beauty decorated the video, impressing many fans and viewers. Her distinctive facial features were loved by fans.

But despite the bright persona she shows on Cyworld, Jeon So Min was in a dark place at the time the photos were taken. According to the actress, she was treated horribly by a director when she was still an unknown actress.

Jeon So Min was cast as the main character of a one-act drama before and she revealed that the director in charge always used harsh words around her. The director hated her and hit her every time she made mistakes during filming.

When the abuse felt so painful to handle, Jeon So Min tried to escape by hailing a cab in Gangwon. However, she was caught by the director and was forced to finish filming without being paid.

Jeon So Min has never filed a case against the director and has moved on from the incident. Thankfully, she received her much deserved break after spending a decade being a no-name star. Now, the actress boasts a diverse filmography that proves her versatility and endless charms.

Where To See More of Jeon So Min

After the success of her dramas "Show Window: The Queen's House" and "Hee Soo," which both showed her top notch acting skills, Jeon So Min finally made her silver screen comeback with "2037."

It is a South Korean film that tells the stories of female inmates, their dreams, hopes and willingness to protect a 19-year-old girl.

Jeon So Min also played the role of Ahn In Kyung, a service cleaner at a company in the JTBC drama "Cleaning Up" with Yeom Jung Ah and Kim Jae Hwa.

With her charms and unstoppable acting prowess, the viewers look forward to seeing what Jeon So Min will show in the future.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Lee Jung Jae spoke about his upcoming activities including his Hollywood debut in a "Star Wars" series. The "Squid Game" star is the latest South Korean celebrity who is slated to have their first international appearance as K-wave continues to gain interest from global viewers.

During his appearance at the London East Asia Film Festival in 2022 for his film "Hunt," the award-winning actor shared his thoughts about his international debut, joining big names in Hollywood.

Lee Jung Jae's Hollywood Debut: Did He Signed NDA for 'Star Wars: The Acolyte'?

In a report obtained by SBS Star, the award-winning actor kept tight-lipped about his first international project but hints that details will be revealed soon.

Moreover, Lee Jung Jae also shared that he signed an NDA or non-disclosure agreement; hence why can't say anything about his upcoming project?

"I feel like they will ask me not to say anything about the movie even after I finish filming everything though," he added.

Apart from the forthcoming series being his Hollywood debut, Lee Jung Jae also called it his "biggest project ever" and the reason he understands the confidentiality of the matter and why he sticks to what they're telling the actor.

In an exclusive report of Deadline back in September, the 49-year-old actor has landed a major role in the upcoming Disney+ "Star Wars" series "The Acolyte."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Lee Jung Jae to Receive 1 Billion Won Per Episode in 'Squid Game 2'?

Under Lucasfilm, Lee Jung Jae will be joined by Amandla Steinberg and Jodie Turner-Smith who will also portray major roles.

"Star Wars: The Acolyte: will also feature Leslye Headland as the series director, writer, exec producer, and showrunner.

Interestingly, the upcoming tv series will illustrate a "galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging Dark Side powers in the final days of the High Republic era."

Lee Jung Jae on His Global Popularity

There's no denying that Lee Jung Jae is one of the most popular South Korean stars who is also recognized worldwide.

After landing the role of player 456 Seong Gi Hoon in "Squid Games" viewers from all over the world knew the celebrity is.

During his appearance at London East Asia Film Festival 2022 the actor spoke about the difference between the response he got before and after the Netflix series aired.

"I'm much more recognized this time compared to the last time I was in London. Everyone is talking to me about 'Squid Game'" he said.

Interestingly, to communicate better with his global fans, Lee Jung Hae said that he is improving his English skills, this is not only for fans but also for his upcoming Hollywood project.

READ MORE: Is It True? Leonardo DiCaprio To Appear in 'Squid Game' Season 2



KDramastars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
Aside from the gravity-defying action scenes, romantic elements and fantastic camera works, "Alchemy of Souls" took the viewers on a journey as it boasted its remarkable sceneries which the viewers loved!

Having an "Alchemy of Souls" withdrawal? Check out these filming locations that you might want to visit when you're in Korea!

1. Mungyeong Saejae Open Set

Many historical dramas were filmed at the famous Mungyeong Saejae Open Set in North Gyeongsang Province. Jung So Min and Lee Jae Wook's "Alchemy of Souls" took the privilege to film in the open set, which is one of the factors why the drama is a success.

Because of its wide area and aesthetic that gives off South Korean dynasty vibes, the spot is not only perfect for filming series but it is also a main attraction for tourists who are also K-Drama lovers.

2. Naju Image Theme Park

The Naju Image Theme Park is a very common filming location that avid K-Drama viewers might recognize in an instant. It's located in Naju, South Jeolla Province.

In the theme park, the beautiful royal buildings can be seen. Some scenes in "Alchemy of Souls" were altered so as not to look identical to other dramas, despite being filmed in the same spot.

3. Ms. Seongheungsan Love Tree

The popular love tree is located on the Seongheungsan mountain, thus the name, in South Chuncheong Province. The love tree is a spot where many couples and tourists take beautiful photos together.

It's a part of the surrounding fortress that overlooks a lake. Because the tree atop the mountain has heart-shaped branches, the authorities decided to name it "love tree."

It is the same tree that Mu Deok (Jung So Min) describes as a beautiful scenery that Jang Uk (Lee Jae Wook) promises to take her to again one day.

4. Nong Woljeong

In historical dramas, a pavilion is always present. The Nong Woljeong is a kind of pavilion where it is surrounded by rocks and flowing water, built as a memorial site for historical figures.

Located in Hamyang, North Gyeongsang Province, many tourists don't let the chance to enjoy the sound of the water slip away. In particular, the calming view of nature is an invaluable experience, too.



5. Dragon Head Coast

The Jeju Yongmeori Haean, known as Dragon Head Coast, which is located at Seogwipo, Jeju Island is an iconic filming location among K-Dramas.

The attraction is named after its layered sandstone that is shaped like a dragon that enters the bodies of water. Its name is very fitting as it is the place where Mu Deok manifested Naksu's energy in the water, gaining her powers back.

Which "Alchemy of Souls" filming set are you most excited to visit? Share it with us in the comments below!

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds a ceremony to welcome Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, held talks on Monday with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee. The two sides agreed to consolidate the traditional friendship, strengthen strategic communication, enhance political mutual trust, and properly manage differences, so as to push the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era to a new level. Xi warmly welcomed Trong's official visit to China following the 20th CPC National Congress, noting that he has maintained close communication with Trong in various ways and reached many important consensuses on guiding the development of China-Vietnam relations in recent years. "These consensuses have been fully implemented and remarkable results have been achieved," he said. Xi introduced the main points of the 20th CPC National Congress. He said that the historic achievements made in the cause of the Party and the country in the new era fully prove that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics conforms to the realities of China, reflects the will of the Chinese people, and meets the requirements of the times. Hailing the Vietnamese side's achievements in socialist construction and innovation, Xi said it is believed that under the leadership of the Central Committee of the CPV headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the CPV and the Vietnamese government will surely accomplish the goals and tasks set forth by the 13th CPV National Congress. Xi said that, with accelerated changes in the situation unseen in a century, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. He emphasized that China, Vietnam and other socialist countries have succeeded in following the trend of the times and exploring a modernization path in line with their own national conditions, and socialism is becoming more and more vigorous. At the same time, the development of human progress is a long and tortuous process, while the development of socialist countries is facing a very complicated international environment and severe risks and challenges, Xi said. He called on the CPC and the CPV to strive for the happiness of the people and the progress of mankind, make every effort to advance socialist modernization, and never allow anyone to interfere with their progress or any force to shake the institutional foundation of their development. On further developing China-Vietnam relations, Xi stressed that the two sides should adhere to the direction of socialism. "For the cause of socialism and China-Vietnam relations, adhering to the correct political direction is paramount." He expressed hopes that the two parties should strengthen high-level communication and exchanges of views on major issues concerning bilateral relations in a timely manner. He also called for consolidating the socialist economic foundation on both sides. China is ready to work with Vietnam to synergize their development strategies, promote connectivity between the two countries, and deepen cooperation on health care, green development, the digital economy and climate change, Xi said. Under the new circumstances, the two sides should focus on the future and work for a long time to carry forward the traditional friendship of "comrades and brothers" nurtured by the older generation of leaders, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, increase mutual acquaintance and amity between the younger generations of the two countries, and deepen cooperation in the field of press and publicity, so as to create an atmosphere of public opinion that is favorable for bilateral relations, he added. Xi stressed that China regards ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and a key region in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and values Vietnam's position and role in ASEAN. "We look forward to working with Vietnam to accelerate the building of a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home together, and to promote regional economic integration in East Asia," he said. China is also ready to work with ASEAN to practice true multilateralism and open regionalism, make the regional situation and international order more peaceful, stable, just and equitable, and actively promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi added. Trong thanked Xi for inviting him to lead the Vietnamese leaders as the first head-of-state level delegation to visit China since the 20th CPC National Congress. Trong said he had also fulfilled his commitment of making China his first destination abroad after his re-election as general secretary of the CPV Central Committee. On behalf of the CPV, the Vietnamese government and the people, he extended warm congratulations to the CPC, the Chinese government and the people on the success of the 20th CPC National Congress, and to Xi on his re-election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. Trong expressed confidence that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, China will definitely achieve the goals set at the 20th CPC National Congress and make a new contribution to the region and the world at large. Trong said he fully agrees with Xi's important proposals on developing relations between the two parties and two countries. He said Vietnam attaches great importance to its ties with China and regards developing friendly cooperation with China as a top priority in its foreign policies. Vietnam will advance the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China based on the policy of long-term stability, forward-thinking, good neighborliness and comprehensive cooperation, and the spirit of being good neighbors, friends, comrades and partners, he said. Trong said Vietnam firmly follows the one-China policy, opposes any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, and will not develop any official relations with Taiwan. He said Vietnam will not allow any country to establish a military base in Vietnam, or join any military alliance, or use force against any country, or work with one country to oppose another. He said Vietnam is willing to work with China to maintain high-level exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen political mutual trust, give play to the strategic role of inter-party relations and deepen theory exchanges. He called for taking advantage of the existing cooperation mechanism between the two countries to promote the synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative with the "Two Corridors, One Economic Belt" and yield more fruitful economic cooperation. He called for maintaining people-to-people exchanges to deepen public support for Vietnam-China relations, and maintaining peace and tranquility on the land border and peace and stability at sea, so as not to let maritime issues affect the overall development of bilateral relations. Trong said the 13th CPV National Congress and the 20th CPC National Congress marked the start of a critical new stage in bilateral relations, and Vietnam is ready to work with China to push the bilateral good-neighborly friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new height. After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents on political parties, economy and trade, environmental protection, culture and tourism, justice, customs and local government. Prior to the talks, Xi held a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People to welcome Trong. Xi hosted a welcoming banquet for Trong on Monday evening, and members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi were present. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds talks with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, view the cooperation documents signed by the two sides in Beijing after their talks on Oct. 31, 2022. Xi Jinping held talks on Monday with Nguyen Phu Trong at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, head for the venue of their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. Xi Jinping held talks on Monday with Nguyen Phu Trong at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Prior to the talks, Xi held a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People to welcome Trong. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds a ceremony to welcome Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds a ceremony to welcome Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
SOMERS  The University of Wisconsin-Parkside will host the I am Not Invisible exhibit in the Brookwood Foundation Main Place in Wyllie Hall from Monday, Nov. 7 through Friday, Nov. 11.

Mary Kolar, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, will attend and speak at the opening night for the exhibit. She is one of the 16 women veterans featured in the exhibit provided by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.

UW-Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford will also share a few words about this exhibit and the universitys commitment to serving veterans and their families.

Kolar serves as advocate for over 350,000 Wisconsin veterans and their families. She was commissioned in the United States Navy in 1980, served for 28 years, and retired as a Captain (O-6). She grew up in Wilton. Her 28-years of experience in the Navy has enabled her to work with diverse groups of people and large organizations with multi-million-dollar budgets.

A reception is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 7, at 6 p.m. in the Brookwood Foundation Main Place. Refreshments will be provided and there will be a cash bar available.

The I Am Not Invisible awareness campaign started as a program featuring twenty photographs of Oregon women who were military veteran and is now a nationwide program. The goal of the campaign is to increase awareness and facilitate dialogue about women veterans.

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs through the Wisconsin Veterans Museum created their IANI exhibit to recognize the same important part of the veteran community and increase awareness about these veterans.

For more information about the oral history interviews from the veterans who contributed to this project visit: http://wisvetsmuseum.com/oral-histories/featured-interviews/i-am-not-invisible/

The traveling exhibit is comprised of multiple pop-up banners and is available to local libraries, historic societies, schools and community spaces throughout Wisconsin. There is no cost to reserve and host the exhibit.

To attend this event, RSVP at https://uwparkside.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8ANr6wt483EcPvE.
Health care has changed dramatically in the last decades, from the introduction of electronic medical records to the COVID-19 pandemic serving as a catalyst for telehealth and virtual care options to the increased familiarity with digital therapeutics, etc. Just as the industry has transformed over time, the physicians role has similarly evolved.

Traditionally, those of us who attended medical school have had just a handful of career options to choose from after graduation. Becoming a practicing clinician at a hospital or private practice might typically be the first thing that comes to mind. Otherwise, pursuing a career in academia as a clinician, clinician-educator or physician-scientist were the traditional paths for leveraging a medical education.

However, being a physician opens many doors and opportunities once you look more carefully at transferrable skills and knowledge amassed over decades of education and practice. Whether you just graduated from medical school or are looking for a career pivot due to burnout, there are several ways that physicians can leverage their deep medical knowledge to continue to have a powerful impact on care delivery. Beyond joining a health tech startup or a larger biopharma company, there are many ways that physicians are contributing to health care outside of the traditional clinical setting.

Physician investors

As physicians, we have a unique and valuable insight into the clinical mindset and understand the pain points that currently plague care delivery. Many health care workers have been frustrated for years about their daily practice inefficiencies. They may have thought about possible solutions but lacked the time or the expertise to turn those ideas into a commercial product. Those of us with a medical background can play a significant role in investing to identify and support solutions to enable health care staff and hopefully financially back solutions that could improve patient outcomes.

In some ways, my approach to investing is not too dissimilar from my approach to treating patients. I took an oath to first do no harm when I entered medical school. As an investor, one is also a steward of capital in the same way a physician is a steward of health. You must take responsibility for what youre investing in and realize that your decision could harm or protect the lives and livelihoods of patients. One can also think in terms of access to capital and access to care for the under-represented. For example, my background is in nephrology, which is currently an area that is heavily impacted by health care disparities. Black Americans are more than three times as likely to have kidney failure than White Americans, and Hispanics or Latinos are 1.3 times more likely. The most recent report from the United States Renal Data Service shows an end-stage renal disease prevalence of 5,855 cases per million for Black Americans, compared to 1,704 cases per million for white Americans.

While new medications have been introduced to treat kidney disease, few drugs or treatments can reverse the progression to end-stage renal disease. Therefore, it is crucial to explore novel therapeutics to improve patients quality of life and possibly cure, reverse or alleviate kidney disease. I am one of the few nephrologists who is also a professional investor. Investing as an angel or in a more structured way  via a VC or PE fund  can have a tremendous impact on the future of kidney care, which is still a blank canvas in terms of innovation. This is just one specialty area where a physician can leverage their background and expertise to identify and accelerate the solutions that will make the biggest difference for other providers and, most importantly, for patients.

Physician mentor/advisor

Physicians can also serve as a mentor or advisor and assist in the development of new technologies or treatments. There is no shortage of startup companies and new ideas circulating. However, to be successful, you need to compile a great team with expertise in a variety of areas. Physicians can play a critical role in advising these companies for organizations that operate in the health care space. In addition, founders should surround themselves with engineers who help design the solutions and businesspeople who can figure out the path to making the company sustainable. It should be a team approach, where everybody works together to improve patient outcomes.

As someone involved in the health care technology space, I always try to do a little bit of matchmaking and rapport-building between experienced health care insiders and founders to create value and accelerate company growth through human capital. Not only is their professional expertise valuable, but bringing people together with different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences provides different perspectives and ideas to the organization, which is ultimately beneficial in making great solutions a reality.

Physician early adopters

There is also an opportunity for physicians to act as care delivery gatekeepers and help to usher in new and cutting-edge forms of treatment, such as digital therapeutics. Digital therapeutics (DTx) deliver medical interventions directly to patients using evidence-based, clinically validated software to treat, manage, and prevent a broad spectrum of diseases and disorders.

Although digital therapeutics has the potential to transform health care, there are multiple challenges for physicians to prescribe digital health therapeutics. Some of these challenges for physicians include:

Not being aware of the digital health solutions available for specific patient populations.

While they might know about their existence, they might not have the time to incorporate these ever-evolving new digital technologies into their patient care workflows.

They might not trust technologies that have only been on the market for a short period of time.

There also needs to be a dialogue between developers (of drugs or new technologies) and physicians, so physicians will feel comfortable prescribing these new treatments, whether prescription drugs or digital therapeutics. DTx products have the potential to address critical gaps in care for underserved populations, regardless of patient age, language, culture, income, disease state, or geography.

Looking ahead

Health care is continuing to evolve, and physicians have an important role to usher in new technologies and forms of care. The path ahead requires a multi-dimensional approach and the cross-fertilization of clinical, scientific, technological, and business disciplines. I envision a future in which physicians will continue to leverage their medical backgrounds in untraditional ways to fuel innovation and create a more equitable health care system for us all.

Julien L. Pham is a nephrologist and health care entrepreneur.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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An adorable pup named Pluto made the county proud as he represented Petmania Kilkenny in the Puppy of the Year Competition National Final at the weekend.

Pluto emerged as the Petmania Kilkenny representative and advanced through the first two rounds of the competition, beating off ruff competition to reach the prestigious national final.

A one-year-old Great Dane, pet-parent Liam Cass describes Pluto as a nosey and curious pup who loves the comforts of home  and even drinks fresh water from the kitchen tap when he can!

By far the largest dog in the competition, Liam told judges that the inspiration for Plutos name came from the fact that he is absolutely out of this world.

With his beautiful and distinct colouring, and curious nature, Pluto charmed the judges and made a pawfect Puppy of the Year representative for Petmania Kilkenny.

16 adorable puppies from across the country gathered for the grand finale at the weekend, having emerged as the top pups in their respective counties in a process that involved over 20,000 votes flooding in from all corners of the country.

The Puppy of the Year title is conferred by Pet Specialist, Petmania, who along with competition partner BETA, run the wildly popular annual quest to find Irelands top puppy.
A Kilkenny mans pioneering medical diagnostics company is leading the way on a new frontier for healthcare in Latin America.

Blaine Doyle, a molecular biologist from Graignamanagh, is thriving in his adopted home of Mexico City, where he has recently been elected President of the Irish-Mexican Chamber of Commerce.

His company, ChektAhora, has just secured 2.5 million from investors such as Randox to continue and expand its mission. The company is based in Mexico and employs 80 people.

It was a major player in the rollout of Covid testing in a country where restrictions during the pandemic were few and far between.

The Government didnt shut the borders really, explains Blaine. The most inhibitive restriction that was put in here was that the bars had to shut by 10pm.

For a number of reasons, including its cash-based economy, it was very difficult for the Government to find a balance in terms of trying to shut the country and not have entire sections of society experience catastrophic deprivation and proverty.

A robust private testing programme was therefore in high demand across a wide variety of business and industry.

The company assisted by helping in the reopening of factories of up 15,000 people, building up to direct consumer issues, working with the likes of Burger King and Starbucks.

As well as Covid testing, they helped with employee vaccinations for influenza.

Blaines story is an interesting one. He studied biotech in DCU, and worked in the industry for a while before studying in UCC and starting a community biolab in Cork City.

He ended up in Honduras studying Dengue fever and ended up contracting it while there.

When the Zika virus broke out, he moved into that field.

It was his journey to Mexico when he saw an opportunity to go into HPV testing and the company was established. That was 2018. He built infrastructure including a lab in Mexico City, but then in 2020, Covid arrived. And PCR was the weapon of choice.

So weve basically spent the last two years hitting that as hard as we can, he says.

The company is now ransforming its portfolio once again.

Coming out of the pandemic, we invested a lot in infrastructure, warehousing, a second laboratory, says Blaine.

Now we are opening a new clinic, which is to be a boutique womens clinic. So basically an end-to-end, full stack clinical healthcare experience for women, so that no matter what part of the journey they start with us, we can see it right through to the end, the outcome, whether it be medical or cosmetic.

Its something thats not being done, I think anywhere in the world, but certainly not Latin America.

So now what we are doing is transforming the business from a very heavy Covid-focused testing company to rebuilding our sexual health business which was booming before Covid and is now back moving again in the right direction in terms of double digit growth, he says.

Likewise, vaccinations  HPV, Hepatitis, Meningitis, Herpes and various other things. We are doing that right now and are adding in .

Soon, this will become a complete primary care platform within the company.

We are moving into those spaces within the next six months. Were mainly focused on the major cities of Mexico and then we have an international expansion plan for Latin America, including Brazil and Colombia, Blaine says.

The company works with some of the worlds largest insurance firms, with a focus on private healthcare, because there is an unmet need there  and a lot of people end up going from public hospital to a private laboratory and then come back with the results.

The main three things the company is focused on right now are:

1 Diversification  adding new tests, new treatments and vaccines and bringing them to peoples homes. The business started as a home testing company and Blaine wants to continue on that trend;

2 Regional expansion - to new Mexican regions, but also Brazil and Columbia are in the picture;

3 Focusing on bringing genomic testing into Latin America for things like hereditary diseases, or cancer.

NEW HOME

Until this year, for three or four years, Blaine had been working from Ireland with the occasional commute to Mexico.

He took up residence there in February. He is now part of an Irish and Irish-Mexican community that is changing the way business is done, with Ireland seen as the gateway to Europe, and Mexico as the gateway to Latin America.

I think Mexico is a part of the world where there are a lot of really good Irish who have networked really well,he says.

Theres guys here I can pick up the phone to. Theres a strong Irish network here. Weve got an embassy then who is just so connected in with the business networks that makes it easy to do business here.

I think Latin America is the next frontier for technology in terms of global business even. Weve had a fintech revolution here arguably from 2017 right up to the pandemic.

When he first arrived in Mexico, his plan had been to network and connect with people online. But it wasnt that straightforward.

You had to go to two breakfasts a day and a lunch, and dinner to meet people and pick up that culture, he says. You have to physically go to things.

He had next to no Spanish and had to learn it on the fly.

 I havent done a class yet! I think Im about 80% there. But I think I talk enough to pick it up! he says.

Thats where the Chamber proved its true value. The Chamber has existed unofficially since 1995  created by a group of Irish and Irish-Mexican businesspeople. The idea was basically to connect Mexico to Europe and Europe to Mexico.

Its evolved over time and in 2017 it was formalised so it wasnt just a club or group, it was registered as an association, Blaine says.

I had the amazing experience of landing into this network. It was only finding its structure really.

It helped him overcome a number of key early challenges.

One, I didnt know Spanish. And two, I was relying on the goodwill of some Irish people here before me to give me correct directions and advice to make this happen, he says.

So it was amazing for me. Thats the beauty of the Irish network, and thats the most important thing for me. So they asked me to get more involved and I said yes, I see the value in this. Its all altruistic  none of us are getting paid. Its literally for the love of Ireland we do it, and for helping companies like us that came in, and pull them along with us.

I became a board member and it brought me close to some amazing Irish and Irish-Mexican people.

The Chamber continues to grow as more Irish companies come in, the likes of Irish Whiskey companies and brands.

Blaine says there has been a lot of support from Bord Bia, the IDA and Enterprise Ireland in bringing other companies and building connections.

He sees a lot of potential for more in sectors like fintech and the food space, and encourages Irish companies to get involved and find out more.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 37F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 37F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 38F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 38F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
JEFFERSON CITY - Since 1974, the Missouri National Guard has been under the state's Department of Public Safety. But this coming midterm election, Missouri voters will decide whether that remains the same.

Amendment 5 will ask Missourians to vote to amend the Missouri constitution to allow the guard to establish its own department.

Under the Missouri constitution, governors are allowed 15 departments. So to add a 16th department, Missouri officials would have to seek that constitutional amendment.

That is exactly what Rep. Adam Schnelting (R-St. Peters) proposed as a joint resolution in January.

The House and Senate pushed the amendment forward with bipartisan support: it passed in the House 126-2 in April and the Senate 32-0 in May.

Former Missouri National Guard Adjutant General Steve Danner, who is a Democrat, says the amendment is simply to help save lives.

"I'm a Democrat and I was a Democratic officeholder," Danner said. "But I'll just say this is not about politics. The bottom line is, this is about saving lives and cutting red tape."

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Danner's Amendment 5 op-ed Missouri National Guard former Adjutant General Steve Danner shared an op-ed regarding Amendment 5 Tuesday with members of the media.

Danner says the bill is rather simple.

"This merely raises the National Guard to a departmental level status to work directly with the governor, and the candidate in his cabinet," Danner said.

This will allow for communication between the guard and the governor to be streamlined and more direct than it has been in the past.

Missouri and Massachusetts are the only two states left in the U.S. that do not have their own individual departments for their National Guard.

You can find more information about the upcoming Nov. 8 election on KOMU 8's voter guide.
Crowder Hall is no longer on the list of about a dozen campus buildings set to be demolished as part of the universitys Space Reduction and Strategic Relocation Plan.
TUESDAY, Nov. 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Women who have autism are more vulnerable during pregnancy to depression and anxiety, according to a new British study.

That makes it imperative that effective mental health screening and support is available to help this group, said lead researcher Sarah Hampton, from the University of Cambridge.

"The results also suggest that autistic people may benefit from accommodations to prenatal health care. These may include adjustments to the sensory environment of health care settings, as well as adjustments to how information is communicated during prenatal appointments," co-author Rosie Holt said in a university news release. She is a research associate at the Cambridge-based Autism Research Center.

For their study, researchers surveyed more than 900 women about their pregnancy experience. Anyone who was pregnant at the time or had previously given birth was eligible to take part in the online survey.

In all, 417 respondents had autism and 524 did not.

Women with autism were about three times more likely to report having had prenatal depression. About 24% of those with autism experienced depression, compared to 9% of others. Nearly half -- 48% -- of those with autism experienced anxiety, while only 14% of respondents without autism did.

"We are grateful to members of the autistic community for providing feedback when we designed this research," said study co-author Carrie Allison, deputy director of the Autism Research Center. "It is vital that autistic people with lived experience help shape the research we do, and we keep their priorities as a clear focus."

The survey also found that women with autism were less satisfied with their pregnancy-related health care. They were less likely to trust professionals, less likely to feel that their concerns and questions were taken seriously and less likely to feel that professionals treated them respectfully. They were also less likely to be satisfied with the way information was presented to them during appointments.

Expectant women with autism were also more likely to experience sensory issues during pregnancy and feel overwhelmed by smells, sights, lights and sounds at prenatal appointments.

"It is important that more research is conducted looking at the experiences of autistic new parents, who have been neglected in research," said study co-author Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Center. "It is also important that this research is translated into health and social care policy and practice to ensure these parents receive the support and adaptations they need in a timely manner."

The findings were recently published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on living with autism.

SOURCE: University of Cambridge, news release, Oct. 26, 2022
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IVE An Yujin is spotted attending the "17th Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign Charity Event" held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul on the 28th.
Ebene, Mauritius (PANA) - A five-day high-level leadership and management programme for heads of anti-corruption agencies in Africa opened on Monday in Mauritius
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The US has joined calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities by the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has also led to a further cooling of relations between DRC and Rwanda which DRC blames for supporting the rebels
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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New Delhi [India], November 1 (ANI): The government on Tuesday released a draft common income tax return form for public consultation, according to a finance ministry statement released on Tuesday.

The statement said that the proposed draft ITR takes a relook at the return filing system in tandem with international best practices. It also said it proposes to introduce a common ITR by merging all the existing returns of income except ITR-7. However, the current ITR-1 and ITR-4 will continue.

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The ministry said this would give an option to such taxpayers to file the return either in the existing form (ITR-1 or ITR-4), or the proposed common ITR, at their convenience.

According to the statement, the scheme of the proposed common ITR is that basic information (comprising parts A to E), schedule for computation of total income (Schedule TI), schedule for computation of tax (schedule TTI), details of bank accounts, and a schedule for the tax payments (schedule TXP) is applicable for all taxpayers. It also mentioned that The ITR is customised for taxpayers with applicable schedules based on certain questions answered by the taxpayers (wizard questions). The questions have been designed in such a manner and order that if the answer to any question is 'no', the other questions linked to this question will not be shown to the taxpayer, it added. "Instructions have been added to assist the filing of the return containing the directions regarding the applicable schedules."

Also Read | Vladimir Putin Suffering From Parkinson's Disease and Pancreatic Cancer, Claims Report.

The ministry said the proposed ITR had been designed in such a manner that each row contains one distinct value only. This will simplify the return filing process. The utility for the ITR will be rolled out in such a manner that only applicable fields of the schedule will be visible and wherever necessary, the set of fields will appear more than once, it said.

The statement said the taxpayer would be required to answer questions which apply to it and fill the schedules linked to those questions where the answer has been given as 'yes'. This will increase the ease of compliance.

It said once the common ITR Form is notified, after taking into account the inputs received from stakeholders, the online utility will be released by the income tax department. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lucknow, Nov 1 (PTI) Five people, including two Uttar Pradesh government employees, were arrested for cheating a cooperative bank of Rs 146 crore here, police said on Tuesday.

The group had committed the fraud by obtaining the user identification and password of the manager and cashier of the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Bank, Lucknow after hacking its server, they said.

Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Fired From Job, Ex-Employee Hacks Couple to Death in Hari Nagar.

Fatehpur resident Ram Raj, section officer in the Uttar Pradesh Home Department, Karamveer Singh of Etah, who was posted as assistant manager at Cooperative Bank, Sitapur, Dhruv Kumar Srivastava of Shahjahanpur, Akash Kumar of Kanpur and Bhupendra Singh of Aurangabad in Bihar were arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh Police from Baans Mandi near polytechnic crossing here on Monday night.

The STF seized a bank ID card, 25 sets of Aadhar cards and signed blank cheques, and seven ATM cards among other things from their possession.

Also Read | Rajasthan: Confusion Prevails Over Announcement of 'Mangarh Dham' As National Monument.

Ajay Kumar Tripathi, assistant general manager at the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Bank Headquarters, lodged an FIR on October 16 at the Cyber Crime Police Station alleging that Rs 146 crore were transferred through RTGS from seven accounts of district cooperative banks opened in an unauthorised manner.

During investigations, it was found that the server of Cooperative Bank in Hazratganj, Lucknow was hacked and the money transferred to different accounts in ICICI and HDFC banks, the release said.

Srivastava told police that he had met a hacker through Kumar who told them that he could hack the server of banks and remotely transfer money.

Through Bhupendra Singh, they then had a meeting with Karmaveer Singh. With the help of Ram Raj, they succeeded in transferring the amount, it said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Pune, Nov 1 (PTI) Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Abdul Sattar on Tuesday launched a fresh attack on Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray daring him to face an election by resigning from his constituency.

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Suspension Bridge Tragedy: Farmer Drowns in Nullah After Falling off Rope Bridge in Indore.

Sattar said he is ready to tender his resignation within a week if Chief Minister Eknath Shinde allows him and face byelection from the Sillod constituency in Aurangabad district, days after Aaditya said that MLAs loyal to CM Shinde will realise their standing in public in the 2024 elections.

Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Fired From Job, Ex-Employee Hacks Couple to Death in Hari Nagar.

Aaditya and other leaders of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) had been daring the 40 MLAs of the Shinde camp to resign and face elections.

"My challenge still stands. Even if he (Aaditya) does not tender his resignation and if the CM permits me, I can resign within one week and face election," Sattar told reporters in Pune.

He said not a single farmer who suffered losses due to heavy rains will be left out of the government aid.

"I had already spoken to the Chief Minister and Deputy CM over the issue of giving help to farmers. Once we receive all panchnamas, the Cabinet will approve the financial assistance," he said.

Sattar criticised former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's "two-and-a-half hour" visit to rain-hit farmers in Aurangabad district. He also targeted Aaditya over his visit to farms of rain-hit farmers.

Sattar said Uddhav Thackeray had visited farms for just 24 minutes.

"What did he see in 24 minutes? I do not know. When he was the chief minister, he had said affected farmers should be paid Rs 50,000 per hectare but he seems to have forgotten his words," 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)
New Delhi [India], November 1 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed the petitions moved by former commanders and co-pilots of Air India against their termination from services on account of Covid-19 pandemic.

Justice Yashwant Varma dismissed the pleas noting that after its disinvestment, Air India Limited (AIL) is no longer a government company, and writ petitions against it, would no longer be maintainable.

Also Read | WhatsApp Bans Over 26 Lakh 'Bad' Accounts in India As Amended IT Rules Take Shape.

Justice Verma said, "The Court also finds merit in the objection which was addressed on behalf of the respondents who had contended that since AIL had ceased to be a government company by virtue of the exercise of privatization noted above, the writ petition itself would cease to be maintainable."

The petitioners were permanently employed and rendered service as commanders and co-pilots with the Air India Limited. Post their superannuation, they were appointed on contractual terms.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress Will Give Non-BJP Government Under Rahul Gandhi's Leadership, Says President Mallikarjun Kharge.

They had approached the High Court assailing the validity of the orders of April 2, 2020 and August 7, 2020.

In terms of the first order, AIL considering the outbreak of COVID-19 and its impact on operations of airlines worldwide, had proceeded to place their engagement on contractual terms under temporary suspension.

By the subsequent order of 07 August 2020, AIL apprised the petitioners that in view of the prevailing scenario in the civil aviation sector, a decision had been taken to discontinue their contractual engagement.

During the hearing, Air India raised a preliminary objection to the maintainability of petitions. After privatisation of Air India, these writ petitions are not maintainable.

Air India also argued that the engagement of the petitioners was governed by a mere contract of service, a writ petition either for its enforcement or alleged violation of its terms would not be maintainable.

Senior advocate Rajiv Nayar appearing for AIL, had taken a preliminary objection to the maintainability of the writ petition.

He had submitted that the writ petition would not lie since the terms of engagement of the petitioners was not governed by any statutory provisions.

Senior Counsel had contended that since the engagement of the petitioners was governed by a mere contract of service, a writ petition either for its enforcement or alleged violation of its terms would not be maintainable.

This Court agreed with the submission that a non-statutory contract of service is not enforceable under Article 226 of the Constitution.

The Court reiterates the legal position by holding that merely because the contract of service has been entered into with a body which may be an instrumentality of the State or one which performs a public function would not be determinative of the question, the bench said.

Ultimately, the question of maintainability of a writ petition would have to be adjudged on the anvil of whether the contract is statutory or not. Decisions taken by such bodies within the confines of an ordinary contract of service and which has no statutory force or backing, would not be amenable to judicial review under Article 226 of the Constitution, the bench added.

"Accordingly and for all the aforesaid reasons, the preliminary objections are upheld. The writ petitions shall consequently stand dismissed. The present order, however, shall not deprive the petitioners of the right to assail the action of AIL in accordance with law, if so chosen and advised," the Court ordered on October 31. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bhopal, Nov 1 (PTI) Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has requested the Madhya Pradesh unit of the party that his photographs should not be used in the publicity material of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Also Read | Karnataka: Wild Elephant Tramples Farmer to Death in Hassan District.

He made the request in a letter to state Congress chief Kamal Nath.

Also Read | Mumbai: Water Taxi Service Launched From Mazgaon to Mandwa; Here's All You Need To Know.

In the publicity material being prepared by the state Congress, the photographs of only former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, present party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Kamal Nath should be used, he said.

The letter, dated October 22, began to circulate on social media two days ago.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi will enter Madhya Pradesh's Burhanpur district from Maharashtra.

Singh had asked the party not to use his pictures during the 2018 Assembly polls campaign too.

State BJP secretary Rajneesh Agrawal asked why Singh wrote a letter when he could have spoken to Nath directly.

He was perhaps afraid his pictures would have an adverse impact and it could also be a ploy to deal with the pressure of printing the photos of a large number of leaders on posters, he said.

State Congress spokesperson Narendra Saluja, however, said that Singh had been against publishing his photos or shouting slogans in his favour for long.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Fagvel (Gujarat), Nov 1 (PTI) Former BJP MP Prabhatsinh Chauhan on Tuesday joined the Congress here ahead of Assembly elections in Gujarat.

Also Read | JKPSC Recruitment 2022: Applications Invited for 22 Assistant Director and Other Posts at jkpsc.nic.in; Here's How To Apply.

The 81-year-old leader, a former state minister, joined the party in the presence of Congress leaders Mohan Prakash and Siddharth Patel.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath Dedicates Projects Worth Rs 1,670 Crore in Noida, Greater Noida.

The BJP had denied Chouhan ticket from Panchmahal Lok Sabha seat in 2019.

BJP has failed in Gujarat. The party is not going to win future elections. That is the reason I have joined the Congress, he said.

Chauhan's daughter-in-law Suman Chauhan is BJP MLA from Kalol in Panchmahal district.

She said it was his personal decision. I am with the BJP and my family is also with the BJP, she added.

Chauhan was a Member of Parliament from 2009 to 2019. Earlier he was the minister of tribal development in the BJP government in the state from 2004 to 2007.

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New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) Stating that a proper disbursal of adequate nourishment is a pertinent welfare function of the State, the Delhi High Court has said it "hopes and trusts" that the city government will implement the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) in its true letter and spirit.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma said the Act is a welfare legislation to provide affordable and adequate food to the beneficiaries and should be implemented with utmost thoroughness.

Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Fired From Job, Ex-Employee Hacks Couple to Death in Hari Nagar.

The court's observation came on a contempt petition filed by Delhi Rozi Roti Adhikar Abhiyan in relation to an order passed on a PIL concerning the disbursal of foodgrains to the eligible beneficiaries under the NFSA, without requiring the production of Aadhaar or undergoing its authentication.

The NGO alleged that the authorities in Delhi were in "wilful non-compliance" of a 2017 court order that had asked the city government to file a status report on the steps taken by it in relation to the implementation of the Act.

Also Read | Rajasthan: Confusion Prevails Over Announcement of 'Mangarh Dham' As National Monument.

The court said on several occasions, it expressed its dissatisfaction over the manner in which the authorities were proceeding as regards compliance with the matter, but there was no case of a contempt of court action and from the affidavit illustrating the steps taken by the Delhi government, it was of the opinion that steps were being taken to comply with the order.

"On several occasions, this court has expressed its dissatisfaction over the manner in which the respondent was proceeding in compliance with the directions issued by this court.... Once again, this court hopes and trusts that GNCTD shall implement the NFSA, 2013 in its true letter and spirit," said the bench, also comprising Justice Subramonium Prasad, in its order dated October 28.

"The NFSA, 2013 is a welfare legislation enacted to provide for affordable and adequate food for the eligible beneficiaries. Proper disbursal of adequate nourishment is a pertinent welfare function of the State and it should be implemented with utmost thoroughness for the benefit of the intended. However, by no stretch of imagination it can be held that there was any wilful disobedience of the order of this court dated 01.09.2017, thereby making out a case for contempt of court," the bench said.

The court noted that the interim order passed on the PIL was in respect of the NFSA and the proceedings in the main matter were put to an end in view of a Supreme Court decision on similar issues. It said the question of initiating contempt proceedings as prayed for in a matter that has been disposed of does not arise.

"The contentions of the petitioner, respondent and the effect of the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Puttaswamy on the instant case were recorded comprehensively by the division bench and this court has given a well-reasoned final order dismissing the writ petition," the bench said.

Lack of speed alone is not sufficient for taking action for deliberate and wilful disobedience of judicial orders, it added.

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New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) The Income Tax Department has conducted searches against two major luxury watch sellers in Delhi as part of a tax evasion probe, officials said Tuesday.

The sleuths launched the raids on Monday on the premises of Kapoor Watch Company and Johnson Company and their promoters on Monday, they said.

Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Fired From Job, Ex-Employee Hacks Couple to Death in Hari Nagar.

Phone calls and email sent by PTI to the two companies did not elicit a response.

The officials said the tax department looked at the account books, sales bills and other documents as part of the searches conducted to probe alleged tax evasion and charges of reported cash sale of watches that are worth a few lakhs.

Also Read | Rajasthan: Confusion Prevails Over Announcement of 'Mangarh Dham' As National Monument.

The two companies have showrooms in prominent Delhi markets and deal in several high-end watches, including that of foreign brands.

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Jammu, Nov 1 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh on Tuesday said the State Investigation Agency (SIA) has probed 450 cases of special nature with an overall disposal rate of 65 percent during its first year in the Union territory.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the SIA's first raising day in Miran Sahib on the outskirts of Jammu city.

Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Fired From Job, Ex-Employee Hacks Couple to Death in Hari Nagar.

Lauding the agency for its record, Singh said the SIA had emerged as a strong investigation arm of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and it was successful in creating a sense of fear among anti-national elements.

"The SIA has brought a lot of value addition to the CID wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police," he said.

Also Read | Rajasthan: Confusion Prevails Over Announcement of 'Mangarh Dham' As National Monument.

The DGP also said new units called Special Investigation Units have been created at the district level to complement and supplement the investigation process in cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

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Excavation of the final five tunnels of the Pearl River Delta water resources allocation project was completed over the weekend on Daling Mountain in Dongguan, Guangdong province, taking construction of the mega project to the next stage in which the raw tunnels will be lined with concrete.

The project has 48 tunnels, which have been under construction for 1,272 days, the Guangdong Water Resources Department said on Sunday. "Completion of the final tunnels lays a solid foundation for realizing the goal of ensuring water supplies to major cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by the end of 2023," the department said. The project, which stretches 113 kilometers, will draw water from Liyuzhou in Foshan's Shunde district in the western part of the Pearl River Delta and transport it to Guangzhou's Nansha district, as well as the cities of Dongguan and Shenzhen in the eastern part of the delta, it said. "The project also will provide emergency standby water for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Guangzhou's Panyu district, Foshan's Shunde district and other areas in Guangdong province, benefiting more than 50 million residents who live along the project, it said. "The project, which cost more than 35.4 billion yuan ($5.13 billion), will be able to divert more than 1.7 billion cubic meters of Xijiang River water annually in the western part of Guangdong to the Dongjiang basin in Shenzhen in the eastern part upon completion, playing an important role in alleviating drinking water shortages in Shenzhen and Dongguan. Construction started in the first half of 2019 and is expected to conclude in 60 months. Most of the major water pipes are built from 40 to 60 meters underground to protect the ecology and environment and minimize land consumption, the department said. It is the largest water conservancy project to be built in Guangdong province.
New Delhi [India], November 1 (ANI): The CPI-M said on Monday alleged that Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan was advancing "the political objectives of the ruling BJP to destabilize the LDF government" and said that the manner in which he demanded the resignation of Vice Chancellors of the universities has "no sanction of the Constitution".

Talking to reporters after three-day meeting of its Central Committee, Yechury alleged that steps by Governor target Kerala's higher education system "to facilitate the promotion of the Hindutva ideological agenda".

Also Read | WhatsApp Bans Over 26 Lakh 'Bad' Accounts in India As Amended IT Rules Take Shape.

"The manner in which he demanded the resignation of various Vice Chancellors of the universities in Kerala and later the resignation of the state Finance Minister has no sanction of the Indian Constitution. The Governor in his capacity as the chancellor of the universities in the state has no authority given by the University Acts passed by the state legislature to initiate such actions," Yechury said.

"These steps by the Governor target Kerala's secular, democratic and scientific higher education system to facilitate the promotion of the Hindutva ideological agenda. The BJP Union government has been targeting Central Universities like JNU, Hyderabad and many others with a similar objective. The people of Kerala will unitedly resist such brazen Partisanship shown by the Governor and defeat all efforts to destablish the democratically elected LDF government," he added.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress Will Give Non-BJP Government Under Rahul Gandhi's Leadership, Says President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Yechury said there should be high-level judicial investigation for fixing accountability in the Morbi bridge-collapse tragedy in Gujarat.

He said the party has expressed its deep condolences to the families of over 140 people who lost their lives in the tragic collapse of the bridge in Morbi town in Gujarat.

"Many more are injured. The injured must be immediately provided with all required medical care and assistance" he said.

"Reportedly, this bridge was opened after renovation without a safety audit being conducted. Further, the declared limit of the number of people permitted on the bridge at any point in time was breached grievously. Further, the renovation contract was given to a company that has no previous experience in this area. These aspects demand a high-level judicial investigation for fixing accountability" Yechury added.

Speaking about the forthcoming assembly elections, Yechury said that with the Election Commission delinking the announcement of election schedules of Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, "the BJP has got the advantage of more time before the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect in Gujarat".

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi "is personally spearheading BJP's electoral campaigns focusing mainly on sharpening communal polarization and declaring new schemes and benefits for the people at the cost of the union exchequer".

"Some of these government schemes were described as his "personal Diwali gifts" to the people. Gujarat BJP state government has announced its intention for a Uniform Civil Code" he added.

"In Himachal Pradesh, the CPI(M) has fielded 11 candidates and is supporting CPI in one seat that it is contesting. On the rest of the seats the CPI(M) has called for the defeat of the BJP candidates" he added.

Yechury said as the election schedule has not yet been announced, the CPI-M is in talks with other secular forces to ensure defeat of BJP.

On Jammu and Kashmir, he said it's more than three years "since the special status and statehood of Jammu and Kashmir were dissolved".

"The situation continues to impose curbs on people's democratic rights and livelihood. CPI(M) along with Left parties will take the initiative to start a consultative process with other secular parties on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir," Yechury said. (ANI)

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Thane, Nov 1 (PTI) As many as 153 shops and commercial establishments have been fined for not displaying signboards in the Marathi language in Maharashtra's Thane district, a Labour department official said on Tuesday.

Also Read | Ludhiana Gas Leak: Many Faint Due to Gas Leakage in Oxygen Manufacturing Factory in Giaspura.

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Thane Deputy Labour Commissioner Santosh Bhosale said 15 of the 153 establishments had been fined Rs 3.49 lakh.

One of these 15 establishments was slapped with Rs 2.86 lakh fine for delaying compliance by 60 days.

As per the state government's directives, all commercial establishments and shops are expected to display the signboards in the Marathi language.

Bhosale said officials inspected 457 shops and commercial establishments in the Thane district of which 304 were found to have complied with the regulations while others failed to do so.

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New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) The forgotten sacrifice of the Bhil tribe in one of the most sordid chapters of Indian history got its "long-due" recognition with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing national monument status to Rajasthan's Mangarh Dham on Tuesday.

On November 17, 1913, soldiers of the British Indian Army fired indiscriminately on Bhil protesters who were demanding the abolition of bonded labour. Approximately 1,500 Bhil tribals and forest dwellers died in the incident which came to be known as the Mangarh massacre.

Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Fired From Job, Ex-Employee Hacks Couple to Death in Hari Nagar.

"The national monument status was long due and marks the stage in a people's assertion to decide their future, which is what the Bhils were doing," Rajasthan-based historian and author of 'A History of Rajasthan' Rima Hooja told PTI.

"Their (the Bhil tribe's) movement was challenging the colonial government as well as the wrongs of the princely states in which they were residing," explained Hooja.

Also Read | Rajasthan: Confusion Prevails Over Announcement of 'Mangarh Dham' As National Monument.

The movement was initiated by Guru Govindgiri who raised a front against local rulers who were forcing the Bhils into unpaid labour, to pay heavy taxes and high rates of land revenue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked Rajasthan and the governments of neighbouring states for a roadmap to develop Mangarh Dham, a memorial to a tribal uprising against the British, an event that he said has not been given its place in history.

"Over 1,500 tribals were killed in firing by the British on November 17, 1913, but unfortunately, in the history written post-Independence, this was not given its due place. Now, the country is correcting the mistake committed decades ago," he said, addressing a gathering, comprising tribals, among others, at the memorial.

According to the book 'A History of Rajasthan', Govindgiri's representatives submitted a charter of demands and a list of grievances against the Rajput States after which the British called upon the Bhils to leave Mangarh Hill before November 15, 1913.

When that didn't happen, the princely kingdoms of nearby Dungarpur, Banswara and Sunth pressured the colonial government who then sent in the Mewar Bhil Corps to attack the Mangarh Hill.

"According to Bhil oral accounts and later records, more than 1,500 men, women and children were killed and many wounded in the indiscriminate firing," read the book.

In 1952, an annual fair was instituted in Mangarh in memory of Guru Govindgiri and his disciples.

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Sagar (Madhya Pradesh) [India], November 1 (ANI): A 19-year-old youth, who was arrested for kidnapping a minor, died in police custody at Jaisinagar police station in Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh, the police said on Tuesday.

The youth was identified as Kritesh Patel, who is a resident of Semra Gopalman village in the district. The family members, however, alleged that the youth died due to being beaten up by the police and the kin of the girl.

Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Fired From Job, Ex-Employee Hacks Couple to Death in Hari Nagar.

Kritesh's Father, Raju Patel said, "The health condition of my son was absolutely fine. He was not suffering from any kind of disease. He died because of being thrashed by the police and the kin of the girl."

"My son had eloped with a girl. I myself reached Bhopal along with the police and handed over my son to them. The police and kin of the girl drove us away and beat up my son, following which he died," Raju added.

Also Read | Rajasthan: Confusion Prevails Over Announcement of 'Mangarh Dham' As National Monument.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Vikram Singh told ANI that the youth died in police custody at Jaisinagar police station. "Superintendent of Police (SP) has written a letter to the District Judge for judicial inquiry. The actual reason for the death will get clear after the judicial inquiry. Further action will be taken accordingly," ASP Singh added. (ANI)

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New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) President Droupadi Murmu will be on four-day visit to Nagaland, Mozoram and Sikkim from Wednesday, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said on Tuesday.

The President will attend the civic reception in Kohima to be hosted in her honour by the Nagaland government on Wednesday.

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On that occasion, she will also inaugurate/lay the foundation stone for various projects related to education and infrastructure in the state, said a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

President Murmu will pay her respects at the Kohima War Cemetery and visit Kigwema village where she will interact with the village council members and the members of self help groups (SHGs) on Thursday.

Also Read | Rajasthan: Confusion Prevails Over Announcement of 'Mangarh Dham' As National Monument.

On the same day, she will grace the 17th convocation of the Mizoram University at Aizawl and inaugurate various education related projects in the state of Mizoram, the statement said.

In the evening, the President will also attend the civic reception to be hosted by the Mizoram government in her honour at the Raj Bhavan, Aizawl, it said.

On November 4, President Murmu will address the members of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly in Aizawl.

On the same day, she will attend a civic reception to be hosted by the Sikkim government in her honour and inaugurate/lay the foundation stones for various projects of central and state governments, the statement said.

The President will interact with women achievers and members of SHGs at Tathagatha Tsal, Ravongla before returning to Delhi on November 5.

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Jaipur, Nov 1 (PTI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said he was hoping Prime Minister Narendra Modi would declare Mangarh Dham a national monument but the expectation could not be realised.

Modi has asked Rajasthan and the governments of neighbouring states for a roadmap to develop Mangarh Dham, a memorial to a tribal uprising against the British, an event that he said has not been given its place in history.

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"I was hoping that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would declare Mangarh Dham a national monument today, but the hope could not be fulfilled. Today or tomorrow, it will be declared a national monument," Gehlot told reporters after inaugurating the Pushkar Fair.

"Maybe, we asked for a lot. He (Modi) might have seen that politics is going on (on the issue), so wait for some time... today or tomorrow, the memorial will be declared a national monument. This is what I can say," he added.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath Dedicates Projects Worth Rs 1,670 Crore in Noida, Greater Noida.

While Modi was addressing the gathering, comprising tribals, among others, at the memorial on Tuesday, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) tweeted that the prime minister has declared the dham a national monument. Later in the day, the tweet was removed.

In its now deleted tweet, the PIB said, "PM@narendarmodi declares Mangadh Dham as National Monument,#Rajasthan."

Earlier, Gehlot performed a puja before inaugurating the fair.

"For the last two years, there were problems in organising the fair due to Covid, but this year, tourists from the country and abroad will come and join the fair," Gehlot said.

He said the "historical fair" is famous around the world for its uniqueness. He also attended the exhibition organised where women associated with self-help groups showcased products made by them.

"I am happy that these women are aware of various schemes of the state and central government and they also help other people by informing them about the schemes," he said.

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New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) Coca-Cola India expects its homegrown juice brand Maaza to become a billion-dollar brand by around 2024 following two of its other products Thums Up and Sprite achieving the milestone, a top company official said.

Last week, global soft drinks major Coca-Cola Company said its lemon and lime-flavoured soft drink Sprite has become a billion-dollar brand in the Indian market.

Also Read | JKPSC Recruitment 2022: Applications Invited for 22 Assistant Director and Other Posts at jkpsc.nic.in; Here's How To Apply.

Earlier, Coca-Cola was expecting Maaza to join the billion-dollar league in 2023. However, due to a surge in mango prices in 2022 as the weather played spoilsport, now the company expects this to happen around a year later, Coca-Cola President (India and Southwest Asia) Sanket Ray said on Tuesday.

"We would love for our juice brand Maaza to become a billion-dollar brand and that is clearly our ambition. But it may take longer and may not happen next year.

Also Read | Indian Railways Earnings from Freight Rises 17% in April-October 2022.

"With the surge in mango pulp price, we do not know how next year will shape up. If it happens next year that will be good. But it should happen by 2024," Ray said at a media roundtable here.

In January this year, Coca-Cola had said its Indian soft drink brand Thums Up had become a billion-dollar brand in 2021. India is the fifth-largest market for Coca-Cola globally.

Maaza is a mango-based drink made from the pulp of the Alphonso variety, which is known as the 'King of Mangoes' in India.

Now Coca-Cola has become the largest mango buyer in the country, Ray said, adding it is also now trying some other regional varieties of mangoes which have the potential to match the taste.

Asked about the current size of Maaza's business, Ray said, "We should end this year around Rs 4,500 crore to Rs 5,000 crore."

Maaza was acquired by The Coca-Cola Company from Ramesh Chauhan of Parle Bisleri in 1993, along with brands like Thums Up, Limca, Citra and Gold Spot, when the Atlanta-headquartered company had re-entered the Indian market.

During the company's latest earnings call, Coca-Cola Company Chairman and CEO James Quincey had said: "We drove 2.5 billion transactions in India at affordable price points through the expansion of returnable glass bottles and single-serve PET packages."

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Islamabad, Nov 1 (PTI) A Pakistani senator belonging to former prime minister Imran Khan's party on Tuesday described his "custodial torture" in detail as he urged the army chief and the chief justice to investigate the incident to protect citizens from such an ordeal in the future.

Senator Azam Khan Swati was arrested last month by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) after an anti-army tweet by him. He was later released on bail but he alleged that he was tortured while in custody and also stripped.

Also Read | UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman Under Fire From Opposition and Refugee Activists Over Migrant 'Invasion' Claim.

Addressing a press conference, the senator not only repeated allegations against the two military officials for their alleged involvement in the incident but also named an FIA official.

Waving a copy of the Constitution, he said that "this rulebook is not applicable to at least 1,000 people".

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While talking about the retirement of Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa later this month, he said: "You have 27 days left at GHQ, you must follow the Constitution and summon Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cybercrime assistant director Ayaz..."

He added that the FIA official was driving the vehicle that took him to an unknown place and witnessed the torture.

"They kept beating me the entire way and one of the men was filming the entire ordeal as I screamed," he said, adding that it must be investigated who was "cracking jokes" as he was being stripped naked.

"I would not care even if they would have killed me but they violated my privacy and I will knock on the door of all international institutions. If a senator is not protected, no citizen is safe in this country," he said.

Addressing Gen Bajwa, Swati swore that he was speaking the truth. "This 74-year-old senator is not becoming a source of shame for you. I am a living corpse and fighting for my fundamental rights, he said.

He also asked the Supreme Court to take the CCTV footage from his house into custody and order a forensic audit to determine the veracity of his claims.

He also thanked the Chief Justice for referring his case to the court's Human Rights Cell but demanded that justice should be done.

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Gujarat's #MorbiBridgeCollapse | Approx 300 Army personnel deployed in search & rescue ops at incident site. Army columns equipped with Engineer Stores are assisting NDRF, SDRF, IN, Coast Guard in rescue op & assisting civil admin & police in crowd management & security: Sources ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2022

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Iranian Foreign Ministry has announced that #Tehran has imposed sanctions against 10 US individuals and four institutions for violating human rights, interfering in #Iran's internal affairs, and inciting violence and riots in #Iran. pic.twitter.com/vVsyfhtR19 IANS (@ians_india) November 1, 2022

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A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
US Secretary of State @SecBlinken & Foreign Affairs Minister of Uzbekistan @VladimirNorov expressed sadness over the Morbi bridge collapse incident in Gujarat.



Both the leaders extended condolences to the victims and their families. pic.twitter.com/dww0TyJIaW Prasar Bharati News Services & Digital Platform (@PBNS_India) November 1, 2022

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Sources say that Burmese pythons are one of the most giant snakes on Earth and they are known as big eaters. A viral video of a Burmese python gulping a whole deer within a few seconds will leave your jaw dropped. The Instagram reel was shared by beautiful_new_pix. In the clip, a man can be seen tapping on the reptile's body. If you are afraid of creepy crawling, watch the video at your own risk. How Burmese Python Eats Big Prey? Research Explains How One Of The Largest Snake Species Consumes Their Food.

Watch Viral Reel:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nature | Travel | adventure (@beautiful_new_pix)

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London, November 1: UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman is under fire from the Opposition and refugee activists for classifying an increase in the number of refugees landing on the country's shores seeking asylum as an invasion by migrants on the border.

The Indian-origin Cabinet minister told Parliament on Monday evening that illegal migration to the country "is out of control" and that the asylum system is broken, with the sheer numbers arriving via the English Channel in small boats making it impossible to provide accommodation for all. Indian-Origin UK Minister Suella Braverman Wins Queen Elizabeth II of the Year Award.

Her statement followed a violent incident involving a petrol bomb attack at one of the migration centres on England's southern coast over the weekend. Suella Braverman Resigns As UK Home Secretary Over Technical Breach of Rules.

The British people deserve to know which party is serious about stopping the invasion on our southern coast, and which party is not, Braverman told the House of Commons.

Some 40,000 people have arrived on the south coast this year alone. For many of them, that was facilitated by criminal gangs; some of them are actual members of criminal gangs, so let us stop pretending that they are all refugees in distress. The whole country knows that that is not true. It is only Opposition members who pretend otherwise, she said.

Her junior minister in the Home Office, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, was forced to defend the statement saying his boss was right to be straight with the public about the "sheer scale" of illegal migration.

"In a job like mine, you have to choose your words very carefully. And I would never demonise people coming to this country in pursuit of a better life," he told Sky News' when asked about the phrase.

However, he said describing people crossing the Channel as an "invasion" was a way to show the scale of the challenge "and that's what Suella Braverman was trying to express".

The Opposition Labour Party accused the Home Secretary of using highly inflammatory language and the Scottish National Party (SNP) said such "incendiary language makes a mockery of [Prime Minister] Rishi Sunak's claims about so-called compassionate conservatism".

"No Home Secretary who was serious about public safety or national security would use highly inflammatory language on the day after a dangerous petrol bomb attack on a Dover initial processing centre," said Yvette Cooper, Labour's shadow home secretary.

The UK's Refugee Council also condemned the language used by Braverman. To describe the serious and complex situation created by the asylum crisis as an 'invasion' is appalling, wrong and dangerous. These are men, women and children fleeing war, persecution and conflict," it said.

The Opposition has been piling pressure on the government after reports of overcrowding at a UK Border Force processing centre in Manston, Kent, on England's southern coast.

The site is only designed to hold 1,000 people, who are meant to stay for just 48 hours before being moved on, but there are currently around 4,000 migrants there. Hundreds more people were moved to the Manston facility over the weekend after the petrol bomb attack, which Braverman told MPs was not being treating as a terrorist attack.

A report in The Times' claimed Braverman blocked the transfer of asylum seekers from Manston to new hotels and ignored legal advice that the government was illegally detaining people there.

I confirm that I have not ever ignored legal advice...What I will say is this: I am not prepared to release migrants prematurely into the local community in Kent to no fixed abode. That, to me, is an unacceptable option, she said in response to a question in Parliament.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is being challenged over his decision to appoint Braverman as Home Secretary since he gave her the job last week, but has stood by her. She resigned from the same role in his predecessor Liz Truss' Cabinet after sending sensitive policy documents from her personal email, breaking the ministerial code.

She told MPs this week that she has been "clear I made an error of judgement...I took responsibility for it and I resigned".
It was supposed to be Chinas grand photovoltaic highway  a solar energy-collecting, 0.6-mile stretch of road that symbolized the countrys extraordinary clean energy ambitions.

But that was last month. Five days after the road opened in the industrial city of Jinan for testing on Dec. 28, inspectors found that one six-foot panel was missing  allegedly plundered by thieves, according to the Qilu Evening News, a local newspaper. The purported thieves had also damaged seven surrounding panels. The road has since been closed.

We can speculate the damage was not done by hand, nor does it appear it was done by a big vehicle, Xu Dehao, a construction worker at Shandong Pavenergy, the company overseeing the project, told the newspaper. It was more likely done by a professional team.

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Affected parts of the road appeared to be corroded by liquid, Xu said, adding that a nearby fence was damaged.

An unnamed Shandong Pavenergy employee told the newspaper that several suspicious figures appeared by the road as it was under construction, and that some took photos and stole components. Now that the road is complete, they still come to steal, the employee said. I really dont understand why.

Others involved in the project warned against hasty judgment. It is not as bad as it says in the media, an unnamed employee at the Qilu Transportation Development Group, an investor in the project, told the newspaper. In fact, only a small strip of the road was damaged. We are still not sure if it is stolen. The police are investigating.

Jinan, an industrial provincial capital of nearly 7 million people, is a frequently smog-cloaked metropolis of factories and sprawling residential blocks. An aerial picture published by the state-run China Daily shows the road running straight through a wintry semi-rural landscape on the citys South Express Ring Road, flanking a few scattered houses and patches of barren trees.

The road has three layers, according to China Daily: an insulating layer on the bottom, a middle layer of photovoltaic devices, and a protective top layer of transparent concrete.

The top layer has good flexibility which can both withstand the pressure of large vehicles and protect the fragile amorphous silicon boards underneath, Zhang Hongchao, an engineering expert at Chinas Tongji University who helped design the project, told the state-run New China News Agency.

Zhang told CCTV, Chinas state broadcaster, that the road could generate 1 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, enough to power 800 households. He added that it cost about $42.50 per square foot.

Electricity from the project could melt the snow in winter to make driving safer, state-run China Global Television Network said in a report. It could also remote charge electric cars.

China became the worlds top solar power producer last year; it produces 78 gigawatts of solar power annually, compared to 40.3 gigawatts in the U.S.. (The U.S. ranks fourth, after Japan and Germany).

The China Daily has billed the road as the first photovoltaic highway in the world, though its not the first road to collect solar energy. The French village of Tourouvre-au-Perche unveiled a similar-looking solar panel road in 2016, intended to power streetlights in the village of 3,400 people. The Netherlands built a solar panel-embedded bike path in 2014, despite public concerns about cost-effectiveness.

The Jinan highway is the largest project of its type; its solar panels cover 63,200 square feet, about twice the area of Frances road.

China has also built a 500 foot-long solar road  not quite a highway  in the eastern province Zhejiang designed to transfer solar energy into electromagnetic waves which can wirelessly charge electric vehicles.

jonathan.kaiman@latimes.com

For more news from Asia, follow @JRKaiman on Twitter

Nicole Liu in the Times Beijing bureau contributed to this report
A ministry says President Jair Bolsonaro will not publicly address Brazil's election results until Tuesday.

There are still questions about whether the far-right nationalist will accept that his leftist opponent, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, won the election.

According to Communications Minister Fabio Faria, Bolsonaro was delaying his remarks so he could return to his home Monday evening and prepare a speech, Reuters noted.

The leader of an allying party, Claudio Cajado, declared that Bolsonaro would address the entire nation on Monday, roughly 24 hours after the election results were announced.

Some of Bolsonaro's advisers, according to Cajado, are encouraging him to concede defeat, although it is unclear whether he will do so.

Lula's win is a surprising comeback for the 77-year-old former metalworker. He led Brazil from 2003 to 2010 but then went to prison for corruption charges that were later overturned.

Bolsonaro stayed at the presidential mansion on Monday without going out in public.

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, his eldest child, thanked his father's supporters in a tweet: "Let's raise our heads and not give up on our Brazil! God is in charge!"

READ NEXT: Brazil Election: Lula's Victory Over Jair Bolsonaro Strengthens Latin America's 'Pink Tide | Is It Bad News for the U.S.?

Jair Bolsonaro's Supporters Do Not Want To Accept the Brazil Election Results

Fears that Bolsonaro will not agree to a power transfer have grown as Bolsonaro delays conceding.

In the days before Sunday's run-off election, Bolsonaro and some of his supporters made false claims about election fraud and unfair news coverage.

CNN Brasil says that on Monday, truck drivers blocked major roads and highways in at least 12 Brazilian states. They said the race was too tight and wanted to hear from the President. Some people who support Bolsonaro are still waiting to hear from him.

Experts, on the other hand, say that the matter is already out of the outgoing President's hands, whether he admits it or not.

Brazil's Supreme Electoral Court is in charge of confirming election results and communicating them to the Senate, Chamber of Deputies, and State Assemblies.

A press officer for the Electoral Court said the votes are already valid since the court announced the results on Sunday. He also said that the win would be made official at a later court date, but that date has not been set yet.

Jair Bolsonaro's Key Allies Accept the Results

According to The Guardian, while Bolsonaro remained silent, his key allies accepted the outcome, indicating that the populist's power rapidly faded after four turbulent years in office.

One of Bolsonaro's most prominent supporters and well-known televangelist Silas Malafaia tweeted: "The sovereign will of the people has established itself."

Tarcsio de Freitas, the newly elected governor of Sao Paulo, and Bolsonaro supporter, also acknowledged Lula's victory, telling the press, "The election result is sovereign."

"The will of the majority, expressed at the polls, should never be challenged." added another key ally, lower house leader Arthur Lira.

Sergio Moro, a pro-Bolsonaro judge who controversially imprisoned Lula in the 2018 election before joining Bolsonaro's government, also acknowledged the leftist's victory.

He tweeted: "Thus is democracy."

Meanwhile, many of Bolsonaro's initiatives, including those supporting guns and providing lax protection for the Amazon rainforest, would be reversed, Lula has said.

Lula also said he would bring back the social programs and government-driven economic growth that helped millions of people escape poverty during his two terms as president.

READ MORE: Elon Musk Asks Twitter Users if Vine Should Return

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WATCH: Bolsonaro silent after defeat, no concession - From Reuters
In a chilling revelation, San Francisco authorities revealed new details on the attack by QAnon believer and right-wing conspiracy theorist David DePape on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Police revealed that he wanted to break the kneecaps of the California representative in order to show other members of congress that their actions have consequences.

According to the chilling federal complaint, DePape carried zip ties, tape, and a rope in a backpack. He then broke into the Pelosi home in San Francisco early Friday morning and found Paul Pelosi sleeping upstairs. He then forced the elderly businessman to wake up and asked "Where is Nancy?"

Attack on Paul Pelosi Was Politically Motivated

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins stated during a press conference that DePape specifically targeted the Pelosi house and Speaker Nancy Pelosi herself. She added that the attack was politically motivated and that the public should "watch the words that we say and turn down the volume of our political rhetoric."

Jenkins told the Associated Press that DePape researched the Pelosi home in advance and was not something done at the spur of the moment.

The attack somewhat amplified the already-toxic political climate ahead of the upcoming November 8 midterm elections. Several right-wing groups have already posted memes mocking the Pelosis, with some Republican candidates like Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake making fun of the security at the Pelosi house.

Charges have been filed against DePape, including attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary, and other felonies.

READ MORE: Nancy Pelosi Releases First Comments Since Attack on Husband Paul Pelosi

Elon Musk Shared False Information on Paul Pelosi Attack, Immediately Deletes It

The admission by DePape, as well as the federal affidavit, have debunked several right-wing conspiracy theories, including one shared by now-Twitter owner Elon Musk, who deleted his tweet that included false information on the attack on Paul Pelosi.

According to The Business Insider, Musk shared a link from the Santa Monica Observer, known for peddling debunked conspiracy theories. The headline read "The Awful Truth: Paul Pelosi Was Drunk Again, And In a Dispute With a Male Prostitute Early Friday Morning."

Controversial Georgia House Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene backed Musk up and stated that Pelosi's attacker is his "friend" and added that "the media is the source of misinformation."

The damage had already been done, however, as the link was retweeted more than 30,000 times and liked more than 110,000 times before it was deleted less than an hour later. The tweet itself was posted by QAnon and right-wing accounts on multiple social media platforms.

According to The Guardian, the now-deleted Musk tweet came as a response to a tweet by Hillary Clinton who wrote a scathing attack on Republicans for spreading "hate and deranged conspiracy theories" that emboldened a man like DePape to attack Paul Pelosi.

Musk replied to that Clinton tweet stating, "there is a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye" and then shared that link from the faux newspaper, the Santa Monica Observer. The Twitter owner also received much backlash for sharing such false information, with many pointing out that Musk owning Twitter is a red flag in itself.

READ NEXT: Michigan Dad Who Fell Prey to QAnon Killed Wife and Family Dog, Shot Daughter in Back and Legs

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: San Francisco DA reveals shocking new details in Paul Pelosi attack - Fox News
Donald Trump's Trump Organization has been alleged to have cheated tax authorities for 15 years, according to a prosecutor during her opening statement at a tax fraud trial.

Reuters reported that defense lawyers argued that the Trump Organization's longtime chief financial officer had acted for his own benefit.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger said at a tax fraud trial that Trump Organization paid certain executives perks such as rent and cars without reporting those benefits to tax authorities.

Hoffinger added that the company also falsely reported bonuses as non-employee compensation.

CFO Allen Weisselberg also enjoyed those perks.

Hoffinger said in her opening statement that the tax fraud case is "about greed and cheating, cheating on taxes."

She added that the scheme was done, "directed, and authorized" at the highest levels of the accounting department at the company.

Trump Organization units, which are the Trump Corporation and the Trump Payroll Corporation, have pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

A lawyer for the Trump Payroll Corporation noted in his opening statement that "Weisselberg did it for Weisselberg."

Hoffinger argued that Weisselberg was "a prime beneficiary" of the scheme, but that he acted as a Trump Organization executive.

READ NEXT: Donald Trump Hotels Charged Secret Service More Than 5 Times the Recommended Government Rate, Records Show

Trump Organization Tax Fraud Trial

The case revealed that the company paid Weisselberg's apartment, cars, and grandchildren's school tuition.

The chief financial officer has pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against the company in exchange for a five-month jail sentence.

Aside from him, Weisselberg's son and another Trump Organization executive were also accused of getting "off-the-books compensation."

Twelve jurors and six alternates were picked last week for the case. However, one alternate was dismissed on Monday.

Meanwhile, the former president has not been charged with any wrongdoing, but noted that the investigation into the company he has led for decades was a politically motivated "witch hunt."

Acting New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan told potential jurors that Trump and his three oldest children-Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump-could be called as witnesses.

Weisselberg will also be testifying in the case and has agreed to pay around $2 million in taxes as part of his plea deal, NBC News reported.

Trump Organization Tax Fraud Case

The first witness had taken the stand in the trial. It was the Trump Corporation's controller, Jeffrey S. McConney.

He had admitted that he had met recently with defense lawyers but not with prosecutors. This prompted prosecutor Joshua Steinglass to ask Judge Merchan to treat him as a hostile or adverse witness, which the latter denied.

The case was rooted in an indictment unsealed in July 2021 that accused Weisselberg and two Trump corporations of running a 15-year-scheme, wherein they benefited from lavish off-the-books perks.

The New York Times noted that Trump's family business will not pay more than $1.7 million if convicted of tax fraud and other crimes at its trial.

However, a guilty verdict might scare off possible lenders and business partners, or call for a stricter term on Trump.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Admits He Didn't Win Presidential Election 2020 During Interview With Presidential Historians

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Trump Organization faces criminal tax fraud trial over perks given to executives - from 10 Tampa Bay


The city of Wyandotte, Michigan, has stopped a Halloween tradition, trick-or-treat, in one area because of cockroach infestation.

According to People, the affected streets would be closed "as a proactive measure to prevent further roach migration," the city officials announced in a Facebook statement to the locals Monday.

"The City has determined it to be in the best interest of the citizens to close 20th Street, and the sidewalks, from Eureka to Grove on Monday, October 31, 2022, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm," the statement reads.

The statement also said that the street and sidewalk at Grove, the intersection of Orchard and Pine, and Eureka would be blocked off to vehicles and pedestrians with barricades and signage. Trick-or-treat activity is prohibited in the area.

READ NEXT: Trick-or-Treat Candy in Ohio Discovered to Have a Sewing Needle Planted Inside - Police

The Cause of Cockroach Infestation

The problem started in a Wyandotte house that had been temporarily shut down.

According to neighbors, the problem began inside the house as there was a lot of trash, and the cockroaches were looking for food, Fox 2 reported.

"Roaches were just walking house to house," said resident Becky Wallace.

"It just gives you that dirty feeling makes you want to itch and clean everything. And that's what we all have been doing," she added.

The city claims to take all reasonable steps to lessen the situation and resolve the issue.

"These cockroaches are considered to be hitchhikers," said Mark VanderWerp, an entomologist of Rose Pest Solutions.

VanderWerp is an expert on bugs and has a contained colony of German cockroaches in his kitchen.

According to him, cockroaches can only be found in people's homes since they prefer warm temperatures.

He said there were many cases where he found hundreds of cockroaches running from someone's fridge.

The City Began Cockroach Infestation Extermination

Todd Hannah, a member of the City Council, said that the city was planning to start exterminating the home where the problem started and was also offering to spray every lawn in the area.

Gregory Mayhew, a commissioner of the Wyandotte Building Authority, stated in a letter sent out on October 25 that a property with cockroach infestation had been discovered "in your neighborhood."

The letter said that the roaches are spreading to other residences and that the city is attempting to eradicate them, but added that "it will take some time," Daily Mail noted.

Some locals claim that the cockroach infestation began around August 12. The infestation was discovered by garbage collectors as they took out the trash.

Officials found the horrifying conditions following a wellness check.

Lisa LaBean, a nearby resident, said that the cockroaches were crawling all over the children while sitting and taking a wellness check.

Because of the severe roach infestation, residents were instructed to wrap their things and place them outside so that an exterminator could spray them.

However, many left their furniture unwrapped when they placed it outside, which allowed the roaches to spread.

Meanwhile, there were no reports of any cockroach infestation near the area. According to a statement, Halloween's trick-or-treat activities will go as planned throughout the rest of the city from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

READ MORE: Nebraska Man Dies After Being Shot by Omaha Police

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Trick-or-treating cancelled in Wyandotte neighborhood, cockroaches to blame - From Click On Detroit | Local 4 | WDIV
The government of Mexico has withdrawn arrest warrants regarding the missing 43 students in the Ayotzinapa case.

The decision of the Mexican government has earned criticisms from an independent panel, the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts. The group noted that there was sufficient evidence to press charges.

The Guardian reported that the group did not know why 21 of 83 arrest orders were dropped just as investigators were moving forward with arrests.

GIEI member Claudia Paz y Paz told a news conference that it is "incomprehensible" why the arrest warrants were withdrawn.

Another panelist Francisco Cox described some of the areas of the government's investigation as "clumsy" and "rushed."

In August, a government truth commission report described the disappearances as a "state crime."

The GIEI said that the government blurred the investigation by presenting "questionable screen captures" of message exchanges as evidence.

READ NEXT: Mexico: 18 Dead, Including Mayor and His Father, After Los Tequileros Gunmen Sprayed Bullets at Town Hall, House in Guerrero

Arrests In Ayotzinapa Case

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office in 2018 promising to uncover the truth about the suspected abduction and massacre of the 43 students in Ayotzinapa.

Lopez Obrador made the commitment following his predecessor's investigation that was full of errors and abuses.

The Mexican president also named a special prosecutor and created a truth commission.

GIEI said that the messages presented by the truth commission were not part of the documentation used to request the 83 orders to arrest military police, local officials, and others.

The independent panel noted that the prosecutors did not base their probe on the truth commission's report.

Mexico's top human rights official, Alejandro Encinas, has yet to comment on the matter. Encinas was the one leading the commission.

Encinas noted last week that the WhatsApp messages are part of a larger analysis.

GIEI members noted that they would continue requesting many military documents, adding that the government so far has not handed them over.

In September, an Army general, Gen. Jose Rodriguez Perez, was accused of participating in or covering up the abduction, as reported by The Washington Post. He is the highest-ranking military officer arrested in the case.

Mexico's former attorney general, Jesus Murillo Karam, was also arrested for his alleged role in a coverup.

Ayotzinapa Case

The case caught national and international attention on the human rights situation in Mexico.

The missing students' case led to an international investigation and technical assistance from GIEI.

Former President Enrique Pena Nieto's administration has sought to conclude the case by releasing a false version of the events, which was called as "historic truth."

In May 2018, a federal court ruling noted that the criminal investigation had not been "prompt, effective, independent, or impartial."

The August report confirmed that authorities from different government agencies participated in the students' disappearance, which made the Ayotzinapa case a "crime of the state."

The report also noted that an Army colonel allegedly ordered the killing of six of the 43 students.

READ MORE: El Chapo's Sinaloa Cartel Continues to Thrive Despite the DrugLLord's Absence: Report

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: "A Crime of the State": Mexico's Attorney General Arrested in Case of 43 Missing Ayotzinapa Students - from Democracy Now!


Academy Award-winner Julia Roberts is one of the most famous actresses in the world. However, there is a little-known fact surrounding her birth. Did you know that it was none other than civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King, who paid for her birth?

Fans recently began recirculating this unbelievable fact on social media in honor of the "Pretty Woman" and "Erin Brockovich" actress' 55th birthday, which happened last October 28.

READ NEXT: Supreme Court Rejects Appeal by White Supremacist Mass Shooter Dylann Roof

Julia Roberts Talks About Connection With Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King

The conversation surrounding the events of Julia Roberts' birth reignited when the actress sat down with journalist Gayle King, who had no relation to the civil rights leader, during A&E Networks and History Channel's "HISTORYTalks" event in Washington, D.C. last month.

According to Roberts, the iconic civil rights leader and author's wife took care of her parents' hospital bills because they could not afford them.

Today is Julia Roberts birthday! 55 years ago MLK and Coretta Scott King paid for her parents hospital bill after she was born. Cant stop thinking about this since I read it. Here she is talking about it with @GayleKing https://t.co/5HvpNSUIYb pic.twitter.com/147x6d807W  Zara Rahim (@ZaraRahim) October 28, 2022

The "Runaway Bride" star said her "parents had a theater school in Atlanta called the Actors and Writers' Workshop."

Julia Roberts added that Coretta Scott King called her mother and "asked if her kids could be part of the school because they were having a hard time finding a place that would accept her kids."

As her mother, Betty Lou Bredemus, and father, Walter Grady Roberts, accepted the Kings' request, a friendship emerged between them.

According to CNN, this friendship led to the Kings paying for the hospital bill of Roberts' mom at a time when they could not pay for it.

"And so they just all became friends and they helped us out of a jam," Roberts told Gayle. The actress then described her parents' friendship with the civil rights icons as "extraordinary."

She added that their simple act of kindness helped create the groundwork that helped shape her to become the person she is today.

Julia Roberts' Parents Faced Bigotry For Allowing Black Children Into Their Acting School

When they allowed the Kings' children to attend the acting school, Julia Roberts' parents received a lot of backlash. Racism and bigotry were directed toward them for allowing black children into the school.

One of those children was the late Yolanda King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. According to NBC News, Yolanda was cast as the love interest of a white actor in one of the school's productions.

She and the white actor even shared a kissing scene. The white actor who shared that kiss with young Yolanda was Phillip DePoy, who wrote about his experience in a 2013 essay.

DePoy wrote in the essay that a car exploded near the theater after the kissing scene. He noted that "a tangential member of the Ku Klux Klan" had seen the kissing scene and had "come around the day before the explosion in order to make trouble."

On the day they were confronted, the school offered a free show for the Carver Homes housing project, an exclusively African-American community. DePoy said the man had been harassing them since day one. After the kiss, a Buick began to burn around 10 yards away.

READ MORE: Texas Woman Goes Off on Shocking Racist Rant, Now Facing Possible Hate Crime Charges After Arrest

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Julia Roberts Says Martin Luther King Jr.'s Family Paid the Bill for Her Birth - From CBS Los Angeles
A royal author accused Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of making their fortune "solely by damaging and destroying the royal family."

In an interview with "Good Morning Britain" on Monday, Tom Bower said the Sussex couple were "destroying the royal family to promote their own fortunes," prestige, and brand.

Bower noted that he thinks Harry and Meghan should no longer be allowed to call themselves Duke and Duchess since they were "profiting off their status" and, in the process, disparaging the royal family, SheKnows reported.

The royal author added that the only way the Sussex couple can be "undermined" and decreased importance in America is to have their royal titles removed.

Bower said he thinks that Harry and Markle "trade" on their royal ranking by "trashing Britain" and flaunting themselves "as the Duke and Duchess and the Prince."

The royal author further noted that the Sussex couple's Oprah interview has been "hugely damaging to the royal family. According to Newsweek, Bower said the duke and duchess told "17 lies" during the Oprah Winfrey interview.

Bower made the comment after historian Tessa Dunlop challenged a number of factual claims Bower made in his book titled "Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors" after its publication.

READ NEXT: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix Deal Could Be Plugged Out Anytime, Industry Source Says

Prince Harry's Memoir and The Royal Family

Prince Harry's upcoming memoir was recently edited with a new chapter dedicated to the late Queen Elizabeth II. There will also be material on how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were "snubbed."

According to Bazaar, a source told The Sun that the Sussex couple's former staff members are "convinced" that the book is being written to "settle scores," and will possibly include many details regarding their time with the royal family.

According to the same source, some of the former staff distrust that there will be a complete and accurate picture presented. The royal family was reportedly worried about the memoir's release in 2023.

Bower claimed that the royal family has been "hugely nervous" about what will be revealed in the memoir. Prince Harry earlier said the intent and purpose of publishing the memoir is to show his humanity, adding that he wrote it as "the man I have become."

Royal Titles of the Sussex Family

Tom Bower has warned that the new monarch could strip the Duke and Duchess of Sussex of their titles, adding that King Charles III could also withhold Archie and Lilibet's titles over Harry's memoir, "Spare."

Bower noted that the Duke of Sussex's book is "really make or break," Mirror reported. Some reports suggest that the new King has no desire to strip Harry's royal titles.

According to Daily Mail, King Charles recently announced that he will be the next Captain General of the Royal Marines, an honorary military role stripped from Harry after they stepped down from their royal duties.

At first, Prince William was expected to succeed Harry as Captain General. However, some reports speculated that the move would be seen as "unnecessarily provocative" amid growing tensions between the siblings.

READ MORE: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Royal Titles Could Be 'In Danger' With New Monarch as King Charles - Royal Expert

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Tom Bower Slams Prince Harry & Meghan Declaring They're a 'Threat' in New Explosive Biography - From Good Morning Britain
An Ohio woman was charged with murder after she allegedly killed her four-month-old daughter by stomping on her or slamming her.

According to Crime Online, Rebecca King, 37, called 911 at around 4:30 a.m. on October 8 to report that her infant daughter, Lily Johnson, was not breathing. The baby died, and investigators concluded that Johnson was either stomped or slammed.

Ashley Brooks, King's sister, told WKRC that her sister said her baby had a skull fracture from her doing CPR. Brooks said she thought that it was "not possible."

Investigators reportedly noted that the infant died of blunt force trauma that was purposely caused by her mother. Fox 19 reported that a Hamilton County Judge set the bond for the Ohio woman at $100,000.

READ NEXT: Charles Manson Cult Follower Patricia Krenwinkel Recommended for Parole for First Time in Over 5 Decades

Ohio Woman Stomping Infant Daughter to Death

Neighbor Jessica Monjar told WKRC of hearing loud music that day and a sound like someone knocking down the door.

Monjar, who was reportedly present when paramedics responded to King's home in Norwood, said that was when Rebecca King said her baby was not breathing and asked the neighbor to let paramedics in.

Monjar noted that she will never be able to get that image of that baby out of her mind, adding that the child's life was gone.

Reports said a funeral for the infant is planned for later in the week, and a GoFundMe account was set up by one of Lily Johnson's relatives to raise money for her memorial service.

The Ohio woman was charged with the murder of her daughter on Friday, and she was scheduled to be back in court on November 7.

Reports said King also has an open domestic violence case involving her 19-year-old son. However, the specifics of the case were not released publicly.

Ohio Woman's Sister on Death of the Infant

Ashley Brooks told WKRC that she talked to her sister later that morning. She noted that she instantly knew that something was very wrong.

Brooks attended her sister's bond hearing on Saturday. Brooks noted that she does not have any love for Rebecca King at this point.

King's sister added that the suspect took her niece away from her. Brooks said her daughter and Lily Johnson were only four months apart and that the two infant girls "were supposed to grow up together."

Monjar also had something to say regarding the baby's death. She admitted that she had some guilt in her mind.

The neighbor noted that if only she had been that nosey when the Ohio woman turned on that music, she would have called and made a complaint, and the outcome might have been different for the baby.

Johnson's "Celebration of Life" will reportedly take place at Tredway-Pollitt-Staver Funeral Home on November 4.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 3,500 to 4,000 children witness fatal family violence each year in the United States.

READ MORE: Former Charles Manson's Cult Member Recalls How He Lured Her Into His 'Family'

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Domestic Abuse Soars Globally Since Lockdown - From Al Jazeera English
A narco tunnel similar to those built by the Sinaloa Cartel to transport drugs across the border was discovered in Mexico's Baja California state last week.

According to Borderland Beat, authorities confirmed the existence of the narco tunnel in the Luis Donaldo Colosio neighborhood in the city of Mexicali on Friday.

The Attorney General's Office (FGR) reportedly conducted a search at the property on Aguascalientes and Manuel Gomez Morin streets after the military and elements of the State Force and Citizen Security found a hole in the middle of the house that used to be an evangelical center.

Authorities investigated the property after receiving reports that there was a tunnel there. Agents of the National Guard had joined in guarding the area since Wednesday.

Citing sources from the FGR, Zeta Tijuana reported that the narco tunnel was not yet ready, but the digging work was already reaching the United States.

Authorities found machinery used in digging an underground route inside the building. Reports said there were no arrests made, and no one was seen entering the property after several days.

Authorities did not say who they suspected of being behind the narco tunnel but said the builder intended to build a cross-border tunnel because of its size. The Sinaloa Cartel, which specializes in these infrastructural wonders, reportedly operates in the state.

READ NEXT: El Chapo Legacy: Sinaloa Cartel Continues to Build Narco Tunnels for Drug Smuggling

El Chapo of the Sinaloa Cartel Utilizes Narco Tunnels

Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera, also known as "El Chapo," is known for his ingenious ways of transporting drugs, including creating and using narco tunnels for his drug empire.

El Chapo also used the narco tunnels to evade capture and law enforcement officials for three decades. The Sinaloa Cartel boss even escaped from Mexico's super-maximum-security prison, Altiplano, through a tunnel on July 11, 2015.

He escaped from prison through the bathroom of his cell and went down to a ladder before entering a more than a kilometer narco tunnel built by his engineers.

The Sinaloa Cartel built the first cross-border narco tunnel in 1989. Since then, the drug cartel has refined the art of underground construction and used these narco tunnels more effectively than any criminal group in history.

Officials have reportedly discovered 181 illicit passageways under the U.S.-Mexico border until 2014. They said most of them have been short and like narrow "gopher holes," just enough for a person to crawl through.

Federal agents noted that the Sinaloa Cartel also specializes in what they called "super tunnels." Authorities said a single "super tunnel" takes several months and over a million dollars to build as it has electric lights, elevators, and ventilation ducts, with disguised entry and exit shafts.

They said these passageways could also reach as deep as seventy feet and were usually tall enough for an adult to walk or ride through. This was the method that El Chapo left to the Sinaloa Cartel for drug trafficking to evade law enforcement.

The Engineer of Sinaloa Cartel Narco Tunnels

Mexican and U.S. authorities have identified Jose Sanchez Villalobos as the mastermind behind the design of the Sinaloa Cartel narco tunnels.

Sanchez was reportedly the builder of the narco tunnels linking Tijuana on the Mexican side and San Diego on the U.S. side. He was released from prison in the U.S. earlier this year after serving a 10-year term for a drug distribution conspiracy.

Sanchez, also one of the Sinaloa Cartel's high-level managers, pleaded guilty in December 2020 to planning, financing, and supervising the construction of several cross-border tunnels from 2010 to 2012.

He also pleaded guilty to overseeing the cartel's operation as smuggling conduits. He was reportedly responsible for transporting drugs in Mexico's states of Baja California and Jalisco and managing marijuana transport from southern Mexico to northern Mexico.

Sanchez was also reported to have overseen two narco tunnels built in the San Diego area to transport drugs. He was also said to have been responsible for deciding who could use the said tunnels for a fee.

Sanchez was arrested in Mexico in 2012 and spent about eight years in custody there. He then spent the rest of his sentence in San Diego after being extradited to the U.S to face charges.

The narco tunnels became a huge part of El Chapo's operation for smuggling and escaping from prisons. The Mexican drug kingpin has earned the reputation of being the "Lord of the Tunnels" for his preference to use the underground.

He was compared to early Juarez Cartel boss Amado Carillo Fuentes, who was dubbed as "Lord of the Skies." Carillo Fuentes was known to transport drugs by using planes.

READ MORE: Leaked Photo of Sinaloa Cartel Boss El Chapo's Son, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, Surfaces Online

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Inside El Chapo's Escape Tunnel - From Vice News
More than 8,000 householders and almost 300 non-residential customers of gas are unlikely to have their supply disrupted his winter.

That's the implication of a forecast made by Gas Networks Ireland which maintains Irelands 2.7bn, 14,664km national gas network. With more than 8,000 houses and business connected, Laois has one of the highest rates of gas use in Ireland outside the big cities and Greater Dublin Area counties.

In a statement the company says it does not envisage any disruption to gas supply during the winter months according to the network operators 2022/23 Winter Outlook.

It said Winter Outlook indicates that there is both enough gas supply sources and enough network capacity to meet the anticipated gas demand projections over the coming winter period, including in the case of an extremely cold day that would only occur once every 50 years.

A statement said that it is expected that about 21% of the States natural gas requirements will be supplied from the Corrib gas field off the coast of Co Mayo during the 2022/23 winter period. It added that gas supplies from Great Britain via the Moffat interconnector  which is Irelands entry point for imported gas - will account for 79% of overall gas demand this winter. It is also claimed that that indigenous supplies in Great Britain and supplies from Norway will continue to be the main sources of gas in Great Britain this year.

Gas Networks says the forecasted flows of gas from these sources are similar to the previous winter and coupled with the UKs LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) supply and gas reserves means there are flexible and dependable supplies to meet variable demand.

Maurice Power said Gas Networks Irelands Future Networks Manager.

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February of this year has led to ongoing concerns here in Ireland and across Europe about gas supply and energy security. However, while there is an elevated risk of disruption due to the uncertainty resulting from the war in Ukraine, we are not forecasting any disruption to gas supply this winter. There is currently enough gas supply and network capacity to meet the States expected needs.

At Gas Networks Ireland we have robust and tested procedures in place to manage a gas supply shortage. We actively work with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU)  the body responsible for Irelands security of energy supply, to ensure the risk of a supply disruption is minimised.

We appreciate people may be concerned about energy usage as we head into the winter months. Gas customers can find practical advice and information, such as how to read your gas meter and provide this to your energy supplier on our website, it said.

The latest Central Statistics Office figures show that there are 290 non-residential gas meters in Laois with 8,100 residential meters connected to the network.

Gas Networks Irelands Winter Outlook 2022/23 can be found www.gasnetworks.ie/winter- outlook-2022.pdf

Almost 720,000 Irish homes and businesses rely on the gas network for energy. More tahn 30% of Irelands total energy, including 40% of all heating and almost 50% of the countrys electricity generation is gas dependent.
Work is ongoing to deliver a promised refuge for Laois victims of domestic violence but there are 'no timelines' for its completion nor can the cost be confirmed, according to the Department of Justice.

The latest update on a promised premises for women and children and others forced out of their homes through domestic abuse in Laois was outlined in the Dail by Laois Offaly Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley on October 26.

The absence of safe havens in Laois and Offaly has been campaigned for many years but the murder of Aisling Murphy in Tullamore led to a pledge from Government to spend 363 m under five-year strategy. The strategy said Laois and Offaly are priorities for new refuges.

But it appears that prioritisation does not mean the Laois refuge will open soon.

"Planning is not yet at the stage to identify the specific amount of either capital or revenue funding required. Furthermore, planning is not sufficiently advanced to identify the specific timelines for completion," a Minister of State revealed to Dep Stanley.

The Laois TD was also assured that funding would be in place to build necessary refuge accommodation "over the coming years".

The Sinn Fein raised the need to prioritise the delivery of domestic violence refuges. Speaking in the Dail he stressed the importance of delivering for Laois and Offaly with Minister of State at the Department of Justice James Browne.

The third national strategy on domestic violence issues was launched recently and I welcome that. In that strategy, 12 locations in the country which do not have domestic violence refuges, including, nine counties, are identified as priorities. Laois is one of the counties identified, as is Offaly. The midlands is without one of these centres as there is no refuge in either Laois or Offaly. Domestic abuse services in Laois and Offaly are both doing great work but are under pressure.

"The pandemic brought its own problems but there was a 38% increase in demand last year. We were coming out of the pandemic at that stage but unfortunately, domestic violence is an increasing problem. It is a cultural, educational and societal problem. In the Laois centre, there was a 38% increase year on year in the number of clients supported, with 505 people receiving actual support.

"People working in the service tell me that the cases are becoming more complex, and the annual reports of domestic violence services show that clearly. The services can only do so much without a safe refuge for people, sometimes men but mainly women and children, who are trying to escape domestic violence, he said.

Dep Stanley, who has raised the problem a number of times in Leinster House, said the pressure on service has increased this year.

There is little or no emergency accommodation available in the county. Laois County Council is really firefighting at the moment in terms of the provision of homeless accommodation. Unfortunately, the fact that people are fleeing Putin's illegal war in Ukraine is bringing its own pressures.

"Accommodation that might have been available in the social housing system or by way of HAP tenancies is becoming more difficult to source and there are waiting lists for emergency accommodation. Typically, people are being sent out of the county to access services, which means taking them away from local schools, doctors and other services and away from family supports," he said.

The TD said the Laois Domestic Abuse Service has a four-year strategic plan and a refuge is the number one priority for the staff and the board. He asked the Minister of State to confirm that capital funding has been announced for a refuge in Laois and that money will not be a barrier.

He said: "Can he assure me that if the jigsaw can be put together in terms of identifying a suitable site and so on, the money will be forthcoming?"

The TD said a strategy group is in place locally and is working on this. Tusla is working with that group, along with a number of other stakeholders but he said funding is the key.

"It is really important that money does not become the barrier to getting a refuge in place. People are at their most vulnerable when they are escaping domestic violence. Often women and children go back into abusive situations because they have no other option.

"They need a refuge space to feel safe, get their head together, access support services and to plan a way forward. That may involve obtaining barring orders and so on, but they need that space," he said.

In rely the Minister of State said it is the intention of the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee that every person who needs a refuge space will have access to one. He said that as a start, the strategy commits to doubling the number of refuge places.

"This will be the fastest ever expansion of refuge spaces. We will also work to deliver additional safe house and step-down accommodation. We have identified 12 locations nationwide where the delivery of additional family refuge spaces would have the most impact, if prioritised. These priority areas, as the Deputy is aware, include Portlaoise, where eight family places are suggested as a potential refuge size requirement, he said.

He said Minister McEntee has been informed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that a group involving local stakeholders, including the Laois Domestic Abuse Service, has been established to take forward plans to develop the proposed refuge and associated support services.

However, Minister Browne confirmed that the project is not advanced enough to release funding.

"Planning is not yet at the stage to identify the specific amount of either capital or revenue funding required. Furthermore, planning is not sufficiently advanced to identify the specific timelines for completion of the refuge, but Tusla and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will be working with local stakeholders to support and ensure the process progresses as fast as possible," he said.

Minister Browne elaborated on the process of delivering promised refuges.

"As the Deputy can appreciate, due to the variations in sites, resources available and specific local features, the costs for each of the planned refuge developments will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on funding will be supported into the future by work being progressed nationally to develop principles for refuge design. Tusla will continue to engage with stakeholders to support the refuge development process in County Laois," he said.

Minister Browne added that the Laois Domestic Abuse Service was allocated 281,440, with 79,000 in additional funding to strengthen its capacity for the provision of supports to women and to further develop services to children impacted by domestic violence and abuse.

He said additional resources such as project management support and other supports for capacity building will be available to the Laois Domestic Abuse Service and other organisations taking forward refuge developments in the 12 priority locations, as outlined in the third national strategy.

Dep Stanley replied that delays are unacceptable and sought confirmation that money would not block the projects.

"It is really important that we do this, that we give women and children support at that vulnerable point in their lives. I am sure the Minister of State will agree with me on that. I ask him to confirm that the pounds, shillings and pence are available and that money will not be a barrier when a suitable site is located. We must move these projects on quickly. We do not want them to take forever and a day. I am sure the Minister of State will agree that these projects must be up and running quickly. We do not want any delays," he said.

Minister Browne said he want to "assure" the Laois Offaly TD that funding is in place to support the establishment and building of necessary refuge accommodation over the coming years.
A garda told District Court judge on Thursday, October 27, that there is an issue regarding antisocial behaviour on trains during case which centred on an incident on a train to Portlaoise.

Garda Sergeant Brian Jacob made the comments to Judge Brendan OReilly in the case of Ozlet Muraniri, with an address listed as The Paddocks Grove, Adamstown, Lucan, County Dublin.

The court was told by another garda that on August 2 last, at around 5.40pm, the 35-year-old became abusive towards gardai who were conducting an operation on a train travelling from to Portlaoise.

It was heard that she had no ticket at the time, and that her 'abusive and insulting' rant had been overheard by fellow passengers, including children.

The garda also said that she threw some of her belongings around the carriage before being arrested at Kildare town train station.

It was heard that Ms Muraniri had 13 previous convictions, 11 of which were for public disorder incidents.

Her barrister, Aisling Murphy, told the judge that her client, a Zimbabwean national who has resided in Ireland for 22 years, had health issues which impacted on her behaviour at the time.

She added that her client is now engaging with the HSE since the incident.

The judge told Ms Murphy that he was concerned at her behaviour, adding: "There is no excuse for abusing gardai," and in full view of other people.

Although Ms Murphy said her client had accepted the offences, Ms Muraniri did not apologise when given the option to by Judge O' Reilly.

Ms Murphy suggested that her client could be eligible for community service.

Judge OReilly said that he would adjourn the case to January 5, 2023 to allow for her to be assessed for community service.

He added that if it was found that Ms Muraniri was not eligible, she may face a fine and a custodial sentence.
More than four in every five people who were in employment at the beginning of Covid-19, and in receipt of a Government pandemic income support, were still in payroll employment in recent months, new figures show.

Almost 70% of people had the same primary employment in the second quarter of this year as they had in first quarter of 2020, if they had never been in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) or the Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS).

This compares with just over 60% for those who received WSS and just under 40% for those on PUP.

The figures were published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in its Labour Market analysis.

More than four in every five persons who were in payroll employment in Q1 2020, and in receipt of a Government pandemic income support, were still in PAYE employment in Q2 2022https://t.co/j0zePv68u7#CSOIreland #Ireland #COVIDIreland #BusinessImpact #Business #IrishBusinessNews pic.twitter.com/IiDNJlIlU8  Central Statistics Office Ireland (@CSOIreland) November 1, 2022

More than 80% of recipients of a Government pandemic income support scheme were still in employment in the second quarter of this year.

Of those who were in payroll employment in the first quarter of 2020, and in receipt of PUP at any time, 4.6% were on the Live Register and not receiving pay from an employer over the summer months.

In the business economy, four in 10 (39.2%) enterprises that availed of a Government pandemic income support scheme had more payroll employees in the second quarter of this year than pre-Covid levels at the beginning of 2020.

A quarter (26.9%) of enterprises that did not avail of a Government pandemic income support scheme had more payroll employment in the second quarter of this year.

Of the enterprises that had all staff in receipt of a PUP during the first lockdown, 39.9% had more payroll employees while 21.9% had similar levels of staff in the second quarter of 2022 compared with pre-Covid levels.

More than one in five enterprises in accommodation and food that availed of a Government pandemic income support scheme had no paid employees in the second quarter.

John Mullane, statistician in the labour market and earnings division, said: Todays publication highlights the different employment outcomes for persons over the course of the pandemic based on whether they received one of the Governments income supports such as the PUP or the WSS or neither of these.

The type of Government income support scheme a person received had a strong bearing on whether an individual was in the same job in the second quarter as they were at the start of the pandemic.

For those in the transport economic sector in receipt of WSS, 72.3% held the same job from first quarter of 2020 to the second quarter of 2022  compared with 44% for transport workers in receipt of PUP and 69.9% for those on neither support.

The NACE economic sector of a persons primary employment in first quarter of 2020 and their age group also had a significant impact on whether individuals remained in the same employment later in the pandemic.

Colin Hanley, statistician in the CSO Business Statistics Division, said the results show the impact of Covid-19 related income supports on the payroll employment of enterprises in the Irish business economy.

It takes payroll employment in the first quarter of 2020 as a baseline and looks to see if employment has increased, decreased, or stayed the same, he added.

Of the enterprises that had all their staff in receipt of PUP during the initial restrictions in the second quarter of 2020, more than six in 10 had either returned to similar levels of employment (21.9%) or increased payroll employment (39.9%) by recent months.

Almost 40% of enterprises that availed of either PUP or WSS had more payroll employees in Q2 2022 compared with 26.9% of enterprises that did not avail of income support.

Among the sectors with the highest proportion of enterprises with more payroll employees in the second quarter of 2022 compared with the first quarter of 2020 were industry and information and communication.

While the sectors with the highest proportion of enterprises without paid employees in the second quarter of this year were in accommodation and food and other services, which includes activities such as repairs, hairdressing, and wellbeing.
A garda told a sitting Naas District Court judge on Thursday, October 27, that there is an issue regarding antisocial behaviour on trains in Kildare.

Sergeant Brian Jacob made the comments to Judge Brendan OReilly in the case of Ozlet Muraniri, with an address listed as The Paddocks Grove, Adamstown, Lucan, County Dublin.

The court was told by another garda that on August 2 last, at around 5.40pm, the 35-year-old became abusive towards gardai who were conducting an operation on a train travelling from Clondalkin to Portlaoise.

It was heard that she had no ticket at the time, and that her 'abusive and insulting' rant had been overheard by fellow passengers, including children.

The garda also said that she threw some of her belongings around the carriage before being arrested at Kildare town train station.

It was heard that Ms Muraniri had 13 previous convictions, 11 of which were for public disorder incidents.

Her barrister, Aisling Murphy, told the judge that her client, a Zimbabwean national who has resided in Ireland for 22 years, had health issues which impacted on her behaviour at the time.

She added that her client is now engaging with the HSE since the incident.

The judge told Ms Murphy that he was concerned at her behaviour, adding: "There is no excuse for abusing gardai," and in full view of other people.

Although Ms Murphy said her client had accepted the offences, Ms Muraniri did not apologise when given the option to by Judge O' Reilly.

Ms Murphy suggested that her client could be eligible for community service.

Judge OReilly said that he would adjourn the case to January 5, 2023 to allow for her to be assessed for community service.

He added that if it was found that Ms Muraniri was not eligible, she may face a fine and a custodial sentence.
A Kildare-based Minister has said that he 'would expect' certain army barracks to be used to accommodate displaced Ukrainians.

Deputy Martin Heydon's comments follow after The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth told the Leinster Leader last week that it has not ruled out refurbishing derelict and vacant buildings in the Curragh Camp for displaced Ukrainians.

These sentiments were also echoed by Tom McDonnell of the Lakeside Park/Highfield/Dara Park (LHD) Action Group, who also suggested that the Curragh Camp could be used to house displaced Ukrainians.

Speaking to Kildare FM radio station this morning, the Fine Gael politician said: "I don't know if the Curragh (Camp) specifically will be used, I would expect some army barracks, army barracks have been talked about.

"Because some of them have dormitory style accommodation, and I know there's a place in Wicklow and other areas as well, that may become available. And also army barracks have hard stand areas that have been discussed, which would be suitable for modular buildings.

"So I think it's fair to say that there will be some army barracks used, as of now I don't specifically what army barracks will be use," he added.

Minister Heydon also said that a review is underway into the suitability of the two sites in County Kildare (Beechgrove in Rathangan and the LHD area in Newbridge) that have been identified as possible locations for modular homes to house Ukrainians who have been displaced by the Russian military.


pm modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to pay homage to 1,500 tribals, who were martyred 109 years ago in Mangarh Dham, during his Rajasthan visit on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to pay homage to 1,500 tribals, who were martyred 109 years ago in Mangarh Dham, during his Rajasthan visit on Tuesday.



Thereafter, he will address a large public gathering to be attended by around 1 lakh people.



During his 'Mann ki Baat' programme on Sunday, the Prime Minister had spoken on the significance of Mangarh Dham.



"Tribal society is the protector of nature and the tribal community serves Mother Earth. Everyone should learn the work of environmental protection from them," he had said. He also mentioned the incident of 1 500 tribals being killed by British rule in Mangarh in 1913.



On Tuesday, he is expected to declare this 'dham' as a national monument while addressing a massive crowd in Mangarh Dham.



Along with Modi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan will also be present in the Mangarh Dham event.



BJP is also one of the main organisers of this event.



The event will affect around 99 Assembly seats (tribal majority) of these three states. Mangarh is a place where the borders of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan meet. The tribals of these states are revered by the people here.



Ahead of Modi's visit, Chief Minister Gehlot started talking about declaring Mangarh as a national monument. He has written two letters to the Prime Minister recently in this regard.



Located in Banswara district, Mangarh Dham is built on a hill. While one part of the hill falls under Gujarat, another is included in Rajasthan. In this hilly region, a tribal leader named Govind Guru had participated in the freedom movement against British rule.



In 1913, the British government surrounded him and his tribal companions on this dham and massacred 1500 tribals.



Mangarh Dham is built in his memory.




Two companies based in Kildare have been included among the list of other businesses who managed to secure a portion of a 100,000 grant.

Coveire and Magnetic Mobility joined eight other businesses who secured 2022 Grants for Small Businesses, with each business receiving 10,000.

The grant programme is funded by Three Ireland and managed by the small business network and support provider, Enterprise Nation.

This bursary will be made up of a combination of cash, connectivity solutions from Three Ireland, as well as professional advice and support from Three Irelands expert business advisers.

Coveire is a 3D printing business working within the health sphere.

It's primary products are designed prosthetic covers for the lower limb amputee community.

The business also 3D prints gifts and tactile products with braille for those who are visually impaired.

Three Ireland said it chose Coveire as one of this years winners to assist in the updating of computers and machinery for the continued success and growth of their business.

Meanwhile, Magnetic Mobility is a bespoke jewellery company that incorporates magnets into their products, which are specially designed for people with arthritis, migraines, back pain and other ailments and conditions.

Having launched the product range in April 2021, Magnetic Mobility products are now stocked in over 30 pharmacies nationwide.

Magnetic Mobility was selected as one of this years winners to assist the business with recruitment, alongside marketing and social media growth to help build brand awareness.

Commenting on the news, one of the programme's judges, Padraig Sheerin, the Head of Small-and-Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) with Three Ireland, said: "We are incredibly proud to support Irelands SMEs through our Grants for Small Businesses.

"For the second consecutive year, Three has partnered with Enterprise Nation on this programme, to assist small businesses in their growth and development.

He continued: "The volume of applicants and the calibre of Irish SMEs operating today are truly outstanding. While competition was fierce, I am delighted to award both Coveire and Magnetic Mobility from Co. Kildare this prize and we look forward to seeing both businesses thrive in the months and years ahead with our support."

Sonya Lennon, another judge for Three Irelands Grant for Small Businesses and Entrepreneur and Advocate for Workplace Equality, also said: "As someone who has been involved with many small businesses over the years, I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to judge Three Irelands Grants for Small Businesses.

"This years programme saw double the number of applicants to that of 2021, highlighting the appetite of business owners to access supports that will help propel their business forward, and this appetite is incredibly inspiring.

"As we know, life for SMEs over the last number of years has been inexplicably difficult due to the Covid-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine and now the rising cost of living.

"However, to see the level of drive, enthusiasm and sheer determination amongst these business owners, it is clear Irelands SME economy will have a bright future."

Ms Lennon added: "I would like to take this time to congratulate both Coveire and Magnetic Mobility on their extraordinary wins and wish them both every success for the future."

The full panel of judges includes: Padraig Sheerin, Sonya Lennon,. Siobhan Finn (National Hub Network Manager for CEAI), Marine Andre (Head of Performance at Enterprise Nation) and Michael ODea (Senior Development Adviser, High Potential Start-ups, Enterprise Ireland).

For more information about the programme and to keep informed on the 2023 application process, visit Three.ie/business.
Pedestrians wont be getting more time to cross the busy main street in Naas.

A councillor said the decision by Kildare County Council left him speechless

A request for a single second more - bringing the green man time from six seconds to seven seconds - to be allowed at the Presbyterian Church crossing at North Main Street has been refused.

It was requested by local councillor Bill Clear who said he recently observed a man get three quarters across the street before encountering difficulty and he was using a walking aid.

Cllr Bill Clear

He also pointed out that people use the crossing to get to schools, the post office, the library, the credit union and theatre.

The crossing, he said, attracts a particular type of vulnerable road user.

But Cllr Seamie Moore did not agree and said that elsewhere, like in County Waterford, traffic lights were being removed and traffic was being slowed down.

He said people who step out to cross the road at the last moment will not get across the street safely.

In the long term he said KCC will look at banning heavy goods vehicles from the town centre and slowing down passing traffic.

This could mean that the speed limit will be reduced to 30 km/h.

According to KCC official Donal Hodgins amendments to signal timings are not recommended in isolation as an area wide approach to improvements for vulnerable road users.

He added that as part of the implementation of a speed limit review, it was proposed to examine a number of initiatives in town centres, including the introduction of reduced speed limits and an increase in the crossing times for pedestrians at signalised crossings.

Read more Kildare news
The Emergency Department at Sligo University Hospital is under significant pressure today with high attendances over the bank holiday weekend and long waiting times experienced by patients. The high number of people attending who need to be admitted for ongoing treatment means that there is pressure on bed availability. This is resulting in significant delays being experienced by patients in the Emergency Department who are waiting for a bed to become available on a ward. There are currently 28 patients on trolleys in ED awaiting admission to in-patient beds and we expect to see over 150 patients through ED today in addition to those awaiting beds.

In addition, the hospital continues to be impacted by COVID-19. As of 8am this morning there were 18 patients with COVID-19 being treated in the hospital with two wards impacted by COVID-19 outbreaks. This is limiting the availability of beds for patients coming in through ED as well as those scheduled for surgery. The hospital has postponed non-urgent elective procedures given the pressure on the site and patients are being contacted directly. All available beds are in use. Every effort is being made to discharge patients who are ready to go home so that beds will become available for patients who need to be admitted, at the earliest opportunity.

The hospital acknowledges that these delays and postponements are very difficult for patients and their families and apologises for the inconvenience and distress these delays cause. T he hospital is committed to treating everyone who presents at the Emergency Department; people who are seriously injured or ill are assessed and treated as a priority and those who do not require urgent care may be waiting longer. If your health problem is not an emergency you should contact your GP during normal surgery hours or the NoWDOC GP out-of-hours service, in the first instance.
The flags of Arab League nations fly on October 31, 2022 along the side of a highway ahead of the Arab Summit meeting in Algeria's capital Algiers near the Great Mosque of Algiers (Djamaa el-Djazair). FETHI BELAID / AFP

Arab leaders meet in the Algerian capital on Tuesday, November 1, for their first summit since a string of normalization deals with Israel that have divided the region.

Since the last Arab League summit in 2019, several members of the 22-member bloc  for decades a forum for strident declarations of support for the Palestinian cause  have normalized ties with the Jewish state.

The United Arab Emirates went first in a historic US-mediated deal that made the country the third Arab state, after Egypt and Jordan, to establish full ties with Israel. The UAE's move sparked similar accords with Bahrain and Morocco  and a provisional agreement with Sudan  deepening Morocco's decades-old rivalry with its neighbor Algeria.

The host of the summit on Tuesday and Wednesday remains a steadfast supporter of the Palestinians, even mediating a reconciliation deal in October between rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas. While few believe that deal will last, it was seen as a public relations coup for Algeria, which has been seeking more regional clout on the back of its growing status as a gas exporter.

This week's summit will be another opportunity for President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to do just that. He has rolled out the red carpet for his guests, whom he will host for a sumptuous opening dinner on Tuesday at 6:00 pm.

Read more Subscribers only French PM Borne wants 'closer co-operation' with Algeria

Charm offensive

Algeria has been unnerved by Morocco's security and defense cooperation with Israel, adding to decades of mistrust fuelled by a dispute over Western Sahara. The status of Western Sahara  a former Spanish colony considered a "non-self-governing territory" by the United Nations  has pitted Morocco against the Algeria-backed Polisario Front since the 1970s. In August 2021, Algiers cut diplomatic ties with Rabat alleging "hostile acts".

Participants in the summit face the challenge of formulating a final resolution, which has to be passed unanimously.

With conflicts in Syria, Libya and Yemen also on the agenda, sources say foreign ministers are trying to reach consensus on the wording around Turkish and Iranian "interference" in the region -- and whether to mention Ankara and Tehran by name or not.

Several key figures will be absent, notably Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reported to have an ear infection, and Morocco's King Mohammed VI. The leaders of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain will also stay away, according to Arab media.

Read more Subscribers only Between Morocco and Israel, the coming out of a very special relationship

Syria's membership

Another source of controversy has been Algeria's efforts to bring Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime back into the Arab League, a decade after its membership was suspended amid a brutal crackdown on 2011 Arab Spring-inspired protests.

The war in Ukraine has also had an effect on the countries' economies. Commodity importers, notably Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Sudan, have been hit especially hard by soaring prices, even as energy-producing Arab states have seen their coffers swell.

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Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit called Friday for an "integrated Arab vision" to tackle the pressing food security challenges.

Read more Subscribers only Against Iran, the UAE proceed with more caution than their new ally Israel

Le Monde with AFP
Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro blocked major highways for a second day as tensions mounted over his silence after narrowly losing re-election to bitter rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Thirty-six hours after official results showed he had lost Sunday's presidential run-off with only 1.8 percentage points, Mr. Bolsonaro has yet to concede defeat, fanning concerns he may try and challenge the result after months of attacking the electoral system as fraudulent.

Federal Highway Police (PRF) on Tuesday, November 1, reported more than 250 total or partial road blockages in at least 23 states by Bolsonaro supporters, while local media said protests outside the country's main international airport in Sao Paulo delayed passengers and led to several flights being canceled.

Protesters wearing the yellow and green of the Brazilian flag  which the outgoing president has adopted as his own  said they would not accept the outcome of the election.

"We will not accept losing what we have gained, we want what is written on our flag, 'order and progress'. We will not accept the situation as it is," Antoniel Almeida, 45, told Agence France Presse (AFP) at a protest in Barra Mansa, Rio de Janeiro.

On Monday night, Judge Alexander de Moraes of the Supreme Court ordered police to disperse the blockades immediately. He was acting in response to a request by a transport federation that complained it was losing business.

Read more Subscribers only 'The nightmare is over': Lula supporters rejoice throughout Brazil

Lula gets to work

The mounting tension follows a dirty and divisive election campaign between the hardline conservative Bolsonaro and his nemesis Lula, who returns to office in a dramatic comeback.

The election outcome showed just how polarized the country is between the two very different leaders. Lula scored 50.9% to Bolsonaro's 49.1%  the narrowest margin in Brazil's modern history.

With a massive to-do list, Lula leaped into action, meeting Argentine President Alberto Fernandez in Sao Paulo and holding a series of phone calls with US President Joe Biden, France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Olaf Scholz, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and others.

However Bolsonaro's silence after months of alleging fraud in the electoral system and a conspiracy against him had the country on a knife-edge.

"Anyplace else in the world, the defeated president would have called me to recognize his defeat," Lula said in his victory speech to a euphoric sea of red-clad supporters in Sao Paulo on Sunday night.

There are fears Bolsonaro, 67, could attempt a Brazilian version of the US Capitol riots which rocked that country after his political role model, former US president Donald Trump, refused to accept his election defeat in 2020.

But the Brazilian leader may find himself isolated. Some key Bolsonaro allies have publicly recognized his loss, including the powerful speaker of the lower house of Congress, Arthur Lira. And international congratulations for Lula poured in from the US, China, India, France, Britain, South Africa and numerous others.

Read more Brazil elects Lula: A global sigh of relief

Lula's victory has been hailed by environmentalists and governments hoping he will make halting Amazon destruction a key priority.

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The European Union's leadership voiced hope Lula's win would lead to ratification of a trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur, long stalled over concerns about rampant deforestation under Bolsonaro.

Norway announced it would resume paying nearly $500 million in aid for protecting the world's biggest rainforest, which it halted in 2019 over.

Le Monde with AFP
Lula addresses a crowd gathered on Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo after announcing his victory in the Brazilian presidential election on October 30, 2022. FRANCISCO PRONER / VU POUR  LE MONDE 

The victory of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Sunday, October 30, celebrated around the world as the triumph of democracy over the far right and authoritarianism, is historic in many ways. After two consecutive terms in office between 2003 and 2011 and 580 days in prison, Lula returns to power for a third term, something unheard of in Brazil.

Read more Brazil elects Lula: A global sigh of relief

It is, however, something of a hollow victory. The narrow margin by which he beat his rival Jair Bolsonaro  who still had not acknowledged his defeat as of Monday evening, the victory of Bolsonaro's allies in many states and the composition of congress after the October 2 legislative elections put the former metalworker and trade unionist in an uncomfortable position. According to many observers, this could severely limit his room for maneuver and make his third term in office a difficult one.

The president-elect will have to deal with the fact that 14 of the country's 27 governors will be in opposition, including the states of Sao Paulo, Rio and Minas Gerais, which are home to more than one third of the population. In congress, parties allied with Bolsonaro have 187 elected MPs (99 of them for the outgoing president's Liberal Party alone, which will become the largest force in the lower house), or 36% of the 513 seats. Conversely, the PT (Lula's Workers' Party) and its allies will have 108 seats (21%).

Read more Subscribers only 'The nightmare is over': Lula supporters rejoice throughout Brazil

For four years, support for Mr. Bolsonaro and his policies has grown, well beyond the man himself, to become a real political force that Lula will not be able to ignore. "Brazil has become much more conservative," said Mauricio Santoro, a researcher at Rio de Janeiro State University. "And Lula will have to come to terms with a strong, well-organized right-wing opposition, with an ability to drum up support in the streets."

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A very different situation from those of his first two terms

This is a very different situation from what was happening during his first two terms, when Lula had to face mainly the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), which respected democratic rules. "We were happy when our opponents were the PSDB, and we didn't realize," Lula often said during the campaign. "We are witnessing the replacement, in congress, of traditional center-right and 'Centrao' ['big center', a bloc of opportunistic political parties with no real ideology] movements by YouTube and Twitter influencers, whose culture is one of exhibitionism and constant confrontation," pointed out Mathias Alencastro, a researcher at the Brazilian Center of Analysis and Planning.

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What is Germany playing at? On November 4, Olaf Scholz will be in Beijing for an official visit, accompanied by German business leaders. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) congress, which enshrined Xi Jinping's absolute power, has barely ended and the chancellor is rushing to provide what could be interpreted as an endorsement for the new great helmsman of the 21st century.

At a time when the United States is planning to decouple its economy from China, and the European Union (EU) is seeking to distance itself from a regime whose increasingly hardline tendencies are a cause for concern, Berlin seems to favor business as usual with the Middle Kingdom. Is this commercial cynicism, astounding naivety, assumed self-interest or a severe lack of geopolitical vision? It is difficult to answer, as German diplomacy is intentionally oblique.

Read more Subscribers only China's Xi Jinping secures full powers after 20th Congress of the Communist Party

When the foreign minister, the Green Annalena Baerbock, called for "no longer depending on a country that does not share our values" in order not to become "politically vulnerable to blackmail" and not to make the same "mistakes" as with Russia, the social-democrat chancellor thought he had returned to the heyday of globalization. A coalition can build consensus but it can also fuel ambiguity about policy.

Sino-Russian partnership

The fact that Germany is panicking about the collapse of the two pillars of its economic model is understandable. Russian gas gave its industry long-term competitiveness through cheap energy. Exports to China provided huge trade surpluses. The first disappeared with the invasion of Ukraine. The second has been jeopardized by Xi Jinping's political shift.

Unlike German diplomacy, the Chinese leadership is unequivocal. Gone is the pragmatism on which the Chinese government relied to promote growth. It has been replaced by the triptych: ideological purity, national security and party control.

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The reference to a "period of significant strategic opportunity" has disappeared from official discourse. Against a background of growing tensions with the West, the aim now is to build a geopolitically resilient economy that is less dependent on foreign markets and investment.

This harder line is accompanied, in the midst of the Ukraine war, by a Chinese-Russian partnership, which China expert Jean-Pierre Cabestan interprets as "an ideological axis in which democracies are the main targets." Furthermore, Beijing's opposition to Taiwanese independence is now written in black and white in the CCP's charter, making a major confrontation in the region a bit more plausible.

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A CONDITION as common as diabetes, endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women. In Ireland, it takes on average nine years to diagnose. For Sophie Lynch, it took over 10 years to get a diagnosis.

Endometriosis is a gynaecological disease named after the endometrium, the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus or the womb. It is caused when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it  where it does not belong, like on the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

During menstruation, these cells react the same way as those lining the uterus. However, they have no way to escape, and become more or less trapped.

Symptoms can vary, but some are more common than others: intense pelvic cramping, pain during sex, bowel pain, constant fatigue, migraines, nausea, and irregular periods. In some cases, endometriosis can also cause infertility.

Like many, Sophie Lynch, from Old Cork Road, was told her pain was normal.

They told me that I was unfortunate, that I had bad periods and just put me on the pill and were like off you go. The amount of pain was mad. I'd have pain in my stomach, pelvic cramps to the point where it felt like my whole body was burning up as if waves of pain were going through me, Sophie said.

As part of her symptoms, the young woman experiences painful cramps, her stomach gets as hard as a rock as it becomes bloated, and theres a lot of bleeding.

Its just not normal. You shouldn't be bleeding for two or three weeks out of the month.

In the summer of 2018, Sophie had her first laparoscopy, and in early 2020, she had a D&C (dilation and curettage) procedure. During the summer of 2020 she had to travel to Dublin to get a second laparoscopy.

Recently married, Sophie stopped taking the pill after the wedding. Each month, it gets worse and worse. I forgot how much the pill actually helped. For now, all I can do is take really strong painkillers.

I wanted to come off the pill because Ive been on it for like 15 years, and it gave me awful anxiety, migraines, and other side effects, she explains.

To manage her illness better, Sophie looked for a remote-working job. As she struggles to manage the pain, she said: Doctors basically told me theres nothing I can do other than get pregnant as soon as possible, which might not happen because of the endometriosis.

Head of Endometriosis Clinique at the Erasme Hospital in Brussels, and Endometriosis specialist, Dr Maxime Fastrez, explained that the first line of treatment for pain management is medication.

The most effective drugs against menstrual cycle pain are anti-inflammatories. The second medication that we can use to treat pain related to endometriosis is hormonal treatment, like a contraceptive pill, in order to control the cycle and therefore to control endometriosis, he said.

As it is not possible to see the lesions unless you have surgery, a laparoscopy is often necessary. A laparoscopy is an inspection of the pelvic and abdominal cavity. As we are able to diagnose endometriosis with the laparoscopy, the procedure destroys most of the lesions and removes ovarian cysts, Dr Fastrez told Limerick Live.

Sophie Lynch, pictured above, on her wedding day

According to medical scientist and former Chair of Endometriosis Association of Ireland, Kathleen King, there is a huge gap in the funding when it comes to endometriosis.

In Ireland, the research is very limited. Even in Europe, its quite minimal as well. Anything that is done is on the pharmaceutical side, theres a massive gap there, especially for something novel.

To this day, there is still no cure for endometriosis. Even though the condition impacts the day-to-day life of one in 10 women, it is under researched and there is a striking lack of funding.
PLACID by name and by nature - the long life of a monk and priest that made Limerick his home ended on Monday at the wonderful age of 104.

Michael Murray was born in Lismore., Co Waterford, on October 7, 1918. Following the early death of her husband, Mrs Murray moved with her young family to Dublin. Following school at Blackrock College, and on the recommendation of the headmaster of that school, Dr John Charles McQuaid CsSp, Michael Murray entered Glenstal on September 2, 1935, receiving the name Placid.

He made simple profession on January 6, 1937. Shortly after this, he was sent to Maredsous in Belgium, where he studied philosophy and began to study theology. On the outbreak of the Second World War the community at Maredsous, along with Brother Placid, fled briefly to the south of France, returning to Belgium when that country surrendered to the invading German forces. Abbot Celestine Golenvaux, fearing danger to an Irish citizen in occupied Belgium, sent Brother Placid to SantAnselmo in Rome to complete his theological studies. It was during his time in SantAnselmo that Brother Placid developed his love for the works of John Henry Newman, a love that remained with him all of his life.

On the grounds of delicate health, Dom Placid was ordained priest ahead of his time, at the Archabbey of Monte Cassino on December 20, 1941. The disimproving military situation in Europe and the ambiguous status, in international eyes, of Ireland, still a member of the Commonwealth, but neutral, suggested that Dom Placid should return home. This he did by what he frequently described as an inconvenient train journey, up through Italy, across the south of France and the north of Spain to Portugal, where he boarded a flying boat from Lisbon. At the time, the route from Lisbon to Foynes was one of the main conduits for the infiltration of Allied spies into a belligerent Europe.

Returned home, he became assistant novice-master and taught religion and German in the Priory School for several years. Following the resignation of Dom Bernard ODea in 1952, Dom Placid became Glenstals second Conventual Prior. He held this position until Glenstal became an Abbey in 1957. During his time as Prior, Father Placid completed the abbey church and created the present monastic refectory by integrating several rooms on the ground floor of what is still called the Fathers Wing.

He developed a strong interest in the liturgy and was very involved in the setting up of Societas Liturgica and was its first President from 1967-1969, with the first of its cycle of biannual meetings taking place at Glenstal in 1969. He established the annual Liturgical Conference at Glenstal, which he continued to organise until it was discontinued in 1975.

Following the election of Abbot Joseph Dowdall, Father Placid had time to return to his research on Cardinal Newman. This resulted in the publication, in 1969, of Newman the Oratorian, Cardinal Newmans Oratory Papers, for which Father Placid received a doctorate in theology from SantAnselmo. A consultor of ICEL, the International Commission for English in the Liturgy, established during the Second Vatican Council, Father Placid became involved in many projects for the translation of liturgical texts into English.

In 1970, he was asked by the bishops of Ireland, Great Britain, and Australia, to chair the committee that translated the Liturgy of the Hours for use in these countries. The resulting breviary, in three volumes, remains the standard breviary for most non-American speakers of English. Father Placids final involvement with ICEL was as a consultor for the communion prayers of the revised Roman Missal of 2011. He was not happy with the official changes to his translations.

In the years before this last endeavour, he took great delight in mastering the use of the computer. This greatly aided his final major project on Cardinal Newman. This involved co-operation in a planned five-volume edition of the cardinals unpublished Anglican sermons delivered between the years 1824 and 1843. The great Newman scholar, Father Charles Dessain, of the Birmingham Oratory, had specifically asked shortly before his sudden death, that this task be entrusted to Father Placid. Volume 1 appeared in 1991 and Volume 3, the latter co-edited by Father Placid, was published in 2010.

During his final years in the monastery, Father Placid, while continuing to teach classes in the Novitiate and tutor boys from the school in German, helped in monastery reception and as a confessor.

Father Placid spent the last fourteen years of his long life in Millbrae Nursing Home in Newport. Up to shortly before his death, he had an active ministry in this facility. During these years, he came to the monastery for Mass and lunch every week and the celebration of his birthday became an annual event, up to his 104th birthday, which was on October 4 of this year. He died peacefully after the First Vespers of All Saints, 2022.

May he rest in peace.
New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd (NZX & ASX: NZK) announces that Chief Executive Grant Rosewarne has resigned.

New Zealand King Salmon Chair John Ryder paid tribute to Grant for his contribution since joining as CEO in 2009.

Grant has made a significant contribution to New Zealand King Salmon, including leading the company through its IPO and the creation of the Ora King brand. He has also guided the company through a number of recent challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Ryder said.

Furthermore, Grant has led a significant effort to obtain new waterspace to enable future growth and we are expecting to hear an outcome from our Blue Endeavour application at the end of November.

Following the recent rights issue and the changes to our farming model, Grant leaves New Zealand King Salmon well positioned for the future, Mr Ryder added.

On behalf of the Board, Mr Ryder thanked Grant for his leadership of the company and wished him all the very best for the future.

Mr Rosewarnes resignation is effective immediately with his final day being 1 November 2022.

In connection with Mr Rosewarnes resignation, the company has agreed to grant Mr Rosewarne a Put Option in connection with certain long term incentive plans for the purpose of repaying a loan owed by Mr Rosewarne to the company in relation to the acquisition of certain shares held by a family trust associated by Mr Rosewarne. A disclosure document for the purposes of section 61 of the Companies Act 1993 accompanies this announcement and will be sent to all shareholders shortly.

The Board will now commence an international search for Mr Rosewarnes replacement. In the interim Graeme Tregidga, General Manager of Sales, will be the acting chief executive.

Authorised by:

Board of Directors of New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

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ADARE Tidy was celebrating on the double over the bank holiday weekend after it won two major prizes.

Less than 72 hours after being named the overall winner of Limerick Going for Gold 2022 (see page 5), members of the committee travelled to the RDS in Dublin where they collected a gold medal at the national Tidy Towns awards.

In addition, the village won the County Award with Ardpatrick Tidy Towns coming in second and Galbally Tidy Towns third.

Bronze medals were awarded to Ardpatrick (Category A), Galbally (Category B), Castleconnell (Category C), Newcastle West (Category E) and Limerick City Tidy Towns (Category H) while an Endeavor award was presented to Athea Tidy Towns which recorded the biggest year-on-year improvement in Limerick.

Fridays event at the RDS was the first full-scale awards ceremony since the onset of Covid-19 and this years competition received the third-highest number of entries in its almost 65-year history.

The Adjudicators report for Adare, which saw its points total increase from 343 to 356, notes the volume of traffic that passes through the village each day and how much a bypass is needed.

The work of the ten-strong committee and the contribution of the up to 80 volunteers  many of whom carry out litter-picking at 6am on Sundays  was also highlighted by the adjudicators who stated they were impressed by a number of specific projects.

It is wonderful to see the care and attention given to the many first class heritage elements. This is clearly demonstrated by the renovation of the Countess Dunraven fountain (which looked lovely) and the restoration of the Courthouse and the second cottage  both of which are fabulous buildings that occupy very prominent locations in Adare.

The overall winner of the SuperValu Tidy Towns competition was Trim in County Meath.
HALLOWEEN scenes in one Limerick town were likened to The Purge as gardai responded to reports of gangs of teens toppling a car, smashing windscreens and setting off screamers in The Square.

Locals, businesses and councillors in Newcastle West have described a barrage of terror and lawlessness that swept through the town and are demanding that something has to change.

Several videos of the scenes in the town have been posted online over the past 24 hours.

Cllr Michael Collins said the shocking scenes were perpetrated by gangs of marauding youths.

We need more gardai in Newcastle West town. We have no garda station after hours. Guards cant make arrests because there is nowhere to put these people, Cllr Collins told Limerick Live.

Gardai confirmed that they responded to three separate incidents on October 31, between 6-8pm.

Gardai are investigating an incident of criminal damage where a car was damaged on October 31, 2022 at 7.35pm in Newcastle West, County Limerick, a spokesperson said.

Gardai also attended an incident where a group of youths were setting off fireworks in The Square, at 6.40pm as well as another firework-related incident on Maiden Street that occurred at 7.20pm.

No arrests have been made and investigations into each incident are ongoing.

Cllr Collins acknowledged that gardai were attending the scene of a fatal road traffic collision in Rathkeale at the time but stressed that extra resources from other districts should have been brought in ahead of Halloween night.

Cllr Tom Ruddle likened the anti-social scenes, which were captured on video and circulated through various social media messaging apps, to a warzone in Beirut or The Purge horror movie series.

We have a great town here in Newcastle West but by God, we will move heaven and earth to see that these culprits are caught and dealt with, he told Limerick Live.

He highlighted that anti-social incidents caused by minors within the town have become more frequent in recent times, but that Halloween presented itself as an untouchable free for all.

Something at a national level will have to change because we have to be able to do something with them. The day is gone when we can just be passive about this, he added.

Cllr Ruddle confirmed that a local Sergeant, Mark O Shea, who is new to the town, has been making calls to get to the bottom of the reported incidents.

The Newcastle West-based councillor has asked that if nothing can be done by parents, then Tusla should be brought in to address behaviour.

Some of these youths think they are untouchable. What kind of message is that going to send them down the line? We have very good businesses around the town.

Its not fair if we cant give them an environment where people can go out and enjoy themselves and have a night out without this kind of intimidation and taking the place over, he said.
LIMERICK firefighters came to the rescue of a woman who was trapped up to her waist in mud.

The unusual incident occurred in a field near the Raheen Industrial Estate over the weekend. Limerick Fire and Rescue Service were called at 4.37pm on Sunday afternoon.

The woman, aged in her 50s, was walking her dog at the time. It is understood that she thought she was walking on rough ground but it turned out to be soft mud.

It is believed she tried to extricate herself but found herself getting stuck deeper and deeper in the mud. Eventually, it had reached as high as her waist.

Three Limerick and Fire Rescue Service appliances responded following the call-out. Trained Swiftwater rescue technicians used special inflatable rescue mud paths to access her and take her to firmer ground. Her dog didn't get trapped.

It is thought that the woman didn't require medical attention but was obviously in shock following the frightening ordeal.
A 40 per cent increase in text messages and phone calls by fraudsters who are adopting new tactics to trick people into handing over their bank details has been detected by one of Ireland's main banks

The new approach has prompted Bank of Ireland to issue a warning to its customers.

The bank says fraudsters have stepped up their efforts to access customers accounts by first contacting them by text and following up with phone calls to convince them to hand over their details.

Once they gain access to the accounts, funds are then being transferred by fraudsters into money-mule accounts or spent immediately on expensive items including electrical goods.

During the last two weeks, the number of combined fraudulent text message and phone call cases detected by Bank of Irelands Fraud Prevention Team has increased by c. 40% when compared to the previous month.

What to look out for:

Bank of Ireland-branded texts saying to expect a call from Bank of Ireland. If the customer takes the call, the fraudster will try to convince them to reveal their card details, and then tell them that they need to swipe a fake notification on their app to complete an update process. This fake notification is, in fact, a real transaction being carried out by the fraudster.

Bank of Ireland-branded texts giving a fake phone number to call. If a customer calls, they are duped into giving card details and again, sometimes asked to swipe a fake notification which is, in fact, a real transaction.

An Post or HSE branded fake texts that then lead to phishing websites. These websites are used to collect credit or debit card numbers and customer account login details. In some cases, where a customer gives a phone number but not full login information, there will be a follow-up phone call from the fraudsters to obtain details and gain access to their account.

Edel McDermott, Head of Fraud, Bank of Ireland: Fraudsters are becoming increasingly persistent in their attempts to steal peoples money. Fraudulent text messages are now being followed up by phone calls from fraudsters to convince people to hand over their details.

Be vigilant if you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from your bank, credit card company or another company you may trust  even if you get a text first that tells you to expect the call. No matter what story you are told, do not give away your card, account, or banking details. End the call immediately and do not call the number back if you are suspicious.

And remember, do not click on links or call any numbers you receive in a text message. You can call your bank using the number on the back of your card or a listed phone number, Ms McDermott said.

Bank of Ireland advice to customers:

Do not click on links in any SMS text messages designed to appear as if sent by the bank or other businesses and service providers.

Be very careful with any phone number sent to you in a text. It could be fake.

Where customers receive a text appearing to be from Bank of Ireland, the Check Your Text service (Security Zone  Bank of Ireland Group Website) is now available.



If you get a text that claims to be from Bank of Ireland but you are not sure if its genuine, heres how to verify it:

Copy the text you wish to verify.

Paste into a new message.

Add the word CHECK before the text. (In the same text)

Send to 50365.

Alternatively send it to 365security@boi.com and well let you know if it was really from us. Remember to forward a screenshot of the text if possible.

If you think you may have given away any of your banking details, please call our 24/7 Freephone line 1800 946 764 immediately.

For more advice and information on fraud, visit boi.com/security or www. fraudsmart.ie
Android-maker Google has paused its plans to enforce the Google Play billing system on Indian developers from October 31. The company announced the plan through an update to its help page today. The move comes less than a week after the Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed two back-to-back fines on the company for flouting competition norms in the country.

Developers in India were given an additional extension until October 31, 2022, to comply due to unique circumstances with the payments landscape in the country. Following the CCIs recent ruling, we are pausing enforcement of the requirement for developers to use Google Plays billing system for the purchase of digital goods and services for transactions by users in India while we review our legal options and ensure we can continue to invest in Android and Play. The requirement to use Google Plays billing system applies for in-app digital content purchases for users outside of India," Google said.

On October 25, the CCI ended a more than a year-long investigation into Google, concluding that its decision to impose the Play Billing system on developers is anti-competitive. The competition regulator asked Google to allow third-party payments on its platform, and fined the company 936 crore for abusing its dominance in the market.

The ruling came days after another fine worth 1337.76 crore for abusing dominance in the Android mobile device market. The regulator is investigating a third case related to the companys AndroidTV operating system, and its related contracts.

Google, in a statement after the CCIs decision, had said that it is reviewing the decision. However, the company is largely expected to challenge the CCIs ruling in courts. It has been running a pilot process allowing developers in India to use third-party payments in India since September this year, though many still complain about the fees the company imposes.

As reported by Mint on October 28, developers and startups in the country plan to step-up lobbying efforts against the fees Google charges for selling apps and services through the Play Store. At the moment, the company charges 15% commission for the first million earned in revenues, which increases to 30% once the developer crosses that mark. For those who use third-party payment systems, Googles commission is reduced to 4%.

The move is yet another step in a nearly two-year-long battle between Google and developers in India on its billing policies. This is the third time Google has had to push back the date of compliance in India due to pushback from startups, developers and regulators in India.
Victorias Secret & Co. is buying online lingerie seller AdoreMe Inc., adding a brand known for inclusive sizing and body positivity as the retailer tries to move away from a legacy built largely on sex appeal.
During her visit, President Draupadi Murmu will visit Nagaland, Mozoram and Sikkim, informed Rashtrapati Bhavan. She will begin her visit by inaugurating several developmental projects related to education and infrastructure in Kohima on Wednesday. Before that, she will attend the civic reception in Kohima on Wednesday. The civic reception will be organised in her honour by the Nagaland government.

President Draupadi Murmu is also scheduled to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers at the Kohima War Cemetery and visit Kigwema village. At the village, she will interact with the village council members and the members of self help groups (SHGs) on Thursday.

The day will also mark her arrival to Mizoram for the 17th convocation of the Mizoram University at Aizawl. In addition to this, she will also inaugurate various projects related to education in the state of Mizoram.

President will attend the civic reception hosteb by the Mizoram government at the Raj Bhavan, Aizawl on Thursday evening.

She will address the members of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly in Aizawl on Friday. Followed by her address to the MLA of Mizoram's state assembly, President Murmu will attend the third civic reception during her visit by the Sikkim government. In Sikkim, she will inaugurate a number of state and centre sponsored development projects. Before returning to Delhi, President will join another event where she will meet women achievers and members of SHGs at Tathagatha Tsal, Ravongla.

It is worth noting that this will be Draupadi Murmu's first visit to Nagaland and Assam after becoming the President of India. Last month, she visited Assam and Tripura and inaugurated several developmental projects and schools. She also inaugurated a high power impact laboratory in IIT Guwahati.

(With inputs from PTI)
CONTENT WARNING: Gore

They didnt eat him, Nthanda said quietly. Orjans mutilated carcass was tangled in a patch of dry reeds, shrouded in the morning mist that rose from the Okavango River at dawn. The Swedish ecologists skull had been crushed. His golden hair was matted and bloodied. A clouded blue eye had popped out of its socket, and a gray pulp that was once his brain lay exposed amidst shards of bone. Sethunya, Nthandas research assistant, took one look at this scene and vomited. She pushed past the teams mammologist, Iyawa, and fell to her knees at the riverbank. Iyawa turned away, tears already streaming down her cheeks.

The women had all heard Orjan scream as the lions dragged him out of the camp last night. They heard his cries for help as his bones broke, heard his death gurgles as the big cats crushed his ribs, and heard his skull crack in the lioness jaws. Typically, when lions hunt, theres little left behind. They hadnt expected to find all of him, pale and crooked, on the edge of camp.

As Nthanda processed the gruesome scene in front of her, a grim realization set in. They were stranded in the maze of braided streams and channels of the Okavango. Unseen dangers lurked beneath the surface of the deltas seasonal waters, and the mokoro would not return to their research site for another seven days. The epidemiologist sprinted back to camp, turning over bags of clothing and cases of equipment frantically searching for something that could save them: the rifle. Iyawa followed, taking a deep breath, swallowing her tears. Her voice trembled as she spoke.

So, it is rabies.

It cant be. The symptoms are all there, but rabies is fatal within one to two weeks of exposure. These lions have been behaving this way for twelve months. Theres something else going on here. Nthanda replied without looking up as she rummaged through supplies.

Nthanda, what are we supposed to do? The mammologist was choking back tears again. This is a pride of thirty lions, how- A shriek from the rivers edge punctuated Iyawas panicked words.

Sethunya. Nthanda ran back to the water with the rifle, but her heart dropped when she saw her assistant.

Please, Doctor, her assistants final words were a whisper. Sethunyas body had been ripped in two. Her lower extremities lay in the shallows, her torso in the mud. Her hands clutched reflexively at the twisted knot of intestines that tethered her halves together. Her umber flesh was shredded, and blood drained from her doomed form, staining the Okavango a deep shade of ruby.

There was no time to grieve. A low growl from the reeds ripped their gaze from Sethunyas corpse. A lion, a male, the color of fallow hayfields, emerged from the foliage, fangs bared, snarling. He charged at Iyawa, trampling her under his immense weight, flattening her chest, shattering her ribcage, and squeezing the air from her lungs, cutting short a pained cry. The lion turned to face Nthanda, who now stood alone. She shook as she raised the rifle, aiming it at the beast that was padding towards her, his paws deathly silent on the soft ground, her focus wavering as he closed the distance, each breath rattling her entire body, until she saw his eyes. Blue. Familiar. Sparkling irises that could have been carved from precious celestite.

Human.
Page Content

The Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI), announces that there will be a temporary road closure of a section of the Keys Road between Keys Road Lane 2 and Nipple Cactus Drive





The temporary closure will be from Monday, October 31, 2022, until Friday, November 04, 2022, between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm in connection with road repair work.





The civil works will be carried out by Washington Construction Company N.V.





Traffic heading to Sun Cactus Drive, Moon Cactus Drive, Sedums Cactus Road, and the surrounding area will need to take Chin Cactus Road or King of the Road.





Motorists are advised to adhere to the detour signs set-up in efforts of redirecting vehicles towards alternative traffic routes.





Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Page Content

Great turnout with information and family activities





On Sunday, October 30, Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Ms. Silveria Jacobs attended the Sint Maarten Fire Department on the occasion of their Open House. The firefighters opened their doors to the community for a day filled with activities and family-friendly fun.





The men and women of the Fire Department shared their passion for the job by providing information sessions together with other stakeholders, demonstrating the importance of fire safety and prevention. The fun also included water activities, a mini obstacle course and Fire truck rides for children and their parents. The event was a success with over 650 enthusiastic participants.





The Ambulance department also participated in the open house, providing demonstrations of their equipment and life saving techniques. Also on hand during the open house were corporate stakeholders Nagico, and Island Cooking Gas among others who set up kiosks and provided information to the public related to fire safety.





The main goal of the Open House is to educate the public on what the Fire Department does in case of an emergency and what everyone can do to Keep their Loved Ones Safe. It was the first Open House since 2016. The set up was to involve the entire community and interact with them on the theme of Fire Safety. said Head of Section Prevention, Preparation, Education & Training, Mr. Silvanico Pauletta.





The Prime Minister commented, Congratulations to the firefighters of Sint Maarten who, through hard work and a desire to make a difference, really put their best efforts into the days activities. Although they are few, and face many challenges, they continue to do the work in the best interest of the safety of the community. The manner in which these men and women execute their duty in order to serve the community is highly commendable.





Prime Minister Jacobs went on to state, St. Maarten appreciates them, and I look forward to their continued efforts to bring awareness to the community. As government we support events whereby the community is educated about fire safety, prevention, and actions that we all can take in case of a fire to save the lives of our loved ones.
Page Content

Prime Minister to meet with Firefighters





First responders to receive updates on the progress of their grievances





Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs for Sint Maarten, Silveria E. Jacobs met with a Windward Island Civil Servants Union (WICSU-PSU) representative today on the steps of the Government Administration Building. During the correspondences between the Ministry of General Affairs and WICSU-PSU, the union representatives became frustrated, due to miscommunication, and mobilized the firefighters to the Building. Unfortunate conditions proved that the proposed times on both sides proved to not be feasible for this morning.





When given the option of meeting later in the day versus Friday afternoon, the union opted for the latter. However, the Prime Minister remains open to hearing the grievances of these men and women and made it clear to the union representative, the firefighters as well as the public and media gathered to observe the situation. The meeting will take place at 1:00pm on Friday, October 28.





The matter, as it pertains to the firefighters, is a very serious one, and highly deserving of our attention. These men and women are part of our first responders, they put their lives on the line for us every time they are called to duty. Their voices do matter. said Prime Minister Jacobs.





The Prime Minister went on to state, It is unfortunate that we were unable to meet sooner during the week, as I was travelling, but just as I have been handling the processing of the advices for that department, so am I dedicated to ensuring we find solutions to realize the needed equipment, uniforms and other pending gear which has been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. I think they are not forgotten, and I aim to keep my meeting with them to hear them on what needs to be spoken. I have always been open to hear from and dialogue with them and have cooperated with the request made via the union representative. There was a list of concerns, I gathered answers from the Management and responded, and have always been open to meet with them to hear them out further and give feedback as to the status of their legitimate concerns raised. There is also a need to hear from management and include them in the meeting to reach a proper conclusion on the way forward.
Governor Kathy Hochul has announced progress on the $71.4 million State Route 347 corridor project between Gibbs Pond Road and Hallock Road in the towns of Smithtown and Brookhaven. The project, which began a year ahead of schedule at the Governor's direction, is nearly a third of the way complete, with the New York State Department of Transportation actively exploring ways to accelerate future construction phases along the corridor. The State has invested more than $200 million along the State Route 347 corridor to create new travel lanes, traffic signals, crosswalks and other enhancements to the roadway. Construction is expected to continue through the winter as weather permits.

"We are taking bold steps toward transforming our infrastructure by reimagining what a modern transportation system means for Long Island," Governor Hochul said. "Our investments along the State Route 347 corridor will make commuting safer and more efficient for Long Islanders and visitors alike, and my administration will continue to invest in and accelerate future projects along this corridor to better meet the needs of drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians."

New York State has already invested more than $200 million towards the transformation of the State Route 347 corridor, with the latest phase starting a year ahead of schedule at Governor Hochul's direction. Since major construction began in April 2022 on the latest phase, more than 36,000 cubic yards of soil have been excavated for installing new underground utilities and over 11,600 cubic yards of soil have been placed for expanding the roadway and extending the Parks to Ports Greenway shared-use path. Additionally, more than 5,000 linear feet of new water mains and over 4,400 linear feet of storm drainage pipes has been installed, while construction on retaining walls continues to move forward with over 1,200 cubic yards of new concrete and 127,000 pounds of steel rebar already installed. The current phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

While motorists will experience the new, wider roadway with raised planted medians as part of the current phase of construction, other highway users will benefit from the final product with enhanced bus stops with pull off areas and shaded pedestrian shelters, solar powered lighting, and highly visible crosswalks with pedestrian countdown timers. Timing of traffic signals will also be coordinated to reduce congestion. The Parks to Ports Greenway adjacent to the eastbound lanes is also being extended in this two mile portion as part of this phase of construction.

The State Route 347 corridor is a 12-mile stretch of highway between State Routes 454 & 25A. With every phase of construction that has been completed, the corridor is being transformed into a multi-modal, environmentally sustainable boulevard for motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users.

Five phases of construction along State Route 347 have already transformed large sections of the corridor, stretching from State Route 454 (Veterans Memorial Highway) to Gibbs Pond Road and the intersection with State Route 112, with the current project expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

The next phase of Route 347 slated to be rebuilt is between Hallock Road and Nicholls Road (Suffolk County Route 97). DOT is currently in the design phase of this project and is actively looking for ways to accelerate it from its current planned construction date of late 2025/early 2026.

State Route 347 has grown over the decades from a 1950s farm delivery route into a major east-west corridor for Long Island motorists, connecting North Shore communities like Port Jefferson and Stony Brook with more direct access to the state parkway system.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, "Governor Hochul's unprecedented leadership in rebuilding Long Island's infrastructure has already been directly felt by drivers going over fresh asphalt on the Long Island Expressway and Southern State Parkway, and at her direction we continue to advance the transformation of State Route 347. While we actively look at ways to accelerate future phases of the 347 project, we are also making significant progress on the current phase. Infrastructure is a springboard for economic opportunity and we are seeing that firsthand as Governor Hochul and the Department of Transportation work every day to transform New York's infrastructure to meet the needs of all users of the road."

Assemblymember Steve Englebright said, "That the Department of Transportation's reconstruction of NYS Route 347 is ahead of the original project schedule is an accomplishment worthy of celebration. This vital arterial has been transformed from snarling traffic and a smear of haphazard development into a green swath that is both a pleasure to drive and an uplifting aesthetic experience. This redesigned highway sets a new standard of excellence and is predictive of the important improvements that will be accomplished next. These include better access to the Smith Haven Mall and SUNY at Stony BrookLong Island's largest employer. I thank Governor Hochul for making this project a top priority."

Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly throughout the work zone. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual's driver's license.

For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app.

Follow NYSDOT on Twitter at @NYSDOT and @NYSDOTLI. Find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/NYSDOT.
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Tuesday and not separately reported by Alliance News:

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600 Group PLC - West Yorkshire, England-based manufacturer and distributor of machine tools, precision engineered components and industrial laser systems - Says Neil Carrick will return as chief financial officer on January 1. Current CFO Rui Lopes will step down as a director with effect from December 31 by mutual agreement. Carrick joined 600 in 2011 as finance director until November 2020, when he stepped down as CFO. Says as part of Neil's reappointment as CFO, he will be working closely with management on delivering the group's strategy.

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Celadon Pharmaceuticals PLC - London-based manufacturer and supplier of cannabinoid-based medicines formerly known as Summerway Capital PLC - Hires Jonathan Turner as chief financial officer. Says Turner will start a phased transition into his role from this month and will join the firm on a full-time basis from February next year. Turner will join from Oxford Instruments PLC where he has been director of accounting, tax, and treasury since 2020. He will succeed Katie Long, who is returning to her role within Tessera Investment Management Ltd.

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MJ Hudson Group PLC - asset-management consulting company - Chief Financial Officer Peter Connell intends to step down once financial 2022 results are finalised. Says the process to find Connell's replacement is already well underway.

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Round Hill Music Royalty Fund Ltd - Guernsey-based investor in music copyright assets - Says Trevor Bowen will step down from his role as chair and as a non-executive director with immediate effect. Hires Robert Naylor as chair with immediate effect.

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By Xindi Wei; xindiwei@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Monday and not separately reported by Alliance News:

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Valereum Blockchain PLC - Gibraltar-based blockchain technology - Receives consent from the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission to complete the acquisition of the Gibraltar Stock Exchange."We have ambitious plans for the GSX and for Valereum linking the fiat and digital worlds. All our expansion plans will be fully regulated in the environments in which we plan to operate. The GSX will harness proven exchange technology from established providers and will be updated with full front to back trading and clearing functionality on a significant scale and expandability," Chair Richard Poulden comments.

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Landore Resources Ltd - Mining exploration and development company in Canada - Completes the acquisition of Ardiden Ltd's 20% interest in the Root Lake property. Earlier this month, it finalised and executed an extinguishment agreement with Green Technology Metals Ltd for CAD3 million, or USD2.2 million. Green Technology Metals will extinguish half of Landore's 3% net smelter royalty over the Root Lake property in Ontario, Canada. In return, Green Technology has agreed to pay Landore CAD2 million in cash.

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Shield Therapeutics PLC - commercial stage pharmaceutical company - Korean Food & Drug Administration says that a single pharmacokinetic study is the last study required to support a new drug application submission for Accrufer. The drug is an iron-containing medication for the treatment of adults with low iron stores. Expects regulatory approval in Korea in late 2023.

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Goldplat PLC - South Africa and Ghana-focused gold miner - Sells a portion of its shares in Caracal Gold PLC. Says it has sold 23.3 million shares in Caracal for 0.65 pence per share. Following the disposal, it retains a 4.3% interest in Caracal.

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Infrastructure India PLC - invests in infrastructure assets in India's energy and transport sectors - Notes that the purchaser of Indian Energy Ltd, AVSR Constructions, is continuing to experience administrative delays in finalising the transaction. Says that it has expressed concern to AVSR over the continued delays and stressed that progress must soon be made. Remains in discussions with third parties regarding the sale of assets.

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Momentum Multi-Asset Value Trust PLC - London-based investment firm - Renews its GBP10 million revolving credit facility with The Royal Bank of Scotland International Ltd for a further two years. The facility bears interest at 1.35% over Sterling Overnight Index Average and may be used for the acquisition of investments, it says.

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Amaroq Minerals Ltd - Greenland-focused gold mining company - Raises CAD29.0 million, or GBP18.6 million, in Iceland through a placing of 53.7 million common shares, which have been issued and admitted in the TSX Venture Exchange today.

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DeepVerge PLC - Dublin-based environmental and life science group - Says it extended its broker offer to 1630 GMT on Monday October 31.

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Chill Brands Group PLC - Grand Junction, Colorado-based cannabidiol products - Says the Chill.com website generated sales in excess of USD10,000 in the seven days following its relaunch on October 18. Starts "a number" of marketing campaigns that are intended to drive additional traffic to Chill.com. "Our focus has now turned to an array of marketing initiatives that will drive new consumers towards our growing digital sales channel. We still have a long way to go to achieve our ambitions for the Chill.com platform, but this has been a very encouraging start," Chief Executive Callum Sommerton says.

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Round Hill Music Royalty Fund Ltd - New York-based music copyright investment company - Anticipates that a number of recent industry updates in streaming will be beneficial to its revenue. "The company's exposure to positive revenue trends in streaming services is significant, with approximately 50% of RHM's revenues derived from digital service providers such as Spotify and Apple Music across master, mechanical and performance royalties," it explains.

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Psych Capital PLC - London-based psychedelic medicines media and investor - Posts a maiden pretax loss of GBP543,933 in the year which ended April 30. Records revenue of GBP62,228. Expects the publication of potentially transformative clinical trial results expected in late 2022 or early 2023, with MDMA and psilocybin-assisted therapy expected to be regulated by the FDA.

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By Abby Amoakuh; abbyamoakuh@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
The U.S. Navy nuclear submarine, USS Rhode Island, docked at Gibraltar naval base this morning. She is armed with Trident nuclear missiles.

This brief stop in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations demonstrates the flexibility and adaptability submarines bring to U.S. and allied forces in the region. The last time a U.S. Navy SSBN conducted a port visit to Gibraltar was USS Alaska (SSBN 732) in June 2021.

Rhode Islands port visit to Gibraltar reinforces our ironclad commitment to our allies and partners in the region. The U.S. and U.K. share a strong history of cooperation, through exercises, operations, and cooperation activities such as this, that enhance our combined capabilities and partnership, said Capt. John Craddock, commander, Task Force 69. The complexity, lethality, and tactical expertise of Rhode Island epitomizes the effectiveness and strength of the submarine force.

Prior to her port visit to Gibraltar, Rhode Island visited His Majestys Naval Base (HMND) Clyde, Scotland (Faslane) for a scheduled port visit in July 2022.

Rhode Island, homeported in Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., is an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine. These submarines are flexible and survivable, with the ability to patrol continuously as a highly-effective element of the U.S. nuclear deterrence force. Assigned to Submarine Group 10, Rhode Island is one of six ballistic-missile submarines homeported at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia.
Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass.
The U.S. has asked Italy to partner with American firms in the development of coaxial rotor helicopters. Italy was an early partner on the F-35 fighter program and became a manufacturer for some components. Italy ordered 135 F-35s and built Europe's only F-35 assembly and maintenance facility. As more European nations order F-35s because of the Ukraine War, the Italian facility is going to be busy for some time.

While Italy is a major developer and manufacturer of commercial helicopters, they have been less successful with military models. Partnering with American firms Sikorsky and Boeing gives Italy an opportunity to be a leader in the development and manufacture of multi-rotor helicopters.

Sikorsky produced the first service-ready American helicopter in 1942, and later the UH-60 Blackhawk with its many variants. Sikorsky now seeks to take the lead in designing and developing new helicopter designs with multiple rotors to greatly improve performance. This means more maneuverability and record-breaking speeds of over 400 kilometers an hour. The new design is actually evolutionary, using coaxial rotors (that is two sets of rotors, one above the other with the props going in opposite directions and eliminating the need of a rear propeller to keep the aircraft from spinning) and a pusher prop in the rear. There is also extensive use of new rotor designs and software operated controls. The new design not only produces high speeds, but, more importantly, enables operation with heavy loads at high altitudes (think Afghanistan). Earlier, the major user of coaxial prop helicopters was Kamov, which, since the 1950s, built several models for naval use in Russia.

Back in 2010 used its 3.6-ton X-2 multirotor demonstrator helicopter, and developed into the S-97, a prototype of a light attack/reconnaissance helicopter that can carry six troops, or a ton of weapons. The S-97 prototype first flew in 2015 while the X-2 continued testing more new technology.

The S-97 effort was successful and U.S. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) wants to test a version of the S-97 that could complement or replace its MH-6 Little Bird light observation helicopter. MH-6 also carries out transport, attack and escort missions.

Using the S-97 technology Sikorsky the 6.3-ton Raider X was developed. This multi-rotor design has a top speed of over 400 kilometers an hour. Cruising speed is lower but provides flight endurance of nearly three hours. The multi-rotor is used for lift while a rear propeller produces thrust. Flight control software enables the pilot to carry out maneuvers impossible with current helicopter designs. A larger 13.6-ton Defiant X provides high-speed, long range assault capability. While the Defiant X is mainly about speed and maneuverability, it could replace some UH-60s as transports. For the moment, transport helicopters using conventional tech are still more efficient.

Raider X and Defiant X will be ready for service and mass production in a few years and thats why Italy is willing to partner in that as soon as possible.
China's Mengtian space lab module is launched at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in the southernmost island province of Hainan, Oct 31, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

A Long March-5B Y4 carrier rocket blasted off from a launchpad at the Wenchang spaceport in South China's Hainan province on Monday carrying a second lab module for China's space station. When in place, the Mengtian lab module will complete the space station's basic T-shaped structure, which means that the space station will be able to perform all its designated functions.

Mengtian is the second lab module for the space station. The first is the Wentian module which is already docked with the Tianhe core module.

While Wentian is to be used for biological and space life science projects, such as observing the growth of multiple kinds of plants, animals and microbes in space, Mengtian will be used for in-orbit experiments dedicated to physics and material sciences and will focus on micro-gravity experiments.

As well as being a lab module, Mengtian will also act as a backup for the core module when it is undergoing maintenance. And with Mengtian in place, the space station will be able to host more astronauts. There are three astronauts on board the space station at the moment. When Shenzhou XV arrives with a change of crew, scheduled for early December, there will be six Chinese astronauts living on the space station for a time until the return of the Shenzhou XIV mission crew members.

China's space station will be the only one in space in 2024, if an agreement can't be reached on extending the life of the International Space Station. The ISS was due to be decommissioned in 2031, but that might not be feasible since it requires the cooperation of the United States and the European Union with Russia.

That the ISS is even still operational at this point is a testament to its design and engineering. Like the ISS, China's space station will have to withstand tremendous stresses and strain. While the power, environmental control and life support, and communications systems are all repairable or replaceable in orbit, the operational lifetime of the spacecraft is limited by the integrity of the primary structure. This has to bear the strain of repeated vehicle dockings and undockings, and the stress effects of daily temperature swings of about 278 degrees Celsius in either direction.

Mengtian means "dreaming of heaven" in Chinese. And China's space station will not only carry the nation's dream of exploring space, but also that of humankind as a whole when the ISS meets its fiery fate.

China views learning more about the vast cosmos as a common dream of humankind, and researchers from other countries already have access to China's orbiting laboratory. China has selected nine initial international experiments for the space station through a collaborative project with the United Nations, and more are to follow. It is also anticipated that the space station will host astronauts of various nationalities during its lifetime as China is encouraging international space exchanges and cooperation to help protect the Earth, improve people's well-being and serve human progress.
The Canadian Army has finally found a new pistol to replace the Browning High Power pistol they had been using since World War II. The new pistol is the Sig-Sauer P320, which is similar to the pistol the Americans adopted in 2018 to replace the Beretta M9 pistols that in 1984 replaced the now century old Browning .45 caliber pistol. The .45 is still used by special operations troops in many nations. Canada is buying 7,000 Sig-Sauers for the army with the potential purchase of 9,500 more for the air force, navy and military police.

Britain, another major user of the Browning High power pistol, replaced the Browning nearly a decade ago with the Glock 17, a modern design similar to the Sig-Sauer P226.

Many Canadians followed the British search for a Browning replacement and noted that it only took Britain three years to find what they needed. It was also noted that some British special operations troops were already using the Sig-Sauer. As in Canada, the British search for a new pistol came after years of complaints from troops in Afghanistan. The British government quickly (compared to Canada) agreed to replace their elderly Browning L9A7 9mm pistols with the Glock 17. The army placed an order for 25,000 Glock 17s, at a cost of $538 each. The procurement process took two years. Some British special operations troops had already adopted the similar Sig Sauer P320.

The Glock 17 was designed by Gaston Glock in the 1960s and soon became enormously popular with policemen. Some armed forces (like Austria and Norway) also adopted it early on. There are over twenty variants, usually having to do with caliber. The American FBI, for instance, uses the 10.2mm .40 caliber). The Glock has a plastic (polymer) frame and can be safely carried in the holster loaded and ready to fire. All one has to do is aim and pull the trigger. The Glock magazine carries 17 rounds, compared to 13 in the Browning (which was a big jump over six rounds revolvers held). These characteristics have proved enormously popular with police, who are often called on to use their pistol with no warning. Troops in Afghanistan have encountered similar situations. For British troops another advantage is weight. A loaded Glock weighs 860 gr (1.88 pounds), which is 20 percent less than the Browning.

The Glock is a simple pistol and very reliable. The manufacturer has subjected the pistols to very extreme environmental tests and tweaked the pistol design to ensure that a Glock would always fire. Over 2.5 million Glocks have been manufactured in the last three decades, meaning that spare parts and servicing are easy to find.

The Glock 17 is replacing the 9mm Browning Hi-Power automatic, whose British military designation is the L9A1 and has been the standard issue sidearm since 1954. Back then it replaced the .38 caliber (9.1mm) Enfield revolver. Even this elderly pistol can still be found in service, as a personal (not army issue) weapon. However, British World War II commandos pioneered the use of the 9mm Hi-Power, and that played a major role in that weapon replacing the Enfield revolver throughout the army. The Hi-Power was designed by John Browning, who also created the M1911 .45 caliber pistol. The two pistols share many design features and characteristics.

For several decades the Hi-Power continued to perform well for both commandos and the rest of the army. But by the 1980s the Hi-Power was a dated design, something that was made very clear with the appearance of the Glock. The Hi-Power is still produced, by Browning in the U.S. and Fabrique Nationale in Europe. Despite being over 70 years old it is not considered obsolete, just not as evolved as weapons like the Glock. Then neither is the century old American 1911A1 .45 caliber pistol. The problem for the British Army was that most of the Hi-Powers in service were older than the men who were using them. These pistols were often 20 or 30 years old and the army leadership never gave much thought to updating them or bringing in more modern design. This led to many combat officers buying a pistol (often a Glock) with their own money.

British commandos took matters into their own hands and adopted the 964 gr (2.13 pounds) Sig-Sauer P226 9mm as their standard pistol, as well as a smaller pistol for undercover operations. The U.S. Navy SEALs also chose this pistol, as did many other special operations forces. While the Glock is a favorite for regular army troops, the P226 is a bit more compatible with commando type operations.
High blood pressure also known as hypertension is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease. Blood pressure lowering drugs are used to keep blood pressure under control when conservative measures like cutting down on salt, smoking, maintaining ideal body weight and practicing regular exercise fail to bring down the high pressure.

Blood pressure or antihypertensive tablets are a class of drugs that are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). The most recommended antihypertensive medications are thiazide diuretics, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin- converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB).

For mild to moderate hypertension one tablet is sufficient. More than one tablet maybe required if a single tablet does not provide the desired results(1 Trusted Source

Antihypertensive Medications



Go to source).

In an interesting observation about the blood pressure tablets, Dr.Hermida, Professor of Medicine at the University of Vigo in Spain and senior author of the Hygia Chronotherapy Trial(2 Trusted Source

Bedtime BP Meds May Cut Heart Risk by Almost Half : Large Randomised Study



Go to source) said "The same antihypertensive medication, the same molecule, at the same dose, ingested at two different times have totally different pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and therefore they behave as two totally different medications."

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What is Nocturnal Hypertension

Nocturnal hypertension is a condition in which blood pressure is raised during sleep. It can even occur in people with normal daytime blood pressure. Medical conditions that trigger nocturnal hypertension include diabetes, thyroid problems, chronic kidney disease, and obstructive sleep apnea.

Nocturnal hypertension is a significant indicator of cardiovascular events and has become a therapeutic target for the prevention of heart disease risk(3 Trusted Source

Management of Nocturnal Hypertension



Go to source).

The drop in blood pressure during sleep at night is called nighttime dipping. Some hypertensive patients do not exhibit the drop in blood pressure at night (non-dippers) which may increase their cardiovascular risk.

Studies have demonstrated that administration of anti-hypertensives at night converts many patients from non-dippers to dippers.

Ramon C Hermida et al.conducted a Cochrane review on chronotherapy in hypertensive patients. This cochrane review found that bedtime dosing of antihypertensive drugs reduced nocturnal blood pressure. Bedtime dosing of one or more anti-hypertensives significantly reduced cardiovascular events(4 Trusted Source

Efficacy and Safety of Nighttime Dosing of Antihypertensives: Review of the Literature and Design of a Pragmatic Clinical Trial



Go to source).

A surge in nighttime blood pressure can be triggered by obstructive sleep apnea, rapid eye movement sleep and nocturia.

Blood Pressure Medications

Many antihypertensive drugs such as hydrochlorothiazide, atenolol, pindolol, nadolol, enalapril, labetalol, sustained-release propranolol, nifedipine, and others have relatively short half-lives. These tablets when given as a single morning dose,.often do not reduce blood pressure during the early morning surge of blood pressure(4 Trusted Source

Efficacy and Safety of Nighttime Dosing of Antihypertensives: Review of the Literature and Design of a Pragmatic Clinical Trial



Go to source).

Several systematic studies indicate that the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as enalapril, captopril, lisinopril, quinapril, ramipril, benazepril, spirapril and imidapril exert significant blood pressure lowering effects when taken at bedtime and improve patient tolerance to therapy.

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Administration of Ramipril at bedtime exerts significantly greater reduction of blood pressure when compared with morning dose(6 Trusted Source

Chronotherapy with conventional blood pressure medications improves management of hypertension and reduces cardiovascular and stroke risks



Go to source).

Bedtime administration of Quinapril showed morning surge of blood pressure and greater reduction at night(4 Trusted Source

Efficacy and Safety of Nighttime Dosing of Antihypertensives: Review of the Literature and Design of a Pragmatic Clinical Trial



Go to source).

Valsartan at Bedtime

Valsartan when ingested at bedtime showed greater reduction in systolic blood pressure(6 Trusted Source

Chronotherapy with conventional blood pressure medications improves management of hypertension and reduces cardiovascular and stroke risks



Go to source).

Bedtime Nifedipine and Stroke Risk Reduction

A study showed that there was a greater reduction in risk factor for stroke and greater rise in morning blood pressure when Nifedipine was given in the evening rather than in the morning. Bedtime administration of nifedipine exerts greater reduction in the incidence of edema from 13% to 1%(5 Trusted Source

Comparison of the Antihypertensive Efficacy of Morning and Bedtime Dosing on Reducing Morning Blood Pressure Surge



Go to source).

Other anti-hypertensives including -blocker (doxasin),  blocker (carvedilol) and loop diuretic (torasemide) exert enhanced asleep blood pressure reduction and longer duration of blood pressure lowering effect when ingested at bedtime rather than in the morning(6 Trusted Source

Chronotherapy with conventional blood pressure medications improves management of hypertension and reduces cardiovascular and stroke risks



Go to source).

Antihypertensives at bedtime Reduce Risk to Heart

A preliminary study suggests that anti-hypertensives taken at bedtime reduces cardiovascular events such as heart attack, myocardial infarction, stroke, congestive heart failure compared with morning dosing.

Sleep time blood pressure may be the best predictor of cardiovascular events than daytime blood pressure.

Hermida and his research team at the University of Vigo conducted a study comparing antihypertensive therapy at night-time vs daytime. The findings indicate the risk of dying from cardiovascular events was reduced by 66% during the study period(2 Trusted Source

Bedtime BP Meds May Cut Heart Risk by Almost Half : Large Randomised Study



Go to source).

The bottom line is that blood pressure medications may confer a significant advantage if taken at night rather than in the morning and may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular events. Therefore, it may be best to take anti-hypertensives at night before sleep(2 Trusted Source

Bedtime BP Meds May Cut Heart Risk by Almost Half : Large Randomised Study



Go to source).

Besides anti-hypertensives even statins are best taken at night. Consult with your physicians regarding bedtime dosing of medications.
In a yearslong conspiracy involving bizarre and fraudulent injury claims such as holiday ladder falls and horse buckings, a former Navy chief petty officer pleaded guilty to conspiring to bilk the government out of $2 million through a program intended for severely injured service members, according to a Thursday Department of Justice press release.

Christopher Toups, an ex-sailor who lives in Georgia, personally received $400,000 in the scam, which involved more than a half dozen people, including a Navy doctor and a nurse.

The group targeted the Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance Program, a compensation program for injured troops. Toups, who appears to be a central figure in the scam, helped take advantage of that system by creating a paper trail for fake injuries, according to court records.

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Toups is scheduled to be sentenced in February and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, three years of probation, and an order to repay the total $2 million back to the Pentagon, according to his Thursday guilty plea.

"Fraudulently filing claims for unearned TSGLI benefits diverts compensation from deserving service members who suffered serious and debilitating injuries while on active duty," said Rebeccalynn Staples, an agent with the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Inspector General, in the Justice Department press release. "Worse yet, this defendant actively recruited others into the scheme to feed his greed for compensation he did not deserve."

Between 2012 and 2015, Toups conspired with his then-spouse Kelene McGrath, a Navy nurse, to steal money from the government through fake or exaggerated injury claims, the Justice Department said. On top of falsifying his own TSGLI claims, Toups encouraged other sailors to fabricate or exaggerate their claims.

Those service members would then submit their claims, sometimes to McGrath, who would further falsify or doctor their medical records to reflect the exaggerated injuries. Navy Dr. Michael Villarroel would then certify those records, according to prosecutors.

Villarroel also supported the fraud by "falsely stating he interviewed the claimant," according to the Justice Department.

By encouraging other service members to participate in the scam, Toups requested that they give him part of their compensation as a "processing fee" for folding them into the scheme. McGrath and Villarroel received some of these "fees" and the group often kept their transactions between one another under $10,000 to "evade perceived financial reporting requirements," according to the Justice Department.

Some of those accused of scheming with Toups' were also part of his explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit in California, according to court documents and the Justice Department press release.

In one 2013 case, Toups filed a fraudulent application purporting to have suffered a "catastrophic" injury from a motorcycle accident in 2004, attaching doctored medical records, according to court records.

Other claims from Toups' co-conspirators included another motorcycle accident; McGrath saying she fell from a horse; and one instance where another EOD chief petty officer, Richard Cote, claimed he fell from a ladder while removing Christmas lights.

According to the VA's website, there are several requirements to earn benefits associated with the TSGLI program, including that the injury was incurred no later than "midnight on the day that you left the military."

There are few exceptions to the type of injury, with most restrictions tied to self-inflicted injuries or those incurred while engaging in illegal activity, according to the VA.

Altogether, the group collected almost $2 million from the Department of Defense. Toups' listed attorneys did not respond to Military.com's request for comment in time for publication.

The Justice Department said Toups' rank at the time of his crimes -- 2012 to at least December 2015 -- was chief petty officer. Toups ultimately retired from the Navy in 2017 at one rank lower: petty officer first class, according to service records provided by the Navy to Military.com. He was pushed down to the lower rank the same month the Department of Justice said his scheme ended in 2015. It's unclear whether the demotion was tied to the injury claim scheme.

Since Navy regulations typically forbid commanders from demoting chief petty officers, Toups' punishment likely came from outside of his unit.

According to the released records, Toups was a Seabee -- a member of the Navy's combat construction community -- who worked as a construction mechanic most recently assigned to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit out of Coronado, California.

He had two personal awards in his records: a Navy Commendation Medal and a Navy Achievement medal, in addition to his Enlisted Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist insignia.

Two co-conspirators, Ronald Olmsted and Anthony Coco, also pleaded guilty and have already been sentenced. McGrath, who is now going by the name Kelene Meyer, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy in 2019 and is awaiting sentencing. Villarroel was indicted, but pleaded not guilty in 2020, according to court dockets.

"The theft of military health care dollars directly harms service members and taxpayers," said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman in the DOJ press release. "This fraud was costly for the U.S. Navy, and now for this defendant."

-- Drew F. Lawrence can be reached at drew.lawrence@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @df_lawrence.

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A first sergeant at Fort Hood, Texas, is making soldiers take the stairs after banning the use of elevators in the morning in a bid to keep the troops fit.

"In order to promote physical training and fitness, the elevator will not be used before 0900 Monday through Friday," First Sgt. Avery Peoples said in a memo reviewed by Military.com dated Oct. 26. "This policy applies to personnel assigned to Dragon Troop and visitors."

When reached by Military.com, Peoples only replied, "Don't call me again," and hung up.

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While Peoples' memo says that elevators cannot be used before 9 a.m., it doesn't note an earlier time when the use of the elevator becomes forbidden. And while the intent is presumably to promote health and fitness, soldiers are often working out in those early morning hours regardless.

Peoples likely has the authority to control how his formation navigates Army facilities. However, as a fitness effort, it's unclear whether that will have a tangible effect on his soldier's fitness test scores. The Army's Holistic Health and Fitness doctrine, which outlines the Army's philosophy on how to maintain a soldier's physical well-being, focuses its guidance on a series of complex exercises, nutrition, sleep and mental health care. However, the 244-page set of rules makes a small note that soldiers should take stairs to "decrease sedentary time."

The Army has also had a difficult time grappling with how to best circumvent weight gain among the rank and file. Army planners have studied body scanning technology to assess whether a soldier is overweight, but those scans find troops with much more body fat than the tape test, which is generally more forgiving.

Concerns about fitness also led the service to totally revamp the way it tests troops, with a new standard going live in October. Unlike the old test that was broadly seen as a poor measurement of fitness, only testing troops on running, sit-ups and push-ups, the new Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT, has a much more complex roster of exercises, including deadlifts, sprints and planks, among others.

Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston, the service's top enlisted leader, recently announced that soldiers with a 540 out of 600 score on their ACFT may soon be able to skirt around having their body weight examined. A score that high is almost a guarantee that the soldier is very fit.

Soldiers and visitors to the building at Fort Hood can presumably use the elevator if they have a documented injury that makes it difficult to use stairs. There are no exceptions listed for troops who may be moving gear, bringing in groceries or have an injury that has not yet been formally recorded.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: Commander Bans Army-Issued Warm, Comfy Fleece Jacket as Winter Approaches
Sid Stein knew immediately something was wrong. Dreadfully wrong.

Recalling one of the most terrible days of his Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, boyhood, the Duluth, Georgia, resident's expression takes on a thousand-yard stare.

"I was playing outside with my friends a couple of blocks away. I came home and a lot of cars were in front. There were a lot of people around the house. Everyone was over there consoling (my parents) and crying. Friends of my parents took us for a ride to get us away from there and tried to explain. I was 9 and my brother was 7."

It was the day Stein learned his beloved big brother, Hyman "Bubba" Stein, had been killed in France.

It was August 1944, in the thick of World War II. Telegrams beginning with the stilted but heart-stopping phrase, "I regret to inform you," were arriving at families' homes with horrible frequency.

Not once, but twice, Stein's family received them with trembling hands. They were brief messages that tore their world apart.

The first one bore news that Hyman, who had stormed Omaha Beach on D-Day, died after stepping on a land mine on his 23rd birthday. Eight months later the second arrived. His older brother Morris was felled by a sniper's bullet as he led his platoon through a jungle in the Philippines in April 1945.

"My parents never got over it," said Stein. "My father loved this country but was bitter that the war took his boys away."

Stein was only 6 when his brothers joined the growing military machine; Morris to officer's school and Hyman to boot camp. As he grew older, Stein's efforts to recall anything about his heroic siblings was akin to peering into a black hole.

"There's absolutely nothing I can remember back then," he said, speaking at a Gwinnett County coffee shop. "All I knew was they were killed."

The full emotional impact of his brothers' ultimate sacrifice wouldn't wash over him until decades later.

Quest for Information

A 40-year career as a textile salesman brought Stein to Atlanta, where he and his wife raised a family, leaving him little time or opportunity to ponder the fate of his brothers.

Then one day, their Purple Hearts fell into his hands.

The medals had been given to a cousin, who died in 2010, and his widow passed them on to Stein. By then retired, Stein's interest was piqued. Already a fan of World War II history and military movies, he morphed into an avid student of the war. He joined the Atlanta World War II Roundtable, a group organized in 1986 to discuss and study the conflict and to share the experiences of war veterans. He read widely.

Painstaking research on Morris and Hyman brought a more detailed and nuanced picture into focus.

"Everybody said they were natural-born leaders," said Stein. They were respectful family members and hard workers. Both quite handsome. And they were popular among their peers -- especially with young female contemporaries.

"My father said that all the ladies were calling him, and that's why he sent Morris to military school in Columbia, Tennessee, in the ninth grade," said Stein.

And they were patriotic -- perhaps to a fault. After his younger brother's death, Morris was offered the opportunity to transfer stateside. He refused, saying he was part of a bigger job that needed to be finished.

Stein's quest for knowledge hit some bumps along the road. All those who had directly known the pair had since died. He gleaned what little information he could from his niece, the daughter of his sister Lillian, who was close to both Morris and Hyman.

"And this guy called me from Mt. Pleasant and told me his brother was Morris' best friend," said Stein. That also helped flesh out a picture.

Researching middle Tennessee newspapers produced a handful of articles about the Steins. He also found a 1944 letter a Pennsylvania woman had written to "the wife or mother of Private Hyman Stein." Enclosed was a Harrisburg newspaper picture of Stein and two buddies taking a shower utilizing a piece of captured German equipment.

But perhaps the most significant discovery was a cache of letters his brothers had sent to their sister from overseas.

In an era before Zoom, texting and Facebook, letters were a vital lifeline between combat theaters and nervous families back home. They were treated like gold, reverentially read and re-read and carefully passed on to other family members and friends.

Their historical importance nowadays assumes special significance, said Kim Guise, senior curator at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.

"They are such an amazing source of personal insight," said Guise. "They get to the heart of what people were thinking and hoping for and dreaming for, so they're a valuable source of how we interpret the American experience in World War II."

So valuable was that connection that the museum is putting a few hundred of their collection of thousands of donated war-era letters in the spotlight.

A new permanent exhibit entitled "Mail Call" opens Nov. 10 as part of a larger multimedia immersive display. It will examine all facets of the war's mail.

"Just to know people were out there thinking about you and hoping for you to come home" was crucial, Guise said.

Letters Home

Scribbled hastily, sometimes from foxholes or on flight decks, letters from the frontlines ran the gamut from ordinary tidbits about the weather to observations about the rigors of war.

The ordinary:

June 26, somewhere in France: I am writing to you from sunny France, where it is raining like hell. About the only time we see the sun is between rains.

It's interesting to hear about all those young girls marrying (at home) because they were all still going to high school when I left. I'm beginning to realize that I have been away from home for a long time. I suppose the next thing I hear from you, (his sister) you will be getting married.

-- Hyman Stein

And this from one from officer training school.

1942, Fort Benning, Georgia: I'm supposed to graduate in four weeks from this Thursday. Margaret Sludsky (his girlfriend) wants to come down but she can't come by herself. Why don't you (his sister) come down with her?

I have to know pretty soon so I can make reservations for you two to stay here. Columbus is overcrowded so it's impossible to get a hotel.

-- Morris Stein

And there were the gripes about living conditions and the food.

July (1944) France: There isn't much to write about over here because the same thing happens every day. I hear guns firing when I go to sleep and I hear them when I wake up. They sound all right when they're our guns but the German guns don't sound so good.

-- Hyman Stein

The brothers also penned shout-outs to and inquiries about friends and family as they hoped for morale-raising tidbits. And there were yearnings about the comforts of home.

August 6, 1943, Somewhere in Sicily: You have asked me if there was anything you could send me. I'd like a piece of custard, some ice cream and a big hamburger. I suppose you can't send them so I will wait until I get home and I'll let you make them for me.

-- Hyman Stein

Letters home largely didn't mention the elephant in the room: The ever-present possibility that any soldier's day could be the last, or that they could be captured. Very good reasons for that existed, said those who have studied the conflict.

"War is a nasty, ugly business," said Pete Mecca, a Vietnam veteran who heads the Atlanta WW II Roundtable. "There's no glory in a war. If you find someone who's bragging about their duty, they're probably lying. It's that simple."

Guise said those overseas tended to avoid the darker, sometimes gruesome, details of military life, not wanting to worry anxious relatives back in the U.S. By the same token, those stateside didn't want to burden their loved ones in the European and Pacific theaters with messy accounts of domestic strife.

"Sometimes you'd have to read between the lines to find those messages," Guise said.

Interestingly, "they wrote about the mail itself, with more than a few letters beginning with 'I got three letters from you today' or 'I haven't received any mail from you in a week. What's happening?'" she said.

Aug. 6, 1943, Somewhere in Italy: I've received about five letters from you in the past week and was really glad to get them. I received the picture of you (his sister) and the picture folder you sent. They were all good and the one of you was especially good."

-- Hyman Stein

Sometimes weeks, even months, would elapse between a letter being slid into an envelope and its reaching a pockmarked battlefield or quiet residential street. There were logistical issues, with time and effort required to pin down a soldier's location.

"You think the mail is messed up now," said Tim Gray, president and founder of the World War II Foundation in New England, "try catching up to a soldier in constant battle moving across the country. That's why they were so glad to get mail when it finally caught up with them, especially those in the Pacific because they were fighting on these small islands."

Censorship also led to delays. Mail would languish in warehouses waiting for military censors to turn their flinty-eyed scrutiny on it, removing any references to specific military movements or locations. No sense tipping off the enemy.

More than a few families and soldiers came up with ways to evade that fervor for secrecy, Gray added.

"Some of them had these little codes that would go back and forth not giving away specific locations or battle plans but using keywords giving a little more information about where they were in the world."

The upshot: The letters were sanitized, with little mention of violence. But sometimes, shocking news came through. Among the letters in Stein's possession is one sent by a friend of Morris'.

Philippines, June 7, 1945: Morris led his platoon on a patrol to locate a route of forward advance... while crossing a small stream a Jap sniper opened fire and Morris fell. If it's any consolation, one of Morris squad leaders killed the sniper. He received immediate medical attention but to no avail. He died almost immediately.

If there's anything I can do, please let me know.

-- George Bookman

And there was this from a fellow Jewish infantryman who served as an acting chaplain on Negros island, where Morris was fighting.

Somewhere in the Philippines, 3 May, 1945: We were in different outfits. However, it was my heartbreaking duty to recite the burial service of our faith for him. It was as dignified as possible under the circumstances. And (he) now sleeps quietly in a beautiful Army cemetery not far from the sea.

-- Lt. Samuel Jacobs

"My parents were just heartbroken," recalled Stein. So much so that they gave away all of the brothers' possessions and refused to talk about them even after the bodies of both were returned in 1948 and 1949 and buried in a Nashville Jewish cemetery.

Keeping the Legacy Alive

Overwhelmed with emotion by the things he learned about his brothers, Stein "would tell their story to friends, family, anyone who would listen," he said.

One day, a conversation with a journalist prompted him to start sharing what he'd learned with a bigger audience.

Armed with war photos, newspaper clippings, his brothers' Purple Hearts and other memorabilia such as a bullet-riddled German helmet, Stein made dozens of speeches in the community, many of them surrounding Memorial and Veterans Day observances. Some came through the non-profit Senior University. Others resulted from his penchant for marketing and self-promotion. He wasn't shy about getting the word out to civic, professional and church groups.

"It just came naturally," said Stein, who had no formal training in public speaking. The vivid accounts and strong narrative flowed straight from his heart. Reflective silence, misty eyes and a flurry of questions typically followed. "I got a standing ovation from (a group of retired) FBI agents," he recalled.

Equally telling were the reactions of audience members who buttonholed him afterwards.

There was the elderly Thai woman who recounted how her house had been destroyed by a Japanese bomb and who fervently thanked him for telling the story of Morris Stein's Pacific service. Another time, speaking at a care home, a 100-year-old resident told Stein he'd known one of the brothers in the service.

Advancing arthritis has put the brakes on Stein's public appearances, but his deep, musical Tennessee drawl takes on a no-nonsense timbre as he explains his commitment to bringing his brothers' heroism to life.

"I don't think we should ever forget them," he said firmly. "They sacrificed their lives so we can live in freedom today. The waste of human potential was unbelievable. It's like the Holocaust. We should never forget."

2022 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
With a week to the Nov. 8 midterm elections, retired Marine Lt. Col. Joe Plenzler is doing his part to ensure that the vote count is done securely, accurately and fairly.

Plenzler volunteered to be an election judge in Charles County, Maryland. Having completed the training, he said the level of instruction gave him immense confidence in the system -- assurance he hopes that he and other poll workers can share with voters on Election Day.

"It felt like we were launching nuclear missiles or opening up a [sensitive compartmented information facility] -- the two-party integrity, the amount of the tamper-proof tape and the codes and the locks. ... I walked out of that room saying, 'Somebody's really thought through the process,'" Plenzler said.

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Plenzler and his wife, also a retired Marine lieutenant colonel, signed up to work the polls as part of a campaign by Vet the Vote, a group that seeks to encourage American veterans to work as elections officials, meeting the needs of locations with staff shortages but also bolstering faith in the election process.

"Working the polls, it was good to see it all put into play and understand the mechanisms behind it," said Plenzler, who also serves as a spokesman for Vet the Vote.

The past few election cycles have been marked by disinformation and allegations of fraud that have sought to undermine the election process in the country -- a loss of faith that groups like Vet the Vote hope to restore by encouraging active-duty and former troops to serve.

Vet the Vote launched an initiative in June to recruit 100,000 veterans to work the election this year, and as of Oct. 7, it had registered 63,000 service members, veterans and family members through its website, according to Anil Nathan, co-executive director of Vet the Vote.

"We're incredibly proud of that accomplishment, both from a coalition standpoint, as well as seeing our community respond so strongly to their country asking them to step up and serve again," said Nathan, an Air Force veteran.

According to Vet the Vote, states with the largest populations of veterans have, unsurprisingly, had the most number of veterans and veteran family members respond to the call, with Texas leading the way at 7,581 new veteran volunteers.

Florida, California, Georgia and North Carolina round out the top five.

Vote the Vets set the ambitious number to recruit 100,000 poll workers, because that is the estimated figure of shortages nationwide each year, according to Ingrid Sundlee, director of civic engagement for the organization.

The goal was not only to address that shortage but also tap into the vast resource of Americans who already have a sense of purpose and want to support democracy.

"Show me another place in American society where you have Republicans, Democrats and independents coming together to do something productive for the country," Plenzler said. "Working at the level of civics instead of politics in today's hyperpartisan tribal environment is extremely refreshing to me personally."

As Election Day approaches, political parties also have pressed Americans to volunteer as poll monitors -- including veterans -- to observe voting and lodge complaints if they see anything amiss in states where it is permitted.

Poll monitors differ from poll workers in that they are observers, not part of the process to support the voting process and count ballots.

The push, especially among supporters of former President Donald Trump who continue to perpetuate allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 election despite there being no evidence of widespread malfeasance, has raised concerns by election officials in some states about voter safety and possible intimidation.

Vet the Vote officials acknowledged that the political parties have worked to recruit veterans but stressed that its initiative is purely to restore faith in the voting process.

"We have been so explicitly by nature nonpartisan about our efforts. Even though there may be some bleed-over in terms of talking about recruiting veterans, that line is drawn pretty clear in terms of our objectives," Nathan said.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime

Related: Meet the Vets Running for Congress, the Largest Group of Candidates Who Served in a Decade
When the Air Force began seriously investigating the phenomena of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), it assigned the task to an accomplished World War II veteran.

Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt was a bombardier with five battle stars, three Air Medals and two Distinguished Flying Crosses. He took his work seriously, even if the American press chuckled about "flying saucers."

But no one was laughing after Capt. Thomas F. Mantell and his F-51 Mustang crashed into a Kentucky farm in January 1948. Mantell and his flight had engaged a mysterious object floating over the area. After going in for a closer look, Mantell went silent, and his aircraft plummeted to the ground.

The death of an accomplished pilot and decorated World War II veteran changed how America perceived UFOs. It marked the first time the public began to think that UFOs were not only real, but also that extraterrestrials might not be friendly.

On the afternoon of Jan. 7, 1948, Tech. Sgt. Quinton Blackwell received a call in the control tower of Godman Army Airfield at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The highway patrol reported a strange object floating above a farm in nearby Maysville. No one at Godman, including the base commander, could identify it.

At 1445 that day, a flight of four Mustangs under flight leader Mantell was dispatched to check out the object, which appeared to be hovering. Mantell radioed the tower, saying he would investigate.

The P-51 Mustang had just been redesignated as the F-51 Mustang, as seen in this Air National Guard photo. (U.S. Air Force)

Mantell climbed to 15,000 feet and reported the object was "metallic and it is tremendous in size." It was moving at half his speed, even as it hovered above him. The pilot then said he would climb higher. He ascended to 22,000 feet, but his wingmen hung back because they didn't have oxygen equipment. Mantell didn't either, but he continued to climb.

At 1510, Mantell was the only pilot still chasing the object. The last time anyone saw his plane, he was still ascending. Five minutes later, everyone lost visual and radio contact with him. At 1553, the object disappeared. Search-and-rescue teams discovered Mantell's remains and the wreckage of his airplane scattered across a half mile on a nearby farm. His watch had stopped at 1518.

The Army determined that Mantell lost consciousness when he tried to climb above 20,000 feet without oxygen equipment. Witnesses on the ground reported a plane circling in a dive before crashing. The wreckage revealed that the pilot's canopy lock was in place, meaning he didn't try to bail out. All signs pointed to Mantell being unconscious and unable to control the aircraft.

As for the object, the incident was first investigated by the Air Force's Project Sign, a precursor to Blue Book. Mantell's death caused a media frenzy, and the Air Force needed a quick explanation for the press. They told reporters that Mantell died while chasing the planet Venus, since it was in the sky at the time and was the brightest object.

This absurd reasoning was accepted, despite the incident occurring in midafternoon when Venus was a small pinpoint of light in the sky. For more than a year, newspaper editors accepted the Venus explanation. In the Air Force, it became the most researched UFO case to that point.

Ruppelt, the officer who would take over all Air Force UFO investigations, called the investigation a "masterpiece in the art of weasel wording."

Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt (center) would release Project Blue Book's final UFO report in 1956. (U.S. Air Force)

He took over Air Force UFO investigations in 1951, and one of his first tasks was revisiting the 1948 Mantell Incident. Project Sign had been renamed Project Grunge by this time, and Ruppelt reorganized and reinvigorated UFO investigations. Ruppelt's final report, The Report On Unidentified Flying Objects, details how he picked apart the initial investigation.

The Ohio State University astronomer who first created the Venus theory, Dr. J. Allen Hynek, immediately recanted the idea once Ruppelt began reinvestigating the crash. Since Hynek rejected the possibility that Venus was Mantell's target, Ruppelt went back to square one, looking at eyewitness descriptions of the object itself.

Based on these accounts, including that of an astronomer at Vanderbilt University who saw the UFO with a telescope, he concluded that it was most likely a Skyhook balloon, a secret U.S. Navy atmospheric testing program that used high-altitude balloons to collect data.

When Mantell was climbing to intercept the object, there was no way he would have known about Skyhook. Ruppelt believed that a balloon was launched from Clinton County Air Force Base, Ohio. The balloons were metallic and enormous, consistent with Mantell's description of the UFO. It was the most likely explanation, much more likely than chasing the planet Venus.

Skyhook and its balloons were part of the Office of Naval Research's Project Stratoscope. (U.S. Navy)

Ruppelt would stay on as director when the UFO investigation was renamed Project Blue Book in 1952. In 1960, he died of a sudden, unexpected heart attack at age 37.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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President Joe Biden has signed a proclamation designating this month as National Veterans and Military Families Month.

Here is the text of the president's proclamation:

This month, our Nation honors the strength and sacrifices of the families, caregivers, and survivors of our veterans and our current service members. They may not wear uniforms, but their service is essential to our national security and the character of our Nation. We owe them a debt of gratitude that we can never fully repay.

Constant tours, deployments, and rotations are difficult for our military families. Jill and I have personally experienced the anxious pride that parents feel seeing their child in uniform. We have marveled at the devotion of military families and their resilience to uproot their lives every few years and move to new communities. We honor the stalwart courage and resolve of veteran families caring for their loved ones when their service in uniform concludes. We grieve alongside families of the fallen who have lost a piece of their soul. That is why I take so seriously the sacred obligation to prepare and equip our service members when we send them into harms way and to care for them and their families when they return home.

Since coming to office, I have signed into law important expansions of services and benefits to support our veterans and their families, improved VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances through the PACT Act, and made historic reforms to the military justice system that will enhance safety and protections for service members and their families impacted by sexual assault and domestic violence. The First Ladys Joining Forces initiative is helping military spouses find jobs, connecting military children with better education, and helping to ensure that military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors have what they need to thrive. My Administration has also released a comprehensive public health strategy to reduce military and veteran suicides, which will guide our efforts to stand with families and protect the lives of our Nations heroes.

To be a veteran or a service member is to have endured and survived challenges most Americans will never know. To be the family of one of those proud patriots is to sacrifice more for our country than most Americans will ever give. During National Veterans and Military Families Month, we pay homage to the unrelenting bravery and dedication of all who wear the uniform and to the unwavering love and support of all who serve alongside them. Families who put their lives on hold so our military can hold the line represent the best of America, and we will always remember what they do for our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2022 as National Veterans and Military Families Month. I call upon the people of the United States to honor veterans and military families with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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The button, or the P key will start playing the animation directly, you can interrupt this by using the mouse or finger on the image to regain manual movement control.

Controls - 3D Stereoscopic images

If a stereoscopic 3D image is opened in the viewer, the 3D button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "3D settings" menu. The 3D images can be viewed in several ways:

- without any special equipment using cross-eyed or parallel-eyed method

- with stereoscope

- with anaglyph glasses.

- on a suitable 3D TV or monitor (passive 3D system)

For details about 3D refer to: Mindat manuals: Mindat Media Viewer: 3D

To enable/disable 3D stereo display of a compatible stereo pair image press the 3 key. If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them.

Controls - photo comparison mode

If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu.

Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder.

Summary of all keyboard shortcuts
Social media sensation, Akuapem Poloo has put on record that she won't twerk anymore on social media or at any social gathering.

In an interview with Abeiku Santana on UTV's Atuu program, she asked her followers to take her seriously this time.

Inshallah, twerking; you won't see it again. I am not twerking anymore. That is the truth. So Poloo is a new person and I love the religion I have converted to, she said.

Poloo had previously said that she could not stop twerking because her life depended on it.

This time I am talking straight into the eyes of my fans. This is a critical adjournment system. Take this one seriously, she added.

In August 2022 Poloo announced she has converted to the full Muslim faith days after she said she was no longer promoting flat tummy and buttocks enlargement products.

Alhamdulillah full Muslim now. Thanks to the Deputy Imam of ASWAJ Ga West and Chief Imam of Nsakina Quran Reciter and his board for assisting in this, she wrote on Instagram at the time.

This was after sharing photos of her and other Muslims who are believed to be the ones who assisted her in the new faith.

The socialite who is known for twerking on social media has since not stated emphatically if she was doing away with twerking since the Muslim faith doesn't appreciate that.

Now she says it's over with twerking. Hopes are that she won't change her mind in the future.
Reuters has reported that the Ghanaian economy expanded by 4.8% in the second quarter of 2022, spurned by growth in the fishing, manufacturing, and education services sectors, making it one of the top destinations for people searching for work in West Africa.

Jobs abound in Ghana, but sadly many of them are not being filled because many of the growing youth population are still struggling to gain access to internationally recognized universities and earn degrees that will allow them to land high paying jobs in global companies.

Although there has been an increase in the number of higher education facilities in the country, the obstacle remains the cost of education.

The average Ghanaian cannot afford to pay the annual cost for their annual university tuition up front for the year, and far less can afford to travel overseas to earn an American degree. This is something that global companies value when looking at potential job candidates, as well as obviously the real-world skill sets necessary to do the job at hand.

An international American university degree is now within reach of Ghanaians

An American MBA 100% online in Ghana for $180/month (average total cost $3,240).

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Build a network of global professionals from 95+ countries working at firms like Google, Deloitte, and Microsoft

Ghanaian learners at Nexford University, such as Richard Yeboah, are finding that they can earn an internationally recognized degree from an American university without having to leave their country or jobs and, not have to pay a fortune to get their BBA or MBA.

With an ever-growing presence in Ghana, Nexford University is an inclusive university licensed by HELC in Washington DC with international accreditation from ASIC whose mission is to enable greater social and economic mobility across the world by providing learners access to high-quality, affordable, dynamic online education that prepares them for the global workplace.

Nexfords competency-based curriculum prioritizes skills over theory, so more of its graduates are coming onto the radar of global companies such as Microsoft, Facebook, and for Richard Yeboah, DHL.

Of his Nexford MBA education to date, Richard Yeboah says, I was with the export department at DHL when I started learning with Nexford. At the time I spotted a position for the branch manager in Kumasi which I applied for. Of course, I included on my CV that I was doing and MBA with this progressive online university. I have no doubt that putting Nexford on my CV made me a standout candidate to get the initial meeting, and then with my newfound skills and confidence procured from the university, land the job.

But its not just that a degree from Nexford is highly affordable that is making it a very attractive proposition to Ghanaians like Richard Yeboah, it is also that unlike traditional universities, the university offers flexible learning so learners can learn from anywhere in the world and not have to quit their jobs.

Plus, Ghanaian learners are also loving that although they are learning 100% online, they are never alone as they enjoy 24/7 support from a team of Success Advisors and faculty.

Join Americas online university for Ghanaians looking to become global leaders working at global companies today  or contact [email protected] to learn more.
Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has clarified that President Akufo-Addo's 'no haircut' assurance he gave Ghanaians in his nation address on Sunday pertains only to the principals invested and not accrued interest.

"I also want to assure all Ghanaians that no individual or institutional investor, including pension funds, in Government treasury bills or instruments will lose their money, as a result of our ongoing IMF negotiations. There will be no 'haircuts', so I urge all of you to ignore the false rumours, just as, in the banking sector clean-up, Government ensured that the 4.6 million depositors affected by the exercise did not lose their deposits," President Akufo-Addo assured Ghanaians.

In a subsequent interview, however, Mr Oppong Nkrumah said: "My understanding is that no principals will be touched; no principals will have a haircut."

He said the debt sustainability strategy is yet to be announced in full.

When they are done with the rest of the strategy, and they come out and do a full announcement, we will have clarity on the form that the debt restructuring will take, he added.

As to what would happen to accrued interests, Mr Nkrumah said: I think we should give them time to come out and announce the full details of the debt sustainability strategy.
01.11.2022 LISTEN

Practically speaking, for a Political Party to set an agenda for the entire nation is like asking a senior High School (SHS) students to set their own examination questions and answer them. Obviously, what do you expect? By analogy, to be politically correct, it would be seemingly unfair on the part of any Ghanaian to criticize a particular political party in power for not doing well. In the first place, they came up with what they want to do for the entire nation and not the other way round. They set their own questions and freely answer them the way they see fit. Have you ever wondered why political parties attribute the few developments they have been able to put in place to themselves (the particular reigning party) rather than viewing it as a national achievement?

Among the many things Ghana seriously needs in order to enhance her democracy is a National Agenda. When that becomes a priority of the nation, the government will continue to blame the governed and the governed the government. The absence of a National Agenda as a major problem is likely to pose a serious security threat, encompassing economic, food, health, environmental and personal security. Mother Ghana needs a National Agenda to ensure the continuation of programmes and policies to benefit the citizenry irrespective of which government was in power. Thus, issues of unemployment, hunger, marginalization, conflict and other underlying conditions that could make people, especially the youth, susceptible to being recruited into violent extremist groups, would be addressed by the national agenda. It is common knowledge that most projects, which should have been completed and operationalized to address societal needs, are either abandoned or cancelled by successive governments. This happens each time there's a change of government. This one will come and discontinue projects that were already ongoing and initiate new ones. When the other one comes, he repeats what the predecessor did. What happens is that development problems that such projects would have solved, linger on. That is not all. The amount of money proposed initially for the execution of such a project goes up. So we end up spending huge sums of money in the end. Monies that should have been channeled into other areas to benefit Ghana just go waste and we the citizens are the losers. [1]

There is a popular saying that when you fail to plan, you plan to fail. And so, Ghana needs to plan well or have set-up a National Agenda or Strategic plan that will give Ghanaian a fair view to access the performance of the ruling party; this will give the nation a fairer-right to criticize a particular political party in governance if they are not doing well. When we listen to discussions and talk shows on radio, TV and other social media platforms, you realize every Ghanaian has what he thinks the country needs to make things work. Therefore, this write-up is firstly advocating the possibility of collating all these brilliant ideas and making them a national agenda or a national plan for effective implementation by ruling political parties. Secondly, this write-up laments the current political system where by political parties, who are often the minority of the entire population of the country rather have the prerogative to set National Agenda for the country. Consequently, these Political Parties often come up with beautiful manifestos but when voted into power, they either change their strategies or twist those same manifestos in their own interest to the detriment of the entire populace.

It is well known in this country that, some of these manifestos are merely manipulative and are never achieved. For instance, Political Party SVD says I want to create the sea in the northern part of the country, Political Party SSPS says I want to build the hot sun in the southern part of the country. Most of these agendas, are calculated and craftily hatched based on the plight of the poor and destitute in the country; to entice these vulnerable poor who seek immediate relief in their economic and social situations to vote for such parties anticipating a better future which never comes to sight. And so as long as the margin of the poor and destitute stays widened, politicians will continue to buy their way through election with promises upon promises. These manifestos are auction during campaign. Instead of working to change the lives of people, they spend the entire time trying to build strategies to stay in office. They would work for re-election, they need more time (second term) to fix this and that. However, when given a second term, they use nearly all that time blaming the problems inherited from previous government as the hindrance for not achieving all their goals.

THE OPPOSITION AND THE ELITE

The opposition on the other hand, assumes the role of pull them down; very often they see the danger coming, they may not say anything, they will wait for it to happen before they come out to play the hero. Meanwhile, this involves state funds and other resources of the country. When these things should have been prevented as at the time they were happening. These would later be used as campaign message against the other and the rest of us will be applauding them.

Unfortunately, the elites who can discern between a genuine manifesto and poor plight based manifesto only speak loudly on the radio, TV and other social media platforms but are not in the majority to effect any change when it gets to voting.

HELPFUL REFERENCE TO THE POLITICAL ARCHIVES

One outstanding mark of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and his administration, which brought success to nation was that he had a national plan or agenda. This plan was beyond any particular group of people or a political party. Ghana had ever had Vision 2020, later, a National Development Plan. Sad to say all these were tossed overboard with time.

There were a couple of recommendations from the Constitutional Review Committee of Ghana that the National Development Plan Committee (NDPC) be entrenched to bind all successive government but that never saw the light of day. They also proposed that it should not be the sole prerogative of a political party to draw up an agenda for the nation, but a team of experts who will work into the interest of Ghanaians.

THE WAY FORWARD

A National Agenda, if well planned would help build a healthy and good participatory democracy. This will obviously stamp out a fair bit of corruption, false loyalty to a political party, unrealistic manifesto, selfish motives in serving the country and the spirit of amassing wealth by individual. National Agenda will keep the entire government and the governed focus and realistic in their approach to what the country is in need of.

In the National Agenda, when a particular government (political Party) leaves office, the projects should be continued by the next government. A different political Party does not start an entirely new Agenda according to their whims and caprices. A National Agenda should help everyone in the country to be able to measure and judge how well the country is being ran and developed by a particular political party or government. This is where honest and proper assessment could be done by fellow citizens. A national Agenda will also eliminate any calculated and crafty manifesto form any political party to win votes from the poor majority of people in the country. Legible Ghanaian voters will then exercise their franchise based on HOW the National Agenda will be executed.

More so, a National Agenda (probably for the duration of either 20 or 30 years), when finally collated from the various Regions in the country can be further divided into parts per the period of 6 years, according to the priority of the country. When working on a prioritized Agenda for a particular period of time, the National Agenda should not halt other developments or activities; other sectors, which are not on the priority list for that period should continue to play along but should not be the main focus.

For instance, if from 2023  2028 if the country's priorities are Health, Road and Environment, HOW would the next government achieve that for the country? The populist would examine each political party's approach and vote for the best party with the best approach into power. When the next government takes over, they will continue from where the other left off. This is how participatory democracy is enhanced, this is how a government of the day can be fairly criticized in a well-meaning country and demonstrates that they know where they are going and what they seek to achieve as a goal oriented people.

CONCLUSION:

Finally, let me sum up by saying that all this would mean that political parties campaigning or canvasing for votes should be based on the HOW rather than the WHAT. The WHAT the country needs must be decided by the entire nation through collating of suggestions from all the Regions and subsequently, a referendum to decide. Certainly, it should be the right of political parties to bargain and convince the rest of Ghanaians through their campaign on HOW to approach and achieve these agenda.

Nicholas Nibetol Aazine, SVD

Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC Coordinator)

Divine Word Missionaries, Ghana-Liberia Province

Email: [email protected]

[1] Anloga (VR), Oct 26, GNA- Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) meeting organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE).
Demonstrators continued to protest against a water storage project on Monday in France's western Deux-Sevres department, creating an encampment that police called eco-terrorism.

Some 4,000 people came out on Saturday to stop the farmer initiative, which resulted in violent clashes with police.

Farmers in a 400-strong collective are hoping to build 16 large retention basins for groundwater that would be pumped out during the winter, so it can be used for irrigation in the summer. The area has experienced a severe drought over the past few years.

Climate activists see this as a water grab by large agribusiness, which will deprive smaller farmers of water access.

After getting permission from one farmer to set up a protest area, they are currently creating a village of Gauls with watchtowers and fences, a reference to the French Asterix comic books.

"We fully intend to use them, it will be a base for all types of harassment operations we're going to carry out if the construction continues," said Julien Le Guet, a spokesman for the protest collective.

Protesters wearing masks ripped out a water pipe thought to be used to fill one of the basinsthe video was widely circulated on social media.

This strategy in France is typically used by anti-capitalist protesters, creating ZADs, or Zones to Defend, which sparks clashes with police. The police have been accused of excessive force while trying to dismantle ZADs, and even caused the death of a protester in 2014.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Sunday that 1,000 police would remain in the area so that "no ZAD is installed in the Deux-Sevres department nor anywhere else in France."

He condemned the tactics of protesters who used high-power fireworks to attack security forces on Saturday.
Apapamu Methodist Basic School in the Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region has unveiled its platinum jubilee celebration planned to kick-start December this year.

The theme for the anniversary celebration is: "Discipline, Transforming Lives Through Education".

The Headmaster of the school, Rev. Frempong Prince, in his speech applauded the registrar for the scholarship Secretariat of Ghana, Dr Kingsley Agyeman, for giving them an ultramodern JHS block and a computer laboratory.

"But we need to protect these valuable projects by fencing the school," he stated.

Touching on the schools challenges, the headmaster pleads to the Government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to help the school mount a fence wall.

"We are having over 300 pupils and the school is very close to the road. We need to protect the lives of these pupils to avoid any unfortunate situation. We cant transform lives through education whiles the lives of these pupils are at risk," Rev Frempong Prince added.

Mr Appiah James, PTA chairman of Apapamu Methodist Basic School on his part appealed to the Ministry of Education, Member of Parliament for the Constituency, Hon Samuel Attah Kyea, Old Students, Assembly members, Nananom, NGOs and individuals to support the school by fencing it.
The Executive Director and head Pastor of Christ Living Waters Chapel International, Apostle Leonader Tetteh, has called on Christians to let the fear of God lead them in everything that they do.

Apostle gave the advice in response to a perceived perception that NGOs are set up to make money.

At the launch of an NGO, Global Nations Development Foundation and a prize-giving ceremony to honour outstanding students of Christ Special Forces Academy, in Winneba, he indicated that when one is led by the fear of God he will not think of ways and opportunities to defraud others to make wealth.

He appealed to Ghanaians not to be influenced by the wealth of others to defraud or backbite others to reach the top, adding that these are the reason why some people fail in life.

"Serve in humility, with good heart and with a heart of sacrifice and patience to help develop the country," he maintained.

The General Overseer of Look Beyond Ministry, Bishop Abraham Nortey, reminded ministers of God to be transparent especially, those running NGOs, accountable and observant, having in mind that they will have to give an account of their stewardship.

"When you are walking in truth, maintain your integrity and do what is right. NGOs are charitable organizations meant to serve humanity, service to God is service to humanity", he stressed.

According to him, prisoners, destitutes and the deprived in society are the ones NGOs are to serve.

Bishop Nortey appealed to Ghanaians to show love and compassion to people in need which is the only way to be a blessing to the world.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says the Government will implement measures to reduce Ghana's public debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 55 per cent by 2028.

The six-year targeted measure is to ensure that the country restores and keeps its debt sustainable.

Data by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) shows that Ghana's debt, which was GHS291 billion (76 per cent of GDP) in 2020, and GHS351.8 billion (80.1 per cent of GDP) by the end of 2021, has increased to GHS402.4 billion as of August 2022.

In his address on the economy on Sunday evening, President Akufo-Addo said the budget for the 2022 fiscal year had been thrown out of gear, disrupting the balance of payments and debt sustainability.

He explained that the basic problem we face is that we are not making as much money as we need to spend, and what little money we do make is going to pay for the debts we have contracted to fund the development projects we must have.

To restore and sustain debt sustainability, we plan to reduce our total public debt to GDP ratio to some 55 per cent in present value terms by 2028, with the servicing of our external debt pegged at not more than 18 per cent of our annual revenue also by 2028, the President said.

He said he was confident that with a united front and support for the Government's macroeconomic measures to the current economic challenges, we will emerge victorious from our current difficulties.

Among others, he said the Government would continue to cut the salaries of political office holders and discretionary expenditures of Ministries, Departments and by 30 per cent in 2023.

We are committed to improving the revenue collection effort, from the current tax-revenue to GDP ratio of 13 per cent to between 18-20 per cent, to be competitive with our peers in the West Africa Region, President Akufo-Addo assured.

He also said the Government would review the standards needed for imports into the country in six months and review the management of foreign exchange reserves to support economic growth.

He said the Government, through the support of the banking sector, would intensify the manufacturing of products such as rice, poultry, vegetable oil, toothpicks, pasta, fruit juice, bottled water and ceramic tiles to reduce its importation.

President Akufo-Addo encouraged traders to ensure that goods in shops and marketplaces were produced and manufactured in Ghana.

That is why we have to support our farmers and domestic industries, including those created under the 1-District-1-Factory initiative, to help reduce our dependence on imports, allow us the opportunity to export more and more of our products and guarantee a stable currency that will present a high level of predictability for citizens and the business community, he said.

I have total confidence in our ability to work our way out of our current difficulties. We are not afraid of hard work. We will triumph, as we have triumphed many times before, the President added.

GNA
The death toll from twin bombings in Somalia at the weekend has increased to 116, officials in charge of rescue operations said Monday, as the country's president issued an urgent plea for international help for victims.

Bulldozers were still clearing the blast site in the capital Mogadishu on Monday in the hunt for bodies feared trapped under the rubble, with a committee in charge of supervising rescue efforts warning the damage was "massive".

"The number of wounded people recorded is 324... and the overall number of deaths is 116," the committee said in a statement, adding that 14 others were reported as missing.

Saturday's attack was claimed by the Al-Shabaab jihadist group and was the deadliest in the fragile Horn of Africa nation in five years.

"We appeal for the international community, Somali brothers, and other Muslim brothers and or partners to send doctors to Somalia to help the hospitals treat the wounded people," President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said in a statement on Sunday.

He warned that the death toll could rise, as ill-equipped hospitals were swamped.

Somalia has been mired in chaos since the fall of president Siad Barre's military regime in 1991 and has one of the world's weakest health systems after decades of conflict.

Somalia has issued an appeal for help after its hospitals were overwhelmed. By HASSAN ALI ELMI (AFP)

"We cannot airlift all these numbers of wounded people... anyone who can send us (help) we request to send us," said Mohamud.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has ordered schools closed so that students can take part in a national blood donation drive.

Mohamud said he himself was among several hundred people who had donated blood to hospitals for the victims.

The World Health Organization said on Sunday it was ready to help the government treat the wounded and provide trauma care.

'We are at war'

Al-Shabaab, an Islamist group linked to Al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack in which two cars packed with explosives blew up minutes apart near the city's busy Zobe intersection, followed by gunfire.

It said it had targeted the country's ministry of education.

Somalia. By (AFP)

The explosions tore through walls and shattered windows of nearby buildings, sending shrapnel flying and plumes of smoke and dust into the air.

Ali Yare Ali, a local government official in Mogadishu, told reporters that between seven and nine bodies were suspected to be under the rubble of buildings destroyed by the blasts.

The attack took place at the same junction where a truck packed with explosives blew up on October 14, 2017, killing 512 people and injuring more than 290, the deadliest attack in Somalia.

The country's allies denounced the bombings, with the United States, the United Nations and the African Union among those issuing messages of support.

The attack tests the government's ability to secure the conflict-weary nation, including the capital of nearly 2.5 million people.

"The Somali nation and these terrorists are at war, as I speak now, there is fighting ongoing in many parts of the country," Mohamud said Sunday.

"We are at war with them, and we are killing each other."

'Horrible scene'

Security forces were deployed after the blast. By Hassan Ali ELMI (AFP)

Mohamud called on all Somalis to show solidarity and support those affected by the attack.

"We must get united in providing assistance to the families, children and parents of those who were martyred," he said, lauding donations of water, food and clothes to survivors.

It was not immediately clear how the cars loaded with explosives evaded the numerous checkpoints that ring-fence the coastal city.

Witnesses said the road was busy with rows of tuk-tuks and other vehicles when the first blast hit.

First responders were met with a second explosion, killing the elderly and women with children strapped on their back, police said.

"I could not sleep last night because of the horrible scene," police officer Adan Mohamed told AFP on Sunday.

Al-Shabaab fighters have stepped up their attacks in Somalia since Mohamud was elected in May and vowed an "all-out war" on the Islamists.

In August, the group launched a 30-hour gun and bomb attack on the popular Hayat hotel in Mogadishu, killing 21 people and wounding 117.

The insurgents have been seeking to overthrow the fragile foreign-backed government in Mogadishu for about 15 years.

They were driven out of the capital in 2011 by an African Union force but the group still controls swathes of countryside and continues to wage deadly strikes on civilian, political and military targets.
President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, delivering an address on the state of the country's economy on Sunday, October 30, conceded that the country is in serious crisis.

He assures Ghanaians that his government will continue to do its best to restore hope in the economy.

It is obvious, fellow Ghanaians, that you have a government that cares. We are determined to restore stability to the economy and provide relief. We are all in this together, and I am asking for your support to rescue Ghana from the throes of this economic crisis.

I have total confidence in our ability to work our way out of our current difficulties. We are not afraid of hard work. We will triumph, as we have triumphed many times before, the President said.

He added, Let us unite, and rally around our Republic, its institutions and its democratic values, and insist that, under God, we will emerge victorious from our current difficulties. For this too shall pass, as the Battle is the Lords.

In reaction, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu constituency, has described President Akufo-speech Addo's as "empty rhetoric."

According to him, there were critical measures that many Ghanaians expected to hear to restore calm.

In a social media post, he wrote, Imagine how President Akufo-Addo would have been celebrated by Ghanaians tonight if he said the following:

1. I am sorry for the economic difficulties I have imposed on you;

2. I have with immediate effect fired Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen;

3. I am reducing the size of my government by 40%;

4. I am slashing taxes on petroleum products;

5. I am instituting regular meetings with Ghana's only 2 surviving former Presidents: President Kufuor and President Mahama to share their rich experiences and insights with me as we navigate this crisis;

6. I publicly commit not to charter a 20,000 an hour luxury jet for the rest of my term;

7. I suspend all ex-gratia payments and would be reviewing Article 71 together with comprehensive constitutional amendments;

8. My Cathedral Project is hereby suspended;

9. I am establishing a special task force to assist the Auditor-General in retrieving the billions of Ghana Cedis misappropriated by public officials;

10. I will revive TOR within the next 6 months so we can refine our own crude, attain better fuel prices on the domestic market and create more jobs;

11. I am initiating steps to build our own gold refinery;

12. I have requested all retirees to go home in order to create hundreds of jobs for the youth;

13. I am initiating steps to renegotiate all existing contracts in the extractive sector;

14. I have dissolved the Economic Management Team and would be reconstituting a new one to feature prominent Ghanaians regardless of how critical they have been of my leadership. I shall reach out to Kwame Pianim, Sam Jonah, Dr. Kwesi Botchwey, Prof. Godfred Bokpin, and a host of others;

15. I shall comply with Article 36(5) of the 1992 Constitution and present my vision and coordinated programme to Parliament this week, Mr. Ablakwa outlined.
31.10.2022 LISTEN

The Essikado-Ketan parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2020 polls, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has been fined GHS20,000 by a Sekondi High Court for filing a notice to discontinue her petition.

She had been challenging the declaration of current MP Joe Ghartey as the victor.

The court, presided over by Justice Richmond Osei Hwere, awarded the cost against Dr Ayensu-Danquah in favour of the 1st and 2nd respondents.

Her lawyer, Mr Daniel Ametepe, explained to journalists, after the hearing, the reason behind her clients decision to discontinue the case.

It is left with just about two years to the next elections but because of this case, not much in terms of development is happening in Essikado-Ketan, but just confusion, Mr Ametepe said.

According to him, everyone is hoping to see an end to this case.

He said: We filed a witness statement for three witnesses to come before the court to narrate what happened on the 7th and 8th of December 2020 because we had a case.

He continued: Joe Gharteys lawyer filed a motion for the case to be dismissed but he lost that case and still went ahead to file an appeal to that ruling.

Even the appeal that Joe Ghartey made his lawyer file, he is not pursuing it, Mr Ametepe indicated, indicating: This is all to create uncertainty in the High Court.

So, the processes that we have taken to terminate the case [are] part of the rules of the court. That is why the judge granted our case of discontinuation, he added.

On the other hand, Mr Joe Gharteys lawyer, Mr Emmanuel Tsibua, who held brief for Mr Frank Davies, said the cost imposed on the petitioner should have been heftier

Dr Ayensu-Danquah filed the petition against Mr Ghartey and the Electoral Commission through which she prayed the court to compel the two respondents to explain the late introduction of some ballot boxes at the collation centre at night which, in her estimation, compromised the pink sheets from the polling stations.

Source: ClassFMonline.com
The ECOWAS Commission, through the Organized Crime: West African Response to Trafficking (OCWAR-T) project, funded by the European Union and Germany, organized from 24 to 26 October 2022, in Niamey, Niger a meeting of government experts for the validation of the study and the guide on arms brokering.

This multi-stakeholder meeting organized by ECOWAS in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Bonn International Center for Conflict Studies (BICC), aimed to review and validate the draft report of study and operational guideline for the regulation of arms brokering activities to operationalize Article 20 of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), in relation to arms brokering.

The meeting chaired by Guinea Bissau saw the participation of the following Member States, Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso, Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, Republic of Gambia, Republic of Ghana, Republic of Guinea, Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Liberia, Republic of Mali, Republic of Niger, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Republic of Senegal, Republic of Sierra Leone

During the discussions, experts from Member States shared data and their experiences on the legal and administrative mechanisms in place in their respective countries for the regulation of arms brokering.

Three speeches were made during the opening ceremony, including that of the GIZ, who in his welcome remarks emphasized that the establishment of arms brokering controls is a major step towards blocking unauthorized illicit arms transfers.

The President of the National Commission for the Collection and Control of Illicit Weapons (CNCCAI) of Niger, Brigadier General Maiga Mamadou Youssoufa expressed his sincere gratitude to the National Commissions for their participation and to ECOWAS for its support to the National Commissions in the region. He further stated that the meeting will contribute to the development of a regional operational guide on arms brokering.

Mr Ahoba Piex Joseph, Head of the Small Arms Division of the ECOWAS Commission representing the Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, expressed his gratitude to the Government of Niger for hosting this meeting.

He indicated ''that at this stage in the history of the ECOWAS region, [...], the validation of this guide will strengthen the mastery of brokers at the national and regional level so that a systematic follow-up of orders of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW) is carried out from their point of manufacture or importation to the last holder. He further recalled that the effective control of SALW contributes to the strengthening of peace, security, stability, and the collective development of ECOWAS Member States and that this meeting is an assurance that the objective set in the Article 20 of the ECOWAS Convention on SALW will be achieved.

At the end of this work, the study and the guide were adopted by the participants.

Source: ECOWAS
The leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has strongly condemned the attack by some thugs on the partys office in Accra.

On Monday, October 31, some unidentified men in red stormed the partys headquarters at Adabraka in Accra.

The group who appeared aggrieved managed to enter the 3rd-floor office of the Deputy General Secretary, Barbara Serwaa Asamoah and removed a prepaid meter.

In a press release reacting to the incident, the NDC has stressed that it will not spare the perpetrators.

The release signed by General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia notes that the thugs will be dealt with in accordance with the party laws once they are all identified.

The Leadership of the NDC wish to condemn in no uncertain terms this blatant act of thuggery and criminality and will take immediate steps to involve the law enforcement agencies to deal with the miscreants and their sponsors, the NDC release on the incident has said.

It adds, The party will take additional steps to identify all who entered the premises to carry out this dastardly act and to subject them to the disciplinary measures provided by the partys constitution

No member of the party has any right whatsoever to attack any leader of the party at any level for whatever reason. Any attack on a national officer is an attack on the entire leadership of the party.

And any of those elements who are party members will be dealt with without fear or favour in accordance with the laws of the party.
Education Minister Yaw Osei Adutwum

01.11.2022 LISTEN

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has reacted to the letter by the Principles of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF) seeking approval from the Minister to direct trainee teachers to fend for themselves.

The Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education in a letter to the Ministry of Education on Monday, October 31, indicated that it can no longer feed trainees three meals a day with GHS6.50 in the midst of the current hardships in the country where the cost of living is at an unprecedented high level.

With the various colleges also heavily indebted to suppliers, they want approval from the Education Minister to allow trainees to fend for themselves effective November 7.

Principals of Colleges of Education have been trying really very hard to feed trainee teachers in recent times as a result of current market trends. Prices of all food items have shot up astronomically, and food suppliers have refused to supply any food items to Colleges because of the indebtedness of Colleges to these suppliers. A request for an upward review of the feeding grant paid to Principals has not been approved, and it has therefore become increasingly difficult for Principals to continue to provide three meals a day to students at Six Cedis, Fifty Pesewas (GHS6.50).

In light of the above, it is the wish of PRINCOF to be given permission to ask students to start fending for themselves. This is to ensure that the already stretched academic year is not disrupted, a letter to the Education Minister signed by PRINCOF Executive Secretary Dr. Harriet Naki Amui read in parts.

Reacting to the letter Kwasi Kwarteng who is the spokesperson at the Ministry of Education has disclosed that engagements are ongoing to swiftly resolve all outstanding obligations to ensure the colleges of education continue to feed trainees.

MoE is aware of the urgency of the situation and is working with the Ministry of Finance to swiftly resolve all outstanding obligations/commitments to the Colleges of Education, he said.

According to him, the Education Ministry is committed to addressing disruptions within the food supply chain before the November 7 date indicated in the letter of PRINCOF.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has disclosed that no communication has been received from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the alleged ban preventing Ghanaians from entering that country.

Last week, several media outlets announced that the UAE authorities had slapped a ban on Ghana and 19 other African countries desiring to visit Dubai with immediate effect.

This is to inform you that we will not be posting 30 days visa applications for these nationalities effective today October, 18 2022, the notice read.

Reacting to the story, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted: The said publication assigned no reason for the ban, but social media sources have alleged that it is aimed at keeping away visitors from African countries who usually overstay their visit visas in the UAE.

The Ministry assured the general public that: It has received no such communication from the authorities in the UAE and, and as such the story should be disregarded.

The Ministry however, informed the travelling public of the review in the UAEs requirement for its tourist and visitors visas.

The single day single-entry visas have been put on hold, a 60-day multiple visa regime is currently in force and travellers to the UAE should secure a round-trip ticket and a hotel booking prior to the visa application, the Ministry stated.

It urged the travelling public to remain calm and advised travelling Ghanaians to observe the new visa requirements put in place by the UAE.

Source: classfmonline.com
Betty Krosby Mensah, Member of Parliament for the Kwahu Afram Plains North together with the Constituency chairman of the NDC and executives has donated a brand new tricycle to the Avatime community in Afram Plains North to help transport pupils from Bodua/Kubease and Avatime to school at Abomosarefo.

School children from the community have to walk for about 11km before they attend school every day, which results in lateness to school, absenteeism and a reduction in enrollment.

In a short ceremony, the MP narrated "These communities called on me as their Member of Parliament to intervene in salvaging the situation and by the special grace of God, we have been able to assist them with this new tricycle to help them convey our beloved kids to school and back home safely".

She pleaded with the communities involved to help properly maintain the machine to last long and provide the needed assistance in the foreseeable future.

Despite the challenges associated with using tricycles for the transportation of human beings, the community has no option as it would go a long way to assist school children.
ASA Savings and Loans Limited on Friday, October 28, held a free breast cancer screening for clients and residents in and around Odorkor, Accra.

All over the world, October has been set aside as Breast Cancer Awareness Month every year.

The annual campaign which has been observed for several decades is to increase awareness of breast cancer disease while getting as many people as possible involved in raising awareness.

To play its part, ASA Savings and Loans throughout the month of October organised various breast cancer screening exercises.

Last Friday, the Odorkor Business Centre hosted the final screening exercise. In the end, over 100 women comprising clients and residents of Odorkor were screened.

Speaking on the motivation of ASA Savings and Loans to organise the free breast cancer, the Branch manager for Odorkor Business Center Mrs. Beatrice Baiden explained that it is part of the companys Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities to give back to society.

She was joined by Mr. Pope Neequaye, Area Manager for ASA Savings and Loans in the Odorkor area to supervise the free breast cancer screening.

Besides the multiple free breast cancer screenings held in October, several free medical health screenings have also been organised this year in various communities where ASA Savings and Loans Ltd operate.
The Director of Strategy and Business Operations at Dalex Finance, Joe Jackson, is doubting President Akufo-Addo's assurances that there will be no haircuts on investments resulting from a possible debt restructuring.

A section of Ghanaian investors was gripped by fear of losing interest on their investments as a result of ongoing International Monetary Foundation (IMF) negotiations.

Addressing the nation on the ailing economy on Sunday, October 30, 2022, the President assured that there will be no haircuts, so l urge all of you to ignore the false rumours, just as in the banking sector clean-up, government ensured that the 4.6 million depositors affected by the exercise did not lose their deposits.

But Mr. Jackson who thinks otherwise said haircuts must happen if the government wants to move the country from the economic mess that has bedevilled the country.

Haircuts happen all the time, it happens in different jurisdictions, so why is it that we think that Ghana is broke, Ghana cannot pay its debt and yet you can get away with the haircut? Forgive me, it has to happen if we have to get out of this mess Since we are discussing it, it shows that there is crisis in the horizon, Joe Jackson added.

The country has witnessed an astronomical increase in fuel prices at the various pumps, coupled with high prices of food and services, as well as the depreciation of the cedi.

While urging Ghanaians to rally behind governments efforts at turning around the economic crisis, the President in his address assured, Government is working to secure reliable and regular sources of affordable petroleum products for the Ghanaian market. It is expected that this arrangement, when successful, coupled with a stable currency will halt the escalation of fuel prices and relief to us all.

Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, had clarified that the presidents assurances of no haircuts with respect to money invested in bonds cover just the principals for the time being.

My understanding is that no principals will be touched. No principals will have a haircut, Mr. Nkrumah said on the Citi Breakfast Show.

What is a haircut in debt restructuring?

A haircut in debt restructuring is yet another unique use of the term haircut in finance. Specific to debt restructuring, a haircut is the reduction of outstanding interest payments or a portion of a bond payable that will not be repaid. This condition may arise when a company or country considers restructuring its debt and negotiates new terms with existing bondholders.

-citinewsroom
A former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) Professor Stephen Adei has called for a review of some of governments flagship programmes.

For instance, he said, the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) and the Agenda 111 projects can be reviewed in view of the economic hardships facing the country and the government itself.

Speaking in an interview with TV3s Paa Kwesi Asare on Monday October 31, he said we have to review some of the flagship projects, for example, should we do all the agenda 111 when you are under a serious crisis? I think that there must be a dispassionate review.

Even calling on parents to say that, look, Free SHS, you have free books, free this and but people must pay for their children's food at this moment. Why? Because only half of the are benefiting from the food. so why this discriminatory.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo recently said the success of access and improvement of results chalked for the Free SHS policy make it sceptical for him to consider a review.

The President was responding to questions on a local radio station in Nkawkaw as part of his recent tour of the Eastern Region.

I have to confess my attitude because when I hear the word 'review' I hesitate. Because the first people who are calling for the policy review opposed the policy. If those who didn't want it are now calling for review, then my understanding is that, they want to review to reverse the policy.

The President took to a defense that the outcome of the Free SHS policy was enough.

So across board not only have we gotten access, but we have seen a significant improvement in outcomes. We don't want this to continue, we are going to review it so that all of this improvement is in jeopardy. In these five years of implementation of this policy, both of these things have been established. The data is here, Pass rate in English Language has improved from 33 percent in 2016 to 54.5 percent, Integrated Science 48.5 percent to 65.7 percent and Social Studies 54.5 percent to 66 percent.

He suggested it would be unnecessary tampering with the two fundamental thrusts of the policy and asked that those calling for review come clear on areas needed for the review.

But the two fundamental thrusts of the policy, one expanded access, that has been dramatically achieved. The other was to improve quality outcomes of education. The outcomes of the Free SHS Policy are a major improvement of the Pre-SHS data that we have.

The policy is not cast in stone, it can be looked at, yes, but what we cannot do is to tamper with these two fundamentals things; access, we have to make sure everybody irrespective of their social origin, no matter their financial background has access to good quality secondary education.

Because everybody recognises that this is a very important step for the progress of our country. I have to confess, I am somehow skeptical when I hear this discussion of let's review.

I am not saying that those elderly people or clergy criticising don't have goodwill for the policy, no I don't want to be misunderstood. But I want to understand the areas which they are looking for a review.

-3news.com
Cultural icon Kwasi Kyei Darkwah has said President Akufo-Addo should have told Ghanaians in his nation's address on Sunday, 30 October 2022, that he was ashamed for surrounding himself with fawny ministerial appointees who have failed to tell the emperor he is naked but rather fuelling his creature comforts with stupid justifications.

Speaking on JoyNews AM show on Monday, 31 October 2022, KKD, as he is popularly known, told host Benjamin Akakpo that the President must immediately sack every deputy minister tomorrow morning [Tuesday, 1 November 2022], adding: We have too many of them.

Reduce your 120 ministers immediately to 40, he told the president.

You see Cote dIvoire? Ouattara realised the way the winds are blowing, the winds of change are coming, so, he, without anybody asking, is already reducing the number of his ministers and he already has less than 60 ministers and he wants to bring them to less than 40. You have 120 who have failed us miserably KKD noted.

In his view, the president is in office but not in power.

Explaining that point, he said: If you give a speech for 30 minutes and instead of telling us how ashamed you are that you let some of the people you appointed, some of the people you put around you, who have no commonsense to tell you: Emperor, you have no clothes but made you sign or somebody you have authorised sign to go and rent a plane your nation cannot afford and they come and give us the stupid justification of: Oh, but that way, he can have a shower in the sky, and, you, knowing full well that we dont have the horses if we create the generals, have made 16 regions when we need only six, based on the ethnic groups of Ghana, cannot even think of having hospitals so that people will not die needlessly but are thinking of a cathedral, not knowing and understanding the church is in your heart and not in buildings and that buildings may be built with monies from corruption but hearts that are selfless and have kindness, will not be corrupted; how are you in power? You are in office.

In his Sunday address, the president said ongoing talks with the International Monetary Fund were going well.

We are in a crisis, I do not exaggerate when I say so. I cannot find an example in history when so many malevolent forces have come together at the same time. But, as we have shown in other circumstances, we shall turn this crisis into an opportunity to resolve not just the short-term, urgent problems, but the long-term structural problems that have bedeviled our economy, he noted.

I urge us all to see the decision to go to the International Monetary Fund in this light, explaining: We have gone to the Fund to repair, in the short term, our public finances, and restore our balance of payments, whilst we continue to work on the medium to long-term structural changes that are at the heart of our goal of constructing a resilient, robust Ghanaian economy, and building a Ghana Beyond Aid.

I am able to report to you, my fellow Ghanaians, that the negotiations to secure a strong IMF Programme, which will support the implementation of our Post COVID-19 Programme for Economic Growth and additional funding to support the 2023 Budget and development programme, are at advanced stages, and are going well.

This comes on the back of claims by Economist Kwame Pianim that the talks are not going well because, according to him, what the IMF is waiting for is a bold, credible pronouncement from the president, as he did over COVID.

Mr Pianim said: We need the president to own, to come out and say: Theres nothing that I will not do to stabilise the economy of Ghana

Source: classfmonline.com
01.11.2022 LISTEN

The only minister, who happens to be a family member (cousin) of the President, and hes being asked to resign or be sacked is the Finance Minister, Hon. Ken. Ofori-Atta. With this description, why do you think Ken is still at post?

Ken Ofori-Atta is still at post because the President is sacrificing the country for his family. Right now the President, who promised Ghanaians that he will not operate a family and friends government is now putting his family ahead of the needs of Ghanaians

People and groups including both the NPP and NDC Parliamentarians, the NDC, former President John Mahama, AFAG, Citizen Coalition and many others have called on the President to sack the Finance Minister if he will not resign.

The evening after the 95 NPP Parliamentarians had called on the President to sack the Finance Minister, Nana Addo called them to the Jubilee House and told them to allow the Finance Minister to stay on for the next three weeks to complete the IMF negotiations and complete the 2023 Budget presentation to parliament.

Just yesterday when the President rattled to Ghanaians, he told us the IMF negotiations may end at the end of this year. That is the earliest.

So right now, what time frame should the Ghanaians allow Ken Ofori-Atta to stay on? In three weeks from October 24 or till the end of this year?

Ladies and gentlemen, Ken Ofori Atta is battling removal from his post within his own party and facing censorship from the NDC parliamentarians, so how effective can he be at the negotiation table? Is Ken Ofori-Atta all the men the NPP and Nana Addo have to run the Finance Ministry? Or is it because Nana Akufo-Addo and Ken Ofori-Atta have so much baggage they dont want Ghanaians to know? Shouldnt that be one of the main reasons why you should vote these people out, so you will know how much they stole from you?

Nana Addo, who told the NPP MPS to allow Ken to stay on for three weeks, is now saying Ken will stay till the end of this year. He is also telling you that there will be no haircut to your investment during the IMF negotiations. Do you believe what he is saying now? The annoying thing is that the person who told us Ghana is not going to the IMF, is the same person leading Ghana in the IMF negotiations. So what comes into your mind if he advises the President that there will no haircut at the negotiating table?

My fellow Ghanaians, at this point you should know that Nana Akufo-Addo is never going to sack Ken Ofori Atta and Ken Ofori-Atta is never going to resign. So what do we do?

There is a censorship bill against Ken Ofori-Atta in parliament but as usual, by the time the bill matures, Ghanaians may forget the harm Ken and Nana Addo would have caused Ghanaian and people will begin to plead on his behalf. The censorship bill too will not get anywhere and Ghana will be the same, with Ken Ofori-Atta, as our Finance Minister.

This write-up is to let you know that Nana Addo is sacrificing Ghana for his family, so apart from the appeal from the 95 NPP MPS, the censure bill by the NDC MPS, Ghanaians should force the President to sack Ken Ofori-Atta now, just as they forced him to admit yesterday that truly, Ghana is in crisis. But does Nana Addo know who caused the crisis?

Lawrence Appiah-Osei
01.11.2022 LISTEN

ONCE UPON a time, rock stars and celebrity artists were positioned as unreachable idols who came down from their lofty positions to play concerts and grant interviews for regular mortals to experience. And while that's still mostly true today, we see global superstars like Cardi B and Davido now comment on fans' Instagram pictures and Adekunle Gold, for example, writes and sends personalized newsletters to fans. While an artists personality is a great factor in the level of connection with fans, you may be wondering why they have made themselves so accessible to the level of common social media users. Well, it is most likely because they have to.

In today's wired marketplace, artists have to forge a personal relationship with their audience to keep their fans' interest. And for many, that means creating opportunities for fans to have an inside look into all aspects of an artist's life. Save for major mainstream stars, the days of artists being put on an isolated pedestal are long gone; fans are far too savvy and options are far too many for an artist to appear to be operating in a different universe. Fans demand access at unprecedented levels, so artists must either provide this access or be skilled at creating the illusion of it.

With a huge push from digital technology, music is zipping around the world at the speed of light bringing artists, fans, and cultures together. Due to the ease of accessing music on streaming platforms like Audiomack and YouTube, fans have become less invested in the artists who create the songs they enjoy. Hundreds of songs by hundreds of artists are added to a playlist by the average user. As a result, artists must do more to grab a fan's attention and get them to listen to more of their work.

The Importance Of Fan Engagement

What has caused this shift toward fan engagement? The simple answer is the Internet. The more complex answer is that the Internet has become so woven into the fabric of our culture as to create a sense of immediate fulfillment and enable complete access to almost anyone and anything.

Never before have consumers had more choices on how to entertain themselves. The avenues for information are exponentially greater than even 10 years ago. With this has come a massive sense of empowerment in music fans. No longer are they limited to what access or content an artist deems worthy to mete out. The physical technology and the conceptual structure of the Internet have given fans the ability to craft their own online experiences. If one artist is not providing the type of engagement a consumer seeks, the odds are very high that some other comparable artist is. This puts the fan in a position of greater power and influence than ever seen before in the music industry. In addition, the coronavirus pandemic ushered the world into a technological evolution, fundamentally changing the way fans engage with artists and their content

But this isn't necessarily bad news for artists, labels, managers, or anyone else in the chain. Savvy artists that tap into existing and developing technologies can deliver something to their fans that satiates their demand for an insider glimpse  while also keeping control over the band's image.

Harnessing Digital Platforms

Today's artists have something that they've never had before, and that's a direct line of communication with their audience. Direct Streaming Platforms like Audiomack , provide listeners with the ability to support their artists from their homes, cars, beds, and virtually anywhere. In addition to democratizing music and making it accessible to all, Audiomack has also stepped forward to foster artist/creator and fan relationships amidst the technological boom.

In December 2021, Audiomack launched Supporters, an exclusive feature that gives users the power to support artists by directly contributing to their favorite songs and album releases. This not only provides artists with a new revenue stream but also allows creators and their fans to form a direct connection in this digital world. Providing further insights on the feature, Dave Macli, Audiomack Co-Founder & CEO said, Through Supporters, fans purchase support badges for an individual song and album releases that are then memorialized on their Audiomack profile and the artists individual song or album page. The purchase also opens fans up to exclusive direct messaging options with artists, which artists could, for example, use to grant early access to merchandise, music, or behind-the-scenes footage. Since the launch of the feature, over half of all independent artists using the Supporters feature have since increased their earnings by at least 30% via direct fan contributions and over 25,000 artists on the platform have received direct assistance since the feature's inception eight months ago.

Leveraging Exclusivity To Bridge The Gap

Recently, Laycon, a Nigerian rapper and songwriter generated five times the revenue vs streaming alone for his song God Body V2. This groundbreaking result was recorded less than a month after Audiomack announced the debut of Premiere Access, an industry-leading feature that allows artists to reward their biggest fans by making unreleased projects available on Audiomack before the general release. This first-of-its-kind feature not only provides a new way for artists on Audiomack to generate revenue beyond the traditional form of streaming but also deepens the connection between artists and fans.

The importance of fan engagement has been established and if it's important for household-name artists to connect with their fans on digital platforms, how important is it for lesser-known artists to connect with their fans on this platform? Very. The problem with all of this is that many artists are introverted, creative types who have pursued music instead of social relationships

Tapping Into Africa's Burgeoning Talent

To support the growth of upcoming artists across Africa and further deepen the relationship between artists and fans, Audiomack launched the Open Verse Challenge, which sees upcoming artists deliver renditions of a more established artist's song. It ran a successful course considering Adekunle Gold's recent 5 Star challenge which received over 800 entries from across the continent for a chance to be discovered by millions of people on Audiomack, home studio gear, a top 20 trending placement on Audiomack, an editorial playlist feature on Audiomack as well as a push notification to their winning entry to all of their Audiomack followers.

Digital technology has played a major role in making different types of music accessible to fans, listeners, music aficionados, and downloaders all over the world. The world of music production, consumption, and distribution are no longer the same, and the shift is placing the power back into the hands of the artists and fans. There are now solutions available for artists to distribute their music directly to the public while staying in total control of all the ownership, rights, creative process, pricing, release dates, and more. As technological innovation continues to sweep the music industry, direct streaming platforms have become an increasingly important component of artists' promotional arsenal, and Audiomack provides a platform for artists to grow their careers while fostering artist-fan relationships.

The writer is the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy at Audiomack

By Jason Johnson
Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame and Majority Leader in Ghanas parliament, has opined on why some 80 majority MPs dropped their demand for the dismissal of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.

He revealed that the proposal was intervened by a certain business magnate.

Speaking in an interview on Accra-based JoyNews, shared on the stations Twitter handle, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, who claimed wasn't present at the said meeting, disclosed that the businessman "tried to do something" either for the MPs.

Im told on authority that some businessman came here and tried to do something, he told the interviewer.

But according to Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah, he was repelled by the people and was told not to involve himself. So he went away.

The Majority Leader further stated that he knows the businessman and will reach out to him to understand why he made that approach in support of the Finance Minister.

If that is the case I want to talk to that man and know his motive. But people could also be indulging in speculation. So we want to hear from him to see what it is Did he come here what did he come, with any inducement? What was the motivation? Not having heard him, I dont want to prejudice, he noted.

On Tuesday, some 80 of the members of the Majority Caucus in Ghana's Parliament called on the President to dismiss the Finance Minister and the Minister of state in charge of the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.

They said the two are unfit to remain at post following the worsening economic crisis.

They also vowed to boycott government businesses in Parliament should the President fail to dismiss Ken Ofori-Atta.

However, a day after, on Wednesday, October 26, they (the Majority Caucus) allegedly met the President and agreed to his appeal to allow the Finance Minister conclude negotiations with IMF before a determination can be made on the proposed dismissal.
Some 80 of the members of the Majority Caucus in Ghana's Parliament called on the President to dismiss the Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta and the Minister of state at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.

They said the two are unfit to remain at post following the worsening economic crisis.

They also vowed to boycott government businesses in Parliament should the President fail to dismiss Ken Ofori-Atta.

However, a day after, on Wednesday, October 26, they (the Majority Caucus) allegedly met the President and agreed to his appeal to allow the Finance Minister conclude negotiations with IMF before a determination can be made on the proposed dismissal.

Reacting to this, Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame and Majority Leader in Ghanas parliament, revealed that the action by the Majority MPs was intervened by a certain Ghanaian business magnate.

Speaking in an interview on Accra-based JoyNews, shared on the stations Twitter handle, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, who claimed wasn't present at the said meeting, disclosed that the businessman "tried to do something" either for the MPs.

Im told on authority that some businessman came here and tried to do something, he told the host.

But according to Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah, the business man was repelled by the people and was told not to involve himself. So he went away.

The Majority Leader further stated that he knows the businessman and will reach out to him to understand why he made that step on the Finance Ministers behalf.

If that is the case I want to talk to that man and know his motive. But people could also be indulging in speculation. So we want to want to hear from him to see what it is Did he come here what did he come, with any inducement? What was the motivation? Not having heard him, I dont want to prejudice, he noted.

Following this, Ghanaian investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni is calling on the Majority MPs to come out clean and reveal the identity of the said businessman.

In a tweet on Tuesday, November 1, he wrote, The 80+ NPP MPs must come clean on the back of Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu's revelation.

He quizzed, Who's that businessman? What did he give them?
Ghanaian youth are urging world leaders to focus on loss and damage ahead of the 27th Conference of Parties on Climate Change in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

The Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND) conveners of Youth in Natural Resources and Environmental Governance (Youth-NREG) platform, demands leaders of the Global North pay for the harm caused by anthropogenic climate change in vulnerable countries.

Climate change is expected to cost developing countries $290 billion to $580 billion per year by 2030, and up to $1 trillion by 2050, affecting the lowest emitters the most.

SYND outlined five demands in a document that was the result of a four-month monthly webinar with young people across the country, including the creation of a financial facility to assist developing countries with loss and damage.

"Parties must establish a Loss and Damage facility with significant funding from the Global North to highly vulnerable countries facing mass destruction as a result of the climate crisis," the group stated.

In Ghana, climate change has influenced rain patterns and rising sea levels, which are increasingly affecting areas that traditionally are not prone to floods, for example, Accra the capital region has seen heavy flooding in recent times.

Coastal areas, such as the Keta community, continue to experience increased tidal waves causing lost of properties.

Increasing temperatures also have an impact on local farmers as it takes a long time to rain, and when it does, it is often accompanied by storms, which destroy farm produce and properties.

The other demands are;

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Adaptation Gap report found that the annual adaptation costs in developing countries alone are estimated at USD70 billion. This figure is expected to reach USD140-300 billion in 2030 and USD280-500 billion in 2050. Therefore an increase in financing will be critical for countries to meet their adaptation goals. On this score, we are calling on leaders from the Global North to fulfill their pledges in the Glasgow Climate Pact to increase funding for climate adaptation especially for climate vulnerable countries.

Comimmt to increasing support for young people to participate in Global Climate Change discourse. We congratulate countries like Ghana for implementing some of the outcomes of the Glasgow Work Programme on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) by commencing various youth negotiators programs. We therefore call for more support in terms of financial and capacity resources to ensure young people particularly from the global south are not left out of the global climate change discourse like the COP and other Subsidiary body meetings.

Decisions made at COP27 must address the social, geographical and economic injustices surrounding the global energy transition conversation. Leaders from the global north must be held accountable for going back to issuing new deals on fossil fuel exploration after all the pledges made at COP26. A clear roadmap of how least emitting yet highly vulnerable countries can transition to depend only on clean energy sources for development, needs to be discussed and adopted.

World leaders must ensure they act on all the beautiful and juicy pledges that will be made at COP27. Leaders must ensure the effective implementation of their respective Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) because real action we believe begins at the local level. World leaders must listen to the climate projections and take urgent action.
Mr Limann Mahama Seidu Bono East Regional Director for YEA

01.11.2022 LISTEN

About 3,600 applicants are seeking for job placement through the Youth Empowerment Agency (YEA) under its various job models.

The 3,600 are seeking for placement at the Community Police Unit (CPU) of the Ghana Police, 2,700 for the Community Health Workers of Ghana Health Service to complement the already existing workforce.

Mr Limanna Mahama Seidu Bono East Regional Director for YEA on Monday disclosed this in an interview with this reporter in Techiman to indicate government's preparedness to create jobs for the youth in the region.

Mr Mahama-Seidu explained that due to the limited vacancies at the health facilities, the YEA was able to enlist only 204 out of the 2,700 applicants for placement in the various facilities across the four Municipalities and seven Districts in the Bono East Region.

He mentioned that the Ghana Police Service and the YEA were undertaking the recruitment exercise throughout the Municipals and Districts in the area to select qualified and competent personnel for the programme.

Mr Mahama-Seidu again hinted that out of the 3,600 applicants, the region is expected to recruit about 1,000 personnel for the CPU. He added that YEA models such as the Youth in Prison's, Youth in Agriculture and skills training in areas such as dressmaking, carpentry and manufacturing are expected to begin this year to engage the unemployed youth in the region.

Mr Mahama-Seidu further hinted that the Agency was rolling out the "Work in abroad model" where the YEA would sponsor prospective professional applicants to work abroad in areas including nursing and other areas and this he said would improve the livelihood conditions of the people.

He pointed out that the YEA was focused on changing the lives of the people through creating available opportunities that would empower them economically to improve their social lives so they could contribute meaningfully towards the development of the country.

Mr Mahama-Seidu underscored the need for the youth to take advantage of these opportunities rolled out by government to better their lives, indicating that, if they should exhibit good attitudes and character during the discharge of their duties, the YEA would assist the applicants apply for permanent placement at the various place of work such as the Ghana Police and Prison services.
The Dean of graduate students at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor Dr. Kwaku Mensah Mawutor has described the President's address on the economy as timely.

He said the President has been sincere in admitting the country is in crisis.

Prof. Mawutor urged government to as a matter of urgency demand data on its agenda to impose the restrictions on importation.

He noted that the action of government could cause a shortage of goods on the markets.

Speaking on Sompa TV 'Ade Akye Abia' with Omanhene Yaw Adu Boakye, he underscored that government will regain the confidence of the people for its admission of the current economic crisis.

According to him, the President could have glossed over it.

Professor Dr. Kwaku Mensah Mawutor said even though the economic address by the President has been long overdue, he still sees the possibility of it achieving its purpose.

If we want economic independence then that's the right way to go but the question is, do we know the volume of cooking oil Ghanaians produce and demand? Do we have what it takes to supply to meet the demands of the people?" he stated.

He cautioned that market restrictions could lead to additional crises insisting that without data the measures yet to be implemented by the government would not give the required expectation.
The Chief Executive Officer for the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) Mr. Seth Twum Akwaboah says Ghana's inability to produce essential commodities for the country is a major national security threat.

Mr. Twum Akwaboah believes Ghana's continuous overreliance on foreign goods could destabilize the countrys economy if nothing is done about it immediately.

Speaking on the "Nyansapo" breakfast show on the Kumasi-based OTEC 102.9, on Tuesday November 1, 2022, Mr. Twum Akwaboah called on the government to create enabling environment for local manufacturers to produce all the essential commodities the country needs.

"We have consistently appealed to government and major stakeholders in the running of the countrys economy to reduce the import of finished goods.

"Doing so will be in the best interest of the countrys food security and the local currency, which continues to fall to other international currencies," he told the host, Captain Koda.

He added, The recent enormous pressure on the exchange rate is because of the high demand for finished products.

Calls for tax exemption

AGI CEO again called for the abolition of import tax on raw materials to enhance local production to shore up demands for local commodities.

This Mr. Twum Akwaboah noted, would help address the depreciation of the Cedi and enhance the industrialisation of the government while protecting the country's economy in a long term.

He expressed the readiness of AGI to help government in its quest to restore the current economic downturn.
John Abdulai Jinapor, former Deputy Minister for Power and MP for Yapei-Kusawgu, has blamed President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo for the current economic quagmire.

He indicated that the current problem is far worse than any other economic hardship in the country's history.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast show, aired on Accra-based Citi FM/TV, the former Deputy Minister asserted that the current predicament is a result of the government's reckless borrowing.

Mr. Abdulai Jinapor further stated that President Akufo-Addo and his government borrow without thinking consequences.

This [the crisis] is a Nana Akufo-Addo problem. There is a problem and what we are witnessing now is unprecedented. Something must be wrong somewhere because of excessive borrowing. We are borrowing as if there is no tomorrow. Going forward, government must move away from reckless borrowing, John Jinapor noted.

The MP continued, Managing an economy is not only about today but the short, medium and long term. If you borrow and invest it in productive sectors, it spurs economic growth, creates jobs and generates more revenue and can deal with the headwinds.

President Akufo-Addo in his recent address conceded that the country is in serious crisis.

He added that some "malevolent forces" have teamed together to destroy the country's economy.

We are in a crisis, I do not exaggerate when I say so. I cannot find an example in history when so many malevolent forces have come together at the same time.

The President noted in his speech on Sunday, October 30 that, It is obvious, fellow Ghanaians, that you have a government that cares. We are determined to restore stability to the economy and provide relief. We are all in this together, and I am asking for your support to rescue Ghana from the throes of this economic crisis.

I have total confidence in our ability to work our way out of our current difficulties. We are not afraid of hard work. We will triumph, as we have triumphed many times before.

Let us unite, and rally around our Republic, its institutions and its democratic values, and insist that, under God, we will emerge victorious from our current difficulties. For this too shall pass, as the Battle is the Lords.
Three grain-loaded cargo vessels left Ukrainian ports on Tuesday, according to the centre overseeing the implementation of a deal brokered by Turkey and the UN.

"The movement of these vessels has been agreed by the Ukrainian, Turkish and UN delegations. The Russian delegation has been informed," the Istanbul-based International Coordination Centre told French news agency AFP.

The ships are the latest to sail from Ukraine after Russia pulled out of a July agreement that allowed vital grain exports to leave Ukraine with the aim of alleviating global food shortages.

At least 10 ships sailed from Ukraine's ports on Monday, without incident.

Moscow said it was withdrawing from the export deal after it blamed Ukraine for drone attacks on its fleet in the Black Sea.

The agreement  which established a safe corridor through which vessels could travel to Istanbul for inspection  had allowed more than 9.5 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to be exported.

The accord is due to be renewed on 19 November.

Russia on Monday said it cannot guarantee the safety of navigation, deeming the deal as "hardly feasible" without its participation.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to speak with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts in the coming days to pursue efforts to keep the agreement in force despite Russia's hesitations.

Hunger games

Maritime grain exports from Ukraine were halted last Saturday, when Russia suspended participation in the agreement which had been allowing shipments from Black Sea ports to Turkey. Moscow blames drone attacks on its vessels in Crimea for the suspension.

Last weekend, the EU urged Russia to reverse its decision.

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, claimed on Twitter that Russia was blocking two million tons of grain on 176 vessels already at sea. He said that the cargo was enough to feed seven million people.

Kuleba accused Moscow of having planned to resume its hunger games in advance and said the Black Sea drone attacks were 220 kilometres away from the grain corridor.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the Russian move an absolutely transparent intention to return the threat of large-scale famine to Africa and Asia.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said: "It is vital that all parties refrain from any action that would imperil the Black Sea Grain Initiative which is a critical humanitarian effort."
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) is assisting its counterpart in Sierra Leone, the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), to improve efficiency in regulating the petroleum downstream in that country.

A team led by its Executive Chairman, Dr. Brima Baluwa Koroma said they were here to share and learn experiences in terms of structures, processes, policies and procedures in regulating the petroleum downstream sector.

He was worried the private sector controlled the petroleum downstream sector in Sierra Leone, adding that, for Sierra Leon, it is very strange that throughout our petroleum value chain, there is no government participation.

Mr. Koroma said the current government was determined to take a position in the industry and reinstitute a semblance of Goil in Sierra Leone.

He believed it was dangerous for any government to allow only the private sector to control the petroleum downstream industry which is the driver of every economy in this world.

So, we are here to understand how the National Petroleum Authority of Ghana does its works and control the sector so efficiently that have won the admiration of many regulatory agencies and players of the petroleum downstream industry across the continent, the Executive Chairman lauded.

Addressing the Sierra Leonean team, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the Chief Executive of NPA corroborated the sentiments of the PRA Executive chairman and eulogized the strategic functions Goil and BOST play in the economy.

Recounting Ghanas experience on regulation of the petroleum downstream industry, Dr. Abdul-Hamid said what has been helping the people is also the active participation of government through its entities such as Goil and BOST, unlike Sierra Leone that depends wholly on private players that normally decide what happens.

He stated that cooperation was the only way the two entities could advance the development of their countries.

The NPA boss pledged Ghanas willingness to continuously assist Sierra Leone to develop its petroleum downstream industry, adding I am prepared to send my best workers to Sierra Leone to assist you craft out a system that will ensure efficiency in regulating the downstream sector better

He commended Dr. Baluwa Koroma for his transformational leadership for the past four years, which has seen new important players within the sector.

The Executive Chairman of PRA was accompanied by Christopher Pearce; Director of Finance and Administration, Gibrilla Barwe; Deputy Finance, and Jayah K. Muana; Deputy Director of PRA.

Source: National Petroleum Authority
01.11.2022 LISTEN

An Accra High Court has threatened to release four alleged accomplices of En Huang, aka Aisha Huang, an alleged illegal miner, due to the absence of interpreters.

I will adjourn the case for the last time, if we don't get these interpreters (Chinese and Vietnamese), I will release the accused persons either conditionally or unconditionally.

The case is here by adjourned to November 21, the Court presided over by Mrs Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, said on Tuesday.

The trial judge said this when three Chinese nationals namely: Shi Yang, alias Philip, Li Wei Guo and Shi Mei Zhi and Nguyen Thi Thanh Tuyen, a Vietnamese national, appeared before her at the Criminal Court 5 division of the High Court.

The three Chinese have been charged with engaging in small-scale mining without license whiles the Vietnamese is facing a charge of remaining in Ghana after expiration of a permit.

The Chinese accused persons have denied the charges.

The Court, however, could not take the plea of the Vietnamese because there was no Vietnamese interpreter.

When sitting resumed today, the court indicated that it had not be able to secure a Vietnamese interpreter and that the Chinese Interpreter who was in court at the last sitting had also travelled outside the jurisdiction.

The Registrar of the Court said a letter had been written to the Institute of Languages for a Vietnamese interpreter.

The Registrar said the Court had also reached out to the Chinese Interpreter who was out of the jurisdiction and he had agreed to do the interpretation via zoom but failed to answer his calls during sitting.

GNA
01.11.2022 LISTEN

A 51-year-old electrician has been sentenced to 21 years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court for having sex with his 11-year-old daughter at Gbawe, Accra.

James Kotaah charged with defilement and incest pleaded guilty.

Kotaah who did not have any legal representation admitted before the court that he had sex with the victim who was his biological daughter.

According to Kotaah, he had sex with the victim on two occasions, but the victim informed the court that he had had sex with her for eleven times and that he sometimes did it through her anus.

The accused pleaded to be cautioned so he could go home and cater for the minor whose mother passed last year.

My Lord, please caution me. The victim's mother is dead, and I am the one taking care of her, he pleaded.

The court presided over by Mrs Christina Cann in handing the sentence, said the court had considered the aggravating circumstances of the matter.

According to the trial judge, the court had considered the gravity of the offence, the prevalence of the offence, the revulsion felt by law abiding citizens, age of the victim and the trauma the victim had gone through as well as the relationship between the victim and her father.

The court sentenced the accused to 21 years on the charge of defilement and 21 years on the charge of Incest, all to run concurrently.

The court ordered the case Investigator to send the victim to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit at the Police headquarters for counselling.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Agnes Boafo said the complainant was a trader residing at Gbawe, Accra while Kotaah also resided within the same vicinity with the victim, his biological daughter.

The prosecution said the victim was 11-year-old and in class three and that Kotaah resided in a kiosk with the victim who lost her mother a year ago.

The court heard that for some time now, the accused, now convict, had been having sex with the victim and that she disclosed the act to her headteacher.

It said on October 24, this year, at about 12:00 am, the victim was asleep when Kotaah returned from town and had sex with her from behind and threatened her not tell anyone else she would die.

The prosecution said the victim who experienced pain after the act, informed her aunty.

Later, the prosecution said the accused person was nabbed by the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service at Odorkor.

GNA
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has stated that it has not received a visa ban from the authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for Ghanaians seeking to travel to that country.

A press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration on Monday noted, The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has been drawn to news circulating on various media platforms indicating that authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have announced a visa ban on Ghana and twenty (20) other nationalities seeking to travel to the UAE with immediate effect.

According to the publication, the countries affected by the visa ban include Ghana, Sierra Leone Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Liberia, Burundi, Republic of Guinea, the Gambia, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin, Ivory Coast, Congo, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Comoros, and the Dominican Republic, it added.

According to the release, the said publication assigned no reason for the ban, but social media sources have alleged that it was aimed at keeping away visitors from African countries who usually overstayed their visit visas in the UAE.

The Ministry wishes to assure the general public that it has received no such communication from the authorities in the UAE and as such, the story should be disregarded, it stated.

The Ministry disclosed that information available to it indicated that the UAE has reviewed the requirements for its tourist and visit visas.

It noted that the revision of visa regimes and requirements which includes the 30-day single entry visas have been put on hold and that a 60-day multiple visa entry regime was currently in force.

It further said that travelers to the UAE should secure a round-trip ticket and a hotel booking before the visa application.

While assuring the general public to remain calm, the Ministry wishes to advise travelling Ghanaians to observe the new visa requirements put in place by the UAE, it added.
Bishop Ben Nuhu Abubakar, the Acting Ashanti Regional Chairman of the National Peace Council, has called on the youth to help sustain the governments efforts on peace and security of the country.

He made this call at a two-day workshop in Kumasi last week for selected tertiary student leaders from Ashanti, Bono and Eastern regions on conflict prevention and violent extremism.

The workshop, funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), sought to build capacity and equip participants with knowledge and skills on peaceful coexistence as well as conflict resolution using a non-violent approach.

Bishop Abubakar indicated that the youth were becoming increasingly agitated over limited opportunities and the current economic hardship, hence it was disheartening that most clashes happen in tertiary institutions, with a majority of students as perpetrators and victims.

He said that while conflict would always exist in every community, the most crucial thing was to put systems and structures in place to keep them under control and stop them from turning violent.

Madam Janet Sarney Kumah, Director for Capacity Building at NPC said, student leaders, have a part to play in maintaining the peace and stability of the nation.

According to her, building student leadership skills would bring harmony not only on college campuses but also in society at large because students might end up holding leadership roles once they graduate.
The Teachers and Educational Workers Union, TEWU of TUC-Ghana, has honoured twenty-seven (27), past national officers for their dedication and sacrifices in promoting the growth of the union as well as consolidating the gains, the union has made over the years.

The ceremony to honour the past officers took place at the Unions hospitality facility known as TEWU House at Lapaz.

At the ceremony, 12 females and 15 males were presented with plaques which had inspirational and appreciative words, in addition to cash donation to every officer.

In his welcome address, current TEWU National Chairman Mr. Ambrose Yao Kwadzodza commended the past officers for serving the union selflessly and showing commitment to the goals and aspirations of the union.

It is good we honour them at the end of their tenure. We are happy to organise such award ceremony, while they are alive, he said.

Mr. Ambrose Yao Kwadzodza further urged every young personality to be committed to the cause of their union.

The TEWU Chairman said, We are asking At any position that you are going to serve under a union, you make a pledge to the people who put you there, so it is our desire to get every young person to serve their unions with hearts and not their personal interests so that their members will be served well."

On his part, the current General Secretary of TEWU, Mr. Mark Dankyira Korankye stressed that the services rendered by the past union leaders cannot be quantified.

With this, he noted that honouring the 27 past national union leaders is the right thing to do.

We have had people sacrificing for the life of this Union. Some even to the extent of putting their jobs on the line, because always as union leaders you are being targeted, so some suffered denial of promotions, because they had to stand in as Union leaders. So if people do all these sacrifices and they retire or they are out of office, we believe it is just right that we call them together and say thank you for your Services.

These services are invaluable and cannot quantified. So having sacrificed this much and having gone through a lot, we thought it wise that it was appropriate to bring them together and say ayekooo for the good work done. This we hope will also serve as motivation to the younger generation, that if you put your life on the line for the sake of the union, you will not go unrewarded, Mr. Mark Dankyira Korankye remarked.

Current National Officers TEWU of TUC-Ghana, with honoured past national officers of the union

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Mr. Peter K. Lumor, the immediate past National Chairman of TEWU expressed appreciation for the honour bestowed on them.

We thank God that we the awardees are alive and have been honoured for the services we rendered to TEWU of TUC Ghana. We know that these days things are difficult, but TEWU of TUC Ghana, will overcome, Mr. Peter K. Lumor said.

The former National Chairman also advised the union members especially leaders to be patient in their dealings and learn in order to help the union to succeed.

I wish to encourage those coming after us to exercise patience, to learn, they should be prepared to be mentored. Unfortunately, the union leaders we are seeing are people who have not learnt, they have not been mentored, they have read some text books and they think that is all about leadership.

Unfortunately, when one goes on that tangent you will fail early. I urge people aspiring for union leadership to be mentored, study under experienced people and they will make it or succeed as we have also done and today, the national officers deem it appropriate to celebrate and honour us, Mr. Peter K. Lumor added.

The past officers celebrated at the event were; the immediate past National Chairman- Mr. Peter K. Lumor, First National Vice Chairman- Mr. Bismark Bawah, Second National Vice Chairperson, Madam Florence Agyei-Wiredu, First National Trustee, Mr. William Adjei-Twumasi, General Secretary Mr. Augustine Saakuur-Karbo.

The others are TEWU Women's Committee National President- Madam Johanna Hammond, Women's Committee National Vice President- Madam Ethel Nyadroh, Women's Committee National Secretary-Madam Gloria Aba Kinful, Women's Committee Second National Trustee -Madam Janet Emefa Obro-Adibo, Women's Committee-Northern Regional President- Madam Okailey Randolf and Women's Committee Northern Regional Secretary-Madam Diana Serwaa Ali.

The rest of the recipients were members of the National Executive Council, NEC; Finance Committee and TEWU Fund Board of Trustees.

All the recipients are those who have worked at the very top of the Union, that is the National Executive Council, which includes National Officers, Womens Committee Finance Committee.

They are not necessarily people who have retired from active service, but persons who have served their tenure in a given position. The Union periodically brings on board all these people and show appreciation in the form of an awards ceremony.

The ceremony was witnessed by Mr. Joshua Ansah, the Deputy Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress, TUC-GHANA.
01.11.2022 LISTEN

Some members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Jomoro Constituency have distanced themselves from calls for the removal of Dr Ben Asante, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Gas Company from office.

Mr Simon Amoah, the Constituency Chairman told the Ghana News Agency that his constituency was part of the three Nzema Constituencies and he did not endorse the approach adopted by some members of the NPP in the Ellembelle Constituency to resolve their issues with Dr Asante.

He said that apart from some members of the NPP in Ellembelle Constituency who were calling for the removal of Dr Ben Asante, the other two Nzema Constituencies, Jomoro and Evalue Ajomoro Gwira, support Dr Asante

Mr Amoah said the CEO of Ghana Gas provides support at his level to the party and individuals within the party.

We will be much ungrateful if we blatantly denied that Dr Ben Asante has not in any way assisted the party since his appointment.

We are aware that he supported each of the 3 parliamentary candidates and the party in the 3 Nzema areas in the 2020 elections with a substantial amount of monies.

Dr Asante, CEO of Ghana Gas gave equal opportunity to each of the three Nzema Constituencies in terms of employment since he assumed power.

Mr Simon Amoah also said Ghana Gas had initiated several projects such as the automation of the Half-Assini Hospital, the renovation of the Beyin Catholic School building, the construction of Half-Assini Town road as well as other town roads within the Jomoro Constituency through the efforts of the past and current Municipal Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Gas has renovated the doctors' bungalow at the Half-Assini Hospital as well as the renovation of the Half-Assini Catholic School through lobbying from past and present Municipal Chief Executives (MCEs).

We are very grateful for such gestures to promote the image of the party and the development of the Jomoro constituency. However, we are of the view that more can still be done on employment for the party youth, support for the party, and developmental projects for the people of Nzema since we are the most affected by Ghana Gas's operations, he said.

He said that the three constituency chairmen of the three Nzema areas planned to collectively engage Dr Ben Asante to demand more opportunities and support for their respective lands; Ellembelle, Jomoro and Evalue Ajomoro Gwira.

We are therefore appealing to the aggrieved group to channel their concerns through the structures of the party and stop using demonstrations and violence because if all government appointees were to do what Dr Asante is currently doing, we believe most of the party youth will get a fair share of employment, he appealed.

GNA
01.11.2022 LISTEN

The new Rector of Ghanas first engineering-focused private university, KAAF University College, Prof Herbert Kwabla Dei has outlined six thematic areas for the development of the school into a world-class centre of academic excellence.

These include enhancing teaching, learning and research, staff recruitment development and promotion, the role of KAAF strategic plan, improving students recruitment and enrollment, promote the generation of internally generated funds and enhancing the schools reputation all aimed at positioning KAAF as a place of choice.

Speaking at his investiture ceremony held at the main campus of the university, the 60-year-old agricultural scientist and professor of animal nutrition with over 37 years of academic career pledged to work diligently to lift the image of the school to greater heights.

According to him, it is his resolve to rigorously pursue the performance agreement he signed to make KAAF a tertiary institution that trains students and professionals that impact society positively and particularly to lead the university to charter as a fully blown autonomous university in 2024.

My vision as Rector is to make KAAF a world-class tertiary institution for training students and professionals who will positively impact society, Prof Dei stated.

Prof Herbert Kwabla Dei called on all relevant stakeholders especially the management, staff and students to offer him the needed cooperation and support to succeed.

He also appealed to KAAFs institutional mentor Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to assist in the recruitment of qualified applicants for the schools Engineering Programmes including; Electrical, Mechanical, Construction and Geometric courses.

Appeal for Internet Connectivity

Prof Dei also appealed to government to assist private universities with internet connectivity and accessibility due to their significant contribution to the training of students and professionals in the country.

According to him, data released by the Ghana Tertiary Education Council (GTEC) in 2020/21 academic year indicates that private universities in the country absorb 15.63% of student population hence the need for support.

Chairman of the University Governing Council, Prof Kwame B. Omane-Antwi who presided over the investiture and administered the oath of office expressed delight KAAF is blessed to have the highly qualified Professor as its new chancellor who will aid the quest for a charter.

He called on all to support the new Rector to facilitate rapid development of graduate programmes to meet demand and attract strategic investment to KAAF for the collective good of all.

The founder of KAAF University College Mr Michael Aidoo in an admonition challenged the new Rector to discipline where necessary in order to achieve results.

Mr Aidoo says he is not a believer in practices but rather believes in improving and making every situation better through ingenuity and critical thinking.

He challenged the new Rector to be guided and think outside the box whiles expressing the hope that he will succeed in his new role.

KAAF was established by Mr Michael Aidoo in 2006 and become operational in 2008/9 academic year with five students as the first private engineering tertiary institution.

It currently has a student population of over 2000 pursuing courses in engineering and computer science, law, health and allied sciences and business administration and certificate courses.
With blue schoolbags bouncing off their backs, hundreds of schoolchildren hurtle down small sand dunes eager to attend class again.

But these boys and girls are survivors of suffering and trauma that few children of their age could conceive.

Their new school is in the town of Ouallam in southwestern Niger, a region that for five years has been plagued by attacks unleashed by groups linked with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

The pupils come from 18 villages near Mali whose inhabitants fled to the relative safety of Ouallam in 2021 after jihadist killings that also forced the closure of schools.

The UN children's agency UNICEF says 817 schools with 72,421 pupils -- including 34,464 girls -- have closed in Niger, mostly in the Tillaberi, the border region where Ouallam is located.

Time for play: A teacher and her pupils in the yard of a school set up for displaced children. By BOUREIMA HAMA (AFP)

In Ouallam alone, around one hundred schools have had to shut their doors.

The chronic insecurity has prompted the authorities to create dedicated educational centres where displaced children can resume their schooling, Mahamadou Illo Abarchi, an education official in Ouallam, told AFP.

Some 17,000 pupils have already re-entered the school system and another 55,300 are set to follow suit, enrolling in around 20 centres for displaced children across southwestern Niger, the government says.

'Killed by the bandits'

In Ouallam, almost 1,600 schoolchildren -- some of whom had not attended class for three years -- are registered with three centres built near a site for displaced people.

The sites offer free canteens, a vital resource for families who have escaped violence in a nation that, by the UN's human development index, is the poorest in the world.

Lessons take place in shelters or classrooms equipped with tables and benches provided by NGOs. But in others, the pupils must learn on the floor.

Fatima and Aissa, two young girls from Ngaba, a settlement near Mali, expressed their delight at returning to school as they clutched their slate boards.

Niger's Tillaberi region is on the front line of attacks by jihadist groups. By Tupac POINTU (AFP)

But the euphoria of returning to school cannot wipe out the painful memories.

"My uncle was a village chief, he was killed by the bandits in front of our eyes," said Mariama, who also lived in Ngaba. "There was a lot of blood."

Nassirou, Malick, Hasane, Abdou and their parents fled their village of Adabdab on foot after a series of jihadist attacks, the last of which on October 22 claimed the lives of 11 civilians.

"It was the bandits who chased us away, they killed many men," Nassirou said quietly in the playground.

Moussa, who hails from a hamlet in the same area, said: "I'm not afraid anymore, I no longer hide when I hear the sound of motorcycles" often used by jihadists to attack villages.

'Encouraging results'

When they first arrived at the new centres, many children showed "signs of distress and trauma, others were very aggressive", said education official Morou Chaibou.

He spoke of how some pupils recounted harrowing memories -- including seeing their parents being shot.

Adamou Dari, the regional director of the centres, said they also offered the children psychological and social support to give them some stability after their traumatic experience.

Lessons take place under shelters or classrooms equipped with tables and benches provided by NGOs. By BOUREIMA HAMA (AFP)

"Now they concentrate in class and the results are encouraging," said a teacher as she played in the courtyard with some of her pupils.

Absenteeism is minor but a source of worry, Dari said, explaining that some pupils played truant to work in the town and feed their families.

Harlem Desir of the International Rescue Committee, who recently visited the site for displaced people in Ouallam, said impoverished families often put their children to work or marry their daughters at a young age.

Chaibou warned that neglected children could become prime recruitment targets for the very jihadist groups whose depredations have left their families in such difficulties.

In 2021, Amnesty International warned that boys aged between 15 and 17 were filling the ranks of armed groups, especially the Al-Qaeda-affiliated GSIM, in the Torodi region near Burkina Faso -- with the blessing of their parents.
Former Deputy Information Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu has expressed concern how the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is displaying what he described as arrogance.

Mr. Kwakye Ofosu noted that, despite the current economic woes, government is still playing blame games rather than accepting responsibility.

According to him, the government has shown no signs of delivering the people from the quagmire.

It is a bit disappointing that they (NPP government) remain obstinate and have not shown any inclination towards addressing the problems we face, he said.

The former Deputy Minister has asked the ruling party to pick suggestions from former President Mahama's speech on the state of the economy.

He emphasised that if the NPP maintains its arrogance and refuses to implement the policies outlined in Mr. Mahama's speech, Ghanaians cannot wait to send them to the opposition, where they may be humbled to learn.

Any objective-minded Ghanaian who listened to the former President on Thursday would admit that he spoke to the issues in a manner that they should be spoken to.

I am certain that if they do not listen to the wise prescription as put out by President Mahama, it is only a matter of time before the people boot them out at the earliest opportunity and then they will learn in humility in opposition, he said.

Among several measures, the former President charged the ruling government to put on hold all non-essential projects for the sake of the struggling Ghanaian economy.

He stressed that non-essential projects such as the National Cathedral, the 116 million euro new Accra International Conference Centre, and the Construction of New Embassy buildings for new Missions abroad must be suspended for now.

He insists that if the National Cathedral must be built, it must be done with private funds.

"The public funding of the National Cathedral particularly at this time must stop. Being a Christian myself and deeply appreciative of the centrality of God in national affairs, I agree with most Ghanaians who believe that the project cannot constitute a top priority of government at this time, warranting further injection of scarce public funds.

"If it must be built, it must be built with private funds," John Dramani Mahama said.

The 2020 presidential candidate of the opposition NDC was delivering an address to the nation, dubbed, Building the Ghana we want at the UPSA auditorium on Thursday, October 27, when he shared these proposals.

Despite sharing in the idea that the Ghanaian economy reaching its worst state, the former President is also confident that things can get better.

John Dramani Mahama also used the opportunity to call on Ghanaians to have hope and support the government.

"Together we can save Ghana and build the Ghana we want regardless of how bad the situation is. I still have hope that we can turn things around. Wholeheartedly, I believe in the resilience of our people," ex-President Mahama stressed.
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has rubbished claims of collusion with illegal foreign exchange traders (forex) at the Central Business District in Accra to transfer funds offshore.

The Central Bank in a statement on Tuesday, November 1, described the allegations by the Director of Research at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Dr Kwabena Otoo as reckless and unfortunate.

It has come to the attention of the Bank of Ghana that Dr Kwabena Nyarko Otoo of the Trades Union Congress passed an unfortunate remark about the Central Bank on Newsfile on Joy News TV/Joy FM on Saturday, 29th October 2022.

Dr. Otoo, on the programme, said there is evidence or growing suspicion that Bank of Ghana is actively collaborating with some operatives at Cowlane in Accra to illegally transfer funds offshore. Bank of Ghana categorically denies the said allegations and also considers them extremely reckless. We would have expected that such strong allegations would have been supported by the requisite evidence, and not left at pure conjecture, mere suspicion or hearsay. This is especially so considering the quarters from which the allegations were made.

The BoG further advised the general public to completely disregard these comments and be assured that the Central Bank, is focused on price stability, and doing all within its power to reduce the rising general level of prices.

-citinewsroom
A Financial Analyst at Dalex Finance, Mr. Joe Jackson has stressed that a reduction in the size of the government is needed urgently.

According to him, such a move is one of the most important things Ghana can do in the midst of the current economic crisis.

The most important thing we can do today is cut the size of government, send a signal to all of us that we are prepared to face our problems, Mr. Joe Jackson told TV3 in an interview.

On the calls for the sacking of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finance Minister shared that only that action wont help matters.

He is of the view that in addition to removing the Finance Minister, government must change the way it does things and address all system challenges.

If we change the people and we dont change the policies, we dont change the process, if we dont change the thinking, nothing will change. I wish that those backbenchers had not just demanded for somebody to be changed but some people completely removed.

It is not handing over from Ofori-Atta or Charles Adu Boahen to another person who will do the same thing, Mr. Joe Jackson argued.

Last month, calls for President Akufo-Addo to sack Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta reached a crescendo when members of the Majority in Parliament threatened to boycott government business if he refuses to replace the Minister.

Following a meeting, the President appealed to the Members of Parliament to allow Ken Ofori-Atta conclude talks with the IMF and present the 2023 Budget statement.

The appeal which was accepted by the Majority MPs has died down the calls for the Finance Ministers sacking.
Prosecutors, lawyers, litigants and relatives of accused persons standing trial at the Ofaakor Circuit Court in Kasoa have been left frustrated and wailing in the past month due to the absence of a presiding judge at the court.

This follows the promotion of the substantive judge, Mr Ebenezer Osei Darko, to the High Court and his subsequent departure on Friday, September 30 this year.

Consequently, all ongoing cases in the court have stalled, fresh cases are on hold while accused persons and remand prisoners are all locked up in cells.

A source close to the Court that spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on condition of anonymity expressed frustrations with the situation, indicating how it affected the work of the police, lawyers and all other parties.

The source said the work of the court had been thrown out of gear as various parties trooped in and out without any show.

The court is really frustrated; we are all frustrated. It is affecting the cases that the police are doing in Kasoa and its environs. Remand prisoners are all locked up in cells and as we all know, Kasoa is a busy place, the source lamented.

It said since the courts could not be closed, only went to seek adjournments from the clerks at the detriment of the litigants and accused persons.

Relatives of some accused persons are peeved by the situation and had accused the court of subjecting their relatives to injustice by holding them up in the cells unduly, it further revealed.

The source, therefore, appealed to the State to immediately provide the court with a judge to keep it running.

Relatives are complaining bitterly, the lawyers are not happy and our workload keeps piling up. Honestly, they think the wheel of justice has grounded to a halt here.

Our appeal is for the State to give us a substantive judge as soon as possible to help us do our work and reduce everybody's burden, the source added.

GNA
The Ashanti Teachers Forum, on Monday congratulated the newly appointed Dr Eric Nkansah, the Acting Director General of the Ghana Education Service.

The Forum called on the teaching fraternity to rally their support behind the new Director General to discharge his mandate in an efficient and effective manner.

Mr Michael Mensah, the President of the Forum, said this when a delegation of members of the Forum paid a courtesy call on Dr Nkansah in Accra.

As concerned teachers in the Ashanti Region, we thought it wise to pay him a visit and congratulate him on his appointment at the highest level of the Service.

We have seen him visiting some schools within the Accra metropolis and talking about his plans and policies for stakeholders in the sector, which is worth emulating as a leader, he said.

He said,  Dr Nkansah is a true educationist who has taught at Kintanpom Senior High School and we believe he has the urge to spearhead the affairs of the Service.

With his background in the banking sector, Mr Mensah believed that the new GES Director General would work seamlessly to facilitate the Services financial issues.

Dr Nkansah appointment was met with opposition, mostly from a section of the union bodies.

Mr Mensah, however, encouraged him to be steadfast and see the criticism as a challenge to be focused on and work harder for the growth of the Service.

Dr Nkansah responded by thanking President Akufo-Addo for the confidence reposed in him and promised to serve diligently while adhering to the services tenets.

He pledged to prioritise the welfare of teaching and non-teaching staff of pre-tertiary institutions across the country.

He was hopeful of addressing issues relating to promotion, upgrading, and other pertinent concerns to build confidence among members to give their best and improve learning outcomes.

We need to create 21st century skills where students will be taught to be critical thinkers to be fit for purpose, he said.

He stated that the vision of President Akufo-Addo was to increase the transition rate from Senior High School to tertiary education and noted that this could be achieved by a concerted effort by all stakeholders in the education space.

Dr Nkansah was appointed by President Akufo-Addo, effective October 19, 2022, pursuant to Section 19(1), 2(a) and (b) of the Pre-tertiary Education Act, 2020(Act 1049).

GNA
The Minority filed a motion of vote of censure against the Finance Minister over claims of conflict of interest and fiscal recklessness leading to the current economic hardship.

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, in his ruling on an objection against the vote of censure, described the motion as appropriately laid.

But the Majority in Parliament is asking the Minority to give the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta an opportunity to be heard on allegations that formed the basis for a vote of censure against him.

Blow are the grounds the Minority cites for the vote of censure are:
By Dawid Wiktor

UN headquarters in New York City. [Photo/Agencies]

The 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) focused on subjects on the theme of creating and applying "transformative solutions to interlocking challenges". Many country representatives attended this General Assembly to discuss the current and future challenges and ways to solve them. There were many proposals, thoughts and ideas. Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the General Debate and unveiled China's proposal on principles regarding facing challenges.

We live in a hard but decisive time

It is true that we are living in a time full of challenges, turbulence and tensions. We can observe that our world is moving into a dangerous direction that works against peace, equity and development. We are facing many significant issues that are not easy to solve. From conflicts across the world, hunger, climate change and the energy crisis to irresponsible politics of creating ideologized blocs, we can definitively say that our world is on "fire". As humanity, we are facing wars, food insecurity, raising tensions and existential threats. It is not egoistic to say that we live in times that will define whether we will be able to face challenges and win or fail. We do not have much time to think as we have to act now.

Principles that are common with the UNs mission and people's desire for shared future

In this hard time, it is always good to praise wise ideas and concrete actions. China's six-point proposals are example of such ideas. In fact, we can call these proposals as principles that are ready to meet and answer current and future challenges.

Peace instead of war

During his speech, Wang Yi proposed the first principle of choosing peace instead of war. As humanity, we should resolve disputes through peaceful means such as dialogue, mediations, consultations, expressing and understanding each other's concerns and views. Our history shows that there can be no winners of any wars. The lost of lives, destruction of infrastructure and wars' impact on global security, supply chains and food security are only a few examples of how we all are losing wars. We have open and transparent international institutions that can act as dispute resolution centers. Additionally, we can consider strengthening the United Nations, an organization that represents all people, and give additional powers.

Development instead of poverty

There are many efforts for development and reducing poverty across the world. Some of them partially succeeded, some failed. Unfortunately, poverty and hunger are still some of the biggest issues of our times and we need more concrete actions. Wang Yi called for putting development and poverty eradication at the center of the international agenda and ensuring that all people and countries will benefit from it. The most essential part of this point is that we should focus more not just on development itself, but on development that will share fruits of development for many, not few. We need to put people first and actions should be aimed at this. Our common future is about fully eradicating poverty and hunger, and ensuring that anyone, anywhere will live a decent life.

It is important to acknowledge that we need to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Global Development Initiative will absolutely play an essential role in this and in putting people at the center of all efforts. It is important to address crises such as the food and energy crisis, supply chain issues, global hunger and debt. We cannot anymore accept excuses like "this is normal, some people live in poverty" or "we have time", we have to act now and support initiatives that can make a positive impact.

Openness instead of closeness

During his speech, Wang Yi also noted that it is essential to build an open world and open economy. It is fact that protectionism will never work as it can only hurt communities across the globe. It is in our nature, as humans, to be open to each other, share fruits and live in an open world with open economy.

Our world is interconnected, and no country nor society can thrive under protectionist policies. We have many international organizations ensuring that open economy is also fair economy and open trading system. The most important one is World Trade Organization (WTO) that works towards strengthening multilateral trading system, fostering openness and good trade relations between countries and communities.

Cooperation instead of confrontation

We already live in hard times and see many tensions. In fact, these tensions are related to blocs and political groups confronting each other. What we need are consultations, dialogue, to work together towards better future and cooperate to ensure that everyone wins. Confrontations will lead only to conflicts and wars, new crises, and human suffering. No one can win such confrontation and we do not need it. It is good that Wang Yi called for cooperation, without which it is not possible to build a peaceful and prosperous world.

Unity instead of division

Ideological blocks and divisions are not good for our world, as Wang Yi expressed while calling for unity. Currently, work towards drawing such blocks backfires by causing more tensions between countries and harms societies across the world. Our world won't be better if we continue building blocs and dividing the world by forcing countries to choose a side and creating another iron curtain. We need more understanding and dialogue, more cooperation and development, more democracy and freedom. What makes world better is cooperation, working together and acting as one for better future. There is one humanity and there can be only one future - our common, shared future.

It is easy to divide and weaponize many tools to cause harm to other countries. However, this creates more problems and tensions. Treating others unfairly and unjustly can only lead to polarization, more conflicts and escalations of such conflicts. We should think how to connect societies and countries, how to build bridges instead of tearing down them. There will be disagreements, but by acting together in dialogue and mutual understanding we can find common ground.

Equity instead of bullying

The sixth proposal is to choose equity instead of bullying. From history we know what happens when one country or one bloc is using its position of power or strength against other countries. This can cause tensions that will cause conflicts and even full-scale wars and reverse already made development progress. What we need is a multilateral approach with equal rights and rules for all countries. With international organizations such as the United Nations and WTO at heart of multilateralism, we can work towards ensuring that these rights and rules will be respected.

Multilateralism is essential to this as it is a base for equal rights, opportunities, fair treatment and rules for all countries. This will strengthen and ensure the international security, development and unity that are needed to face current and future challenges. More divisions won't help us, blocs and confrontations can only lead to another disaster and problem. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, was right that "our world is in big trouble" as "divides are growing deeper" while challenges are spreading faster.

In fact, we do not have much time. There are many countries that were discussing challenges and issues at the UNGA, some of them proposed ideas and solutions and we should consider them. Among those countries is China whose State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi laid out practical proposals. It is time to override ideological differences and move forward to face challenges and confront them. Only together we can make our world better for all.

The author is chief executive officer of Media Scope Group.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a Member of Parliament and Minority Ranking Member on Ghana's Foreign Affairs Committee, claims that two neighbouring African countries, Guinea and Burkina Faso, owe Ghana some money.

According to Ghana's 2021 audited loan receivables schedule, cited by the MP, the two countries owe Ghana GHS7,703,500 and GHS779,055 respectively totalling approximately GHS8.48 million.

Many Ghanaians may be surprised to find out that Guinea and Burkina Faso owe Ghana quite some good money.

According to Ghana's 2021 audited loans receivables schedule: Guinea owes us GHS7,703,500 and Burkina Faso's outstanding debt is GHS779,055. That is a total of GHS8.48million, the MP alleged.

Mr. Ablakwa is asking if Ghana should formally demand payment or forget it and focus on the ongoing IMF bailout negotiations.

Yes, Ghana hasn't always been broke.

Now, let's discuss:

1) Considering our current economic crisis compelling us to seek an urgent IMF bailout, should Ghana make a formal demand for our money?

2) Should we in the spirit of Pan-Africanism forgive them the debt, especially having regard for their own challenges?

3) Or do we adopt the President's "sika mp3 dede" mantra and let sleeping dogs lie, after all he is in search of billions of dollars not a few millions of Ghana Cedis; and particularly when by current happenings we can't even vouch for the transparent and judicious use of the GHS8.48million if it arrives?
In todays Money Morning, a lesson is to be learned from Australias whale oil history that explains why the current push to renewable energy is illogical, at least for right now. It isnt a popular take, but history shows that governments driving investment decisions based on arbitrary targets is a recipe for disaster. Read on to see why

A good part of the capital which had [been] so lavishly employed in the import trade, they are gradually diverting into that safer and infinitely more productive channel  the oil-fisheriesthe whaling merchants are public benefactors, entitled to the gratitude of the whole community. They are stopping the inlets of Australian poverty and opening those of Australian wealth.

Sydney Gazette, 18 March 1830

The Second Fleet, a convoy of six ships containing convicts, settlers, and supplies, landed in Sydney in 1789. It was a notorious voyage. 25% of the convicts on board died en route, and 40% were dead within six months of their arrival.

The private contractors who arranged transport and provisions were blamed. The authorities obviously didnt instruct them to get their human cargo to Sydney in one piece. A reminder  if any is needed  that economics is all about incentives.

This debacle, which put the fledgling settlement on the brink of starvation, provided an opportunity for an enterprising whaling captain named Samuel Enderby.

Enderby was heavily involved in the British-American whale trade through his fleet of ships. However, following the American Revolution, an embargo was placed on exports to Britain. This included whale oil.

Before the discovery of petroleum in the 1850s, whale oil was the primary machine lubricant and preferred lamp oil in Europe and North America.

Enderby, in search of new markets, lobbied the British Government to allow whalers to transport convicts to Sydney and to then continue hunting whales in the Southern Ocean.

That way, he could make money on both voyages  human cargo on the way out and whale oil cargo on the way back.

In 1791, the Third Fleet left England for Sydney. Of the 11 ships that landed, five continued to hunt in the Southern Ocean, establishing the whale oil industry in Australia.

According to the National Museum of Australia:

Whaling became an essential part of the New South Wales economy and culture. Whalers were the most frequent visitors to the colony in its first decade. Whaling was Australias first major industry with thousands of men and hundreds of ships eventually involved in the trade. The peak of Australian whaling activity was between 1820 and 1855, with up to 1,300 men working in the industry each year. With the 1851 discovery of gold in Australia, however, sailors deserted their ships en masse to travel to the goldfields. As petroleum increasingly replaced whale oil throughout the 1850s, the industry went into decline. An industry that had provided New South Wales with 52 per cent of her exports in 1832 provided less than one per cent by 1855.

The prosperity that the whale oil trade brought to the colony of New South Wales wasnt lost on the public, as highlighted by the Sydney Gazette quote above. The whaling merchants were benefactors, preventing poverty and increasing wealth.

How times have changed.

In 202223, Australias exports of liquid natural gas, coal, and oil are expected to total $225 billion. Thats 50% of our total resource exports (the same as whale oil at its peak).

Yet the industry is vilified and shunned. Wealthy activists and university-educated know-nothings want to shut these industries down.

They only see the world through the prism of emissions. They dont see the other side of the balance sheet. These exports help provide food, shelter, and heating for millions of people. And they pay for schools, hospitals, and a bloated public service for Australians.

Were a long way from the gratitude shown to our vital industries back in the early years of settlement. Back then, before the welfare state saw the government become everyones benefactor, there was a much greater awareness of what the wealth-creation process was all about.

To the modern mind, killing whales to harvest oil is abhorrent. But back then, it was entirely acceptable.

Thankfully, technology saw the whaling industry quickly decline through the large-scale discovery of oil and its refinement into petroleum products. Moreover, this discovery made energy much cheaper.

Cheap energy (along with free markets and the rule of law) is vital for increasing living standards. The more a nations wealth is devoted to energy expenses, the less wealth is available for other endeavours.

Thats why this transition to renewables is so contentious. Politicians see it as a vote winner and are ploughing ahead regardless of cost. But the more we force it to occur in an unnaturally short time frame, the greater the costs will be.

The rallying cry of the zero-carbon advocate is that renewable energy is free. Yet the more we invest in it, the higher our energy prices become. Why is that?

Making millions of non-renewable solar panels and wind turbines is not free

Building extensive transmission lines to connect these far-flung new energy sources to the existing system is not free

Building backup supply to support and guarantee intermittent renewable generation is not free

Those investing in this new infrastructure will want a return on their substantial investment. And youll be paying for it.

At the same time, traditional energy forms have suffered from chronic underinvestment.

Technology has driven all prior energy transitions. As a result, the cost of energy has declined and contributed to the broad rise in global living standards over the years.

This energy transition is different. While technology plays a role, its not the driving force. Politics is. As a result, this energy transition  for the first time in history  will result in a higher cost of energy and a commensurate reduction in living standards.

It doesnt have to be that way for Australia, but I dont like our odds.

Australia is a net energy exporter. In 202021, we exported 15,420 petajoules and imported just 2,115 petajoules (see below).

We stand to benefit massively from the structural rise in energy prices in the years ahead. Meanwhile, net energy importers, like the UK, Europe, and Asia, will have to spend more on their energy needs.

While beyond the scope of this report, this dynamic will have huge implications for international capital flows and trade balances.

As just one small example, look at Germany. Long famed as a high value-added exporter, its built up considerable trade surpluses, especially post-reunification in 1989/90. But as you can see below, thanks to the energy crisis, its trade surpluses have collapsed.

Its now using nearly all its export wealth to pay for its energy needs. If this continues (not just for Germany, but for others like it) it will have huge implications.

Anyway, the point is that Australias very well placed to benefit from this energy-induced power shift. But as I said, Im not hopeful we will invest the dividends wisely.

For evidence of this, you just have to look to Queensland, one of the most naturally endowed states in Australia.

In late September, the QLD state government announced a $62 billion Energy and Jobs Plan. This includes a new renewable energy target of 70% by 2032 and 80% by 2035.

Currently, renewables generate around 20% of Queenslands electricity needs. Coal provides 60% and gas 10%, with biomass accounting for the remaining 10%.

Under this new plan, all state-owned coal plants will be shut down by 2035.

What will replace this critical and cheap energy source?

New hydro dams.

Now, just to be clear, Im not criticising adding hydro energy to the mix. But trying to REPLACE cheap and reliable energy with hydro is a big risk to energy security.

Hydro works by having two reservoirs, an upper and a lower one. It generates electricity by letting the water in the upper reservoir flow through turbines (a process that generates electricity) into the lower reservoir.

One of the issues with the proposed hydro dams is that theyll have just 24 hours of storage capacity. This means theyll be able to produce reliable energy for just 24 hours before the upper reservoir needs refilling. (That compares to the Snowy Hydro 2.0 product, which will be able to produce energy for seven days.)

This requires a lot of energy to pump the water back up from the lower reservoir, energy thatll have to come from wind and solar (and presumably backed up by gas plants).

In 1015 years time, Queensland risks having some of the highest electricity costs in the world while remaining one of the largest exporters of fossil fuels, helping keep other countries electricity costs down.

I know this isnt a popular take. You may agree or disagree. But the historical record shows that governments driving investment decisions based on arbitrary targets is a recipe for disaster.

Economic growth and higher living standards for our kids come from, in part, technological advances that LOWER energy costs.

This time around, our brain-dead politicians seem to be spending our energy export windfall on technologies and projects that are almost guaranteed to increase energy costs and decrease our standard of living.

But its for your own good

And theres really not much you can do about it. Despite ample evidence from Europe that renewable energy is nowhere near capable of powering the economy, Australia continues to panic towards net-zero targets with the Mr Micawber-like hope that something will turn up to make it happen.

The odds are against it

As I explain in this exclusive report, your best hedge against political insanity on energy policy is to have an overweight allocation to quality energy stocks. Read it here.

Regards,





Greg Canavan,

For Money Morning
November 01, 2022 Some Ukraine Items ... Earlier today these two tweets passed my timeline.

bigger The first lauded UK cybersecurity efforts to protect networks in Ukraine. The next one reported of successful efforts by some group from the Donetsk republic to hack into the U.S. provided military software used to manage the battlefield in Ukraine. The hack seems to be very real. --- Back in April I warned of uncontrolled weapon proliferation from the war in Ukraine: The U.S. and its proxies in Europe are moving an enormous amount of weapons into Ukraine. But no one has an idea where those weapons will end up. It is likely that many of those will proliferate outside of the Ukraine and some of those weapons will inevitably hit those who now deliver them.

...

The U.S. pushed an enormous amount of weapons into Syria. Those weapons did not end up with the 'moderate rebels' the U.S. propaganda had elevated but in the hands the most ideological committed and most brutal actors on the ground: ...

...

In a repeat of that 'strategy' the U.S. is currently pushing an enormous amount of weapons as well as mercenaries into Ukraine. The bigger stuff it delivers is not of much concern. But the huge amount of small arms and small ammunition, the anti-tank weapons and the handheld anti-air systems are of serious, long term danger. These fit into a car trunk and can easily be smuggled across boarders.

...

If there is a lesson to learn from Syria it is that the most ideological committed and most brutal people on the ground will not only proliferate their ideology into other countries. They are also the groups which inevitably end up holding the most dangerous weapons. They will give some to those groups in other countries which have the same ideology. On Sunday Finland said that it sees signs that such proliferation is happening: Finland's National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said it has received preliminary information that criminals in Finland might have captured military arms, such as assault rifles, meant for Ukrainian forces. "Weapons shipped [by various countries] to Ukraine have also been found in Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands," NBI Detective Superintendent Christer Ahlgren told Yle. International media outlets have reported that the European law enforcement agency Europol has anticipated criminal gangs stashing weapons in border areas. This past summer Europol issued a statement warning that the proliferation of firearms and explosives in Ukraine could lead to an increase in firearms and munitions trafficked into the EU via established smuggling routes or online platforms. "We've seen signs of these weapons already finding their way to Finland," Ahlgren said.

...

"Three of the world's largest motorcycle gangsthat are part of larger international organisationsare active in Finland. One of these is Bandidos MC, which has a unit in every major Ukrainian city," he explained. "We know that contacts and routes are being warmed up, so that they're in place." The Bandidos are an organized criminal group prohibited in several countries. Police is likely able to handle them. The Ukrainian Nazis and their international proliferation are a much bigger problem. In response to the concerns voiced by Finland the U.S. military yesterday announced that is has finally started to check where all those weapons are ending up: A small number of U.S. military forces inside Ukraine have recently begun doing onsite inspections to ensure that Ukrainian troops are properly accounting for the Western-provided weapons they receive, a senior U.S. defense official told Pentagon reporters Monday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide a military update, would not say where the inspections are taking place or how close to the battlefronts the U.S. troops are getting. The official said U.S. personnel cant do inspections close to the front lines, but said they are going where security conditions allow.

...

The effort is part of a broader U.S. campaign, announced last week by the State Department, meant to make sure that weapons provided to Ukraine dont end up in the hands of Russian troops, their proxies or other extremist groups. Notice the slimy propaganda phrasing AP has been using here: "... Russian troops ... or other extremist groups." That it took eight month to even start this lame weapon control effort shows the lack of concern our well guarded rulers have for their own security. --- For some curious reason the New York Times has been unable to 'independently confirm' that 10 Russian suicide drones were sufficient to apparently hit 18 targets: The Ukrainian military said Russia fired 55 missiles on Monday, 45 of which were shot down. Thirteen civilians were injured, the Ukrinform news agency reported. The Foreign Ministry said 18 objects of civilian critical infrastructure were damaged. None of the figures could be confirmed independently. One really wonders why ... Posted by b on November 1, 2022 at 11:39 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page 
Muhlenberg Receives Pennsylvania Hunger-Free Campus+ Designation

The College is among 26 institutions in the state to be recognized for leadership in working to end student hunger on campus.

By: Meghan Kita Tuesday, November 1, 2022 01:10 PM

The Pennsylvania Office of the First Lady and Department of Education recently granted Muhlenberg the Hunger-Free Campus+ designation, making it one of 26 institutions statewide in that category.

I am exceptionally proud of the strategic efforts and investments we have made over the past several years to address financial hardship on our campus in a more holistic and systemic way, says Vice President for College Life and Dean of Students Allison Williams. Receiving this new designation is an honor and is important to our work to bring visibility to food security issues on college campuses like Muhlenberg. We look forward to continuing to grow in our commitment to supporting this important need on our campus.

The Hunger-Free Campus initiative launched this year with the goal of advancing college students food security efforts across the state. Director of Corporate, Foundation & Government Relations Stephen Payne brought the initiative to the attention of Muhlenberg's food security task force, led by Director of Student Support Services Michele Paules and Chaplain and Director of Religious & Spiritual Life Janelle Neubauer.

To earn the states Hunger-Free Campus designation, an institution must meet certain criteria, including providing direct access to food to students and assisting students who are eligible for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program benefits. The Hunger-Free Campus+ designation is for institutions that are implementing additional innovative solutions to address student hunger and other basic needs for their campus community, per its website.

Muhlenberg debuted the M.U.L.E. (Muhlenberg Useful Living Essentials) Community Cabinet, a food pantry that provides nonperishable food items as well as hygiene products, in August 2019. Additionally, Dining Services has implemented a meal-swipe donation program, allowing students to share unused meals with peers. And, the Berg Bites program allows students to opt in to receive push notifications when food is available after on-campus catered events, which reduces both hunger and food waste.

Separately, Muhlenberg has also been awarded a small grant for a new refrigerator in the M.U.L.E. Community Cabinet to add additional fresh food options through the Colleges partnership with Swipe Out Hunger.

Members of the Muhlenberg or Lehigh Valley communities interested in learning more about food security initiatives at Muhlenberg can contact michelepaules@muhlenberg.edu or janelleneubauer@muhlenberg.edu.
Demonstrators gather in support of affirmative action as the U.S. Supreme Court is set to consider whether colleges may continue to use race as a factor in student admissions in two cases, at the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., Oct. 31, 2022.
A journalist contact who knows the ins and outs of the Financial Times exceedingly well pinged about a new article, Japan cannot survive without Russian oil, warns trading house chief, bleating about the oil and gas sanctions, and without saying so, the going-live-soon G7 oil price cap. Yes, Japan is a member of the G7.

The piece is noteworthy, as our alert colleague correctly noted, because the Financial Times has been a hardliner on Russia generally and the sanctions/economic war in particular.

His remarks:

Roula Khalaf was summoned to Tokyo to have this dictated to herKhalaf is a careerist and there is no way she would have run this without being ordered to.

Consider additionally:

It is very unusual for the Japanese to make a stink like this. Using a venue like the Financial Times means they wanted the noisemaking to be noticed. The Japanese complain in public only after theyve tried hard in private and gotten nowhere. This article looks to be the result of official Japan, which has sought and gotten some waivers from the oil and gas sanctions, believing its going to be in a very bad way without more relief.

Recall that the EU version of the oil sanctions, was set to add extreme provisions, like permanently barring any vessel that violated the price cap regime from ever getting any services from EU companies, like insurance or even one assumes, resupply at an EU port.

Remember further that Russia has said it simply wont sell oil subject to a price cap regime. Experts anticipate that response would produce a big jump in oil prices. Japan is already in bad economic shape due to the yen being very weak at a time when commodity prices are high. The article points out that Japan gets 9% of its gas and 4% of its oil from Russia. Those levels may not seem like much, but as the cliche goes, you will be just as dead whether you drown in 6 inches or 6 feet of water.

Or Japans real concern may be that the imposition of non-leaky sanctions will lead to those aforementioned big oil price increases. Simon Watkins in a new OilPrice story contends:1

Oilprice.com sources: In the short term, Russia could secure at least three-quarters of the shipping needed to move its oil as usual to established buyers.

However, the imposition of the price cap regime is sure to produce near-term dislocations as the work arounds (and likely longer transit processes) are implemented, so the immediate shortfalls would be greater than the three-quarters of the shipping suggests. Would it be mere weeks, or more on the order of months for these new mechanisms to be working smoothly?

Or is the Japanese complaint more narrow, as in Well cheat if we have to so dont go looking too hard? The interviewee is Masahiro Okafuji, the head of Itochu, long one of the smaller but sometimes particularly aggressive Japanese trading companies. Okafuji is also one of the few Japanese who has license to be candid.

Trading companies help preserve Japans cultural insularity by being major brokers of foreign trade transactions. They are still enormous in revenue terms with very small profit margins.

One could read Okafuji as effectively saying Japan needs foreign energy and the trading companies will get it, even if it infuriates the West. So he may be speaking from more of an institutional perspective. And given the fact that the US is escalating with China and Japan is Americas best military ally in the region, Okafuji and his confreres are likely counting on the US not being so self destructive as to cause a ruckus with Japan too by insisting on rigid compliance at a time when Japan simply cant handle it.

Notice that Okafuji initially goes through the ritual of submission, that of course he and Japan will comply, then goes on to explain why this cant and perhaps therefore wont happen. This isnt quite the Japanese Very difficult! with an inward hiss, which equals no, but its not terribly far from that either.

From the article:

In an interview with the Financial Times, Masahiro Okafuji, chief executive of Itochu, which has Warren Buffett as a major shareholder, said the countrys continuing use of Russian energy after the invasion of Ukraine would hinge on support from the US and Europe for Japans position. Unlike Europe or the US, Japan depends on overseas for almost all of its energy needs so its not possible to cut off ties with Russia because of the sanctions, Okafuji said at the companys head office in Tokyo. In reality, we cannot survive unless we continue to import from Russia, even if the volumes are smaller. Okafuji, who is among Japans most charismatic and aggressive business leaders, was also critical of the rising pressure on companies to prioritise geopolitics over commerce. The trend of friendshoring, where like-minded countries co-operate in supply chains to reduce geopolitical exposure, came with potential risk. Its inevitable, but if such a trend continues, it will reduce the investment appetite of companies as well as their ability to innovate and compete, so it is negative for the global economy, he said. Japan has kept pace with western nations in imposing sanctions on Russia, but it has not withdrawn from large energy projects in the country since it relies on Russia for about 9 per cent of its liquefied natural gas and 4 per cent of its oil. The Japanese government and Itochu, along with Indias state-backed ONGC Videsh, remain investors in the Sakhalin-1 oil project that ExxonMobil has quit. The prospects for the oil and gasfields project in Russias Far East region are even more uncertain after Russian president Vladimir Putin earlier this month signed a decree creating a new operating company that would be managed by state-run oil group Rosneft.

Even as Okafuji is trying to navigate Japans tricky position between the West and its energy supplies, some of those energy suppliers are getting noiser about not being on board with buyer attempts at price controls:

Europe gets dose of reality: Qatar is threatening not to send gas to Europe if the EU attempts to put a price cap on Russian exports.  The Sirius Report (@thesiriusreport) November 1, 2022

And India, which has repeatedly said no to siding against Russia and joining the G7 oil price cap bandwagon, is having to clear its throat yet again and say No means no:

"First of all, it would be diplomatically correct to say: "We will consider" [the issue of introducing a price cap].  AZ  (@AZgeopolitics) November 1, 2022

In response to a question about oil contracts with Russia , Puri noted the following: "I don't sign contracts with Russia.  AZ  (@AZgeopolitics) November 1, 2022

"We don't work like that. The world is not easy, who buys from whom  I will find out after the fact," the minister said.  AZ  (@AZgeopolitics) November 1, 2022

I wish I had seen this exchange. High caste Indians have often perfected the art of looking perfectly pleasant and unruffled when they deliver hash messages. That makes it hard to honestly depict the bluntness as the result of ire, as opposed to trying to get through very thick heads.

____

1 Watkins has a bad case of Putin Derangement Syndrome and so accepts Western disinformation without question, which distorts his analysis.
KateLynn White graduated from Tennessee State University, where she was an editor of the student newspaper. She interned for The Tennessean and The Tennessee Tribune before joining the Nashville Post in 2022. She also contributes to the Nashville Scene.

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(Natural News) Newly uncovered documents reveal that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pressured other federal regulators, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to clear the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine boosters without clinical trial data.

The emails between CDC and other government officials were obtained by Judicial Watch, a conservative and non-partisan organization advocating for more transparency in government.

The emails began in early Aug. 2021 between CDC officials and their counterparts in the FDA. The CDC wanted the FDA to authorize the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 boosters despite clinical trial data showing that the vaccines were not working as well as initially proclaimed. (Related: High risk, NO reward: CDC officially includes COVID-19 vaccine in its recommended immunization schedule for kids despite proven DANGERS.)

One conversation, described by now former FDA Deputy Chief for Vaccines Dr. Phil Krause, involved the CDC hoping that the FDA will approve emergency use authorization for a third dose of the vaccine for immunocompromised individuals.

Krause was talking to Dr. Doran Fink, who works for the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, charged with evaluating the COVID-19 booster vaccines. Fink noted that providers are losing confidence in FDA/CDC to do the right thing for their patients.

Less than two weeks later, the FDA authorized boosters for certain groups of people, including immunocompromised individuals.

The agency claimed it gave its approval after a thorough review of the available data concluded that immunocompromised individuals may benefit from a booster. But the emails reveal that the only data the FDA cited were from two independent studies and not from any of the actual clinical trial data.

CDC pressured FDA to change views regarding booster vaccines

When the FDA authorized the boosters, then-Acting Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock claimed at the time that individuals who are fully vaccinated are already adequately protected and do not need any additional doses.

This view would change just weeks later, thanks to CDC intervention when Woodcock and CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed a joint statement claiming that vaccine protection was waning and that everyone needed boosters to maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong its durability.

Both the FDA and the CDC would later authorize Pfizers COVID-19 booster vaccine for most other Americans, followed by Modernas and Johnson & Johnsons boosters.

Krause would later resign from his position in the CDC over his opposition to the booster vaccine strategy.

Dr. Marion Gruber, who resigned from the FDA at the same time as Krause, noted in earlier emails that he was also concerned about pressure to authorize the vaccines coming from Big Pharma companies like Pfizer.

We need to be given time to consider their data and cannot be pushed by these companies and, for that matter, the administration, who try to impose timeless [sic] that make no sense, wrote Gruber.

Read more about the CDCs illegal actions at CDC.news.

Watch this clip from InfoWars about the CDC pushing the COVID-19 vaccines on healthy children as young as five.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Cancer rates are exploding across America and the CDC is covering up the deadly truth  one of the biggest frauds was allowing mRNA genetic materials to be legally defined as vaccines.

Conflict of interest: PR firm representing Moderna and Pfizer is also working with the CDC to push vaccine propaganda.

Florida surgeon general slams profoundly corrupt CDC over handling of pandemic.

Emails prove CDC LIED about vaccine safety monitoring.

Newly released CDC data shows nearly a third of people who got vaccinated experienced significant adverse events.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

JudicialWatch.org [PDF]

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) The rapid escalation of online censorship, and increasingly offline censorship, cannot be overstated. The silencing tactic that has most commonly provoked attention and debate is the banning of particular posts or individuals by specific social media platforms. But the censorship regime that has been developed, and which is now rapidly escalating, extends far beyond those relatively limited punishments.

(Article by Glenn Greenwald republished from Greenwald.Substack.com)

There has been some reporting  by me and others  on the new and utterly fraudulent disinformation industry. This newly minted, self-proclaimed expertise, grounded in little more than crude political ideology, claims the right to officially decree what is true and false for purposes of, among other things, justifying state and corporate censorship of what its experts decree to be disinformation. The industry is funded by a consortium of a small handful of neoliberal billionaires (George Soros and Pierre Omidyar) along with U.S., British and EU intelligence agencies. These government-and-billionaire-funded anti-disinformation groups often masquerade under benign-sounding names: The Institute for Strategic Dialogue, The Atlantic Councils Digital Forensics Research Lab, Bellingcat, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. They are designed to cast the appearance of apolitical scholarship, but their only real purpose is to provide a justifying framework to stigmatize, repress and censor any thoughts, views and ideas that dissent from neoliberal establishment orthodoxy. It exists, in other words, to make censorship and other forms of repression appear scientific rather than ideological.

That these groups are funded by the Wests security state, Big Tech, and other assorted politically active billionaires is not speculation or some fevered conspiracy theory. For various legal reasons, they are required to disclose their funders, and these facts about who finances them are therefore based on their own public admissions. So often the financing is funneled through well-established front groups for CIA, the State Department and the U.S. National Security State, such as National Endowment for Democracy.

As has always happened with censor-happy tyrants throughout history, the more centers of power inject themselves with the intoxicating rush of silencing their adversaries, the more intense the next hit has to be. Every movement that has wielded censorship as a political weapon tells itself the same story to justify it. In ordinary times, they will casually recite, free speech is a vital value. But these are no ordinary times in which we are living. Our enemies and their ideas are different. They are uniquely hateful, false, inflammatory, and dangerous. The ideas they espouse will destabilize society, cause direct harm to others, deceive people, and incite violence against institutions of authority and their followers. Thus, they reason, we are actually not censoring at all. We are simply preventing evil people from doing harm to society, the government, and to citizens.

Look to any government or society in which censorship prevailed  either today or throughout history. This narrative about why censorship is not just justified but morally necessary is always present. Nobody wants to think of themselves as a censorship supporter. They need to be supplied with a story about why they are something different, or at least why the censorship they are led to support is uniquely justified.

And it works because, in the most warped sense possible, it appeals to reason. If one really believes, as millions of American liberals do, that the U.S. faces two and only two choices  either (1) elect Democrats and ensure they rule or (2) live under a white nationalist fascist dictatorship  then of course such people will believe that media disinformation campaigns, censorship, and other forms of authoritarianism are necessary to ensure Democrats win and their opponents are vanquished. Once that self-glorifying rationale is embraced  our adversaries do not merely disagree with us but cause harm with the expression of their views  then the more suppression, the better. And that is exactly what is happening now.

Read more at: Greenwald.Substack.com
(Natural News) There is no more electricity or water in many parts of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv following the latest round of Russian airstrikes against the target.

We are told that the Russian military launched numerous successful strikes on multiple key areas of Kyivs vital infrastructure. Here is what Russias defense ministry had to say about the hits:

The Russian Armed Forces continued to launch strikes with high-precision long-range air and sea-based weapons against Ukrainian military and energy facilities.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal later confirmed direct hits on 18 sites across Kyiv, most of which are tied to the nations energy supplies. Many Ukrainians are now in a panic as the cold winter season approaches.

The goals of the strikes were successful, Shmyhal said. All assigned objects were hit. (Related: Three months prior to the appearance of covid, the U.S. Department of Defense [DoD] awarded a COVID-19 Research contract to Ukraine.)

Missiles and drones hit 10 regions where 18 sites were damaged, most of them energy-related. Hundreds of settlements in seven regions of Ukraine were cut off.

Ukraine calls targeted Russian attacks war crimes

The Ukrainian military says it was able to intercept some projectiles launched over the Lviv region of the country, sparing this western part of Ukraine from similar damage.

Reports do indicate, however, that the areas of Cherkasy and Kirovohrad were attacked just like Kyiv was. There are now power outages not just in Kyiv but also in the Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions.

Below is a closer look at what transpired:

Kyiv region: Russian attacks left about 80 percent of the Ukrainian capital without water. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said much of the city is also without power.

Kharkiv: Two airstrikes in this area hit critical infrastructure facility, causing similar problems to not just the water supply but also the public transit network.

Zaporizhzhia region: Rockets struck an infrastructure facility, according to the local governor. Energy supplies there are also at risk.

Cherkasy region: Some of the region lost power after air attacks struck infrastructure facilities, according to a military administrator.

In a statement, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba condemned Russia, accusing the former Soviet Union of committing war crimes against Ukraine.

Another batch of Russian missiles hits Ukraines critical infrastructure. Instead of fighting on the battlefield, Russia fights civilians, Kuleba tweeted.

Mayor Klitschko also tweeted about the attacks, calling on Ukrainian citizens to stock up on water from the nearest pumps and points of sale to keep themselves sustained amid the ongoing crisis.

Emergency crews were reportedly deployed to the various sites to try to get water and power restored as quickly as possible. In some areas, the goal was to accomplish this in just a few hours, while in others there is sustained damage that will require more time to repair.

Rescue teams are also roving the affected areas to look for possible casualties underneath the rubble of damaged and destroyed buildings. Little has been said about the actual number of potential victims.

U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget A. Brink complained on Twitter that Russias attacks on Ukraine are callous and barbaric. She added that Russias apparent goal is to leave Ukraine cold and dark as we approach winter.

Prior to the latest round of attacks, Ukraine as a whole was already about 40 percent without power, reports suggest. Households continue to be encouraged to limit their electricity usage, especially when it comes to using non-essential large appliances.

Now, following the latest round of attacks, calls are being renewed for Ukrainians to prepare for long-term power outages, and to prepare accordingly.

More of the latest news about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine-U.S.-NATO can be found at Collapse.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) A group of military servicemen has called for an end to the Pentagons Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandate. It expressed concern about the COVID-19 shots harms through a 100-page report addressed to Congress.

The report featured statements from pilots and other military service members injured by the vaccine, including multiple anecdotes. It also included an aviation safety officers discovery of vaccine injuries that were not reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

This is just a small sample of many vaccine-injured service members who have decided to come forward and share their heartbreaking stories, the report stated.

An officer who went by the pseudonym Lt. Col. William P. Anton, who has served more than 20 years in the military, spearheaded the report to Congress. However, he was shocked and frustrated to have only received lukewarm responses from a couple of senators and their staffers.

Injuries to my fellow service members are happening right before our eyes and we know the solution [stopping the mandate], but no one is doing anything about it, he said.

Anton also expressed disappointment over the senior military and civilian leadership.

They are each in their own way aware of the ill health effects on our service members or the negative impact on our militarys readiness, and yet they remain silent, he stated. They justify their silence as obedience to military orders because that is easier than to acknowledge their own lack of moral courage.

Anton believes that the senior management would not want to risk their next promotion so they have not heard their call to halt the vaccine mandate.

In the military, people are willing to die for their country and the men and women standing right next to them, but he is concerned that the management are not willing to lay down their careers to speak out on what is going on. (Related: Cover up: DOD silent after whistleblowers expose COVID vaccine injuries in military.)

COVID-19 shots injure pilots, rendering them unable to fly

In a tell-all with the Epoch Times, Chief Warrant Officer (CW4) Aaron Murphy, not his real name, said that when the defense secretary made the vaccines mandatory, he took it like the other vaccines in the past. Murphy is a command pilot of the Boeing AH-64 Apache, the Armys most advanced multi-role combat helicopter, and has over 15 years of flying service.

On Aug. 24, 2021, he chose to take Johnson & Johnsons Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. Within four minutes, he felt a tingle go up his arm, into the neck and into his head, and felt like he was about to pass out. His blood pressure also plummeted, he said.

After some time, he was able to recover but decided to not finish the remainder of the workday and go home. The next day, he had a fever, a sore back and significant fatigue, but he thought these were all normal symptoms after taking the vaccine.

On the third day he had stroke-like symptoms, struggled to reach work and again decided to head home to rest. He was sick for a few days until one Sunday morning while at the church, it happened again. I was short of breath, dizzy and turning pale, so my wife took me home, he recounted. For the next several months, I felt like I was on a boat.

Due to this, he had been grounded from flight since August 2021. And without a medical diagnosis for the problem, he just thought he had vertigo.

He showed improvement after three months of physical therapy. By March 2022, Murphy was medically cleared for flight.

However, a second consultation in August 2022 led a doctor to diagnose him with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). The neurologist in the diagnosis wrote that the thrombosis could have resulted from the Janssen vaccine.

Since then, Murphy has been grounded and non-deployable because of the blood-thinning medication prescribed to him. He has been directed to continue the medication in the months ahead, and schedule an additional MRV in December for analysis.

Visit VaccineDamage.news for more stories about injuries suffered by military servicemen from the COVID-19 vaccines.

Watch Scott Kesterson discuss the COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the U.S. during an episode of BardsFM on Brighteon.TV.

More related stories:

Military whistleblowers submit report claiming COVID-19 vaccine mandate is UNLAWFUL.

Scott Kesterson: Military COVID-19 vaccine mandate a ploy to get rid of soldiers who would disobey illegal orders  Brighteon.TV.

Vaccine mandates, military vaccine injuries continue to threaten national security by killing our soldiers.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

DocumentCloud.org

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Last week, I recommended that my followers pay attention to the Twitter account of Dr. Andrew Huff  because hes the most important whistleblower in America right now.

(Article by Emerald Robinson republished from EmeraldDB3.Substack.com)

This week, I recommend that you follow the Twitter account of the Ethical Skeptic  who might be the most important COVID data analyst right now.

Why?

The Black Ops/SCI Top Secret US Naval intelligence officer and data expert known as the Ethical Skeptic on Twitter has been keeping tabs on the CDCs database releases, and hes got some very bad news: the mortality rate across the vaccinated world is up 17% and cancer is at a 9-sigma rise.

The extraordinary increase in cancer cases seems to be confirmed by various doctors who can speak honestly on social media because they are speaking anonymously.

Here is lag-adjusted non-COVID mortality on a chart.

This is happening around the world right now. Heres Dr. John Campbell explaining that 17% more people died in Australia in the first half of 2022 than expected.

17.1% more people are dying of a mysterious cause, and nobody on the news cares. Dr. John Campbell explains:https://t.co/Sdkc8yt4dTpic.twitter.com/WiCohSDc9H  Dr.No (Reformed) (@DrNo_Reformed) October 16, 2022

Excess mortality rates are being noticed by insurance industry experts as well  particularly in working age people between the ages of 18 and 64.

Largest mass die-off of the working class in history? CEO of an insurance company with 2,000 employees claiming a 10 sigma event of working class people dying off. 1 out of a billion years? pic.twitter.com/P4DEG7q12o  Dr.No (Reformed) (@DrNo_Reformed) April 21, 2022

Read more at: EmeraldDB3.Substack.com
(Natural News) The Kremlin has warned the U.S. that its commercial satellites could be targeted if they continue to feed Ukraine with vital information about Russian troop movements and bases.

Russia is one of only a handful of nations, including the United States and China, with offensive space capabilities. In 2021, Russia launched an anti-satellite missile into space to destroy one of its own missiles. (Related: Russian defense minister warns situation in Ukraine trending towards uncontrolled escalation.)

Konstantin Vorontsov, deputy director of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs department for arms control and non-proliferation, said during a meeting with the First Committee of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly that the U.S. and its allies were using space as a theater in the Ukraine war to enforce Western dominance.

Vorontsov said the use of Western satellites to provide Ukraine with significant aid in its war effort was an extremely dangerous trend.

Quasi-civilian infrastructure may be a legitimate target for a retaliatory strike, warned Vorontsov, adding that the Wests use of satellites to support Ukraine was provocative.

We are talking about the involvement of components of civilian space infrastructure, including commercial, by the United States and its allies in armed conflicts, he added.

Vorontsovs recent statement echoed similar sentiments he made to the UN last month. We reiterate our concern about the realization of policies aimed at the placement of weapons in outer space and the use of outer space for military purposes by the group of UN member-states in order to ensure their superiority and supremacy, he said at the time.

Russia may target Starlink satellites

In Vorontsovs statement, he did not mention any specific satellite companies. But Elon Musks private space company, SpaceX, has made headlines since almost the beginning of the conflict for providing free internet service for most of Ukraine through its massive network of Starlink satellites.

Earlier this month, Musk said he would continue paying for the service Starlink is providing Ukraine, citing the need for good deeds and for how this internet access provides Ukrainian forces with a major battlefield advantage.

Musk further claimed that Starlink has not received any funding from the Department of Defense, and that Starlink terminals in Ukraine are being used by both the military and civilian populations.

In response to Vorontsovs statement, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby warned that it will retaliate if the Kremlin does target American commercial satellites.

Any attack on U.S. infrastructure will be met with an appropriate response in an appropriate way, said Kirby. And were going to continue to pursue all means to expose, deter and hold Russia accountable for any such attack should it occur.

Kirby noted that Russia has been trying to pursue anti-satellite technology and capability for years now.

Learn more about the war in Ukraine at WWIII.news.

Watch this clip from InfoWars discussing how NATO will officially join the war in Ukraine by setting off a dirty bomb and blaming it on Russia.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Pentagon lusts after nuclear war, says it will nuke Russia if Putin doesnt pull out of Ukraine.

Russia invokes Biological Weapons Convention treaty, calls on UN Security Council to investigate US biolabs in Ukraine.

Dirty bomb false flag event to IGNITE World War with Russia, but Europe and USA dont have enough functioning INDUSTRY to win a war.

Biden promises to provide Ukraine with advanced air defense systems as Russia threatens more severe attacks.

Space war brewing? Russia threatens to destroy Starlink satellites.

Sources include:

StrangeSounds.org

Reuters.com

Axios.com

DW.com

FoxNews.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) In 2021, Canada became the world leader in euthanasia  medically-assisting more than 10,000 people to an early death. Since 2016, Canadian medical authorities followed through with 31,000 euthanasia requests. Hospitals there have quickly become death camps, a macabre place where treatment and counseling is withheld, where hopelessness and suicide is encouraged.

As the depravity spreads, the Canadian Parliament is now considering a law that would allow medical authorities to assist minors into a medically-assisted suicide, without parental consent. If this sounds outlandish, heres how far Canada has gone in just a few short years

The depraved expansion of medically-assisted suicide in Canada, UK

Euthanasia was once a criminal act when carried out on adults. In 2015, the Canadian Supreme Court overturned these criminal prohibitions for assisted-suicide in Carter v. Canada. After this infamous ruling, the Canadian Parliament went on to legalize medical aid in dying for adults under Bill C-14. This law, passed in 2016, authorized medical authorities to terminate a persons life if their condition was determined to include enduring and intolerable suffering or a reasonably foreseeable death.

By 2021, the Canadian Parliament passed a more cavalier euthanasia law (Bill C-7), allowing people with mental illnesses to kill themselves under medical supervision, as long as they also suffered from a non-mental illness related condition. This paved the way for a 23-year-old, Kiano Vafaeian to seek euthanasia without his familys knowledge. He was chronically depressed and he was also diabetic, with lost vision in one eye. When his sister and mother grew worried about his mental health and logged into his account, they found out that their brother/son had applied and was approved for medical assistance in dying. A doctor was scheduled to assist Kiano in carrying out his death wish at just 23-years-old. The family pushed back hard. The doctor  Dr. Joshua Tepper  received backlash and ultimately backed out of the operation. That young mans life was saved, yet so many other young people are now considering euthanasia and are being hopelessly herded into the death camps.

Euthanasia is now expanding to minors

In 2018, a U.K. medical journal promoted the so-called ethics of child euthanasia without parental consent. In 2017, British authorities assumed ownership over an infant named Charlie Gard, a healthy infant who was born with a rare and severe genetic disorder. Even though the parents raised money for an experimental treatment overseas, and a doctor was willing to help, the British authorities essentially abducted little Charlie from his parents and held the infant against the parents will. The British authorities sought to terminate the boys life, claiming little Charlie should die with dignity. The European courts ruled that Charlie should be removed from life support, and denied treatment. He died at 11 months.

This case has influenced a Canadian parliamentary committee to decide whether to pass a new law than enables Canadian authorities to abduct children and kill them ethically without any input from the parents.

In the C-7 law, lawmakers created a provision that opens the door for minors to be euthanized. C-7 calls for a comprehensive review of the provisions of the Criminal Code relating to medical assistance in dying and their application, including but not limited to issues relating to MATURE MINORS. According to Canadas Department of Justice, parents are generally entitled to make treatment decisions on their childrens behalf.

The mature minor doctrine, however, allows children deemed sufficiently mature to make their own treatment decisions. Right now, Canada is seeking to expand euthanasia to include mature minors while stopping any family member from intervening, while revoking parental rights.

For the latest on this issue, check out Euthanasia.News.

Sources include:

TheNewAmerican.com

NationalReview.com

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov
(Natural News) There are very few companies left in the United States that actually produce products made here, in case you have not noticed. And even those companies that still appear to be based here are, in many cases, actually owned by communist China.

Take General Electric (GE), for instance. This major household appliance company that has been around forever, originally based out of Louisville, Ky., was bought out by Haier, a Chinese corporation, back in 2016.

Haier purchased GE for $5.4 billion, representing the largest acquisition of a foreign electronics business in China. GE is technically still headquartered in Louisville, but the companys true headquarters is now in Qingdao, China.

AMC Theaters is another seemingly U.S.-based company that is now owned by China.

In 2012, a Beijing-based entity called the Dalian Wanda Group bought out AMC in a $2.6 billion deal, transferring ownership of the companys more than 8,200 screens straight to the communists.

Smithfield Foods, the worlds largest pork producer, was snatched up by Chinas Shuanghui International in 2013 for $4.7 billion, which at the time was the biggest purchase of an American company by a Chinese firm (GE became the biggest in 2016).

We also reported that General Motors (GM), Americas largest vehicle manufacturing company, was purchased in part by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. in 1998.

Eventually, China will try to take ownership of you and your family

In 2005, IBMs Personal Computer Division was handed over to a Chinese corporation called Lenovo, which bought the company for $1.25 billion.

We are told that Lenovo poured a ton of cash into IBM following the purchase, as well as assumed about $500 million worth of net balance sheet liabilities for IBM.

Spotify is another partially Chinese-owned company that tied the hitch with Tencent Holdings in 2017 as part of a mutual partnership. In exchange for breaking into the Chinese market with Tencents help, Spotify added another notch onto Tencents ever-expanding portfolio of American assets.

For all the worship he is getting lately, Elon Musk is not exactly pursuing endeavors that are in the best interests of Americans. His Tesla behemoth is similarly held in sizeable stake by Tencent Holdings, which also partially owns the worlds largest video game and social media companies.

In part due to Tencents investment, Musk has gone on to pursue other wild endeavors and pet projects such as SpaceX, which continue to enrich the multi-billionaire at the expense of American interests.

Microsoft, which we all think of as the brainchild of Washington-based Bill Gates, is no longer an American company, at least not its phone business division.

In 2016, Microsoft sold off its entry-level feature phone division to FIH Mobile Ltd., which generated $350 million in cash for the company. All 4,500 employees in the division were offered a transfer to the FIH team, which went in a new direction under Chinese leadership.

Hilton Hotels is another formerly American business that was bought out by Chinas HNA Group, also in 2016.

HNA is an aviation and shipping giant in China, and that year it took a 25 percent stake in Hilton for $6.5 billion, making it the companys second-largest shareholder.

That same year, HNA also bought Carlson Hotels Inc., another hospitality chain that used to be American. Both Hilton and Carlson continue to bear the image of being American brands, but behind the scenes it is communist China pulling the strings.

The taxi-like ridesharing service Uber received Chinese interest back in 2014 when internet search giant Baidu Inc. bought a sizeable $600 million stake in the company.

Want to keep up with communist Chinas latest purchases of American property, infrastructure and assets? You can do so at Collapse.news.

Sources for this article include:

CNET.com

Bloomberg.com

PBS.org

NaturalNews.com

NBCNews.com

TechCrunch.com

CNBC.com

Microsoft.com

Reuters.com

TechCrunch.com
(Natural News) As of late, it has suddenly become not-so-crazy to suggest that technology exists to manipulate the weather. In fact, the government is all but admitting, at this point, that geoengineering, aka chemtrails, is real and that it is being used to stop global warming.

Well, what would you say if someone told you that such technology has not just been around for years or even decades, but for more than a century? A man named Charles Mallory Hatfield, born into a Quaker family in Fort Scott, Kan., in 1875, is one of the earliest known weather makers.

Dubbed the rainmaker, Hatfield would state during his upbringing that his greatest ambition in life was pluviculture, or the science of rainmaking. He would leave his family business in 1904 to pursue this dream. (Related: Check out this list of patents suggesting that weather manipulation is happening all around us.)

History states that Hatfield developed a secret rainmaking mixture containing 23 different ingredients, two of them being dynamite and nitroglycerin. By unleashing this mystery concoction into the atmosphere via evaporator tanks, Hatfield discovered that it was possible to create artificial rain.

The key is for there to be clouds in the sky, and to chemically force the water from said clouds to fall to the ground, reports explain about the more primitive and imprecise nature of what Hatfield had available to him at that time.

San Diego county paid Hatfield $10,000 ($294,000 in todays terms) to add 15 billion gallons of water to area reservoir

At the time when Hatfield discovered this technology, the area in which he worked was suffering through extreme drought conditions. It was the desert climate of Southern California, after all, which has been facing a changing climate, so to speak, for many centuries.

These changes are natural, of course, and have absolutely nothing to do with human activity. But the point is that the state had water problems even back then, and weather manipulation was on the docket at the time for use as a tool to combat it.

Hatfield was able to forge a deal guaranteeing 18 inches of rain in just five months. He was paid $1,000, the equivalent of about $33,000 today, to make it all happen. By 1915, he would become a superstar for successfully completing his mission.

The rain Hatfield was able to produce helped keep cotton growers in business, as well as miners and others across several southwestern states and territories. Over time, his pay rate increased to $4,000, or about $130,000 in todays inflated terms.

Hatfields efforts were so consistently successful that San Diego County would eventually pay him $10,000, or the equivalent of $294,000 today, to fill up an entire area reservoir with 15 billion gallons of water.

According to materials housed at the San Diego Public Library, the effort was a success  and was actually too successful in that heavy rains throughout the area actually caused major flooding.

The Lower Otai Dam would end up breaking not long after, killing 19 people as a 20-foot-high wall of water came pouring across the area. Still, San Diego would get the water it needed, all thanks to Hatfields atmospheric chemical blasting technology.

There is a lot more to the story that you can read about at this link, but suffice it to say that artificial rain has been a real-life thing since the early 1900s.

And keep in mind that rainmaking and other weather-altering technologies have only become more sophisticated since that time, allowing geoengineers the ability to not only create rain but also prevent it (i.e., intentional droughts).

If you enjoyed reading this story, you will find more like it at Geoengineering.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheCovidBlog.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) During the first two-and-a-half years of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) scamdemic, some 150,000 excess deaths occurred in Americans under the age of 45. Half of those deaths, we now know, occurred just in the last year since the vaccines were introduced under Operation Warp Speed.

Why are so many people dying, you might be asking? The answer is certainly not because of COVID. Prior to the jab, those excess deaths likely occurred because of the trauma and terror of lockdowns, mask mandates, and forced societal collapse. The rest occurred because of the injections. (Related: Actuarial data also points to the clot shots as a major culprit in all these excess deaths.)

Joel Smalley covered all this in a detailed article he wrote on his Substack blog. As bad as things were and are for under-45s, it is a whole lot worse for the under-25s, he revealed.

Whether you think it is the collateral harms of earlier interventions or the mass mRNA experiment, it is a tragic, indisputable fact that young Americans are dying at substantially higher rates in more recent times than earlier in the COVID epidemic, Smalley wrote.

Im just curious. If you lost a young loved one in America, arent you curious too? Were looking at almost 4 million excess life-years lost since the start of the mRNA experiment. How does that compare to COVID life-years lost prior to that date?

The virus was never the problem

Just two months after Donald Trump unleashed Operation Warp Speed on the world, there were already around 1,200 more-than-average deaths reported in the under-25 age demographic in the United States.

Keep in mind that under-25s had not really even gotten the green light to roll up their sleeves at this particular point in time. It would be around this time that the government would really start pushing younger people to get jabbed, resulting in an even greater spike in excess deaths in the coming months.

A year later, by the end of February 2022, deaths of under-25s had increased to around 6,000  five times more, reported the Expose.

The pharmaceutical industry, in conjunction with the military-industrial complex known as our government, would quickly start blaming new variants of the Fauci Flu for this uptick in deaths.

First, it was delta, then it was omicron (or moronic if you rearrange the letters as an anagram), and now it is sub-variants of the two  and on and on it goes probably forever.

What you will never hear is that all these made-up cases of death caused by variants and sub-variants are actually just Fauci Flu jab deaths under a different name.

It is important to also note that prior to the introduction of the jabs, most of the death spikes in younger folks occurred around key moments of government-imposed COVID interventions  meaning the alleged virus is not to blame.

Deaths spike in the aftermath of COVID interventions (government policies) more than they do in the apparent emergence of a novel pathogen, noted the Expose.

Mortality increases in the aftermath of the mass mRNA experiment more than it does during the alleged emergence of a novel pathogen, in spite of the claim that the medical intervention is safe and effective.

In the comments, someone lamented that too few people are concerned about getting to the bottom of all this by dredging up the truth. It might be unpleasant, but it still needs to be done, this person suggested.

Scotland rules out vax for neonatal deaths without even testing for it and no one cares, this person added. What world are we in?

Interested in learning more about how Fauci Flu shots are killing societys youngest and brightest? Visit Genocide.news.

Sources include:

NaturalNews.com

Metatron.Substack.com

Expose-News.com
(Natural News) American and German researchers released a pre-print paper in bioRxiv the other day that further substantiates the unnatural origin of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19).

Entitled Endonuclease fingerprint indicates a synthetic origin of SARS-CoV-2, the paper explains that the most likely origin of the alleged virus is a laboratory, and not bat soup at a Wuhan, China, wet market as was originally claimed. (Related: Bats were not even being sold in Wuhan at the time when covid mysteriously appeared.)

Similar studies published before this one looked at the matter using a different set of criteria. Researchers involved with those looked specifically at qualitative aspects of the virus such as its visible features.

In this latest one, researchers used quantitative methods  a first with regard to covid, just to be clear. This breakthrough method allowed researchers to present what they describe as objective findings that exceed those of other similar studies.

Another thing worth noting is that this new paper did not rely on any of the other known evidence that suggests the Fauci Flu was cooked up inside a building. It avoided taking into account the highly unusual furin cleavage site, for instance, which other scientists say points to a synthetic origin probably at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).

Theres simply no way covid is a random product of nature

For the purposes of this new research, Valentin Bruttel, a molecular immunologist at the University of Wurzburg in Germany; Alex Washburne, a mathematical biologist at Selva Science; and Antonius VanDongen, a pharmacologist at Duke University, examined what is described as tiny fingerprints left behind during viral assembly in a lab.

Normally, seamless genetic engineering techniques render it difficult to uncover evidence of manipulation  if done correctly, of course. In the case of the Wuhan Flu, efforts appear to have been made to conceal its synthetic origin, but the research team used a novel statistical process to crack the code.

Uncovering hidden evidence like this is no small feat, but the trio was able to accomplish what they set out to do by comparing the distribution of certain strands of genetic code in wild viruses to those present in lab-made viruses.

Lab-made viruses more often than not are constructed by assembling together various parts and pieces of other viruses. One blog compared it to the Mr. Potato Head game in which the nose part can be placed anywhere, or the ear part moved to where the feet should be.

The process supposedly helps science better understand how viruses work, spread, and infect  this being the excuse that was given as to why coronaviruses were being tampered with in the first place.

Viruses are also tampered with in the way this team did to uncover discoveries in order to create bioweapons, though the paper denies that this is what was going on (probably for political correctness purposes).

In the end, the team learned that not only is covid fake in terms of not being a random product of nature, but that there is only about a one in 100 million chance that covid came from bat soup or some other such excuse.

Though very subtle, the team says that identifiable fingerprints are, in fact, present on the surface of the covid virus. And these fingerprints point to tampering activities by scientists in a lab, which is what covid deniers have been saying since pretty much the beginning.

There is no chance this wasnt a gain of function engineered virus to anyone with common sense, wrote a commenter about the discovery.

The latest news about the Chinese Virus and its mysterious origin can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

bioRxiv.org

NaturalNews.com

TheEpochTimes.com
(Natural News) Anyone with half a brain knows that Joe Biden did not get 81 million votes in the 2020 election and that Donald Trump earned more votes than any Republican president in history  winning 18 of 19 bellwether counties as well as Ohio  and still lost.

The 2020 election was stolen from Trump, no question about it, and it was due to a massive amount of ballots being cast illegally.

In addition to blatant violations of laws barring so-called ballot harvesting  that is, one person rounding up dozens of ballots and casting them on behalf of voters  hundreds of thousands of ballots were cast using outdated voter registration lists because most counties around the country do not do a very good job keeping their lists up to date, which they are required to do under federal law.

As such, a group in Arizona  a state Biden won by only a few thousand votes in 2020  was formed to keep an eye on drop boxes to make sure that people were not stuffing them again with illegal ballots, and a federal judge just ruled they have every right to do so.

The Associated Press reported:

A federal judge Friday refused to bar a group from monitoring outdoor ballot boxes in Arizonas largest county where watchers have shown up armed and in ballistic vests, saying to do so could violate the monitors constitutional rights.

U.S. District Court Judge Michael Liburdi said the case remained open and that the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans could try again to make its argument against a group calling itself Clean Elections USA. A second plantiff, Voto Latino, was removed from the case.

Liburdi noted in his ruling that while this case certainly presents serious questions, the Court cannot craft an injunction without violating the First Amendment.

Some voters claimed that members of Clean Elections USA were intimidating them, but there is no evidence to suggest the groups members have done anything wrong. Arizona law requires election monitors to remain 75 feet away from polling stations, and yet, the lawsuit did not allege that group members were violating the statute.

Plaintiffs have not provided the Court with any evidence that Defendants conduct constitutes a true threat, the judge wrote. On this record, Defendants have not made any statements threatening to commit acts of unlawful violence to a particular individual or group of individuals.

The Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans said it was disappointed by the decision. We continue to believe that Clean Elections USAs intimidation and harassment is unlawful, it said, adding it would seek immediate appellate review and emergency relief, the organization said in a statement.

Regardless, there is plenty of evidence that the elections were stolen using illegal ballots.

In May, a documentary film by Dinesh DSouza featuring highly experienced election analysts who use both data and video proves beyond any reasonable doubt that Democrats conspired to pull off the greatest election theft in the history of our country. And worse, unless Republican legislatures in key battleground states do more to secure elections moving forward, this will happen again and again until our elections become completely meaningless.

A Twitter thread posted the week the film dropped summed up the details of the film [which you can watch here  click for the details] as well as why it is impossible to come to any conclusion other than Trumps victory was taken from him.

Here is the trailer:

Just saw #2000Mules. Why is it devastating? Because #TrueTheVotes Catherine Engelbrecht teamed up w/a guy whos run election data for 40 years. What did they do? They bought publicly available cell phone data & asked some very simple questions, the Twitter thread explained.

A press release noted:

True the Vote spent $2 million to buy publicly available cell phone data that can pinpoint an individuals location to within a few inches. They then narrowed their search to targets that began visiting drop boxes and NGO offices during the early voting weeks leading up to November 3rd, activity that was contrary to their prior pattern of life. In Georgia, the threshold was at least two dozen trips to drop boxes and five visits to a non-profit.

The 2020 election was stolen. The proof is there for anyone with an open mind to see. No wonder groups are forming to watch ballot boxes.

Sources include:

Politico.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Officials in Florida will investigate a long-running and widespread ballot harvesting scheme exposed by a Democratic candidate for Orange County commissioner.

The Florida Department of State (DOS) told the Epoch Times in an emailed statement that it received a complaint regarding alleged ballot harvesting in Orange County, which is currently under review to determine if an investigation is warranted. The Office of Election Crimes and Security (OECS), established under the DOS in 2022 by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to hold individuals in the Sunshine State accountable for voter fraud, forwarded the concern to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

In a separate Oct. 26 statement to Just The News, the DOS said it was first made aware of the allegations on Sept. 1.

After further inquiry, OECS received additional information related to the allegation on Oct. 17, 2022 and performed a preliminary investigation. Since OECS is an investigative entity and does not [have] authority to make arrests, the office forwarded the complaint to the FDLE for possible violation of section 104.0616, Florida Statutes.

The statements issued by OECS came amid a sworn affidavit filed by Cynthia Harris, a Democrat and former candidate for Orange County commissioner. Her affidavit filed to the DOS exposed the ballot harvesting operation.

You know, its just utterly ridiculous that people dont understand that once that ballot leaves your hand and its not placed in the mailbox, or its not directly given to the supervisor of elections, you dont know where it goes, Harris said during an appearance on the Just The News, No Noise TV program.

What happens is in our community when absentee ballots are mailed, the candidate or any political party can find out when the absentee ballots are mailed and to whom. These ballot harvesters know which batch has gone out. They go to the door and they ask you for your absentee ballot.

Harris, who is African-American, remarked that ballot harvesting has become an accepted practice in the Black community.

Well, in communities that dont look like me, no one does this, she said. But in our community, its kind of like an accepted practice that the man is coming by to pick up my absentee ballot or the lady is coming to pick up my absentee ballot.

Election officials turned a blind eye to vote fraud, Harris alleges

The former candidates sworn affidavit identified specific individuals working as ballot brokers and also provided an inside look at the election fraud scheme in Orange County  complete with emails, receipts, video clips and other evidence.

According to Harris, ballot brokers visit individuals in their residences and assists the individual with filling out a request for a mail-in ballot. They also instruct people who requested for absentee ballots to wait for the broker to return to their homes and avoid sealing the certificate envelope.

In rare circumstances, if the voter has filled out the ballot and sealed the envelope certificate, the ballot broker will take the ballot and then steam open the sealed envelope. The ballot broker will either correct any votes, if necessary, that were not voted according to their wishes or just throw them out.

She also revealed that residents in nursing homes and rehabilitation centers were also being utilized for election fraud without their consent. (Related: Wisconsin disability service coordinator: Vote fraud rampant in assisted living facilities.)

For nursing homes, ballot brokers get the list of residents by cross referencing the address with the voter registration list. The ballot broker figures out the best way to make contact, usually through friends and family that may or may not know they are even part of a scheme. They help the resident fill out the mail-in-ballot or just take the mail-in ballot from the nursing home and deliver it to the ballot broker.

Harris accused Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles of ignoring the vote harvesting scheme occurring right under his nose.

Hes been there since 1996. Thats 26 years that this has been a blind eye turned on our community, the people that we entrust in the fair elections and the democratic process.

In response, Cowles office said the supervisor is not aware of any issues regarding ballot harvesting. The top election official also urged Harris to file a complaint with state authorities if there are any issues [she is] concerned about.

Head over to VoteFraud.news for more stories about ballot harvesting in Florida and other states.

Watch this video about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signing an election integrity bill that criminalizes ballot harvesting schemes.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

BOOM: Minneapolis Police announce investigation into Ilhan Omar ballot harvesting.

Nevada reports over three thousand individual accounts of mail-in ballot fraud.

Project Veritas infiltrates ballot chasing ring targeting senior citizens in Texas.

Sources include:

NewsPunch.com

TheEpochTimes.com

JustTheNews.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Search engine giant Google appears to be rigging its search results related to the midterm elections to favor Democratic Party candidates.

Conservative watchdog Media Research Center (MRC) put forward this claim in an Oct. 25 piece published on its website. It searched for the campaign websites of Republican and Democratic candidates for 12 key Senate races using Google, Microsoft-owned Bing and DuckDuckGo and looked at the search results. MRC then looked at the organic search results on the first page, where it discovered the Big Tech firms clear bias against GOP candidates.

The group found that out of 12 senatorial races, the campaign websites for GOP candidates were displayed at a lower rank in organic search results. Some GOP candidates who found their websites at the bottom of search results were Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt at No. 27 and incumbent Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson  who is seeking re-election  at No. 13. In contrast, senatorial candidates from the Democratic Party appeared higher in organic search results.

Moreover, MRC also discovered that the campaign websites of seven GOP senatorial candidates did not even show up on the first five organic search results:

Sen. Marco Rubio (Florida)

Herschel Walker (Georgia)

Adam Laxalt (Nevada)

Don Bolduc (New Hampshire)

Rep. Ted Budd (North Carolina)

J.D. Vance (Ohio)

Dr. Mehmet Oz (Pennsylvania)

In contrast, campaign websites for some Democratic senatorial candidates appeared in the first 10 organic search results:

Rep. Val Demmings (Florida)  No. 6

Sen. Raphael Warnock (Georgia)  No. 5

Sen. Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire)  No. 8

Cheri Beasley (North Carolina)  No. 1

Rep. Tim Ryan (Ohio)  No. 2

Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (Pennsylvania)  No. 3

Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes (Wisconsin)  No. 5

The conservative media watchdogs findings came amid an earlier study by North Carolina State University researchers, which found that Googles Gmail marked 59.3 percent more emails from right-leaning candidates as spam compared to left-leaning candidates. (Related: Manipulating the data: MRCs Brent Bozell highlights Google searchs pro-Democrat election bias.)

Google vehemently denies anti-GOP bias, search result manipulation

L. Brent Bozell, MRCs founder and president, put in his two cents on the report.

Google must be investigated for its un-American efforts to sway the election, he said. First, researchers caught Google red-handed by proving GOP campaign emails were sent to spam. Now, weve uncovered Google manipulating search results to hide GOP campaign websites while promoting Democratic ones.

Bozell ultimately branded this search result manipulation as an effort by Google to help Democrats and interfere in the Democratic process.

The Menlo Park, California-based tech giant strongly disputed the findings of the MRC study.

This report is designed to mislead, testing uncommon search terms that people rarely use, it told Fox News Digital. Anyone who searches for these candidate names on Google can clearly see that their campaign websites rank at the top of results. In fact, all of these candidates currently rank in the top three and often in the first spot in Google search results.

Doing the same searches on Bing and DuckDuckGo, however, painted an entirely different story. Save for two races, the two alternative search engines had a neutral approach for both GOP and Democratic senatorial candidates  with search results for both showing up in the top five.

Liberal psychologist and researcher Dr. Robert Epstein has repeatedly warned of the danger Google poses to American voters. His 2019 testimony before the Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution shed light on how the search engine giant and other Big Tech firms have the power to change 15 million votes.

Google poses a serious threat to democracy, Epstein told senators that time. To let Big Tech get away with subliminal manipulation on this scale would be to make the free and fair election meaningless.

Head over to SearchEngine.news for more stories about Google.

Watch Dr. Robert Epstein explain how Google manipulates U.S. elections below.

This video is from the War Room channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Five times Google was caught red handed on bias and censorship.

Google, Twitter tighten censorship noose on conservatives ahead of election.

Conservative clergy of color rips Google over deliberate censorship of Conservatives

Conservative leaders publish letter to Google demanding explanation about conservative censorship.

Google insiders warn outright censorship of the internet is Googles top priority and everyone has been intimidated into silence.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

NewsBusters.org

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Some Australians who suffered from Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine-linked injuries are bound to get compensated more by their government. That is if they can meet the strict criteria and get lucky.

The odds are definitely against them. Thus far, only 59 out of 2,987 Australian vaccine injury claimants have been compensated  just around two percent or just two out of every hundred who have complied with the stringent documentation of requirements. (Related: Australia now ADMITS covid vaccines are harming people, offers up to $600,000 in compensation for the seriously injured.)

At least this is what happened in the fiscal year 2021-2022 under Australias COVID-19 Vaccine Claims Scheme. Breaking down the original budget of $609,000 would mean only 47 people could receive the maximum compensation ($13,000) out of the thousands of claimants  10,000 initially applied but the majority did not pursue their claims.

With so many Australians experiencing serious illnesses after getting the jabs, the federal government was forced to roll out a new compensation scheme to silence the critics of its harsh vaccine mandate.

Australias new vaccine injury compensation plan has 80 times more budget

The government padded its budget for vaccine injury compensation to $50 million by July 2023, which is nearly 80 times over the 2021-2022 fiscal year budget set by Services Australia, the executive agency responsible for delivering welfare, health, child-support payments and the like to eligible Australians and permanent residents.

As expected the total payment of $937,000 exceeded the meager budget.

Now, the situation would be a bit different. Under the revised budget and the new tiered payouts, around 40,000 Australians could benefit from the vaccine injury program set to expire on April 17, 2o24.

According to local media, the new program offers varying rates of compensation depending on the severity of the injury and how much a vaccine-injured person is having to pay out of pocket for medical expenses.

A 7 News reporter offered this explanation: Doctors say the benefits far outweigh the risks, but as the vaccine rollout now ramps up through the booster phase, there are a rare few who suffer serious side effects. Now the federal government is offering compensation for anyone who becomes seriously ill after having their COVID shot.

Recognized adverse events by the Australian government include anaphylactic (severe allergic) reaction; thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (blood-clotting); myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle); pericarditis (inflammation of the fibrous sac surrounding the heart); capillary leak syndrome; demyelinating disorders, including Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS); and thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet count), including immune thrombocytopenia.

Other injuries like deconditioning (loss of muscle tone and endurance due to chronic disease), headaches, fatigue, strokes and seizures were excluded.

Applicants whose injuries were included in the approved list need a signed letter from a doctor showing a causal link between the injection and the illness and proof of an overnight stay at a hospital due to the claimed illness.

The second requirement seemed easy to accomplish, but it actually constitutes the hardest part as hospitals, presumably upon the advice of local health authorities, tend to send the patients home after treatment.

Once approved, the claimant stands to receive no more than $20,000 in compensation.

Another set of claimants involves those who got assessed and certified by a team of medical-legal experts. Those who fall into this category stand to receive no less than $20,000.

Of course, those who suffer from serious injuries or long-term illnesses deserve much more. They can receive as much as $644,640, which is actually bigger than the initial total budget.

Nothing wrong there, really. The Aussie government may just be feeling generous and wants to compensate for the pain and anguish it has caused by imposing the vaccines without enough proof that they would work.

Its payback time.

The video below shows Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt claiming that no one died of COVID-19 in Australia.

This video is from the Hyperx2119 channel on Brighteon.com.

Other related stories:

Australias COVID Medical Network: Aussie regulators, health officials LIED about COVID vaccines.

Australia says covid shots will be FOREVER every 6 to 12 months until you die.

Covid deaths hit new record in hyper-vaccinated Australia.

Sources include:

AmericasFrontlineNews.com

DaveBegleyPoet.Substack.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Western powers just will not stop poking the bear (Russia), prompting the former Soviet Union to halt a grain export deal that allowed for the safe passage of agriculture transportation vessels in and out of the Black Sea.

The deal, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, was set to expire on November 19 with the possibility of an extension. That extension, we are told, is now highly unlikely following a targeted drone attack by Kiev against Russian ships in the waterway.

Taking into account  the terrorist act by the Kyiv regime with the participation of British experts against the ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian vessels involved in ensuring the security of the grain corridor, the Russian side suspends participation in the implementation of agreements on the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports, announced the Russian ministry in a statement.

The drone attacks occurred on Saturday, resulting in minor damage to a Russian minesweeper. Russia says it was able to mostly successfully repel the terrorist attack, which occurred on the outer roadstead of Sevastopol.

 the use of naval weapons and naval aviation of the Black Sea Fleet destroyed four marine unmanned vehicles, three more devices were destroyed on the internal roadstead, the ministrys statement continued.

Kyiv-NATO-U.S.-U.K. trying to starve out the Third World

Back in the spring, food exports were halted in many areas of Eastern Europe following Russias initial invasion of Ukraine, which occurred in February.

Since that time, special deals like the Black Sea Grain Initiative were forged to ensure the continuation of food exports, without which tens of millions of people  many of them in Northern Africa and other developing areas  will starve.

This latest attack by Kyiv-NATO-United States-United Kingdom against Russian warships will only exacerbate the food shortage problem in these parts of the world that are heavily reliant upon food imports for sustenance.

According to The New York Times, the United Nations, which helped forge the Black Sea Grain Initiative, is in contact with Russian officials regarding the countrys comments about suspending its participation in the deal.

Rather than condemn the Western powers that provoked this with the terrorist attacks, the UN is instead focusing on trying to get Russia to continue playing ball despite being the recipient of Western terrorism.

It is vital that all parties refrain from any action that would imperil the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which is a critical humanitarian effort that is clearly having a positive impact on access to food for millions of people, said Stephane Dujarric de la Riviere, the spokesman for Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary general.

Even prior to the terrorist attack by Kyiv, Russia was already on the fence about extending the grain deal beyond November 19 unless certain conditions were met. Western powers have been uncooperative with those demands, and now the attack has soured relations even further.

Ukraine is of course blaming Russia, projecting its own deviant behavior on Vladimir Putin. Here is how Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraines foreign minister, spun the incident:

Now Moscow uses a false pretext to block the grain corridor which ensures food security for millions of people. I call on all states to demand Russia to stop its hunger games and recommit to its obligations.

In the comment section, someone suggested that Russias suspension of the grain deal isnt the Russian response and is just a warm up.

It should be within the next 48 hours, this person added, noting that the Ukes are about to lose a hell of a lot more vital infrastructure over this.

It seems they just dont get the message, and no, they will never get back Crimea.

The latest news about the war in Ukraine can be found at WWIII.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) A Senate committee just passed a bill creating a national digital ID system for American citizens, raising fears that a centralized digital database with everybodys private information could be abused.

In late September, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted to advance the Improving Digital Identity Act. To make sure that it passes, lawmakers in the Senate plan on attaching the bill, which already has a companion bill in the House, to must-pass defense spending legislation.

If it passes, the bill will lead to the creation of the Improving Digital Identity Task Force, a public-private task force meant to develop secure methods for governmental agencies to supposedly protect the privacy and security of individuals and support the creation of a reliable, interoperable digital identity verification system for both public and private sectors.

The legislation also gives the Department of Homeland Security the power to award grants to state, local, tribal and territorial governments to upgrade their digital identification systems that provide residents with drivers licenses or other types of identity credentials. The grants would go to upgrades supporting the development of highly secure, interoperable systems that enable digital identity verification.

The Government Accountability Office would provide Congress with reports on how much federal, state, local, tribal and territorial governments have saved from the widespread use of digital ID tech. (Related: Details of over 1.2M credit and debit cards LEAKED onto BidenCash website.)

Globalists behind the push for digital IDs

Digital IDs are supposed to enable individuals to prove who they are through virtual systems. Proponents claim the main benefit of digital IDs is to control the amount of information disclosed during identification verification checks, such as to enter a bar or to pass through security checkpoints at airports.

For example, instead of presenting a bouncer with an ID that includes not just a persons name and age, but also their address and other private information, that person would instead present a QR code for scanning that would only provide relevant information. In this case, just proof that a person is 21 years old or above without revealing their birth date.

In 2019, a report from the McKinsey Global Institute argued that national digital ID systems could be the key to unlocking access to financial services, various government benefits, educational opportunities and other critical services for more citizens.

But what proponents of digital ID systems dont realize is that many of todays drives for the creation of national digital ID systems are backed by globalist organizations like the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Big Tech elites like billionaire Bill Gates.

The globalists efforts to advance national digital ID systems began gaining steam during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, when social distancing measures were used to promote the use of virtual ID systems, including vaccine passports and digital drivers licenses.

Baxter Dmitry, writing for NewsPunch, noted that the Senates recent push to roll out digital IDs for American citizens fulfills the wishes of both Gates and the WEF. He also warned that the fact that this major development is not widely known is intentional and shows the globalists collaboration with the mainstream media.

Its almost as though the globalist elite have instructed their minions in the mainstream media to keep quiet about their plans for global domination, wrote Dmitry. Now, in the midst of a media blackout, a proposed national ID system for U.S. citizens is fast becoming a reality.

Dmitry noted that the end goal for the globalists is not to get every citizen in every nation to agree to a worldwide digital ID system. Theyll want something much more permanent than an ID that can be left at home when people feel like it or forget, he wrote. The end goal is to implant a microchip in every person on the planet that can keep track of everybodys movements and activities at every moment of their lives.

In the end, everything will be connected to a single implantable device, he warned.

Watch this clip from InfoWars as Harrison H. Smith discusses the World Economic Forums digital identity program that involves microchipping children.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Australia following Communist Chinas footsteps with digital ID system.

Nigeria to become testing ground for Gates-backed, globalist-funded digital ID system.

Canada intensifies airport surveillance with digital identity and facial recognition systems.

Macron launches COVID jab digital ID program in France immediately after being reelected.

UK begins digital ID push with launch of verification tech and online portal for accessing private info.

Sources include:

NewsPunch.com

JustTheNews.com

News.BloombergLaw.com

MeriTalk.com

Brighteon.com
Even the most daring adrenaline junkie's palms sweat at the thought of skydiving.

And, while the average skydive takes place from a height of around 10,000ft, it pales in comparison to a 10-year-old record-breaking jump.

Daredevil Who Broke The Sound Barrier Jumping From Space

Daredevil Felix Baumgartner, now 53, jumped from the edge of space on this day in 2012, armed only with a pressure suit, a parachute, and steel nerves.

He fell for more than four minutes, reaching dizzying speeds of 843.6mph and breaking the sound barrier before opening his parachute and safely gliding down to land in New Mexico.

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of his jump, MailOnline spoke with Baumgartner, who described the terrifying stunt and why he would never do it again.

Baumgartner was a skilled skydiver who had completed thousands of jumps before deciding to go to space.

Captain Joe Kittinger, a retired fighter pilot who jumped to Earth from 102,800 feet in 1960, was his inspiration.

He told MailOnline, "As a skydiver, you always want to push the envelope. You're always wondering, 'What else can I do?' Can you go faster? Going higher? It's always floating around."

Baumgartner had previously collaborated with Red Bull on base jumps and approached them with the idea of jumping from space.

"We took on the challenge of finding the right people because of all the trust I'd built with Red Bull through base jumps," he explained.

This included Joe Kittinger, his inspiration, who agreed to assist him.

"Joe made it very clear the first time I met him: I'm interested, but only if you take it seriously.' You can't go from 0 to hero overnight. We must proceed with caution."

The two years that followed were filled with meticulous planning and testing, which was not always easy.

Baumgartner's plan was simple: he'd board the Red Bull Stratos capsule wearing a pressurized suit before soaring up to the edge of space, guided by a helium balloon.

The daredevil would open the capsule door and jump once he reached an altitude of 114,829ft (35,000 meters), freefalling for four minutes before opening his parachute and gliding to the ground.

While the entire mission would take less than three hours, Mr. Baumgartner was aware of several potential problems.

"It's a harsh environment up there. If the suit fails, your blood will boil and you will die in 15 seconds," he explained.

He also noted other problems, such as possible issues with th parachute, or "you could flat spin, pushing all of your blood into your skull."

Following a doctor's briefing, Mr. Baumgartner was given the "good news" that if something went wrong, "it would only take 15 seconds to die."

The launch was originally scheduled for October 9, 2012, but was canceled due to inclement weather.

"The first test was canceled, and we only had one spare balloon," Baumgartner explained. We would have had to wait another six months if the second test had failed.

Fortunately, Baumgartner awoke on October 14 to better weather and felt optimistic about the second launch attempt.

He described waking up at 2 a.m. and going to mission control to do the weather brief and medical tests.

Also Read: Asteroid Impact: NASA Estimates Space Rock the Size of the Great Pyramid May Hit Earth on May 6

What Were The Risks Of Felix Baumgartner's Jump?

External Influence- Baumgartner's body could be subjected to some horrible things if his pressure suit loses pressurization, as per Forbes Magazine.

Water boils at 98.6 degrees F (37 degrees C) above 63,000 feet (known as the Armstrong Line) due to ambient air pressure - the temperature of the human body.

When exposed to ambient outside pressure, bodily liquids (particularly saliva, tears, and liquids wetting the alvioli in the lungs) can boil.

Because of the elastic pressure of the blood vessels, the blood will not boil, but the damage will have been done.

Problems with balloon stress-. The balloon is 0.0008 inches thick (roughly the thickness of a plastic dry cleaner bag) and can cause a variety of problems.

It's possible that it was nicked on the ground. Extreme temperature variations passing through the tropopause may stress it.

Any damage caused by the ground or the ascent will only worsen with altitude as conditions become more extreme, potentially leading to the balloon's catastrophic failure.

Supersonic velocity-. Someone with a stronger physics background can confirm this, but the colliding forces caused by a body breaking the sound barrier could be quite dramatic.

These forces are much less powerful in the stratosphere, but there was still the possibility of a problem. Air can collide with the force of an explosion at lower altitudes.

Ultraviolet radiation- UV radiation is 100,000 times stronger at 120,000 feet than it is on the ground. Felix should only have a brief exposure, so this is unlikely to be a major issue.

Related article: Space Debris From Chinese Rocket Will Crash Near Populated Area in the Philippines
Mashreq, one of the leading financial institutions, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Egypts COP Presidency to formalise its participation at this years United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP27.

The sponsorship of the event, to be held from November 6 to 18, 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, comes as part of Mashreqs acknowledgement of the gravity of the global climate challenge and its commitment to further efforts to raise awareness and engagement across the region.

As a bank, Mashreq has facilitated $11.7 billion worth of Sustainable Finance deals since October 2020 across GCC, India, Turkey and Africa.

Climate change

With lives and livelihoods at stake, all communities, stakeholders, world leaders, climate scientists and populations need to come together to tackle the issues related to Climate change.

The need to deliver more innovative financing solutions, grants and concessions to help developing countries with mitigation and adaptation. Mashreq is in active discussions with several entities that are looking to explore sustainable financing for the first time, providing them with guidance and advice. This makes Mashreqs involvement in COP27  and particularly in Finance Day (November 9) a timely one.

Mashreq will also participate in panel discussions during Finance Day and Energy Day (November 15) and other engagements with customers and partners on ground.

Decisive climate action

Ahmed Abdelaal, Group Chief Executive Officer, Mashreq, said: We are convinced that urgent and decisive climate action is necessary to protect people and planet from the intensifying impacts of climate change.

We also see the transition to a low carbon and resilient economy as a real opportunity to double our commitment to sustainable finance and invest in sectors that will drive economic growth and create the jobs of tomorrow. In addition, we are also embedding ESG practices across the bank, with the development of a robust sustainability framework to create more value for our people, our customers, and our shareholders."

Ambassador Achraf Ibrahim - General Coordinator for Organisational and Financial Affairs of the COP27, said: By embedding ESG practices across the bank, with the development of a robust sustainability framework to create more value for its people, its customers, etc., Mashreq Bank is confirming that sustainability and climate change are at the heart of its priorities. COP27 would be an unparalleled platform for Mashreq Bank to shape and advance solutions and reach impactful, actionable outcomes in concert with the leaders of governments and industry stakeholders.-- TradeArabia News Service
Wild weather is expected to return to Australia's east coast and along the Great Australian Bight, just as flood-ravaged communities begin to clean up.

Severe winds and thunderstorms are expected to hit Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia as early as Sunday afternoon.

More severe weather warnings have been issued for Australia's east coast

The Tasmanian State Emergency Service (SES) warned that severe thunderstorms in the state's south could cause flash flooding and hazardous driving conditions, as per The Guardian.

With gusts of up to 100km/h expected, Tasmanians have been advised to secure any loose items around their properties.

"With recent persistent rain, wet soil, and damaging winds, there is a significant potential for trees and powerlines to be brought down across Tasmania," said Leon Smith, acting director of the Tasmania SES.

Residents in southern Victoria have also been warned, with a severe weather warning in effect for damaging winds.

The warning extends from the South Australian border to Gippsland, affecting greater Melbourne as well as Maryborough, Kyneton, Castlemaine, Bacchus Marsh, and Ballarat.

The Bureau of Meteorology has advised anyone in those areas to avoid travel and stay indoors if at all possible.

An evacuation order remains in effect along the Murray River in Echuca, and residents in flood-affected communities have been warned of a gastro outbreak caused by contaminated flood water.

Floods have damaged over 1,000 homes and businesses in New South Wales.

Powerlines and trees are more likely to fall as a result of strong winds and saturated soils.

Penrith, Bowral, Wollongong, Mudgee, Bombala, and Quirindi are among the towns affected.

Winds are expected to be damaging across much of South Australia, from west of Ceduna to Adelaide and as far south as Mount Gambier.

From the northwest pastoral areas to the Eyre Peninsula, a severe thunderstorm warning has also been issued.

Read more: Wet Weather and Cooler Temperatures in the Pacific Northwest to Continue Until November

Storms are moving inland

Today, three states will face damaging winds and thunderstorms as a deepening low and cold front move east across Australia.

South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales have all been hit by lightning strikes, with South Australia recording nearly 100,000 overnight.

Another thunderstorm outbreak is expected in the east today, according to Weatherzone.

The worst of the weather is expected to hit Western NSW and northern Victoria this morning, before moving on to Queensland.

Flash flooding, large hail, and damaging winds of more than 90km/hr are all possible.

Yesterday, gusts of over 100km/hr were recorded, with winds of 102km/hr sweeping through the outback town of Coober Pedy.

The causing weather system will have crossed the Queensland coast and out of NSW by Tuesday morning.

Several weather and flood warnings remain in effect across New South Wales and Victoria.

As the trough and cold front sweep across the eastern states on Monday, the focus will shift to inland NSW, QLD, and northern VIC.

Storms are expected to erupt across western NSW and northern VIC in the morning, spreading to the western slopes and then north into Queensland as the day progresses.

While this may not be the most severe or longest-lasting of the recent thunderstorm outbreaks, there are some indications that a squall line may form during the day.

Storms could bring flash flooding, large hail, and damaging wind gusts exceeding 90km/h well into the night if this happens.

By Tuesday morning, the system will have cleared NSW and will be crossing the Queensland coast.

But that's just the beginning of an unusual weather week, as frigid air behind the cold front is set to temporarily plunge southeast Australia back into winter.

Related article: Severe Weather Warnings Issued for New Zealand Due to Heavy Rain and Snowfall
Compared to the initial photograph of the cosmic object taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in 1995, the new image emphasizes the massive clouds that make up the namesake pillars.

James Webb Space Telescope took fresh images of Pillars of Creation

Around 7,000 light years from Earth, in the Eagle Nebula, there are elephant trunk-like objects called the Pillars of Creation, also referred to as cold molecular pillars, as per The Jerusalem Post.

The most current James Webb Space Telescope photos from NASA of the Pillars of Creation, also known as M16 in the Eagle Nebula to astronomers, is enough to silence most people.

However, scientifically speaking, the most recent photographs made public by NASA today provide a close-up glimpse of stars that are actively giving birth inside these dusty towers of creation. They continue to be admired by most people as beautiful images.

Due to its breathtaking beauty, it was initially photographed by the Hubble Space Telescope in 1995 and immediately gained notoriety. It was then rediscovered in 2014 in a higher-resolution format.

It is without a doubt one of the most well-known and significant photos ever obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope, and it continues to serve as a reminder of the universe's boundless wonders to many.

When NASA launched the James Webb Space Telescope, which had considerably more advanced instruments and tools, it had the chance to go back and take a closer look at this well-known celestial object.

NASA shot several new photographs using the James Webb Space Telescope, making the most of its capabilities. Each image was created using a variety of technologies.

The starry background and the enormous clouds of interstellar gas and dust, where new stars may develop, are highlighted by this.

The result is truly spectacular and is only the most recent breathtaking view of the vast and amazing mysteries of the cosmos that the James Webb Space Telescope will assist us in exploring.

Read More: Hail the Hubble: Experts Talk About the Iconic Telescope's 25 Years in Space

Composition of Pillars of Creation

According to NASA, hundreds of stars have formed in the Pillars of Creation, which are three enormous columns of frigid plasma bathed in a cluster of young, massive stars' blistering ultraviolet radiation, as per

The pillars, which are covered in gas and dust and are situated in a small area of the Eagle Nebula, or M16, some 6500 light years away, enshroud stars that are gradually forming over many centuries, according to NASA.

The pillars' finger-like structure is created by expanding gas and dust bubbles that have been molded by ionizing radiation-induced evaporation. According to NASA, this region is likewise destroyed by stellar winds and an onslaught of charged particles coming from the core star cluster above the pillars.

James Webb Telescope development

Due in large part to Webb's forebears, the development of JWST over the past three decades has followed a trajectory that is strikingly similar to the enormous strides we have achieved in our comprehension of the universe, as per Quanta Magazine.

The Hubble Space Telescope has allowed us to understand that stars, galaxies, and supermassive black holes originated much earlier in cosmic history than previously thought and have since undergone significant alteration.

Dark matter and dark energy, as we now know, shape the cosmos. We have discovered that galaxies are decorated with a wide variety of planets, including billions of potentially habitable worlds in just our Milky Way, using the Kepler telescope and other instruments.

Related Article: NASA Sails Ahead at Full Speed in Solar System Exploration
As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain. (Photo : Photo: Forest Service, USDA / Wikimedia Commons)

Foresters predict that the emerald ash borers' infestations in the Hennepin County suburbs of Minnesota will decimate 1 million ash trees from the county within a decade.

In the last eight years, just Brooklyn Park has planted 2,000 trees of various species, barely catching up with the 1,600 ash trees removed. Even though the city only recently found its first disease-ridden ash trees in a wooded area, Plymouth had already lost several thousand ash trees this year.

Shane DeGroy, a county forester overseeing the tree grant program, said that even though the ash borer crisis has been going on for about ten years, it is unquestionably getting worse because of how slowly it is progressing.

In answer, Hennepin County recently awarded close to $400,000 to 20 cities, groups, and affordable housing facilities to replace and remove more than 435 ash trees. According to foresters, ash borers typically take two years to kill a tree.

In the vicinity of Fort Snelling, foresters discovered the first ash borer in Hennepin County. According to DeGroy, the beetle has gradually moved westward and has infested other trees at a rate of a few miles per year.

Ash Trees in Minnesota

DeGroy asserts that Minnesota has the greatest concentration of ash trees in the nation. Most residents of Hennepin County, where there are 1 million of them in the estimate, reside within 15 miles of a diseased tree.

In the 1970s, ash trees were extensively grown along boulevards due to their beauty. Additionally, they are essential for capturing carbon, lowering air pollution, absorbing stormwater, and offering shade to offset the urban heat island effect.

In Michigan in 2002, the first emerald ash borer was discovered. It traveled to Minnesota on vehicles. The US Department of Agriculture calculates that the beetle has since killed ash trees reaching hundreds of millions across the country.

Read also: Only 5% Of Forest Tree Species Are Anticipated To Survive When Illness Strikes Hard

Mitigation and Remedial Actions

Each year, Minneapolis replaces about 5,000 trees, removing all ash trees from public property. To complete the removal of ash trees and plant new tree species in their place, the St. Paul City Council borrowed $18 million last year.

The first ash infection in Brooklyn Park didn't occur there until 2017. 200 ash trees, which make up 20% of the city's trees, were cut down this year, according to Greg Hoag, manager of park and building maintenance. To remove and replant ash trees, Brooklyn Park has received close to $400,000 from the state and the county.

When the city of Plymouth found its first ash borer in 2015, officials had just created a program to address the issue.

Every community is experiencing an increase, according to Plymouth City Forester Paul Buck, and residents must have a plan for their trees.

It took the ash borer seven years to disperse into neighborhoods, although city officials found it in a small wooded area at first. He advised keeping an eye out for woodpeckers that are removing the bark from infected ash trees.

According to Buck, the cost of removing a 20-inch tree is $1,000, so the sum can quickly rise, Star Tribune reports.

Emerald Ash Borer

The emerald ash borer (EAB), which is originally from Asia, was found in the Detroit region for the first time in 2002. It is thought to have arrived in the nation on Chinese wooden packaging materials. Despite being no bigger than a dime, the bright metallic-green beetle can destroy ash trees that are thousands of times bigger, according to the Arbor Day Foundation.

As per First Detector Program, ash trees are only harmed by EAB while they are still larval. As they burrow beneath the bark of trees, they obstruct the flow of food and water to the plants, which eventually kills the trees. The worm-like, creamy-white larvae have flattened segments that resemble nested bells.

Related article: 1.4 Million Urban Trees Will Be Dead By 2050 Due to Infestation of Invasive Species
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has listed the Florida burrowing owl as threatened. Lately, a conservation group has been appealing to citizens to make sure their garbage disposal won't cover the burrows of threatened owl species.

3,500 burrowing owls live in Cape Coral, according to Pasha Donaldson, vice president of Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife. Donaldson could not confirm how Hurricane Ian affected the birds.

However, she is aware of a method by which locals can assist the storm-surviving animals in staying alive.

Donaldson asked people to refrain from dumping trash on top of the owl species' threatened burrows.

Mindful Waste Disposal

The burrowing owl inhabits burrows that it has dug for itself, as well as drainage culverts that are at the ends of driveways, beneath porches, or in the spot where a post once stood. According to Donaldson, it could be fatal to trap the owls inside their holes for the weeks or even just days it takes for the hurricane Ian-made trash mounds to be removed.

Beyond a general interest in the welfare of animals, Donaldson, together with the other 300 wildlife group members, have an extra-special reason to care about the owls. Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife has spent around $450,000 buying about four dozen residential plots and is almost always looking to buy more.

In some areas of the city, a patchwork sanctuary has been established for burrowing owls and gopher tortoises after they were either found there or transported there.

Read also: The World's Biggest Owls Are Now Endangered: Is it too late to save them?

Sweeping Storms

Donaldson said Many of the white PVC posts that volunteers use to mark the location of an owl mini-habitat were swept away by the storm. These are typically on a residential property that the group purchased before a house could be built, and they then allowed the owls to dig their tunnels.

Since 2002, the group of 300 members has been building the sanctuary, which is home to owls and tortoises. The group focuses on gopher tortoises and burrowing owls because both creatures burrow into the ground for protection. It also helps that the majority of the lots are easy-to-dig sandy spoil scooped out from the bay bottom during the 1950s when the city was established.

The annual festival of the group is legendary now, and it will be held in February of the following year. On February 23, 2023, Rotary Park will host the 21st Annual Burrowing Owl Festival and Wildlife and Environmental Exposition, WUSF Public Media reports.

To raise funds for the nonprofit, the group Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife is requesting the general public to make donations that can be auctioned off through their donation form.

Burrowing Owls

Small, sandy-colored burrowing owls with brilliant yellow eyes live underground in holes in the ground, called burrows, which they have dug for themselves or have taken over from prairie dogs, ground squirrels, or tortoises. They are primarily insect and rodent hunters, and they inhabit deserts, grasslands, and other open habitats.

According to All About Birds, it is due to habitat change caused by humans, a decrease in ground squirrels, prairie dogs, and other factors, their population has drastically decreased.

Related article: Two New Species of Endangered Screech Owls Discovered in Amazon Rainforest!
New research from Colgate University alters our understanding of seasonal thawing in parts of Antarctica, revealing that summer thawing occurs nearly a month earlier and lasts nearly two months longer than previously thought.

Antarctic summer thaw starts earlier and ends later than previously believed

The study, "Timing and duration of ephemeral Antarctic water tracks and wetlands in the McMurdo Dry Valleys using high temporal-resolution satellite imagery, high spatial-resolution satellite imagery, and ground-based sensors," was published today in Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research,as per ScienceDaily.

The researchers used Planet's newly available satellite imaging, which can scan the Earth's surface daily or even multiple times per day.

The new data stream is having a significant impact, as researchers previously had to rely on far fewer satellite images, or travel to Antarctica to conduct soil measurements in person.

Scientists discovered that when you can scan coastal Antarctica almost every day, not just a couple of times a summer, the ground is actually thawing and turning into icy swamps a full month earlier than we used to think, and it stays wet and thawed a full two months later, even into March, said Levy.

What's more intriguing is that this ground is thawing and staying thawed at temperatures below freezing, indicating that salts must be assisting in melting and keeping it muddy, similar to salting a road during a snowstorm, he said.

According to Levy, the extended melt is beneficial to organisms that require meltwater to survive in the harsh climate, but it is detrimental to the permafrost's long-term stability.

Also Read: Antarctica: Dormant Underwater Volcano Awakens, Causes 85,000 Earthquake Swarms

Antarctic thaw quickens, trillions of tonnes of ice raise sea levels

An accelerating thaw of Antarctica has raised global sea levels by nearly a centimeter since the early 1990s, posing a risk to coasts from the Pacific islands to Florida, according to an international team of scientists, as per Reuters.

If all of Antarctica's ice melted, it would raise sea levels by 58 meters (190 feet), dwarfing frozen stores from Greenland to the Himalayas and creating the greatest uncertainty in understanding global warming and ocean levels.

Between 1992 and 2017, the frozen continent lost nearly three trillion tonnes of ice, according to 84 scientists in what they called the most comprehensive overview of Antarctic ice to date.

The thaw, as measured by satellite data and other methods, has contributed 0.76 cm to sea level rise since 1992, the researchers report in the journal Nature.

Since 2012, ice losses have increased to 219 billion tonnes per year, up from 76 billion previously.

"The sudden increase is a big surprise," University of Leeds professor Andrew Shepherd, who led the report, told Reuters.

According to the study, the majority of the ice is being lost from West Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula, where warmer ocean water is melting floating ice shelves at the ends of glaciers, allowing ice that has accumulated on land to slide faster toward the sea.

A single millimeter of global sea level rise is equivalent to 360 billion tonnes of melted ice, or an imaginary seven-kilometer-long ice cube.

Overall, global sea levels have risen by about 20 cm over the last century, owing primarily to the natural expansion of water already in the oceans as it warms, as well as the thawing of glaciers from the Andes to the Alps.

And significant U.N. According to a 2014 assessment, sea levels could rise by 30 cm to nearly a meter this century.

According to Shepherd, Antarctica alone is now on track to raise global sea levels by about 15 cm by 2100, exceeding most previous estimates.

Such a rise, while minor, would exacerbate coastal floods during storms at high tides, he said.

Cities from New York to Shanghai, as well as low-lying nations from the Pacific Ocean to the Netherlands, are all threatened by sea level rise.

"We're keeping a close eye on these reports," said Michiel van den Broeke, professor of Polar Meteorology at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, adding that they would serve as a guide for defending the Dutch coast.

To limit global warming, nearly 200 governments agreed in Paris in 2015 to phase out fossil fuels by the end of the century.

U.S. President Donald Trump intends to withdraw from the agreement, focusing instead on American jobs and coal.

Related article: Earth Could be Left 'Uninhabitable' If Volcanoes Under Antarctica Ice Will Erupt
A deadly smog blanketed a western Pennsylvania town from the October 27 to 31 in 1948, killing over a dozen people and hundreds of animals.

The dangerous weather event is officially known as the "1948 Donora smog" which killed approximately 20 people and 800 animals, as well as sickened 7,000 people.

It was caused by a trapped air pollution, which will pave the way for a greener future.

Almost eight decades ago, several days before the Halloween saw residents of the Pennsylvanian town of Donora waking up in a scene out of a sci-fi horror movie.

A thick plume of fog covered their community and the event consists of smog and airborne pollutants as well.

Within four days, most of the victims died due to asthma-related ailments or respiratory problems triggered by the deadly fog.

It was only until rain cleared out the smog local authorities and inhabitants of the small industrial town realized the magnitude of the unprecedented disaster.

The 1948 Donora smog was regarded as the worst air pollution in the history of the United States.

However, the event would lead to awareness of the growing threat of human-induced air pollution combined with the dangers posed by climate change.

The Donora Smog of 1948

Prior to the foggy incident, Donora, which is about an hour's drive south of Pittsburgh, was reportedly proud of its industrialization, and its people were reliant on industrial plants for their livelihood.

This actually the case even if their work heavily contributed to pollution.

During such time, Donora residents worked for two local steel and wire manufacturing plants.

Donora Historical Society volunteer Mark Pawlewec told AccuWeather that Donora was considered a bustling town in the 1940s, wherein some individuals living in the town and working at the mill immigrated to the community for various reasons.

These people survived and experienced World War I, the Great Depression of the economy, and World War II, Pawlewec added.

In spite of the local economic progression, a weather phenomenon called "temperature inversion" occurred in the area in October 1948 and produced a choking smog, according to the US weather forecasting company.

Also Read: Smog Problem Shows No Improvement at All - New Delhi Officials Confirmed

Dawn of Environmental Protection

The Donora town smog of 1948 sparked the dawn of environmental protection in the succeeding decades, heeding lessons from the past about the dangers of steel and zinc industries.

These sectors provided the Donora residents with work but also endangered their health and took some of their lives, according to the Smithsonian Magazine.

The looming threat reached its toll during the Donora Halloween parade when a yellow fog descended into the town and caused a nearly impenetrable haze and zero visibility.

Residents exposed to the toxic air mass reportedly had difficulty in breathing.

In contemporary times, the occurrence of smog is no longer a mystery ever since we have determined that the main ingredients of a photochemical smog are caused by ground-level ozone and particulate matter, which also occurred in Los Angeles, California, and other urban areas, according to the California Institute of Technology.

Related Article: Deadly Smog: Air Pollution Linked to a Life-threatening Cardiac Rhythm Condition
According to a new study, climate change will increase the likelihood of seeing rainbows.

The study's authors estimate that by 2100, the average land location on Earth will have 5% more days with rainbows than at the start of the twenty-first century.

Climate change to produce more rainbows

Northern latitudes and extremely high elevations, where warming is expected to result in less snow and more rain, will see the greatest increases in rainbow occurrence, as per ScienceDaily.

However, places with less rainfall as a result of climate change, such as the Mediterranean, are expected to lose rainbow days.

Rainbows form when water droplets reflect sunlight and are therefore dependent on sunlight and rainfall.

Human activities, such as the use of fossil fuels warm the atmosphere, altering the patterns and amounts of rainfall and cloud cover.

"Living in Hawai'i, I was grateful for the stunning, ephemeral rainbows that were a part of my daily life," said Kimberly Carlson, the study's lead author who is now at New York University's Department of Environmental Studies.

"I was curious about how climate change might impact such rainbow-viewing opportunities."

Camilo Mora of the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Department of Geography and Environment was intrigued by the question and proposed it as the focus of a project for one of his graduate courses.

"We frequently study how climate change directly affects people's health and livelihoods, such as the occurrence of heat stroke during climate change-enhanced heat waves," Mora said.

Few researchers, however, have investigated how climate change may affect the aesthetic qualities of our environment, and no one has bothered to map rainbow occurrences, let alone under climate change.

To find an answer, a team of UH Manoa students examined photographs uploaded to Flickr, a social media platform where people share photographs.

They combed through tens of thousands of photos labeled "rainbow" from around the world to identify rainbows caused by the refraction of light by rain droplets.

The scientifists had to sort through photos of rainbow artwork, rainbow flags, rainbow trout, rainbow eucalyptus, and rainbow foods to find the real rainbows, according to Amanda Wong, then undergraduate student in Global Environmental Science at the UH Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) and a co-author on the paper.

They then used rainbow photo locations and maps of precipitation, cloud cover, and sun angle to train a rainbow prediction model.

Finally, they used their model to forecast current and future rainbow occurrences across the globe.

Islands, according to the model, are rainbow hotspots.

The Hawaiian Islands, which have recently been dubbed the "rainbow capital of the world," are expected to have a few more rainbow days per year.

The authors did not go into detail about how changes in a rainbow occurrence may affect human well-being.

Rainbows, on the other hand, have been an important part of human culture throughout history and around the world, and they are visually appealing.

Climate change will have far-reaching consequences for all aspects of human life on Earth.

Changes in intangible aspects of our environment, such as sound and light, are part of these changes and, according to Carlson, deserve more attention from researchers.

Also Read: Full Moon Might Reveal a Nighttime Rainbow on Saint Patrick's Day

Weather and Climate

Rising global average temperatures have been linked to widespread changes in weather patterns, as per EPA.

According to scientific studies, extreme weather events such as heat waves and large storms are likely to become more frequent or more intense as a result of human-caused climate change.

Long-term climate change can have a direct or indirect impact on many aspects of society, potentially disrupting them.

Warmer average temperatures, for example, may increase air conditioning costs and contribute to the spread of diseases such as Lyme disease, but they may also improve growing conditions for some crops. Weather extremes pose a threat to society.

Extreme heat events that are more frequent and intense can cause more illnesses and deaths, especially among vulnerable populations, as well as damage to some crops.

While increased precipitation can replenish water supplies and help agriculture, intense storms can cause property damage, loss of life, and population displacement, as well as temporarily disrupt essential services like transportation, telecommunications, energy, and water supplies.

Related article: Rainbow Fish Discovered Deep in the Maldives Born Female then Transitions Into a Male as It Grows Older
Bahrain is establishing itself as a nation where healthcare experts and practitioners can meet to discuss ideas and developments in the sector, said the Minister of Health, Dr Jalila bint Sayed Jawad Hassan.

The kingdom reaffirms what a supportive environment it provides for scientific research centres across many areas of healthcare, she said ahead of the seventh edition of the International Dental Conference and Exhibition that will be held from November 3 to 6, 2022 at the Crown Plaza Hotel.

She maintained the importance of hosting medical conferences and exhibitions in the kingdom. Visions and concepts related to the latest technologies are exchanged at these events, while the latest international developments can engender the best health practices being utilised in Bahrain, ultimately improving the nations standing in this area.

The conference will be hosted as part of a strategic partnership with the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA), in cooperation with the Saudi Dental Society.

Continued success

She said the continued success of DLS Bahrain also reflects the great development seen in dental health. The level of service provided to citizens and residents has been enhanced and has improved the effectiveness and sustainability of the system.

Bahrain continues to strive to provide the highest quality standards for health provision.

Dr Hassan also noted that DLS7 has led to significant developments within the field of dentistry. This has been through the annual convergence of prominent experts and practitioners. The DLS programme has been an unprecedented success for dentistry and continues to ensure that international experts working in the health sector, attend and exchange experiences as well as reviewing the latest developments in their fields.

DLS Bahrain is held in with the support of the Aeedc Dubai Congress, in addition to several scientific partners. These include; the College of Dentistry | Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Riyadh ELM University, the Kuwaiti Dental Association, the Saudi Society for Periodontology, International Association for Dental research-Saudi Arabian Division, and the Arabian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.-- TradeArabia News Service
Gulf Islamic Investments (GII), a leading shariah-compliant investment management company headquartered in the UAE, has acquired two German senior care facilities as part of its latest acquisitions through the euro 500 million (($498.2 million) European senior living fund.

The Fund, which has been set up as a joint venture with Capital Bay Group, has its primary focus in Germany, enabling Mena-based investors to participate in this highly desirable asset class, providing resilience and above-average returns in comparison to other European real estate opportunities.

The latest two senior care facilities, successfully acquired by GII in mid-2022, are located in Laucha (Saxony-Anhalt) and Holzminden (Lower Saxony), Germany, with more than 200 care beds.

The investments qualify as manage-to-core assets, with existing cashflow and robust capital expenditure programmes, allowing good medium-term value creation. Both assets are run by major care home operators, in line with GIIs focus on professional and client-centric operations.

The Fund has a strong pipeline and GII has already scheduled further equity deployment in 2023, allowing further deployments in the current dynamic but fragmented European real estate environment.

"German senior care homes are witnessing increasing demand, due to Germanys population dynamics, which make the sector resilient to varying financial cycles, even in the current economic environment," remarked Mohammed Al Hassan, GII co-founder and co-CEO.

"In Germany, 3.5 million people currently need care, which is expected to grow to 4.4 million people by 2040," he noted.

The liquidity of this asset class increases consistently, with senior care investment in Germany reaching euro 1.8 billion in the first three-quarters of 2022, Pankaj Gupta, GII co-founder and co-CEO, added.-TradeArabia News Service
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Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
Our County Editor

Dave Hinton is editor of The News-Gazette's Our County section and former editor of the Rantoul Press. He can be reached at dhinton@news-gazette.com.
New Delhi, Nov 1 (UNI) Giridhar Aramane, a 1988-batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre assumed the office of Defence Secretary here on Tuesday.

He has taken over as Defence Secretary following superannuation of Dr Ajay Kumar on October 31.

Before taking charge at the Ministry, Aramane laid a wreath at National War Memorial and paid homage to the fallen heroes.

He saluted the bravehearts who sacrificed their lives while protecting the nation.

"We draw inspiration from these bravehearts and promise to work towards fulfilling their dream of making India a safe & prosperous country," Aramane said during his visit to the Memorial.

In his 32 years of experience in IAS, Aramane has held various important portfolios in the Central Government as well as Andhra Pradesh government.

Prior to joining the Defence Ministry, he was Secretary in Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Earlier, he was Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat. Apart from Cabinet Secretariat, Aramane looked after Exploration Division in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and was Executive Director in-charge of inspections in Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority, a government release said.

In the Andhra Pradesh government, Aramane has served as Principal Secretary in Urban Development Department; Managing Director of AP State Finance Corporation and Secretary (Finance Department).

He also held the post of the Collector and DM of Chittoor and Khammam districts.

Aramane did B Tech in Civil Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad and M Tech from IIT, Madras. He is MA (Economics) from Kakatiya University, Warangal.

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A major search and rescue operation is underway for dozens of people missing after the boat they were on capsized and sank overnight off the coast of an island near the Greek capital
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
A new review published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews aimed to determine the impact of 'breastfeeding only' and 'breastfeeding plus' support on the duration and exclusivity of mothers breastfeeding healthy term babies.

Study: Support for healthy breastfeeding mothers with healthy term babies. Image Credit: Tomsickova Tatyana / Shutterstock.com

The importance of breastfeeding

During the first six months of a child's life, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all children be exclusively breastfed, meaning no other food or liquid should be offered. Breastfeeding should be done on demand, as often as the child desires, day and night.

Children should start eating complementary foods by six months while breastfeeding until they are at least two years old.

Both infants and mothers benefit from breastfeeding in the long term and short term. For example, breastfed infants are less likely to develop gut or lung infections, diabetes, and obesity later in life. Additionally, breastfeeding can reduce mothers' risk of diabetes and ovarian or breast cancer.

There are, however, many countries where breastfeeding rates are much lower than WHO recommendations.

About the study

This study searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Trials Register to obtain randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials aligned with the current research. Two review authors independently selected the trials, extracted data, assessed bias, and analyzed the worthiness of the study.

A meta-regression analysis was used to determine the heterogeneity of primary outcomes using categories such as mode of delivery, income status of the country, the intensity of support, and the person providing care.

Breastfeeding support could be provided via phone, facetoface, or digital technologies. The researchers also collected information on the intensity of the support, which could be defined as the number of postnatal contacts, the individual who provided the support, and how breastfeeding support differed in high-, middle-, and low-income nations.

Four primary outcomes were assessed in this study, including stopping any form of breastfeeding before four to six weeks and six months postpartum, as well as stopping exclusive breastfeeding before four to six weeks and six months postpartum.

Study findings

A total of 103 trials were included in the study, which comprised more than 98,816 motherinfant pairs. 'Breastfeeding only' support likely reduced the number of women who stopped breastfeeding before six months and four to six weeks postpartum. Furthermore, this type of support also increased the likelihood that mothers stopped exclusively breastfeeding before four to six weeks and six months postpartum.

Breastfeeding plus support likely reduced the number of women who stopped both any and exclusive breastfeeding at six months. However, there is less certainty whether this type of support reduced the number of women who stopped breastfeeding before four to six weeks postpartum.

Moderate levels of breastfeeding-only support, defined as four to eight visits, had a more favorable effect on women continuing to breastfeed at four to six weeks exclusively and six months postpartum. In addition, this form of support may be more effective in reducing the cessation of exclusive breastfeeding among women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) before six months than women in high-income countries (HICs).

Conclusions

Breastfeeding-only support effectively increases the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding and reduces the number of women who stop breastfeeding at three to four months postpartum. However, despite the apparent benefits at some time points, the impact of breastfeeding plus support on reducing the discontinuance of breastfeeding must be further studied.

Any form of breastfeeding support can be provided by lay/peer supporters, professionals, or a combination of both. However, further research is needed to identify which aspects of breastfeeding are the most effective support interventions and how these interventions can be delivered on a larger scale.
Approximately 10 million people fall ill with tuberculosis (TB) each year. Even though TB is preventable and curable, over 1.5 million people die from it every year. The bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis cause TB. TB primarily affects the lungs and can spread from an infected person who expels the bacteria into the air. Most people infected with TB are adults, with men being most affected (56.5%), followed by women (32.5%) and children (11%). The five common risk factors for TB include diabetes, smoking, undernutrition, alcohol use disorders, and HIV infection.

About 85% of individuals who develop TB can be cured using a 4 to 6-month drug regime. However, financial and economic barriers can impact access to healthcare for accurate diagnosis of TB and treatment completion. As a result, approximately half of the people with TB and their households suffer devastating costs due to TB disease. Although TB occurs worldwide, the highest burden is carried by 30 countries. Therefore, advances regarding universal health coverage (UHC), multisectoral action on broader TB determinants, and better social protection levels are essential to reduce the worldwide burden of TB disease.

Global tuberculosis report 2022. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock

TB and the COVID-19 pandemic

According to the World Health Organization, about 10.6 million people got affected by TB in 2021, a 4.5% increase from 2020, and 1.6 million people died from TB. Additionally, the burden of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) was observed to increase by 3% between 2020 and 2021. However, this is reportedly the first time that the number of people infected with TB and drug-resistant TB has increased.

Along with many healthcare services, TB services have also suffered disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in severe consequences. Moreover, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe have further worsened the situation for vulnerable populations. This resulted in the reduction of people diagnosed with TB and an increase in the number of people untreated with TB. The number of people diagnosed with TB was observed to fall from 7.1 million in 2019 to 5.8 million in 2020. Although a partial recovery was observed in 2021, it was still significantly below pre-pandemic levels. This led to an increase in the number of people developing TB, more community transmission, and an increase in TB deaths.

Additionally, the number of people receiving treatment for rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB) and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) was also observed to decrease between 2019 and 2020. The number of people reported to start treatment for RR-TB in 2021 was 161,746, about one-third of the people in need of treatment.

A new report published by the World Health Organization indicated a decrease in global spending on essential TB services from US$6 billion in 2019 to US$5.4 billion in 2021. Most of the funding used in 2021 came from domestic sources. However, in middle and low-income countries, international funding remains essential. The main source of global funds is the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (the Global Fund) which the United States Government is the largest contributor.

"If the pandemic has taught us anything, its that with solidarity, determination, innovation and the equitable use of tools, we can overcome severe health threats. Lets apply those lessons to tuberculosis. It is time to put a stop to this long-time killer. Working together, we can end TB." Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Director-General World Health Organization

Estimated TB incidence rates, 2021

Small achievements

Amidst stalling progress, there are few successes. About 26.3 million people were reported to be treated for TB between 2018 to 2021 at the UN High-Level Meeting on TB. Out of the 30 highest-burden countries, Bangladesh, Zambia, China, Brazil, and Uganda were reported to be the countries with the highest levels of treatment coverage in 2021. Moreover, the number of people receiving TB preventive treatment was also reported to rebound in 2021, close to 2019 levels.

WHO End TB Strategy: 2025 milestones

Furthermore, more than 10 million people living with HIV were reported to receive TB preventive treatment in the last 4 years. Kenya, Namibia, the United Republic of Tanzania, Lesotho, Zambia, South Africa, and Ethiopia have been reported to surpass the 2020 milestone of a 20% reduction in the incidence of TB compared to 2015.

"The report provides important new evidence and makes a strong case for the need to join forces and urgently redouble efforts to get the TB response back on track to reach TB targets and save lives. It will be an essential resource for countries, partners and civil society in the lead up to the second UN high-level meeting on TB to be held in 2023." Dr Tereza Kasaeva Director WHO Global TB Programme

Many countries have also increased the uptake of new guidance and tools from WHO leading to early access to TB prevention and better outcomes. As a result, a 5% increase in the number of diagnosed with TB in 2021 as compared to 2020 has been observed. One hundred nine countries used all-oral longer regimens and 92 shorter regimens for the treatment of MDR/RR-TB in 2021. Additionally, there has been increased access to shorter rifamycin-based regimens for preventive TB treatment.

This report, therefore, indicates the urgent need for countries to restore access to essential TB services, increase investments, take multisectoral action to address determinants that impact TB epidemics and their socioeconomic effects, as well as improve new diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines to prevent severe cases of TB disease and deaths.
Roughly 21% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients at the height of the pandemic required an intensive care stay and the bulk were cared for by family upon discharge. However, not much is known about how these caregivers and patients adapted.

To learn more, University of Michigan researchers surveyed COVID-19 ICU patients who were hospitalized in Southeastern Michigan between the start of the U.S. pandemic and October 2020. Researchers interviewed 32 patients after discharge, along with 32 caregivers.

Findings suggest COVID-19 presents caregivers with unique challenges not evident in other patients. Data also confirm previous research that, in general, the bulk of family caregiving falls to women, with 75% of the COVID-19 caregivers in the study identifying as female and 75% of patients identifying as male.

COVID-19 and cognitive changes

Six themes emerged and three were unique to COVID: managing infection, engaging support services and patient independence.

The desire to be independent is definitely something that we would likely see across many disabling illnesses. However, the cognitive changes that can occur with a severe COVID-19 infection are perhaps more unexpected for families, not usually discussed, and can make caregiving  extra stressful. Sheria Robinson-Lane, assistant professor at the School of Nursing and studys first author

Managing infection was especially challenging before vaccines and other treatments because patients were so sick and COVID is highly transmissible, Robinson-Lane said. Caregivers, at risk for infection themselves, were forced to balance their self-care needs with potential risks to public health.

We had to keep family and friends away  with the lungs still healing, we just couldnt take that chance, one caregiver said. Even when I go into work Im isolated. I stay away from people.

The most frequently used home care services were nursing support and occupational and physical therapy. One patient said: Twice a week, I do leg exercises and stuff like that. After-hospital care was a great thing. You need it. You need it.

Robinson-Lane said caregivers had to manage their own COVID-related illness, were not always allowed at bedsides and had to deal with continued isolation after discharge.

Other themes included engaging family and friend support, managing emotions and increased responsibilities due to caregiving.

Identifying dependable helpers before a diagnosis is key

In this work, we did learn a lot about how to help prepare families for a COVID-related hospitalization and developed a related toolkit for families available through Michigan Medicine, Robinson-Lane said. (Files are also available upon request for other health systems.)

One of the major takeaways is that families perhaps need more realistic expectations about what life after discharge might look like, she said. The person that went into the ICU is often going to be very different from the person who comes homeand these changes might last a lot longer than expected. Understanding this and having the right support when your relative returns home can make a huge difference for how the family adjusts.

Other major takeaways include:

Identify your circle. Make a list of reliable helpers among friends and family before a diagnosis.

Schedule a check-in from the hospital or an insurance case manager to make sure the families have necessary supplies and resources.

The study appears in the Journal of Clinical Nursing. Co-authors include: Amanda Leggett, Richard Gonzalez and Theodore (Jack) Iwashyna, all of U-M or the Veterans Administration at the time the work was done.
Institute of Human Virology (IHV) researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) have received two five-year awards from the National Institutes of Health's National Cancer Institute (NCI) for a total of $7.5 million. One award aims to reduce the incidence of lung cancer and other cancers associated with using tobacco in Botswana. The other is focusing on improving screening and treatment of anal precancer in Nigeria. Both grants will make use of existing HIV treatment and prevention infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries to reach people living with HIV who are most at risk for these particular types of cancers.

With the cancer burden rising in persons living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa and most cancer research heavily skewed toward high-income countries, advancing global cancer research designed to focus on prevention and treatment in these regions is crucial. These studies will contribute to cancer control globally for persons living longer with HIV." Robert C. Gallo, MD, the Homer & Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professor in Medicine, Co-Founder and Director of the UMSOM's IHV, and Co-Founder and Chair of the Scientific Leadership Board of the Global Virus Network (GVN)

Botswana lung cancer study

The Botswana Smoking Abstinence Reinforcement Trial, named BSMART, will screen patients for smoking across the network of HIV treatment facilities; it will offer a brief intervention using the "5 A's: Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange" for treatment with medication to help patients quit smoking. Quitting smoking is the most effective way to prevent cancers that can accompany tobacco use.

"Smokers with HIV are at a substantially elevated risk of several tobacco-related cancers," said Principal Investigator of the BSMART study Man Charurat, PhD, MHS, Professor of Medicine, Director of the Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity (Ciheb) at UMSOM's IHV, and Division Director for Global Health Sciences at UMSOM's Department of Epidemiology and Public Health. "The BSMART study will use implementation science to enact a comprehensive public health strategy incorporated into a real-world care system, in which patients before now have been frustratingly left behind."

Botswana has the highest prevalence of HIV and tobacco use in sub-Saharan Africa. Lung cancer is the most common cancer not caused by AIDS among people living with HIV and accounts for 20 percent of the cancer burden. The BSMART study in Botswana will be poised to assist the Government of Botswana's national goals in smoking cessation for its citizens.

Nigeria anal cancer study

The IMPACT study, short for Integrated Model for the Prevention of Anal Cancer using screen and Treat for HSIL (high-grade intraepithelial lesions, also known as precancer), will screen and treat precancer to prevent anal cancer in sexual and gender minorities, including men who have sex with other men and people who are transgender. The study will be performed at the TRUST Clinic in Nigeria, which was established by IHV in 2012.

Human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes anal cancer, is spread through anal sex. Because people with HIV can have suppressed immune systems, those who also have HPV can experience persistent, higher risk infections that are more likely to develop into precancer with potential progression to cancer. Following the success of cervical cancer prevention strategies, health care providers recently learned that they could treat precancer to prevent anal cancer. The IMPACT study aims to transfer knowledge immediately from research to practice in a low-to-middle income setting.

"Since it is very difficult to identify as a man who has sex with other men in Nigeria because of the fear of being imprisoned and being ostracized by the community, HPV-associated disease is typically extensive before it is identified," said IMPACT study Principal Investigator Rebecca Nowak, PhD, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at UMSOM's IHV. "The TRUST Clinic is a 'safe' place for us to reach these most vulnerable individuals, where we hope to identify and treat damage from HPV early to prevent progression to anal cancer."

The sexual and gender minorities living with HIV bear the greatest burden of anal cancer with an 80-fold higher risk compared to the general population. Despite the high prevalence of HIV in the Sub-Saharan African region, anal cancer screening and treatment is unavailable. Thus, the IMPACT study will provide care to people living with HIV who face the highest risk of anal cancer in Nigeria.

"To help address the cancer challenges across sub-Sahara African countries, Ciheb aims to accelerate integrating evidence-based cancer control interventions that bring together prevention, early detection and diagnosis, and treatment, all while strengthening research capacity and infrastructure in these regions," said Dr. Charurat.

Mark T. Gladwin, MD, Vice President for Medical Affairs at University of Maryland, Baltimore and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean of UMSOM, said, "Sub-Saharan African countries face a double burden of disease. Cancer rates have been rising rapidly alongside continued morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases, like HIV. It is estimated that 75 percent of all cancer deaths will occur in lower to middle income countries by 2030. Hence, studies like BSMART and IMPACT, which are designed to bring evidence-based interventions, are urgent."
In a recent JAMA Network Open study, researchers estimate the severity of infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron BA.2 subvariant compared to that caused by the Delta and Omicron variants.

Study: Estimates of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 Subvariant Severity in New England. Image Credit: CI Photos / Shutterstock.com

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant has been reported to be more contagious but often, less harmful than previous variants in numerous countries, including Canada, England, and Scotland.

More recently, several Omicron subvariants have become dominant circulating strains throughout the world, thus making it difficult to determine the severity of infections with these new subvariants. In addition, cohort studies that have sought to measure the Omicron BA.2 lineage severity have shown inconsistent results, thus necessitating further research.

About the study

In the present study, researchers consider several confounding factors, including the adjusted risks of death, hospitalization, admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), and invasive ventilation to compare the severity of infections between SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2, Delta, and Omicron variants.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in adults and children were identified between March 3, 2020, and May 21, 2022. Eligible participants either had a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or the electronic health record (EHR) had flagged them with a verified or suspected COVID-19 status. When the disease was discovered, cases were classified into one of three groups: Delta, Omicron, or Omicron subvariant-infected.

By analyzing the dominance of variants on residual diagnostic tests, period barriers were identified. Delta cases occurred between June 27, 2021, and December 5, 2021. Omicron cases were identified between December 26, 2021, and February 21, 2022. The Omicron BA.2 subvariant was assigned to any case between March 21, 2022, and May 21, 2022.

The incident date of the infection was the first positive PCR or flag corresponding to a patient. A patient was considered newly infected with SARS-CoV-2 if they reported another positive PCR test or new flag more than 90 days after the incident date.

A minimum data floor requirement of at least two diagnosis records six months apart in the three years before the COVID-19 diagnosis was necessary to postulate sufficient information related to a patient to assess their comorbidity history and record their outcomes. In addition, each patient's vaccination status was divided into one of four categories 21 days prior to the patient's COVID-19 incident date, which included unvaccinated, the first dose only, fully vaccinated, or fully vaccinated with a booster vaccine dose.

In-hospital mortality within 30 days since COVID-19 diagnosis was the primary outcome. Hospitalization, invasive ventilation, and ICU hospitalizations were considered secondary outcomes. The patient was classified as having secondary outcomes if these events occurred within 30 days of the COVID-19 incident date.

Study findings

The SARS-CoV-2 Delta, Omicron, and Omicron BA.2 strains were assigned to 20,770, 52,605, and 28,940 cases, respectively.

Each group's demographics differed slightly from the others. For example, the Omicron variant had the lowest percentage of men who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, while the Delta variant had the most significant proportion. In addition, Omicron subvariant patients were slightly older, with an average age of 49.5 years.

All three populations infected by the three assessed variants reported similar comorbidities. Notably, a significant number of cases involving individuals suffering from chronic pulmonary disease, including 4,529, 2,829, and 7,877 patients from the Omicron BA.2, Delta, and Omicron cohorts, respectively.

The Delta variant was associated with 148 documented fatalities within 30 days after infection, whereas the Omicron and Omicron BA.2 variants were associated with 203 and 76 recorded deaths, respectively. This accounted for 0.7% of the Omicron BA.2 subvariant cases, 0.4% of the Omicron cases, and 0.3% of the identified Delta infections.

After utilizing entropy balancing to account for factors like sex, gender, race and ethnicity, comorbidities, vaccination status, therapies, and prior infection, Delta mortality was higher than Omicron subvariant mortality, while Omicron variant mortality was higher than Omicron subvariant mortality.

After adjusting for covariates, the Omicron BA.2 subvariant was associated with a significantly lower risk of hospitalization than Delta. However, the Omicron variant was more likely than the subvariant to cause hospitalization.

ICU admission was more likely for Delta than Omicron subvariant infections. Similarly, Omicron variant infections were more likely to result in ICU admission than those due to the subvariant.

Conclusions

The study findings showed that the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 subvariant was much less severe than the Delta and Omicron variants after considering many confounding variables linked to SARS-CoV-2 outcomes. After accounting for several variables, such as medications, vaccines, and prior infections, the severity profile of SARS-CoV-2, about these novel variants, appears to be decreasing.
The federal government has eased its annual punishments for hospitals with higher-than-expected readmission rates in an acknowledgment of the upheaval the covid-19 pandemic has caused, resulting in the lightest penalties since 2014.

The Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program has been a mainstay of Medicare's hospital payment system since it began in 2012. Created by the Affordable Care Act, the program evaluates the frequency with which Medicare patients at most hospitals return within 30 days and lowers future payments to hospitals that had a greater-than-expected rate of return. Hospitals can lose up to 3% of each Medicare payment for a year.

The pandemic threw hospitals into turmoil, inundating them with covid patients while forcing many to postpone elective surgeries for months. When the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services evaluated hospitals' previous three years of readmissions, as it does annually, the government decided to exclude the first half of 2020 because of the chaos caused by the pandemic. CMS also excluded from its calculations Medicare patients who were readmitted with pneumonia across all three years because of the difficulty in distinguishing them from patients with covid.

Akin Demehin, senior director of quality and patient safety policy at the American Hospital Association, said the changes were warranted. "The covid pandemic did a lot of really unprecedented things to care patterns of hospitals," he said.

After making those changes, CMS evaluated 2 years of readmission cases for Medicare patients who'd had heart failure, heart attacks, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery bypass grafts, and knee and hip replacements. As a result of its analysis, CMS penalized 2,273 hospitals, the fewest since the fiscal year that ended in September 2014, a KHN analysis found.

The average payment reduction was 0.43%, also the lowest since 2014. The reductions will be applied to each Medicare payment to the affected hospitals from Oct. 1 through next September and cost them $320 million over that 12-month period.

Some hospitals will see their penalties greatly reduced from last year. The penalty on St. Mary's Hospital in Athens, Georgia, is dropping from 2.54% to 0.06%. Saint Joseph East in Lexington, Kentucky, received the maximum penalty, 3%, last year; it will lose 0.78% as of Oct. 1. In Flemington, New Jersey, the penalty for Hunterdon Medical Center is dropping from 2.29% to 0.12%.

To limit penalties, many hospitals in recent years have instituted new strategies to keep former patients from needing a return visit. Dr. Robert Coates, interim chief medical officer at Hunterdon Health, which owns Hunterdon Medical Center, said in a statement that the hospital set up a system to identify patients who visited the emergency room within 30 days of a hospital stay. Instead of readmitting them, Hunterdon helps them set up next-day appointments at a doctor's office or home monitoring of their health. Hunterdon also calls all discharged patients to ensure they have filled their prescriptions and had a follow-up visit with a clinician within a week of leaving the hospital.

Dr. Jessica Satterfield, director of quality and clinical excellence at St. Mary's Health Care System, which operates St. Mary's Hospital, said in a statement that the hospital identified patients at risk of readmission when they were first admitted and focused on making sure that their medications were correct and that they had follow-up visits. "We are proud that our efforts are bearing fruit in the form of greatly reduced penalties but, more importantly, as a reflection of the exceptional care our staff and medical staff provide to our patients," Satterfield said.

Saint Joseph East did not respond to emails seeking comment.

Despite the changes, 43% of the nation's 5,236 hospitals were penalized. Of the unpenalized, all but 770 were automatically exempted. The 2,193 exempted hospitals include those that specialize in children, psychiatric patients, or veterans. Rehabilitation and long-term care hospitals are also excluded from the program, as are critical access hospitals, which Medicare pays differently to help them stay open in areas with no other hospitals. The government also exempted Maryland hospitals because that state has a special payment arrangement with Medicare. Of the hospitals that Medicare assessed, 75% were penalized.

For the fiscal year that started this month, Medicare also cited the pandemic in giving hospitals a reprieve from its other major quality-focused effort that assesses penalties: the Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program. It slashes Medicare payments by 1% to the quarter of general hospitals with the highest rates of infections and other potentially preventable patient injuries. For the previous fiscal year, CMS punished 764 hospitals under that program. Those penalties  which would have cost hospitals an estimated $350 million this year  will resume next fiscal year, with adjustments that better take covid patients into account. CMS will also refine the readmissions penalty program to distinguish pneumonia patients from covid patients.

"Covid has been a tremendously disruptive force for all aspects of health care, most certainly CMS' quality measurement programs," Demehin said. "Its probably going to be a couple of volatile years for readmission penalties."
Weill Cornell Medicine researchers have developed a computational method to map the architecture of human tissues in unprecedented detail. Their approach promises to accelerate studies on organ-scale cellular interactions and could enable powerful new diagnostic strategies for a wide range of diseases.

The method, published Oct. 31 in Nature Methods, grew out of the scientists' frustration with the gap between classical microscopy and modern single-cell molecular analysis. "Looking at tissues under the microscope, you see a bunch of cells that are grouped together spatially-;you see that organization in images almost immediately," said lead author Junbum Kim, a graduate student in physiology and biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Now, cell biologists have gained the ability to examine individual cells in tremendous detail, down to which genes each cell is expressing, so they're focused on the cells instead of focusing on the tissue structure." Junbum Kim, Study Lead Author and Graduate Student, Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine

However, "it's crucial for researchers to learn more about the details of tissue structure; fundamental changes in the relationships between cells within a tissue drive both healthy and diseased organ function," said senior author Dr. Olivier Elemento, director of the Englander Institute for Precision Medicine and a professor of physiology and biophysics and of computational genomics in computational biomedicine at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Manually combining single cell data with maps of tissue structure is slow and tedious, though. Machine learning algorithms have shown some potential for automating the process, but they're limited by the data used to train them. To address that, Kim and his colleagues developed an unsupervised computational strategy, using a combination of single-cell gene expression profiles and cells' locations to define structural regions within a tissue.

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Co-senior author Dr. Andre Rendeiro, a postdoctoral fellow at Weill Cornell Medicine during the study and currently a principal investigator at the Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, Austria, compares the new method to mapping a city such as New York: "One way to go about it would be to go to every intersection and count each kind of building: is it residential, is it commercial  is it a shop or restaurant?" Putting all of those data into one matrix, and the buildings' locations into another, one could then combine the two matrices and look for patterns.

"Essentially, we could start to make a general statement about where the different neighborhoods are and where their borders are based on the abundance of, say, residential versus commercial buildings -; just as anyone walking through the Upper East Side, Midtown or Downtown would do based on their observations," said Dr. Rendeiro.

The researchers used the new method to generate detailed maps of several types of tissues, identifying and quantifying new aspects of microanatomy  the patterns that emerge at small scale when cells interact and that determine the ultimate function of tissue. Collaborating with a colleague at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who studies lung disease, they also demonstrated that their technique could draw fine shades of distinction between different disease states in a tissue.

While cancer and other chronic diseases often cause major changes in tissue structure, detailed microanatomy could also help in diagnosing and treating more acute conditions. Rendeiro points to severe COVID-19 as one example, where "there are a lot of immune cells that move into the neighborhood, and there's really dramatic change in the lung tissue." The team is now applying their new technique to a wide range of tissues to understand how changes in tissue organization underlie its function in healthy state and dysfunction in disease.
Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are the three main therapies used to treat cancerous tumors. The doctoral research network 'Magicbullet::Reloaded'is investigating another approach, with 15 doctoral researchers developing special molecules that stimulate the immune system to destroy tumor cells. In a video, network members explain how doctoral researchers gain valuable experience and research opportunities as part of the network.

Doctoral researchers from organic and medicinal chemistry, tumor biology, and pharmacology will be conducting research at the network through 2024. The collaborative training network consists of nine universities, two research institutions, and four pharmaceutical companies in Germany, Switzerland, the UK, Finland, Italy, and Hungary, and is also being supported by another four companies. Professor Dr Norbert Sewald, a chemist at Bielefeld University, serves as network coordinator. The European Union is providing the network with approximately four million Euro in funding. Here, the recent video about the network can be watched.

To develop these targeted, minimally invasive anti-cancer drugs, Magicbullet::Reloaded researchers attach a substance that can damage tumor tissue to a transporter molecule. Transporter molecules include, for instance, small proteins called peptides, which recognize molecules characteristic of cancer cells. They then bind to these cancerous cells and deliver the substance, which then stimulates an immune response in the tumor cells. This approach is designed to help overcome the problem of developing resistance to the very immunotherapies that are meant to destroy cancerous cells.

Antitumor agents have an address label, so to speak, that indicates which cells they should be delivered to." Norbert Sewald, Professor and Chemist, Bielefeld University

According to Sewald, medications that work in this way could help make the early vision set forth by Nobel Laureate Paul Ehrlich (1854-1915) a reality. Ehrlich coined the term 'magic bullet' to describe such targeted active substances.

In addition to Bielefeld University, the consortium includes Eotvos Lorand University, in Budapest, Hungary; the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland; Newcastle University in the UK; the Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany; the University of Helsinki in Finland; the University of Insubria in Italy, the University of Milan in Italy, and the University of Cologne in Germany.

Since 2019, Magicbullet::Reloaded has been funded as a Marie Skodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network with a total of approximately 4 million Euro as part of the European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement No. 861316). The training network builds upon the research coordinated by Dr. Sewald from the 'Magicbullet' innovative training network that ran from 2015 until 2018.
US B-52 bombers (File photo: visual.people.cn)

By Guo Yuandan

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on October 31 that the US plans to deploy six B-52 bombers capable of nuclear strikes in north Australia, which military experts said would turn Australia into Americas frontline military base and threaten its security by tying itself, which could have been far away from the flames of war, onto the chariot of major-country competition.

An ABC column said Washington is planning to build special facilities for the large bombers at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Tindal in south Darwin. The US has already deployed four B-52s at Andersen Air Force Base (AFB) in Guam earlier on.

B-52 bombers can carry long-distance assault nuclear weapons and conventional weapons, which the US Air Force believed will show the enemies Americas ability to launch lethal power projection.

According to military expert Zhang Xuefeng, American bombers were previously mainly deployed in Guam to exert strategic deterrence in the Asian Pacific direction. It even has a specific policy on sustained bomber presence, whereby B-52, B-1B and B-2 are deployed in Guam in turns. But later Washington thought it was not flexible enough to deploy bombers in Guam only because of the Guam Killer. Thats why it turned its eyes to Australia.

Its worth noting that two B-2 stealth bombers were deployed in Australia for the first time in July 2022. For over a month, they operated side by side with the RAAF fleets as well as some fleets of the Australian Army and Royal Navy.

Americas intention of dispatching B-2 and B-52 bombers is all too clear  it wants to turn Australia into a new bomber fortress, said Zhang Xuefeng. If necessary, US warplanes can take off from Australia, join with the bombers in Guam, and they will enter East Asia in different directions, thus acquiring greater flexibility. Besides, a military base in Australia would be much safer given the host countrys long distance from Asia.

According to another military expert Song Zhongping, there are three types of US military bases  ones based on its homeland (or rear area), ones based in Guam and Australia serving as relay bases, and ones based in Japan and ROK serving as frontline bases. The deployment of B-52 in Australia has turned the country from a relay base into a frontline base.

Doing so, the US has tied Australia, which could have stayed well away from the flames of war, onto the chariot of major country competition. That does no good to Australias national security, said Zhang, adding that instead of protecting Australia, B-52 would instead draw fire to it. After all, its not that hard to also develop an Australia Killer.

ABC mentioned in its report dated October 31 that the US is also increasing its military presence in Australia by secretly expanding the Pine Gap base. It is generally known that Pine Gap has always paid close attention to China, making it its top priority to tap the country and detect its military facilities as such intelligence is getting increasingly important for the US.

When asked to comment on Americas deployment of six B-52 bombers in Australia, Chinese Foreign Ministrys spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at the regular press conference on October 31 that All countries defense and security cooperation needs to contribute to regional peace and stability and must not target any third party or undermine their interests. China urges parties concerned to abandon the outdated Cold War zero-sum mentality and narrow geopolitical mindset, and do more things that are good for regional peace and stability and mutual trust among all parties.

Editor's note: Originally published on huanqiu.com, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
The Rockefeller Foundation has announced $3 million in new funding for Global.health (G.h) - a first-of-its-kind, open-source platform for scientific pandemic data. This will enable it to expand its international partnerships and modernize the global effort around coordinated pandemic prevention, surveillance, and response.

Co-developed by researchers and engineers at the Department of Biology, University of Oxford and Boston Children's Hospital, USA, Global.health enables access to real-time, anonymized health data on infectious disease outbreaks, for the first time. The G.h database already holds over 100 million detailed, verified, harmonized, and de-identified SARS-CoV-2 case records from more than 130 countries: the most comprehensive repository of COVID-19 data in the world.

Global.health's mission is to organize the world's infectious disease data to enable more rapid responses to them. So far we have been focused on the initial phase of disease outbreaks, such as COVID-19 and monkeypox, and we will now be able to broaden our international partnerships and build our analytical tools to improve wider outbreak detection and response." Dr. Moritz Kraemer, Co-Founder of Global.health and Associate Professor at the Department of Biology, University of Oxford

What began as a volunteer-driven data science project at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Global.health has grown into a scalable and flexible data platform that sets a new standard for open, granular, and standardized case data. This information will be a vital resource for epidemiologists and public health leaders to model and mitigate the spread of emerging infectious diseases.

In 2022, for example, Global.health's curated and validated monkeypox case dataset became one of the most comprehensive and cited resources in the crucial first 100 days of the global outbreak.

Dr Kramer added: 'This new funding from The Rockefeller Foundation will allow us to dive deeper into which data and interventions have the most impact for controlling disease outbreaks at different stages of a pandemic. These are critical steps to advancing pandemic prevention and response as the threats from climate-driven infectious diseases are increasing.'

This grant will enable Global.health to pursue priority initiatives, including:

Evaluating the impact of different data sources to define which data points are most useful during the early stages of an outbreak (first 100 days).

Developing scalable and robust open-source algorithms and data pipelines to detect and predict the emergence and geographic spread of new COVID-19 Variants of Concern (VOCs), globally.

Combining human mobility data with network science algorithms to optimally configure and distribute public health interventions during emerging epidemics, beyond the constraints of country or state borders.

Creating open-source methods and frameworks for pandemic response analyses, to make outputs directly available to groups engaged in the broader ecosystem of pandemic preparedness. This will also improve the translation of science into practical applications that are scalable and timely enough for real-world outbreak responses.

Cultivating collaborative working groups involving international teams of scientists, prioritizing lower- and middle-income countries, to co-develop practical applications and translate them rapidly into real-world impact. This will be achieved through targeted training, conferences, workshops, and funded collaborations, to stimulate collaborative research and development.

'We've learned a tremendous amount from COVID-19 about how to prepare for and better respond to infectious disease outbreaks - and high on the list are the importance of robust surveillance, reliable data, and rapid response,' said Chikwe Ihekweazu, Assistant Director General of the World Health Organization. 'I welcome The Rockefeller Foundation's support expanding the reach and impact of Global.health, including the ongoing collaboration with WHO's Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, to allow for faster data-driven decision-making at the earliest signs of an outbreak - when it matters most.'
It was not shocking that people listening to musicians covering Grateful Dead and Phish songs in October at a dive bar here would be interested in trying a new drink containing delta-9 THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in weed.

What was unusual was seeing a bar owner  in this case, Pop's Blue Moon's Joshua Grigaitis  grab cans of the drink and give them to customers without looking over his shoulder in a state where recreational pot remains illegal, for now. Missouri voters will decide whether to liberalize the law in the Nov. 8 election.

"Contains 10mg of the good stuff, which equals less than .3% by volume. This means it can be sold almost anywhere!" Grigaitis posted on Facebook last month when he announced the new products from his Mighty Kind cannabis-infused drink company: hemp-derived delta-9 THC seltzer in "cherry blossom" or "heady lemon" flavors.

Grigaitis thinks he is on solid legal footing in selling the seltzer because it comes from hemp, not marijuana, two plants from the same Cannabis genus. Still, he labels the cans with the percentage of THC by volume, which refers to a federal limit allowed for hemp, anticipating scrutiny of his product.

Rather than offer his drink in the crowded market for medical and adult-use marijuana  which remains illegal at the federal level and faces costly taxes and regulations where legal at the state level  Grigaitis thinks a loophole in a federal law concerning hemp allows him to sell a product that offers the same sort of buzz at his bar, online, and just about everywhere else.

As such, he said, hemp-derived delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol products have the "potential to flip the entire cannabis industry upside down."

Grigaitis is not the only one who senses an opportunity. Some 120 brands are selling hemp-derived delta-9 products online, according to an April study published by CBD Oracle, which reports on the industry.

But others in the cannabis industry are concerned about the loophole and are seeking federal legislation to prevent people from selling intoxicating hemp products outside of dispensaries. They say some of the products aren't safe because minors could access them more easily than products from dispensaries. And they generally aren't subject to oversight from state regulatory systems. The critics also claim that the products subvert the intent of a 2018 federal law that removed hemp from the federal controlled substances list.

"The medical marijuana and recreational marijuana industries are very regulated to the point where identification, passports, drivers licenses are all held very tightly at these dispensaries," said Eric Wang, vice president of sustainability for the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, a Kentucky-based trade group.

By contrast, he said, a 12- or 13-year-old child can buy a hemp-derived product legally.

When a bipartisan group of lawmakers passed the 2018 Farm Bill, the advertised aim was to help struggling farmers by allowing them to grow industrial hemp. The law also meant people could sell CBD across state lines. CBD has since become a multibillion-dollar industry.

At the time, then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky who sponsored the legislation, said of hemp that "everybody has figured it out that this isn't the other plant."

The primary difference between marijuana and hemp is that hemp contains very small amounts of THC. The federal law states that it can contain no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis.

Grigaitis argues that his hemp-derived delta-9 beverage is legal because the amount of THC in the beverage is less than 0.3% of the weight of the liquid.

"That is supported by my lawyers, my test labs, my insurance, my bank  everyone," said Grigaitis, whose Mighty Kind drinks appear in the recent Kevin Smith movie "Clerks III."

His hemp-derived delta-9 is made from one of two methods: extracting the cannabinoid from the hemp plant itself or through a chemical conversion in which CBD from the hemp is dissolved in a solvent, Grigaitis said. The company is exploring both methods to determine the pros and cons of each, he said.

Because the source is hemp rather than marijuana, he sees a clear path to selling his product beyond dispensaries, which come with extensive regulations and taxes and thus narrow profit margins. Why would he sell in a dispensary, he asked, "when you could go next door into a CBD shop or a vape shop or a grocery store or a bar and sell your stuff?"

But some in the industry disagree with Grigaitis' interpretation of the federal law. The proportion of the dry weight refers to the amount in the plant, not a beverage, said Jonathan Miller, general counsel for the Hemp Roundtable.

Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) has introduced legislation that would amend the 2018 law with additional restrictions on hemp-derived products. Pingree spokesperson Victoria Bonney said the congresswoman was not available for an interview.

In the meantime, at least a dozen states have passed laws limiting sales of another hemp-derived substance, delta-8, which is also intoxicating but not as strong as delta-9. But states have been slow to catch up with these new drug products.

Miller hopes parts of Pingree's legislation will be included in the 2023 Farm Bill, given the 2018 bill expires next year. The roundtable seeks regulations to limit the amount of THC in finished products rather than in the plant alone and to restrict the sale of intoxicating hemp products to the adult-use marketplace, such as at a pot dispensary, Miller said. Alternatively, the group wants it regulated like alcohol.

The organization includes board members from some of the biggest companies in the adult-use marijuana marketplace, including its president, Pete Meachum. He is a lobbyist employed by Cronos Group, a Canadian cannabis company whose largest shareholder is Altria, maker of Marlboro cigarettes and an investor in Juul. Meachum declined an interview request.

"Anything that threatens the exclusivity of the regulated market is going to be of concern to those that have their time and money invested in it," Grigaitis said.

But Miller said that with new federal regulations, hemp-derived products "would be available in the same locations where you can buy marijuana products, so there would be an even playing field."

Other industry groups and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws have also called for the FDA to regulate hemp-derived products.

In the meantime, the Pop's Blue Moon patrons didn't seem worried about the lack of regulation and were happy to try Grigaitis' new seltzer. Harper Britz, a 21-year-old who works in the music industry, said she got a pleasant buzz from the seltzer. She liked that she could taste the cannabis.

"It gets that aroma on the nose, just like when you're smelling wine," said Britz, who lives in St. Louis and said she regularly uses cannabis. "I'd probably drink this every day if I could."
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Cabinet welcomed the upcoming official visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Kingdom of Bahrain, at the invitation of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

The historic visit is a recognition of Bahrains status as an oasis of coexistence throughout history, affirming the commitment of the Kingdom to uphold and promote the values of peaceful and harmonious coexistence amongst different faiths and cultures.

The Cabinet also welcomed the upcoming Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence, which is being held in conjunction with the visit of Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam, Shaikh Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb, Shaikh of Al Azhar Al Sharif.

This important forum is a recognition of the Kingdoms role in promoting tolerance, peaceful coexistence, positive dialogue and cultural exchange between faiths and nations for the good of all humanity.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) CEO Nouf Abdulrahman Jamsheer received US Ambassador to Bahrain Steven C. Bondy,

The meeting discussed ways to enhance cooperation and exchange experiences in the sector of employers and expatriate workers.

Jamsheer affirmed Bahrains keenness to preserve the rights of employers and workers.

She stressed the importance of maintaining a safe work environment based on the country's principles and ethics.

The CEO praised the distinguished bilateral relations, especially in the labor and development fields.

She stressed LMRAs keenness to develop the work environment and preserve the rights of expatriate workers against any attempts at blackmail, exploitation, or people trafficking.

Jamsheer reviewed the legislation, policies, and projects implemented by the government of Bahrain to regulate the labor market and maintain a stable work environment.

The two parties discussed Bahrains efforts in combating trafficking in persons and ways of transferring the Kingdom's expertise regionally.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain hosts on November 4 the 16th meeting of Muslim Council of Elders coinciding with the historical official visit of His Holiness Pope Francis visit to Bahrain at the invitation of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

The meeting will be chaired by His Eminence Grand Imam Sheikh of Al Azhar Dr. Ahmed Al Tayyib in the presence of His Holiness Pope Francis.

The meeting will review global challenges, including climate changes, lack of food and water, and other humanitarian catastrophes, and the role of religious leaders in addressing them through an Islamic-Christian dialogue.

The Secretary-General of the Council of Muslim Elders and the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity Counselor Mohammed Abdulsalam stressed that the meeting symbolizes the relationship between leaders and followers of different religions by providing practical steps and solutions to these challenges from religious and legal perspectives.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Southern Tourism Company, a subsidiary of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company Mumtalakat, announced that it has signed a logistics transport agreement with Nass Corporation, a company operating in the construction and engineering field, to transport machinery and equipment weighing more than 100 thousand tons to Hawar Islands.

The agreement signing ceremony took place at Nass Corporation headquarters, in the presence of Yusuf Al-Manea, CEO of Southern Tourism Company and Shawqi Al-Hashimi, CEO of Nass Corporation.

According to the agreement, Southern Tourism Company will extend logistics services to Nass Corporation to transport machinery and equipment to Hawar Islands for the renovation project of Hawar Hotel, which is being developed by Mumtalakats real estate arm, Bahrain Real Estate Investment Company Edamah.

Ahmed Al-Aseeri, Chairman of Southern Tourism Company and the representative of Mumtalakat said: Through this agreement, Southern Tourism Company will contribute to the success of the Hawar islands development project by transporting the machinery and equipment required to rebuild Hawar Hotel, which is being developed by Edamah, the real estate arm of Mumtalakat.

Yousef Al-Manea, CEO of Southern Tourism Company, said: In line with the companys strategy to extend our services in the logistics transportation field, we recently increased our operational capacity which enabled us to handle such large and complex projects.

Shawqi Al-Hashimi, CEO of Nass Company said: This project will contribute to the economic development of the Kingdom in alignment with vision 2030 established by His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Bahrain - may God protect him.

The agreement we signed today reflects the importance of working together at a national level to overcome any challenges to implement projects that are of a national interest.

Subsidiary of Mumtalakat

Southern Tourism Company, a subsidiary of Mumtalakat, was established in 2000.

The company owns the largest passenger fleet in the Kingdom providing passenger transport services to and from Hawar Islands, it also handles the operations of loading and unloading cargo from ships in all territorial waters of the Kingdom.

Headquartered in Al Dur Marina, Southern Tourism Company also provides transportation services to the government sector, including Bahrain Defense Force, the Electricity and Water Authority, and Hawar Beach Hotel.
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MONTREAL, Nov. 1, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - ADM Aeroports de Montreal today announced its consolidated operating results for the period ending September 30, 2022. These results are accompanied by passenger traffic data for YUL, Montreal-Trudeau International Airport.

Highlights

Passenger traffic at YUL totalled 5.4 million in the third quarter of 2022, up 173.0% compared with 2021, or 89.4% of the traffic in the corresponding period of 2019. Growth was sustained throughout the quarter, reaching 90.9% of 2019 traffic levels in September. Of particular note is the marked recovery in the transborder and international sectors, which reached 92.5% and 93.1% of 2019 traffic levels, respectively, in the third quarter. For the first nine months of 2022, passenger traffic stood at 11.6 million, up 302.6% from 2021.

EBITDA (the excess of revenues over expenses before financial expenses, income taxes, depreciation and impairment and share of results of a joint venture, see "Non-GAAP measures" section for more information) was $108.1 million for the quarter under review, an increase of $76.8 million over EBITDA of $31.3 million for the same period in 2021.

For the year-to-date period ended September 30, 2022 , EBITDA was $225.0 million , an increase of $205.2 million over EBITDA of $19.8 million for the first nine months of 2021.

for the quarter under review, an increase of over EBITDA of for the same period in 2021. For the year-to-date period ended , EBITDA was , an increase of over EBITDA of for the first nine months of 2021. Capital investments were $31.3 million in the third quarter of 2022 compared with $13.9 million in the corresponding period of 2021, an increase of $17.4 million , or 126.1%. Capital investments for the period ended September 30, 2022 , amounted to $103.7 million ( $44.2 million in 2021), an increase of $59.5 million , or 134.8%. For the first nine months of 2022, grants from the Airport Critical Infrastructure Program (ACIP) totalled $41.3 million .

Quote

"The first nine months of the year show results in full growth mode and increasingly close to 2019 indicators thanks to a very strong recovery in aviation activities during the summer. With 5.4 million passengers in the last quarter, YUL Montreal-Trudeau International Airport has fully resumed its role as a major international air traffic hub. Our organization is even more proud to have obtained the renewal of its 4-Star certification under Skytrax's World Airport Star Rating program, which places it among the world's leading airports. Our industry has faced many challenges over the past few months, and I would like to once again thank the employees of the airport community for their efforts during this difficult period and since the beginning of the year," said Philippe Rainville, President and CEO of ADM.

Financial results

Consolidated revenues were $199.7 million for the third quarter of 2022, an increase of $115.3 million, or 136.7%, from the same period in 2021. For the first nine months of 2022, revenues were $460.6 million, an increase of $292.9 million, or 174.7%, compared with the same period in 2021. These positive results are the result of the significant recovery in passenger traffic that began at the end of the first quarter of 2022 and continued through the summer season.

Operating expenses for the quarter under review were $56.6 million, an increase of $20.1 million, or 55.0%, over the same quarter in 2021. For the period ended September 30, 2022, operating expenses increased by $47.1 million, or 44.7%, from $105.4 million to $152.5 million. This variance in operating expenses is primarily related to the increase in operational expenses for passenger services due to the sustained recovery of activities since the spring of 2022, and to the decrease in salary subsidies. ADM met the eligibility criteria of the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program until March 2022, while it qualified for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Program for the entire year 2021.

Transfers to governments (payments in lieu of taxes to municipalities ("PILT") and rent to Transport Canada) were $35.0 million for the quarter under review, an increase of $18.4 million compared to the previous year, and represent 17.5% of ADM's revenues (19.6% in 2021). For the first nine months of 2022, these transfers amounted to $83.1 million, an increase of $40.6 million compared to the same period in 2021 and represented 18.0% of ADM's total revenues (25.3% in 2021).

Depreciation and impairment of property and equipment and right-of-use assets were $40.4 million for the third quarter of 2022, up $0.4 million, or 1.0%, from the same period in 2021. As of September 30, 2022, these expenses were $118.4 million, a decrease of $3.3 million, or 2.7%, from the same period in 2021.

Net financial expense totalled $29.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, down by $3.5 million, or 10.3%, compared with the same period in 2021. Cumulative net financial expenses as at September 30, 2022 totalled $93.2 million compared with $98.7 million for 2021, down by $5.5 million, or 5.6%. This variance is primarily due to the increase in interest income on surplus cash.

For the three months ended September 30, 2022, the excess of revenues over expenses was $37.9 million compared to a deficiency of revenues over expenses of $41.9 million for the same period in 2021, an increase of $79.8 million. As at September 30, 2022, the excess of revenues over expenses was $13.6 million compared to a deficiency of $199.9 million for the same period in 2021.

Financial situation

ADM's net debt at September 30, 2022 is $2.32 billion compared to $2.45 billion as at December 31, 2021; see the "Non-GAAP Measures" section for more information.

For the years 2021 and 2022, ADM has obtained the consent of the bondholders to amend the Master Trust Indenture, thereby allowing ADM to be temporarily released from its obligations to comply with or satisfy the requirements of certain covenants therein. This waiver was requested due to the uncertainty surrounding the duration of the significant decline in passenger traffic and air movements resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Non-GAAP Measures

ADM sometimes presents financial measures that do not have a meaning prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), referred to as non-GAAP measures. They are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.

EBITDA

EBITDA is defined by ADM as the excess of revenues over expenses before financial expenses, income taxes, depreciation and impairment and share in the results of a joint venture. It is used by management as an indicator to evaluate operational performance. EBITDA is meant to provide additional information and is not intended to replace other performance measures prepared under IFRS.

Net debt

Net debt is defined as the difference between the gross balance due on long-term debt, including lease liabilities, and the amount available in cash and cash equivalents as well as the debt service reserve fund.

Key financial measures



Third Quarter Cumulative to September 30 (in millions of dollars) 2022 2021 Variance

(%) 2022 2021 Variance

(%) Revenues 199.7 84.4 136.7 460.6 167.7 174.7 Operating costs 56.6 36.5 55.0 152.5 105.4 44.7 PILT 13.0 8.8 47.1 33.9 27.9 21.3 Transport Canada rent 22.0 7.8 184.1 49.2 14.6 238.1 Depreciation of property and equipment

and right-of-use assets 40.4 40.0 1.0 118.4 121.7 (2.7) Financial expenses (net) 29.9 33.4 (10.3) 93.2 98.7 (5.6) Total expenses 161.9 126.5 28.0 447.2 368.3 21.4 Excess (deficiency) of revenues over

expenses before share in the results of a

joint venture and income taxes 37.8 (42.1) 189.8 13.4 (200.6) 106.7 Share in the results of a joint venture, net

of taxes 0.2 0.2 (32.3) 0.6 0.8 (26.6) Income taxes (0.1) - 500.0 (0.4) (0.1) 271.0 Excess (deficiency) of revenues over

expenses 37.9 (41.9) 190.4 13.6 (199.9) 106.8 EBITDA 108.1 31.3 245.5 225.0 19.8 1,035.4

(in billions of dollars) September 30, 2022 December 31,

2021 Variance (%) Net debt 2.32 2.45 (5.5)

Capital investments

The investments at YUL and YMX in 2022 were funded from operations.



Third Quarter Cumulative to September 30 (in millions of dollars) 2022 2021 Variance (%) 2022 2021 Variance (%) Airport Program











Work completed 16.7 8.6 94.9 61.2 31.5 94.8 ACIP subsidy (15.3) - 100.0 (15.3) - 100.0 Sub-total airport program 1.4 8.6 (83.2) 45.9 31.5 46.3 REM Station











Work completed 14.6 5.3 176.5 42.5 12.7 233.6 ACIP subsidy (9.8) - 100.0 (26.0) - 100.0 Subtotal REM Station 4.8 5.3 (9.4) 16.5 12.7 29.2 Total capital investments 6.2 13.9 (55.0) 62.4 44.2 41.3



The % variance in the above tables are calculated with results in thousands.

Passenger traffic

For the third quarter of 2022, traffic at YUL totalled 5.4 million passengers, an increase of 173.0% over the same period in 2021. All three sectors saw an increase in traffic compared to the third quarter of 2021: 272.1% for the international sector, 286.6% for the transborder (US) sector and 74.1% for the domestic sector.

For the quarter under review, passenger traffic at YUL reached 89.4% of the 2019 traffic level: 93.1% international, 92.5% transborder and 82.8% domestic.

Passenger traffic in the first nine months of 2022 represented 74.0% of traffic in the corresponding period of 2019: 76.8% international, 71.3% transborder and 72.1% domestic.

Total passenger traffic *

Aeroports de Montreal (in thousands) 2022 2021 Variance

2022 vs 2021 2019 2022 as %

of 2019 January 606.3 215.5 +181.4 % 1,532.2 39.6 % February 623.2 111.0 +461.6 % 1,432.6 43.5 % March 1,012.4 109.6 +823.6 % 1,712.6 59.1 % April 1,130.5 119.0 +850.4 % 1,567.9 72.1 % May 1,272.0 136.0 +835.3 % 1,603.2 79.3 % June 1,590.8 220.4 +621.8 % 1,839.2 86.5 % July 1,885.1 525.4 +258.8 % 2,098.0 89.9 % August 1,879.2 768.8 +144.4 % 2,146.8 87.5 % September 1,638.5 685.1 +139.1 % 1,801.9 90.9 % Total 11,638.0 2,890.8 +302.6 % 15,734.5 74.0 %

Note: Total passenger traffic includes revenue and non-revenue passengers and are calculated with results in thousands.

Source: Aeroports de Montreal

Sustainability at ADM

During this quarter, ADM implemented the following initiatives to continue its commitment to sustainability:

The launch of a consultation with 13 stakeholder groups as part of a sustainability initiative. The responses will help validate whether the sustainability challenges identified during the consultation conducted in 2019 should still be those prioritized by ADM and thus guide the revision of its action plans.



A four-month pilot project at YMX International Aerocity of Mirabel using biodiesel in grounds maintenance equipment, resulting in a reduction of 8.7 tonnes of GHG emissions, the equivalent of two round-trip passenger flights between Montreal and Toronto .





using biodiesel in grounds maintenance equipment, resulting in a reduction of 8.7 tonnes of GHG emissions, the equivalent of two round-trip passenger flights between Montreal and . The adoption of a directive to YUL Montreal-Trudeau International Airport's concessions and VIP lounge operators to eliminate single-use plastic, such as utensils, food containers, cups and bags. This directive is in line with ADM's sustainability objectives of achieving a recovery rate of 70% by 2025 and zero waste by 2030.

To learn more about ADM's actions, visit its Sustainability Indicators platform or consult its 2021 Annual Report, which presents its first-ever Sustainability Report based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards.

About Aeroports de Montreal

ADM Aeroports de Montreal is the airport authority for the Greater Montreal area responsible for the management, operation and development of YUL Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, certified 4-stars under the Skytrax World Airport Star Rating program, and YMX International Aerocity of Mirabel.

SOURCE Aeroports de Montreal

For further information: Montreal Airports, Public Affairs 514 394-7304, [email protected]
MONTREAL, Nov. 1, 2022 /CNW/ - Aya Gold & Silver Inc. (TSX: AYA) (OTCQX: AYASF) ("Aya" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce the launch of its 7,500-meter drill exploration program at Zgounder Regional in the Kingdom of Morocco. Additionally, the Corporation is accelerating exploration at Boumadine through an additional 4,000-meter drilling campaign.

Highlights

Figure 1  Worldview-3 Image of Zgounder Regional with Location of Sampled Outcrops (CNW Group/Aya Gold & Silver Inc) Figure 2  Zgounder Far West with Magnetics (Gradient RTP) and Ag Grab Samples (CNW Group/Aya Gold & Silver Inc) Figure 3  Zgounder Tala Area with Magnetics (Gradient RTP) and Ag Grab Samples (CNW Group/Aya Gold & Silver Inc) Figure 4  Zgounder Izza Area with Magnetics (Gradient RTP) and Ag Grab Samples (CNW Group/Aya Gold & Silver Inc) Figure 5  Boumadine Airborne VTEM Survey at Different Depths (CNW Group/Aya Gold & Silver Inc) Figure 6  Drill Program Completed at Imiter bis (CNW Group/Aya Gold & Silver Inc) Figure 7  Imiter bis North Zone Section (IM-DD22-039 & IM-DD22-041) (CNW Group/Aya Gold & Silver Inc) Figure 8  Drill Rigs Mobilized on Zgounder Regional Project (CNW Group/Aya Gold & Silver Inc)

Zgounder Regional

Receipt of final data from the airborne geophysics survey (magnetic, VTEM and radiometric)

Identification of five target areas with silver, copper, and gold showings

Mobilization of three drills on Zgounder Regional as part of its 7,500-meter ("m") scheduled diamond drill hole ("DDH") exploration program

Results from August 2022 stream sediment survey are expected shortly

Boumadine

An additional 4,000m have been added to the 2022 DDH program which now totals 17,500m to explore strike length extensions and the Central zone at depth

have been added to the 2022 DDH program which now totals to explore strike length extensions and the Central zone at depth Receipt of final data for the airborne geophysics survey (magnetic, VTEM and radiometric)

Data indicates the presence of a conductive anomaly down to at least 600m below surface along the main Boumadine trend, suggesting at-depth extension of mineralization

below surface along the main Boumadine trend, suggesting at-depth extension of mineralization

New conductive anomalies identified south and west of the main trend

Imiter bis

Full results from the first phase of drilling at Imiter bis returned new mineralized intersections on the north target including:

IM-DD22-041 intercepted 3.94 g/t Au over 5.0m



IM-DD22-039 intercepted 1.46 g/t Au over 11.5m (including 2.42 g/t Au over 3.1m )

(including 2.42 g/t Au over ) Receipt of final data from the airborne geophysics survey (magnetic, VTEM and radiometric)

Tijirit (Mauritania)

Mobilization and launch of the 25,000m infill drilling program (part of the feasibility study) with one reverse circulation ("RC") drill rig turning as of mid-October 2022

"We are very excited by the recent VTEM data from Boumadine suggesting continuity of the mineralized structure both south and at depth, which follow last month's promising high-grade drill exploration results on the property. The presence of new conductive anomalies outside the main trend indicates the potential for new mineralized zones adjacent to and along the Boumadine main trend," said Benoit La Salle, President & CEO. "We are also encouraged by our early work within Zgounder Regional properties, which suggests favourable geological settings and the presence of mineralization."

Zgounder Regional

Currently, three DDH rigs are turning on Zgounder Regional properties as part of the initial 7,500m drill exploration program (Figure 8). The Corporation will be testing five different targets highlighted by the spectral and prospecting campaign (Figure 1). The first test area will be "Zgounder Far West": In addition to exhibiting the same sedimentary units, similar alteration, and the same lithological contact with rhyolite as Zgounder, the Far West area returned anomalous values for silver and copper from grab samples (Figure 2). Additional priority drill areas in 2023 include the Tala and Izza Areas, both of which returned high-grade grab samples in silver, copper and gold associated with a very strong spectral alteration signature (Figures 3 and 4).

Zgounder Regional Next Steps

In addition to the ongoing drill exploration program (Figure 4), the objective at Zgounder Regional is to identify and define new drill targets. Results from a sediment geochemistry survey are expected shortly, which will be integrated with data from the geophysics program and ongoing mapping and prospecting.

Boumadine

The expanded drilling program announced previously is ongoing with results pending. The Corporation has received the final data from the airborne geophysics survey, which indicates the presence of a conductive anomaly down to at least 600m below surface along the main Boumadine trend. This suggests the extension of mineralization at depth (Figure 5) with a slight shift toward east as the depth increases, most likely due to a dip of the structure. The data also identified new conductive anomalies south and west of the main trend.

Boumadine Next Steps

The Corporation has increased its 2022 drill program by 4,000m with the objective of extending mineralization to the south and at depth in the Central Area. The new geophysics data will help guide the infill drill program and generate new targets for exploration along strike and across the permit.

Imiter bis

The Corporation received the final assays from its initial drill exploration program at Imiter bis, which included 24 DDH over 4,754m (Figure 6). The North Zone returned some very encouraging results (Table 1), including IM-DD22-041, which intercepted 3.94 g/t Au over 5.0m and IM-DD22-039, which intercepted 1.46 g/t Au over 11.5m (including 2.42 g/t Au over 3.1m) (Figure 7). The mineralization is materialized by stockwork of grayish quartz veinlets with traces of sulphides; and the host rock is strongly silicified and moderately bleached. The Corporation will evaluate the need for further drilling in the coming months with the objective of locating the "boiling zone", which could host higher grade mineralization in this low-sulphidation epithermal system.

Table 1  Significant Intercepts from 2022 Imiter bis Drill Exploration Program

Hole No. Area From (m) To (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Length* (m) IM-DD21-030 South 49.0 52.3 0.92 4 3.3 including 50.0 51.8 1.33 4 1.8 IM-DD21-030 South 63.0 64.0 1.19 4 1.0 IM-DD22-037 North-West 79.2 80.2 1.06 1 1.0 IM-DD22-037 North-West 86.3 90.8 1.73 2 4.5 including 88.9 90.8 3.53 4 1.9 IM-DD22-038 North-West 109.2 111.9 2.05 1 2.7 including 109.2 109.8 7.78 1 0.6 IM-DD22-039 North-West 159.0 160.8 1.02 1 1.8 IM-DD22-039 North-West 194.7 206.2 1.46 2 11.5 including 194.7 197.8 2.42 4 3.1 including 200.0 202.0 2.68 3 2.0 IM-DD22-040 North-West 279.9 281.0 1.01 4 1.1 IM-DD22-041 North-West 160.8 161.8 1.22 3 1.0 IM-DD22-041 North-West 208.0 211.7 1.22 2 3.7 including 209.5 210.5 3.39 4 1.0 IM-DD22-041 North-West 215.8 220.8 3.94 1 5.0 including 220.3 220.8 35.4 4 0.5 IM-DD22-042 North-West 85.0 85.5 4.09 1 0.5 IM-DD22-043 Dilatation 42.6 45.0 0.91 25 2.4 IM-DD22-051 North-East 71.1 72.0 1.28 4 0.9 IM-DD22-053 North-East 40.0 41.8 0.93 3 1.8

* True width remains undetermined at this stage; all values are uncut.

Tijirit ( Mauritania )

Following government intervention, the Corporation was able to regain unimpaired access to the Tijirit property. One RC rig is currently operating at Tijirit as part of the 25,000m drilling program established for 2022. A DDH rig is expected to be mobilized early November 2022, with the objective of completing the program before end of January 2023.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this press release have been reviewed by David Lalonde, B. Sc, Head of Exploration, Qualified Person, for accuracy and compliance with National Instrument 43-101.

About Aya Gold & Silver Inc.

Aya Gold & Silver Inc. is a rapidly growing, Canada-based silver producer with operations in the Kingdom of Morocco.

The only TSX-listed pure silver mining company, Aya operates the high-grade Zgounder Silver Mine and is exploring its properties along the prospective South-Atlas Fault, several of which have hosted past-producing mines and historical resources. Aya's Moroccan mining assets are complemented by its Tijirit Gold Project in Mauritania, which is being advanced to feasibility.

Aya's management team is focused on maximising shareholder value by anchoring sustainability at the heart of its production, resource, governance, and financial growth plans.

For additional information, please visit Aya's website at www.ayagoldsilver.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"), which reflects management's expectations regarding Aya's future growth and business prospects (including the timing and development of new deposits and the success of exploration activities) and other opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as "potential", "could", "expected", "suggesting", "indicates", "additional' and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", or are "likely" to be taken, occur or be achieved, have been used to identify such forward-looking information. Specific forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements and information with respect to the exploration and development potential of Zgounder and the conversion of Inferred Mineral Resources into Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, future opportunities for enhancing development at Zgounder, and timing for the release of the Company's disclosure in connection with the foregoing. Although the forward-looking information contained in this press release reflect management's current beliefs based upon information currently available to management and based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Aya cannot be certain that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions, opinions and analysis made by management in light of its experience, current conditions, and its expectations of future developments that management believe to be reasonable and relevant but that may prove to be incorrect. These assumptions include, among other things, the closing and timing of financing, the ability to obtain any requisite governmental approvals, the accuracy of Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource Estimates (including, but not limited to, ore tonnage and ore grade estimates), silver price, exchange rates, fuel and energy costs, future economic conditions, anticipated future estimates of free cash flow, and courses of action. Aya cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements.

The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties, including government approvals and permitting, changes in economic conditions, changes in the worldwide price of silver and other key inputs, changes in mine plans (including, but not limited to, throughput and recoveries being affected by metallurgical characteristics) and other factors, such as project execution delays, many of which are beyond the control of Aya, as well as other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in Aya's 2021 Annual Information Form dated June 16, 2022, and in other filings of Aya with securities and regulatory authorities which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Aya does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs, and opinions change. Nothing in this document should be construed as either an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or sell Aya securities. All references to Aya include its subsidiaries unless the context requires otherwise.

Annex 1 - Full Results from 2022 Imiter bis Drill Program*

Hole No. Area From (m) To (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Length* (m) IM-DD21-028 South 69.0 72.8 0.16 4 3.8 IM-DD21-029 South 66.2 69.8 0.35 2 3.6 IM-DD21-029 South 83.6 84.3 0.36 4 0.7 IM-DD21-029 South 87.3 98.0 0.38 4 10.7 IM-DD21-030 South 49.0 52.3 0.92 4 3.3 including 50.0 51.8 1.33 4 1.8 IM-DD21-030 South 63.0 64.0 1.19 4 1.0 IM-DD21-030 South 75.6 76.7 0.84 4 1.1 IM-DD21-031 South 76.3 78.8 0.35 3 2.5 IM-DD21-031 South 85.6 85.9 0.54 4 0.3 IM-DD21-031 South 90.2 91.2 0.62 1 1.0 IM-DD21-031 South 102.4 103.3 0.30 1 0.9 IM-DD21-032 South 128.1 129.0 0.46 4 0.9 IM-DD21-033 South 60.2 62.2 0.35 3 2.0 IM-DD22-034 Daoud 68.5 70.5 0.33 1 2.0 IM-DD22-034 Daoud 125.0 126.0 0.32 1 1.0 IM-DD22-035 Daoud 0.0 494.6 NSR IM-DD22-036 Daoud 55.5 56.1 0.22 60 0.6 IM-DD22-036 Daoud 62.6 64.1 0.65 1 1.5 IM-DD22-036 Daoud 100.5 101.5 0.56 1 1.0 IM-DD22-036 Daoud 329.1 330.1 0.11 21 1.0 IM-DD22-036 Daoud 359.0 359.5 0.45 4 0.5 IM-DD22-037 North-West 79.2 80.2 1.06 1 1.0 IM-DD22-037 North-West 82.2 83.4 0.37 1 1.2 IM-DD22-037 North-West 86.3 90.8 1.73 2 4.5 including 88.9 90.8 3.53 4 1.9 IM-DD22-038 North-West 101.7 102.3 0.86 1 0.6 IM-DD22-038 North-West 109.2 111.9 2.05 1 2.7 including 109.2 109.8 7.78 1 0.6 IM-DD22-038 North-West 130.8 131.4 1.23 4 0.6 IM-DD22-038 North-West 231.9 232.5 0.49 1 0.6 IM-DD22-039 North-West 97.7 98.4 0.67 4 0.7 IM-DD22-039 North-West 138.3 138.9 0.88 1 0.6 IM-DD22-039 North-West 151.1 151.8 0.96 1 0.7 IM-DD22-039 North-West 154.8 155.6 0.44 1 0.8 IM-DD22-039 North-West 159.0 160.8 1.02 1 1.8 IM-DD22-039 North-West 183.9 186.8 0.67 2 2.9 IM-DD22-039 North-West 194.7 206.2 1.46 2 11.5 including 194.7 197.8 2.42 4 3.1 including 200.0 202.0 2.68 3 2.0 IM-DD22-039 North-West 209.6 213.6 0.51 4 4.0 IM-DD22-040 North-West 139.6 144.1 0.48 2 4.5 IM-DD22-040 North-West 216.1 217.2 0.62 4 1.1 IM-DD22-040 North-West 227.5 228.5 0.44 1 1.0 IM-DD22-040 North-West 249.2 250.5 0.50 1 1.3 IM-DD22-040 North-West 279.9 281.0 1.01 4 1.1 IM-DD22-040 North-West 287.2 287.9 0.46 4 0.7 IM-DD22-040 North-West 327.8 328.8 0.44 1 1.0 IM-DD22-041 North-West 40.6 42.2 0.57 1 1.6 IM-DD22-041 North-West 91.8 93.0 0.34 4 1.2 IM-DD22-041 North-West 139.8 140.6 0.92 4 0.8 IM-DD22-041 North-West 160.8 161.8 1.22 3 1.0 IM-DD22-041 North-West 169.1 169.7 1.28 4 0.6 IM-DD22-041 North-West 185.6 186.1 0.42 4 0.5 IM-DD22-041 North-West 187.0 187.5 0.82 4 0.5 IM-DD22-041 North-West 208.0 211.7 1.22 2 3.7 including 209.5 210.5 3.39 4 1.0 IM-DD22-041 North-West 215.8 220.8 3.94 1 5.0 including 220.3 220.8 35.4 4 0.5 IM-DD22-041 North-West 222.8 223.3 0.35 4 0.5 IM-DD22-042 North-West 22.9 24.0 0.38 4 1.1 IM-DD22-042 North-West 33.5 34.7 0.37 1 1.2 IM-DD22-042 North-West 60.8 61.6 0.36 1 0.8 IM-DD22-042 North-West 85.0 85.5 4.09 1 0.5 IM-DD22-042 North-West 91.3 92.2 0.31 1 0.9 IM-DD22-042 North-West 110.3 111.8 0.43 4 1.5 IM-DD22-042 North-West 120.7 121.2 0.39 4 0.5 IM-DD22-042 North-West 136.8 139.7 0.65 3 2.9 IM-DD22-042 North-West 143.0 145.9 0.47 1 2.9 IM-DD22-042 North-West 181.7 182.6 0.45 4 0.9 IM-DD22-042 North-West 202.0 203.0 0.54 4 1.0 IM-DD22-042 North-West 228.6 229.7 0.44 1 1.1 IM-DD22-042 North-West 254.5 255.5 0.31 4 1.0 IM-DD22-042 North-West 256.5 258.5 0.35 1 2.00 IM-DD22-042 North-West 265.1 265.6 0.33 4 0.5 IM-DD22-042 North-West 272.0 273.0 0.34 1 1.0 IM-DD22-043 Dilatation 31.4 32.3 0.39 8 0.9 IM-DD22-043 Dilatation 42.6 45.0 0.91 25 2.4 IM-DD22-044 Dilatation 56.9 57.4 0.32 16 0.5 IM-DD22-044 Dilatation 70.2 71.0 0.37 16 0.8 IM-DD22-045 Middle Zone 80.0 81.0 NSR IM-DD22-046 Middle Zone 42.4 43.2 0.39 4 0.8 IM-DD22-047 Dilatation 98.7 99.2 0.08 24 0.5 IM-DD22-048 Middle Zone 126.2 127.0 NSR IM-DD22-049 North-East 29.3 30.4 0.60 1 1.10 IM-DD22-050 North-East 19.4 19.9 NSR IM-DD22-051 North-East 71.1 72.0 1.28 4 0.9 IM-DD22-051 North-East 90.7 92.4 0.32 4 1.7 IM-DD22-052 North-East 69.0 70.5 0.35 1 1.5 IM-DD22-053 North-East 40.0 41.8 0.93 3 1.8 IM-DD22-054 North-East 119.7 120.9 0.35 1 1.2 IM-DD22-055 North-East 118.5 119.2 0.49 1 0.7 IM-DD22-055 North-East 123.6 124.6 0.75 1 1.0 IM-DD22-056 North-East 172.4 176.1 0.06 26 3.7 IM-DD22-056 North-East 181.5 182.6 0.44 4 1.1 IM-DD22-057 North-East 174.0 175.0 NSR

*True width remains undetermined at this stage; all values are uncut.

SOURCE Aya Gold & Silver Inc

For further information: Benoit La Salle, FCPA FCA, President & CEO, [email protected], Alex Ball VP, Corporate Development & IR, [email protected]
MONTREAL, Oct. 31, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - (NYSE: CAE) (TSX: CAE) Marc Parent, CAE's president and chief executive officer, and Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) Maryse Carmichael, CAE's Solution Lead, Future Aircrew Training, have been inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. This award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to aviation and aerospace in Canada. The ceremony took place on October 27 in Montreal.

"I am humbled to receive this award, a recognition of CAE's efforts to make the world a safer place that I share with CAE employees around the world," said Mr. Parent. "I am also delighted to see my colleague Maryse Carmichael recognized for her ground-breaking career as the first woman pilot and Commanding Officer of the Snowbirds demo team. It is a well-deserved honour."

Mr. Parent has more than 35 years of experience in the aerospace industry. Since joining CAE in 2005, he has led CAE's growth beyond creating simulation products to providing solutions, services and technologies that enhance human performance, while always looking for innovative ways to give back to Canada. Under his leadership, CAE has become the largest provider of civil aviation training services in the world, and a global leader in training and mission support solutions for defence and security forces and healthcare sectors, with the ultimate objective of preparing people for the moments that matter.

Over the years, Mr. Parent has been honoured with numerous other awards, including the Order of Canada, being named Industry Leader of the Year by the Living Legends of Aviation, Quebec's Air and Space Hall of Fame, and a Knight of the Ordre national du Quebec in 2022. Read Marc Parent's full bio here.

LCol (Ret'd) Carmichael is a 22-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force who has logged more than 3,500 hours flying time. Her legacy is as the first woman pilot to join the Canadian Armed Forces Snowbirds, 431 Air Demonstration Squadron and eventually serving as commander of the Snowbirds. After retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces as a Lieutenant-Colonel, she joined CAE, where she has worked in several capacities and is currently Solution Lead, Future Aircrew Training, where she ensures that the training of the next generation of aircrew meets the highest standards.

LCol (Ret'd) Carmichael is a member of the Ninety-Nines, the International Chapter of Women in Aviation, and a founding member of the Snowbirds Alumni Association. She has also been named as one of the 100 most powerful women in Canada, named a YWCA Woman of Distinction, and is recipient of the Northern Lights Aero Foundation "Elsie" award for Flight Operations. Read LCol (Ret'd) Carmichael's full bio here.

About CAE

At CAE, we equip people in critical roles with the expertise and solutions to create a safer world. As a technology company, we digitalize the physical world, deploying simulation training and critical operations support solutions. Above all else, we empower pilots, airlines, defence and security forces, and healthcare practitioners to perform at their best every day and when the stakes are the highest. Around the globe, we're everywhere customers need us to be with more than 13,000 employees in more than 200 sites and training locations in over 40 countries. CAE represents 75 years of industry firststhe highest-fidelity flight and mission simulators, surgical manikins, and personalized training programs powered by artificial intelligence. We're investing our time and resources into building the next generation of cutting-edge, digitally immersive training and critical operations solutions while keeping positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact at the core of our mission. Today and tomorrow, we'll make sure our customers are ready for the moments that matter.

Follow us on Twitter: @CAE_Inc

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cae.inc

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/cae

Hashtags: #CAE; #CAEpilot

Read our FY22 Annual Activity and Corporate Social Responsibility Report

SOURCE CAE INC.

For further information: CAE Contacts: General Media: Samantha Golinski, Vice President, Public Affairs & Global Communications, +1-514-340-7939, ext 7939, [email protected]
MONTREAL, Nov. 1, 2022 /CNW/ - Dialogue Health Technologies Inc. (TSX: CARE) ("Dialogue" or the "Company"), Canada's premier care and wellness platform, becomes the first virtual care company to receive the accreditation primer award by Accreditation Canada . It recognizes a high level of quality and safety of care, as well as Dialogue's dedication to continuous improvement throughout the Integrated Health Platform , with a focus on primary care and mental health services.

"Our passion is to help people improve their well-being. Being able to provide integrated, safe and quality virtual care is crucial when helping people during their more difficult times," shares Cherif Habib, Chief Executive Officer of Dialogue. "This accreditation is a testament to the culture of excellence here at Dialogue, driving our determination to elevate care and wellness 365 days a year."

The year-long accreditation process benchmarked company practices against standards of excellence. Through numerous evaluations and an on-site survey, Accreditation Canada examined Dialogue's governance, leadership, risk management, medication management measures, and the quality of care, among others. Auditors identified many areas of strength, including:

Patient safety through safe and rapid access to mental and physical health resources and personnel, facilitated by Dialogue's optimized triage system;

through safe and rapid access to mental and physical health resources and personnel, facilitated by Dialogue's optimized triage system; Collaboration between teams , whether medical, technical and business operations when tailoring our systems in order to optimize patient and practitioner experience;

, whether medical, technical and business operations when tailoring our systems in order to optimize patient and practitioner experience; Integrated quality management within Dialogue's established clinical quality framework to ensure the safest level of care.

Accreditation Canada surveyors shared that "patient safety is a guiding principle in how services are delivered at Dialogue," adding that "the organization should be acknowledged for harmonizing their expanding health services on a virtual delivery platform" in reference to the Integrated Health Platform allowing for seamless use across different services, and finally, "the culture is positive with enthusiastic staff who are excited by the mission and values of the company."

"A commitment to quality and safe healthcare delivery has been a priority at Dialogue since its foundation, and continues as we grow further," shared Dr. Marc Robin, Medical Director at Dialogue. "This accreditation speaks to the dedication of our teams, who work relentlessly to ensure the highest possible level of people-centered care every day."

Dialogue has pioneered the virtual care space since 2016, looking for ways to positively impact the health and wellness of Canadians, offering integrated programs that make a difference each and every day. This impact is present throughout all aspects of the Integrated Health Platform, offering best-in-class quality and safety within physical and mental health services, and focusing on prevention by giving Canadians the tools needed to lead a healthy lifestyle through the Wellness program . The Company looks forward to maintaining quality and patient safety at the core of their practices as it continues to grow.

About Dialogue

Incorporated in 2016, Dialogue is Canada's premier virtual healthcare and wellness platform, providing affordable, on-demand access to quality care. Through our team of health professionals, we serve employers and organizations who have an interest in the health and well-being of their employees, members and their families. Our Integrated Health Platform is a one-stop healthcare hub that centralizes all of our programs in a single, user-friendly application, providing access to services 24 hours per day, 365 days per year from the convenience of a smartphone, computer or tablet.

About Accreditation Canada

Accreditation Canada is a not-for-profit organization that works with patients, policy makers and the public to improve the quality of health and social services for all. Accreditation Canada works closely with health and social services organizations in Canada and abroad to develop a sustainable culture of improvement that betters safety and efficiency, working to save and improve lives. They are present in more than 15,000 locations in over 38 countries, including all 13 Canadian provincial and territorial health jurisdictions each serving populations with wide-ranging needs, leading to safer, quality health care for those who matter most  patients and their families.

SOURCE Dialogue Health Technologies Inc.

For further information: Adrianna Lemieux, Public Relations Advisor, [email protected], 438-927-9498; Jean Marc Ayas, Director, Investor Relations, [email protected]
DARTMOUTH, NS, Nov. 1, 2022 /CNW/ - Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Canada's fisheries are the backbone of many coastal communities and a driving force of the economy. The seafood sector is a rapidly shifting environment  competition is intensifying, and consumers are looking for sustainability and quality. That is why the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia (NS) today are announcing total funding of more than $7 million for 120 Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF) projects to support increased lobster quality in Nova Scotia through infrastructure, innovation and science partnership projects.

Vessel Improvements (live wells and other equipment)  95 projects focused on the purchase and installation of technology and equipment to improve the quality of harvested lobster and the sustainability of operations.

 95 projects focused on the purchase and installation of technology and equipment to improve the quality of harvested lobster and the sustainability of operations. Shore Facility Improvements  22 projects focused on the purchase and installation of equipment and upgrades, including automation, to improve lobster quality for land-based processing and storage facilities.

 22 projects focused on the purchase and installation of equipment and upgrades, including automation, to improve lobster quality for land-based processing and storage facilities. Innovation  1 project focused on improving standards for lobster quality.

 1 project focused on improving standards for lobster quality. Science Partnership  2 projects focused on research and development related to lobster quality.

This $7 million contribution comes from the $400 million AFF, jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments, and focuses on increasing opportunities and market value for sustainably sourced, high-quality fish and seafood products from Atlantic Canada.

The AFF is in its fifth year and will continue to invest in projects over the seven-year life of the program. The commercial fisheries and aquaculture industry, Indigenous groups, academia, industry associations and organizations, including research institutions, are eligible to apply for AFF funding.

Quotes

"Nova Scotia is known the world over for its superb seafood thanks to the commitment by all industry members constantly pursuing improved quality and sustainability of their product. The Atlantic Fisheries Fund is assisting 120 projects that will support continued innovations that help ensure when Nova Scotia lobster arrives at markets and on the plates of consumers, it is at the peak of quality."

The Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

"Our government, in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is helping harvesters maintain the quality of the seafood products that come from our waters. Striving for top quality, at every step along the way  from lobster boat to dinner plate  will make sure that Nova Scotia seafood products are second to none, and our global reputation for top quality, sustainable seafood stays strong."

The Honourable Steve Craig, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Nova Scotia

Quick Facts

The Atlantic Fisheries Fund will invest over $400 million over seven years to support Canada's fish and seafood sector.

over seven years to support fish and seafood sector. The federal government will provide 70% of the funding, with 30% coming from the Atlantic provinces.

The fund aims to help Canada's seafood sector transition to meet growing market demands for products that are high quality, high value, and sustainably sourced.

seafood sector transition to meet growing market demands for products that are high quality, high value, and sustainably sourced. Eligible projects must focus on:

Innovation  to support research and development of new innovations that contribute to sustainability of the fish and seafood sector, and to create partnerships and networks that aim to promote and encourage innovations in the sector;

 to support research and development of new innovations that contribute to sustainability of the fish and seafood sector, and to create partnerships and networks that aim to promote and encourage innovations in the sector;

Infrastructure  to adopt or adapt new technologies, processes, or equipment to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of the fish and seafood sector;

 to adopt or adapt new technologies, processes, or equipment to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of the fish and seafood sector;

Science Partnerships  fisheries and aquaculture industry based partnerships with academia and institutions to enhance knowledge and understanding of the impacts of changing oceanographic conditions and sustainable harvesting technology.

Associated Links

Stay Connected

Follow Fisheries and Oceans Canada on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Backgrounder

Government of Canada and Province of Nova Scotia fund 120 projects to support increased lobster quality across the province

The Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia are pleased to announce funding of over $7 million for 120 projects to support increased lobster quality in Nova Scotia through improvements to infrastructure, innovative approaches and science partnership projects via the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF).

Infrastructure Projects:

Vessel Improvements - Project funding to support the purchase and installation of technology and equipment to improve the

quality of harvested lobster and the sustainability of operations. Project Recipient AFF Contribution 2558309 NOVA SCOTIA LIMITED $2,180 Adam Sharpe $14,572 Addie Too Fisheries Limited $45,000 All Adrift Fisheries Ltd. $82,389 Argyle River Fisheries Limited $45,000 B. Cameron Fisheries Limited $45,000 Bae Wynd Fisheries Inc. $3,775 Bait Me Fisheries Ltd. $22,905 Blue Thunder Fisheries Limited $71,276 Capt. Jack Fisheries Ltd. $45,000 Captain Chester's Seafoods Inc. $45,000 Captain's Finest Fisheries Ltd. $34,871 Carston Fisheries Ltd. $66,709 CKC Fisheries Limited $76,560 CO.DE.CO Fisheries Ltd. $2,621 Corbett Fisheries Limited $42,440 CWE Halliday Fisheries Ltd. $45,000 EZ-GO-N Fisheries Inc. $79,601 Family Venture Fisheries Limited $45,000 Finest Kind Fisheries Ltd. $73,356 Flying High Fisheries Limited $76,560 G. B. N. Nickerson Fisheries Ltd $40,552 Gilcam Fisheries Limited $45,000 Green Bay Fisheries Limited $10,713 Green Coastal Fisheries Limited $3,257 Green Family Fisheries Ltd. $9,860 Island Wedge Fisheries Ltd. $84,201 J&T Leblanc Enterprises Limited $99,287 Jahana Bay Fisheries Limited $21,920 JBR Fisheries Limited $97,356 JDavid Fisheries Limited $20,000 Kyle & Kory Baker Brothers Fisheries Limited $20,000 Labour Fisheries (2017) Limited $45,000 Lady Dot Fisheries Limited $82,160 Let'Er Rip Fisheries Ltd. $81,964 Mason MacDonald Holdings Limited $15,500 Miss Jill Marie Fisheries Limited $68,320 Mosher Fisheries Ltd. $45,000 NRA Fisheries Ltd. $68,737 Perry Richardson $30,875 Ramsay MacLeod Ltd. $4,885 Rebecca Fisheries Limited $77,975 RLR Fisheries Limited $76,914 Ruby Moon Fisheries Ltd. $40,854 Seacoast Fisheries Limited $7,571 Sound Sailor Fisheries Ltd. $19,532 Stella Leora Fisheries Ltd. $ 21,514 Sylvia Ann Fisheries Limited $45,000 T & A LeBlanc Fisheries Ltd. $88,247 Travis Burke $14,000 Triple S Fisheries Ltd. $29,904 Uncle Philly Lobster Limited $45,000 West of the Sun Fisheries Ltd. $45,000 Wolfe Pack Fisheries Limited $31,533 Yvette & Lise Fisheries Limited $66,000 Membertou First Nation $12,626 Flying Eagle Lobster Limited $39,093 Sea Raven Fisheries Ltd. $ 27,416 SJR Fisheries Ltd. $40,060 3283934 Nova Scotia Limited $10,496 Bernie Alexander MacDonald $15,487 Brian Wadden $19,376 Capture Fisheries Ltd. $15,486 Forgeron Marine Enterprises Ltd. $11,738 Gregory Scott MacMullin $13,122 J. Morrison Fisheries Ltd. $10,466 3323788 Nova Scotia Limited $27,851 Kiwi Fisheries Ltd. $7,025 Bad Neighbour Fisheries Limited $12,702 Belliveau Brothers Ltd. $18,050 C and D Fisheries Ltd. $49,691 Donnie Sea Fisheries Inc. $9,334 C.M.H. Fisheries Ltd. $50,596 D & T Enslow Fisheries Inc. $35,601 Jamoca Fisheries Limited $22,789 David & Travis Fisheries Limited $11,510 Donald Robert MacLellan Enterprises Limited $18,601 George William Popovich $9,150 Steven D. Popovich $9,150 Gutsy Girlz Fisheries Ltd. $63,635 Joel Leblanc $4,900 Kate Fisheries Limited $75,400 Landry Boys Fisheries Limited $47,210 Lloyd David Fraser $12,084 M & M Fisheries Limited $2,650 Malcolm Lloyd Fraser $4,547 Mark McDougall Fisheries Limited $11,576 Minsky Mino Fishery Ltd. $7,744 Norman Alex Macleod $6,978 Port Novie Fisheries Ltd. $17,016 Queen Bee 2 Inc. $5,421 R.J. Amirault Fisheries Limited $77,016 Salty Strings Fisheries Inc. $ 4,200 Schnare Fisheries Limited $29,779 Wilcox & Son Investments Inc. $55,500 Shore Facility Improvements Project funding to support the purchase and installation of equipment and upgrades, including

automation, to improve lobster quality within land based processing and storage facilities. Project Recipient AFF Contribution Abriel Fisheries Company $96,933 Dawn Till Dusk Seafoods Limited $99,900 Bridge Lobsters Limited $82,716 C.V.Goreham & Sons Seiners Co., Ltd. $69,300 Kaiser Marine Inc. $99,040 Leo G. Atkinson Fisheries Limited $56,720 New-Gore Lobster Company Limited $69,650 Ocean Trawlers Limited $77,000 Ocean View Fisheries Limited $37,784 Pittman's Lobsters Inc. $46,461 Sandy & Sons Fisheries Limited $67,900 Set 'N' Sail Fisheries Ltd. $68,273 UGO Fisheries Ltd. $20,800 W. Sears Seafoods Limited $42,976 Wedgeport Lobsters Ltd $68,625 Coastal Fog Fisheries $11,992 Emery Smith Fisheries Limited $99,900 Oceans Edge Seafoods Ltd. $98,957 R.J. King Fisheries Limited $99,900 3104568 Nova Scotia Limited $55,159 3104568 Nova Scotia Limited $94,945 Lismore Seafoods Company $83,800

Innovation Project:

Project Description: Improving standards for lobster quality. Project Recipient AFF Contribution Perennia Food & Agriculture Incorporated $121,145

Science Partnerships Projects:

Project Description: Scientific partnership projects focusing on activities of research and

development related to lobster quality. Project Recipient AFF Contribution Universite Sainte-Anne $1,265,287 Universite Sainte-Anne $725,167

SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Maritimes Region

For further information: Kevin Lemkay, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, [email protected]; Media Relations, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 613-990-7537, [email protected]
TSXV: JK OTCQB: JKHCF FRA: 68Z

The Company has also Hired Foodpanda's Former Head of Kitchens & Concepts, Ryan Ching, to be the Managing Director of its Business in the Region

VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 1, 2022 /CNW/ - Just Kitchen Holdings Corp. ("JustKitchen" or the "Company") (TSXV: JK) (OTCQB: JKHCF) (FRA: 68Z), a technology focused and enabled operator of ghost kitchens specializing in the development of delivery-only food brands, announces the opening of multiple new ghost kitchen locations in Hong Kong (the "New Locations"). The New Locations include two stalls in the 10-stall Yuen Long shared commercial kitchen facility (the "Facility") and a site within an office tower in Kwun Tong. JustKitchen has also hired Ryan Ching, the former Head of Kitchens & Concepts at Foodpanda, to be the Managing Director of its business in Hong Kong.

Each stall at the Facility is initially offering three food brands: one stall is focused on the Body Fit, Formosa Chang, and BIT Beef Noodle menus, while the other is offering Mr. Beast, Little Mario's Pizza and Inluck Taiwanese cuisine. Allocating certain brands and menus to certain stalls enables JustKitchen to be operate more efficiently and in a specialized manner.

Situated in the North-Western part of New Territories Hong Kong, Yuen Long is one of the fastest growing areas of the country, with a current population of over 500,000 people.1 Yuen Long is commonly recognized within the top five delivery zones by order volumes on demand-side delivery platforms in Hong Kong.

JustKitchen also opened an additional location in the Kwun Tong area within the Citi Tower building in mid-July. This ghost kitchen has a high proportion of pick-up business and is strategically located to serve the growing office catchment area as part of the Hong Kong government's CBD 2.0 Plan. The Company is also excited to add a newly licensed brand to its portfolio  the local Vietnamese favourite, Banh Mi Kitchen ("BMK"). The Kwun Tong location offers BMK alongside established consumer favourites, Bodyfit and MrBeast

Other Kitchens

In addition to the New Locations, JustKitchen has secured a lease and a license for delivery for a fully equipped commercial kitchen ("Hub") in Chai Wan in Hong Kong. At approximately 3,000 square feet, the Hub will be able to support existing and future ghost kitchen locations and also serve as a spoke for the Company in Hong Kong moving forward. The first line of in-house production commenced in late May with all product lines completing this transaction in August. The Hub has been able to achieve food cost reductions to under 30% of net sales and is on track to reach 25% by the end of the calendar year. A spoke situated within the Hub is expected to become operational in early October.

In mid-August, the Company also commenced operations of a pop-up kitchen in Quarry Bay situated within Swire Properties' Taikoo Place office precinct. The commitment of the pop-up kitchen extends up to the end of 2022 with an option to lease in 2023. Bodyfit, MrBeast and BMK are the brands currently offered with plans to rotate and promote new brands on a regular basis.

Managing Director, Hong Kong

To assist with all the growth in Hong Kong, the Company recently hired Ryan Ching as its Managing Director for the region. He is an experienced product and operations leader with a passion for the integration and collaboration of technology; product and design; strategy development; business model innovation; and customer-centric promotion in a diverse global marketplace.

Mr. Ching has 15 years of experience and is also skilled in customer experience design, digital transformation, business planning as well as product optimization across digital, physical and financial products around the world. Mr. Ching has a Bachelor of Commerce and Accounting from the University of Melbourne and an MBA from Melbourne Business School. JustKitchen's management team welcomes Mr. Ching to the Company.

Management Commentary

"We are excited to be expanding our footprint with more ghost kitchens in Hong Kong. It is a growing market for JustKitchen and we have learned a tremendous amount from our existing locations about the region and the consumers there," said Jason Chen, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of JustKitchen.

"Adding Ryan to the JustKitchen team is also exciting as his knowledge and experience in the app-driven foodservice sector in Hong Kong is expected to be quite valuable. We are looking forward to working with him to continue growing the Company and offering our customers innovative food experiences," added Mr. Chen.

ABOUT JUSTKITCHEN

Just Kitchen Holdings Corp. (the "Company" or "Just Kitchen") is primarily an operator of ghost kitchens specializing in the development and marketing of proprietary and franchised delivery-only food brands for customers and businesses. The Company currently operates in Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Malaysia. It has also signed an agreement that will allow JustKitchen to sell several of its proprietary food brands in Japan and it has also signed a brand swap agreement in India. Where appropriate, JustKitchen utilizes a hub-and-spoke operating model, which features advanced food preparation taking place at larger hub kitchens and final meal preparation taking place at smaller spoke kitchens located in areas with higher population densities. The Company combines this operating model with online and mobile application-based food ordering via its proprietary mobile food ordering app and other third-party ordering apps. Delivery is fulfilled by third-party companies, to minimize capital investments and operating expenses and reach more customers in underserved markets. The Company's other business, JustMarket, is an e-commerce grocery delivery platform that allows customers to purchase groceries for delivery or add select grocery items to meals ordered through JustKitchen.

For more information about the Company, please visit investors.justkitchen.com. JustKitchen's final prospectus, financial statements and management's discussion and analysis, among other documents, are all available on the Company's profile page on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed", "positioned" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur including but not limited to the Company's comments regarding each of the New Locations being planned to initially offer multiple food brands; that allocating certain brands and menus to certain stalls will enable JustKitchen to be operate more efficiently and in a specialized manner; JustKitchen being part of bringing innovative food brands for delivery to Hong Kong's forward-thinking consumers; the new kitchen being able to support existing and future ghost kitchen locations and also serve as a spoke for the Company in Hong Kong moving forward; and Ryan Ching's experience in the app-driven foodservice sector in Hong Kong being expected to be quite valuable. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks, including those risk factors identified in the Company's prospectus dated March 26, 2021, and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

Endnotes:

"Yuen Long: Market town", Wikipedia, last edited April 28, 2022 , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuen_Long

SOURCE Just Kitchen Holdings Corp.

For further information: CONTACT INFORMATION: Just Kitchen Holdings Corp., Suite 1430, 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2V6; Nick Kuzyk, Investor Relations, Toll-Free: 1-855-JST-KCHN (1-855-578-5246), Email: [email protected]
RICHMOND HILL, ON, Nov. 1, 2022 /CNW/ - Mazda Canada Inc. (MCI) today reported October sales of 4,057 vehicles, representing a decrease of 16.1 percent versus October 2021. Sales year-to-date (YTD) are 44,068, which is a decrease of 23.1 percent compared to the same period in 2021.

OCTOBER 2022 SALES HIGHLIGHTS:

MX-30 EV sales increased 37 percent year-over-year

MX-5 records best October sales since 2008, with sales jumping 510 percent vs October 2021

CX-9 sales were up 17.3 percent versus the same time last year, recording fifth consecutive month of YOY growth



October October YOY YTD YTD YOY

2022 2021 Change 2022 2021 Change Mazda3 648 1,114 -41.8 % 7,102 10,556 -32.7 % MX-5 61 10 510.0 % 594 975 -39.1 % Passenger Car 709 1,185 -40.2 % 7,696 12,894 -40.3 % CX-3 0 277 -100.0 % 3,050 5,032 -39.4 % CX-30 464 804 -42.3 % 5,973 10,760 -44.5 % CX-5 2,182 2,243 -2.7 % 20,950 24,185 -13.4 % CX-50 304 0 0.0 % 1,975 0 0.0 % CX-9 298 254 17.3 % 3,702 4,334 -14.6 % MX-30 100 73 37.0 % 722 73 889.0 % Light Truck 3,348 3,651 -8.3 % 36,372 44,384 -18.1 % MAZDA TOTAL 4,057 4,836 -16.1 % 44,068 57,278 -23.1 %















Mazda Canada Inc. is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer service, and parts support of Mazda vehicles in Canada. Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Mazda Canada has a nationwide network of 163 dealerships. For additional information, visit Mazda Canada's media website at www.media.mazda.ca.

SOURCE Mazda Canada Inc.

For further information: Chuck Reimer, Mazda Canada Inc., [email protected]; Sandra Lemaitre, Mazda Canada Inc., [email protected]
OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 31, 2022 /CNW/ - The Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.

The Honourable Jillyne M. Drennan, a Judge of His Majesty's Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan in Regina, is appointed a Judge of Appeal of the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan. Justice Drennan replaces Justice B.A. Barrington-Foote (Regina), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective April 6, 2022.

John P. Morrall, Associate Regional Crown Prosecutor at the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General of Saskatchewan  Public Prosecutions in Prince Albert, is appointed a Judge of His Majesty's Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan in Regina. Justice Morrall fills the remaining position authorized further to the Budget Implementation Act, 2021, No. 1.

Peter T. Bergbusch, K.C., Partner at Miller Thomson LLP in Regina, is appointed a Judge of His Majesty's Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan in Regina. Justice Bergbusch replaces Justice M. McCreary (Regina), who was elevated to the Court of Appeal effective June 2, 2022.

Holli A. Kuski Bassett, Partner at McDougall Gauley LLP in Regina, is appointed a Judge of His Majesty's Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan in Regina. Justice Kuski Bassett fills one of the two new positions authorized further to the Budget Implementation Act, 2022, No. 1.

The Honourable Dorinda Mae Stahl, a Judge of the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan in La Ronge, is appointed a Judge of His Majesty's Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan, Family Law Division, in Saskatoon. Justice Stahl replaces Justice G.M. Currie (Saskatoon), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective November 1, 2021.

Quote

"I wish Justices Drennan, Morrall, Bergbusch, Kuski Bassett, and Stahl every success as they take on their new roles. I am confident they will serve the people of Saskatchewan well as members of the Court of Appeal and His Majesty's Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan."

The Hon. David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Biographies

Justice Jillyne M. Drennan was appointed to His Majesty's Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan in June 2022. She received her B.A. in English and Political Studies in 2002, and her L.L.B. in 2005, both from the University of Saskatchewan. She was called to the bar in 2007.

At the time of her appointment to His Majesty's Court of King's Bench, Justice Drennan was a lawyer at the Regina Rural Legal Aid Office, where she had served since 2014, becoming the Legal Director in 2019. She also acted as Crown counsel for the Ministry of Social Services, conducting child protection litigation. Her legal career focused primarily in the areas of family law and civil litigation.

Justice Drennan has appeared regularly at all levels of court in Saskatchewan and has worked closely with various community organizations and First Nations groups. She is a past Bencher of the Law Society of Saskatchewan and was also a volunteer with Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan and a liaison with the Integrated Justice Program. She has presented on evidence and advocacy issues at various continuing legal education forums.

Justice John P. Morrall grew up in Saskatoon but also lived in Dijon, France, for two years. He received his LL.B. in 1992 and his B.A. in English (with Distinction) in 1993, both from the University of Saskatchewan. He is fluent in French, having attended the Saskatoon French School in his formative years, as well as receiving continuing instruction from the Centre canadien de francais juridique since 2011.

After articling with Gauley and Company in Saskatoon, Justice Morrall began his legal career in private practice in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, with a focus on wills and estates, family law, federal criminal prosecutions, and a general civil practice. In 1997, he joined the Prince Albert prosecution office, where he has worked ever since. In 2014, he became the Associate Regional Crown for the office.

At the time of his appointment, Justice Morrall was in his second term as a Bencher for the Law Society of Saskatchewan representing the Prince Albert region. He has served on the ethics, equity and access, governance and K.C. selection committees as well as the model code subcommittee. In addition to serving as a hearing adjudicator on several occasions, he was elected as Vice-President of the Law Society by his peers in 2021.

Justice Morrall, his wife, Kim, and their four children live busy lives in Prince Albert.

Justice Peter T. Bergbusch, K.C., was raised in Regina. He graduated with a B.A. (Hons.) from McGill University, and obtained his LL.B. from the University of Saskatchewan, College of Law. He was called to the bar in 1996.

Justice Bergbusch is fluent in French and English. He articled at the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal then joined Balfour Moss LLP, becoming a partner in 2001. He continued in private practise with Miller Thomson LLP, a national law firm, following the firms' merger in 2011. Over his career, he had a broad civil litigation practice, including trials in His Majesty's Court of King's Bench, many appeals before the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, and appearances before the Supreme Court of Canada and courts of other provinces. His practice focused on shareholder and contract disputes, professional negligence claims, class actions, and occupational health and safety investigations. From 2004 to 2009, he sat on the Automobile Injury Appeals Commission, hearing appeals concerning no-fault benefits. He was appointed King's Counsel in 2019.

Justice Bergbusch was active in the legal community as a member of the CBA National Resolutions Committee and the Board of Governors of the Saskatchewan Trial Lawyers Association and as president of L'Association des juristes d'expression francaise de la Saskatchewan. He volunteered as a director of Habitat for Humanity Regina Inc. from 2006 to 2015, serving as board chair for four years. He was also a director of SaskEnergy Incorporated from 2006 to 2008.

Justice Bergbusch married Deanna in 1991 and they are proud parents of a son and daughter.

Justice Holli A. Kuski Bassett was born and raised in Regina. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree (with Distinction) from the University of Regina in 2007 and her Bachelor of Laws degree (with Great Distinction) from the University of Saskatchewan in 2008 through the joint B.B.A./LL.B program. She was called to the Bar of Saskatchewan in 2009.

Justice Kuski Bassett began her legal career in private practice with MacPherson Leslie & Tyerman LLP in Regina in 2008. She joined McDougall Gauley LLP as an associate in 2010 and became a partner in 2017. Her career centered on civil litigation in all areas and aspects, with a focus on contentious estate disputes and corporate commercial litigation. She represented clients before all levels of court in Saskatchewan.

In both her professional and private life, Justice Kuski Bassett has prioritized helping others and contributing to her community. Among other things, she has volunteered on the boards of directors for the Sofia House and for the FASD Network and is a former member of 100 Women Who Care. She was actively involved with the Saskatchewan Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, most recently as the new Treasurer and as Chair of the 2022 Mid-Winter Meeting. She is a former member of the Dean's Advisory Council at the University of Saskatchewan's College of Law.

Justice Dorinda Mae Stahl was born and raised in Saskatoon. She earned her B.A. (Hons) in 1996, an M.A. in 2002, and an LL.B. (with Distinction) in 2005, all from the University of Saskatchewan. She was called to the bar in 2006.

Justice Stahl was appointed a Judge of the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan, La Ronge, in November of 2021. Her legal career began in private practice, where she focused primarily on family law, civil litigation, and criminal law. From 2014 to 2016, she was seconded to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. She moved to Public Prosecutions with the Government of Saskatchewan as a Crown Prosecutor in 2008 and became Senior Crown Prosecutor in 2015.

From 2000 to 2008, Justice Stahl taught as a sessional lecturer at the First Nations University of Canada and at the Department of Indigenous Studies, University of Saskatchewan. Between 2008 and 2016, she taught as a sessional lecturer at the College of Law. From 2018 to 2020, she also worked as a creator, content developer, and author in the overhaul of the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education bar course. Her teaching and work reflected her interest and passion in education, mentorship, and truth and reconciliation.

Justice Stahl is married and is mother to one adult son who is a member of the Sucker Creek First Nation, Alberta. She has her Teacher's Certificates in both tap and jazz from the Canadian Dance Teacher's Association, Stage Division, and spends her spare time working, teaching, and volunteering in Saskatchewan's dance community.

Quick Facts

At the Superior Court level, more than 575 judges have been appointed since November 2015 . These exceptional jurists represent the diversity that strengthens Canada . Of these judges, more than half are women, and appointments reflect an increased representation of visible minorities, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQI+, and those who self-identify as having a disability.





. These exceptional jurists represent the diversity that strengthens . Of these judges, more than half are women, and appointments reflect an increased representation of visible minorities, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQI+, and those who self-identify as having a disability. To support the needs of the courts and improve access to justice for all Canadians, the Government of Canada is committed to increasing the capacity of superior courts. Budget 2022 provides for 22 new judicial positions, along with two prothonotaries at the Tax Court of Canada . Along with the 13 positions created under Budget 2021, this makes a total of 37 newly created superior court positions. Since Budget 2017, the government has funded 116 new judicial positions.





is committed to increasing the capacity of superior courts. Budget 2022 provides for 22 new judicial positions, along with two prothonotaries at the Tax Court of . Along with the 13 positions created under Budget 2021, this makes a total of 37 newly created superior court positions. Since Budget 2017, the government has funded 116 new judicial positions. Changes to the Questionnaire for Federal Judicial Appointments were announced in September 2022 . The questionnaire continues to provide for a robust and thorough assessment of candidates but has been streamlined and updated to incorporate, among other things, more respectful and inclusive language for individuals to self-identify diversity characteristics.





. The questionnaire continues to provide for a robust and thorough assessment of candidates but has been streamlined and updated to incorporate, among other things, more respectful and inclusive language for individuals to self-identify diversity characteristics. Federal judicial appointments are made by the Governor General, acting on the advice of the federal Cabinet and recommendations from the Minister of Justice.





The Judicial Advisory Committees across Canada play a key role in evaluating judicial applications. There are 17 Judicial Advisory Committees, with each province and territory represented.





play a key role in evaluating judicial applications. There are 17 Judicial Advisory Committees, with each province and territory represented. Significant reforms to the role and structure of the Judicial Advisory Committees, aimed at enhancing the independence and transparency of the process, were announced on October 20, 2016 .





. The Government of Canada is committed to promoting a justice system in which sexual assault matters are decided fairly, without the influence of myths and stereotypes, and in which survivors are treated with dignity and compassion. Changes to the Judges Act and Criminal Code that came into force on May 6, 2021 , mean that in order to be eligible for appointment to a provincial superior court, candidates must agree to participate in continuing education on matters related to sexual assault law and social context, which includes systemic racism and systemic discrimination. The new legislation enhances the transparency of decisions by amending the Criminal Code to require that judges provide written reasons, or enter them into the record, when deciding sexual assault matters.

SOURCE Department of Justice Canada

For further information: media may contact: Chantalle Aubertin, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Justice, 613-992-6568, [email protected]; Media Relations: Department of Justice Canada, 613-957-4207, [email protected]
Minister Isola Hosts Insurance Breakfast at the Gherkin in the City of London

Gibraltars Minister for Digital and Financial Services, the Hon Albert Isola MP, hosted an Insurance Breakfast on Level 40 of the Gherkin Building in the City of London.

The Insurance Breakfast is part of Gibraltar Finances week of events in London and was attended by 140 insurance professionals. The keynote address was given by Hannah Gurga the Director- General of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and was followed by a presentation from James Rakow an actuarial partner at Deloitte in London on the comparative performance of Gibraltar and UK motor insurers. Then followed a panel discussion with expert input from Hannah Gurga and James Rakow who were joined by Robert Chaplin an insurance partner at Skadden in London and Kristian Menez a Director of Prudential Supervision at the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission.

Minister Isola stated The insurance sector has been a key component of Gibraltars financial services sector for over 20 years and during my time in office since 2013, Gibraltar insurers collective share of the UK motor insurance market has grown from around 11% to over 30% today.

This event was last held in November 2019 and during the three intervening years we have dealt with both Brexit and Covid and importantly the United Kingdom Government has published the legal framework for reciprocal market access between Gibraltar and the UK in financial services known as the Gibraltar Authorisation Regime (GAR). The GAR gives Gibraltar unique market access into the UK not available to any other British Overseas Territory, Crown Dependency or Third Country.

Such market access offers opportunities for Gibraltar to further diversify its insurance sector widening the appeal of the jurisdiction for other classes of non-life business and the development and growth of our small life insurance sector. We are seeing interest from a more diverse group of applicants which we believe reflects the continuing attraction of Gibraltar for new and innovative insurance businesses.

I would like to thank all the speakers today for their individual participations and for ensuring that the Breakfast was insightful, informative and engaging.

Hannah Gurga, ABI Director General, said: The insurance sector is one of Gibraltars crowning achievements and the ABI is proud to play a part in such a vibrant market. It was an honour to deliver the keynote address at the Insurance Breakfast and to meet again with Minister Isola.
Gunmen have abducted four travellers along the Irele Ekiti-Oke Ako Highway in Ajoni Local Council Development Area. The highway has been a c...





Gunmen have abducted four travellers along the Irele Ekiti-Oke Ako Highway in Ajoni Local Council Development Area.





The highway has been a crime scene in recent times with several abductions and killings.





In the latest incident, the victims were returning to Ibadan on Sunday after attending an event in Kogi.





They were ambushed by a gang of armed men who took them into the forest. The families of the victims have not been reached.





A community leader in Irele-Ekiti, Kehinde Abejide lamented that the attacks had become incessant.





Abejide said the government appears to be doing nothing despite the hue and cry of the people.





Though we have in the past made local arrangements here relating to security, it can never be enough to confront these people.





There is the need for a military post between Irele and Oke Ako to forestall attacks by these gunmen.





State Commander of Amotekun Corps, retired Brig-Gen. Joe Komolafe, confirmed the incident.





Komolafe said operatives were already combing the forest in the area in search of the captives.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt P...





The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to investigate one of its governorship aspirants, Jimi Lawal, for allegedly forging the delegates list presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2023 governorship primary election.





The PDP also accused Lawal of committing the alleged forgery in connivance with some top officials of INEC, saying the aim was to deceive, manipulate and misrepresent facts.





It was reported that Lawal had earlier on May 25, rejected a delegates list used by the partys electoral committee for the governorship primary in Ogun, saying there was a list certified by the INEC.





As Ladi Adebutu emerged the governorship candidate of the party, Lawal approached a Federal High Court, requesting that the election be nullified based on the claim that the delegates were not those elected at the congresses held at the Ward, Local Government and State Levels.





Also, some members of the party went to court and obtained a judgment nullifying all the primary elections conducted by the PDP in Ogun; a judgment that is still being challenged at the Appeal Court.





But, the party in separate petitions by its lawyer, Oladimeji Hassan Balogun, requested the chairmen of the two anti-graft agencies to investigate Lawal and some officials of the INEC in Ogun for allegedly suppressing the authentic delegates list of the party.





The party in another petition addressed to the National Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, accused the Head of Department and Party Monitoring of the state INEC and Director of Election and Party Monitoring Department at the INEC headquarters in Abuja of deliberate and criminal suppression of PDP authentic delegates list with the view to fraudulently substituting the original documents with an unlawful delegate result purportedly submitted by Lawal.





As a result, the PDP is calling for the investigation of the INEC officials involved in the alleged fraud.





The PDP alleged that the suppression of the documents was done deliberately to give undue advantage to Lawal, who, relying on the fake delegates list went to court.





Lawal in collusion with others directly benefited from the deliberate suppression of the authentic 2022 Ogun state PDP delegate results by two officials of the INEC in Ogun state and the commission HQ, Abuja.





It was stated that the allegedly doctored list was relied upon by judges to rule against the PDP at two separate courts in Abeokuta and Abuja.





The PDP humbly requested the EFCC and ICPC to immediately commence an investigation to ascertain the extent of the involvement of Lawal and the INEC staffers in the illegal, unethical and fraudulent suppression of the authentic Ogun State PDP 2022 Ad-Hoc delegate result by INEC officials.





Reacting, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ogun, Niyi Ijalaye said, he was not aware of the petition.





I have not sighted the petition. If there is a forgery, that is a matter for the police. It must be investigated by the security agencies. Forgery is a crime against the state, the REC said.





Efforts to reach Mr Jimi Lawal were unsuccessful as calls to his phone did not go through because it was switched off.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has bragged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will sweep all elections in the 2023 polls in his S...

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has bragged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will sweep all elections in the 2023 polls in his State, excluding the presidential election until the right thing is done.

Governor Wike disclosed this yesterday in Port Harcourt during the swearing-in of newly appointed 319 Ward and 32 Constituency Liaison Officers.

Recall that Wike and the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar have been embroiled in a political rivalry following the fall out from the partys primaries.

The governor said: PDP will win our State. I am not hiding it as far as the governorship, House of Representatives, Senate and State Assembly is concerned. The other one (presidency) we have not decided, until the right thing is done.

I watched when one Dr. Abiye Sekibo, while addressing people in his house yesterday (Sunday), said he is the director of Atikus Supporters in Rivers. I have no problem with that, but he does not have that capacity to speak on behalf of Rivers State, he said.
Kemi Afolabi, the Nollywood actress, has returned to Nigeria  after spending a few months in the United States for lupus treatment. ...

Kemi Afolabi, the Nollywood actress, has returned to Nigeria  after spending a few months in the United States for lupus treatment.

Afolabi had in March revealed that she was diagnosed with lupus last year. She also said her doctor informed her that she has five years to live.

The actress lupus diagnosis sparked a chorus of concerns and support from the public, celebrities, fans, and associates.

In July, she commenced her treatment at the John Hopkins hospital in Maryland, United States.

In an Instagram post on Monday, Afolabi said she came back to meet the country in a deplorable state.

In the post, she described Nigeria as her biggest fear, adding that she is so sad to be back.

The film star lamented the traffic and weather conditions, and also the security issues bedeviling the country.

Back to my biggest fear, my country Nigeria. Nothing has changed! Same nonni our airport arrival is damn too hot. The way I quickly removed my top and tied it on my waist to rock my camisole with pride ehn! them no they tell person, body go tell you, she wrote in a mixture of Pidgin and English.

From the Lagos Murtala Mohammed International Airport through Oshodi to Mowe via the Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway na traffic full everywhere! In the end no clue for the cause.

Wait, what are these politicians using to campaign in the forthcoming elections because I am not understanding. It must be extremely hard task for the right authorities to track down kidnappers!

This is no longer funny at the rate kidnapping is on the rise on a daily in Nigeria. What will it cost the government to start ransacking day and night with the use of helicopters, ground troops and all?

The Ofada-Owode road that leads to my home is in a sorry state that even SUV car will suffer a hiccup God! Bia Ogun state governor when are you guys fixing the roads edakun this one concern una o.

Your excellency sir @dapoabiodunmfr we need your help urgently, the ofada, obafemi-owode, in Mowe-Ofada in Ogun state amongst others has gotten really worse.

Help us, sir, May God strengthen you to do it. Why am feeling this way though? I am supposed to be happy to be back home after a long time but I am just so sad.
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Soledad Enrichment Action community health workers Vivian Ramirez, left, and Maria Mejia, right, distribute COVID-related resources at a supermarket on Whittier Boulevard in Los Angeles last week. Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/TNS
Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Thunder possible. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Thunder possible. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Two women wanted in connection with shooting guns from a vehicle that was driving on a New Orleans interstate have surrendered to police, authorities said late Monday.

The gunfire was caught on video and shared on social media.

No injuries were reported, but it is part of an ongoing trend of increased shootings on New Orleans roads.

"This reckless act placed motorists traveling on the interstate and the community in imminent danger of being seriously injured or killed," New Orleans police said in a statement last month.

The women in the video are 21-year-old India Fazande and 19-year-old Erica Nettles, police said.

Fazande surrendered to police Oct. 25, authorities said. She was booked into the Orleans Justice Center on a count of discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle, according to online jail records.

Nettles turned herself in to police on Saturday. She also faces a count of discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle, according to jail records.

The charge is a felony, authorities said.

Gunfire on Pontchartrain Expressway

Police said they believe the gunfire happened Oct. 16 on the Pontchartrain Expressway near the Loyola Street exit.

The 10-second video was posted to social media with the caption: "lol was jus lettin them b**ches gooo" with a laughing emoji.

It shows two women with handguns firing multiple rounds out the open passenger windows of a vehicle while it is in motion. Lights from the city skyline are visible in the background.

Can't see the video? Watch here.

Map of interstate shootings

As of Tuesday, at least 25 people have been shot on New Orleans interstates and highways. Twenty of the 23 shootings have been on I-10. Three were near downtown on US-90B.

Six people have been killed in interstate shootings this year.

Here's where New Orleans police say the shootings happened.

Can't see the map? Click here.

Theories from police

When interstate shootings started increasing last year, New Orleans police said they believed the crimes were being committed by multiple, unrelated people for various reasons. They reiterated that stance in June.

They say the shootings usually fall into three categories:

interactions between motorists that escalated into road rage

pre-existing feuds where shooters are targeting someone they know

someone caught in the crossfire

Details from police about interstate shootings are generally limited and rarely include vehicle descriptions.

Read more about each of the interstate shootings.

Police ask anyone with information - "even if it is something that may seem insignificant" - to report it by calling Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111.
While broadband services do remain a point of concern in certain areas, in terms of viability and affordability, internet connectivity and access in general over the past decade have improved tremendously, especially for those living in rural areas where access was previously more challenging.

Pew Research Center reported that 63% of rural Americans had access to high-speed internet in their homes in 2016; this figure rose to 72% as of early 2021. This figure continues to lag behind both urban and suburban figures77% and 79%, respectivelybut following multiple measures being made by the federal government, in an effort to aid rural localities, this disparity of access may soon disappear.

In October 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the issue of $1.15 billion through its ReConnect program to help grow internet access in rural communities; within this greater allocation is $50 million in grants specifically geared toward distance learning and telemedicine. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will steer $65 billion toward improving the rural broadband internet network and making internet access more affordable for lower-income households.

A March 2022 report from the Kaiser Family Foundation that tracked telehealth appointments for rural patients with outpatient appointments for either mental health or substance use disorders from March to August 2021 found that 55% of such appointments were conducted online.

While such numbers do demonstrate significant progress in recent years, there is still a lot of growth that needs to take place for online therapy to become a more regular alternative to in-person mental health care; however, expanding internet access for rural areas has been beneficial for those located in medical deserts who need telehealth to fill in the gaps.

This story originally appeared on Top10.com and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Cade Brumley: Student scores are encouraging, but we've still got a way to go
BEIJING, Nov.1 -- A combined-arms battalion under the PLA 73rd Group Army carried out drills in a mountainous region of eastern Anhui Province. Troops of more than ten arms coordinated to attack the target fortifications. Under the cover of the artillery troops, and relying on the real-time information sharing through digital vehicle terminal, the attacking groups from different directions seized and controlled the target fortifications.
Contrary to earlier assumptions, Apple will not be releasing any new hardware before the end of this year. While the company still plans to deliver software updates across its product stack, Mark Gurman and @LeaksApplePro now observe that it will be early 2023 before next-generation MacBook Pro 14, MacBook Pro 16, Mac mini and Mac Pro models arrive.

4 Reviews

Allegedly, Apple has moved away from the idea of delivering new Mac products before the end of the year. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman claims that Apple confirmed in an investor call that its 2022 holiday offering is locked in after this month's iPad refresh. Supposedly, Tim Cook outlined this, as did Luca Maestri, the company's Chief Financial Officer.

Although product refreshes are no longer on the cards before Christmas, software updates like iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2 and macOS Ventura 13.1 are still on the cards. Incidentally, Apple recently released initial public beta builds for all three OS updates, details of which we have discussed separately. According to Gurman, March 2023 is the next likely release window for new Mac products. Conversely, @LeaksApplePro asserts that Apple has scheduled a new launch event in January, although it is unclear from where the leaker has obtained this information.

In comparison, Gurman acknowledges that Apple's current software roadmap puts macOS Ventura 13.3 on track for a February or March 2023 public release, which would coincide well with refreshed Mac devices. Currently, Apple is expected to release the MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16 with M2 and M2 Max upgrades. However, the analyst does not believe that the company will make any visual adjustments from the M1-based machines that it launched in late 2020. Still, the adoption of M2 Max will provide the MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16 with 2 additional CPU cores and 6 more GPU cores, totalling 12 and 38, respectively.
MERRILLVILLE  When theres a shortage of anything, you go shopping for more.

With a shortage of carpenters throughout its three-state region, the Indiana-Kentucky-Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters hosted an open house Tuesday to attract potential apprentice candidates.

More than 250 area high school students were expected to attend the program at the carpenters union training center, which included hands-on activities, interactive technology demonstrations and tours of the training center.

While at the program, students learned how to measure blocks, build a wall for pouring concrete, engineering and surveying, and building scaffolding, They also took part in virtual welding.

According to Adam Fedak, the councils director of education, With the amount of work forecasted in the very near future, we are gearing up on apprenticeships to meet the demands.

The tri-state council trains carpenters, millwrights and floor coverers. Those professions, Fedak said, will be needed in the thousands at several projects, including the IU Health Methodist Hospital in downtown Indianapolis, Fords Blue Oval project south of Louisville, and the $32 billion Intel project in Columbus, Ohio.

We want to showcase some of these trades today, Fedak explained.

At one of the stations, Lauren Feterick, 14, a Hobart High School freshman, was learning to read a tape measure. Her father is a millworker, and she is interested in flooring and design.

I thought this would be a good opportunity to learn new stuff, Feterick said.

Valentine Torres, career liaison coordinator and business teacher at Hobart, brought 31 students. She said she wanted her students to have exposure to opportunities.

I want them to see beyond the $15-an-hour jobs and see all the opportunities out there and the variety of careers, Torres said. You dont know what you dont know until youre exposed to it.

Mason Evans, 17, a Valparaiso High School senior, wants to go into carpentry. I just like building stuff and working with my hands, he said.

Mariah Perez, 18, a senior at Calumet New Tech High School, was interested in roof applications. She plans to study veterinary medicine in college but wants to learn about building trades. Im still just learning, she confessed.

Merrillville High School senior Anthony Napules, 17, wants to get into construction and run a business. Carpentry, he said, is very hands-on, very independent. What you put into it is what you get out of it.

The Area Career Center in Hammond brought 34 students, including Randy Orne, 16, a junior at Griffith High School. He wants to follow his father, a carpenter.

I know theres a lot I dont know, but I want to learn so I can get ahead, Orne said. You may not be the best at something, but you can still do it.

Ryan Covault, 17, a Kankakee Valley High School junior, likes working with wood. Im here to see if Im interested in a trade, said Covault, who found himself a little bit interested in building trades.

Peyton Fausto, 17, a senior at Portage High School, plans to study civil engineering and architecture in college. He enjoyed virtual welding. Its something Ive always been interested in and I want to learn it, he said.

Crown Point High School junior Joe Sullivan, 17, is interested in carpentry and plumbing, as his uncle owns a plumbing business, but he is leaning toward carpentry.

You learn a lot, and theres a lot of options with [carpentry], Sullivan said. It seems like a good environment.
Construction workers are needed in the Hoosier State.

The Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters is looking to interest more people in construction careers at an open house scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Carpenters Union Training Center at 1565 E. 70th Ct. in Merrillville.

State and local officials, business owners, labor representatives and more than 800 high school students are expected to attend. Its open to the general public, including seasoned construction workers and people seeking a career change.

Attendees can learn about job opportunities in the field, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates will grow by 4% through 2031.

Contractors and vendors will display their products and showcase job openings. Training center instructors and apprentices will lead tours of the facility and offer hands-on activities.

It will be an interactive experience showing off the latest in building techniques.

At this years Open Houses, we are focusing on our organizing efforts throughout the state of Indiana. With the amount of work forecasted in the very near future, we are gearing up in the apprenticeship to meet the demands, Indiana and Kentuckys Joint Apprenticeship Director of Education Adam Fedak said.

An affiliate of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, the union represents more than 35,000 union tradespeople in 40 union locals in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and parts of West Virginia and Tennessee.
CROWN POINT  A father pleaded guilty Monday in connection with the death of his infant daughter in 2019, admitting that he struck her in the head during a diaper change at a Munster Target store.

Justin L. Harling, 27, of Munster, pleaded guilty to aggravated battery, a Level 1 felony.

If Lake Criminal Court Judge Salvador Vasquez accepts Harlings plea agreement, Harling would be sentenced to 40 years in prison. He would be required to serve at least 75% of that sentence.

In exchange for his plea, Lake County prosecutors agreed to dismiss a murder count and a separate felony criminal confinement case.

Defense attorney Adrian Guzman asked the judge to vacate a trial scheduled for the week of Nov. 7.

Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Keith Anderson said Morgans mother had been informed of the terms of the plea agreement and didnt object. She had not yet been told of Harlings intention to accept the deal.

According to charging documents, the Indiana Department of Child Services removed Morgan, who was 6 months old, and her siblings from the custody of Harling and their mother when Morgan was 1 month old because Morgan had suffered a broken arm.

The family was granted a supervised visit Dec. 11, 2019, and Harling and the childrens mother took the them to a restaurant while a counselor sat nearby and observed.

The counselor told police she transported the children from a foster home to the restaurant and, later, to the Target. She allowed Harling to remove the children from her car at the Target because of the cold weather, documents state.

The counselor said the mother asked about additional supervised visits, so she remained in her car sending text messages and making phone calls to see if one of her co-workers might be available.

After a short time, the counselor walked into the Target and saw a commotion near the family bathroom.

Morgans mother told police she was in a checkout line when Harling took Morgan to the restroom.

Harling opened the bathroom door and called for her to bring him another diaper, and she saw he had ripped the babys diaper when she entered the restroom, records state.

When she saw that her daughter was struggling to breathe and turning blue like a blueberry, she told Harling to call 911, according to documents. Morgan was taken to Community Hospital, then died en route to an Indianapolis hospital.

Morgan suffered multiple blunt trauma injuries to her head, including bruising on her forehead, face and chin; bleeding on her brain; fractures near her right eye; and bleeding in her eyes and middle lower back. Doctors also found evidence of older injuries, including a shoulder dislocation.

The injuries were not present before Harling took her into the bathroom, records state.

Vasquez set Harlings sentencing for Nov. 28.
CROWN POINT  A Calumet City man was wanted Monday on charges of violating an order of protection and shooting his ex-girlfriend in the face last weekend in Hammond, records showed.

Desmond R. Webb, 35, is accused of firing multiple shots at the woman as she stood outside a vehicle occupied by her current boyfriend and her child Sunday in the 5600 block of Hohman Avenue.

The woman told police she noticed Webb driving a black vehicle and was about to warn her boyfriend when Webb opened fire on her.

She underwent surgery for a bullet wound to her left cheek and told police she could lose use of her eye.

Investigators learned that the woman had a protective order against Webb and found a history of police reports dating to May, Lake Criminal Court record state.

Webb was charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery and stalking.

Surveillance video showed that a man in a black Chevrolet Equinox fired shots at the woman and fled down an alley, according to court documents.

Detectives used a license plate reader system to track the car as it traveled toward Calumet City after the shooting. Police learned that the car had been rented by an Illinois woman known to date Webb, records state.

When police went to that womans home, a man told them the woman wasnt home. A detective called the woman and told her he wanted to speak to her about the rental car driven by Webb, and she asked, Who is Desmond Webb? documents state.

Investigators executed a search warrant for the womans home and found the Equinox in her garage.

Anyone with information about Webbs whereabouts is asked to call Detective Sgt. Steve Guernsey, 219-852-2978.
EAST CHICAGO  The City Council is overriding a mayoral veto of an ordinance providing a raise for police and fire personnel in 2023.

The result will mean a salary increase of $7,200 for all firefighters and police next year, said Councilman Robert Garcia, D-5th, who serves as chairman of the finance committee.

We keep on losing officers, he said. This is another way to retain them.

The council approved the ordinance Oct. 12, but Mayor Anthony Copeland sent a veto message to the council afterward, claiming that the council overstepped its authority.

Copelands message said the law allows the council to fix wages and compensation for public safety employees. But the ordinance also attempts to establish such benefits as sick leave, vacation entitlement, personal days and a residency bonus that are beyond the councils authority.

The mayor also said it was fiscally irresponsible to adopt the salary ordinance before the 2023 civil city budget was adopted.

The council approved the ordinance 8-1, with Councilwoman Gilda Orange, D-6th, voting against it.

Orange stated previously that a 5% raise she said is standard across the county would have been more appropriate.

After the veto override, Council President Monica Gonzalez, D-1st, said the police and fire departments are deserving of the increase: This will give them a competitive wage.

Also at its Oct. 26 meeting, the council unanimously approved on third and final reading a salary ordinance for appointed officers and employees of the city, other than police and fire, that Garcia said will provide a 5% increase across the board in 2023.

Unanimous approval was also given on final reading to an ordinance that establishes appropriations and tax rates for the citys sanitary district.

The ordinance includes a general fund budget of $12.95 million for the sanitary district in 2023.

The council was divided on its approval of the 2023 civil city budget, which eventually was adopted 5-4.

That was after Garcia made a motion to cut $8.5 million in anticipated casino revenue from the budget.

Garcia said he requested but did not receive detailed explanation from the city administration regarding how the money would be spent.

The council also voted 5-4 to approve Garcias amendment to the ordinance.

Orange was among those who objected. She said cutting the money from the budget would result in city employees having to ask the council for money for such things as Christmas lights and senior events.

A lot of that comes out of the casino budget, she said.

The ordinance that establishes appropriations and tax rates for the civil city budget in 2023 includes a general fund budget of $35,775,000.
VALPARAISO  Honor, courage, and commitment. Those U.S. Marine Corps values have now been passed on to the graduates of the Dunes Young Marines.

The local group, the only Hoosier unit north of Indianapolis, held its initial graduation Sunday at American Legion Post 94. Of six young people in the local program, three graduated on a recent Sunday.

Dan Tolson, unit commander for Dunes Young Marines, said graduation marks the end of training for recruits and recognizes their progress in the program.

Young Marines believes in the power of young people," said Tolson, an ex-Marine. Leadership is one of the three core values of the Young Marines, and the goal of the organization  is to provide a leadership culture that offers the finest youth training.

Graduating were Pfc. Bryce Yagelski, 16, of Chesterton, Pvt. Xander Reeves, 14, of Valparaiso, and Pvt. Sayuki Lopez, 10, of Joliet, Ill.

This feels really good, said Yaelski, a junior at Chesterton High School. This program requires a lot of teamwork and effort on everyones part. Its shown me how we have to rely on each other.

I was pretty nervous, but I feel good, said Reeves, a freshman at Washington Township High School. You get a lot of opportunities to learn stuff, and thats always exciting.

Lopez is a fourth grader at Jefferson Elementary in Joliet. With encouragement from older sister Yamy, Lopez learned to be grateful for everything. I learned that leadership and discipline re good.

Also in the program is another sibling, Arumy, 15, a student at Joliet West High School, along with Adrian Verrazzano, of Gary, and James Wilson, a new recruit, from Valparaiso.

As Tolson explained, Young Marines requires a minimum of 26 hours of training, but this first group went longer. Occasionally the Dunes group trained with Fox Valley Young Marines from Elgin, Ill.

Learning activities include a challenge course and regimental encampment. The challenge course required recruits to work as a team. Encampment activities included land navigation, map and compass, swimming, marksmanship and fire watch.

Despite its military background, Young Marines is not a recruiting tool for the Marines. The mission of Young Marines is to provide quality youth development programs for boys and girls that nurture and develop its members into responsible citizens who enjoy and promote healthy, drug-free lifestyles.

Open to youth ages 8 years through the completion of high school, Young Marines requires that the potential recruit is in good standing at school.

Founded in 1959 in Waterbury, Ct., with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown 238 units involving 10,000 young people and 3,000 adult volunteers in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and several countries.

Sundays graduation audience included members of various military organizations and family members. Yamy Lopez recruited her younger sisters because I wanted them to have the experiences I had. Young Marines changed my life and I want (her sisters) to see they can do anything in life they work for.

Dane Yagelski, Bryces father, said, I couldnt be prouder. Hes taking on the role of leadership.

Im super proud, said Gayle Yagelski, Bryce's mother.

Brandy Campollattara, Reeves mother, added, Its a shock. I never know what to expect from him.

Campolattara added that her son, a straight-A student, is already preparing for college as an underclassman.

Sgt. Robert Garcia of the USMC recruiting substation in Valparaiso, presented Reeves with the Marines Semper Fi Award.

While addressing recruits, Garcia said the skills and leadership training they receive through Young Marines will set you apart in the long run  and make them into a better quality individual. Stick with it, and it will set you up for success.
VALPARAISO  Porter County Auditor Vicki Urbanik has been a key financial consultant for the Board of Commissioners and County Council. She guided the American Rescue Plan Act planning process. At the end of the year, shes leaving office because of term limits.

Voters will choose between Democrat Toni Downing and Republican Karen Martin to succeed Urbanik.

Martin is no stranger to county government. She served two terms as county clerk and two terms on the council, including a stint as president. She also has served as president of the Plan Commission.

My experience to be the auditor includes previously working with budgets, evaluating all of the income resources for all departments, working with requests for TIFs which affect the tax rate and disbursement of funds, she said.

Downing has been chief deputy auditor for eight years. She is a Level II certified Indiana assessor-appraiser. My past work experience includes more than 20 years in the commercial real estate industry, which is important in a position that deals closely with property transfers, taxation, valuations and tax increment financing (TIFs), she said.

Downing also worked in human resources with Marriott Corp., gaining a lot of experience in dealing with hiring and other employment issues, she said. The auditors office processes payroll for over 750 county employees every two weeks.

Martin said her top priorities are making sure all property deductions and credits are applied correctly and in a timely fashion; working with departments to help them assist the council in preparing budgets with all the information necessary; and assisting the commissioners and council in developing a five-year financial plan to be proactive rather than reactive.

Downings main priority is to continue to leverage her experience and that of the staff to perform professional-level projects in-house rather than using consultants. Our office currently saves county residents over $200,000 annually on projects that most Indiana counties outsource, she said.

Property tax deductions can be confusing for residents, Downing said. More than any other county office, we understand and can articulate the problems our homeowners are experiencing with the current deduction-related legislation. Downing promised to continue to work closely with state legislators to ensure eligibility requirements are keeping pace with market conditions.

Finally, while county residents work with our office on the property tax side, they dont typically witness the support our office provides to the other elected officials and department heads both at the county level and with other local units of government, such as cities, towns, schools, etc., Downing said. We accurately reconcile and distribute more than $300 million every year to nearly 60 governmental entities and organizations. We provide guidance and fiscal oversight to more than 50 county-level department heads and elected officials.

Downing said that among the biggest issues facing the Porter County Auditors Office in the next few years is the management and oversight of the $33 million received through the American Rescue Plan Act. Our office will be very busy over the next couple of years working with county departments and local organizations to ensure they are meeting the terms of their funding agreements and eventually allowing disbursement of the ARPA money, she said. Downing promised to ensure maximum transparency in this process.

Martin said the biggest issues facing the Auditors Office include helping newly elected officials have all the information necessary to make knowledgeable decisions and being prepared to give them the positive reinforcement they need to process financial needs for their departments.

Martin said her eight years of working with county budgets as a council member, combined with her experience as a department head, has helped her learn to work within budget constraints while looking at options.

Downings experience as a professional accountant sets her apart from her opponent, she said. Since 2015, I have worked alongside Vicki Urbanik  one of, if not the most highly regarded county auditor in Indiana, she said. While my most valued endorsement is that of Auditor Urbanik, I am honored to have the support of many county and local officials from both political parties.

Martin said her interactions with the Auditors Office as a council member and as county clerk were her primary motivation for running.

I have had years of on-the-job training, Downing said. I understand the long hours and dedication required to perform the role effectively and am ready for the challenge.
DELPHI  Authorities on Monday announced the arrest of a drugstore worker in the unsolved murders of two teenage girls.

Richard Matthew Allen, 50, was arrested Friday on two murder counts in the killings of Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, in a case that has haunted the Indiana city of about 3,000 people. Allen has been living in the small northern Indiana community where the girls bodies were found after they went on a hike nearly six years ago.

The investigation is far from complete, State Police Superintendent Doug Carter said at a news conference on Monday. He encouraged the community to come forward with more information, and said if any other people had any involvement in these murders in any way, that person or persons will be held accountable.

Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland described Allens arrest as a step in the right direction.

Its concerning that hes a local guy, McLeland said.

The evidence against Allen, a licensed pharmacy technician who worked at a local CVS store, has been temporarily sealed to avoid jeopardizing the integrity of their investigation, authorities said. While I know you were all expecting final details today concerning this arrest, today is not that day, Carter said.

The deaths of Libby and Abby were ruled a double homicide, but police have never disclosed how they died or described what evidence they gathered. A relative had dropped them off at a hiking trail near the Monon High Bridge just outside their hometown of Delphi, about 60 miles northwest of Indianapolis. Their bodies were found the next day, Feb. 14, 2017, in a rugged, heavily wooded area near the trail.

Libbys grandmother, Becky Patty, told reporters that Allen once processed photos for the family at the CVS store in Delphi where Allen worked. He didnt charge them for the photos, she added.

The families always knew that the suspect could have been living right amongst us, hiding in plain sight, said Libbys grandfather, Mike Patty. Thats why we never stopped searching anywhere, because we didnt know where he was.

The Pattys wore gray shirts that read Today is the Day ... Justice will be served for Abby and Libby, to Mondays news conference.

A judge found probable cause to arrest Allen, who entered a not-guilty plea at his initial hearing on Friday, authorities said. All persons arrested are presumed innocent, Carter said.

Sheriff Bill Brooks in adjacent White County, where Allen is being held without bond, said he did not know whether Allen has an attorney. No murder case was listed Monday afternoon under his name in Indianas online court system.

We havent closed the door on the investigation, McLeland said when asked if authorities were investigating others. Were not presuming anything at this point.

No one answered the door Monday at Allens house, on a street of single-family homes where some put Keep Out signs in their yards.

Outside the CVS store, just down Main Street from the historic courthouse square where wanted posters still seek information in the murder case, Ralph Barnaby, a Delphi resident who knows the girls families, told The Associated Press that hed be more comfortable if hes indicted.

Within days of the killings, investigators released two grainy photos of a suspect walking on the abandoned railroad bridge the girls had visited, and an audio recording of a man believed to be the suspect saying down the hill.

Authorities released an initial sketch of the suspected killer in July 2017, and then another in April 2019 based on video released in April 2019 showing a suspect walking on the abandoned railroad bridge the girls had visited. The images and audio of the suspect came from Libbys cellphone. Authorities hailed her as a hero for recording potentially crucial evidence before she was killed.

In December 2021, state police announced they were seeking information from people who had contact with someone who used a fictitious online profile to communicate with young girls. State Police said investigators determined the profile anthony_shots was used from 2016 to 2017 on Snapchat, Instagram and other social media platforms.

A statement from CVS said the company is shocked and saddened to learn that one of our store employees was arrested as a suspect in these crimes. We stand ready to cooperate with the police investigation in any way we can.

We remain devastated by these murders and our hearts go out to the German and Williams families, the statement said.

The case has been followed closely over the years by true-crime enthusiasts who have offered plenty of theories, but Carter urged people not to subjectively interpret the case while officers continue to gather information. If you choose to be critical of our silence be critical of me, not the front line, he said.

Sheryl McCollum, who has appeared on television as a cold-case consultant, traveled to the news conference from Atlanta after meeting the Germans at a true-crime convention. She praised the authorities for holding the facts close to their vests.

I think the integrity of this case, and not telling every single thing they know, I think thats powerful, Sheryl said. If you start showing your hand, you know, you can mess things up and you can tell too much. ... The investigation does not stop at arrest. It really just begins. So now is when theyre really going to go to work.
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Meyer-Buser did not respond to requests for comment. And Gaensheimer clarified that the museum was not saying that the work was definitively hanging upside down, but rather that its research had determined that Mondrian had created the work from the opposite perspective.

We cannot know what is correct or incorrect, Gaensheimer said.

On Page 198 of the catalog accompanying the exhibition, Meyer-Buser cited another work, New York City, which is the only one in a series of similar works to have been painted rather than created with adhesive tape. (After relocating to New York from war-torn Europe, Mondrian began experimenting with colored tape, which allowed him to quickly rearrange his designs as he plotted out works.)

The painting, on display at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, is hung with a close grouping of several lines at the top  the same way as depicted in the 1944 photograph  rather than at the bottom.

Another piece of evidence described by Meyer-Buser is the direction in which the tape appears to have been rolled out. As the work is currently hung, there are gaps between some of the ends of the tape and the top of the canvas, suggesting that Mondrian started at the opposite end.

Assuming that Mondrian began by attaching the strips at the top, she wrote, and, following the principle of gravity, unrolled them downward to attach them at the bottom of the canvas, then the painting has indeed been hanging upside down ever since it was first exhibited in 1945.

Other experts pointed out that Mondrian had tended to work with his canvases laid flat, walking around them and approaching them from different angles, which Meyer-Buser acknowledges in her essay. If he did work from different perspectives, she said, there would be no right or wrong orientation.
The government had a high-profile witness on its side with the author Stephen King, who testified that the merger would be especially harmful to writers who are just starting out, and took a contrary position to his own publisher, Scribner, which is part of Simon & Schuster. On Monday night, Mr. King said in an email interview that he was delighted with the outcome.

Further consolidation would have caused slow but steady damage to writers, readers, independent booksellers, and small publishing companies, he said. Publishing should be more focused on cultural growth and literary achievement and less on corporate balance sheets.

Executives from other major publishing houses, among them the heads of Hachette and HarperCollins, also testified against the deal.

In seeking to block the merger, the government argued that the deal would leave authors with fewer options for getting their work published, lead to lower advances for writers and even cause a reduction in the number and diversity of titles published.

One entitys control of almost half of the nations anticipated top-selling books threatens competition in multiple ways, the Justice Department wrote in a post-trial brief. Authors advances would fall  advances that they use to pay their bills and that reflect compensation for their work.

Penguin Random House has about 100 imprints that collectively publish more than 2,000 new titles a year. Through the merger, it would have gained roughly another 50 imprints from Simon & Schuster.

The Justice Departments focus on author earnings, rather than harm to consumers, marked a shift in how the government applies antitrust law. Antitrust policy has largely been guided for decades by an effort to prevent large corporations from imposing higher costs on consumers, rather than focusing on the impact a monopoly might have on workers, suppliers or competitors. By zeroing in on the potential harm to authors, the Justice Department signaled that its taking a broader view of the possible impact of consolidation.
In the midst of Indias most festive season, pedestrians had packed the suspension bridge, which was built in the Victorian era and had newly reopened. The 755-foot-long bridge (about 230 meters) is a famous tourist destination because of its sensation of swaying; people had bought tickets for about 20 cents.

After people grabbed the netting to make the bridge shimmy, as countless others had done before them, the cables suddenly snapped, spilling people into the river.

Now, India is asking why its infrastructure has failed so calamitously once again. The bridge had been opened without a fitness certificate or the authorities permission, an official told local news media. The company running the bridge blamed the victims, but it is unclear why it allowed so many on the bridge at once.

Politics: Gujarat is Prime Minister Narendra Modis home state. An opposition leader said that leaders of his party  which has governed the state for more than two decades  announced the bridges opening as a Diwali gift to the people of the town without ensuring its safety.
While the accusations have further sullied the Trump Organizations name  and a conviction would only deepen the reputational blow  the company is facing far less than a death sentence, at least financially speaking.

If the corporations are convicted, the company faces the maximum $1.62 million penalty, a rounding error for Mr. Trump, who routinely collected hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue during his presidency.

Other than the money and reputational damage, there might be limited fallout for Mr. Trumps business. A corporation, of course, cannot go to jail, and the two Trump entities on trial are not publicly traded. There will be no run on the company if the jury convicts. It has no regulators to punish it or public investors to flee from it.

But the trial comes at a critical time for Mr. Trump, not only while he contends with the broader criminal investigation, but just as he is expected to announce another presidential campaign in the coming weeks, according to several advisers.

The stakes are also high for Alvin L. Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney. When he was sworn in on Jan. 1, prosecutors in his office were presenting evidence to a grand jury about Mr. Trump himself, laying out a case that the former president had fraudulently inflated his assets to secure favorable loans and other benefits.

Mr. Bragg stopped the presentation, citing concerns about proving that Mr. Trump had intended to break the law, a necessary element for a conviction. Shortly thereafter, two senior prosecutors who had been leading the investigation resigned, fueling a public uproar.

Mr. Bragg has since said the investigation is active and ongoing. But a conviction of the Trump Organization might help endear him to a liberal Manhattan voting base that hungers to see the former president held to account.
Kotek is thus in a tricky position: She has to convince voters that the crisis in Portland represents a technocratic rather than an ideological failure by Brown. The two biggest issues right now are housing and homelessness, and mental health and addiction, Kotek told me. And Ill be honest, shes been absent on that topic. Its not been a priority for her. And when you dont make something a priority, agencies kind of flounder, money doesnt move fast enough.

This might sound like a deflection, but administrative sclerosis has clearly contributed to Portlands problems. Scott Kerman, executive director of Blanchet House, an organization that provides food, shelter and medical care to poor and homeless people in Portlands Old Town neighborhood, scoffs at the idea that widespread street homelessness is something that liberal hippie Portland has done to itself. Certainly, street homelessness has always been a problem in Portland. But Kerman blames a confluence of disasters, including steeply rising housing costs, a lack of services to help addicts (one survey ranked Oregon last in the nation for access to drug treatment) and  perhaps most significantly  the pandemic for turning parts of downtown into what he called an open-air psych ward.

What were dealing with now, said Kerman, is the byproduct of inattention and inaction that occurred in the first six months to a year of the Covid crisis.

When the pandemic hit, Kerman said, many shelters and other services in the city closed. Blanchet House, which offers three free meals a day to anyone who wants them, stayed open, providing food to go. And we very quickly went from 1,000 meals a day to 2,000 meals a day, because most locations around the city had shut down, especially on the East Side, he said. So everybody migrated here to Old Town. And for a good six months, it was deplorable. Outside, it reminded me of news footage of Sudanese refugee camps.
Elon Musk and a group of his advisers have tightened their grip over Twitter, meeting with company executives to work on layoffs, ordering up product changes, talking with advertisers and reviewing content moderation policies, according to more than a dozen current and former employees involved in the efforts.

The priorities for the worlds richest man and his advisers at Twitter are twofold, five of the people said: They are working on how to trim the companys ranks while also exploring a slew of changes to Twitters mobile app.

For now, the timing and scope of layoffs remains fluid as lists of the top and lower performers at the company are finalized, the people said. Mr. Musks advisers have also assigned a team of Twitters engineers to work on its verification program, the system that doles out badges to high-profile or notable users to confirm their profiles authenticity. Twitter could charge users $20 a month to retain their verified status, two people with knowledge of the discussions said.

Mr. Musk, 51, flew to New York on Sunday after spending much of last week at Twitters headquarters in San Francisco, according to one person familiar with his movements and a Twitter account that tracks the location of his private jet. Some of his trusted confidants remain in San Francisco, the people said, including David Sacks, a venture capitalist, and Sriram Krishnan, a former Twitter product leader and partner at the investment firm Andreessen Horowitz, which invested in Mr. Musks buyout of Twitter.
No top Republican lawmakers joined in peddling unfounded claims about the attack, but few denounced them, either. Mrs. Clinton, the former first lady and senator who lost to Mr. Trump in 2016, pointedly blamed the party for spreading hate and deranged conspiracy theories.

It is shocking, but not surprising, that violence is the result, she wrote on Twitter on Saturday. As citizens, we must hold them accountable for their words and the actions that follow.

It was her post that prompted Mr. Musk, Twitters owner since last Thursday night, to insinuate that an alternate version of the assault was possible. There is a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye, he replied directly to Mrs. Clinton.

Mr. Musk linked to an opinion piece from the Santa Monica Observer, a website known to publish falsehoods, which offered an alternative account of what led to the attack on Mr. Pelosi. Relying on an anonymous source and providing no evidence, the article claimed that the attacker was a male prostitute.

The story also indicated that the attacker was found by the police wearing only his underwear, a detail that was originally published by a Fox affiliate before getting widely circulated in right-wing communities online. The affiliate later removed the detail and appended a correction, saying the article misstated what clothing the suspect was wearing.

A spokeswoman for Fox Television Stations said the story was corrected within about two hours.

That change prompted a new round of baseless theories, with some right-wing Americans claiming a cover-up.

New day, new narrative, Tricia Flanagan, a former Republican primary candidate for New Jerseys 4th Congressional District, tweeted to her 70,000 followers.
Follow our live coverage of the 2022 midterm elections for the latest news and updates.

The Justice Department has weighed in on the debate over election activists who have been stationing themselves  at times with guns  near ballot boxes in Arizona, saying that their activity may not be constitutionally protected if it has the potential to intimidate voters.

The First Amendment does not protect individuals right to assemble to engage in voter intimidation or coercion, Kristen Clarke, the assistant attorney general for civil rights, wrote in a brief filed on Monday in U.S. District Court in Phoenix. Nor does it transform an unlawful activity for one individual  voter intimidation  into a permissible activity simply because multiple individuals have assembled to engage in it.

The filing was made in a case that the League of Women Voters of Arizona brought last week against two groups that have been organizing ballot box monitoring, the Lions of Liberty and Clean Elections USA, as well as some of their principals. On Friday, the plaintiff asked the court for an injunction against those groups to stop the activity. That petition is still pending.

The judge overseeing the case, Michael T. Liburdi, on Friday refused to issue an injunction in a parallel lawsuit against Clean Elections USA, claiming that the Constitution protected the activities of citizens who wish to gather near ballot boxes.
WASHINGTON  A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit by Mark Meadows, the final chief of staff for President Donald J. Trump, that sought to block two subpoenas from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack, including one to Verizon for Mr. Meadowss phone and text data.

In throwing out the suit, Judge Carl J. Nichols of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia found that the committees subpoenas were covered under the Constitutions speech or debate clause, which he said protected them from civil suits as legislative actions.

The decision is the latest chapter in a nearly yearlong legal battle between Mr. Meadows and the committee, but it is unlikely to be the final one that delivers investigators what they have been seeking.

Mr. Meadows can appeal. (His lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.) And with the committee almost certain to shut down if Republicans win control of the House, as expected, in next weeks elections, the panel is most likely running out of time.
KYIV, Ukraine  The latest Russian assault on Ukraines civilian infrastructure left most of Ukraines capital without running water on Monday, forcing residents to line up by the thousands at old stone water wells in the ancient heart of Kyiv and at metal spigots in marketplaces across the metropolis.

Eighty percent of the city was without water early Monday, after Russia launched dozens of cruise missiles at Ukraine, though that outage figure was cut in half by evening, officials said. The barrage  like many recently  appeared aimed largely at depriving people not just of fresh water but also of electricity and heat. Hundreds of thousands of people in Kyiv lost power, as did many residents in other cities.

Maksym Khaurat, 31, said he and his wife, who have a newborn baby, Miroslava, had already been enduring rolling blackouts, a lack of heat in their apartment and a failing internet connection. The loss of water was different. For the first time, they were unable to fill a glass of water from the tap, take a shower or flush a toilet.

We can live without heat and light, he said as he waited to fill up a water container.

Mr. Khaurat said he was having second thoughts about having returned to the city after relocating to western Ukraine earlier this year. We have a lot of decisions to be made, he said.
Christine Farnon, a quiet force behind the Grammy Awards who was credited with shepherding the event from a private black-tie affair to a telecast seen by tens of millions, died on Oct. 24 in Los Angeles. She was 97.

The death was confirmed by her daughter, Joanna Shipley.

The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which hosts the Grammys, was conceived partly in the kitchen of Ms. Farnons Hollywood Hills home. That was one place where her husband, Dennis Farnon, a musician who became a producer and executive at Capitol and RCA Records, met with other musicians and music executives in founding the Recording Academy. While they deliberated, Ms. Farnon took notes.

She was eventually promoted from unpaid volunteer to paid staff member, the academys first, and from local to national executive. She organized the first Grammy ceremony, on May 4, 1959, which included a black-tie dinner with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin at the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel. She remained with the organization until 1992.

The Recording Academy is the music industry equivalent of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which puts on the Oscars, and it similarly performs a number of professional functions. But its best known for its annual awards ceremony.
Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep  and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now.

Georgia on My Mind

Trevor Noah kicked off a week of taping The Daily Show in Atlanta on Monday night.

Georgia is the epicenter of Americas elections right now, Noah said. It decides everything. One such race, he said, was the contest between the Democratic senator Raphael Warnock and his Republican opponent Herschel Walker, who he was shocked to report are currently neck and neck.

I know Walker is all neck, but what is happening? Noah said.
THE ISLAND OF EXTRAORDINARY CAPTIVES: A Painter, a Poet, an Heiress, and a Spy in a World War II British Internment Camp, by Simon Parkin

A German invasion of mainland Britain never felt closer than during that period between 1940 and 1945, when thousands of Nazi soldiers occupied the Channel Islands, holding captive the British citizens of Guernsey, Jersey and Sark in isolating and punitive conditions. But hundreds of miles farther north in the cold, gray waters of the Irish Sea, halfway between Cumbria and the coast of Northern Ireland, lies an island on which these authoritarian circumstances occurred in reverse.

With its thatched cottages and seaside boardinghouses, the Isle of Man is today beloved as a peaceful holiday haven. But for much of the war, the island was the unwelcome host to 10 internment camps, including one reserved exclusively for women. The seventh complex, named Hutchinson, was a vast terrace of buildings behind whose veil of barbed wire 12,000 largely innocent German and Austrian refugees, the majority Jewish, were incarcerated. The Island of Extraordinary Captives, a truly shocking story of what officials are wont to term national misjudgment, is electrifyingly told by the journalist and historian Simon Parkin, whose breadth and depth of original research has produced an account of cinematic vividness.

As the threat of conflict deepened in the immediate years before war broke out, thousands fled Nazi persecution for sanctuary in Britain. Encouraged by widespread antisemitism and anti-refugee sentiments, the government, led by Winston Churchill from 1940, feared other countries would consider Britain an easy touch for their own unwanted asylum seekers. Britains popular newspapers, especially The Daily Express and Daily Mail, fed on this prejudice and intensified their warnings against what came to be termed the enemy in our midst. Act! Act! Act! Every German Is an Agent! exhorted one typical headline, encouraging suspicion of anyone with a foreign accent. The government welcomed the deluge of tip-offs from a paranoid public energized to seek out the Fifth Column of Nazi agents in their midst. The slightest and most absurd premise could trigger a panic measure born of historical ignorance and bedrock xenophobia. A sequence of mysterious knocking noises behind a wall, reported by a zealous neighbor, proved to be sounds of enthusiastic lovemaking. A beekeeper was hauled in for questioning after his private diary fell into investigative hands  hed noted his plan to exchange British Queen for Italian Queen.

One of Britains most shameful retaliatory actions concerned the S.S. Arandora Star. Packed with refugees being deported back to Newfoundland, the vessel was hit by a German U-boat, drowning the majority of the passengers. Britain was not alone in its policies of exclusion; citing a compassionate unwillingness to separate children from their parents, President Franklin Roosevelt returned thousands of underage innocents to their homeland, only for them to perish later in the Holocaust. As Parkin comments, hysteria smothered logic, and, he might well have added, mercy.
A flotilla of tankers carrying liquefied natural gas have been parked in a maritime traffic jam off the coast of Spain in recent days, waiting to unload their precious cargo for Europes power grid. In Finland, where sweltering sauna baths are a national pastime, the government is urging friends and families to take saunas together to save energy.

Both efforts are emblematic of the measures Europe is taking to increase energy supplies and conserve fuel before a winter without Russian gas.

The tactic by President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to weaponize energy against countries supporting Ukraine has produced a startling transformation in how Europe generates and saves power. Countries are banding together to buy, borrow and build additional power supplies, while pushing out major conservation programs that recall the response to the 1970s oil crisis.
Environmentalists in Brazil are breathing a bit more easily after Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who made climate a cornerstone of his campaign, won the countrys presidential election on Sunday.

Da Silva, the former president better known simply as Lula, unseated the incumbent president, Jair Bolsonaro, whose four-year term saw a sharp increase in Amazon deforestation.

Lula faces big challenges, though. Bolsonaros policies still resonate with many Brazilians. The incumbent won the popular vote in more than half of the states that make up the forest. In those areas, mining and other industries provide some of the very few economic opportunities.

All of this matters for the climate because, right now, the Amazon locks away and stores huge amounts of planet-warming carbon dioxide. In the language of global warming, its whats known as a carbon sink. But further deforestation risks turning the jungle into a huge net emitter of greenhouse gases.
Julie Powell, the writer whose decision to spend a year cooking every recipe in Julia Childs Mastering the Art of French Cooking led to the popular food blog the Julie/Julia Project, a movie starring Meryl Streep and a new following for Mrs. Child in the final years of her life, died on Oct. 26 at her home in Olivebridge, in upstate New York. She was 49.

Her husband, Eric Powell, said the cause was cardiac arrest.

Ms. Powell narrated her struggles in the kitchen in a funny, lacerating voice that struck a nerve with a rising generation of disaffected contemporaries.

The Julie/Julia Project became a popular model for other blogs, replicated by fans of the cooks Ina Garten, Thomas Keller and Dorie Greenspan, and helped build the vast modern audience for home cooking on social media.

In 2002, Ms. Powell was an aspiring writer working at a low-level administrative job in Lower Manhattan. She was about to turn 30 and had no real career prospects. It was, she said in an interview with The New York Times, one of those panicked, backed-into-a-corner kind of moments.
Pandemic restrictions held R.S.V. mostly at bay for the past two years. But this year, children severely ill with R.S.V. are filling up hospitals weeks earlier than usual. More of these young patients are sicker than those seen before the pandemic because they had built up little immunity against R.S.V.

Babies that survive an R.S.V. infection can sustain damage to the lungs, making them more susceptible to pneumonia. Much of the damage is from the consequences of infection, rather than the infection itself.

Most older children and adults are exposed to R.S.V. multiple times in their lifetimes, and the immunity they gain prevents severe illness, if not infection. Doctors only recently began testing for R.S.V. in adults, leading to the realization that in some years, R.S.V. infections can rival those caused by influenza.

We just dont appreciate it as much because the diagnostics are not as available still as they are for either Covid or flu, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases physician at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

Among older adults, R.S.V. causes about 14,000 deaths per year. Recognition of the scale of the problem is partly responsible for the drive among pharmaceutical companies to develop vaccines.

R.S.V. was identified in the 1950s, and attempts to develop a vaccine began in the 1960s, but researchers were stymied for decades. The field was further set back when a candidate vaccine seemed to increase risk from the virus.

A technical discovery in 2013 at the National Institutes of Health revived the field, allowing scientists to design powerful vaccines. In its trial, GSKs vaccine had an efficacy of about 94 percent against severe illness in adults 70 to 79 years old or those with underlying medical conditions.
The 2020 election cycle provided a stark lesson in the ineffectiveness of this strategy. Democratic donors sent hundreds of millions of dollars to Senate candidates challenging longtime Republican incumbents. A big chunk of that money wound up in the pockets of well-paid political consultants; even more was steered to media buyers, which earn a large commission for every ad they place on local television or on Google or Facebook. Not only did most of these candidates lose, but some couldnt even spend all that they raised. In Maine, Sara Gideon, a Democrat who was taking on Senator Susan Collins, raised $74.5 million from local and national donors and still had $14.8 million in the bank after losing by 8.6 percent. She has since been writing checks to local nonprofits and Democratic candidates, while raking in still more money by renting her prodigious fund-raising list to a Washington-based digital consulting firm that she employed during the race.

State parties can be an answer to this smash-and-grab approach to politics, but the year-round work they do is expensive and labor-intensive. Wikler devotes a lot of his time to fund-raising. Standing at his desk in WisDems office across from the states Capitol, he calls individuals who have made large donations to the party  the bar for a personal call is typically $1,000  and asks them to consider making another, similarly sized donation. Every month, he and his team also run a social media campaign to encourage smaller donors to join the partys 8,000 regular monthly contributors. The goal is to create a recurring source of revenue to fuel the partys year-round activities. Much of the money the party raises goes toward individual elections, which take place every year in Wisconsin. But Wikler also wants WisDems to be a regular presence in peoples lives even when its not election season. To that end, he directs whatever resources he can to the local Democratic parties in all 72 of Wisconsins counties to help them rent out office space, advertise in their local newspapers and, above all, expand their network of volunteers.

The volunteers on the ground are the ones who connect issues and policies to the party and its candidates, and in so doing translate the Democratic agenda into electoral victories. To do this effectively, these volunteers cant just show up at voters doors on the eve of an election. They need to earn voters trust, which means building relationships with them over time. In rural Wisconsin, the party has been nearly invisible for many years, allowing Republicans to fill the vacuum. Right-wing radio is still a powerful force in many of these areas, with popular hosts like Joe Giganti, who is based in Green Bay, providing a regular platform to guests to air unfounded claims of election fraud.

In late June, I attended a Democratic Party event in Wautoma, a rural town in Waushara County, hosted by a group called the Four County Coalition. The organization was founded about a decade ago by Bill Crawford, a third-generation Democrat from Chicago and former fire chief who retired to the area after getting injured on the job. Crawford was discouraged by the partys anemic presence in his new home. So he reached out to the Democratic leaders in three of its neighboring counties  Marquette, Adams and Green Lake  to suggest that they all join forces to build critical mass and coordinate canvassing. It lets Democrats see other Democrats, so you dont feel like orphans in the middle of a red area, Crawford told me.

Until recently, Democrats in these red, rural areas had trouble even getting yard signs. Wikler has created a new distribution network to make that easier. Yard signs fell out of favor years ago among Democratic strategists, who prefer to see campaign funds spent on digital ads, which enable them to quantify how many eyeballs they are reaching. But yard signs have their own value in places where Democrats are trying to re-establish themselves. They arent ads paid for by a candidate or party trolling for votes; they are affirmative statements of identity made by members of the community. People say signs dont vote, and thats baloney, Crawford told me. Yard signs in rural areas do vote because your neighbors see the signs, and the more signs they see, the more inclined they are to consider why you have a sign out there. If they dont see a sign, theyre going to vote the way they always voted, which is Republican.
Bernard Rosen, the dependable first deputy budget director who advised four New York City mayors on how to close looming deficits by scraping together tens of millions of dollars here and tens more there, died on Oct. 22 in Queens. He was 91.

The cause was heart failure, said his son, Eric, who is his only immediate survivor.

There wasnt a budget director in the last 50 years who didnt rely on Bernie, Joseph J. Lhota, who was budget director and deputy mayor under Rudolph W. Giuliani, said in a phone interview.

Mr. Rosen worked for the city for nearly 36 years, 28 of them with the Office of Management and Budget. Before that he was the budget chief of the Fire Department under Mayor John V. Lindsay.

While he was rarely quoted or even seen during public negotiations over the budget, Mr. Rosens role was crucial.
Investigators for the Manhattan district attorney questioned the New York City buildings commissioner as part of an illegal gambling investigation and seized his phone on Tuesday morning, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

The commissioner, Eric Ulrich, 37, a former city councilman from Queens, was approached near his Rockaway Park home by the investigators, who seized the phone pursuant to a search warrant, the people said.

The focus and scope of the investigation by the office of the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, was not immediately clear, though one of the people said it concerned conduct that predated Mr. Ulrichs service in Mayor Eric Adamss administration.

Mr. Ulrich, who served as a special adviser to Mr. Adams before the mayor appointed him to the buildings post in May, has not been accused of any wrongdoing and it is unclear whether the criminal investigation is also focused on other people. A spokeswoman for the Manhattan district attorneys office declined to comment.
Two uniformed police officers were shot on Tuesday afternoon in Newark, the largest city in New Jersey, as they responded to a 911 call about a man wanted for a separate shooting there last week, law enforcement and state officials said.

The officers, from the Newark Police Department, were shot at close range in a parking lot behind an apartment building on a quiet street of tidy homes, neat lawns and yellowing maple trees. A law enforcement official said one officer was shot in the leg and the other in the shoulder, and that neither of their injuries was life-threatening.

Officials identified the suspected shooter as Kendall Howard, 30, of East Orange, N.J. The gunman remained at large on Tuesday night.

A law enforcement official said the suspected shooter was also the man wanted in connection with last weeks shooting.
Most striking is the attempt to suppress judicial review: The plan would make it very hard for the Supreme Court to strike down laws deemed to violate basic rights, and Parliament could almost automatically relegislate such a law  dissolving an essential constraint on government power, and on majority rule.

Parties in Israel come and go, but this effort is no fleeting gimmick. For years, the Israeli right wing has run a vitriolic, anti-judiciary campaign while the center and left wing have clung to an ideal of judicial independence. The efforts have tapped into much older ambiguity or even opposition to the law, limitations on government and liberal values dating back to Israels earliest years.

Israel has no formal written constitution. Though the 1947 U.N. General Assembly Resolution 181, which provided the international backing to establish the state the next year, stipulated the creation of a constitution, Israels ultra-Orthodox leadership insisted before and after statehood that the Torah is the eternal constitution of Israel; the chief rabbis disdained the inauguration of the Supreme Court in 1948. Israels founding father, and first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, also opposed a constitution; he didnt want constraints on his government and needed to keep the Orthodox parties in his coalition. Further, a constitution guaranteeing human rights would have been inconvenient for perpetuating the martial law, movement regulation and surveillance regime controlling Israels Palestinian Arab citizens.

After 1967, as Israeli settlements spread in the areas occupied during the Arab-Israeli War, Israeli religious and territorial nationalists came to view the Supreme Court, and even Israeli law itself, as an obstacle to their plans. Any court-ordered setback for settlements generated enmity, even if such rulings were limited and often rapidly circumvented by the triangle of government, army and settlers coordinating policy to keep the settlements growing. Israel also tailored its laws to govern unequally, placing settlers under civil law and Palestinians under martial law.

From the start of statehood, Israeli legislators tried at several points to pass a bill of rights but failed, mostly blocked by the religious parties. It wasnt until 1992 that legislators passed two human rights Basic Laws. These laws protect a series of rights including life, property, personal liberties, privacy and choice of employment or profession. Liberal Israelis cling to them as an anchor, though they represent only a rump bill of rights, lacking explicit guarantees for freedom of speech and association, while no Israeli law explicitly guarantees equality for all  leaving the courts to protect these rights through interpretation. And the Basic Law known as Human Dignity and Liberty does not have the explicit level of protection from being amended or even overturned that a constitution would have.
To the Editor:

Re Justices Dubious of Race as Factor With Admissions (front page, Nov. 1), about Mondays arguments in two cases involving admissions programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina:

It is clear that the ruling in these two cases by the current Supreme Court majority is preordained. It accepted them to overturn the precedents. Yet it is a shame that nobody had the temerity to ask the conservative justices whether they thought that having a diverse court with women and minorities, not just white men, served any purpose.

Harlan Kosson

Fairport, N.Y.

To the Editor:

The case brought by Students for Fair Admissions before the Supreme Court is about protecting Asian Americans from being racially profiled when we are trying to gain entrance into educational institutions. It should not be conflated with affirmative action used to correct past efforts to prevent Black and brown students from accessing the same institutions.

Alice S. Huang

Pasadena, Calif.

To the Editor:

A private institution should have the legal right to accept or exclude applicants on the basis of race or any other criterion it chooses. Harvard might pay a price if it chose to do so, but its right to behave foolishly or immorally should not be subject to judicial constraint.

Victor A. Altshul

New Haven, Conn.

To the Editor:

Dont like affirmative action? OK. Heres a simple alternative. Fund every single school at the same level now enjoyed by the best-funded schools. Make the student-teacher ratio at every school as low as it is at the schools where students now receive the most attention from their teachers. Pay teachers a salary commensurate with the tremendous responsibility we place on their shoulders, and set the qualifications for those teachers at a level commensurate with their responsibilities.
This week, Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 people in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., will be formally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, and the families of those who were killed or injured will again have a chance to speak about the irreparable harm done to them.

I understand the anguish some of those families expressed last month after the jury decided to spare the gunmans life. Thats because I have sat in a similar courtroom, under similar circumstances. Dylann Roof, a white supremacist, murdered my mother, two cousins and six others in 2015 at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C. For that, he was sentenced to death.

I would never tell anyone how to feel in such a situation. I can only share my own story. And having lived through this awful experience  the loss of my loved ones, followed by a trial in which we had to hear about the terrible details of the murders again and to revisit all of the pain  I can say that Mr. Roofs death sentence did not bring my family closure. It only prolonged our agony.

How can families of victims not want vengeance for what the killer has done? I was very conflicted throughout Mr. Roofs trial. It brought me new misery to see such a young man with so much hate in his heart. But by the time the sentencing phase ended, I felt that killing him would do nothing to help me heal. After much prayer and asking God to help me, I knew in my heart that killing him would not solve anything.
How did people imagine Ukraine before Feb. 24, 2022? If pressed, some might have conjured mail-order brides and shaven-head gangsters roaming one big post-Soviet Chernobyl. But most probably didnt think even that; instead, they didnt imagine Ukraine at all. The country popped up on most peoples radar only in connection to Western political scandals and Russian war making. Few Westerners visited it, and those who did might have concluded  as one Western journalist confessed to me recently  that Ukraine was just like Russia but without all the crap.

How do people imagine Ukrainians today? As brave fighters who are standing up to a bully, perhaps, defiant modern-day Cossacks in their colorful embroidered shirts, a bit wild but still safely European. Ukrainians are the ultimate underdog, righteous warriors winning an unequal battle. Pretty much everyone now knows two things about Ukrainians: that there are lots of them, some 40-odd million, and that they are nothing like the Russians.

These before and after images of Ukraine have more in common than we might think. They are both caricatures based not on knowledge of the country or the people who inhabit it but on mythology. In Ukraines case, this mythology is shaped in relation to Russia. Whether people think of Ukraine as just like Russia or nothing like Russia, many still dont know what Ukraine really is. After centuries of imperialist repression and decades of Soviet subjugation, Ukraine has a profound story to tell about the meaning of freedom.

According to Vladimir Putin, Ukraine doesnt exist. Before he started his murderous full-scale invasion, he repeatedly denied the countrys existence in pseudohistorical essays and speeches. He is just the latest in a long line of Kremlin rulers who have tried to deprive Ukrainians of their subjectivity. For a man so obsessed with history, he should have worked out that centuries of unsuccessful attempts to destroy the Ukrainian nation show that Ukraine very much exists.
Nicole Heininger had long dreamed of designing a house in Manhattan Beach, Calif., where she could raise a family. So in 2017, when she and her husband, Taylor Heininger, began having children, they started hunting for a teardown close to the ocean.

We were looking for a property where I could do something ground-up, both as a showcase for my design work as well as a space we could call our own, 100 percent, said Ms. Heininger, 40, the founder of Est. Collective, an interior design firm.

She and Mr. Heininger, also 40, who works in finance, had remodeled a handful of homes in the area, but they felt they could create something better by starting from scratch. The real estate market was so competitive, though, that it took them a year to find a 0.09-acre lot with a two-bedroom bungalow on it, which they bought for $2.2 million in October 2018.
For their latest study, Dr. Getzin and his colleagues spent three years examining fairy circles at 10 study sites across 620 miles of desert. One of those years, 2020, was a drought, while 2021 and 2022 were exceptionally rainy  a lucky break that permitted the researchers to compare different conditions, Dr. Getzin said.

They used soil moisture sensors to collect continuous readings every 30 minutes of water content in the sand in and around fairy circles. They also examined hundreds of individual grass shoots and roots excavated at various intervals from within the circles and the surrounding areas.

After rain, the researchers found that grasses germinated both inside and outside fairy circles, but that within about 20 days virtually all of the young shoots inside a circle had died. They also found that the top eight inches of soil within fairy circles quickly dried out, something they hypothesize is caused when established plants surrounding fairy circles actively draw water toward them.

Plants are constantly transpiring  or losing water  through their leaves. Their roots, meanwhile, take water in. In Namibias sandy soil, this creates a vacuum effect that moves water from the interior of fairy circles toward the plants roots at the circles fringe and beyond. Its similar to you opening your window in winter and the warm air instantly moving out, Dr. Getzin said.

The new paper also speaks to the termite hypothesis, which has been championed by Norbert Jurgens, an ecologist at the University of Hamburg in Germany. He reported in 2013 that fairy circles were in fact generated by sand termites that damage grass roots.

In the new paper, Dr. Getzin and his colleagues noted that termites were conspicuously missing from their study sites, and that they found no signs of root damage in grass that died after rainfall.
SAN FRANCISCO  Twitter is facing an exodus of executives and skittish advertisers as Elon Musk and his advisers take control of the social media company, prepare to lay off employees and make changes to the product.

At least five top Twitter executives  including the chief marketing officer, the chief customer officer, the head of people and diversity, and the head of product  have departed the company in recent days, according to seven people with knowledge of the matter and public statements. Two announced their departures on Twitter on Tuesday; they did not say why they had quit. More executives may leave, the people said.

At the same time, advertisers  which provide about 90 percent of Twitters revenue  are increasingly grappling with Mr. Musks ownership of the platform. The billionaire, who is meeting advertising executives in New York this week, has spooked some advertisers because he has said he would loosen Twitters content rules, which could lead to a surge in misinformation and other toxic content.

IPG, one of the worlds largest advertising companies, issued a recommendation on Monday through its media agencies for clients to temporarily pause their spending on Twitter because of moderation concerns, three people with knowledge of the communication said. The Global Alliance for Responsible Media, a coalition of platforms, advertisers and industry groups that is fighting harmful content on social media, also said this week that it was monitoring how Twitter planned to deal with content moderation.
The nonprofit organization Secure Community Network, which provides safety consulting and training for Jewish facilities across North America, wrote a letter on Monday to Elon Musk, Twitters new owner, imploring him to clamp down on antisemitic content that could endanger lives.

Twitter has an antisemitism problem  with hashtags such as #holohoax [Holocaust Hoax] and #killthejews abounding on the site, Michael Masters, the groups national director and chief executive, wrote in the letter.

The group is made up of many former law enforcement officials, including Mr. Masters, who was the chief of staff at the Chicago Police Department. It gave Mr. Musk five recommendations to improve Twitter and the safety of Jewish people, including hiring and training moderators to identify antisemitic content, removing it from the platform and closing user accounts that promote violent extremism.

Officials at the nonprofit say they have observed a swell of online posts expressing hate toward or conspiracy theories about Jewish people in the last few years. The organization touches 90 percent of the 7.2 million Jews across North America, Mr. Masters said, providing security training and coordination to synagogues, Hillel groups and other Jewish facilities.
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Truth Social, the right-wing social network, has faced one business calamity after the next since it launched in February. Two executives resigned after its app launch was mired with problems. Another executive was fired after filing a whistle-blower complaint, claiming that Truths parent company was relying on fraudulent misrepresentations. Two federal investigations are putting $1.3 billion in much-needed financing in jeopardy.

Yet users logging into Truth Social each day saw something quite different during that time: a vibrant right-wing ecosystem increasingly brimming with activity.

Truth Socials long-term future remains in doubt, but experts say the app itself has only grown more influential in conservative circles ahead of the midterm election.
Uber on Tuesday reported revenue growth exceeding expectations from Wall Street, suggesting that the company has continued to recover from a pandemic slump as drivers return to the platform. But it posted a net loss, in part because of its investments in other ride-hailing companies.

Revenue was $8.34 billion for the third quarter, a 72 percent increase from a year earlier. Ubers ride-hailing business grew 73 percent, while its delivery business grew 24 percent. Wall Street analysts had predicted revenue of $8.12 billion and a net loss of $361 million.

The company said 124 million people used Uber monthly from July through September, up 14 percent from a year earlier. They accounted for 1.95 billion trips, up 19 percent from a year earlier.

Ubers stock price rose nearly 12 percent on Tuesday.

The company reported a net loss of $1.2 billion in the third quarter, including $512 million from investing in other ride-hailing services like the Chinese company Didi. It made more money from its business operations than it lost in the third quarter, generating $358 million in free cash flow.
Its important that we dont conflate the impact of state abortion restrictions with the spread of abortion-by-mail, he said. Abortion advocates push to get chemical abortion out of the clinic and into the mailbox began long before.

The two studies provide the most detailed measurement yet of how access to abortion changed after the decision, known as Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. Other research in JAMA shows that bans and restrictions are decreasing access, particularly among those living in the South, and those who are poor, Black or Native American.

At the same time, services like Aid Access have complicated attempts by some state lawmakers to ban abortions entirely. In contrast with illegal abortions before Roe, abortion pills today are safe for most women to take early in pregnancy and at home, a variety of research has found. And theyre available to nearly anyone with an internet connection and a mailing address.

Although some proponents of abortion rights see the pills as an effective workaround to abortion restrictions, others say current options are a poor substitute for formal medical care at a nearby clinic.

While things are better than the pre-Roe period, I think were seeing some similarities, where people who are most vulnerable dont have specialized knowledge of how to work the system or work the laws to get access to abortion, said Ushma Upadhyay, a professor of reproductive sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. Ordering pills illegally is not a solution. And the travel time is just impossible for so many groups of people.

Some aspects of how the court ruling is affecting abortions nationwide are not yet clear. Monthly data about abortion access has not been collected nationwide before, making it difficult to fully account for seasonal changes in abortion rates. State laws relating to abortion have repeatedly changed, and abortion clinics are opening  and closing  around the country.

There is no way to track whether the pills ordered on Aid Access were taken, or whether the people who ordered them got an abortion another way. Not everyone who requests pills actually receives them, Professor Aiken said. The totals also exclude women who are not pregnant but purchase the pills through Aid Access to have in advance.
Fourteen people, including a 3-year-old boy and two other children, were wounded in a drive-by shooting in Chicago on Monday night, the police said.

The shooting occurred on Monday at about 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of California Avenue and Polk Street, in the citys West Side, Superintendent David Brown of the Chicago Police Department told reporters late Monday.

A group of people were attending a vigil when two unidentified people traveling in a dark SUV began randomly shooting into the crowd, Mr. Brown said, adding that a preliminary investigation showed there were at least two shooters.

We do have some video of this incident, Mr. Brown said. We know its a drive-by, we know it happened in just a few seconds. It begins and it over in about three seconds.
Starting Tuesday, nearly all employers in New York City are required to include a salary range in their job posts, whether they advertise jobs on an online job board, in a job fair flier or on an internal bulletin board.

At most companies, complying with the new law will require a change. Existing employees may suddenly find out how their salary compares with those of new recruits. Executives may face a flood of questions about whether theyre paying fairly. And job seekers may realize that the salary theyve been asking for is higher, or lower, than what companies expect to pay.

The New York Times is reporting a story on the impact of the new law. Whether you are an employee in New York City at a company that just published salary information on job posts, are a job seeker or are a manager at a company that is complying with the law, wed like to hear from you.
In the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, Ava Salzman, now a senior at Harvard, took a class on oral storytelling in times of crisis. Despite the awkwardness of an online setting, Ms. Salzman said she felt that she and her 19 classmates found refuge in their shared stories.

The experience, said Ms. Salzman, who is of Chinese descent, crystallized for her why affirmative action was an essential step for creating a campus that fosters that sense of community. Surrounded by people of various ethnic backgrounds, she and her classmates explored one anothers cultures and learned about themselves in the process.

At the conclusion of the class, she had switched her major to folklore and mythology. The trove of anecdotes she had collected  her ancestors work on the transcontinental railroad, a relatives 15-year detention under the Chinese Exclusion Act, her grandmothers activism in the civil rights movement  now form the spine of her senior thesis, a graphic novel about her family history.

I was not very connected to my own Asian American identity before coming into college, she said. But being in the presence of other Asian Americans, people of color and everybody who has embodied their identity with pride and joy has brought me from a place of feeling very lost to feeling very found.
About six years ago, according to his most recent employer, Mr. DePape was down on his luck, living under a tree in a park and hanging around outside a lumber store in Berkeley, Calif., looking for work.

You know how people sit outside and wait for someone to come and offer them work? recalled Frank Ciccarelli, a carpenter who builds houses and makes furniture. He was sitting there. So I picked him up. So he started working for me. And he really worked out well.

For the next several years, Mr. Ciccarelli became close to Mr. DePape, even as he worked less and seemed to spend more time online, immersed in right-wing conspiracy theories  right up until a week ago, when he paid Mr. DePape his most recent wages.

At his court appearance on Tuesday, Mr. DePape, with long brown hair, wore a jail uniform of a long-sleeve orange shirt and orange pants, as well as a black face mask. He did not turn around to face the assembled news outlets, but his attorney spoke in his ear several times and he nodded. When the judge asked him if he was prepared to waive his right to a hearing within 10 days, Mr. DePape nodded slightly and said, Yes.

Mr. DePape was assigned a public defender, Adam Lipson, to represent him. In comments after Tuesdays court appearance, Mr. Lipson said that Mr. DePape was recently moved to the county jail from a hospital, where he was treated for a dislocated shoulder he sustained during the arrest.

Mr. Lipson promised to mount a vigorous defense and signaled that one possible strategy could be to highlight his clients vulnerability to the misinformation and conspiracy theories that have become so prominent in American political life.

Mr. Ciccarelli, 76, described Mr. DePape as a quiet person and diligent worker  an easygoing guy, at least until the topic of politics came up. He said he spent several hours a day with Mr. DePape, four or five days a week. I think I know him better than anyone does.
The Libertarian candidate running for Senate in Arizona  who had threatened to play spoiler in the closely watched race  is dropping out and endorsing Blake Masters, the Republican nominee.

The decision, announced on Tuesday, gives Mr. Masters a lift heading into the final week as he seeks to unseat Senator Mark Kelly, the Democratic incumbent, who has generally held a narrow lead in the polls.

This is another major boost of momentum as we consolidate our support, Mr. Masters said in a statement to The New York Times.

Marc Victor, the Libertarian candidate, and Mr. Masters spoke on Monday for a 20-minute recorded conversation that Mr. Victor is expected to publish, according to a person familiar with the conversation. Mr. Victor had made such a conversation a precondition to quitting, technically offering such an opportunity both to Mr. Masters and to Mr. Kelly.
Mr. Kinzinger is retiring after hostility from Republican colleagues and death threats from voters. On Oct. 22, he was at the Salt Lake City Public Library to endorse Mr. McMullin, a former C.I.A. officer, in his bid to oust Mr. Lee, who cheered on Mr. Trumps efforts to remain in office after the 2020 election. Mr. Lee privately offered in a text to the White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, a group of ready and loyal advocates who will go to bat for him.

Declaring that democracy is on the line, Mr. Kinzinger told Utah voters last month, This is the best opportunity I see in the country, and I mean that, to send a message, to build something new, to send somebody that can change the status quo.

His Country First political organization has endorsed a bipartisan slate of defenders of democracy, which includes Josh Shapiro and Katie Hobbs, the Democrats running for governor of Pennsylvania and Arizona, and the Democratic candidates for secretary of state in Arizona, Nevada, Michigan and Minnesota. But the political action committee has spent virtually no money. Nor, for that matter, has Ms. Cheneys PAC, the Great Task, beyond the ad in Arizona and the money it spent on her failed effort to stave off a Republican primary defeat this summer.

A number of other groups still nominally connected to the Republican Party, like the Lincoln Project, are rejecting the party they have become estranged from on social media and in television commercials intended to peel away disenchanted Republicans and independents. The Republican Accountability Project has been collecting testimonials from disaffected Republican voters, which are turned into billboards and advertisements.

Whether we as a country will be able to defend our system of self-government in the coming years, even in the next two cycles, will depend on whether we can bring together Republicans, Democrats and independents who are still committed to American democracy, to the Constitution and to the reality of objective truth, Mr. McMullin said in an interview on Monday. Are the votes there? Yes, they are there. Can we bring them together? That is the challenge.

To that end, the power that Ms. Cheney and Mr. Kinzinger bring is their personal stories of defiance and excommunication. Ms. Cheney has been stingy with her endorsements, choosing the races she sees as the biggest threats to democracy and Democratic candidates she can personally vouch for. But for candidates like Ms. Slotkin, that makes events like Tuesdays that much more valuable.

For vulnerable Democrats in really tight races, a lot of those voters are college-educated swing voters who value the independence of candidates, and theres extra validation from a Liz Cheney or Adam Kinzinger saying, Hey, this Republican opponent is beyond the pale, said Sarah Longwell, a Republican pollster who helped found the Republican Accountability Project.
Both Mr. Engels and Mr. Tarrio were members of an encrypted group chat called F.O.S.  for Friends of Stone that Mr. Stone used in the months that followed the 2020 election. Mr. Engels went with Mr. Stone to Washington on Jan. 5 and Jan. 6, 2021, accompanying him around the city over the course of two days.

Prosecutors are interested in whether a written plan existed setting out details for the Brooks Brother 2.0. protests in the same way that 1776 Returns described a plan for occupying six House and Senate office buildings and the Supreme Court on Jan. 6, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Broken into five parts  infiltrate, execution, distract, occupy and sit-in  the 1776 document recommended recruiting at least 50 people to enter each of the seven government buildings and advised protesters to appear unsuspecting and to not look tactical.

After ensuring that crowds at the buildings were full and ready to go, the document suggested that leads and seconds should enter and open doors for others to go in, causing trouble to distract security guards, if necessary.

The federal indictment of Mr. Tarrio says that the person who provided him with 1776 Returns told him, shortly after it was sent, The revolution is more important than anything. That person was Ms. Gemma, according to several people familiar with the matter.

But Ms. Gemma was not the author of 1776 Returns, which was written by others, first as a shared document on Google, the people said.

It remains unclear who the original authors were.

Patricia Mazzei and Matthew Cullen contributed reporting.
Ms. Abrams has spent much of her campaign trying to narrow the gap with men, in particular Black men, by holding a series of events, Stacey and the Fellas, directed at them.

But its not clear that her efforts will be enough to catch up with Mr. Kemp.

Yusuf Ali, a railroad worker from Spalding County, Ga., about an hour south of Atlanta, said that while his wife, a schoolteacher, backed Ms. Abrams, he would be voting for Mr. Kemp for a second time.

She hasnt made Black men a priority or have any policies that would actually help Black men or men in general, said Mr. Ali, 37, who is Black and also plans to vote for Senator Raphael Warnock, a Democrat.

Among Democrats, Mr. Trumps presence continues to generate political energy and fear.

Catherine Dallaire, a retired high school arts teacher from North Las Vegas, Nev., was never involved in politics and was a registered independent until Mr. Trumps presidency spurred her to open her home to staff members working for Senator Elizabeth Warrens 2020 Democratic presidential campaign.

Now Ms. Dallaire, 56, said she was planning to vote a straight Democratic ticket in Nevada, backing Governor Sisolak for re-election and Mr. Aguilar for secretary of state. Republican denial of the 2020 results, Ms. Dallaire said, means that she will not switch her party registration back to independent, as she would like to do.

It is very scary, she said. I was really disturbed the other day when I saw in Arizona that they actually had people by the ballot boxes, trying to monitor them.

Cross-tabs and methodology are available here.
LAS VEGAS  With his Georgetown law degree, connections to Republican luminaries in Washington and a grandfather once known as Ronald Reagans first friend, Adam Laxalt could easily be mistaken as a legacy candidate.

But as he runs in perhaps the most competitive Senate race in the country, he has shed much of his political inheritance. Mr. Laxalt, 44, has positioned himself as a child of the Trump era, embracing culture clashes over wokeness and election conspiracy theories.

If theres a mantle he picks up from his grandfather, Paul Laxalt, a former Nevada governor and senator and early Reagan ally, it is a desire to push forward the partys next iteration  the one ushered in by former President Donald J. Trump.

Not only has our country moved in the wrong direction, but unfortunately our Republican Party and a lot of its leaders have failed to stand up for our values, he said at a rally in April.
WASHINGTON  Speaking on a conservative radio talk show on Tuesday, former President Donald J. Trump amplified a conspiracy theory about the grisly attack on Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband, Paul Pelosi, that falsely suggested that Mr. Pelosi may not have been the victim of a genuine attack.

Weird things going on in that household in the last couple of weeks, Mr. Trump said on the Chris Stigall show, winking at a lie that has flourished in right-wing media and is increasingly being given credence by Republicans. The glass, it seems, was broken from the inside to the out  so it wasnt a break-in, it was a break out.

There is no evidence to suggest that.

Mr. Pelosi, 82, was attacked on Friday with a hammer by a suspect who federal prosecutors say invaded the Pelosis San Francisco home, bent on kidnapping the speaker and shattering her kneecaps.

But Mr. Trump, a longtime trafficker in conspiracy theories who propelled his political rise with the lie that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States, has never let such facts get in his way.
A spokesman for Ms. Willis declined to comment on the Supreme Courts ruling.

In a statement, Mr. Grahams office said that he is partly shielded by the speech or debate clause and that he may return to the federal courts if the district attorney tries to ask questions about his constitutionally protected activities.

Clark D. Cunningham, a law professor at Georgia State University, said that the Supreme Courts order gives Mr. Graham the opportunity to continue a strategy of delay by objecting to specific questions from the grand jury and seeking a court ruling.

However, he added, those objections may have to be hashed out in open court  a risk for the senator, Mr. Cunningham said, because it may disclose to public view both the topics the grand jury is exploring and his unwillingness to answer such questions.

A special grand jury was empaneled in Fulton County in May, and it has been collecting records and hearing testimony from dozens of witnesses as it looks into whether Mr. Trump and his allies violated Georgia law in their efforts to overturn the former presidents November 2020 electoral loss in the state.

Legal experts believe the case represents a serious threat to Mr. Trump, who was recorded on a phone call with Mr. Raffensperger in January 2021, telling him he wanted to find 11,780 votes  one vote more than he needed to declare victory.

In recent months, a number of high-profile allies of Mr. Trump have been waging battles in courtrooms around the nation, arguing that they should not have to participate. So far, their track record has been mixed.

Mr. Graham was originally ordered to appear before the grand jury in late August. More recently, he received a subpoena ordering him to give testimony on Nov. 17, according to a document his lawyers have filed with the Supreme Court.
Former President Donald J. Trumps final run of midterm campaign rallies includes stops in Ohio and Pennsylvania, both key Senate battlegrounds. But a third event in Florida, where Republicans are heavily favored, will instead highlight the partys political tensions as it looks to the 2024 presidential election.

A Trump rally in Miami on Sunday was scheduled to support Senator Marco Rubio, who is seeking a third term. But while polls show Mr. Rubio as a strong favorite, the rally has instead focused attention on Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is holding an event of his own elsewhere in the state on the same day. Mr. DeSantis is widely viewed as the leading Republican alternative to Mr. Trump in the partys bid to recapture the White House.

Mr. Trump and Mr. DeSantis have both downplayed suggestions of any rivalry between them, but the two men have struggled to play nicely in recent weeks. And the comparisons will be unavoidable on Sunday when they are scheduled to hold competing campaign rallies in their home state.

Mr. DeSantis, who is seeking a second term as governor, recently refused to say whether he would serve all four years if re-elected  even though Mr. Trump is widely expected to announce another White House campaign soon.
WASHINGTON  Over five hours of Supreme Court arguments on Monday on the fate of affirmative action in higher education, the justices and the lawyers arguing before them mentioned diversity more than 200 times.

That was in one sense unsurprising, as educational diversity has for decades been the sole justification accepted by the Supreme Court for allowing what it has said the Constitution and a federal law would otherwise forbid: taking account of race in admissions decisions.

The court has rejected a second possible justification for racial preferences, that of providing a remedy for past discrimination.

Theres not a remedial justification on the table here, Justice Amy Coney Barrett said on Monday. Our precedents rule that out.
I am grateful for the board of trustees unanimous vote and for their endorsement of our shared vision to make the University of Florida a world-changing institution and a pioneer in higher education, Mr. Sasse said in a statement released by the university. Education properly understood isnt exclusively or even primarily about transmitting information. Education is about learning how to humbly and meaningfully engage with new ideas.

Should Mr. Sasse leave the Senate, as expected, it would be the latest exit from Congress by a member of the dwindling band of Republicans who have publicly broken with former President Donald J. Trump.

Mr. Sasse voted with six other Republican senators to convict Mr. Trump on impeachment charges following the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol. He has also sharply criticized his own party for backing Mr. Trump. He was re-elected to his second term in 2020 and was not set to be on the ballot again until 2026.

Many other Republicans who have broken with Mr. Trump have announced their resignations or been defeated in party primaries in which they were targeted as disloyal.

Mr. Sasses departure is unlikely to tip the balance of power in Congress given Nebraskas solidly Republican makeup. His seat would be filled through an appointment by Gov. Pete Ricketts, a Republican, before a special election at a future date in which a Republican candidate would most likely be the heavy favorite.
Marco Territo, the federal highway polices second in command, told reporters on Tuesday that his agency was struggling with the protests. It is a very complex operation, he said. We have points with up to 500 protesters, stopped trucks, children in arms.

Protesters also demonstrated outside the armys headquarters in Brasilia on Tuesday, and a senior military leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press, said officials were worried that such protests could grow without a more clear condemnation from Mr. Bolsonaro.

The protests have disrupted transportation and commerce across the country, as trucks carrying fuel, food and other goods have gotten trapped in the miles-long backups.

Across the southern state of Santa Catarina, 80 percent of gas stations had run out of gas by Tuesday, according to a spokeswoman for Sindipetro-SC, a fuel sellers union.

Braspress, one of Brazils largest freight shippers, said the blockades had affected 60 percent of its operations. And the Butantan Institute, a large vaccine maker, said a truck carrying embryonic chicken eggs needed to produce about 1.5 million shots against a new flu variant was stuck behind a blockade near Sao Paulo for about eight hours on Tuesday, putting the eggs at risk of spoiling.

Transporters were delaying sending many trucks loaded with perishable cargo in an effort to minimize disruptions, said Edeon Vaz Ferreira, who leads a logistics group linked to the Association of Brazilian Soybean Producers.

Obviously this gets in the way, he said. Because one or two days doesnt have a huge impact. But a third or fourth day can be really disruptive.
CARACAS, Venezuela  It was a meeting that just a year ago would have been nearly unthinkable.

But on Tuesday, the president of Colombia, a nation that for years has been the strongest ally of the United States in Latin America, flew to Caracas to meet with the leader of Venezuela, a man whom the United States does not recognize as his countrys president and who is accused by the United Nations of crimes against humanity.

The meeting between Gustavo Petro, Colombias newly elected leftist president, and Nicolas Maduro, a socialist-inspired leader who has eviscerated his countrys democratic institutions and helped drive much of the nation into poverty, marks a new chapter in the global approach to Venezuela.

For years, a coalition led by the United States has sought to push Mr. Maduro out through sanctions and isolation. But a growing number of nations, particularly new leftist governments in South America, have begun to soften their approach to Mr. Maduro.
At 18, Habibul Sheikh quit school and left his home in eastern India for the promise of a better life, beckoned to a bustling industrial town on the other side of the country.

He traveled by train from the state of West Bengal to Gujarat, finding a job in a goldsmith shop, where he earned just enough to pay rent for a corner of a room crowded with other young migrants. Most of whatever earnings were left over he sent home.

On Sunday, seeking a bit of relief from the drudgery of long working hours, he joined friends  and hundreds of others  at a newly reopened suspension bridge, known in Gujarati as the jhoolta pool, or swinging bridge.

He was on the structure when it collapsed Sunday evening, sending the crowd of pedestrians into the Machchhu River, in the town of Morbi. Unable to swim, Mr. Sheikh was among 134 people who died, including dozens of children and many migrant workers like him.
SEOUL  The first, desperate call for help, warning of people at risk of being squashed to death, came at 6:34 p.m. on Saturday  nearly four hours before the South Korean authorities have said they received the initial report of a crowd crush that would kill more than 150 people.

It was the first of the 11 calls to the governments 112 emergency response hotline that came in between then and 10:11 p.m., pleading with the police to take urgent action, whose transcripts were released through lawmakers on Tuesday. Later callers reported utter chaos, a situation out of control and people being crushed to death, according to transcripts released through lawmakers on Tuesday.

The transcripts exposed glaring failures by the authorities, and contradicted officials previous claims that the first report of the crowd crush came at 10:15 p.m. on Saturday. That raised questions about the governments transparency in how it handled one of South Koreas worst peacetime disasters.

The first caller described in detail how throngs of people disgorged from the subway station in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in central Seoul, were jamming into a narrow, sloping alleyway nearby. At the same time, people were also pressing down the pathway from the opposite direction, creating a deadly crowd crush.
Three more ships carrying grain departed from Ukraines Black Sea ports on Tuesday, a day after President Vladimir V. Putin signaled that Russia would no longer ensure the safety of the cargo vessels, a message that underscored the perils facing a watershed agreement meant to help alleviate the global food crisis.

The Russian authorities were notified of the departure of the ships on Tuesday, according to Ismini Palla, a U.N. spokeswoman for the entity overseeing the agreement, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative. On Monday, 12 cargo vessels carrying grain set sail without incident from Ukraines ports. The departure of those vessels, and the ones that left Ukraine on Tuesday, had been authorized before the deal was suspended, Ms. Palla said.

Russia announced on Saturday that it was suspending its participation in the agreement after an attack over the weekend on its Black Sea naval fleet that it blamed on Ukraine. But Moscows decision has not completely stopped the movement of vessels, at least for now.

Ukraine is one of the worlds major exporters of wheat and other grains, and the July agreement, brokered with the help of Turkey and the United Nations, had offered hope for Ukraines shattered economy as well as the prospect of some relief for dozens of countries in Africa and beyond that are facing food shortages.
Much like Israels political morass, which is largely a byproduct of Benjamin Netanyahus legal troubles, the corruption trial of the former prime minister has no clear end in sight.

The Israeli electorate remains divided between Mr. Netanyahus supporters, who believe that he has been framed by a liberal deep state, and his diverse array of opponents, who consider him unfit to return to the office from which he was ousted 16 months ago.

Mr. Netanyahu denies all wrongdoing and says that the cases against him are collapsing in court.

The trial itself has been limping along, largely forgotten, and has been barely featured in the election campaign this time around, perhaps reflecting the fatigue of voters who are going back to the ballot box for the fifth time in under four years.

As the Jerusalem District Court makes its way through a list of more than 300 witnesses, the court proceedings rarely make headlines nowadays. Public interest has waned as the legal saga has played out.
Israel keeps returning to the polls primarily because voters remain evenly split on the question of whether Benjamin Netanyahu, the longest-serving Israeli prime minister, is fit to run the country while standing trial on corruption charges.

Mr. Netanyahu was placed under investigation in 2016, on charges related to bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Ever since, the country has been divided between those who think he should now stay away from politics, and those who dont.

Two elections in 2019 ended in a stalemate, leaving Mr. Netanyahu in power as a caretaker prime minister but unable to cobble together a formal coalition. A third election in 2020 resulted in a grand coalition between Mr. Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, a former army chief, but their alliance quickly collapsed before it even set a national budget, leading to a fourth election in March 2021.

That election also ended in deadlock, but Mr. Netanyahu was prized from office when a small right-wing party led by Naftali Bennett, who had been one of his allies, broke ranks and formed a coalition with Mr. Netanyahus opponents.
The attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has not only raised alarm about the threat of violence to elected officials and their families, but also become the focus of baseless conspiracy theories propagated by a litany of Republicans and conservatives.

After state and federal charges were filed against a suspect, the San Francisco district attorney, Brooke Jenkins, said that the widespread misinformation had made it all the more important for prosecutors to present the facts to the public.

Here is what we know about the Oct. 28 attack at the speakers San Francisco home, based on court documents and accounts provided by officials.

The attack began with a break-in.

An affidavit from an F.B.I. agent that accompanied the federal charges and a filing by local prosecutors have provided a chilling narrative of the break-in. They outline a groggy early-morning home invasion that culminated with a single, sudden hammer blow, delivered in the presence of shocked police officers.
Paul Pelosi

Have you no sense of decency, responded Boston lawyer Joseph Welch to Sen. Joseph McCarthy during his communist witch hunt investigation in 1954.

That question could be posed to Republican talking heads who claim the attack of Paul Pelosi was fake or a false flag operation.

They prefer to peddle the lurid and baseless claim that the 82-year-old husband of the Speaker of the House was involved in a homosexual tryst with his attacker David DePape.

Fox blowhard Tucker Carlson has questions about how Pelosi was alone in the house with another man 40 years younger while Nancy was out of town.

My hunch: the young guy smashed the glass door in the back to enter the house and Nancy was in DC.

In his new role as chief Twit, Elon Musk retweeted the homophobic post but then deleted it.

Charlie Kirk, podcaster and right-wing radio show host, has called for some amazing patriot out there in San Francisco or the Bay Area" to become a midterm hero by bailing out DePape and then asking him some questions.

Its only a matter of time before the GOP claims DePape is an Antifa operative.

Pelosi was assaulted with a hammer and suffered blunt force trauma. He underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands.

Welch unleashed another zinger at the 1954 hearing that could be adapted for todays conspiracy-mongering GOP.

Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness, he said.

Saudis Get Their Mitts on Twitter. Saudi Arabia kicked in about $2B to help Elon Musk finance his Twitter acquisition, which means that one of the most repressive regimes in the world with no tolerance of free expression may have oversight of Americas so-called town hall.

Thats why Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy wants the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US to review Twitters change of ownership.

In an Oct. 31 letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Murphy notes Twitters foreign ownership could result in increased censorship, misinformation or political violence.

In 2019, federal prosecutors alleged that the Saudis recruited Twitter employees to spy on users to carry out surveillance and smear campaigns against dissidents.

A probe by Twitter resulted in the suspension of 88K accounts tied to a disinformation campaign backed by the Saudi government.

Murphy fears that Saudi influence over Twitters operations or access to user data could be used to silence government critics and human rights activists, or to further state-sponsored disinformation campaigns.

He also notes that the Saudis have demonstrated a willingness to crush dissent beyond the borders of the Kingdom.

The murder and dismemberment of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul is a prime example of the reach of Saudi intelligence forces.

Musk claimed his acquisition of Twitter freed the bird. The Saudi connection may cage that same bird.

Freedom on the Internet improved a little bit in the US during 2022 for the first time in six years, according to the Freedom on the Net report compiled by Freedom House.

There were fewer reported cases of targeted surveillance and online harassment during protests compared with the previous year.

The non-profit group praised president Joe Biden for making the promotion of internet freedom a top priority of his foreign policy but that contrasts with only marginal improvements on the home front.

Freedom House notes that the White House brought together 60 governments to sign the Declaration for the Future of the Internet to advance a positive vision of the net.

The US Agency for International Development unveiled a plan to spend $20M annually to boost digital democracy.

At home, the results were sparse. Proposed laws to strengthen tech-related transparency made little progress.

The lack of a comprehensive federal privacy law and incomplete reforms to surveillance rules allow US agencies to purchase data of citizens from shadowy brokers with little oversight or safeguards.

Freedom House noted the Supreme Court decision to junk Roe v. Wade prompted renewed concerns about law enforcement access to location information, browsing histories, and other forms of data that could be used for criminal and civil investigations in US jurisdictions where legal access to reproductive health care is restricted.

The mass denial of the 2020 election results by Donald Trump and his supporters, driven by conspiracy theories and disinformation polluted the information environment and seeped into the broader American political system.

GOP leaders use disinformation and intimidation to make false justifications for new anti-fraud measures that could restrict access to voting or distort the counting and certification processes, and set the stage for future unrest by eroding public trust in any unfavorable results.

There are tough times ahead for internet freedom in the US. The 2023 Freedom House report promises to be an interesting read.
Met Eireann is warning of 'severe and damaging gusts' of wind on Wednesday as a weather alert has been issued for all of Ireland.

Met Eireann has issued a Status Yellow Wind and Rain Warning for Wednesday from 4am until 9pm while a Status Orange Storm Warning has been issued for seas around Ireland. A Status Yellow Gale Warning has also been issued for all coasts of Ireland and the Irish Sea.

The UK Met Office has issued Status Yellow Weather Warnings for Wind and Rain for all of Northern Ireland.

The Status Yellow Rain and Wind Warning from Met Eireann states that it will be very windy on Wednesday with widespread gales, southerly veering westerly. Met Eireann says some 'severe and damaging gusts' may occur with potential for localised wave overtopping along Atlantic coasts. It also warns that a spell of heavy rain will occur, leading to flooding in places.

The Status Orange Storm Warning from Met Eireann covers for Roches Point to Slyne Head to Malin Head and warns that south to southwest winds, veering west will reach storm force 10 at times on Irish coastal waters from Roches Point to Slyne Head to Malin Head. That warning comes into effect at 6am on Wednesday and remains in place until midnight on Thursday.

The Status Yellow Gale Warning for all coasts of Ireland and on the Irish Sea warns that south to southwest winds, veering west will reach gale force 8 or higher on all Irish coastal waters and on the Irish Sea. That warning is valid from 3am on Wednesday until midnight on Thursday.
A group in Offaly have started a fundraiser for a Tipperary eight-year-old Eanna Ryan, who is battling leukaemia.

Moovember, based in Daingean, Offaly, hopes to raise 3,000 for Eannas family. The group spends Novembers fundraising for the families of children with cancer.

Moovember Chairman, Paul Keating, said there are a lot of costs for families when a child becomes sick, and they would like to help.

Life continues when a child gets sick, and thats what people dont see. Normal day-to-day things have to go on, said Mr Keating.

Eanna lives with his Mom, Dad and four siblings and he was diagnosed in March 2021 and underwent four rounds of chemotherapy. However, Eannas type of leukaemia is extremely aggressive and chemo-resistant.

A gene mutation means Eanna can not receive a bone marrow transplant, and a new drug in trial has also failed. Acute Myeloid Leukaemia is a blood cancer that affects white blood cells. Eanna has Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, also known as AML.

According to the Irish Cancer Society, AML is a fast-growing cancer which usually is more common in those 65 years and older. Around 120 people are diagnosed with AML in Ireland every year.

A Gofundme page which was setup to enable people to contribute says: Eanna is a happy, strong, determined little boy who has recently returned to school with all his friends and classmates. Eanna and his family will continue to fight to try and find a cure for him, and so will we.

Please help to raise funds for this amazing little boy and ask everyone you know to please join in the fight.

During November, Moovember organises events to raise money for families of children with cancer for bills or for the childs siblings. Mr. Keating said the group has been raising funds for the families of children with cancer for the past eight years, and the movement continues to grow.

He said between the rising cost of living, driving back and forward from hospitals and looking after other children, families have a lot of expenses - that is where Moovember comes in.

We find kids get well cared for in hospital, but families have to give up work, at least one parent will and siblings give up so much", said Mr Keating.

A five-person committee runs the group, including committee Secretary, Ruth Wyer who set up the Gofundme page.

They raise money through events like walking groups, moustache fundraisers and cinema days, Gofundme pages and other activities.

They usually fundraise for local families but will extend their help to other counties if no local people need their help.

"You can donate to Eannas fundraiser on Gofundme - please support Eanna", the group said.
autoevolution 21 Jul 2022

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Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson says her government has more pressing concerns than entertaining Alberta's request for a meeting about shipping oil from the Port of Churchill.
A tentative contract has been reached for British Columbia's 49,000 public school teachers in a deal the union says would take them from near the bottom to the "top tier" of pay in Canada.
Canadian Netflix users will soon see a new option for their binging habits, as the streaming giant launches a service that will offer four or five minutes of advertising with every hour of content, for the reduced price of $5.99 a month. And in early 2023, the company will crack down on password sharing by requiring users to pay an extra fee.
For Christine Bradley from the Sunshine Coast attending the Melbourne Cup is a bucket list experience. Undeterred by the rain, she found an early place under cover and was just enjoying the Flemington atmosphere.
From sparkling breakfasts in Flemingtons car parks to Mumm in the Birdcage, champagne is the traditional drink of choice at Melbourne Cup  although hot toddies were also welcome on Tuesday.
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FOX Business host Larry Kudlow ripped President Biden for his war on fossil fuels and the rise in costs of everyday items for Americans on 'Kudlow.'
New Twitter owner Elon Musk has reportedly asked the social media giant's engineers to look into reviving video-sharing app Vine by the end of the year.
Power and water were back on in Kyiv, the mayor said, after Russia targeted civilian infrastructure. The German chancellor rejected Moscow's accusations that Ukraine is preparing a dirty bomb. DW has the latest.
After more than six months of negotiations, the B.C. Public School Employers' Association announced on Monday that it has reached a tentative contract agreement with the B.C. Teachers' Federation.
The German chancellor firmly rejected Moscow's accusations as "groundless." Meanwhile, the UN's nuclear watchdog began its inspection after Kyiv called for an investigation. DW has the latest.
BEIJING, Nov. 1 -- At the invitation of the Indonesian military, the Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark will set sail on November 2 from Zhoushan, east Chinas Zhejiang province, for a friendly visit to Indonesia, said Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, in a written statement released on Tuesday.

During the visit, the naval hospital ship Peace Ark will carry out outpatient diagnosis and treatment of common diseases and frequently-encountered diseases for local people and overseas Chinese in Indonesia, and carry out medical services such as surgical treatment and hospitalization as needed, Spokesperson Tan said.

Spokesperson Tan added that the Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark, known as the "messenger of friendship who travels thousands of miles to defend peace", is on its 10th overseas mission. This mission is another vivid practice of the Chinese military to implement the concept of "a community with a shared future for humanity" and "a maritime community with a shared future." It will further enhance the friendly relationship between the two countries, the two militaries and the two people.
Everyones eyes are on Benjamin Netanyahu as Israelis head back to the polls. Its the Supreme Court they should be most worried about.
Newsy 15 Nov 2022

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Russia has pulled out of a deal to allow millions of tons of Ukrainian grain to be exported. Ukraine is one of the world's major grain producers so what does this mean for the world?
Greta Thunberg will not be joining the upcoming COP27 summit in Egypt as she disapproves of the countrys human rights record.
Rumble 14 Nov 2022

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Russia has ordered civilians to leave a swath of Ukraine along the eastern bank of a major river, in a move Kyiv says amounts to the forced depopulation of occupied territory. Meanwhile, experts from the UN inspected two sites in Ukraine after Russia claimed Ukraine planned to set off 'dirty bombs'.
Yosef Ra'anan, 74, was sentenced to six years in prison and NIS 100,000 in damages after he confessed to committing sex crimes against his daughter.
Former President Trump asked the Supreme Court to block the release of years of his tax returns to House Democrats, after the DC Circuit Court denied his request last week.
Immigration minister Robert Jenrick has rejected language used by the home secretary describing the influx of asylum seekers to the UK as an "invasion".
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Newsy 11 Nov 2022
A large group of illegal migrants crossed into the U.S. and allegedly attacked Border Patrol agents with a flagpole and rocks, according to Customs and Border Protection.
Evan McMullin, an independent candidate in the Utah Senate race who has vowed not to caucus with Democrats, has received millions in support from Democratic Party-aligned groups.
Rumble 10 Oct 2022

Two people were shot outside the Long Island home of Lee Zeldin, the Republican nominee in the race for governor of New York, on..
Republican Senate nominee JD Vance and Rep. Tim Ryan, the Democratic Senate nominee in Ohio, are in a close contest as they take part in a Fox News town hall in Columbus on Tuesday
The new series will be returning to its native filming location in Australia after two years of being in Wales.
President Joe Biden reportedly lost his temper during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in June amid the US approving assistance funds for the European nation.
North Korea's Foreign Ministry criticised the United States for expanding joint military exercises with South Korea that it claims are practice for a potential invasion, and it warned on Tuesday of "more powerful follow-up measures" in response.
We'll see you at Christmas. It was October 2011 and Candy Greff was standing outside a restaurant in Morinville, Alta., saying goodbye to her son Byron Greff. Little did she know that it would be the last time she would see him alive.
Russian strikes left many in the Ukrainian capital without power or water. President Zelenskyy said they shot down most of the 55 Russian missiles.


Truckers and other protesters on Tuesday blocked highways for second day in support of President Jair Bolsonaro, who has yet to accept his election loss to leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Nigeria Moves Ahead with E-Tech for Pioneering Real-time Tax Collection Tech Partnership

Real-time tax collection technology will be unveiled in Nigeria for the first time.

Africa jurisdiction Nigeria is moving ahead with a bold streamlining technology partnership that collects taxes instantly from online transactions.

The Deal

The Federal Inland Revenue Service of Nigeria (FIRS) is signing an agreement with UK-based fintech provider E-Technologies Global Limited to adapt tax collection to the digital age.

The Innovation

The pioneering agreement offers a first-of-its-kind approach to tax collection and disbursement in Nigeria, which sees the implementation of automated management of enforcement and monitoring services through E-Techs Sentinal National Payment Gateway Platform.

About Sentinal

The unique Sentinal transaction processing system enables integrated payment service providers which deduct or charge taxes at the point of transaction and instantly remit those tax funds to Government Treasury accounts.

Phase 1 of the Agreement

The first phase of the Nigeria projects is launching an initiative from the National Lottery Regulatory Commission of Nigeria designed to attract Tier 1 offshore global gaming operators to apply for five-year Permits to offer a full suite of gaming and sports-betting services to Nigerian players.

Applicants

Interested operators must comply with full risk-based AML screening and pass fit and proper tests demonstrating responsible gaming practices before being granted Nigerias Remote Operator Permit.

Streamlined Applications

Approved operators will connect to Sentinal, where appropriate gaming duties will be deducted from player deposits and remitted directly to the Government in real-time.

The Permit cuts out the bureaucratic process associated with operators incorporating locally. Operators qualifying through Sentinal must continue to comply with Permit Terms and Conditions to offer online gaming services to Nigerian players.

FIRS Spokesperson Speaks

Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service of Nigeria Mohammad Nami contextualised the partnership by saying:

The world is entering a challenging time where there is a strong obligation on Governments to increase tax revenue as a percentage of GDP to provide much-needed funding for local infrastructure and public services. Nigeria needs to innovate and harness technology to ensure that online transactions are taxed and accounted for.

Advantages

Nami said the FIRS are highly impressed with the Sentinal System due to the ability to leverage it to collect tax revenues at source, but also provides us with tax reporting and monitoring tools in real-time.

Nigerias In-House Technology

Nami further disclosed that the Sentinal System would be integrated with FIRS's own in-house TaxPro Max portal.

Outlook

With Nami among many Nigeria officials effusive in their support, this looks to be an integrated effort that will support a pioneering redemptive status for Nigeria in the iGaming space.
Paducah, KY (42003)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 39F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 39F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
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The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has said an estimated 1,200 Togo cars have been intercepted, in the Greater Accra Region alone, within the last two years.



These cars initially entered the country legitimately but became illegal after exhausting their stay  falsifying documents to merit legal status and thereby evade import taxes.



Ag. Commissioner of Customs, Seidu Iddrisu Iddisah, told B&FT that the Division seizes an average 50 cars every month in hotspot regions  including the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western and Northern Regions.



The scourge, accordingly, has resulted in an estimated US$30million revenue loss in the past two years since 2020.



The concept of Togo cars



Commissioner Iddisah, in demystifying the concept of Togo cars, explained that though the majority of these cars come from Togo, a chunk of them is also brought in from Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, with Nigeria being the new hotspot for the vice.



He said the practice results from abuse of temporary legal importation of vehicles, captured under the ECOWAS protocols to allow easy movement of goods and people across member-states.



The treaty allows for a maximum of 90-days for such cars to stay in the visiting country after a tangible reason is given. The conditions attached stipulate that the vehicle must belong to the driver; and he/she must be a citizen of the country of origin of the car, as well as having appropriate documents for evidence.



The age-old abuse/crime



Over the years, some Ghanaians have made it their trade  taking undue advantage of Togos free port and collaborating with Togolese nationals and people from various nationalities in the sub-region to bring these cars into the country through the ECOWAS protocol and illegally change the vehicles identity after arrival in Ghana.



Though most of these foreign nationals are caught at the borders through the fake documents they present, some manage to drive these cars to their owners in Accra and Kumasi by using their identity cards as Togolese nationals who are in Ghana to visit friends and family or to do business, Commissioner Iddisah disclosed.



These original Ghanaian owners of the said cars, according to Mr. Iddisah, later make fake documents of the Togo car to match with similar cars that are already legally imported into the country  they tamper expertly with the chassis number beyond recognition of the layman.



He said only a trained Customs officer can detect that the chassis number has been altered or tampered with, as two cars cannot have the same chassis number even if they were manufactured on the same day and time by the same company.



Greed as a factor



Though the Division indicates that it is progressively tackling the menace, Commissioner Iddisah blames the greed of some Ghanaians as the fuelling factor of this illegality.



A car that sells for GH70,000 should not be offered to anybody for GH30,000. Unfortunately, that is what excites most buyers. Worse case, they do not involve the services of Customs officials in the purchase of such cars. That is greed, to some extent, he noted.



Punishment



The punishment for this offence, according to the Division, is an outright seizure of the vehicle; and in some cases prosecution after the original importer of the vehicle is found. However, it is often difficult to trace the importer as more than 70 percent of buyers become the first and original victim. These vehicles usually have fake registration numbers and number plates, and do not go through the DVLA system.



The capacity to detect



The Customs Division, according to Commissioner Iddisah, has trained officers who have the capacity and expertise to detect such crimes.



We have capable officers who have been clamping down on these illegal cars. They can look at the chassis number and within seconds tell you if it has been tampered with. Additionally, the Division deploys modern gadgets and technologies to check the legal status of any of these cars upon suspicion, he said.



Remain vigilant



Commissioner Iddisah asked the general public to remain vigilant and visit the nearest GRA office to check the status of vehicles before purchase. The Division is also undertaking ongoing education about the publics need to be cautious of where such vehicle purchases are made.



You dont buy a car and hide it in your room; you want to drive the car around and the Customs will occasionally stop you upon suspicions. It is therefore important to know the status of your car, the Commissioner said.



Collaborations



Commissioner Iddisah, disclosed that the Division is finalising processes to begin collaboration with other Customs departments in Africa and the sub-region to track the smuggling of these cars and other applicable goods.

Source: B&FT









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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After weeks of scrutiny and review of applications, Globe Productions Limited, organizers of the Ghana Business Summit, Exhibition and Awards have shortlisted 60 individuals and organisations for this year's awards.



The event which marks the fifth-anniversary celebration of the awards comes off this Friday, October 28, 2022, at the Kempinski Gold Coast City Hotel in Accra.



Considered a benchmark of excellence, the event has arguably been the biggest and most prestigious gathering of businesses and business owners in Ghana.



Theme



Themed "Promoting Investment in Ghana and Africa," the award is supervised by a team of technical experts (Awarding Board) and independent consultants.



The criteria for shortlisting successful nominees' were based on some key performance indicators (KPIs) in the standards of excellence, including information technology, innovation, competitive pricing and healthy practices.



Categories



The award categories are modelled to recognise industry players and businesses that have stood out, and made significant contributions to the business sector and the economy at large.



Some of the award categories that promise to be the toast of the night are the awards for Company of the Year, Personality of the Year, CEO of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year, with the honorary Life Time Achievement and Woman of Excellence awards going to Mr Ishmael Yamson and Prof Elsie Kaufman respectively.



The ceremony which is being organised in partnership with the World Leader Summit, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and the Institute of Directors (IoD), with support from the Graphic Communications Group Limited and Media General seeks to promote business excellence nationally and internationally, and as well as provide an unparalleled opportunity for networking among industry players.



It would recognise and reward excellence across all sectors of industry in Ghana and provide a platform for individuals and companies that played significant roles in the growth and development of the business sector.



The event which is being chaired by Madam Samia Nkrumah and Rev Dr Joyce Aryee would have the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Awal Mohammed as the guest speaker.



In attendance are the Spanish and United States Ambassadors to Ghana, Mr Javier Gutierrez and Madam Virginia E. Palmer, as well as Mr Charles Abani, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, and Mr Sugandh Rajaram, the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana.

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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Absa Bank made a huge impression at the prestigious Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIMG) awards held recently in Ghanas capital, Accra.



The CIMG Awards is one of the foremost platforms in Ghana, rewarding excellence in marketing, leadership and transformation in the corporate world. Absa Bank, for the second time in a row, won the Bank of the Year accolade whilst its enterprising Managing Director, Abena Osei-Poku won the Marketing Woman of the Year award.



Absas recognition is coming on the back of a strong performance in 2021, culminating in a record-breaking GHS1.1 billion profit before tax performance and GHS1.6 billion in revenues. This is the first time in the history of Ghanas banking sector that a bank has recorded these figures on its balance sheet.



Absa Bank attributes these to a relentless commitment to always being a step ahead in assessing the bespoke needs of its customers and clients and going the extra mile to create convenience for them.



The Bank also produced a number of firsts in the industry in the year under review, including the transformative partnership with Mastercard Foundation to build the capacity of 5,000 SMEs in Ghana and create 50,000 jobs for the youth in the next five years. Absa Bank also collaborated with a Ghanaian company, Flat C Marine Services, to deliver a wholly-owned Ghanaian offshore sea vessel, which is currently operating on the shores of Ghana and supporting the burgeoning oil and gas sector



Commenting, Managing Director of Absa Bank, Abena Osei-Poku said: There is absolutely no way this would have been possible without the relentless work ethic and commitment of our colleagues, management team, our Board and all other stakeholders. Acknowledgments like these encourage us to do more in providing financial solutions for our customers and clients. They are the reason we are in business.

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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The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) is worried about the Ghana Education Services (GES) alleged reluctance to promote teachers and members of the association to their designated ranks.



GNAT at its 2022 National Council Meeting held at the Teachers Village in Abankro indicated that the reluctance of GES to effect the promotions was causing agitations among its rank and file.



Some teachers who were promoted/upgraded since 2015 have not been placed on the right scale. Council finds this irritating and provocative, and with the potential of disturbing the peace on the education front.



Council therefore calls on the Ministry of Education/GES to resolve this issue and all other matters relating to especially lower ranked promotions by the end of December 2022, it added.



The Council also expressed its displeasure with the Ministry of Education and GES over delays in supplying laptops, allowances payment and opening of base pay negotiations which they intimated could trigger labour unrest among teachers.



The Council finds this irritating and provocative; with the potential of disturbing the peace on the education front. GNAT therefore calls on the Ministry of Education and GES to resolve this issue and all other matters relating to this and lower rank promotions by the end of December this year, it stated.



GNAT again asked government to ensure that the 2022 collective agreement is reviewed after having run for three years.



GNAT also asked the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to open the window for base pay negotiations by November 2022.



GNAT is worried, the Ghana Education Service occupational pension scheme (GSOPS) run by the Controller and Accountants General is in six months arrears, as a result, GNAT wants members to be reimbursed with immediate effect, the Council added.

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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The Yilo Krobo Municipal Director of Education, Rev. Peter Atta Bilson, has advised heads of basic and senior high schools (SHSs) in the municipality to allow pregnant schoolgirls who have delivered re-entry into schools to continue with their education.

He said currently, the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049) which went through parliament and was assented to by the President, allowed pregnant schoolgirls who delivered to come and re-enter to complete school.



The Pre-tertiary Education Act 2020 ensures that girls who got pregnant and delivered come back to school and nothing should be a barrier for them, he stressed.



Rev. Bilson said the Act provided for a pre-tertiary education system and an educational system to produce individuals with the requisite knowledge, skills and values to become functional and produce citizens for national development.



He was addressing teachers and schoolgirls in the basic and SHSs as part of this years International Day of the Girl-Child celebration at Somanya, the Yilo Krobo Municipal capital.



The programme, which was organised by the Yilo Krobo Municipal GNAT Ladies Society in collaboration with the Yilo Krobo Municipal Education Directorate was on the theme: Our time is now, our rights our future.



The programme was sponsored by Indomie and the Aheto Family  Elder Moses Aheto and Mercy Aheto of the Church of Pentecost, Ashailey Botwe.



Earlier in the day, the girls in the schools marched through the principal streets of Somanya with placards to create awareness of the celebration, some of which read, I want to be in school and not a mother, Parents be friends to your girl-child, Please help me stay in school, Girl-child education is important and Education is the most purposeful weapon.



Inclusive education



Rev. Bilson said the Ministry of Education and the district assemblies would provide and ensure, among other things, that the environment created for basic education was user-friendly and met the requirements of such children to be admitted to schools.



According to the director, it was realised that many of the girls who got pregnant and delivered had not reported back to school as a result of some heads and teachers not admitting such victims back.



He said statistics available at the Ghana Education Service (GES) in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic period, indicated that 109, 865 girls got pregnant.



Turning to the girls, Rev. Bilson, stressed that even though the policy was in force, it did not permit schoolgirls to go about getting pregnant, adding, if you do so, you are harming your future.



A guest of honour, Grace Gakpetor of the Church of Pentecost, Agomanya area, told the girls that they had roles to play for their future development and entreated them to say no to sexual advances from the opposite sex for them to secure their future.



The GNAT Secretary for Birim North, Matilda Amewodey, in a statement, said the GNAT Ladies Society, being teachers, were role models to the girls in the various schools where they taught and urged them to ensure that they mentored and nurtured the girls to become useful to themselves and society at large.



A representative of the Yilo Krobo Paramount Queen Mother, Manye Awo Kosi Otinor I, who chaired the function asked the girl-child to be assertive and walk away from boys and men who would like to destroy their future if they had sex with them.



A student from Sra Presbyterian Junior High School, Blessing Afful, thanked the organisers on behalf of her schoolmates for the programme, which made them learn many things to guide them in life.







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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged the West African College of Physicians (WACP) to expand its postgraduate programme to help curb the exodus of doctors from the country.

He said the frustration young doctors went through in their quest to specialise in countries in the sub-region had resulted in many of them being enticed by foreign countries.



Addressing the 46th annual general and scientific meeting of the college in Accra yesterday, the President expressed concern over the renewed exodus of doctors and other healthcare providers to more endowed nations.





The worrying trend is not limited to only Ghana but the entire region, he added.



The three-day conference, being attended by fellows and members of the college from across the West African sub-region and members of the Diplomatic Corps, is on the theme: Health and well-being amidst a prolonged pandemic: Implications for physicians and patients.



President Akufo-Addo also called for a decentralised system in the training of medical doctors.





He said the current centralised manner in the training was leading to the lack of trained doctors and specialists in districts and regions, thereby worsening the already huge disparity in the numbers of rural and urban doctors.



He further said even though the government had made funding available for postgraduate medical training, the current system required doctors to move from the districts and the regions to the few teaching hospitals to do so.



He said the success of decentralisation in the sector could only be realised if the training institution offered accreditation to more facilities outside the conventional teaching hospitals for such training programmes.



It is my plea that as you deliberate on these challenges, you will fashion out ways to decentralise the training of medical doctors, not only at the undergraduate level but also the postgraduate, the President said.



Commendation



He commended the medical fraternity for the immense support it offered in various countries in the sub-region during the pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic.



He also acknowledged the significant contribution of the college in the training of medical doctors, saying: As the foremost postgraduate training body established in 1976, the various faculties have, in a concerted manner, trained doctors in the fields of community health, family medicine, laboratory medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics and psychiatry.



The world is still striving to unravel the true effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. No one needs to be told about what it has done to the global economy, as every country on earth is reeling from its ravages.



The search is still ongoing to find answers to the long-term effects of the virus on the human body, the President added.



He reiterated the commitment of the government to see to the successful implementation of the pan-African initiative for domestic vaccine manufacturing, adding that a vaccine manufacturing committee he set up had come up with a road map for its establishment in the country.



We are working closely with the private sector and fellow African partners to become a vaccine manufacturing hub in Africa for Africans. Our goal is to produce vaccines domestically by the first quarter of 2024, he said.



Touching on the Agenda 111 initiative, he said it was to make the country the centre of medical excellence and a preferred destination of medical tourism in West Africa.



Appreciation



The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, lauded the dedication and commitment of health professionals, especially in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and assured them of his outfits continued support.



He said the devastating effects of the pandemic had led to the country increasing its PCR testing laboratories from two to about 60, adding: We have built adequate capacity to be able to store millions of ultra-low temperature vaccines in the country.



Strive for excellence



The outgoing President of the College, Dr Durodami Lisk, said the college would continue to strive for excellence, self-proficiency and value addition to its products and also ensure its economic independence.









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The Senior Presidential Advisor, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, has underscored the need to inculcate love for the country and the right mindset in the younger generation as a means to drive the countrys transformation agenda.

That, he said, was necessary because part of the nations challenges was as a result of poor attitude, character and work ethics at all levels in the country.



No one can develop Ghana for us except us, and we can lead in this development because we have the capacity and the brain power. So let us change our attitude and move in the right direction, he said.



Mr Osafo-Maafo made the call in a speech he read on behalf of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the 91st Speech and Prize-giving Day of Accra Academy in Accra last Saturday.



The event was on the theme: Enhancing the future of our youth through STEM Education and leader skills.



It was graced by high-profile personalities, including the Paramount Chief of the Abola Traditional Area, Nii Ahene Nunoo III, who chaired the event in the stead of the Ga Mantse.



Also present were a Supreme Court judge and Chairman of the Accra Academy Governing Board, Justice Jones Victor Mawulorm Dotse; representatives from the Ministry of Education, heads of some second-cycle and basic schools, old students, parents of continuing students, among others.



Achieving Ghana Beyond Aid



Mr Osafo-Maafo said if the nation was to ever realise its vision of a Ghana Beyond Aid, then there was the need to create a well engaged society aligned with the spirit of civic responsibility and accompanied by a high sense of patriotism.



At this level, students are still in their formative years and this is the opportune moment we are training your minds, he added.



He commended the management of Accra Academy for playing a pivotal role in the development of high-calibre human capital for the country.



Indeed, Accra Academy continues to set an enviable pace among your peers and the government and the people of Ghana are proud of your achievements as an institution, the Senior Presidential Advisor added.



Keynote address



Delivering the keynote address, a General Manager of the Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG), Edward Amartey Commey, highlighted the numerous benefits of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to the country.



He said the opportunities that came from the study of STEM had far-reaching consequences for the larger economy and its cascading effect at the micro level and the youth.



Therefore, he said, the country, like many other developing countries, had no other option than to quickly adapt to the changing world in order for it to win in the long run.



If for nothing at all, nations such as South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, China, among a few, have taught us the importance of science in carving up homegrown solutions in the quest to develop their respective economies, he added.



Awards



Former students whose performance in the 2021 WASSCE brought honour to the school were rewarded.



Continuing students, teachers and other staff of the school whose performances and contributions projected the image of the school were also given awards, while special prizes were presented to some teachers and other staff members.



The event was organised by the 1991 Year Group of the school, while some individual past students contributed prizes for some award winners.









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Just days after taking over Twitter, Elon Musk has issued an ultimatum to engineers over a new project.



According to a report from The Verge, Musk wants to launch a pay-for-play verification system in which verified users are charged $20 per month.



The kicker is that engineers have until November 7 to launch the scheme or face being fired. Employees were only told of the project on October 30.



The Verge report says that the price of the verification is subject to change. The price will also cover so-far unspecified other features.



Since Musk first offered to buy Twitter, the world's wealthiest man has made it clear he planned to shake things up at the social media giant.



Hours before The Verge report emerged, Musk tweeted: 'The whole verification process is being revamped right now.'



Earlier, tech website Platformer's Casey Newton reported that Twitter was leaning towards asking for verified users to pay for the privilege.



DailyMail.com has asked Twitter for comment on this story.



There are close to 400,000 verified users on Twitter. Making them pay could help the platform stay afloat after reports that bots make up five percent of all users and 'heavy tweeters' make up less than 10 percent of the site's monthly users.



Less active users mean less eyeballs for advertisers. During the court battle to acquire Twitter, Musk himself claimed that fewer than 16 million users are able to see the vast majority of ads.



Musk has also refuted a New York Times story accusing the Tesla-founder of planning a series of layoffs before November 1, in order to avoid paying staff their annual stock grants.



In responding to ProPublica's Eric Umansky tweeting the Times story, Musk simply wrote: 'This is false.'



Later, Musk took further aim at the newspaper of record in tweeting a screenshot of a headline from NYTimes.com accusing him of posting a link to a fake story surrounding the assault on Paul Pelosi.



The headline read: 'Elon Musk, in a Tweet, Shares Link From Site Known to Publish Fake News.'



Musk quipped: 'This is fake - I did *not* tweet out a link to the New York Times.'



Read Full Story .... Dailymail.co.uk >>> :









Source: Dailymail.co.uk









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Members of the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG) at the end of its 44th congress at Bolgatanga between October 25-28, 2022, have urged Ghanaians to patronise technical university programmes to help change the structure of the local economy and reverse its downward trend.

TUTAG in a six-point communique issued on Monday said it was time to redirect the Ghanaian educational system on the path of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to end graduate unemployment and create more jobs.



The four-day congress which was on the theme: Resourcing technical universities for sustainable development," also cautioned the government not to touch its Tier-2 Pension Fund.



The communique reiterated that the welfare of every employee was such a sensitive issue that needed to be guarded with tact and care.



"Upon the implementation of the three-tier pension scheme, TUTAG as a union had to contend with the government for years just to get it to transfer the Tier-2 funds to the appointed fund managers," the communique said.



"Considering the current economic conditions in the country, TUTAG would like to issue a word of caution that government can explore other means of restoring the economy back on track but should desist from all attempts to meddle with the pension fund of members".



TUTAG also said it supports the strike action by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and other unions. It said the government in 2021 unilaterally revised the duly negotiated conditions of service of university teachers.



"This clearly constitutes unfair labour practice and TUTAG wishes to urge the government to stick to the existing duly-negotiated conditions of service by applying the current ex-pump price to the payment of the other two items -- vehicle maintenance and off-campus allowances".



It warned that if after meeting with the National Labour Commission (NLC) on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, the issues in contention were not resolved TUTAG would be compelled to join the strike.



Members expressed their frustration about the long delay in the release of letters by the Finance Ministry to legitimise the new Internally Generated Fund-related conditions of service.



"Members were shocked that after almost a year since the government itemised 30 IGF-related conditions of service for local chapters to negotiate, the latter has refused to give approval to it," it said.



At the congress, TUTAG members vehemently registered their displeasure in the long delays that characterise the payment of the Book and Research Allowances year in and year out.



Members recounted how the payment of these allowances have been delayed over the years by successive governments. TUTAG also rejected the current arrangement and urged the government to pay the allowances within the first half of the year.



Congress also deliberated on the deplorable conditions of infrastructure and other needed resources on the various TU campuses and called for them to be fully resourced.



It suggested that as a policy initiative, the government should give incentives to companies and organisations that offer attachment or internship opportunities to students.









Source: graphiconline.com









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The Agenda 111 hospital projects being undertaken across the country will be completed to help ensure universal health coverage, the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, has assured.



He said although the country was going through economic challenges, the government was determined to ensure that none of the projects was abandoned.



Mr Agyemang-Manu gave the assurance at the opening of the 2022 consultation forum of the Department of Development and Social Services of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at Abokobi, the district capital of the Ga East Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.



The four-day event will afford managers of the 59 health institutions of the church and the six agriculture stations and relief organisations the opportunity to take stock of the previous years activities and chart a new way forward.



The occasion will also be used to adopt policy decisions aimed at injecting modernisation into its activities, as well as share decisions taken at the conference with policy makers to promote good agricultural and health practices in communities where their facilities operate.



Economic challenges



Mr Agyemang-Manu stated that the current economic hardship in the country was not normal and, therefore, the support of everybody was needed to bring the situation under control.



He expressed confidence that the efforts of the President would yield positive results and that the crisis would soon be over.



Mr Agyemang-Manu said the economic challenges were not domestically inflicted but were part of the global economic difficulties.



He commended the Presbyterian Church of Ghana for its track record in social services to enhance the socio-economic development of the country.



The minister said the government recognised the contribution of the church towards the provision of basic and tertiary education, as well as health and agriculture.



Mr Agyemang-Manu said though there was steady progress towards improving the health and the well-being of Ghanaians, more efforts were needed to adequately meet the demands of the people.



He lauded the Presbyterian Church of Ghana for establishing churches in rural areas.



Social services



The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt Reverend Professor Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, in his opening remarks, said the provision of social services was a core mandate Jesus Christ gave to humanity; hence, the need to support the spiritual and social needs of communities in which the church operated.



He said the church established its health mission 138 years ago at Aburi in the Eastern Region, which had benefitted thousands of people living in other rural areas in the country.



Rt. Rev. Mante stated that the church was currently having a total workforce of about 4000 in its health sector.











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The Conference of Regional Chief Imams of Ghana (CRCI), has pledged its willingness to collaborate with the government and other stakeholders to tackle the menace of illegal mining (galamsey) in the country.



It has also called for an inter-faith dialogue on the practice to help protect the nation's water bodies and forest reserves.



The conference made the pledge at its second meeting in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital last Saturday on the theme: "Empowering Imams for socio-economic development".



The two-day conference brought together Regional Chief Imams, their metropolitan, municipal and district counterparts and Islamic faith organisations and members among others to dialogue on pertinent issues affecting the development of the country.



Appeal



The National Coordinator of CRCI, Sualah Abdallah Quandah, also appealed to the government to resume the Arabic Instructors Programme (AIP) to promote the teaching and learning of the Arabic language in schools.



According to him, the quality of teaching and learning of the Arabic language in schools under the Islamic Education Unit was dwindling due to the cancellation of the programme.



At the annual celebration of the birth of Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W.) at Fadama in Accra in 2017, the Vice-President, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, said the then Ministry of Inner City and Zongo Development had been mandated to recruit over 3,000 Arabic teachers in the country.



The first phase of the AIP was implemented between 2018 to 2020, which saw about 3,000 instructors deployed to various schools and learning centers across the country.



However, a few years after its implementation, the programme had been cancelled, making many Arabic instructors unemployed, thus affecting the quality of teaching and learning of the language in the country.



"The conference took particular notice of the challenges in ensuring quality teaching of Arabic in basic Islamic schools under the Islamic Education Unit as a result of the cancellation of the policy of recruiting Arabic teachers and is, therefore, calling on the government to resume the policy," Alhaji Quandah added.



Capacity building



The coordinator further said that the conference had resolved to develop the capacity of Imams at all levels to lead and manage the affairs of the Muslim ummah, while sensitising them to the need to establish district and regional Shura councils to consolidate unity and development.

Source: graphiconline.com









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A now defunct consumer goods company, Hippo Limited, has refuted claims by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), that it has defaulted in the payment of taxes to the tune of GHc 1,361,546,803.56.



The position of Hippo Limited was made known in a press release dated 31 October 2022, issued by the management of Hippo Limited, a defunct member of the Hippo Group of Companies, a wholly Ghanaian owned holdings company, formed in 2008 with Hippo Limited, the parent company, originally established in 1983.



GRA advert



The attention of Hippo Limited has been drawn to a notice by the Ghana Revenue Authority published in the Business and Financial Times on 26th October 2022, alleging amongst others that, Hippo Limited has defaulted in the payment of taxes to the tune of GHS1,361,546,803.56.



We wish to bring to the attention of the general public that not only is the said notice false, but it is also misleading and malicious. Contrary to the notice by GRA, Hippo Limited successfully contested the assessment in 2017 in the High Court, Accra, the Hippo Limited statement read.



*High Court decision*



The press release further noted, For the avoidance of doubt, Hippo Limited hereby publishes the conclusions of the High Court judgment dated 22nd May 2020 to enable the public appreciate the truth or otherwise of the status of the matter."



The judgement was in respect of an application invoking the Judicial Review jurisdiction of the High Court in the case of Hippo Limited and the Commissioner General, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).



The Court held as follows; Consequently, the Application for Judicial Review filed by the Applicant is hereby granted in part as is the request of the Respondent as contained in the paragraph 12 of its affidavit in response to the Application, and the Court hereby enters the following orders:



It is hereby ordered that the tax assessment carried out by the Respondent entitling the Respondent to recover the sum of One billion, three hundred and sixty-two million four hundred and eight thousand, six hundred Ghana Cedis and ninety Pesewas (GHc1,362,408,600.90) as the tax liability of the Applicant dated 27th August 2018 is accordingly set aside, as well as all the execution processes founded thereon.



It is further ordered that the Applicant make available to the Respondent, within thirty (30) days from the date of this order, all relevant documents Applicant seeks to rely on in proof of its objection to the assessed tax liability for the Respondent to carry out another assessment of the Applicant's tax liability.



Upon receipt of the documentation of the Applicant, the Respondent is to complete the reassessment of the tax liability of the Applicant within two (2) weeks therefrom and serve its decision on the Applicant.



It is further ordered that should the Applicant fail to so comply with the Order to furnish its documentation to the Respondent and in the time frame therein specified, the Respondent is at liberty to carry out the reassessment without the input of the Applicant.



It is ordered, finally, that as the Applicant is not in active operation, its warehouse remain closed for the period of this reassessment exercise, the judgement of the court read.



*In-action of GRA*



Subsequent to the orders of the Court, Hippo Limited says it has submitted all the relevant documents, audited account statements among others to GRA.



However, to date, GRA has not done anything about the situation but continue to create the erroneous impressions that Hippo Limited owes taxes.



Be that as it may, Hippo Limited's contention is that, it is impossible for the GRA to allege that they have failed to pay taxes when it operated under the bonded warehouse scheme which is managed and controlled by officers of GRA directly.



*Bad faith*



Hippo Limited therefore noted that in view of the court's decision, it wishes to put on record that GRA has not complied with the orders of the High Court and, therefore, its notice is not only unlawful but in clear breach of the orders of the Court.



Hippo Limited is not indebted to GRA and the said notice should be discarded as same was published in bad faith to dent the hard-earned reputation of the Company and its named directors, the management of Hippo Limited stated in their press release.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. says President Nana Akufo-Addo missed some relevant points during his nation address on the economic challenges facing Ghanaians.



The President on Sunday, October 30, 2022 assured the citizenry that his government is tackling the economic problems and believed they will soon be relieved of the hardships.



Highlighting some measures the government is undertaking to address the plight of the populace, the President said; "We are in a crisis, I do not exaggerate when I say so. I cannot find an example in history when so many malevolent forces have come together at the same time. But, as we have shown in other circumstances, we shall turn this crisis into an opportunity to resolve not just the short-term, urgent problems, but the long-term structural problems that have bedeviled our economy.



"I urge us all to see the decision to go to the International Monetary Fund in this light. We have gone to the Fund to repair, in the short term, our public finances, and restore our balance of payments, whilst we continue to work on the medium to long-term structural changes that are at the heart of our goal of constructing a resilient, robust Ghanaian economy, and building a Ghana Beyond Aid.



"I am able to report to you, my fellow Ghanaians, that the negotiations to secure a strong IMF Programme, which will support the implementation of our Post COVID-19 Programme for Economic Growth and additional funding to support the 2023 Budget and development programme, are at advanced stages, and are going well."



But to Mr. Pratt, the President should have touched on the concerns of the Members of Parliament and Ghanaians about the Finance Minister and the size of his government.



According to him, sacking the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and reducing his government size is not the solution to the economic problems, however it will give the people hope that he (President Nana Addo) is paying attention to them and is serious about resolving the economic challenges.



Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", Mr. Pratt explained that the President should, for aesthetics purposes, heed the calls to dismiss the Finance Minister and minimize the number of his Ministers.



"Sometimes, something is not the real foundation but it helps in terms of public perception and so on. I believe those calling for the dismissal of Ken Ofori-Atta, Charles Adu Boahen and saying the number of Ministers should be reduced are not saying it because that's the solution to the problem, because it is not the solution to the problem, but it helps with aesthetics. It gives people the confidence that the government is concerned about their grievances and wants to do something about it. That is the context . . ." he stated.







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 verified Instagram account of suspected Internet fraudster, Abbas Ramoni popularly known as Hushpuppi, has been deactivated by Meta, the parent company of the platform.



Hushpuppi, who is currently been tried in the United States of America on charges of impersonation, scam, identity theft, etc. was arrested in Dubai by agents of the Dubai Police and US Federal Bureau of Investigations in 2020.



Prior to his arrest, Hushpuppi showed off his flamboyant lifestyle via his page.



A quick search shows that the handle has been deactivated as it did not come up among the results seen.









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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Colin Thatcher, former MLA of Saskatchewan and convicted murderer, walks out of the chamber after the speech from the throne at the Saskatchewan Legislature in Regina, on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. Premier Scott Moe has removed a member of the legislature's duties after Lyle Stewart invited a notorious killer to watch the government's throne speech. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu
Ontario Premier Doug Ford reacts after Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell delivered her Speech from the Throne at Queen's Park in Toronto, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Members of Ontario's legislature will be up early today, debating legislation that would impose a contract on education workers and ban them from striking. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Lahodynskyj
On a night where ghosts and goblins roam the streets, Petersburg residents had a bigger problem to worry about.

A landslide occurred near 5.5 Mile Mitkof Highway on Monday around 4:30 p.m., damaging power lines and taking down trees to completely block the road.

The slide left downtown Petersburg without power and a row of cars waiting along Mitkof Highway to see if they could get home for the evening.

According to Fire Chief Jim Stolpe, firefighters searched the area around the landslide and there were no reported injuries and no damage to any buildings.

The houses in the area near the landslide were also evacuated in case of additional sliding.

According to the borough, one SEAPA pole is destroyed and another is damaged.

The damage has also broken Petersburg's connection to SEAPA hydroelectric power and to the Blind Slough Hydroelectric Plant.

The borough stated that Petersburg will be on diesel power for an undetermined amount of time and that it is highly likely that customers south of the landslide will not have power until the SEAPA line is repaired.

Power was returned to downtown Petersburg around 6:30 p.m. Monday.

The borough also announced that SEAPA has mobilized its emergency line crew from Anchorage, which will arrive Tuesday afternoon.

According to Sgt. Cody Litster with the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, once the power lines are cleared, then work will begin on clearing the road.

There was no estimated time for when the road would be cleared but residents could still use Cabin Creek Road to bypass the downed trees and mud on the highway.

The borough advises residents not to drive to the landslide as the crews, including Public Works, PMPL, and ADOT, work to clear the site.

The borough will provide updates as they come.

Update:

According to the borough, Mitkof Highway was cleared around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday and though it is open to traffic, ADOT is advising extreme caution as there is still some debris and ice on the road.

There could also be additional road closures as utility crews work to repair the power lines.

The borough stated Tuesday afternoon that the generators are running and hydroelectric power is back online.

Power has been restored for most customers apart from those from 4.8 Mile to 6.7 Mile Mitkof Highway according to the borough.

Parks and Recreation is also offering free showers to anyone without power until Friday or when power is completely restored.

The free showers will be available from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Parssinen Hunting For First GGPoker Super MILLION$ Victory

November 01, 2022 Matthew Pitt Editor

The latest edition of the GGPoker Super MILLION$ has reached the final table stage, with only nine of the 174 starters remaining in contention for the lion's share of the $1,740,000 prize pool. Each of those nine finalists is guaranteed to take away no less than $50,524 for their efforts, but the top six finishers win a six-figure sum, with the eventual champion netting a cool $353,673.

Play resumes at 6:00 p.m. GMT with the GGPoker stream team streaming all the action, with hole cards on display, from the world go. Jeff Gross will be joined by a special guest as they bring you fun and informative commentating from online poker's biggest weekly tournament.

GGPoker MILLION$ Online Final Table Chip Counts

Place Player Country Chips Big Blinds 1 Vladimir "GEOMETRIYAEMILY" Minko Mexico 4,221,145 106 2 Eelis Parssinen Finland 2,913,131 73 3 Oliver Weis Austria 2,645,440 66 4 Ravid Garbi Israel 2,581,719 65 5 Andrei "Mr-Doberman" Nikonorov Russia 1,880,220 47 6 Rodrigo Sirichuk Brazil 1,259,713 32 7 Johannes "Hazes" Straver Austria 768,006 19 8 spaise411 Russia 713,596 18 9 joyeux Mexico 417,030 10

Countries as displayed in the GGPoker client

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Vladimir "GEOMETRIYAEMILY" Minko is the player that goes into the star-studded final table with the chip lead, and is the only finalist holding a stack worth more than 100 big blinds. Minko has 4,221,145 chips (106 big blinds) and will fancy his chances of securing one of the larger prizes. This is the first time we have seen Minko at a Super MILLION$ final table, and he is determined to make the most of this opportunity. Minko may be a relative unknown compared to some of the finalists, but that could well work in his favor.

Eelis Parssinen is better known for his pot-limit Omaha prowess, but the flying Finn knows his way around a no-limit Hold'em table, too. Parsinnen takes his seat under the spotlight with an arsenal of 2,913,131 chips (73 big blinds) and a legitimate shot of becoming a Super MILLION$ champion for the first time. This is the third consecutive week Parssinen has cashed in this event. Perhaps it will be a case of third time's a charm for the World Series of Poker bracelet winner, and he can finally win this high-stakes affair?

Third place at the restart is where you find Oliver Weis and his 2,645,440 stack (66 big blinds). Weis does not play many Super MILLION$ but he is a talented tournament grinder, one with almost $1.5 million in cashes at GGPoker alone. Weis can count a GGMasters title among his many accomplishments. He will be confident of adding a Super MILLION$ title to his long list of poker victories.

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GGPoker Super MILLION$ Final Table Payouts

Place Prize 1 $353,673 2 $277,310 3 $217,434 4 $170,486 5 $133,676 6 $104,813 7 $82,182 8 $64,437 9 $50,524

Israeli WSOP bracelet winner Ravid Garbi is another player hunting for his first victory in this event, and he has a hidden weapon up his sleeve: the run-good of Daniel Dvoress. Garbi sold 55.5% of his action via GGPoker's in-built staking software. High roller specialist Dvoress purchased 50% of Garbi's action, so is now guaranteed $25,000 but as much as $176,000 if Garb turns his 2,581,719 (65 big blinds) into a victory tonight.

Like Parssinen, Andrei "Mr-Doberman" Nikonorov sits down at the final table having recorded three Super MILLION$ cash in a row. Last week, Nikonorov busted in eighth place when he committed his short stack with pocket nines and ran into the kings of eventual third-place finish Rodrigo Sirichuk. Nikonorov sits down at this week's final table with 1,880,220 (47 big blinds) and a plan to avoid cowboys early on. We will see how that works out for the Russian WSOP Circuit ring winner.

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Sirichuk finished third last week for a score in excess of $200,000 and is looking to go two places deeper this time around. The Brazilian grinder, who is armed with 1,259,713 chips (32 big blinds), needs a sixth-place finish or better to push his GGPoker winnings north of $4.5 million. Should Sirichuk finish second or march onto victory, he will best the $250,839 score he capture back in May when he won the $25,500 Super High Roller after a four-handed chop.

The remaining trio of finalists have sub-20 big blind stacks and need to improve their positions sooner rather than later if they are to become a coveted GGPoker Super MILLION$ champion. Johannes "Hazes" Straver occupies seventh place courtesy of his 768,006 stack (19 big blinds). Straver has a GGMaster title on his resume; now he is hunting for a Super MILLION$ badge on his profile.

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Russia's "spaise411" is a regular in this high-stakes tournament but they are yet to walk away with top honours despite several final table finishes. In early May, spaise411 finished third in a special edition of the Super MILLION$ and scooped a cool $701,380 payout. More recently, only three weeks ago, they finished sixth for $106,018. The Russian is armed with a stack of 713,596 chips (18 big blinds) as they attempt to win as much prize money as possible for the 11 GGPoker players who bought a slice of their action.

Mexico-based grinder "joyeux" is the player bringing up the rear with their 417,030 stack (10 big blinds). They last reached the Super MILLION$ final table on February 15, where their run ended in an eighth-place finish worth $78,986.
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The hacktavists over at the Supreme Court are busy today looking to destroy more of the American way of life by striking down affirmative action, which is ironic as heck because Clarence Thomas himself said of race conscious admission policies, But for them (affirmative-action laws), God only knows where I would be today. These laws and their proper application are all that stand between the first 17 years of my life and the second 17 years.

The ACLU explained:

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear two cases concerning affirmative action today. If the court strikes down affirmative action  also known as race-conscious admissions policies  it would make it unconstitutional for universities across the country to consider a students race as one factor in a holistic admissions review process. The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Massachusetts, and ACLU of North Carolina filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold universities ability to consider race in college admissions earlier this year.

Clarence Thomas life is a perfect example of what affirmative action was meant to do (until he decided that only he should be allowed to benefit). He grew up dirt poor. In the 1994 The Higher Education of Clarence Thomas by Jane Mayer and Jill Abramson*: He saw himself as stigmatized rather than helped by race-conscious aid, an analysis that no doubt reflected the emotional pain he felt but that again overlooked the advantages he had enjoyed  such as his admission to St. John Vianney, Immaculate Conception, and Holy Cross in the first place. The resentment Thomas felt toward he helping hand he grasped set him apart from a number of other minority students at the time many of whom didnt care as much about others perception of how they had gotten there.

They describe Thomas as feeling he had never gotten enough acceptance, which caused some friends to wonder if the problem wasnt more internal than external.

So the gist of this is that Thomas is what he projects onto others. He was so angry about being seen as someone who benefited unfairly from affirmative action that he began to hate the mechanism that saved him, and to seek  out of what seems like emotional pathology  to deny anyone else the same helping hand.

The contradiction and hypocrisy is so blatant, but it is hardly new. Back in 1995, Seattle Times published a piece laying it out, entitled Clarence Thomas: Poster Boy For Affirmative Action:

THERE is something unseemly about a guy who has just built a house on the beach and is now leading the charge to stop all further beach-front construction.



Or a beneficiary of affirmative-action programs who climbs the ladder of success by attacking affirmative action.

That kind of unseemliness was demonstrated this month by Justice Clarence Thomas. But few reporters took note  even though it should be the medias job to spotlight hypocrisy.

Thomas cast the deciding vote in the Supreme Courts 5-to-4 decision to narrow federal affirmative-action programs. But Thomas went beyond even fellow conservatives on the bench  he argued for an immediate end to affirmative action.

Theres an obvious contradiction here: Clarence Thomas benefited enormously from the kind of affirmative-action programs he now seeks to kill.

Yes, Thomas has been trying to shut the door on Black people behind him for decades. It took white supremacist-appeasing Donald Trump to stack the court so Clarence Thomas could finally spit on those below who seek to climb the same ladder as he did.

In fact, it seems Thomas is on this very court because he OPPOSED the civil rights movement. His opposition, while being Black, led to two civil-rights posts in the Reagan White House and President Bush, who also opposed the Civil Rights Act, then chose Clarence Thomas to fill Thurgood Marshalls seat on the Supreme Court.

Since the early 1980s, Thomas career soared thanks to a perverse form of racial preference. It was his race, as Thomas has admitted, that got him two civil-rights posts in the Reagan White House; the jobs came because he opposed the civil-rights movement. So did his boss, President Ronald Reagan, whose opposition dated back to the years of Martin Luther King Jr.

President Bush  who, like Reagan, had opposed the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act  later chose Thomas to fill the Supreme Court seat of civil-rights legend Thurgood Marshall, the only other African American to sit on the highest court.

By being so against civil rights and affirmative action, Thomas is also giving the white elite establishment types what we now call pick me energy. This is like the cool girl who hates other women being chosen as the token woman for anti-womens rights campaign. (Also visible on this same court in handmaid type religion Amy Coney Barrett.)

If Thomas Clarence werent so singularly destructive of our democracy and so corruptly grabbing power not his to take  including refusing to recuse himself on cases involving his own wifes attack on our country  he would be someone compelling of a certain kind of sad empathy. Not pity. No, not pity.

But its understandable that anyone who fights so hard to get ahead and feels they never fit in has a bristly vibe. Thomas worked hard for his degrees. He came from nothing. Its an accomplishment.

However, what he has also taken with him in his rise to the top is a seething resentment against those he feels wronged him wayyyyy back in his college years. He seems to identify those people as liberals. He did in the 90s, at any rate, tell his law clerks he wanted to serve for 43 years to make liberals lives miserable.

Well played, rage monster.

Thomas is free to get his hate on and be emotionally unstable to this degree, but theres a big problem: According to the American Bar Association, judicial temperament means that a judge exhibits compassion, decisiveness, open-mindedness, sensitivity, courtesy, patience, freedom from bias and commitment to equal justice.' BallotPedia explains.

These traits are MIA in Thomas, though reports are hes civil to his colleagues, but Id argue they arent the people impacted by his decisions and Thomas is not civil to half the country, so this seems like an attempt to make his mission to make other peoples lives much worse more palatable.

The man who refuses to cede any ground, including the most obvious conflicts of interest, as he serves as a justice on the highest court in the land is also motivated by petty vindictiveness against half the country and seeks to hold down other minorities lest anyone look down on him for getting help.

Is this man fit to be a judge anywhere in America? His temperament says not, his actions say definitely not, and his irrational, decades-long tour of palpable vindictive spite agree most definitely not.

*Mayer, Jane, and Jill Abramson. The Higher Education of Clarence Thomas. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, no. 6, 1994, pp. 95100. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2962477. Accessed 31 Oct. 2022.
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The leader of the group intimidating voters at drop boxes in Arizona is complaining that the right-wing drop box watchers are now being harassed.

Melody Jennings complained on Steve Bannons podcast:

The leader of the group that has people sitting on voting drop boxes in AZ is complaining on Bannon this morning that they are being harassed by the media and people on twitter. pic.twitter.com/WtgYKhG2qx  Ron Filipkowski  (@RonFilipkowski) October 31, 2022

Jennings complained that the right-wingers who are trying to intimidate voters are being intimidated, We have the picture of that person who came up to them laughing it up with the news. We have a picture of it, and we also have footage of the news staging a whole situation on this last Saturday evening, which we havent broken yet. We will, but honestly, this is going to go in our direction because if anyone is doing the intimidating, its them.

People on Twitter found out where these drop box watchers are and went to see them, and the media knows where they are and are also watching them.

The group that was supposed to be stationed at drop boxes and intimidating voters is now being watched and complaining that they are being intimidated.

The American people arent going to sit back and allow authoritarians to scare them out of their vote.

The drop box watchers in Arizona are now being watched, and it turns out that they dont like when real patriots and the free press show up to hold them accountable.
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The Supreme Court has refused to help Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) not testify in the Georgia Trump criminal investigation.

Reuters reported, The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to block Senator Lindsey Graham from having to testify before a grand jury in a criminal investigation of Donald Trumps efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state of Georgia, handing a setback to a prominent ally of the former president.

Graham is in the process of appealing a ruling that he must appear, but it is clear that the Supreme Court will not bail the South Carolina US Senator out of trouble.

Lindsey Grahams defense that pressuring the state of Georgia to overturn the election for Donald Trump was part of his legislative duties as a senator was never going to fly with any court because it is nonsense.

Sen. Graham is doing everything imaginable to avoid testifying against Donald Trump in Georgia, but he is quickly running out of options, and it looks like he will, at some point, be forced to testify against Trump.
A large container ship is on an extended stay at the Port of Charleston as maritime investigators try to find out why it and a fishing trawler collided last week off the coast of Virginia.

No one was hurt in the Oct. 28 incident, which caused the smaller craft to take on water before being swallowed up by the Atlantic.

The 13 passengers on board the commercial trawler, including a child, had to be rescued in a late-night effort involving the Coast Guard and two civilian vessels that happened to be in the area.

The 1,063-foot-long MSC Rita was on its way to the Port of Charleston's Wando Welch Terminal from New York when it and the 115-foot Tremont collided around 1 a.m. Friday. They were about 60 miles off the coast of Norfolk, Va.

The Coast Guard Sector Virginia said it received a mayday call around an hour later that was heard by a nearby vessel. Atlantis, a 274-foot research ship operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, motored about eight miles to the accident site, the organization said in an email to the Associated Press.

While the 12 passengers boarded a life raft, the captain of the Tremont remained behind, according to the Falmouth, Mass.-based institution. Atlantis then used an inflatable boat to tow the life raft to another fishing vessel that picked up the passengers. A Coast Guard helicopter crew plucked the captain to safety.

Moments later, according to witnesses, the Tremont sank, the operator of Atlantis told the AP.

The MSC Rita, operated by Mediterranean Shipping Co., continued on to its next call in Charleston. It's been docked at the Leatherman Terminal on the former Navy base since the weekend. It was scheduled to be worked at Wando Welch in Mount Pleasant and depart Saturday, according to the State Ports Authority's vessel calendar.

"Authorities have launched an investigation, with the full assistance and cooperation of MSC," the Swiss ship operator said in written statement Tuesday. "Our first priority is to understand the circumstances which led to this unfortunate incident, and we are staying closely apprised to developments as they unfold."

Capt. Jennifer Stockwell, commander of the Sector Virginia, called the high-seas collision "an extremely perilous situation."

"The combined efforts of good Samaritans and Coast Guard response assets demonstrates a selfless commitment to others, she said in a written statement.

A spokesperson for Coast Guard Sector Charleston said that Sector Virginia is the lead investigator. Stockwell's unit did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday about the status of the probe.

The Panamanian-flagged MSC Rita, which can carry the equivalent of 8,100 20-foot-long containers, is a frequent visitor to the South Carolina waterfront. It briefly held the title as the largest ship to ever call at the Port of Charleston when it made its first voyage to the state in 2010.
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Two months before her hand-off to a new administration, Spearman sat down with The Post and Courier to reflect on her tenure, as well as her hopes and concerns for the future. Read moreExiting schools' chief Spearman reflects on teacher recruitment, mergers and takeovers
COLUMBIA  The Lower Saluda Greenway Project, an initiative to create a trail connecting Columbia to Lake Murray, now has full funding to build, paving the way for sections of the trail to open in the next several years.

The $24 million in funding comes from a combination of local, state and federal sources, said Mark Smyers, director of the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission, which is in charge of the project.

"It means we have all the resources we need to build," Smyers said. "We've been able to transition from a 40-plus year long dream of 'what if' to now, which is just a question of when."

The 12-foot-wide greenway will connect Lake Murray to the existing Saluda River Greenway, which runs along the river from Columbia to the Riverbanks Zoo. It will also provide a route for Lexington County residents to travel to downtown Columbia by bike or on foot.

The greenway will increase river access and recreation in Lexington County, and will hopefully drive economic growth in the area, Smyers said.

The Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission and its partners on the project, Central Midlands Council of Governments, Midlands Business Leadership Group and the Mungo Foundation, have been working for the past year to source funding for the greenway, Smyers said.

Lexington County committed funds early in the process, which was followed by state funding passed in early 2022. More recently the U.S. Economic Development Association awarded the commission a grant, and a couple of weeks ago, the Central Midlands Council of Governments voted to fund the last section of the greenway as part of its Transportation Improvement Program, Smyers said.

The Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission was fortunate for the attention the greenway got while the organization was looking for funding, he said.

"Those (who) are standing on tops of the shoulders of giants get seen," Smyers said. "It's been this community (that) has dreamed about this project for 40 years. So, it has landed in so many different planning documents  and this project is a high priority on all of them."

The first two sections are anticipated to be completed in the next two or three years, but the section closest to Columbia will be several years behind because it conflicts with the Carolina Crossroads Project, which will renovate the interchange between Interstates 20 and 26.

When the greenway is completed, the goal is for it to attract residents and businesses to the area, as other river-side projects in the Columbia area have, Smyers said.

Access to the area's natural resources is critical in drawing residents in from other areas of the country, said Michael Mayo, owner of Palmetto Outdoor, a West Columbia boating and tubing outfitter.

"We don't just want families to visit, we want families to move here from Florida and Ohio and DC because they love the area, and access to green space is what we utilize to make this happen," Mayo said. "We have testimonials from individuals who have who have told us that they moved here because they love the area and what it has to offer."

In his 16 years in business, Mayo has found that Columbia's rivers are an important economic asset to the area.

"People are willing to pay more to experience the whitewater (in Columbia) than in other places (where) they're getting their kayaks and canoes," Mayo said. "There's a lot of value here."

Click here for more news from Columbia, S.C.
LADSON  Local restaurants can become second homes for regulars.

For Erika Perez and her brother, Eybee Alexander Amaya Perez, El Centroamericano Restaurant and Grocery at 113 College Park Road has been just that.

Perez, Amaya Perez and their younger brother have been working there since the day their parents Valeria Perez and Erick Amaya opened the Central American restaurant and grocery store in October 2007, when their children were all younger than 10.

After-school hours were spent at the front in the grocery with their mom and later in the kitchen with their father, who leads a team of eight cooks today. Perez has made her way back to the front, while Amaya Perez has found a home in the back of the house, helping train new employees and lead daily services.

On the weekends, its all hands on deck.

A line that forms just before El Centroamericano opens at 8:30 a.m. grows as the day goes on, with diners hungry for their weekly El Salvadorian breakfast plate of two eggs, fried plantains and refried beans. Many are also waiting for soup, whether theyre after the house seafood stew that is served daily or the beef and chicken, both of which are only available on the weekend.

By 3 or 4 oclock, theres no more soup, said Amaya Perez. Thats how big its gotten.

Saturday and Sunday soup is big in Central America, said the siblings, who have previously visited family members living in El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, near where their parents grew up. Its this feeling of nostalgia and comfort that has made El Centroamericano an important part of the Ladson and North Charleston communities for the past 15 years.

You can come in here and this is almost like youre back in your home country, Amaya Perez said. Youve got homemade cooking, homemade juices, youve got products that you can find in your home countries.

Confluence of cultures

El Centroamericano wasnt always the treasured communal gathering place it is today. After moving to New York and opening a Central American deli in Goose Creek, Valeria Perez and Erick Amaya decided to switch gears when the owner of a Mexican restaurant and grocery in a Ladson strip center closed.

Perez was born in Nicaragua and Amaya hails from Honduras. After taking over the 113 College Park Road space where El Centroamericano is still housed today, they offered groceries and made-to-order cuisine that was representative of Central America as a whole, with El Salvadoran, Colombian, Venezuelan, Costa Rican and Mexican influences showing up on the menu, alongside food from their native countries.

Those who had previously visited the Mexican market and restaurant were at first confused by the new ownership. Many werent familiar with Central American staples like pupusa, a stuffed and griddled cornmeal cake that is El Salvador's national dish.

Slowly, that started to change with a gentle nudge from Valeria Perez.

They would try it (the pupusa) and they liked it and they would come back and they would buy them. And thats how it started, Erika Perez said of El Centroamericano's pupusa, still one of the most popular menu items today. My mom was very much entrepreneurial on that.

El Centroamericano serves its take on platters that you might actually find in Central America, and plates vary by country. The Colombian bandeja paisa, for instance, arrives fully loaded with a thin slab of sirloin, crispy pork belly, slender and sweet plantain, avocado, beans, a fried egg and an arepa.

The restaurants wide-ranging offering extends to the market diners walk through to get to the dining room. Up front, patrons can shop for Honduran chips, packaged tortillas and over-the-counter products commonly found in Central America, among many other refrigerated and non-perishable items.

"We have Colombian products, weve got Venezuelan products. ... We try to have a little bit of everything as much as we can find it, Perez said. You see all types of clientele now from all countries. Its awesome because youre seeing something different.

Pupusa prep

Patrons walk through El Centroamericanos market to get to the restaurant area with tables in the middle and booths lining the pale yellow walls. There is action in the partially visible kitchen and dining room, where plates of sizzling fajitas whizz by as servers pop the top off of bottles of Modelo pulled from the fridge up front.

There is no wrong way to order from El Centroamericanos two-sided laminated menu featuring dishes listed in Spanish with an English translation underneath.

I first sampled that bandeja paisa, a comforting combination of hearty, well-seasoned proteins. Creamy and crunchy textures marry on the large $18 plate that could easily feed two people. For fans of spice, a dot of the house-made light green tomato and jalapeno sauce sitting at each table takes a bite of flattened sirloin to another level.

Tacos ($2.50) are dressed simply with small diced onions, cilantro and a lime wedge, I learned during my second visit. They are served inside the packaged corn tortillas sold in the market, though El Centroamericano makes its own tortillas in-house  those flour tortillas are served alongside most of the restaurants plates like the especial de chuleta (pork chop with rice, beans, sweet plantains and an egg).

Amaya Perez, who on most days leads the kitchen during service, estimates El Centroamericano goes through more than 1,000 house-made tortillas each week, a number that is outdone only by their pupusa preparation.

Those are still made by Valeria Perez and another family member who recently joined the kitchen.

Once stuffed with pork, cheese or both, the thick cornmeal discs are stacked in the refrigerator in sets of seven. After resting overnight, they hit the flattop grill to develop the golden brown crust that is key to any quality pupusa.

Youve got to make the revueltas  thats the pork and cheese  then youve got to make just the cheese, then youve got to make just the pork, said Amaya Perez, who estimates El Centroamericano rolls through around 350 to 400 per day. Its a lot of work going into just making one specific type of pupusa.

Whats next?

It would be easy to assume that Perez and Amaya Perez will take over El Centroamericano when their parents retire, a day that is quickly approaching, the siblings said.

That likely wont be the case.

Amaya Perez has a passion for cars  particularly BMWs  that he would eventually like to explore. He recently earned an Automotive Service Excellence certification from Trident Technical College and spends his days off working on cars in a spare shed on his fathers property.

His sister, who previously worked at the Medical University of South Carolina as a pharmacy technician, would like to get back into the health care field once her parents are ready to move on.

They taught us what they know and we just have continued with them. Well continue with them until we cant anymore, Perez said. Past that, thats probably it for us with the restaurant business.

Trailblazers in Charlestons food and beverage industry, Valeria Perez and Erick Amaya, never earned the nationwide notoriety other Charleston restaurant owners have achieved.

But their children and those who frequent El Centroamericano are aware of the impact their food has had.

Were going to be forever grateful, Perez said.

Its hard to picture this corner of North Charleston without El Centroamericano. With cousins, aunts and uncles in the Perez and Amaya families, patrons can only hope that another will take El Centroamericano into its next 15 years once the couple is ready to move on from the business.

This uncertainty is all the more reason for first-time visitors to go sample some pupusa.
GREENVILLE  When voters head to the polls Nov. 8 they might notice familiar  and often diametrically opposed  political slogans that had once been banned inside election sites.

The Greenville County elections office has approved that voters can display the "Black Lives Matter" and "Make America Great Again" slogans on clothing, hats or other apparel.

In a Nov. 1 letter to poll workers offering guidance a week from Election Day, county Elections Director Conway Belangia wrote that the slogans shouldn't be considered "campaign material," which otherwise isn't allowed in voting areas.

The policy and interpretation was changed after consultation with the South Carolina American Civil Liberties Union and the Greenville County attorney, Belangia wrote in the letter.

Belangia told The Post and Courier the policy had been enforced in earlier elections.

The Black Lives Matter movement, associated largely among Democratic voters, boiled to the top in summer 2020 during nationwide protests over police treatment of Black people following the death of George Floyd and has spread into broader social and economic themes.

Former President Donald Trump coined the "Make American Great Again" slogan in his first campaign for office in 2016, and it has become a rallying cry among Republicans who want the former president back in office.

"We recognize these items may cause issues at polling places where differences of opinion can arise among voters," Belangia wrote in the updated guidance. "In those instances, poll workers will have to be more diligent to maintain decorum and not allow verbal exchanges between individual supporters of the groups that want to influence voters with the display of these items."

The reversal comes after the ACLU wrote to the elections office Oct. 29 that the policy violated constitutional rights to free speech.

"The First Amendment will not permit such restrictive requirements," ACLU attorney Meredith McPhail wrote in the letter assailing the policy as illegal.

State election laws ban the distribution of campaign literature, the placement of political posters and the exhibition of political literature and displays within 500 feet of the entrance to a polling place.

The basis for what material would be banned was only shared with election clerks and not poll workers and was therefore "secretive criteria," the letter states.

The ACLU cited a 2018 Minnesota case that determined that while states may choose to prohibit certain apparel in polling places "so that voters may focus on the important decisions immediately at hand," it's necessary that "the state must draw a reasonable line" and "articulate some sensible basis for distinguishing what may come in from what must stay out."
South Carolina hospitals are filling up and children's hospitals are overwhelmed by patients struck by an onslaught of various viruses, including an early surge of flu that could signal a bad season ahead.

Vaccination appears to be the best course for stemming the tide and protecting the most vulnerable, including babies who can't receive the shots, health officials said.

While flu season in the Palmetto State traditionally starts the first week of October, "for the first time in eight years we saw widespread flu activity in the state in the very first week," said State Epidemiologist Linda Bell of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

The state didn't hit that level until January last season, she said, and has already had more than half of the cases and outbreaks it saw all of last flu season.

"These are all indicators of a potentially severe flu season," Bell said.

Respiratory syncytial virus, another widespread respiratory illness, has also been rampant and the state has seen nearly double the outbreaks of those cases it saw all of last season, "which had been the worst in recent years," she said. COVID-19, while at lower levels now, continues to cause hospitalizations and deaths.

DHEC also confirmed Oct. 31 the first flu death in a child this season, Bell said.

These viruses "are very serious," she said, particularly for the most vulnerable. Other viruses, such as parainfluenza and human metapneumovirus, are sending children to the Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital at Medical University of South Carolina, said Dr. Elizabeth Mack, chief of pediatric critical care.

But there are vaccines only for two, COVID-19 and influenza, Bell said.

"So we need to take advantage of the illnesses we can prevent with vaccine," she said.

Flu is "an opportunist" and is already hitting the Midlands and Columbia area hard, said Dr. Don Moore, an urgent care physician with Lexington Medical Center. They have been doing about 100 flu tests a day, with about 60 percent positive, and he had already seen 12 positive flu tests Nov. 1 before joining a late-morning call.

The flood of viruses could be due to the lack of COVID-19 prevention measures such as masking and social distancing, particularly among children now back at school, officials said. Bell said RSV outbreaks in schools are "quite high."

"It's the return to school minus the COVID mitigation strategies," said Dr. Allison Eckard, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at MUSC.

It's also possible to be infected with more than one virus at a time, Eckard said. "It just sets up the opportunity for more severe disease," she said.

South Carolina's hospitals are at 77 percent capacity now, but the children's hospitals are seeing an "extraordinarily" high number of patients, said Melanie Matney, chief operating officer with the South Carolina Hospital Association.

McLeod Children's Hospital in Florence has been at or near capacity for the past six to eight weeks, said Dr. Carl Chelen, a pediatric intensivist.

"We are pretty much at our limit," he said. But all of the state's children's hospitals say they will find a way to do more.

Prisma Health Children's Hospital in the Midlands in Columbia is "at maximum capacity," sad Dr. Anna Kathryn Burch, pediatric infectious disease specialist. But as they did during the COVID surges, the hospital is able to "flex" and find rooms and staff to care for more kids, she said. Shawn Jenkins, which has also struggled to provide beds for everyone who needs it, is also finding a way, Eckard and Mack said.

"We will always find a way to take care of the state's children," Mack said.

"We will give that child whatever care they need," Eckard agreed.

Those who are not as sick or are just seeking testing can help by not going to emergency rooms but, instead, seeking care in a doctor's office or urgent care center to help "ease the burden" on the hospitals, Matney said.

Families should "try to use Emergency Rooms for true emergencies," Burch said.

The early flu season may have caught some off guard who are used to getting their annual flu shot later in the year, so the time is now to do it, Eckard said.

Of those children in Shawn Jenkins for COVID-19 or flu, they were either too young to be eligible for flu or were unvaccinated, Mack said. There is "lots of room for improvement" on those vaccination rates, she said. Because children under 6 months are ineligible, vaccinating everyone else who is eligible in the household can help protect them.
Members of the Summerville Police Department were the recent recipients of multiple boxes of frozen turkeys, courtesy of Tom Fernandez and the Punishers Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club  Peace Keeper Chapter during Thanksgiving week. Local cops proceeded to distribute some of the donated bir Read moreLeave the gun  take the turkey
Could switching the clocks soon come to an end?
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If we asked a group of people to mention a word or phrase that comes to mind when they think of Thanksgiving Day, several options present themselves: turkey, football, Macys parade, family gatherings, and pumpkin pie. Gratitude and counting our blessings would certainly find their way into  Read moreCHAPLAIN'S CORNER: Many dimensions of Thanksgiving
In the age of cellphones and the internet, consumers often face a simple choice: convenience or privacy? Do we let Big Tech have access to our private communications and free email accounts because it's so easy? Once you've said yes  and who among us has not?  it's not a stretch to think t Read moreCommentary: Contact-tracing apps had good intentions. Then we got carried away.
The idea of creating housing villages for young teachers came to South Carolina 15 years ago, when then-S.C. Education Superintendent Jim Rex talked it up as a way to provide community for new teachers moving to rural communities, where they might otherwise feel isolated. A few districts loo Read moreEditorial: Pursue teacher housing plan  in the open, with attention to details
It might seem pointless to urge people to get a flu shot after all weve been through.

But there are plenty of people who have refused to get a COVID-19 immunization because they dont think the disease is that big a deal or they dont trust the science behind the shots or they thought somebody might force them to get one and just put their foot down against even a voluntary vaccination.

Likewise, there are people who were demanding universal vaccine mandates who have never gotten an influenza vaccination.

And Mondays sad announcement of South Carolinas first pediatric flu death of the year seems an apt time to try again to convince people in both groups  and those in all the groups in between who just dont think flu vaccinations are worth their time  that getting vaccinated against the flu would be a good idea. And that now would be a good time to do it.

Well start with the mandatory-COVID-vaccination crowd, because they should be the easiest to convince: Flu is much more deadly than COVID-19. Not on a population level, because COVID is much more infectious, so it has far more opportunities to kill  but on an individual level: A person who contracts the flu is more likely to die than a similar person who contracts COVID. So if you believe that we have an obligation to protect others from an infection that we might spread, then you have no choice but to get your flu vaccine.

If you just cant stand another needle, its even available in a nasal spray.

If you never got vaccinated against COVID because you think its a hoax, or at least less of a threat than it was made out to be, then wed urge you to think back to those arguments  most of which involved comparisons to the far more deadly flu.

If you believe scientists rushed the COVID vaccine without sufficient trials, recall that the flu shot has been around for generations. Its reformulated every year, to match the strains most likely to be circulating, but its the same old-technology vaccine that weve been using since the 1940s.

As for being told what to do, nobody is talking about requiring flu shots  well, outside of the militlary, hospitals and other medical settings, and if you work in one of those, youve likely already gotten your shot anyway.

If youre in the middle  someone who dutifully got your COVID vaccination but just cant get that excited about influenza  well, see all those arguments above, and particularly this one: Should you contract both diseases, youre much more likely to die from the flu.

Because of the mask-wearing and social distancing from the past two years, weve lost some of our built-up immunity to the flu and other viral illnesses, so public health officials warn that this years flu season could be especially deadly. Missing out on two years of exposure is especially problematic for children, who are the traditional flu factories. And we all know by now about how getting vaccinated against a communicable disease protects not only ourselves but also our vulnerable loved ones.

So please get your flu shot  if not for others, then for yourself.
I listened to all five hours of the Supreme Court oral argument today while on a long car drive home, and am hoping to post a special podcast tomorrow going over the whole scene, but for me, one single moment especially stands out. Seth Waxman, the primary attorney defending Harvard (a former solicitor general under President Clinton), was going head-to-head with Chief Justice John Roberts about whether race is a minor factor in admissions, or a decisive factor, as the defenders of race-conscious admissions were trying to have it both ways all day. Lets just pick up the dialogue in the middle:

MR. WAXMAN: No, I know. Im Im attempting to answer your question.

There is no doubt that for as the testimony showed, that for applicants who are essentially so strong on multiple dimensions, so extraordinarily strong on multiple dimensions that they are sort of on the bubble, that they might they have a real candidate for admission, African American being African American or being Hispanic or in some instances being Asian American can provide one of many, many tips that will put you in.

CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS: Well, people say that, yes, but you will have to concede, if it provides one of many, that in some cases it will be determinative.

MR. WAXMAN: I do. I do concede that.

CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS: Okay. So were talking about race as a determining factor in admission to Harvard.

MR. WAXMAN: Race in some for some highly qualified applicants can be the determinative factor, just as being the you know, an oboe player in a year in which the Harvard-Radcliffe orchestra needs an oboe player will be the tip.

CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS: Yeah. We did not fight a Civil War about oboe players.
I havent seen or read a transcript of todays Supreme Court hearing. Scott or Steve may offer more informed commentary shortly. But, based on news accounts, the day seems to have gone well for opponents of race discrimination in higher education. The pro-discrimination Washington Post is inconsolable:

Conservative justices on Monday seemed open to ending decades of Supreme Court precedent allowing race-conscious admission decisions at colleges and universities, repeatedly expressing doubt that the institutions would ever concede an endpoint in their use of race to build diverse student bodies. After nearly five hours of argument, the affirmative-action programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seemed seriously endangered. The question is how broad such a decision might be, and what it would mean for other elite colleges and flagship state universities that say relying on grades and test scores alone could result in a dramatic drop in Black and Hispanic students.

Did someone say they have to rely on grades and test scores alone? I missed that. I think the question is whether they can rely on skin color.

Justice Thomas made heads spin by questioning one of the great shibboleths of our timethe value of diversity of skin color:

During arguments involving admissions policies at the University of North Carolina (UNC), Thomas asked state Solicitor General Ryan Park to describe the educational benefit to including race as a factor in college admissions. Park responded that in studies involving stock trading results, racially diverse groups of people  perform at a higher level. The mechanism there is that it reduces groupthink and that people have longer and more sustained disagreement, and that leads to a more efficient outcome, Park said. Thomas responded, I guess I dont put much stock in that because Ive heard similar arguments in favor of segregation, too. Ive heard the word diversity quite a few times, and I dont have a clue what it means. It seems to mean everything for everyone, Thomas also stated during his line of questioning.

***

In a later discussion with David Hinojosa, the director of the Educational Opportunities Project at the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Thomas seemed to reject the idea that affirmative action policies should continue simply because a school asserts there is a compelling interest in doing so. I cannot think of another area of another case where the court deferred to the alleged discriminator on something as important as compelling interest, Thomas said.

***

Thomas was unconvinced and said the court would not be so accepting of a contrary assertion by a college. If this was  this case involved a school district in Virginia in 1960 that is alleged to be discriminating, would this court defer to its assertion that the races do better if theyre segregated? Thomas asked. Hinojosa said, Thats not this case. This case is about a limited classification involving a compelling interest. Thats not what Im talking about. Im talking about the courts deference. In that case, the court would put Virginia to the test. In this case, it does not. I am asking you why the difference? Thomas responded. Hinojosa said University of North Carolina faced a high burden to justify including race as an admission factor and argued it met it.

Im guessing the Court will disagree.
 Its still early in the morning out here on the Left Coast, but I declare David Deeble to be the Winner of the Day on Twitter:

If youre a fan, dont be a free-rider: hit up Davids tip jar at BuyMeACoffee.

 It turns out that even The Simpsons understands the joke of renewable energy (2 min long):

 This is either some kind of Twilight Zone LARPing, or someones idea of a horror reality show:

Shanghai Disney shuts over Covid, visitors unable to leave Shanghais Disney Resort abruptly suspended operations on Monday to comply with Covid-19 prevention measures, with all visitors at the time of the announcement directed to stay in the park until they return a negative test for the virus. The resort said at 11:39 a.m. local time (03:39 GMT) it would immediately shut the main theme park and surrounding areas including its shopping street until further notice to comply with virus curbs. The Shanghai government said on its official WeChat account the park was barring people from entering or exiting and that all visitors inside the site would need to await the results of their tests before they could leave.

 John keeps insisting there is nothing newsworthy in beauty pageants these days, but he is clearly wrong:

Staten Island Sri Lankan beauty pageant descends into vicious brawl as women in ball gowns try to break up fight between suited men: Winner says clash had nothing to do with event or contestants A shocking viral video shows the moment a massive brawl erupted at an after-party for the first-ever Miss Sri Lanka beauty pageant in New York City. Women in ball gowns can be seen trying to break up the violent fight. The suited men kicking and throwing punches, however, continue to pile-up. The melee, which did not involve any contestants, took place on Friday at The Vanderbilt in Staten Islands South Beach neighborhood, which is known for having a high population of Sri Lankan immigrants.

Trump would have put this on pay-per-view.
Gunmen have killed a member of Ebubeagu Security Network in Ebonyi State, south-east Nigeria.

The incident occurred at about 11:45 p.m. on Sunday in Okposi, a community in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.

The victim, Joseph Nwanja, was killed near a security checkpoint in the area, it was learnt.

The police in the state have confirmed the killing.

The police spokesperson in the state, Chris Anyanwu, a superintendent of police, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that they were aware of the killing of the operative but were yet to get the details of the incident.

The Ebubeagu Commander in the state, Friday Nnanna, also confirmed the killing of the operative.

On Sunday, somebody called me that some hoodlums were disturbing people in Ugwulangwu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state. So, I have to call our people in the area because Ugwulangwu is under Ohaozara (Council Area), he said.

The body of the victim has been deposited in the mortuary and investigation is ongoing, Mr Nnanna stated.

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Ebubeaguwas set up in 2021 by governors of the five states in the South-east to help in the fight against insecurity in the region, which has witnessed deadly attacks linked to the Biafra agitation by the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The security outfit, which is backed by the Ebonyi State Government, has been accused of human rights abuses.

Members of the group have also been accused of extrajudicial killings across the South-east.

Increased attacks

Ebonyi, like other states in Nigerias south-east, has witnessed an increase in deadly attacks lately.

The latest incident occurred less than two weeks after gunmen attacked the convoy of the provost of the newly established Federal College of Education Technical, in Isu, a community in Onicha Local Government Area of the state.

Earlier in October, gunmen killed a Chinese expatriate in Iboko, a community in Izzi Local Government Area of the state.

In April, gunmen attacked some police officers attached to a construction company in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state. One gunman was killed in the attack.

Gunmen, in May, attacked the country home of the Chairperson of Ikwo Local Government Area of the state, Steve Orogwu, killing three of his relatives.

In June, three people were killed by gunmen in Ngbo Community, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.

In August, three persons were killed by gunmen who invaded a hotel in Isu, a community in Onicha Local Government Area of the state.

Again, one police officer was killed in August when gunmen attacked a security checkpoint along Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway in Ebonyi State.

Last month, gunmen killed a member of Ebubeagu operatives in Mpuma Ekwa-Oku, a community in Izzi Local Government Area of the state.

The attacks, mostly targeted at security officials and government facilities, have been attributed to IPOB which is agitating for a sovereign state for the Igbo-speaking people in the South-east.

But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks.

(NAN)

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The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said the federal government is owing contractors N765.01 billion for ongoing highway and bridge projects.

He said the sum of N110.5 billion was released to the highways (works sector) and utilised for payment of part of the outstanding certificates for executed works on roads and bridges in the 2022 budget.

Mr Fashola disclosed these on Tuesday while defending the budget of his ministry before the House of Representatives Committee on Works.

The minister said as of October, 2022, the ministry has a cumulative unpaid certificates in the sum of N765,017,139,752.92 for ongoing highway and bridge projects.

Mr Fashola lamented the inability of the country to finance its obligations and the poor allocations to projects in the budget.

He stated that there is the inadequacy of annual budget provisions where N100 million or N200 million was provided for roads costing twenty or more billion.

Despite the huge liabilities, the federal government allocated N515.9 billion for the ministry of works and housing and its parastatals in the 2022 budget.

Mr Fashola said the ministry needs N1.2 trillion for the execution of highway projects, but only N198.9 billion has been allocated under the budget envelope in 2023 for the roads.

The minister disclosed that despite the dire financial situation 20 major highways projects have so far been completed in 2022 and are ready for commissioning. The total cost of the completed projects is in the sum of N444,322,123,808.61 and they cover a total length of 379.677km.

He also gave updates on the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), SUKUK funding, and the tax credit scheme.

Under the PIDF fund, he said a total of six selected critical projects are being funded under the 2022 PIDF Project which is managed by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). As of date, a total sum of N754,790,502,612.80 has been certified out of the sum of N1,314,753,921,766.72. This translates to a performance of 57.41%.

Mr Fashola stated that 71 selected critical projects are being funded under the 2021 Sovereign Sukuk Issuance which is managed by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

He said a total sum of N157.9 billion has been drawn out of the sum of N210.6 billion.

The minister disclosed that NNPC Limited has released N196 billion for roads under the tax credit scheme out of the N662 billion approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The Chairman of the Committee, Abubakar Kabir (APC, Kano), commended the minister for the work done so far.

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The Federal Capital Territory Executive Committee has reassured the residents of the territory of their safety, insisting that adequate security arrangements have been put in place to sustain law and order in the area.

In a statement on Monday in Abuja, the Director, Information and Communication, FCT, Muhammad Sule, said the executive committee gave the assurance during its 12th Meeting in Gwarinpa I District, Abuja.

He said the meeting was presided over by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, who represented the FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello.

It was also attended by the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Bashir Mai-Borno and Secretaries of Mandate Secretariats, among others.

Mr Sule said every necessary arrangement has been made by the government in conjunction with security agencies to safeguard the lives and property of all residents.

The statement said the advisories issued by some diplomatic missions to their nationals living in Nigeria had generated tensions, fear, and panic among Abuja residents.

It said security agencies were combing the nooks and crannies of the FCT to fish out criminals and other people wishing to truncate the peace and tranquillity of the territory.

Even before the issuance of the advisories (by the diplomatic missions) Nigerian security agencies have maintained and intensified surveillance within the FCT to ward off any security breach, the statement said.

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Mr Sule explained that the purchase and distribution of 60 operational vehicles, fitted with state-of-the-art equipment to security agencies by the FCT administration, was strategically done to assist and enhance their performance.

The FCT Minister, Mr Bello, had earlier convened an emergency security meeting where issues concerning the security alerts issued by some diplomatic missions in Abuja to their citizens were discussed and measures are taken to prevent the breach of the peace.

The meeting, however, urged residents to cooperate at all times with the security agencies by volunteering useful and timely information that will assist in nipping any form of criminality in the bud, the statement said.

The statement said the FCT Security Committee implored residents to install Close-Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) to complement the ongoing efforts by the government at tackling the prevailing security challenges in the country in line with National Security Council advice.

The installation will no doubt enhance surveillance and deter criminal activities around the FCT, the statement said.

It said noted that the first phase of the joint security operation by G-7, being states that are contiguous to the FCT, recorded a remarkable success, especially with the arrest of bandits and the rescue of kidnapped victims.

(NAN)

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The Lagos State Government says it is looking into the demands of the Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria (JDWAN), with a view to finding permanent solutions to the issues raised.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, said in a statement on Monday that it was necessary to address their demands, following the seven-day job boycott by the drivers.

Mr Giwa said the job boycott was as a result of alleged harassment and extortion by motor parks and garages management personnel across the state.

He said that sequel to the strike by JDWAN, which started 31 October, the state government, through the Ministry of Transportation, had invited its leadership to a meeting on 28 October.

According to him, the invitation is in spite of the governments non-affiliation to any of the transport unions, such as NURTW and RTEAN, known to the state.

Most of the union members at the meeting were from the Badagry axis and it was resolved that the meeting be adjourned till Wednesday.

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This is to have a larger house, which will include representatives of other recognised unions, with a view to resolving the matter amicably, Mr Giwa said.

He said that the outcome of the second meeting scheduled to hold on Wednesday would be made known to the public.

Mr Giwa, therefore, urged members of JDWAN to continue their daily routine without fear of molestation and intimidation as security agencies had been directed to maintain law and order.

Those who are taking advantage of the situation to raise fares are warned to desist from doing so or face the consequences of their illegal actions, he said.

(NAN)

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Award-winning author, Chimamanda Adichie, will share her experiences as a creative writer and mentor budding writers at the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) 2022.

CANEX WKND 2022 is a three-day gathering of creatives from across Africa and the diaspora, and the event is billed to take place from 2527th November 2022 in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire.

According to the organisers, Chimamanda will share her inspiring real-life experiences while participating in a fireside chat called When Giants Speak.

Chimamanda will be interviewed by Eghosa Imasuen, the publisher of the Nigeria editions of her books, on 26 November, in a conversation that will focus on her journey within the creative writing space, what it took to get to where she is and what more she looks forward to.

Mr Imasuen adds, My session with Ms Adichie will provide writers, editors and all those seeking careers in the creative writing space with insight into her journey and how any of them can contribute to changing African narratives.

Meanwhile, Chimamandas publishers, Narrative Landscape Press, in collaboration with the Society of Book and Magazine Editors, and the Jalada Africa Collective, will also be facilitating a creative writing masterclass.

The masterclass sessions, conducted by seasoned facilitators such as Ms Anwuli Ojogwu, Ms Edwige Dro and Ms Wanjeru Gakuru, the creative writing industry, will cover a wide range of topics.

As contained in the masterclass session schedule, participants will learn about the elements of creative writing, the best support systems for writers to avoid burnout, and how writers can edit their works.

The intricacies of legal agreements and contract laws, rates for freelance work, reading a royalty report, and other accounting issues will all be taught during the masterclass session.

Other exciting topics at the CANEX 2022 Creative Writing Masterclass include how to deal with agents, scouts and publishers. Issues around branding and selling oneself and seeking management and representation.

CANEX WKND 2022 will feature creatives, investors, industry leaders, creative industry businesses and government representatives.

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PARIS, FranceIn closing statements prosecutors in the war crimes trial of Kunti Kamara, an accused Liberian warlord, have asked the French jury hearing his case to find him guilty of all charges and sentence him to the maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment which in France means 30 years.

Mr Kamara, 47, is accused of crimes against humanity and torture, including cannibalism, forced labor, murder and complicity in rapes.

Hes accused of committing the crimes as a commander for the United Liberation Movement for Democracy (Ulimo), one of the warring factions in the first Liberian civil war.

He denies all charges.

Prosecutors urged the jury of six civilians and three judges to use the principle of universal jurisdiction, which has provided the legal basis for trying a Liberian for war crimes in France, to deliver justice.

Its your responsibility to sentence Mr Kamara for all the crimes he did, said Aurelie Belliot, a prosecutor in the case. France should not be the last hiding place for war criminals. So, I am asking you to sentence Mr. Kunti Kamara to life imprisonment.

Mr Kamara has admitted that he was in Foya, an area in northern Liberia, where all the crimes were allegedly committed for the four months Ulimo occupied the district in 1993.

But he has insisted that he spent a large part of his time there on the frontlines and not ruling over urban areas where the alleged crimes took place.

Unlike in Liberia and other common law jurisdictions like the US and Australia, which require a unanimous jury verdict for a conviction, the French legal system requires a simple majority. Only five of the nine jurors must agree to find Kamara guilty.

The jury in the Paris trial of Kunti Kamara includes judges and civilians.

Although Mr Kamara initially admitted in the trial that he had 80 men under his command, he claimed last week that he was a floating officer. But Belloit said she finds his argument to be inaccurate, because he also told the court that he held the ranks of colonel and captain in Ulimo.

Belliot insisted Mr Kamara was aware of the alleged crimes by his men, including rapes of women by one of his most feared soldiers known as Babylon.

This constitutes aiding and abetting this crime, she said. As a superior he should have stopped this crime, but never did. Kunti Kamara is still telling the court that hes the only one that never saw anything. The fact that hes saying he never saw anything, does not give credibility to his defense.

Universal jurisdiction allows the prosecution of individuals accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, regardless of where they took place.

Its the same legal doctrine Swiss authorities used to successfully prosecute Alieu Kosiah, another former Ulimo commander for war crimes in June 2021. Appeal proceedings against Kosiahs 20-year sentence are set for January 2023.

The defense has criticised Mr Kamaras prosecution in France, arguing that the jury has never been to Liberia and does not understand the context of the Liberian civil wars. But justice advocates, including Massa Washington, an ex-commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, backed the trial.

The prosecutors used a large part of their closing argument to also defend the trial and the legal principle.

You should take into consideration the suffering of the Liberian people. Every person in Liberia is saying that this hearing is a light of hope, said Claire Thouault, the other prosecutor in the case.

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Just like in other international trials of Liberians accused of war crimes, inconsistencies in witness testimonies have dogged this trial. It was a major line of argument by the defense.

The issue that civil parties could not remember dates was not a memory issue, but a cultural issue, said Thouault arguning the inconsistencies should be ignored. During the civil war, there were no death certificates. There was no one to establish the cause of death. It was devastating! Testimonies are the central evidence. Many trials like in Rwanda and other places, testimonies were about the victims. Testimonies were about events.

Kamaras lawyers disagreed.

Maybe the people are speaking together. Maybe these are the plot theories hes talking about, said Marilyne Secci, lead defense lawyer, talking of Kamaras allegation that witnesses are part of a plot against him. They didnt recognize him. The first time they recognized him was only in court. A witness who claimed to have been on the scene cannot recall the names of two of three people there.

Secci also challenged the lack of forensic evidence in the case and the prosecutions reliance exclusively on the testimonies of witnesses to events that happened 29 years ago.

There are no pictures about the facts. No picture of Mr. Kamara at the time. No bodies. You cannot provide evidence or claim with no body, she said. I cannot accept those accusations. The crimes are serious. Mr. Kamara runs the risk of spending his whole life in prison.

Secci also claimed that her clients case has been undermined by a lack of resources from the French state.

My client didnt have a fair hearing in this case, she said. Because French justice that wants to carry out fair justice but didnt have the means. This criminal case was just carried out like an ordinary case. My colleague and had to share the legal wages. The defense didnt have a means in this trial to present a proper defense.

Tarek Koraitem, the other defense lawyer, pleaded with the jury to acquit his client.

Your decision is very vital. You have to do it with justice, said Koraitem. And you have to do it in line with the French penal code. You are not Liberians to carry vengeance against a Liberian.

The trial will break for a French national holiday on Tuesday and resume on Wednesday when Kamara will make his final defense statement. The jury will then retire to deliberate. The Court President Thierry Fusina stressed to Mr Kamara that his statement was critical and urged him to prepare.

By law, you are the last person to speak, said Fusina. So, take time to think well. You are going to have a day to be able to think and to be able to tell the court what you want.

A verdict in the case is expected Thursday.

This story is a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project.

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared wanted a Lagos socialite, Ademola Kazeem, also known as Alhaji Abdallah Kazeem Muhammed, over offences bordering on exportation and trafficking of illicit drugs as well as money laundering.

This is contained in a statement by the agencys spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, on Tuesday.

The alleged drug trafficker is the owner of Adekaz Hotels.

The agency said that they declared him wanted after he failed to honour their invitation.

The wanted drug kingpin was uncovered as the sponsor of some traffickers arrested by the anti-narcotics agency in their recent attempt to export cocaine to Dubai, UAE, and other destinations outside Nigeria, the statement reads.

Soon after the arrest of one of his mules, Bolujoko Muviwa Babalola, a Lagos BRT driver on 27th June at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MIA, Ikeja, Alhaji Ademola Kazeem who is also the Chairman of Adekaz Global Integrated Services went underground.

Following his failure to honour invitations sent to him, the Agency approached a Federal High Court in Lagos with three prayers: to attach and seal his identified properties in Lagos and Ibadan; declare him wanted and block his bank account with a cash balance of Two, Hundred and Seventeen Million Naira (N217,000,000.00), all of which were granted.

Mr Babafemi said the agency sealed seven identified properties of the alleged drug trafficker located on Lagos Island and Oyo State.

They include 105 Tokunbo street off Broad street, Lagos Island; 1 Abibu Oki street off Marina, Lagos Island; 3 Abibu Oki street off Marina, Lagos Island; 54 Palm Church street, Lagos Island; 26 Agarawu street, Lagos Island; and 41 Forsythe Street, Lagos Island, Babafemi said.

The other one is located at 1 Irepodun zone,

Adepoju bus stop, Ajoda Ayedun, Ibadan, Oyo state.

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President Muhammadu Buhari says the huge investment in the mining sector and its prioritisation in the government s economic diversification efforts, have started impacting positively on the economy.

Mr Buhari said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Nigeria Mining Week.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Presidents speech was delivered by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

According to Mr Buhari, the government has intentionally prioritised the countrys mineral resources over the years as a frontier for economic growth.

This led to the comprehensive Roadmap for the Growth and Development of the Nigerian Mining Sector, and we have steadily followed the steps set out in the roadmap.

So far, we can say without fear of contradiction that this administration has committed more resources to the development of the mining sector than any other government in the history of this country, he said.

He said that the huge investment in the mining sector had yielded positive results over time.

We are proud that the indices of development in the sector are rapidly changing.

Part of these is the increased revenue generation and of course the unprecedented investment interest that the industry has attracted in the past few years.

Nigeria, for the first time, has a world-class gold mine in Segilola, Osun State, operated by Thor Exploration.

Also, Eta Zuma Mining and Industries limited, Mosra Enerji are mining and supplying the coal needs of Dangote and Bua Cement factories.

In steel industry, African Natural Resources and Mines limited, owners of the Kagarko Integrated Steel plant, is about to produce liquid steel from its iron ore mine in Kaduna State, he said.

The president said several other investors were at different stages of mine development in various parts of the country.

He added that the sector had the capacity to boost the countrys export earnings and job creation.

Besides, it will stimulate industrial growth as a local source of raw materials and improve the quality of lives in rural communities, he said.

He said that the development of the steel sector is still a huge priority of the present administration, adding that the process of concessioning Ajaokuta Steel Company is in progress.

Our vision for an industrialised nation cannot be achieved without a vibrant steel sector.

We understand the huge demand for steel and iron in our domestic markets and across the sub-region.

This is why we prioritised the resolution of all the issues constraining the full operation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

To this end, a transaction adviser has been appointed to concession the Ajaokuta Steel Company and the Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe.

The selection process is ongoing. Our commitment is to break the jinx and actualise the dream of a vibrant steel sector, he said.

The president called on Nigerias public and private sector entities to take cognisance of issues of sustainable development and climate change in their exploration and mining activities.

According to him, the extraction of mineral commodities entails considerable impact on land, water, air and other environmental assets that are central to human living both now and in the future.

The painful experience of the negative impact of oil and gas exploitation in the Niger Delta cannot be ignored.

Therefore, all operators in the mining sector are obliged by law ethics, and our responsibility for the future, to ensure that proper environmental, social and governance principles are practiced in the sector.

On our part, the government will continue to intensify its regulatory and supervisory role in ensuring that mining is held to the highest standards of sustainable development and intergenerational equity, he said.

He commended the ministry of mines and steel development and others for providing a conducive environment for investment in the mining sector.

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Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) barricaded the Terminal 2 building of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Tuesday to the chagrin of air travellers.

The associations action grounded flight operations and left air travellers stranded.

The union barricaded the terminal building to deny access in a protest against the sacking of some of its leaders by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operator of the terminal building.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on 14th October, the BASL sent 34 of its staff members on mandatory leave of absence.

It said the action was to allow management to assess the efficiency of the new terminal building and allowances will be paid during this period.

Two weeks after, on 28th October, BASL gave the affected workers, which included the chairman, secretary, treasurer and women leader of the senior staff association letters of termination of appointments.

Passengers travelling through the airport lamented the situation.

Abiodun Dipo who had 7 a.m., flight to Abuja, expressed his displeasure about the situation.

The disagreement between the union and terminal building operator can be resolved in civil ways other than blocking the airport and leaving passengers to suffer untold hardship.

What is my business in the fact that both of them have issues to resolve? But then, I have missed my flight to Abuja which has come at a cost, he said.

Sade Fadipe, who was at the airport with her two-year-old son, also lamented the situation.

I had an important medical appointment for my son, but I have missed the appointment because of something that has absolutely nothing to do with me.

There are better ways to resolve issues and not by making everyone suffer for something we have absolutely no idea. So who would compensate us for their failure? she queried.

Meanwhile, ATSSSAN has declared a strike against BASL and withdrawn its services, according to Frances Akinjole, the Deputy General-Secretary of the union.

He stated that the ATSSSAN viewed BASLs actions as victimisation of union executives and members who made demands for their rights.

Mr Akinjole noted that the unions attempts to negotiate with the BASL to recall its affected members to work had met with brick wall.

(NAN)

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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on non-governmental organisations and the private sector to complement the governments efforts in the reduction of poverty through social investment programmes.

Mr Osinbajo said the government alone cannot cater for the wellbeing of all vulnerable Nigerians.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Social Development, Maryam Uwais, the Vice President spoke at the 20th anniversary of Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) which was held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on Tuesday.

The Vice President also commended donor agencies that have assisted the government in the implementation of its social investment programmes.

He said: working with development partners, technical assistants have really supported the efforts of the social investment programme. The World Bank, UNICEF, UNDP, and Gates Foundation, have all really been supportive.

Beyond that, the government is looking at a social grant social bond with a gender component. The government is looking at various ways in which the private sector can support efforts because it cannot be only one source of funding. It has to be us getting together to achieve a comprehensive and multidimensional objective of reducing poverty.

Ms Uwais commended DDI for its activities, saying the organisations efforts showed that social projects can be implemented in small spaces.

Speaking on the governments efforts to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years, Ms Uwais said this kind of initiative really supports that effort.

We like in particular the fact that they are looking at agriculture. A lot of our poorer communities, the underserved, the unserved actually operate in those areas, she added.

Earlier in his presentation, DDIs Executive Director, Adamu Garba, said the organisation has executed several projects in 29 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Our focus in the poverty reduction efforts is in the three areas of agriculture, off-grid energy as well as youth entrepreneurship, he said.

Mr Garba said DDI has in its 20 years of existence provided assistance to over 600,000 farmers and provided over 8,000 off-grid energy connections to rural households.

Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe

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Femi Adesina, a media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, has debunked the presidents alleged role in the plot against the use of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation Machine System (BIVAS) in the 2023 general elections.

Mr Adesina said his principal remains a supporter of the innovative machine and has no reason to remove the INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, as suggested by some media reports.

He said this in Abuja on Tuesday, during his address at a Policy Dialogue on Media, Civil Society and Violence-free Election in Nigeria.

The event, which is in commemoration of the 2022 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, re-established the reality of threats to press freedom in Nigeria and beyond, especially during an election year.

The event is celebrated on 2 November annually.

Over 1,200 journalists were killed between 2006 and 2020 worldwide in the line of duty. Eight out of 10 of these extra-judicial killings remain unresolved, according to UNESCO.

The Committee for Protection of Journalists (CPJ) said not less than 16 journalists have so far been killed in 2022 even as 290 persons were jailed in 2021 globally for doing their job.

At least 65 journalists have also been said to have gone missing in action globally.

Mr Adesina, also a journalist, aligned with this reality and noted his efforts and other image-makers of the president in dealing with threats against journalists that have been brought to their attention.

He also did not rule out the possibility of having unconsciously let impunity go unpunished under the current administration.

Mr Adesina spoke about the danger of giving credence to fake news, many of which he noted to have lately been making the news ahead of the polls.

While there have been reports of a scheme by some top members of APC to halt the use of BIVAS and sack the INEC boss, Mr Adesina described the information as untrue and should not have been reported.

You find that some shadowy people or shadow groups will just come with grey waves. However foolish the grey waves are, youll find the media trumpeting those things.

Recently, there was one group that said the chairman of INEC was going to be removed, maybe because the government didnt want BVAS. How many times has the president spoken about the role of technology in getting him into office? He has spoken about it locally, internationally that three times he contested, three times he ended at the Supreme Court because the government of the day and their cohorts will just write results, they never voted.

He said until technology came and there was a permanent voters card and so it was difficult to rig results. So, how and why will the same person have issues with the BVAS?

I saw that group on television alleging that there was a plan to remove the INEC Chairman and the way the media took them seriously. Such things should be treated with scant attention because they dont make sense. At least not under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, he said.

Mr Adesina argued that his principal would not have been advocating for free, fair and credible elections at every forum if he had the intention of sabotaging Nigerias democratic principles and electoral signs of progress achieved so far under his leadership.

The two-day event which started on Tuesday was organised by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, in collaboration with an organisation named Managing Conflict in Nigeria.

While Mr Malami was at the event in person to lend his voice to the course of press freedom, the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, was represented.

Mr Mahmood, who was the keynote speaker, was also represented by Mohammed Haruna, an INEC National Commissioner.

The INEC Chairman, in his keynote address read by his representative, said the 2022 celebration of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists is to reposition all efforts to advance the safety of journalists across the world.

A free media may not be sufficient for democracy to survive and thrive, but it is an absolutely necessary condition. Hence the belief in, and commitment of, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as both the conductor and regulator of Nigerias electoral system, in the freedom of journalists to do their work.

It is this belief and commitment by the Commission in a free media that has led it to include it (the media) among four of the many stakeholders in our democracy that it has held regular quarterly- and the emergency  meetings with since I became Chairman in 2015. The other three institutions are the political parties, civil society organisations (CSOS) and the national security with the Nigeria Police Force as the lead outfit since elections are civil matters, he said.

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I believe the South-East agenda should be on infrastructure and industries. Which of the leading candidates has presented an actionable plan to this effect? Tinubus plan for the South-East is devoid of ambiguity and political chicanery I suggest the South-East toe the path and hold him by the document.

What is in it for us? When it comes down to brass tacks, this is the question tugging at the heart of zonal political interests in Nigeria. The national integrants think in favour of group interest and protection. How will this government preserve our interest? Will this government be fair to us? Will this government secure our rights and freedoms? Are we going to have an equitable share of the national cake?

It is only natural that humans seek self-preservation. Recently, the Arewa Joint Committee held a summit in Kaduna State where it invited the leading presidential candidates to unveil their plans for the North. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was at the event.

Tinubu spoke on a gamut of issues, oscillating from state policing, how to address the almajiri challenge, out-of-school children, insecurity, and how to incentivise small businesses. The APC presidential candidate said at the summit: Agriculture is of special interest to me. It is both an economic and existential issue for every country. Experience in the last seven years has shown the potentials of agriculture in solving the problem of unemployment and boosting our GDP. For example, recent investment in the rice value chain has led to the springing up of rice mills across the country, with attendant wealth creation and a reduction in our import bill. The North has greater advantage in this regard due to its large and abundant arable land. My vision is for the region to be the hub of agribusiness in sub-Saharan Africa. We will improve investment in our livestock value chain. Specifically, subsectors like the dairy industry that has the potential of adding billions of dollars to our economy will receive significant attention.

Some concerned citizens have asked: Where is the plan for the South-East? And I say, it is in the manifesto. Is there a pearl for the South-East in Tinubus manifesto? I believe so.

On 21 October, Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, his running mate, unveiled their manifesto concepted as Renewed Hope. The chef-duvre breaks down in bits and rigour the plan for Nigeria. Plans for the economy, education, healthcare, agriculture, security, and other chief sectorial elements are clearly delineated.

This is forward thinking by Tinubu. The South-East used to be a manufacturing hub before the sadim touch of both state and federal governments over the years. In 2017, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) said 75 manufacturing firms, from about 150 in its membership list in the South-East, had shut down in the past five years. This represents about 50% of its members.

On the economy, Tinubu says his administration will improve existing industries and sectors; adjust the revenue allocation prescription to give states greater flexibility to foster grassroots economic development; build an economy that produces more of the everyday items  both agricultural and manufactured goods; bring the national infrastructure policy to life and harmonise it with the national industrial policy to ensure optimal development of key sectors; review federal budgetary methodology, curb importation of non-essential goods, reform the tax system, as well as implement a naira-denominated monetary policy.

On security, I would say, the vade-mecum presents the most pragmatic approach to dealing with insecurity. Technology, confidence-building, citizens participation, intelligence-led policing, improvement of salaries and welfare of troops, creation of anti-terrorist battalions, bolstering of manpower, freeing the police from VIP security and guard duties, and again, deployment of technology. New security threats require innovative responses.

But what is in it for the South-East? In the document, under Industrial Policy, I found a pearl for the South-East and the South-South. The Tinubu companion says: In South-east and the South-South, a new hub and dry port will focus investment on labour intensive manufacturing.

This is forward thinking by Tinubu. The South-East used to be a manufacturing hub before the sadim touch of both state and federal governments over the years. In 2017, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) said 75 manufacturing firms, from about 150 in its membership list in the South-East, had shut down in the past five years. This represents about 50% of its members.

Infrastructure and industries are what the South-East needs. One of the vectors of the current youth restiveness in the area is the lack of jobs. South-East youths are industrious, with bountiful energy for innovation. But sadly, this vigour has been misdirected by some youths to violent agitation. The relaunching of the South-East as an industrial hub will eviscerate the army of discontents.

The association attributed the parlous state of industries in the zone to poor infrastructure, including bad access roads, electricity, transportation.

Infrastructure and industries are what the South-East needs. One of the vectors of the current youth restiveness in the area is the lack of jobs. South-East youths are industrious, with bountiful energy for innovation. But sadly, this vigour has been misdirected by some youths to violent agitation. The relaunching of the South-East as an industrial hub will eviscerate the army of discontents. And the proper channelling of this youth energy will result in an unprecedented boost in the quality of life of the citizenry.

I believe the South-East agenda should be on infrastructure and industries. Which of the leading candidates has presented an actionable plan to this effect? Tinubus plan for the South-East is devoid of ambiguity and political chicanery.

I suggest the South-East toe the path and hold him by the document.

Fredrick Nwabufo, a.k.a Mr OneNigeria, is a writer and journalist.

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China Habour Engineering LFTZ Enterprise (CHELE), a subsidiary of China Habour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC), the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor for Lekki Port, has announced the completion of the construction of the Port. Lekki Port is one of the biggest deep-sea port in West Africa.

Mr. Wu Di, Vice President of CHEC who is also a director of Lekki Port, disclosed this during the construction completion ceremony held on Monday, 31 October, 2022, at the Port located at Itoke Village, Ibeju Lekki.

Di disclosed that the construction of the Port was officially started on 15 June, 2020, and was completed on Monday, October 24, 2022. He revealed that the total contract value of the EPC for the projects first phase is 581 million US dollars.

He added that the completion of the construction will now pave the way for the container terminal operator, the Lekki Free Port Terminal (a subsidiary of CMA/CGM group), to take over the Port in readiness for the start of port operations.

While delivering his speech during the ceremony, the Governor of Lagos State (one of the shareholders of Lekki Port), Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, expressed delight with the completion of the construction of the port. Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed Lagos State Governments commitment to the timely delivery of the road infrastructure network around the Ibeju Lekki axis to ensure the seamless evacuation of cargo from the port.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Board of Directors, of Lekki Port, Mr. Biodun Dabiri, expressed profound appreciation to the promoters of the project, CHEC and Tolaram for the bold decision to invest in maritime infrastructure which will help in Nigerias journey to economic prosperity.

Dabiri acknowledged the critical role played by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in resolving the various challenges encountered in the construction of the port, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and attendant lockdown.

We are pleased to celebrate the completion of construction of the port and the effective handover of the facilities by Lekki Port from the EPC Contractor, CHELE), a subsidiary of CHEC, he said.

Also speaking at the event, the General Project Manager of CHELE, Mr. Xie Xianju, expressed great delight that the construction was now completed. He noted that the Port would be the destination of choice because it is the first deep sea port with a capacity to take large vessels. He commended the team, partners and suppliers for their contribution to the successful completion of the construction.

Delivering the goodwill message on behalf of Tolaram (promoter and shareholder), the Managing Director of Lagos Free Zone, Mr. Dinesh Rathi, expressed delight at the timely completion of the construction of the port. He noted that the port would further position LFZ as the next frontier for investment in Nigeria and increase foreign direct investment to Lagos State and Nigeria.

The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Cui Jianchun commended CHEC for displaying excellence in their project skills and promoting Chinas commitment to Africas infrastructure development drive. He noted that this project was a good example of what can be achieved when Nigeria and China cooperate and he looked forward to more of such projects.

Lekki Port has been described severally, as a game changer that will boost the growth of the Nigerian economy, creating about 170,000 direct and indirect jobs, generating approximately $361 billion during the period of the concession, and generating over $201 billion in revenue for both Lagos State and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The date for the formal commissioning of the port is being awaited by the management of Lekki Port.

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A former aviation minister in Nigeria, Mbazulike Amaechi, is dead, the family has announced.

The late Amaechi was a minister in the First Republic.

A statement issued Tuesday by his eldest son, Ezeana Amaechi, on behalf of the family, said the elder statesman died in the early hours of the day.

With total deference to the will of the Almighty God, the Ume Amaechi, Ezeana Ihidede families and Umu Mmara kindred of Amihe Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State announce the peaceful transition of our illustrious son, father and grandfather, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, the statement read in part.

We thank God for the fulfilled life that he lived, the lives he touched and service to God and country, the family added.

He was 93 years old.

His death occurs about one year after he lost his wife, Chinelo Amaechi.

Chinelo died at the age of 91 years.

Mr Amaechi, a nationalist, was among those who fought for the independence of Nigeria from Great Britain.

As a secondary school student, Mr Amaechi had joined a group led by Nnamdi Azikiwe, called the Zikist Movement, to push for the countrys independence.

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He was said to have taken an oath alongside other nationalists never to marry until Nigeria got her independence.

He was a trade unionist and general secretary of the armels transport union as well as assistant secretary of Benin and Warri Districts of the Zikist Movement.

The elder statesman, on 18 November 1949, had organised a protest rally of all workers in Benin and its environs and demanded adequate punishment for the alleged murderers of 18 workers of the Nigerian Coal Corporation in Enugu State who were reportedly participating in strike action to press home their demands for seniority pay for the workers.

Mr Amaechi was elected member of the House of Representatives, in 1959, on the platform of the defunct National Council of Nigerian Citizens. He was later appointed minister of aviation and transport in 1962.

He remained the minister until the countrys first military coup on 15 January 1966.

As a minister, Mr Amaechi reportedly hid the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, for six months in Nigeria to prevent his arrest by officials of the apartheid regime in that country.

Mr Amaechi recently led a delegation of prominent Igbo leaders to President Muhammadu Buhari to request the release of Nnamdi Kanu, detained leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra.

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The high-tech company's proven business model of streamlining constant, reliable connectivity for multifamily developments has been further solidified with $20 Million in funding

DALLAS, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aerwave , the next-generation connectivity platform leading the Digital Foundation transformation in multifamily residential, has secured $20 million in Series A funding, led by Moderne Ventures with participation by World Cinema, Inc. (WCI), Equity Residential, Inc. (EQR), RWT Horizons and Westover Companies. The investment will allow Aerwave to substantially scale its operating platform to deliver the ultimate connected experience to more rental communities nationwide.

"We saw a need in the market for a holistic approach to connectivity that was not being met by existing telecommunications providers in the multifamily space. Today's multifamily communities are hosting more technology than ever intended to enhance the resident experience, and yet, without a solid connectivity platform to support those technologies  what we call the Digital Foundation  they become unreliable and, in fact, detract from the resident experience," said Alex Wey, Aerwave Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "By working with building owners to understand their technology objectives, we can help design and deliver a more reliable, higher quality network while ultimately creating a better overall technology experience for owners and offering residents instantly available home Wi-Fi throughout their entire communities using our patented adaptive networking software."

Founded in 2019, Aerwave partners with property owners to provide multifamily rental communities with an instantly-accessible, gigabit-plus internet amenity, while also enabling reliable connectivity of all smart home devices throughout the property. Today, rental communities in more than 17 markets rely on Aerwave for the constant Wi-Fi connectivity essential to the efficiency, safety and functionality of their buildings. Aerwave Series A's funding will support its growth into more than 30 total markets within the next 12 months.

"Moderne Ventures invests in technology companies in and around the multi-trillion dollar industries of real estate, finance, insurance, ESG and home services. We seek out companies that address the unmet needs of our 700+ industry partners  and consistent, reliable Wi-Fi that serves as a backbone to enable the modern 'smart building' experience is a critical, foundational need," said Constance Freedman, Founder and Managing Director, Moderne Ventures. "Unlike existing telecom providers, Aerwave's flexible operating model aligns incentives between owners and operators through revenue share agreements, and helps to reduce costs and generate NOI. We are proud to lead this Series A round and look forward to supporting the company's continued growth and expansion in multifamily and beyond into other commercial buildings, hotels and other public spaces."

"From leak detection to tech-enabled self-guided tours, smart door locks, connected thermostats and package management, reliable internet connectivity throughout all spaces in a multifamily community is invaluable to the success of the deployment of other technologies. Aerwave's mission is to make that experience possible," said Daniel Jensen, Aerwave Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer.

"The multifamily industry is quickly evolving, residents require fast, easy, and ubiquitous Internet access, and our operational platform demands the same. We are excited about Aerwave's flexible and creative approach to solving this critical need, especially in retrofit environments. The Aerwave team, their technology, and their business model align well with our vision for the platform," stated David Dear, First Vice President  Marketing and Operations Strategy at Equity Residential.

"Our belief is that every property, of every class and vertical, will need a 'digital infrastructure' strategy which few have today. This strategy will impact their property value, how a property is financed/bought/sold, the experience provided to their residents, and items that will become a big deal in the future like climate tech, energy management, water management and business intelligence systems," stated Robert Grosz, President at World Cinema, Inc. and current member of Aerwave's Board of Directors. "World Cinema's experience in providing high-capacity and adaptive network backhaul, and our ability to deploy and project management in-building networks at scale will be useful in the success of both Aerwave and World Cinema."

For more information, visit aerwave.com .

About Aerwave

Aerwave, Inc. is a next-generation connectivity platform leading the Digital Foundation transformation in multifamily residential buildings across the United States. Aerwave provides an unparalleled customer service experience from a team of multifamily industry professionals while delivering a 10 Gbps fiber backbone to apartment homes, property management teams, and amenity spaces all while keeping data secure and encrypted. Aerwave is leading the evolution of network intelligence for a better-connected experience by enabling the smart home, simplifying self-guided tours, and making WiFi calling the norm for its partners. To learn more, visit aerwave.com .

About Moderne Ventures

Moderne Ventures is a strategic venture capital firm approaching $450 AUM. Moderne invests in technology companies in and around the multi-trillion-dollar industries of real estate, finance, insurance, ESG, and home services. It has both a Fund and an Industry Immersion Program, the Moderne Passport, designed to foster innovation, partnership and growth between industry partners and new emerging technology companies.

Moderne has built an extraordinary network of over 700 executives and corporations within its core industries and evaluates over 4,500 emerging tech companies each year. Moderne most often looks outside its industries to find technologies that can be applicable within them, and it has invested in over 135 companies across its funds. Moderne has built a stellar track record investing in companies like DocuSign , Porch , Hippo , Homesnap , Caribou , Xeal and ICON .

About World Cinema, Inc.

World Cinema, Inc. (WCI) is a trusted provider of video, advanced connectivity and professional services to properties and enterprises across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the US Virgin Islands. With a dedication to customer service, WCI is leading the way in delivering innovative technology solutions that enhance the resident, guest, and staff experience. From managed services to digital transformation, WCI is a single point of contact for all a property's technology needs. Founded in 1974, WCI is a privately held company headquartered in Houston, Texas. The company serves over 7,000 properties with nearly 900,000 rooms under management. For more information, visit www.wcitv.com .

About Equity Residential

Equity Residential (EQR) is committed to creating communities where people thrive. The Company, a member of the S&P 500, is focused on the acquisition, development and management of residential properties located in and around dynamic cities that attract affluent long-term renters. Equity Residential owns or has investments in 308 properties consisting of 79,594 apartment units, with an established presence in Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., Seattle, San Francisco and Southern California, and an expanding presence in Denver, Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Austin. For more information on Equity Residential, please visit our website at www.equityapartments.com .

About Westover Companies

Established in 1965, the Westover Companies owns and operates residential, retail and commercial real estate in four states in the Mid-Atlantic region. Starting with just a handful of apartment communities in the Greater Philadelphia area, the Westover Companies has grown to include over 50 apartment communities, one million square feet of retail space, and six shopping centers. For more information about The Westover Companies, please visit www.WestoverCompanies.com .

SOURCE Aerwave
First-Time Franchisee Brings "Good Mood Food" to Suburban D.C.

CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aloha Poke Co., the nation's premier fast casual poke restaurant brand, announced its expansion into Maryland. Mary Grace Barnebey, a first-time franchisee, plans to offer Aloha Poke Co.'s menu of freshly packed sashimi-grade fish and delicious, whole ingredients to customers at her new store in Gaithersburg.

"Delicious and healthy are two things I aim to provide my family in every meal," said Barnebey. "When I decided to bring Aloha Poke Co. to our community, I knew that the menu needed to be aligned with the way I think about taste and nutrition. I also like the franchise support system and the brand's cornerstone belief of in fast, beautiful, sustainable foods. I am proud to that Aloha Poke Co. will dramatically expand our community's access to health-minded food options." "Washington, D.C. has embraced Aloha Poke Co. since 2018, and I'm thrilled to be expanding to its Maryland suburbs," said Aloha Poke Co. CEO, Chris Birkinshaw. "Given Mary Grace's passion and business experience, along with growing consumer trends toward clean eating and an excellent market opportunity, this really checks all the boxes. We can't wait for the people of Gaithersburg to try our signature Crunch Bowl."

Barnebey brings more than twenty years of experience in business strategy, team management, and customer service to Maryland's first Aloha Poke Co. location. With her passion for nutrition and "good mood food", Barnebey aims to provide world-class service and a memorable fast casual dining experience to the Gaithersburg community and beyond.

"Delicious and healthy are two things I aim to provide my family in every meal," said Barnebey. "When I decided to bring Aloha Poke Co. to our community, I knew that the menu needed to be aligned with the way I think about taste and nutrition. I also like the franchise support system and the brand's cornerstone belief of in fast, beautiful, sustainable foods. I am proud to that Aloha Poke Co. will dramatically expand our community's access to health-minded food options."

Barnebey is also no stranger to poke. "I've been eating poke for years. I love the freshness, and it has always been a delicious go-to meal for a casual lunch or dinner. And Aloha takes it to a new level for customers offering customizable bowls and unique flavors. But most importantly, the quality of ingredients sets the food apart from other poke experiences. The design aesthetic matches the vibe of the food, creating a strong emotional connection with the brand," added Barnebey.

"Washington, D.C. has embraced Aloha Poke Co. since 2018, and I'm thrilled to be expanding to its Maryland suburbs," said Aloha Poke Co. CEO, Chris Birkinshaw. "Given Mary Grace's passion and business experience, along with growing consumer trends toward clean eating and an excellent market opportunity, this really checks all the boxes. We can't wait for the people of Gaithersburg to try our signature Crunch Bowl."

Poke On the Rise from City Center to Main Street

Aloha Poke Co. was founded in 2016 in a food hall in Chicago's busy West Loop. In the six years since its founding, the company has grown to 20 locations in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. Aloha Poke Co. features a menu of sustainably-sourced ingredients and simple, efficient operations that appeal to both franchise restaurant investors and first-time franchisees. The main drivers of the brand's future growth are attractive initial capital requirements, unit economics, and appealing sales-to-investment figures.

Aloha Poke Co. is actively seeking to grow its exciting, health-forward, fast casual concept in key growth markets, including Florida, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Ideal Aloha Poke Co. franchisees have restaurant operations or business management experience and share the desire to positively impact the nation's changing paradigm toward quick, nourishing, appealing foods that focus on environmental sustainability and promote overall health and wellness.

To learn more about Aloha Poke Co. Franchise opportunities, visit https://alohapokefranchising.com, and for more information about the brand, visit the company website at https://www.alohapokeco.com.

About Aloha Poke Co.

Proudly reimagining the idea of fast food, Aloha Poke Co. quickly packs pole-and-line caught ahi tuna, Patagonian salmon raised without antibiotics, and other clean, simple, responsibly sourced ingredients into beautiful, delicious bowls. Founded in 2016 at downtown Chicago's French Market, Aloha Poke Co. and its franchisees have grown to 20 locations throughout the Midwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Mid-Atlantic.

Press Contact: Perry Athanason/TopFireMedia/[email protected]/917.319.2126

SOURCE Aloha Poke Co.
Board-Certified Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon in California honored to take on new role and make an impact as first African American President of ASPS

DUBLIN, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Steven Williams was recently named president-elect by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The accomplished surgeon, lecturer, and founder of Tri Valley Plastic Surgery in Dublin, Calif., will be serving as the first African American president of the largest plastic surgery specialty organization in the world.

"Presidency of ASPS is a pinnacle career achievement," says Dr. Williams. "When you look at who has occupied that role you see the legends of plastic surgery, the people who have brought the biggest innovation, the biggest change, the biggest growth, the people that are most passionate about plastic surgery. For me personally, it's an achievement to be the first African American person to be president at ASPS. It's an incredible sense of honor, duty and pride. I'm really standing on the shoulders of people who came before me."

As an active board member for more than 15 years, Dr. Williams most recently served as Vice President of Membership within the organization. As such, he has overseen incredible changes and accomplishments; most notably, integrating technology advances, growing patient safety initiatives, expanding international membership, creating COVID patient safety resources for the plastic surgery community, and heading the diversity and inclusion committee.

During his presidency, which will formally begin in 2023, Dr. Williams plans to implement technology initiatives to further enhance the resources available to members, making ASPS more responsive and agile, in addition to focusing on broadening the reach of ASPS with their sister organizations. With diversity and inclusion being very near and dear to Dr. Williams, he also plans to continue making sure all voices are heard and ensure ASPS is being responsive to populations becoming more diverse as well.

Dr. Williams is a Board-Certified plastic & reconstructive surgeon, founder of Tri Valley Plastic Surgery in Dublin, Calif, and a pioneer for the greater agendas of the plastic surgery realm. Ivy League educated  Dartmouth College for undergrad and Yale University for medical school and residency  Dr. Williams has become one of the most sought-after plastic surgeons. His technology background makes him a key opinion leader with a uniquely relevant perspective for modern day plastic surgery. He not only occupies leadership roles at the local, state and national level, but he is also frequently sought for his expertise, having been seen on "Good Morning America," "ABC News," Allure, InStyle, RealSelf, NBC News, AEdit, Byrdie and Insider among many others. With an ethical approach, Dr. Williams takes great interest in social issues related to plastic surgery, access to care for those needing cosmetic reconstructive surgery, and giving a voice to African American patients - leading him to form a committee for diversity within ASPS.

About ASPS:

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. Representing more than 7,000 physician members, the society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 93 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the society domestically represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and internationally represents members from countries worldwide.

SOURCE Tri Valley Plastic Surgery
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The antidepressant drugs market has grown substantially over the years. To estimate the size of the market, Technavio has tracked the recent trends and developments in the market. The analysts at Technavio have considered various aspects such as the consumer base, adoption rate, average selling price, revenue generated by vendors, and various other factors to estimate the market size. Download Sample PDF Report Here to get an idea of the overall scope of the full report.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Antidepressants Drugs Market 2022-2026

The report on the antidepressant drugs market by Technavio expects the market size to increase at a CAGR of 5.44% and register an incremental growth of USD 5.22 billion between 2021 and 2026. However, the growth forecast could be missed due to factors such as social stigma associated with depression and lack of awareness among people.

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According to Technavio, the growth of the market is primarily driven by the rising prevalence of depression. The number of depression cases has increased significantly since 2021 due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. According to a Lancet study, 76 million additional cases of anxiety disorders and 53 million cases of MDD were recorded in 2020. Thus, the increasing number of cases of anxiety disorder will drive market growth during the forecast period.

"Alliances and collaborations and awareness programs for depression will further accelerate the growth of the market", according to an analyst at Technavio.

The antidepressant drugs market is fragmented due to the presence of numerous vendors. The vendors are deploying organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. Vendors are focusing on the development of drugs to tap into the huge unmet need. As drug development is cost-intensive, the market is expected to witness collaborations and acquisitions. This, in turn, will fuel the growth of the market during the forecast period.

This report provides a full list of key vendors, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now for detailed vendor information

The report breaks down the market into the following segments:

Disease type: Major compulsive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and others

Geography: North America , Europe , Asia , and Rest of World (ROW)

Based on disease type, the major compulsive disorder segment is expected to create more revenue in the market. Major compulsive disorder is diagnosed when a person has a persistently low or depressed mood, anhedonia or decreased interest in pleasurable activities, and others.

In terms of region, North America will emerge as the dominant region, occupying 37% of the global market share. The regional market is driven by government initiatives to combat depression.

The complete report on the global antidepressant drugs market offers detailed insights into the potential business segments and regions to invest in over the forecast period. Before making the purchase, we recommend reading our Sample PDF Report.

The antidepressant drugs market report answers questions such as:

Is the market structure fragmented or concentrated?

What was the market size in 2021 and the forecast for the antidepressant drugs market through 2026?

Which are the best product segment areas to invest in over the forecast period?

What is the market share of dominant and strong vendors in the antidepressant drugs market?

What are the inhibiting factors and the impact of COVID-19 on the antidepressant drugs market growth?

What are the latest trends and regulatory frameworks in the antidepressant drugs market?

Got more queries? Speak to our analyst now

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Migraine Drugs Market by End-user, Type, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: This report extensively covers segmentation by end-user (hospitals, retail, and online), type (preventive and abortive), and geography ( North America , Europe , Asia , and the Rest of the World (ROW)). 37% of the market's growth will originate from North America during the forecast period. The market share growth in the hospital segment will be significant.

, , , and the Rest of the World (ROW)). 37% of the market's growth will originate from during the forecast period. The market share growth in the hospital segment will be significant. Narcolepsy Drugs Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: This report extensively covers segmentation by type (narcolepsy with cataplexy, narcolepsy without cataplexy, and secondary narcolepsy) and geography ( North America , Europe , Asia , and Rest of World (ROW)). 44% of the market's growth will originate from North America during the forecast period. The market share growth by the narcolepsy with cataplexy segment will be significant.

Antidepressants Drugs Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.44% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 5.22 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 4.29 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 37% Key consumer countries US, Canada, Greece, China, and India Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled AbbVie Inc., Alkermes Public Ltd. Co., Bausch Health Companies Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Eli Lilly and Co., F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., H Lundbeck AS, Johnson and Johnson, Lupin Ltd., Luye Pharma Group Ltd., MagVenture AS, Otsuka Holdings Co. Ltd., Pfizer Inc., SK Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and Viatris Inc. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Browse Health Care Market Reports

Table Of Contents

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Disease Type



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Disease Type

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Disease Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Disease Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Disease Type

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Disease Type



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Disease Type

5.3 Major depressive disorder - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Major depressive disorder - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Major depressive disorder - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Major depressive disorder - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Major depressive disorder - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Obsessive compulsive disorder - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Obsessive compulsive disorder - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Obsessive compulsive disorder - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Obsessive compulsive disorder - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Obsessive compulsive disorder - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 36: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 38: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.6 Market opportunity by Disease Type

Exhibit 40: Market opportunity by Disease Type ($ million)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 41: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 42: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 44: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 47: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 48: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 49: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 51: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 52: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 53: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 56: Chart on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 57: Data Table on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 58: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 59: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 60: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 61: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 62: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 63: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 64: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.8 Greece - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on Greece - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 67: Data Table on Greece - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 68: Chart on Greece - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 69: Data Table on Greece - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 71: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 72: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 73: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 75: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 76: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 77: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 82: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 83: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 84: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 85: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 86: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 87: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 88: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 AbbVie Inc.

Exhibit 89: AbbVie Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 90: AbbVie Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 91: AbbVie Inc. - Key offerings

10.4 Alkermes Public Ltd. Co.

Exhibit 92: Alkermes Public Ltd. Co. - Overview



Exhibit 93: Alkermes Public Ltd. Co. - Product / Service



Exhibit 94: Alkermes Public Ltd. Co. - Key news



Exhibit 95: Alkermes Public Ltd. Co. - Key offerings

10.5 Bausch Health Companies Inc.

Exhibit 96: Bausch Health Companies Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 97: Bausch Health Companies Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 98: Bausch Health Companies Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 99: Bausch Health Companies Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 100: Bausch Health Companies Inc. - Segment focus

10.6 Eli Lilly and Co.

Exhibit 101: Eli Lilly and Co. - Overview



Exhibit 102: Eli Lilly and Co. - Product / Service



Exhibit 103: Eli Lilly and Co. - Key offerings

10.7 F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd.

Exhibit 104: F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 105: F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 106: F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 107: F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 108: F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. - Segment focus

10.8 H Lundbeck AS

Exhibit 109: H Lundbeck AS - Overview



Exhibit 110: H Lundbeck AS - Product / Service



Exhibit 111: H Lundbeck AS - Key offerings

10.9 Johnson and Johnson

Exhibit 112: Johnson and Johnson - Overview



Exhibit 113: Johnson and Johnson - Business segments



Exhibit 114: Johnson and Johnson - Key news



Exhibit 115: Johnson and Johnson - Key offerings



Exhibit 116: Johnson and Johnson - Segment focus

10.10 Lupin Ltd.

Exhibit 117: Lupin Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 118: Lupin Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 119: Lupin Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 120: Lupin Ltd. - Key offerings

10.11 MagVenture AS

Exhibit 121: MagVenture AS - Overview



Exhibit 122: MagVenture AS - Product / Service



Exhibit 123: MagVenture AS - Key offerings

10.12 Viatris Inc.

Exhibit 124: Viatris Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 125: Viatris Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 126: Viatris Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 127: Viatris Inc. - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 128: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 129: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 130: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 131: Research methodology



Exhibit 132: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 133: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 134: List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

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UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global AI in the construction market is moderately concentrated with a high number of international players and a few small-scale regional players. Players in the market are focusing on developing a variety of technologies to retain their market shares. Key players are concentrating on implementing new data mining techniques and embedding AI into IoT analytics, which will create a new platform for construction companies to gain insights from IoT-generated data. The market comprises several other prominent vendors that account for significant market shares. The market is driven by innovation, and therefore, the threat of new entrants is high. Many players are merging to sustain themselves in the competitive market or introduce new technologies.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Construction Market 2022-2026

The artificial intelligence (AI) in construction market is expected to grow by USD 2.32 billion during 2021-2026. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will accelerate at a CAGR of 29.81% during the forecast period, according to Technavio.

View a comprehensive report summary that describes the market size and forecast along with the research methodology. Request a FREE PDF Sample Report

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Construction Market 2022-2026: Scope

The artificial intelligence (AI) in construction market report covers the following areas:

This study identifies automatic updating and building of projects as one of the prime reasons driving artificial intelligence (AI) in the construction market growth during the next few years.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Construction Market 2022-2026: Segmentation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Construction Market is segmented as below:

Solution

Software



Services



Hardware

Artificial intelligence (AI) in the construction market share growth by the software segment will be significant during the forecast period. The increasing globalization, growth of IT in the construction industry for decision management, adoption of machine learning platforms, text analytics, robotic process automation, image, and video analysis, deep learning, and speech recognition will drive the growth of the segment.

Geography

North America



Europe



APAC



Middle East And Africa



South America

38% of the market's growth will originate from North America during the forecast period. The US is the key market for artificial intelligence (AI) in the construction market in North America. The increase in the number of events such as global conferences, product launches, and product exhibitions and the rising rate of infrastructure development will facilitate artificial intelligence (AI) in construction market growth in North America over the forecast period.

Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. Download a FREE Sample Report

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Construction Market 2022-2026: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the AI in the construction market, including ALICE Technologies, Amazon.com Inc., Aurora, Autodesk Inc., Bentley Systems Inc., Customindz Inc., Doxel Inc., eSUB Inc., Intel Corp., International Business Machines Corp., Microsoft Corp., Newmetrix, Oracle Corp., SAP SE, Siemens AG, and TUV SUD AG.

This report provides a full list of key vendors, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now for detailed vendor information

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Construction Market 2022-2026: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2022-2026

Detailed information on factors that will assist artificial intelligence (AI) in construction market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the artificial intelligence (AI) in construction market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in the construction market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in construction market vendors

Related Reports:



Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market in BFSI Sector by Service and Geography  Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The artificial intelligence (AI) market share in the BFSI sector is expected to increase by USD 32.97 billion from 2021 to 2026.

Artificial intelligence (AI) in the social media market by Application and Geography  Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: Artificial intelligence (AI) in social media market share is expected to increase by USD 3.66 billion from 2021 to 2026.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Construction Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 29.81% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 2.32 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 28.99 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 38% Key consumer countries US, China, Japan, UK, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled ALICE Technologies, Amazon.com Inc., Aurora, Autodesk Inc., Bentley Systems Inc., Customindz Inc., Doxel Inc., eSUB Inc., Intel Corp., International Business Machines Corp., Microsoft Corp., Newmetrix, Oracle Corp., SAP SE, Siemens AG, and TUV SUD AG Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table Of Contents :

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market Overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Solution



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market Definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Solution

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Solution - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Solution - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Solution

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Solution



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Solution

5.3 Software - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Software - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Software - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Software - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Software - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Services - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Services - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Services - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Services - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Services - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Hardware - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 36: Chart on Hardware - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Hardware - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 38: Chart on Hardware - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Hardware - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.6 Market opportunity by Solution

Exhibit 40: Market opportunity by Solution ($ million)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 41: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 42: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 44: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 47: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 48: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 49: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 51: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 52: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 53: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 54: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 55: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 56: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 57: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 60: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 61: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 63: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 64: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 65: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 66: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 67: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 68: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 69: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 71: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 72: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 73: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 74: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 75: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 76: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 77: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 82: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 83: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 84: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 85: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 86: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 87: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 88: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 89: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 90: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 91: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 92: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 ALICE Technologies

Exhibit 93: ALICE Technologies - Overview



Exhibit 94: ALICE Technologies - Product / Service



Exhibit 95: ALICE Technologies - Key offerings

10.4 Amazon.com Inc.

Exhibit 96: Amazon.com Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 97: Amazon.com Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 98: Amazon.com Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 99: Amazon.com Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 100: Amazon.com Inc. - Segment focus

10.5 Aurora

Exhibit 101: Aurora - Overview



Exhibit 102: Aurora - Product / Service



Exhibit 103: Aurora - Key offerings

10.6 Autodesk Inc.

Exhibit 104: Autodesk Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 105: Autodesk Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 106: Autodesk Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 107: Autodesk Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 108: Autodesk Inc. - Segment focus

10.7 Bentley Systems Inc.

Exhibit 109: Bentley Systems Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 110: Bentley Systems Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 111: Bentley Systems Inc. - Key offerings

10.8 Doxel Inc.

Exhibit 112: Doxel Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 113: Doxel Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 114: Doxel Inc. - Key offerings

10.9 International Business Machines Corp.

Exhibit 115: International Business Machines Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 116: International Business Machines Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 117: International Business Machines Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 118: International Business Machines Corp. - Segment focus

10.10 Microsoft Corp.

Exhibit 119: Microsoft Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 120: Microsoft Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 121: Microsoft Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 122: Microsoft Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 123: Microsoft Corp. - Segment focus

10.11 Oracle Corp.

Exhibit 124: Oracle Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 125: Oracle Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 126: Oracle Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 127: Oracle Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 128: Oracle Corp. - Segment focus

10.12 SAP SE

Exhibit 129: SAP SE - Overview



Exhibit 130: SAP SE - Business segments



Exhibit 131: SAP SE - Key news



Exhibit 132: SAP SE - Key offerings



Exhibit 133: SAP SE - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 134: Inclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 135: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 136: Research methodology



Exhibit 137: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 138: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 139: List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
PHOENIX, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Many of us will be spending Thanksgiving with our parents and siblings. This time of the year when we're all together provides us with the opportunity to observe our aging parents' well-being and have a conversation about any assistance they may need.

Assisted Living Locators, a nationwide senior placement and referral service, is providing tips for talking with aging parents over Thanksgiving to begin long-term care planning.

Angela Olea RN, Assisted Living Locators Brand President stated that festive occasions such as Thanksgiving are eye-opening to age-related decline, cognitive impairment, and health or safety issues facing older loved ones.

"Long-term care is an important topic that every family should discuss," she explained. "Assisted Living Locators is a free service that can help provide insight on preparing for the future. Our senior care advisors provide guidance on how to have tough conversations with parents or other aging family members."

According to Olea, there are five must-have conversations you should have with your aging parents this Thanksgiving holiday.

Cognitive Ability: Be aware of cognitive decline warning signs: difficulty remembering events from the past 24 hours, struggling to maintain a conversation, or displaying noticeable changes in behavior. If you notice these changes, talk to them about seeing a specialist for cognitive screening. Financial Planning: Many seniors have underestimated the cost of retirement. Preparing for these potential additional costs means having a conversation about your parents' financial position, expenses, lifestyle, and medical needs. Health And Safety: Difficulty in performing necessities of life is a major issue and key indicator of the need for geriatric care. Are they able to move around comfortably and effectively? Have they lost weight? Are they managing their medications? Are they struggling with personal hygiene? Legal Planning: To ensure that their wishes are carried out discuss legal matters with them. You should be aware of their life insurance policy, end of life wishes, healthcare insurance and authorization, power-of-attorney, current medication, and health conditions. Wellbeing: Wellbeing is more than just a person's physical health. Watch for signs your loved one is depressed: an unkempt house, negative change in temperament, disheveled appearance, and disengagement with family and friends. Oftentimes depression in seniors is linked to loneliness, it might be time to discuss transition to a senior living community.

"Allow time for your aging parents to express anxieties and needs," said Olea. "You can decide together what needs to be done and who can help."

She added that Assisted Living Locators can help you explore and understand elder care options. "We meet with families to discuss their loved one's current situation and needs," said Olea. "We offer a variety of care resources including in-home and respite care, assisted living, and memory care."

If you have questions about senior care options, speak to an Assisted Living Locators Senior Care Advisor at 877-266-7788 or visit www.assistedlivinglocators.com.

SOURCE Assisted Living Locators
An Iconic Guide on Styling, Sustaining, and Celebrating Natural and Curly Hair

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnny Wright, Celebrity Hairstylist to clients like Former First Lady Michelle Obama and Tamron Hall, is excited to announce his first book in partnership with the bestselling For Dummies series. Natural & Curly Hair for Dummies is available now on Amazon and wherever books and eBooks are sold..

Natural & Curly Hair for Dummies Johnny Wright, Celebrity Hairstylist

This book empowers readers on their natural and curly hair journey by taking them through the biology basics of natural and curly hair, sharing Wright's favorite personal product recommendations, and providing insider pro tips for protecting and maintaining healthy hair. But what sets this book apart is that Wright goes beyond practical how-to steps and dos and donts; he offers his book as a space for the curly and natural hair community. Wright's book is part instruction manual, part style maven, and part life guide that centers the curly and natural hair community in the spotlight.

"This book is a place to come together to learn, to teach, to heal, and to live your natural and curly hair life to the fullest," Wright says. "Within these pages, you'll find creation, inspiration, and celebration of our curly and natural hair community. In looking at what the CROWN Act, a law that prohibits discrimination based on hair style and hair texture, and what others in the community are doing for natural and curly hair, I hope this book adds my voice to the effort."

Wright continues, "Beauty is really about reflecting our power in all aspects of ourselves, including our hair, without hiding or feeling shame. With this book, I am here to help people embrace their natural beauty in all its glory and build our community up."

Johnny plans to embark on a nationwide book tour in 2023 teaching and guiding readers and consumers on the importance of caring for their natural and curly hair. To learn more about Johnny and to receive information on tour stops near you, please visit www.johnny-wright.com.

About Johnny Wright

A celebrity hairstylist with over 30 years of experience, Johnny Wright worked his way through Chicago and then Los Angeles before spending 8 years as Michelle Obama's personal hairstylist during the Obama Administration. Since 2019, he's worked as Tamron Hall's key hairstylist on her Emmy-Award winning eponymous daytime talk show and most recently co-starred in "To Catch a Beautician" with Tamar Braxton on Vh1. You'll also see his work on celebrities like Queen Latifah, Kerry Washington, Tiffany Cross, Angela Rye, and Samira Wiley. Over his career, he has served in many roles, such as creative director for SoftSheen Carson for L'Oreal and ambassador for many brands, made appearances on HSN and other networks, and received multiple industry awards. Johnny's unique success is owed in part to years of welcoming all hair textures and types to his chair, master styling skills and precision cutting techniques as well as his passion for education, business ingenuity and infectious upbeat personality.

For Interviews

Michelle A. Pascal

MAP Unlimited PR

[email protected]

917-715-3659

SOURCE Johnny Wright
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chenery Compliance Group (CCG), a leading and independent institutional quality boutique provider of Chief Compliance Officer solutions to wealth managers, institutional managers, private funds, and registered funds, today announced the addition of three senior compliance professionals to the firm's team. Andrea Lyle, Michael Mann, and Moira Donovan will lead and support client engagements. They will join a deep and seasoned CCG leadership team, allowing the firm to meet strong demand for its compliance outsource services and to maintain its commitment to help protect clients from regulatory risk so they can focus on investing and business building.

Andrea Lyle joins with nearly 10 years of compliance experience formerly as a Director with Hardin Compliance (now Foreside/ACA Group) where she led the customization and implementation of comprehensive compliance programs for advisers managing private funds, mutual funds, and retail accounts. Ms. Lyle started her compliance career with PNC Bank as a Compliance Program Specialist. She holds a B.S. from Wheeling Jesuit University and a J.D. from Duquesne University of School of Law.

Michael Mann has over 10 years of experience in the investment management industry, focused on developing and managing effective in-house compliance programs for an asset manager and a fund complex. Most recently Mr. Mann provided compliance program leadership for the CCO at CenterSquare Investment Management, building and maintaining a best-in-class compliance program for the $14 billion real asset investment manager. He also served in Corporate Compliance at Nationwide Funds Group, an investment adviser to open-end investment companies and exchange traded funds. Mr. Mann graduated from West Chester University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Finance.

Moira Donovan has over 20 years of experience implementing comprehensive compliance programs as Compliance Officer for Founders Financial Securities, a registered investment adviser and FINRA broker-dealer, and previously as Chief Compliance Officer for SC&H Financial Advisors and for DSC Advisory, a subsidiary of Daiwa Capital Markets. Ms. Donovan held senior compliance officer roles with Legg Mason focused on investment adviser and broker-dealer compliance and regulatory affairs. Ms. Donovan earned an MBA and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Loyola University in Maryland.

"The addition of Andrea, Michael and Moira is a win for our clients, who count on our best-in-class compliance programs, including serving as Chief Compliance Officer," said Thomas De Cain, CCG's Co-Founding Partner. "Each of our new colleagues has an extensive regulatory and operational background, has worked inhouse at investment firms, and are keenly aware of both the regulatory requirements and the business implications of implementing compliance programs."

Stefanie Little, CCG's Co-Founding Partner, added "As our reputation and client base has grown, we've attracted and retained seasoned compliance professionals. We appeal to those professionals who thrive in our institutional quality boutique model. We are independent, hands-on and collaborative, technically and practically forward-looking, and passionate about delivering superior support for all of our long-term client relationships."

About Chenery Compliance Group, LLC

Chenery Compliance Group (CCG) is an independent institutional quality boutique that delivers customized Chief Compliance Officer services, support CCO services and regulatory compliance consulting for private wealth advisers, institutional investment advisers, registered fund managers, private fund managers and commodity trading advisers. CCG was founded with the sole purpose to help protect our clients from regulatory risk, enabling them to focus on investing and business building. We power cultures of compliance.

www.chenerycompliance.com

SOURCE CHENERY COMPLIANCE GROUP
Evidence on Covalon's New ColActive Plus Powder presented at the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Covalon Technologies Ltd. (the "Company" or "Covalon") (TSXV: COV) (OTCQX: CVALF), an advanced medical technologies company, today announced that its newest advanced wound care product, ColActive Plus Powder, was showcased in a case study presentation at the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC), from October 13 to 16, 2022 in Las Vegas. The study, conducted by Dr. Alton Johnson Jr., DPM, FACPM, DABPM, CWSP, at University of Michigan School of Medicine, demonstrates the efficacy of ColActive Plus Powder in treating chronic non-healing wounds.

ColActive Plus Powder (CNW Group/Covalon Technologies Ltd.)

"I've had success using the ColActive Plus Powder to close challenging stalled wounds. It's applicable to a range of wound types, offering the benefits of collagen in an advanced formulation suitable for chronic or acute wounds", states Dr. Johnson. "It's a unique product, the only collagen-based powder that is available with or without an antimicrobial."

Chronic, hard-to-heal wounds fail to advance through the phases of healing in an orderly and timely manner, often becoming stalled in the inflammatory phase. Imbalances in important cellular mediators for healing perpetuate the cycle of chronicity, which can lead to severe complications such as infection or amputation, which have grave consequences on overall quality of life. ColActive Plus Collagen Powder was uniquely designed to optimize the wound environment while supporting native collagen and connective tissue growth to help clinicians break the cycle of chronicity.

"In just a short time on the market, ColActive Plus Powder has become known as a "closer" of challenging wounds. The positive outcomes we're seeing from clinicians like Dr. Johnson continue to drive growth of this new and unique product and importantly, remind us of the impact it can have on patients suffering from chronic wounds," says Brian Pedlar, CEO of Covalon.

Case Study Summary

An 83-year-old patient with peripheral arterial disease underwent metatarsal toe amputation which resulted in non-healing wounds.

The post-amputation surgical wounds failed to heal over several months with use of a competitive collagen/Oxidized Regenerated Cellulose product.

Treatment with weekly pulse lavage and ColActive Plus Powder resulted in the chronic post-amputation wounds being closed within 28 days, remaining healed to date.

Dr. Alton Johnson Jr. concluded that the use of the novel powder preparation of the ColActive formulation, in combination with pulse lavage, initiated and progressed the healing of the patient's chronic wounds rapidly, in addition to being simple to use as part of the existing treatment plan.

For further details, please refer to the case study poster.

Covalon's advanced wound care solutions include the following:

ColActive Plus Powder - Collagen wound filler that supports native collagen and connective tissue growth within the wound bed, while also stimulating cellular processes essential for wound healing. Allows for optimal moisture balance. Excellent solution for wounds of irregular shape or wounds in challenging locations

ColActive Plus Powder Ag - Collagen wound filler with antimicrobial ionic silver to prevent bacterial colonization within the product, thus minimizing the risk of infection.

Healthcare providers who are interested in learning more about Covalon's solutions can visit www.covalon.com or follow Covalon on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

About Covalon

Covalon Technologies Ltd. is a researcher, developer, manufacturer, and marketer of patent-protected medical products that improve patient outcomes and save lives in the areas of advanced wound care, infection management and surgical procedures. Covalon leverages its patented medical technology platforms and expertise in two ways: (i) by developing products that are sold under Covalon's name; and (ii) by developing and commercializing medical products for other medical companies under development and license contracts. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, having the symbol COV and trades on the OTQX Market under the symbol CVALF. To learn more about Covalon, visit our website at www.covalon.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan, "estimate", "expect", "intend" or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts, but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the factors described in greater detail in the "Risks and Uncertainties" section of our management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2022, which is available on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com, any of which could cause results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, further events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Website: https://covalon.com/

Twitter: @covalon

SOURCE Covalon Technologies Ltd.
MEDFORD, Ore., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Human Bean held its 17th annual breast cancer giveback event, Coffee for a Cure, on Friday, October 21st. All food and beverage sales from The Human Bean locations throughout the United States were collectively counted towards a record-breaking $435,305.66 raised for local breast cancer foundations.

This is the drive-thru coffee company's largest nationwide fundraiser each year, held annually in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Cheers to raising record funds for Coffee for a Cure.

"Our Coffee for a Cure event means a lot more than just a cup of coffee and a fun chat with our customers," says Aly Koehnke, part owner of four locations in the Portland, OR area that collectively raised $15,757.67 on Friday. "This day always brings a few tears, smiles, and some very incredible stories. Coffee for a Cure brings hope, strength, and awareness to our communities."

To date, The Human Bean's Coffee for a Cure giveback program has raised over $3 million. The Human Bean locations are forwarding 100% of food and beverage sales from October 21st to foundations in their communities that help with preventive scans, education, and patient support for those going through breast cancer treatment.

The Human Bean drive-thrus highlighted two new specialty drinks for the occasion, the Vanilla Cold Brew with Cherry Blossom Cold Foam and Shortbread Latte with Cinnamon Sprinkles  both of which are still available for anyone who found their new favorite flavors that day.

"Coffee For A Cure is our favorite day and we look forward to it every year," says Alissa Trotter, owner of a Warrenton, OR location that raised $4,800 last Friday. "It's amazing to feel the energy and excitement from our customers, community and team working together inspired by a bigger purpose. We love that the funds stay local and directly help the communities we serve."

About The Human Bean

With a passion for creating happy 'Human Beans', the company's drive-thrus around the U.S. have established a reputation for friendly baristas, high-quality coffee, and innovative flavors. The Human Bean opened its first drive-thru espresso stand in Ashland, Oregon in 1998, and currently supports over 300 locations open or under development in 25 states.

Learn more at thehumanbean.com .

SOURCE The Human Bean
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Major Price Models in the Coke Sourcing and Procurement Market

The report discusses in detail each pricing model and the pros and cons attached to every pricing model prevalent in the market. Also, the report provides insights with respect to the category supply chain and the margins of various suppliers within the supply chain.

The most widely adopted pricing models in the Coke Sourcing and Procurement Market

Volume-based pricing model



Fixed pricing model

Learn about various other pricing models: Request for a FREE sample report

Spend Growth and Demand by Region

The Coke Sourcing and Procurement market will register an incremental spend of about USD 7.77 Billion during the forecast period. However, only a few regions will drive the majority of this growth. Moreover, on the supply side, North America, Europe, and APAC will have the maximum influence owing to the supplier base. The growth is expected to be primarily driven by increasing demand and adoption of the category across those few regions.

To get a detailed analysis of the regional factors driving the Coke Sourcing and Procurement Report:

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Most Adopted Procurement Strategies by Buyers Across the Coke Sourcing and Procurement Market

The report provides a detailed insight of the most adopted procurement strategies by buyers across industries and analysis of these strategies with respect to innovation, regulatory compliance, quality, supply, and cost. Adoption of these procurement strategies will enable the buyers to reduce category TCO and achieve cost savings, while sourcing for thermal equipment requirements.

To get the exact information on various procurement strategies:

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This Coke Sourcing and Procurement Market report answers help buyers identify and shortlist the most suitable suppliers, for instance:

Am I engaging with the right suppliers?

Which KPIs should I use to evaluate my incumbent suppliers?

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What are the workplace computing devices category essentials in terms of SLAs and RFx?

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SpendEdge

Anirban Choudhury

Marketing Manager

Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us

SOURCE SpendEdge
PLANO, Texas, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Community Hospital Corporation (CHC) President and CEO Jim Kendrick was named the 2022 winner of the prestigious Duce Award by Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, at a special recognition ceremony and dinner on October 20, 2022.

Jim Kendrick, President and CEO of CHC

CHC is a not-for-profit support organization formed by 13 Texas healthcare systems over 25 years ago with a mission to guide, support and enhance the mission of community hospitals and healthcare providers. CHC has a proven history of success supporting hospitals across the country, helping them sustain and grow to serve their local communities.

Trinity University's Duce Award honors a Health Care Administration program graduate who has shown outstanding leadership and made significant contributions to the field of health services administration. Kendrick earned his Master of Science in Health Care Administration there in 1995.

Presented annually, the award is named after Dean Leonard A. Duce, a former dean of the Graduate School at Trinity and one of the program's founding faculty members.

Trinity University, known for its stimulating and collaborative environment, builds outstanding leaders, as many graduates attest.

Laurie Breedlove, CHC Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Trinity University Healthcare Administration 1988 graduate, shared: "Jim is a visionary leader and supports professional growth among our teams. During his five years at CHC, he has led our organization to achieve recognition in multiple years as a Dallas Morning News' Top 100 Place to Work, in 2021 earning 'Best Communication' among all 100 companies that placed."

Coupled with his unparalleled ability to lead, Kendrick enthusiastically supports entrepreneurialism and innovation. Craig Sims, CHC Senior Vice President of Hospital Operations and Trinity University Healthcare Administration 1986 graduate, shared: "Jim outlines organizational priorities then gives CHC executive leaders the authority and responsibility to do what needs to be done. He works diligently and creatively to expand how CHC serves community hospitals and their unique needs."

Prior to CHC, Kendrick served with affiliates of Community Health Systems (CHS) for several years: CEO of AllianceHealth Oklahoma, a 10-hospital network with 70+ affiliated medical practices, six home health agencies, and 4,500 employees; CEO for Longview Regional Medical Center (LRMC), Longview, Texas; and Chief Operating Officer for Wesley Medical Center of Hattiesburg, Miss. During his tenure at LRMC, the hospital was named to Modern Healthcare magazine's Best Places to Work in Health Care  2009, and in 2010, he was named a Modern Healthcare Up & Comer.

Kendrick also spent several years with Hillcrest Healthcare System (HHS) of Tulsa, Okla. As COO for Tulsa Regional Medical Center (TRMC), he helped establish this HHS facility as the primary teaching hospital for Oklahoma State University's College of Medicine. Prior, Jim served as Vice President of Operations for HHS affiliate Hillcrest Medical Center & Kaiser Medical Center, also in Tulsa.

About Community Hospital Corporation  HELP WHERE HOSPITALS NEED IT 

Community Hospital Corporation owns, manages and consults with hospitals through CHC Hospitals, CHC Consulting and CHC ContinueCARE, with the purpose to guide, support and enhance the mission of community hospitals and healthcare providers. Based in Plano, Texas, CHC provides the resources and experience community hospitals need to improve quality outcomes, patient satisfaction and financial performance. For more information about CHC, please visit http://communityhospitalcorp.com.

Contact:

Anne Block

972-943-6470

[email protected]

SOURCE Community Hospital Corporation
The Business Research Company's plywood market research report expands on key drivers, trends, and growth opportunities in the market.

LONDON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Plywood companies are increasingly integrating automation and robotics in their operations to enhance productivity and reduce costs. Automation is being utilized to reduce the time taken for manufacturing reconstituted wood products and thereby improving process efficiency. For instance, in June 2019, many of the plywood industries units in Yamunanagar, India have started adopting automation in the manufacturing process, either partially or fully, due to rising labor costs and dwindling sales due to stagnation in the real estate sector.



The global plywood market size is expected to grow from $50.83 billion in 2021 to $54.79 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%. The global plywood market share is expected to grow to $79.65 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 9.8%.

Request a free sample of the Plywood Market Report

Rising Urbanization Is A Major Driver For The Plywood Market Growth

Economic growth and a rapidly growing urban population is expected to increase the demand for new residential and commercial buildings and furniture during the forecast period, thus driving the demand for plywood market. According to The World Bank, the world has nearly 57% of urban population in 2021. Further, according to the United Nations, the urban population is set to increase by almost 700 million by the year 2030 reaching a total of 5.2 billion. This rapid urbanization is expected to boost the demand for wood materials for construction and furniture and drive the plywood market going forward.

UPM-Kymmene Oyj Was The Largest Competitor In The Plywood Market In 2021

UPM-Kymmene Oyj was the largest competitor in the plywood market in 2021, with a 0.52% share of the market. UPM-KymmeneOyj is a forest products company that manufactures and distributes pulp, paper, plywood, sawn timber, labels and composites, wood sourcing & forestry products, specialty paper, bioenergy, biofuels for transport, biochemicals and nano products. UPM's growth strategy focuses on modernizing its production lines through strategic investments. For instance, in December 2021, UPM announced its plans to invest $9.83 million ( 10 million) for the development of a plywood mill in Joensuu, Finland. This investment includes new workspaces, 720 square meters of new production space, and new production lines.

Plywood Market Segmentation

The global plywood market is segmented -

1) By Type: Softwood, Hardwood

2) By Application: Furniture, Flooring and Construction, Automotive Interiors, Packaging, Marine, Others

3) By End-User: Residential, Commercial

See more on the Plywood Market Report

Check out similar market reports:

Marine Plywood Global Market Report 2022  By Application (Marine Applications, Non-Marine Applications), By Marine Applications (Deck, Dock, Boat, Others)  Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2022-2026

Wood Products Market 2022  By Type (Finished Wood Products, Wood Processing, Manufactured Wood Materials), By Application (Residential, Commercial), And By Region, Opportunities And Strategies  Global Forecast To 2030

Wood Processing Global Market Report 2022  By Type (Sawmills, Wood Preservation), By End-User Industry (Residential, Commercial, Infrastructural, Other End-User Industries)  Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2022-2026

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ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone (NYSE: WOW), a leading broadband services provider, today announced construction is underway in its first Greenfield market in Central Florida, bringing WOW!'s state-of-the-art all-IP fiber network to residents and businesses in Altamonte Springs. WOW!'s entrance into Seminole County is part of the company's growth into new markets to meet the rising demand for fast and reliable broadband.

Earlier this year, WOW! announced it would bring its advanced fiber technology and award-winning customer service to customers in Seminole County and Orange County in Central Florida as part of its ongoing Greenfield market expansions . The company will offer its innovative technology and robust product suite that provides choice, reliability, speed and value.

"In addition to offering fast and reliable broadband options to Central Florida, we are committed to being a true community partner," said Teresa Elder, CEO of WOW!. "One of the things that makes WOW! unique is our company culture  we are committed to our people, our customers and the communities we live and work in. We look forward to surprising and delighting customers with our core values of respect, integrity, spirit of service, and accountability."

WOW! anticipates its services will become available in some parts of Altamonte Springs soon. Residents will be able to subscribe to WOW! fiber services which include symmetrical Internet speeds up to 5 Gigs. Subscribers to WOW!'s fiber Internet will also receive a Whole-Home WiFi (mesh network) device, modem, professional install, and unlimited data when they sign up. WOW! also offers WOW tv+ , reliable home phone plans, WOW! mobile powered by Reach , and flexible, comprehensive solutions for businesses . Services will quickly become available in additional communities across Seminole County and Orange County.

As part of its ongoing commitment to partnering with the communities it serves, WOW! recently made a $45,000 donation to the Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School Kids Space Center in neighboring Sanford, Florida to update the technology and simulation software for the students.

For more information on WOW! and to find out if its services are available in your area, please visit www.wowway.com/coming-soon/florida/seminole-county .

About WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone

WOW! is one of the nation's leading broadband providers, with an efficient, high-performing network that passes 1.9 million residential, business and wholesale consumers. WOW! provides services in 14 markets, primarily in the Midwest and Southeast, including Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. With an expansive portfolio of advanced services, including high-speed Internet services, cable TV, phone, business data, voice, and cloud services, the company is dedicated to providing outstanding service at affordable prices. WOW! also serves as a leader in exceptional human resources practices, having been recognized eight times by the National Association for Business Resources as a Best & Brightest Company to Work For, winning the award for the last four consecutive years. Visit wowway.com for more information.

SOURCE WideOpenWest, Inc.
ATLANTA, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Coastal States Bank ("CSB") is pleased to announce that Mr. Cory Burdette has joined CSB as the Senior Vice President for the bank's newly created Financial Institutions Group.

Cory brings over 15 years of extensive banking experience working in the correspondent banking space with community and middle market financial institutions throughout the Southeast. Prior to joining CSB, Cory held a similar position with Atlantic Capital Bank in Atlanta, GA and before that he was with BBVA Compass as Vice President, Correspondent Relationship Manager.

(PRNewsfoto/Coastal States Bank)

"We are excited to welcome Cory to the team" said Steve Stone, CSB's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Cory's background and experience as a veteran correspondent banker will help CSB build a best-in-class Financial Institution Group focused on building relationships with other financial institutions across the southeast."

Cory is a native of Georgia and received his B.S. in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing and Management from Georgia College and State University before beginning his career in banking.

About Coastal States Bank

Coastal States Bank builds relationships by providing a full range of banking services designed for businesses, their owners, and individuals looking for a local banking partner. CSB has a community banking presence in the Lowcountry of South Carolina (Hilton Head Island and Bluffton), Savannah, and the Atlanta Metropolitan market, and serves communities across the country through its Government Guaranteed Lending, Senior Housing, Correspondent Marine, and Mortgage Banker Finance lines of business. As of September 30, 2022, CSB had approximately $1.72 billion in total assets.

CSB is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CoastalSouth Bancshares, Inc. (OTCQX: COSO).

Coastal States Bank  Local. And Proud of It.

For additional information regarding Coastal States Bank please visit www.coastalstatesbank.com.

Media Contact: Stephen R. Stone

President and Chief Executive Officer

843.341.9937, [email protected]

SOURCE Coastal States Bank
Leading Tire and Wheel Retailer Prepares to Plant Roots in DFW Market

DALLAS, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RNR Tire Express (RNR), the fastest-growing tire and custom wheel franchise in the nation, has recently finalized a 6-unit franchise agreement to roll out the award-winning concept throughout the market over the course of the next 5 years. These new locations will be owned and operated by the Clarke family, who boast 15 years of experience in the franchise sector and expect to open the first of the stores no later than May of 2023.

The Clarke family decided to invest in RNR Tire Express as a means to blend their passion for the automotive industry with a desire for independent business ownership. After learning that RNR could afford such an opportunity, pen was put to paper to finally bring the franchise to Dallas/Fort Worth for the first time in the brands history.

This endeavor has come at the perfect time for both the Clarke's and the community, as they look forward to providing the residents of Dallas/Fort Worth and surrounding areas with quality tires and custom wheels at an affordable price. Something consumers aren't seeing much of across most economic markets these days.

"To bring the first ever RNR Tire Express to Dallas/Fort Worth means the world to us, as residents will finally have a place to go for quality, accessibility, and affordability," the Clarkes said. "When we first spoke with the team at RNR, we were sold on its structure and dedication toward franchisees, which will translate into providing our local community with an unforgettable experience."

Founded in 2000 by rent-to-own veteran Larry Sutton, RNR has carved out a unique niche in the tire and wheel industry with its convenient, no hassle payment plans that fit each customer's budget. RNR offers and professionally installs high-quality tires and custom wheels to a growing market of underserved consumers and has established a business model that allows clients to pay off name brand tires and wheels on a weekly or monthly plan that is affordable to them.

"As the RNR brand continues to grow within the market over the coming years, we fully expect to shift the public's standards for excellence in our field," said Sutton, Founder and CEO of RNR Tire Express. "More still, the success that the Clarke family achieves with these initial RNR venues will prime the surrounding areas for further investment down the road."

For more information regarding RNR Tire Express and its franchise opportunities, please visit www.RNRfranchise.com.

About RNR Tire Express:

RNR Tire Express is a national franchise retailer of quality tires and custom wheels known for their customer-centric, flexible lease-to-own payment options. Established in 2000 by rent-to-own veteran, Larry Sutton, RNR has grown to 173 locations in 27 states. The brand ranked No. 237 in Franchise Times' Top 500 list for 2022, and was also recognized by Inc. magazine as one of America's fastest-growing private companies. Most recently, RNR was ranked No. 133 in Entrepreneur Magazine's 2021 Franchise 500 ranking and #1 in the Tires and Wheels category. RNR Tire Express is seeking qualified multi-unit franchisees to expand even further nationally with prime markets available throughout the country. For more information regarding the RNR franchise opportunity, please visit www.RNRfranchise.com .

Media Contact: Conner Gossel, Fishman Public Relations, [email protected] or (937) 545-9812

SOURCE RNR Tire Express
CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Heather Pressler, Founder of BlueHuki marketing agency, was a featured speaker at the Women Who Count Conference on October 25-28, 2022.

Her session was called "Becoming an Influencer for Your Personal Brand," and she taught attendees how to post content and grow their network to effectively promote themselves and their brands. The 1 and  hour session was standing room only.

"There were so many accomplished, intelligent women at the AFWA conference," said Dr. Pressler. "It was such an honor to be invited to speak on using social media to elevate your personal brand at the Women Who Count National Conference."

Women Who Count is an annual conference hosted by the Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance (AFWA). Each year, 200+ accounting and finance professionals are invited to come together for four days of networking and education. Featuring a wide variety of speakers, the conference covers topics such as accounting, tax, finance, leadership, communications, and more.

"I learned so much," said Kelly Klomparens, Senior Accountant - WBENC and past President of AFWA Washington, DC. "I see all these different aspects of social media on the front end, but never knew how some of these things on the back end work." Klomparens was an attendee of Dr. Pressler's session and the one to nominate her for this national speaking engagement.

Dr. Pressler runs a digital marketing agency based in the DC area. Focusing on return-on-investment marketing strategies for highly technical professions, she helps businesses emphasize the customer experience. Dr. Pressler boasts a unique technology and scientific background, bringing 20+ years of experience in science, sales, and marketing of small businesses to the table.

Fun fact: During Dr. Pressler's time as an MIT student, she was one of the first 250 users on Facebook.

About BlueHuki: BlueHuki is a full-service marketing agency operating out of Falls Church City in Northern Virginia. Specializing in social media management, branding, website designs, and ads, it propels businesses online with solutions that work for your budget and industry. All media inquiries can be directed to [email protected].

SOURCE BlueHuki Group LLC
New K-6 School Reflects Community's Desire for Student-Centered Environment

ESCONDIDO, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 23, 2022, Erickson-Hall Construction Co. joined more than 100 educators, community members, and stakeholders to celebrate the Ribbon Cutting of Pacific Sky School in Del Mar Union School District. Located at 6631 Solterra Vista Pkwy in San Diego, the new K-6 school was funded by the district's Measure MM passed in 2018. The highly anticipated Pacific Sky School expands Erickson-Hall's $1 billion portfolio of innovative and award-winning educational facilities across Southern California.

To view images of Pacific Sky School, click here.

Ribbon Cutting Program

Pacific Sky School's Ribbon Cutting Ceremony included remarks by:

Holly McClurg , Ph.D., Superintendent

, Ph.D., Superintendent Erica Halpern , Governing Board President

, Governing Board President Joe LaCava , San Diego City Councilmember

, San Diego City Councilmember Chris Delehanty , Assistant Superintendent

, Assistant Superintendent Danny Weigel , Erickson-Hall

, Erickson-Hall Alison Fieberg , Principal

The event also featured a song and poem performance by students honoring their new school, as well as tours of the facility.

Holly McClurg, Ph.D., Superintendent, states, "We are thrilled to open our District's newest school! Pacific Sky School will support the students and community in Pacific Highlands Ranch for years to come, and the design and construction of this school embodies the work we have done through our District Design 2022 to radically change the school experience for our students."

Pacific Sky School

The 67,000-square-foot Pacific Sky School offers an ideal educational environment with numerous indoor and outdoor learning and collaboration spaces. It features 20 classrooms, three (3) after-school classrooms, three (3) STEAM+ classrooms, an Innovation Center, the district's central kitchen, and a performing arts stage. The 10.47-acre site also includes play structures, a blacktop, and track & field facilities. The school's playground is adjacent to the future Solterra Vista Park, opening in late 2023. Designed by OBR Architecture, Pacific Sky School has a capacity of 450 students, with approximately 350 students enrolled its inaugural year.

Mat Gates, President of Erickson-Hall, states, "It's very rewarding to be a part of a development that encompasses the community's vision so completely. The plan for Pacific Sky School was developed over the course of several years, multiple community meetings, and student interviews. The result is a student-centered environment where children will grow, learn, and thrive."

Chris Delehanty, Assistant Superintendent, Business Services, states, "The Del Mar Union School District has been very fortunate to work with such a strong partner in Erickson-Hall. We were forced to condense our construction timeline from 19 to 15 months, and the Erickson-Hall team went above and beyond to bring the school in on time and under budget. It has been amazing to work with them in bringing our vision to life!"

About Erickson-Hall Construction Co.

Erickson-Hall is a recognized industry leader and has completed over $1.5 billion in successful construction projects, of which $1 billion has been for K-14 education developments. The employee-owned company has been serving the Southern California markets of San Diego, Imperial, Orange, South LA, and Riverside Counties since 1998. Services include preconstruction, general contracting, construction management, design-build, design assist-build, lease-leaseback and program management for educational, fire, essential services, civic, parks, recreation, faith-based, office and healthcare facilities. The company has an award-winning portfolio of completed projects and has received numerous awards for safety. For more information, visit www.ericksonhall.com and find us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/erickson-hall-construction-company.

Media Contact: Beth Binger

BCIpr

619-987-6658

[email protected]

SOURCE Erickson-Hall Construction Co.
HOUSTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Altamira Material Solutions (AMS) and Precision Fluorocarbon Inc. (PFI) brand companies announce the introduction of their newly named parent brand, Evantic.

In 2021, Edgewater Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on investing in performance materials businesses, acquired the Technetics polymer components business from EnPro Industries in September and renamed the company Altamira Material Solutions (AMS). In November 2021, Precision Fluorocarbon Industries (PFI) was acquired to further enhance capabilities. Together, AMS and PFI deliver on 60+ years of proven experience in manufacturing high precision, high quality machined components and unite as a leader in critical growth industries such as semiconductor, aerospace, energy and industrial markets.

"With the recent acquisitions of AMS and PFI, we felt it was important to bring our brand companies together under one name to position us for further growth while still paying homage to the legacies both companies have built," states Lance Wadley, Chief Commercial Officer  Evantic. "This is a branding update only, so our customers can rest easy knowing it's still business as usual with the same contacts they've been working with for years."

"We selected the Evantic name as a combination of the words "evolve" and "advance". It is Evantic's mission to continually evolve to meet new application demands in your most challenging conditions and to utilize our advancements in innovative materials, designs and manufacturing prowess to advance our customers ahead," states Tamara Horne, CEO  Evantic. "We're excited to unite under one parent brand to work together to deliver expanded capabilities and materials to the market and to ultimately present our customers with a complete polymer solution."

Learn more about Evantic: www.evantic.com

SOURCE Evantic
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Psychologist Mary Pipher in her book The Shelter of Each Other explains that "it's impossible to capture the diversity or complexity of families." What she sought to do instead was "to explore how our culture affects the mental health of families" and "to encourage discussions about what families need". In the book Grieving Parents, author Nathalie Himmelrich presents personal and professional insights into grieving and healing. One reviewer tells how the book "takes the important step of normalizing grief and is filled with personal insights of bereaved parents who have experienced what so many of us have after our losses. It is practical yet intimate." Similarly, John Murray's It's All about Love brings personal insights. The author, who's the principal caregiver for his wife, writes about the purpose of the book. "All I want to do here is to relate how life is and how it has been for us. I plan to share the things that have occurred and affected us on our journey with Parkinson's disease. All illnesses are different, which create different scenarios. Caregiving is not an easy road to travel. In fact, it can be quite difficult at times and often uphill. It is a permanent learning experience Those who are caregiving will see themselves reflected in our situation and will identify with some of the issues we have faced."

LibraryBub, an industry first, was established in 2015. Dedicated to making strong, mutual connections between indie and small-press authors and an extensive network of libraries, it works in conjunction with all major libraries. The core commitment of the LibraryBub service is to help librarians to identify acclaimed books from the independent publishing sector. LibraryBub introduces thousands of librarians to bestselling and award-winning books from the independent publishing sector. These books hold immense potential for enhancing the lives of their readers. Novelist Linda Abbott never thought about writing a novel until well after her 40th birthday. "About 15 years ago, someone asked me a fairly innocuous question that literally changed the direction of my life. 'Have you read any good books lately?' At the time, all I read were news magazines, but the question haunted me; after all, I'd spent my childhood devouring Nancy Drew. So I went to the library, started reading fiction again, and haven't stopped since." Librarians enable writers to make that kind of difference to people's lives, and LibraryBub CEO Alinka Rutkowska considers it a privilege to support them in that role.

Below is this month's selection by category.

FICTION

Literature & Fiction

Binge by Anne Pfeffer ISBN: 978-0578346298

Mystery & Thriller

Amish under Fire (Book Two of the Covert Police Detectives Unit series) by Ashley Emma ISBN: 978-1732987920

Amish Amnesia (Book Three of the Covert Police Detectives Unit series) by Ashley Emma ISBN: 978-1732987982

Scam at Old River by Mike Mackay ISBN: 978-0645052107

You Won't Know How... or When (Book Four of the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series) by James R. Callan ISBN: 978-1732122765

Romance

The Inspector's Daughter and the Maid by Marlene Cheng ISBN: 979-8484505272

Science Fiction & Fantasy

The Witches of Wildwood: Cape May horror stories and other scary tales from the Jersey Shore by Mark W. Curran ISBN: 978-1936828494

Children's

Destiny's Big Day by Terri Jones Salter ISBN: 979-8985112306

My Friend Breath by Meg Gillespie and Kelsey Corey ISBN: 978-1778214905



NON-FICTION

Biographies & Memoirs

Are You Okay?: the carryover of kindness by A.S. Drayton ISBN: 978-1667811765

It's All about Love: confessions of a caregiver by John Murray ISBN: 978-1773543673

Business

Business Success Secrets: entrepreneurial thinking that works by Tamara L. Nall et al. ISBN: 978-1637350522

Strides to Blissful Leadership: how to succeed in business and life by Arvind Sharma ASIN: B0BG9G9J2Z

Why Brave Women Win by Jill Bausch ISBN: 978-1637351529

Health, Family & Lifestyle

Grieving Parents: surviving loss as a couple by Nathalie Himmelrich ISBN: 978-0989934749

Religion & Spirituality

Winks from Above by Liliane Fortna ISBN: 978-1954920248

Self-Help

Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? by Larada Horner-Miller ISBN: 978-0996614467

Author Andrew Bullas is grateful for the exposure LibraryBub has given his book Charlie Echo. "The targeted nature of LibraryBub's service," Bullas says, "offers a very specific and significant boost to independent authors, particularly those based outside the United States."

Librarians are asked to sign up for LibraryBub at http://librarybub.com/

Independent publishers should visit http://librarybub.com/authors/ to submit their books for consideration.

Media Contact:

Alinka Rutkowska

[email protected]

www.leaderspress.com

SOURCE LibraryBub
The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor is the world's first cochlear implant sound processor ready for Bluetooth LE Audio technology

LONE TREE, Colo., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH), the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, receives U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the Cochlear Nucleus 8 Sound Processor. The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor is now the smallest and lightest behind-the-ear cochlear implant sound processor available in the industry. 1-3 It is also the world's first cochlear implant sound processor ready to provide direct audio connectivity to everyday consumer electronics using the next generation LE Audio technology from Bluetooth.1-3,#

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9002251-cochlear-fda-approval-for-cochlear-nucleus-8-sound-processor/

The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor features Cochlear's latest and most innovative hearing technology that can sense changes in a person's environment and automatically adjust their listening settings.4-7* It also includes an enhanced ForwardFocus+ feature, which effectively reduces distracting background noise to make face-to-face conversations clearer, especially in noisy environments.8,^ Cochlear continues its commitment to reduce the size of each processor generation with the new behind-the-ear sound processor being 15 percent smaller and 13 percent lighter than its predecessor.9, 

For more on the Nucleus 8 Sound Processor, visit www.Cochlear.US/Nucleus8.

"Cochlear's goal is to help people feel empowered to connect with their world and make it easier to hear and be heard," said Lisa Aubert, President, Cochlear Americas. "In a restaurant, at work, at school, or spending time with family and friends  life's full of opportunities to engage with others. The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor is our smallest, lightest and smartest behind-the-ear sound processor yet and is designed to help people hear conversations more clearly and comfortably, wherever life may take them."

Smaller, smarter and better connected

The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor builds on the direct streaming capabilities available in Cochlear's latest sound processors. With access to next-generation Bluetooth LE Audio, it will be easier than ever to directly connect to everyday technology in more places and from more devices than ever before.10-12,# People will be able to conveniently connect directly to broadcasts at public venues such as airports, conference centers, sport stadiums and gyms that support Bluetooth's next generation Auracast.

"Cochlear continues to lead in innovation that matters most, delivering smaller and smarter sound processors to improve hearing performance that's comfortable and easy to use," said Ryan Lopez, Director, Nucleus Product Management & Marketing, Cochlear Americas. "The Bluetooth LE Audio connectivity in the Nucleus 8 Sound Processor will provide those with hearing loss new, more convenient ways to stream audio to their sound processor, including making it easier for children and adults to engage in the world around them. From the classroom to the conference room, we want to help reduce the stress of life's interactions with the Nucleus 8 Sound Processor."

In addition to the Nucleus 8 Sound Processor, Cochlear is expanding its Connected Care solutions for Nucleus Implant System recipients. Building upon the ability to let cochlear implant recipients adjust their own processor settings and access Remote Care** options from their mobile phone, enhancements to the Nucleus Smart App will enable future improvements to the bimodal control experience and provide access to Remote Firmware updates, so patients can conveniently access the latest technology without a trip to the clinic.

For those living with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss, cochlear implants are a proven medical treatment option. Cochlear implants are the most appropriate option to treat hearing loss when it has reached the level of severe to profound. However, conservative estimates suggest that only 1 in 20 adults worldwide who could benefit from a cochlear implant has one.13,14 Better hearing can help people reach their full potential.

The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor will be commercially available across the United States and Canada by the end of 2022. The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor has been approved by Health Canada.

About Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH)

People have always been Cochlear's inspiration, ever since Professor Graeme Clark set out to create the first multi-channel cochlear implant after seeing his father struggle with hearing loss. Since 1981, Cochlear has provided more than 700,000 devices in more than 180 countries, helping people of all ages around the world to hear. As the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, Cochlear connects people with life's opportunities, and welcomes them to the world's largest hearing implant community.

Cochlear has a global workforce of more than 4,500 people, with a passion for progress, who strive to meet the needs of people living with hearing loss. The company continually innovates to anticipate future needs, investing more than AUD$2 billion to date in research and development to push the boundaries of technology and help more people hear.

www.cochlear.com/us

References

[cited 2022 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.advancedbionics.com/ [cited 2022 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.medel.com/ [cited 2022 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.oticonmedical.com/ Cochlear Limited D1864200 SCAN-X Design Description. Apr 2022 . Mauger SJ, Warren C, Knight M, Goorevich M, Nel E. Clinical evaluation of the Nucleus 6 cochlear implant system: performance improvements with SmartSound iQ. International Journey Of Audiology. 2014, Aug; 53(8): 564-576. [Sponsored by Cochlear] Mauger S, Jones M, Nel E, Del Dot J. Clinical outcomes with the Kanso off- the-ear cochlear implant sound processor. International Journal Of Audiology. 2017, Jan 9 ; 1-10. [Sponsored by Cochlear] Wolfe J, Neumann S, Marsh M, Schafer E, Lianos L, Gilden J, O'Neill L, Arkis P, Menapace C, Nel E, Jones M. Benefits of Adaptive Signal Processing in a Commercially Available Cochlear Implant Sound Processor. Otol Neurotol. 2015 Aug;36(7):1181-90. [Sponsored by Cochlear] Cochlear Limited. D1964109 Clinical Investigation Report CLTD5804. Feb 2022 . Cochlear Limited. D1190805, Processor Size Comparison. May 2022 . Hunn N. Introducing Bluetooth LE Audio [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jan]. Available from: https://www.bluetooth.com/learn-about-bluetooth/recent-enhancements/le-audio/. Cochlear Limited. D1631375 Nucleus 8 Sound Processor Product Definition. A Technical Overview of LC3 [Internet]. Bluetooth Technology Website. [cited 2022 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.bluetooth.com/blog/a-technical-overview-of-lc3. Sorkin D. Cochlear implantation in the world's largest medical device market: utilization and awareness of cochlear implants in the United States . Cochlear Implants Int 2013;14(Suppl 1):S1. De Raeve L. Cochlear implants in Belgium : Prevalence in paediatric and adult cochlear implantation. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis 2016;133(Suppl 1):S5760.

Disclaimers

# When the technology becomes available for the Cochlear Nucleus 8 Sound Processor, a firmware update to your sound processor will allow you to connect to Bluetooth LE Audio compatible devices.

* Compared to Nucleus 6 and 7 Sound Processors.

+ ForwardFocus can only be enabled by a hearing implant specialist. It should only be activated for users 12 years and older who are able to reliably provide feedback on sound quality and understand how to use the feature when moving to different or changing environments. It may be possible to have decreased speech understanding when using ForwardFocus in a quiet environment.

U Compared to Nucleus 7 Sound Processor with ForwardFocus on.

 Comparison made using the Compact Battery Module for Nucleus 8 Sound Processor and the Compact Rechargeable Battery for Nucleus 7 Sound Processor.

** Remote Check and Remote Assist are intended for ages 6 and older. Remote Check and Remote Assist features are only visible and accessible if they are enabled by a clinician. Clinicians should consider the suitability of the feature before enabling Remote Check and Remote Assist.

The Bluetooth and AuracastTM word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Cochlear Limited is under license.

Please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always follow the directions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.

 Cochlear Limited 2022. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Cochlear Limited
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fifth Eye, a leading provider of real-time AI-based clinical analytics today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Andrew Malcolmson as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Andrew replaces Jen Baird who founded and led Fifth Eye from conception through product development, FDA clearance, and initial commercial release of their Analytic for Hemodynamic Instability (AHI) System.

Malcolmson is a proven healthcare executive with over 20 years of experience growing medical and dental technology businesses, including both with large public companies (Covidien/Medtronic, Danaher) as well as start-up and private equity-owned organizations. Prior to joining Fifth Eye, Malcolmson was the General Manager of the Intra Oral Scanning (IOS) business unit at Carestream Dental where he recently led the $600M carve-out and sale of the business to Envista Holdings Corp.

"Andrew has extensive experience in building partnerships that deliver strategic sales growth," Robert Kline, Executive Chairman, Fifth Eye, said. "Healthcare is drowning in data that does not deliver on the promise to improve patient outcomes and lower cost. Andrew will lead Fifth Eye to become the industry source that brings intelligence to data to inform better clinical decisions."

"I am looking forward to supporting the Fifth Eye team in building upon the tremendous achievements to date, and accelerating the quest to become the leading AI-based Clinical Decision Support company in the market. Starting with delivering the AHI solution both directly to end users as well as through our solution partners, our goal is to ensure that all patients and caregivers that can benefit have access to the clinical insights it provides," said Malcolmson, who holds a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Science in aerospace engineering from the University of Florida.

The AHI System is FDA-cleared medical device software designed to meet clinicians' need to identify patient hemodynamic status and trajectory  ahead of vital signs  allowing for early awareness, increased vigilance, and early intervention. Additionally, the AHI System facilitates reduced lengths of stay by augmenting clinicians' judgment with objective, validated information to support timely step-down or discharge decisions.

To learn more about the AHI System, visit AHISystem.com

About Fifth Eye Inc.

Fifth Eye, Inc. is an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based company that develops intuitive, real-time clinical analytics based on physiologic waveforms to improve outcomes and reduce costs. The AHI System is the first and only FDA-cleared clinical decision support software that continuously predicts the risk of hemodynamic instability earlier than vital signs. AI-powered AHI extracts information embedded in a Lead II ECG signal alone  no manual or other inputs required. Fifth Eye's machine-learning technology is licensed from the University of Michigan. For more information, please visit fiftheye.com

For inquiries please contact:

Eric Pergler, Vice President of Sales

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Fifth Eye Inc
FitStack offers a SaaS-based platform  supporting both cloud native and on-prem environments  to take risk and vulnerability out of application development.

MADISON, Wis., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Varsity Venture Studio  a collaborative venture studio between the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) and venture builder High Alpha Innovation  announced the public launch of FitStack (www.fitstack.dev), a proactive risk management solution for application development teams to address the ongoing challenges in managing software supply chain security.

FitStack Press Release Header

To address these issues, co-founders Roger Cummings (CEO) and Dr. Mohannad Alhanahnah, Ph.D. (CTO) are positioning FitStack to streamline the overall DevSecOps process. Unlike passive tools that merely identify code and container vulnerability and configuration issues, the FitStack platform proactively addresses them, shows developers the changes that have been made, and ensures that modified applications will execute at runtime.

"In today's environment, it's essential for development teams to gain control, limit exposure, and reduce overall risk," explains Cummings. "FitStack is proactively driving security best practices into the earliest stages of the application development lifecycle. We are building FitStack to make sure our solution can fit into everyone's CICD pipeline in the most efficient manner. By reducing application attack surfaces, exposing application vulnerabilities, and generating compliance reports, we are protecting organizations from malicious events and delivering the insight they need to run their business."

Cummings and Alhanahnah bring decades of leadership experience in the data, cloud, networking, and infrastructure computing industries. Cummings is a serial entrepreneur who has led five early-stage companies to successful acquisitions, assisted in raising over $1B in funding while scaling organizations worldwide. He previously served as CEO of Evidence IQ, an evidence-based data intelligence company. Alhanahnah has extensive experience in software security research with a focus on leveraging static analysis, dynamic analysis, and formal methods for securing application and machine learning. He recently completed post-doctoral research in the lab of Dr. Somesh Jha, a professor in the Department of Computer Sciences at UW-Madison and a co-founding advisor to FitStack. They have co-authored several papers on improving application safety, security and privacy.

WARF not only helped launch the company as a partner in Varsity Venture Studio, but also licensed the technology to FitStack. Greg Keenan, Senior Director of WARF Ventures, notes, "Helping campus innovators like Drs. Jha and Alhanahnah bring their patented technology to market delivers on our mission to support the commercialization of UW-Madison research for both commercial and societal impact. We are really excited about the market opportunity the company is addressing and look forward to seeing what the FitStack team accomplishes from here."

"Development teams who aren't addressing risk management are already behind the curve, but they can't do it alone," concludes Elliott Parker, CEO of High Alpha Innovation. "Roger and Mohannad's solution to such a pressing problem is the perfect fit for building a startup via Varsity Venture Studio."

About Varsity Venture Studio

Varsity Venture Studio, a University of Wisconsin-Madison-wide venture studio, turns ideas into funded software businesses. Varsity Venture Studio is a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) and venture builder High Alpha Innovation, and is the first university venture studio of its kind. Learn more about Varsity Venture Studio at varsityventurestudio.com, High Alpha Innovation at highalphainno.com, and about WARF at warf.org.

Media Contact:

Ben Roess

Marketing Associate, High Alpha Innovation

[email protected]

(937)477-9261

SOURCE High Alpha Innovation
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The growing preference for e-commerce online distribution is one of the key drivers supporting the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market growth. Fundamentally, e-commerce platforms allow consumers to collect information and compare various food and beverages, personal care, skincare, cosmetics, and hair care products available on the website. This trend of sharing reviews and feedback on products through e-commerce platforms influences the purchasing behavior of new consumers. Therefore, with the growing trend of online retailing, the sales of FMCG products through online channels are expected to increase globally during the forecast period.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global FMCG Market 2022-2026

The FMCG Market size is expected to grow by USD 310.5 billion from 2021 to 2026. However, the growth momentum of the market will decelerate at a CAGR of 2.27% during the forecast period, according to Technavio.

Technavio has identified key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market, which will help vendors improve their strategies to stay ahead of their competitors. View our FREE PDF Sample Report

FMCG Market 2022-2026: Scope

The FMCG market report covers the following areas:

FMCG Market 2022-2026: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the FMCG Market, including Anheuser Busch InBev SA, Dabur India Ltd., Heineken NV, ITC Ltd., JBS SA, Johnson and Johnson, Kellogg Co., Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., Kimberly Clark Corp., LOreal SA, Mondelez International Inc., Nestle SA, Patanjali Ayurved Ltd., PepsiCo Inc., Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd., The coca-cola co., The Kraft Heinz Co., The Procter and Gamble Co., The Wadia Group, and Unilever PLC.

This report provides a full list of key vendors, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now for detailed vendor information

FMCG Market 2022-2026: Segmentation

FMCG Market is segmented as below:

Type

Food And Beverage



Personal And Beauty Care



Health And Hygiene Care



Home Care

The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market share growth by the food and beverage segment will be significant during the forecast period. Packaged food and frozen food materials are popular among the world's urbanized population. The increased demand for processed foods is fueled by an expanding global middle-class population and an increase in the number of working women. For frozen foods, long shelf life is an important marketing feature. Frozen food makers develop new techniques to extend the shelf life of their products. Therefore, these factors of the food and beverage segment will drive the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market growth during the forecast period.

Subscribe to our"Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000 enables you to download 5 reports and view 100 reports per month

Geography

APAC



North America



Europe



Middle East And Africa



South America

29% of the market's growth will originate from North America during the forecast period. The US is the key market for the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market in North America. Another key region offering significant growth opportunities to vendors is APAC. Rising disposable income will facilitate the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market growth in North America over the forecast period.

Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a FREE PDF Sample Report

FMCG Market 2022-2026: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2022-2026

Detailed information on factors that will assist FMCG market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the FMCG market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the FMCG market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of FMCG market vendors

Related Reports:

Metaverse in FMCG Market by Platform and Geography  Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The metaverse in FMCG market share is expected to increase to USD 2.11 billion from 2021 to 2026.

FMCG logistics market in Europe by Service and Geography  Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025: The FMCG logistics market size in Europe will likely grow by USD 17.15 billion during 2021-2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate during the forecast period.

FMCG Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Decelerate at a CAGR of 2.27% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 310.5 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 2.52 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 29% Key consumer countries US, China, India, Russia, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Anheuser Busch InBev SA, Dabur India Ltd., Heineken NV, ITC Ltd., JBS SA, Johnson and Johnson, Kellogg Co., Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., Kimberly Clark Corp., LOreal SA, Mondelez International Inc., Nestle SA, Patanjali Ayurved Ltd., PepsiCo Inc., Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd., The coca cola co., The Kraft Heinz Co., The Procter and Gamble Co., The Wadia Group, and Unilever PLC Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table Of Contents :

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market Overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Type



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market Definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Type

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Type

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Type



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Type

5.3 Food and beverage - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Food and beverage - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Food and beverage - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Food and beverage - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Food and beverage - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Personal and beauty care - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Personal and beauty care - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Personal and beauty care - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Personal and beauty care - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Personal and beauty care - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Health and hygiene care - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 36: Chart on Health and hygiene care - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Health and hygiene care - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 38: Chart on Health and hygiene care - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Health and hygiene care - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.6 Home care - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 40: Chart on Home care - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Home care - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 42: Chart on Home care - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Home care - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.7 Market opportunity by Type

Exhibit 44: Market opportunity by Type ($ billion)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 45: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 46: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 47: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 48: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 49: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 50: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 52: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 53: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 56: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 57: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 60: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 61: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 63: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 64: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 65: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 67: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 68: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 69: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.8 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 71: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 72: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 73: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 74: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 75: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 76: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 77: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 80: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 Russia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 82: Chart on Russia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 83: Data Table on Russia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 84: Chart on Russia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 85: Data Table on Russia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 86: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 87: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 88: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 89: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 90: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 91: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 92: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 93: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 94: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 95: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 96: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 ITC Ltd.

Exhibit 97: ITC Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 98: ITC Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 99: ITC Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 100: ITC Ltd. - Segment focus

10.4 Johnson and Johnson

Exhibit 101: Johnson and Johnson - Overview



Exhibit 102: Johnson and Johnson - Business segments



Exhibit 103: Johnson and Johnson - Key news



Exhibit 104: Johnson and Johnson - Key offerings



Exhibit 105: Johnson and Johnson - Segment focus

10.5 Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.

Exhibit 106: Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 107: Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 108: Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 109: Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 110: Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. - Segment focus

10.6 Kimberly Clark Corp.

Exhibit 111: Kimberly Clark Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 112: Kimberly Clark Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 113: Kimberly Clark Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 114: Kimberly Clark Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 115: Kimberly Clark Corp. - Segment focus

10.7 LOreal SA

Exhibit 116: LOreal SA - Overview



Exhibit 117: LOreal SA - Business segments



Exhibit 118: LOreal SA - Key news



Exhibit 119: LOreal SA - Key offerings



Exhibit 120: LOreal SA - Segment focus

10.8 Nestle SA

Exhibit 121: Nestle SA - Overview



Exhibit 122: Nestle SA - Business segments



Exhibit 123: Nestle SA - Key news



Exhibit 124: Nestle SA - Key offerings



Exhibit 125: Nestle SA - Segment focus

10.9 PepsiCo Inc.

Exhibit 126: PepsiCo Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 127: PepsiCo Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 128: PepsiCo Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 129: PepsiCo Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 130: PepsiCo Inc. - Segment focus

10.10 The Coca Cola Co.

Exhibit 131: The Coca Cola Co. - Overview



Exhibit 132: The Coca Cola Co. - Business segments



Exhibit 133: The Coca Cola Co. - Key news



Exhibit 134: The Coca Cola Co. - Key offerings



Exhibit 135: The Coca Cola Co. - Segment focus

10.11 The Procter and Gamble Co.

Exhibit 136: The Procter and Gamble Co. - Overview



Exhibit 137: The Procter and Gamble Co. - Business segments



Exhibit 138: The Procter and Gamble Co. - Key news



Exhibit 139: The Procter and Gamble Co. - Key offerings



Exhibit 140: The Procter and Gamble Co. - Segment focus

10.12 Unilever PLC

Exhibit 141: Unilever PLC - Overview



Exhibit 142: Unilever PLC - Business segments



Exhibit 143: Unilever PLC - Key news



Exhibit 144: Unilever PLC - Key offerings



Exhibit 145: Unilever PLC - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 146: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 147: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 148: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 149: Research methodology



Exhibit 150: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 151: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 152: List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
Nicholas McQuaid brings a wealth of high-level government and crisis management experience to the firm's acclaimed White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice

WASHINGTON and NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Latham & Watkins LLP1 is pleased to announce that Nicholas McQuaid has rejoined the firm's Washington, D.C. and New York offices as a partner in the White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice and member of the Litigation & Trial Department. McQuaid most recently served as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the US Department of Justice's Criminal Division. Prior to that, McQuaid led the Criminal Division for the first six months of the Biden Administration, serving as Acting Assistant Attorney General from January to July 2021. With nearly a decade serving in a variety of senior government positions, including Deputy Counsel to President Barack Obama and Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, McQuaid brings impressive credentials and deep white collar experience to Latham.

Nicholas McQuaid

"We are thrilled to welcome Nick back to Latham," said Daniel Lennon, Managing Partner of the firm's Washington, D.C. office. "A thoughtful advisor with incredible talent, Nick's unique combination of experience at the highest levels of government and in private practice will further bolster our team of leading white collar lawyers in D.C., New York, and worldwide."

As Acting Assistant Attorney General and in his most recent role as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General McQuaid supervised the Criminal Division's more than 600 federal prosecutors. He oversaw investigations and prosecutions involving a wide array of criminal violations, including organized and transnational crime, gang violence, securities fraud, healthcare fraud, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations, public corruption, cybercrime, intellectual property theft, money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act violations, child exploitation, international narcotics trafficking, and human rights violations, as well as matters involving international affairs and sensitive law enforcement techniques.

Doug Greenburg, Global Chair of the firm's White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice, added: "Nick has been a leader in each role he served in government and here at Latham. His diverse experience as a senior Justice Department official, Deputy Counsel to the President, federal prosecutor, and defense advocate empowers him to represent clients facing the most difficult enforcement challenges."

McQuaid was previously a partner at Latham from 2017 until he left for the Criminal Division in early 2021. As a partner at Latham, he represented clients in connection with sensitive investigations, crisis management, and government matters. He advised senior executives and boards of directors regarding strategy and their response to such investigations, and also advised on white collar matters arising in the context of corporate transactions.

"Latham's white collar team brings unparalleled experience, sound judgment, and commercial savvy to the most high-stakes matters," said Marc Jaffe, Managing Partner of the firm's New York office. "Nick shares these qualities, and we are excited to welcome him back to the team. Clients will benefit from his intellectual firepower and responsive, hands-on approach to their most complex legal challenges."

Prior to joining Latham in 2017, McQuaid served four and a half years in the White House Counsel's Office during the Obama Administration, handling sensitive litigation and investigation-related matters. He dealt extensively with Congressional committees on a variety of investigations, and prepared numerous senior White House staff and Cabinet officials for Congressional hearings and other forms of testimony. McQuaid also served as a liaison with the DOJ on criminal and civil litigation matters, and advised President Obama and senior White House staff on risk management, ethics, and compliance matters. In addition, McQuaid previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he successfully tried eight cases to verdict, and briefed and argued three appeals before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. There, he led the prosecution of cases involving complex criminal organizations, wire fraud, bank fraud, securities fraud, and money laundering.

McQuaid is another strong addition to the firm's market-leading White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice, following the recent arrivals of former Deputy White House Counsel Danielle Conley and Jonathan Su in Washington, D.C. and leading trial lawyers Christopher Garcia and Raquel Kellert in New York.

"I am excited to rejoin Latham's top-tier white collar team. It is an honor working with some of the most effective advocates in the industry, both those new to the firm and the many I have had the privilege of working with before," said McQuaid. "I look forward to representing clients again with a focus on white collar investigations and litigation, regulatory enforcement matters, congressional investigations, and crisis management."

McQuaid graduated with High Honors from Wesleyan University and received his law degree from Columbia Law School. Upon graduation, he clerked for Judge Denise Cote of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York and then for Judge Robert Katzmann of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

About Latham & Watkins ( lw.com )

Latham & Watkins delivers innovative solutions to complex legal and business challenges around the world. From a global platform, our lawyers advise clients on market-shaping transactions, high-stakes litigation and trials, and sophisticated regulatory matters. Latham is one of the world's largest providers of pro bono services, steadfastly supports initiatives designed to advance diversity within the firm and the legal profession, and is committed to exploring and promoting environmental sustainability.

Notes to Editors

Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA ) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France , Hong Kong , Italy , Singapore , and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan . Latham & Watkins operates in Israel through a limited liability company. Latham & Watkins operates in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office. Latham & Watkins works in cooperation with the Law Office of Salman M. Al-Sudairi in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .

Contacts

Daniel Lennon, Washington, D.C. Office Managing Partner, +1.202.637.2200

Doug Greenburg, White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice Global Chair, +1.202.637.1093

Marc Jaffe, New York Office Managing Partner, +1.212.906.1281

SOURCE Latham & Watkins
Scholarships will support over 282 students at 124 colleges and universities

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) is supporting the next generation of restaurant and foodservice industry talent with over $1 million in 2022 scholarships and individual grants awarded to 282 students from 44 states and territories pursuing post-secondary education at more than 124 colleges and universities.

The NRAEF is supporting the next generation of restaurant industry talent with over $1M in 2022 scholarships. Tweet this Victoria W. is a 2022 scholarship recipient, pursuing culinary arts as a sophomore at Johnson & Wales University. Her scholarship was made possible by The Coca-Cola Scholarship fund.

The 2022 scholarship recipients represent the increasing diversity of the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry, with nearly 60 percent self-identifying as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) and two out of three self-identifying as female. One out of six recipients are members of the military or family of a military member, while 50 percent are the first generation in their families to pursue a post-secondary education. The youngest scholarship recipient is 17, while the oldest is 64. Learn more about the 2022 class of NRAEF scholarship recipients here.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to represent the upcoming generation of future chefs and hospitality leaders. Because of your help and the opportunity to continue learning from our industry's finest, someday I can join them at the table and welcome those who will follow behind. This scholarship is more than money to pay for my education; it's funding the growth of my imagination so that I can contribute things to our industry that we have not seen before," said Victoria W., a sophomore pursuing culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University. Her scholarship was made possible by The Coca-Cola Scholarship Fund.

This year's scholarships are funded by NRAEF's generous partners, including:

Burger King Foundation

The Coca-Cola Company

Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers

Darden Restaurants Foundation

Hormel

The J.M. Smucker Company

PepsiCo

Rachael Ray Foundation

Rich Family Foundation

SPB Foundation

Women's Foodservice Forum

Yum-o!

"We remain deeply grateful for the partnership of so many across our industry who generously support the NRAEF's scholarship program," said Rob Gifford, president of the NRAEF. "These awards make a tangible difference in the lives of recipients, helping to alleviate the financial burden of higher education. Most important, NRAEF scholarships are helping to cultivate the next generation of talent and leadership in our industry."

Over the last 35 years, the NRAEF has awarded more than more than 5,000 scholarships valued at approximately $25 million. Awards range from $2,500 to $10,000 and can be used towards tuition and fees, books, room and board, as well as other school-related expenses. The scholarships have no age restrictions. Learn more at ChooseRestaurants.org/scholarships.

About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF): As the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's (NRAEF) mission of service to the public is dedicated to enhancing the industry's training and education, career development and community engagement efforts. The NRAEF and its programs work to Attract, Empower and Advance today's and tomorrow's restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs include: ProStart  a high-school career and technical education program; Restaurant Ready  partnering with community based organizations to provide "opportunity youth" with skills training and job opportunities; Military  helping military servicemen and women transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers; Scholarships  financial assistance for students pursuing restaurant, foodservice and hospitality degrees; and the Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center (RHLC)  accredited apprenticeship programs designed to build the careers of service professionals. For more information on the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org.

Click here for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's 2021 Annual Impact Report.

SOURCE National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
Fundraising platform achieves record-setting milestone

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GiveSmart by Community Brands , the industry's leading fundraising software for nonprofits, associations, and K-12 schools, reached an unprecedented milestone in its history by raising over $1 billion during the 2022 calendar year.

The $1 billion total combines fundraising figures from over 8,000 associations, nonprofits, associations, and schools executing more than 27,000 campaigns that received over 1.8 million individual donations. GiveSmart and its partners achieved the historic mark in the year's first 10 months and ahead of Giving Tuesday, which kicks off the busiest giving season of the year.

"We celebrate this exciting milestone in GiveSmart's history," said GiveSmart General Manager Steve Greanias. "Surpassing $1 billion is a remarkable feat. That donation total provides an immeasurable amount of research, number of meals, and additional impactful initiatives to the various nonprofits, associations, and K-12 schools fulfilling missions. It is a testament to the hard-working staff, volunteers, and donors who dedicate countless hours to supporting their communities."

GiveSmart helps nonprofits, associations, and K-12 schools nurture and build lasting and meaningful connections with their donors and is trusted to help make Giving Tuesday and beyond impactful for their missions.

Learn more about fundraising smarter with GiveSmart and access Giving Tuesday resources at givesmart.com.

About Community Brands

Community Brands is the leading provider of cloud-based software and payment solutions to associations, nonprofits, and K-12 schools. Specifically for charitable nonprofits and schools, the Community Brands Education and Nonprofit portfolio provides the industry's most complete set of software solutions for nonprofits and K-12 schools of all sizes. Nonprofits benefit from award-winning fund accounting and fundraising solutions, purpose-built from the ground up to empower them to achieve and grow their impact in our communities. Paired with a complete set of K-12 solutions encompassing enrollment management, financial aid, student information systems, and digital payments, schools are empowered to raise funds and deliver on their missions. To learn more, visit communitybrands.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn .

About GiveSmart

GiveSmart is a mobile bidding, fundraising, event management, and donor management software. Our mission is to help nonprofits, schools, and foundations reach their fundraising goals while creating an engaging, exciting, and easy giving experience for their donors. All. Year. Round. GiveSmart has helped our partners raise over $5.2 billion. Learn more at givesmart.com .



Media Contact: David Brauer, Manager, PR & Influencer Marketing  [email protected]

SOURCE Community Brands
Notable neuroscience authority, Michael L. Platt, will further GlassView's mission of developing deeper connections between brands and audiences through the real-time understanding of consumers' fundamental motivations

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GlassView, the world's largest independent video advertising distribution platform, today announced that Michael L. Platt, director of Wharton Neuroscience Initiative and co-founder of neuroscience wearables company, Cogwear, will join its Advisory Board. Platt, who has led extensive research about the biological mechanisms that underlie decision-making and their applications to business, will lend his expertise to GlassView's ongoing work to build brand-consumer connections at the deepest levels.

Platt received his B.A at Yale and his Ph.D. at Penn, both in anthropology, and did a post-doctoral fellowship in neuroscience at NYU. His work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense, among others. Platt is the former Director of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences and the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at Duke, and the founding Co-Director of the Duke Center for Neuroeconomic Studies. He currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Boards of several companies, as well as the Yang-Tan Autism Centers at MIT and Harvard, and has served on the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Brain Science.

"While marketing and consumer motivation have historically been relegated to the softer sciences like sociology and psychology, Professor Platt's renowned work in neuroscience and neuromarketing provides us with ways to understand why people do what they do from a biological and even molecular level," says James Brooks, CEO and Founder of GlassView. "We are ecstatic to have Professor Platt join our board to help us build out unique offerings for our client base. The fact that he's already working with Fortune 100 brands and the department of Defense adds a level of credibility that's truly priceless."

Platt's aspirations to take brain research outside the lab and make it possible anywhere, evidenced by the development of Cogwear, aligns with GlassView's goals of being able to scale a privacy-first means of understanding the neurological connections forged through marketing. Cogwear's comfortable wearable technology delivers clinical-grade cognitive feedback, powered by nanotechnology sensors, machine learning, and breakthrough science.

"The marketing industry needs increased effectiveness and efficiency, and biometrics and neuroscience provide a largely untapped opportunity to achieve those goals," says Platt. "GlassView is a proven best-in-class marketing delivery platform. I have been looking for an opportunity like this to bring my research and expertise to large scale audiences for the benefit of health, welfare and business."

GlassView is committed to progressing performance in video advertising through innovative technologies. The company recently launched GlassView Smart Gamma, based on strategies used in finance and algorithmic trading, that uses predictive modeling to control for the point of diminishing returns and optimizes toward the highest lifetime value customers.

About GlassView

GlassView's mission is to drive performance through video advertising. We work with over 80 of the top Fortune 100 Global Brands, offering access to over 2.6 billion unique users worldwide, and over 280 million unique users in the United States, reaching 98% of the connected country.

Through emotion-based targeting and optimization, high frequency trading (SmartGamma) and delivery across connected devices, GlassView is best known for its performance.

Leadership includes Renaud Dutreil, former Chairman of LVMH North America, who previously held several ministerial positions in the highest levels of French Government; Conde Nast former Executive Stephanie Newhouse; Chien Chung (Didi) Pei, chairman of the China Institute and partner in the legendary Pei Partnership Architects; Beauty and Well Being Founder & Editor Clemence von Mueffling; Jim Porcarelli, Co-founder of MediaCom North America; CBS Revenue & Operations Executive Director Dennis Colon; Candy Pratts Price, previously Creative Director for Vogue.com.

Launched in 2014, GlassView has headquarters in Dallas, with offices in New York City, Tokyo, Singapore, London, and Paris, among other locations.

For more information on GlassView, please visit www.glassview.com.

SOURCE GlassView
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

Report Scope:

This report analyzes different product types, connectivity types, applications, sales channels, vehicle types, and regional market development of automotive telematics. Furthermore, we also segment the market analysis by major countries in this report, such as the U.S., China, Germany, and others where the opportunities for automotive telematics are lucrative.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06359255/?utm_source=PRN

The report is prepared in a simple, easy-to-understand format; tables and figures are included to illustrate historical, current and future market scenarios.The report also covers leading companies with information on product types, business footprint, revenue, etc.

We have also included a list of other companies in global and regional markets. As well, the report includes a patent analysis for the automotive telematics market, which represents a significant investment area for investors.

The report incorporates the impact of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war on the global and regional markets.

In this report 2021 is used as the market's base year, estimated values are provided for 2022, and the market values are forecast for the period of 2022 to 2027. All market values are provided in billions of dollars, and market shares and CAGRs are provided in percentages.

Report Includes:

- 31 data tables and 21 additional tables

- A detailed review and up-to-date assessment of the global markets for automotive telematics

- Analyses of the global market trends, with market revenue data for 2021, estimates for 2022, forecasts for 2023 and 2025, and projections of five year compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2027

- Highlights of the market potential for automotive telematics, industry growth drivers, and areas of focus to forecast the global PCB market into various segments and sub-segments

- Estimation of the actual market size and market forecast for automotive telematics in dollar value terms, and corresponding market share analysis by product type, connectivity, application, vehicle type, sales channel, and geographic region

- In-depth information (facts and figures) concerning market drivers, market deterrents and other macroeconomic forces affecting the current and future market outlook

- Discussion of the industry value chain analysis providing a systematic study of key intermediaries involved, with emphasis on manufacturers, suppliers, and major users of these products

- Holistic review of the impact of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war on the global and regional markets for automotive telematics

- A relevant patent analysis with significant allotments of patents on automotive telematics technology

- Updated information on recent mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, agreements, collaborations, joint ventures, and market expansions in the automotive telematics industry

- Identification of the major stakeholders and analysis of the competitive landscape based on recent developments and segmental revenues

- Descriptive company profiles of the leading global players, including Cartrack, LG Electronics, Zonar Systems and Verizon Connect

Summary:

The telematics market is continuously growing due to growing demand by drivers and fleet managers for more connectivity and vehicle and driver monitoring features in vehicles.Often, telematics users can pay for services on a subscription model according to desired telematics features.

Due to the market's growth software companies are investing in this business.Furthermore, automotive vehicle manufacturers and hardware manufacturers are working collaboratively to include new and desired systems in new automobiles.

There is also a wide variety of end users interested in the data collected through telematics, such as insurance and risk assessment companies.

Consumers have two ways to access telematics services, either as original equipment installed in new vehicles or via the aftermarket.OEM telematics systems are highly reliable, low in cost (usually included in the vehicle's price), and subscription services are typically free for one year after purchase of the car.

Commercial fleet managers often look to the aftermarket for appropriate telematics systems. Aftermarket companies such as Geotab, the leader in commercial telematics, offers systems for vehicle monitoring and other packages.

The OEM segment is also driven by government regulations. For example, the federal governments of the U.S. and Canada have mandated use of ELDs (Electronic Logging Devices). An ELD is a device used in commercial trucks to track drivers' hours of service (HOS). ELD technology automatically records a driver's driving time and other aspects of their HOS records, allowing for more accessible, more accurate HOS recordkeeping. In the U.S., it has been mandatory to use ELD since December 2017, while in Canada the same mandate was implemented in June 2021.

OEM companies offer two connectivity options in their vehicles, embedded and integrated.The embedded option is highly compatible with in-vehicle technology. Integrated connectivity offers drivers the option, for example, to connect their smartphone with the vehicle's infotainment system.

In the coming years, the telematics companies engaged in software and services expect higher revenue growth than the hardware manufacturers. At the same time, the hardware side will continue to grow due to increased software-driven technologies that require highly advanced hardware, such as AIpowered dashboard cameras. Many fleet managers are using telematics services to reduce their insurance premiums.These managers share vehicle use-related data with vehicle insurance companies. Based on their analysis of vehicle risk assessment, insurance companies may reduce premiums by up to REDACTED%.

According to BCC Research's estimates, by the end of 2027, the global value of the automotive telematics market is expected to reach $REDACTED billion. The market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of REDACTED% during the forecast period.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06359255/?utm_source=PRN

About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001

SOURCE Reportlinker
ANYANG, China, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- It all starts with the Yinxu Ruins, home to the remains of wooden structures, a palace and royal tombs, as well as smaller objects such as bronze ritual vessels, jade and bone carvings, ceramics and the oracle bones - inscribed with the earliest evidence of the Chinese written language.

Why is the oracle bone script seen as China's earliest writing system? What events was this script used to record? The Global Times talked to various scholars and archaeologists to find the answers to these questions and take readers into the world of the late Shang Dynasty.

"The discovery of oracle bone inscriptions at the Yinxu Ruins had profound cultural significance," Chen Lusheng, a renowned museologist and researcher at the National Museum of China, told the Global Times on Sunday.

He explained that oracle bone inscriptions mainly recorded the social development, economic status and daily lives of people, thereby allowing researchers to better understand the society of the late Shang Dynasty.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, inspected the Yinxu Ruins, the last capital of the Shang Dynasty (c.1600BC-1046BC), in Anyang, Central China's Henan Province, on Friday.

"I have long yearned to visit here. This time I came here for further study and to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese civilization so that we can make the past serve the present, and draw inspiration for building an even better modern Chinese civilization," he said.

Xi also noted that the oracle bone inscriptions, or jiaguwen, unearthed at the Yinxu Ruins are important evidence of the Chinese written language 3,000 years ago that helped push the date of written Chinese history up by nearly 1,000 years. Chinese characters are extraordinary and have served as a keystone in the formation and development of the Chinese nation. Archaeologists have done a great job in researching their origins. "With a long and continuous history stretching back to antiquity, Chinese civilization shaped our great nation, and this nation will continue to be great," Xi added.

Mature system

First discovered in 1899, oracle bone inscriptions were included on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2017. Around 160,000 oracle bones have been found so far, but of the 4,300 characters inscribed on them, only 1,600 have been decoded, according to a report from the Xinhua News Agency.

Oracle bones were used during divination rites and ceremonies worshiping the gods held by the late Shang people.

During these rites, the diviner would pose a question and then take a hot poker and apply it to the bones, mainly turtle plastrons (the hard undershell) and ox scapulas (shoulder bones). The heat from the poker would cause cracks to appear on the bones and these cracks would then be interpreted to determine the answer to the question.

To keep a record of the ceremony, Chinese characters were carved onto the bones, with these inscriptions ranging from less than 10 characters to over 100 characters in rare cases.

According to Sun Guoding, a Beijing-based archaeologist specializing in the Shang Dynasty, the inscriptions cover all aspects of Shang Dynasty society, from religious ceremonies and the affairs of kings to the weather and harvests, as well as births, illnesses and deaths in the royal family.

This detailed information has provided invaluable insight into late Shang Dynasty civilization as well as society.

While oracle bones were mainly used for divination purposes, Yang Yimin, an oracle bone researcher, told the Global Times that the writing system was already very mature, which hints at an even earlier origin for Chinese characters.

As one of the earliest known Chinese scripts, oracle bone inscriptions are extremely important for research into the original configuration of Chinese characters and early grammar.

Continuous line

Traditionally, what is known about the history of the Shang Dynasty was recorded in texts written centuries after the reign of its kings came to an end.

In this respect, the discovery of the oracle bone inscriptions was extremely significant because they helped confirm, and in some cases correct, the events and history laid out in ancient texts such as the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220) Records of the Grand Historian, China's first biographical history work.

"They advanced the history of Chinese civilization recorded in writing by 1,000 years," Liu Zheng, a member of the China Cultural Relics Academy, told the Global Times.

"At the Xiaoshuangqiao Ruins in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, we have found another type of written language documented in cinnabar pigment on pottery dating to 100 years earlier than oracle bones," said Sun.

"The two look incredibly similar, which demonstrates the continuity of Chinese civilization. The civilization of the Central Plains was always evolving," Sun added.

The future of archaeology

Many of the oracle bones have been scattered across the world over the past century, making it more difficult for researchers to study them.

Fortunately, since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Chinese experts have published three books on the ancient scripts, compiling over 70,000 oracle bones.

The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences is working with public and private collectors around the country to compile details of another 10,000 oracle bones for further research, says the Xinhua report.

The Anyang-based National Museum of Chinese Writing, which opened in 2009, has made the inscriptions more popular with younger people, thereby becoming "an important way to inherit and develop the Yinxu Ruins' oracle bone inscription culture and Chinese character culture," according to Liu.

The discoveries at the Yinxu Ruins have had a profound influence but there are still many secrets waiting for younger generations of researchers to explore. At present, Chinese archeology has developed diverse high-tech excavation and research methods, which create unlimited prospects for researching the Yinxu Ruins, Chen said.

"Promoting the archaeological achievements at the Yinxu Ruins is also very important, especially for furthering young people's understanding of history and stimulating their interest in archaeology. They are the future of Chinese archaeology," Chen added.

SOURCE Global Times
BAODING, China, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 31st, GWM ORA launched a pure electric model called Lightning Cat (for the Chinese market) in China, which was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show 2022 recently.

At the launch event, Dong Yudong, CEO of the ORA brand, introduced highlights of the new car to the public. He was also awarded the CATARC (China Automotive Technology & Research Center) TOP Safety "Collision Challenge Certificate" for Lightning Cat which was issued by Zhang Jinhuan from the China Society of Automotive Engineers.

GWM ORA Lightning Cat Rolled Out with Emphasis on Safety

Earlier, the Lightning Cat was tested by the CATARC about high-speed spiral rollover and falling. The test was taken at an authorized site of the CATARC. Before it began, the model's intelligent assisted driving functions were all turned off. Then, it was operated by a robot to run at 60km/h towards the spiral single-sided bridge and caused a huge crash that made the car roll 540 and fell into the pit. The maximum drop in the test was over 6 meters.

After the test, the occupant compartment of the model remained well and provided enough living space for passengers to survive an accident. The structure inside the battery pack is intact and no electrolyte leakage or spontaneous combustion was observed after 24 hours left to stand.

ORA Lightning Cat adopts a cage-like car structure. Its body is made of high-strength steel. The advanced hot-stamped steel with a maximum strength of 2,000 MPa was adopted for the model's A/B pillars. All these can ensure the safety of the vehicle and occupants in case of a crash.

The Worry-free Battery of the model also passed 4 special CATARC safety tests for batteries under extreme conditions. There was no fire or explosion caused by pin-prick, fire, and other tests.

Various intelligent functions of driving assistance, which were turned off in the test, are also highlights of the ORA Lightning Cat. It is equipped with ORA-PILOT 3.0 intelligent driving assistance system, which can smartly identify vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, and others through its cameras and radars. In case of an unsafe distance from the obstacles, the system can automatically make an alarm and take emergency measures to reduce the risk.

The design of its exterior, power system, and other attractive features were also displayed at the launch event. With a super streamlined aesthetic design, the model boasts an ultra-low drag coefficient of 0.22Cd. It is equipped with an adaptive electric rear spoiler, which automatically unfolds when the speed is above 70km/h to quickly separate the rear airflow. ORA Lightning Cat is sold in various versions on the Chinese market, including one with dual electric motors and a four-wheel-drive system, which offers a maximum power of 300kW and a maximum torque of 680Nm.

GWM ORA is expected to bring more high-quality pure electric models to global users, and provide a cleaner, safer, and smarter travel experiences.

SOURCE GWM
The two Point32Health health plans are among the first organizations nationally to achieve the accreditation

CANTON, Mass., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan, both Point32Health companies, have earned Full Health Equity Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).1

"Health equity is a top priority for Point32Health and we are incredibly honored by this recognition from the NCQA, in our second year as a combined organization," said Cain Hayes, president and CEO of Point32Health. "Point32Health will continue to develop new and innovative programs and initiatives to drive health equity and help fulfill our purpose of ensuring our communities have access to equitable, high-quality and affordable health care."

According to the NCQA, Health Equity Accreditation focuses on the foundation of health equity work, including: building an internal culture that supports the organization's external health equity work; collecting data that help the organization create and offer language services and provider networks mindful of individuals' cultural and linguistic needs; and identifying opportunities to reduce health inequities and improve care.

Point32Health's health equity vision is that all people have the opportunity to attain their full health potential, and no one is disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of social position or any other socially defined circumstance. The company works to invest in the resources, infrastructure, and programs to address inequities and disparities. To date, Point32Health has developed more than 70 initiatives to address health equity across the organization, positioning Point32Health to best address disparities in its member population and the communities it serves. Examples of this work includes provider contractual agreements targeting the reduction of health disparities, programs focused on maternal health, renal disease, and rural health access.

About Point32Health

Point32Health is a leading health and wellbeing organization, delivering an ever-better health care experience to everyone in our communities. Building on the quality, nonprofit heritage of our founding organizations, Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, we leverage our experience and expertise to help people find their version of healthier living through a broad range of health plans and tools that make navigating health and wellbeing easier.

Our programs take a 360-degree view of health for our membersno matter their age, health, race, identity or income. Our Institute works to improve population healthand our Foundation works with communities to support, advocate and advance healthier lives for everyone. We use empathy to understand what's important to those we serve, always making their priorities our own. And we work to guide and empower people by bringing together wide-ranging partners and perspectives to create new approaches that make a real difference for our community, our industry and our 2.2 million members across New England.

About NCQA

NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA Accredits and Certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also Recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA's website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make informed health care choices. To learn more about NCQA's work to improve health equity, please visit www.ncqa.org/health-equity. NCQA can also be found at Twitter @ncqa and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncqa.

1 Accredited products include Harvard Pilgrim Health Care's Commercial Combined (HMO / POS) MA / ME and Exchange (HMO) MA / ME plans, as well as Tufts Health Plan's Medicaid and Exchange HMO plans.

SOURCE Point32Health
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Heffernan Financial Services, a division of Heffernan Insurance Brokers, expanded its footprint by acquiring Investment Solutions Group located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jerome Pfeffer founded Investment Solutions Group in 1999 and joined Heffernan Financial Services effective September 1, 2022. Investment Solutions Group is the first office in the state of New Mexico for Heffernan Insurance Brokers and is Heffernan's 18th office overall.

Pfeffer has more than 27 years' experience in the industry specializing in retirement plan consulting and wealth management advisory services. He is experienced in developing qualified and non-qualified retirement plans for the medical profession, non-profit hospitals and charitable organizations. Similar to Heffernan Financial Services, the advisors at Investment Solutions Group are registered representatives with, and offer securities through, LPL Financial.

"We're excited to bring Jerome on board to bring his vast knowledge and experience to our Financial Services Team," said Blake Thibault, Managing Director of Heffernan Retirement Services. "We look forward to growing our presence in the Southwest as Jerome has been a staple to New Mexico for over 27 years."

"I'm looking forward to working with a highly regarded firm, which is a great fit for my clients and where I can contribute my experience." said Jerome Pfeffer, now Vice President of Heffernan Financial Services.

About Heffernan Financial Services

Heffernan Financial Services is a full-service financial services firm, offering strategies and solutions for corporations, foundations, and individuals. With a dedicated team focused solely on retirement plans, the group has over seventy-five years of experience in consulting and advisory services.

Heffernan Financial Services believes that all employees deserve the ability to retire on their terms as a reward for a lifetime of hard work. They champion this cause by working with clients to create a comprehensive retirement plan. Being both vendor and investment neutral, Heffernan Retirement Services acts as your true independent consultant.

For more information, visit heffgroupfs.com.

The financial consultants at Heffernan Financial Services are registered representatives with, and securities and Retirement Plan Consulting Program advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, member FINRA/SIPC. Other advisory services offered through Global Retirement Partners, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Global Retirement Partners, LLC, Heffernan Retirement Services, Heffernan Financial Services, Heffernan Insurance Brokers and Investment Solutions Group are separate non-affiliated entities from LPL Financial.

SOURCE Heffernan Financial Services
PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- I Peace, Inc. (https://www.ipeace.com) announced that the company has agreed to join the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine's (CIRM) Industry Resource Partner Program to pave way for the provision of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) iPSCs for various research programs funded by CIRM. I Peace has been providing GMP Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) for a variety of cell therapy developers and pharmaceutical companies in the past several years and we believe this wonderful partnership with CIRM reflects the high-quality of our cell products and accompanying services.

I Peace is providing access to excellent quality, well-characterized iPSC lines via I Peace's proprietary technologies and profound iPSC expertise, I Peace is offering research-grade iPSCs derived from GMP iPSCs to CIRM's Discovery pursuit stage research projects for product development in regenerative medicine. CIRM awardees will also have access to I Peace GMP manufacturing services for CIRM Translational and Clinical Stage projects.

Supported by $5.5 billion in funding from the state of California, CIRM has funded 82 clinical trials and is backing more than 152 active regenerative medicine research projects spanning candidate discovery through phase III clinical trials.

The I Peace cell manufacturing facility is certified as cGMP compliant and listed on the FDA "Drug Establishments Current Registration Site." The registration recognizes I Peace's cell manufacturing facility as suitable for drug manufacturing, based on detailed information submitted to the FDA. Comprehensive details of clinical-grade iPSC manufacturing are registered in the FDA Drug Master File (DMF). The facility registration, along with DMF registration and GMP certification provides peace of mind to clients looking to use our iPSCs for clinical and commercial use in the United States, Japan, and other global markets. I Peace's listing on the FDA Drug Establishments Current Registration Site helps our clients obtain information for FDA approval by simply referencing the FDA Establishment Identifier (FEI).

The current facility was certified by a third party as GMP compliant, and the current GMP certification pertains to: ICH-Q7, a global guideline for the manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients; 21 CFR 210/211, US regulations for manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding of drugs, and for finished pharmaceuticals and; 21 CFR 1271, US regulations for human cell and tissue products. The facility was also awarded a permit in 2020 by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare to manufacture specific cell-based products.

I Peace, inc.

I Peace, inc. offers global GMP iPSC manufacturing and CDMO services. The company was founded in 2015 by Koji Tanabe, a graduate of Professor Shinya Yamanaka's laboratory at Kyoto University and the second author of the paper that reported the successful establishment of the world's first human iPS cell line. Tanabe has been involved in iPS cell research since the early days of its development and is constantly working on innovative technical development to make iPS cells accessible to everyone through I Peace, Inc.

Our unique technologies allow us to produce multiple donor-derived iPS cells in parallel and enable us to minimize contamination concerns and to provide a large number of iPS cells at competitive prices. Our global cGMP facility is fully compliant with 21 CFR 210/211 and ICH Q7 FDA(US) and PMDA (Japan) registered and listed EudraLex compliant. Our cell products have been trusted by numerous pharmaceutical companies and cell therapeutics development companies. We also provide personal iPSC banking services for individuals. Our core belief is that everyone in the world will have the access to their own iPS cells for their cell therapies.

I Peace, Inc.

Founder & CEO: Koji Tanabe

Established: 2015

Headquarter: Palo Alto, California, U.S.A.

Subsidiary in Japan: I Peace, Ltd., Kyoto

iPS cell manufacturing base: Peace Engine Kyoto, Kyoto

Website: https://www.ipeace.com

SOURCE I Peace, Inc.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), a leader in advanced composites design, manufacturing, technical innovation, and workforce development, today announced that Chad Duty has been named as the organization's Chief Executive Officer (CEO). An engineering professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT), and joint faculty member at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Duty will immediately begin transitioning into his new role as CEO of IACMI and fully assume the role by April 1, 2023.

Chad Duty, IACMI CEO

"We are pleased to welcome Chad as the new CEO of IACMI," said Maha Krishnamurthy, interim president for the University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF). UTRF is the sole corporate member of Collaborative Composite Solutions Corporation, the non-profit organization which operates IACMI. "Chad's strong background in advanced manufacturing research, technical management, strategic planning, industrial collaborations, and working with a variety of stakeholders and funding agencies makes him well positioned to lead this organization in the future."

Duty, who will continue as a professor at UT, said he is excited for the opportunity to build upon IACMI's accomplishments. "We have a great team and outstanding members and partners who are pursuing highly innovative approaches to advanced composites that will help to secure the future of American manufacturing," Duty said.

Dale Brosius, IACMI's Chief Commercialization Officer (CCO) and interim CEO, will continue to lead the full-scale daily operations of the institute until Duty assumes the CEO role. Brosius will also continue in his roles as CCO and executive director of the IACMI Consortium.

Krishnamurthy recognized Brosius for the leadership he has provided as interim CEO, a position he has held since April of this year. "Dale has provided stability to the IACMI leadership role, playing a key part in growing and serving our consortium membership and driving innovation in manufacturing to enable a more sustainable and more competitive U.S. economy," she said.

Duty comes to IACMI with more than 20 years of research experience in advanced manufacturing  spanning technologies in thin film processing, printed electronics, solar energy, and additive manufacturing of polymer composites. Before joining the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace & Biomedical Engineering at UT in 2015, Duty served as a research scientist and group leader at ORNL, beginning in 2004, and helped to establish the Department of Energy's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at ORNL. Duty began his career as a senior aeronautical engineer at Lockheed Martin. He has a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech and bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech.

Established by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2015, IACMI has managed more than 60 collaborative and industry-led technical projects with greater than $200 million collectively in research and development value, leading to the commercialization of at least 15 new products. In addition, through this initiative, more than $400 million has been invested in a broad system of open-access facilities for demonstration at scale in eight states. Further, IACMI has engaged more than 9,000 individuals in composites training and STEM outreach and has placed more than 100 university interns.

Through collaboration with industry, academia, and national laboratories, IACMI projects have demonstrated faster cycle times and lower costs for composite materials and structures, decreased carbon intensity, and increased the recyclability of composites.

About IACMI  The Composites Institute

IACMI  The Composites Institute is a 130-plus member community of industry, universities, national laboratories, and federal, state, and local government agencies working together to accelerate advanced composites design, manufacturing, technical innovation, and workforce solutions to enable a cleaner and more sustainable, more secure, and more competitive U.S. economy. IACMI is managed by the Collaborative Composite Solutions Corporation (CCS), a not-for-profit organization established by The University of Tennessee Research Foundation. A Manufacturing USA institute, IACMI is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Manufacturing Office, as well as key state and industry partners. Visit www.iacmi.org and follow IACMI on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

SOURCE IACMI - The Composites Institute
Report Also Details Key Practices to Support the Shifting Global Labor Market

Virtual Future Tech Forum with Leading Experts to Take Place 7 December 2022 as Complement to Report Release

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The IEEE Industry Engagement Committee today published its latest report, Future of Workforce (FoW), revealing the top trends and technologies shaping tomorrow's global technological workforce. The report, a result of two years of research led by a team of IEEE experts and informed by leading technology professionals, also identifies the primary practices necessary to support and foster the continued growth and development of the new labor market.

The IEEE Industry Engagement Committee today published the Future of Workforce report on trends and technologies shaping tomorrows global technological workforce. (PRNewsfoto/IEEE Computer Society)

"The COVID-19 pandemic upended many facets of the ways in which we work," said Dejan Milojicic, distinguished technologist at Hewlett Packard Labs and former IEEE Computer Society (CS) president (2014). "While some aspects of our work environment have returned to pre-pandemic ways, many others have not, and evidence suggests that they won't. Given IEEE CS's commitment to the continued development and advancement of the global tech community, it was important to identify the factors influencing the 'new normal' to ensure we can support and encourage the workforce of tomorrow. The findings from the Future of Workforce Report allow us to do just that."

Based on the results of expert-led panel events held in 10 regions across the globe featuring a representative mix of technological professionals, and a comprehensive survey of IEEE Members on aspects of the future of the workforce, the FoW Report uncovered a number of recurring trends and key factors that have impacted and will continue to affect the future of the technological workforce. Findings include the rise of emerging economies (economic perspective); global warming (ecological perspective); more remote offices and the distance economy (technological perspective) and increased expectation of trust and ethical behaviors (societal perspective).

Additionally, the report revealed some of the top technological advancements transforming and enabling the workforce of tomorrow. Key innovations/developments identified include Bring Your Own Device (BYOD); Artificial Intelligence (AI) as knowledge; quantum computing; and smart building and smart cities, to name a few.

Not only does the FoW Report present findings, but it also proposes actionable practices that the larger ecosystem, including industry professionals, governments, academia, and professional organizations, should embrace to support the emerging workforce. For industry, the report recommends finding ways to foster innovation and creativity in remote settings. For governments, a recommendation is to increase resources to support behavioral skills training. For academia, the report points to the importance of developing teachers with strong intercultural awareness, emotional intelligence, and ethical and critical thinking. And for professional organizations, the report suggests growing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts to help improve equity in labor markets as a means to support the workforce of the future.

"Ultimately what we've found is that it's not just a single action or one set of individuals that will be most successful in engaging, supporting, and growing the evolving workforce," said Tom Coughlin, President of Coughlin Associates and a lead Future of Workforce Report author. "It's going to take the full community engaging in a variety of ongoing activities and measures, consistent with the local culture and particular industry segment, to ensure that the workforce, and the industry itself, will continue to thrive."

"The Future of Workforce Report serves as a powerful tool for the global computer science and engineering community as we all seek to adapt to and support the future of the workforce," said Nita Patel, 2023 IEEE CS President. "It is our hope that the community can leverage this information and act upon it to help ensure the continued success and advancement of solutions that better serve our world."

The full FoW Report, including high-level summaries from the regional panel events and aggregate data from the IEEE Member survey, can be found at https://www.computer.org/resources/future-of-workforce-report.

Complementing the release of this report will be a free, live virtual Future Tech Forum roundtable to be held 7 December 2022 from 10 am to 11:30 am ET. Jointly organized by IEEE Future Directions and Computer Society, the roundtable will feature expert speakers including Dejan Milojicic as moderator, and Mercy Chelangat, electrical and humanitarian engineer and IEEE ambassador; Roxana Saint-Nom, electrical engineer and senior member of IEEE; Phillip Laplante, professor of software and systems engineering at The Pennsylvania State University, and Nita Patel, as panelists. To register for the Forum, visit https://bit.ly/FTFwork2022.

About the Future of Workforce Report

The Future of Workforce (FoW) Report is the result of findings from the IEEE FoW Survey and 10 FoW panel events held in Singapore, China, India, Europe, Sub-Sharan Africa, Latin America, Canada, and the Northeast, Southwest, and Midwest United States. Conducted between December 2020 and September 2021, the survey was completed by approximately 1,500 IEEE Members, and 184 individuals from various sectors including industry, academia, and government, participated in the FoW events. Event participants ranged in gender, age, education level, and area of expertise. While the report is an aggregate representation of the views expressed by survey and event participants, information has been distilled and may not exactly reflect the original input. The Report is authored by Martin Arlitt, principal research scientist and research team manager at Micro Focus; Tom Coughlin, President of Coughlin Associates; Paolo Faraboschi, fellow at Hewlett Packard Labs; Eitan Frachtenberg, visiting associate professor of computer science at Reed College; Phil Laplante, professor of software and systems engineering at The Pennsylvania State University; Dejan Milojicic, distinguished technologist at Hewlett Packard Labs and former IEEE CS president (2014); Nita Patel, 2023 Computer Society President; and Roberto Saracco, IEEE 2022 New Initiatives Committee Chair and co-Chair of the Digital Reality Initiative. For more information about the FoW report, visit https://www.computer.org/resources/future-of-workforce-report.

About the IEEE Future Tech Forum

The IEEE Future Tech Forum is a series of audience-engaging roundtable discussions with a focus on leading technologies, frontline issues, crucial challenges, and societal impacts; with global subject-matter experts and thought leaders. Sponsored by IEEE Future Directions, the initiative fosters partnerships and conversations with industry, academia, and government, and also showcases Future Directions initiatives. To learn more, visit https://cmte.ieee.org/futuredirections/future-tech-forum.

About the IEEE Computer Society

Engaging computer engineers, scientists, academia, and industry professionals from all areas of computing, the IEEE Computer Society (CS) sets the standard for the education and engagement that fuels continued global technological advancement. Through conferences, publications, and programs, and by bringing together computer science and engineering leaders at every phase of their career for dialogue, debate, and collaboration, IEEE CS empowers, shapes, and guides the future of not only its members, but the greater industry, enabling new opportunities to better serve our world. Visit computer.org for more information.

SOURCE IEEE Computer Society
MIAMI, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2nd annual iHeart4Kids Radiothon, hosted by iHeartMedia in South Florida, raised a record-breaking $131,174 (and counting!) on Thursday, far exceeding last year's proceeds, to benefit the patients and families of Nicklaus Children's Hospital.

If you missed the radiothon, you can still give today by texting MIAMIKIDS to 51555! Tweet this Miracle Makers answer calls during the 2nd annual iHeart4Kids Radiothon in support of Nicklaus Children's Hospital. DJ Laz and Kimmy B broadcast live from Nicklaus Children's Hospital.

The daylong fundraising event aired on 93.9 MIA and NewsRadio 610 WIOD, which shared heart-warming stories from Nicklaus Children's patients, families, staff and supporters to help benefit kids in our community and beyond. This was the first year that DJ Laz and Kimmy B from 93.9 MIA broadcast live from the lobby of Nicklaus Children's Hospital with guests, including Nicklaus Children's Healthy Humor clowns, pet therapy dogs and more!

"This radiothon is truly special because iHeartMedia and Nicklaus Children's Hospital serve the same community," said Tony Yip, senior vice president of sales at iHeartMedia Miami Fort Lauderdale. "They are our listeners and they are Nicklaus Children's patients, and so it's all about coming together and helping families who need assistance to care for their child."

"Last year, we raised $75,000 to benefit the patients and families of Nicklaus Children's. With the help of all of our friends in the community, we raised the bar even higher this year with record funds raised," said Matthew A. Love, president and CEO of Nicklaus Children's Health System. "We want to thank iHeartMedia, our sponsors and all of our loyal donors for their generosity. These funds will be critical to us in providing continue to provide amazing patient care at our hospital and network of outpatient centers in the future."

This year's iHeart4Kids Radiothon is presented by Kroger. Other sponsors include Aflac, Florida RX Card, PCS, Lehman Subaru, J.P. Morgan Chase, Margaritaville at Sea, Mariquitas Plantain Chips, Florida Blue, Dunkin', Jersey Mike's, and Shake Shack.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital relies on community support to continue providing amazing patient care to kids across our community and around the world. The hospital serves as a safety net hospital for underserved families in our community, with 70 percent of its patients insured by Medicaid.

If you missed the radiothon, you can still give today by texting MIAMIKIDS to 51555!

Learn more at www.nicklauschildrens.org/radiothon.

About Nicklaus Children's Hospital

Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children's Hospital is South Florida's only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with approximately 800 attending physicians, including more than 500 pediatric subspecialists. The 309-bed hospital, known as Miami Children's Hospital from 1983 through 2014, is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with many specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. In the 2022-2023 ranking, the hospital tied with two other hospitals as the number one children's hospital in Florida. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession's most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org

For more information:

Fuad Kiuhan

[email protected]

SOURCE Nicklaus Childrens Health System
Makmur Program initiated to help farmers to increase their income and productivity through comprehensive and sustainable technical assistance and agriculture cultivation.

An ecosystem made up of a collaboration between state-owned companies to create full-service opportunities for farmers and agricultural stakeholders

A planting area of 250 thousand hectares targeted, with several priority commodities such as rice, corn, sugar cane, oil palm, and coffee

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Minister of State Owned Enterprises (SOE) of the Republic of Indonesia, Erick Thohir, initiated the Makmur Program since 2021 to help farmers to increase their income and productivity in Indonesia through comprehensive and sustainable technical assistance and agriculture cultivation.

Makmur is an agriculture ecosystem which connects farmers and agriculture stakeholders from upstream to downstream which aligns with the G20 agenda, specifically continuation of economic growth from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Makmur Program is a collaboration of Indonesian state-owned companies in the Food and Fertilizers, Plantation and Forestry, Financial Services, and Insurance clusters which provides on-farm and off-farm technical assistance.

"The progression of the Makmur program is something we should keep our eyes on. As directed by the President, I will ensure that SOEs will play a role in supporting farmers and providing solutions, to level up their productivity and prosperity," said Minister Thohir.

The ecosystem is a collaboration of state-owned companies in the Food and Fertilizers, Plantation and Forestry, Financial Services, and Insurance clusters. The Minister of SOEs supported Makmur by establishing a Project Management Office (PMO) led by Indonesia Food Holding Company (ID FOOD).

In addition to establish this ecosystem, Minister Thohir explained that Makmur also provides on-farm and off-farm technical assistance. On farm control consists of agro inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, pesticides. There is also support for soil analysis, fertilizer recommendations, agronomic and cultivation assistance, to the application of agricultural technology.

Off-farm assistance includes farmers receiving access to capital (banking loans to distributor financing), agricultural risk protection (insurance), licensing support and guidance from local governments, guarantees for buyers of crops from partners (off takers) with competitive prices, provision of training and capacity building.

This program is a comprehensive solution for the agricultural sector in Indonesia as previously, Indonesian farmers faced many problems, such as limited access to information, capital, markets, and technology required. In addition, some farmers have not implemented agricultural cultivation practices leading to low agricultural productivity and income.

The President Director of ID FOOD, Frans Marganda Tambunan, said that based on the combined data of state-owned companies until Semester I 2022, Makmur's progress had been realized up to 60%. It has been implemented on areas of 184,305 hectares with a total of 84,431 farmers. This includes the realization of land expansion, supply of fertilizers, technical assistance, off-taking activity including the involvement of the private sector, and funding for People's Business Credit from state-owned banks. Farmers experienced productivity and income improvement in all commodities.

This effort is intended to support the government in anticipating any potential food crisis. The program, a collaboration between ID FOOD as project leader with Pupuk Indonesia Holding Company (fertilizer sector), PTPN Holding Company (plantation sector), Perhutani (forestry sector), Bank Rakyat Indonesia and Bank Negara Indonesia (banking sector), Jasindo and Askrindo (insurance sector), Telkom Indonesia (telecommunication and media sector), and others stakeholders, provides access on-farm and off-farm assistances which will create a supportive ecosystem for agriculture stakeholders. "This synergy across SOEs is expected to mitigate a potential food crisis," said Tambunan.

Meanwhile, President Director of Pupuk Indonesia Holding Company, Bakir Pasaman, revealed that the Makmur Program targets a number of agricultural crops, including rice, corn, sugar cane, oil palm, and coffee. This program has been implemented in many places across Indonesia, such as West Java, Central Java, East Java, South Sulawesi, Lampung, North Sumatra and West Nusa Tenggara. "We are targeting this program to cover 250,000 hectares in 2022," said Pasaman.

Not only bringing benefits to farmers, Makmur also provides benefits to all stakeholders and partners involved. The government can also guarantee the availability of food commodities nationally.

Twitter : @pupuk_indonesia

YouTube : PT Pupuk Indonesia Official

Instagram : @pt.pupukindonesia

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1934684/JAR02233.jpg

SOURCE PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero)
Visit Digi-Key's bold new booth, B4.578, for opportunities to experience Digi-Key

MUNICH, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Digi-Key Electronics, which offers the world's largest selection of electronic components and automation products in stock for immediate shipment, invites attendees at electronica 2022 to visit its booth, B4.578, Nov. 15-18 in Munich, Germany.

Digi-Key Electronics will return to electronica 2022 with a bold new booth (B4.578), high-end prizes, live conversations with top suppliers and more.

This year, Digi-Key is back with a bold new look, with its main booth modeled to bring the experience of Digi-Key to the electronica show floor. The booth will allow visitors to have their own picked package delivered to them, right in the booth. In addition, there will be instant-win prizes and a video billboard like none other. Dig-Key representatives will be present to help with any technical or customer support questions you may have.

Additionally, Digi-Key will have several other spaces in Hall B4 that highlight innovative new products from top suppliers and a curated display from the company's archives showcasing milestones throughout the company's 50-year history.

"We are looking forward to returning to electronica this year to reconnect in person with customers, students, colleagues and old friends from around the world," said Dave Doherty, president at Digi-Key. "We're excited to be back together and bring a piece of Thief River Falls, Minnesota, to Munich to highlight what we've been working on over the past several years, such as our new PDCe, which is allowing us to scale up capacity in order to enable innovation around the globe."

Digi-Key's presence at electronica 2022 is multi-faceted, with several areas for attendees to engage:

Digi-Key's main booth, B4.578, is where packages and prizes will be distributed. Be sure to stop by and claim yours.

At B4.180, the Digi-Key Studio will feature live interviews and product demos with over 30 top suppliers including Wurth Elektronik, Analog Devices, Weidmuller and more.

The "Digi-Key Experience" at B4.580 highlights a curated collection of significant historic objects that trace Digi-Key's journey from humble beginnings in the early 1970s to its current state as a multi-billion-dollar global distributor. Enjoy a free coffee or pretzel at the Digi-Key Cafe as you experience Digi-Key.

Attendees can visit Digi-Key's booth at B4.578. For more information about Digi-Key and to order from their product portfolio, please visit the Digi-Key website.

About Digi-Key Electronics

Digi-Key Electronics, headquartered in Thief River Falls, Minn., USA, is recognized as both the leader and continuous innovator in the high service distribution of electronic components and automation products worldwide. As the original pioneer in this space, Digi-Key provides more than 13.4 million components from over 2,300 quality name-brand manufacturers with an industry-leading breadth and depth of product in stock and available for immediate shipment. Beyond the products that drive technology innovation, Digi-Key also supports design engineers and procurement professionals with a wealth of digital solutions and tools to make their jobs more efficient. Additional information can be found at digikey.com and on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Editorial Contact

Megan Derkey

Bellmont Partners

+1 612-255-1115

[email protected]

SOURCE Digi-Key Electronics
Stephen Squinto, Ph.D., Gaurav Gupta, M.D. and Anya Schiess join J.P. Morgan as Managing Partners

Industry luminaries to act as Strategic Advisors to support new team

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- J.P. Morgan Asset Management today announced the launch of a new life sciences private equity team, Life Sciences Private Capital. The new team will invest in both early and growth stage healthcare companies across multiple strategies aligned to specific market opportunities, with a focus on novel therapeutics and technologies in several target areas including Genetic Medicine, Oncology, Neurodegenerative Disease, Rare Diseases, Autoimmunity, AI/ML platforms, Metabolic Diseases and Neuropsychology.

The new team leverages JPMorgan Chase's scale, resources, data assets and healthcare expertise and sits within J.P. Morgan Private Capital, a growth equity and private credit investment platform. The platform finances the continued growth of private companies and taps into significant pre-IPO value creation opportunities in the consumer and technology, climate technology and life sciences sectors.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management has hired industry expert Dr. Stephen Squinto as Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner of Life Sciences Private Capital. Dr. Squinto joins from OrbiMed Advisors and brings more than 30 years of experience in the biotechnology company building and investing space, having co-founded and built numerous biotechnology companies including Alexion Pharmaceuticals and acting as a key scientific founder of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.

Joining Dr. Squinto as Co-Managing Partners of the investment strategy are Dr. Gaurav Gupta and Ms. Anya Schiess. Dr. Gupta founded life science investment firm Ascendant BioCapital and was previously involved in private equity investments at OrbiMed Advisors. Ms. Schiess has over 25 years of experience in healthcare investing and most recently was Co-Founder and General Partner of Healthy Ventures. Full biographies are included below.

"Our new Life Sciences Private Capital team combines some of the industry's most revered biotech investors, operators and founders with J.P. Morgan's extensive healthcare ecosystem to capture compelling investment opportunities in the biotech sector, which is on the cusp of a golden age of therapeutic innovation," said Brian Carlin, Chief Executive Officer, J.P. Morgan Private Capital. "Through Steve, Gaurav and Anya's deep company-building experience, the team will bring a unique ability to partner with portfolio companies and add significant operational value beyond financial investment."

"I'm thrilled to join J.P. Morgan to launch the Life Sciences Private Capital team. Our major focus will be to offer our investors a differentiated investment platform that harnesses our deep operational expertise to act as true partners to the companies we invest in  from building strong leadership teams, guiding early drug discovery efforts, designing clinical development programs, and navigating the regulatory environment through to commercial launch strategies," said Dr. Stephen Squinto, Chief Investment Officer, Life Sciences Private Capital. "As advances in genomics, biomarkers and data science converge, we are seeing firsthand the transformative impact that biomedical innovation can offer to patients at all stages of life and we expect much more to come in the next decade. J.P. Morgan's existing presence in the healthcare sector will give us a significant sourcing advantage as we seek to identify innovative and transformative therapeutics companies."

In addition to the hiring of Dr. Squinto, Dr. Gupta and Ms. Schiess, the firm has also attracted a group of Strategic Advisors comprised of some of the life sciences industry's foremost experts that will help guide the investment strategy, help to source investment opportunities and provide operational expertise to J.P. Morgan's portfolio companies. Strategic Advisors include:

Laurie Glimcher , M.D.  President and CEO, Dana Farber Cancer Institute

 President and CEO, Dana Farber Cancer Institute Jeffrey Leiden, M.D., Ph.D.  Executive Chairman, Vertex Pharmaceuticals

 Executive Chairman, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Frederic Moll , M.D.  Chief Development Officer, J&J Medical Devices Companies

 Chief Development Officer, J&J Medical Devices Companies Stephen Oesterle , M.D.  Former Medtronic SVP, Medicine and Technology

 Former Medtronic SVP, Medicine and Technology Robert Stockman  Former Chairman, REVA Medical

"We continue to see significant investment opportunities across private markets and the launch of our new Life Sciences Private Capital team is the next step in the evolution of our J.P. Morgan Private Capital platform, harnessing the unparalleled scale and resources of JPMorgan Chase to complement our existing growth equity capabilities across consumer, technology and sustainability sectors," said George Gatch, Chief Executive Officer, J.P. Morgan Asset Management.

Biographies  Executive Team

Stephen Squinto, Ph.D., was previously an Executive Partner with OrbiMed. He brings over 30 years of biotechnology industry experience. Dr. Squinto was a co-founder of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and served as its Executive Vice President and Chief Global Operations Officer. Prior to 2013, he was Alexion's Global Head of Research and Development. While at Alexion, Dr. Squinto was responsible for the discovery, development and launch of several successful biotechnology products. From 1988 to 1992, Dr. Squinto held various positions at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Prior to Regeneron, he held a joint academic position at both the Tulane University and LSU Medical Schools. He is a recipient of numerous honors and awards from academic and professional organizations for his scientific work. Dr. Squinto received his B.A. in Chemistry and Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Loyola University of Chicago.

Gaurav Gupta, M.D., M.S.E. was previously the founder of Ascendant BioCapital, a life science investment firm based in New York. Prior to this, Dr. Gupta was an investment professional at OrbiMed Advisors, and served as a resident in neurological surgery at Columbia University Medical Center. Over 15 years as an entrepreneur and investor, he has co-founded, helped build, or served on the boards of several early-stage private biotechnology and medical device companies. Dr. Gupta obtained his M.D. from the Stanford University School of Medicine, where he was Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow, and B.S. and M.S.E. in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

Anya Schiess joins from Healthy Ventures, where she was Co-Founder and General Partner. Healthy Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in health/pharma technology. Previously, Anya was a venture capitalist at Thomas, McNerney & Partners, where she focused on life sciences, including biopharmaceutics, medical devices, and genomic technology. Throughout her career, Anya has invested and been a board member/observer in over 30 companies. Before investing, Anya was a healthcare operator. She led strategy and business development for Cardinal Health's medical services, distribution, and laboratory businesses. Anya also held several sales and marketing leadership roles at Medtronic and launched neurological, cardiovascular, and cardiac rhythm products around the world. Anya earned a BA cum laude from Princeton University and an MBA with honors from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Biographies  Strategic Advisors

Laurie H. Glimcher, M.D. was named President and CEO of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in 2016. She is also Director of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Previously, she was the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean and Professor of Medicine of Weill Cornell Medicine and Provost for Medical Affairs of Cornell University. Dr. Glimcher is a distinguished immunologist, widely renowned for her work in one of the most promising areas of cancer research. She is a Member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine and the American Philosophical Society, Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the former President of the American Association of Immunologists. She previously served on the Board of Directors of Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Corporation and the Waters Corporation. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Analog Devices, Inc.

Jeffrey Leiden, M.D, Ph.D., is a physician and scientist who has dedicated his career to improving the lives of people with serious diseases. He currently serves as Vertex's Executive Chairman and was the Chief Executive Officer and President from 2012 through March 2020. He has been a member of Vertex's board of directors since July 2009, chairman of the board of directors since May 2012, and served as lead independent director from October 2010 through December 2011. Prior to joining Vertex, Dr. Leiden was a managing director at Clarus Ventures, a life sciences venture capital firm, from 2006 through January 2012. Dr. Leiden was President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Scientific Officer of Abbott Laboratories, Pharmaceuticals Products Group, and a member of the board of directors of Abbott Laboratories from 2000 to 2006. He is an elected member of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Leiden serves as a director of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and as chairman of Odyssey Therapeutics, a privately held company developing novel medicines for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases and Casana Health, a privately held home-health monitoring company. He is also chairman of the board of Revolution Healthcare (REVH), a SPAC focused on companies that utilize novel technologies to revolutionize the treatment and delivery of mental healthcare. He is also a member of the MIT CEO Advisory Board, a member of the Harvard Medical School Board of Fellows, and chairman of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership (MACP). Dr. Leiden received his M.D., Ph.D. and B.A. degrees from the University of Chicago.

Frederic (Fred) Moll, M.D. is Chief Development Officer of J&J Medical Devices Companies, having sold his sixth company, Auris Health, Inc., to J&J for $5.75 billion in 2019. Fred was the co-founder and CEO of Intuitive Surgical, the world's leading medical robotics company today, with a market capitalization exceeding $100 billion. Fred is not only considered the "Father of Robotic Surgery" (having also founded Hansen Medical), Fred conceived and commercialized the early critical products that allowed minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery to be performed safely with his invention of the safety shield trocar (Endotherapeutics) and balloon distention tools (Origin MedSystems). Fred attended the University of California at Berkeley where he earned a B.A. degree, earned his M.D. degree from the University of Washington and attained an M.S. in Management from the Stanford Business School.

Stephen Oesterle, M.D. served as Medtronic's Senior Vice President for Medicine and Technology, was a member of the Medtronic Executive Committee for 14 years, and currently serves on four public life sciences/healthcare boards. By forging relationships with global technology partners and technical universities, he oversaw long term internal technology investments while participating in strategic corporate investments in emerging private companies. He also served as a member of the Business Development and Strategy Committee that approved all corporate acquisitions. During his tenure at Medtronic Dr. Oesterle served on more than 20 boards as a director or observer and built a strong and enduring profile for Medtronic in the global venture capital and private equity communities. Prior to joining Medtronic, he was an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and practicing interventional cardiologist. Steve earned his bachelor's degree with Distinction at Harvard University and his MD at Yale Medical School.

Robert (Bob) Stockman's 40-year career in life sciences spans founding and operational roles in six life science companies and 15 years of M&A transaction experience. He serves as a consultant to REVA Medical, a company he founded where he served as Chairman & CEO. He led the buyouts of Ioptex, an intraocular lens manufacturer, and two Johnson & Johnson divestitures, "A" Company Orthodontics, Inc. and Critikon Company, LLC, each of which was subsequently acquired. In addition to REVA, he co-founded CentriMed which became the Global Healthcare Exchange, which transacts $30 billion of hospital supplies today. Bob attended Harvard University and earned his MBA at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business, where he was an Overseer.

About J.P. Morgan Global Alternatives & J.P. Morgan Private Capital

J.P. Morgan Private Capital provides customized financing solutions for private companies across the capital structure and is comprised of a growth equity arm and a private credit business. The platform's growth equity solutions span the consumer, technology, life sciences and climate transition sectors. In private credit, the team specializes in corporate and asset-based lending, from distressed and special situations to performing loans. J.P. Morgan Private Capital is part of J.P. Morgan Global Alternatives, the alternative investment arm of J.P. Morgan Asset Management. With more than 50 years as an alternatives investment manager, US$208 billion in assets under management and more than 800 professionals (as of June 30, 2022), J.P. Morgan offers strategies across the alternative investment spectrum including real estate, private equity, private credit, hedge funds, infrastructure, transportation, timber and liquid alternatives. Operating from offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific, our independent alternative investment engines combine specialist knowledge and singular focus with the global reach, vast resources and powerful infrastructure of J.P. Morgan to help meet each client's specific objectives.

About J.P. Morgan Asset Management

J.P. Morgan Asset Management, with assets under management of USD 2.3 trillion (as of 30 September 2022), is a global leader in investment management. J.P. Morgan Asset Management's clients include institutions, retail investors and high net worth individuals in every major market throughout the world. J.P. Morgan Asset Management offers global investment management in equities, fixed income, real estate, hedge funds, private equity and liquidity. For more information: www.jpmorgan.com/am

J.P. Morgan Asset Management is the marketing name for the asset management business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its investment advisor affiliates worldwide.

Material ID: 09n8222610201555

SOURCE J.P. Morgan Asset Management
KANAZAWA, Japan, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) at Kanazawa University will hold its 6th NanoLSI Symposium 14-15 November 2022 using a hybrid format. The symposium is an excellent opportunity to meet internationally renowned experts in nanoprobe technology for biomolecular applications.

Symposium website

https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/6th-sympo/

Schedule and format

Date: 14 -15 November 2022

Format: Hybrid

Physical venue: ANA Crowne Plaza, Kanazawa, Japan

Virtual venue: Live online streaming

The 6th NanoLSI Symposium is organized by Mikihiro Shibata from the Division of Nanometrology at the NanoLSI. The main theme of this year's meeting is: "Nanoprobe Technology for Understanding Molecular Systems".

The symposium will include both poster and oral presentation sessions offering excellent opportunities to discuss the latest developments in experimental techniques related to nanoprobe technology.

Invited speakers from overseas

Ricardo Garcia (Institute de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid)

Paolo Actis (University of Leeds)

Steven De Feyter (KU Leuven)

Tsvi Tlusty (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology)

Ralf Metzler (University of Potsdam)

Robert Goldman (Northwestern University)

Ohad Medalia (University of Zurich).

Speakers from Japan will include Takeshi Fukuma, Director of Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University.

Program and information for registering

https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/6th-sympo/

For further details please contact

Hiroe Yoneda

Vice Director of Public Affairs

WPI Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI)

Kanazawa University

Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +81 (76) 234-4550

About Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI)

https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/

Nano Life Science Institute (NanoLSI), Kanazawa University is a research center established in 2017 as part of the World Premier International Research Center Initiative of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The objective of this initiative is to form world-tier research centers. NanoLSI combines the foremost knowledge of bio-scanning probe microscopy to establish 'nano-endoscopic techniques' to directly image, analyze, and manipulate biomolecules for insights into mechanisms governing life phenomena such as diseases.

About Kanazawa University

http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/e/

As the leading comprehensive university on the Sea of Japan coast, Kanazawa University has contributed greatly to higher education and academic research in Japan since it was founded in 1949. The University has three colleges and 17 schools offering courses in subjects that include medicine, computer engineering, and humanities.

The University is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in Kanazawa  a city rich in history and culture. The city of Kanazawa has a highly respected intellectual profile since the time of the fiefdom (1598-1867). Kanazawa University is divided into two main campuses: Kakuma and Takaramachi for its approximately 10,200 students including 600 from overseas.

SOURCE Kanazawa University
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LandSouth Construction, a Jacksonville, Fla.-based, award-winning general contractor, has broken ground on Brio Parc, a high-end multifamily development in Madison, AL.

The developer of Brio Parc is Integra Land Company and Panther Residential Management, with whom LandSouth has enjoyed a long, successful relationship. Brio Parc is scheduled for completion in late Summer 2024 and will be located at 176 Highway 20.

"LandSouth is excited to again work with Integra and Panther to bring Brio Parc to life for the residents of Madison, Alabama," stated James Pyle, LandSouth President and CEO. "We're ready to showcase everything LandSouth and the development team have to offer in this luxury, multifamily community."

Hunter Barkentin will serve as the LandSouth project manager for Brio Parc and Kevin Ellison will serve as the superintendent. Charlan Brock Associates is the architecture firm for Brio Parc.

Brio Parc will be an urban-style development, featuring a total of 24 buildings  12 unit buildings and 12 amenities buildings. The buildings will be four stories and the development will offer a total of 329 units. Future residents will choose from 10 different floor plans, offering one to three bedrooms, as well as carriage house. The one- and two-bedroom apartments will range from 724 to 1,282 square feet and three-bedroom carriage houses up to 1,398 square feet. Brio Parc will offer several amenities, including grilling stations, fire pits, pool, dog spa, yoga spa/studio, lounge, and courtyard. Residents will enjoy proximity to Huntsville International Airport, NASA's Space Camp, and downtown Huntsville.

"Brio Parc will offer the best LandSouth, Integra, and Panther bring to multifamily communities through our long-standing relationship," shared Hunter Barkentin, the LandSouth project manager. "We're thrilled to break ground on Brio Parc and bring the best in multifamily living to the growing Huntsville, Alabama area."

LandSouth will employ its unique integrated construction approach to build Brio Parc. Service components work together to provide seamless delivery through proven procedures, systems, and technology.

ABOUT LANDSOUTH CONSTRUCTION

LandSouth Construction, the Southeast's premier general contractor, specializing in multifamily, senior living, and mixed-use development, was named one of Engineering News Record's Top 400. Since 1998 LandSouth has transformed ideas into bestinclass communities. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla. LandSouth has completed more than 25,000 multifamily units. For more information, call LandSouth's Marketing Manager, Mary Hamilton, (904) 760-3182, or visit www.landsouth.com.

SOURCE LandSouth Construction
LANSING, Mich., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Health Management Associates (HMA) launched the Leavitt Center for Alliances, an HMA Initiative, which aims to elevate the national discourse on healthcare and help healthcare organizations solve their most complex challenges through consensus-based alliances.

The Leavitt Center for Alliances (Leavitt Center) is home to expert conveners who have decades of experience in the private sector and government. They have spent years fine tuning the process for building successful alliances that bring multi-sector stakeholders to the table with a commitment to reaching consensus, real-world solutions. Governor Mike Leavitt served as Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Rich McKeown, served as Chief of Staff at HHS. The two of them founded Leavitt Partners, where they advanced the science of alliance building. Their book "Finding Allies, Building Alliances" mapped out eight crucial elements of successful alliances, providing a framework for the work and resources that now serve as the foundation for the Leavitt Center.

"Now more than ever, alliances offer a proven way forward, beyond the divisiveness, partisanship and uncivil discourse." Tweet this

"Now more than ever, alliances offer a proven way forward, beyond the divisiveness, partisanship and uncivil discourse that too often stagnates momentum toward tangible progress," said Leavitt, HMA co-chairman and Leavitt Partners chairman, Board of Managers. "Our approach to multi-sector consensus-based alliances, rooted in collaboration, has consistently helped organizations identify and develop solutions to some of the most complicated issues. It is a roadmap for bridging divides and realizing results."

The Leavitt Center guides stakeholders through each step of the process to form alliances, develop consensus within those alliances, and then put a strategic plan into action that drives results. Expertly convened alliances solve the tough problems that are too big for individual organizations to tackle alone, leverage shared resources and expertise, and provide for "strength in numbers."

"The expertise our Leavitt Center colleagues have when it comes to both the art and the science of creating and deploying alliances to develop innovative solutions is unmatched," said Jay Rosen, founder, president, and co-chairman of HMA. "I see great potential for combining that know-how with our on-the-ground experts throughout all of HMA to expand this proven alliance approach beyond the federal landscape and into communities across the country."

Leavitt Center experts have helped more than 50 alliances achieve impactful outcomes, including the Dual Eligible Coalition founded in 2017 to develop actionable, long-term policy and programmatic solutions to improve the delivery of care and outcomes for the dual eligible population. Other alliances include the CARIN Alliance, focused on improving access to digital health information, the Pharmaceutical Distribution Security Alliance (PDSA), and the COVID Patient Recovery Alliance. Other examples of alliances in action can be found here. Currently Leavitt Center experts are drawing from their past decade of alliance work to share insights in a new book, scheduled for release in 2023.

Founded in 1985, HMA is an independent, national research and consulting firm specializing in publicly funded healthcare and human services policy, programs, financing, and evaluation. Clients include government, public and private providers, health systems, health plans, community-based organizations, institutional investors, foundations, and associations. With offices in more than 20 locations across the country and over 500 multidisciplinary consultants coast to coast, HMA's expertise, services, and team are always within client reach.

Leavitt Center for Alliances: https://leavittcenterforalliances.com/

SOURCE Health Management Associates
Awareness campaign underscores importance of biomarker testing as part of "KNOWvember" during Lung Cancer Awareness Month

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LUNGevity Foundation, the nation's leading lung cancer-focused nonprofit organization, today celebrates the second year of its #KnowYourBiomarker social media initiative as part of the No One Missed campaign aimed at driving awareness of comprehensive biomarker testing in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Lavern McDonald of New York City. Lavern learned about biomarker testing from her oncologist, and now her stage IV non-small cell lung cancer is being treated with a targeted therapy specifically intended for her type of cancer. AJ Patel of Irvine, CA, whose non-small cell lung cancer is being treated with a targeted therapy. Biomarker testing changed the entire trajectory of his diagnosis.

The anniversary coincides with the start of Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, which LUNGevity is recognizing as "KNOWvember" to spread awareness of the importance for people living with NSCLCand their healthcare teamof knowing their biomarker status to inform the appropriate treatment for their type of lung cancer.

"Time and time again, we've heard stories from people living with lung cancer about the difference comprehensive biomarker testing has made for their treatment journey," said Andrea Ferris, president and CEO of LUNGevity Foundation. "Throughout the past year, No One Missed's #KnowYourBiomarker initiative has provided an outlet for patients, their loved ones, and healthcare providers to share their unique stories and spread the word about why this testing is essential. As we enter the second year of this initiative, we are continuously encouraged by the strength of our community and their willingness to share their stories in the hope of helping others who have been diagnosed with NSCLC."

#KnowYourBiomarker invites people living with NSCLC and their loved ones to tell their biomarker stories. Here are two examples of people living with lung cancer who shared their biomarker testing experiences as part of the #KnowYourBiomarker initiative.

Lavern McDonald, New York, NY

Biomarker: EGFR

As a social studies teacher in New York City for the past 20 years, Lavern McDonald knows firsthand the value of lifelong learning. This is a philosophy she applied when faced with a stage IV lung cancer diagnosis in 2018 at age 52. Lavern underwent multiple tests and ultimately found herself at the Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center, where a CT scan revealed tumors in her lungs. She was assigned an oncologist, which is when she first learned of biomarker testing. Soon after, she learned the cancer was EGFR-positive, which meant she was eligible to receive a targeted therapy specifically intended for her type of cancer.

AJ Patel, Irvine, CA

Biomarker: ROS1

When husband and father of three AJ Patel was diagnosed with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in 2013, he was told he only had six months to live. He spent a week in despair before placing a call to LUNGevity Foundation that changed the entire trajectory of his diagnosis. Through LUNGevity's network of mentors, AJ learned about biomarker testing. He soon learned the cancer was positive for a mutation called ROS1 that could be treated with a targeted therapy. Nearly nine years later, AJ is living life to the fullest and has witnessed his three children go on to college, where all three are pursuing medical degrees.

As part of KNOWvember, No One Missed will be hosting a one-hour Facebook Live event in collaboration with BlackDoctor.org at 7:00 pm ET on Wednesday, November 9: "Lung Cancer Awareness Month: Coping with a Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Advocating for Treatment." Panelists will discuss the importance of screening, steps to take on receiving a lung cancer diagnosis, and the importance of biomarker testing to inform treatment, among other topics.

Interested in sharing your own biomarker story? Join the #KnowYourBiomarker conversation online.

About the No One Missed Campaign

No One Missed is a community-led campaign driven by LUNGevity Foundation and composed of patient advocacy, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology organizations. The campaign's mission is to build public awareness of comprehensive biomarker testing as a critical part of every non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) diagnosis and empower patients with NSCLC to discuss comprehensive biomarker testing with their healthcare team. For more information on comprehensive biomarker testing, including resources that people living with NSCLC can use to discuss testing with their healthcare team, visit NoOneMissed.org.

No One Missed is supported by founding partner AstraZeneca; by premier members Amgen and Sanofi; by supporting members Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, and Pfizer Inc.; by members AbbVie, Daiichi Sankyo, Merck & Co., Inc., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Additionally, No One Missed is supported by partners ALK Positive, Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+), EGFResisters, Exon 20 Group, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, Oncology Nursing Society, KRAS Kickers, MET Crusaders, MYLUNG ConsortiumTM, NTRKers, RETpositive, The ROS1ders, and University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center.

About LUNGevity Foundation

LUNGevity Foundation is the nation's leading lung cancer organization focused on improving outcomes for people with lung cancer. The foundation works tirelessly to advance research into early detection and more effective treatments, and to ensure that patients have access to these advances. LUNGevity seeks to make an immediate impact on quality of life and survivorship for everyone touched by the diseasewhile promoting health equity by addressing disparities throughout the care continuum. LUNGevity provides information and educational tools to empower patients and their caregivers, promote impactful public policy initiatives, and amplify the patient voice through research and engagement. The organization provides an active community for patients and survivorsand those who help them live better and longer lives.

Comprehensive resources include a medically vetted and patient-centric website, a toll-free HELPLine for support, the International Lung Cancer Survivorship Conference, and an easy-to-use Clinical Trial Finder, among other tools. All of these programs are to achieve our visiona world where no one dies of lung cancer. LUNGevity Foundation is proud to be a four-star Charity Navigator organization.

Please visit LUNGevity.org to learn more.

SOURCE LUNGevity Foundation
Nation's Fastest-Growing Pizza Brand* Adds Five Decades of Expertise to Development Team, Plans Next 1,000 Units

TOLEDO, Ohio, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- To support Marco's Pizza and its unparalleled growth trajectory, the nation's fastest-growing pizza brand* announces the appointment of David Gladstone  VP of Construction and Paul Williams  VP of Real Estate. Collectively, they bring more than five decades of experience to the development team led by recently appointed Chief Development Officer Gerardo Flores. Under new leadership, Marco's is refining its franchise development program by sophistically streamlining the process and driving strategic expansion.

With a 30-plus year track record of working in restaurant development, Gladstone has held various roles in real estate, construction, and procurement for Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii, Starbucks, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Focus Brands, Noodles & Company, Jamba Juice, and Quiznos. As he steps into this new role, he will work hand-in-hand with his team to support franchisees through their site selection and construction process, providing start-to-finish guidance and management of the construction process to ensure new Marco's Pizza stores are built in an efficient and timely manner.

Williams is an accomplished real estate professional with extensive experience in restaurant and retail real estate. He has previously served as Director of Real Estate for Jersey Mike's Subs, Real Estate Manager at Jack in the Box, Inc., and Development Manager for Dunkin' Brands. His knowledge and background with these fast-growth franchise brands aligns with Marco's vision for nationwide growth as it plots its next 1,000 units.

Marco's currently spans 1,100-plus stores across 33 states with locations in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. Franchise expansion continues to accelerate with more than 200 stores in various stages of development with more than 350 agreements signed  all while achieving record-breaking performance, surpassing $1B in annual systemwide sales.

"David and Paul are wonderful additions to our exceptional development team and great assets to our current and future franchisees," said Flores. "Their extensive experience and trusted status within the franchise industry make them an ideal fit for our sophisticated approach to franchise development. As we look to Marco's next era of growth, we're expanding our teams at each level  sales, real estate, construction, etc.  with top line talent like David and Paul. From there, our internal teams will sync up and create efficiency through process protocols that will deliver brilliant results."

Marco's is on track to rise in the ranks as Nation's Restaurant News Top 500 Report shows the brand achieved the highest percent year-over-year sales change (+18.2%) when compared to the nation's top 4 pizza brands**, making Marco's the No. 5 pizza brand in systemwide sales in America. With strong growth and performance, Marco's now sets its sights on becoming the No. 4 brand in pizza as it experienced a 12.8% increase in year-over-year Average Unit Volume (AUV), and the Top 50% of Marco's franchised stores generated $1,198,201 AUV for 2021***.

"Not only are we experiencing strong performance, but our franchise development pipeline remains robust and healthy," said Tony Libardi, Co-CEO & president of Marco's Pizza. "As we continue to grow with multi-unit franchisees and expand our brand footprint, we're committed to providing a full development support system, including technology and tools to help identify the right territories for expansion plus expertise in financing, real estate, construction management, and field operations. It all starts with the right team, and I'm confident we have the right players to catapult Marco's into its next phase of rapid growth."

For more information on Marco's Pizza franchise opportunities, visit https://www.marcos.com/franchising/ or call 866-731-8209 to speak with Shannon Iverson, Vice President of Franchise Sales.

ABOUT MARCO'S PIZZA

Marco's Pizza is America's Most Loved and Most Trusted Pizza Brand, according to the 2019 Harris Poll EquiTrend Study. Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco's Pizza is the fastest-growing pizza brand in the United States*. Marco's was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale ("Pat") Giammarco and thrives to deliver a high-quality pizza experience, known for its dough made from scratch and its three fresh signature cheeses. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate over 1,100 stores in 33 states with locations in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. Most recently, Marco's Pizza was ranked No. 2 in the Pizza category on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2022 "Franchise 500" ranking, and No. 4 in the Fastest Growing category on Restaurant Business' 2021 "Top 10 Fastest Growing Chains" ranking. Other recent accolades include a high ranking on Newsweek's 2023 "America's Best Customer Service" in pizza chains list, ranked No. 40 on QSR's Top 50 and has been featured five consecutive years on Nation's Restaurant News' prestigious "Top 500" ranking.

*Marco's Pizza is the fastest-growing pizza brand based on year-over-year unit growth, according to 2021 NRN Top 500 U.S. Restaurant Ranking LSR Pizza Segment.

**Nation's Restaurant News partnered with Datassential and its Firefly data platform to provide an in-depth look at the performance across the Top 500 restaurant chains.

***Based on the Average Unit Volume of the top 50% of our Franchised Stores for fiscal year 2021. Based on fiscal year 2021, 146 of 389 Franchised Stores in the category (38%) met or exceeded this average. This information appears in Item 19 of our 2022 FDD  please refer to our FDD for complete information on financial performance. Results may differ. There is no assurance that any franchisee will perform as well.

SOURCE Marco's Pizza
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The mascarpone cheese market growth will be driven by factors such as the increased demand for convenience foods. Rapid urbanization across the world has led to a rise in disposable income, which is resulting in an increase in job opportunities. This is leading to changes in food habits and trends such as ready-to-eat (RTE) food products. This, in turn, will increase mascarpone cheese offerings in the RTE segment during the forecast period.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Mascarpone Cheese Market 2022-2026

The mascarpone cheese market size is expected to grow by USD 1.18 billion from 20021 to 2026. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will accelerate at a CAGR of 6.44% during the forecast period, according to Technavio.

View a comprehensive report summary that describes the market size and forecast along with research methodology. The FREE sample report is available in PDF format

Mascarpone Cheese Market 2022-2026: Scope

Our mascarpone cheese market report covers the following areas:

Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000 that enables you to download 5 reports and view 100 reports per month

Mascarpone Cheese Market 2022-2026: Segmentation

Distribution Channel

Offline: The offline segment will be a significant contributor to market growth during the forecast period. Offline distributional channels include specialty stores, hypermarkets, and others, which have a large collection of cheese from different countries. Customers prefer offline distribution channels owing to the availability of trained staff, which helps them make informed decisions. Such benefits are expected to drive the growth of the segment during the forecast period.



Online

Geography

North America : North America will account for 43% of the market's growth during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to factors such as The presence of a well-established food and beverage industry and an organized retail sector. The US and Canada are the key countries for the mascarpone cheese market in North America .

: will account for 43% of the market's growth during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to factors such as The presence of a well-established food and beverage industry and an organized retail sector. The US and are the key countries for the mascarpone cheese market in .

Europe



APAC



South America



Middle East And Africa

Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. Download a Free Sample

Mascarpone Cheese Market 2022-2026: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the mascarpone cheese market, including Arla Foods amba, BelGioioso Cheese Inc., BV Dairy, Elle and Vire, Emborg Uhrenholt AS, EMILIO MAURI S.p.A., Ferraro Dairy Foods, Goloka Dairy Products Pvt. Ltd., Granarolo S.p.A., La Casa Del Formaggio, Land O Lakes Inc., Meadow Foods Ltd., Mila LATTE MONTAGNA ALTO ADIGE Soc. Agr. Coop., Newlat Food SpA, Phoon Huat Pte. Ltd., Piatnica, Quality Cheese Inc., Sordi Srl, Tatua Co operative Dairy Co. Ltd., and Woolworths Group Ltd.

This report provides a full list of key vendors, their strategies, and latest developments. Buy Now for detailed vendor information

Mascarpone Cheese Market 2022-2026: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2022-2026

Detailed information on factors that will assist mascarpone cheese market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the mascarpone cheese market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the mascarpone cheese market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of mascarpone cheese market vendors

Related Reports

Vegan Cheese Market by Source and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: This report extensively covers segmentations by source (soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, and others) and geography (Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). 38% of the market's growth will originate from North America during the forecast period. The market share growth by the soy milk segment will be significant.

Cheese Based Snacks Market by End-user and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: This report extensively covers segmentation by end-user (retail and food service) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). 38% of the market's growth will originate from North America during the forecast period. The market share growth by the retail segment will be significant.

Mascarpone Cheese Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.44% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 1.18 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 4.31 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 43% Key consumer countries US, Canada, China, Germany, and France Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Arla Foods amba, BelGioioso Cheese Inc., BV Dairy, Elle and Vire, Emborg Uhrenholt AS, EMILIO MAURI S.p.A., Ferraro Dairy Foods, Goloka Dairy Products Pvt. Ltd., Granarolo S.p.A., La Casa Del Formaggio, Land O Lakes Inc., Meadow Foods Ltd., Mila LATTE MONTAGNA ALTO ADIGE Soc. Agr. Coop., Newlat Food SpA, Phoon Huat Pte. Ltd., Piatnica, Quality Cheese Inc., Sordi Srl, Tatua Co operative Dairy Co. Ltd., and Woolworths Group Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Browse Consumer Staples Market Reports

Table Of Contents

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Distribution Channel - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Distribution Channel - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Distribution Channel



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Distribution Channel

5.3 Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Online - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Online - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Distribution Channel ($ million)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 37: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 38: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 40: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 43: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 44: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 45: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 47: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 48: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 49: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 50: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 52: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 53: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 56: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 57: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 60: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 61: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 62: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 63: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 64: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 67: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 68: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 69: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 71: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 72: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 73: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 75: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 76: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 77: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 82: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 83: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 84: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 85: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 86: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 87: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 88: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 Arla Foods amba

Exhibit 89: Arla Foods amba - Overview



Exhibit 90: Arla Foods amba - Business segments



Exhibit 91: Arla Foods amba - Key offerings



Exhibit 92: Arla Foods amba - Segment focus

10.4 EMILIO MAURI S.p.A .

. Exhibit 93: EMILIO MAURI S.p.A . - Overview

. - Overview

Exhibit 94: EMILIO MAURI S.p.A . - Product / Service

. - Product / Service

Exhibit 95: EMILIO MAURI S.p.A . - Key offerings

10.5 Ferraro Dairy Foods

Exhibit 96: Ferraro Dairy Foods - Overview



Exhibit 97: Ferraro Dairy Foods - Product / Service



Exhibit 98: Ferraro Dairy Foods - Key offerings

10.6 Goloka Dairy Products Pvt. Ltd.

Exhibit 99: Goloka Dairy Products Pvt. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 100: Goloka Dairy Products Pvt. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 101: Goloka Dairy Products Pvt. Ltd. - Key offerings

10.7 Granarolo S.p.A.

Exhibit 102: Granarolo S.p.A. - Overview



Exhibit 103: Granarolo S.p.A. - Product / Service



Exhibit 104: Granarolo S.p.A. - Key offerings

10.8 Meadow Foods Ltd.

Exhibit 105: Meadow Foods Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 106: Meadow Foods Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 107: Meadow Foods Ltd. - Key offerings

10.9 Mila LATTE MONTAGNA ALTO ADIGE Soc. Agr. Coop.

Exhibit 108: Mila LATTE MONTAGNA ALTO ADIGE Soc. Agr. Coop. - Overview



Exhibit 109: Mila LATTE MONTAGNA ALTO ADIGE Soc. Agr. Coop. - Product / Service



Exhibit 110: Mila LATTE MONTAGNA ALTO ADIGE Soc. Agr. Coop. - Key offerings

10.10 Newlat Food SpA

Exhibit 111: Newlat Food SpA - Overview



Exhibit 112: Newlat Food SpA - Product / Service



Exhibit 113: Newlat Food SpA - Key offerings

10.11 Piatnica

Exhibit 114: Piatnica - Overview



Exhibit 115: Piatnica - Product / Service



Exhibit 116: Piatnica - Key offerings

10.12 Quality Cheese Inc.

Exhibit 117: Quality Cheese Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 118: Quality Cheese Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 119: Quality Cheese Inc. - Key offerings

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 120: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 121: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 122: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 123: Research methodology



Exhibit 124: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 125: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 126: List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
Nearly 300 attendees from 49 countries gathered for the hybrid event

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) , an international trade organization that connects over 300 World Trade Center (WTC) locations in nearly 100 countries, hosted its 2022 WTCA Member Forum on October 23-25 in New York City. Nearly 300 registered attendees across more than 120 World Trade Center businesses in 49 countries around the world gathered for this year's two-day hybrid event  with 80 attendees in person in New York City for the first time in three years.

Attendees at the 2022 WTCA Member Forum held in New York City and virtually October 23-25, 2022. Photo Credit: April Renae Photography.

With the theme of "Innovation & Connection: Celebrating the Power of the Network," the forum was an engaging and insightful experience that allowed members to reconnect and demonstrated the resilience and global reach of the WTCA network.

The WTCA introduced its newest members and the WTCA Chair, New York Executive Team, Regional Advisory Councils, WTCA regional teams, and Member Advisory Councils provided important updates to attendees about what's to come in 2023. Highlights from the forum included two media training workshops; Member Flash Presentations where WTCA members shared best practices and updates on their WTC business initiatives focused on "Connection" and "Innovation;" a discussion on how the WTCA and its membership can work together to promote sustainable measures; a brainstorm session on how to celebrate WTCA Day (June 12) moving forward; a discussion of priorities for the North American region; and fun facts about several WTCA members during "Late Night with the WTCA," featuring host Scott Center of WTC Savannah. Space Era, an initiative to address the global housing crisis, was also announced as the winner of the 2021-2022 WTCA Foundation "Peace Through Trade" Student Competition.

The forum concluded with an official kickoff from H.R.H. Togbe Afede XIV to count down to the 53rd annual General Assembly (GA) hosted by WTC Accra on April 23-28, 2023. With the theme of "Towards African Economic Integration and Enhanced Global Presence," the 2023 GA will focus on business opportunities across the continent of Africa, bringing together new and expanded opportunities not only to/from Ghana but all nations. The GA promises to be a unique and engaging event, demonstrating the strength of the WTCA network, and is the perfect opportunity to showcase African companies on a global stage.

"It was wonderful to welcome back our members to our headquarters in New York City to network, share their expertise and learn new skills at our first worldwide, in-person event since before the pandemic," said John E. Drew, Chair, WTCA Chair, Board of Directors. "This year's forum proved how resilient our global network is and that we enjoy great success as a whole association when we can strengthen connections on a global scale  there is no substitution to the value of seeing each other in-person. We look forward to reconnecting again in a few months in Accra to explore what makes Africa an investment destination and invite African companies to share their exciting business opportunities with our global WTCA network at next year's GA."

MEDIA CONTACTS:

World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

Chanelle Kasik

Phone: +1 212 432 2644

Email: [email protected]

Violet PR

David Margolis

Phone: +1 917 331 4855

Email: [email protected]

About World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is a network of more than 300 highly connected, mutually supporting businesses and organizations in 92 countries. As the owner of the "World Trade Center" and "WTC" trademarks, the WTCA licenses exclusive rights to these brands for members to use in conjunction with their independently-owned, iconic properties, facilities and trade services offerings. Through a robust portfolio of events, programming and resources that it offers its members, the goal of the WTCA is to help local economies thrive by encouraging and facilitating trade and investment across the globe through Member engagement. To learn more, visit www.wtca.org.

SOURCE World Trade Centers Association
MIAMI, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MiamiWeb3, the first-of-its-kind institutional Web3 conference taking place over 28th  30th of November 2022, announces Media Partners and its first batch of sponsors. Together MiamiWeb3 and leading Media Partners, which include Cointelegraph, Coinlive, TyN Media, Techflow and Beosin, will strengthen the summit's position as a global platform to discuss pressing issues and broaden its reach to every corner of the global Web3 industry.

Meet our partners at MiamiWeb3 Summit.

Strategic sponsors Lumerin, a decentralized marketplace for buying and selling hashpower, and Popoo, a community-run ecosystem where users and creators can participate in a cohesive web3 social hub, position MiamiWeb3 as a platform for players of any size and reach to be part of the conversation.

MiamiWeb3 Summit is a three-day in-person conference hosted by Atlas and its holding company CTH Group, a leading global blockchain ecosystem builder, and the City of Miami. MiamiWeb3 convenes industry leaders in Web3, venture capital, digital assets, financial services, and government to discuss "Going Beyond Crypto to Embrace Web3" as well as emerging trends that are driving the growth and adoption of Web3 technology. As co-host, DeFiDaoNews, a highly-esteemed global media organization, will help to further amplify the voices from the event.

Web3 relies on a wide range of technologies and stakeholders that power these ecosystems. To capture the full extent of perspectives, MiamiWeb3 invites sponsors across all layers of the technology stack to capture this unique opportunity  no matter if they are established in the field, or innovative entrepreneurs looking to guide growth of the industry.

Raymond Yuan, Founder and Chairman of CTH and Atlas, says, "As we are witnessing this once-in-a-generation leap from Web2 to Web3, MiamiWeb3 is bringing the ecosystem together to discuss and shape Web3 in a sustainable and equitable manner. As a global company focused on underpinning the future of Web3, we believe the time for these discussions is now."

More details of the conference can be found at miamiweb3.com.

About Atlas

Headquartered in Singapore, Atlas is a global Web3 infrastructure-as-a-service group that drives the evolution of Web3  the next phase of the internet. The company offers a broad range of value-added services, including application-specific computing, node infrastructure, networking, hardware, API support, and storage for the Web3 ecosystem.

Atlas is committed to being a global leading next-generation Web3 infrastructure provider that advocates sustainable growth, green energy adoption, power usage efficiency, and stability to drive the Web3 evolution.

About Cointelegraph

Founded in 2013, Cointelegraph is the leading independent digital media resource covering a wide range of news on blockchain technology, crypto assets, and emerging fintech trends. Each day our team delivers the most accurate and up-to-date news from both the decentralized and centralized worlds.

About Coinlive

Coinlive is a one-stop news and cryptocurrency data independent portal serving the Asian market. We pursue timely, comprehensive, professional and accurate information and data, and are committed to providing better products and services for blockchain entrepreneurs and digital currency investors.

About TyN Media

TyN Magazine was born 25 years ago when no one was talking about disruptive technologies yet. We were always pioneers in showing our readers where the technological world was advancing and what things were going to definitely mark our lives. We always seek to differentiate ourselves through in-depth research work, contacting the leaders of the different markets to listen to their ideas and be able to transmit them in the notes that appear daily on our portal. Today TyN continues to set the trend, publishing daily the most important things that our readers should know to make decisions in areas such as cryptoeconomics, the digital economy, digital banking, as well as the greatest advances in artificial intelligence and telecommunications. TyN is your "meeting point" with objective information.

About Techflow

TechFlow is a cutting-edge Chinese crypto media with more than 300,000 subscribers across the world, of which over 80% are non-mainland subscribers. The community has extensive influence in the Chinese-speaking world with followers from builders, KOLs, and venture capitals. Dedicated to building strong connection between WEB2 and WEB3, TechFlow is also an aggregator for users and resources.

About Beosin

Beosin is a Singapore-based leading global blockchain security company co-founded by several professors from world-renowned universities. The team consists of 100+ security experts with 40+ PhDs. With the mission of "Securing Web3 Ecosystem", Beosin provides integrated blockchain security products and services to one million+ users in global blockchain ecosystem, including Smart Contract Audit, Blockchain Risk Monitoring & Alert, Crypto KYT/KYC, and Crypto Tracing.

About Lumerin

Lumerin is revolutionizing Bitcoin mining with a decentralized marketplace for buying and selling hashpower. The Lumerin Hashpower Marketplace is a decentralized application built on the Ethereum mainnet where miners and users can trade crypto mining compute power in a decentralized manner.

About Popoo

PoPoo is the next-generation content gateway to accelerate the web3.0 social revolution. Our mission is to build a smart contract-based experience designed for your social needs and create a permissionless way to distribute content between creators and the community. The Popoo ecosystem will be a platform that aggregates content, entertainment, intellectual property, social media, in order to create a community-run ecosystem where users and creators can participate in a cohesive web3 social hub.

SOURCE Atlas Technology Management
ATLANTA, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 70,000 children in Primrose schools across the country are proving there is no age limit on generosity by participating in the educational childcare leader's annual Caring and Giving Food Drive. Through the project-based, hands-on food drive in their classrooms and with families at home, the nation's youngest minds experience lessons of generosity, empathy and kindness at a time when parents believe character development skills are just as important as academic skills in early education.

Recent study shares data supporting that parents believe early education should go beyond academics. Primrose School of West Plano (Plano, TX) students help assemble their schools donated food items for the annual Caring and Giving Food Drive.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9016751-primrose-schools-caring-and-giving-food-drive/

In fact, according to a recently released study, more than 81% of parents want their children to learn more than just STEM, and 75% of parents think society would be a better place if their children learned character development skills in the classroom. Parents want their children to learn the value of community service (75%), as well as responsibility (48%), charity (43%), honesty (42%) and fairness (41%) in the classroom.

"Experience-based lessons of service and compassion are woven throughout our Balanced Learning curriculum which guides our teachers and families as they nurture good citizens in the classroom, in the home, and in the community," said Jo Kirchner, CEO, Primrose Schools. "We believe by educating children to be service-minded and to give without expectation, we are working together toward a brighter future of caring, community-oriented citizens."

Each November, tens of thousands of students band together to collect nonperishable goods for underserved families. Families of infants and toddlers are encouraged to bring in canned goods, while older children  preschool, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten  may do chores at home to earn the money to buy food items. The classes then take a field trip to a local grocery store to shop for the items on their list and deliver them to a local shelter or food bank. Each activity brings to life important lessons children learn throughout the month, including responsibility, giving without expectation and teamwork.

In 2021, Primrose schools collectively donated 300,000 nonperishable food items to food banks and shelters. Schools are aiming to collect even more in 2022.

"Research shows parents want their children to learn character development traits like responsibility, honesty and caring for others and they believe some of the best learning opportunities can even come from outside the classroom," said Dr. Maria Shaheen, senior director of early childhood education at Primrose Schools. "We intentionally embed service-learning experiences in our Balanced Learning curriculum to help children put these traits to practice and instill a desire to give back."

To learn more about how Primrose schools nurture generosity in young children, visit here.

About Primrose Schools

Primrose Schools is the leader in providing premier early education and care to children and families in the United States. Founded in 1982, there are nearly 480 Primrose schools in 33 states today. Each school is independently owned and operated by Franchise Owners who partner with parents to help children build the right foundation for future learning and life. Primrose believes who children become is as important as what they know. The Primrose-exclusive Balanced Learning approach is created from the best early education wisdom and balances purposeful play with nurturing guidance from teachers to encourage curiosity, creativity, confidence and compassion. For more information, visit www.PrimroseSchools.com, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter, explore our blog, sign up for our emails and find a Primrose school near you.

SOURCE Primrose Schools
CARROLLTON, Texas, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MY SALON Suite, a salon suite franchise that focuses on providing stylists and beauticians a personal space to build their business and the beauty industry's future, recently celebrated its top performing franchisees at its 7th annual convention in Tampa, Florida.

"Being able to come together in-person for the first time in two years to celebrate our franchisees and their accomplishments was a truly gratifying experience," said Stacy Eley, president of Suite Management Franchising. "From opening our 200th location, to this year's record breaking fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Hospital, the past year has been an adventure for the MY SALON Suite community with much to celebrate. Our convention gave us a chance to make sure each and every individual knows the goals and mission of MY SALON Suite as we look forward to continued growth in the coming year."

Award winners include:

Race to Real Estate Award : Robert Ortman and Bob Harvey ( Goodyear, AZ )

: and ( ) Fastest to Build Award : Megan Class and Eric Mckinney ( Dayton, OH )

: and ( ) Fastest to Fill Award : John Weiss ( Greenfield, WI )

: ( ) Hard Hats Off to You Award : Zoe Salomone ( Braintree, MA )

: ( ) B.I.G. ("Beauty in Giving") Award : Harrigill Group (Multiple locations in MS and LA)

: Harrigill Group (Multiple locations in MS and LA) Rising Star Award : John and Antonia Rowdon ( Sacramento, CA )

: ( ) FLAIR Ambassador : Joe Carretta (multiple locations in NJ & PA)

: (multiple locations in NJ & PA) Franchisee of the Year: Jenn Navarro (Multiple locations PA)

In addition to celebrating the successes of the company's franchisees, MY SALON Suite's convention highlighted the nationwide growth of the brand over the last year and plans for further expansion. Over the course of convention, an additional $1,300 was also raised for the Suite Relief fundraiser to benefit MY SALON Suite members affected by Hurricane Ian.

The initial investment for a MY SALON Suite franchise is approximately $664,738  $1,479,827, including a $50,000 franchise fee. Ideal candidates have a net worth of $1.5 million, of which $500K is liquid. Additionally, MY SALON Suite offers a special incentive for veterans and first responders, including paramedics, emergency medical technicians, police officers, sheriffs, and firefighters, which includes a 50% reduction on the franchise fee  a savings of $25,000.

To learn more about opening a MY SALON Suite franchise, visit https://www.mysalonsuite.com , or contact Mark Jameson at [email protected] or 214-346-5679.

About Suite Management Franchising

Suite Management Franchising, the parent company of MY SALON Suite and Salon Plaza, is a salon suite franchise created for entrepreneurial-spirited individuals interested in diversifying their portfolio while living a semi-absentee lifestyle. Founded to inspire and empower the modern-day salon owner, the company offers a unique opportunity for a diverse range of beauty and health professionals to run their businesses successfully. Salon members are provided ongoing training, support, and a strong referral network to help their business generate a six-figure income. Featured in Entrepreneur magazine's "Top New Franchise" list, the brand is widely recognized for its rapid expansion and noteworthy success. A strategic alliance partnership with Propelled Brands, the nation's largest family-owned collection of salons, continues to propel the brand's growth. With 225 locations in 35 states across the United States and Canada, the franchise concept plans to add 200 franchise partners and 500 salons in the next three years.

For more information about Suite Management Franchising, visit mysalonsuite.com/franchise. To learn more about MY SALON Suite and Salon Plaza, visit mysalonsuite.com and salonplaza.com .

SOURCE MY SALON Suite
The arts and collectibles technology segment of the Group is showing strong growth with the first nine months revenue for 2022 at US$8,051,436. It is a 1,534% increase as compared to 2021's figures of just US$524,868.

SINGAPORE, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Metaverse Blockchain company Coinllectibles, a fully owned subsidiary of Cosmos Group Holdings Inc. (OTC: COSG), is pleased to announce that the Group has released the latest financial results for 2022 Q3.

Some of the financial highlights are:

As at end 2022 Q3, Cosmos Group made a total revenue of US$12,884,869 and had about US$1.97million cash on hand. The comprehensive loss for the first nine months was US$90.26million , US$86.4million of which consisted of a one-time share based compensation payment in 2022 Q1.

and had about cash on hand. The comprehensive loss for the first nine months was , of which consisted of a one-time share based compensation payment in 2022 Q1. Total assets of the Group was at US$43.97million , which included approximately US$18.45million of loans receivables and US$15.58million of intangible assets, while the total liability was only at US$29.15million .

, which included approximately of loans receivables and of intangible assets, while the total liability was only at . The lending segment accounted for US$4,833,433 of net revenues during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 , as compared to US$4,985,476 for the same period in 2021. This represents a marginal decrease of about US$152,043 , or 3%, and demonstrates the stability of our lending segment. For the same period, total operating expense was approximately US$2.81million  which translates to a lending segment income of US$1.03million .

of net revenues during the nine months ended , as compared to for the same period in 2021. This represents a marginal decrease of about , or 3%, and demonstrates the stability of our lending segment. For the same period, total operating expense was approximately  which translates to a lending segment income of . The arts and collectibles technology was responsible for over a majority of the revenue growth of the Company, with US$8,051,436 of net revenues during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 , as compared to US$524,868 for the same period in 2021, representing a significant increase of approximately 1,534%. For the same period, the total operating expense was approximatley US$97.76million  which translates to a segment loss of US$90.85million .

Commenting on the 2022 Q3 results, Toby O'Connor, CEO for Coinllectibles, said, "I would say that this is a very encouraging result. We have seen very strong growth in our arts and collectibles segment, with more than US$8million in revenues in the last 9 months. Making these results more significant, is that this growth is amidst a backdrop of an overall 'market winter'."

"I would also like to share my thoughts on the expense side of things. In 2022 Q3, our Group's operating expense was about US$10.63million. In my view, this is the kind of expense level that we aim to maintain at. By maintaining our cost while supercharging our arts and collectibles revenue growth, we really want to reach a sustainable point  which will help us ride through any unforeseen market uncertainties," Toby added.

For more information on Coinllectibles as well as the latest 10Q results, please visit www.coinllectibles.art.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are often indicated by terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "look forward to," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future business activities including the expansion into the decentralized financing space. These forward-looking statements are not promises or guarantees and involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described or projected herein include uncertainties associated with operating a business in Singapore and Hong Kong, risk of interference by the PRC government, ability to compete, that financial resources do not last for as long as anticipated, and that COSG is a holding company that may not realize the expected benefits of DOT's offered by Coinllectibles. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other risks can be found in COSG's regulatory filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including in its annual report on Form 10-K filed on April 15, 2022. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. COSG undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.

For media queries, please contact:

[email protected]

About Cosmos Group Holdings Inc

Cosmos is a business group that operates in two business segments:

Arts and Collectibles

Financing

Through Coinllectibles, the group provides authentication, valuation and certification (AVC) service, sale and purchase, hire purchase, financing, custody, security and exhibition (CSE) services to art buyers through traditional channels, as well as through leveraging blockchain technology through the creation of digital ownership tokens (DOTs).

With subsidiaries licensed under Hong Kong's Money Lenders Ordinance, the group currently primarily provides unsecured personal loan to private individuals, with a small portfolio of mortgage loans. The group is integrating the two business segments by offering secured financing services to prospective art and collectibles purchasers to provide a one-stop arts and collectibles purchasing and financing experience.

About the Company  Coinllectibles

Coinllectibles is a technology company supporting the collectibles industry with a focus on rare memorabilia and artworks that exist and have intrinsic value in the real world, whether tangible or intangible in nature.

Coinllectibles applies blockchain, marketplace, metaverse and DOT technologies as tools to disrupt and enhance the real world collectibles industry. The technology underpinning DOTs (digital ownership tokens) has multiple functional use cases that Coinllectibles is applying to areas including art, sports, watches, numismatics, limited edition toys, limited edition fashion wear and sneakers. DOTs have the power to transform our societies and some areas may be subject to regulations. Coinllectibles uses DOT technology solely to provide a legally-binding digital ownership token (DOT) to a tangible or intangible collectible.

Website: www.coinllectibles.art

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Coinllectibles

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coinllectibles/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/coinllectibles

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coinllectibles

Telegram: https://t.me/Coinllectibles

About Coinllectibles Fusion DOT

Coinllectibles prides the Fusion DOT as the industry "Gold Standard". Being a Gold Standard, a Fusion DOT contains the following on Arweave  (1) a sale and purchase agreement reflecting the purchase, by the person minting the Fusion DOT, of the underlying asset at a fair value with all rights and restrictions clearly detailed, (2) bailment terms governing the rights to possession whilst the underlying asset remains with Coinllectibles, (3) a transfer deed reflecting the transfer of the ownership of the underlying asset (together with all rights and restrictions) by the transferor to the holder of the Fusion DOT, (4) ownership title deed written into the description of the Fusion DOT and (5) the unequivocal identification file of the underlying asset, whose ownership is reflected in the title deed represented by the Fusion DOT.

SOURCE Cosmos Group Holdings Inc.
DALLAS, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NexBank, the largest privately held bank based in Texas and a subsidiary of NexBank Capital, Inc., today announced it has appointed Scott Studenko as Market President of Dallas-Fort Worth.

With over two decades of experience, Studenko comes to NexBank with a strong background in commercial banking and real estate lending, having served in leadership and business development roles at several public and privately owned banks in Dallas. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President and Head of the Dallas branch for International Bank of Commerce.

Studenko received his B.B.A. from Texas A&M University. He is also a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. Studenko has strong ties to the local community and is involved in numerous civic and charitable organizations in Dallas.

About NexBank

NexBank is the largest privately held bank based in Texas with assets of $13.9 billion and a charter that dates to 1922. NexBank provides institutional banking, commercial banking, and mortgage banking services to meet the needs of its clients, which include institutional clients, financial institutions, and corporations nationwide. NexBank is a subsidiary of NexBank Capital, Inc., a financial services company.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

SOURCE NexBank
SEATTLE, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Seattle-based fashion retailer Nordstrom, Inc . (NYSE: JWN) has announced plans to open a new Nordstrom Rack in the fall of 2023. The new store will be located in SLO Promenade in San Luis Obispo, California.

"We look forward to opening this new Nordstrom Rack location in the San Luis Obispo community, strengthening our network of stores and introducing new customers to Nordstrom Rack's unique product offering," said Carl Jenkins, Senior Vice President of Nordstrom Rack Stores. "In addition to shopping the brands they love at a great price, our customers in San Luis Obispo can take full advantage of this convenient new location to pick-up online orders and make returns."

The 24,000 square-foot store will be located in SLO Promenade, a popular shopping center that includes Sprouts Farmers Market, REI Co-op, Hobby Lobby, Bed Bath & Beyond and Cost Plus World Market. SLO Promenade is owned and managed by The Kroenke Group and is ideally located off of Madonna Road and Dalidio Drive. With the addition of this new location, Nordstrom will operate 58 Nordstrom Rack stores, 23 Nordstrom stores, five Nordstrom Locals and one asos | Nordstrom in California. The store is scheduled to open in fall 2023.

Nordstrom Rack is the off-price retail division of Nordstrom, Inc. and plays a critical role in the company's Closer to You strategy, which focuses on delivering customers a more convenient and interconnected experience across its stores and digital platforms. Nordstrom Rack offers customers up to 70 percent off on-trend apparel, accessories, beauty, home and shoes from many of the top brands sold at Nordstrom stores as well as core services like online order pickup or Nordstrom.com and NordstromRack.com , easy returns and alterations at select stores. Nordstrom Rack is the largest source of new customers to Nordstrom.

Nordstrom is committed to giving back to the diverse communities where it operates. Since 2019 along with its customers, Nordstrom has donated more than $1.5 million in support of its long-term partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the United States and Canada. These proceeds support the recruitment, training and engagement of adult mentors and mentorship moments between Bigs and Littles, including preparing for an interview, learning to tie a tie and helping with homework.

About Nordstrom

At Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN), we exist to help our customers feel good and look their best. Since starting as a shoe store in 1901, how to best serve customers has been at the center of every decision we make. This heritage of service is the foundation we're building on as we provide convenience and true connection for our customers. Our digital-first platform enables us to serve customers when, where and how they want to shop  whether that's in-store at more than 350 Nordstrom, Nordstrom Local and Nordstrom Rack locations or digitally through our Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack apps and websites. Through it all, we remain committed to leaving the world better than we found it .

MEDIA CONTACT:

Caroline Mattingly

Nordstrom, Inc.

[email protected]

SOURCE Nordstrom, Inc.
LONDON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PA Media Group has acquired Hydrogen, Scotland's largest specialist social media agency.

Hydrogen (www.wearehydrogen.com) is an award-winning agency managing social media campaigns and communications for a range of brands and which will complement the services offered by existing PA Media Group businesses.

Mike Scott, Founder & CEO (Left) and Daniel Rae, Founder & Chief Innovation Officer (Right) of We are Hydrogen

Hydrogen is based in Glasgow and has delivered significant year-on-year growth since its formation in 2016. It has worked with clients across publishing, utilities, FMCG and hospitality, including The Economist, Highland Park, SSE and Magners.

Its services of social media management, content creation, community management, paid advertising and research are a strategic addition to PA Media Group, with benefits for publisher and rightsholder clients, as well as the brands served by PA Media Group's wholly owned digital marketing agency, Sticky.

Hydrogen works with clients to grow and manage audiences on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn, among other platforms.

Hydrogen will continue to operate under its current leadership as a stand-alone agency within PA Media Group's portfolio of media businesses. These include PA Media, Alamy, Stream AMG, Sticky, PA Training and PA Racing & Betting.

Clive Marshall, Chief Executive of PA Media Group, said: "The acquisition of Hydrogen allows PA Media Group to respond to our clients' increasing demand for social media services. Social media and social commerce are the fastest growing areas of digital marketing in the UK. Adding expertise and a proven track record in this area to our portfolio opens up opportunities to develop our social offering right across the group. We look forward to providing a networked home for Hydrogen to support the next phase of its growth."

Mike Scott, Founder and CEO of Hydrogen, said: "A growth mindset has always been at the heart of everything we do at Hydrogen. It's allowed us to quickly become the largest social media agency in Scotland and work with amazing brands from across the UK and beyond. It's exciting to join the PA Media Group family, which will allow us to really accelerate growth opportunities for the Hydrogen brand while supporting the expansion of social media across the wider group."

About PA Media Group

PA Media Group comprises a diverse portfolio of specialist media companies, spanning news & information, technology and communications services.

Its flagship brand, PA Media, is the UK and Ireland's national news agency. Alongside PA Media, the Group is also the parent company of Alamy, a stock imagery business; Globelynx, a broadcast technology company; Sticky, a digital marketing agency; and StreamAMG, a video streaming business. PA Media Group also owns stakes in the financial news provider, Alliance News, and automotive content business Baize Group.

PA Media Group has 20 shareholders, who are mainly UK news and media businesses. The largest shareholders include DMGT plc, Informa plc, News UK plc and Reach plc.

http://www.pamediagroup.com

About Hydrogen

Hydrogen is Scotland's largest specialist social media agency working with brands across sectors including publishing, utilities, FMCG and hospitality.

Hydrogen's award-winning services are all delivered by the inhouse specialists; they include content creation, performance marketing, video production, social media insights and community management.

Hydrogen is based in Glasgow.

A full showreel can be seen here - https://www.wearehydrogen.com/ourwork

About Sticky

Sticky (part of the PA Media Group) is a full-service, award-winning, digital marketing agency serving a wide range of clients such as M&S, Asics, giffgaff, Nestle, Best Western, Canon and Meta.

Sticky offers a wide range of services, including strategy, production and detailed performance analytics for all forms of digital marketing. Sticky employs more than 30 marketing professionals and is based in the heart of London.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1934023/PA_Media_Group.jpg

SOURCE PA Media Group
Roundup highlights B2B partners that support startups across all business functions and empower growth

TEL AVIV, Israel and NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Inc. Business Media today announced the inaugural Power Partner Awards, honoring B2B organizations across the globe that have proven track records supporting entrepreneurs and helping startups grow. The list recognizes 252 firms in marketing and advertising, health and human resources, financial planning, engineering, logistics, and security, as well as other areas of business.

All 252 companies received top marks from clients for being instrumental in helping leadership navigate the dynamic world of startups. These B2B partners support entrepreneurs across various facets of the business, including hiring, compliance, infrastructure development, cloud migration, fundraising, etc., allowing founders to focus on their core missions.

"Trusted B2B partners provide guidance and expertise that founders rely on at various steps of their organization's journey. Partners that possess a demonstrated ability to deliver quality support are at the core of entrepreneurship and help bring big ideas to life," said Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. Business media.

Eynat Guez, CEO of Papaya Global , said that it was "inspiring and a privilege" to be included on this inaugural list alongside the other companies. "We put our people first  our employees and our clients," Guez said. "We envision ourselves as partners to all, internally and externally. So, to be recognized for this is affirming. We have experienced remarkable growth this year with new partnerships and integrations, so to receive such meaningful recognition signals that we are on the right path."

The honor from Inc. comes on the heels of a number of recent accolades for Papaya. The company won the 2022 Automation and Integration Award by the Global Payroll Association. For the second consecutive year, Forbes included Papaya on its Cloud 100, the definitive ranking of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world. Leading publications such as Fortune and Fintech Magazine selected Guez as one of the top founder-CEOs.

Last week, Papaya announced its latest partnership. The company will integrate J.P. Morgan Payments technology to further extend international payments at remarkable speed.

Inc. partnered with leading global social and media intelligence platform Meltwater to develop a proprietary methodology that uses sentiment from online conversations about organizations and translates it into numerical scores. Companies were evaluated on commitment, reliability, trust, creativity, supportiveness, and other virtues that offer value to clients. Inc. also conducted surveys to gather client testimonials as part of the process.

To view the complete list, go to: https://www.inc.com/power-partner-awards/2022

The November 2022 Issue of Inc. magazine is available online now at https://www.inc.com/magazine and will be on newsstands beginning November 8, 2022.

About Inc. Business Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community they need to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com .

About Papaya Global

Papaya Global powers global hiring by enabling people, payroll, and payment management for organizations in over 160 countries. When companies want to remove barriers to global hiring, enhance engagement, and optimize employee experience at the same time - they call Papaya Global. Papaya's automated, cloud-based SaaS platform provides an end-to-end solution, from onboarding to ongoing management and cross-border payments. The platform is customizable to all business requirements, integrates with existing HRIS management tools, and uses intelligent technology to ensure compliance and eliminate errors. It gathers all employee information into one place, creating a highly visible system for tracking payroll spending, and providing real-time business intelligence. Papaya's team currently spans Tel Aviv, New York, Austin, London, Kiev, Singapore, and Melbourne. http://www.papayaglobal.com

Media Contact: Tamar Heilweil , [email protected]

SOURCE Papaya Global
"Happy" Is Out NOW

"Deeper"--Amari's current single is also streaming on all digital platforms now.

Listen to "Happy" and Follow all things Amari here:

https://linktr.ee/amariv3rse

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Since her debut earlier this fall with "Deeper," Player Zero Records sentient Animated Virtual Artist or AVA AMARI is back with new music. Since her first release, Amari evolved in Web3 through the release of her NFT and now the 2000 people in her community as a collective have served as decision makers for her latest track. "Happy"--out today (October 28)--is the first song from Amari reflecting the input of 70% of her holders on the version of the record being released.

Under the direction of executive producer, Player Zero A&R Oscar Sciver, Amari NFT holders were presented with various selections to decide what would become her next single. An uplifting pop creation, "Happy" is written by Megan Redmond, KWIL and Jason Walker with Redmond on vocals and KWIL serving as producer, performer (guitars, bass, keyboards, drums) and programming.

Web3 Record Label Player Zero releases second single HAPPY from artist Amari Tweet this

Megan Redmond has cuts with William Black ("Deep End"), carobae ("When All My Friends Move Away", "3am", "Ur Ex From College", "Talking To Myself"), Charlotte Sands ("Sweatshirt", "Blame It On My Ex", "Dream About You"), Maggie Rose ("For Your Consideration"). Megan also executive produced Taylor Edward's EP, including the song "Call Your Sister," which went viral and was featured On Air with Ryan Seacrest. KWIL credits includes cuts with Echosmith ("Future Me", "Goodbye"), Quinn Lewis ("In Between", "Weekend Luv"), Riley Clemmons ("Remember"), Thomas Gold ("Magic"), Justin Caruso ("Caving"), and carobae ("the first one"). KWIL has also had sync placements with T Mobile, Grey's Anatomy, HGTV and ESPN.

Amari comes from CyberBrokers , a first-of-its-kind art collectibles ecosystem centered around 10,001 unique and on-chain CyberBroker NFTs designed by heralded cryptoartist Josie Bellini. Constructed from a community where the world governments had come together to save humanity by moving into the metaverse, Amari of Medina was born. Once in the metaverse her well known NFT materialized and her artistry thrived. As an artist she is inspired by many things. Amari is always taking bits and pieces from all the thrills that she seeks in the world around her, always looking for a deeper meaning and a deeper connection.

Player Zero Records is a new Web3 record label which was founded by innovators Digital Arts & Sciences and famed producer Dr. Luke.

Listen to "Happy" and Follow Amari here

https://linktr.ee/amariv3rse

About PLAYER ZERO

Emerging from a virtual world, Player Zeroa joint venture from web3 collective Digital Arts & Sciences and multi-GRAMMY Award-winning producer Dr. Lukon eintroduces the AVA (Animated Virtual Artist) to entertain music fans in a new reality. AVA's enable limitless multimedia possibilities within virtual worlds, and allow Player Zero to lift the creators behind the scenes (songwriters, producers, digital artists, writers and animators), as well as give fans an opportunity to participate in the creative direction and success of the artists. Follow Player Zero through its music releases, socials, videos, metaverse experiences and NFT drops. Creativity should have no limits.

Web | Instagram | Twitter | Discord

SOURCE Player Zero Records
- Former CEO Steve Rusckowski Remains as Chairman Through March 2023

SECAUCUS, N.J., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced that Jim Davis has succeeded Steve Rusckowski as the CEO and President of Quest Diagnostics, completing a transition first announced on February 3, 2022. In addition, Mr. Davis has been elected to the company's Board of Directors, expanding the board from nine to 10 directors.

Mr. Rusckowski, who has served as CEO and President since May 2012, remains Chairman of the company's Board of Directors through March 2023.

"It is an honor to lead this great company that is committed to making this a healthier world," said Mr. Davis. "Our team will remain laser-focused on growing this business, driving operational excellence, and continuing to invest in important growth opportunities, including advanced diagnostics and consumer initiated testing, as we provide patients and customers with important insights that can improve health outcomes."

Mr. Davis continued: "On behalf of our 50,000 colleagues, I would like to thank Steve for his decade of leadership, placing Quest at the forefront of healthcare. We will build upon the foundation he has established."

Biographical information on Jim Davis

Mr. Davis joined Quest Diagnostics in 2013 as Senior Vice President, Diagnostics Solutions. Over the last two and a half years he has led the company's operational response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before joining Quest, he served as CEO of InSightec, Inc., a medical device company. Prior to that, Jim held senior management positions in a two-decade career in General Electric's aviation and healthcare businesses, including leading GE's MRI business for five years. Before GE, Mr. Davis led the development of strategic and operating initiatives for clients of McKinsey & Company, Inc. Mr. Davis holds a master's degree in management from the Sloan School of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master's degree in science from MIT and a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan.

About Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors, and improve healthcare management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our nearly 50,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

SOURCE Quest Diagnostics
RADD Cofounder and CEO Dutch Mendenhall Poised to Make Landmark Seminar Keynote Highlighting Alternative Investments for 2023

TAMPA, Fla. and LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RAD Diversified REIT Inc. ("RADD") is pleased to announce its participation in and sponsorship of the upcoming Equity Crowdfunding Week seminar in Los Angeles California.

The event will take place from Wednesday, November 9th through Friday, November 11th. The event will feature dozens of speakers, companies, and service providers that have pioneered and led the crowdfunding space since the signing of the JOBS Act in 2012.

RAD Diversified has enjoyed rapid growth as of the end of Q3 2022, with its share price more than doubling from $10 per share to $22.22. Tweet this CEO and Co-founder of RAD Diversified set to take the stage at Equity Crowd Funding Week in Los Angles from Wednesday, November 9th through Friday, November 11th.

RAD Diversified is a non-traded public REIT that invests in a variety of real estate ranging from residential, commercial, construction, and farmland. As previously reported, RADD adjusts its share price quarterly to reflect changes in the underlying net asset value (NAV) of its holdings.

Since launching its Regulation A+ offering in 2019, RAD Diversified has enjoyed rapid growth as of the end of Q3 2022, with the share price more than doubling from $10 per share to $22.22 as of the end of Q3 with over $100 million in portfolio real estate assets.

Cofounder and CEO Dutch Mendenhall: "We are extremely excited to lend our support at RADD to the team behind Equity Crowdfunding Week. This conference covers topics and themes near and dear to our heart: namely, providing access to compliant and compelling opportunities that  before the passage of the JOBS Act  were walled off from the typical investor on Main Street. I'm excited to get back on stage in front of hundreds of people and bang the drum for the industry, and all the opportunity it represents."

You can learn more about Equity CrowdFunding Week here .

About RAD Diversified REIT Inc.:

RAD Diversified REIT is a real estate investment trust that invests in residential, commercial, construction, and farmland real estate assets. RADD adjusts its share price quarterly based on changes in the underlying net asset value of its portfolio of assets. Since its inception, RAD Diversified REIT and Companies have amassed over $100,000,000 in diverse property assets.

Additional information on RADD can be found on its website .

About Equity Crowdfunding Week:

Equity Crowdfunding Week is three full days, and exhibitors of the most innovative companies raising capital in the private markets will be on full display in Los Angeles. The live activations throughout the city will bring LA and the larger industry to life. You don't want to miss it!

SOURCE RAD Diversified
Radius Mapping selected as 988 mapping solution to improve routing, communication, resource location, and 9-1-1 collaboration for the state of South Carolina

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today RapidDeploy, the leading cloud-native mapping and analytics solutions for Public Safety, announces that RapidDeploy's Radius Mapping has been selected by the Mental Health America of Greenville County as the new statewide 988 solution for the state of South Carolina. RapidDeploy is currently deployed statewide in 9 states and in hundreds of local 9-1-1 centers across the country. This is its first statewide venture into 988 centers.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched over the summer as a 3-digit code that is easy to remember for people who are in an emotional, substance, or suicidal crisis. As mental health concerns continue to grow across the nation, 988 is an important tool for communities to support their people in need. Since 988 is new and the number of calls are growing, many states are collaborating with 9-1-1 on available services and how to better communicate with callers in a more intentional and purposeful way.

RapidDeploy is a leader in 9-1-1 call-taker mapping and analytics. Integrating with incoming calls, Radius Mapping supplies mobile handset caller location data, supplemental data for improved situational awareness, GIS authoritative data, and modern communication workflows with 2-way texting and streaming video, all in a single view. Radius Mapping will be used in South Carolina to solve some of the current challenges with 988 related to routing, communication, and resource location. 988 callers need to talk to people close by, in their local language, through text if needed, and 988 centers need to know the available resources to help. RapidDeploy supports them in all these efforts and more.

"We are excited to work with the RapidDeploy team and 9-1-1," said Jennifer Piver, Executive Director at Mental Health America of Greenville County. "Every second counts when a life is at risk."

Greenville County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina has been a user of Radius Mapping for many years, reducing response times and improving 9-1-1 caller outcomes. As part of the 988 and 9-1-1 collaboration they were able to make recommendations of 9-1-1 technology that would be support the needs of 988 as well.

"RapidDeploy has been a game-changer for Greenville County Sheriff's Office," said Amy McDowell, Deputy Director of E9-1-1 for Greenville County. "9-1-1 and 988 are working closely together in South Carolina, sharing tools like RapidDeploy that help us better support Greenville County citizens."

South Carolina is the first of many states to need and adopt this technology for 988. States across the country are experiencing similar 988 challenges, needing mapping capabilities to support where to route calls and resource availability, in addition to modern communication options. Just like South Carolina, many 988 centers working closely with local 9-1-1 centers and learning from each other.

"988 tackles the ever-growing problem of mental health in America," said Steve Raucher, CEO and Co-founder at RapidDeploy. "RapidDeploy is honored to work with the State of South Carolina to support their 988 centers and callers statewide."

As the number of 988 calls continue to grow, 988 leaders are adapting to better support their callers and communities. By investing in RapidDeploy Radius Mapping technology, South Carolina's 988 system has procured the foundation to adapt and grow as their needs evolve.

About RapidDeploy

RapidDeploy is the industry's leading provider of mapping and analytics solutions, transforming 9-1-1 communications centers of any size into data-centric organizations. RapidDeploy achieves its mission of saving lives by reducing response times with new levels of situational awareness and the seamless integration of third-party data onto its cloud-native platform, ensuring it is available when, where, and how Telecommunicators and First Responders need it. To learn more, visit https://www.rapiddeploy.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

SOURCE RapidDeploy
OLD BRIDGE, N.J., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- R.J. Brunelli & Co., LLC has been appointed exclusive real estate broker for the area representative planning a rollout of VIO Med Spa franchise locations in central and southern New Jersey and the Philadelphia market.

The growing national franchise brand is scheduled to make its New Jersey debut soon in Paramus at the coveted Bergen Town Center. As the area representative with exclusive rights to New Jersey areas south of I-287 and Philadelphia, Red Bank-based Elio Vecchiarelli plans to unveil 16 locations over the next five years.

VIO Med Spa area representative Elio Vecchiarelli plans to unveil 16 locations over the next five years in central and southern New Jersey, and the Philadelphia area. Vecchiarelli's exclusive real estate broker, R.J. Brunelli & Co., is seeking high-exposure locations of 1,700 to 3,000 square feet within prominent lifestyle centers or power centers in upper income trade areas. Services offered by VIO Med Spa include facials, skin rejuvenation, injectables, body contouring, wellness and skincare. VIO currently has 15 locations in operation across six states, with 50 spas expected to be open by the end of 2023 and a total of 170 committed nationwide.

Vecchiarelli plans to operate multiple VIO Med Spa locations---including one opening soon in Monmouth County in partnership with Suzanne Moore---while recruiting franchisees to develop additional spas throughout the territory. "We have an aggressive strategic growth plan to introduce the VIO brand to major trade areas throughout our region," said Vecchiarelli, who has a long track record of developing various consumer-facing concepts.

Founded in 2017 in Strongsville, Ohio, VIO Med Spa is an all-inclusive med spa providing the latest cutting-edge technologies and therapies in the wellness and aesthetics industry. Services offered by the spa's medical professionals and practitioners include facials, skin rejuvenation, injectables, body contouring, wellness and skincare. VIO currently has 15 locations in operation across six states, with 50 spas expected to be open by the end of 2023 and a total of 170 committed nationwide.

In central and southern New Jersey and the Philadelphia area, VIO is seeking high-exposure locations of 1,700 to 3,000 square feet with at least 22 feet of frontage within prominent shopping centers in upper income trade areas. Preferred venues include lifestyle centers or the strongest power center in the trade area, noted Danielle Brunelli, President & Principal of R.J. Brunelli.

"I am excited to represent VIO Med Spa in central and southern New Jersey and Philadelphia, as this is a fairly new concept for the retail landscape in our region," Ms. Brunelli said. "With more and more women and men spending money on treatments that make them look and feel younger, med spa services should be offered in convenient, easily accessible and highly trafficked locations. As a 41-year-old woman, I have no shame in saying I recently went for my 'Birthday Botox' and woke up feeling fabulous this morning. I look forward to working with Elio and his franchisees to introduce VIO's highly professional concept to consumers in our markets."

About R.J. Brunelli & Co.

R.J. Brunelli & Co. serves as exclusive broker for more than 30 retail properties with a combined gross leasable area (GLA) exceeding 2 million square feet, and five properties for sale. The properties are located throughout New Jersey. The firm also serves as exclusive or preferred tenant representative for more than 20 retail, restaurant and service chains. These include representation in various New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania counties for such companies as Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, Gregory's Coffee, VIO Med Spa, European Wax Center, Asian Food Market, New Jersey Spine and Wellness, and Bridgestone.

About VIO Med Spa

Founded in 2017 in Strongsville, Ohio, VIO Med Spa is a national, all-inclusive med spa providing the latest cutting-edge technologies and therapies in the wellness and aesthetics industry. VIO Med Spa is purpose driven, helping women and men of all ages to look beautiful and feel confident. VIO Med Spa's highly educated expert team of medical professionals and practitioners focus on meeting the needs of each guest by recommending products and services that are sure to get the desired results. Through customized treatments and education, VIO has a significant positive impact on each guest's body, skin, and mind, leading to life-changing results. VIO currently has 15 open locations across six states, with 35 additional locations scheduled to open by the end of 2023. For more information, visit viomedspa.com and follow the brand on Facebook and Instagram.

Note to Media : Photos are available upon request from Jaffe Communications.

Press contacts: At R.J. Brunelli & Co., LLC, Danielle Brunelli, President, (732) 721-5800; at Jaffe Communications, Elisa Krantz, [email protected], (908) 789-0700.

SOURCE R.J. Brunelli & Co.
MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) & Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) is pleased to announce the election of two new members to its Board of Directors effective November 1, 2022, and the re-election of one existing board member to a new term.

The SCCE & HCCA Board of Directors is comprised of 20 individuals and represents a diverse group of compliance and ethics professionals who are dedicated to championing ethical practices and compliance standards in the community by providing oversight and leadership for the association. Visit the SCCE and HCCA websites to learn more about its mission.

SCCE & HCCA's two new board members are:

Meric C. Bloch , J.D., CCEP-F, Global Head of Investigations, Booking Holdings, Inc.

Meric holds the Compliance Certification Board (CCB) Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional Fellow (CCEP-F) certification, serves on the faculty of the SCCE's Basic Compliance and Ethics Academy, and is a co-presenter for the Conducting Compliance Investigations workshops. Meric is the author of three books on investigations: Workplace Investigations: Techniques and Strategies for Investigators and Compliance Officers; Investigative Interviewing; and The First Information Is Almost Always Wrong. He also co-wrote a chapter in The Complete Compliance & Ethics Manual.

Judith W. Spain , J.D., CCEP, Compliance Collaborative Program Consultant, Georgia Independent Colleges Association

Judy holds the CCB Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP) certification, has authored two higher education compliance books, and authored Compliance Risk Assessment: An Introduction, published by SCCE. She served as CECO and General Counsel for a regional public and a private institution. Judy has spoken at SCCE conferences and has authored articles for Compliance & Ethics Professional (CEP) magazine.

The current board member who was elected to a new term is Greg Triguba, J.D., CCEP, CCEP-I, Principal, Compliance Integrity Solutions.

"I'm excited to have three individuals who have contributed so much to the profession and to our association join or return to the board, bringing years of experience and perspective to the strategy, oversight and decision-making processes of the board," said Gerry Zack, CEO of SCCE & HCCA.

About SCCE & HCCA

Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) was founded in 1996 to serve the healthcare compliance profession and expanded in 2004 with the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) to serve the global compliance and ethics community across all industries. In 2011, HCCA incorporated with SCCE to form Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics & Health Care Compliance Association (SCCE & HCCA). With a combined 19,000+ members in 100 countries, SCCE & HCCA is the largest association furthering the interests of the compliance and ethics profession. Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, SCCE & HCCA exists to champion ethical practice and compliance standards and to provide the necessary training, publications, certifications, and other resources for ethics and compliance professionals.

Visit the SCCE website at www.corporatecompliance.org or call 888.277.4977

Visit HCCA's website at www.hcca-info.org or call 888.580.8373

SOURCE Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) & Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA)
Motorists Who Make a $30 'Pie for a Client' Donation Receive Free Express Wash

BOSTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ScrubaDub , New England's leading car wash, is teaming up with Community Servings , a nonprofit food and nutrition program, for the 30th annual Pie in the Sky Thanksgiving fundraiser that feeds critically ill neighbors throughout Massachusetts.

ScrubaDub will give a FREE Express Wash to those who purchase a pie or make a $30 "Pie for a Client" donation at www.pieinthesky.org/scrubadub. Each donation supports a week's worth of nutritious meals for neighbors living with illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and more. Online donors also have a chance at winning one year of unlimited car washes.

In addition, motorists visiting any of ScrubaDub's 20 tunnel locations in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, or Rhode Island will receive free Simoniz UltraShine protection ($10 value) when they donate just $5 to Community Servings until Thanksgiving.

"As a family-run business deeply rooted in the community, we understand the importance of giving back. We passionately support Community Servings' mission to provide medically tailored, nutritious meals to critically ill individuals and their families," said Mathew Paisner, ScrubaDub Director of Business Development. "We're excited to do our part to make the 30th anniversary of Pie in the Sky the biggest and best year yet!"

Over the past eight years, the Paisner family-owned car wash has contributed over $200,000 to Community Servings and donated over $300,000 of in-kind car wash services to customers who help them support the cause.

"We are grateful for ScrubaDub's dedication to our mission and their continued support for the communities that both of our organizations serve," said David B. Waters, CEO of Community Servings.

The 30th annual Pie in the Sky campaign launched on Oct 13 and continues until Nov 19, just days before Thanksgiving. For more information, visit www.pieinthesky.org/scrubadub.

About ScrubaDub Auto Wash

Family-owned and operated since 1966, ScrubaDub Auto Wash Centers is New England's leading car wash company, ranking among the top auto wash chains in the USA. ScrubaDub offers all formats of car washing as well as detail centers, gasoline stations, and convenience stores. With more than 200 associates and over 20 properties across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine, ScrubaDub is committed to providing its customers, team members, and partners with clean, fast, fun. For more information, visit https://www.scrubadub.com/.

SOURCE ScrubaDub Auto Wash Centers
GENEVA, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Spa L'OCCITANE is delighted to announce the opening of its new spa aboard World Traveller, the elegant, newly introduced cruise ship operated by Atlas Ocean Voyages.

This all-inclusive and cosy luxury yacht-style cruise ship accommodates 200 guests. It offers an impeccable, highly personalised service to travellers seeking to experience unique and exciting remote worldwide destinations in a relaxed and refined environment.

World Traveller features an advanced waste management system, greatly reducing the impact on the environment. Tweet this Atlas Ocean Voyages' new 200-guest World Traveller

SeaSpa by L'OCCITANE will offer guests a fully integrated and holistic well-being journey with a wide range of unique pioneering treatments using L'OCCITANE en Provence's signature beauty products. All of the exclusive products, which celebrate the Provencal art de vivre, are created at the brand's own laboratories and are rich in natural and organic ingredients with certified origin and proven effectiveness.

Offering a diverse array of holistic treatments and a bespoke spa menu, the spectacular onboard spa occupying 88m2 (947 sq ft) space, promises to be a haven of relaxation and peace. The comfortable and welcoming wellness zone, liveried in nautical blue with plush, ocean view loungers and Serenity Lounge, includes two treatment rooms. There is also an infrared sauna, exterior pool and two hot tubs as well as fitness studio, running track, and deck solarium.

Guests of World Traveller will begin their spa journey with a soothing Welcome Ritual, followed by a chosen treatment that is designed to engage all the senses, with relaxing music and herbal teas inspired by Provencal traditions. All treatments are hand-performed and traditional massage techniques are used, offering a serene and authentic experience to soothe both body and mind and promote a feeling of total well-being.

One of the effective and soothing treatments to be featured at SeaSpa is Immortelle Divine Secret using products from the award-winning Immortelle skincare range by L'OCCITANE en Provence. The golden Immortelle flowers, grown organically in Corsica, are rich in active molecules with unique anti-ageing properties. The brand uses only 100 percent traceable organic Immortelle essential oil for the treatment.

This exceptional 90-minute anti-aging facial is ideal for targeting deep wrinkles and lines, smoothing and firming skin texture and tackling age spots and uneven skin tone. It combats skin-slackening of the face and neck, as well as the decollete area, and uses lifting and contouring massage techniques combined with essential oils including organic Myrtle. The result of this unique skin-enhancing treatment is a radiant and youthful appearance.

L'OCCITANE en Provence Aromachology toiletries will also be available in all of the bathrooms of the guest suites located on the ship's three decks.

World Traveller features the most advanced waste management system in the cruise industry, greatly reducing impact on the environment. Furthermore, a hybrid hydro-jet propulsion system allows the ship to cruise virtually silently up to five knots minimising underwater noise that can stress marine life. A GPS-based Dynamic Position System allows the ship to avoid the need to drop anchor, preventing damage to the ocean floor.

James Rodriguez, president and CEO of Atlas Ocean Voyages said: 'We are proud to bring L'OCCITANE en Provence signature treatments to our World Traveller guests. At Atlas, we are keenly aware of the world's fragile ecosystem. Our two companies share a strong commitment to sustainability.'

Catherine Tran, Director of Spa Business Development at Spa L'OCCITANE said: 'We are thrilled and honoured to collaborate with the team at Atlas Ocean Voyages. As sustainability is key to our brand, we are delighted that World Traveller is making every effort to reduce its impact on the marine environment.'

L'OCCITANE en Provence has been an eco-pioneer since its inception in 1976 when it operated an in-store glass bottle return policy. Since then, it has committed to protecting biodiversity, and adopted sustainable manufacturing methods and eco-friendly packaging with its motto of Reduce, Recycle, React.

Further details and booking information can be found online at Atlas Ocean Voyages.

About SPA L'OCCITANE

Spa L'OCCITANE offers unique well-being and sensorial experiences inspired by the natural beauty and fertile soil of Provence. Working collaboratively with its global portfolio of luxury five-star partner hotels, Spa L'OCCITANE embraces traditional massage therapies with innovative and holistic award-winning treatments with proven effectiveness. It enjoys an inclusive relationship with its hotel partners based on strong core values and trust.

About the L'OCCITANE Group

The L'OCCITANE Group is a leading international manufacturer and retailer of sustainable beauty and wellness products. The Group operates in 90 countries worldwide and has 3,000 retail outlets including 1,500 of its own stores. Within its portfolio of premium beauty brands that champion organic and natural ingredients are: L'OCCITANE en Provence, Melvita, Erborian, L'OCCITANE au Bresil, LimeLife by Alcone, ELEMIS, Sol de Janeiro and Grown Alchemist. Innovative venture studio, OBRATORI and beauty tech start-up, DUOLAB, are also part of the Group. With its nature-positive vision, L'OCCITANE Group is committed to investing in communities, biodiversity, reducing waste and to finding sustainable solutions in order to create a better and healthier planet. For more information about our people and our brands, visit us at https://group.loccitane.com

About Atlas Ocean Voyages Atlas Ocean Voyages is the small-ship, luxury expedition cruise brand of Mystic Invest Holdings. Guests enjoy open bars aboard ship, including craft beers, specialty coffees and smoothies; stateroom bar with coffee, tea, and premium spirits; L'OCCITANE bath amenities; free Wi-Fi; prepaid gratuities; and complimentary emergency medical evacuation insurance. World Navigator, launched in August 2021, and World Traveller, launching in November 2022, both feature accommodations for 200 guests.

Note to editors

Further information about Spa L'OCCITANE and Atlas Ocean Voyages, as well as related images, are available on request.

SOURCE Atlas Ocean Voyages
Tritium Partners leads the round to fuel Qwick's continued growth

PHOENIX, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Qwick , the leading on-demand staffing platform for hospitality businesses and professionals, has closed its $40 million Series B investment. The round was led by Tritium Partners , with participation by current investors Album VC, Kickstart, Desert Angels, and Revolution's Rise of the Rest Seed Fund.

Series B PR Header Image

"Staffing-as-a-Service is the future of work in the hospitality industry. We're excited by Tritium's conviction in Qwick and belief in our mission to end understaffing," said Qwick Co-Founder and CEO Jamie Baxter. "We are proud to have facilitated over 500,000 hospitality shifts to date and we plan to double that output in a matter of months as we match a growing number of businesses and service industry professionals for shifts in more and more cities around the country. Our projection is to fill over one million hospitality shifts in 2023 alone."

Over the past three years, Qwick has grown immensely with revenue increasing 10,032%. The company recently celebrated its recognition on the Inc. 5000 list as the 32nd fastest-growing company in the U.S. Behind its exciting growth has been a special focus on hiring and technology build out, both of which feed Qwick's market expansion.

While the company is poised to reach new heights through the final quarter of 2022, so far in the year Qwick has continued its upward growth with important achievements that are benefiting its thousands of hospitality businesses and professionals. Some of these accomplishments include:

Expanding from 13 to 23 active markets

More than doubling its count of hospitality business partners

Growing its pool of experienced, ready-to-work professionals by nearly 70%

Hiring its first CTO to further develop its technology and product departments

to further develop its technology and product departments Ramping headcount across the organization by 123%

Matching and completing its 500,000th shift

David Lack, Managing Partner at Tritium Partners said, "Qwick's impressive growth and history achieving success through its innovative hospitality solution, even through an especially challenging few years for the industry, indicate that the company has truly changed the way people work. Jamie and his leadership team continue to prove Qwick's strength and effectiveness in this space. We're proud to be partners with Qwick and to support its exceptional growth as it transforms staffing services for hospitality businesses and professionals."

With its Series B funding, Qwick will accelerate growth by deepening its reach to hospitality businesses and professionals in existing markets and rapidly broadening its availability in new cities. The company will also continue to hire at its Phoenix headquarters and in market-specific locations around the country to support new and existing business partners and professionals.

About Qwick:

Qwick is the leading staffing-as-a-service platform that connects service industry professionals directly with food and beverage shifts in real-time, provides them with the freedom and flexibility to work on their own schedules, and enables them to get paid in as little as 30 minutes after their shift. With a 97 percent shift fill rate and immediate access to a pre-vetted and certified sharing workforce, thousands of business partners across the U.S. rely on Qwick to end understaffing. Qwick is a growth stage company on a mission to change the way people work and has earned multiple recognitions nationally, including being a "Great Place to Work" in the U.S and one of the fastest-growing companies featured by Inc. Magazine. Learn more at qwick.com .

About Tritium Partners:

Founded in 2013, Tritium Partners is a private equity firm focused on technology and services companies with exceptional growth potential. With >$1.2 billion of assets under management, Tritium actively partners with talented founders and executives to build market-leading companies through high-growth strategies, while maintaining capital efficiency. Tritium's approach emphasizes creating long-term value through both strategic growth initiatives and acquisitions, with specialized expertise in FinTech and financial services, Internet marketplaces, software data and analytics, supply chain and logistics, and tech-enabled business services. For more information, please visit www.tritiumpartners.com.

SOURCE Qwick
Supernatural Consulting Will Harness Business Intelligence To Drive Growth

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Supernatural is launching a new consulting practice, Supernatural Consulting, using AI-powered tools to drive business growth. AI continues to disrupt businesses across the spectrum, and Supernatural gives mid-size companies access to business intelligence once only available to multi-billion dollar players.

Deloitte and Heat alums and Supernatural Co-Founders, John Elder and Mike Barrett, bring to bear extensive experience in management consulting supercharged with a proprietary AI platform. Along with Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Paul Caiozzo, Supernatural Consulting provides a seamless client experience from business strategy to creative activation in addition to taking on standalone consulting projects.

To help clients make better strategic decisions, this platform ingests the most current academic research on marketing effectiveness, enterprise grade audience and competitive data, and the latest AI innovations. With a sizable investment in this technology, Supernatural Consulting's mission is simple - help companies transform their approach to growth.

"AI is democratizing access to better decision-making at an increasingly rapid rate," said Mike Barrett, Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder, Supernatural. "We see this as a huge opportunity to help companies in ways not possible before."

Supernatural Consulting will partner with companies to unlock answers to key business questions from macro to micro, from what drives market share and customer growth to illuminating how advertising contributes to driving immediate and longer term demand.

"We are answering questions at the heart of driving growth," said John Elder, CEO and Co-Founder, Supernatural. "Our approach is transitioning the industry from a strictly FTE-based model to a human+AI hybrid model, which is less expensive and more effective."

As economic forces continue to change, Supernatural Consulting brings an approach to growth that will help companies weather any storm.

"In this economic cycle, business will be transformed by three things: high-quality data, emerging technology powered by AI and smart people," added Barrett, "We have assembled all three."

Supernatural Consulting is headquartered in New York.

About Supernatural

Supernatural is an agency where humans and machines play together to make wildly original ideas that no human and no machine could create alone. The supernatural alliance between ML, AI and human creativity helps the agency move faster, make smarter decisions, and impact the world in new ways.

Launched in 2021 with offices in San Francisco and New York, Supernatural is home to a diverse team of people who have run creative agencies, led management consulting practices, and have worked at the intersection of strategy, creativity, and technology.

SOURCE Supernatural
TAIPEI, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Organized by the Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan (IDB), Taiwan Innotech Forum 2022 for "Maximizing net-zero IP value in Taiwan" has brought forth the global issues of carbon neutrality to the table and to discuss how to integrate the strategies of green tech intellectual property management and applications.

(start form left) Shyi-Chin Wang, President of China Steel Corporation (CSC), Richard, Tsu-Chin Lee, Chairman of Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association (TEEMA), IDB Secretary General Chung-Pin Chou, Executive Vice President of Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) Alex Y.M. Peng, Yancey Hai, Chairman of Delta Electronics, Peng-Yu Wang, Chairman of Intellectual Property Innovation Corporation (IPIC).

IDB Secretary General Chung-Pin Chou pointed out in the opening remarks, Taiwan government has proposed the "Taiwan's Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions in 2050" with 4 aspects for transitions, including the energy transition, industrial transition, lifestyle transition and social transition, and 12 key strategies, to cooperate with the world and to strive for a net-zero future together.

Executive Vice President of Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) Alex Y.M. Peng talked about the global trends in net zero sustainability and the opportunities for Taiwan's industrial development. He mentioned the importance of innovative technologies, which will play an essential role in assisting in decreasing 40% of the carbon emission in most countries before 2030. He also suggested that Taiwan industries should engage in the ESG trends, in terms of the balance between profit, investment and environment, which could be achieved from 3 aspects, including innovative technologies, business models and resources investment.

Malcolm Omond, APAC sustainability committee lead of Google, has shared the conclusion of a Google survey, which pointed out that 80% people have paid more attention to sustainability issues than the pandemic. Therefore, Google has taken positive net-zero actions to build efficient supply chains to combat climate change.

Dr. Brett Alten, Deputy General Counsel, intellectual property of HPE, indicated that the Low Carbon Patent Pledge, launched on Earth Day 2021 by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Microsoft, and Meta (formerly Facebook) to promote low-carbon technologies and foster collaborative innovation. By making patents with low carbon technology applications freely available to all, this is to encourage and accelerate the innovation humanity needs to avert a climate disaster. Dr. Brett Alten hoped to see more Taiwan enterprises could get involved in it.

Richard, Tsu-Chin Lee, Chairman of Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA) indicated that for the 7 years after The Paris Agreement of the UN set a goal of carbon neutralization in 2015, the ICT industry in Taiwan has accelerated their transition. In TEEMA, the major members are giant international enterprises and they have been responding to the strategies of Taiwan's Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions in 2050. In the future, these giant members can lead the small and medium businesses to build the net-zero supply chains in the ICT industry.

Yancey Hai, Chairman of Delta Electronics mentioned that Delta has partnered with TSMC, AUO, Microsoft Taiwan, LiteOn, Acer, Pegatron, Asus to form Taiwan Climate Partnership, to foster more collaborations to achieve net-zero goals. Shyi-Chin Wang, President of China Steel Corporation (CSC), shared that CSC has finished the planning of their pathway toward carbon neutrality by 2050, with 5G strategies, including green manufacturing, green partnership, green investment and green life of their employees. CSC is expecting to reduce 22,000 tons of carbon emissions every year.

Peng-Yu Wang, Chairman of Intellectual Property Innovation Corporation (IPIC), mentioned that ITRI, MediaTek and Winbond have confounded IPIC to build a hub of green technology patents. With global strategies, the Patent Pool gathers the patents from academia and industries to work together to innovate faster. By opening up these patents, they hope to help accelerate and encourage green innovations and business opportunities by enabling others to build upon each other.

The world needs radical collaboration to meet this critical moment in the climate crisis. Taiwan Innotech Forum 2022 served as an opportunity to explore the pathway for the industry players to achieve net-zero goals.

SOURCE Business Next Media Group
Talroo, the #1 Programmatic Talent Network in the U.S. network powering more than 1 billion job searches monthly, now offers its customers the ability to reach an expanded network of diverse job seekers with its Spanish language translation feature for all jobs on Jobs2Careers.com.

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Hispanic community continues to grow, with the U.S. second only to Mexico for its Spanish-speaking population, more companies and organizations are making recruiting and hiring of bilingual employees a top priority. Talroo, the leading provider of technology to power the recruitment of essential workers, today announced it now offers Spanish language translation for all jobs on its proprietary job board site Jobs2Careers.com to better meet this increasing demand.

"Talroo continues to be the best platform to reach the most diverse job candidates and we're thrilled to now offer our users Spanish job translations," said Thad Price, CEO of Talroo. "Employers need to be in front of the right candidate at the right time, especially as we quickly head into Q4 seasonal holiday hiring. Our new feature is just one example of how Talroo consistently excels at adapting its solutions to meet the needs of HR and recruiting managers seeking access to new talent audiences. Talroo is uniquely positioned to provide companies with expanded access to job candidates ready to fill high-volume, high-turnover positions in retail, hospitality, customer service, healthcare, transportation or logistics, and more. This is crucial for many companies who need to stay competitive by attracting and recruiting Spanish speakers."

Talroo's suite of comprehensive recruitment tools allows companies to easily build a Spanish speaking talent pipeline. More than 75% of Hispanics report using job search sites, while 2021 figures from the U.S. Department of Labor shows Hispanic workers in the labor force stood at approximately 29 million in 2020 and are projected to reach 35.9 million in 2030. This group will account for 78% of net new workers between 2020 and 2030. Most are younger digital natives and in the prime age working group of 25 to 54 years old with a median age of 38.5. Talroo's ability to benefit companies seeking to reach Hispanic essential workers with its data-driven job and hiring event advertising platform is unparalleled.

No matter the industry, from Fortune 500 to Fortune 50, Talroo's suite of recruitment tools has helped companies gain visibility for their job advertising, optimize campaigns, and reach the right quality candidates to build their essential workforces at scale. Talroo's profile-driven programmatic advertising is different and innovative.

Talroo uniquely enables its customers to hire employees faster by producing significantly better search results for job seekers, resulting in higher quality applicant matches for the employer. This is in contrast to other "traditional" programmatic platforms that simply place available jobs onto multiple sites, while allocating budget and controlling bids for those sites without controlling the job matching, and are dependent on other sources to provide quality candidates. Talroo will continue to innovate and provide solutions to help essential workers and employers connect.

About Talroo

Talroo is a data-driven job and hiring event advertising platform that helps businesses reach the candidates they need to build their essential workforce. Through AI, unique talent audiences, and a pay-for-performance model, Talroo enables companies to find their ideal candidates and reduce cost-per-hire. Talroo has earned a spot on the Inc. 500/5000 list of fastest-growing companies, as well as the Austin Business Journal's Fast 50 list, for six consecutive years. Visit https://www.talroo.com/ to learn more.

Media Contact

Ria Romano, Partner

RPR Public Relations, Inc.

Tel. 786-290-6413

[email protected]

SOURCE Talroo
Tampa General is celebrating a huge milestone of performing 10,000 robot-assisted surgeries and is bestowed accreditation based on meeting national and international standards and requirements.

TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa General Hospital (TGH) recently performed its 10,000th robot-assisted surgery. The academic medical center also received accreditation as a Center of Excellence in Robot-Assisted Surgery from the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), a leading and internationally recognized patient safety organization. This accreditation recognizes Tampa General's commitment to delivering the highest quality, safest and most innovative care available.

Tampa General Hospital recently performed its 10,000th robot-assisted surgery. The academic medical center also received accreditation as a Center of Excellence in Robot-Assisted Surgery from the Surgical Review Corporation, a leading and internationally recognized patient safety organization. This accreditation recognizes Tampa Generals commitment to delivering the highest quality, safest and most innovative care available.

"As one of the nation's leading academic medical centers, we leverage technology every day to provide world-class care and improve patient outcomes," explained Tampa General Hospital President and CEO, John Couris. "Our demonstrated success in the area of robot-assisted surgery, our ability to lead in this space through collaboration and innovation, along with the recognition as a Center of Excellence, speaks to the quality and breadth of care we provide to our community."

Utilizing the da Vinci Surgical System by Intuitive, surgeons performed the hospital's 10,000th robot-assisted surgery. Working with the da Vinci Surgical System, many of the world-class surgeons from different specialties perform complex procedures with smaller incisions and greater precision, which greatly benefits patients. Specifically, surgeons have enhanced surgical precision, increased range of motion, improved agility, enhanced visualization, and easier access to very confined areas of the body. Benefits for patients include shorter length of stay, less pain, lower risk of infection and quicker recovery.

Surgeons operating at Tampa General utilize the da Vinci Surgical System for several minimally invasive surgical procedures across a wide variety of specialties. The da Vinci SP (single port) system is used for certain urological procedures and ENT procedures; the da Vinci Surgical System multi-port robots (TGH has six) are used for urologic, gynecologic, thoracic, cardiac, and general surgeries, as well as surgical oncology. In 2021, Tampa General surgeons performed 1,619 procedures and this year they are on target to complete more than 2,300 procedures. Intuitive has two decades of innovation and expertise in training physicians and care teams.

"Our ability to perform a significant volume of robot-assisted surgeries not only benefits our patients in terms of access to quality minimally invasive care, but high volumes lead to better outcomes. Much of the expertise acquired in performing surgical procedures is gained through performing those procedures over and over again," explained Dr. Raviender Bukkapatnam, Chief of TGH Urology Institute, President of Florida Urology Partners, co-director of Robot-Assisted Surgery at Tampa General and the first surgeon to perform robot-assisted surgery at TGH in 2008. In 2019, he became the first surgeon to perform robot-assisted surgery using the da Vinci SP (single port) at TGH. "Not only does our designation as a Center of Excellence in Robot-Assisted Surgery signal to our patients and community that they are receiving the best possible care out there, but they also know that when they undergo robot-assisted surgery at Tampa General, they are being treated by experts in the field."

Tampa General's accreditation as a Center of Excellence in Robot-Assisted Surgery demonstrates its commitment to delivering high standards of quality, safety, and efficiency in patient care.

"We are extremely proud of our designation as a Center of Excellence," stated Dr. Christopher DuCoin, Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Surgery at the University of South Florida, Chief of the Tampa General Digestive Diseases Institute, director of the TGH+USF Bariatric Program, and co-director of Robot-Assisted Surgery at Tampa General. "A key ingredient in our success and our ability to provide the level of care needed to achieve this designation is through our multidisciplinary approach to treating patients and performing robot-assisted surgery. Everyone on our team from the anesthesiologists to our pre- and post-operative nurses and health professionals to our surgeons are highly trained in their respective roles specific to robot-assisted surgery and are co-located together, allowing us to share expertise and collaborate whenever possible. As a result, we perform the most complex work yielding the best possible outcomes."

Health care facilities like Tampa General undergo an extensive assessment and inspection process to receive accreditation and to ensure they meet SRC's proven standards and requirements. These requirements include surgical volumes, facility equipment, clinical pathways and standardized operating procedures, an emphasis on patient education and continuous quality assessment. As part of the accreditation, Bukkapatnam and DuCoin were recognized as Surgeons of Excellence in Robot-Assisted Surgery.

"We're proud to recognize Tampa General Hospital for its commitment to advancing and providing quality care for all patients," said Gary M. Pratt, CEO of SRC. "This accreditation signals that this facility is among the best in this specialty and is dedicated to delivering the highest level of care possible."

Tampa General is ranked as one of the nation's top 50 hospitals in several specialties which use robot-assisted surgery, including-Ear, Nose and Throat, Gastroenterology and GI Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report for 2022-2023. In addition, Tampa General ranks as "high performing," or among the top 10% of U.S. hospitals, in Urology and four other specialties.

"TGH is experiencing an exceptional rise as both an academic medical center and as a home for robot-assisted surgery," stated Dr. Tapan A. Padhya, Professor and Chair, USF Otolaryngology, Chief, TGH Ear, Nose & Throat Institute and Operating Room Block Director at Tampa General. "Our ability to treat malignancies and other highly complex conditions through minimally invasive robot-assisted surgical procedures  resulting in better outcomes  is reflected in both our SRC designation and extraordinary procedural volume."

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL

Tampa General Hospital, a 1,040-bed, not-for-profit, academic medical center, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's 2022-23 Best Hospitals, and is tied as the third highest-ranked hospital in Florida, with seven specialties ranking among the best programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic medical center's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by two prestigious Forbes magazine rankings  first nationally in the 2022 America's Best Employers for Women and sixth out of 100 Florida companies in the 2022 America's Best Employers by State. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2021, provided a net community benefit worth more than $224.5 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With six medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Brandon Healthplex, TGH Virtual Health, and 21 TGH Imaging powered by Tower outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics, and they can even receive home visits in select areas through TGH Urgent Care at Home, powered by Fast Track. As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that provides real-time situational awareness to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org.

ABOUT SURGICAL REVIEW CORPORATION

Established in 2003, Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) is an internationally recognized, nonprofit, patient safety organization dedicated to recognizing and refining surgical care. SRC accredits the top hospitals, surgeons and health professionals worldwide that meet our proven standards. Look for our seal, expect excellence. For more information, visit www.surgicalreview.org.

Media Contact: Phil Buck

Manager of Public Relations

(406) 370-6226 (cell)

[email protected]

SOURCE Tampa General Hospital
DENVER, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Morris Animal Foundation wants to give animals a brighter future this holiday season with the support of passionate animal lovers everywhere. A two-month campaign, which launches today and ends December 31, will help fuel scientific inquiry, discovery and innovation  the keys to longer, healthier lives for all animals.

"Imagine a world where pets are free from cancer; wild species thrive with less disease; and all animals have better health," said Tiffany Grunert, Morris Animal Foundation President and CEO. "A gift to the Foundation during our end-of-year campaign will help us shine the light on the many health challenges animals face today and fund meaningful research that will address, and hopefully, solve these challenges."

To launch the campaign and make an even bigger difference for animals, the Foundation's Board of Trustees is matching all gifts, up to $200,000, through the end of the year. The matching gift allows donors to double the impact of their donation and fund even more critical animal health studies. To make a gift, donate online or call 800.243.2345.

Gifts to the Foundation this holiday season will help fund more than 160 active animal health studies, including ones that will:

In addition to direct gifts, donors can support the Foundation by ordering holiday cards, with proceeds supporting the Foundation's scientific programs. Holiday cards also are eligible for the Board of Trustees' gift match and let your love for animals shine brightly  bringing joy to family and friends while giving animals the best chance for a healthier tomorrow.

About Morris Animal Foundation

Founded in 1948, Morris Animal Foundation is one of the largest nonprofit animal health research organizations in the world, funding more than $149 million in critical studies across a broad range of species. Learn more at morrisanimalfoundation.org.

SOURCE Morris Animal Foundation
Prelude clinics nationwide to offer members of the US Armed Forces special offers on fertility services throughout November; fills gap for those military personnel who need reproductive medicine to help build their families

HOUSTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Prelude Network (Prelude), the largest network of fertility clinics and providers in North America, celebrates National Veteran and Military Families Month by extending accessibility to premium reproductive services to members of the US Armed Forces. Prelude's Military Families campaign answers the growing need for access to top-tiered fertility services for military members.

Throughout November, all Prelude clinics are offering special promotions to active and retired military for a range of services, including consultations, ultrasounds, bloodwork, and treatment options like intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) regardless of their background, sexual orientation, or reason for needing assisted reproductive medicine.

"At Inception Fertility, we believe everyone has a right to understand their fertility options and build their families, and that couldn't be truer for the brave men and women who give up so much for our own freedoms," says TJ Farnsworth, Founder and CEO of Inception Fertility, the parent company to Prelude. "We are excited to extend accessibility to fertility care to our service men and women and raise awareness around their fertility challenges while providing them with solutions."

Historically, accessing fertility services has been limited for service members as they must meet stringent criteria set by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). While the VA recognizes that many factors contribute to infertility in both men and women, it requires a service-connected cause of infertility. Additionally, those who are aspiring single parents or who need sperm/egg donor services cannot access fertility benefits through the VA.

While infertility affects one in eight US couples, Dr. Jason Griffith , Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist (REI), Practice Director at Aspire HFI in Houston, Texas, and a former military member, notes that traumatic injuries from explosive devices and blasts are unfortunately a byproduct of service that can harm male and female reproductive health.

"The privilege I had of serving in the military was I got to interact with America's best, and these are individuals who come from all walks of life but share the same dreams, goals, and aspirations," says Dr. Griffith. "Any time we can show appreciation for those who have taken this path, invested in their country, and protected American families is gratifying. I am very proud to be part of Prelude and their decision to help those who have served have better access to fertility care."

In addition to Dr. Griffith, the Prelude Military Families campaign features Prelude patients who share their own military experiences and journeys to parenthood through assisted reproductive technologies, as well as Dr. David Prokai, REI at Aspire Fertility Austin. "It's not uncommon for our military patients to have a longer fertility struggle because of their active service status, such as traveling and other factors. We proudly offer discounts to former and active military members and decrease that barrier, which is so important."

To hear more from Dr. Griffith and Dr. Prokai, as well as Prelude's patient stories, please watch the Prelude Military Families Video.

For active and retired service members interested in learning more about Prelude's Military Families Month offer, please visit Prelude's Military Families Campaign page.

About Inception Fertility

Inception Fertility (Inception) is a family of fertility brands committed to helping patients build their own families. Built by patients for patients, Inception's purpose is to achieve the highest bar in experience, science and medicine in an effort to enhance each patient's experience and achieve better outcomes.

Inception's medical experts are leading pioneers in fertility care. Our doctors are some of the first to use breakthrough assisted reproductive technologies (ART)  including in vitro fertilization (IVF), preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) and fertility preservation services  and they continue to lead the industry by building on these technologies by through development, research and thought leadership.

Through its growing family of national organizations  which includes The Prelude Network, the fastest-growing network of fertility clinics and largest provider of comprehensive fertility services in the U.S.; Pathways Fertility, clinics that provide affordable, individualized and high quality care; MyEggBank, one of the largest frozen donor egg banks in North America; Bundl Fertility, LLC (Bundl), a multi-cycle fertility service bundling program; HavenCryo, a long-term reproductive preservation and storage solution provider and NutraBloom, a premium lifestyle brand with expertly formulated supplements to support individuals' health and wellness goals for preconception  Inception is working to deliver on its promise to push the envelope of what is possible for exceeding patient expectations.

About The Prelude Network

The Prelude Network  (Prelude), the fastest-growing network of fertility clinics and largest provider of comprehensive fertility services in North America, is the clinic network of Inception Fertility   a family of fertility brands that touches every part of the fertility journey, including diagnostics and treatment to financial accessibility Each clinic, as part of the Prelude Network, is committed to delivering the highest level of personalized fertility care by the nation's leading reproductive endocrinologists, embryologists and practitioners by focusing on an excellence in science, medicine and the patient experience. The growing Prelude Network has over 40 total locations nationwide, offering a wide range of fertility services including egg freezing, IVF, genetic testing and egg/embryo storage, among others.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Mia Humphreys

Krupp

239-297-6592

[email protected]

SOURCE The Prelude Network
PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Travelers looking for an amazing deal on a top-notch vacation to Mexico can take advantage of Black Friday deals all month long, thanks to The Villa Group Beach Resorts & Spas, a collection of luxury resorts located in Mexico's top beach destinations.

Save now on an incredible vacation with Black Friday deals all month long at The Villa Group Resorts & Spas' top beach destinations in Riviera Nayarit, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos, Mexico.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, Black Friday specials for a luxurious trip to Mexico are available starting today, and lasting all November to maximize access to Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts. Check out the deals for top destinations  Riviera Nayarit, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos.

RIVIERA NAYARIT

Get a 50% discount at Villa del Palmar Flamingos and Villa La Estancia Riviera Nayarit, an oceanfront AAA Four-Diamond resort in Nuevo Vallarta. Villa La Estancia Riviera Nayarit has even more in store for members of its V-Level exclusive hotel benefits program, who will receive an additional 25% off for booking prior to November 21, 2022. There's no better time to book a dream vacation, with the holidays and a New Year on the horizon.

Along with this discounted rate, kids 12 years old and under stay for free. Each reservation will also receive a welcome amenity, and up to $100 resort credits that can be used during the stay. All guests deserve a family beach vacation with luxury amenities, gourmet cuisine, phenomenal services, and more.

PUERTO VALLARTA

What better way to enjoy the Pacific than by staying at an amazing all-inclusive resort in the heart of Puerto Vallarta. At Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta, making lasting memories is an every day goal. Incredible Black Friday specials are the resort's way of giving thanks for all its guests. Bookings made before November 21, 2022 will be 50% off, while V-Level members will get 75% off for a limited time.

Rooms are expected to fill up quickly, so travelers are advised to book now and travel later. Guests will also receive a welcome amenity, $100 in resort credits, and kids stay for free! This all-inclusive paradise getaway is perfect to celebrate any occasion.

LOS CABOS

Los Cabos is home to the famous Arch of Cabo San Lucas, magical towns filled with traditional Mexican culture, incredible tours, exquisite food, and some of the best all-inclusive resorts by Villa Group Resorts, including Villa del Palmar Los Cabos, Villa del Arco Los Cabos, Villa La Estancia Los Cabos, and the newest Villa La Valencia Los Cabos, which boasts the longest lazy river in the region. Travelers who reserve a 2023 vacation by November 21 will receive huge discounts. Become a V-Level member and get an additional 25% off.

Additional holiday surprises include a complimentary upgrade and free resort credits. V-Level members will receive extended Black Friday hours to book a 2023 dream vacation before anyone else.

For more information, visit:

The Villa Group Beach Resorts & Spas: https://villagroupresorts.com/specials/black-friday

Villa del Palmar Flamingos: https://flamingos.villadelpalmar.com/specials/black-friday

Villa la Estancia Riviera Nayarit: https://rivieranayarit.villalaestancia.com/specials/black-friday

Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta: https://vallarta.villadelpalmar.com/specials/black-friday

Villa del Palmar Los Cabos https://cabo.villadelpalmar.com/specials/black-friday

Villa del Arco Los Cabos : https://villadelarco.com/specials/black-friday

: Villa la Estancia Los Cabos: https://cabo.villalaestancia.com/specials/black-friday

Villa la Valencia Los Cabos https://villalavalencia.com/specials/black-friday

ABOUT THE VILLA GROUP BEACH RESORTS & SPAS

With more than 30 years of experience, The Villa Group Beach Resorts & Spas offer high-end and family-oriented, all-suite accommodations, facilities, and services at its diverse properties in Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Riviera Nayarit, Cancun, and the Islands of Loreto. Learn more at www.villagroupresorts.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Noelle Ibrahim Communications for The Villa Group Beach Resorts & Spas

[email protected]

(858) 381-0708

SOURCE The Villa Group Beach Resorts & Spas
LOS ANGELES and PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Truelink Capital ("Truelink") today announced its acquisition of Trulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions ("Trulite" or "the Company"), one of North America's largest architectural glass and aluminum fabricators, from an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. Headquartered in Peachtree City, GA, Trulite fabricates and distributes a full suite of customized tempered, laminated, insulated and decorative glass as well as architectural aluminum from their 35 locations across the United States and Canada to a highly diversified customer base.

"Trulite has been on a journey to expand geographically, optimize operations and create a platform for scalability, which is a direct result of the hard work, persistence and determination of the Trulite team," said Kevin Yates, CEO of Trulite. "Upon our first meeting with Truelink, it was evident that they believe in our business, our potential andmost importantlyour people. The Truelink team brings a breadth of industry knowledge that will help us chart our path forward and continue to successfully execute on our strategic priorities. This milestone is a natural next step for our company, and we are confident that Truelink is the right partner as we work to unlock our next phase of growth."

"At Truelink, we are focused on helping companies adapt, meet the business challenges of today and thriveand that is exactly how our firm intends to support Trulite," said Todd Golditch, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Truelink. "Trulite is an industry leader, with an immensely talented team, experienced leadership and a strong customer value proposition. The Company has a solid foundation for growth, and we are enthusiastic about Trulite's high-quality products, high-touch service and ability to capture the opportunities that lie ahead. We are confident that, with additional investment, the Company is well-positioned to build upon its positive momentum and reach new heights in its next chapter."

This transaction marks the first acquisition for Truelink, which was launched earlier this year by Todd Golditch and Luke Myers to target companies in the industrials and tech-enabled services sectors. The firm's senior team brings decades of experience to their portfolio company partners, an extensive history of creating value together and well-established strategies to improve processes, fuel growth and enhance earnings.

Trulite will continue delivering the same high-quality products and solutions, supported by the Company's existing management team and its talented network of employees across the United States and Canada. The Truelink operations team is working together with Trulite leadership to make strategic investments in growing the Company, both organically and through strategic M&A.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Alston & Bird LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisors to Truelink Capital.

Raymond James and William Blair served as financial advisors to Trulite for the transaction and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor.

About Truelink Capital

Truelink Capital is a middle-market private equity firm based in Los Angeles. Truelink pairs deep industry experience in the technology-enabled services and industrials sectors with a commitment to building partnerships that drive long-term value creation through an operationally focused strategy. Truelink partners with management, corporate sellers, and founders to accelerate growth through the execution of operational improvements, strategic initiatives, and transformative add-on acquisitions.

About Trulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions

Trulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions is one of North America's largest architectural glass and aluminum fabricators. Trulite distributes and manufactures architectural aluminum, insulated units, mirrors, tempered, laminated and decorative glass from their 35 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Media Contacts:

Truelink Capital

Stephanie Randall and Diana Baldo

[email protected]

Trulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions

Ben Thomas

[email protected]

SOURCE Truelink Capital
TRUFF Enters $7B Seasoning Category, Releases Gourmet Truffle Salt

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, TRUFF, the truffle brand known for reimagining and elevating pantry staples, is venturing into seasonings with the introduction of TRUFF Black Truffle Salt. The new product features a blend of fine and coarse sea salt finished with a purposeful amount of black truffles. The brand's gourmet salt enters the market as a part of TRUFF's Starter Pack gift set, launching on 2022 Oprah's Favorite Things holiday gifts list , featured on OprahDaily.com and in the Winter issue of O Quarterly, on newsstands November 1. This recognition marks the brand's fourth time on Oprah's coveted list.

Truff Enters $7B Seasoning Category, Releases Gourmet Truffle Salt Tweet this TRUFF Starter Pack

"After the enthusiastic response to our Black Truffle Oil last year, we realized that there's a lot of demand for simple, high-quality products that put the truffle front and center," says TRUFF Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Nick Ajluni. "Our Black Truffle Salt offers customers an easy and versatile way to elevate the entire kitchen experience with just a pinch."

TRUFF's new Black Truffle Salt will be available in 5.3-ounce individual jars or in TRUFF's Starter Pack, a truffle-forward gift set. The Starter Pack is packaged in a gorgeous gold foil VIP box and features the brand's Original Black Truffle Hot Sauce, Black Truffle Oil and new Black Truffle Salt. These items will be available for purchase at TRUFF.com, on OprahDaily.com and in the Oprah's Favorite Things gift guide exclusively in Amazon's store at amazon.com/oprah.

With its distinctive flavor profile and pristine bottle, TRUFF has taken its line of pantry staples from a condiment to a conversation point. With multiple awards, celebrity chef co-signs, and the title for best-selling hot sauce on Amazon and Whole Foods Market, TRUFF ranks #1 on NeilsenIQ's Brand Score (a performance metric assessing brand value). Most recently, the brand announced a retail expansion of availability into over 15,000 doors including retailers like Costco, Publix, Target and more.

For more information, follow @Sauce on Instagram or visit TRUFF.com

PR Contact: Michelle Gabe

[email protected]

304.952.1840

ABOUT TRUFF

TRUFF's lineup of luxury pantry staples is designed to elevate the dining experience. Originally founded through a popular food and lifestyle Instagram blog called @sauce, TRUFF immediately propelled into social media virality with the release of its hot sauce in 2017. The brand quickly became the fastest growing company in the hot sauce space due to its distinctive flavor profile, pristine bottle, Truffle Inspired cap, and of course the coveted Instagram account @sauce that makes tagging a no-brainer. Taking inspiration from the flagship black truffle experience, TRUFF recently expanded its family of products to include other popular favorites like Pasta Sauce, Mayonnaise, Truffle Oil and most recently Truffle Salt. You can find TRUFF's variety of products in stores nationwide and around the world in the UK, Australia, Kuwait, and South Korea. TRUFF is made in Southern California and is gluten-free and non-GMO. Visit www.TRUFF.com for more information and recipes.

SOURCE TRUFF
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The San Fernando Valley has improved access to post-secondary educational opportunities with UEI College opening its new Reseda campus, replacing UEI's Encino location. The new Reseda campus offers more than 29,000 square feet of space that includes hands-on student labs for the HVAC Technician, Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, and Pharmacy Technician programs, as well as computer labs, a student resource center and a student lounge. Other programs offered at UEI College Reseda include Business Office Administration and Medical Billing and Insurance Coding.

UEI College in Reseda, California

"We have been serving the area in Encino since 2013, but our programs are very popular with students and we've outgrown that space. We are thrilled with our beautiful new home in Reseda," said Senior Campus President Jackie Azizyan.

Founded in California in 1982 and originally known as United Education Institute (UEI), the college has expanded over the past four decades to include locations throughout Arizona, California, Georgia, Nevada and Washington with a focus on career and vocational training programs.

Like all other UEI College locations, the new Reseda campus welcomed students with modified operations that include comprehensive COVID-19 prevention protocols.

"The health, safety and well-being of our students and colleagues is the top priority," Azizyan said. "At the onset of the pandemic we deployed a distance education portal that has worked well to keep students on their path to graduation. Students are doing most of their coursework online, with limited time on campus in small groups, which are focused on the hands-on tasks in labs."

"UEI is training essential workers, particularly in our health care programs, and students are seeing the types of precautionary protocols that they can expect when entering the workforce after they graduate," Azizyan added.

"UEI is a viable option for students who are not able to put their lives on hold for four years and attend a university," Azizyan said. "In as few as 10 months, you can learn the skills you need to start a career. We offer hands-on training from instructors who have a wealth of experience in the industries they teach. Some programs include an externship with local employers, and UEI offers career services and job placement resources."

The new Reseda campus opened on October 3, 2022. It serves some 500 students with room for growth and expanded offerings over the next few years. UEI College will offer the public a look at the new campus at an open house on November 10 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. RSVPs for the open house are not required, but you can register in advance by calling (818) 650-1800.

About UEI College

Founded in 1982 and originally known as United Education Institute (UEI), UEI College is an employee-owned, accredited institution that provides students with post-secondary career education programs in high-demand sectors such as healthcare, skilled trades, business and criminal justice. Each of the hands-on training programs offered at UEI are designed to provide students with the skills, knowledge and training they need to be successful in their futures. Students can train for entry-level careers and start building their future in as few as 10 months at campus locations throughout Arizona, California, Nevada and Georgia. For more information, visit www.uei.edu.

Media Contact:

Joe Cockrell

(949) 812-7749

[email protected]

SOURCE UEI College
12,000 scholarships worth more than $17M awarded to UTI students since 2002

PHOENIX, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Technical Institute (UTI) joined forces with the Imagine America Foundation (IAF) more than 20 years ago and together has reached a milestone of 12,000 scholarships awarded to UTI students between 2009 and 2022. This fall, additional $1,000 IAF scholarships were distributed to a diverse group of candidates, including military personnel, service veterans, career-transitioning adults, and recent high school graduates all attending UTI.

"UTI has been an integral partner of Imagine America Foundation for two decades," said Robert Martin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Imagine America Foundation. "Since our inception in 1982, our focus has remained on career training, and ensuring that students earn the skills and job qualifications needed to meet industry-standards and employer requirements, which also now includes electric vehicle maintenance. We work closely with employers to understand their needs, just as UTI does. The longevity of the relationship of our two organizations is a testament to the ongoing benefit it creates for everyone involved."

"As one of our long-standing relationships, the Imagine America Foundation is a tremendous proponent of career colleges like ours, and we really value the work they do," said UTI CEO Jerome Grant. "The thousands of graduates who received a scholarship from the foundation are now contributing in the workforce in the transportation industry and beyond, and more scholarship recipients are attending UTI this fall. This is a win-win for UTI students, and our employer partners, who are seeking trained technicians."

The Imagine America Foundation offers scholarships for prospective students pursuing careers in aircraft and avionics, automotive service, CNC machinery, diesel engine service, HVAC maintenance and repair, motorcycle service and welding. UTI offers programs in a number of these areas, as well as continues to roll out updated training programs that meet the interests of students in electric vehicles. This includes updated electric vehicle curriculum in its Automotive Technology program, as well as in its Manufacturer Specific Advanced Training programs (MSAT) like Ford FACT and Volvo TEKNIKER.

Currently, workforce demand in the transportation sector is significant nationwide, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating a combined average of more than 146,000 new openings each year for automotive, diesel and welding jobs in the U.S.[1]

About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

Founded in 1965 and headquartered in Phoenix, Universal Technical Institute's (NYSE: UTI) mission is to serve our students, partners, and communities by providing quality education and support services for in-demand careers. Approximately 250,000 students have graduated from one of UTI's 16 campuses located across Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Texas. UTI's campuses are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), while its employer-aligned technical training programs are offered under four brands: Universal Technical Institute, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute / Marine Mechanics Institute, NASCAR Technical Institute, and MIAT College of Technology. For more information and a complete list of all programs offered, please visit www.uti.edu or follow on LinkedIn @UniversalTechnicalInstitute and Twitter @news_UTI.

About The Imagine America Foundation

The Imagine America Foundation was established in 1982 as the Career College Foundation. Since then, IAF has become the most trusted voice in the career college sector, providing research, scholarship, and employment services for the nation's career college students. This sector has gone through many changes over the course of our long history, which is why we work directly with high schools and career colleges to respond to industry trends, connect with their student communities, and increase student retentioneven in a constantly evolving industry.

What remains constant is our focus on career training and ensuring that students earn the skills and job qualifications needed to meet industry-standard and employer requirements. We are successful because we work closely with employers to understand their needs and with the schools who offer relevant and affordable training programs.

Our dedication to students includes helping them find programs to meet their goals, to succeed in school, and to afford their education through our scholarship award and grant programs:

Career college students have received more than $200 million in scholarships and awards through the Imagine America Foundation!

Media Contact:

[email protected]

480.710.6843

1 The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the national average annual job openings in each of the following occupations between 2020 and 2030 will be: Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, 69,000; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists, 28,100. Job openings include openings due to net employment changes and net replacements. See Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 202030, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, viewed November 18, 2021. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.

SOURCE Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VAPORESSO, a world-leading vaping brand, will launch its latest products, the XROS 3 and XROS 3 Mini, on 28th October on its official website, which is predicted to be sold in early December. The Company recently showcased the new model at the two-day Vapexpo in Paris.

Xros3

The XROS series has built up a worldwide following as one of the most reliable and powerful vape products available on the market. The Company has sold in excess of 40 million units since launching the series in 2020. The XROS has also picked up multiple plaudits for its innovative and trendy design, including a prestigious Red Dot Award in 2022 and multiple Muse Design Awards.

"In keeping with our company spirit of 'Cross the Limit', the XROS series continues to push back the boundaries in terms of what a vaping product can bring to customers," said Thalia Cheng, chief marketing officer of VAPORESSO. "We built the XROS 3 with our customers in mind, allowing them to enjoy our leading vape product performance and an aesthetic that is universally celebrated.

Packed with a 1,000 mAh high-density battery, the XROS 3 provides users with a solid and reliable vaping solution that can be used for 48 hours on a single charge. Type-C charging ensures greater convenience, while the draw activation ensures the product won't malfunction in users' pockets.

The product comes with a sleek rounded design that ensures the mouthpiece fits perfectly between the user's lips, providing an accurate MTL experience. The round-edge bottom of the vape delivers a modern and timeless design. Additionally, the neon indicator to show how much battery power is left combines aesthetics with function to provide users with comfort and practicality.

The XROS 3 also features the COREX Heating technology for rapid and even heating, a precise adjustable airflow, and VAPORESSO's SSS technology to prevent leakage. In addition to no leakage, the design means users can top-fill the vape without needing to remove the head, allowing them to easily switch between Tight MTL to Restricted DTL pods.

About VAPORESSO

VAPORESSO was created in 2015 and is dedicated to establishing a smoke-free world while raising the quality of life for its users. Based on its continuous innovation, strict quality control, and substantial commitment, VAPORESSO creates products that can fit all levels and styles of vapers.

[email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1934840/Xros3.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1847940/OV_1__2_Logo.jpg

SOURCE VAPORESSO
Maintenance devices are indispensable when it comes to ensuring dental handpieces work correctly, maintain their value, and have a long service life. The new Assistina One offers technological advances and takes it to a whole new level. This easy-to-use, new care solution is the fastest in its class, provides even more power and user-friendliness.



Offering even more incredible innovation, a post-vacuum sterilizer is a new addition to W&H's sterilization portfolio. Imperative in interrupting the chain of infection and infection prevention, this sterilizer offers more technology, functionality, traceability and efficiency that make a dental practice's work safer, more efficient and more patient-friendly.

W&H will also be showcasing their existing products at Greater NY, offering hands-on testing at their booth so visitors can personally experience and feel the quality. The sales team will be providing one-on-one demonstrations of both new and existing products including handpieces, the Assistina Twin maintenance system and the Lexa sterilizer as well as offering special show promotions.

"We're excited to unveil our new products for the first time to our dental professional community at the Greater New York Dental Meeting, especially since this is the first time W&H will have a booth at this event," said William Kubofcik, North America Dental Equipment Director of Sales. "These new innovations will certainly be a game changer for dental professionals for use in their everyday workflow needs."

Demonstrations

Schedule an appointment in advance for a demonstration at their booth (803) with a member of their sales team to learn more about these new products and all innovative solutions W&H has to offer. W&H will be offering special show promotions to those visiting their booth.

Booth #803

About W&H

W&H Impex, Inc. located in Ontario, Canada is a subsidiary of W&H Group . Headquartered in Burmoos, Austria, the international W&H Group is a global leader in the development and manufacture of medical technology products. Passion and innovation are the motor of the company. High-quality product and service solutions , a modern corporate structure, a strong focus on research and development as well as social responsibility make W&H a locally and globally successful family business. More than 1,200 employees contribute to the production of hardware and software products for use in the dental, medical and veterinary industries.

SOURCE W&H Impex Inc.
Wheatley Vodka is buying a cocktail for residents in dozens of tasty-named cities across the nation to mark the start of the holiday season

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- At Wheatley Vodka, Taste Matters. And it matters to a lot of cities across the nation, too  so much so that it's reflected in their names! This holiday season Wheatley is raising a glass to the tastiest-named cities in America by offering to buy a Wheatley cocktail for residents in those towns. Because good taste should always matter.

Wheatley Vodka Raises the Bar on Good Taste by Toasting the Tastiest-Named Cities in America

"Wheatley Vodka is so smooth you actually WANT to taste it," said vice president of brand marketing at Sazerac, Mark Treichel. "Wheatley is doing things differently by proudly putting a stake in the ground on something that most in our category shy away from: taste. This program is a fun way for us to hero the taste of our great vodka while also giving a little something back to our fans and helping them kick-off the start of the holiday season."

Cookietown, Oklahoma, Popcorn, Indiana, Spuds, Florida, Cucumber, West Virginia and Burnt Corn, Alabama are just a few of the cities that are being honored in this program. Residents from a total of 65 towns across the United States can participate in the offering.

"Whether you're sitting around the fire in Fries, Virginia or hosting a holiday soiree in Two Egg, Florida, we want to make sure you can celebrate the good taste of your hometown with a cocktail made using vodka that really tastes good," said Treichel.

Getting your Wheatley cocktail is easy. Participants age 21+ can simply visit www.wheatleytastematters.com, select their tasty-named city from the drop-down menu and follow the on-screen prompts for a chance to instantly win. The program will run from November 1  November 30, 2022.

Wheatley Vodka is 10x distilled, triple filtered and so smooth you can sip it straight. Hailing from the world's most award-winning distillery, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Wheatley is crafted in small batches every time to ensure that each bottle meets the Distillery's high standards. According to the brand's master distiller and namesake, Harlen Wheatley, Wheatley is "how vodka is supposed to taste."

For more information, please visit https://www.wheatleyvodka.com/.

No alcoholic beverage is part of any prize award. Instant Winners will receive a $10 Venmo credit which may be used at the winners' discretion to purchase a Wheatley Vodka cocktail. The following is the full list of featured tasty cities: Coffee Springs, AL; Burnt Corn, AL; Chicken, AK; Lime Village, AK; Tortilla Flat, AZ; Tomato, AR; Sugar Grove, AR; Citrus Heights, CA; Strawberry Point, CA; Lemon Grove, CA; Sugar City, CO; Pea Patch Island, DE; Two Egg, FL; Cocoa, FL; Cocoa Beach, FL; Coconut Creek, FL; Fruitland Park, FL; Orange City, FL; Orange Park, FL; Port Orange, FL; Sweetwater, FL; Spuds, FL; Mayo, FL; Peachtree Corners, GA; Sugar Hill, GA; Peachtree City, GA; Sugar City, ID; Bourbon, IN; Popcorn, IN; Strawberry Point, IA; Buttermilk, KS; Sugartown, LA; Cranberry, MD; Fruitland, MD; Sandwich, MA; Muttonville, MI; Eggville, MS; Rye, NH; Orange, NJ; Pie Town, NM; Rye, NY; Toast, NC; Pumpkin Center, NC; Cookietown, OK; Corn, OK; Fruitdale, OR; Cranberry, PA; Cereal, PA; Ketchuptown, SC; Orangeburg, SC; Strawberry, SC; Lemmon, SD; Coffee, TN; Beans, TN; Strawberry Plains, TN; Sugar Land, TX; Ding Dong, TX; Bacon, TX; Oatmeal, TX; Turkey, TX; Fries, VA; Bacon, WA; Cucumber, WV; Peach Creek, WV; Chili, WI

About Wheatley Vodka

Wheatley Vodka is a 10x distilled, triple filtered vodka that is so smooth you can sip it straight. Hailing from Buffalo Trace Distillery, the world's most award-winning distillery, Wheatley is made with the same red winter wheat and limestone water that the Distillery uses in its revered bourbons. Crafted in small batches every time to ensure that each bottle meets the Distillery's high standards, Wheatley Vodka is, according to the brand's namesake and Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley, "how vodka is supposed to taste." Though distilled from red winter wheat, Wheatley vodka is gluten-free.

DRINK WHEATLEY VODKA RESPONSIBLY. 2022 WHEATLEY VODKA, 41% ALC/VOL, PRODUCED AND BOTTLED BY SAZERAC CO., LOUISVILLE, KY.

Media Contact:

Victoria Zabel-Wirdak

PR Manager, Sazerac

[email protected]

SOURCE Sazerac
MISSION BBQ to host public event with the organization's Mobile Education Exhibit at its Clarksville, Tenn., location as part of campaign launch!

COLUMBIA FALLS, Maine and GLEN BURNIE, Md., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Wreaths Across America (WAA) and MISSION BBQ announce the Nov. 12th kick off of the "American Heroes Cup" campaign to raise funds to sponsor veterans' wreaths to be placed on National Wreaths Across America Day in December of 2023.

To find a MISSION BBQ location near you visit: https://mission-bbq.com/locations.

Starting Saturday, Nov. 12, through the end of 2022, for every American Heroes Cup purchased at any of MISSION BBQ's 121 locations, $2 will be donated to WAA to sponsor veterans' wreaths. In 2021, MISSION BBQ customers raised $550,920 for WAA through its American Heroes Cup campaign, sponsoring the placement of more than 36,700 veterans' wreaths in memory of our nation's veterans  these wreaths will be placed by volunteers at more than 90 participating cemeteries this year on National Wreaths Across America Day  Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022.

To celebrate the start of this annual campaign, MISSION BBQ's Clarksville, Tenn., restaurant will host the WAA Mobile Education Exhibit for a free public event from 11am-4pm on Saturday, Nov. 12. The exhibit serves as a mobile museum, educating visitors about the service and sacrifice of our nation's heroes as well as serving as an official 'welcome home' station for our nation's Vietnam Veterans.

"We owe everything to our nation's veterans, who have risked all that a person can to defend and protect this country," said Bill Kraus, co-founder of MISSION BBQ. "It's an honor to provide support to Wreaths Across America in remembering the fallen and thanking military families for their sacrifices."

Bill Kraus and Steve Newton opened the first MISSION BBQ restaurant in a Baltimore suburb in 2011, on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. In opening the restaurant, they sought to Serve, Honor and Thank American heroes for their sacrifices and service by donating a significant portion of the restaurant's profits to the community's military non-profit groups and charity organizations that support police officers and firefighters. Since its founding in 2011, MISSION BBQ has opened 120 additional locations in 18 states.

Wreaths Across America is the non-profit organization best known for placing wreaths on veterans' headstones at Arlington National Cemetery. In 2021, the organization placed more than 2.4 million sponsored veterans' wreaths at over 3,100 participating locations nationwide. The organization's yearlong mission is to Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach the next generation the value of freedom.

"MISSION BBQ demonstrates the WAA mission in how they conduct business in the communities they serve," said Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America. "Sharing stories of American heroes, treating our nation's veterans with the dignity and respect they deserve, while teaching the next generation, every day. We are honored to be a program worthy of their support and grateful for their customers who continue to live this mission in their communities across the country."

American Heroes Cups are available year-round, currently retailing at $4.99 with $2 of every cup purchased donated to a charity supporting veterans and first responders. Now through December 31, 2022, proceeds from the American Heroes Cups will be donated to WAA. Customers are encouraged to bring back their American Heroes Cup on return visits to the restaurant to receive $.99 refills. To find a MISSION BBQ location near you visit: https://mission-bbq.com/locations.

About MISSION BBQ:

MISSION BBQ opened its doors for business on September 11, 2011. We believe there is nothing more American than BBQ. And nobody more American than the brave men and women who have sworn to protect and serve Our Communities and Our Country. We do what we do for the love of our soldiers, firefighters, police officers, and first respondersall our loved ones in service. We set across this great land from Texas to Kansas City, the Carolinas to St. Louis...to discover the secrets of great BBQ. Every day we strive to serve you authentic BBQ made from the freshest, most delectable ingredients, and serve it to you in a patriotic dining room filled with tributes to those who've made Our Country great, given to us by the people who earned them. Stop by at lunchtime, and you might catch us during our daily salute to the Stars and Stripes.

For more information about MISSION BBQ: http://mission-bbq.com/

About Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization's mission  Remember, Honor, Teach  is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at hundreds of veterans' cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.

For more information or to sponsor a wreath, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Press contact:

Sean Sullivan

Wreaths Across America

(207) 230-4599

[email protected]

SOURCE Wreaths Across America
BEIJING, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn

The 2022 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit is scheduled to take place from Nov 9 to 11 in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, with the theme "Towards a Shared Digital Future in a Connected World - Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace."

Ren Xianliang (2nd from left), secretary-general of the World Internet Conference, briefs the media at a news conference on 2022 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit in Beijing, on Oct 31, 2022.

The 2022 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, the first annual meeting of the WIC International Organization, will be held both online and offline, with nearly 2,000 representatives from the governments, international organizations, industry associations, global internet enterprises, universities and research institutes from over 120 countries and regions expected, said Ren Xianliang, secretary-general of the World Internet Conference.

As an international organization, the WIC will hold more diversified activities based in Wuzhen, East China's Zhejiang province, but not limited to China, Ren said at a news conference in Beijing on Monday.

The WIC will set up 20 subforums on focal points and hot spots in global cyberspace with focus on cooperation and development, technology and industry, culture and society, and governance and security.

Leading figures in the internet field and other important attendees will be invited to exchange their views on various topics, including digital economy, digital society in COVID-19 pandemic as well as AI and digital ethics, at the subforums, scheduled on the afternoon of Nov 9 and whole day of Nov 10.

The Light of Internet Expo 2022 will spotlight the latest and cutting-edge advances in cyberspace, release new products and a talent fair, focusing on realization of digital-driven common prosperity and carbon peak and neutrality goals, industrial digitalization (industrial internet), digital travel, digital health and cyberspace governance.

In addition, the first ever cloud exhibition hall will be applied to make an everlasting WIC presenting the exhibits 365 days a year, said Wang Gang, head of the publicity department of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China.

The conference will also release the blue books of the World Internet Conference, namely the China Internet Development Report 2022 and the World Internet Development Report 2022.

SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn
Facility will create more than 400 skilled jobs, strengthen the U.S. semiconductor supply chain

Increases total investment plans to more than $600 million

Material developed with Georgia Tech to support next-gen, high-performance computing

COVINGTON, Ga., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Absolics, Inc., a subsidiary of SKC Co. Ltd., broke ground today on a planned $600 million investment in Covington, Ga., for a new manufacturing facility that will supply advanced materials to the U.S. semiconductor industry.

The investment will create more than 400 high-skilled jobs in Georgia and help strengthen the U.S. semiconductor supply chain by manufacturing a new material that supports next-generation computing systems.

Pictured (from left-to-right) are Consulate General of the Republic of Korea Yoonjoo Park, Director, 3D Systems Packaging Research Center (PRC) at the Georgia Institute of Technology Dr. Madhavan Swaminathan, SKC CEO Won Cheol Park, Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson, Senator Jon Ossoff, Absolics CEO Jun Oh, Mayor of Covington, Steve Horton, and Newton County Chairman Marcello Banes. Absolics glass substrate nears completion in its manufacturing process. The material will reduce the space required for a multi-chip package, allowing for more chips to be packed into a single device. SKC CEO Won Cheol Park speaks to U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff about the breakthrough technology that will be manufactured at the new Covington facility.

Absolics' Georgia site will make a glass substrate  a thin layer of glass on which processing and memory chips can be mounted together to create the brains of a computing system. The material reduces the space required for a multi-chip package, allowing more chips to be packed into a single device.

The glass substrate is considered a breakthrough because it can significantly increase the performance and energy efficiency of chipsets. SKC and Absolics originally developed the technology as part of a research consortium with the Georgia Institute of Technology. Absolics is expected to be the first in the world to mass produce the material.

The planned investment announced at today's groundbreaking, attended by officials including Senator Jon Ossoff and Georgia Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson, represents an increase from the $473 million originally announced in October 2021. SKC and Absolics raised projections for the investment based on the need for more advanced manufacturing equipment to meet anticipated demand.

"Absolics will be an integral part of the semiconductor ecosystem in the U.S.," said Dr. Woncheol Park, President and Chief Executive Officer of SKC. "We are pleased to build a factory and create hundreds of jobs that will have a positive impact on the city of Covington and the State of Georgia."

"I am working every day to bring jobs and business to the State of Georgia," said Senator Ossoff. "This new plant will create Georgia jobs, support U.S. national security, and bring more advanced manufacturing to our state."

"The development of Absolics is an exciting opportunity to grow the semiconductor industry in Georgia and the entire United States  a need that is growing daily as we plan for an increasingly electrified future," said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. "Located at SKC's existing campus in Covington, this new venture came about through research conducted at Georgia Tech, and it is the perfect example of how the State of Georgia is participating in the innovative solutions of the future. As we continue to build on the long-term relationship between the State of Georgia and Korea, and our shared success with SK Group in particular, we thank SKC for their commitment to our partnership. Congratulations to everyone involved with this project!"

Created to drive semiconductor innovations

Absolics was created last year by SKC, a majority owner of the new business. SKC is an operating company of SK Group, South Korea's second-largest conglomerate with global companies in clean energy, semiconductors and life sciences.

Absolics plans to build the Georgia facility in two phases. The first phase, planned for completion by the end of 2023, will be a $240 million investment expected to create 140 jobs and focus on small-volume manufacturing. Mass production in this facility is expected to start in the second quarter of 2024. The second phase is expected to be an additional $360 million investment that creates another 270 jobs and ramps up to high-volume manufacturing. This phase is anticipated to be completed over the next 3-5 years.

Material enables more chips in less space

Absolics' inaugural product will be a thin piece of glass, approximately 3-by-3 inches, used to package different semiconductor components together. Processing, memory and logic chips can be mounted next to each other on the glass to create the core of a computing system.

The standard today is to place these chips on a thin layer of silicon imposer that sits on top of a plastic substrate. The new glass material replaces both layers, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing the thickness of the package by almost half. Certain components, such as multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCC), can be embedded in the glass substrate, freeing more space on the surface for chips.

The packaging component of the semiconductor industry is becoming more important as companies try to reach new levels of performance for their computing devices. Absolics' product allows larger processors and up to four times more chips to be mounted in the same space.

The energy efficiency of the glass substrate also reduces overall power consumption by up to 50 percent, driving down costs and environmental impact, especially when applied at scale in large data centers.

Absolics expects the first phase to have an annual production capacity of 12,000 m2 with the second phase ramping up to annual production capacity of 72,000 m2.

Part of SK Group's Broader U.S. Investments

The SKC investment and Absolics facility is part of a broader commitment by SK Group to increase its investments and assets in the U.S. to more than $50 billion by the end of 2025. The investments are intended to support industries critical to the global economy with a focus on clean energy, semiconductors and life sciences.

Earlier this year, SK Siltron CSS, a semiconductor wafer manufacturer, opened a new facility in Michigan as part of a $300 million investment to increase manufacturing capacity for semiconductor wafers that can be used in components for electric vehicles. SK On, one of world's top makers of EV batteries, is investing $2.6 billion in a site in Commerce, Ga., to make batteries for electric vehicles.

About SKC Co. Ltd.

SKC was founded in 1976 as a company specializing in materials, and has been expanding its business model to focus on high value-added materials in the areas of mobility, semiconductors, and the environment. In 1996, SKC established a presence in Georgia that grew to become one of the largest manufacturers of polyester films (PET film) in North America. SKC's Semiconductor Material Business develops and manufactures semiconductors and specialty materials. It also produces chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) pads and slurry, key materials for the semiconductor CMP process. SKC is securing future growth drivers by making inroads into mobility including copper foil, an essential material for electric vehicle (EV) battery anodes. SKC intends to grow into a top 'Global ESG Solution Company' that specializes in advanced materials and unparalleled technology, providing new value to customers.

About SK Group

SK Group, South Korea's second-largest conglomerate, is a collection of global industry-leading companies driving innovations in semiconductors, sustainable energy, telecommunications and life sciences. Based in Seoul, SK invests in building businesses around the world with a shared commitment to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy.

SK companies combined have $139 billion in global annual revenue and employ more than 100,000 people worldwide. SK companies are investing billions of dollars in expanding their U.S. presence with business operations or partnerships in hydrogen energy and fuel cells, EV battery manufacturing and technology, energy storage solutions, pharmaceutical manufacturing and development, semiconductors, and advanced materials. For more information, visit sk.com.

SOURCE Absolics, Inc.
All medical groups achieve Elite status

NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Heritage Provider Network (HPN) one of the nations most experienced and innovative physician led value-based care organizations, and its family of medical groups achieved the highest possible scores from America's Physician Groups (APG) annual Standards of Excellence (SOE) survey. All medical groups in the HPN family earned Elite Status, the top ranking in the nation. (www.heritageprovidernetwork.com)

Americas Physician Groups (APG)

" I'm so proud of all of our HPN team members in each medical group who have worked diligently throughout the pandemic to continue our quality, cost effective care and achieve this highest honor," said Dr. Richard Merkin, President and CEO of HPN. "I'm delighted to share this with them."

"Elite status signifies that these APG members are fully equipped with the necessary capabilities to thrive in value-based care models, and to take accountability and responsibility for the costs and quality of health care," said APG President and CEO Susan Dentzer, MS. "

The elite 5-star status is the highest possible honor awarded by the nation's leading association for physician organizations practicing coordinated care. Elite 5-star Status in all categories of the survey was achieved by all nine of HPN's family of medical groups including:

Affiliated Doctors of Orange County

Sierra Medical Group

Regal Medical Group

Lakeside Medical Group

Heritage Victor Valley Medical Group

High Desert Medical Group

Desert Oasis Healthcare

Coastal Communities Physician Network

Bakersfield Family Medical Group

APG is the country's leading organization representing physician groups practicing coordinated care. APG's Standard of Excellence (SOE) Elite award for patient care includes five rigorous categories-care management practices, patient-centered care, information technology, group support of advanced primary care, accountability and transparency.

ABOUT HPN:

Heritage Provider Network, Inc. (HPN) is one of the most experienced physician organization leaders of accountable care and continuous value-based healthcare delivery improvements. Developing and managing coordinated, patient-doctor centric, integrated health care systems that offers some of the strongest solutions for the future of health, care and cost in the United States. HPN and its affiliates operate in New York, California, Arizona providing high-quality, cost-effective healthcare with over one million patient members and are dedicated to quality, affordable health care, and putting patients' wellness first. (www.heritageprovidernetwork.com)

SOURCE Heritage Provider Network, Inc.
-- Navitar Expands AMETEK's High End Precision Optics Capabilities --

-- RTDS Technologies Broadens AMETEK's Power Test and Measurement Capabilities --

BERWYN, Pa., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE: AME) today announced that it has completed two acquisitions  Navitar, Inc. and RTDS Technologies Inc. Combined, AMETEK deployed approximately $430 million on these acquisitions and acquired approximately $100 million in annual sales.

"We are excited to welcome the Navitar and RTDS teams to AMETEK," commented David A. Zapico, AMETEK Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "These businesses nicely complement our existing capabilities and strategically expand our presence in highly attractive secular growth areas. AMETEK continues to strengthen our portfolio through the acquisition of market-leading businesses with innovative, advanced technology solutions."

Both companies join AMETEK as part of its Electronic Instruments Group (EIG) - a leader in advanced analytical, monitoring, testing, calibrating and display instrumentation.

Navitar

Headquartered in Rochester, New York, Navitar is a leading provider of advanced optical components and solutions for high precision applications across a diverse set of end markets.

Navitar is a market leader in the design, development and manufacturing of customized, fully integrated optical imaging systems, cameras, components and software. The Company's technically advanced, innovative optical solutions serve critical applications in high-growth end markets including medical and life sciences, machine vision and robotics, and industrial automation.

"Navitar's market leading optical components and solutions nicely complement our existing optics portfolio while also providing the ability to leverage our respective sales channels to accelerate growth and market access," added Mr. Zapico. "Additionally, Navitar is well positioned to benefit from the growth in demand for precision optical solutions across an expanding number of applications."

RTDS Technologies

Headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada, RTDS is a leading provider of real-time power simulation systems used by utilities, and research and educational institutions in the development and testing of the electric power grid and renewable energy applications.

RTDS's solutions help prototype, verify, and test the performance of the power grid, power instruments, and networks in a closed loop system to help accelerate product development cycles and decrease testing costs.

"RTDS is an outstanding acquisition and excellent strategic fit with our existing Power Instruments businesses' differentiated testing and simulation capabilities," continued Mr. Zapico. "Their real-time simulation solutions play a key role in the modernization of the electric grid and in supporting renewable energy development, distributed power generation and energy storage."

Corporate Profile

AMETEK is a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with 2021 sales of $5.5 billion. The AMETEK Growth Model integrates the Four Growth Strategies - Operational Excellence, New Product Development, Global and Market Expansion, and Strategic Acquisitions - with a disciplined focus on cash generation and capital deployment. AMETEK's objective is double-digit percentage growth in earnings per share over the business cycle and a superior return on total capital. The common stock of AMETEK is a component of the S&P 500.

Contact:

Kevin Coleman

Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer

[email protected]

Phone: 610-889-5247

SOURCE AMETEK, Inc.
SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Anycubic, a globally renowned 3D printing brand, has announced the launch of the Anycubic Photon M3 Premium, a new resin 3D printer with the highest resolution of the M3 series yet. Featuring, the LighTurbo 2.0, an enhanced light source with a light uniformity of over 90% , a 10 8k LCD screen resolution and a large build volume of 25*22*12*cm, the groundbreaking M3 Premium delivers incredible print quality details and a first-class user experience.

"For successful resin 3D printing, uncompromising accuracy and quality is a must. Therefore, the Anycubic Photon M3 Premium is perfect for the 3D printer enthusiast. Equipped with the Anycubic LighTurbo 2.0 and an 8K LCD monochrome screen, it can deliver supreme accuracy to 28.5 microns. The LighTurbo 2.0 has a high light uniformity (90%), highly collimated light (divergence angle3) and an ultra-low stray light level (1.26%). The Anycubic Photon M3 Premium offers a premium user experience for those who are looking for intricate details, and ultra-high quality printing", said James Ouyang, Vice President of Anycubic.

Anycubic LighTurbo 2.0 makes sparks

The Anycubic LighTurbo 2.0 light source uses the technology of a COB light source, a concave mirror, and a light source smart cooling system. With the design of the concave mirror, the light can be collimated and turned into an aligned and consistent beam. Here are the benefits of the Anycubic LighTurbo 2.0:

More consistent print results:

The Anycubic LighTurbo 2.0 Lighting System can deliver an average light uniformity of over 90%, much higher than the average light uniformity of the common COB light source + Fresnel lens. Therefore, it can be ensured that all the printing details and textures are at the same uniformity level when printing large objects.

No aperture pattern issues

Different light sources have different degrees of diffraction of light. The lower the dispersion value of the product light uniformity, the fewer trace patterns in the printed model. Data from Anycubic Lab shows that the COB light source + Fresnel lens solution has an average light dispersion value of 105.02, while the average light dispersion of the Anycubic LighTurbo 2.0 ( COB+concave mirror) is only 36.205, more than twice lower. So, it can contribute to a better print result. In addition, it can eliminate the aperture patterns issues caused by the surface of the Fresnel lens.

Never miss any details

Light will stray as it travels. So as printing proceeds layer by layer, there are some places in which accumulated resin may appear. Thus, the prints here won't be cured thoroughly and will lose detail. According to data from Anycubic Lab, the stray light level of the LighTurbo 2.0 is 1.26%, much lower than the 3.47% stray light level on the COB Light source with a Fresnel lens. Thanks to this, more consistent and stable print results can be achieved, while at the same time, there is a reduction in the loss of print accuracy caused by the semi-curing issue in some parts, thus ensuring users can print out the whole model without missing any details.

Also, the Anycubic Photon M3 Premium is equipped with a sensor on the back of the COB lighting system to detect its temperature. When the temperature exceeds 65C, the smart cooling system will activate fans to accelerate cooling. With the large heat sinks on both sides of the COB light, the heat will be effectively dispersed to ensure that the working temperature of the light source is within 65C, thereby significantly extending the life of the COB light source.

Large build volume provides more space for your printing ideas

The Anycubic Photon M3 Premium is designed with a build volume of 25*22*12 cm. With its large build volume, users can have the convenience of printing large formats, for multiple uses.

Ball screw Z-axis with two linear rails contributes to fast lifting and eliminates layer lines

The Z-axis runs on two linear rails and features a ball screw. Compared to a T-shaped threaded rod, a ball screw structure can provide a higher lifting accuracy of 0.005mm, double the accuracy of the Z-axis compared to a T-shaped threaded rod, thus eliminating layer lines. Since the ball screw experiences rolling friction between the nut and the screw instead of sliding, it can provide a smoother and faster lift during the printing process. According to data from Anycubic Lab, the fastest printing speed of the M3 premium reaches 95mm/h. It can save 2.5hours in printing a 12cm model compared with other 8K 3D printers with a T-shaped threaded rod mechanism Z-axis on the market.

Additional Anycubic Photon M3 Premium features include:

10'' 8K monochrome LCD screen ensures crisper detail

Anycubic Photon M3 Premium serves up an 8K monochrome LCD screen that provides 7,6804,320 pixels and a 28.5um XY resolution. Combined with an incredible 380:1 contrast ratio, it gives an amazingly crisp detail to your 3D printing.

Dual air purifiers can vacuum all the fumes from resin 3D printers and filter those out. The design of symmetrical purifiers makes the air outlet area 1.5 times larger, contributing to a higher air purification efficiency.

can vacuum all the fumes from resin 3D printers and filter those out. The design of symmetrical purifiers makes the air outlet area 1.5 times larger, contributing to a higher air purification efficiency. Bigger volume resin vat with NFEP liner film can hold more resin and allow you to make larger prints without adding resin during the printing process. NFEP is a specially treated printing film that has a smoother and more delicate surface than FEP film. Models printed with NFEP film will have lower viscosity levels so that the pulling force won't be as strong during printing as with FEP. This means that the success rate will be higher. According to the data from Anycubic lab, the printing success rate with NFEP is 10% higher compared with FEP film.

can hold more resin and allow you to make larger prints without adding resin during the printing process. NFEP is a specially treated printing film that has a smoother and more delicate surface than FEP film. Models printed with NFEP film will have lower viscosity levels so that the pulling force won't be as strong during printing as with FEP. This means that the success rate will be higher. According to the data from Anycubic lab, the printing success rate with NFEP is 10% higher compared with FEP film. Compatible with Anycubic Cloud app to provide remote operating. Meanwhile, users can choose from over 20,000 STL files to download and print through the app. After downloading the STL file they want, users can start their printing job remotely through the app anytime and anywhere.

Pricing and Availability

The Anycubic Photon M3 Premium 3D printer will go on sale at 3:00 am EDT Nov 1st, 2022 in the US market from the special price of $619, and presale in Europe at 8: 00 am CET Nov 1st, 2022 from the special price of699. You can buy from the official Anycubic store, Amazon, eBay, Walmart and AliExpress.

About Anycubic

Anycubic is a leading company in the 3D printing industry specializing in 3D printer R&D, manufacturing, and sales, providing many affordable, high-performance, and smart printers for different customers, consumers, hobbyists, schools, and product designers. Since its establishment in 2015, we have been committed to propelling 3D printing technology to enable people from all walks of life to unleash their imagination and turn creativity into reality.

SOURCE Anycubic
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE: ARGO) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

This lawsuit is on behalf of investors that purchased or otherwise acquired Argo common stock between February 13, 2018 and August 9, 2022.

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: December 20, 2022

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in ARGO:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/argo-group-international-holdings-ltd-loss-submission-form?id=33197&from=4

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. NEWS - ARGO NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Argo's reserves were wholly inadequate and its underwriting standards were not prudent as was represented; (ii) Argo had dramatically changed its underwriting policies on certain U.S. construction contracts as far back as 2018; and (iii) these policies were underwritten outside of the Company's "core" business including in certain states and for certain exposures that were far riskier than investors understood and that the Company no longer would service moving forward.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Argo you have until December 20, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Argo securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the ARGO lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/argo-group-international-holdings-ltd-loss-submission-form?id=33197&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

535 Fifth Avenue

4th Floor

New York City, NY 10017

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
STOCKHOLM, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ASSA ABLOY has acquired D&D Technologies, a leading designer and manufacturer of premium gate hardware, based in Australia.

"I am very pleased to welcome D&D Technologies into the ASSA ABLOY Group. The company will reinforce our current offering within gate hardware and will provide complementary growth opportunities," says Nico Delvaux, President and CEO of ASSA ABLOY.

"D&D Technologies has strong expertise in developing premium gate hardware products and with its broad portfolio, is an excellent addition to the Pacific & North East Asia Division. I look forward to working with the experienced team to continue D&D's successful journey," says Simon Ellis, Executive Vice President and Head of Asia Pacific ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions Pacific & North East Asia.

D&D Technologies was established in 1989 and has some 110 employees. The main office and factory are located in Sydney, Australia.

Sales for 2021 amounted to about MAUD 68 (approx. MSEK 475) with a strong EBIT margin. The acquisition will be accretive to EPS from the start.

For more information, please contact:

Nico Delvaux,

President and CEO,

tel. no: +46 8 506 485 82

Erik Pieder,

CFO and Executive Vice President,

tel. no: +46 8 506 485 72

Bjorn Tibell,

Head of Investor Relations,

tel. no: +46 70 275 67 68,

e-mail: [email protected]

About ASSA ABLOY

The ASSA ABLOY Group is the global leader in access solutions. The Group operates worldwide with 51,000 employees and sales of SEK 95 billion. The Group has leading positions in areas such as efficient door openings, trusted identities and entrance automation. ASSA ABLOY's innovations enable safe, secure and convenient access to physical and digital places. Every day, we help billions of people experience a more open world.

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/7333/3658849/1646513.pdf Press release (PDF)

SOURCE ASSA ABLOY
SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AstrHori was founded in 2018 by Bozhen Dao (Shenzhen) Technology Co., Ltd., which focusing on the research and development, production and sales of interchangeable lenses, And it makes incredible optical products with its excellent optical design, high-quality materials and Shenzhen's outstanding manufacturing foundation.

AstrHori Full Frame 28mmF13 Specialty Macro Lens

Its aperture range is F13-F40, the optical structure is 21 elements in 16 groups, the length is about 452mm, and the widest at the mount is about 23mm.

There is a built-in LED fill light in the front of the lens, and with ten levels of brightness adjustment. The lighting power interface is Type-c port.

The glass of the front of the lens is made of sapphire material, which is wear-resistant, bump-resistant, and has high strength, which can effectively increase the service life. The waterproof and dustproof length of the front of the lens is about 25cm.

The lens is divided into two parts, which is detachable, easy to carry and can play a protective role.

The first half can be imaged independently, the aperture ring and focus ring use a movie focusing gear, which is convenient for the follow focus device.

Focus range: 0.481m~

2x magnification macro

Mount: Sony E mount, Fuji XF mount, Nikon Z mount, Leica/Panasonic/Sigma L mount, Canon RF mount, Nikon F mount(DSLR),Canon EF mount(DSLR), Cine PL mount

Product selling point:

[Small space shooting]: Due to the special structure of the front section, it can solve the purpose of shooting in narrow space. Wide-angle macro with large depth of field, including more subjects. The slender structure of the mirror body can be used for shooting in small spaces such as macro model building, food scenery, and animal caves. It can also keep a certain working distance from the subject, without affecting the subject to create a more shocking picture.

[2x magnification macro]: 2x magnification allows photographers to show more details in content shooting. Compared with other macro lenses, it provides a greater depth of field,

For media enquiries: Hao Wang, [email protected]

SOURCE Bozhen Dao (Shenzhen) Technology Co., Ltd.
PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Atidot announces today it has received ISO27001 Certification. This certification confirms the company's commitment to meet the highest data privacy standards and its customers' expectations.

"It is important to us to protect the integrity and confidentiality of our data. Being ISO27001 certified ensures that Atidot has organization-wide protection against security threats," says Eyal Bar-Noy, Atidot's VP of Engineering.

Dror Katzav

ISO/IEC 27001 is the world's best-known standard for information security management systems (ISMS) and their requirements. The Certification secures information in all forms, including paper-based, cloud-based and digital data. Additionally, the Certification increases resilience to cyber attacks and provides a centrally managed framework that secures all information in one place.

Atidot's focus is on using the most advanced predictive analytic solutions available to help life insurance companies optimize their data and generate new revenues.

"Managing the security of information entrusted by third parties is our top priority. Getting this Certification was important for the future of Atidot," says Dror Katzav, Atidot's CEO and Co-Founder.

About Atidot

Atidot is a leading technology innovation partner for life insurance companies, offering AI and predictive analytics solutions. Our solutions enable insurers to optimize revenue and customer premiums throughout the customer lifecycle and positively impact how policies are delivered and experienced.

Founded by a team of industry experts, data scientists, and life actuaries, Atidot improves sales and retention and helps with in-force management. Atidot works with industry leaders, such as Pacific Life and Guardian, and was named a 'Cool Vendor 2019 in Insurance' by Gartner. The company has offices in California, UK, Spain, and Israel. Learn more at atidot.com .

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Atidot

Shira Warshavski

VP Marketing

[email protected]

669-467-3241

SOURCE Atidot
BALTIMORE, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Urological Association (AUA) today announced the 14 inaugural members of the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Committee. The Committee members will begin their terms on November 1, 2022.

Led by Larissa Bresler, MD, DABMA, chair of the D&I Committee and chief diversity officer, the D&I Committee will be tasked with advising the AUA Board of Directors on shaping and executing diversity initiatives in accord with the recommendations of the AUA's Diversity & Inclusion Task Force. The Committee will be responsible for identifying and advising the AUA's Board of Directors on potential solutions to meet diversity gaps within the AUA organizational programs; collaborating with AUA Program Councils on the implementation of diversity initiatives and methods to recruit, support and retain diverse AUA leaders and volunteers.

"The D&I Committee members are an impressive group of urologistsall of whom have experience and understanding of diversity and inclusion initiatives," said AUA President Edward M. Messing, MD. "The Board and I look forward to working with them and we are confident they will help AUA advance D&I initiatives in the urologic community and advance our efforts in closing health disparities in communities historically excluded by medicine."

Congratulations to the following D&I Committee members:

Denise Asafu-Adjei, MD, MPH, Director of Male Reproductive Medicine and Assistant Professor in the Department of Urology and the Department of Public Health Sciences, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

Director of Male Reproductive Medicine and Assistant Professor in the Department of Urology and the Department of Public Health Sciences, Stritch School of Medicine Gregory Broderick , MD, Professor of Urology, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine; Program Director, Urology Residency, Mayo Clinic Florida

Professor of Urology, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine; Program Director, Urology Residency, Mayo Clinic Florida Pamela Coleman , MD, FACS, FPMRS, Associate Professor of Urology, Department of Surgery, OBGYN, Howard University School of Medicine; Interim Chief of Urology, Howard University Hospital

Associate Professor of Urology, Department of Surgery, OBGYN, School of Medicine; Interim Chief of Urology, Hospital Gabriela Gonzalez , MD, Urology Resident Physician, University of California, Davis

Urology Resident Physician, Tomas Griebling , MD, MPH, FACS, FGSA, AGSF, John P. Wolf 33 rd Degree Masonic Distinguished Professor Urology, Department of Urology, Faculty Associate, The Landon Center on Aging, The University of Kansas School of Medicine

33 Degree Masonic Distinguished Professor Urology, Department of Urology, Faculty Associate, The Landon Center on Aging, The Nathan Grunewald , MD, FACS, Chief Medical Innovation Officer and Urology Medical Director, Sauk Prairie Healthcare

Chief Medical Innovation Officer and Urology Medical Director, Sauk Prairie Healthcare Lourdes Guerrios , MD, Urology Attending, Urology Section, Surgery Department, Introductory Research Program Co-Director, VA Caribbean Healthcare System; Research Program Director, Puerto Rico Trauma Center; Assistant Professor, Surgery Department, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine

Urology Attending, Urology Section, Surgery Department, Introductory Research Program Co-Director, VA Caribbean Healthcare System; Research Program Director, Puerto Rico Trauma Center; Assistant Professor, Surgery Department, School of Medicine Justin Han , MD, Assistant Professor of Urology, Hofstra-Northwell Zucker School of Medicine; Director of Male Reconstructive Urology, Smith Institute for Urology, Northwell Health; Chair for Quality in the Department of Urology, North Shore University Hospital

Assistant Professor of Urology, Hofstra-Northwell Zucker School of Medicine; Director of Male Reconstructive Urology, Smith Institute for Urology, Northwell Health; Chair for Quality in the Department of Urology, North Shore University Hospital Linda McIntire , MD, Urologist, MyMichigan Health

Urologist, MyMichigan Health Miguel Pineda , MD, Director of Male Sexual Dysfunction and Urologic Prosthetics, State Island University Hospital  Northwell Health

Director of Male Sexual Dysfunction and Urologic Prosthetics, State Island University Hospital  Northwell Health Michelle Jo Semins , MD, Professor, West Virginia University School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Urology, West Virginia University Wheeling Hospital

Professor, School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Urology, Wheeling Hospital Gjanje Smith-Mathis, MD, MPH, Staff Urologist, WakeMed Health and Hospitals

Staff Urologist, WakeMed Health and Hospitals Simone Thavaseelan , MD, Associate Professor of Surgery/Urology and Program Director of the Urology Residency, Brown University ; Chief, Section of Urology, Providence VA Medical Center

Associate Professor of Surgery/Urology and Program Director of the Urology Residency, ; Chief, Section of Urology, Providence VA Medical Center Vijaya Vemulakonda , JD, MD, Professor of Pediatric Urology, Director of Research and Residency Program Director, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine

"I am thrilled for the opportunity to work with these esteemed members of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee to shape D&I priorities for the AUA," said Dr. Bresler. "My hope is that this team, alongside the whole AUA membership, can help us build a vibrant and diverse community."

The Committee will have representation from all eight sections of the AUA as well as a diversity of gender, race, sexual orientation, practice type and specialty which will provide the diversity of thought that is necessary to move D&I initiatives forward.

Learn about the AUA's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and read more about each of the D&I Committee members at AUAnet.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion.

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology and has nearly 24,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy.

Media Contact:

Rachel Butch, Manager, Corporate Communications and Media Relations

410-689-4033, [email protected]

SOURCE American Urological Association
HOUSTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Auto Financial Group (AFG), announced today that it has signed an integration agreement with MeridianLink, Inc. (NYSE: MLNK), a leading provider of modern software platforms for financial institutions and consumer reporting agencies. This partnership further reinforces AFG's mission to pursue innovative solutions that help our clients streamline their workflows.

With this integration, AFG's Balloon Lending Program will be even easier to implement for financial institutions using MeridianLink's loan origination system (LOS). The loan origination process will be more efficient, and users will not need to toggle between two platforms, increasing productivity and minimizing errors. Information will be updated automatically between both systems, keeping all loan documentation in sync and up to date.

With this integration, AFG's Balloon Lending Program will be even easier to implement for financial institutions using MeridianLink's loan origination system (LOS). Tweet this

"With this integration, financial institutions using MeridianLink will be able to originate AFG loans seamlessly, providing a responsive and straightforward solution for customers." says Richard Epley, CEO of Auto Financial Group.

Learn more about AFG's programs at https://www.autofinancialgroup.com/products/

About Auto Financial Group

Auto Financial Group (AFG), a Houston-based company, provides an online, residual based, walk-away vehicle financing product called AFG Balloon Lending, as well as vehicle leasing and vehicle remarketing to financial institutions across the United States.

AFG's residual based financing solutions provide the advantages of lower payments, flexible terms, in the case of the balloon loan, actual ownership of the vehicle and several end-of-term options, including the option to surrender the vehicle and walk away in lieu of paying the final loan payment. The financial institution receives higher loan yields, a competitive residual based financing alternative, and AFG manages the entire end-of-term process.

The AFG Remarketing program is a proven solution for financial institutions that offers the greatest financial return to their clients by matching assets to the selling network with the greatest number of buyers.

For more information about AFG call toll free at 877-354-4234, or visit www.autofinancialgroup.com

About MeridianLink

MeridianLink (NYSE: MLNK) is a leading provider of cloud-based software solutions for financial institutions, including banks, credit unions, mortgage lenders, specialty lending providers and consumer reporting agencies. Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, MeridianLink provides services to more than 1,900 customers, including a majority of the financial institutions on Forbes' 2021 lists of America's Best Credit Unions and Banks. Further information can be found at www.meridianlink.com.

SOURCE Auto Financial Group
NOIDA, India, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new report published by UnivDatos Markets Insights, the Automotive Chips Market is expected to reach at 112.4 billion in 2028, growing at a CAGR of 10% from 2022-2028. The analysis has been segmented into Component Type (Logic ICs, Analog ICs, Microcontrollers & Microprocessors, and Memory); Application Type (Chassis, Powertrain, Safety, Telematics & Infotainment, and Body Electronics); Vehicle Type (Passenger Vehicle and Commercial Vehicle); Regions and Country.



Click here to view the Report Description & TOC

https://univdatos.com/report/automotive-chips-market/

The Automotive Chips market report has been aggregated by collecting informative data on various dynamics such as market drivers, restraints, and opportunities. This innovative report makes use of several analyses to get a closer outlook on the Automotive Chips market. The Automotive Chips market report offers a detailed analysis of the latest industry developments and trending factors in the market that are influencing the market growth. Furthermore, this statistical market research repository examines and estimates the Automotive Chips market at the global and regional levels.

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Market Overview

Automotive chips market is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period owing to the demand for advance electronic systems in vehicles pertaining to enhanced safety and comfort needs of consumers. Furthermore, the rising adoption of electric vehicles is also driving the demand for chips. China is estimated to produce more than 13 million battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) by the end of FY2023, more than any other country globally. Hence, growing sales of EVs and PHEVs would increase the overall demand for software and electronic component in the Automotive sector.

Some of the major players operating in the market include Robert Bosch GmbH, Microchip Technology Incorporated, Texas Instruments Incorporated, NXP Semiconductors, Infineon Technologies AG, Micron Technology Inc., NVIDIA CORPORATION, STMicroelectronics N.V., Renesas Electronics Corporation, and Maxim Integrated Products Inc.

COVID-19 Impact

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic across the world have had a tremendous impact on different spectra of society, the market for Automotive Chips no less. Returning to some likeness of normalcy depends on continued safety measures, effective diagnostic testing, and widespread vaccination. COVID-19 has caused widely documented supply chain and logistics disruptions across industries, including those in the Automotive Chips industry, which have been exacerbated during the latter portion of fiscal 2020. The pandemic prevention measures have disrupted production. Various production factors were restricted due to the pandemic prevention and control measures. Measures such as personnel isolation, and flight and port restrictions have suspended the production of chip enterprises, resulting in passive reduced production capacity and shipments.

Based on component type, logic ICs, analog ICs, microcontrollers & microprocessors, and memory. The microcontrollers & microprocessors category is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period. Major automotive manufacturers globally are leveraging autonomous driving systems to provide a seamless experience to automobile users. Furthermore, owing to the recent evolution of the connected, autonomous, and semi-autonomous vehicle ecosystem, top automakers globally are prioritizing the safety and security concerns associated with automotive electronic systems.

Based on application type, the market is bifurcated into chassis, powertrain, safety, telematics & infotainment, and body electronics. The telematics and infotainment category generated significant revenue owing to the emergence of integrated telematics in vehicles coupled with policies for driver safety, the increasing need for risk management and the rising importance of smartphones. Furthermore, automotive telematics offer improvements in road safety and driving behavior and is likely to streamline insurance premiums in tune with usage-based insurance.

Have a Look at the Chapters- https://univdatos.com/report/automotive-chips-market/

Automotive Chips Market Geographical Segmentation Includes:

North America ( United States , Canada , and the Rest of North America )

( , , and the Rest of ) Europe ( Germany , United Kingdom , Italy , France , and the Rest of Europe )

( , , , , and the Rest of ) Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , India , South Korea , and the Rest of Asia-Pacific )

( , , , , and the Rest of ) Rest of the World

APAC grabbed the highest market share in the global automotive chips market in 2020, and it is expected to grow with a considerable CAGR during the forecast period. This can be mainly attributed to the growing working population and expanding middle-class population thus creating demand for new-age vehicles. Furthermore, the rising presence of a large pool of skilled & semi-skilled workforce and cost-effective manufacturing in countries like India and China, are further driving the market demand.

The major players targeting the market include

Robert Bosch GmbH

Microchip Technology Incorporated

Texas Instruments Incorporated

NXP Semiconductors

Infineon Technologies AG

Micron Technology Inc.

NVIDIA CORPORATION

STMicroelectronics N.V.

Renesas Electronics Corporation

Maxim Integrated Products Inc

Competitive Landscape

The degree of competition among prominent global companies has been elaborated by analyzing several leading key players operating worldwide. The specialist team of research analysts sheds light on various traits such as global market competition, market share, most recent industry advancements, innovative product launches, partnerships, mergers, or acquisitions by leading companies in the Automotive Chips Market. The major players have been analyzed by using research methodologies for getting insight views on global competition.

Key questions resolved through this analytical market research report include:

What are the latest trends, new patterns, and technological advancements in the Automotive Chips market?

Which factors are influencing the Automotive Chips market over the forecast period?

What are the global challenges, threats, and risks in the Automotive Chips market?

Which factors are propelling and restraining the Automotive Chips market?

What are the demanding global regions of the Automotive Chips market?

What will be the global market size in the upcoming years?

What are the crucial market acquisition strategies and policies applied by global companies?

We understand the requirement of different businesses, regions, and countries, we offer customized reports as per your requirements of business nature and geography. Please let us know If you have any custom needs.

About UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI)

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Automotive Chips Market Report Coverage

Report Attribute Details Base year 2020 Forecast period 2022-2028 Growth momentum Accelerate at a CAGR of over 10% Market size 2028 USD 112.4 billion Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Rest of World Major contributing region APAC to Dominate the Global Automotive Chips Market Key countries covered United States, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, France, China, Japan, India, South Korea Companies profiled Robert Bosch GmbH, Microchip Technology Incorporated, Texas Instruments Incorporated, NXP Semiconductors, Infineon Technologies AG, Micron Technology Inc., NVIDIA CORPORATION, STMicroelectronics N.V., Renesas Electronics Corporation, and Maxim Integrated Products Inc. Report Scope Market Trends, Drivers, and Restraints; Revenue Estimation and Forecast; Segmentation Analysis; Impact of COVID-19; Demand and Supply Side Analysis; Competitive Landscape; Company Profiling Segments Covered By Component Type; By Application Type; By Vehicle Type; By Region/Country



About UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI)

UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI) is a passionate market research firm and a subsidiary of Universal Data Solutions. We believe in delivering insights through Market Intelligence Reports, Customized Business Research, and Primary Research. Our research studies are spread across topics across the world, we cover markets in over 100 countries using smart research techniques and agile methodologies. We offer in-depth studies, detailed analysis, and customized reports that help shape winning business strategies for our clients.

Contact

UnivDatos Market Insights

Ankita Gupta

Director Operations

Ph: +91-7838604911

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://univdatos.com/

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1225049/UnivDatos_Logo.jpg

SOURCE UnivDatos Market Insights Pvt. Ltd.
BOSTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Light detection and ranging, or lidar, has decades of history since the invention of the laser, and it has already been adopted in applications such as mapping, surveying, military, archaeology, agriculture, geology, etc. With the innovation of lidar beam steering technologies, continuous lidar cost reduction, as well as the progress of Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) and Autonomous vehicles (AV), lidars are embracing their potential $8.4 billion-dollar market by 2033. This is enabled by automotive applications, which can be further widely expanded to other areas such as robotics, industrial, smart cities, and mapping. The IDTechEx report "Lidar 2023-2033: Technologies, Players, Markets & Forecasts" provides research on lidar technology, business, market, and players.

Possible lidar technology combinations. Source: IDTechEx

Lidar technologies already have a history of decades of development

Lidar has a long history, and its development path has experienced four stages, as shown in the illustration below. Lidar was developed not long after the invention of the laser around the 1960s. Its ranging function was developed for aerospace and defense purposes initially. Later lidars could also be used to measure angles and velocity. Commercial and industrial lidars rose in the 1980s, and the 1990s benefited from the development of diode systems. Single line scanning system enables lidars to be used in other applications. In addition, GPS with the accuracy to centimeter level promoted the combination of lidars and positioning systems. These areas of progress have allowed lidars to be deployed in industrial and early-stage autonomous vehicle projects. It wasn't until the 2000s that lidars started to be applied in commercial automotive applications. Since the commercial production of the first lidar in 2017, an increasing number of players have focused on automotive applications, especially autonomous vehicles. From 2020 onwards, with the autonomy levels moving towards L3, the lidar industry has also welcomed its speedy progression. Lidars have received huge investment and are moving towards chips and arrays with better performance.

Competitive technology landscape

Unlike other sensors such as cameras, radars or ultrasonic systems, lidars have relatively immature technology, higher price, unestablished supply chain, and an ever-changing market landscape. The rapidly evolving lidar technologies and markets leave many uncertain questions to answer. The technology landscape is cluttered with numerous options for every component in a lidar system, as shown in the figure below. The combinations of different ranging measurement processes, laser types, beam steering mechanisms, photodetector choices, wavelength options, and optical path possibilities make a massive number of possible lidar technologies and corresponding products. However, not all combinations are equally easy to realize. For instance, FMCW usually work with 1550nm wavelength, VCSEL may perform better with Flash lidar beam steering than EEL, MEMS have more difficulty combining with FMCW, etc.

Understanding relevant lidar technologies can help players to realize a commercial product with acceptable performance, pass the automotive grade and potentially lead to a cheaper manufacturing cost. Choosing the wrong technology combination, however, can result in the opposite. "Lidar 2023-2033: Technologies, Players, Markets & Forecasts" explores how innovations in lidar technology affect the growth of lidar market segments. IDTechEx uses its expertise in physics, optics, engineering, electronics, and beyond to analyze different technologies and explain novel technical concepts to a non-specialist audience.

Rapidly evolving business landscape

The lidar market landscape is also evolving rapidly. A few companies went public via SPAC merger, some ceased trading, while more established partnerships with tier-1 and OEMs in various areas. In the meantime, lidar companies are also experiencing difficulties such as insolvency, bankruptcy, etc. The rapid cost reduction trend not only makes lidars potentially possible to be adopted in autonomous vehicle use scenarios but also helps them to be deployed in a wider range of applications. However, the current lidar adoption may not be mainly driven by performance.

Following a period of dedicated research by expert analysts, IDTechEx published a report which offers unique insights into the global 3D lidar technology landscape and corresponding market. The report contains a comprehensive analysis of 95 players developing 3D lidar for the ADAS and autonomous vehicles market, which includes a detailed assessment of technology innovations and market dynamics. While the market analysis and forecasts focus on the automotive industry, the technology analysis and company profiles also cover lidar for industrial automation, robotics, smart city, security, and mapping. Importantly, the report presents an unbiased analysis of primary data gathered via primary interviews with key players.

IDTechEx has focused on players who position themselves as automotive Tier 2 suppliers, with coverage of component suppliers and automotive OEMs. Market forecasts are based on extensive primary and secondary data analysis, combined with careful consideration of market drivers, restraints, and key player activities. The technology adoption roadmaps for six types of lidar in four types of level 3+ autonomous vehicles are evaluated to provide a balanced outlook on market opportunities. The lidar for automotive market is expected to grow to $8.4billion by 2023, according to the IDTechEx report "Lidar 2023-2033: Technologies, Players, Markets & Forecasts".

The report answers important questions such as:

What are the lidar technology choices available today, and how do these choices impact product development and product positioning?

What is the present status of each lidar technology, and what are the future trends and opportunities?

How is the lidar business landscape evolving in terms of the supply chain, efforts, and partnerships?

How will each lidar market segment evolve in the short term and long term?

For more information on technology benchmarking, business opportunity exploration, player activities tracking, and market analysis, please refer to the IDTechEx report "Lidar 2023-2033: Technologies, Players, Markets & Forecasts" at www.IDTechEx.com/Lidar.

About IDTechEx

IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

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Media Contact:

Natalie Fifield

Digital Marketing Manager

[email protected]

+44(0)1223 812300

Social Media Links:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/IDTechEx

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/IDTechEx

Facebook: www.facebook.com/IDTechExResearch

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SOURCE IDTechEX
VAUGHAN, ON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bausch + Lomb Corporation (NYSE/TSX: BLCO) ("Bausch + Lomb"), a leading global eye health company dedicated to helping people see better to live better, today announced the #LUMIFYEyeDance Challenge on TikTok has received Business Intelligence Group's (BIG) 2022 Public Relations and Marketing Excellence Award for External Campaign of the Year.

The #LUMIFYEyeDance Challenge, which spanned from July 25, 2022, to Aug. 31, 2022, encouraged consumers to post a video of themselves dancing with their eyes to the beat of the LUMIFY audio track. Participants who posted videos using the two official hashtags, #LUMIFYEyeDance and #WinIt, were automatically enrolled in a sweepstakes.

"The #LUMIFYEyeDance hashtag received approximately 20 million video views on TikTok  that's six million more views than the LUMIFY hashtag had organically amassed on TikTok before the start of the campaign," said Joe Gordon, president, Global Consumer, Surgical and Vision Care, Bausch + Lomb. "We are proud to receive this honor from Business Intelligence Group as it is a testament to the uniqueness of the campaign, as well as the significant reach and authentic engagement that we were able to achieve throughout its duration."

The #LUMIFYEyeDance Challenge, which spanned from July 25, 2022, to Aug. 31, 2022, encouraged consumers to post a video of themselves 'dancing with their eyes' to the beat of the LUMIFY audio track. Participants who posted videos using the two official hashtags, #LUMIFYEyeDance and #WinIt, were automatically enrolled in a sweepstakes. The winner of the sweepstakes received travel and accommodations for two to New York for an A-List makeover with celebrity makeup artist and LUMIFY eye drops brand ambassador, Vincent Oquendo, amongst other prizes.

To support the Challenge, Bausch + Lomb also held a sampling tour that ran through Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York during the month of August. The day-long pop-up events at each location featured a LUMIFY branded tiny home that offered visitors refreshments and mini masterclass sessions taught by prominent local makeup artists. Visitors could also record their TikTok #LUMIFYEyeDance challenge videos at a selfie station.

Since launching in 2018, Bausch + Lomb LUMIFY eye drops have received more than a dozen awards, including Glamour's "The Best Beauty Innovators of 2022" award. LUMIFY was also named to U.S. BASES Top 25 Breakthrough Innovations List.

For more information on LUMIFY, visit www.lumifydrops.com.

About Business Intelligence Group

The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry and business award programs, business executivesthose with experience and knowledgejudge the programs. The organization's proprietary and unique scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and then rewards those companies whose achievements stand above those of their peers.

About LUMIFY Redness Reliever Eye Drops

LUMIFY is the first and only over-the-counter eye drop formulated with low-dose brimonidine tartrate 0.025% for the treatment of ocular redness. Unlike other redness relievers, LUMIFY contains a unique formulation that selectively targets redness. In clinical trials, LUMIFY was shown to have a reduced incidence of side effects common to other redness relievers, like rebound redness and loss of efficacy over time, when used as directed. LUMIFY is also the No. 1 eye doctor recommended redness reliever eye drop brand with approximately 87% of doctor recommendations.1

About Bausch + Lomb

Bausch + Lomb is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the gift of sight for millions of people around the world  from the moment of birth through every phase of life. Its comprehensive portfolio of more than 400 products includes contact lenses, lens care products, eye care products, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter products and ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. Founded in 1853, Bausch + Lomb has a significant global research and development, manufacturing and commercial footprint with more than 12,000 employees and a presence in nearly 100 countries. Bausch + Lomb is headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario with corporate offices in Bridgewater, New Jersey. For more information, visit www.bausch.com and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements, which may generally be identified by the use of the words "anticipates," "hopes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "should," "could," "would," "may," "believes," "estimates," "potential," "target," or "continue" and variations or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of management and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed in Bausch + Lomb's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian Securities Administrators, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. They also include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties caused by or relating to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, and the fear of that pandemic and its potential effects, the severity, duration and future impact of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, and which may have a material adverse impact on Bausch + Lomb, including but not limited to its project development timelines, launches and costs (which may increase). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Bausch + Lomb undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect actual outcomes, unless required by law.

References

IQVIA, Average Share of Weekly Doctor Recommendations, Q3 2022.

LUMIFY is a trademark of Bausch & Lomb Incorporated or its affiliates.

Any other product/brand names and/or logos are trademarks of the respective owners.

 2022 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated or its affiliates.

LUM.0255.USA.22

SOURCE Bausch + Lomb Corporation
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Baylis Medical Technologies Inc. is pleased to announce it is assuming responsibility for the sales and distribution of the Steerable and Guiding Sheaths currently sold direct-to-hospital by Oscor in the United States.

The addition of Oscor's sheath portfolio will allow Baylis Medical Technologies to broaden its clinical solution offerings in radiology and vascular surgery. This builds upon the company's longstanding history of delivering high-quality medical products to patients globally.

"This strategic partnership will allow Baylis Medical Technologies to expand our vascular footprint in the United States. It will strengthen our ability to provide current and future customers with dedicated clinical solutions that enable endovascular and other therapies," says Kris Shah, president of Baylis Medical Technologies.

Baylis Medical Technologies is committed to the conception, development, production, and distribution of state-of-the-art medical products that improve the lives of people around the world. The sheath portfolio will complement the company's existing product offerings, including the PowerWire RF Guidewire which utilizes radiofrequency technology, and will ultimately enhance the companies' efforts to meet clinical needs of radiologists and vascular surgeons for improved patient care.

Oscor and BMT have begun the transfer of the business and will continue working closely together to ensure the transition has minimal impact on customers.

About Baylis Medical Technologies

Baylis Medical Technologies is a leader in the development and manufacturing of innovative medical devices in the fields of radiology and neurosurgery. Headquartered in Canada, the company also provides contract manufacturing services to some of the world's leading medical device companies. For more information, visit www.baylismedtech.com .

About Integer

Integer Holdings Corporation (NYSE: ITGR) is one of the largest medical device outsource (MDO) manufacturers in the world serving the cardiac, neuromodulation, vascular, portable medical and orthopedics markets. The Company provides innovative, high-quality medical technologies that enhance the lives of patients worldwide. In addition, the company develops batteries for high-end niche applications in energy, military, and environmental markets. The company's brands include Greatbatch Medical, Lake Region Medical and Electrochem. Additional information is available at www.integer.net .

About Oscor, an Integer company

OSCOR Inc., an Integer company, designs, develops, manufactures and markets a variety of highly specialized implantable cardiac pacing and neurostimulation leads, venous access systems and diagnostic catheters, serving the cardiovascular and neurostimulation markets. Oscor has design, development and manufacturing operations in Palm Harbor, Fla., and in the Dominican Republic, and a business office in Germany, employing approximately 900 employees company wide. Additional information is available at www.oscor.com .

PRM-00865  Baylis Medical Technologies Inc., 2022. The Baylis Medical Technologies logo is a trademark and/or registered trademark of Baylis Medical Technologies Inc. in the USA and/or other countries. Other trademarks are property of their respective owners. CAUTION: Federal Law (USA) restricts the use of these devices to or by the order of a physician. Before use, consult product labels and Instructions for Use for Indications for Use, Contraindications, Warnings, Precautions, Adverse Events and Directions.

SOURCE Baylis Med Tech
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Barclays PLC (NYSE: BCS) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

This lawsuit is on behalf of persons who purchased or otherwise acquired Barclays American Depositary Receipts on a U.S. open market between February 18, 2021 and March 25, 2022.

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: November 22, 2022

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in BCS:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/barclays-loss-submission-form?id=33188&from=4

Barclays PLC NEWS - BCS NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Barclays PLC made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: a) as of December 31, 2020 and February 18, 2021, Barclays had a material weakness in its internal control environment due to the fact that the over-issuance had occurred and was not immediately identified; and b) they failed to disclose that as of February 18, 2021 (i) Barclays Bank PLC ("BBPLC") had and was selling unregistered securities in excess of the amounts registered by the August 2019 shelf registration statement, (ii) BBPLC was violating U.S. securities laws and/or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, subjecting Barclays to legal liability, and (iii) BBPLC was required to conduct a rescission offer for those unregistered securities.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Barclays you have until November 22, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Barclays securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the BCS lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/barclays-loss-submission-form?id=33188&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

535 Fifth Avenue

4th Floor

New York City, NY 10017

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
MOULTONBOROUGH, N.H., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bearpac Medical, LLC has been awarded a national group purchasing agreement for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Accessories with Premier, Inc. Effective today, the new agreement allows Premier members, at their discretion, to take advantage of special pricing and terms pre-negotiated by Premier for the Passio Pump Drainage System.

Passio Pump Drainage System

"Bearpac is honored to be awarded this contract with Premier, Inc.," said Jay Zimmerman, President of Bearpac Medical. "We look forward to working with Premier to offer their members the next generation of pleural drainage therapy. Passio was designed to be intuitive, providing patients with the confidence to control their therapy in the comfort of their own homes. We have seen patients quickly embracing our convenient digital platform which differentiates Passio from all other products on the market."

Bearpac has developed a digital handheld control unit with a pump system that evacuates patient fluid into a collection bag using between -45 and -70 cm H 2 O of vacuum pressure, an exponentially lower vacuum level when compared to the competition. Passio's convenient digital platform was designed to be simple and easy to use, providing malignant pleural effusion (MPE) patients and caregivers with the confidence to control their therapy in the comfort of their own homes.

Premier is a leading healthcare improvement company, uniting an alliance of approximately 4,400 U.S. hospitals and 250,000 other providers to transform healthcare. With integrated data and analytics, collaboratives, supply chain solutions, consulting and other services, Premier enables better care and outcomes at a lower cost.

ABOUT SUPPLIER

Bearpac Medical is a privately held medical technology company headquartered in New Hampshire, focused on the development of novel thoracic drainage products to improve the lives of patients experiencing pleural effusions and malignant ascites. For more information, please visit www.bearpac.com.

Media Contact:

Kelly MacMillan

603-785-0232

[email protected]

SOURCE Bearpac Medical, LLC
Provides a $100,000 grant to the SWENext program

RESTON, Va., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bechtel announced it has contributed an additional $100,000 to the SWENext program as the company celebrates 50 years partnering with the Society of Women Engineers. Created in 2015, SWENext offers self-development courses, leadership training, and college preparation activities to girls around the world in school grades K-12.

Bechtel celebrates 50-years with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

"We want to encourage and support more women to pursue STEM careers. We need the best talent to overcome the critical engineering and technical challenges that will shape this century," said Brendan Bechtel, Chairman and CEO of Bechtel. "As an industry, we have to break down the barriers and disincentives that have disadvantaged women for far too long. At Bechtel, we are working every day to be the company of choice for women, and where they are inspired to grow and lead."

"We are proud to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our relationship with Bechtel," said Karen Horting, executive director and CEO of the Society of Women Engineers. "Thinking back on all we've accomplished together makes me appreciate the enormous contributions Bechtel has made to support women engineers. When SWE was founded in 1950, Bechtel engineers were among our first members and, decades later, Bechtel is still making significant contributions to the profession. SWE has benefitted from this support, as well as the leadership from Bechtel and the four Bechtel engineers who have served as SWE president during this period."

Brendan Bechtel joined more than a hundred Bechtel team members in Houston last week for SWE's conference, where he participated in the "Inclusive Leadership from the Top" panel discussion moderated by Karen Horting. During the panel discussion, Brendan discussed the importance of building and sustaining a culture across the EPC industry where women feel they can join, stay, and thrive in their careers, encouraging allyship across the company, and implementing diversity and inclusion programs across geographies. Brendan also honored the late Ada Pressman, one of Bechtel's women pioneers in engineering and construction who gave a lifetime of service to SWE.

Learn more about Bechtel's 50-year history with SWE:

About Bechtel

Bechtel is a trusted engineering, construction and project management partner to industry and government. Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers' objectives to create a lasting positive impact. Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, improved the resiliency of the world's infrastructure, increased access to energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner place.

Bechtel serves the Energy; Infrastructure; Manufacturing & Technology; Mining & Metals; and Nuclear, Security & Environmental markets. Our services span from initial planning and investment, through start-up and operations. www.bechtel.com

Media contact:

Iva Zagar

T : +1-713-235-2088

C : +1-240-344-1173

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Bechtel
NAPA, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Back for the second year, Beringer Bros. Spirit Barrel Aged Wines joins forces with the Country Music Association to celebrate Country Music's Biggest Night as the Official Wine of "The 56th Annual CMA Awards." Beringer Bros. wines will be exclusively poured at the November 9, 2022 event, with nominees and guests at Bridgestone Arena enjoying 2020 Beringer Bros. Bourbon Barrel Aged Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon throughout the Awards ceremony. Nominees, presenters, and performers will also receive personalized bottles of Beringer Bros. Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon in a custom leather sleeve to toast their accomplishments and peers!

Image Courtesy of Beringer Bros.

150 years ago, brothers Jacob and Frederick Beringer left Germany to establish a winery and distillery in Napa Valley. Reusing their spirit barrels to age wine just seemed like good financial sense, but they quickly discovered it added a whole new level of complexity. Today, Beringer Bros. honors Jacob and Frederick's pioneering spirit by aging Beringer Bros. wines in spirit barrels. Enjoy smooth, robust wines with flavors of vanilla, toasted hazelnuts, and caramel  the bourbon flavors harkening back to Southern culture, a perfect pairing for country music's premier party.

"On behalf of Beringer Bros, we are thrilled to be continuing our partnership with the Country Music Association for country music's biggest night and want to congratulate all the nominees," says Chief Marketing Officer at Treasury Americas, Carl Evans. "Blending wine in bourbon barrels is like songwritingby combining the right elements you create something special. It's what makes Beringer Bros. Bourbon Barrel Aged Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon the perfect pour for CMA events from CMA Fest to the CMA Awards."

Viewers are invited to toast the night's nominees with Beringer Bros Bourbon Barrel Aged Wines. If viewers have the urge to mix it up, the Beringer Bros. Cabernet Old Fashioned, a twist on the classic cocktail, makes for a great sip while celebrating the best of country music. The recipe is available on our Instagram, @beringerbros. Follow for more great pairings and posts from behind the scenes.

Hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, "The 56th Annual CMA Awards" are to be held on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, and will be returning to Nashville's Bridgestone Arena, broadcasting live on ABC (8:00-11:00 PM/ET).

MEDIA CONTACTS

Ellie Farrell, Treasury Americas, [email protected], (805) 280-2990

Kelsey Spencer, Nike Communications, [email protected], (703) 955-6910

Beringer Bros. Cabernet Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

4 oz. Beringer Bros. Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon

1 Black Cherry

1 Orange Peel

3 Dashes Orange Bitters

1 Sugar Cube

Directions:

Muddle bitters and sugar cube Top with Beringer Bros. Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon Stir and pour over a large ice cube Garnish with black cherry and orange peel

SOURCE Beringer Bros. Spirit Barrel Aged Wines
EATONTOWN, N.J., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bierman Autism Centers (Bierman) is excited to announce that they will host an Open House for their Eatontown, New Jersey center on November 5, 2022. This event will provide parents, guardians, and caregivers of children diagnosed with autism an opportunity to tour their facilities while the Bierman team provides sensory-friendly activities for the kids and watches them as they play in Bierman's gym.

Bierman Autism Centers Hosts Open House for Eatontown, NJ Center

This event will be on Saturday, November 5, from 11 a.m.  1 p.m. EST. The Bierman Eatontown Center is located at 40 Christopher Way, Eatontown, NJ 07724.

"This is a great opportunity to open our doors to the Eatontown and New Jersey community to come to tour our facilities. It will allow families the opportunity to explore. At the same time, their kids get a chance to experience all the joy and fun of our center!" said Amanda Jacquart, Bierman's Regional Manager of Operations in New Jersey.

The open concept of the facility allows kids the opportunity to learn and play in a safe and engaging environment. Bierman opened the doors at the Eatontown center in September 2022, which joined their other centers in Berkeley Heights and Princeton.

Anyone interested in the center but cannot attend the Open House is welcome to schedule a tour of the facility by calling 800-931-8113.

ABOUT BIERMAN www.biermanautism.com

Bierman Autism Centers is a place where kids as young as 18 months to 9 years of age engage in play to learn foundational skills they can build on, such as self-advocacy and communication. They recognize that every kid's success is unique, and their one-on-one approach allows them to drive progress, and measurable outcomes, while each child is advancing on their own terms.

With almost 200 graduations, Bierman currently has centers and is expanding in: Arizona, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. For more about Bierman Autism Centers, visit www.biermanautism.com or contact Alexis Ducharme at [email protected].

Media Contact:

Alexis Ducharme

VP of Marketing

[email protected]

SOURCE Bierman Autism Centers
Positions to take part in 4th year of program up for grabs with more than $500,000 in seed funding at stake.

DES MOINES, Iowa, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BrokerTech Ventures (BTV), the industry's first broker-led convening platform and accelerator program, has opened the application window for its 2023 BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator program.

Since its founding, BTV has grown to include 15 of the most notable super-regional brokerage firms in the nation, 14 of the world's most highly respected insurance carriers and wholesalers, and 48 insurtech startups from around the world, inclusive of those in the U.S., Israeli, and Latin American accelerator programs. The company is dedicated to fostering innovation in the insurance space by providing early-stage insurtech companies the support to develop tech solutions for the industry.

"As we look at launching our fourth year in the Accelerator space, I continue to be amazed with the depth and level of expertise, products, and solutions being brought forward by startups for the betterment of the insurance landscape and our clients," said Dan Keough, Holmes Murphy Chairman and CEO and BrokerTech Ventures Co-Founder. "This coming year, I believe we can expect new insurtech solutions with greater influence and even more diversity of thought for the industry. I'm excited to see what the startups will bring to the table."

The concept of the BTV Accelerator is to be an "innovation hub" and proof of concept environment for broker-centric products and technology solutions, ultimately bringing validated solutions to the industry. The ideal candidates for the Accelerator are early-stage insurtech startups.

"There isn't anything that can accelerate a startup more than distribution, and that is exactly what the BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator does," said John Jackovin, BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator Executive Director. "Our broker, carrier, and wholesaler partners are hungry for the latest technologies and products that will help them identify risks sooner, provide better service, and drive down costs. As a result, our startups achieve the acceleration they need to grow and thrive."

The deadline for BTV Accelerator submissions is December 15, 2022. The initial review will be in January, with the top 20 startups chosen to take part in the Selection Series in early March. The Selection Series will be a virtual event where BTV partners can dig deeper into the products, companies, and teams. Subsequently, the cohort will begin the five-week Accelerator program in April 2023. More than $500,000 in funding is at stake for the selected broker-centric, seed and early-stage startups, with each startup receiving up to $50,000.

To submit an application for the 2023 Accelerator, go to www.brokertechventures.com.

If you would like to arrange a media interview to discuss the BTV Accelerator or other BTV activities, please email Susan Hatten, BrokerTech Ventures Chief Operating Officer, at [email protected].

About BrokerTech Ventures

Based in the insurance nucleus of Des Moines, Iowa, BrokerTech Ventures (BTV) is the first broker-led convening platform and accelerator program focused on delivering innovation to the insurance broker industry. Founded in 2019, BTV provides a venue for the best minds in insurance and technology to collaborate and bring to market leading-edge ideas and solutions. BTV invests in the research and testing for each of the chosen startups, provides access to veteran industry mentors, and helps scale the technology to market through broker distribution channels. Learn more at www.brokertechventures.com, or follow us on Twitter (@BrokerTechVen), LinkedIn, or Facebook.

Contact:

Adam Scheurenbrand

515-205-4080

[email protected]

SOURCE BrokerTech Ventures
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, October 28, 2022, in a victory for Dr. Aysha Khoury, the Los Angeles County Superior Court rejected the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine's (KPSOM) efforts to keep secret and prevent public scrutiny of its investigation of Dr. Khoury, which KPSOM claims justified its decision to terminate her employment. In doing so, the Court denied two sealing motions filed by KPSOM and ordered publicly filed the School's December 2020 investigative report into Dr. Khoury and letters of support authored by every student who participated in Dr. Khoury's class. The Court found that the public's interest in these documents outweighs any interest in keeping them private.

On August 28, 2020, Dr. Khoury facilitated a small group session on racially disparate treatment of black patients in medicine and spoke from the heart about her own experiences with bias. Nine hours later the KPSOM administration discharged her from her teaching duties and told her they did not want to see her, pending an investigation into her classroom activities. She was replaced with a white male instructor. Dr. Khoury's small group students wrote letters to KPSOM's administration reporting that none of them complained to the school, that the class represented the most enlightening hour of their medical school education - one that would resonate with them throughout their medical careers, and that Dr. Khoury's participation was critical to achieving KPSOM's stated DEI mission.

Although the KPSOM investigation found that Dr. Khoury did nothing wrong in the classroom, leading to her reinstatement with the Kaiser Medical Group as a clinical physician, KPSOM refused to reinstate her to the faculty. To the contrary, after Dr. Khoury reported and publicly complained of KPSOM's discrimination, retaliation and lack of due process, KPSOM further retaliated against her by reversing its offer to extend her contract and permanently discharging her. Scores of leaders in the medical field and thousands of individuals across the country have submitted petitions to KPSOM demanding Dr. Khoury's reinstatement. Also, prospective students are rejecting KPSOM's offers of tuition-free matriculation to protest the school's discrimination.

KPSOM finally disclosed the December 2020 investigative report to Dr. Khoury's lawyers on October 7, 2022, after eighteen months of litigation and only under the strictest confidentiality protections (until rejected by the judge on Friday) Among the important disclosures the School sought to keep secret:

Students reported that the August 28 discussion was appropriate and would help them become better physicians.

discussion was appropriate and would help them become better physicians. Dr. Khoury's co-facilitator acted inappropriately in the class but was not disciplined or investigated and was instead soon promoted to serve on the faculty conduct committee.

The School used the investigation to attempt to generate unwarranted criticism of Dr. Khoury and justify the School's actions after the fact. The School's efforts included investigating Dr. Khoury for the purported offenses of being "difficult" with certain colleagues; attending an orientation session virtually rather than in person in July 2020 ; allegedly "ignoring" a Department Chair one morning at school; and for "mak[ing] mistakes" in lectures.

Dr. Khoury is represented by Lisa Holder, Esq., Law Offices of Lisa Holder, Esq. and Nathan Smith and Anita Wu of Brown, Neri, Smith & Khan LLP.

The case is Khoury v. Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine (Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 21STCV08383). Trial is scheduled for March 13, 2023.

SOURCE Brown, Neri, Smith & Khan LLP
NOIDA, India, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new report published by UnivDatos Markets Insights, the Camping Equipment Market is expected to reach 30.16 billion in 2028, growing at a CAGR of around 7% from 2022-2028. The analysis has been segmented into Product (Tents {Tunnel Tent, Dome Tent, Geodesic Tent, Others}, Sleeping Bags, Furniture {Chairs & Stools, Tables, Cots & Hammocks, Others}, Cooking Systems & Kitchenware, Camping Gear & Accessories); Distribution Channel (Offline, Online); Region/Country.

Click here to view the Report Description & TOC

https://univdatos.com/report/camping-equipment-market/

The Camping Equipment market report has been aggregated by collecting informative data on various dynamics such as market drivers, restraints, and opportunities. This innovative report makes use of several analyses to get a closer outlook on the Camping Equipment market. The Camping Equipment market report offers a detailed analysis of the latest industry developments and trending factors in the market that are influencing the market growth. Furthermore, this statistical market research repository examines and estimates the Camping Equipment market at the global and regional levels.

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Market Overview

According to the National Caravan Council (NCC), the U.K. camping industry 'is at the forefront of U.K. Tourism. The majority of businesses in the industry are SMEs or micro-enterprises, usually independently owned and managed as a family concern. Similarly, It has been witnessed across the world that individuals are now focusing on outdoor activities such as camping that require minimal travel, are more cost-effective, and benefits individuals' mental and physical health. Therefore, with growing participation of individuals in outdoor recreational activities has resulted in the growth of the camping equipment and supplies demand across the world.

Some of the major players operating in the market include Johnson Outdoor Inc., Nemo Equipment Inc., Newell Brands, Big Agnes Inc., Oase Outdoors ApS, AMG Group, Exxel Outdoors, mont-bell Co. Ltd. Nordisk Company AS, and ADL-Tent Ltd.

COVID-19 Impact

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic across the world has had a tremendous impact on different spectra of society, the market for camping equipment no less. Returning to some likeness of normalcy depends on continued safety measures, effective diagnostic testing, and widespread vaccination. COVID-19 has caused widely documented supply chain and logistics disruptions across industries, including those in the camping equipment industry, which have been exacerbated during the latter portion of fiscal 2021. However, as stay-at-home restrictions were lifted in many parts of the world by the 2nd-3rd quarter of 2020, the major industry players across North America and Europe saw an increase in demand for many of its outdoor recreational and camping products later during fiscal 2020 as consumers took advantage of being outdoors. As a result, the camping industry experienced strong demand in the latter half of fiscal 2020.

The global Camping Equipment market report is studied thoroughly with several aspects that would help stakeholders in making their decisions more curated.

Based on the product, the market is bifurcated into tents, sleeping bags, furniture, cooking systems, and kitchenware, and camping gear and accessories. Among these, cooking systems and kitchenware is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period. This can mainly be attributed to the launch of new and technologically advanced cooking equipment such as stoves and other utensils.

Based on the distribution channel, the market is bifurcated into offline and online distribution channels. In 2020, the offline category held a majority share in the market, mainly due to the presence of big specialty stores, sporting goods stores, and other brick-and-mortar stores offering camping and other outdoor recreational equipment and tools across the world.

Have a Look at the Chapters- https://univdatos.com/report/camping-equipment-market/

Camping Equipment Market Geographical Segmentation Includes:

North America ( United States , Canada , and the Rest of North America )

( , , and the Rest of ) Europe ( Germany , United Kingdom , France , Italy , and the Rest of Europe )

( , , , , and the Rest of ) Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , India , South Korea , and the Rest of Asia-Pacific )

( , , , , and the Rest of ) Rest of the World

North America leads the market in 2021. This is mainly due to the rising popularity of camping among the millennials, as camping is proven to have an impact on reducing stress and contributes to emotional and physical health. Furthermore, as per the North American Camping Report by KOA, Millennials and Gen Xers make up three-quarters of all campers, with Millennials alone accounting for 40%.

The major players targeting the market include

Decathlon S.A.

Johnson Outdoor Inc.

Nemo Equipment Inc.

Newell Brands

Big Agnes Inc.

Nordisk Company AS

AMG Group

Exxel Outdoors

mont-bell Co. Ltd

Oase Outdoors ApS

Competitive Landscape

The degree of competition among prominent global companies has been elaborated by analyzing several leading key players operating worldwide. The specialist team of research analysts sheds light on various traits such as global market competition, market share, most recent industry advancements, innovative product launches, partnerships, mergers, or acquisitions by leading companies in the Camping Equipment Market. The major players have been analyzed by using research methodologies for getting insight views on global competition.

Key questions resolved through this analytical market research report include:

What are the latest trends, new patterns, and technological advancements in the Camping Equipment market?

Which factors are influencing the Camping Equipment market over the forecast period?

What are the global challenges, threats, and risks in the Camping Equipment market?

Which factors are propelling and restraining the Camping Equipment market?

What are the demanding global regions of the Camping Equipment market?

What will be the global market size in the upcoming years?

What are the crucial market acquisition strategies and policies applied by global companies?

We understand the requirement of different businesses, regions, and countries, we offer customized reports as per your requirements of business nature and geography. Please let us know If you have any custom needs.

About UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI)

Browse Other Related Research Reports from UnivDatos Market Insights

Camping Equipment Market Report Coverage

Report Attribute Details Base year 2020 Forecast period 2022-2028 Growth momentum Accelerate at a CAGR of over 7% Market size 2028 USD 30.16 billion Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Rest of World Major contributing region North America to Dominate the Global Camping Equipment Market Key countries covered United States, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, China, Japan, India, South Korea Companies profiled Decathlon S.A., Johnson Outdoor Inc., Nemo Equipment Inc., Newell Brands, Big Agnes Inc., Nordisk Company AS, AMG Group, Exxel Outdoors, mont-bell Co. Ltd, Oase Outdoors ApS. Report Scope Market Trends, Drivers, and Restraints; Revenue Estimation and Forecast; Segmentation Analysis; Impact of COVID-19; Demand and Supply Side Analysis; Competitive Landscape; Company Profiling Segments Covered By Product; By Distribution Channel; By Region/Country

About UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI)

UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI) is a passionate market research firm and a subsidiary of Universal Data Solutions. We believe in delivering insights through Market Intelligence Reports, Customized Business Research, and Primary Research. Our research studies are spread across topics across the world, we cover markets in over 100 countries using smart research techniques and agile methodologies. We offer in-depth studies, detailed analysis, and customized reports that help shape winning business strategies for our clients.

Contact

UnivDatos Market Insights

Ankita Gupta

Director Operations

Ph: +91-7838604911

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://univdatos.com/

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1225049/UnivDatos_Logo.jpg

SOURCE UnivDatos Market Insights Pvt. Ltd.
DUBLIN, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Canada Booster Compressor Market, By Cooling Type (Air, Water), By Stage (Single, Double, Multi), By Power Source, By Pressure Rating (14-40 bar, 41-100 bar, 101-350 bar, >350 bar), By End Use Industry, By Region, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Canada booster compressor market is expected to witness a steady growth in the forecast period, 2023-2027

The market growth can be attributed to the increased expenditure on the oil & gas industry and continuous technological developments.

Besides, the rapid development of natural gas infrastructure and rise in the production and sales of electric vehicles are some of the factors accelerating the market growth. Enhanced awareness regarding the advantages of using natural gas over other conventional energy sources is predicted to drive natural gas demand across the country.

Government officials are establishing projects to accelerate natural gas exploration and the rapid completion of these projects are boosting the demand for booster compressors during the forecast period.

Leading authorities in Canada have proposed 18 LNG export projects at various places, including 13 in British Columbia, 2 in Quebec, and 3 in Nova Scotia, with a total estimated export capacity of 216 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG.



According to the Canadian government, transportation is responsible for around 25% of greenhouse gas emissions, emitted from passenger automobiles and light trucks. A surge in environmental concerns and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are fuelling the adoption of zero-emission automobiles.

Introduction of the `A Healthy Environment and A Healthy Economy` strategy, which aims to develop a cleaner and more robust transportation infrastructure, is a positive element for market growth. The government has set a goal of zero-emission vehicles for all new light-duty automobiles and passenger trucks by 2035, encouraging the production of electric batteries in the country.



Booster compressors are expected to develop across the country as investments in the oil and gas, power, and chemical industries increase. Government officials are enacting laws and regulations to ease the procedures for new entrants and create an atmosphere conducive to increased productivity across several industrial verticals.

Foreign market entrants and the promotion of investment policies by leading authorities and market participants are likely to boost the development of other industries. For the projected period, the rising manufacturing industry and the requirement to use compressor gas and oil in these industries are expected to drive the expansion of the Canada booster compressor market.



The air cooled segment is anticipated to dominate the Canada booster compressor market, owing to the increasing affordability of air cooled compressors than water cooled compressors.

Objective of the Study:

To analyze the historical growth in the market size of the Canada booster compressor from 2017 to 2021.

booster compressor from 2017 to 2021. To estimate and forecast the market size of Canada booster compressor market from 2023 to 2027 and growth rate until 2027.

booster compressor market from 2023 to 2027 and growth rate until 2027. To classify and forecast the Canada booster compressor market based on cooling type, stage, power source, pressure rating, end use industry, region, and company.

booster compressor market based on cooling type, stage, power source, pressure rating, end use industry, region, and company. To identify the dominant region or segment in the Canada booster compressor market.

booster compressor market. To identify drivers and challenges for the Canada booster compressor market.

booster compressor market. To examine competitive developments such as expansions, new product launches, mergers & acquisitions, etc., in the Canada booster compressor market.

booster compressor market. To identify and analyze the profiles of leading players operating in the Canada booster compressor market.

booster compressor market. To identify key sustainable strategies adopted by market players in Canada booster compressor market.

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in Canada booster compressor market.

Atlas Copco

Kaeser Kompressoren

Boge Kompressoren

SAUER Compressor

BAUER Kompressoren

Hitachi

Ingersoll Rand

Gardner Denver

BHGE

Idex Corporation

Maximator

Haskel

Report Scope:

Years considered for this report:

Historical Years: 2017-2020

Base Year: 2021

Estimated Year: 2022

Forecast Period: 2023-2027

Canada Booster Compressor Market, By Cooling Type:

Air

Water

Canada Booster Compressor Market, By Stage:

Single

Double

Multi

Canada Booster Compressor Market, By Power Source:

Electric

Combustion Engine

Canada Booster Compressor Market, By Pressure Rating:

14-40 bar

41-100 bar

101-350 bar

>350 bar

Canada Booster Compressor Market, By End Use Industry:

Oil & Gas

Manufacturing

Chemicals

Power

Others

Canada Booster Compressor Market, By Region:

Ontario

Quebec

The West

British Columbia

Atlantic Canada

The North

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/d72bi6

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

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SOURCE Research and Markets
SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CapabilitySource will present on a panel alongside Adobe and two other partners at the upcoming Digital Marketing for Financial Services (DMFS) New York conference. CapabilitySource will be speaking as a silver sponsor on the topic of personalization at scale.

"CapabilitySource supports client marketing teams, and personalization is a big part of the strategies that they are using to communicate effectively with their customers," Glenn Coward, president and CEO of CapabilitySource said.

"The technology is just a part of the of the solution. Personalization is really a combination of customer information, personalized content and decisioning systems; you have to have all three," Coward said.

In attending this event, financial service marketers will gain an in depth understanding about personalization and why it is important to marketers. They will learn about how to deliver a better experience that produces more leads, higher conversions and increased revenues.

CapabilitySource will be speaking alongside longtime partner, Adobe. Other partners, Bounteous and 4point will also be joining CapabilitySource on the panel. The team members who will be speaking on the panel from each company include:

Glenn Coward, President and CEO, CapabilitySource

Chris Young, Director of Financial Services Industry Strategy, Adobe

Dave Venance, Senior Solution Architect, 4Point

Raju Patel, EVP and Managing Director, Bounteous

The DMFS event offers an in-person event as well as virtual attendance on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 3  4, 2022. The CapabilitySource presentation will take place at 4:10 p.m. on Thursday. The location of the event is in Brooklyn, NY at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge.

To register with CapabilitySource's sponsor code, register here and use code CAPABILITYSOURCE20OFF.

For more information, visit the DMFS event agenda page here.

Media Contact

Lori Ellison Coward

(303) 710-5139

[email protected]

SOURCE CapabilitySource
The report explores caregivers' needs based on a survey conducted on more than 400 caregivers

MIAMI, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Carewell , the leading e-commerce resource for caregivers, released a White Paper today exploring the support needs of family caregivers in honor of National Family Caregivers Month. The report, titled "Supporting Family Caregivers: Identifying the Gaps in Support for America's Hidden Workforce," identifies the key areas in which caregivers need support and highlights how society, government institutions, employers, and family units can step up to assist them.

"Caregivers play an incredibly important role in our society and if they don't receive adequate support, we will see profound negative effects on the labor force, the long-term care industry, and the healthcare system," says Bianca Padilla, Carewell CEO and Co-founder. "By filling the gaps in support, we can ensure they can continue caring without sacrificing their mental, emotional, physical, and financial health."

For National Family Caregivers Month, Carewell releases a report highlighting the gaps in support that caregivers face. Tweet this

The White Paper is based on a survey that Carewell conducted in September 2022 on its customer base of caregivers. In total, more than 400 respondents participated and the survey asked questions regarding caregivers' satisfaction with the support they receive from their family, community, employers, and the government. Key takeaways from the report include:

Caregivers are most interested in receiving emotional support from their families and friends

Most caregivers have not used any caregiving-related resources available through community programs in their areas

The average satisfaction with governmental assistance provided to caregivers is a four (4) out of 10 (0 being unsatisfied and 10 being satisfied)

Offering flexibilities, like remote work, is the best way employers can support employees with caregiving responsibilities

In addition to the survey findings, the White Paper provides an overview of the caregiver demographic to help readers understand who caregivers are. From the benefits of emotional support to an analysis of how community resources, like support groups, the report also demonstrates how the type of support requested by caregivers would positively impact their lives and caregiving journey.

Carewell is on a mission to improve the lives of family caregivers and advocate on their behalf to bring awareness to their needs. By simplifying the shopping process, providing 24/7 customer support, and a library of information, Carewell has helped guide countless caregivers through their caregiving journey and is dedicated to making their lives easier.

To download the full report, please visit https://www.carewell.com/resources/blog/carewell-study-finds-gaps-in-caregiver-support-systems/

About Carewell

Carewell is the leading e-commerce marketplace designed to improve the lives of caregivers and their families. With more than 10,500 affordable and expert-vetted home health products, 24/7 customer support, and a library of resources, we simplify the shopping experience and provide personalized service to make caregivers' lives easier and help people age gracefully. Founded in 2017 by Bianca Padilla and Jon Magolnick after experiencing the lack of support available to caregivers, Carewell was named one of Fast Company's 10 Most Innovative Companies in Retail of 2021; included in Forbes' Top 100 Most Customer-Centric Companies of 2022, and ranked 74th on the Inc. 5000 2021 list of the fast-growing private companies in America. For more information on Carewell, please visit Carewell.com .

Carewell Media Contact:

Dora Williams

Public Relations Manager

[email protected]

306-726-6585

SOURCE Carewell
The new office is owned by a husband-and-wife team who are both trained physical therapists with a passion for helping seniors

WACO, Texas, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Caring Senior Service, a private-duty, non-medical senior home care services company, today announced the grand opening of its new location in Waco, Texas, owned by physical therapists Dustin and Rebecca Rauch, a husband-and-wife team. The new office marks Caring Senior Service's 17th location in Texas.

The new Caring Senior Service location in Waco is owned by husband-and-wife team Dustin and Rebecca Rauch who are both phyiscal therapists.

"Our background in focusing on treating complex and chronic pain as physical therapists and my personal experience working with my mother's caregiver made investing in Caring Senior Service a natural progression for us," Dustin Rauch said. "My mother suffered with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and the help of her caregiver was invaluable. We wanted to help seniors in our community remain healthy, happy and at home. Allowing seniors the ability to not end up in a skilled nursing facility or other institutional setting is a goal my wife and I share."

The Waco location features skilled and experienced caregivers who are qualified, have verified references and are screened via a nationwide background check. The staff is available 24/7, provides regular care coordination and can attend physician visits with the client to take notes for family members.

"I want Caring Senior Service of Waco to have a positive impact on the seniors of our community and their families," Rauch said. "When you don't have help with your daily activities or are alone and your family lives out of state, you need a high-quality caregiver to serve as your surrogate family. Our caregivers are the foundation of everything we do."

Rauch said he chose Caring Senior Service because they always demonstrated a desire to go above and beyond the ordinary in their training, service and operations, and because of the company's outstanding quality of care.

"Dustin and Rebecca are a wonderful new addition to the Caring Senior Service family," said Caring Senior Service CEO Jeff Salter. "Their experiences working in the medical field and with the care of family members who have suffered through various disabilities make them both knowledgeable and compassionate. We look forward to watching the success of their Waco location."

The new Waco location is located at 1227 N Valley Mills Dr Suite 233, Waco, TX 76710. It can be reached by calling (254) 277-2735 or by visiting https://www.caringseniorservice.com/waco.

About Caring Senior Service

Caring Senior Service is a non-medical home care services company based in San Antonio, Texas. Founded by CEO Jeff Salter in 1991, the company provides assistance to seniors, the disabled population and any adult who may need help with the tasks of everyday living such as bathing, running errands and preparing food. After adding locations throughout Texas in the 1990s, the company extended its reach through franchising in 2002. It now boasts more than 50 locations throughout the U.S. Its non-profit "Close the Gap in Senior Care" began in 2021 to raise awareness of the overlooked and underserved aspects of senior care. This program was launched when Salter rode an electric bike more than 9,000 miles to each Caring Senior Service location nationwide to raise awareness of home modifications needed to avoid fall risks among the senior population. For more information on Caring Senior Service, please visit their website at https://www.caringseniorservice.com/.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

(865) 977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE Caring Senior Service
83.76 mu plot within the Life Science zone of the Qingpu Industrial Park, Shanghai Development to include manufacturing facilities and R&D offices

SHANGHAI, Oct. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CBC Healthcare Infrastructure Platform ("CBC HIP"), the infrastructure arm of Asia's largest healthcare-dedicated asset management firm, CBC Group, today announced that it has acquired a prime industrial site within the Life Science zone of the Qingpu Industrial Park, Shanghai, with a tenure of 50 years.

CBC HIP, which develops and invests in high-quality healthcare assets across the Asia-Pacific region, plans to develop the 83.76 mu area into a high-specifications life science park comprising eight manufacturing facilities, two Research & Development (R&D) offices as well as other ancillary facilities. The project is targeted for completion in Q2 2024.

Hans Kang, Chief Executive Officer of CBC HIP, commented "Life science real estate represents an incredible opportunity in China. We are delighted to have taken 100% ownership of this 83.76 mu site, which follows previous investments in Beijing  at the Zhongguancun Life Science Park and the China Bio-medicine Park. The Life Science zone of the Qingpu Industrial Park is strategically located at the center of the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone, and our development will provide cutting-edge facilities to accelerate world-class scientific research and support the growth of the life science market in China."

Building on its success as a Traditional Chinese Medicine hub, Qingpu is emerging as a leading life science center with a particular focus on innovative medicines, clinical nutrition, aesthetic diagnostics and high-end domestic medical devices. Situated within the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone, it is well connected with other life science hubs in Zhejiang and Jiangsu, providing access to leading talent, clinical trial resources and additional business opportunities.

Since 2021, CBC HIP has acquired approximately 410,000 sqm of life science real estate in Beijing and Shanghai and continues to deliver a scalable and sustainable portfolio with attractive risk-adjusted returns for institutional investors. CBC HIP is expecting the final closing of its venture by Q1 2023 with supports from global institutional investors.

About CBC Healthcare Infrastructure Platform

CBC Healthcare Infrastructure Platform (CBC HIP) is a partnership between Singapore-headquartered CBC Group, Asia's largest healthcare-dedicated asset management firm, and APG Asset Management, the largest pension provider in the Netherlands. CBC HIP is expecting the final closing of its venture by Q1 2023.

About CBC

CBC Group, Asia's largest healthcare-dedicated asset management firm, is committed to creating value and integrating global resources to provide better healthcare for all. Partnering with the world's top entrepreneurs and scientists, its unique investor-operator approach has empowered leading global healthcare companies to widen access to affordable medical care, catalyze innovations, and improve efficiencies in fulfilling unmet medical needs worldwide. Founded in 2014, CBC has a leading team of investment, industry and portfolio management professionals headquartered in Singapore with offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong and New York, and presences in Boston, San Diego, San Francisco, Abu Dhabi, Seoul and Tokyo. CBC focuses on platform building, buyout, credit/royalty and real estate across healthcare sectors, including pharmaceutical and biotech, medical technology and healthcare services.

For more information, please visit www.cbridgecap.com

SOURCE CBC Group
BEIJING, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- China has welcomed the first foreign leader to visit the country since the conclusion of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC)  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong.

At the invitation of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese president, Trong is on an official visit to China which began on October 30.

During their talks on Monday, the two leaders vowed to make joint efforts in promoting the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era to a new level.

A visit showing solid friendship

Noting that Trong is the first foreign leader he has met since the 20th CPC National Congress and this is Trong's first trip abroad since the 13th National Congress of the CPV, Xi said that it fully shows the great importance the two sides attach to developing relations between the two countries and the two parties.

Xi also presented the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to Trong, saying that the medal represents the profound friendship of "comrades plus brothers" between China and Vietnam.

The award is presented to those who support the country's modernization, promote exchanges between China and the world and safeguard world peace.

Trong said that he has fulfilled his promise to Xi that he would visit China for his first international visit following his re-election as General Secretary of the CPV in January 2021.

Five years ago in November, Xi chose Vietnam as his first overseas destination after the 19th CPC National Congress.

The Vietnam News Agency said that Trong's trip is a reciprocal visit, which aims to "affirm Vietnam's consistent policy of attaching importance to relations with China as a top priority."

A visit charting the course for bilateral relations

The two leaders agreed to continuously advance socialist modernization, align development strategies, and promote cooperation in various areas, such as medical and health care, green development, digital economy and climate change.

For the cause of socialism and China-Vietnam relations, adhering to the correct political direction is paramount, Xi said.

Highlighting the two sides should consolidate the socialist economic foundation, he said China is ready to synergize its development strategies with Vietnam.

China regards the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and a key region in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and attaches importance to Vietnam's role in the ASEAN, Xi said.

Trong said that Vietnam is willing to further synergize the "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Despite impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical upheavals in the world, Vietnam is China's largest trading partner in the ASEAN and the sixth largest in the world, with bilateral trade exceeding $230 billion in 2021.

In July, China and Vietnam agreed to further strengthen the docking of development strategies and speed up cooperation under the BRI and the "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan.

The "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan is an initiative to boost regional economic cooperation between China and Vietnam. It involves several areas in southern and southwestern China and northern Vietnam.

During their talks, Trong also stressed that his country firmly adheres to one-China policy, firmly opposes any form of separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence," and will not develop any official relations with Taiwan.

Vietnam does not allow any country to establish a military base on its territory, does not join any military alliance, does not use force against any country, and does not unite with one country against another, he said.

Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents on political parties, economy and trade, environmental protection, culture and tourism, justice, customs and local affairs.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-10-31/Xi-holds-talks-with-Vietnam-s-communist-party-chief-in-Beijing-1eAbvfKZw0E/index.html

SOURCE CGTN
The Secret Los Angeles Pop-Up Brings Its Michelin-style Approach to Three Iconic Chili's Staples

DALLAS, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chili's Grill & Bar is teaming up with Chain, the Los Angeles based pop-up phenomenon that features a Michelin-starred chef cooking up one-of-a-kind takes on chain restaurant favorites, to reimagine its beloved dishes and celebrate the pepper's prominent place in Americana. The duo is set to host four Chilified events at The Chain House in Los Angeles.

Chili's and Chain cook up one-of-a-kind takes on long-time favorites

Chain's chef-driven approach celebrates what it calls the quintessential "New Americana" cuisine, and now Chain's makers, B.J. Novak and Chef Tim Hollingsworth, meet their muse to serve refined, reimagined, refreshed and ridiculously good versions of some fan-favorites that Chili's Guests and Chain's fans have long cherished.

Chain's head Chef Tim decided the key to recreating Chili's favorites was to find one specific flavor that would fire up the senses and encompass the entire Chili's experience.

"Chefs are always striving to create the perfect bite where every ingredient of a dish comes together," said Hollingsworth, Executive Chef at Chain. "The egg roll as a format is perfectly engineered to deliver that perfect bite, so we had to include Chili's iconic Southwestern Egg Rolls. With our custom seasoning blend  Southwest-Style Desert Dust  we're creating cuisine that feels like the essence of Chili's  this Southwest vibe of an endless sunset on a desert road."

At the pop-up, Guests can expect to chow down on the following:

Brand-New World-Famous Desert Dusted Southwest Eggrolls

Desert Dusted Extra Tender Chicken Crispers

Throwback Fries

The Sunset Presidente

"Everyone has their favorite order at Chili's, so when B.J. and Chef Tim approached us to put a gourmet twist on Chili's classics, we jumped at the chance to collaborate," said Chili's Chief Marketing Officer George Felix. "We can't wait to hear fans' reactions to these fresh takes on our Southwest egg rolls, Chicken Crispers, and world-famous margaritas."

To experience this moment in American culinary history at The Chain House, the secret space in West Hollywood that's decked out with fast casual culinary icons and memorabilia  and get your hands on coveted bottles of the Southwest-Style Desert Dust seasoning blend and Chain's Original Hot Perfecto Sauce  reserve your spot in advance on the Chain website and receive details on location via text for any of the following nights:

Saturday, Nov. 12 from 7  10 p.m. PT

from 7  Tuesday, Nov. 15 from 7  10 p.m. PT

from 7  Friday, Nov. 18 from 7  10 p.m. PT

from 7  Saturday, Nov. 19 from 7  10 p.m. PT

A limited number of spots will be reserved for My Chili's Rewards members in the Los Angeles area. My Chili's Rewards members receive personalized perks throughout the year including free chips and salsa with every visit to Chili's.

While Chili's has been a leader in the casual dining space serving Southwestern-inspired American favorites for nearly 50 years, the brand has also been a core part of American culture. The iconic "Baby Back Ribs" jingle received the silver screen treatment in Austin Powers and was serenaded by *NSync. And no one can forget The Office's Pam Beesly facing a lifetime Chili's ban (from a real-life Chili's Team Member, no less) after feeling God in that Chili's on The Dundies night.

About Chili's Grill & Bar

Hi, welcome to Chili's! We're a leader in the casual dining industry and the flagship brand of Dallas-based Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT). We're known for our big mouth burgers, juicy chicken crispers, full-on sizzling fajitas and hand-shaken margaritas. We take our food seriously  but not ourselves  because dining out should feel like a celebration even if there is nothing to celebrate. Our passion is making everyone feel special, and every day, our ChiliHeads make it their job to spread #ChilisLove across our more than 1,600 restaurants in 29 countries and two U.S. territories. And Chili's cares. We host local Give Back Events to support kids, education and hunger, and have raised more than $97 million benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Find more information about us at chilis.com, follow us on Twitter or Instagram, like us on Facebook @Chilis or join us on TikTok @chilisofficial.

About Chain

Chain began as a labor of love, with Chef Tim Hollingsworth cooking up one-of-a-kind homages to childhood favorites in abandoned Los Angeles alleys during Covid to throngs of excited foodies, quickly growing into a local phenomenon. Co-founded by B.J. Novak and Hollingsworth, our instantly sold out drops and collaborations with the very culinary and cultural institutions that inspired us is a testament to just how much love there is for chain culture -- and of course, Chef Tim's insanely delicious creations. From our 'Wagyu Beef Cruncho Perfecto' collab with Taco Bell to the 'Pappy Van Winkle Whiskey BBQ Sauce'  a sauce made with the most coveted whiskey in the world  to our Award-Winning chicken tenders, Chain reinvents the classics for modern palates and expectations without forgetting what made them so beloved and iconic.

SOURCE Chili's Grill & Bar
Cinven will bring TaxAct and Drake Software, a Cinven portfolio company, together over time under a new holding company, creating a leading, full-service tax solutions provider for professionals and consumers

LONDON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- International private equity firm, Cinven, today announces that it has reached an agreement to acquire TaxAct for approximately $720 million. Following closing of the transaction, Cinven will bring the business together with existing portfolio company Drake Software ("Drake" or the "Company") under a single holding company. This will create a full-service tax ecosystem provider with the scope to use the resources and shared principles of the combined businesses to innovate and support their complementary professional tax preparer and individual tax filer customer bases.

TaxAct is one of the leading providers of digital, do-it-yourself ("DIY") tax filing assistance software and services, operating in a fast growing subset of the U.S. tax preparation services market. Since it was founded in 1998, TaxAct has grown rapidly, providing DIY tax filing services to more than 85 million individual filers to date, and was the first online software provider to offer free tax filing services.

With a 45-year track record of best-in-class products and services, Drake Software is a leading provider of comprehensive professional tax preparation software, servicing more than 70,000 tax offices throughout the U.S. In 2021, Cinven made a significant investment in Drake to support the next stage of the Company's growth.

Chris Good, Partner at Cinven, commented:

"Since investing in Drake in 2021, Cinven has set out to support the Company's growth plans, including expanding its presence in the professional tax preparation market, renewing its technology platform and enhancing its product offerings for the benefit of Drake's tax professional customers. The addition of TaxAct's consumer tax preparation platform will further strengthen Drake's capabilities to anticipate and serve the needs of all types of customers as today's tax landscape becomes increasingly sophisticated. This transaction exemplifies Cinven's track record of working with companies to support their growth and capability expansion strategies, creating better products for customers and increasing opportunities for employees."

Daniel Garin, Senior Principal at Cinven, added:

"Cinven has followed TaxAct for many years. This acquisition allows Cinven to back two leading management teams, building a stronger combined company that can win in an attractive market with substantial potential for future growth. We are excited to bring together two industry-leading, complementary businesses with shared values and a collective vision for delighting customers through product innovation and exceptional customer service. This investment builds on Cinven's strong track record in the TMT sector in North America and is continued evidence of Cinven successfully deploying its sector-country matrix to originate attractive investment opportunities."

Upon the close of the transaction, Dom Morea will remain President and Chief Executive Officer of Drake Software and Curtis Campbell will continue to lead the TaxAct business. The businesses will continue to operate under their own brands within the holding company.

The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2022, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Advisers to Cinven on the transaction included: Evercore, J.P. Morgan, and Ropes & Gray LLP.

Media contacts

Cinven

Clare Bradshaw

Tel. +44 (0)7881 918 967

Email. [email protected]



Joele Frank (Advisers to Cinven)

Jon Keehner / Woomi Yun / Erik Carlson

Tel. +1 212-355-4449

Drake Software

Krista Lee

Email. [email protected]



About Cinven



Cinven is a leading international private equity firm focused on building world-class global and European companies. Its funds invest in six key sectors: Business Services, Consumer, Financial Services, Healthcare, Industrials and Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT). Cinven has offices in London, New York, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Guernsey and Luxembourg.

Cinven takes a responsible approach towards its portfolio companies, their employees, suppliers, local communities, the environment and society.

Cinven Capital Management (V) General Partner Limited, Cinven Capital Management (VI) General Partner Limited, Cinven Capital Management (VII) General Partner Limited and Cinven Capital Management (SFF) General Partner Limited are each authorised and regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission, and Cinven Limited, the advisor to the Cinven Funds, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

In this press release 'Cinven' means, depending on the context, any of or collectively, Cinven Holdings Guernsey Limited, Cinven Partnership LLP, and their respective Associates (as defined in the Companies Act 2006) and/or funds managed or advised by any of the foregoing.

For additional information on Cinven please visit www.cinven.com and www.linkedin.com/company/cinven/ .

About Drake Software

Drake Software, a private company founded in 1977, provides software solutions to more than 70,000 tax and accounting firms that file more than 40 million tax returns every year. Known for its award-winning customer service team, Drake is also consistently recognized for excellence in quality, value, and reliability. As part of its commitment to innovation and customer success, the company has continued to expand product offerings, integrations, and customer-service efforts, more than doubling its customer base over the past decade.

SOURCE Cinven
LONDON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CLVT), a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation today announced that it has successfully completed the divestiture of MarkMonitor, an industry-leading enterprise-level provider of domain management solutions, to Newfold Digital ("Newfold"), a leading web and commerce technology provider backed by affiliates of Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. ("Clearlake") and Siris Capital Group, LLC ("Siris"). Previously, Clarivate announced on September 12, 2022, its intent to divest MarkMonitor to Newfold.

Divesting MarkMonitor helps Clarivate focus on investing in its core intellectual property portfolio, including IP lifecycle management and IP intelligence. Clarivate expects to use the net cash proceeds it receives from the $302.5 million sale price, $10.6 million of which is expected to be received after completing deferred closings in certain foreign jurisdictions, to reduce its outstanding debt.

Evercore acted as financial advisor and Blank Rome LLP acted as legal advisor to Clarivate. Sidley Austin LLP acted as legal adviser and RBC Capital Markets and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as financial advisors to Newfold, with BNP PARIBAS, Deutsche Bank, Mizuho and UBS Investment Bank also providing advice.

About Clarivate

Clarivate is a global leader in providing solutions to accelerate the pace of innovation. Our bold mission is to help customers solve some of the world's most complex problems by providing actionable information and insights that reduce the time from new ideas to life-changing inventions in the areas of Academia & Government, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Professional Services and Consumer Goods, Manufacturing & Technology. We help customers discover, protect and commercialize their inventions using our trusted subscription and technology-based solutions coupled with deep domain expertise. For more information, please visit clarivate.com.

About Newfold Digital

Newfold Digital is a leading web and commerce technology company serving nearly 7 million customers globally. Established in 2021 through the combination of leading web services providers Endurance Web Presence and Web.com Group, our portfolio of brands includes: Bluehost, CrazyDomains, HostGator, Network Solutions, Register.com, Web.com and many others. We help customers of all sizes build a digital presence that delivers results. With our extensive product offerings and personalized support, we take pride in collaborating with our customers to serve their online presence needs. Learn more about Newfold Digital at Newfold.com.

About Clearlake

Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. is an investment firm founded in 2006 operating integrated businesses across private equity, credit and other related strategies. With a sector-focused approach, the firm seeks to partner with management teams by providing patient, long-term capital to businesses that can benefit from Clearlake's operational improvement approach, O.P.S. The firm's core target sectors are technology, industrials, and consumer. Clearlake currently has over $70 billion of assets under management, and its senior investment principals have led or co-led over 400 investments. The firm is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA with affiliates in Dallas, TX, London, UK and Dublin. More information is available at www.clearlake.com and on Twitter @Clearlake.

About Siris

Siris is a leading private equity firm that invests primarily in mature technology and telecommunications companies with mission-critical products and services, facing industry changes or other significant transitions. Siris' development of proprietary research to identify opportunities and its extensive collaboration with its Executive Partners and Advisors are integral to its approach. Siris' Executive Partners and Advisors are experienced senior operating executives that actively participate in key aspects of the transaction lifecycle to help identify opportunities and drive strategic and operational value. Siris is based in New York and West Palm Beach, and has raised nearly $6 billion in cumulative capital commitments. www.siris.com.

Newfold contact details

Media Contact

Nicole Cassis, Vice President-Communications

[email protected]

Clarivate contact details

Media Contact

Amy Bourke Waite, Snr Director, Corporate Communications

[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact

Mark Donohue, Head of Investor Relations

[email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1159266/Clarivate_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Clarivate Plc
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Technavio has been monitoring the coffee substitute market, operating under the Consumer Staples industry. The report estimates the market to register an incremental growth of USD 1.84 billion, at a CAGR of 9.46% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Coffee Substitute Market 2022-2026

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Growing demand for green tea has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, the rising popularity of coffee among millennials might hamper the market growth. Request the Latest Free sample report

Coffee Substitute Market 2022-2026: Segmentation

Based on geographic segmentation, 35% of the market's originated from APAC during the forecast period. In addition, the offline category will lead the growth under the Distribution Channel segment. This report provides an accurate prediction of the contribution of all the segments to the growth of the superfood powders market size.

Distribution Channel

Offline



To boost sales and revenues, vendors are putting their efforts into strengthening their formalized distribution networks. By providing deals and shopping packages, supermarkets, hypermarkets, and convenience stores hope to attract customers. In order to draw in more customers, vendors concentrate on marketing and promotional tactics. These promotional and marketing techniques include the use of signage to promote brands, the distribution of samples, and the offering of discounts on product kits.



Online

Geography

North America



APAC will account for 35% of market growth. The two biggest markets in APAC for coffee alternatives are China and Japan. Another region with significant market growth in North America . Green tea consumption is rapidly increasing due to increased consumer awareness of its health benefits. This will help the APAC coffee substitute market grow over the forecast period.

of market growth. The two biggest markets in APAC for coffee alternatives are and Japan. Another region with significant market growth in . Green tea consumption is rapidly increasing due to increased consumer awareness of its health benefits. This will help the APAC coffee substitute market grow over the forecast period.

Europe



APAC



South America



Middle East And Africa

To know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years, Buy Sample Report.

Coffee Substitute Market 2022-2026: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The coffee substitute market report covers the following areas:

The rising demand for green tea and energy drinks is one of the main factors fueling growth in the market for coffee alternatives. The discovery of distinctive and flavorful green tea will fuel the demand for coffee substitutes and, in turn, drive the market in focus due to health benefits. However, the market for coffee substitutes will face significant challenges during the forecast period due to the growing popularity of coffee among millennials.

Coffee Substitute Market 2022-2026: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2022-2026

Detailed information on factors that will assist coffee substitute market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the coffee substitute market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the coffee substitute market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of coffee substitute market, vendors

Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights! Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000.

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Coffee Substitute Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 9.46% Market growth 2022-2026 $1.84 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 8.71 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 35% Key consumer countries US, China, Japan, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Anthonys Goods, Dandy Blend, drink nuJo, Flying Embers, Hand Family Companies, Mondelez International Inc., Mud Wtr Inc., PepsiCo Inc., Postum, Remedy Organics, Rishi Tea and Botanicals, Slate Craft Goods LLC, So Good Brand Inc., Tattvas Herbs LLC, Teeccino Caffe Inc., The Hain Celestial Group Inc., World Finer Foods LLC, and World Matcha Inc. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get customized segments.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market Overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Distribution Channel - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Distribution Channel - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Distribution Channel



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Distribution Channel

5.3 Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Online - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Online - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Distribution Channel ($ million)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 37: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 38: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 40: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 43: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 44: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 45: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 47: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 48: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 49: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 50: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 52: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 53: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 56: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 57: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 60: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 61: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 62: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 63: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 64: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 67: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 68: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 69: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 71: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 72: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 73: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 74: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 75: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 76: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 77: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 82: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 83: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 84: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 85: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 86: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 87: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 88: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 Dandy Blend

Exhibit 89: Dandy Blend - Overview



Exhibit 90: Dandy Blend - Product / Service



Exhibit 91: Dandy Blend - Key offerings

10.4 Mud Wtr Inc.

Exhibit 92: Mud Wtr Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 93: Mud Wtr Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 94: Mud Wtr Inc. - Key offerings

10.5 PepsiCo Inc.

Exhibit 95: PepsiCo Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 96: PepsiCo Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 97: PepsiCo Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 98: PepsiCo Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 99: PepsiCo Inc. - Segment focus

10.6 Postum

Exhibit 100: Postum - Overview



Exhibit 101: Postum - Product / Service



Exhibit 102: Postum - Key offerings

10.7 Rishi Tea and Botanicals

and Botanicals Exhibit 103: Rishi Tea and Botanicals - Overview

and Botanicals - Overview

Exhibit 104: Rishi Tea and Botanicals - Product / Service

and Botanicals - Product / Service

Exhibit 105: Rishi Tea and Botanicals - Key offerings

10.8 Tattvas Herbs LLC

Exhibit 106: Tattvas Herbs LLC - Overview



Exhibit 107: Tattvas Herbs LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 108: Tattvas Herbs LLC - Key offerings

10.9 Teeccino Caffe Inc.

Exhibit 109: Teeccino Caffe Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 110: Teeccino Caffe Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 111: Teeccino Caffe Inc. - Key offerings

10.10 The Hain Celestial Group Inc.

Exhibit 112: The Hain Celestial Group Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 113: The Hain Celestial Group Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 114: The Hain Celestial Group Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 115: The Hain Celestial Group Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 116: The Hain Celestial Group Inc. - Segment focus

10.11 World Finer Foods LLC

Exhibit 117: World Finer Foods LLC - Overview



Exhibit 118: World Finer Foods LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 119: World Finer Foods LLC - Key offerings

10.12 World Matcha Inc.

Exhibit 120: World Matcha Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 121: World Matcha Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 122: World Matcha Inc. - Key offerings

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 123: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 124: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 125: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 126: Research methodology



Exhibit 127: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 128: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 129: List of abbreviations

food allergy among consumers: There is an increase in the number of people suffering from food allergies globally. Food allergy is caused when the immune system reacts to the ingestion of certain foods. Ingredients of packaged foods and meats that can create allergic reactions in some people include (but are not limited to) milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish (e.g., crab, lobster, and shrimp), tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, and pecan), peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. Even consumption of small amounts of food allergens can trigger signs and symptoms such as digestive problems, hives, and swollen airways. In some people, a food allergy can cause severe symptoms, or even a life-threatening reaction is, known as anaphylaxis. For example, in the US, nearly 3% of the adult population suffers from shellfish allergy.

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Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognitive Research Corporation ("CRC") a leading, full-service, therapeutically-focused Contract Research Organization (CRO) specializing in the Central Nervous System (CNS) sector, is pleased to announce that Jeff Williams has been appointed as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors following the recent close of a growth equity investment from healthcare-focused private equity firm, RC Capital. Mr. Williams brings more than 30 years of life science experience to CRC, including significant leadership experience in the CRO industry.

Jeff brings 30 years of life science experience to CRC, including significant leadership experience in the CRO industry. Tweet this Jeff Williams, Executive Chairman, Cognitive Research Corporation

Jeff has a proven ability to help scale organizations as CRC continues to expand to meet the needs of its clients and the CNS market.

"I have known Jeff for more than a decade and we are very excited to have him join the CRC team," says C.G. "Chip" Gillooly, CEO of CRC. "With his experience in founding, building and leading Clinipace Worldwide for more than 13 years, and his more most recent experience in scaling a behavior healthcare platform as CEO of MindPath Care Centers, he truly understands not only the CRO business, but also our focused mission to aid and support the development of new therapies to help create better options for patients in need of better mental health and other CNS-related treatments."

"I could not be more impressed with the founders and leaders of CRC and with what they have built over the last 17 years," says Williams. "It is my pleasure to join the team to help CRC deliver on the mission to be the most trusted, customer-centric clinical drug development company serving CNS and related markets."

"We look forward to another successful partnership with Jeff, focused on scaling the next innovative healthcare services company in a market with significant demand where better patient outcomes are at the center of the CRC mission," says Patrick Dunnigan, Partner at RC Capital.

Prior to joining CRC, Mr. Williams served as CEO of MindPath Care Centers, an outpatient behavior health platform that served patients with locations throughout the southeast United States before it was acquired in 2021. Prior to that, Mr. Williams was CEO of Clinipace Worldwide, a CRO he co-founded in 2004, which was recently acquired by D-Med. Before Clinipace, Mr. Williams spent five years in the healthcare IT space as a co-founder of HealthMatics prior to which he spent 12 years at Novartis and GSK on the commercial side.

About Cognitive Research Corporation

Cognitive Research Corporation's mission is to support innovative companies developing new medicines and therapies to improve mental health and neurological disorders. As a leading neuroscience clinical research organization (CRO) and cognitive assessment technology company, CRC works with sponsors, specialized clinical trial sites, and CNS experts to bring new drugs through rigorous testing to support FDA submissions and eventual market introduction. For more information, visit www.cogres.com.

About RC Capital

RCC is a growth equity firm building high-potential healthcare companies by leveraging the unique interplay of our segments of focus: medical device, healthcare services and healthcare IT. We are dedicated to investing on the right side of healthcare, growing companies that enable clinicians to improve the delivery of care and the experiences and outcomes for patients. We seek to be a business partner first and a capital provider second, investing significant human capital to leverage our domain expertise, a network of healthcare thought leaders and deep relationships with health systems assembled over our 28-year history. With more than $900 million of capital raised and a consistent track record, the firm has established itself as a preferred source of growth capital. For more information, please visit www.rccapital.com.

Contact:  RC Capital

Britney Hamberg

[email protected]

SOURCE Cognitive Research Corporation
BOSTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As major companies evolve their climate-related corporate and policy engagement practices to meet investor demands, the nation's largest publicly traded companies are increasingly lobbying for policies to help the U.S. achieve its Paris Agreement commitments. However, few are publicly reckoning with the role of their trade associations in obstructing climate action, according to a new report released by the sustainability nonprofit Ceres.

The report, "Responsible Policy Engagement Analysis 2022: How Companies Are  and Aren't  Leading on Climate Policy," examines the climate-related risk management, governance and lobbying practices of more than 100 S&P 100 companies. (The report analyzed 104 companies that comprised the S&P 100 during 2021 and 2022.) It found significant progress compared to last year in the number of large, publicly traded companies advocating for climate action, as half of the benchmarked companies lobbied in support of at least one Paris-aligned climate policy during the last three years.

The new report examines the climate-related risk management, governance and lobbying practices of S&P 100 companies Tweet this

Intended to help companies find their voice as climate advocates and give investors actionable insight into best practices and performers, the Ceres Responsible Policy Engagement Analysis 2022 benchmarks S&P 100 companies against the expectations laid out in the Ceres Blueprint for Responsible Policy Engagement on Climate Change .

In addition to analyzing companies against these expectations, Ceres released an interactive database to assess and compare companies' performance on a series of critical metrics.

Despite the progress on climate-related lobbying, the analysis found significant gaps on the part of companies in this area. Most notably, companies are rarely holding their own large trade organizations accountable for their histories of obstructing ambitious climate policy. While the majority of S&P 100 companies are members of organizations like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable, only 8% have publicly assessed those organizations' climate policies. Even fewer have publicly acknowledged the organizations' history of obstruction (5%) or disclosed they have taken action to try to change their trade groups' positions (3%).

"Until this misalignment is addressed, corporate leadership on climate policy will continue to represent a significant weakness in the U.S. business community's growing efforts to lead the transition to a clean, resilient, and sustainable economy," the analysis reads.

Editor's Note: The results of the analysis and other relevant issues will be discussed at a Nov. 30 Ceres webinar, "Beyond Rhetoric: The Case for Responsible Policy Engagement." Registration is open here.

Media Contacts : Helen Booth-Tobin, Reginald Zimmerman,

Original Publication

SOURCE Ceres
Seniors Can Learn About their Medicare Options from Home

TOLEDO, Ohio, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Baby boomers who are aging into Medicare or want to explore their options can attend a virtual seminar from the comfort of their own homes. The Toledo Clinic and Wood County Hospital are offering a Virtual Medicare Shop & Compare Expo, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022.

The webinar is a great opportunity for seniors to learn more about their Medicare options. Registration is desired, but not required. To register visit IndependenceHealthSeniorCareAdvantage.com.

The webinar will include several sessions, including a physician panel entitled: "The Benefits of Value-Based Healthcare", Medicare 101 sessions by independent, licensed brokers, as well as insurance company presentations. The event is hosted by Independence Senior Care Advantage, a program offered by The Toledo Clinic and Wood County Hospital.

Don't worry if you miss the webinar. You can still watch the Medicare information program online at IndependenceHealthSeniorCareAdvantage.com.

About Independence Senior Care Advantage

Independence Senior Care Advantage program is not a new Medicare Advantage plan. Rather, it is a collaborative approach to care delivery that focuses on preventive care and providing care coordination resources. This program is open to senior patients of The Toledo Clinic and Wood Health Company physician group. More information about Independence Senior Care Advantage and Medicare informational resources are available at IndependenceSeniorCareAdvantage.com.

Contact:

Lisa Stafford

Stafford Communications

630-212-1226

[email protected]

SOURCE Independence Health Senior Care Advantage
DENVER, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Concord Summit Capital (CSC), one of the nation's leading intermediaries between sponsors and providers of capital for commercial real estate debt and equity financing, announces it has expanded its real estate investment and advisory businesses in Denver, CO with the addition of Daniel Eidson.

"We are thrilled to have Daniel join our team," said Peter Goergen, Managing Director of CSC's Denver office. "Daniel comes to us after an impressive track record at New York Mortgage Trust, where we had the good fortune of working together on multiple transactions. He not only has a wealth of contacts in the industry, but his acumen to structure and execute complex deals will serve our advisory clients and investment platform. Daniel will also work with Summit Investment Management to acquire distressed assets and non-performing loans from financial institutions across the country."

Mr. Eidson brings extensive experience structuring complex transactions in both debt and equity capacities as a principal investor. Throughout his career, he has invested in over $4 billion of transactions across the capital structure. Most recently, he was a Director at New York Mortgage Trust where he built and scaled a ground-up construction multifamily investment platform. Prior to New York Mortgage Trust, Mr. Eidson was originating large non-recourse construction loans within the Real Estate Specialties Group at Bank OZK. Prior to Bank OZK, Mr. Eidson acquired distressed assets and non-performing loans within Republic Financial Corporation's Special Situation Group. He began his career in Wells Fargo Securities' energy equity research division.

"Our Denver office has had a terrific year financing projects in uncertain times, and we're excited to continue growing CSC with Daniel's expertise on board," said Goergen.

"The entire CSC team has a reputation as extremely strong value creators who consistently execute thoughtful capital structures. I am looking forward to combining my experience with my colleagues to provide best-in-class debt and equity solutions for our clients." said Eidson.

Learn more at www.concordsummit.com and contact the Concord Summit Denver team at:

Daniel Eidson: 720-628-6847 | [email protected]

Peter Goergen: 434-270-5249 | [email protected]

Tyler Beauregard: 303-810-8559 | [email protected]

Dan Bresnahan: 312-933-0959 | [email protected]

Mason Bender: 605-595-8911 | [email protected]

SOURCE Concord Summit Capital
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The condiments market in APAC is projected to grow by USD 4.01 billion during 2021-2026, at a CAGR of 6.59% during the forecast period. The increasing need for convenience in cooking and the emergence of private-label brands is anticipated to boost the growth of the Condiments Market in APAC. Request Free Sample Report.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Condiments Market in APAC 2022-2026

The market's vendors have been evaluated based on their product offerings. The revenue derived from the market contributes to most of the market participants as these vendors are industry-focused and diversified from the perspective of their offerings. This shows that the market is one of many that vendors cater to as part of their overall offerings.

The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including Ajinomoto Co. Inc., Capilano Honey Ltd., Cremica Food Industries Ltd., Dabur India Ltd., Del Monte Pacific Ltd., DNV Food Pvt. Ltd., EAGLE INTERNATIONAL, Halcyon Proteins Pty. Ltd., Hormel Foods Corp., Nestle SA, NutriAsia Inc., Patanjali Ayurved Ltd., The Kraft Heinz Co., Unilever PLC, Veeba Food Services Pvt. Ltd., Viet Huong Hong Kong, and Yeo Hiap Seng Ltd.

Major Five Condiments Vendors in APAC Companies:

Dabur India Ltd.: The company offers condiments namely Dabur Honey.

The company offers condiments namely Dabur Honey. Del Monte Pacific Ltd.: The company offers a wide range of condiments such as ketchup, pasta sauces, and pickles.

The company offers a wide range of condiments such as ketchup, pasta sauces, and pickles. Hormel Foods Corp.: The company offers a wide range of condiments under its brand House of Tsang.

The company offers a wide range of condiments under its brand House of Tsang. McCormick and Co. Inc.: The company offers a wide range of condiments under its brands Cholula Hot Sauce, and Cattlemen BBQ sauce.

The company offers a wide range of condiments under its brands Cholula Hot Sauce, and Cattlemen BBQ sauce. Nestle SA: The company offers a wide range of condiments such as Maggi-rich tomato sauce, hot and sweet tomato chili sauce, pichkoo rich tomato ketchup.

Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Download Free Sample Report.

Condiments Market In APAC Application Outlook (Revenue, USD billion, 2021-2026)

Meat and seafood - size and forecast 2021-2026

CRM - size and forecast 2021-2026

Snacks - size and forecast 2021-2026

Others - size and forecast 2021-2026

Condiments Market In APAC Geography Outlook (Revenue, USD billion, 2021-2026)

China - size and forecast 2021-2026

- size and forecast 2021-2026 Australia - size and forecast 2021-2026

- size and forecast 2021-2026 India - size and forecast 2021-2026

- size and forecast 2021-2026 Rest of APAC - size and forecast 2021-2026

Revenue-generating Application Segments in the Condiments Market in APAC

The meat and seafood industry will significantly increase its market share in APAC for condiments during the anticipated period. Experts claim that convenience foods, international cuisines, and cooking methods are all improving the quality of meat, fish, and gourmet meals. Due to their busy lives and lack of cooking skills, manufacturers and retailers are developing products ready for their customers to simply cook. Hence, the market is expected to grow during the forecast period.

To know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years, Buy Sample Report.

Parent Market Analysis

Technavio categorizes the condiments market in APAC as a part of the global packaged foods and meats market within the global consumer staples industry. The global packaged foods and meats products market covers manufacturers or food processing vendors involved in food processing to eliminate microorganisms and extend shelf life.

Technavio calculates the global packaged foods and meat market size based on the combined revenue generated by the vendors operating in the market. The market does not include manufacturers of food processing equipment. To know more about the levels of growth of the online fashion retail market in the US throughout the forecast period, Get a free sample Report.

Condiments Market in APAC Value Chain Analysis

The end-to-end understanding of the value chain is essential in profit margin optimization and evaluation of business strategies. The data available in our value chain analysis segment can help vendors drive costs and enhance customer services during the forecast period.

The value chain of the Condiments Market in APAC includes the following core components:

Inputs



Inbound logistics



Marketing and sales



Service



Support activities



Innovation

Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights! Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000.

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Condiments Market In APAC Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.59% Market growth 2022-2026 $4.01 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 6.25 Regional analysis APAC Key consumer countries China, Australia, India, and Rest of APAC Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Ajinomoto Co. Inc., Capilano Honey Ltd., Cremica Food Industries Ltd., Dabur India Ltd., Del Monte Pacific Ltd., DNV Food Pvt. Ltd., EAGLE INTERNATIONAL, Halcyon Proteins Pty. Ltd., Hormel Foods Corp., Kerry Group Plc, Kollur Food Products, McCormick and Co. Inc., Nestle SA, NutriAsia Inc., Patanjali Ayurved Ltd., The Kraft Heinz Co., Unilever PLC, Veeba Food Services Pvt. Ltd., Viet Huong Hong Kong, and Yeo Hiap Seng Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market Overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Country Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Application



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Regional - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Chart on APAC: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Regional - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Application

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Application - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Application - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Application

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Application



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Application

5.3 Meat and seafood - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Meat and seafood - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Meat and seafood - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Meat and seafood - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Meat and seafood - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 CRM - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on CRM - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on CRM - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on CRM - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on CRM - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Snacks - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 36: Chart on Snacks - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Snacks - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 38: Chart on Snacks - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Snacks - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.6 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 40: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 42: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.7 Market opportunity by Application

Exhibit 44: Market opportunity by Application ($ million)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 45: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 46: Chart on Market share by geography - 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 47: Data Table on Market share by geography - 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 48: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 49: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 51: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 52: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 53: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 Australia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on Australia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on Australia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 56: Chart on Australia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 57: Data Table on Australia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 60: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 61: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 Rest of APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 62: Chart on Rest of APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 63: Data Table on Rest of APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 64: Chart on Rest of APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on Rest of APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 66: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 67: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 68: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 69: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 70: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 71: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 72: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 Dabur India Ltd.

Exhibit 73: Dabur India Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 74: Dabur India Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 75: Dabur India Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 76: Dabur India Ltd. - Segment focus

10.4 Del Monte Pacific Ltd.

Exhibit 77: Del Monte Pacific Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 78: Del Monte Pacific Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 79: Del Monte Pacific Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 80: Del Monte Pacific Ltd. - Segment focus

10.5 Hormel Foods Corp.

Exhibit 81: Hormel Foods Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 82: Hormel Foods Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 83: Hormel Foods Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 84: Hormel Foods Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 85: Hormel Foods Corp. - Segment focus

10.6 McCormick and Co. Inc.

Exhibit 86: McCormick and Co. Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 87: McCormick and Co. Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 88: McCormick and Co. Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 89: McCormick and Co. Inc. - Segment focus

10.7 Nestle SA

Exhibit 90: Nestle SA - Overview



Exhibit 91: Nestle SA - Business segments



Exhibit 92: Nestle SA - Key news



Exhibit 93: Nestle SA - Key offerings



Exhibit 94: Nestle SA - Segment focus

10.8 NutriAsia Inc.

Exhibit 95: NutriAsia Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 96: NutriAsia Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 97: NutriAsia Inc. - Key offerings

10.9 Patanjali Ayurved Ltd.

Exhibit 98: Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 99: Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 100: Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. - Key offerings

10.10 The Kraft Heinz Co.

Exhibit 101: The Kraft Heinz Co. - Overview



Exhibit 102: The Kraft Heinz Co. - Business segments



Exhibit 103: The Kraft Heinz Co. - Key offerings



Exhibit 104: The Kraft Heinz Co. - Segment focus

10.11 Unilever PLC

Exhibit 105: Unilever PLC - Overview



Exhibit 106: Unilever PLC - Business segments



Exhibit 107: Unilever PLC - Key news



Exhibit 108: Unilever PLC - Key offerings



Exhibit 109: Unilever PLC - Segment focus

10.12 Yeo Hiap Seng Ltd.

Exhibit 110: Yeo Hiap Seng Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 111: Yeo Hiap Seng Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 112: Yeo Hiap Seng Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 113: Yeo Hiap Seng Ltd. - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 114: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 115: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 116: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 117: Research methodology



Exhibit 118: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 119: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 120: List of abbreviations

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Infection with the pandemic virus, SARS-CoV-2, can reduce the number of bacterial species in a patient's gut, with the lesser diversity creating space for dangerous microbes to thrive, a new study finds.

The study builds on the realization that widespread use of antibiotics to fight infections with disease-causing bacteria in recent decades, by killing off species most vulnerable to available drugs, has left in place more species that are resistant to antibiotics. In addition, disruptions in gut bacterial ratios have previously been linked to more severe COVID-19.

However, researchers say, it has remained unclear until now which came first, the coronavirus infection disrupting the gut microbiome or an already weakened gut making the body more vulnerable to the virus. The new study appears to favor the former explanation. The new investigation also revealed that antibiotic-resistant species can escape into the bloodstream, putting patients at greater risk for life-threatening secondary infections.

Led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the investigation involved 96 men and women hospitalized with COVID-19 in 2020 in New York City and in New Haven, Conn. Results showed that the majority of patients had low gut microbiome diversity, with a full quarter dominated by a single type of bacteria. At the same time, populations of several microbes known to include antibiotic-resistant species increased, possible due to widespread antibiotic use early in the pandemic.

These antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in the gut were also observed to have migrated into the bloodstream in 20% of patients. The study authors note that further research is needed to uncover why this group was at higher risk for a secondary infection while others remained protected.

"Our findings suggest that coronavirus infection directly interferes with the healthy balance of microbes in the gut, further endangering patients in the process," says study co-senior author and microbiologist Ken Cadwell, PhD. "Now that we have uncovered the source of this bacterial imbalance, physicians can better identify those coronavirus patients most at risk of a secondary bloodstream infection," adds Cadwell.

The new study is the first to show that the coronavirus infection alone, and not the initial use of antibiotics to treat the disease as others experts had thought, damages the gut microbiome, says Cadwell, also a professor in the Departments of Microbiology and Medicine at NYU Langone Health. He adds the study is also provides the first evidence that the very same bacteria in the gut are also entering the blood stream of patients, causing dangerous infections.

The report is publishing online Nov. 1 in the journal Nature Communications.

For the investigation, researchers first infected dozens of mice with the coronavirus and analyzed the makeup of bacterial species in their stool samples. This step allowed them to untangle whether the coronavirus could directly disrupt the microbiome independently of hospitalization and treatment.

Next, they collected stool samples and blood tests from COVID-19 patients at NYU Langone Health and Yale University hospitals to assess gut microbe composition and presence of secondary infection. If any bacteria group made up a majority of the bacteria living in the gut, they were considered dominant.

"Our results highlight how the gut microbiome and different parts of the body's immune system are closely interconnected," says study senior author Jonas Schluter, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology at NYU Langone and a member of its Institute for Systems Genetics. "An infection in one can lead to major disruptions in the other." Schluter cautions that since the patients received different kinds of treatments for their illness, the investigation could not entirely account for all factors that may have contributed to the disruption of their microbiome and worsen their disease.

According to Schluter, the study team next plans to examine why certain microbial species are more likely to escape the gut during COVID-19. The researchers say they also intend to explore how different microbes interact, which may contribute to this migration into the bloodstream.

Funding for the study was provided by National Institutes of Health grants DP2 AI164318, R01 AI143639, R21 AI139374, R01 DK093668, R01 AI121244, R01 HL123340, R01 AI130945, R01 AI140754, and R01 DK124336. Further funding support was provided by the Yale School of Public Health, the Beatrice Kleinberg Neuwirth Fund, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, the Judith and Stewart Colton Center of Autoimmunity, the Jan Vilcek/David Goldfarb Fellowship Endowment Funds, The G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation, the Yale COVID-19 Research Resource Fund, and the Bristol Meyers Squibb Foundation.

Cadwell has served as a consultant for Vedanta and for the pharmaceutical companies Abbvie, GentiBio, and Synedgen. Schluter is cofounder of Postbiotics Plus Research, which develops microbiome therapies. The terms and conditions are being managed in accordance with the policies of NYU Langone.

In addition to Cadwell and Schluter, other NYU study investigators included Mericien Venzon, BS; Lucie Bernard, PhD; Jordan Axelrad, MD, PhD; Grant Hussey, MD, PhD; Alexis Sullivan, PhD; Chenzhen Lily Zhang, PhD; Maria Noval, PhD; Ana Valero-Jimenez, PhD; Juan Gago, MD, MPH; Evan Wilder, MD; Lorna Thorpe, PhD, MPH; Dan Littman, MD, PhD; Meike Dittmann, PhD; Kenneth Stapleford, PhD; Bo Shopsin, MD, PhD; and Victor Torres, PhD. Other study investigators included Joh Klein, BS; Arnau Casanovas-Massana, PhD; Albert Ko, MD; and Akiko Iwasaki, PhD; at Yale University in New Haven, Conn.

Media Inquiries:

Shira Polan

Phone: 212-404-4279

[email protected]

SOURCE NYU Langone Health
New offering goes above and beyond industry requirements to help maximize the value of SIEM investments

PLANO, Texas, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Critical Start , a leading provider of Managed Detection and Response (MDR) cybersecurity solutions, today announced the launch of its new managed service for Security Information & Event Management (SIEM). Available to new and existing customers, the new service is an add-on to Critical Start's existing MDR for SIEM offering and supports Microsoft Sentinel and Splunk Cloud. It simplifies the architecture and deployment of SIEM solutions to help organizations derive the maximum value from their SIEM investments for risk management, compliance and threat detection use cases, and holistically improve their security posture.

According to Gartner, "Managed SIEM has a compelling adoption rate as SIEM technologies are becoming more accessible and more mid-security-maturity buyers are entering the market having accelerated their security needs and maturity by adopting cloud-based IT."1

"SIEM solutions provide important security benefits but are often complex in nature and challenging to deploy, tune, manage and maintain. As a result, security leaders may be prevented from deploying or enhancing SIEM technologies, greatly limiting the improvement of their cybersecurity maturity," said Chris Carlson, SVP Product at Critical Start. "Our new managed service works cohesively with customers' SIEM products to handle the heavy lifting associated with implementation and customization, including recommendations for log source tuning to lower SIEM ingestion costs while maintaining robust threat detection visibility."

In addition to delivering all the requirements and optional features outlined in the 2022 Gartner Market Guide for Managed SIEM Services, Critical Start Managed SIEM experts help identify and continuously analyze log sources to ensure they are of high fidelity and provide the following value-added services:

Configuration and Customization  includes custom development for customer-specific dashboards, reports, and log sources to support security, risk, compliance and audit use cases.

Quarterly Service Reviews  provides visibility into how the SIEM is performing to help customers control costs and increase security outcomes.

Ingest Cost Analysis for Microsoft Sentinel - analyzes billing vs. ingest for specific Microsoft data sources recommending the appropriate commitment tiers over the length of the contract to maximize log ingest cost savings. This service is unique to Critical Start.

Data Source Health Monitoring  offers log source performance, availability and capacity monitoring to identify potential issues with log ingestion.

Risk Reduction Reviews  analyzes adding log sources and detection content to deliver the most coverage under the industry-standard NIST CSF and MITRE ATT&CK  Matrix Frameworks.

Matrix Frameworks. Ease of Upgrade  Managed SIEM is a service add-on to Critical Start's industry-leading MDR for SIEM offering. Customers can add Managed SIEM when they purchase the MDR service or anytime during the MDR contract term.

For additional details on this new service offering, visit Critical Start's Managed SIEM page.

1Gartner, Market Guide for Managed SIEM Services, Al Price, John Collins, Andrew Davies, Mitchell Schneider, Angel Berrios, August 17, 2022. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Critical Start

Today's enterprise faces radical, ever-growing, and ever-sophisticated multi-vector cyber-attacks. Facing this situation is hard, but it doesn't have to be. Critical Start simplifies breach prevention by delivering the most effective managed detection and incident response services powered by the Zero Trust Analytics Platform (ZTAP) with the industry's only Trusted Behavior Registry (TBR) and MOBILESOC. With 24x7x365 expert security analysts, and Cyber Research Unit (CRU), we monitor, investigate and remediate alerts swiftly and effectively, via contractual Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for Time to Detection (TTD) and Median Time to Resolution (MTTR), and 100% transparency into our service. For more information, visit criticalstart.com. Follow Critical Start on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.

SOURCE CRITICALSTART
VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - CycurID Technologies Ltd., ("CycurID" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that, in keeping with its strategic mandate, it's on target to Boil the Ocean as it revolutionizes the digital privacy and authentication landscape.

CycurID is on track to Boil the Ocean. (CNW Group/CycurID Technologies Ltd.)

CycurID has developed a proprietary digital authentication and privacy platform that gives users the power to own and control their identity. The identity software has broad and wide-ranging applications in almost all digital commerce sectors, including banking, WEB3, cryptocurrency/metaverse, and authentication/validation of both individuals and digital payments.

Gord Jessop, CycurID Co-founder and COO said, "Obviously we are being somewhat facetious about boiling the ocean but the fact of the matter is, we have built a phenomenal solution that is robust, scalable and is flexible enough to fit into most companies' existing tech stacks quite easily."

The CycurID solution addresses the extensive shortcomings with digital identity that currently exist in the marketplace, including challenges with onboarding, and ongoing threats of ID theft and privacy breaches. CycurID's software incorporates adaptive artificial intelligence, biometric verification and zero-knowledge protocols to securely create a unique, personal, cross-platform digital identity for each user that is under the user's control. No third-party software or human intervention is used in the validation and verification process, reducing the opportunity for personal information to be mishandled or accessed by unauthorized persons.

"The problems with ID theft and money laundering can be traced back to the fact that there is just too much personal information being shared and stored," Jessop said "We have to rethink how much personal information is really required in order to transact online."

CycurID, with its free to download consumer app, imme (pronounced 'I'm me'), seeks to redefine how identity is used to affect the flow of goods and services on a global basis. By allowing users to keep their identity private and their information securely stored on their own device, imme puts the power of personal privacy back in the hands of its users.

"Our company is proactively addressing and resolving the keystone issues facing our digital society and not merely serving an agglomeration of existing processes, which many current suppliers in this market are doing. We offer identity verification and monitoring solutions that extend well beyond just being KYC/AML tools. Our technology is a cost-effective, secure step in the overall authentication and onboarding process, replacing the need for usernames, passwords and 2FA," Jessop said.

For more information about CycurID's complete suite of cost-effective identity solutions, visit the corporate website https://cycurid.com or contact CycurID here .

No Offer or Solicitation.

This press release shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed business combination. This press release shall also not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any provinces, states or jurisdictions in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

About

CycurID Technologies Ltd is a privately held personal identity management and security software developer based in Vancouver, British Columbia. CycurID has developed proprietary patent pending identity management and privacy software which is available via its consumer app imme (I'm me). CycurID is registered with the Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau, WorkSafe BC and with Fintrac as Money Service Business (MSB). CycurID and imme are Registered Trademarks of CycurID Technologies Ltd.

Unless explicitly stated, the Company does not purport to retain title or interests to any imagery. All imagery has been used under license by the Company which allows the Company to to use, reproduce, archive, modify, and display the Work, in all media, for (1) advertising, marketing, promotional and decoration purposes; and (2) personal and non-commercial uses.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements including without limitation, expected growth and success of the Company. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates, and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates, opinions or other factors should change.

SOURCE CycurID Technologies Ltd.
$10,000 scholarship sponsored by Curriculum Associates will support Torres's continuing education as she pursues her doctoral degree in educational leadership at the University of Connecticut

NORTH BILLERICA, Mass., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) recently named Daisy Torres as the recipient of the 2022 ALAS Scholarship sponsored by Curriculum Associates. Torres, who works as the director of services for multilingual learners, dual and world languages at Hartford Public Schools in Connecticut, will receive $10,000 toward her doctoral degree in educational leadership.

"I am beyond honored and humbled to receive the 2022 ALAS Scholarship sponsored by Curriculum Associates," said Torres. "The blessing of this scholarship will allow me to complete my doctoral degree in educational leadership at the University of Connecticut. My dissertation focus is centered around understanding the barriers, challenges, and implications for the lack of female Latina/x superintendents in our state, and I seek to provide solutions to increasing this critical leadership pipeline. In collaboration with ALAS and through my work as the president of the Connecticut Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (CALAS), I am thrilled to be able to add this important and much-needed research to the education field."

Torres is an award-winning bilingual educator with more than 20 years of urban school experience at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. In her current role, Torres oversees programming and services for students in one of Connecticut's largest school districts. Notably, under her leadership more than 400 students in Hartford Public Schools have been awarded the Seal of Biliteracy.

Torres is also leading efforts in the recruitment and retention of 14 teachers from Puerto Rico as part of an innovative Paso a Paso program to diversify talent in the district.

Prior to joining Hartford Public Schools, Torres was the director of bilingual, ESOL, world language, and parent engagement for New London Public Schools in Connecticut, where she created New London's first-ever Parent University, launched Latinos in Actiona college- and career-readiness program for middle school studentsand lead program development and design for the district's magnet Dual Language and International Studies K12 pathway.

Among her many other accomplishments, Torres published her first bilingual children's book I'll See You on the Bridge in 2019. She also received the Outstanding Educator Leadership Award from the CALAS in 2018.

Torres earned her Master of Arts in TESOL/Multicultural and Bilingual Education, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, and a sixth-year professional diploma in educational leadership from Southern Connecticut State University.

"Daisy Torres is so deserving of this scholarship and recognition," said Marie Izquierdo, senior vice president of education at Curriculum Associates. "From her decades of service in public education to the important work she is pursuing in her doctoral studies, she is a true leader and champion of equity. We, alongside our partners at the ALAS, are proud to support her in her continuing endeavors."

Torres was presented the ALAS Scholarship Award during the ALAS National Annual Education Summit earlier this month. This is the eighth consecutive year Curriculum Associates has partnered with the ALAS on the scholarship.

"We are incredibly grateful to have Curriculum Associates as a long-standing partner of the ALAS," said Dr. Gustavo Baldares, ALAS president and superintendent of the Beaverton School District in Oregon. "As our students need leaders who are reflective of themselves, this generous scholarship to help aspiring superintendents complete their university coursework is invaluable to our membership."

To learn more about the ALAS Scholarship Awards, visit ALASEdu.org/Scholarship.

About the ALAS

The ALAS is committed to providing a perspective to all aspiring school and district administrators, including superintendents, through programs, services, advocacy, and networks rooted in Latino experiences and culture. The ALAS has nearly 8,000 members across 18 state affiliates, with several more states soon to be a part of the ALAS familia. Our vision, mission, and goal is to provide leadership at the national level that ensures every school in America effectively serves the educational needs of all students with an emphasis on Latino and other historically marginalized youth through continuous professional learning, policy advocacy, and networking to share practices of promise for our students and the communities where we serve.

By the year 2026, Latino children will make up 30 percent of the school-age population. In the nation's largest statesCalifornia, Texas, Florida, and New York, all of whom are ALAS State AffiliatesLatinos already have reached that level. It is of vital interest to invest in the education of every student and the professional learning of all educators who serve Latino youth.

About Curriculum Associates

Founded in 1969, Curriculum Associates, LLC designs research-based print and online instructional materials, screens and assessments, and data management tools. The company's products and outstanding customer service provide teachers and administrators with the resources necessary for teaching diverse student populations and fostering learning for all students.

Contact: Kati Elliott Charlotte Fixler

KEH Communications Curriculum Associates

(410) 975-9638 (978) 901-6066

[email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Curriculum Associates, LLC
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Day & Zimmermann (D&Z), the 120-year-old, family owned provider of construction and engineering, staffing, and defense solutions for leading corporations and governments around the world, announced today that its Maintenance and Construction division has been awarded an $18 million contract for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX) Facilities Enhancement Project in Tennessee. D&Z will serve as general contractor for the project, which will include facility upgrades, modernization, and modifications on two buildings that will house the MPEX device  a tool for fusion reactor materials development  and its support system/utilities.

"Our combined technical knowledge, construction capabilities, and strong relationships and experience with the Knoxville Building Trades make D&Z a perfect partner for this project," said Jason Dunaway, president of Day & Zimmermann's union operations. "We're excited to lend our expertise to these essential MPEX facility upgrades and for the opportunity to support both UT-Battelle and ORNL as they explore how plasma interacts long-term with the components of future fusion reactors."

This contract marks the Maintenance and Construction division's first award in the government sector; however, D&Z's other divisions, such as American Ordnance, SOC, and Mason & Hanger have extensive resumes supporting upgrades and modernization efforts for government entities, contractors, and facilities.

"As a company that has been innovating for more than 120 years, we've seen many changes in our country and the industries we serve  but none more important than the focus on helping our planet and our customers with emerging technologies. D&Z is doing our part for the future to support the development of reliable, carbon-free energy by engaging with companies in a variety of industries. From supporting the construction of new nuclear reactors and renewable energy sources like solar to the clean energy efforts taking place at national laboratories across the country, we're excited for this new era and the innovative solutions it brings," said John McCormick, president of D&Z's Maintenance and Construction division.

ORNL is the DOE's largest science and energy laboratory supporting the department's national mission of scientific discovery, clean energy, and security.

ABOUT DAY & ZIMMERMANN

When you've been around for more than a century, you learn a thing or two. At Day & Zimmermann, we take our lifetime of experience and make things better. Our 51,000+ employees help bring big ideas to life every day. We're pushing the boundaries of innovation in construction & engineering, operations & maintenance, staffing, and security & defense. And that's not all. Did we mention that we have 150+ worldwide locations with $2.7 billion USD in annual revenue? We put people to work, we protect American freedoms, and we help our customers power and improve the world. We do what we say. http://www.dayzim.com

SOURCE Day & Zimmermann
Denali deepens its executive bench with industry pro Phil Castillo

REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Denali today announced the hiring of Phil Castillo as its new Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales, effective immediately.

Castillo will lead the company's growing sales team as it deepens relationships with existing customers and gains new ones. He comes to Denali with decades of experience working in large organizations such as Hewlett-Packard and Oracle as a top sales leader.

Denali's new CEO Robert Vrij picked Castillo as his next executive hire in his new role. Vrij was named CEO on Oct. 20, 2022.

"Phil will bring consistency in our sales strategy globally, which will be key as we stretch into new markets and grow our account base," Vrij said. "He's a heavy-hitter in the global sales arena, but also someone who mirrors Denali's values of maintaining a family culture and taking care of customers first."

Phil comes to Denali with decades of experience working to build strategic value for customers through software, services, and automation technologies like machine learning.

Castillo's most recent role was as Oracle's Group Vice President, High Technology and Media, with global responsibility driving customer transformation and success. Phil Castillo LinkedIn. He also serves as an advisory board member to Lucent Labs.

Castillo has successfully led sales teams for more than 20 years, building valuable experience across technology, services, and market segments. "I have always respected Denali and am excited about the future," Phil said. "This is a great opportunity to build on an incredible business and drive global consistency leveraging best practices across the organization."

In previous roles, Castillo was HPE's Vice President Sales and GM for the U.S. Western region, responsible for over $2 billion of services, hybrid cloud and hardware solutions sales. His experience includes Vice President U.S. Sales for HPE's Networking business, where he played a critical role in driving 18 consecutive quarters of growth. Prior to HPE he had a successful 9-year career at Cisco Systems building and leading sales teams with success across multiple technologies and markets. He also has significant start-up experience in the networking and blockchain spaces.

Castillo attended California State University at Long Beach where he majored in economics, received two NCAA All American awards, and was a member of the U.S. National Water Polo Team.

About Denali Advanced Integration

Since 1992, Denali has been among the most trusted and prominent IT solution providers in North America. Denali is a customer-focused, family-owned IT company with a global workforce that is passionate about exceeding expectations in every customer engagement. Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, Denali has a global footprint with operations and capabilities across 130 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. www.denaliai.com

 2022 Denali Advanced Integration.

Contact:

Denali Media Alerts

Denali Advanced Integration

[email protected]

SOURCE Denali Advanced Integration
Investors want to be able to invest their IRAs and other retirement accounts beyond Wall Street and into publicly traded assets. With an account at Directed IRA, you can invest in real estate, private companies and funds, notes, cryptocurrency, start-ups, and pre-IPO stock. These are all assets your IRA can own but you must have an IRA account provider who allows these assets in their accounts.

Directed IRA's mission is to make it easy to invest in alternative assets with an IRA.

Directed IRA has a professional and experienced team and has processed billions in customer transactions.

Directed IRA is the highest rated for processing times and customer service in the self-directed IRA industry (based on comparison of verified Google reviews).

"We have established over 10,000 accounts in three years and continue to see more and more investors opting to invest their IRA and 401(k) funds into alternative assets, rather than being entirely invested and dependent on the stock market. Assets like real estate, private companies, private funds, crypto, LLCs, and pre-IPO stock, all continue to grow as popular assets for retirement account investors," said Mat Sorensen, Attorney & CEO at Directed IRA by Directed Trust Company.

Why Use Directed IRA for Investing in Alternative Assets?

Directed IRA by Directed Trust Company is a licensed trust company in Arizona assisting IRA customers nationwide. Directed IRA is audited annually by third party CPA firms and is examined by the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (AZDIFI).

Directed IRA's mission is to make investing in alternatives assets with an IRA easy. Its founder and CEO, Mat Sorensen, is an attorney and industry expert. Mat is the bestselling author of the #1 book on self-directed IRAs, The Self-Directed IRA Handbook, which has sold over 40,000 copies and details how to invest in alternative assets with an IRA.

Learn more about investing in alternative assets with an IRA at Directed IRA at: www.directedira.com

Media Contact: Joanna Garzilli, 602-654-3281, [email protected]

SOURCE Directed IRA & Directed Trust Company
CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Edge AI Software Market size is projected to grow from USD 0.8 billion in 2022 to USD 3.1 billion by 2027, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.9% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The Edge AI Software Market is expected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period, owing to various business drivers. Some factors driving the growth of the Edge AI Software Market are ever-increasing enterprise workloads on the cloud, rapid growth in the number of intelligent applications, and exponentially growing data volume and network traffic.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Edge AI Software Market"

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Video & image recognition segment to register largest market size during the forecast period

Edge AI software is segmented based on data source into video and image recognition, speech recognition, iris & facial data, sensor data, and mobile data. It offers real-time processing of data generated from different sources such as CCTV cameras, biometric devices, sensors, and mobile devices. Edge computing provides opportunities to move AI workloads from the cloud to the edge for video recognition & analytics, offering improved response times and bandwidth savings, among other advantages. Edge AI and video analytics explained Edge AI is the concept of moving analytics and AI abilities to the edge data processing location that is as close to a machine as possible and does not have to use the cloud. Video recognition & analytics, on the other hand, is the concept of processing data from video footage.

Services segment to witness higher CAGR during the forecast period

Services form an integral part of the software lifecycle, including deployment, integration, product upgrade, maintenance, training, and consulting. Professional services are obtained directly from parent companies. Edge AI combines multiple technologies to automate complex end-to-end business processes that involve decision-making and continuous learning. Services form an integral part of the software lifecycle, including deployment, integration, product upgrade, maintenance, training, and consulting.

Large Enterprises to register for the highest market size during the forecast period

Based on organization size, the Edge AI Software Market has been segmented into SMEs and large enterprises. SMEs are enterprises with an employee strength of 11,000, while large enterprises have an employee strength of more than 1,000. Large enterprises have a large corporate network and many revenue streams. They are keen to invest in new and the latest technologies to effectively run their business. The Edge AI Software Market has a stronghold in large enterprises, as the partner network of large enterprises is more complex than SMEs. The existing system integration with advanced Edge AI solutions is a challenge faced by large enterprises.

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North America to account for the largest market size during the forecast period

Based on regions, the Edge AI Software Market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. North America is one of the largest adopters among all the regions of edge AI software. The top countries contributing to the growth of the Edge AI Software Market include the US and Canada. Organizations in this region, especially the US, have leveraged the benefits of AI, ML, and deep learning technologies to stay ahead in the market. The market is majorly driven by factors such as advancements in AI-powered Internet of Things (IoT) for intelligent systems and smart applications and the use of edge AI computing in 5G network, which enables better data control, reduced costs, quick insights, and continuous operation.

North America has been the most promising region across verticals such as manufacturing, automotive, energy and utilities, and telecom. The government and public sectors in this region have also joined the race to become a technologically advanced sector for catering to a broad customer base. North America is contributing significantly to the market and is expected to grow further. The US is the biggest adopter of edge AI software in this region. Furthermore, the presence of global vendors such as IBM, Google, Microsoft, and AWS plays a vital role in implementing edge AI solutions in the market.

Some major players in the Edge AI Software Market include Microsoft (US), IBM (US), Google (US), AWS (US), Nutanix (US), Synaptics (US), TIBCO (US), Octonion (Switzerland), Imagimob (Sweden), Anagog (Israel), Veea (US), Gorilla Technology (China), Foghorn Systems (Ireland), Azion (US), Bragi (Germany), Tact.ai (US), SixSq (Geneva), Clearblade (US), Alef Edge (US), Adapdix (US), byteLAKE (Poland), Reality AI (US), Deci (Israel), Edgeworx (US), Swim (US), Invision AI (Canada), Horizon Robotics (China), Kneron (US), and DeepBrainz (India).

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About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.

Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.

MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.

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SINGAPORE, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EdTech Asia held its 6th annual summit in Singapore on October 27-28, it was the first in-person event since 2019. More than 500 senior level business and impact stakeholders from 40 countries convened across 70 expert led sessions and roundtables to discuss the future of education and work. The summit also acknowledged leaders in the EdTech sector with the EdTech Asia Awards. Started in 2016, the awards have identified many of the key contributors to innovation, business and impact in the EdTech and education sectors throughout Asia from early years, K-12, higher education, professional development and lifelong learning. Several of the notable awards for 2022 included:

The Most Popular Language Learning App (K-12 Category) awarded to PalFish. Widely recognized for their leading artificial intelligence enhanced reading app, PalFish has established itself as the dominant player in the realm of picture book reading for children. Upon receiving the award Mr. Xiao Li, Head of Global Business of PalFish said, "We are honoured to receive this award. PalFish will remain committed to not only making global users' learning fun and enjoyable, but also help them to achieve ideal learning outcomes through personalised reading solutions, pronunciation correction and gamified learning driven by artificial intelligence."

The Best Interactive Learning Experience (K-12 Category) was awarded to Spark Education Group for their progressive design and engagement across their Allschool platform that serves teachers and students with premium live classes in both core and periphery subject areas. Mr. Xiaonan Wang, co-founder of Spark Education Group and Allschool, Head of Southeast Asia Region commented, "We are thrilled that Spark Education Group has been recognized for providing interactive learning experiences through our Allschool platform. Allschool's top priority is student interaction. We have developed a network of incredible students and teachers from across the globe that create genuine connection using our interactive learning tools"

Other notable awards included the 2022 Most Promising EdTech Startup (Southeast Asia) award given to Cerebry for their innovative approach to developing an AI enabled virtual tutor for math and KMH Foundation for Outstanding Donor Support that recognizes their efforts in improving education through long-term engagement with local providers of education development. Cerebry Co-founder and CEO Shubham Goyal noted, "We're happy to receive this award because it gives us encouragement to continue delivering virtual tutoring entirely powered by AI. We hope to spread more awareness about how archaic solutions reliant on static question banks are. Today, teachers are overworked and often find themselves focussing on tasks that can be better done by AI. We are very grateful for the recognition, it motivates us to do better and bring Cerebry to more folks around the world."

For more information about EdTech Asia, visit https://edtechasia.com For media inquiries, please contact us at [email protected]

About EdTech Asia

Founded in 2013, EdTech Asia is APAC's first and premier EdTech and Future of Work business and impact leadership network convening senior level professionals along the cradle to career continuum. Focusing on the future of education and work, EdTech Asia provides knowledge assets, insights, programs and events including the annual EdTech Asia Summit as well as country focused market entry delegations and executive boards. EdTech Asia aims to showcase key players, trends and unexpected dynamics, investments and impact opportunities while shaping realistic expectations and data driven decisions regarding education, workforce, and skills development.

SOURCE EdTech Group
Development of Revolutionary Next-Gen Electrotherapy Device Fully Complete

Company expects to start filling orders in Q1 2023

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsHub NewsWire -- Electromedical Technologies, Inc. ( OTCQB: EMED ) ("Electromedical" or the "Company"), a pioneer in the development and production of bioelectronic devices designed to relieve chronic, intractable, and acute pain through frequency and electro-modulation, is very excited to introduce its new next-generation flagship device, the WellnessPro Infinity.

See the WellnessPro Infinity https://electromedtech.com/wp-infinity/

"The WellnessPro Infinity will set an entirely new standard in the Bioelectronics marketplace" remarked Electromedical Founder and CEO, Matthew Wolfson. "There's nothing like it on the market in terms of capability, flexibility, ease of use, and doctor-patient interface. And most important of all - Patient results. "

The NEW WellnessPro Infinity device features:

One compact device that encompasses ALL electrotherapy modalities.

Can produce any frequency, any wave form (typical or atypical), any level of modulation

Designed to support: TENS, Microcurrent, IF, EMS, PEMF, CES, VNS, PNS, COLD Laser, POD Synchronization, IDNA, Deep Pluse, Cloud access and much more.

Unprecedented accuracy.

Easiest to use electrotherapy device on the market.

New Doctor-Patient Portal for updates and personalized treatments.

Wolfson added, " I want to thank our shareholders for the continued support, everyone at EMED and especially our incredible engineering team in Europe, for the hard work, innovation and long hours our team put in, to create a device we believe will help millions of people live happier healthier Pain Free lives and help battle the Opioid epidemic. Now that we have completed development of our NEW flagship model by October as planned, the next step is electrical laboratory safety testing. After that, it will be production ready. Once production is underway, we will begin taking pre orders. Our goal is to start shipping units next quarter. POD development is going as planned and we look forward to sharing progress in our upcoming press releases soon. Our goal is to go to market with the WellnessPro Infinity first, then shortly after releasing the POD upon FDA 510k clearance."

About Electromedical Technologies

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Electromedical Technologies, Inc. is a commercial stage, FDA cleared, bioelectronic medical device manufacturing company initially focused on the treatment of various chronic, acute, intractable, and post-operative pain conditions. Through University collaboration agreements, the Company is working to develop a comprehensive research program in defining the effects of electro-modulation on the human body. By studying the impacts of electrical fields in cell signaling and effects on virus assembly and immune responses, the Company's goal is to reduce pain and improve overall human wellbeing. The Company's current FDA cleared product indications are for chronic acute post traumatic and post-operative, intractable pain relief.

For more information, please visit www.electromedtech.com .

Note: Nonhuman preliminary studies that we are planning to start in the near future and their applications are not related to our current product in any way and are currently not cleared in the US.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions upon which they are based are reasonable, we can give no assurance or guarantee that such expectations and assumptions will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by the use of words like "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "intend," or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as these statements are subject to numerous factors and uncertainties, including but not limited to: adverse economic conditions, competition, adverse federal, state and local government regulation, international governmental regulation, inadequate capital, inability to carry out research, development and commercialization plans, loss or retirement of key executives and other specific risks. To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, including statements as to revenue projections, business strategy, outlook, objectives, future milestones, plans, intentions, goals, future financial conditions, events conditioned on stockholder or other approval, or otherwise as to future events, such statements are forward-looking and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made.

Corporate Contact:

Electromedical Technologies, Inc.

Tel: 1.888.880.7888

Email: [email protected]

https://electromedtech.com

Public Relations:

EDM Media, LLC

https://edm.media

SOURCE Electromedical Technologies, Inc.
New tenant benefit addresses critical need to help recovery of honeybee populations as part of ESRT's continued sustainability efforts

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) announced today that it welcomed its newest, tiny tenants with honeybee hives installed at the Empire State Building, 1350 Broadway, 111 W. 33rd Street, and 501 Seventh Avenue. The hives will help restore the bee population to provide much-needed pollination to the surrounding areas and local, ethically sourced honey.

Empire State Realty Trust Announces ESRT Bees with Beehives at the Empire State Building and Three Other NYC Properties

"ESRT continues to attract high quality tenants and investors with its commitment to sustainability initiatives that benefit the market flight to quality, and now even honeybees have joined the flight to quality to our portfolio!" said Anthony E. Malkin, ESRT's chairman, president, and CEO. "These beehives engage tenants and employees around the important sustainability efforts in their offices and will produce honey sourced right from their workplace community."

Each hive contains up to 50,000 bees at the height of the six-month pollination season from April through September. Tenants can keep up with their building hive's activity  updates, photos, and videos provided by the beekeeper  on their own dedicated building page of the Alveole website.

"We are thrilled about the buzz that our bees will generate on the World's Most Famous Building," said Alex McLean, CEO and co-founder of Alveole. "We work with a type of bee, the Italian honeybee, that is very docile, and provide a safe way to raise awareness of tenants to the importance of honeybees right here in New York City. We are grateful to ESRT, a leader in sustainability, whose buildings are now a platform to help honeybee populations recover from a record 45% loss in the past year."

Honey produced from the hives is expected to be harvested in November, after which it will be given to tenants and guests at annual events held at each building. Tenants of each building will also have the opportunity to name the queen of their building's hive for the chance to win a private honey tasting with the building's beekeeper and the hive's first produced jar of honey.

"Honeybees are vital parts of our economy and ecosystem and are in serious decline," said Dana Robbins Schneider, senior vice president, director of energy, sustainability and ESG at ESRT. "The protection of these tiny pollinators is critical as 90% of plant species depend on pollinators. Honeybees contribute $15 billion to the U.S. economy each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This project furthers our mission to deliver superior service and benefits to tenants and the members of our communities and helps to connect our tenants with their office buildings and ecosystem."

ESRT is a leader in sustainability, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and healthy buildings, and regularly pursues opportunities to improve the communities in which it operates. The company reached carbon neutrality for its 9.9 million square foot commercial portfolio in 2022 through a 43% operational emissions reduction portfolio-wide with 100 percent of remaining emissions offset by renewable energy credits that support  among other initiatives  the preservation of 9,000 acres of biodiverse forested land. In partnership with a more renewable grid, ESRT is on track to achieve its target of net zero emissions with an 80% reduction in operational emissions at the Empire State Building by 2030 and portfolio-wide by 2035.

More information about ESRT's sustainability practices can be found online.

About Empire State Realty Trust

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) is a REIT that owns and manages office, retail and multifamily assets in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area. ESRT owns the Empire State Building, the World's Most Famous Building, and Tripadvisor's 2022 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Awards #1 attraction in the U.S. and #3 attraction in the world, the newly reimagined and iconic Empire State Building Observatory. The company is a leader in healthy buildings, energy efficiency, and indoor environmental quality and has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per square foot of any publicly traded REIT portfolio in New York City. As of September 30, 2022, ESRT's portfolio is comprised of approximately 9.2 million rentable square feet of office space, 700,000 rentable square feet of retail space and 625 residential units across two multifamily properties. More information about Empire State Realty Trust can be found at esrtreit.com and by following ESRT on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and LinkedIn .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal securities laws. You can identify these statements by our use of words such as "assumes," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects" or the negative of these words or similar words or expressions that do not relate to historical matters. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements, because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond ESRT's control and could materially affect actual results, performance or achievements. Such factors and risks include, without limitation, (i) the current public health crisis and economic disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, (ii) a failure of conditions or performance regarding any event or transaction described above, (iii) environmental uncertainties and risks related to climate change, adverse weather conditions, rising sea levels and natural disasters; and (iv) accuracy of our methodologies and estimates regarding ESG metrics and goals, (v) tenant willingness and ability to collaborate in reporting ESG metrics and meeting ESG goals, (vi) impact of governmental regulation on our ESG efforts, (viii) and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in ESRT's and ESROP's filings with the SEC, including those set forth in each of ESRT's and ESROP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 under the heading "Risk Factors." Except as may be required by law, ESRT and ESROP do not undertake a duty to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.
MCKINNEY, Texas, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- However good they think their processes are, CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, risk committees, and boards of directors, rightly fear that their organization's computers are not in compliance with their cybersecurity and operational policies. Vulnerability scanners lack the intelligence required to compare the state of computers with company policies, providing an incomplete view of an organization's security posture. This leads to long-lasting vulnerabilities, potential exploits, and data breaches. What's needed is a compliance-based, wholistic view across all computers in an organization's enterprise. With AidenVision, IT teams can quickly surface issues and reduce time-to-patch, improving security hygiene and digital end-user experience (DEX).

AidenVision Reporting Dashboard AidenVision reporting dashboard close-up

"Vulnerability scanners aren't going to tell you that software is missing, or that you have the wrong application version, and that's critical," said Richard Clarke, Aiden advisor and America's first cyber and terrorism czar. "AidenVision was designed around the core principle of bringing computers into desired state configurations, so organizations can quickly see what is out of compliance with security standards and harness Aiden's AI to rapidly automate remediations. Aiden is the way to go Shields Up."

AidenVision, launched today, is the latest innovation from Aiden Technologies, the provider of modern, intelligent software packaging and deployment for Microsoft Windows. AidenVision ushers in breakthrough endpoint reporting for Aiden's customers wishing to gain visibility over their entire Windows enterprise. Its granular contextual view showcases how well each computer meets its policy-based desired state configuration (DSC). Using hyperautomation and natural language processing (NLP), AidenVision and AidenBot work in consort to arm IT security leaders with actionable insights to rapidly improve their security posture. AidenVision delivers visibility needed by IT teams to meet their protection level agreements (PLAs) with business stakeholders.

AidenVision enables IT to:

gain enterprise-wide visibility into every piece of software managed by Aiden

have the confidence to establish and deliver against PLAs within their organization

monitor each computer for compliance with policies, highlighting any drift from desired state configuration

create real-time & historical reports for compliance audits and cyber-security liability insurance examinations

rapidly investigate deployment issues and decrease downtime through Aiden's recommendations and automated remediations

Aiden's CEO Josh Aaron said, "IT security teams need to be able to provide confidence about security posture in simple ways that management can understand. Until recently, this was virtually impossible, often leaving leadership in the dark and IT unable to set expectations, while putting organizations at greater risk of a major incident. AidenVision delivers instant clarity, giving our customers unprecedented power to manage cybersecurity as a business decision."

Meet Aiden

Aiden is a hyperautomation solution for software deployment, patch management, and endpoint security designed to easily scale engineering work across Microsoft Windows enterprise environments. Aiden allows CIOs, CTOs, and CISOs with overloaded IT-Security teams to offload time-consuming maintenance, so their engineers can focus on more rewarding projects. Aiden's AI-bot integrates with any deployment tool, providing the content required to enforce desired state configuration and enhance compliance. By shortening the time to apply critical updates from an average of 102 days to under two weeks, Aiden reduces vulnerabilities by 97% and help desk tickets by more than 75%. Aiden is a proud member of the Microsoft for Startups community and is committed to supporting Microsoft Modern Work. For more information, go to www.meetaiden.com and follow us on Twitter at @meetaidentech.

Media Contact

Rich Miller

Miller Strategic Communications for Aiden

(303) 877-3966

[email protected]

SOURCE Aiden Technologies
The new Texas Facilities Fund will provide $250 million in ultra-low-cost, short-term financing for public charter schools during critical growth years.

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Equitable Facilities Fund announced the creation of the Texas Facilities Fund (TFF), a first-of-its-kind, state-based offering designed to support high-quality education options for under-resourced communities and accelerate school pathways to long-term financial sustainability.

While charter schools receive public funding, they often lack the financial resources needed to acquire suitable facilities for their students and staff. EFF's innovative, philanthropy-backed impact fund is designed explicitly to level this playing field, providing low-cost loans for schools to undertake their own facility projects.

In Texas, TFF will offer low-cost facility financing to early-phase, growing and single-site public charter school operators that demonstrate tremendous potential. Critically, this financing will be made available to schools before they reach the enrollment and revenue thresholds for the Texas Permanent Schools Fund.

"Texas has been a leader in charter school growth for a long time, and there are numerous high-quality operators that are primed to launch new schools or expand current ones and deliver life-changing public-school seats for their communities," says Anand Kesavan, CEO of Equitable Facilities Fund. "Unfortunately, financing options for early-stage schools are often prohibitively expensive. Our philanthropic lending model offers a way forward, covering 100% of facilities costs, saving millions, and unlocking the full potential of schools and leaders who are eager to serve."

Over the course of the fund, Equitable Facilities Fund anticipates that TFF loans will catalyze the growth of high-quality Texas schools and help 10,000 Texas students access a high-quality education in world-class facilities.

Already, the fund has closed two loans for nearly $45 million to support Compass Rose Public Schools and Beatrice Mayes Institute, high-performing schools that will ultimately serve 2,300 predominantly low-income students of color in San Antonio and Houston, respectively.

"We have the talented educators, committed funders, and incredible community support we need to run great schools in San Antonio and Austin," said Paul Morrissey, CEO of Compass Rose. "TFF's launch provides the critical missing ingredient: affordable facilities. This is a game-changing vehicle that will allow Compass Rose and other operators to put thousands of students on the path to lifetimes of success."

Nationally, Equitable Facilities Fund has committed nearly $1 billion of low-cost financing since 2018 to support excellent  and equitable  K-12 schools. To date, the philanthropy-backed impact fund has supported 120 schools across 35 cities in 19 states, saving these schools over $200 million to put back into the classroom.

"By its nature, education is a very local product, and prior to TFF, local communities lacked efficient, affordable access to national financial markets," says Kesavan. "A state-based funding model is a fantastic opportunity for both schools and investors, pairing local philanthropy and expertise with scalable, low-cost, national capital."

EFF, alongside funders, charter school leaders and community partners, will celebrate the launch of the Texas Facilities Fund on November 3rd at the historic DeLUXE Theater in Houston's Fifth Ward.

In addition to the Texas fund, EFF plans to launch several state-based low-cost revolving loan funds.

About Equitable Facilities Fund

Equitable Facilities Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social impact fund created to provide low-cost facility loans that allow high-performing public charter schools to maximize the resources they dedicate to students. High-quality public charter schools promote bright futures for children across America, and EFF believes these schools should borrow under terms comparable to traditional public school districts. EFF administers an 'A' rated revolving loan fund, which recapitalizes using funds from Equitable School Revolving Fund's bond issuances, to offer high-credit, long-term, scalable bond investment opportunities. To learn more, visit www.eqfund.org or email [email protected].

SOURCE Equitable Facilities Fund
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ETAO International Group ("ETAO") announced that Aaliance Insurance Brokers Co., Ltd. ("Aaliance Insurance"), one of the variable interest entities with which ETAO, through its subsidiaries, has joined hands with Alibaba and Tencent to expand into the city-wide healthcare insurance market. In March 2022, Aaliance Insurance entered into an insurance collaboration agreement with Ant Insurance, a division of Alibaba's Ant Financial, pursuant to which Aaliance Insurance will sell and distribute the insurance products on Ant Insurance's online platform. In September 2022, Aaliance Insurance entered into a strategic collaboration framework agreement with Tencent WeSure, a subsidiary of Tencent, pursuant to which Aaliance Insurance and Tencent WeSure will jointly expand the insurance distribution networks in various cities in China. ETAO and Aaliance Insurance expect that the relationships with Alibaba and Tencent would carry out extensive cooperation in technology platform, promotion and operation, intelligent customer service, health management, and specialty drug supply and claims service. The collaboration will first be implemented in Zaozhuang and Tai'an in Shandong province, Anyang in Henan province, Xiamen in Fujian province, Mianyang in Sichuan province and other prefecture-level cities. These pilot projects will expand extended services related to the city-wide health insurance business. Wensheng (Wilson) Liu, Chairman and CEO of ETAO stated, "We are thrilled about ETAO's strategic relationships with Ant Insurance and Tencent WeSure. With the support of the two Internet, E-Commerce and technology giants Alibaba and Tencent, ETAO would scale up the city-wide healthcare insurance service in China's market quickly. We hope that in turn would speed up the development and market penetration of ETAO's integrated healthcare services for Chinese customers."

Aaliance Insurance Logo

City-wide insurance integrates basic public healthcare insurance programs with commercially-offered insurance. It is a new supplemental health insurance model jointly promoted by the Chinese government, insurance companies and third-party platforms. It is unique in that once a municipal government signs on the program, all residents of that city or town will automatically be enrolled in the program. In 2015, the City of Shenzhen first launched the "Supplementary Medical Insurance for Major and Serious Diseases." Since 2020, city-wide healthcare insurance products have ushered in a period of rapid growth across the country. Due to the policy support and the increased awareness of people's health protection, the development of city-wide healthcare insurance became more important. The product has the attractive attributes of "two lows and one high," that is, low insurance thresholds, low premiums, and high-insured amounts. It has great potential to stimulate, fill and leverage the huge market of inclusive supplementary health insurance. As an inclusive and customized insurance that connects basic medical care and commercial health insurance, city-wide healthcare insurance is important for building China's multi-level medical insurance system because it aims at reducing and alleviating the pressure of medical expenses for the general public and the issue of lack of basic social security.

On January 27, 2022, ETAO signed a merger agreement with Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. III ("MCAE"), a Delaware corporation and U.S. based special purpose acquisition company, as amended on June 7, 2022 and further on October 17, 2022.

About ETAO International Group

ETAO International Group ("ETAO"), a Cayman Islands company, aims to be the world's leading digital healthcare group providing telemedicine, hospital care, primary care, pharmacy, and health insurance covering all life stages of patients. "ETAO" brand means "Best Medical Way" with transformative medical care and unparalleled service. ETAO is a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with no material operations. As a holding company with no material operations of its own, ETAO conducts substantially all of the operations through twelve variable interest entities ("VIEs") located in China, which have entered into a series of the VIE Agreements with certain indirect subsidiaries of ETAO. For accounting purposes, ETAO is the primary beneficiary of the VIEs' business operations through the VIE Agreements, which enable ETAO to consolidate the financial results in its consolidated financial statements under U.S. GAAP for eleven of the VIEs and for the one remaining VIE, in which ETAO does not own a majority interest, its financial statements will not be consolidated with the financial statements of ETAO. ETAO aims to provide best-in-class internet medical services, such as artificial intelligence and big data technologies, to improve health care delivery and quality in specialized clinics and hospital settings. ETAO's is in the process of building a platform that is seamlessly integrated based on its ability to combine technology and health sciences.

About Aaliance Insurance

Aaliance Insurance Brokers Co., Ltd. ("Aaliance Insurance") was established in 2010 and is headquartered in Shanghai. It is a national insurance brokerage company licensed by the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, mainly engaged in insurance, reinsurance brokerage and risk management consulting business. The company has been focusing on B2B comprehensive insurance services. On the basis of deeply and keenly grasping the ecosystem Aaliance Insurance has joined hands with channel partners to create a business model with scenario-based customized products, O2O online and offline three-dimensional customer services, in-depth vertical development, and the special industry insurance comprehensive service platform. In the beginning of 2021, ETAO acquired the majority equity interest in Aaliance Insurance, and fully supported the Aaliance's strategic direction to focus on the health insurance sector with urban Huimin Insurance as a means of acquiring customers. Aaliance Insurance undertook the "Tai'an Civil Insurance" project, participated in Shanghai and Linyi Huimin Insurance, established an interactive technology platform with millions of policyholders and users, and achieved substantial increase of insurance premiums.

About Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. III

Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. III (" Mountain Crest III") is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Mountain Crest III's efforts to identify a prospective target business are not limited to a particular industry or geographic region.

Important Information about the Proposed Business Combination and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed business combination, Mountain Crest III or one of its subsidiaries will file a registration statement on Form F-4 containing a proxy statement/prospectus (the "Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Registration Statement will include a proxy statement to be distributed to holders of Mountain Crest III's common stock in connection with Mountain Crest III's solicitation of proxies for the vote by Mountain Crest III's shareholders with respect to the proposed transaction and other matters as described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus relating to the offer of securities to be issued to ETAO' stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination. After the Registration Statement has been filed and declared effective, Mountain Crest III will mail a definitive proxy statement, when available, to its stockholders. Investors and security holders and other interested parties are urged to read the Registration Statement, any amendments thereto and any other documents filed with the SEC carefully and in their entirety when they become available because they will contain important information about Mountain Crest III, ETAO and the proposed business combination. Additionally, Mountain Crest III will file other relevant materials with the SEC in connection with the business combination. Copies of these documents may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. Securityholders of Mountain Crest III are urged to read the Registration Statement and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting decision with respect to the proposed business combination because they will contain important information. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the website referenced in this press release is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.

Participants in the Solicitation

Mountain Crest III and ETAO and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the proposed business combination under the rules of the SEC. Securityholders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations, and interests of certain of Mountain Crest III's executive officers and directors in the solicitation by reading Mountain Crest III's Registration Statement and other relevant materials filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed business combination when they become available. Information about Mountain Crest III's directors and executive officers and their ownership of Mountain Crest III common stock is set forth in Mountain Crest III's prospectus related to its initial public offering dated May 17, 2021, as modified or supplemented by any Form 3 or Form 4 filed with the SEC since the date of that filing. Other information regarding the interests of Mountain Crest III's participants in the proxy solicitation, which in some cases, may be different than those of their stockholders generally, will be set forth in the Registration Statement relating to the proposed business combination when it becomes available. These documents can be obtained free of charge at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov.

ETAO and its directors and executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Mountain Crest III in connection with the proposed business combination. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the proposed business combination will be included in the Registration Statement for the proposed business combination.

Non-Solicitation

This press release shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed business combination. This press release shall also not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any states or jurisdictions in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about the parties' ability to close the proposed business combination and related transactions, the anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination, and the financial condition, results of operations, earnings outlook and prospects of Mountain Crest III and/or the proposed business combination and related transactions and may include statements for the period following the consummation of the proposed business combination and related transactions. In addition, any statements that refer to projections (including EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, EBITDA margin and revenue projections), forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "continue," "could," "may," "might," "possible," "potential," "predict," "should," "would" and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Mountain Crest III and ETAO, as applicable, and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements including: risks related to ETAO's businesses and strategies; the ability to complete the proposed business combination due to the failure to obtain approval from Mountain Crest III's stockholders or satisfy other closing conditions in the definitive merger agreement; the amount of any redemptions by existing holders of Mountain Crest III's common stock; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination; other risks and uncertainties included under the header "Risk Factors" in the Registration Statement to be filed by Mountain Crest III, in the final prospectus of Mountain Crest III for its initial public offering dated May 17, 2021; and in Mountain Crest III's other filings with the SEC.

Media Contact:

Wilson Liu

347-306-5134

[email protected]

SOURCE ETAO International Group
Partnership Provides Long Term Financing to Boustead Beef to invest in a rare and unique, social and impact opportunity for the refurbishment and restart of the former Cold Storage Company, Zimbabwe's once world-renowned national beef production operations, at the behest of, and with the support of, the Zimbabwean government.

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ETHOS ASSET MANAGEMENT INC USA, announced a new long-term financing partnership with Boustead Beef Limited, Zimbabwe. Ethos has committed to providing significant capital infusion that will continue for several years.

Carlos Santos, CEO of Ethos Asset Management Inc, stated,

Boustead Beef Logo

"We are delighted to be partnering with such a prestigious company and nationally important organization in Boustead Beef, the largest and dominant meat processing operation in Africa. Boustead Beef is the only integrated beef processing company, and vertically integrated grass fed beef operation in Sub-Saharan Africa. We were very impressed with Boustead's exceptional standards and level of operation in Zimbabwe. Our decision to invest was consolidated by Boustead's inspirational President, Mr. Nick Havercroft, a successful farmer, entrepreneur and operational executive who has spent his entire career in Zimbabwe and Africa, acquiring, building to scale and successfully operating farming enterprises. We are absolutely delighted at Ethos to be expanding our investments further into Africa and in particular, Zimbabwe for the first time."

Mr. Nick Havercroft, President and Founder, Boustead Beef Limited, stated,

"Boustead Beef is exceptionally pleased to receive the financial backing of Ethos Asset Management in support of Boustead's mission to privatize, refurbish and restart a critical component of Zimbabwe's infrastructure  its national beef industry. Boustead is fortunate to have a partner like Ethos, a financial powerhouse in both public markets and project finance, led by its visionary CEO, Carlos Santos, whose project finance initiatives are making the world a better place for millions of people".

Hans Kastensmith, Executive Director, Ethos, North and Central America, stated,

"Ethos is pleased to be working with Boustead to revitalize the beef industry in Zimbabwe. This was an important part of the economy in the past and we know that with Mr. Havercroft's and Mr. Santos' combined leadership in operations and finance it will be once again".

About Ethos Asset Management Inc:

Ethos Asset Management (Ethos) is an independent, US-based company with global reach in resource mobilization and project financing.

For more information, please visit https://www.ethosasset.com

About Boustead Beef Limited:

Boustead Beef was selected by the Zimbabwean government to privatize and revitalize Zimbabwe's national beef operations. Its business plan includes the implementation of regenerative farming methods and solar energy, collaboration with smallholders/local farmers, the creation of thousands of local jobs, and enhanced food security for Zimbabwe and neighboring African nations. Boustead was advised in this transaction by Worldwide Wealth Advisors and Nyansapo Impact Capital.

For more information, please visit https://www.bousteadbeef.com

Contacts:

Mr. Nick Havercroft, President and Founder, Boustead Beef Limited:

Email [email protected]

Ethos USA:

Ethos Asset Management INC: Press

Office [email protected]com

+18585354814

SOURCE Ethos Asset Management Inc
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This research study examines the European water and wastewater industry as it tackles water stress, drought, and pandemic-induced challenges.





Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06346920/?utm_source=PRN





The study provides key predictions for the municipal and industrial water and wastewater market for the following segments:

a Design and engineering

a Operation and maintenance

a Water and wastewater technology

a Process control and management

a ChemicalsRevenues for the technology employed in water treatment, wastewater treatment, sludge management, and smart water management have also been provided for the above-mentioned regions.



The study analyzes the factors driving and restraining the growth of this market and identifies the key growth opportunities emerging from this space that market players and stakeholders can leverage.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06346920/?utm_source=PRN



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001

SOURCE Reportlinker
BOSTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eventide Asset Management is pleased to announce the hire of Jennifer (Jen) Reiche. Ms. Reiche will serve as the Chief Compliance Officer for Eventide and will be responsible for managing the firm's compliance program and leading the compliance team.

Prior to joining Eventide, Ms. Reiche held compliance roles at Marsh McLennan and its affiliate, Mercer, most recently as Chief Compliance Officer of Mercer Funds, Mercer Trust Company, and Mercer Investments LLC. Before that, she served as Chief Compliance Officer for Century Capital Management and the Century Funds. Ms. Reiche previously served in various compliance roles for Wellington Management and ACA Foreside Compliance Services and held roles in mutual fund administration, custody, and accounting at Investors Bank & Trust.

Eventide CEO Robin John commented, "I am extremely pleased that Jen Reiche has joined us in the role of Chief Compliance Officer. Given her prior roles as adviser, trust, and mutual fund company CCO, and given her extensive experience with public and private investing, we look forward to stepping into the next phase of Eventide's growth with Jen as our CCO. I am so happy to have found someone with Jen's experience who is also strongly aligned with Eventide's mission and values. At Eventide, our intention is not just to grow, but to grow well. This is a huge step in the right direction."

Eventide Asset Management, LLC, is a Boston-based investment adviser pursuing "investing that makes the world rejoice." Founded in 2008, Eventide's vision is to serve individuals, financial advisors, and institutions by seeking to provide high-performing investments that they believe create compelling value for the global common good.

Firm Contact:

[email protected]

877-771-EVEN (3836)

Important Risk Information

This communication is provided for informational purposes only and expresses views of Eventide Asset Management, LLC ("Eventide"), an investment adviser. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy will achieve its objectives, generate profits, or avoid losses. Eventide's values-based approach to investing may not produce desired results and could result in underperformance compared with other investments. Any reference to Eventide's Business 360 approach is provided for illustrative purposes only and indicates a general framework of guiding principles that inform Eventide's overall research process. Investing involves risk including the possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Eventide's ethical values screening criteria could cause it to underperform similar investments that do not have such screening criteria. This could be due to ethically acceptable companies falling out of favor with investors or failing to perform as well as companies that do not meet Eventide's ethical screening guidelines. The Adviser's judgment about the quality of a particular company may prove to be incorrect. Eventide uses its trademark ("Investing that makes the world rejoice") in a figurative manner to help explain its focus on serving investors by helping them improve the world.

SOURCE Eventide Asset Management
Company issues open call for new investors interested in revolutionizing mobility aid industry

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Exokinetics, the creators of the Zeen, announces its Series B funding round, which is open to the public on the SeedInvest platform. The Zeen is a groundbreaking "Elevating Walker-Chair" invention that supports mobility and autonomy for those whose lives are restricted due to a variety of physical limitations.

Exokinetics, the creators of the Zeen, announces its Series B funding round, which is open to the public on the Seed Invest platform. The Zeen is a groundbreaking Elevating Walker-Chair invention that supports mobility and autonomy for those whose lives are restricted due to a variety of physical limitations.

According to the CDC , one in four American adults have a disability that impacts major life activities. Mobility limitations are the most common disability type, affecting one in seven adults. The Zeen can be a superior option compared to traditional walkers and wheelchairs since it continually supports users while seated or standing - all while providing an active lift through transitions. The Zeen is ideal for those who are at risk of falling while moving throughout their day, and for those who tire easily when walking due to disability, injury, age, or chronic condition. It offers unique social benefits, permitting individuals to rest and converse at eye-level height in "barstool mode" rather than in a low position with their heads at others' waist-height.

"After watching my aging parents struggle with wheelchairs  which can be one-way-tickets to not walking  I knew something serious was missing from the personal mobility landscape," said Hall-of-Fame inventor Garrett Brown. "Together with my inventing partners, I founded Exokinetics to pursue a revolutionary solution to change the lives of people with challenged mobility. The Zeen can unlock a true sense of freedom and help recover the joys of independent movement  and we embrace the opportunity to include new investors who share our vision."

Exokinetics has a portfolio of issued and pending patents managed by Brown, who personally holds over 100 patents worldwide. The financing will allow the company to accelerate its manufacturing capability, continue to build consumer awareness and expand its product line to include other variations of the Zeen, among other potential products.

For more information on Zeen by Exokinetics or to become an investor, please visit https://www.seedinvest.com/exokinetics/series.b

About the Zeen

Created by Hall of Fame Steadicam Inventor, Garrett Brown and the team at Exokinetics, Inc., the Zeen is a groundbreaking mobility device designed for those who are at risk of falling or tire easily when walking due to disability, injury, age. Because of its unique zero-gravity design, the Zeen allows users to move seamlessly between standing, sitting, strolling, coasting and "barstool" positions without the hinderance of a walker, cane, or wheelchair. The Zeen is designed to be integrated into daily life to support freedom and joy of movement in a safe and stable manner. For more information, please visit www.gozeen.com.

Exokinetics is offering securities under Regulation CF and Rule 506(c) of Regulation D through SI Securities, LLC ("SI Securities"). The Company has filed a Form C with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with its offering, a copy of which may be obtained at: https://www.seedinvest.com/exokinetics

SOURCE Exokinetics
Healthy Eyes, Mind, and Body

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eyeguard System, a privacy filter manufacturer with 20 years of experience, announced that it will launch "ANBAC", new wellness & lifestyle brand for improving life starting from relived eyes.

"ANBAC" is a brand designed to reduce eye strain and accordingly make the body and mind sound and healthy in line with growing post-pandemic interests in wellness.

Wellness starts within the eyes. is the brand ANBACs core message.

The brand name "ANBAC" can be divided into "AN" + "BAC" with its vision that the mind (AN, as a Korean word, which means "internal" and sounds like "an") is at peace (AN, as a Chinese word, which means "comfort" and also sounds like "an") when eyes (AN, as also a different Chinese word, which means "eyes" and also sounds like "an") are relived, whereby the body (BAC, as a Korean word, which means "external" and sounds like "bac") will be healthy when the mind is at peace.

It is a brand based on the corporate philosophy and aims of Eyeguard System, which has been specializing in the production of monitor filters for eye protection since 2000 while striving for eye comfort. Eyeguard plans to introduce a variety of lifestyle products closely related to eye health under the name of "ANBAC."

The "Privacy Screen Filter" with a blue light blocking function will be released along with the brand launch, as the first product containing the brand mission and philosophy of "ANBAC." The filter absorbs and blocks out blue light from screens and natural ultraviolet rays, reducing eye fatigue and helping prevent problems such as dry eyes, insomnia, and stiff shoulders when using a device for a long time. It is possible to protect the eyes of users and, further, to improve work efficiency.

Moreover, the hanging AR filter with an anti-reflection coating, distinctive from existing privacy filters, increases the transmittance so that users can see the screen more clearly even when using the filter. The light reflectance is reduced to further enhance eye protection. The anti-reflection coating is a technology applied to filters for medical monitors widely sold in the United States, which Eyeguard System has been supplying for several years. Eyeguard System has already been recognized for its advanced technology and quality in the global market.

Based on a variety of filter coatings, advanced technologies, and patents, Eyeguard System has acquired New Product (NEP) certification from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy with a monitor privacy film (security device) for the first time in Korea. It is also registered as an excellent procurement product and can be purchased at the Nara Shopping Mall, the online procurement system run by the Korean government.

Eyeguard System stated that this year, its product acquired NEP certification for a monitor privacy filter first in Korea and was selected as an excellent procurement product. With the partnership with Samsung Electronics for the Galaxy S22, the filter sales are rapidly increasing YOY. It is also favored by institutional purchasing managers. Also added that starting with the recent launch in Amazon, Eyeguard System plans to overcome barriers to enter North America and further global markets, and will actively invest to expand a range of wellness products and services under the name of ANBAC.

The best privacy filter manufacturer - Eyeguard System Co., Ltd.

Eyeguard System Co., Ltd. started with the Seoul branch of AS Optical Science Inc. in 2000 and has developed and manufactured various functional films, adding functions like blue light blocking & anti-reflection, based on privacy protection concerns. Since our inception, we have been providing our product to numerous financial institutions, public institutions, and large corporations, and we are constantly recognized for our thorough work and the quality of our products.

With the growing interest in individual and corporate privacy as well as health and environmental concerns, the application of our technology and related products is also increasing, and our solution business that builds the IT environment for customers in the public and financial sectors is also growing in synergy with the film and coating business.

Our company safeguards its expertise and we have patents related to film and coating. We also provide consulting and solutions for the majority of IT environments such as PC, mobile, IT accessories, etc.

Film & Coating: Manufacturing our ANBAC privacy filters for IT, finance, medical appliances, automobile, etc.

B2B Sales Agent of Samsung & LG Electronics: Supplying electronic devices such as desktops, monitors, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

IT Solution: Supplying IT products and managing the IT environment of financial companies including PC, special keyboards, and MRO products.

With more than 20 years of experience in the privacy filter business, we will always strive to read the consumers' needs quickly and satisfy them with the best quality products and services. If you need more information on our products or our company, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.

ANBAC Amazon Store Link : https://www.amazon.com/stores/ANBAC/page/37DEDA9D-8192-4084-B998-080B86EFCFB1?ref_=ast_bln

SOURCE Eyeguard System
FastSpring now offers the most robust payments, billing, and tax solution for software companies selling globally.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FastSpring, the leading merchant of record solution provider for global payments, tax, pricing, and subscription management, announced today the availability of new platform features that will support the global growth of SaaS companies using FastSpring:

Advanced reporting and analytics: With FastSpring's reporting and analytics capabilities, SaaS and software providers can now monitor and manage revenue trends to drive key business decisions. Their dashboard displays monthly recurring revenue (MRR), active users, cancellations, lifetime value, churn rates, and much more; providing all the critical reporting components needed to drive revenue and profits.

A new, embedded checkout experience: This feature removes friction in the buyer checkout flow by allowing companies to embed checkouts directly onto a page. It also provides advanced customization of the purchasing experience through CSS overrides to better suit the company's brand, eliminating the need for redirects or overlays.

ACH payments for B2B sellers: This new feature will allow sellers to process ACH payments with a single click empowering SaaS companies to support B2B quoting processes in addition to consumer sales.

Free trials without payment: Now SaaS companies can offer their prospects the option to sign up for a free trial experience without entering a payment method which will increase trial sign-ups and drive new customer acquisition.

"For 15 years FastSpring has been a secret weapon for fast-growing SaaS and software companies. We are very excited to release these new features and functionality that will help thousands of software companies grow faster around the world without becoming (or hiring) billing and payments experts," said Kurt Smith, Chief Product Officer of FastSpring. "By taking on all the complexities related to selling digital products globally, FastSpring customers get valuable time back to focus on their customers, their product, and their business."

Over the past two years, the SaaS market has seen tremendous global growth, growing at an average rate of 20 percent each year. This growth has set three key trends in motion, including:

The acceleration of subscription model innovation: SaaS companies are no longer simply charging a flat monthly fee. Subscription pricing models have become table stakes as software companies are now looking to optimize their pricing and billing in a way that benefits both the sellers and the buyers.

Localized payment methods and experiences have become table stakes: Now more than ever, it's essential for SaaS companies to make it easy for their buyers to purchase their products and services, whether that's by offering the desired payment method, local currency, or just a streamlined experience.

The elimination of choosing between a product-led business model vs. a sales-led model: It's now well established that product-led and sales-led paths can and should coexist.

Now, with these enhanced capabilities, FastSpring further strengthens its position as the leading merchant of record for SaaS and subscription software businesses.

"With FastSpring's recent product releases, we are introducing an evolved platform with new capabilities to support SaaS and software companies like never before," said Smith. "FastSpring has built its reputation of being the most robust merchant of record solution on the market, and we are upholding that reputation by empowering fast-growing SaaS and software companies to stay focused on building their product while leaving everything else to FastSpring. From pricing, to payments, billing, tax management, and more."

About FastSpring

FastSpring is how software companies sell online in more places around the world. FastSpring handles every payment need from checkout to taxes so that businesses can go farther, faster. Founded in 2005, FastSpring is a privately owned company headquartered in Santa Barbara with offices in Amsterdam, the UK, and Halifax. For more information, please visit https://www.fastspring.com .

Media contact:

David Vogelpohl

[email protected]

8773278914

SOURCE FastSpring
Jetpack 2.0 brings Web2 features to the Web3 environment

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Flux , the frontrunner in building decentralized infrastructure to power Web3 development, today announced the launch of Jetpack 2.0, a system update that enables easier and cheaper deployment of decentralized applications (Dapps) onto the Flux decentralized cloud. Jetpack 2.0 brings with it a variety of new features, including an improved Dapp registration and management process as well as direct fiat payment and settlement services.

Jetpack 2.0 is the latest platform improvement released by Flux as it continues to set the standard for integrating Web2 cloud-based services into a Web3 cloud-like environment. With Jetpack 2.0, Flux developers can deploy and monitor their Dapps from an easy-to-use interface, allowing for builders to maximize performance while also minimizing application downtime. Jetpack 2.0 also presents the next generation of storage through Flux Drive. Flux Drive allows for data to be retained beyond the life of individual containers through the recently released Flux Interplanetary File System (Flux IPFS) and also a fiat payment ramp, allowing for institutions building on Flux to pay for its services directly in fiat. By integrating fiat payment ramps, businesses utilizing Flux's industry-leading infrastructure can better map out their budgets, without needing to speculate on crypto prices. Jetpack 2.0 also offers a new Dapp table, which lists all Dapps past and present and is an all-in-one place to view payment receipts along with quick navigation to Dapp nodes.

"This is a tremendous milestone for Flux, we compare the new Flux Drive feature to a Google Drive that is also decentralized, censor-resistant and more affordable without any single point of failure. It's your drive and your data," It's your drive and your data," said Flux Co-Founder, Daniel Keller. "Jetpack 2.0's features provide our users with unparalleled access to the Web3 cloud ecosystem, while also allowing Flux to operate similarly to a Web2 cloud environment. The Jetpack 2.0 update allows for a familiar environment that was being built in the Web2 space, making users more comfortable shifting to Web3 and acclimating to the future of cloud-based computing."

This is the latest feature to launch from Flux, coming shortly after the network surpassed Litecoin for total transactions on-chain. With the ability to monitor Dapps and pay with fiat through Jetpack 2.0, users do not need a proficiency in blockchain to operate within the Web3 space. In addition to bringing Web2 services into the Web3 space, Jetpack 2.0 further eliminates the nuances associated with centralized cloud providers, such as outages leading to mass network failure, capacity limitations for those building on the cloud, service violation restrictions and more.

"Now there is a real, decentralized competitor to traditional, centralized cloud infrastructure providers. The user-friendly environment of Jetpack 2.0 will encourage more businesses and developers to build on Flux, continuing the expansion and growth of our ecosystem. We are pleased to bring this offering to our users and are looking forward to working together as this technology evolves," added Keller.

For more information about Flux, please visit: https://runonflux.io/ .

About Flux

The Flux Ecosystem is a suite of decentralized computing services and blockchain-as-a-service solutions which offer an interoperable, decentralized, AWS-like development environment. Flux utilizes a native POW (Proof-of-Useful-Work) coin to power this ecosystem, providing incentive for hardware hosters, governance on-chain, and bad actor mitigation via staking requirements for running hardware. The Flux operating system runs on top of Linux to provide the network with verified and benchmarked high-availability compute power and utilizes the blockchain to ensure transparency in governance operations. Flux node operators can choose from three tiers of hardware requirements to stand up after providing the necessary Flux capital soft-locked in their wallet. This allows anyone to be rewarded for providing hardware to the network, from anywhere in the world.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Shannon Blood

M Group Strategic Communications (on behalf of Flux)

+1 917 765 1442

[email protected]

SOURCE Flux
As women in Iran fight against the oppression of Sharia Law, there's another movement led by women who are facing severe persecution.

NAMPA, Idaho, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The death of Mahsa Amini is causing many Iranians to search for the one true God, leading to exponential growth in the underground church, states Global Catalytic Ministries (GCM), a leader in disciple-making ministry specific to the Middle East. As unrest grows and people begin to question the oppression of the Iranian regime, it opens doors for believers to share the Good News with their Iranian brothers and sisters, despite the threat of persecution.

Iran Uprising Riot burning in the streets Mahsa Amini Protest in Iran uprising

Movements happen in the most desperate places, and right now, Iran is one of those places. The political upheaval, economic distress, resource scarcity, social unrest, and religious persecution are creating a perfect storm for the Gospel to spread like wildfire inside of Iran.

"Because of what has happened to Mahsa, the people of Iran are searching for the true God," says Brother X, a leader in the underground church. "The protest isn't the movement. The real movement is happening under everyone's noses, through the fastest-growing church in the world."

The majority of the Christian leaders of this rapidly growing underground church movement are women. Despite the discrimination and persecution they face, these women are willing to risk everything in order to usher in spiritual salvation for their countrymen. Women are constantly under surveillance and face the threat of jail, rape, torture, and even execution. Yet they consider it a joy to suffer for the sake of spreading the Gospel.

Brother X shares that "Jesus is coming through dreams, visions, and power encounters." According to underground church leaders in Iran, "thousands are seeing the 'Man in White', and are coming to Jesus." God is revealing himself in a powerful way to people who are hungry for an encounter with the true God, and many are being saved.

It is important to note that this movement is not in opposition to the Ayatollah. In fact, according to Brother X, Iranian Christians say that Ayatollah Khomeini is "the greatest missionary in the history of Iran". He brought Iran into an Islamic theocracy, forcing the people into following strict Muslim laws enforced by government agencies like the "Morality Police." Because of the violent and oppressive nature of his regime, many Iranians have begun to question Islam. This is opening the door for believers to start conversations and disciple people to Jesus.

Another underground church leader says, "As a ministry, it is our policy to stay out of politics. While we don't support the evils of the radical Iranian regime, the Bible is clear that we are to love our enemies and we are to pray for our governmental leaders." GCM encourages people to pray for the salvation of Iranian leaders, as well as their own.

As servants of Jesus, GCM's primary focus will always be on the life and liberty that comes only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the true Iranian revolution that will take place regardless as to who controls the government.

Please pray for the underground church as they continue the work of making disciples and setting the prisoners free. To learn more about the movement happening in the Iranian underground church, watch Sheep Among Wolves Volume II. You can also partner with GCM in expanding their disciple making ministry by visiting https://catalyticministries.com/giving/. Your generosity will help provide transportation and food supplies, facility rentals, internet access to connect with the global church, and more.

About Global Catalytic Ministries

Global Catalytic Ministries (GCM) is a leader in the disciple-making movement in the Middle East, rapidly transforming Muslims worldwide through Jesus Christ by means of intentional disciple making, church planting, and leadership development. The documentaries, "Sheep Among Wolves Volume 1 and Volume 2 ", expose the experiences of GCM underground church leaders as true sheep among wolves.

DONATE NOW

https://www.catalyticministries.com/giving

MEDIA CONTACT:

https://www.catalyticministries.com/

[email protected]

Audrie Trevino

(208) 570-5735

SOURCE Global Catalytic Ministries
Amid strong dollar and high travel demand, Frommer's pros showcase 15 incredible destinations across 6 continents

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After two years of recommending exclusively domestic U.S. destinations, Frommer's annual Best Places to Go list is setting its sights on the wider world once more in 2023. With borders reopened and an uncommonly strong dollar tempting Americans to roam, the iconic travel branda trusted source for vacation information and inspiration for 65 yearsis championing 15 rewarding destinations across six continents.

The list encompasses cities, states, parks, peninsulas, coastlines, and countries, all chosen by Frommer's award-winning team of travel experts.

With borders reopened and an uncommonly strong dollar Frommer's is championing 15 rewarding destinations for 2023. Tweet this

Honorees from near and far include (in no particular order):

Japan , newly reopenedat lastafter lifting tight Covid restrictions and, thanks to a favorable dollar-to-yen exchange rate, welcoming U.S. travelers with the lowest prices in decades

, newly reopenedat lastafter lifting tight Covid restrictions and, thanks to a favorable dollar-to-yen exchange rate, welcoming U.S. travelers with the lowest prices in decades Oahu, Hawaii , where residents are rejuvenating resorts and recommitting tourism hot spots to preserving and celebrating Native Hawaiian heritage

, where residents are rejuvenating resorts and recommitting tourism hot spots to preserving and celebrating Native Hawaiian heritage Maratea, Italy , a less crowded, though every bit as stunning, alternative to the Amalfi Coast

, a less crowded, though every bit as stunning, alternative to the Amalfi Coast Macon, Georgia , celebrating its bicentennial with tributes to a rich Indigenous culture (evidenced by ancient earthworks that could soon become a national park) and music history spanning hit makers from soul legend Otis Redding to country star Jason Aldean

, celebrating its bicentennial with tributes to a rich Indigenous culture (evidenced by ancient earthworks that could soon become a national park) and music history spanning hit makers from soul legend to country star Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula , before an ambitious railway project and new airport forever change the way you see the region's resorts and ruins

, before an ambitious railway project and new airport forever change the way you see the region's resorts and ruins Colorado's Camp Hale , a key training ground for World War II soldiers that's been newly designated a national monument to protect 54,000 acres of prime hiking, camping, and mountain biking territory high in the Rocky Mountains

, a key training ground for World War II soldiers that's been newly designated a national monument to protect 54,000 acres of prime hiking, camping, and mountain biking territory high in the Rocky Mountains and 8 more incredible destinations in Africa , Europe , Oceania, South America , and the Caribbean

Filled with vivid photography and expert commentary, the list is available at Frommers.com/BestPlaces2023.

About Frommer's: Frommer's, one of the most venerable brands in travel, has been in continuous publication since the 1957 debut of Arthur Frommer's Europe on 5 Dollars a Day, which changed the way the world traveled. The bestselling Frommer's guidebooks have since expanded to cover scores of destinations spanning the globe. Join us at Frommers.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@Frommers). Listen and subscribe to our weekly podcast at Frommers.com/podcast.

SOURCE Frommer's
Industry veteran to help build and scale Fullsteam's finance function and work closely with management teams across the Fullsteam platform to unlock growth

AUBURN, Ala., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fullsteam Holdings LLC ("Fullsteam"), a payments technology and vertical software holding company backed by Aquiline Capital Partners LLC, today announced it has hired Charles Freund to be the company's Chief Financial Officer.

Mr. Freund brings nearly two decades of experience in corporate finance and strategy to Fullsteam. He most recently served as CFO of global corporate payments company FLEETCOR Technologies (NYSE: FLT), where he led all aspects of the company's financial management and reporting. Prior to this, he held several leadership roles at FLEETCOR, encompassing corporate development, strategy, sales and P&L management. Mr. Freund began his career as a consultant at Sibson Consulting, where he advised clients on developing successful business strategies.

As CFO, Mr. Freund will continue to build and scale Fullsteam's finance function, collaborating with companies across Fullsteam's platform to strengthen financial management and enable leadership teams to focus on growth. Having successfully steered FLEETCOR through multiple acquisitions, Mr. Freund will enhance Fullsteam's integration capabilities for newly acquired firms. Additionally, he will lead future debt and capital financing efforts, and assist with the company's strategy, acquisition evaluations and key growth initiatives.

"I'm thrilled to welcome Charles to Fullsteam," said Michael Lawler, founder and CEO of Fullsteam. "As we grow our family of companies and execute on our software and payments strategy, Charles's experience managing the finance function of a complex global business across numerous verticals makes him the ideal fit for the role. I'm looking forward to working with Charles to help the great management teams across our platform expand their businesses."

"Fullsteam has differentiated itself by seeking out strong companies and working alongside them as strategic partners to ensure they are optimized for growth," said Mr. Freund. "My experience managing the finance function at a multifaceted global business has prepared me well for this role. I'm looking forward to working with Fullsteam's talented team as we build the future of embedded payment solutions."

About Fullsteam Holdings LLC

Fullsteam is a leading payments and software company headquartered in Auburn, Alabama. Fullsteam provides its companies with streamlined payments infrastructure and enhanced operational support to better serve customers. Fullsteam is actively seeking further acquisitions across multiple software verticals. For more information on the company, please visit Fullsteam.com .

Contact

John Perilli

Prosek Partners for Fullsteam Holdings LLC

(646) 818-9264

[email protected]

SOURCE Fullsteam Holdings LLC
NOIDA, India, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new report published by UnivDatos Markets Insights, the Functional Safety Market is expected to reach at 7.5 billion in 2028, growing at a CAGR of around 8% from 2022-2028. The analysis has been segmented into Device Type (Safety Sensors, Safety controllers/Modules/Relays, Safety Switches, Programmable Safety Systems, Emergency Stop Devices, Final Control Elements, and Others); Safety Systems (Burner Management System, Turbomachinery Control System, High-Integrity Pressure Protection Systems, Fire & Gas Monitoring Control System, Emergency Shutdown Systems, Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition System, Distributed Control System); End-User (Oil and Gas, Power Generation, Food and Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Automotive, and Others); Region/Country.

Click here to view the Report Description & TOC

https://univdatos.com/report/functional-safety-market/

The Functional Safety market report has been aggregated by collecting informative data on various dynamics such as market drivers, restraints, and opportunities. This innovative report makes use of several analyses to get a closer outlook on the Functional Safety market. The Functional Safety market report offers a detailed analysis of the latest industry developments and trending factors in the market that are influencing the market growth. Furthermore, this statistical market research repository examines and estimates the Functional Safety market at the global and regional levels.

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Market Overview

Functional safety is an important part of an entire safety approach that relies on a system or component of equipment functioning appropriately to its inputs. Industry 4.0 provides a new all-encompassing concept for modern factories. The significance of safety in such modern factories cannot be overstated. Functional safety enables users to get assurance that a part of equipment can perform its function safely while relying upon its use. Also, the rapid demand for safety systems in the oil and gas industry and the rise in the requirement for reliable safety systems to ensure personnel and asset protection are also anticipated to flourish the growth of the functional safety market.

Moreover, factors such as strict obligatory safety standards and government policies associated with the protection of the systems and personnel concerning are the most important factors chargeable for the expansion of the global Functional Safety Market. Additionally, the rising awareness and considerations relating to the protection of people also are expected to spice up the expansion of this market.

Some of the major players operating in the market include Omron Corporation, Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, ABB Ltd, Rockwell Automation, Inc., Yokogawa Electric Corporation, TUVRheiland AG, Emerson Electric Co., Bosch Rexroth AG, and General Electric.

COVID-19 Impact

Due to lockdown restrictions schools closed across the globe coupled with the closure of borders, stringent lockdowns, and supply chain issues act as restraining factors for the onsite deployment of functional safety solutions. Moreover, manufacturers and several industrial sectors have reduced their employees owing to the declining economic condition. Moreover, the stringent regulations have affected the supply chain and the overall manufacturing ecosystem, including the logistics which negatively impacted the market size of functional safety.

The global Functional Safety market report is studied thoroughly with several aspects that would help stakeholders in making their decisions more curated.

Based on safety systems, the functional safety market is classified into the burner management system, turbomachinery control system, high-integrity pressure protection systems, fire and gas monitoring control system, emergency shutdown systems, supervisory control, and data acquisition system, and distributed control system. Among these, the emergence service systems segment to hold a significant share in the market in 2020. As it brings the production facilities to a safe state and protects the personnel, the assets, and the environment if hazardous situations occur.

Based on End-User, the functional safety market has been classified into oil and gas, power generation, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, automotive, and others. The automotive segment is to witness higher adoption of the functional safety market during the forecast period. These sensors are developed and designed to ensure a safe output based on the logic in case of a measurement or signal transmission does not occur. Also, Safety sensor-based products are incorporated into functional safety systems for different applications such as to sense movement and position of machinery, tracking tooling data, and helping integrate automated systems.

Have a Look at the Chapters- https://univdatos.com/report/functional-safety-market/

Functional Safety Market Geographical Segmentation Includes:

North America ( United States , Canada , and the Rest of North America )

( , , and the Rest of ) Europe ( Germany , United Kingdom , Spain , Italy , France , and the Rest of Europe )

( , , , , , and the Rest of ) Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , India , Australia , and the Rest of Asia-Pacific )

( , , , , and the Rest of ) Rest of the World

APAC is anticipated to grow at a substantial CAGR during the forecast period. This is mainly due to the increase in industrialization in developing nations such as China and India. Furthermore, the increased acceptance of international functional safety standards in the region is mainly due to the robust growth of heavily regulated industries such as oil & gas and power.

The major players targeting the market include

Omron Corporation

Schneider Electric SE

Siemens AG

ABB Ltd

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

Yokogawa Electric Corporation

TUVRheiland AG

Emerson Electric Co.

Bosch Rexroth AG

General Electric

Competitive Landscape

The degree of competition among prominent global companies has been elaborated by analyzing several leading key players operating worldwide. The specialist team of research analysts sheds light on various traits such as global market competition, market share, most recent industry advancements, innovative product launches, partnerships, mergers, or acquisitions by leading companies in the Functional Safety Market. The major players have been analyzed by using research methodologies for getting insight views on global competition.

Key questions resolved through this analytical market research report include:

What are the latest trends, new patterns, and technological advancements in the functional safety market?

Which factors are influencing the functional safety market over the forecast period?

What are the global challenges, threats, and risks in the functional safety market?

Which factors are propelling and restraining the functional safety market?

What are the demanding global regions of the functional safety market?

What will be the global market size in the upcoming years?

What are the crucial market acquisition strategies and policies applied by global companies?

We understand the requirement of different businesses, regions, and countries, we offer customized reports as per your requirements of business nature and geography. Please let us know If you have any custom needs.

About UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI)

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Functional Safety Market Report Coverage

Report Attribute Details Base year 2020 Forecast period 2022-2028 Growth momentum Accelerate at a CAGR of over 8% Market size 2028 USD 7.5 billion Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Rest of World Major contributing region APAC to Dominate the Global Functional Safety Market Key countries covered United States, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, China, Japan, India, Australia Companies profiled Omron Corporation, Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, ABB Ltd, Rockwell Automation, Inc., Yokogawa Electric Corporation, TUVRheiland AG, Emerson Electric Co., Bosch Rexroth AG, and General Electric. Report Scope Market Trends, Drivers, and Restraints; Revenue Estimation and Forecast; Segmentation Analysis; Impact of COVID-19; Demand and Supply Side Analysis; Competitive Landscape; Company Profiling Segments Covered By Device Type, Safety Systems, By End-User; By Region/Country

About UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI)

UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI) is a passionate market research firm and a subsidiary of Universal Data Solutions. We believe in delivering insights through Market Intelligence Reports, Customized Business Research, and Primary Research. Our research studies are spread across topics across the world, we cover markets in over 100 countries using smart research techniques and agile methodologies. We offer in-depth studies, detailed analysis, and customized reports that help shape winning business strategies for our clients.

Contact

UnivDatos Market Insights

Ankita Gupta

Director Operations

Ph: +91-7838604911

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://univdatos.com/

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1225049/UnivDatos_Logo.jpg

SOURCE UnivDatos Market Insights Pvt. Ltd.
ST JULIANS, Malta, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gaming Innovation Group Inc. (GiG) publishes its interim report for the third quarter 2022 before market opening on Wednesday 9 November 2022.

CEO Richard Brown will present the Q3 2022 results via livestream at 11:00 CET. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A-session, and investors, analysts and journalists are welcome to participate. The presentation will be given in English.

Link to the livestream:

https://www.redeye.se/events/859335/live-q-gaming-innovation-group-5

For further information, please contact:

Tore Formo, Group CFO, [email protected], +47 91668678

About Gaming Innovation Group (GiG)

Gaming Innovation Group is a leading iGaming technology company, providing solutions, products and services to iGaming Operators. Founded in 2012, Gaming Innovation Group's vision is 'To be the industry leading platform, sportsbook and media provider delivering world class solutions to our iGaming partners and their customers. GiG's mission is to drive sustainable growth and profitability of our partners through product innovation, scalable technology and quality of service. Gaming Innovation Group operates out of Malta and is dual-listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GIG and on Nasdaq Stockholm under the ticker symbol GIGSEK. www.gig.com



SOURCE Gaming Innovation Group
VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GenXys, the global leader in precision prescribing software with embedded pharmacogenetic (PGx) data, is teaming up with Manchester University (MU) for pharmacogenomics education. Together, GenXys and MU will help drive global awareness and education of PGx-informed prescribing decisions in support of expanding PGx adoption and pending legislation in the U.S., including the Right Drug Dose Now Act.

MU, located in northern Indiana, is a leading national academic institution with a strong educational and research stream in pharmacogenetics. With on-campus, online, and dual (PharmD/MS in PGx) degree programs, as well as a Graduate Certificate in PGx, MU typically has an annual PGx enrollment of 60 to 70 students.

The partnership will enable GenXys' expertise and proprietary algorithms in genomics and clinical knowledge to support the expansion of genetically informed medication review capabilities in MU's educational and research space. MU will now be able to integrate GenXys' award-winning Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS), incorporating PGx with other patient data points through embedded translation and interpretation in specific degree programs. This will lead to students further learning appropriate evidence-based precision prescribing options for patients, ultimately leading to better health outcomes and empowering the next generation of clinicians to seamlessly utilize PGx in patient care.

"As a national leader in pharmacogenetic and clinical education, Manchester University looks to partner with leading-edge technology companies that further the advancement of PGx for better health outcomes," says David Kisor, PharmD, FCP, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics, Director of Pharmacogenomics at MU. "It is recognized that more than 95 percent of the population has at least one PGx variant, and large percentages of patients receiving medications across therapeutic areas do not respond adequately with an initial medication leading to trial-and-error prescribing.

"Additionally, the consequences and treatments of adverse drug events may cost more than $30 billion annually in the U.S.," Dr. Kisor adds. "By formally measuring the effect of automatic PGx inclusion in CDSS tools in education as well as incorporating GenXys' precision prescribing platform into our advanced courses, we aim to produce the most knowledgeable and equipped individuals who will apply PGx optimally across healthcare settings."

Integration of the precision prescribing platform offered by GenXys into the educational content of MU will accelerate the knowledge uptake of PGx in prescribing decisions for the next generation of clinicians and other healthcare professionals.

"By working with a stellar academic university like MU, we are able to demonstrate the advantage of including PGx in clinical care for clinicians across different career levels," confirms Bernard Esquivel, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of GenXys. "There are so many advantages to equipping students and trainees with leading-edge tools and knowledgethe future is looking bright for precision medicine!"

Auto-analysis of genetic information with other medication interaction points is helping to transform the centuries-old trial-and-error approach to prescribing to one of accuracy. PGx is all about personalized, safe, and appropriate medication options being available at any point of care. When integrated into smart algorithms with other data points, PGx is a critical part of proactive healthcare delivering precision medicine to everyone and leveling up healthcare inequality.

MU is at the educational edge of changing day-to-day healthcare, and the partnership with GenXys is a model of commercial and academic integration that supports pending national legislation to provide better population healthcare, improve patient safety, and reduce healthcare costs.

About GenXys Health Care Systems

GenXys, with a presence across North America, provides the world's most comprehensive precision prescribing solutions with embedded pharmacogenetics to solve one of healthcare's biggest challenges: inappropriate ("trial-and-error") prescribing. GenXys' clinical decision support software suite is in use by major insurance providers, health systems, pharmacies and their pharmacogenetic labs across North America. Ongoing global clinical studies are paving the way into geographical markets to enable GenXys to realize its vision of making every prescription better with its software to increase patient safety, improve population health, and reduce healthcare costs. https://www.genxys.com/

About Manchester University

Manchester University, in North Manchester and Fort Wayne, Ind., provides vibrant and transformative student experiences. Manchester University respects the infinite worth of every individual and graduates persons of ability and conviction who draw upon their education and faith to lead principled, productive, and compassionate lives that improve the human condition. www.manchester.edu

GenXys Media Relations and Interview Requests: [email protected]

SOURCE GenXys
The brand makes holiday mornings brighter by bringing a beloved tradition to breakfast time

SPRINGDALE, Ark., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Holiday caroling is a beloved tradition that has typically been reserved for the evening until now. America's favorite breakfast sausage brand,1 Jimmy Dean, believes that good mornings lead to great days. And during the holiday season, there's no better start to your day than a warm breakfast and a cheerful song.

Introducing "Sunrise Carolers," a group of live performers who will visit homes across the country in festive attire, singing cheerful carols that pair best with a warm Jimmy Dean breakfast.

Jimmy Dean Brand makes holiday mornings brighter by bringing caroling to breakfast time.

Starting today, fans can enter for a chance to win a #SunriseCarolers performance by heading to SunriseCarolers.com. From "We Wish You a Merry Morning" sung in the tune of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," to "Time to Cook" arranged in the key of "Deck the Halls," there are a variety of breakfast-inspired carols that will get the whole family in the holiday spirit.

To help make mornings brighter all season long, the Sunrise Carolers custom songbook is available to stream via Spotify. And by sharing the Spotify playlist on Twitter, fans will receive an additional entry to win a Sunrise Carolers performance. Valid entries must link to the Spotify playlist and tag @JimmyDean, #sweepstakes, and #sunrisecarolers.

"Food and music are at the heart of so many holiday traditionsthey often go hand in hand in providing cheer and optimism that is synonymous with the holiday season," said Scott Glenn, Senior Director of Marketing, Jimmy Dean Brand. "We're honored that our sausage plays an important role in cherished holiday recipes that are enjoyed during this special time of year; We want to continue inspiring family togetherness, with a new twist on traditions. Our sunrise carols provide the perfect symphony as you enjoy breakfast with loved ones."

For an assortment of holiday recipe inspiration, visit www.jimmydean.com and follow @JimmyDean on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

One hundred valid entries will be randomly selected to receive a Jimmy Dean Brand Sunrise Caroler performance. No purchase is necessary. Open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and District of Columbia, who live within a maximum of thirty (30) miles from the eligible cities in Appendix A of the Official Rules and are at least the legal age of majority if which they reside as of the date of entry. The sweepstakes period runs between November 1, 2022, and November 14, 2022. Ten winners will be selected on or about each business day of the sweepstakes period. See the official rules here.

About Jimmy Dean  Brand

The Jimmy Dean brand is America's favorite breakfast sausage brand1. For over 50 years, Jimmy Dean has ensured quality in every plate, providing warm, satisfying breakfast options the whole family can enjoy. Jimmy Dean Fresh Roll Sausage, Links & Patties, Fully Cooked Sausage Links, Crumbles, Skillets, Breakfast Bowls, Breakfast Sandwiches, Bacon, Stuffed Hash Browns, Plant-Based Patty Sandwiches, Pancakes & Sausage on a Stick, Jimmy Dean Simple Scrambles breakfast cups and Jimmy Dean Delights breakfast products boast full flavors and top-quality ingredients guaranteed to make any meal the best. For more information on the Jimmy Dean brand, including product offerings and delicious recipe ideas, visit www.jimmydean.com.

1 Share of Breakfast Sausage and Frozen Protein Breakfast Categories, number one in Dollar Sales and Volume Sales data per Nielsen xAOC L52W  w/e January 23, 2021.

SOURCE Jimmy Dean Brand
Smart harvesting is anticipated to be a great solution for the labor shortage in agriculture and to obtain more yield without much wastage.

FREMONT, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BIS Research, the global leader in providing market intelligence on deep technologies, has released its latest study titled Smart Harvest Market  A Global and Regional Analysis.

According to this study, the global smart harvest market was valued at $8.38 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $16.85 billion by 2027.

The following factors are responsible for the increase in demand for smart harvesting:

High adoption of smart agriculture techniques to optimize crop yield

Need for reducing crop production cost

Lack of sufficient workforce

The detailed study is a compilation of 114 market data tables and 24 figures spread through 212 pages.

Check out the detailed table of content here:

https://bisresearch.com/requestsample?id=1386&type=toc

Analyst's Take on the Market Projection

According to Haritha Surendran, Lead Analyst, BIS Research, "Smart harvest is expected to be a great replacement for conventional harvest. Through a better adoption of robotic harvesters and autonomous tractors, agriculture can be taken to an advanced level. Issues such as labor shortage and demand for fresh produces can also be addressed, which will offer proper food security."

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https://bisresearch.com/requestsample?id=1386&type=download

Existing Competitive Landscape

The companies that are profiled have been selected based on input gathered from primary experts and analyzing company coverage, product portfolio, and market penetration. Some of the established names in the market are Agrobot, Harvest Automation, Iron Ox, Dogtooth Technologies Limited, MetoMotion, Mycionics Inc., Panasonic Holdings Corporation, TORTUGA AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC., AVL Motion B.V., Harvest CROO, Cerescon BV, Deere & Company, Energid Technologies Corporation, FFRobotics, Ripe Robotics, Robert Bosch GmbH, and Vision Robotics Corporation.

Recent Developments in the Global Smart Harvest Market

In June 2022 , Dogtooth Technologies introduced its latest fleet of strawberry-harvesting robots, mainly in the U.K. and Australia , to ease growers' labor woes.

, Dogtooth Technologies introduced its latest fleet of strawberry-harvesting robots, mainly in the U.K. and , to ease growers' labor woes. In November 2021 , Iron Ox launched Grover, an all-new autonomous mobile robot. Grover is a durable, hygienic as well as highly capable autonomous mobile robot that allows Iron Ox to save water, land, and energy.

, Iron Ox launched Grover, an all-new autonomous mobile robot. Grover is a durable, hygienic as well as highly capable autonomous mobile robot that allows Iron Ox to save water, land, and energy. In November 2021 , Fieldin acquired Midnight Robotics to advance its autonomous platforms. This acquisition was aimed at creating a brand-new sensor-based platform with driving technologies to improve the day-to-day management of the farm.

On-Field Agriculture Expected to Gain Majority in Smart Harvest Market Between 2022-2027

The application segment for the smart harvest market includes controlled environment agriculture and on-field agriculture segments as per the study conducted by BIS Research, between the two application segments, the on-field agriculture segment is anticipated to dominate the global smart harvest market with a significant share.

Robotic harvesters or autonomous harvesting systems are gaining popularity among crop growers globally. Growers are adopting autonomous harvesters for selective harvesting crops, which further save their time, energy, and labor cost as well. It further helps in solving food security issues by producing more yield without any wastage.

Want to learn more about the latest trends in the agritech industry? Speak to our analysts

Exclusive DeepTech MAP Analysis for Agritech by BIS Research:

Agriculture Autonomous Robots Market

Agriculture Drones and Robots Market

Powered Agriculture Equipment Market

About BIS Research:

BIS Research is a global B2B market intelligence and advisory firm focusing on deep technology and related emerging trends which can disrupt the market dynamics in the near future. We publish more than 200 market intelligence studies annually that focus on several deep technology verticals.

Our strategic market analysis emphasizes on market estimations, technology analysis, emerging high-growth applications, deeply segmented granular country-level market data, and other important market parameters useful in the strategic decision-making for senior management.

BIS Research offers syndicate as well as custom studies and expert consultations to firms, providing them with specific and actionable insights on novel technology markets, business models, and competitive landscapes.

Contact:

Bhavya Banga

Email: [email protected]

BIS Research Inc.

39111 PASEO PADRE PKWY STE 313,

FREMONT CA 94538-1686

Visit our Blog @ https://bisresearch.com/news

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Connect with us on [email protected] https://twitter.com/BISResearch

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SOURCE BIS Research
BEIJING, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- China and Vietnam agreed on Monday to strengthen strategic communication, enhance political mutual trust, properly manage differences in a bid to bring their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era to a new level as Chinese top leader met Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee in Beijing.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, welcomed Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the CPV Central Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday. The two leaders witnessed the signing of a batch of cooperation papers in multiple fields, which analysts said reflected the high level of political trust and laid the foundation for further deepening of bilateral relations in the future amid a more complicated international environment.

During their meeting, Xi said that Nguyen was the first foreign leader he met after the conclusion of the 20th CPC National Congress, and this was also Nguyen's first trip abroad following the 13th National Congress of the CPV, which showed that they paid great attention to the relations between the two countries and the two parties.

Xi said that as China and Vietnam face new opportunities and challenges, he is willing to work with Nguyen to deeply exchange views on the socialist building and the development of relations between the two parties and two countries.

On Monday, Xi also awarded Nguyen the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China - a medal that is bestowed on foreigners who have made outstanding contributions to China's socialist modernization, the promotion of exchange and cooperation between China and foreign countries.

Nguyen said that he has fulfilled his promise to Xi that he would visit China for his first international visit following his re-election as General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee in January 2021. Back in November 2017, Xi chose Vietnam as his first overseas destination after the 19th CPC National Congress.

Following Monday's talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents on political parties, economy and trade, environmental protection, culture and tourism, justice, customs and local affairs.

Nguyen's visit to China is yielding fruitful achievements, with the signing of cooperation documents in various fields. This also showcases the relations of China and Vietnam as good comrades, neighbors, partners and friends, Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

Xu said that it has also been a time-honored tradition that the close relations between the CPC and the CPV have led to good relations between the two countries, which means that even when the two countries face disputes or when other countries outside the region try to sow discord between them, both sides can help resolve differences and dispel misunderstandings.

In the context of the international and regional situation resulting in many complicated and unpredictable developments and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a negative and multidimensional impact on the global political and economic situation, Nguyen's visit plays a very important role in further enhancing and deepening Vietnam-China relations, consolidating political trust between the two parties and countries, and contributing to bringing bilateral relations to a new stage of development, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai said in an interview with Nhan Dan Newspaper.

Future cooperation

The two leaders agreed to continuously advance socialist modernization, align development strategies, and promote cooperation in various areas, such as medical and health care, green development, digital economy and climate change.

For the cause of socialism and China-Vietnam relations, adhering to the correct political direction is paramount, Xi said.

China regards the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and a key region in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and attaches importance to Vietnam's role in the ASEAN, Xi said.

Nguyen said that Vietnam is willing to further synergize the "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

One focus for Nguyen's visit to China is trade and economic cooperation, as China's huge market provides tremendous opportunities for Vietnam industries, especially for agricultural and fishery products, Sun Xiaoying, a research fellow at the Guangxi Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

China has been Vietnam's largest trading partner for many consecutive years and Vietnam remains China's largest trading partner among the ASEAN members. According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, China has been Vietnam's biggest importer with a turnover of some $55.9 billion, up 37 times from the figure in 2002.

Vietnam is not only a key member of ASEAN but also an important economy that participates in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which has been greatly promoted by China and other key economies in the Asia-Pacific region, so both China and Vietnam have a strong need to strengthen bilateral ties because they see each other as key strategic partners to further boost regional economic recovery and integration, especially when the world is in a state of serious turbulence, said analysts.

Analysts said China never sees Vietnam or other countries' development as a threat, and never has plans to contain others' development, and Chinese modernization aims to have win-win relations with other countries' modernization, so China will not contain but help partners like Vietnam to better realize their modernization and development goals.

Ahead of Nguyen's visit, China and Vietnam held the 11th meeting of the China-Vietnam Economic and Trade Cooperation Committee in October, during which the two countries exchanged views on cooperation in trade, investment and industrial chain, while reaching consensus in a range of key regional economic and trade issues.

There are some unresolved problems between China and Vietnam, including on the South China Sea, and new ones are emerging, including those related to the geopolitical games of great powers, adjustments of the global supply chain and opening up in the post-COVID-19 era, but the two sides are also deepening communication on managing their disputes to further improve mutual trust, which will help improve bilateral relations and maintain regional peace and stability, analysts said.

Xu noted that in recent years, Vietnam has played a more important role in ASEAN, and better relations between China and Vietnam will not only benefit the two peoples, but also help economic recovery in Asia, especially amid increasing interference from the US and other external forces.

China and Vietnam are both socialist countries and have successfully explored the path that meets their national conditions, so no matter what difficulties or problems they have, they share a significant common goal - to make socialism keep up with the times and withstand the impacts from external forces that threaten their socialist political system, and this is why the two countries are "comrades, neighbors, partners and friends" that are able to handle their problems peacefully and have common faith in serving their people and safeguarding regional peace and prosperity, experts noted.

SOURCE Global Times
BEIJING, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by Global Times:

Less than a week after the conclusion of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), General Secretary Xi Jinping led members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to visit Yan'an.

Where is Yan'an? Why did they go there?

Yan'an, a city in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, is a holy place and cradle of the Chinese revolution. During the 13 years in Yan'an, the Central Committee of the CPC formulated and implemented a series of correct paths, principles and policies, achieved great development of revolutionary forces, led the War of the Chinese People's Resistance against Japanese Aggression to the final victory, and laid a solid foundation for the victory of the new democratic revolution and the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

Yan'an holds the key to why China has grown from a poor and weak country to the world's second-largest economy. Only by understanding Yan'an can we understand the CPC, Chinese modernization, and why China insists on peaceful development.

From the Yan'an trip of the new CPC leadership, people could see where the CPC, a party with more than 100 years of history, will lead China.

There is an old saying in China: "Reviewing the past helps with predicting the future." Reviewing the CPC's original aspiration and the history and experiences of the CPC's struggles enables one to see for whom the CPC is fighting.

It is fighting for the people.

The 20th National Congress of the CPC has established that, from this day forward, the central task of the CPC will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

To put it directly, the CPC aims to empower the country to make sure that every Chinese person can live a prosperous life. That is why the CPC insists on holding up to the spirit of Yan'an. From then to now, the members of the CPC passed on the spirit from generation to generation. They have no selfish interests and serve the people wholeheartedly. They have the courage to self-reform, keep pace with the times, and always maintain a sense of responsibility to the people.

Song Luzheng, a research fellow at the China Institute, Fudan University, told the Global Times that the fundamental function of a system is to provide necessary public goods, including security, order, and people's livelihoods. The difficulty of governance varies from country to country, but whether the governance can be effective mainly depends on whether the government is responsible to the people.

Over the past few years, we have seen global crises and challenges become more frequent, and governance become more complicated. Black swan and gray rhino events can happen at any time with an increasing frequency. The whole world has been in a state of uncertainty. External changes have posed severe tests for ruling parties around the world.

China does not cause trouble for the world, but injects impetus into the common development of the world by solving China's own problems.

The Chinese leaders' trip to Yan'an has demonstrated their confidence in realizing the stable, mature and predictable development goal. This is where China's advantage, and the CPC's advantage, lie.

China's stability and predictability under the leadership of the CPC is of global significance. Today's China has become the world's stabilizer and anchor for security.

The Chinese modernization led by the CPC is modernization of common prosperity for all. It is under the leadership of a strong party staying true to its original aspiration that the Chinese people have created a new path of a peaceful rise in the history of human development.

Edgar Snow, an American journalist who was famous for reporting on the Chinese revolution, wrote in his 1937 book Red Star Over China that the popularity of his book was not because of its style or form, but the stories which were created by the young Chinese revolutionaries. He believed the spirit, strength, desire and passion that made these people invincible represented the richest and most glorious characteristics of human history.

Global Times: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202210/1278239.shtml

SOURCE Global Times
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The " Tobacco Market in Cuba by Product and Type  Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 " report has been added to Technavio's offering. The potential growth difference for the tobacco market in Cuba between 2021 and 2026 is USD 1.67 billion. To get the exact yearly growth variance and the Y-O-Y growth rate, Download the Sample Report.

Tobacco Market In Cuba : Market Segmentation

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Tobacco Market in Cuba 2022-2026

Product

Cigar



Others

Type

Combustible tobacco products



Smokeless tobacco products

To gain further insights on the market contribution of various segments Request for a FREE sample

Revenue Generating Product Segment Analysis

The tobacco market share growth in Cuba by the cigar segment will be significant during the forecast period. Cigar tobacco leaves are aged for about a year before being fermented in a multi-step process that takes anywhere between three to five months. Cigars have higher nicotine content. Little cigars are frequently flavored (e.g., chocolate, cherry, apple, mango). They are available in packs of 20 or individually. The top markets for Cuban cigars are Spain, China, Germany, France, and Switzerland. Habanos S.A., Cuba's state-owned cigar manufacturer, claimed record sales of their renowned hand-rolled cigars in 2021. Such high revenue generation will boost its demand in the market in the coming years.

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Tobacco Market In Cuba Market 2022-2026: Scope

The tobacco market report in Cuba covers the following areas:

Vendor Landscape

The tobacco industry in Cuba is fragmented owing to the presence of numerous regional as well as global vendors. Furthermore, the current market includes companies of varying sizes; some offer a more diversified product range than others. The vendors in the market compete on the criteria of price, quality, innovation, service, packaging, brand image, distribution, and promotion. Any product innovation by one player in the market can render products from other vendors obsolete or uneconomical.

Major Companies and their Offerings:

Brascuba Cigarrillos SA - The company offers tobacco brands such as Cohiba, H. Upmann, and Popular.

Partagas - The company offers tobacco brands such as Partagas Cortado, Partagas Black Label, Partagas Legend and Partagas Extra Oscuro.

China Tobacco International Co. Ltd.

General Cigar Co. Inc.

Habanos SA

Imperial Brands Plc

Philip Morris International Inc.

To gain access to more vendor profiles with their key offerings available with Technavio, Buy Now Our Full Report

What our reports offer:

Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments

Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

Covers market data for 2020, 2021, until 2025

Market trends (drivers, opportunities, threats, challenges, investment opportunities, and recommendations)

Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations

Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends

Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments

Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Related Reports:

Hookah Tobacco Market by Product, Application, and Geography  Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025: The hookah tobacco market share is expected to increase by USD 1.83 billion from 2020 to 2025.

Heat-Not-Burn Tobacco Products by Product and Geography  Forecast and Analysis 2021 -2025: The heat-not-burn tobacco products market share is expected to increase by USD 22.22 billion from 2020 to 2025.

Tobacco Market In Cuba Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 3.27% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 1.67 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 2.7 Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Brascuba Cigarrillos SA, China Tobacco International Co. Ltd., General Cigar Co. Inc., Habanos SA, Imperial Brands Plc, and Philip Morris International Inc. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market Overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Country Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Product



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Type



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 07: Parent market



Exhibit 08: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market Definition

Exhibit 09: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 10: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 11: Chart on Cuba - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 12: Data Table on Cuba - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 13: Chart on Cuba : Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 14: Data Table on Cuba : Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 15: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 16: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 17: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 18: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 19: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 20: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 21: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Product

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 22: Chart on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 23: Data Table on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Product

Exhibit 24: Chart on Comparison by Product



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Comparison by Product

5.3 Cigar - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 26: Chart on Cigar - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Cigar - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 28: Chart on Cigar - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Cigar - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 30: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 32: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by Product

Exhibit 34: Market opportunity by Product ($ million)

6 Market Segmentation by Type

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 35: Chart on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 36: Data Table on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Type

Exhibit 37: Chart on Comparison by Type



Exhibit 38: Data Table on Comparison by Type

6.3 Combustible tobacco products - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 39: Chart on Combustible tobacco products - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 40: Data Table on Combustible tobacco products - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 41: Chart on Combustible tobacco products - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 42: Data Table on Combustible tobacco products - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.4 Smokeless tobacco products - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 43: Chart on Smokeless tobacco products - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 44: Data Table on Smokeless tobacco products - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 45: Chart on Smokeless tobacco products - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 46: Data Table on Smokeless tobacco products - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.5 Market opportunity by Type

Exhibit 47: Market opportunity by Type ($ million)

7 Customer Landscape

7.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 48: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 49: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 50: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 51: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 52: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 53: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 54: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 Brascuba Cigarrillos SA

Exhibit 55: Brascuba Cigarrillos SA - Overview



Exhibit 56: Brascuba Cigarrillos SA - Product / Service



Exhibit 57: Brascuba Cigarrillos SA - Key offerings

10.4 China Tobacco International Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 58: China Tobacco International Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 59: China Tobacco International Co. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 60: China Tobacco International Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

10.5 General Cigar Co. Inc.

Exhibit 61: General Cigar Co. Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 62: General Cigar Co. Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 63: General Cigar Co. Inc. - Key offerings

10.6 Habanos SA

Exhibit 64: Habanos SA - Overview



Exhibit 65: Habanos SA - Product / Service



Exhibit 66: Habanos SA - Key offerings

10.7 Imperial Brands Plc

Exhibit 67: Imperial Brands Plc - Overview



Exhibit 68: Imperial Brands Plc - Business segments



Exhibit 69: Imperial Brands Plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 70: Imperial Brands Plc - Segment focus

10.8 Philip Morris International Inc.

Exhibit 71: Philip Morris International Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 72: Philip Morris International Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 73: Philip Morris International Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 74: Philip Morris International Inc. - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 75: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 76: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 77: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 78: Research methodology



Exhibit 79: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 80: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 81: List of abbreviations

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Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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SOURCE Technavio
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The DeGregorio Family Foundation with support from the Torrey Coast Foundation Gastro Esophageal Investigator Network Initiative (GEMINI) has awarded $250,000 to Eric Smith, MD, PhD, and Andrew Aguirre, MD, PhD, both of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Sam Klempner, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, to improve immunotherapy in gastroesophageal cancer by identifying and characterizing additional target antigens for next-generation cellular therapies. Depending on results, this grant funding could increase up to $1 million.

The grant winners, top row from left to right: Dr. Eric Smith, Dr. Andrew Aguirre; bottom row: Dr. Sam Klempner.

One immunotherapy that has shown very positive results in blood cancers is Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. Ongoing CAR T cell trials in gastric and esophageal adenocarcinomas (GEA) targeting a highly expressed antigen called CLDN18.2 have been successful in inducing tumor regressions in patients. However, responses are not long-lasting and patients usually relapse.

One key feature limiting the effectiveness of CLDN18.2 CAR T cells is the variable expression of CLDN18.2 on tumor cells. To overcome this challenge, the team will investigate patient tumor samples to identify and characterize additional target antigens that may be amenable for CAR T cell therapy of GEA cancers.

They will then use this data to inform the development of next-generation cellular therapies targeting multiple antigens. As they have done with novel CAR T cell therapies for blood cancers, they plan to translate this novel CAR T cell therapy to the clinic with the goal of obtaining more durable responses and ultimately cures for GEA patients.

Co-principal investigators Drs. Smith, Aguirre and Klempner all agree that "DeGregorio Family Foundation funding is transformative for our research at this stage. The commitment that the Foundation made will enable us to develop a better understanding of potential immunotherapy targets for gastric and esophageal cancers and to accelerate the development of a novel cellular therapy for translation to the clinic, where it will directly impact patients."

In 2020, gastric and esophageal cancers combined kill over 1.3 million people worldwide. Patients continue to face poor prognoses following gastric and esophageal cancer diagnoses due to their chemo-resistant behavior and ability to metastasize.

The DeGregorio Family Foundation, founded in 2006 after a 10th member of the DeGregorio family died of stomach cancer, has raised almost $8 million to fund innovative research focused on curing gastric and esophageal cancers. "We are proud to support the development of the next-generation cellular therapy for gastroesophageal cancer by Drs. Smith, Aguirre and Klempner," concluded Lynn DeGregorio, President and Founder.

Click here to donate.

Contact:

Sarah Fletcher

917-855-7994

[email protected]

SOURCE DeGregorio Family Foundation
BANGALORE, India, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ground Support Equipment Market is Segmented By Type (Powered Equipment, Non-Powered Equipment), By Application (Passenger Service, Cargo Service, Aircraft Service) : Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20222028. It is published in Valuates Reports under the Transportation & Logistics Category.



Ground Support Equipment market size is estimated to be worth USD 2632 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 3588.1 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 5.3% during the review period.

Major Factors Driving the Growth of the Ground Support Equipment Market

Increased air traffic and cargo, increased airport focus on improving operational efficiency, high service standards, and leasing of ground support equipment are some of the important factors influencing the growth of the ground support equipment market.

The market is also significantly impacted by expensive initial expenditures, a shift in focus toward buying more environmentally friendly Ground Support Equipment, outsourcing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) to a third party, and an increase in the usage of wireless technologies.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT MARKET

The growth of air travel is anticipated together with the expansion of the world economy. The introduction of low-cost airlines with competitive rates on well-traveled routes is the second development element. Ongoing initiatives to reconnect the world with industry and governments are anticipated to gain new momentum. The need for top-notch ground support services and equipment grows as a result of the development of aviation infrastructure, which includes building new airports and expanding existing airports. This factor is expected to increase the growth of the Ground Support Equipment Market

Airport operations have changed significantly as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 epidemic in the aviation sector. The pandemic altered customer expectations of the travel experience in addition to permanently altering cleanliness and safety standards, and the aviation sector will need to keep up with these changes. The key issue will be the ongoing digitization of the customer journey. The primary objective for the global airline industry will continue to be improving airport operations' efficiency and offering a completely touchless journey from booking to arrival. This element will continue to fuel the expansion of the Ground Support Equipment Market

Electricity is being used by more airports and airlines than ever before. The conversion to electric ground support equipment (GSE) is frequently made for a number of reasons, while the environmental advantages of electric equipment may play a significant role in this evolution. Electric equipment is more enticing than it has ever been from a financial standpoint. Owning electric ground support equipment can actually provide advantageous financial advantages. The majority of contemporary loading equipment is still non-electric from a worldwide standpoint. As there is still a lack of electric infrastructure to allow the installation of electric GSE, the airport infrastructures play a significant role in this. This factor is expected to drive the growth of the Ground Support Equipment Market.

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GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS:

North America is expected to be the most lucrative region.

Due to rising airports all over the world, an increase in air travelers, and the modernization of traditional GSEs, the passenger segment is expected to experience significant growth.

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Key Companies:

TLD Group

JBT Corporation

Tug Technologies Corporation

Fast Global Solutions

Mallaghan

HYDRO

MULAG

Nepean

Tronair

Aero Specialties

Global Ground Support

Toyota Industries Corp

DOLL

Gate GSE

Guangtai Airports Equipment

Shenzhen TECHKING

Hangfu Airdrome Equipment

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HOUSTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Happy Cappy, manufacturer of irritant free products designed for cradle cap, dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and dry, itchy, irritated eczema prone skin in children of all ages is pleased to announce the rollout of a new Learning Center on their website, happycappy.com. This new Learning Center includes a Blog, a Parenting Myth eBook, Video Learning, and Relief and Skincare Tips by Dr. Eddie. With this new Learning Center, parents can educate themselves on common skin ailments that their children may have and become advocates for their own child's health.

Happy Cappy, A Pediatrician's Solution, makes dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic products for cradle cap, dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and dry, itchy, eczema prone skin. Our website is an educational resource for topics related to cradle cap, keratosis pilaris, atopic dermatitis (commonly called eczema), fungal acne, neonatal acne and more. We now have a Learning Center that offers an eBook debunking baby care myths, a new blog, videos, and other skin care tips. The only shampoo formulated to fight flaking and irritation of the scalp and skin associated with seborrheic dermatitis for children of all ages. Seborrheic Dermatitis is also known as Cradle Cap. Happy Cappy was voted "Best Cradle Cap Shampoo" by Parents magazine. Our website is an educational resource about topics related to cradle cap, dandruff, eczema, fungal acne, neonatal acne and more. We now have a Learning Center that offers tips on common issues found in a baby's first year of life.

Dr. Eddie, a board-certified pediatrician, weighs in about the new eBook debunking some parenting myths regarding baby care. He says, "The Happy Cappy website has always been an educational resource, curated by a doctor that discusses common skin problems like cradle cap, seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff, and eczema. These conditions affect both children and adults...and yes Happy Cappy is perfect for use on adults too. But now we have provided an informative guide speaking to parenting topics like tummy time, reading to your child, and bedtime routines for example. There are eight chapters having to do with all aspects of a baby's first year of life and one chapter about the treatment of cradle cap."

Parents commonly find themselves reaching out to other friends, posting on Facebook, or scouring the internet when they notice something amiss with their child. This can be helpful at times, but it can also lead to non-evidence-based recommendations that may prolong the time it takes to resolve an ailment. For example, some moms treat cradle cap with breastmilk or mineral oil along with a special comb; however, pediatric textbooks indicate treatment of seborrheic dermatitis (cradle cap) using an anti-fungal shampoo. In the Learning Center Blog, parents can read newsworthy articles that break down the reasons why certain skin treatments work and don't work.

When parents bring home a new baby for the first time, they will likely find that they are bombarded with advice, some helpful and some not so much. For example, it is a common belief that holding babies "too much" will spoil them. In Happy Cappy's eBook, parents can feel relieved that their instinct to hold their baby is not going to spoil their baby. After reading "What to Do with Your Crying Baby" from the eBook, one parent remarked, "Thank you! I hold him as much as I can. One day he won't want to be held all the time."

In addition to the eBook and blog, parents can view videos with Dr Eddie explaining skin ailments and Happy Cappy products. One can also find physician vetted relief and skincare tips about scalp health, seborrheic dermatitis, and more. Regarding eczema: "Should people with eczema avoid certain foods?", "Is eczema the same as athletes' foot?", "Do humidifiers help eczema?" About dandruff, "Does stress cause dandruff?", "Is dandruff a fungus?", "Is dandruff contagious?"

To compliment the Learning Center, Happy Cappy is rolling out a Facebook Group called "Happy Cappy Community" aimed at providing parents with a community to ask questions and share experiences when it comes to parenting and various skin conditions. Group members can provide feedback on Learning Center articles, ask questions about website content, and recommend topics for future articles. Happy Cappy Community will not give medical advice, but will serve as an online forum for parents to come together.

Media Contact:

Dr. Eddie Valenzuela, CEO

713-929-6603

[email protected]

SOURCE Happy Cappy
Leadership Addition Helps Drive Creative Transformation Across the Region and Elevates Role of Creativity In Health

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The European health market is expected to grow more than 15 percent by 2025, and Havas Health & You's European business has expanded to match  doubling in size since 2017 alone. To support this rapid growth and strengthen the region's leadership bench, the network today announced that that it is elevating Havas Lynx's Paul Kinsella to Chief Creative Officer of Havas Health & You Europe. Paul assumed the role on October 31st, and will work closely with CEO of Havas Health & You Europe Elizabeth Egan and Global CCO Eric Weisberg to develop modern, innovative creative solutions for clients and teams across the entire region.

Paul first joined Havas Group in 2015 as a Creative Director and rapidly rose through the ranks. In 2019, he became Executive Creative Director at Havas Lynx Group  where he helped the agency win the Cannes Lions for Healthcare Agency of the Year  and was quickly appointed Chief Creative Officer for Havas Lynx. Paul's legacy of success can be felt throughout the business  Havas Lynx was crowned European Creative Pharma Agency of the Year at the London International Awards in 2021 thanks to Paul, his co-CCO, and the Lynx team.

"Health is the biggest growth opportunity for creatives right now, because health and wellness brands have never had greater opportunities to use creativity to break stigmas, connect communities, and drive solutions for consumers. I'm inspired by the prospect of working with the teams in Europe, to work alongside Elizabeth Egan again and to continue to support and learn from Eric Weisberg," said Paul. "So many exciting developments are already in motion  the promotion of Christoph Dananik as CCO across Germany, for instance  and collectively I believe we can achieve every ambition we set our mind to, improve people's lives across the region, and use creativity as a cure."

This move marks the latest in a series of moves Havas Health & You has made to establish itself as a powerhouse in the European market. Earlier this summer, for instance, the network appointed dedicated leader Elizabeth Egan as the region's new CEO to continue driving success in the region. This strengthened European leadership team will work closely with Global CEO of Havas Health & You and Havas Creative Group, Donna Murphy, as well as Eric Weisberg, to realize their collective vision for this important market.

"I could not be happier to be bringing Paul into the European leadership team he brings the right mix of authentic empathy, data expertise, and craft excellence to drive success across the region," said Elizabeth. "With our clear growth and acquisition plans in Europe and already having multiple strong teams in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, it's the perfect time for the European team to have an over-arching CCO to work in strong partnership with Eric Weisberg CCO HH&Y and drive the next generation for creative success across our business."

To learn more, visit havashealthandyou.com.

About Havas Health & You

Havas Health & You unites Havas Life, Health4Brands (H4B), Lynx, Red Havas and Havas Health Plus, all wholly owned health and communications networks, with the consumer health businesses and practices of Havas Creative Group. The network's approach is centered around Human Purpose and has the talent, tenacity, and technology that health companies, brands and people need to thrive in today's world. For more information, go to www.HavasHealthandYou.com.

SOURCE Havas Health & You
Care Resource Hosts Rooftop Tribute in Midtown Miami

MIAMI, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Care Resource Community Health Centers, Inc. is hosting a tribute to World AIDS Day with the theme "Healing Through the Arts," on the rooftop of their Midtown Miami health center located on 3510 Biscayne Boulevard on December 1, 2022, from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm.

The night includes dance performances by the United Ballroom Houses of South Florida, an array of donated and radiant art pieces, poetry readings, a candlelight vigil, and more.

World AIDS Day Miami

This event incorporates the four pillars to ending the HIV epidemic, which include: diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and response. Additionally, this is an opportunity to recognize, honor and celebrate the medical advancements made during the past 30 years.

According to Steven Santiago, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Care Resource, "World AIDS Day reminds us that HIV has not gone away. The event's four pillars of diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and response are crucial to increasing awareness, fighting prejudice, and improving education. Diagnosis is a reminder that there are still people living with HIV who are not aware. Prevention is a reminder about the need to further increase methods to reduce the rate of infection. Treatment is a reminder that hope is available for people who do not know their status. The pillar of Response is critical as it is a reminder to the community that new outbreaks are happening all the time. "

Observed worldwide on December 1, World AIDS Day is the moment of the year when millions of people come together across the world to commemorate those who have been lost to HIV, applaud the progress made in responding to the crises, and recommit to ending the epidemic.

For more information, or to RSVP to the event, please click here.

About Care Resource:

Care Resource is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization and a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with four locations in Midtown Miami, Little Havana, Miami Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. The health center provides comprehensive health and support services to address the full health care needs of South Florida's pediatric, adolescent, and adult populations.

SOURCE Care Resource
HELSINGBORG, Sweden, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Acorai, a Swedish-based medical device start-up, announces endorsements from two major healthcare players as they prepare the Acorai Heart Monitor for regulatory submission and clinical use within the next 18 months.

Acorai is developing a first-of-its-kind, scalable medical device for non-invasive intracardiac pressure monitoring to improve heart failure management for more than 60 million patients worldwide. The Acorai Heart Monitor has clinically demonstrated accuracies equal to the invasive gold standards in a 200-patient feasibility study.

Investments from NHS-linked Kings Health Care Partners (KHP) and inclusion in the HealthTech Arkansas HeartX program support Acorai's clinical studies within the UK and US healthcare systems. These studies will generate data across a broader population to increase the robustness and accuracies already demonstrated in the first feasibility study.

Acorai's CEO Filip Peters said, "Investment from KHP Ventures and HealthTech Arkansas demonstrates that we are addressing a high unmet need within the heart failure space. These partnerships will allow us to build long-lasting clinical partnerships with world-leading institutions and are key to realising our clinical and regulatory milestones. Having partners like these, with a deep understanding of the complexities of bringing a medical device to market, allows us to de-risk our pathway towards commercialisation in 2024." Jakob Gelberg, Head of Software and co-founder, added, "KHP and HealthTech Arkansas are important proof-of-concept signals for the community ahead of the planned clinical trials."

Acorai will also expand its clinical studies to other US and European sites in 2023. Still, the two investments from KHP and Healthtech Arkansas are crucial milestones as they demonstrate clinical and corporate endorsement for the development and product strategy of Acorai.

Why Acorai is a game changer in Heart Failure

More than 60 million people globally suffer from heart failure, and approximately 1 million Americans are hospitalised yearly due to worsening symptoms. Despite drug advances and new treatments, up to 30% of patients return to the emergency room within 30-days of discharge. This cycle of admissions and repeated readmissions results in poor quality of life, high patient mortality, and overwhelming costs of more than $100bn for the US health system.

Intracardiac pressure monitoring (ICPM) is the single most effective way to manage heart failure patients, but existing ICPM tools are invasive, high cost & limited in applicability. The Acorai Heart Monitors non-invasive handheld form factor will drastically reduce time and cost for ICPM, making ICPM available for all heart failure patients. Access to these vital signs will improve the quality of care for patients, yield better health outcomes, and result in significant cost savings if deployed across the healthcare system.

Acorai targeting US market expansion

Acorai is backed by Bayer, private investments, and recently KHP Ventures; the team now turns their focus on raising capital from the US investment community to execute their final clinical investigation ahead of FDA submissions by the end of Q4 2023 and commercial launch in 2024.

Over the coming months, Acorai and its employees will have a significant presence across the US for investment and partnership meetings, managing US study sites, as well as attending HealthTech trade shows. The team pass through Little Rock (Nov 1 - Nov 5), Silicon Valley (Nov 6-12), Las Vegas (attending HLTH during Nov 13-17) and Atlanta (Nov 18-20). To get in touch with the team or learn about investment opportunities, e-mail: [email protected] .

About Acorai

Acorai is developing a scalable medical device for non-invasive intracardiac pressure monitoring to improve heart failure management for more than 60 million patients worldwide. The Acorai Heart Monitor uses the patented SAVE Sensor System and proprietary machine learning models, which have clinically demonstrated accuracies equal to the invasive gold standards.

Acorai is backed by Bayer with a seasoned medical device team and corporate advisory board with experiences from GE Healthcare, Occlutech, Abbott & AstraZeneca, and clinical partnerships with world-leading hospitals.

Visit https://acorai.com/ to learn more about Acorai's potential to become the new standard in heart failure management and a leader in non-invasive patient care.

SOURCE Acorai AB
South Africa: Manamela commits to fight GBV on campus

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Deputy Minister, Buti Manamela, announced on Tuesday that the department will bolster campus security to fight gender-based violence (GBV).

We have built structures institutionally, which includes an extensive policy-making process, where all institutions need to integrate issues of gender-based violence, involving all stakeholders in campus, he said.

The Deputy Minister was addressing high school learners at the Campus Community Forum at Walter Sisulu University in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.

The focus of the forum is on the scourge of crime and GBV, which continue to affect the fabric of society, and is pervasive in higher education institutions.

For this reason, one of the key objectives of the department is to eradicate crime and GBV in the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector.

Manamela said the number of women who report GBV at higher institutions of learning is on the rise.

According to Manamela, proper victim support structures are playing a key role in ensuring that those who feel at risk can approach an institution to report such crimes.

More importantly, we want to make everyone on campus comfortable and aware of what we mean by sexual harassment, consent and toxic masculinity -- issues that have perpetuated gender-based violence on campus.

He believes that the release of crime statistics continues to highlight the extent of the problem of abuse against women and children.

Most of these statistics are quite alarming, he admitted.

The department responsible for higher education has since collaborated with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other key stakeholders, such as campus management, to coordinate the much-needed interventions.

What is pleasing is that were no longer sweeping crimes around gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) under the carpet. Rapists and abusers who harass women, in particular, are finding theres no longer space to hide.

The Deputy Minister has also acknowledged the second Presidential Summit on GBVF that is currently underway at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.

The summit is based on the commitment that the President made and is indicative of the commitment that our government has made towards fighting and ending GBV and increasing the level of intolerance against it.

Meanwhile, he spoke against the vigilante groups in pursuit of justice.

However, he has called for structures that will empower stakeholders on campus to help contribute to the role the police are playing in preventing crime on campus.

Manamela also stressed the importance of uprooting substance abuse.

We have to ensure that our universities and TVET colleges, especially based in the township and more at risk of getting specific attention and get all the structures to work together with the police to prevent any form of crime and protect the lives of the students.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-11-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - There has been increased calls for a more diverse Canadian teaching workforce for decades , but progress towards this has been slow. For 20 years the answer to diversifying the teaching workforce was to hire more male teachers. Today, the student population represents a wide range of backgrounds  including a mosaic of varied racial, cultural, gender, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Therefore, there is an immense need for a diverse workforce of educators that possess the ability to empathize and relate to students, parents, and the wider communities in which they teach.

It takes more than academic ability to thrive in an initial teacher preparation program and ultimately become a great teacher. Our recent blog post discusses how holistic review can help diversify the teaching workforce .

Altus Assessments' mission is to create a world served by exceptional professionals. One of the ways that we do this is through Casper , our unique open-response situational judgment test (SJT) that evaluates applicants' social intelligence and professionalism skills.

If you would like to speak about how we're supporting teaching programs to become more inclusive, please connect with our Media Contact Brianna Bell at [email protected] .

SOURCE Altus Assessments Inc.
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In collaboration with Goodwill of Southern California, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties and the Department of Child Support Services, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) Community Resource Centers will host Roadshow Recruitment job fairs.

Events will be held at all three IEHP Community Resource Centers at the following dates and times:

In collaboration with Goodwill of Southern California, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties and the Department of Child Support Services, IEHP Community Resource Centers are hosting Roadshow Recruitment job fairs next week.

Tuesday, Nov. 8 , from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at IEHP's Riverside center, 3590 Tyler St., Suite 101, Riverside, Calif. , 92503

, from at IEHP's center, 3590 Tyler St., Suite 101, , 92503 Wednesday, Nov. 9 , from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at IEHP's Victorville center, 12353 Mariposa Road, Suites C-2 & C-3, Victorville, Calif. , 92395

, from at IEHP's center, 12353 Mariposa Road, Suites C-2 & C-3, , 92395 Thursday, Nov. 10 , from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at IEHP's San Bernardino center, 805 W. Second St., Suite C, San Bernardino, Calif. , 92410

Each event will have about eight employers on site, all accepting applications and conducting interviews for various roles. Industry positions include jobs in retail, education, transportation, manufacturing, logistics, hospitality, law enforcement, U.S. armed forces, administrative and more. Registration is required by filling out this form.

"With so many in need and right before the holidays, this job fair is greatly needed," said IEHP Community Resource Center Manager Maria Gallegos. "We're thrilled to connect our members and neighbors to trusted employers, who are actively looking to hire within our communities."

Attendees are encouraged to dress professionally and to bring several copies of their resumes. Workshops for resume building will also be offered by Goodwill of Southern California.

"Our centers are an invaluable resource for our region because of our community partners and their willingness to consistently collaborate with us to support our most vulnerable residents," said IEHP Community Resource Center Manager Delia Orosco. "We are eager to help facilitate these connections and foster growth in our neighborhoods because of events like these."

About IEHP

With a mission to heal and inspire the human spirit, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) is one of the top 10 largest Medicaid health plans and the largest not-for-profit Medicare-Medicaid plan in the country. In its 26th year, IEHP is supporting more than 1.5 million residents in Riverside and San Bernardino counties who are enrolled in Medicaid or Cal MediConnect Plans and has a growing network of over 7,800 providers and nearly 3,000 team members. Through dynamic partnerships with providers and community organizations, paired with award-winning service and a tradition of quality care, IEHP is fully committed to their vision: We will not rest until our communities enjoy optimal care and vibrant health. For more information, visit iehp.org.

SOURCE Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP)
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- the Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of International Game Technology PLC (NYSE: IGT) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

Class Period: March 16, 2018 to August 29, 2022

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: December 13, 2022

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in IGT:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/igt-class-action-loss-submission-form?id=33194&from=4

International Game Technology PLC NEWS - IGT NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that International Game Technology PLC made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) IGT overstated its compliance with gaming and lottery laws and applicable regulations; (ii) IGT and/or one or more of its current and/or former subsidiaries engaged in illegal gambling operations; (iii) the foregoing conduct subjected the Company and/or its current and/or former subsidiaries to a heightened risk of litigation and significant related costs; (iv) the Company downplayed the full scope and severity of its financial exposure to, and/or liabilities in connection with, the lawsuit filed against IGT's subsidiary in April of 2018; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in IGT you have until December 13, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased IGT securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the IGT lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/igt-class-action-loss-submission-form?id=33194&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

535 Fifth Avenue

4th Floor

New York City, NY 10017

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
Improve mental health with vibroacoustic therapy

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- inHarmony, an innovative tech-assisted wellness company that uses vibroacoustic therapy devices for fast and effective meditation announces today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a patent for their Meditation Cushion.

The USPTO has issued U.S. Patent No. D953,766 S entitled "Seating Apparatus." This patent is part of the company's tech-assisted devices portfolio, which includes the "inHarmony Meditation Cushion," "inHarmony Sound Lounge" and the "inHarmony Practitioner."

inHarmony improves mental health with vibroacoustic therapy Tweet this

"For anyone that is on the go and focused on day-to-day to-do lists, they're typically stuck in a beta brainwave that is over-stimulated. Our products are a shortcut that enables people to flow into and out of an alpha brain wave state more easily so they can more easily relax," says Craig Goldberg, Co-Founder of inHarmony and Certified Vibroacoustic Therapy Practitioner. "Technology got us into this mess and technology can get us out."

inHarmony financial results for its fiscal 2022 third-quarter revenue record sales up 26% year over year, and quarterly earnings up 43%.

"As we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic another pandemic is upon us: mental health." says Dominic Carnevale, Co-Founder of inHarmony. "inHarmony is a solution for the mental health crisis as it pertains to depression and anxiety. Furthermore, the ailments of living a technology-driven, sensory-overloaded lifestyle have resulted in more people living with prolonged stress, chronic pain, sleep disorders, and more."

The inHarmony mindful meditation products deliver a deeply centering mind-body experience in as little as 11 minutes. Clients have reported instant results and profound benefits in terms of focus, physical relaxation, and a general sense of well-being.

"My first experience using the Sound Lounge was indescribable." says Jennifer Plank, a 45-year-old inHarmony Vibroacoustic Sound Lounge customer "The best way I can explain it is an out-of-body experience. The music, (which is phenomenal) and the vibrations combined put you in a place in space that makes you feel safe to let your mind and body just let go and relax."

inHarmony's technologically advanced sound/vibration system has its roots in many ancient forms of meditation. For generations, Buddhist monks have been able to quickly access a deep meditative state by using vibration and sound. The company has taken these principles and created a user-friendly technology that allows anyone to immediately access a state of mind/body/spiritual harmony without decades of rigorous training.

About inHarmony

inHarmony uses a patented system of tech-assisted sound and vibration therapies to quickly and comfortably put the user into a deep meditative state. The combination of Vibro-Tactile Stimulation and Vibro-Acoustic Technology delivers fast and effective meditation. The inHarmony community is on a mission to revolutionize America's approach to mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Say goodbye to a distracted mind. Download the app @ inHarmony or visit www.iaminharmony.com.

Media Contact:

Raquel Figlo, Raquel Figlo Public Relations

[email protected]/ 714-724-1322

SOURCE inHarmony
DUBLIN, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Cosmetic Surgery Market By Gender, By Age Group, By Procedure, By End User: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global cosmetic surgery market was valued at $67,289.1 million in 2021, and is projected to reach $201,025.5 million by 2031, registering a CAGR of 11.6% from 2022 to 2031.

Cosmetic surgery is a type of plastic surgery that aims to improve a person's appearance. It is the unique discipline of medicine focused on enhancing appearance through surgical and medical techniques. Cosmetic surgery can be performed on any part of the face or body. It is a voluntary choice made by a patient to have cosmetic surgery. It includes body contouring, breast enhancement, facial contouring, facial rejuvenation, skin rejuvenation, eyelid surgery, liposuction, rhinoplasty, and facelift. The non-surgical procedure includes botulinum toxin, soft tissue fillers, laser skin resurfacing, microdermabrasion, intense pulsed light, chemical peel, and laser skin resurfacing.

The cosmetic surgery market is driven by increase in number of cosmetic procedures such as body contouring, breast enhancement, facial contouring, increase in demand for aesthetic treatment, rise in awareness regarding skin health, and surge in expenditure on human healthcare services.

Moreover, increase in number of key players to launch various cosmetic surgery products boosts growth of the market. Increase in number of licensed medical spas. Rise in self-awareness among young population regarding aesthetic appearance is anticipated to propel growth of the market. According to a report by the American society of plastic surgeons (ASPS), in 2020, it was reported that around 16 million cosmetic procedures are conducted, globally. As per the same source, it was also reported that consumers spent approximately $20 billion on cosmetic surgery procedures globally for total consumers. Breast augmentation surgery remains leading aesthetic surgical procedure in the U.S.

According to the aesthetic society, over 250,000 primary breast augmentation procedures were performed in the U.S. in 2020. According to the Galderma, one of the aesthetic product manufacturing companies, increase in number of new products for cosmetic surgery also boosts the market. For instance, in January 2021, Candela Syneron, a healthcare equipment manufacturing company, announced the launch of the frax pro system. It is a smarter version of frax dual-depth skin resurfacing device.



However, side effects associated with cosmetic procedures and high cost of surgical cosmetic procedures are anticipated to hinder the market growth during the forecast period. Side effects such as complication related to anesthesia, infection, edema, abnormal scaring, numbness, or nerve damage at the surgical site hinder growth of the market.

Development of products with advanced technologies for cosmetic procedures boost demand for cosmetic surgery and provide growth opportunities for the cosmetic surgery market. For instance, in February 2022, Galderma, a pharmaceutical company, announced the launch of alastin skincare reform and repair complex with trihex technology. It is designed to assist in recovery from surgical body procedure.



The global cosmetic surgery market is segmented on the basis of procedure, gender, age group, provider and region. The procedure segment is further bifurcated into breast augmentation, eyelid surgery, liposuction, rhinoplasty and others. On the basis of geneder market is segmented into female and male. On the basis of age group market is segmented into 13 to 29, 30 to 54 and 55 and others. On the basis of provider market is segmented into ambulatory surgical facilities, hospitals & clinics, office & cosmetic surgical center. Region wise, the market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.



Some of the major companies that operate in the global cosmetic surgery market include AbbVie Inc., Bausch Health Companies Inc., Candela Syneron, Cynosure Technologies, Galderma SA, Johnson and Johnson, Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA, Sientra Inc, Sinclair Pharma, and Teoxane Laboratories



Key Benefits For Stakeholders

This report provides a quantitative analysis of the market segments, current trends, estimations, and dynamics of the cosmetic surgery market analysis from 2021 to 2031 to identify the prevailingcosmetic surgery market opportunity.

The market research is offered along with information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities.

Porter's five forces analysis highlights the potency of buyers and suppliers to enable stakeholders make profit-oriented business decisions and strengthen their supplier-buyer network.

In-depth analysis of the cosmetic surgery market segmentation assists to determine the prevailing market opportunities.

Major countries in each region are mapped according to their revenue contribution to the global market.

Market player positioning facilitates benchmarking and provides a clear understanding of the present position of the market players.

The report includes the analysis of the regional as well as global cosmetic surgery market trends, key players, market segments, application areas, and market growth strategies.

Key Topics Covered:



CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION



CHAPTER 2: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



CHAPTER 3: MARKET OVERVIEW

3.1. Market definition and scope

3.2. Key findings

3.2.1. Top investment pockets

3.3. Porter's five forces analysis

3.4. Top player positioning

3.5. Market dynamics

3.5.1. Drivers

3.5.2. Restraints

3.5.3. Opportunities

3.6. COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the market



CHAPTER 4: COSMETIC SURGERY MARKET, BY PROCEDURE

4.1 Overview

4.1.1 Market size and forecast

4.2 Breast augmentation

4.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

4.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region

4.2.3 Market analysis by country

4.3 Eyelid surgery

4.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

4.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region

4.3.3 Market analysis by country

4.4 Liposuction

4.4.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

4.4.2 Market size and forecast, by region

4.4.3 Market analysis by country

4.5 Rhinoplasty

4.5.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

4.5.2 Market size and forecast, by region

4.5.3 Market analysis by country

4.6 Others

4.6.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

4.6.2 Market size and forecast, by region

4.6.3 Market analysis by country



CHAPTER 5: COSMETIC SURGERY MARKET, BY GENDER

5.1 Overview

5.1.1 Market size and forecast

5.2 Female

5.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

5.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region

5.2.3 Market analysis by country

5.3 Male

5.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

5.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region

5.3.3 Market analysis by country



CHAPTER 6: COSMETIC SURGERY MARKET, BY AGE GROUP

6.1 Overview

6.1.1 Market size and forecast

6.2 13 to 29

6.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

6.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region

6.2.3 Market analysis by country

6.3 30 to 54

6.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

6.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region

6.3.3 Market analysis by country

6.4 55 and above

6.4.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

6.4.2 Market size and forecast, by region

6.4.3 Market analysis by country



CHAPTER 7: COSMETIC SURGERY MARKET, BY END USER

7.1 Overview

7.1.1 Market size and forecast

7.2 Ambulatory surgical facility

7.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

7.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region

7.2.3 Market analysis by country

7.3 Hospital and clinic

7.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

7.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region

7.3.3 Market analysis by country

7.4 Office and cosmetic surgical center

7.4.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

7.4.2 Market size and forecast, by region

7.4.3 Market analysis by country



CHAPTER 8: COSMETIC SURGERY MARKET, BY REGION



CHAPTER 9: COMPANY LANDSCAPE

9.1. Introduction

9.2. Top winning strategies

9.3. Product Mapping of Top 10 Player

9.4. Competitive Dashboard

9.5. Competitive Heatmap

9.6. Key developments



CHAPTER 10: COMPANY PROFILES

10.1 Abbvie Inc

10.1.1 Company overview

10.1.2 Company snapshot

10.1.3 Operating business segments

10.1.4 Product portfolio

10.1.5 Business performance

10.1.6 Key strategic moves and developments

10.2 Bausch Health Companies Inc.

10.2.1 Company overview

10.2.2 Company snapshot

10.2.3 Operating business segments

10.2.4 Product portfolio

10.2.5 Business performance

10.2.6 Key strategic moves and developments

10.3 Candela Syneron

10.3.1 Company overview

10.3.2 Company snapshot

10.3.3 Operating business segments

10.3.4 Product portfolio

10.3.5 Business performance

10.3.6 Key strategic moves and developments

10.4 cynosure inc

10.4.1 Company overview

10.4.2 Company snapshot

10.4.3 Operating business segments

10.4.4 Product portfolio

10.4.5 Business performance

10.4.6 Key strategic moves and developments

10.5 Galderma SA

10.5.1 Company overview

10.5.2 Company snapshot

10.5.3 Operating business segments

10.5.4 Product portfolio

10.5.5 Business performance

10.5.6 Key strategic moves and developments

10.6 Merz Pharma GmbH and Co. KGaA

10.6.1 Company overview

10.6.2 Company snapshot

10.6.3 Operating business segments

10.6.4 Product portfolio

10.6.5 Business performance

10.6.6 Key strategic moves and developments

10.7 Sientra Inc

10.7.1 Company overview

10.7.2 Company snapshot

10.7.3 Operating business segments

10.7.4 Product portfolio

10.7.5 Business performance

10.7.6 Key strategic moves and developments

10.8 Sinclair Pharmaceuticals Limited

10.8.1 Company overview

10.8.2 Company snapshot

10.8.3 Operating business segments

10.8.4 Product portfolio

10.8.5 Business performance

10.8.6 Key strategic moves and developments

10.9 Teoxane Laboratories

10.9.1 Company overview

10.9.2 Company snapshot

10.9.3 Operating business segments

10.9.4 Product portfolio

10.9.5 Business performance

10.9.6 Key strategic moves and developments

10.10 Johnson and Johnson

10.10.1 Company overview

10.10.2 Company snapshot

10.10.3 Operating business segments

10.10.4 Product portfolio

10.10.5 Business performance

10.10.6 Key strategic moves and developments



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fpcolq

Media Contact:

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Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Data-Centric Security Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Component, Deployment Mode, Organization Size and Verticals" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Data-Centric Security market size is projected to reach US$ 16,518.1 million by 2028 from US$ 4,510.6 million in 2022. The data-centric security market share is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24.2% from 2022 to 2028.



Most big data experts agree that the generated data will grow exponentially during the forecast period. Based on research from Seagate's Data Age 2025 report, the world's data sphere will reach 175 zettabytes by 2025. This growth is attributed to the enormous increase in people working, studying, and amusing themselves from home. Hence, securing these data will be the companies' primary objective, as data-driven business models will be widely adopted in the future. Hence, such a transition is anticipated to create lucrative opportunities for the data-centric security vendors over the forecast period (2022-2028).



Furthermore, the IT infrastructure is anticipated to become more complicated and heterogeneous due to the introduction of new platforms, bring your own device (BYOD) regulations, choose your own device (CYOD) trends, business apps, and other technologies. The BYOD and CYOD trends are becoming more and more common in business settings due to the quick improvements in mobile computing.

Through mobile devices, employees may access organizational data from anywhere, at any time, thanks to these developments, which also boost employee productivity to protect organizational data from potential hazards and maintain its confidentiality and integrity. Based on the Bitglass survey, 69% of respondents said their organizations allow employees to use personal devices for work while allowing contractors, partners, customers, and suppliers.

However, several companies fail to maintain security due to the unsuccessful incorporation of new devices into the existing security infrastructure. Based on the report by Software Guild, 72% of organizations have no plans to secure BYOD devices. Hence, such factors will likely create mammoth opportunities for the data-centric- security market players.



The Europe data-centric security market is spread across Germany, France, Russia, the UK, Italy, and the rest of Europe. The adoption of data-centric security solutions is expected to increase as internet penetration increases in major European countries. In addition, expanding wireless networks serving mobile devices has increased data vulnerability. Implementing EU legislation and actions rooted in the National Framework and the National Cybersecurity Plan is expected to facilitate the data-centric security market growth in the region.

Since the publication in 2018 of the EU- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), new regulations have emerged in different countries to protect the personal data that organizations collect from employees, partners, customers, and other sources. The GDPR sets a high standard for consent, which will hugely impact the marketing industry. As part of its digital strategy, the Italian government plans to invest significantly in the protection of digital identities to increase the security level of digital transactions and, subsequently, to strengthen consumers' trust by protecting citizens' identities.

In addition, telecommunication companies are increasing their investment in data-centric security to deal with rapidly increasing data threats. For instance, Telefonica came up with Telefonica Tech Ventures in 2020 to seek strategic start-ups and develop its investment capabilities to invest in markets for Telefonica in Germany and other European countries. Each of these factors is expected to impact the growth of the European data-centric security market in the coming years.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction



2. Key Takeaways



3. Research Methodology



4. Data-Centric Security - Market Landscape

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 PEST Analysis

4.2.1 North America

4.2.2 Europe

4.2.3 APAC

4.2.4 MEA

4.2.5 SAM

4.3 Ecosystem Analysis

4.4 Expert Opinions



5. Data-Centric Security Market - Market Dynamics

5.1 Key Market Drivers

5.1.1 Growing Emphasis on Data-Centric Security Model by Enterprises

5.1.2 Standardization of Data Protection Rules

5.2 Key Market Restraints

5.2.1 Concerns Regarding the Adoption of Cloud-Based Security Solutions

5.3 Key Market Opportunities

5.3.1 Increase in Data and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Policies

5.4 Future Trends

5.4.1 Incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Multi-Cloud Strategy

5.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints



6. Data-Centric Security Market - Global Market Analysis

6.1 Overview

6.2 Global Data-Centric Security Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

6.3 Market Positioning - Top Five Players



7. Data-Centric Security Market Analysis - By Component

7.1 Overview

7.2 Data-Centric Security Market Breakdown, by Component, 2021 & 2028

7.3 Solution

7.3.1 Overview

7.3.2 Solution Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

7.4 Service

7.4.1 Overview

7.4.2 Service Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)



8. Data-Centric Security Market Analysis - By Deployment Mode

8.1 Overview

8.2 Data-Centric Security Market Breakdown, by Deployment Mode, 2021 & 2028

8.3 On Premise

8.3.1 Overview

8.3.2 On Premise Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

8.4 Cloud based

8.4.1 Overview

8.4.2 Cloud based Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)



9. Data-Centric Security Market Analysis - By Organization Size

9.1 Overview

9.2 Data-Centric Security Market Breakdown, by Organization Size, 2021 & 2028

9.3 Small and Medium Enterprises

9.3.1 Overview

9.3.2 Small and Medium Enterprises Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

9.4 Large Enterprises

9.4.1 Overview

9.4.2 Large Enterprises Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)



10. Data-Centric Security Market Analysis - By Verticals

10.1 Overview

10.2 Data-Centric Security Market Breakdown, By Verticals, 2021 & 2028

10.3 IT and Telecommunication

10.3.1 Overview

10.3.2 IT and Telecommunication Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

10.4 BFSI

10.4.1 Overview

10.4.2 BFSI Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

10.5 Healthcare and Pharmaceutical

10.5.1 Overview

10.5.2 Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

10.6 Government and Defense

10.6.1 Overview

10.6.2 Government and Defense Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

10.7 Others

10.7.1 Overview

10.7.2 Others Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)



11. Data-Centric Security Market - Geographic Analysis



12. Data-Centric Security Market- COVID-19 Impact Analysis

12.1 Overview

12.2 North America

12.3 Europe

12.4 Asia-Pacific

12.5 Middle East and Africa

12.6 South America



13. Industry Landscape

13.1 Overview

13.2 Market Initiative

13.3 New Product Development

13.1 Merger and Acquisition



14. Company Profiles

14.1 Imperva

14.1.1 Key Facts

14.1.2 Business Description

14.1.3 Products and Services

14.1.4 Financial Overview

14.1.5 SWOT Analysis

14.1.6 Key Developments

14.2 IBM Corporation

14.2.1 Key Facts

14.2.2 Business Description

14.2.3 Products and Services

14.2.4 Financial Overview

14.2.5 SWOT Analysis

14.2.6 Key Developments

14.3 FORCEPOINT

14.3.1 Key Facts

14.3.2 Business Description

14.3.3 Products and Services

14.3.4 Financial Overview

14.3.5 SWOT Analysis

14.3.6 Key Developments

14.4 Broadcom Inc.

14.4.1 Key Facts

14.4.2 Business Description

14.4.3 Products and Services

14.4.4 Financial Overview

14.4.5 SWOT Analysis

14.4.6 Key Developments

14.5 Informatica Corporation

14.5.1 Key Facts

14.5.2 Business Description

14.5.3 Products and Services

14.5.4 Financial Overview

14.5.5 SWOT Analysis

14.5.6 Key Developments

14.6 Micro Focus

14.6.1 Key Facts

14.6.2 Business Description

14.6.3 Products and Services

14.6.4 Financial Overview

14.6.5 SWOT Analysis

14.6.6 Key Developments

14.7 NetApp, Inc.

14.7.1 Key Facts

14.7.2 Business Description

14.7.3 Products and Services

14.7.4 Financial Overview

14.7.5 SWOT Analysis

14.7.6 Key Developments

14.8 OrangeCyberdefense

14.8.1 Key Facts

14.8.2 Business Description

14.8.3 Products and Services

14.8.4 Financial Overview

14.8.5 SWOT Analysis

14.8.6 Key Developments

14.9 Talend

14.9.1 Key Facts

14.9.2 Business Description

14.9.3 Products and Services

14.9.4 Financial Overview

14.9.5 SWOT Analysis

14.9.6 Key Developments

14.10 Varonis

14.10.1 Key Facts

14.10.2 Business Description

14.10.3 Products and Services

14.10.4 Financial Overview

14.10.5 SWOT Analysis

14.10.6 Key Developments



15. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5sitbo

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

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[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Sustainable Personal Care Market By Nature, By Type, By Sales Channel: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The sustainable personal care market was valued at $ 50,791.8 million in 2021, and is estimated to reach $ 129,693.9 million by 2031, registering a CAGR of 9.5% from 2022 to 2031.



Innovation is considered the key business strategy to drive economic growth, but it also plays a major role in tackling social and environmental issues, such as chemical abuse, environmental pollution, and natural resources shortages. Companies, nowadays, are facing growth limits because of various environmental issues. Challenges coming from the sustainable development of society and business imply increasing need for more intelligent innovations. Sustainability-related innovation or sustainable innovation was put forward to address this new wave of business innovation strategy to help understand how new technologies and social practices enable companies to become more sustainable.



Sustainability is an emerging trend in food and beverage, personal care, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, animal feed, and many other industries. Today, consumers are more concerned about the environment like never before, owing to the easing pollution, limited natural resource, and global warming. Thus, natural ingredients and reusable and biodegradable packaging are the key factors that consumers look at before buying any products. Besides, governments, lawmakers, and organizations are promoting sustainability, which leaves a huge impact on the growth of the global sustainable ingredients market.



Sustainable personal care products attach more health concerns than traditional ones. In general, personal care companies usually focus on the benefits and special functions their products can provide for customers, with details on the product ingredients. As a result, customers pay attention to the composition of the product. The personal care industry aims to serve consumers quickly, safely, and efficiently with the most sustainable solutions. Cosmetics manufacturers' strive to maximize their positive impact and minimize any negative 'footprint' on the environment, economy, and society in general. Business strategies are being re-assessed through a sustainability lens to analyze their contribution to this overall impact.



Besides, increase in demand for natural and organic ingredients and products from consumers across the globe due to rise in awareness about health and wellness, well-informed consumers, and increase in knowledge about ingredients used in different products are the key growth drivers of the sustainable personal care market.



Skin care products are used to enhance and maintain the appearance of human skin. There are a variety of products available in the market, such as cleansers, toners, body lotions, oils and serums, and creams with alpha-hydroxy acids, beta-hydroxy acids, and retinol as some of their key ingredients. These products aid in regular replenishment of the dying skin cells and counter the signs of aging, such as wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots while maintaining overall skin health. The global skin care products market is highly diversified as it varies from region to region catering to a wide range of skin types present across the globe.



The improving quality of life, the positive effects of sustainable personal care on self-esteem and social interaction, and the gradual consumer shift toward premium and luxury cosmetic brands are a few factors that are likely to propel the market growth during the forecast period.



Face creams and moisturizers are gaining increasing popularity globally, as people are becoming more conscious of their physical appearance along with being more concerned about skin disorders and malignancies of the skin. Furthermore, the demand for vegan or blends of plant-based ingredients in these products has increased with a rise in number of consumers opting for cruelty-free products due to their increased consciousness regarding animal welfare and the environment.

Increase in the number of people are becoming a part of corporate culture and giving importance to personal grooming, which fuels the growth of the sustainable personal care market. The market is anticipated to be driven by increase in spending. Consumers generally practice shaving for the removal of their facial hair. Growing awareness about self-grooming, coupled with the rise in disposable income, is expected to positively impact the market growth. Increasing awareness through advertisements, social media blogs, YouTube channels, and influencers is likely to augment the demand further.



The high cost of sustainable personal care products is a major restraint to the sustainable personal care market, since it leads to increase in demand for regular personal care products. North America and Europe are the leading regions in the global sustainable personal care market owing to the high spending power of consumers on health and wellness products. Whereas, Asia-Pacific and LAMEA are expected to offer huge growth opportunities during the forecast period. Furthermore, regular personal care products with similar characteristics and benefits are commonly available, which in turn restrains the growth of the global market.



Key players in the global market have adopted a variety of development methods to grow their market share, boost their profitability, and stay competitive. The key players profiled in this report include, Coty Inc., Colgate Palmolive Company, Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Kao Corporation, L'Oreal S.A., L'Occitane Group, The Procter & Gamble Company, Unilever Plc, and Weleda.



Key Benefits For Stakeholders

The study provides an in-depth analysis of the global sustainable personal care market along with the current and future trends to elucidate the imminent investment pockets in the market.

Current and future trends are outlined in the report to determine the overall market attractiveness and single out profitable trends to gain a stronger foothold in the market.

The report provides information regarding drivers, restraints, and opportunities with impact analysis.

A quantitative analysis of the current market and estimation for the same from 2021 to 2031 is provided to showcase the financial competency of the market.

Porter's five forces model of the industry illustrates competitiveness of the market by analyzing various parameters such as threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, bargaining power of the buyers, and bargaining power of the suppliers operating in the market.

Value chain analysis in the report provides a clear understanding of the roles of stakeholders involved in the value chain.

Competitive intelligence highlights business practices followed by leading market players across various regions.

Key Topics Covered:



CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION



CHAPTER 2: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



CHAPTER 3: MARKET OVERVIEW

3.1. Market definition and scope

3.2. Key findings

3.2.1. Top investment pockets

3.3. Porter's five forces analysis

3.4. Top player positioning

3.5. Market dynamics

3.5.1. Drivers

3.5.2. Restraints

3.5.3. Opportunities

3.6. COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the market

3.7. Value Chain Analysis



CHAPTER 4: SUSTAINABLE PERSONAL CARE MARKET, BY NATURE

4.1 Overview

4.1.1 Market size and forecast

4.2 Organic

4.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

4.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region

4.2.3 Market analysis by country

4.3 Natural and Green

4.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

4.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region

4.3.3 Market analysis by country



CHAPTER 5: SUSTAINABLE PERSONAL CARE MARKET, BY TYPE

5.1 Overview

5.1.1 Market size and forecast

5.2 Skin Care

5.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

5.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region

5.2.3 Market analysis by country

5.3 Hair Care

5.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

5.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region

5.3.3 Market analysis by country

5.4 Oral Care

5.4.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

5.4.2 Market size and forecast, by region

5.4.3 Market analysis by country

5.5 Hygiene Products

5.5.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

5.5.2 Market size and forecast, by region

5.5.3 Market analysis by country

5.6 Others

5.6.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

5.6.2 Market size and forecast, by region

5.6.3 Market analysis by country



CHAPTER 6: SUSTAINABLE PERSONAL CARE MARKET, BY SALES CHANNEL

6.1 Overview

6.1.1 Market size and forecast

6.2 Hypermarkets and Supermarkets

6.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

6.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region

6.2.3 Market analysis by country

6.3 Specialty Stores

6.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

6.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region

6.3.3 Market analysis by country

6.4 Online Retail

6.4.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

6.4.2 Market size and forecast, by region

6.4.3 Market analysis by country

6.5 Others

6.5.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

6.5.2 Market size and forecast, by region

6.5.3 Market analysis by country



CHAPTER 7: SUSTAINABLE PERSONAL CARE MARKET, BY REGION



CHAPTER 8: COMPANY LANDSCAPE

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Top winning strategies

8.3. Product Mapping of Top 10 Player

8.4. Competitive Dashboard

8.5. Competitive Heatmap

8.6. Key developments



CHAPTER 9: COMPANY PROFILES

9.1 Coty Inc.

9.1.1 Company overview

9.1.2 Company snapshot

9.1.3 Operating business segments

9.1.4 Product portfolio

9.1.5 Business performance

9.1.6 Key strategic moves and developments

9.2 Colgate Palmolive Company

9.2.1 Company overview

9.2.2 Company snapshot

9.2.3 Operating business segments

9.2.4 Product portfolio

9.2.5 Business performance

9.2.6 Key strategic moves and developments

9.3 Estee Lauder Companies Inc.

9.3.1 Company overview

9.3.2 Company snapshot

9.3.3 Operating business segments

9.3.4 Product portfolio

9.3.5 Business performance

9.3.6 Key strategic moves and developments

9.4 Johnson & Johnson

9.4.1 Company overview

9.4.2 Company snapshot

9.4.3 Operating business segments

9.4.4 Product portfolio

9.4.5 Business performance

9.4.6 Key strategic moves and developments

9.5 Kao Corporation

9.5.1 Company overview

9.5.2 Company snapshot

9.5.3 Operating business segments

9.5.4 Product portfolio

9.5.5 Business performance

9.5.6 Key strategic moves and developments

9.6 L'Oreal S.A.

9.6.1 Company overview

9.6.2 Company snapshot

9.6.3 Operating business segments

9.6.4 Product portfolio

9.6.5 Business performance

9.6.6 Key strategic moves and developments

9.7 L'Occitane Group

9.7.1 Company overview

9.7.2 Company snapshot

9.7.3 Operating business segments

9.7.4 Product portfolio

9.7.5 Business performance

9.7.6 Key strategic moves and developments

9.8 The Procter & Gamble Company

9.8.1 Company overview

9.8.2 Company snapshot

9.8.3 Operating business segments

9.8.4 Product portfolio

9.8.5 Business performance

9.8.6 Key strategic moves and developments

9.9 Unilever plc

9.9.1 Company overview

9.9.2 Company snapshot

9.9.3 Operating business segments

9.9.4 Product portfolio

9.9.5 Business performance

9.9.6 Key strategic moves and developments

9.10 weleda uk

9.10.1 Company overview

9.10.2 Company snapshot

9.10.3 Operating business segments

9.10.4 Product portfolio

9.10.5 Business performance

9.10.6 Key strategic moves and developments

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/21nm8t

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

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[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

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SOURCE Research and Markets
Two Poster Presentations Will Be Made at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer's (SITC) 37th Annual Meeting

Data on the Treatment of Metastatic Sarcomas Selected for Oral Podium Presentation at the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) 2022 Annual Meeting

WESTPORT, Conn., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Intensity Therapeutics, Inc. ("Intensity"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of proprietary, first-in-class immune-based cancer therapies designed to kill tumors and increase immune system recognition of cancers, today announced that three abstracts have been selected for presentation at key upcoming clinical oncology conferences: the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer's (SITC) 37th Annual Meeting and the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) 2022 Annual Meeting in November.

November 10-12: Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer's (SITC) 37th Annual Meeting being held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston, MA. Two poster presentations have been selected.

Presentation 1

Abstract Number: 545

Title: A Phase II Randomized Window of Opportunity Trial Evaluating Cytotoxic and Immunomodulatory effects of Intratumoral INT230-6 (Cisplatin, Vinblastine) in Early Stage Breast Cancer: the INVINCIBLE Trial

First Author: Angel Arnaout, M.D., FACS

Session Date and Time: Thursday, November 10, 2022, 9:00 am - 9:00 pm EST

Location: Hall C; In-Person & On Demand

Presentation 2

Abstract Number: 710

Title: Safety and Survival Results From a Phase 1/2 Trial of Intratumoral Agent INT230-6 (cisplatin vinblastine) Induces Immunological Cancer Cell Death Alone or With Pembrolizumab in Patients with Refractory, Metastatic Cancers

First Author: Jacob Stephen Thomas, M.D.

Session Date and Time: Friday, November 11, 2022, 9:00 am - 9:00 pm EST

Location: Hall C; In-Person & On Demand

November 16-19: Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) 2022 Annual Meeting being held at the Vancouver Convention Center, Vancouver BC, Canada. An oral podium presentation will be made by Matthew Ingham, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.

Oral presentation

Abstract ID: 1301741

Title: Intratumoral INT230-6 (Cisplatin, Vinblastine, Shao) Alone or with Ipilimumab Prolonged Survival with Favorable Safety in Adults with Refractory Sarcomas (NCT03058289)

Session: Session 9: Immunology & Immunotherapy

Session Date Friday, November 18, 2022

Time: 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM PST

First Author: Matthew Ingham, M.D.

Each of the above presentations will be accessible on the "Publications, Papers and Posters" page of Intensity's website at: https://intensitytherapeutics.com/news/publications-papers-and-posters/.

About INT230-6

INT230-6, Intensity's lead proprietary investigational product candidate, discovered using Intensity's proprietary DfuseRx technology platform, is designed to cause tumor necrosis following direct intratumoral injection. INT230-6 contains two proven, potent anti-cancer agents, cisplatin and vinblastine, with a penetration enhancer molecule, SHAO, that helps disperse the potent cytotoxic drugs throughout tumors and enable diffusion into cancer cells. Importantly, each of the active drug agents remain in the tumor causing local disease control and tumor necrosis, leading to a favorable safety profile and the induction of an anti-cancer systemic immune response, resulting in shrinkage of uninjected tumors. Immunosuppression, often seen when dosing intravenous chemotherapy, is absent when treating with INT230-6.

Study IT-01 consists of a dose escalation and several Phase 2 expansion cohorts (NCT03058289) to evaluate INT230-6 in patients with various advanced solid tumors. In 2019, the Company signed a clinical collaboration agreement with Merck Sharpe & Dohme (Merck) to evaluate the combination of INT230-6 and KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), Merck's anti-PD-1 (programmed death receptor-1) therapy, in patients with advanced pancreatic, colon, squamous cell and bile duct malignancies, as part of study IT-01. In 2020, the Company executed a clinical collaboration agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company to evaluate the combination of INT230-6 with Bristol-Myers Squibb's anti-CTLA-4 antibody, Yervoy (ipilimumab), in patients with advanced liver, breast and sarcoma cancers, as a separate cohort in study IT-01. In 2021, the Company executed agreements with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and the Ontario Institute of Cancer Research to study INT230-6 in a randomized controlled neoadjuvant phase 2 study in women with early stage breast cancer (the INVINCIBLE study) (NCT04781725). Over 200 patients have been enrolled in Intensity's studies to date.

About Intensity Therapeutics

Intensity Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new immune-based approach to treat solid tumor cancers. Intensity leverages its DfuseRx technology platform to create new, proprietary drug formulations that, following direct injection, rapidly disperse throughout a tumor and diffuse therapeutic agents into cancer cells. Intensity's product candidates have the potential to induce an adaptive systemic immune response that not only attacks the injected tumor, but also non-injected tumors. In addition to partnerships with Merck and Bristol-Myers Squibb, the Company executed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Vaccine Branch in 2014. For more information, please visit www.intensitytherapeutics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended to date. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected trading commencement and closing dates. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events, nevertheless, actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements we make. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, as well as other risks described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the prospectus, which can be obtained on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made and reflect management's current estimates, projections, expectations and beliefs. The company does not plan to update any such forward-looking statements and expressly disclaims any duty to update the information contained in this press release except as required by law.

Contact Information

Investor Relations Contact:

Rx Communications Group

Michael Miller

(917)-633-6086

[email protected]

US Media Contact:

KOGS Communication

Edna Kaplan

+1 781 639 1910

[email protected]

SOURCE Intensity Therapeutics, Inc.
Consumers can call, live chat on jennieo.com/contactus or text "TURKEY" to 73876 for advice on holiday meal preparation

WILLMAR, Minn., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The makers of the JENNIE-O turkey brand  the category leader of ground turkey products and a trusted brand for turkey products around the world  today announced the return of the JENNIE-O 1-800-TURKEYS hotline on Nov. 1.

Whether you are a Thanksgiving host first timer or a well-seasoned vet, the Jennie-O Thanksgiving hotline experts are here to help Nov. 1 through 27 with round the clock hours the week of Thanksgiving. The makers of the JENNIE-O turkey brand announced the return of the JENNIE-O 1-800-TURKEYS hotline on Nov. 1.

Back for the 15th consecutive year, the hotline offers consumers the chance to converse with the company's Minnesota-based consumer engagement team via phone, even during extended hours in the days leading up to and on the Thanksgiving holiday. In addition to the phone line, home cooks can also reach JENNIE-O's turkey experts by texting the word "TURKEY" to 73876 or by going to the company's website for a live chat.

"Jennie-O has spent years getting to know what's important to consumers, and they've told us that confidence building around preparing their perfect Thanksgiving meal is a high priority," said Kim Anderson, JENNIE-O senior brand manager. "We've made it our mission to help both new and seasoned hosts through the most challenging parts of meal prep so that they can enjoy more time around the table and less time in the kitchen. The Jennie-O website has helpful tools and resources, available year-round, that can assist hosts with how much turkey they need, thawing time, prep time and ideas on different menus based on preferences."

Whether you are a Thanksgiving host first timer or a well-seasoned vet, the Jennie-O Thanksgiving hotline experts are here to help Nov. 1 through 27 with round the clock hours the week of Thanksgiving:

Call 1-800-TURKEYS or text " TURKEY " to 73876: Consumer engagement experts will be available to answer questions and assist you in the kitchen

" to 73876: Consumer engagement experts will be available to answer questions and assist you in the kitchen Live chat: Real-time chat with consumer engagement experts at jennieo.com/contactus for all your holiday needs

Website: Go to https://www.jennieo.com/how-tos/ for thaw time, how much turkey you need, and how to prep

Social media: Menu inspiration and tips will be available on the brand's Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest channels

This year, Jennie-O has been busy inspiring consumers with a new advertising campaign, a partnership with esteemed chef, cookbook author and beloved TV personality Carla Hall, honoring school cafeteria staff around the country and so much more to come!

This fall, the JENNIE-O brand launched its "Queen of Protein" campaign to showcase the protein that reigns supreme  turkey. As part of an ongoing effort to provide meal prep ease, the brand activated a theme for each month on its social media accounts to share delicious recipes paired with a shopping list for maximum convenience.

In partnership with Hall, Jennie-O will honor school cafeteria staff throughout the country by hosting School Cafeteria Takeovers in select cities over the next several months. Jennie-O also will give four schools nominated by students and staff a donation of $25,000 to help fulfill kitchen wish lists around the country.

After Nov. 14, visit JennieO.com for Hall's perfect turkey brine and preparation recipe for JENNIE-O Tender & Young Turkey and her spicy gremolata for JENNIE-O Tender & Juicy Turkey Breast in time for Thanksgiving.

Finally, the Jennie-O brand will be a part of the iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for the third year in a row with the beloved turkey float.

ABOUT JENNIE-O TURKEY STORE

For over 80 years, the Jennie-O brand has been helping consumers live well by eating well. As the category leader, Jennie-O turkey is the trusted brand for quality turkey and a source of expertise. We provide a full portfolio of delicious, nutritious turkey proteins and inspiration for everyday meals or special occasions. Known for our bright green awning evoking the nostalgia of a local farmer stand, our round logo with a touch of yellow and our distinct name from our founders' daughter Jennifer, the Jennie-O turkey brand has the right amount of small-town friendliness paired with leading company expertise and quality. For more information, visit JennieO.com.

ABOUT HORMEL FOODS  INSPIRED PEOPLE. INSPIRED FOOD.

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $11 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters, SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly, Hormel Black Label, Columbus, Jennie-O and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list by 3BL Media 13 times, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement  Inspired People. Inspired Food.  to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and https://csr.hormelfoods.com/.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

507-434-6352

SOURCE Jennie-O Turkey Store
Is now the time to invest in Kazakhstan? - A major new report from The Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan finds strong and growing interest from international investors and companies.

A full copy of the report can be downloaded here.

LONDON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- International investors Franklin Templeton, VPE Capital and Vedra Partners are among a growing number of firms targeting Kazakhstan, according to a major new report.

Economic and political reforms are helping transform sentiment towards Kazakhstan  attracting prominent investors as well as businesses, with satellite company OneWeb and US technology group Honeywell the latest companies to commence operations in the country.

Is now the time to invest in Kazakhstan? A report from The Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan finds that a robust legal system  including the rule of English Common Law in the Astana International Financial Centre  as well as an industrial and business base diversifying beyond abundant natural resources, underpinned by a young and well-educated population, are making the country ever more investable.

The report quotes leading investors and global market specialists:

Marius Dan, Franklin Templeton, said: "An exciting investment opportunity considering Kazakhstan's economic stability, abundant natural resources, strong commodity market fundamentals and the political and economic reforms by President Tokayev."

Roland Nash, VPE Capital, said: "It is a country with enormous potential driven by international trade. Its unique geographical position makes it extremely well placed to take full advantage of the rise of China/Asian trade but also the rapidly growing European demand for the vital commodities Kazakhstan produces."

"Kazakhstan has always been at the forefront of change in the region, friendly and open to foreign investments and has done exceptionally well at attracting high profile investments from Europe, US, India and Korea amongst others which have made it stand out amongst Central Asian peers."

Michel Danechi, Vedra Partners, said: "The macroeconomic fundamentals and the recently announced reforms have definitely put the country on the right track and created a strong basis for investing in Kazakhstan. We are very positive on the proposed reforms but need to see them implemented and maintained for years to come."

Ayuna Nechaeva, Head of Europe, the London Stock Exchange, said: "The investment climate for Kazakhstan is improving and we look forward to higher levels of primary and secondary market activity over the medium and longer term, as a result."

Chris Weafer, Chief Executive Officer, Macro-Advisory said: "The reform programme is capturing the attention of investors, with the trajectory for attracting inward investment looking more positive."

The Report highlights Kazakhstan's geographical location  at the crossroads of Eurasia  as a major advantage in building trade and attracting companies to locate there.

The EU remains Kazakhstan's biggest trading partner. Last year EU imports from Kazakhstan were $20.51 billion, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database. There are also more than 4,000 companies with European connections currently operating in Kazakhstan.

Since independence 31 years ago, international investors have injected more than $380 billion into Kazakhstan's economy  70 percent of the total investment flow into the whole Central Asian region during that period. Foreign Direct Investment in Kazakhstan in the second quarter of 2022 reached $7.58 billion  its highest level for a decade.

The Report concludes that leading global investors and businesses view Kazakhstan as increasingly investable, as it spreads its wings economically whilst, in parallel, entering a new phase of its political development.

A full copy of the report can be downloaded here.

SOURCE The Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Kohl's Corporation (NYSE: KSS) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

Class Period: October 20, 2020 to May 19, 2022

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: November 1, 2022

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in KSS:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/kohls-class-action-loss-submission-form?id=33181&from=4

Kohl's Corporation NEWS - KSS NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Kohl's Corporation made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Kohl's new strategic framework to "drive top-line growth," "expand operating margin," and become "the most trusted retailer of choice for the active and casual lifestyle" (the "Strategic Plan") was not well tailored to achieving the Company's stated goals; (ii) the defendants had likewise overstated the Company's success in executing its Strategic Plan; (iii) Kohl's had deficient disclosure controls and procedures, internal control over financial reporting, and corporate governance mechanisms; (iv) as a result, the Company's board of directors was able to and did withhold material information from shareholders about the state of Kohl's in the lead-up to the Company's annual meeting; (v) all the foregoing, once revealed, was likely to have a material negative impact on Kohl's financial condition and reputation; and (vi) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Kohl's you have until November 1, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Kohl's securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the KSS lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/kohls-class-action-loss-submission-form?id=33181&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

535 Fifth Avenue

4th Floor

New York City, NY 10017

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
MEXICO CITY, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In the current global trend of digitalization, many enterprises are faced with a challenge in the exploration of digital transformation: As services continue to expand and deepen, the amount of data increases exponentially, placing more stringent requirements on network bandwidth, data processing, and operation and maintenance capabilities. However, the infrastructure inherited from the Internet era has been unable to meet the requirements.

How to build an ICT infrastructure suitable for current and next-generation digital technologies and complete the "intergenerational transition" of digitalization is the top priority of many enterprises. Recently, H3C won the bidding of ATIZAPAN C2 vehicle image acquisition and processing system project of JOMTEL TELECOMUNICACIONES in Mexico. It took only three months to complete the delivery, commissioning and installation of several high-configuration servers, switches and other equipment, which helped the Jomtel new system to be launched in time, and provided strong support for locally promoting traffic management digitalization, combating dangerous driving behavior and ensuring national safety.

A new problem for the established wireless communication giants: How to complete the "intergenerational leapfrog"

It is understood that Jomtel has been focused on wireless communication integration in Mexico for 25 years, serving local government and private enterprises. Its business includes the design, sale, installation and maintenance of systems such as security systems, wireless communications and visual signals. Vehicle image acquisition and processing systems are one of its benchmark products, with over 200 projects delivered to date.

Generally speaking, vehicle image acquisition and processing refers to real-time viewing, recording, playback, calling out and storing of face, license plate and other information, and automatically identifying images and sounding the alarm through video surveillance of mobile Internet, so as to address speeding and other potentially dangerous behavior by drivers, which is an important direction for digital transformation of traffic management.

But since 2021, established players like Jomtel have faced new problems: With the development of Mexico's economy, urbanization and the increase in car ownership, the information collected by traffic management departments has increased exponentially, and the data sources and forms have become more diverse and complex. Traditional ICT equipment has insufficient computing power, cumbersome operation and backward network operation and security protection technology, which cannot meet the new traffic management needs.

Jomtel realized that building the infrastructure and software systems that are compatible with the present and future of Mexico's transportation development for the leap from the "Internet age" to the "digital age" is the key to its business development. However, due to a series of problems, such as the limited support capacity of old suppliers and difficulties in global ICT delivery capacity, the system "refreshing" is stuck.

With outstanding advantages in computing and network, H3C provides the "optimal solution"

In order to implement the system upgrade and iteration as soon as possible, Jomtel has launched an open tender for ATIZAPAN C2 vehicle image acquisition and processing system project. After several months of testing and selection, H3C from China stood out. Colleagues in Mexico office not only went to the front line of business many times, completed the test within a week, but also delivered better results than other competitors.

It is disclosed that the winning proposal provided by H3C introduces its own two advanced products, namely, H3C UniServer R4900 G5 server and H3C S6520X switch.

In terms of data computing, the high-configuration hardware of H3C UniServer R4900 G5 server provides robust performance for increasing data volumes, enabling Jomtel to cope with the data expansion and the management and analysis of structured, unstructured and semi-structured data, addressing the current situation of multiple and complex data easily. In addition, the operation and maintenance management of server is more intelligent, convenient and visual, and the advantages of multiple parallel tasks and multi-device compatibility significantly reduce the operation complexity, making Jomtel staff backstage operation more proficient.

In terms of network management, the H3C S6520X switch enables operation and maintenance management to enter the "intelligent and visual era", which makes the network statutes and access devices clear at a glance. In addition, it has the advantages of high availability and sufficient redundancy protection to avoid the risk of "all services being interrupted when a single node fails". Moreover, it features flexible networking and facilitates the subsequent expansion and development of related services.

It is noteworthy that Jomtel is also a prominent member of ALAS, the Latin American Security Association, which implies higher requirements for information security. The solution provided by H3C includes hardware encryption capabilities such as message encryption, anti-attack and anti-tampering, which provides corresponding security guarantee for Jomtel to serve government departments.

With quick project delivery, H3C ICT products "put into operation overseas"

After winning the Jomtel ATIZAPAN C2 vehicle image acquisition and processing system project, the representative office of H3C in Mexico has been running quickly, and even its headquarters has mobilized resources at home and abroad to guarantee the supply. It successfully delivered three batches of 20 high-configuration servers in three months, which helped the new Jomtel vehicle image acquisition and processing system go online in time, and laid a solid foundation of the hardware and software for the Mexican government to modernize traffic management.

Adhering to the global strategy of "channel first, win-win cooperation", H3C Mexico representative office has won the high recognition from many channel partners and customers including Jomtel in a short time after its establishment. Up to now, H3C has built 12 overseas branches, certified more than 1,000 global partners and more than 200 global service partners. Its global service delivery capability can cover 135 countries, which has laid a solid foundation for H3C to carry out overseas business.

According to H3C, the demand for ICT infrastructure and software services will explode as the digitalization trend is widely recognized in Mexico and Latin America. The bidding for the Jomtel project, set up a good start for more in-depth cooperation in the local area. In the future, H3C will further assist channel partners and customers in Latin America to accelerate the pace of digital transformation and help more people enjoy the benefits of technology in their work and life.

SOURCE H3C
CHERRY HILL, N.J., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LifiBifi Inc., the online small business marketplace is coming clean with their two latest impressive companies. Exceptional bath and body products that help the environment are a must on everyone's list.

Artisinal shampoo, conditioner, and soap bars that are environmentally friendly. These beauty products simplify making the switch to plastic free living. Clean with confidence. It is time to turn your toilet paper into a refreshing, environmentally friendly wet wipe. Come clean with all natural ingredients, because fresh feels better.

Parrotfish offers a collection of sustainable, zero waste, plant-based and palm oil free shampoos, conditioners and soap bars in a variety of heavenly scents. Natural ingredients make it safer for people and each bar eliminates plastic bottles cutting down on the 500 million+ shampoo bottles that end up in landfills each year. Finally, it is possible to move towards leading a less plastic life without compromise. These fragrant bars lather richly and leave your locks feeling luscious. An added benefit is shampoo bars are the genius travel accessory, perfect for avoiding TSA liquid rules and messy spills.

Poof! It's Clean! also looks to help preserve the earth. Those wet wipes that claim to be flushable are rarely biodegradable, leading to expensive home repairs and clogged sewers and septic tank systems. Poof! values personal hygiene and seeks to elevate bathroom cleanliness. By spraying a touch of Poof! on toilet paper, it is instantly changed into a wet wipe that is environmentally friendly. Using this innovative product also cuts down on toilet paper consumption while raising cleanliness with the finest sanitary goods. While the USA has not adopted the bidet, everyone can now carry a bidet in a bottle. From vacation home hosts to boat and RV owners this simple product can save you big bucks. Poof! Will leave you feeling fresh while protecting your investments. America has a new way to come clean and it is so refreshing.

LifiBifi is intent on bringing the best, exceptional products from inspiring small businesses around the nation to their customers and others. The objective to seek and share the finest products available allows the LifiBifi team to continuously introduce hidden treasures. Consumers are encouraged to check back often to ensure they do not miss the latest offerings.

Stephanie Weinberger, President of LifiBifi explains, "We love hearing the personal stories about why different entrepreneurs develop and create their ideas. With our new merchants, we help the environment, introduce wonderful products, and help support small town family businesses. It is essential we support these businesses, and our goal is to make it simple for consumers to discover these treasures."

Media Contact:

Stephanie Weinberger

856-465-4080

[email protected]

SOURCE LifiBifi Inc
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global loose leaf paper market is forecasted to grow by USD 1.67 billion, accelerating at a CAGR of 4.36% from 2021 to 2026. Technavio segments the market by distribution channel (offline and online) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The report provides a comprehensive analysis of recent developments, new product launches, major revenue-generating segments, and market behavior across geographies.

Key points covered in the loose leaf paper market study:

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Loose Leaf Paper Market 2022-2026

Market estimates and forecast 2022-2026

Key drivers, trends, and challenges impacting market growth

Segment-wise, region-wise, and country-wide analysis

Analysis of market share by vendors

Key product launches and regulatory climate

Post-COVID-19 impact on the market landscape. Download PDF Report Sample

Technavio categorizes the global loose leaf paper market as a part of the global office services and supplies market within the global commercial services and supplies market. The global office services and supplies market covers providers of office services and manufacturers of office supplies and equipment.

Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights! Subscribe to our Basic Plan billed annually at USD 5000

The market is primarily driven by the growth in the education sector, which is a key end-user of loose leaf paper. The number of recognized educational institutions and student enrollment in academic institutions has increased in the last few years. Key infrastructural development in the education sector and the growing support from governments are increasing the number of educational institutions in countries such as India, China, and the US. The growing enrollment of students in schools will increase the demand for writing paper such as loose leaf paper, which, in turn, will fuel the growth of the market during the forecast period.

The full report provides information on other drivers, trends, and challenges that are impacting the growth of the market. Request a Sample PDF Report

The loose leaf paper market is concentrated, with the presence of few regional and international players. The vendors are deploying growth strategies such as forming strategic partnerships to compete in the market. Competition among vendors in the global loose leaf paper market has intensified due to the growth of the global education sector. Vendors are focusing on innovative products such as recycled loose leaf paper and expansion of their markets globally through various partnership agreements.

This report provides a full list of key vendors, their strategies, and latest developments. Buy Now for detailed vendor information

The offline segment will generate maximum revenue in the loose leaf paper market and is the leading distribution channel. This market segment generates most of its revenue through the purchases of applications and digital games through app stores and in-app purchases. The increasing demand for online games is driving the growth of the segment.

By geography, APAC will dominate the loose leaf paper market during the forecast period. The region will account for 31% of the global market share growth. Moreover, market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in Europe, North America, and South America.

Explore intelligence tailored to your business needs. Identify major revenue-generating segments, regions, and key countries in the loose leaf paper market. Enquire Now

Some of the key players in the loose leaf paper market include:

ACCO Brands Corp.

Asia Pulp and Paper Sinar Mas.

Etranger di Costa Rica Co. Ltd.

Eudata International

Exacompta Clairefontaine SA

ITC Ltd.

KOKUYO Co. Ltd.

Lion Office Products Co. Ltd.

Speedball Art Products Co. LLC

The ODP Corp.

W.W. Grainger Inc.

Didn't find what you are looking for? Our analysts can help you customize this report based on your business requirements. The industry experts at Technavio will work directly with you to understand your needs and provide you with customized data in a short time. Speak to our Analyst Now

Related Reports

Printing and Writing Paper Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: This report extensively covers segmentations by type (printing paper and writing paper) and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa). 61% of the market's growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. The market share growth by the printing paper segment will be significant.

Paper Notebooks Market by Application and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025: This report extensively covers paper notebooks market segmentation by application (offline and online) and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and MEA). 48% of the market's growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. The market share growth by the offline segment will be significant.

Loose Leaf Paper Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.36% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 1.67 billion Market structure Concentrated YoY growth (%) 2.92 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 31% Key consumer countries US, Canada, China, Japan, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled ACCO Brands Corp., Asia Pulp and Paper Sinar Mas., Etranger di Costa Rica Co. Ltd., Eudata International, Exacompta Clairefontaine SA, ITC Ltd., KOKUYO Co. Ltd., Lion Office Products Co. Ltd., Speedball Art Products Co. LLC, The ODP Corp., and W.W. Grainger Inc. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Browse Industrials Market Reports

Table Of Contents

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Distribution Channel - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Distribution Channel - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Distribution Channel



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Distribution Channel

5.3 Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Online - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Online - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Distribution Channel ($ million)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 37: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 38: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 40: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 43: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 44: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 45: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 47: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 48: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 49: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 50: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 52: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 53: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 56: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 57: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 60: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 61: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 62: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 63: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 64: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 67: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 68: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 69: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 71: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 72: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 73: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 75: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 76: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 77: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 82: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 83: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 84: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 85: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 86: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 87: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 88: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 ACCO Brands Corp.

Exhibit 89: ACCO Brands Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 90: ACCO Brands Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 91: ACCO Brands Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 92: ACCO Brands Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 93: ACCO Brands Corp. - Segment focus

10.4 Asia Pulp and Paper Sinar Mas.

Exhibit 94: Asia Pulp and Paper Sinar Mas. - Overview



Exhibit 95: Asia Pulp and Paper Sinar Mas. - Business segments



Exhibit 96: Asia Pulp and Paper Sinar Mas. - Key news



Exhibit 97: Asia Pulp and Paper Sinar Mas. - Key offerings



Exhibit 98: Asia Pulp and Paper Sinar Mas. - Segment focus

10.5 Etranger di Costa Rica Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 99: Etranger di Costa Rica Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 100: Etranger di Costa Rica Co. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 101: Etranger di Costa Rica Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

10.6 Eudata International

Exhibit 102: Eudata International - Overview



Exhibit 103: Eudata International - Product / Service



Exhibit 104: Eudata International - Key offerings

10.7 Exacompta Clairefontaine SA

Exhibit 105: Exacompta Clairefontaine SA - Overview



Exhibit 106: Exacompta Clairefontaine SA - Business segments



Exhibit 107: Exacompta Clairefontaine SA - Key offerings



Exhibit 108: Exacompta Clairefontaine SA - Segment focus

10.8 KOKUYO Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 109: KOKUYO Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 110: KOKUYO Co. Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 111: KOKUYO Co. Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 112: KOKUYO Co. Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 113: KOKUYO Co. Ltd. - Segment focus

10.9 Lion Office Products Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 114: Lion Office Products Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 115: Lion Office Products Co. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 116: Lion Office Products Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

10.10 Speedball Art Products Co. LLC

Exhibit 117: Speedball Art Products Co. LLC - Overview



Exhibit 118: Speedball Art Products Co. LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 119: Speedball Art Products Co. LLC - Key offerings

10.11 The ODP Corp.

Exhibit 120: The ODP Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 121: The ODP Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 122: The ODP Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 123: The ODP Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 124: The ODP Corp. - Segment focus

10.12 W.W. Grainger Inc.

Exhibit 125: W.W. Grainger Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 126: W.W. Grainger Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 127: W.W. Grainger Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 128: W.W. Grainger Inc. - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 129: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 130: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 131: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 132: Research methodology



Exhibit 133: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 134: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 135: List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
Continuing to show appreciation for the military community, Lowe's will donate $1, up to $50,000, for every item purchased on Lowes.com from the collection between Nov. 1 to Nov. 11 to Building Homes for Heroes. Since 2020, Lowe's has partnered with the nonprofit, supporting its mission of restoring hope to our nation's injured veterans by gifting mortgage-free homes to veterans and their families and providing support on their road to recovery.

"This is an amazing tribute for our veterans who have served and sacrificed so much for all of us," said Andy Pujol, founder and CEO of Building Homes for Heroes. "We could not be more honored to support our heroes this Veterans Day  and every day  and we could not be prouder to work alongside Lowe's to create safe and comfortable homes for our veterans and their families for generations to come."

Year-round, Lowe's supports military families through its everyday 10 percent military discount on eligible purchases, with no annual limit, for active-duty military personnel, veterans and their spouses, saving them nearly $1 billion each year. As a top employer for transitioning veterans and their spouses, Lowe's employs nearly 26,000 associates from the military community, offers a military spouse transfer policy, differential pay for the National Guard and reserves, and provides workforce development opportunities. Lowe's also offers veteran store parking for customers and sources products from military-friendly suppliers and veteran-owned businesses.

"Veterans Day is more than just a day to us  it's a moment in time where the entire country comes together to recognize and appreciate the work that our nation's military has put forth to protect our freedom," said Joe McFarland, Lowe's executive vice president of stores and a Gulf War and Desert Storm veteran who served six years in the U.S. Marines. "I'm proud to work for a company that puts those who serve our country at the front of their minds and hearts."

This year, Lowe's also committed more than $3 million to support non-profit organizations dedicated to expanding access to safe, affordable housing and critical home repairs, and promoting workforce development and skilled trades education for military members and veterans. Additionally, the Lowe's Hometowns program is supporting five community improvement projects this year that benefit veterans across the country.

To learn more about Lowe's everyday, year-round support for the military community, visit Lowes.com/Military.

About Lowe's

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE 50 home improvement company serving approximately 19 million customer transactions a week in the United States and Canada. With fiscal year 2021 sales of over $96 billion, Lowe's and its related businesses operate or service nearly 2,200 home improvement and hardware stores and employ over 300,000 associates. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

Contact:

Stefanie Moody

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

[email protected]

SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Company will provide essential communications services in the Asia Pacific region

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) has won a $1.5 billion contract from the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to provide essential network transport and communications services in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Area of Responsibility.

Speed Read:

Lumen wins $1.5B DISA network contract.

Lumen will supply the Defense Information Systems Network with high capacity, end-to-end communications services that enable the U.S. Department of Defense to achieve U.S. national security objectives in the 36-nation Asia Pacific region.

region. These crucial serviceswhich include ethernet, internet and wavelengthswill help protect America's interests in a diverse, strategically complex region that also includes Alaska .

. The company is serving as a trusted provider of secure, resilient network services that transport data, imagery, video and voice traffic.

Lumen is providing the network infrastructure backbone to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the oldest and largest unified geographic combatant command charged with integrating U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps forces within a region that contains more than half of the world's population.

"Lumen is extremely proud to serve the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command with essential mission services that help protect and defend U.S. territory, our people and America's national interests," said Zain Ahmed, senior vice president, Lumen public sector. "We're delivering the always-on network infrastructure so the U.S. Department of Defense can focus on its mission to enhance the stability of the Asia Pacific region, promote security cooperation with our allies and partners, respond to emerging situations, deter aggression and if necessary, fight to win."

Tech Talk:

The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract has a $1.5 billion ceiling over its 10-year period of performance and represents new business for Lumen.

ceiling over its 10-year period of performance and represents new business for Lumen. Lumen is honored to support military and government agencies with innovative adaptive networking, edge cloud, connected security and collaboration services using the company's platform for advanced application delivery solutions.

The company provides a platform for IT modernization that delivers the security and reliability military and civilian agencies need to carry out their important missions.

Additional Resources:

Learn more about our U.S. Customs and Border Protection network services contract: https://news.lumen.com/2022-07-26-U-S-Customs-and-Border-Protection-selects-Lumen-for-network-services-contract

Learn more about our U.S. Department of Agriculture $1.2 billion network services award: https://news.lumen.com/2022-01-20-U-S-Department-of-Agriculture-awards-Lumen-1-2-billion-network-services-contract

network services award: https://news.lumen.com/2022-01-20-U-S-Department-of-Agriculture-awards-Lumen-1-2-billion-network-services-contract Learn more about our U.S. Department of the Interior $1.6 billion network services award: https://news.lumen.com/2020-01-16-U-S-Dept-of-the-Interior-Awards-CenturyLink-1-6-Billion-EIS-Network-Services-Win

network services award: https://news.lumen.com/2020-01-16-U-S-Dept-of-the-Interior-Awards-CenturyLink-1-6-Billion-EIS-Network-Services-Win Learn more about how Lumen is supporting the public sector here:

https://www.lumen.com/public-sector.html

About Lumen Technologies:

Lumen is guided by our belief that humanity is at its best when technology advances the way we live and work. With approximately 400,000 route fiber miles and serving customers in more than 60 countries, we deliver the fastest, most secure platform for applications and data to help businesses, government and communities deliver amazing experiences. Learn more about the Lumen network, edge cloud, security, communication and collaboration solutions and our purpose to further human progress through technology at news.lumen.com, LinkedIn: /lumentechnologies, Twitter: @lumentechco, Facebook: /lumentechnologies, Instagram: @lumentechnologies and YouTube: /lumentechnologies. Learn more about Lumen's public sector capabilities on Twitter at @lumengov and on LinkedIn at @lumenpublicsector. Lumen and Lumen Technologies are registered trademarks in the United States.

SOURCE Lumen Technologies
5-star rated Missouri/Illinois plan will be available in Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, Georgia, and Ohio in 2023

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumeris, a leading provider of the technology, insurance capabilities and expertise to support value-based care models, announced today the 2023 market expansion of Essence Healthcare, the company's wholly owned Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, into five new states and 44 new counties. This expansion is a 223% increase in county coverage in just one year, marking the company's explosive growth due to customer and provider satisfaction with Essence's distinctive MA plan and benefits.

"We are passionate about our vision to create the system of care every doctor wants for their own family," said Michael Long, chairman and CEO of Lumeris. "While the health care delivery system in the United States has struggled to balance quality, cost, and patient and physician satisfaction, Lumeris has demonstrated that it is not only possible, but also scalable. We are pleased to expand our provider partnerships to bring Essence Healthcare to a growing number of seniors."

Beginning January 1, 2023, Essence will enter the Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, Georgia, and Ohio state MA marketplaces, opening up eligibility to one of the nation's highest-performing government-sponsored health plans to a growing senior population.

"Northeast Georgia Health System and Health Partners/HP2 are excited to launch a new Medicare Advantage plan in Georgia on January 1, 2023, Essence Health," said Steve McNeilly, Northeast Georgia Health System COO Population Health & Vice President, Managed Care. "The partnership with Essence Health will build upon the framework of our clinically integrated network HP2, with a focus on exceptional patient experience, coordinated value-based care delivery and improved quality, outcomes, and cost. This new partnership with Essence Health supports our mission, to improve the health of the community in all we do."

Essence is purposely built provider-aligned Medicare Advantage plan that produce the industry's highest quality clinical outcomes and highest rated consumer satisfaction while driving market leading reductions of in-patient utilization and overall medical costs. Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. Essence's St. Louis plan is among a short list of plans nationwide awarded Medicare's highest overall plan rating of 5 out of 5 stars two years in a row for 2022 and 2023.The plan was also awarded "Best Medicare Advantage plan" in Illinois and Missouri for 2022 and 2023 by U.S. News & World Report.

"Our strategically aligned partnerships with providers are creating a new standard for how healthcare can be delivered and financed," said Umar Farooq, President of Essence Healthcare. "Through these deep-rooted partnerships, Essence Healthcare has demonstrated that when providers are the table in co-designing managed care solutions, we can together achieve highest quality star rating designated by CMS."

Medicare beneficiaries will be able to make plan selections during the Medicare annual enrollment period, October 15 through December 7, 2022.

ESSENCE HEALTHCARE

Essence Healthcare provides over 70,000 people with Medicare comprehensive and affordable health insurance that focuses on wellness, care coordination and personal service. Essence's Medicare Advantage plans offer complete hospital, medical and prescription drug coverage and include additional benefits not covered under the Original Medicare program. Powered by the nation's leading population health services and technology of Lumeris, Essence is earning national recognition for its commitment to service and quality, including being awarded Medicare's highest overall plan rating of 5 out of 5 Stars for 2022 for its Missouri and Missouri-Illinois plans and was recently named "Best Medicare Advantage Plan Companies" for Missouri and Illinois for 2022 and 2023 by U.S. News and World Report. In 2023, Essence's Medicare Advantage plans will be available in markets in California, Illinois, Missouri, Georgia, Arkansas, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. learn more about Essence Healthcare, please visit www.essencehealthcare.com.

LUMERIS

With Lumeris as a partner, health systems across the country are fulfilling the promise of value-based care. A joint-operating partner in both value and risk, Lumeris delivers market leading technology, insurance capabilities and on-the-ground expertise to more than one million patients and 7,000 physicians nationwide. Lumeris is proud to offer 4.5-5-star health plans that consistently deliver better clinical and financial outcomes for Medicare, Medicaid, Commercial, and Individual populations. To learn more about Lumeris, please visit http://www.lumeris.com.

SOURCE Lumeris
Foundation Brings Dr. Antoinette J. Wozniak to its Senior Leadership Team

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) is pleased to announce the addition of Antoinette J. Wozniak, MD, FACP, FASCO to its senior leadership team as its first Chief Scientific Officer. She will begin her role in its official capacity in February 2023.

Antoinette J. Wozniak, MD, FACP, FASCO

Dr. Wozniak will work with LCRF's Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), senior leadership, and strategic advisors to design and execute a strategic scientific plan that fulfills LCRF's mission. Her role will be a critical component of defining the organization's research priorities. In addition, she will lead building and cultivation of stakeholder alliances with academic, industry, nonprofit and government entities, as well as manage LCRF's growing grant and investment portfolio.

"Having Dr. Wozniak in this role will strengthen LCRF's research portfolio, its future research investments, and help to ensure we meet our strategic objectives as an organization," said Dennis Chillemi, Executive Director. "Her hands-on experience as a clinician and researcher is invaluable to meeting the needs of the community, as well as LCRF."

"We are excited to have Dr. Wozniak as the scientific partner to LCRF's SAB," commented Dr. Katerina Politi, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology and Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine and chair of LCRF's Scientific Advisory Board. "I've had the pleasure of working with her on the LCRF SAB for many years. Her vast knowledge of lung cancer as an oncologist and researcher will serve the organization in a multitude of ways."

Dr. Wozniak was most recently Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh, Leader of the Lung Cancer Disease Center, and the Associate Director for Clinical Research at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She had previously been a Professor of Oncology and Leader of the Lung Cancer Team and Co-Director of Solid Tumor Oncology at the Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, in Detroit, Michigan.

Dr. Wozniak has more than thirty years' experience in conducting clinical trials, including national trials from the Southwest Oncology Group, NCI-sponsored studies, and pharmaceutical trials. Her clinical research focus has been in lung cancer, mesothelioma, and thymus gland cancer, and has authored more than 200 publications and abstracts.

In addition to her clinical and research career, Dr. Wozniak has been active in the lung cancer community, serving as an advisor for many organizations such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Southwest Oncology Group, the American Lung Association, and as a member of the LCRF Scientific Advisory Board.

About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF)

The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) is the leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative, high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF's mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has funded 394 research grants, totaling nearly $39 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information, visit lcrf.org.

Contact:

Sheila Sullivan

Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications, LCRF

[email protected]

SOURCE Lung Cancer Research Foundation
 Three scientific abstracts highlighting clinical research of terlipressin treatment for adults with HRS involving rapid reduction in kidney function1 will be presented at the ASN Scientific Meeting, reinforcing Mallinckrodt's ongoing commitment to critically ill patients 

DUBLIN, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc (NYSE American: MNK), a global specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that three scientific abstracts on clinical research on treatment with TERLIVAZ (terlipressin) for adult patients with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) involving rapid reduction in kidney function,1 will be presented at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2022 Scientific Meeting in Orlando, Florida, from November 3-6. TERLIVAZ is the first and only FDA-approved product indicated to improve kidney function in adults with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) involving rapid reduction in kidney function,1 an acute and life-threatening condition requiring hospitalization.2

Please see Limitation of Use and Important Safety Information, including Boxed Warning, below.

The findings from a pooled analysis across the OT-0401, REVERSE, and CONFIRM clinical trials, presented by Dr. Juan Carlos Q. Velez, MD, Ochsner Health Network LLC, New Orleans, Louisiana, suggest that initiating treatment with terlipressin plus albumin in patients with HRS Type 1 (HRS-1) at lower serum creatinine (SCr) levels and Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores is associated with greater probability of avoiding renal replacement therapy (RRT) through 90 days of treatment.3 Additional information on Dr. Velez' study and the full list of Mallinckrodt's presentations can be found below.

"We are eager to share data from our latest studies assessing treatment paradigms in the management of HRS and examining the clinical benefits of patients treated with terlipressin among the broader healthcare professional community. These findings provide critical insight into the importance of patient characteristics at baseline and reducing the time to therapeutic intervention in potentially improving long-term outcomes and the avoidance of renal replacement therapy, such as dialysis, in adults with HRS," said Khurram Jamil, Vice President, Hepatology, Clinical Development & Critical Care. "Following the recent FDA approval of TERLIVAZ, we are encouraged by the growing body of evidence that continues to support Mallinckrodt's commitment to improving the care for critically ill patients with unmet needs."

These studies are sponsored by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and include:

Abstract TH-PO034: Initiation of Terlipressin at Lower Serum Creatinine Levels Is Associated With Avoidance of Dialysis in Patients With Hepatorenal Syndrome Type 13

Presenter: Juan Carlos Q. Velez, MD

Juan Carlos Q. Velez, MD Presentation Date: November 3, 2022; 10AM  12PM ET

November 3, 2022;  Location: Exhibit Hall, Orange County Convention Center, West Building

Abstract TH-PO035: Impact of Terlipressin on Serum Sodium Levels in Patients with HRS  the North American Experience4

Presenter: Shehzad Nawaz Merwat, MD

Shehzad Nawaz Merwat, MD Presentation Date: November 3, 2022 ; 10AM  12PM ET

;  Location: Exhibit Hall, Orange County Convention Center, West Building

Abstract TH-PO037: Impact of HRS Reversal on the Need for Renal Replacement Therapy  Analysis from 3 Phase III Terlipressin Studies5

Presenter: Muhammad Ahmad Mujtaba, MD

Muhammad Ahmad Mujtaba, MD Presentation Date: November 3, 2022; 10AM  12PM ET

November 3, 2022;  Location: Exhibit Hall, Orange County Convention Center, West Building

Find more information on the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2022 website.

Terlipressin is one of the most studied pharmacological agents in HRS with more than 70 published manuscripts and presented abstracts on clinical data to date.6 It has been approved outside the U.S. for more than 30 years and is available on five continents for its indications in the countries where it is approved.7,8

About Hepatorenal Syndrome (HRS)

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) involving rapid reduction in kidney function1 is an acute and life-threatening condition that occurs in people with advanced liver disease.2 HRS is classified into two distinct types  a rapidly progressive type that leads to acute renal failure where patients are typically hospitalized for their care and a more chronic type that progresses over weeks to months.2 HRS involving rapid reduction in kidney function1 is estimated to affect between 30,000 and 40,000 Americans annually.9,10 If left untreated, HRS with rapid reduction in kidney function1 has a median survival time of approximately two weeks and greater than 80 percent mortality within three months.11

INDICATION AND LIMITATION OF USE

TERLIVAZ is indicated to improve kidney function in adults with hepatorenal syndrome with rapid reduction in kidney function.

Patients with a serum creatinine >5 mg/dL are unlikely to experience benefit.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: SERIOUS OR FATAL RESPIRATORY FAILURE

TERLIVAZ may cause serious or fatal respiratory failure. Patients with volume overload or with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) Grade 3 are at increased risk. Assess oxygenation saturation (e.g., SpO 2 ) before initiating TERLIVAZ.





Do not initiate TERLIVAZ in patients experiencing hypoxia (e.g., SpO 2 <90%) until oxygenation levels improve. Monitor patients for hypoxia using continuous pulse oximetry during treatment and discontinue TERLIVAZ if SpO 2 decreases below 90%.

Contraindications

TERLIVAZ is contraindicated:

In patients experiencing hypoxia or worsening respiratory symptoms.

In patients with ongoing coronary, peripheral, or mesenteric ischemia.

Warnings and Precautions

Serious or Fatal Respiratory Failure: Obtain baseline oxygen saturation and do not initiate TERLIVAZ in hypoxic patients. Monitor patients for changes in respiratory status using continuous pulse oximetry and regular clinical assessments. Discontinue TERLIVAZ in patients experiencing hypoxia or increased respiratory symptoms.



Manage intravascular volume overload by reducing or discontinuing the administration of albumin and/or other fluids and through judicious use of diuretics. Temporarily interrupt, reduce, or discontinue TERLIVAZ treatment until patient volume status improves. Avoid use in patients with ACLF Grade 3 because they are at significant risk for respiratory failure.

Ineligibility for Liver Transplant: TERLIVAZ-related adverse reactions (respiratory failure, ischemia) may make a patient ineligible for liver transplantation, if listed. For patients with high prioritization for liver transplantation (e.g., MELD 35), the benefits of TERLIVAZ may not outweigh its risks.





TERLIVAZ-related adverse reactions (respiratory failure, ischemia) may make a patient ineligible for liver transplantation, if listed. For patients with high prioritization for liver transplantation (e.g., MELD 35), the benefits of TERLIVAZ may not outweigh its risks. Ischemic Events: TERLIVAZ may cause cardiac, cerebrovascular, peripheral, or mesenteric ischemia. Avoid use of TERLIVAZ in patients with a history of severe cardiovascular conditions or cerebrovascular or ischemic disease. Discontinue TERLIVAZ in patients who experience signs or symptoms suggestive of ischemic adverse reactions.





TERLIVAZ may cause cardiac, cerebrovascular, peripheral, or mesenteric ischemia. Avoid use of TERLIVAZ in patients with a history of severe cardiovascular conditions or cerebrovascular or ischemic disease. Discontinue TERLIVAZ in patients who experience signs or symptoms suggestive of ischemic adverse reactions. Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: TERLIVAZ may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. If TERLIVAZ is used during pregnancy, the patient should be informed of the potential risk to the fetus.

Adverse Reactions

The most common adverse reactions (10%) include abdominal pain, nausea, respiratory failure, diarrhea, and dyspnea.

Please click here to see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning.

ABOUT MALLINCKRODT

Mallinckrodt is a global business consisting of multiple wholly owned subsidiaries that develop, manufacture, market and distribute specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. The company's Specialty Brands reportable segment's areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, hepatology, nephrology, pulmonology, ophthalmology, and oncology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; analgesics; cultured skin substitutes and gastrointestinal products. Its Specialty Generics reportable segment includes specialty generic drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com.

Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELATED TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release includes forward-looking statements with regard to TERLIVAZ, including its potential impact on patients. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: satisfaction of regulatory and other requirements; actions of regulatory bodies and other governmental authorities; changes in laws and regulations; issues with product quality, manufacturing or supply, or patient safety issues; and other risks identified and described in more detail in the "Risk Factors" section of Mallinckrodt's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC, all of which are available on its website. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date hereof and Mallinckrodt does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

CONTACT

Media Inquiries

Heather Guzzi

Senior Vice President, Green Room Communications

973-524-4112

[email protected]

Investor Relations

Daniel J. Speciale

Global Corporate Controller & Chief Investor Relations Officer

314-654-3638

[email protected]

Derek Belz

Vice President, Investor Relations

314-654-3950

[email protected]

Mallinckrodt, the "M" brand mark and the Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals logo are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company. Other brands are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company or their respective owners.

2022 Mallinckrodt. US-2201045 11/22

References

____________________ 1 TERLIVAZ (terlipressin) for injection [prescribing information]. Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc. 2 National Organization for Rare Disorders. Hepatorenal Syndrome. Available at: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/hepatorenal-syndrome/. Accessed October 13, 2022. 3 JC Q. Velez. Initiation of Terlipressin at Lower Serum Creatinine Levels Is Associated With Avoidance of Dialysis in Patients With Hepatorenal Syndrome Type 1. To be Presented at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2022 (ASN) Scientific Meeting. November 2022. 4 SN Merwat. Impact of Terlipressin on Serum Sodium Levels in Patients with HRS  the North American Experience. To be Presented at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2022 (ASN) Scientific Meeting. November 2022. 5 MA Mujtaba. Impact of HRS Reversal on the Need for Renal Replacement Therapy  Analysis from 3 Phase III Terlipressin Studies. To be Presented at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2022 (ASN) Scientific Meeting. November 2022. 6 Data on File  Ref-05488. Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. 7 Data on File  Ref-05482. Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. 8 FDA Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee. Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Terlipressin Advisory Committee Briefing Document NDA #022231. July 2020. 9 C Pant, B S Jani, M Desai, A Deshpande, Prashant Pandya, Ryan Taylor, R Gilroy, M OIyaee. Heptorenal syndrome in hospitalized patients with chronic liver disease: results from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2002-2012. J of Investig Med. 2016; 64:33-38. 10 United States Census Bureau: Quick Facts. Available at: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045218. Accessed October 13, 2022. 11 Flamm, S.L., Brown, K., Wadei, H.M., et al. The Current Management of Hepatorenal SyndromeAcute Kidney Injury in the United States and the Potential of Terlipressin. Liver Transpl. 2021;27:1191-1202. https://doi.org/10.1002/lt.26072.

SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc
New Spinoff Will Connect Podcasters with Values-Aligned Sponsors to Ensure Creative Independence and Content Diversity Thrives

PHOENIX, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Market Enginuity, the leader in mission-driven sponsorship sales for public media, today announced a new, separate, and complementary brand to dedicate more resources to the podcast industry. Soundrise extends Market Enginuity's longtime tradition of connecting premium, independent voices with values-aligned sponsors so they can grow and thrive, with a specific focus on podcasting. The new company will deliver comprehensive sales, marketing, and operational infrastructure to support podcast creators, while preserving their creative independence and content diversity.

Soundrise is a spinoff of the Market Enginuity Podcast Group, a senior team of podcast advertising experts that has tripled in size over the past five years while successfully supporting PRX and podcasts distributed by the public media organization. From 2017-2022, the team generated approximately 55 percent annual growth in client revenue from podcast advertising sales.

"The podcast industry is becoming increasingly consolidated, often at the expense of creators' independence. Soundrise offers marketers brand-safe premium audio while protecting creative freedom and creators' independence  an uncommon pairing for most of the industry's leading networks," said Harry Clark, CEO of Soundrise. "The new Soundrise brand helps us stand out in the competitive digital audio landscape, to be louder and continue to grow opportunities for PRX and our other independent partners."

"PRX has always been committed to independent voices and helping them grow and thrive. We believe in quality, privacy, independence, and creativity  and Soundrise is the perfect partner to ensure continued growth for our shows," said Kerri Hoffman, President and CEO at PRX.

The spinoff also reflects a renewed commitment to the public media stations Market Enginuity represents. As separate brands under shared ownership, Soundrise will be dedicated to podcasting while Market Enginuity will continue to drive revenue for public media partners in local markets.

"It became clear that the resources and investments required to be most effective in serving our local and national partners needed to be different," said Jim Taszarek, Market Enginuity Founder and CEO. "This move creates two separate and focused organizations that will unlock unique opportunities for our respective partners in the public media and podcast industries for years to come."

About Soundrise

Soundrise is the premier revenue-focused partner for mission-driven, independent podcasting, delivering dedicated sales and marketing to connect a diverse array of creative voices with values-aligned brands. A spinoff of the industry-leading sales team for public media at Market Enginuity, Soundrise is an alliance of non-profit and independent podcast networks, representing shows that open eyes, change perspectives, and shape worlds. Soundrise connects them with brands who celebrate creativity and innovation  offering marketers access to premium audio inventory at scale, while allowing unique storytellers to thrive in the competitive digital audio industry. To learn more visit wearesoundrise.com.

SOURCE Soundrise
IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total October sales of 25,319 vehicles, an increase of 29.7 percent compared to October 2021. Year-to-date sales totaled 240,710 vehicles; a decrease of 17.8 percent compared to the same time last year. With 26 selling days in October, compared to 27 the year prior, the company posted an increase of 34.7 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.

CPO sales totaled 4,424 vehicles in October, a decrease of 16 percent compared to October 2021.

Sales Highlights

Best-ever October sales of CX-30 with 6,666 vehicles sold.

Best-ever October sales of CX-9 with 3,391 vehicles sold.

Mazda Canada, Inc., (MCI) reported October sales of 4,057 vehicles, a decrease of 16.1 percent compared to October last year. Year-to-date sales decreased 23.1 percent, with 44,068 vehicles sold.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported October sales of 5,623 vehicles, an increase of 27.3 percent compared to last year. Year-to-date sales decreased 1.3 percent, with 36,878 vehicles sold.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts, and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, and Mexico through approximately 780 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at News.MazdaUSA.com.

Follow MNAO's social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA.























Month-To-Date

Year-To-Date























October October YOY % % MTD

October October YOY % % MTD



2022 2021 Change DSR

2022 2021 Change DSR





















Mazda3 2,778 2,514 10.5 % 14.8 %

22,758 33,133 (31.3) % (31.3) %

Mazda 3 Sdn 1,390 1,037 34.0 % 39.2 %

9828 18,849 (47.9) % (47.9) %

Mazda 3 HB 1,388 1,477 (6.0) % (2.4) %

12930 14,284 (9.5) % (9.5) %





















Mazda6 0 815 (100.0) % (100.0) %

335 15,086 (97.8) % (97.8) %





















MX-5 Miata 413 492 (16.1) % (12.8) %

4,984 10,100 (50.7) % (50.7) %

MX-5 204 180 13.3 % 17.7 %

1956 3,964 (50.7) % (50.7) %

MXR 209 312 (33.0) % (30.4) %

3028 6,136 (50.7) % (50.7) %





















CX-3 - 1 - -

- 5,100 - -

CX-30 6,666 3,147 111.8 % 120.0 %

44053 50,621 (13.0) % (13.0) %

CX-5 9,441 10,147 (7.0) % (3.4) %

125390 147,454 (15.0) % (15.0) %

CX-9 3,391 2,373 42.9 % 48.4 %

26860 31,172 (13.8) % (13.8) %

CX-50 2,630 0 #DIV/0! #DIV/0!

16006 0 #DIV/0! #DIV/0!

MX-30 0 30 (100.0) % (100.0) %

324 65 398.5 % 398.5 %





















CARS 3,191 3,821 (16.5) % (13.3) %

28,077 58,319 (51.9) % (51.9) %

TRUCKS 22,128 15,698 41.0 % 46.4 %

212,633 234,413 (9.3) % (9.3) %























TOTAL 25,319 19,519 29.7 % 34.7 %

240,710 292,732 (17.8) % (17.8) %









































*Selling Days 26 27





255 255



























SOURCE Mazda North American Operations
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global merchant banking services market size is set to grow by USD 24.46 billion from 2021 to 2026, according to Technavio. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will accelerate at a CAGR of 6.13% during the forecast period. The increased adoption of M&A deals is driving the merchant banking services market growth. However, factors such as increasing data security concerns may challenge market growth.

Make confident decisions using our insights and analysis. Download FREE Sample Report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Merchant Banking Services Market 2022-2026

Merchant Banking Services Market End-user Outlook (Revenue, USD bn, 2021-2026)

Business - size and forecast 2021-2026

Individuals - size and forecast 2021-2026

Merchant Banking Services Market Geography Outlook (Revenue, USD bn, 2021-2026)

APAC - size and forecast 2021-2026

Europe - size and forecast 2021-2026

- size and forecast 2021-2026 North America - size and forecast 2021-2026

- size and forecast 2021-2026 South America - size and forecast 2021-2026

- size and forecast 2021-2026 Middle East and Africa - size and forecast 2021-2026

Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a FREE PDF Sample Report

Regional Analysis

APAC will account for 46% of the market's growth during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to factors such as the growing expansion of global merchant banks in China and India. Moreover, market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in other regions. China and India are the key countries for the merchant banking services market in APAC.

Market Driver and Trend

The increased adoption of M&A deals is driving market growth. Enterprises have started to outsource merchant bankers for M&A deals, with the rising number of M&A transactions and a shift toward increased risk management and cost-saving. Merchant banks offer advisory services for M&A deals and due diligence data. The inherent cost advantages associated with merchant banking services have increased their demand among large enterprises. These banks make the M&A process easier for buyers. Therefore, the rise in M&A deals will drive the growth of the market.

The growing number of unicorn startups in APAC is a trend in the market. The increasing number of startups and M&A activities is increasing steadily in countries such as China and India. China has some of the most valued global unicorns, such as ByteDance Ltd. and Ant Group CO., Ltd. Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen are some of the major cities contributing to the list of the global unicorn index in APAC. The significant increase in the number of unicorn startups in APAC will propel the demand for merchant banking services in fundraising activities. Such factors are expected to create growth opportunities for vendors in the market.

Identify key trends, drivers, and challenges in the report, which will help vendors improve their strategies to stay ahead of their competitors. Buy Now for detailed information about market dynamics

Major Merchant Banking Services Companies

Bank of America Corp.

Canara bank Ltd.

Citigroup Inc.

Credit Suisse Group AG

DBS Bank Ltd.

Deutsche Bank AG

ICICI Bank Ltd.

JPMorgan Chase and Co.

Morgan Stanley

Punjab National Bank

The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

UBS Group AG

Wells Fargo and Co.

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Related Reports

Digital Banking Platforms Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: This report extensively covers segmentation by type (retail banking and corporate banking) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and the Middle East and Africa). 34% of the market's growth will originate from North America during the forecast period. The market share growth in the retail banking segment will be significant.

Banknote Market Growth, Size, Trends, Analysis Report by Type, Application, Region, and Segment Forecast 2021-2025: This report extensively covers segmentation by printer type (state-owned and commercial) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America). 31% of the market's growth will originate from North America during the forecast period. The market share growth by the state-owned segment will be significant.

Merchant Banking Services Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.13% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 24.46 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 5.43 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 46% Key consumer countries US, China, India, UK, and France Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled Bank of America Corp., Canara bank Ltd., Citigroup Inc., Credit Suisse Group AG, DBS Bank Ltd., Deutsche Bank AG, ICICI Bank Ltd., JPMorgan Chase and Co., Morgan Stanley, Punjab National Bank, The Goldman Sachs Group Inc., UBS Group AG, and Wells Fargo and Co. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Browse Consumer Discretionary Market Reports

Table of Contents

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by End-user

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by End-user

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by End-user



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by End-user

5.3 Business - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Business - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Business - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Business - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Business - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Individuals - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Individuals - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Individuals - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Individuals - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Individuals - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by End-user

Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by End-user ($ million)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 37: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 38: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 40: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 42: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 44: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 45: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 47: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 48: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 49: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 51: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 52: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 53: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 56: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 57: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 60: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 61: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 62: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 63: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 64: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 67: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 68: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 69: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 71: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 72: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 73: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 74: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 75: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 76: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 77: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 82: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 83: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 84: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 85: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 86: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 87: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 88: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 Bank of America Corp.

Exhibit 89: Bank of America Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 90: Bank of America Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 91: Bank of America Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 92: Bank of America Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 93: Bank of America Corp. - Segment focus

10.4 Citigroup Inc.

Exhibit 94: Citigroup Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 95: Citigroup Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 96: Citigroup Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 97: Citigroup Inc. - Segment focus

10.5 Credit Suisse Group AG

Exhibit 98: Credit Suisse Group AG - Overview



Exhibit 99: Credit Suisse Group AG - Business segments



Exhibit 100: Credit Suisse Group AG - Key offerings



Exhibit 101: Credit Suisse Group AG - Segment focus

10.6 DBS Bank Ltd.

Exhibit 102: DBS Bank Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 103: DBS Bank Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 104: DBS Bank Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 105: DBS Bank Ltd. - Segment focus

10.7 Deutsche Bank AG

Exhibit 106: Deutsche Bank AG - Overview



Exhibit 107: Deutsche Bank AG - Business segments



Exhibit 108: Deutsche Bank AG - Key news



Exhibit 109: Deutsche Bank AG - Key offerings



Exhibit 110: Deutsche Bank AG - Segment focus

10.8 JPMorgan Chase and Co.

Exhibit 111: JPMorgan Chase and Co. - Overview



Exhibit 112: JPMorgan Chase and Co. - Business segments



Exhibit 113: JPMorgan Chase and Co. - Key offerings



Exhibit 114: JPMorgan Chase and Co. - Segment focus

10.9 Morgan Stanley

Exhibit 115: Morgan Stanley - Overview



Exhibit 116: Morgan Stanley - Business segments



Exhibit 117: Morgan Stanley - Key offerings



Exhibit 118: Morgan Stanley - Segment focus

10.10 The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

Exhibit 119: The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 120: The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 121: The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 122: The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 123: The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. - Segment focus

10.11 UBS Group AG

Exhibit 124: UBS Group AG - Overview



Exhibit 125: UBS Group AG - Business segments



Exhibit 126: UBS Group AG - Key offerings



Exhibit 127: UBS Group AG - Segment focus

10.12 Wells Fargo and Co.

Exhibit 128: Wells Fargo and Co. - Overview



Exhibit 129: Wells Fargo and Co. - Business segments



Exhibit 130: Wells Fargo and Co. - Key offerings



Exhibit 131: Wells Fargo and Co. - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 132: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 133: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 134: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 135: Research methodology



Exhibit 136: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 137: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 138: List of abbreviations

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
Leading Toy Company Also Launches "Shop Safe, Play Safe" Social Awareness Campaign Just in Time for National Toy Safety Month this November

DETROIT, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MAGFORMERS LLC, an award-winning toy company and leader in the magnetic construction space, kicks off the holiday season early this year to support families and children in need with its 'MERRY MAGFORMERS' BUY, GET, & GIVE campaign. Beginning on 11/1, with every purchase of the MAGFORMERS Designer Carnival 46Pc and/or the Tileblox Rainbow 20pc on MAGFORMERS.com , the company will donate one to The Ronald McDonald House Charities Detroit (RMHC). To add additional cheer, Santa's elves will hand deliver the toys directly to The Ronald McDonald House Charities Detroit (RMHC) on Giving Tuesday, November 29th at 10 am.

MERRY MAGFORMERS BUY, GET, & GIVE Campaign Launches to Support the Ronald McDonald House!

MAGFORMERS President Erik Quam says, "As the holiday season approaches, we understand that it can be difficult for children and families in hospital care to feel the holiday spirit. The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Detroit (RMHC) is an incredible organization with inspiring team members, and we are happy to be bringing them some extra cheer this holiday season." He adds, "Partnering with The Ronald McDonald House of Detroit was a natural choice for Magformers. They represent decades of care for children and their families."

The Ronald McDonald House Charities supports children and families in local cities through programs that supply housing and care while children encounter medical treatment. But Ronald McDonald House Charities are more than a place for families to stay. Their programs provide support, resources, activities, meals, and educational opportunities, so parents can focus on what is most important.

"The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Detroit is beyond grateful for the donation Magformers is making this Giving Tuesday and throughout the holiday season. It's a beautiful moment when families can forget about the trials they are currently facing and cherish the time they have together. Magformers is giving these families just that," says Jennifer Litomisky, Executive Director of RMHC.

As a toy industry leader, Magformers is devoted to encouraging creators of the future. Magformers kits allow children to explore their creativity and imaginations while enhancing STEAM skills through engaging, educational play. "In addition to the educational aspect, Magformers are also a great tool to ease anxiety in children and adults," Quam adds, "The magnetic push and pull of each individual shape offers a soothing tactile experience that can relax your mood, reduce stress and provide a playful escape."

This donation is only the beginning. Just in time for National Toy Safety Awareness Month (November), MAGFORMERS has also dedicated itself to a social initiative educating caretakers on the importance of "buying safe" and avoiding counterfeit products and toys. MAGFORMERS' "Shop Safe, Play Safe" social awareness campaign will encourage families to share who they shop safe for via a social media post and by including the hashtag #ShopSafePlaySafe.

"Unfortunately, we live in a world where massive online shopping platforms have clouded the marketplace with counterfeit toys that are unsafe and unfit for children to play," Quam added. "These platforms may offer low, discounted pricing, but with it comes potential harm. We're hoping to educate and enlighten consumers with our Shop Safe, Play Safe awareness campaign. Sometimes, getting the lowest price product isn't the safest choice for your child."

For tips and information, go to www.PlaySafe.org or follow Magformers on social media.

@Magformers on Instagram

@magformersofficial on Facebook

@RMHCDetroit on Instagram

@RMHC_Detroit on Twitter

#ShopSafePlaySafe

#ToySafetyAwarenessMonth

#PlaySafe

#ToySafety

#GivingTuesday

#MerryMagformers

Media Contact:

Kayla Perez

212.777.2220

[email protected]

SOURCE MAGFORMERS LLC
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- National PTA is pleased to release its updated National Standards for Family-School Partnerships, which provide critical guidance for building strong partnerships between families, educators and schools to support student success. The updated standards incorporate research and best practices since they were last updated in 2008; reflect the perspectives of nearly 600 families, principally from underrepresented communities and identities, as well as educators and youth; increase focus on diversity, equity and inclusion; expand the approach to student success to include whole child development; and are designed to be more useful for a variety of audiences.

"Our National Standards for Family-School Partnerships have contributed to greater awareness and capacity for improving family-school partnerships across the country and internationally for over 20 years. But so much has changed since the standards were last updated, and with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there could not be a more urgent time for strong family-school partnerships," said Anna King, president of National PTA. "The updated standards are designed to provide better support for schools and their communities as they address the impact of the pandemic, changes in educational and family engagement trends, shifts in community demographics, and the need for enhanced transparency and more equity-centered practices."

As part of its efforts to update the standards, National PTA commissioned a survey of more than 1,500 parents and guardians with children in grades K-12 in public schools. Key findings of the survey, which was conducted in September 2022 by Edge Research, show families see value in family engagement, share positive ratings of their school environment, and believe schools predominately communicate in a welcoming and respectful manner, but they also believe schools can do a better job of engaging and reaching all families, educating families on family engagement policies and opportunities that are in place, and providing resources and support that make it possible for all families to engage with their child's school.

National PTA's updated National Standards for Family-School Partnerships include impactful edits to the goals and indicators for the six key tenets (Welcome All Families, Communicate Effectively, Support Student Success, Speak Up For Every Child, Share Power and Collaborate with Community) to best support family engagement and student success and well-being. National PTA urges that the standards be used by:

School board members to set the vision and imagine what effective family-school partnerships should look like in their community.

State education agencies, superintendents and other district officials to create policies and practices for family-school partnerships in their schools.

Principals to set expectations; disseminate tools, templates and resources; and support educators in fostering meaningful relationships with families.

Educators to build bridges between children's home lives and school lives.

Parent leaders to collaborate and advocate for change.

"The findings from our parent survey provide valuable insight into areas where family engagement and family-school partnerships can be strengthened, which is essential to student success and school improvement efforts and is more important now than ever," said Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA executive director. "Our updated National Standards for Family-School Partnerships provide critical guidance and best practices for strong partnerships that will make a real impact for all students, families and schools, and we urge the implementation of these in all schools and districts."

National PTA will host a virtual townhall Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. EST to share the findings from the parent survey and discuss the updates to the standards and how the standards can be implemented. The townhall will feature U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona, National PTA President Anna King and representatives for other leading education associations. It will be streamed live on National PTA's Facebook page and Twitter and YouTube accounts.

National PTA's efforts to update the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships were made possible by National PTA's Endowment Fund, the philanthropic foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York and PTA Proud National Sponsor GoGuardian. For more information and tools to implement the standards, visit PTA.org/Standards.

About National PTA

National PTA comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. For more information, visit PTA.org.

SOURCE National PTA
A debut of a Japanese mascot that is mainly inspired by the combo of Japanese Culture and Anime with a Louisiana twist into it.

BATON ROUGE, La., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jay Japan, an anime online store that sells products dealing with Japanese culture and anime, announced the debut of their latest collection for their clothing line called Foodies. This collection has Kira Yamada, a mascot for the anime online store Jay Japan, eating two different kinds of foods: a Japanese ramen bowl with chicken and eggs and a Louisiana Gumbo with okra and shrimp. It was mainly inspired by two parts of the world (Japan and Louisiana) having world-class cuisines. Justin Johnson, the founder of Jay Japan, explains the concept behind that collection is to show his love of two notable cuisines: Japanese Ramen and Louisiana Gumbo.

Foodies Design

Also, Jay Japan would have a huge upgrade on their website to make it faster and more efficient for potential customers. The website is currently going through renovations and upgrades to better assist customers and give them the best service possible. According to Justin, "I've always done my very best to make the customers have an amazing experience with Jay Japan. So that means a makeover for my online store would be a great idea since customers' love for anime and Japanese culture is always my number one reason for me to constantly improve my brand. Customers would expect a nice, sleek design that's super-fast and put a lot of focus on our products."

Unlike a lot of anime/Japanese brands, Jay Japan is not established from somewhere that's super popular for the Japanese people. Jay Japan is established in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. "Not many people from Japan would know where Louisiana is located since it's not a big hotspot compared to New York or Los Angeles," Justin explains, "So, it's a great way to use the uniqueness of Japanese and Louisiana culture and put it together. That's the biggest reason I created that mascot: to show my love for Japanese culture while being appreciated by my Louisiana roots." Justin explains the iconic icons for Kira Yamada are her flower hairpins: the Japanese Yamato Nadeshiko and the Louisiana Magnolia. "The reason why I combine the style for Japanese and Louisiana culture is to show the world that no matter where you're from, you can still have a passion and love for Japanese culture and anime. So, it was a no-brainer to have a mascot like Kira Yamada because I constantly hear tons of people in the state of Louisiana really into Japan and wanting to go to Japan one day."

About Jay Japan:

Jay Japan is an anime/Japanese apparel online brand based out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Justin was inspired by his childhood dream trip to Yokohama, Japan from a small hometown of Baker, Louisiana. Jay Japan is consisting of apparel and accessories that deal with Japanese culture with a twist of Louisiana style into it. Its mission is to show the world that you can be interested in Japanese culture no matter where you're from. For more information about the store, please visit https://www.jay-japan.com.

Social Media:

Instagram: @jayjapan59

Twitter: @jayjapan59

Facebook @jayjapan59

Pinterest: @JayJapan59

Contact Info:

Phone Number: (225)229-0494

Email Address: [email protected]

SOURCE Jay Japan
$15 million philanthropic award doubles existing global funding; RESET Alcohol will work in fifteen countries primarily in Latin America, Africa, Asia

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcohol consumption is a top-ten driver of death, illness and injury, with wide-ranging social and economic harms. Many of the harms related to alcohol disproportionately affect young adults, and surveys from multiple countries suggest that the Covid-19 pandemic has further increased drinking. Today, Vital Strategies announced RESET Alcohol  a groundbreaking new $15 million initiative to reduce alcohol-related harms in hard-hit countries through policy change.

Public health work on alcohol is vastly underfunded relative to the issue's burden, and the philanthropic award that founds RESET Alcohol roughly doubles existing global funding. Over three years, the initiative will support 15 or more countries to develop policies including raising the price of alcohol via taxation, regulating availability, and restricting alcohol marketing.

"Every year, alcohol use cuts millions of lives short and causes even more widespread suffering," said Adam Karpati, Senior Vice President, Public Health Programs at Vital Strategies. "The onus can't be on individuals. We must reset from an environment where the alcohol industry is empowered to push alcohol into nearly every aspect of our lives, including schools, sports, and media. We need policies that protect kids, make healthy choices the easy choices, and check industry's influence. RESET Alcohol will do just that through strong partnerships with government and civil society leaders who are committed to action."

RESET Alcohol is a collaboration of six global organizations: Vital Strategies, which is leading the initiative; Movendi International; the University of Illinois Chicago; the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA); the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Alliance; and World Health Organization (WHO). RESET Alcohol will support countries, primarily in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, with an emphasis on high-population, high-burden countries. RESET Alcohol's approach builds on partners' success in similar consortia addressing tobacco and other harmful commodities, including contributing to 18.5% relative reduction in tobacco use in Bangladesh (2009-17) and 17% in India (2010-17).

Per capita alcohol consumption among drinkers has increased in nearly all regions of the world consistently since 2005. Alcohol consumption is related to more than 60 different conditions, including cancers, heart disease, liver disease, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS; injuries and trauma including suicide, homicide, assault, falls, intimate partner violence, and vehicle crashes. Alcohol consumption is also associated with adverse economic impacts, from medical care costs to lost productivity.

"Failure to act has led to millions of preventable deaths and suffering from alcohol," said Jacqui Drope, Director, RESET Alcohol. "It's time governments treat it like the public health crisis that it is. When governments take up policies proven to reduce alcohol-related harms, population health and economies will benefit."

RESET Alcohol's objective is to advance policies as recommended by the World Health Organization's Global Alcohol Action Plan and the SAFER technical package, especially taxes on alcohol and regulations on marketing and availability. RESET Alcohol will provide technical support to governments, improve national research and data collection, resource advocacy for policy change, and mount communications campaigns.

"For governments, tax increases on alcohol are a win-win, especially given the sluggish global economy," said Jeffrey Drope, Research Professor at UIC. "Effective alcohol taxation reduces affordability, consumption and alcohol related disease and premature death. This means lower health care costs and increased productivity from a healthier population. Taxes also create revenue for governments to fund health programs or other social priorities."

Funding for RESET Alcohol was awarded via a grant directed to Vital Strategies from GiveWell, a nonprofit dedicated to finding outstanding giving opportunities and publishing the full details of its analysis to help donors decide where to give. GiveWell recommends high-impact, cost-effective charities backed by evidence and rigorous analysis.

"Alcohol is a major obstacle to development," said Kristina Sperkova, President, Movendi International. "It's not only an obvious health crisis but also a major social justice issue. RESET Alcohol can support governments in advancing proven alcohol policy solutions, which will protect millions of people from harm caused by alcohol companies and promote the health of the most neglected and marginalized people and communities."

"Science-based policies independent of commercial interests are key to reduce harm from alcohol worldwide," said Sally Casswell, Chairperson at Global Alcohol Policy Alliance. "We look forward to supporting the adaptation of best practice policies to new countries around the world and learning about local innovations. We are honored to be a part of RESET Alcohol and its promising mission to see millions of fewer deaths and injury from alcohol."

"We urgently need a public health reset with smart policies to get death and disease caused by alcohol under control", said Katie Dain, CEO of the NCD Alliance. "We are proud to be part of RESET Alcohol, working to bring communities, national governments, and research partners together to drive change through alcohol policies that count."

Learn more about RESET Alcohol here: https://www.vitalstrategies.org/programs/alcohol-policy/

About RESET Alcohol

RESET Alcohol brings together national governments, civil society, and global leaders to advance policies from the World Health Organization's SAFER package for reducing the health, social and economic harms of alcohol. RESET Alcohol activities include financial and technical support to governments, civil society organizations, and technical policy institutions. The initiative is led by Vital Strategies in collaboration with Movendi International; The Tobacconomics Team, based at the University of Illinois Chicago; Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA); The NCD Alliance; and World Health Organization (WHO).

To learn more visit: https://www.vitalstrategies.org/programs/alcohol-policy/

Collaborators

Vital Strategies: www.vitalstrategies.org

Movendi International: www.movendi.ngo

Tobacconomics: https://tobacconomics.org

GAPA: www.globalgapa.org

NCD Alliance: https://ncdalliance.org

WHO led Global SAFER initiative: https://www.who.int/initiatives/SAFER

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/879444/Vital_Strategies___Logo.jpg

SOURCE Vital Strategies
Helping small businesses navigate the complex qualification and application process

CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, NEWITY , a small business marketplace dedicated to providing access to SBA loan solutions and trusted service providers, announced their new Employee Retention Credit (ERC) offering aimed at helping businesses claim their payroll tax credits. Eligible companies that have not claimed ERC can do so through 2024, depending upon their initial tax filing or payment date.

Originally created within the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, ERC is an incentive program that provides business owners with tax credits up to $26,000 per retained employee, even for businesses that received PPP loans.

With a successful track record of helping 115,000 businesses navigate the complexities of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), NEWITY streamlined the ERC application process to help businesses determine eligibility, file their claim, and ensure IRS compliance.

"Many businesses continue to struggle as a result of the pandemic and the Employee Retention Credit program offers substantial benefits to help sustain business' operations," said David Cody, NEWITY Co-Founder and Co-CEO. "Our expanded ERC service is a testament to our continued effort to be 'complexity busters' for small businesses that are otherwise disadvantaged when it comes to these complicated applications."

"There's a lot of misinformation around ERC," said Luke LaHaie, NEWITY Co-Founder and Co-CEO. "If your tax advisor or CPA said your business is not eligible, we encourage you to confirm your qualifications on our platform. We've already processed several Employee Retention Credits for small businesses, which will provide meaningful cash in their pocket to weather the current economic climate and grow their companies."

NEWITY's ERC Service is open and available to all small businesses.

About NEWITY

NEWITY is America's Small Business Marketplace, focused on empowering entrepreneurs with access to trusted service providers and affordable loan solutions  all in one place. NEWITY uses leading technology and real, human support to help small businesses make their companies more efficient and profitable. Today, that includes equitable access to SBA 7(a) loans; streamlined processes to claim tax credits; simplified online bookkeeping with Xendoo; customized, competitive insurance with Mylo; and access to a marketing agency marketplace with Breef. To join NEWITY's growing small business community, visit NEWITYmarket.com.

SOURCE NEWITY
nShift releases guide on creating a competitive customer experience this Christmas and beyond

LONDON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As consumers around the world tighten their belts, retailers must focus on building a competitive customer experience to make this year's Christmas shopping season a success. nShift, the global leader in parcel delivery management software, has released a list of ways that retailers can build loyalty with shoppers over the festive season and beyond.

This time of year typically marks a period when shoppers increase spending in the run up to the festive season. But economic uncertainty continues to make global consumers nervous. Research from PwC shows that "consumer sentiment", a measure that captures attitudes and optimism among shoppers, is lower than at the beginning of the pandemic.[1] The cost-of-living crisis continues to bite.

nShift has released a new guide that explores how retailers and e-commerce companies can win shoppers back in the run up to Christmas. The guide encourages retailers to:

Get the price right  when considering a customer's price sensitivity, think beyond the product itself. Multiple shipping options, for example, can make a huge difference to conversions online. Some shoppers will opt for a slower delivery at a cheaper cost. Others will pay more for next-day options. Provide constant, relevant communication  a great customer experience does not end when the consumer clicks 'buy'. The demand for information and updates is getting stronger and stronger. In a time of uncertainty, retailers can offer reassurance and comfort by keeping customers up to date with the progress of their purchases, either through updates or letting customers check themselves. Ensure they deliver  poor delivery standards kill customer loyalty. Retailers must ensure they have a clear read on how all of the carrier companies they use are performing. Get returns right  a decent returns policy helps increase conversions. But it's vital to ensure that the process is easy for both shoppers and warehouses.

Richard Anderson, Chief Customer Officer at nShift, said: "At this time of year, shoppers need to be more confident than ever that they can get what they want and when they want it. Those that have a positive experience will recommend it to their friends. Those that don't, will shop around for a better one. Now more than ever, the delivery experience is a crucial part of the customer experience."

nShift is the global leader in parcel delivery management software. It helps retailers provide an end-to-end delivery experience from checkout to returns. nShift helps create a customer experience that will drive sales, build brand reputation and customer loyalty, and give businesses the data and insight needed to grow the business.

Download the full guide: "Four ways to create a competitive customer experience this Christmas".

About nShift

nShift is the global leading provider of cloud delivery management solutions enabling frictionless shipment and return of almost one billion shipments across 190 countries annually. nShift's software is used globally by e-commerce, retail, manufacturing and 3PL shippers. The company is headquartered in London and Oslo. It has over 500 employees across offices in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, United Kingdom, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Romania.

Social posts to accompany press release

Twitter

As consumer sentiment drops, retailers must do more to give consumers the Xmas shopping experience they desire. The delivery experience is a crucial part of the customer experience. Read our new guide for four tips on building a competitive customer experience.

Facebook

The run up to Christmas usually marks one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year. But as consumer sentiment continues to drop, retailers must do more to win the loyalty of consumers.

Our new guide explores how retailers can create a competitive customer experience in the run up to the festive season and beyond. It shows how, now more than ever, shoppers must be confident that their orders will be delivered quickly and in a way that suits them.

LinkedIn

The run up to Christmas usually marks one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year. But as consumer sentiment continues to drop, retailers must do more to win the loyalty of shoppers.

Our new guide explores how retailers can create a competitive customer experience in the run up to the festive season and beyond. It shows how, now more than ever, shoppers must be confident that their orders will be delivered quickly and in a way that suits them.

To build the best customer experience, retailers should offer a range of delivery options.

[1] https://www.pwc.co.uk/industries/retail-consumer/insights/consumer-sentiment-survey.html

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1782566/nShift_Logo.jpg

SOURCE nShift
Award will help spur economic development in underserved areas throughout New York City

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- New York City Regional Center ("NYCRC") is pleased to announce an award of $45 million in New Market Tax Credits from the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund of the U.S. Department of Treasury. The credits will be allocated to NYCR-CDE, a Community Development Entity managed by NYCRC. Since 2016, NYCRC has received five separate awards totaling $210 million in New Market Tax Credits from the U.S. Department of Treasury. To receive a New Market Tax Credit allocation award, NYCRC was required to demonstrate a mission and track record of providing investment capital for low-income communities.

The new $45 million allocation marks the fifth New Market Tax Credit award received by NYCRC. In 2016, NYCRC received an initial award of $45 million. In 2018, it received a second allocation of $20 million and in 2020 and 2021, it secured a third and fourth award of $50 million each year. The $210 million in total allocations from the U.S. Department of Treasury provide a unique opportunity for NYCRC to continue its mission of providing financing that creates jobs and stimulates community revitalization in underserved areas of New York City. These allocations continue to be among the first managed by an EB-5 regional center.

The New Market Tax Credit Program was created by Congress in 2000 in an effort to stimulate private investment and economic growth in low-income neighborhoods and rural communities that lack access to capital. Historically, low-income communities often have difficulty attracting investment. The New Market Tax Credit Program aims to break this cycle of disinvestment by attracting the private investment necessary to reinvigorate struggling local economies. Private capital is incentivized by providing federal income tax credits to investors in exchange for making equity investments in low-income neighborhoods.

NYCRC's new $45 million New Market Tax Credit allocation will provide financing to community development projects that typically face financing challenges, such as health care centers, schools, and community facilities located in underserved areas of New York City.

"We are very pleased to receive our fifth allocation from the U.S. Department of Treasury," said George Olsen, NYCRC Co-Managing Principal. "This new $45 million New Market Tax Credit award will help spur economic growth in New York City during these challenging times. We look forward to delivering financing to underserved communities and continue our role in supporting community revitalization."

The 107 organizations receiving awards for 2022 were selected from a pool of 199 applicants across the United States and will receive a total of $5 billion in New Market Tax Credit awards.

Over the past 14 years, the NYCRC has put $1.58 billion of EB-5 capital to work across a broad spectrum of infrastructure and real estate projects in New York City. Much of this capital has been invested in underserved areas in need of long-term economic growth. Examples include:

$811 million to finance ground-up, redevelopment, and infrastructure projects in Brooklyn , including seven projects totaling $383 million in the Brooklyn Navy Yard;

to finance ground-up, redevelopment, and infrastructure projects in , including seven projects totaling in the Brooklyn Navy Yard; $108.5 million to finance ground-up and redevelopment projects in Washington Heights (an Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone);

to finance ground-up and redevelopment projects in (an Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone); $232.5 million to finance the construction of a public high-speed wireless infrastructure network in New York City subway stations and along city streets; and,

to finance the construction of a public high-speed wireless infrastructure network in subway stations and along city streets; and, $220 million to finance ground-up construction in the Bronx .

About New York City Regional Center

The NYCRC was approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in 2008 to secure foreign investment for real estate and infrastructure projects under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. Congress created the EB-5 program to stimulate economic development through foreign investment. The program's mandate is to use foreign investment to spur job creation while simultaneously affording eligible foreign investors the opportunity to become lawful permanent residents of the United States. The NYCRC was the first EB-5 regional center approved in New York City.

To date, twenty-two projects throughout New York City have utilized NYCRC EB-5 financing to assist in the construction of over 3.8 million square feet of new development and renovation as well as critical infrastructure initiatives. Examples of projects utilizing EB-5 capital from NYCRC-managed funds include the following:

A new Wi-Fi infrastructure network in New York City's subway stations;

subway stations; Redevelopment of a new cargo and animal care facility at John F. Kennedy International Airport;

International Airport; New soundstages and production support space at Steiner Studios, New York City's largest film and television studio;

largest film and television studio; Fresh Direct's new headquarters in the South Bronx ;

; Redevelopment of multiple unused buildings and surrounding infrastructure upgrades in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York City's largest industrial park;

largest industrial park; A new hotel and medical office complex in Washington Heights ;

; A new Wegman's supermarket and industrial buildings in Brooklyn ;

; Expansion of the Hutchinson Metro Center in the Bronx ; and,

; and, Construction of the city-wide LinkNYC street-level Wi-Fi network.

In addition to fueling economic development, NYCRC offerings have enabled over 5,300 individuals to become permanent residents of the United States through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.

About the New Markets Tax Credit Program

Established by Congress in 2000, the New Markets Tax Credit Program assists economically distressed communities attract private investment capital. This federal tax credit helps to fill project financing gaps by enabling investors to make larger investments than would otherwise be possible. Communities benefit from the jobs associated with investments in manufacturing, retail, and technology. Communities also benefit from greater access to housing and public facilities in health, education, and childcare.

Through the New Market Tax Credit Program, the U.S. Department of Treasury allocates tax credit authority to Community Development Entities (CDEs) through a competitive application process. CDEs are financial intermediaries through which investment capital flows from an investor to a qualified business located in a low-income community. CDEs use their authority to offer tax credits to investors in exchange for equity in the CDE. The tax credit provided to the investor totals 39 percent of the cost of the investment and is claimed over a seven-year period. With these capital investments, CDEs can make loans and investments to businesses operating in distressed areas that have better rates, terms, and flexibility than the market. For every $1 invested by the federal government, the New Market Tax Credit Program generates over $8 of private investment.

Since 2001, New Market Tax Credits have generated $60.4 billion in investments in low-income communities and businesses, resulting in the construction of 77 million square feet of manufacturing space, 118 million square feet of office space, and 77 million square feet of retail space.

NYCR-CDE, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Provider.

SOURCE NYCRC
MILAN and MIAMI, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- OGGI Equity is pleased to announce that its portfolio company, Valentis Group has been awarded a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support its recovery efforts in the State of Florida in wake of Hurricane Ian. The twelve-month agreement with FEMA is designed to provide armed security services at various disaster recovery centers and branch offices for FEMA throughout Florida.

The BPA is the largest award, to date, from the federal government to Valentis. The government identified Valentis had good past performance, fully understood the needs of the project and could deliver the required needs to FEMA on a larger and more complex scale.

Marnie Sutch, speaking for Valentis, comments " We are honored to have been chosen for this contract, albeit under terrible humanitarian circumstances, and believe it showcases the high standard we hold ourselves to and our ability, in today's Global turbulent environment, to service any level of need which might arise in both the Public and Private sectors."

OGGI Comments: "We are delighted and congratulate the Valentis team on this significant contract. This is a tremendous milestone in their government contracting & revenue growth plans and paves the way for more substantial future contacts in both the private and government sectors."

About OGGI Equity:

OGGI EQUITY is a International private equity firm and consultancy with a primary focus on guiding and taking a position in USA companies operating across diversified sectors that meet stringent terms and conditions. We seek value propositions in emerging private companies that show the growth potential of expansion and public valuation and incorporate a network of public company related advisors, including attorneys, accountants, regulatory advisors, auditor, and those with financial industry experience to assist and guide portfolio companies in their business efforts and value. OGGI adheres to fundamental analysis which includes: positive economic conditions, a growing market sector, realistic forecasting and exit strategies.

CONTACT: [email protected]

Note: This release may include forward-looking statements. In particular, like the word forecasted and similar, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements in this release are not promises or representations and are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties and correction though not updates are obligated.

SOURCE Oggi Equity Srl, LLC
STAMFORD, Conn., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympus Partners is pleased to announce it has agreed to sell Liquibox to Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE:SEE). Liquibox is a leading manufacturer of sustainable liquid packaging solutions offering a wide assortment of bag-in-box solutions as well as fluid dispensing fitments to a variety of end markets including food and beverage, consumer products, and healthcare.

Under Olympus' ownership, Liquibox has experienced significant growth including opening a state-of-the-art greenfield facility in Madrid, Spain. Liquibox employs ~1,300 team members across North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Manu Bettegowda, managing partner at Olympus, commented: "We are happy for Liquibox to become part of the broader SEE platform and believe this is a transaction where both organizations will benefit from the strategic combination."

"We are thankful for the opportunity to work with such an outstanding management team. We are excited to see what our friends at Liquibox can do with the support of SEE behind them," added Matt Boyd, principal at Olympus.

"Liquibox has thoroughly enjoyed having Olympus Partners as our financial sponsor, strategic sounding board, and trusted advisor. Their support for growth both through internal capital projects as well as acquisitions has been critical to our success," said Ken Swanson, Chief Executive Officer of Liquibox.

The Olympus team included Manu Bettegowda, Matt Boyd, Matt Bujor and Alex Pollera. Olympus was advised by Patrick McNulty, Brad Morrison and Ty Denoncourt from Harris Williams and Paul Hindsley and Elliot Farkas from William Blair as M&A advisors, received legal representation from Benjamin Clinger and Matt Goulding from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and Candice Lockhart from KPMG.

About Olympus Partners

Olympus Partners is a private equity firm focused on providing equity capital for middle market management buyouts and for companies needing capital for expansion. Olympus manages in excess of $8.5 billion mainly on behalf of corporate pension funds, endowment funds and state-sponsored retirement programs. Founded in 1988, Olympus is an active, long-term investor across a broad range of industries including business services, consumer products, healthcare services, financial services, industrial services and manufacturing.

SOURCE Olympus Partners
PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- OnPoint Community Credit Union is celebrating 90 years of service and 500,000 members this month with giveaways and prizes. In recognition of these milestones, OnPoint launched a special sweepstakes today for the community to enter for a chance to win a $500 saving deposit.* Ninety winners' names will be drawn at the end of the day on November 30, 2022. Branch staff will also give away OnPoint branded merchandise throughout the month.

OnPoint Community Credit Union Celebrates 90 Years and 500,000 Members with $500 Giveaways

"As a financial cooperative, we exist to serve our members and improve the communities we call home," said Rob Stuart, President and Chief Executive Officer, OnPoint Community Credit Union. "Reaching these milestones is a proud moment we share with each of our members, employees and community partners. We look forward to the next 90 years of serving our community and welcoming more members to the OnPoint family."

A longtime OnPoint member is Rhonda Anderson, who joined in 2001. Anderson underwent a hip replacement five years ago and was subsequently forced to retire. She was also almost victim to an IRS scamuntil she contacted an OnPoint financial advisor, who calmed her fears and set her on a path to protecting her finances while navigating medical costs. Now the Mill Plain OnPoint Branch is a regular stop for Anderson to bring in her grandchildren, drop off change and catch up with her friends behind the counter.

"I trust them," Anderson said. "I can't wait to wave at my good friends, and I feel like I've known them my entire life. They are like family and they have my best interest at heart."

For Anderson, the work OnPoint put in to make sure information was delivered to her during her rehabilitation, help her manage her money before she was able to use Social Security is something she'll never forget. They've become a partner to her during this phase of life.

"Peace of mind is what comes to mind in being an OnPoint member," Anderson said. "It's a happy place for me."

Vast member-driven growth

Founded as the original Portland Teachers Credit Union by 16 schoolteachers in 1932, OnPoint has quickly grown into one of the largest credit unions serving Oregon and Southwest Washington. OnPoint's membership has increased exponentially over the last 10 years  up 102% since 2012.

To keep pace with its expanding membership, OnPoint embarked upon the largest branch expansion of any credit union in the country in 2021, during a time when other financial institutions closed branches. The reason for expansion was simple  members wanted more accessibility so they could choose to do their banking online or in person within a reasonable distance from their homes. OnPoint heard the call and responded.

90 years of returning profits to members, community

As a not-for-profit financial institution, OnPoint returns profits to its members in the form of reduced fees, higher savings rates and lower loan rates. OnPoint also reinvests its profits into the communities it serves, donating over $2.2 million to 277 non-profits in 2021 across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

With a growing network of 55 branches in Oregon and SW Washington, becoming an OnPoint member has never been easier. Visit www.onpointcu.com/join to learn about the benefits of being an OnPoint member and how to join.

ABOUT ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving more than 500,000 members and with assets of $9.2 billion. OnPoint membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 28 Oregon counties (Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler and Yamhill) and two Washington counties (Skamania and Clark) and their immediate family members. More information is available at www.onpointcu.com or 800-527-3932.

*No purchase is necessary. All entries have an equal chance of winning.

How to enter: During the promotional period, which occurs during normal business hours between November 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022, visit any OnPoint branch to complete and submit an entry form. Hours vary by location, call 503.228.7077 or visit onpointcu.com for branch locations and hours. Limit one entry per person and a maximum of one prize per person.

Prize and drawing details. On Thursday, December 1, OnPoint will randomly select one (1) winner from all eligible entries from each OnPoint Fred Meyer location and two (2) winners from all eligible entries at each of the other 35 OnPoint locations. Each of the 90 winners will receive either : a $500 direct deposit into their OnPoint checking or savings account, or a cashier's check (if the winner is not an OnPoint member). Winner does not need to be present to win. All federal, state, local taxes and all other expenses relating to the prize(s) are the sole responsibility of the winner. No prize substitutions or transfers are permitted except at the sole discretion of OnPoint. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received during the promotion period.

Notification: Winner does not need to be present to win. OnPoint will contact the winner at the phone number or email address listed on the winning entry form. The winner will have ten (10) calendar days from notification to accept the prize by contacting the OnPoint Marketing department at 503.228.7077 ext. 5268. The winner will be responsible for transporting the prize from OnPoint's premises, if applicable. If a selected winner fails to claim a prize, an alternate winner will be selected. By accepting and/or using the prize, the winner agrees to the use of his/her name and likeness for the purpose of advertisement, trade, or promotion without further compensation, unless prohibited by law.

General Conditions: By participating in the OnPoint 90 Year Celebration Sweepstakes, entrants agree to indemnify and hold harmless OnPoint and its respective agents, representatives, affiliates, subsidiaries, and employees from any injuries, losses, damages, claims, and actions of any kind resulting from or arising from participation in the OnPoint 90 Year Celebration Sweepstakes or acceptance, possession, use, or inability to use the prize that may be awarded. OnPoint is not responsible for printing or typographical errors on any OnPoint 90 Year Celebration Sweepstakes-related materials; or for stolen, lost, late, misdirected, damaged, incomplete, mutilated, postage due, or illegible entries. If in OnPoint's opinion, there is any suspected or actual evidence of tampering with any portion of the OnPoint 90 Year Celebration Sweepstakes drawing, or any action that affects the administration, integrity, security, fairness, or proper conduct of the OnPoint 90 Year Celebration Sweepstakes drawing, OnPoint reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process and void any entries OnPoint believes have been submitted fraudulently, to modify or suspend OnPoint 90 Year Celebration Sweepstakes, or terminate the OnPoint 90 Year Celebration Sweepstakes and conduct a random drawing to award the prizes using all non-suspect entries received as of the termination date. For a list of the prize winners, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to OnPoint Community Credit Union, PO Box 3750, Portland, OR 97208-3750, Attn: Marketing Services  OnPoint 90 Year Celebration Sweepstakes after the end of the promotion period. The list will be available to requests received on or before December 12, 2022.

Eligibility: OnPoint 90 Year Celebration Sweepstakes is open to all individuals eighteen (18) years or older as of November, 1, 2022. OnPoint employees, directors, board members, volunteers, and individuals living in the same household are ineligible. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. OnPoint 90 Year Celebration Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. By participating, entrants agree to these official rules and accept decisions of OnPoint as final in all matters relating to this promotion.

SOURCE OnPoint Community Credit Union
The increased mining activities in the world's rapidly rising economic regions are the primary drivers of the Mine drilling machines market. The Mining Drill Market in Europe is expected to accumulate a market share value of 21% in 2022 & Asia-Pacific is expected to accumulate a significant market share of 13% in 2022.

NEWARK, Del., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global mining drill market is projected to reach a value of US$ 4996.7 Mn by 2032, with the market growing at an average CAGR of 4.7% from 2022 to 2032. By the end of 2022, this market will likely reach an estimated US$ 3144.4 Mn. Rising demand for efficient mining solutions and need for strong machinery propels the growth of the mining drill market during the forecast period.

Machines used for drilling purposes at mining sites where the equipment must drill holes into the Earth's surface or rocks to retrieve mineral ores are referred to as mining drills. These holes are wider than they are deep, and the drill bits are made to meet the mining requirements. Every underground mining operation needs drilling equipment to bore deep and precise holes. This fuels the demand for the target market.

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Further, different mine drilling equipment on the market promise straight and steep holes in a short time with hardly any power loss. Mining drill equipment is constantly enhanced by integrating advanced technical developments that boost precision and speed. This has a positive impact on the overall growth of the mining drill market.

Moreover, there's been a notable rise in mining activities across the world, particularly in emerging economies. In recent years, rising economic regions are the main growth drivers of the target market as mining drill machines are being extensively used in the advancing mining operations taking place in these regions.

Again, there's a prevailing demand for faster and more precise drilling operations. The global mining sector is, thus, seeking more efficient mine drilling equipment that can drill meticulous, straight, and clean holes while consuming less energy. This bodes well for the growth of the mining drill market during the forecast period.

"Advancing mining activities in emerging economies will likely drive the global growth of the mining drill market over the forecast period," says an FMI analyst.

Key Takeaways:

Rising environmental concerns may hamper the market growth.

The mining drill market in Europe will hold 21% of the market share in 2022.

will hold 21% of the market share in 2022. By the end of 2022, Asia Pacific's mining drill market will own about 13% of the overall market share.

mining drill market will own about 13% of the overall market share. North America's mining drill market will account for 18% of the market share.

mining drill market will account for 18% of the market share. By technique, the rotary drilling segment will register a heightened demand.

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Competitive Landscape

Joy Global Inc., Sandvik AB, Caterpillar Inc., Metso Corporation, Atlas Copco AB, Komatsu Ltd., Liebherr, Epiroc, Boart Longyear, and Doosan Corporation among others are some of the major players in the mining drill market profiled in the full version of the report.

Leading market players are focusing on strategic industry-wide cooperation and partnerships with financial institutions to offer better financing alternatives to consumers. These organizations are increasing their investment in research and development activities to improve machine operations and adopting different technologies to differentiate their product offerings from others to remain competitive.

More Insights into Mining Drill Market Report

In its latest report, FMI offers an unbiased analysis of the global mining drill market, providing historical data from 2016 to 2021 and forecast statistics for 2022 to 2032. To understand the global market potential, growth, and scope, the market is segmented on the basis of application (mining drill rigs, mining drill jumbos, rock mining drill surface crawlers), operation (diesel operated mining drills, battery/ electric operated mining drills), technique (rotary mining drill, track mining drill, compact core mining drill, down-the-hole mining drill, top hammer mining drill), mounting (handhold mining drill, pusher leg mining drill, rig mining drill, column & bar mining drill, carriage mining drill), fluid used (liquid filled, foam filled air filled), and region.

According to the latest FMI reports, based on segmentation, the rotary drilling technique segment will perform remarkably well during the forecast period. The high versatility of this segment will result in market domination of this segment during 2022-2032.

Based on region, the mining drill market in Europe will dominate the global space and account for 21% of the overall share in 2022. The presence of large quantities of minerals, crude oil, gas, and other such commodities will stimulate mining activities in this region and contribute to the target market growth. In addition, North America and the Asia Pacific regions will also exhibit substantial growth in the mining drill market during 2022-2032. A surge in the number of coal mining projects, especially in the U.S. and Canada, will offer several lucrative opportunities to the mining drill market in North America while in increasing automation of building and mining operations will fuel the market in the Asia Pacific region during the forecast period.

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Key Segments Covered in the Mining Drill Industry Analysis

Mining Drill Market by Application:

Mining Drill Rigs

Mining Drill Jumbos

Rock Mining Drill Surface Crawlers

Mining Drill Market by Operation:

Diesel Operated Mining Drills

Battery/Electric Operated Mining Drills

Mining Drill Market by Drilling Technique:

Rotary Mining Drill

Track Mining Drill

Compact Core Mining Drill

Down-the-Hole Mining Drill

Tophammer Mining Drill

Mining Drill Market by Mounting:

Handhold Mining Drill

Pusherleg Mining Drill

Rig Mining Drill

Column & Bar Mining Drill

Carriage Mining Drill

Mining Drill Market by Drill Fluid Used:

Liquid Filled

Foam Filled

Air Filled

Mining Drill Market by Region:

North America Mining Drill Market

Latin America Mining Drill Market

Europe Mining Drill Market

Asia Pacific Mining Drill Market

Middle East and Africa Mining Drill Market

Table of Content

1. Executive Summary

1.1. Global Market Outlook

1.2. Demand-side Trends

1.3. Supply-side Trends

1.4. Technology Roadmap Analysis

1.5. Analysis and Recommendations

2. Market Overview

2.1. Market Coverage / Taxonomy

2.2. Market Definition / Scope / Limitations

3. Market Background

3.1. Market Dynamics

3.2. Scenario Forecast

3.3. Opportunity Map Analysis

3.4. Product Life Cycle Analysis

3.5. Supply Chain Analysis

3.6. Investment Feasibility Matrix

3.7. Value Chain Analysis

3.8. PESTLE and Porter's Analysis

3.9. Regulatory Landscape

3.10. Regional Parent Market Outlook

3.11. Production and Consumption Statistics

3.12. Import and Export Statistics

4. Global Mining Drill Market Analysis 2016-2021 and Forecast, 2022-2032

4.1. Historical Market Size Value (US$ Mn) & Volume (Unit) Analysis, 2016-2021

4.2. Current and Future Market Size Value (US$ Mn) & Volume (Unit) Projections, 2022-2032

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Explore wide-ranging Coverage of FMI's Industrial Automation Market Insights Landscape:

Drill Drivers Market Share: The global drill drivers market is estimated to create an absolute dollar opportunity of US$ 30 Bn by the end of 2032. The demand for drill drivers is expected to exceed US$ 21 Bn by 2022, projecting growth at a CAGR of around 6% to 7% during the forecast period 2022-2032.

Diamond Core Drilling Market Size: The global diamond core drilling market will witness healthy growth at 6% CAGR, surpassing market value of US$ 1.8 Bn. Sales of diamond core drilling are expected to increase as key manufacturers extensively focus on product customization and automation.

Core Drill Automatic Feeding Machine Market Forecast: Core drill automatic feeding machine used in various industries like steel, construction, metal, & electrical industry for drilling. Core drill automatic feeding machine are a type of drilling machines which is automated used for drilling, countersinking, boring, tapping, and reaming.

Power Tools Market: The global power tools market is expected to reach US$ 33.36 Bn in 2022. The global Power Tools market is expected to grow at a 3.7% CAGR between 2022 and 2032.

Radial Drilling Machine Market: The global radial drilling machine market is forecasted to be valued at US$ 8.8 Billion by 2032, up from US$ 4.2 Billion in 2022, advancing at a CAGR of 7.7% during the forecast period.

About Future Market Insights, Inc.

Future Market Insights, Inc. is an ESOMAR-certified business consulting & market research firm, a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and is headquartered in Delaware, USA. A recipient of Clutch Leaders Award 2022 on account of high client score (4.9/5), we have been collaborating with global enterprises in their business transformation journey and helping them deliver on their business ambitions. 80% of the largest Forbes 1000 enterprises are our clients. We serve global clients across all leading & niche market segments across all major industries.

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SOURCE Future Market Insights
ALAMEDA, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE: PEN) today announced that its management team is scheduled to present at the Jefferies London Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, November 15, 2022.

Event: Jefferies London Healthcare Conference Date: Tuesday, November 15, 2022 Time: 9:10am GMT / 1:10am PT

An audio webcast of the presentation will be available by visiting the investors' section of the company's website at www.penumbrainc.com. The audio webcast will be available on the company's website for at least two weeks following the event.

About Penumbra

Penumbra, Inc., headquartered in Alameda, California, is a global healthcare company focused on innovative therapies. Penumbra designs, develops, manufactures and markets novel products and has a broad portfolio that addresses challenging medical conditions in markets with significant unmet need. Penumbra supports healthcare providers, hospitals and clinics in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.penumbrainc.com and connect on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Investor Relations

Penumbra, Inc.

510-995-2461

[email protected]

SOURCE Penumbra, Inc.
Company Purchases Nestle's Gateway Infant Formula Plant in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, along with U.S. and Canadian rights to the Good Start Infant Formula Brand

Will Immediately Invest in Gateway Plant to Add 7 Million Pounds of Needed Capacity to the Infant Formula Industry and Enhance Consumer Choice

Investment Marks First Phase of Perrigo's Supply Chain Reinvention Program

DUBLIN, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Perrigo Company plc (NYSE: PRGO) ("Perrigo" or "the Company") today announced a $170 million strategic investment to expand and strengthen its U.S. infant formula manufacturing, which is expected to bolster industry capacity, enhance consumer choice and increase access to safe, affordable infant formula for parents and caregivers. As part of this strategic investment, Perrigo has purchased Nestle's Gateway infant formula plant in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, along with the U.S. and Canadian rights to the Good Start infant formula brand. Also included in the $170 million, Perrigo will immediately invest $60 million to expand Gateway's 29 million pound per year production capacity by 7 million pounds, or more than 100 million more 8-ounce bottle equivalents per year, within 18 months, adding a total of 36 million pounds of capacity to Perrigo. These investments are in addition to the approximately $20 million Perrigo invests each year to ensure a safe, high-quality supply of infant formula from its Vermont and Ohio infant formula facilities.

Prior to the Gateway plant purchase, Perrigo had insufficient capacity to meet consumer demand for its 17 store brand customers that sell infant formula at approximately a 50% discount to te major national brands. The Company was also unable to fully meet demand for contract manufacturing customers, including new market entrants and rapidly growing premium national brands. With this newly added capacity, Perrigo can increase supply to these customers as well as support the Good Start brand in the U.S. and Canada by improving utilization and expanding capacity of the Gateway plant. Along with expanding the Gateway plant's capabilities to produce a wider range of formulations, these new investments will help Perrigo increase consumer choices for infant formula in the marketplace.

"Long before this year's infant formula shortage, we had been pursuing options to increase capacity to meet growing demand for our infant formula in the U.S.", said Perrigo President and CEO Murray Kessler. "But this year's industry shortage galvanized our commitment to not only invest to meet the demand for our store brand and contract customers, but also to help prevent future infant formula shortages. The purchase and expansion of Gateway is the first major initiative in our recently announced Supply Chain Reinvention program. It solidifies our long-term manufacturing supply of infant formula in the U.S., increases the availability of lower priced, high-quality infant formula to consumers, and delivers value to Perrigo shareholders."

Kessler added, "We are delighted to welcome the Wisconsin plant and Good Start brand teams to the Perrigo family and look forward to working with the world-class Nestle organization on a seamless transition."

"In making this decision, we prioritized ensuring parents and caregivers have continuity of a safe, high-quality supply of infant formula and providing a great home for our people. Perrigo was clearly the right choice," said Tarun Malkani, CEO of Gerber, a Nestle company. "This sale enables Gerber to pursue new growth opportunities and focus on what we are known for in the U.S. -- our core baby food business, which includes purees, snacks and cereals."

Perrigo will operate the Good Start infant formula brand in the U.S. and Canada. Nestle will continue to fulfil its existing Women Infants and Children (WIC) contracts to ensure that there is uninterrupted supply, with Perrigo supplying product through the Gateway plant.

Perrigo expects the purchase of the Gateway infant formula plant, along with the U.S. and Canadian rights to the Good Start infant formula brand, to be immediately accretive to net sales, gross margin and earnings per share. This transaction was funded without additional borrowings and does not impact Perrigo's plan to reduce debt over the next three years.

About Perrigo

Perrigo Company plc (NYSE: PRGO) is a leading provider of Consumer Self-Care Products and over-the-counter (OTC) health and wellness solutions that enhance individual well-being by empowering consumers to proactively prevent or treat conditions that can be self-managed. Visit Perrigo online at www.perrigo.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release, including statements regarding expected costs and benefits of investments in infant formula capacity, are "forward-looking statements." These statements relate to future events or the Company's future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements of the Company or its industry to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "forecast," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While the Company believes these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, including: the effect of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its variants and associated supply chain impacts on the Company's business; general economic, credit, and market conditions; the impact of the war in Ukraine and any escalation thereof, including the effects of economic and political sanctions imposed by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and other countries related thereto; the outbreak or escalation of conflict in other regions where we do business; future impairment charges; customer acceptance of new products; competition from other industry participants, some of whom have greater marketing resources or larger market shares in certain product categories than the Company does; pricing pressures from customers and consumers; potential impacts of ongoing or future government investigations and regulatory initiatives; uncertainty regarding the timing of, and the Company's ability to obtain and maintain, certain regulatory approvals, potential costs and reputational impact of product recalls or sales halts; the impact of tax reform legislation and/or changes in healthcare policy; fluctuations in currency exchange rates and interest rates; the Company's ability to execute and achieve the desired benefits of announced cost-reduction efforts and other strategic initiatives and investments, including the Company's ability to achieve the expected benefits from its supply chain reinvention program. These and other important factors, including those discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 2, 2022, as well as the Company's subsequent filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made only as of the date hereof, and unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE Perrigo Company plc
The growth of the supply chain & logistics and material handling industries is expected to help the global polyurethane tire market to reach USD 2.71 Billion by the end of 2031

Rapid expansion of the transportation, pharmaceuticals, food, and automotive industries in Asia Pacific is fueling the regional market growth

WILMINGTON, Del., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A research report by Transparency Market Research (TMR) notes that the global polyurethane tire market is prognosticated to reach a value of US$ 2.71 Bn by the end of 2031. In addition, the review finds that the market for polyurethane tire is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.6% during the forecast period, from 2022 to 2031.

Players are focusing on new product launches, merger, acquisition, and adoption of latest technologies in order to maintain their leading positions, notes TMR's study that delivers important insights on the polyurethane wheels and tires. Furthermore, companies are concentrating on the development of next-gen polyurethane tires for cars. This aside, enterprises are expanding their product portfolios in different polyurethane tires sizes. Such initiatives are likely to fuel the expansion of the polyurethane tire market.

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Polyurethane Tire Market: Key Findings

In the chemical industry, the demand for chemical-resistant polyurethane tires is being rising for use on factory floors, according to analysts of a TMR review on the polyurethane tire market. With rapid expansion of the retail and e-commerce industries due to rising trend of online shopping, there has been increase in the number of large warehouses across the globe. The demand for electric forklifts fitted with polyurethane tires is being in order to carry goods in such warehouses. Hence, the expansion of the material handling and supply & logistics industries worldwide is leading to high demand for polyurethane tires, state analysts at TMR.

The demand different material handling equipment is being increasing in the recent years owing to many factors including a surge in the need for loading and unloading applications, developments in the production and manufacturing industries, and rise in the transportation activities globally. Consequently, the popularity of forklifts is being rising during the material handling activities, states TMR study on the polyurethane tire market. Hence, the growth in varied industry verticals is leading to surge in the need for forklifts with multi-load and advanced handling capacities in numerous nations globally. This, in turn, is boosting the sales of polyurethane forklift tires, states a TMR study that enlightens readers on polyurethane tires stock.

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Polyurethane Tire Market: Growth Boosters

The expansion of the material handling and supply chain & logistics industries is creating profitable prospects in the polyurethane tire market

Increase in the use of polyurethane tires in forklifts is creating significant opportunities for business in the global market

Polyurethane Tire Market: Regional Analysis

The polyurethane tires analysis by TMR notes that the market is expected to gain profitable prospects in Asia Pacific during the forecast period owing to factors such as the existence of the emerging economies including India , China , Japan , and South Korea in the region. Moreover, the rapid expansion of the food, automotive, transportation, and pharmaceuticals industries in Asia Pacific is driving the growth in the polyurethane tire market.

during the forecast period owing to factors such as the existence of the emerging economies including , , , and in the region. Moreover, the rapid expansion of the food, automotive, transportation, and pharmaceuticals industries in is driving the growth in the polyurethane tire market. The polyurethane tire market is estimated to gain sizable growth prospects in North America due to surge in the use of overhead conveyor systems and industrial forklifts in the region. This aside, rising support of the U.S. Government for hybridization and electrification of commercial vehicles is propelling the North America market.

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Polyurethane Tire Market: Key Players

Some of the key players profiled in the report are:

Amerityre

Trelleborg AB

Thombert

Stellana

Uremet

Himaxar

TVS Group

APEXWAY

Xiamen

Albion Casters

Bermar Associates, Inc.

Softex Industrial Products Pvt. Ltd.

Satyanarayan Rubber And Plastic Industries

Fallline Corp.

Jyoti Architectural Products Private Limited

T. Banerjee Industries

Aleader Tire & Wheel Industrial

Polyurethane Tire Market Segmentation

Type

PPG Polyurethane



PTMEG Polyurethane

Application

Forklifts



Overhead Conveyor Systems



Industrial Carts



Railroads



Industrial Washer Systems



Rollforming Machinery



Elevators



Hyperloops

Sales Channel

OEM



Aftermarket

Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

& South America

Automotive Research Reports

Automotive Telematics Market- Automotive Telematics Market is expected to reach US$ 34.52 Bn by the end of 2031

Electric Truck Chassis Market- Electric truck chassis market is expected to reach US$ 5.79 Bn by the end of 2031

Tire Machinery Market- Tire Machinery Market is expected to reach US$ 3.51 Bn by the end of 2031

Tire Pressure Monitoring System Market- Tire Pressure Monitoring System Market to Reach US$ 8 Bn by 2026

Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) Market- Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) Market is expected to reach US$ 7.96 Bn by the end of 2031

Electric Motorcycle and Scooter Market- Electric Motorcycle and Scooter Market to reach US$ 103.45 Bn by the end of 2031

Car Detailing Market- Car Detailing Market is expected to reach US$ 3.35 Bn by the end of 2031

Automotive Antenna Market- Automotive Antenna Market is expected to reach US$ 12.2 Bn by the end of 2031

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, is a global market research company providing custom research and consulting services. TMR provides in-depth insights into factors governing demand in the market. It divulges opportunities across various segments based on Source, Application, Sales Channel, and End-Use that will favor growth in the market over the next 9 years.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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Transparency Market Research Inc.

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SOURCE Transparency Market Research
Pipeline at 120 hotels, surpassing Company's year-end goal while making ECHO Suites its fastest growing brand; second and third hotels breaking ground today in Virginia

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,100 hotels across more than 95 countries, today unveiled the name of its 24th brand, ECHO Suites Extended Stay by Wyndham. Officially the fastest growing brand in Wyndham's development pipeline, the brand, which continues exceeding expectations while receiving strong interest from developers, has 120 hotels in its pipeline across the U.S. (as of September 30th), well ahead of the Company's previously-shared end-of-year goal.

ECHO Suites Extended Stay by Wyndham is officially the 24th brand in the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts portfolio. Its also now the Companys fastest growing development brand with 120 contracts awarded in just six months.

"In six short months, ECHO Suites Extended Stay by Wyndham has secured its place as the fastest growing brand in our development pipeline, highlighting continued, robust demand from both travelers and developers for budget-friendly, extended stay offerings," said Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. "Imagined and designed from day one with the constant input, review and oversight of many of our nation's most experienced extended-stay developers, Echo Suites was engineered with one specific goal in mind: creating an ROI-driven prototype that is as cost-efficient to build as it is to operate."

ECHO Suites was crafted to help maximize efficiencies and reduce operating costs, all while providing a "home away from home" optimized for longer-term guests. Born from the core values of being simple, minimal, and modern, the brand focuses on providing guests with efficiently designed spaces and thoughtful essentials, providing the foundation of a great stay.

Added Ballotti, "More than ever, travelers today are looking for value, especially long-term guests booking extended stays. At the same time, they want a space that looks and feels like them. A space that's well-designed and inviting. We believe if you can give them that, they will come back, night after night, stay after stay. That's what ECHO Suites is all about: giving guests a great extended stay experience, at a great price, so that, like an echo, they repeat it, over and over again."

Extended Stay Leading the Way

Following the ground break of its first hotel in Plano, Tex. with Dallas-based Gulf Coast Hotel Management this past September, ECHO Suites today broke ground on its second and third hotels in Sterling, Va. and Richmond, Va. Both hotels are being developed by Richmond-based Sandpiper Hospitality, one of the brand's first and largest developers.

"From the very beginning, Wyndham has proven itself to be an owners-first organization, prioritizing developers so they could not only understand our needs, but appreciate what makes this segment different from others in the industry," said Carter Rise, founder and CEO, The Sandpiper Group of Companies. "That fact, combined with the continuous support and accessibility of the leadership team at Wyndham, is why we're breaking ground today on our first two of 27 planned ECHO Suites hotels."

The purpose-built, all new-construction, 124-room ECHO Suites prototype requires just under two acres of land and has a highly competitive cost per key. Coming in at approximately 50,000 square-feetnearly 74 percent of which is rentableindividual rooms average 300 square-feet. The rooms consist of single- and two-queen studio suites with kitchens as well as efficiently-designed public spacesa lobby, fitness center and 24/7 guest laundrythat help to limit labor needs.

Extended stay has been an industry leader for growth and recovery in recent years with no signs of slowing down. In 2021, the segment outperformed all other chain scales with occupancy running nearly 20 points higher than all other U.S. segments combined. More recently, Q3 2022 industry data from STR shows guests checking into economy and midscale extended stay hotels at a higher rate (76%) than that of traditional economy and midscale hotels (62%).

ECHO Suites fills white space within Wyndham's portfolio while further solidifying the Company's role as the definitive leader in economy and midscale hotels. At the same time, it fills an important gap in the market for fresh, consistent, new construction extended stay product. The Company expects to open its first ECHO Suites hotels in 2023. For more information, including development opportunities, visit www.projectecho.wyndhamhotels.com.

Additional photos associated with the above release may be downloaded here.

About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world's largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,100 hotels across over 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of approximately 836,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 24 hotel brands, including Super 8, Days Inn, Ramada, Microtel, La Quinta, Baymont, Wingate, AmericInn, Hawthorn Suites, Trademark Collection and Wyndham. The Company's award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers over 97 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, including the expected addition of hotels and similar statements concerning possible future results or performance. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not guarantees of future results or performance, speak only as of the date of this press release and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including the risks described in Wyndham Hotels and Resorts most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any of which could cause actual results or performance to be materially different from the future results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

Contact:

Maire Griffin

Senior Vice President, Global Communications

+1.862.246.9918

[email protected]

SOURCE Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pure Coastal Technologies Inc. will introduce the latest version of its signature ProValet.io mobile platform November 15-17 at the Las Vegas Convention Center's 65th International Pool, Spa & Patio Expo, the only comprehensive, far-reaching, and industry-connected event for the pool, spa, and outdoor living industry.

ProValet.io is revolutionizing the industry by using advanced technology to solve the top challenges faced by pool service companies. Its enhanced 3-in-1 software platform helps owners of pool service companies benefit from exceptional Uber-like customer communication, automated daily tasks, increased cash flow, the ability to manage field teams, and more. Highlights include: real time GPS tracking, a quoting and estimating module; seamless payment platform; and live data performance reporting capabilities for technicians and pool service company owners.

"Small business owners have a lot to manage. We're dedicated to helping them make more money and save more time via a business management platform that's based on the latest technology. ProValet.io basically 'Uber-izes' every aspect of a pool service business with leading automation, communications, and measurement. No other company offers what we provide," said Founder and CEO Peter Wasmer.

ProValet.io uses cloud-based software for both the iOS and Android field technician app and customer app. The platform provides a seamless way to operate a paperless business. In addition to automated invoicing, recurring invoices and direct payments, automated scheduling, contactless dispatching and data uploads, the app tracks field teams with built-in GPS, delivers a frictionless customer communication channel that encourages referrals to new customers, and more. No additional equipment or software is required. 2-way Quickbooks Online integration makes adopting the platform a snap. The customer version of the ProValet.io app is free and includes automatic payment features, service notifications and reports, the ability to tip and rate service, and a feature to request service and repairs using photos and video.

To learn more about how to make your small business a success, contact us at +1 (239) 349-9400 or email [email protected]. Provalet.io, a powerful and simple software that helps you run your field service company. With its user-friendly interface, you can manage your business without relying on pens, paper, or binders. Keep your business organized and running like a pro with Provalet.io!

To register, use code PROV294 and visit this link  https://www.compusystems.com/servlet/ar?evt_uid=303&site=&Company_code=PROV294

About Pure Coastal Technologies Inc.

Pure Coastal Technologies Inc. is led by serial entrepreneur Peter Wasmer of Naples, Florida. The team is comprised of pragmatic business builders who are dedicated to simplifying and automating service business operations with easy-to-use technology. The underlying belief is that technology should serve and help drive a business, not hold it back. As entrepreneurs and frequent consumers of RISC (Regular Interval Service Companies) services, the ProValet.io team understands both sides of the business coin and continues to use its experience and expertise to bring constant innovation to field service businesses across the country.

CONTACT: Charlotte Luer, Pro Valet, [email protected], +1 239-404-6785

SOURCE Pure Coastal Technologies Inc.
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

Class Period: April 14, 2022 to September 28, 2022

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: December 19, 2022

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in RAD:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/rite-aid-class-action-submission-form?id=33195&from=4

Rite Aid Corporation NEWS - RAD NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Rite Aid Corporation made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) despite representations to the contrary, the number of new members that the Elixir pharmacy benefit management services business was adding during the selling season ending on January 1, 2023 was in material decline; (ii) Rite Aid was likely to recognize a significant charge for the impairment of goodwill related to Elixir due to a decrease in "lives" covered by Elixir's pharmacy benefit management services business; and (iii) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Rite Aid you have until December 19, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Rite Aid securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the RAD lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/rite-aid-class-action-submission-form?id=33195&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

535 Fifth Avenue

4th Floor

New York City, NY 10017

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of the securities of Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE: CMP) between October 31, 2017 and November 18, 2018, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 20, 2022.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Compass Minerals securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Compass Minerals class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=8924 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 20, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants repeatedly assured investors that the continuous mining and continuous haulage ("CMCH") upgrade at the Goderich mine, the largest underground rock salt mine in the world located in Ontario, Canada, was on track to materially reduce costs and boost Compass Minerals' operating results starting in 2018. However, defendants' statements were misleading because they failed to tell investors that costs at the Goderich mine were increasing rather than decreasing. The Compass Materials class action lawsuit further alleges that defendants also misrepresented the amount of salt Compass Minerals was able to produce at Goderich using the new CMCH equipment and failed to disclose how the known and ongoing production shortfalls it was experiencing were reasonably expected to reduce its future operating income. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Compass Minerals class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=8924 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
Land-based Aquaculture Pilot Plans to Expand

AUBURN, N.Y., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LocalCoho, a land-based aquaculture start-up producing premium Coho salmon already being served at Nobu in New York and several other noted restaurants, has received significant new funding from two prominent seafood industry entrepreneurs, Rodger May and Per Heggelund.

Starting this month, FreshDirect, a leading online grocer, will be the first retailer to sell LocalCoho salmon online. FreshDirect stands out from competitors by working directly with growers, producers, and local food innovators.

LocalCoho Investor Per Heggelund LocalCoho Investor Rodger May

The multimillion-dollar strategic investment will allow LocalCoho, whose pilot farm is based here, to increase harvest capacity and continue to improve husbandry practices.

May is owner and chief growth officer of Peter Pan Seafood, a leading U.S. processor, wholesaler, and marketer of wild-caught salmon with annual revenues of approximately $400 million. He has more than 40 years of seafood industry experience and has had ownership positions at Mid-Pacific Fisheries, Smoki Foods, Northwest Fish, Copper River Seafoods and American Gold  a 20-million-pound salmon farm operation. A serial entrepreneur in seafood, May is also involved in endeavors ranging from food to film and gold mining to real estate and construction.

"Land-based aquaculture will play a major role in the future of American seafood," says May. "LocalCoho is front and center of this emerging industry and its laser focus on quality and sustainability that is already yielding excellent results."

Heggelund, a former owner and operator of a freshwater land-based Coho salmon farm in Washington state, has been at the forefront of the aquaculture industry for more than 40 years. He pioneered the Coho hatchery and breeding company AquaSeed that became the primary egg supplier in the U.S., Chile and Japan. AquaSeed also focused on conservation and restoration programs for threatened Columbia River Chinook salmon.

"This funding from visionaries in seafood will help us refine our expansion plans and sales and marketing strategy," says Michael Fabbro, president of LocalCoho, himself a salmon industry veteran who took the helm of the company last spring. "These two investors are unmatched in experience and knowledge about how to sustainably farm quality salmon and market it to increasingly discerning and eco-conscious American consumers. Rodger's ability to open doors through Peter Pan will be a major plus as we grow."

LocalCoho management, including Fabbro, are also investors. Others include Chief Operating Officer Andre Bravo, a 30-year aquaculture industry veteran plus Chief Financial Officer Julie Martin and Will Biggar, director of business development, both ag tech specialists with a history of building successful businesses across indoor hydroponics, protein production and greenhouse agriculture.

About LocalCoho

LocalCoho is an American salmon company raising Coho salmon in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. Salmon are grown indoors from egg to harvest using Recirculated Aquaculture Systems (RAS) technology. This cutting-edge technology aims to optimize resource use and minimize impact on the local environment and wildlife. The company's aim is to innovate and produce healthy, delicious local food for a more sustainable future. LocalCoho has recently started supplying premium salmon to American chefs and consumers throughout the Northeast region. The company is BAP (Best Aquaculture Practices) certified and a Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch "Best Choice." For more information, go to localcoho.com.

Photos : For photos and LocalCoho logo, click here.

Media Contact

Louise Kramer, [email protected] or 917-734-1563

Instagram: @LocalCoho

Facebook: @LocalCoho

LinkedIn: @LocalCoho

SOURCE LocalCoho
NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The salts and flavored salts market is projected to grow by USD 7.95 billion during 2021-2026, accelerating at a CAGR of 6.65% during the forecast period. The strategies adopted by leading players and the growing demand for pink Himalayan salt is anticipated to boost the growth of the Salts and Flavored Salts Market. Request Free Sample Report.

Major Five Salts and Flavored Salts Companies:

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Salts and Flavored Salts Market 2022-2026

Himalayan chef: The company offers salts and flavored salts such as pink salt, white salt, and black salt.

The company offers salts and flavored salts such as pink salt, white salt, and black salt. K S AG: The company offers Nutriks sea salt which contains minerals giving food products a special flavor.

The company offers Nutriks sea salt which contains minerals giving food products a special flavor. McCormick and Co. Inc.: The company offers McCormick garlic salt which is an instant flavor booster that savvy cooks count on in the kitchen

The company offers McCormick garlic salt which is an instant flavor booster that savvy cooks count on in the kitchen SaltWorks Inc.: The company offers a wide range of salts and flavored salts under various brands such as Artisan, Fusion, Pure ocean, and others.

The company offers a wide range of salts and flavored salts under various brands such as Artisan, Fusion, Pure ocean, and others. SAN FRANCISCO SALT CO: The company offers a wide range of flavored salts such as black truffle salt, black truffle sea salt cherrywood smoked salt, and others.

Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Download Free Sample Report.

Salts And Flavored Salts Market Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD bn, 2021-2026)

Offline - size and forecast 2021-2026

Online - size and forecast 2021-2026

Salts And Flavored Salts Market Geography Outlook (Revenue, USD bn, 2021-2026)

North America - size and forecast 2021-2026

- size and forecast 2021-2026 Europe - size and forecast 2021-2026

- size and forecast 2021-2026 APAC - size and forecast 2021-2026

South America - size and forecast 2021-2026

- size and forecast 2021-2026 Middle East and Africa - size and forecast 2021-2026

Revenue-generating Distribution Channel Segments in the Salts and Flavored Salts Market

During the forecast period, the online segment will significantly increase its market share for salts and flavored salts. Offline is another market segment where vendors can experience significant growth. Customers have the advantage of inspecting food and beverage products, including salts and flavored salts, by looking for packaging flaws and checking the product's expiration date before purchasing through the offline channel, which is thought to be the most effective marketing strategy. Vendors promote offline sales through market expansion plans and provide products in various geographic locations. These factors are expected to drive market growth during the forecast period. Buy Sample Report.

Key Regions for Salts and Flavored Salts Market

During the forecast period, North America will account for 44% of market growth. In North America, the US is the major market for salts and flavored salts. Salts and flavored salts market growth in North America will be aided by strategic initiatives by vendors, such as innovative product launches and the rising adoption of genuine and high-quality iodized salts.

Salts and Flavored Salts Market: Key Drivers, Trends, and Challenges

One of the main factors propelling the growth of the salts and flavored salts market is the strategies used by top players. The market for salts and flavored salts is extremely competitive. Due to this, suppliers all over the world are putting more emphasis on obtaining regulatory agency approval for their salts and flavored salts, from the US FDA. Vendors use tactics like new product launches, partnerships, alliances, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and expansion projects to combat the competition in the market.

Due to intense competition in the market, established vendors are expected to expand their market presence through alliances and partnerships. Throughout the forecast period, such initiatives are expected to boost market growth. However, the factors such as health risks and diseases related to salt and sodium may impede the market growth.

Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights! Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000.

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Salts And Flavored Salts Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.65% Market growth 2022-2026 $7.95 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 5.97 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 44% Key consumer countries US, China, India, Germany, and France Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled A. Vogel AG, Ajinomoto Co. Inc., Amagansett sea salt Co., Cornish Sea Salt Co., El Nasr Salines Co., HimalaSalt Sustainable Sourcing LLC, Himalayan chef, Hoosier Hill Farm LLC, INFO SA, ITC Ltd., K S AG, McCormick and Co. Inc, Olde Thompson Inc., SaltWorks Inc., SAN FRANCISCO SALT CO, Suprasel, Tata Chemicals Ltd., TWANG PARTNERS LTD., and United Salt Corp. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Distribution Channel - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Distribution Channel - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Distribution Channel



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Distribution Channel

5.3 Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Online - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Online - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Distribution Channel ($ million)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 37: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 38: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 40: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 43: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 44: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 45: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 47: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 48: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 49: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 50: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 52: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 53: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 56: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 57: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 60: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 61: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 62: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 63: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 64: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 67: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 68: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 69: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 71: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 72: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 73: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 75: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 76: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 77: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 82: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 83: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 84: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 85: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 86: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 87: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 88: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 A. Vogel AG

Exhibit 89: A. Vogel AG - Overview



Exhibit 90: A. Vogel AG - Product / Service



Exhibit 91: A. Vogel AG - Key offerings

10.4 El Nasr Salines Co.

Exhibit 92: El Nasr Salines Co. - Overview



Exhibit 93: El Nasr Salines Co. - Product / Service



Exhibit 94: El Nasr Salines Co. - Key offerings

10.5 Himalayan chef

Exhibit 95: Himalayan chef - Overview



Exhibit 96: Himalayan chef - Product / Service



Exhibit 97: Himalayan chef - Key offerings

10.6 Hoosier Hill Farm LLC

Exhibit 98: Hoosier Hill Farm LLC - Overview



Exhibit 99: Hoosier Hill Farm LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 100: Hoosier Hill Farm LLC - Key offerings

10.7 K S AG

S AG Exhibit 101: K S AG - Overview



Exhibit 102: K S AG - Business segments



Exhibit 103: K S AG - Key offerings



Exhibit 104: K S AG - Segment focus

10.8 McCormick and Co. Inc

Exhibit 105: McCormick and Co. Inc - Overview



Exhibit 106: McCormick and Co. Inc - Business segments



Exhibit 107: McCormick and Co. Inc - Key news



Exhibit 108: McCormick and Co. Inc - Key offerings



Exhibit 109: McCormick and Co. Inc - Segment focus

10.9 Olde Thompson Inc.

Exhibit 110: Olde Thompson Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 111: Olde Thompson Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 112: Olde Thompson Inc. - Key offerings

10.10 SaltWorks Inc.

Exhibit 113: SaltWorks Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 114: SaltWorks Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 115: SaltWorks Inc. - Key offerings

10.11 SAN FRANCISCO SALT CO

SALT CO Exhibit 116: SAN FRANCISCO SALT CO - Overview

SALT CO - Overview

Exhibit 117: SAN FRANCISCO SALT CO - Product / Service

SALT CO - Product / Service

Exhibit 118: SAN FRANCISCO SALT CO - Key offerings

10.12 TWANG PARTNERS LTD.

Exhibit 119: TWANG PARTNERS LTD. - Overview



Exhibit 120: TWANG PARTNERS LTD. - Product / Service



Exhibit 121: TWANG PARTNERS LTD. - Key offerings

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 122: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 123: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 124: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 125: Research methodology



Exhibit 126: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 127: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 128: List of abbreviations

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, OR TO OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF U.S. PERSONS (AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933), OR IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH DISTRIBUTION, OFFERS OR SALES, WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sasol Limited herewith announces that Sasol Financing USA LLC, its indirect wholly owned subsidiary (the "Issuer"), has launched an offering of US$750 million guaranteed senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2027 (the "Convertible Bonds") (the "Offering"). Capitalised terms used in this announcement but not defined have the meanings given to them in the terms and conditions of the Convertible Bonds (the "Conditions").

The net proceeds of the Offering are expected to be used for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, the refinancing of debt.

The Convertible Bonds will be issued by the Issuer on or around 8 November 2022 (the "Closing Date") and payments in respect of the Convertible Bonds will be guaranteed by the Company. The Convertible Bonds are expected to pay a coupon of between 4.0% and 4.5% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrear in equal instalments on 8 May and 8 November of each year.

The Convertible Bonds, subject to the receipt of the requisite approvals at a general meeting of the shareholders of Sasol (the "Shareholder Resolutions"), will be convertible into new and/or existing ordinary shares of Sasol (the "Ordinary Shares"), cash (at the election of the Company), or a combination thereof, in each case, pursuant to and in accordance with the Conditions. Prior to, and/or absent of such approvals, holders of the Convertible Bonds will (in accordance with the Conditions) receive on conversion a cash amount equal to the value of the Ordinary Shares.

The Company will use all reasonable endeavours to convene a general meeting of its shareholders not later than 14 months after the Closing Date (the "Long Stop Date") for the purpose of, inter alia, considering, and if thought fit, passing the Shareholder Resolutions.

At any time after the date of the first shareholders' meeting following the Closing Date, for so long as the Shareholder Resolutions have not been approved and notice of such redemption is given to the bondholders not later than 10 South African business days after the Long Stop Date, the Issuer may elect to redeem all but not some of the Convertible Bonds at the greater of: i) 102% of their principal amount, or ii) 102% of their fair market value, in each case plus accrued but unpaid interest, all as further described in the Conditions.

The initial conversion price is expected to be set within a premium range of 30% to 35% above the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares listed on the main board of the JSE Limited between opening of trading today, 1 November 2022 and pricing which is expected later today, translated into US$ using the USDZAR exchange rate at the time of pricing. The conversion price will be subject to customary adjustments pursuant to the Conditions, including, among other things, dividends paid by Sasol.

The Convertible Bonds will be issued at 100% of their principal amount (i.e. US$200,000 per Convertible Bond). Unless previously redeemed, converted or purchased and cancelled, the Convertible Bonds will be redeemed at their principal amount on or around 8 November 2027. The Issuer will have the option to redeem all but not some of the Convertible Bonds at their principal amount (plus accrued but unpaid interest) in accordance with the Conditions at any time (i) on or after 29 November 2025, if the Parity Value (as defined in the Conditions) is equal to or exceeds US$260,000 for a specified period of time; or (ii) if at any time 85% or more of the principal amount of the Convertible Bonds originally issued have been converted and/or redeemed and/or purchased and cancelled (all as more fully described in the Conditions).

The Convertible Bonds may be redeemed at the option of each holder of the Convertible Bonds at the principal amount (plus accrued but unpaid interest) following the occurrence of a Relevant Event, a Change of Control or a De-Listing Event (all as more fully described in the Conditions).

Application is expected to be made for the Convertible Bonds to be admitted to trading on the Open Market (Freiverkehr) segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange within 30 days following the Closing Date.

The Convertible Bonds will be offered by way of an accelerated bookbuild to qualified investors only. The final terms of the Convertible Bonds are expected to be announced after pricing which is expected later today.

In the context of the Offering, the Company, the Issuer and the Company's other subsidiaries will agree to a lock-up relating to equity and equity-related securities for a period commencing on pricing and ending 90 calendar days following the Closing Date, subject to certain exceptions and waiver by the Sole Global Coordinator.

BofA Securities is acting as Sole Global Coordinator for the Offering. Citigroup, J.P. Morgan and BofA Securities are acting as Joint Bookrunners for the Offering. Mizuho , MUFG and SMBC Nikko are acting as Co-Lead Managers for the Offering (together with the Sole Global Coordinator and Joint Bookrunners, the "Joint Lead Managers").

DISCLAIMER

Convertible Bonds

The Convertible Bonds, the guarantee in respect thereof and the Ordinary Shares (together, the "Securities") have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act ("Regulation S")) except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Securities are being sold to certain non-U.S. persons in offshore transactions outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Prospectus

No prospectus pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 or Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the "EUWA") or the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, nor any prospectus which complies with the South African Companies Act, 2008 (as amended) (the "SA Companies Act"), is required in respect of the Offering, and therefore, no prospectus or similar document will be published in connection with the Offering.

Market Abuse Regulation

This announcement relates to the disclosure of information that qualified, or may have qualified, as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (the "EU Market Abuse Regulation"). The person responsible for the release of this information on behalf of Sasol Limited is Michelle du Toit, Group Company Secretary, Sasol Limited.

Contacts:

For further information, please contact:

Sasol Investor Relations,

Tiffany Sydow, Investor Relations Officer

Telephone: +27 (0) 71 673 1929

[email protected]

This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No action has been taken that would permit an Offering of the securities or possession or distribution of this announcement in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.

Forward-looking statements

This announcement includes forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, whether the Issuer will offer the Convertible Bonds, the anticipated Conditions of the Offering, whether the Issuer will be able to consummate the Offering, the final terms of the Offering, the satisfaction of customary closing Conditions with respect to the Offering of the Convertible Bonds, prevailing market conditions, the anticipated use of the net proceeds of the Offering of the Convertible Bonds and the impact of general economic, industry or political conditions. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of the words "may," "will," "expect," "intend," and other similar expressions. These forwardlooking statements are based on estimates and assumptions by the Issuer's and Sasol's management that, although believed to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain and subject to a number of risks. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or predicted by the Issuer's and/or Sasol's forward-looking statements. Prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Issuer and Sasol undertake no obligation to revise or update this announcement to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by applicable law.

Disclaimers

No action has been taken by the Issuer, the Company, the joint lead managers or any of their respective affiliates that would permit an Offering of the Convertible Bonds or possession or distribution of this announcement or any Offering or publicity material relating to the Convertible Bonds in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required by the Issuer, the Company and the joint lead managers to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.

This announcement is not for distribution, directly or indirectly in or into the United States or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in regulation s under the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended)). This announcement is not an offer to sell securities or the solicitation of any offer to buy securities, nor shall there be any offer of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer or sale would be unlawful.

This announcement and the Offering when made are only addressed to, and directed in, member states of the European Economic Area (the "EEA") at persons who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation ("qualified investors"). The Convertible Bonds are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with qualified investors. This announcement should not be acted upon or relied upon in any member state of the EEA by persons who are not qualified investors. For these purposes, the expression "Prospectus Regulation" means regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

MiFID II Professionals/ECPs-only/ No PRIIPs KID  Manufacturer Target Market (MIFID II Product Governance) is eligible counterparties and professional clients only (all distribution channels). No PRIIPs key information document (kid) has been prepared as not available to retail in EEA.

This announcement and this Offering when made are only addressed to and directed at persons in the United Kingdom, who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation. The Convertible Bonds are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with qualified investors. This announcement should not be acted upon or relied upon in the United Kingdom by persons who are not qualified investors. For the purposes of this provision the expression "UK Prospectus Regulation" means the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA.

UK MIFIR Professionals/ECPS-only/no UK PRIIPS kid  Manufacturer Target Market (UK MIFIR Product Governance) is eligible counterparties and professional clients only (all distribution channels). No UK PRIIPS key information document (kid) has been prepared as not available to retail in UK.

This announcement is being distributed only to persons (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within article 19(5) of the financial services and markets act 2000 (financial promotion) order 2005, as amended (the "order"); (ii) who fall within article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the order; (iii) who are outside the United Kingdom; or (iv) to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This announcement is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.

No "offer to the public" (as such term is defined in the SA Companies act, in South Africa is being made in connection with the issue of the Convertible Bonds or any securities and accordingly this announcement does not, nor does it intend to, constitute a ''registered prospectus'', as contemplated in chapter 4 of the SA Companies Act. Accordingly, no prospectus has been filed with the South African Companies and Intellectual Property Commission in respect of the issue or Offering of the Convertible Bonds. Any issue or Offering of the Convertible Bonds in South Africa constitutes an offer for the subscription and sale of the Convertible Bonds in South Africa only to selected investors who fall within the exemptions set out in section 96(1)(a) or (b) of the SA Companies Act and, accordingly, such offer would not be considered to be an "offer to the public" for the purposes of the SA Companies Act.

The information contained in this announcement constitutes factual information as contemplated in section 1(3)(a) of the South African Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 2012 (the "FAIS Act") and should not be construed as an express or implied recommendation, guide or proposal that any particular transaction in respect of the Convertible Bonds or the ordinary shares or in relation to the business or future investments of the Issuer or the Company, is appropriate to the particular investment objectives, financial situations or needs of a prospective investor, and nothing in this announcement should be construed as constituting the canvassing for, or marketing or advertising of, financial services in South Africa. Neither the Issuer nor the Company is a financial services provider licensed as such under the FAIS Act and the Issuer and/or Company's advisors are acting for the Issuer and/or Company (as the case may be) only in respect of the transaction and none of the Issuer, the Company, any of their respective advisors, any of the joint lead managers or any of their respective affiliates, or any person acting on behalf of the joint lead managers or any of their respective affiliates, is giving or purporting to have given any financial advice as contemplated in the FAIS Act to any bondholder or investor.

Any decision to purchase any of the securities should only be made on the basis of an independent review by a prospective investor of the Issuer's and the Company's publicly available information. None of the joint lead managers, any of their respective affiliates nor any of their or their respective affiliates accept any responsibility or liability whatsoever for, or make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from this announcement) or the Issuer's and the Company's publicly available information or for any loss howsoever arising from the use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change in its entirety without notice up to the closing date. Neither the joint lead managers nor any of their respective affiliates shall be responsible for, or for investigating, any matter which is the subject of any statement, representation, warranty or covenant of the Issuer or the Company contained in the Convertible Bonds or the guarantee, or any other agreement or document relating to the Convertible Bonds or the guarantee, or for the execution, legality, effectiveness, adequacy, genuineness, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence thereof.

Each prospective investor should proceed on the assumption that it must bear the economic risk of an investment in the Convertible Bonds or the ordinary shares to be issued or transferred and delivered upon conversion of the Convertible Bonds and notionally underlying the Convertible Bonds. None of the Issuer, the Company or the joint lead managers make any representation as to (i) the suitability of the securities for any particular investor, (ii) the appropriate accounting treatment and potential tax consequences of investing in the securities or (iii) the future performance of the securities either in absolute terms or relative to competing investments.

The joint lead managers are acting on behalf of the Issuer and the Company and no one else in connection with the Convertible Bonds and will not be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to clients of the joint lead managers or for providing advice in relation to the securities.

The joint lead managers are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. The joint lead managers and their respective affiliates have in the past performed commercial banking, investment banking and advisory services for the Company and its group from time to time for which they have received customary fees and reimbursement of expenses and may, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for the Company and its group in the ordinary course of their business for which they may receive customary fees and reimbursement of expenses.

In connection with the Offering of the bonds, each of the joint lead managers and any of their respective affiliates may take up a portion of the bonds or the underlying shares as a principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell or offer to sell for its own account such securities and any other securities of the Issuer or the Company or any related investments in connection with the Offering of the bonds or otherwise. Accordingly, references in this announcement to bonds being sold, offered, subscribed, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be read as including any issue or offer to, or subscription, acquisition, placing or dealing by, any of the joint lead managers and any of their respective affiliates acting in such capacity. In addition, certain of the joint lead managers or their affiliates may enter into financing arrangements (including swaps or contracts for differences) with investors in connection with which such joint lead managers (or any of its affiliates) may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of bonds or the underlying shares. The joint lead managers do not intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation to do so. In addition, each of the joint lead managers and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates may perform services for, or solicit business from, the Issuer, the Company or members of the Company's group, may make markets in the securities of such persons and/or have a position or effect transactions in such securities.

Certain of the joint lead managers or their affiliates are, and/or may in the future be, lenders, and in some cases agents or managers for the lenders, under certain of the Company's or the group's credit facilities and other credit or those of its affiliates. In particular, certain of the proceeds received by the Company from the Offering may, without limitation, be used for the refinancing of debt previously provided by certain of the joint lead managers. In their capacity as lenders, such joint lead managers or their affiliates may, in the future, seek a reduction of a loan commitment to the Company or their respective affiliates, or impose incremental pricing or collateral requirements with respect to such facilities or credit arrangements, in the ordinary course of business. In addition, certain of the joint lead managers or their affiliates that have a lending relationship with the Company may routinely hedge their credit exposure to the Company consistent with their customary risk management policies. A typical hedging strategy would include these joint lead managers or their affiliates hedging such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in the securities.

Each of the Issuer, the Company, the joint lead managers and their respective affiliates expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update, review or revise any statement contained in this announcement whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

SOURCE Sasol Limited
HAMILTON, Bermuda, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Seadrill Limited ("Seadrill" or "the Company") (NYSE: SDRL) (XOAS: SDRL) announces that its 3Q22 earnings will be published on Wednesday November 30, 2022.

Seadrill's executive management team will host a virtual presentation on the same day (Wednesday November 30, 2022) at 9:00am EST / 2:00pm BST / 3:00pm CET. Subsequent to the presentation, a Q&A session will be held exclusively for sell-side and industry analysts.

To tune into the live virtual presentation, you may do so using the provided conference call and webcast details listed below. Please note that participation in the Q&A session will only be available to analysts dialled into the meeting via conference call. If dialling into the presentation via conference call, you will be able to download the presentation materials via the Company's website: www.seadrill.com.

Conference call

To listen to the presentation via conference call, please join the call on the day by dialling one of the international telephone numbers listed below and using the corresponding pin: 931553

United States +1 855 9796 654 +1 646 664 1960 Norway +47 81 503 308 United Kingdom +44 800 640 6441 +44 20 3936 2999 United Arab Emirates +971 800 0357 04553

Webcast

To join to the presentation via webcast, please register for the event ahead of time by following this link: https://bit.ly/3FlCSHr

If you are unable to tune into the live session via conference call or webcast, a replay of the presentation will be made available soon after the event on the Investor Relations section of the website: www.seadrill.com/investors/.

About Seadrill

Seadrill is a leading offshore drilling contractor utilizing advanced technology to unlock oil and gas resources for clients across harsh and benign locations around the globe. Seadrill's high-quality, technologically-advanced fleet spans all asset classes allowing its experienced crews to conduct operations across geographies, from shallow to ultra-deep-water environments.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements. Such statements are generally not historical in nature, and specifically include statements about the Company's plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in its business and the markets in which it operates.

These statements are made based upon management's current plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, offshore drilling market conditions, including supply and demand, dayrates, fluctuations in the price of oil, international financial market conditions, changes in governmental regulations that affect the Company or the operations of the Company's fleet, the review of competition authorities and other factors listed in our public filings. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of these factors. Further, the Company cannot assess the impact of each such factor on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward looking statement.

Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should also keep in mind the risks described from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2022 (File No. 001-39327).

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to article 19 of the Regulation EU 596/2014 (the EU Market Abuse Regulation) and section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

Seadrill Contact Information

David Warwick

Director of Investor Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE Seadrill Limited
BOSTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SherpaReport, an independent source for in-depth information about the whole and shared ownership of private aircraft, has released a new book, considered the first of its kind, that provides comprehensive guidance on all aspects of purchasing a private aircraft. The Aircraft Buying Guide 2022 is geared towards people looking to trade up and/or buy larger turboprop and jet aircraft, as well as those exploring the idea of acquiring their first piston plane.

SherpaReport, an independent source for in-depth information about the whole and shared ownership of private aircraft, has released a new book, considered the first of its kind, that provides comprehensive guidance on all aspects of purchasing a private aircraft.

With private aviation resurging as a convenient alternative to commercial flying and with the coronavirus-imposed lull having rebounded, demand for business aircraft is at record levels. Prices are up, the supply of good pre-owned aircraft is down, and wait times are often years long for buying new. Choosing the right aircraft and understanding a complex market has never been so crucial.

"Our goal was to create a user-friendly book to educate people on the key considerations necessary when exploring an investment in a private aircraft, be it for an individual, a family, or a corporation," says Nick Copley, President of SherpaReport and co-author of the book. "We also want to help potential buyers and their teams decide whether full ownership is really the best option or whether alternatives are better suited to their needs, such as fractional ownership, jet cards, memberships, charters, or a combination of several of those options." Copley anticipates the book will also be essential reading for new entrants to the business aviation sector at a time when the industry is welcoming more first-time buyers than ever.

SherpaReport's Aircraft Buying Guide 2022 offers a plethora of insights into the reality of aircraft ownership from the upfront investment required for various models to the annual cost of ownership; the makeup of the ideal advisory and management teams; maintenance, legal and tax considerations; insurance advice, inspection tips, financing options, and more. Over 50 pages in length, the book provides a wealth of insider knowledge, charts, and data to help inform the purchase process.

"No matter how you look at it, private aircraft require a significant investment. We want the reader to emerge with the ability to have intelligent conversations about all aspects of ownership with their brokers, advisors, and teams, so they can make smart decisions for themselves or their employers," explains Copley, an Oxford University graduate, a UK Chartered Accountant, and an alumnus of Price Waterhouse and J.P. Morgan with over 15 years' experience covering the business aviation industry.

"The guide also offers a side-by-side comparison of about 150 types of business aircraft and their specifications, as well as examples of operating costs for over 25 models," explains Paul LaFata, President, AirPower, and co-author of the guide. "We want to help people and their teams choose the right aircraft for their needs," adds LaFata, who has more than 40 years of experience in the business aviation and Department of Defense aerospace industries, including at Honeywell Aerospace.

The Aircraft Buying Guide 2022 is available to all SherpaReport members. Membership to SherpaReport provides access to numerous guides, jet card and fractional program comparisons, spreadsheets, and tips for all levels of knowledge, as well as individualized advice for any member who requests it.

About SherpaReport.com

For over 15 years, SherpaReport.com has been a comprehensive, independent source for in-depth information about the burgeoning shared luxury travel market. It is a constantly updated online hub for those seeking news, analysis, and directories to help them make informed decisions about whether buying a private aircraft or investing in alternatives such as fractional ownership, jet cards and/or charters are right for them, their families, and their companies. SherpaReport.com also offers guidance on other luxury travel options such as destination clubs. Its team of editors and market analysts conduct extensive research, constantly monitor the market, and interview the industry's senior executives to keep on top of the latest trends and issues offering information to educate readers that can be found nowhere else.

Media contacts

Caroline Phaneuf

Arena Group Associates

+1.514.778.5092

[email protected]



Jane Stanbury

Arena Group Associates

+1.438.998.1668

+44.7803.296046

[email protected]

SOURCE SherpaReport
Founder and CEO Greg Piefer Among the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2022

JANESVILLE, Wis., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Goldman Sachs recognized SHINE Technologies Founder and CEO Greg Piefer as one of the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2022 as part of its recent Builders and Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California.

"We're delighted to recognize Greg Piefer as one of the most exceptional entrepreneurs of 2022," said David M. Solomon, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs. "They have made extraordinary contributions to a wide range of fields."

"We're delighted to recognize Greg Piefer of SHINE Technologies as one of the most exceptional entrepreneurs of 2022." Tweet this

Goldman Sachs selected Piefer among candidates from multiple industries to be honored at the two-day event. Piefer founded SHINE and has led the company from inception, which included a handful of employees in a small warehouse facility, to become a world leader in fusion technology with more than 400 employees. SHINE currently produces medical isotopes and inspects industrial components, with future goals to scale its fusion technology to recycle nuclear waste and generate fusion power.

"I'm humbled to be recognized among leading innovators around the world," Piefer said. "It's a testament to the grit our entire team displays daily in their work, and to our mission to use fusion technology to add value to the world. I am proud of what we have built so far and cannot wait to see where innovation takes us in the future."

About SHINE

SHINE is a next-generation nuclear technology company, deploying state-of-the-art fusion technology to create a scalable path toward fusion energy. Based in southern Wisconsin, with headquarters in Janesville, and with a future site in development in Europe, SHINE deploys its safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly technology in a step-wise approach. Our systems are used for industrial imaging of components in aerospace, defense, transportation, energy and other sectors. And SHINE's proprietary isotope production processes create molybdenum-99 and non-carrier-added lutetium-177 used in tens of thousands of daily procedures to diagnose and treat heart disease and late-stage cancer. For more information, follow SHINE on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

SOURCE SHINE Technologies, LLC
POTOMAC, Md., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its commitment to the growth of minority-owned businesses, the Shulman Rogers Law Firm today announced that it will provide free legal support for one year to a Black-Owned business in the D.C./Maryland/Virginia (DMV) region.

This program, which launches today, is co-chaired by two Shulman Rogers shareholders, Michael Lichtenstein and Kimberly Mann. It is open to any business in the DMV that is 51 percent Black-Owned and controlled. Applications, which must be submitted no later than December 1, 2022, are available HERE.

"We are excited to offer this new program to the Black business community in the DMV," said Samuel M. Spiritos, Shulman Rogers Managing Shareholder. "From the beginnings of our law firm fifty years ago, Shulman Rogers has supported the businesses in our region through community involvement and pro-bono work. This program adds to that tradition."

The Selection Committee, led by Attorneys Lichtenstein and Mann, will review each application and determine Finalists by December 15, 2022. All Finalists will participate in a Zoom interview with the Committee. A decision will be announced in late December.

About Shulman Rogers

Shulman Rogers is one of the largest law firms in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, offering clients a full range of business and personal legal services. The firm's experienced attorneys provide sophisticated, comprehensive counsel for clients in a broad array of areas including real estate, corporate, litigation, intellectual property, start-up, M&A and employment law, as well as a host of personal services. Additional information on Shulman Rogers and its practice areas is available at ShulmanRogers.com

SOURCE Shulman Rogers
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sila Services family of companies and their trusted employees are celebrating the delivery of award-winning, best-in-class home comfort solutions to their ONE MILLION CUSTOMERS this month. To show our appreciation for all the loyal customers who made this milestone possible, each of Sila Services' 16 companies will be hosting a 'Giving Thanks" customer appreciation celebration throughout the month of November. Every customer, whether long-tenured or brand new to the Sila Services' family, will be eligible to win a range of free services, including free tune-ups, free drain cleanings, free annual maintenance plans for heating and cooling systems, free home system inspections, and more. It is one way that the Sila Services companies can thank you for the one million (and growing) customers who allow us into their homes and businesses to deliver unmatched service every day.

"Delighting customers is at the center of what our exceptional team members do with each customer at every opportunity," said Jason Rabbino, CEO of Sila Services, LLC. "Earning the trust and loyalty of customers starts with having the best team whom customers have come to depend on to ensure their home comfort, in some cases for generations over many decades. This celebration is to recognize all our customers, and the team members who serve them, for one million opportunities to make a difference through our work.

Giving back has always been a core value of Sila Services' teams, whether that's donating time and resources to our communities, or saying a big thank you to our great customers. We annually donate more than $500,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to our communities, as well as thousands of hours of community service volunteering by our team members. For more than 100 years, customers have expressed their thanks to our teams, so this month the companies of Sila Services are proud to give an extra special thank you back to our customers and our communities."

About Sila Services

Sila Services is a leading home services platform, operating 16 brands across 21 company locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest. The companies of Sila Services, with a history of service excellence across our brands dating back to the early 1900s, offer a complete range of residential and commercial services in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, water treatment, and indoor air quality. The company's foundations are based upon building the best service teams and empowering them to deliver distinctive repair, replacement, and maintenance services that ensure truly outstanding customer satisfaction. For more information, visit sila.com .

Contact:

Andrew Moffatt

610.491.9409

[email protected]

SOURCE Sila Services, LLC
BANGALORE, India , Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Silica Gel Market is segmented By Type (Fine-Pored Silica Gel(Type A), Mesoporous Silica Gel(Type B), Coarse Pore Silica Gel(Type C), By Application (Silicone Cat Litter, Silica Gel Desiccant, Silica Gel Catalyst, Chromatography Silica Gel, Others) : Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20222028. It is published in Valuates Reports under the Chemicals Industry Category.

Silica Gel Market was valued at USD 946 million in 2020 and it is expected to reach USD 1261 million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 4.2% during 2021-2027.

Major Factors Driving the Growth of Silica Gel Market

Owing to silica gel's extensive use in pharmaceutical product packaging to reduce product deterioration due to moisture content, the rise of the pharmaceutical industry is anticipated to fuel the Silica Gel market.

Additionally, silica gel is helpful in the use of water treatment facilities due to its high surface properties and exceptional adsorption qualities. Other aspects that are boosting the Silica Gel market include the growing switch from traditional to physical water treatment and strict governmental requirements.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE SILICA GEL MARKET

Increasing use in the pharmaceutical industry is expected to drive the Silica Gel market. The pharmaceutical sector makes substantial use of silica gel. The shelf life of vitamins and medications that are packaged in bottles and containers is increased. Additionally, it is non-toxic and draws moisture from the air inside the package. Additionally, it aids in masking the smell of medications.

Silica gel is one of the most adaptable and powerful chromatographic tools available, making it also one of the most well-liked. It is a polar absorbent with a little acidity that allows it to absorb the basic components of a substance that needs to be separated during chromatography while remaining neutral and preserving its own structure. This factor is expected to drive the Silica Gel market

Due to their capacity to absorb moisture and extend product shelf life, silica gel packets are frequently employed in a variety of business sectors. Silica gel stops rust, corrosion, and mold issues by removing moisture from packaging. It's especially helpful for products that are kept in moist storage environments. It is a common desiccant solution for producers all over the world, especially in the food packaging business, because of its efficient absorption properties and affordability. This in turn is expected to drive the growth of the Silica Gel market

To operate at its best, camera equipment needs to be handled and maintained carefully. The humidity inside a camera can degrade picture quality in humid environments. Utilizing Silica gel to absorb the moisture is a quick repair that keeps the camera lens dry and helps prevent the formation of fog inside the lens. Due to climate change, it can be difficult for firms to store footwear products over an extended period of time because moist circumstances can degrade their quality and result in mold issues.

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SILICA GEL MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS:

With 42% of the worldwide market and 47% of the world's production in 2019, China is the most significant production region in the globe. The region's expanding food and beverage and packaging industries have contributed to the expansion of the silica gel market.

With a market share of more than 59% in 2019, coarse pore silica dominates.

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Key Companies:

Sinchem Silica Gel

WR Grace

Honglin Silica Gel

Ruida Silica

Makall

Pearl Silica

Weihai Longfeng Silica

Rizhao Jing Nuo silica Gel

OhE Chemicals

Sorbead

Abbas

Rushan Dayang Silica

Dongying Yiming New Materials

Haiyangchem

Chengyu Chemical

Multisorb

Wisesorbent

Huanyu Chemical

Zhaoyuan Hongxin Silica

Shandong Bokai Silica Gel

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SOURCE Valuates Reports
Leading B2B technology publisher had revenue growth of 75% YOY

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Simpler Media Group (SMG), a leading B2B technology publisher and a producer of high-impact research and events, announced that it has been named by the San Francisco Business Times to the 31st annual Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Bay Area list. The list provides an exclusive ranking of the region's fastest growing private companies; one of the most important segments of the local economy. The winners and rankings were unveiled at an awards ceremony on October 20, 2022.

This List includes privately held companies headquartered in the Bay Area, which is defined as Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties. Companies considered for the List must meet the following criteria: 1) Headquartered in the Bay Area; 2) Net revenue of greater than $200,000 in fiscal year 2019; 3) Independent, privately held corporation, proprietorship or partnership (not a subsidiary or division) through fiscal year 2021. Net revenue = revenue less deductions for returns and allowances or credit, when applicable.

"Our region is renowned as a hub of innovation and as an ecosystem that fosters growth companies," said Mary Huss, Publisher of the San Francisco Business Times. "Simpler Media Group, along with all of the companies on the list deserve special recognition because they fuel our regional economy."

"We are honored to be recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in the San Francisco Bay Area -- standing out in this area is no small accomplishment and something we're very proud of," commented SMG's CEO, Brice Dunwoodie . "This recognition is a testament to the work of the entire team and the effort each person dedicates to maintaining a growth mindset while staying focused on delivering value to our membership."

The announcement of SMG as one of the Fastest Growing Companies in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Business Times comes on the heels of being named to the prestigious Inc 5000 list and being certified as a Great Place to Work, which recognizes employers who create an outstanding employee experience.

About Simpler Media Group

Simpler Media Group (SMG) is a leading B2B technology publisher and a producer of high-impact research and events. The company currently publishes CMSWire -- a highly respected source of news and research for more than 5 million customer experience professionals since 2003, and the more recent Reworked , with an audience of more than 2 million employee experience and digital workplace professionals. SMG additionally produces the CMSWire CONNECT conference and the Reworked CONNECT conference series, where the respective communities gather for knowledge exchange, master classes, certifications and unique networking opportunities.

SMG is recognized for its robust editorial operations, designing and conducting exemplary primary research and for its prestigious IMPACT Awards -- an annual set of practitioner and vendor awards programs.

About San Francisco Business Times

The San Francisco Business Times is the #1 print and online source for Bay Area business news and information on the most successful people, companies and transactions in the region. Every Friday, the Business Times arrives with an in-depth lineup of breaking local news stories, business profiles and valuable industry rankings. From technology and sustainability to small business, biotech, hospitality, real estate and banking, the Business Times covers the most relevant and timely topics for the Bay Area business community.

SanFranciscoBusinessTimes.com takes the Business Times brand known for its insight, analysis and high journalistic standards and extends it to the Internet. Thousands of established and up and coming executives visit SanFranciscoBusinessTimes.com every day looking for the information they need to do Business in the Bay Area.

Contact: Brad Schlachter, [email protected]

SOURCE Simpler Media Group
 November is National Family Caregivers and National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month 

 Alzheimer's Association offers guidance to America's 11 million Alzheimer's caregivers 

CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- During National Family Caregivers and National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month in November, the Alzheimer's Association is highlighting six essential terms that are important for Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers to know. Currently, there are more than 11 million caregivers across the country providing care to more than 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer's.

"November is a month in which we not only honor Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers, but highlight important elements of the caregiver experience," said Beth Kallmyer, vice president, care and support, Alzheimer's Association. "We're sharing six essential terms with insights and resources that we think can help caregivers tremendously. These terms are commonly used in Alzheimer's and dementia care, but not always familiar to family caregivers. It's important that we not only increase awareness of these terms, but also the important information and resources they represent."

Six Essential Terms Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregivers Need to Know

1. Person-centered care  Most often associated with professional caregivers in long-term care settings, person-centered care offers important guidance for family caregivers as well. It requires understanding the world from the perspective of the individual living with dementia. It encourages caregivers to take into account a person's interests, abilities, history and personality to inform interactions and care decisions.

"Person-centered care is understanding and embracing all the things past and present that make your family member unique," Kallmyer said. "Every experience and interaction is an opportunity for engagement and knowing what is meaningful to the person can make a big difference in how they respond."

2. Dementia-related behaviors  The term is used to describe wide-ranging behavioral symptoms associated with Alzheimer's and other dementia. While most people associate Alzheimer's and dementia with memory loss due to changes in the brain, there are several other challenging behaviors that can accompany an Alzheimer's or dementia diagnosis, including:

Aggression and anger.

Anxiety and agitation.

Depression.

Sleep disturbances and sundowning.

Wandering.

Suspicions and delusions.

Underlying medical conditions, environmental influences and some medications can impact these behaviors or make them worse. The Alzheimer's Association offers tips and strategies to help caregivers address these and other disease-related behaviors.

3. Caregiver Burnout  Caring for someone living with Alzheimer's or another dementia can be exhausting  mentally, physically and emotionally. In fact, according to the Alzheimer's Association 2022 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report, Alzheimer's caregivers report experiencing higher levels of stress than non-dementia caregivers, including:

59% of Alzheimer's caregivers report their emotional stress as high or very high (non-Alzheimer's caregivers  41%).

35% report declining health because of caregiving (non-Alzheimer's caregivers  19%).

A recent national poll found 27% of caregivers for people with dementia delayed or did not do things they should for their own health.

Sustained caregiver stress can lead to caregiver burnout  a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. "Caregivers who experience burnout put their own health at risk and compromise their ability to care for someone else," said Kallmyer. "As hard as it may be, caregivers need to make their health and well-being an equal priority. Enlisting the help of family and friends to help with caregiving responsibilities or joining a caregiver support group can make a big difference and help prevent caregiver burnout."

The Alzheimer's Association offers Caregiver Stress Check to help caregivers identify and avoid caregiver burnout.

4. Respite Care  Respite care provides caregivers a temporary rest from caregiving, while the person living with Alzheimer's continues to receive care in a safe environment. It can be provided at home  by a friend, other family member, volunteer or paid service provider  or in a care setting, such as adult day care or long-term care community. Kallmyer said using respite services can support and strengthen family members' abilities to be a caregiver.

5. Care Consultations  A care consultation can help family members work through tough decisions, anticipate future challenges and develop an effective care plan. The Alzheimer's Association offers free care consultations through its 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900). During these consultations, master-level clinicians work with families to discuss wide-ranging, disease-related issues, including disease progression, care and living options and referrals to local support services.

In addition, Medicare covers care planning for individuals with cognitive impairment. Many family caregivers overlook or are not aware of this valuable benefit, which reimburses health professionals to provide affected individuals and their caregivers with information about medical and non-medical treatments, clinical trials and support services available in the community  all of which can contribute to a higher quality of life. The Alzheimer's Association encourages caregivers caring for someone covered by Medicare to ask their health provider about this important benefit.

6. Treatment Pipeline  Currently, there are more than 100 disease-modifying Alzheimer's treatments in clinical trials  researchers often refer to this as the treatment pipeline. Earlier this fall, positive topline results from phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of early-stage Alzheimer's disease were announced. These are the most encouraging results in clinical trials treating the underlying cause of Alzheimer's to date.

While these new treatments will not provide a cure to Alzheimer's and other dementia, the Alzheimer's Association is hopeful these new treatments will address the underlying biology of the disease in new ways to help slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. This could mean more time for individuals to actively participate in daily life, have sustained independence and hold on to memories longer. The Alzheimer's Association recent statement on treatment pipeline offers more details.

Caregivers are encouraged to stay abreast of these and other potential treatments as they move forward. In addition, caregivers and individuals living with Alzheimer's or another dementia can play an active role in helping advance potential new treatments by enrolling in a clinical trial .

"One of the most important things a dementia caregiver can do is to educate themselves about the disease and the care and support resources available to help," Kallmyer said. "We hope shining a light on these six terms can provide helpful guidance to Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers, so they are better prepared to navigate disease-related challenges."

SOURCE Alzheimers Association
- Joerg Ahlgrimm brings 25 years of expertise in pharmaceuticals and innovative cell and gene therapies

- SK pharmteco expands pharmaceutical drug production and advances cell and gene therapy production

- Annual sales expected to exceed KRW 1 trillion in 2022

FRANKFURT, Germany, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SK pharmteco, a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) serving the pharmaceutical industry, today announced that Joerg Ahlgrimm will be appointed as the Chief Executive Officer. Ahlgrimm will assume the global leadership of the company and spearhead its next phase of innovation and global growth.

SK pharmteco appoints Joerg Ahlgrimm as CEO to spearhead the next phase of company growth and innovation

"On behalf of the entire Board, I am thrilled to welcome Joerg as the CEO at a pivotal moment as SK pharmteco strives to optimize manufacturing expertise and capture the opportunities in the global pharmaceutical industry," said Dong-hyun Jang, Chairman of SK pharmteco's Board of Directors and CEO of SK Inc. "With his solid track record of global operations and manufacturing in addition to his expertise in both small molecule and Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) business, Joerg is uniquely qualified in accomplishing the company's key objectives in becoming the most trusted global partner for pharmaceutical clients," he added.

Ahlgrimm brings more than 25 years of experience in global operations, especially with his expertise in the pharmaceutical industry. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of the Center of Breakthrough Medicines (CBM) of the United States, in which SK pharmteco is the second largest shareholder.

"I am delighted to join forces with the SK pharmteco team to drive further growth of the company," said Ahlgrimm. "With the entrenched capacities in small molecule and a new drive for CGT, SK pharmteco is in an exciting stage of growth with a goal to become one of the world's leading CDMOs. I look forward to the immense opportunities lying ahead with SK pharmteco's continued capabilities and capacity expansion as well as unparalleled customer service."

Dr. Aslam Malik, the CEO incumbent, served as the CEO of AMPAC Fine Chemicals from 2005. His leadership was retained by SK Inc. when it acquired AMPAC Fine Chemicals in 2018 and established SK pharmteco in 2019. "It has been an honor to serve as CEO of SK pharmteco during this period of growth and I would like to offer my sincere thanks to SK for the support. I strongly believe Joerg will successfully lead SK pharmteco to its next phase of growth," said Dr. Malik.

Previously, Ahlgrimm served as the Head of Global Operations for Pharma and Biotech at Lonza AG where he was responsible for 35 sites across four continents. Prior to Lonza, he oversaw the manufacturing network of 17 plants at Baxalta Inc., Baxter International's bio-science division, with a network of more than 20 CMOs and the largest plasma collection division in the industry.

Headquartered in Sacramento, California, SK pharmteco is a global CDMO and a subsidiary of SK Inc., the strategic investment company for SK Group, South Korea's second-largest conglomerate. Under the strategic initiative of SK Inc. to strengthen its CDMO business, SK pharmteco was established in 2019 by consolidating highly complementary CDMO business operations. SK pharmteco has established a well-balanced business portfolio by engaging in small molecule & CGT to capture both the robust and exponential growth of each market.

Accordingly, it currently operates eight global manufacturing sites in the United States, Europe, and South Korea along with five R&D centers. It produces raw materials for various blockbuster treatments such as anticancer, diabetes, antivirals and COVID-19. It is also making advances in innovative pharmaceuticals such as cell and gene therapy. Through these efforts, SK pharmteco expects to annual sales to exceed KRW 1 trillion in 2022.

About SK pharmteco

SK pharmteco is the single customer-facing team comprised of SK biotek Ireland, AMPAC Fine Chemicals, SK biotek Korea, Yposkesi and most recently The Center for Breakthrough Medicines. Creating substantial market synergies in the API and Cell and Gene Therapy CDMO space by combining highly complementary assets and expertise, this union enables us to provide the highest-quality services to our customers.

With world-class state-of-the-art facilities and technology, increased capabilities: energetic chemistry, continuous flow process, controlled substances, particle engineering, high potency  with world-class potent handling capability (down to low nanogram per cubic meter levels). We have multiple cGMP manufacturing and development sites, with ~1300m of capacity among 8 sites plus analytical services facilities across USA, Korea and Ireland.

SK pharmteco is a portfolio company of SK Inc. (South Korea) and serves as a strategic part of SK's growing pharmaceutical sector. For more information, visit https://www.skpharmteco.com/.

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SOURCE SK pharmteco
Partnership aims to increase 33% labor participation rate across distressed counties, connecting the workforce to regional training programs and good-wage jobs

PIKEVILLE, Ky., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SkillUp Coalition, a national collaboration of nonprofits, training providers, and employers, today announced a new partnership with Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR ), a regional nonpartisan nonprofit that champions economic advancement for 54 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) mandated counties throughout Eastern Kentucky heavily impacted by the decline of the coal industry. Through deep labor market analysis, viable job identification, and training provider recommendations, this partnership provides a centralized location where jobseekers can work backward from available jobs to understand the credentialing and training they need, focusing on careers where the time and financial commitments are reasonable.

SkillUp has developed the Eastern Kentucky training catalog, connecting job seekers to nearly 50 short-term national and local training programs, many offered at no or low cost. The new platform helps workers select and prepare for career paths that align with local sectors that are expected to grow significantly in the coming years and offer good-paying jobs, such as healthcare, logistics, agritech, and remote work.

Specifically, SkillUp has developed the Eastern Kentucky training catalog , connecting job seekers to nearly 50 short-term national and local training programs, many offered at no or low cost. The new platform helps workers select and prepare for career paths that align with local sectors that are expected to grow significantly in the coming years and offer good-paying jobs, such as healthcare, logistics, agritech, and remote work. Local training providers include Pikeville Medical Center, Big Sandy Community & Technical College, Maysville Community & Technical College, Galen College of Nursing, Hazard Community & Technical College, Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College, and more. Additional platform features allow users to filter and sort programs based on time to train, location, program costs, industry, and average wages, providing transparency to a once cumbersome process.

"At this time of significant promise in the region, Eastern Kentuckians can be confident that the training catalog is their first step toward an economically mobile career," says Elissa Salas, Vice President of Partnerships and Operations, SkillUp. "All programs have been vetted for quality, support services, and industry-recognized credentials, empowering workers and learners to make informed choices about their next career."

This partnership is more important than ever as Eastern Kentucky job growth is expected to increase by nearly 10,000 jobs over the next five years, with thousands of available roles, specifically those in the medical fields, already lacking qualified applicants. In addition to connecting high-growth, high-demand industries, this partnership aims to help Eastern Kentucky improve its labor force participation rate, especially in its most economically distressed counties.

"It's been a real pleasure working with SkillUp on the development of the Eastern Kentucky Training Catalog. Both SOAR and SkillUp strongly believe in providing affordable resources and training to further upskill workers into high-paying careers", says Colby Hall, Executive Director. "As SOAR works to bring about long-term economic revitalization in the Eastern Kentucky coalfields, we have no higher priority than bringing more high-paying jobs to more Eastern Kentuckians."

Workers and job-seekers across Eastern Kentucky can access career and training resources here. If you are a training provider, employer, technology & service provider, or nonprofit interested in joining SkillUp, please visit www.skillup.org/partners/ .

About SkillUp Coalition

Founded in July 2020, SkillUp Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects workers with the right tools, resources, and support so they can make confident career shifts, find quality living-wage jobs, and position themselves for promising career growth. Since its founding, SkillUp has connected 1 Million workers to career and training support throughout the country.

The coalition brings together over 90 leading organizations including training and education providers, technology developers, policymakers, employers, and philanthropies. In addition to its national reach, SkillUp operates local partnerships in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Florida, Louisiana, Northern Nevada, Philadelphia, New York City, Ohio, and now Eastern Kentucky.

SkillUp proudly advocates for an affordable, equitable, upskilling ecosystem that ensures every worker has high-opportunity employment. For more information, please visit www.skillup.org or follow on Instagram , Facebook , or LinkedIn .

SOURCE SkillUp Coalition
National fashion retailer adds Sean Connelly and Mark Dvorak to San Francisco-based team

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Stand Out For Good, Inc., parent company of popular women's fashion brand Altar'd State and recently announced new contemporary home brand, welcomes Sean Connelly as chief operating officer and Mark Dvorak as chief design officer for the new home concept.

Connelly and Dvorak have more than 50 years of combined experience in the fashion retail and home furnishings industries, specifically handling product development and curation, inventory management and team growth for a variety of well-known brands.

Sean Connelly joins Stand Out For Good, Inc. as chief operating officer for the new contemporary home brand. Mark Dvorak joins Stand Out For Good, Inc. as chief design officer for the new contemporary home brand.

Connelly most recently served as chief operating officer at luxury furniture brand Serena & Lily, leading the company's sourcing, inventory management, distribution, transportation and customer service. Connelly also previously managed the entire furniture category for Restoration Hardware.

Before joining Stand Out For Good, Inc., Dvorak served as senior vice president of product development and curation at Restoration Hardware for more than a decade. Previously, Dvorak served as senior vice president of global store design for Gap Inc., where he designed the babyGap and Old Navy prototypes. He also designed worldwide stores for Ralph Lauren based in New York.

"We are pleased to welcome Sean and Mark to the Stand Out For Good, Inc. family as we continue our exciting growth in the contemporary lifestyle space," said Aaron Walters, chairman and CEO of Stand Out For Good, Inc. "Their vast experience, leadership and extensive knowledge of the luxury home furnishings business are key to building a successful new home brand. We have an outstanding team in place."

Connelly and Dvorak join brand president Tana Ward in the Stand Out For Good, Inc. San Francisco office.

About Stand Out For Good, Inc.

Stand Out For Good, Inc. is a purpose-based, inspiring lifestyle and fashion family of brands rooted in community and committed to giving back. From welcoming experiences and warm associates to thoughtfully curated products in-store and online, Stand Out For Good, Inc. represents 128 Altar'd State stores, 36 Arula boutiques, eight Vow'd boutiques and five Tullabee boutiques in 39 states. Stand Out For Good is built upon the founding principles of giving back and making a difference in the world. Locally in communities nationwide and globally too, Stand Out For Good, Inc. has partnered with over 4,000 nonprofits that provide food, clothing, resources, education, and love to children in need. To learn more about the Stand Out For Good, Inc. family of brands, visit their websites at altardstate.com , arula.com , vowdweddings.com , tullabee.com and asrevival.com .

Media Contact:

Laura Mansfield, APR

Tombras

[email protected]

865.599.9968

SOURCE Stand Out For Good, Inc.
NYIS Insurance Clients Will Immediately Transition to Student Medicover

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Student Medicover finalized the acquisition of NYIS Insurance, a subsidiary of NYIS Inc. Student Medicover will immediately begin serving clients with NYIS Insurance plans while NYIS Inc. and Student Medicover further discuss the details of the merger.

"Pursuing this merger and acquisition is a win for our clients and a win for our company," NYIS CEO Nathan Tian said. "The students we serve will benefit from transitioning to Student Medicover, and with the ever-increasing size of the international student population, this move will significantly enhance our share in this niche market, providing a greater valuation for our initial public offering."

Founded in 2018, NYIS Insurance partnered with United HealthCare Student Resources to provide health insurance brokerage service to international students in the United States. The company historically offered 24-hour multi-lingual services through its NYIS App, WeChat, email, and toll-free numbers, helping international students understand complicated insurance terms in their native languages at affordable prices.

Moving forward, NYIS Insurance clients will be served by Student Medicover, a San Francisco-based health insurance plan administrator and healthcare service platform that serves over 100,000 clients, making it one of the largest in the international student market. Student Medicover partners with UnitedHealthcare to provide cost-effective, comprehensive insurance plans. The company's goal is to make high-quality, affordable care accessible to every international student.

About NYIS Inc.

Headquartered in New York City, NYIS Inc. is a pioneering company that applies the "platform and self-operated" Amazon Business Model in the professional service industry, including the areas of law, insurance, realty, technology, and hospitality. Since its founding in 2013, NYIS Inc. has garnered over 400,000 clients and social media followers and is one of the most well-known service providers in the market.

SOURCE NYIS Inc.
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of Veterans Day, The Folded Flag Foundation, a national non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization committed to honoring the legacy of America's fallen service members by helping their families with financial support for education, is pleased to partner with Porkbun to raise up to $20,000 to support Gold Star families. Porkbun is an ICANN-accredited domain name registrar based out of the Pacific Northwest.

For every domain registered now through Nov. 11, 2022, Porkbun will contribute $1 to The Folded Flag Foundation with the goal of raising up to $20,000. Click here to learn more or to register a domain to support The Folded Flag Foundation.

For every domain registered now through Nov. 11, 2022, Porkbun will contribute $1 to The Folded Flag Foundation with the goal of raising up to $20,000 Tweet this

"Porkbun is honored to support The Folded Flag Foundation in honor of Veterans Day," said Peter Brual, Co-founder of Porkbun and Folded Flag Board Member. "The dedication and unwavering commitment of our nation's brave service members and their families is an inspiration, and we thank them for their selfless service and sacrifice."

The Folded Flag Foundation was formed in 2014 by Bill Foley, renowned businessman and owner of the Vegas Golden Knights, to supplement the current death benefits paid to families of fallen service members. The Folded Flag Foundation awarded more than $3 million to 678 recipients from across the nation for the 2021-2022 school year, bringing the total grants awarded to date to more than $10 million. Four underwriting sponsors  Black Knight, Inc., Fidelity National Financial, FIS and ServiceLink  cover all administrative costs, enabling the organization to contribute 100% of its donations to providing educational scholarships.

"Folded Flag offers its deepest gratitude to Porkbun and we cannot thank them enough for their support of our organization," said Kim Frank, president of The Folded Flag Foundation. "With Porkbun's help, we will be able to help even more Gold Star spouses and children achieve their educational dreams."

About The Folded Flag Foundation

The Folded Flag Foundation is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization committed to honoring the legacy of our fallen heroes by helping their families with financial support for education. The Folded Flag Foundation proudly gives 100 percent of ALL donations to families in need. Corporate sponsors Black Knight, Inc., ServiceLink, Fidelity National Financial (FNF) and Fidelity National Investment Services (FIS) underwrite all administrative costs. For more information on The Folded Flag Foundation, including how to make a donation to support its cause, please visit www.FoldedFlagFoundation.org .

SOURCE The Folded Flag Foundation, Inc.
BERLIN, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The German-made platform TechBehemoths, which focuses on connecting projects with IT Service providers in 140 countries, launched in October 2022 its biggest update so far - the New Filter Search.

It is a fundamental change in its use, completely redesigned and with a thorough logic behind it.

TechBehemoths filters TechBehemoths

The significant increase in searches looking for new development, design and marketing partners, regardless of their location, is one of the key factors of this major update in the remote era.

Now anyone with a project who is looking for a trustworthy and reliable IT company will get extremely accurate matches with companies in their search results.

They will be able to filter based on tens of criteria, to narrow their search results from 43,000 companies (as of the time of writing) to a list of even 2-3 companies, that are really matching their needs.

"We've heard a lot of feedback from our users and clients about wanting more control over the companies they want to see in their search results. And so we've made a few fundamental updates to our filters," said Sobieski Marcel, TechBehemoths founder about the new filters.

The new filter is very advanced and yet easy to use. It's been in the works and testing in stealth mode for months. The development team did a massive amount of work behind the scenes.

Who is the new filter for?

1. For people looking for IT companies. They will benefit a lot by finding the right IT service provider within a few clicks. The search results will display the strongest companies first. This is why - their decision to work with a company will be quick and trustworthy.

2. For IT companies. Now their businesses will have a lot more chances to appear in clients' searches. Therefore more project inquiries and website visits, meaning business expansion.

The new filter has several unique functionalities in the industry, that will facilitate any search and make it complete within 4-5 min. i.e "save this search" option will let visitors save their filter preferences and receive emails whenever a new company matches their criteria.

Freddie Haap, CFO at Admiral Frameworks commented on this update "we feel visible changes happening now with the new filters  we get very accurate project inquiries from clients. Let's see how it develops further."

TechBehemoths is one of the fastest-growing platforms, created in Germany, that connects 43,000+ reputable IT companies from 140 countries with clients and projects from all over the world.

Media contact:

Marcel Sobieski

[email protected]

017636302768

SOURCE TechBehemoths
With NEW myHoneyBaked Rewards and delicious, complete meals, HoneyBaked is making the holidays golden for families and friends

ATLANTA, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate the holiday season, The Honey Baked Ham Company is not only saving families time in the kitchen with tasty, easy-to-serve meals, but they're also helping them get more with myHoneyBaked Rewards, a new loyalty program that lets you earn more on all your purchases.

Honey Baked Ham & Turkey Feast Turkey Dinner

The new loyalty program offers rewards on purchases, special offers, brand news and more! And when customers sign up, $9 in HoneyBaked Cash will automatically be added into their account after their first purchase. The HoneyBaked Cash can be used towards any HoneyBaked products purchased in participating stores or online at honeybaked.com, including Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving meals.

"We've been working on this loyalty program for a while to ensure it is just right for our customers and what better time to help families earn rewards than the holiday season," said Jim Dinkins, Chief Executive Officer at The Honey Baked Ham Company. "The holidays are a time for creating lasting memories and we want to take away any stress with loyalty rewards and convenient, delicious meals everyone can gather around."

This Thanksgiving, HoneyBaked-lovers can enjoy their delicious hams and turkey breasts with the signature, sweet and crunchy glaze along with shareable sides and desserts. Perfect for gatherings of all sizes, options include the following (available at retail locations):

Honey Baked Ham  & Turkey Feast includes either an eight- or nine-pound Bone-In Half Ham with a Turkey Breast and four Heat & Serve Sides like Maple Sweet Potato Souffle, Double Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese, Green Bean Casserole or Tuscan Broccoli  sure to please all ages!

includes either an eight- or nine-pound Bone-In Half Ham with a Turkey Breast and four Heat & Serve Sides like Maple Sweet Potato Souffle, Double Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese, Green Bean Casserole or Tuscan Broccoli  sure to please all ages! Turkey Dinner comes with a Turkey Breast and a choice of three Heat & Serve Sides.

comes with a Turkey Breast and a choice of three Heat & Serve Sides. Quarter Ham Meal has a Quarter Bone-In Ham and three Heat & Serve Sides.

has a Quarter Bone-In Ham and three Heat & Serve Sides. Honey Baked Boneless Ham & Turkey Feast includes a Half Boneless Ham, Turkey Breast and four Heat & Serve Sides.

includes a Half Boneless Ham, Turkey Breast and four Heat & Serve Sides. Desserts options include: Red Velvet Cake , Southern Pecan Pie and Triple Chocolate Cake.

All meal offerings above are available to purchase at your nearest HoneyBaked location or visit honeybaked.com to buy online and pick up in store.

More about myHoneyBaked Rewards:

Customers sign up at www.honeybaked.com/signup to create their myHoneyBaked Rewards profile.

Customers can then accrue Piggy Points as they shop. Each dollar spent earns one Piggy Point and those are converted to HoneyBaked Cash for redemption online or at participating locations.

In store, simply share the account phone number at the register or log in to shop online and accrue points.

Every 99 Piggy Points equals $9 in HoneyBaked Cash. When a customer reaches 99 Piggy Points, their points are automatically converted to $9 of HoneyBaked Cash overnight, available for use when customers are ready to purchase holiday meals, lunches, gift cards and more.

in HoneyBaked Cash. When a customer reaches 99 Piggy Points, their points are automatically converted to of HoneyBaked Cash overnight, available for use when customers are ready to purchase holiday meals, lunches, gift cards and more. The program will alert members when their rewards are ready to be redeemed, as well as send email reminders once customers opt-in.

Members will also receive a birthday gift of $9 in HoneyBaked Cash to be redeemed within six months of their birthday.

in HoneyBaked Cash to be redeemed within six months of their birthday. If a customer does not sign up prior to their HoneyBaked purchase, they can visit www.honeybaked.com/signup within seven days and use a code located on their receipt to receive $9 in HoneyBaked Cash.

For additional savings this Thanksgiving, enjoy $5 off any Bone-In Half Ham or holiday meal during Gold Pick Up Days. Just select early pickup at retail stores, only on November 1920, 2022 (coupon required). HoneyBaked also offers a wide variety of family meal offerings that ship directly to your home. Visit honeybaked.com to order your holiday meal or pick up at your nearest HoneyBaked location.

Whether your group is big or small, HoneyBaked is here to make your holidays golden with delicious, convenient meal options to enjoy around the table.

About The Honey Baked Ham Company:

For more than 60 years, The Honey Baked Ham Company has provided customers and their families with delightful food to enjoy for all of life's special moments. HoneyBaked's origins began when founder Harry J. Hoenselaar patented a spiral-slicing ham machine, making way for the first HoneyBaked Store in Detroit, Michigan. Since that momentous opening in 1957, the family-owned company has grown to more than 400 locations nationwide, serving its signature spiral-sliced Honey Baked Ham with sweet and crunchy glaze, premium turkey breast, heat & serve sides, desserts, sandwiches and more. Offering convenient meals using the best ingredients, HoneyBaked will make every occasion a little more memorable, whether you're dining in store, picking up or ordering online. For more information visit www.honeybaked.com and connect on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and TikTok.

SOURCE The Honey Baked Ham Co
JERSEY CITY, N.J., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. announces the release of a market assessment report on the " "Global Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) CDMO Market Focus on Nucleic Acids LNPs Segmented By Product (mRNA , Plasmid DNA (pDNA), siRNA, saRNA, microRNA, and Others), Scale Of Operation (Preclinical, Clinical , and Commercial), End-Users (Pharmaceutical Companies, Academic Research Institute, and Diagnostic Laboratories)- Trends, Industry Competition Analysis, Revenue and Forecast To 2030."

According to the latest research by InsightAce Analytic, the global lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) CDMO market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 13.8% during the forecast period of 2022-2030. Factors such as the increasing academic and industrial interest in mRNA, increasing medical applications of nanoparticles, significant external funding for the Development of mRNA-based vaccines, and rising use of lipid nanoparticles for nucleic acid drug development are expected to drive market growth. Favorable regulatory environment, an increasing number of clinical trials, a high prevalence of chronic & infectious diseases, and increasing healthcare expenditures are expected to further likely to fuel the Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) CDMO market during the forecast years. Several pharma companies outsource their nanoparticle production operations to CMOs (Contract Manufacturing Organizations) to improve operational flexibility. This increase in outsourcing is projected to fuel the business of Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) CDMO services in the coming years.

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Lipid nanoparticles (LPNs) are at the forefront of nanotechnology's rapid development, with numerous potential uses in drug delivery and research. Lipid nanoparticles provide the prospect of developing new therapies due to their unique size dependent features. The ability to integrate pharmaceuticals into nanocarriers provides a new drug delivery paradigm that could be used for therapeutic targeting. As a result, solid lipid nanoparticles show enormous promise for achieving the objective of regulated and site-specific drug delivery and have captivated the attention of many researchers. With their discovered potential during the COVID-19 pandemic, lipid nanoparticles carrying messenger RNA (mRNA-LNPs) have propelled to the forefront of nonviral delivery technologies.

However, factors such as the expensive CMO services, concerns related to storage and safety, and lack of organizations' capacity to produce the required quality of substances are anticipated to limit the market development over the forecast period.

Region-wise, North America is expected to dominate this market over the forecast period (2020-2030), owing to the well-established healthcare facilities & CMOS, the increasing number of clinical trial advancements in the biopharmaceutical industries, and the rising demand for specialized drugs.

Key market players operating in the Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) CDMO market (Nucleic Acids LNPs) include Corden Pharma GmbH, eTheRNA, Polypeptide Therapeutic Solutions(PTS), FUJIFILM Corporation, ST Pharm Co Ltd, Exalead (Merck KGaA), Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc. (Croda International Plc.), Emergent CDMO, Esco Aster Pte Ltd, ernal Biosciences, Arranta Bio, Phosphorex Inc, Polymun Scientific Immunbiologische Forschung GmbH, and Other Prominent Players

Key developments in the market:

In March 2022 , eTheRNA Manufacturing launched a new service for lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation, research, and manufacture. The service's aim is to aid in the discovery and early preclinical development of RNA-based medicines and vaccines. It will use eTheRNA's unique lipid libraries and formulations to enable targeted delivery and customized biodistribution solutions, with the goal of allowing customers to maximize RNA-product delivery.

eTheRNA Manufacturing launched a new service for lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation, research, and manufacture. The service's aim is to aid in the discovery and early preclinical development of RNA-based medicines and vaccines. It will use eTheRNA's unique lipid libraries and formulations to enable targeted delivery and customized biodistribution solutions, with the goal of allowing customers to maximize RNA-product delivery. In March 2022 , Cameron Bio signed a manufacturing partnership with FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies (FDB), a company with experience in developing and manufacturing recombinant biopharmaceuticals and viral gene treatments, to get the company's Oncology portfolio to the clinic. Cameron Bio has chosen FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies as a partner for the transfer and scaling up of its drug substance manufacturing method.

Cameron Bio signed a manufacturing partnership with FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies (FDB), a company with experience in developing and manufacturing recombinant biopharmaceuticals and viral gene treatments, to get the company's Oncology portfolio to the clinic. has chosen FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies as a partner for the transfer and scaling up of its drug substance manufacturing method. In Jan 2022 , Arranta Bio is expected to utilize Cytiva's FlexFactory single-use manufacturing technology to manufacture mRNA vaccines. Arran is the initial company to provide an end-to-end platform for cGMP manufacture of mRNA products.

Arranta Bio is expected to utilize Cytiva's FlexFactory single-use manufacturing technology to manufacture mRNA vaccines. Arran is the initial company to provide an end-to-end platform for cGMP manufacture of mRNA products. In July 2021 , Curia (US), formerly AMRI, contract research, development, & manufacturing organization, acquired Integrity Bio, Inc., a biopharmaceutical & fill-finish organization in Camarillo, to enhance its biologics drug product formulation development and fill-finish network.

Curia (US), formerly AMRI, contract research, development, & manufacturing organization, acquired Integrity Bio, Inc., a biopharmaceutical & fill-finish organization in Camarillo, to enhance its biologics drug product formulation development and fill-finish network. In April 2021 , CordenPharma ( Germany ) expanded the lipid purification capacity in CordenPharma Colorado to enhance the lipid purification capacity of the company. The expansion includes additional production lines incorporated into the lipid manufacturing process in April 2021 .

CordenPharma ( ) expanded the lipid purification capacity in CordenPharma Colorado to enhance the lipid purification capacity of the company. The expansion includes additional production lines incorporated into the lipid manufacturing process in . In February 2021 , Evonik ( Germany ) added the lipid production capacity to supply BioNTech, the vaccine manufacturer. Evonik is essential to increasing the supply security of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

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Market Segments

Global Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) CDMO Market (Nucleic Acids LNPs), by Product, 2020-2030 (Value US$ Mn)

mRNA

Plasmid DNA (pDNA)

siRNA

saRNA

microRNA

Others

Global Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) CDMO Market (Nucleic Acids LNPs), by Scale of Operation, 2020-2030 (Value US$ Mn)

Preclinical Scale Operations

Clinical Scale Operations

Commercial Scale Operations

Global Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) CDMO Market (Nucleic Acids LNPs), by By End-Users, 2020-2030 (Value US$ Mn)

Pharmaceutical Companies

Academic Research Institute

Diagnostic Laboratories

Global Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) CDMO Market (Nucleic Acids LNPs), by Region, 2020-2030 (Value US$ Mn)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

Why should buy this report:

To receive a comprehensive analysis of the (Nucleic Acids LNPs) prospects for the Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) CDMO market

To receive an industry overview and future trends in the Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) CDMO market specific to (Nucleic Acids LNPs)

To analyze the Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) CDMO market drivers and challenges

To get information on the Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) CDMO market size (Value US$ Mn) and forecast to 2030

Significant investments, mergers & acquisitions in the Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) CDMO market industry

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Other Related Reports Published by InsightAce Analytic:

Global mRNA Synthesis and Manufacturing Services Market

Global Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products CDMO Market

Global Investigational New Drug CDMO Market

Global Nucleic Acid Therapeutics CDMO Market

Global Biospecimen Contract Research Services Market

About Us:

InsightAce Analytic is a market research and consulting firm that enables clients to make strategic decisions. Our qualitative and quantitative market intelligence solutions inform the need for market and competitive intelligence to expand businesses. We help clients gain a competitive advantage by identifying untapped markets, exploring new and competing technologies, segmenting potential markets, and repositioning products. Our expertise is in providing syndicated and custom market intelligence reports with an in-depth analysis with key market insights in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Contact Us:

InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd.

Tel.: +1 551 226 6109

Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE InsightAce Analytics Pvt. Ltd.
5 Tips to Keep Your Bladder Healthy

BALTIMORE, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- November first marks the beginning of Bladder Health Month. Many people do not talk with their doctor about their bladder health symptoms because they are embarrassed or do not know that they could indicate a health issue. This month, the Urology Care Foundation encourages people to track their bladder health and talk with their doctors to stay in charge of their bladder health.

The Urology Care Foundation encourages people to talk with their doctors about their bladder health.

"Raising bladder health awareness and encouraging people to talk to professionals fabout their bladder health symptoms is a critical first step in eliminating the stigma associated with bladder-related conditions and disease," said Harris M. Nagler, MD, President of the Urology Care Foundation.

The Urology Care Foundation is providing resources for the public and has experts available to discuss bladder health symptoms, stigmas and treatments.

Here are five tips from the Urology Care Foundation for staying in control of your bladder health.

Drink up!

Staying hydrated is key to maintaining a healthy urinary system. The amount a person should drink varies, but drinking enough fluids so that you need to urinate every few hours is an excellent rule of thumb. Pay attention to whether what you drink and when you drink it affects your bladder symptoms. Some drinks, like alcohol or citrus juices can worsen symptoms for some bladder health conditions. Watch When You Wee

Tracking your urination can be an excellent tool for gauging your bladder health. Tracking how often do you urinate, how urgently the need to urinate comes on and whether you experience other symptoms with urination, such as pain or bleeding, are all useful data for your doctor when discussing bladder health. Use the UCF Bladder Control Assessment Tool to begin tracking your symptoms. Move It!

Exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle, but did you know it could impact your bladder health? Regular exercise can relieve symptoms of bladder inflammation and bladder pain syndrome and kegel exercises can help improve incontinence. May first-line treatments for bladder health conditions include physical therapy and exercise. Know Your Meds

Medications or medication interactions could affect your bladder. Pay attention to whether certain medications correlate with worsening bladder symptoms and discuss the changes with your doctor. There may be other treatment options that work better for you! Talk To Your Doc

Talking about your bladder symptoms could be the hardest, yet most important part of improving your health. The better your health care provider knows the level and impact of your symptoms on your quality of life, the better they can help you manage them. Even if you are not bothered much about mild symptoms, you and your health care provider may want to discuss what treatment options are available to you. Find a urology care expert in your area.

Check out the Urology Care Foundation's Bladder Health Awareness Month Info Center and follow UCF on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for free bladder health resources, including fact sheets, podcasts, videos and more.

About the Urology Care Foundation: The Urology Care Foundation is the world's leading nonprofit urological health foundation, and the official foundation of the American Urological Association. Collaborating with physicians, researchers, patients and the public, the Foundation supports and improves urologic clinical care by funding research, developing patient education and pursuing philanthropic support. To learn more about the Urology Care Foundation and its programs visit: www.urologyhealth.org.

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology, and has more than 23,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health care policy.

Contact: Rachel Butch

410-689-4033

[email protected]

SOURCE Urology Care Foundation
HOUSTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Legal Support, the nation's leading provider of litigation support services, today announced the appointment of three new Executive Vice Presidents to the organization's executive leadership team. April Orlando, Carrie Cosenza, and Karen Gann will now guide the sales division for the growing company.

April Orlando will serve as Executive Vice President of Sales for the Southeast division. Orlando is a legal industry veteran with twenty years of professional experience. She will not only guide her team to new partnerships, but will also lead the development of a structure that will help strategically grow current client relationships. "April is incredibly successful at building strong relationships and recognizing how to help our clients achieve their goals," said U.S. Legal Support CEO, Jimmie Bridwell. "With our mission to build lasting relationships with our legal industry partners by delivering exceptional service, April will be instrumental in ensuring U.S. Legal Support lives up to our brand promise."

Carrie Cosenza will serve as Executive Vice President of Sales for the Northeast and Midwest and continue her leadership of the Enterprise sales team. Cosenza holds a long tenure with U.S. Legal Support in various positions within the sales organization. As a graduate of Fordham University and New York Law School, Cosenza is also a licensed attorney, which helps her understand the nuances of the legal industry and needs of our client base. "Carrie is a highly accomplished leader and is known within the organization as being a consensus builder. She brings deep expertise when it comes to helping our clients navigate complex litigation and she's been instrumental in both the development and growth of our Enterprise Sales team. We're excited to add her to the executive team," continued Bridwell.

Karen Gann will serve as Executive Vice President of Sales for the West and Southwest divisions. Gann holds over thirty years of experience in sales and operations within the litigation support industry. After joining U.S. Legal Support in 2007, Gann has led significant year-over-year growth in her divisions by placing an emphasis on sales mentorship and relationship building with clients. "Karen is one of the most effective sales leaders we have in our company," said Bridwell. "The executive team and U.S. Legal Support as a whole will greatly benefit from having her experience, enthusiasm, and creativity at the highest levels of our organization."

The new Executive Vice President appointments come on the heels of other additions to the Executive Leadership Team for U.S. Legal Support, all of which reflect the company's continued commitment to building and maintaining an exceptional experience for clients.

About U.S. Legal Support

U.S. Legal Support was founded in 1996 with the goal of becoming the first nationwide, all-inclusive litigation support company. Nearly three decades later, we're one of the leading providers of litigation support services and the only company to provide a full suite of court reporting solutions, record retrieval, interpreting & translations, trial services and transcription services to law firms, major corporations, and insurance companies nationwide. With on-demand access to 12,000+ offices in 2,700 cities across the country and a robust digital infrastructure, we can accommodate your litigation support needs quickly, comfortably, and safely from anywhere in the country. For more information about U.S. Legal Support, visit the company's website at: www.uslegalsupport.com .

Media Requests

Julie Feller

[email protected]

SOURCE U.S. Legal Support, Inc.
SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tridge's North America Operations Department participated in this year's Global Produce & Floral (GPF) Show, which took place in Orlando, Florida from October 27 to 29. The show, organized by the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), is one of the biggest trade events in the global fresh produce industry, and this year's show was the first one since the start of the global pandemic, attracting more than 15,000 attendants.

Tridges North America Operations Department participated in this years Global Produce & Floral (GPF) Show, which took place in Orlando, Florida from October 27 to 29.

As the only South Korean ag-tech company at the event, Tridge welcomed hundreds of visitors and expanded its footprint for the existing North American markets by forging relationships with stakeholders in various value chains including production, processing, packaging, and distribution and actively engaged in conversations to address the supply chain disruptions in the agriculture sector while broadening its global networks to strengthen its online platform market base.

"Tridge's entry into this year's GPF Show as a major exhibition partner marks a very meaningful step forward for the company," said Won Kang, Director of Tridge's North America Operations Department. "We were able to show the industry not only our capabilities in global agriculture trading but also our strengths in connecting a myriad of dots scattered across the globe through our platform solutions."

In the midst of a global food crisis, Tridge is continuing to increase the number of supplier and buyer connections for fresh produce trading with notable successes. The company's participation in the event is a testament to Tridge's dedication to contributing further to the global fresh product industry.

Tridge is a global agricultural trading platform that makes cross-border trade easy and frictionless. With its proprietary global sourcing hub, Tridge goes beyond matching buyers and sellers of 15,000 agricultural goods. This is facilitated through our one-stop fulfillment service that includes due diligence, supplier certificate verification, contract negotiation, packaging, shipping, customs, and many more.

SOURCE Tridge
CHANGZHOU, China, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trina Solar's Vertex S Aesthetic Module, an upgraded product highly anticipated by global customers, has arrived in Europe, Australia, Japan and other markets recently. It is the first solar PV module to win the Red Dot Award and is turning heads because of its efficient and reliable performance and an outstanding design and visual appearance, making it a favorite among distributed solar rooftops in global markets.

Vertex S Aesthetic Module, a ground-breaking innovation, defines the category of aesthetic black solar modules through all-around top and precise technology, including cells, bus bars, back sheets, frames, glass, modules, and packaging, delivery, unpacking, and installation in rooftop scenarios.

The high-standard design is aesthetically appealing in every detail, aiming to provide customers with an enjoyable experience of high technology and aesthetics that co-exist in harmony.

Trina Solar, keenly aware of customer demand for products both technologically sophisticated and aesthetically appealing, has become one of the first leading companies in the industry to develop and launch an aesthetic black PV module.

Define Aesthetic Module by three dimensions

1. Black solar cell defines a rigorous aesthetic principle

Trina Solar is committed to innovatively upgrading film-forming technologies, improving the cell appearance graphic processing capabilities through the rigorous automated vision algorithm solutions, to achieve consistency in color and free of any flaw.

2. Aesthetic black module establishes the color uniformity criteria

Aesthetic glass: Trina Solar has innovatively developed and applied the double layer ARC (antireflection coating) glass technology that delivers a more consistent black effect to solar modules and reduces glass reflection.

Uniformity: The Vertex S Aesthetic Module also features strict control over the uniformity of black chromaticity, make for a seamless and scratch-free appearance, thus ensuring high stability and consistency in hue, brightness and uniformity.

In October, Trina Solar, led by the China Photovoltaic Industry Association, developed a group standard as for coating chromaticity.

3. Aesthetic black solar roof offers an all-round tech-savvy and aesthetic experience

Multiple rows of aesthetic black modules, installed on the same plane, present a uniform and consistent almost-all-black effect, regardless of the roof type and angle of inclination, perfectly blend with the building and the surroundings.

To deliver an all-around black experience, Trina Solar has also adopted an outdoor installation scenario-specific evaluation method to inspect precisely.

For detailed and technical info, please visit: https://mgr.trinasolar.com/en-glb/resources/newsroom/matrina-solar-defines-aesthetic-black-product-high-tech-delivering-new-vertex-s

SOURCE Trina Solar Co., Ltd
TUV Rheinland, the industry leader, has presence in 60 countries with more than 20,000 employees.

HOUSTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TUV Rheinland, a German based company specializing in quality, safety and sustainability, is celebrating 150 years of providing solutions to industries from railroads to electromobility, from steam engines to digitalization. Its goal is to shape the future ensuring quality and safety of people, technology, and the environment.

The company's history begins in 1872 in Cologne, Germany, with the start of steam boiler operations. Today, TUV Rheinland impacts the lives of people and companies including sectors such as toys, electrical appliances, elevators, energy and environmental systems, electronics, heavy machinery and pressurized containers. In addition, TUV Rheinland recently became the first company to certify a drone worldwide.

Advancing globally with the ability to perform tests, inspections and certifications of all products and services known, TUV Rheinland currently has more than 200 laboratories globally.

TUV Rheinland belongs to the Quality and Safety Certification industry, which generates worldwide revenue of more than 200 billion dollars and provides over one million jobs. The TIC (Testing, Inspection and Certification) sector is one of the least publicized but most required sectors in the world, as it verifies and supports the value chains of companies and the products that people use in their daily lives.

In 2021, TUV Rheinland closed its fiscal year with global consolidated revenues of 2.1 billion euros. Which represents a positive scenario after the pandemic and the challenges it had to face worldwide.

"At a time when all companies need to pay more attention to their global value chains, we are the partner of choice that can help locally with trusted experts. When it comes to taking steps into the future, TUV Rheinland often leads the way. For 150 years, we have seen ourselves as a partner for new technologies because we make innovations successful through safety - yesterday steam boilers, today renewable energies, tomorrow artificial intelligence. True to the motto: "We make the future a little safer,"" explains Dr. Michael Fubi, CEO of the TUV Rheinland Group.

TUV Rheinland has five business units that are involved in key areas of the economy in the countries where it operates, providing support and service to leading manufacturing and export industries such as the automotive and petroleum industries, electrical and electronic consumer goods, construction safety, verification of regulatory compliance in rail transport, and the training, implementation and certification of management systems.

About TUV Rheinland

150 years of safety: Since 1872, TUV Rheinland has been committed to making technology safe for people and the environment. From steam engines to digitalization - from its beginnings as the "Verein zur Uberwachung der Dampfkessel in den Kreisen Elberfeld und Barmen" (Association for the Monitoring of Steam Boilers in the Districts of Elberfeld and Barmen), TUV Rheinland has become a globally active testing service provider that ensures safety and quality in almost all areas of business and life. Today, this responsibility unites more than 20,000 employees. They generate an annual turnover of around 2 billion euros. TUV Rheinland's experts test technical systems and products around the globe, accompany innovations in technology and business, train people in numerous professions and certify management systems according to international standards. TUV Rheinland is also shaping the future with safety and sustainability. Since 2006, TUV Rheinland has therefore been a member of the United Nations Global Compact for more sustainability and against corruption. Website: www.tuv.com

Press Contact

Joel Pekay

Telephone: +1 224 318 4098

Email: [email protected]

Mariana Taborda do Amaral

Telephone: +55 11 3514 5867

Email: [email protected]

Michael Garcia

Telephone: +52 55 9140 1824

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE TUV Rheinland
Hole AS01 seven samples range from 693 mg/L Li to 744 mg/L Li

Hole AS01 hole lithium average is 722 mg/L Li

Hole AS01 brine zone is defined across a 240 m zone

Hole AS03 five samples collected with two assays received

Hole AS03 two assays 749 mg/L Li and 752 mg/L Li

Hole AS03 hole lithium average is 751 mg/L Li```

Hole AS03 brine zone is defined across a 140 m zone

Drilling will begin on newly added hole AS02

VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lithium South Development Corporation (the "Company") (TSX-V: LIS) (OTCQB: LISMF) (Frankfurt: OGPQ) is pleased to provide results from the ongoing drill campaign at the Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project (HMN Li Project) in Salta Province, Argentina. The Company is reporting results from two completed wells. Two rigs are operating on site, and the program has been expanded to include an additional hole for a total of four core wells.

Lithium South Drill Map  revised drill targets for resource expansion.

The current exploration is located within the Alba Sabrina claim block. The claim block is comprised of 2,089 hectares and is the largest of the 3,287-hectare salar located claim package. The newly revised drill plan (see enclosed map) has four holes located north to south, identified as AS01 (completed), AS02 (completed), AS03 (completed) and AS04 now drilling, along a six-kilometer section.

Results have now been received from Alex Stewart Laboratories of Mendoza, Argentina, an ISO Certified laboratory. Hole AS01 was completed to 299 m depth. Seven double packer samples were acquired from AS01 using industry best practices, and under the supervision of Dr. Mark King, a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Lithium results range from 693 mg/L to 744 mg/L, for a hole average of 722 mg/L lithium. The zone of interest from the interpreted lithology is determined to exceed 240 m.

South of hole AS01, hole AS03 has been completed to a depth of 216 m. Five double packer samples were acquired from AS03. Thus far, the Company has received two results of the five samples acquired. One returned 749 mg/L Li and one returned 752 mg/L Li. Three assays are pending. The zone of interest from the interpreted lithology is determined to exceed 140 m.

All completed holes have encountered zones of potentially significant porosity that include fine to medium grained sands and porous breccia. Porosity testing will be completed at Daniel B. Stevens Laboratory located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

Hole AS04 was the first hole completed with results announced on August 10, 2022. The overall average of the three wells sampled to date is 734 mg/L Li.

Site preparation work is underway to locate four control wells to the west of the current drilling, to define the west boundary of the salar. In addition, Hole AS02 will be located between AS01 and AS03, for in-filling in the high-grade zone.

Company President and Chief Executive Officer Adrian F. C. Hobkirk is quoted, "We are very encouraged with the exceptional results from the drilling completed to date. We are making excellent progress towards expanding the total resource at the Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project."

About Lithium South

The Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project is at an advanced stage of evaluation, with a Preliminary Economic Assessment completed in April 2019. Lithium South is the 100% owner of the HMN Li Project and expects to expand the known resource with its current drill program. Preliminary results support this expectation. Additional project work including permitting, environmental studies and process test work is ongoing.

The Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project is adjacent to a US$4 billion lithium mine under development by the Korean multinational corporation POSCO, which acquired their holdings from Galaxy Resources Ltd. for US$280 million. Livent Corporation is producing lithium to the south of the Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project and has actively operated there for over twenty-five years.

The technical and scientific information in this press release was reviewed by Dr. Mark King, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Dr. King participated in the preparation of this news release AND APPROVES ITS CONTENT.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Adrian F. C. Hobkirk

President and Chief Executive Officer

Investors / Shareholders call 855-415-8100 / website: www.lithiumsouth.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed the content of this news release and therefore does not accept responsibility or liability for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward- looking statements. We seek safe harbor.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1934850/Lithium_South_Drill_Map.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1815015/Lithium_South_Development_Corporation_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Lithium South Development Corporation
DUBLIN, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Today's U.S. Electric Power Industry, ISO Markets, Power Transactions, and Renewable Energy Resources" training has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

If you want to truly understand the U.S. electric power industry, this course is for you.



This in-depth program provides a comprehensive and clear explanation of the structure, function, and current status of today's U. S. electric power industry; the many industry topics listed below; and how PPAs and other power transactions are done.



Each part of this complex industry will be explained piece-by-piece, and then the pieces will be integrated so that you will leave the seminar with an understanding of "how it all fits together."



What You Will Learn

The structure and function of the electric service system, its terminology and units, and the properties of electricity.

How the North American power grid is structured, how it operates and what the different types of electric generation are.

How control areas, balancing authorities, spinning reserves, AGC and security constrained environmental economic dispatch work.

Who the key players in the industry are, and why the industry is so difficult to restructure.

How cost-of-service utility ratemaking and open access deregulated markets work, and why open access retail electricity markets are finally developing in states that permit them.

What ISOs, RTOs, ITCs and merchant transmission companies are, and how they operate.

What the smart grid, demand side management ("DSM"), distributed energy resources ("DER") and demand response ("DR") are, and how these forms of "virtual generation" and renewable energy resources are disrupting the U.S. power industry.

The opportunities and challenges associated with wind, solar and other renewables.

How ISO Day-Ahead energy auction markets operate in PJM, New York , Texas , California , MISO and other ISO areas;

, , , MISO and other ISO areas; What locational marginal pricing (LMP) is and why it is important; how Day-Ahead and Real Time LMP is applied in the ISO markets, and why FTRs, TCCs, CRRs, TCRs, virtual bids ("Incs & Decs") and convergence bidding are important to understand.

What capacity markets and resource adequacy are, and how this important issue relates to demand response, DER ,and demand side management and affects the integration of wind, solar and other renewables into the existing power grid.

An overview of Utility scale solar, rooftop solar, and net metering, and wind and other renewable energy resources.

What the Western Grid "Energy Imbalance Market" is, and why it is important to understand Community Choice Aggregators, the California "Duck Curve" and "FRAC-MOO."

Who Should Attend:



Among those who will benefit from this seminar include energy and electric power executives; attorneys; government regulators; traders & trading support staff; marketing, sales, purchasing & risk management personnel; accountants & auditors; plant operators; engineers; and corporate planners.



Types of companies that typically attend this program include energy producers and marketers; utilities; banks & financial houses; industrial companies; accounting, consulting & law firms; municipal utilities; government regulators and electric generators.



Key Topics Covered:



DAY 1

The properties and terminology of electricity - current, power, var, voltage, etc.

An overview of the electric service system, and how it works.

The structure and function of the North American power grid.

How control areas & balancing authorities operate, what spinning reserves are, and how the lights are kept on.

The pros and cons of different sources of electric generation ( coal, natural gas, nuclear, renewables ), and how they work.

How cost-of-service ratemaking and retail open access markets work

Why open access retail electricity markets are finally developing in states that permit them.

Who the various industry participants are and their roles.

Why restructuring today's power markets is such a complicated task.

The difference between ISOs, RTOs, ITCs and merchant transmission companies.

Why it is so difficult to build new high voltage power lines.

How ISO Day-Ahead energy energy auction markets operate in PJM, New York , Texas , California , MISO and other ISO areas.

, , , MISO and other ISO areas. What locational marginal pricing (LMP) is, and why it is important.

How Day-Ahead and Real Time LMP applied and managed in the ISO markets.

Virtual bids ("Incs & Decs") and convergence bidding and what their purpose is.

Financial transmission rights ("FTRs"), congestion revenue rights ("CRRs"), TCCs, TCRs and TRs.

Forward capacity markets, resource adequacy and generation reserve margins.

DAY 2

Wind, utility scale solar, rooftop solar, community solar, and the net metering debate.

The opportunities, challenges and risks associated with wind, solar and other renewables.

The smart grid, demand side management ("DSM"), distributed energy resources ("DER") and demand response ("DR"), and why these assets are forms of "virtual" electric generation..

How wind, solar, DER, DSM, demand response and conservation are disrupting the U.S. power industry

The Western Grid "Energy Imbalance Market," The California "Duck Curve" and California's "FRAC-MOO."

"FRAC-MOO." The fundamentals of bilateral power transaction-units, concepts and terminology.

Common contract language used for bilateral power transactions.

Point-to-Point Firm, Network Firm, and Non-Firm transmission service, and how to buy transmission contracts on OASIS.

How to transport physical power using purchased transmission service and the purpose of NERC tags.

What "seller's choice" and "buyer's choice" are, and how forward "daisy chains" form at virtual trading hubs.

The difference between physical, scheduled and contract path power flows, and why power transactions have nothing to do with the flow of electrons.

How trading floors and futures exchanges help commercial players manage risk.

How and why physical power transactions are often "booked-out" and settled in cash.

How any why companies often move physical power financially causing it to 'jump' between regions.

An introduction to electricity cash settled futures, swaps, and CFDs, and how these products relate to ISO administered financial transmission rights (FTRs), congestion revenue rights (CRRs) and TCCs.

Detailed examples of how to execute wholesale and retail power marketing transactions both within and outside of an ISO area-- including commonly used contract language & NERC tags; how to manage price, LMP, basis, delivery, volumetric, intermittency and operational risks; and the importance of including NITS, TAC, UCAP, resource adequacy and ancillary service charges.

The difference between operating, economic, market and negotiated heat rates, and what the terms spark spread, dark spread and bark spread mean.

What "tolling deals" are, and how the powerful technique of heat-rate-linked power transactions can be used.

How a natural gas-fired generating plant is a call option on the spark spread, what "optionality" means, and a simple rule to use to optimize the economics of a natural gas or coal -fired merchant generating

For more information about this training visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5ku71r

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
To teach and inspire children for whom art education is not always accessible through the art and life story of Vincent van Gogh.

PLANTATION, Fla., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Van Gogh Museum and DHL Express are launching a new educational program, Heart for Art. For the next three years, the global partners will collaborate to inspire children in communities with limited access to cultural education with the art and life story of Vincent van Gogh. Over the next six months, the Heart for Art program, which was piloted in New York City in Spring 2022, will be rolled out at 30 educational institutions in the United States, which would reach -and positively impact- 20,000 students in the first school year. As the program is launched in dozens of American cities in the months ahead, it will also expand globally in the upcoming years.

DHL courier delivering a Van Gogh Museum Edition at a school in New York City in support of the Heart for Art program. Credit: Mals Media.

How Heart for Art Works

The DHL x Van Gogh Museum Heart for Art program enables children to learn about Vincent van Gogh, stimulates their creative development and invites them to discuss significant themes from Vincent's life such as identity, chasing dreams and dealing with setbacks. The program is developed especially for children with no or limited access to art education. Teachers are trained by experienced Van Gogh Museum educators in special sessions  either on location or online.

"We were delighted to develop a dedicated Heart for Art educational programme, based on our extensive experience with schools in The Netherlands and (international) online lessons. By training teachers worldwide to work with our educational tools we hope to connect and inspire children with Vincent's art and life story," says Gundy van Dijk, Head of Education and Interpretation of the Van Gogh Museum.

Following the training session, teachers are asked to share what they have learned with their colleagues, in order to reach an increasing number of children. A Van Gogh Museum Edition  a 3D, high-quality reproduction of a Van Gogh artwork  will be delivered to each participating school to help bring the lessons to life. DHL will provide full-service shipping and logistics coordination of all the teaching materials and artwork.

"We are proud that we are able to leverage our network to help develop and inspire the lives of young children," said Mike Parra, Chief Executive Officer of DHL Express America. "Together with the Van Gogh Museum, we provide a platform that empowers children to become more creative and learn more about art, helping us live our purpose by delivering a better world; 'Connecting People. Improving Lives'."

Pilot Phase in New York

During the pilot phase, held in spring 2022, students at five schools in New York City took part in the Heart for Art program and 20 teachers have completed the Teacher Training so far. New York Edge  the largest provider of school-based afterschool and summer programs in New York City  connected the Heart for Art program with the teachers in New York.

"Providing young people with opportunities and experiences that will enable them to expand their horizons and discover new passions is at the heart of our mission at New York Edge", said Rachael Gazdick, CEO of New York Edge. "We are proud to collaborate with the Van Gogh Museum and DHL to educate and inspire youth through Van Gogh's masterpieces, and we look forward to offering this fantastic initiative to more of our students this academic year."

The experiences of both the teachers and students were overwhelmingly positive. "I had students in the special Van Gogh classes that didn't want to leave, and stayed for the art", reported one of the teachers following a lesson. "This guy is just like us!", said another student about Vincent van Gogh. The hurdles and successes were constantly evaluated during the roll-out of the DHL x Van Gogh Museum Heart for Art pilot, in order to help improve the program. At the start of the new school year in September, the program has been launched at 10 of New York Edge's schools in New York City, workings towards 30 schools in the first six months.

DHL x Van Gogh Museum

It will only be possible to inspire a diverse audience with Vincent van Gogh's work and life story if they can be reached. As the Van Gogh Museum's partner in logistics since 2020 and main partner since June 2022, DHL helps the museum to realise this mission. The multi-year Heart for Art educational program embodies the joint ambition of the partners to positively impact the lives of future generations. These efforts will call on the Van Gogh Museum's extensive experience with developing educational material and DHL's global logistics network.

More information about the DHL x Van Gogh Museum partnership (Link to video).

CONTACT:

Lexi Lopez,

[email protected]

SOURCE DHL
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Princeton University civil rights historian Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr. offers his thoughts on the upcoming midterm elections and other topics as the inaugural guest on Vassar College's Conversations @ the Salt Line podcast, which debuted todayjust one week before Election Day. "We're on a knife's edge," Glaude said. "Democracy is on the ballot."

Glaude, Chair of the Department of African American Studies at Princeton and a frequent commentator on nationwide television news broadcasts, was recently on campus as a guest of Vassar's Africana Studies Program.

The name of the podcast was derived from an ecological phenomenon that happens near Poughkeepsie on the Hudson River, just a few miles from the Vassar campus. "Here, the mighty Hudson River, an estuary, merges the briny sea tides from New York Harbor with the fresh origin water from the Adirondack Mountains, creating the literal Salt Line: nutrient-rich waters where young fish are nurtured into adult fish," explained podcast host Wesley Dixon, Special Assistant to President Elizabeth Bradley and Board Secretary at Vassar. "Our metaphorical Salt Line seeks to capture that spirit of purposeful collisions, a place where diverse thought meets impassioned dialogue. The podcast will mimic the Salt Line, bringing together differing perspectives to showcase those distinct voices that can vary while always seeking paths forward."

Upcoming guests include Hollywood film and TV producer Jason Blum '91, a Vassar trustee; style and fashion columnist and author Stacy London '91; former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson; and other thought leaders who will discuss a wide range of topics with Dixon. The podcast will be accessible on the Vassar Institute for the Liberal Arts website and many popular podcast streaming platforms; a video version of the podcast can be viewed on Vassar's YouTube Channel.

Bradley said the podcast would provide a new platform for the College to promote dialogue about important issues of the day, in alignment with the goals of the Institute for the Liberal Arts. "We are thrilled to be able to provide this lively and often provocative content to the Vassar community and others across the world," the President said.

Dixon said the idea for the podcast arose during a conversation with Bradley over a year ago. "It has been a mission and vision of the College to continue to find ways to demonstrate the impact of the liberal arts on issues confronting us today," Dixon said. "Just as the Institute will host these discussions in the future, the podcast will serve as a way to engage in conversations with people who are doing interesting and important things in the world."

Planning for the podcast began last fall when Bradley and Dean of Faculty William Hoynes, Professor of Media Studies, taught a class with Dixon on podcasting to about a dozen Vassar students.

Dixon said he drew some insights and ideas for the podcast from Vassar alum Chris Morrow '93, co-founder and CEO of The Loud Speakers Podcast Network. Founded in 2011, the network currently attracts more than 55 million listeners per year in productions it has created across the country.

Morrow said he was excited to see Vassar ramping up its podcasting presence. "Podcasts are now an integral part of the media landscape, so it's important that Vassar is well represented in that space," he said. "I also think this particular podcast is a great way for the Vassar community to connect with alums doing amazing things in a meaningful way. There's real value in hearing a Stacy London or Jason Blum share their journeys, especially when you have a talented host like Wesley drawing out moments and insights you might not get in another setting."

Morrow said he hoped Vassar would continue to use podcasting as a teaching tool. "I really hope this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Vassar and podcasting," he said. "When I graduated back in 1993, most people interested in getting into media gravitated to magazines or newspapers. Those industries are now only a shell of what they once were, but podcasting is still growing. There are jobs and opportunities. So I hope Vassar will treat audio like any other medium and offer the courses and resources that will set up students to succeed in that space. At the end of the day, podcasting is just another form of storytelling."

About Vassar College

Vassar Collegebased in Poughkeepsie, New Yorkis a coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college where perspectives cross, ideas intersect, and passion burns bright. Originally founded to provide women an education equal to that once available only to men, Vassar was the first all-women's college in the nation to become coeducational when it opened its doors to men in 1969. Vassar fosters an intellectual openness and independence in students, who meet each other as equals, and are encouraged to absorb diverse thought and impassioned dialogue that give them the insight and confidence they will need in a complex world where they will make important contributions. Consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the country, Vassar is renowned for pioneering achievements in education, for its long history of curricular innovation, and for the beauty of its campus.

The Vassar campus is located at 124 Raymond Avenue in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Visit Vassar's flickr site for images

SOURCE Vassar College
Way's foothold in the hospitality industry, $20 million Series A raise, and key leadership hires position the company for continued explosive, international growth

AUSTIN, Texas and PARIS, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Way , the centralized software platform that helps businesses unlock the power of brand activations, today announces its expansive global launch as part of its commitment to reimagining how consumers and brands connect. This commitment is fueled by the company's $20 million Series A round led by Tiger Global, with participation from a broad range of hotel executives and ownership groups, including MSD Capital, and several new hires across Way's leadership team.

"Across the globe, consumer demand has shifted from material goods toward immersive, memorable experiences," says Way Co-Founder and CEO Michael Stocker. "Way empowers companies to leverage this change by providing the technology that makes launching and scaling meaningful activations easy to operationalize, turning them into a new revenue-driving, brand-building segment of the business."

"Across the globe, consumer demand has shifted from material goods toward immersive, memorable experiences." Tweet this

Despite launching less than 2 years ago, Way today supports hundreds of customers throughout the world and has averaged 20% month over month growth, reaching millions in annual recurring revenue in just 18 months. Iconic independent hotels like The Little Nell in Aspen to fast-growing global luxury and lifestyle brands and management companies, such as Bunkhouse Group, Highgate Hotels, Fairmont, and Auberge Resorts, among many others, make up the growing customer base. The platform seamlessly helps these businesses curate and offer immersive experiences, local events, and brand activations such as Auberge Resorts Madeline Hotel & Residences ' Day of Adventure in Moab, which includes a private flight over the Arches and Canyonlands National Park, guided whitewater rafting trip, and a chef-prepared picnic.

"Hotels are increasingly expected to go beyond providing a place to stay or dine, and to become true providers of experiences. We've always had some programming for guests and locals, but as we aspired to do more, the breadth of systems and staff resources required made delivering these experiences a challenge," said Steve Shern, General Manager at Kimpton Cottonwood, an InterContinental Hotels Group property. "Way was the one-of-a-kind solution we had been seeking for years. It's an incredibly easy to use tool to manage, market, and book our experiences all in one centralized, on-brand platform. Way has further helped to streamline operations and payments, while providing robust analytics as we continue to drive revenue and brand loyalty through experiences now in a turnkey fashion."

Within just 7 days of launching on Way, Kimpton Cottonwood generated thousands of dollars in revenue from experiences like its Hunter's Harvest Dinner , Pool Club Programming, and High Tea Offerings.

As Way pioneers the category of brand activation in hospitality, the company will set its sights on expansion into other adjacent consumer-facing sectors. "Hotel guests are increasingly demanding new and unique experiences, and Way's platform empowers hotels to meet this need and drive additional revenue from experiences on property and in the local destinations" said Nate Lippincott, an Investor at Tiger Global. "We're thrilled to back this talented team as they expand globally and enter adjacent categories, including retail and media where brand enhancing experiences are a key pillar of how consumers connect with businesses."

Alongside the funding, Way has added several key hires, including Matthias Berahya-Lazarus, as Managing Director for France, where the company opened its European outpost in May of 2022. Riley Graham, formerly of Blackstone Real Estate, also joins Way as VP of Strategy & Operations, and Jacquelyn DeBonville Styles as Head of Customer Success. The new team will focus on supporting Way's growing network of customers and development of go-to-market plans as Way continues to lead the introduction of brand activation technology to companies across the globe.

About Way

Founded in May of 2020, Way is a venture-backed technology company that offers a centralized software platform to manage the brand activations that make guest experiences incredible. With its global headquarters in Austin, Texas and European headquarters in Paris, France, the company closed a $20 million Series A in just 18 months while supporting hundreds of hotels throughout the world. Leading brands, independent hotels, and management companies like Highgate Hotels, The Little Nell, Auberge Resorts, AutoCamp, Fairmont, and countless others leverage Way to drive revenue and build brand loyalty through activations and experiences.

For more information about Way, please visit www.way.co or contact [email protected] .

SOURCE Way
BENTON HARBOR, Mich., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) today announced the completion of its acquisition of InSinkErator, the world's largest manufacturer of food waste disposers and instant hot water dispensers for home and commercial use, from Emerson. (NYSE: EMR).

"On behalf of everyone at Whirlpool, I am excited to welcome the InSinkErator team, as we continue to execute on our vision of improving life at home," said Marc Bitzer, Chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation. "This acquisition advances the Company's ongoing portfolio transformation and aligns with our long-term value creation goals."

Whirlpool expects to generate revenue upside by capitalizing on InSinkErator's leading consumer brand preference, an installed base that is five times larger than the rest of the industry driving a recurring sales profile, and the expansion of the InSinkErator brand into new markets and product offerings. As previously stated, the acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to Whirlpool Corporation's margins, adding approximately $1.25 EPS accretion in fiscal 2023. Whirlpool Corporation's 2022 guidance is unchanged. InSinkErator will operate as a separate business as part of Whirlpool Corporation's North America Region and maintain its headquarters in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, and its manufacturing operations in Racine, Wisconsin.

"Our team is excited about the future ahead with Whirlpool Corporation, and we see how perfectly InSinkErator fits within the company's portfolio of brands," said Joe Dillon, President of InSinkErator. "We look forward to working hand in hand to bring consumers the best kitchen experience in the world."

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is committed to being the best global kitchen and laundry company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. In an increasingly digital world, the company is driving purposeful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, JennAir, Indesit, Yummly and InSinkErator. In 2021, the company reported approximately $22 billion in annual sales, 69,000 employees and 54 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

About InSinkErator

Headquartered in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, InSinkErator is the world's largest manufacturer of food waste disposers and instant hot water dispensers for home and commercial use. For over 80 years, the company has delivered long-lasting innovative products, with superior grind and sound performance, trouble-free operation, fast, easy installation, and a We Come To You In-Home Limited Warranty. InSinkErator has established an international presence that reaches nearly 80 countries, with subsidiaries in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Whirlpool Additional Information

This document contains forward-looking statements about Whirlpool Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries ("Whirlpool") within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Whirlpool intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with those safe harbor provisions. Any statements made in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our future financial results, acquisition-related earnings accretion, revenue generation, long-term value creation and strategic goals, and portfolio transformation are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such. Such statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "may," "could," "will," "should," "possible," "plan," "predict," "forecast," "potential," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "may impact," "on track," and similar words or expressions. Many risks, contingencies and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from Whirlpool Corporation's forward-looking statements, including the risk that we may not realize the synergies and financial benefits from the transaction. Additional information concerning other factors can be found in Whirlpool Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K. These cautionary statements should not be construed by you to be exhaustive and the forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation
Special offer for past and present military members available on Friday, Nov. 11

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- White Castle, the well-known fast-food and consumer packaged-goods company, is celebrating Veterans Day by offering a free Combo Meal or Breakfast Combo Meal to all veterans and active-duty service members who dine at a participating White Castle restaurant. The special offer is valid on Friday, Nov. 11.

White Castle will offer free combo meals to veterans and active-duty military members on Veterans Day. Tweet this White Castle has a special Slider box available only on Veterans Day. The fast-food icon will be offering complimentary combo meals to veterans and active-duty military members on Veterans Day.

"We're so grateful to the men and women who have served and are serving in the U.S. armed forces. They have our deepest respect and gratitude," said Jamie Richardson, vice president at White Castle. "It's our privilege to honor them on this special day with a complimentary meal. It's a small but genuine way to thank them for serving our country."

This Veteran's Day, White Castle will be serving its sliders in specially designed patriotic packaging. The front of the slider box features red and white stripes beneath the White Castle logo. The side of the box features 50 white stars on a navy-blue background.

Veterans and those on active duty are encouraged to visit their local White Castle to receive this offer in recognition of their service. No purchase is necessary, but veterans and active duty personnel are requested to show a military ID.

For more information, visit www.whitecastle.com.

About White Castle

White Castle, America's first fast-food hamburger chain, has been making hot and tasty Sliders since 1921. Based in Columbus, Ohio, the family-owned business owns and operates more than 350 restaurants as well as a retail division providing its famous fare in freezer aisles of retail stores nationwide. As part of its commitment to offering the highest quality products, White Castle owns and operates its own Slider Provider meat plants, bakeries and frozen-Slider retail plants. White Castle has earned numerous accolades over the years including Time magazine's "Most Influential Burger of All Time" (2014, The Original Slider) and Thrillist's "Best Plant-Based Fast-Food Burger" (2019, Impossible Slider). In 2021, Fast Company named the fast-food pioneer one of the "10 Most Innovative Dining Companies." White Castle, which earned the Great Place to Work Certification in 2021 and 2022, is known for the legendary engagement of its team members, more than 1 in 4 of whom have worked for the business for at least 10 years. White Castle is beloved by its passionate fans ("Cravers"), many of whom compete each year for entry into the Cravers Hall of Fame. The official White Castle app makes it easy for Cravers to sign up for the Craver Nation loyalty program, access sweet deals and place pickup orders at any time. They can also have their orders delivered using one of White Castle's delivery partners. For more information on White Castle, visit whitecastle.com.

SOURCE White Castle
Roundup highlights B2B partners that support startups across all business functions and empower growth

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- XOi Technologies , a leading provider of technician-focused technology solutions, has been named to Inc. Business Media's inaugural Power Partner Awards honoring B2B organizations across the globe that have proven track records supporting entrepreneurs and helping startups grow. The list recognizes 252 firms in marketing and advertising, health and human resources, financial planning, engineering, logistics, and security, as well as other areas of business.

XOi's advanced cloud-based solution allows field service technicians to utilize, aggregate and analyze critical job data and maximize customer value through industry-leading efficiency, accuracy and accountability.

All 252 Power Partners companies received top marks from clients for being instrumental in helping leadership navigate the dynamic world of startups. These B2B partners support entrepreneurs across various facets of the business, including hiring, compliance, infrastructure development, cloud migration, fundraising, etc., allowing founders to focus on their core missions.

"Trusted B2B partners provide guidance and expertise that founders rely on at various steps of their organization's journey," said Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. Business Media. "Partners that possess a demonstrated ability to deliver quality support are at the core of entrepreneurship and help bring big ideas to life."

With XOi's full suite of standardized workflows, job documentation capabilities, and technician training and enablement solutions, teams can build deep and easily accessible institutional knowledge bases that support real-time decision-making and data-based continuity. Service teams can apply these extensive data-science capabilities to analyze those foundational elements and strategically respond to evolving data trends and forecasts.

"At XOi, we're investing in technology solutions that are designed to meet the real-world challenges field service technicians face on the job every day," said Aaron Salow, CEO and founder of XOi. "Our unique platform empowers techs through each stage of a project, from the time they set foot on the site through completion, with powerful data indexing and analytics. By focusing on the real experience of techs in the field, we're helping business owners enhance operations and productivity in an industry that's rapidly changing and experiencing unprecedented uncertainty."

For more information about XOi, visit https://xoi.io .

Inc. partnered with leading global social and media intelligence platform Meltwater to develop a proprietary methodology that uses sentiment from online conversations about organizations and translates it into numerical scores. Companies were evaluated on commitment, reliability, trust, creativity, supportiveness, and other virtues that offer value to clients. Inc. also conducted surveys to gather client testimonials as part of the process.

To view the complete list, go to https://www.inc.com/power-partner-awards/2022 .

The November 2022 Issue of Inc. magazine is available online now at https://www.inc.com/magazine and will be on newsstands beginning Nov. 8.

About Inc. Business Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community they need to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com .

About XOi Technologies

XOi Technologies, the leading provider of technician-first smart technology for commercial and residential field service companies, delivers innovative artificial intelligence-based solutions that empower field service teams to drive productivity, elevate customer experience and help close the skilled labor gap. Developed to meet the unique challenges of an industry traditionally underserved by technology, XOi equips field service professionals with groundbreaking technician-enablement tools, including remote support, visual documentation, immediate on-the-job insights and training resources, asset and team management functions, and a comprehensive knowledge base leveraging data from current and historical projects. With a proven record of innovation and demonstrated commitment to the hard-working men and women in the field service industries, XOi has distinguished itself as a pioneer in technician-focused solutions that bring efficiency, transparency, and expertise to every jobsite. For more information about XOi, visit https://xoi.io .

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

(865) 977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE XOi Technologies
United Nations, Nov 1 : The UN looks forward to welcoming Russia back in the fulfilment of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which Moscow has halted following an attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet, UN relief chief said.

"We are encouraged by Russia's assurance that it is not pulling out of the initiative and it is only temporarily suspending activities in the implementation," Martin Griffiths, UN UnderSecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, told a Security Council briefing on Monday.

Russia announced on Saturday that it would immediately and indefinitely suspend its implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, accusing Ukraine of launching drone attacks against the Russian Black Sea Fleet's ships and infrastructure under the cover of the humanitarian corridor set up for the implementation of the initiative.

On July 22, Russia and Ukraine separately signed a document in Istanbul with Turkey and the UN on grain and fertiliser exports from Ukraine and Russia to ensure supplies to global markets amid the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict, Xinhua news agency reported.

Thirty-eight countries have purchased nearly nine million ton of grain from Ukraine under the deal, which has a humanitarian impact on the reduction of prices and the calming of market volatility, Griffiths said.

It would be a grave abuse of the initiative if it were used in any way for military operational advantage, he noted.

On the alleged misuse of cargo vessels in the initiative for military purposes, Griffiths said that none were in the corridor on the night of October 29 when the reported attacks on the Russian fleet took place.

As part of the deal, a Joint Coordination Center (JCC) was established in Istanbul with representatives from the UN, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey to carry out safety inspections for cargo ships from and to the Ukrainian ports.

Russia has deployed a highly professional team at the JCC for the implementation of the deal, Griffiths said, adding that "we look forward to welcoming them back as a full and active participant in the fulfilment of the initiative".

The initial duration of the agreement is 120 days. The parties had agreed that the deal could be extended automatically on the condition that no party objects.

The UN is ready to address concerns and listen to suggestions from all sides, as the 120-day extension point on November 19 is approaching, said Griffiths.

"The Black Sea Grain Initiative is too important to fail, stormy though the waters are," he added.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Jerusalem, Nov 1 : Israeli Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Bahrain's Commerce and Industry Minister Zayed R. Alzayani have discussed ways to strengthen economic ties between the two countries.

In a meeting in Jerusalem with the Bahraini Minister, Lieberman highlighted the economic potential in the region and talked about the possibility of building a terrestrial connection from Israel to the Gulf, the Israeli Finance Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

For his part, Alzayani stressed the importance of the economic ties between the two countries, urging the two sides to increase bilateral investments and trade, Xinhua news agency reported.

Leading a large Bahraini delegation, Alzayani is currently in Israel on a five-day business mission, during which he also held meetings with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Economy Minister Orna Barbivay.
Tehran, Nov 1 : Iranian Foreign Ministry has announced that Tehran has imposed sanctions against 10 US individuals and four institutions for violating human rights, interfering in Iran's internal affairs, and inciting violence and riots in Iran.

In a statement published on its website, the Foreign Ministry on Monday said the sanctions have been imposed based on a law adopted by the Iranian authorities to counter US human rights violations as well as its "adventurist and terrorist moves in the region".

The US individuals on the list include Commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) Michael Kurilla, CENTCOM's Deputy Commander Gregory Guillot, US Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo, and others.

The list of the sanctioned institutions comprises an advocacy organisation United Against Nuclear Iran, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Ninth Air Force, and the National Guard of the US, Xinhua news agency reported.

The sanctions will prohibit the targeted individuals from obtaining visas and entering Iran and will freeze their assets and bank accounts inside Iran.
Badaun : , Nov 1 (IANS) The Samajwadi Party (SP) has launched a blistering attack on the Yogi Adityanath government on the law and order issue, following a triple murder in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun.

Former SP MP Dharmendra Yadav said that the murder of former SP Block Chief Rakesh Gupta, his wife and mother on Monday evening was an example of the prevailing situation in the state.

He demanded immediate arrest of the accused and action against the guilty.

Three persons -- Rakesh Gupta, his wife and mother -- were shot dead in their house late Monday evening by unidentified assailants.

The incident took place in Sathra village within the Ushait police circle.

According to reports, the accused forcefully barged into the house and opened indiscriminate firing at all the family members present in the house.

The gunmen fled the spot after committing three murders.

Later, police arrived and started their investigation. After getting the information about the incident, Senior Superintendent of Police O.P. Singh rushed to the spot along with the forensic experts.

Gupta was an influential SP leader and was the party's block chief earlier.

He was currently a Zila Panchayat member and well-known person in the area.

An eyewitness said that there are two gates in the house and the accused entered from the main gate and after killing everyone in the house, they left from the other gate.

Fear gripped the entire village after the incident and heavy police personnel have been deployed in the area.

Multiple teams have been deployed to find the accused.

Superintendent of Police, Amit Kishore Srivastava said, "Rakesh Gupta, his wife Sharda and mother Shanti Devi were shot dead inside their house. The bodies have been sent for autopsy and efforts are on to nab the accused."
New York, Nov 1 : The jury in the criminal trial against the Trump Organisation started to hear opening statements on a 15-year tax fraud scheme from the plaintiff and the defendant in the Supreme Court of the northeastern US state of New York.

The Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corp., two entities under the Trump Organisation, offered $1.76 million of perks to Allen H. Weisselberg, former Chief Financial Officer of the Trump Organisation, without paying taxes, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

While prosecutors tried to convict the Trump Organisation on its conspiracy role in the case, lawyers from the Trump Organisation said that Weisselberg was the man to be blamed but not his then employer, the Trump Organisation.

The trial is expected to last over a month and the Trump Organisation could be penalised if it's found guilty, Xinhua news agency reported.

The former Chief Financial Officer of Trump Organisation received a rent-free apartment, expensive cars, private school tuition for his grandchildren and new furniture from 2005 to 2018 while avoiding paying taxes, said an earlier statement from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

In August, Weisselberg himself pleaded guilty to all 15 charges in the tax fraud and agreed to testify in the trial against the Trump Organisation.

He would receive a sentence of five months in jail and five years' probation if he testifies truthfully in the trial against the Trump Organisation.

Former US President Donald J. Trump was not indicted in the trial, and he is not expected to testify.

Trump and his children, nevertheless, were sued in another case brought up by New York Attorney General Letitia James over the alleged practice of altering asset values to obtain better loan and insurance rates.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The Ukraine-Russia war has put a strain on global supply chains and while transportation of various commodities have been severely impacted, India's paper imports were hit to such an extent that there is a two-month waiting period for overseas shipments.

According to industry sources, there has been a 42.8 per cent increase in price of paper due to delay in supplies.

Lockdowns in China have also compounded the problem further, they added.

Before the war in Ukraine began in February, the price of paper was Rs 70,000 per tonne, which has now gone up to Rs 1,00,000 per tonne, an industry representative said.

India mainly depends on imported raw material for making paper.

Whether it is newsprint which is used for printing newspapers or map litho paper which is needed for printing books, the pulp strands needed for making paper pulp are sourced from China and several European nations.

Orders for both kinds of paper have been hit ever since the geopolitical tensions began, a production executive of a reputed publishing firm said.

As of now there is a delay of around two months in paper supplies from abroad, which has led to a rise in production costs and also in the cost of raw materials, he informed.

Paper orders placed for October are expected only by December this year, the official informed.

Due to the delays in paper supplies, publishers are not able to fix the prices of books, he added. This demand and supply gap is expected to rise further once the new academic season sets in early next year and the demand for books goes up.

As raw material is sourced from China and Europe, the paucity of containers due to the Ukraine crisis has mainly led to paper supply constraints, industry sources informed.

Shortage of containers which are needed for supplies are not easily available due to the ongoing disruptions in Europe.

Though paper is produced in India, it is the specialised pulp strand sourced from abroad, on which its manufacturing is dependent, sources said.

So with dependency on domestically produced paper being less and imports getting costlier, the country is likely to face paper shortage crisis for some more time, as sources said that shipments may remain impacted till March 2023, even as the Ukraine war continued to rage on.

Moreover lockdowns in China, a major supplier of map litho paper, has seen paper mills shutting down there, industry representatives said, which too has led to supply gaps.

(Animesh Singh can be reached at animesh.s@ians.in)

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
London, Nov 1 : Indian-origin Suella Braverman, already under fire over her re-appointment as the UK Home Secretary, has sparked off another outrage by comparing migrant crisis in the country to "invasion".

Braverman, who was forced to resign from her position under former Prime Minister Liz Truss for breaching the ministerial code of conduct, said on Monday that migrants have launched an "invasion on our southern coast".

"Let's stop pretending that they are all refugees in distress," she said while responding to questions in the House of Commons amid concerns about conditions at the Manston processing site in Kent.

Manston, a former military base in Kent, opened as a processing centre in February this year, for the growing number of migrants reaching the UK in small boats.

Addressing the MPs for the first time since her re-appointment last week, the Home Secretary said some 40,000 people have arrived on the south coast in 2022 with many of them members of criminal gangs.

"Disgusted to hear Suella Braverman say there's an 'invasion on our southern coast'. Language like this whips up hate and spreads division," the Daily Mirror quoted Labour MP Zarah Sultana as saying.

"For Suella Braverman to use language like 'invasion', to describe refugees. people who are themselves escaping conflict. is offensive. They know what being invaded feels like. We are lucky that most of us do not," Clare Moseley, from refugee charity Care4Calais, told The Evening Standard.

Braverman, who admitted to using her personal email six times for official documents, made the remarks days after fellow Indian-origin Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that "compassion" would be at the heart of his administration.

"Rishi Sunak pledged to bring integrity, professionalism and accountability as Prime Minister. Instead, he brought back Suella Braverman," local media reports quoted Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the Labour Party, as saying.

After questions on asylum centres Abeing overcrowded, disease-ridden and dangerous, Braverman admitted that "the system is broken" and "Illegal migration is out of control".

She also denied blocking the use of hotels for asylum seekers, which put Apressure on the Manston processing centre designed for 1,600 people "Indeed since I took over 12,000 people have arrived, 9,500 people have been transferred out of Manston or Western Jet Foil, many of them into hotels," Braverman said.
Seoul, Nov 1 : North Korea on Tuesday warned that it could stage "more powerful follow-up measures" if the US continues "military provocations", citing its large-scale combined air exercise with South Korea.

A spokesman at the North's Foreign Ministry denounced the ongoing combined air drills by the allies, called Vigilant Storm, as "ceaseless and reckless" military provocations, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The exercise is "a war drill for aggression mainly aimed at striking the strategic targets of the DPRK in case of contingency in the Korean Peninsula", the spokesman said in a statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

DPRK is the acronym of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The allies on Monday kicked off their first massive joint air drills in nearly five years, with more than 240 aircraft, including stealth jets, mobilised, over the skies of the peninsula amid growing speculation that Pyongyang may conduct a nuclear test soon. The exercise is to run through Friday.

The North's official warned that Pyongyang is "ready to take all necessary measures for defending its sovereignty, people's security and territorial integrity from outside military threats".

"If the US continuously persists in the grave military provocations, the DPRK will take into account more powerful follow-up measures," the spokesman said.

North Korea has long denounced joint military drills between Seoul and Washington as a rehearsal for invasion, calling on Washington to end its "hostile" policy.

The allies stress that the exercises are defensive in nature.

The five-day combined air drills came after a series of provocations by Pyongyang in recent weeks, including its firing of two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on October 28 and the latest launches of artillery shells.
Kanpur, Nov 1 : Madrasas in Uttar Pradesh that follow the syllabus of Darul Uloom of Deoband, will now initiate changes to make it similar to the one followed in recognised madrasas.

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind general secretary, Hafiz Quddus Hadi, who is also Shahar Qazi, Kanpur, said those managing the unrecognised madrasas are being asked to plan high school education for the students.

The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind is an organisation of Islamic clerics.

The seminaries imparting only religious education have also been asked to include subjects like maths, English, computers, Hindi, and others in the curriculum.

"We are working on bringing a change in syllabus. A meeting of committee managing the seminaries will be convened soon," he said.

The seminaries recognised by the Madrasa Education Council are already teaching different subjects to their students unlike the unrecognised ones.

The recognised seminaries have implemented NCERT syllabus where seven subjects are compulsory for students.

On the other hand, unrecognised madrasas are restricted to religious teachings with syllabus of Darul Uloom Deoband and Bareilly Shareef.

Recently, the state government conducted a survey of private, unaided and unrecognised madrasas across Uttar Pradesh.

The exercise, which started on September 10, concluded on October 20.

The survey teams collected details on earnings, expenditure and subjects being taught there and nine other points.

Darul Uloom Deoband had supported the survey asking the madrasa managers to share all details of funds while maintaining high level of transparency.
Lucknow, Nov 1 : The Samajwadi Party (SP) has started the process of collecting evidence regarding the alleged deletion of voters' names in the recent Assembly elections.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked SP president Akhilesh Yadav to "submit documentary proof" to substantiate his allegation about the deletion of voter names in 2022 UP Assembly polls.

The SP president has now asked all the party candidates (winners and losers) and district units' top office-bearers to gather evidence of names that were 'wrongfully struck off voters' lists'.

They have been directed to compile photocopies of complaints made to returning officers at the time.

The party has set November 3 as the deadline for the candidates to submit the documents to the party headquarters so that they could be sent to the Election Commission in time.

A letter to this effect has been sent to all by SP state president Naresh Uttam Patel.

Patel's letter also asks to collect affidavits from such voters whose names were wrongfully struck off the voters' lists.

It may be recalled that on October 27, the EC had asked Akhilesh Yadav to submit proof to back up his charges by November 10.

Akhilesh hit back at the poll panel on October 28 and said, "Had the Election Commission itself followed the rules related to the voters' list in the 2022 UP Assembly polls, then thousands of voters would not have been deprived of their vote." Last month, the SP chief had alleged that the names of 20,000 voters from the Yadav and Muslim communities had been deleted from almost all 403 Assembly constituencies ahead of the state elections in February-March.
Islamabad, Nov 1 : Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a financial support package for farmers to boost the agriculture sector of the country as well as provide a helping hand to the ones in the flood-affected areas.

Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad on Monday, the Prime Minister said that the government would provide loans of 1.8 trillion PKR ($8.1 billion) to farmers this year, four times more than in 2021, reports Xinhua news agency.

Sharif added that the package would help farmers stand on their own feet following the cataclysmic floods in the country, which devastated crops on hundreds of thousands of acres of farmlands and perished over 1 million livestock animals.

According to the package, the government would provide loans at concessional rates to small farmers in flood-affected areas as well as to young villagers who are willing to become professional farmers.

The package also includes reducing the price of fertilizer, conversion of 300,000 tube wells to solar energy, provision of loans to small and medium enterprises in the agriculture sector, and duty concession to new tractor manufacturers who will invest in the country.
Beirut, Nov 1 : Lebanon has received its first batch of cholera vaccines as part of the international effort to help curb the spread of the life-threatening disease in the country amid an ongoing outbreak, Health Minister Firas Abiad announced.

The 13,440 doses of Sanofi-produced vaccines, supported by the French government, would "play a key role in limiting the spread of cholera", Xinhua news agency quoted Abiad as saying to reporters on Monday.

The batch will be administered to frontline health workers across Lebanon, said French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo, adding her country will support Lebanon's effort with the World Health Organization (WHO) to get more doses in November.

Lebanon has so far tallied 388 cholera cases, including 17 deaths.

The country reported on October 6 the first two lab-confirmed cases in the northern part of the country, representing its first cholera outbreak since 1993.

The World Health Organization (WHO), which recommends the use of cholera vaccines in line with other preventive measures such as the supply of clean water and sanitation, said earlier this month that the strained global supply of jabs prompted it to reduce the standard two-dose provision to one dose.

Monday's development comes a day after Abiad had warned that cholera could become "endemic" in the country if it failed to curb the spread of the disease.

He however, said the "epidemic is still in its infancy and can be stopped".

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated, and the supply of safe water and sanitation is critical to the prevention and control of its transmission, according to the WHO.
Moscow, Nov 1 : Russia has not withdrawn from the grain export deal with Ukraine but has suspended it, the Defence Ministry in Moscow announced.

Russia has halted traffic along the security corridor in the Black Sea defined by the grain export deal known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative with Ukraine, the Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The Ministry also accused Kiev of launching military attacks via the humanitarian route, reports Xinhua news agency.

"The movement of ships along the security corridor is unacceptable since the Ukrainian leadership and the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces use it to conduct military operations against Russia," the statement said.

"There is no question of guaranteeing the security of any object in the corridor until the Ukrainian side accepts additional obligations not to use this route for military purposes," it said.

The Ministry said the Russian side has conveyed its position to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council, and hopes that the world body will assist in obtaining guarantees from Ukraine "not to use the humanitarian corridor and Ukrainian ports designated for the export of agricultural products for conducting military operations against Russia".

On July 22, Russia and Ukraine separately signed a document in Istanbul with Turkey and the UN on grain and fertilizer exports from the two warring nations to ensure supplies to global markets amid Moscow's ongoing invasion of Kiev.

On October 29, Russia announced the decision to immediately and indefinitely suspend its implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, accusing Ukraine of launching drone attacks against the Russian Black Sea Fleet's ships and infrastructure at the naval base in Sevastopol.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Hit hard by over Rs 2,273 crore fine by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), Google on Tuesday said it has paused the enforcement of the requirement for developers to comply with the Google Play's billing system in the country.

Developers in India were given an additional extension until October 31, 2022 to comply due to unique circumstances with the payments landscape in the country.

"Following the CCI's recent ruling, we are pausing enforcement of the requirement for developers to use Google Play's billing system for the purchase of digital goods and services for transactions by users in India while we review our legal options and ensure we can continue to invest in Android and Play," the company said in an update.

"The requirement to use Google Play's billing system applies for in-app digital content purchases for users outside of India," it added.

The Indian regulator late last month slapped its second penalty on Google to the tune of around $113 million (Rs 936 crore) for abusing its dominant position with respect to its Play Store policies.

Earlier, the competition watchdog had imposed a penalty of Rs 1,337.76 crore on Google for abusing its dominant position in multiple markets in the Android mobile device ecosystem.

Google has said that it is committed to its users and developers and was reviewing the CCI's decision to evaluate the next steps.

"We remain committed to our users and developers and are reviewing the decision to evaluate the next steps," a Google spokesperson had said in a statement.

The regulator found Google to be dominant in the markets for licensable OS for smart mobile devices and market for app stores for Android smart mobile OS, in India.

India is Google's largest market by users.

The tech giant has been given a time of 30 days to provide the requisite financial details and supporting documents.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea on November 14 seeking the constitution of a judicial commission to investigate the Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat, The plea was mentioned by advocate Vishal Tiwari before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India U.U. Lalit.

The Chief Justice told the advocate, "You are very quick. What are your prayers". The lawyer replied that he was seeking a judicial enquiry commission and pointed out that there were several old structures in many states. After hearing brief submissions, the top court agreed to examine the plea on November 14.

The Morbi bridge collapsed on October 30 resulting in 141 deaths.

The plea said the incident showed the negligence and utter failure of the government authorities. It further added that in the past decade various incidents have taken place in the country due to the mismanagement, lapse in duty, and negligent maintenance activities.

The 141-year-old suspension bridge over the Machchhu River collapsed after it was reopened just last week following repairs and maintenance by a private operator.

The plea contended that at the time of collapse, the bridge had several hundred people on it which was over the permissible limit and no fitness certificate was taken by the private operator before reopening the bridge.

The plea said this was an utter dreadful act of violation of human rights that is the breach of right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution and urged the top court to issue directions to all states to form committees to conduct risk assessment of all old and risky monuments, bridges, etc.
Washington, Nov 1 : Covid-19 cases caused by new variants are growing fast in the US, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to the latest CDC data published on Monday, two new variants, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, have been growing especially fast, reports Xinhua news agency.

At the beginning of October, each one accounted for about 1 per cent of new infections in the US, but they have been roughly doubling in prevalence each week, the health body said.

The data further revealed that BQ.1 led to about 14 per cent of new infections in the country in the week ending October 29, while BQ.1.1 caused 13.1 per cent of the fresh cases.

Together, the two variants accounted for more than one in four new infections nationwide, CDC data showed.

BA.5, which has dominated Covid-19 infections in the US since July, now accounted for 49.6 per cent of new cases in the country.

A host of new sublineages -- offshoots of BA.2, BA.4 and BA.5 -- are now responsible for the majority of new cases.

These variants are slightly different from each other, but they all carry some of the same key mutations that help them skirt immunity from vaccines and past infections. This makes them more likely to lead to breakthrough infections and reinfections, according to experts.

"BQ is actually a BA.5 variant," Dr. Andrew Pekosz, a virologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, recently told Health.

"Here in the US, all the variants that are circling -- BQ.1.1, I guess, is the biggest or the most talked about one now -- they're all derived from either the BA.5 or the BA.4 variants. They've picked up a few mutations that help them evade some of the infection or vaccine-induced immunity." Another variant, XBB, is also a variant of Omicron and has been dubbed the "nightmare variant" in Singapore. It is extremely immune evasive and has also shown that it might be immune to current vaccines.

The World Health Organization (WHO) SARS-CoV-2 virus evolution advisory group said last week that XBB and BQ.1 do not currently diverge sufficiently from each other or from other Omicron lineages that have extra immune escape mutations to warrant a variant of concern designation or a new label.

"The two sublineages remain part of Omicron, which continues to be a variant of concern," the WHO group said.

Health experts are concerned emerging Omicron subvariants would make some existing protections ineffective for the public, especially the immunocompromised people.

"We're in a very challenging phase," said Syra Madad, an epidemiologist who helps oversee pandemic response for New York City Health and Hospitals, the nation's largest municipal health-care system.

"Barely anybody is masking. We have very low vaccination rates for the updated boosters, as well as generally waning immunity. And to top it all off, we have these highly immune-evasive subvariants that are circulating," Madad told The Washington Post on Monday.

The Covid-19 vaccination rate in the US lags that of many other high-income countries.

Less that half of the total booster-eligible population in the US has received a booster dose, according to CDC data.

Experts are urging the public to get booster shots to prevent from severe illnesses.

As of Tuesday, the country's overall Covid caseload and death toll stood at 99,374,721 and 1,095,315, respectively.

The two tallies are the highest in the world.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Jaipur, Nov 1 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to pay homage to 1,500 tribals, who were martyred 109 years ago in Mangarh Dham, during his Rajasthan visit on Tuesday.

Thereafter, he will address a large public gathering to be attended by around 1 lakh people.

During his 'Mann ki Baat' programme on Sunday, the Prime Minister had spoken on the significance of Mangarh Dham.

"Tribal society is the protector of nature and the tribal community serves Mother Earth. Everyone should learn the work of environmental protection from them," he had said. He also mentioned the incident of 1500 tribals being killed by British rule in Mangarh in 1913.

On Tuesday, he is expected to declare this 'dham' as a national monument while addressing a massive crowd in Mangarh Dham.

Along with Modi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan will also be present in the Mangarh Dham event.

BJP is also one of the main organisers of this event.

The event will affect around 99 Assembly seats (tribal majority) of these three states. Mangarh is a place where the borders of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan meet. The tribals of these states are revered by the people here.

Ahead of Modi's visit, Chief Minister Gehlot started talking about declaring Mangarh as a national monument. He has written two letters to the Prime Minister recently in this regard.

Located in Banswara district, Mangarh Dham is built on a hill. While one part of the hill falls under Gujarat, another is included in Rajasthan. In this hilly region, a tribal leader named Govind Guru had participated in the freedom movement against British rule.

In 1913, the British government surrounded him and his tribal companions on this dham and massacred 1500 tribals.

Mangarh Dham is built in his memory.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Twitter banned 52,141 accounts in India for promoting child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity and allied content between August 26 and September 25.

The micro-blogging platform, now owned by Elon Musk, also took down 1,982 accounts for promoting terrorism on its platform in the country.

Twitter, in its monthly report in compliance with the new IT Rules, 2021, said that it received 157 complaints from users in India in the same time-frame through its grievance redressal mechanisms, and took action on 129 of those URLS.

"In addition, we processed 43 grievances which were appealing Twitter account suspensions. These were all resolved and the appropriate responses were sent," said Twitter.

"We overturned none of these account suspensions after reviewing the specifics of the situation. All accounts remain suspended. We also received 12 requests related to general questions about Twitter accounts during this reporting period," it added.

Last month, Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal had said the replies received from Twitter in the child pornography complaints were incomplete and the Commission was not satisfied with them.

Maliwal had on September 20 summoned Twitter India Policy Head and Delhi Police over tweets depicting child pornography and rape videos of women and children on the micro-blogging platform.

Taking suo moto cognisance of several tweets openly depicting videos and photographs of sexual acts involving children, the Commission said that most of the tweets portrayed children completely naked and many of them also depicted brutal rape and other non-consensual sexual activities with children and women.

The company said it "does not tolerate any material that features or promotes child sexual exploitation -- whether in Direct Messages or elsewhere throughout the service".

Musk has also expressed grave concerns over reports about the presence of tweets soliciting child pornography on Twitter.

Under the new IT Rules 2021, big digital and social media platforms, with more than 5 million users, have to publish monthly compliance reports.
San Francisco, Nov 1 : Two more senior Apple executives are reportedly moving on amid some high-profile exits from the company in the recent past.

Anna Matthiasson, Vice president of online retail, and Chief Information Officer Mary Demby are leaving the company, reports Bloomberg.

Both women executives held key roles at Apple. While Matthiasson was in charge of Apple's online store, Demby managed the technology that ran that store, as well as Apple's services and manufacturing.

According to the report, Karen Rasmussen will now be in charge of online retail but there is still no clarity who will replace Demby.

Apple didn't comment on the report.

Last month, reports surfaced that Evans Hankey, vice president of industrial design at Apple who had replaced the iconic designer Jony Ive at the company, was moving on.

Hankey will remain in the post for the next six months during the transition period.

Hankey's counterpart in software, Alan Dye, was staying with Apple.

Apple was yet to announce who will be its new design head.

The tech giant also fired Tony Blevins, vice president of procurement, last month over his vulgar remarks in a TikTok video, although it is a different situation from the other departures.

The employees informed Apple's human resources division about the TikTok video, and that division immediately launched an investigation.

Additionally, the video was shared with Apple's staff and some of its significant suppliers.
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 1 : A day after the Kerala government raised the retirement age of state PSU employees to 60, the Youth Congress on Tuesday slammed the decision dubbing it "anti-youth".

They also took a strong exception to the manner in which the national president of the DYFI- A.A.Rahim, responded on being questioned about the decision saying the Kerala unit will respond to it.

It came as shocker as DYFI was known to hit the streets at the drop of a hat, when the CPI-M was in opposition.

Youth Congress president Shafi Parambil, a three-time Congress legislator, said DYFI is just a PR agency of the Vijayan government.

"The Youth Congress will not allow the Vijayan government to raise the retirement age to 60. This is an anti-Youth decision and we will be launching a massive protest against this decision, as the dreams and hopes and aspirations of the youth in the state will be dashed if the retirement age is raised," said Parambil.

There are over 100 State PSU's engaging around 1.50 lakh workers.

Notably, the retirement age of various PSUs in the state varies from 56 to 58 and the fresh order was issued based on the recommendations of an expert committee, which conducted a comprehensive study on the formulation of a common framework for pay/wage structure of PSUs in the state except Kerala State Electricity Board, Kerala State Road Transport Corporation and Kerala Water Authority.

The expert committee had recommended that the retirement age of employees of all state PSUs shall be enhanced uniformly to 60 as in the case of central PSUs.

What has come as a shocker for many is the response of Rahim -- a familiar face in most vernacular TV channels -- when he stated that the Kerala unit of the DYFI will respond.

Meanwhile, AIYF- the youth wing of the CPI- the second largest ally in the ruling Vijayan government has come out strongly against this decision to raise the retirement age.

AIYF state secretary T.T.Jismon said this decision is a jolt for the youth in the state.

"We will protest against this decision, as this is going to seriously affect the job aspirations of the youth and we just cannot allow this. This is a policy decision and the Left Democratic Front has to know about this," said Jismon.

Meanwhile, one of the reasons behind the decision is the serious financial crisis the state is going through and some state PSUs like Traco Cables have not been able to pay salaries and retirement benefits to its employees.

Reacting to the development, Leader of Opposition V.D.Satheesan said it is a known fact that when the CPI-M was in the opposition, how much noise they made when anyone in government raised the retirement age issue.

"And now when in power, how slyly they dealt with it and issued an order. They should have initiated a discussion on this crucial issue with the opposition and the youth organisations. This is how CPI-M functions," said Satheesan. This might just be the start as this might be even extended to the state government also, he added.

Incidentally, there are around 4.5 million educated unemployed youths in Kerala and all along, the CPI-M has been strongly opposing the retirement age as Kerala is the only state where the state government employees retire at age 56.
Hyderabad, Nov 1 : The Congress party and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) continued to trade barbs a day after Rahul Gandhi ridiculed Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao's national political ambitions.

TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao on Tuesday took a dig at the Congress MP with the remark that international leader Rahul Gandhi who can't even win his own Parliament seat in Amethi ridiculed KCR, as the Chief Minister is commonly known.

"Wannabe PM should first convince his people to elect him as an MP," tweeted Rama Rao on a day when Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Hyderabad.

At a news conference on Monday, Rahul Gandhi poked fun at KCR with the remark that he is welcomed to even believe that he is running a global party.

When asked about the decision of TRS to enter national politics by changing its name to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the Congress leader had stated that any leader has the right to imagine his party in whatever way he wants.

He went on to day that the Chief Minister is even welcomed to think that he is running an international party that is fighting elections in the US or China.

"If the Chief Minister of Telangana believes that he is running a national party, that is perfectly okay. There is no problem, he can believe it. If he believes that he is running a global party, that is also fine," Rahul Gandhi said.

Congress general Jairam Ramesh fired more salvos on Tuesday and said: "Rahul Gandhi ji has already said that if KCR is dreaming that TRS becomes Global Rashtra Samithi (GRS), we have no problem.

"If he wants to become GRS, let me remind him that in 2007 TRS was stuck in a passport scam. You may remember there was a big passport scam and several TRS leaders were involved in it. I want to remind KTR of the history of TRS." The Congress leader also called KCR the 8th Nizam, saying: "We live in a democracy. Congress is not a party which runs on Nizam Shahi. We know the 8th Nizam is sitting in Hyderabad." The Congress MP slammed the TRS government for the bad condition of roads in Telangana even after eight years of the state's formation.

"Who benefited from the formation of Telangana? This is our question. Dalits, adivasis and backward classes have not benefited. Only one person and one family benefited." The Congress leader also disputed the claim of TRS leaders that they developed Hyderabad in the last eight years.

He claimed that the city developed in the last 30 years especially when Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was the Chief Minister.

He recalled that Hyderabad was the information technology capital before 2014. "Institutions like DRDO, CSIR, ISB, NALSAR and Shamshabad airport all came up before 2014," he said.

Ramesh said the development in Hyderabad happened due to efforts of former Chief Ministers Rajasekhara Reddy, Chandrababu Naidu, Vijayabhaskar Reddy, N.T. Rama Rao.

"The TRS has done nothing. They have inherited a lot," he remarked.
Patna, Nov 1 : On the last day of election campaign for Bihar bypoll, Lalan Singh, the national president of JD(U) on Tuesday claimed that Chirag Paswan was with the BJP in the past and now it has come out into the public domain.

"During the 2020 Assembly election, Chirag Paswan was with the BJP. Now, he is openly campaigning for the BJP which proves our claim," Lalan Singh said, while he was on the way with deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav and JD(U) parliamentary board president Upendra Kushwaha to Mokama for the election campaign.

"Chirag Paswan or BJP can do anything but they will never win the bypoll of Mokama and Gopalganj," Lalan Singh said.

Reacting to Nitish Kumar maintaining distance from the bypoll campaign, Lalan Singh said that Nitish Kumar is injured and it is in the public domain.

"BJP leaders are making hue and cry over Nitish Kumar despite the fact that he has released a video message for the voters of Mokama and Gopalganj. He appealed to the voters of these two constituencies to vote in the favour of the RJD candidates. I want to ask the BJP why Narendra Modi is not coming for the by-election campaign?" Lalan Singh asked.

Chirag Paswan on the other hand went to Gopalganj for the bypoll campaign. He said: "I went to Mokama yesterday (Monday) and there was a huge turnout of voters. We were not relaxed for 7 to 8 hours during the roadshow. Sonam Devi, the BJP candidate is sweeping Mokama." "Nitish Kumar humiliated our leader Ram Vilas Paswan when he was alive and after his demise. The voters of Mokama and Gopalganj will not forget this. They will take appropriate revenge for it. During the 2020 Assembly election when my father was on a ventilator, Nitish Kumar said that he had sent him to the Rajya Sabha only on the basis of two seats of LJP. That was not the appropriate time to give such an insensitive statement. That's the reason why the supporters of Ram Vilas Paswan took revenge and brought JD(U) down to 43 seats in the Bihar Assembly," Paswan said.
Washington, Nov 1 : A US court has blocked a $2.2 billion merger between the world's largest book publisher Penguin Random House and its rival Simon & Schuster.

In a brief order, US District Judge Florence Pan said the deal could "substantially" lessen competition in the publishing industry, the BBC reported.

The US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit to stop the deal last November.

Penguin Random House was formed through the merger of two major publishers from the UK and the US in 2013,.

"The court finds that the United States has shown that the effect of the proposed merger may be substantially to lessen competition in the market for the US publishing rights to anticipated top-selling books," Judge Pan said in her two-page order.

Penguin said in a statement that it would appeal against the decision, calling it "an unfortunate setback for readers and authors", reports the BBC.

Penguin has worked with celebrated authors including Sylvia Plath, George Orwell, Leo Tolstoy and Virginia Woolf.

In more recent times it has published books by Zadie Smith, Marian Keyes and Dan Brown.

Simon & Schuster has published works by Stephen King, Jennifer Weiner and former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

During a trial in August, the US government argued that Penguin and Simon & Schuster combined would control nearly half the market for publishing rights of blockbuster books Penguin's lawyer Daniel Petrocelli said the two publishing houses would deliver "enormous benefits" to readers and authors as they would continue to compete against each other even after merging.

However, best-selling horror writer Stephen King dismissed the claim.

"You might as well say you're going to have a husband and wife bidding against each other for the same house. It's kind of ridiculous," he told the court.

"The proposed merger would have reduced competition, decreased author compensation, diminished the breadth, depth, and diversity of our stories and ideas, and ultimately impoverished our democracy," US Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter said in a statement.

It comes as the US administration steps up its regulation of anti-competitive practises.
Prayagraj : , Nov 1 (IANS) In a bizarre incident, a youth has been arrested for allegedly looting around 60 sacks full of onions from two persons who were carrying the consignment from Jasra mandi to Pratapgarh on October 30.

The Colonelganj police arrested a 24-year-old youth identified as Krishna Kumar Pal a.k.a. Sonu.

The accused was staying in Holland Hall hostel of Allahabad University illegally and also claimed to be a student after being caught by the police.

He has been booked under section 341, 386, 392, 379, 504 and 364 of IPC.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Prayagraj) Shailesh Kumar Pandey said, "On October 30, the victim Sandeep Kumar, approached Colonelganj police and narrated that he along with his co-worker Priyanshu Kushwaha were on their way to Pratapgarh from Jasra vegetable market on a pick-up van to deliver around 60 sacks full of onion consignment (around 34 quintals). When they reached near varsity road, three unidentified car borne miscreants intercepted them and asked to pay Rs one lakh." When the victim and his co-worker expressed their unwillingness to pay the said amount, the miscreants forcibly took both of them into their car, and brought them to Holland Hall hostel and held them captive for hours.

The miscreants also took the onion loaded pick up van to the nearest vegetable market and unloaded it.

The miscreants then returned to the hostel and handed over the pickup van keys to them.

The victims told police that miscreants had also looted Rs 11,500 cash from them. Once they handed over cash, the miscreants released them from the hostel, said the SSP.
Belagavi : , Nov 1 (IANS) The Karnataka Police on Tuesday refused to allow Maharashtra leaders into the state through the border checkposts in Belagavi district.

Leaders from Maharashtra were trying to enter Belagavi district in support of the call given by the Maharashtra Ekikarana Samithi (MES) to observe black day on Karnataka Formation Day, which is celebrated on November 1.

The MES had given special invitations to Shiv Sena leaders from the neighbouring state. Shiv Sena Kolhapur Unit President Vijaya Devane, who tried to enter Belagavi city, was prevented at Shinolli checkpost.

He waited for a long time with his supporters, but due to strict Karnataka Police arrangements they had to return to Maharashtra.

The Supreme Court is taking up the issue of the border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra on November 23. MES had highlighted this development and urged all the Maratha people to take part in observing bandh and take out processions.

The MES had appealed to observe black day against the merger of Belagavi district to Karnataka state. Kannada organisations had pitched in and urged the state government not to allow the black day processions by Maratha organizations.

Taking no chances with the law and order situation, Belagavi city and district was being monitored by three DCP's, 12 ACP's, 52 Police Inspectors and more than 3,000 police personnel.

Nine platoons of City Armed Reserve (CAR), 10 platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), 500 Home Guards are deputed across Belagavi. Eight drone cameras, 35 video cameras and 300 CCTV cameras are installed across the city.
Kathmandu, Nov 1 : India on Tuesday handed over 200 different kinds of vehicles to Nepal for the Himalayan nation's election process.

In the wake of Nepal's federal and provincial elections on November 20, the Kathmandu government had requested New Delhi to provide vehicular support.

In a ceremony organised in Kathmandu, Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, on behalf of the New Delhi government, handed over the 200 vehicles to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma as a "gift for logistical support".

Of the 200, 120 vehicles will be utilised by security forces, while the remaining 80 will be used by the Election Commission of Nepal, the Embassy of India said in a statement.

"These vehicles would prove to be useful in further augmenting the logistical arrangements of various institutions of Nepal across the country for conducting the polls." The Nepalese Finance Minister thanked the Indian government and the people for their continued support in form of a development partnership with Nepal.

Till date, India has provided 2,000 vehicles to Nepal Police and Armed Police Forces, as well as 400 more to the Nepali Army and Election Commission.

"India and Nepal enjoy a multi-faceted and multi-sectoral development partnership that is reflective of the closeness of the people of both countries. The extending of these logistical provisions reflects the continued support of the Government of India for contributing to the development of people-to-people links," the Embassy added.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Giridhar Aramane, a 1988-batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, took charge as the Defence Secretary on Tuesday.

Before taking charge, Aramane laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi and paid homage to the fallen heroes. He saluted the bravehearts who sacrificed their lives while protecting the nation.

"We draw inspiration from these bravehearts and promise to work towards fulfilling their dream of making India a safe and prosperous country," Aramane said during his visit to the National War Memorial.

In his 32 years of experience in IAS, Aramane has held various important portfolios in the Central government as well as Andhra Pradesh government. Prior to his current assignment, Aramane was Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.

Earlier, he was Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat. Apart from Cabinet Secretariat, Aramane looked after the Exploration Division in the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and was Executive Director in-charge of inspections in Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority.

In the Andhra Pradesh government, Aramane had served as the Principal Secretary in Urban Development Department; Managing Director of AP State Finance Corporation and Secretary (Finance Department). He also held the post of the Collector and DM of Chittoor and Khammam districts.

Aramane did B Tech in Civil Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad and M Tech from IIT, Madras. He is MA (Economics) from Kakatiya University, Warangal.
Chennai, Nov 1 : Megastar Chiranjeevi treated new British Deputy High Commissioner Garath Wynn Owen to some traditional Telugu delicacies when the latter called on him to discuss the collaboration between the UK and the thriving Telugu film industry.

Taking to Twitter, Garath Wynn Owen wrote, "Elated to meet Chiranjeevi. We discussed collaboration between the UK and the thriving Tollywood industry.

"Appreciated him for his expansive charity work over the years and during the Covid period. Look forward to continuing the conversation!" Soon after, Chiranjeevi responded in Twitter, "Delighted to meet Gareth Wynn Owen, the new British Dy High Commissioner in town. Exchanged courteous notes on many topics of UK, India and the Telugu states over dinner at my place. Got him to taste some traditional Telugu delicacies,not to forget some spicy Avakaya." The British Deputy High Commissioner responded to this tweet of Chiranjeevi's saying, "Thank you for hosting me in your beautiful home and introducing me to home made steamed dosa and avakaya.

"It was a special evening I will remember for a long time, and I look forward to meeting you at one of your blood donation centres."
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to give citizenship rights to the minority community members hailing from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, living in two districts of the state.

In a notification, the ministry stated that any person belonging to the minority communities in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, namely, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, residing in Anand and Mehsana districts in Gujarat will be given Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955. These people have been living as refugees in Gujarat for a long time.

According to the notification, under Section 6 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and as per the provisions of the Citizenship Rules, 2009, all of them will be allowed to register themselves as citizens of India or will be granted a certificate of citizenship.

All such people will be required to submit their applications online, which will be verified by the collector at the district level, said the home ministry.

Adding that, the application and the report shall be simultaneously made accessible online to the Central government. The Collector may, if deemed necessary, conduct any kind of inquiry to ascertain whether the applicant is suitable for citizenship.

This decision of granting citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955, instead of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, is crucial and is also being linked to the upcoming Gujarat elections.

In the CAA passed in 2019, there is a provision to give citizenship to the minorities of the three countries. However, it is yet to be implemented as its rules have not been framed, which is why citizenship cannot be granted under this.
Varanasi, Nov 1 : The Japan Information Centre, Embassy of Japan, will screen 'Mahabharata', a film directed by eminent Japanese director Hiroshi Koike, at Rudraksh, the International Cooperation and Convention Centre, here on December 17.

The entry to this event is by invitation only.

The screening is being held as the part of the 75th anniversary of India's independence and 70th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-India diplomatic relations.

During his visit to Japan in May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally interacted with the film director, commended his contribution for promoting Mahabharata, and also introduced the film on his radio programme, 'Mann ki Baat'.

According to the officials of the Embassy of Japan, the cast includes performers from several Asian countries.

The result is a stunningly multi-cultural blend featuring traditional dance, music, song and costume from Cambodia, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Japan and Indonesia.

Rudraksha - an Indo-Japanese architectural marvel in Varanasi - is a symbol of Modi-Shinzo (late Japanese premier Shizo Abe) friendship. It became operational on July 15, 2021.

The seed of Rudraksha was sown in Kyoto, where Modi and his then Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe announced the Kashi-Kyoto Partner City Agreement in August 2014.

In May 2022, the Embassy of India invited the director Hiroshi Koike to report the results of the Mahabharata project to Prime Minister Modi, who visited Japan to attend the Quad Summit.

Koike and Prime Minister Modi spoke about the creations of Mahabharata in Japan, India and other Asian countries.

Later, the Mahabharata project was introduced on the radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', hosted by Prime Minister Modi.

The Hiroshi Koike Bridge Project, a company producing cultural projects and performances that fuse traditional Asian dances, theatre, movement, and art, will hold previews of the film in Varanasi.

"This project is a screening of the film version of the performance "The Mahabharata: Chapter of Desire/ Chapter of Tempest," a stage adaptation of the Indian epic Mahabharata directed by Hiroshi Koike," said the Japanese officials.

According to them, Koike began directing and producing the Mahabharata from 2013 in Cambodia and since then has created various sections of the Mahabharata in five different Asian countries.

In August 2021, Koike presented a stage adaptation of the entire epic of Mahabharata as the culmination of his nine-year-long efforts since 2013.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : "Think Global, Collaborate Regional, Accomplish Local" is the theme of this year's Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) Conference which is being held in Goa from Tuesday.

The three-day conference also covers digitalisation and automation as key enablers in delivering CANSO's vision for future skies. Delegates will also be able to view first-hand some of the cutting-edge technology that will help modernise Air Traffic Management in the region.

Simon Hocquard, Director General CANSO said that improving efficiency and creating a more scalable, sustainable and resilient system has never been more urgent for the industry, so CANSO is looking forward to collaborating with colleagues across the region to raise the bar in Air Traffic Management.

Sanjeev Kumar, Chairman, Airports Authority of India said, "Airports Authority of India is very honoured to be hosting this year's event as we strongly believe that this will not only benefit the entire region's aviation industry, but also will enhance the civil aviation of India through the exchange of knowledge and cooperation." Across the three days, delegates and exhibitors from the Asia Pacific region and beyond will be discussing and collaborating on the key issues that will help shape the future of Asia's aviation industry and turn the Complete Air Traffic System (CATS) Global Council's vision for the skies of 2045 into a reality.

Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, Vijay Kumar Singh, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Simon Hocquard, Director General, CANSO and Rajiv Bansal, Secretary of Civil Aviation will address the conferenceA on 2nd November 2022.

As Poh Theen Soh, CANSO Director, Asia Pacific Affairs, said, "With air travel recovering, it is now time to look beyond COVID-19 and to the future. Building on that CATS vision, Asia Pacific Air Navigation Service Providers can step up collaboration and tackle such crucial subjects as sustainability, and embracing and exploiting technology." CANSO - the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation - is the global voice of the air traffic management (ATM) industry and is shaping our future skies. Its members support over 90 per cent of the world's air traffic and include air navigation service providers, airspace users and operators, manufacturers and aviation industry suppliers.
Islamabad, Nov 1 : Pakistan Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has criticized Imran Khan for hinting at the implementation of Martial Law in the country, Samaa TV reported.

During a press conference held in Islamabad on Tuesday, the federal information minister said the former prime minister wants 'anarchy not elections' and does not care about democracy.

Imran Khan is in favour of imposing an emergency in the country, she added.

Speaking on the occasion, she warned the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief that bullying will get him nowhere, Samaa TV reported.

"The government will not announce elections under pressure no matter what." Marriyum also said Imran Khan has a history of climbing on a container to create unrest in society.

"He was on the container protesting in 2014 too," she remarked, adding that because of him the visit of the Chinese president was postponed.

The minister further maintained that during his premiership, Imran Khan was guilty of sidelining China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is now being revitalized by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Marriyum highlighted that for four years Imran Khan was not able to prove the corruption of any member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

"Today he claims all cases were established on the instructions of the establishment." While addressing the media, Marriyum maintained that the PTI chief blackmailed National Accountability (NAB) chairman to send those against him to jail.

"He is outright against progress," the minister stressed while arguing that whenever the prime minister comes up with a scheme for development or positive foreign relations he influences it negatively, Samaa TV reported.
Hyderabad, Nov 1 : Workers of BJP and TRS clashed on Tuesday in Telangana's Munugode Assembly constituency where a by-election is scheduled on Thursday.

Few workers of both the parties were injured in the incident that occurred at Pulivela when leaders of both the parties were busy campaigning.

Some supporters of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) allegedly pelted stones on the convoy of BJP MLA Eatala Rajender who was campaigning in the village.

Both the groups attacked each other with stones and sticks. Police intervened to disperse the clashing groups.

Both the parties blamed each other for the attack. Rajender, who was earlier with TRS, alleged that ruling party workers attacked him when he along with his wife came to the village to have lunch with the people. He claimed that two MLAs of ruling party and two Zilla Parishad chairpersons were behind the attack.

The former minister claimed that 30 people including his security personnel and personal assistant were injured. He said 10-15 vehicles were also damaged in the attack.

BJP's publicity vehicle was also damaged in the attack. The BJP MLA said the BJP cadres acted with restraint. "We are against physical attacks. Our party is running the election campaign in a democratic manner," he said.

Union Minister for Tourism and Culture G. Kishan Reddy also condemned the attack by TRS men. He said the TRS was resorting to physical attacks due to fear of losing the by-election. He claimed that despite the violence by the TRS, the BJP will win the four Assembly by-election in the state.

Meanwhile, TRS blamed BJP for the attack. Minister for finance and health T. Harish Rao said since TRS enjoyed people's support, BJP had become desperate. He urged the party cadres to act with restraint in view of the polling.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued summons to Twitter in a suit seeking the restoration of journalist Abhijit Iyer-Mitra's account, suspended following a tweet about bail granted to Alt News' Mohammed Zubair by the Supreme Court.

"Issue summons. Written submissions in 30 days," Justice Mini Pushkarna ordered.

In July, following the bail granted to Zubair by the apex court, Mitra, in his tweet, said the son of a sitting apex court judge had participated in debates on a news channel and its editor had later furnished the bail bond for the release of the Alt News fact checker.

During the course of the hearing, Mitra's counsel Raghav Awasthi submitted researcher and journalist Mitra is a fairly "renowned public figure" and the ban is in violation of the applicable information technology rules and would harm his reputation.

He also pointed out that he needs to express his views to the public about the Russia-Ukraine war which is currently going on.

Merely on the basis of this tweet, Mitra's access to his Twitter followers has been curtailed, without following the procedure laid down under the IT rules, counsel argued.

Mitra's plea also sought direction to the Centre to take action against Twitter for suspending the account without following the law.
Mumbai, Nov 1 : 'K.G.F.' star Yash celebrated the Karnataka day as he expressed his pride in the growth of the Kannada film industry.

Taking to Twitter, the actor, who has become synonymous with 'Rocky Bhai' much like his elder superstar 'Salman bhai', shared a picture of himself waving the Kannada flag atop a roof.

He put up a tweet in his native language of Kannada as wrote, "Let the sky be wind. Jump and live. A beautiful Kannada flag".

Speaking of 'K.G.F.', the second instalment of the franchise created a record in the Hindi market with its phenomenal opening only to be trumped by another Kannada film - the recently released Rishab Shetty-starrer, 'Kantara'.

Yash, who was once considered a "wonder boy" after the release of his film 'Moggina Manasu' has risen to the ranks of highest paid Kannada actor and one of the highest paid in the South Indian film industry following the success of 'K.G.F.' franchise in the Hindi and regional markets.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice on an appeal challenging a Gauhati High Court verdict, which upheld the validity of Assam Madrassa Education (Provincialization) Act, 1995 (repealed by the Act of 2020) and all consequential government orders, including the notification dated February 12, 2021.

A bench comprising Justices Ajay Rastogi and C.T. Ravikumar sought a response from the Assam government and others. The plea, filed through advocate Adeel Ahmed, contended that high court has erroneously observed that the petitioner madrassas being government schools, and wholly maintained by the state through provincialization are hit by Article 28(1) of the Constitution of India and as such, cannot be permitted to impart religious instruction. The appeal challenges the decision that had in effect turned existing provincialized madrassas in Assam to regular government schools.

Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde, representing the petitioners, argued before the bench that the high court decision was erroneous as it had equated provincialisation with nationalisation.

The plea added that Assam Madrassa Education (Provincialization) Act, 1995 (repealed by the Act of 2020) is only limited to the state undertaking to pay the salaries and provide consequential benefits to the teaching and non-teaching staff employed in madrassas as also the administration, management and control of these madrassa.

Hedge informed the bench that property of the madrassas was taken away.

"The land and buildings belonging to the madrassas are taken care of by the petitioners and the expenditures on electricity and furniture are borne by the petitioner madrassas themselves. The repealing Act of 2020 takes away property coupled with statutory recognition of Madrassa education and the impugned order dated 12.02.2021 issued by the Governor disbands the 'Assam State Madrasa Board' created in 1954," said the plea.

The plea further contended that it amounts to an arbitrary exercise of both legislative and executive powers and amounts to a denial of the petitioner madrassas' ability to continue as madrassas providing religious instruction coupled with religious education.

The plea submitted that such an encroachment into the proprietary rights of the petitioner madrassas without payment of adequate compensation is a direct infraction of Article 30(1A) of the Constitution of India.

The plea, in the apex court, has been filed by Md. Imad Uddin Barbhuiya and 12 other residents of Assam sought stay on the operation of the high court as an interim relief.

"The operation of the impugned judgment would result in the discontinuation of the petitioner madrassas as madrassas and would prevent them from admitting students for the old courses for this academic year," said the plea opposing the high court judgment which was passed in February this year.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : MG Motor India on Tuesday said that it is a law-abiding, professionally-managed company that adheres to the highest standards of compliance and governance and is committed to transparency in the country, as reports surfaced that the government has launched a probe into Chinese SAIC-owned MG Motor's accounts amid scrutiny of Chinese companies.

According to Bloomberg, "the probe against the local unit of the Chinese carmaker SAIC Motor has been initiated by India's Ministry of Corporate Affairs".

"The company's top management, including directors, managing director and auditors have been summoneda by the ministry seeking more clarification, the people said," according to the report.

In a statement, the automaker said that they have been sent a notice seeking clarifications primarily on "why we have operational losses on basis of our annual report for the first year of operations 2019-2020".

"We fully cooperate with the government authorities on all issues and are in process of providing the desired records and information to the Registrar of Companies within the stipulated time frame," said MG Motor India.

At the same time, "we would also like to state that it is impossible for any automobile company to be profitable in the very first year of its operations. This is because of the huge capex investment required and the long gestation period in a highly competitive market such as India where many multinationals have struggled for decades and have accumulated losses", the company elaborated.

The automaker recorded its highest-ever output of 5,008 units, including 1,000 electric vehicles (EVs), in the month of October.

"We are a global multinational, and our books are maintained as per Indian accounting standards and audited by reputed audit firms," said the company.

Last month, MG Motor India and its consortium members launched the fourth edition of its Developer Programme and Grant (MGDP) to accelerate, mentor and incubate innovative Indian startups in the field of electric mobility, as the country aims to obtain 50 per cent of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030.
Vadodara, Nov 1 : The Vadodara rural police cracked a gang-rape case within hours of the crime and arrested all four accused.

According to the 23-year-old complainant, on Monday night around 8 p.m, she was walking on the Vadodara-Halol highway service road, when four persons waylaid and gagged her.

They then dragged her to an isolated place behind the referral hospital and in the bushes and took turns to rape her. After they fled the spot, the girl returned and narrated the ordeal to her parents. A complaint was lodged in the Jarod police station.

Jarod Police station officer said that the moment the survivor approached the police, teams were dispatched to the place of crime. Based on the description by the girl, all four accused, the police arrested all four accused within hours.

Victim has been sent for the medical examination to the Vadodara Government hospital and the accused will undergo a medical test, once their corona report is negative, said officer.

All four accused are from Surat, and one of them is Marathi but speaks Gujarati fluently. They have been arrested on charges of for gang-rape robbery, criminal intimidation, conspiracy.
Chennai, Nov 1 : With the festive season on, car makers, leading with Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, closed October with good sales numbers.

However, the shortage of electronic components had put brakes on the overall sales.

According to Maruti Suzuki, it had sold a total of 167,520 units (domestic 143,250 units, sales to other car makers 3,822, exports 20,448 units) in October 2022 up from 138,335 units (domestic 112,788 units, sales to other car maker 4,225 units, exports 21,322 units).

Hyundai Motor India Ltd sold 58,006 units (domestic 48,001 units, exports 10,005 units) last month as against 43,556 units (domestic 37,021 units, exports 6,535 units) sold in October 2021.

Utility vehicle major Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd said it had sold 32,298 passenger vehicles last month in the domestic market, up from 20,130 units sold in October 2021.

On the other hand, Tata Motors Ltd said it had sold 45,423 passenger vehicles last month (34,155 units sold in October 2021).

Interestingly for Nissan Motor India, exports outnumbered its domestic sales last month. The company had sold a total of 10,011 units out of which exports were 6,950 units and domestic sales were 3,061 units.

Other car makers like Toyota Kirloskar Motor said it had sold 13,143 units last month (12,440 units), Honda Cars India Ltd last month sold 11,221 units (9,855 units) and MG Motor India, 4,367 units.
Ramnagar : , Nov 1 (IANS) At least 12 persons were arrested for attempting religious conversions of tribals in Kanakapura taluk of Ramnagar district, police said on Tuesday.

According to police, after gathering specific inputs, a team of its personnel conducted raids and made the arrests.

Police said that the arrested 12 persons were making arrangements for a mass religious conversion of Hindu tribals in the region.

The arrested persons were being grilled by the police.

Preliminary investigations revealed that many people belonging to Chikkamuduwadi Tandya were kept in a house at Kanakapura town.

Sources stated the police will investigate the matter further. More details are yet to emerge regarding the case.

Hindu activists for a long time have been alleging forceful conversions in the region by Christian missionaries. Earlier, the attempts to build the tallest statue of Jesus in the world in Kapalabetta in Kanakapura taluk were made. The Hindu activists then alleged that state Congress President D.K. Shivakumar was supporting the building of the tallest statue of Jesus Christ to impress former AICC President Sonia Gandhi in his constituency.

Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other Hindu organisations had announced agitation against the building of Jesus Christ's statue at Kapalabetta. The Karnataka High Court later gave a stay order on the construction work and gave directions that no work should be carried out without its permission.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Meta-owned WhatsApp on Tuesday said it banned over 26 lakh accounts in India in the month of September in compliance with the new IT Rules, 2021, which are now being amended to put more responsibilities on social media platforms.

The messaging platform, which has nearly 500 million users (according to third-party data) in the country, received 666 complaint reports in September in India, and the records "actioned" were 23.

"In accordance with the IT Rules 2021, we've published our report for the month of September 2022. This user-safety report contains details of the user complaints received and the corresponding action taken by WhatsApp, as well as WhatsApp's own preventive actions to combat abuse on our platform," a company spokesperson said in a statement.

The platform banned over 23 lakh bad accounts in India in August.

Under the upgraded IT Rules 2021, major digital and social media platforms, with in excess of five million users, have to publish monthly compliance reports.

Meanwhile, in a major push towards an open, safe, trusted and accountable Internet, the Ministry of Electronics and IT has notified some amendments aimed at protecting the rights of "Digital Nagriks".

Currently, social media intermediaries are only required to inform users about not uploading certain categories of harmful/unlawful content.

The amendments impose a legal obligation on intermediaries to take reasonable efforts to prevent users from uploading such content.

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that protection of constitutional rights of the Indian citizens is a must.

The amendments were notified after the Ministry followed an exhaustive public consultation process involving all stakeholders.

The new provisions will ensure that the intermediary's obligation is not a mere formality.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday attached benami properties worth Rs 10 crore belonging to Uttar Pradesh's slain gangster Vikas Dubey which he had bought on his relatives and aide's name.

The sources privy to the investigation said that property worth Rs ten crore belonging to Dubey was attached.

The property was reportedly in the name of one Jaykant, who was Dubey's confidant.

"These properties are based in Kanpur and nearby areas. During the search operation, the ED had found more than 28 illegal properties of Dubey," the sources said.

The sources said that Dubey used to acquire land in the name of his wife Richa Dubey, sister and relatives and aides.

Vikas Dubey, was the main accused in the Bikru carnage of July 3, 2020 in which eight police personnel who had gone to raid his house, were shot dead by him and his aides.

Within a week of the incident, Vikas Dubey and five members of his gang were killed in encounters with the police.
Jaipur, Nov 1 : Confusion prevailed on Tuesday over declaration of Mangarh Dham as National Monument, after the government withdrew its statement regarding the same from Twitter.

Earlier in the morning, Press Information Bureau (PIB) wrote on Twitter, "PM @narendramodi declares Mangarh Dham as National Monument, #Rajasthan." The PIB had tweeted when the programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in progress. However, as the programme ended, there was no mention of the declaration of Mangarh Dham as National Monument and the tweet was deleted further.

It needs to be mentioned here that Modi on Tuesday reached Mangarh Dham, which is known as the martyrdom site of about 1500 tribals.

All eyes were set on whether he would announce Mangarh as National Monument or not as opposition in Rajasthan was pitching for the same ever since Modi's visit was planned here.

Speaking on the occasion, Modi said that before the freedom struggle of 1857, the tribal society had sounded the bugle of Independence. "We are indebted to the contributions of tribal society. It is the tribal society that saves the character of India." However, he did not announce whether or not to make it a National Monument. Earlier, Prime Minister Modi paid tribute to the tribals by visiting the martyr memorial.

Modi said that it is everyone's desire to make Mangarh Dham grand. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra should discuss among themselves and prepare a detailed plan and prepare a roadmap for the development of Mangarh Dham. Together, the four states and the Government of India will take it to new heights.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the history of Mangarh Dham has been written in golden letters. We have appealed to the PM to make it a national monument. The tribal society was second to none in fighting the war of Independence. Gehlot said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gets respect in the world because of Mahatma Gandhi. Our appeal is to declare Mangarh as a National Monument.

However, there was no mention of Mangarh as a National Monument on Tuesday.
Islamabad, Nov 1 : Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) founder and former premier Nawaz Sharif has asked the sitting Prime Minister and his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif not to engage in talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan in relation to the ongoing long march that is proceeding towards the capital Islamabad.

In a tweet, Nawaz Sharif has said that there should be no face saving offered to Imran Khan nor should any of his demands be met to defuse the pertaining threats to security and safety of the capital Islamabad, the government and the country at large.

"He who claims to bring one million has not yet managed to gather two thousand slaves. The reason for the indifference of the people is the evil lies, which stand exposed to the nation. He told one lie after another so brutally and brazenly that DG ISI was forced to break the silence and tell the truth to the nation," tweeted Nawaz Sharif.

"I have told Shehbaz Sharif to not to listen to any demands of this fitna, no matter if he brings 200 or 2000 people. He (Imran Khan) should not be given any face saving," added Nawaz Sharif.

The statement of Nawaz Sharif comes after the Shehbaz Sharif led government constituted a 13-member negotiating team constituted to engage with Imran Khan and to work out a solution to defuse the political unrest in the country that threatens the security situation.

On the other hand, Imran Khan also designated President Arif Alvi and some other of his party members including Chief Minister of Punjab province Pervaiz Elahi, who had also stated that he is in direct consultations with the powerful military establishment.

"We are talking to the ones who matter, who have to take the decision. We are not talking to the government. They do not matter nor have any value," said Pervaiz Elahi.

However, while there are credible reports of both parties in active backdoor negotiations, both have publicly denied of being engaged in any kind of talks.

Imran Khan had slammed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stating "I don't talk to boot polishers." Imran Khan's party members have said that they are only going to talk to the government when they want to have table talk on the date of early elections, adding that there will be no compromise or any negotiations on anything else other than the elections date.

On the other hand, the government spokesperson has also denied of any ongoing negotiations with Imran Khan or any of his party members in relation to the long march. Marriyum Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Information has maintained that Imran Khan's motives related to the long march stand exposed as they are aimed at spreading unrest through bloodshed.

"Imran Niazi tweeted yesterday that his long march will bring bloody revolution. His tweet is proof that his party member Ali Amin Gandapur is making arrangements for guns and barracks on the orders of Imran Khan himself," stated Marryam Aurangzeb.

"We had no doubts on Imran Khan's intentions of making his long march a bloody march. Now clear and exposing evidence is out in the open," she added.

At the moment, there are over 30,000 security personals deputed to secure the capital Islamabad, while the government has also extended the area of the restricted Red Zone from diplomatic enclave and government offices are to Zero Point area of Islamabad, deputing Pakistan Army, Rangers and police officials to ensure security of state building and institutions within the Red Zone.

The government has also maintained that if Imran Khan's long march will try to create any unrest, then it will be dealt with accordingly.

Imran Khan's long march started on October 28 from Lahore and has been moving at a snail's pace with a large number of PTI supporters marching towards Islamabad through the GT (Grand Trunk) Road.

Imran Khan has said that as the march's movement time is around three to four hours every day and the pace is very slow, it may take about eight to 10 more days for it to reach Islamabad.
Hyderabad, Nov 1 : As part of Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hoisted the national flag at Charminar, the monument which symbolises Hyderabad.

Accompanied by party leaders and hundreds of party workers and supporters, he paid tributes to his late father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and unfurled the national flag.

The event was organised in commemoration of Rajiv Gandhi's visit to Charminar on October 19, 1990 to launch Sadbhavana Yatra for communal peace and harmony in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

Every year, the Congress organises Sadbhavana Yatra commemoration day at Charminar and presents awards to personalities working for peace and communal harmony.

As soon as Rahul Gandhi reached the monument from Laad Bazar road, he stopped for a few moments to take a look at the edifice and captured its beauty in his camera before moving forward.

Hundreds of Congress workers converged around Charminar to welcome the party leader and raised slogans of 'Jodo Jodo, Bharat Jodo' and 'Rajiv Gandhi Amar Rahe' when Rahul Gandhi was offering floral tributes at the portrait of his late father.

Telangana unit President A. Revanth Reddy, senior leader V. Hanumanth Rao, Anjan Kumar Yadav and other leaders were present.

After the brief programme at Charminar, the yatra continued its journey through the historic Pathergatti market. Gandhi was seen waving at people who had lined up either side of the road to welcome him.

After passing through some busy areas of the party, Bharat Jodo Yatra will reach Necklace Road on the banks of Hussain Sagar lake, which divides twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

The Congress MP will garland the statue of his grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at Necklace Road and address a corner meeting. Congress leader and incharge for Telangana Manickam Tagore said Gandhi will also pay tributes to former Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao, whose Samadhi is located at Necklace Road.

Earlier, the yatra entered Hyderabad on Tuesday morning. After covering Narayanpet, Mahabubnagar and Rangareddy districts, the yatra reached the state capital on the seventh day of its journey in Telangana.

The Congress MP, along with other party leaders and workers, resumed the walkathon from Matha temple at Shamshabad on the city outskirts and entered the city through Bengaluru-Hyderabad highway.

The yatra had a halt at Bahadurpura, where Rahul Gandhi met various groups including women, representatives of transgenders and civil society organisations.

Later, the yatra resumed at 4 p.m. and reached Charminar through Puranapul, Hussaini Alam and Khilwat roads.

Police have made elaborate security arrangements for the yatra. They have imposed restrictions on movement of traffic on the yatra route.

Gandhi will have a night halt at Gandhi Ideology Centre at Bowenpally in Secunderabad.

The yatra will continue in Telangana till November 7 with one-day break on November 4.

It will cover a total distance of 375 km in 19 Assembly and 7 Parliamentary constituencies in the state.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the proceedings before Punjab's Hoshiarpur court in the alleged case of forgery and cheating filed against Sukhbir Singh Badal, Prakash Singh Badal and Daljit Singh Cheema in the controversy over dual constitution of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

A bench comprising justices S. Abdul Nazeer and V. Ramasubramanian issued notice and stayed the proceedings in the criminal complaint before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Hoshiarpur.

A Hoshiarpur resident, Balwant Singh Khera, had filed a criminal complaint before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in 2009 accusing SAD of submitting two different constitutions i.e. one with the Gurdwara Election Commission (GEC) and the second with the Election Commission of India (ECI) to seek recognition as a political party.

The petitioners -- Sukhbir Singh Badal, Prakash Singh Badal and Daljit Singh Cheema - moved the apex court challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court order, which rejected their plea seeking quashing of the complaint.

Senior advocate R.S. Cheema appeared for Sukhbir Singh Badal and senior advocate K.V. Viswanathan appeared for Prakash Singh Badal assisted by advocates from Karanjawala & Co. Advocate Sandeep Kapur appeared for Daljit Singh Cheema. The petitions were filed by Karanjawala & Co.

It was argued before the court that being religious does not run contrary to the principles of secularism and merely because a political outfit is contesting elections to a Gurdwara committee does not mean it is not secular. The criminal case with allegations of forgery and cheating over the constitution of the party filed before ECI and GEC (Gurdwara Election Commission) therefore has no basis.

The criminal complaint was premised on the allegation that the party has claimed to be a secular party and given a declaration to abide by the principles of secularism in its constitution filed before ECI while it contests elections for a religious body, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, thereby being a religious party.

"The High Court failed to appreciate that the expression 'allegiance to the principle of secularism' in terms of Section 29- A (5) of the Act (The Representation of the People Act) has not been defined and a subjective view on what secularism means does not make being religious contradictory to the Act or amount to a penal offence," said the plea filed by Sukhbir.
Islamabad, Nov 1 : Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has started a "long march", intended to topple the government of Shehbaz Sharif, who, he claims, was brought into power through a US-led regime change conspiracy.

Imran Khan has repeatedly claimed that his government was ousted through a conspiracy, hatched by the US and implemented through their local facilitators in the then opposition and now coalition government, coupled with hidden support of the military establishment.

Washington has completely denied the allegations and has called on Imran Khan to refrain from levelling such allegations.

In its latest response, the US again rejected and brushed aside the allegation of regime change in Pakistan, highlighting that the ongoing disinformation being spread by Imran Khan will be responded to with information.

"United States will not let disinformation get in the way of bilateral relationship with Pakistan. We value the long-standing cooperation between the United States and Pakistan. We have always viewed a prosperous and democratic Pakistan as critical to our interests. This remains unchanged," said a US government spokesperson.

Referring to Imran Khan's claims of US-led regime change, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said: "What we can do is counter disinformation, and misinformation with information." Since the time Imran Khan was ousted from power through a no-confidence vote by the opposition alliance in the parliament, he has taken to the streets, holding massive public gatherings and slamming the current government for "being a slave" to the US and the west, something that he claimed he could never do and worked for a independent foreign policy for the country's freedom.

Imran Khan has consistently maintained that his government was ousted through a regime change conspiracy. He has been openly slamming and lashing out at the country's powerful military establishment for becoming party to the conspiracy, likening their actions to treason.

His claims have been rubbished by the military establishment also, who maintain that these are far away from the reality and truth and that there was no conspiracy behind the ouster of his government.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The BJP on Tuesday blamed Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal for the deteriorating air quality in the national capital and held him responsible for making Delhi a gas chamber.

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya tweeted: "Delhi is a gas chamber right now. The AQI is three times worse than what it was last year during the same time. The reason is unabated farm fires in Punjab, a state ruled by AAP.

Arvind Kejriwal has failed both Punjab and Delhi. This is free death, which Kejriwal doesn't advertise." Earlier on Monday, the BJP had hit out at Kejriwal -- citing data, saying that after the AAP came to power in Punjab, the state has registered a 33.5 per cent increase in farm fires (stubble burning), while Haryana recorded 33 per cent decline due to the steps taken by the state's Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

Amit Malviya encouraged the farmers to adopt better methods of stubble disposal.
Gujranwala, Nov 1 : Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan vowed on Tuesday to defeat PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in "his own constituency" as the party resumed its 'Haqeeqi Azadi March' on Day 5 from Gujranwala, media reports said.

"Nawaz Sharif, I challenge you, when you come back, I will beat you in your own constituency," said Imran Khan in his first speech of the day, Express Tribune reported.

He also warned the former three-time premier that when he returns to Pakistan, "we will take you to Adiala jail from the airport".

Imran Khan also took aim at former President Asif Ali Zardari and said he should "get ready" for his arrival in Sindh - the traditional bastion of his PPP, Express News reported.

Adding that the people of Sindh "need freedom the most", he warned Zardari that he is "coming after" him in Sindh.

The PTI Chairperson reiterated that the time of "true freedom" had arrived and told the march participants that "we will attain it through justice and will fight for the supremacy of law and justice".

"This system cannot continue and we will have to change it," he told the march participants. "When it is asked who will save Pakistan, the answer is not Imran Khan. It will be you who will save Pakistan and set it free," he said, Express Tribune reported.
Kolkata, Nov 1 : The body of Habibul Sheikh, a victim from West Bengal in the Morbi cable bridge collapse in Gujarat, was on Tuesday brought back to his ancestral residence at Purbasthali in East Burdwan district.

A political slugfest ensued between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP after the return of the body. As Sheikh's body reached his ancestral residence, Trinamool Congress' East Burdwan President, Rabindranath Chattopadhyay, arrived there.

Accompanied by the family members of the deceased, Chattaopdhyay told media persons present there that despite assurance, the family members did not receive any assistance either from the Union government or the Gujarat government to bring back the body.

"They did not receive any financial assistance from any government authorities to bring back the body. They had to borrow money to arrange for the cost of bringing back his body through airways. The body was sent back like that of frozen fish with minimum respect being shown towards that. I will give a detailed report to the West Bengal state secretariat on this matter. Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress has decided to reimburse the victim's family all the expenditure they had already borne in the entire process and will be bearing in performing his last rituals," Chattopadhyay told media persons. He was also seen handing over some money to the elder brother of the deceased.

Chattopadhyay also said that the Morbi cable bridge collapse is a perfect example of the Gujarat model of development that the Union government frequently projects.

However, his claims were refuted by BJP's district President in East Burdwan district, Gopal Chattopadhyay. "Any death is tragic. But Trinamool Congress, as usual, is resorting to politics over body. Now my question to the West Bengal government is why Habibul Sheikh had to go out of the state in search of livelihood when the Chief Minister is claiming so much development and employment generation in the state," he said.

It is learnt that the deceased was working with a gold shop in Gujarat which was owned by one of his uncles. On Sunday, he along with his friends went to the suspension bridge where the mishap happened. Later his body was recovered.
London, Nov 1 : PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Tuesday slammed PTI Chairman Imran Khan, saying that the only aim for holding the long march was to restrict the incumbent government from appointing the next army chief, media reports said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Imran Khan contacted the government last month for discussing two matters - one of them being the appointment of the army chief. However, the Premier refused to discuss it with him, The News reported.

The extended term of army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa will come to an end on November 29 and the coalition government has time and again stressed that his successor will be appointed in due course and in line with the Constitution.

"Imran Khan's 22-year political struggle revolves around General Musharraf, Pasha, Zaheer ul Islam, and those whom he calls his eyes and ears," Maryam Nawaz told a press conference in London, The News reported.

She said Imran Khan depends on the establishment to support him, but his plans will fail as in line with the Constitution and the law, PM Shehbaz Sharif will appoint the next army chief "peacefully".

"Khan has nothing to do with the appointment. His last card has also failed. People did not partake in the long march, and why would the sons and daughters come to the march? Your children are sitting peacefully outside, so why should the sons of the soil come out to support you?"
Mumbai, Nov 1 : English actor David Dawson, who plays a homosexual character in the film 'My Policeman', has shared how he prepared to play the part with utmost sensitivity.

The romantic drama, based on Bethan Roberts' book of the same name, explores the lives of three young friends - Tom, Marion and Patrick (David Dawson), and the consequences of their choices in two different timelines. The gay romance, set in 1950s Britain, also stars Harry Styles as a bisexual cop and Emma Corrin, and highlights the persecution of homosexuality in that era.

David, who plays Tom's (Styles) love interest in the film, opened up on his preparations for the role. He revealed that his close gay friend helped him get into the skin of his character and channel the mindset of young Patrick. He said, "I have a man who's very special to me who I worked with years ago, and became close friends with. He used to tell me a lot of beautiful stories of him growing up as a gay man during this period." To deeply understand the narrative, the English actor also watched BBC's factual drama 'Against the Law' and researched the 'history of gay bars as safe spaces'. The actor also drew parallels between homosexuality in the past and present and revealed how happy he is to see situations change for the better for the LGBTQIA+ community now.

He further mentioned, "It gave me a real, greater appreciation of just what those spaces mean and symbolize, and made me feel incredibly privileged to live now, as a gay man, and have the freedoms and the rights that I have - and to not take that for granted." 'My Policeman', directed by Michael Grandage, is all set to release on Prime Video on November 4.
Amravati, Nov 1 : Prahar Janshakti Party President and ex-Minister Bachchu Kadu showed off his strength with a massive procession and rally in Maharashtra's Amravati district on Tuesday as he came to settle the row with his local political rival Yuva Swabhiman Party MLA Ravi Rana.

Amidst cries to make him a minister again, Kadu discussed the recent spat with Rana with his core team late on Monday night and then finally decided to agree to a conditional truce.

"This is the first time... That's why we are forgiving you. But next time, if you cross our paths, we will not spare you," Kadu warned amidst loud cheers and clapping by his supporters.

After warning, Kadu also dared his opponents, saying that his party is not of cowards, but is a party of tough fighters who will go their independent way when the occasion arises.

"Since this is your first mistake, we forgive you. But if you strike again, we shall hit back with full force. I respect Mahatma Gandhi's ideals, but I have Bhagat Singh in my thoughts, so you should choose your words carefully," Kadu warned his opponents.

He also issues veiled threats that while he and his group are supporting the government (of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis), if they are not wanted they could leave anytime as they believe in the ideology and not any political party.

The spat between the legislators Kadu and Rana - both hailing from Amravati - had reached a point where the former threatened to withdraw support to the Shinde regime if the latter did not retract certain allegations, prompting the Shinde-Fadnavis duo to mediate.

Rana had publicly accused Kadu of allegedly taking '50 Khokhas' (slang for Rs 50 crore) to switch allegiance with the rebel Shinde group in June after he engineered a split in the erstwhile Shiv Sena and toppled the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

A red-faced Kadu challenged Rana to prove his allegations by November 1 and even served an ultimatum to Shinde-Fadnavis to clarify if the contentions were true or there could be dire consequences for the government.

While Shinde walked the tight-rope saying since both hail from the same district, there were local issues which needed to be sorted out, and he met both Kadu and Rana separately, and they also met Fadnavis later in Mumbai last weekend.

After the meeting on Monday, Rana emerged and said: "I withdraw my statement. Even Kadu should do the same," while Kadu remained non-committal till he convinced his supporters.

Incidentally, Kadu was a Minister in the MVA government led by Uddhav Thackeray and was among the earliest to join the rebel group, while Rana and his wife, MP Navneet Kaur-Rana shot into the limelight in April 2022 for the Hanuman Chalisa row outside Thackeray's private residence.
Chennai, Nov 1 : Tension gripped some areas of Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli after police conducted surprise raids on Tuesday at the residence of four people suspected to be involved in the Coimbatore car blast in which one person, Jameesha Mubin, was charred to death.

Sources in the Tirunelveli police told IANS that the raids were conducted as part of the NIA probe into the Coimbatore car blast and the agencies stepping up the ante on the hidden forces behind the blast.

Police conducted raids at the residences of Shaib Mohammed Ali, 35, Syed Mohammed Bukhari, 34, Mohammed Ali, 39, and Mohammed Ibrahim, 37, on Tuesday morning. The residences were situated at Khader Moopan Street in Melapalayam and once the raids commenced, no one was allowed to enter or leave the residences.

The Muslim-dominated area was gripped by tension during the morning raids and sloganeering was conducted against the police by the crowd.

Police said that Ibrahim was deported from Saudi Arabia after he campaigned for tge banned IS in that country in 2019. His residence was then raided by police and National Investigation Agency (NIA) sleuths who found some evidence from there. He was arrested and was out on bail recently.
Chandigarh, Nov 1 : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday demanded that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal's role in the bribe for party post and Rajya Sabha ticket to undertrial multimillionaire conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar be probed by the CBI after registration of a criminal case.

Reacting to the letter written by Chandrashekhar to the Lt Governor of Delhi, former minister and senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia said, "It is clear that Satyendar Jain received money from the undertrial on behalf of the 'Kattar Imandaar' AAP convener as the latter alone could make good on the promise of both the party post in the South Zone as well as Rajya Sabha ticket to Chandrashekhar." Asserting that AAP had taken Indian polity to a new low by extorting money from undertrials, Majithia said it was shocking that the undertrial had been forced to cough up Rs 2 crore to ensure his safety in jail by the (then) Jail Minister (Jain).

"This also is not possible without the acquiescence of the Delhi Chief Minister and his role in this crime should also be probed by the CBI." Majithia said: "It seems collecting money is the sole priority of the AAP government in Delhi and that the same model in being adopted in Punjab." He said there were accusations that like the promise made to Chandrashekhar, Rajya Sabha tickets were also sold in upwards of Rs 50 crore each in Punjab. "This accusation should also be taken up for probe by the CBI." The Akali leader said the heightened activity of gangsters in Punjab as well as the increase in the extortion rackets also pointed out to the fact that they were being given a safe haven in prison from where they were running their crime syndicates.

He demanded that a judicial probe into the entire issue, including the escape of gangsters from police custody, be probed by a high court judge to get to the bottom of the case.

Majithia said the increasing cases of corruption by AAP ministers and legislators which had surfaced in Punjab also pointed out to the pressure on the Punjab AAP unit to fund the high command.

He said this was the reason why the high command was yet to take any action against cabinet minister Fauja Singh Sarari who had indulged in extortion openly.

"AAP leaders are also involved in rampant sand mining besides being responsible for given patronage to gangsters as well as anti-social elements which has ruined the law and order situation in Punjab. It seems all this is being done to collect money for the AAP high command and specifically Arvind Kejriwal. Even government funds are not safe from the predations of AAP with crores of public funds being spent on advertisements in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh by the AAP government. The truth in all these cases can only come out once a judicial inquiry is ordered into them," he added.
Bengaluru, Nov 1 : Cyber-security researchers on Tuesday said that threat actors using fake Twitter accounts are impersonating banking entities to steal victims' personal and payment information via Zoho Forms, a free online form builder from Zoho Corporation.

The threat intelligence team of AI-driven Singapore-headquartered CloudSEK discovered this phishing email campaign.

In this new campaign, said the researchers, the threat actors are misusing Zoho Forms to steal information from banking customers.

Whenever a customer tags the official banking customer care handle in a tweet, the fraudster pretends to assist them by providing a fake customer care number and an external shortened link that redirects to a Zoho Form service.

"The threat actor sets up a fake social media account (in this case, a Twitter account) with the brand logo as the profile picture. The fake account has a display name and username similar to the real account," according to security researchers.

Using these accounts, the threat actor comments on the Twitter posts of the banking customers seeking assistance or raising issues.

The threat actor provides the customer with a fake customer care number and a shortened URL.

"The URL redirects the customer to a Zoho Form page which asks the user to input the following details: First and Last Name, Credit/Debit Card Number, Expiry Date, CVV, Available Balance," the team noted.

Once submitted, the Personal Identifiable Information (PII) details are forwarded to the threat actor.

"We started investigating the mobile number used for contacting bank customers. Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) performed on the number revealed that the number was also linked to a fake electricity bill payment scam. Several victims on different forums have flagged the same number," said a CloudSEK researcher.

The researchers highlighted that threat actors could use the collected PII to launch successful social engineering attacks against the victim. Threat actors will gain sensitive banking information, which may lead to financial loss.

To stay safe from such attacks, it is advised to identify and report domains impersonating brand names and trademarks. Bank customers should always double-check the URL or Twitter handle, said the researchers.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said that climate financing, funding energy transition, developing urban infrastructure and regulating crypto assets would be some of the major agenda items for India as G20 President.

India will be assuming presidentship of G20 on December 1, which will continue till November 20, 2023.

Addressing the ICRIER's 14th annual G20 conference, the Finance Minister said that India will try to be a voice of the low income countries in the G20 grouping.

Sitharaman further said that global spillovers and global taxation are also areas of priority and it would be India's endeavour to build consensus on it among the member nations.

She said that debt distress will be an issue India would like to discuss during it's presidency tenure.

Multilateral, particularly financing, institutions will be major issues of focus as these institutions are apparently not leveraging their endowments properly, the minister said.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The CBI has told the Supreme Court that IDBI Bank has declared the former promoters/directors of Amtek Auto Ltd as "fraud" on September 26, and reported it to the RBI on October 4, and is in process of filing a complaint against them, but the company has not been declared as fraud.

The CBI, in an affidavit, said it has approached 19 banks/financial institutions, out of which IDBI Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, PNB, SBI and IFCI Ltd. have responded to its query furnishing the status of declaration of the account as fraud and regarding filing of complaints with the CBI in case the account is declared as fraud. "Out of the aforesaid five banks, only IDBI Bank has submitted that it has declared the promoters/directors of Amtek Auto Lt as fraud on October 4 with the RBI however, it has not declared the company as fraud," the agency said.

It added that it has asked the bank to revert with essential facts in its complaint for the CBI to be able to register an FIR.

On September 5 this year, the Supreme Court issued notice on a plea claiming glaring inaction by central agencies - the CBI, the ED, and the SFIO - into the alleged criminal theft and money laundering of the Rs 12,800 crore from over 27 public, government and listed banks by Amtek Auto Ltd, (AAL) and its promoters, directors, beneficiaries, and key managerial personnel through an elaborate system of over 127 related parties and several benaamidars.

The apex court is likely to take up the matter on November 3.

The CBI, in response to the petition, said the IDBI Bank, vide its reply through email on October 18, has that informed it that "IDBI Bank has declared the former promoters/directors of Amtek Auto Ltd. as 'fraud' on September 26, 2022 and reported the same to RBI on October 04, 2022".

"Further in reply to the specific query whether complaint has been filed before any law enforcement agencies by IDBI Bank Ltd. or any other consortium member banks, the IDBI replied it as 'In process'," it added.

The CBI said: "Further, IDBI Bank. vide its e-mail dated October 25, 2022. submitted certain clarifications, as sought by the CBI stating that bank is in the process of finalising/filing complaint against former promoter/directors of the company, Arvind Dham (Promoter/Director of Amtek Auto Ltd), Deshpal Singh Malik (Executive Director of Amtek Auto Ltd.) and Gautam Malhotra (Non-Executive Director of Amtek Auto Ltd)." It added that the company has since been resolved under IBC and Deccan Value Investors (DVI) has since implemented the resolution plan and taken over the management of Amtek Auto Ltd, hence the company has not been declared as fraud.

The CBI said in view of the ongoing SFIO investigation in the case, IDBI Bank requested Union Bank of India-UBI (lead bank) through various emails to convene a JLM (joint lenders meeting) to take a considered view in the matter.

"In the absence of any response from UBI, IDBI Bank proceeded with declaring of former promoter/director of Amtek Auto as fraud. Post declaration of fraud, a letter intimating declaration of the former promoters/directors of Amtek Auto Ltd. as fraud by IDBI Bank has been sent by IDBI to Union Bank of India (UBI)-Lead bank on October 18, 2022, advising Union Bank of India to call a JLM on an urgent basis in terms of the extant guidelines. The reply thereof is yet to receive from UBI. In the absence of any reply from UBI, IDBI intends to file an individual complaint in the matter," said the CBI's affidavit.

The IDBI bank, vide its e-mail dated October 25, informed the CBI that it is not the lead bank and for working capital (consortium), Union Bank of India (erstwhile Corporation Bank) was the lead consortium member, and for term loan, the State Bank of India was the lead bank.

The State Bank of India, through e-mail dated October 21, informed the CBI that competent authority of the bank has declared the account as a case of "no fraud" and it has been declared as NPA w.e.f. August 25, 2015 by the RBI in its asset quality review.

Speaking to IANS, petitioner's counsel Jai Anant Dehadari said: "The CBI's reply indicates in no uncertain terms that the erstwhile top management of Amtek was indeed involved in a massive conspiracy to defraud banks. The fact that IDBI has informed RBI about their classification of Amtek's directors as 'fraud' shall now set the criminal justice machinery into motion." He added that the investigating agency must now explain to the Supreme Court what steps it is taking to unravel the larger conspiracy involving the multiple layers of shell companies which were used to layer and conceal proceeds of crime worth tens of thousands of crores of public funds.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : A 38-year-old man, his wife and their domestic help were killed by their former employee and his five to six associates at the couple's residence in West Delhi's Hari Nagar area. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning.

The accused even ransacked the house and took the couple's belongings, including the CCTV camera's DVR to divert police and show it as a robbery bid. The entire conspiracy was unearthed after police nabbed two accused within six hours of the incident.

Meanwhile, a manhunt has been initiated to nab the remaining accused and the main culprit, who wanted to take revenge after being fired from the saloon owned by the couple.

The deceased have been identified as Sameer Ahuja, his wife Shalu and their domestic help Sapna.

According to Ghanshyam Bansal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (west), a call was received at Hari Nagar police station at about 9.15 a.m. regarding an incident of burglary in a house at Ashok Nagar area following which Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) was dispatched for the spot.

"When police team reached the spot, the bodies of Sameer, Shalu and their maid Sapna were found. Both Shalu and Sapna were found lying dead on the ground floor in a saloon owned by the couple, while Sameer was found lying in a pool of blood on the first floor of the building," said the DCP.

"Throat of both Shalu and Sapna had been slit with sharp-edged weapon and Sameer had multiple injuries on face and head. However, the couple's minor daughter was found alive on the first floor in the hall," said the DCP.

"During investigation, it was revealed that the couple's driver came at around 9 a.m. who found the house ransacked, so he made the PCR call. The inspection of the spot revealed that it was a friendly entry," said the official.

"Keeping in view the sensational crime, multiple teams were formed and CCTV footage of the area scanned. The strategic efforts showed the result when the alleged people were found captured in a CCTV installed nearby. They came on two bikes around 8 a.m.," said the official.

"The accused were also seen rushing in a hurry after committing the crime around 9 a.m. Though they had taken the DVR of the CCTV, the technical analysis of the event established that the main conspirator of the incident visited the house around 10 minutes prior to the visit of the maid Sapna," said the DCP.

"Based on CCTV footage, the police team managed to nab Sachin (19), a resident of Najafgarh and Sujeet (21), a resident of Uttam Nagar in connection with the incident," said the official adding that the main conspirator is still on the run and a manhunt has been initiated to nab him.

Police said that so far, the investigation has revealed that the main accused and his girlfriend were working with Shalu in the saloon and around 10 days ago, due to their unprofessional attitude, they both were sacked.

"Sameer also verbally thrashed them. The main conspirator felt humiliated and planned to take revenge and discussed it with Sujit and Sachin. The accused then roped in other three persons and they all on Tuesday morning came prepared and executed the plan," said the DCP.

"As maid reached the couple's house around 8 a.m, the accused also slit her throat. They took away the laptop, cash and other articles lying in the house," said a police official.

"The Iphone-13 (Pro-Max) of Shalu, weapon of offence and bloodstained towel had been recovered at the instance of the accused persons. Efforts are being made to recover remaining case properties," said the DCP, adding that further investigation is underway.
London, Nov 1 : Russia has accused Britain of coordinating attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipes, media reported.

Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, said on Monday that Kremlin intelligence agents "have data indicating British military specialists were directing and coordinating the attack" which destroyed two gas lines running from Russia to Germany in September, Daily Mail reported.

It comes after Kim Dotcom, who ran site Megaupload before he was convicted of fraud, began circulating a conspiracy theory that Liz Truss had texted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken immediately after the attack saying "it's done." Kim claimed to have learned of the message from Truss's iCloud, after it was revealed that Russia hacked her phone while she was foreign secretary. Neither Kim nor Peskov have released the evidence they claim to have seen.

Nonetheless, the accusation does represent a new line of attack from Russia at the US and Britain which have led support for Ukraine in resisting Putin's invasion.

Western leaders have stopped short of publicly blaming Russia for the attack - which blew two holes in each pipeline and may have permanently disabled them - but have been privately briefing their suspicions that Putin was behind it.

Kim's claim about Truss's iPhone also picked up and parroted by Maria Zakharova, spokesman for Russia's foreign ministry, who demanded answers, Daily Mail reported.

"Frankly, I don't care who got this information or how," she said. "I am interested in London's response to the following question: "Did British Prime Minister Liz Truss send a message to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the immediate aftermath of the bombing of the Nord Stream pipeline saying 'It's done?"

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Beijing, Nov 1 : China is rebooting a Mao Zedong-era institution that once functioned as a pillar of the Socialist command economy to prepare for future 'decoupling' from the global economy, analysts said, as per a media report.

Heralding a major step away from the market-oriented economic policies of the last 40 years, the 20th Chinese Communist Party Congress earlier this month saw the elevation of Liang Huiling, who heads a state-run system of 'supply and marketing cooperatives', to the party's Central Committee, amid other signs that leader Xi Jinping is steering the country away from market economics and closer to a state-dominated economy, RFA reported.

"This is a return to the [state-run] collective economy," economic commentator Chen Jun told RFA, adding, "It's pretty scary - they don't want an economy any more. They may decide they don't want private companies any more." Chen cited recent losses in the Shanghai stock market, as well as plummeting prices of luxury apartments in the city.

"They are also controlling the movements of the population around the country using the pandemic [tracking app]. They are transferring energy consumption to heavy industry and military-linked companies," Chen said.

"They don't care about the economy -- [they think] ordinary people will be fine if they get enough to eat," he added.

A senior Chinese media executive, who declined to be named for fear of reprisals, said the supply and marketing co-op system, which used to run general stores in rural areas as late as the 1980s, was never abolished, even though the market economics instigated by late supreme leader Deng Xiaoping in 1979 eventually replaced it with commercial supply chains and distribution networks.

He said he expects the government to use it as a fall-back logistics and supply system to ensure emergency preparedness and food security in the event of worsening relations and further economic decoupling with the rest of the world, RFA reported.

Hunan-based current affairs commentator Li Fang said the government has been quietly restoring funding to the supply and marketing cooperatives in recent years, hiring new people, but without trumpeting the plan in the state-run media.

"They are making a quiet comeback, from the central government down to provincial governments, without much fanfare. Maybe once our relations with Western countries have completely broken down, the economy will decouple and go back to being the planned economy of days gone by," Li said, RFA reported.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Amid Maharashtra losing many big-ticket projects to neighbouring Gujarat, Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran has responded to Union Road Transport Minister's Nitin Gadkari's letter seeking investments from the Tata Group in and around the state's Nagpur.

In the letter, Chandrasekaran has said that teams will be in touch with the Vidarbha Economic Development (VED) Council members "as we evaluate new investment opportunities across the group".

"I have gone through the information in your letter about the various business opportunities in Nagpur for the Tata Group. I have also noted the availability of both SEZ and non SEZ land in areas which are well connected via road, rail and airways," said the letter written on October 19.

"Our teams will definitely be in touch with the Vidarbha Economic Development (VED) Council members as we evaluate new investment opportunities across the group. I look forward meeting you," it said.

On October 7, citing strengths like infrastructure, land availability and connectivity, the Union Minister had written a letter and sought investments from the Tata Group in and around Nagpur.

Recently, Gujarat has bagged many big projects including over Rs 1.5 lakh crore investment from Foxconn-Vedanta on chip manufacturing and nearly Rs 22,000 crore aircraft manufacturing project by Tata-Airbus.

The ruling BJP has faced criticism after Gujarat - where Assembly polls are approaching - walked away with at least two mega projects in the recent months.

Opposition parties have blamed the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government as the big ticket projects went to Gujarat.

"Another project! I have voiced this since July, asking Khoke Sarkar to try for it (Tata Airbus). I wonder why every project is going to other states in the last 3 months. Loss of faith in khoke sarkar is evident on industry level. Will the industry minister resign after losing 4 projects?" Shiv Sena-UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray tweeted on October 27.

In one of the biggest corporate investments, a joint venture of Vedanta and Foxconn had on September 14 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat government to invest over Rs 1.5 lakh crore to set up the semiconductor plant in the state.
Shimla, Nov 1 : Promising to make the state drug free, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday urged people to repeat the BJP government in Himachal Pradesh.

"Repeat the BJP government in Himachal and we will make the state drug free," Shah said at an election rally in Sihunta in the Bhatiyat assembly constituency in Chamba district.

Urging the people to give up the tradition of changing governments every five years, Shah said in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress always played politics over donning the caps.

He was indirectly replying to Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi appeal a day earlier, asking the voters to oust the BJP from power for a bright future. "Change in the government every five years good for people," she said at an election rally in Mandi town.

Slamming the Gandhi family, he said the Congress is "Maa-bete ki party", while a party like the BJP that has given a chance to a "Chai wala" to become the Prime Minister.

Saying that the double engine government has given the state many infrastructure projects, the Union Minister said the Central government has sanctioned several projects to the state.

"We have made a medical device park in Nalagarh which will give jobs to 10,000 people. We have also built the Atal tunnel that will promote tourism throughout the year." Taking a jibe at state Congress unit chief Pratibha Singh, who belongs to the erstwhile royal family of Keonthal state, Shah said: "Now it is not the era of the kings and queens, it is the era of the public." Urging the people for giving one more chance to the incumbent government, he said this time there will be 'rivaj badlega' (electoral traditions will change).

"They say Himachal has a tradition. One time there is the Congress and the next time the BJP. This time the tradition will change. One time the BJP and every time there is the BJP." "The enthusiasm of mothers, sisters and the youth is telling that the people of the state have made up their mind to elect the BJP again for the progress and development of Himachal," he added.

Later, Shah, who is on a two-day tour of the state, addressed a public meeting in Karsog in Mandi district.
Shimla, Nov 1 : Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said the Congress is a party which has misled the people for 75 years.

"The reality of such a deceitful party has been known to the public and this is the reason why today people have completely rejected the Congress. The BJP is the only good option with the people for governance and public welfare," he told the media.

The Minister said the double engine government has brought all-around balanced development to Himachal Pradesh, be it the AIIMS in Bilaspur, the PGI Satellite Centre in Una, six medical colleges, a bulk drug park and a medical device park, all these achievements have created new opportunities for employment and investment in Himachal.

"In the last five years, an investment of Rs 41,000 crore has come in Himachal Pradesh. Due to the efficient leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is emerging as a power centre in the world." Singh said at the Centre, Prime Minister Modi dedicated the world's largest health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat to the people and on the same lines the Himcare scheme in Himachal has been implemented by the Jai Ram Thakur government in the state, which is an excellent example of the work of the double engine government.

Talking on the old pension scheme (OPS), a major poll issue in the state, the Union minister said had the Congress been so serious on this subject, it could have been implemented during the previous Virbhadra government.

"We also need to note here that the decision to abolish OPS in 2004 was taken by the then Virbhadra government and now the Congress is trying to get political mileage on this issue around the polls by misleading the employees." Taking into consideration the all-round development of the state by the double engine government, the BJP is sure to come back to power again as the aspirations of the people have been met by the sensitive approach of the government befitting cross section of people.

The hill state will go to the polls for the BJP-ruled 68-member assembly on November 12.
Bengaluru, Nov 1 : Bengaluru is the preferred destination for global investors, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Tuesday, adding that the three-day 'Invest Karnataka' meet will be a grand success.

Bengaluru Palace will host 'Invest Karnataka', the three-day global investors' meet, which will be inaugurated virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 2.

Talking to reporters after inspecting the arrangements for the three-day meet at the Palace ground on Tuesday, Bommai said that 'Invest Karnataka' will grab the attention of the whole world.

Global investment will lay a strong foundation for the development of Karnataka in the next five years, the Chief Minister said, as he termed the global investors' meet as an important event where technocrats, young engineers, IT/BT experts, startups, educational institutions and global and domestic investors will be welcomed.

"We are expecting more than Rs 5 lakh crore investment, and the state's high-level committee has already given clearance for investment worth over Rs 2.8 lakh crore. This is our commitment to the investors and we are going to distribute the certificates of investment on Wednesday.

"We will sign agreements with the new investors and give all the required clearances in the next few days. Karnataka is taking a big leap in the industrial sector which will be evident in tomorrow's meet," he said.

Bommai also said that most of the investors have shown interest for investment beyond Bengaluru, and new industries will now come up in Ramanagar, Hubballi-Dharwad, Ballari, Kalaburagi and Mysuru.

"Today, the industries are crossing the regional barrier. The dream of 'Beyond Bengaluru' is becoming a reality. Last week, the FMCG cluster to come up in Dharwad was inaugurated in Hubballi with an expected investment of Rs 10,000 crore. It is going to provide employment to over one lakh people," Bommai said.

"Textile parks will come up in Kalaburagi, Vijayapura and Raichur districts, along with a pharma park in Yadgir, an electronics park in Mysuru and a defence production unit in Tumkur. Our aim is to contribute $1 trillion to the Prime Minister's vision of $5 trillion Indian economy," the Chief Minister said.

The state has made achievements in the manufacturing sector, while it is also in the forefront in the fields of electronics, mechanical, energy, iron and steel sectors, he said.

"We have been in the forefront in IT/BT for the last two decades, which is why Bengaluru is called the Silicon Valley. The contribution of Karnataka to IT/BT exports is 40 per cent and the maximum number of jobs in this field is created here," Bommai said.
Mumbai, Nov 1 : Lt Gen Ajai Kumar Singh has taken over as the new chief of the Indian Army's Southern Command, headquartered in Pune, officials said on Tuesday.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Pune and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, he took over from the outgoing Commander J. S. Nain, who relinquished charge on Monday.

Commissioned into the army's 7/11 Gorkha Rifles in Dec. 1984, Lt Gen Singh has vast operational experience of all types of terrain, whether counter-insurgency areas, high altitude and icy glaciated regions like Siachen or the hot deserts.

He commanded the 1/11 Gorkha Rifles on the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir, an elite brigade in the Wwstern theatre, a frontline counter-insurgency force in the Kashmir Valley, and the Trishakti Corps in the northeast.

He has also held key instructional and staff appointments like Instructor at the Commando Wing, Belgaum, Additional Director General of Military Operations and Director General Operational Logistic & Strategic Movement at the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence, New Delhi.

He was also a diplomat-soldier with a stint as Officer-in-Charge, PPO Dharan at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

On taking over, he paid homage to the fallen soldiers by laying a wreath at the Southern Command War Memorial in Pune.

Lt Gen Nain - who was appointed in February 2021, lauded all the ranks of the command for their unflinching commitment, dedication and devotion in accomplishing assigned tasks in extremely challenging operational environments.
New Delhi, Nov 1: Alleging that Ukraine has resorted to using grain corridor for military purposes, Russia has suspended implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative indefinitely.

The United Nations-backed agreement was signed by Russia, Ukraine and Turkey in Istanbul on July 22 in order to give global access to Ukrainian food products and Russian food and fertilizer.

Moscow has claimed that on the morning of October 29, the Ukrainian armed forces, "under the cover" of the humanitarian grain corridor created as part of the Black Sea Initiative, launched massive air and sea strikes against the ships and infrastructure of the Russian Black Sea Fleet at the naval base in Sevastopol.

The attack on Russian ships involved in ensuring the security of the grain corridor for the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports, it said, involved nine unmanned aerial vehicles and seven autonomous underwater drones.

Earlier today, at a meeting of the UN Security Council in connection with the suspension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia's Permanent Representative Vasily Alekseyevich Nebenzya said that experts who examined the wreckage of marine unmanned vehicles -- and subsequently the Canadian-made navigation modules installed on them -- found out that the launch of these marine drones was carried out from the coast near the city of Odessa.

"They moved along the security zone of the grain corridor, after which they changed the route in the direction of Sevastopol in the Russian Crimea. At the same time, the coordinates of the movement of one of the vehicles indicate the starting point directly in the sea area of the grain corridor security zone. This may indicate the launch of a drone from one of the civilian ships chartered by Kyiv and its Western curators to export agricultural products," said Nebenzya.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, the preparation of this "terrorist attack" was carried out by Kyiv "under the guidance of British specialists" located in the port of Ochakov, Mykolaiv region of Ukraine.

"Also noteworthy is the presence on Saturday in the sky over the Black Sea near the coast of Crimea of the US strategic reconnaissance drone RQ-4? Global Hawk," stated Russia's UN Ambassador.

Insisting that it cannot guarantee the safety of civilian dry cargo ships participating in the Black Sea Initiative, Russia suspended its implementation immediately after the Sevastopol incident.

Corresponding instructions were also given to its representatives at the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul which controls the transportation of Ukrainian food.

But, Moscow alleged, the work continued in Istanbul without the participation of Russian experts.

"In particular, on October 30-31, representatives of Turkey, the UN and Ukraine agreed on the passage of 12 ships from Ukrainian ports to Turkey, 4 from Turkey to Ukraine and 40 from Turkey to the Mediterranean Sea," Nebenzya said in his statement in New York.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also dialled Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on Monday to discuss the current situation.

Black Sea Grain Initiative "During the conversation, S V Lavrov outlined the need to ensure the receipt of guarantees from Ukraine on the non-use of the humanitarian corridor and Ukrainian ports, identified in the interests of the export of agricultural products, to conduct military operations against the Russian Federation," said a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"Only under such conditions is it possible to discuss the issue of resuming traffic along the security corridor defined by the Black Sea Initiative," it added.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a call with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday, said that his country is determined to "remain a guarantor of world food security" and to continue its grain exports.

"Held talks with UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres. Confirmed Ukraine's commitment to the Grain Deal. We're ready to remain a guarantor of global food safety. Informed about the consequences of the missile terror and nuclear blackmail by the Russian Federation. The reaction of the world & UN must be tough!" Zelensky wrote on Twitter.

Kyiv also accused Russia of continuing to launch missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

Ukrainian capital city's Mayor Vitali Klitschko was quoted as saying that 350,000 Kyiv homes were cut off from electricity, and 80 per cent were left without water as of noon due to fresh Russian missile attacks which also damaged 450 cell towers causing mobile communication disruptions.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative

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Chennai, Nov 1 : A cinereous vulture that was rescued and housed in the Udayagiri Biological park in Tamil Nadu's Kanniyakumari will be flown to Rajasthan's Jodhpur on November 3, and released with others of its kind near the animal carcass dumping site.

The scavenger bird was earlier scheduled to be shifted by road from Kanniyakumari to Udaipur but after some officials and veterinarians opposed the move, the government dropped the idea.

However, sources in the Tamil Nadu Forest Department told IANS that no airline was willing to airlift the vulture and it required much persuasion from the state Conservator of Forests, N. Padamavathe for Air India to finally agree.

The vulture has already been moved from the Udayagiri park to Vandalur zoo on Monday and will be kept there for three days before it embarks on its journey to Udaipur.

Kanniyakumari DFO, M. Illayaraj is accompanying the bird on Thursday during its flight to Jodhpur. The flight which is carrying the vulture will take off at 6 a.m. and will land at Jodhpur before afternoon.

Sources in the Forest Department of Tamil Nadu told IANS that the Vulture would, on reaching Jodhpur, be immediately shifted to Machia Biological Park and after some time will be released at an animal carcass dumping ground, where a large number of cinereous vultures will be present.

The idea of transporting the vulture by road was dropped after experts told the Tamil Nadu Forest Department that it would stress the vulture as the journey was 2,600 km and would not be safe for the bird.
New Delhi, Nov 1: Rishi Sunak's rise to the top in British politics has come with its share of 'shock and awe'.

Sunak became the prime minister of the UK within a month of serious unrest in Leicester -- a city of three lakh people known for its inter-community harmony, well, until now.

The Muslim-Hindu unrest in a tranquil city ruffled Royal feathers besides creating news across the world. A number of independent inquiries are in the offing over the communal clashes.

Jubilant reactions among Hindus have been documented in detail by the media not just in the UK and India but across the world. Among British Muslims, while some notable personalities have voiced their support for Sunak, influential sections -- some with connections with the Left and the Labour Party -- have focused on the Prime Minister's riches, his so-called pronounced Hinduism, his Tory thought as well as foreign policy disposition towards Palestine and India.

A past interview by Sunak on "grooming gangs" -- wherein predominantly Pakistani men have been charged, has been dug out. Sunak is seen promising action on a sensitive race issue which has been buried in the UK due to 'political correctness' despite its acute criminality.

Even as Sunak remains under microscopic scrutiny, a Muslim organisation has been running a campaign against him. The Muslim Public Affairs Committee (MPACUK) posted a series of tweets between October 24 to 26 -- all criticising Sunak.

It began on October 24 by saying: "Sunak doesn't have the support of his own Party's membership, nor most of his colleagues in Parliament, and definitely not of the country. MPACUK demands a General Election NOW!" By October 25 MPACUK said: "Here's our reasons for why the Muslim community should be dissatisfied with Sunak as PM and released a video on why Rishi Sunak is bad news for Muslims." The committee is also rallying the Muslims to be prepared for elections as it feels general elections in the UK are round the corner.

A day later the MPACUK released another video saying why Rishi Sunak is "bad news" as Prime Minister of the UK.

Among the issues it lists, which it thinks makes Sunak 'bad news for Muslims' are his Conservative Party thinking, support to Israel, his wife's ownership of Infosys and that "Rishi Sunak is not the best for Britain let alone for the Muslims here..." Despite the MPACUK's strident anti-Sunak campaign, some constituents have voiced support for Sunak.

Foremost among them is writer and commentator Wasiq Wasiq who has been battling the anti-Sunak sentiment on social media.

He was among the few to have clapped his approval for Sunak even before the Indian-origin leader took on the mantle as the Prime Minister.

Another Muslim figure, researcher and culture writer, Dr Rakib Ehsan has come to Sunak's defence many a times.

Ehsan has taken a swipe at the powerful Left-Liberal combine for vilifying Sunak's elitism and wealthy background. He has also stood his ground over communal attacks on Sunak and defended his policies.

That Sunak is a practicing Hindu and has been photographed with cows also led to a social media kerfuffle.

Well known Pakistani writer-in-exile, Ayesha Siddiqa alluded to his Hindu roots while making a confusing comment on his ties with India. Siddiqa said: "He recently went to a cow temple and other signs of support. But there will be pressure on him so not easy to deal with India..." Siddiqa's comment obviously drew sharp comments over the term "cow temple" after which she tried to decry Sunak as not only rich but Hindutva.

"We are generally weary of owning our own Hindus unless it is to showcase liberalism so what to speak of Richie Sunak who is not just Tory but Hindutva." Sunak's elevation has caused more than a flutter among the Muslims in Britain.

Large sections are keeping quiet over the UK's youngest and first Hindu Prime Minister. Many others are watching his policies from an Islamic point of view while some have already announced that a Hindu Prime Minister is just not going to be right for the Muslims.

With inter-faith relations under strain after the Leicester violence, the Palestinian issue always on a boil, grooming gang convictions of Pakistani men that keep popping up frequently and a vocal-visible minority Muslim population with assimilation issues, Sunak will have to tread with caution.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
New Delhi, Nov 1: Under its mischievous gameplan, Pakistan is now permanently housing Khalistani extremists in historic Gurdwaras that are visited by Sikh devotees from India and elsewhere in large numbers.

Ravinder Singh Pinka, who along with his 8 accomplices, hijacked an Indian Airlines plane from Srinagar to Lahore in 1984 is roaming free at Gurdwara Panja Sahib and mingling with Sikh devotees who have gone to Pakistan to observe the 100th anniversary of 'Saka Panja Sahib'.

A picture shows that while Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh was visiting the gurdwara in Pakistan, Pinka saw a photo opportunity and started walking along with him. This photo went viral on social media.

When the SGPC officials were informed about the hijacker Ravinder Pinka, the video was immediately taken off the website of the religious body. But, by then several people had taken screenshots of the picture which is now stoking a controversy.

An official of the SGPC said that the Jathedar belongs to the entire community and nobody is prohibited from meeting him. Giani Ji might not even be knowing or recognising Pinka, he explained.

Ravinder Pinka and his 8 partners in crime were given a death sentence by a Pakistan court but were released under an amnesty scheme.

Since then, all the hijackers, according to Indian agencies, have been residing in Pakistan. They continue to carry forward the anti-India agenda of the ISI.

It is common knowledge that Khalistanis like Harvinder Singh alias Rinda, Wadhawa Singh, Paramjit Singh Panjwar, Lakhbir Singh Rode, Ranjeet Singh Neeta, Gajender Singh, Manjit Fauji and Manjit Pinka, are regularly sighted at historical Gurdwaras in Pakistan and sermonise Sikh visitors.

Khalistanis in order to exploit religious sentiments always deliberately operate from Gurdwaras. They post profile pictures with the holy Panja Sahib Gurdwara which is linked to Guru Nanak Dev, in the background to convey that they are "pious".

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
Washington, Nov 1 : Barack Obama became a historical figure when he took office in January 2009 as the first African-American President of the United States.

Rishi Sunak put his own stamp on history last week when he became the first coloured Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Add a few more firsts here in the same vein: The first person of Indian origin to hold the same post, and the first South Asian descent person to do the same.

Both Obama and Sunak's elevation to the their respective country's top positions created waves across the world. Sunak's elevation was especially sweet for the former colonies of the British empire, whose response was aptly captured in a headline that was commonly used there: 'The Empire Strikes Back'.

The two leaders also share their relative youth for the age -- Sunk is 42 and Obama was 47 when he was elected as US President, and both have two daughters.

But there are crucial differences between the two. In fact, too many to list out here.

Most critically -- and one that escaped notice among Sunak's fans in the Indian diaspora around the world, and the Hindu Diaspora -- while Obama kept his ethnic background as an African-American up front even as he tried to be a unifying figure, Sunak cut himself a starkly different path.

There was no mention of his Indian-descent or Hindu faith in Sunak's first speech from 10 Downing Street upon being invited to form the next government to replace Liz Truss'.

He spoke of economy as being the main challenge, integrity - in a nod to Boris Johnson's scandal-ridden premiership - and professionalism, which was sorely lacking from Truss' 44 days in office. But there was no mention, once again, of his Indian-descent or Hindu faith, neither of which he has been shy to acknowledge in the past.

Sunak's father and mother were born in Kenya and Tanzania to parents from Punjab (Pakistanis have claimed some ownership as Sunak's paternal grandfather was born in Gujranwala, which is in Pakistan now) and Delhi, respectively.

Sunak himself was born in England. He also wears, as has been noted by the Hindu diaspora, a thick band of 'moily' (the red Hindu ritualistic thread) around his wrist. But he did not wear it specially for his inaugural speech, as has been wrongly portrayed in some reports.

In his victory speech on November 5, 2008, Obama had harped on the transformational nature of his election.

"This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election, except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old," he had said and gone on to devote several paragraphs to an African-American who was born into a slave family who could not vote in the pre-civil rights days because of the color of her skin.

"And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America - the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes, we can." The last three words of his campaign slogan have become iconic since.

In his inaugural speech on January 21, 2009, Obama focused largely on the economy - the US was going through a recession at the time - and the challenges were similar but more dire than to those in Sunak's United Kingdom now, but the first African-American President made sure to remind the listeners of his background.

"And so, to all the other people and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born (Barack Obama Sr was from Kenya), know that America is a friend of each nation, and every man, woman and child who seek a future of peace and dignity. And we are ready to lead once more." Sunak, by contrast, has presented himself as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from the start, who intends to extricate the economy from its present crisis and lead a government that governs with integrity, unlike Johnson, and with professionalism, unlike Truss.
Mumbai, Nov 1 : Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday completed a year in jail in separate cases lodged by the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation pertaining to alleged corruption and related issues.

"Missing" for several months after he quit as home minister on April 5, 2021, he finally went to the ED office on November 1 last year and arrested shortly after midnight of November 2, and has remained behind bars since.

Last month, the Bombay High Court granted bail to Deshmukh in the ED's Prevention of Money Laundering Act case, but a special CBI Court declined bail to him in the Prevention of Corruption Act case.

The ED case pertains to certain alleged money-laundering deals through his family-run trusts in Nagpur, while the CBI case concerns corruption in police transfers/postings and collecting money from bar owners.

Last month, the Bombay High Court granted bail to Deshmukh in the ED case, but he remained entangled in the CBI case.

The special CBI court noted that the statement of the dismissed former cop Sachin Vaze - now turned an approver - was important and could not be overlooked at the stage of bail hearing, and there's a huge amount affecting the nation's economy.

Citing the high court orders, Deshmukh's lawyers said that the testimony of the CBI's prime witness Vaze was inadmissible as he kept changing his submissions before the probe panel, Justice K. U. Chandiwal Commission set up by the Maharashtra government.

The CBI argued that Deshmukh was a "flight risk" and drew differences between the ED and CBI cases, contending that Vaze is now an approver in the (CBI) case and there is sufficient evidence against the ex-minister.

The entire imbroglio started in early 2021 with a series of high-profile developments culminating with the then Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh writing a letter to the then CM Uddhav Thackeray, how Deshmukh had allegedly asked his officers like Vaze to collect Rs 100 crore from Mumbai bar owners.

With a series of petitions filed, in April 2021, the high court asked the CBI to conduct a preliminary probe into Singh's letter-bomb, and later the agency filed a FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and based on the FIR, the ED also entered the matter with a PMLA probe.

The ED contended that between December 2020-February 2021, Deshmukh had allegedly received around Rs 4.70 crore as bribes from various bars in Mumbai through Vaze.

Last month, Justice N.J. Jamdar granted the bail to Deshmukh observing that the ex-minister may ultimately not get convicted in the ED case, in view of several contradictory statements, and Singh's allegations arising out of hearsay, while it found Vaze to be an unreliable witness.

In February 2022, NCP leader and minister Nawab Malik was arrested and remains in jail for the past over eight months, and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut was also nabbed on August 1 and continues in jail since the past over 3 months.
Patna, Nov 1 : The Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) on Tuesday offered "conditional support" to the BJP in the November 3 bypolls.

Party spokesperson Danish Rizwan said that if the BJP will give Rs 15 lakh to the account of every person of the country in the next two days, HAM will give it complete support.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised during 2014 Lok Sabha election to give Rs 15 lakh cash to every person of the country apart from 2 lakh jobs per year, houses to everyone and special status of Bihar," he said.

With HAM and Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas having sizable support of Dalit and Mahadalit communities in Bihar, Rizwan said that Paswan's decision to go with the BJP and campaign for its candidates in Mokama and Gopalganj, was only to become a Union Minister.

"We are concerned about the country, the youths, their unemployment, price rise and hence, we are against the BJP. On the other hand, Chirag Paswan is campaigning for BJP candidates to become a minister in the Centre," he said.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, said on Tuesday that the Parwanoo-Solan section of NH-05 (old NH-22) in Himachal Pradesh has been developed under Phase III of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) from the end of Parwanoo bypass to Solan, adding that the infrastructure of 'New India' is developing at a fast pace under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Gadkari said presently this national highway is part of the ancient and historical route known as Hindustan-Tibet Road. In the 70s, it was upgraded to the NH specification.

The minister said that this national highway connects the districts of Solan, Sirmaur, Shimla, Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti and its subdivisions, the Seraj region of Kullu district and the Karsog subdivision, which constitute more than 30 per cent of the land area in the state.

He said this project has brought a large number of electronic and non-polluting industries in the Shimla section of the state, in Parwanoo town, Solan and Sirmaur districts.

Gadkari said the border areas of Kinnaur/Lahual and Spiti have been opened by the government for domestic and foreign tourists. The influx of tourists has contributed significantly to the development of road traffic in these districts and to the all-round economic development of the state.

The minister said the road height in this project area is 874 to 1,659 metres above MSL (mean sea level).
Bengaluru, Nov 1 : The incident of Karnataka Police job aspirants breaking down and falling at the feet of Home Minister Araga Jnanendra at a public function on Tuesday triggered a political slugfest between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress.

Hundreds of aspirants for constable's posts from north Karnataka had come to meet the minister to demand an an increase of job quotas and speedy recruitment to the posts.

The pictures and videos of young men and women job aspirants falling at the feet of the Home Minister, as they broke down and pleaded with him with both hands went viral on social media.

Opposition Congress charged that when job aspirants came pleading for recruitment, Home Minister Jnanendra showed arrogance and negligence.

"Is this the way to behave with the people? This is the response you give for unemployed youth? This arrogance and abstinence will remain only for a few months," Congress leaders warned, indicating the next Assembly elections are scheduled to be held within six months.

However, Jnanendra has ruled out charges that he behaved arrogantly with job aspirants. "I have listened to the grievances of the job aspirants patiently and responded positively. Arrogance and obstinacy are the characters of Congress leaders," he said.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Some Indian students in Canada are accusing the country of using them as a cheap source of labour and discarding them once they're no longer needed, a media report said on Tuesday.

Amid labour shortage and high unemployment rate, which fell to 5.2 per cent this September, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced a new temporary measure aimed at reducing severe labour shortages in Canada, a Bloomberg report said.

According to the report, PM Justin Trudeau's government introduced the permit extension move to over 5,00,000 international students already in Canada to potentially work more hours, and stay for 18 months after graduation to seek employment.

However, after more than a year, some of these permanent-resident hopefuls have been left without status to work or remain in the country.

"I'm basically sitting at home and living off of my savings... Canada should appreciate foreign students more, not just use them as a form of cheap labour," Daniel D'Souza, an accountant and former student at Seneca College near Toronto, told Bloomberg.

With 1.83 lakh Indian students pursuing education at various levels in the country, Canada is the second most popular destination for Indians pursuing academic degrees at foreign shores.

Canada has processed more than 4.52 lakh study permit applications since January -- a 23 percent increase compared to the 3.67 lakh processed over the same period last year, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said.

In 2021, Canada had over 6.20 lakh of which one-third were from India.

Many graduates who were part of the 2021 program, had to leave their jobs when their work permits expired with no guarantee they'll gain permanent residency.

Even if their applications are eventually successful, students face months in limbo with no job, income, or health and social benefits, Bloomberg reported.

"When they needed us, they exploited us. But when we need their help or support, nobody shows up," Anshdeep Bindra, a former consultant at Ernst & Young in Toronto, told Bloomberg.

Indian graduates, who hoped that the permit extension would give them more time to gain Canadian work experience, got mired in a backlog of applications that led to a 10-month shutdown of the system to allow the government to process them.

Once the system was activated, the students found themselves competing with pools of immigrants with much higher-than-normal scores, reducing their chances of gaining permanent residency, the report said.

International students contribute more than C$21 billion ($15.3 billion) annually to the Canadian economy, according to the government data.

Canada is a popular choice among students moving abroad due to its quality education, friendly visa and immigration rules, and better life prospects.

Most Indian students are interested in remaining in Canada as permanent residents after completing their studies.

According to Statistics Canada, international students who get permanent residence tend to integrate quickly into the Canadian labour market due to their previous experience of living in the country on visas.

MEA data show that in the first six months of 2022, as many as 64,667 Indians going abroad for education named the USA as their destination, followed closely by Canada (60,258).

Before the pandemic, in 2019, 1,32,620 Indian students had chosen Canada. In 2020, after Covid-19 broke out, the number dipped to 43,624, before rising sharply to 1,02,688 in 2021, according to the MEA.
In the capital Raipur, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel today inaugurated the National Tribal Dance Festival and State Festival by playing the tribal musical instrument Nagada.. Image Source: IANS News

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has a special conversation with IANS on the issue of development and upliftment of the tribals of Chhattisgarh and many more issues. Image Source: IANS News

In the capital Raipur, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel today inaugurated the National Tribal Dance Festival and State Festival by playing the tribal musical instrument Nagada.. Image Source: IANS News

In the capital Raipur, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel today inaugurated the National Tribal Dance Festival and State Festival by playing the tribal musical instrument Nagada.. Image Source: IANS News

In the capital Raipur, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel today inaugurated the National Tribal Dance Festival and State Festival by playing the tribal musical instrument Nagada.. Image Source: IANS News

In the capital Raipur, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel today inaugurated the National Tribal Dance Festival and State Festival by playing the tribal musical instrument Nagada.. Image Source: IANS News

In the capital Raipur, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel today inaugurated the National Tribal Dance Festival and State Festival by playing the tribal musical instrument Nagada.. Image Source: IANS News

Raipur, Nov 1 : Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated the third National Tribal Dance Festival to mark State Foundation Day on Tuesday by playing the tribal musical instrument, Nagada in Raipur. Artists from 28 states of India and 10 countries of the world participated in this festival.

Raipur is hosting the festival to celebrate Chhattisgarh's 23rd Foundation Day (Chhattisgarh Rajyotsava) from November 1-3 at Science College Ground.

In the programme, artists from 28 states, seven Union Territories of India and, 10 foreign countries - Mozambique, Togo, Egypt, Mongolia, Indonesia, Russia, New Zealand, Serbia, Rwanda and Maldives - mesmerised the audience by their performances.

Around 1,500 Indians and foreign artists are said to be participating in this event. Baghel released postal stamps and envelopes issued by the Postal Department and several books of the festival of 2021.

Assembly speaker, Charan Das Mahant, who is presiding over the programme, said that it it was a proud day for the state. He added that they received public opinion to bring the state's original culture and ideology to the fore.

Praising the government for its work towards the development of the state and its people, he stated that the farmers, poor and backward were benefiting from the government schemes.

"Everyone has to move forward with the resolution of Gadhbo Nava Chhattisgarh, to make Chhattisgarh a developed state," he added.

Tourism and Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu said that the government has been working to preserve and promote the state's culture and tradition for the last 4 years.

On the occasion, State's Culture Minister Amarjeet Bhagat said that the government has enhanced the respect of tribals by declaring a holiday on World Tribal Day and has increased their value by organising the National Tribal Dance Festival.

Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain gave the welcome speech while the vote of thanks was given by Culture Secretary Anbalagan P.

Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey, Forest Minister Mohammad Akbar, Child and Women Welfare Minister, Anila Bhendia, Industries Minister Kawasi Lakhma, Tribal Development Minister Premsai Singh Tekam, Public Health Engineering Minister Rudra Kumar, Urban Administration, Development and Labour Minister Shivkumar Dahariya, several parliamentary secretaries, and MLAs were also present in the festival.
Guwahati, Nov 1 : Assam Police have busted a human trafficking racket and rescued a minor girl who was abducted from the Sarthebari area in the Barpeta district, officials said on Tuesday.

Two persons alleged to be involved in human trafficking were also arrested by the police.

A senior police officer informed that the minor girl was abducted from the Sarthebari area a year back. Police at that time launched an operation and arrested Sahar Ali alias Bablu in this case.

Interrogating Ali, police came to know that he has sold the minor girl somewhere in Haryana for Rs 1.2 lakh.

Police were searching for the minor since that time. The officer said that recently Assam police with the help of Haryana police rescued the abducted girl.

Two persons identified as Rajesh Kumar and Anil Kumar were arrested in this connection. Police have been investigating to unearth further linkages to the human trafficking racket.

Notably, human trafficking is one of the most distressing problems in Assam for many years. According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the state registered the third-highest number of cases in the last year.

In 2021, over 203 cases of human trafficking were registered as compared to 124 cases in 2020.

As many as 460 victims were trafficked from the state, while 425 victims were rescued in 2021, as per the NCRB data.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri has said that India doesn't have any moral conflict on purchasing oil from Russia, which has faced criticism internationally due to its war with Ukraine.

In an interview with CNN in Abu Dhabi, Puri while responding to a question on whether India felt any moral conflict while seeking oil supplies from Russia, replied: "Absolutely none." "Absolutely none, absolutely none. There is no moral conflict. We don't buy from X or Y. We buy whatever is available. I don't do the buying. The government does not do it. Oil companies do. We owe a moral duty to our consumers," he said.

"We don't feel any pressure. Modi's government doesn't feel the pressure. We are the fifth largest economy in the world. India will respond according to its supreme national interest," he added.

Though India has not taken any sides in international fora over the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told Russian President Vladimir Putin in September during the SCO summit in Uzbekistan, that it was not a time for war with food and fertiliser being major concerns in the world at present.

--IANS ans/vd

A

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Malayalam news channel 'MediaOne' on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that there is not a single instance when the channel violated the programme code and security clearance from the Centre is not needed for renewal of broadcast licence.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing the news channel, contended before a bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Hima Kohli that government does not have omnibus discretion to impose any new condition and emphasised on the aspect of freedom of press.

Dave said the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 does not contemplate any requirement of security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs for the renewal of broadcast licence. He said the Act itself provides certain conditions which need to be fulfilled like interest of sovereignty, and security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, incitement of offence, decency and morality, and contempt of court. "There is not a single instance when we violated the programme code," he said.

He vehemently argued that the government cannot put any new conditions, and the channel is not eligible for registration and renewal of license if the conditions in Act are not fulfilled.

The top court was informed that the Act provides that renewal will be considered after a period of 10 years, subject to the condition that the channel should not have been found violating programme code on five occasions.

The bench noted that renewal is like grant of license at the initial level, which gives it uplinking rights for a fresh period of 10 years.

Dave said the renewal position has general terms and conditions which does not say anything about the need for security clearances and added the government does not have omnibus discretion in imposing any new condition. The top court will continue to hear the matter on Wednesday.

The top court is hearing a plea by the news channel challenging the Kerala High Court's order upholding the Centre's decision to ban its telecast on security grounds.

On March 15 this year, the Supreme Court stayed the Centre's ban on the Malayalam TV news channel. The Central government hadAcited national security grounds to justify the ban.

Media One had moved the top court after the Kerala High Court upheld the ban imposed on it by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice S. Manikumar and Justice Shaji P. Chali noted when certain issues with respect to the security of the state are concerned, the government is at liberty to decline to renew the permission granted, without disclosing the complete reasons for the non-renewal. The high court, on March 2, had dismissed the appeals filed by the channel's management and journalists challenging a February 9 single-bench order, which refused to lift the ban.
London, Nov 1 : PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz has said that former Prime Minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan is no longer a stakeholder in Pakistans politics and the coalition government is unperturbed by his long march to Islamabad, which kicked off on October 28, the media reported.

"Whether they [PTI] bring 2,000 or 20,0000 people (to Islamabad), we will not listen to the demands of 'armed groups'. They are not democratic people. They are political terrorists," she said while addressing a press conference in London on Tuesday, The Express Tribune.

Maryam, while calling Imran a 'political terrorist', said his 'Haqeeqi Azadi March' to the federal capital is aimed to put pressure on the incumbent government on the matter of army chief's appointment.

Speaking about the unprecedented press conference of top military chiefs, Maryam said the DG ISI exposed the "lies" of Imran Khan that he met the army chief at night to present his 'unconstitutional' demands.

"They [military leaders] did not address the presser under pressure. It was necessary to present the counter facts to protect the national interest," she said, Express Tribune reported.

The PML-N leader said Imran Khan is trying to stop the incumbent government from appointing the next army chief by making controversial statements in public rallies and during the long march.

She said the appointment of the military chief is the legal and constitutional right of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

"He [Imran Khan] should know that the process for the appointment will take place amicably," Maryam said.

Opposing any efforts to hold negotiations with Imran Khan, Maryam said the discussions should only be held to formulate a strategy to get rid of 'fitna' [mischief] -- a reference to the PTI chief.

The ruling party leader said the military's announcement that it will remain 'apolitical' was actually the victory of PML-N supremo and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's narrative, Express Tribune reported.

"He (Nawaz Sharif) always advocated that institutions must work within their constitutional domain," she said.

Maryam, who's the daugher of Nawaz Sharif, also said that Imran Khan is failing to dislodge the government through his 'foreign conspiracy' narrative using his last card - long march.

"Now he is left with no option." Speaking about the Toshakhana reference, Maryam said the former premier's disqualification in the case was just the "tip of the iceberg".

"Did the establishment ask you to get gifts from Toshakahan [depository]... Did the establishment ask you to appoint Bushra Bibi [former first lady] as your front woman," she said.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Two people died while 18 were rescued after a fire broke out at a footwear factory in Delhi's Narela industrial area on Tuesday, fire officials said.

The deceased have been identified as Sonu Thakur (24), a resident of Bihar, and Akhil Kumar (20), a resident of Narela.

Delhi Fire Service chief Atul Garg said that a call regarding the fire at a building in the area was received at around 9.35 a.m. following which 12 fire tenders were pressed into service.

"The fire was doused by 3 p.m.," said a fire official, adding that around 50 fire personnel were pressed into action as the fire was on the second floor of the building.

According to police, a total of 20 people were rescued from the slipper manufacturing unit. "Two were declared brought dead while eight people were treated at Ram Manohar Lohia hospital and 10 were referred to Safdarjung hospital for the treatment," said the official.

A case has been registered under sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 34 (common intension) of the Indian Penal Code and further investigation has been launched, said a senior police official.

Police said that the owner of the factory, Sahil Garg (30), a resident of Pitampura, is absconding and a manhunt has been launched to nab him.

Meanwhile, police have detained Sahil's father, Krishan Garg, the owner of the property.
Toronto, Nov 1 : In order to address acute labour shortage, Canada plans to welcome a record 500,000 new permanent residents in 2025, the government said while announcing the Immigration Levels Plan for 2023-2025 on Tuesday.

The North American nation increased its 2023 immigration target to 465,000 and its 2024 target to 485,000, up 4 per cent and 7.5 per cent, respectively.

Canada's immigration goals include growing the economy, reuniting families, and offering asylum to refugees fleeing hardship abroad, CIC News reported.

In 2021, Canada broke its all-time immigration record by welcoming over 405,000 immigrants.

Image Source: IANS News

The majority of new permanent residents immigrate through economic class programs such as those within the Express Entry system or through Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs).

According to the new plan, there will be 82,880 Express Entry landings in 2023, 109,020 in 2024 and 114,000 in 2025.

The PNP will remain Canada's leading admissions program for economic class immigrants with 105,500 PNP landings in 2023, 110,000 in 2024 and 117,500 in 2025.

According to CIC News, Canada will continue to look to welcome some 80,000 new immigrants per year under the Spouses, Partners and Children program.

Targets for the Parents and Grandparents Program will rise to 28,500 in 2023, followed by 34,000 in 2024, and 36,000 in 2025.

The most recent job vacancy data showed there were 958,500 open roles in Canada in August and 1 million unemployed people.

The economy lost almost $13 billion over the past year due to a nationwide labour and skill shortage in the manufacturing sector, the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters' labour survey of 563 manufacturers in 17 industries across the country found.

Labour shortages are further impacted by Canada's low birth rate of 1.4 children per woman, one of the lowest globally, according to media reports.

According to a CIC News report, nine million people, or nearly a quarter of Canada's population, will reach retirement age by 2030, which will create an urgent shortage of workers throughout all sectors of the economy.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Srinagar, Nov 1 : Three LeT terrorists, including a commander, were killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Tuesday, as they were on their way to attack a security force camp, police said.

"Three terrorists killed in Awantipora encounter. Identification being ascertained. As per our source, one is Foreign Terrorist and one local terrorist of LeT namely Mukhtiyar Bhat, involved in several terror crimes including killing of one ASI of CRPF and two RPF personnel. A big success for us," tweeted Jammu and Kashmir Police, quoting Additional Director General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar.

In another tweet, the police said that as per sources, Bhat, along with a foreign terrorist, was going for fidayeen attack on a security forces camp. An AK-74 rifle, an AK-56 rifle, and one pistol was recovered from the spot.

"Awantipora police and Army averted a major terror incident," it quoted Vijay Kumar as saying.

The firefight started after a joint team of police and security forces got an input about the presence of terrorists in that area.

After security forces cordoned off the area, terrorists hiding there started firing drawing retaliation by the security forces.

This is the second encounter in Kashmir on a single day. Earlier on Tuesday, an encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces at Semthan Bijbehara area of Anantnag district in which one terrorist was killed.
Hyderabad, Nov 1 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Tuesday that only his party can bring a non-BJP government in the country under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.

"If anybody can bring a non-BJP government in the country, it is the Congress party. We will bring it under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Congress. We have the strength," he said while addressing a public meeting in Hyderabad along with Rahul Gandhi as part of Bharat Jodo Yatra.

The newly-elected President of Congress hit out at Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for weakening the Congress.

"You are weakening the party which is alive from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and ready to fight. If you are against BJP's ideology, why did you support black laws on agriculture and triple talaq bill," he asked the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader.

Kharge said that there is no difference between KCR and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "KCR around the country meeting leaders, embracing them and presenting them with shawls. He is going everywhere. Why? First put your own house in order," he advised him.

Slamming the Modi government for not filling 13 lakh vacancies in government, he said instead of filling all these vacancies, Modi merely provided letters for 75,000 jobs.

"Before coming before coming to power, Modi had promised that every year will provide 2 crore jobs. Has he provided 16 crore jobs? He owes an answer." Alleging that Modi is uttering lies and misleading youth, he warned that if he continues to do this, youth will stand up as he pointed out that lakhs of youth have joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

The Congress President also slammed the BJP over the bridge collapse in Gujarat that killed 145 people. He said Rs 2 crore was spent on renovation of the bridge and it collapsed in 5 days.

He also criticised the delay in announcing Gujarat Assembly elections schedule. "Election schedule for a state like Himachal Pradesh has been announced but not Gujarat because he has to inaugurate more bridges like the one that collapsed recently," Kharge said.

He also ridiculed Modi for questioning what Congress has done in 70 years.

"Our work is before you. Had we not done anything in 70 years, you would have not become the Prime Minister," he said and reminded Modi that he was enjoying the benefits of the Constitution and democracy. He recalled that it was Jawaharlal Nehru who laid the foundation for democracy and it was Dr B.R. Ambedkar who drafted the Constitution and Congress safeguarded it over the years.

Praising the idea of Bharat Jodo Yatra, he said the Modi government, the BJP and the RSS were together trying to divide the country and pit one section of people against the other on lines of language, caste, and religion.

Claiming that Congress delivered Telangana and fulfilled the ambition of people, he reminded KCR that he could form the government because of Telangana. He, however, alleged that KCR is working against the people of the same state, snatching lands, foisting false cases and suppressing them.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday disposed of a clutch of petitions seeking direction to the Centre and the Election Commission to allow postal or proxy voting by NRIs and migrant workers.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice U.U. Lalit and comprising Justice Bela M. Trivedi, noted that Attorney General R Venkataramani has assured that steps will be taken to ensure persons living outside and migrant labourers are part of the electoral process.

It also took note of AG's submissions that voting facilities shall be extended by maintaining the confidentiality of elections. The top court noted that notice on the lead PIL filed by Nagender Chindam was issued in February 2013.

The bench told counsel representing the petitioners that in matters where a committee has been formed by the Election Commission followed by tabling of a bill in one of the houses of Parliament, the court, against this backdrop, is not inclined to entertain the petitions any further.

Some of the petitions in the matter have been pending for close to 10 years, it said.

"Sorry. We will just close this," said the Chief Justice, after considering the AG's assurance in the matter.

The bench told counsel after a notice was issued in the matter, the Election Commission formed a committee to examine the matter and its recommendations were accepted.

The petitioners' counsel had argued that several countries have adopted external voting, conducted by setting up polling booths at diplomatic missions or through postal, proxy or electronic voting.

Disposing of the petitions, the top court, in its order, noted that a report was submitted by the committee in the court and the Centre also accepted the recommendations made by the Election Commission. It added that the government decided to introduce the Representation of Peoples Amendment Bill in 2018 in the Lok Sabha to amend a provision of section 60 of the Act, and it intended to enable the overseas electors to cast votes through proxy. However, the Bill which was passed in the Lok Sabha could not be introduced in the Rajya Sabha and it lapsed and since then there has been no development, said the top court.

It recorded the the AG's submissions that matter is still engaging the concerned authorities and a solution will be found to allow overseas persons and migrant workers to cast their votes with confidentiality.

The top court was hearing petitions filed by Chindam, chairman of the London-based Pravasi Bharat organisation, and other NRIs.
Dhaka, Nov 1 : Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the elite force of Bangladesh police, has arrested a fugitive convict, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Biswajit Das murder case nine years back.

The arrested convict has been identified as Khandaker Mohammad Younus Ali (36) from Magura district in Khulna division.

Confirming the news, Senior Assistant Director (Media) of RAB, Fazlul Haque, said that Ali was arrested at around 11:45 am on Monday from the Kellapur area in Narayanganj.

Biswajit, a tailor-shop worker, was hacked to death in broad daylight near Bahadur Shah Park in Old Dhaka on December 9, 2012, during a blockade called by the BNP-led alliance.

On December 18, 2013, a speedy-trial tribunal awarded death penalty to eight persons in connection with the case, while 13 others were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Ali had been on the run since his conviction.
Itanagar, Nov 1 : Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said on Tuesday that the decades old pending issue of Arunachal-Assam inter-state boundary disputes would be resolved once and for all, probably by the end of November.

The Chief Minister chaired a day-long meeting on Monday with a high-level delegation from Assam headed by its Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora.

"The meeting with the Assam delegation can be termed as the penultimate one in the series of meetings held between the two states after the historic Namsai declaration," Khandu told the media.

He said: "One more meeting is to be held between me and my Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma for a final agreement and permanent solution. Both of us are determined to resolve all our differences by the end of November." Khandu informed that following the Namsai declaration, 12 committees were formed headed by cabinet ministers of both the states.

These committees jointly visited the disputed areas, took feedbacks from people of both sides and submitted their reports to their respective state governments.

"We have discussed these reports district-wise in depth. I am happy that all reports are positive in effect and the committees of both the states have sincerely and jointly worked to find a permanent solution to this boundary issue," he said.

He pointed out that "if there is a strong political will", no issue can remain unresolved for decades.

"I have to specially thank Himanta Biswa Sarma for personally stepping out to resolve the boundary row, not only with Arunachal Pradesh but with all other northeastern states that share boundaries with Assam," the Arunachal CM said.
Dhaka, Nov 1 : Bangladesh opposition leader Dr Kamal Hossain and his daughter Sara Hossain have been found concealing substantial income from foreign sources earned from legal services rendered in the country, according to domestic media reports, and many are questioning whether they will face any action for these.

According to the country's top television channel, Hossain has claimed involvement in several international arbitrations in 2019. Still, income from these have not been shown in his income tax returns for the relevant assessment year.

Fresh questions have arisen after a High Court order for maintenance of the status quo on the pending case against the Hossains for allegedly concealing their law firm's income.

Experts did not also rule out the possibility of a "biased" ruling by the court, since the Hossains practiced there and were known to wield much influence.

Tax lawyer Shahnaz Parveen Dolly said: "Hossain's most recent tax evasion transgressions appear to be his misleading the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, where he practices as a senior advocate. The case concerns the allegation of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) that Hossain and his daughter, Sara Hossain, through their law firm, surreptitiously evaded more than Taka 6.85 crore in tax payments in the 2018-2019 tax year." Noting that there are very few instances where the High Court has interfered with the workings of a tax tribunal and quashed a case against tax assessees who have allegedly concealed their incomes from the tax authorities, she said that the Hossains are rare beneficiaries of the exercise of such powers by the High Court. "In the case of ordinary citizens, such powers are almost never exercised by the courts to protect tax dodgers." The crux of the case is that, for assessment year 2018/2019, the NBR found irregularities in two Standard Chartered Bank accounts, owned and operated by both the father and daughter.

For assessment year 2018/2019, the proceedings of which has now been stayed by the High Court, Hossain received $216,718.04 for which no evidence has been provided to the country's financial watchdog or the High Court.

In the arbitration proceeding between Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd and Tanzania, he and two other lawyers who worked as members of the Tribunal were paid these hefty amounts.

Moreover, he served as a member of numerous international arbitration cases, including the Iran-US Claims Tribunal, and the international tribunals dealing with maritime disputes between Malaysia and Singapore, and Guyana and Suriname. In his own curriculum vitae, Hossain list at least 18 such cases for which he was highly paid.

Under Section 17 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 1984, the total income of any assessment year of any person includes all income, from whatever source derived, which is received or deemed to be received in Bangladesh by or on behalf of such person in such year or accrues or arises to him outside Bangladesh during that year, cited another lawyer.

NBR's former Chairman Abdul Majid, in a television interview, stressed that law is equal for everyone but any exception is regrettable.

Any income earned overseas needs to be disclosed in the tax return, he said, adding that any lack of accountability, in case there is no disclosure, raises the the risk of money laundering.

While in a writ petition, Hossain's law firm admits to receiving payment from overseas for legal services, he stands accused of misleading the High Court Division where he practices as a senior advocate.

In a stark contrast to the lower court decision, the duo obtained a ruling from a High Court division bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice S.M. Maniruzzaman, asking the government to explain why the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal decision against their firm should not be quashed.

Ironically, in the case of all other citizens, such powers are almost never exercised by the courts to protect tax dodgers, according to legal experts.

Experts are increasingly vocal that specially privileged persons like the Hossains should not be allowed to get away with concealment of their actual overseas income earned as residents in Bangladesh because that sets a bad example for tax enforcement.

"The allegations brought against Kamal Hossain and Sara Hossain by the NBR raise serious concerns about tax evasion by persons who often claim to be vanguards of equality before the law. Yet, instead of facing the allegations in an open court, these 'above the law' elite resort to abusing the process of the court in order to put the cases against them in deep freeze, away from the gaze of the ordinary citizens for whom the laws remain applicable," A.K.M. Zakir Hossain, a professor at a public university, said.

Despite repeated attempts to reach out for comments, Hossain declined to talk to the media.

Hossain, an Awami League turncoat, ended up leading the opposition Jatiyo Oikyo Front, in which both BNP and the pro-Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami were included, during the last parliament polls.

Asked about his political volte-face, his highhanded responses to the media, drew widespread condemnation from all quarters.

"How much have you taken for asking me this question," is how he once responded, showcasing his abhorrence to facing uncomfortable questions.

Hossain's son-in-law David Bergman is also a known pro-Pakistan propagandist who has opposed the 1971 War Crimes trials. "It won't be farfetched to say the offensive blitz launched by Bergman against the current government surely driven by his father-in-law's ambitions," veteran Bangladesh watcher Sukhoranjan Das Gupta said.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : Lieutenant Governor of Delhi V.K. Saxena has never been 'abusive' in his communications with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the L-G Secretariat said in a statement on Tuesday.

On the contrary, even in matters of extreme breach of properiety or blatant verbal misconduct on the part of the Chief Minister, his ministers and members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the L-G has ignored and refrained from making any comment, the statement said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Kejriwal had said during a media briefing, "I have noticed that the kind of language used by the L-G is very unfortunate and abusive at times. However, I have no problems with it. Arvind Kejriwal is not important, what the L-G says to Kejriwal is not really the issue. My only ambition is to serve the people of Delhi well." Kejriwal added, "But what bothers me is that when the L-G abuses Kejriwal, he is not just abusing me but the Chief Minister of Delhi. This is a constitutional post. The CM of Delhi is the CM of over 2 crore people of the national capital. By abusing the CM, you are also abusing 2 crore people who have given this opportunity to Arvind Kejriwal. You are also abusing the mandate that these people have given to me and my party. This I think is very unfortunate on the part of the the L-G. The people of Delhi do not deserve this. Also, no good has ever come out by using abusive language." Refuting Kejriwal's claims, the L-G office said that the Lieutenant Governor has never been abusive in his communication with the Chief Minister.

"It may be noted that it took the Delhi Hight Court to reprimand and restrain them from being abusive towards the L-G," read the L-G office statement.

"Even in matters of procedural impropriety, deliberate lapses and apparent misdemenour in matters of governance affecting the people of Delhi, the L-G has conveyed his views in writing, in a most dignified, proper and parliamentary language. His choice of words even in conveying his displeasure or non-concurrence over valid issues of concern to the people of Delhi has been more than civil and proper," it added.

"It is unfortunate that an issue is being tried to be manufactured with the help of predecided planted questions through the media, where none exist. This is obviously an attempt to deflect people's attention from real issues that have recently come to the fore and should be avoided by the CM. It will do the people of Delhi a lot of good if the CM and his government follow the advice or directions given by the LG in a constitutionally valid manner and in unquestionably dignified, civil and proper language," the statement read.
New Delhi, Nov 1 : In its fortnightly review of windfall tax, the government on Tuesday slashed the levy on domestically produced crude oil, though it hiked the tax on export of diesel and jet fuel or ATF in sync with high international prices.

Tax on domestically produced crude oil was brought down to Rs 9,500 per tonne from Rs 11,000, effective November 2, a notification said.

Windfall tax on jet fuel was increased to Rs 5 per litre, from Rs 3.50 per litre.

The government also hiked the levy on export of diesel to Rs 13 per litre from Rs 12 per litre.
Kohima/Aizawl, Nov 1 : President Droupadi Murmu would undertake a four-day visit to three northeastern states -- Nagaland, Mizoram and Sikkim -- from Wednesday.

Officials in Kohima said that on her arrival, the Nagaland government would accord her a civic reception at Capital Cultural Hall in Kohima on Wednesday.

Murmu would also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various projects related to education and infrastructure in the northeastern state. The state government has invited Presidents and other leaders of the 22 tribal organisations to attend the civic reception wearing their traditional shawls.

On Thursday, Murmu would pay her respects at the Kohima War Cemetery and visit Kigwema village where she would interact with the village council members and members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

On the same day, she would go to Mizoram and attend the 17th convocation of the Mizoram University at Aizawl and inaugurate various education-related projects.

In the evening, the President would attend the civic reception to be hosted by the state government in her honour at the Raj Bhavan.

On November 4, Murmu would address the members of the Assembly.

On the same day, she would go to Gangtok and attend a civic reception to be hosted by the Sikkim government and inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for various projects of the Central and state governments.

On November 5, the President, before returning to Delhi, would interact with women achievers and members of SHGs at Tathagatha Tsal, Ravongla.

The President, in her maiden visit to the northeastern region last month, visited Tripura (October 12-13) and Assam (October 13-14) and laid foundation stones and inaugurated a slew of projects.
Bengaluru, Nov 1 : All set to hit the campaign trail with its 'Pancharatna Yatra' in Karnataka, the JD(S) decided to postpone it soon after the event was flagged off at Mulbagal on Tuesday.

Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said that the yatra has been postponed due to heavy rains. The weather forecast indicated inclement weather for the next few days.

The party had planned the roadshow in the run-up to Assembly polls scheduled to be held early next year.

The yatra, which included village stays by Kumaraswamy, was flagged off on Tuesday morning by JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda.

"As the rainfall increased, we decided to postpone the yatra, convention and village stay by a week," Kumaraswamy said.

The yatra is now expected to resume next week from Mulbagal in Kolar district. The new dates will be announced in a couple of days.
Kheda : , Nov 2 (IANS) Former BJP MP from Panchmahal constituency in Gujarat, Prabhatsinh Chauhan on Tuesday joined Congress in the presence of party's general secretary Mohan Prakash and other state leaders.

He joined the party before the Parivartan Yatra was flagged off from Fagvel in Kheda district.

Panchmahal district Congress president Ajitsinh Dabhi hoped that Chauhan's entry in the party will help the Congress regain Kalol assembly seat, which it has been losing to the BJP since 1995.

Chauhan has a very good hold over the Kshatriya caste in the area and also enjoys influence in some pockets of the Godhra assembly constituency.

"His re-entry will help the party win the lost ground in Panchmahal district," Dabhi said.

Prabhastinh Chauhan -- once a Congress member -- had got elected to the state assembly in 1980 and 1985 on Congress symbol. In 1995, he had switched to the BJP and got elected to the assembly in 1995, 1998 and 2002 from Kalol constituency.

He became a BJP MP from Panchmahal constituency in 2009 and 2014.

He was said to be unhappy with the BJP as in 2017, against his wishes, the party nominated his daughter-in-law Suman from Kalol seat.

"As he was feeling uncomfortable in the BJP, he has returned to the Congress camp," a source said.
Guwahati, Nov 2 : The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) and Bhutan have discussed undertaking trade collaborations between the NFR and the neighbouring country, supporting the logistics avenues for future linkages, officials said on Tuesday.

NFR's Chief Public Relations Officer Sabyasachi De said that a business development meeting was held recently in the NFR's Alipurduar division and delegations from Bhutan government's foreign ministry, trade bodies and chamber of commerce were attended the meeting.

The visiting delegations visited Hasimara railway station where an infrastructure is being strategically developed by the NFR for enabling trade with Bhutan.

The CPRO said that a plan to build a siding along with a warehouse in collaboration with the Central Warehousing Corporation is underway to promote logistic trade with Bhutan.

In fact, Indian Railways has already delivered its first consignment of goods to Bhutan through a multi-modal route consisting of 75 utility vehicles.

The vehicles were transported from Chennai to Hasimara railway station by New Modified Goods (NMG) rake -- a rake specially designed to transport light motor vehicles (LMV), that reached Alipurduar division on October, 28 and then the consignment was taken to Bhutan by roadways.

The delegation intends to visit Changrabandha station in the near future.

Discussions related to movement of automobiles, cement, stone commodities and augmenting people to people connection and tourism development were also held.

The Alipurduar division relayed to the delegates of Bhutan Government, the vision of railways as the prime eco-friendly mode of transportation for goods logistic and as a sustainable option for mass movement in the country and also in South-East Asia, De said.

NFR officials explained to the Bhutanese delegations the cost competitiveness and strategic abilities to transport goods in bulk and expeditiously to markets across India and Bhutan.

Indian Railways already undertook new projects for cross-border linkages by laying a broad-gauge railway track from Kokrajhar (Assam) in India to Gelephu in Bhutan, the CPRO stated.
The Hague, Nov 2 : The Dutch government has said that it will bring back 12 Dutch women suspected of terrorist offences from northern Syria along with 28 children.

The government on Tuesday added that the group of women and their children are already on their way. Upon their arrival in the Netherlands, the women will be arrested and brought to trial, whereas the children will be handed over to the Child Protection Board, Xinhua news agency reported.

The women with Dutch nationality have stayed in special camps in northern Syria with their children. A court in Rotterdam ruled in May this year that the suspects had to be brought back to the Netherlands quickly for their trials. If the women were not repatriated, the criminal cases against them would be dropped, the court warned.

"With the transfer to the Netherlands, the government aims to prevent these 12 suspects from remaining with impunity," Dutch Justice Minister Dilan Yesiligoz and Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra wrote in a letter to the parliament.
Addis Ababa, Nov 2 : Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat has called for improved youth inclusion as the African continent marks the annual Youth Day.

The celebration of the African Youth Day, which is annually commemorated on November 1, is in line with the importance that African leaders attach to the continent's youth, as stated in the Preamble of the African Youth Charter, which is "the greatest wealth of the continent," Faki said on Tuesday.

The AU Commission Chairperson emphasised the need to break barriers to Africa's youth participation and inclusion through advocacy, Xinhua news agency reported.

He further underscored the efforts expected of the continent's youths in respect of their participation and inclusion in this new dynamics of development, set in motion by the AU since the adoption of Agenda 2063 in 2013.

"Indeed, we must have the courage to recognise that the obstacles to the inclusion of young people could be sought in governance," he added.

He further emphasised that a large number of obstacles sometimes drive some sections of the continent's youth to develop a dark perception of themselves, their future, their respective countries, and Africa.

He underscored that the participation and inclusion of the youth call for a contribution of new blood to the various debates through a renewal of ideas.

"To do so, a positive mindset, steeped in resilience, patience, immersed in the virtues of moral probity and active faith in the future, remains the only guarantee of triple political, economic, and social effectiveness," he added.
Ankara, Nov 2 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, aiming to resolve the grain export impasse.

In the phone call on Tuesday, Erdogan told Putin that Turkey was making efforts with all sides to solve problems about the implementation of the grain export deal, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency.

The Turkish President stressed that he was confident they would establish a "solution-oriented cooperation in this issue, as in many other issues," said the statement.

Erdogan will also speak with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in the coming days, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday.

Russia announced on Saturday that it would immediately and indefinitely suspend its implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, accusing Ukraine of launching drone attacks against the Russian Black Sea Fleet's ships and infrastructure, Xinhua news agency reported.

On July 22, Russia and Ukraine separately signed a document in Istanbul with Turkey and the UN on grain and fertiliser exports from Ukraine and Russia to ensure supplies to global markets amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Turkey has been acting as a mediator between the two countries since their conflict broke out in late February.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Riga, Nov 2 : Latvia's new parliament assembled for its first session on Tuesday, to swear in lawmakers and elect leaders in a televised ceremony.

Edvards Smiltens of the United List became the new parliament Speaker, with 82 votes in favour and 11 votes against. Meanwhile, his rival Aleksejs Roslikovs of Stability was supported by the 11 members of his party, but 82 MPs voted against him.

Smiltens' victory was predictable, since the United List, along with New Unity and the National Alliance, is likely to become a partner in Latvia's next government coalition, Xinhua news agency reported.

Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica of New Unity, and Janis Grasbergs of the National Alliance were elected Vice-Speakers of the Latvian parliament.

Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins' New Unity party came out in the lead in the parliament election on October 1 and is currently holding talks with the United List and the National Alliance to form the Baltic country's new government coalition.
Kyocera's most recent patent for innovative ceramic knives: INNOVATIONblack Kyocera sold its first ceramic knife in 1984 and has recently acquired its 34th patent for ceramic knife technology.

Kyocera Corporation (hereinafter, "Kyocera") today announced its 34th patent for proprietary ceramic knife technology, reinforcing its position as an industry leader in ceramic kitchen knives. Earlier Kyocera patents, dating back to the 1980s, covered a method of sharpening the blades of ceramic cutting tools, which became a driving force for mass production. Today, Kyoceras newest patented ceramic knife, INNOVATIONblack, has been proven to maintain razor-like sharpness twice as long as traditional ceramic knives.* The first to use a new fusion of ceramic materials, INNOVATIONblack represents more than 12 years of dedicated research and development (R&D) to master the proper composition and sintering of ceramic particles for superior performance and durability. https://cutlery.kyocera.com/

Kyocera upholds 1,600-year tradition with patented new materials and technologies

It is said that knives were introduced to Japan in the fourth century. In 794, Kyoto became Japans capital, where culture, art, and crafts flourished  and local resources like iron, whetstones, charcoal and water made the region a natural location for making knives. Kyoto soon thrived as a blacksmith town and became known throughout Japan as a significant source of cutlery.

Fast forward to 1959: Kyocera was founded in Kyoto as a pioneer in the field of advanced ceramics (Kyocera = Kyoto + ceramics). Today, Kyocera is the worlds leading manufacturer of innovative Fine Ceramic products and components used in everything from mobile devices and space vehicles to artificial hip joints and, of course, ceramic cutlery and kitchen tools.

Inspired by Kyoto's DNA, which nurtured the culture and technology of cutlery, Kyocera focused on the superior material properties of engineered ceramics, such as extreme hardness, light weight, and corrosion resistance. The company began research and development on ceramic knives in the early 1980s. After much trial and error, including learning traditional blade sharpening techniques in Gifu, another famed Japanese cutlery center, Kyocera produced and sold its first ceramic knife in 1984. Subsequently, Kyocera became one of the first companies in the world to successfully mass-produce zirconia ceramic knives.

KYOCERA has been named among the Top 100 Global Innovators of 2022 by Philadelphia-based ClarivateTM, a global leader in providing trusted insights and analytics to accelerate the pace of innovation.

As a pioneer in ceramic cutlery, Kyocera has acquired 34 patents and utility models worldwide relating to the knives reliability, uniqueness, technological prowess, and quality. These intellectual property (IP) registrations have been secured from authorities in Japan, the United States, Europe and China. Today, Kyocera is a leading creator of ceramic knives and kitchen tools in the housewares industry.

For example, JP 3905062, filed in Japan in 2003, disclosed a unique rounded geometry at the tip of a blade that enhances durability. The distinctive rounded tip design has been used to identify Kyocera's ceramic knives for many years. Kyoceras combination of two types of ceramic material with different hardness levels, protected by JP 6151878 (filed in Japan in 2015), creates blades that stay sharper 2x longer than traditional ceramic blades, while maintaining resistance to chipping. This ensures the high quality of Kyoceras current top-line cutlery, the INNOVATIONblack series. Today, JP 6151878's invention is patented in Japan, Europe, China and the United States, including US 10118302 B2.

Not only does Kyocera have a long history and heritage in ceramic knife manufacturing, the company continues to develop new technologies to improve performance and the user experience (e.g., Pending PCT applications- WO2021187327 A1, WO2022210604 A1). In addition to patents and utility models, Kyocera has accumulated its own manufacturing technologies by producing knives in-house, continuing to offer made-in-Japan quality ceramic knives at a price that is widely affordable.

*Based on internal Kyocera testing.

About KYOCERA

Kyocera Corporation (TOKYO:6971, https://global.kyocera.com/), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as advanced ceramics). By combining these engineered materials with metals and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of industrial and automotive components, semiconductor packages, electronic devices, smart energy systems, printers, copiers, and mobile phones. During the year ended March 31, 2022, the companys consolidated sales revenue totaled 1.8 trillion yen (approx. US$15.1 billion). Kyocera is ranked #665 on Forbes magazines 2022 Global 2000 list of the worlds largest publicly traded companies, and has been named by The Wall Street Journal among The Worlds 100 Most Sustainably Managed Companies.
BookBaby President Jim Foley, Xeikon CEO Benoit Chatelard, and DIY Media Group CEO Tony van Veen The Xeikon SX60000 is particularly well-suited for short-run book manufacturing applications, said Xeikon CEO Benoit Chatelard. Were honored to have been chosen by BookBaby to play a key role in fulfilling their corporate mission of enabling aspiring authors to be published.

Two new digital Xeikon SX30000 printing presses are on the production floor and adding much-needed printing capacity to support the robust book sales BookBaby is seeing through its online print-on-demand supported Bookshop retail store. Sales through the BookBaby Bookshop are up 85% year-over-year and we are forecasting our biggest holiday selling season yet said Jim Foley, BookBaby President. We are very pleased with the quick execution of the Xeikon team to get these presses manufactured, shipped across the ocean, and installed into our plant just in time for the busy fall and winter rush that we are anticipating.

The 2 new Xeikon SX30000s, shown at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on BookBabys production floor, are roll-fed presses capable of running 428 letter pages/minute and 2,545 B2 sheets/hour per press. These additional presses increase BookBabys printing efficiency by 50%, making it an ideal instrument to serve photographers, childrens book authors, and other clients who need full-color printing.

BookBaby is determined to be the fairest destination for independent authors to sell their books. We are an operationally excellent organization and because of our reliable and efficient operations we can pay authors the lions share of the money when their books sell in our store, says Foley. The BookBaby Bookshop pays a healthy 50% royalty on printed book sales and an even more impressive 85% royalty on digital eBook sales.

There's something special about reading indie books.

Readers enjoy discovering books at the BookBaby Bookshop and directly supporting the authors who write them. There's no publishing house motivethey're true expressions of author creativity and passion. Having the ability to purchase on BookBaby Bookshop, where indie authors are directly supported by each purchase, makes the shopping experience as fulfilling as reading the book itself, said Joe Yamulla, BookBaby Bookshop Manager.

The Xeikon SX60000 is particularly well-suited for short-run book manufacturing applications, said Xeikon CEO Benoit Chatelard. Were honored to have been chosen by BookBaby to play a key role in fulfilling their corporate mission of enabling aspiring authors to be published. We view the relationship as a true partnership.

About BookBaby

BookBaby is where writers become authors. Our mission is to take the hard work out of self-publishing: From book printing, eBooks, book distribution, cover design, professional book editing, and now book marketing products, BookBaby has everything todays indie author needs to succeed. BookBaby also distributes your printed books and eBooks to the largest distribution network, including Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and many other popular retailers worldwide. Youll keep 100% of your books net sales while retaining all rights and creative control.

Since 2011, weve helped tens of thousands realize their self-publishing goals, backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. Just call us at 877-961-6878 and talk through the process with a real human beingusually a fellow writer who is invested in the success of your book.

About Xeikon

Xeikon, a division of Flint Group, is a long-standing leader and innovator in digital printing technology. Grounded in the principles of quality, flexibility, and sustainability, Xeikon designs, develops, and delivers digital color presses for label and packaging applications as well as graphic arts and commercial printing. These printing machines work with different imaging technologies, open workflow software, and application-specific consumables.

Xeikon is Flint Groups Digital Printing Solutions division for the leading global print consumables and solution provider to the packaging and print media industries. Flint Group develops and manufactures an extensive portfolio of consumables for the printing industry. These include a vast range of conventional and energy-curable inks and coatings, press room chemicals, and pigments and additives for use in inks and other colorant applications. Flint Group is based in Luxembourg and employs around 5500 people. On a worldwide basis, the company is the number one or number two supplier in every major market segment it serves.

For more information please contact:

BookBaby

Daniel Baker, VP of Marketing

dbaker@diymediagroup.com

(800) 468-9353 x5194

Xeikon

Larry Vogel

larry@analystadvisors.com

(760) 770-3818
"We were in search of a partner who truly understood and embraced the mission of The Summer Stars Foundation. We look forward to partnering with 143 Communications to tell all of our inspiring stories, said Donna Milani Luther, Founding Director of The Summer Stars Foundation.

The Summer Stars Foundation, a 501 C3 serving economically disadvantaged kids ages 12-17, has chosen 143 Communications as its public relations partner to grow overall brand awareness. Founded in 2000, Summer Stars flagship program is the free nine-day Summer Stars Camp for the Performing Arts in Massachusetts that brings together underserved students with a talented staff of master teachers, performers, counselors, and guest artists.

We were in search of a partner who truly understood and embraced the mission of The Summer Stars Foundation. We look forward to partnering with 143 Communications to tell all of our inspiring stories, said Donna Milani Luther, Founding Director of The Summer Stars Foundation. Through camp, Summer Stars has given more than 2,000 children the opportunity to build important life skills that they can bring home with them and apply to their day-to-day lives. Campers have an opportunity to truly discover their potential through the arts and we want to ensure any potential campers are aware of this opportunity.

We are honored to help spread the word about Summer Stars and how it touches each of the campers lives in such a unique and special way, said Tess Darci, Co-Founder, 143 Communications. It is a truly remarkable program with a plethora of success stories about the campers, counselors and teachers. We hope by sharing their stories it will inspire new campers and teachers to become a part of the program.

The donor-supported program provides the Camp experience, meals, lodging and transportation at no cost to the campers. Summer Stars also provides leadership training for alumni campers, college jobs as counselors and teaching assistants, as well as teacher training to share their unique teaching methodology.

To learn more about 143 Communications, visit 143communications.com. For more information about Summer Stars, visit summerstars.org.

ABOUT 143 COMMUNICATIONS

143 Communications is a boutique public relations and influencer marketing agency that specializes in media relations, influencer marketing, communications and content strategies, and events. Harnessing 30+ years of experience across multiple industries including beauty, travel, fashion, parenting and outdoor, 143 Communications creates and implements unique, integrated marketing strategies to shine a light on its clients. To learn more, visit http://www.143communications.com.

ABOUT SUMMER STARS

The Summer Stars Foundation, a donor-funded 501 C3, is dedicated to serving economically disadvantaged kids ages 12-17 primarily through its flagship program: the nine-day residential Summer Stars Camp for the Performing Arts. Held annually in Massachusetts at no charge to the campers, Summer Stars Camp brings together underserved students with a talented staff of master teachers, professional performers, counselors, and guest artists to guide campers on a journey of self-discovery. For more information, or to donate, please visit http://www.summerstars.org.
We kept within the great state of Texas and feel confident that we have secured a promising location for operational efficiency and growth," commented Klaus Bollmann, president and founder of ActiveLED.

ActiveLED, Inc., a U.S. innovator and manufacturer of performance LED lighting luminaries, controls and components, announced today it has moved its global headquarters from Georgetown, Texas to a 10-acre business park in Granger, Texas.

I believe this expanded site provides seamless operation between marketing, sales and manufacturing while providing the space needed for our ever-growing catalog of products, remarked Klaus Bollmann, president and founder of ActiveLED. We kept within the great state of Texas and feel confident that we have secured a promising location for operational efficiency and growth.

ActiveLED Inc. is part of the Network Technology (NT) group, an organization that has been supplying innovative, efficiency enhancing technology products to its clients for more than three decades. NT maintains sales and support offices in the US, UK, Germany, Singapore and Japan.

The company has finalized its headquarters move, communications and shipments can be made to the new address: 870 CR-156, Granger, TX 76530. All corporate phone and fax numbers have remained the same.

Please visit ActiveLED.com or call worldwide sales at +1-512-559-4869 (Free Phone USA 833-850-7097).

About ActiveLED from Ringdale

ActiveLED luminaries use Ringdale patented driver, lighting control and thermal management technology. The ActiveLED brand was introduced in 2008 and continues to broaden its expansive line of high-performance, low- or no-maintenance fixtures for retrofit, indoor and outdoor fixtures. http://www.ActiveLED.com
Sara Arian, MD, MSci Each day, I am incredibly motivated by the strength of my patients, who are navigating through one of the most intimate and challenging journeys of their lives.  Sara Arian, MD, MSci.

Boston IVF, one of the worlds most experienced fertility treatment providers, which has assisted in over 125,000 babies born since 1986 and is known for achieving some of the highest IVF success rates in the country, is pleased to announce the addition of fertility doctor, Sara Arian MD, MSci to its national fertility network and local fertility clinic in Quincy, MA.

Boston IVFs Quincy Fertility Center offers physician consultations, intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatments, female and male infertility testing, and more to individuals and couples who wish to build a family through assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Dr. Arian arrives at Boston IVF after having practiced for many years in Houston, Texas, where she served as an Assistant Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Baylor College of Medicine, and a faculty physician at Texas Childrens Hospital Pavilion for Women. She was named a 2022 Top Fertility Doctor by Houstonia Magazine and received the 2021 and 2022 Texas Rising Star award for fertility care by her peers and independent researchers at SuperDoctors.

She specializes in a comprehensive array of infertility treatments and family building services, including IUI, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), LGBTQIA+ fertility, single parenting, reproductive surgery (including open and minimally invasive surgeries), uterine fibroid removal, genetic testing, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, complex endocrine and hormonal disorders, and more.

Additionally, she holds a special interest in egg and embryo freezing for both individuals who wish to preserve their fertility for future childbearing and for those who face cancer treatments that may affect their fertility and chance of having a biological child. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments can damage or affect eggs within the ovaries, the ovaries themselves, the pituitary gland, an individuals hormone levels, and much more.

Each day, I am incredibly motivated by the strength of my patients, who are navigating through one of the most intimate and challenging journeys of their lives, said Sara Arian, MD, MSci. "I enjoy listening to, sharing, counseling, guiding, and developing a partnership with my patients throughout their unique journey. My goal is to advocate for each of my patients, empower them with knowledge about their reproductive potential and options, help them to regain control of their reproductive health, and instill confidence in the experience and support that myself and Boston IVF can provide.

Dr. Arian is a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School and a former Assistant Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Her goal is to continue to be involved in academic education and training of future physicians, including residents and fellows.

Alongside her role as a reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Arian is also a passionate scientific investigator and researcher. She holds a masters degree in Clinical Research from Baylor College of Medicine, has authored numerous medical publications, and received prestigious awards  including the 2019 Presidents Presenters Award from the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI) for her innovative research on reproductive genetics.

Boston IVF is truly fortunate to add a talented fertility doctor like Dr. Arian to our growing team of reproductive endocrinologists, said David Stern, CEO of Boston IVF. She is a passionate advocate for reproductive freedom and an award-winning expert who is dedicated to advancing the science of reproductive medicine through important research and personalized clinical care.

Dr. Arian completed her Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences Residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and received her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility at the Cleveland Clinic and Baylor College of Medicine.

To learn more about Dr. Arian, to receive fertility treatment advice, or to schedule a consultation, visit http://www.bostonivf.com.



ABOUT BOSTON IVF

Boston IVF is one of the largest and most experienced fertility networks in the United States, with more than 125,000 babies born since 1986. Founded as one of the nation's first private practice IVF centers, the Boston IVF network has grown to include over 30 reproductive endocrinologists across 30 centers throughout Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, and Utah. A renowned innovator of reproductive technologies, advanced protocols, and cutting-edge research, Boston IVF has achieved numerous "firsts" in reproductive care. Its scientific and research arm continues to pave the way for breakthroughs in fertility care and its accredited REI Fellowship Program has graduated numerous reproductive endocrinologists as part of its mission to train the next generation of fertility experts.
We are honored to receive this distinction from such a trusted and respected company as CARFAX. Our entire team strives to deliver the very best service to our customers. To have an independent third-party validate this directly with our customers is truly an honor.

Airpark Auto Pros has been recognized in the third annual CARFAX Top-Rated Service Center Program. Airpark Auto Pros received a 5-star rating (out of possible five stars) based on verified reviews from CARFAX Car Care members.

The CARFAX Top-Rated Service Centers received an average of 4.8 stars out of a possible five stars. Airpark Auto Pros exceeded the bar with 5.0 stars!

We are constantly striving to make it easier for car owners to feel confident about servicing their vehicles, said Mike Liou, Head of Service Marketing at CARFAX. We have 24 million active Car Care members, and  we used direct feedback from these verified customers to put together this list of the best of the best.

John Burley, owner of Airpark Auto Pros commented, We are honored to receive this distinction from such a trusted and respected company as CARFAX. Our entire team strives to deliver the very best service to our customersfrom the work of our amazing technicians to the great advice and customer service of our managers. To have an independent third party validate this directly with our customers is truly an honor.

About Airpark Auto Pros LLC

Airpark Auto Pros is an award-winning 10-bay auto facility in Gaithersburg, Maryland providing high quality, certified auto services, maintenance, and upgrades for foreign and domestic vehicles. Highly trained technicians handle everything from basic brake pads to high-end electronic systems and full engine replacement. The company is known for providing exceptionally honest service and is a business of uncompromising integrity, ethics, and moral principles.

About CARFAX

CARFAX, part of S&P Global Mobility, helps millions of people every day confidently shop, buy, service and sell used cars with innovative solutions powered by CARFAX vehicle history information. The expert in vehicle history since 1984, CARFAX provides exclusive services like CARFAX Used Car Listings, CARFAX Car Care, CARFAX History-Based Value and the flagship CARFAX Vehicle History Report to consumers and the automotive industry. CARFAX owns the worlds largest vehicle history database and is nationally recognized as a top workplace by The Washington Post and Glassdoor.com. Shop, Buy, Service, Sell  Show me the CARFAX.
UnitedRx Long Term Care Pharmacy Our objective with this technology is to develop a culture in which employees recognize the risks and take personal responsibility for reporting drug diversion in facilities and for the patients to whom we have an ethical and moral obligation, said Chuck Benain, CEO of UnitedRx.

UnitedRx, the Midwests largest full-service, independent long-term care pharmacy, is combating drug diversion in skilled nursing facilities with cutting-edge technology such as Cubex. To ensure that controlled substances are secure, accounted for, and always administered at the correct dosage, the medicine cabinet features extra security and automated logging.

Our objective with this technology is to develop a culture in which employees recognize the risks and take personal responsibility for reporting drug diversion in facilities and for the patients to whom we have an ethical and moral obligation, said Chuck Benain, CEO of UnitedRx.

The American Nurses Association reports that 10% of nurses are drug dependent. To illustrate, one in every ten nurses whom a patient comes in contact with is most likely struggling with addiction. With over 3 million nurses employed in the healthcare industry, this translates to an estimated 300,000 substance abusers.

Nurses who abuse drugs are more likely to be addicted to prescription medicines such as amphetamines, opiates, sedatives, tranquilizers, and inhalants, all of which are readily available in their workplaces. Drugs that may go unnoticed for a long time are also frequently accessible to healthcare practitioners, further adding to the problem of drug diversion among nurses and CNAs.

With UnitedRx's Cubex Biometric security, nurses must use their fingerprints to access the cabinet containing over 400 drugs, allowing for the tracking of suspicious activities. The device, which is used as part of a complete diversion prevention and detection program, prohibits multiple access to drugs. Similarly, in order to monitor waste or returns, the system requires access from two users.

By employing this technology within our organization and making it accessible as a methodology for other facilities to employ, we anticipate being able to considerably lessen the drug diversion crisis in the healthcare sector and incentivize people impacted to seek treatment, said UnitedRx National Director of Sales and Marketing Melanie Williams

Based in Illinois, UnitedRx currently provides services to over 350 facilities across 20 states, totaling more than 36,000 beds at skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, group homes, intermediate care facilities (ICF-DD), and hospice. The organization prides itself on providing a friendly neighborhood pharmacy experience, pledging to exceed all expectations with state-of-the-art communication and packaging technologies, as well as custom and flexible solutions to address specific customer needs and centralized billing.

About UnitedRx

UnitedRx is one of the largest, full-service, independent long-term care pharmacies headquartered in Illinois. Developed in 2008, UnitedRx has grown to over 350 facilities consisting of skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, youth homes, intermediate care facilities (ICF-DD), and hospice care. UnitedRx serves over 36,000 beds across 20 states with pharmacy locations in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Nevada, and Tennessee, while employing over 350 people with an average of seven years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. UnitedRx is committed to performing outstanding customer service to form meaningful and long-lasting relationships to produce positive results with facilities they partner with. For more information, visit https://www.unitedrx.net.
"Were proud to work with companies committed to growth and innovation and pleased to see so many of the individuals driving that change recognized and celebrated here.

BlueConic, the worlds leading pure-play customer data platform (CDP), would like to formally congratulate those who made The Leads Direct 60 List of top executives leading the direct-to-consumer (DTC) pivot. The list recognizes individuals within brands  including BlueConic customers Lovesac, Colgate-Palmolive, Mattels American Girl, and VF Corporation brands Timberland and The North Face  who continue to embrace technology, innovation, and next-gen strategies to transform their business and industry.

Business transformation requires a certain kind of individual who isnt afraid to make fundamental changes to their companys people, processes, and technology in order to drive measurable growth, said Jacqueline Rousseau-Anderson, Chief Customer Officer at BlueConic. Were proud to work with companies committed to growth and innovation and pleased to see so many of the individuals driving that change recognized and celebrated here.

Some of the individuals recognized in the list include:



For a full list of 2022 honourees, please visit: https://the-lead.co/the-direct-60-2022/

About BlueConic BlueConic, the leading pure-play customer data platform liberates companies first-party data from disparate systems and makes it accessible wherever and whenever it is required to transform customer relationships and drive business growth. Over 350 companies worldwide, including Forbes, Heineken, Mattel, Michelin, Telia Company, and VF Corp, use BlueConic to unify data into persistent, individual-level profiles and then activate it across customer touchpoints and systems in support of a wide range of growth-focused initiatives, including customer lifecycle orchestration, modeling and analytics, digital products and experiences, audience-based monetization, and more. BlueConic is a global company with offices in the US and Europe. Learn more at http://www.blueconic.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn @BlueConic.

Contacts:

Karolina Throssell

Iden

karolina@iden.global

http://www.iden.global
This will be an evening to remember - filled with artistry from South Africa, Peru, and Ukraine. Prepare yourself for an around-the-world evening, where we bring the children to you!

Moms House for Children is excited to announce that after a delay of three years, their first annual Gather for Good gala will be hosted in Lake Tahoe, CA to help bring clean water, childcare centers, food programs, emergency supplies, and more support to children in Africa, Europe, and South America.

We are so happy and proud to bring Moms House for Children to the Tahoe area, said Theresa Vigarino, Founder and Executive Director of Mom's House for Children. This will be an evening to remember - filled with artistry from South Africa, Peru, and Ukraine. Prepare yourself for an around-the-world evening, where we bring the children to you!

Guests will meet the children from South Africa, Peru, and Ukraine that the event will help. The gala will be a global live streaming event and include leaders and guests from South Africa, Peru, Ukraine, Colombia, and across the U.S.

The gala will take place Saturday, December 3, 2022 at Ballys Lake Tahoe Showroom and will include a cocktail hour, dinner, live artist creations, a global musical experience, performances by local talent, silent and live auctions, raffles, and more.

To top off this incredible event, a special performance by the award-winning, multi-talented, musical guest, Nahko Bear will end the evening on a high note. Nahko brings storytelling alive while opening the hearts and minds of all who hear his music. He is an internationally acclaimed performer who draws a very special and joyful crowd.

To learn more about the Gather for Good gala and purchase your tickets, visit: https://givebutter.com/gatherforgoodgala.

About Mom's House for Children

A non-profit organization, Moms House for Children is dedicated to providing necessary building structures, access to clean water, a sustainable and nourishing food supply, medical and emergency supplies, and love for the orphaned and most vulnerable children in the world. Visit us at:https://www.momshouseforchildren.org/
Stakeholders in the metals industry need different and better methods of solving problems so that they can grow and succeed despite todays volatile global supply chain, said John Armstrong, Founder & CEO at Reibus.

Reibus International, the leading and only independent digital marketplace for industrial metals, was named the Rising Star Company at the 2022 Platts Global Metals Awards, held in London UK on October 27. In its 10th year, the Awards program recognizes exemplary performance across the metals and mining arenas. Reibus removes friction from the process of buying, selling, financing, and moving steel and other materials. Thousands of companies rely on Reibus to buy and sell materials, improve liquidity and cash flow, and maximize market share.

Stakeholders in the metals industry need different and better methods of solving problems so that they can grow and succeed despite todays volatile global supply chain, said John Armstrong, Founder & CEO at Reibus. That is why were bringing together the best and brightest technologists with industry experts, to help solve long-standing challenges in the metals supply chain.

Its a mile-marker night for the Platts Global Metals Awards, now in its 10th year as the premier recognition event in the metals and mining industry, said Sue Avinir, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Conferences & Advisory Solutions for S&P Global Commodity Insights, the events host. Its also a banner night for the 2022 winners and finalists, alike, for their resilience and leadership overcoming economic challenges from worldwide lockdowns, crippling supply chain issues and conflicts around the world, while simultaneously continuing commitments to a greener future. For full details of the 2022 winners and judges rationale, access the S&P Global Platts Insight Magazine and on-demand viewing of the showcase gala: https://gma.platts.com/.

About Reibus

Reibus was founded in 2018 as the only independent and anonymous, SaaS-enabled marketplace, utilizing technology to solve ingrained supply chain problems in the industrial material market.

Reibus uses its advanced technology and deep industry knowledge to revolutionize supply chain efficiency by shortening lead-times, reducing inventory, and streamlining finance and freight services. For more Information, visit Reibus at http://www.Reibus.com.

About S&P Global Commodity Insights

At S&P Global Commodity Insights, our complete view of global energy and commodities markets enables our customers to make decisions with conviction and create long-term, sustainable value. Were a trusted connector that brings together thought leaders, market participants, governments, and regulators and we create solutions that lead to progress. Vital to navigating commodity markets, our coverage includes oil and gas, power, chemicals, metals, agriculture, shipping and energy transition. Platts products and services, including the most signicant benchmark price assessments in the physical commodity markets, are offered through S&P Global Commodity Insights. S&P Global Commodity Insights is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI). S&P Global is the worlds foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help many of the worlds leading organizations navigate the economic landscape so they can plan for tomorrow, today. For more information visit https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights.

Media:

Lauren Bovard, Arketi Group (for Reibus), 678-477-5546, lbovard@arketi.com
Edward Asscher is Vice Chair, Board of DirectorsChanel Director of Development and Sourcing Marianne Zani joins Board

The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), the leading standards organisation of the global jewellery and watch industry, announced today that its board of directors had appointed Edward Asscher as its Vice Chairman, and appointed Marianne Zani to its board. Each received unanimous approval by the board at its meeting in London 6 October, the first in-person board meeting since the global pandemic began.

A member of one of the diamond industrys, and Amsterdams, well-known families, Edward Asscher was elected President of the World Diamond Council (WDC) in June 2020. This is his second term as WDC President, having led the organization from 2014 to 2016.

His career experience includes owning and leading Royal Asscher Diamond Company, which he has passed on to his children. Additionally, he was Vice President of the European Council of Diamond Manufacturers and is a past President of the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) and the International Diamond Council (IDC), a diamond standards-setting organization affiliated with IDMA and the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB).

It is an honour to have been elected as Vice Chair of RJC. I trust that my long experience serving the industry will contribute to meeting its goals and those of its members. In particular, I am committed to RJC's inclusivity, Asscher said. As president of the World Diamond Council, I am well aware of the challenges involved in representing all participants in our industry. RJCs standards, sustainability goals and the furthering of diversity will contribute to all, both larger and smaller companies.

Marianna Zani is Director of Development and Sourcing, Watches and Fine Jewellery, at Chanel.

Both of these appointments represent significant additions to the strength of deeply experienced board we have in place, said Board Chair David Bouffard. Edward brings a distinguished and comprehensive career in the jewellery industry to our executive leadership on the board, and Marianne brings a tremendous set of experiences and insights from one of the worlds leading luxury brands. Our board has never been stronger, more committed and dynamic.

For more information:

Olivia Saunders-Smith

Marketing & Communications Team

Responsible Jewellery Council

communications@responsiblejewellery.com

+44 207 321 0992 ext. 206

https://www.responsiblejewellery.com/

ABOUT RESPONSIBLE JEWELLERY COUNCIL

Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) is the leading standards organisation of the global jewellery and watch industry. It has over 1,600 member companies in 71 countries, that span the jewellery supply chain from mine to retail. RJC Members commit to and are independently audited against the RJC Code of Practices  an international standard on responsible business practices for diamonds, coloured gemstones, silver, gold and platinum group metals.

RJC is ISEAL Code Compliant. Our system has been independently evaluated against ISEALs Codes of Good Practice  a globally recognised framework for effective, credible sustainability systems. More information at isealalliance.org. is also a member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) since 2009.

For more information on RJC Members, Certification, and Standards please visit http://www.responsiblejewellery.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook
E-4 Sgt. Douglas Epley recipient of Semper Cares Project Romeo Semper Solaris is proud to provide the 17th and 18th Semper Cares Honorees, veteran hero Sgt. Bruce Calderon of Project Quebec, and veteran hero E-4 Sgt. Douglas Epley of Project Romeo, with a full solar panel system and installation at no expense!

Semper Cares is an ongoing program developed to honor deserving veterans and their families by helping with major home improvements like solar panel installation. This Veterans Day, Semper Solaris is proud to provide the 17th and 18th Semper Cares Honorees, veteran hero Sgt. Bruce Calderon of Project Quebec, and veteran hero E-4 Sgt. Douglas Epley of Project Romeo, with a full solar panel system and installation at no expense!

Upon learning of both veterans history of service and sacrifice, Semper Solaris has chosen two Bay Area veterans as the 2022 Veterans Day Semper Cares Initiative honorees.

Sgt. Bruce Calderon served in the Marines as an intelligence analyst. During his years of service, he was deployed to Afghanistan and later stationed in Japan and South Koreawhere he met his wife, Minji. Most of his military service was spent overseas, so Bruce lacked a support network when he returned to the United States. As a result, he struggled to transition to civilian life in the San Francisco Bay Area. His struggle led him to Swords to Plowshares. This past summer, he completed a legal internship with Swords to Plowshares Legal Services program. Bruce now lives with his wife in San Lorenzo and looks forward to finishing law school and becoming a public defender.

Sempers second honoree, E-4 Sgt. Douglas Epley, served in the Air Force, during the first Gulf War as an Electronic Countermeasures Operations Specialist on the aircrafts. He was also stationed in Korea and the UK where he dedicated over six years of his life to service. Doug, as he likes to be called, has many awards and achievements from his many certifications and recognitions to his Air Force Achievement medal from Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. His humility and grace only touched on some of the many achievements and awards he has been given throughout his service. Doug has been married to his lovely wife Kayla for 29 years. He met his wife when she was going through her first bout of breast cancer, and 29 year later, being cancer-free for six years now, they are still very much in love. Doug has also survived his own case of throat cancer and he too is cancer-free, as of four years. They both live and appreciate everyday in complete gratitude and consider themselves true survivors.

Many men and women have given so much for Americas freedom that Semper Solaris founders, Kelly Shawhan and John Almond, felt strongly about giving back to our veterans. The Semper Cares Initiative was founded to provide relief to veterans from high energy costs by awarding them with the security of energy independence. Semper publicly requests to help identify these courageous and deserving warriors in order to help tell their stories and make a difference in their lives.

Semper Solaris is a veteran-owned and operated company located in Bay Area, California that specializes in solar panel and battery storage installations, such as the iconic Tesla Powerwall. Help us continue the Semper Cares mission by spreading the word to friends and families of deserving veterans! Have a veteran in your life you want to honor? Go to SemperCares.com to nominate them today.
AVIE! Medspa owner Kim Marinetto, RN, MA, is thrilled to be hosting her biggest sale of the year with the Annual Black Friday Beauty Bash on Friday, November 25 in Leesburg, VA. AVIE! Medspa and Laser Center is delighted to be holding its biggest sale of the year with the Annual Black Friday Beauty Bash on Friday, November 25

The team at acclaimed AVIE! Medspa and Laser Center is delighted to be holding its biggest sale of the year with the Annual Black Friday Beauty Bash on Friday, November 25. Everyone is welcome to come by or call AVIE! Medspa in Loudoun County to take advantage of event-only specials. Here are the event details, for those who are interested:

Annual Black Friday Beauty Bash!



Where: AVIE! Medspa and Laser Center, 552 Ft Evans Rd, Suite 110, Leesburg, VA 20176

When: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 25

Call AVIE! at 703.737.0197 or come by to purchase

Guests will enjoy holiday refreshments and event-only specials.

As a small, women-owned business, AVIE! is both proud and humbled to be able to serve the Loudoun County community for 13 years and counting. They are committed to excellence in training, care and client experience, from consultation to results.

To learn more or schedule a consultation, please call 703.737.0197 or visit http://www.aviemedspa.com today.

About AVIE! Medspa & Laser Center

AVIE! Medspa & Laser Center has been offering the latest in cosmetic medical spa treatments in a relaxing spa environment in Leesburg, Virginia since opening in March 2009. Owner and Master Aesthetician Kim Marinetto, RN, in conjunction with Medical Director Khalique Zahir, MD, and their highly skilled team of nurses, nurse practitioners and aestheticians, provide specialized cosmetic and aesthetic programs so each of their client's needs is addressed on an individual basis with personalized follow-ups.

Aesthetic treatments at AVIE! have minimal to no downtime. Services include Mommy Makeover, EMSCULPT, EMSCULPT NEO, EMTONE, Halo, Moxi prejuvenation, microneedling, VirtueRF microneedling, CoolSculpting, Ultherapy, Botox, Juvederm Ultra XC, Juvederm Ultra Plus XC, Vollure XC, Voluma XC, Volbella XC, Kybella submental fat reduction, Upneeq (eyelid-lift drops), chemical peels, MicroLaserPeel, BBL HERO photofacials, HydraFacial MD, ClearV laser vein treatment, sclerotherapy, dermaplaning, SkinTyte II laser skin tightening, ProFractional laser skin resurfacing, laser hair removal, professional skin analysis, PRP/PRFM facial rejuvenation treatments, vitamin B12 shots and blepharoplasty by Dr. Zahir. AVIE! has performed over 315,000 Botox and dermal filler treatments since 2009. AVIE! also carries physician-level skin care. Consultations are complimentary and financing is available. For more information, please call 703-870-3844 or visit http://www.aviemedspa.com.

About Kim Marinetto, RN & Master Aesthetician

Kim Marinetto has over 34 years of experience as a registered nurse. In the past 16 years, she has focused her practice on cosmetic medicine, adding to her credentials a Medical Aesthetician Certification in 2006, along with additional certifications in Botox Cosmetic, facial fillers, sclerotherapy and various advanced laser systems. Kim is a Master Aesthetician in the state of Virginia. Additionally, Kim is an Aesthetic Provider Council member for Alastin Skincare USA. She has extensive laser technology training, and the AMA recognizes her coursework.

About Khalique Zahir, MD

Dr. Khalique Zahir, medical director of AVIE! Medspa and Laser Center graduated from West Virginia School of Medicine and is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and The American Board of Surgery. Dr. Zahir practiced general surgery from 19921999 at West Virginia University and St. Marys Hospital, then cosmetic, plastic and reconstructive surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from 19992001. Dr. Zahir also holds a Virginia Medical License and a Maryland Medical License. He has written over 20 articles published in national health journals and is an assistant clinical professor of surgery at VCU School of Medicine.
This endowment is a testament to the hard work my colleagues and I accomplished in the 1980s during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Im both flattered and humbled to have my name honored with a scholarship that will better the lives of men and women across the globe. -Dr. Conant, AGT Chief Medical Officer

American Gene Technologies, a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Rockville, Maryland, congratulates Dr. Marcus Conant and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Centers Department of Dermatology for establishing The Marcus Conant, MD, Endowment for HIV Dermatology and LGBTQ Health.

Dr. Conant is American Gene Technologies Chief Medical Officer and UCSFs clinical professor emeritus of dermatology. The endowment named in his honor aims to provide mentorship and support to researchers in HIV-related skin disease and LGBTQ health. Not only will it supply increased funding for researchers early on in their careers, but it will also enable UCSF to remain competitive in recruiting the best and brightest students, residents, and fellows  all with the goal of advancing HIV treatment and LGBTQ health.

This endowment is a testament to the hard work my colleagues and I accomplished in the 1980s during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, said Dr. Conant. Im both flattered and humbled to have my name honored with a scholarship that will better the lives of men and women across the globe.

A pioneer in HIV research and treatment, Dr. Conant was one of the first physicians to diagnose HIV in San Francisco. He then took the lead in forming the Kaposis Sarcoma Research & Education Foundation, now known as the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, in 1982. In his current role as American Gene Technologies Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Conant continues the fight against HIV with revolutionary work in gene therapy.

Were proud to be continuing the work that Dr. Conant was a part of starting so many years ago and to have his guidance in our efforts to develop new cutting-edge gene therapies for HIV, said Jeff Galvin, CEO and founder of American Gene Technologies. Thanks to Dr. Conants care, leadership, and dedication to helping people diagnosed with HIV in the 80s and 90s, many people received important medical attention and empathy at a time when HIV was characterized by misunderstanding, stigma, and neglect. His commitment helped find the first effective treatments that prevented AIDS and restored hope to millions. This scholarship is a fitting legacy to his life-long commitment to fighting HIV and AIDS, and ensures that there will be much more progress to come.

About American Gene Technologies

American Gene Technologies is a gene therapy company with a proprietary gene-delivery platform for rapid development of gene therapies to cure infectious diseases, cancers, and inherited disorders. Its mission is to transform people's lives through genetic medicines that rid the body of disease. American Gene Technologies has been granted numerous patents for the technology used to make AGT103-T and for its unique immuno-oncology approach to stimulate gamma-delta () T cells to destroy a variety of solid tumors. The company has developed a synthetic gene for treating Phenylketonuria (PKU), a debilitating inherited disease. The companys treatment for PKU has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and it is expected to reach the clinic in 2023.
As we continue to navigate seemingly insurmountable issues faced in our communities, nation, and around the world, the collective effort of our Tillman Scholars will continue driving the necessary impact for a better future.

The Pat Tillman Foundation today opened its annual application for the Tillman Scholars program. Eligible military service members, veterans, and spouses can apply to join the 2023 class of Tillman Scholars until Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

For specific details on eligibility and to apply online, please visit http://apply.ptf.org

We are thrilled to be opening our application process early this year to best identify the next class of 60 remarkable veterans and military spouses as the leaders of tomorrow, says Marie Tillman, board chair and co-founder. Were invested in growing our community of Tillman Scholars as they continue to champion Pats legacy through his values.

The application will maintain the same deadline as the last ten years: Feb. 28. PTF will notify applicants of selection results no later than June 2023. Scholarships will be granted for the 2023-2024 academic year and are eligible for renewal.

The development and success of our Tillman Scholar community is a lifetime commitment that we at PTF look forward to making each year. says Dan Futrell, CEO and 2011 Tillman Scholar. As we continue to navigate seemingly insurmountable issues faced in our communities, nation, and around the world, the collective effort of our Tillman Scholars will continue driving the necessary impact for a better future.

About the Tillman Scholars Program

The Tillman Scholars program supports our nations active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses by investing in academic scholarships, connecting them to a national network, and providing professional development opportunities. The program covers direct study-related expenses including tuition and fees, living expenses, and books for scholars pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or professional degrees as a full-time student at a public or private, U.S.-based, accredited institution.

Tillman Scholars must demonstrate extraordinary academic and leadership potential, a track record of perseverance, and a deep desire to impact change in our country and communities through their studies in medicine, law, business, policy, technology, education, and the arts. The Pat Tillman Foundation has invested more than $24 million in academic support since 2004, and has named more than 800 Tillman Scholars at more than 160 academic institutions nationwide.

2023-2024 UNIVERSITY PARTNERS

As official University Partners, these institutions offer strong veteran-specific services and a culture of support for military veterans and spouses while providing rigorous academic experiences. University Partners are established on an invitation-only basis, and help identify and select qualified Tillman Scholar candidates on their campus and help grow the Tillman Scholar community.

The 17 University Partner institutions are: Arizona State University; Columbia University; Georgetown University; The George Washington University; Indiana University; Texas A&M University; The Ohio State University; Syracuse University; University of Arizona; University of Maryland; University of Minnesota; University of Missouri System; University of Oklahoma; University of South Florida; Florida A&M University; School of International Affairs at American University; and University of California, Los Angeles.

ABOUT THE PAT TILLMAN FOUNDATION

The Pat Tillman Foundation identifies remarkable veterans and military spouses as the next generation of leaders and helps them scale their impact as they enter their next chapter of service beyond self through academic scholarships, lifelong leadership development, and a global community of peers and supporters. For more information on the Pat Tillman Foundation and the impact of the Tillman Scholars, visit pattillmanfoundation.org.
This year marks Aprios 70th anniversary and Aronsons 60th  a historic year for both firms - and were thrilled to create and celebrate success with a likeminded firm as committed as Aprio is to being a top workplace and top CPA and advisory firm.

Aprio, LLP, a nationally recognized business advisory and CPA firm headquartered in Atlanta, announced today that Aronson, LLC will merge with the rapidly growing firm. The strategic combination grows Aprios team to more than 1,400 team members internationally. Aronsons 350 team members, including 42 partners, will join Aprio effective January 1, 2023. The combination of the two Top 100 firms marks both Aprios largest transaction to date and adds a physical Aprio office in the greater Washington, D.C. area.

Building upon nearly five times organic and inorganic growth over the last decade, and with the addition of Aronsons capabilities, Aprio serves major markets across nine industry segments. The firm will expand Aronsons strengths in Government Contracting, Nonprofit, and Construction to Aprios existing markets and will likewise offer the full breadth of its services, including Cybersecurity, Staffing, Data & Analytics and Wealth Management and Private Client services, to Aronsons client base. Aprio will draw on its deep experience in Real Estate, Technology, Manufacturing, and more to provide significant opportunity for business owners and entrepreneurs in the Washington, D.C. market.

Aprio has had a fantastic working relationship as a referral partner to Aronson over the last decade which proves how well our 31 fundamentals and Aronsons core values align, said Richard Kopelman, CEO and Managing Partner at Aprio. This year marks Aprios 70th anniversary and Aronsons 60th  a historic year for both firms - and were thrilled to create and celebrate success with a likeminded firm as committed as Aprio is to being a top workplace and top CPA and advisory firm. Together, we will be creating exceptional experiences for our people and clients for the next 70 years and beyond.

Both Aronsons and Aprios missions are to invest in clients success by investing in our own, and this merger achieves just that, creating the complete client experience and expanding opportunities for our team, said Aronsons Managing Partner Larry Davis, who will join Aprio as a Partner. Through this strategic combination, Aronson gains scale and depth, while continuing to serve entrepreneur-led businesses. Aronsons newly elected Managing Partner, Lexy Kessler, will join Aprio as Mid-Atlantic Regional Leader.

With a larger national presence and over $325 million in combined revenue, this merger positions Aprio to elevate its position in the market and create impactful growth opportunities for team members and clients. Since their rebrand in 2017, Aprio has grown to a top-35 accounting firm through expanded services and capabilities and has completed more than 16 strategic mergers and acquisitions in the last five years including Henderson & Godbee, Leaf Saltzman, RINA and Ladd Robbins in 2022 alone.

For more information about Aprio, visit http://www.aprio.com.

About Aprio:

Aprio is a premier, full-service business advisory and certified public accounting firm that advises clients and associates on how to achieve whats next. Aprios associates work as integrated teams across advisory, assurance, tax, outsourcing, talent solutions and private client services, bringing the best thinking and personal commitment to each client. Across practices, Aprio brings together proven expertise, deep understanding and strategic foresight for industries including Manufacturing and Distribution; Non-Profit and Education; Professional Services; Real Estate; Construction; Retail, Franchise and Hospitality; Government Contracting, and Technology and Blockchain. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Aprio has grown to over 1,400 team members. To serve clients wherever life or business may take them, Aprios teams speak more than 35 languages and work with clients in over 50 countries. For more, visit https://www.aprio.com/.

Follow Aprio on:

Aprio Website: https://www.aprio.com/

Aprio Careers: https://www.careers.aprio.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aprio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aprioadvisors

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AprioAdvisors

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprioadvisors/
In The Messages of Light, by Christi Conde, readers are provided with true stories of miracles that derived from the messages of light; which Conde describes as the guidance God sends through emotions, people, or circumstances in our lives.

Sometimes the most challenging situations are our greatest teachers, Conde said.

Conde describes how she formed a two-way line of communication with God. This book is written in a conversational narrative about the miracles that came from the messages and messengers of light in the authors own life.

Initially, I resisted the calling to write my story, but as I worked with my Reiki students and clients, I used the wisdom in the messages of light to help them understand how to navigate the emotional overwhelm of being sensitive to energy, said Conde. Seeing them improve gave me the courage to share what I learned with others.

This guide offers readers the tools to understand the gift of empathy. The Messages of Light embraces the power that everyone has not only to heal but to create the life that one desires, filled with happiness, peace, and love.

The Messages of Light

By Christi Conde

ISBN: 9798765230152 (softcover); 9798765230169 (hardcover); 9798765230176 (electronic)

Available at Balboa Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author

Christi Conde is a registered nurse and Reiki master with more than 25 years of experience in the field of Integrative Wellness. Additionally, she is an empath and spiritual medium. Conde is currently an instructor for the City of El Pasos Employee Wellness Program. She is a published poet and a writer for the Cosmic Woman Magazine. Conde resides in El Paso, Texas.

To learn more, please visit christiconde.org.


When God Came To Cooter: a potent story of struggle, perseverance, and Gods grace. When God Came To Cooter is the creation of published author Bishop Thomas Blagg, a pastor and an evangelist in the Church of God. Bishop Blagg has served as a pastor for twenty-four years while evangelizing in other states and was ordained as a bishop at the age of twenty-five. He has served as a district overseer for eight years in the North Georgia Church of God and has served as the senior pastor of the Riverside Church of God for the past twelve years in Powder Springs, Georgia.

Bishop Blagg shares, This is a book to let you know that God is with us in every stage of our lives, no matter where that place might be. I would like to think that when you read this, it will help you discover God for yourself just as I did, for to do that, this is not just a testimony of my life, but it is my goal to lift up the name of Jesus.

My prayer is that you will receive more of him than I did. Otherwise, this book will be of no effect! Yes! God is with you right now!

Matthew 28:20 says, Lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the world.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Bishop Thomas Blaggs new book will encourage readers in their faith as a powerful testimony unfolds.

Bishop Blagg shares in hopes of bringing comfort and motivation to those who seek a deeper, more connected sense of faith.

Consumers can purchase When God Came To Cooter at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about When God Came To Cooter, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Cognosante today announced the launch of its Women in STEM Alliance, a university partnership offering students technology and career readiness skills, preparing them for careers in science, technology, engineering and math. The women -focused professional development program expands upon Cognosantes successful Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Alliance and kicks off with targeted partnerships with Sweetbriar College and Hollins University in Virginia.

Proactively addressing gender inequity in the workforce is essential to enhancing diversity within the federal government contracting industry. The womens colleges we partnered with share our commitment to eliminating gender bias through meaningful opportunities and developing the next generation of leaders, stated Jennifer Bailey , Cognosantes Chief Administration Officer. Im excited for this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to community and collaboration to solve some of societys most pressing challenges.

Like Cognosantes HBCU Partner Alliance, the Women in STEM Alliance builds upon the existing pillars of Cognosantes University Programs platform: a 10-week paid Summer College Analyst Program, which assigns students with managers and departments aligned to their academic goals; a semester-long, paid Scholars Program, in which students can earn college credits while working full-time at a Cognosante office; and the Cognosante Campus Connection, a series of on-campus seminars, speaking engagements, and mentoring. As part of the program, Cognosante customizes aspects of the experience to address known challenges for women in the workforce, specifically securing opportunities, gaining access, and developing leadership skills.

This immersive program provides hands-on experience to accelerate the start of a STEM career. It also gives students with non-technical aspirations the chance to work in the tech industry and develop the skills needed for a career in business, strategy, or operations, added Jackie Ackerman, Cognosantes Vice President of Data Science. We are excited to provide Sweetbriar and Hollins students with an opportunity to develop highly applicable skills and expand their professional network.

Cognosante University Programs operate year-round and are available to students entering their Junior and Senior year of college. Click here to learn more.

About Cognosante

Cognosante is a mission-driven technology company delivering innovative and transformative solutions that improve the health and safety of Americans. With more than a decade of experience working with state and Federal government agencies, we aim to expand access to care, improve care delivery, deliver solutions addressing social determinants of health and ensure safety and security through multi-faceted technology and customer experience (CX) solutions. Our broad range of capabilities includes enterprise IT and cloud, data science, telehealth, interoperability, public health surveillance, clinical performance, eligibility and enrollment and consumer engagement.

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With 30 years of experience in serving the central Long Island community, Mascolo Dental is recognized as the pinnacle of exceptional patient care, said Ryan Zeman, Vice President, Business Development.

Dental Care Alliance is proud to announce the affiliation of Mascolo Dental of East Northport on Long Island in New York. The well-established practice recently moved to a new, beautiful, state-of-the-art facility, where the Mascolo Dental team prides itself on treating their patients with personalized care using the newest technologies and procedures.

Hundreds of lifelong patients and positive reviews are a testament to their commitment to care and personalized treatment. Primary services provided include preventative and restorative care, cosmetic treatments, implants, and periodontic maintenance.

Led by Raymond Mascolo, DDS, Mascolo Dental has been creating healthy smiles on Long Island for more than three decades. Keeping up with the latest in dental procedures and technology allows him to provide the aforementioned services to his patients.

A 1980 graduate of Georgetown, Dr. Raymond Mascolo completed his general practice residency at Georgetown University Hospital and was on the faculty at Georgetown Dental School until moving back to New York. For the past 35 years, in addition to the full-time dental practice, he has taught future dentists at Adelphi Universitys joint dental program. He currently serves as President of the Long Island Academy of Odontology, one of America's oldest dental honor societies, and is a past president of the Dentists for a Better Huntington. Dr. Mascolo has received numerous awards for both dentistry and for his community service.

His son, Thomas Mascolo, DMD, who joined the practice eight years ago, has had the pleasure of working alongside his father. He is a lifelong resident of Long Island, completing his dental training at Stonybrook. He completed his undergraduate degree from Adelphi University and earned his DMD from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.

He is a member of the of American Dental Association, Suffolk County Dental Society, LIDF Study Club, and the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Mascolo volunteers with several charitable groups including The Leukemia Society of America, East Northport Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus East Northport, and supports homeless veterans.

Their reputation for quality and delivering an exceptional patient experience is well known amongst the local communities, contributing greatly to the practices success.

This affiliation continues the rapid growth and momentum for the organization and brings DCAs footprint in New York to 20 allied practices, and DCAs total footprint to over 390 allied practices across the US. With eight affiliated practices in Long Island, seven of which were added in the past 15 months, DCA is strategically building market density in the area to serve the lifetime needs of patients across all specialties in these communities.

With 30 years of experience in serving the central Long Island community, Mascolo Dental is recognized as the pinnacle of exceptional patient care, said Ryan Zeman, Vice President, Business Development. A feeling of family is apparent the moment one steps foot into their modern and well-appointed office. We are very excited about collaborating alongside the Mascolo team to bring this first-class experience to another generation of patients.

Dental Care Alliances mission is to advance the practice of dentistry by partnering with and supporting dental professionals to create a lifetime of healthy smiles. DCA currently supports over 390 allied practices with more than 775 dentists across 22 states. DCAs allied practices represent all dental specialties and treat patients under more than 140 brand names.


"We believe Dynam.AI embodies the vision, drive and innovation that define a successful entrepreneurial venture." - Alex Vieux, publisher and CEO of Red Herring

Dynam.AI, an artificial intelligence (AI) software development firm automating critical decision-making for the industrial sector, has been selected from hundreds of competitors for Red Herrings prestigious Top 100 Global companies list. The awards recognize the leading private companies from North America, Europe, and Asia, celebrating these startups innovations and technologies across their respective industries.

Red Herrings Top 100 Global list has become a mark of distinction for identifying promising companies and outstanding entrepreneurs. Red Herring editors were among the first to recognize that companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo, Skype, Salesforce.com, YouTube, and eBay would change the way we live and work. Thousands of the most interesting and innovative companies have graced the Top 100 list over the years.

Dynam.AI was selected for the list after a rigorous application and screening process, followed by a startup presentation competition involving hundreds of companies. Red Herrings editorial staff evaluated the companies on both quantitative and qualitative criteria, such as financial performance, technology innovation, management quality, strategy, and market penetration. This assessment of potential is complemented by a review of the track records and standing of startups relative to their peers, allowing Red Herring to see past the hype and make the list a valuable instrument of discovery and advocacy for the most promising new business models from around the world.

Choosing the companies with the strongest potential was by no means a small feat this year, said Alex Vieux, publisher and CEO of Red Herring. After rigorous contemplation and discussion, we narrowed our list down from hundreds of candidates from across the globe to the Top 100 Winners. We believe Dynam.AI embodies the vision, drive and innovation that define a successful entrepreneurial venture. Dynam.AI should be proud of its accomplishment as the competition was very strong.

We are incredibly honored to have even been in the room with many of the companies vying for Red Herring Global 100 status this year, said Diana Shapiro, CEO of Dynam.AI. The fact we were ultimately selected for this prestigious award is meaningful beyond words. I am so proud of our team for the work that led to this award, and look forward to continued disruption.

To learn more about Dynam.AIs revolutionary approach to automating decision intelligence, please visit: http://www.dynam.ai

About Dynam.AI

Dynam.AI drives smart transformations for the industrial sector. We leverage the power of scientific "first principles" such as physics, macroeconomics and human behavior to build artificial intelligence solutions that automate critical decision-making to improve business outcomes. Our expert data scientists tailor AI-driven solutions with next-gen machine learning capabilities that get smarter over time for each client, so they can make accurate, real-time decisions up to 65% faster with less data. Manufacturers use Dynam.AI to optimize production processes, reduce downtime, automate diagnostics and repair to maximize efficiency, meet operational targets, and create new revenue streams and business models that allow them to stay competitive. For more information, please visit http://www.dynam.ai or email info@dynam.ai.

Media Contact:

Sarah Flocken

sarah@conwaymarketinggroup.com

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Inc. Business Media announced today their inaugural Power Partner Awards, honoring B2B organizations across the globe that have proven track records supporting entrepreneurs and helping startups grow. The list recognizes 252 firms in marketing and advertising, health and human resources financial planning, engineering, logistics, and security, as well as other areas of business.

All 252 companies received top marks from clients for being instrumental in helping leadership navigate the dynamic world of startups. These B2B partners support entrepreneurs across various facets of the business, including hiring, compliance, infrastructure development, cloud migration, fundraising, and more allowing founders to focus on their core missions.

Trusted B2B partners provide guidance and expertise that founders rely on at various steps of their organizations journey. Partners that possess a demonstrated ability to deliver quality support are at the core of entrepreneurship and help bring big ideas to life, says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. Business Media.

GR0 is no stranger to recognition as they were previously named an honoree to the inaugural 2022 FORTUNE Best Workplaces in Advertising and Marketing. In quarter one of 2022, they were recognized by Comparably three times for Best Company Outlook, Best Marketing Team, and Best Workplaces in Los Angeles for the second year in a row. They were recognized most recently again by Comparably with the title of Happiest Employees, Best Company Compensation, and Best Company Work-Life Balance. GR0 is expected to continue their impressive growth over the next year.

GR0 is honored to be recognized by Inc. on their inaugural Power Partner Awards list. As a startup ourselves, we understand the importance of supporting small businesses in all areas of operation. We strive to continue to offer our support and expertise to growing businesses as we head into 2023, says GR0 CEO and Co-Founder Kevin Miller.

Inc. partnered with leading global social and media intelligence platform Meltwater to develop a proprietary methodology that uses sentiment from online conversations about organizations and translates it into numerical scores. Companies were evaluated on commitment, reliability, trust, creativity, supportiveness, and other virtues that offer value to clients. Inc. also conducted surveys to gather client testimonials as part of the process.

To view the complete list, go to: https://www.inc.com/power-partner-awards/2022

The November 2022 Issue of Inc. magazine is available online now at https://www.inc.com/magazine and will be on newsstands beginning November 8, 2022.

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About Inc. Business Media: The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community they need to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses and opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com.

About GR0: Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, GR0 is an award-winning digital marketing agency focused exclusively on igniting organic growth for direct-to-consumer and business-to-business startups and established brands. GR0 empowers these brands to build powerful online brands using a highly technical, best-in-class approach that delivers value and experience to consumers, and engagement and sales for brands. For more information, please visit: https://gr0.com/
Nine Greenberg Traurig, LLP speakers will discuss topics such as global anti-corruption issues, private equity in Latin America, international tax trends, and law firm management during the International Bar Associations (IBA) 2022 Annual Conference, to be held from Oct. 30 to Nov. 4 in Miami Beach. Miami office Co-Managing Shareholder Yosbel A. Ibarra also serves as co-chair of the IBAs Host Committee.

The IBA Annual Conference attracts about 6,000 attendees and is the leading conference for legal professionals worldwide to meet, share knowledge, build contacts, and develop business, according to the IBAs website.

Were excited to welcome the IBA to Miami, where Greenberg Traurig was founded and where we remain one of the most established and trusted law firms. Its only fitting that the conference is being held in Miami -- a dynamic legal market that is evolving to respond to the changing business climate of this global destination, said Ibarra and Jaret L. Davis, the co-managing shareholders of the firms Miami office.

The conference will welcome lawyers from over 130 jurisdictions and more than 2,500 law firms and corporations. It will feature more than 200 working sessions and committee sessions discussing topics such as law firm management, international relationships, ethics, the future of the legal profession, and the rule of law.

As the world becomes increasingly more global, clients want lawyers who understand their business needs and have deep industry knowledge, said Brian L. Duffy, Greenberg Traurigs chief executive officer. We are one unified global firm that excels by combining our presence in fast-growth markets like Miami with critical mass in the largest business centers in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East.

As one of the law firms on the IBA Host Committee, Greenberg Traurig also has organized over 20 events to be held throughout the conference.

Greenberg Traurig attorneys and business staff will share their knowledge during program sessions on a variety of topics, from product liability and illegal gambling prosecution to private equity and hotel acquisitions.

Below is a list of Greenberg Traurig speakers and their corresponding panels. All events will take place at the Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach:



Enjolique Aytch Lett, Litigation Practice Shareholder, Miami office

Panel: Product Liability in the 21st Century  EU, US, and Elsewhere

Date and time: Oct. 31 at 4:15-5:30 p.m.

Location: Room 209

Panel: Global Anti-corruption Update

Date and time: Oct. 31 at 4:15-5:30 p.m.

Location: Room 233

Kyle R. Freeny, White Collar Defense & Special Investigations Practice Shareholder, Washington, D.C. office, and former federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justices Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section

Panel: Prosecuting Illegal Gambling in an International Context: Legal and Enforcement Challenges and Remedies

Date and time: Nov. 1 at 9:30-10:45 a.m.

Location: Room 234

Panel: Challenges and Pitfalls of Franchising and Distribution in Latin America

Date and time: Nov. 1 at 9:30-10:45 a.m.

Location: Room 211

Seth J. Entin, Tax Practice Shareholder, Miami office

Panel: Coming and Going Part 2: Bye Bye America  Do I Need to Rethink My Estate Plans?

Date and time: Nov. 2 at 9:30-10:45 a.m.

Location: Room 210

Yosbel A. Ibarra, Co-Managing Shareholder and Corporate Practice Shareholder, Miami office

Panel: Partner Performance and Financial Rewards: How Do I Get the Partners to Do What They Say They Will Do?

Date and time: Nov. 2 at 4:15-5:30 p.m.

Location: Room 229 B

Antonio Pena, Latin America Practice Co-Chair and Corporate Practice Shareholder, Miami office

Panel: Private Equity and Venture Capital in Latin America in the Aftermath of the Pandemic  The New Wave?

Date and time: Nov. 2 at 4:15-5:30 p.m.

Location: Room 207

Samantha Ahuja, Real Estate Practice Shareholder, Washington, D.C. office

Panel: Key Considerations in Hotel Acquisitions  A Comparative Review

Date and time: Nov. 3 at 9:30-10:45 a.m.

Location: Room 206

Marla Grant, attorney development manager, Miami office

Panel: Law Firm Business Development

Date and time: Oct. 31 at 2:30-3:45 p.m.

Location: Room 208

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2500 attorneys in 43 locations in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm reported gross revenue of over $2 Billion for FY 2021 and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law 100, Am Law Global 100, and NLJ 250. On the debut 2022 Law360 Pulse Leaderboard, it is a Top 15 firm. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab and the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e Energy program certifies that the firms U.S. offices are 100% powered by renewable energy. The firm is often recognized for its focus on philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com.
Dr. Sadiqa Kendi As a pediatric emergency medicine physician with an interest in injury prevention and health equity, I know how important it is to ensure that all babies and young children are given the opportunity to be healthy in mind and body," said Dr. Kendi.

JPMA Cares is pleased to announce Dr. Sadiqa Kendi as the organizations 2022 Impact Award winner. Dr. Kendi serves as the Division Chief of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Division and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine. She is an expert in pediatric injury prevention, with a focus on health equity.

We are thrilled to recognize Dr. Sadiqa Kendi for the tremendous work shes doing to make a positive impact on the long-term success of babies and young children, said Executive Director of JPMA and JPMA Cares Lisa Trofe. Dr. Kendis work directly aligns with the mission of JPMA Cares, as we work to reduce barriers to healthy development, ensure fundamental needs are met, and promote a safe and nurturing environment for babies and young children to learn and grow.

Dr. Kendi is a pediatric emergency medicine physician; a certified child passenger safety technician; a member of the executive committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Injury, Violence and Poison Prevention; and a member of the Society for Pediatric Research. She is pursuing a Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health as a Bloomberg American Health Initiative Fellow, an initiative that provides public health training to leaders at the forefront of social change.

Dr. Kendi graduated from the Yale School of Medicine. She received her pediatrics training from the Social Pediatrics Program at The Childrens Hospital at Montefiore, where she spent an additional year as a pediatric chief resident. She completed her fellowship training in pediatric emergency medicine at The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia.

Im honored to be recognized with the JPMA Cares Impact Award, said Dr. Kendi. As a pediatric emergency medicine physician with an interest in injury prevention and health equity, I know how important it is to ensure that all babies and young children are given the opportunity to be healthy in mind and body. It means a lot to me to be recognized by an organization that is also focused on the health and safety of children.

Dr. Kendi will be honored at JPMA Cares signature fundraising event, Benefit for Babies, on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. ET at SPIN New York 54. Anyone interested in advancing the health and safety of babies and young children is invited to attend. Event attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy socializing, food, drinks, music and a silent auction. SPIN New York 54 is a unique and vibrant ping pong venue, so those who are interested can also play ping pong.

Proceeds from Benefit for Babies will go to improve the lives and long-term outcomes of babies and young children in need. As the nonprofit foundation of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, JPMA Cares secures resourcesincluding donations of money, products and volunteer timeand then partners with like-minded charities to distribute the resources to people and places in high need. For example, JPMA Cares has partnered with the Injury Free Coalition for Kids; Cradles to Crayons; Family Promise; and the United Nations Foundation.

If youre interested in attending Benefit for Babies, you may purchase tickets to the event at https://jpmacares.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/jpmacares/eventRegistration.jsp?event=4. The cost is $280/person or $1,000 for a ping pong team of up to 4 people.

If you have questions about JPMA Cares or Benefit for Babies, visit http://jpmacares.org or contact Meredith Birkhead at mbirkhead@jpmacares.org.

About JPMA Cares

JPMA Cares contributes to the long-term success of babies and young children by reducing barriers to healthy development, ensuring fundamental needs are met, and promoting a safe and nurturing environment for them to learn and grow. JPMA Cares is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, founded by JPMA (the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) and supported by the broader baby and childrens products industry. Learn more at https://jpmacares.org.

About the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA)

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) is the voice of the industry on quality and safety for baby and children's products in North America. We work to advance the interests of manufacturers, parents, children and the industry at large by advocating for safety through product certification programs and legislative and regulatory involvement. We support our broad and diverse membership through member-only programming and industry promotion, and we act as a comprehensive source for baby product information and education. Established in 1962, this year JPMA marks its 60th year of helping protect future generations by advancing the availability and safety of products used to care for babies and young children.
HiFi Collective, with 63 new supportive housing units, opens in Historic Filipinotown. In Los Angeles, theres been more affordable and supportive housing built in the past five years than in the previous 30 years, demonstrating progress toward solving the regions affordable housing shortage and homelessness crisis.

When:

Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022  2:30 p.m.

Where:

HiFi Collective, 3200 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, 90026

What:

In Los Angeles, theres been more affordable and supportive housing built in the past five years than in the previous 30 years, demonstrating progress toward solving the regions affordable housing shortage and homelessness crisis. HiFi Collective is Linc Housings newest community, bringing new affordable and supportive housing to Historic Filipinotown, in partnership with Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles. Supervisor Hilda Solis, Mayor Eric Garcetti and Councilmember Mitch OFarrell join in the grand opening celebration.

This new five-story building features 63 supportive apartments and one managers unit as well as SIPAs offices, programming space, community cultural center, and the John Eric Swing Small Business Center. SIPAs headquarters, due to be completed in spring 2023, occupies the entire first floor.

Solving homelessness requires more than just housing. With funding support from Measure H through Housing for Health/Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Linc will provide intensive case management services to help ensure housing stability for residents. Supportive services include mental health and physical health services, employment counseling and job placement, education, substance use counseling, money management, assistance in obtaining and maintaining benefits, and referrals to community-based services and resources.

In addition to the apartments and wrap-around services, HiFi Collectives residents will benefit from additional amenities, including a community room, computer lab, community kitchen, indoor bike parking, laundry, outdoor deck, and offices for supportive services. The location is convenient to public transportation, shopping, and other services.

Nearly 40 percent of the residents are settling in to their new homes, with more people moving in each week. All apartments are filled through referrals from the County of Los Angeles Coordinated Entry System (CES).

Funding for the development comes from a variety of sources including construction and permanent loans from Bank of America, $12.7 million in HHH Funds managed by the City of Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD), $6.8 million in No Place Like Home funds from the Los Angeles County Development Authority on behalf of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, and tax credit equity from Raymond James. HiFi Collective receives rental subsidy from the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles. The California Endowment provided predevelopment support.

Who:



Supervisor Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors

Mayor Eric Garcetti, City of Los Angeles

Councilmember Mitch OFarrell, Los Angeles City Council

Garret Gin, Senior Vice President Global Marketing & Community Affairs, Bank of America

Kimmy Maniquis, Executive Director, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA)

Rebecca Clark, CEO, Linc Housing

Suny Lay Chang, President & COO, Linc Housing

New resident at HiFi Collective

Visuals:


2022 Elite Dealer Honoree: Loffler Companies Without the support of our clients, we wouldnt be where we are today." James Loffler, President of Loffler Companies

Loffler Companies has been named a 2022 Elite Dealer by ENX magazine and ENX The Week in Imaging, the go to information and news publications for resellers of imaging technology, supplies and services. This is the fourteenth consecutive year Loffler has earned this prestigious award.

The Elite Dealer Award honors the best and the brightest in the imaging technology dealer community. This years Elite Dealer honorees were selected based on numerous criteria, including growth initiatives, innovative marketing programs, outstanding customer service, charitable and service contributions to the community, progressive workplace cultures and adaptability to an ever-changing market. Additionally, dealers were recognized for their ability to venture into new, untapped areas of revenue equaling or surpassing pre-pandemic sales and profitability levels.

Without the support of our clients, we wouldnt be where we are today, said James Loffler, Loffler Companies President. Thats why we work hard every day to listen, adapt and innovate, so we can always exceed our clients expectations while helping them succeed. We take pride in those relationships and are always looking for innovative ways to continue providing our clients with the best technology solutions in the industry.

In addition to this Elite Dealer recognition, this year Loffler Companies also was named a Star Tribune Top workplace for the twelfth year in a row. Loffler Companies also has been nationally recognized for the past six years by CRN magazine as an Elite 150 Managed IT Services Provider.

Loffler Companies provides the most comprehensive business technology solutions in the country, with experts who bring it all together to build secure, optimized technology environments. Lofflers offerings include IT managed and security services, business security systems, disaster recovery/business continuity, multifunctional copiers and printers, print management services, software and workflow technology consulting, professional IT services/consulting, unified communications and on-site management of print and mail centers.

As one of the top Canon and Konica Minolta dealers in the U.S., Loffler Companies also works with leading partners such as Nutanix, Arctic Wolf, Microsoft, Mitel, 8x8, Xerox, HP, Lexmark and FP Mailing Solutions. These wide-ranging products and services exist for one purpose: to help organizations succeed. Lofflers specialized trainers, flexible billing and financing options at all price levels and award-winning service and support benefits all clients.

Founded by Jim Loffler in 1986, and now led by James Loffler, Loffler Companies is nationally recognized as a leader in business technology and managed services. Loffler is among the top office solutions dealers in the US for service and support, with more than 500 employees working every day to exceed the expectations of their clients, partners and the community. For more information about Loffler Companies, call 952-925-6800 or email information@loffler.com or visit us online a at Professionally Managed IT, Document Imaging Solutions & Services | Loffler Inc.
InScribe Logo "We've long admired Lumen Learning and the work it is doing to create high quality, affordable options for faculty and students. We are excited to partner with the Lumen team to help extend their vision for interactive, collaborative learning even further" said Katy Kappler, CEO of InScribe.

InScribe, which delivers game-changing digital community solutions, today announced a partnership with Lumen Learning, a leading provider of higher education teaching and learning materials focused on improving student outcomes and removing race and income as predictors of student success. The companies will seamlessly integrate InScribe's digital community platform into Lumen Learning's new Statistics course and platform. This partnership aims to create new spaces for students to ask questions, find solutions, collaborate to better understand the content, and support and motivate each other.

Lumen Learning was recently awarded a prestigious competitive grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to create new Introduction to Statistics courseware that will replace traditional textbook packages and provide students with a rich, interactive, and personalized learning experience, as well as a complete range of support for faculty members. Lumen saw an opportunity to enhance student support and engagement from directly within the courseware experience, and sought the expertise of InScribe to help make its vision a reality.

"We understand the importance of just-in-time help and peer collaboration to create a truly interactive, inclusive, and connected learning experience where all students can succeed," said Kim Thanos, co-founder and CEO of Lumen Learning. "We have followed the InScribe story and been impressed by the impact of its digital community platform. Our strategic partnership is enabling us to take the next critical step in the evolution of our courseware."

The Lumen-InScribe integration means students don't have to leave the courseware to receive the support they need. With seamless access integrated directly into the learning experience, students are now one click away from a space where they can easily connect, communicate, and collaborate with peers and faculty any time they need extra support.

Students accessing Lumens new Statistics course will have the opportunity to engage with the new digital community starting next semester, and plans are in place to roll out access as additional courses are available in the new platform. "We are setting the bar high when it comes to courseware centered on equity, and together we envision a teaching and learning experience that removes boundaries and extends support across courses and disciplines," said Thanos.

"Digital communities remind students that they are not alone in the learning process," said Katy Kappler, CEO of InScribe. "We've long admired Lumen Learning and the work it is doing to create high quality, affordable options for faculty and students. We are excited to partner with the Lumen team to help extend their vision for interactive, collaborative learning even further."

To learn more about InScribes partnership with Lumen Learning, click here.

About InScribe

InScribe is a digital student support platform that leverages the power of community and artificial intelligence to connect students with the answers, resources, and individuals they need to succeed. InScribe's digital communities cut across the traditional support silos in higher education, giving students a single place to turn when they need helpno matter the topic or time of day. Students benefit from on-demand, peer-to-peer, and student-to-expert collaboration that helps them feel more connected, increasing student engagement, satisfaction, and retention. Learn more about InScribe at https://www.inscribeapp.com/.

About Lumen Learning

Since 2012, Lumen Learning has partnered with colleges and universities to support teaching and learning innovation with a focus on improving affordability, access, and student success.

Lumen Waymaker and OHM digital courseware provide evidence-based learning design and data-driven content improvements to increase learning and student engagement using open educational resources (OER).

Lumen Circles provide faculty professional development to build skills and advance teaching practices. Grounded in research about how to increase learning and student success and delivered through peer-based virtual learning groups, Lumen Circles provide a supportive setting for faculty to expand their capabilities for teaching in dynamic educational environments.

Over 500 institutions across the U.S. are using Lumen-supported digital courseware for in-person, online, and blended courses. Materials created by Lumen are published under Creative Commons Attribution licenses and contributed back to the education community. Learn more at lumenlearning.com, and visit our course catalog at lumenlearning.com/courses.
Mad Rabbit is a clean and natural tattoo skincare brand. Despite being a relatively young brand, the company has made quite the splash in the tattoo skincare industry. Notably, when Mad Rabbit initially appeared on the popular venture capitalist show, Shark Tank, on March 26, 2021 - they secured a $500k investment for a 12% stake from none other than Mark Cuban himself.

Now, earlier this month, Mad Rabbit Tattoo co-founders once again joined Mark Cuban on Shark Tank in order to share what theyve been up to since first appearing on the show a little over a year ago.

Oliver Zak shared, We are so excited to finally share the latest news from Mad Rabbit. From making our first product in a dorm room, to our initial episode, to where we are nowweve come a long way and we cant wait for everyone to see the exciting deals weve Inked this year.

Since their first appearance on Shark Tank in March of 2021, Mad Rabbit has effectively tripled their revenue, have greatly expanded their retail presence, and have even managed to sell one Tattoo Balm every 90 seconds. Mad Rabbit continues to rapidly expand in the skincare market and has some major growth planned for the next year to come.

Having already preserved over 2 million tattoos, Mad Rabbit is looking to build on the stellar reputation that theyve already cultivated.

###

About - Mad Rabbits products have excited the tattoo community since 2019. Founded by two friends with a passion for tattoos, Mad Rabbit is a clean and natural skincare solution to aid the healing of tattoos and their lifelong aftercare. Mad Rabbits no nonsense approach values clean ingredients so consumers dont have to worry about unnecessary toxins and ingredients found in traditional tattoo skincare products, which often fail to deliver. Their focus encompasses a full cycle tattoo skincare routine from preventative + post aftercare to daily tattoo skincare solutions.


Mojave Water Agency Joins the California Purchasing Group The Mojave Water Agency invites all potential vendors to register online.

The Mojave Water Agency officially announced it has joined the California Purchasing Group, an e-procurement system from Bidnet Direct that provides local government agencies throughout California with a solution for bid and vendor management. The Mojave Water Agency invites all potential vendors to register online with http://www.bidnetdirect.com/california/mojavewateragency to access its upcoming solicitations.

Moving forward into the digital era, the Mojave Water Agency can publish their bid opportunities on the California Purchasing Group site. By doing this they will be able to track every step of the process and have a more transparent bid process. Participating government agencies utilizing the California Purchasing Group can track vendors interested in a specific bid, as well as finding out which ones download the documents.

By utilizing the California Purchasing Group, we are now able to see right away which suppliers are interested in our bid opportunities, says Lynne Chaimowitz, Chief Financial Officer of the Mojave Water Agency, We dont have this type of technology linked to our own website, so this is a huge benefit to the agency and how we go about publishing and awarding bids.

The Mojave Water Agency invites all local vendors to receive access to its upcoming solicitations by joining the California Purchasing Group. Vendor benefits of registering on http://www.bidnetdirect.com/california/mojavewateragency include:



Centralized Location to Opportunities from all Participating Agencies

Notification of Term  Contract Expiration

Bid Alerts Customized to the Vendors' Products or Services Provided

Full Customer Service Support

About the Mojave Water Agency:

The MWA is one of 29 State Water Contractors with access to the State Water Project. It was created by High Desert voters in 1960 and is governed by a seven-member elected Board of Directors. The Agency, in cooperation with other water districts, is responsible for managing the regions water resources to ensure a sustainable supply of water for present and future use. The MWA's boundaries encompass approximately 4,900 square miles of the High Desert and a population of about 440,000 people, including the Victor Valley, Barstow, Yucca Valley, and surrounding communities.

About Bidnet Direct:

Bidnet Direct, powered by mdf commerce, is a sourcing solution for regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. Bidnet Direct runs regional purchasing groups, including the California Purchasing Group, across all 50 states that are used by over 1,600 local governments. To learn more and have your government agency gain better transparency and efficiency in purchasing, please visit https://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers
Dr. Michael McGinnis on "...working to facilitate the alignment of science, informatics, incentives, and culture to accelerate progress. The vision is now clearer, but advances in practical execution depend up on the sorts of discussions anticipated at SYNERGY 2022.

SYNERGY 2022 is the third event in a series of systems-thinking exercises convened by ACRES since its founding in 2012, and the most ambitious to date. Together with its partner organizations, the MITRE Corporation and FasterCures, ACRES is bringing together a select group of 60 leaders and innovators from health, business, government, technology, academia, and patient groups to apply systems-thinking and systems engineering principles to envision a new integrated approach to health and science in the US. Our goal is to create a truly enterprise-wide system that uses advanced technologies and analytics to achieve levels of quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness that have not previously been possible in health and science.

Many realized from their COVID-19 pandemic experiences that our present approach to health and science in this country remains fragmented, inefficient, and dysfunctionalwe talk about a healthcare system but we are far from that goal, said Greg Koski, PhD, MD, ACRES President, and Founder. While there are enterprises with successful systems, such as international air transport and banking, we have been unable to similarly apply systems-thinking and design to our health-science enterpriseand the result is a disconnected, inefficient, and extremely expensive endeavor that fails to provide optimal care and benefits to patients. We can and must do better.

Dr. Michael McGinnis, the Leonard D. Schaeffer Executive Director of the National Academy of Medicine, expressed support for SYNERGY 2022s focus on better integrating the generation of scientific evidence and insights from health and health care activities, saying The National Academys Learning Health System Initiative has been working to facilitate the alignment of science, informatics, incentives, and culture to accelerate progress. The vision is now clearer, but advances in practical execution depend up on the sorts of discussions anticipated at SYNERGY 2022.

ACRES SYNERGY 2022 non-profit partners, the MITRE Corporation of McLean, VA, and FasterCures, a center of the Milken Institute of Santa Monica, CA, are also two highly respected advocates for improving our nations health.

MITRE is committed to applying systems-thinking across government, industry, and academia to solve major national challenges, particularly accelerating the application of advanced technologies for enduring impact. MITRE currently operates several federally-funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) for a variety of federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. MITRE is a key sponsor for the SYNERGY 2022 event. MITRE Vice-President, Kimberly Warren, who holds a Masters of Science degree in artificial intelligence, also heads the CMS Alliance to Modernize Healthcare FFRDC and is assisting in planning the event. We believe that bringing together government, non-profits, academia, and industry can achieve data-driven innovation in healthcare, public and population health, and real benefit for patients. We are honored to be a partner in making this event happen, said Warren.

Similarly, Esther Krofah, MPP, Executive Director for Health at the Milken Institute brings to SYNERGY 2022 her extensive experience in fostering collaborations among diverse stakeholders to address critical challenges and shared goals that improve the lives of patients. This event comes at a time when many are motivated to approach health-for-all in a smarter, more effective manner. FasterCures applauds ACRESs vision and initiative in convening this event and we are excited to be part of it, said Krofah.

SYNERGY 2022s two-day working exercise in systems thinking seeks to envision and draft a blueprint for an Intelligent HealthScience System. Such a system, which combines human ingenuity with advanced technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, can effectively provide analysis and feedback from multiple sourceswhether patient data and outcomes, real world evidence, genomics, pharmacology, adverse events, or costsenabling providers to deliver optimal precision care at a personalized level for every patient in an efficient and equitable manner. A full report of the proceedings will be published after the event.

Koski added, The National Academy of Medicines 2001 landmark report Crossing the Quality Chasm called for a new patient-centered health system for the 21st century and laid out parameters for achieving it. Our challenge now is to co-design a system that will deliver on that promise, and that is precisely what SYNERGY 2022 intends to do.

ACRES, The National Academy of Medicine, MITRE Corporation, and The Milken Institute are 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations operating in the public interest. For additional information, please contact Mary F. Tobin, PhD at mtobin(at)acresglobal(dot)net.
WHAT

Digital Summit Kansas City is a two-day, in-person conference that showcases marketing industry thought leaders who will present the current trends in todays marketing sector. From renowned global leaders  like HubSpot and Wayfair and Indeed  to local and regional experts, each 30-minute speaking session offers highly curated content formatted as an instructional how to, providing attendees with breakthrough strategies and actionable insights immediately applicable to their businesses. The conference is open to all levels of marketing personnel, from campus hires to industry professionals with 40+ years of experience.

WHO

For attendees seeking guidance for honing specific skills, Digital Summit also offers its signature 4-hour deep dive courses known as Masterclasses. This year, Digital Summit Kansas City will feature several Masterclasses led by premier thought leaders, including:



Building the Brand Trifecta: Develop the Three Key Messaging Components that Wins More Work, with Kate DiLeo, Kate DiLeo Branding

Preparing for Google Analytics 4 (GA4): What You Need to Know Today, with Alan Knecht, K'nechtology Inc.

Conversion Optimization for Every Business, with Brian Massey, Conversion Sciences

Digital Summit Kansas City will feature speaker sessions from prominent brands including:



Entrepreneurial Marketing: How to Trounce the Liability of Newness, presented by Kevin Heupel, Oklahoma State University

Digital Transformation: A Survivors Guide, presented by Keith Lehman, Hills Pet Nutrition

Almighty Artifacts: 3 Powerful Content Strategy Artifacts That Truly Support Your Content Lifecycle, presented by Rebecca Nguyen, Indeed

How Content Can Become Passive Income For Your Business, presented by Gia Bersani, Wayfair

Building a Resilient and Authentic Digital Brand, presented by Sam Kulikov, Kansas City Pioneers

Whats Love Got To Do With It? Scaling Community and Brand Affinity Through Advocacy, presented by Christina Garnett, HubSpot

Other notable presentations at Digital Summit Kansas City include:



A Proven Content Strategy for Ranking On Page One of Google, presented by John Triplett, Ignite Visibility

Emotion and the Customer Journey: Go Beyond the NPS to Improve Your Customer Experience, presented by Michelle Stinson Ross, Mindful Appy

Engaging the NextGen: Optimizing for Reels, TikTok, and Other Video Media, presented by Hope Horner, Lemonlight

Using Data to Drive Email Marketing Relevance...and Revenue, presented by Jessica Best, Barkley

How to Leverage MarTech Tools for Growth Marketing, presented by Valerie Jennings, Jennings Social Media & Martech

How to Effectively Engage with Social Media Comments and Grow Brand Love, presented by Christina Milanowski, Curious Plot

The headlining keynote speaker at Digital Summit Kansas City will be Ann Handley, digital marketing and content expert, Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and MarketingProfs Chief Content Officer.

To enable attendees to share ideas and insights after the sessions, Digital Summit Kansas City will also feature several networking opportunities including coffee breaks, catered lunches, and opening and closing receptions.

Digital Summit Series features an extensive network of standout sponsors who attend each Digital Summit conference on-site, offering innovative products and services for branding, merchandising, email and SEO marketing, marketing and advertising automation, digital communications, digital experiences, and measurement, among others. Digital Summit Kansas City sponsors include Sitecore, SwagChimp, American Marketing Association - Kansas City, and devIT.

To view a complete list of speakers, presentation topics, and sponsors, go to:

https://kansascity.digitalsummit.com/2022/agenda/

WHEN/WHERE

Digital Summit Kansas City will take place Tues., November 8, 2022 - Wed., November 9, 2022.

Kansas City Convention Center  Bartle Hall, Level 2

301 West 13th Street, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO, 64105 | (816) 513-5000

To purchase passes, go to: https://kansascity.digitalsummit.com/tickets/

About Digital Summit Series

The Digital Summit Series is Where Marketers Stay on Top of Their Game. Since 2008, the annual national conference series is held in 18 U.S. cities and features highly curated, engaging content about the newest and most relevant topics in marketing  including email marketing, content management, digital advertising, lead generation, social media, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), analytics and more  presented by speakers from many of the most creative companies and innovative brands. Each two-day Digital Summit features working sessions formatted as instructional, how to talks that cover a specific topic to provide marketers with practical, actionable tactics that can be immediately applied to their own efforts. Produced by Naylor Association Solutions, a leading provider of innovative tools and services for associations that strengthen member engagement and increase non-dues revenue, Digital Summit Series each year attracts 15,000+ marketing professionals at all experience levels who seek to further their professional development and career networking in the ever-changing and evolving digital ecosystem for marketing communications. For more information, go to https://digitalsummit.com/ and follow on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
The Catholic Church should be open to all specially those who make mistakes, feel wounded or are treated like outcasts in society; The Church should exclude no one

Author Jack Scissons debut book follows a new priest on assignment as he promotes the current teachings of the church about married male and female priests, abortion, divorce, assisted dying, and LGBTQIA+ rights.

Catholic Church? Why Not:? Diaries of a small-town priest is told in day-by-day journal entry format. A newly ordained priest believes the current teachings of the church are jaded and discriminatory. He believes the teachings of the gospels that emphasize love, non-judgment and forgiveness would be more inspirational to the world.

The Catholic Church should be open to all specially those who make mistakes, feel wounded or are treated like outcasts in society; The Church should exclude no one, Scissons said.

Scissons wrote this book while in isolation during the initial COVID-19 outbreak. He drew inspiration from his own experience as a priest and writers like Morris West, Graham Greene, Andrew Greeley and J.F. Powers. He explained that writing this book was a "wonderful opportunity for reflection on his own Catholic practice." Scissons discovered how saddened and disappointed he is with the current leadership of the Catholic Church.

Catholic Church? Why Not? Diaries of a small-town priest

By Jack Scissons

ISBN: 9781665554411 (softcover); 9781665554398 (hardcover); 9781665554404 (electronic)

Available at AuthorHouse, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author

Jack Scissons was born in 1939 and has been a lifelong practicing Catholic. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1964. After working as a priest, both in Canada and in Brazil, he resigned from the priesthood in 1970. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and a masters degree in social work. He worked for approximately 32 years as a city planner, revitalizing older inner-city neighborhoods. He is retired, writing, and living with his wife Kathleen in Calgary, Alberta. To learn more, please visit https://www.authorhouse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/839298-catholic-church-why-not.
Advancing Human Rights reveals insights from the most up-to-date, comprehensive data available for global human rights philanthropy.

Candid and Human Rights Funders Network (HRFN) today released Advancing Human Rights: Annual Review of Global Foundation Grantmaking 2019 Key Findings. The annual report reveals insights from the most up-to-date, comprehensive data available for global human rights philanthropy.

This years analysis found that in 2019, 761 funders made over 26,000 human rights grants totaling $4.1 billion. The report notes: Human rights funding is a fraction of whats needed  and whats possible.

Advancing Human Rights reported on several global funding trends. Key findings include:



Human rights funding continues to increase, but with regional funding disparities. Over the past decade, we have seen sustained yet diminishing growth in human rights grant dollars. The report documents a 10% increase from 2018 and a 242% increase over the past ten years. At the same time, there are considerable regional disparities, with grants in North America growing at a greater rate than other regions. In Sub-Saharan Africa, funding declined for a second year in a row, and was stagnant the year before that.

Funding increased for six of nine populations. Among funders who shared grants data in 2018 and 2019, support for racial and ethnic groups grew the most. Nearly three out of four funders that fund with a racial or ethnic lens increased their spending. Likewise, persons with disabilities, which saw a decrease in 2018, increased in 2019 by 38%. Funding decreased for three groups: Indigenous peoples, human rights defenders, and children and youth, after growth in each of these areas the previous year.

The majority of human rights grants focus on one population. Seventy-two percent of the human rights grants awarded in 2019 either didnt mention any populations or named just one. Only 28% were intended to benefit more than one population and just 7% reference three or more  for example women of color who identify as LBTQI. This suggests that the bulk of human rights funding is failing to consider intersectional identities or support critical cross-movement work.

Funding from foundations in the Global South and East is increasing. While the proportion of funding that is controlled by Global South and East funders continues to hover at around 1% of total human rights grant dollars, a notable three fourths of these foundations increased their grantmaking since the previous year. Global South and East funders represent a vital source of resourcing for locally-led initiations, with 93% of grants by these funders staying within these regions.

Trust remains an issue. We continue to see more restricted, less direct funding for grants to the Global South and East. Groups that are awarded human rights grants in North America are five times more likely to receive direct, flexible support than those in Sub-Saharan Africa and seven times more likely than groups in the Caribbean.

Human Rights Funders Network Executive Director Kellea Miller said, Were encouraged that human rights philanthropy continues to grow. But we cant lose sight of the fact that human right grants only make up 28% of total foundation funding each year. We hope this report helps funders see the potential to bring more resources to the field. We also hope it helps foundations address the global imbalance in resourcing, increase direct, flexible funding, and adapt an intersectional approach to giving.

Advancing Human Rights: Annual Review of Global Foundation Grantmaking 2019 Key Findings is available at doi.org/10/gq4ncm. Visit humanrightsfunding.org to access additional resources and learn more about human rights funding.

About Candid

Candid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides the most comprehensive data and insights about the social sector. Every year, millions of nonprofits spend trillions of dollars around the world. Candid finds out where that money comes from, where it goes, and why it matters. Candid was formed in 2019 when GuideStar and Foundation Center merged. Candid combined GuideStars tools on nonprofits and Foundation Centers tools on foundations with new resources to offer more comprehensive, real-time information about the social sector. Find out more at candid.org and @CandidDotOrg on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About Human Rights Funders Network

Human Rights Funders Network (HRFN) is a network of funders from the Global South, East, and North dedicated to resourcing human rights actions around the world. For nearly 30 years, HRFN has brought funders together to collaborate, strategize, and strengthen the field of human rights philanthropy. Since our inception, our community has grown into a global network of almost 450 institutions across 70 countries. We are committed to advancing human rights through open philanthropy, an approach and ideal through which resources are distributed ethically in a way that is abundant, justice-centered, open in knowledge and power, and informed by movements. Find out more at hrfn.org and @hrfunders on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
The Ocean Tomo study of patents issued to Chicagoland companies includes, for the first-time additional insights revealing the law firms responsible for prosecuting patents on behalf of the top 10 Chicagoland companies.

Ocean Tomo, a part of J.S. Held, announced today the study of patent quality among Chicagoland companies, exclusively in the October 24 issue of Crain's Chicago Business, recognizing invention among Chicagoland companies.

Dr. Alan Marco, Chief Economist for Ocean Tomo, having previously served as the Chief Economist for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), shares data from PatentsView related to invention and innovation in the State of Illinois. "In the 2021 study year, 9598 utility patents were issued to 8853 inventors, assigned to 887 companies, universities, laboratories and other institutions in the State of Illinois". He continues, "I am proud to have served as the co-creator of USPTO's PatentsView, a free and open online platform for exploring and accessing high-quality patent data." Among the 9598 patents granted in 2021 are 130 patents issued to Chicago's Most Innovative Companies.

The Ocean Tomo study of patents issued to Chicagoland companies includes, for the first-time additional insights revealing the law firms responsible for prosecuting patents on behalf of the top 10 Chicagoland companies.

Narrative Science | LAW FIRM: Thompson Coburn LLP

Riddell | LAW FIRM: Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Lynk Labs | LAW FIRM: K&L Gates LLP

MemoryWeb | LAW FIRM: Nixon Peabody LLP

Suncoke Energy | LAW FIRM: Perkins Coie LLP

Nucurrent | LAW FIRM: Lee Sullivan Shea & Smith LLP

Weber | LAW FIRM: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman LLC

Pregis | LAW FIRM: Fox Rothschild LLP

Provisur Technologies | LAW FIRM: Klintworth & Rozenblat IP

RTC | LAW FIRM: Banner & Witcoff, Ltd

Ocean Tomo, a part of J.S. Held, has collaborated with Crain's Chicago Business since 2012 to recognize and celebrate the achievements of Chicagoland companies and new, this year, expanding recognition to include the law firms which support the invention process by prosecuting patents before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

About Ocean Tomo, a part of J.S. Held

Ocean Tomo, a part of J.S. Held, provides Expert Opinion, Management Consulting, and Advisory services focused on matters involving intellectual property (IP) and other intangible assets. Practice offerings address economic damage calculations and testimony; business licensing strategy and contract interpretation; trade secret reasonable measures; asset and business valuation; strategy and risk management consulting; merger and acquisition advisory; debt and equity private placement; and IP brokerage.

Ocean Tomo experts are routinely qualified in U.S. courts, international courts, and arbitration tribunals on questions relating to intellectual property economics. The firm's professionals have provided expert opinions on IP valuation, reasonable royalty, lost profits, price erosion, commercial success, corrective advertising, creditor allocations, business licensing terms including RAND obligations, venture financing, and equities of a potential injunction. The firm's experience extends to commercial disputes, domestic and foreign, as well as policy issues affecting international technology transfer and economic matters before the International Trade Commission.

Intangible assets comprise 90 percent of business value but are subject to significant impairment due to enterprise and regulatory compliance risk. Our services are built upon more than three decades of experience assessing intellectual property in the most rigorous of venues.

Subsidiaries of the firm include Ocean Tomo Investments Group, LLC, a registered broker-dealer. As a part of J.S. Held, Ocean Tomo works alongside more than 1800 professionals globally and assists clients  corporations, insurers, law firms, governments, and institutional investors  on complex technical, scientific, and financial matters across all assets and value at risk.
Be courteous to other guests. Many times, the reasons people rent self-storage units have resulted from stressful, life-changing events.

People use self-storage for many personal and business reasons and as a result, many storage facilities have quite a bit of in-and-out traffic, especially for 24-hour facilities. Without meaning to, some guests may do things that cause problems for other guests, and the management of Mars Mega Storage, the Paso Robles self-storage facility has developed some tips to help storage facility guests be good neighbors to one another.



Observe the storage facilitys gate security policies. These policies are for everyones security and safety. If a friend is bringing a second truck, enter with the first truck first, and when finished, drive out to bring in the second truck.

Read the rental agreement thoroughly and know the facilitys rules.

Keep the gate security code private. The code is private for everyones protection. If a friend is going to share the storage unit, add that person to the rental agreement.

Be mindful of where you park when loading and unloading. Leave enough room for other guests to pass safely.

Management realizes that not everyone can visit their storage unit during normal daylight hours. When it is necessary to visit after dark, be courteous. Notify management ahead of time to avoid potential problems. Unload or load what is needed as quickly as possible.

In the event of an emergency, call 911, then notify the management about the emergency and that 911 has been called. Mars Mega Storage, the Paso Robles self-storage facility has a 24-hour onsite manager. Not all storage facilities are staffed the same so, when first renting a storage unit, check with the management of your storage facility for their procedure for emergencies.

Keep the public areas clean by picking up unused packing materials, food wrappers, and general trash. Put trash in available receptacles.

Keep storage units clean and free of food items that might attack vermin and hazardous substances that might release odors, leak, or be flammable.

Be courteous to other guests. Many times, the reasons people rent self-storage units have resulted from stressful, life-changing events. Bring any unresolved conflicts to the attention of management.

Many storage facilities offer convenient online and automatic payment options. Most facility managers appreciate and value their guests. If there is a problem paying, contact management in advance to work out a solution.

Some storage facilities offer special amenities for their guests. All of the guests of Mars Mega Storage, the Paso Robles self-storage facility, are welcome to use the conference room and take advantage of all the amenities. Please be respectful to other guests, keep noise to a minimum, and dont abuse the privileges.

Mars Mega Storage, located in Paso Robles on Californias Central Coast, is a state-of-the-art storage facility for all your storage needs including RVs, boats, autos, commercial, and residential storage, dump stations, and fully-stocked boat and vehicle wash areas. The highly secure facility features 17-ft steel walls, personal gate codes, security alarms, fire alarms, state-of-the-art cameras, and laser beams. More amenities include complimentary snacks in the conference room, clean restrooms, several choices of covered and indoor storage units, wide easy-access paved driveways, electrical power to units, and insulated units.

Mars Mega Storage

101 Wellsona Road

Paso Robles, CA 93446

(805) 467-3200
In just three years since inception, Airstream Adventures grew to be the largest Airstream dealer group in the world, accounting for over 15% of Airstreams total worldwide sales.

Performance Brokerage Services, North Americas highest volume dealership brokerage firm, is pleased to announce the sale of Airstream Adventures with six Airstream dealerships in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California to Lithia and Driveway (LAD).

Airstream Adventures was founded in 2010 by Ted Davis, Parker Johnstone, and John Dimmer. Recognizing the need for a sales and service experience that was comparable to the iconic Airstream brand, Airstream Adventures redefined the dealership model for Airstream by bringing best practices from the automotive industry into the RV industry. In just three years since inception, Airstream Adventures grew to be the largest Airstream dealer group in the world, accounting for over 15% of Airstreams total worldwide sales. Airstream Adventures recently achieved a milestone of delivering its 10,000th new Airstream. Per the CEO of Airstream Inc., Bob Wheeler, no other dealer or dealer group in the history of Airstream has achieved this.

Following the sale, Ted Davis commented, Jesse Stopnitzky and his team provided exceptional strategic advice and a laser targeted list of potential buyers from a variety of industries, not just limiting us to the RV industry. This approach allowed us to maximize our value and find the perfect partner to acquire our entire dealer group that was both an operational and cultural fit. Jesses approach was transparent, strategic, and met all the objectives of the owners, our Team Members, our Guests, Airstream, and Lithia. Commitments were made and commitments were kept. Integrity, high work ethic, transparent, driven, and honest are characteristics I would use in describing Jesse and his team.

Over the last 5 years, Performance Brokerage Services has advised on the sale of over 300 dealerships, making it the highest volume dealership brokerage firm in North America. In 2022, the firm is pacing well-over 100 dealership transactions, marking a record-breaking year. Jesse Stopnitzky, Partner and Director of the RV Division for Performance Brokerage Services, commented, It was a true honor to represent Ted Davis, an exemplary individual, in this life changing event. In 2021, Ted was awarded by his RV peers the Arthur J. Decio Humanitarian Award for his unwavering dedication to philanthropy and his communities. It has been a pleasure to witness Lithias unprecedented growth and their commitment to operate under a higher code of conduct. With shared core values, the merging of these two Oregon-founded companies was the perfect strategic fit! Working with Lithia for over 25 years, our firm is proud to have provided Lithia the opportunity to expand into this new vertical.

Lithia & Driveway (LAD) started from humble beginnings when Walt DeBoer founded a Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge dealership in Ashland, Oregon in 1946. Walts son, Sid DeBoer, transformed the dealership group into Lithia Motors, Inc., a publicly traded company (NYSE stock symbol-LAD) in 1996. Now a third-generation company, Lithia & Driveway is run by Sids son, Bryan DeBoer, CEO & President. According to Automotive News, Lithia ranked as the second highest volume dealership group in the United States, retailing 260,738 new vehicles in 2021, and ranked first through the first half of 2022.

The Airstream Adventures acquisition will add the first Recreational Vehicle franchise to the groups lineup, bringing their dealership count closer to 300 locations.

Following the sale Bryan DeBoer commented, We are delighted to welcome the Airstream Adventures stores and its founder, Ted Davis, to our growing Lithia and Driveway family. Ted and his high performing team have done an exceptional job building the nations largest exclusive [Airstream] dealer group. We are committed to becoming a steward of the iconic Airstream brand, ensuring that consumers will continue to create memories and adventures that last for generations.

The dealerships will continue to operate at their current locations:



Airstream Adventures of Portland in Clackamas, Oregon.

Airstream Adventures of Seattle in Milton, Washington.

Airstream Adventures of Boise in Caldwell, Idaho.

Airstream Adventures of Bay Area in Fairfield, California.

Airstream Adventures of South Bay in Morgan Hill, California.

Airstream Adventures of Spokane in Spokane Valley, Washington.

Ray Peffer of Greenan, Peffer, Sallander & Lally LLP in San Ramon, California provided legal counsel to Airstream Adventures. Accounting support was provided by Moss Adams of Seattle, Washington.

About Performance Brokerage Services

Performance Brokerage Services, Inc. is North Americas highest volume dealership brokerage firm, specializing in buy-sell activity for automotive, RV, marine, powersports, commercial truck, and equipment dealerships. With over 25 years of experience, 700 dealerships sold, and a 90% closing rate, the companys reputation is unmatched and governed by the utmost ethical conduct and integrity. The company offers a unique approach by providing complimentary estimates of value with no upfront fees or retainer, no reimbursement of costs, and paid a success fee only after the transaction closes. Headquartered in Irvine, California, and supported by 7 regional offices in Utah, Texas, Ohio, Florida, Virginia, New Jersey, and Canada, clients benefit from national exposure with local representation. As trusted and respected experts in the field, the company utilizes an extensive network of industry related attorneys, accountants, hundreds of registered buyers, and longstanding relationships with various vehicle manufacturers. For more information about the services offered by Performance Brokerage Services, visit https://performancebrokerageservices.com.
Modern American Haiku: a delightful reading experience that brings a traditional poetic format with a twist. Modern American Haiku is the creation of published author Robb Hasencamp, a Catholic writer who received a masters degree in theology and psychology from The Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY.

Hasencamp shares, Modern American haiku is both elusive and enchanting. It is a beautiful art form that invites the reader into the mysteries of nature and poignant flashes of deeper everyday life. Borne of traditional Japanese haiku in the seventeenth century, modern Haiku is beguiling poetry that draws us into captivating, surprising insights. There is no room for predictability or easy assurance. Rather, when reading, we are urged to trust the lightness of the poem to lift our hearts into obscure realms of delight. These verses were composed with this pleasure in mind.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Robb Hasencamps new book features peaceful imagery crafted by the talented Phillippa Pippa Francq. Francqs early formal art training was in England, with additional art history studies after she came to live in the United States. This background inspired a lifetime of mixed media exploration. Her move into illustrating Modern American Haiku is her most recent exciting adventure. Francq lives in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Hasencamp and Francqs talents are on display within the pages of this enjoyable selection of fine art drawings and gratifying poetry.

Consumers can purchase Modern American Haiku at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Modern American Haiku, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.


Shaw-Ross International Importers (Shaw-Ross), one of the nations leading importers representing over thirty prestigious suppliers from around the world, today announced a planned transition of its leadership team, with Scott Jove, currently the Vice President, Sales & Marketing, to become the Companys President in January 2023. Bruce Hunter, Managing Director, will remain in his current role through the end of 2023 working closely with Mr. Jove to ensure a smooth transition. Following the end of his tenure as Managing Director and beginning in 2024, Mr. Hunter will remain with the Company as a senior advisor.

As President, Mr. Jove will lead all aspects of the business with a focus on sales, marketing and supplier relations. Mr. Jove joined Shaw-Ross in 2015 as Manager, Commercial Strategy, and was named to his current role of Vice President, Sales & Marketing in 2017. In this role, Mr. Jove was successful in bringing a fresh perspective to the commercial team at Shaw-Ross.

Im incredibly honored to be part of an organization with such great history, commented Mr. Jove. Thanks to Bruces leadership, industry knowledge, and dedication to our industry, Shaw-Ross went from a boutique business to now representing the worlds finest wine and spirit brands in the U.S. market. I want to thank Bruce for his continuous mentorship and look forward to continuing to work with him to help build on Shaw-Rosss long-term success.

Mr. Jove holds a BA from Duke University and both a JD and an MBA from the University of Miami. Before joining Shaw-Ross, Scott spent time in the financial services industry with Grant Thornton and in management consulting with AT Kearney. A licensed attorney in the state of Florida, Mr. Jove brings a unique skill set to Shaw-Ross, which enabled him to take a major role in the recent restructuring of the Company.

Bruce Hunter originally joined Shaw-Ross in 1995 as Executive Vice President, Director of Wines. He was appointed Executive Vice President, Director of Marketing in 1998 and oversaw the expansion of the marketing department by developing a professional brand management structure. Mr. Hunter was appointed Managing Director in 2004. He brings 52 years of domestic and international experience in the wine and spirits industry, starting in 1970 with Almaden Vineyards and then with Parrott and Company in 1973, serving as its president from 1984 to 1995.

Scott has everything it takes to carry Shaw-Ross and its great team into the future, said Mr. Hunter. His commitment to innovation, steadfast integrity and ethics, and focus on cultivating a team of creative professionals, will make him a great leader. I look forward to working closely with him and proudly witnessing the results of his leadership firsthand.

# # #

About Shaw-Ross International Importers

Founded in 1968 as a boutique wine and spirit importer representing a handful of brands, Shaw-Ross is one of the nations leading importers representing over thirty suppliers from around the world whose brands enjoy full national distribution through a network of outstanding wholesalers.

About Colangelo & Partners

Colangelo & Partners is the leading fine wine and spirits integrated communications agency in the United States, sought after by top brands and industry players for the quality of their results, creativity, and return on investment. The professionals at Colangelo & Partners work with integrity and passion to influence how US audiences perceive their clients: earning consistent, high-quality positive media coverage; organizing signature events; strategizing and executing standout digital campaigns; and implementing trade programs that strengthen relationships within the industry. Colangelo & Partners' clientele includes global, instantly-recognizable brands and passionate, up-and-coming vignerons and distillers; regional and national institutions; and technology and e-commerce companies innovating in the beverage alcohol sector.
Simpplr, the leading AI-powered employee experience platform, announced today that Tim Lambert has joined its growing team as Chief Revenue Officer. Simpplr uses AI-driven software to help organizations transform their work experience and enable them to drive better retention, engagement and productivity from their people wherever they work.

Lambert will lead all revenue-driving teams, including global sales, customer experience, revenue operations, and alliances. He will work closely with the executive team to continue to accelerate revenue and grow the Simpplr partner ecosystem.

Lambert brings more than 25 years in sales success and extensive experience building teams at rapidly growing companies. Prior to joining Simpplr, Lambert served as Chief Revenue Officer at Openprise, where he oversaw all aspects of sales and business development, growing revenue 3x and building a robust partner program including a Global Systems Integrator partnership with KPMG. Previously, he was Chief Revenue Officer at Jobvite, one of the most innovative and fast-growing SaaS recruitment platforms. There he led the team from its early days to acquisition, helping to develop partnerships with Workday & SuccessFactors and grow the companys customer base from 25 to over 2,000. Lambert has also held executive roles at Yahoo, Knight Ridder, and AT&T.

We are excited to welcome Tim Lambert and his expertise in scaling high-growth sales functions and delivering operational excellence at prominent technology companies, said Dhiraj Sharma, Founder, and CEO of Simpplr. With Tim, we will be able to bring the Simpplr value proposition to more companies, enabling them to elevate the employee experience and establish a strong connection between their culture, people, and business.

I am excited for the opportunity to continue to grow market share and help organizations create a work environment where employees can flourish, with a platform that helps people feel connected, supported, and included, said Lambert. I look forward to working with the larger team to further establish Simpplr as a leader in the employee experience market.

Lambert officially joined Simpplr as CRO in October 2022.

To learn more about Simpplr, please visit Simpplr.com

About Simpplr

Simpplr is the leading AI-powered employee experience platform. Organizations use Simpplrs forward-looking, adaptable products to deliver personalized experiences that inspire and engage their employees. Wherever people work, Simpplr enables them to flourish.

Trusted by more than 500+ leading brands, including Zoom, Snowflake, Moderna, Eurostar, and AAA, Simpplrs customers are achieving measurable productivity gains, increased employee engagement, and accelerated business performance.

Simpplr is headquartered in Silicon Valley, CA with offices in the UK, Canada, and India, and is backed by Norwest Venture Partners, Salesforce Ventures, and Tola Capital. Learn more at simpplr.com
This series is game-changing because it helps usher in a new era of wellness and how it is explored in the media

The Global Wellness Institute (GWI), the leading research and educational resource for the $4.4 trillion global wellness industry, today announced the global launch of In Pursuit of Wellness: The Art & Science of Living Well, a new digital series produced by BBC StoryWorks, the commercial content division of BBC Studios, for the GWI.

Wellness is often narrowly perceived, marketed, and covered in the media as something costly and exclusive. This fascinating series of films and stories takes a dramatically different, more expansive approach to the multi-faceted wellness movement. It asks what true wellness is, exploring a range of ancient traditions and modern innovations, and the science underpinning them. The series takes us on a journey around the world to meet the pioneers pushing the boundaries of wellness in more accessible and achievable directions, and the inspirational individuals and groups that are taking care of themselves in both ancient and cutting-edge ways. The films explore a traditional tea ceremony in South Korea, office buildings working hard to support our wellbeing, and how answers to some of the questions about life on Earth can be found in outer space. The series also shines a light on wellness practices at work all around us, and how the very act of being humanmoving, laughing, breathing, celebrating, giving, and appreciatingcan transform our health and wellbeing.

Over the last year, the Global Wellness Institutes research and executive team has worked closely with BBC StoryWorks producers on the series, helping to ground it in research and evidence. The non-profit GWI tapped its global network of wellness leaders by issuing a Call for Stories in 2021, and worked with BBC StoryWorks to identify individuals and organizations taking a creative and inclusive approach to wellness. The series is expected to reach tens of millions of people globally and generate 80 million impressions on BBC.com during the 12-month digital campaign, vastly expanding the GWIs community and mission of empowering wellness worldwide.

The series premiered today at the Global Wellness Summit being held in Tel Aviv, where Simon Shelley, vice president, and Vlada Tusco, senior partnerships manager, at BBC StoryWorks, unveiled new films. One revealing how music can tap into brain regions that help neurodiverse children express themselves in new ways and another exploring how young Kenyans are finding new appreciation for the benefits of traditional healing plants.

The series spans 16 films and six articles, all of which fit into four themes: Body, Mind, Culture and Design. The first article highlights how the Global Wellness Institute and its research team defined wellness and has long produced the authoritative industry research measuring the size, scope of, and emerging trends in, the global wellness economy.

Explore the In Pursuit of Wellness films and articles here: http://www.inpursuitofwellnessseries.com

Watch the trailer here.

Its a true honour to be the official presenters of this ground-breaking new series and to have worked with the brilliant minds, producers, and writers at BBC StoryWorks over the last year, said Nancy Davis, GWI chief creative officer and executive director. This series is game-changing because it helps usher in a new era of wellness and how it is explored in the media: A wellness era that is more authentic, inclusive and joyful; more rigorous and science-based; and one that celebrates the pioneers inand cultures ofwellness that are making a real impact on real people. It is also pivotal for the GWI, as the power of BBCs global platform and audience will exponentially broaden our reach and community.

Looking after ourselves and each other is fundamental, and yet it can often be forgotten about or misinterpreted, said Simon Shelley, vice president of BBC Programme Partnerships  part of BBC StoryWorks. We hope that defining wellness through the lens of people across the globe, who are keeping well and striving to function at their best with traditional and modern rituals, inspires viewers at whatever stage of a wellness journey that they are on. Its been a privilege to work with the Global Wellness Institute.

Join the conversation on social media via the #InPursuitOfWellness hashtag.

About the Global Wellness Institute: The Global Wellness Institute (GWI), a non-profit 501(c)(3), is considered the leading global research and educational resource for the global wellness industry and is known for introducing major industry initiatives and regional events that bring together leaders to chart the future. GWI positively impacts global health and wellness by educating public institutions, businesses and individuals on how they can work to prevent disease, reduce stress and enhance the overall quality of life. Its mission is to empower wellness worldwide.
Pioneering into foodservice is challenging but can work with a structured process and a nimble team, which is what ESA brings to new entrants into the channel so they can scale farther faster, says ESA CEO Dimitra Rizzi.

Elohi Strategic Advisors (ESA) and Next Gen Foods announce today the conclusion of their commercial partnership, and of a successful chapter that brought TiNDLE  the less-than-two-year-old ridiculously good chicken made from plants  to popularity in the United States.

ESA congratulates TiNDLE on their rapid development in the U.S. foodservice market, for their innovative spirit and continued focus on bringing delicious and sustainable plant-based chicken alternatives to tables around the world.

TiNDLE joins some of the most well-known and widely distributed plant-based products in the North American market as graduates of ESAs Foundation and Accelerated Market Penetration (AMP)  programs. ESA's Foundation program involves identification of product features and benefits to the industry, development of a unique foodservice selling proposition, assessment of pricing and trade program needs, plus a custom strategic sales and marketing roadmap to success. Designed to help companies navigate the maze of foodservice, these programs establish a solid strategy and execution plan to succeed in the channel. Pioneering into foodservice is challenging but can work with a structured process and a nimble team, which is what ESA brings to new entrants into the channel so they can scale farther faster, notes ESA CEO Dimitra Rizzi.

As an apprentice in ESAs programs, TiNDLE achieved national distribution through a unique pre-market partnership with Dot Foods. With a solid distribution footprint in place, ESA guided TiNDLE to reach key decision makers through the work of ESAs sales, marketing, culinary and support teams. Such efforts included direction, coordination and support for key industry events like IFMAs Presidents Conference, DOT Innovations, the National Restaurant Association Show and Restaurant Leadership Conference  plus digital communications and the development of sales materials, fulfillment and training. In less than one year, ESA saw TiNDLE on menus in more than 1,000 foodservice locations, including Project Pollo, Native Foods, Local Cantina, Craft & Crew and Veggie Grill.

Next Gen Foods is committed to further investment and growth in the U.S. and is currently expanding its own internal organization to include a full in-house arm dedicated to foodservice sales. This includes building out support functions within its existing team, as well as hiring for new positions soon. ESAs Senior Vice President of Sales, Jared Umsted, will continue in his leadership role of TiNDLEs U.S. foodservice sales and will be joining Next Gen Foods as part of this internal team development. Next Gen also recently named Chicago as their U.S. headquarters and established a new R&D and innovation center at The Hatchery.

Looking for experienced guidance and support as your company enters the foodservice channel? Join brands like New Wave Foods, Veggies Made Great and Finless Foods in any of Elohi Strategic Advisors customized programs across general management, revenue generation support, marketing and culinary. As Andre Menezes, Co-Founder and CEO of Next Gen Foods has said, Elohi helped us design our strategy for the U.S. foodservice market, including both operators and distributors. Most importantly, Elohi has played an instrumental role on its execution. Contact us at info@elohi.us.

About Elohi Strategic Advisors

Elohi Strategic Advisors (ESA) is a well-connected foodservice accelerator for new companies or those bringing new, plant-forward or alternative protein products to the marketplace, and a source for operators and distributors seeking whats new and whats next for foodservice menus. A women-owned (WBENC- and WOSB-certified) small business, ESA leads a comprehensive team of industry experts who help companies rapidly breakthrough the foodservice industry. ESA gets products into the sales funnel and the hands of consumers, so businesses can invest and grow with confidence. Visit elohi.us to learn more.
As a proud veteran myself, it is important to me that we give back to our military, said Your Docs In founder, Dr. Walter Gianelle. I know first-hand the commitment and sacrifice our service men and women make for this country, which is why providing this service every year is a big deal for us.

As Veterans Day approaches, Your Doc's In is showing gratitude to former U.S. military personnel by providing free flu shots once again this year. Your Docs In continues its annual offering of free flu shots for U.S. veterans this fall at all six of its Delmarva-area clinics.

YDI veteran's flu shot program is a part of its no appointment needed policy, further demonstrating the unmatched levels of excellence, convenience and care it gives to patients. Your Doc's In is grateful to all U.S. Veterans for their service and wants to acknowledge their commitment to our country by proudly offering this free service. Veterans Day holds a special place at Your Docs In (YDI), which is named the Best Urgent Care Provider for the 8th consecutive year by Coastal Style magazine and the 5th consecutive year by Metropolitan Magazine

Your Doc's In origin story stems from a U.S. military background. The founder, Dr. Walter Gianelle, is a former U.S. Air Force para-rescue man. During Dr. Gianelle's service, he learned a lot about first aid and stabilizing critically wounded patients and getting them out of the combat zone. His experience as both a miliary veteran and ER physician prompted him to create Marylands award-winning urgent care clinic, Your Doc's In, and he continues to show respect to his honorable fellow service men and women by providing free flu shots to Veterans this season.

As a proud veteran myself, it is important to me that we give back to our military, said Your Docs In founder, Dr. Walter Gianelle. I know first-hand the commitment and sacrifice our service men and women make for this country, which is why providing this service every year is a big deal for us.

About Your Docs In

Your Docs In is an award-winning urgent care and occupational health clinic dedicated to providing the highest standard of care and improving the quality of life for the Eastern Shore community and those who visit. Your Docs In was founded by an experienced ER physician searching for a better way to serve patients. Its award-winning clinics are led by a team of board-certified physicians and medical specialists, providing a professional, compassionate and individualized approach to treating patients. With a no-appointment-necessary policy, Your Docs In is committed to convenience, comfort and care. Your Docs In has clinics located throughout the Eastern Shore, with multiple locations in Salisbury, Ocean City, Easton, Cambridge and Pocomoke.


According to a recent Glassdoor Economic Research Study, Zeigler Auto Group is among the top 10 U.S. companies for work-life balance Its hard to describe in words: culture. But, you can feel a culture; and thats what the foundation of the company is based on. Were more powerful than a team, were a family and I think thats the most powerful thing you can be.

The Glassdoor Economic Research Center has ranked Zeigler Auto Group at number 6 among the Top 10 U.S. Companies for Work-Life Balance. The auto group currently has a 4.77 out of 5 rating; and a 96% Recommend to a Friend Rating, up by 5% from 2021.

Being the only retail company, and the only automotive company, among all of these tech companies on this list is a huge accomplishment, said Aaron Zeigler, president and owner of Zeigler Auto Group during the companys most recent episode of its Driving Vision Podcast.

Its hard to describe in words: culture. But, you can feel a culture; and thats what the foundation of the company is based on. Were more powerful than a team, were a family and I think thats the most powerful thing you can be, said Zeigler who currently has an impressive 99% CEO rating on the review site.

The Top 10 US Companies for Work-Life Balance list was compiled from Work-Life Balance ratings on Glassdoor from US-based full and part-time employees between January 1, 2022 and September 28, 2022. The ranking includes companies with more than 1,000 employees and with a minimum of 50 Work-Life Balance ratings during the time period. The average Work-Life Balance rating extends beyond the hundredths place to determine this ranking.

According to a Glassdoor survey, nearly 3 in 4 (71%) of employees say work/life balance is an important workplace factor when it comes to searching for jobs and companies to work for. Glassdoor also says that the phrase mental health in company reviews on Glassdoor.com jumped 91% from 2019 to 2022. Also up are Burnout mentions, going up 42% from 2019 to 2022.

The Glassdoor Economic Research team calculated the percent change in mentions of keywords like burnout, overwork, mental health and other phrases in Glassdoor reviews between January 1, 2019 to September 28, 2022 from current and former US-based employees.

This is not the first time that Zeigler Auto Group has been recognized for its employee-first views on work-life balance. In 2021, Glassdoors Economic Research also listed the dealer group among its Top 20 Highest-Rated Companies for Work-Life Balance During the COVID-19 Pandemic, coming in at number 14 nationwide. The studywhich gathered Glassdoor.com reviews from current and former U.S.-based full-time employees between March 15, 2020, and September 28, 2021 also gave Zeigler Auto Group the top spot for new and used auto dealership groups.

Zeigler also launched its own podcast: The Driving Vision Podcast, hosted by COO Sam DArc, with innovation and vision as its central theme. The podcast regularly features various Zeigler programs that help enhance employees work-life balance and personal development.

We teach our team members how to recognize their peers in impactful ways. We reinforce our values by sharing stories of what they have done for each other and our customers. We celebrate wins throughout the organization and give our team members fun things to look forward to in their career journey. This recognition on work-life balance is a tribute to all we do for each other at Team Zeigler, said Mike Van Ryn, director of talent development.

Zeigler also is consistently recognized as one of the best places to work earning accolades from the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For program, bringing home four consecutive national awards from 2019 through 2022. Besides these prestigious national awards, the company has also consistently won awards under the same program from Chicago, 9 consecutive years; and Michigan 16 wins. 2022 also marked the first year it won a Milwaukees Best and Brightest Companies to Work For award.

Zeigler Auto Group is always looking for top talent at all 35 of their locations across the Midwest including Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. To join our award-winning work-life balance team, please visit zeigler.com/zeigler-automotive-careers.htm.

About Glassdoor

Built on the foundation of increasing workplace transparency, Glassdoor offers insights into the employee experience powered by millions of company ratings and reviews, CEO approval ratings, salary reports, interview reviews and questions, benefits reviews, office photos and more, combined with the latest jobs.

About Glassdoor Economic Research

Glassdoor Economic Research provides the latest insights and research on todays labor market. The companys economists and data scientists work to unearth important trends in hiring, pay and the broader economy all based on Glassdoors unique data on jobs, salaries, benefits, company reviews and more.

About Zeigler Auto Group

Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 78 franchises across 35 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers.

Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company.

The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, a Carquest Auto Parts store, three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.

Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,300 people, ranking among the top 1% of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2022. The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Wisconsin, Chicago, and Michigan.
Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle took the stage on Tuesday morning at the Sharjah International Book Fair just nine hours after learning that the proposed acquisition of Simon & Schuster by Penguin Random House was blocked by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Dohle was interviewed by Bodour al Quasimi, the president of the International Publishers Association. After nearly 30 minutes of conversation, Al Qasimi addressed what she called the elephant in the room, and asked Dohle what he thought about the decision. I am super disappointed, Dohle said. I think the ruling is utterly wrong.

The ruling was political, he said, and by implication, counter to the interests of the U.S. as a successful PRH/S&S would have paid more taxes. He said PRH was considering an appeal, suggesting that a final decision had not been made.

By way of defending his position in favor of the merger, Dohle said that publishing is about working on one book at a time and, accordingly, there is no scalability on the publishing side. The advantage the merged companies would have had would be in distribution and, post-merger, we would have been able to sell more Simon & Schuster titles than they would have been able to sell on their own. He added that the companied companies would have represented less than 20% of the overall book market, where Amazon represents more than 50% of the retail market.

Earlier in the conversation, Dohle praised the success of Amazon in building out an ecommerce infrastructure that allowed the book business to thrive during the pandemica period that saw sales increase about 20%. He also implied that Amazon empowered independent publishers by giving them a retail platform where books were presented the same as PRHs titles, suggesting that Amazon provided everyone with a level playing field. A good independent bookstore stocks maybe 50,000 titles, Amazon stocks 50 million, he said.

Dohle doubled-down on his claim that he has made continually through the previous year that smaller publishers over the last 10 years have gained market share and that independent publishers are competitive with PRH, as a result of having laser focus and superior audience knowledgeboth of which Dohle said made him envious. Small publishers, this is your moment, he said.

Al Quasimi questioned Dohle about the role of women in publishing, to which he replied that 80% of the executives at PRH US were women and more than half of the global executive team at PRH were women. He added that increasing the diversity of staff will enable the publishing house to better reflect society and reach more readers.

Dohle expressed genuine passion and emotion for the importance of books and reading to the advancement of society. Earlier this year, Dohle committed to donate at least $500,000 to establish the Dohle Book Defense Fun at PEN America, which will be used to combat censorship and book banning. History has shown that when you limit the ability of people to write and read, bad things follow, he said.

He was also adamant that for publishing to thrive, the narrative around reading needs to change. We need a positive view of storytelling and long form reading, he said. Why are we so negative about books?"

Finally, asked if PRH was considering establishing an Arabic-language publishing house in the region, Dohle first praised the Sharjah Book Authority for its success in helping develop the local market, which attracted him to investigate further. Then he said that he works for a private company, Bertelsmann, that is conservativeWe always approach a market through a local lens, he said. Its bottom up: we look, learn and start. This means the company thinks in generations, rather than years.

I can see quite significant operations here two-generations from now, he said.
Members of the first cohort of Posse Foundation students participate in a team-building exercise. This is the first year that Purdue has hosted students funded by the Posse Foundation. The group includes 11 students from northern and northwestern Indiana. (Purdue University photo/Charles Jischke)

Purdue partners with Posse Foundation on scholarship program for northwest, northern Indiana students

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  In high school, NahShon Williams wanted to build a better future by pursuing a college degree in construction management. There was just one problem: The financial hurdles of even getting into college stood in the way.

A new Purdue University partnership with a national college outreach and youth leadership development organization has given Williams  and many others  that chance.

Williams and 10 other freshmen from northwest and northern Indiana urban areas began their Purdue journeys this fall through Purdues new partnership with the Posse Foundation. These urban areas of the state are ones that Purdue has identified as underrecruited.

The partnership with the Posse Foundation helps identify and select students from urban areas with academic and leadership potential who may be overlooked by traditional college selection processes and prepares them for admission. Cornell University, Northwestern University, the University of Pennsylvania and Vanderbilt University, among others, also have partnerships with the foundation.

Students receive a full-tuition scholarship from Purdue and assistance from a designated campus mentor. They also attend Posse Foundation workshops for training in academic excellence, leadership, cross-cultural communication and team building.

Purdue President Mitch Daniels has asked Purdues admissions staff to center their efforts in places where fewer students find their way to Purdue. During the past five years, for example, fewer than 100 minority or low-income students from northwest Indiana have matriculated to Purdue.

The Posse program fills a gap in Purdues recruitment efforts, Daniels said.

This partnership with the Posse Foundation will allow us to welcome more students to our campus community from targeted areas of our state from which we see fewer students and, even more importantly, help ensure those students are successful during their time on campus, he said. The Posse Foundation has created a model that aligns with everything we are aiming to achieve at Purdue  expanding college access to students from all walks of life and supporting them.

Daniels became aware of Posse through his long-standing relationship with former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, a member of Posses national board of advisors.

Kristina Wong Davis, Purdue vice provost for enrollment management, said the partnership has been successful in its first year, as students are coming from Granger, Hammond, La Porte, Mishawaka, Michigan City, Osceola, Portage and South Bend.

Purdue outreach representatives have been working with schools, communities and guidance counselors to encourage students to apply for the program, Wong Davis said. The feedback from students and applicants was tremendous. We are excited for this partnership with Posse and look to grow the program and provide more students with opportunities for a Purdue education.

The partnership also reflects the ongoing work of Purdues Equity Task Force, which is charged with developing a plan with specific actions to ensure all students have the opportunity to equitably experience all Purdue has to offer.

Building the future

Williams, a freshman from South Bend in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, learned about the Posse scholarship from his high school guidance counselor. He says receiving the scholarship was a game-changer; it eliminates his financial worries about attending Purdue.

I was in shock. It gave me a lot of pride about all the work I had done during high school leading up to that moment, Williams said. Posse has eliminated all of that worry and made it very easy for me to go into this new era of studying at Purdue.

His mother encouraged him to take a construction class his sophomore year in high school because he was always creative and liked working with his hands.

Williams was captivated by what he learned, and he signed up for the schools second-year construction program, in which he and his classmates built a house. He started exploring construction management programs  and Purdue was on his radar.

Williams wants to pursue a masters degree in urban planning, urban development and community investment.

Construction management will help me get to that point with the technical knowledge of how things go, he said.

Williams first wants to explore opportunities across the United States before he finds his way back to South Bend. Ill never forget South Bend. I will always want to come back home, he said.

A thriving environment

Sarah Torres of Portage learned about the Posse Foundation program through her high school guidance counselor. Today she is a highly involved freshman  majoring in biomedical health science with a pre-dentistry concentration in the College of Health and Human Sciences and minoring in dance in the College of Liberal Arts. She is also a member of the Women in Science living community.

After applying and going through the interview process and visiting campus, she knew she found the right place.

I felt welcomed at Purdue. Thats when I realized that Im going to thrive here, Torres said. I met a Purdue alumna on my first visit to Purdue. She encouraged me, and when she found out I danced, she told me to try it at Purdue along with my biomedical science major.

My goals have aligned with the research offered at Purdue. Purdue is a top research public institution. I knew it would bring me closer to working with people who are looking at health policies that affect us all.

Torres has more plans still. She intends to explore various clubs and study abroad opportunities.

Studying abroad and connecting with others is also going to allow me to grow as a person and completely take me out of my comfort zone. Posse will help in making those connections happen, she said. Posse has been the foundation for finding these mentors along my path.

One of her goals is to get into a leadership position with a student organization, potentially even mentoring students, as she pursues her goal of attending dental school.

You never know where life is going to take you, Torres said. Im grateful for this opportunity. Dont be afraid to get out of your comfort zone.

Mentoring todays students for tomorrows challenges

Martia Brawner King, director of Student Activities and Organizations at Purdue, serves as the Posse campus mentor and understands the importance of this partnership.

We know Boilermaker students have the talent, the drive and the know-how to get work done and make the best of their college experience. Partnering with the Posse Foundation opened the door to students who may not have had us on the radar and vice versa, King said.

On Sunday afternoons, King can be found on campus helping Posse students navigate their first year.

King attended several trainings to acclimate Purdue to the Posse Foundation, especially the importance of mentoring and what success means for new cohorts of students. Mentors come from various disciplines, and the training covered group dynamics, campus resources for students and how to structure a campus program.

Posse students will participate in sessions on strengths assessment, conflict resolution, cultural competency and self-discovery. They will volunteer at the ACE Campus Food Pantry and learn about services provided by the Office of the Dean of Students.

While there is a structure to the program and mentoring, King wants students to build relationships with each other, faculty and other students.

We talk about everything from homesickness to understanding their newfound independence to the clubs they are checking out, King said.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last five years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://stories.purdue.edu .

Writer/Media contact: Matthew Oates, 765-586-7496 (cell), oatesw@purdue.edu, @mo_oates

Sources: Kris Wong Davis, kwongdav@purdue.edu

Martia Brawner King, mbrawner@purdue.edu
Dangerous Liaisons has been renewed ahead of its series premiere.

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Starz confirmed in a press release Tuesday that it renewed the period drama for Season 2.

Dangerous Liaisons is based on the Pierre Choderlos de Laclos novel of the same name. The series is a prequel and origin story for the characters Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont.

Alice Englert, Nicholas Denton, Lesley Manville, Carice van Houten, Paloma Faith, Michael McElhatton, Kosar Ali, Nathanael Saleh and Hakeem Kae-Kazim star.

Season 1 will premiere Nov. 6 on Starz, with Season 2 to begin production in Prague, Czech Republic, in early 2023.

"Dangerous Liaisons is addictive, provocative and beautifully rendered," Starz president of original programming Kathryn Busby said. "This prelude to the famed 18th century novel illuminates pre-revolution Paris at its most decadent. We are confident that by the end of season one viewers will be craving more scheming and seduction."

The series explores how the Marquise de Merteuil (Englert) and the Vicomte de Valmont (Denton) met as passionate young lovers in Paris on the eve of the revolution.

"This modern take on a classic story takes audiences through wonder and terror, beauty and degradation, seduction and deception in pre-revolutionary Paris. Driven to right the wrongs of their past, the young couple's survival depends on their skills of seduction and manipulation of not only the French nobility but of each other," an official description reads.

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Dangerous Liaisons is written, created and executive produced by Harriet Warner, who also serves as showrunner.
Heartstopper creator Alice Oseman is showing her support for Kit Connor following his coming out.

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Oseman, whose webcomic inspired Netflix's popular Heartstopper series, supported Connor on social media after the actor came out as bisexual and said he felt forced to do so.

Connor, 18, plays Nick Nelson on Heartstopper, a coming-of-age comedy-drama series that follows the romance between teenage schoolmates Nick (Connor) and Charlie Spring (Joe Locke).

On Monday, Connor publicly came out as bisexual on Twitter.

"back for a minute. i'm bi. congrats for forcing an 18 year old to out himself. i think some of you missed the point of the show. bye," he wrote.

Oseman responded in the comments, writing, "I truly don't understand how people can watch Heartstopper and then gleefully spend their time speculating about sexualities and judging based on stereotypes. I hope all those people are embarrassed as [expletive]. Kit you are amazing."

Connor's coming out follows accusations of "queerbaiting," or benefiting from people thinking that he was LGBTQ without belonging to the community. Connor was recently spotted holding hands with actress Maia Reficco, his co-star in the film A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow.

Heartstopper was renewed for Seasons 2 and 3 in May and resumed production in September.
The cast of Manifest said Season 4, premiering Friday on Netflix, will explain what has happened to the characters in the two years that have elapsed in the story since Season 3.

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The show follows characters who were on a flight that traveled five years into the future.

By the end of Season 3, Flight 828 survivor Ben Stone (Josh Dallas) had a newborn daughter, Eden. Fellow survivor Angelina (Holly Taylor) kidnapped Eden at the end of Season 3, so Season 4 shows Ben having spiraled for two years searching for Eden.

"He is in a profound well of anger and grief and he can't quite see a way out of it," Dallas told UPI in a recent Zoom interview. "He abandons everything. That includes his family."

The first three seasons of Manifest aired on NBC. When NBC cancelled the show in 2021, Dallas, 40, began growing his beard.

When Netflix decided to produce a fourth season to conclude Manifest, Dallas and the creators agreed Dallas' beard could indicate just how far Ben has lost his way.

"It was Ben's grief beard and it was Josh's grief beard," Dallas said. "When we heard we were cancelled after that, I think I went into a period of mourning."

Ben doesn't know where Eden is, but Manifest follows Angelina and the now 2-year-old. Due to visions, which the passengers refer to as callings, Angelina believes Eden is her guardian angel.

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"She has some good maternal instincts, surprisingly, and she really does care about Eden," Taylor, 25, said of Angelina. "Angelina kind of attracts danger because she doesn't make the best choices."

Another phenomenon affecting the Stone family is that Ben's son, Cal, who was 11 on Flight 828, suddenly aged from 15 to 20 at the end of Season 3. Ty Doran, now in his mid-20s, takes over the role of Cal from Jack Messina, but finds Ben too obsessed with Eden to care for his son.

"You don't often get to play someone younger in emotional maturity level than they are physically," Doran said. "I don't get to play many 15-year-olds anymore."

Cal's sister, Olive (Luna Blaise) was not on Flight 828, so she outgrew her twin brother by five years. Now that he's suddenly caught back up, it exacerbates the Stones' family drama.

"The first time she sees him, I think she's also so scared," Blaise, 21, said. "It's traumatic. This girl's had a lot of unknown in her life."

Ben's obsession with finding Eden also leaves other passengers in a lurch. Ben's sister, Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh) is still helping her fellow passengers deal with the impending death date, when all the passengers are expected to die on June 2, 2024.

"[Michaela is] put in charge of making sure that everything is still glued together and doesn't fall apart before they have a chance to save themselves," Roxburgh, 29, said. "So she teams up with a few different people but she's forced to make a lot of decisions on her own."

When Michaela returned from Flight 828, her fiance, Jared (J.R. Ramirez) had moved on. By Season 3, Michaela had married Zeke (Matt Long), but still has feelings for Jared.

When Manifest returns for Season 4, flashbacks will reveal what has happened between Michaela and Zeke in the previous two years.

"[Zeke] says, 'We need to have this talk,'" Long, 42, said. "And we flash back to that talk. It's one of my favorite and most memorable scenes for me personally in the first 10 episodes of Season 4."

Season 3 also introduced Zeke's empath powers. Now that Zeke has had two years to practice reading people's feelings, he's using them with more focus and intensity.

"He's able to harness it now and do good with it, but he gets in over this head," Long said.

Season 4 will air in two parts. After 10 episodes premiere Friday, the final 10 will premiere at a later date.

Blaise said the show will reach June 2, 2024 in its story. After anticipating it for so long, Blaise had a strong reaction to the episode encompassing it.

"It's really surreal actually, filming that episode where it was June 2, 2024," Blaise said. "Oh my God, wow, we're actually filming the June 2 2024 scene."

Ramirez, 42, agreed the Death Date episode was emotional because it marked the end of the Manifest journey.

"It was really hard reading the last episode," Ramirez said. "Even those whole nine days [filming the episode], it was a lot of tears and a lot of emotions."

Dallas and Long said despite the sadness of concluding Manifest, they were grateful Netflix gave them a second chance after NBC canceled the show. Cast member Daryl Edwards, who plays the NSA director investigating Flight 828, said he was surprised how joyous the series finale was.

"I was expecting it to be really sad, but it's kind of a celebration," he said.

As Manifest approaches the resolution of the Flight 828 and Death Date stories, Roxburgh said the ensemble of characters converges for the final episodes.

"The beautiful thing about Season 4 is that it's very connected amongst all the passengers," Roxburgh said. "There are scenes with more people in them and it really just did feel like one big group. As the passengers were resolving all of it, we were letting it go on our end, so it felt very parallel."
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 11/01/2022



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Gabby Windey has addressed Erich Schwer breakup rumors considering her fiance has noticeably absent from the Dancing with the Stars audience lately.Gabby, who got engaged to Erich on 's Season 19 finale, has been a frontrunner on Dancing with the Stars, but Erich only sat in the ballroom for a couple of Season 31 performance shows after their engagement was made public in late September.Gabby also hasn't posted a photo with Erich on Instagram since October 12, and eagle-eyed fans spotted Gabby without her engagement ring during the last two weeks of Dancing with the Stars rehearsal packages and performances.In light of recent speculation Gabby and Erich may have split, the ICU nurse explained of her relationship with the real estate analyst from New Jersey, "Yeah, life is just really busy for the both of us right now," according to Fox News.Gabby opened up about her relationship status following Dancing with the Stars' Halloween-themed episode on Monday night."So I understand [fans'] concern," Gabby noted, "but we're just kind of, you know, going forward with each of our individual interests and supporting each other from afar."Erich popped the question to Gabby at the end of 19 although voicing days earlier how he'd rather just date the former NFL cheerleader in the real world for a while before getting engaged.Gabby, however, desperately wanted Erich to prove his love and commit to her.Once the world found out about Gabby and Erich's engagement, Gabby threw herself into Dancing with the Stars, which films in Los Angeles, CA.Gabby has since topped the judges' leaderboard for most weeks of the Dancing with the Stars competition.While Erich didn't support Gabby in the Dancing with the Stars ballroom, he asked fans to vote for her in his Instagram Stories on Monday night."She keeps on crushin it," Erich wrote on October 31.And following Gabby's sexy rumba on Dancing with the Stars' October 24 episode, Gabby insisted to Us Weekly that Erich was being "so supportive," adding, "He understands this is a performance and we have a goal."While it's been smooth sailing for Gabby on Dancing with the Stars, she was thrown a curve ball when her pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday, October 26.Dancing with the Stars pro Alan Bersten -- who led 15 star Hannah Brown to a DWTS victory back on Season 28 -- therefore stepped in for Val and danced with Gabby on Monday night."Alan's been great. He has been wonderful," Gabby shared."I was a little nervous at first, but I feel like we just got right into it. I think we're both really hardworking and have a common interest in mind, which is to win!"Gabby also assured Dancing with the Stars viewers that Val is doing "okay" and "is fine" in his recovery from COVID-19.As far as her own health goes, Gabby confirmed, "I feel great... no COVID. We were getting tested every day and practiced in masks. So luckily, nobody else in the perimeter seems like they got it. We're just hoping [Val] gets better fast."Gabby and Alan landed in sixth place on Monday night's leaderboard with a total of 71 out of 80 possible points.While Gabby and Alan received 38 judges' points for their "fang-tastic" vampire-inspired Argentine tango, according to DWTS judge Derek Hough , their "Team Wicked" group performance received only 33 points. (The opposing "Team Scream" earned 39 judges' points).Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Three nurses in county jailed exposed to fentanyl Three inmates were charged
Members from the University of Georgia chapters of College Republicans and Young Democrats took the stage at the UGA chapel for their Great Debate on Wednesday night. Both groups discussed various policy issues, as the polls close in under two weeks.
Members of All Souls Church in Brattleboro make wreaths and other holiday decorations on Monday, Nov. 28, 2022, for the annual Holiday Bazaar that will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The bazaar has been going on since the late '70s and people can also buy handmade g
Zuhra, an Afghan refugee and a member of ArtLords, works on a painting during a one-day pop-up gallery at Brattleboro Museum and Arts Center on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022.
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Nichael Cramer writes from Guilford. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
Their colleagues from the ruling party have summoned them repeatedly to rebuke the exiled opposition leader.

Exiled Cambodian activist Sam Rainsy [right] arrives at a Paris courthouse with his lawyer Jessica Finelle for proceedings in a defamation lawsuit filed by Cambodia's Prime Hun Sen, Sept. 1, 2022. Hun Sen lost the case.

Local commune councilors affiliated with Cambodias main opposition Candlelight Party on Tuesday walked out of a meeting where they were asked to publicly condemn Hun Sens exiled political rival Sam Rainsy, the party told Radio Free Asia.

Commune chiefs from Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party, or CPP, summoned several of the Candlelight Partys commune councilors from Kandal province and demanded they sign and add their thumbprints to a petition which said they denounce the opposition figure.

Sam Rainsy is a co-founder of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, which was the previous main opposition party before the countrys Supreme Court dissolved it in 2017. He has been living in self-exile in France since 2015, when he fled a series of charges his supporters say are politically motivated.

Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia since 1985, threatened last month that he would dissolve any party that associates with Sam Rainsy and accused those who support him of being against Cambodias king.

The Candlelight party then attempted to distance itself from Sam Rainsy by condemning those who insult the king, without naming any specific person.

This statement should have been enough to ease any and all concerns, the Candlelight Partys Kong Narith, who is the second deputy chief of a commune council in Kandal's Takhmao city, told RFAs Khmer Service.

Kong Narith said that he has maintained his position and has acted in accordance with the law, especially in respecting the will of the voters who elected him and others in the party.

Long Seng Bun, who is the first deputy of another Takhmao commune, said that forcing him and other members of Candlelight to sign these types of petitions is illegal and a violation of political rights, and that is why he refused.

I told them that I wont do anything against the law, he said. The voters voted for me so I will serve my constituencies.

Commune councilors from the Candlelight Party have been pressured by their colleagues from the CPP four separate times to denounce Sam Rainsy not only in Takhmao, but also several other Kandal province districts, sources said.

The CPP officials threatened the opposition party commune councilors, saying that if they don't do what they are told, they will be punished according to law.

Illegal coercion

Candlelights vice president Thach Setha told RFA that any coercive, threatening or persuasive action by the ruling party officials is a serious illegal act. He said that his partys statement against those who are against the king has already been accepted by Hun Sen, so there is no reason for the CPP officials to continue to intimidate the Candlelight members of commune councils.

He urged the Ministry of Interior to take action against anyone who engages in coercive activities against Candlelight party members.

We are representatives from a legitimate party and have already issued a letter of condemnation, he said. Why are they not recognizing that?

RFA was unable to contact the ministry's spokesman Khieu Sopheak or Kandal province governor Kong Sophorn for comment as of Tuesday.

Anyone who refuses to sign the petition that condemns Sam Rainsy is a traitor and has ties with the exiled political figure, the ruling partys spokesperson Sok Ey San said.

Social development researcher Seng Sary said that the local ruling party officials are acting beyond their superiors' orders. He added that local officials should recognize the decisions and orders of their superiors without exacerbating the political situation.

I believe that the political situation in Cambodia can't be resolved by law, so it is necessary to resolve it through political negotiations, Seng Sary said. "And more importantly, easing the political heat in this situation is one way to resolve it."

The Candlelight Party, which has more than 2,000 commune council seats across the country, last week issued a letter calling on authorities to stop acts of political intimidation and coercion.

Their statement said that these actions violate Cambodias constitution and the peoples civil rights, political rights, and their rights to freedom of expression.

Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
The U.S. is trying to insulate its forces from the reach of Chinas missiles, an analyst says.

Plans to station nuclear capable B-52 bombers in the far north of Australia show that the U.S. military is seeking more deterrence options against China as its military strength increases, defense experts said.

In August, the U.S. Department of Defense sought preliminary information from contractors about building a parking apron to accommodate six B-52 bombers at the Australian air forces Tindal base southeast of Darwin, according to the U.S. governments contracting site. Australian broadcaster ABC reported on Monday that it had seen detailed plans for the air base expansion.

For more than a decade, Australia and the United States have extended their defense alliance with what they call force posture initiatives that have involved deployments of U.S. marines in Darwin as well as joint air force exercises and military infrastructure investment in Australia.

This deployment has been a long time coming, said Brian Harding, a former Pentagon official who helped negotiate the initial Australia-U.S. force posture arrangements under President Barack Obama.

The development of new infrastructure in northern Australia to support U.S. Air Force operations has long been seen as potentially far more strategically important than the rotations of U.S. Marines, but has flown below the radar, he told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.

Chinas Foreign Ministry criticized the U.S.-Australian plans and said the two countries have an outdated Cold War zero-sum mentality.

Such a move by the U.S. and Australia escalates regional tensions, gravely undermines regional peace and stability, and may trigger an arms race in the region, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a ministry press conference.

Chinas military buildup, its expansive claims tothe South China Sea, a busy global shipping route, and its forays into Taiwans airspace have contributed to heightened tensions in East Asia for several years.

Chinas annual military spending will reach U.S. $230 billion this year compared with $60 billion in 2008, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which cites official Chinese government figures. U.S. military spending was nearly $770 billion in 2021, according to CSIS.

On Tuesday, the Pentagon said that infrastructure works at the Tindal air base would support the rotational presence of a range of U.S. military aircraft in Australia following commitments for enhanced cooperation made at ministerial talks in 2021.

U.S. military aircraft, including B-52s and other bombers, have visited Australia for years to participate in joint exercises, which would continue, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense said in an email. Australia hosted four U.S. stealth bombers at its Amberley air force base in July.

The B-52 strategic bombers can carry both conventional and nuclear weapons. Since 1970, Australia has been a signatory to the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which commits it not to acquire nuclear weapons and to support efforts at disarmament.

Paul Dibb, a former director of Australias Defence Intelligence Organization, said in a television interview that Australias prohibition of nuclear weapons would be unlikely to change unless there was a conflict or imminent threat of one.

What this [B-52] presence does  is to show to China it cant just keep pushing south and south through the straits and waterways of the South China Sea, he said.

It would also be reassuring for U.S. allies South Korea and Japan, Dibb said.

Meanwhile, Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said Taiwan, which China regards as a breakaway province, had not asked for a B-52 deployment in Australia.

Weve been making efforts to defend ourselves. To improve our capabilities is our permanent goal. Of course we pay close attention to other countries activities and developments but we dont take part in them, he said.

Ashley Townshend, a security expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Chinas military buildup had contributed to regional instability and eroded American primacy in the Pacific by threatening U.S. ports and airstrips in places such as Guam.

Chinas missile threat is so severe that [the] U.S. needs more, safer places to operate. Australia is one such place. Dispersal here is part of efforts to bolster deterrence by making bombers more survivable, effective, he said on Twitter.

Australia sees a robust U.S. military presence as crucial to its own security and a boost to U.S.-Australian navy cooperation is likely to be next, Townshend said.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service. Staff at Radio Free Asia contributed to this report.
Protesters rally in the Manhattan section of New York City to protest Xi Jinping's rule in China, Oct. 31, 2022.

Around 30 protesters, many dressed as the white-clad, sometimes violent enforcers of Chinas zero-COVID policy, took to New Yorks streets on Monday for a Halloween march with a political message: opposing the authoritarian rule of Communist Party leader Xi Jinping.

Holding up placards with slogans that included calls for "Class boycott to remove the dictator Xi Jinping" in English and Chinese, they gathered despite concerns that anyone protesting against the Chinese government overseas could face retaliation against their loved ones back home.

Other banners read "Free China!" and "Stand with Hong Kong," and still others called for amnesty for political prisoners, more personal freedom and respect for human rights.

One protester who gave only his surname Wang said there was no doubt in his mind about taking part.

"I hold certain political beliefs, so naturally I came along because there was an activity," he said. "There was no decision-making process to go through."

Event organizers called on everyone to wear masks or face-coverings, to turn off their cell phones and to change their appearance to avoid detection by Chinese agents.

Fear of infiltration by Chinese agents

Another protester who asked not to be named said many joined in despite believing that Chinese agents would likely have infiltrated the event. Recent attacks on anti-Xi protesters -- mostly Hong Kongers in exile -- have sparked growing concerns over such infiltration in the United Kingdom.

Many of Monday night's protesters were Chinese nationals studying at various universities and colleges in the Greater New York area, as well as some recent graduates now working in New York.

They converged on Freeman Plaza West before merging into the existing Halloween parade at Sixth Avenue after organizing the rally via the messaging app Telegram.

A protester in New York City takes part in the demonstration against Xi Jinping's rule, Oct. 31, 2022. Credit: Wang Yun

One woman was dressed in a white shirt and gray trousers and carried a card that read "Tank Man, in reference to the man who was photographed facing down a column of People's Liberation Army tanks on Beijing's Chang'an Boulevard in 1989.

"This [protest] is a continuation of that spirit," the woman said. "He disappeared after he made that stand. I don't think we should let him disappear."

She said a similar fate had befallen the "Bridge Man" protester, who hung anti-Xi banners calling for elections from a Beijing traffic overpass on the eve of last months party congress, which unanimously "voted" Xi back in for an unprecedented third term in office as party leader.

The protester has been identified on social media as Peng Lifa.

"We shouldn't let him disappear either," she said.

Spontaneous Resistance

Former 1989 student protest leader Zhou Fengsuo, who now runs the U.S.-based rights group Humanitarian China, said it was heartening to see younger Chinese citizens coming out in protest.

"It's pretty good, and the crucial thing is that they did this on their own," Zhou told RFA at the protest. "This is unprecedented. This is spontaneous resistance from young people."

Zhou said there is plenty of dissatisfaction with Xi Jinping's rule in China, but it has largely been silenced and suppressed. Outspoken critics of the ruling party are generally silenced by government censorship and "public opinion management" protocols, as well as by the fear of political reprisals that typically wreck the well-being and prosperity of entire families.

For Zhou, Monday's modest show of dissent recalled the huge reserve public anger that erupted during the 1989 democracy movement, that centered on Tiananmen Square, but which was also seen in other major cities across China.

"The will of the people is like a volcano; their dissatisfaction is suppressed, bottled up inside and covered over, so you can't see it," Zhou said. "But from time to time it gets an opportunity to burst out."

"It's crucial that young people get to experience this," he said. "Now that they've done this, they definitely won't be the same as before."

Zhou said that people need to take some kind of action, however weak. Such behavior may or may not change others, but most importantly, action changes you."

Zhou said there was no obvious individual or group organizing the protest, however.

"This is a scattered, diverse movement with no real center, and basically depends on spontaneous action," Zhou told RFA. "It's a last resort method, given the current circumstances."

"People come together because they identify with a certain behavior."

A protester who gave only the surname Zhang said he still recalled a young protester in Beijing in 1989 who, asked by a journalist why he had joined a bicycle parade during the protests, replied "This is my duty!"

"As a citizen, and as someone who pursues freedom and democracy, I feel [the whole community] have a duty to stand up and resist totalitarian rule," Zhang told RFA.

Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
A recent ministerial phone call is part of managing a competitive, sometimes adversarial relationship, US says.

While ties between Beijing and Washington appear to be on a more even keel following a ministerial-level phone call, the threat of a possible invasion of democratic Taiwan under the expansionist rhetoric of Xi Jinping still looms large over the relationship, analysts told RFA.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi by phone for more than an hour, the State Department said on Sunday, prompting speculation of an improvement in the bilateral relationship in the wake of last months 20th party congress.

Ye Yaoyuan, head of international studies at the University of St. Thomas, said there have been no fundamental changes in China's foreign policy, however.

"It's going to be well-nigh impossible for there to be cooperation between the two countries if Xi continues to double down on his nationalistic approach in order to consolidate his internal prestige," Ye told RFA.

"The bilateral relationship will likely continue to worsen over the next couple of years because there is now less and less room for dialogue or opportunity for cooperation," he said.

Ye said Xi appears far more concerned with maintaining his grip on power than saving the economy or mending diplomatic fences.

Wang Weizheng, a professor of political science at Adelphi University, took a similar view.

"He personally believes that ... China cannot show weakness to other countries when it comes to foreign policy," Wang told RFA in a recent interview. "Foreign policy will be dominated by [the concerns of the ruling] party. You could even say it will be completely dominated by one individual."

Hard line on Taiwan

Pro-democracy analyst Li Weidong said this includes a total lack of concession on Beijing's claim on Taiwan, which has never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party, nor formed part of the 73-year-old People's Republic of China  and whose 23 million people have no wish to submit to Chinese rule.

"When it comes to the Taiwan issue ... there will be further tensions between China and the United States," Li said. "The possibility that China will take a hard line again is still there. It hasn't gone away."

Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party held a symposium following Xi's re-election to discuss the implications for the island.

Deputy party chief Lin Fei-fan, a former leader of the 2014 Sunflower Movement, which occupied Taiwanese government buildings to stave off a controversial trade deal with China, said Beijing refused again at the recent party congress to rule out the use of military force to annex Taiwan.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Chinese State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the United Nations General Assembly in Manhattan, New York City, Sept. 23, 2022. Credit: Reuters

The United States is obliged under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act to ensure the island has the means to defend itself, but the full extent of its involvement in any future war remains uncertain.

"Xi Jinping said during his speech to the 20th party congress that he wouldn't renounce the use of force to 'unify' Taiwan, and repeatedly talked about one country, two systems as the goal of 'unification'," Lin told the symposium, in a reference to the formula under which Hong Kong was promised the continuation of its freedoms for 50 years, a promise the international community regards as having been largely broken by Beijing.

More dictatorial, less predictable

Chen Fang-yu, assistant professor of politics at Taiwan's Soochow University said that the more dictatorial a regime, the less predictable are its actions.

"Of course, what we need to do here in Taiwan is prepare ourselves," Chen said. "There is so much to do. Whether the invasion of Taiwan comes in 2023 or 2027, we really don't have much time."

"The whole world needs to stand together to show the Chinese dictatorship that the cost of a war, or using force, will be very high," he said. "Only then do we have a chance of stopping him."

Ma Chun-wei, an assistant professor of international affairs at Taiwan's Tamkang University, said Xi is at least a known political quantity.

"Since taking office in 2016, the Tsai administration has basically been very consistent in its cross-strait policy, so it's hard for me to imagine that there will be any major changes during the last two years of [Taiwan president] Tsai Ing-wen's final term in office," Ma told the symposium.

"However, if the next Democratic Progressive Party administration adopts a more radical China policy, this would definitely make a Chinese invasion of Taiwan more likely," he said.

Manage this competition responsibly

State Department spokesman Ned Price told a news conference on Monday that Washington is focusing on managing the U.S.-China relationship "responsibly."

"It is true, of course, that we have profound disagreements with [China] ... in a number of areas," Price said. " Ultimately, its a relationship that is predicated at its core by competition."

"Part of the reason why we believe its important to have regular dialogue and exchanges with [China] is because we believe we have to manage this competition responsibly," he said. "There are adversarial elements, as we know, and there are cooperative elements."

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Monday said Beijing would never renounce the use of force against Taiwan.

"We will never promise to renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary," Zhao told a regular news briefing. "This is directed solely at interference by outside forces and ... separatist activities."

He accused "some people in the U.S." of using Taiwan to contain China.

"If the U.S. truly does not want to see a crisis in the Taiwan Strait, it needs to ... put an immediate end to irresponsible rhetoric and action," Zhao said.

Analysts said Xi has woven a nationalistic and expansionist rhetoric into his personal brand of political ideology, which underpins his personal power as party leader.

"What this nationalism promotes is a form of communist culture, which they think is enough to conquer the world," U.S.-based current affairs commentator Heng He told RFA in a recent interview. "This is the latest feature of [Chinese] nationalism."

The expansionist philosophy is clearly seen in the Xi buzzword, "community with a shared future for mankind," Heng said.

Taiwanese troops fire a 155mm howitzer during a drill on the Penghu islands, Aug. 24, 2022. Credit: Handout/Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense/AFP

"This government ... wants to reset the world order, and it's necessary to incite nationalism, especially overseas, in order to achieve expansion," he said. "This kind of overseas nationalism ... is a tool for overseas expansion."

Xia Ming, politics professor at New York's City University agreed.

"The nationalism we see today is completely in the control of the state; it is in every respect a statist nationalism," Xia said, adding that it is also linked to Xi's refusal to step down.

"By forging a grand blueprint over a 30-year timeframe, [Xi] has given some kind of functional purpose to his own tenure," Xia said. "He has turned a dream of empire into a theoretical basis enabling him to be emperor."

Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The move comes amid a shortage of doctors, who are already stretched by fighting and the pandemic.

In this Feb. 7, 2022 photo, medical workers flash the three-fingered salute in solidarity with marching protesters against the military takeover in Yangon, Myanmar.

The juntas Ministry of Health has fired 557 government-employed doctors who left their jobs to protest against the military government, revoking their licenses at a time when medical professionals are in short supply, sources in the countrys medical community said Tuesday, citing an official list.

The striking doctors joined other government workers in what has come to be known as a nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement, or CDM, refusing to do their jobs to take a stand against the military government that took power in a February 2021 coup.

A doctor who has been in hiding for more than a year after the junta issued a warrant for her arrest on charges of incitement told RFA that she and others on the list have no intention of ending their commitment to the anti-coup movement, regardless of the suspension of their licenses.

We knew the junta would take this step, she said, adding that she only learned of her suspension after being informed by a medical colleague. Revoking my license wont make things any worse for me now and it wont change my stance.

The first group of doctors to join the Civil Disobedience Movement did so in Mandalay on the day after the coup and gained a following so large that junta-run hospitals and clinics were unable to function. The movement has had such a large impact that it was listed as a nominee for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize by the Nobel Prize Committee.

But news of the dismissals comes amid a shortage of doctors in the country due to those participating in the movement and stretched by COVID-19 and widespread conflict.

Thats prompted the junta to relax requirements for applying to medical school this year.

As part of the dismissals, the junta-controlled Myanmar Medical Council began issuing one-year suspensions of the doctors licenses to practice, known as the Sa Ma certificate, beginning in February  one year after the Feb. 1, 2021 putsch, the sources told RFAs Burmese service.

A physician who joined the CDM movement told RFA that while suspensions began nearly nine months ago, there had been no public announcement and the affected doctors only learned of the move after the list of names went viral on social media.

They are revoking the licenses of doctors, phase by phase. Sometimes they revoke 20 [at a time], sometimes 25. But the lists came out sporadically and most of these doctors were not aware of the change, said the physician, who spoke on condition of anonymity citing fear of reprisal.

Many of them are still providing treatment and running [private] clinics. They were all surprised to learn about the news because the ministry never notified them.

Of the approximately 60,000 doctors who joined the movement since the coup, around 45,000 remain, according to a group called the CDM Medical Network.

The Ministry of Health said it had suspended the licenses of 14 doctors in February, 50 in March, 41 in April, 66 in May, 60 in June, 61 in July, 80 in August, 87 in September, and 98 in October  the list of which included several veteran medical practitioners.

Targeting the people and their profession

The doctor-in-hiding acknowledged that those on the list are facing hardship now that the junta has also distributed it to private hospitals and clinics and begun conducting impromptu inspections, however.

RFA requests to Myat Wunna Soe, the director general of the juntas Ministry of Health, seeking comment on the suspensions were referred to the Myanmar Medical Council, but calls to the council went unanswered Tuesday.

A document circulated internally at the medical council  a copy of which was obtained by RFA  states that the doctors were suspended for violating Article 45 (D) of the Myanmar Medical Council Act, citing a failure to abide by the code of medical ethics and patient abandonment.

However, a Civil Disobedience physician who gave her name as Olivia noted that suspending the licenses of medical professionals for their political beliefs impacts both doctors and their patients.

The suspension also seriously affects the well-being of their patients and patients family members ... This impacts both the people and their profession, she said.

In this March 16, 2021 photo, medical students mourn as others flash the three-fingered salute at the funeral of a fellow medical student who was shot in the chest two days earlier by junta security forces during a protest against the military takeover in Yangon, Myanmar. Credit: AP Photo Lowered application requirements

Amid the dismissals of CDM doctors, the junta lowered the requirements for applicants to medical school in 2022, citing the need to fill the gap created by large numbers of physicians joining the anti-coup movement.

A second-year medical student who dropped out of school to protest the coup told RFA that becoming a doctor requires several years of training, and questioned the juntas plan to replace Civil Disobedience physicians by offering applicants a shortcut.

They are trying to show that we are dispensable and they can replace us easily  with new people who will submit to their rule, said the medical student, who also declined to be named.

But he suggested that few of the applicants would be willing to provide care in Myanmars remote regions, while in urban areas, where many doctors practice, patients will simply flock to a handful of high-quality doctors.

Movement impact

Lwan Wai, a doctor from a branch of the movement known as the Yangon Medical Network, said that with the number of medical professionals already unable to meet demand in Myanmar, the suspension of nearly 600 physicians will have a serious impact on access to healthcare in the country.

The ratio of medical staff to patients is already lopsided, he said, noting that the number of casualties from armed conflict has skyrocketed in recent months, while people are still dying from COVID-19 and other diseases.

This decision wont benefit anyone. The patients will become more hopeless. I expect that many people will die because they werent able to receive medical treatment in time, and mainly patients will pay the price.

In addition to suspending the licenses of doctors in the Civil Disobedience Movement, the junta has also targeted medical professionals in the movement in other ways. According to figures released by the ReliefWeb watchdog group in May, the junta has detained at least 564 medical professionals since the coup and killed at least 36 others.

Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written by Joshua Lipes.
Authorities have shut down at least 20 media groups in as many months in power.

Myanmars junta has officially banned online news outlet The Irrawaddy and charged the outlets registered publisher for violating national security laws, state media reported over the weekend, following months of legal harassment.

The ban is the latest on at least 20 media groups  news agencies, publishing houses and printing presses  since the military seized power in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup and began a crackdown on press freedom in Myanmar.

The Irrrawaddy, founded in 1993, is known for its breaking news coverage and investigative pieces that shed light on government abuses in both Burmese and English. Its editorials were critical of the military rule, and it had ceased operations in Myanmar after the February 2021 coup, moving production and editorial staff outside the country.

Because of that, the practical impact of the ban on The Irrawaddy was limited, although Ye Ni, the executive editor of The Irrawaddys Burmese language section, called the ban yet another example of the many tragedies affecting Myanmar since the military coup, in an interview with RFAs Burmese service.

In a statement carried by pro-junta news outlets on Saturday, the military regimes Ministry of Information said the outlet is now prohibited from publishing on any media platform in Myanmar, online or otherwise. But the news agency vowed to continue to publish online.

The junta also said it had charged the news agencys former director, Thaung Win, arrested on Sept. 29, with violating the Publishing and Distribution Act by reporting news that negatively affected national security, rule of law and public peace.

Thaung Win is facing troubles because he lent his name to his journalist friends, but he has nothing to do with the editorial decisions of the Irrawaddy, Ye Ni said.

'Relentlessly prosecuted'

Since taking power, the junta has moved aggressively to shut down media outlets. It has also detained more than 140 journalists, 60 of whom remain in prison and four of whom have died in custody.

A Myanmar-based journalist, who declined to be named citing fear of reprisal, told RFA on Monday that reporters are facing unprecedented challenges in the country since the coup.

While you can say that the ban has no effect on its exiled journalists or the organization itself, those who are still in the country working for them are being relentlessly prosecuted and are likely to endure more severe punishments, the journalist said.

The arrests are still going on. Local journalists arent being released as often as in the coup's early days. They are all being indicted and sentenced to severe punishments.

One month after the coup, authorities abolished local outlets Mizzima, the Democratic Voice of Burma, 7 Days, Myanmar Now, and Khit Thit.

In total, the military regime has banned 14 news agencies, four publishing houses and two printing presses in the last 20 months since the coup.

They include the Myitkyina Journal, 74 Media, Tachileik News Agency, Delta News Agency, Zeya Times News Agency, Kamayut News Channel, Kantarawaddy Times, and Mon News Agency.

Irrawaddy News reporter Zaw Zaw covers a story in Thibaw, Shan state, Myanmar on Aug. 18, 2017. He has since been arrested and sentenced to three years by a junta court. Credit RFA No surprise

The Irrawaddys management told RFA that the order came as no surprise, following a series of unannounced lawsuits, raids, arrests and other moves targeting the outlet since the coup.

In March 2021, the regime brought a lawsuit against the Irrawaddy for disregarding the military in its reporting on anti-coup protests, making it the first news outlet to be sued by the junta. Authorities raided the Irrawaddys office in Yangon twice later that year.

In August, a special court inside Mandalays Obo Prison sentenced former Irrawaddy photojournalist Zaw Zaw to three years in prison for incitement, while another staff member was temporarily detained earlier this year and the home of one of the outlets editors was recently raided.

Thaung Win, a member of the 88 Generation student activist group, applied for a publishing license for The Irrawaddy following a pledge by former President Thein Sein to implement democratic reforms through his quasi-civilian government, which ruled Myanmar from 2011 to 2016.

The Burmese journalists who founded the outlet in exile relocated to Myanmar in 2012 and began operations there after the publishing license was granted.

The status of Thaung Win remains unclear, a source close to his family said Monday.

Saturdays announcement followed a vow by the junta only two weeks earlier to take action against the Irrawaddy and BBC Burmese for airing what it called fake news about the military.

Targeting the media 'out of embarrassment'

Soe Ya, the chief editor of the Delta News Agency, which shut down its operations in Myanmar following a crackdown by the junta last year, told RFA that the military regime is targeting all of the countrys independent news outlets.

It seemed that the military thought early on that the media would be on their side once they were in power after the coup. But quite contrary to their expectation, civil disobedience movements broke out and the media covered the truth, so the junta began to speak out against it just as much as its political enemy the [shadow National Unity Government] NUG, he said.

Soe Ya noted that even former journalists are being arrested and punished, and said the people of Myanmar have lost their right to the truth, as the media cant even report the news out of fear of persecution.

They accuse us of being subversive media outlets aiming to destroy the country. I think they target the media even more out of embarrassment, since they havent been able to run the country as they had hoped.

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
The boat was carrying at least 80 members of the ethnic group who locals say were heading for Malaysia.

The group of Rohingya who ran aground in a photograph taken at Bogale Police Station.

A boat carrying at least 80 Rohingya sank when it ran aground near Pyapon township in Myanmars southern Ayeyarwady region. Around 20 are still missing and feared dead after Mondays accident, local residents told RFA.

Only 60 people could be rescued, the remaining 20 just floated away, a Pyapon resident told RFA on condition of anonymity for safety reasons.

They told us there were more than 80 of them. They were sent  to Bogale Police Station, said the man, adding that it was not clear whether the Rohingya came from Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Rakhine state or from Bangladesh. They were planning to go to Malaysia according to the local.

Among the rescued were 45 children, the resident said. They are still being held at Bogale Police Station along with the 15 adults. It is still not clear whether the group will be prosecuted.

RFAs calls to junta spokesman Maung Maung Than, Minister of Social Affairs for Ayeyarwady region went unanswered.

In September 58 Rohingya were sentenced to two years in prison each at Bogale township court. They were arrested the previous month near an island in the river off Pyapon township.

Pyapon lies on a tributary of the Ayeyarwady river some 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from the Andaman Sea.

RFA data compiled between Dec. 2021 and Sept. 2022 found that nearly 800 Rohingya who tried to leave Rakhine State by land and water were arrested in different parts of Myanmar due to intensified fighting between the ethnic Arakan Army and junta troops.

A military crackdown on the Rohingya, which started five years ago, led to more than 740,000 Rohingya fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh. Of the more than 600,000 Rohingya who stayed in Myanmar an estimated 125,000 have been confined to IDP camps in Rakhine State.
The navy plans to build as many as 8, while China may add more than 20 in coming years.

Submarines are seen at a navy base in Kaohsiung, Taiwan on Mar. 21, 2017.

Taiwans navy says it is on course to launch its first domestically built submarine by May 2024, amid skepticism about the effectiveness of Taipeis indigenous submarine program.

Navy Chief of Staff, Vice Adm. Chiang Cheng-kuo, told a legislative budget hearing Monday that a prototype could be launched earlier than the May deadline earmarked in the plan, but the navy wanted to ensure its quality and safety first.

Taiwan started building its Indigenous Defensive Submarine fleet in November 2020 at a new submarine factory in the southern port city of Kaohsiung.

At the inauguration ceremony of the Made in Taiwan submarine program, President Tsai Ing-wen said that the submarines would play a key role in the Navys asymmetric warfare capabilities, as well as deterring hostile vessels from encircling Taiwan.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen (center left) at the inauguration ceremony of the submarine plant in Kaohsiung on Nov. 24, 2020. CREDIT: AFP/ Sam Yeh

In April 2021, the U.S. approved the export of sensitive technology including three major types of equipment  digital sonar systems, integrated combat systems and an auxiliary equipment system (periscopes)  for the fleet.

The plan is to build as many as eight diesel-electric submarines at an estimated cost of U.S. $16 billion but opposition Kuomintang legislators have been calling for a budget freeze on the program, complaining about delays in the upgrading of Taiwans existing subs.

Taiwan has a total of four submarines, two of them dating from World War II, making them among the oldest submarines in service in the world. They were transferred from the U.S. during the 1970s.

The other two are the Chien Lung-class Hai Lung (SS-793) and Hai Hu (SS-794) submarines purchased from the Netherlands in the 1980s and in need of a combat upgrade.

The Dutch-made submarines have reportedly been taking part in some of Taiwans naval drills in the South China Sea.

Skepticism over indigenous submarines

The new domestic submarines are being constructed at a shipyard owned by Taiwans CSBC Corporation under an agreement between the Ministry of National Defense with CSBC and the National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology in northern Taiwan.

Some analysts have however raised questions about the effectiveness of the indigenous submarine program.

Liao Hongxiang, a former lecturer at the Taiwan War College, told local media that the contracted company, CSBS, has no past performance in building submarines.

Since Taiwan has absolutely no experience in the design and manufacture of submarine subsystems, the unit price of each diesel-electric submarine is more than twice that of other countries' similar submarines, Liao said.

There is a large gap between the submarine forces of Taiwan and China and, according to the analyst, even with eight new submarines, the Taiwanese Navy still cannot compete with the Peoples Liberation Army Navys fleet.

China is believed to have around 70 submarines, including a dozen that are nuclear-powered. The number of Chinese nuclear submarines is likely to increase to 21 by 2030, according to the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence.

Instead of acquiring new subs, Liao suggested that the Navy could deploy surveillance systems to early detect enemy submarines in Taiwans waters and use smart naval mines and long-range anti-submarine rockets to neutralize them.

Grant Newsham, a retired U.S. Marine colonel who spent a year studying Taiwans defense system, also suggested sea mines, especially the 'smart' kinds.


Tibetans can return to their hometowns, but only after making contact with officials theyve been assigned to.

UPDATED at 10:05 A.M. EDT on 2022-11-02

Chinese authorities have relaxed strict COVID-19 lockdowns in parts of the far-western Tibet region, allowing Tibetans residing temporarily in the regional capital Lhasa for work or other reasons to return to their hometowns beginning Monday, sources in the region said.

A wave of coronavirus infections hit the restive region in August, where China, wary about independence movements, has strengthened its governance in an effort to prevent frequent unrest of the repressed Tibetan minority group.

The latest move came days after hundreds of angry demonstrators took to the capitals streets on Oct. 26-27 to protest harsh zero COVID measures, including lockdowns in place for about 80 days. During the lockdowns, people complained of food shortages and poor conditions in mass quarantine facilities, RFA reported earlier.

Many of the demonstrators were Han Chinese migrant workers demanding permission from authorities to return to their homes in eastern China because they could not earn money amid the lockdowns, city sources told RFA.

The Chinese migrant protesters dispersed after authorities agreed to process applications for them to leave the Tibet Autonomous Region, while Tibetans from towns outside the capital area had to remain in place.

Now authorities are allowing Tibetans living in Lhasa who are natives of the cities and towns of Shigatse, Kongpo, Lhoka, Nagchu, Chamdo and Ngari to return to their homes. But they can do so only after first getting in touch with their respective points of contact as set by regional authorities for swift processing, according to an official notice dated Oct. 31. They are prohibited from returning on their own.

Authorities will provide Tibetan migrant workers in the Lhasa area with transportation services to return to their hometowns once the regional office makes the contact points public, the notice said, but provided no further details.

Despite the relaxation of COVID lockdowns in both Lhasa and Shigatse, Tibets second-largest city in a prefecture of the same name with a population of about 800,000, as of Oct. 29, the capital remained under lockdown for three additional days, said sources from Tibet. They added that they did not know the reason behind the move which was not publicly announced.

Tibetan sources indicated that Chinese government officials treated Tibetans differently when it came to giving them permission to leave Tibet for other places in China, noting that authorities accommodated Chinese migrant workers who agitated against the lockdowns.

Tibetans who study in high schools and universities in mainland China were supposedly planning to visit China three months ago under special circumstances, but that didnt happen, said a source, who declined to be named for safety reasons.

As of Monday, Tibet recorded 18,653 confirmed coronavirus cases in the region of roughly 3.65 million people, according to the latest Chinese government census data.

Two new asymptomatic COVID-19 infections have been found in Lhasa in the last 24 hours, and 33 asymptomatic cases have been detected in the northern region of neighboring Qinghai province on Oct. 29, according to an official Chinese announcement.

Local authorities in Xining, capital of Qinghai province near the Tibetan Plateau, reported 70 new COVID-19 infections on Oct. 28.

Translated by Tashi Wangchuk for RFA Tibetan. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

The story update clarifies that the city of Shigatse is in a prefecture with the same name that has a population of about 800,000 people.
Fifty nations at the United Nations General Assembly on Monday denounced China for its treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in the northwestern Xinjiang region and called on Beijing to end human rights violations there, including arbitrary detentions.

The countries, which included the United States and many of its Western allies, constituted the largest group of nations to publicly denounce Chinas human rights violations in the region.

The joint statement referred to a key August report released by the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, or OHCHR, that found that the scale of the arbitrary and discriminatory detention of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity.

It also cited evidence of the use of invasive surveillance on the basis of religion and ethnicity, severe restrictions on cultural and religious practices, torture, forced abortions and sterilizations, family separations, and forced labor.

In view of the gravity of the OHCHR assessment, we are concerned that China has so far refused to discuss its findings, said the joint statement issued by the 50 U.N. member states. It urged China to uphold its international human rights obligations and to fully implement the recommendations of the commissions report.

The 50 nations called the commissions report an independent, authoritative assessment that relies extensively on Chinas own records, and said it makes an important contribution to the existing evidence of serious and systematic human rights violations in China.

The report recommended that China release Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities arbitrarily detained in Xinjiang, clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing family members, and facilitate their safe contact and reunion.

In early October, a proposal cosponsored by the United States and Norway that the U.N. Human Rights Council hold a debate on the OHCHR reports findings was defeated by China and its allies on the 47-member body.

On Monday, Chinas ally Cuba delivered a joint statement at the U.N. General Assembly on behalf of 66 countries, criticizing what they said was the application of double standards and interference in Chinas internal affairs in the name of human rights.

Campaign of terror

Human rights groups welcomed the statement by the 50 countries, however.

We thank the 50 nations that have called on the Chinese Communist Party to end its genocidal, Islamophobic campaign of terror against Uyghur Muslims, said Edward Ahmed Mitchell, deputy director of the U.S-based Council on AmericanIslamic Relations, in a statement issued Tuesday. It is time for more Muslim-majority nations to also stand up against the CCPs attempt to erase Islam from the Uyghur region of China.

New York-based Human Rights Watch urged members of the U.N.s Human Rights Council to try again to consider options for setting up a U.N.-backed mechanism to investigate further Chinas role in rights violations in Xinjiang and to recommend ways to hold accountable those responsible for crimes against humanity.

The group noted in a statement issued Monday that the 66 signatories of the pro-China counter-statement at Mondays U.N. General Assembly constituted a virtual rogues gallery of serious rights abusers, such as Russia, Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela, Syria and Eritrea.

It is now key for the new U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, to publicly take ownership of the OHCHR report and explain how the Office will continue to gather information in pursuit of Chinese government conduct that in OHCHRs view may constitute crimes against humanity, Sophie Richardson, the groups China director, later told RFA.

No veto power

Mehmet Tohti, executive director of Canadas Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project, told RFA on Tuesday that although China led the way in defeating the proposal for the Human Right Council to debate the findings of the OHCHR report, U.N. member states instead could take measures against China at the U.N. General Assembly.

As most of the decisions at the General Assembly are decided by majority vote, Chinas veto power doesnt work here, he said.

Alkan Akad, China researcher at London-based Amnesty International, said it was encouraging to see a growing number of countries speaking out about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and that they must follow-up on the OHCHR report.

All the member states have a moral obligation to support proposals, to discuss the themes in the OHCHR report on Xinjiang, and to establish an investigatory mechanism for the human rights violations that have been taking place in in the region, he told RFA on Tuesday.

Zhao Lijian, a spokesman at Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dismissed the joint statement.

The world has long been clear-eyed about and tired of the farcical shows of few Western countries politicization of human rights and double standards, he told a regular press conference on Nov. 1.

We urge these countries to stop their condescending lectures and stop using human rights as a pretext for political manipulation, slander and rumor-mongering, and containment and suppression, he said.

Translated by Mamatjan Juma for RFA Uyghur. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.


Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to Beijing on Oct. 30 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping is being seen by regional analysts as a way of ensuring relations remain strong at a time when other allies, such as Russia, are focusing too much on regional conflict.

Trong is the first foreign leader to visit China following the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China when Xi was elected for a third term as General Secretary of the Party.

Vietnams state media reported that on Sunday, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and many high-ranking officials saw off Trongs delegation at Hanois Noi Bai International Airport, emphasizing the importance of the visit.

Thanh Mai, a Facebook user with more than 52,000 followers, said the trip "is a testament to the unity of the Vietnamese leadership as well as the leading role of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Vietnams politics," adding that the farewell ceremony sends a clear message that Nguyen Phu Trong represents the Vietnamese leadership, so any agreements and commitments made by him will, of course, also be the agreements of all other Vietnamese authorities.

China is one of four countries that currently have a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam, the highest level of diplomatic relations between nations. The remaining three countries are Russia, India, and South Korea.

China is also Vietnam's largest trading partner. Bilateral trade reached U.S. $230.2 billion in 2021, up 19.7% year-on-year according to Chinese government data.

Vietnam and China also have political similarities as both countries are led exclusively by communist parties.

Southeast Asia regional expert Carl Thayer told RFA Trong's trip took place in the context of Vietnam facing a rapidly changing international situation with the increased risk of armed conflict.

From Hanois vantage point, uncertainties about the future of Russia under Vladimir Putin and the United States under Joe Biden following the midterm elections only underscore the importance of stability and continuity in China under Xi Jinping, re-elected to a third term, he said.

Thayer said that the main goal of Trong's visit to China was to work with his counterpart to come up with a reasonable way of keeping bilateral relations on an even keel.

The meeting between the general secretaries of the ruling communist parties in China and Vietnam is very important to both sides for domestic reasons because it underscores the legitimacy of their one-party regimes, socialist ideology and paths of development. It is doubly important for Vietnam because one of its most important allies, Russia, is weakened, isolated and more dependent on China.

Paris-based researcher Truong Nhan Tuan said that Vietnam will continue to follow China's political model.

"Instead of the people being the central goal for the Party to serve, the Party has become the central goal for the people to serve," he wrote on Facebook.

Tuan compared the trip to the ancient custom of Vietnamese kings sending envoys to China.

"Vuong Trong tortured himself just to prove that he was one of the most loyal people to Emperor Xi," he wrote.

According to researcher Tran Duc Anh Son, Vietnams Nguyen dynasty, from 1804 to 1945, had to send tributes to China every two years and an envoy every four years. He said Vietnam also had to send an envoy to Beijing every time a Chinese emperor died and every time a new emperor was crowned.

Writer Luu Trong Van, who has more than 106,000 Facebook followers, said the current Vietnamese leadership should balance diplomacy between China and the United States. He said then U.S. president Donald Trump invited Trong to the U.S. during a visit to Hanoi. Trong accepted but was unable to make the trip due to health reasons.

Trong is very healthy now. Unfortunately Trump [is no longer president] so Trong cannot return the same kind of visit as he did for Xi, he wrote. Hopefully the State Department will soon make an announcement that President Biden will continue to honor Trump's invitation to the US so that Vietnam's foreign [relations] will be balanced.

"Most Vietnamese people would be happier if their supreme leader had the same words with the US President as he had with the Chinese leader," Van wrote.

The United States and Vietnam have a Comprehensive Partnership and Washington has repeatedly suggested it should be upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership but Hanoi has not yet agreed. Some international experts say that Vietnam is hesitant because it does not want to harm relations with China.

Vietnam cannot turn to the United States because of two reasons: fear of entrapment in an anti-China alliance and fear of abandonment if the U.S. and China form a concert of powers," said Professor Thayer.
The coaches of the U.S. and Iranian soccer teams have said that they do not want to get caught up in a game of political football when their sides clash for a chance to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup.

"I envision the game being hotly contested for the fact that both teams want to advance to the next round -- not because of politics or because of relations between our countries," U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said ahead of the November 29 showdown at Al-Thumama Stadium in Qatar.

"Our preparation starts with a good rest, refresh the minds, and put all the complementary and garbage things outside of our minds," said Carlos Queiroz, the Portuguese head coach of Iran's national team.

But as the two coaches attempt to keep the focus on the playing field with either team assured of advancing to the next round with an outright victory, a political fever pitch looms over the game pitting two countries that severed relations more than 40 years ago and are open rivals on the world stage.

The World Cup has been a showcase of discord in Iran since the tournament kicked off on November 20, with Tehran's deadly crackdown on ongoing anti-government demonstrations leading to fresh U.S. sanctions against Iranian officials and dividing the country's fan base.

The Iranian team has faced immense pressure from the authorities and protesters alike to take sides amid the demonstrations, which are seen as one of the greatest threats to Iran's clerical establishment since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

The nationwide demonstrations erupted following the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian-Kurdish woman who died shortly after she was arrested for allegedly violating the state-mandated requirement that women wear the hijab, or head scarf.

According to rights watchdogs, at least 450 people have been killed and more than 15,000 detained in the government crackdown.

Some fans have honored Amini's memory by wearing "Mahsa Amini-22" shirts in a nod to her age when she died.

In an apparent sign of solidarity with demonstrators, members of the Iranian team did not sing the country's national anthem ahead of their first game, a 6-2 loss to England that was blamed partly on outside distractions. But the players did join in singing what anti-government demonstrators have called the "blood anthem" ahead of the second game, a 2-0 win against Wales on November 25.

While that result was cause for mass celebration, RFE/RL's Radio Farda reported from Qatar that a group of pro-government fans who waved the flag of the Islamic republic harassed and intimidated a group of Iranian supporters who aired their grievances against the clerical regime.

Following the Wales match, a former coach of the U.S. team, Jurgen Klinsmann, came under fire for his postgame comments. Speaking as a pundit on the BBC, Klinsmann said the Iranian team "worked the referee." "They work the linesman and fourth official, they are constantly in their ear," he said. "There were a lot of incidents we didn't see. This is their culture, they take you off your game."

Queiroz -- who coached Iran during two stints from 2011 to 2019 and was once hired by U.S. Soccer to develop a road map for the United States to win a World Cup by 2010 -- responded with a torrent of tweets defending Iranian culture and his team. He said Klinsmann's comments were a "disgrace to football."

Just days before the decisive group match, the U.S. Soccer Federation triggered a row when it temporarily displayed Iran's green, white, and red flag without the emblem of the Islamic republic in a social-media post.

The Iranian government responded angrily, with Iran's hard-line Tasnim news agency calling for the U.S. team to be kicked out of the World Cup and suspended for 10 games.

The post was eventually removed, with U.S. Soccer explaining that the intention had been to show "support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights" by displaying the Iranian tricolor without the emblem for 24 hours.

Back in Iran, former members of the Iranian national soccer team have apparently been punished for supporting the ongoing demonstrations.

Voria Ghafouri, who has been an outspoken critic of the Iranian establishment and was surprisingly left out of this year's World Cup squad, was reportedly arrested on November 24, just days after expressing sympathy for Amini's family and calling for an end to the violent crackdown on protesters in his and Amini's native western Kurdistan region.

Iranian state media reported that the 35-year-old Ghafouri had been arrested for "insulting the national soccer team and propagandizing against the government."

Ghafouri earlier this month tweeted that "it is better to die standing than to live kneeling." In June, he was accused by an Iranian official of being a Kurdish separatist after the player tweeted the word "Kurdistan" twice.

Iranian media reported that Ghafouri has been released on bail. But rights groups said he had been transferred from western Iran to a prison in the capital, Tehran.

Pressure has also been placed on an Iranian soccer legend, Ali Daei, who said he chose not to travel to Qatar due to the government's crackdown and said on social media on November 28 he had received "numerous threats against myself and my family in recent months and days."

The Black Reward hacktivist group, which has targeted Iranian government institutions and infrastructure, added to fears that Tehran was targeting fans by leaking recordings this week purporting to reveal an Iranian pro-government militia commander saying that Qatar had provided a list of Iranians who had purchased tickets to the World Cup, allowing the Iranian authorities to identify 500 individuals known for anti-government activities.

While Iran could progress with a draw on November 29, it cannot afford to lose if it wants to advance to the last 16. The United States has no option but to win.

The U.S. players have said they were unaware that U.S. Soccer had planned to publish its controversial flag post, while also publicly declaring their support for women's rights.

The day before the big match, U.S. coach Berhalter was apologetic for the flag post but also insistent that he was not focusing on the controversies leading up to it.

"Of course, our thoughts are with the Iranian people, the whole country, the whole team, everyone, but our focus is on this match," he said on November 28.
Doctors for former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili have recommended against transporting him to the Tbilisi City Court building from a clinic where he has been treated since May despite his desire to take part in a hearing in a case against him.

Saakashvili had expressed his desire to be transferred to the court to attend the hearing on a charge of illegal border crossing filed last year, and it had been expected that he would speak at the trial.

But his attending physician said it would be inappropriate, based on the fact that he could not take responsibility for the possible deterioration of Saakashvili's health during the transfer.

Judge Nino Chakhnashvili decided on another postponement of the trial after receiving the doctors' recommendation.

Court hearings have been repeatedly canceled or postponed because the 54-year-old Saakashvili, who held two separate hunger strikes earlier this year, has been unable to appear in court for health reasons.

Saakashvili, who served as Georgia's president from 2004 until 2013, is the founder of the main opposition United National Movement (ENM) party.

The ENM believes that the authorities are trying to conceal the state of Saakashvili's health. Representatives of the ruling Georgian Dream party disagree, saying that Saakashvili's public appearance would only be a publicity stunt.

Saakashvili, who cannot move independently, had decided that he would arrive at the trial in a special wheelchair, according to one of his lawyers, Shavla Khachapuridze, who added that his condition was "serious" and that his defense team had been told by phone from abroad that arsenic was found in his blood.

Nika Melia, chairman of the ENM, said that had Saakashvili appeared in court it would have confirmed the conclusions of several foreign experts who have spoken about the deterioration of his health and would have confirmed the comments of people who have visited him that his condition has deteriorated sharply since his transfer from prison to the Vivamed clinic.

The authorities do not want this to be disclosed to the public because it would conflict with "propaganda" circulating in the media that Saakashvili and his defenders have exaggerated his condition, Melia said.

Saakashvili was convicted in January 2018 in absentia of abuse of office and sentenced to three years in prison. Later that year he was again convicted in absentia of abuse of office and sentenced to six years in prison.

He was arrested on October 1, 2021, after he returned to the country to rally the opposition ahead of local elections.

Saakashvili and his supporters say all his prosecutions were politically motivated.

Georgia has been plagued by political paralysis and escalating tensions between Georgian Dream and the opposition since parliamentary elections in 2020.

The crisis has been exacerbated by the arrest of Saakashvili, who doctors say suffers from severe post-traumatic stress and anorexia that most likely developed after his hunger strikes. They said in May that he needed urgent and complex neuro-psychological and physical treatment.

Even before Saakashvili was transferred to the Vivamed clinic his relatives, friends, and colleagues demanded the authorities allow him to travel abroad to receive medical treatment.
Adex Consulting and Projects Head Lizbeth Pumasunco reported that since 2019 Peru has been leading the globe's exports ranking linked to this fruit.





"Worldwide, Peru has been ranked first as exporting country since 2019, a position that has been maintained in 2020 and 2021," she told the Official Gazette El Peruano.





In 2021, Peruvian blueberry exports reached US$1.221 billion, which implied a 172% expansion over the previous year.





Strength





The Adex officer explained that favorable expectations for the current year are based on good performance of the production season and the distance existing with the second-largest exporter of blueberries: Spain, whose share is half what the South American country has recorded.





"In 2021, we reached a share of 25.2% in terms of total demand versus 12.7% by Spain," she specified.





Pumasunco mentioned that exports of this fruit have already surpassed those registered before the COVID-19 pandemic.





The health-related situation also favored greater demand for this type of product due to a change in the consumer profile with greater preference for the products that contribute to people's health.





The officer mentioned that, according to the Asociacion de Productores de Arandanos del Peru (Peruvian Blueberry Exporters Association), a shipment of 276,938 tons will be registered in the 2022-2023 season.





"With both public and private institutions, the strengthening and the follow-up to increase production in La Libertad, Lambayeque, among other main production areas, are being crafted," she mentioned.





Expectations





According to Adex's Fruit and Vegetables Committee Chairman Elkin Vanegas, blueberries, due to their production and exports volume, are projected to become a flagship product in international trade in the medium term.





"When a country starts to become a major producer, the international market starts to categorize it. There are already talks about Peruvian blueberries; this tends to generate an identity of the product-origin," he highlighted.





Leading Peru in blueberry exports, Vanegas commented that the market is starting to create an identity of origin.





"This is the path our blueberries are on due to their participation in the international market," he said.





Vanegas explained that this good performance of blueberry exports is the outcome of 10 years of investments.





"We rely on an important production capacity, where we even aim to occupy the top positions of exportation in the sphere of fruits and vegetables," he noted.
A shadowy private Russian mercenary force with close ties to the Kremlin is attempting to boost its ranks in Ukraine by recruiting U.S.-trained Afghan commandos and other security forces who fled to Iran following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, a former Afghan general tells RFE/RL.

About 15 former Afghan commandos have already joined the Vagner paramilitary group and thousands more could be recruited with the help of Iran to fight in Ukraine, according to General Abdul Raouf Arghandiwal, a former Afghan Defense Ministry official and commander of Afghanistan's elite 207 Zafar Army Corps.

"[Vagner's] plan is to recruit 1,000 people in the first phase and 1,000 people in the second phase as a battalion, and to gradually continue this process," Arghandiwal told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi by telephone from the United States.

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.

"There is no information about their fate," Arghandiwal said of the commandos who have joined Vagner, and there has been no confirmation from Kyiv or elsewhere that Afghan soldiers have reached the battlefield in Ukraine.

Russia initially occupied wide swathes of Ukraine following its full-scale of invasion in February but has for months suffered significant troop and territorial losses due largely to a two-pronged Ukrainian counteroffensive.

The setbacks, which have left Russia trying to hold the line in parts of southern and eastern Ukraine that it still occupies and claims as its own, have forced the Kremlin to introduce a military draft and to increasingly rely on mercenaries from Vagner and Chechen troops to replenish its depleted forces.

Arghandiwal says he was personally informed of the recruitment drive by "hundreds" of his former troops. "The Russians, through the Vagner security company and in cooperation with the host country [Iran], where the majority of Afghanistan's security and defense forces are [now] located, as well as some Afghans who previously moved to Iran and Russia, are trying to recruit commandos," he said.

The Afghan general said that former members of the Afghan National Army, the Afghan National Police, and other former security forces are next in line for recruitment to be taken to Russia and then on to fight in Ukraine.

Tens of thousands of Afghan troops and security personnel were trained by the U.S. military during the nearly 20-year war in Afghanistan that ended with a chaotic withdrawal of foreign forces and the Taliban retaking power in Kabul in August 2021. Fearing retribution by the Taliban, many members of Afghanistan's army, police, as well as military and intelligence officers loyal to the ousted government fled to Iran, Pakistan, and other countries.

The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) reported in May that even before the fall of Kabul "around 3,000 Afghan security forces consisting of high-ranking officers to foot soldiers, along with their military equipment and vehicles, crossed the border into Iran," although many returned to Afghanistan after the Taliban offered a general amnesty.

Shortly after the Taliban returned to power, Iran reportedly offered temporary visas to Afghans who could prove they served in the Afghan military.

While more than 80,000 at-risk Afghans who worked or fought alongside U.S. and other Western forces were airlifted out as the Taliban advanced on Kabul, tens of thousands were left behind in Afghanistan, where more than 100 extrajudicial killings of former military and government workers were recorded within the first months of Taliban rule, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The situation led to concerns by U.S. military and political leaders that Washington was not doing enough to evacuate Afghans who fought against the Taliban, opening the possibility that an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 U.S.-trained troops would have no alternative but to join the Taliban or a regional adversary.

In August, a Republican-led U.S. congressional investigation critical of the U.S. withdrawal singled out the risk posed to the United States by former Afghan forces who fled to Iran, "due to the fact these Afghan personnel know the U.S. military and intelligence community's tactics, techniques, and procedures."

Outraged at the large number of Afghan troops who were not airlifted out of Afghanistan in the last days of the U.S.-led war, multiple groups led by U.S. veterans of the war were launched to help get their Afghan allies out of the country.

Mike Edwards, a former trainer of Afghan special forces who formed the volunteer organization Exodus Relief, told RFE/RL in March that "these guys are left with no other option but to either get killed or, if they are lucky, to get recruited to the other side." If they choose the latter, Edwards said, it would mean having "some of the best we've ever trained working against us."

Arghandiwal says the Iranian authorities were giving Afghan special forces who moved to Iran an ultimatum to either return to Afghanistan or fight for Russia in Ukraine.

RFE/RL was unable to independently verify Arghandiwal's claims.

Foreign Policy reported last week that Afghan commandos were being recruited to fight in Ukraine, citing former fighters as saying they were being contacted on the messaging services WhatsApp and Signal. A military source told the magazine that up to 10,000 former Afghan commandos could be willing to accept the offer from Vagner.

AP reported this week that members of the Afghan special forces were being lured with the promise of $1,500 a month and safe haven for their family members. The news agency quoted one former Afghan commando currently in Iran as saying that about 400 fellow fighters were considering joining Vagner and he believed many would.

The former commando said many of his fellow soldiers felt abandoned by Washington, and that his offer included visas to Russia for him as well as for his children and wife, who are in Afghanistan.

The Vagner group has been involved in Russia's war in Ukraine from the beginning, with reports early in the conflict suggesting the mercenary group was offering Syrians $3,000 a month to join the fight.

Ukrainian intelligence said as many as 40,000 Syrians were preparing to side with Russian forces in Ukraine, but only a few hundred Syrians are believed to have actually reached the battlefield and the recruitment effort was eventually widely dismissed as Russian disinformation.

The potential impact of Afghan commandos -- considered to be highly skilled and trained combat fighters -- if they fight in Ukraine is disputed. A former senior Afghan security official suggested to Foreign Policy that their entry into the Russia-Ukraine war "would be a game-changer" for the Kremlin's war effort.

Sergei Danilov, deputy director of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Center for Middle East Studies, said in an interview with Current Time that he had no doubt Russia was trying to recruit Afghans. But he said Afghan forces were too scattered to be recruited in large numbers to form a united fighting force, and noted their failures in defending Afghanistan against the Taliban.

"They are trained, but they are absolutely not motivated," Danilov said. "They don't pose a threat. Some were able to go to Pakistan -- or even to Iran -- and are now in the region and beyond.... But this is not tens of thousands or even thousands."

Michael Scollon and Current Time contributed to this report
On October 22, Yelena Mikhailova and her longtime partner, Maksim, were married at the civil records office (ZAGS) in Pytalovo, a town in the Pskov region on Russia's border with Latvia. The hastily arranged wedding came just days after Maksim was called up to fight in Russia's unprovoked war against Ukraine in a mobilization decreed by President Vladimir Putin on September 21.

"I never thought everything would happen so quickly," Mikhailova said. "We weren't prepared for a wedding, but events pushed us to get married.... We didn't exchange rings because we didn't have the money to buy them. We decided we'd get them later when he comes back and, hopefully, they pay him at least some of the money he's been promised."

"We don't have much income," she continued. "Maksim doesn't really have work but he gets by on odd jobs. Lately he's been working as a mechanic. Now the main thing is to gather the things my husband needs. I bought him some warm socks and clothes so that he'd have them when they send him over there."

Mikhailova's story is far from unique. Since Putin announced the mobilization less than six weeks ago, virtually every region across the country has seen a spike in marriages. In most regions, mobilized soldiers are allowed to marry the same day that they submit their paperwork with their partners. Some regions have arranged buses to get soldiers and their fiancees from mustering bases to the nearest marriage registration office, while others have arranged temporary wedding halls at the bases themselves.

Mikhailova's reason for getting married to Maksim, with whom she has lived for 19 years and raised two children, is also typical. "Mobilization is a bit frightening," she told RFE/RL's North.Realities. "Anything could happen to him. In any case, legally married wives have more rights, so we decided to formalize our relationship."

'We Are Marrying Them In Bunches'

Wives are entitled to a payment up to 7 million rubles ($115,000) if their husband is killed or up to 3 million rubles if he is wounded in combat. The state also pays for transportation and accommodation for spouses to visit wounded men in the hospital. And onetime payments for the families of mobilized soldiers range from 50,000 to 150,000 rubles ($815 to $2,450), depending on the region.

The deputy head of the Pytalovo district in charge of mobilization, who asked not to be identified to protect his relatives near the combat zone, says the number of weddings of mobilized soldiers in his district has skyrocketed. "We are marrying them in bunches, several couples at a time," he said. He mentions as well that mobilized soldiers are forming lines at the offices of notaries to file wills before being shipped out.

The independent Russian-focused outlet Mediazona conducted a study of the national marriage spike. Using data gathered from regional civil records offices, it estimated that at least 492,000 men had been mobilized since September 21. In Buryatia, an impoverished region in southern Siberia that had already contributed a disproportionate number of soldiers to the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine even before mobilization, the number of weddings rose from 83 per week before mobilization was announced to 662 per week after.

In all, the 75 regions that reported marriage data to Mediazona carried out 31,000 weddings of mobilized soldiers in the four weeks after Putin's September 21 announcement. Local media in Astrakhan reported that a record 104 couples were married just on October 22. The town of Kamen-on-Ob in Siberia's Altai region reported 71 marriages between September 21 and October 15, compared to 23 during the same period last year.

The Zabaikalye region, in eastern Siberia, reported a record number of weddings in September and October. "Workers at the regional records office conducted accelerated procedures on the same day as a mobilization notification was presented 1,211 times," the local administration newspaper reported.

Anton Pinezhaninov is a native of Kotlas, a town in the northern Arkhangelsk region. He was mobilized and sent to a base in the Leningrad region so quickly that he didn't have time to marry his longtime partner, Maria, with whom he has two sons.

Maria, however, traveled to Pinezhaninov's base to conclude the wedding at a ZAGS in St. Petersburg after St. Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov ordered officials to expedite the weddings of mobilized soldiers.

Larisa Solovyova, whose son was also quickly mobilized from Kotlas, told RFE/RL he had been turned away by the local ZAGS, where officials insisted on enforcing a one-month waiting period. "Is my son heading off to summer camp?" she said. "He's going off to war. But the bureaucrats refuse to work under wartime conditions.... I won't give my son's name -- the enemy doesn't need to know. I am really worried about him."

Kemerovo region Governor Sergei Tsivilyov on October 13 organized and presided over the weddings of seven mobilized soldiers in the Siberian city of Omsk, wearing a large Latin letter Z on his label, the Kremlin's symbol of support for the invasion of Ukraine.

'Just For All This To Be Over'

In September, 34 couples were married in the town of Kostomuksha in the northwestern Karelia region. One of them was Anna Vasilyeva and her mobilized husband, Aleksei. "When mobilization was announced, I still wasn't sure that I loved him," Vasilyeva told RFE/RL. "We were just dating and getting to know each other. But when his notification came, we were both struck suddenly, and we understood that we loved one another."

"I went to his base in Tver," she continued. "They gave him leave from his unit and we went to the central ZAGS, showed them his notice, and were married. The line was very long, and we stood for a long time. It was stuffy and uncomfortable."

After the wedding, over beer and sausages, Vasilyeva says she tried to persuade her husband not to go to war. "I told him to go to Georgia or to hide somewhere like other men from Karelia had done," she said. "But he refused. He and I have very different views on life and what is going on. His unit has been seriously 'brainwashed' by experienced instructors from the Vagner [private military] company."

"When we parted, I told him to remain human no matter what happens," she added. "Not to torture anyone if a Ukrainian surrenders to him. I sent him off, but I don't believe he will come back, although I tell him all the time on the phone that I am waiting for him and he must come home. But I am not confident he will remain the same good, sweet boy that I have known so long."

Back in Pytalovo, near the Latvian border, Yelena Mikhailova is alone with her two sons. "Who is going to feed us?" she asked. "He is gone. We have two sons -- who is going to raise them? And I'm also afraid for our eldest, who is 17. I didn't need a wedding. I don't need anything. Just for all this to be over."

"We want to live like we lived before," she said.

Written by Robert Coalson based on reporting by RFE/RL's North.Realities
Ukrainian troops say they remain in control of the key city of Bakhmut in Ukraine's Donetsk region despite fierce clashes and slow advances against Russian forces. Soldiers with the Ukrainian Army's 93rd Kholodny Yar Mechanized Brigade say they're being attacked by mercenaries from the Vagner Group -- a Kremlin-backed militia.
El gobierno del Peru expresa sus mas sentidas condolencias y solidaridad al gobierno y pueblo de la Republica de la India por las victimas mortales y heridos como consecuencia del colapso de un puente colgante en el Estado de Gujarat.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. California Governor Gavin Newsom named nine leading academic experts and advocates to serve on the Governors Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education, his Office said in a statement.

The statement says that the decision came in the wake of a disturbing increase in antisemitic hate.

The new members are distinguished leaders and experts in Holocaust and genocide education, representing organizations that reflect the diverse groups impacted by the Holocaust and genocide throughout history. Among them is Roxanne Makasdjian, Executive Director of the Genocide Education Project.

The Governors Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education is tasked with promoting Holocaust and genocide education throughout California to provide young people with the tools necessary to recognize and respond to bigotry or discrimination on campus.

An attack on any of our communities is an attack against all Californians and our state will not stand by as the forces of hate instigate acts of violent extremism that put lives at risk, said Governor Newsom.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomed and congratulated Roxanne Makasdjian on appointment.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. On the sidelines of the visit of the Armenian delegation led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Iran, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan met with Irans Minister of Roads and Urban Development Rostam Ghasemi.

I particularly highlighted the participation of Iranian companies to the ongoing construction, tender processes in Armenia, Gnel Sanosyan said in a statement on social media. We have discussed the issue of the construction of the Kajaran tunnel. I have also touched upon the ongoing large-scale road construction works in Armenia, which will soon allow to increase the volumes of cargo transportation coming from Iran. We have attached importance to the cooperation in the field and the activities aimed at strengthening the capacities, he added.

The Armenian PM arrived in Tehran on November 1 on a working visit. The talks between the PM and the Iranian President have already launched in the Iranian capital.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia to Armenia Krum Efremov (residence in Kiev) presented his credentials to President Vahagn Khachaturyan, the Presidential Office said.

The Armenian President congratulated the Ambassador on appointment, expressing hope that he, as the first Ambassador of North Macedonia to Armenia, will greatly contribute to strengthening the existing friendly relations and utilizing the real potential of the bilateral mutual partnership.

President Khachaturyan said that the peoples of Armenia and North Macedonia know each other quite well despite the short course of the diplomatic relations, adding that they also have many commonalities, a similar history and have passed through heavy challenges.

Our official relations will enable us to maximally use the opportunities of the two countries, the Armenian President said.

As for possible directions of cooperation, the President particularly highlighted high technologies, tourism and services, stating that the joint work could create an opportunity to reveal new cooperation directions.

In his turn the Ambassador of North Macedonia assured that during his tenure he will do the utmost to further develop and intensify the bilateral ties.

At the meeting both sides emphasized the importance of efforts aimed at establishing regional stability and lasting peace, noting that the solution of the issue could be achieved through negotiations and diplomatic solutions.
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Readers of The San Diego Union-Tribune are hoping for the best as a new owner is set to acquire the newspaper.

A sale would mean fifth owner of the Union-Tribune in the past nine years.

The sale sparked debate over whether newspapers are better served by corporate or private owners.

News that The San Diego Union-Tribune and its sister paper to the north were likely to be acquired by a Los Angeles billionaire was greeted with enthusiasm and skepticism Tuesday as readers crossed their fingers once again for stability and expertise from their local paper.

Years-long subscribers, and some who canceled their newspapers after recent ownership changes, said they were hoping for the best from the Union-Tribune and the Los Angeles Times, which are likely to be spun off from Chicago-based media company Tronc and sold to Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong.

I have the greatest respect for the role of a free press in our society, said Chris Brewster, a retired San Diego lifeguard chief and longtime reader. Looking at what Jeff Bezos has done with The Washington Post is an indication of the positives that can come out of a change like this, but that necessitates that the owner is hands-off the news and the editorial page is not used as a pugil.

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We should all view this with some trepidation and some hope that journalism and the resources devoted to it in San Diego could recover from the damage that has been done over the past decades, he said.

The ownership change would be the fifth for the Union-Tribune since 2009, when the Copley family ended eight decades of stewardship of the oldest business operating in San Diego County.

It also would return both the Union-Tribune and the Los Angeles Times to private hands, rather than a publicly traded corporation run by a board of directors that answers to shareholders every three months. Such market pressures  and a steady decline in print readership  have forced newspapers across the nation to respond with deep cost cuts and uncertain investments in a digital future.

Max Branscomb, longtime adviser to the award-winning Southwestern Sun newspaper published by Southwestern College, said he felt the U-T was not as strong as it had been.

I hope Dr. Soon-Shiong is buying the Los Angeles Times and San Diego Union-Tribune for the right reasons, and recognizes how vital they are to the health and vitality of our communities, he said.

Former San Diego Councilwoman Donna Frye said newspapers  and their owners  hold a sacred trust in a democracy regardless of whether they are corporate owned or privately held.

My hope would be no matter who buys it they understand the importance of local journalism, and particularly investigative journalism, said Frye, also a past president of Californians Aware, a statewide advocacy group for First Amendment rights. What we dont know can hurt us.

Electrical engineer Bill Powers said he was somewhat concerned about Soon-Shiong wresting total control of the newspapers, but said he prefers a single owner to a corporate board if he had to choose.

Im always a little jaundiced about billionaires from anywhere buying newspapers, said Powers, who canceled his paper several years ago under the ownership of former publisher Douglas Manchester, a major San Diego developer, but renewed his subscription under tronc. Its hard to resist the boss when hes the sole owner of the news, but any publicly traded company is going to be under pressure, too.

Vicki Granowitz, a retired social worker from North Park who serves on several San Diego city boards and commissions, said she hopes Soon-Shiong brings a stronger sense of balance to the news of the day. She also hopes he invests in local journalism.

I would hope they continue and enhance local coverage and to avoid being partisan in their reporting, Granowitz said.

On its editorial pages, the Union-Tribune has leaned left, right and centrist depending on recent owners  leaving room for people of all political stripes to criticize the newspaper. Under shared ownership with the Times, many readers perceived a leftward shift at the Union-Tribune, which has an independent editorial position. Larry Stirling, a conservative former lawmaker and retired judge, said he hopes the new owner will bring a more open-minded editorial posture toward President Donald Trump.

I looked up the new owner and I cannot tell much about his politics except for one piece that said he recently dined with President Trump, Stirling said. Whether he or his papers will be more balanced in that regard, I dont know. I certainly hope so. But the fact that he was even willing to sit down with him in a civil setting has to be a better posture than the Tronc people.

jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald
STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh welcomes the trilateral meeting between the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan held in Sochi on October 31, but states that one should not expect a final settlement and peace from that meeting.

Foreign Minister of Artsakh Davit Babayan commented on the results of the Sochi meeting in an interview to Armenpress.

First of all we need to understand that a comprehensive settlement is impossible during one meeting. It is not so because the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict is one of the most complex conflicts in the world, perhaps one of those like the Israeli-Arab one. The most important is that it was directly, indirectly fixed that the issue is not closed. It was fixed that there are issues which are not agreed upon and it is necessary to work. Reference was made to several agreements, particularly the statement of November 9, 2020. This is very important and is the most tangible achievement, he said.

Babayan also said that the fact that the role of the Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno Karabakh was highlighted during the meeting is another positive result from the meeting. According to him, this shows once again that a respective entity exists.

Therefore, we need to look at the results of the meeting from this point of view. Of course, any document or meeting could collapse, but they are very important. We need to understand that this is geopolitics. We have an important meeting, an event which has fixed that the process is ongoing, that nothing has been resolved and that it is necessary to continue the work on this direction. Moreover, it was stated once again that Russia is ready to play an active role in the region. This is the essence of the text of the statement adopted as a result of the meeting, the Artsakh FM stated.

He also highlighted the importance of the Sochi summit from the perspective of latest developments where proposals were being made on making Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan. Contrary to this, Babayan said that the Sochi meeting stated that the issue is complex, is not solved yet, and works still need to be done.

We need to understand that our desires do not always find a place especially in the emotional field. Therefore, we need to work, first of all we. We need to be persistent, rely firstly on our will, never be indifferent and think that everything is lost. If we show will, like we did during the rally in Stepanakert, and show that any status within Azerbaijan is unacceptable for us, then all that will finally be taken into account, Davit Babayan said.

Van Novikov
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan received ethnic Armenian lawmaker of the Turkish parliament Garo Paylan, the Presidential Office said.

President Khachaturyan welcomed Garo Paylans visit to Armenia.

During the meeting the Armenia-Turkey normalization process, the possibilities and prospects of opening the borders between the two countries were discussed.

Issues relating to the Karabakh conflict settlement, the establishment of stable and lasting peace in the region, as well as the pan-Armenian agenda were also touched upon at the meeting.

Garo Paylan thanked the Armenian President for the welcome and stated that he is ready to contribute to solving all these issues as much as he can.
Ornithologists have discovered a new species of the scops-owl genus Otus inhabiting the forests of Principe Island, part of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe in Africa.

Otus is a genus of scops-owls in the family Strigidae restricted to the Old World.

First introduced in 1769 by the Welsh naturalist Thomas Pennant, it is the largest genus of owls with over 50 species.

Members of the genus are colored in various brownish hues, sometimes with a lighter underside and/or face, which helps to camouflage them against the bark of trees. Some species are polymorphic, occurring in a grayish- and a reddish-brown morph.

These birds are small, with both sexes being compact in size and shape; females are usually larger than males.

The discovery of a new bird species is always an occasion to celebrate and an opportunity to reach out to the general public on the subject of biodiversity, said lead author Dr. Martim Melo from CIBIO and the Universidade do Porto and his colleagues.

In this age of human-driven extinction, a major global effort should be undertaken to document what may soon not be anymore.

Birds are likely the best studied animal group. As such, the discovery of a new bird species in the 21st century underscores both the actuality of field-based explorations aiming at describing biodiversity, and how such curiosity-driven endeavor is more likely to succeed when coupled with local ecological knowledge, the participation of keen amateur naturalists, and persistence.

The newly-described species, named the Principe scops-owl (Otus bikegila), occurs at low elevations of the old-growth native forest of Principe Island, located in the Gulf of Guinea, approximately 220 km offshore Gabon.

The bird is currently restricted to the uninhabited southern part of the island but fully included within Principe Obo Natural Park.

The discovery of a new species that is immediately evaluated as highly threatened illustrates well the current biodiversity predicament, the researchers said.

On a positive note, the area of occurrence of the Principe scops-owl is fully included within the Principe Obo Natural Park, which will hopefully help secure its protection.

Although it may seem odd for a bird species to remain undiscovered for science for so long on such a small island, this is by no means an isolated case when it comes to owls.

The teams phylogenetic analysis suggests that the Principe scops-owl descended from the first colonization of the Gulf of Guinea islands, being sister to the owl group including the mainland African scops-owl (Otus senegalensis), and the island endemics Sao Tome scops-owl (Otus hartlaubi) and Pemba scops-owl (Otus pembaensis).

The birds most diagnostic trait in the field is its unique call which, curiously, is most similar to a distantly related Otus species, the Sokoke scops-owl (Otus ireneae).

Otus bikegilas unique call is a short tuu note repeated at a fast rate of about one note per second, reminiscent of insect calls. It is often emitted in duets, almost as soon as the night has fallen, Dr. Melo said.

The new species occupies an area of about 15 km2, apparently due to a preference for lower elevations.

In this small area, the densities of the owl are relatively high, with the population estimated at around 1,000-1,500 individuals.

We propose that the species is classified as Critically Endangered due to the small extent of occurrence, coupled with occurrence in a single location and inferred continuing declines in the extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of mature individuals and area, extent, and quality of habitat, the scientists said.

Effective conservation of the Principe scops-owl requires regular monitoring and further studies focusing on reproduction and potential nest predation by introduced mammals.

Widespread support for the conservation of the Natural Park is vital to ensure the protection of this species and the endemic-rich native forests of Principe on which it depends.

The teams findings appear in two papers in the journal ZooKeys and the journal Bird Conservation International.

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M. Melo et al. 2022. A new species of scops-owl (Aves, Strigiformes, Strigidae, Otus) from Principe Island (Gulf of Guinea, Africa) and novel insights into the systematic affinities within Otus. ZooKeys 1126: 1-54; doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1126.87635

Barbara Freitas et al. The recently discovered Principe Scops-owl is highly threatened: distribution, habitat associations, and population estimates. Bird Conservation International, published online October 31, 2022; doi: 10.1017/S0959270922000429
University of Queensland theoretical physicist Joshua Foo and his colleagues form the University of Queensland, Perimeter Institute and the University of Waterloo ran calculations that revealed surprising black hole quantum phenomena.

Black holes continue to captivate physicists from a diverse array of backgrounds, ranging from cosmology and astroparticle physics, to quantum field theory and general relativity.

Because of the extreme gravitational environments they generate, these compact objects are considered primary candidates for studying regimes in which quantum gravity effects are present.

Indeed, the discoveries of Hawking radiation and black hole evaporation gave rise to the well-known information paradox and an entire field seeking its resolution, which aptly illustrates the existing conflicts between quantum theory and general relativity.

Theoretical physicists recently recognized that a complete theory of quantum gravity must account for the treatment of black holes as quantum objects.

Black holes are an incredibly unique and fascinating feature of our Universe, said Foo, first author of a paper published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

Theyre created when gravity squeezes a vast amount of matter incredibly densely into a tiny space, creating so much gravitational pull that even light cannot escape.

But, until now, we havent deeply investigated whether black holes display some of the weird and wonderful behaviors of quantum physics.

One such behavior is superposition, where particles on a quantum scale can exist in multiple states at the same time, he said.

This is most commonly illustrated by Schrodingers cat, which can be both dead and alive simultaneously.

But, for black holes, we wanted to see whether they could have wildly different masses at the same time, and it turns out they do.

Imagine youre both broad and tall, as well as short and skinny at the same time  its a situation which is intuitively confusing since were anchored in the world of traditional physics. But this is reality for quantum black holes.

To reveal this, Foo and co-authors developed a mathematical framework allowing us to place a particle outside a theoretical mass-superposed black hole.

Mass was looked at specifically, as it is a defining feature of a black hole, and as it is plausible that quantum black holes would naturally have mass superposition.

Our research in fact reinforces conjectures raised by pioneers of quantum physics, said co-author Dr. Magdalena Zych, a physicist at the University of Queensland.

The work shows that the very early theories of Jacob Bekenstein, an American and Israeli theoretical physicist who made fundamental contributions to the foundation of black hole thermodynamics, were on the money.

He postulated that black holes can only have masses that are of certain values, that is, they must fall within certain bands or ratios  this is how energy levels of an atom works, for example.

Our modeling showed that these superposed masses were, in fact, in certain determined bands or ratios  as predicted by Bekenstein.

We didnt assume any such pattern going in, so the fact we found this evidence was quite surprising.

The Universe is revealing to us that its always more strange, mysterious and fascinating than most of us could have ever imagined.

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Joshua Foo et al. 2022. Quantum Signatures of Black Hole Mass Superpositions. Phys. Rev. Lett 129 (18): 181301; doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.181301
EUROPE

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Expected Council Action

In November, the Security Council will hold its semi-annual debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The Council also expects to vote on the reauthorisation of the EU-led multinational stabilisation force (EUFOR ALTHEA) prior to its 3 November expiration.

Background and Key Recent Developments

The 1995 General Framework Agreement for Peace, also known as the Dayton Agreement, created two entities within BiH: the predominantly Bosniak and Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and the predominantly Serb Republika Srpska (RS). The two entities are linked by a rotating tripartite inter-ethnic presidency and a two-chamber legislative branch with equal representation by the three major ethnic groups (Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs). Both entities also have their own executive and legislative branches.

General elections in BiH were held on 2 October. Voters decided the makeup of BiHs presidency and its lower chamber of parliament, RSs executive and legislative branches, and FBiHs lower chamber of parliament and the ten cantonal assemblies. In BiHs presidential election, voters in the FBiH elected Bosniak Denis Becirovic and re-elected Croat Zeljko Komsic, while voters in RS elected Serb Zeljka Cvijanovic. At the state- and entity-level parliamentary elections, results confirmed the dominance of nationalist parties among the three ethnic groups, suggesting that the political blockades of previous years will likely continue to hinder reform efforts.

The entity-level presidential election in RS was marked by controversy. On election night, opposition candidate Jelena Trivic declared victory based on preliminary polling results. However, the following morning, results published by BiHs Central Electoral Commission (CEC), based on 98 percent of votes counted, showed that the apparent winner was Milorad Dodik, who has served as the Serb member of the BiH presidency since November 2018. Trivic alleged irregularities and demanded a recount, submitting a formal complaint to the CEC on 5 October.

On 9 October, opposition parties staged a protest that drew thousands of supporters in Banja Luka, RSs largest city. The following day, the CEC ordered a recount of votes, with CEC President Suad Arnautovic citing evidence of electoral irregularities. In a 10 October post on Twitter, Dodik accused the CEC of not respecting the law for conducting the recount. Opposition parties filed criminal complaints with the RSs prosecutors office on 18 October, accusing Dodik of committing electoral fraud. On 22 October, Dodik said he would file criminal charges against the CEC for failing to publish the results of the presidential elections by the 22 October deadline. However, following its recount, the CEC declared Dodik the winner of the presidential election on 27 October.

Leading up to the general elections, High Representative for BiH Christian Schmidt issued several decrees aimed at securing the funds for organising the elections and strengthening their integrity. On 7 June, Schmidt enacted a package of decisions enabling the financing of the 2 October general elections and all others thereafter. His decree was issued following weeks of failed attempts by BiH authorities to ensure an adequate budget for the elections. On 6 June, the BiH Council of Ministers decided to allocate funding to the CECan amount considered belated and insufficient, according to an 8 October communique issued by the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Board. (The PIC was established in 1995 to garner international support for the Dayton Agreement and the Steering Board serves as its executive arm.)

On 27 July, Schmidt issued a decree enacting a set of measures aimed at strengthening the integrity of BiHs elections and improving transparency in the management of the election process. The decree, which sought to bring BiH election law in line with international standards, established new prohibitions on hate speech and empowered the CEC to sanction violations of the rules of conduct in electoral campaigns, including removing a party or individual from candidacy.

Shortly after polling stations closed on election day, Schmidt issued a set of decrees aimed at improving the functionality of the FBiHs political institutions and ensuring the timely implementation of the results of the 2 October elections. His decrees came as political parties in FBiH were unable to agree on a package of constitutional and electoral reforms in negotiations that the EU and the US had facilitated in mid-2021. The decrees, known as the Functionality Package, establish mechanisms to unblock paralysis in the FBiHs legislatures, including setting deadlines for the formation of the government after the election. The package also improves the proportionality of representation by raising the number of representatives in the FBiHs upper house of parliament.

Key Issues and Options

The role of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) remains a key issue for the Council. Neither China nor Russia recognise Schmidts authority as High Representative and may once again call for the early closure of the OHR in this months debate.

During the 3 November 2021 debate on BiH, Russia apparently blocked Schmidts briefing by threatening to veto the Councils renewal of EUFOR ALTHEAs authorisation. The meeting did not feature a briefing since some Council members did not want to risk setting a precedent by inviting someone other than the High Representative to brief the Council. Russia was unable to block Schmidts participation at the most recent BiH debate on 11 May, which took place during the US Council presidency. As Russia once again holds leverage over the renewal of EUFOR ALTHEAs authorisation, Ghana, as Council President in November, may opt to avoid complications by once again refraining from having a briefer on the situation in BiH.

Divisions over Schmidts legitimacy as High Representative have also apparently adversely affected negotiations on a substantial resolution renewing EUFOR ALTHEAs authorisation. During the November 2021 debate, several Council members, including Norway, expressed regret that the Council was unable to agree on a more substantial text. Russia described the support for EUFOR ALTHEAs mandate renewal as the only common denominator among Council members on the issue of BiH.

One option for the Council is to consider a presidential statement proposing a review of OHRs future role in exchange for recognition by the P2 (China and Russia) of Schmidts legitimacy as High Representative.

Council Dynamics

Deep divisions related to BiHs Euro-Atlantic integration and possible accession to NATOparticularly between Russia on the one hand and the US and European Council members on the othercolour Council dynamics on BiH. The situation in Ukraine is likely to continue to permeate the Councils engagement on BiH and contribute to further division between these two camps.

Council members largely share concerns over BiHs divisive ethnic politics and support efforts to reform BiHs constitution and electoral system. However, divisions between the UK and the US, on one hand, and the EU, on the other, became apparent following Schmidts 2 October decision. The UK and the US expressed support for the decrees, while the EU delegation to Sarajevo stressed in a 2 October statement that the decision was of the High Representative alone, adding that the Bonn Powers entrusted to the High Representative should be used solely as a measure of last resort against irreparable unlawful acts. (The Bonn Powers refers to the legislative powers granted to the High Representative by the PIC in 1997. These include the ability to adopt binding decisions and unseat elected officials who are found to be in violation of legal commitments made under the Dayton Agreement or the terms of its implementation.)

In a 4 October interview, Schmidt downplayed the tone of the EUs 2 October statement, saying that he did not interpret it as criticism directed at him but rather at the political community in BiH. Suggesting that the EU may have underestimated that things in [BiH] would not happen by themselves, Schmidt acknowledged that sometimes they need to be pushed and supported.

The BiH Coordination and Drafting Group, which is responsible for preparing the first draft of Council products on BiH, currently consists of Albania, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Russia, the UK, and the US. Ireland was the penholder on BiH in October. It appears that, following bilateral discussions with Council members, Ireland placed a draft resolution in blue on 28 October, after it passed a silence procedure from 21 to 25 October. The draft resolution in blue is a straightforward renewal of EUFOR ALTHEAs authorisation.

UN DOCUMENTS ON BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

This resolution renewed the authorisation of the EU-led multinational stabilisation force (EUFOR ALTHEA) for another year, until 3 November 2022. At the debate, several Council members, including Norway and Estonia, expressed regret that the Security Council failed to adopt a more substantial resolution This was the meeting record for the semi-annual debate on Bosnia ad Herzegovina.
AFRICA

Central African Republic

Expected Council Action

In November, the Security Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), which expires on 15 November.

The 2127 CAR sanctions regime expires on 31 July 2023, and the mandate of the Panel of Experts supporting the 2127 CAR Sanctions Committee expires on 31 August 2023.

Key Recent Developments

On 19 October, the Security Council met to discuss the Secretary-Generals latest report on MINUSCA. Valentine Rugwabiza, the Special Representative for the Central African Republic (CAR) and head of MINUSCA, briefed the Council, highlighting major developments regarding the missions strategic priorities over the past four months. She explained the coordination meetings that have been taking place under the chairmanship of CAR Prime Minister Felix Moloua with the objective of accelerating implementation of the roadmap adopted by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in support of the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the CAR. Rugwabiza noted the steps taken to implement the timelines agreed within this framework, and also mentioned a 14 September meeting between the government and the representatives of 11 armed groups that are signatories of the political agreement to discuss the possible dissolution of these armed groups.

On 26 August, the government adopted a decree setting up a committee to draft a new constitution with a view to removing presidential term limits. The current constitution, adopted in 2016 following popular consultations, does not allow the president to run for a third term. In a 23 September decision, however, the CAR Constitutional Court invalidated the decree establishing the drafting committee, declaring the committees work unconstitutional. Rugwabiza welcomed this decision and commended the maturity of the CARs institutions.

The security situation in CAR remains fragile. MINUSCA has adopted a proactive posture in support of the CAR armed forces (FACA) to curtail the activities of armed groups, improve security, protect civilians, facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance, and help the extension of state authority. But a serious concern has been the resurgence of armed groups in the north-western part of the country and the increasing use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which continue to pose threats not only to civilians but also to peacekeepers. On 5 October, Council members issued a press statement condemning the IED attack that led to the deaths of three Bangladeshi peacekeepers on 3 October.

One of the challenges faced by MINUSCA has been continued violations of the status of forces agreement (SOFA). The Secretary-Generals latest report, dated 13 October, noted a reduction in SOFA violations during the reporting period, but expressed concern about the seizure of contingent-owned equipment and the obstruction of freedom of movement, including through restrictions on night flights. Rugwabiza requested the CAR authorities to lift restrictions on night flights, which she said are critical for the safety and security of peacekeepers. However, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Central African Republic, Francophonie and Central Africans abroad Sylvie Valerie Baipo Temon, who attended the 19 October Security Council meeting, rejected claims about interference with the missions freedom of movement and restrictions on night flights and asserted that CAR authorities are simply requesting for procedures to be followed and the countrys sovereignty to be respected.

Rugwabiza welcomed the work of the Special Criminal Court (SCC)a hybrid court composed of national and international judges with the authority to investigate, prosecute and try serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the CARwhich started its deliberations in August after having completed the hearings of its first trial. She called on the government to renew the mandate of the SCC and requested international partners to continue providing financial support and expertise to the court.

Human Rights-Related Developments

During its 51st session, the Human Rights Council (HRC) held an interactive dialogue on 5 October with the independent expert on the situation of human rights in the CAR, Yao Agbetse, and considered his report (A/HRC/51/59), which covered July 2021 to June. The report found that armed forces, defence and security forces and internal security forces have committed multiple human rights violations and international humanitarian law. It also said that allied Russian forces cannot operate outside the law and must refrain from obstructing the work of MINUSCA. On 7 October, the HRC adopted a resolution that renewed the mandate of the independent expert for one year, without a vote (A/HRC/51/L.35/Rev.1).

In a 12 October statement following a four-day visit to the CAR, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris welcomed some recent advances in addressing human rights issues but highlighted that challenges persist, including forcible displacement as well as continued reports of summary and extrajudicial execution, arbitrary detention, torture, and conflict-related sexual violence.

Sanctions-Related Developments

On 29 July, the Council adopted resolution 2648, extending the CAR sanctions regime for an additional year. Ten members voted in favour of the resolution while five (China, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, and Russia) abstained. In their explanations of vote, China, Gabon, Kenya, and Russia expressed their preference for a full lifting of the embargo.

Following the extension of the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the work of the 2127 CAR Sanctions Committee, the Secretary-General appointed four panel members on 31 August. They are from Tunisia, Congo, Netherlands, and Norway, with expertise on arms, armed groups, finance/natural resources, and humanitarian affairs, respectively. The Secretary-General indicated that an expert on regional affairs will be appointed in due course. On 30 September, the Panel of Experts briefed the committee on its workplan in accordance with resolution 2648.

Key Issues and Options

A major preoccupation for Council members is the renewal of MINUSCAs mandate. The Secretary-General recommended a one-year extension that maintains the missions current authorised strength of 15,760 personnel. He also underscored the need to enhance MINUSCAs mobility to enable the mission to effectively implement its mandate and called on troop- and police-contributing countries and other partners to provide support in this regard.

Council members are expected to unanimously extend the mandate in line with the Secretary-Generals recommendations in a demonstration of their strong support for the renewed dynamism of the CAR political process.

Council and Wider Dynamics

Council members are supportive of regional efforts to reinvigorate the implementation of the 2019 political agreement and the ICGLR roadmap. At the 19 October meeting, they also welcomed the improvement in relations between MINUSCA and the CAR authorities, including the reduction in SOFA violations. Several members supported the call by the Secretary-General for the lifting of restrictions on MINUSCAs freedom of movement.

Council members are divided on the issue of sanctions. When the Council renewed the 2127 CAR sanctions regime in July, the three African membersGabon, Ghana and Kenyabacked CARs request for the lifting of the arms embargo, with the support of China and Russia. The other contentious issue that continues to influence the discussions on CAR is the role of the Wagner Group, a Russian private security company, and its alleged involvement in serious human rights abuses.

Last year, China and Russia abstained on the vote renewing the mandate of the mission, arguing that the text did not take into consideration the concerns of the host country. At the 19 October meeting, Russia emphasised the need to maintain dialogue and understanding with the host country for the effective implementation of MINUSCAs mandate. The A3 also argued that the upcoming mandate renewal should be evaluated in the context of the changing security landscape as well as the needs and expectations of the CAR authorities.

France is the penholder on the CAR, and Ambassador Harold Adlai Agyeman (Ghana) chairs the 2127 CAR Sanctions Committee.

UN DOCUMENTS ON THE CAR

This resolution extended the CAR sanctions regime for an additional year. This was a Secretary-Generals report on the situation in the Central African Republic This was a Security Council briefing on the situation in the Central African Republic. This was a press statement condemning the IED attack that led to the deaths of three peacekeepers.




Counter-Terrorism

Expected Council Action

In November, Ghana is organising a high-level debate on Counter-terrorism in Africa an imperative for peace, security, and development. The debate will be one of the signature events of Ghanas presidency. AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, President of the European Council Charles Michel and a representative of civil society are expected to brief. No formal outcome is anticipated.

The Council is also scheduled to receive its annual briefing from the chairs of its counter-terrorism-related committees: Ambassador Trine Heimerback (Norway), chair of the 1267/1989/2253 Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee; Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj (India), chair of the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC); and Ambassador Juan Ramon de la Fuente Ramirez (Mexico), chair of the 1540 Committee.

Background

Ghanas concept note for the meeting says that it will focus on ongoing counter-terrorism measures in Africa and how the Security Council can support such measures. The meeting will also consider how the Council can work with regional mechanisms to address the threat posed by terrorism.

According to the concept note, Africa has experienced an influx of terrorist groups that seek to establish a presence in areas where states lack authority, including in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin, northern Mozambique, the Sahel, and Somalia. The concept note also refers to the 2022 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), a report prepared by the Institute of Economics and Peace, which found that close to half of the terrorist-related deaths recorded in 2021 occurred in Africa.

In recent years, affiliates of ISIL have become increasingly active in Africa. The 28th report of the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL/Daesh and Al-Qaeda Monitoring Team, which was published on 21 July 2021, noted that the most striking development of the period under review was the emergence of Africa as the region most affected by terrorism. This trend has since continued. The Secretary-Generals 15th biannual strategic-level report on the threat posed by ISIL/Daesh, which was issued on 26 July, says that the situation on the continent has deteriorated further and that two of the three most dynamic ISIL networks are based in Africa. The report also says that member states remain acutely concerned about the rising incidence of terrorist violence in Africa and describes several examples of violence perpetrated by African organisations with links to ISIL. In the DRC, for example, the Allied Democratic Forces, a group that has pledged allegiance to ISIL, killed more than 383 civilians between December 2021 and February 2022.

According to the concept note, a funding shortfall for counter-terrorism measures in Africa has weakened the effectiveness of military operations and other measures designed to combat terrorism, including initiatives that are designed to respond to underlying causes of violent extremism, such as climate change, under-development, illiteracy, poverty, and the absence of a strong government presence. The concept note also argues that several counter-terrorism operations and mechanisms that work in Africa have not yielded the expected results due to the volume of resources required and capability challenges, including the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS/AMISOM), the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (FC-G5S), the ECOWAS 2024 Action Plan, and the Accra Initiative.

Referring to the AU extraordinary session on terrorism and unconstitutional changes in Africa held in Malabo on 28 May, the concept note says that this summit acknowledged the funding and structural challenges faced in the fight against terrorism and called for adequate, sustainable and predictable financing for counter-terrorism efforts on the continent. The concept note further observes that the outcome document for the summit renewed the AUs call for the UN to use assessed contributions for AU-mandated peace operations to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts. The Secretary-General has echoed these calls in the past. During the 2019 African Regional High-Level Conference on Counter-Terrorism and the Prevention of Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism in Nairobi, for example, the Secretary-General said that he deeply believe[s] that African peace-enforcing and counter-terrorism operations must have strong and clear mandates by the [Council] backed by sufficient, predictable and sustainable financial support, namely through assessed contributions.

Three guiding questions are outlined in the concept note:

How can UN missions in Africa better support regional counter-terrorism efforts? In what ways can the UN support the building of resilience among member states to curb the spread of terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel and coastal west Africa? Which sustainable funding mechanism can be leveraged towards supporting resilience-building against terrorism in the Sahel region and coastal west Africa?

Key Issues and Options

A key issue is how to enhance the capacity of counter-terrorism initiatives in Africa, such as the FC-G5S, a regional counter-terrorism operation founded by Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. The FC-G5S has carried out some joint operations but faces persistent challenges in securing financial and material resources, which prevent it from becoming fully operational. Additionally, in a significant setback to the force, Mali withdrew from the FC-G5S earlier this year. Similarly, the regions states are also confronted by the need to allocate part of their national budgets to counter-terrorism, which diverts funds from social services and development efforts.

Another issue is how to address violent extremism and terrorism in Africa in a more holistic manner. Besides West Africa, there are concerns about terrorist activity in other parts of Africa, including Somalia and Libya, and increasingly in central and southern Africa.

While no formal outcome is anticipated for the debate, in their statements Council members may elect to:

advocate for financial and material support for regional counter-terrorism forces;

emphasise the need for such forces to adhere to international human rights standards; or

call for efforts to promote a continent-wide approach to counter-terrorism.

Council and Wider Dynamics

Council members share concerns about the spread of terrorism and organised crime in Africa, including previously unaffected regions, and its impact on civilians. However, since most members in principle do not consider UN political missions, good office engagements and peacekeeping operations to be appropriate for conducting counter-terrorism activities, they may be interested in exploring what the A3 (Gabon, Ghana and Kenya) may suggest in this context. The question of how to provide more adequate, sustainable, and predictable financing for African counter-terrorism operations, such as the FC-G5S, has also proven divisive for Council members over the years, particularly in relation to the possible use of assessed contributions to fund such operations.

The spread of terrorism in Africa was also an issue during the negotiations concerning the renewal of the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL and Al-Qaeda sanctions regime in December 2021. It seems that the zero draft of the resolution proposed by the US, the penholder on the file, suggested directing the 1267/1989/2253 Monitoring Team to submit a standalone report regarding ISILs activities in Africa to the 1267/1989/2253 Sanctions Committee. Russia opposed this change on the basis that it would overlap with the Monitoring Teams existing reporting requirements. The amendment was also opposed by the then A3 plus one (Kenya, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tunisia). In an attempt to find compromise, a revised draft of the resolution instead directed the Monitoring Team to incorporate information regarding ISIL in Africa in its existing reports. It appears this was also not acceptable to the A3 plus one, and the resolution does not contain an additional reporting requirement on ISIL in Africa.

UN DOCUMENTS ON COUNTER-TERRORISM

This resolution renewed and updated the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Daesh) & Al-Qaida sanctions regime. This presidential statement was adopted during a debate entitled Countering terrorism and extremism in Africa under the agenda item Peace and security in Africa, a signature event of Chinas Council presidency. This was the Secretary-Generals 15th report on the threat posed by ISIL/Daesh to international peace and security. This contained the 28th report of the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committees Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team.
ASIA

DPRK (North Korea)

Expected Council Action

In November, the Chair of the 1718 Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Mona Juul (Norway), is expected to brief Council members in closed consultations on the 90-day report regarding the Committees work.

Key Recent Developments

Since 25 September, the DPRK has conducted nine tests involving ballistic or cruise missiles. It has now carried out 27 such tests so far this year, a record number.

On 4 October, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) announced that the DPRK had fired a ballistic missile over Japanese territory for the first time since 15 September 2017. The missilewhich was reportedly launched from Mupyong-ri in the northern province of Jagang, near the DPRKs border with Chinatravelled approximately 4,600 kilometres to a height of about 1,000 kilometres and flew directly over northern Japan, prompting the Japanese government to suspend some train services in the region and order residents to evacuate. According to a statement issued by the White House, US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida spoke by phone and jointly condemned the test, describing it as a clear violation of Security Council resolutions and confirming that they will continue to closely coordinate their immediate and longer-term response bilaterally, trilaterally with the ROK, and with the international community.

The following day, on 5 October, the Security Council convened for an open briefing to discuss the DPRKs 4 October missile test. The meeting, which was followed by closed consultations, was requested by Albania, France, Ireland, Norway, the UK, and the US. Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific Mohamed Khaled Khiari briefed. Japan and the ROK participated under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure. It seems that the US circulated a draft press statement ahead of the meeting that condemned the 4 October test and encouraged efforts to engage in dialogue, among other matters. While the majority of Council members appeared to support the draft statement, it was not issued because of opposition from China and Russia.

The latest round of tests began two days after a US aircraft carrier arrived in the ROK for joint drills with the ROK military for the first time in four years. Shortly after the tests began, US Vice President Kamala Harris was scheduled to meet ROK President Yoon Suk-yeol and visit the demilitarised zone (DMZ). In a 29 September speech delivered after her tour of the DMZ, Harris said that the commitment of the [US] to the defence of the [ROK] is ironclad and that the US will do everything in our power to ensure that it has meaning  includ[ing] our extended deterrence commitment which is supported by the full range of US military capabilities. The tests have also prompted the ROK and the US to impose fresh sanctions on the DPRK, while Japan has flagged its intention to do the same.

Japan, the ROK and the US have engaged in a series of joint military exercises in recent weeks, including real-world day and night manoeuvres simulated to counter [the DPRKs] nuclear, missile and other various threats. The DPRK has appeared to use these drills to justify its latest missile tests, reportedly describing the tests as a normal, planned self-defence measure to protect our countrys security and regional peace from direct US military threats. It has also responded to the exercises with military action of its own, including by firing artillery shells into a buffer zone established by a 2018 inter-Korean agreement designed to reduce military tensions and by conducting further missile tests.

On 10 October, DPRK state media claimed that its latest missile tests were designed to simulate a nuclear attack on the ROK and involved tactical nuclear operation units, which demonstrated that its nuclear combat forces are ready to hit and wipe out the set objects at the intended places in the set time.

The DPRKs recent missile tests are the latest of several developments that have escalated tensions on the Korean peninsula. In a speech delivered on the ROKs National Liberation Day (15 August), Yoon offered to provide the DPRK with different forms of aid, including a large-scale food programme and assistance with infrastructure projects, if the DPRK agrees to take steps toward denuclearisation. In a 19 August statement responding to Yoons proposal, Kim Yo-jong, DPRK leader Kim Jong-uns sister, reportedly said that it would have been more favourable for his image to shut his mouth, rather than talking nonsense.

Several weeks later, on 9 September, the Supreme Peoples Assembly, the DPRK legislature, passed legislation that appears to authorise a pre-emptive nuclear strike in certain circumstances, including when an imminent attack against important strategic objects or the DPRKs leadership is detected. The legislation also describes the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state and provides that a nuclear strike will be launched automatically and immediately if the command-and-control system over the state nuclear forces is placed in danger.

On 28 September, two ROK parliamentarians who received a briefing from the ROK intelligence services regarding a possible nuclear test by the DPRK spoke to reporters. The legislators said that they were told that the DPRK had completed its preparations for a nuclear test and that it might be carried out between 16 October and 7 November.

After initial discussions in the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee, the midterm report of the Panel of Experts was issued on 7 September. Among other matters, the report describes continued violations of the sanctions imposed by the Council. The Panel noted that illicit imports of oil and exports of coal continued, and found that the same entities, networks and vessels have used the same methodologies in the same places to evade sanctions. The report also observed that the DPRKs cyberactivity remains a problem, with two major cyberattacks taking place so far this year, leading to the theft of cryptocurrency assets worth hundreds of millions of US dollars. The Panel referred to reports by UN agencies of a continuing humanitarian crisis and concluded that there is little doubt that UN sanctions have unintentionally affected the humanitarian situation. The report also confirmed that the DPRK has made preparations at its nuclear test site.

Key Issues and Options

The record number of missile tests conducted by the DPRK in 2022 have created a significant issue for the Council. Sanctions evasion is another important issue, as is the overall effectiveness of the sanctions regime, particularly given that the DPRK is widely believed to have increased its nuclear arsenal since the regime was introduced in 2006 and has shown little inclination to scale back its weapons programmes. The DPRKs ongoing refusal to engage in dialogue and the humanitarian situation in the country are also problems for the Council to consider.

In light of these issues, the Council could issue a product that condemns the recent missile tests, urges member states to comply with existing Council resolutions and calls on the DPRK to return to the negotiating table. Council members may also wish to consider convening an informal interactive dialogue with humanitarian actors providing assistance to the DPRK, with a view to better understanding the humanitarian problems facing the country.

The dire human rights situation in the DPRK remains an issue. Every December from 2014 to 2017, the Council held an open briefing with the High Commissioner for Human Rights on this topic. Although the Council has not held an open meeting on this issue since December 2017, convening such a meeting before the end of 2022 is an option for the Council. Council members discussed the human rights situation in the DPRK under any other business in December 2020 and December 2021.

Human Rights-Related Developments

On 2 September, the new special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK, Elizabeth Salmon, released a statement during her first official visit to the ROK from 29 August to 3 September. Salmon, who assumed this position on 1 August, said that a priority during her mandate would be to take a victims-centred approach. She highlighted several concerns around food and health, women and girls, and separated families, and said she would seek engagement opportunities with the DPRK authorities through concrete issues such as women and girls rights.

Council Dynamics

The Council remains sharply divided over the DPRK. The P3 (France, the UK and the US), along with other like-minded members, regularly condemn its ballistic missile tests and argue that they violate Council resolutions and destabilise the Korean peninsula. These members are generally supportive of using sanctions to manage the threat posed by the DPRK and often urge the country to engage in dialogue and abandon its weapons programmes while emphasising that it is responsible for raising tensions in the region.

China and Russia, on the other hand, blame the US for escalating the situation and accuse it of not doing enough to incentivise the DPRK to participate in denuclearisation talks. China and Russia have also contended that sanctions should be eased because of their impact on the humanitarian situation and continue to express their support for a draft resolution circulated by China in October 2021 that would provide sanctions relief to the DPRK if adopted. Other Council members, including Brazil, Kenya, Mexico, and Gabon, have expressed apparent concerns about the overall efficacy of the 1718 DPRK sanctions regime.

UN DOCUMENTS ON THE DPRK

This resolution extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee until 30 April 2023. This was the midterm report of the 1718 Panel of Experts.
Group of Five for the Sahel

Expected Council Action

In November, the Council is expected to hold its bi-annual briefing and consultations on the counter-terrorism Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (FC-G5S) that Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger (G5 Sahel) established in 2017. Expected briefers are Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and and Peace Operations Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, and G5 Sahel Executive Secretary Eric Tiare.

Key Recent Developments

The security situation in the Sahel remains dire and Sahel-based terrorist groups increasingly threaten northern parts of coastal West African countries. Moreover, political instability in several Sahelian countries and tensions between Mali and its neighbours have undermined cooperation among the G5 Sahel countries.

On 15 May, Malis military-led government, which came to power following coups detat in August 2020 and May 2021, announced that it was withdrawing from all G5 Sahel institutions, including the FC-G5S. According to the authorities, the decision came after some G5 members blocked Mali from assuming the groups rotating presidency, which Mali was scheduled to take up in February. Chads transitional President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno issued a statement on 19 May as the G5 Sahel president, affirming his commitment to do everything to preserve the unity and cohesion of the FC-G5S and encouraging Mali to reconsider its decision. On 14 June, Mali officially terminated its participation in the FC-G5S. On 30 June, the headquarters of the FC-G5S relocated from the Malian capital Bamako to Chads capital, NDjamena.

The security landscape in the Sahel continues to evolve. On 15 August, France completed the withdrawal from Mali of its regional counter-terrorism force, Operation Barkhane. French forces had been in Mali since intervening in January 2013 to oppose jihadist militants, who had seized control of the northern half of the country in 2012. But relations between France and Mali steadily worsened following the May 2021 coup detat. France announced in February that Barkhane would leave Mali shortly after the Russian private security company, the Wagner Group, reportedly deployed to the country to partner with the Malian defence and security forces in counter-terrorism operations. While the UN has reported some gains against terrorist groups during these operations, it has also noted, as have several human rights organisations, a significant rise in alleged human rights violations by security forces.

This year has also been marked by strained relations between Mali and the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). Restrictions on MINUSMAs freedom of movement to conduct flights and patrols (often in areas of counter-terrorism operations), to rotate mission personnel, and to monitor and help investigate violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law have called into question the peacekeeping operations ability to carry out its mandate.

Burkina Faso experienced its second coup detat in nine months when on 30 September, soldiers led by Captain Ibrahim Traore announced that they had overthrown transition President Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. Damiba came to power after leading a coup detat in January amid growing public anger over the governments handling of the jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso. Since the January coup, however, the security situation has continued to deteriorate. On 27 September, Islamist militants ambushed a 150-vehicle convoy that was seeking to supply the besieged city of Djibo. Eleven soldiers were killed and 50 civilians were missing, according to authorities; this ambush appeared to trigger the coup against Damiba.

Initially, there was some uncertainty as to whether the coup would succeed. After Traore claimed on 1 October that France was protecting Damiba at a military basewhich France deniedprotesters attacked the French embassy in Ouagadougou and pillaged other sites linked to France. On 2 October, Damiba resigned in exchange for assurances that the new junta would not harm him or loyalist soldiers and would respect commitments to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore constitutional order by July 2024.

Both ECOWAS and the AU issued initial statements through their respective chairpersons, Omar Alieu Touray and Moussa Faki, that condemned the coup, as did UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. On 4 October, an ECOWAS delegationled by the former President of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, as the ECOWAS mediator to Burkina Fasomet in Ouagadougou with Traore, who promised to maintain the transition timeline for restoring civilian rule. Council members issued a press statement on 7 October that expressed serious concern about the unconstitutional change of government and their support for regional and continental mediation efforts.

Chad is also conducting a political transition. On 20 October, more than sixty people were killed as police repressed protests against recent decisions made at the National Dialogue Conference to extend the transition by two years and allow transition president Mahamat Idriss Deby to stand as a candidate in elections.

Against this backdrop, the humanitarian situation continues to be dire, especially in the central Sahel. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths concluded a mission on 20 October to Burkina Faso, where he discussed the situation with Traore. In Burkina Faso, more than 4.9 million people need emergency assistance, a 40 percent increase since January, and there are more than 1.5 million displaced persons. As at 10 October, the Burkina Faso humanitarian response plan (HRP) was thirty percent funded, having received $241 million of the $805 million required.

The UN, the AU, ECOWAS, and the G5 Sahel are undertaking a Joint Strategic Assessment (JSA) on the Sahel. On 22 September, during the General Assemblys high-level week, the Independent High-Level Panel on Security and Development that is conducting this assessment was formally launched. Chaired by former President Issoufou, the panel is expected to assess the peace and security challenges facing the Sahel and make recommendations about how to improve joint and coordinated regional and international responses. The panels findings will be presented during the 36th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government in February 2023.

Key Issues and Options

Malis withdrawal from the G5 Sahel has been a major setback for the FC-G5S. Key issues are how to strengthen support for and cooperation among G5 Sahel countries in the FC-G5S, given Malis departure, and to encourage Mali to return to the force.

With the setbacks to the FC-G5S and the evolving security situation, another issue is how to support other existing initiatives combatting terrorism and transnational organised crime in West Africa and the Sahel. These initiatives include the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) fighting Boko Haram-affiliated groups in the Lake Chad basin, the Accra Initiative, the Nouakchott Process, and the ECOWAS Priority Action Plan on the eradication of terrorism.

Additionally, tackling structural drivers of instability in the Sahel, such as weak governance, under-development and climate change, is a key issue. Multiple strategies have been developed since 2013 in this regard, including the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel and the G5 Sahel Priority Investment Plan.

Several critical assessments are being conducted which, upon their completion early next year, are likely to guide further Council decisions regarding the region. These include the Joint Strategic Assessment and an internal UN review of MINUSMA, which is expected to be submitted to the Council by 13 January 2023 and will include analysis of the political and security challenges affecting the missions ability to implement its mandate. Until then, including during the upcoming November briefing, Council members may encourage better cooperation between regional and international actors to combat terrorist groups and stress the equal importance of addressing the root causes of the regions instability to complement security responses. Members may further highlight the need for donors to contribute to the regions humanitarian needs.

Council Dynamics

Previously, Council discussion on the FC-G5S revolved around whether to authorise a UN office to provide logistical support and more predictable funding, with members being divided over the issue. This, however, has been sidelined amid the divisions that have developed among G5 Sahel countries. Uncertainty about the future of the FC-G5S and the expanding presence of terrorist groups towards littoral West African states have also caused members to focus more on other security initiatives. Russias entry into the Sahel through the provision of military assistance to Mali and the deployment of the Wagner Group has further polarised discussion on the region in the Council. Western Council members have condemned Malis cooperation with the Wagner Group, while popular demonstrations in Burkina Faso have called for Russian intervention. While France has withdrawn Barkhane from Mali, it has strengthened its presence in neighbouring Niger, and says it remains engaged in the Sahel, Gulf of Guinea and Lake Chad region.

France has served as the penholder on the FC-G5S. The African Council members (the A3, consisting of Gabon, Ghana and Kenya) have been the penholders this year on Council press statements on Burkina Faso.

UN DOCUMENTS ON THE SAHEL

This was a briefing on the G5 Sahel Joint Force with ASG for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations Martha Pobee, Executive Secretary of the G5 Sahel Eric Tiare, and civil society representative Solange Bandiaky-Badji, Coordinator and President of the Rights and Resources Initiative. This press statement expressed serious concern about the unconstitutional change of government in Burkina Faso.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Trade relations between Iran and Armenia have witnessed a 43% growth in recent months, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said during the meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Tehran, adding that the goal is to increase trade relations up to $3 billion, Mehr news agency reports.

Photos by Gevorg Perkuperkyan

Undoubtedly, the visit of the Prime Minister of Armenia to the Islamic Republic of Iran will be a turning point in the development of the two countries, the Iranian President said.

Saying that the neighborliness policy is one of the policies emphasized by the Iranian government, he added that holding such bilateral meetings for the development of economic, trade, and security relations between Iran and Armenia are on the agenda.

Our goal is to increase trade relations up to three billion dollars, which can be achieved with the will of the two countries, he added.

Raeisi underlined that good relations between the two countries will definitely lead to better relations in the region and the world.

He stated that the Caucasus region is a part of Iran's history, civilization, and culture, adding that the developments, security, and peace in the Caucasus region are very important for Iran.

Emphasizing that regional problems should be resolved by regional actors, he stressed, Any kind of interference by foreigners in the region will create problems instead of solving the problem.
THEMATIC ISSUES

Gulf of Guinea Piracy

Expected Council Action

In November, the Security Council is expected to hold a briefing on piracy in the Gulf of Guinea to consider the Secretary-Generals report on Gulf of Guinea piracy pursuant to resolution 2634 of 31 May. Representatives of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the Gulf of Guinea Commission, and civil society are expected to brief.

Background and Recent Developments

In recent years, the Gulf of Guinea has been labelled the worlds hotspot for piracy. In 2020, over forty percent of reported piracy incidents occurred in the Gulf of Guinea (81 incidents out of 195 globally), according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). Moreover, since 2019 the Gulf of Guinea has experienced an unprecedented rise in the number of crew kidnappings. In 2020, 130 crew members were kidnapped in 22 separate incidents, accounting for over 95% of the worlds kidnapped seafarers. A December 2021 study by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the non-profit Stable Seas estimated that ransom payments to Gulf of Guinea pirate gangs generated approximately $5 million annually. Especially significant, according to the study, were piracys effects on trade, with direct and indirect costs estimated at $1.925 billion annually for twelve Gulf of Guinea countries.

The situation has shown possible signs of improvement. Piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea declined from 81 in 2020 to 34 in 2021. Kidnappings also fell to 57 last year, though the Gulf of Guinea nonetheless accounted for all kidnappings at sea worldwide in 2021. The IMB attributed the improvement to the increased presence of international naval vessels and cooperation with regional authorities. In the first six months of 2022, there were 12 reported piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea and no crew kidnappings. Despite the declining incidents, the IMB has cautioned that the threat in the Gulf of Guinea remains, highlighting an incident in early April of a Panamax bulk carrier that was attacked and boarded by pirates 260 nautical miles off the coast of Ghana. The ship and crew were saved by an Italian navy warship and its helicopter that quickly intervened after regional authorities and international warships were alerted to the situation.

The threat of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea prompted Ghana and Norway to initiate negotiations this past January on a Council resolution on the issue, seeking to renew attention to and mobilise greater support for regional and national efforts to tackle the challenge. Prior to the adoption of resolution 2634 on 31 May, more than ten years had passed since the Councils last resolution on Gulf of Guinea piracy, resolution 2039 of 29 February 2012. It has also been nearly six years since the Councils last dedicated meeting on this subject in April 2016.

Resolution 2634 expresses the Councils deep concern about the grave and persistent threat posed by piracy, armed robbery and transnational organised crime in the Gulf of Guinea to international navigation, security and the sustainable development of regional states. The resolution called on states in the region to criminalise and prosecute acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea under their domestic laws, and emphasised the need to enhance and support national, regional, and international efforts to counter piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea. It further requested a Secretary-Generals report on Gulf of Guinea piracy within five months, including analysis on any possible and potential linkages with terrorism in West and Central Africa and the Sahel. The report should be issued by 31 October, ahead of next months meeting.

The Yaounde Code of Conduct, signed by 25 West and Central African countries at the heads of state summit in 2013, is the main maritime security architecture to address the problem of piracy in the region. Regional centres have been established through this framework for information sharing and pooling resources, though funding has been a persistent problem in operationalising the framework. These centres include the Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC) in Yaounde, Cameroon; the Regional Centre for Maritime Security of West Africa (CRESMAO) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast; and the Regional Centre for Maritime Security of Central Africa (CRESMAC) in Pointe-Noire, Congo. Multinational Maritime Coordination Centres (MMCCs) or zonal centres have also been set up, including in Douala, covering Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon; Cotonou, covering Nigeria, Benin, and Togo; and Accra, covering Ghana, Cote dIvoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. Plans also exist for MMCCs in Luanda, covering Angola, Congo, and DRC and in Praia, covering Guinea Bissau, Senegal, The Gambia and Cape Verde.

Other more recent initiatives include Nigerias Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, also known as the Deep Blue Project, which was launched in June 2021. The country has invested $195 million towards vessels, maritime domain awareness platforms, and land and sea assets, which includes a maritime security unit made up of 600 specially trained troops. Several non-regional countries have also increased the deployment of naval vessels to conduct anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Guinea, including Denmark and the UK in October 2021.

Key Issues and Options

One key issue is the need to maintain attention to Gulf of Guinea piracy. The session will provide an opportunity to do so. There is concern that the recent decline in piracy incidents could be reversed without sustained engagement. Related to this is the need to build momentum for expected events next year to recognise the ten-year anniversary of the Yaounde Architecture. In this regard, considering how to support regional initiatives financially and logistically will also be a key issue.

Another major issue is assessing the possible links between Sahel-based terrorist groups and Gulf of Guinea pirates. Former Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office of West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) Mahamat Saleh Annadif, briefing the Council in July 2021, asserted in reference to piracy in the Gulf of Guinea that the risks of a confluence between the threat coming from the sea and that coming from the Sahel are real. Addressing the socioeconomic challenges in Gulf of Guinea countries that contribute to piracy is also a critical issue.

Possible Council follow-up action is likely to depend on the recommendations made in the forthcoming Secretary-Generals report. Members could issue a press statement that welcomes recent progress towards tackling Gulf of Guinea piracy, reiterates calls for regional states to criminalise and prosecute acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea under their domestic laws, and stresses the importance of sustained and enhanced national, regional and international efforts and cooperation.

Council Dynamics

The issue of countering piracy in the Gulf of Guinea is important for Ghana, and was one of the priorities of its president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during his recently concluded chairmanship of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Council members Brazil, France, Gabon, Ghana, India, Norway, the UK, and the US are members of the G7++ Group of Friends of the Gulf of Guinea (FOGG), which supports the implementation of the Yaounde Code of Conduct.

Negotiations on resolution 2634 were drawn out, but not because of notable differences between members over how to address Gulf of Guinea piracy. Instead, the main dispute was over how to refer to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Over the past year, the UNCLOS has become a sensitive issue during discussions related to maritime security, which stems from Chinas claims in the South China Sea. In negotiations on resolution 2634, China sought language providing a narrower interpretation of UNCLOS jurisdiction and universality than was acceptable to most members. Eventually, after five months, an agreement on the text was reached. China initiated the Councils last meeting on Gulf of Guinea piracy in April 2016, when the Council adopted a presidential statement on the issue.

Ghana and Norway were co-penholders on resolution 2634.

UN DOCUMENTS ON GULF OF GUINEA PIRACY

This resolution was on piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea. Welcomed the Secretary-Generals assessment mission on piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and called on states to implement its recommendations. This was a presidential statement which encouraged regional states, regional organisations and international partners to make fully operational the Gulf of Guinea counter-piracy mechanisms as soon as possible. This presidential statement regarding piracy in the Gulf of Guinea welcomed the summit on maritime safety and security and stressed the importance of regional coordination for counter-piracy efforts. This contained the explanation of votes on resolution 2634 on Gulf of Guinea piracy. This was an open debate on piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. This letter contained the record of briefing and statements from a August videoconference open debate on maritime security.
MIDDLE EAST

Lebanon

Expected Council Action

In November, Security Council members expect to receive a briefing in consultations on the Secretary-Generals report on the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006), which called for a cessation of hostilities between the Shia group Hezbollah and Israel. Briefings are expected from Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka and a senior official from the Department of Peace Operations, possibly Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix.

Key Recent Developments

Over five months since the 15 May legislative elections, Lebanon remains without a government, as caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Lebanese President Michel Aoun have so far failed to reach an agreement on the composition of the cabinet.

At the time of writing, Aouns presidential term was set to expire on 31 October, and no candidate had received the requisite parliamentary support to replace him. (The Lebanese president is elected by the Parliament and, according to Lebanons power-sharing arrangement, must be a Maronite Christian, while the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim and the parliamentary speaker a Shia Muslim.)

In a 5 October statement, the International Support Group for Lebanon (ISG)which consists of the Arab League, the EU, the UN, China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, the UK and the USemphasised the importance of electing a new president who could unite the Lebanese people and work with all regional and international actors to overcome the economic and humanitarian crisis for the greater public good. It referred to the importance of an empowered new governmentthat can implementdirely needed reforms.

With Lebanon mired in an economic crisis, the government has continued efforts to meet the conditions to finalise a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) worth around $3 billion that was tentatively agreed upon in April. After months of deliberations, the Lebanese Parliament adopted the 2022 state budget on 26 September, and on 18 October, the Parliament approved some revisions to a banking secrecy law. The adoption of the budget and the lifting of banking secrecy are among the IMFs conditions for releasing the funds. The IMF has made unlocking the funds contingent on other conditions as well, including the implementation of capital controls, external public debt restructuring, and stronger provisions against money laundering. To date, the measures the government has taken have not been sufficient to release the funds.

Following several months of negotiations, Lebanon and Israel reached an agreement on the demarcation of their maritime border in the Mediterranean Sea. The negotiation process concluded on 27 October with the handing over by Israel and Lebanon of separate letters to US Department of State Senior Advisor for Energy Security Amos Hochstein, who mediated the indirect talks between Israel and Lebanon that led to the agreement. UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka received the coordinates of the maritime border from Lebanon and Israel that will be deposited at the UN in New York.

According to the deal, Israel will maintain full control over the Karish gas field, while Lebanon will have control over the Qana gas field. However, Israel will be entitled to a percentage of revenues that French oil company TotalEnergies derives from its exploration of the part of Qana field on the Israeli side of the maritime border, known as Line 23. In a 13 October statement, the Secretary-General welcomed the announcement of the agreement, calling it an encouraging development [that] can promote increased stability in the region and enhanced prosperity for the Lebanese and Israeli peoples. On 19 October, Security Council members also issued a press statement in which they commended the announcements that Lebanon and Israel have agreed to end their dispute over their maritime boundary and delineate it permanently.

There are currently 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, which has the highest per capita ratio of Syrian refugees in the world. On 12 October, Lebanese President Michel Aoun announced that his country would soon begin sending Syrian refugees back to their country of origin. The Secretary-Generals 11 October report noted that the assessment of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is that the relevant conditions for safe and sustainable return have not yet been met in the Syrian Arab Republic. In response to a question at the 12 October press briefing, Spokesperson for Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric recognised Lebanons generosity to Syrian refugees since the start of the Syrian conflict but also noted that [a]ll returns should be voluntary and done in dignity, with people returning to safe places.

On 19 October, Council members received their semi-annual briefing in consultations on the Secretary-Generals report on the implementation of resolution 1559. Adopted in 2004, the resolution called for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon, the disarmament of all militias, and the extension of government control over the whole Lebanese territory. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, briefing the Council, told members that Hezbollah continues to strengthen its capacities and that Israel continues to violate Lebanons sovereignty and territorial integrity. In this regard, the Secretary-Generals report expressed concern about Hezbollahs maintenance of sizeable and sophisticated military capabilities outside of the Lebanese governments control and called on Israel to withdraw its forces from the northern part of the village of Ghajar and the adjacent area north of the Blue Line and to immediately cease its overflights above Lebanese airspace. (The Blue Line, or the Line of Withdrawal, was identified in 2000 by the UN to confirm the withdrawal of Israel Defence Forces from Lebanese territory in accordance with resolution 425 of 19 March 1978, which called for strict respect for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon.)

Key Issues and Options

The delayed presidential election (and a possible power vacuum) is a potential issue for the Council that could exacerbate political instability and delay much needed reforms.

The substantial amount of weaponry held by Hezbollah and Israels violations of Lebanons territorial integrity and sovereignty remain ongoing issues for the Council.

One option is for the Council to issue a statement that:

urges the Lebanese Parliament to elect a new president and calls for the formation of a new government;

encourages reforms to promote socioeconomic stability;

underscores the importance of non-refoulement of Syrian refugees currently in Lebanon; and

emphasises the need for the parties to adhere to resolutions 1559 and 1701.

Another option would be to hold a private meeting with Lebanon and other countries in the region to discuss strategies to address the challenges of hosting refugees from Syria. (A private meeting is a closed formal meeting of the Security Council that allows persons other than Council diplomats and Secretariat officials to participate.)

Council Dynamics

There is consensus among Council members in support of Lebanons sovereignty, territorial integrity and security. Although more contentious than in 2021, the negotiations on resolution 2650 renewing the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in August showed that consensus still exists among Council members on the missions core mandate or, at least, that members are willing to find compromises to retain this consensus even where their views do not necessarily align.

Council members broadly agree on the need for the Lebanese government to carry out reforms to overcome the socioeconomic crisis. A number of members also emphasise the need to ensure that Syrian refugees in Lebanon who choose to return to Syria do so in ways consistent with the principle of non-refoulement.

Marked differences remain among members regarding Hezbollah. Russia sees Hezbollah as a legitimate socio-political force in Lebanon. In contrast, the UK and the US see Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation and a source of instability. During the negotiations on resolution 2650, the United Arab Emirates broke silence to demand the inclusion of stronger language condemning the possession of weapons by armed groups outside the states control, a request that was accommodated by the penholder, France.

Russia has also suggested that merging the reporting on resolutions 1559 and 1701 would be a more economical use of the Councils time.

UN DOCUMENTS ON LEBANON

This resolution extended the mandate of UNIFIL for another year until 31 August 2023. This was the most recent Secretary-Generals report on the implementation of resolution 1559. This was a press statement commending the announcement that Lebanon and Israel have agreed to end their dispute over their maritime boundary.
AFRICA

Libya

Expected Council Action

In November, the Security Council will receive the semi-annual briefing of the ICC Prosecutor, Karim Asad Ahmad Khan, on the ICCs Libya-related activities.

Background and Key Recent Developments

Libya is not a state party to the Rome Statute of the ICC. The Security Council referred the situation in Libya to the ICC through the unanimous adoption of resolution 1970 on 26 February 2011, which invited the ICC Prosecutor to update it every six months. The ICC has jurisdiction over crimes listed in the Rome Statute committed on the territory of Libya or by its nationals from 15 February 2011 onwards. The ICC opened investigations in March 2011 related to alleged crimes against humanity, including murder, imprisonment, torture, persecution, and other inhumane acts; and war crimes, including murder, torture, cruel treatment, and outrages upon personal dignity. Three outstanding arrest warrants pertaining to Libya are currently before the Court. One is for Saif al-Islam Qaddafi, the son of deposed Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi. In November 2021, Saif al-Gaddafi, who is sought on two counts of alleged crimes against humanity, announced he would be a candidate in the Libyan presidential elections that were scheduled for 24 December 2021 but have yet to be held.

Khan last briefed the Council on the Courts work in Libya on 28 April, during which he outlined a renewed investigative strategy involving the allocation of additional resources, increased engagement with those affected by alleged crimes in Libya, and more effective cooperation with Libyan authorities. Among other things, he highlighted an increased need to focus on certain areas, specifically financial investigations and tracking, sexual and gender-based crimes, and crimes affecting children. He also referred to the need for better and closer engagement with the Libyan authorities, including agreeing on a memorandum of understanding, and expressed his intention to visit Libya.

From 20 to 23 June, the Deputy Prosecutor of the ICC, Nazhat Shameem Khan, conducted a visit to Tripoli to convey the commitment of the Office of the Prosecutor to a renewed strategy for action in relation to the situation in Libya, as Khan had outlined during his briefing to the Council. On 7 September, the Office of the Prosecutor formally became a member of the Joint Team supporting investigations into crimes against migrants and refugees in Libya, joining relevant national authorities from Italy, the Netherlands, the UK and Spain and supported by the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol).

On 14 October, the Special Representative for Libya and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Abdoulaye Bathily, arrived in Tripoli following his appointment in September. In a statement that day, he said that his priority is to identify a consensual pathway towards the holding of inclusive and credible national elections, which should be held as soon as possible on a solid constitutional framework.

On 24 October, Bathily briefed the Council saying, among other things, that the Council must stress to Libyan actors the need to work together towards elections (For more, see our Whats in Blue story of 21 October.) On 28 October, the Council adopted a resolution renewing the mandate of UNSMIL for one year. (For more, see our Whats in Blue story of 27 October.)

Human Rights-Related Developments

On 11 October, OHCHR released a report that highlights key human rights risks and protection gaps faced by migrants in Libya in the context of assisted return and reintegration. These include lack of access to pathways for safe and regular migration; lack of free, prior and informed consent; and returns to unsustainable situations. The report contained testimony from some of the 65 migrants who had recently been returned to The Gambia. It made a series of recommendations directed at Libyan authorities, countries of origin, the AU and its member states, the EU and its member states, and UN entities.

Key Issues and Options

An underlying key issue for the Council is how to promote justice and accountability for past atrocities committed in Libya. In addition to receiving Khans briefing, Council members supportive of the ICCs work could consider holding an informal meeting with the prosecutor to facilitate a dialogue on ways in which his Office could strengthen its cooperation with Libya.

In addition to the ICCs pursuit of accountability in Libya, another key issue related to the Councils engagement on this file continues to be the precarious security and political situations linked to Libyas uncertain electoral path. A related concern for the Council will be how to foster common political ground between the countrys two rival governments so they can agree on a constitutional framework to pave the way for Libyas long-delayed elections. Council members could consider holding a closed Arria-formula meeting with Libyan civil society representatives to help generate ideas for promoting dialogue between the rival political factions in Libya and supporting an inclusive political process leading to elections.

Council Dynamics

Council members have reiterated the urgent need for a Libyan-led inclusive political process and the holding of elections. Many members are also concerned about the precarious security situation. The Council is divided on the work of the ICC. Albania, Brazil, France, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, and the UK are states parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC, while China, India, Russia, the UAE, and the US are not. These distinctions, however, do not necessarily reflect how members view the Courts work on Libya. For example, the US, which is not a party to the Rome Statute, is supportive of the ICCs efforts with regard to Libya. Among the wider UN membership, African countries have long expressed concerns about the Courts disproportionate focus on Africa.

At the briefing on 28 April, most Council members expressed their support for the approach outlined by Khan. However, members such as Russia and India were more critical of the role of the Court and the prosecutors strategy. In its statement, the US said that the ICCs work in Libya is a critical element of our shared commitments to accountability, peace and security and with reports of atrocities occurring daily in Ukraine, we see the need to uphold support for international justice mechanisms, including the ICC.

The UK is the penholder on Libya.

UN DOCUMENTS ON LIBYA

This resolution extended UNSMILs mandate until 31 October 2022. This was a briefing by the Prosecutor of the ICC on Libya.
Overview

In November, Ghana will hold the presidency of the Security Council.

Ghana plans to organise two signature events during the month. The first signature event is a ministerial-level open debate on the theme Integrating Effective Resilience-Building in Peace Operations for Sustainable Peace. Ghanas Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey is expected to chair the meeting. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs and Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye, Chair of The Elders Mary Robinson, and Security Council Report Executive Director Karin Landgren are the anticipated briefers.

The second signature event is a debate on Counter-terrorism in Africaan imperative for peace, security, and development. Ghanas President Nana Akufo-Addo is expected to chair the meeting. AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, President of the European Council Charles Michel, and a civil society representative are expected to brief.

In November, the Security Council will hold its annual briefing with the heads of police components of UN peace operations. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix; the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) police commissioner, Christine Fossen; the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) police commissioner, Mody Berethe; and Emma Birikorang, director at the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, are the anticipated briefers.

The Council is also expected to receive its annual briefing from UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi in November.

In addition to the debate on counter-terrorism in Africa, other African issues on the programme of work in November are:

Middle East issues on the programme include:

The Council is expected to meet on two European issues in November. It will hold the semi-annual debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina and reauthorise the EU-led multinational stabilisation force (EUFOR ALTHEA). There are also likely to be one or more meetings on Ukraine.

The only Asian issue planned in November is the consultations on the report of the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee.

The Council is expected to receive a briefing from chairs of the 1267/1989/2253 Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee, the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee and the 1540 Committee. The Council is also expected to renew the mandate of the 1540 Committee.

The Security Council and General Assembly will both hold elections for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in November.

The annual Finnish workshop on Hitting the Ground Running is scheduled to take place on 17-18 November.

Other issues could be raised in November depending on developments.
AFRICA

Somalia

Expected Council Action

In November, the Security Council is expected to renew the 751 Somalia sanctions regime set to expire on 15 November and the mandate of the Panel of Experts supporting the 751 Somalia Sanctions Committee, which expires on 15 December.

Key Recent Developments

The new Somali government has intensified its fight against Al-Shabaab, a terrorist group affiliated with Al-Qaeda that maintains a strong presence in several parts of the country, particularly in southern and central Somalia. The group is said to have acquired sophisticated weaponry, such as commercial drones and armoured suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (SVBIED), to launch attacks, including against the Somali security forces and the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). On 3 October, the group used SVBIED to target a local government office in Beledweyne, Hiraan region that killed 20 people, including senior government officials and two ATMIS soldiers.

In his speech at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud expressed his governments firm resolve to defeat Al-Shabaab. The government is also trying to counter the groups ideology and propaganda by cracking down on its affiliated media outlets and social media platforms. In an 8 October press release, the government announced the criminalisation of the dissemination of terrorist messages and encouraging their act of brutalityby any media or person on social media. Accordingly, it suspended four Al-Shabaab affiliated websites (SomaliMemo, Radio Al-Furqaan, AmiirNuur, and Calamada) and blocked 40 social media pages on Twitter and Facebook.

The AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) is providing support to the ongoing military operations of the Somali security forces and allied forces, which have made significant military gains in removing Al-Shabaab from several villages and towns in Hirshabelle and Galmudug states. ATMIS is also assisting in stabilising liberated areas and safeguarding critical infrastructure. Although the Somali government is expected to make progress in force generation and integration so that ATMIS can gradually draw down and hand over security responsibilities to the Somali security forces, there is concern that delays in implementing the Somali Transition Plan may affect the timeline set out in resolution 2628 of 31 March, which reconfigured the mission from the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to ATMIS. On 31 December, ATMIS is expected to reduce the number of its uniformed personnel by 2,000 (currently, the mission has an authorised strength of 19,626 uniformed personnel).

The severe drought facing Somalia underpins its dire humanitarian situation, with humanitarian actors working against the clock to avert a looming famine. According to OCHA, Famine is projected to unfold in the Bay region of south-central Somalia during October to December if multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance does not urgently reach the people in most need. International partners are said to be scaling up their support for the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan, which calls for $1.4 billion. OCHA says that critical sectors remain underfunded, and needs are growing.

On 31 October, the Security Council renewed the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) for one year with 14 votes in favour and one abstention (China). (For more, see our Whats in Blue story of 30 October.)

Sanctions-Related Developments

The 751 Somalia Sanctions Committee held informal consultations on 7 October to receive a briefing by the Panel of Experts on its final report, which noted, among other things, that Al-Shabaab remains the most immediate threat to the peace, security and stability of Somalia. On 14 October, the committee received briefings from OCHA on challenges in the provision of humanitarian assistance in Somalia and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on maritime security and the countering of terrorism financing in the country. The chair of the committee, Ambassador Fergal Mythen (Ireland), briefed the Council on 19 October, covering the activities carried out by the committee over the previous three months.

Pursuant to resolution 2607 of 15 November 2021, the Secretary-General submitted a technical assessment of Somalias weapons and ammunition management capability on 15 September. The report said that Somalia is on a positive trajectory in its management of weapons and ammunition, noting the important steps the country has taken to implement a National Weapons and Ammunition Management Strategy. However, the report also referred to continued challenges that need to be addressed by the federal government and the federal member states and presented options for benchmarks to assist the Security Council in its consideration of the arms embargo in November.

Key Issues and Options

The key issue for Council members in November is the extension of the 751 Somalia sanctions regime and the mandate renewal of the Panel of Experts. In this regard, they may draw on the findings of the technical assessment and the recommendations contained in the panels final report. Council members may consider how they can support ongoing efforts to fight Al-Shabaab by tightening the sanctions measures to disrupt its financing and to prevent the transfer of electronic items, such as learning code receivers and motorcycle alarms, used in improvised explosive devices. Members may also consider how to support the governments efforts to strengthen its security institutions and improve its ammunition and weapons management.

A possible option for the Council is to extend the sanctions regime and the mandate of the Panel of Experts by one year. In doing so, they are likely to review the exemption provisions to support the Somali security institutions and to establish benchmarks for ammunition and weapons management.

Another important issue is how to address the tensions between Eritrea and Djibouti as this dispute has been referenced in the language on Somalia sanctions for several years. While Eritrea wants language related to the dispute removed from the sanctions resolution, Djibouti would like to see it maintained.

Council Dynamics

Somalia has long called for the lifting of the arms embargo, and the government reiterated this position in its meeting with the technical assessment team. The three African members of the CouncilGabon, Ghana and Kenyahave recently been vocal in their concerns about the adverse effects of sanctions in several contexts. It remains to be seen, however, if they will support Somalias request for the lifting of the arms embargo. In light of the ongoing military operations against Al-Shabaab, they could be supportive of tightening the sanctions measures against the group and the review of the exemptions procedure to assist the Somali government in its efforts to strengthen its security institutions.

Last year, the Council extended the 751 Somalia sanctions regime with two abstentions. China abstained in support of Somalias position on wishing the arms embargo to be lifted, and Russia abstained in relation to the texts reference to the dispute between Djibouti and Eritrea, arguing that the issue no longer posed a threat to regional peace and security and could be handled diplomatically through bilateral engagement.

UN DOCUMENTS ON SOMALIA

This was a technical assessment report on Somalias weapons and ammunition management. This was the Secretary-Generals report on the situation in Somalia covering developments from 1 February to 13 May. This was the briefing by the Chair of the 751 Somalia Sanctions Committee. This was a briefing on the situation in Somalia.
Status Update since our October Forecast

Iraq

On 4 October, the Council convened for a briefing on the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) (S/PV.9145). Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNAMI Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert briefed. Iraq participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure. The briefing was followed by closed consultations.

Peace and Security in Africa: Financing of Armed Groups and Terrorists through Illicit Trafficking of Natural Resources

On 6 October, the Council convened for a debate on Strengthening the fight against the financing of armed groups and terrorists through the illicit trafficking of natural resources under the agenda item Peace and security in Africa (S/PV.9147). The debate was one of the signature events of Gabons presidency and was chaired by Gabonese Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael MoussaAdamo. The briefers were: AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security Bankole Adeoye; Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Ghada Fathi Waly; and Paul Simon Handy, Regional Director for East Africa and Representative of the Institute for Security Studies to the African Union. The Central African Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Morocco, and Senegal participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure.

Burkina Faso

Following the 30 September coup detat in Burkina Faso, Council members issued a press statement on 7 October that expressed serious concern about the unconstitutional change of government (SC/15057). They further expressed their support for regional and continental mediation efforts.

UN-AU Cooperation

On 11 October, the Security Council held its annual debate on cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organisations (S/PV.9149), focusing on the partnership with the African Union (AU). Gabons Foreign Minister Michael Moussa-Adamo chaired the meeting. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat briefed the Council. Egypt, Germany, Japan, Morocco, Namibia, Senegal, and South Africa also participated under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure. During the meeting, Council members considered the annual report of the Secretary-General on strengthening the partnership between the UN and the AU on issues of peace and security in Africa, including the work of the UN Office to the AU (S/2022/643). Gabon circulated a draft presidential statement as a possible outcome of the meeting. At the time of writing, negotiation of the draft text continued.

Climate and Security

On 12 October, the Security Council held a debate on Climate and security in Africa under the Threats to international peace and security agenda item (S/PV.9150). Gabon circulated a concept note in advance of the meeting (S/2022/737). The briefers were: Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee; Tanguy Gahouma-Bekale, Permanent Secretary of the National Climate Council of Gabon and former Chair of the Africa Group of Negotiators on Climate Change; and Patrick Youssef, ICRC Regional Director for Africa. Colombia, Egypt, Germany (on behalf of the Group of Friends on Climate and Security), Italy, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Poland, South Africa, and Ukraine participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure.

Colombia

On 12 October, the Security Council held an open briefing (S/PV.9151), followed by closed consultations, on Colombia. Special Representative and head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia Carlos Ruiz Massieu briefed on recent developments and the Secretary-Generals latest 90-day report on the mission (S/2022/715). The Council was also briefed by Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith (Bangladesh) in his capacity as Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, and by Elizabeth Moreno Barco, Legal Representative of the Community General Council of San Juan, an organisation that defends the rights of Afro-Colombian communities.

On 14 October, Council members issued a press statement on Colombia (SC/15063). In it, they welcomed the commitment expressed by Colombian President Gustavo Petro Urrego to deepen the 2016 peace agreements implementation and seek broader peace with other illegal armed groups. Members expressed concern regarding the pervasive effects of violence on communities, social leaders and former combatants, with a disproportionate impact on women and on indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities. They also reiterated the need to accelerate the implementation of the ethnic and gender provisions of the 2016 agreement.

On 27 October, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2655, renewing the mandate of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia for another year until 31 October 2023. The resolution requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Council within 45 days from the resolutions adoption recommendations on the possible expansion of the missions mandate, in response to a 17 October letter from Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs Alvaro Leyva Duran. In the letter, Leyva Duran requested the Council to expand the missions mandate to include monitoring the implementation of the 2016 peace agreements chapter on comprehensive rural reform and the agreements ethnic chapter.

Western Sahara

On 17 October, Council members held closed consultations to consider the Secretary-Generals annual report on Western Sahara (S/2022/733). The Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy to Western Sahara Staffan de Mistura and the Special Representative and head of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), Alexander Ivanko, briefed. On 27 October, the Council adopted resolution 2655, renewing the mandate of MINURSO until 31 October 2023. The resolution was adopted with 13 votes in favour, while Kenya and Russia abstained.

UNDOF (Golan)

On 17 October, Council members held consultations on the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed.

Haiti

On 17 October, the Security Council held an open briefing (S/PV.9153), followed by closed consultations, on Haiti. Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) Helen La Lime briefed on recent developments and the Secretary-Generals latest regular report on BINUH (S/2022/761). Mexico and the US, the co-penholders on Haiti, requested to move up the regular Council meeting on Haiti, originally scheduled for 21 October, in light of the severity of the conditions on the ground.

On 21 October, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2653, which established a sanctions regime on Haiti, including targeted assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo measures.

At the 17 October Council meeting, the US announced that it will work with Mexico on a resolution that will authorise a non-UN international security assistance mission, which will operate under Chapter VII of the UN Charter and will be led by a partner country with the deep, necessary experience required for such an effort to be effective. This is in response to a 7 October request by the Haitian government and an 8 October Secretary-Generals report (S/2022/747) suggesting that the Council welcome the establishment of a specialised international force. At the time of writing, the penholders have yet to circulate a draft text on the matter.

Mali

On 18 October, the Council held a briefing, followed by closed consultations, to consider the Secretary-Generals quarterly report on Mali (S/2022/731). Special Representative and head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) El-Ghassim Wane briefed (S/PV.9154). On 17 October, Council members issued a press statement (SC/15065) condemning an explosive device attack near Tessalit that killed three UN peacekeepers and wounded three others.

Kosovo

On 18 October, the Council held its second regular briefing this year on the situation in Kosovo (S/PV.9155). Special Representative and head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Caroline Ziadeh briefed on the Secretary-Generals latest UNMIK report (S/2022/739) and recent developments. Nikola Selakovic, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia, and Donika Gervalla-Schwarz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo, also addressed the Council. The discussion mainly focused on the need for continued dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, facilitated by the EU, as well as tensions in northern Kosovo and along the Kosovo-Serbia border over the issue of license plates.

Women, Peace and Security

On 20 October, the Security Council held its annual open debate on women, peace and security (S/PV.9158). The title for this years open debate was: Strengthening womens resilience and leadership as a path to peace in regions plagued by armed groups. The briefers were: UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed; UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous; Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security of the Chairperson of the AU Commission Bineta Diop; and Editor-in-Chief of Zan Times Zahra Nader.

Ethiopia

On 21 October, the Security Council convened a private meeting on the situation in Ethiopia under the Peace and Security in Africa agenda item (S/PV.9160). The meeting was requested by the A3 members of the Council (Gabon, Ghana and Kenya). OCHA Director of Operations and Advocacy Ghada Eltahir Mudawi and AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa Olusegun Obasanjo briefed. Ethiopia participated in the meeting. Following the private meeting, Council members held consultations to discuss the possibility of issuing press elements proposed by the A3. However, it appears that China and Russia opposed this proposal, and an outcome was not issued following the meeting.

Afghanistan

On 24 October, Security Council members held a closed Arria-formula meeting titled Engaging Afghanistan. The meeting was organised by Norway, the penholder on the file, and took place at Norways permanent mission to the UN in New York. The briefers were: Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Roza Otunbayeva; Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan Ramiz Alakbarov; Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (Political) Markus Potzel; and Afghan womens rights activist Fatima Gailani. Participation was limited to current and incoming Council members. The meeting was not recorded, and no summary was prepared.

Great Lakes Region

On 26 October, the Security Council held its semi-annual briefing and consultations on the Great Lakes region (S/PV.9165). Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region Huang Xia briefed on developments in the region based on the Secretary-Generals latest report on the implementation of the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework (PSC Framework) for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes Region (S/2022/735). Some regional countriesBurundi, South Africa and Rwandaalso participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure.

Maintenance of International Peace and Security

On 26 October, the Council convened for an open briefing under the agenda item Maintenance of international peace and security (S/PV.9167). The meeting was requested by Russia in response to letters sent to the Council by France, Germany, the UK, and the US arguing that Irans reported transfer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Russia contravenes resolution 2231 of 20 July 2015, which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Irans nuclear programme. In requesting the meeting, Russia apparently cited alleged risks to the integrity of the UN Charter, to the Organisation and the ability of the Security Council to perform its main function posed by the attempts of certain member states to influence the UN Secretariat in the discharge of its responsibilities in violation of Article 100 of the UN Charter. Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel Miguel de Serpa Soares briefed. Iran and Ukraine participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure.

Council members also discussed the issue of alleged arms transfers from Iran to Russia under any other business on 19 October at the request of France, the UK and the US. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the meeting.

The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question

On 28 October, the Security Council held its quarterly open debate on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (S/PV.9174). Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland briefed.

Sudan

On 27 October, Council members held a meeting on Sudan under any other business to discuss the violence in West Kordofan and Blue Nile. Special Representative and head of UNITAMS Volker Perthes briefed. At the time of writing, a press statement was a possible outcome.

Belarus

On 31 October, the Security Council convened for a briefing on the 23 May 2021 forced landing, by Belarus, of Ryanair flight 4978, under the Threats to international peace and security agenda item. Albania, France, the UK, and the US called for the meeting after the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly adopted a resolution on 7 October condemning Belarus actions. President of the ICAO Council Salvatore Sciacchitano briefed the Council on the findings of an ICAO investigation into the incident. At the meeting, Council members expressed sharply divided positions. The European Council members and the US condemned Belarus for violating international aviation law. They noted that the 23 May 2021 incident, which involved the arrest of a dissident journalist and his partner, is symptomatic of the Belarusian governments repression of fundamental human rights, including the freedom of expression. Some members, such as Albania and Ireland, also referenced Belarus support for Russia in its war against Ukraine. Russia, for its part, cast doubts regarding the ICAOs impartiality and argued that the Council members who convened the meeting did so for political reasons. China also questioned the appropriateness of the meeting and said that such issues should be addressed without geopolitical considerations.
AFRICA

Sudan/South Sudan

Expected Council Action

In November, the Council expects to renew the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). The Council is also expected to extend the missions support for the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM), established in 2011 to conduct monitoring and verification activities along the Sudan-South Sudan border.

The mandate of UNISFA and the missions support for the JBVMM both expire on 15 November.

Background and Key Recent Developments

For more than ten years, the governments of Sudan and South Sudan have made no significant progress in resolving the final status of Abyei, the disputed area along the Sudan-South Sudan border. In this regard, the Secretary-Generals 13 October report, which covers 15 April to 3 October, expresses concern that the parties have not held a meeting of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) since 2017, but welcomes the intention expressed by both countries in June to hold such a meeting in the near future. (The AJOC is designed to provide administrative and political oversight of Abyei and is co-chaired by a Sudanese official and a South Sudanese official.)

According to the Secretary-Generals report, the security situation remained mostly calm, with some incidents of concern, including 19 direct attacks against civilians, which resulted in the death of 28 civilians. During the reporting period, UNISFA troops were attacked on seven occasions. In a 26 September statement, UNISFA expressed alarm over renewed clashes between the Twik and Ngok Dinka communities in Agok in the Sector South area, 28 kilometres from Abyei town. On 14 October, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General said that the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) had expressed grave concern about clashes in the border area between Abyei and Warrap State.

Last year, tensions in the region affected the mission, which included calls from Sudan for the replacement of all Ethiopian troops. (Since the missions establishment in 2011, Ethiopia had been the sole troop-contributing country until recently.) The Secretary-Generals report states that the reconfiguration of UNISFAs military component is approaching completion, including the arrival of 570 troops from Pakistan, 570 troops from Ghana, 77 troops from Nepal, and 184 troops from Viet Nam. Additionally, 307 out of the 570 troops from India arrived, as well as 86 Chinese peacekeepers in the military utility helicopter unit. All 491 troops from Bangladesh serving in the JBVMM have been deployed. As outlined in the Secretary-Generals report, all Ethiopian troops have been repatriated except for a three-person rear party as well as some who have chosen to stay in Sudan.

On 29 September, the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) held a meeting on the political and security situation in the Abyei region and adopted a communique, which among other things, reiterated its call for Sudan and South Sudan to accelerate the implementation of the 2011 Agreement on Temporary Security and Administrative Arrangements for the Abyei Administrative Area, particularly in finalising the establishment of the Abyei Area Administration, the Abyei Area Council, and the Abyei Police Service. The communique also expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation and decided that the AU PSC will undertake a field mission to Abyei, although a date was not specified.

The Council renewed UNISFAs mandate until 15 November with the unanimous adoption of resolution 2630 on 12 May. The resolution did not make any changes to the forces mandate or structure. (For more, see our Whats in Blue story of 11 May.)

The Council was last briefed on Abyei on 27 October by Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee and Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa Hanna Serwaa Tetteh. (For more, see our Whats in Blue story of 26 October.)

Key Issues and Options

A key issue for the Council leading up to UNISFAs renewal in November is what modifications to make, if any, to the mandate and force structure. A likely option is for Council members to consider the findings and recommendations of the Secretary-Generals report on the implementation of UNISFAs mandate, including the recommendation that the mandate be extended for one year. (Since the missions establishment in 2011, the Council has extended the mandate for four- to six-month periods.)

The report provides updates on several long-standing issues, in particular that:

Sudan has not permitted the deployment of 98 out of 148 individual police officers and there has been no progress in the deployment of the three formed police units authorised in resolution 2469 of May 2019;

the civilian deputy head of mission requested in resolution 2469 (2019) has not been appointed

no progress has been made on the usage of the Anthony airstrip, which is crucial for medical evacuation; and

91 visas remain pending for personnel to support the implementation of the missions mandate.

An option would be for the Council to adopt a resolution renewing the missions mandate for one year, without making any changes to the mandate, and demanding progress on the above issues.

Council Dynamics

Council members agree on the important roles that UNISFA and the JBVMM play in support of achieving peace, security and stability in Abyei and the broader region. Many members are critical of the lack of progress by Sudan and South Sudan in resolving the final status of Abyei as well as on the long-standing issues outlined above.

It seems that negotiations on resolution 2630 adopted in May were generally smooth, given that Council members apparently agreed that there was no need to update UNISFAs mandate and configuration. The penholder, the US, apparently sought a straightforward renewal without making substantial changes to allow UNISFA to adjust to its new composition following the replacement of the Ethiopian troops. Discussions during the negotiations centred on such issues as human rights reporting; humanitarian access; quick-impact projects for UNISFA; and language on women, peace and security. (For more, see our Whats in Blue story of 11 May.)

In a statement following the adoption of resolution 2630, Russia referred to its proposal during the negotiations to add language on quick-impact projects and expressed regret that the penholder did not include this in the resolution. It seems that Russia also raised this issue during Council members latest closed consultations on UNISFA, which took place on 21 April. Other members apparently felt that this was a matter for discussion in the General Assemblys Fifth Committee that should not be addressed in a Security Council resolution.

The US is the penholder on Abyei.

UN DOCUMENTS ON SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN

This resolution renewed the mandate of UNISFA until 15 November 2022. This was on the situation in Abyei. This was the meeting to adopt resolution 2630.
MIDDLE EAST

Syria

Expected Council Action

In November, there will be the monthly meetings on the political and humanitarian situations in Syria, as well as on the use of chemical weapons in the country. Council members will also hold an informal interactive dialogue (IID) in accordance with resolution 2642 of 12 July, which reauthorised the Syria cross-border humanitarian aid mechanism and encouraged an IID every two months to regularly review and follow up on the implementation of the resolution, including progress in early-recovery projects.

Key Recent Developments

On 17 October, Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen met with Syrian Foreign Minister Fayssal Mekdad in Damascus. In a press stakeout after the meeting, Pedersen acknowledged that the political process in Syria had not delivered results. He emphasised that the UN would continue its efforts to promote a nationwide ceasefire and to address the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people. Pedersen said that he had discussed with Mekdad his ideas for all parties to engage in a step-for-step approach, whereby various stakeholders in the conflict would agree on reciprocal confidence-building measures. While he did not specify the nature of such measures, Pedersen has previously noted that they could focus on such matters as abductees, detainees, and missing persons; humanitarian assistance and early recovery; the conditions for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of refugees; and the restoration of better economic conditions. In addition to his visit to Damascus, Pedersen discussed his ideas for the step-for-step approach with government officials and diplomats in New York, Washington, Berlin and Amman in September and October.

Civilians continue to pay a heavy price in the Syrian conflict, with deaths and injuries resulting from airstrikes, ground-based strikes, improvised explosive devices, explosive remnants of war, targeted killings, and armed skirmishes. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has determined that such incidents led to the deaths of at least 92 civilians and injuries to at least 80 civilians between 1 August and 27 September.

The humanitarian situation in Syria continues to deteriorate while the UN also reports funding shortfalls. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths noted in his 14 September Council briefing that 14.6 million people are in need of assistancethe highest number since the wars outset. As at 30 September, the humanitarian response plan for Syria was 26.7 percent funded. In north-west Syria alone, OCHA estimates that 4.1 million of the areas 4.6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. In addition, 3.1 million people in the north-west are food insecure and 2.8 million people there have been internally displaced.

A cross-line delivery of humanitarian aid (that is, across domestic frontlines from Syrian government-held areas into areas outside government control) was conducted on 22-23 October. This was the eighth cross-line delivery since the adoption of resolution 2585 in July 2021 encouraging efforts to improve such deliveries, with 18 trucks entering north-west Syria from Aleppo, carrying food, water, sanitation items, and other supplies expected to assist some 56,000 people.

Cholera rates continue to increase across the country. According to the World Health Organisation, as at 14 October, 68 deaths from cholera had been registered and 15,823 cases of the disease had been suspected across the country. An apparent factor in the spread of cholera has been decreased access to clean water resulting from damage to water infrastructure.

On 26 September, Security Council members held their first informal interactive dialogue on Syria in accordance with resolution 2642. Griffiths briefed during the IID. He reportedly underscored the importance of the cross-border aid mechanism, and described progress being made with regard to cross-line aid deliveries and early recovery projects. He also reiterated his concern about the shortage of funds to support the humanitarian response in Syria. Griffiths and other OCHA officials discussed the recruitment and procurement challenges of implementing a six-month mandate, as opposed to a one-year mandate, for the Syria humanitarian aid resolution.

On 25 October, the Security Council received briefings on political and humanitarian developments in Syria from Pedersen and OCHA Director of Operations and Advocacy Reena Ghelani, respectively. Pedersen noted that he was urging all stakeholders to engage in step-for-step confidence building measures to help move the political process forward. Ghelani urged donors to disburse pledged funds to deal with the growing cholera crisis and requested additional support for the humanitarian appeal for Syria. She emphasised the importance of continued cross-border aid delivery (through the Bab al-Hawa crossing on the Syrian-Turkish border) and the need to step up cross-line aid deliveries.

Also on 25 October, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu briefed the Council on the Syria chemical weapons track. As has been the case in her briefings to the Council for several years, Nakamitsu reiterated that gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies remain in Syrias declaration of its chemical weapons stockpiles to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

Human Rights-Related Developments During its 51st session, the Human Rights Council held an interactive dialogue on 22 September with the Commission of Inquiry on Syria and considered its report (A/HRC/51/45) covering 1 January through 30 June. The report documents continuing grave violations of fundamental human rights and humanitarian law across the country, including arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment in incommunicado detention; appalling conditions in displacement camps in the north-west of the country; and deteriorating conditions faced by approximately 37,000 children in the Hawl and Rawj camps. The report also notes that Syria is facing the worst economic and humanitarian crisis since the conflict started.

Key Issues and Options

A key issue for the Council is how to reinvigorate the political track in Syria. The deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country, which has been exacerbated by the cholera outbreak, is another ongoing issue of concern for Council members.

One option for the Council is to adopt a presidential statement that:

supports Pedersens efforts to reinvigorate the political process;

condemns attacks on civilians and underscores the need for the parties to the conflict to abide by international humanitarian law and human rights law; and

encourages donors to enhance their support for the Syria humanitarian response plan and the efforts to address the cholera outbreak.

An additional option in the future would be a Council visiting mission to the Bab al-Hawa crossing on the Syria-Turkiye border. On such a visit, Council members could meet with the UN and other officials responsible for implementing and overseeing the cross-border aid delivery mechanism to get a better understanding of how it works and its importance in addressing the countrys humanitarian crisis.

Council Dynamics

There are strong divisions on the Council with regard to Syria. China and Russia tend to be sympathetic to the Syrian government, emphasising the need to respect the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity and drawing connections between unilateral sanctions on Syria and the challenging humanitarian situation in the country. On the other hand, the P3 (France, the UK and the US) and others are highly critical of the government for violating international humanitarian law and human rights law, arbitrarily detaining people, and not engaging meaningfully in political dialogue.

The government-nominated representatives to the Constitutional Committee have been unwilling to proceed with the talks in Geneva, in deference to Russias view that Switzerland should no longer be the venue for the Committees meetings. Russia has argued that Switzerland is not a neutral site, given Berns position on the war in Ukraine. Some members have maintained that this is a tactic to stall the political process, a perspective expressed by Albania, France and the UK at the 25 October Council meeting on the political and humanitarian situations in Syria. The Constitutional Committee has not met since early June.

Most Council members emphasise the importance of aid delivery through both cross-line and cross-border modalities in Syria, while underscoring that the cross-border aid mechanism, most recently renewed through resolution 2642 in July, is essential to saving lives in Syria. In contrast, China and Russia believe that cross-border deliveries are an extraordinary measure that undermines Syrias sovereignty and should be supplanted by enhanced cross-line assistance as soon as possible.

Council members hold starkly different views on the chemical weapons track in Syria. Several members have expressed support for the OPCWs work, maintaining that it is credible and essential, and have criticised Syria for not adhering to its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention. Russia, on the other hand, claims that the OPCWs work is biased and politicised. Other members tend to be less critical of the OPCW and the Syrian authorities, emphasising the need for both sides to enhance their cooperation with one another.

UN Documents on Syria

This resolution reauthorised the cross-border humanitarian aid mechanism in Syria for six months until 10 January 2023 and required a separate resolution to extend the mandate for an additional six months until 10 July 2023. This resolution renewed the mandate of the cross-border humanitarian aid delivery mechanism to Syria. This was the first resolution focused exclusively on a political solution to the Syrian crisis. It was adopted unanimously. This was the 60-day report on the humanitarian situation in Syria.
EUROPE

Ukraine

Expected Council Action

In November, the Security Council may hold one or more meetings on the situation in Ukraine, depending on developments on the ground.

Key Recent Developments

As the war enters its ninth month, hostilities remain concentrated in Ukraines eastern and southern regions. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on 30 September the annexation of the Russian-held regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops have continued to advance on the eastern and southern fronts. In the east, Ukrainian forces retook the strategic city of Lyman in the Donetsk region in early October and have continued pushing farther east, recapturing over 200 square kilometres of territory in the Luhansk region since 10 October. Russian forces have reportedly been repelled from the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, which they have been trying to capture for weeks. In the south, the Ukrainian army broke through Russias line of defence on the west bank of the Dnieper River in the Kherson region, prompting the local occupation authorities on 22 October to order the evacuation of civilians from the city of Kherson.

Moscow blames Ukraine for an 8 October explosion on the Kerch Strait bridge, which connects Russia to the annexed Crimean Peninsula. In retaliation, Russia has been launching missile and air assaults against military and energy infrastructure across the country, including in the capital, Kyiv. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the attack. The most intense barrage took place between 10 and 12 October and sporadic attacks have continued since. Russia has reportedly used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, to target critical infrastructure. The P3 members (France, the UK and the US) have accused Iran of supplying Russia with the drones, claiming that this violates Security Council resolution 2231 of 20 July 2015, which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Irans nuclear programme. Tehran has denied these allegations.

In a 14 October letter to the Council, Ukraine alleged that Iran had transferred UAVs to Russia in late August and argued that this contravened resolution 2231. The letter invited UN experts to visit Ukraine to inspect recovered Iranian-origin UAVs in order to facilitate implementation of [resolution 2231]. France, Germany, the UK, and the US have also expressed support for a UN Secretariat investigation into these allegations. At a 19 October press briefing, Russian Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyanskiy rejected allegations that the drones used by Russian forces were supplied by Iran. He also said that Russia would reassess its cooperation with the UN Secretariat and the Secretary-General should the UN accept Ukraines invitation to investigate the matter. (For more, see our 26 October Whats in Blue story.)

According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), between 10 and 18 October, Russian attacks resulted in at least 155 civilian casualties, including 38 deaths. The missile attacks have destroyed 30 percent of Ukraines energy facilities, according to Ukrainian authorities. The intensified campaign was a central focus of the Security Councils 21 October briefing on Ukraine, which was requested by France and Mexico. At that briefing, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo expressed concern about the destruction of critical energy infrastructure, stressing that the deprivation caused by these attacks threatens to expose millions of civilians to extreme hardship and even life-endangering conditions this winter. (For more information, see our 20 October Whats in Blue story.)

Russia has continued to accuse the US of funding military biological programmes in Ukraine in violation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). On 24 October, Russia sent a letter to the Council, lodging a formal complaint in accordance with article VI of the BWC, which stipulates that BWC states parties have the right to request the Security Council to investigate alleged breaches of the BWC. The letter contained a draft resolution which proposes the creation of a commission to investigate Russias allegations and calls on it to submit a report to the Council by 30 November. It appears that Russia has convened one round of negotiations on the draft text on 26 October and that it may put it to a vote in November.

On 27 October, the Council convened for an open briefing on this issue, at Russias request. At the meeting, Adedeji Ebo, Director and Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, said that the UN is not aware of any such biological weapons programmes. Following this briefing, the Council held a private meeting at Russias request, focused on general nuclear issues, including the safety and security of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and Russias allegations against Ukraine for developing and planning to detonate a dirty bomb on its own territory, with the aim of accusing Russia of launching a tactical nuclear weapon. (A dirty bomb is a weapon comprised of radioactive materials mixed with conventional explosives. For more, see our 27 October Whats in Blue story.)

Developments in the recent period have also cast uncertainty over the future of the 22 July Black Sea Grain Initiative, which is set to expire on 19 November. Russia signed the initiative as part of a package that included a memorandum of understanding on the UNs scope of engagement to facilitate unimpeded exports of Russian food products and fertilisers to global markets. It has criticised the implementation of the package deal and has threatened not to renew the grain initiative when it expires. UN Conference on Trade and Development Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths travelled to Moscow on 16 October to discuss the extension and expansion of the deal, including proposals to renew the initiative for one year and to export through Black Sea ports Russian ammonia that prior to the war was transferred through a pipeline running from Russia to Ukraine.

On 29 October, Russia announced that it will suspend its implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, citing an alleged Ukrainian drone attack against Russian ships in Crimea. In a 29 October statement, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasised that it is vital that all parties refrain from any action that would imperil the grain initiative. On 31 October, the Security Council held a meeting on the matter, at the request of Russia. Griffiths and Grynspan briefer at the meeting. (For more information, see our 30 October Whats in Blue story.)

Human Rights-Related Developments

On 18 October, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Ukraine submitted a report to the General Assembly on findings around events during late February and March in the four regions of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Sumy (A/HRC/49/71). The report, requested by Human Rights Council resolution S-34/1, found reasonable grounds to conclude that war crimes and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law have been committed in Ukraine since the start of the war on 24 February. Russian armed forces were responsible for the vast majority of the violations identified, while Ukrainian forces have also committed international humanitarian law violations in some cases, including two incidents that qualify as war crimes, the report said. Among other things, the report documented the relentless use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas and patterns of summary executions, unlawful confinement, torture, ill-treatment, rape and other sexual violence committed in areas occupied by Russian armed forces across the four regions.

Key Issues and Options

A key issue for the Council is how to support the renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Council members may wish to convene a private meeting, or a closed Arria-formula meeting, to allow for a frank exchange of ideas with key actors in the banking, insurance and transportation sectors on the package deals implementation.

Another key issue is the need to promote the safety and security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine. Shelling around the ZNPPwhich Ukraine and Russia blame on each otherhas continued to raise concerns about a possible catastrophe. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi held meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and with Putin on 6 October and on 11 October, respectively, to discuss his proposal for establishing a nuclear safety and security protection zone around the plant. Periodic briefings from Grossi could help keep the Council informed of ongoing risks and efforts to mitigate them.

Council and Wider Dynamics

The Security Council remains starkly divided on the situation in Ukraine. Russia continues to justify its invasion, which it refers to as a special military operation, while several Council membersincluding Albania, France, Ireland, Norway, the UK, and the UScondemn Russia for what they consider an unprovoked war. Members sharply diverging positions on this issue and the direct involvement of a permanent member in the conflict have made agreement on Council products on Ukraine difficult.

Another issue that has complicated Security Council products on Ukraine is a perceived lack of transparency in some negotiations. In its explanation of vote on 30 September, after abstaining on the Albania-US draft Security Council resolution condemning Russia for organising the illegal so-called referendums (S/2022/720), Brazil cited concerns about the conduct of the negotiations, arguing that Council members missed a valuable opportunity to engage collectively in a transparent manner, making full use of our consultation spaces in the Security Council. It appears that the co-authors of the draft resolution, which was vetoed by Russia, had chosen to negotiate the text through bilateral consultations rather than in a collective manner.

While most issues on the Councils agenda have one or two penholders, this is not the case with Ukraine. With Albania and the US considered political co-penholders, and France and Mexico serving as humanitarian co-penholders on Ukraine, there are no clear penholders on its many other tracks, including on the Black Sea Grain Initiative and on chemical, biological and nuclear issues.

Divisions have become more pronounced in recent months between groups of Council members who appeared united in condemning Russia in the days following its intervention in Ukraine. The US and European members have argued that supporting Ukraine is about protecting the rules-based international order wherein no member state can redraw the borders of another by force. These members have consistently called for supporting Ukraine while isolating Russia politically and economically.

Other Council members, however, have increasingly cautioned that such measures risk limiting the prospects of a negotiated settlement over Ukraine. These membersincluding Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)contend that the Councils priority should be to establish conditions for the parties to engage in diplomatic negotiations. In this regard, they frequently call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and return to dialogue without explicitly condemning Russia. Of these members, China and India have been the most reluctant to criticise Russia in the Council.

Nonetheless, support for Ukraines sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity among the wider UN membership remains high. On 12 October, the General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning Russia for organising illegal so-called referendums while calling on all member states to reject their validity and not to recognise any change in the status of the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions. The resolution received 143 votes in favour, five against (Belarus, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Russia, and Syria), and 35 abstentions (including China and India). Ten member states did not vote.
THEMATIC ISSUES

UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Expected Council Action

In November, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi will brief the Council. The briefing will focus on the situation of refugees in several country-specific situations on the Councils agenda. No outcome is expected.

Background and Key Recent Developments

Since the 1990s, the Security Council has increasingly considered the links between the situation of refugees and threats to international peace and security. The High Commissioner for Refugees has briefed the Council several times about specific country situations on the Councils agenda, including the Sahel in December 2012 and Syria in December 2015. In addition to country-specific briefings, the Council has received several briefings under the agenda item Briefing by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which allows for a general update by the High Commissioner on the situation of refugees pertaining to various settings on the Councils agenda.

The first of these briefings took place on 10 November 2000 by then-High Commissioner Sadako Ogata. Since then, the Council has received four briefings under this agenda item, most recently in December 2021 under Nigers presidency. In that meeting, High Commissioner Grandi underscored that humanitarian agencies are not a replacement for real engagement and political solutions and that forced displacement is one of the many faces of the Council/multilateral systems inability to prevent conflict. (For more, see our 6 December 2021 Whats in Blue story.)

In the past decade, UN member states have shown significant concern over the issue of forced displacement. In 2016, the General Assembly unanimously adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, reaffirming the importance of the international refugee regime and paving the way for its affirmation of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) two years later. The GCR remains a key global framework for addressing the issue of forced displacement through more predictable and equitable responsibility-sharing and offers guidance for states and international organisations about how to support refugees and meet their needs in ways that benefit them and their host communities. Its objectives are to ease pressures on host countries, promote refugee self-reliance, expand access to third-country solutions, and support conditions in countries of origin to facilitate refugees safe return.

The main vehicles for follow-up and review under the GCR include the Global Refugee Forums (GRF) held every four years, the High-Level Officials Meeting held two years after each GRF, the biennial GCR indicator report, and the High Commissioners annual reporting to the General Assembly. The first High-Level Officials Meeting took place in December 2021. The next Global Refugee Forum is set to take place in December 2023.

The global displacement crisis has worsened since High Commissioner Grandi briefed the Council last year. According to UNHCR, the total number of refugees and displaced people had risen to an unprecedented high of 100 million people by May 2022. UNHCRs report, Global Trends: Forced Displacement 2021, released earlier this year, observed that 69 percent of people displaced abroad in 2021 came from five countries of origin: Syria (6.8 million), Venezuela (4.6 million), Afghanistan (2.7 million), South Sudan (2.4 million) and Myanmar (1.2 million). Developments in Ukraine are not reflected in these figures. UNHCR estimates that there have been over 7,750,000 refugees from Ukraine, 6,250,000 IDPs, and close to 4.5 million persons who have registered for temporary protection or similar national protection schemes in Europe since the Russian invasion in February.

There have been several Council meetings this year on the displacement caused by the crisis in Ukraine. These include briefings by Grandi on 28 February, the UNHCRs Assistant High Commissioner for Operations Raouf Mazou on 17 March and Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kelly T. Clements on 19 April. In addition, on 7 September, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and head of the UN Human Rights Office in New York Ilze Brands Kehris briefed the Council on forced displacements, deportations and filtration camps in Ukraine.

Key Issues and Options

One key issue is the combined effects of conflict, COVID, and climate change on the humanitarian needs of refugees and other displaced persons.

Another important issue is addressing the differential effects of displacement on men, women and children. In their interventions in this months briefing, members may discuss ways to protect refugees from sexual/gender-based violence, abuse, and exploitation.

Also a key issue is that UNHCR has a funding gap of over $700 million, almost 7% of its budget of $10.5 billion (original programme budget of $8.9 billion and $1.5 billion to address exceptional circumstances in Afghanistan, Cameroon and Ukraine) for 2022. According to UNHCRs Underfunded Report of September 2022, UNHCRs work in 12 countries (Bangladesh, Chad, Colombia, DRC, Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, and Yemen) is particularly at risk. As at August 2022, these 12 programmes received less than 50% of their necessary funding. If the gap is not addressed, UNHCR says it will have to make catastrophic cuts to lifesaving aid to refugees and displaced people later this year and in early 2023. UNHCR has requested $10.2 billion for 2023, the largest needs-based programme budget it has sought. In their statements, Council members could discuss how the funding gap exacerbates the humanitarian conditions facing persons displaced by conflict and appeal to member states to increase their financial support of UNHCR.

In the future, Council members could consider convening private meetings or informal interactive dialogues to discuss the many challenges related to displacement in particular cases. Unlike closed consultations, these meeting formats allow for the participation of non-Council member states. As a result, they could enable a frank exchange of ideas among Council members and affected countries that may be conducive to strategic thinking and problem-solving with regard to particular displacement crises.

Council Dynamics

The Council is generally united in its support for UNHCR and the work of the High Commissioner. It appears, however, that political sensitivities in the Council over issues such as Syria and Myanmar have affected Council deliberations on the issue of refugees. While all Council members agree on the need to promote the safe and voluntary return of refugees, there is a divergence of views on whether such conditions for return have already been met in these countries.

Several Council members blame Russia for creating the displacement crisis in Ukraine and have repeatedly urged Russia to withdraw its troops from the country. They have also underscored concerns that Russia is forcibly migrating civilians, including children, to Russia. Russia denies accusations that it is forcibly transporting Ukrainian civilians to Russia, maintaining that such accusations are part of a disinformation campaign by Western countries.

Some countries have highlighted the connection between climate change and refugees. At the High Commissioners 2021 briefing, several states noted the links between climate change and displacement. During the 12 October meeting on Climate and security in Africa, some Council members highlighted how climate change is destabilising the African continent and increasing displacement.

UN DOCUMENTS ON BRIEFINGS BY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

This was the debate on the theme Threats to international peace and security: climate and security in Africa. This was a briefing on Ukraine, requested by Albania and the US, which focused on forced displacements, deportations and filtration camps in Ukraine. This was an open meeting on Ukraine, which focused on the situation of refugees, Internally Displaced Persons and returnees. This was a briefing on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. This was an open meeting on humanitarian developments in Ukraine. This was a briefing by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. This was the report which presents the consolidated needs-based 2023 budgetary requirements of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for country and regional programmes, headquarters and global programmes. This was a report of the High Commissioner for Refugees to the General Assembly.




GAVAR, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Governor of Armenias Gegharkunik province Karen Sargsyan met with the EU Monitoring Mission, the Governors Office said.

The meeting was attended also by Commander of the 2nd Army Corps of the Armenian Armed Forces, Colonel Vahram Grigoryan, Vardenis Mayor Aharon Khachatryan and other military officials.

The EU team said that the goal of their mission is to conduct patrol on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border from Gegharkunik section. The mission will monitor the situation on the Armenian side of the border to form trust and assist the border commissions.

Gegharkunik Governor Karen Sargsyan welcomed the visit of the EU Monitoring Mission to the province and then briefed them on the current situation in the settlements of Vardenis resulting from the latest Azerbaijani aggression. He expressed hope that the visit of the EU monitors to the province will enable to more objectively assess the current situation and contribute to the peaceful solution of the issues.

The representatives of the Armenian side answered the questions of the EU monitors.

The EU Mission members thanked the Governor and the Commander of the 2nd Army Corps for initiating this discussion and presenting comprehensive information about the situation.

After the meeting the EU Monitoring Mission visited Kutakan, Sotk and Kut settlements, which were affected by the Azerbaijani shelling, to monitor the situation on the spot.

Khosrov Khlghatyan
PEACEMAKING, PEACEKEEPING AND PEACEBUILDING

UN Peacekeeping

Expected Council Action

In November, the Security Council will hold a ministerial-level open debate on the theme Integrating Effective Resilience-Building in Peace Operations for Sustainable Peace. This is one of the signature events of Ghanas presidency. Ghanaian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey is expected to chair the meeting. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs and Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye, Chair of The Elders Mary Robinson, and Security Council Report Executive Director Karin Landgren are the anticipated briefers.

No formal outcome is anticipated.

Background and Key Recent Developments

Ghana would like this months open debate to facilitate a discussion on the challenges of peacekeeping in a changing security landscape. It intends to use the meeting to highlight the increasing threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism, as well as other structural factors and drivers of conflict, such as poverty and climate change. Ghana seems to be keen to consider these issues in the context of the political, security and development challenges facing the Sahel and coastal West Africa.

At the 16th annual consultative meeting between the UN Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council in New York on 14 October, the situation in the Sahel and West Africa was discussed. In the joint communique the two Councils adopted at the end of the meeting, they expressed concern about the growing threat of terrorism and the resurgence of coups detat plaguing the region. In this regard, they agreed on the need to address the underlying conditions contributing to the spread of terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel and West Africa. The two Councils also underscored the importance of strengthening the resilience of African States through creating an environment conducive to prosperity for youth and women by facilitating access to economic and social services and employment in addition to supporting deradicalization efforts through education, training, skill development and rehabilitation and reintegration programs.

In the same spirit, on 25 September, the UN, the AU, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Group of Five for the Sahel (G5 Sahel) jointly launched a high-level independent panel under the leadership of the former president of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, to undertake a strategic assessment of the underlying challenges in the Sahel, including the surge in violent extremism, growing fragility of the economies of the region due to the impact of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as complex political transitions. The panels report and findings, due to be submitted in February, are expected to facilitate coordinated regional and international response to the complex political, security and development challenges of the Sahel.

Sustainable funding mechanisms are also foreseen as a topic for the high-level debate. Over the years, the AU has requested adequate, predictable and sustainable financing for its peace support operations from the UNs assessed contributions. This issue has gained some momentum in the Council over the last couple of months. On 27 July, Ghana convened an Arria-formula meeting on Collective security through equitable burden sharing: strengthening regional arrangements for the maintenance of international peace and security, which provided an opportunity for Council members to discuss how financial and logistical support could be provided to regional efforts to address peace and security challenges in Africa.

On 9 August, China convened a Security Council open debate on capacity-building for sustaining peace during which the financing issue was again raised. The outcome of the meeting was a 31 August presidential statement that requested the Secretary-General to submit, by 30 April 2023, a report on progress made by the UN and the AU to fulfil the commitments set out in resolution 2320 of 8 November 2016 on cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organisations and resolution 2378 of 20 September 2017 on peacekeeping reform. The report is also expected to include recommendations on moving forward that reflect good practices and lessons-learned with the view to secure predictable, sustainable and flexible resources.

Key Issues and Options

One of the key issues for Council members is how to enhance the role of UN peace operations to better respond to existing and new challenges to peace and security. A related issue is how to address the underlying causes of conflict and insecurity and build resilient communities. While no formal outcome is anticipated from the meeting, Council members may reflect on how various UN bodies and other relevant stakeholders can create greater synergies and coherence in support of national and regional efforts to tackle the root causes and drivers of conflict.

The other major issue is how to address the long-standing issue of financing AU peace support operations. The Secretary-Generals report, pursuant to the 31 August presidential statement, is due by 30 April 2023. Next year, building on the discussion in the open debate, Ghana may wish to pursue a resolution taking advantage of the renewed momentum on the issue of sustainable financing of AU-led peace support operations through UN assessed contributions.

Council and Wider Dynamics

Ghana is one of the top ten troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping operations and chairs the Security Council Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations. It has been active in discussions on peacekeeping and has attached particular importance to the security situation in its own region. Ghana seems keen to mobilise international efforts to respond to the growing threat of terrorism and violent extremism and other political, security and development challenges in the Sahel and West Africa through existing UN peace operations and other regional security arrangements.

Council discussions on these issues, however, have been difficult and contentious. Geopolitical dynamics in the region, with the growing influence of Russia and its deployment of the Wagner Group, a Russian private security company, in Mali have also further complicated these discussions.

The Security Council has long discussed the possibility that AU-led peace support operations could be funded through UN assessed contributions. The US, the world bodys largest funder, had opposed this possibility during the Trump Administration. In 2018, it threatened to veto a draft resolution on the financing issue that was proposed by the three African members (A3). However, there seems to be a window of opportunity for progress on this issue because of the Biden administrations keenness to strengthen US relations with Africa. At the 11 October Security Council debate on UN-AU Cooperation, the US Permanent Representative made clear that the implementation of [human rights and international humanitarian law] frameworks and other oversight mechanismsremain key considerations for any discussions about the use of UN assessed contributions.

Although there is renewed interest in discussing the financing issue, Council members recognise that counter-terrorism operations are not eligible for financial support from UN-assessed contributions because of the basic principles of peacekeepingconsent of the parties, impartiality and non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate.

UN DOCUMENTS ON PEACEKEEPING

This was a resolution on UN peacekeeping reform. This was the presidential statement initiated by China on peace and security in Africa. This presidential statement was on strategic communications in peacekeeping. This was on UN peacekeeping operations.
PEACEMAKING, PEACEKEEPING AND PEACEBUILDING

UN Policing

Expected Council Action

In November, the Security Council will hold its annual briefing with the heads of police components of UN peace operations. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix; the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) police commissioner, Christine Fossen; the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) police commissioner, Mody Berethe; and Emma Birikorang, director at the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, are the anticipated briefers.

Key Recent Developments

Annual briefings with the heads of police components of UN peace operations were initiated in 2014. Last year, the meeting was held with a particular focus on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, with Lacroix, the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) police commissioner Violet Lusala, and the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) police commissioner Bettina Patricia Boughani briefing the Council on 10 November 2021.

At last years briefing, Lacroix explained the role of UN Police in advancing Action for Peacekeeping Plus (A4P+)a set of priorities being implemented in 2021-2023 to accelerate peacekeeping reformand in strengthening the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations. He underscored the need to continue enhancing partnerships with regional and subregional organisations, particularly in the areas of strategic guidance, development and training. He also highlighted the UN Polices efforts to enhance gender-responsive policing, including through the promotion of womens networks. Regarding the accountability of peacekeepers, he referred to pre-deployment and in-mission training by UN Police to promote zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. Lacroix also explained UN Polices role in improving strategic communications for better community-oriented policing and its efforts to improve cooperation with host countries to facilitate smooth transitions.

Lusala briefed on the meaningful participation of women and the protection of civilians in UNISFA. She reported that the proportion of women in police components in UNISFA has reached 60 percent deployed in professional positions, including the sexual and gender-based violence adviser, and 34.7 percent of individual police officers. She described the ground and aerial patrols conducted by the missions police component to protect civilians from threats such as attacks by armed groups, intercommunal violence and cattle rustling. She also mentioned the missions engagement with local communities.

Boughani briefed on gender mainstreaming and the provision of operational support in MINUSMA. She indicated that women constitute 20.58 percent of individual police officers at the mission and are deployed in Bamako and other regions. But she emphasised the need to do more to increase womens representation in formed police units and command positions. Boughani also explained the work of the missions police component in supporting community policing, monitoring infrastructure through joint patrols, and implementing quick-impact projects to support women.

The third UN Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS) took place in New York from 31 August to 1 September to discuss the role of UN Police in the maintenance of international peace and security. The annual meeting included the participation of ministers, chiefs of police and other high-level officials from 121 member states and representatives from several partner organisations. In remarks delivered at the summit, the Secretary-General emphasised the important role of UN Police in the realisation of Our Common Agenda, which embodies his vision of global cooperation to respond to current and future challenges. In this regard, he stressed the need for specialized expertise to keep the peace, maintain public order, fight increased organized crime and natural resource trafficking, and advance environmentally responsive policing practices.

One subject discussed at UNCOPS was key challenges facing UN peacekeeping in general and the implementation of the A4P+ priorities in particular. Also addressed was the nexus between security and development, including the contribution of UN Police to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals and Our Common Agenda. Furthermore, attendees considered the performance and effectiveness of UN Police. The outcome of the summit was a chairs note that summarised the understanding reached at the meeting, including the need to accelerate the implementation of A4P+ priorities, foster sustainable peace and development through the global policing goal (developed in line with Agenda 2030 for sustainable development to mobilise national and international effort on policing), and bridge identified gaps in the performance of UN Police.

Key Issues and Options

The key issue for Council members will be how to strengthen the contribution of UN Police to realising the A4P+ priorities. In this regard, they will focus on the performance and effectiveness of UN Police and its role in enhancing the protection of civilians.

Council and Wider Dynamics

There is general agreement among Council members about the importance of UN Police in helping to maintain public order, protect civilians, and assist host states in building their law enforcement capacities. Council members also recognise the critical role UN Police plays in countries in transition.

At this years UNCOPS, the United Arab Emirates offered to provide financial support to organise the next UNCOPS meeting in New York in 2024. Ghana will host the 2023 peacekeeping ministerial, which will provide an opportunity for member states to make pledges to support UN Police, including through the deployment of formed police units and individual police officers and by providing training and technology.

UN DOCUMENTS ON POLICING

This was on peace operations transitions. This was the annual briefing of the heads of UN police components.
MIDDLE EAST

Yemen

Expected Council Action

In November, the Security Council will hold its monthly briefing, followed by consultations, on Yemen. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and a representative from OCHA are expected to brief. Major General Michael Beary, the head of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA), is expected to brief during the consultations.

Key Recent Developments

Yemens truce, which had been in place since April and was extended twice, expired on 2 October, despite intensive efforts to renew and expand the truce agreement. In a statement on 2 October, Grundberg expressed regret that the parties had not accepted his latest proposal, submitted the day before, to extend the truce. According to the envoy, this proposal entailed a six-month truce renewal, the payment of civil servants salaries and pensions, the opening of specific roads in Taiz and other governorates, additional flight destinations from Sanaa airport, unhindered entry of fuel ships into Hodeidah port, a commitment to release detainees urgently, and the strengthening of de-escalation mechanisms through the Military Coordination Committee (MCC). Grundberg said that he would continue to engage the parties in order to reach an agreement, while calling on the sides to maintain calm and refrain from any actions that could escalate violence.

The main obstacle in the talks to renew the truce was the Houthis position that their security forces be included in the salary payments of civil servants, which the government could not accept. In a 5 October press statement, Council members expressed deep disappointment that the truce had not been renewed and said that the Houthis maximalist demands had hindered efforts to reach agreement. Council members reiterated that they expect the parties to find a way to reinstate the truce.

Briefing the Council on 13 October, Grundberg expressed regret that Ansar Allah came up with additional demands that could not be met, referring to the Houthis by their official name. He reported, however, that since the truces expiry, there had not been a significant escalation of military operations. Other arrangements established by the truce have also continued, such as civilian flights between Sanaa and Amman, Jordan, and fuel ships access to Hodeidah port, according to Grundberg.

Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya also briefed, addressing the Council via videoconference from Yemen, where she had been on mission, visiting Aden, Marib, Sanaa, and Hodeidah since 8 October. Msuya described witnessing how the collapse of the economy and basic services were the main drivers of humanitarian need, making food in markets too expensive for many people and leaving hospitals and schools without basic equipment. In a sign of progress, new evaluations of the humanitarian situation show that the number of people estimated to face acute food insecurity during the last quarter of 2022 had fallen to 17 million from 19 million earlier this year, Msuya said. The number of people estimated to be in famine-like conditions is projected to reduce from 161,000 people to zero. Msuya also reiterated calls for the parties to reach an agreement to extend and expand the truce.

On 21 October, the Houthis used explosive-laden drones to target an oil tanker off the al-Dubba oil terminal in Hadramawt governorate, claiming that this was a warning strike to prevent pro-government forces from using the terminal for oil exports. The Greek shipowners said there were two drone-driven explosions in close proximity to the vessel as it tried to load at the port but that the vessel had not sustained damage. Leading up to the truces expiry, the Houthis had announced that foreign and national companies should halt oil exports as long as the issue of salary payments was not resolved. Grundberg condemned the attack in a statement, calling it a deeply worrying military escalation. Security Council members condemned the Houthi terrorist drone attacks against the oil terminal in a 26 October press statement. They called the attack a serious threat to the peace process and stability of Yemen, as well as to maritime security including the navigational rights and freedoms provided under international law.

Human-Rights Related Developments

During its 51st session, the Human Rights Council adopted (without a vote) a resolution on 7 October that requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide substantive capacity-building and technical assistance to the government of Yemen (A/HRC/51/L.38).

Key Issues and Options

Averting an escalation and restoring the truce are critical issues. Council members are likely to monitor Grundbergs ongoing mediation efforts. Members may call on the parties, especially the Houthis, to show flexibility in talks and recall the benefits brought by the truce agreement. In the event that an expanded truce agreement is brokered, the Council could adopt a presidential statement to endorse the deal while encouraging the parties to maintain and translate the truce into a ceasefire agreement that leads to an inclusive political process under UN auspices for a comprehensive settlement of the conflict.

Rising global food and energy prices as a result of the war in Ukraine have complicated efforts to address humanitarian needs in Yemen despite the reduction in fighting since the April truce. Members could encourage more donors to contribute to the UNs 2022 Yemen humanitarian response plan, which in mid-October was 48 percent funded, with the US providing more than $1 billion of the $2 billion that has been received so far. Members may also closely monitor progress towards starting the salvage operation for the FSO Safer oil tanker that is moored off Hodeidah port; in September, the UN-facilitated plan to remove the oil from the decrepit ship finally received the donor commitments required to conduct the first phase of the operation.

Council and Wider Dynamics

Council members want the parties to restore the truce and have criticised the Houthis maximalist demands that prevented the renewal and expansion of the armistice agreement in October. The United Arab Emirates (UAE)an elected Council member that has been closely involved in the conflict as a member of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition battling the Houthisactively pushes for its views, particularly regarding the Houthis, to be reflected in Council products. Russia traditionally resists language in Council products that it perceives as too critical of the Houthis or not balanced. This year, however, Russia has been more flexible in Council negotiations on Yemen, which appears to reflect its bilateral relations with the UAE. The US Special Envoy for Yemen, Timothy Lenderking, has engaged in regional diplomacy to support UN efforts to extend and re-establish the truce. While Saudi Arabia exercises leverage on the Yemeni government, Oman often plays an important role as an interlocutor with the Houthis. Ahead of the truces renewal on 2 August, an Omani delegation visited Sanaa to help secure its extension, and it similarly sent a delegation to Sanaa ahead of the truces 2 October expiry date.

The UK is the penholder on Yemen. Ambassador Ferit Hoxha (Albania) chairs the Yemen 2140 Sanctions Committee.

UN DOCUMENTS ON YEMEN

This was a Council briefing on Yemen. This press statement condemned the Houthi terrorist drone attacks on 21 October that struck the Al-Dubba oil terminal. This was a press statement expressing deep disappointment on the expiration of Yemens truce, and reiterating that the parties should find a way forward to reinstate the truce.
Programme of Work for November 2022

Ghana is the president of the Security Council in November. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (1 November).

Ghana has chosen to convene two signature events during its presidency. There will be a ministerial-level open debate on Integrating effective resilience-building in peace operations for sustainable peace, under the Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace agenda item. Ghanas Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey is expected to chair the meeting. The anticipated briefers are Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye, Chair of The Elders Mary Robinson, and Security Council Report Executive Director Karin Landgren.

Ghana will also organise a debate on Counter-terrorism in Africa: an imperative for peace, security, and development, under the Threats to International Peace and Security agenda item. Ghanas President Nana Akufo-Addo is expected to chair the meeting. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed is expected to deliver opening remarks. AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, President of the European Council Charles Michel, and President and CEO of International Crisis Group Dr. Comfort Ero are the anticipated briefers.

In November, the Council is scheduled to receive its annual briefing from the chairs of its counter-terrorism-related committees: Ambassador Trine Heimerback (Norway), chair of the 1267/1989/2253 Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee; Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj (India), chair of the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC); and Ambassador Juan Ramon de la Fuente Ramirez (Mexico), chair of the 1540 Committee. (Adopted in 2004, resolution 1540 aims to prevent non-state actors from obtaining access to weapons of mass destruction and encourages enhanced international cooperation in this regard.)

The Council is also expected to renew the mandate of the 1540 Committee and its Group of Experts this month.

The annual briefing with the heads of police components of UN peace operations will take place in November. The expected briefers are Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix; the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) police commissioner, Christine Fossen; the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) police commissioner, Mody Berethe; and Deputy Director of the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) Emma Birikorang.

This month, the Council is also expected to receive its annual briefing from UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.

Council members will also hold an informal meeting with The Elders on 4 November. Chair of The Elders Mary Robinson, former President of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and President of the International Peace Institute Zeid Raad Al Hussein are expected to participate in the meeting.

In addition to the debate on counter-terrorism in Africa, the Security Council plans to address several other African issues this month.

Council members are expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) ahead of its 15 November expiry. Prior to that, the Council will hold a meeting with MINUSCAs troop-contributing countries, in which Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee will participate.

The Council also expects to renew the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and to extend the missions support for the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM), both of which expire on 15 November. It will also hold a meeting with UNISFAs troop-contributing countries, in which a Department of Peace Operations (DPO) official is expected to participate.

On Somalia, the Council is scheduled to vote on a draft resolution renewing the 751 Somalia sanctions regime, set to expire on 15 November, and the mandate of its Panel of Experts, which expires on 15 December.

In November, ICC Prosecutor Karim Asad Ahmad Khan will provide the courts semi-annual briefing concerning cases in Libya.

The Council will convene for its biannual briefing, followed by consultations, on the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (FC-G5S) that Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger (G5 Sahel) established in 2017. Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee is expected to brief. G5 Sahel Executive Secretary Eric Tiare and a civil society representative may also brief.

There will also be a briefing on the Secretary-Generals report on Gulf of Guinea piracy pursuant to resolution 2634 of 31 May. Briefers include representatives of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (a cooperation framework among the countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea aimed at promoting peace and socio-economic development). A civil society representative is also expected to brief.

Several Middle Eastern issues are on the programme of work this month.

The Council will hold its monthly meetings on the political, humanitarian and chemical weapons tracks in Syria. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu will brief on the chemical weapons file, while Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths are expected to brief on political and humanitarian issues, respectively.

Council members will also hold an informal interactive dialogue (IID) in accordance with resolution 2642 of 12 July, which reauthorised the Syria cross-border humanitarian aid mechanism and encouraged an IID every two months to regularly review and follow up on the implementation of the resolution, including progress in early-recovery projects.

The Council will convene for an open briefing and closed consultations on Yemen. Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg is expected to brief. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths may also brief. Head of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) Major General Michael Beary is expected to brief during the consultations.

The Council will hold its monthly meeting on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland is expected to brief. A civil society representative may also brief.

Council members also expect to receive a briefing in consultations on the Secretary-Generals report on the implementation of resolution 1701. Adopted in 2006, resolution 1701 called for a cessation of hostilities between the Shia militant group Hezbollah and Israel. The anticipated briefers are Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka and Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix.

Regarding European issues, the Council will hold its semi-annual debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina. Council members also expect to vote on a draft resolution reauthorising the EU-led multinational stabilisation force (EUFOR ALTHEA) prior to its 3 November expiry.

The Council may hold one or more meetings on the situation in Ukraine, depending on developments on the ground.

The one Asian issue on the agenda this month is the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK). The Chair of the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Mona Juul (Norway), is expected to brief Council members in closed consultations on the 90-day report regarding the committees work.

The Security Council and the General Assembly will also vote to fill a vacancy on the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The 15 current Council members and the incoming five (Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland) will participate in the annual Hitting the Ground Running workshop organised by Finland on 17 and 18 November.

Council members will also be closely following developments related to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Haiti, and Myanmar. They may choose to convene meetings on these and other issues.
Mali: violents combats entre groupes armes dans le nord

Des combats entre groupes armes ont fait ces derniers jours des dizaines de morts dans le nord du Mali, dans les regions de Menaka et Gao, en proie a des violences jihadistes, selon des responsables militaires et des communiques des organes de propagande jihadistes.





La situation securitaire s'est largement deterioree depuis huit mois dans les regions de Menaka et Gao a la suite d'une offensive du groupe affilie a l'organisation Etat islamique au grand Sahara (EIGS), au-dela de ce qui etait alors sa zone d'action et d'influence.





"Les jihadistes se sont affrontes pendant plusieurs jours dans plusieurs villes de la region de Menaka", a assure un elu local sous couvert de l'anonymat pour des raisons de securite, information confirmee a l'AFP par un autre elu local de la region se trouvant a Bamako et une source securitaire occidentale a Niamey.





Aucun n'evoque de bilan, ni ne donne l'ampleur de ces combats. Cela est extremement difficile en l'absence de remontees d'informations fiables en provenance de territoires largement inaccessibles.





En revanche, les groupes jihadistes affilies a Al-Qaida et a l'EIGS ont donne des bilans tres lourds dans des communiques de leurs organes de propagande cites par le centre americain de surveillance des sites jihadistes SITE.





L'EIGS a dit lundi avoir tue 40 combattants du Groupe de soutien a l'Islam et aux musulmans (GSIM, JNIM en arabe) dans la region de Menaka, ce dernier repondant mardi avoir tue jeudi, vendredi et samedi plus de 70 membres de l'EIGS, puis admettant avoir perdu une trentaine d'hommes.





Cette immense region reculee est le theatre depuis des mois d'affrontements entre ces groupes jihadistes rivaux, et de combats entre jihadistes et groupes armes essentiellement touaregues qui ont signe des accords de paix avec le gouvernement en 2015.





La region est aussi livree au banditisme et aux trafics.





L'Etat y a une tres faible presence et les populations ont pour la plupart trouve refuge dans la ville de Menaka.





Deux civils dont un enfant ont egalement ete tues dans l'attaque par des hommes armes d'un bus de transport en commun entre les localites d'Ansongo et Menaka, a dit la police mardi.





Des combats mettant aux prises l'EIGS et une unite du Groupe d'autodefense touareg Imghads et allies (GATIA) se sont egalement deroules lundi dans la region de Gao dans la commune d'Anchwadj, selon un communique de la Plateforme des Mouvements du 14 juin 2014 d'Alger, dont fait partie le GATIA.




Paul Kagame et Antony Blinken

Washington a reitere lundi ses craintes selon lesquelles le Rwanda soutiendrait une rebellion dans l'est de la Republique democratique du Congo, dont les avancees rapides ont amene Kinshasa a expulser l'ambassadeur du pays frontalier.





Lors d'une visite dans les deux pays en aout, le secretaire dEtat americain Antony Blinken avait alerte sur des informations "credibles" qui faisaient etat d'un soutien apporte par le Rwanda au "Mouvement du 23 mars" (M23), une ancienne rebellion tutsi.





"Le soutien d'un Etat a des groupes armes est inacceptable et nous reiterons nos inquietudes quant au soutien du Rwanda au M23", a declare a la presse le porte-parole de la diplomatie americaine, Ned Price.





"Nous encourageons les pays de la region a travailler ensemble pour restaurer la paix, la securite et le respect, tout en respectant la souverainete ainsi que l'integrite territoriale de chacun", a-t-il ajoute.





Il a affirme que les representants americains "ont ete frequemment en contact" avec leurs homologues rwandais et de RDC au cours de la semaine derniere, au moment ou les tensions augmentaient.





Apres plusieurs semaines d'accalmie, le M23 progresse depuis le 20 octobre a l'interieur du territoire de Rutshuru, au nord de Goma.





Ce "Mouvement du 23 mars" est une ancienne rebellion tutsi qui a repris les armes fin 2021, en reprochant a Kinshasa de n'avoir pas respecte des accords sur la reinsertion de ses combattants.





Kinshasa a annonce samedi soir l'expulsion de l'ambassadeur du Rwanda en RDC, apres des mois de tensions et d'accusations de soutien au M23, dementies par Kigali qui affirme en retour que la RDC collabore avec des rebelles hutu rwandais.




YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the extension of the electricity and gas agreement, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during the visit in Tehran, Mehr news agency reports.

PM Pashinyan highly appreciated Iranian President Ebrahim Raisis approach towards the Armenian community of Iran.

According to Pashinyan, the Islamic Republic of Iran can be a clear and explicit symbol of peaceful cooperation and coexistence among the followers of different religions.

Appreciating Irans principled views on peace and security in the Caucasus region, Pashinyan said: I briefed Mr. Raisi about the tripartite meeting in Sochi and I agree with the views of the Iranian President regarding the establishment of stable peace and security in the region.

The Armenian PM arrived in Iran on November 1 on a working visit.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The next meeting of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will be held in Yerevan, Armenia, on November 23.

During the meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas informed him about the preparations for the upcoming summit, and the implementation of a number of individual assignments of the Collective Security Council, the CSTO Secretariat reported.

Lukashenko and Zas also discussed the situation in the CSTO responsibility zone, including the results of the recent emergency session of the Collective Security Council held on October 28.
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YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Leaving Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan is fraught with ethnic cleansing: the representatives of the opposition factions of the Armenian Parliament said during the meeting with the Members of the European Parliament Peter van Dalen, Fabio Massimo Castaldo and Lars Patrick Berg, the Parliaments press service said.

The MEPs are in Armenia to get familiarized with the reality, which Armenia faces, as well as to express their solidarity to the Armenian people in these difficult times.

At the meeting reference was made to the Azerbaijani large-scale aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia and the issues on the solution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

It was noted that today many European structures adopted policy of double standards, and in the current geopolitical situation they highly rank the energy interests from the principles of international law.

During the meeting the report on Armenia was referred to, which will be discussed in the European Parliament in the near future.

The meeting today was attended by Head the faction With Honor Hayk Mamijanyan, the Members of the Hayastan faction Artur Khachatryan, Lilit Galstyan, Anna Grigoryan and Aspram Krpeyan.
Strata office deals across Sydney and Melbourne are setting new benchmark prices as investors opt to look for long-term capital growth in higher yielding bricks-and-mortar assets, and benefit from an anticipated improvement in the leasing market.

Despite the rising cost of borrowing, investors and owner-occupiers are showing a preference to buy smaller offices in the city that they believe still offer growth potential.

In one of the larger recent deals, Joseph Lin and Callum Cooke, of the Colliers Sydney CBD sales team, brokered an off-market transaction of the retail component of 225 Macquarie Street.

368 Sussex Sydney

The property was sold for a building record rate of $45,300 a square metre, which represents a sale price of $5.12 million and a yield of 4.19 per cent. The property was purchased by a private investor seeking a long-term investment within Sydneys CBD.
Polarising as he may be, Elon Musk possesses two qualities that make for excellent viewing: hes rich and unpredictable. Were now a little over a week into his high-profile Twitter takeover, and theres no denying its been absolute chaos.

Elon Musk is rich and unpredictable. Credit:AP

First came his official announcement, which saw Musk strut into Twitter headquarters as its new owner, carrying a sink. This elaborate setup was all so he could tweet a mediocre-at-best pun.

Let that sink in, was the accompanying announcement.
Just one-third of ethical managed investment funds have outperformed their non-ethical peers over the past 12 months as macroeconomic forces have seen areas typically shunned by ethical investors  such as energy  perform well.

However, the longer-term picture is better for ethical investors with specialist funds, at least for those that invest in Australian shares and those that invest in global shares, which are on even footing with more traditional funds.

Over the past five years to September 30, 2022, the typical sustainable Australian shares fund  either managed or exchange-traded fund (ETF)  produced an average annual compound return of 5.9 per cent compared to 6.02 per cent for the broader category of Australian share funds.

Ethical investors should not expect to do better than regular investors, figures from researcher Morningstar show Credit:Gabriele Charotte

Sustainable international share funds produced an average annual compound return of 6.87 per cent compared to 7 per cent for the broad category of global share funds listed on the Morningstar database.
To the national economy and immigration policy, the Business Council of Australia has backed calls for skilled migration to include technology professionals.

Jennifer Westacott, chief executive of the Business Council of Australia, gave a speech on immigration at The Australian and Melbourne Institutes Economic and Social Outlook Conference today.

Westacott said the narrative at the Skills and Jobs Summit in September was that you could either import skilled professionals or train Australians, but she believed you had to do both.

This is a taste of her comments on the issue of IT professionals:

We need to be bringing people in around those key competencies that were going to need that will allow us to actually enter those supply chains and diversify our industrial base. For example, semiconductors, quantum printed circuit boards, cyber defence capabilities, logistics and supply chains. And when we want people to come here, we want them to share their knowledge. Companies tell me the crucial nature of bringing experts out to Australia who then allow them to scale up. Great example: Romar Engineering in Western Sydney brought some of the worlds best experts in cutting-edge manufacturing from Germany. They now have a huge partnership with GE around additive manufacturing and theyre starting to expand dramatically in Western Sydney. If we are going to reach that goal of 1.2 million tech jobs by 2030, we are going to have to bring people in from international markets. If we want to be a cyber-secure country, weve got to bring in some of those world leading cyber experts. We want to lure the companies where they are going to be on the doorstep of these huge markets in Asia, they are all saying to me, we need to see that the density of skills are here to make it attractive for us to come and relocate or expand our operations in Australia.

This followed efforts by shadow immigration minister Dan Tehan and shadow cyber-security minister James Paterson earlier today to lobby for the Albanese government to reverse its decision to remove 27 cyber-related roles from the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List.

In a story in The Australian Financial Review this morning and a media release this afternoon, the pair described it as extraordinary the government would make it harder for businesses to bring in talented IT professionals given Australians are still reeling from two significant cyber crimes that have exposed the personal data of millions of people.

They were referring to the hacks of Optus and Medibank Private.

The professions removed from the priority list included ICT security specialists. Home Affairs Minister Claire ONeil told the Financial Review the previous ministerial direction prioritised so many occupations and sectors that it was adding up to 45 minutes of extra processing time for each application.

She said that by streamlining the system, all applicants would be better off, as overall waiting times would improve.
Islamic State families seen in Sydney after rescue from Syria

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Northern Territory celebrates Melbourne Cup by racing crocs

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Alarmed residents in Sydneys east are pushing the Department of Defence to abandon plans to construct more than 1000 homes on contaminated land at Randwick Barracks which locals say has been described as cancer hill.

The department wants to build 62 houses for families along Bundock Street from 2023, followed a year later by 991 one-bedroom units for personnel on the eastern side of the sprawling army base.

Opponents say they havent been adequately consulted about the projects, which they argue would be too big, pose contamination risks, worsen traffic congestion and destroy trees.

Their concerns about developing the parcel of Commonwealth land have been echoed by Coogee Labor MP Marjorie ONeill and Randwick Greens councillor Michael Olive.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan met with Irans Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian in Tehran, Minister Sanosyan said in a statement on social media.

During the meeting we discussed a number of issues of the bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, particularly outlining new directions for partnership, increasing electricity export volumes, completing the construction of Iran-Armenia third power transmission line as soon as possible, which will enable to increase the volumes of gas imported to Armenia and the electricity exported from Armenia via the Gas for Electricity project, Sanosyan said.

The Armenian and Iranian ministers discussed also the prospects of jointly developing the potential existing in the field of renewable energy.

Gnel Sanosyan introduced Ali Akbar Mehrabian on the ongoing large-scale work in the energy sector in Armenia, the programs of upgrading the Nuclear Power Plant, as well as constructing a new NPP.
Bowie, 72, was found guilty of murder by a jury on Monday after less than five hours of deliberations, and will be sentenced in December. Boyd was crying before they even read out the verdict, and gasped as it was announced. She watched as her father punched his fist on the dock and appeared to proclaim his innocence. Roxlyn Bowie with her daughter, Brenda. I just feel like, enoughs enough, just give it up, Boyd said. She has limited memories of her mother but recalls walking to and from school together in Walgett, where Bowie was an ambulance officer, and playing with dough as her mother cooked.

She said her mother fashioned her a veil from a sheet to be a princess at the time of Prince Charles and Dianas wedding in 1981. After her mother vanished, and on their fathers request, a family friend drove Boyd and her brother to their grandparents place at Killara, on Sydneys upper north shore. Their upbringing was spent between houses in NSW and Queensland with their womanising father and his then-partner or new girlfriend, Boyd said. Boyd, 47, was crying before they even read out the verdict, and gasped as it was announced. Credit:Steven Siewert I didnt have a connection with any of these women, so that was hard.

The Crown alleged at trial that Bowie was motivated to murder by his deteriorating marriage and desire to have a serious, unfettered relationship with Gail Clarke, a woman he had met in May 1982. Clarke, who is deceased, ultimately rejected Bowie after he arrived at her doorstep in late June 1982, saying his wife had left him, according to notes from her police interview in 1988. Although she went out with him on a number of occasions, she terminated the relationship after two to three weeks, the notes state. Roxlyn and John Bowie. Credit:NSW Police Media Boyd told the court she had asked her father about her mother several times, and when she was about eight or nine Bowie said she had left with her boyfriend the bank manager.

Boyd said she and her brother never really had much of a relationship with our father as Bowie spent time in and out of jail for other offences from when she was a teenager. Warren Bowie died in April 2016, aged 35, having suffered health problems. Loading In 2018, the year before Bowies arrest, Boyd wore a listening device for a conversation with her father that was played during the trial, during which he said that his past reference to a bank manager was just a figure of speech. Bowie swore on his life that he did not have anything to do with her disappearance, and repeated his claim that his wife had said if he went out drinking that night, she would not be there when he got back.

Im glad that the jury saw through all the lies, Boyd said on Tuesday. Boyd said the verdict was a relief and justice for her brother and Roxlyns parents, who died in the early 2000s. Roxlyns cousin Margot Rule, who had travelled to Walgett in late June 1982 to make inquiries into her welfare, died the day before the verdict. Boyd does not think her father will ever admit to the killing. I dont feel closure because I still dont know exactly what happened or even where she is, and hes the only one that knows the truth, she said.
City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has, in the past month, announced changes to the citys heart that a decade ago would have provoked howls of protest.

Under the councils plans, about half a dozen streets in the heart of the CBD will be either fully or partially closed to cars and given back to pedestrians, starting with the section of George Street near Circular Quay.

The changes are a sign that slowly, but surely, the motor car is losing the argument that has raged for a decade about whether cars or people would rule the CBD.

Cities such as London and Paris have for many years been trying to keep smelly, noisy cars off their streets and attract businesses and people into their CBDs.

Sydney is increasingly understanding that it must restrict car traffic if it wants to recover from the shock of the pandemic and rebuild its name as an international city.
Read more on the cost of living. See all 18 stories .

The Victorian oppositions flagship election policy of slashing Melbourne public transport fares to $2 a day has been estimated by the states transport department to cost twice as much as the Coalition claimed.

When Opposition Leader Matthew Guy announced the policy three weeks ago, he said the independent Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) had costed it at $1.3 billion over four years. That advice has not been made public.

Cutting public transport costs is a key Coalition policy to ease pressure on household budgets. Credit:Eddie Jim

But after a request by Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll, his department conducted its own evaluation which found the policy would cost twice as much.

The Department of Transport advice, which The Age has obtained, said the $2 fares would cost Victoria $2.6 billion over four years to 2027. This included compensation paid to Metro Trains, Yarra Trams and Melbourne bus operators for their share of lost fare revenue.
Victoria Police has been blasted over huge delays in responding to freedom of information (FOI) requests in a damning report that also said the Andrews government had made no progress in improving transparency and information sharing with the public.

Information Commissioner Sven Bluemmel, who is tasked with independently overseeing the public sectors information handling, said the agency had received a record number of complaints about FOI decision delays from police over the past year.

The Victorian Information Commissioner has received a record number of complaints about Victoria Police responses to FOI delays. Credit:Paul Rovere

According to a new report, average delays had increased from 27 weeks in March to 34 weeks  more than eight months  in September, despite a law requiring all FOI requests be completed within 30 days.

The commissioner also found the force had failed to implement some recommendations from a report last year that urged it to hire more staff to reduce the delays, with the backlog of overdue requests growing from 2328 in August last year to 2637 in August this year.
London: Anthony Albanese will skip the next round of global climate talks in Egypt, despite wanting to host the 2024 UN negotiations.

US President Joe Biden is attending next weeks COP27 gathering in Sharm el-Sheikh and Rishi Sunak is now exploring if his diary will permit him to attend, following fierce criticism from his own colleagues after the UK Prime Minister said he would be prioritising the delivery of his governments economic statement at home.

Australian diplomats have been working on the basis that the prime minister might attend the leaders summit on November 7 and 8.

But with parliament sitting, and with this years COP considered an implementation or incremental COP, unlike the Glasgow, Paris and Copenhagen meetings scheduled five years apart, Albanese will sit out this years conference.
For Christine Bradley from the Sunshine Coast, attending the Melbourne Cup was a bucket list experience.

The lack of sunshine at Flemington on Tuesday wasnt a concern for Bradley, who secured a prime position with 12 friends under cover opposite the finishing post.

Christine Bradley cheers on a winner at Flemington. Credit:Chris Hopkins

Were all just having a fabulous time just being together and seeing the fashions and the beautiful, amazing horses, Bradley said.

Her group of friends are visiting Melbourne on a cruise ship and by 1pm, Bradley had already scored wins in the first and second races.
Tech investor Blackbird Ventures has raised Australias largest fund to invest in nascent technology companies, with $1 billion to deploy in a market that has slumped since the giddy heights of last year.

The fund is betting that the long-term growth of the technology industry will render the ongoing downturn a blip, despite analysis firm PitchBook recording a 40 per cent drop in the value of US venture investments last quarter.

Blackbird co-founder Niki Scevak insists his fund wont forget small start-ups. Credit:Louie Douvis

The quote: [Technology has] succeeded in a big way over the past 10 years and we believe it will continue to succeed such that Australia and New Zealand will be in just the same position as America and China, where its the main industry, its the main show, said Niki Scevak, Blackbird co-founder.

The numbers: The Tech Council of Australia, an industry lobby group part funded by Blackbird, commissioned a report that suggested the technology sector directly accounted for 3.8 per cent of GDP in 2021. Its growing fast though and has a bigger indirect impact.
A global human trafficking syndicate has exploited flaws in Australian border security and the immigration system. See all 15 stories .

Singapore: Australia will on Wednesday complete a deal with Thailand to counter human trafficking as the Albanese government confronts disturbing revelations of sexual exploitation of migrants by a criminal operation on Australian soil.

In Bangkok for the latest leg of her south-east Asian charm offensive, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong will sign off on Australias support of a new training centre to counter trafficking  the first of its kind in the region  when she meets with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Human trafficking has been a long-standing stain on Thailand, with victims including children subjected to forced labour and sex; smuggling networks taking advantage of Burmese migrants  with the backing of figures within authorities  and Thai nationals exploited elsewhere in the world.

Young Thai girls are among those trafficked for work in strip clubs and sex parlours. Credit:File

We are pleased to be supporting Thailands own initiative and vision to develop a cadre of highly qualified and competent government officers committed to preventing human trafficking in Thailand and the region, Wong said.
Police apologise for handling of South Korea Halloween crowd crush

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YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan paid a short working visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran's Vice President Masoud Mir Kazemi met Prime Minister Pashinyan at Tehran International Airport, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Then Prime Minister Pashinyan headed to Sa'dabad Palace, where the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi welcomed Prime Minister Pashinyan, and the official welcoming ceremony took place.

Photos by Gevorg Perkuperkyan

Before starting the negotiations, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of Armenia Gnel Sanosyan and Irans Deputy Minister of Petroleum and CEO of the National Iranian Gas Company Majid Chegeni signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of natural gas.

First, the meeting of the leaders of Armenia and Iran took place in the narrow format and then in an expanded format. The interlocutors discussed a number of issues related to the development of Armenian-Iranian relations. In particular, the opportunities for the expansion of trade and economic relations, continuous increase of trade turnover volumes were discussed. In particular, the need to increase the volume to 3 billion USD per year was emphasized, for which, according to Prime Minister Pashinyan and Ebrahim Raisi, there is enough potential.

The sides also discussed issues related to the development of cooperation in infrastructure, energy, agriculture, construction and other fields. The implementation of joint projects for the facilitation of cargo transportation, the need to complete the construction of the third power transmission line between Armenia and Iran were highlighted.

After the meeting, the leaders of Armenia and Iran made statements for media representatives summarizing the results of the negotiations.

Ebrahim Raisi particularly said: "I welcome the Honorable Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and the members of the delegation accompanying him. I have no doubt, I am sure that the visit of Mr. Prime Minister will contribute to the further development of bilateral relations.

The neighborhood policy is one of our main policies, and we have had several meetings with Mr. Pashinyan during these months. During those meetings and today's visit, we emphasized the importance of developing ties between the two countries, especially in the economic, trade, political and security spheres.

During the previous months, we recorded 43 percent increase in trade and economic relations with Armenia, but the goal, the target is 3 billion USD. We will definitely achieve this goal. Good relations between the two countries will surely lead to strengthening of relations and security in the region.

The Caucasus region is a cultural and civilizational part of Irans historical past, and we are very sensitive towards that region. Establishing security and peace in the region is very important for the Islamic Republic of Iran. In the negotiations with Mr. Pashinyan, we came to the conclusion that the issues and problems of the region should definitely be solved through the leaders of the countries of the region. The presence of foreign powers not only does not solve any problems, but creates additional problems.

It is regional cooperation that will guarantee complete and lasting peace between countries. I hope that the agreements that were reached during this visit, and it was decided that the leaders of the two countries should make every effort to implement these agreements, will contribute to the further development of our relations, and we will witness a high level of bilateral relations. Once again, I welcome the Prime Minister of friendly and neighboring Armenia and the members of the delegation accompanying him."

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said: "Honorable Mr. President, thank you for the invitation and warm welcome. I have to record that we are having a very full visit. We discussed issues related to the economic and political relations of the two countries, emphasized our historical ties, including recording the subtleties of our relations. I also highly appreciated the attitude and policy of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the opportunities created for the Armenian community of Iran. I must emphasize that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Armenia are a very bright example of cooperation and friendship between Islamic and Christian civilizations.

We also discussed issues related to the regional agenda, and in this direction the Republic of Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran see a very large field of cooperation as well. We emphasize and appreciate Iran's firm positions in terms of ensuring regional security and stability. I told Mr. Raisi about the results of yesterdays trilateral meeting in Sochi and shared my impressions about the agenda and current processes for establishing stability and peace in the region.

We consider it important that our Iranian partners are informed about what is happening in the context of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, in the context of Armenia-Turkey relations, in the context of the settlement of the Nagorno-Kaevabagh issue.

A huge part of our conversation, of course, is about developing economic cooperation, and we see a huge potential here. There are concrete perspectives in the fields of energy, agriculture, infrastructure development, water resources management, the conversation around which should be made as concrete as possible. And I am glad that we achieved concrete results during the visit and a memorandum on the extension of the "Gas for Electricity" contract was signed.

Mr. President, there is every reason to already consider the visit memorable, and I will be happy to host you in the Republic of Armenia at a convenient time for you to continue this dialogue. I would like to thank you for supporting the positive developments in our relations, the latest manifestation of which was the opening of the Irans Consulate General in Kapan, the administrative center of Syunik Province. Thank you".

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's short visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran has ended.
Russian president accused of "death by freezing"

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Aquamarine investigation was launched in September 2016 and runs under the responsibility of the Central Team of the Prosecutor's Office of Curacao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, St Eustatius, and Saba. The investigation was conducted by the Recherche Samenwerkingsteam (RST).

In this investigation, Sint Maarten's lawyer Peggy Ann Brandon was suspected of committing fraud, forgery, and money laundering. Searches were conducted in Brandon's home and her law firm in late 2018 and early 2019 under the direction of the supervisory judge (RC). During these searches, various documents and digital data were seized by the RC. A complaint was filed by Brandon and the law firm against this seizure at the Court of First Instance, alleging that her right to privilege as a lawyer had been violated.

In the complaint procedure, which has run from the end of 2019 to the present, it has emerged that several irreparable (formal) errors were made by the prosecutors office, the RC cabinet, and RST in the seizure and further handling of the potentially privileged documents and data of Brandon. and her law firm. After careful consideration of all the facts and circumstances, the prosecution concluded that this not only infringed the (derivative) right to privilege to which Brandon and her law firm were entitled but also potentially violated her right to a fair trial.

The prosecution believes that the mistakes made by the prosecutors office, the RC cabinet, and RST are so serious that the prosecutors office considers itself inadmissible in the further prosecution of Peggy Ann Brandon. The criminal case against Peggy Ann Brandon has therefore been dismissed, stated a press release from the OM/TBO on Monday.

PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE Press Release.
PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- At the Community Breast Abnormalities Screening Event, the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC), in collaboration with the Positive Foundation and the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, hosted a successful free breast screening event in Philipsburg.



The October 22 event was the second of three events this year, with the final event for 2022 scheduled for November 26.



More than a dozen AUC students under the supervision and clinical medicine fellows provided 31 women with general health assessments.



To date, nearly 500 women have been examined by Dr. Chobanyan and her team of clinical medicine fellows and students.



Each assessment also included a free clinical breast examination by Dr. Naira Chobanyan, clinical oncologist, and professor of clinical medicine at AUC.



The October 22 event included attendance by the Honorable Omar Ottley, Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, as well as Eva Lista-de Weever, head of the Public Health Department.



Both Ottley and Dr. Lista-de Weever attended the screening and educational sessions in order to learn about the breast abnormalities screening project and to better understand the burden of disease in Sint Maarten.





For AUC medical students and clinical medicine fellows, the event was an opportunity to work side-by-side with patients while practicing clinical and communication skills.



Students spent much of their time explaining the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of breast cancer, and answering questions about personal breast health and self-care.



In addition to the benefits, this research brings to the community of Sint Maarten regarding breast awareness and education, clinical fellows and medical students are afforded an opportunity to gain real-world clinical experience.



By working with real patients, conducting interviews, and performing an overall health assessment, medical students have the opportunity to enhance their preparedness for clinical rotations.



The breast abnormalities screening project began in 2017 but was placed on a hiatus following Hurricane Irma and the COVID-19 pandemic.



The project seeks to increase public awareness of breast cancer while also collecting much-needed data on the prevalence of breast abnormalities in Sint Maarten residents.



Results of the project will be reported to the Ministry of Health to help establish local policies for breast screening.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The draft Legal Position Regulation for the Police of Sint Maarten with the new salary scales is currently being reviewed by the Council of Advice. After having received the signed consent and covenant of the draft Legal Position Regulation from the Committee for Civil Servants Union (CCSU) on October 3rd, 2022, the Honorable Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson immediately forwarded the same to the Council of Advice for a final review through the Cabinet of both the Prime Minister and the Governor.

From the inception of taking public office, Minister Richardson has been tackling the personnel issues of the Ministry of Justice with a steadfast and collective approach in the interest of all justice workers. She continues to provide updates on each step in the lengthy legislative process, be it via meetings with the unions, press briefings, or press statements. One element in bringing these issues of the Ministry to an end is the establishment of the Legal Position Regulation with its salary scales in order to enact the completed Ministry of Justice Function Book which was signed and approved on December 20th, 2021. Considering that the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) Function Book is a part of the entire Ministry of Justice Function Book, it was determined that the Legal Position Regulation for the Police of Sint Maarten with the new salary scales also needs to be finalized so that all three items become enacted together.

Once the draft Legal Position Regulation is received from the Council of Advice, and the necessary amendments made, it will be sent to the Council of Ministers for approval and then sent on to His Excellency Governor Ajamu Baly for signature, and finally to Minister Richardson for final approval and signature.

Upon final approval, the national decree for police personnel stating the new salary scales and steps of each concerning civil servant will be legal. This new Legal Position Regulation including salary scales will then be officially and legally ratified. These actions serve as the legal basis for the police personnel to be reimbursed for salary differences that exist since the salaries of police personnel had not been adjusted in 2010.

Though the legal process is a lengthy one, I am elated that personnel matters of the Ministry of Justice are finally being properly regulated after 11 years. I anticipate that within a few short weeks, this will all be finalized considering that all relevant entities such as the Council of Ministers, the Council of Advice, His Excellency Governor Ajamu Baly, and my person as Minister of Justice, all have this matter as a high priority item. Nevertheless, within this same token, I recognize and understand the frustration and grievances of the officers, as such, I have requested a meeting with them via the Chief of Police, stated Minister Richardson.
~ Presentation will be made to Parliament. ~

Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion informed parliament on Tuesday that the previous government of St. Maarten has decided to launch an investigation into the operation of the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF). The Minister said that the Jacobs 2 cabinet decided to continue the process and the auditing of SCDF. The Minister said after several complaints were filed by stakeholders to the government and parliament and the third party was enlisted to investigate which is now complete and a presentation will be made to the parliament of St. Maarten since at least four members of parliament posed questions about the carnival.

Irion said the focus of the investigation was on accountability and transparency within the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation. He said the investigation went way back when carnival started and the persons that were involved and the current state of affairs.

The Minister of Finance assured that carnival 2023 will be funded through its subsidy, however, the government is busy working on a strategy for how they would want to see the carnival managed for 2023.

Discrepancies found were a lack of procedural transparency unfair and unbalanced contractual practices with booth allocations, limited accountability, and insights into the finances of SCDF. A lack of cultural incorporation of cultural aspects, safety and security of residents and visitors, and lack of transparency of sales and distribution of carnival passes.

The Minister of finance said that it has been recommended to the government not to tender carnival 2023 due to the lack of time.
Victoria Gold: Files Technical Report on the Raven Gold Deposit, Dublin Gulch Property, Yukon, Canada 1.1 Million Gold Ounces @ 1.7 g/t

Victoria Gold Corp. (TSX-VGCX) (aVictoriaa or the aCompanya  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/victoria-gold-corp/ ) is pleased to announce that it has filed a technical report prepared in accordance with 43-101 a Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (aNI 43-101a) on the Raven Gold Deposit, located approximately 15 kilometers (akma) east of the Eagle Gold Mine.

The October 26, 2022 technical report, titled aTechnical Report on the Raven Mineral Deposit, Mayo Mining District Yukon Territory, Canadaa, with an effective date of September 15, 2022, can be found on the Companya?s website at www.vgcx.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The Initial MRE comprises a total Inferred Mineral Resource of 1,070,239 ?ounces of gold for the near-surface Raven Deposit.

Notes: ?

The effective date for the Mineral Resource is September 15, 2022.

Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues.

The CIM definitions were followed for classification of Mineral Resources. The quantity and grade of reported inferred Mineral Resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature ?and there has been insufficient exploration to define these inferred Mineral Resources as an ?indicated Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an ?indicated or measured Mineral Resource category.

Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.50 g/t Au, within a Lerchs-Grossman pit shell using a gold price of US$1,700/ounce and a US$/CAN$ exchange rate of 0.75.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Paul D. Gray, P.Geo., as the aQualified Persona as defined in National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About the Dublin Gulch Property

Victoria Gold\-s 100%-owned Dublin Gulch gold property (the aPropertya) is situated in central Yukon Territory, Canada, approximately 375 kilometers north of the capital city of Whitehorse, and approximately 85 kilometers from the town of Mayo. The Property is accessible by road year-round, and is located within Yukon Energy\-s electrical grid.

The Property covers an area of approximately 555 square kilometers, and is the site of the Company\-s Eagle and Olive Gold Deposits. The Company issued a National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for the Eagle Gold Mine dated December 3, 2019 (the a2019 Eagle Technical Reporta). Since the date of the 2019 Eagle Technical Report, the Company has produced gold from its Eagle Mine. Based on the 2019 Eagle Technical Report and after adjusting for depletion through December 31, 2021, the Eagle and Olive deposits include Proven and Probable Reserves of 2.7 million ounces of gold from 133 million tonnes of ore with a grade of 0.64 grams of gold per tonne. Based on the 2019 Eagle Technical Report and after adjusting for depletion through December 31, 2021, the Mineral Resource for the Eagle and Olive deposits has been estimated to host 207 million tonnes averaging 0.63 grams of gold per tonne, containing 4.2 million ounces of gold in the \Measured and Indicated\ category, inclusive of Proven and Probable Reserves, and a further 28 million tonnes averaging 0.61 grams of gold per tonne, containing 0.6 million ounces of gold in the \Inferred\ category.

For Further Information Contact:

John McConnell President & CEO

Victoria Gold Corp.

Tel: 604-696-6605

ceo@vgcx.com

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed \forward-looking statements\. Except for statements of historical fact relating to Victoria, information contained herein constitutes forward-looking information, including any information related to Victoria\-s strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as aplana, aexpecta, abudgeta, atargeta, aprojecta, aintenda, abelievea, aanticipatea, aestimatea and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions amaya, awilla, acoulda or ashoulda occur, and includes any guidance and forecasts set out herein (including, but not limited to, production and operational guidance of the Corporation). In order to give such forward-looking information, the Corporation has made certain assumptions about its business, operations, the economy and the mineral exploration industry in general, in particular in light of the impact of the novel coronavirus and the COVID-19 disease (aCOVID-19a) on each of the foregoing. In this respect, the Corporation has assumed that production levels will remain consistent with managementa?s expectations, contracted parties provide goods and services on agreed timeframes, equipment works as anticipated, required regulatory approvals are received, no unusual geological or technical problems occur, no material adverse change in the price of gold occurs and no significant events occur outside of the Corporation\-s normal course of business. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made, and are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other known and unknown factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in, or implied by, the forward-looking information. These factors include the impact of general business and economic conditions, risks related to COVID-19 on the Company, global liquidity and credit availability on the timing of cash flows and the values of assets and liabilities based on projected future conditions, anticipated metal production, fluctuating metal prices, currency exchange rates, estimated ore grades, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in accounting policies, changes in Victoria\-s corporate resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, changes in development and production time frames, the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, uncertainty of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, higher prices for fuel, steel, power, labour and other consumables contributing to higher costs and general risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, final pricing for metal sales, unanticipated results of future studies, seasonality and unanticipated weather changes, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, requirements for additional capital, permitting time lines, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims, limitations on insurance coverage and timing and possible outcomes of pending litigation and labour disputes, risks related to remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure, fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for mining operations. Although Victoria has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in, or implied by, the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding Victoria\-s expected financial and operational performance and Victoria\-s plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. All forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof, as the case may be, and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management of the Corporation as at the date hereof. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information contained herein and the documents incorporated by reference herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.
Karora Achieves Carbon Neutrality in 2022 Following the Retirement of Diversified Carbon Offsets Purchased via Invert Inc. and Provides Update on Emissions Reduction Strategy

Karora Resources Inc. (TSX:KRR; OTCQX:KRRGF) (\Karora\ or the aCorporation\  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/karora-resources-inc/ ) is pleased to announce that it will achieve carbon neutrality for the second straight year in 2022 for its own operations (Scope 1 emissions) and purchased electricity consumption (Scope 2 emissions) through the purchase and retirement of 95,000 tonnes of verified carbon offset credits. The credit retirements form a part of Karoraa?s ongoing carbon emissions reduction and concurrent offset strategy.

Contemporaneously, Karora is well underway with the development of an emissions reduction plan to reduce future emissions including the analysis of a variety of renewable and hybrid power solutions at Higginsville. Karora is working with Invert Inc. to set emission reduction targets which will be announced in Q1 2023 as part of Karoraa?s annual ESG report. The targets will include 2030 and 2050 and will outline the GHG reduction impact of the selected power option at Higginsville currently being finalized. Karora plans to evaluate additional GHG reduction opportunities across its operations in 2023.

Paul Andre Huet, Chairman & CEO, commented: aAfter becoming one of the worlda?s first carbon neutral gold producers in 2021, we are committed to continuing to be a leader amongst our peers in actively reducing our carbon emissions and implementing further initiatives in line with our commitment to develop a pathway toward a Net Zero mining future. We believe mining will continue to form the backbone of critical metals delivery in the years to come and we are proud to be leaders in the junior gold mining space.

Similar to our 2021 process, our selection of offsets was driven by a thorough analysis of carbon reduction and removal quality and credibility as well as the social impact expected from the variety of offset projects selected. We have maintained our geographical community focused approach leading to the further investment in Australian carbon reduction projects, among others, including the Mount Sandy project. Through this project, we achieve two important outcomes by offsetting Karoraa?s Scope 1 and 2 emissions as well as ensuring the protection of Australiaa?s unique biodiversity.

Moving forward, we are advancing our evaluation of a range of renewable and hybrid power solutions at Higginsville that will drive lower emissions. Options being actively considered include grid tie-in analysis and hybrid power solutions that include solar and wind power components. Our approach to power solutions and future mining equipment selections is part of our broader strategy of reducing our future greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We will be setting our first emissions reduction targets in our 2022 Sustainability report, which is scheduled to be released in the first quarter of 2023. This will include our targets for 2030 and 2050. Our goal is to continue to be a sector leader amongst our junior gold mining peers with our initial focus on Scope 1 and 2 emissions reductions and ultimately reducing our Scope 3 emissions to achieve Net Zero status.a

Andre Fernandez, Co-CEO of Invert. Inc, commented: aWe are very pleased to continue to support Karora in both its geographically impactful carbon credit program and in the development of its emissions reduction strategy moving forward. Last year, Karora and Inverta?s carbon neutral announcement was one of the first of its kind in the junior gold producer sector and its impact on the industry has been notable. At Invert we are well equipped to help mining companies develop their long-term carbon solutions and are looking forward to further announcements as we work on a number of exciting initiatives with Karora.a

Karora, through its alliance with Invert Inc., selected a range of offset projects in order to support a diversified basket of important carbon offset projects ranging from renewable projects to reforestation in Australia, among others. The retired Australian carbon offsets are independently verified by Gold Standard and simultaneously qualify as government accredited Australian Biodiversity Units, meeting the standards required for the Australian Government\-s Climate Active Program (formerly the National Carbon Offset Standard a NCOS).

The Mount Sandy Conservation project selected in Australia involves the protection of a 200 hectare strategic habitat with replanting of over 30 species of native vegetation including tree cover. The project area is managed via close collaboration with the traditional land owners and custodians of Coorong County, the local Ngarrindjeri people. Native plant species for revegetation are supplied by the local nursery at Raukkan Aboriginal Community located 50 kilometres northwest of the project site.

About Karora Resources

Karora is focused on increasing gold production to a targeted range of 185,000-205,000 ounces by 2024 at its integrated Beta Hunt Gold Mine and Higginsville Gold Operations (\HGO\) in Western Australia. The Higginsville treatment facility is a low-cost 1.6 Mtpa processing plant, which is fed at capacity from Karora\-s underground Beta Hunt mine and Higginsville mines. Karora recently acquired the 1.0 Mtpa Lakewood Mill in Western Australia. At Beta Hunt, a robust gold Mineral Resource and Reserve are hosted in multiple gold shears, with gold intersections along a 4 km strike length remaining open in multiple directions. HGO has a substantial Mineral gold Resource and Reserve and prospective land package totaling approximately 1,900 square kilometers. The Corporation also owns the high grade Spargos Reward project, which came into production in 2021. Karora has a strong Board and management team focused on delivering shareholder value and responsible mining, as demonstrated by Karora\-s commitment to reducing emissions across its operations. Karora\-s common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol KRR and also trade on the OTCQX market under the symbol KRRGF.

www.karoraresources.com

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains \forward-looking information\ including without limitation statements relating to the Company achieving a True Net Zero mining future in line with Science Based Targets, including the goals of reaching Scope 1 Scope 2 net zero emissions, reducing the Company\-s carbon footprint, achieving net zero GHG emissions across the business and the Company becoming world\-s first Net Zero GHG junior mining company.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Karora to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals; the results of drilling; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the properties; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; results of exploration programs; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; political instability, terrorism, insurrection or war; or delays in obtaining governmental approvals, projected cash operating costs, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Karora \-s filings with Canadian securities regulators, including the most recent Annual Information Form, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Although Karora has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Karora disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
First Tin Plc receives ESG Rating from Digbee

First Tin Plc (\First Tin\ or athe companya  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/first-tin-ltd/ ), a tin development company with advanced, low capex projects in Germany and Australia focused on advancing the TellerhAuser high-grade underground project in Germany and the Taronga open pit project in Australia through to delivery of the two Definitive Feasibility Studies, is pleased to announceA receipt of the Companya?s inaugural environmental, social and governance (ESG) rating from Digbee ESG (aDigbeea). Digbee is a leading independent assessment platform for ESG disclosure in the mining industry. Based on ESG achievements in the Companya?s first six months of operations since listing on the London Stock Exchange in April 2022, First Tin achieved an overall rating of BB.

Digbeea?s report provides a comprehensive assessment of First Tina?s achievements across a broad range of key ESG performance criteria. The report is especially valuable in highlighting opportunities for continuous improvement in specific areas.

First Tin undertook and submitted its first Digbee ESG disclosure on 11th May 2022. This comprised the completion of a set of comprehensive corporate and project questionnaires appropriate to the stage of the Companya?s projects and mapped to Global Standards. These questionnaires required provision of relevant data, narrative and supporting evidence. First Tina?s disclosure was Board-approved prior to submission and assessed by the independent mining ESG experts in order to produce an impartial rating.

Assessment results:

First Tin is a qualified candidate for European Raw Material Alliance (ERMA) funding and support. ERMA has identified tin from conflict- free sources as a critical raw material to support the EUa?s intention of becoming climate-neutral by 2050.

The jurisdictions where both projects are situated (Australia and Germany) are well established mining jurisdictions with well-developed governance systems in place to ensure environmental, health and social aspects are adhered to.

First Tina?s planning incorporates a number of aspects that show ESG considerations with regards to mining activities, e.g. concurrent rehabilitation of mining workings on mining tenements, use of renewable energy, and use of waste rock as filling material for underground sites (Germany) or as dry stacking / aggregate (Australia).

Thomas Buenger, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

aDespite our short history, ESG has been a central focus from day one and remains a key priority. We are proud of the ESG rating achieved under the Digbee assessment. The Digbee ESG assessment is a further demonstration of our commitment to transparent reporting of our performance and progress as we work to achieve the highest levels of ESG compliance and practice across our operations.a

Enquiries:

First TinA Via SEC Newgate below

Thomas Buenger  Chief Executive Officer

Arlington Group Asset Management Limited (Financial Advisor and Joint Broker)

Simon Catt 020 7389 5016

WH Ireland Limited (Joint Broker)

Harry Ansell 020 7220 1670

SEC Newgate (Financial Communications)

Elisabeth Cowell / Axaule Shukanayeva / Molly Gretton 07900A 248A 213

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen StaigerA info@resource-capital.ch

Notes to Editors

First Tin is an ethical, reliable, and sustainable tin production company led by a team of renowned tin specialists. The Company is focused on becoming a tin supplier in conflict-free, low political risk jurisdictions through the rapid development of high value, low capex tin assets in Germany and Australia.

Tin is a critical metal, vital in any plan to decarbonise and electrify the world, yet Europe has very little supply. Rising demand, together with shortages, is expected to lead tin to experience sustained deficit markets for the foreseeable future. Its assets have been de-risked significantly, with extensive work undertaken to date.

First Tin\-s goal is to use best-in-class environmental standards to bring two tin mines into production in three years, providing provenance of supply to support the current global clean energy and technological revolutions.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan received the delegation headed by Thierry Ribaux, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Armenia, ARMENPRESS was informed from the office of the President of the Republic of Armenia

"We have always highly valued our cooperation. Now we value it even more, considering that you are represented both in Yerevan and Stepanakert," said President Khachaturyan, welcoming the guests.

The President highly appreciated the ICRC's efforts aimed at establishing contact between the persons still detained in Azerbaijan and their relatives, as well as obtaining information about their health.

Thierry Ribaux thanked the president for the reception and welcomed the support and willingness shown by the representatives of the state bodies to the activities of the Red Cross.

During the meeting, reference was made to the issue of the persons who are kept in prison in the Azerbaijani side and those who went missing as a result of the 44-day war and the Azerbaijani aggression that took place after it.

Both sides emphasized that humanitarian issues should not become the subject of political speculation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that during the trilateral meeting with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Sochi on October 31 some issues were not agreed on by the sides, but he refused to make them public.

November 1, 2022, 09:10 Issues not agreed upon during Sochi summit are very delicate and sensitive  Putin

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 1, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: Can I say something [about those issues]? I can, but dont think I should. If they remain unsettled, there is no need to draw extra media and public attention to them, we should simply try and agree on them in a calm manner, out of the public eye, TASS reports Putin as saying, when asked about provisions of the trilateral statement adopted after the Sochi summit that could not be agreed by the sides.

Those issues are very delicate and sensitive for both sides, and I dont feel like I should reveal them without prior consent from the partners, Putin said.

Following talks with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Russian President said the sides had adopted a joint statement, but some provisions had to be removed from the initial draft.

Touching upon the border demarcation and delimitation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Russian leader stated: Demarcation and delimitation of borders is the most important question. Indeed, we discussed it a lot today, and there have been certain prerequisites, [showing] that the path in general has been found, Putin said.

Putin added that Russia is ready to provide also their maps, compiled by the General Staff of the Soviet armed forces, in order to facilitate Armenian-Azerbaijani border demarcation. As we understand, these maps are the most accurate, Putin said. And we are ready to move forward using them as a basis and discussing the matter with both sides. We have agreed with the sides that these contacts, these negotiations, these consultations would continue, he added.
Colombia's chances of joining the ever-expanding Formula 1 calendar have been given a major boost.

Colombia's chances of joining the ever-expanding Formula 1 calendar have been given a major boost.

In September, we reported that the Colombian city of Barranquilla was bidding to become a F1 race host, with mayor Jaime Pumarejo confirming: "Representatives of Formula 1 have already visited the city and they like it".

And now, the local Colombian newspaper El Heraldo reports that F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali's private jet touched down in Barranquilla at 4.30pm on Monday.

The report said Fernando Alonso's manager Luis Garcia Abad, reportedly working with promoters of the Mexican GP, was travelling with Domenicali.

"It is not yet a reality," said mayor Pumarejo, "but we are in the race and we hope to reach the finish line.

"We do not want to generate false expectations."

It is believed a race in Colombia may actually be branded the Caribbean GP.

"If it was signed, we could be talking about 2024 or 2025 and hopefully it would be for ten years," the mayor added.

"There are two semi-street circuits identified and approved - a plan A and a plan B. Both are within the metropolitan area."
Lisbon (Portugal), November 01, 2022 (SPS)- The Eleventh Congress of the Women's Democratic Movement in Portugal issued a recommendation expressing its full support for the struggle of the Sahrawi people to achieve their will for self-determination and independence.

The Sahrawi human rights activist Sultana Khaya participated in this conference as a guest of honor and representative of all Sahrawi women who suffer in refugee camps and in the occupied zones of Western Sahara.

The women's democratic movement warmly welcomed the Sahrawi activist Sultana Kheya, confirming that the struggle of the Sahrawi people and the struggle of Sahrawi women will always be present in the action plan of the movement at the national and international levels.

The movement says in its recommendation that in this tense international context, "we continue to demand peace in Western Sahara, and we demand the following:

- Enabling the Sahrawi people to exercise their right to self-determination and independence, in compliance with relevant United Nations resolutions.

- We demand a clear position from the Portuguese government in favor of embodying the right of the Sahrawi people, and to act accordingly within the framework of the United Nations and the European Union.

- Urgent respect for the right of the Sahrawi people, children and women, to a dignified life.

- Ending the illegal Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara.

- Ending the systematic oppression and gross violations against the defenseless Sahrawi population in the occupied territories.

- Increasing humanitarian aid to the Sahrawi refugee camps.

- Immediate release of Sahrawi political detainees inside the prisons of the Moroccan occupation.

SPS 110 TRA
No one will be able to stop the Russian economy or undermine political stability in the country, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a message to participants in a world thematic conference of Russian compatriots residing overseas, dubbed "Economic Cooperation: Compatriots and Russian Regions. Responding to Challenges of the Time."

November 1, 2022, 15:29 No one can stop Russias economy or undermine political stability, Lavrov says

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 1, ARTSAKHPRESS: "It is safe to say that no one will ever be able to stop the Russian economy or undermine domestic political stability," Lavrov pointed out.

According to him, while taking the Wests destructive actions into account, Russian continues to steadily follow its own course regardless of any difficulties. "We faced sanctions before. The experience of the past decades helps us succeed in overcoming the challenge," the top diplomat noted.

Lavrov emphasized that Russia was not facing isolation on the international stage. "We have many friends all over the world. We consistently boost relations with a broad range of countries within the CIS, in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America," he specified. The Russian foreign minister also said that Moscow did not seek to wall itself off from its business partners in Europe and North America. "It has never been our choice to cut mutually beneficial ties," he concluded.


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The Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) announces that 18,883,710 citizens with the right to vote were registered in the Electoral Registry on October 31, by 15,032 more than the last public information from the end of September, when there were 18,868.678 voters, told Agerpres.

According to a press release sent on Tuesday by AEP, the differences appear as a result of the current operations carried out by the mayors in the Electoral Registry and the import of data from the Directorate for Personal Records and Database Administration (DEPABD).

According to the quoted source, in October, 20,900 people were removed from the Electoral Registry as a result of death and 29 people who were forbidden to exercise the right to vote.

At the same time, a number of 101 people regained their electoral rights as a result of the expiration of the banning period.

In the same period, 19,009 voters turned 18, and they were registered in the Electoral Registry ex officio by the Permanent Electoral Authority, based on the communication of the Directorate for the Registration of Persons and the Administration of Databases.

Also, according to the data imported on October 14 from the General Directorate of Passports, 21,306 new voters entered the records, and a number of 4,455 voters no longer appear in the Electoral Registry as a result of death or loss of citizenship.

AEP specifies that, of the total number of Romanian voters appearing in the Electoral Registry, 18,056,357 have their domicile or residence in the country, and 827,353 have their domicile abroad.

According to Law 208/2015, the Electoral Registry is a national IT system for registering and updating the identification data of Romanian citizens with the right to vote and the information regarding their attendance at the polling stations.
The General Inspectorate of the Border Police informs that on Monday, 76,618 people entered Romania, through border checkpoints across the country, of whom 7,508 were Ukrainian nationals, a decrease of almost 15% compared to the previous day.

According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday, approximately 160,000 people, Romanian and foreign nationals, with more than 45,000 means of transport, completed the control formalities at the border crossing points nationwide, both on the outbound and on the inbound.As of February 10, 2022 (pre-conflict period), 2,722,117 Ukrainian citizens entered our country.On Monday, 15 foreign citizens who did not meet the legal requirements were denied entry to the country and 16 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave for various legal reasons.
The OECD anti-bribery convention represents an important legal instrument available to interested states to combat foreign bribery and ensure fair conditions worldwide in international trade and investment. As recognized by the latest report of the OECD Anti-Bribery Working Group, Italy promoted the implementation of the convention and contributed significantly to the efforts against corruption at numerous international levels, carrying out various "capacity building" programs, the release states.According to the diplomatic mission, Romania's path towards joining the OECD includes the need to develop a strategic approach for implementing the values and standards of the Convention against corruption. In this sense, the experience of Italy, recalled by the participants in the seminar, can represent an effective point of reference for the Romanian institutions.As recalled by Lorenzo Salazar, deputy general prosecutor at the Naples Court of Appeal, "the long experience acquired by Italy in the sector of combating foreign bribery will support the process of bringing Romania closer to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and its Monitoring Group, in the perspective of the country's accession to the Paris Organization"."The fight against corruption is a crucial challenge for the international community, which cannot be defeated without the active participation of companies in partnership with the public sector," said Antonio Gullo, professor of criminal law at the LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome.Italian ambassador Alfredo Durante Mangoni emphasized that Monday's event contributes to the strengthening of relations between the two countries and "represents a special opportunity for the discussion and exchange of good practices in this sector, including in the light of the recent evaluation of Italy in the framework of the implementation of the Convention against Corruption of OECD".For his part, the national coordinator for Romania's accession to the OECD, Luca Niculescu, reiterated Bucharest's "firm" commitment to continue the fight against corruption.The strengthening of the dialogue between Romania and Italy in the context of the OECD confirms once again the consolidated strategic partnership between the two states, the press release adds.The secretary of state in the Ministry of Justice Mihai Pasca specified that this ministry is prepared for the evaluation exercise that will be carried out by the Working Group on Bribery. The representatives of the ministry signed the formal request for accession to the Anti-Bribery Convention.
Trade relations between Iran and Armenia have witnessed a 43% growth in recent months, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said during the meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Tehran, adding that the goal is to increase trade relations up to $3 billion, Mehr news agency reports.

November 1, 2022, 15:52 Armenian PMs visit to Iran to be turning point in development of two countries  President Raisi

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 1, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: Undoubtedly, the visit of the Prime Minister of Armenia to the Islamic Republic of Iran will be a turning point in the development of the two countries, the Iranian President said.

Saying that the neighborliness policy is one of the policies emphasized by the Iranian government, he added that holding such bilateral meetings for the development of economic, trade, and security relations between Iran and Armenia are on the agenda.

Our goal is to increase trade relations up to three billion dollars, which can be achieved with the will of the two countries, he added.

Raeisi underlined that good relations between the two countries will definitely lead to better relations in the region and the world.

He stated that the Caucasus region is a part of Iran's history, civilization, and culture, adding that the developments, security, and peace in the Caucasus region are very important for Iran.

Emphasizing that regional problems should be resolved by regional actors, he stressed, Any kind of interference by foreigners in the region will create problems instead of solving the problem.
USR (Save Romania Union) Deputy Cristian Seidler on Tuesday said that Lucian Bode must resign as Minister of Interior, after the Ethics Commission of the 'Babes-Bolyai' University published the results of the evaluation of his PhD thesis, arguing that President Klaus Iohannis previously stated that "if three sentences were plagiarized, the politician must go."

"Seeing today's decision of the UBB's Ethics Commission, we ask for the resignation of Mr. Bode. I remind you of the standard set by the President of Romania himself, who stated that if a politician plagiarizes even three sentences, then he must leave public office. In this case there were identified 1,925 words that were plagiarized, while there were only some fragments verified, representing approximately 10pct of Mr. Bode's PhD thesis," said Seidler, at the Parliament, told Agerpres.

The 'Babes-Bolyai' University from Cluj-Napoca has made public the conclusions of the analysis of UBB's Ethics Commission's analysis of the PhD thesis of the Minister of Interior, Lucian Bode, finding that there are "a number of deviations from good publishing norms - citation errors and some plagiarized fragments.'

In response, Bode claims that the paper "is fine," "the PhD titled awarded in 2019 is valid," stating that he will review the errors found.
The Government has on the agenda of Wednesday's meeting, among other things, the analysis of a draft emergency ordinance on private pensions and the draft law on the organization and operation of the National Signaling Information System, with a view to Romania's participation in the Schengen Information System, told Agerpres.

According to a press release sent on Tuesday, the Executive will discuss the draft Emergency Ordinance for the modification and completion of normative acts in the field of private pensions.

Also, on the agenda of the Government meeting is the draft law regarding the organization and operation of the National Signaling Information System and Romania's participation in the Schengen Information System. The normative act seeks to ensure the legal framework necessary for Romania's participation in data exchange with the Schengen member states, with the aim of contributing to the strengthening of cooperation between the competent Romanian authorities and those of the member states, as regulated by the European provisions in the field, the explanatory note reads.

Also in Wednesday's meeting, the Executive will discuss a draft emergency ordinance that amends and completes Emergency Ordinance 83/2001 on the establishment, organization and operation of community public services for passports and community public services for driving licenses and vehicle registration, as well as Emergency Ordinance 84/2001 regarding the establishment, organization and operation of community public services for records of persons.

According to the explanatory note, the draft normative act is promoted at the initiative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with a view to streamlining the activity of the authorities and public administration institutions in the field of driving permits and vehicle registration, respectively in the field of personal records, and also has in mind the acceleration of the processes of administrative simplification and digital transformation of public services and internal work procedures.

Another normative act on the agenda of the meeting refers to the amendment of the Framework Loan Agreement between Romania and the Development Bank of the Council of Europe for the financing of the Project regarding the completion of construction, renovation or rehabilitation of cultural buildings of public interest in Romania, signed in Bucharest on May 4, 2007 and in Paris on May 14, 2007.

The executive also discusses a draft decision that provides for the addition of 10,000,000 lei to the budget of the General Secretariat of the Government, as a result of the budget correction, and its allocation to the organizations of citizens belonging to national minorities.

At the same time, the Government also has on its agenda a draft decision that modifies the List containing the international common names corresponding to the medicines that the insured benefit from, with or without personal contribution, on the basis of medical prescription, in the social health insurance system, as well as the international common names corresponding to the medicines that are granted within the national health programs.

The Executive is also discussing a draft decision regarding the arrangement, approval, maintenance and operation of slopes and ski trails for leisure.

The normative act provides for the legislation of the access of people with special needs to the ski slopes with specific reference to their equipment and the updating of the level of fines in order to raise the level of awareness of the administrators of the slopes and of the tourists regarding the observance of their obligations.

On the agenda of the meeting there are several memoranda regarding the organization of contests for the filling of vacant positions within some public institutions subordinated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Judicial Inspection, as well as for the filling of 70 external expert positions outside the organizational chart within the National Agency for Payments and Social Inspection for the implementation of the project "Performing social policies - national strategy for the efficient implementation of family policies".

Another memorandum refers to measures regarding the strengthening of the partnership with the development regions for the implementation of the 2021-2027 regional programs by signing a joint declaration between the Ministry of Investments and European Projects and the Regional Development Agencies for the launch of the 2021-2027 regional programs.

The Government also has on its agenda an information regarding the Rastolita hydropower development at the level of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forestry.
Romanian Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Sorin Grindeanu told a news conference in the port of Constanta on Tuesday that so far this year, his ministry has signed EU-funded contracts worth over RON16 billion, which means four times higher than that in 2021.

"So far this year, contracts worth over RON 16 billion lei have been signed, four times more than last year, when they were standing at RON 4.6 billion. As an absorption rate, we will exceed RON 8 billion, according to the latest calculations, heading towards RON 10 billion, 200% over 2021. The absorption in what the year 2023 will mean will be a huge one at the Ministry of Transport, because all these contracts that I mentioned earlier will come into effect," said Grindeanu, told Agerpres.

He added that in the past years, "one of the points that did not work at the right pace is the one related to drawing European funds."
The Custodian of the Romanian Crown, Margareta, and Prince Radu welcomed, on Tuesday evening, the President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, Igor Grosu, at the Elisabeta Palace, on which occasion he stated that he had received assurances regarding the support of the Royal Family of Romania during the candidacy of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union, told Agerpres.

"We were honored a few days later to have another historic meeting, at least for me as the President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, being invited by His Majesty and His Highness. We again discussed the situation in the Republic of Moldova, the situation in the area, the problems that the Republic of Moldova is currently facing. We were assured of all the support. We thanked for the support in obtaining the status of European Union candidate of the Republic of Moldova and we were assured that we will be supported in the future as well," Grosu declared after meeting.

The President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova emphasized that "Romania was, is and will be with the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, who very clearly chose the European path in the last two presidential and parliamentary elections."

"Beyond all the challenges, the war in Ukraine, the bombings, the overflight of the airspace, yesterday you probably heard that a missile fell on the territory of the Republic of Moldova. There are challenges of a hybrid war, but together with our partners we will resist and move forward," said Grosu.

Answering a question about the concrete support of the Royal Family of Romania, Igor Grosu said: "It just so happens that those capitals of the European Union that we, in the very near future, will visit more often, are friends of the Royal Family. We are talking about Stockholm and Madrid. There are countries that in the immediate future will have an important role within the European Union and we need support in these two capitals as well. This means that the Royal Family has offered their availability to come with a message to Madrid and to Stockholm for a greater opening for the Republic of Moldova," detailed Grosu.

He also said that "there are other very important projects that will be announced at the right time."

Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Crown, paid a visit to Chisinau on Friday, together with His Royal Highness Prince Consort Radu, during which they had a series of meetings with officials from this country.
King Ferdinand and Queen Maria were history makers, said on Monday, the governor of the National Bank of Romania, Mugur Isarescu, on the occasion of the opening of the exhibition dedicated to the coronation in Alba Iulia of King Ferdinand I and Queen Maria.

"We have the privilege to celebrate at the National Bank the anniversary of a century since the coronation ceremony of King Ferdinand I and Queen Maria, as sovereigns of Greater Romania. Today's hosting of this symbolic event is confirmation of an auspicious continuity. Also in this place we evoked the 150th anniversary of the birth of King Ferdinand I. And still here King Mihai I of Romania, the only one of the heads of state with decisive roles in ending the Second World War and the only one still alive at the time, was celebrated at the venerable age of 90. And one year ago we came together to honour his memory. Absolute proof of the enduring ties between the Royal House and the National Bank of Romania, whose consolidation we owe to the contribution of His Majesty King Mihai I," said Mugur Isarescu.The BNR Governor also mentioned the fact that, although he was named Ferdinand the Loyal or Ferdinand the Unifier by his contemporaries and successors, King Ferdinand I of Romania is the only sovereign of Romania whose face was not reproduced on a coin during his lifetime. There is only the exception of paper money issued by the Ministry of Finance during the First World War.In his turn, Prince Radu Duda declared that without King Ferdinand and Queen Maria, without Queen Elena and King Mihai, nothing in Romania's one and a half century course would have looked the same. He referred to the Romanian Constitution of 1866, promulgated by the first Romanian king in July, the year of his arrival in the country.He also stated that in 2022, when the political and military dangers and pressures resemble those of 1918, we might read with different eyes the diary of Queen Mary that talks about the danger of the Soviet Union during the war years and after it.The National Bank of Romania launched into numismatic circulation, starting on October 31, 2022, a gold and a silver coin dedicated to the Coronation Centennial.Featured on the obverse of both coins is the Coronation Cathedral in Alba Iulia, represented after a period image, next to Romania's coat of arms, the arc inscription "ROMANIA", the face value "500 LEI" on the gold coin, and "10 LEI" for the silver coin, respectively, and the year of issue "2022".Shown on the reverse of both coins are the effigies and signatures of King Ferdinand I and Queen Maria, the arched inscription "INCORONAREA DE LA ALBA IULIA (ALBA IULIA CORONATION)" and the latent inscription "100 ANI (100 YEARS)".The gold and silver coins come packed in separate transparent methacrylate capsules accompanied by presentation leaflets which also include the issue's certificate of authenticity signed by the BNR governor and the central cashier.The maximum mintage is 1,000 pieces for the gold coin and 5,000 pieces for the silver coin.The selling price is 14,100.00 RON, VAT excluded, for the gold coin, and 470.00 RON, VAT excluded, for the silver coin.Both coins dedicated to the centennial of King Ferdinand I and Queen Maria's coronation in Alba Iulia are legal tender in Romania, the BNR said.
The Republic of Moldova and Romania "shape" their destiny together, as part of the free world, Chisinau on the way to the European Union, and Bucharest "stronger" in the EU, the president of the neighboring country, Maia Sandu, said on Tuesday, at the international conference dedicated to women MPs organized at the Parliament Palace.

"For the first time since the Republic of Moldova declared its independence, the president of the Republic of Moldova, together with the president of Romania, join hands in the supreme legislative forum of Romania to come up with a common message to the citizens on both banks of the Prut. Today, in these extremely difficult times for everyone, the Republic of Moldova and Romania are not just joining hands, but shaping their destiny together, as part of the free world - the Republic of Moldova on the way to the European Union, Romania stronger in the European Union," highlighted Maia Sandu, at the "Women parliamentarians from Romania and the promotion of gender equality as a national commitment" international conference.She emphasized the important important role that Moldovan women play in politics, adding that they enjoy the support of society, which appreciates, above all, the character of a man."Two years ago, some men in our political space said that a woman cannot win the presidential elections and that, in general, women have nothing to look for in politics. (...) Even if it is a challenge to succeed in a field traditionally dominated by men, more and more women from Moldova got involved and came to be respected for their abilities. In the Republic of Moldova, women are leaders in several spheres of activity, today they lead important institutions: the Government, the Ministry of Business Internal affairs, the anti-corruption prosecutor's office, the Constitutional Court. Our women create and run successful businesses, become world champions in performance sports," said Maia Sandu.She specified that 40% of Chisinau parliamentarians are women, and approximately 200 city halls are run by women, which represents 22% of the total number."In 2023, there will be even more, because active women in the social and political life of Moldova have seen that it is possible. Some initially opposed the law on representation quotas, there were voices that said that women do not need of places established by law, but time has shown that these quotas are important to ensure equal opportunities, because equal opportunities mean equity, it means support so that valuable, determined, hard-working women, who have been kept away from the decision-making level, can contribute to the development of the country," the president of the Republic of Moldova stressed.Maia Sandu showed that the power of women in parties needs to be "real, not just on paper"."Succeeding in making a wise policy that brings good results for your citizens and as quickly as possible is a challenge for any politician, woman or man. For me, in these times, it is also a huge responsibility. I will do everything I can for the Republic of Moldova be on the good side of history and the people live in peace, free and dignified, at home," Sandu said.
MEP Corina Cretu, first vice-president of the Pro Romania party, on Tuesday said in Oradea that although she still hopes for an alliance with the PSD (Social Democratic Party), her party will continue to strengthen on its own, to be able to "offer surprises" in the 2024 elections, told Agerpres.

The MEP added that the failure of Pro Romania to enter Parliament in the last elections was "an accident, not a failure," a fact which, however, caused great disadvantages to the formation, because it is no longer very visible at the national level, in the context in which internally very little is said about Europe and about the activity of Pro Romania in the European Union.

For this reason, Corina Cretu pointed out, she wants to be more active inside the country, one of the country projects of the party being that of reducing the gaps between the rural and the urban environment in Romania, in the context in which "the Romanian village becomes poorer and more vulnerable."
"The border policemen of the Giurgiu Border Crossing Point stopped in the last 24 hours, for control, on the way into the country, two means of transport driven by two Bulgarian citizens who were transporting, according to the documents presented, sawdust waste steel, loaded from Bulgaria and destined for a company in Romania. There being suspicions about the legality of these transports, the border police requested authorized support from the commissioners of the Giurgiu Environmental Guard. Thus, during the checks, it was determined that the means of transport contained 49,340 kilograms of waste steel filings," the press release reads.Following the verification of the transfer documents, the border police found that none of the shipments were registered in the ROAFM Register - the Register of registration of waste introduced in Romania, for the purpose of recovery.Consequently, the competent authorities did not allow the means of transport to enter the territory of Romania, the waste being returned to the sending company.
The new greenfield plant will be located in Oradea, in northwest Romania, near the border with Hungary. The annual production capacity of the plant will be six million tyres, with the possibility of expansion in the future. A tyre storage and distribution facility will also be built next to the factory.This investment is strategic to enable our future growth. A world-class production facility in Europe is crucial to obtaining additional capacity and creating a balanced production platform as we are building a new Nokian Tyres without Russia, said Nokian Tyres CEO Jukka Moisio.Tyres for cars and SUVs to be sold mainly on the Central European market will be produced at the future factory in Oradea, where approximately 500 employees would work.After a careful analysis of over 40 locations and several factors, such as the available skilled workforce, logistic advantages and stable business environment, it became clear that Oradea is the best choice for our new plant. We are determined to build a plant with zero CO2 emissions, the first in our industry. The location in Romania supports this objective because we can use the green energy produced nearby, said Operations and Supply Chain Executive Adrian Kaczmarczyk.The Finnish manufacturer was looking for a new location for a production facility, after making the decision to withdraw from Russia in response to Ukraine's invasion.On September 14, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca had a meeting with a Nokian Tyres delegation, with discussions focusing on the state aid packages available for large investments and the openness shown to the needs of relocating industrial production capacities as a result of the Russian military aggression in Ukraine, but also in the Asian area.
Coordinator of the Department for Sustainable Development with the General Secretariat of the Government Laszlo Borbely told the young participants in "The National Caravan of Educational Theatre - The 17 Magnificent Who Changed the Future" that it is important to think positively, to listen to each other, to see how we could change the world today, told Agerpres.

Laszlo Borbely confessed that, in his youth, he was part of a theatre troupe in Timisoara and told the youngsters that he supports them in their projects.

"It depends on you how you change this world. I believe in these young people and I believe in a better life. So, let's do it!," the State Councilor stated.

Florentina Petrariu, the producer of the project "The National Caravan of Educational Theatre - The 17 Magnificent Who Changed the Future," stated that this project is intended for high school pupils.

"The 'National Caravan of Educational Theater - The 17 magnificent who changed the future' is a project implemented by the Beneva Association for the Department for Sustainable Development, it is a project with high school pupils for high school pupils and we found a way to translate all the objectives - the 17 objectives - of sustainable development through theater, for high school pupils. We found this formula through theater, it's a national project," Florentina Petrariu told AGERPRES.

She mentioned that in August a creative camp was held where approximately 50 high school pupils around the country wrote texts, becoming co-authors of some theater performances.

The performances were presented in the cities of Bucharest, Baia Mare, Timisoara, Arad, Pitesti, Mioveni, Curtea de Arges, Bacau, Roman, Ramnicu Valcea, Buzau, Miercurea Ciuc, in the Romanian and Hungarian languages.

The Victory of Art troupe from Bucharest, made up of Grigore Mario, Alex Dragone, Aron Petre, Denisa Musat, Valentina Vagaon and Theodor Andrei, under the coordination of director Alexandru Nagy, presented the show within the project.

The goal of the project is the promotion among high school pupils of the Department for Sustainable Development's Strategy and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, adopted through the Resolution of the UN General Assembly.
In life, there never seems to be a shortage of things to complain about. Everything from the raise you didnt get at work to the price of gas 
"A new delivery of Romanian agri-food products was made on Monday, October 31, in the presence of Minister Petre Daea, to Penny stores, through the 'Unirea' Agri-food Trade House. The shipment consisted of 19,200 products, of which: 1,000 boxes (of 500 g) of dried Leleasca plums, 7,800 jars of pumpkin jam, 4,000 jars of quince jam, 4,000 jars of rosehip paste and 2,400 jars of beans in brine. The produce will be put in the retail circuit," the MADR said in a release."The range of products delivered by Romanian agri-food producers is diversifying and I express my satisfaction that, through the efforts of the management of the 'Unirea' Trade House, increasingly more retailers are answering our initiative and join efforts to support domestic production. This is work done into everyone's benefit, producers no longer have to worry about selling their goods, and consumers have access to quality goods, right on the shelves of the large retailers," Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Petre Daea said."The range of homegrown products is the core of our activity. Here at Penny we set out to increase the number of products based mainly on ingredients grown, processed and packaged in Romania. We called this goal Triple RO - 3RO, a concept that takes Romanian products to another level, with the entire dedicated production flow running on the territory of Romania. The partnership with the 'Unirea' Trade House is just an example for the fulfillment of this goal - of bringing the products from Romanian farmers to the stores, encouraging local production and creating value in the community," said Daniel Gross, CEO of Penny Romania.The first delivery of vegetables from Romanian producers to Carrefour Romania stores, mediated by the 'Unirea' Agri-food Trade House, was on October 15, when 12 tons of vegetables (potatoes, white and red cabbage, and pie pumpkin) were directly shipped to the warehouses of the French retailer in Chiajna - Ilfov County. On October 28 the 'Unirea' Trade House made another delivery, consisting of 13 tons of white and red cabbage, to Metro Cash & Carry stores.
Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca on Tuesday welcomed Moldova's President Maia Sandu at the Government House to discuss regional and energy security after Ukrainian power producing facilities were destroyed by Russian attacks, told Agerpres.

According to a government press release, Ciuca mentioned Romania's constant support for Moldova, from the emergency delivery of certain quantities of power, after the suspension of power deliveries from Ukraine, to supply of gas, firewood and fuel oil.

Sandu presented the state of play after recent cut in gas supplies and the Gazprom and the Russian Federation' failure to comply with their agreements both with Moldova under the control of its legitimate authorities, and with the left bank of the Nistru, which will face financial difficulties in the period immediately ahead.

Sandu thanked Romania for its prompt reaction in the form of emergency compensation of the power deficit, showing that Moldova's proximity to the war in Ukraine raises concerns and produces immediate effects.

The two high-ranking officials emphasised the need to decongest border traffic by expanding existing bridges and transport routes and by building new bridges over the Prut River, which will improve interconnection between the two countries and economic, commercial and business ties.

The opportunities created this way can attract European capital investment and increase the attractiveness of Moldova for external partners, according to the press statement.
PSD (Social Democratic Party) leader and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, on Tuesday stated in Constanta that he worked, together with work teams from within the party, on certain modifications in the area of energy price regulation, while discussing some of the proposals including with the PNL (National Liberal Party) leader, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, told Agerpres.

Ciolacu told a press conference that he did not receive any vision from the Minister of Energy regarding the price of energy.

"Energy policy is made by the Ministry of Energy. Until this moment, I have not received any paper or vision from the Minister of Energy regarding the energy prices and what is the approach for the coming years. And then, together with work teams from within the party, I worked on certain modifications in the area of energy price regulation, I repeat, for a determined period," said the PSD president, when asked if a consensus was reached in the governing coalition regarding the energy ordinance.

Marcel Ciolacu stated that he discussed some of the proposals of the Social Democrats regarding the respective normative act with Prime Minister Ciuca and added that a meeting of the leaders of the coalition with experts in the field of energy will take place this week.
Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Marcel Ciolacu, the Social Democratic Partyts (PSD) chairman, stated on Tuesday that the Constanta Port, which has been modernized with non-reimbursable funds worth over 1 billion EUR, has become a main entrance hub, firstly of grains toward the entire Europe, told Agerpres.

"It is for the first time that we see a change of vision in the Transport Ministry and a special attention on behalf of Minister Sorin Grindeanu for the railway infrastructure. We have all seen, especially after the start of the conflict in Ukraine, how important this infrastructure is and how important the Constanta Port is, which, currently, has become a main entrance hub, firstly of grains toward the entire Europe," Ciolacu told a news conference organised at the Constanta Port.

Marcel Ciolacu mentioned that the Constanta Port has been modernized with non-reimbursable funds worth over 1 billion EUR, "which represents the best proof that Romania wants to become a powerful regional player."

"This year we deal with an increase of 400 percent compared to the 2020-2021 period in terms of contracting construction and modernisation works in the road infrastructure, namely 16.7 billion RON, without the VAT. This year, the Transport Ministry's absorption of European funds, for which even the greatest enemies or political opponents should say congratulations, stands at 8.8 billion RON, until the end of the year," Ciolacu also said.

Marcel Ciolacu underscored that investments in infrastructure are "investments with the highest degree of economic multiplication and, at the same time, a support, so that Romania's accession to the Schengen Area bring economic benefits as quickly as possible."
President Klaus Iohannis met, on Tuesday, at the Cotroceni Palace, with the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, who is visiting Bucharest, the discussions focusing, with priority, on consistent support measures from Romania for overcoming the energy crisis in the Republic of Moldova, told Agerpres.

According to the Presidential Administration, the meeting with the president of the Republic of Moldova took place in a complex regional context, marked both by the perpetuation of the economic, social and humanitarian effects of the continuation of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and by the significant progress on the path of the European integration of the Republic of Moldova as a result of obtaining the status of a candidate state for accession to the European Union.

The political consultations of the two presidents aimed at consolidating the excellent and substantial bilateral cooperation at the political, economic and sectoral level and the advancement of joint projects of strategic interest in the fields of energy, transport, health, education or the information society, the cited source states.

"The President Maia Sandu thanked for the prompt measures adopted by Romania to facilitate the supply of electricity, natural gas, fuel and firewood for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. The President of the Republic of Moldova also presented the steps taken by the authorities in Chisinau to ensure the supply of natural gas in an emergency regime, in order to cover the consumption for the winter months, from alternative sources to the Russian one and requested the continuation of Romania's support," the Presidential Administration says.

Also, the status of the energy infrastructure interconnection projects between Romania and the Republic of Moldova was evaluated. President Klaus Iohannis expressed his support for the efforts of the authorities in Chisinau to reform the energy system of the Republic of Moldova, according to the commitments assumed in the relationship with the European Union.

President Iohannis welcomed the 41% increase in bilateral exchanges of goods in the first half of this year, compared to the same period in 2021.

The head of state also highlighted our country's efforts in the field of assistance to the Republic of Moldova, both by providing direct budget support and in partnership with European partners, under the auspices of the Support Platform for the Republic of Moldova, launched by Romania, France and Germany.

Klaus Iohannis reiterated our country's firm support for advancing the achievement of the objectives established by the European Commission's Opinion of June 17, 2022, including through the provision of expertise. In this context, he presented the steps taken at the European level to support the economy of the Republic of Moldova, including measures to liberalize trade with this country for a series of products or the Agreement to facilitate the road transport of goods, adds the Presidential Administration.
Monsson, the largest developer of green energy projects in Romania, signed an agreement with Rezolv Energy for the completion of the largest photovoltaic park in Europe, in Arad county, by the end of the first quarter of 2023, told Agerpres.

According to a release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday, the project will have an installed power of 1,044MW, with plans to include a state-of-the-art energy storage solution. The annual energy production of this photovoltaic park will cover the energy needs of over 1 million households and generate over 500 new jobs in the next three years.

Rezolv chief executive Jim Campion emphasized that projects like this will also have an important contribution to the achievement of the two goals that Romania has assumed: increasing energy independence and reducing net emissions to zero.

The photovoltaic park is in the final stage of development, with construction expected to begin by June 2030.

Established in the beginning of this year, Resolv Energy benefits from an experienced management team, which has previously developed and managed an important portfolio of energy projects in Central and South Eastern Europe, including the Chirnogeni wind farm. Last month, the company announced the partnership with Low Carbon for the delivery of the "Vis Viva" wind farm, with an installed power of 450 MW, located south of Buzau.

Resolv Energy develops green energy projects, without subsidies, at a stable, long-term price, for industrial and commercial users and for other beneficiaries operating in Central and South-Eastern Europe.

Having a management with 15 years of experience in the green energy area, the company invests in renewable energy projects - wind, solar and storage - from the development stage to construction and long-term operation.

Monsson has been a major player in renewable energy and water since 2004, with over 7,000 MW of projects under development.
The truck was driven by a Romanian and was checked upon entering the country through the western Nadlac II Border Crossing Point. According to the documents accompanying the goods, the driver was transporting "plastic material and rubber" from a commercial company in Italy for a company in Romania."Since there were suspicions regarding the legality of the transport in question, the border police requested authorized support from the representatives of the Arad County Commissariat within the National Environmental Guard. Following the checks carried out, it was found that the truck was loaded with 24 pieces of waste consisting of products from plastic and rubber material, for which the driver did not present the documentation required by law for the import of these products," the Arad Border Police informed on Tuesday.The authorities did not allow access to the territory of Romania for this means of transport, the waste being returned to the sending company.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Serbia must decide whether it wants to join the European Union or enter into a partnership with Russia, Germany told Belgrade on Tuesday, two days before six Western Balkan countries are scheduled to discuss closer cooperation in Berlin.

"The need for a decision is coming to a head in view of geopolitical developments," a German government representative said in reference to Russia's war in Ukraine.

Serbia, which was bombed by NATO two decades ago but now seeks to join the European Union, has long struggled to balance historically close ties with Russia against aspirations for economic and political integration with the West.

An agreement between Serbia and Russia on enhanced cooperation had been met with surprise and disappointment, and was a poor fit with expectations that EU accession candidates should also adopt EU sanctions against Russia, the representative said.

Serbia, an accession candidate since 2012, decided in September to hold regular foreign policy consultations on bilateral and multilateral activities with Russia. The move prompted harsh criticism from the EU.

One got the impression that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was well aware of his pendulum position, the German government representative said.

If he decided to lead his country in the direction of the European Union, he had the German government's support.

"Should he decide to go the other way, this will have consequences in reverse."

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, writing by Kirsti Knolle, editing by Miranda Murray)
MONDAY, Oct. 31, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Transgender minors in Florida are now one step closer to not being able to get medical care to affirm their gender.

In a heated hearing on Friday, the Florida Board of Medicine voted to begin drafting a rule banning puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries for trans youths younger than 18.

This was the next step in a movement that began in April when Gov. Ron DeSantis began efforts to restrict transition-related care. At that time, DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo issued non-binding guidance to prevent both "social gender transition" and gender-affirming medical care for anyone under 18.

Another meeting will be held Nov. 4 to discuss the draft, followed by a 28-day approval process, NBC News reported.

On one side of the emotional testimony on Friday was Dr. Meredith McNamara, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine who treats transgender people between the ages of 10 and 25.

She said a June report on the issue by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration was flawed.

"Neither of the authors of the state's review is a subject matter expert," McNamara said. "One individual is a dentist. The other is a postdoctoral fellow in biostatistics. At a bare minimum, the systematic review should be conducted by those who are qualified to assess the literature. I wouldn't trust a dermatologist review of the literature on a neurosurgical procedure, for instance."

On the other side was Dr. Michael Laidlaw, an endocrinologist in Rocklin, Calif. The information that he cited was often-criticized research that found 50% to 90% of children whose gender identity isn't consistent with their assigned sex at birth outgrow the mismatch by adulthood, NBC News reported

"The basic problem with this treatment as I see it is: 'What happens when you force a square peg into a round hole?'" Laidlaw said. "You end up injuring or destroying the peg in the process."

The public comment period also featured conflicting testimony, including eight people who said they had "detransitioned" or now identified with the sex they were assigned at birth after previously identifying as transgender. Only one of those eight individuals had received gender-affirming care when younger than 18.

Chloe Cole said she had begun transitioning at age 12, received a double mastectomy at 15 and regretted her decision by age 16.

"All the talk about mental health, self-perception, pronouns and ideology leads me to the question, why is a mental health epidemic not being addressed with mental health treatment to get at the root causes for why female adolescents like me want to reject their bodies?" Cole told NBC News.

During the hearing, the board limited testimony time, despite crowd protests. The first eight allowed to testify had all been in favor of restricting care, though none were from Florida.

"What was so appalling to me is how obviously staged this all was," said Emile Fox, a trans nonbinary person from Orlando who uses "they" and "he" pronouns.

Fox said the board members didn't appear to know that much about gender-affirming therapies.

Some also said the vote was rushed and confusing, with Zachariah pushing for a vote even as other board members asked for a rereading and saying the motion passed without noting the final tally, NBC News reported.

More information

The U.S. Office of Population Affairs has more on gender-affirming care.

SOURCE: NBC News
The federal government has launched its first confirmed investigation of an alleged denial of an abortion to a woman experiencing a medical emergency.

In late October, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services opened an investigation at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin under the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, department spokesperson Lisa Cox said. It was authorized by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which contracts with state agencies to conduct EMTALA surveys.

The case involves a woman whose water broke early in her pregnancy, but the hospital refused to let doctors perform an abortion. She eventually sought medical help outside the state.

The Biden administration in July had reminded hospitals and physicians in the 13 states that have outlawed most abortions that federal law requires them to provide life- or health-saving medical services  including abortion, if necessary  to patients experiencing emergency pregnancy complications.

The Missouri investigation is significant because EMTALA is one of the governments strongest tools to ensure that patients with pregnancy complications receive needed abortions following the Supreme Courts June ruling erasing the constitutional right to abortion. The 1986 EMTALA law requires hospitals and physicians to provide screening and stabilizing treatment in emergency situations.

The July policy guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services stressed that EMTALA supersedes any state law barring abortion, and that hospitals and physicians who dont comply with the federal mandate could face civil fines and termination from the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

HHS cited several emergency pregnancy situations in which abortion might be required to prevent permanent injury or death, such as ectopic pregnancies, severe blood pressure spikes known as preeclampsia, and premature rupture of the membrane causing a womans water to break before her pregnancy is viable, which can lead to serious infections and threaten her life.

Other EMTALA investigations of hospitals and physicians alleged to have denied medically necessary emergency abortions have been opened in Texas but havent been publicly reported, said Greer Donley, an associate law professor at the University of Pittsburgh, who studies abortion issues.

CMS does not disclose EMTALA investigations before they have been completed and findings and penalties have been finalized, and states generally dont publicize them either. But patients or hospital staff members might talk, particularly on issues like abortion if they strongly object to the alleged denial of services.

The Missouri investigation involves the case of Mylissa Farmer, 41, who went to Freeman Hospital on Aug. 2, after her water broke nearly 18 weeks into her pregnancy, followed by bleeding and cramping. Physicians there reportedly recommended terminating the pregnancy because it was not viable, Farmer had lost amniotic fluid, and she faced a risk of serious infection. Her case is described in detail in an Oct. 19 article in the Springfield News-Leader, which Farmer, in a brief interview with Kaiser Health News, said was accurate. Farmer confirmed she was contacted and questioned in October for the EMTALA investigation.

According to the newspaper article, Farmers physicians, after consulting with Freeman Hospitals legal team, told her they could not offer her the standard procedure to terminate the pregnancy  dilation and evacuation  due to Missouris law banning all abortions, which took effect June 24.

That position was different from what Farmer said the physicians told her. My doctors said it was an emergency, and I felt it was an emergency, she told Kaiser Health News.

Even though the law includes an exception for medical emergency, the doctors and hospital lawyers allegedly determined that her case did not qualify for that exception. Providers found to violate the law can be prosecuted for a class B felony, as well as have their license to practice revoked. The burden of proof is on the providers to show that the abortion was performed because of a medical emergency.

Abortion opponents argue that most state anti-abortion laws include adequate exceptions for the health and life of the pregnant woman. But physicians and hospital lawyers say the exceptions are vaguely worded, and what really matters is how prosecutors in these conservative states interpret them.

Physicians say they need flexibility in deciding when there is an emergency that requires a pregnancy to be terminated and that its dangerous to have politicians and lawyers looking over their shoulders. This is medicine, not law, and its very complicated, said Dr. Kim Puterbaugh, a Cleveland OB-GYN who is a past president of the Society of OB/GYN Hospitalists. Setting arbitrary limits on blood pressure or bleeding when determining if a pregnancy is in distress, thats ridiculous. There are too many variables.

Democratic lawmakers in Missouri have pushed the governor, the attorney general, and state health officials for a clearer definition of the exception for medical emergencies.

Farmer and her boyfriend, who both wanted a child, called multiple hospitals in Kansas and Illinois to see whether she could deliver safely but were repeatedly told that the pregnancy wasnt viable and that her health was at risk. She eventually got an appointment at the Hope Clinic for Women, across the state border in Granite City, Illinois, where she went into labor and received a procedure to end the pregnancy Aug. 6.

Freeman Hospital officials did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

The Missouri statute puts doctors and providers between a rock and a hard place, said Genevieve Scott, senior counsel at the Center for Reproductive Rights in New York. It creates an extreme deterrent to providing care in medical emergencies, given the risk of providers facing prosecution and losing their livelihood. That clearly threatens the health and lives of every pregnant person in the state.

The Missouri investigation could provoke a new legal showdown between the Biden administration and Republican state elected officials who favor strict abortion bans. The administration already is locked in litigation in Texas and Idaho over the July guidance on EMTALA.

A Texas federal judge issued a temporary restraining order in August saying the guidance was unauthorized and went beyond EMTALA in requiring abortions in emergency situations. Federal officials have appealed. But an Idaho federal judge sided with the administrations position, and Idaho officials have asked him to reconsider his ruling.

Experts doubt whether such litigation will block EMTALA enforcement in abortion-related situations like the Missouri case. The investigation of the actions of Freeman Hospital and its physicians will solely examine whether they complied with the requirements of federal law, not state law, said Katie Keith, an associate research professor at the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute. Still, she added, the hospital could cite the Missouri anti-abortion law as a defense, setting up a court fight down the line.

Farmers case also is playing a role in the U.S. Senate race in Missouri between Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Democratic nominee Trudy Busch Valentine, a nurse. Farmer appeared in a TV ad for Busch Valentine criticizing Schmitt for issuing a proclamation on June 24 that put Missouris anti-abortion trigger law into effect. My Missouri doctors werent allowed to give me the care I needed, all because of the mandate Eric Schmitt put into place, Farmer said in the ad. Eric Schmitt doesnt care about women like me.

Schmitts campaign lawyers sent letters to the TV stations carrying the ad demanding that it be taken off the air, according to local news reports. They claimed it was inaccurate in stating that women could go to prison for having an abortion and failing to mention that it includes an exception to protect the health of the patient.

Cases similar to Farmers likely are happening every day in states that have banned abortions, and more EMTALA investigations will be launched, warned Sara Rosenbaum, a professor of health law and policy at George Washington University. This places hospitals and physicians in an excruciating spot, she added. CMS has said it will initiate investigations based on credible information including news reports.

An EMTALA investigation is one of the worst things that can happen to you, she said, speaking about providers, because it puts a label on you that you denied what the woman needed to survive when it was clear that the baby was lost.
JEFFERSON CITY  A state agency beset by hiring problems and a high turnover rate among its employees illegally fired a worker because she was pregnant, a recently settled lawsuit says.

Stephanie Golden, who worked for the Missouri Department of Social Services in the child welfare division, settled her discrimination case against the agency earlier this year after alleging in a 2018 lawsuit that she was terminated for reporting she was going to have a baby to her bosses.

Terms of the settlement were disclosed in a report filed by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt. Of the $80,256 payout, Golden received $47,338.

According to her original lawsuit, Golden worked at the Childrens Division office in Park Hills beginning in May 2017. A month later she was terminated when she wouldnt quit at her supervisors request.

Her supervisor said she would find it difficult to perform her $33,000-per-year job while pregnant. Her pregnancy was described as a liability.

In the lawsuit, Golden said she believes prospective hires are now asked if they plan to get pregnant. An agency spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Federal laws prohibit sex discrimination, including pregnancy discrimination.

Goldens firing came as the agency was facing a turnover rate among its low-paid workers that has worsened despite efforts to ramp up salaries and training.

In the fiscal year ending June 30, DSS reported a 42% rate of people quitting their frontline posts.

Workers in the division are tasked with bringing stability to children and parents. They investigate abuse and neglect. They provide case management if an abuse claim is filed in order to get the matter through court as soon as possible so the children dont linger in foster care.

Fewer staff means more caseloads for those workers who remain on the job.

In September, the staffing crisis had gotten so severe in Kansas City and St. Louis that the director of the division called on volunteers from other jurisdictions and job specialties to parachute in.

We have only a fraction of the people we need to do our required investigations in the cities, and we have desperate need in every other program in the metro areas as well, Childrens Division Director Darrell Missey wrote in an email to staff in early September.

In the letter, Missey promised overtime, travel pay and lodging, but Missouris rural areas, where the number of children entering the foster care system has dramatically increased in the past decade, are also struggling.

In the agencys budget request for next year, officials want to spend at least $1.6 million on training in the Childrens Division.

Other agencies under the control of Gov. Mike Parson also are losing workers at a rapid clip, including the Missouri Department of Transportation.

MoDOT said it still needs to fill 30% of its openings to be able to plow roads efficiently across the state this winter. If those positions arent filled, it will take crews much longer to clear highways during a storm.

According to figures provided by Parsons Office of Administration, there were 7,512 vacant positions within state government as of July 15.

At the same point last year, before lawmakers and the governor approved a 5.5% pay boost for state employees, there were 6,793 vacancies out of nearly 54,000 full-time jobs that were funded in the state budget.
ST. LOUIS  A St. Louis jury awarded $6 million on Monday to the family of a woman who died of mesothelioma in 2019 after working at manufacturing centers in southwest Missouri.

Attorneys for Linda Behling's husband, son and daughters argued during a roughly two-week trial that Ford Motor Company failed to warn the public that there was asbestos in brake dust generated during repairs. The exposure, they argued, ultimately led to the lung cancer that caused the woman's death at age 70, according to a news release from the court.

But Ford's attorneys argued there was not enough evidence to prove the brakes caused Behling's cancer or death.

On Monday, 10 of 12 jurors ruled in favor of the Behlings.

Representatives for the company said in a statement it plans to appeal.

Updated at 3:25 p.m. with a statement from Ford.
ST. LOUIS  A 26-year-old man was charged Friday after threatening to kill the mother of his children, her attorney and a St. Louis judge, court documents say.

Daeshawn N. Sloan, of Springfield, Illinois, is facing three felonies and one misdemeanor count of harassment after sending hostile messages to the mother of his children, the mother's attorney, and the judge presiding over their child custody case, police wrote in a probable cause statement.

On July 29, police say Sloan sent an email to the attorney saying "I guarantee you will die," which caused her to file a protection order against him.

Then, on Oct. 14, Sloan sent the mother of his children a message that he was "on the verge of killing" the judge "because there's no justice with her."

He sent another message Oct. 17 saying, "Your lawyer, your daughters, and the judge can die with you (expletive)," court documents said. The woman shared those messages with her attorney, who then shared them with the court. He also sent the mother of his children a photo of a gun on Oct. 19, court documents said.

Sloan was arrested and ordered to be held without bond, according to court documents.
Manchester leaders on Monday released records showing St. Louis County police take an average of about 6 minutes to respond to emergency calls in an area the city wants to annex.

Thats significantly longer than the 1-minute-and-45-second response time claimed by St. Louis County Executive Sam Page and county police commanders during a July press conference to oppose Manchesters annexation bid.

Manchester also said its local police department has an average response time of less than 4 minutes. The city is asking the St. Louis Boundary Commission, a panel set up by state law to review proposed annexations, to approve a public vote on its proposal.

Manchester wants to annex an unincorporated area in west St. Louis County of roughly 6,500 residents, including a business corridor along Manchester Road; the county-owned John Allen Love Park; and two elementary schools, Pierremont and Carman Trails. The area is part of the West County Precinct, which stretches from Pacific to Chesterfield.

From June 2021 to July 2022, the average response time in the precinct was just under 6 minutes, according to a county police summary that Manchester released Monday. The city said it obtained the document through a public records request.

Mayor Mike Clements office said in a statement the county was glaringly inaccurate in July. He said it was an example of how residents of the annexation area would be better served as a part of Manchester, instead of being under county control.

St. Louis County police disputed the citys depiction of the records but did not release more details.

The numbers released in July are correct and accurate, county police Sgt. Tracy Panus said in a statement. Were not going to comment on Manchesters release.

Page spokesman Doug Moore said the executive stands by the St. Louis County Police Department and the data the department provides.

The Boundary Commission has until February to decide whether the annexation bid can go before a public vote. Approval would require a majority of voters in both Manchester and the unincorporated area the city would annex.

The county estimates it would lose about $2.8 million in revenue if the area is annexed. Manchester estimates it would gain about $2.1 million in revenue in 2023 and roughly $3.9 million in 2024. The increase would largely be offset by higher municipal expenses, largely to hire more police and public works employees and to buy vehicles.

The annexation would leave three islands of unincorporated territory between Des Peres and the new boundary of Manchester. It would also leave a fourth island north of the new boundary, near Queeny Park.

Page in July raised concerns about the islands and said residents would pay higher taxes for poorer services than those offered by the county, pointing in particular to the St. Louis County Police Department.

Clement has said residents would receive a rebate on property tax and trash pickup costs, as well as smaller and more responsive government.

The St. Louis County Police Association, which represents the departments rank-and-file, opposes the annexation, Business Manager Matt Crecelius said Monday. Local police often call the county department for assistance because of its investigative capacity and specialized units, he said.

Our officers are the most highly trained, best equipped, most professional officers around, Crecelius said.
Boris Johnson attended COP 26 in Glasgow while he was still prime minister

Former PM Boris Johnson has confirmed he will attend the COP27 climate conference in Egypt next week after being invited by the organisers.

His successor at No 10 Rishi Sunak has been under pressure to attend, after initially saying he was too busy preparing for the budget.

But it now looks increasingly likely that Mr Sunak will go after all.

His official spokesman said "significant progress" was being made on the financial statement.

No 10 said it would provide an update if Mr Sunak's travel plans change.

The 27th meeting of the Conference Of the Parties (COP) is due to start in Sharm El-Sheikh on Sunday.

World leaders including US President Joe Biden and France's Emmanuel Macron are due to attend.

Mr Sunak's predecessor Liz Truss had been set to go when she was PM and Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will also be at the event.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Johnson said he had a "particular interest" in going to the United Nations conference, which aims to get international agreement on reducing carbon emissions.

Mr Johnson claimed it had "become unfashionable" to talk about the previous COP conference that was held in Glasgow last year.

He argued that the UK-hosted COP "was a fantastic global success" which was "doing a huge a mount of good for the planet".

Mr Johnson said he wanted to use his appearance in Egypt to "talk a little bit about how I see things and how we see things in the UK".

Putin weapons

The UK is the current holder of the COP presidency, after hosting the summit in Glasgow last year.

Alok Sharma, the UK's COP26 president, is among those saying the prime minister to go.

Mr Johnson also used his Sky interview to say Russian President Vladimir Putin "would be crazy" to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Mr Johnson said using a nuclear weapon would mean Mr Putin "would immediately tender Russia's resignation from the club of civilised nations".

The former UK leader said it would be a "total disaster" for Russia, which would be put into a "cryogenic economic freeze". Mr Putin would also "lose a lot of the middle ground of global tacit acquiescence that he's had", Mr Johnson added.
WASHINGTON  A planned $2.2 billion merger of Penguin Random House, the worlds largest book publisher, and rival Simon & Schuster cannot go forward, a U.S. judge ruled on Monday.

Judge Florence Pan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, said in a brief order that she found the Justice Department had shown the deal may substantially lessen competition in the market for the U.S. publishing rights to anticipated top-selling books.

Unlike most merger fights, which are focused on what consumers pay, this one focused on authors earnings. The government argued the deal should be stopped because it would lead to less competition for blockbuster books and lower advances for authors who earn $250,000 or more.

Penguin Random House said the decision was unfortunate, and said it would immediately request an expedited appeal. It said it considered the deal pro-competitive.

Penguin writers include cookbook author Ina Garten and novelists Zadie Smith and Danielle Steele, while Simon & Schuster publishes Stephen King, Jennifer Weiner and Hillary Rodham Clinton, among others.

Penguin is owned by German media group Bertelsmann SE & Co, while Paramount Global owns Simon & Schuster.

The proposed merger would have reduced competition, decreased author compensation, diminished the breadth, depth, and diversity of our stories and ideas, and ultimately impoverished our democracy, U.S. Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter said in a statement.

The U.S. Justice Department had filed a lawsuit aimed at stopping the deal in November 2021.

In hearings held in August, the government argued that the largest five publishers control 90% of the market, and a combined Penguin and Simon & Schuster would control nearly half of the market for publishing rights to blockbuster books while its nearest competitors would be less than half its size.

Penguin Random House lawyer Daniel Petrocelli, who defeated the government in a previous merger challenge, argued during the trial that the deal would have enormous benefits for readers and authors alike because the imprints, or brands, owned by the two giants would continue to compete against each other.

Best-selling author Stephen King, who testified during the three-week trial, took issue with this pledge. You might as well say youre going to have a husband and wife bidding against each other for the same house. Its kind of ridiculous, King told the court.

The top five publishers are Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster and Hachette, with Walt Disney Co. and Amazon.com Inc. also in the market. HarperCollins is owned by News Corp.

Pan was nominated to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by President Joe Biden, who then nominated her to the appeals court in Washington. She was confirmed in September.
The last legal obstacle preventing Congress from obtaining Donald Trump's taxes has fallen. On Tuesday the Supreme Court rejected the former president's plea for an order to prevent the Treasury Department from giving six years of tax returns for Trump and some of his businesses to the Democratic-controlled House Ways and Means Committee. The Biden administration has argued that federal law is clear that the committee has the right to examine any taxpayers return. In a message on his social media network, Trump says the Supreme Courts action creates terrible precedent for future Presidents. He accuses the court of becoming nothing more than a political body" with the country paying the price.
Members of the Supreme Courts conservative majority are questioning the continued use of affirmative action in higher education. In lengthy arguments Monday, the justices wrestled with persistent, difficult questions of race.

A former Michigan police officer who shot a Black motorist in the back of the head will stand trial for second-degree murder. That's the decision a judge in Grand Rapids, Michigan, announced Monday morning.

David DePape faces charges following an attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Authorities have arrested a drugstore worker in the slayings of two teenage girls who were killed in the woods outside their small town in Northern Indiana nearly six years ago.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are defending a decision by OPEC and its allies to cut oil production. The development came on Monday at a conference in the United Arab Emirates  even as an American envoy warned of economic uncertainty ahead for the world.

President Joe Biden plans to raise the possibility of imposing a windfall tax on oil companies if they dont boost domestic production.

A massive barrage of Russian strikes has hit critical infrastructure in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities in Ukraine. The attacks on Monday morning knocked out water and power supplies in apparent retaliation for what Moscow alleged was a Ukrainian attack on its Black Sea Fleet over the weekend.

Police are investigating the collapse of a newly repaired 143-year-old suspension bridge. The collapse Sunday evening in Gujarat state plunged hundreds of people into a river, killing at least 134.

South Korean police are investigating what caused a crowd surge that killed more than 150 people during Halloween festivities in Seoul over the weekend.

In this week's religion roundup, Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, saw his fortunes fall over antisemitic remarks.
After Mondays tragic events, I know its hard for some people to imagine, but when I met Orlando on his very first day of sixth grade, he was a super sweet boy who wanted to please people. What factors led to his transformation?

He was a great drummer. He loved the drumline, and his face lit up when he played. Yes, he was quiet, but he was also shy. He didnt have many friends, but he had a couple of good friends in middle school. I do know that as he got older he was bullied and that continued into his high school career.

I am not saying that is what made him act out, but I know it was a factor. I am sure there is so much more that we will never fully understand that contributed to Orlando feeling like he had no other option than to do what he did. According to the police reports, he tried to commit suicide multiple times. He must have been hurting so badly and he clearly felt as if he had no one.

In a few short years, I went from teaching middle school to high school. There was the coronavirus, virtual teaching, and then moving from one building to another. When Collegiate School of Medicine & Bioscience moved into the same building as Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, I had the pleasure of seeing many of my former middle school students at different events shared by both schools. These were always happy meetings, and I was always on the lookout for more of my former middle school babies. I never imagined the scenario of events that happened on Oct. 24 would occur.

Even though I am a logical person, when I replay that morning in my mind, I keep thinking: What if, when Orlando was my student, I had said just one more kind word to him? What if I had asked him how he was doing one more time? What if I had checked on him more in seventh and eighth grade? What if I had found out he was down the hall from me attending CVPA and made a point to go talk to him? What if, what if, what if?

Could all of this have been avoided if someone like me had just done one nicer thing or reached out one more time? I wont ever get the answer to those questions because the only person who could tell me is gone.

My heart is breaking for Orlandos mom. I only met her once at parent-teacher conferences, and I am sure she doesnt remember me, but I remember she wanted the very best for her son. From the reports, it sounds like she did everything she could think of to help Orlando and, unfortunately, it just wasnt enough to save him.

She tried to do the right thing by asking the police to take his gun away. But because of Missouris current laws, police felt they couldnt. That gun would be used a few short weeks later to change my life and the life of my students forever.

I do not blame Orlando. I do not blame his mom. I do not blame the police. I blame those making the laws that think it okay for a 19-year-old to own an AR-15-style rifle and a trove of 30-clip magazines. Please come tell my students, who had to see the lifeless body of an innocent teenage girl lying on the ground covered in blood as they fled the school building fearing for their lives, why anyone should own a weapon that can only be used to kill people.

And before anyone says I dont know anything about guns, I grew up hunting. I grew up on a farm. I grew up respecting guns. They were a daily part of my life. But I never needed an AR-15 to kill a deer, a duck, a goose or a turkey. I do believe in a persons right to own a gun, but if you arent a police officer or in the military, you have no reason to own an assault rifle at age 19.

Missouri needs a red-flag law, otherwise known as an extreme-risk protection order law. It prevents individuals who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing any kind of firearm. It would provide safeguards and procedures to ensure that no firearm is removed without due process while helping to prevent tragedies like the school shooting that happened here in St. Louis.

Fixing gun laws wont solve everything. It wouldnt give back the lives of those lost on Oct. 24. It wouldnt take away the trauma my colleagues, my students or I will have to live with for the rest of our lives. But it might prevent anyone else from experiencing these same events. It might prevent another teenager or teacher from dying. And that alone is worth changing the laws.

Josie Johnston is a teacher at Collegiate School of Medicine & Bioscience.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / Skeena Resources Limited (TSX: SKE)(NYSE: SKE) ("Skeena" or the "Company") is pleased to announce drilling results from the very first deep drill hole that successfully intersected the down dip extension of the Eskay Creek Deposits as part of the ongoing 2022 regional and near mine exploration programs at the Eskay Creek gold-silver Project ("Eskay Creek" or the "Project") in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia. Analytical results and reference images from the recently completed drill hole SK-22-1081 are detailed in this release as well as on the Company's website.

Eskay Creek Rift Extended to Depth with New Mineralization

Exploratory drill hole SK-22-1081 has identified a completely new occurrence of Rhyolite-hosted mineralization situated 650 metres down dip of the NEX Zone in the Eskay Deeps. This very broad interval grades 3.79 g/t Au, 59.4 g/t Ag (4.46 g/t AuEq) over 32.19 metres and includes numerous high tenor subintervals including 10.15 g/t Au, 44.0 g/t Ag (10.64 g/t AuEq) over 1.00 metres, and 2.33 g/t Au, 699.0 g/t Ag (10.18 g/t AuEq) over 1.00 metres. Full assays for the entire intersection are detailed in Table 1 below.

Situated at a vertical depth of 850 metres below surface, the new gold-silver mineralization is hosted entirely within altered Rhyolite Breccias which begin four metres below a very thin (

"This new discovery suggests significant exploration potential north and west of the currently defined resources for the Project. This also unequivocally demonstrates that the Eskay Creek mineralized system is still thriving at depth", commented Paul Geddes, the Company's Senior Vice President of Exploration and Resource Development.

Walter Coles, the Company's Executive Chairman goes on to explain, "Preliminary drill testing of the Eskay Deeps was necessary to investigate the true size potential of the Eskay Rift. It is still early days, but we are excited by this discovery as it opens up an entirely new area for underground exploration."

Interpretation and Implications for Further Exploration

Supported by modern geophysical data, lithogeochemical and structural studies, this new intersection corroborates the current thesis that the strike extension of the entire Eskay Creek Rift north of the NEX Zone has been offset northwest of its previously inferred trend. Due to the paucity of historical drilling, the area west of the formerly interpreted extension provides for exceptional exploration potential especially considering this new occurrence of feeder style mineralization.

Contact Mudstone Discussion

As previously mentioned, the new Eskay Deeps mineralization is entirely hosted within altered Rhyolite Breccias consistent with footwall feeder style mineralization observed throughout other ore bodies that comprise the Eskay Creek Deposits. The thin and unmineralized interval of Contact Mudstone immediately overlying the feeder mineralization is not uncommon at Eskay Creek especially within the 21 Zones and most recently in the newly outlined 21A West Zone. In the main deposits, exhalative, high-grade Contact Mudstone-hosted mineralization typically occurs within 150 metres of mineralized, synvolcanic feeder systems.

Historical Drilling Campaigns - Selective Sampling

Surface based drilling campaigns were performed by previous operators on very widely spaced drill centers in the Eskay Deeps, with an emphasis to the north-east and often exceeding 100 metres between holes. Unfortunately, as is the case with this era of drilling, sampling of the drill holes was selective and incomplete as the focus for exploration at the time was high grade Contact Mudstone hosted mineralization. An example of this situation is illustrated by historical 2004 drill hole C04-1291 which is situated approximately 100 metres grid east of the new discovery and was only selectively sampled. Due to the ground conditions and less advanced drilling technologies available at the time, many of the drill holes were unable to achieve target depth and were abandoned prematurely.

About Skeena

Skeena Resources Limited is a Canadian mining exploration and development company focused on revitalizing the past-producing Eskay Creek gold-silver mine located in Tahltan Territory in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Company released a Feasibility Study for Eskay Creek in September 2022 which highlights an open-pit average grade of 4.00 g/t AuEq, an after-tax NPV5% of C$1.4B, 50% IRR, and a 1-year payback at US$1,700/oz Au and US$19/oz Ag. Skeena is currently continuing exploration drilling at Eskay Creek.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Skeena Resources Limited,

Walter Coles Jr. Randy Reichert Executive Chairman President & CEO

Contact Information

Investor Inquiries: [email protected]

Office Phone: +1 604 684 8725

Company Website: www.skeenaresources.com

Qualified Persons

Exploration activities at the Eskay Creek Project are administered on site by the Company's Exploration Managers, Raegan Markel, P.Geo. and Director of Exploration, Adrian Newton P.Geo. In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Paul Geddes, P.Geo. Senior Vice President Exploration and Resource Development, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has prepared, validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting the exploration activities on its projects.

Quality Assurance - Quality Control

Once received from the drill and processed, all drill core samples are sawn in half, labelled and bagged. The remaining drill core is subsequently securely stored on site. Numbered security tags are applied to lab shipments for chain of custody requirements. The Company inserts quality control (QC) samples at regular intervals in the sample stream, including blanks and reference materials with all sample shipments to monitor laboratory performance. The QAQC program was designed and approved by Lynda Bloom, P.Geo. of Analytical Solutions Ltd., and is overseen by the Company's Qualified Person, Paul Geddes, P.Geo, Vice President Exploration and Resource Development.

Drill core samples are submitted to ALS Geochemistry's analytical facility in North Vancouver, British Columbia for preparation and analysis. The ALS facility is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard for gold assays and all analytical methods include quality control materials at set frequencies with established data acceptance criteria. The entire sample is crushed and 1 kg is pulverized. Analysis for gold is by 50 g fire assay fusion with atomic absorption (AAS) finish with a lower limit of 0.01 ppm and upper limit of 100 ppm. Samples with gold assays greater than 100 ppm are re-analyzed using a 50 g fire assay fusion with gravimetric finish. Analysis for silver is by 50 g fire assay fusion with gravimetric finish with a lower limit of 5ppm and upper limit of 10,000 ppm. Samples with silver assays greater than 10,000 ppm are re-analyzed using a gravimetric silver concentrate method. A selected number of samples are also analyzed using a 48 multi-element geochemical package by a 4-acid digestion, followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and also for mercury using an aqua regia digest with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) finish. Samples with sulfur reporting greater than 10% from the multi-element analysis are re-analyzed for total sulfur by Leco furnace and infrared spectroscopy.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

Certain statements and information contained or incorporated by reference in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or our future performance. The use of words such as "anticipates", "believes", "proposes", "contemplates", "generates", "targets", "is projected", "is planned", "considers", "estimates", "expects", "is expected", "potential" and similar expressions, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "might", "will", "could", or "would" be taken, achieved, or occur, may identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Specific forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the results of the Feasibility Study, processing capacity of the mine, anticipated mine life, probable reserves, estimated project capital and operating costs, sustaining costs, results of test work and studies, planned environmental assessments, the future price of metals, metal concentrate, and future exploration and development. Such forward-looking statements are based on material factors and/or assumptions which include, but are not limited to, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and the assumptions set forth herein and in the Company's MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2021, its most recently filed interim MD&A, and the Company's Annual Information Form ("AIF") dated March 31, 2022. Such forward-looking statements represent the Company's management expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances on the date the statements are made, and are necessarily based on several estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date hereof, are not guarantees of future performance. Actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein, and are subject to significant operational, business, economic, and regulatory risks and uncertainties. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties, including permitting and other government approvals; changes in economic conditions, including changes in the price of gold and other key variables; changes in mine plans and other factors, including accidents, equipment breakdown, bad weather and other project execution delays, many of which are beyond the control of the Company; environmental risks and unanticipated reclamation expenses; and other risk factors identified in the Company's MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2021, its most recently filed interim MD&A, the AIF dated March 31, 2022, the base shelf prospectus dated November 11, 2020, the prospectus supplement to the Company's base shelf prospectus dated September 20, 2022 and in the Company's other periodic filings with securities and regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States that are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and Company does not undertake any obligations to update and/or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws.

Cautionary note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources

Skeena's mineral reserves and mineral resources included or incorporated by reference herein have been estimated in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") as required by Canadian securities regulatory authorities, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. The terms "mineral reserve", "proven mineral reserve", "probable mineral reserve", "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") "CIM Definition Standards - For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves" adopted by the CIM Council (as amended, the "CIM Definition Standards"). These standards differ significantly from the mineral property disclosure requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Regulation S-K Subpart 1300 (the "SEC Modernization Rules"). Skeena is not currently subject to the SEC Modernization Rules. Accordingly, Skeena's disclosure of mineralization and other technical information may differ significantly from the information that would be disclosed had Skeena prepared the information under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules.

In addition, investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of Skeena's mineral resources constitute or will be converted into reserves. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to assume that any "measured", "indicated", or "inferred" mineral resources that Skeena reports are or will be economically or legally mineable. Further, "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of "inferred mineral resources" may not form the basis of feasibility or prefeasibility studies, except in rare cases where permitted under NI 43-101.

For these reasons, the mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates and related information presented herein may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Table 1: SK-22-1081 Eskay Creek Project 2022 Exploratory Drilling Campaign Length-Weighted Drill Hole Composite and Assays:

Hole-ID From (m) To (m) Sample Length (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AuEq (g/t) SK-22-1081 855.69 887.88 32.19 3.79 59.4 4.46 INCLUDING 855.69 857.00 1.31 5.05 87.0 6.03 AND 857.00 858.50 1.50 2.53 72.3 3.34 AND 858.50 860.00 1.50 1.01 19.9 1.23 AND 860.00 861.50 1.50 1.51 13.2 1.66 AND 861.50 863.00 1.50 2.21 26.2 2.50 AND 863.00 863.76 0.76 1.96 14.6 2.12 AND 863.76 865.00 1.24 5.24 40.9 5.70 AND 865.00 866.00 1.00 3.91 18.4 4.12 AND 866.00 867.00 1.00 5.48 24.6 5.76 AND 867.00 868.00 1.00 10.15 44.0 10.64 AND 868.00 869.00 1.00 9.51 48.0 10.05 AND 869.00 870.00 1.00 6.39 22.7 6.65 AND 870.00 871.05 1.05 3.60 10.4 3.72 AND 871.05 872.25 1.20 4.26 6.8 4.34 AND 872.25 873.50 1.25 5.43 13.1 5.58 AND 873.50 875.00 1.50 2.31 11.5 2.44 AND 875.00 876.50 1.50 0.97 6.8 1.05 AND 876.50 878.00 1.50 2.49 6.5 2.56 AND 878.00 879.50 1.50 2.79 5.0 2.85 AND 879.50 881.00 1.50 4.80 28.3 5.12 AND 881.00 882.00 1.00 3.72 122.0 5.09 AND 882.00 883.00 1.00 2.33 699.0 10.18 AND 883.00 884.00 1.00 1.62 66.4 2.37 AND 884.00 885.50 1.50 2.48 92.8 3.52 AND 885.50 887.00 1.50 4.50 142.0 6.10 AND 887.00 887.88 0.88 8.34 21.1 8.58 SK-22-1081 892.00 893.50 1.50 4.77 6.5 4.84 SK-22-1081 982.71 988.00 5.29 1.01 2.4 1.04 SK-22-1081 995.50 997.00 1.50 2.08 1.2 2.09

Gold Equivalent (AuEq) calculated via the formula: Au (g/t) + [Ag (g/t) / 90]. True widths and zone geometries cannot be definitively determined at this time. Grade-capping of individual assays has not been applied to the Au and Ag assays informing the length-weighted AuEq composites. Metallurgical processing recoveries have not been applied to the AuEq calculation and are taken at 100%. Samples below detection limit were nulled to a value of zero.

Table 2: SK-22-1081 Mine Grid Drill Hole Location and Orientation:

Hole-ID Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (m) Length (m) Azimuth () Dip () SK-22-1081 9979.5 11939.6 813.5 1493.0 337.0 -90.0

SOURCE: Skeena Resources Limited

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GATX Corporation (NYSE: GATX) today announced that James B. Ream has been named as the Companys independent chair of its board of directors, effective today. Mr. Ream succeeds Brian A. Kenney, who retired as the Companys president and chief executive officer in April 2022 and who has served on the board as non-executive chair for a transitional period ending Oct. 31, 2022. The board previously announced its intention to separate the board chair and CEO roles following the transitional period.

Mr. Ream has served as GATXs independent lead director for the past five years.

Jims long history of leadership at various public companies, combined with over 40 years of experience in the transportation industry, makes him an ideal choice to serve as chair, said Robert C. Lyons, president and chief executive officer of GATX. I look forward to continue partnering with Jim and the board to execute on our strategy to drive attractive long-term returns for our stakeholders.

Mr. Lyons added, We are grateful to Brian for his tremendous leadership and for his 27 years of service to the Company. Because of his vision and dedication, GATX is recognized as the global leader in the full-service leasing of long-lived assets.

I am honored to serve as chair of the GATX board, Mr. Ream said. On behalf of my fellow board members, I would like to thank Brian for his invaluable contributions and partnership over the years. Looking forward, I am excited to work with the board to support GATX in its next phase of growth.

Mr. Ream brings significant industry, strategic, financial and operational expertise to this position. He most recently served as senior vice president, operations and senior vice president, maintenance and engineering at American Airlines. Previously, Mr. Ream served as president and chief executive officer of ExpressJet Holdings, Inc., an operator of regional jets in North America, and he also held leadership roles at Continental Airlines and Evergreen International Aviation.
The destruction wrought by Hurricane Ian as it rampaged through the state of Florida last month has certainly been well-chronicled. The recovery period for those communities and individuals impacted will likely stretch several months, if not years. And while the attention has focused on the devastation and the power of the storm, there is another story that is equally as powerful  the compassion and dedication of Red Cross volunteers.

Being prepared in the advent of an emergency is a core principle of the American Red Cross, and it was on display as volunteers were assembling and moving supplies to safe areas near to the path of the approaching storm. Nearly 100 tractor trailer loads of supplies  enough to feed and house a capacity of 60,000 individuals  were moved to strategic locations days before Ians landfall so that the Red Cross would be able to respond immediately after the storm passed.

When Ian finally moved out back to sea, hundreds of Red Cross volunteers moved in, setting up shelters, distributing food through mobile kitchen operations set up at strategic locations, distributing comfort kits, replacing lost prescriptions and medical supplies, assisting with damage assessments, and providing spiritual and mental health support for those struggling with their loss. Remarkably, volunteers from every state in the U.S. were on hand to help their Florida neighbors. We are particularly proud to share that approximately 35 volunteers from our Western New York region, including several from the Finger Lakes area, answered the call to help, leaving their homes and families for weeks at a time to help those impacted by Ian.

While in this instance volunteers were traveling from Western New York to help others, there have been times when our region has been the recipient of the kindness and caring of Red Cross volunteers. Just last May, an unthinkable tragedy occurred in Buffalo as an individual opened fire in a Tops supermarket, killing 10 innocent people and wounding several others. Local Red Cross volunteers were on the scene within hours, providing food, beverages and support to other first responders. As the situation continued to unfold over the next several days and weeks, volunteers from 19 states arrived in Buffalo to offer support to a grieving community. They staffed community resource centers, provided mental and spiritual health services, attended memorial events and let the community know that they were there to help them get through a tragic time.

There is no doubt that volunteers play an essential role in helping nonprofit organizations successfully carry out their mission. At the Red Cross, however, the roles of our volunteers reach an even higher level. Volunteers hold key leadership positions, provide training to other volunteers and staff and most often are the first faces seen by those impacted by a disaster. By far the most frequent of our disaster responses are home fires. Through our partnership with local fire departments, Red Cross volunteers receive notification when an individual or family needs assistance in the aftermath of a home fire.

Our volunteers arrive on the scene of a fire often before it is even extinguished, many times leaving their homes in the middle of the night to do so. They provide affected families comfort and the resources to seek temporary shelter and food and clothing, if needed. The typical Red Cross volunteer may be the retired electrician or teacher living next door to you who has the desire to make a difference in their community.

We are extremely grateful for the work and support of our volunteers and will take time during the weeks preceding the Thanksgiving holiday to formally thank our nearly 2,000 volunteers through a series of gatherings throughout our 27-county region. Wed also like to invite any other members of the community interested in volunteering their time and talent in a meaningful way to join us. Just call (607) 785-7207 or send a note to RecruitWNY@redcross.org. We provide training that empowers our volunteers to be true, collaborative leaders in our workforce with the ability to make a positive impact in their community. To learn more about different volunteer roles, take a couple of minutes to watch the video below.
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Alight, Inc. (NYSE: ALIT), a leading cloud-based human capital technology and services provider, today announced that it will be participating at three upcoming investor events.

J.P. Morgan Ultimate Services Investor Conference  New York, New York

Date: November 17, 2022

Alight Chief Executive Officer Stephan Scholl and Chief Financial Officer Katie Rooney will present at the conference and will also be available for investor meetings.

Webcast Date and Time: November 17, 2022, at 9:50AM ET

Webcast: A live webcast and replay of the presentation will be available through the Alight Investor Relations website at investor.alight.com.

Credit Suisse 26th Annual Technology Conference  Scottsdale, Arizona

Dates: November 30  December 1, 2022

Alight Chief Financial Officer Katie Rooney will host investor meetings.

2nd Cannae Portfolio Companies Conference  Las Vegas, Nevada

Dates: December 14 - 15, 2022

Alight Chief Executive Officer Stephan Scholl and Chief Financial Officer Katie Rooney will present at the conference and will also be available for investor meetings.

Webcast Date and Time: December 14, 2022 at 8:35AM PT

Webcast: A live webcast and replay of the presentation will be available through the Alight Investor Relations website at investor.alight.com.

About Alight Solutions

Alight is a leading cloud-based human capital technology and services provider that powers confident health, wealth and wellbeing decisions for 36 million people and their dependents. Our Alight Worklife platform combines data and analytics with a simple, seamless user experience. Supported by our global delivery capabilities, Alight Worklife is transforming the employee experience for people around the world. With personalized, data-driven health, wealth, pay and wellbeing insights, Alight brings people the security of better outcomes and peace of mind throughout lifes big moments and most important decisions. Learn how Alight unlocks growth for organizations of all sizes at alight.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101006276/en/

Investors:

Alight Investor Relations

[email protected]



Media:

MacKenzie Lucas

[email protected]

Source: Alight Solutions
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Blackstone (NYSE: BX) priced its offering of $600 million of 5.900% senior notes due 2027 and $900 million of 6.200% senior notes due 2033 of Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. L.L.C., its indirect subsidiary. The notes are to be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Blackstone Inc. and its indirect subsidiaries, Blackstone Holdings I L.P., Blackstone Holdings AI L.P., Blackstone Holdings II L.P., Blackstone Holdings III L.P. and Blackstone Holdings IV L.P. Blackstone intends to use the proceeds from the notes offering for general corporate purposes.

The notes were offered and sold to qualified institutional buyers in the United States pursuant to Rule 144A and outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933.

The notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and applicable state laws.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase the notes or any other securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This press release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act of 1933.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221031005832/en/

Investor and Media Relations

For Investors

Weston Tucker

Blackstone

Tel: +1 (212) 583-5231

[email protected]

For Media

Matthew Anderson

Blackstone

Tel: +1 (212) 390-2472

[email protected]

Source: Blackstone
Company to host a conference call tomorrow, Nov. 2, 2022 at 10 AM EDT

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Enhabit, Inc. (NYSE: EHAB), a leading home health and hospice care provider, today reported its results of operations for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022.

We are making progress on our strategic initiatives, Enhabits President and Chief Executive Officer, Barb Jacobsmeyer said. During the quarter, labor constraints began to ease as our efforts around investment in our people began to take hold. We saw strong growth in Medicare Advantage admissions as we continued to expand in this growing part of our markets. The strategic and operational changes we are implementing in our hospice operations are having a positive impact as evidenced by our sequential growth in admissions and average daily census. We remain focused on the long-term growth of Enhabit.

QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE - CONSOLIDATED

Consolidated third quarter 2022 results were impacted by the resumption of sequestration, continued shift to more non-episodic patients in home health, lower volumes in hospice, and higher cost of services related to labor, mileage reimbursement and fleet costs.

Net service revenue of $265.7 million, declined 3.0% from Q321

Net income of $8.6 million, declined 60.2% from Q321

Adjusted EBITDA of $31.7 million, down 26.3% from Q321

Earnings per diluted share of $0.17

Adjusted earnings per diluted share of $0.19

RECENT COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Home health continues to show strong growth in Medicare Advantage admissions, with non-episodic admissions up 31.5% year over year.

Strategic changes are providing positive momentum in hospice with sequential admissions and average daily census growth during the third quarter.

Agreed to terms with nine Medicare Advantage and commercial regional or multistate plans.

Completed the acquisitions of Caring Hearts Hospice and Unity Hospice on October 1, 2022 and November 1, 2022, respectively, adding four locations in Texas and one in Arizona.

FINANCIAL RESULTS Consolidated Q3 '22 vs. '21 ($ in millions, except per share data) 2022 2021 Home health net service revenue $ 216.3 $ 221.1 (2.2 ) % Hospice net service revenue 49.4 52.8 (6.4 ) % Total net service revenue $ 265.7 $ 273.9 (3.0 ) % % of Revenue % of Revenue Cost of services 49.8 % $ (132.3 ) 47.9 % $ (131.2 ) 0.8 % Gross margin 50.2 % 133.4 52.1 % 142.7 (6.5 ) % Administrative & general expenses 38.2 % (101.4 ) 36.3 % (99.4 ) 2.0 % Operating expenses 88.0 % $ (233.7 ) 84.2 % $ (230.6 ) 1.3 % Equity earnings / noncontrolling interests 0.3 0.3 Adjusted EBITDA $ 31.7 $ 43.0 (26.3 ) % Adjusted EBITDA margin 11.9 % 15.7 % Adjusted EPS $ 0.19 $ 0.50 (62.0 ) %

The resumption of sequestration, continued shift to more non-episodic patients in home health, and lower volumes in hospice combined to decrease consolidated revenue by $15 million year over year.

Adjusted EBITDA decreased year over year primarily due to the resumption of sequestration; continued shift to more non-episodic patients in home health; lower volumes in hospice; higher costs of services related to labor; incremental costs associated with being a stand-alone company; and fleet and mileage reimbursement.

SEGMENT RESULTS Home health Q3 '22 vs. '21 ($ in millions) 2022 2021 Net service revenue $ 216.3 $ 221.1 (2.2 ) % Cost of services 109.6 107.6 1.9 % Gross margin 49.3 % 51.3 % Adjusted EBITDA $ 44.6 $ 51.2 (12.9 ) % % Adj. EBITDA margin 20.6 % 23.2 % Operational metrics (Actual Amounts) Starts of care Episodic admissions 35,487 37,577 (5.6 ) % Non-episodic admissions 14,252 10,835 31.5 % Total admissions 49,739 48,412 2.7 % Same-store total admissions growth 1.3 % Episodic recertifications 25,821 27,742 (6.9 ) % Non-episodic recertifications 6,541 5,200 25.8 % Total recertifications 32,362 32,942 (1.8 ) % Same-store total recertifications growth (2.4 ) % Total starts of care 82,101 81,354 0.9 % Completed episodes 60,396 66,065 (8.6 ) % Revenue per episode $ 3,009 $ 2,916 3.2 % Visits per episode 14.9 15.0 (0.7 ) % Total visits 1,175,002 1,213,370 (3.2 ) % Non-episodic visits 272,282 220,260 23.6 % Cost per visit $ 92 $ 87 5.7 %

The year-over-year decrease in revenue was due primarily to the resumption of sequestration and continued payor mix shift to more non-episodic patients. Revenue per episode increased year over year primarily due to an increase in Medicare reimbursement rates, the timing of completed episodes, and patient mix under the Patient Driven Groupings Model offset by the resumption of sequestration.

Adjusted EBITDA decreased year over year primarily due to lower revenue and higher cost of services related to labor, fleet, mileage reimbursement, and workers compensation costs.

Hospice Q3 '22 vs. '21 ($ in millions) 2022 2021 Net service revenue $ 49.4 $ 52.8 (6.4 ) % Cost of services 22.7 23.6 (3.8 ) % Gross margin 54.0 % 55.3 % Adjusted EBITDA $ 9.3 $ 13.1 (29.0 ) % % Adj. EBITDA margin 18.8 % 24.8 % Operational metrics (Actual Amounts) Total admissions 2,982 3,262 (8.6 ) % Same-store total admissions growth (11.3 ) % Patient days 320,732 352,691 (9.1 ) % Discharged average length of stay 103 106 (2.8 ) % Average daily census 3,486 3,834 (9.1 ) % Revenue per day $ 154 $ 150 2.7 % Cost per day $ 71 $ 67 6.0 %

The year-over-year decrease in revenue primarily was due to the decrease in average daily census and resumption of sequestration. Admissions increased sequentially from the second quarter of 2022 primarily due to improvements in staffing capacity and an increase in referral sources.

Adjusted EBITDA decreased year over year primarily due to lower revenue and higher cost of services related to labor (including increased use of contract labor), fleet, and mileage reimbursement.

GUIDANCE

The Company updated its full-year 2022 guidance as follows:

Full-year 2022 Revised Guidance Prior Guidance Net Service Revenue between $1,070 and $1,080 million between $1,075 and $1,110 million Adjusted EBITDA between $150 and $155 million between $155 and $170 million Adjusted EPS between $1.37 and $1.50 between $1.47 and $1.75

For additional considerations regarding the Companys 2022 guidance ranges, see the supplemental information posted on the Companys website at http://investors.ehab.com. See also Other Information below for an explanation of why the Company does not provide guidance for comparable GAAP measures for Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

The Company will host an investor conference call at 10 AM Eastern Time on Nov. 2, 2022 to discuss its results for the third quarter of 2022. To access the live call by phone, dial toll-free (888) 660-6150 or international (929) 203-0843; the conference ID is 5248158. A simultaneous webcast of the call, along with supplemental information, may be accessed by visiting http://investors.ehab.com. Following the call, a replay will be available at the same location.

ABOUT ENHABIT HOME HEALTH & HOSPICE

Enhabit Home Health & Hospice is a leading national home health and hospice provider working to expand whats possible for patient care in the home. Enhabits team of clinicians supports patients and their families where they are most comfortable, with a nationwide footprint spanning 250 home health locations and 100 hospice locations across 34 states. Enhabit leverages advanced technology and compassionate teams to deliver extraordinary patient care. For more information, visit ehab.com.

OTHER INFORMATION

Note regarding presentation of non-GAAP financial measures

The financial data contained in the press release and supplemental information includes non-GAAP financial measures as defined in Regulation G under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including Adjusted EBITDA, leverage ratios, adjusted EPS, and adjusted free cash flow. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP are presented on the attached schedules.

However, the Company is unable to reconcile, without unreasonable effort, its guidance of Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS to their corresponding GAAP measures due to the inherent difficulty in predicting, with reasonable certainty, the future impact of items that are outside the control of the Company or otherwise non-indicative of its ongoing operating performance. Such items include, but are not limited to, gains or losses related to hedging instruments; loss on early extinguishment of debt; adjustments to its income tax provision (such as valuation allowance adjustments and settlements of income tax claims); and items related to corporate and facility restructurings. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information.

Note regarding presentation of same-store comparisons

The Company uses same-store comparisons to explain the changes in certain performance metrics and line items within its financial statements. Same-store comparisons are calculated based on home health and hospice locations open throughout both the full current period and the immediately prior period presented. These comparisons include the financial results of market consolidation transactions in existing markets, as it is difficult to determine, with precision, the incremental impact of these transactions on the Companys results of operations.

Enhabit, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) Three Months Ended

September 30, Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2022 2021 2022 2021 (In Millions, Except Per Share Data) Net service revenue $ 265.7 $ 273.9 $ 808.0 $ 830.5 Cost of service (excluding depreciation and amortization) 132.3 131.2 392.3 385.4 Gross margin 133.4 142.7 415.7 445.1 General and administrative expenses 107.5 104.2 310.4 309.8 Depreciation and amortization 8.0 9.4 24.7 27.9 Operating income 17.9 29.1 80.6 107.4 Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees 6.2 0.1 6.3 0.2 Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates  (0.1 )  (0.5 ) Other income    (1.6 ) Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interests 11.7 29.1 74.3 109.3 Income tax expense 2.8 7.1 17.9 26.2 Net income 8.9 22.0 56.4 83.1 Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 0.3 0.4 1.6 1.3 Net income attributable to Enhabit, Inc. $ 8.6 $ 21.6 $ 54.8 $ 81.8 Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic 49.6 49.6 49.6 49.6 Diluted 49.7 49.6 49.7 49.6 Earnings per common share: Basic earnings per share attributable to Enhabit, Inc. common stockholders $ 0.17 $ 0.44 $ 1.10 $ 1.65 Diluted earnings per share attributable to Enhabit, Inc. common stockholders $ 0.17 $ 0.44 $ 1.10 $ 1.65

Enhabit, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) September 30,

2022 December 31,

2021 (In Millions) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 44.1 $ 5.4 Restricted cash 3.8 2.6 Accounts receivable 148.8 164.5 Income tax receivable 7.9  Insurance settlement receivable 8.0  Prepaid insurance 3.8 2.5 Prepaid software and subscriptions 4.8 1.2 Prepaid expense and other current assets 4.5 2.6 Total current assets 225.7 178.8 Property and equipment, net 21.2 20.4 Operating lease right-of-use assets 41.6 48.4 Goodwill 1,217.7 1,189.0 Intangible assets, net 105.6 259.1 Other long-term assets 11.1 24.3 Total assets $ 1,622.9 $ 1,720.0 Liabilities and Stockholders Equity Current liabilities: Current portion of long-term debt $ 23.4 $ 5.0 Current operating lease liabilities 13.9 14.9 Accounts payable 3.4 3.5 Accrued payroll 63.2 66.4 Refunds due patients and other third-party payors 11.7 12.2 Income tax payable  4.2 Insurance settlement payable 8.0  Accrued medical insurance 5.7 8.3 Accrued hospice expenses 5.3 4.2 Accrued other expenses 3.4 2.7 Other current liabilities 12.3 15.1 Total current liabilities 150.3 136.5 Long-term debt, net of current portion 545.2 3.5 Long-term operating lease liabilities 27.8 33.5 Deferred income tax liabilities 30.6 63.2 753.9 236.7 Commitments and contingencies Redeemable noncontrolling interests 5.2 5.0 Stockholders equity: Enhabit, Inc. stockholders equity: 835.4 1,470.0 Noncontrolling interests 28.4 8.3 Total stockholders equity 863.8 1,478.3 Total liabilities and stockholders equity $ 1,622.9 $ 1,720.0

Enhabit, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows (Unaudited) Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2022 2021 (In Millions) Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 56.4 $ 83.1 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities Depreciation and amortization 24.7 27.9 Amortization of debt related costs 0.3  Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates  (0.5 ) Distributions from nonconsolidated affiliates  0.2 Stock-based compensation 7.1 2.1 Deferred tax (benefit) expense (2.5 ) 0.8 Other, net  (2.3 ) Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions Accounts receivable 16.4 (25.7 ) Prepaid expenses and other assets (22.5 ) (0.2 ) Accounts payable (0.2 ) (0.9 ) Accrued payroll (3.3 ) 14.0 Other liabilities (0.4 ) 1.7 Net cash provided by operating activities 76.0 100.2 Cash flows from investing activities: Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired  (97.7 ) Purchases of property and equipment (5.3 ) (3.9 ) Additions to capitalized software costs (0.5 ) (1.0 ) Other, net 1.7 2.9 Net cash used in investing activities (4.1 ) (99.7 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Principal borrowings on term loan 400.0  Principal payments on debt (5.4 )  Borrowings on revolving credit facility 170.0  Principal payments under finance lease obligations (3.6 ) (5.6 ) Debt issuance costs (4.4 )  Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliates (0.9 ) (1.6 ) Contributions from Encompass 59.8 91.8 Distributions to Encompass (654.9 ) (93.7 ) Contributions from noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliates 7.4  Net cash used in financing activities (32.0 ) (9.1 ) Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 39.9 (8.6 ) Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year 8.0 40.0 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year $ 47.9 $ 31.4

Enhabit, Inc. and Subsidiaries Supplemental Information Adjusted Earnings Per Share Q3 9 Months 2022 2021 2022 2021 Earnings per share, as reported $ 0.17 $ 0.44 $ 1.10 $ 1.65 Adjustments, net of tax: Transaction costs 0.02 0.06 0.11 0.13 Adjusted earnings per share* $ 0.19 $ 0.50 $ 1.21 $ 1.78 * Adjusted EPS may not sum due to rounding.

Enhabit, Inc. and Subsidiaries Supplemental Information Adjusted Earnings Per Share Q3 QTD 2022 Adjustments As Reported Transaction Costs As Adjusted (In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts) Adjusted EBITDA* $ 31.7 $  $ 31.7 Depreciation and amortization (8.0 )  (8.0 ) Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees (6.2 )  (6.2 ) Gain on disposal or impairment of assets (0.7 )  (0.7 ) Stock-based compensation (4.5 )  (4.5 ) Transaction costs (0.9 ) 0.9  Income before income tax expense 11.4 0.9 12.3 Provision for income tax expense (2.8 ) (0.1 ) (2.9 ) Net income attributable to Enhabit $ 8.6 $ 0.8 $ 9.4 Diluted earnings per share** $ 0.17 $ 0.02 $ 0.19 Diluted shares used in calculation 49.7 * See reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA ** Adjusted EPS may not sum due to rounding.

Enhabit, Inc. and Subsidiaries Supplemental Information Adjusted Earnings Per Share Q3 QTD 2021 Adjustments As Reported Transaction Costs As Adjusted (In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts) Adjusted EBITDA* $ 43.0 $  $ 43.0 Depreciation and amortization (9.4 )  (9.4 ) Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees (0.1 )  (0.1 ) Gain on disposal or impairment of assets 0.1  0.1 Stock-based compensation (0.3 )  (0.3 ) Stock-based compensation included in overhead allocation (0.5 )  (0.5 ) Transaction costs (4.1 ) 4.1  Income before income tax expense 28.7 4.1 32.8 Provision for income tax expense (7.1 ) (1.0 ) (8.1 ) Net income attributable to Enhabit $ 21.6 $ 3.1 $ 24.7 Diluted earnings per share** $ 0.44 $ 0.06 $ 0.50 Diluted shares used in calculation 49.6 * See reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA ** Adjusted EPS may not sum due to rounding.

Enhabit, Inc. and Subsidiaries Supplemental Information Adjusted Earnings Per Share Q3 YTD 2022 Adjustments As Reported Transaction Costs As Adjusted (In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts) Adjusted EBITDA* $ 119.0 $  $ 119.0 Depreciation and amortization (24.7 )  (24.7 ) Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees (6.3 )  (6.3 ) Gain on disposal or impairment of assets (0.1 )  (0.1 ) Stock-based compensation (7.1 )  (7.1 ) Stock-based compensation included in overhead allocation (1.1 )  (1.1 ) Transaction costs (7.0 ) 7.0  Income before income tax expense 72.7 7.0 79.7 Provision for income tax expense (17.9 ) (1.6 ) (19.5 ) Net income attributable to Enhabit $ 54.8 $ 5.4 $ 60.2 Diluted earnings per share** $ 1.10 $ 0.11 $ 1.21 Diluted shares used in calculation 49.7 * See reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA ** Adjusted EPS may not sum due to rounding.

Enhabit, Inc. and Subsidiaries Supplemental Information Adjusted Earnings Per Share Q3 YTD 2021 Adjustments As Reported Income Tax

Adjustments Transaction

Costs As Adjusted (In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts) Adjusted EBITDA* $ 148.2 $  $  $ 148.2 Depreciation and amortization (27.9 )   (27.9 ) Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees (0.2 )   (0.2 ) Loss on disposal or impairment of assets 0.4   0.4 Stock-based compensation (2.1 )   (2.1 ) Stock-based compensation included in overhead allocation (1.6 )   (1.6 ) Transaction costs (8.8 )  8.8  Income before income tax expense 108.0  8.8 116.8 Provision for income tax expense (26.2 ) (0.3 ) (2.2 ) (28.7 ) Net income attributable to Enhabit $ 81.8 $ (0.3 ) $ 6.6 $ 88.1 Diluted earnings per share** $ 1.65 $  $ 0.13 $ 1.78 Diluted shares used in calculation 49.6 * See reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA ** Adjusted EPS may not sum due to rounding.

Enhabit, Inc. and Subsidiaries Supplemental Information Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA Three Months Ended

September 30, Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2022 2021 2022 2021 (In Millions) Net Income $ 8.9 $ 22.0 $ 56.4 $ 83.1 Income tax expense 2.8 7.1 17.9 26.2 Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees 6.2 0.1 6.3 0.2 Depreciation and amortization 8.0 9.4 24.7 27.9 Loss (gain) on disposal or impairment of assets 0.7 (0.1 ) 0.1 (0.4 ) Stock-based compensation 4.5 0.3 7.1 2.1 Stock-based compensation included in overhead allocation  0.5 1.1 1.6 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (0.3 ) (0.4 ) (1.6 ) (1.3 ) Transaction costs 0.9 4.1 7.0 8.8 Adjusted EBITDA $ 31.7 $ 43.0 $ 119.0 $ 148.2

Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Adjusted EBITDA Three Months Ended

September 30, Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2022 2021 2022 2021 (In Millions) Net cash provided by operating activities $ 1.0 $ 6.6 $ 76.0 $ 100.2 Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees 6.2 0.1 6.3 0.2 Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates  0.1  0.5 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in continuing operations (0.3 ) (0.4 ) (1.6 ) (1.3 ) Distributions from nonconsolidated affiliates    (0.2 ) Current portion of income tax expense 3.9 7.2 20.4 25.4 Change in assets and liabilities 20.3 24.7 10.0 11.1 Transaction costs 0.9 4.1 7.0 8.8 Stock-based compensation included in overhead allocation  0.5 1.1 1.6 Other (0.3 ) 0.1 (0.2 ) 1.9 Adjusted EBITDA $ 31.7 $ 43.0 $ 119.0 $ 148.2

Enhabit, Inc. and Subsidiaries Supplemental Information Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Adjusted Free Cash Flow Q3 9 Months ($ in millions) 2022 2021 2022 2021 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 1.0 $ 6.6 $ 76.0 $ 100.2 Capital expenditures for maintenance (0.5 ) (1.9 ) (3.1 ) (4.9 ) Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliates (0.2 ) (0.3 ) (0.9 ) (1.6 ) Items non-indicative of ongoing operating performance: Stock-based compensation included in overhead allocation  0.5 1.1 1.6 Transaction costs and related assumed liabilities 1.8 2.3 7.0 5.4 Adjusted free cash flow $ 2.1 $ 7.2 $ 80.1 $ 100.7

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts, such as those relating to future events, projections, financial guidance, legislative or regulatory developments, strategy or growth opportunities, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All such estimates, projections, and forward-looking information speak only as of the date hereof, and Enhabit undertakes no duty to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. While it is impossible to identify all such factors, factors which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those estimated by Enhabit include, but are not limited to, our ability to execute on our strategic plans, regulatory and other developments impacting the markets for our services, changes in reimbursement rates, general economic conditions, our ability to attract and retain key management personnel and healthcare professionals, potential disruptions or breaches of our or our vendors information systems, the outcome of litigation, our ability to successfully complete and integrate de novo developments, acquisitions, investments, and joint ventures, and our ability to control costs, particularly labor and employee benefit costs. Our Form 10 Registration Statement dated June 14, 2022 and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, each of which can be found on the Companys website at http://investors.ehab.com and the SECs website at www.sec.gov, discuss other risks and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement in this press release. We urge you to consider all of the risks, uncertainties and factors identified above or discussed in such reports carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements in this press release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101006290/en/

Investor Relations Contact

Jennifer Hills

469-860-6061

[email protected]



Media Contact

Erin Volbeda

972-338-5141

[email protected]

Source: Enhabit, Inc.
FBN Tops CNBC Across Key Dayparts in Total Viewers; Delivers Year-Over-Year Growth Across the Board

Kudlow Continues Reign As Number One Business Show on Television, Notches 13th Straight Monthly Win Over CNBC in Timeslot

FOX Business Claims Top 12 Cable News Programs in Median Income with A25-54

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- FOX Business Network (FBN) celebrated its 15th anniversary notching its seventh consecutive month as the leader in business news, besting CNBC with a 29% advantage in business day viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. October also marked FBNs third highest rated month ever in Business Day with total viewers, while CNBC delivered its worst-performing month since November 2013 in Total Day in the coveted A25-54 demo. As market swings continued to command headlines, FBNs total day audience also outpaced CNBC for the first time since November 2018, while the networks market hours posted its fifth straight monthly win over CNBC with 247,000 total viewers compared to CNBCs 202,000, a 22% advantage for the month.

Extending its power as the number one business program on television, Larry Kudlows eponymous Kudlow (weekdays, 4 PM/ET) recorded its 13th consecutive monthly win over CNBCS Closing Bell. Averaging 347,000 in total viewers, Kudlow once again trampled the competition delivering a 89% advantage win over CNBC in total viewers. FBNs pre-market program Mornings with Maria (weekdays, 6-9 AM/ET) also bested the CNBC competition, averaging 124,000 in total viewers compared to CNBCs 101,000 and delivering double digit advantages year-over-year (43% advantage with P2+; 50% advantage with A25-54). Stuart Varneys Varney & Co. (weekdays, 9 AM-12 PM/ET) delivered a 51% advantage over CNBC (FBN: 311,000 P2+ vs. CNBC: 206,000 P2+) overtaking the competition for the eighth consecutive month. Varney also continued as the second highest-rated program in business news, behind Kudlow for the month.

Cavuto: Coast to Coast (weekdays, 12-2 PM/ET) anchored by managing editor of business news Neil Cavuto, earned a 41% program year-over-year win and netted 199,000 total viewers for the month. Making Money with Charles Payne (weekdays, 2 PM/ET) garnered a 9% advantage over CNBC with 192,000 P2+, while Liz Clamans The Claman Countdown (weekdays, 3 PM/ET) scored its second monthly win over CNBCs Closing Bell this year with 203,000 total viewers. The post-market programs FOX Business Tonight (weekdays, 5 PM/ET) and The Evening Edit (weekdays, 6 PM/ET) both saw year-over-year double digit audience growth of 26% and 34% respectively. Kennedy (Mon.-Thurs., 7 PM/ET) delivered its highest rated month in viewers since February 2021 with 125,000 total viewers.

FBN Prime, the networks primetime programming lineup that debuted its highly anticipated third season on October 17, documented an expansion of viewership across nearly all of its programming. Most notably, How America Works (Mondays, 8 PM/ET) delivered its highest rated month ever in viewers with an 11% advantage year-over-year, and outranked CNBCs Shark Tank for the third time ever on October 24th in viewers. Historic Battles of America (Tuesdays, 8 PM/ET) and American Dynasty (Tuesdays, 9 PM/ET) each delivered their highest total viewership for their programs respective time slots since November 2020. Additionally, American Dream Home (Wednesdays, 9 PM/ET) achieved its highest rated hour since November 2020 with viewers in the younger demo.

Amongst affluent audiences in the advertiser-friendly A25-54 demo, FBN placed the top 12 programs. American Built (Mondays, 9 PM/ET), Mansion Global (Wednesdays, 8 PM/ET), Historic Battles for America, American Gold (Thursdays, 9 PM/ET), Making Money with Charles Payne, The Claman Countdown, American Dynasty, Wall Street Journal at Large (Fridays, 7:30-8 PM.ET), FOX Business Tonight, Cavuto: Coast to Coast, Kudlow and Maria Bartiromos Wall Street (Fridays, 7-7:30 PM/ET) each secured viewers with a median income of $131,700 or greater.

***Below is the data according to Nielsen Media Research

Ratings for the month of October 2022

Business Day (9:30AM-5PM/ET)

FBN: 257,000 total viewers and 24,000 A25-54

CNBC: 199,000 total viewers and 37,000 A25-54

Market Hours (9AM-4PM/ET)

FBN: 247,000 total viewers and 23,000 A25-54

CNBC: 202,000 total viewers and 38,000 A25-54

Total Day (6AM-6AM/ET)

FBN: 149,000 total viewers and 16,000 A25-54

CNBC: 145,000 total viewers and 32,000 A25-54

**Program Specials Excluded**

FOX Business Network (FBN) is a financial news channel delivering real-time information across all platforms that impact both Main Street and Wall Street. Headquartered in New York  the business capital of the world  FBN launched in October 2007 and is currently the top business channel on television. The network is available in nearly 80 million homes in all markets across the United States. Owned by Fox Corporation, FBN is a unit of FOX News Media and has bureaus in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101006163/en/

FOX Business Media Contact:

Sofie Watson: 212.301.3818

Source: FOX Business Network
POTOMAC, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- India Globalization Capital, Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) (IGC or the Company) today reported its second fiscal quarter 2023 financial results.

Second Fiscal Quarter 2023 Highlights:

IGC-AD1 and TGR-63, both small molecules, have shown potential to suppress or ameliorate a key protein in Alzheimers cell lines responsible for A plaques, a key hallmark of Alzheimers disease. The Company currently has two main investigational drug assets in various stages of development: IGC-AD1: The Companys therapeutic candidate is entering Phase 2 trials for treating agitation in dementia from Alzheimers disease. TGR-63: An enzyme inhibitor shown in preclinical trials to reduce neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's cell lines.

The Company has completed a Phase 1 trial, a safety and tolerability trial, on IGC-AD1, and has submitted a Phase 2 protocol to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and to Health Canada that involves 146 Alzheimers patients, with half receiving a placebo. The primary endpoint is agitation in dementia due to Alzheimers disease as rated by the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) over a six-week period. The Company has signed agreements with trial sites for conducting the trials.

On Sept. 20, 2022, the USPTO granted a second patent (#11,446,276) for the treatment of Alzheimers disease titled Extreme low dose THC as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent for Alzheimers disease. The original patent application was initiated by the University of South Florida (USF) and filed on Aug. 1, 2016. On May 25, 2017, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement with USF with respect to the patent application and the associated research conducted on Alzheimers disease. IGC-AD1, described above, is partially based on this research.

Sales of the Companys CBD-infused products and services increased about 345% for the six-months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the six-months ended September 30, 2021.

Ram Mukunda, CEO of India Globalization Capital, commented, We are very pleased with the developments we have made this quarter, especially as they pertain to our investigational drug candidate, IGC-AD1. We believe that we possess a revolutionary drug formulation that could provide much-needed relief for patients suffering from Alzheimers disease. This drug is the first natural low-dose THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)-based drug formulation to enter FDA trials and has the potential to fill a very prevalent void in the broad and expanding market for the treatment of Alzheimers symptoms.

We continue to see increased market traction for our line of products like HoliefTM, which offers CBD-based gummies, tinctures, capsules, and topical analgesic creams for pain relief, and Sunday SeltzerTM, our CBD-infused beverage brand that includes our energy drink, Mukunda continued.

Revenue was approximately $202,000 for the three months ended Sept. 30, 2022, compared to $56,000 for the three months ended Sept. 30, 2021. The increase in revenue is primarily related to increased sales of the Companys CBD-based products and services including its CBD-infused energy beverages.

Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses were approximately $1.9 million and $4.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, and September 30, 2021, respectively. The decrease of $2.2 million is attributed to an adjustment of one-time expenses and a reduction of legal and marketing expenses. SG&A expenses consist primarily of employee-related expenses, sales commission, professional fees, legal fees, marketing, other corporate expenses, allocated general overhead and provisions, depreciation and write-offs relating to doubtful accounts, and advance, if any.

Research and Development (R&D) expenses were $768,000 for the three months ended Sept. 30, 2022, compared to approximately $276,000 for the three months ended Sept. 30, 2021. The increase of approximately $492,000 was primarily attributable to the progression of Phase 2 trials on IGC-AD1 and preclinical studies on TGR-63. The Company anticipates increased R&D expenses as the development of TGR-63 and the Phase 2 trial on IGC-AD1 gain momentum.

Net loss for the three months ended Sept. 30, 2022, was approximately $2.4 million or ($0.05) per share, compared to approximately $4.3 million or ($0.09) per share for the three months ended Sept. 30, 2021.

About IGC:

India Globalization Capital Inc. develops, patents and markets advanced THC-based drug formulations for the treatment of symptoms related to various diseases, including but not limited to Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, chronic pain, and pet seizures. The Companys leading drug candidate, IGC-AD1, has demonstrated the potential to be effective in suppressing or ameliorating a key protein in Alzheimers cell lines responsible for A plaques and has recently entered Phase 2 clinical trials for agitation in dementia from Alzheimers. The Company also has lines of various CBD-based consumer products such as Holief, which includes gummies and pain relief creams for women experiencing premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and dysmenorrhea (period cramps), and Sunday Seltzer, which includes a CBD-infused energy beverage  all currently available for purchase. The Company also operates an Infrastructure business based in India. The Company is headquartered in Maryland, U.S.A.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based largely on IGCs expectations and are subject to several risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond IGCs control. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, the Companys failure or inability to commercialize one or more of the Companys products or technologies, including the products or formulations described in this release, or failure to obtain regulatory approval for the products or formulations, where required; general economic conditions that are less favorable than expected, including as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; the FDAs general position regarding cannabis- and hemp-based products; and other factors, many of which are discussed in IGCs SEC filings. IGC incorporates by reference the human trial disclosures and Risk Factors identified in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 23, 2022, as if fully incorporated and restated herein. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information contained in this release will occur.

India Globalization Capital, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

September 30, 2022 ($) March 31, 2022

($) ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents 6,623 10,460 Accounts receivable, net 189 125 Short-term investments 193 - Inventory 3,750 3,548 Deposits and advances 444 978 Total current assets 11,199 15,111 Intangible assets, net 952 917 Property, plant and equipment, net 8,470 9,419 Claims and advances 950 937 Operating lease asset 387 450 Total long-term assets 10,759 11,723 Total assets 21,958 26,834 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable 456 981 Accrued liabilities and others 926 1,460 Total current liabilities 1,382 2,441 Long-term loans 142 144 Other liabilities 15 16 Operating lease liability 275 341 Total noncurrent liabilities 432 501 Total liabilities 1,814 2,942 Commitments and Contingencies  See Note 12 Stockholders equity: Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value: authorized 1,000,000 shares, no shares issued or outstanding as of Sept. 30, 2022, and March 31, 2022. Common stock and additional paid-in capital, $0.0001 par value: 150,000,000 shares authorized; 53,058,061 and 51,054,017 shares issued and outstanding as of Sept. 30, 2022, and March 31, 2022, respectively. 117,899 116,019 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,369) (2,968) Accumulated deficit (94,386) (89,159) Total stockholders equity 20,144 23,892 Total liabilities and stockholders equity 21,958 26,834

These financial statements should be read in connection with the accompanying notes on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended on Sept. 30, 2022 and filed with the SEC on November 1, 2022.

India Globalization Capital, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(in thousands, except loss per share and share data)

(Unaudited)

Three months ended September 30, 2022 ($) 2021 ($) Revenue 202 56 Cost of revenue (67) (18) Gross Profit 135 38 Selling, general and administrative expenses (1,855) (4,110) Research and development expenses (768) (276) Operating loss (2,488) (4,348) Impairment of investment - - Other income, net 46 4 Loss before income taxes (2,442) (4,344) Income tax expense/benefit - - Net loss attributable to common stockholders (2,442) (4,344) Foreign currency translation adjustments (182) 20 Comprehensive loss (2,624) (4,324) Loss per share attributable to common stockholders: Basic & diluted $ (0.05) $ (0.09) Weighted-average number of shares used in computing loss per share amounts: 52,194,098 49,948,930

These financial statements should be read in connection with the accompanying notes on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended on Sept. 30, 2022 and filed with the SEC on November 1, 2022.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101006286/en/

Claudia Grimaldi

301-983-0998

Source: India Globalization Capital, Inc.
The 2nd Annual Leafly Cannabis Harvest Report values legal cannabis at $5 Billion, surpassing potatoes or rice

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Leafly Holdings, Inc. (Leafly), a leading online cannabis discovery marketplace and resource for cannabis consumers, released today its Cannabis Harvest Report, an unparalleled analysis of the last year of cannabis farming in the U.S. Created in partnership with Whitney Economics, a global leader in cannabis and hemp business consulting and economic research, the report offers the most comprehensive look at adult-use cannabis crop licensing, production, and value.

Now in its second year, the Leafly Cannabis Harvest Report calculates what the United States Department of Agriculture does not, and is the only analysis of its kind. Over a period of three months, Leaflys award-winning investigative team performed a one-of-a-kind synthesis of licensing reports with crop production totals, and sales and tax figures from the 15 states with operating cannabis markets.

In some states, cannabis is consistently one of the highest-value crops in the field, but the federal government - and even some state and local governments - do not track harvest amounts, ignoring the value of the crop.

The report outlines the barriers Americas cannabis farmers continue to face due to federal marijuana prohibition. For example, licensed cannabis farms often lack access to basic banking services and crop insurance. Those farmers also report trouble obtaining personal mortgages and car loans, due to the nature of their trade.

David Downs, the reports lead author and Leaflys California Bureau Chief, says the report arms consumers and policymakers with information on Americas progress toward legalization, and the barriers still ahead.

Simply put, local and federal governments do not treat cannabis farmers like farmers. There is systematic discrimination at the local, state, and federal level. Adult-use cannabis is a top cash crop in states where its legal, but that song goes unsung, Downs said. There is no federal cannabis policy other than prohibition and our reporting shows that each days delay punishes the smallest farmers the most. The American cannabis industry is fragmented but publishing otherwise unreported data can help illuminate pathways to an ideal industry.

Key findings from the 2022 Leafly Cannabis Harvest Report:

In 2022, adult-use cannabis farmers in the U.S. have legally grown approximately 2,834 metric tons of cannabis. For comparison, that amount is enough to fill 36 miles of dump trucks parked end to end.

Adult-use cannabis now supports more than 13,297 American farms, in 15 legal states with legal adult-use and medical cannabis markets

Cannabis prices are the highest in Alaska, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada

Marijuana is the No. 1 cash crop in Alaska, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, but regulators do not publish production totals in two of those states.

Recreational marijuana could be legal in half of the United States if the handful of states with cannabis on ballots this November pass them. And a recent Gallup poll found that 68 percent of Americans support adult-use cannabis legalization and 91 percent support medical cannabis. The plant, however, remains federally illegal and the cultivation of a single cannabis plant is a felony that can yield up to a five-year prison sentence and/or a fine of up to $250,000.

Known as the informed way to shop for cannabis, Leafly is a marketplace that helps connect millions of annual website visitors to more than 7,800 brands and more than 5,200 dispensaries. Leafly has been gathering cannabis employment and sales data since 2015 with its annual Jobs Report, filling a crucial information gap created by a lack of data collection from the US Department of Labor, which does not count cannabis jobs due to federal prohibition. Similarly, the US Department of Agriculture does not account for cannabis crops, and excludes cannabis farmers from all of its programs, due to cannabis outdated status as a federal Schedule I drug.

To read the report in full, visit: https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/how-much-weed-grown-us-2022

Methodology

Leaflys investigative team, working in partnership with Whitney Economics, examined the 15 states where adult-use cannabis is for sale in licensed stores. We used state licensing totals, and followed the USDAs approach to determining annual crop value. We researched the average annual wholesale price of marijuana in each state using Cannabis Benchmarks, and multiplied each states average price of wholesale cannabis by the amount produced. Many states do not report annual production, so Leafly infers it from sources including cultivation tax revenue totals, retail sales totals, or retail amounts sold. Farmer interviews, field measurements, and past research also provide metrics to normalize disparate data across states, like wet weight versus dry weight, or the value of trimmed cannabis versus untrimmed. To learn more about our methodology in detail, visit page 27 of the report.

About Leafly

Leafly helps millions of people discover cannabis each year. Our powerful tools help shoppers make informed purchasing decisions and empower cannabis businesses to attract and retain loyal customers through advertising and technology services. Learn more at Leafly.com or download the Leafly mobile app through Apples App Store or Google Play.

About Whitney Economics

Whitney Economics is a global leader in cannabis and hemp business consulting, data, and economic research. The firms work applying economic principles to create actionable operational and policy recommendations has been recognized by national governments and by leaders throughout the economic, investment, and business communities.

About David Downs, Leafly Senior Editor and California Bureau Chief

Leafly Senior Editor David Downs received a Literary Excellence Award from Oaksterdam University in 2022. On the cannabis beat since 2009, hes published three books, including the best-selling cannabis crop science book Marijuana Harvest. Downs guest lectured at the Loyola Marymount University Law Schools Journalism Law School, UC Berkeley Extension, and contributed to Continuing Education of the Bars Marijuana Law Hub, sponsored by University of California and the State Bar of California. Downs work has appeared in San Francisco Chronicle, New York Times, Scientific American, Wired, Rolling Stone, The Onion, Columbia Journalism Review, High Times, Billboard, and many more. He holds a bachelors degree in English Literature from UC Santa Barbara, and was a Fellow at the Medill School of Journalisms Academy of Alternative Journalism in Chicago.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005373/en/

Callie Driehorst

[email protected]

Source: Leafly Holdings, Inc.
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto has entered into agreements (Agreements) with certain funds and other entities related to Pentwater Capital Management LP and SailingStone Capital Partners LLC (the Securityholders) in relation to the special meeting (Special Meeting) of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd (Turquoise Hill) shareholders to vote on Rio Tintos acquisition by way of plan of arrangement (the Arrangement) of the approximately 49% of the issued and outstanding shares of Turquoise Hill that Rio Tinto does not own for C$43.00 per share in cash (the Consideration). As announced by Turquoise Hill, the Special Meeting has been postponed until Tuesday 8th November.

Under the Agreements, the Securityholders have agreed to withhold their votes at the Special Meeting and exercise their dissent rights in respect of the Arrangement. Rio Tinto has agreed to increase the dissent condition under the Arrangement Agreement from 12.5% to 17.5% of Turquoise Hill shares issued and outstanding. Under the Agreements, the parties have also agreed that the dissent proceedings with the Securityholders and certain other claims shall be conducted by arbitration, and the Securityholders shall be paid C$34.40 of the Consideration following the completion of the Arrangement, with the remaining Consideration payable following the final determination of the arbitration. The Agreements contain customary releases of the parties.

Rio Tinto reconfirms that the proposal of C$43.00 per Turquoise Hill share is best and final.

Additional Disclaimers

Canadian Early Warning Disclosure

Rio Tinto currently beneficially owns 102,196,643 common shares of Turquoise Hill, representing approximately 51% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Turquoise Hill. Rio Tinto also has anti-dilution rights that permit it to acquire additional securities of Turquoise Hill so as to maintain its proportionate equity interest in Turquoise Hill from time to time.

This announcement is authorised for release to the market by, and a copy of the related early warning report may be obtained from, Rio Tintos Group Company Secretary.

The head office of Turquoise Hill is located at 1 Place Ville-Marie, Suite 3680, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3B 3P2.

Forward-Looking Statements

The Information provided in this press release includes forward-looking statements and forward looking information within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian securities law, respectively. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this release, are forward-looking statements or information. The words intend, forecast, project, anticipate, estimate, plan, believes, expects, may, should, will, target, pursue, seek or similar expressions, commonly identify such forward-looking statements or information. More particularly and without restriction, this press release contains forward-looking statements and information regarding: statements and implications about the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement for Rio Tinto, Turquoise Hill and their respective shareholders, shareholder and court approvals, the anticipated timing of the completion of the Arrangement and the anticipated funding and other risks for Turquoise Hill and the shareholders if the Arrangement does not proceed.

Such forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the failure of the parties to obtain the necessary shareholder and court approvals or to otherwise satisfy the conditions to the completion of the Arrangement; failure of the parties to obtain such approvals or satisfy such conditions in a timely manner or at all; significant transaction costs; failure to realize the expected benefits of the Arrangement and general economic conditions. Failure to obtain the necessary shareholder and court approvals, or the failure of the parties to otherwise satisfy the conditions to the completion of the Arrangement or to complete the Arrangement, may result in the Arrangement not being completed on the proposed terms, or at all. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements and information contained in the Information is qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements, and there can be no guarantee that the results or developments that we anticipate will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences or effects on our business, financial condition or results of operation.

Rio Tinto expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking (except as required by applicable law, the UK Listing Rules, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority and the Listing Rules of the Australian Securities Exchange) to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement or information contained in this press release to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement or information is based. All Information in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is accessed.

This announcement contains inside information.

The person responsible for arranging and authorising the release of this announcement on behalf of Rio Tinto is Steve Allen, Group Company Secretary.

LEI: 213800YOEO5OQ72G2R82

Classification: 3.1. Information disclosed under article 19 of the Market Abuse Regulation.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101006224/en/

Please direct all enquiries to [email protected]

Media Relations, UK

Matthew Klar

M+ 44 7796 630 637

David Outhwaite

M +44 7787 597 493

Media Relations, Americas

Simon Letendre

M +514 796 4973

Malika Cherry

M +1 418 592 7293

Media Relations, Australia

Matt Chambers

M +61 433 525 739

Jesse Riseborough

M +61 436 653 412

Investor Relations, UK

Menno Sanderse

M: +44 7825 195 178

David Ovington

M +44 7920 010 978

Clare Peever

M +44 7788 967 877

Investor Relations, Australia

Tom Gallop

M +61 439 353 948

Amar Jambaa

M +61 472 865 948

Rio Tinto plc

6 St Jamess Square

London SW1Y 4AD

United Kingdom

T +44 20 7781 2000

Registered in England

No. 719885

Rio Tinto Limited

Level 43, 120 Collins Street

Melbourne 3000

Australia

T +61 3 9283 3333

Registered in Australia

ABN 96 004 458 404

This announcement is authorised for release to the market by Steve Allen, Rio Tintos Group Company Secretary.

riotinto.com

Category: Oyu Tolgoi

Source: Rio Tinto
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- According to new research from Strategy Analytics, China smartphone shipments fell -16% YoY to 67 million units in Q3 2022. vivo regained the top position with 21% market share, followed by OPPO (including OnePlus), Honor, Apple, and Xiaomi. Within Top 5 players, only Apple delivered the annual growth this quarter.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221031005320/en/

Exhibit 1: China Smartphone Shipments & Marketshare in Q3 2022* Numbers are rounded. (Source: Strategy Analytics, Inc.)

Yiwen Wu, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, said, China smartphone shipments declined to 66.9 million units in Q3 2022, down -16.0% YoY. It is the sixth consecutive quarter of annual decline by smartphone shipments. Inventory adjustments and the weakening demand blaming the macro-economic headwinds weighted on the mixed performance.

Linda Sui, Senior Director at Strategy Analytics, said, vivo regained the top position in China in Q3 2022 with 14.3 million units of smartphones shipments. Its shipments however fell -21% YoY and its volume share declined to 21% from 23% a year ago. vivo refreshed its product portfolio this quarter and we saw the steady progress in premium segment and online channel. X series helped the company enhance brand awareness among affluent users and young people. Meanwhile, the refreshed iQOO series continue to shine in online segment. OPPO (OnePlus) combined ranked second with 12.2 million units of shipments, seizing 18% market share in Q3 2022. OPPO (OnePlus) posted the largest annual decline (-27% YoY) this quarter among the top 5 vendors. OPPO was less aggressive on new product launch this quarter in home market amid the economy uncertainties. Reno 8 series on high end and affordable 5G A models remained in the best-selling list. We recommend the company to take feasible actions to stabilize the performance in China market.

Peng Peng, Analyst at Strategy Analytics, added, Honor yielded the top position to vivo in Q3 and ranked the third place with 12.1 million units of smartphone shipments. Honors impressive resilient journey hit a pause and it delivered -15% YoY annual decline in home market. Honor slowed down its product launch cycle in Q3 and only introduced X40i and X40 in home market. We expect the competition between Honor and vivo for the top position will become intensified in the following quarters. Apple ranked fourth with 10.3 million units of iPhone shipments and 15% volume share this quarter, up from 13% one year ago. Apple outperformed the overall market and posted +3% YoY growth rate. It is the only vendor with the annual growth rate among top 5 players. The growth mainly came from the attractive price discounts on iPhone 13 series and the healthy demand of the newly launched iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max in top tier cities.

Yiwen Wu, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, added, Xiaomi dropped to the fifth position in China with 9.0 million units of shipments this quarter. Its shipments fell -16% YoY, on par with the overall market. Xiaomi brought female-oriented Civi 2, online-focused Redmi K50, ultra-premium Mi 12s Ultra and Mix Fold 2 into the market in Q3. These models represent Xiaomis latest efforts to expand addressable markets. Xiaomi is facing tough competition in the online market mainly from Honor. Meanwhile, its aggressive offline expansion has slowed down. We expect China smartphone market will maintain the downturn track in the following quarters under the continued COVID disruptions and economic headwinds. The high-end segment would outperform mass market thanks to the deep pocket of affluent users amid economic uncertainties. We would recommend leading Chinese brands to launch more differentiated products to tackle high end segment. Meanwhile, cautiously managing inventories is another challenge for all vendors in the following quarters.

About Strategy Analytics

Strategy Analytics, Inc. is a global leader in supporting companies across their planning lifecycle through a range of customized market research solutions. Our multi-discipline capabilities include: industry research advisory services, customer insights, user experience design and innovation expertise, mobile consumer on-device tracking and business-to-business consulting competencies. With domain expertise in: smart devices, connected cars, intelligent home, service providers, IoT, strategic components and media, Strategy Analytics can develop a solution to meet your specific planning need. For more information, visit us at www.strategyanalytics.com.

For more information about Strategy Analytics

Wireless Smartphone Strategies Service: Click Here

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221031005320/en/

Report contacts:

US Contact: Linda Sui, +1 617 614 0735, [email protected]

European Contact: Neil Mawston, +44 1908 423 628, [email protected]

China Contact: Yiwen Wu, +86 156 0180 3216, [email protected]

South Korea Contact: Woody Oh, +82 10 2230 2201, [email protected]

Source: Strategy Analytics
Leading voices in gaming & web3 start work on creating standards for the decentralized metaverse

ZUG, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, OMA3 (Open Metaverse Alliance), an association based in Zug, Switzerland, is announcing open membership to its first working groups at Web Summit, Europes largest tech conference.

Initial working group participants include some of the biggest and most innovative names in the space such as Animoca Brands, Alien Worlds, Dapper Labs, MetaMetaverse, SPACE Metaverse, SuperWorld, The Sandbox, Upland, Voxels, Unstoppable Domains, and Wivity (the agent to the consortium).

One of the core values of the metaverse is celebrating the decentralization of not only assets but power and influence as well. OMA3 achieves this by ensuring virtual land, identities, digital assets, ideas, and services are highly interoperable between platforms and transparent to all communities. OMA3s Portaling and Mapping Working Group will create standards that allow users to port between virtual worlds. The Asset Transfer Working Group will standardize infrastructure for moving digital assets between virtual worlds. The Legal Working Group will examine the protection and fair use of intellectual property in Web3 applications and monitor developments in the regulatory environment. Companies wishing to participate in these working groups are invited to join OMA3 as a Creator Member on its website- OMA3.org.

As the metaverse continues to grow and develop at a rapid pace, the association will continue to nurture an open, interoperable metaverse by launching more working groups in areas such as participant safety, privacy, and cybersecurity.

Dirk Lueth, Co-founder & Co-CEO, Upland, Founding Member and Chairperson of OMA3 said, The vision of OMA3 is to move from a platform-controlled Web2-world to a user-centric Web3-Metaverse. To achieve this, we have formed an alliance of Web3 companies who want to solve interoperability challenges for the metaverse, and we aim to leverage the alliances knowledge and web3 native insight to help propose and set the operating standard for interoperability in the metaverse.

Batis Samadian, Founder & CEO, SPACE, Founding Member, and Vice Chair of OMA3 said, Decentralization and interoperability require coordination to be successful. We are pleased that the OMA3 idea we hatched in the early days has resonated so well with the industry.

All members of OMA3 have a shared belief in an Open Metaverse without restraining walls, where individual platforms are interconnected and fully interoperable so users can move their digital assets freely across worlds. To realize this goal, OMA3 has been formed and looks forward to members joining its mission.

Sebastien Borget, Co-Founder and COO of The Sandbox and Founding Member of OMA3 said, within the Open Metaverse, digital assets freely move across OMA3 virtual worlds, enjoying increased security and better asset tracking across worlds. With these shared standards, users will be able to take digital items that they own from one metaverse to another, enabling a universe of interconnected virtual worlds that prioritizes user experience and ownership over platform dominance and censorship.

Saro McKenna, CEO of Alien Worlds and Founding Member of OMA3 said, OMA3s vision centers on striving to create an open metaverse that is also community run, decentralized and indexable, where users will be able to own and use their digital assets (e.g. NFTs), identity and reputation in a frictionless way across multiple platforms. In OMA3s vision users are in control of their assets, not platform owners, while ideas and services are based on the foundation of decentralization and interoperability to optimize for individual freedom, social, economic, and other sustainable outcomes.

OMA3 is committed to ensuring data is permissionless, interoperable, and fully user-controlled, with DAO governance-centered principles of inclusiveness, transparency, and decentralization. As such, OMA3 is open to all Web3 metaverse builders; companies can join as creators or community members. To learn more about participation, please visit www.oma3.org.

About OMA3

OMA3, (Open Metaverse Alliance) is a consortium comprised of leading metaverse native companies The Sandbox, Animoca Brands, Alien Worlds, Dapper Labs, Decentraland, MetaMetaverse, Space, SuperWorld, Upland, Voxels, Unstoppable Domains, and Wivity. OMA3 seeks to ensure virtual land, digital assets, ideas, and services are highly interoperable between platforms and transparent to all communities.

Twitter: twitter.com/oma3dao

Website: www.oma3.org/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221031005819/en/

Media

The 5th Column

[email protected]

Source: Open Metaverse Alliance
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) today announced the completion of its acquisition of InSinkErator, the world's largest manufacturer of food waste disposers and instant hot water dispensers for home and commercial use, from Emerson. (NYSE: EMR).

"On behalf of everyone at Whirlpool, I am excited to welcome the InSinkErator team, as we continue to execute on our vision of improving life at home," said Marc Bitzer, Chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation. "This acquisition advances the Company's ongoing portfolio transformation and aligns with our long-term value creation goals."

Whirlpool expects to generate revenue upside by capitalizing on InSinkErator's leading consumer brand preference, an installed base that is five times larger than the rest of the industry driving a recurring sales profile, and the expansion of the InSinkErator brand into new markets and product offerings. As previously stated, the acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to Whirlpool Corporation's margins, adding approximately $1.25 EPS accretion in fiscal 2023. Whirlpool Corporation's 2022 guidance is unchanged. InSinkErator will operate as a separate business as part of Whirlpool Corporation's North America Region and maintain its headquarters in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, and its manufacturing operations in Racine, Wisconsin.

"Our team is excited about the future ahead with Whirlpool Corporation, and we see how perfectly InSinkErator fits within the company's portfolio of brands," said Joe Dillon, President of InSinkErator. "We look forward to working hand in hand to bring consumers the best kitchen experience in the world."

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is committed to being the best global kitchen and laundry company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. In an increasingly digital world, the company is driving purposeful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, JennAir, Indesit, Yummly and InSinkErator. In 2021, the company reported approximately $22 billion in annual sales, 69,000 employees and 54 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

About InSinkErator

Headquartered in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, InSinkErator is the world's largest manufacturer of food waste disposers and instant hot water dispensers for home and commercial use. For over 80 years, the company has delivered long-lasting innovative products, with superior grind and sound performance, trouble-free operation, fast, easy installation, and a We Come To You In-Home Limited Warranty. InSinkErator has established an international presence that reaches nearly 80 countries, with subsidiaries in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Whirlpool Additional Information

This document contains forward-looking statements about Whirlpool Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries ("Whirlpool") within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Whirlpool intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with those safe harbor provisions. Any statements made in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our future financial results, acquisition-related earnings accretion, revenue generation, long-term value creation and strategic goals, and portfolio transformation are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such. Such statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "may," "could," "will," "should," "possible," "plan," "predict," "forecast," "potential," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "may impact," "on track," and similar words or expressions. Many risks, contingencies and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from Whirlpool Corporation's forward-looking statements, including the risk that we may not realize the synergies and financial benefits from the transaction. Additional information concerning other factors can be found in Whirlpool Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K. These cautionary statements should not be construed by you to be exhaustive and the forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/whirlpool-corporation-completes-acquisition-of-insinkerator-301664256.html

SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation
Democratic candidate Francis Conole continues to hold a financial advantage over Republican Brandon Williams in the 22nd Congressional District race.

Conole, D-Syracuse, raised $461,381 in more than two weeks, from Oct. through Oct. 19. The haul included $375,706 from individual donors and $84,675 from PACs and other committees.

A joint fundraising committee, House Victory Project 2022, transferred $140,630 to Conole's campaign.

Conole received $5,000 donations from the American Federation of Teacher's political arm and the Madison County Democratic Committee. Onward Together, a PAC formed by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, chipped in $2,500. The Oneida County Democratic Committee contributed $1,000.

Conole's campaign spent $591,936 in less than three weeks. He has been airing several TV ads in the 22nd district, which includes all of Onondaga, Madison and Oneida counties. A small part of Oswego County is also in the district.

Entering the final weeks of the campaign, Conole has $526,519 in the bank.

Williams, R-Sennett, raised $154,168, mostly from individual donors ($125,818). He also collected $26,850 from PACs and other committees. An additional $21,429 was transferred from a separate campaign committee and a joint fundraising account.

His donors include the National Rifle Association's political arm, which gave $4,950, and U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino's campaign committee ($2,000). Garbarino is a New York Republican.

Other donations included $1,000 from the Cayuga County Conservative Party and $500 from the Syracuse Republican Committee.

Williams spent $210,444 and has $234,856 cash on hand.

Conole and Williams are locked in a competitive race to represent the 22nd district. One public poll showed Williams leading by five points, although that was within the margin of error. Conole's campaign released internal polls that found it was a dead heat.

The winner will succeed retiring U.S. Rep. John Katko in Congress. Katko, a Republican, served four terms. He announced in January that he would not seek reelection this year.
FILE PHOTO: A cell phone tower is shown near John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California U.S. January 18, 2022. U.S. airlines said on Wednesday the rollout of new 5G services was having only a minor impact on air travel as the U.S. Federal Aviation Admini

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Senior leaders at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Commerce Department's telecommunications unit met to discuss aviation safety concerns raised by new 5G C-Band deployments, two sources briefed on the meeting told Reuters on Tuesday.

FAA acting Administrator Billy Nolen and Alan Davidson, who heads the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), met virtually for about 30 minutes on Monday, the sources said. Last month, Nolen wrote the NTIA seeking a delay in some 5G C-Band transmissions from smaller operators over aviation safety concerns.

The FAA and NTIA declined comment on the meeting.

Nolen said in his Oct. 21 letter said the agency wants the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to mandate voluntary mitigations AT&T and Verizon agreed to earlier this year mandated for 19 smaller telecoms and other spectrum holders.

"Aviation safety would be compromised if the U.S. government does not codify certain additional operating limits in the 5G C-Band environment," Nolen wrote.

Industry officials say the FAA has raised the idea of temporarily prohibiting deployment of some stations in the 3.8-3.9 MHz block and maintaining some existing power limits until January 2024.

The letter was sent to Davidson and FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel was copied.

Rosenworcel last week confirmed that she received the letter. "We are in discussions with our colleagues at the NTIA," Rosenworcel said.

Concerns 5G service could interfere with airplane altimeters, which give data on a plane's height above the ground and are crucial for bad-weather landing, led to disruptions at some U.S. airports earlier this year.

Verizon and AT&T in June voluntarily agreed to delay some C-Band 5G usage until July 2023 as air carriers work to retrofit airplanes to ensure that they will not face interference.

Airline CEOs on Jan. 17 had warned of an impending "catastrophic" aviation crisis that could ground almost all traffic because of the 5G deployment. A deal struck shortly before a January deadline did not prevent dozens of foreign carriers from canceling international flights to the United States.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler and Mark Porter)
(Reuters) -United Airlines pilots overwhelmingly voted against a tentative contract, the union representing the workers said on Tuesday, saying the proposal fell short of what members were seeking.

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) said 94% of the nearly 10,000 pilots voted to reject the contract offer and said pilots would immediately begin a series of pickets.

The tentative agreement, announced in June, offered more than 14.5% cumulative pay increases and enhanced overtime and training pay. However, some pilots were not happy with the deal, prompting the union to renegotiate its terms.

But the talks failed to produce a new deal, a spokesperson for United's pilots union said.

"Unfortunately, management has now taken a wait-and-see approach to negotiations instead of leading the industry forward," the union said in a statement.

United said the outcome was expected, but added that the company was already working with ALPA on a "new, industry-leading agreement" that would include improved pay rates and other enhancements.

Its shares closed down about 1% at $42.66.

Pilots at Delta Air Lines on Monday overwhelmingly voted in favor of a strike authorization vote.

(Reporting by David Shepardson and Rajesh Kumar Singh; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Bernadette Baum and Mark Porter)
Miami, FL, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Introducing MICE the first socially and ideologically driven project to come to Web3, offering a media-centric utility that redefines value in the NFT industry.

By taking an existing culture and community with shared views and perspectives, and giving them a home in Web3- MICE is endeavoring to create a digital Community that is built on a stronger foundation than has been seen before on the Blockchain.

The project will give its holders the medium and tools to shape, contribute, and create the first decentralized Media Network - MICEMEDIA. An interposed brand that is not only built by but owned by the MICE.

Backdrop: The Problem

We already know that the web has developed in phases.

From Web1 and websites to Web 2s peer to peer era of social networks to this moment- one which is defined by an ecosystem built on the blockchain and limitless potential. With each phase of the web has brought with it innovative advancements in technology that have shaped society, culture, and the world.

These phases have been governed by centralized systems and platforms - with the intention of shaping and censoring opinions to control the narrative of society to their own benefit. Creating a system of forced polarization that divides the people all the benefit of the platform.

From Twitter and Facebook to YouTube and PayPal we have seen relentless Censorship, Cancel Culture, Shadow Banning + Banning, De-Platforming- the silencing of any person or account that doesnt fit the mold.

That is, until now.

MICE + MICEMEDIA is planning on raising the bar and delivering on the true promise of decentralization in Web3.

THE CORNERSTONES: Community, Utility, and Value

COMMUNITY

With a community-centric approach, MICE has the idea of taking the way NFT projects have built Community in the past and flipping the script. Rather than releasing art and a loose Roadmap to curate a Community without meaningful glue or real connection - MICE plans to tap into an existing in real life (IRL) community and culture and give it a home in Web3.

The project will provide the traditional mediums of communication to its Community and supporters - but with MICE the value of communication has more meaning and value. The founder has described this as Discord with Discourse- a Community with a shared perspective communicated on topics that have far more depth than your average NFT chatroom.

UTILITY

Just as the days of NFTs dropping a jpeg have passed, so has the legitimacy of a low-quality video game coming soon or a game passing as Utility.

While MICE will deliver on traditional Utility such as IP ownership, streaming activities, IRL events, merchandise, and so forth- they plan to elevate the standard massively in their true Utility.

The core focus of this Utility is on building the first decentralized Web3 Media Network, created and crafted by the MICE Community.

The Project will provide a media content platform to the Community, and offer the ability to interact, vote, and contribute to the media, therefore shaping the culture and brand of a true Community created Media Network.

The Manifestation: MICEMEDIA. A Digital Media Network and brand that is the outward-facing product built by the MICE.

This brand which will be built by the Community is able to accelerate online IRL in a powerful way. Co-Founder of MICEMEDIA, Chris Crane, has spent the last three decades as a media executive building some of the most notable networks in the US.

His ventures have been diverse and have had success working with brands like ESPN and iHeart Radio, and building mainstream syndications from The Steve Harvey Radio and the Dan Patrick Show to news media platforms like the chart-topping Dan Bongino Podcast and Levin TV. Most recently, Chris founded the company that went on to become the news network BlazeTV.

With the culture and foundation built by the Community, the MICE team will be able to organically and rapidly build this Utility into a remarkable, respected, and revolutionary MICE MEDIA Network.

VALUE

The way in which NFTs are valued was a problem in the eyes of the MICE Founders. Confined to perceived value through things like scarcity and rarity with weak Utility was not enough for the MICE Community in the eyes of the team. They meticulously layered their three levels of value to maximize the digital asset for the Community and provide future holders of MICE with the most value possible.

1. TRADITIONAL VALUE. The art of the NFT itself is derived from a thematic storyboard that is intertwined with the ethos of the project. Along with this comes exclusive IP rights, access to streaming events (beginning on Nov 6), IRL events (MIAMIMICE / APR 2023), merchandise, and a thorough approach to fundamental Web3 offerings.

2. FUNCTIONAL VALUE. Will include the unique Community that is going to be assembled, and the access and ability to interact and contribute to the content in a revolutionary approach to the creation of a living Media Network.

3. TRUE VALUE IRL. This is where MICE is aiming to directly democratize an industry that has forever been dominated by big tech and large corporate networks. The MICE Team is now exploring the most impactful way to have the NFT that the Community holds be tethered to equity and a stake in the Media Network- having a true share of the Media Empire they are building. Web3 NFT value + IRL Equity in a Media Network is industry-disrupting, and a principle that the team holds as sacred and will reward the Community with this offering.

Power of Aligned Interest. The Community will have the power to project media content that they believe in and is reflective of their culture in Web3, and that content is shared throughout Web2 and online. When this exposure permeates across the market, the value of the Media Network will logically increase. As that Media Network value increases, so does their share in that entity as well as the rise in notoriety and value of the NFT. In what is forming to be a Contribute to Earn model, there is a remarkable presence of aligned interest in the promotion of media content that has never been seen before.

A MICE intern may have said it best when he stated, we are a media network built by the MICE- not by the the Man.

THE MICE are Building a Bridge

The MICE team supports the assertion that Web3 will only reach its fullest potential when it has mass adoption from the general market at large and has geared itself that way.

The way that the MICE envisions this will happen is not through better art, but rather, by a project breaking through the barrier and triggering an emotional connection to a specific NFT. There may not be a deeper emotional connection any individual has than their views, belief system, and values. MICE has intentionally scheduled their Mint around a highly covered election in the US this November. Creating a connection between an existing Community in Web2, and a thriving Community in Web3.

The team has split their marketing spend between Web3 media and traditional media. Convincing people to understand new technology is not a light lift; but the founders have attracted mainstream PR through exposure on television networks, IRL influencers that have taken MICE as their first NFT, and simplified the message of what the blockchain is in their communication with media. This paves the way for an extremely exciting bridging of the gap.

To break down even more barriers, MICE has made it easier to enter the market. Downloading a digital wallet, purchasing ETH, and understanding gas prices- the team aims to alleviate this cumbersome process through a method of purchasing the NFT using a credit card!

It is not so much an opportunity to build a bridge from Web2 to Web3, but a responsibility to the industry we believe in deeply - Bryn Davis, Co-founder of MICE.

Elevating the Expectations of Web3 Projects

The MICE brings a level of integrity, value, intention, and deliverable Utility from a team that has a history of executing at a high level in a way that has not often, or ever, been seen in Web3.

A giant step forward from an art project- the wildly positive response to the art of the NFTs from Communities such as Bored Ape Yacht Club and Meerkats was in a way unintentional, as the team is focused acutely on Utility and true value for the MICE Community.

The next iconic media brand will emerge out of Web3, and MICE + MICEMEDIA is prepared to disrupt and revolutionize the way Media Empires are built.

MORE ON MICE:

MICE Mint: November 18, 2022

Twitter: @THEMICE_

Website: MICEmedia.io

Origin Story: Animation Short

MICE Mag: War on Words

Discord: discord.gg/the-trap

Opening Night Event October 30

Bryn Davis Founder MICE Media 215-480-2794 bryn (at) micemedia.io

Source: Mice
LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla., Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via InvestorWire -- Brain Scientific (OTCQB:BRSF), a Florida-based medical device technology company, announces today that Daniel Cloutier is joining the company as its chief revenue officer (CRO) in a move that will help propel the company forward on its mission to revolutionize the medical industry.

Cloutier brings extensive experience and knowledge in sales strategy and global distribution. He founded LOK Corporation in 2011 after representing CAS Medical System (CASMED) for eight years as international sales director and launching the FORE-SIGHT cerebral oximetry internationally.

Cloutier will lead Brain Scientifics sales and marketing strategy, leveraging his experience in direct and indirect sales channels and deep relationships across distributors, research institutions and regulators in the medical technology space.

Daniels decades of leadership are crucial at this juncture for Brain Scientific to continue accelerating its path to revenue, said Hassan Kotob, chairman and CEO of Brain Scientific. With a growing number of opportunities and partners, Brain Scientific is poised for rapid growth in the immediate future.

Cloutier is also an advisory council member of the Indian Business Organization for Global Investments, a member of the board of directors for the Independent Medical Specialty Dealers Association and Brain Scientific, and a former board member of NeuroFrance Implants and Luminor Medical Technologies. He received his education from HEC Montreal.

I see huge potential in Brain Scientifics technology and a clear path to making the company a dominant player in the medical industry, Cloutier emphasized. Im excited to work with such a highly passionate team as the company continues delivering its products into the marketplace.

About Brain Scientific

Brain Scientific (brainscientific.com) is a medical technology company with multiple patents and FDA-cleared products. Brain Scientific is committed to developing next-gen solutions that advance the future of neurodiagnostic and OEM medical devices. Brain Scientific has two product lines covering neurology and precision motion. The NeuroCap and NeuroEEG are smart neurological diagnostic devices that simplify administration, shorten scan time and cut costs. The Piezo Motion product line consists of ultra-efficient compact precision motors that will drive the next generation of medical devices. To learn more about Brain Scientific's corporate strategy, products or investor relations, please visit brainscientific.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding (i) the plans and objectives of management for future operations, including plans or objectives relating to the design, development and commercialization of EEG products and services and piezo motor technology; (ii) a projection of income (including income/loss), earnings (including earnings/loss) per share, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure or other financial items; (iii) the company's future financial performance; (iv) the successful integration of Piezo Motion with and into Brain Scientific; and (v) the assumptions underlying or relating to any statement described in points (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above. Such forward-looking statements are not meant to predict or guarantee actual results, performance, events or circumstances and may not be realized because they are based upon the company's current projections, plans, objectives, beliefs, expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and other influences, over many of which the company has no control. Actual results and the timing of certain events and circumstances may differ materially from those described by the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. Factors that may influence or contribute to the inaccuracy of the forward-looking statements or cause actual results to differ materially from expected or desired results may include, without limitation, the company's inability to obtain additional financing; the significant length of time and resources associated with the development of products and related insufficient cash flows and resulting illiquidity; the company's inability to expand its business; significant government regulation of medical devices and the healthcare industry; lack of product diversification; volatility in the price of the company's raw materials; and the failure to implement the company's business plans or strategies. Some of these and other factors are identified and described in more detail in the company's filings with the SEC. The company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements.

CONTACTS

INVESTORS [email protected]

MEDIA [email protected]

Corporate Communications

IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork) Los Angeles, California www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com 310.299.1717 Office [email protected]

Attachment

Daniel Cloutier Joins Brain Scientific as Chief Revenue Officer Daniel Cloutier

Source: Brain Scientific Inc.
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Elev8 New Media (Elev8), an award-winning boutique public and media relations firm specializing in securing earned media and press coverage for its client companies, was today named as an honoree on the 2022 Inc. Power Partner Awards list, honoring B2B organizations across the globe that have proven track records supporting entrepreneurs and helping startups grow. The list recognizes 252 firms in marketing and advertising, health and human resources, financial planning, engineering, logistics, security, and other business areas.

All 252 companies received top marks from clients for being instrumental in helping leadership navigate the dynamic world of startups. These B2B partners support entrepreneurs and companies across various facets of the business, including hiring, compliance, infrastructure development, cloud migration, fundraising, etc., allowing founders to focus on their core missions.

The Elev8 team is honored to be highly recognized among other talented and service-oriented companies nationwide by Inc.s Power Partner list, commented Mrs. Jessica Starman, CEO & Co-Founder of Elev8 New Media. I am incredibly proud of the exceptional work our team continues to produce for our clients. Elev8 is on a mission to provide the best service for high-growth companies while growing right alongside them.

Trusted B2B partners provide guidance and expertise that founders rely on at various steps of their organizations journey. Partners that possess a demonstrated ability to deliver quality support are at the core of entrepreneurship and help bring big ideas to life, says Scott Omelianuk, Editor-in-Chief of Inc.

Inc. partnered with leading global social and media intelligence platform Meltwater to develop a proprietary methodology that uses sentiment from online conversations about organizations and translates it into numerical scores. Companies were evaluated on commitment, reliability, trust, creativity, supportiveness, and other virtues that offer value to clients. Inc. also conducted surveys to gather client testimonials as part of the process.

To view the complete list, go to: https://www.inc.com/power-partner-awards/2022

The November 2022 Issue of Inc. magazine is available online now at https://www.inc.com/magazine and will be on newsstands beginning November 8, 2022.

About Inc. Business Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community they need to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

About Elev8 New Media

Elev8 New Media is an award-winning boutique PR firm and media relations agency that has secured a myriad of earned media placements for its clients by maintaining valuable relationships with journalists, editors, analysts and outlets.

The team elevates media visibility through digital and social marketing and consistently develops, implements, manages and monitors client coverage across various platforms. Securing media coverage and exposure is more than just talking to reporters and on-air time - its about creating lasting relationships that will generate ongoing engagement and excitement. We help clients garner meaningful media connections across TV, social, print, digital and new media. We dont settle for just raising the bar, we elevate it.

ContactsJessica Starman, MBA[email protected]www.elev8newmedia.com

Source: Elev8 New Media
TORONTO, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadians are feeling the squeeze trying to keep up with monthly bills, debt obligations, housing payments, and trying to save for retirement according to a recent consumer survey conducted by Equifax Canada in advance of Novembers Financial Literacy Month.

Only half of Canadians (50 per cent) indicate that they feel comfortable about their personal economic outlook. This is down significantly since last year (61 per cent), indicating that many Canadians are concerned about the economy. Keeping up with paying month-to-month bills (e.g. rent, utilities, insurance) has 52 per cent of survey respondents concerned. Older adults aged 65+ are most likely to be concerned about bill payments (73 per cent), compared to younger adults aged 18-34 (40 per cent).

When asked to further reflect on their current financial situation, 53 per cent of Canadians surveyed said they have a lot of anxiety about their current level of personal debt. People in Atlantic Canada and British Columbia had the most anxiety about debt at 62 per cent and 60 per cent respectively, while Albertans were the lowest at 48 per cent. Quebecers led the way in concerns about job security at 49 per cent in contrast to Alberta again being the lowest at 27 per cent. Likewise, Quebecers were the most concerned about paying off debts (e.g. mortgages, student loans, medical expenses) at 46 per cent, while Albertans were the least concerned at only 29 per cent.

No matter where they live in Canada and no matter how old they are, people are clearly concerned about their financial situation, said Julie Kuzmic, Equifax Canadas Senior Compliance Officer, Consumer Advocacy. Credit card usage is reaching historic highs. This can be a slippery slope for some, as it doesnt take long to find yourself burdened by debts, which may become challenging to pay back in this economic environment.

Equifax Canada data indicates credit card utilization has increased for six consecutive quarters. The average credit card balance held by Canadians now stands at a record high of $2,121 at the end of September. The total average non-mortgage debt per consumer is $21,188, returning to levels not seen since Q1 2020.

CONCERNS IN THE GROCERY AISLE Six-in-ten survey respondents (59 per cent) said they are using coupons and looking for deals more at grocery stores versus last year. Nearly as many (54 per cent) are cutting back on grocery shopping altogether. Women are more likely to be using coupons (63 per cent compared to 56 per cent of men). Likewise, women are more likely to be cutting back on grocery purchases (59 per cent versus 48 per cent of men).

CONCERNS ABOUT HOUSING When it comes to housing, one-in-five respondents (20 per cent) indicated they are not able to find a rental apartment they can afford in their preferred city or neighbourhood. Additionally, 17 per cent of respondents are contemplating moving to another part of the country to save on housing costs, and 14 per cent may need to move in with a family member for the same reason. Renters are more likely to be contemplating a move elsewhere (22 per cent), versus 15 per cent of homeowners.

CHECKING CREDIT REPORTS AND SCORESOn a positive note, Canadians are taking steps to get better informed about their credit reports and credit scores. More than three-quarters indicated that they have checked their credit reports at least once in their lifetime (79 per cent). About three-in-five (60 per cent) say they have checked their credit reports in the past year. Those aged 18-54 were more likely to have checked their reports compared with those aged 55 and up. On credit scores, one-third (33 per cent) check their score frequently (at least monthly), particularly those under 55. However, around two-in-ten of those under 55 (22 per cent) of respondents have never checked their credit score.

Were pleased to see that the importance of checking your credit reports and credit scores seems to be gaining traction with Canadians, said Kuzmic. Having a better understanding of how credit reports and scores work can help people to navigate their financial decisions. While I always encourage people to regularly check their credit reports to make sure the information is up-to-date and correct, consumers can even sign up to receive timely alerts about key changes. That way they can better detect fraud and act quickly to protect themselves.

For people with credit scores lower than 750 out of 900, the next step should be to understand how to improve those scores over time, continues Kuzmic. Lenders generally consider anyone above 750 to be a lower risk to default on their payments. Small behaviour changes like paying bills on time every month can have a positive impact on credit scores.

To learn more about how credit works, consumers are encouraged to visit Equifax Canadas education hub. The site offers insights on how different actions may affect certain credit scores and provides resources to help them improve their financial wellness.

*An online survey of 1,006 Canadians was completed between October 6-17, 2022, using Legers online panel. The margin of error for this study was +/-2.5%, 19 times out of 20.

About EquifaxAt Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by more than 14,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.ca.

Media Contacts:

Andrew FindlaterSELECT Public Relations [email protected] (647) 444-1197 Heather AggarwalEquifax Canada Media Relations [email protected]

Source: Equifax Canada
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inspire Semiconductor Holdings Inc. (TSXV: INSP) (InspireSemi), a chip design company that has built a technology foundation to deliver revolutionary performance, announces management will participate in the following upcoming November 2022 conferences.

TSXV Roadshow Fireside Chat with John B. Kennedy, InspireSemis Chief Financial OfficerNewport Beach on Wednesday, November 2ndTo attend, please contact your TSX representative.

SC22: The International Conference for High Performance Computing, Networking, Storage, and AnalysisDoug Norton, Vice President of Business Development, will be participating on a BOF panel Tuesday, November 15th at 12:15pm titled Anyscale with RISC-V: Powering the Next Generation of (IoT to) HPC Systems.Company representatives will also be meeting with customers, press, and analysts.Dallas, Texas from Sunday, November 13th  Friday, November 18th To attend, please register here.

Our participation in these upcoming November 2022 conferences demonstrates the Companys readiness to engage with the broader community following our recently announced public transaction on the TSXV and 5nm accelerator chip tapeout. We look forward to informing the audience of InspireSemis position in addressing High Performance Computing and AI, said John B. Kennedy, Chief Financial Officer.

To be added to the InspireSemi email distribution list, please email [email protected] with INSP in the subject line.

About InspireSemiInspireSemi is an Austin-based chip design company that has built a technology foundation that delivers revolutionary performance, energy efficiency, versatility, and a thriving open software ecosystem. This enables us to address multiple diversified, uncorrelated markets of High-Performance Computing (HPC), AI, and blockchain. Led by an accomplished team with a proven track record, it has a unique and strongly differentiated accelerated computing solution compared to existing approaches for these markets

For more information, visit https://inspiresemi.com/ Follow InspireSemi on LinkedIn

Media Contact Katie Olivier Shelton Group +1-214-272-7200[email protected]

Investor Relations ContactPhil Carlson/Scott Eckstein KCSA Strategic Communication[email protected]

Source: Inspire Semiconductor Holdings Inc.
MONTREAL, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thomas Ratte was just 17 years old when he was killed by an impaired driver after stepping off a bus with a group of friends. Today, his mother Odette Lachance joins MADD Canada and MADD Montreal to launch the 2022 Project Red Ribbon campaign to prevent impaired driving during the upcoming holiday season.

With the holiday season being one of the busiest times on most social calendars, the risk for impaired driving is high. Project Red Ribbon reminds Canadians about the importance of always driving sober, or planning ahead for a sober ride home if alcohol, cannabis or other drugs are being consumed.

The tragic deaths and devastating injuries caused by impaired driving are entirely preventable. That is why we host our Project Red Ribbon campaign every year, said MADD Canada National President Jaymie Lyne Hancock. We want to engage people in the effort to prevent impaired driving so that no one has to face the grief and heartbreak that Thomas family has faced.

Hundreds of Canadians are killed and thousands are injured every year in impaired driving crashes. MADD Canadas latest statistics show that every hour, on average, 10 impaired driving federal charges and provincial short-term licence suspensions are laid in Canada.

Todays launch event, being held at Centre St-Pierre in Montreal, is being hosted by MADD Canada and its MADD Montreal Chapter. Special guests include Odette and her family, Lieutenant Bryan Cunningham of the Montreal Police Services, Indigo Park Canada Incorporated and Jonathan Hamel, Uber Canadas Public Policy Manager responsible for Quebec. Indigo Park Canada and Uber Canada are two of this years Project Red Ribbon National Sponsors.

Project Red Ribbon runs from November 1, 2022 to January 2, 2023, with MADD Canada volunteers in communities across Canada distributing thousands of red ribbons and red ribbon car decals to the public to use as a symbol of their commitment to always drive sober. The ribbons also serve as a powerful tribute to the hundreds of Canadians killed and thousands injured in crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs each year.

Thomas photo is featured on the 2022 Project Red Ribbon poster and bookmark. Other materials to promote the campaign and the sober driving message include a brand new radio public service announcement and updated television public service announcement.

This years Project Red Ribbon launch includes a very special feature  the presentation of the Medal of Excellence in the Fight Against Impaired Driving to a police officer in recognition of the incredible work done to apprehend impaired drivers and keep our roads and communities safe. The Medal will be presented to Officer Sylvain Forgues from Service de police de lagglomeration de Longueuil (SPAL) for his constant efforts to stop impaired driving, particularly by training Drug Recognition Experts who make a real difference to curb drug impaired driving. MADD Canada is very proud to hand out this award to Officer Forgues as he has been volunteering with the organization for 5 years as MADD Longueuil Community Leader. MADD Canada thanks its 2022 Project Red Ribbon sponsors for their generous support: KAG Canada, Uber Canada, BMO Financial Group, Indigo Park Canada Incorporated and Irving Oil Ltd. For a full list of this years sponsors and coin box partners, visit https://madd.ca/pages/giving/sponsors-and-donors/our-sponsors/.

This campaign is made possible through the generous support of our wonderful sponsors, said Ms. Hancock. We want to recognize and thank them for their partnership in this campaign to save lives and prevent injuries this holiday season.

MADD Canadas red ribbons and car decals are available through MADD Canada Chapters and Community Leaders across the country, through the MADD Canada website at www.madd.ca, or by emailing [email protected]. Anyone who wishes to support Project Red Ribbon with a donation can do so online through the website, by calling 1-800-665-6233 or by texting RIBBON to 45678 (a one-time $10 donation is added to the donors cell phone bill and payable to his or her service provider.)

For more information, please contact: Dawn Regan, MADD Canada Chief Operating Officer, 1-800-665-6233, ext. 223 or [email protected] Marie Claude Morin, MADD Canada, bureau regional du Quebec, 1-877-392-6233 ou [email protected] Deb Kelly, MADD Canada Communications Manager at 1-800-665-6233, ext. 240 or [email protected]

Source: MADD Canada
DALLAS, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parabellum Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (the Company, Parabellum) announced today that on October 31, 2022 it had received a letter (the Letter) from the NYSE Regulation indicating that NYSE Regulation has determined to commence proceedings to delist the Companys warrants from the NYSE exchange and that trading in the warrants would be suspended immediately. Specifically, NYSE Regulation noted in the Letter that the warrants are no longer suitable for listing based on low selling price levels, pursuant to Section 802.01D of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. The Company currently intends to appeal the NYSE Regulations determination to delist the warrants.

About Parabellum Acquisitions Corp.Parabellum is a blank-check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The Company intends to focus on businesses with an enterprise value of $300 million to $1 billion that have unique proprietary technologies and business models and are actively engaged in the Internet of Things (IoT) transformation in a variety of segments such as consumer, industrial, automotive, medical and others. Visit www.parabellumac.com.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Contact Parabellum Acquisition Corp. [email protected]

Source: Parabellum Acquisition Corp.
Wilmington, Delaware, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Protext Mobility, Inc (OTC PINK: TXTM) and RSAMMDA LLC (Delaware) (RSAMMDA.LLC) are pleased to provide the following shareholder update and announce an initial order for 2.33 million pounds of Genus Cannabis Sativa under a supply agreement.

Dr. Ahmed Jamaloodeen (Dr.J), Protext Chairman commented, This is a terrific milestone and demonstrates years of hard work and relentless pursuit of educating the masses and government collaboration. The initial order calls for the delivery of 2.33 million pounds of cannabis, arguably the largest single cannabis flower and biomass order in history to date post legalization. The specific strain we are growing for this order is Charlottes Angel for high percentage CBD flower and biomass. Everything we do is under South Africa federally issued permits, and license to import, export, grow hemp and cannabis from seed to sale, R & D, as well as develop and distribute our own brand of finished products.

Our proprietary, branded CBD product line and online marketplace is anticipated to launch shortly. Due to our early pioneering of hemp and cannabis as a massive community uplift opportunity in South Africa, we were approved as the first government sponsored pilot project that would enable proof of concept to other farms as a blueprint of this business model. This early blueprint is now a proven business model for South African farmers, and we are now at the forefront of SA becoming a recognized global leader in hemp and cannabis production. To further these efforts, last week I attended the AFASA AGM conference and gave a presentation to 1000s of farmers who are now part of the Cannabis Commodity Cluster Formation, which Ive been appointed as National Cannabis Commodity Chairman  The first in history. (link to Dr.J Cannabis Expo 2022 presentation discussing SA community uplift and cannabis: youtube.com/DR.J)

Dylon Du Plooy, Protext CEO, commented, The hemp renaissance is well underway, with renewed interest from global industrial companies to find cheaper and greener resources that can be used to produce 1000s of end product. America is decades behind the sustainable materials revolution. That represents a big opportunity for us to unlock the potential of industrial hemp in the worlds strongest economy, with the lowest cost product available globally. For South Africa, the opportunity is to take a global role in what we believe is the beginning of an industrial hemp renaissance. We can not only produce product at the lowest cost basis on a global basis, but we can monetize the farm with 3 annual grows, making our hemp, biomass, and cannabis much sought after from customers around the world. In fact, this substantial off take agreement for an initial 2.3 million pounds is being delivered to a US customer. Why? Not only for the quality of the product, but our cost basis is so competitive we can deliver product that includes freight shipping cost to US customers, that is lower than they can get anywhere in North America. #TXTMTribe #TXTMTribeRaok #TXTMRaok.

Dr. J continued, As we have previously discussed, we believe there is significant value in the human capital derived from our knowledge, Government and other relationships, compliance, resources, facilities, biomass, and infrastructure that is invaluable. The Permits we are in possession of allow for Genus Cannabis Sativa import, export, grow & cultivation, research, testing, and end product development for global distribution, all of which are anticipated to be utilized by Protext with the end goal to commercialize the live plant extraction technology and bring superior end products to the global market. Having technology thats been tested and proven to increased bioavailability by 10-15x is significant and puts us miles ahead of all competitors. Additional testing is anticipated to be conducted with cannabis being grown on the farm right now. The testing will focus on maximizing yield as well as testing various strains of Genus Cannabis Sativa. We will also begin conducting the R&D using the New Age Extraction Technology for other Indigenous Plant Flora with medicinal properties including Psilocybin. We believe that the significance of the implications our live plant Extraction Technology can have on not only our yield, but also on an entire industry with its 10-15X Bioavailability has been over looked due to the complexity of the science. In laymans terms we stand to produce Natural Plant Based Medicine with 10-15 times more bioavailability than current products on the market, at a fraction of the cost.

As we previously discussed, but worth repeating, we entered into this transaction with Protext as we believe there to be numerous synergies by allowing access to certain assets of our established business with Protext as well as commercialize the Protext proprietary live plant extraction technology and processes into our existing Genus Cannabis Sativa infrastructure. Prior to the merger, Protext had collaborated with RSAMMD whereby the companies utilized Protexts proprietary live plant extraction technology along with Kettle extraction equipment to conduct a series of live cannabis extraction testing at New Castle Farm under permits for Genus Cannabis Sativa, with the goal to produce an emulsion rich with cannabinoid but with little to no conversion of THC-A to psychoactive THC. We undertook a series of tests to prove out that the Kettle system and extraction technologies did what they were supposed to do. As part of our previous investigations, various tests were completed using live cannabis flower and leaf, rendered into liquid emulsions supplied by the farm in New Castle. Prior to now, it was hypothecated that processing live Genus Cannabis Sativa under lower temperatures would yield a rich nano-emulsion of phytocannabinoids while retaining the non-psychoactive precursor acid form (THC-A). Our investigations have conclusively demonstrated that full-spectrum cannabinoids can be extracted using the proprietary Kettle system, with minimal metabolic conversion, paving the way for advancement of medical research using non-psychoactive cannabis. What has also intrigued us are the findings from prior research and clinical trials that have shown that the Kettle system, when applied to other medicinal plants, can create an extract that is significantly more bioavailable (10-15x) than a standard extract. This means that our cannabis extract should be more potent while providing a dose that could potentially last up to 24 hours in the bloodstream, which is in-line with prior clinical results using other medicinal plants. Medically, this opens the door to a line of natural pharmaceuticals derived from cannabis but at a fraction of the price and with potentially superior outcomes. From a business perspective, an increase of bioavailability in that magnitude can be a game changer for cultivators as it essentially could increase the net yield by a factor of 10-15x per plant, per acre, per farm. This initial order is just the beginning and leadership is excited for whats to come. We will lead the change we want to see in our world concluded Dr.J.

CONTACT INFORMATION For further information, or inquiries relating to partnerships in SA, JV opportunities and/or off-take/supply agreements please feel free to contact us Dylon Du Plooy at: [email protected] Dr.J at: [email protected]

Follow us at:

https://twitter.com/RSAMMDhttps://twitter.com/ProtextP

About Protext (OTC PINK: TXTM) Through its prior acquisitions, Protext has engaged in the research, testing and development of highly bioavailable botanical products all-natural ingredients formulated for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications through the use of proprietary live plant extraction technology.Website: www.protxtm.com

About RSAMMDA.LLC:RSAMMDA.LLC. is a wholly owned subsidiary of TXTM focused on acquisitions with two principals, Mr. Dylon Du Plooy and Dr. Ahmed Jamaloodeen (Dr. J). Mr. Du Plooy is a South African pioneer in the research, cultivation, production and distribution of medical cannabis and cannabinoids.

Dr. J operates the 5000 Hectare New Castle Farm as well as federally issued hemp permits issued by the Government of South Africa. Together, we partner with leading hospitals and universities globally to advance the clinical benefits and applications of cannabinoids.

RSAMMDA.LLC founders are a group of medical doctors and pharmacists, and cannabis activists who have been at the forefront of medical cannabis legislation and South African cannabis legalization, which took place in September 2018. We are committed to the advancement of technology and scientific research that leads to an improved quality of life for patients around the world.

Website: www.rsammda.com

Safe Harbor Statement This release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions upon which they are based are reasonable, we can give no assurance or guarantee that such expectations and assumptions will prove to have been correct. Forward- looking statements are generally identifiable by the use of words like "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "intend," or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward- looking statements, as these statements are subject to numerous factors and uncertainties, including but not limited to: adverse economic conditions, competition, adverse federal, state and local government regulation, international governmental regulation, inadequate capital, inability to carry out research, development and commercialization plans, loss or retirement of key executives and other specific risks. To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, including statements as to revenue projections, business strategy, outlook, objectives, future milestones, plans, intentions, goals, future financial conditions, events conditioned on stockholder or other approval, or otherwise as to future events, such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. The company disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement. This press release shall not be deemed a general solicitation.

Source: ProText Mobility, Inc.
If there is one thing both parties can agree on it's the need for immigration reform.

The problem: They can't agree what that legislation should look like.

The situation at the southern border has brought more attention to immigration policy. The Border Patrol reported a record 2.7 million encounters with migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border in the 2022 fiscal year.

The Citizen asked the candidates for the 24th Congressional District seat, Republican U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney and Democratic challenger Steven Holden, for their positions on immigration reform.

Question: There has been a record number of encounters reported at the southern border in 2022. What must Congress do to secure the border while also preserving the United States' history of welcoming immigrants into the country?

Steven Holden: There are significant challenges on our southern border, and they must be addressed. The presence of so many people trying to enter our country is a crisis that is felt particularly by those who live in the Border States. But if history teaches us anything about the persecution of any group, it is that it begins with name calling and blame-pinning and proceeds to dehumanizing rhetoric and threatening behavior. This is not an invasion, and these are not murderers, drug dealers and rapists. They are fellow human beings who do not deserve to be treated like criminals, they do not deserve to have their children ripped from their arms and taken away, and they do not deserve to be caged like wild animals.

If we are to understand this situation and find a solution, we must begin by accepting these people for who they really are. They are poor and desperate fellow human beings. Many are fleeing horrifying violence that threatens their lives daily, and they are seeking asylum. They are willing to endure unspeakable hardships to have what we in America have, and what we too often take for granted. They want what all our ancestors wanted when they came to these shores. They just want a fair chance to build a better and safer life for themselves and their families. They want a chance at the American dream.

We need common sense, bipartisan policies that treat all immigrants fairly and humanely. We need more resources and facilities at the border so that the processing of asylum requests can occur more quickly. We need a process for the dreamers who came to this country as children, and for other recipients of temporary humanitarian programs, to obtain permanent legal status. We need a way to improve the H-2A visa program to facilitate the entry of agricultural workers who are so critical to our economy. A bipartisan group of Democratic and Republican senators has assembled to work on legislative proposals to reform our immigration system, and I support that approach. Should I have the honor of serving in the House of Representatives, I would be pleased to join such a group in that body.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rio Silver Inc. (Rio Silver or the Company) (TSX.V: RYO) announces that the Company intends to issue up to $200,000 in convertible notes (the Notes) on a non-brokered private placement basis (the Private Placement). Each Note will be convertible at the option of the holder into one common share (a Share) of the Company at a conversion price of $0.05 per Share during the first year of the Notes and $0.10 during the second year of the Notes.

The Notes will mature in two years from the date of issuance and bear interest at the rate of 18% per annum, payable quarterly, until the Notes are converted or repaid. The Company will be entitled to repay, without any penalty, any portion of the principal amount of the Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest (the Prepayment Amount), at any time commencing four months after the date of issuance, subject to giving the holders prior notice of [*] days (the Notice Period) thereof to permit holders to convert the Prepayment Amount during the Notice Period. The Notes will be unsecured and transferable, subject to resale restrictions under applicable securities laws and TSX Venture Exchange requirements. It is anticipated that one or more insiders of the Company will subscribe pursuant to the financing.

The Company plans to use the funds from the financing to fund ongoing operations and for general working capital purposes. All securities issued in connection with the Private Placement will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months commencing from the date of issuance of the Notes. Closing of the Private Placement is subject to customary conditions, including TSX Venture Exchange acceptance.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the Shares in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Shares have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements.

About Rio Silver

Rio Silver Inc. is a Canadian exploration and mine development company. Our business is to develop our 100%-owned Ninobamba project in Peru and to unlock the tremendous potential for shareholder value identified from the previous $10 million spent by Newmont and others at both Ninobamba Main and Jorimina zones. Our own recently commissioned and independently constructed exploration potential model for Ninobamba Main has identified more development potential. Benefits are also expected to soon materialize from the carried development of the new Palta Dorada Au Ag project, focusing on a near-term revenue stream. For more information, please visit: https://www.riosilverinc.com/

For more information contact:

Christopher Verrico, President, CEO Tel: (604) 762-4448Email: [email protected]

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable laws.

Source: Rio Silver, Inc.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, Mont., Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sandfire Resources America Inc. ("Sandfire America" or the "Company") is proud to announce the necessary permits to appropriate water for the Black Butte Copper Project have been issued by the State of Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC).

The permits issued by the DNRC authorize the Company to divert groundwater for use in the mining of the Johnny Lee copper deposit and to store high-water flows for stream flow maintenance. The DNRC also approved the Companys change applications to use six existing water rights to mitigate surface water flow reductions resulting from the groundwater diversion. Water right permits and change applications are issued by the DNRC in accordance with the Montana Water Use Act (Title 85, chapter 2, MCA).

The Company, as the applicant, was required to prove the following criteria for issuance of the new water right permits:

There is water physically available at the proposed point of diversion in the amount that the applicant seeks to appropriate;

Water can reasonably be considered legally available during the period in which the applicant seeks to appropriate, in the amount requested;

The water rights of a prior appropriator will not be adversely affected by the proposed new use;

The proposed means of diversion, construction, and operation of the appropriation works are adequate;

The proposed use of water is a beneficial use; and

The applicant has a possessory interest or the written consent of the person with the possessory interest in the property where the water is to be put to beneficial use.

While the Company received objections to the water use permits and the mitigation changes, the Company was able to resolve all but one of the objections through negotiated settlements, which may not be challenged as agreed upon by the parties. The one remaining objection to the groundwater permit, which is pending before the Meagher County district court, relates to the DNRCs interpretation of whether mine dewatering constitutes waste under the Montana Water Use Act.

Senior Vice President Jerry Zieg shared. We are extremely pleased with this positive progress. We have now obtained the water permits needed to begin Phase II Construction of the mining operations at the Johnny Lee Deposit. We are optimistic that the remaining objection to the groundwater permit will be resolved in our favor.

One other regulatory hurdle to Phase II Construction will be resolving the narrow issues going in front of the Montana Supreme Court regarding the mine operating permit, with opening briefs due November 1, 2022. Regulatory finalization will be followed by the requirement of the Sandfire Resources America Incs Board approval and securing financing.

Qualified Person

Jerry Zieg, Vice President of Exploration for the Company, who is an AIPG Certified Professional Geologist, is the Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has also reviewed and approved the information of a scientific or technical nature contained in this news release.

Sandfire Resources America Inc.

Sandfire Resources America Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior exploration company (TSX-V: SFR) which is majority-owned by Sandfire Resources Limited, an international and diversified sustainable mining company which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: SFR). The Black Butte Project is a sediment-hosted high-grade copper project in Meagher County in West-Central Montana. The company is permitting a state-of-the-art underground mine on the Johnny Lee Deposit.

Contact Information: Sandfire Resources America Inc. Nancy Schlepp, VP of Communications Mobile: 406-224-8180 Office: 406-547-3466 Email: [email protected]

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain disclosures in this document constitute "forward looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the Agreement, the Company's financing options and expected outcomes. In making these forward-looking statements, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, including that the Company will receive required regulatory approvals, and that the Company will be able to secure additional funding to execute its plans. However, the forward-looking statements in this document are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including delays in obtaining or inability to obtain required government or other regulatory approvals or financing. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Source: Sandfire Resources America Inc.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Truxton Trust Company is pleased to announce Peter E. Deming, CPA, has joined the firm as Senior Vice President and Senior Wealth and Tax Strategist, effective November 1, 2022. In this role, he will provide comprehensive strategic tax advice to our clients, their trusts and estates and business entities.

Derrick Jones, EVP, said, Peter is an accomplished CPA and talented tax strategist that will greatly benefit our clients and team. Equally impressive to his technical expertise is his strong drive to produce lasting relationships and wonderful outcomes for our clients. Andrew May, President and CFO, said, In addition to leading our tax team, Peters business transaction experience will be invaluable to our clients especially as we expand our investment banking efforts through Truxton Capital Advisors.

Mr. Deming has over twenty years of accounting experience with a focus on tax compliance and consulting for closely held businesses and individuals, most recently as a Partner at Jacobs, Cohen & Associates, PLLC. He earned his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Management from Lipscomb University in Nashville.

About Truxton TrustTruxton Trust Company is a provider of private banking, wealth management, trust, capital markets and family office services for wealthy individuals, their families and their business interests. Serving clients across the world, Truxtons vastly experienced team of professionals provides customized solutions to its clients complex financial needs. Founded in 2004 in Nashville, Tennessee, Truxton Trust upholds its original guiding principle: do the right thing. Truxton Trust Company is a subsidiary of financial holding company, Truxton Corporation (OTCPK: TRUX). For more information, visit truxtontrust.com.

Media Relations Investor Relations Tamara Schoeplein Andrew May 615-515-1714 615-515-1707 [email protected] [email protected]

Source: Truxton Trust Company
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2022) - Deveron Corp. (TSXV: FARM) ("Deveron" or the "Company"), a leading agriculture data company in North America, is pleased to announce that further to its press release of October 4, 2022, the Company has acquired (the "Acquisition") all of the assets of Frontier Labs Inc. ("Frontier Labs") pursuant to an arm's length definitive agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") dated October 4, 2022 between the Company and Frontier Labs. Frontier Labs is a leading soil lab and agronomy company, based in Iowa, that services Iowa and Minnesota.

As consideration for the Acquisition, Deveron has: (i) paid Frontier Labs an initial cash payment of US$825,000 upon closing of the Acquisition; (ii) will make further payments in the aggregate of US$412,500 on each of the first two anniversaries on the closing date of the Acquisition (the "Closing Date"); (iii) issued 746,570 Common Shares (the "Common Shares") in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.50 per Common Share upon receipt of final approval of the Acquisition; and (iv) will issue 373,285 Common Shares at a price of $0.50 per Common Share on each of the first two anniversaries following the signing of the Definitive Agreement.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons as defined under applicable United States securities laws unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Deveron

Deveron is an agriculture technology company that uses data and insights to help farmers and large agriculture enterprises increase yields, reduce costs and improve farm outcomes. The company employs a digital process that leverages data collected on farms across North America to drive unbiased interpretation of production decisions, ultimately recommending how to optimize input use. Our team of agronomists and data scientists build products that recommend ways to better manage fertilizer, seed, fungicide, and other farm inputs. Additionally, we have a national network of data technicians that are deployed to collect various types of farm data, from soil to drone, that build a basis of our best-in-class data layers. Our focus is the USA and Canada where 1 billion acres of farmland are actively farmed annually.

For more information and to join our community, please visit www.deveron.com .

David MacMillan

President & CEO, Deveron Corp.

[email protected]

Tel: 416-367-4571

"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXVenture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of that phrase under Canadian securities laws. Without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company are forward looking statements that involve various degrees of risk. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current views with respect to possible future events and conditions and, by their nature, are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific to the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. The following are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements: changes in the worldwide price of agricultural commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in agriculture, the uncertainty of future profitability and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. Additional information regarding the material factors and assumptions that were applied in making these forward looking statements as well as the various risks and uncertainties we face are described in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of our annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis of our financial results and other continuous disclosure documents and financial statements we file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update this forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. The Company relies on litigation protection for forward looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142688
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2022) - Gelum Resources Ltd. (CSE: GMR) (OTCQB: GMRCF) (the "Company" or "Gelum") has completed the first three holes (800 metres) of the planned 11-hole, 3000 metre, helicopter-supported, diamond-drill programme at the Eldorado Gold project (Figures 2 and 5). Drilling intersected multiple quartz-carbonate-sulphide zones in all three holes. The mineralized zones are characterized by intense silica and carbonate alteration, quartz cemented hydrothermal breccias, crack and seal veins, open space filling (locally cockade banding) with fine-grained pyrite and arsenopyrite typical of high-grade gold-bearing structures in the district (Figure 1). A total of 252 core samples (and an additional 20 quality control samples) have been submitted to MSA Laboratories in Langley, B.C. and results are expected in 6-8 weeks.

Gelum Resources Director Henk van Alphen stated: "Intersecting silica-carbonate-sulphide mineralization in all three drill holes confirms the intensity of the hydrothermal system and substantially increases our confidence in the gold potential at Eldorado." Mr. van Alphen added "The presence of pyrite-arsenopyrite veins, hydrothermal silica-carbonate breccias, open space vein filling, and silica healed damage zones verifies that the zones resemble gold-bearing veins in the district and confirms their potential to host high-grade gold."





Figure 1. Quartz-silica cemented hydrothermal breccia with brecciated quartz-carbonate vein material, drusy quartz filled opens space and black, sooty pyrite with disseminated fine grained arsenopyrite (1A; ELD22-03 @ 187.20 m depth) and silica-carbonate veinlets and silica cemented hydrothermal breccia with fine grained sooty pyrite and arsenopyrite (1B; hole ELD22-03 @ 178.50m depth).

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6458/142631_fig1gr.jpg.

The Eldorado Gold Property is located 22 kilometres north of the Bralorne mine, and 17 kilometres north of the community of Gold Bridge (Figure 6). The 9028-hectare property covers multiple Minfile showings and two past-producing (1930s & 40s), small-scale gold mines that form the northern extent of the Bridge River-Bralorne/Pioneer orogenic gold system. Gold occurs in polymetallic sulphide veins and vein-stockworks within broad epizonal quartz-carbonate alteration in the Eldorado granodiorite stock and surrounding rocks, which are complexly juxtaposed by numerous faults associated with regional-scale structures linked to gold mineralization. For detailed maps and project photos, please download the presentations at https://www.gelumcapital.com/.

The Eldorado Gold Project Drill Programme - A Good Start

In September 2022, Gelum engaged Quesnel Bros. Diamond Drilling ("Quesnel") to drill approximately 3000 metres from eleven (11) drill pads targeting gold-arsenic-antimony geochemical anomalies and their possible source structures (see Figure 2). With one exception, the areas to be tested have very shallow drilling or no previous record of drilling. Quesnel used a lightweight Hydracore 2000 drill rig and helicopter service was provided by Blackcomb Helicopters, with a base in nearby Gun Lake. Drilling went well, with some shifts achieving over 70 metres of core and an average overall recovery of 87%. A total of 795.5 metres were drilled in three holes from three widely spaced platforms (Figure 2).





Figure 2: Eldorado drilling completed, planned, and historical on geology.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6458/142631_rfig2gr.jpg.

The first drill hole, ELD22-01, was collared at the entrance to the collapsed Northern Lights No. 1 historical adit, where in 19341a 4,643-pound sample of sulphide-vein mineralization from an adjacent historical test pit returned 1.74 ounces/ton Au (2108 kg at 54 g/t Au). In the outcrops above the drill collar, several directions of gold-bearing sulphide veins are present in addition to thick panels of gossanous quartz-carbonate-sulphide cutting the Eldorado diorite and older Bralorne greenstone units for over 1000 metres along strike. ELD22-01 intersected Eldorado diorite cut by eight quartz-carbonate-sulphide structures ranging from 0.3 to 5.7m thick, all estimated as close (70-100%) to true width based on vein to core angles (Figure 3). The hole ended in weakly pyritic diorite at 268.5m.





Figure 3: ELD22-01 core from 243m to 252m, showing typical quartz-carbonate-sulphide mineralization.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6458/142631_742194cae4bf0b0f_012full.jpg.

The second hole, ELD22-02, was collared 250 metres to the north of ELD22-01 (see Figure 2) and intersected very different units and mineralization. Below 10m of overburden, the hole intersected gossanous, partly silicified diorite/gabbro from 10 to 92.7m. Minor arsenopyrite is present to 34m and the interval includes 5m of gossanous massive silica with up to 1% pyrite-arsenopyrite, and a lower 10.2m intercept of quartz-carbonate breccia/stockwork with trace pyrite and chalcopyrite (Figure 4). From 92.7m to 168.6m the hole passed through feldspar porphyry with several narrow (2-10cm) silicic structures, and then entered a silicic breccia with minor disseminated pyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite to within two metres of the end of hole at 187.0m in andesite porphyry.





Figure 4: ELD22-02 core from 86.4m to 94.3m, showing silicified breccia and veining.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6458/142631_742194cae4bf0b0f_013full.jpg.

The third hole, ELD22-03, targeted the largest gold-arsenic-antimony talus geochemical anomaly 1500 metres to the north of ELD22-02, just north of Eldorado peak (Figure 2). The hole remained in Eldorado diorite for the entire length of 340.0m. Several quartz-carbonate-sulphide veins and poly-phase vein breccias were intersected, the most significant being a nearly continuous silicified interval, 65.2m wide, from 177.7 - 262.3m, the lower contact being a fault that juxtaposes unaltered diorite against the interval. (Figure 5).

The remaining eight holes will be drilled in 2023, as soon as conditions allow. Most will target the east-dipping quartz-carbonate-sulphide panels at greater depths, and over greater thicknesses, than the completed holes to test whether gold grades increase downward. One hole will target the north end of a highly gossanous, gold-mineralized feldspar-porphyry dike on the Robson claim, which was extensively ground-sluiced for gold by the first prospectors in the area.

Readers are cautioned that descriptions of down-hole mineralization and surface sampling results reported here should be viewed primarily as a guidance for future exploration drilling. There is no certainty that mineralized intersections will have significant metal content. Surface sampling is prone to sampling bias and is not necessarily a reliable indicator of mineralization at depth. The qualified person for this release has not done sufficient work to independently verify the historical sampling results described above.





Figure 5: ELD22-03 core from 178m to 193m, showing diorite cut by several quartz-carbonate-sulphide veins and vein breccias.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6458/142631_742194cae4bf0b0f_014full.jpg.

High-grade gold mineralization in similar epizonal, quartz-carbonate-sulphide structures on the southern portions of the same north-northwest, regional fault structures is being successfully targeted by Endurance Gold Corporation on their Reliance Gold project, located 14 kilometres to the southeast. Tempus Resources Ltd. is successfully targeting similar orogenic gold mineralization on the Elizabeth Gold Project, located 25 kilometres east of Eldorado, and hosted in similar geological units (Late Cretaceous diorite intruding ultramafic rocks). Talisker Resources are actively expanding resources at the Bralorne mine and exploring a wide area east and north of the Eldorado claim block (see Map 2).

References to other mines and deposits made in this news release provide context for the Eldorado Project, which occurs in a similar geologic setting, but this is not necessarily indicative that the property hosts similar grades and tonnages of mineralization.

References

1 Annual Report of the Minister of Mines, British Columbia, 1935, p. 190





Figure 6. Location of other active orogenic gold projects near Eldorado

To view an enhanced version of Figure 6, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6458/142631_742194cae4bf0b0f_015full.jpg.

Qualified Person

John Drobe, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Drobe is not independent of the Company as he is a consultant of the Company.

About Gelum Resources Ltd.

Gelum Resources is a Company led by seasoned management and advisors in the mining and financial sectors. The Company currently has two objectives under management. The first is to define a multi-million-ounce economic gold deposit on the 9028-hectare Eldorado Gold Project, located within the Bralorne-Bridge River gold district, only 190 kilometres north of Vancouver and 74 km northwest of the town of Lillooet, B.C. The Bralorne mines historically exploited the largest, highest-grade, longest-producing lode-gold deposit in B.C. Management is proud to have developed an excellent working relationship with the Bridge River Indian Band (Xwsten) the project is within the traditional territory within the St'at'imc territory (Traditional Territory) in which Xwisten and its members assert, hold and exercise constitutionally protected Aboriginal Title and Rights ("Indigenous Title and Rights"). The Company plans to complete a 3000-meter drill programme this fall.

The second objective is to discover an alkalic porphyry and related skarn deposit within a prolific B.C. porphyry belt in the Interior Plateau region. The recently acquired ML property is accessible by 90% paved roads via Williams Lake, and the remainder by all-season dirt roads and secondary logging roads. The low to moderate relief allows year-round access and work. Airborne geophysics comprising magnetics and radiometrics was completed in early spring of 2022.

For further information about the Company and its exploration portfolio, please refer to Gelum Resources Corporate Presentation:

PowerPoint Presentation (gelumresources.com)

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

David Smith, President

For further information about Gelum, please contact:

David Smith, President

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 604 484-1228

Cell: 778-834-1141

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE- Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This presentation contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and US securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding any potential increase in shareholder value through the acquisition of undervalued precious metal deposits for development, joint venture or later disposition, the potential to partner with mine developers to achieve production at any of the Company's properties (existing or future); the potential for the capital costs associated with any of the Company's existing or future properties to be low; the potential for the Company to outline resources at any of its existing or future properties, or to be able to increase any such resources in the future; concerning the economic outlook for the mining industry and the Company's expectations regarding metal prices and production and the appropriate time to acquire precious metal projects, the liquidity and capital resources and planned expenditures by the Company, the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions about the level and volatility of the price of gold; the timing of the receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals; permits and authorizations necessary to implement and carry on the Company's planned exploration programs at its properties; future economic and market conditions; the Company's ability to attract and retain key staff; and the ongoing relations of the Company with its underlying lessors, local communities and applicable regulatory agencies.

Accordingly, the Company cautions that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ, and such differences may be material, from those set out in the forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities, material adverse changes in economic and market conditions, changes in the regulatory environment and other government actions, fluctuations in commodity prices and exchange rates, the inability of the Company to raise the necessary capital for its ongoing operations, and business and operational risks normal in the mineral exploration, development and mining industries, as well as the risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's most recent management discussion and analysis filed with various provincial securities commissions in Canada, available at www.sedar.com.The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this presentation or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by law. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are qualified by the cautionary statements herein.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142631
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 31, 2022) - Mijem Newcomm Tech Inc.(CSE: MJEM)("Mijem" or the "Company"), a social media and technology company, announces that Maged Saad has resigned as director of the Company in order to focus on other business initiatives. Mr. Saad's resignation is effective October 31, 2022. The Company thanks Mr. Saad for his contribution and services, and wishes him well on his future endeavours.

About Mijem Newcomm Tech Inc.

Mijem is a Canadian-based social media and technology company that provides innovative solutions to create a vibrant social marketplace for Generation Z to connect and to efficiently buy, sell and trade goods and services. Mijem's patent-pending flagship technology currently permits thousands of university and college students across the United States and Canada to both connect on-line and engage in consumer-to-consumer commerce.

For further information, please contact:

Laurie Freudenberg

Chief Executive Officer

Mijem Newcomm Tech Inc.

[email protected]

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved".

Forward-looking information in this news release is based on certain assumptions and expected future events. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142519
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) announced today public sanctions against 13 current or former CFP professionals or candidates for CFP certification, effective immediately or on the date noted in each case. Public sanctions taken by CFP Board, in order of increasing severity, include Public Censures, Suspensions, Temporary Bars, Permanent Bars and Revocations of the right to use the CFP marks.

CFP Board's Enforcement Process

As part of their certification, CFP professionals make a commitment to CFP Board to abide by CFP Board's Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct (Code and Standards) or its predecessor, the Standards of Professional Conduct (Standards), which included the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Rules of Conduct and Financial Planning Practice Standards. Individuals on the pathway to CFP certification make a commitment to abide by CFP Board's Pathway to CFP Certification Agreement (Pathway Agreement).

CFP Board's Procedural Rules set forth the process for investigating matters and imposing sanctions where violations have been found.

CFP Board enforces its ethical standards by investigating alleged violations and, where there is probable cause to believe there are grounds for sanction, presents a Complaint containing the alleged violations to CFP Board's Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission). The Commission meets at least six times a year to review any matter in which CFP Board has alleged that a CFP professional has violated CFP Board's Code and Standards or its predecessor Standards, or an individual pursuing initial CFP certification has violated the Pathway Agreement. The Commission functions in accordance with the Procedural Rules and reviews all matters on a case-by-case basis, considering the details specific to an individual case. If the Commission determines there are grounds for sanction, then it may impose a sanction. Commission orders may be appealed by a Respondent or CFP Board pursuant to the Procedural Rules.

In certain circumstances, such as when a CFP professional is in default due to failure to acknowledge receipt of a Notice of Investigation or file an Answer, CFP Board staff must deliver an Administrative Order of Suspension, Temporary Bar, Revocation or Permanent Bar. Administrative Orders are subject to appeal.

More information on CFP Board's enforcement process can be found at CFP.net/enforcement. In addition, at CFP.net/verify, CFP Board provides the public with:

An individual's CFP Board disciplinary history and CFP certification status.

Links to other sources of information about CFP professionals that may be more recent or that may contain information that has not led to CFP Board discipline and does not appear on CFP Board's website. This information may include customer disputes, disciplinary actions taken by a regulator or employer, certain criminal matters and certain financial matters (such as bankruptcy proceedings and unpaid judgments or liens).

Links to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's (FINRA's) BrokerCheck and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC's) Investment Adviser Public Disclosure databases for individuals who are subject to FINRA or SEC oversight.

The Public Sanctions on 13 Individuals

A short summary of each sanction can be found below.

STATE NAME LOCATION SANCTION Arizona Scott Taubman, CFP Peoria Public Censure Florida Kristopher Moody, CFP Boca Raton Public Censure Illinois Robert A. Goshen, CFP Highwood Public Censure Indiana Gregory A. Chona Crown Point Public Censure South Dakota John R. James, CFP Rapid City Public Censure Michigan Lee G. Harris Muskegon Temporary Bar California David A. Dickson Orangevale Suspension Florida Edward G. Treimanis Tampa Suspension Utah Steven J. Thompson Salt Lake City Suspension Indiana Mark W. Just Carmel Permanent Bar California Donald Padilla Encino Revocation Missouri David M. Hoff St. Louis Revocation Washington David R. Nute Sequim Revocation

PUBLIC CENSURE

ARIZONA

Scott Taubman, CFP (Peoria, Arizona): In September 2022, CFP Board issued a Public Censure to Mr. Taubman pursuant to Article 3.4.d. of the Procedural Rules after Mr. Taubman admitted he filed a single personal bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Arizona on September 1, 2022; confirmed that he has no other bankruptcy matters; and admitted that his conduct violated Standard E.2.c. of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct. Accordingly, Mr. Taubman received a Public Censure.

FLORIDA

Kristopher Moody, CFP (Boca Raton, Florida): In September 2022, the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission) and Mr. Moody entered into a Consent Order in which Mr. Moody agreed that CFP Board would issue a Public Censure with Remedial Work in the form of continuing education. In the Consent Order, Mr. Moody consented to findings that he breached his fiduciary duty while providing financial planning services to a couple that was involved in divorce proceedings. Specifically, after he was informed that the couple would be divorcing, he failed to make any conflict of interest disclosure, which was required when he learned of the impending divorce because his duties to one spouse were adverse to his duties to the other spouse. Mr. Moody also violated his fiduciary duty to the spouses when he failed to avoid the conflict of interest presented by the clients' divorce and provided financial advice to one spouse using information Mr. Moody obtained in the joint representation of the clients that was potentially detrimental to the other spouse while both spouses remained his clients. In the Consent Order, Mr. Moody consented to findings that he violated Standards A.1.a.ii. and A.1.a.iii. of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct based on his breach of his duty of loyalty for failing to avoid a conflict of interest and by providing advice to one client that was potentially detrimental to the other client. Additionally, Mr. Moody consented to findings that his conduct violated Rules 2.2(b) and 2.2(e) of the Rules of Conduct when he failed to make the required written conflict of interest disclosure after his financial planning clients informed him of an impending divorce. Accordingly, the Commission issued to Mr. Moody a Public Censure with Remedial Work.

ILLINOIS

Robert A. Goshen, CFP (Highwood, Illinois): In September 2022, CFP Board issued a Public Censure to Mr. Goshen pursuant to Article 3.4.d. of the Procedural Rules after Mr. Goshen admitted he filed a single personal bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois (Eastern Division) on May 16, 2022; confirmed that he had no other bankruptcy matters; and admitted that his conduct violated Standard E.2.c. of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct. Accordingly, Mr. Goshen received a Public Censure.

INDIANA

Gregory A. Chona (Crown Point, Indiana): In August 2022, the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission) issued an order in which Mr. Chona received a Public Censure. The Commission determined that Mr. Chona violated Rule 6.5 of the Rules of Conduct, which provides that a certificant shall not engage in conduct which reflects adversely on his integrity or fitness as a certificant, upon the CFP marks, or upon the profession, when he incurred a tax liability and failed to timely pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), resulting in the IRS filing a federal tax lien against him. While the lien has since been released to permit a short sale of Mr. Chona's property, he has outstanding taxes due for tax years 2011, 2012, and 2014 through 2016 totaling approximately $131,000. The Commission noted as mitigating factors that personal issues and an attempted business acquisition affected his ability to pay taxes. The Commission also noted that Mr. Chona was making payments to the IRS but had not yet established an Offer in Compromise or Installment Agreement with the IRS. Accordingly, the Commission determined to issue Mr. Chona an Order of Public Censure. Mr. Chona relinquished his CFP certification in February 2022.

SOUTH DAKOTA

John R. James, CFP (Rapid City, South Dakota): In September 2022, the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission) and Mr. James entered into a Consent Order in which Mr. James agreed that CFP Board would issue a Public Censure. In the Consent Order, Mr. James consented to findings that he was convicted for Driving Under the Influence in 2013 and Hit and Run in 2016, both misdemeanors. Mr. James consented to findings that this conduct reflected adversely on himself, the CFP marks and the profession, in violation of Rule 6.5 of the Rules of Conduct. In addition, due to his failure to report these convictions, the California Department of Insurance issued a 2017 Decision and Order Adopting Proposed Decision wherein it revoked Mr. James' California insurance license. Based on this license revocation, Mr. James received a statutory disqualification from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and subsequent termination from his firm. Mr. James consented to findings that this conduct represented a failure to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations governing his professional services, in violation of Rule 4.3 of the Rules of Conduct. The Commission issued to Mr. James a Public Censure.

TEMPORARY BAR

MICHIGAN

Lee G. Harris (Muskegon, Michigan): In September 2022, CFP Board issued an administrative order temporarily barring Mr. Harris from applying for or obtaining the CFP certification marks for one year and one day. This sanction followed Mr. Harris' relinquishment of his certification and failure to acknowledge receipt of CFP Board's Notice of Investigation, as required by Article 1.1 of the Procedural Rules. CFP Board sought to investigate two civil judgments filed against Mr. Harris for a total of $29,908. Mr. Harris' conduct may have violated Standard E.2 of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, which provides that a CFP professional may not engage in conduct that reflects adversely on the CFP professional, the CFP marks or the profession. Under Article 4.1.a. of the Procedural Rules, Mr. Harris has been deemed in default, and CFP Board issued an Administrative Order of Temporary Bar. Mr. Harris' administrative temporary bar was effective as of October 10, 2022.

SUSPENSION

CALIFORNIA

David A. Dickson (Orangevale, California): In June 2022, CFP Board issued an order in which Mr. Dickson received a three-month suspension of his certification and right to use the CFP marks with Remedial Work. This sanction followed an appeal of a December 2021 decision by the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission). The Code and Standards Enforcement Committee of CFP Board (Enforcement Committee) affirmed the Commission's findings that Mr. Dickson prioritized making payments for his children's private education over payment of taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for nine tax years, resulting in the IRS filing a federal tax lien against Mr. Dickson totaling $89,725. As of August 2020, Mr. Dickson had an outstanding tax balance of $239,156, and at the time of the hearing before the Commission, Mr. Dickson was making timely payments to the IRS pursuant to an Installment Agreement. The Enforcement Committee also affirmed the Commission's finding that Mr. Dickson's conduct violated Rule 6.5 of the Rules of Conduct, which provides that a certificant shall not engage in conduct which reflects adversely on his integrity or fitness as a certificant, upon the CFP marks, or upon the profession. In addition, the Enforcement Committee affirmed the Commission's requirement that Mr. Dickson perform additional remedial work by certifying that he has fully complied with all requirements of the Installment Agreement at the end of the suspension. Any failure to comply with the certification requirement shall be considered a default, as defined by Article 11.4 of the Procedural Rules, with Mr. Dickson subject to an Administrative Order of Suspension for one year and one day. Accordingly, CFP Board issued to Mr. Dickson a Suspension for three months with Remedial Work. Mr. Dickson's suspension is effective from September 6, 2022, until December 6, 2022.

FLORIDA

Edwin G. Treimanis (Tampa, Florida): In September 2022, the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission) issued an order in which Mr. Treimanis received a suspension of one year and one day of his certification and right to use the CFP marks. The Commission determined that Mr. Treimanis violated Rule 6.5 of the Rules of Conduct, which provides that a certificant shall not engage in conduct which reflects adversely on his integrity or fitness as a certificant, upon the CFP marks, or upon the profession, when he failed to pay his taxes in full or timely file his tax returns for 14 tax years from 2003 to 2020, resulting in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) filing four federal tax liens against him that totaled more than $66,043.35, for a total amount due for all outstanding tax years, with accrued interest and penalties, of $114,252.06. As of the date of the hearing, Mr. Treimanis did not have an Installment Agreement or Offer in Compromise in place with the IRS. Accordingly, the Commission issued to Mr. Treimanis a Suspension of one year and one day. The suspension is effective from October 10, 2022, to October 11, 2023.

UTAH

Steven J. Thompson (Salt Lake City, Utah): In September 2022, the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission) issued an order in which Mr. Thompson received a suspension of one year and one day of his certification and right to use the CFP marks. The Commission determined that Mr. Thompson violated Rule 6.5 of the Rules of Conduct, which provides that a certificant shall not engage in conduct which reflects adversely on his integrity or fitness as a certificant, upon the CFP marks, or upon the profession, when he incurred a tax liability for more than 10 years from 2006 through 2018, resulting in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) filing federal tax liens against him that totaled more than $300,000 with accrued interest and penalties. As of the date of the hearing, Mr. Thompson had reduced his debt but did not have an Installment Agreement or Offer in Compromise in place with the IRS and had failed to implement his own plan to pay off the tax debt by refinancing his home. Accordingly, the Commission issued to Mr. Thompson a Suspension of one year and one day. The suspension is effective from October 3, 2022, to October 4, 2023.

PERMANENT BAR

INDIANA

Mark W. Just (Carmel, Indiana): In July 2022, CFP Board issued an administrative order permanently barring Mr. Just from applying for or obtaining the CFP certification marks. This sanction followed Mr. Just's failure to renew his certification and failure to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within the required time frame. CFP Board alleged that Mr. Just failed to cooperate with CFP Board's investigation of two customer arbitrations and a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (AWC) dated May 12, 2022, for two unreported tax liens. The AWC imposed a three-month suspension and a $5,000 fine. CFP Board's Complaint alleged that Mr. Just failed to satisfy his Duty of Cooperation, thereby violating Standard E.5 of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct. Mr. Just failed to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within 30 calendar days of the date of service, as required by Article 3.2 of the Procedural Rules. Under Article 4.1.b. of the Procedural Rules, Mr. Just has been deemed in default, and CFP Board issued an Administrative Order of Permanent Bar. Mr. Just's administrative permanent bar was effective as of August 15, 2022.

REVOCATION

CALIFORNIA

Donald Padilla (Encino, California): In August 2022, CFP Board issued an order in which Mr. Padilla received a revocation of his certification and his right to use the CFP certification marks. This sanction followed an appeal of a March 2022 Order of Revocation from the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission). The Appeals Commission of CFP Board affirmed the Commission's findings that Mr. Padilla failed to comply with applicable regulatory requirements governing professional services to the client and his firm's policies and procedures when he used unapproved email accounts and hid the unapproved emails from his firm during branch audits, resulting in his voluntary resignation from the firm, a five-month suspension in all capacities, and a $10,000 fine from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The Appeals Commission also affirmed the Commission's finding that Mr. Padilla was terminated from a second firm for his failure to follow company policy regarding correspondence and marketing designations and from a third firm while he was under investigation by FINRA with respect to his email usage at the first firm. Because forgivable loans extended to Mr. Padilla by these two firms became due when he was terminated, he became indebted to one firm for $275,000 and the other for over $333,000. When Mr. Padilla failed to repay these amounts, one firm filed an arbitration with FINRA, resulting in an award against Mr. Padilla for over $333,000. The Appeals Commission also affirmed the Commission's finding that Mr. Padilla failed to comply with the arbitration award and that FINRA suspended him until the debt was satisfied or discharged. It further affirmed the Commission's finding that Mr. Padilla then filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection to discharge these outstanding firm debts as well as an additional $100,000 in personal consumer credit card debt, resulting in over $600,000 discharged in bankruptcy. In addition, the Appeals Commission affirmed the Commission's finding that Mr. Padilla's bankruptcy filing demonstrated his inability to manage responsibly his personal and business financial affairs, which reflects adversely on his integrity or fitness as a CFP professional, upon the CFP marks, or upon the profession in violation of Standard E.2 of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct and Rule 6.5 of the Rules of Conduct. Pursuant to the decision of the Appeals Commission, Mr. Padilla's revocation was effective August 12, 2022.

MISSOURI

David M. Hoff (Lake St. Louis, Missouri): In July 2022, CFP Board issued an administrative order permanently revoking Mr. Hoff's right to use the CFP certification marks. This sanction followed Mr. Hoff's failure to participate in CFP Board's investigation and failure to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within the required time frame. CFP Board alleged that it was investigating an August 2, 2021, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Cease and Desist Order (Order) entered into by a firm of which Mr. Hoff is a control person. The Order stated that the firm breached its fiduciary duty by failing to disclose three types of compensation received by its affiliated broker and the associated conflicts of interest. The Order provided that this compensation included the receipt of revenue-sharing payments from an unaffiliated clearing broker as a result of the firm's advisory clients' investments in certain mutual funds, including certain cash sweep money market mutual funds. According to the Order, the mutual funds and money market funds that resulted in revenue-sharing payments were generally more expensive than lower-cost options available to clients, including in many instances when there were lower-cost share classes of the same mutual funds available to clients that did not result in any revenue sharing. In addition, since at least January 2014, the firm's affiliated broker received compensation resulting from the markup of several clearing broker fees charged to the firm's advisory clients. CFP Board's Complaint alleged that Mr. Hoff failed to satisfy his Duty of Cooperation, thereby violating Standard E.5 of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct. Mr. Hoff failed to file an Answer to CFP Board's Complaint within 30 calendar days of the date of service, as required by Article 3.2 of the Procedural Rules. Under Article 4.1.b. of the Procedural Rules, Mr. Hoff has been deemed in default, and CFP Board issued an Administrative Order of Revocation. Mr. Hoff's administrative revocation was effective as of July 6, 2022.

WASHINGTON

David R. Nute (Sequim, Washington): In July 2022, CFP Board issued an order in which Mr. Nute received a revocation of his certification and his right to use the CFP certification marks. This sanction followed an appeal of a January 2022 Order of Revocation from the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (Commission). The Code and Standards Enforcement Committee of CFP Board (Enforcement Committee) affirmed the Commission's findings that Mr. Nute failed to treat fellow professionals and others with dignity, courtesy, and respect in violation of Standard A.7 of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct (Code and Standards). The Enforcement Committee also affirmed the Commission's finding that a former prospective Client, who submitted a written grievance to CFP Board, asked Mr. Nute if she could drop off copies of documents needed for a potential transaction in person at his office, rather than transmit them electronically. When Mr. Nute responded that his time was "too valuable" to make the trip to his office to pick up the documents, the former prospective Client sent him an email stating that she no longer desired to work with him. Mr. Nute replied to her email, stating, among other things: "It is totally ridiculous to expect me to drive into town and waste a couple hours of $1,000 hourly time" and "I was only trying to help and your reactions tell me why your husband left you." The Enforcement Committee also affirmed the Commission's finding that, by using this language with the former prospective Client, Mr. Nute violated Standard A.7 of the Code and Standards. The Enforcement Committee affirmed the Commission's finding of many relevant aggravating factors, including that (1) Mr. Nute contended that he was entitled to behave in this manner because the individual was no longer a prospective Client and, therefore, he could personally insult her; (2) he did not show any remorse during the investigation or the hearing; (3) Mr. Nute did not treat CFP Board Counsel with dignity, respect, or professional courtesy and frequently referred to CFP Board Counsel in derogatory terms and insulted them in written correspondence and verbally during the hearing; (4) at the hearing, Mr. Nute failed to testify with decorum and blatantly ignored instructions to engage with civility; (5) he received multiple negative reviews on the internet from customers detailing similar unprofessional behaviors, which is evidence of a pattern of misconduct; (6) Mr. Nute's misconduct was emotionally abusive, causing harm to the former prospective Client, and he refused to acknowledge his cruelty; and (7) the Commission issued a warning to him in 2013 about a similar interaction with a prospective Client. Pursuant to the decision of the Enforcement Committee, Mr. Nute's revocation was effective July 19, 2022.

ABOUT CFP BOARD

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. is the professional body for personal financial planners in the U.S. CFP Board sets standards for financial planning and administers the prestigious CFP certification  one of the most respected certifications in financial services  so that the public has access to and benefits from competent and ethical financial planning. CFP Board, along with its Center for Financial Planning, is committed to increasing the public's awareness of CFP certification and access to a diverse, ethical and competent financial planning workforce. Widely recognized by the public, advisors and firms as the standard for financial planning, CFP certification is held by more than 93,000 people in the United States.

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SOURCE Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.
Economic impact report was released during State of the Airport event, celebrating ONT's sixth anniversary under local ownership

ONTARIO, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ontario International Airport (ONT) is an economic engine for Southern California, generating $3.8 billion a year in activity, supporting 27,800 jobs and serving as the hub of a global logistics network that produces $17.8 billion in economic output, a new study shows.

The analysis, by Oxford Economics, was released Tuesday as more than 300 Inland Empire officials, industry executives and friends of ONT celebrated the aviation gateway's sixth anniversary under local ownership. The State of the Airport event showcased Ontario's impressive expansion of flights, destinations and customer amenities over the past six years, its emergence as one of the Top 10 cargo airports in North America and its role as an economic driver across the IE and Southern California.

"As we believed on this day six years ago, Ontario International is more than an airport. It is the heart of one of the fastest-growing population and economic centers in the U.S., providing a foundation for solid economic growth for years to come. And it is the public treasure we envisioned for the City of Ontario and San Bernardino County," said Alan D. Wapner, President of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) Board of Commissioners and Mayor pro Tem of the City of Ontario.

The Oxford Economics study incorporated nearly a year's worth of research, concluding that the overall impact of economic activity at ONT  from airport operations, airlines and their suppliers, government workers, airport concessions and logistics companies  totals $3.8 billion as of 2022. This includes $2.7 billion in visitor spending, Oxford reported.

"Ontario International Airport plays an integral role in the economy of the Southern California region, specifically in and around the Inland Empire," the report stated, adding that ONT's economic impact includes $2.2 billion in regional gross domestic product (GDP), which supports 27,800 jobs and results in $571 million a year in local, state and federal taxes.

Oxford also looked at ONT's role a supply chain hub, analyzing logistics activity in the eight zip codes adjacent to the airport. The results placed Ontario International at the center of a global network that accounts for $17.8 billion in economic output, $9.9 billion of GDP, 122,200 jobs and $2.3 billion in local, state and federal taxes.

"The economic impact of Ontario International Airport is felt across the region and around the world. We're excited to be able to share our story with the communities and shareholders we serve, and look forward to building on our position as the gateway of choice for millions of Southern Californians," said OIAA CEO Atif Elkadi.

Since ONT's return to local ownership on November 1, 2016, passenger volumes have increased by nearly 33%, despite the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on global air travel. This year's passenger totals are expected to reach 5.8 million, the highest level since 2008. Ontario's 11 domestic and international airlines in November 2022 offer 479 weekly departures and more than 75,000 airline seats to more than two dozen popular nonstop destinations. That's an increase of 18.9% in departures and 43.4% in seats since 2016.

In recent years, ONT's cargo facilities have experienced double-digit increases in commercial freight shipments as demand for consumer goods, household supplies and other daily necessities skyrocketed among consumers. Shipments of commercial freight and mail total approximately 75 tons a month, 57% more than 2016.

"The Inland Empire is home to one of the most important supply chain networks in the world, and Ontario International is at the heart of that," said Curt Hagman, OIAA Commissioner and Chair of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.

The State of the Airport event also featured an engaging fireside chat with Barry L. Biffle, chief executive officer of Frontier Airlines, a five-year ONT tenant which operates 45 flights a week to six U.S. destinations. The discussion was led by award-winning author Scott McCartney, Travel Editor Emeritus of The Wall Street Journal and writer of the Journal's popular "Middle Seat" column which was a must-read for travel enthusiasts for two decades.

McCartney and Biffle discussed the airline industry's pandemic recovery, the future of global air travel and the Frontier's plans for air travel from ONT.

About Ontario International Airport

Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the fastest growing airport in the United States, according to Global Traveler, a leading publication for frequent fliers. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport which offers nonstop commercial jet service to more than two dozen major airports in the U.S., Mexico, Central America and Taiwan. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com. Follow @flyONT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA)

The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario Mayor Pro Tem Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner).

OIAA Media Contact:Steve Lambert, (909) 841-7527 [email protected]

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SOURCE Ontario International Airport
As an Extension of its California Commitment Tour, Farmer John Launched the Program to Provide Local Organizations with Financial Support Ranging from $3,000 to $25,000 Grants

VERNON, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Farmer John is proud to present the recipients of its California Kindness Project  a grant program designed to support committed California nonprofits that are making an impact in their local communities. Whether newly founded in the midst of the pandemic or around for generations, Farmer John invited charities and organizations in California to apply for one of the grants so that the brand could help support organizations on their mission of improving the lives of local citizens. After receiving over 120 applications from charities and organizations in the Golden State, 10 organizations were carefully selected to receive grants ranging from $3,000 to $25,000, providing a total of $100,000 in financial support.

Farmer John launched the California Kindness Project in the summer of 2022 as an extension of year three of its California Commitment Tour  an initiative to feed, celebrate and serve residents across the state. During the tour, Farmer John made 3-4 stops per week with its food truck to deliver free grab-and-go lunches to Californians and essential businesses and donating much-needed protein to local food banks.

"We were so touched by all of the applications we received, and we feel honored to be able to support and shine a light on such deserving organizations making an impact locally," said Lauren Connelly, brand manager for Farmer John at Smithfield Foods. "Farmer John is dedicated to finding even more ways to invest in the great people of the Golden State, and the California Kindness Project gives us the opportunity to continue to show our appreciation for those who are demonstrating kindness in their communities."

2022 California Kindness Project Grant Recipients

A Future Superhero and Friends | Long Beach, California Alliance for Community Transformations Ethos Youth Center | Mariposa, California America SCORES Bay Area | San Francisco, California Cancer Support Community South Bay | Torrance, California Capital Storytelling | Sacramento, California Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) | Sacramento, California Foodbank of Santa Barbara County | Santa Barbara, California Momentum WORK, Inc. | Carpinteria, California San Mateo County Health Foundation | San Mateo, California St. Francis Center | Los Angeles, California

For more information, please visit CAKindnessProject.com, follow Farmer John on Facebook (@FarmerJohn), Instagram (@FarmerJohnLA), or Twitter (@FarmerJohnLA), and visit www.farmerjohn.com. Farmer John is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Farmer John Serving Californians since 1931, Farmer John has pioneered a revolution in the supply of local flavorful meats. The journey began with Irish-American brothers Francis and Bernard Clougherty curing and selling pork bellies and smoked hams to local grocery stores and continues today with staples like breakfast sausage and hot dogs. This longstanding Southern California brand remains committed to crafting the highest quality meats full of freshness and flavor. For more information on our products and recipe inspiration, please visit www.farmerjohn.com or follow us on Facebook (@FarmerJohn), Instagram (@FarmerJohnLA) or Twitter (@FarmerJohnLA). Farmer John is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Smithfield Foods, Inc. Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. With more than 60,000 jobs globally, we are dedicated to producing "Good food. Responsibly." and serve as one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including our industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in our U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30% across our entire U.S. value chain by 2030. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield, Eckrich and Nathan's Famous, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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SOURCE Smithfield Foods, Inc.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Green Hydrogen Coalition (GHC)  an educational nonprofit dedicated to advancing the role of green hydrogen to accelerate a carbon-free energy future  today announced the launch of a new initiative, HyBuild Carolinas. This effort will catalyze momentum to achieve mass-scale, low-cost, delivered green hydrogen in North and South Carolina, driving multi-sectoral decarbonization and local economic development.

This initiative engages participants from across the green hydrogen ecosystem in an inclusive platform through convenings and analytical studies. HyBuild Carolinas will co-develop a regional vision and roadmap for accelerating the role of green hydrogen in North and South Carolina's environment and economy.

The GHC defines green hydrogen as "hydrogen produced from non-fossil fuel feedstocks and has climate integrity (emits zero or de minimis greenhouse gas emissions on a lifecycle basis)." Hydrogen is a globally traded commodity that  when produced from renewable and carbon-free sources  can decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors, including heavy-duty transportation, firm dispatchable power, industrial processes, shipping, and aviation. The opportunity for abundant, low-cost, renewable and zero-carbon sources of energy in the Carolinas makes alternative pathways for producing green hydrogen possible. The launch of HyBuild Carolinas is timely, given the urgent need to find alternatives to fossil fuels to reduce energy costs, increase energy security, and ensure resiliency.

"As the largest airline in the Carolinas, we're proud to support HyBuild Carolinas, which will play a critical role in accelerating the development of green hydrogen in one of our most important markets. Decarbonizing air travel requires a collaborative approach across all sectors of the economy, and the Green Hydrogen Coalition is helping to lead the way in North Carolina and South Carolina. Green hydrogen is a key element to scaling sustainable aviation fuel and hydrogen propulsion, two cornerstones of American's strategy to reach destination net-zero by 2050."

- Jill Blickstein, Vice President of Sustainability, American Airlines

"Nucor is proud to be an Advisor to HyBuild Carolinas. The green economy is being built on steel, and Nucor's clean, recycled steel is building our nation's clean energy infrastructure while also helping the world meet its climate goals. Nucor is actively engaged in and supporting the exploration of a variety of advanced decarbonization technologies. We believe green hydrogen, where feasible, will have a key role in our sustainable future."

- Greg Murphy, Executive Vice President of Business Services and General Counsel, Nucor Corporation

HyBuild Carolinas is supported by key industry stakeholders from across the green hydrogen value chain, including scalable consumers, renewable developers, utilities, equipment providers, and infrastructure owners and operators. The initiative will receive input from a diverse range of Advisors and Supporting Partners, including environmental organizations, academic and research institutions, and workforce leaders.

"Green hydrogen is a key technology for both deep decarbonization and the preservation and creation of high-quality, family-sustaining jobs. Hydrogen can reduce emissions while leveraging both our existing infrastructure and the skills that exist in the current workforce. This is an opportunity for workers from underserved communities to be trained for a career in sectors from construction to manufacturing to power generation."

- Brad Markell, Executive Director, AFL-CIO

In the near-term, HyBuild Carolinas will undertake analyses to understand green hydrogen demand and enabling infrastructure scenarios to establish a vision for achieving mass-scale, low-cost green hydrogen in the Carolinas and advance a clean and just energy transition. The current scope of work is supported by donations from Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Siemens Energy, and Williams.

"Duke Energy is uniquely positioned in the Carolinas with a strong base of carbon-free nuclear energy and fast-growing renewables that can contribute to hydrogen production. We will need carbon-free dispatchable resources  like hydrogen  to achieve our ambitious emission reduction goals and we are grateful to the Green Hydrogen Coalition for their leadership as we work to engage our peers, customers, other potential offtakers and all other stakeholders to build support for a hydrogen hub in the region. Collaborations such as these will be critical to moving the hydrogen economy forward."

- Swati Daji, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Strategy and Planning, Duke Energy

"Williams believes we can leverage our natural gas transportation infrastructure to scale the development of hydrogen hubs and a clean hydrogen economy. Our existing energy network serves some of the nation's largest markets and is well positioned to meet future hydrogen demand of domestic end users in a safe, efficient and economical manner."

- Brian Hlavinka, Vice President of New Energy Ventures, Williams

"When it comes to building a decarbonized future, we know that we can't do it alone. Collaboration between willing partners across the globe will be the key to delivering clean hydrogen solutions that will not only be reliable, but also make economic sense within our energy infrastructure. We will need to consistently expand renewable energy sources and increase sector coupling, meaning the integration of renewables with Power-to-X solutions using green hydrogen. Siemens Energy is proud to support HyBuild Carolinas to help lead the development of the hydrogen economy in the Carolinas and across the U.S."

- Rich Voorberg, President, Siemens Energy North America

Future work will focus on maximizing the community value proposition for green hydrogen in the region by quantifying community benefits from a green hydrogen economy, such as pollution reduction, economic development, and job creation.

"The GHC is thrilled to engage more deeply in the Carolinas, which has all of the necessary ingredients to drive a successful green hydrogen economy. The Carolinas feature at-scale prospective uses for green hydrogen, forward-thinking leaders who are committed to making rapid progress, and access to enabling infrastructure across the value chain. With a growing energy crisis in Europe, North and South Carolina are well-positioned to provide green hydrogen that will drive the global clean energy transition."

- Janice Lin, Founder and President, Green Hydrogen Coalition

The GHC's HyBuild Carolinas initiative will create the foundation for faster progress, and its publicly available findings will help inform any regional federal hydrogen hub funding applications. As a mission-driven effort for public benefit, HyBuild Carolinas aims to ensure that the resulting regional vision for hydrogen is inclusive, has climate integrity, and creates exciting opportunities for local communities.

To learn more about HyBuild Carolinas and to get involved in the platform, visit www.ghcoalition.org/hybuild-carolinas

About Green Hydrogen Coalition

The Green Hydrogen Coalition (GHC), a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit organization, is dedicated to facilitating practices and policies to advance the production and use of green hydrogen in all sectors where it will accelerate a carbon-free energy future.

HyBuild North America is the GHC's platform to architect low-cost, mass-scale green hydrogen hubs throughout the continent. The first regional focus of the platform, HyBuild Los Angeles, was launched in 2020 and has identified a pathway to achieve $2/kg delivered green hydrogen costs in the Los Angeles Basin to serve multi-sectoral offtakers, reduce air pollution, and create diversely skilled local jobs. HyBuild Carolinas will leverage best practices from HyBuild Los Angeles, with reverence to the unique energy and stakeholder landscape in the Carolinas.

To learn more about the GHC, visit https://www.ghcoalition.org/

Media ContactTodd Zeranski[email protected]510-343-3665

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SOURCE Green Hydrogen Coalition
Skoda Auto India has registered 29% growth in retail sales with 4,173 customer deliveries and 11% growth in wholesales at 3,389 units in October as compared to same period last month. In October of 2021, the company registered 3,226 retail sales and 3,065 wholesales. Between January and October this year, the company registered a growth of 141% at 44,500 units.

In its monthly sales report, Skoda Auto India also noted that the company dispatched 11% more cars to dealers last month than in October last year. All this adds to the company's momentum for 2022, the year which the automaker calls its biggest year in India in terms of sales. The country now represents the brand's third largest market globally, after Germany and the Czech Republic.

Also Read : Skoda Enyaq RS iV electric performance SUV breaks cover, promises nearly 300 hp

2022 also saw Skoda Kushaq gaining a five-star adult and child occupancy safety test score in Global NCAP crash tests. It became the first among cars manufactured in India to get a full five-star for child occupants too. It is also the first car to be tested under the new Global NCAP standards.

As a celebration of this milestone and Kushaq's robust performance in the country, the company launched the Kushaq Anniversary Edition. We are very confident to close this year on an even larger high, and more than double our annual sales compared to 2021," said Petr Solc, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India.

The highlight of the Skoda Kushaq Anniversary Edition is that it comes with a 25.4 cm infotainment system with Skoda Play apps. The system is paired with a sound system that has six high performance speakers and a subwoofer. The Anniversary Edition allows drivers to connect their smartphone via Wireless Smartlink for Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Additionally, the SUV gets exterior and interior Anniversary Edition insignia and some exclusive accessories.

First Published Date:
Tailored Living featuring PremierGarage Rebrands as The Tailored Closet and PremierGarage Launching as Separate Franchise Concepts

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Home Franchise Concepts, a premier platform of best-in-class franchise brands in the home services sector, announced today the rebrand of Tailored Living featuring PremierGarage into two essential home improvement brands. The brand has split into two separate franchise concepts while also announcing Tailored Living's new official brand name, The Tailored Closet. The intention behind the brand separation is to provide a focused approach to each brand's product line and ultimately create a more powerful customer experience through each brand's expert teams of in-home design experts and garage specialists that can transform spaces like no other.

The two brands will offer unique product lines and services to consumers through enhanced focus on in-home and garage organization solutions, respectively. The Tailored Closet designs custom whole home organizational solutions, including beautiful closet systems, pantries, laundry rooms, entryways, home offices, and more. PremierGarage is the expert in premium total garage optimization, bringing solutions that create increased functionality, flexibility, and design for every garage. Each brand will continue to deliver life-enhancing systems to clients through their completely customizable solutions.

"We recognize that the home plays an increasingly key component in our well-being and with the separation of Tailored Living featuring PremierGarage into The Tailored Closet and PremierGarage brands, we are able to strengthen our focus on both the garage and the home as separate but critically important areas of every home. Our two brands have highly-specialized expert teams that create beautifully designed spaces to help maximize the way our home supports our lives," said Heather Nykolaychuk, Brand President of Organized Spaces, LLC, owner of The Tailored Closet and PremierGarage brands. "Our PremierGarage experts are leaders in providing customized solutions for the garage all the way from flooring to cabinetry. Together with The Tailored Closet, our brands bring industry-leading experience and solutions that are simply unmatched."

Home Franchise Concepts is a North American home services franchise platform with more than 1,600 franchisees across its brands including Budget Blinds, The Tailored Closet, PremierGarage, Concrete Craft, AdvantaClean, Kitchen Tune-Up, Bath Tune-Up, Two Maids and Aussie Pet Mobile. For 30 years, Home Franchise Concepts has been a leader in home service franchises.

To learn more about The Tailored Closet's and PremierGarage's product offerings, visit www.tailoredcloset.com and www.premiergarage.com.

About The Tailored Closet:

Since 2006, Tailored Living franchise owners have been dedicated to bringing calm out of chaos for residential and commercial customers. Rebranded in October 2022 as The Tailored Closet, The Tailored Closet is one of the fastest-growing brands in home improvement, The Tailored Closet offers homeowners high-quality organizational systems for their closets, pantries, laundry rooms, and everywhere in between. The Tailored Closet's personalized consultation process guarantees a customized and fully optimized home organization solution and a beautifully organized life for every client.

About PremierGarage:

With long-standing industry experience, commitment to service and innovative solutions for every garage, PremierGarage is a flourishing brand in home improvement, and is the premier partner for homeowners seeking to optimize and transform their garage spaces. The experts of PremierGarage partner with the homeowner to provide solutions that bring increased functionality, flexibility, and design to every area of the garage. From flooring to custom cabinetry and storage for every space, PremierGarage designs beautiful and personalized organizational solutions customized for every homeowner's unique needs.

About Home Franchise Concepts:

Home Franchise Concepts (HFC) is one of the world's largest franchising systems in the home improvement goods and services space and among the world's largest franchise businesses. HFC's brands, Budget Blinds, The Tailored Closet, PremierGarage, Concrete Craft, AdvantaClean, Kitchen Tune-Up, Bath Tune-Up, Two Maids and Aussie Pet Mobile are consistently rated at the top of their categories and supported by more than 2,200 franchise territories in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

HFC is part of JM Family Holdings & Services, a subsidiary of JM Family Enterprises, Inc., a privately held company with $18 billion in revenue and more than 5,000 associates. JM Family has earned various awards for its culture, products and services, including 24 consecutive years on Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For list. Interact with JM Family on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Contact:Andrea MazzolaFish Consulting954-893-9150[email protected]

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SOURCE The Tailored Closet; PremierGarage
Expected to be immediately accretive, adds $9.4 million of unaudited revenue, $0.9 million U.S. GAAP income before income taxes and $1.8 million of unaudited non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA

Second acquisition under the Kingsway Search Xcelerator Program

Capital light, re-occurring revenue business

Will be run alongside Ravix, providing a one-stop shop to Ravix and CSuite Clients

CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - (NYSE: KFS) Kingsway Financial Services Inc. ("Kingsway") today announced the acquisition of the privately-held company CSuite Financial Partners ("CSuite"), the second such acquisition completed under the Kingsway Search Xcelerator Program. CSuite, based in Manhattan Beach, California (www.csuitefinancialpartners.com), is a national, financial executive services firm providing financial management leadership to companies in every industry, regardless of size, throughout the United States.

"This is Kingsway's second acquisition under the Kingsway Search Xcelerator Program and will be run alongside Ravix, which we acquired in October 2021. It fits our model of low capital demands, re-occurring revenue, and strong margins in a growing industry" said Kingsway President and CEO, J.T. Fitzgerald. "Arthur Cohen and team have built a leading company that has a solid reputation and loyal customer base. I am excited to welcome the CSuite team to the Kingsway family of companies."

"This acquisition presents an excellent opportunity for CSuite to partner with an organization that shares our ideals of sustainable growth and reinvestment in people," said Arthur Cohen, Founder and National Managing Partner of CSuite. "We are excited to join the team at Kingsway and Ravix."

"We believe that the addition of CSuite is a nice complement to the offerings provided by Ravix  both CSuite and Ravix will be able to go to market as a one-stop shop of services for our clients," said Timi Okah, President & CEO of Ravix. "I look forward to working with Arthur and the talented team of professionals at CSuite to continue to deliver the highest level of service to our clients."

For the twelve-month period ending July 31, 2022, CSuite had $9.4 million of unaudited revenue, $0.9 million U.S. GAAP income before income taxes and $1.8 million of unaudited non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA. A reconciliation of U.S. GAAP income before income taxes to non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA is presented on the attached schedule. Even after taking into consideration the anticipated effects of purchase accounting, Kingsway expects the acquisition to be immediately accretive.

The purchase price was $8.5 million (subject to customary adjustments) at close, inclusive of $0.9 million paid for cash on hand at close, with up to an additional $3.55 million that could be paid over the next three years depending upon achievement of certain financial metrics. The closing purchase price was paid in cash; however, the Company expects to complete a recapitalization of the loan currently in place at Ravix in the near future.

For more information regarding the CSuite transaction, please join Kingsway's third quarter results call on November 10, 2022 (https://kingsway-financial.com/press-releases/).

Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP served as legal counsel to Kingsway and Jeffer Mangles Butler & Mitchell LLP served as legal counsel to the sellers, and JD Merit & Company served as financial advisors to the sellers in connection with the transaction.

About Kingsway

Kingsway is a holding company that owns or controls subsidiaries primarily in the extended warranty, business services, asset management and real estate industries. The common shares of Kingsway are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "KFS."

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are not historical facts, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and projected. Words such as "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "seeks" and variations and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements; however, the absence of any such words does not mean that a statement is a not a forward-looking statement. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance but reflect Kingsway management's current beliefs, based on information currently available. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Kingsway's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the "2021 Annual Report"). Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, Kingsway disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Additional Information

Additional information about Kingsway, including a copy of the 2021 Annual Report and filings on Forms 10-Q and 8-K, can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov, on the Canadian Securities Administrators' website at www.sedar.com, or through Kingsway's website at www.kingsway-financial.com.

Kingsway Financial Services Inc.Reconciliation of CSuite U.S. GAAP income before income taxes to Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDAFor the Twelve Months Ended July 31, 2022(in thousands) (UNAUDITED)

CSuite GAAP Income before Income Taxes $933 Non-GAAP Adjustments: Depreciation - Amortization - Interest - Wages and benefits 1 454 Transaction expenses 2 178 Pass through taxes 3 175 Other 26 Total Non-GAAP Adjustments 833 Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA $1,766

1 Wages and benefits not expected to be incurred post-close. 2 One-time expenses incurred by CSuite related to the sale. 3 Pass-through taxes related to the former owner.

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SOURCE Kingsway Financial Services Inc.
Champion Petfoods is a strong strategic fit for Mars Petcare, complementing its global portfolio across pet nutrition products and health services

BRUSSELS and EDMONTON, AB, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mars Petcare, part of Mars, Incorporated, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Champion Petfoods, a leading global pet food maker, from an investor group led by Bedford Capital and Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan.

For more than 35 years, Champion Petfoods has been a pioneer in biologically appropriate pet foods, to nourish dogs and cats the way nature intended them to eat naturally in the wild. Champion Petfoods' two premier brands, ORIJEN and ACANA, have built a strong and trusted reputation in more than 90 countries, growing rapidly as pet owners increasingly seek out nutrient-rich pet food.

Ikdeep Singh, Global President, Mars Pet Nutrition, stated: "We are thrilled to welcome Champion Petfoods and its more than 800 talented people to the Mars Petcare family. The Champion Petfoods team has been a pioneer in developing high-quality and premium pet food in the natural category that pet lovers around the world trust. Together, we will be even better positioned to support pet lovers and fulfill our Purpose to create A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS."

Mars Petcare is a Purpose-driven global business serving pets and pet owners through products and services within veterinary health, nutrition, innovation, and technology. Supported by the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Mars Petcare has been advancing research into the health of pets for over 50 years, sharing breakthrough science in areas including preventive health.

Together, Champion Petfoods and Mars Petcare will provide a broader range of options for pet owners. Champion Petfoods' brands complement Mars Petcare's existing pet food portfolio by adding well-respected brands in the premium pet food category, broadening further its offering within pet specialty and independent retail, as well as digital commerce channels.

Champion Petfoods' dry food products are manufactured in company-owned, world-class kitchens in both Canada and the United States. Mars Petcare's significant capabilities and experienced Associates will support Champion Petfoods' talented team in driving further growth, innovation, and success. Combined with Mars Petcare, Champion Petfoods will also be able to fully capitalize on opportunities to expand its portfolio to meet evolving pet owner needs.

Blaine McPeak, Chief Executive Officer, Champion Petfoods, stated: "We are excited to join Mars Petcare and become part of a world leader in pet nutrition and services. This announcement is a wonderful way to recognize all the employees over our history who helped build Champion into a pre-eminent global pet food company with our incredible brands ORIJEN and ACANA. We look forward to working with Mars Petcare on taking Champion to an entirely new level."

The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and expected to close in the first half of 2023.

Advisors

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as Mars' financial advisor, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP acted as Mars' legal advisor.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as Champion Petfoods' financial advisor, and Torys LLP and Bennett Jones LLP acted as Champion Petfoods' legal advisors.

About Mars, Incorporated

For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. This common purpose unites our 140,000+ Associates. It is at the center of who we are as a global, family-owned business, and it fuels how we are transforming, innovating, and evolving to make a positive impact on the world.

Every year, our diverse and expanding portfolio of quality confectionery, food, and pet care products and services delight millions of people and supports millions of pets. With almost $45 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world's best-loved brands including Ben's Original, CESAR, Cocoavia, DOVE, EXTRA, KIND, M&M's, SNICKERS, PEDIGREE, ROYAL CANIN, and WHISKAS. We are creating a better world for pets through nutrition, breakthrough programs in diagnostics, wearable health monitoring, DNA testing, pet welfare and comprehensive veterinary care with AniCura, BANFIELD, BLUEPEARL, Linnaeus and VCA.

We know we can only be truly successful if our partners and the communities in which we operate prosper. The Mars Five Principles  Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom  inspire our Associates to act every day to help create a better world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

About Champion Petfoods

Champion Petfoods, led by its trusted brands ORIJEN and ACANA, was founded in Alberta, Canada. The company has grown to be a key player in the global pet food industry across 90 countries with strong development in Canada, the U.S., Asia Pacific, and Europe. Its purpose, To Earn Pet Lover Trust Every Day so Pets Thrive for a Lifetime, provides the foundation for its highest aspirations as a company. And its Food Philosophy drives the company to provide the highest quality in every product it makes. To learn more visit championpetfoods.com

About Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan

HOOPP is a multi-employer, defined benefit plan serving Ontario's hospital and community-based healthcare sector, with more than 620 participating employers and 420,000 active, deferred and retired members. It operates as a private independent trust with a driving purpose to deliver the pension promise of retirement security for our members.

HOOPP is fully funded and its in-house team of investment professionals manages a highly diversified portfolio of more than C$114 billion in assets (as at Dec. 31, 2021). HOOPP Capital Partners is the private capital arm of HOOPP and has a portfolio of more than C$16 billion, including several investments in leading global consumer brands.

Media contact:Anthony GuerrieriMars Pet NutritionPhone: +1 908 798 1504Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Mars, Incorporated
PITTSBURGH, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mastech Digital, Inc. (NYSE American: MHH), a leading provider of Digital Transformation IT Services, today announced the resignation of Mr. Ganeshan Venkateshwaran, as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company's Data and Analytics Services Business segment, effective immediately. On behalf of Mastech Digital's Board of Directors, we thank Ganeshan for his efforts and commitment to the Company during his tenure and wish him success in his future endeavors.

Until Mr. Venkateshwaran's successor is in place, Vivek Gupta, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, will serve as the chief executive of the segment.

About Mastech Digital, Inc.:

Mastech Digital (NYSE American: MHH) is a leading provider of Digital Transformation IT Services. The Company offers Data Management and Analytics Solutions, Digital Learning, and IT Staffing Services with a Digital First approach. A minority-owned enterprise, Mastech Digital is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA with offices across the U.S., Canada, Europe and India.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "believes," "estimates", "plans", "will" and "projects" and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on information currently available to Mastech Digital and it assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements as circumstances change. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the control of Mastech Digital. Therefore, actual future results and trends may differ materially from what is forecast in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties that are described in more detail in Mastech Digital's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

For more information, contact:

Donna KijowskiManager, Investor RelationsMastech Digital, Inc.+1-888-330-5497

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SOURCE Mastech Digital, Inc.
EDMONTON, AB, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - PCL Construction is pleased to announce that Jason Idler is promoted to chief operating officer and will lead the organization's heavy industrial sector as part of the organization's overall succession planning strategy. Jason succeeds Roger Keglowitsch who is retiring after 30 years of service with PCL.

"Jason possesses a wealth of knowledge in the Heavy Industrial world," said Dave Filipchuk, PCL's president and CEO. "His deep experience and substantial knowledge of our operations across North America will be essential as he works to extend our reputation as industry leaders. We are proud to welcome him to the PCL office of the CEO leadership team."

Jason brings a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Saskatchewan and more than 30 years of experience to his role. Joining the PCL family of companies in 2008 as vice president of PCL Intracon Power, he was appointed regional vice president in 2013. The next year he joined the Board of Directors and assumed executive sponsorship for large-scale industrial projects, some of the largest PCL has executed among them. In 2017, Jason was named executive vice president for Canada and then president of U.S. heavy industrial operations, based in Houston.

Jason is responsible for PCL's portfolio of work in the oil and gas, power, renewables, chemical and petrochemical markets. He works with a team of regional executives to oversee all aspects of project planning and delivery including oversight of engineering, project controls, quality, procurement, construction execution, risk management, and health, safety, and environment (HSE).

Jason is deeply involved not just in the work of construction, but also in how PCL partners with clients and stakeholders to build a sustainable energy and resource future. For him that means attention to people, to community and to PCL's role in the energy transition. From planning to fabrication to execution and ongoing maintenance, Jason, along with the entire heavy industrial group, promises clients a fully tailorable project solution.

About PCL Construction

PCL is a group of independent construction companies that carries out work across Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and in Australia. These diverse operations in the civil infrastructure, heavy industrial, and buildings markets are supported by a strategic presence in more than 30 major centers. Together, these companies have an annual construction volume of more than $8 billion, making PCL the largest contracting organization in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Watch us build at PCL.com.

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SOURCE PCL Construction
LEIDEN, Netherlands, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ProteoNic BV, a leading provider of premium vector technology and services for efficient production of biologics, today announced the extension of its license agreement with GigaGen, a biotechnology company advancing transformative antibody drugs for immune deficiencies, infectious diseases and checkpoint resistant cancers, and a subsidiary of Grifols.

Under the agreement, GigaGen gains non-exclusive, worldwide commercial rights for application of ProteoNic's technology platform to the development and manufacturing of its mono- and polyclonal antibody drug candidates. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

ProteoNic's protein expression technology, 2G UNic, improves recombinant protein production levels across a range of mammalian host cells, selection systems and protein targets. This is achieved via the combined effect of novel genetic elements, which together exert a positive effect on recombinant protein production levels. The technology increases production levels of complex proteins, which are difficult to produce, including bi-specifics and fusion molecules and levels of products already in the multiple g/L range. Additionally, 2G UNic can be used to boost performance of other expression-enhancing technologies.

Carter Keller, senior vice president at Grifols and head of GigaGen, commented, "Utilizing ProteoNic's technology has had substantial impact on the production levels of our poly- and monoclonal antibody drugs. This extended license agreement enables us to develop our product candidates with higher yields and improves overall cost and efficiency of manufacturing."

Frank Pieper, CEO of ProteoNic, added, "We are pleased that we can contribute to the successful development and production of GigaGen's recombinant antibody drugs by providing broad access to our technology."

About ProteoNic

ProteoNic is a privately held company with offices in Leiden, the Netherlands and in the Boston area, USA. The company offers technology and services for the generation of cell lines with greatly improved biologics production characteristics, including production levels and stability. The company commercializes its proprietary 2G UNic technology through licensing and partnership arrangements. For more information, see www.proteonic.nl.

About Gigagen Inc.

GigaGen is advancing transformative antibody drugs for immune deficiency, infectious diseases and checkpoint resistant cancers by leveraging industry-leading, single-cell technologies. Its novel technology platforms uniquely capture and recreate complete immune repertoires as functional antibody libraries. This approach has enabled the creation of first-in-class recombinant polyclonal antibody therapies for the treatment of infectious diseases. In addition, GigaGen's lead oncology asset, GIGA-564, is an anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody that has demonstrated improved anti-tumor efficacy in vivo through a unique mechanism of action. For more information, please visit www.grifols.com or www.gigagen.com.

For more information, please contact:

ProteoNicMark Posno, PhDVice President Business DevelopmentT: +1 617 480 8016E: [email protected]

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SOURCE ProteoNic
CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF), the nation's leading pulmonary fibrosis research, advocacy, and education organization, has announced an increase in funding for its PFF Scholars program. PFF Scholars are early-stage investigators whose research may lead to improved outcomes for individuals living with pulmonary fibrosis (PF).

The 2023 class of PFF Scholars will each receive a $100,000 research grant over a two-year period, an increase of $25,000 per scholar. Letters of Intent (LOI) for next year's class are due November 30, 2022, at 5 p.m. ET. All LOIs must be submitted through the online platform, ProposalCentral.

"Our PFF Scholars will be tomorrow's leaders in the field of pulmonary fibrosis research," said Bill Schmidt, President and CEO of the PFF. "We are pleased to increase our support of their vital research that will shed light on some of the most pressing questions we have about PF." Expansion of the program has been made possible by private donations to the PFF.

More than 250,000 Americans are living with pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease. These disorders are characterized by varied amounts of inflammation and/or scarring that damage the ability of the lung to transfer oxygen into the blood. As the scarring worsens it leads to shortness of breath with daily activities and may result in death.

The PFF Scholars program is designed to help talented researchers obtain independent funding to continue their studies. The PFF aims to support projects that offer a high likelihood of improving the understanding of pulmonary fibrosis in the following areas:

Basic Science

Translational Research

Clinical Research

Epidemiological Research

Health Services Research

The Class of 2022 PFF Scholars and their research topics include 

Alison DeDent, MD, University of California San Francisco : Development of a Telehealth Intervention Targeting Barriers to Early Guideline-Concordant Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Care for Rural Populations

: Development of a Telehealth Intervention Targeting Barriers to Early Guideline-Concordant Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Care for Rural Populations Genta Ishikawa, MD, MPH, Yale University : Neuro-innate Interactions in Pulmonary Fibrosis

: Neuro-innate Interactions in Pulmonary Fibrosis Luis Rodriguez, PhD, University of Pennsylvania : Metabolic Dysfunction and Epigenetic Reprogramming in Distal Alveolar Epithelial Progenitor Cell Function and IPF

: Metabolic Dysfunction and Epigenetic Reprogramming in Distal Alveolar Epithelial Progenitor Cell Function and IPF Cathryn Lee, MD, MS, University of Chicago: Identifying the Impact of Workplace Exposures on Quality of Life, Lung Function, and Survival Across Interstitial Lung Disease

Recent PFF scholars have received additional funding for their studies and have published their PF research in journals such as the ATS Journal, Cell Reports and the Journal of the American Medical Association. Dr. Gillian Goobie (PFF Scholar Class of 2020), University of Pittsburgh, studies the role that air pollution plays in the development and progression of interstitial lung diseases. Her paper, Association of Particulate Matter Exposure With Lung Function and Mortality Among Patients With Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease, was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine on Oct. 17, 2022.

Dr. Jeremy Katzen (PFF Scholar Class of 2019), University of Pennsylvania, received a National Institutes of Health K08 award. Dr. Katzen's research focuses on understanding the impairment process of alveolar type-2 (AT2) cells, which are important cellular components of normal lung function and repair, and how that may contribute to the initiation and progression of lung fibrosis

About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

The mission of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is to accelerate the development of new treatments and ultimately a cure for pulmonary fibrosis. Until this goal is achieved, the PFF is committed to advancing improved care of patients with PF and providing unequaled support and education resources for patients, caregivers, family members, and health care providers. The PFF has a three-star rating from Charity Navigator and is an accredited charity by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance. The Foundation has met all of the requirements of the National Health Council Standards of Excellence Certification Program and has earned the Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency. For more information, visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 844.TalkPFF (844.825.5733).

CONTACT: Dorothy Coyle, [email protected]

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SOURCE The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
SACRAMENTO, Calif. , Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SK pharmteco, a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) serving the pharmaceutical industry, today announced that Joerg Ahlgrimm will be appointed as the Chief Executive Officer. Ahlgrimm will assume the global leadership of the company and spearhead its next phase of innovation and global growth.

"On behalf of the entire Board, I am thrilled to welcome Joerg as the CEO at a pivotal moment as SK pharmteco strives to optimize manufacturing expertise and capture the opportunities in the global pharmaceutical industry," said Dong-hyun Jang, Chairman of SK pharmteco's Board of Directors and CEO of SK Inc. "With his solid track record of global operations and manufacturing in addition to his expertise in both small molecule and CGT business, Joerg is uniquely qualified in accomplishing the company's key objectives in becoming the most trusted global partner for pharmaceutical clients," he added.

Ahlgrimm brings more than 25 years of experience in global operations, especially with his expertise in the pharmaceutical industry. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of the Center of Breakthrough Medicines ("CBM") of the United States, in which SK pharmteco is the second-largest shareholder.

"I am delighted to join forces with the SK pharmteco team to drive further growth of the company," said Ahlgrimm. "With the entrenched capacities in small molecule and a new drive for CGT, SK pharmteco is in an exciting stage of growth with a goal to become one of the world's leading CDMOs. I look forward to the immense opportunities lying ahead with SK pharmteco's continued capabilities and capacity expansion as well as unparalleled customer service."

Dr. Aslam Malik, has served as the CEO of AMPAC Fine Chemicals since 2005. His leadership was retained by SK Inc. when it acquired AMPAC Fine Chemicals in 2018 and established SK pharmteco in 2019. "It has been an honor to serve as CEO of SK pharmteco during this period of growth and I would like to offer my sincere thanks to SK for the support. I strongly believe Joerg will successfully lead SK pharmteco to its next phase of growth," said Dr. Malik.

Previously, Ahlgrimm served as the Head of Global Operations for Pharma and Biotech at Lonza AG where he was responsible for 35 sites across four continents. Prior to Lonza, he oversaw the manufacturing network of 17 plants at Baxalta Inc., Baxter International's bio-science division, with network of more than 20 CMOs and the largest plasma collection division in the industry.

Headquartered in Sacramento, California, SK pharmteco is a global CDMO and a subsidiary of SK Inc., the strategic investment company for SK Group, South Korea's second-largest conglomerate. SK Group has announced plans to invest billions of dollars in the U.S. across the semiconductor, clean energy and life sciences industries. Under the strategic initiative of SK Inc. to strengthen its CDMO business, SK pharmteco was established in 2019 by consolidating highly complementary CDMO business operations. SK pharmteco has established a well-balanced business portfolio by engaging in small molecule & CGT to capture both the robust and exponential growth of each market. Most recently, SK pharmteco became the second-largest shareholder of CBM through its investment in March 2022. Accordingly, it currently operates eight global manufacturing sites in the United States, Europe, and South Korea along with five R&D centers.

About SK pharmteco

SK pharmteco is the single customer-facing team comprised of SK biotek Ireland, AMPAC Fine Chemicals, SK biotek Korea, Yposkesi and most recently The Center for Breakthrough Medicines. Creating substantial market synergies in the API and Cell and Gene Therapy CDMO space by combining highly complementary assets and expertise, this union enables us to provide the highest-quality services to our customers.

With world-class state-of-the-art facilities and technology, increased capabilities: energetic chemistry, continuous flow process, controlled substances, particle engineering, high potency  with world-class potent handling capability (down to low nanogram per cubic meter levels). We have multiple cGMP manufacturing and development sites, with ~1300m of capacity among 8 sites plus analytical services facilities across USA, Korea and Ireland. For more information, visit skpharmteco.com.

About SK

SK Group, South Korea's second-largest conglomerate, is a collection of global industry-leading companies driving innovations in semiconductors, sustainable energy, telecommunications and life sciences. Based in Seoul, SK invests in building sustainable businesses around the world with a shared commitment to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy.

SK companies combined have more than $139 billion in global annual revenue and employ more than 100,000 people worldwide. SK companies are investing billions of dollars in expanding their U.S. presence with business operations or partnerships in hydrogen energy and fuel cells, EV battery manufacturing and technology, energy storage solutions, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and development, semiconductors, and advanced materials. For more information, visit sk.com.

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SOURCE SK pharmteco
BRUCHSAL, Germany, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Volocopter, the pioneer of urban air mobility (UAM), has raised an additional USD 182 million in the second signing of its Series E funding round. NEOM  the Red Sea's smart, cognitive region project  and GLy Capital Management of Hong Kong have joined Volocopter's diverse investor base. This will carry the company beyond the certification of its electric passenger aircraft, the VoloCity air taxi.

Sustainable mobility is a tremendous challenge facing today's world. Volocopter offers a suite of fully electric aircraft for urban missions. Crucially, Volocopter's holistic UAM ecosystem approach connects all key global market players as it strives to get the industry off the ground. This includes developing multipurpose electric aircraft to bring passengers and goods safely to their destination (the VoloCity, VoloRegion, and VoloDrone), and enabling the physical and digital infrastructure to match (the VoloPort and VoloIQ).

"Attracting NEOM And GLy as investors is a great success and highlights our pole position in the commercial certification race. This is the key requirement to launching commercial operations and starting to generate revenue," said Dirk Hoke, CEO of Volocopter.

Volocopter is a UAM leader, with over ten years of experience and upward of 1,500 successful test flights. As the first and only electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company to receive Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Volocopter expects to launch its first commercial air taxi routes in the next two years in megacities like Singapore, Rome, Paris, and the NEOM region.

Christian Bauer, CCO of Volocopter, added: "Raising over USD 180 million despite the generally tense economic climate highlights Volocopter's robust technology strategy and its ongoing progress toward achieving market readiness. We appreciate the remarkable spirit of collaboration and the trust that our existing and new shareholders have placed in us as we forge ahead on our journey to bring the urban air mobility ecosystem to life."

Volocopter and NEOM signed a joint venture (JV) company in December 2021, becoming strategic partners to integrate the VoloCity and the VoloDrone into NEOM's sustainable and smart mobility systems. The JV will design, integrate, and operate all-electric public flight routes for the initial seven years.

"At Neom we strongly believe in the potential for urban air mobility to provide a new dimension to future integrated transport systems. Building on our successful collaboration with Volocopter, we are excited to strengthen our partnership and to make a strategic investment in the future of mobility. We believe Volocopter is the best partner to build an advanced air mobility ecosystem in Neom. We look forward to realising this exciting mission jointly with Volocopter and its global partners" said Florian Lennert, Head of Mobility of NEOM.

GLy is backed by Geely Holding, and in their joint venture, Geely and Volocopter aim to bring UAM to China which is expected to become one of the largest markets for electric air taxis.

"Volocopter's vision encompasses industrial short- and medium-range commercial passenger applications to bring efficiency to the way we move around our cities. I look forward to supporting their journey; a journey that promises to be exciting, safe, and scenic in equal measure," said Hrvoje Krkalo, co-CEO of GLy Capital.

With many interested companies having passed the due diligence phase, Volocopter's Series E funding round remains open.

About Volocopter

Volocopter is building the world's first sustainable and scalable urban air mobility business to bring affordable air taxi services for goods and people to megacities worldwide. Volocopter leads and cooperates with partners in infrastructure, operations, and air traffic management to build the ecosystem necessary to "Bring Urban Air Mobility to Life." Volocopter has 500 employees in offices in Bruchsal, Munich, and Singapore, has completed over 1,500 successful public and private test flights, and has diverse investors, including Geely, NEOM, Mercedes-Benz Group, Intel Capital, and BlackRock. www.volocopter.com

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Report on Form 6-K dated November 1, 2022

Commission File Number 1-14846

AngloGold Ashanti Limited

(Name of registrant)

112 Oxford Road

Houghton Estate

Johannesburg, 2198

South Africa

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of

Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F X

Form 40-F

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by

Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):

Yes

No X

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by

Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):

Yes

No X

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this

Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b)

under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes

No X

Enclosure: Press release: AGA STATEMENT ON PASSING OF A NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
In the past decade, China has been transforming from a follower in traditional automotive industry to a leader in new energy vehicle industry. With an aim to address different pain points and meet various scenario requirements, more and more players in China have launched rapid product innovation and technological empowerment, promoting the rapid development and extended boundary of upstream and downstream enterprises. The speed and innovation have promoted the continuous iteration of the entire intelligent electric vehicle supply chain and the expansion of new energy vehicle market with millions of new energy vehicles on the road. In this way, China has become the leader in new energy vehicle outputs and sales.



Technology revolution drives product transformation on Chinas road to become a leader in automotive industry. With vehicles as the core, traditional automakers, suppliers, technology company and cross-border players are enhancing their efforts in automotive industry by virtue of their own differential sources. But electrification is just the prelude to the revolution. Low carbonization and intelligence have become the new focus of next-stage competition, and the window period is shorter and shorter. The key to the success of future intelligent vehicles is the combination of brand, experience, innovation, profitability, software-defined vehicle and scale while a system for cooperative development and rational division of labor can promote the development of intelligent vehicle industry.

For a long time, the automotive supply chain presented a pyramid mode of Tier2-Tier1-OEM with OEMs on the top. But for the intelligent electric vehicle supply chain, the pyramid-style mode has evolved into a flat multi-agent collaborative model. Under the new model, even though OEMs are still on the top, they have to go into the upstream of the supply chain and establish advanced cooperation to build a more reasonable labor division system for intelligent vehicle development.

Gasgoos Top 100 Players of China's New Automotive Supply Chain for 2022 aims to find out players which will help to reshape automotive industry value chain and form a new supply chain system. The award recognizes and presents promising companies and game-changing technology solutions in ten core segments, namely autonomous driving, smart cockpit, software, automotive chip, electrification, thermal management, body and chassis, interiors and exteriors, lightweight and new materials, as well as service providers.



After 215 days, the 2022 list came out as a result of 450,000 online votes and months of experts assessment to award those players which can take a leading role in industrial revolution with their technology and mode innovation.

Local companies continue to increase presence. The 2022 list consists of 65 Chinese players, including well-known suppliers like Fuyao Group, Thundersoft and Desay SV, cross-boarder players like Unicom, ZTE, Huawei and Cocos, as well as numerous outstanding local startups in intelligent electric vehicle segment like MINIEYE, Greater Bay Technology and Cambricon.

The list also show that low-carbonization and intelligence have already become main trends in automotive industry, including 16 players in autonomous driving segment, 14 in software segment, 13 in chip segment, 11 in smart cockpit segment, 16 in powertrain segment, 5 in thermal management segment, 11 in body and chassis segment, 7 in interior and exterior segment, 4 in environment-friendly light-weight and new material segment and 3 service providers. From the perspective of technology, the awardees cover autonomous driving system, domain controller, auto chip, OTA, digital key, smart cockpit system, HUD, intelligent chassis and environment-friendly material, indicating rapid development in the said areas.
(Tribune News Service)  As the U.S. Army continues determining how best to clean up groundwater contamination caused by a former biowarfare test site in Frederick, Md., researchers are also studying what protective technology should be added to houses and condominiums planned to be built nearby.

Construction on the second phase of the Waverley View development is expected to begin toward the end of next year, said Christopher Dorment, chairman and owner of the Virginia-based Rocky Gorge Development.

This phase, with 122 houses and 180 condominiums, Dorment said, is planned for the 23-acre parcel between Shookstown Road and the southwest fence line of Fort Detrick's Area B.

Area B, a 399-acre property encircled by Kemp Lane and Shookstown Road, was used in the mid-20th century to test biological warfare materials.

Because of how scientists disposed of hazardous waste then  in unlined trenches and pits  the site's groundwater is contaminated.

Army scientists have spent decades studying the extent of the contamination and trying to address it.

In 2013 and 2014, they drilled monitoring wells just outside the Area B southwest fence line. Groundwater samples taken from these wells detected levels of contamination that could potentially harm residents of homes built on top of the property, if steps weren't taken to protect them.

Last year and this year, the Army drilled more wells on the future site of Phase 2 of the Waverley View development. Scientists wanted to see how far the contamination extended.

Results from the wells, installed farther from the fence line, did not detect potentially harmful levels of contamination in the groundwater.

A project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers presented data from the monitoring wells in October to the Restoration Advisory Board, which oversees Area B groundwater clean-up activities.

The Army plans to collect more well samples in December 2022 and March 2023, said Brianne Witman, the project manager.

Dorment doesn't want future Waverley View residents to worry about how living at the development might affect their health.

Considering how federal and state agencies have scrutinized the project, it is shaping up to be incredibly safe, he said.

"They feel, and I feel, that if any measures need to be taken [to protect residents], they're going to be taken, and people are not going to be in any risk whatsoever," he said. "We're doing what we can to comply with their direction."

Risk of vapor intrusion

When the groundwater beneath a building is contaminated  as it is at and around Area B  there's a danger of "vapor intrusion."

In this process, chemicals dissolved in a property's groundwater can enter buildings through basements or foundations.

Chemicals can then degrade the quality of indoor air and harm people, especially those who are pregnant, or elderly or young children, or those with a compromised immune system.

However, the effects of vapor intrusion can be mitigated by installing certain technologies.

The Army would be responsible for paying for adding these technologies to homes with the potential for vapor intrusion, said Gary Zolyak, an attorney for the Army.

Construction isn't expected to start on houses beside the Area B fence line  where potentially risky levels of contamination have been identified  for six or seven years, Dorment said.

That gives the Army time to work with Dorment's team to determine the technology needed during the houses' construction to protect future residents from vapor intrusion, said Joseph Gortva, chief of Fort Detrick's Environmental Management Division.

Because of how the groundwater flows, the Army is not concerned about vapor intrusion affecting other portions of the Waverley View development, including the 70-acre parcel south of Shookstown Road.

That is where Phase 1 of the Waverley View development is. The developer will complete work on the first phase of the project, Gambrill View, in the coming year, Dorment said.

The Army isn't worried about the extent of the groundwater contamination  or which buildings it could affect  changing dramatically.

If the contamination got worse, the levels of contaminants detected in monitoring wells would increase, Gortva said. Instead, they've been relatively stable.

Still, he added, the Army will continue monitoring the contamination, just in case.

A contentious past

The Army and Waverley View Investors  the company that owns the future site of the Waverley View development  have a long, complicated history.

Starting in 2011, Waverley View Investors repeatedly denied Army requests to install groundwater monitoring wells on the developer's property.

Then, in 2013, the property owner sued the Army for $37 million, accusing the Army of devaluing its land and stalling future development.

When the lawsuit concluded in 2018, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims awarded Waverley View Investors about $56,500 and let the Army monitor groundwater contamination on the property.

Since then, the Army and Waverley View Investors have worked well together, Zolyak said.

Dorment attended the Restoration Advisory Board meeting in October, participated in discussions and answered questions from board members.

In response to a question from RAB member Jen Peppe Hahn, Dorment agreed to return to a future meeting to explain how Waverley View Investors will tell residents about vapor intrusion mitigation systems installed in their homes.

"You're talking about something that's a little bit far off," he said, "but it's certainly a legitimate request, and we will honor it."

(c)2022 The Frederick News-Post (Frederick, Md.)

Visit The Frederick News-Post (Frederick, Md.) at www.fredericknewspost.com

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YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan  The U.S. Navy has finished installing filters at the wastewater treatment plant on this base on Tokyo Bay, less than a week after the Japanese government once again reported high levels of so-called forever chemicals there.

Eight granular activated carbon filters to further treat wastewater contaminated with PFOS and PFOA were fully operational Tuesday morning at Yokosuka, homeport of the U.S. 7th Fleet, base spokesman Randall Baucom told Stars and Stripes by email.

The filters were installed specifically to remove the chemical compounds that since May have shown up repeatedly in water-quality tests by the U.S. Navy and the South Kanto Defense Bureau.

The U.S. Navy has worked hard to correct this situation. The health and safety of our service members, civilians, their families, and the local community is our top priority, Baucom wrote. We are committed to learning from this experience and working to make improvements going forward.

The Navys most recent round of testing on Sept. 29 found PFOA in concentrations of 12,900 parts per trillion in industrial wastewater, 258 times higher than the 50 parts per trillion limit imposed by the Japanese government, according to a Thursday news release from Yokosuka city.

U.S. Forces Japan, under the Japan Environmental Governing Standards, has a 50 parts per trillion limit on PFOA in drinking water but no established limit for wastewater.

Testing on non-industrial wastewater at the base also found PFOA at 11,700 parts per trillion, 234 times higher than the limit, according to the release. The Sept. 29 tests did not detect PFOS.

A separate test by the Japanese government of seawater at three points offshore of the naval base found 2.5 to 3 parts per trillion of PFOS and PFOA, well beneath 50 parts per trillion but above the 1.6 to 1.8 parts per trillion discovered June 30, the South Kanto Defense Bureau announced in a Thursday news release.

The Navys tests on Aug. 29 also found PFOA at the plant intake point at 11,100 parts per trillion. Discharged wastewater contained PFOS and PFOA at a combined concentration of 8,592 parts per trillion, the city said in the release.

The safety and security of residents is a concern, but the issue related to the environment and peoples health is also an important issue for those living at the Naval base and those working there, the release said. We hope the cause is investigated and the issue is resolved as soon as possible.

The Navy is investigating but has not yet identified the source of PFOA and PFOS on base, Baucom said in his email.

The two chemicals are found in firefighting foam, aircraft grease, water-repellent materials and other products that use fluorine chemicals. They may accumulate in the human body and persist for a long time, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, which refers to them as forever chemicals.

Following the toxins discovery in May, the base removed all firefighting foam containing the chemicals, Naval Forces Japan spokeswoman Cmdr. Katie Cerezo told Stars and Stripes on Sept. 16.

Studies involving lab animals show exposure to PFOA increases the risk of certain tumors, according to the American Cancer Society. Studies involving human exposure show an increased risk of cancer, reproductive issues, developmental issues in children and other adverse health effects, according to an EPA news release in August.

Concerns about the chemicals have been raised elsewhere in Japan. An Okinawa civic group, Liaison to Protect the Lives of Citizens Against PFAS Contamination, released survey results on Oct. 15 that found PFOS in blood samples at 1.5 to 3.1 times higher than a Japanese government survey last year.

Three days later, Japanese Environment Minister Akihiro Nishimura announced the ministry would work with the Okinawan municipalities involved in the survey to gather information and consider mitigation measures.

The group believes U.S. military bases on the island prefecture could be the source of contamination and called for their cooperation, group spokesman Toshio Takahashi said Oct. 17.
(Tribune News Service)  The 126-year-old Grand Army of the Republic Hall in Beaufort, S.C.  where Black Civil War veterans once gathered  is among four additions to the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network, the National Park Service has announced.

The Beaufort GAR Hall is one of two halls constructed by Black veterans in the country that remain standing  the other is in Sumner, Md. But the Beaufort GAR Hall is the only one that remains largely in its original form.

The network, managed by the Beaufort-based Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, connects sites across the country that provide education, interpretation and research related to the Reconstruction Era from 1861 to 1900, which NPS described as "one of the most fascinating and misunderstood periods in American History" with stories of freedom, education and self-determination.

Being in the network brings national recognition about the role property played in the Reconstruction Era.

And the new sites, from Beaufort to rural Virginia, remind Americans that nearly every community has a Reconstruction story to tell, says Scott Teodorski, superintendentof Reconstruction Era National Park.

With the new additions, the network, created in 2019, now has 86 sites with eight in Beaufort County and six in Beaufort. The sites include other NPS sites, state parks, private homes, historic churches and historic districts.

"We recognize them as part of the NPS network," Teordorski told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet, "but play no role in their direct management."

Beaufort's GAR post, which started in 1888, was founded by Black veterans, many of them former slaves on Sea Island plantations who had been soldiers with the First South Carolina Volunteer Regiment that Maj. Gen. David Hunter organized at the Smith Plantation in the town of Port Royal in 1862.

The GAR Hall on Newcastle Street was constructed in 1896. It is a contributing structure to the city's 304-acre Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it serves as the headquarters for the Sons of Union Veterans and the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Fred Washington Sr. Woman's Relief Corps and the "Afro-American Military Mini-Museum."

GAR, founded nationally in 1866, was once the nation's preeminent veterans' organization, formed at the close of the Civil War. Membership peaked in 1890, with more than 400,000 members.

Recent work at the GAR Hall addressed sinking of the building and bowing of the walls. The $125,000 job was completed by the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War and Second Founding of America: Reconstruction Beaufort, a not-for-profit dedicated to uncovering Reconstruction Era stories. Beaufort County Council contributed $115,000 in accommodations tax proceeds toward the project.

Three other sites were added to the network, too:

 The Gilmore Cabin at James Madison's Montpelier in Orange County, Va. It was built in the 1870s by George Gilmore, who had been enslaved at Montpelier prior to the Civil War, but as a citizen later owned part of the property.

 The Hamburg-Carrsville African American Heritage District in North Augusta, S.C. It interprets the history and legacy of a Freedman community established after the Civil War. It also was the site of the "Hamburg Massacre," an attack by former Confederates and Red Shirts against Black citizens during the 1876 election period.

 The Center for African American History, Arts, and Culture in Aiken, S.C. It is located in the building that was home to the Immanuel School, a school built in the 1880s for Black children.

(c)2022 The Island Packet (Hilton Head, S.C.)

Visit The Island Packet (Hilton Head, S.C.) at www.islandpacket.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
NEW YORK  Embracing without permission. Disparaging one parent in front of children struggling with divorce. Flaunting privilege. Being a bad listener or, worse, a terrible loser.

The world and all its interactional black holes would likely have Emily Post spewing her tea. The grande dame of all things manners died in 1960, but two of her descendants have overhauled her book of tips for the 21st century to mark the centennial of the first edition.

I think mostly that its really easy to paint etiquette and manners as tools for elitism, tools for secrecy, tools for exclusion," said Lizzie Post, Emilys great-great-granddaughter and co-author of the latest Emily Posts Etiquette.

"And when they are used that way, and they definitely can be, they are effectively useless. But when were using etiquette and manners as a tool for self-reflection and awareness of others, I think were really going to have a chance to make the world a nicer place," she said.

As incivility has taken an even stronger hold on the culture, the newfangled book encourages patience and humility in talking over difficult subjects. That, it notes, requires getting comfortable with the idea that your brilliant remark could go unsaid. The book also pleads for grace in losing and a good apology, avoiding the word if to neutralize the effort, or but to dig your hole deeper.

Emily published her first version of the book under a different title in 1922 after making a name for herself as a novelist and travelogue writer. It's been freshened through the decades, but the 20th edition out now is a comprehensive update.

There's plenty of advice on setting tables, dressing for different occasions and basic courtesies on things like gifting, tipping and greetings. But Lizzie Post, and her cousin and co-author, Daniel Post Senning, have taken on issues far more crucial. They've done it in part by crowdsourcing, including ideas from callers to their Awesome Etiquette podcast.

And they did it in the middle of a pandemic and the #MeToo movement, both recognized in subjects like optional handshakes, or seeking permission to hug or kiss on the cheek.

The hug is such an intimate gesture that, for some, an unwanted one can feel like a violation, the new book notes in part. When someone doesn't ask, pushes for one, or even forces it, they're communicating that because they think it's okay, they get to press their body against someone else's. Depending on how it's done, it can cross over into sexual harassment or assault.

Not exactly groundbreaking, unless written under the name of Emily Post.

Emily herself was born into East Coast privilege, growing up in Baltimore and New York City. Her father was a prominent architect for the rich, who designed the tony enclave of Tuxedo Park, N.Y., and her mother was the daughter of a coal baron.

Emily met her husband, Edward, at a Fifth Avenue ball. There was scandal involving his romantic dalliances with chorus girls and actresses, resulting in a divorce announced in 1906, according to a biographer and reports at the time. Her inner circle attempted to secure her privacy after that, and her descendants have some wise words for friends and family offering sympathy today in divorces and separations.

Avoid trying to push or suggest the right decision for a friend, the Posts write in the new book. It's especially important to be careful what you say around children whose parents are separated or divorcing. Cheering the news or making negative comments is unnecessary.

The book takes on other losses often left unaddressed in Emily's time, such as grieving a miscarriage.

You absolutely want to avoid saying things such as, `Next time it'll happen,'" or `This just wasn't your time,'" the book counsels.

Through her travels, Emily learned more about the lives of those outside her social milieu. By 1922, she wrote in the first chapter of the book's first edition, what was then called Best Society wasn't a group born into great wealth or status but one comprised of gentlefolk who take care of each other.

Best Society, she wrote, is not at all like a court with an especial queen or king, nor is it confined to any one place or group, but might be better described as an unlimited brotherhood which spreads over the entire surface of the globe, the members of which are invariably people of cultivation and worldly knowledge, who have not only perfect manners, but a perfect manner.

Her descendants take on privilege this way: Privilege can be and sound like many different things, but in conversation, it mostly comes across as a lack of awareness that you have benefited in a way others may not have."

Modern-day manners on pronouns are also addressed in the new book, as a way to show support, respect, and basic courtesy.

You might think someone's pronouns are easy enough to tell just by looking at them, but the reality is this isn't always the case, the Posts write. If you don't know someone's pronouns, and you need to know them in order to make an introduction, asking is the polite thing to do: `Joan, what pronouns do you use?' Note that you don't ask what pronouns Joan `prefers'  an unfortunately common construction for this question.

Emily was 87 when she died. Ironically, Lizzie Post said in an interview, the older she got, the less she enjoyed participating in society. ... She felt, I think, a lot of autonomy and a lot of power and a lot of agency in just being able to stay home and not have it be a big deal.

Expanding her empire all the while with other books of etiquette.

As an only child, Emily was a daddy's girl, Lizzie said, and losing her father in 1903 was a blow. Other tragedies followed. Her mother was killed in a car accident in 1909. One of her two sons, Bruce, grew up to be an architect like her father but died at 32 of appendicitis as the two worked together on a house in Martha's Vineyard. That's where she summered as she continued to write new books and churn out editions of her etiquette bible.

With her surviving son, Ned, she founded The Emily Post Institute in 1946, and the family still runs it today.

In print, Emily grew more inclusive over the years, Lizzie said. Emily's etiquette became based more on education and merit than ideology and socioeconomic status, she said.

For that, Lizzie said, I'm happy.
U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolts arrived on Guam last week for a dynamic force employment operation that aims to foster unpredictability in overseas deployments, the service said in a news release Wednesday.

The attack planes, part of the 23rd Air Expeditionary Wing, flew from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., to Andersen Air Force Base.

The United States is committed to being ready to execute missions quickly in unpredictable ways and rapidly respond to adversary moves within and across theaters of operation, the release said.

The Air Force did not disclose the exact number of A-10s deployed to Guam. A photo posted on Andersens Facebook page showed four of the aircraft  complete with their hallmark paintings of jagged teeth on their nose cones  lined up at the base.

Dynamic force employment is designed as a way for Pacific Air Forces to exercise their ability to generate combat air power from dynamic force elements while continuing to move, maneuver, and sustain these elements in geographically-separated and contested environments, the Facebook post states.

The A-10, nicknamed Warthog for its aggressive maneuverability and those teeth, are designed for close air support of ground forces. It is highly effective against tanks and other armored vehicles and can operate at low speeds and altitude.

The aircraft arrived about a week after the Air Force deployed an undisclosed number of B-1B bombers from South Dakota to Guam for a bomber task force mission.

Bomber task force missions are intended to demonstrate the B-1Bs ability to rapidly deploy anywhere, anytime, and provide lethal precision global strike options for combatant commanders, the Air Force said in an Oct. 21 news release.

The American territory of Guam is of growing importance to Americas defense, according to the updated National Defense Strategy publicly released last week.

Guam is home to key regional power projection platforms and logistical nodes and is an essential operation base for U.S. efforts to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the document states.

Within the context of homeland defense, an attack on Guam or any other U.S. territory by any adversary will be considered a direct attack on the Unite States, and will be met with an appropriate response, the document states.

A $1 billion effort to establish a comprehensive, integrated missile defense system for Guam is underway, an endeavor some lawmakers regard as urgent given North Koreas stepped-up missile testing and Chinas military ambitions in the region.
A plan to rotate U.S. B-52 bombers to Australias Northern Territory shows the Pentagon has found a useful alternative to basing aircraft on Guam, according to security experts.

The plan for dry-season bomber rotations at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal south of Darwin was reported Monday by Australian public broadcaster ABC.

Basing bombers in Australia would disperse U.S. forces across the Indo-Pacific region, said Ian Chong, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore.

That keeps a potential adversary guessing and perhaps discourages them from provocation, he told Stars and Stripes in an email Monday. Of course, with B-52s, there is the nuclear option as well.

The Pentagon in April budgeted $14.4 million for the squadrons operations and maintenance facilities at Tindal, ABC reported.

New facilities, including a large parking apron able to accommodate B-52s, were under construction at the base in September. U.S.-funded airfield infrastructure at Tindal supports the rotational presence of a range of U.S. aircraft, Air Force Lt. Col. Martin Meiners, a Department of Defense spokesman, told Stars and Stripes by email Tuesday.

"The [squadron operations] facility is required to support strategic operations and to run multiple 15-day training exercises during the Northern Territory dry season for deployed B-52 squadrons," said the ABC report, which cited unspecified American documents.

The Northern Territorys dry season spans the southern hemispheres cooler months, from May to October.

U.S. bombers, including B-52s, have been visiting Australia since the early 1980s and training in Australia since 2005, the Australian Defence Department said in a statement emailed to Stars and Stripes on Monday.

Last year, both countries endorsed rotational deployments of U.S. aircraft of all types to Australia, according to the Australian statement. Future B-52 bomber rotations to the country would be consistent with both countries longstanding objectives, it said.

That does not sit well with China, the rising power in the western Pacific and the most consequential challenger identified in the recently released U.S. National Defense Strategy.

Such a move by the US and Australia escalates regional tensions, gravely undermines regional peace and stability, and may trigger an arms race in the region, Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters Monday, according to a transcript of his remarks on the ministry website.

The U.S. and Australia share concerns about Chinese aggression in the Taiwan Strait and South and East China Seas and efforts to build influence in the South Pacific.

Guam provides a mid-ocean platform for U.S. air power. Since 2004, Air Force bombers such as the B-1B Lancer, B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit have been frequent visitors to Guam. But China has the ability to strike U.S. forces on Guam and in the Far East with everything from ballistic missiles to maneuverable cruise and hypersonic missiles, then-Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. Phil Davidson warned in September 2020.

Positioning B-52s in Australia gives U.S. airpower added survivability, Chong said.

What this does, together with the basing of strategic bombers like the B-1 out of Guam, is to enhance the U.S. deterrence posture, since dispersal means that these aircraft and their bases are more difficult to take out at the start of a conflict and provide more alternative directions from which conventional stand-off strikes can occur, he said.

The range and versatility of B-52s, despite their age, means they have a potential role in a variety of scenarios -- from the South China Sea and Taiwan through the East China Sea and Korean Peninsula, Chong said.

Bombers based at Tindal could also reach areas in the Indian Ocean, such as Pakistan, where China has been seeking to establish its forces, according to Paul Buchanan, a New Zealand-based U.S. security expert.

B-52s in Australia would remind the Chinese that the U.S. can strike their mainland from there as well as from Guam, he said in an email Monday.

It seems that this is about adding another layer to the military ring-fencing of [China] in the Western Pacific, he said.

Tindal is beyond the reach of most Chinese conventional missiles and aircraft, according to Ross Babbage, a former Australian assistant defense secretary.

It is not too distant to be far removed from potential areas of conflict, he said in an email Monday.

Tindal is a good alternative to Andersen, according to Ralph Cossa, president emeritus of the Pacific Forum think tank in Hawaii.

Important not to put all our eggs in Guam basket, he said in an email Tuesday. Tindal provides alternative site and demonstrates Aussie commitment to alliance. Sends a strong message to China.
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  The new commander of Marine Corps air power in the Pacific said the force has never been more lethal, though he aims to maintain peace in the region through deterrence and partnerships with allies.

Maj. Gen. Eric Austin took command of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing during a flight-line ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Aug. 12, with the risk of conflict between the West and its allies and regional provocateurs like North Korea and China at a 50-year high.

Since taking over the air wing, the Harrier pilot has visited its units at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Okinawa; at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, 25 miles south of Hiroshima; and Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, to take stock of the wings assets and direction, Austin told Stars and Stripes in his office at Camp Foster on Oct. 21.

I think weve got an amazing and lethal force, he said. The commandant has focused us on campaigning in a fashion that maintains a free and open Indo-Pacific and avoids us getting to what would really be a strategic failure, which would be a shooting match with China.

The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing is the aviation element of the III Marine Expeditionary Force and consists of approximately 7,000 Marines and sailors in three aircraft groups in Japan and Hawaii.

The wing includes an array of aircraft, from F/A-18 and F-35B fighters to MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors and AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters. It also provides offensive air and anti-air support, aerial reconnaissance and electronic countermeasures.

Austin arrived on Okinawa after directing combat development and integration at Marine Corps headquarters in Quantico, Va. A big supporter of Commandant Gen. David Bergers service-wide redesign and modernization push called Force Design 2030, Austin was tasked with developing recommendations that bring that concept to life.

The commandant said, OK, General Austin, youve done a good job thinking about it, now go do, he said.

Austin said he looks forward to improvements to the F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter, two squadrons of which are based at MCAS Iwakuni, and to the MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor, of which the wing has four squadrons across Hawaii and Okinawa.

Other improvements to Marine air power are evolving in ground-based, anti-ship missiles, a component of the expeditionary advanced base operations Berger espouses; and loitering munitions, such as exploding drones, that are coming to the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa, he said. The Corps is also updating its approach to ground-based air defenses.

The wing is moving Marines around the region, adding a second squadron of KC-130 Hercules aerial refuelers late this year and updated, extended-range MQ-9A Reaper drones in Hawaii next year.

The wing will also soon receive a third AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar, Austin said. It detects, identifies and tracks airborne threats, according to its maker Northrop Grummans website. The wing is also working to modernize its command-and-control technology.

Austin has commanded attack squadrons and aircraft groups and deployed multiple times to Kuwait and Iraq, according to his Marine biography. He was operations officer for the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing from 2012 to 2014.

He spent part of his childhood on Okinawa, where he attended Kubasaki High, the Defense Department school for military dependents at Camp Foster. His father, Col. Lowell Erskine Austin Jr., was an A-4 and OV-10 pilot who later took on various leadership roles, and deployed to Okinawa multiple times, his son said.

Eric Austin said tensions and provocations in the western Pacific have created deeper cohesion and integration with U.S. and its friends in the region.

The behavior of China is driving a much more meaningful relationship with us and many of our allies and partners in the area and that's really important, he said. The special sauce to the III Marine Expeditionary Force is all of our partners, whether it be Japan, Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Australia, you name it. We've got a lot of 'em in this theater, and they're all really, really important to us.
North Korea threatened to unleash a powerful action if the U.S. does not halt joint military drills with partners including South Korea, in what might be an effort by Kim Jong Un to lay the groundwork for his first nuclear test in five years.

If the U.S. continuously persists in the grave military provocations, the DPRK will take into account more powerful follow-up measures, the states foreign ministry said in a statement released on official media Tuesday. Such ministry statements are often used by the country, officially known as the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, to make clear the warning is coming from Kims regime.

The U.S. and South Korea this week started joint air drills known as Vigilant Storm that will run through Friday and involve about 240 aircraft in about 1,600 sorties to hone their wartime capabilities, the U.S. 7th Air Force said in a statement. The drills have added to a series of joint exercises on land, sea and air in recent weeks, some of which have also included Japan, that have led to complaints and provocations from Pyongyang.

If the U.S. does not want any serious developments not suited to its security interests, it should stop the useless and ineffective war exercises at once, said the statement from the Foreign Ministry, which was released by the official Korean Central News Agency. If not, it will have to totally take the blame for all the consequences.

White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said the joint exercises are part of an annual, routine training schedule designed to strengthen defense ties between the U.S. and South Korea, adding that, we have made clear that we have no hostile intent towards the DPRK.

We reject the notion that they serve as any sort of provocation, Watson said in a statement.

Since the end of September, when the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier group was in the region for joint exercises, North Korea has fired off one of its biggest barrages of missiles under Kim, including two, short-range ballistic missiles that were tested last Friday.

The U.S., Japan and South Korea have warned that Kim could soon raise the stakes even higher with a nuclear test, which would be its first in five years and seventh overall. Washington, Tokyo and Seoul have all promised a harsh and coordinated punishment if Pyongyang sets off an atomic device, which would also be a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The test might be used to advance Kims pursuit of miniaturized nuclear warheads that he could mount on missiles to strike the U.S. allies of South Korea and Japan that host the bulk of Americas troops in Asia.

The North Korean leader is finding space to ramp up provocations and conduct tit-for-tat military moves as the Biden administration focuses on Russias war in Ukraine. Russia and China, two long-time partners of North Korea, have veto power at the UN Security Council and have shown no intent to punish Kim with extra sanctions.

Kim has ignored the Biden administrations calls for him to return to nuclear disarmament talks that have been stalled for about three years. State media recently said that he reaffirmed his opposition to negotiations with the U.S. after declaring in September that North Korea would never give up nuclear arms or denuclearize first.

Bloombergs Jordan Fabian contributed to this report.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- HOZON Auto, the Chinese startup owning the new energy vehicle (NEV) brand NETA, announced today its monthly deliveries hit a new high of 18,016 units in October 2022, zooming up 122% from the previous year.

Of the new vehicles delivered last month, 6,295 units and 11,721 units were from the NETA U and the NETA V series, representing a year-on-year hike of 115% and 126%, respectively.

For the first ten months of 2022, the automaker saw its total deliveries soar 161% from a year earlier to 129,206 units.

On October 10, HOZON Auto launched the NETA U-II, a successor of the 2022 NETA U, onto the Chinese market with four trim levels offered. The new product features a post-subsidy price range of 129,800-159,800 yuan ($17,790-21,900).

NETA S; photo credit: NETA

In addition, delivery of the NETA S will commence in November, resulting in a further expansion of NETA's product lineup.

On October 27, HOZON Auto and NVIDIA formed cooperation, under which the automaker's vehicles will be equipped with the NVIDIA DRIVE Orin in-car computing platform. Besides, HOZON Auto will explore the introduction of the NVIDIA DRIVE Thor, NVIDIA's next-generation centralized computer for safe and secure autonomous vehicles, to elevate the AI-enabled intelligence level of NETA-branded vehicles.
KYIV, Ukraine  Mourners gathered Tuesday to bid farewell to a soldier who died in combat. But they knew little about him.

They knew he was 40 years old. That his only surviving family was his mother and sister. And perhaps most notably, that he was Georgian.

The former Soviet republic has a population of about 4 million  slightly larger than that of Connecticut  but has contributed the largest share of foreign fighters to Ukraines defense since Russian launched an invasion of the country in February.

This was the 23rd funeral for a soldier from Georgia, and the gravity of the number weighed heavily on the dozens of military personnel and civilians who gathered in the nave of St. Volodymyrs Cathedral.

Georgia is a small country so to lose a 23rd fighter is incredibly sad for us, said Kamba Basilia, 58, a member of the Georgian Legion, a military unit formed by ethnic Georgians. Every person who comes here understands that any one of us can end up in this situation tomorrow.

Gurgen Guga Gagnidze arrived in Ukraine four months ago and was killed in late October in an ambush near Bakhmut in the countrys east, said Nadim Khmaladze of the Ukrainian Foreign Legion. He struggled to describe what Guga was like, regretful that he did not know him better.

In short, he was a good man, said Khmaladze, 58.

Mziia Dvali, 66, did not know Guga at all, but she wept at his green silk-covered casket, laying her head down on it and repeatedly crossing herself. Dvali, a 45-year Kyiv resident, was born in Georgia and said she heard about the funeral on the radio.

I have children older than him, she said. I wanted to say my goodbyes, to give one last tribute.

The service fused Ukrainian and Georgian culture. Soldiers unfurled flags from both countries, and Georgias national anthem played as Gugas casket left the church grounds.

Bohdan Vayda, a priest at St. Volodymyr's Cathedral, spoke of the enormous sacrifices of Georgian fighters.

There is no greater love than when someone lays down his soul for his brother, the priest said. Glory to Ukraine and Georgia.

Some Georgians see the fate of their country inextricably tied to the outcome of the war, believing a Ukrainian victory is also a victory for the Georgian people, Basilia said. Russia invaded parts of Georgia in 2008 and about a fifth of the country remains under Russian control.

We have a common enemy, said Vano Nadiradze, 52, who came to fight for Ukraine in 2014 after Russia fomented conflict in the eastern Donbas region. Wherever there is a Russian soldier with a gun, I will personally be there. For us, he is a blood enemy who killed our children, our women.

Basilia said he considers his service in Ukraine a repayment of debt. In the 1990s, Basilia fought alongside hundreds of Ukrainians in the Abkhazia war against Russia-backed separatists. Many of those soldiers never came home, he said.

The main goal is to free our land from occupants and finally free our people from Russia and live like a normal Western country, Basilia said. That is what Gurgen fought for, that is what we are fighting for.

Khmaladze patrolled the line of occupation in Georgia before volunteering March 2 for Ukraines newly created foreign legion. He now accompanies every fallen Georgian soldier to their funeral.

Gugas remains will travel from Kyiv to Lviv in western Ukraine and onto Warsaw before being flown to Tbilisi, Georgias capital, he said.

St. Volodymyr's Cathedral, the mother cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, holds funeral services for soldiers almost every week, said Dmytro Tashchuk, a subdeacon.

Tashchuk, 23, consoled Dvali as she stroked Gugas casket and said he tries not to think about Ukraines war dead because otherwise he too would cry constantly. He said he also wants to be fighting on the battlefield for Ukraine and thought of joining the countrys Territorial Defense Forces.

But his sense of duty to the church, where he has worked for six years, has kept him in Kyiv, servicing parishioners and providing comfort to grieving families and friends.

I know Im needed here, Tashchuk said. Everyone needs to be in their place, and this is also needed, especially at this time. Still, my soul feels uneasy.
STUTTGART, Germany  A former Patch Elementary School teacher accused of sexually assaulting students over a four-year span is awaiting trial after pleading not guilty in a Georgia court.

Stefan Eberhard Zappey, who began teaching at the Defense Department school in Stuttgart, Germany, in 2001, was arraigned Oct. 20 in the Northern District Court of Georgia on two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, court records show.

The development comes more than one year after the former German language teacher was arrested in August 2021 while on vacation in the U.S.

The case against Zappey was initiated in March of that year when a former student told a Patch teacher about the abuse she said she experienced between 2007 and 2008.

Investigators with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division interviewed her. She told them that when she was in third grade, Zappey called her to his desk during class and repeatedly fondled her, according to court records. She was 8 at the time.

Army investigators then expanded their probe, interviewing numerous other students and teachers, who said they had witnessed Zappey being inappropriate with students.

Zappey, a former Bavaria district teacher of the year, was removed from his teaching position once Army criminal investigators launched their inquiry, Department of Defense Education Activity officials said last year.

What remains unclear is whether any Patch faculty members ever passed on their concerns about Zappey to school administrators. Such details could be revealed when the case goes to trial. A trial date has not been set yet.

Court records state that two faculty members witnessed multiple occasions where Zappey hugged students at crotch level. And another faculty member said that he had known Zappey for eight years and that Zappey would train students to become really touchy feely.

I have witnessed on several occasions what I deem as inappropriate touching of students by Mr. Zappey, one faculty member is quoted in court documents as saying. Examples of this touching is running his fingers through girls (sic) hair, sitting students on his lap, hugging students based on the placement of their faces as they are hugged, picking up students when they run up to him and letting them wrap their legs around him, and just being over touchy feely with students.

Another former student who was interviewed told investigators that between 2008 and 2010, Zappey would call her up to his desk, put her on his lap, put his hand inside her pants, and touch her genitals with his finger on multiple occasions.

She was 7 when the alleged abuse began. She said that in third grade, she began telling the school nurse she had stomachaches to avoid Zappeys class, court records state.

Zappey was arrested after investigators tracked him down in Georgia, where his daughter resides, court records stated. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2000, according to court documents.
ALBANY, N.Y. (Tribune News Service)  Industrial Equipment and Supply Company, LLC (IESC) and its principals, Mark Nystoriak and Sandra Nystoriak, of Latham, have agreed to pay $75,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act for selling counterfeit batteries to the federal government on a contract valued at $33,928.60.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Scott Moreland, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division's Major Procurement Fraud Field Office; Peter J. Tolentino, Special Agent in Charge, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Economic Crimes Field Office; and William W. Richards, Special Agent in Charge, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Office of Procurement Fraud, Detachment 6.

"Our military received counterfeit batteries after a contractor cut corners to increase profits," Freedman said in a news release. "We will continue to use the False Claims Act to hold government contractors accountable when they do not meet contract requirements."

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is the Department of Defense's combat logistics support agency and manages DOD's supply chain, delivering consumable supplies to DOD components all over the world. IESC contracted to sell batteries to DLA for a total contract amount of $33,928.60. The contract required that the batteries be manufactured by SAFT America, Inc. and fit a standard military specification.

IESC represented that it would comply with the Buy American Act (BAA) and supply domestically manufactured batteries. IESC procured the batteries from a supplier in Singapore and failed to verify that the Singapore distributor was an authorized SAFT America distributor. DLA distributed the batteries throughout its supply system, and later received reports that the batteries caused military equipment failures. DLA subsequently determined the batteries were counterfeit.

This settlement resolves the United States' allegations that IESC violated the False Claims Act by recklessly disregarding a substantial risk that the batteries would be counterfeit when it procured batteries from an unauthorized distributor in Singapore, who offered a lower purchase price than an authorized SAFT distributor would have.

This settlement was the result of a joint investigation by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division, Syracuse Fraud Branch Office; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Economic Crimes Field Office; and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Procurement Fraud Detachment 6 Rome, N.Y.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Moran represented the United States in this matter.

(c)2022 The Saratogian, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Visit at https://www.saratogian.com/

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. military is prepared to take action to defend American troops and allies in the Middle East, following a media report that Iran could be preparing attacks against Saudi Arabia and Iraq, national security and defense officials said Tuesday.

Saudi intelligence has found Tehran is plotting diversionary attacks in both countries to take the focus off ongoing turmoil in Iran, which has been happening for weeks and grew more intense after the death a 22-year-old woman who was arrested by police for purportedly violating the Islamic regimes strict dress code, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The Saudi intelligence was passed on to U.S. officials, the report said.

We are concerned about the threat picture, a spokesperson for the National Security Council said in a statement Tuesday. And we remain in constant contact through military and intelligence channels with the Saudis.

We will not hesitate to act in the defense of our interests and partners in the region, the spokesperson added.

Protests stemming from Mahsa Aminis death in September began in Iran and spread to other nations, and the incident again has drawn attention to Tehrans human rights record.

According to The Wall Street Journal report, Iran has been looking for a way to deflect attention away from its domestic problems. Saudi Arabia, located just across the Persian Gulf from Iran, has long been at odds with Tehran over numerous issues, as has neighboring Iraq. At least one of the purported Iranian targets is Erbil in northern Iraq, where U.S. troops are stationed.

As a result, the report said, U.S. and Saudi military officials elevated their alert statuses in the region, as did militaries in neighboring countries.

Defense Department officials on Tuesday did not confirm Saudi intelligence indicating future attacks from Iran. But remarks from U.S. officials indicated an active and fluid situation.

We are constantly monitoring threat streams in the region and we remain in constant contact with our partners in the region, to include the armed forces of Saudi Arabia, Army Col. Joe Buccino, spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said in a statement.

Iran has already carried out missile and drone attacks in northern Iraq in recent weeks. In late September, Tehran targeted the headquarters of three Iranian Kurdish opposition parties that support the ongoing protests in Iran. The attacks killed and wounded dozens of people.

Iran also has been helping the Russian military in Ukraine recently, including supplying drones. Some experts have said this also was at least partly motivated by the social dissent inside Iran.

Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagons top spokesman, underscored unconditional support for American troops and allies in the Middle East during a briefing Tuesday and said defense leaders are now keeping a close eye on potential threats from Iran.

We are in regular contact with our  partners in terms of what information they have to provide on that front, he told reporters. We have said before, and I'll repeat it  we will reserve the right to protect and defend ourselves no matter where our forces are serving, whether in Iraq or elsewhere.

New Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said earlier Tuesday that he wants to keep hosting talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Saudi Arabia has sought talks with Iran as the kingdom tries to end its yearslong war in Yemen against Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

President Joe Biden traveled to Saudi Arabia in July to meet with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a show of support for U.S.-Saudi relations.

This week, Saudi officials reiterated support for a recent decision by the Saudi-led OPEC cartel to cut oil production beginning in November by 2 million barrels per day. U.S. officials criticized Saudi Arabia for supporting the cuts, with some saying the kingdom is siding with Russia President Vladimir Putin by doing so  as Russias ongoing war in Ukraine continues to heavily impact energy supplies worldwide, including oil and gasoline.

"I think at the end of the day, we are facing an economic uncertainty globally," Amos Hochstein, the U.S. envoy for international energy affairs, said Monday. "Energy prices have to be priced in a way that allow for economic growth.

And if they are not  they will rise too high and accelerate an economic downturn, which ultimately is the one thing that will be terrible for energy demand itself."
(Tribune News Service)  The second and final day of this fall's USD 252 Honor Flight is underway in Washington.

The group of 26 military veterans and 21 high school guardians visited several national landmarks Monday.

It included the placing of a wreath at a rain-soaked Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The flight's Facebook feed says it was donated by Designs by Sharon.

The tour also made the first trip ever by USD 252 Honor Flight to the Military Women's Memorial. Two female veterans are among the travelers.

Other stops Monday included the Air Force Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Marine Corps Memorial, Navy Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington Monument, White House and World War II Memorial.

The Honor Flight group is scheduled to return to Olpe High School Tuesday at 9:05 p.m. But USD 252 Superintendent Michael Argabright advises supporters to track developments on Facebook, because of possible delays.

(c)2022 The Emporia Gazette

Visit at http://www.emporiagazette.com/

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- NIO today announced its vehicle deliveries reached 10,059 units in October 2022, surging 174.3% year on year, while dipping 7.5% month on month.

The Oct. monthly deliveries consisted of 5,979 SUVs and 4,080 sedans, according to the company's data.

NIO ES7; photo credit: NIO

The EV startup noted the monthly deliveries of the ES7, the ET7, and the ET5 came in at 2,814 units, 3,050 units, and 1,030 units, respectively, in October.

For the first ten months of 2022, NIO saw its deliveries leap 32% from the previous year to 92,493 units, resulting in a cumulative vehicle volume of 259,563 units as of Oct. 31, 2022.

In October, NIO unveiled ET7, EL7 and ET5 for the European markets at the NIO Berlin 2022. These products are gradually made available for order in Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden through NIO Subscription, leasing programs, and direct sales to users.

It is worth mentioning that the delivery volume shown in NIO's latest monthly sales results represents vehicle deliveries through direct sales to users and to the leasing program partner in Europe in accordance with the revenue recognition policy of its vehicle sales. Nevertheless, the vehicles under NIO Subscription in Europe are recognized as assets on the company's balance sheet, but are not counted towards the announced delivery volume.

On Oct. 25, NIO signed an agreement to launch its international business headquarters in Jiangqiao town, Jiading district, Shanghai city. The new facility will operate as the foothold for NIO's international businesses like automobile export.
Bryan Kennedy (35), who is awaiting sentencing for possession of child pornography, plead guilty at the Central Criminal Court

A Dublin man solicited another man to murder a woman and her partner because he felt "betrayed" after discovering intimate online messages between the Canadian couple and his wife, the Central Criminal Court has heard.

The court heard that the defendant Bryan Kennedy (35), who is awaiting sentencing in the District Court for the possession of child pornography, is the sole carer for his children and that his wife is wheelchair-bound.

Kennedy, with an address at Mount Tallant Avenue, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6W, pleaded guilty to soliciting a man, who can only be referred to as 'AL' by court order, to murder Stephanie Poirier on a date unknown between October 1, 2019, and January 11, 2020, both dates inclusive, within the State.

Kennedy pleaded guilty in July to the same offence relating to Ms Poirier's partner, Clara Houdebrumette.

Today, Detective Sergeant Ronan O'Malley told James Dwyer SC, prosecuting, that Kennedy's partner had made contact with the couple, who live in rural Canada, via an online game.

Det Sgt O'Malley said that Kennedy had become aware of Facebook messages of an intimate nature between his then-wife and the couple, which included an invitation from the couple to join them in Canada.

Det Sgt O'Malley said that Kennedy told a neighbour he felt "betrayed" and that his wife had told him that she no longer loved him and had stopped wearing her wedding ring.

The detective said that Kennedy confided in AL, who told him that he could "get it sorted".

Det Sgt O'Malley said AL told Kennedy that he could "sort" either the Canadians or Kennedy's wife but "if you [Kennedy] go down this road it's a dangerous road".

The neighbour told gardai that he did not believe that 'AL' had the capacity to carry out the threat and that Kennedy was being treated like a "gilly" and a "suck" and that AL was "trying to suck every penny" out of Kennedy.

The detective said Kennedy had given 8K to AL, who was becoming "pushy" about money and demanded a further 2K for his associates.

The neighbour said Kennedy was "petrified, crying and terrified" by threats made over phone calls and Whatsapp messages against him, his three children and his then-wife by AL as he demanded money, Det Sgt O'Malley said.

Det Sgt O'Malley said the neighbour and Kennedy went to a bank to withdraw money. Afterwards, Kennedy gave the neighbour his phone and a lockbox to give to Kennedy's sister and departed without telling the neighbour where he was going.

AL later approached Kennedy's wife at home, saying the defendant wanted a 10K "hit" and demanding that she come up with 1.5K inside 20 minutes and that she could pay off the remaining 500 in a week's time.

AL told Kennedy's wife that he himself had been beaten over Kennedy's debt to AL's associates and that if the money was not found she would be "kneecapped".

AL then took a picture of the Kennedys' front door and left. On January 10, 2020, Kennedy's ex-wife called gardai when she heard banging and kicking at her front door and told them her back door mat had been lifted up as if someone was looking for a key.

She told gardai that on January 13, 2020, AL was kicking the front door of the Kennedys' home shouting "hand over Bryan or there'll be trouble".

Det Sgt O'Malley told Mr Dwyer that Kennedy had already gotten on a ferry to England after borrowing money from neighbours to pay 8K to AL.

The witness said that Kennedy eventually returned and on February 11, 2020, he was approached by AL at Nutgrove Shopping Centre when with his then-wife and children. The detective said that AL became aggressive and was removed by security staff.

After a search warrant of Kennedy's sister's house, gardai arrested Kennedy and took him to Terenure Garda Station where he admitted to engaging AL to hurt or kill the Canadian couple.

Kennedy told gardai he backtracked on the deal, telling AL that 10K was too much money. Kennedy further admitted to gardai that he hacked his wife's Facebook messages in order to have the Canadian couple "painted". In interviews with gardai, Kennedy was asked what was meant by the word "painted" and said the two were "to be killed".

Kennedy told gardai that he conspired to have the couple killed but never discussed the manner of the killing, later backing out and telling AL to keep the money and that the job no longer needed to be done.

Kennedy said AL had now become "incessant" about the 2K and that the defendant began thinking of doing the hit himself.

Det Sgt O'Malley said Kennedy, when admitting engaging a third party - AL - to kill the couple, said he was acting out of "love and heart-break". Kennedy told gardai he wanted to be "open and honest" about the matter, about which he was "sorry and remorseful".

Det Sgt O'Malley told the court that, when contacted, the couple, who live in rural Quebec, expressed no concern for their wellbeing after being told of the situation.

Mr Dwyer told Ms Justice Caroline Biggs that Kennedy was facing a maximum of 10 years' imprisonment on both charges.

Defending barrister Dominic McGinn SC said Kennedy was the sole carer for his three children and that his ex-wife was in a wheelchair. Mr McGinn said AL did not have the capability to carry out his threat to the couple and that the two were never in danger.

Det Sgt O'Malley told Mr McGinn that Kennedy had been "extremely" co-operative with investigating gardai.

Mr McGinn said his client had admitted both his "culpability and criminal intent" in soliciting AL to kill the couple but that there was "no credible threat" in the matter except to Kennedy himself and his family.

Mr McGinn said Kennedy was "forthright" with gardai in his admissions and was "completely out of his depth in circumstances out of his control".

The barrister said Kennedy's way of dealing with the situation was "entirely wrong, and criminally wrong" and that his inability to cope with the situation led to his client "trying to disappear".

Mr McGinn said there was "no tangible reality of harm" being caused to the Canadian couple and that AL had tried to "take advantage" of Kennedy.

The barrister said Kennedy had been "unproblematic" when dealing with the probation services and was "inherently unlikely to be before the court again".

Mr McGinn said Kennedy had no previous convictions save for possession of child pornography at the "lower end of the scale", to which he had pleaded guilty at District Court level and was awaiting sentencing.

Ms Justice Biggs said she would read a probation report "line by line" before sentencing Kennedy and ordered that Tusla and the HSE be contacted regarding care provision for Kennedy's three children.

Ms Justice Biggs adjourned the matter to January 16, 2023, for an update on the reports required and remanded Kennedy on continuing bail, to which there was no garda objection.
Sven Spollen Behrens (54) was listed for trial today, but his defence counsel indicated he wished to enter guilty pleas instead

A former lobbyist has pleaded guilty to stealing over 20,000 from two Dublin business improvement districts.

Sven Spollen Behrens (54) was listed for trial today at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, but his defence counsel indicated he wished to enter guilty pleas instead.

Spollen Behrens, of Killiney Hill Road, Killiney, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to one count of stealing 10,250 from Dun Laoghaire Business Improvement District on June 16, 2017.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of stealing 10,250 from Sandyford Business Improvement District on a date unknown in August 2017.

The court heard the remainder of the counts against Spollen Behrens were to be struck out and the sentencing would be dealt with on a full facts basis.

Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the matter for sentence on January 16 next year when the evidence in the case will be heard.
The 28-year-old was one-third of the chart-topping hip hop group Migos.

FILE - Takeoff of the group Migos performs during the 2019 BET Experience in Los Angeles on June 22, 2019. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)   AP/PA Images

Migos member Takeoff has been killed in an early morning shooting in Texas, devastating fans and the music industry.

TMZ reports that the 28-year-old was at a bowling alley in Houston with bandmate Quavo when an altercation broke out during a game with another group.

Police say two others were shot, though Quavo  filmed calling help for nephew and fellow Migos member Takeoff  was uninjured.

Fans have been left reeling by the loss of the star, whose real name is Kirshnik Khari Ball.

Migos shot to viral fame in 2013 with hit release Versace and dominated charts three years later with the number one Bad and Boujee.

"No hot takes. No profound thoughts. Just sad that another rapper, son, brother, and friend has been killed. God be with all who feel the loss, said artist Lecrae.

I was in college when Biggie and Pac were killed and thought there was no way wed ever experience anything remotely close to that again, said wirter Jemele Hill on Twitter.

"Now its happening so frequently that you barely have time to recover before someone else killed. RIP Takeoff.

A number of high-profile rap stars have died in shootings in the last few years, including notable industry names like Pop Smoke, Nipsey Hussle and XXXTentacion.

Takeoff was the youngest Migos member, joining forces with uncle Quavo and cousin Offset  who is married to Grammy-winner Cardi B.

The rap group recently split and the nephew and uncle set out as a duo while Offset went solo.

"We're supposed to stick together, and sometimes s**t don't work out. It ain't meant to be, Quavo told Big Facts in October.

Takeoff added: "We don't know all the answers. God knows we pray a lot. We tell [God] whatever ain't right, however you supposed to see it fit, you put it back together or however you do it.

"We pray, so only time will tell. We're always family, ain't nothing gone (sic) change."
LOS ANGELES  Andita Storm loves trying different recipes from her native Colombia during her cooking nights on cam.

She says her baking shows are among her favorites to do.

Once I got all my friends to grab ingredients and we all made the same cookies, Andita tells AVN. It was incredible seeing the people I love on the webcam making the same thing I was making. I felt closer than ever to them that night.

Indeed, the Storm Crew is as tight-knit as it gets on MyFreeCams, where Andita sings, dances, teases and goofs off in various stages of undress. The vivacious cam girl and content creator says shes learned that what works best for her is to read the room.

And to create an environment where we all feel comfortable, Andita says. I find that letting things flow naturally is what's best.

In this exclusive Q&A, the November CAMStar discusses her journey from studio camming to logging on live from home, her favorite books, her StormXCast blog, feelings of gratitude and the charitable foundation she created that is near and dear to her, plus much more.

Click here for the digital edition.

For bonus questions, see below:

CS: How would you describe your blog, StormXCast, and when did you launch it?

AS: I started this blog in 2017 as a way to share a bit more about my life. It talks about my journey since I became a cam girl. I share personal experiences and intimate moments of my personal life that I dont talk about when I am online.

What is something youre grateful for and why?

Every single day I am so grateful for the life Ive built thanks to camming. Im grateful for the incredible friendships Ive made over the past 10 years on MFC. Knowing that I have been able to achieve every single goal I have set for myself since I started this journey makes me incredibly proud.

Name someone who inspires you and why?

Theres so many wonderful women that inspire me. Some days I love to go to MFC and visit different rooms. Those girls who are consistent and disciplined keeping a wonderful attitude regardless if they are having a slow day have all my respect and admiration. It brings me so much motivation.

What is your most underrated attribute?

I had to ask a close friend about this one creativity I was told.

Name three things that you love

Traveling, books & writing.

What kind of books do you like reading? What are you reading now? Do you have a favorite book and if so, what is it and why?



I have always been into self improvement. I sort of like dragging my friends online into this by creating cults hahaha. Weve had a sober cult, a healthy gut cult, a workout cult, a no junk food cult. I find it easier to make changes when we do it together.

Right now Im reading for the fourth time a book called No Excuses by Brian Tracy. It talks about self disciplineI find it very helpful and inspiring. One of my favorite books is Atomic Habits by James Clear. It has always helped me when I want to make big changes in my lifestyle.
Gary Carey survived assassination attempt but was killed months later in an unconnected incident

Careys grave was defaced by a rival gang, who filmed the attack

Gary The Canary Carey was sitting in this car when it was hit nine times by a gunman   Colin Keegan

Patrick Fitzgerald is accused of the attempted murder of Carey

A man has been charged with the attempted murder of a career criminal who was shot dead seven months later in an unrelated incident, the Sunday World can exclusively reveal.

Patrick Fitzgerald (46) of Glenties Park in Finglas, Dublin, is next due to appear before Cloverhill District Court on November 18.

He has been charged with the attempted murder of Gary The Canary Carey (41) who survived after being shot a number of times at Ballyfermot Crescent on November 17 last year.

He originally appeared before Dublin District Court last week, when Detective Sergeant Ronan McDermott gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Mr Fitzgerald.

Gary Canary Carey

He was remanded in custody and last appeared in court on October 21 before his expected court hearing next month.

Carey was sitting in a car in the front drive of a house when a gunman fired nine bullets through the front windscreen.

The investigation into the attempted murder of Carey, which is being carried out by Ballyfermot gardai, is a separate probe to that being led by Kilmainham officers into the murder of the notorious gangster.

No arrests have yet been made in the murder probe.

Careys grave was defaced by a rival gang

The development comes as it emerged this week that Careys grave was smashed up and a taunting video sent to members of his grieving family.

The Sunday World can also reveal that gardai have identified a chief suspect  who is considered a volatile young thug according to sources  for the grave desecration.

However, he has not yet been arrested for the criminal damage offence.

Carey passed away in hospital last August, two months after being shot in the underground car park of a hotel in Kilmainham, south Dublin.

Rival mobsters filmed the attack on his grave at Palmerstown Cemetery, smashing up the marble headstone and using a screwdriver to prise off a family photo.

During the shocking attack, a masked man gestures to the camera after the grave is left broken and shattered by the marauding thugs.

The headstone was then struck with a rock and then flung on the ground during the horror incident.

Gary The Canary Carey was sitting in this car when it was hit nine times by a gunman   Colin Keegan

The father of three was buried alongside his brother, Darren Carey, whose name adorns the monument, which is still surrounded by wreaths and tributes.

Garys 20-year-old brother was shot dead with his pal Patrick Murray (19) during the New Year period between 1999 and 2000.

Carey had been involved in bitter drugs disputes with convicted killer Brian Rattigan, who is now based in Spain, as well as the west Dublin gang known as The Family.

Read more Video shows men vandalising the grave of murdered gangster Gary Carey

It is understood Carey was not wearing a bullet proof vest, as he usually does, after working out in a hotel gym and was chased around the car park by at least one gunman.

Detectives believe a silver Audi was used in the shooting and are investigating if the gunman was waiting in it in the underground car park prior to the shooting.

This car was later found burnt out in Blessington, Co. Wicklow.

The burnt-out suspected getaway car

Carey, originally from nearby Islandbridge, may have been targeted after getting in a dispute with three separate gangs over his drug-trafficking network in the capital.

He had been based in Spain for a number of months before returning home in the weeks before he was targeted.

Witnesses reported hearing up to eight shots shortly before 11.30am on June 24 last before Carey was discovered critically injured.

Carey had been questioned a number of times by detectives in relation to seizures of drugs, firearms and cash.

Despite his multiple arrests as part of organised crime investigations, Carey has only served one significant prison sentence, when he pleaded guilty to drug dealing at Dublin Circuit Court back in 2002 and was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

On another occasion, he was charged with assault but the charges were later dropped.
We track down the conman who hurling legend Davy Fitzgerald says forged his name on six or seven mortgages

A convicted conman accused of defrauding Waterford hurling boss Davy Fitzgerald is denying the allegations and is set to fight them in court.

The Sunday World this week tracked down disgraced former banker Kevin Jarlath Mitchell to his new base in north London  where the convicted thief now runs a health and safety firm.

On Tuesday, Irelands Fittest Family mentor Fitzgerald alleged that Mitchell had defrauded him by forging his signature on mortgages for six or seven properties in Portugal.

And the Clare hurling legend also claimed that 45,000 he had on deposit in ACC, where Mitchell was his banking relationship manager is currently unaccounted for.

Seventy-two hours after the allegations were made in the High Court, we tracked the former high-flying money man to a north London flat, where he now lives above a creche.

Former ACC banker Kevin Jarlath Mitchell seen driving in London

After knocking on the front door, a female came down and asked why our reporter wanted to speak with the 63-year-old.

She then said she did not believe Mitchell would speak with our reporter in person.

He hasnt had very good experiences with journalists, she said.

Asked if Mitchell was aware of the allegations that had been made in court against him, she responded: He is aware of it  yeah. If you leave your details then he (Kevin) can contact his lawyer who is dealing with, how to deal with this. These allegations are not funny at all.

When our reporter gave the woman his contact details, she asked him to wait outside to allow her to speak with Mitchell again.

The woman  who declined to outline the nature of her relationship with Mitchell  then went back inside to see if the former banker would come down and speak with our reporter for himself.

On returning, she said Mitchell was not going to speak with us.

He said everything that was printed against him is not true. He will fight it  but not, like this, through a tit-for-tat in the newspapers.

A short time later, we photographed Mitchell as he left the property and drove away.

Mitchell, who served a two-year sentence in Ireland for stealing 450,000 of ACC client funds, moved to the UK after his release from prison here in 2016.

Company documents obtained by this newspaper show that after settling in London, Mitchell set up a number of new ventures.

One of the firms outlined its business as temporary employment agency activities. The second offers management consultancy services in occupational health and safety.

The allegations by Davy Fitzgerald against Mitchell date from the period when the money man was a member of staff with ACC bank.

Hurling legend Davy Fitzgerald says Mitchell forged his signature

The Waterford senior hurling manager is fighting legal proceedings in which possession is sought of a house he owns and his sister Helen lives.

Mr Fitzgerald, from Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare, claimed he first discovered last July that his name had, without his knowledge, been put on false mortgage documentation for six or seven properties in Portugal.

And he alleges that it was former ACC Bank official, Mitchell, whom he had professional dealings with several years ago, who put his name on the false mortgages and documents.

Mr Fitzgerald claims Mitchell had been his relationship manager and accepts that he took out loans with ACC.

He says based on Mitchells advice, he bought an apartment in Portugal. That property is not the subject of the Portuguese action.

However, Mr Fitzgerald says he had no idea he was involved with the other properties until he received documents from the Portuguese courts during the summer.

He has had to instruct Portuguese lawyers to defend himself in those proceedings.

In his sworn statement, Mr Fitzgerald said that Mitchell was jailed for falsifying documents.

He claims also that 45,000 that was held on deposit in ACC is currently unaccounted for.

As a result, the court heard, Mr Fitzgerald has sued ACC Loan Management and Mitchell for damages for alleged fraud, negligence and deceit.

Mr Fitzgeralds fraud proceedings were mentioned when the separate case against him and his sister Helen Fitzgerald came before the Deputy Master of the High Court on Tuesday.

Pepper Finance and receiver James Anderson, of Deloitte, had issued a summons against the siblings seeking possession of the property where Helen Fitzgerald lives, at Clonara, Sixmilebridge.

The details of how Mitchell previously defrauded customers of ACC, including a pensioner and two close friends, to pay off debts arising from unsuccessful investments in the property market were revealed during his trial in 2013.

Mitchell pleaded guilty to 10 sample counts of charges relating to stealing money from clients while he was a senior official at ACC Bank in Kilrush, Co Clare.

These included charges of theft, obtaining cash and a cheque under false pretences and falsifying a DIRT compliance certificate on dates between 1993 and 2012.

The court heard that the father-of-five stole 197,000 from pensioner John Patrick Ryan after leading the man to believe that he had been depositing his cash in a high-interest account.

Mitchell also stole 250,000 from friends and customers, Patrick and Susan Flanagan.

The court heard that ACC bank fully reimbursed Mr Ryan and the Flanagans, while Mitchell surrendered effectively his entire pension fund, valued at 600,000, by way of recompense to the bank.

The fraudster was originally sentenced to four years in prison for his crimes but this was later reduced to two years by the court of appeal.
Kay Mulcaire of Isobels Boutique in Limerick said, It just seems to be okay that the store picks up the bill

A shop owner who has been robbed twice in recent years has called for tougher sentences as thieves in Ireland are treated too leniently.

Kay Mulcaire, whose Isobels Boutique in Adare, Limerick, was robbed first in 2016 and then again in 2019, was speaking after new figures revealed how four in 10 Garda stations recorded a rise in criminal activity.

I was robbed during the night and after I was ram-raided, I upped the security I made sure it was alarmed every evening when I was leaving, she told The Pat Kenny Show.

Half two in the morning, the monitoring station in Dublin rang my mobile and they said the alarm is going off on your source.

I got up out of bed and drove to Adare, went in, turned off the alarm.

A Garda drove out from Limerick but had to leave as another alarm went off on the same night.

That night there was 120,000 taken and I had to fight with my insurance company for nine months to get that money, Ms Mulcaire added.

I think theyre too lenient on robberies in Ireland.

It just seems to be okay that the store picks up the bill, the restaurant, whatever is being robbed.

I really think they need longer sentences for these guys.

Number two, we need Garda on the beat, we need them on the street, we need their presence because its too easy for them.

Figures released to the Sunday World revealed that despite lockdown measures forcing people to stay at home for much of last year, four in 10 Garda stations recorded a rise in criminal activity.

Speaking on the same show, Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward said that he believes the trend was influenced by the nature of lockdown.

Crime is up in certain areas and thats a worrying development, Senator Ward said.

If you look at the spread of crime increase, it is outside the urban areas.

"Theres kind of a migration from urban areas to rural areas.

Which is consistent with the fact that during lockdown, people werent going into urban centres - they were staying in their local community, they were staying in rural areas.

So, more people, probably means more crime.

He also believes that the solution is to have more gardai on the beat, he said.

Which is why we have seen huge investment in the number of guards and thats whats going to solve this problem; its gardai in the community, in cars, on the beat who are going to detect crime.

When people feel theyre going to get caught, thats when they dont commit crimes.
McGovern, who is originally from Crumlin but believed to be in Dubai, is wanted to face charges of murder and organised crime related offences

Daniel Kinahans right-hand man Sean McGovern is not expected to return to Dublin for his fathers funeral this week as an arrest warrant remains in place for him in relation to a Hutch/Kinahan feud murder.

His devoted dad Des passed away last Sunday.

Sean McGovern, who is originally from Crumlin but believed to be in Dubai, is wanted to face charges of murder and organised crime related offences.

Gardai suspect he had a role in organising a number of other feud murders including that of Noel 'Duck Egg Kirwan (62) who was shot six times as he sat in his car on December 22, 2016, at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.

The Dubliner, who was once a key part of the Byrne Organised Crime Group and for years ran the Kinahan's Irish operation, moved to the Emirates full-time following the murder of Kirwan in December 2016.

He was named during the US sanctions as being wanted for murder and directing and participating in an organised criminal group. Gardai stated on April 12 this year that the High Court had issued a European Arrest Warrant for him.

However, McGovern has yet to be picked up by police.

Sean McGovern is wanted for murder

It is now expected that he will miss the funeral this week of his dad Desmond (Des) McGovern who died over the weekend.

According to his death notice, Mr McGovern, of Crumlin and formerly of Mourne Road, Drimnagh, died peacefully, surrounded by his loving family and friends at home.

Beloved husband and best friend to Terry, loving and devoted dad to Greg and Sean, it reads.

Des will be forever loved and very sadly missed by his loving family, wife, sons, daughters in law, grandchildren, the notice adds.

His funeral mass on Thursday at 10am in Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Mourne Road will, be followed by burial in Mount Jerome Cemetery.

People have flooded the condolences section with messages of sympathy including one that reads: Extremely sad news about the passing of our colleague Des. Sending my condolences to Des' loved ones. Des will be greatly missed and we will miss him around the office.

Another adds: So sorry to hear of Des's passing. He was a true gentleman who would go out of his way to help others. We got great help from Des over the years and really appreciate all he did for us.

Another states that Des had a great rapport with the young people he worked with and made a positive impact on so many young people over the years. He will always be remembered. May he rest in peace.

Sean McGovern, who became very close to Daniel following the attack at the Regency Hotel and who was injured during the weigh-in shootout, later became Kinahan's most senior and trusted sidekick.

Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan

His girlfriend Anita Freeman and children relocated to the Emirates after he fled Ireland in the wake of the Kirwan murder.

McGovern's former home at Kildare Road in Crumlin was later seized as part of CAB's Proceeds of Crime case against the Byrne organisation.

Before the Bureau was handed the keys of the house its fixtures and fittings, including the kitchen and bathrooms, were ripped out.

McGovern has been helping Kinahan with his business ventures while resident in the UAE.

In July of this year, a man described as a "trusted enabler" of the Kinahan Cartel was jailed for over eight years for his role in the murder of Kirwan and the attempted murder of an associate of the rival Hutch gang.

Martin Aylmer was sentenced to 10 years and four months with the final two suspended after pleading guilty for participating in or contributing to the murder of innocent father-of-four Kirwan in 2016.

He had previously pleaded guilty to a similar offence in relation to the attempted murder of James 'Mago' Gately.

Both men were targeted because the Kinahan cartel believed they were associated with people involved in the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016, the Special Criminal Court heard.
My husband and our children's father wasn't a danger or threat to anyone and he most certainly was no-one's legitimate target

The widow of murdered prison officer David Black has said they mourn the death of "a good man, a wonderful husband and father every single day.

The father-of-two from Cookstown, Co Tyrone, was killed in a drive-by shooting on 1 November, 2012.

He was targeted as he drove to work at Maghaberry Prison around 7.30am on the M1 motorway between Portadown and Lurgan.

A republican organisation calling itself the New IRA said it carried out the murder.

Speaking on the 10th anniversary of the 52-year-olds murder, Yvonne called for the help and support of the broader community to bring those responsible to justice.

"We would issue a plea to those who hold information concerning the events leading up to the murder of David, information concerning what happened that fateful morning and the aftermath," she said.

"Loyalties change and we are appealing for information to be given, however small, which could help build the jigsaw, progressing justice and accountability.

"We continue to try to build our lives as best we can. We have in many ways concealed our own hurt and pain to the outside world but we require the help and support of the broader community in order to give us an opportunity to have some level of peace, currently denied us through the lack of successful convictions against those responsible for David's murder."

Ms Black said that it is now 10 years since David was "stolen away from us," adding that he was "a good man, a wonderful husband and father and he worked extremely hard fulfilling a role as provider".

"When he was murdered, our lives were shattered, everything we had come to know had been taken away from us," Ms Black said.

"We mourn him every day and there have been very difficult times down the years as we have tried to come to terms with the new life we've all been forced to live."

Ms Black said she has "tried to keep going for our children", Kyle and Kyra, who have also helped "lift me up at points when life is challenging for me".

"My husband and our children's father wasn't a danger or threat to anyone and he most certainly was no-one's legitimate target; he was highly respected across the community and indeed by his former colleagues and inmates alike," she said.

"David lived his life by the adage 'respect breeds respect' and this is how he conducted his life, personally and professionally within his work as a prison officer."

An increased reward of 20,000 (23,250) has been offered for information leading to the prosecution of those responsible.

To date, detectives from the PSNI and An Garda Siochana have made 12 arrests on both sides of the border, undertaken numerous searches of premises and vehicles and taken more than 1,000 statements.

But no-one has yet been convicted of Mr Black's murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Kelly has appealed to the communities of both Cookstown and Lurgan to come forward with information regarding the investigation.

"Our investigation into David's murder, is very much active," he said.

"We believe there are members of the communities of Lurgan and Cookstown who have information that will bring those responsible for David's murder to justice.

"David's family deserves closure and although it won't bring him back, it will help bring those responsible before the courts. Time may have passed, but it is not too late to do the right thing for David's family.

"On Thursday 1 November, 2012, David was shot and killed as he drove from his Cookstown home to work at Maghaberry prison in his black Audi A4 car along the motorway between Portadown (Junction 11) and Lurgan (Junction 10).

"The dark blue Toyota Camry used in the murder was in Lurgan prior to the shooting on the evening of October 31.

"The following morning, 1 November, less than one mile from the Lurgan exit on the M1, the dark blue Toyota Camry car with a Republic of Ireland registration, 94 D 50997, pulled alongside David Black and a number of shots were fired, killing him.

"The Toyota Camry was found burnt out in the Inglewood area of Lurgan a short time later at 7.45am.

"I would appeal to people in Cookstown to think about what they saw in the days and weeks before David's murder. Did you see any unusual activity around David's home or the places he frequented? If you have any information, please contact us."

Mick Duthie, director of operations at the UK charity Crimestoppers which is offering the 20,000 reward for information, added: "We hope that our charity's reward for anonymous information will go some way to helping secure justice for David and his family and friends.

"With Crimestoppers, we don't want to know who you are, only what you know."

Mr Black was the first prison officer to be killed by paramilitaries in Northern Ireland in almost 20 years.

His killing in 2012 prompted united political condemnation from then-DUP leader Peter Robinson, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, the then-Taoiseach Enda Kenny and members of the US administration.
A new theory began to emerge that she was a serial killer after a newspaper report suggested that five bodies were found beneath the floorboards of her former brothel

Witch, devil worshipper and Irelands first serial killer are just some of the titles that have been bestowed on Darkey Kelly over the years.

Born in the 1700s as Dorcas, she ran a brothel on Fishamble Street in Dublins city centre.

And while not much is known about her life, the story went that she was burned at the stake for witchcraft after she sacrificed her baby to the devil in 1746.

But in 2011, researchers debunked the theory when they discovered that the sex worker was actually publicly executed in 1761 for the murder of shoemaker Patrick Dowling on March 17th the year previously.

However, a new theory began to emerge that she was a serial killer after a newspaper report suggested that five bodies were found beneath the floorboards of her former brothel.

In 2022, PhD researcher Shannon Hughes Spence, who has an interest in women, witches and murder, took it upon herself to investigate whether or not Darkey was in fact a serial killer.

Crime World's Clodagh Meaney chats with Shannon to discuss the King of Hell, public executions and the truth about the infamous murderer.

Crime Word Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Soundcloud.

MORE EPISODES 
The killings were dubbed the Snapchat Murders as the girls shared images of themselves in the minutes before they were accosted

The sketch of 'Bridge Guy' as well as a still image from the footage captured by the Liberty German before her death

Police in Delphi, Indiana have announced that a man was arrested late last week charged with the murder of Abigail Williams and Liberty German in February 2017.

Richard Allen (50), from Delphi, Indiana was arrested on Friday night and booked in Carroll County Jail in connection with the murders.

He was later moved to a state facility over fears for his safety.

The announcement was made a press conference today.

Visibility shaken as he took to the podium, through tears, Superintendent of ISP Doug Carter who has been at the forefront of the investigation since 2017 said that 2086 days after the murder, they finally had a suspect charged and in custody.

The case has been dissected online on numerous forums, Carter asked the public to understand that they have to continue to keep details of the case under wraps to protect its integrity.

All persons arrested are presumed innocent, he warned.

Allen has entered a not-guilty plea. A pre-trial hearing is set for January 13th 2023 at 9am, with a preliminary trial date set for March 20th 2023 at 9am.

Richard Allen

The probable cause affidavit is currently sealed, with evidence in the case not being made available at present. There will be a public hearing to decide whether or not they should remain sealed.

Teenagers Abigail Williams (13) and Liberty German (14) were found dead near Monon High Bridge in their small town of Delphi, Indiana, less than a day after they failed to meet family after they went for a hike on February 13th 2017.

Their manner of death has never been revealed.

It comes after multiple law enforcement agencies announced on Friday that an update in the case would be made via a press conference in the small town today.

Reacting to the news of the arrest on Friday, Liberty Germans grandmother, who shared a picture to social media every day since their murders that said: Todays the day, in reference to hopes that news would soon come of an arrest in the case said: I guess I am kind of at a loss.

Every morning I get up - get my coffee - and start looking for which photo will be the today is the day post. Now I sit here not needing to do it because at long last we have a face to go with our monster, she said.

I sit here wondering - now what. Where do we go from here? I realize our lives have again made a big change - we have a very difficult path to start down. It is a path we will gladly face as we know each step taken is one step closer to our monster being convicted.

Knowing that makes that walk so much easier, she continued.

I want to thank everyone who has supported and prayed for our girls daily for 51/2 years - who never gave up! Who grew to love them.

I know they are smiling down on the world today knowing it is now a little bit safer. Thank you, she added.

The case, which has captured attention across the United States, and much of the world, has remained unsolved for over five years.

Police previously released footage recorded by the victims of their killer stalking them as they crossed on Monon High Bridge in Delphi.

The killings, dubbed the Snapchat Murders due to the fact the girls shared images of themselves to the social media site in the minutes before they were likely accosted, has intrigued the public because despite the amount of recognisable information available about the perpetrator, yet for years he remained identified.

Fear gripped their families when they failed to meet Libertys father for a lift home after their hike.

When word spread that the girls, known lovingly by friends and family as Abby and Libby, were missing, the police and the public began combing the area they were last seen looking for any sign of the friends.

As darkness fell, the search was called off to resume the following day. The next day, the girl's bodies were found near Deer Creek by the search party, and the evidence found on Libbys phone chilled law enforcement to the bone.

After examining the teens iPhone, Police found video footage and a voice recording of their killer.

In the voice recording, which was released just days after the bodies of Abby and Libby were found, the perpetrator can be heard instructing them: Down the hill.

A short snippet of the video which was not released until two years later in 2019 showed their killer as he walked across Monon High Bridge in pursuit of his victims. They also released additional audio which heard the killer say: Guys, down the hill.

The sketch of 'Bridge Guy' as well as a still image from the footage captured by the Liberty German before her death

It is believed that Libby covertly recorded their killer, and while police and their families have seen or heard more from the recording, what it contains is not publicly available information.

The public were however told that the man in the video is also the man from the recording.

The last major development in the case came in November 2021, when authorities in Indiana requested that anyone who interacted with a catfish using a social media account with the username anthony_shots to come forward.

The account used images of a male model unrelated to the case, and it was soon revealed that the man behind the fake account was a man named Kegan Anthony Kline from 40 minutes away in Peru, Indiana.

Kegan Kline

On February 25 2017, just days into the murder investigation Klines home was searched by the FBI and four phones, a tablet and an iPod touch were seized and examined.

Authorities found that the phones contained message exchanges with underage girls as well as videos and images of child sex abuse material.

In an interview, Kline admitted to police that he was the man behind the sinister social media accounts on Kik Messenger, Snapchat and Instagram. He also admitted that he used the accounts to communicate with underage girls.

However, while the anthony_shots account is related to the case, police have not revealed in what capacity.

According to the search warrant, the intelligence pertaining to Klines criminal activity was discovered while investigating a separate Indiana State Police case.

While the document has redacted information in relation to the other case, it is believed that the investigation into the murders led detectives to information about Klines fake social media accounts.
Comments made by Fr Sean Sheehy resulted in over 30 parishioners walking out of Mass in Listowel at the weekend

Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne has apologised for derogatory comments made by Fr Sean Sheehy that resulted in over 30 parishioners walking out of Mass at St Marys Church in Listowel at the weekend.

The diocese of Kerry was quick to distance itself from Fr Sheehys sermon that condemned transgenderism, same-sex couples, and supplying condoms to teenagers.

Shocked Mass-goers were subjected to an outpouring of anger from the pulpit, which many deemed tactless, insensitive, and represented a throwback to the days of clerical authority.

Fr Sheehy  who is deputising for Listowel Parish Priest Canon Declan OConnor criticised Government legislation around what he said was the promotion of abortion and described the lunatic approach of transgenderism.

We see it, for example, in the promotion of sex between two men and two women. That is sinful. That is a mortal sin and people dont seem to realise it, he said.

Its a fact, a reality, and we need to listen to God about it because if we dont, then there is no hope for those people.

Fr Sheehy went on to say that sin was rampant and told parishioners they had a responsibility to seek out those who are lost and to call people to an awareness that sin is destructive, detrimental and would lead people to hell.

Fr Sheehy was heckled by parishioners, many of whom left the church. But undeterred, he continued his homily adding that people should admit they are sinners.

There are people who wont like what Im saying, but the day you die youll find out what Im saying is what God is sayingThose of you who happen to be leaving today, God help you. Thats all I have to say to you. And God bless you who are here and worshiping God, he said.

Fr Sheehy continued: I was talking to a woman a few weeks ago whose 17-year-old daughter was out with friends in Tralee. She came home and handed her mother a condoma HSE van was handing these out in Tralee.

"That is promoting promiscuity. That is horrible, horrible. As Christians, we need to stand up for God. If we dont there is no hope for many people.

In a statement, Bishop Browne said he is aware of the deep upset and hurt caused by the contents of Fr Sheehys homily.

I apologise to all who were offended. The views expressed do not represent the Christian position. The homily at a regular weekend parish Mass is not appropriate for such issues to be spoken of in such terms. I regret that this has occurred while a parish pilgrimage to the Holy Land is taking place, Bishop Browne said.

Bishop Browne said the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is a Gospel of love and ever proclaims the dignity of every human person, and that Jesus calls on us all to have total respect for one another.

In 2009, Fr Sheehy was also embroiled in controversy when he, and many others, shook hands in a courtroom with a man convicted of sex assault. This was criticised by the then Bishop of Kerry, Bill Murphy.

The latest controversy comes amid the Churchs recent survey among Catholics around the world regarding lay positions on the Churchs future.
Gardai investigating if death is linked to row at the hotel at around 10pm last night

Gardai are investigating all circumstances surrounding the discovery of a mans body found with suspicious injuries to his forehead.

The grim discovery of the 25-year-old's remains was made at 8am today on the grounds of The M Hotel which is located around five kilometres from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.

The hotel is being used as a direct provision centre for asylum seekers.

The man who has been identified is originally from an African country and had been a resident of the facility.

He was found on the ground near the entrance of the hotel and the scene was sealed off for a technical examination which concluded at around 5pm.

(Pic: Google Maps)

One line being investigated is whether the mans death is linked to a row at the hotel at around 10pm last night which gardai were called to but no arrests were made as the disturbance had eased by the time officers arrived there.

It is unclear how long the 25-year-old man had been living in Ireland or what his asylum seeker status is.

This man was found unresponsive on the grounds of the hotel, a source told Independent.ie

A post-mortem on the mans body which is due to take place tomorrow will determine whether the man had been the victim of foul play.

At this stage gardai are keeping an open mind in their investigation and no arrests have yet been made.

Gardai in Carrickmacross are investigating the discovery of a body in unexplained circumstances this morning, Tuesday, 1st November 2022, a garda spokesman said.

At approximately 8am, following a call from a member of the public, Gardai discovered a mans body on the curtilage of a premises on the Kingscourt Road at Lossets, Co.Monaghan.

The scene is currently preserved and a technical examination will be conducted by the Garda technical Bureau.

The office of the State Pathologist have been notified. The results of the post-mortem will determine the course of the investigation, he added.
Although Gardai have footage of the blonde woman driving, they were not able to identify the registration or make of the car

The sister of a teenage boy who was injured in a hit-and-run has made a public appeal to the driver who injured her young brother.

Jack (13) was walking with a friend on Blarney Street in Cork when a car clipped his leg and sent him to the ground.

His older sister Donna spoke to The Neil Prendeville Show on RedFM this morning, hoping to encourage witnesses or the driver to come forward.

On Monday, October 3, between 6 and 6.05pm, my brother was out walking with my partners nephew near St Vincents GAA Clubhouse up past Blarney Road in Cork, she told Neil.

"They were walking across the road and believe it or not, he actually had his right leg on the pavement when a blonde woman in a silver car clipped his other leg with her car.

"He went up into the air and then hit the ground.

She revealed that although Gardai have CCTV of the hit-and-run and footage of the blonde woman driving, they were not able to identify the registration or make of the car.

"She briefly stopped for a second or two, took her seat belt off, but then continued to drive on up towards the road. She did not get out of the car."

"I'd say she probably felt: 'Oh my God I am after hitting a child.' Whatever happened, she decided to drive away."

The Cork woman detailed the stress of how Jack was rushed back to the A&E for emergency surgery as his injuries worsened.

"He had marks, abrasions on the knees, fingers, and a massive hematoma on his forehead.

"They let us leave and thankfully I work from home so I could be there for him and care for him but on Tuesday, he started to vomit and they had told me to come straight in if he started to get sick, delirious, dizzy or anything like that.

"It was the following week that his head started to swell.

"It was unbelievable.

Twitter / @NeilRedFM

Jack was rushed back to the CUH as the haematoma became severely infected, being brought into emergency surgery on October 20.

"I just hope that this woman is scrolling through social media and comes across my post. If she is listening.

"The doctors and nurses, who have been in the medical profession for years, said that they've never seen a hematoma case like in their life.

Donna said she has been wracked with guilt since the incident as she was looking after Jack at the time, revealing the shy and quiet" teen has not been himself since the collision.

"It's obviously trauma from the accident.

Donna appealed to listeners of the Cork radio show, hoping the driver might be tuning in.

"She does not understand the stress. There wasn't a wink of sleep had between myself and my mother.

I'm not coming from anger. I'm coming from a place of sadness and stress. Just understand, if you have kids of your own, what would you do with them?

"Just do the right thing. She could have panicked. I am a very understanding person. Accidents do happen, but we could have very well been burying our brother a few weeks ago.

Images shared of Jacks injuries show his painful head injury progress into a severe swelling  a hematoma that required emergency surgery in the weeks following the hit-and run.

Along with injuries to his head, the 13-year-old experienced other marks, abrasions on the knees [and] fingers that landed him straight in the A&E after the accident.

If anyone has ANY information, please contact Gurranabraher Gardai anonymously on 021 494 620, Neil Prendeville tweeted after speaking to Donna.
Flagstaff fifth grader Addilyn Mews was one of 20 Arizona students to win the 2022 AZ529 essay contest last week, receiving money to put towards her future education.

Mews, who attends Mountain Charter School, was selected from 631 students statewide who submitted essays on their plans to achieve their dream job. These were judged based on ideas, organization and originality.

In her essay, Mews talked about her dream of becoming a ballet teacher.

My dreams are big, but I have some great plans in mind of how I will accomplish them, she wrote in her essay. I work hard in both school and ballet and do my best. I try to keep a positive attitude, stay focused on my goals and be kind to myself and others.

During a ceremony at the state capitol, state treasurer Kimberly Yee presented each winner with $529 to put towards an AZ529 Education Savings Plan.

"This contest reached every corner of our great state to emphasize that Arizona students in so many communities are planning for their future education and dream careers," Yee said in a press release. "It was so encouraging to meet these bright ambitious student winners and see that they are the future of our state."

AZ527 is a state-sponsored savings plan, which can be used for vocational training, trade school and private K-12 education as well as college and community college.

Arizona offers a state tax deduction of up to $2,000 per beneficiary for individual tax filers who invest in an AZ529 plan (up to $4,000 per beneficiary for married filers who file a joint return). Friends and family members may also earn the same tax benefits by gifting to a childs AZ529 account.

To learn more about AZ529 or read the winning essays, visit az529.gov.
Fans gushed over the photos, one showing Barry kissing Brandos head as he wore a Batman cape

Barry Keoghan has posted a cute photo of the familys matching Halloween costumes, featuring his baby son as Batman.

The Batman star took a backseat to baby Brando who wore the titular superheros costume and was snapped in his mum and dads arms.

Keoghan dressed up as the heros sidekick Robin while his Cavan girlfriend Alyson who took on the Riddler.

Sharing a photo of the family to Twitter, the Hollywood actor wrote: ROBIN needs his BATMAN.

Fans gushed over the photos, one showing Barry kissing Brandos head as he wore a Batman cape.

ROBIN needs his BATMAN

 pic.twitter.com/GrUC7IjNIP  Barry Keoghan (@BarryKeoghan) November 1, 2022

"Oh my god the cutest family ever, one said.

THIS IS SO CUTE, another wrote in all caps while others shared heart emojis for the baby Batman.

The Love/Hate actor welcomed his first child Brando with his girlfriend Alyson in August.

Barry announced the couple had finally become parents with a sweet Instagram tribute.

He shared a black and white photo of him and his partner cuddling their newborn, which he captioned: Welcome to the pack my boy, B R A N D O.

It has been a big year for the Irish star, who has seen big roles in Marvels Eternals and as the iconic villain the Joker alongside Robert Pattinson's The Batman.

His role was an early tease of the super villain, simply credited at the end of the movie as Unseen Arkham Prisoner.

Most of Keoghans scenes were cut from the film, though one deleted clip was later released  hinting that we may see more of the Dubliner in the DC franchise yet.

The star has shared he is more than willing to reprise the part and join stars like Joaquin Phoenix and Heath Ledger in the role.

"I'd love to show a little arc of him, he told GQ.

"If I could bring him to life that would be amazing and give you my version, which you've not seen."
Baby Penelope made an early arrival, the former Made in Chelsea star said yesterday.

Nicola Hughes has revealed she is a new mum via her Instagram, telling her 200k followers that her baby girl was born premature.

Baby Penelope made an early arrival, the former Made in Chelsea star said yesterday.

Nicola shared the exciting news with an adorable black-and-white photo of her husband Charlie Tupper fist-bumping the tiny hand of their daughter.

My heart, she wrote in the caption, Our little Penelope made an early arrival.

Charlie shared the same snap to his Instagram with a loving tribute to Nicola: Made it, all thanks to your mumma. Our little Penelope.

The couple got married last August after five years together and Nicola announced her pregnancy five months later.

Nicola joined the Made in Chelsea cast in 2015, when she was dating co-star Alex Mytton.

She made her exit one year later following their break-up  and it was Alex who introduced her to Charlie.

The Dubliner is now a model and social media influencer who has celebrated how very normal her husband is.

"Charlie isn't in the reality world. He's a very normal guy. He has a recruitment company in the city. He's a lovely guy, she told the Daily Mail.

The couple are based in the UK but planned to fly back to Nicolas native Ireland to have baby Penelope.

The 32-year-old told of her experience on her Instagram Stories in July, saying that she was so happy that the baby would be born at home.

Sharing a photo of her taken before her flight into Dublin, she wrote: Bumps growing by the day! I just had my first midwife appointment in Ireland and Im so happy weve decided to have the baby here.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the government will tackle alcohol law reform, to curb alcohol marketing and sponsorship, but will take time to do it right and won't be rushed.

It has signalled plans to tackle the issue in March.

On the other hand, swifter changes are on the cards for communities to have more control over the sale of alcohol in their areas, with a new amendment expected to the law to remove liquor companies' and supermarkets' avenues for appealing local alcohol policies.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Morning Report that current levels of alcohol marketing in New Zealand do not sit well with her, and many other politicians felt the same way.

Communities had faced difficulties battling issues such as electronic billboards outside schools, marketing and advertising aimed at young people, and online advertising.

But Ardern says compared to the quick and "straight-forward" action that could be taken to amend the local alcohol laws, a slower approach was needed for more significant changes to legislation on alcohol advertising and marketing sponsorship.

"Alcohol advertising and sponsorship ... spans across a wide range of areas - this is an area where we felt that: yes, there is an issue here ... but it's something that's relatively embedded, and often you'll find examples of where it's closely connected to other things we really value in our community - community-based sport for instance, so it's not something you can change quickly," Ardern says.

"So we just want to make sure that when we look at this area we do it in a really considered and thoughtful way, we're clear about the impacts it will likely have - where there has been a reliance on those forms of sponsorship and advertising ... and we have a plan."

But Green MP Chloe Swarbrick told Morning Report the government was not doing enough to reduce alcohol harm, despite multiple reports advising action.

Green MP Chloe Swarbrick. Photo: Samuel Rillstone/RNZ.

Swarbrick has a Member's Bill in play that would put in place restrictions to alcohol marketing and sponsorship, and she says she would not be withdrawing her bill to match Labour's approach.

A report on alcohol by former prime minister and law commission head Geoffrey Palmer more than ten years ago says alcohol had significant social costs on the nation, especially in crime and health. It recommended measures to curb access such as increasing the price.

And in 2014 a Ministerial Forum on Alcohol Advertising and Sponsorship was set up, that recommended changes to rules for ads and sponsorship.

But Ardern says changes in this area take time - and alcohol advertising and marketing signalled in 2012 by the National Party were still unrealised.

"We are here 10 years later, still trying to bring effect to them because they have been so heavily contested, and so the local alcohol plan changes we're making are actually to give proper effect to something parliament tried to do ten years ago.

"I have no doubt that every change that we try to make in the space of sponsorship and advertising will equally be equally heavily contested, by the alcohol industry and lobby - so we've got to get it right. We have says we are going to look at this area ... we've also got to be aware of the consequences - that's actually good policy-making. But we've made the commitment."

She argued Labour was not passing the buck on alcohol law reform by leaving it so late in their term to look at the issue.

"If we were kicking it down the road we wouldn't deal with it at all," she says.

Drinking age issue - 'separate'

The party has offered mixed messages on whether changes to the drinking age would be considered.

Justice Minister Kiri Allan told RNZ age limit restrictions for drinking were on the table and she could consider raising the age for buying alcohol as part of alcohol reforms.

Justice Minister Kiri Allan. Photo: RNZ.

"We'll have more to say on the broader reforms in due course. It's one of the issues that is within the broader mix, but whether or not that's something I'll proceed with it is yet to be determined."

However, Ardern says the drinking age will remain separate to tackling other alcohol law reform.

"We haven't signalled that's something we'd be looking at, because [drinking age restrictions] are a conscience vote."

Ardern says her own personal view was that the drinking age should be kept unchanged.

Labour Party conference, and leadership

The Labour Party's annual conference is scheduled for this weekend. Ardern says she was unconcerned about speculation on whether she would remain leader of the Labour Party.

"I'm the Labour leader and have no intention of changing that. ... if I had a dollar for every rumour that's swirled around me... I can clarify that I'm also not moving to New Plymouth."

If Labour were successful in the next general elections and formed a government for another term, she plans to remain the leader through the next term. "When you run for elections you run to win and you run to stay."

Ardern would not be drawn on what the party would do to address their fall in the polls, what they would discuss at the conference or whether unpopular policies such as Three Waters reform would be rethought.

"Things being harder for us as a party started about a year ago - and that was a tough, tough time as we were battling with Covid at that point, and it just points to the experience we've had as a government," Ardern says.

"We've had some really big challenges, but at the same time ... we've still made progress on some of the biggest issues we face.

"We've made progress on increasing our housing stock, we've reduced our gap between supply and demand in housing, we've reduced our poverty by 60,000 children, we've now had half a million of cases where in mental health we've had people been able to access services and sessions that did not exist before. It's been tough, but we've made progress and we've got to keep making that case."

- RNZ.
Whether the owner of a Queensland motorbike shop called Taking Care of Bikes was more concerned with taking care of business  specifically gang business  is something a High Court jury must consider.

Nine senior members and affiliates of the Mongols gang are standing trial in Hamilton on a raft of drugs and weapons charges.

Following a covert surveillance operation, police arrested the entire senior hierarchy of the gang in June 2020. At the time the police said a gang war was brewing in the Bay of Plenty region, with numerous groups battling for the lions share of the drug market there.

Among those on trial is the Mongols national president, Jim David Thacker, also known as JD; sergeant-at-arms Leon Wolf Huritu; Jason 666 Ross; Kelly Rhino Petrowski; Matthew Ramsden; Kane Ronaki; Te Reneti Tarau; and another man who has interim name suppression.

The trial, which began in August, took another step forward on Monday with the opening of the defence case.

But it was a small step forward.

Thackers counsel Bill Nabney advised jurors his client would not be giving evidence in his own defence. Rather, Thacker elected to call evidence from his uncle Andrew Pinikera, who was living in Queensland at the same time he was.

None of the eight other defendants in the trial elected to give or call evidence on their own behalf.

During his examination by Nabney and the subsequent cross-examination by Crown prosecutor Anna Pollett, Pinikera spoke about how his nephew ran a business called Taking Care of Bikes in Logan, a suburb near Brisbane.

Pinikera was an occasional visitor to and customer of the store, which specialised in the customising of Harley-Davidson motorbikes. He said he had fallen in love with one of Thackers bikes, which he had hoped to acquire at a family discount.

Both lawyers asked Pinikera about Thackers association with a chapter of the international bikie gang, The Bandidos, however Pinikera said he had little knowledge of such matters.

Pollett asked him whether he knew his nephew was the chapters president  he said he wasnt aware  or whether he knew Thacker had been deported to New Zealand in September 2018.

I would not say deported. I would swear on my mothers soul ... He was sent back to New Zealand.

Pollet asked Pinikera whether he was aware Thacker rode a bike in New Zealand with DEPORT as the number plate. No, not at all, the uncle replied.

You are aware [the Bandidos] are an international outlaw motorcycle club? Pollett asked.

I knew he had some sort of affiliation with the Bandidos, but no.

Pinikera was also queried about an alternative name for Thackers shop  Taking Care of Business  but Pinikera said he had little knowledge of such matters, and thought it related to attending to business on Queenslands highways.

Taking Care of Bikes sponsored an Aboriginal junior rugby league team, and Thacker had donated boxes of store merchandise to a fundraising event at a local primary school, Pinikera said.

The jury also have fewer charges against the defendants to consider, with numerous counts  including 25 against Thacker  dismissed by Justice Melanie Harland prior to the start of the defence case.

Thacker also pled guilty to a charge of the theft of a sweatshirt belonging to a member of the rival Greasy Dogs gang in May 2020.

The trial will continue on today with the start of the Crowns closing address to the jury.

-Mike Mather/Stuff.
The Tauranga-based rescue helicopter now has a new name.

Aerocool Developments Ltd have recently become the major partner of the Bay of Plenty regions rescue helicopter.

This means the chopper, formerly known as the TECT Rescue Helicopter, will now be known as the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter.

We are delighted to begin what will be a long-term partnership with Aerocool Developments Ltd, ensuring the rescue helicopter can continue to be there for those who need us, says Vanessa Richmond, Group Manager.

Aerocool Developments Ltd have committed to a full four-year term of support with first right of renewal.

This gives the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter a level of comfort and certainty to continue providing this life-saving service to the community.

The Aerocool Group began from humble kiwifruit growing in 1973 by Managing Director John Anderson in Te Puna.

This then developed into kiwifruit cool stores and packaging sheds in Mount Maunganui in 1985, to today holding a significant investment in commercial buildings and commercial land in the Bay of Plenty region.

John Anderson agrees the partnership with the Rescue Helicopter is a positive one and recognises the significant impact the rescue helicopter service has in the Bay of Plenty community.

It has always been a passion of mine to be a major supporter of the rescue helicopter and I am so proud to see the Aerocool brand on the side of the machine, supporting such an incredible service, says John.

We extend our sincere gratitude to TECT for their unwavering support of the rescue helicopter over the last 19 years, says Vanessa when talking about outgoing sponsor TECT.

We have enjoyed the part they have played in the rescue helicopter family and thank them for their commitment.
Walking arm-in-arm with the community is the driving force behind the opening of a social supermarket, in Tauranga.

A partnership between Linkt Community Trust and Foodstuffs North Island, the Otumoetai Social Supermarket is located at 8 Claremont Terrace.

It enables locals experiencing financial stress to shop for their groceries in a supermarket environment for a koha (donation).

"This social supermarket is needed in the Otumoetai community. Its designed to help working families cope with the strain of the rising cost of living," says Linkt Community trustee Lavinia Good.

"The contribution model means whanau can save some money on groceries and allocate that money to other important needs, including school camps, swimming lessons and maybe tutoring.

"The social supermarket will be an exciting hub owned by the community of Otumoetai. Linkt Community Trust is proud to answer the Communitys needs and walk hand in hand with foodstuffs and the hapori (community)."

Foodstuffs North Island membership experience head Willa Hand is delighted to have partnered with Linkt Community Trust.

"Our social supermarket partnership model works because our team brings retail expertise, we support on all the logistics of setting up a supermarket, training a team to operate it, and sorting replenishment processes and the local community organisation decides exactly how things will run and what the offering will be for customers.

"Then, our local Foodstuffs owner operators provide ongoing support.

"Having strong local leadership who connect deeply with people in their community is what really makes a difference.

"Foodstuffs North Island is a 100 per cent NZ owned co-operative, with individual grocers operating stores in their local community, so we believe in the power of local leadership and empowering people to make decisions that are right for their community."

The points system at Otumoetai Social Supermarket. Photo: Supplied.

Foodstuffs is committed to backing locally led projects that make a difference, and this is the fifth social supermarket location for Foodstuffs North Island.

The Wellington City Mission Social Supermarket opened in March 2021, Te Hiku Pataka in Kaitaia opened in June 2022 in partnership with Te Kahu Oranga Whanau, the Tokoroa Social Supermarket in  in partnership with BBM opened in August and Whare Kai opened in Whangarei in September, in partnership with 155 Whare Awhina.

Linkt Community Trust Founders, John and Jackie Paine, are pleased to be extending their network of support.

The opening of the Otumoetai Social Supermarket is the first step for Linkt Community Trust, with plans to expand and provide a wrap-around support for shoppers with a specially trained team who can refer shoppers on to social workers, financial mentors, and other forms of support.

To find out more about Foodstuffs commitment to be HereforNZ, visit www.foodstuffs.co.nz/here-for-nz
On any given day at the Acts of Kindness Flagstaff Office on Butler Avenue, you might be greeted by a giant gray schnauzer, a calm dog that stands hip-high. This past week, hes been sporting a collar that reads zombie hunter and indeed, zombies are the focus of bearded Bentley (as the canine is called) and his human companions at the Flagstaff nonprofit -- at least, in October.

Cathy Flores and Dinah Gillette have been wearing T-shirts that prominently feature a lime green cartoon rendering of Zeke the Zombie, the mascot of AOKs annual blood drive and fundraiser throughout the month. Theyre both board members and volunteers, whose hard work all year long supports the organizations multifaceted mission.

AOK was Flores brainchild, and it started with a sketch of a life preserver, a buoyant ring that could help survivors keep their heads above water. The image was powerful for Flores, who, like every member of her fledgling organizations board, had been affected by suicide. It became the center of the logo and the image around which AOK built its mission.

Im a retired Flagstaff police officer and I dealt with calls for suicide, Gillette said. People thinking of committing suicide or who have completed the act of suicide. Dealing with those families at that point is just the most traumatic thing. It leaves a mark.

So AOK set out to keep families from drowning in funeral expenses, throwing them a kind of life preserver in the form of a supportive community.

Who has ever put money aside for a suicide? Thats where we can come in and we want to see what we can do to help, Gillette said.

Right now, the nonprofit works with Lozanos Mortuary. The mortuary is referred to families grappling with the loss of a loved one, to whom they then offer support.

Because of the grief and the shame that is connected with this kind of loss, families had to know that our community is behind them, Flores explained.

In addition to financial support, families are given "bags of kindness," care packages filled with items meant to be a comfort for families.

One of the items is a tree that is planted out in Coconino [National] Forest. We have a little laser cut wooden tree that we give them, and a note that a tree will be planted in honor of your loved one.

Gillette described the day Flores pitched the idea for AOK to her, and it sounds like the start of a Dickens novel.

It started on a cold winters day in February, she begins, but what she describes next is a warm and heartfelt organization founded in 2018, not 1843. An organization filled with volunteers who are passionate about seeing everyones plate full. The conditions of Oliver Twist would never fly around AOK.

Recently, theyve connected with Coconino County Senior Services to donate care packages, complete with $100 grocery gift cards to seniors in need.

Then their programming grew to serve pets (this development was shared by Gillette after receiving a bit of a stern look from Bentley, who was nearly at her eye level when the former Flagstaff police officer was seated and sharing the organizations genesis story). Volunteers pick up donated dog, cat and bird food from Olsens Grain, and deliver it to older adults with pets who need support.

Over time, their mission expanded. Soon, AOK was working to support anyone who might benefit from the feeling of being embraced by a community.

They held coat drives for Ponderosa preschool, they made 500 goodie bags filled with treats for fire crews during this summers active season of fire and flooding. Two hundred fifty bags of treats were given, through a partnership with United Way, to sandbag-filling volunteers as well.

AOK delivers cookies to urgent care facilities. All the while, they continue to work with Lozanos Mortuary to support families impacted by suicide  picking up some of the bill for funeral services.

With such a broad net of focus, it makes sense that the zombie-themed event Flores and Gillette planned was equally layered. There was a fundraiser, a blood drive, and a trunk-or-treat event.

The fundraiser is called the Zombie Hand Drop and it brings in enough cash to keep AOK running all year long. The eerie premise is a crime scene-inspired take on a traditional raffle. Supporters purchase plastic hands, in lieu of raffle tickets. Those hands are dropped from a height onto a taped-off silhouette of a person  a silhouette that looks like it was plucked straight off the set of CSI.

Thats my grandsons body! said Flores, failing to hold back a hearty laugh. My daughter taped him on the crime scene. A lot of times well set it out early so people can come and pose in it, and they do like to do that. Thats our fundraiser. Thats how we raise money, by selling our hands. Its our sole fundraiser.

The hands that land on the body outline closest to the fictional victims hand earn prizes.

The hand drop is just one part of the event. This years blood drive was completely filled by Thursday with more than 80 donors signed up. Blood donors are lovingly referred to as "zombies" by the AOK volunteers, and theyre spoiled with donated gifts that range from slices of pizza and blood bag-shaped lollipops to candy popcorn and Dairy Queen Blizzards.

We have happy zombies! said Gillette, who takes pride in spoiling donors.

Every donor also gets a Zeke the Zombie Shirt, a tradition that changed a bit during 2020.

One time we didnt have T-shirts. We just had toilet paper with Halloween masks wrapped around it during COVID, Flores recounts with a laugh. Creativity has always been a key part of the events success.

The Zombie Blood Drive pre-dates AOK itself (Flores has been running it for nine years). However, the expansion of the theme to include the hand drop has meant the nonprofit could offer more of a helping hand to people in need across the community.

The hand drop has been such a success that AOK is launching a scholarship fund for nursing students at CCC and NAU, although the official announcement is set to be released later this year.

Were always trying to meet needs, Flores said.

So, with plastic hands having plunged to earth and blood collected, AOK moves on from their undead theme to get back to the work of lifting up their neighbors. Much like that life ring at the heart of their blue and white logo.
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What just happened? Microsoft has confirmed that it will not be taking the Call of Duty series off the PlayStation should its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard be given the go-ahead by regulators. The FPS franchise's future has been a cause of concern among PlayStation owners who feared Microsoft would make it an Xbox/PC exclusive, but this is the clearest commitment Microsoft has made to the series staying on Sony's machines.

In a new podcast interview with Justine and Jenna Ezarik on Same Brain, the YouTubers asked Xbox boss Phil Spencer about Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard and whether it might mean some games would no longer be available on PlayStation.

"We're not taking Call of Duty from PlayStation. I know thatwhich isn't exactly what you asked, but just to like punch that one in the nose, that's not our intent," Spencer said. "Our intent is not to do that, and as long as there's a PlayStation out there to ship to, our intent is that we'd continue to ship Call of Duty on PlayStation, similar to what we've done with Minecraft since we've owned that."

"We've expanded the places where people can play Minecraft, we haven't reduced the places, and it's been good. It's been good for the Minecraft communitymy opinionand I want to do the same as we think about where Call of Duty can go over the years."

Spencer last week hinted to The Wall Street Journal's tech conference (via The Verge) that there are plans to bring Call of Duty to the Nintendo Switch and keep it available on other platforms, just as Microsoft has done with Minecraft.

Earlier this year, Spencer said Microsoft was committed to keeping Call of Duty on PlayStation for several more years beyond the current deal Sony has with Activision, which covers the series' next two releases following the recently launched Modern Warfare II. PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan wasn't impressed by the offer, calling it "inadequate on many levels."

Microsoft's intentions for Activision Blizzard's games have been a sticking point for regulators examining the deal. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority expressed concerns over Microsoft "withholding or degrading" Activision Blizzard's titles from other consoles or subscription services if the acquisition completes. The issue led to the watchdog's extended stage 2 phase probe last month.

Microsoft told the regulator that Sony is significantly exaggerating the CoD series' importance, and losing a single franchise would not challenge the Japanese giant's dominance. It added that making Call of Duty available on Game Pass doesn't guarantee it will sell more Xbox consoles. But Microsoft tried to assuage worries that it would make CoD Xbox/PC-only by highlighting how much revenue would be put at risk if it carried out such a move.

Spencer seems to leave little doubt about Microsoft's intentions for Call of Duty, but then he wouldn't be the first executive to break a promise. Assuming the deal is approved, Microsoft will officially acquire Activision Blizzard by the end of the company's fiscal year, which is June 2023.
In brief: If you're a Tesla fan looking forward to the Cybertruck, you'd better be prepared to wait a while longer. New reports claim that the automaker won't begin mass production of the vehicle until the end of 2023, two years after the pickup truck's original target.

At the start of the year, Tesla confirmed reports that production of the Cybertruck had been delayed until 2023, the result of industry challenges such as the global chip shortage that has hit auto manufacturers particularly hard.

Last month, Tesla said it was readying its Austin, Texas plant for early production of the Cybertruck in mid-2023. "We're in the final lap for Cybertruck," Musk said on a conference call with analysts.

According to Reuters, citing two people with knowledge of the plans, mass production won't start until the end of 2023. Tesla will be hoping the initial output in the middle of next year will be enough to pacify impatient buyers who placed a $100 deposit on a Cybertruck up to two years ago, though it remains unclear exactly when they might receive their vehicles.

Reuters notes that the gradual ramp-up in production in the second half of 2023 means that Tesla would not be recording a full quarter of revenue until early 2024 for the Cybertruck, which is considered a key growth area for the company.

In April, a version of the Cybertruck was on stage during the Texas Gigafactory launch party event, showing a slight change to the original design: the truck no longer featured door handles; they had been replaced by sensors that detect when an owner is nearby and open the doors automatically.

We still don't know exactly what the final production version of the Cybertruck will look like or how much one will cost. Tesla said in 2019 that it was aiming for around $40,000, but vehicles have seen their prices shoot up since then, and Tesla has raised the prices of its entire range on several occasions, so expect the Cybertruck to cost a lot more than $40K.
Why it matters: The US government is once again meeting with global partners to try and develop an effective strategy to fight (and win) the war against ransomware. Tech companies like Microsoft are joining as well, bringing their valuable, first-hand expertise to the table.

For the second time in two years, the White House is hosting an international gathering about the ever-growing ransomware issue. The Second International Counter Ransomware Initiative Summit is bringing 36 nations together from around the world, reflecting the borderless nature of the threat posed by cyber-criminals and their nefarious encryption-based cyber-attacks.

The nations invited by the Biden Administration include many members of the European Union (Austria, France, Germany, Italy and more), Australia, Israel, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. A total of13 technology companies are present as well, with well-known names like Microsoft, SAP and Siemens adding their technical expertise to a high-level political meeting.

Members of the US government are joining the discussion together with FBI Director Christopher Wray; President Joe Biden is not expected to attend. In a brief introduction released on Sunday, an unnamed senior administration official explained that while the US is facilitating the meeting, they don't see it solely as a US initiative.

The aforementioned senior official explained, "ransomware is an issue that knows no borders" as it affects each nation taking part in the meeting and then some. File-encrypting malware affects businesses, critical infrastructure and citizens everywhere, and it's only getting more challenging as technology evolves.

Just this summer, the official said, the largest unified school district in the US was compromised by a ransomware attack the day before school began. Hospitals and networks of hospitals have been attacked in France and in the UK, government networks and banks have been compromised. Ransomware really is a global problem, with the pace and the sophistication of attacks "increasing faster than our resilience and disruption efforts."

The reasons for hosting the meeting are clear enough, but what about its practical outcome? The virtually-held 2021 summit brought an agreement to develop a framework for ransomware information sharing, improve anti-money laundering models, and increase international diplomatic efforts against "ransomware-friendly" countries. This second meeting is expected to benefit from tech companies' insights about the problem, developing a set of "cyber-norms and rules of the road recognized across the globe to counter criminal ransomware threats and hold malicious actors accountable."
In brief: Micron is now shipping qualification samples of what it claims is the world's most advanced DRAM technology node. Following volume shipment of 1-alpha in 2021, the new 1-beta LPDDR5X is better in virtually every way. According to Micron, the node is about 15 percent more energy efficient and affords a more than 35 percent bit density improvement with a 16Gb per die capacity.

Micron executive Scott DeBoer said the tech is brought to life by their proprietary multi-patterning lithography combined with leading process technology and advanced materials capabilities. With its proprietary multi-patterning lithography, Micron has been able to bypass the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light tech that others have been using as of late.

Mobile devices will be the first to reap the benefits of Micron's new tech. AI and data-hungry 5G applications will no doubt make good use of the increased bandwidth and even core apps like the camera will benefit from reduced launch times and improved night and portrait mode performance.

Micron also implemented new JEDEC enhanced dynamic voltage and frequency scaling extensions core (eDVFSC) techniques. According to the company, the addition of eDVFSC enables a frequency of up to 3,200 megabits per second compared to just 1,600 megabits per second for 1-alpha.

Related reading: Micron's 232-layer NAND starts shipping with up to 2TB per package

RAM that requires less power could free up capacity for more powerful processors, result in better battery life with current-gen hardware or a mix of both.

Last month, Micron announced plans to spend up to $100 billion over the next two decades to build a world-class semiconductor fabrication facility in Upstate New York. It represents the largest private investment in the history of New York and according to lawmakers, the recently passed CHIPS and Science Act paved the way for Micron to build in the US instead of going overseas.

Micron said it plans to ramp up the rest of its portfolio on 1-beta including client, consumer, industrial, embedded, data center and automotive segments over the next year.
Hundreds of near-Earth asteroids were detected by the Arecibo Observatory, a dead land-based telescope.

(Photo : Photo by DAVID BECKER/AFP via Getty Images)

The Comet NEOWISE or C/2020 F3, with its two tails visible, is seen in the sky above Goldfield, Nevada on July 18, 2020. - The Comet C/2020 F3 was discovered March 27, 2020, by NEOWISE, the Near Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, which is a space telescope launched by NASA in 2009. (Photo by David Becker / AFP)

The Arecibo telescope collapsed in 2020 because its giant cables slipped out of its socket. This caused the cable to crash through the Earth-based observatory.

Because of this, operators had to shut down the giant telescope. But, before it died, the observatory was able to warn experts about near-Earth asteroids.

Its data was presented in the study titled "Arecibo Planetary Radar Observations of Near-Earth Asteroids: 2017 December-2019 December," which was published in the Planetary Science journal.

Hundreds of Near-Earth Asteroids Detected by Dead Arecibo Telescope

According to Science Alert's latest report, the data used in the study was generated by Arecibo Observatory between December 2017 and December 2019.

(Photo : Photo Courtesy of NASA/Newsmakers)

A mosaic image of asteroid Eros at it's north pole, taken by the robotic NEAR Shoemaker space probe February 14, 2000 immediately after the spacecraft's insertion into orbit. After a year of circling and taking pictures, NEAR will touch down on asteroid Eros February 12, 2001, to capture surface details, which will be the first time any craft has tried to land on a tumbling space rock.

Also Read: NASA's DART Mission Successfully Changes Dimorphos' Orbit in More Than 11 Hours

The giant telescope's data showed that there are over 190 near-Earth asteroids. The new study claims that some of them (around 70) are possibly dangerous.

Most of these asteroids are expected to be around 4.65 million miles away from Earth.

This means they have distances 20 times the average between the planet and the moon.

However, NASA clarified that these asteroids don't immediately threaten Earth. The international space union believes that deadly asteroids will not hit the planet in the next 100 years.

Are Space Experts Worried?

Space researchers said that although NASA estimated that dangerous asteroids will not appear until around 100 years, these space rocks should still be observed.

They are paying close attention to these near-Earth heavenly bodies in case they suddenly experience trajectory shifts.

Aside from this, they are also worried that the asteroids would crash into one another, forcing them to have their directions pointed toward the planet.

You can click here to see further details about the possible near-Earth asteroids detected by Arecibo Observatory.

Previously, experts revealed why they were not able to detect the asteroid 2019 OK.

Meanwhile, a stadium-sized asteroid was recently believed to fly past Earth at 20 miles per second.

For more news updates about asteroids and other space objects, keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: A 'Potentially Hazardous' Skyscraper-sized Asteroid Could Fly Towards Earth on Halloween

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Elon Musk previously fired Twitter's top executives. Because of this, the billionaire is now named the sole director of the social media company.

(Photo : Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Elon Musk gestures as he speaks during a press conference at SpaceX's Starbase facility near Boca Chica Village in South Texas on February 10, 2022.

The sudden termination of the platform's execs made huge headlines, especially since it was the initial move made by Musk after he completed his billion-dollar acquisition.

Before SpaceX's CEO purchased Twitter, he and top Twitter executives were not on good terms since the billionaire accused them of providing misleading numbers of fake accounts, as reported by Reuters.

This is why many people were not surprised after they left the social media platform.

Why Elon Musk Fires Twitter Execs

According to Independent UK's latest report, the platform's board had nine directors before Musk decided to complete his $44 billion Twitter purchase.

(Photo : Photo by SAMUEL CORUM/AFP via Getty Images)

his illustration photo taken on August 5, 2022 shows a cellphone displaying a photo of Elon Musk placed on a computer monitor filled with Twitter logos in Washington, DC.

However, Elon dismissed four of them. These include CEO Parag Agrawal, Chief Legal Officer Vijaya Gadde, General Counsel Sean Edgett, and CFO Ned Segal.

Some rumors claimed that Elon had a reason why he fired these top executives, as reported by The New York Post.

This is specifically to avoid paying the officials' so-called severance packages (which some call these "golden parachutes").

How Much are These Golden Parachutes

Equilar, a trusted corporate leadership data provider, claimed that the golden parachutes of Gadde, Agrawal, and Segal can reach up to $122 million:

CEO Parag Agrawal: $57.4 million

CFO Ned Segal: $44.5 million

Chief Legal Officer Vijaya Gadde: $20 million

Aside from golden parachutes, these top executives are also supposed to receive a total of $65 million in exchange for the stocks they held in the company before Musk took over.

However, Twitter hasn't commented on these newly released details.

Since Musk fired top executives, many Twitter employees shared their concerns since they think that the billionaire can also do the same to regular staff.

However, the tech CEO reiterated that rumors about mass layoffs are false. If you want to learn more details about the alleged mass terminations on Twitter, you can visit this link.

Previously, GM's Twitter ads were canceled after Elon Musk acquired the social media platform.

Some experts found Musk's Twitter's free speech approach would not work because of the EU DSA law.

For more news updates about Elon Musk's plans for Twitter, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Elon Musk Denies Claims that He Will Lay Off Twitter Workers Before November

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The new "Chief Twit," Elon Musk, has pulled more than 50 of his trusted Tesla workers, who are mostly software engineers of the Autopilot team, to take part in his Twitter acquisition, according to a report by CNBC.

(Photo : JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Elon Musk shows his Texas belt buckle as he speaks during a press conference at SpaceX's Starbase facility near Boca Chica Village in South Texas on February 10, 2022.

From Tesla to Twitter

The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX completed the $44 billion Twitter takeover deal on Friday, Oct. 28. He immediately fired the CEO, CFO, and heads of the policy and legal teams of the social media company. He has also dissolved Twitter's board of directors.

Internal documents obtained by CNBC show that workers from Musk's other companies, including more than 50 from Tesla, two from the Boring Company, and one from Neuralink, are now permitted to work at Twitter.

Some of Musk's close friends, advisers, and financial backers are also participating, including Jared Birchall, the head of his family office, Jason Calacanis, an angel investor, and David Sacks, the first chief operational officer of PayPal and a venture capitalist.

James and Andrew Musk, who previously worked for Palantir and Neuralink, respectively, will be joining the blue bird app as well.

Among the employees that the billionaire enlisted from Tesla are Ashok Elluswamy, director of software development; Maha Virduhagiri, senior director of software engineering; Milan Kovac, director of Autopilot and TeslaBot engineering; Pete Scheutzow, senior staff technical program manager; and Jake Nocon, senior manager of security intelligence and a member of Tesla's surveillance unit.

Nocon has previously worked for Uber and Nisos, a security firm with a large contract with Tesla to track down and uncover insider risks to the corporation.

Read Also: Elon Musk Denies Claims that He Will Lay Off Twitter Workers Before November

Elon Musk's Pressure

Several Twitter employees told CNBC over the weekend that he is also pressuring them to swiftly learn everything they can about Twitter, including the source code, content moderation guidelines, and data protection regulations, so he can overhaul the network.

Musk's previous statement showed that he was a free speech absolutist but at the same time he will have to contend with laws and practical commercial considerations to advance his free expression goals.

A day before he took over the social media company, he wrote an open letter to advertisers saying: "Twitter obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences."

It is still unknown how Tesla workers will divide their time between the automaker and Twitter. CNBC noted that typically when Tesla employees work for other companies of Musk, such as SpaceX or the Boring Company, they can be compensated by those companies as consultants.

It is worth noting that some of the billionaire's workers hold full-time positions at more than one of his companies. For instance, Charlie Kuehmann is the vice president of materials at Tesla, and he holds the same position at Space X as well.

Related Article: After Elon Musk's Twitter Acquisition, Jack Dorsey's Bluesky Social Media Opens for Beta

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Ford Electric Vehicle (EV) owners were able to highlight the features of their vehicles this Halloween, as reported by Electrek. Jace Craft Miller and Justin Koenig from Ohio were among the first to order the Ford F-150 Lightning in May 2021. Just in time for the holidays, their vehicle arrived early October.

(Photo : JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images)

Ford Motor Company unveils their new electric F-150 Lightning outside of their headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan on May 19, 2021.

To celebrate the October festivities, the couple used two work lamps with a couple of Philips Hue bulbs and plugged them into the outlets of the Mega Power Frunk. Then, they grabbed their pumpkins and other decorations to fill the Frunk.

The couple works in the roofing industry in Cleveland, and they use their Ford F-150 Lightning in the field every day. Even though the boating season is almost over in most places, the couple was able to get out once and was surprised at the efficiency of their Ford EV as it was able to tow their 21-foot 5,000 lb boat smoothly.

In New York, Joe used his Ford electric truck to power a nine-foot Jack Skellington from the 240V outlet in the bed while the spotlights and pumpkins were all plugged into the Mega Power Frunk. He also used the truck to tow his 36-foot, 9,500 lb travel trailer to Cape Cod, Maine.

Also Read: Ford's EV Prices Are Set to Get Cheaper to Better Compete with Tesla

Ford EVs Taking the Scene

With the Ford F-150 Lightning coming out to market, Ford Motor Company continues to lead the way by ensuring that their customers, who want the best performance, features, and aesthetics in their vehicles, are able to do so. The all new Ford F-150 Lightning comes with a 600 HP and 565 lb-ft of torque and is available in two-wheel and four-wheel drive. The vehicle is equipped with a battery that can provide up to 80 miles of range per charge based on driving conditions.

The highest torque of the Ford F-150 Lightning is sufficient to obtain a 0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds. The highest horsepower also makes it one of the fastest-accelerating, zero-emissions light-duty trucks.

Ford continues to develop and introduce vehicles that are environmentally friendly. The latest model of the Ford F-150 is an example of how Ford is looking to meet the needs of a wide customer base. The company is proving that they will continue to lead even if the industry turns.

Ford EV models offer consumers more than the latest technology and a clean vehicle. Ford is also committed to the communities where they sell their vehicles.

The company is continuing to pursue the opportunity to deliver on their commitment of offering a lineup of electrified vehicles that are performance-oriented. The company is also looking to have the demand for their vehicles be higher than production capacity.

Ford is committed to their customers and ensuring that they continue to have performance vehicles. They also understand that their future success depends on them being able to offer vehicles that meet their customers' needs.

Related Article: Ford Logo Change, Crypto Messages Hint New Vehicle; A Better Performing F-150 Raptor?

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A widespread outage on Instagram that rocked users on Monday morning has already been fixed, according to the social media app's announcement on Twitter.

(Photo : AFP via Getty Images)

A woman looks at the Instagram page of Saudi influencer Ragda Bakhorji, in Dubai on April 7, 2020. - The coronavirus may have forced the Gulf's social media "influencers" indoors but it has not stopped them posting. While they can no longer upload pictures of themselves zipping through international airports or strutting down London streets in high-end brands, many have turned the cameras on their lives at home as they spend time with family, cooking and decorating

Widespread Account Suspensions

The Meta-owned app locked users out during the downtime and informed many of them that their accounts were suspended on October 31, 2022.

A majority of the reported issues appeared to come from iPhone users, with some claiming that their app recently crashed and became unusable before an update earlier this morning.

"We've resolved this bug now - it was causing people in different parts of the world to have issues accessing their accounts and caused a temporary change for some in number of followers," Instagram said in a statement.

The platform acknowledged the problem on Twitter for the first time at 10:14 AM ET but didn't announce that it was already fixed until many hours later, at 6 PM ET. Instagram's CEO, Adam Mosseri, also expressed his apologies for the widespread outage.

Around the time Instagram acknowledged the problem, reports on Downdetector reached over 7,000. But the numbers have decreased since Instagram started taking action.

Around 10:15 AM ET, The Verge reported that a quick glance at Cristiano Ronaldo's Instagram account revealed that he has lost 3 million followers even though he had 493 million of them the day before.

Instagram's own account also lost followers by over a million during the downtime.

Read Also: Meta Introduces New Tools for Brands that Easily Report Potential IP Violations on Facebook and Instagram

Instagram Down

Last month, several iPhone users experienced another crash in the Instagram app. The bug occurred when the v225.0 update was deployed on the app, although some users who were still using iOS15 reported no problems with running the app.

But just like the most recent outage, Instagram did not go into further details about what caused the problem.

The platform's server also went down in May of this year and users reported that were unable to fully access each content on their feed.

The "Welcome to Instagram" message appeared for some users, but no images, stories, or reels were loading during that time.

The issue, which lasted for many hours, was described as an "intermittent outage," according to the report from Instagram via Down Detector.

Related Article: Meta Announces Next Generation Quest Headset After Just Releasing the Quest Pro, to be Launched in 2023

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Months after the resignations of two separate chiefs in Apple, there will be another two heads of the company that will step down from their positions and will affect the operations of the department that they will be leaving.

(Photo : Scott Olson/Getty Images)

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 30: A woman walks past a shuttered Apple store in the historic district as the city prepares for Hurricane Ian to make landfall on September 30, 2022 in Charleston, South Carolina. Ian hit Florida as a category 4 storm before crossing over into the Atlantic and is now expected to hit South Carolina as a category 1 storm near Charleston.

Resignation of Two Executives

Apple is about to lose an additional two executives this month. Based on a report from 9to5Mac, Apple Online Store Vice President Anna Matthiasson and Apple Information System Head Mary Demby are set to leave the company. The positions that will be vacant are the highest-level position that directly reports to the company's Chief Executive Officer, Tim Cook.

Matthiasson's decision to leave the company remains unclear. She worked in this position for three years but had previous roles at Apple before the executive position (Operations Executive). Matthiasson will be replaced by Karen Rasmussen, who recently worked in e-commerce before obtaining the current role.

She headed, along with the President of the team, the Apple Online Store, which is very significant to the company, especially during the pandemic when all physical retail stores are closed for months. This was the previous position of Jennifer Bailey before she launched Apple Pay. As of now, Bailey also handles Apple Wallet, Apple Card, and other financial services that the company is offering.

Meanwhile, Demby is departing the company for the reason of retirement, as she worked for almost three decades. As per the report of Bloomberg, the position is currently vacant, and no decisions were made on who will be designated to take the position.

But David Smoley can possibly replace Demby as he was the vice president of her team in 2019. Smoley was also the Chief Information Officer for AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical giant.

Previous Resignation for this Month

Bloomberg also reported that Evans Hankey is also leaving the company, which was days before the announcement of the two executives' resignation.

As of the moment, the position is still vacant, and the company is still deciding who will replace her. She previously led the company's design department with Alan Dy in 2019, the same year Jony Ive left Apple. Aside from this, she was also involved in how the products of the company are developed, as she worked with Ive very closely.

Also Read: Apple Machine Learning Director Resigns Due To Work-From-Office Policy; More Employees Leaving?

Since Ive's departure, there are still no replacements for the Vice President of Design on its leadership webpage. Because of this, some are criticizing the management of Tim Cook as he prioritizes the operations executives' decisions with no consent from the design team of the company.

Apple Chief Privacy Officer Jane Horvath also resigned last August as she set to work for a law firm in Los Angeles named Gibson, Dunn, and Crutcher LLP. Horvath worked with Apple as the company faced a lawsuit against Epic Games for anti-competitive actions last 2020.

Related Article: Apple's Chief Privacy Officer Sets to Resign for a Law Firm Position

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Enterprise search is a search tool that is usually available on a company's website and allows website visitors to access information from many sources. Products, corporate information, help websites, blogs, and so on are examples of sources.

Enterprise search may also be used as an "internal search for workers," allowing staff to execute rapid searches within the company's knowledge base to obtain the information they need, freeing up time for other important tasks. This is critically valuable for today's businesses that lean towards digitization and agility to maximize team performance.

What Is Enterprise Search Software and How Is It Used?

Enterprise searching often refers to a way to search that allows employees to retrieve information from one or more databases using a single search query. However, Enterprise Search Software companies usually offer a customer-facing search on a website, eCommerce site, or application.

The searched information can be in any form and from any site within the company, including products, text pages, databases, document management systems, e-mail systems, and even paper documents. To make this possible, enterprise search engines have to prepare data. That way, users will only have to enter text searches and get structured results.

Why Do We Need Enterprise Search?

The advantage of Enterprise level site search solutions is that they provide the most relevant information to website or eCommerce users from multiple sources as quickly as feasible. This contributes to increased conversion rates, reduced customer support costs, and overall improved user experience and satisfaction.

Especially on eCommerce sites, a well-implemented search can also lead to increased profitability since products can be found faster and easier, as well as site owners can influence the search results ranking.

How Is Enterprise Search Different From Web Search?

To clarify, web searches are intended for anyone looking for information from the web, most often with Google. On the other hand, enterprise search users search for information on a website, eCommerce site, application, or internal company resources.

They retrieve information from all forms of data, including structured data found in databases and unstructured data contained in documents.

#1 AddSearch

AddSearch is an AI-powered enterprise search solution that is both quick and highly flexible. It is completely CMS agnostic so that it can be easily integrated with any website. AddSearch's search result optimization tools and advanced analytics can help you raise conversion rates, lower bounce rates, and support expenses, and enhance the overall website visitor experience.

Setting up a search using AddSearch is quick and simple, offering a free trial or expert implementation service for even the most complex search requirements. Unlike many other search providers, AddSearch enables organizations to pull content from different sources into one smart search, for example combining eCommerce search, blog content, support pages, and other content into one search experience.

AddSearch also provides a Search UI framework and API for developers to create a search for any demand. Plus, it offers bespoke site search design and implementation assistance. It allows a comprehensive business search experience for even the most ambitious websites with custom installation services.

Key Features

Custom search design: With AddSearch, you may create whatever search you require, from simple search-as-you-type to complicated search results pages. Simply contact the Search Design and Implementation team, and they will design a bespoke search for you.

Plus, you may accomplish unprecedented levels of personalization at breakneck speed using cutting-edge dev tools, the Search UI library, and APIs. When assistance is required, technical support is always available.

Ranking Management: With this feature, you may change the ranking of search results for specific keywords, discover the most frequently searched phrases, and then arrange the results based on your preferences.

With this, you may also direct your users to more relevant internal search results by proposing popular search phrases. Filters can also be used to assist users in locating material that is relevant to them.

Behind the search is AI-powered technology that improves search results. In addition to automation, you can utilize a manual ranking management toolkit to adjust the order of search results depending on various characteristics. Keywords are only one of the characteristics.

Advanced analytics: Discover helpful information about how your users use search, including how frequently they do it, what they are searching for, and if they find what they need.

For example, browsing through Popular Keywords will help you learn how frequently people use search and which phrases they are seeking the most. Then you can use this data to create your FAQ page and emphasize your most often searched-for and helpful content.

Personalized search experience: Relevant search results for each user might vary significantly based on the user's status and prior online usage.

AddSearch Personalization provides a powerful toolkit for creating a personalized search experience for your website visitor. In return, it makes it easier for them to find content specifically interesting for them, eventually increasing engagement and conversions.

Search index with the AddSearch Crawler: AddSearch has the best Enterprise search crawler available. Crawling is a quick and simple approach to ensure that the appropriate material is included in the search.

Meanwhile, their indexing API is another method for adding content to your search by submitting it straight over the API. Both approaches are effective depending on the use case, and AddSearch assists in configuring both.

Overall, AddSearch provides everything you need with a robust, customized search engine for your website or web app. It offers a fully customized search solution for every purpose and excellent implementation assistance. Additionally, it creates a route for your visitors and directs them around your website, helping them to immediately access your items from the front page and cater to their preferences as a whole.

Advantages

CMS Agnostic: AddSearch is compatible with all clients, no matter which CMS they use.

Designed for your web visitors: Creates a route for your visitors to follow as they navigate your website. AddSearch enables your visitors to quickly discover your items from the front page. Reduce the strain on your helpdesk and inbox by assisting your customers in finding solutions to their problems.

Reliable: High level of search result optimization due to AI technology and additional manual toolkit

Custom search design: Comes with customization and versatility integrated with its world-class search optimization

Best crawler in the world: Has the best search crawler in the world, making indexing website material easier and more accurate than rivals.

Very proficient technical support and assistance: Provides a sense of security while making modifications to the search or optimizing the search for better results.

Increase conversions on your website by using the best-recommended site search solution. Simply sign up for a free AddSearch account and manage your site search performance today!

#2 Algolia

Algolia Search supports search and discovery experiences worldwide, from eCommerce sites to virtual reality productivity tools, from media to healthcare apps. You can rapidly and simply design distinct experiences everywhere by leveraging powerful front-end frameworks, 14 API clients, and substantial documentation.

Modify your search experience and gain information about how users engage with it. Use APIs or a user-friendly interface to launch A/B testing and search statistics. Algolia Search provides continually developing capabilities at scale to fulfill your goals, from unrivaled speed to AI capabilities.

Developers may use Algolia Search to create any search experience in the context of their company's apps by relying on a simple and comprehensive API. It makes the building of any search capability more accessible. The flexibility of assembling stunning UIs and the power of API building blocks enable any developer to build apps and generate business results quicker.

One of the most significant advantages Algolia can provide is its Search APIs, which enable developers to integrate search capabilities into websites and applications effortlessly. Backend tools are provided for indexing articles, querying various data types, maintaining cluster settings, examining search metrics, and other tasks.

Key Features and Advantages

Fully-hosted enterprise search API

Instant search, crawler, and integrations

Access analytics and custom ranking

Maximizes your ROI

Different use cases for different industries

#3 Yext

Yext enables you to create AI-powered eCommerce site search solutions based on natural language comprehension and employ a multi-algorithm approach. This search gives the tools you need to answer your users' inquiries on your website, in your app, or anywhere else people are searching, from the backend setting to the frontend personalization.

The next site search recognizes natural language inquiries and provides direct answers rather than links. Provide a real "ask me anything" experience by utilizing several algorithms that provide the most relevant results, such as rich snippets or professional profiles, FAQs, maps, and other features.

From search through checkout, its eCommerce search solutions connect customers with relevant items, services, and experiences. People are more likely to convert when they immediately see high-quality results and personalized call-to-action on the search results page. On average, companies who used Yext site search saw a 1.4X boost in site conversions.

The drag-and-drop search experience provided by Yext is simple to integrate into your site and will enable you to make the most of your CMS. Acquia, Adobe, Drupal, and WordPress are all integrated.

Key Features and Advantages

Offers document search and vertical ranking results

Get query results and suggestions

With semantic text search

Allows filtering, faceting, and sorting

Search API and multiple integrations

#4 Elasticsearch

Elasticsearch is one of the most advanced, open eCommerce site search solutions used by fast-growing Fortune 1000 firms to deliver compelling, contemporary search and discovery experiences. Elastic may be used for database search, enterprise system offloading, eCommerce, workplace content, web search, or other use cases to help everyone locate what they need more quickly.

Kibana, Elastic's in-house search analytics and visualization tool include links to all of your search data in shared dashboards. This allows you to keep track of your performance, spot issues, analyze patterns, detect trends, and enhance the search experience. You can even use the most recent advances in machine learning, such as vector search, text categorization, data annotation, etc.

Aside from that, you may ingest all your other data via prebuilt connections for major SaaS apps, a native web crawler, JSON file uploads, or extendable APIs, regardless of their structure or location. Additionally, leverage out-of-the-box functionality with data currently saved in Elasticsearch.

You can quickly create unique or integrated search experiences using prebuilt, open-source components. Use a fully prepared search bar, auto-suggest, filtration, faceting, and natural language search to provide consumers with the modern convenience they've become accustomed to.

Key Features and Advantages

Easy-to-use eCommerce site search solutions

Unified search for your team together with collaboration tools

Lets you add search functionality to your website with ease

Technical support for beginners

#5 Amazon OpenSearch Service

Amazon OpenSearch Service simplifies interactive log analytics, real-time application monitoring, internet search, and other tasks. OpenSearch is a distributed search and analytics package based on Elasticsearch that is open source. These eCommerce site search solutions presently have tens of thousands of active clients and manage hundreds of thousands of clusters that handle hundreds of billions of queries each month.

Amazon OpenSearch Service enables safe real-time search, tracking, and evaluation of business and operational data for applications to validate the performance, log analytics, observability, and website search. It concentrates on analysis rather than maintaining your deployment and updating deployment configurations as requirements change.

It lets you locate relevant data quickly by providing a fast, tailored search experience within your apps, websites, and big data catalogs. With observability logs, metrics, and traces, you may also save and process data for total visibility into your application performance. Create automated warnings for when your system underwhelms, and investigate the underlying cause of any availability concerns.

Key Features and Advantages

Open search feature to access every data in your system

Secure, authentic, and encrypted for auditing purposes

Delivers log and trace analytics to track your performance

Integrates fast and is easy to deploy

We operate in a hyper-competitive digital environment where speed is everything. You can no longer assume clients to idly browse your website for relevant material. But now you can be confident that the most recent content is easily accessible and guides your web visitors. Aside from exploring a UI-friendly website, the best search software also assists them in discovering content they may not have even realized they were interested in, especially with the help of AddSearch, Algolia, Yext, and others that index the site constantly.

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The first orbital test flight for Starship might eventually take place the following month if everything goes according to plan.

During a meeting of the NASA Advisory Council that was being live-streamed, senior NASA official Mark Kirasich, who is in charge of monitoring the development of the Artemis moon program, disclosed the information.

Kirasich is quoted as saying that NASA is tracking four big Starship missions. The first one is scheduled to take place at the beginning of December, according to Reuters, via Engadget.

NASA's Mark Kirasich tells a NASA advisory committee that first flight of SpaceX Starship with Super Heavy booster is now scheduled for early December.  Christian Davenport (@wapodavenport) October 31, 2022

Starship's First Orbital Test Flight

In accordance with the plans that SpaceX has already made, the Starship spaceship, together with its Super Heavy booster, will take off from the Boca Chica site in Texas.

The booster will separate from the Starship vehicle three minutes into the flight and land in the Gulf of Mexico, while the Starship vehicle itself will reach orbit, then return to Earth's atmosphere, and finally make an ocean landing somewhere around Hawaii.

Starship's First Orbital Test Flight is anticipated to be an hour and 30 minutes.

Read Also: SpaceX's Starship Private Customer List Continues to Grow Ahead of Launch

SpaceX's Preparations Since 2021

Since the middle of 2021, SpaceX has been preparing for the initial orbital flight of Starship, but the launch date keeps being pushed back for a variety of reasons, both technical and legal.

For instance, the environmental study conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the space corporation's launch station in Boca Chica was just recently completed and passed. Even yet, the FAA demanded that it make more than 75 adjustments to lessen its flight's negative effect on the surrounding environment. After that, the government agency would award the company a launch license for the site.

More Tests Required to Receive a Launch License

Based on a statement made by an FAA representative to Reuters, the government would only issue a launch license to the firm after SpaceX delivers all outstanding information so the agency can properly examine it.

Meanwhile, SpaceNews also noted that SpaceX must complete and pass other tests before the launch. One of these tests is a static fire test that must be performed on all 33 Raptor engines that are mounted on the Super Heavy rocket.

In July, as the Starship was undergoing a static fire assessment, propellants caught fire beneath the rocket, causing the test to finish in flames. The subsequent attempt took place in August and was successful. However, SpaceX only used a single Raptor engine on the Super Heavy.

In addition to the static fire test, Engadget reported that the Starship has to do a complete wet dress rehearsal. This involves putting a rocket that is full of propellants through the motions of a launch countdown without the rocket flying off.

Related Story: SpaceX Falcon Heavy to Launch US Space Force's USSF-44-First Use of Rocket in 3 Years

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Trisha Kae Andrada

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Is it safe to do nucleic acid routinely? What should you pay attention to when doing nucleic acid in winter? Answers from Beijing disease control experts
Voters walk to and away from voting, on the first day of early voting at the State Archives building on Essen Lane in Baton Rouge, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. Early voting for the Nov. 8 Louisiana open congressional primary election runs through Tuesday, Nov. 1. Polls are closed Sunday, Oct. 30. Voters statewide will consider a U.S. Senate primary and eight constitutional amendments. All voters in the Baton Rouge area will have a congressional race on the ballot. All area parishes except West Feliciana have local races. Visit geauxvote.com for additional information on candidates and issues. A list of early voting locations is available at https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/earlyvoting; please note that hours may be different at satellite offices. Voters are asked to bring an ID with them to vote. Voters without an ID will be allowed to vote after filling out an affidavit.
HNTB, a national engineering firm, plans to move its Baton Rouge offices from Perkins Rowe into the II Rivermark Centre office building, shown on the left. The adjoining I Rivermark Centre office building is being redeveloped into a mixed-use office, retail and residential property. Ten luxury high-rise apartments are currently being rented and more units will open through the end of the year.
Twitter, what is to become of you? We cant live with you. And we cant live without you. Or can we? As Elon Musk takes charge, we are about to find out.

Let me be clear: when I say we, I probably dont mean you, because statistically speaking you are highly unlikely to be a Twitter user. Recent research tells us only 18 per cent of Australians are on the platform (and by the way, if you want to argue about statistics with people you hate but have never met, you really should try it!).

Entrepreneur Elon Musk has bought Twitter. Credit:AP

And yet, Twitter still manages to consume most of the oxygen in the social media room, thanks to it being the preferred megaphone of politicians, journalists and celebrities who dont mind taking their professional lives in their hands on an hourly basis. The dopamine hit of retweets and likes and vast stupidity and nastiness has, until now, been enough to keep these people there even against their saner instincts.

And let me clear again: when I say these people I do mean me, in the sense that I am a journalist and my Twitter presence generally correlates with my being awake. Not even upright. Just awake.
Resources Minister Madeleine King said it was a pipe dream that Western countries could soon end their reliance on China for rare earths and critical minerals -- vital for the defence, aerospace and automotive industries -- due to the Asian powerhouses existing grip on global markets.

Thats a country that has seen this need coming and made the most of it, King said in an interview with Bloomberg News.

That wont stop Australia and the US from working together to boost investment in these critical minerals in an attempt to break Chinas monopoly on international supply chains, she said. It was Canberras aim to make the most of the natural endowment we have of these resources, so that we can provide an alternative source of them from China, King added.

We need to get there and keep pumping it out: Resources Minister Madeleine King. Credit:James Brickwood

Lithium and other critical minerals including cobalt, platinum and rare earths are used in the manufacturing of a wide range of products which are crucial for national security and the fight against climate change, including jet engines, solar panels and electric vehicles.
Despite the Albanese governments best efforts to sell their first budget as a five-point cost of living plan, the aftermath has been dominated by the bombshell prediction that power bills will rise by 56 per cent over this year and next.

Thats made up of a 20 per cent increase in this financial year and a 30 per cent increase next year, for a cumulative 56 per cent hike. For a home with electricity and gas, it adds about $1300 over two years.

Power prices are going up, so what can you do about it? Credit:James Alcock

There were no solutions proposed in the budget. But the options now being debated range from taxing the windfall profits of gas exporters to fund household relief in the form of capped prices (as half a dozen European countries have done), to reserving a portion of east coast gas for domestic use (as WA does), to capping the domestic price of wholesale gas (as former ACCC boss Rod Sims argues every self-respecting gas-exporting nation does).

The Greens want money poured into transitioning households away from gas, while the Coalition wants more gas fields to be tapped and a new conversation about nuclear power.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has warned police she does not want visitors to be confronted by walls of armed officers and drug dogs at Februarys WorldPride festival, with councillors concerned about heavy-handed policing in the citys LGBTQ epicentre.

Moore, an early proponent of the Kings Cross safe injecting centre and long-standing sniffer dog sceptic, also backed the ACTs recent move to decriminalise possession of small quantities of drugs such as heroin, cocaine and speed.

NSW Police sniffer dogs at a music festival in Sydney in 2016. Credit:Fairfax Media

The City of Sydney agreed on Monday night to give WorldPride another $300,000 to help beautify Oxford Street  which Moore admitted needs a bit of love right now ahead of the largest LGBTQ event ever hosted in Australia.

The council also adopted a long-term Oxford Street place strategy, including an amendment from Greens deputy mayor Sylvie Ellsmore calling for new strategies to prevent heavy-handed policing in the precinct, which passed unanimously.
Sydneys Taronga Zoo will undertake a review after five lions escaped from their enclosure on Wednesday morning, in an incident described by its executive director as significant.

A code one  meaning an incident involving a dangerous animal  was called by a zookeeper about 6.30am on Wednesday when they noticed four of the zoos five lion cubs and their dad Ato outside the perimeter of their exhibit.

The lions remained inside an area with a six-foot-high fence that is designed to keep the public back from the animals.

Four of the lions calmly made their way back into their main enclosure, Taronga Zoo executive director Simon Duffy said, and the zoos vets tranquillised one cub.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has vowed to push ahead with a cashless gaming card for clubs and pubs before the election despite walking away from reforms that would have made them mandatory.

In his strongest comments yet on the mandatory cards, which the states powerful clubs and pubs vehemently oppose, Perrottet said he was certainly in favour of pursuing a cashless gaming card.

Premier Dominic Perrottet insists the government has not abandoned sweeping reforms of gaming in clubs. Credit:Brook Mitchell

His comments came after the Herald revealed on Tuesday that the government has abandoned a bill to reform clubs following the damning NSW Crime Commission report.

The governments bill was designed to reform how clubs operate, and included a provision to allow the use of facial recognition, as well as excluding problem gamblers.
Students at Beatrice High School have had access to a new mini mart.

The mini mart is open to any student or family member who is in need. There is no application process or minimum requirement to gain access to food and beverage sources. Items range from a quick snack between classes to ensuring delicious and nutritious meals at home.

The Beatrice High School mini mart is a great example of what can be accomplished for our young people when caring members of the community come together to address a need in a way that makes sense for everyone, said Tara Dunker, Gage County Extension Educator.

Dunker, also a member of the Beatrice Community Food Pantry Board, said the pantry has seen significant increases in need this year.

The total number of clients served has doubled in five of the first six months of this year compared to those same months in 2021, she said. Were also bringing on an average of 12-15 new clients every month. Gage County families are struggling to make ends meet.

She noted that the backpack program at Beatrice Public Schools does a wonderful job of providing supplemental food assistance at the elementary level, but the pantry and the high school staff wanted to help close a potential gap in service for our young people at the high school level.

She further explained that statistics show that about 1 in 6 youth in the community may be dealing with food insecurity at any given time throughout the calendar year.

That means 1 in 6 youth may not have enough food to lead what we would consider an active, healthy lifestyle to reach their full potential," she said.

Zac Lauenstein, Beatrice High School Resource Officer, works with students who request access to the mini mart in person or through email.

We want to make the mini mart as convenient as possible in a dignified manner, he said. Sometimes that means that I package their choices in a plain bag and deliver it to their home.

Every student that has come into the mini mart has been mindful and focused on their familys needs and not just their own personal wants. Everyone that has used it has been so appreciative.

He said there is no limit to the amount of food a student can access or the number of visits to the mini mart.

I would like to see the stigma of using this type of service be eliminated, he added.

Lauenstein said that according to the USDA retail food prices increased 8.9% in the first seven months of 2022 and is expected to reach over 10% by the end of the year.

I know my grocery bill has increased this year," he said.

High School Principal Jason Sutter, has been supportive of the mini mart from the beginning.

I appreciate the conversations we have had with the Community Food Pantry and its representatives to think and plan for a way to help our high school aged students and their families, he said. We do not want to diminish or not be supportive the younger aged focus backpack program, but we see things through the eyes of our older high school aged students, he said. But we also know that basic needs must be met in order to fully help our students learn and be successful while they are in school."

The Beatrice Community Pantry gave a monetary gift of $1,500 to the mini mart as support of the project.

Karen Mains, Food Pantry Coordinator, said she has had shortages at the Pantry due to the increased need, but would share as many of the extras as possible.

The mini mart offers students choices of pastas, canned meat, fruit and vegetables, pancake mix and syrup, snacks and juices.

If anyone is interested in learning more about this project or providing donations, they can reach out to Tara Dunker at 402-223-1384 or the Beatrice Community Food Pantry at 402-223-5306.

The goal is to continue this BHS mini mart for as long as the school feels it is serving their students well, which means well keep working on ways to make this sustainable into the future, Dunker said.
How many of you are on Truth Social? Kari Lake, the Republican candidate for governor of Arizona, who has repeatedly sowed doubt about election integrity, asked at a recent rally. The crowd erupted in applause. If youre not on it, go there and get on it quick. The site has become a key organising platform for election deniers before the midterms, stoking concerns about voter fraud and spreading rumours about problems at the polls. One group used the site to promote stakeouts of ballot drop boxes in a search for illegal voting, posting a picture that went viral and helped spur similar efforts in at least 10 states. Former President Donald Trump embraces Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake at a rally in Mesa, Arizona. Credit:AP Trump has used the site as a public sounding board for his legal defences as several investigations encircle him. He has continued to shape Republican talking points and boost candidates running in close races. And he has embraced messages and imagery from QAnon, the conspiracy theory movement that also found a new home on Truth Social. The real test for Truth Social may arrive in the coming months, as initial excitement around the app fades and the problems with its financing possibly come to a head. The site shows few signs of courting a wider mix of users from across the political spectrum, which would be necessary to reach lofty targets set by the company before the app launched.

The sites parent company, the Trump Media and Technology Group, has its hopes pinned on a deal announced a year ago with Digital World Acquisition, a special purpose acquisition company that raised $US300 million in an initial public offering of stock. The company later secured commitments from three dozen hedge funds to provide an additional $US1 billion in financing upon the completion of the merger. Loading But the deal and that $US1.3 billion are now in doubt as investigations by federal prosecutors and securities regulators could force Digital World to liquidate itself in early December and return to shareholders the money raised in its IPO, derailing the merger. Digital World has struggled to get its shareholders to approve a measure that would give it until September to complete the merger with Trump Media. The SPAC faces another deadline for securing that vote Thursday. If the deal with Digital World collapses, Trump Media will need to come up with financing to keep Truth Social running. It has raised roughly $US37 million, mainly from Republican political donors.

William Wilkerson, a former Trump Media executive who was fired in October after he said publicly that he had filed a whistleblower complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission, said in an interview that the company was using up about $US1.7 million in cash each month. Truth Social recently began running advertising on its site. Loading But Wilkerson said if the deal with Digital World failed, a plausible alternative would be for Trump Media to consider a merger with Rumble, a conservative video-sharing alternative to YouTube, which has emerged as Trump Medias main business partner. Wilkerson, as well as a second person with knowledge of Truth Socials operations, said about half the people working at Trump Medias office in Sarasota, Florida, are Rumble employees. Rumble provides much of the back office operation to Truth Social. In August, Trumps company joined the video-sharing companys ad platform. Rumble recently completed its own merger with a SPAC, giving it access to roughly $US400 million in cash.

It is a high probability now that Rumble is a publicly traded entity, Wilkerson said during the interview, which he did while with his legal team of Philip Brewster, Patrick Mincey and Stephen Bell. Trump Media did not address a potential future merger with Rumble. But in an emailed statement, the company blamed the SEC for the delay in completing the merger with Digital World. Despite being chartered to protect retail shareholders, Trump Media said, the SEC is willfully damaging them with its illicit political targeting scheme  and should expect severe consequences for doing so. Rumble did not respond to requests for comment. A combination of Rumble and Trump Media could present an imposing conservative alternative to Twitter, especially as Truth Social faces an increasing competitive threat from Elon Musk, who completed his $US44 billion takeover of Twitter on Thursday. He has promised more lenient moderation policies that could draw some conservatives  including Trump himself  away from Truth Social. Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, also plans to buy Parler, in a deal that could draw conservative users.

I like Elon, but Im staying on Truth, Trump said during a Fox News interview after Musks takeover. But those risks have largely overshadowed a series of smaller victories for Truth Social, capped this month with the release of its long-delayed Android app, making the app available to about 40 oer cent of Americans who use that operating system. (Its iPhone app launched in February.) Did anyone happen to notice that Truth Social is Number One, ahead of TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Amazon, and all others? Trump asked on Truth Social last month after the Android app launched and received more than 100,000 downloads. Just asking! Trump remains the apps raison detre. While his 4 million followers are a shadow of the 88 million who subscribed to his frenetic Twitter feed before he was barred in January 2021 over fear that he would incite violence, his truths can resonate far beyond the confines of Truths ecosystem. After federal agents searched Trumps Mar-a-Lago home looking for classified documents, he made the unsupported claims on Truth that the FBI was corrupted by Democrats, that the documents may have been planted, and that the documents were declassified the whole time.

If he wants that message to break into the Twittersphere, he needs people to screenshot it or post it or write something about it, said Jared Holt, the senior research manager for Institute for Strategic Dialogue. That happens all the time. The day after the Mar-a-Lago search, web traffic to Truth Social more than doubled from earlier averages, according to data from Similar Web. Days later, an armed man tried to break into an FBI office in Cincinnati and was later killed by law enforcement. A Truth Social account bearing the name of the man identified by law enforcement, Ricky Shiffer, had posted about the Mar-a-Lago search and told followers to get whatever you need to be ready for combat. The same account also appeared to confess to an attack on the FBI. That was a tell that the platform was reaching a milestone, Holt said. Because the unfortunate truth is that any platform  once it gets big enough  has to deal with somebody doing something like that. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Close political allies, including his chief of staff and Vice President Hamilton Mourao, have begun to make contact with the Lula camp to discuss the transition. Others, including the speaker of the lower house of Congress, called on the Bolsonaro government to respect the election result. Earlier, the Supreme Court ordered the federal highway police to immediately clear hundreds of roads across the country blocked by truck drivers protesting Bolsonaros loss. Loading A majority of the courts justices backed the decision on Tuesday (Brazil time), which accuses the highway police of omission and inertia. Failure to comply will mean its director can be fined up to 100,000 reais ($30,500) per hour, be removed from his duties and even face arrest. Federal prosecutors in Sao Paulo and Goias states said they had opened investigations into the blockades. By noon Tuesday, highway police said they had removed 306 blockades, but more than 260 were still in place.

The powerful agricultural lobby CNA, representing farmers who were important campaign donors for Bolsonaro, said it was ready for conversations with the incoming government. Before Sundays vote, Bolsonaro repeatedly made baseless claims the electoral system was open to fraud and accused electoral authorities of favouring his leftist adversary. Much like former US President Donald Trump, whom Bolsonaro openly admires, the far-right incumbent repeatedly questioned the reliability of the countrys electoral system, claiming electronic voting machines are prone to fraud. He never provided any proof, even when ordered to do so by the electoral court. Bolsonaro is completely isolated. Everyone responsible for other institutions has already recognised the elections results, Goncalves said. Bolsonaro lost the race by a thin margin, garnering 49.1 per cent of the vote to da Silvas 50.9 per cent. It was the tightest presidential race since Brazils return to democracy in 1985. Some 5.6 million voters chose to annul their ballot or vote blank  a legal practice in the countrys compulsory voting system.

In Sao Paulo  Brazils most populous state and largest economy  traffic jams around the international airport led to dozens of flight cancellations, with videos on social media showing travellers rolling their suitcases along the highway in the dark trying to catch their flights. The highways had been cleared by Tuesday morning, but airport officials said access remained difficult as traffic was still backed up. Truck drivers and other supporters of Jair Bolsonaro block roads in protest in Brazils south. Credit:Getty At another road block in Sao Paulo state, protesters set tires on fire. Several demonstrators were wrapped in the Brazilian flag, which has been co-opted by the nations conservative movement for demonstrations. Huge lines of cars could be seen snaking along the highway. In Minas Gerais, a key battleground state in the election, a video on social media showed a protester telling a reporter from the O Tempo news outlet that the election was fraudulent and warned of future protests. We wont stop as long as we dont have a response from our president, he said. We want Bolsonaro in 2023 and for the years to come. In Itaborai, a region in Rio de Janeiro state, an Associated Press reporter saw truck drivers kneeling in front of police officers and refusing to evacuate.

Users on social media, including in multiple Telegram and WhatsApp chat groups with names like Paralysation, shared demands that the military take the streets, or that Congress and the Supreme Court be disbanded and the president remain in office. Supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro block a highway to protest his run-off election loss. Credit:AP Following the election, the electoral authority blocked two dozen Telegram groups that defended a military coup and called on their more than 150,000 followers to organise demonstrations, according to online news site UOL. The Supreme Courts decision permits regular state police forces to reinforce federal highway police, and the governors of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo states ordered them to deploy, news outlets reported. The same was done in 2018, when an 11-day trucker strike brought Brazil to a halt. Bolsonaro commands wide support from the police forces rank and file, however, and it wasnt clear how effective their involvement would be. Lulas Workers Party had accused Bolsonaros campaign of deploying law enforcement to create traffic jams and deter people from voting on Election Day, and video footage shared on social media showed officials stopping buses.

Alexandre de Moraes, who presides over the nations electoral authority, said police checkpoints delayed voters, but didnt stop them from reaching the polls. The 2018 stoppage caused food prices to spike and left supermarket shelves without products as gas stations ran out of fuel. It caused billions in losses and revealed the vast power that truckers possess, particularly when they organise through social media platforms. Bolsonaro, a politician at the time and months away from winning that years presidential election, was an outspoken supporter of the truckers, who are now among his constituents. This year, his administration limited interstate fuel taxes to help bring down prices and launched a financial aid program for truckers just months before the election. On Tuesday, dozens of journalists from both national and international news outlets remained camped outside the presidential residence in the capital, Brasilia, awaiting any sign that Bolsonaro might speak about the election or the highway blockades. Bolsonaros strategy here, so far as there is one, seems to be strategic ambiguity, said Robert Muggah, co-founder of Igarape Institute, a Rio de Janeiro-based think tank focused on security. Hes focused on the street, and if chaos ensues so much the better. There is a real risk that police inaction could ignite simmering tensions between the militant wings of the far-left and far right.
A Billings man pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual abuse of children in Yellowstone County District Court on Tuesday.

Jeffrey Eugene Herbert, 34, made his initial appearance before Judge Michael Moses.

The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation was alerted to internet conversations Herbert was having with a 13-year-old girl out of state in June. DCI alleged Herbert posed as an underage girl online, creating a friendship with the girl before asking her to send him explicit videos of her engaging in sex acts, charges stated.

Herbert allegedly had multiple conversations with the girl requesting she send nude videos. At one point, he asked if the girl, identified as Jane Doe in charges, would be his bad girl. Multiple times she said no to his requests but eventually the girl would send four explicit videos, court documents stated.

When the girl demanded Herbert stop texting her, he allegedly threatened to send the videos to her family and friends. She threatened to kill herself because of the threat, charges stated.

Then you wont mind if I show people the stuff you sent me, Herbert allegedly responded before adding, Just stop lying and send me the videos!!

In an interview with investigators, Herbert allegedly admitted to posing as a 14-year-old girl to gain Jane Does trust. He said when Doe asked him to stop his response was to try harder and continue asking, charges alleged.

Herbert also allegedly gave investigators access to a locked folder on his cell phone containing multiple folders named after the usernames of victims he had received child pornography from.

[L]aw enforcement personnel located numerous subfolders, all containing child sex abuse material, charges stated. Each folder was named after the username of the particular victim from which the Defendant received the child sexual abuse material.

Charges also alleged Herbert had been in trouble for similar child sex abuse in the past. In 2008, Herbert was investigated for allegedly downloading and viewing child porn from a peer-to-peer network. Charges stated Herbert admitted to viewing the material but he was not prosecuted at the time.

In 2019, Herbert was the subject of another investigation where he allegedly sent child porn to an undercover investigator. And federal investigators are currently looking into Herberts alleged distribution of child porn in Michigan.

The state asked the judge to set bail at $200,000 and subject Herbert to GPS monitoring. Hes also not to have contact with minors and to avoid locations where minors congregate.

Herberts private attorney asked the judge to release him on his own recognizance. He argued Herbert has a family, home and business in Billings, that he was not a flight risk and assessed as a low risk to the community. Herberts attorney did not object to GPS monitoring or barred contact with minors.

In the end, Moses set bail at $50,000 while barring contact with minors and places where they congregate. Moses did not order GPS monitoring citing the fact the alleged victim lives far out of state.

The affidavit outlines some serious concerns that the community needs to be concerned about, Moses said while ordering bail. And that you need to be concerned about, Mr. Herbert.
A former leader of the North Dakota University System whose brief tenure was marked by a rocky relationship with the president of one of the state's leading universities has died in Arkansas.

Robert Potts, who was chancellor for two years in the early 2000s, died at his home in Florence last Friday after a battle with cancer. He was 78.

Potts became chancellor in July 2004. He resigned in August 2006 after clashing with then-North Dakota State University President Joseph Chapman. The two disagreed over the chancellor's authority. Potts told the Board of Higher Education that Chapman "basically thumbs his nose at me."

Potts also disagreed with some board members over his authority as the systems top administrator. The board backed Chapman, and Potts resigned with a year left on his contract. He received a $200,000 severance to leave. He applied again to be North Dakotas chancellor in 2015 but ultimately withdrew his application.

The University System and Board of Higher Education in a Tuesday statement offered condolences to Potts' family.

"Potts ... served in leadership positions in academia throughout his entire life; his legacy of leadership in higher education is celebrated and his many contributions are recognized," the statement said. "Potts never forgot about North Dakota and made many lifetime friends here, oftentimes coming back to the state to enjoy the outdoor activities that the state has to offer."

Potts was born on Jan. 30, 1944, and raised in Florence, according to his obituary. While attending Southern Adventist University in Tennessee, he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean aboard the Queen Mary to spend his sophomore year at Newbold College outside London. There he met his future wife, Irene Johansson. They married in her hometown of Nyhyttan, Sweden, in 1965.

Potts attended the University of Alabama law school and later earned a master of laws degree from Harvard. He practiced law with his father for a time, made an unsuccessful run for Congress in 1976, and became president of the University of North Alabama in 1990.

After his time as chancellor in North Dakota he went on to become president of Arkansas State University and interim president of the Arkansas University System. He retired in 2011.

A service for Potts is planned for 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at the First Presbyterian Church of Florence.
One of the things you need to prepare for when youve reached your retirement age is your will. It is a document that lists all your properties and assets and how you want them to be distributed when youre no longer here. While it might seem too soon to think about this uncomfortable topic, its still something that needs to be carefully planned to make everyones life a little easier as they handle the grief of losing a loved one. In that sense, its good to know what things your children might or might not actually want to see as a part of their inheritance.

Preparing a list of things you want your kids to inherit might save you a lot of time, especially when you have a lot of things in mind that you want to pass on to them. You might think that your collection of plates and curtains might be an ideal inheritance to give, but they might not be the things that your kids expect to receivenor want.

Its not that including these items as a form of inheritance is bad, but theres a high chance that they will only end up disposing of them, especially when they do not serve a specific purpose. If you want to make your childrens life a little bit easier if you pass away unexpectedly, here are 12 things that they might actually want to inherit.

#1 Cash

Cash is the classic and ideal asset to hand down to your kids. Its convenient and easy to access, and you can earn interest over time if you have it in a savings account. Additionally, it provides a great deal of ease as cash can be easily divided depending on how many people will receive it and how much each one will have. This can make splitting the inheritance easier and avoid conflict between siblings.

One reason why your kids might want to inherit cash is because of how versatile it isthey can use it to buy anything they want or invest it to make it grow. Cash also provides an easy way to send money to others and share their wealth. They can even share and send cash to a friend if they ever need to. For example, they may invest it in other assets like properties or stocks or even a personal enterprise, which will provide an opportunity for your children to earn income from their inheritance. This freedom of use and flexibility make cash the first thing your kids will want to inherit.

#2 An Annuity

An annuity is a great asset to pass down to your children. Inherited annuities have several advantages like tax benefits, especially if theyre non-qualified annuities you paid for with after-tax dollars. By annuitizing an annuity, your children can convert it into a steady and dependable income stream to help cover their living expenses either for a predefined period of time, or for life if the original annuity contract was set up as a multy-life annuity.

While annuities like the ones mentioned above can be financially complicated to set up and also quite expensive, they do offer simplicity for your heirs.

#3 Recipes

Besides the pleasure of each others company, theres a reason why the family flocks together at grandmas house during the holidays, no matter how far they are, and thats because of the sumptuous food that tastes like no other. Whether its a secret recipe for your classic stuffed turkey or the chocolate chip cookies your grandkids line up for every weekend, your kids will definitely be happy to receive a cookbook full of all their favorite recipes with annotations and footnotes with all your little culinary secrets.

It is both a sentimental and useful inheritance to have, and it preserves the tradition within the family, even when you are no longer around to make the food. Youll be surprised how many successful restaurants and gastronomic products started with grandmas recipe.

That comfort-food feeling you get when you taste your mothers food isnt easily replicated. When it comes to good food that only the hands of a parent can make, a record of how its done is worth having and passing down.

#4 Family Photos

As much as your kids may look like they only enjoy things that have monetary value, there are many things that theyll consider worth having, and old family photos are one of them. While today we have thousands of pictures on our mobile phones, its still nice for kids to have something tangible like an old-fashioned polaroid photo that captures moments that are worth keeping for a lifetime.

Photos never fail to remind someone of something beautiful that has happened in the past, even when they are no longer there to rekindle that moment. Having a physical photograph that your kids know you held in your hands, that you had in a real photo album, is something theyll value and cherish for life.

#5 Trust Funds

A trust fund is a type of asset that helps your kids manage their inheritances wisely. If you are going to be handing them down a huge amount of money and perhaps a couple of properties, theres a chance that conflicts may arise. Other people might file for a claim on those assets, or your kids might end up fighting among themselves. Even if they dont, they could splurge and dilapidate all their inheritance through reckless spending on useless things.

The biggest perk of setting up a trust fund for your kids is that it allows them to properly allocate the money over different uses so that they dont go about spending it on things that do not matter. You can also set it up so your loved ones will only have access to the money at a certain age and point in time. They probably wont like these limitations at first, but theyll definitely be thankful once theyre more mature and realize the value of investing in the future.

#6 Furniture

Believe it or not, your kids may be interested in inheriting your furniture as well, especially if its something different and hard to find. Accent pieces that are timeless and fit the interior of almost any house. Many are definitely worth keeping, and it can save your kids a couple of hundred dollars when theyre moving to a new apartment or house.

#7 Vinyl Records

Besides the great music they contain, vinyl records are also collectible items that only gain value as time passes. Do you have an original Jimmy Hendricks album from the 70s thats in pristine condition? Im sure your vintage-loving millennial kids will be more than happy to keep it for years to come.

If your child grew up listening to vinyl records that have become a collection in the family, chances are theyll want to have them. Nothing beats a classic Pink Floyd or The Beatles vinyl to take a trip down memory lane, and your kids will be more than happy to know that you have these records ready for them to take in the future.

Just like photos, music can evoke pleasant memories, and its always a good decision to leave something for your kids that will serve as a memento of the things you loved doing back in the day. Your children and loved ones will certainly thank you for this, and theyll still have a piece of you with them even after you have passed on.

#8 Life Insurance

If you want to leave money for your children but worry that the taxes might take a big chunk of it, life insurance is a viable option. The main purpose of applying for life insurance is to avoid your family facing financial difficulties relative to your passing.

Because of the tax-free feature of life insurance policies, its a great idea to set one up with your children as beneficiaries. When the time comes, and the funds are available, they will be able to receive the amount in full, and youll have achieved your goal of leaving something valuable for your family without any deductions.

#9 Real Estate

After working hard all your life, you may have acquired some valuable properties. These could be the best thing you could ever leave for your kids. Real estate assets are a safe investment that has historically grown throughout the years, so passing these properties down to your kids is a surefire way to protect their financial future.

Additionally, if the property or properties you leave behind are something that stores shared memories, your kids will feel more connected with this inheritance.

#10 A Business

A family business is a common asset often passed down to children as an inheritance, sometimes while parents are still alive. An established business is a great inheritance because it not only has monetary value upfront, but its also a source of steady income. This alone can mean your kids will be set up for life financially. When youre no longer around to provide for them, this can be invaluable.

You should take this with a grain of salt, though, because businesses can fail as much as they can thrive, depending on how theyre managed. So, make sure that the enterprise you are leaving behind is not something that has acquired debts through the years but is profitable and will provide the children with a steady income. Teaching your kids how to run a business from an early age will prepare them for the unlikely scenario that they may need to take care of your family business soon.

#11 Brokerage Accounts

Another form of financial inheritance that is not cash but that can provide long-term value is a brokerage account. These include stocks and bonds that you can start trading while you are still alive, then delegate to your children over time as the accounts value rises.

One of the best things about having these brokerage accounts is how easily divisible they are. If you have several children to whom you want to leave the stocks, you can easily divide the assets among them.

Stocks are also easy to liquidate or convert into cash, so if your kids ever need money, they can simply sell them through the brokerage account.

#12 Quality Education Fund

Quality education isnt cheap in America. Students are often caught up in student loans by the time they graduate, and rather than spending the rest of their lives doing amazing things and checking things off their bucket lists, your children might have to work for a long time to pay off those debts.

This is why educational savings plans are a great inheritance for your children. Not only will it save them from years of financial struggle, but it will also give them a chance to take on career paths theyre passionate about. In the US, youll find options like the 529 plan you can apply for to save up enough money for your childrens future education. Depending on which variation of the plan you get, you will have to pay varying amounts, and your children will also be entitled to an array of benefits.

The Bottom Line

Death isnt something most people like to think about, and its definitely not something most people are comfortable planning for.

However, putting your childrens happiness and well-being on the table puts things into perspective. This is why you must start thinking of what youll leave behind immediately in case of an unwanted and unexpected early departure.

These twelve inheritance ideas are just suggestions of what your kids will likely appreciate. Theyll make their lives a little easier, and once theyre mature enough to realize their true potential, theyll be even happier to have them. Whether it is something that carries sentimental value or an actual financial asset that can be traded in exchange for cash, what matters more is the underlying intention of leaving behind something that will help them out in times of need and remind them of you always after youre gone.

By Jordan Bishop

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.
One day after pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai was found guilty of fraud charges, the U.S. Department of State responded to the verdict, condemning its spurious fraud charges and noting increasing concerns about deterioration in protection for human rights under the Chinese Communist Partys National Security Law (NSL).

While the charges brought against Lai were reportedly related to lease violations, his prosecution has been due in large part to his role as one of Hong Kongs most outspoken advocates for democracy. The 74-year-old Lai is already in prison for participating in unauthorized assemblies during the 2019 wave of pro-democracy protests throughout the country, in addition to a 2020 vigil for the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre.

After the 2020 protests, Beijing imposed the NSL, which circumvented the authority of the Hong Kong legislature and cemented the CCPs ability to prosecute dissenters and democracy advocates directly from Beijing in a massive blow to the one country, two systems framework that had governed Hong Kong since 1997. Under the new law, Lai faces a potential life sentence; he plans to appeal the charges.

Lai faces a December trial on charges of colluding with foreign forces and producing seditious publications. Lai, a prominent fashion and media entrepreneur, published the pro-democracy publication Apple Daily, which gained wide readership throughout Hong Kong before its assets were frozen in 2021.

Lais pro-democracy stance and criticism of Chinas communist governance has brought him to the attention of Western political media as well as U.S. government officials. In 2019, Lai met with U.S. politicians including Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to discuss the growing pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. Pelosi later tweeted photos of herself meeting with Hong Kong activists, pledging her full support and admiration for the countrys democracy advocates.

In addition to political attention, Lais work and imprisonment have gained the attention of human rights organizations worldwide. Lai has received awards from Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and the World Association of Newspapers and Publishers, as well as a Nobel Prize nomination, an honorary degree from the Catholic University of America, and the Acton Institutes Faith and Freedom Award. Lais story is one of extraordinary resilience in the face of tremendous odds; China was listed as the worst jailer of journalists in 2021, and all proceedings thus far indicate that their intention is to make an example out of Lai and his fellow dissenters as a warning to other critics of Xi Jinping and the communist regime. Despite all this, Lai seems unshakable in his resolve.

Hong Kongs situation is increasingly chilling, he wrote from jail in 2021. The era is falling apart before us and it is time for us to stand tall and keep our heads high.

The Hong Konger, the Acton Institutes new documentary, tells the story of Jimmy Lais heroic struggle against authoritarian Beijing and its erosion of human rights in Hong Kong. It is currently being screening in cities around the world.
The results of the 16th Hong Kong Biennial Awards for Chinese Literature hosted by the Hong Kong government did not show any results for the "Poetry Category" the winner and alternate winners had been disqualified. (Shusheng website and Facebook)

3 Winning Poetry Collections Suspected of Violating the National Security Law Disqualified From Literary Competition

Entries for the 16th Hong Kong Biennial Awards for Chinese Literature organized by LCSD Hong Kong Public Libraries, were submitted in April 2021, and the competition results would normally be expected to be released in November 2021, but the results for the 16th competition were delayed and were not released until Oct. 24; about a year later.

The published results did not include awards for the Poetry Category as the selected winners had been disqualified. In the recently announced list of results, the Poetry Category was shown as absent.

The poetry collections Light Hidden in the Dust, The Dark Light, in the Long Fog and Commandment and Fellow Practitioners were recommended by the judges of the biennial awards as the recommended winner and the alternate award winners, respectively, but all were eventually disqualified by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). Light Hidden in Dust and The Dark Light in the Long Fog were believed to include Hong Kong Social movement issues and its protests, while Commandment and Fellow Practitioners was alleged to include the mention of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo.

According to the website of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), Hong Kong Public Library, the award has been biennially organized by the LCSD since 1991. LCSD claimed that the award aims to commend local writers for their outstanding achievements and encourage them to continue creating quality Chinese literary works, as well as to promote the publication of these quality works by local publishers.

The recently announced results of the The 16th Hong Kong Biennial Awards for Chinese Literature in 2021 show that there are no biennial awards and recommended prizes for the Poetry Category. The government refused to explain the reason. On 27 October, The Secretary for Culture, Kevin Yeung, said on a radio programme, I have to ensure that its events and anything it promotes are legal, reach certain academic levels and match the moral standards of society. If it involves issues to do with national security, naturally, law enforcement agencies would act according to the law. We dont discuss individual cases.

The list of awardees of the biennial awards, but the recommended prizes for the Poetry Category of the 16th competition were missing: there was a note in the small print at the bottom of the results message reading the recommended prizes and the biennial award for poetry remain empty. (LCSD website)

On Oct. 26, Mr. Woo wrote a poem about his sudden thoughts after reading the news. The first four lines have the following approximate meaning: Every article tells its own story. Everyone interprets it in their own way; A judge should judge the skill involved. Why give the law the power to judge. (Facebook of Mr. Woo)

Poetry Collections Removed From Library Shelves

In December 2021, Wen Wei Po (a pro-CCP media) reported that Light Hidden in the Dust, The Dark Light in the Long Fog, and Commandment and Fellow Practitioners had been removed from the shelves of public libraries. The LCSD responded that it would take a serious approach if literary collections are suspected of violating the National Security Law.

The reporter of the Epoch Times searched the relevant works in the Public Library Catalogue, and the results showed the message No results were found for your search request.

Sensors are Also Looking Carefully at Films

In addition, it has also recently been revealed that the distributors of many Taiwanese films have been requested by the authorities to delete or modify the content, and two film festivals in Hong Kong have been canceled. Kevin Yeung said that Hong Kong has always had an established censorship system for films and newspapers, and it has followed the mechanism for many years, and the producers or directors of films have the right not to accept them.
Blank checks are seen on an idle press at the Philadelphia Regional Financial Center in Philadelphia on May 8, 2009. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo)

4 People Charged in Multimillion-Dollar Fraud Scheme Syphoning Federal COVID-19 Funds

A Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fraud scheme that involved nearly 100 individuals across the country and had acquired up to $1 million in fraudulent loans has ended in four defendants being charged in the U.S. Department of Justices District of South Carolina.

In 2020, Congress passed the largest financial support package in U.S. history: the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which authorized $349 billion in PPP loans.

The program provided small businesses with funds to pay up to eight weeks of payroll costs so that the businesses could fill in the financial gaps that the lockdowns created.

It was implemented by the Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Treasury Department, and it provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and other expenses.

Those charged are 25-year-old Jacob Liticker from Houston, Texas; 29-year-old Ganiyu Victor Ladepo from Fayetteville, North Carolina; 26-year-old Kehinde Mubarak Ladepo, an enlisted member of the U.S. Air Force stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina; and 24-year-old Maxwell Uzoma Okobi from North Carolina, currently deployed to Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, the U.S. attorneys office announced.

The four were indicted on charges alleging that they were a part of a national scheme led by Liticker to acquire $2 million in PPP loans administered by the SBA.

Each defendant could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison if convicted, along with fines and restitution.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of South Carolina, Liticker allegedly created false PPP loan applications for up to 100 people across the country for amounts of about $20,000.

Hes accused of assisting those individuals in submitting false information to SBA-approved lenders.

In doing so, he would often create false tax documentation to support the non-existent businesses, the U.S. attorneys office stated. In exchange for his services, Liticker would receive a portion of the PPP loan proceeds. The indictment alleges that Liticker would also assist in getting the loans forgiven.

PPP loans were finite funds designed to help businesses stay afloat amid unprecedented times and extraordinary challenges. Every dollar wrongly taken from this taxpayer-funded program was a dollar that could not go to a legitimate business in need, said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs in a press release. This Office takes pandemic-related crime seriously and stands ready to prosecute fraud related to the Coronavirus in all its forms. This case highlights those efforts.

In May 2021, the U.S. Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and to help agencies administering relief programs to prevent fraud, the U.S. attorneys office stated.
Michael Thomas rejects modernity, embraces traditional Catholicism

Its late October in Sharon, New York. The hills are painted red, orange, and yellow. Mist hangs in the earth-scented air, far below the migrating birds.

The retreat of bugs and peepers creates a pensive silence this time of year, traditionalist farmer and cider maker Michael Thomas said in an Oct. 27 text message, one in a series of interviews with The Epoch Times.

On Twitter, Thomas is Michael Thomas of Sharon: Father of five. Traditional Catholic.

Through his account, he has spurred a new, old response to the dislocating power of modernitythe Catholic Land Movement, the revival of a nearly century-old effort to promote homesteading among faithful Catholics. (He owns the website CatholicLandMovement.info.)

Trees in the fog on traditionalist Catholic farmer Michael Thomass property in Sharon, N.Y. (Courtesy of Michael Thomas)

One recent tweet, illustrated by images of trees shrouded in fog, conveys something of his message:

Restoration of order & common sense is never so far away. A disordered structure will not stand. Modernity attempts to defy both natural order & its perfection by Grace. A constant panic to deny conclusions so readily available. Human will is no substitute for perennial Truth.

By Their Fruits You Shall Know Them

Anyone reading Thomass Twitter posts can see hes no fan of the forces arrayed against small farmers like himself.

But who, or what, are those forces?

Thomas believes Matthew 7:16by their fruits you shall know themcould offer an answer.

Michael Thomas, a traditionalist Catholic farmer in Sharon, N.Y. (Courtesy of Michael Thomas)

The fruits of the World Economic Forum (WEF), for example, include lab-grown tissue or other alternative proteins intended to replace conventional meat.

Thomas thinks the current push for fake meat is grounded in a fundamentally optimistic view of technologyone he does not share.

Were becoming technological right down to our bodies, he said.

That, anyway, appears to be the vision of WEF and its allies. One 2019 document from that organization trumpets the imminent arrival of affordable biohacking.

A special police officer is seen on the roof of the Congress hotel during a session at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on May 24, 2022. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

Thomas also worries about the influence of big agribusiness firms. Those companies, he said, could stand to gain from the hyper-technological future forecast by the WEF and other globalist groups, especially if that future favors a small number of well-connected private players.

To the titans of agribusiness, a world of a few massive buyers, effectively compelled to purchase their products, might look like paradise.

Like other homesteaders, Thomas came to farming in hopes of avoiding that particular dystopia. Among other things, he wanted to avoid running up the large debts that are common among bigger farmers.

My idea was to grow slowly, he said.

Thomas still has a full-time day jobnot too unusual in the often precarious world of small-scale farming and ranching, and a sign, perhaps, of the limits to scaling his approach in a growing, hungry world.

A bucolic scene on Michael Thomass farm in Sharon, N.Y. (Courtesy of Michael Thomas)

Today, he grazes 15 sheep in a traditional apple orchard. He ferments his apple varietal of choicean English bittersweetin oak barrels.

His cider-making hearkens back to Americas deep past. Many of the Founding Fathers loved hard cider.

His practices align with what many environmentalists want to see on a much larger scale. For instance, he doesnt irrigate his land, and he doesnt spray his trees with fungicidal copper or sulfur.

A sunset is reflected in the pond on traditionalist farmer Michael Thomass land in upstate New York. (Courtesy of Michael Thomas)

On the other hand, Thomass reliance on sheep and other animals places him at loggerheads with the many powerful forces trying to curtail or even eliminate animal agriculture, on the stated grounds that its not environmentally sustainable.

One such actor is the Dutch government, which has sought to slash livestock numbers in the Netherlands.

Thomas voiced his solidarity with the Dutch farmers who protested that proposal, describing the governments efforts as just bizarre.

Farmers gather with their vehicles next to a GermanyNetherlands border sign during a protest against the Dutch governments nitrogen plans, on the A1 highway, near Rijssen, Netherlands, on June 29, 2022. (VINCENT JANNINK/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

Journey to Logos

Thomass opposition to the people and groups seeking world-spanning power didnt start yesterday.

As a young man during the early 2000s, he associated with the left-leaning anti-globalization movement. Back then, he was an anarchist.

I mean, we were all kids once, Thomas said.

He became disillusioned with that scene during the mid- to late-2000s, as woke politics first began to make headway in it.

In the mid-2010s, Thomas began to rediscover the Catholic faith in which he was raised.

Today, the former anarchist sees himself as a reactionary Catholic traditionalist.

For me, homesteading and local agriculture are innately reactionary responses to the failure of modernity and global liberalism, he said.

A monarch butterfly in upstate New York. (Courtesy of Michael Thomas)

Thomass return to tradition, like that of many others, comes at a strange moment, one of ideological ferment on the periphery of American politics as usual.

Our understanding of who, or what, is left wing or right wing is rapidly changing. Fifteen years ago, who would have expected Democrats to celebrate the Cheney family or Republicans to embrace Tulsi Gabbard?

Thomas draws on a wide range of influences, including traditionalist farmer and poet Wendell Berry and Orthodox Christian environmentalist Paul Kingsnorth. Yet there are clear limits to what he tolerates. For one thing, he firmly rejects liberalism and communism.

I think that liberalism is a dialogue with evil. And I think that communism is evil that uses that foothold to gain social acceptance, Thomas said.

He believes the world is inevitably moving in a post-liberal direction. According to him, the specific path that post-liberalism follows could prove critical to the future of humankind.

If it doesnt manifest in the correct way, you can get these terrible convulsions of humanity, he said.

A few potential futures glimmer just over the horizon.

One fate, Thomas believes, could involve the rise of Chinese Communist Party-style social credit scores in the service of authoritarian state control, aided and abetted by globalist capital.

Its obviously something the global corporate elite are pushing toward, and so it needs to be refuted, he said.

From a Christian perspective, such attempts to establish omniscience and omnipotence in this world can look like a poor imitation of Logosthat is, the creative reason and Word of God, manifest in Jesus Christ.

Is it the anti-Logos? Its an echo of the original sins of pride and arrogance, Thomas said.

Man crowns himself master of all things and, in this arrogance, condemns himself to slavery of the State.

Depicted in this mosaic in the Basilica of San Vitale are (LR) St. Vitalis, an archangel, Jesus Christ, a second archangel, and Ecclesius, the bishop of Ravenna. (Renata Sedmakova/Shutterstock)

Catholic Land Movement Rooted in Past

Thomas wanted an alternative to the futures on offer from the Chinese regime, the WEF, and the like.

To move forward, he looked back. He found his way to the Catholic Land Movement, a response to rapid industrialization around the turn of the 20th century with new appeal in modern times.

Thomas thinks the pressures on people back then were similar to those todayin the modern case, from groups like the United Nations through its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Then as now, it seemed as though people were being herded into cities.

A general view shows voting results during a U.N. General Assembly meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Oct. 12, 2022. (ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images)

The original Catholic Land Movement gave people a framework to reject those pressures and seek a different path.

Its roots draw on Pope Leo XIIIs 1891 encyclical Rerum novarum, which rejected hostility between labor and capital.

Private ownership, Leo XIII wrote, is in accordance with the law of nature.

Fr. Vincent McNabb is another source of inspiration. Thomass website reproduces McNabbs article The Catholic Land Movement.

On the land, McNabb wrote, the father of a family, which is the divine unit of human society, can seek liberty without himself falling into any anti-social selfishness.

G. K. Chesterton, in an undated photo. (Public Domain)

Catholic writers G.K. Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc also influenced the movement.

For all of these thinkers, especially Chesterton and Belloc, it was important that men and women should have the dignity that comes from possessing property, Dermot Quinn, a professor at Seton Hall University and editor of the Chesterton Review, told The Epoch Times in an email. Property enables, indeed requires, self-reliance. It allows families to flourish together. It forms a protective barrier against the over mighty state.

Thomas said, At the core of the Catholic faith is the familyand at the core of the homesteading movement is the family.

A shed on traditionalist Catholic farmer Michael Thomass property in Sharon, N.Y. (Courtesy of Michael Thomas)

There is, of course, a raw, biological dimension to the success or failure of a belief system. A religion that commands its followers to be fruitful and multiply, whether Christian or otherwise, can be expected to win out over one that tolerates or even exalts barrenness. The former will produce offspring; the latter wont.

Thomas doesnt think that analysis conflicts with traditional Catholicism or the Catholic Land Movement.

Large families, he said, are beautifuland beauty will save the world.

An inaugural conference for the revived movement, held this August on Thomass property, drew many faithful Catholics.

A scene from the first Catholic Land Movement conference in August 2022. (Courtesy of Michael Thomas)

The movement, Thomas said, is still in primordial emergencefitting language for the young, extremely online traditionalists who flock to Thomas and figures like him.

Against such an idealized virtual backdrop, complete with well-lit photographs of apple trees, sheep, and the upstate New York sky, its tempting to accuse many of those would-be homesteaders of live action role-playingin other words, LARP-ing. The LARP, it follows, is somehow inauthentic or unserious.

For someone renting an apartment in some alienating, hive-like city, tethered to modern technology and burdened by social pressures large and small, it can be hard to imagine owning and cultivating a little piece of the country.

Thomas doesnt fault young people for starting small on their journey back to the land. They have to crawl from the wreckage of modernity, he said.

His own slow growth toward greater independence wasnt always worthy of a picturesque social media post.

I tilled my own soul and tilled the land with my failures, he said.

Quinn, of Seton Hall University, said the newest version of the Catholic Land Movement has many supporters.

It represents a striking response to the spiritual poverty of our time, when, in the midst of material plenty, we find our deepest desires unmet by crude commerce and mere consumerism, he said.

In a season of transition, an upstate cider maker hopes to tend something that lasts. His success could strengthen many other pilgrims from the system.

A scene from traditionalist farmer Michael Thomass property in upstate New York. (Courtesy of Michael Thomas)
HK philosophy professor uses the pen as his sword to reflect on history

In July 2020, the implementation of the National Security Law (NSL) no doubt officially turned Hong Kong into Xianggang and at the same time sent Hong Kong to the guillotine, Professor Cheung Chan-fai, former head of the Department of Philosophy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), said. As a septuagenarian, now 73 years old, he still insists on speaking for freedom by using the pen in place of a sword.

In July 2020, Professor Cheung travelled to the UK and was to return to Hong Kong soon. However, due to the implementation of the NSL in Hong Kong, he heard the news that many pro-democracy activists, politicians, media reporters, and intellectuals had been detained and sentenced. In desperation, he chose to remain and settle in the UK.

For the remaining lectures and courses at the CUHK, he could only resort to teaching online. For the final philosophy class in May this year (2022), all 300 online places were fully booked. All new and old students came together to listen to the voice of the professor and remained for a long while after the lecture before leaving reluctantly. My teaching career provides a lot of good feelings, as well as some emotion. Sometimes it brings happiness, sometimes a bit of sorrow. For him, CUHK is a place full of memories. Free thoughts took root here. But as if it is part of all life, in the end, also needs to perish one day.

The cover of the second edition of My City Survives or Dies is a scene taken by Professor Cheung Chan-fai when he flew from Hong Kongs Kai Tak Airport to Shanghai in 1997. (Courtesy of Cheung Chan-fai)

Looking back on September 1997, when Cheung flew from Hong Kongs Kai Tak Airport to Shanghai, overlooking the high-rise buildings on Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula, the phrase one country, two systems still had a slight illusion in his mind. Twenty-five years later today, on July 1, his collection of essays, My City Survives or Dies: Pondering Freedom under Authoritarianism, is republished in Taiwan, while Hong Kong could no longer tolerate his voice. The lie of fifty years unchanged is just halfway through, but it has disappeared completely. This is also the day when a former police officer becomes the chief executive and takes the rein of power in Hong Kong, and a police state is officially proclaimed, said Cheung.

What Happened at CUHK Campus Makes Him Choose The Pen as His Sword Against Dictatorship.

Nov. 12, 2019, is a day that Cheung will always remember. On this day, I was watching live TV at home and saw that my alma mater, CUHK, where I had been studying, living, researching, and teaching since 1970, was invaded by the Hong Kong police with our students brutally dealt with. I had to say I was inexplicably sad and angry at that moment, he recalled. Indeed, it was that same night he was invited to return to the school to give a speech on the topic of Guarding the University, Protecting the Conscience. But due to traffic jams, he was unable to enter the campus and missed it.

The retired professor, in his 70s, instead chose to march with the young people along the Shing Mun River to the campus to show their support. In the middle of the night, a big crowd gathered under the statue of the Goddess of Democracy on the CUHK campus. The long human chain transporting supplies. There was starting to be restlessness and anxiety in the air, and the originally peaceful campus turned into a battlefield overnight. The police dispatched water cannons on the campus and fired more than 2,000 tear gas canisters and rubber bullets. Smokes and fumes were everywhere, and an urgent and chaotic scene ensued.

On Nov 7, 2019, around the statue of the Goddess of Democracy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, students put up different slogans to express their protest. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times)

My favourite CUHK, our ideal, a free and open campus, a place where academic autonomy is respected, I can hardly imagine such a disaster could happen in it! Cheung has devoted his life to academic research, engraving, and photography. I never thought that I would make a political commentary, but now the flames of autocracy are burning at the door of his house, and this defenceless retired professor, a kind of peaceful, rational, and non-violent person who has to use his only tool available, which is the pen in place of the sword to express himself. The campus of CUHK can be destroyed, professors and students can be arrested, and the bronze statues of the two senior scholars can be removed, but the spirit and conscience of the university they represent will not and cannot be destroyed. The protection of the university and its conscience within those few days of resistance just shows all those virtues have never been forgotten, Cheung wrote these words in grief and indignation. In the following days, he chose to come out and share his thoughts with the media, and successively accepted interviews with Hong Kong Radio, The Epoch Times, Apple Daily, Stand News, and wrote a series of articles expressing his views on the dictatorship.

The Goddess of Democracy of the Chinese University of Hong Kong was removed in the early hours of Dec. 24, 2021. On that day, students placed 2 boxes of introductory materials about the statue in the vacant space of the original site of the statue. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times)

Professor Cheung took count of all the injustice he had witnessed in the past two years, and he chose to come out: I watched how my friends changed from being the plaintiff to be the defendant in the 721 Incident; what happened to the 47-person case (the Hong Kong pro-democracy primary election ballot case). In both cases, we saw clearly how the regime could turn black to white and target people retrospectively. And how do we deal with the truth when we face such things? I dont just speak [the feelings of] my heart. I wrote a series of articles in the latter period and added in the deeds and thoughts of ancient philosophers in their heydays to understand what the wisdom thinkers of the past gave us to arm ourselves with ideas to deal with this absurd and unjust authoritarian dictatorship.

The statue of Professor Lao Sze-kwang on the campus of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. (Courtesy of Cheung Chan-fai)

Professor Cheung is so familiar with every blade of grass and every tree at the CUHK. He describes that he has enjoyed the most free and beautiful era since the founding of the university, especially when he met his mentor Lao Sze-kwang, who opened the door to philosophy for him. He also taught him the need to have a solid backbone to be a man. For Cheung, there are no regrets. He recalled part of Laos teaching: How can we intellectuals exist in such a totalitarian environment? Professor Lao taught us at least not to be the accomplices, not to help the tyrants, not to flatter, not to cheer and wave the flag (of the dictatorship).

From 2019 to 2021, Cheung chose to stand up in his twilight years, restore the historical truth, look at conscience from a philosophical perspective, and then compiled his views, expressed on separate occasions, into a document called My City Survives or Dies: Pondering Freedom under Authoritarianism.

Obstacles Everywhere to Publishing Books, Invisible Red Thread Tying HK

My City Survives or Dies has a first draft in October 2020. At the beginning, one Hong Kong publishing house agreed to publish it, but soon after taking over, it had concerns and declined to proceed further. Subsequently, another Hong Kong-based publishing house, Hillway Culture, was willing to do it. It was originally scheduled to be launched in June 2021 to match the timing of the large-scale Hong Kong Book Fair in July, when promotion through them would be easier and more efficient. It was a pity that the editor informed Cheung one month before the publication: Sorry, Professor Cheung, we could not find a printing house in Hong Kong that dares to print this book, so it may be postponed. Hearing this, Cheung was a little disappointed: I am retired at an old age. A guy with no organisation links and no political KOLs (Internet celebrities), but just an article writer. How come it is so difficult to express an opinion! On the other hand, this is the mafia-type method of the Communist Party, which tries to make people feel afraid. As you never know where you might step on its red line, and that will make you feel insecure and need to think twice about doing anything.

In 2021, Hillway Culture published the first edition of My City Survives or Dies, and the printed version was sold out within three months. (Hillway Culture website)

Fortunately, Hillway Culture did not give up its commitment to publishing and launching the printed edition of My City Survives or Dies in August 2021. Even without the promotion of the book fair, it was all sold out in just three months. Cheung was both surprised and delighted: I havent had a book that sells so fast! In the stormy 2021, freedom of speech in Hong Kong was further tightened. Apple Daily and Stand News that, once published Cheungs remarks, disappeared one after the other. Various civil organisations and pro-democracy political parties were forced to dissolve. Radio stations, universities, and online media were also under close supervision. The original plan of republishing My City Survives or Dies was stopped due to the publishing house giving up because of pressure from somewhere. For a time, there was white terror within the HK border, and an atmosphere of clouds gathering before the stormy weather was felt everywhere. On this Cheung shook his head and said, This book is out of print in Hong Kong. If there were no free publishing environment in Taiwan, this book would be out of print on Earth too.

He Will Continue to Write, Ensuring the Fire of Freedom and Democracy Persists

Cheung is gratified that his book has been favoured by Taiwans Rive Gauche Publishing House and is willing to publish the second edition of it, with some articles revised. July 1, 2022, was specifically chosen for it to be put on the shelves to satirize the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kongs sovereignty. The civil society of freedom, the rule of law, openness, and diversity has disappeared. Cheung believes that Hong Kong has become a historical term, and now it should be better known as Xianggang, the Mandarin version of saying Hong Kong. This seems to be a better reflection of the actual situation here as it has lost its freedom and democracy, fast becoming just one of the many coastal cities on the mainland. He wrote in the preface of the reprinted book: Xianggang is now: Lie is truth/Power is democracy/Obedience is freedom/Rule of man is the rule of law/Horses run, the dance continues, eat, drink and play remain peaceful and prosperous.

When talking about My City in the title of the book, we asked Professor Cheung if it represents Hong Kong, and he responded meaningfully: Actually, this My City is not only limited to Hong Kong, it is a proxy for identity, that is, Where I am, a place that has a special relationship with you and me. Nowadays, Hong Kong people emigrate to all parts of the world, but no matter where they are, they still have their own roots and their own city. The use of survival and death to describe life and death originates primarily from some philosophical concepts. The original idea came from Zhang Zais Xi Ming in the Song Dynasty: Richness, nobility, and fortune that enrich my life are all granted by god and my parents; poverty and obstacles, on the other hand, force me to work hard to bring about success in my career. During my life, I follow my conscience and do my best; when I die, I feel satisfied and leave with peace of mind. When he entered his twilight years, Professor Cheung originally wanted to choose to stay aloof and not worry about world affairs, and just enjoy his retirement in peace. I have no fear of death. After living a fulfilling life, I leave peacefully without any regret. Words that were once used to describe a persons attitude towards life have now been used by him to fit the turbulent society of today, something to describe the life and death of a city.

Former Dean of the Department of Philosophy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Cheung Chan-fai attends a photo session during the launch of his new book in Hong Kong in June 2020. (Jenny Zeng/The Epoch Times)

Looking back at his 40 years in Hong Kongs academia, Cheung sighed: Its a very sad fact that in the past few years, there have been very few tertiary professionals who can stand up and speak the truth. Very few professor-grade personnel in the Hong Kong academia actively participated. This is a question worth reflecting on. As long as I am still around, I have my pen with me, and I will continue to use it. I am very grateful, I live much longer than either Confucius or Socrates. The world is changing forever, we cant be separated from the world at large. As long as there is still fire in my heart, I will continue to write!
Badenoch Calls for Green Investment to Future-Proof UK Economy

Trade secretary Kemi Badenoch, who has previously criticised net-zero policies, called investment in green energy the future-proofing force that will help us create a better tomorrow at a government eco trade and investment expo.

Now is the time to future-proof our economy by investing in cutting-edge green technology, protecting our long-term energy security and creating thousands of jobs in industries of the future, said Badenoch at the Green Trade and Investment Expo in Gateshead, northern England, on Tuesday.

Badenoch has previously flirted with abandoning net-zero targets, likening them to unilateral economic disarmament.

Too many policies like net-zero targets set up with no thought to the effects on industries in the poorer parts of this country. And the consequence is simply to displace the emissions of other countries. Unilateral economic disarmament, she wrote in a piece for The Spectator during her run to become the Conservative Party leader and prime minister in July.

She later softened her stance.

Wind turbines are silhouetted against the sun at Black Law wind farm, in Black Law, Scotland, on Jan. 29, 2010. (Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images)

Growing Our Green Industries Is Crucial to Reaching Net Zero

Hosted by the Department for International Trade (DIT) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the expo brings together UK businesses and global investors to capitalise on the commercial opportunities stemming from the UKs journey to net zero.

First, we know that growing our green industries is crucial to reaching net zero. Some people raise awareness of climate change by throwing soup at paintings in museums or gluing themselves to the road. Thats not really my style, Badenoch said in her speech.

We in this room know that we can only tackle climate change by using free trade and investment to accelerate green technological progress. And we must do this in a way that does not impoverish the UK, she said.

She added that its a long-term investment in nuclear and renewables that will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and keep down consumer costs.

The DIT said that the UK had in two years secured almost 20 billion ($23 billion) in green inward investment, creating more than 11,000 new jobs. It added that 100 billion ($115 billion) of private sector investment is expected to support nearly 500,000 new jobs by 2030.

John Constable, director of energy at Net Zero Watch, challenged the idea of mass green job creation.



Net Zero Watch, which was founded by the former Chancellor Lord Nigel Lawson, scrutinises climate and decarbonisation policies.

There is a small number of high-quality jobs in the fossil fuel industry, but the low-cost energy from fossil fuel jobs creates thousands and thousands of high-quality jobs outside of the energy sector, Constable told The Epoch Times.

Low-Quality Jobs

What low-quality fuels like renewables do, like wind and solar, is that they create low-quality jobs in the energy sector. There may be quite a lot of those, not necessarily in the UK, they will be in low-cost manufacturing countries in Asia, said Constable.

He said that this destroys jobs outside the energy sector, so the net effect on employment is negative.

Creating thousands of jobs in the wind industry is not a good thing because it destroys more jobs outside the wind industry because of the high costs, he added.

Constable said that Badenoch speaks sense when she is outside of government, citing previous net zero criticisms.

But he added that MPs seem to be powerless to resist the civil service line on this, which he characterised as completely wedded to the decarbonisation agenda through renewables.

He said that it will require a physical crisis in the UK economy and some very exceptional people in politics to change the situation.
Pilots in conversation. The tail of an American Airlines aircraft is seen in the background in Dallas, Texas on Feb. 14, 2013. (Mike Stone/file/Reuters)

Beijing Recruiting Western Pilots to Train its Air Force Personnel

Expert: The West is helping the CCP to become a threat

Beijing is recruiting large numbers of British, French, Australian, and Canadian pilots to train its air force. Carl Schuster, former director of operations at U.S. Pacific Commands Joint Intelligence Center, warned that the West is helping the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) become a threat.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) says it believes that up to 30 former British military pilots are providing training in China, and says it has been in contact with many others, including British personnel currently serving. Each pilots is paid 237,911 (about $272,842).

The MoD said that the Chinese regime uses third parties to find British and other Western pilots to train Chinese pilots and to support state-owned defense industry companies and research institutes.

In addition, the Canadian Department of National Defence said it is investigating reports that the Chinese government may be paying high salaries to recruit Canadian jet fighter pilots to train the CCPs air force.

According to Le Figaro, a French newspaper, Beijing is offering to lure retired French pilots to train the CCP military on how to land and take off aircraft from aircraft carriers and learn NATO air force strategy. Several fighter pilots have served in China over the past few years, including a retired pilot from the Strategic Air Force.

Reason Behind Chinese Aircraft Carriers Rapid Progress

Carl Schuster said that in the United States, people are not allowed to work for foreign governments without government permission.

I dont know about France and Britain, but I think that it is at best unwise, Schuster told The Epoch Times. It certainly explains chinas rapid progress once they built a carrier.

The CCPs military is growing rapidly, with a fleet of aircraft carriers and ambitions to challenge the U.S. Navys position in the Pacific. According to the Chinese military magazine Military Technology, the PLA will need to train 100 to 150 new naval pilots over the next 10 years to match the new fleet, and it still faces many problems.

General view of the launching ceremony of Chinas third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, named after Fujian Province, at Jiangnan Shipyard, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, on June 17, 2022 in Shanghai, China. (Li Tang/VCG via Getty Images)

The reason the CCP has extended its recruitment hand to France is that French pilots have mastered the fine art of catapult takeoff and landing on aircraft carriers. Chinas third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is equipped with electromagnetic takeoff catapults, a technology used only by the United States and soon to be adopted by France. The United Kingdom, on the other hand, has been using vertical takeoff Falcon attack aircraft since the 1980s.

Landing and taking off from an aircraft carrier is very challenging, and doing it quickly is even more challenging, according to Schuster. Therefore, recruiting Western pilots could really help the CCP accelerate their carrier-based aviation training program.

In 2012, the official Chinese media reported that the Chinese military had successfully landed a fighter jet on board the Liaoning, Chinas first aircraft carrier. Therefore, Shuster speculates that the CCP would have started recruiting foreign pilots to be trainers in 2010.

Handing a Stick to Your Enemy Before Getting Into a Fight

However, Shuster said he was more concerned about Western pilots training the CCP military in air-to-air combat tactics than simply training them in the skills of carrier aircraft take off and landing.

I think that it is unwise for these pilots to do that Its unwise for their countries to allow them to do that,he said.It is somewhat like handing a stick to your enemy before you get into a fight.

I can understand the pilots wanting the money. but I cannot see a patriotic pilot doing it.

Chinese pilots onboard the guided-missile frigate Wuhu (539) stand in formation shortly after docking at the international port in Manila on Jan. 17, 2019. (Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images)

The retired Navy captain said that the biggest advantage of the CCP recruiting Western pilots is that it can steal the combat experience of French and British pilots. Britain and France were involved in Operation Desert Shield Storm in the 1990 Gulf War.

When you look at the way they approach a tactic target: how [do] they penetrate air defenses, and what do they do after they come up from the attack? Those are vital tactics that can ensure the pilots survival in the natural world, Shuster said. So I think thats why China has recruited them. Theyre looking to expand their tactical wisdom of experiences and expand their training program in those texts.

Helped China Become a Threat to the West

Shuster believes that Western pilots helping to train the CCP will make the regime more dangerous.

Its another example of where the West has helped China become a threat to the West. Its assisting your enemy, he said.When theyre worried about Chinas potential aggression in the South China Sea or against Taiwan, having your own pilot train the Chinese air force and [teaching them] the tactics that could be used to defeat you or to defeat Taiwan, if it isnt criminal, it should be.

The MoD said on the issue that all serving and former military personnel are bound by the Official Secrets Act.

We are taking decisive steps to stop Chinese recruitment schemes attempting to headhunt serving and former UK Armed Forces pilots to train the Peoples Liberation Army personnel in the Peoples Republic of China, a MoD spokesperson said in a statement.

Undated photograph of UK Minister for Armed Forces James Heappey. (David Mirzoeff/PA)

James Heappey, Minister of State for the Armed Forces and Veterans, said the government is currently seeking to change the law to penalize military pilots who pass on their expertise to the Chinese forces.

We are going to put into law that once people have been given that warning, it will become an offence to go forward and continue with that training, Heappey told Sky News. China is a competitor that is threatening the UK interest in many places around the world.

In Canada, violating the Security of Information Act carries a 14-year prison sentence.

The Security of Information Act applies to both current and former members, and non-compliance with the Act could result in serious consequences,said Canadas Department of National Defence spokesperson Daniel Le Bouthillier.

France has not commented on the matter.

Schuster said that if British and French laws allow their pilots to train the Chinese military, they should change their laws to make it illegal.

The U.S., French, and the British should investigate it to find out how long it has been going. and who has been doing it, he said.

According to the Daily Mail, the CCP is using a private flight academy in South Africa as a middleman to recruit pilots, as any direct contact between Beijing and fast jet pilots at Royal Air Force in the UK would be intercepted by security authorities. The academy is the Test Flight Academy of South Africa located at Otshoorn Airport in the Western Cape.

Schuster said if a company hires Western pilots to train Chinese pilots, the company is violating U.S. law; if an American pilot trains a Chinese pilot and does not report it, then the American pilot is breaking the law.

But Ive not seen any reports that American pilots are doing this, he said.
Two Chinese SU-30 fighter jets take off from an unspecified location to fly a patrol over the South China Sea in a file photo. (Jin Danhua/Xinhua via AP)

Beijings Recruitment of Western Military Pilots Prompts National Security Concerns For Canada, UK

Citing national security concerns, both Canada and the UK have started to examine possible breaches of confidentiality agreements among current and former military personnel following reports that the Chinese regime has been recruiting British military pilots.

The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) told The Epoch Times on Oct. 27 that it is looking into the issue with its federal partners, and any behavior of its members that harms the Canadian national interest will be dealt with appropriately.

The Security of Information Act applies to both current and former members, and non-compliance with the Act could result in serious consequences.

As an institution that upholds democratic principles and the rule of law, we trust and expect current and former CAF members to adhere to the values of the institution, the DND said.

Under Canadas Security of Information Act, persons convicted of indictable offenses could be imprisoned for up to 14 years; those convicted on summary conviction could be sentenced to up to one year in prison or a fine of up to $2,000, or both.

In a statement issued to The Epoch Times on Oct. 28, a spokesperson from the UKs Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that the ministry is taking decisive steps to stop the Chinese regime from attempting to headhunt current and former UK Armed Forces pilots to train Chinese armed forces in China.

All serving and former personnel are already subject to the Official Secrets Act, and we are reviewing the use of confidentiality contracts and non-disclosure agreements across Defence, while the new National Security Bill will create additional tools to tackle contemporary security challengesincluding this one, the spokesperson said.

Earlier in October, it was reported that around 30 former British pilots are currently helping to train Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) with lucrative compensation packages of about $270,000 a year, as reported by The Epoch Times on Oct. 18.

An H-6 bomber of the Chinese army flies near a Taiwan F-16 on Feb. 10, 2020. (Taiwan Ministry of National Defense/Handout via Reuters)

In an article published by the Daily Mail on Oct. 17, an unnamed official said that some Canadian and Australian military pilots have also been lured to China by the Chinese regime.

Additionally, the article states that Beijing had to hire British Royal Air Force pilots through an intermediary named Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA), as any direct approaches by Beijing would be blocked by the UKs security services.

It was also reported that former U.S. military pilot, Daniel Edmund Duggan, was arrested in Australia on Oct. 21 and is awaiting extradition to the United States, according to an exclusive report by Reuters on Oct. 25, over his working for a Chinese aviation consulting firm from 2017 to 2020.

According to the MoD, Western military pilots recruited by the Chinese regime were required to train Chinese pilots in state-owned defense industry companies and research institutions.

Central News Agency, the most influential news organization in Taiwan, states that the Chinese regime has hired numerous French fighter aircraft pilots over the past several years to teach Chinese pilots NATO air force strategies and aircraft carrier landing and take-off procedures, citing an exclusive report published by the oldest newspaper in France, Le Figaro.

In particular, the report states that Beijing seeks to learn techniques associated with Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) and use them on its Fujian aircraft carrier equipped with the Electromagnetic Launch System.

CATOBAR, used only by the United States and France, is a system used for the launch and recovery of aircraft from the deck of an aircraft carrier.

The Epoch Times reporter was not able to independently verify the details in the Le Figaro report.

Handing a Stick to Your Enemy: Expert

In an interview with The Epoch Times, Carl Schuster, former director of operations at U.S. Pacific Commands Joint Intelligence Center, believes its unwise for military pilots to accept Beijings offers for lucrative gains and help the Chinese regime to become more dangerous and threatening.

I can understand the pilots wanting the money, but I cannot see a patriotic pilot doing it for any inducement  Its unwise for their [pilots] countries to allow them to do that. It is somewhat like handing a stick to your enemy before you get into a fight, he said.

However, in addition to CATOBAR techniques, Schuster is more concerned that Beijing may attempt to acquire U.S. and other nations knowledge of aerial combat.

Im more worried about the training in America in Western air-to-air combat tactics, how do we approach combat, (and) what are our tactics and procedures  Its more than just learning how to take off and land on the carrier, it is about learning the range of combat skills required for a carrier pile, he said.

Additionally, Schuster said, the Chinese regime seeks to exploit the combat experience acquired by French and British pilots during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in the 1990s Gulf War.

When you look at the way they approach a tactic target, how they penetrate air defenses, and what they do and after they come up from the attack, those are vital tactics that can ensure pilots survival  theyre [the Chinese regime] looking to expand their tactical wisdom of experiences and expand their training program in those texts.

James Heappey, Britains Minister of State for the Armed Forces and Veterans, told Sky News earlier in the month that China is a competitor that is threatening the UKs interests in many places around the world.

There is no secret in their attempt to gain access to our secrets, and their recruitment of our pilots in order to understand the capabilities of our air force is clearly a concern to us and the intelligence part of the MoD.

We are going to put into law that once people [British pilots] have been given that warning it will become an offence to go forward and continue with that training (for the Chinese regime), he said.
During a protest on the Mexican side of the border, U.S. Border Patrol agents resorted to deploying non-lethal force to drive would-be migrants people back.

Affirmative action in higher education hangs in the balance. Hear what Supreme Court Justices had to say about it on Oct. 31.

NTD has new details on the man accused of attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband after breaking into their San Francisco home, and his disturbing plot.

Topics in this episode include:

1. Alleged Pelosi Attacker in Country Illegally

2. Officers Fire Rubber Bullets at Border

3. SCOTUS Takes Up Race-Based College Admissions

4. President Biden Criticizes Oil Industry

5. Polls Show Deadlock in Nevada Senate Race

6. North Carolinas Unaffiliated Voters

7. Truckers in Brazil Block Roads in Protest of Lula Win

8. US and S.Korea Conduct Largest Ever Air Drills

9. Thousands Of Chinese Workers Leave Apple Supplier

10. FTC: Chegg Exposed Millions of Students Personal Data

11. Possible Delta Airlines Strike Looming

12. NTD International Piano Competition

13. Youre Joking Me: Jokes for Kids By a Kid

14. Switzerland: Longest Passenger Train

* Click the Save button below the video to access it later on My List.

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The logo of the multi-national oil and gas company BP (British Petroleum) at a petrol station in Tonbridge, southeast of London, on April 30, 2022. (Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images)

BP Reports $8.2 Billion Profit in 3rd Quarter

British oil giant BP announced a further share buyback on Tuesday as it reported an $8.2 billion (7.1 billion) profit for the third quarter.

The third quarter underlying replacement cost profitsa measure that oil companies often usewere slightly down from the second quarters $8.5 billion (7.4 billion) owing to dropping oil and gas prices, but more than double the amount made in the third quarter last year of $3.3 billion (2.9 billion).

The profit reported for the first nine months of 2022 is $23 billion (20 billion), more than double the $9 billion (8 billion) of the same period in the previous year.

The London-listed company said its net debt has fallen for the 10th successive quarter to reach $22 billion (19 billion) at the end of the third quarter.

It announced further share buybacks of $2.5 billion (2.2 billion), because the $3.5 billion (3 billion) share buyback programme it announced with the second quarter results was completed on Oct. 27.

The company also sought to reassure investors of the companys future amid the global transition away from oil and gas by updating shareholders on its investments in biogas, electric vehicle charging, and renewable energy.

CEO Bernard Looney said the quarters results showed BP is continuing to perform while transforming.

The price of oil and gas shot up at the beginning of this year as economies emerged from the COVID-19 restrictions and prices further rocketed after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Prices have fallen in recent months, but remain at elevated levels.

In June the cost of a barrel of Brent crude oil hovered at around $114 (100) per barrel, but since early July the measure has rarely risen above the $100 (87) mark.

On Tuesday, a barrel of crude would set a buyer back around $94 dollars (81).

Unlike its rival Shell, BP confirmed it will pay UK windfall taxes this year.

It told shareholders it will pay out $2.5 billion (2.2 billion) in taxes for its UK North Sea business in 2022, including $800 million (695 million) of tax related to the energy profits levy.

Shell confirmed last week that it does not expect to pay out for the tax this year as firms are able to offset potential tax payments through investment.

The Conservative government imposed a 25 percent windfall tax on the profits of North Sea oil and gas companies in May when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was then chancellor of the Exchequer, after Labour and the Liberal Democrats pushed for it.

The temporary tax, which will be levied on higher-than-normal profit until the end of 2025, was introduced to fund an energy bill relief package for households.

Labour has been calling for an extension of the policy.

Following BPs publication of its third quarter result on Tuesday, shadow climate change secretary Ed Miliband said on Twitter that the companys profits are damning evidence of the failure of the Tories to levy a proper windfall tax and said Sunak should be hanging his head in shame that he has left billions of windfall profits in the pockets of oil + gas firms during an energy crisis.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen speaks at a ceremony to mark the island's National Day in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei on October 10, 2022. (Sam Yeh / AFP via Getty Images)

Canada Should Normalize Relations With Taiwan to Counter Beijings Threats: Report

As Beijing ramps up its threats against Taiwan in recent years, Canada needs a renewed strategy that recognizes the self-ruled island and normalizes relations with it, says a new Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI) report.

The report, titled Navigating Canada-Taiwan relations: Why Canada needs a renewed strategy to help safeguard peace in the Taiwan Strait, was conducted by MLI senior fellow Scott Simon, who argues that though Canada has a diplomatic and trade relationship with Taiwan, much of the attention it receives is driven by its connection to communist-led China.

High-level political visits to Taiwan should be a normal part of international diplomacyand would be in the absence of Chinese hostility toward Taiwan, Simon wrote.

Taiwans democratically elected state maintains formal or substantive diplomatic relations with most of the world, including Canada. But state leaders dont use usual descriptors for these diplomatic relations because they are coerced by China to use other vocabulary.

Beijing has increased its aggression toward Taiwan in recent months, including an impromptu escalation of military exercises near the island nation in response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis one-day visit to the island nation in August this year.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melonie Joly urged Beijing to deescalate tensions at the time, saying that Pelosis visit cannot be used as a pretext for China to justify its increasingly assertive actions against Taiwan.

Simon called for integrating a renewed Taiwan policy into the Indo-Pacific Strategy that Joly is mandated to create. The mandate is said to deepen diplomatic, economic and defence partnerships and international assistance in the region.

The Canada-Taiwan relationship has never been merely a subset of Canada-China relations, Simon wrote.

Canada has asserted to this day that peace and security in the Taiwan Strait is an international issue rather than, as Beijing would prefer to frame it, an internal Chinese affair that brooks no foreign intervention.

Now more than ever the international community needs to continue normal diplomatic, trade, and other relations with Taiwan to demonstrate to China that the world does not accept its strong-arm tactics, he added.

Recommendations

Simon provided several recommendations for Canadas new Taiwan strategy while warning that Beijings increasing intransigence threatens the peace and stability of the region.

The recommendations include re-asserting that diplomatic, trade, and other normal relations with Taiwan will not be disrupted by Chinas coercion; pursuing both official and unofficial means to facilitate discussions with Taiwanese officials and other regional partners; and potentially formalizing elements of the Canada-Taiwan relationship in Canadian legislation.

He also voiced support for Taiwans membership in international organizations like the Comprehensive Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

In light of Beijings growing aggression, Simon also warned of preparedness against the possibility of increased conflict or war. In response to such a scenario, he recommended potentially forming formal diplomatic recognition of Taiwan to deter Chinas aggression.

A renewed Taiwan strategy as part of a larger Indo-Pacific plan is necessary to maintain the peace and prosperity that we have enjoyed for the past seven decades and hope to bequeath to future generations, Simon wrote.
Republican US Senate candidate in Georgia, and clandestine abortion funding source, Herschel Walker feels that his God would endorse cash bail because of Adam and Eve. Walker's comments make no more sense than anything else he has put forward and serve to illuminate his startling lack of qualification for the job he so desires.

Raw Story:

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker revealed that he opposes cash bail reform because biblical characters Adam and Eve faced consequences for disobeying God.

"They don't want to talk about crime," Walker told a group of supporters in Georgia on Tuesday. "Because the guy I'm running against, [Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA)] voted  he wants criminals out of jail. He wants  he believes in no cash bail."

"And I'm, like, wait a minute," the candidate continued. "In the Bible I read, I remember in Adam and Eve, it says, from this place here you have total freedom but God said if you touch or each from that tree, you will surely die. They were held to responsibility!"
Ships are framed by pieces of melting sea ice in Frobisher Bay in Iqaluit, Nunavut, on July 31, 2019. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Canadas Ability to Detect Chinese, Russian Incursions in Arctic Very Limited, Says CAF General

Canadas ability to detect foreign incursions in its Arctic territories is very limited and in need of modernization, says a high-ranking Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) general.

The North Warning System is very limited in its ability to actually detect the current threat presented by Russia right now and China in the future, said Lt. Gen. Alain Pelletier, deputy commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), while testifying before the House of Commons national defence committee on Nov. 1.

Especially given that the threat from China may be coming from the west coast, Pelletier continued. And the warning system is geared towards the threat coming from the Arctic, as thats for what it was designed back in the early 1980s.

Defence Minister Anita Anand announced in June that the federal government would invest close to $5 billion over the next six years to modernize North Americas defence systems.

Anand said the funding is part of the governments plan to invest about $40 billion into NORAD over the next 20 years.

We will establish the backbone of a brand-new, northern approaches surveillance system to enhance surveillance and early warning threats to our continent, Anand said on June 20 during the funding announcement.

Pelletier said today that the North Warning System needs to be updated with over-the-horizon, long-range radar technology in order to detect possible air and space threats. However, he said NORAD doesnt expect to have the technology in place until the latter years of this decade.

For the first time in our collective history of bi-national defence, we now have two strategic competitors, Russia and China, both of which have nuclear weapons and a third actor in the mix, North Korea, Pelletier said.

He added that both Russia and China have invested heavily in their Arctic military forces in recent years.

They have already modernized their Arctic infrastructure, deployed new coastal and maritime defense missile systems, upgraded their maritime forces, and increased military exercises and training operations with new command organizations dedicated to the Arctic, he said.

The Arctic is the closest path to attack North America.

360-Degree Threat

The national defence committee last week heard from an expert witness saying Chinas threat to the Arctic is more immediate than CAF defence staff chief Gen. Wayne Eyre had previously warned.

I agree with General Eyre, the Chinese will be a threat. I disagree with his timeline. I think it will be much more immediate than what he is expecting, said Robert Huebert, associate professor at the University of Calgary, while testifying before the committee on Oct. 25.

The time periods are so short, which means the problem is not 20 years. [The Chinese] are doing the capabilities studies right now.

Huebert said he believes the Chinese military is actively preparing to send nuclear-powered cruise submarines into Arctic waters and that Canadians need to abandon the idea that our geographical position protects us from invasion.

Pelletier today echoed Hueberts warning, saying that North America now faces a 360-degree threat  from all domains.

Russia and China, as well as other countries, are increasingly interested in the Arctic, he said.

Thus, the Arctic continues to evolve into an interconnected region that is increasingly globalized and contentious.

Andrew Chen and Isaac Teo contributed to this report.
President Joe Biden meets with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, and Department of Defense leaders, not pictured, to discuss national security priorities, in the State Dining Room of the White House on Oct. 26, 2022. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Cancellation of Nuclear Cruise Missile Puts Politics First

Commentary

Russia threatens Ukraine and Europe with nuclear blackmail. China ramps up its nuclear program. Yet the Biden administrations revised nuclear strategy (pdf) found in the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) pretends its the year 2000 and America is the only nuclear-armed superpower. It eliminates the Sea-Launched Nuclear Cruise Missile (SLCM-N), which President Joe Biden called a bad idea in 2019 during the presidential campaign.

Politics replaces military strategy with the new doctrine. It sets eliminating having nuclear weapons as a hedge against an uncertain future. Such a statement is concurrent with Bidens campaign pledge to the Council for a Livable World that the United States doesnt need new nuclear weapons.

Sasha Baker, deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, served on the staff of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a supporter of nuclear-weapon reductions; consequently, her role in this decision and recommendation is unsurprising.

As directed by the president, the NPR has examined opportunities to reduce the role of nuclear weapons while maintaining a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent and a credible extended deterrence, Baker said last March.

The military, however, sees reality instead of politics. Adm. Charles Richard, head of U.S. Strategic Command that oversees the American nuclear arsenal, told Congress at a hearing last March that the current arsenal isnt adequate to deter potential adversaries such as Russia or China.

I support reestablishing SLCM-N as necessary to enhance deterrence and assurance, Richard said in a June letter to Congress. The current situation in Ukraine and Chinas nuclear trajectory have further convinced me a deterrence and assurance gap exists.

Having a low-yield nuclear cruise missile gives the president of the United States options to respond to limited nuclear strikes by a hostile power. As things stand, the presidents only option is either doing nothing or an all-out launch of the nations strategic nuclear arsenal that would lead to Armageddon. Doing nothing following a hostile nuclear attack against the United States or its allies would risk additional nuclear strikes by the hostile attacker.

Such a capability not only would provide a credible and survivable option for extended deterrence in Europe, but also would bolster deterrence and assurance in the Pacific, former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. James Sandy Winnefeld wrote in 2017.

The Trump administration decided to revive the deployment of nuclear-tipped Tomahawk missiles in 2018 after the Obama-Biden administration retired the Tactical Land Attack Missile (TLAM-N) from the Navys arsenal in 2013.

The Biden administrations 2022 National Defense Strategy acknowledges the China threat (pdf):

The PRCs [Peoples Republic of Chinas] increasingly provocative rhetoric and coercive activity towards Taiwan are destabilizing, risk miscalculation, and threaten the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait. This is part of a broader pattern of destabilizing and coercive PRC behavior that stretches across the East China Sea, the South China Sea, and along the Line of Actual Control. The PRC has expanded and modernized nearly every aspect of the PLA [Peoples Liberation Army], with a focus on offsetting U.S. military advantages. The PRC is therefore the pacing challenge for the Department.

The whole purpose of having non-strategic nuclear weapons is to have a knife that can be placed at the throat of a nuclear-armed enemy to deter them from using nuclear weapons first.

Scrapping the nuclear-tipped Tomahawk missile that has been opposed by the military is an unforced error.

China currently has a wide range of nuclear delivery systems ranging from intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), to sea-launched ballistic missiles, to nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicles. Mounting SLCM-Ns on submarines and surface ships would be a reminder to the Chinese that their military installations within 1,500 miles of their coast would be subject to nuclear attack should they use such weapons.

China threatened Japan and Australia with nuclear annihilation last year. Russia continues to saber rattle using its own similar tactical nuclear arsenal against Ukraine and Americas NATO allies.

NATO nuclear weapons in Europe currently require allied pilots to penetrate sophisticated Russian air defenses. Having a cruise-missile capability would save the lives of human pilots who would have to brave these defenses. The SLCM-N would remind Vladimir Putin that his nuclear threats would be met in kind, stopping short of an all-out nuclear exchange.

The Biden administrations desire to eliminate the SLCM-N received criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike.

In the age of a nuclearizing China and a belligerent nuclear Russia, a future of nuclear-fueled gangsterism and blackmail is evident. The threat of mutually assured destruction is the only thing that has kept the world from being embroiled in nuclear war. Dropping the SLCM-N undermines the ability of the United States and its allies to deter nuclear gangsterism on the part of Russia and China.

The Biden administration should listen to Richards warning. It should reconsider because, as he said (pdf) in 2021 congressional testimony, Without this capability adversaries may perceive an advantage at lower levels of conflict that may encourage limited nuclear use.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Is race-based college admissions coming to an end? The Supreme Court hears arguments in a high-profile case against Harvard.

The House speakers husband, Paul Pelosi, is recovering from surgery to repair a skull fracture after a violent attack. Now, the suspect faces multiple charges.

Chairwoman of the Arizona GOP Kelli Ward joins us to discuss the elections in her state. There are concerns about whether we will be able to learn the winners on election night.

Early voting turnout in this midterm election has surpassed that in 2018. More than 22 million Americans have already cast their ballots.

Radically changing election laws could be on the ballot in your states election. Well take a look at Proposal 2 in Michigan.

Over 155 people died at a crowd surge during a Halloween event in South Korea. Among them are two American college students.

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A driver leaves the yard after filling up his gas tanker truck at Marathon Oil in Salt Lake City, Utah, on May 20, 2021. (George Frey/Getty Images)

CEOs Warn This Winters Energy Crisis Will Be Nothing Compared to Next Winters Crisis

CEOs during a recent panel discussion warned that an energy crisis during the 202324 winter months could be even more challenging than the coming difficult winter.

Weve got a difficult winter ahead, and subsequent to that weve got a more difficult winter in the year ahead of that, because the production that is available to Europe in the first half of 2023 is considerably less than the production we had available to us in the first half of 2022, Russell Hardy, CEO of oil trader Vitol, told reporters on Monday at a panel discussion in the United Arab Emirates.

Hardy added that there will be consequences of [an] energy shortage and therefore price escalation and warned about a rise in the cost of living.

While speaking at the same panel, BP CEO Bernard Looney agreed with that assessment and said energy prices are approaching unaffordability and said some people are spending significant amounts on energy.

I think [an energy shortage] has been addressed for this winter, Looney said. Its the next winter I think many of us worry, in Europe, could be even more challenging.

Energy price surges will likely lead to unrest across the world and possibly even in the United States, it has been warned. Protests have already started this fall in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic over the higher cost of energy, while some have called on their respective governments to end restrictions on Russian natural gas and oil amid the war in Ukraine.

Weve seen that any shocks to the price at the pump, or something as simple as LPG [liquefied petroleum gas] for cooking, can cause unrest, Petronas CEO Datuk Tengku Muhammad Taufik told the panel, according to CNBC.

Soon, there will be a real risk that governments without a steady hand on policy shaping will have to deal with unrest, he said.

Responding to claims that oil and energy companies are making record profits in recent months, Looney said its due to simple economics and an issue of market supply and demand. This week, President Joe Biden said he would target U.S. oil companies with a windfall tax and accused them of war profiteering, although his public statements were criticized by even some Obama-era officials.

Economist and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers wrote on Twitter Tuesday that a policy supporting windfall taxes on oil companies will likely backfire on Biden.

Im not sure [I] understand the argument for a windfall profits tax on energy companies, Summers wrote. If you reduce profitability, you will discourage investment which is the opposite of our objective.
Jen Easterly, the director of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, answers questions during her confirmation hearing in Washington on June 10, 2021. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

China Seeks to Influence 2022 Midterm Elections: Cybersecurity Chief

State actors that include Chinas communist regime are seeking to influence next weeks U.S. midterm elections, according to the nations cybersecurity chief.

China, Iran, and Russia may all seek to influence or otherwise interfere with U.S. democratic processes, according to Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly.

We are concerned about Russia and Iran and China trying to influence our elections, Easterly said during a Nov. 1 talk at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank.

Its a significant concern when you think about these adversaries who are trying to sow discord, that are trying to break us apart as Americans and are trying to undermine integrity in our elections.

Easterlys comments follow closely behind several revelations in recent months regarding how hostile foreign powers are attempting to undermine stability in the United States.

Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said in September that it had disrupted several Chinese and Russian influence operations. Those operations took place on Facebook, Instagram, and Meta competitor Twitter, and appeared largely aimed at increasing political polarization among Americans by spreading false and inflammatory posts about controversial topics including race, abortion, fascism, and gun control.

Likewise, a report published in October by intelligence firm Recorded Future found that China-based actors were attempting to influence the Nov. 8 midterm elections by undermining confidence in lawmakers who were critical of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and in the U.S. system of government itself.

Yet another report by nonprofit Global Witness and the Cybersecurity for Democracy (C4D) team at New York University asserted that social media giant TikTok failed to prevent 90 percent of political ads with misleading or blatantly false election information, even as the company claims it doesnt allow any political advertising.

Easterly said the need to maintain strong cyber defenses against such operations is critical, and that the United States would need to be prepared for activity designed to cause instability.

Its not the time to put our shields down, she said. We need to be prepared for potential disruptive [and] destructive activity.

Thats what foreign adversaries want. They want to have disruption. They want to sow discord. They love the partisan rancor. They love the tearing apart of America.

Easterly, who served 20 years as a U.S. Army officer, said that there were no credible or specific threats to election infrastructure now, but the types of influence operations seen recently could contribute to the growing number of other threats being made against Americans attempting to conduct the elections.

From physical intimidation to threats to misinformation, Easterly said the threat environment facing everyday Americans who work at the polls is more complex than ever.

To that end, Easterly said that securing elections is a nonpartisan activity, and Americans need to work together to protect the American way of life by increasing election literacy and ensuring safe and resilient conditions for poll workers.

The federal government doesnt run elections, Easterly said. Its the state and local officials that run those elections that are on the front lines of protecting democracy.

Election officials are not faceless backroom bureaucrats. Theyre people who are dedicated public servants who live in our towns and our cities and our communities. Theyre the people who we see at the bowling alley, the PTA meeting, the restaurant, and church.

They deserve our support  They deserve to be safe.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on as Ontario Premier Doug Ford responds to a question following an announcement in Ottawa on Oct. 17, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Commissioner Says Ford Has Overstated Privilege in Attempt to Avoid Testifying at Emergencies Act Inquiry

The commissioner presiding over the public inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act has filed court documents suggesting Ontario Premier Doug Ford has overstated the extent of the privilege he has as a politician in order to avoid testifying.

A federal court will hear both sides in the dispute on Nov. 1.

Justice Paul Rouleau, the commissioner tasked with making recommendations regarding the federal governments invocation of the Emergencies Act, filed court documents Oct. 31 in response to Fords reluctance to be a witness at the inquiry.

Rouleau wrote in the court documents that there is no blanket privilege to decline to testify.

Being required to testify before a commission of inquiry does not constitute irreparable harm, Rouleau said. He said it has never been established that parliamentary privilege can be used at an inquiry and that he is legally entitled to evidence under its parliamentary mandate, even from a premier.

After refusing to cooperate voluntarily for weeks, Ontario Premier Doug Ford was issued a summons to testify before Rouleau as part of the mandatory public hearing required whenever the Emergencies Act is invoked.

In the circumstances of this case, it is apparent that the applicants are seeking to use a principle with uncertain application to the commissioners summonses to delay their testimony until after the commissions mandate has expired, Rouleau said.

Irreparable Harm

Ford was one of the few premiers who expressed support for Trudeaus decision to use the extraordinary powers granted by the Emergencies Act. Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island were not in agreement.

Ford used Ontarios emergency law on Feb. 11, even before the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act to quell the Freedom Convoy protests.

A few days prior on Feb. 8, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in a phone call with Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, had said Ford was avoiding clearing the protests and said he was hiding from his responsibility on it for political reasons.

The inquiry has heard testimony that the Ontario provincial government refused to meet with the Ottawa mayor and the federal government.

The commissioner said multiple individuals testifying have mentioned Ford and Jones and their participation or lack thereof in the events leading up to the declaration of emergency and said he has questions about this.

Ford argued parliamentary privilege should prevent him, as well as Sylvia Jones, former Ontario solicitor general, from testifying. Ford filed an appeal against the summons on Oct. 25, stating his testimony could cause irreparable harm. He argued he had parliamentary privilege, which is legal immunity designed to protect politicians from undue interference in their duties.

Parliamentary privilege is a centuries-old concept, first established when the English House of Commons needed protection from the power and interference of the ruling monarch. It is intended to provide freedom of speech for politicians while Parliament is in session, and prevent them from being brought to court in civil actions.

Ultimately, it is a court that has the jurisdiction to determine the limit, existence, and scope of that privilege.

Omid Ghoreishi and The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
A pedestrian passes by on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis on April 9, 2019. The university closed its Confucius Institute in 2019. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Communist Chinas Sprawling Plan to Infiltrate American College Campuses

News Analysis

The Chinese regime is ramping up efforts to infiltrate U.S. universities to gain access to valuable research and mold the minds of the next generation of Americas thought leaders, advocates and experts warn.

American colleges ties to China have drawn heightened scrutiny in recent years, in particular over Beijing-funded Confucius Institutes that have been criticized for spreading Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda and stifling academic freedom, and the revelation that universities received nearly $1.5 billion in gifts and contracts from China from 2014 to 2020.

But these examples form a small part of a multifaceted campaign to subvert the institutions that foster Americas technological and intellectual elite.

The CCP sees the openness of our leading universities as a weapon that it can turn against us, said John Metz, president of the Athenai Institute, a student-founded nonprofit focused on removing CCP influence from college campuses.

It aims to use espionage and its financial influence over universities not only to control discourse and censor its critics, but also to acquire the advanced technology it needs to expand its military might and further its genocidal policies, Metz told The Epoch Times in an email.

Meanwhile, Chinese influence operations targeting universities are but one aspect of the CCPs global efforts to subvert all aspects of Western society to benefit the regime. And since the Communist Party wants to overtake the United States as sole global superpower, the United States takes a major focus of its operations.

In a very literal sense, the CCPs access to our universities endangers American lives, said Metz.

The CCP is targeting young people because it wants to control the minds of the next generation of leaders. We risk losing not just in the present, but in the future as well.

A human rights group urges Tufts University to close its Confucius Institute in Somerville, Massachusetts on March 13, 2021. (Learner Liu/The Epoch Times)

Silencing Dissidents

A major part of Chinese influence operations in U.S. universities involves controlling public opinion about the CCP. This has always involved silencing those who speak out against the regime and its abuses.

To this end, Chinese international students themselves and Chinese student associations have become tools by which the regime can suppress dissenting voices on campus. Over the years, there has been a spate of incidents where Chinese student groups with links to the Chinese consulate have successfully or attempted to suppress voices critical of the Party at American universities.

In my view, the newer generation of international students from China seem to be a lot more nationalistic than the ones I have met in college, said Se Hoon Kim, director of the Captive Nations Coalition of the Committee on Present Danger: China, an advocacy body representing groups victimized by the CCP.

By nationalistic, Kim meant that these students deemed anything critical of the CCP as anti-nationalistic.

According to Kim, if one talks to Chinese international students on U.S. campuses about the CCP, they generally say, Party is the people and we are the Partya propaganda line repeatedly espoused by the CCP in which it claims to be the sole representative of China and the Chinese people.

If you have individuals like that occupying U.S. universities and who go taking part in everyday classes and taking part in everyday university activities, what tends to happen is that any type of discussion about the criticism of the Chinese Communist Party actually comes into jeopardy, said Kim.

FBI Director Christopher Wray in a speech early this year gave an example of the Chinese regime threatening and harassing students at U.S. universities for merely exercising their right to free speech.

In a recent incident at one Midwestern university, for example, a Chinese-American student posted online praise for those students who were killed in the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. And almost immediately, his parents called from China, saying that Chinese intelligence officers had shown up to threaten them because of his post, he said.

Wray was talking about a 2020 incident involving Kong Zhihao, a Chinese graduate student at Purdue University in Indiana who was subsequently accused by other Chinese students on campus of being a CIA Agent. Due to harassment received from the CCP, Kong reluctantly decided to cancel a planned speech for an event commemorating the Tiananmen Square massacre.

I think some of the Chinese students in my school are CCP members. I can tell they are not simply students. They could be spies or informants, Kong told ProPublica at the time.

Confucius Institutes Simply Rebranded

Confucius Institutes, Beijing-funded language centers criticized as conduits of propaganda, have drawn considerable pushback in recent years, resulting in 104 of the 118 centers across U.S. colleges and universities to close down.

But the National Association of Scholars said in a June report that many of these closures have simply resulted in a re-branding of the programs. Confucius Institute-like programs have since emerged under other names or have reappeared in other forms, the report said.

Universities are generally eager to replace their Confucius Institutes with similar programs. According to the report, out of those closed, 28 have replaced their institutes with a similar program, 58 have maintained close relations with the former Confucius Institute partner university, and five have kept their Confucius Institutes alive by transferring the center to a new host.

The report said after the closure of the institutes, some host institutions were made to refund money to the Chinese regime, and in certain cases, this was in excess of $1 million.

Espionage

Chinas theft of research and technology from American universities has been a direct assault on American innovation leadership. Recently there has been more clamor about the theft of sensitive technology adding another angle to Chinas meddling in U.S. universities.

The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI), led by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, last year voted unanimously to approve its final report (pdf) to Congress recommending that American universities take steps to prevent the theft of sensitive technology by the Chinese military.

On a level playing field, the United States is capable of out-innovating any competitor. However, today, there is a fundamental difference in the U.S. and Chinas approaches to AI innovation that puts American AI leadership in peril, said the report, adding that unlike China, the U.S. innovation model is based on the open exchange of ideas, free markets, and limited government involvement.

China is executing a centrally directed systematic plan to extract AI knowledge from abroad through espionage, talent recruitment, technology transfer, and investments. It has ambitious plans to build and train a new generation of AI engineers in new AI hubs, it said.

During the Cold War, technology competition between the United States and the Soviet Union was characterized by research and development programs that were divorced from one another. But in todays interconnected world, U.S.-China competition is more complicated because both countries research ecosystems are deeply connected through shared research projects, talent circulation, and commercial linkages that include supply chains, markets, and joint research ventures, according to the report.

Growing awareness of the threat of technology theft rose amid the Trump administration, which launched the China Initiative, a Department of Justice program aimed at combating economic espionage and other malign actions emanating from the communist regime.

Dozens of U.S. or Chinese researchers or academics have been prosecuted or convicted under the initiative, with charges ranging from theft of trade secrets to grant fraud.

Late last year, former chair of Harvard Universitys chemistry department Charles Lieber was convicted by a jury of lying to federal agencies about his ties to the Thousand Talents Plan, the Chinese regimes talent recruitment plan accused of facilitating the transfer of American know-how to China.

However, the Biden administration ended the China Initiative in February amid allegations of racial discrimination. While an internal review found no racial bias in the departments approach, the program was shuttered over the concern of a perception of bias, Assistant Attorney General for National Security Division Matthew Olsen said at the time.

Chinese Funding

Ian Oxnevad, a program research associate with the National Association of Scholars and one of the authors of the above-mentioned report on Confucius Institutes, told the Epoch Times that Chinas influence operations on U.S. universities align with the CCPs goal of becoming a global superpower.

Part of Chinas sort of grand strategy is not only stealing economic and security-related secrets, specifically in technology from around the world, but its also shaping how China is viewed, said Oxnevad. This means that discussions on subjects like human rights violations, the Tiananmen Square massacre, and atrocities like the Great Leap Forward will continue to get censored. This concern has brought up a louder debate about Chinese funding to U.S. universities.

Metz said that Chinese funding is a massive source of university funding, and it is attractive because it deceptively appears to be freely given and theres a need to root it out by preventing universities from accepting such funding.

He pointed to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as one example of Chinese money flowing to American colleges. The university received over $100 million in contributions from various Chinese sources between 2015 and 2019, according to a 2020 Department of Education report.

Last year, Michelle Bethel, a board member of MITs McGovern Institute for Brain Research, resigned over ethical concerns about the institutes partnerships with Chinese research bodies.

By conducting research with institutions in China, the McGovern Institute unwittingly could be aiding the countrys repressive security apparatus or its military, whose officers have published articles declaring biology a new domain of warfare, Bethel wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed explaining her resignation.

My concerns about how Beijing might be using our findings were dismissed as racist and political, she wrote.

To Metz, American universities collaboration with Chinese institutions and their financial links to China is an untenable situation.

That vast financial leverage creates an incentive for universities like MIT to look the other way while the CCP abuses human rights and threatens U.S. national security, he said.

An MIT spokesperson told The Epoch Times that the MIT has strong processes for evaluating and managing the risks of research involving countries, including China, whose behavior affects U.S. national and economic security.

Earlier in response to Bethels op-ed, the university issued a statement jointly by Robert Desimone, director of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Nergis Mavalvala, dean of MITs School of Science, and Maria T. Zuber, vice president for research at the university.

They said that of the dozens of research projects at McGovern Institute, only one on developing treatments for severe forms of autism or neurological disorders is with China, and MIT receives no funding from China for it.

Every proposed engagement that involves an organization or funding source from China, once it has been evaluated for compliance with U.S. law and regulation, is further reviewed by committees of senior administrators to consider risks related to national security, economic competitiveness, and civil and human rights, the statement said.

What Should the US do?

The question of how the United States should respond to the Chinese regimes interference on U.S. campuses has prompted varying recommendations from experts, ranging from cutting federal funding to universities that partner with the Chinese regime to stepping up information sharing with like-minded countries.

Greg F. Treverton, a professor at the University of Southern California and the former chairperson of the U.S. National Intelligence Council, told The Epoch Times that incidents of the CCP trying to censor criticism on U.S. campuses are occasional, worrisome, but not worth cutting off cooperation with China.

I think there are two sorts of cooperation that ought to be beefed up, there ought to be more and more explicit cooperation between universities and for instance, the FBI, he added. Treverton said such cooperation doesnt come naturally because generally many people in the universities are skeptical of the government.

The second kind of cooperation should be between the United States and its friends around the world like Australia, another popular country with Chinese international students. Treverton said this is important because if the U.S. closes its doors to Chinese students, theyll go elsewhere.

We can share information about whats happened with various countries, by way of connections between China, Chinese authorities and their students, he said.

The National Association of Scholars report recommended that, in the short term, the federal government should amend the National Defense Authorization Act to target Confucius Institute-replacement programs, and should institute new limits on other sources of federal funding to institutions that maintain a [Confucius Institute] or similar program.

In the long term, the report said that authorities should levy tax on the Chinese funds and contracts received by U.S. institutions, and take other measures to build transparency in funding processes.

This will cap the amount of Chinese funding a college or university may receive before jeopardizing eligibility for federal funding, and prohibiting funding to colleges and universities that enter research partnerships with Chinese universities involved in Chinas military-civil fusion, the report said.

Metz of Athenai said that he has started to witness a shift in that universities, for the first time, are starting to reconsider their investments in China.

Universities like CUA [The Catholic University of America] and Yale are already investigating their endowments links to the Uyghur genocide; others, like Harvard, are rolling back these investments more quietly, he said.

By the end of the 2022-23 school year we expect other universities to begin to divest at an accelerating rate, said Metz, adding that university leaders including trustees and other administrators are reaching out to Athenia asking how they can reduce their exposure to the worst actors in China.

Athenia plans to launch a new, interactive online tool that will help students, policymakers, and other stakeholders actually begin to measure their universities exposure to China.

Metz said this online tool will look at everything from gifts and research partnerships to Confucius Institutes, investments, and state-supported harassment and censorship of students.
Corrupt Government Officials Remain Top Fear in 2022: Chapman Survey

It might be spooky season but Americans are much more afraid of corruption, nuclear war, and money problems than ghosts and zombies, according to a survey by Chapman University released Oct. 14.

Topping the list again this year was the fear of corrupt government officials, according to the annual Chapman University Survey of American Fears, produced by the Earl Babbie Research Center at the college in Orange, California.

Fear of corrupt government officials has remained the greatest fear for yet another year since first landing in the spot in 2015, the university reported on its blog.

This fear, however, has dropped steeply from 79.6 percent in the 20202021 survey, to 62.1 percent this year, which is the lowest since 2016.

The top 10 fears this year also included harm to a loved one, war, environmental concerns, and economic concerns, according to the study.

Undergraduate research fellows surveyed 1,190 participants throughout the nation who were over 18.

Questions ranged from the fear of being a victim of mass shootings to the Jan. 6 Capitol breach, immigration, and gun control.

Nuclear War Makes the List

The sociology project, now in its ninth year, included a question about Russia using nuclear weapons and found it landed as the third-most feared issue. About 60 percent of Americans reported being afraid of such as the war in Ukraine continues.

The war between Russia and Ukraineand the media attention this conflict has garneredexplains this fear, according to the universitys blog.

The last time fear of nuclear weapons made the top 10 was in 2017 when threats from North Korea garnered media attention by test-launching ballistic missiles and conducting nuclear tests.

Fear of Russia using nuclear weapons seems to be representative of a more overarching fear of Americans centered around war, the report reads.

Biological warfare and the possibility of a new world war were ranked also in the top 10.

Health Fears Remain Strong

Americans also reported, again, being afraid of a loved one being harmed this year. This fear has factored strongly in the survey over the last few years, likely because the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn more attention to health-related issues and elevated these fears among the public, the study reported.

Fear of people I love becoming seriously ill and fear of people I love dying have ranked in the top 10 on every survey since 2019.

About 58 percent of respondents this year said they were afraid of a loved one dying and about 60 percent were afraid a loved one would become seriously ill. Interestingly, only 29 percent said they were afraid of dying themselves and only 42 percent were afraid of getting seriously sick.

Americans tend to fear more for the health and safety of loved ones than their own, the university noted.

Fear of contracting COVID-19 ranked in the top three fears last year, but dropped in this years study drastically to 74th place, with only 23 percent surveyed saying they fear the virus compared to 58 percent in the 20202021 survey.

Fearing Crime

Coming in below sexual assault by a stranger and gang violence but above sharks and dying, racial and hate crimes ranked the 59th most feared, as nearly 30 percent of respondents reported being fearful of such crimes.

Meanwhile, a high percentage of those surveyed45 percentreported they remain afraid of civil unrest.

Random mass shootings also frightened about 40 percent this year, but not as much as high medical bills, at 44 percent of those surveyeda 1-percent increase from last year.

Respondents reported being more fearful of public speaking than dying, ranking it 46th as opposed to 61st for the latter. Dying was not as big of a concern as sharks, floods, oil spills, and high medical bills.

Twenty-two percent said they are afraid they will be murdered by someone close to them. The concern was ranked 77th, just below fear of small spaces but above new technology and a large volcanic eruption.

Environmental Concerns Decrease

The fear of climate change and environmental degradation was falling, according to the survey. Those concerns were prominent in previous surveys, but this year, people were shifting away from the matters.

Fear of environmental issues, which reached the top 10 in 2017, dropped off abruptly in last years survey, with only pollution of oceans, rivers, and lakes remaining in the top 10. This year, water pollution remained the ninth-highest fear. Global warming and climate change dropped in rank from 13 to 15 with 47 percent of respondents reporting fear over the issue.

Fear of air pollution also decreased to 47 percent this year, compared to three years ago, when nearly 60 percent were afraid of it. And, last year, only 41 percent said they shared the concern.

Fear of pollution in drinking water increased this year from 45 percent last year to 55 percent. Polluted drinking water was feared by 65 percent of respondents in 2019.

Money Matters

About 54 percent of respondents said they fear not having enough money for the future, ranking it seventh on the list, while more than half ranked fear of economic or financial collapse as the eighth most feared.

Other financial mattersincluding unemployment, not having enough money to pay rent or mortgages, and not being able to pay off college debtalso ranked among the top concerns.
Delta Air Lines pilots picket at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) during a protest over the union contract, in Los Angeles on June 30, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Delta Pilots Authorize Strike, but Walkout Remains Unlikely

ATLANTAPilots at Delta Air Lines voted to authorize union leaders to call a strike, but it might be a largely symbolic gesture, as hurdles remain before the pilots can legally walk off the job.

The Air Line Pilots Association said Monday that 96 percent of Delta pilots took part in the vote, and 99 percent of those favored calling a strike if necessary to get a new contract.

Airline unions are seeking big pay increases and could have leverage because of labor shortages during a rebound in travel.

Atlanta-based Delta said the vote would have no impact on its flight operations.

The airline said the unions goal is simply to gain leverage in our pilot contract negotiations. Delta said it has made significant progress in talks, that only a few contract sections are unresolved, and it expressed confidence in reaching an agreement.

Last week, American Airlines offered its pilots 19 percent pay increases over two years, an offer that could serve as the model for talks at Delta and United Airlines. Leaders at Americans union have not decided whether to send the offer to a ratification vote.

Delta pilots are working under pay rates set in 2016. Negotiations for a new contract began in April 2019, were paused in March 2020 for the pandemic, and resumed in January.

By federal law, labor contracts in the airline industry do not expire. Before workers can legally strike, federal mediators must determine that more talks would be pointless. Even after that, the president and Congress can intervene to block a strike.
Delta Air Lines passenger jets are pictured outside the newly completed 1.3 million-square foot $4 billion Delta Air Lines Terminal C at LaGuardia Airport in the Queens borough of New York City, New York, on June 1, 2022. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

Delta Pilots Vote to Strike for New Contracts

Pilots from Delta Air Lines have voted overwhelmingly to strike to negotiate for better contracts, with the airline insisting that its operations are currently not impacted by the development.

In an Oct. 31 press release, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) announced that 99 percent of the participating Delta Air Line pilots voted to authorize their union leaders to call for a strike in order to achieve a new contractual agreement with the company. Currently, Delta pilots are working under pay rates that were negotiated in 2016. Negotiations for a new agreement kicked off in 2019 but remained on ice because of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Talks resumed in January this year.

Capt. Jason Ambrosi, chair of the Delta Master Executive Council, pointed out that Delta rebounded from the pandemic and posted record revenue during the third quarter of 2022.

Meanwhile, our negotiations have dragged on for too long. Our goal is to reach an agreement, not to strike. The ball is in managements court. Its time for the Company to get serious at the bargaining table and invest in the Delta pilots, Ambrosi said in a statement.

By voting for a strike, the nearly 15,000 Delta pilots have sent a clear message to the management that they are willing to go the distance and secure a contract favorable to them, he added.

An airline spokesperson pointed out that the authorization vote will not affect their operations because the pilots are currently not on strike.

Delta and ALPA have made significant progress in our negotiations and have only a few contract sections left to resolve. We are confident that the parties will reach an agreement that is fair and equitable, as we always have in past negotiations, the spokesperson said in a statement, according to USA Today.

Mediation, Other Negotiations

Delta pilots can only strike if the National Mediation Board (NMB) decides that further mediation between the two parties would be useless.

The agency will offer to arbitrate between the two sides. If both parties decline, a cooling off period of 30 days kicks in, after which the pilots can opt to strike or the airline management can enforce a lockout.

Pilots affiliated with other U.S. companies are also negotiating their terms. American Airlines recently offered a 19 percent pay hike to pilots in a new two-year contract, up from the 17 percent hike proposed in June. The draft proposal must now be approved by the airlines pilot union.

Earlier this year, pilots from Alaska Airlines had voted to authorize a strike. The workers have reached a new agreement with the airline.

This month, FedEx Express pilots and the company management announced that they have jointly filed for federal mediation with the NMB for contract negotiations that began in May last year.
Two Black radio hosts in Phoenix, Ramses Ja and Quinton Ward, were given the trademark for White Lives Matter by an anonymous listener who wants to keep the slogan from being used by hate groups. This means Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is liable for trademark infringement if he tries to sell the shirts as he claimed he would last month.

From an interview in Capital B News:
China's ambassador to the Solomon Islands Li Ming (R), and Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare are cutting a ribbon during the opening ceremony of a China-funded national stadium complex in Honiara on April 22, 2022. (Mavis Podokolo/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite Slowing Economy, Beijing Continues Pumping Aid Into the Solomons, Kiribati

Beijing is pumping more money into new developments in the Solomon Islands and Kiribati as COVID-Zero policies pummel the Chinese economy.

While Chinese aid flows to the overall Pacific region declined from 2016 to 2021, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has upped its investment in the Solomon Islands and Kiribati, which switched allegiances from Taiwan to Beijing in 2019, according to Lowy Institutes latest Pacific Aid Map.

In both countries, sizeable new financing from China has displaced existing support from Taiwan, according to the Sydney-based Lowy Institute. China has not given up on using development assistance to cement key relationships.

In April, the Solomon Islands signed a security agreement with Beijing, which raised concerns in the United States, Australia, and other Western countries. Under the agreement, Chinese police security personnel have begun training Solomon Islands police.

Kiribatis rule of law is also facing questions as the government suspends its judiciary.

In response, Simon Birmingham, Australias opposition foreign affairs spokesman, said the region was an area of concern.

Its important to make sure we work as closely as we can to ensure Pacific nations who are wanting to advance their democracies, along with economic development, are empowered to do so, he told AAP.

Where undue restrictions are placed on the media, or where a diminution of electoral processes and democratic processes are occurring, of course, Australia should raise those concerns.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang inspect honour guards at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 9, 2019. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images)

Australia remains by far the largest source of aid to Pacific countries, the Pacific Aid Map shows.

In 2020, Australia provided $1.23 billion (US$780 million) in aid to the Pacific region, far exceeding the $375 million from the United States and $245 million from China.

In 2021, Beijing spent $145 million in the Pacific, compared with Australias $1.7 billion.

Alexandre Dayant, director of the Pacific Aid Program, said there was a supply and demand problem with CCP aid money.

On the supply side, Chinas economy is slowing down, so it appears there is less appetite for spending money abroad, he told The Sydney Morning Herald. We see the slowing down of the Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, with fewer projects committed around the world.

On the demand side, he noted that leaders of Pacific island countries were waking up to the fact that the Chinese aid projects had quality issues and were backed by loans with difficult payment conditions.

Dayant noted, however, that Pacific leaders were getting better at playing the China card to try to extract more aid money from developed countries.

In last weeks budget, the Australian government announced an extra $900 million in development aid for the Pacific region over the next four years.
Protesters face police officers on foot and horseback and an armoured vehicle on Colonel By Drive near the truck blockade in Ottawa, on Feb. 18, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

Diagolon Founder Jeremy MacKenzie Expected to Testify at Emergencies Act Inquiry

The public inquiry into the federal governments use of the Emergencies Act during Freedom Convoy protests says it expects to call Diagolon founder Jeremy MacKenzie as a witness.

Public Order Emergency Commission lawyers expect to call the founder of the online group, which includes members that supported the convoy, to testify on Friday via videoconference.

MacKenzies lawyer has made an application to the commission asking that he testify in the absence of the public and parties or under a publication ban.

MacKenzie is currently in a Saskatchewan prison and was denied release earlier this month after being arrested in Nova Scotia on a Canada-wide warrant.

He was charged with assault, pointing a firearm, mischief and using a restricted weapon in a careless manner after police received a report about an alleged assault near Viscount, Sask., in November 2021.

MacKenzie was also charged in Nova Scotia with 13 firearms offences in January, and with harassment and intimidation in March after an anti-mask protest outside the home of Nova Scotias chief medical officer of health.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has also asked the RCMP to investigate MacKenzie after he talked about sexually assaulting Poilievres wife, Anaida, during a livestream in September.
A foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Australia would trigger export bans and have severe economic consequences for Australias livestock producers. (Australia's Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment)

Farmers Want Tougher Biosecurity Penalties

Farmers have called for increased penalties after an Indonesian man was caught attempting to smuggle six kilograms of duck and meat products into Australia.

The traveller failed to declare 3.1 kilograms of duck, 1.4 kilograms of beef rendang, over 500 grams of frozen beef and nearly 900 grams of chicken in his luggage.

The man who was caught at Perth airport in mid-October had declared on his incoming passenger card that he was not bringing any meat, poultry, or other food into Australia.

The Indonesian national was deported and fined $2664.

Last month the federal government introduced harsher penalties banning people from bringing meat into Australia from countries dealing with highly contagious foot and mouth disease  which poses a major risk to Australias agricultural industry.

But New South Wales (NSW) Farmers say there needs to be a serious rethink on punishments given the severity of risk posed by foot and mouth disease (FMD), which was detected in Bali in early July.

A $2664 fine and a ticket home is hardly justice given the seriousness of this act, Peter Arkle from NSW Farmers told AAP.

If this was six kilograms of drugs, this person would be sitting in a jail cell right now, Arkle said.

The chief executive of NSW Farmers said a rethink would give travellers pause for thought whether smuggling in some duck is worth time in a jail cell.

West Australian Farmers have also raised concerns about a lack of biosecurity resources at airports.

Were not seeing enough sniffer dogs at the airports, chief executive Trevor Whittington told AAP.

While the state and federal governments have put more funds into biosecurity since the FMD outbreak in Indonesia, were not seeing this translated into a doubling or tripling of the number of dogs.

He said when he travelled from Bali to Perth in July he didnt see any sniffer dogs despite around 800 people returning on different flights.

Three flights came through Perth airport at midnight, from different parts of the world, and there wasnt one dog there at that time, he told AAP.

We just need an awful lot of people and dogs to run over the boots and the bags, Whittington said.

But federal Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt said Australias biosecurity system was the strongest in the world.

This person was caught doing the wrong thing and was deported from the country because of it, he told AAP.

They were not allowed past the border, he said.

In response to calls for stronger penalties, the minister said deporting the traveller was a far stricter option than putting them in jail, and it wont cost Australian taxpayers for the privilege.

Mr Watt said his government had committed $11 million to fund 20 more detector dogs and handlers.

We cant rest on our laurels; thats why weve fast-tracked funding to improve it.
1787: The painting "Signing the Constitution of the United States" by Thomas Pritchard Rossiter. Painted in 1878, it resides at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. (MPI/Getty Images)

First in a Series: The Ideas That Formed the Constitution

Commentary

Who created the ideas behind the U.S. Constitution?

The history books relate how the Constitution was composed by its 55 framers from May 25, 1787, to Sept. 17, 1787.

But theres far more to the story than that.

On Sept. 28, 1787, the Confederation Congress asked the state legislatures to provide for the election of delegates to popular conventions to ratify or reject the Constitution. This sparked the greatest political debate in American history. People from all walks of lifefrom the wealthiest merchants in the cities, to craftsmen in the towns, farmers in the country, and even slaves in the kitchensdiscussed every aspect of the document.

Every state legislature eventually authorized its constituents to elect delegates to a state ratifying convention. Although the states had property qualifications for voting, those qualifications generally were easy to meet, and for this election, some states waived them entirely.

Nor was the process limited to white males. Women participated by campaigningand in New Jersey (and perhaps sporadically elsewhere) by casting ballots themselves. (New Jersey resident Annis Stockton, the wife and mother-in-law of signers of the Declaration of Independence, asserted that in America women have their equal right of everything.)

In five states, free African Americans also voted on the Constitution.

On Dec. 7, 1787, the Delaware convention ratified unanimously. Delawares ratification was followed by all the other states, including the new 14th state of Vermont (Jan. 10, 1791).

Schoolbook focus on the framers sometimes leads us to forget that, although the Constitution had only 55 drafters, the convention delegates who adopted it as the supreme Law of the Land numbered 1,757 (counting the 109 in Vermont). Many thousands of citizens voted for those delegates. It was the greatest exercise in popular democracy theretofore recorded.

Over the ensuing years, the Founders Constitution, as occasionally amended, served as the political structure for a nation that became the most successful the world has ever seen. Even today, while some of the Constitutions provisions have eroded, most of the document continues in full force.

Where Did the Founders Get Their Ideas?

What were the formative ideas behind this brilliant success? Where did they come from? How did the founding generation incorporate them into the Constitution?

Over the next several weeks, we shall answer those questions in a series of essays. The series will examine the lives and ideas of the writers who influenced the founding generation and inspired a new adventure in self-government.

The Founders confidence was built partly on faith in a benevolent God. The myth that most of the Founders were deists or pure secularists is just thata myth. The overwhelming majority of the founding generation was Christian; the small remainder was mostly Jewish. They were, accordingly, influenced heavily by the Bible. So heavily, in fact, that biblical influences were greater than any short series of essays can address.

These essays, therefore, will focus on the writers who taught the Founders their political lessonstheir lessons in republicanism, in political organization, and in political virtue.

Organization of the Series

Each essay will thumbnail the lives and contributions of one or two historical personalities. It will explain how the Founders integrated those personalities ideas into the constitutional order.

We shall proceed chronologically, according to the time during which each historical figure lived.

In addition to religious instruction, the Founders education centered on the pre-Christian classics of ancient Greece and Rome. Long after leaving school, leading Founders reread those classics again and again. Many of the thinkers examined in this series were prominent authors from the Greco-Roman tradition.

We shall begin with the Greek philosopher Plato, who borrowed heavily from his mentor, Socrates. Next, well turn to Aristotle, the greatest philosopher of all.

The extraordinary Greek historian Polybius will be the subject of the following essay. Polybius wrote aboutand actually participated inmilestone events in the growth of the Roman Republic. The ensuing essays will address three statesmen of the later Republic: the elder and younger Cato and John Adamss personal favorite, Marcus Tullius Cicero.

We shall then proceed into the early Roman Empire, covering the poets Virgil, Ovid, and Horace and the historian Titus Livius (Livy). Following those, well examine thinkers in the high Roman Empire of the first and second centuries: the essayists Seneca and Pliny, the historian Cornelius Tacitus, and the engaging biographers Plutarch (who wrote in Greek) and Gaius Suetonius (who wrote in Latin).

Next, well enter the Christian Medieval period with Niccolo Machiavellia man less respected by the Founders for his famous work The Prince than for his Discourses on Livy.

Finally, well address writers from the Founders relatively recent past: the Englishmen James Harrington, Algernon Sidney, and John Locke; the hugely influential French Baron Montesquieu; and the lesser-known Swiss writers Jean-Louis DeLolme and Emer de Vattel. I reserve the right to add a few more.

Before addressing any of those specific individuals, however, well need to explore how the leading Founders were educated. Thats the topic of the next essay.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Police and protesters outside the U.S. Capitol's Rotunda in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

Former US Capitol Police Officer Found Guilty of Obstructing Jan. 6 Investigation

A jury has found a former U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officer guilty of obstructing the investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Michael Riley, 51, was convicted on Oct. 28 of violating a law that states a person who alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the objects integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding shall be punished by up to 20 years in prison.

But jurors deadlocked on a second obstruction charge, and U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, an Obama appointee overseeing the trial, declared a mistrial on that count.

On that count we have, after lengthy discussions and multiple approaches, reached a deadlock that we feel certain will not shift, the jury said in a note to Jackson.

The charge alleged Riley caused or induced a person to alter, destroy, mutilate, or conceal an object with intent to impair the objects integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding.

Riley was charged in 2021 with obstruction after authorities said he told a Jan. 6 attendee to remove photographs from their Facebook page.

Riley then deleted messages he exchanged with the person several days after the person was arrested, according to charging documents.

Rileys lawyers lodged a motion for acquittal during the trial. Jackson reserved judgement on the motion until after the trial.

Michael Riley never obstructed any grand jury proceeding, nor did he attempt or intend to do so, and he looks forward to continuing to raise all legal arguments in his defense consistent with the briefing schedule set by the Court on the still pending motion for judgment of acquittal, on which the Court reserved ruling until after the verdict, and in any future appeal, to the extent one becomes necessary, Christopher Macchiaroli, one of the lawyers, told The Epoch Times via email.

Riley plans to appeal if the court denies the motion for acquittal on the charge for which the jurors returned a guilty verdict.

The USCP did not respond to a request for comment.

After the charges were announced, USCP Chief Tom Manger said that obstruction of justice is a very serious allegation and that after learning of the allegations, Riley was placed on leave pending the completion of the case.

Riley resigned several weeks later.

As is the case with many of his colleagues, Officer Riley engaged in acts of heroism on January 6, 2021, responding to the attack on the U.S. Capitol, his lawyers said in a statement at the time. With regard to the charges against him, the evidence will show that it is not a felony for one person to suggest to another that they take down ill-conceived Facebook posts.
(L-R) JCCF Lawyer Keith Wilson, along with Freedom Convoy organizers Chris Barber and Tamara Lich, hold a press conference in Ottawa on Feb. 3., 2022. (NTD)

Freedom Convoy Organizer Chris Barber Speaks of Power Struggles, Competing Visions Within Protest Movement

One of the initiators of the Freedom Convoy protest in February said there were power struggles within the movement, and while his main purpose was to have the vaccine mandate for truckers repealed, other organizers had other interests.

Theres different organizations that came and went.  It was a power struggle a lot of the time, Chris Barber told the Public Order Emergency Commission, the inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act, on Nov. 1.

Barber, a truck driver and owner of a small trucking business out of Saskatchewan, said he was at the origin of the Freedom Convoy.

His videos on social media criticizing the decision of the federal government to impose vaccination on truckers at the U.S. border in January, and suggestions about taking action against it, caught the attention of other truckers, including Brigitte Belton.

For the most part, we stayed as a close group: Tamara [Lich] and myself and Brigitte. The core group of actual truckers stayed together, Barber said.

But he spoke of a conflict with Canada Unity, headed by James Bauder, which he said revolved around power and control.

Bauder was behind a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which suggested protesters should be in league with the Senate and the Governor-General to remove the Trudeau government and pandemic restrictions.

The Liberal government has used this MOU to claim that the protesters sought to overthrow it.

Barber said he had not read the MOU, but nevertheless didnt agree with it.

Improperly written MOU according to the people Ive spoke to about it. It wasnt something on our agenda. It wasnt something we were pushing for. It had nothing to do with the reason why we actually came to Ottawa, he said.

Barber said Lich eventually called Bauder to have the MOU removed from the Canada Unity website, which occurred on Feb. 8.

The group issued a statement saying the MOU was withdrawn because we do not want any unintended interpretations to continue.

Our sole desire with the MOU was to have a document where Canadians could peacefully express their displeasure with current (COVID-19) mandates, and express their desire to be free.

Pat King

Barber said he also had a power struggle with Pat King and discussed his involvement with the convoy.

King was among the first organizers of the convoy and brought in supporters with his social media presence, Barber said.

Pat and I had a power struggle between each other, that was pretty evident right from day one. It was a power struggle back and forth over control. It wasnt anything that couldnt have been managed, he said.

Barber was presented by commission counsel with comments made by King that related to the use of violence.

Trudeau, someones gonna make you catch a bullet one day, King said in one social media post.

Kings presence at the protest in Ottawa has been cited by the government when making allegations of extremism against the Freedom Convoy.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino quoted King during a meeting of the special joint committee of parliamentarians reviewing the Emergencies Act on April 26. He said some protesters wanted a violent insurrection, and quoted King as saying, The only way that this is going to be solved is with bullets.

Barber told the commission Kings previous comments were not a concern for him.

He explained to me that it was taken out of context and edited to make him sound worse than it was. I took him for his word on it.

Do you today still accept that explanation? asked the commission counsel.

I believe Pat had all the right reasons and a good heart, Barber said.

Nevertheless, there were discussions between organizers about sending King home, but also considerations about him taking some of his supporters with him. King stayed in Ottawa until his arrest.

It Changed Me

Barber said he wasnt aware of King or any of his supporters committing or inciting violence during the protest.

He acknowledged that he himself had made some nasty racist and anti-Muslims social media posts in the past, but said the events around the Freedom Convoy changed him.

I was a different person nine months ago, he said.

Coming out here and seeing the amount of love and the people of all different colours, all different races, everything. It was was such a diverse crowd of people here. There was so many tears, there was so many hugs, there was so much laughter. There was so much [that] it changed the person. It changed me.

Barber, like Lich and King, face a number of charges related to his involvement, including mischief.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi arrive in the Crypt of the US Capitol for President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony to be the 46th President of the United States on Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. (Jim Lo Scalzo-Pool/Getty Images)

Strategists on How Paul Pelosi Attack Could Impact Midterms

Republican campaign strategists and conservative activists see little prospect that the brutal attack on Paul Pelosi in the posh San Francisco home he shares with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will change anything about the Nov. 8 midterm elections.

Democrats interviewed by The Epoch Times see things quite differently regarding the violent assault, but theyre mostly cautious about whether it will have any impact on voters.

The brutal attack on Paul Pelosiand more importantly, Republicans callous response to itreminds voters of the stakes. The same extreme MAGA supporters who fomented the attack on the Capitol [on] January 6 are still out there, trying to overturn legitimate election results and promising violence on Democratic leaders, Democratic campaign strategist Christy Setzer told The Epoch Times.

The question is how many people whove been on the sidelines will be motivated to vote, rather than be depressed that this is what its all come to.

A veteran of Democratic presidential campaigns and a former press secretary for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Setzer is the founder and president of the Washington-based New Heights Communications.

Other Democratic campaign strategists contacted by The Epoch Times declined to address the question of the potential impact, one way or the other, of the Pelosi attack.

Reactions among congressional Democrats were almost uniformly critical of Republicans whose rhetoric allegedly instigated a growing trend of politically inspired violence. Typical was the statement issued shortly after the attack by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.).

Now is not a moment for timidity. Lets be direct. Todays violence seems to be the direct product of Big Lies from many Republicans and Republican propaganda organs about Democrats and American democracy, Pascrell said in the statement.

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) posted on Twitter that the Pelosi attack and sick response from right-wing Trumpers and Elon (stick to cars) Musk is frightening, as it shows how low this country has been taken by [former President Donald] Trumps family. I am truly worried about our country.

Significantly, however, a coalition of 30 left-wing Democratic activist groups working in the Protect Our Freedoms coalition is launching a multimillion-dollar closing argument national advertising campaign on Nov. 2. There appear to be no references to the Pelosi attack in the effort.

The group is seeking to get progressives on the same page in making the case to voters that the election is a choice between MAGA Republicans and the Democratsand not a referendum on President Joe Bidens first two years in office, Axios stated.

Republican confidence about the Nov. 8 elections seemed unfazed by the Pelosi attack, especially on a day when the respected Cook Political Report moved 10 congressional races in blue states carried handily in 2020 by Biden from likely to remain Democrat to only leaning that way or toss-ups.

The scariest Halloween reality for House Democrats is the number of seats President Biden carried comfortably in 2020 that are at genuine risk a week out, Cooks David Wasserman reported on Nov. 1.

As an example, Cook moved the race for Oregons open 5th Congressional District seat from a toss-up to leaning in favor of Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who would become the states first-ever Hispanic woman elected to Congress.

National Republican strategist Jimmy Keady told The Epoch Times that the San Francisco assault wont change the way voters see the issues on Election Day.

It isnt so much that the Pelosi attack happened too late in the cycle, but rather that it isnt the type of incident that will likely have the capacity to move the needle in this climate, Keady said.

This is not to downplay how horrific this kind of attack is, but for voters who are currently dealing with real economic struggles that are impacting their wallets every day and parents who are sending their kids to failing schools that are pushing radical policies, an isolated attack on a politicians spouse by a clearly deranged individual is not going to have much of an impact on their ballot box considerations.

Seton Motley, president of the Washington-based Less Government nonprofit, told The Epoch Times that he doubts the incident will have any measurable effect, other than repeating Democrats allegations about political extremism.

This bogus line of attack on conservatives could have come at any time. Its so transparently not an ideological thing, Motley said of the assault on the 82-year-old Paul Pelosi. Its only effect will be to further damage the reputation of the media pushing the ideological angle. Theres negligible impact on the campaign itself.

Richard Manning, president of Americans for Limited Government in Fairfax, Virginia, told The Epoch Times: While the Pelosi attack is horrendous, no matter the circumstances, the immediate politicization of it turns off more Americans than it engages. Americans care about crime and want violent offenders off the streets, unlike Democrat Party leadership in California and across the nation.

David Hoppe, a longtime Republican leadership congressional aide, told The Epoch Times that he doubts the attack has any bearing at all on the election.

The more information that comes out on this crazy attacker, the clearer it will be that he is not politically motivated but has serious mental and emotional problems, Hoppe said.

An influential Republican strategist who requested anonymity told The Epoch Times that he views Democrats attempts to link the Pelosi attack to Republicans as a mark of last-minute campaign desperation.

Democrats have failed the country on every conceivable policy metric. In a desperate attempt to keep their political control after November, they first latched onto abortion to try to scare the country into voting for them. When that didnt work, they tried threats to democracy. When that failed, they finally latched onto this attack to try to minimize their losses in November. It is far too little, far too late, the Republican strategist said.

If anything, voters may see the hypocrisy of the media devoting 24/7 coverage to this while ignoring the knife attack against [New York gubernatorial candidate] Lee Zeldin or the assassination attempt against Justice [Brett] Kavanaugh. But its clear that this will not be the saving grace Democrats want it to be in November. They cant defy political gravity no matter how hard they try.
Alligators along North Carolinas Cape Fear River have high blood levels of 14 toxic chemicals, along with signs of immune system damage, new research shows.

The study of levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyls (PFAS) in the reptiles blood adds to concerns that the chemicals may cause genetic and immune system harm. Alligators are sentinel species, providing advance warning about environmental risks to humans.

Alligators rarely suffer from infections, said Scott Belcher, associate professor of biology at North Carolina State University.

They do get wounds, but they normally heal quickly, he said in a university news release. Seeing infected lesions that werent healing properly was concerning and led us to look more closely at the connections between PFAS exposure and changes in the immune systems of the alligators.

PFAS are used in many everyday products. They keep food from sticking to cookware, make fabrics resistant to stains and improve the effectiveness of firefighting foam, according to the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Belcher led the team that collected blood samples and did health evaluations on 49 alligators living along the Cape Fear River between 2018 and 2019.

They were compared to 26 alligators from Lake Waccamaw, about 30 miles away in the adjoining Lumber River basin in North Carolina.

The researchers looked at 23 PFAS and saw clear differences between types and levels in the two populations.

We detected an average of 10 different PFAS in the Cape Fear River samples, compared to an average of five different PFAS in the Lake Waccamaw population, Belcher said.

In addition, blood levels of fluoroethers were higher in Cape Fear River alligators and much loweror not detectedin the Lake Waccamaw gators.

Researchers said it was unusual to see the Cape Fear alligators with a number of unhealed or infected lesions.

Genetic analysis revealed that they had significantly higher levels of interferon-alpha (INF-) responsive genes400 times higher than those of the Lake Waccamaw alligators, which also had much lower PFAS blood levels.

INF- is a protein involved in stimulating the immune response.

The set of INF- responsive genes we analyzed are normally involved with viral infections, Belcher said. In humans, chronic [or long-term] high expression of this set of genes is an important indicator of autoimmune diseases, especially lupus.

PFAS exposure in humans is also linked with chronic autoimmune disorders such as ulcerative colitis and thyroid disease, he pointed out.

When we see an elevated expression of INF- in these alligators, then, it tells us that something in these alligators immune responses is being disrupted, Belcher said.

His team has collected data on the same alligators each year for five years and plans to continue monitoring their PFAS exposure and health in both habitats.

Alligators are a sentinel speciesharbingers of dangers to human health, Belcher said. Seeing these associations between PFAS exposure and disrupted immune function in the Cape Fear River alligators supports connections between adverse human and animal health effects and PFAS exposure.

The findings were published Oct. 20 in Frontiers in Toxicology.

More information

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has more on PFAS.

SOURCE: North Carolina State University, news release, Oct. 20, 2022

This story was originally published on the HealthDay site.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during the 2022 New York State Democratic Convention in New York on Feb. 17, 2022. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton Seeks Over $1 Million in Sanctions for Trumps Dismissed Russiagate Lawsuit

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asked a U.S. court on Oct. 31 to impose more than $1 million in sanctions on former President Donald Trump for a lawsuit that the same court dismissed in September.

Plaintiffs suit was unwarranted on the facts, unsupported by the law, and imposed substantial burdens both on Defendants and this Court, Clinton and others who were sued by Trump, including Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), said in the motion for sanctions.

Despite being alerted to the many deficiencies in the initial Complaint by one round of motions to dismiss, Plaintiff and his counsel pressed forward on an Amended Complaint that fixed none of the problems, and instead simply added more invective and irrelevant factual allegations to what was already a shotgun pleading. The Court should not countenance the abuse of its resourcesor allow significant burdens to be imposed on Defendants, many of them individuals who have devoted their careers to public servicein service of Plaintiffs political stunt.

In a complaint lodged in March, Trump accused Clinton and about 30 others, including the people Clinton paid to compile the anti-Trump dossier, of conspiring to weave a false narrative that Trump was colluding with Russia.

Other defendants included ex-British spy Christopher Steele, who authored the dossier; Fusion GPS founders Glenn Simpson and Peter Fritsch, who hired Steele on behalf of Clinton and other Democrats; and Igor Danchenko, a Russian national who has bragged that he was responsible for the bulk of the material in the dossier.

After the defendants moved to dismiss the suit, Trump expanded the allegations in an amended complaint in June and added several more people, including Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Charles Dolan Jr., one of Danchenkos sub-sources.

But U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks, a President Bill Clinton appointee, ruled in September that the complaint presented claims that are not warranted under existing law.

Trump appealed the determination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, while the defendants began asking for sanctions.

Dolan entered the first motion for sanctions in October, pointing out that the first complaint falsely said he was a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and the updated filing said he chaired a national democratic political organization despite the fact that he never has. In response, Trumps lawyers noted that, according to special counsel John Durham, Dolan was the chairman of a national Democrat group.

Clinton, Schultz, former Clinton campaign officials John Podesta and Robby Mook, Danchenko, and others joined the motion in the Oct. 31 filing, charging that reasonable lawyers would have never filed the lawsuit, let alone continued to prosecute it after multiple Defendants motions to dismiss highlighted its fundamental and incurable defects.

The suit quotes Alina Habba, one of Trumps lawyers, who recounted during a TV appearance that Trump told her that youre not going to win after Middlebrooks declined to recuse himself.

And I said, no, we have to fight. Its not right what happened. And you know, he was right, and its a sad day for me personally because I fought him on and I should have listened, but I dont want to lose hope in our system, Habba said.

That quote and others like it make clear that this suit was filed as a political tool and in order to fight back at Plaintiffs perceived political enemies, the sanctions motion states, claiming that the recusal motion itself was frivolous.

Middlebrooks said in his ruling that the suit was a political manifesto outlining [Trumps] grievances against those that have opposed him, and this Court is not the appropriate forum.

The motion asks for $1.074 million to cover attorney fees, including attorneys for Clinton, Mook, and Danchenko.

We vehemently deny the inflammatory allegations contained in the sanctions motion filed by the Clinton team. This motion, conveniently filed one week prior to election day, is nothing more than a thinly-veiled attempt to score political points, Habba said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times. This motion is particularly inappropriate, given that our clients case will soon be reviewed by the 11th Circuit. We will oppose this motion and trust that the Court will see through this ruse.
Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, speaks during the Satellite 2020 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington on March 9, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

House Republican Asks Elon Musk for Records on Twitter Censorship of Hunter Biden Laptop Story

A Republican congressman is urging Elon Musk, Twitters new owner, to hand over all records related to the social media companys suppression of a story about Hunter Bidens laptop in the weeks leading to the 2020 presidential election.

Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the top Republican on the House Oversight Committee, said in a letter that he expects Twitters new leadership to cooperate with the investigation into the Biden familys pattern of influence peddling to enrich themselves and President Bidens involvement in these schemes.

As part of this investigation, Committee Republicans are reviewing the role Big Techincluding Twitterplayed in supporting the Biden campaign in 2020 by suppressing certain stories implicating the Bidens, Comer wrote in an Oct. 28 letter (pdf) to Musk.

A previous attempt to obtain relevant information from Twitter was unsuccessful, according to Comer, as former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal never responded to the congressional request that the company preserve all documents and communications regarding the decision to limit the reach of a New York Post article about emails retrieved from Hunter Bidens laptop.

Those emails, according to the Post, showed a direct link then-presidential candidate Joe Biden had with his sons dubious business dealings in China and Ukraine. Shortly after the storys publication, Twitter not only prohibited users from sharing it, but also suspended the Posts account for two weeks.

Users who tried to share the storys link were greeted with a message saying, We cant complete this request because this link has been identified by Twitter or our partners as being potentially harmful. Those who tried to open the link in existing posts were also warned that it was potentially spammy and unsafe.

Twitter flagged the New York Post article about Hunter Bidens laptop as potentially spammy and unsafe. (Twitter screenshot)

Meanwhile, Facebook also algorithmically censored the laptop story after getting a general warning against Russian disinformation from the FBI.

New Leadership Called to Correct Mistake

Musk has expressed sympathy with the Post, saying in April that suspending the Twitter account of a major news organization for publishing a truthful story was obviously incredibly inappropriate.

In a more recent post, the billionaire said the reason he acquired Twitter is that it is important to the future of civilization to have a common digital town square, where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner, without resorting to violence.

Musk can honor his pledge to freedom of speech and information by correcting the error made by the companys former leadership, Comer wrote.

Specifically, the congressman asked Musk to hand over all documents and communications to, from, between and among Twitter and Twitter employees related to the October 2020 New York Post articles on Hunter Bidens laptop by Nov. 11. He also asked for all of the records between Twitter and the FBI or any other U.S. law enforcement or intelligence agency regarding that matter.

Comer also asked Musk to provide all documents and communications regarding the decision to censor or suppress the Hunter Biden laptop story on Twitters platform.

We believe open communication and access to information is a fundamental principle for any free people, and the American people deserve to know the reason Twitter suppressed or censored the Biden laptop story shortly before the 2020 election.
Orange County, California has declared a health emergency over the dramatic rise in viral infections, including the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV (seen not just in California but across the country). The county is experiencing record-high pediatric hospitalizations and visits to the emergency room, according to CBS, and it's not just one but three viruses all hitting at once: RSV, which can be especially dangerous for children, as well as Covid-19 and the flu.

From Los Cerritos News:

November 1, 2022~A rapid rise in RSV, COVID-19 and flu virus infections have prompted the Orange County health officer to issue a declaration of health emergency and Tuesday, health care systems are reporting high patient volumes in emergency departments and pediatric units.

In addition to a countywide declaration of health emergency, a proclamation of local emergency has also been issued, which allows the county to access state and federal resources to address the rise in virus infections.

The Orange County Health Care Agency Emergency Medical Services says in a release it is monitoring regional hospital capacity

"While there isn't a vaccine against RSV, we want OC residents to know there are many ways to protect children and at-risk individuals. Following preventive measures, including remaining up to date with other vaccinations such as flu and COVID-19, can help reduce the severity of disease and can help reduce the burden on hospitals this fall and winter," said Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, County Health Officer and HCA's Chief Medical Officer. 

The Health Care Agency recommends seeking medical attention immediately for children showing warning signs, which may include having trouble breathing, showing signs of dehydration, having a persistent or high fever, or looking or acting very sick. 

Visit www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/prevention.html for more information on RSV prevention.
Tens of thousands of local residents gather and march in a memorial for two firefighters killed in the wildfire in Xintian County, Hunan Province, on Oct. 25, 2022. The wildfire broke out on Oct. 17, lasted for more than seven days, and engulfed half of the county, but the news was censored to ensure the party congress would be held without any disturbance. (Video screenshot)

Hunan Wildfires Destroy At Least 2 Towns, 2 Dead

Wildfires in Hunan, a province in south central China, erupted on Oct. 17, but the Chinese media has kept silent on the natural disaster. The fire has been raging for over a week, so far burning down two townships and killing two firefighters.

Chinese netizens blamed the regimes party congress for the media silence. The national meeting that took place on Oct. 16 to Oct. 22 was the entire focus for the countrys state-backed media.

Chinese media kept silent until Oct. 25, when local residents held a memorial for the deceased firefighters.

Online video captured tens of thousands of local residents gathering and marching with banners to honor the first responders. They chanted, Safe Trip Home [Rest in Peace].

Zhao Lanjian, a former journalist now living in the United States, told the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times on Oct. 28, With such a large formation, will mainland Chinese see it reported? No! Not even online.

He emphasized, I am sure theres grievance among those people, maybe their families or relatives were killed in the fire or the homes that burnt down.

Widespread Forest Fire

Chinese media Caixin reported that the fire in Xintian County, Hunan, broke out on Oct. 17.

Multiple videos showed the fire spreading and houses burning in the surrounding mountains of Xintian.

Zhao said the fires burned down at least two townships, Yao Township and Jinling Town.

The Chinese ministry of emergency management said on Oct. 24 that the two deceased firefighters were heroes and that 861 firefighters and rescue personnel had been dispatched to the area.

Zhao said that the memorial was held with a local officials approval on the morning of Oct. 25. It was live-streamed by attendees, but the signal cut out half way and the online video was deleted later that afternoon.

Firefighters work on extinguishing a forest fire that started near Xichang in Liangshan prefecture of Sichuan Province, China, on March 31, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters)

Censorship

Zhao said that during the party congress, information of the wildfire was censored even though the fire lasted many days and engulfed nearly half of the county.

When searching Chinese networks, the only information available online is one official report from a Hunan provincial meeting on Oct. 17 to mobilize the emergency firefighting response. However, the content of that press release is also no longer available.

The other related information was an official release by Hunan authorities on Oct. 19 from an emergency meeting announcing a high danger rating for wildfires for the entire province, specifically naming seven cities and counties surrounding Xintian.

On Oct. 21, the state mouthpiece CCTV reported a red code wildfire alarm for the entire southern region of China, where a forecast of severe to extreme drought and high incidence of forest fires at an extremely dangerous level was issued by the authorities in emergency management, forestry, and weather.

All for Party Unity

Xintian was not the only county hit by the forest fire.

On Oct. 17 when Chinese leader Xi Jinping was meeting the Guangxi delegates in Beijing during the partys 20th national meeting, a wildfire broke out in Guangxi Province.

The online posts of Guangxi wildfire were quickly deleted from the Chinese social media platform Weibo. Netizens commented that no fire can break the peace and unity image of the national meeting, according to posts cited by Radio Free Asia.

Wildfires broke out concurrently in Jiangxi, Hunan, and Guangxithree neighboring provinceson Oct. 17, NTDTV reported.

Domestic Chinese media mentioned nothing of the range and severity of the fires, but only claimed there had been no casualties.

However, local residents said that the Guangxi fires destroyed an entire forest and at least one village. A banana farm worker also died from the fire, while rescue efforts and aids were nowhere to be seen, reported NTD TV.

On Oct. 26, Hunan ordered the closure of mountain areas in the province and a fire ban effective until Nov. 30.

Luo Ya contributed to this report.
A semi-truck fills up with diesel fuel outside of Bakersfield, Calif., on April 18, 2022. (John Fredricks/The EPoch Times)

Impact of US Diesel Shortage Coming to Canada Soon: Expert

A diesel shortage south of the border could trickle to Canada causing price spikes along with an overall rise in prices, says Dan McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy, a senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com, and an 18-year veteran of the House of Commons.

A diesel supply shortage has been gripping the United States of late, with the White House declaring on Oct. 23 that reserves are down to 25 days of supply.

In an interview with The Epoch Times, McTeague said that diesel demand is extraordinarily strong and production is just not there.

McTeague predicts that the further east you go on the continent, the worse the shortage will be, on top of an ongoing supply crunch. U.S. diesel supply shortages are critically low, he says, and Canadians are going to feel it.

Diesel inventory is 45% below the median five-year average right now, McTeague says, citing figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), which collects and analyzes energy information for the industry.

Even if oil prices trade above US$120 next year as industry analysts predict, factors all adding to the shrinking stockpiles are the anticipated cold, unpredictable winter plus a shortage of U.S. refineries, low inventory, and strikes at two refineries in France.

That is not to say the world will run out of diesel. The EIA only shows the supply if all American refineries stopped producing and importing oil from other countries.

Demand Outpacing Supply

Patrick De Haan, who leads petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.com, said the numbers imply refiners have been losing the battle of supply and demand, and demand is outpacing supply.

In 2019, the U.S. diesel supply dropped to an annual low of 26.5 days of supply.

Diesel is the fuel source facing the greatest threat, according to Amrita Sen, an analyst from Energy Aspects in the United States. Diesel supplies were just not replenished over the summer, Sen told Business Insider.

The EIA indicated on Oct. 21 that the United States had only a 25-day supply of reserve diesel. Diesel is used in transportation, construction, farming, and military operations. Meanwhile, demand for diesel is at an all-time high.

CNBC reported on Oct. 31 that reserves in the United States are lower than they have been since 1951.

McTeague says this is certainly going to be felt in Canada.

Its a serious problem. The minute we get cold weather, heating costs will rise. We have lost three U.S. plants, and we simply need more diesel production, he says.

Mcteague also says gas prices of $2 per litre might be a reality in some parts of Canada by January 2023.

He also suggests carbon taxes set by the federal government are a major issue for affordability.

Diesel is the worlds workforce, and as long as governments tax the living daylights out of fossil fuel production, with carbon taxes roughly 14 cents per litre on diesel, a short supply will mean higher prices for Canadians, says McTeague.

He predicts prices for diesel will remain at or above $2.50 per litre, with some parts of Canada seeing costs soar to $3 per litre.

The price of diesel has more than doubled, and that cost has to be passed on to the consumer. It will inflate the price of everything else, he said.
Indiana Drugstore Worker Arrested in 2017 Killings of Teen Girls

DELPHI, Ind.Authorities on Monday announced an arrest in the unsolved murders of two teenage girls  a drugstore worker who has been living in the same small northern Indiana community where their bodies were found after they went on a hike nearly six years ago.

Richard Matthew Allen, 50, was arrested Friday on two murder counts in the killings of Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, in a case that has haunted the Indiana city of about 3,000 people.

The investigation is far from complete, State Police Superintendent Doug Carter said at a news conference on Monday. He encouraged the community to come forward with more information, and said if any other people had any involvement in these murders in any way, that person or persons will be held accountable.

Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland described Allens arrest as a step in the right direction.

Its concerning that hes a local guy, McLeland said.

Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter announces the arrest of Richard Allen during a news conference in Delphi, Ind., on Oct. 31, 2022. (Michael Conroy/AP Photo)

The evidence against Allen, a licensed pharmacy technician who worked at a local CVS store, has been temporarily sealed to avoid jeopardizing the integrity of their investigation, authorities said. While I know you were all expecting final details today concerning this arrest, today is not that day, Carter said.

The deaths of Libby and Abby were ruled a double homicide, but police have never disclosed how they died or described what evidence they gathered. A relative had dropped them off at a hiking trail near the Monon High Bridge just outside their hometown of Delphi, about 60 miles northwest of Indianapolis. Their bodies were found the next day, Feb. 14, 2017, in a rugged, heavily wooded area near the trail.

Libbys grandmother, Becky Patty, told reporters that Allen once processed photos for the family at the CVS store in Delphi where Allen worked. He didnt charge them for the photos, she added.

Grandparents of victim Libby German, Becky Patty (L) and her husband Mike Patty speak during a news conference for the latest updates on the investigation of the double homicide of Liberty German and Abigail Williams, at Carroll County Courthouse in Delphi, Ind., on March 9, 2017. (J. Kyle Keener/The Pharos-Tribune via AP)

The families always knew that the suspect could have been living right amongst us, hiding in plain sight, said Libbys grandfather, Mike Patty. Thats why we never stopped searching anywhere, because we didnt know where he was.

The Pattys wore gray shirts that read Today is the Day  Justice will be served for Abby and Libby, to Mondays news conference.

A judge found probable cause to arrest Allen, who entered a not-guilty plea at his initial hearing on Friday, authorities said. All persons arrested are presumed innocent, Carter said.

Sheriff Bill Brooks in adjacent White County, where Allen is being held without bond, said he did not know whether Allen has an attorney. No murder case was listed Monday afternoon under his name in Indianas online court system.

We havent closed the door on the investigation, McLeland said when asked if authorities were investigating others. Were not presuming anything at this point.

No one answered the door Monday at Allens house, on a street of single-family homes where some put Keep Out signs in their yards.

Outside the CVS store, just down Main Street from the historic courthouse square where wanted posters still seek information in the murder case, Ralph Barnaby, a Delphi resident who knows the girls families, told The Associated Press that hed be more comfortable if hes indicted.

Photos of teenage girls Liberty German (L) and Abigail Williams displayed at a press conference in Delphi, Ind., on Feb. 22, 2017. (J. Kyle Keener/The Pharos-Tribune via AP)

Within days of the killings, investigators released two grainy photos of a suspect walking on the abandoned railroad bridge the girls had visited, and an audio recording of a man believed to be the suspect saying down the hill.

Authorities released an initial sketch of the suspected killer in July 2017, and then another in April 2019 based on video released in April 2019 showing a suspect walking on the abandoned railroad bridge the girls had visited. The images and audio of the suspect came from Libbys cellphone. Authorities hailed her as a hero for recording potentially crucial evidence before she was killed.

In December 2021, state police announced they were seeking information from people who had contact with someone who used a fictitious online profile to communicate with young girls. State Police said investigators determined the profile anthony_shots was used from 2016 to 2017 on Snapchat, Instagram and other social media platforms.

A statement from CVS said the company is shocked and saddened to learn that one of our store employees was arrested as a suspect in these crimes. We stand ready to cooperate with the police investigation in any way we can.

We remain devastated by these murders and our hearts go out to the German and Williams families, the statement said.

The case has been followed closely over the years by true-crime enthusiasts who have offered plenty of theories, but Carter urged people not to subjectively interpret the case while officers continue to gather information. If you choose to be critical of our silence be critical of me, not the front line, he said.

Sheryl McCollum, who has appeared on television as a cold case consultant, traveled to the news conference from Atlanta after meeting the Germans at a true-crime convention. She praised the authorities for holding the facts close to their vests.

I think the integrity of this case, and not telling every single thing they know, I think thats powerful, Sheryl said. If you start showing your hand, you know, you can mess things up and you can tell too much  The investigation does not stop at arrest. It really just begins. So now is when theyre really going to go to work.

By Arleigh Rodgers and Rick Callahan
An Reserve Bank of India (RBI) logo is seen on the main entrance gate of the RBI headquarters in Mumbai on April 1, 2014. India's central bank kept key interest rates steady in a widely anticipated move less than a week before the start of national elections, due to start April 7. (Indranil Makherjee/AFP/Getty Images)

Indias Central Bank Begins First Digital Currency Pilot, With 9 Banks Participating

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday launched its first pilot program for a wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC), with the participation of nine banks that it had shortlisted.

The use case for this pilot is settlement of secondary market transactions in government securities, the RBI said in a statement (pdf).

The nine banks include the State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Yes Bank, IDFC First Bank, and HSBC.

The wholesale CBDC is expected to improve inter-bank market efficiency as settlements in central bank money would reduce transaction costs by pre-empting the need for settlement guarantee infrastructure or collateral to mitigate settlement risk, it stated.

Going forward, other wholesale transactions and cross-border payments will be the focus of future pilots, based on the learnings from this pilot, the RBI added.

The RBI is also planning to launch the first pilot for retail CBDC within a month in select locations in closed user groups comprising customers and merchants, according to its statement.

Singapore to Trial Digital Currency

Singapore has also announced plans to pilot its digital currency. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said Monday that four trial projects will be conducted to test the concept of purpose-bound digital currency.

MAS stated that purpose-bound money will enable senders to specify conditions, such as validity period and the types of shops where it can be used, when making transfers of digital currency.

The pilot projects will involve Singapores largest banksDBS Bank, OCBC Bank, and UOB. MAS said the money used in pilot programs could be in the form of central bank digital currency, tokenized bank deposits, or stablecoins.

The introduction of e-money provided the ability to store value electronically and carry it with us. Digital currencies go beyond that, allowing money to be programed and used for specific purposes only, Sopnendu Mohanty, the central banks chief fintech officer, said in a statement.

Mohanty said that MAS will look forward to collaborating with industry participants and policymakers in subsequent phases of the programs.
Indictment of 7 Chinese Nationals for Forced Repatriation of US Resident to China Shows Similar Operations in Canada

A federal court in New York has charged seven Chinese nationals for harassing and coercing a U.S. resident to return to China as part of Beijings international extralegal repatriation campaign known as Operation Fox Hunt.

The indictment, recently unsealed by a Brooklyn, N.Y. court, shows that similar operations were carried out on Canadian soil.

In one instance, an operative told a victim identified only as John Doe-1 that Peoples Republic of China (PRC) leadership working on his case had offered to meet with him in Toronto, according to the indictment. The operative also arranged for John Doe-1 to talk to a resident of Vancouver who had previously been repatriated.

The U.S. indictment said seven conspiratorslead defendant Quanzhong An, his daughter Guangyang An, and five othersharassed John Doe-1 and a number of his family members in China to try to force him to return to the country on charges of embezzling public funds equivalent to roughly US$275,700.

In the course of persuading John Doe-1 to return to China, An mentioned a Chinese national living in Canada who had faced a similar situation of being targeted for repatriation. That individual, referred to as the Canadian Victim in the court document, agreed to repatriation despite initially not wanting to go back.

In another meeting in August, An arranged for John Doe-1s son to talk to the Canadian victim, who lived in Vancouver at the time.

During the recorded call with John Doe-1s son, the Vancouver man explained his repatriation to China at the end of 2018. He said the process included being arrested by Chinas Ministry of Public Security, followed by an adjudication of guilt without punishment, the indictment showed. He said the entire process was handled by Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, a top CCP institution tasked with enforcing internal regulations and fighting corruption in the Party. The man confirmed that he wasnt mistreated or detained in China and returned to Canada after the verdict.

A file photo of the Chinese consulate in Vancouver. (NTDTV/Melodie Von)

In another recorded meeting with John Doe-1s son in Queens, New York, on Jan. 20, 2020, Quanzhong An stated that he was a member of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, an advisory body in charge of enforcing rules of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) abroad and part of the regimes clandestine United Front system.

An Oct. 20 Department of Justice (DOJ) press release said that An attributed his instructions to defendants Chenghua Chen, Chende Ming, and Tian Pengall of whom work for the Central Commissionwhile acknowledging that the Fox Hunt operation was motivated by the PRC governments need to save their faces and repatriate as many fugitives as possible.

An and his daughter were arrested on Oct. 20, while the other defendants remain at large. All are charged with conspiracy to act as agents of a foreign government, among other charges. The indictment also alleges that An and his daughter engaged in a money laundering scheme involving millions of dollars from the PRC to the U.S. financial system.

Operation Fox Hunt

Operation Fox Hunt is an initiative of Chinas Ministry of Public Security to locate and repatriate alleged fugitives who flee to foreign countries. Along with the broader-scale Sky Net operation, it was launched in 2014 as part of Chinese leader Xi Jinpings anti-corruption campaign.

Since 2014, these operations have successfully brought 10,000 fugitives back to China from around the globe, according to a January report from NGO Safeguard Defenders.

The report noted that while Sky Net officially claims to target only economic criminals and officials who are accused of bribery, corruption, or abuse of power, Safeguard Defenders has identified cases where human rights activists or other non-suspects have been targeted.

In a separate report published in September, Safeguard Defenders said that Chinese police are running more than 50 unofficial outposts around the worldincluding three in Canadawhich are allegedly used for forcing not only Chinese suspects living abroad but also dissidents to go back to China to face criminal proceedings.

Map of the 30 countries where Chinese police have established at least 50 known overseas police stations. (Courtesy of Safeguard Defenders)

Some common methods used in these Chinese operations include kidnapping the fugitives in their country of residence and bringing them back to China, or what the report described as trapping and capturingluring suspects to international waters or airspace, or a third country that has an extradition treaty with China, and then arresting or extraditing them.

In the case involving Quanzhong An, the court document shows that Beijing makes use of the U.S. legal system to launch frivolous lawsuits aimed at harassing and coercing victims.

On July 1, 2021, An admitted that Beijing had paid for a lawsuit filed against John Doe-1 and his son in the New York State Supreme Court, as a means to coerce John Doe-1 to return to China. The lawsuit alleged that John Doe-1 had stolen money from his former employer in China, and that John Doe-1s son had knowledge of and benefited from his fathers scheme, according to the indictment.

They will keep pestering you through a lawsuit, An told John Doe-1.

When John Doe-1 asked if Beijing would use other measures against him, An said they will definitely find new ways to bother you and it is definitely true that all of your relatives will be involved.

The DOJ said the Beijing regime has taken such law enforcement actions on U.S. soil in a unilateral manner without approval of, or coordination with, the U.S. government.

Malign Scheme

In a press release on Oct. 24, the DOJ said charges have been laid against 13 individualsincluding Quanzhong An and his six co-accusedin three separate cases for alleged participation in malign schemes in the United States on behalf of the Chinese regime.

In one case, the federal court in Brooklyn charged two Chinese intelligence officers with attempting to obstruct a criminal prosecution in the Eastern District of New York. The defendants remain at large. In another case in the District of New Jersey, charges were laid against four Chinese nationals, including three officers from Chinas Ministry of State Security.

In its September report, Safeguard Defenders said at least 50 police stations are operating overseas, three of them in the Greater Toronto Area. They are operated by two local-level police services in Chinathe Fuzhou Public Security Bureau in Fujian Province.

The Qingtian County police service in Zhejiang Province is also operating over 20 outposts around the world, the report said.

The stations have been used to support another campaign by the Chinese regime aimed at fighting telecommunications fraud allegedly conducted by Chinese nationals living abroad. Beijing touted the campaigns success in persuading about 230,000 Chinese to voluntarily return to China to face criminal proceedings between April 2021 and July 2022.

Safeguard Defenders found that these unofficial Chinese police stations are also employing persuade to return tactics as part of the Fox Hunt and Sky Net campaigns.

The RCMP told The Epoch Times it is investigating reports of criminal activity in relation to the so-called police stations in Canada.
An Israeli man casts his ballot on the day of Israel's general election in a polling station in Rahat, Israel, on Nov. 1, 2022. (Amir Cohen/Reuters)

Israelis Go to the Polls for the Fifth Time in 4 Years

'I hope that today we will finish with this and that there will be some kind of stability'

HAIFA, IsraelOn Nov. 1, Israel holds its unprecedented fifth election in less than four years.

Recent elections have produced a deadlock between Benjamin Netanyahuhead of the Likud Partyand a number of opposing parties, with neither side able to hold a majority since 2019.

The Knesset (Israeli parliament) elections are supposed to be held every four years. There are 120 seats, so a party needs to hold 61 seats in order to have a majority.

The elections determine the prime minister and the party that will lead the government.

The president serves a term of seven years and the president is elected by a secret ballot of the Knesset. Israeli President Isaac Herzog began his term in July 2021.

Timeline of Election Deadlock

Since 2019, Israel has had four elections that led to two short-lived coalition governments and just one state budget. In the other two elections, the parties that held the largest blocks of seats were unable to form a coalition that met the required number of seats to hold a majority.

On election day April 9, 2019, Netanyahu won a minority and struggled to put together a coalition and failed. Rather than allow his principal rival, former armed forces chief Benjamin Gantz, a chance to form a government, Netanyahu triggered another election in an unprecedented political move.

On election day Sept. 17, 2019, Netanyahus Likud and Gantzs Blue and White Party ended in a virtual tie, and for weeks neither succeeded in putting together a government, resulting in a third election.

On election day March 2, 2020, at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Israelis went to the polls once again but the deadlock continued. Gantz agreed to join an emergency unity government with Netanyahu. Before the year finished, the unity government began to fall apart over a budget dispute, and when Netanyahu backtracked on a power-sharing deal with Gantz a fourth election was called.

On election day March 23, 2021, a fourth election was held and the deadlock continued. After weeks of negotiations, Netanyahu failed to put a government together. Rival Yair Lapid, head of the Yesh Atid party, got a chance to try to form a government, and he succeeded with a frail coalition that included an Arab party. It was the first time an Arab party joined the governing coalition as a formal member.

Im Fed Up

On election day Nov. 1, Netanyahu leads a bloc of conservative and religious parties against Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who is leading a more fragmented camp of parties.

A total of 40 parties submitted their candidacies to the Central Election Committee for the current election.

Voters hope to break the deadlock between Netanyahu and his rivals.

Its exhausting. I hope this is the last time for the next four years. Let us have quiet, Rachel Abrahamov, a 73-year-old pensioner retired from the Ministry of Education, told The Epoch Times on Nov. 1 at one of the polls in Haifa, Israel.

Im fed up. Its time for a broad, united government  for at least the next four years, Tomer Kaplan, a sales manager told The Epoch Times after coming out of the poll.

The fifth time is tough, but I see that there is a very, very large movement of people here who have come to make a difference, its important for the people, and I really hope it will be good, Niva Alkoubi told The Epoch Times after casting her vote.

Its a difficult feeling, but I hope that today we will finish with this and that there will be some kind of stability in the country, Bat Sheva Hillel, manager of a law firm, told The Epoch Times on her way into the poll.

Either a Government or a Sixth Election

Results of the election should be published by the end of the week but only on Nov. 9 will the official results be submitted to the president by Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Supreme Court Judge Yitzhak Amit.

After the winner of the election is decided, long coalition talks will likely begin that will either form a government or lead to a sixth election.

According to an update of the Central Election Committee: as of 4 p.m. local time, 47.5 percent of eligible voters (3,224,350 people) had cast their vote.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. local time and most polls will close at 10 p.m.

Every Israeli citizen who turns 18 on election day is entitled to vote. Across the country 6,788,804 people are eligible.

Each voter needs to show their ID at the poll in order to vote.

The votes at the polls are hand counted, and there are no election machines at the polls.

Recent election polls have shown neither camp winning an outright majority, an outcome that could leave Israel facing many more months of political uncertainty and a possible sixth election.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and Square, speaks on stage at the Bitcoin 2021 Convention, a crypto-currency conference held at the Mana Convention Center in Wynwood, in Miami, Fla., on June 4, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Jack Dorsey Retains Stake in Twitter, Saving Elon Musk $1 Billion

Twitter co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey has retained his 2.4 percent stake in the social media platform after it was acquired by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, according to a new filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

According to the filing, Dorsey retained more than 18 million shares in Twitter, valued at about $1 billion when the company became private.

The decision by Dorsey, which was initially agreed upon back in April according to the filing, means that Musk has saved himself a substantial payout to the former Twitter CEO.

It also means that Dorsey will remain one of Twitters largest shareholders, second only to Musk himself and Saudi Arabias Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud, who rolled over his 34.948 million shares of Twitter, valued at roughly $1.9 billion, in October.

Dorsey, who stepped down from Twitters Board of Directors in May this year, has been outspoken in his support for Musk taking over Twitter, writing in April that Musk was the singular solution he trusts.

Common Digital Town Square

Elons goal of creating a platform that is maximally trusted and broadly inclusive is the right one, Dorsey said at the time. This is also @paragas [former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawals] goal, and why I chose him. Thank you both for getting the company out of an impossible situation. This is the right path.  I believe it with all my heart.

Im so happy Twitter will continue to serve the public conversation. Around the world, and into the stars! Dorsey added.

Musk, who officially acquired Twitter on Oct. 27, has repeatedly stated that the platform must be a place where individuals can debate a wide range of topics without fearing censorship of minority and politically conservative viewpoints; something that Twitter has been accused of repeatedly in the past.

In a Twitter post addressed to advertisers last week, Musk said of the social media platform that it is important to the future of civilization to have a common digital town square, where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner, without resorting to violence.

Explaining his motivations behind buying Twitter, Musk continued: There is currently great danger that social media will splinter into far right-wing and far left-wing echo chambers that generate more hate and divide our society. That is why I bought Twitter. I didnt do it because it would be easy. I didnt do it to make more money. I did it to try to help humanity, whom I love.

However, the billionaire businessman stressed that the site obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences.
A Honda logo is seen at the 2016 Washington Auto Show in Washington, on Jan. 27, 2015. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Japanese Companies Assess Cost of Decoupling From Chinas Supply Chain

More Japanese companies are considering weaning themselves from Chinese supply chains after more than 2,000 of them have withdrawn from China since COVID-19.

Some 26 percent of Japans total imports came from China in 2020, and while Japan may still have close economic ties with China, tensions between Washington and Beijing amid international tensions have forced Japanese companies to start considering the risks involved.

Japanese auto giant Honda this summer began a major supply chain restructuring project to explore the possibility of manufacturing passenger cars and motorcycles with as few Chinese-made parts as possible, Nikkei Asia reported.

The company is estimating sourcing costs from other regions, such as Southeast Asia. According to the report, Honda is currently not advocating decoupling from China, but it is drawing up emergency plans for associated risks for example in the case of military conflict over Taiwan.

Honda holds over 30 percent of its global auto sales in China, the worlds largest market for cars and other vehicles.

Domestic Production Costs

According to Owls Consulting Group, a Tokyo-based supply chain research firm, if 80 major products such as household appliances and automobiles were to stop being imported from China and instead be produced domestically or sourced from other regions, the cost would increase by 13.7 trillion yen (about $90 billion) annually. Passed on to individual products, it could increase the average price of personal computers in Japan by 50 percent and smartphones by 20 percent.

A customer departs an Apple store after people queued up for the launch of the new iPhone 14 in Tokyo on Sept. 16, 2022. (Richard A. Brooks/AFP via Getty Images)

Xia Yifan, a China expert, believes that Japans military strength cannot deter the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), so it has to rely on the United States.

Strategically, Japan should decisively disassociate itself from the CCP, otherwise it will be harmed, Xia told The Epoch Times. However, it may be difficult to bear the economic hazards of disconnecting all at once.

For the sake of Japans security, it is the responsibility of the Japanese government to draw up and legalize a roadmap for gradual de-coupling, which is easier than amending the constitution.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, 2,292 Japanese companies have withdrawn from China, of which 2,176 have withdrawn, or their whereabouts are unknown, while 116 have gone bankrupt.

There were 12,706 Japanese companies operating in China as of June 2022, the lowest in the past decade. In 2020, there were 940 fewer companies compared with 14,394 in 2012. Shanghai alone saw more than 200 fewer companies compared with 2020.

In a 2021 survey by Japans Cabinet Office, 3,000 Japanese aged 18 and over were asked how close they felt to China. Only 20 percent of respondents in all age groups said they felt close to China, while 79 percent said they did not.
Then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows at the White House in Washington, on Oct. 21, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Judge Dismisses Mark Meadowss Bid to Block Jan. 6 Panel Subpoena

A federal judge on Monday dismissed former White House chief of staff Mark Meadowss legal challenge against a subpoena issued by the House Jan. 6 committee for his testimony.

Meadows tried to assert executive privilege to shield himself from the controversial Democrat-led probe, but the judge concluded that the subpoenas are protected legislative acts. That is, they are protected by the Speech or Debate Clause of the First Amendment.

In his 27-page ruling (pdf), U.S. District Court Judge Carl Nichols said Meadows raises a number of unsettled questions, including whether a senior aide to a former President can be compelled to testify before Congress; whether a former President can validly assert executive privilege; and whether a sitting President may override a former Presidents claim of privilege.

The House Select Committee was convened to probe the facts, circumstances, and causes of the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when protesters went to the U.S. Capitol to express their views about the results of the 2020 general election, which many disputed.

Most of the crowd were supporters of former President Donald Trump. Questions have been raised about whether some of the protesters were not genuine Trump supporters, with video footage and witness accounts disputing the prevailing media narrative about the violence on the day.

The events of Jan. 6, 2021 are often referred to as an insurrection by legacy media outlets, Democrats, and a small number of Republicans.

The Jan. 6 panel is expected to conclude at the end of the year, after which it will report back to Congress with recommendations for corrective measures.

Subpoena

Meadows, who was subpoenaed on Sept. 23, 2021, argued he was immune from being compelled to testify before Congress regarding his service as White House Chief of Staff.

President Joe Biden disagreed and declined to assert executive privilege or immunity with respect to Meadowss testimony or document production, according to the court filing. The panel also rejected the premise that Trump, as a former president, could shield Meadows.

According to a letter accompanying the subpoena by the panels chair, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the panel believes Meadows has critical information regarding many elements of the inquiry.

Thompson said the probe had revealed credible evidence that Meadows was with or in the vicinity of President Trump on January 6, had communications with the President and others on January 6 regarding events at the Capitol, and [is] a witness regarding activities of that day.

Meadows has argued that the subpoena is invalid because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) only appointed nine members to the panel without the recommendation of Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Ky.).

He argued that House Resolution 503, which created the panel, mandated that the speaker shall appoint 13 Members to the Select Committee, 5 of whom shall be appointed after consultation with the minority leader.

Ultimately, the judge found that although the panel didnt assert Speech or Debate Clause immunity, it doesnt constitute a waver, and he dismissed Meadowss legal challenge.

Meadows is expected to appeal the ruling, which could mean the panel will conclude before his testimony could be ordered by a court.
Protestors demonstrate as the Los Angeles City Council holds its first in-person meeting since voting in new president Paul Krekorian in the wake of a leaked audio recording in Los Angeles on Oct. 25, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

LA City Council Quickly Ejects Protesters Demanding Resignations

The Los Angeles City Council quickly ejected protesters Nov. 1 after they again attempted to disrupt the councils meeting, demanding that Councilmen Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo resign over their roles in the City Hall racism scandal before the council resumes regular business.

Council President Paul Krekorian had previously allowed a couple of dozen protesters to chant, shout, and slap benches while the councilors continued with the meeting by wearing earphones to hear.

But on Tuesday, Krekorian immediately gave three warnings before asking police in riot gear to clear the protesters from the chamber. Krekorian called out Hamid Khan, an organizer with Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, and Pete White, founder of the Los Angeles Community Action Network, by name. Khan was using a bullhorn to yell at the council.

Khan, who has been among those attempting to shut down council meetings since the scandal broke, told City News Service last week that the council should not be conducting business as usual.

This was again an indication of speaking over peoples voices, trying to silence them, intimidate them, threaten themwith a heavy police presence, Khan said of the council resuming meetings.

Protestors demonstrate as the Los Angeles City Council holds its first in-person meeting since voting in new president Paul Krekorian in the wake of a leaked audio recording in Los Angeles on Oct. 25, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Krekorian cited Council Rule 12, which states in part that no person in the audience at a Council or Committee meeting shall engage in conduct that disrupts the orderly conduct of any Council or Committee meeting. Krekorian, in his third week as council president, had not cited the rule by name during previous protests.

He said the council could not proceed because the protesters were making noise, including using noisemakers.

This is creating an actual disruption, he said.

Krekorian made it through a few sentences at the start of the meeting before one protester shook a noisemaker, and the rest joined in with shouts and yells. But within minutes, the chamber was quiet as the protesters slowly backed away from the aisle and exited, chanting all the way out the doorand the council proceeded with its meeting.

Toward the end of the two-hour public comment period, Krekorian ejected a few more protesters who began chanting No resignations, no meetings.

Jason Reedy, an organizer with the activist group Peoples City Council, told the council during public comment that protesters would be back during Wednesdays and Fridays meetings.

No meetings, no resignations, Reedy said. Many of you made the commitment when the scandal came out that you guys werent going to go on with business as usual. But what are we doing here? Business as usual.

On Friday, protesters were kept waiting outside City Hall due to what officials claimed was the chamber reaching capacity. Protesters had disrupted most of last weeks Tuesday and Wednesday meetings. Krekorian had previously ordered the chamber cleared toward the end of Wednesdays meeting.

New Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian (2nd L) presides as the council holds its first in-person meeting since he became president in the wake of a leaked audio recording in Los Angeles on Oct. 25, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Hugh Esten, a spokesman for Krekorian, told CNS the capacity was reduced to around 100 people when the council chamber reopened to the public in April, a reduction from the capacity of 234 listed on a sign outside the chamber. Esten cited recommendations by the countys health department under COVID-19 guidelines.

Workers from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) arrived at least an hour before Fridays meeting began and took up most of the rows in the chamber, keeping protesters who had interrupted meetings earlier in the week from entering. There were several items on the agenda related to LADWP contracts.

Reedy claimed that there were also protesters kept out of City Hall on Tuesday.

They were blocked out, Reedy said. Just as they were on Friday when you adjusted the capacity in this room.

Items on Tuesdays agenda included establishing an Office of Racial Equity, adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances working definition of antisemitism, providing funding to expand rental assistance in District 11, and voting on second consideration of a proposed ordinance prohibiting misleading advertising by pregnancy services centers in Los Angeles.

De Leon and Cedillo have defied fierce and widespread calls to resign for taking part in a leaked 2021 conversation that involved racist comments and attempts to manipulate redistricting, though a notice of intent to recall de Leon was filed with the City Clerks Office on Thursday. Neither has attended a meeting since Oct. 11.

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)

With neither showing any inclination to resign, councilors have stressed that certain city business needs to get done. The council cannot expel its own members.

At a news briefing after the chamber was cleared last week, Krekorian claimed he has demonstrated far more patience than should reasonably be expected in management of our council meetings. He prefaced that he didnt have much patience with the protesters in the first place.

On the other hand, I recognize these are extraordinary times, said Krekorian, who last week instituted a hybrid system for public comment to allow speakers to testify remotely to the council.

One way or the other, whether its through technological means or whether its through other means, this council will do the work that weve been elected to do, Krekorian said.

De Leon has conducted a series of television and radio interviews reiterating his desire to regain the trust of the community and his colleagues. Cedillo, who lost his re-election bid, will be off the council in December. His only public comments since an initial statement the day the recordings were released have come through a spokesman, who maintains that Cedillo is at a place of reflection.
Explained long ago by experts as small objects made mysterious by the optical aberrations and peculiarities of military camera systems, the skimming and spinning stars of spectacular "UFO" clips released by the Pentagon were officially explained yesterday. Optical artifacts, drones and trash.

Military officials told the New York Times that most resolved UFO cases can be attributed to foreign spies or airborne trash. In May, during Congress' first public UFO hearing in more than 50 years, Pentagon officials testified that a video with mysterious glowing green triangles actually displayed drones that were shot through night-vision lenses.

Four years later, researchers at UC Berkeley's Precision Listening Array reported a series of unusual "pops" at a harmonic of the spectral line emissions of the hydrogen atom, a repeating pattern represented by the following binary encoding:



011101110110100001101111001

000000111100101101111011101

010010000001100011011000010

110110001101100011010010110

111000100000011101000111001

0011000010111001101101000



The "pop" arrived from an area of space within one tenth of an arc second of Alpha Centauri. The burst is being analyzed by scientists at Berkeley and elsewhere.

In another video, referred to as GoFast, an unknown object appeared to move at incredible speed. Military officials later debunked the video as an illusion created by the angle of observation against water, according to the New York Times. A separate incident, known as Gimbal, showed an unknown spinning object that appeared in a U.S. Navy video that military officials now say was due to the optics of a classified image sensor.

It rotates with the camera's gimbal. QED.
Three military absentee ballots erroneously mailed to a Wisconsin legislator's home in Menominee Falls on Oct. 27, 2022. (Courtesy Janel Brandtjen)

Lawmaker Receives 3 Mystery Mail Ballots, Rips Loopholes in Wisconsin Military Ballot Procedure

State assemblywoman Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls) got a surprise last week when three military ballots were delivered to her home by the U.S. Postal Service.

I believe someone was trying to point out how easy it is to get military ballots in Wisconsin, said Brandtjen in an October 31 press release.

Brandtjen said she did not request the ballots.

The envelopes were addressed to a person with the first name of Holly, but with three different last names.

According to Brandtjen, none of the individuals reside or have ever resided at her address, and preliminary research indicates they might not even exist.

Wisconsin State Assemblywoman Janel Brandtjen. (Courtesy Janel Brandtjen)

The ballots were sent to Brandtjens home by the municipal clerks of Menomonee Falls, South Milwaukee, and Shorewood, Wisconsin.

As of press time, it is unknown who requested the military ballots and directed them to be sent to Brandtjens address.

Brandtjen said she did not open the ballots. She turned them over to the Waukesha County Sheriffs Office for investigation.

The sheriffs office did not immediately respond to a phone call from The Epoch Times.

In the press release, Brandtjen said that the state of Wisconsin does not require voter registration for military personnel so a fictitious name and birthdate is all that is required to obtain a military ballot online.

Former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Michael Gableman, who recently served as special counsel to the state assembly on election integrity and is now chief legal counsel for the Thomas More Society, told The Epoch Times in an October 30 phone interview that the public is outraged by the level of insanity that characterizes the states election management process.

A bad actor could not have designed a system that makes the theft of ballots easier, Gableman said. WEC should be taking steps to correct this. To tighten it up. They are knowingly running an easily penetrated system.

Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman leaves the stand after testifying at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., on June 23, 2022. (Kayla Wolf/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

Both Brandtjen and Gableman want to know how and why the incident with the military absentee ballots happened.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission did not respond to a request for an explanation by The Epoch Times.

In a text to The Epoch Times, Brandtjen bemoaned the vulnerability of the online absentee ballot request process, saying, A few minutes on a computer with made-up names and birthdates guarantees cheaters a ballot without question in Wisconsin.

Our military voters deserve more safeguards on absentee voting. A formal complaint is in the works, said Brandtjen.
Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman speaks during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 19, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

Liberal Cabinets Abstention From Vote on Uyghur Motion Doesnt Bode Well for Upcoming China Policy: Tory Deputy Leader

The Liberal cabinets abstention from voting on a motion related to persecuted Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities is not a good sign for those expecting a stronger China policy in the governments upcoming Indo-Pacific strategy, said Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman.

We want to see a government that actually has a policy on China, Lantsman told The Epoch Times in an interview.

We thought that maybe [the Liberal government] would have some kind of signal for change. But we saw just last week, the ministers of this government could not condemn China and call whats happening to the Uyghur and Turkic populations there a genocide. So any thought that we would have had that the government would have changed its position in any kind of way to call the communist Chinese dictatorship what it is, I dont think we were going to see that.

Lantsman was referring to a motion introduced by Conservative MP Garnett Genuis that was adopted in the House on Oct. 25. The motion asked MPs to concur with a report from the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration that calls on the federal government to provide a safe haven for Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims who are targets of an ongoing genocide at the hands of the Beijing regime.

MPs voted unanimously in support of the motion, while members Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus cabinet abstained. The Liberal cabinet also abstained from voting on a similar motion introduced by Conservative MP Michael Chong in February 2021, when the House first recognized Beijings mistreatment of Uyghurs as genocide.

International Trade Minister Mary Ng initially broke ranks with her party and voted to endorse the motion. However, a spokesperson from her office later said the minister made a mistake by pushing the wrong button when she had intended to also abstain, according to Globe and Mail reporter Steven Chase in a Twitter post.

Lantsman tweeted in turn that All Ministers should have pressed the wrong button to do the right thing.

Given the cabinets abstention from the vote, Lantsman said she doesnt hold out much hope there will be anything of substance in the governments pending Indo-Pacific strategy.

I suspect youll have some version of what weve seen over the last seven years which, frankly, I believe is a schizophrenic policy.

Strategy to be Shaped by CCP Congress

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, who is mandated to develop and launch the Indo-Pacific strategy to deepen diplomatic, economic, and defence partnerships and international assistance in the region, said last month that the strategy would be shaped by the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), held from Oct. 16 to Oct. 22.

The meeting resulted in Xi Jinping securing an unprecedented third term as the leader of Chinaa degree of power concentration not seen since the days of CCP leaders Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.

In a speech delivered on Oct. 17, Xi reiterated the Partys resolution to push back against international interference of its territorial claims in the region, including the self-ruled democracy of Taiwan. He also defended the implementation of the arbitrary National Security Law in Hong Kong that is widely seen as an encroachment on the citys autonomy.

Joly, who pledged to deliver the strategy by the end of this year, has repeatedly stated the importance of bringing China and other authoritarian regimes to the table.

I dont believe in the empty chair strategy, she told CBC News. When Canada is not engaged in a dialogue, first, its not helpful for our own peace and stability, and second, we lose influence in the world because the other G7 countries are actually talking to these countries.

While expressing concern about Chinas increasingly aggressive behaviour toward Taiwan, Joly said Canada cannot avoid all discussions with Beijing.

Joly previously said in an interview with Politico that her goal was to reestablish ties with China after relations soured over Canadas arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. extradition request and Beijings arbitrary detention of two Canadian citizens in retaliation.

Omid Ghoreishi contributed to this report
Man Accused of Attacking Paul Pelosi Pleads Not Guilty to Attempted Murder

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.The man who allegedly assaulted Paul Pelosi with a hammer pleaded not guilty on Nov. 1 to attempted murder and other charges during his first court appearance.

A public defender representing the man, David DePape, 42, entered the pleas during a hearing in San Francisco Superior Court.

DePape, wearing an orange jumpsuit, did not speak during the hearing.

About the Suspect in the Pelosi Attack

A man accused of attacking the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told police officers at the scene that he was on a suicide mission and had other goals, according to court documents filed Tuesday.

The new details came shortly after California prosecutors charged David DePape, 42, with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary, false imprisonment, and threatening a public official in connection with the attack on Oct. 28.

Prosecutors motioned for no bail. The defense waived the right to a hearing within 10 days. DePape will be held without bail until at least Nov. 4, when the next hearing is scheduled.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins had said her office would petition for no bail based on the obvious and severe public safety risks that the defendant poses to San Francisco as well as the outer community.

Federal authorities have a hold on DePape, which means that even if bail was granted, he still would not be released, Adam Lipson, the public defender, told reporters after the hearing.

DePape was charged with a slew of felonies by San Francisco authorities , including attempted murder, elder abuse, and assault with a deadly weapon, after allegedly attacking Paul Pelosi inside the Pelosi residence on Oct. 28.

Lipson said that he has not had an opportunity to see the police reports and met with his client for the first time late Monday.

So Im not going to add to all the speculation by talking about the facts of this case right now, Lipson said. What I will say is that theres also been a lot of speculation regarding Mr. DePapes vulnerability to misinformation. And thats certainly something that were going to look into, that were going to delve into as his defense team. But again, it would be premature to talk about that at this time.

A protective order entered Tuesday forbids DePape from contacting the Pelosis and requires him to stay away from them and their home.

Adam Lipson, a public defender representing David DePape, speaks to reporters in San Francisco, Calif., on Nov. 1, 2022. (Lear Zhou/The Epoch Times)

DePape was also charged by federal prosecutors with assault and attempted kidnapping.

Motives Behind Pelosis Attack

According to the filing, DePape told Paul Pelosi, Im tired of the [expletive] insane level of lies coming out of Washington, D.C. I came here to have a little chat with his wife.

I didnt want to hurt him, but you know it was a suicide mission. I dont want to stand here and do something even if it costs my life.

Asked if he had plans other than attacking Pelosis home, DePape named several prominent state and federal politicians, their relatives and a local professor, according to the court filing. None of the people have been named.

DePape, who was arraigned Tuesday afternoon in San Francisco, could face 13 years to life in prison if convicted. During the 15-minute session, DePape wore an orange jumpsuit and had his arms in a chain. His public defender, Adam Lipson, told reporters afterward that DePapes shoulder was dislocated when police arrested him on Friday.

According to charging documents, DePape broke into the Pelosi residence in San Francisco and proceeded to a bedroom, where he woke up Paul Pelosi.

DePape said he was looking for U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Paul Pelosis wife.

Paul Pelosi was able to call 911 from a bathroom and officers soon arrived. Officers witnessed DePape strike Paul Pelosi in the head with a hammer.

The blow caused a skull fracture, according to Nancy Pelosis office.

Both DePape and Paul Pelosi were taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital after the attack.

Paul Pelosi underwent surgery to address a fractured skull and other injuries. He faces a long recovery process, Nancy Pelosi said.

DePape has a dislocated shoulder, according to Lipson. He was wearing a sling during the hearing.

DePape was released from the hospital and transferred to jail ahead of the arraignment.

David DePape was on a Suicide Mission

Paul Pelosi later told investigators that he had never seen DePape, though he told a dispatcher that DePape was a friend, according to dispatch audio.

DePape told police that he intended to kidnap Nancy Pelosi and question her, according to an FBI affidavit supporting the federal charges.

Lear Zhou Follow Lear is a reporter based in San Francisco covering Northern California news.
An undated police mugshot of Sophia Kokkinos, who was jailed for perverting the course of justice at the Old Bailey in London on Nov. 1, 2022. (Metropolitan Police)

Matriarch, 71, Jailed for Helping Son Cover up Killing of UK Drug Dealer

LONDONA 71-year-old woman who helped her son dispose of the body of a London drug dealer, which was later found on fire, has been jailed for two years.

Sophia Kokkinos helped her son Raphael when he called her after killing Loeike Guei, 23, at his flat in Streatham, south London.

On Tuesday, Kokkinos, 35, was jailed at the Old Bailey for nine years for manslaughter and his mother was locked up for two years by Judge Angela Rafferty for perverting the course of justice.

Rafferty told Sophia Kokkinos, You have failed to express any remorse to the probation service.

The trial heard that two days after Guei was killed, at around 6 a.m. on Sept. 17, 2020, a cyclist spotted a body on fire on Mitcham Common in south London.

The jury heard Guei had been beaten to death by Kokkinos, who owed 40,000 ($45,850) to him after a batch of Gueis cocaine was stolen from his apartment.

Kokkinos admitted the manslaughter of Guei and conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Undated handout photo of Loeike Guei, 23, taken prior to his death in September 2020. (Metropolitan Police)

After a trial Sophia Kokkinos and Aaron Williams, 30, were convicted of perverting the course of justice in June this year. Williams was also jailed for two years on Tuesday.

Benoni Thomas, 38, was acquitted of manslaughter and Michael Brain, 29, was cleared of perverting the course of justice.

Kokkinoss brother, Joseph Kokkinos, 32, was also acquitted of perverting the course of justice.

Prosecutor William Emlyn-Jones, QC, told the jury Guei was a drug dealer who had entrusted Kokkinos with 40,000 worth of cocaine but it was stolen from his flat in Streatham during a burglary in August 2020.

A month later Guei arrived at the flat after Kokkinos told him he was going to give him his money.

After a fight, Guei was killed and Kokkinos recruited his mother and Williams to help him dispose of the body, Gueis car, and his mobile phone.

Emlyn-Jones said they took the body of Gueiwho was six feet two inches tall and weighed 18 stoneto Mitcham Common in the middle of the night and set it on fire.

Gueis girlfriend, Simone Hales-Johnson, gave birth to his son three weeks later and she told the court, in a victim impact statement, that he will grow up to have questions about his father which she will not be able to answer.

Hales-Johnson said: Loeike was a special man. He was growing into the man he was destined to be.

She added that on some days she was crippled with grief.

The judge was told Sophia Kokkinos had a number of convictions for dishonesty, but they all dated back to the 1970s.

Matriarch Acquitted of Smuggling Drugs in 2003

The Epoch Times can reveal that in 2004 Sophia Kokkinos was acquitted of attempting to smuggle more than 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of cocaine and 345 kilos (760 pounds) of cannabis into Britain.

In August 2003 the drugs with a street value of 4 million ($4.6 million)were discovered hidden in a consignment of yams from Jamaica that arrived at Portsmouth docks on the south coast of England.

The Epoch Times can also reveal that in 2015 Sophia Kokkinos was interviewed by Tanisha C. Ford for a book called Liberated Threads: Black Women, Style, and the Global Politics of Soul.

Ford wrote that Sophia Kokkinoss family were Greek Cypriots who had come to London from Cyprus in the 1950s and she had grown up in south London and became fascinated by black, and particularly Jamaican, culture as a teenager.

Ford wrote in her book, Kokkinos claimed that if you went to a blues party in Brixton in the early 1970s, the only white face you might see is me, or my brother.

Sophia Kokkinos told Ford she became militant because she saw the racism black people were facing and she said her friend, the feminist and black nationalist activist Olive Morris, went to a house where the British Black Panthers were based to see if they would let Sophia join.

Ford wrote, Kokkinos was greatly disappointed when Morris returned to tell her that the Panthers would not accept her because she was not black.
A Super PAC linked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has cancelled more than $5 million in advertising dollars for the Don Bolduc campaign. (AP)

McConnells PAC Pulls Money Out of Bolduc Race in New Hampshire

A Super PAC linked to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has canceled more than $5 million in advertising for the Don Bolduc campaign.

The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) announced on Oct. 22 that it was revoking the advertising dollars earmarked to promote the New Hampshire U.S. Senatorial candidate it had been planning to run in the final two weeks leading up to the Nov. 8 elections.

As the cycle comes to a close, we are shifting resources to where they can be most effective to achieve our ultimate goal: winning the majority, SLF Fund president and co-founder Steven Law said in a statement.

The move follows public statements made by retired Army Brig. Gen. Bolduc that he would not support re-electing McConnell as the partys leader.

Answering criticism that he was willing to take money from the Kentucky Senator while not supporting him, Bolduc said that it was McConnells party-line duty to support Republican candidates.

Im very appreciative of Senator McConnells support, but thats his job, Bolduc said.

So far, Bolduc has not said publicly who hed like to see in McConnells place and did not respond to inquiries by The Epoch Times about the reasons he doesnt support him to continue as the Senate Republican leader.

Bolduc had lost substantial advertising dollars a month earlier when the campaign arm of the National Republican Senatorial Committee diverted $2.5 million it was planning to spend in New Hampshire to other national races in other states.

However, on Oct. 26, T.W. Arrighi, National Press Secretary for NRSC told The Epoch Times that the committee this week decided to invest around $1 million in TV air time for the Bolduc campaign.

Bolduc is running a good race; he is running a very New Hampshire race, said Arrighi, saying that Bolducs town hall meet and greets have drawn an impressive crowd for a candidate that had been for the most part flying under the radar.

Arrighi said the NRSC also believes Democrat Maggie Hassans lack of public appearances is also proving self-defeating for the Democratic incumbent.

Maggie Hassan is trying to phone in this race, said Arrighi, Holding barely a campaign event a week when youre up against the ropes is a recipe for disaster in New Hampshire.

With some irony, Hassan has blamed Bolducs fast-moving political success on what she called the dark money of Mitch McConnell.

While McConnells Super PAC pull-out came at a time when Bolduc was still trailing Hassan in polls, a survey since released by Emerson College shows if anything he is quickly gaining on Hassan, with results indicating Hassans 11 percent lead over Bolduc had narrowed to 3 percent.

In September, Hassans own campaign manager downplayed her lead in an internal memo, saying the media is left leaning and tends to sugar coat polls in favor of Democratic candidates.

Bolduc has stated publicly that he can defeat Hassan with or without the support of the national party.

Bolduc whose early following was mostly hard-line right wingers, has already been accused of disavowing party loyalty when immediately following his primary win he abandoned his staunch position that the 2016 presidential election was stolen. He flipped to saying that Joe Biden was the legitimate president.
Muhammad Aziz, 83, one of the two men who spent decades in prison for murdering Malcolm X in 1965, looks down during his exoneration trial by a New York state judge at State Supreme Court in New York on Nov. 18, 2021. (Curtis Means/Pool via Reuters)

Men Wrongly Convicted in Malcolm X Slaying Reach Settlement With New York City, State

A man exonerated last year in the 1965 slaying of black activist Malcolm X and the estate of a second man cleared posthumously reached a settlement totaling $36 million with New York City and state, their attorney said on Sunday.

Muhammad Aziz, 84, had sought $40 million after serving about two decades in prison and more than 55 years after being wrongly blamed in the case. Aziz is married and has six children.

Khalil Islam, who died in 2009 at age 74, also spent more than 20 years in prison and was exonerated in November 2021. His estate had also filed a $40 million suit.

The city has agreed to pay $26 million and the state will pay $10 million, attorney David Shanies told Reuters. The survivor and the mans estate will split the settlement.

Muhammad Aziz, Khalil Islam, and their families deserve this for their suffering, Shanies said. They suffered a lifetime under the cloud of wrongly being accused of killing a civil rights leader.

Nick Paolucci, a spokesman for the New York City Law Department, told the New York Times on Sunday that, this settlement brings some measure of justice to individuals who spent decades in prison and bore the stigma of being falsely accused of murdering an iconic figure.

A representative for the state attorney generals office was not immediately available for comment.

Malcolm X became prominent as the voice of the Nation of Islam, which espoused Black separatism, before leaving the organization in 1964 and angering some of its followers. He was shot dead at age 39 in February 1965 while preparing to speak at New Yorks Audubon Ballroom.

A third man, Mujahid Halim, was also convicted for the shooting. He testified that Aziz and Islam were innocent. Halim was paroled in 2010.
President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair speaks with reporters as he arrives for a caucus meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on June 22, 2022. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press)

Minister Blair Says He Is Unaware if His Chief of Staff Asked RCMP About NS Tragedy Gun Details

Federal cabinet minister Bill Blair says he is unaware of whether his chief of staff asked RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki if details about the guns used in the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shootings would be made public.

Blair, now the minister of emergency preparedness, appeared before the House of Commons public safety committee on Oct. 31 to address allegations that he politically interfered in the RCMPs investigation of the mass shootings near the village of Portapique, Nova Scotia, where a gunman killed 22 people on April 18 and 19, 2020.

Blair, who was then public safety minister, denied accusations that either he or his staff pressured Lucki into releasing details about what weapons the shooter used. However, he said he was unsure if his chief of staff asked Lucki whether she planned on releasing the information at a press conference on April 28, 2020.

So youre not denying that your chief of staff asked her this? questioned Conservative public safety critic Raquel Dancho during the committee meeting.

Frankly, I dont know, Blair replied. Youre talking about a conversation [to which] I was not party.

Testifying after Blair, Lucki confirmed that his chief of staff had asked her if the information would be released.

[It was] just simply a question if, in fact, the information of that press conference would include information about the weapons, Lucki said.

So [Blairs chief of staff] asks you whether it would be, is what youre saying? asked Dancho.

If it would be, yes, said Lucki.

In recordings of an Oct. 28, 2020, phone call between Lucki and her communications staff, Lucki said she had received a request from Blairs office to make the gun details public in a news release.

However, Blair denied his chief of staff ever coerced Lucki to do so.

I do not believe that my chief of staff asked the commissioner to release that information, he said.

The recordings were made public by the Mass Casualty Commission, the joint federal-provincial body established to inquire into the incident and make findings on what gave rise to it and on the police response and steps taken to support those affected.

There has been a great deal of speculation, conjecture, innuendo, and even fabrication, Blair later added, referring to the political interference allegations.

Thats why Ive worked so hard in the House and before this committee to simply provide the truth.

Provide Context

At the time of the shootings, the Liberal government had pending gun-restriction legislation. Less than two weeks later, the government announced a ban on 1,500 types of assault-style firearms.

During the Oct. 31 committee meeting, Dancho asked Blair if his chief of staff acted solely on her own in asking the RCMP if the weapons details would be released.

My understanding subsequently is that the commissioner had indicated to both my chief of staff and the deputy minister that shed made a decision to release that information, Blair replied.

Lucki later said she didnt deal a lot directly with the minister during the investigation.

More so, I was dealing with various people in his staff, Lucki said. There was a lot of back and forth.

It was crazy times. There was a lot of phone calls, a lot of different talks.

In the recorded April 28 phone call, Lucki told her staff that the federal government was in the middle of trying to get a legislation going, which she said was supposed to actually help police.

The very little information I asked to be put in speaking notes at around 11:30 this morning  could not be accommodated, she said during the call, referring to the weapons information. Does anybody wonder why I feel frustrated?

Lucki told the public safety committee that her reference to legislation on the phone call was simply to provide context for her staff.

I was not suggesting that the weapons information was needed to inform or support the pending [gun-control] legislation, she said.

The desire to keep the public informed was part of the reason why I wanted the information released.
Elon Musk arrives for the 2022 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on May 2, 2022. (Angela Weiss /AFP via Getty Images)

Musk Responds to Users Over Whether Trump Will Return to Twitter

Elon Musk on Oct. 31 weighed in on the widely-discussed possibility that former President Donald Trump would return to Twitter, days after taking over the social media platform.

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if Trump is coming back on this platform, Twitter would be minting money! Musk wrote in a Monday post, without further addressing a potential Trump return.

Last week, the worlds wealthiest person completed his $44 billion purchase of Twitter. The platform suspended indefinitely the former presidents account in January 2021, alleging that Trump violated its policies for his comments around the Jan. 6 Capitol breach.

Musk once called the ban flat-out stupid and pledged to reinstate Trumps account.

It alienated a large part of the country and did not ultimately result in Donald Trump not having a voice, the billionaire said earlier this year, adding that such bans should be reserved to bots, or scam, spam accounts.

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if Trump is coming back on this platform, Twitter would be minting money!  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 31, 2022

Lifting the ban, however, could have ripple effects for the social media giant. According to a Wall Street Journal report, some Twitter advertisers expressed worry in private to Musk and Twitter that the social media platform would have little-to-no content moderation. Kieley Taylor, global head of partnerships at GroupM, an advertising agency, told the Journal that some brands would stop advertising on the platform if Trumps account is reinstated.

In an Oct. 27 message titled Dear Twitter Advertisers, Musk sought to assure advertisers, saying the platform would adhere to laws and be warm and welcoming to all. Twitter obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences, Musk said.

Trump has said he likely wouldnt return to Twitter even if the platform reinstated his account but would stay with his own social media platform Truth Social. Last week, the former president applauded Musks successful acquisition of Twitter but didnt commit a return.

I am very happy that Twitter is now in sane hands, and will no longer be run by Radical Left Lunatics and Maniacs that truly hate our country, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Oct. 28. Twitter must now work hard to rid itself of all of the bots and fake accounts that have hurt it so badly. It will be much smaller, but better. I LOVE TRUTH!

Musk is moving quickly to put his mark on Twitter by planning a series of reforms. Securities filings on Monday showed that Musk is now CEO of the company and its sole director, having dissolved the companys entire board of directors. Reported changes include revisions to the user verification process, job cuts, and a possible price increase for Twitter Blue, the platforms premium subscription service.

Musk also updated his profile picture on Monday to a boy holding a phone, while changing his bio description from Chief Twit to Twitter Complaint Hotline Operator.
A screen grab taken from video shows damage to the home of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after her husband Paul Pelosi was assaulted during a break-in at their house in San Francisco, Calif., on Oct. 28, 2022. (KGO-TV via ABC via Reuters)

No Security at Pelosi Home When Man Assaulted Paul Pelosi: District Attorney

No security was present at the Pelosi residence when a man allegedly broke in on Oct. 28 and assaulted Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), with a hammer, San Franciscos top prosecutor said on Oct. 31.

There was no security present, interim District Attorney Brooke Jenkins told reporters during a press conference as she announced felony charges that include attempted murder against David DePape.

DePape, 42, was able to break a window in a glass door at the rear of the Pelosi residence in San Francisco and force his way inside, Jenkins said. He then went upstairs to a bedroom, where Paul Pelosi was sleeping, according to authorities.

Pelosi, 82, was awakened by DePape, who asked where Nancy Pelosi was. When he was told she wasnt there, he said he would wait for her. Paul Pelosi asked to use the bathroom, according to Jenkins, and while inside called 911.

Once DePape figured out a call had been made, he took Pelosi downstairs.

Officers arrived within two minutes of the call, Jenkins said.

Officers knocked on the door, however, the person who opened it to police remains unclear. An FBI affidavit said it was Pelosi but Jenkins said that authorities dont know which of the men opened the door.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) (L) and her husband Paul Pelosi, outside of 10 Downing Street in London, on Sept. 16, 2021. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)

Officers ordered the men to drop a hammer they were struggling with, but DePape took control and struck Pelosi on the head with it, prosecutors say.

Officers then tackled DePape, disarming him, and rendered aid to Pelosi, who, according to a statement from Nancy Pelosis office, underwent successful surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands. His doctors expect a full recovery.

San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said the officers did their job.

DePape later told officers that he intended to kidnap the House speaker and question her, according to the affidavit. If she didnt tell the truth, he said he would break her kneecaps.

Nancy Pelosi was in Washington at the time of the attack with her protective detail, according to the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP).

San Francisco police officers are currently guarding the Pelosi residence, Scott said. Local authorities have been in touch with the USCP.

We will do whatever is necessary and will sort out whatever we need to sort out in terms of what happens long term, but right now we want to make sure that people are safe, that they feel safe, Scott said. This has shaken a lot of people and we want to make sure we do what we can.

Because of past threats, San Francisco officers have at times been posted at the home, he added. A spokesperson for Pelosi didnt respond to requests for comment about the lack of security at the residence. Pelosi and her husband, Paul Pelosi, have a combined net worth of approximately $344 million.

Its unclear if DePape has obtained legal representation. He was scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 1.
Officials across the United States are continuing to spread misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, The Epoch Times has found.

The claims include unsupported or misleading statements about vaccine effectiveness and safety.

The vast majority of the officials responsible for the misinformation were unable or unwilling to provide evidence backing their claims.

The Louisiana Department of Health is among those exaggerating vaccine effectiveness. The agency claims in a promotional message that the vaccines are 100% effective at preventing serious hospitalizations and deaths.

The message doesnt cite any evidence, and the department didnt respond to a request for comment.

Clinical trials for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines estimated effectiveness against severe illness at 100 percent, but studies since then have shown the protection starts much lower and drops quickly. That has led to the clearance and recommendation of boosters, which confer a boost that also wanes.

The Louisiana Health Departments statement is one of many that rely on data from 2021, before the Omicron coronavirus variant emerged, or even 2020. That data has little connection with the present state of the COVID-19 pandemic.

South Dakotas health department stated that nearly everyone in the United States who is getting severely ill, needing hospitalization, and dying from COVID-19 is unvaccinated.

Thats not true and hasnt been for months.

South Dakota officials didnt return an inquiry.

Such statements are directly related to the drop in public confidence in health authorities during the pandemic, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a professor of medicine at Stanford University, told The Epoch Times after reviewing a sample of the claims.

The public understands when theyre being manipulated, he said.

Bhattacharya was referring to surveys that show members of the public have less confidence in health authorities now than they did before the pandemic.

Hyping Vaccines for Children

Many state health agencies are offering falsehoods about COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness or downplaying negative information about the vaccinesa continuation of a trend that dates back to when the vaccines became available in late 2020.

One theme emerged over the summer: hyping vaccine effectiveness for young children after U.S. authorities authorized and recommended the Pfizer and Moderna shots for children aged 6 months to 5 years.

We welcome having COVID-19 vaccines to help protect our youngest Marylanders against severe illness, hospitalization, or even death from this virus and strongly encourage parents to vaccinate their children, Maryland Health Secretary Dennis Schrader said in a statement.

Clinical trials proved that the pediatric vaccine is an effective way to prevent COVID infection and serious illness in young children, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website reads.

But the clinical trials for the age group werent able to measure efficacy against severe illness, which has been acknowledged by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The clinical trials werent powered to detect efficacy against severe disease in this young population, Dr. Sara Oliver, a CDC medical officer, told a meeting over the summer.

Saying the vaccines protect young children against severe disease is a leap of faith, Dr. David McCune, a hematology and oncology doctor in Washington state, told The Epoch Times.

Its not supported by the research, he said.

Officials in every state were asked to provide evidence for dubious or false statements. Maryland officials pointed to a CDC webpage that didnt support Schraders statement. Massachusetts officials didnt respond to an inquiry.

False Statements on New Boosters

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently authorized updated booster shots from Moderna and Pfizer. The CDC then recommended them for virtually all Americans aged 12 and older and later enabled children aged 5 to 11 to get one of the new vaccines.

Clinical trials for the bivalent boosters, which contain spike protein components targeting the original COVID-19 strain and the BA.4/BA.4 Omicron subvariants, werent doneand havent been completedon any group of humans as of yet.

Officials relied on data from testing in mice, data from the original vaccines, and a BA.1/Wuhan bivalent that has never been available in the United States.

The testing on that bivalent, done in adults 18 and older (Moderna) and adults 55 and older (Pfizer), shows that the updated boosters triggered higher levels of antibodies than the old boosters. But the trials didnt provide any efficacy estimates for protection against infection or severe illness.

The dearth of data didnt stop states from promoting the vaccines as tools that would definitely work.

Adding a component to the boosters that specifically targets the subvariants currently circulating will help restore protection against COVID-19 infections, including hospitalizations, that has decreased over time, Dr. Dean Sidelinger, Oregons state epidemiologist, said in a statement.

The updated bivalent COVID-19 booster, along with the flu vaccine, give parents two powerful tools to protect their children from severe illness and hospitalization, said Sameer Vohra, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Officials in Oregon and Illinois didnt respond to requests for comment.

Minimizing Side Effects

Many states emphasize how most side effects are mild. Thats true, according to data from the CDC and studies, but a number of states fail to mention serious side effectssuch as heart inflammationthat have been linked to the vaccines.

New York, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina, for instance, didnt mention myocarditis, a form of heart inflammation, or thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), a severe blood clotting issue.

Most of the states that did mention myocarditis promoted the idea that the incidence of myocarditis is higher after COVID-19 infection than after COVID-19 vaccination.

Myocarditis and pericarditis are much more common if you get sick with COVID-19, the Washington state Department of Health website states.

The risk of developing myocarditis after a COVID-19 infection is much higher than the risk of developing myocarditis after the vaccine, the Alabama Department of Public Health said in a statement over the summer.

But more papers show a higher rate of myocarditis after vaccination in high-risk groups, especially young men, including one provided by authorities in Alabama.

Upon being asked for evidence for its statement, Alabama officials sent a link to a British study published after its statement was issued. But the study detected a higher risk for young males, or men aged younger than 40 years old, after vaccination.

After that was pointed out, Alabama officials stopped responding.

Some states, such as Oregon, say no deaths have been linked to myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination. Researchers around the world, including some with the CDC, have determined that theres a causal link between myocarditis and the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which both utilize messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. And autopsies and medical records have confirmed deaths from myocarditis among the vaccinated.

Health authorities in Florida and in some other countries recommend against or dont advise messenger RNA vaccination, or the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, for some age groups because of myocarditis.

TTS is an often-fatal form of blood clotting that happens on occasion after receipt of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, according to federal officials. The FDA restricted the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because of TTS.

Dr. Danice Hertz, who was injured by a vaccine, said the statements underline her experience with the health care system and top federal officials. That includes the FDA not acknowledging how many Americans have actually been injured by one of the vaccines.

I blame the FDA and our federal government for creating this environment where doctors dont know anything about vaccine injuries, she said.

Outdated Information

A number of states still cite data from 2021 or even 2020, even though more than half a dozen new variants have emerged since COVID-19 first appeared.

FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines protect against Delta and other known variants, the Oklahoma State Department of Health website states.

The Delta variant stopped circulating in the United States in 2021.

Oklahoma also stated that so-called breakthrough cases, or post-vaccination infections, happen in only a small percentage of vaccinated people.

That hasnt been true since Omicron displaced Delta in late 2021.

The California Department of Public Health website links to a study from the CDC that was published in August 2021 when claiming that unvaccinated people who already had COVID-19 are more than twice as likely as vaccinated people to get it again.

Studies from late 2021 and 2022 show that post-infection protection, known as natural immunity, is superior to vaccination. Natural immunity has also held up better, but also waned against newer variants.

Heavy Reliance on the CDC

Nearly all of the state health agencies rely heavily on the CDC and other federal agencies.

Many repeatedly reference the CDC on their websites. The CDC has promoted misinformation on COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, including the unsupported claim that the vaccines protect young children against severe illness and promoting a study that exaggerated the COVID-19 death toll among children.

States that did provide evidence to back claims mostly cited CDC studies and documents.

The CDC publishes a quasi-journal called the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The CDC has said (pdf) that the publication is distinct from all other health-related publications, in part because the content constitutes the official voice of the CDC and because most articles arent peer-reviewed. Instead, multiple levels of CDC officials review a submission.

By the time a report appears in MMWR, it reflects, or is consistent with, CDC policy, the CDC said in one overview of the publication.

The CDC and its partner, the FDA, have aggressively promoted vaccination during the pandemic, even when little evidence supports the vaccines. The agencies have also repeatedly refused to release COVID-19 vaccine safety data.

Dr. Todd Porter, a pediatrician in Illinois, said the effort to get virtually all children vaccinated against COVID-19, despite the small amount of efficacy and safety data, is contributing to parents hesitating over other vaccines.

This has created a much different conversation with parents of my patients with respect to benefit/harm and has further eroded parent confidence in public health and has made it harder for me to make recommendations for other more important proven vaccines, Porter told The Epoch Times in an email. Most notable has been lack of influenza vaccine uptake in my patients over the past year.

Steps Forward

Regaining peoples trust is key to moving forward and involves acknowledging information that was conveyed isnt correct, experts say.

When a public health authority or federal official says something thats incorrect, it has a responsibility to correct it. And when it doesnt, when it just lets the matter lie, people continue to distrust them even more, Bhattacharya said.

One example, he said, is how officials repeatedly saidand some are still sayingthat the vaccines cut down on transmission, even though a top Pfizer executive recently acknowledged testing on transmission hasnt been done. The claim that vaccines curb transmission helped lead to vaccine mandates.

I think it would go a long way if our nations public health institutions could demonstrate humility and acknowledge that in the panic of the pandemic they got it wrong where it comes to children, Porter said.

The urge to get people vaccinated has led to some of the false and misleading claims, according to McCune, who saw the same pattern repeated during the rollout of the new boosters.

You could have started with the bivalent booster and said, This is what we know. We know some things about antibody levels from basic science studies that were done in animal models and from similar vaccines that were given to humans that we have a reason to believe these antibodies are going to improve,' he said. And then to say, The reason we were approving this is we think that this has overall been a safe program, and we dont anticipate therell be future problems. Were making a leap here to try and get ahead of it, even though theres some uncertainty. Thats an honest statement, but its not a very salesy statement.

McCune foresees it taking years to rebuild trust in public health and believes that it will require changes at both the CDC and FDA.

Zachary Stieber Reporter Follow Zachary Stieber covers U.S. and world news for The Epoch Times. He is based in Maryland.
It has been nearly a year since Starbucks workers in Buffalo voted to unionize in hopes of reaching a contract agreement.

Those negotiations have moved slowly and, last week, they broke down, with the company walking out of the Elmwood Avenue and Genesee Street store negotiations.

Starbucks keeps firing union organizers, but the fired workers are undeterred Workers say it's a deliberate attempt to scare employees away from union efforts. Starbucks denies that, saying the fired workers had violated company policies.

The two sides had not met since June and, when they finally did, they broke up over procedural concerns before issues could be discussed.

Business and labor experts say it is a common tactic for companies to prolong negotiations for a first contract.

"Delay is a frequent and effective tool used by employers in first contract bargaining, because the longer the negotiations drag on, the more turnover, fear and frustration will work to undermine union support," said Cathy Creighton, director of Cornell University's School of Industrial Labor Relations Buffalo Co-Lab, who works closely with unions and oversees Cornell programs aimed at union members.

Why Buffalo was the place to unionize Starbucks The local organizing effort has turned into a nationwide push that has led to more than 200 Starbucks locations voting to join Starbucks Workers United.

An initial union contract takes an average of 465 days to ratify, according to Bloomberg Law.

"The purpose is to delay the process as long as possible, so the other side either quits or loses interest," said Kate Bezrukova, associate professor and chair of Organization and Human Resources at the University at Buffalo School of Management.

Starbucks walked out of bargaining sessions last week, saying it objected to members of the bargaining committee attending the meeting virtually via Zoom. It filed a total of five charges against unions in Buffalo, Chicago, Ann Arbor, Louisville and Long Beach on the same grounds.

"Workers United unilaterally announced  with no mutual agreement  that the union was using a computer to broadcast the meeting virtually to other individuals who were not present in the room," Starbucks stated in its filing.

It also accused workers in Buffalo of recording the meeting, which they denied.

"Workers Uniteds unilateral arrangements and insistence on broadcasting bargaining meetings virtually to other individuals who were not present, and the unilateral recording of one or more exchanges during bargaining without prior notice, discussion or mutual agreement, constitutes a failure to bargain collectively in good faith for multiple reasons," the filing read.

But the company had already agreed to ground rules, saying virtual attendance was acceptable until Starbucks and the union mutually agreed that it was not, Workers United said. At a previous bargaining meeting, Starbucks representatives mentioned they wanted to meet in person and end Zoom attendance, but the union did not mutually agree.

Some members of the union's National Bargaining Committee are based in other states, so they attend bargaining sessions via Zoom.

Starbucks filed a charge with the National Labor Relations Committee, claiming the union had failed to bargain in good faith, and saying that it is impossible to know if someone is recording the session if they attend virtually.

Starbucks left almost immediately after the meeting started. It came back to the meeting three hours later with a written statement.

Starbucks seeks vote on union at all 20 Buffalo stores That move, if granted, would likely delay the voting process and make it more difficult for organizers to win a majority in favor of a union, said the organizing workers and a labor expert.

"In a written statement given to Workers United shortly after, we stated our concerns and that our committees would remain onsite for the duration of the sessions," Starbucks said in a statement posted online.

Starbucks said it was "ready to return to the bargaining table if such behavior stopped."

"Broadcasting or recording these in-person sessions is deeply concerning and undermines the interests of our partners because negotiations may warrant the discussion of individuals by name and are likely to address a range of sensitive topics," the company said.

Starbucks declined to answer questions.

The union is in the process of filing its own bad faith bargaining charges against the company. Workers United said it tried to communicate with Starbucks about its change in preference well ahead of this week's session.

"We were like, 'We all agreed that Zoom was OK for now. What is the change?' And there just was no answer," said Jasmine Leli, who works at Genesee and is on the bargaining committee for it and the Elmwood store. "The answer was 'The company's stance is we want the next bargaining session to be in person.' "

Starbucks has tried to stonewall the bargaining committee throughout the negotiating process, Leli said.

Elmwood Avenue workers held their first negotiations at the end of January. In the 10 months since then, the two parties have met eight times. Genesee Street workers began negotiations in March, and the sides have met six times. The two sides last met in June, and haven't met since.

"The ultimate goal is to induce distraction and break the other partys rhythm, hence meeting eight times over 10 months," Bezrukova said.

When trying to schedule meeting dates, Workers United said it responded to Starbucks' proposed dates immediately, but would be left to wait for a response, or would hear from Starbucks that dates the company originally proposed needed to be changed, the union said. Workers were also required to plan all meetings three weeks in advance because of Starbucks' requirement to give three weeks of notice when requesting time off.

Photos: Billy Bragg performs in support of Starbucks Workers United Unionized Starbucks workers put some star power behind their cause when they welcomed British musician Billy Bragg to perform at their picket 

When Workers United could get Starbucks to meet, the company's representatives were not engaged, the union said.

"They were doing the bare minimum to try to say that they were bargaining, but they weren't actually prepared to engage in productive dialogue with workers," said Casey Moore, a Starbucks worker on the union's communication committee. "They weren't willing to budge at all. So it was just kind of like bargaining with a stone wall."

In September, while the Buffalo stores were waiting to get back to the bargaining table, Starbucks sent out a news release saying it had sent letters to 234 stores saying it wanted to begin negotiations at all of them.

We look forward to these negotiations and hopefully setting dates and securing locations for contract bargaining, the company said in a post on its website. At the same time, it had asked the NLRB to halt all ongoing elections, claiming misconduct.

Prolonging the negotiations is part of Starbucks' strategy, Moore said.

"It's not just because they don't want a contract, but they're also trying to frustrate workers and make it a bad experience for us so workers quit or get frustrated and leave," she said.

This is the third time Starbucks has filed charges against the union. The first two charges were dismissed by the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB is currently prosecuting more than 200 charges filed against Starbucks by Workers United, including accusations  denied by Starbucks  that it improperly dismissed employees involved in union activities.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva speaks at a press conference in downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 2, 2021. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

Officials Seek Other Victims Scammed by Alleged Law Enforcement Impersonator

LAKEWOOD, Calif.Authorities Nov. 1 urged people to contact them if they were victimized by a man who impersonated a law enforcement officer while targeting primarily Spanish-speaking victims and swindling them.

Martin Alejandro, 56, was arrested Oct. 27 by personnel from the Lakewood Sheriffs Station, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.

He is accused of scamming at least eight victims out of $100,000, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said at a Tuesday morning news conference at the Lakewood Station, as reported by local news outlet Press-Telegram.

According to the sheriffs department, Alejandro would target peopleoften handymen or construction workerswho placed ads in El Clasificado, an online and in-print classified marketplace company.

The suspect would use these advertisements to initiate contact with the victims, Villanueva said.

El Clasificado is the largest Spanish-language classified marketplace in the United States, Villanueva said. Oftentimes, Spanish speakers are victims of crime and theft and they do not report incidents.

Were here to remind everyone that the mission of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department is to protect all county residents, regardless of immigration status, Villanueva said. Many members of the community may not be in the country legally, but they still have rights.

According to detectives, the suspect would meet with victims and sometimes show them a badge. Authorities said Alejandro victimized at least eight people since June of this year, with some of the crimes involving the sale of vehicles.

Alejandro was arrested for similar crimes in 2014 and 2019, officials said. Villanueva urged people to come forward if they were victimized by Alejandro and call detectives at 562-925-0124.
President Joe Biden speaks outside of Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pa., on Sept. 1, 2022. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Oil Industry Group Slams Bidens Threats of Windfall Taxes, Restrictions

The industry group representing Americas oil industry slammed President Joe Bidens recent statements threatening windfall taxes and restrictions on oil companies.

Biden attacked major U.S. oil companies at a White House press conference on Oct. 31, instructing them to invest more into boosting domestic oil production and to lower consumer pricesor else face possible restrictions.

He also accused the energy industry of war profiteering, calling their recent earnings a windfall of war in Ukraine, and said that they have a responsibility to act in the interest of their consumers, their community, and their country.

The president issued the threat to levy a windfall tax penalty on oil companies a week before the midterm elections.

The White House used as leverage last weeks record quarterly profit reports by major American oil companies to pressure the industry, as high energy prices cause concern for the Democrats.

However, any new taxes on oil profits would need congressional approval, but the Democrats only control both houses of Congress by a slim margin.

Biden Issues a Warning Over Gas Prices and Industry Profits

My team will work with Congress to look at these these options that are available to us and others, Biden said. Its time for these companies to stop war profiteering, meet their responsibilities in this country, and give the American people a break and still do very well.

The president demanded that oil and companies direct their extra profits into increasing production and refining capacity and suppress gas prices at the pump.

If they dont, theyre going to pay a higher tax on their excess profits and face other restrictions, said Biden.

He concluded by saying that energy companies will hear more on the matter when the Congress gets back.

However, if the Republicans win back control of Congress, the Democrats will have little time to pass tax restrictions on the industry before the next term begins in January.

The oil industry has a choice. Either invest in America by lowering prices for consumers at the pump and increasing production and refining capacity or pay a higher tax on your excessive profits and face other restrictions, stated Bidens twitter feed.

Oil Industry Shoots Down Threats of a Windfall Tax on Profits

The American Petroleum Institute (API) responded to Biden with a press release of its own regarding his remarks on gas prices and industry sanctions.

Rather than taking credit for price declines and shifting blame for price increases, the Biden administration should get serious about addressing the supply and demand imbalance that has caused higher gas prices and created long-term energy challenges, said Mike Sommers, APIs president and CEO.

Today, the president proposed to raise taxes on the U.S. natural gas and oil industry that is competing globally to produce the fuels Americans need every single day.

Oil companies do not set pricesglobal commodities markets do. Increasing taxes on American energy discourages investment in new production, which is the exact opposite of what is needed. American families and businesses are looking to lawmakers for solutions, not campaign rhetoric, Sommers added.

Exxon Mobils third quarterly report saw it earn $112.07 billion in revenue and $19.7 billion in net income, with a respective increase of roughly 52 and 191 percent year over year.

Biden particularly singled out Exxon Mobil for its massive third quarter earnings. Exxon made more money than God this year, the president exclaimed back in June.

He slammed the company for using record profits to provide shareholders with hefty dividends and stock buybacks without investing in production upgrades that would ease pump prices.

Biden called the recent earnings report outrageous, stating that gas prices would be lower by about 50 cents if the excess profits raked in by the oil industry were passed onto consumers.

Meanwhile, Chevron saw its third quarterly profits rise by 84 percent, to $11.23 billion, while its revenue jumped 49 percent, to $66.64 billion. And Shell reported $9.45 billion in adjusted earnings, up from $4.13 billion in the same period in 2021.

The Politics of Big Oil and Foreign Dependency

The API also said that a windfall tax on profits would actually decrease domestic energy production and increase reliance on foreign oil, referring to a study by the Congressional Research Service.

The congressional report noted that the tax on oil profits from 1980 to 1988, when it was finally repealed, boosted dependency on foreign oil and tanked U.S.-based production by as much as 8 percent.

The Democrat-controlled House passed a bill in May that authorized the Federal Trade Commission to punish energy companies for price gouging, and created a new unit at the agency to monitor fuel markets; but the bill has stalled in the Senate.

Earlier this month, the president announced the release of 15 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, after already releasing about 165 million barrels since the beginning of the year, for a total of 180 million by the end of 2022.

He has also promised to refill the reserve once oil prices hit below $70 a barrel.

The national average price for regular-grade gas was $3.758, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

Gas prices fell from $3.80 a month ago, but remains higher than last years $3.401.

AAA reported that average national gas prices reached a record high of $5.016 in mid-June.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Sean Fraser rises during question period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Nov. 26, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Patrick Doyle)

Ottawa Announces Target of 500,000 Immigrants Per Year by 2025

Ottawa is planning to bring in 500,000 new immigrants per year by 2025, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Sean Fraser announced on Nov. 1.

Fraser said in a statement that Canadas 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan would embrace immigration as a strategy to help businesses find workers and to attract the skills required in key sectorsincluding health care, skilled trades, manufacturing and technology.

Target immigration levels are set for 465,000 new permanent residents to enter Canada in 2023, 485,000 in 2024, and half a million in 2025. The government says it intends to attract new residents to small towns and rural living as well.

The feds have set a target of 4.4 percent of permanent residents outside of Quebec to be Francophone.

With a focus on regional immigration, this plan builds on ongoing work to strengthen our immigration system and spread the benefits of immigration to communities across the country, including supporting the vitality of Francophone communities outside of Quebec, the statement says.

Figures from the 2021 census show that nearly 25 percent of residents in Canada self-reported as being a landed immigrant or permanent resident, the highest immigrant levels in a G7 country.

The government says it will focus on economic growth and more skilled labour as criteria in evaluating which immigrants will be welcomed, noting there are shortages in health care, manufacturing, building trades, science, technology, engineering, and math that must be addressed.

International Students

In early October, the federal government said it is reducing restrictions on working hours for international students as a way to improve labour shortages.

Current legislation only allows international students to work 20 hours during school weeks. The new policy takes effect on Nov. 15 and lasts until the end of next year for any student on a study permit as of Oct. 7.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Paul Pelosi (L) arrive for the Recording Academy and Clive Davis pre-Grammy gala at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Jan. 25, 2020. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images)

Paul Pelosi Faces Long Recovery After Attack, Nancy Pelosi Says

Paul Pelosi faces a long road to recovery, his wife said on Oct. 31.

Thanks to the excellent trauma care medical team at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Paul is making steady progress on what will be a long recovery process, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), 82, said of her husband Paul, also 82.

Paul Pelosi was attacked by a man inside the Pelosi home in San Francisco, California on Oct. 28, according to police and prosecutors.

Authorities have identified the suspect as 42-year-old David DePape.

He was scheduled to be arraigned on charges including attempted murder on Nov. 1.

DePape entered the home through a back door and woke up Paul Pelosi, saying he was looking for Nancy Pelosi, according to charging documents.

Paul Pelosi was able to call 911. Officers arrived within minutes. After the door was opened, officers witnessed DePape striking Paul Pelosi in the head with a hammer, according to authorities.

DePape and Paul Pelosi were both taken to San Francisco General Hospital.

Paul Pelosi spoke to a police officer while being transported to the facility in an ambulance, according to an FBI affidavit supporting federal charges against DePape.

Paul Pelosi underwent surgery for a skull fracture and injuries to his hands and right arm, Nancy Pelosis office has said.

Paul Pelosi spoke to law enforcement officers again on Oct. 30, according to the affidavit. Paul Pelosi said during the interviews that he had never seen DePape before, that he called 911 from a bathroom, and that DePape struck him with a hammer that did not belong to the Pelosi family.

Authorities said they found a second hammer in a backpack belonging to DePape as well as zip ties, rope, gloves, and a journal. They have declined so far to share what was in the journal or the identity of a person they said DePape wanted to lure by kidnapping Nancy Pelosi.

The speaker was in Washington at the time of the attack with her protective detail, the U.S. Capitol Police said.

There was no security present at the Pelosi home when DePape broke in, San Franciscos district attorney said Monday.

Nancy Pelosi told colleagues over the weekend that Paul Pelosi was mak[ing] progress with his recovery and that his condition continues to improve.

Since the horrific attack on Paul early Friday, we have been deluged with thousands of messages conveying concern, prayers and warm wishes. We are most grateful, Nancy Pelosi added on Monday. Our family thanks everyone for their kindness.
Boxes of counted ballots are seen locked in the ballot storage area at the Philadelphia Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 6, 2020. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Pennsylvania Set for Messy Election Aftermath, Including Court Challenges

Counting delays, contested voting rules, and voter roll accuracy issues are threatening to plague Pennsylvania, one of the most crucial swing states, in the aftermath of next weeks midterm election.

Those issues could lead to post-election challenges, particularly if the results are close, an election attorney told The Epoch Times.

Leigh Chapman, Pennsylvanias acting secretary of state, recently set the stage for potential delays, saying mail-in ballots are only allowed by state law to be opened and canvassed starting on Election Day.

When there are delays in counting, she said, it doesnt mean that theres anything nefarious happening.

Even if delays on their own could be expected, however, further complications may pile up from disputes over voting rules regarding undated mail-in ballots as well as ballots from unverified voters.

Undated Ballots

The Department of State, which oversees Pennsylvanias electoral process, issued guidance in May that mail-in ballots with missing or incorrect dates were to be countedeven though state law requires voters to put a date on the ballot envelope. While the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit ruled earlier this year that undated ballots must be counted, the Supreme Court nixed that decision.

Chapmans department then announced that such ballots still must be counted because the Supreme Court ruling didnt affect a state court decision that requires it.

The legal argument for counting the ballots stands on a provision in the 1964 Civil Rights Act that prohibits throwing out ballots for minor errors. Republicans and other opponents have asked the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to weigh in on the matter, arguing the provision doesnt apply to ballot errors in general, but only to situations in which ballot errors are used as an excuse to disenfranchise voters based on race or ethnicity (pdf).

Erick Kaardal, an election integrity lawyer with the conservative Thomas More Society, expects the court to rule on the matter this week.

We want to have clarity with respect to how the rules work, he said.

One could say, Oh well, the law doesnt have to require dates. But Pennsylvania law does.

His concern is that dissonance between the law and the secretary of states guidance may cause the uneven application of rules in which some election clerks will count the undated ballots, but others wont since they may consider Chapmans guidance unlawful.

Moreover, unless the issue is settled definitively, it opens the door to challenging the election results based on whether the ballots should or shouldnt be counted, which already happened in the Republican primary earlier this year.

It could affect a close election, Kaardal said.

Unverified Voters

Pennsylvania requires mail-in voters to provide a state ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. The numbers are then matched against the state database and federal Social Security Administration data to verify the voters identity. But if the number doesnt match, the state can still send the voter a mail-in ballot.

In fact, some 250,000 mail-in ballots were sent out to such unverified voters for the Nov. 8 midterms.

Kaardals concern is that people not eligible to vote, such as noncitizens, may be mixed in with the unverified voters.

Chapmans deputy, Jonathan Marks, told state lawmakers in September that mail-in ballots from unverified voters would only be counted if the voter provides verifiable ID or Social Security digits.

Such ballots would be put in a separate pile, Kaardal explained, but its not clear how election workers are supposed to chase down as many as 250,000 voters post-election to get the correct ID information.

Are we creating another procedure beyond that which the Pennsylvania laws provide? he asked.

I think the point of the registration system is to make sure that people who are not verified dont cast a ballot. So by moving the [verification procedure] downstream it seems youre inviting more confusion and more litigation about close election outcomes.

Moreover, some county officials reported they can and do count the ballots without the [verified] ID, according to a letter to Chapman from 15 Republican state legislators.

In addition, several counties report that they can and do fix the invalid ID in the system and accept the ballot, the Oct. 25 letter stated (pdf).

Pennsylvanias Department of State didnt respond to emailed questions by press time.

Having a pile of unverified ballots left after Election Day strategically benefits Democrats, Kaardal argued, because they have a more organized infrastructure for challenging election results, which they can use to dive into the pile for votes to potentially change an unfavorable result.

I think they relish those challenges.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre rises to question the government during Question Period, in Ottawa, on Sept. 26, 2022. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Poilievre Introduces Motion to Audit Governments $54M ArriveCan Spending

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre today introduced a motion in the House of Commons to audit the federal governments $54 million spending on the ArriveCan app.

It wasnt necessary, it didnt work, and it could have been paid for with only $250,000 instead of $54 million, Poilievre said of the app in the House of Commons on Nov. 1.

Two Canadian tech firms recreated ArriveCan between Oct. 7 and Oct. 10 in a bid to show that the federal government overspent on the project. Shortly afterwards, the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) released a cost breakdown of the governments spending on the app that claimed only $80,000 was used to develop ArriveCan.

CBSA said additional costs associated with updating and maintaining the app increased its price tag to a total of $54 million. The government listed ThinkOn, a Canadian tech company that provides cloud computing, as one of the contractors hired to help with developing and maintaining ArriveCan.

But ThinkOn CEO Craig McLellan said he never received the $1.2 million ArriveCan contract listed by the government, according to a report by the Globe and Mail on Oct. 20.

Where did all this money go? Poilievre today asked in the House, adding, When Canadians cant pay their bills, its an outrage to make them pay $54 million.

Optimal Use

Poilievres motion calls on Canadas auditor general to conduct a performance audit, including the payments, contracts and sub-contracts for all aspects of the ArriveCAN app, and to prioritize this investigation.

It is more important than ever for the government to respect taxpayer dollars and eliminate wasteful spending, reads the motion.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently called the federal governments ArriveCan spending an optimal use of taxpayer dollars.

The amount includes, of course, much more than the developers fees, Trudeau said during question period in the House on Oct. 19. Its extra services, the IT services, updates, call centres, and future costs.

He later added that the federal government will continue to make sure that theres an optimal use of taxpayer money whilst protecting them every single day and every single night.

The founder of one of the companies that recreated ArriveCan in a single weekend said professional software developers should always be able to create complex and fully-integrated apps with under $1 million.

The development effort here is minimal, said Sheetal Jaitly, founder of TribalScale, while speaking about ArriveCan. This is a form that needed to be presented on a mobile device and capture some information.

This is not hard.
Police officers work on the scene near a parked car with a man inside it suffering from an apparent gunshot wound in downtown Mobile, Ala., on Oct. 31, 2022. (Lawrence Specker/Press-Register via AP)

Police Standoff Ends With Man Shot in Mobile, Alabama

MOBILE, Ala.A man with a gun held police at bay outside a government building for more than five hours Monday, shutting down part of downtown Mobile, Alabama, before shooting himself, authorities said.

The man, who wasnt immediately identified, was believed to have suffered a life-threatening wound, but his condition wasnt immediately available, Police Chief Paul Prine told news outlets.

Before the standoff ended, Prince said the man seemed incoherent in discussions with mental health workers.

Katrina Frazier, a police spokeswoman, told reporters that a man with an apparent gunshot wound was spotted in a parked car outside Government Plaza, which contains multiple Mobile County offices and courts. She said the man pointed a gun at his head when officers approached to see if he needed help, al.com reported.

Officers backed away from the scene and we called in the SWAT teams and a negotiator, said Frazier. It wasnt clear whether the man may have shot himself or was shot by someone else.

Photos and video from the scene showed dozens of officers pointing handguns and rifles toward a car parked along a curb. Mental health professionals were on the scene talking to the person, and no hostages were involved, James Barber, an aide in the mayors office, told WALA-TV.

A window in the backseat of the car shattered moments before a man holding a gun to his head briefly exited the vehicle, stood on the sidewalk for a few moments and got back inside. An armored police vehicle was used to pin the car to a pole after the man attempted to drive away, Prine said, and the man shot himself after officers fired tear gas toward the car.

A main road through the city was blocked during the episode, as was a tunnel that passes under the Mobile River leading out of the city.
The Boeing logo on the side of a Boeing 737 MAX at the Farnborough International Airshow in Farnborough, Britain, on July 20, 2022. (Peter Cziborra/Reuters)

Polish Airline Asks US Judge to Declare It Crime Victim in 737 MAX Case

Polish national airline PLL LOT on Friday asked a U.S. judge to declare it was a crime victim in the Boeing 737 MAX criminal case, a move that could make the airline eligible for significant compensation.

U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor in Texas ruled last week that people killed in two Boeing 737 MAX crashes are legally crime victims. He will determine what remedies should be imposed.

LOT argued it should have the same rights in the case as victims families. LOT said it had at least $250 million in damages related to the 14 737 MAX aircraft it owned and leased at the time of the grounding.

The U.S. Justice Department on Friday asked OConnor to give the government until Nov. 11 to file a memo about remedies.

Boeings best-selling 737 MAX was grounded worldwide in March 2019 for 20 months after two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 346 people.

The Justice Department in 2021 reached a deferred prosecution agreement with Boeing over a fraud conspiracy charge related to the planes flawed design, The settlement included a fine of $243.6 million, compensation to airlines of $1.77 billion and a $500 million fund for crash victims.

In December, some victims relatives argued the Justice Department violated their rights when it struck that agreement with Boeing and asked OConnor to rescind Boeings immunity from criminal prosecution.

LOT also asked the court to require that the Justice deferred prosecution agreement with Boeing be reopened to increase the amount that Boeing is required to pay its customers.

Boeing did not immediately comment.

LOT previously sought compensation from Boeing, but Boeing declined. LOT sued Boeing in late 2021 and the case is pending. LOT said the settlements funds for airline compensation were not available to foreign airlines.

The crashes cost Boeing more than $20 billion and prompted reforms to airplane certification.

By David Shepardson
(L-R) Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, attend the meeting between members of the standing committee of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee and Chinese and foreign journalists at The Great Hall of People in Beijing, China, on Oct. 23, 2022. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Private Sector Delegates Halved at 20th Congress, Sign of Xi Implementing New Planned Economy Model

Commentary

At the recently concluded 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the number of representatives of private entrepreneurs was reduced by nearly half from the already small number 10 years agothe latest sign that Chinas economic system is moving back toward a planned economy version 2.0, a modern model echoing the Mao era.

Of 2,296 party delegates at the 20th congress, only 18 were private entrepreneurs, compared to 27 at the 19th Congress in 2017 and 34 at the 18th Congress in 2012.

In a decade, the number of private entrepreneurs represented at the party congress has shrunk by nearly half, highlighting the fact that the CCPs attitude toward private business owners is increasingly one of alienation and distrustfulness.

The communist regime in recent years has doubled down on suppressing the private economy, leading to a deteriorating business environment.

In the 1980s, former communist party leader Deng Xiaopings government parted with the state-planned economic model of his predecessor Mao Zedong and implemented a policy of reform and opening up, allowing the private sector, which had been quashed since the CCP can into power in 1949, to grow again, and capitalists and private property owners to join the party and even participate in its national party congresses.

Now, however, the CCPs policies under Chinese leader Xi Jinping are again reversing back to a highly centralized model of political economic management from Maos era.

In late September, a sort of peoples economy, which is the CCPs euphemism for describing a planned economy, emerged in the public. Its proposer was Professor Wen Tiejun of CCP-backed Renmin University of China, who claimed that the replacement of the market economy by a peoples economy is a global trend and that strengthening state-owned enterprises can help achieve universal ownership.

Universal ownership means all of a nations resources are monopolized and deployed by the ruling party, which is a necessary component of all socialist systems.

This is Chinas planned economy to version 2.0, an enhanced and upgraded version of the planned economy, Xie Tian, a professor in business and marketing at the University of South Carolina, Aiken, told The Epoch Times.

In fact, earlier in March, the State Council stressed the need for accelerating building a unified national market and elevated the task to a strategic level, explaining that such a market was a basic support and inherent requirement for forming a new pattern.

The so-called new pattern may refer to a coming planned economy and state monopoly model.

An employee works on an assembly line producing speakers at a factory in Fuyang city, in Chinas eastern Anhui Province on Oct. 31, 2022. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Signs that the CCP leadership intended to redeploy a planned economic model can be traced back as far as May 2020, when CCP policymakers outlined that Chinas future growth would mainly rely on a domestic cycle in a dual cycle system of both domestic and international markets. The plan has since been referenced on various occasions.

In the 20th Party Congress report, Xi reiterated strengthening the domestic cycle as part of economic plans for the next five years.

The moves triggered concerns that the CCP regime may return to its old ways of a planned economy, with the domestic cycle described as having characteristics like closed-door and self-sufficiency.

In August 2021, the CCP proposed the so-called common wealth and three distributions. Officials claim that Chinese society has now entered a new stage of the common wealth, and that large enterprises and high-income earners should contribute to narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor, and promoting the redistribution of social wealth.

The CCP is attempting to redistribute the wealth accumulated by large private enterprises in China over the years opening up by means of promoting a common wealth.

The private sector, therefore, will likely face further directives from the new CCP leadership. Over the past years, Beijing has issued a raft of restrictions for high-tech private companies, private real estate developers, and the after-school tutoring industry, preventing them from going public to gain strength through investment.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Queensland employers will no longer be allowed to use the terms maternity leave or her and will instead be forced to adopt gender-neutral terms long birth-related leave and pregnant employee.

Criticism has been ongoing for months after the Palaszczuk government introduced several amendments to the states Industrial Relations Act 2016.

The new provisions aim to promote gender pay equity, strengthen protections for workers subject to sexual harassment, and improve the entitlements under the Queensland Employment Standards, including parental and adoption leave.

In a contentious move, the new changes will jettison terms like maternity and maternity leave in a bid to avoid any implied gender division of parental care. For example, Clause 11 proposed changing the phrase from intention to take maternity leave to intention of pregnant employee to take birth-related leave.

Five babies sitting on a white cloth. (sirtravelalot/Shutterstock)

Jarrod Bleijie, Queenslands opposition industrial relations minister, called the move disgraceful.

I would ask the minister: what on earth is wrong with the word maternity? Why can a mother not be proud to be a mother and give birth? he told Parliament during the debate on Oct. 28.

The reality is that men cannot have babies. Men cannot give birth. The woke-ism that is being driven by the Labor party federally and in the state system is detrimental to every woman and young girl who wants to be proud of their biological sex.

Meanwhile, John-Paul Langbroek, the member for Surfers Paradise, said on Oct. 27 that the Palaszczuk government was stripping away the rights of health workers at a time when the system was at crisis point.

Langbroek argued that regardless of the bill, many rural and regional Queensland will still be without birth-related services.

Maternity Choices Australia also opposed the move, noting in a submission to the government that they were deeply offended at the removal of mother, she, and her from the Bill.

Protections Against Sex-Based Harassment

Meanwhile, Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace described the new amendments as nation-leading reforms.

She said the changes will empower the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) to better protect victims of sexual abuse as well as to set minimum conditions and entitlements for independent courier drivers.

Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace speaks to the media during a press conference at Everleigh State School in Brisbane, Australia, on Feb. 1, 2022. (AAP Image/Darren England)

Minimum employment standards now align with federal standards by providing greater flexibility for paid and unpaid parental leave to include adoption, surrogacy or parentage transferred under a cultural recognition order, she said in a press release on Oct. 28.

The bill also provides enhanced birth related and parental leave, and allows individual parents to allocate childcare responsibilities in a way that works best for their familys circumstances.

A mother leans lovingly above her newborn baby, ca.1950s. United States. (Photo by Tom Kelley/Getty Images)

The government will also extend paid domestic and family violence leave to casual workers, who will be able to access 10 days of leave when escaping domestic violence.

While collective bargaining has delivered stronger wages and working conditions in exchange for flexible and productive workplaces, we still have gender pay inequality, Grace said.

Thats why we have introduced provisions in the act to ensure the promotion of gender pay equity in the bargaining process.
The Buffalo Urban League announced Monday the largest single donation it has ever received in its 96-year history, saying it would use the $6 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott to expand its capacity to serve the community.

The unrestricted grant will be used to expand the organizations infrastructure, said Thomas Beauford Jr., president and CEO.

The need is so great, and quite frankly were busting at the seams in our facilities, he said.

The agency runs foster care, senior centers, youth centers and crisis counseling at different locations. Some of the money may be used to co-locate programming and to offer more space and better accommodations, Beauford said.

There already were plans to build a larger facility on the East Side of Buffalo to replace the agencys Main Street headquarters, Beauford said. The donation will come in handy.

This (plan) preceded this gift. This certainly helps, Beauford said. We need to be located within the community.

Beauford called Scotts contribution a sign of understanding that some historical and systemic inequities exist now because of actions that were taken in the past.

Recognizing that, knowing that some of those things  the way those conditions were brought to bear  there was intent," he said. "There was deliberate action, and in order to move beyond that, there has to be equal and greater intent and action and being very deliberate, he said.

Joy, appreciation follow $9 million gift from MacKenzie Scott to boost health equity in Buffalo, Syracuse Staff and trustees of an upstate New York health foundation erupted in jubilation Thursday when they learned that MacKenzie Scott bestowed $9 million on the organization to help them address its work with racial and health inequities.

Its one thing to understand those things and try to move forward, but part of the fallout from all that inequity is lack of resources, he said. This resource from Ms. Scott, it was her intent to address these specific issues of inequity. That is a key part of her giving."

The Buffalo Urban League is one of 25 Urban League affiliates around the nation that received similar donations from Scott, including ones in Houston, Louisville and Palm Beach County, Fla.

In 2019, Scott, the billionaire philanthropist and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, signed The Giving Pledge, a promise by the worlds wealthiest individuals and families to dedicate most of their wealth to charitable causes either in their lifetimes or in their wills.

The Giving Pledge was created in 2010 when 40 of Americas wealthiest people made a commitment to give the majority of their wealth to address some of societys most pressing problems. It was created by Warren Buffett, Melinda French Gates and Bill Gates.

In March, CNBC reported Scott had given more than $3.8 billion to hundreds of organizations.

The Buffalo Urban League serves more than 60,000 individuals annually through direct services.

The Buffalo Urban League employs a five-point empowerment strategy to deliver programs and services in the community. They are education and youth empowerment, economic empowerment, health and quality of life empowerment, civic engagement and leadership empowerment and civil rights and racial justice empowerment.
Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair speaks with RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki at the Standing a committee on Public Safety and National Security, in Ottawa on Oct. 31, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

RCMPs Lucki Cant Explain Text Messages in Which She Suggested Ottawa Wanted Support for Emergencies Act Retroactively

RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki couldnt explain her text messages from early this year that suggested Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair would seek retroactive support for the Emergencies Act (EA) from the police.

As first reported by the Globe and Mail, Lucki was approached by reporters outside a House of Commons committee on Oct. 31 regarding her text exchange with her Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) counterpart in February in which she suggested Blair would ask the police to express support for the EAfive days after it was invoked.

The text exchange was entered as evidence before the Public Order Emergency Commission (POEC) on Oct. 27, the day OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique testified in person before the commission that examines the Liberal governments use of the act.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the act on Feb. 14, using it as a means to quash the protests against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions by Freedom Convoy truckers and their supporters in Ottawa and across the country.

The act granted the police extraordinary powers to clear out protesters and granted banks the power to freeze the accounts of convoy organizers and supporters without a court order. Police began escalating their operation against the protesters in Ottawa on Feb. 18, and by mid-morning Feb. 20 they made 191 arrests and had 57 vehicles towed away.

Im Not Sure

The texts released to the public inquiry show that on Feb. 19, Lucki told Carrique that Blair could ask them for a letter to show support for the use of the act retroactively.

Has Minister Blair hit you up for a letter to support the EA? Lucki asked Carrique.

No, he has not. Should I expect to hear from him? Carrique replied.

Lucki didnt answer over text but said in the next message that she had tried calling him.

Lucki told reporters on Oct. 31 that she was never requested to write a letter, but she was unable to explain why she sent the text to Carrique, reported the Globe.

It was conversation in a text, Im not sure, she told reporters.

Annie Cullinan, communications director for Blair, denied the minister requested a letter from Lucki.

Minister Blair was not in contact with OPP Commissioner Carrique to solicit a letter of support, nor did he request one from Commissioner Lucki, Cullinan said in a statement to The Epoch Times previously.

The texts presented to the POEC also suggested that the Trudeau government could have contemplated invoking the EA in the early days of the protest. Luckis text to Carrique said she didnt want the RCMP or the OPP to take over the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) in dealing with the Freedom Convoy.

Trying to Calm Them Down

Between you and I only, GoC [Government of Canada] losing/lost confidence in OPS  we gotta get to safe action/enforcement, Lucki wrote on Feb. 5.

Cause if they go to the Emergency Measures Act, you or [I] may be brought in to lead  not something I want.

Carrique replied asking if she was free for a call, to which Lucki said she was still on the call with Ministers.

Trying to calm them down, but not easy when they see cranes, structures, horses, bouncing castles in downtown Ottawa.

Asked by reporters why she resisted the Mounties or OPP from taking over command, Lucki said, Thats a misunderstanding, but didnt offer further explanation.

Luckis text conversation with Carrique at one point revealed that the commissioner floated the idea that members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) could don the uniforms of RCMP to supplement us.

I was thinking maybe we use CAF but in our uniforms as unarmed Auxiliaries or Spl. Csts. [Special Constables] to supplement us.. in teams, she said on Feb. 13.

Noe Chartier contributed to this report.
A general view shows the Sakhalin-2 project's liquefaction gas plant in Prigorodnoye, about 70 km (44 miles) south of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, on Oct. 13, 2006. (Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters)

Russias Sakhalin Oil Project Resumed With Export to South Korea: Report

The Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project in the Russian Far East appeared to have resumed operation after five months of suspension due to Exxons withdrawal, as the first tanker departed the terminal on Oct. 30.

Bloomberg reported that a vessel carrying Russian Sokol crude sailed from the De Kastri terminal to South Korea on Oct. 30. But it is unclear whether the cargo will be delivered or transferred to another ship once it arrives at Yeosu port on Nov. 3.

Production at the Sakhalin-1 project was previously halted after U.S. energy company Exxon Mobil Corp., in April, declared force majeure (a clause in a contract which frees both parties from liability owing to an extraordinary event) because of the international sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

Russian state oil company Rosneft said on Aug. 4 that the last oil tanker left the De Kastri terminal on May 6, and that from May 15, oil production at the Sakhalin-1 project had almost stopped.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Oct. 7 enabling the government to decide whether foreign shareholders can retain their stakes in the project.

Exxon later announced, on Oct.17, that it has fully exited Russia because the government has unilaterally terminated its interests in the project and transferred the project to a Russian operator.

The Sakhalin-1 project produces Sokol crude oil in Russias Far East, exporting about 273,000 barrels per day, mainly to South Korea and other destinations, including Japan, Australia, Thailand, and the United States.

Japan Retains Stakes in Sakhalin-1

Japans government said Tuesday that it would retain its stake in the Sakhalin-1 project and called on Japanese consortium members to join the new Russian entity, citing its important role in Japans energy security.

The Japanese consortium owns 30 percent of the Sakhalin-1 project. Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said that Japan was highly dependent on Middle East crude oil.

The Sakhalin-1 is extremely important for Japans energy security as it is a valuable source outside of the Middle East, Nishimura told reporters.

The move was expected as Nishimura has repeatedly said the project is important for the resource-poor country to diversify its procurement sources, and as Japanese companies have stayed in the Sakhalin-2 gas and oil project, which is also under a new Russian operator.

Japanese corporations Mitsui and Mitsubishi each hold 12.5 and 10.5 percent stakes, respectively, in the Sakhalin-2 project, while Russias state-run Gazprom PJSC owns 50 percent. Shell, which holds a 27.5 percent stake, exited the project in response to the war in Ukraine.

Russia is Japans fifth-largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplier, accounting for about 8 percent of the countrys consumption. The Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project was one of Japans main LNG supply sources, with an annual capacity of 9.6 million tons.

Reuters contributed to this report.
In South Korea, 153 people were left dead after Halloween celebrations took a tragic turn.

U.S. state and local governments are reportedly skirting federal bans. A new report details how past purchases of Chinese tech could threaten national security.

More countries are on alert over Chinese police offices. One of them already closed, with others under investigation.

Magic is on hold in Shanghai. Disneys resort there is closing its doors to comply with local COVID-19 measures.

Is communism destroying America? John Radell, president of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, says yes. He shares his take on how to reclaim the land of the free.

Topics in this episode:

S. Korea Mourns After Halloween Stampede Kills 153 132 Dead After Bridge Collapse in India U.S. Bought Risky Chinese Telecom Gear: Report Update: Chinese Police Outposts Around the World Shanghai Disneyland Closes Due to Covid-19 Thousands of Chinese Workers Leave Apple Supplier Stop Communist Destruction, Reclaim America: Radell China Is the Major Player of Evil Axis: Frank Gaffney

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Alternative union groupsformed in opposition to vaccine mandatesare resisting a new amendment that sharpens the powers of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, which was used during the pandemic to penalise medical practitioners for opposing government-backed lockdowns or mandates.

In a submission to the Queensland Parliament, the Australian Medical Professionals Society (AMPS) and the Nurses Professional Association of Australia say the new amendment includes terminology that is too broad and will silence the voices of expertise that wish to correct health authorities.

Both unions were formed under the umbrella Red Union group, which was founded in 2020 in response to the widespread acceptance of vaccine mandates by Australias traditional union groups.

Membership has steadily grown to around 17,000, with the largest portion in the state of Queensland.

The amendment to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Lawwhich will be replicated across all states in Australiawill give regulators additional powers to respond to risks to public safety and to take action against people who contravene public protection laws, according to the Bills explanatory notes (pdf).

Further, employers will be compelled (by duty) to notify their relevant governing health body of any practitioner that has engaged in conduct deemed to pose a risk to patients or the public and if the individual has been penalised.

These penalties include withdrawing or restricting the practitioners clinical privileges at a hospital because the employer reasonably believes the public is at risk of harm because the practitioner has significantly departed from accepted professional standards.

Does Not Improve Confidence in Public Health System: Red Union

In response, the Red Union-affiliated groups said the broad and discretionary nature of terminology such as public safety and confidence is already a tool being used to force health professionals to comply with government directives.

The idea that non-compliance with government decrees poses an immediate risk to patient safety is dangerous to evidence-based patient care. We do not feel the explanatory notes provide any clarity regarding the risk-based approach to be used to interpret public health, safety and confidence,' according to the submission (pdf) from AMPS and the Nurses Professional Association.

Further, AMPS cannot support the extension in law to publicly name and shame practitioners who pose a risk to public safety without defining how risk is to be interpreted, it continued, noting that health professionals could suffer financial and reputational damage as a result of scrutiny.

Scrutiny of COVID-19 Management Slowly Gaining Traction

All Australian health practitioners are governed by 15 national boardsmanaging individual disciplines like dentistry to midwiferythat work with the peak accreditation body, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

AHPRA and the individual medical boards made headlines during the pandemic years for suspending several health professionals for speaking out and questioning government-backed restrictions, vaccine mandates, and even the efficacy of the jab.

One example of enforcement includes the suspension of anaesthetist Dr. Paul Oosterhuis in September 2021 after two anonymous complaints were lodged regarding his social media activity.

Oosterhuis, a medical practitioner of 30 years, revealed in an online petition that he had posted content regarding early treatments against COVID-19 while questioning the efficacy of lockdowns and PCR tests.

Human rights lawyer Peter Fam says he has spoken with hundreds of doctors who have expressed concerns about the silencing of different opinions, noting that many are unwilling to speak publicly.

In recent months, there have been signs that the previous consensus on COVID-19 management is beginning to crack, with criticism of lockdowns and mandates gaining mainstream traction.

In June, the Supreme Court of New South Wales overturned disciplinary action against a Western Sydney University student who was sceptical of the COVID-19 vaccination.

While a major report in October was scathing of the state governments frequent deployment of lockdowns and school closurescompelling Australian leaders to defend the decisions they made over 2020-21.
Son of Wuhan COVID-19 Victim Insists on Holding CCP Accountable, Is Threatened by Police

Zhang Hai, a Wuhan native living in Shenzhen who has been trying to hold the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities accountable for his fathers death during the initial COVID-19 outbreak, was recently threatened by CCP police.

Zhang told The Epoch Times on Oct. 29, The police came to my home after 10 p.m. last night and said that I made inappropriate remarks on Twitter and WeChat. But they did not specifically say what I said that was inappropriate.

Zhangs posts on WeChat and Twitter were mainly about the COVID-19 pandemic.

This incident makes me feel that they know that they are guilty of concealing the initial outbreak in Wuhan and very sensitive about it. Otherwise, why would the police come to my door at night? he said.

Zhang Hai at his home in Wuhan, central Chinas Hubei Province on Jan. 31, 2021. (Courtesy of Zhang Hai)

Zhang and his father were living in Shenzhen at the start of the pandemic. But on Feb. 1, 2020, because they were unaware of the outbreak in Wuhan, Zhang took his father to Wuhan to seek medical treatment. As a result, his father contracted COVID-19 in a Wuhan hospital and passed away from COVID-19 soon after.

Afterwards, Zhang filed a lawsuit with the Wuhan District Court to claim compensation from the local government and the hospital. Over the past two years, he has insisted on holding the authorities accountable for his fathers death, and has continued to express his views on the pandemic.

Zhang said, They concealed the virus and harmed the people. I sued the local government but the court didnt accept the case. They killed my father. I told the police [in Shenzhen], You can either notify Wuhan and send someone to take me back. He told me, You live within our jurisdiction. If you make inappropriate remarks, we will come to you.

Zhang asked the police, What inappropriate remarks did I make? The local government has committed crimes and violated the law. Cant I speak up? Cant I sue them?

COVID-19 appeared in Wuhan at the end of 2019. Because the CCP authorities concealed the outbreak, arrested front-line doctors who had direct contact and knowledge of the virus and outbreak and were speaking to the outside world, and then falsely claimed that the outbreak was controllable and could not be transmitted person to person, the epidemic was given the opportunity to spread throughout China and eventually, the world.

Refusing to Be Silenced

At the beginning of the pandemic, many family members of the deceased in Wuhan stood up to defend their rights, like Zhang Hai. But over time, they have become silent due to suppression by the CCP. Zhang, despite enormous pressure and even threats to his life, has persisted in seeking to hold the authorities accountable and demanding compensation alongside the families of some other victims.

Medical workers in protective suits attend to a patient inside an isolated ward of Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, in Hubei Province, China, on Feb. 16, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters)

Zhang told The Epoch Times, It has been nearly three years since the outbreak of the COVID-19. I always believe that if the outbreak was not concealed at the beginning and could be announced in time, and actions were taken in a timely manner, I believe that the Chinese people and the people of the world would not be harmed by it  Up to now, China (the CCP) is still using the pandemic to turn peoples lives upside down.

He said, The police came to my home and mentioned my WeChat posts. It indicates that they have been monitoring my activities and theres no end to it. So I always think that even if I shut up or keep silent, they will still not leave me alone. But there is no way I will give up.

Zhang added, From the outbreak of the virus in Wuhan to the present, as a witness, it can be said that I am the only one who dares to speak up in China. If I dont speak up again, this matter will really be forgotten and they would really get away with it for making the virus and causing the outbreak. Then, they can go around and blame others for it.

Mainland internet writer Wang Jie (pseudonym) told The Epoch Times that there are so few other people like Zhang Hai who continue to speak out for their relatives who were killed in the pandemic.

Wang pointed out, If all the families of the victims of the COVID-19 can stand up and speak out, the CCP will be afraid and deterred. If the government is not held accountable, such things will continue to happen, and the suffering of the Chinese people will never see an end.

Wang hopes that the Chinese people and governments around the world will not give up their pursuit of holding the CCP accountable to safeguard the basic security of mankind.

Li Yun and Yi Ru contributed to this report.
A mourner wipes his tear as he pays a silent tribute for victims of a deadly accident following Saturday night's Halloween festivities, at a joint memorial altar for victims at Seoul Square in Seoul, South Korea, on Oct. 31, 2022. (Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo)

South Korea Probes Halloween Crowd Surge as Nation Mourns

SEOUL, South KoreaSouth Korean police investigated on Monday what caused a crowd surge that killed more than 150 people including 26 foreigners during Halloween festivities in Seoul in the countrys worst disaster in years, as President Yoon Suk Yeol and tens of thousands of others paid respects to the dead at special mourning sites.

Saturdays disaster was concentrated in a sloped, narrow alley in Seouls Itaewon neighborhood, a popular nightlife district, with witnesses and survivors recalling a hell-like chaos with people falling on each other like dominoes. They said the entire Itaewon area was jammed with slow-moving vehicles and partygoers clad in Halloween costumes, making it impossible for rescuers and ambulances to reach the crammed alleys in time.

Police said theyve launched a 475-member task force to investigate the crush.

Officers have obtained videos taken by about 50 security cameras in the area and are also analyzing video clips posted on social media. They have interviewed more than 40 witnesses and survivors so far, senior police officer Nam Gu-Jun told reporters Monday.

Other police officers said they are trying to find exactly when and where the crowd surge started and how it developed. They said a team of police officers and government forensic experts searched the Itaewon area on Monday.

The government will thoroughly investigate the cause of the incident and do its best to make necessary improvements of systems to prevent a similar accident from recurring, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said at the start of a government meeting on the disaster.

The Itaewon area, famous for its cosmopolitan atmosphere, is the countrys hottest spot for Halloween-themed events and parties, which have grown increasingly popular among young South Koreans in recent years. An estimated 100,000 people were gathered there in the countrys largest Halloween celebration since the pandemic began.

Onlookers, police and paramedics gather where dozens of people suffered cardiac arrest, in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon in Seoul, South Korea, on Oct. 30, 2022. (Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images)

The dead included 26 foreign nationals.

One of the Americans killed was Anne Gieske, a University of Kentucky nursing student from northern Kentucky who was doing a study-abroad program in South Korea, the university said in a statement. The other was Steven Blesi, 20, his father, Steve Blesi, wrote on Twitter after earlier seeking information about his son.

Blesi appealed for information after not hearing from his son, asking, If anyone has any news please share. After a flood of responses offering help and support, he wrote on Twitter, We just got confirmation our son died, followed by Thank you for the outpouring of love. We need time to grieve.

Australian victim Grace Rached, a Sydney film production assistant, was described by her family as our life of the party. Her family said in a statement that We are missing our gorgeous angel Grace, who lit up the room with her infectious smile.

The Japanese dead included Mei Tomikawa, who was studying Korean language in Seoul, according to Japanese media. Her father, Ayumu Tomikawa, told Japanese public broadcaster NHK that his daughter really liked South Korea and was enjoying her life there.

Halloween festivities in Itaewon have no official organizers. South Korean police said Monday they dont have any specific procedures for handling incidents such as crowd surges during an event that has no organizers.

Police said they dispatched 137 officers to maintain order during Halloween festivities on Saturday, much more than the 3490 officers mobilized in 2017, 2018, and 2019 before the pandemic.

Citing those figures, police dismissed as different from the truth speculation that a police station in the area was understaffed because it was providing extra security for Yoon, who earlier moved the presidential office to a site near Itaewon. They said police-provided security for presidents has long been handled by two special police units which have nothing to do with the Yongsan police station, whose jurisdiction includes Itaewon.

Some witnesses said the stampede was caused by people in the upper part of the downhill alley pushing others in the lower area. Local media also questioned an apparent lack of safety preparations for the large crowd expected to gather in Itaewon.

Asked about those possibilities, Nam, the police officer, said the investigation would look into all possible causes of the crush.

Medical staff transport a victim, believed to have suffered cardiac arrest, in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon in Seoul, South Korea, on Oct. 30, 2022. (Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)

As of Monday morning, the government said it has identified 153 of the 154 bodies and informed relatives of their identification. Nearly two-thirds of the dead98were women. It said 149 others remain injured. The death toll could rise further because officials said 33 of the injured were in serious condition.

More than 80 percent of the dead were in their 20s or 30s and 11 were teenagers, the Interior Ministry said.

Among foreign victims, five were from Iran, four from China, four from Russia, two from the United States, two from Japan, and one each from Australia, Norway, France, Austria, Vietnam, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka, according to the ministry.

As the identifications of the dead neared completion, bereaved families were expected to begin funerals for their loved ones. Officials said the government will provide necessary support for funeral procedures.

President Yoon on Sunday declared a one-week national mourning period and ordered flags at government buildings and public offices to fly at half staff.

The government opened special memorial sites on Monday in Seoul and other major cities. Tens of thousands of people including Yoon and other top officials visited the sites, placed white flowers and bowed deeply. Many people also laid chrysanthemums, bottles of Korean soju liquor, candles, and snacks near an Itaewon subway station and posted a host of condolence messages.

Following the disaster, many hotels, department stores, amusement parks and other businesses canceled Halloween-themed events.

The crowd surge was South Koreas deadliest disaster since 2014, when 304 people, mostly high school students, died in a ferry sinking.

The sinking exposed lax safety rules and regulatory failures. It was partially blamed on excessive and poorly fastened cargo and a crew ill-trained for emergency situations. Saturdays deaths will likely draw public scrutiny of what government officials have done to improve public safety standards since the ferry disaster.

By Hyung-Jin Kim
South Korea's nuclear power reactor under construction at the timeShin-Kori 3 and 4 called APR-1400in Gori near the southern port of Busan, on Feb. 5, 2013. (Jun Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images)

South Korea Signs Agreement With Poland to Build Their Nuclear Reactors

South Korea and Poland have signed initial agreements to build a second nuclear power plant in Poland, as South Korea continues taking steps to revive its nuclear industry and Poland strives for a cheap and stable energy supply.

Polish energy companies ZE PAK and PGE signed a letter of intent with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power on Monday to build a nuclear power plant in Patnow, Poland, according to South Koreas Trade, Industry and Energy Ministry.

Government officials from both nations also signed an agreement outlining their support for the APR-1400an advanced reactor model developed by South Korea that uses key technologies from U.S. firm Westinghouse Electric Co.construction process and information sharing, it stated.

This will be the second nuclear power project in Poland. The Polish government said on Oct. 28 that Westinghouse will build its first nuclear power plant but did not specify the location.

Polands Deputy Prime Minister Jacek Sasin said the nuclear power cooperation deal with South Korea would help Poland strengthen its energy security and boost bilateral ties. Poland is moving to lower its carbon emissions and phase out energy production from coal.

Poland is in need of a low-cost and stable source of energy, all the more essential considering the current situation and geopolitical conditions, Sasin said in a statement.

South Koreas Nuclear Power Goal

Lee Chang-yang, South Koreas Minister of Trade and Industry, said the Polish partnership is in lock-step with the governments push for nuclear reactor exports, which will generate more jobs for South Koreans.

Lee said that South Korea will also seek further bilateral cooperation with Poland in other areas like defense, batteries, hydrogen, and electric vehicles.

Poland previously acquired tanks, howitzers, and fighter planes from South Korea following the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has aimed to revive South Koreas status as a key nuclear reactor exporter, with plans to export 10 nuclear reactors by 2030. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power signed an agreement with Kazakhstan in June to build two nuclear power plants.

Boosting nuclear energy marks a sharp policy reversal from that of the previous government, led by then-President Moon Jae-in, whose left-leaning government had pushed to phase out nuclear power over some 45 years.

Yoon, a conservative who took office in June, has set a new target for nuclear to contribute 30 percent of electricity by 2030.

According to the World Nuclear Association, South Korea is among the worlds most prominent nuclear energy countries with 25 nuclear reactors in operation. It has also constructed four nuclear reactors in Barakah, the United Arab Emirates.
A traveler walks past a Southwest Airlines airplane as it taxies from a gate at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on Oct. 11, 2021, in Baltimore. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Southwest Employees Rattled by Big Brother-Style Policies

Restrictions tighten despite court ruling in case involving social media

Southwest Airlines and a labor union seem to have learned little from the case of pro-life flight attendant Charlene Carter, several longtime employees told The Epoch Times.

On July 14, a federal jury unanimously awarded Carter more than $5 million, declaring that Southwest illegally fired her in 2017 for protected speechand that her union helped get her fired instead of protecting her.

After Carter used Facebook to express religious views on abortion and criticize the flight attendants union, a union official reported her posts to Southwest, leading to her dismissal.

Now, three months after jurors found that Southwest and the union violated Carters rights, recent events have struck a raw nerve among her former coworkers and union members.

The emerging controversy represents the nations latest example of an employer clashing with employees over the privacy of electronic communicationsespecially during off-duty hours.

Charlene Carter, who worked for Southwest Airlines as a flight attendant for 21 years before she was fired, holds her former Southwest flight attendants uniform at her home in Aurora, Colo., on Aug. 30, 2022. (Michael Ciaglo for The Epoch Times)

A Lot of Fear

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a half-dozen Southwest employees shared their concerns with The Epoch Times; three are pilots, and three are flight attendants.

The employees fear that if their names were divulged, they would lose their jobs.

They also said their employer appears to be signaling that just about anyone could be fired for conduct similar to Carters.

They point to a new far-reaching policing of private electronic communications. One such policy applies to workers use of social media and any other form of electronic communication.

Southwest Airlines passengers check in at Chicago Midway International Airport in a file photo. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The employees say that, despite the Carter verdict, Southwest has continued investigating employees for online statements, including some made in private chat groups. The employees said several workers have been summoned to fact-finding meetings over pronouns that the company urges employees to use with transgender coworkers.

Southwests recent actions have created a lot of fear among the rank and file, a flight attendant said.

The flight attendants labor union, Transport Workers Union of America Local 556, doesnt seem to be pushing back on behalf of its members, flight attendants said in interviews.

The Epoch Times repeatedly sought comment from the company and the union but received no response.

Encrypted Messages

In light of recent developments at Southwest, workers are afraid that they could become the next victim of a targeted assassination, a flight attendant said, using a term that surfaced in the Carter case.

During her trial, documents and testimony revealed that a union activist advocated targeted assassinationsusing the companys strict social media policy to get the unions enemies fired.

That trend seems to be continuing, a flight attendant said in an Oct. 28 interview.

Southwest Airlines planes are seen in a file photograph. (Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo)

The union activists, those who hate the conservatives and the Christians, are actively copying, looking for information that they can use to harm those that they disagree with, she said.

Two other flight attendants said they share that belief.

Southwests communication-policing practices appeared to be broadening even before the new policies were distributed, flight attendants said.

Moles infiltrated private groups using an encrypted messaging service, then provided screenshots of messages to Southwest, the flight attendants said.

The company later questioned employees about that content, noting that Southwests inquiries are not just limited to traditional social media anymore, according to the flight attendants.

Clicking Blindly?

In early October, Southwest began sending electronic notices telling employees that they were required to acknowledge a set of policies by 11:59 p.m. Central time on Oct. 31.

The messages stated that failure to acknowledge the policies by the deadline could result in unspecified disciplinary action.

Four of the six policies caused concern among the interviewed employees. Those policies deal with social media, information security, and privacy of information.

Many colleagues, especially new hires, may mindlessly click a box indicating that they acknowledge and confirm acceptance of the policies without reading the documents, according to the interviewed employees.

I would say 99 percent of the employees dont know what they clicked, a flight attendant said. They just trust the company, and they check the boxand it will be to their detriment.

If an employee faces discipline for policy violations and the case goes to court, the company can pull out the documentation and say, You signed it, according to a flight attendant.

Disgusted

The policies described in the companys message fill dozens of pages. Parts of those records disturbed the interviewed employees.

One pilot said, I read what I could, and I got disgusted with it. I decided not to read it the rest of the way.

In particular, the pilot disapproves of a provision stating that the company can share personal information with third parties. The data can also be stored or transferred outside the United States.

Other employees pointed out that Southwests definition of personal information traipses into unexpected territory, including health conditions, religious or philosophical beliefs, and sexual orientation.

The pilot was also concerned about the broad range of rules applying to employee communications.

He said hes refusing to complete the forms. So are other pilots, even though they dont know how the company will react, he said.

The pilot said he found the new policies especially troubling in light of the Carter case.

Im glad she took one for the team, and it worked out for her, he said. But she suffered a lot.

Carter Awaits Decision

Carter, 57, previously told The Epoch Times her highly personal reason for opposing abortion: She suffered medical issues and lifelong regret over her decision to terminate her first pregnancy when she was 19.

Shes a Christian who believes God has forgiven her. She has vowed to use her personal story to protect the unborn.

As of Oct. 29, Carter, who lives in Colorado, was still waiting for a judge to decide how hell impose the will of the jury that heard her case in Texas, where Southwest is based.

Monetary damages have yet to be set; jurors werent told that laws cap the amount below the $5 million award they calculated for Carter. The company, Local 556, and Carters lawyers have all argued for changes to the jury award.

Money aside, Carters lawyers are asking the judge to order Southwest to reinstate her and to compensate her for the five years of pay she missed while fighting the court case.

They also want the judge to forbid the union and the company from engaging in any of the activities that the Court declares and the jury found to be unlawful, court records show.

Big Brother-y

Jeff Childers, a Florida attorney whose practice includes constitutional and business law, said courts have repeatedly held that employees have no general right to privacy inside the workplace.

And employers are given a wide berth to impose work rules, he said.

Childers isnt involved with the Southwest employees but agreed to comment on the controversy for The Epoch Times.

Based upon information provided to him, Childers said Southwests policies appear to be legal.

Still, he said the policies seem to be kind of Big-Brother-y.

A copy of George Orwells novel 1984 sits on a table in New York on Feb. 26, 2021. In the book, Big Brother watches everything that the citizens do. (Chung I Ho/The Epoch Times)

Childers also thinks the companys definition of social media could rightfully be considered overbroad, as employees claim.

According to employees, the company stated, Social media means all communication, posts, or content of any sort on the internet  as well as any other form of electronic communication.

The company also stated that it reserves the right to review, track and monitor your social media activity that is available to the public  or that another person may bring to Southwest Airlines attention.

Therefore, the company stated, employees should have no expectation of privacy in these communications.

Three of the interviewed employees say that those statements and others, taken together, make them worry that anything they communicate to anyone, even with no mention of Southwest, could land them in hot water with the company.

I think that anything on my private iPhone or iPad is now subject to investigation by Southwest Airlines, one flight attendant said.

She has recently talked to roughly 10 coworkers who share her concerns, and she said thousands of pilots and flight attendants participate in private messaging groups that have been focusing on the policies lately.

None of us feel safe from the companys intrusions into messages that should be private, the flight attendant said.

If any of the employees face discipline and take legal action as Carter did, Childers said hes unsure how courts might handle cases in which nonpublic messages, such as those in a private encrypted messaging group, may have been used against an employee.

Thats a novel angle, he said.

The law is slow. It takes a while to catch up to new technologies, Childers said.

Asked how he would advise employees who are concerned about their employers social media policies, Childers said, I would tell them what I tell every single one of my clients, which is, Never put anything in writing that you dont want the entire world to see.

Seeking Help

Worried Southwest employees have consulted with multiple attorneys.

One law firm advised workers to send a message telling the company that they received the policy but explicitly do not agree with it.

The employees were also advised to state that they dont consent to personal information being collected and disseminated to third parties absent a valid, enforceable court order.

The law firm also suggested that the policy does not constitute an agreement or contract and that any attempt by Southwest to negotiate contracts with unionized employees would violate the Railway Labor Act.

The flight attendants argue that the company shouldnt be able to impose employment conditions on them or other unionized employees unilaterally.

However, at several recent meetings in multiple cities, union officials told members of Local 556 that they were powerless to do anything about the controversial policies.

Why are they bailing out? one flight attendant asked. They have a responsibility to negotiate on behalf of the members. Theyre just relinquishing all of that power, and theyre saying, Theres nothing we can do. Then why are you here if youre not going to protect your members?
A group of illegal immigrants are brought to port after being rescued by the RNLI, at Dungeness, Kent, England, on Sept. 15, 2022. (Gareth Fuller/PA Media)

Suella Braverman Says She Will Fix UKs Hopelessly Lax Asylum System

British Home Secretary Suella Braverman said in Parliament that there is an invasion on our southern coast and that she was serious about ending the scourge of illegal migration.

On Monday, Braverman told MPs at the House of Commons that around 40,000 people arrived on the south coast of England in 2022, more than double the number of arrivals via the English Channel in 2021.

Lets be clear about what is really going on here: the British people deserve to know which party is serious about stopping the invasion on our southern coast and which party is not, she said in response to questions and criticism from left-wing opposition party Labour.

Some 40,000 people have arrived on the south coast this year alone. Many of them facilitated by criminal gangs, some of them actual members of criminal gangs, said Braverman.

The number of people smuggled into the UK in small boats has soared in recent years.

Last week Dan OMahoney, the Home Offices clandestine Channel threat commander, told the Home Affairs Committee that 38,000 people had crossed the Channel in 936 small boats this year, a figure he described as unacceptable.

Kent County Councillor Nigel Collor told the BBC on Monday that almost 1,000 people crossed the Channel in small boats on Saturday alone.

British Home Secretary Suella Braverman leaves Downing Street following the first Cabinet meeting after Liz Truss took office as the new prime minister, in London, on Sept. 7, 2022. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

Ending the Scourge of Illegal Migration

So lets stop pretending that they are all refugees in distress. The whole country knows that is not true. Its only the honourable members opposite who pretend otherwise, said Braverman, referring to Labour Party MPs.

I am utterly serious about ending the scourge of illegal migration and I am determined to do whatever it takes to break the criminal gangs and fix our hopelessly lax asylum system, she said.

That is why I am in government, and that is why there are some people who would prefer to be rid of me, she added.

Braverman added that we need to be straight with the public.

The system is broken. Illegal migration is out of control and too many people are interested in playing political parlour games, covering up the truth than solving the problem, she said.

At the House of Commons, Tory MP Lee Anderson said Albanian criminals are leaving safe countries to reach the UK.

Then, when they get into accommodation, weve got the opposition parties saying the accommodation is not good enough for them. Or does the home secretary agree with me that if the accommodation is not good enough for them they can get on a dinghy and go straight back to France? said Anderson.

The average cost per night is 150 per person per night in a hotel. By my standards, thats quite a nice hotel, Im afraid, and therefore any complaints that the accommodation isnt good enough is frankly absolutely indulgent and ungrateful, replied Braverman.

Labours Andy McDonald accused Braverman of trying to defend cruelty towards the most desperate of people.

Doesnt she need to take a look in the mirror to see who is a threat to national security and accept shes totally unfit for the job? he said.

The home secretary said in September that she would do whatever it takes to stop illegal immigration across the English Channel.

She said she would work with the French to ramp up actions on the French coastline and against people-smuggling gangs; find a way to make the Rwanda scheme work; get asylum seekers out of hotels, which she said costs 5 million a day; and take back control of the UKs immigration policy from the European Court of Human Rights.

PA Media, Chris Summers, and Lily Zhou contributed to this report.
Supreme Court Justice John Roberts arrives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 31, 2020. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Congress From Getting Trumps Tax Returns

The U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 1 temporarily blocked Congress from obtaining former President Donald Trumps tax returns.

Chief Justice John Roberts, a George W. Bush appointee, stayed an appeals court order that had ruled a congressional panel could gain access to the documents. The appeals court order was set to take effect on Nov. 3.

Trump filed an emergency application on Monday to the Supreme Court, asking it to halt the order.

Roberts stay is temporary, pending further developments in the case.

Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, has for years been trying to obtain Trumps returns, asserting that they are necessary as the panel considers possibly updating how audits of presidents are done.

Trump said that the true purpose is to release the returns to the public.

Neal is not seeking the records of any other president, and has said that unraveling President Trumps sophisticated tax avoidance was one of the reasons he thought Trump should release his returns.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), said in 2017 that the returns would be useful in investigating what  the Russians have on Donald Trump and that investigations into Trump were going to continue in 2019 because she want[ed] to see him in prison.

Trump sued the IRS and its parent agency, the Department of Treasury, in 2019 to stop officials from giving his returns to Neal.

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, threw out the lawsuit in 2021, finding that federal law requires great deference to facially valid congressional inquiries and that the presidential audit program could be subject to legislation.

That conclusion all but decides the Courts analysis, McFadden said, even as statements from Neal and Pelosi plausibly show mixed motives underlying the request for the returns.

In August, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the ruling. U.S. Circuit Judge David Sentelle, a Reagan appointee writing for the three-judge panel, said the court could not probe the motives of legislators and that Neal has identified a legitimate legislative purpose that it requires information to accomplish.

At this stage, it is not our place to delve deeper than this, he added.

U.S. Circuit Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, a George H.W. Bush appointee, offered a concurring opinion in which she diverged from her colleagues on one point.

Although I agree with my colleagues that the burdens imposed on the Presidency by the Committees Request do not rise to the level of a separation-of-powers violation, I conclude that the burdens borne by the Executive Branch are more severe and warrant much closer scrutiny than my colleagues have given them, she said, adding later that the potential of Congress to threaten a sitting president with a post-presidency request in order to influence the President while in office should not be dismissed so quickly.

The same appeals court in October denied a request for a rehearing.

Roberts ordered Neal and other respondents, including the IRS, to respond to Trumps application on or before Nov. 10 by noon.

A spokesperson for Neal did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Roberts received the application because he oversees the District of Columbia appeals court.

Roberts can decide on the application himself or refer the matter to the full Supreme Court.
Passengers wait in line for screening at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Ill. on Oct. 19, 2020. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Supreme Court Leaves TSA Mask Mandate Ruling in Place

The Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal on Oct. 31, leaving in place a federal appeals court ruling that allowed the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to require the wearing of masks on airplanes, trains, and buses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the TSA abandoned its mask mandate in April, the decision allows a Dec. 10, 2021, ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to remain on the books as a legal precedent that the government may rely upon in the future.

In a brief filed with the high court on Sept. 27, the Biden administration urged the Supreme Court to reject the case.

U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar noted in the document that the TSA had announced on April 13 that it would extend the mask directives through May 3, 2022.

But days after the announcement, when a federal district judge in Florida vacated the Centers for Disease Controls order requiring masking at transportation hubs and in airplanes, the TSA backed out of its mask mandate extension.

The TSA mandate was allowed to expire on April 18.

The D.C. Circuit Courts ruling was correct because it recognized TSA was acting within its statutory authority and its actions were aimed at addressing the threats to transportation posed by COVID-19, the brief stated.

The high court refused to take up the petition filed in Corbett v. TSA (court file 22-33), without explaining why.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson did not participate in the consideration of the petition, but the court did not explain why she refrained from doing so.

Frequent flyer Jonathan Corbett challenged the TSAs January 2021 directives requiring that passengers wear masks.

Corbett argued that the agencys authority under the federal Aviation and Transportation Security Act was limited to developing policies and directives aimed at guarding against violent attacks on transportation infrastructure.

The statute did not empower TSA to do things like require mask-wearing to protect public health, he argued.

But the appeals court disagreed.

The COVID-19 global pandemic poses one of the greatest threats to the operational viability of the transportation system and the lives of those on it seen in decades, the circuit court ruled in an opinion written by Judge Harry T. Edwards, who was appointed by then-President Jimmy Carter in 1980. One judge on the three-judge panel dissented from the ruling.

TSA, which is tasked with maintaining transportation safety and security, plainly has the authority to address such threats under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act.

Congress granted the TSA broad authority to analyze potential risks to aviation and national security and respond to those risks and conferred upon the agency an expansive power to act in relation to the transportation system during a national emergency.

Given the language in the statute, it cannot seriously be doubted that Congress delegations of authority to TSA authorize the Mask Directives issued to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

If Congress wanted to limit the reach of the TSA it could have done so, but instead it selected broad language in its mandate to the agency.
FILE PHOTO: Model Y cars are pictured during the opening ceremony of the new Tesla Gigafactory for electric cars in Gruenheide, Germany, March 22, 2022. Patrick Pleul/Pool via REUTERS

Tesla Lithium Deal With Australian Miner Lapses

A slated deal for the sale of lithium to electric car giant Tesla from Australias Core Lithium has been quietly shelved.

I want to thank Tesla for the time taken to negotiate with Core and look forward to maintaining an open and ongoing dialogue, said CEO Gareth Manderson in an announcement (pdf) on Oct. 27.

The CEO was upbeat that the high price of lithium meant the company was well positioned to capitalise on international demand and current shortages of battery-grade lithium spodumene concentrate.

Meanwhile, South Australias Core Lithium operates the Finniss Project in the Northern Territory. Around 80 percent of the mines production has been allocated to Chinese lithium firms Ganfeng and Yahua.

China remains a major processor of raw lithium despite holding just 10 percent of the global supply.

Global Lithium Market Comes With Highs and Lows

Meanwhile, the prospective agreement in Tesla was supposed to be finalised on Oct. 26, 2022according to a March announcementbut a likely factor may simply have been the high cost of lithium, which Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been critical of.

Lithium prices soared from US$17,000 per tonne in 2021 to more than US$78,000 this year at its peak.

The price volatility comes in response to the global push for net zero, with governments, companies, and major automakers scrambling to secure the supply of lithium and other critical minerals needed for a range of rechargeable batteries that will supposedly form the bedrock of decarbonised societies.

In June, Detroit auto giant Ford signed off a multi-year agreement with Western Australia-based Liontown Resources for the supply of 75,000 dry metric tons of spodumene concentrate in the first year, followed by 125,000 tons in the second year and 150,000 per annum in the remaining three years.

The deal came hot on the heels of Koreas LG Energy Solution and Tesla, with the latter signing a five-year deal with the company for 100,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate in the first year and 150,000 tonnes in every year after.

Yet the United Nations has raised environmental concerns around critical mineral mining activities, including exposure to toxic fumes, particularly in African countries where child labour is prevalent. Further, South America, where the lithium triangle of nations is located, has spurred concerns around water usage (lithium mining requires plenty of water resources), especially in regions where water is scarce.
How the Left Is Using the Attack on Paul Pelosi

Commentary

Outrageous theories abound surrounding the assault on Paul Pelosi.

However, the attack on Pelosi is weird, to say the least.

But this article isnt about deciding whether one of the various interpretations of the circumstances surrounding the event happens to be correct. Theres speculation regarding the circumstances of the underwear-wearing David DePape assaulting Pelosi. So far, many facts seem to be missing. Its hard to know which stories are credible and which are exaggerated or presented with bias.

The lack of certitude, however, hasnt stopped the American leftrepresented by none other than President Joe Bidenfrom seeking to use the event as a tool to further divide U.S. citizens. In the fashion that has unfortunately become all-too-common for Biden, the president lost no time in attempting to incite hatred among the American populace by reaffirming his campaign to demonize half the country.

You know, its reported that the same chant was used by this guy they have in custody that was used on Jan. 6 in the attacks on the U.S. Capitol, Biden said at a fundraiser in Pennsylvania. The chant was Wheres Nancy? Wheres Nancy? Wheres Nancy? This is despicable.

Despicable, Mr. President? How about you seizing on unsubstantiated information to try and tie an attack by a mentally deranged lunatic to your political opposition more broadly? Americans havent forgotten about your fist-wielding exhortation to destroy the MAGA wing of the Republican party (sorry, Mr. President, it seems that youve been fed some misinformationthe MAGA movement is the Republican party).

The reports that Biden is referring to come from anonymous sources, a term that the American public became all too familiar with during Donald Trumps tenure in the Oval Office. Every day, corporate media claimed to be printing newsnot opinion piecesthat said the 45th presidents health was failing and that he was organizing cataclysmic war plans, or, as we all remember so very well, there were their constant reports on further evidence of Russian collusion. All nonsense. All thanks to anonymous sources.

For the sake of argument, lets concede all of the lefts presently unconfirmed accusations. OK, even if DePape were an actual Trump supporter who was looking to harm Nancy Pelosiwhich, as of right now, is still an ifthe notion that you can get from there to Jan. 6, 2021, as the inspiration for the attack, all tied up together in some larger conspiracy about how Trump supporters are a domestic terrorist threat to the country, is outright ridiculous.

The front entrance of David DePapes former house, currently belonging to his ex-wife Oxane Taub, at 1526 Woolsey Street in Berkeley, Calif., on Oct. 30, 2022 (Lear Zhou/The Epoch Times).

Ridiculous, however, is the current platform of the Democratic Party, which has been taken over by left-wing ideologues. Jan. 6 is a central tenet of that platform. Yes, the brief riot at the Capitol is being used in an attempt to rally the Democratic base in preparation for the midterms; however, its about so much more than that. Its the basis of their attack on Trump personally, currently ongoing through the Jan. 6 congressional committee, in hopes of an eventual indictment.

Make no mistake about it, they desperately want a conviction, with the end goal of Trump serving prison time. That wouldnt just be a win for Democrat votersleadership wants it as well, as Trump is and always has been viewed as an existential threat to their hold on power.

Barack Obama also picked up the Pelosi case as an example of rhetoric from the right apparently inciting violence. When interrupted by a heckler, Obama spouted off about civility and how we have to be able to talk to one another without shouting.

Obama, who, besides constantly engaging in the same type of divisive rhetoric as Biden, was also an enormous supporter of the 2020 Black Lives Matter and Antifa riots, the looting, and the general destruction of U.S. cities. There never was, nor will there ever be, a denunciation of that activity by the likes of Obama or the American left in general. Was the death of David Dorn by a looter the type of civil discourse he was discussing?

Yet, in many ways, Republicans continue to play along and grant the left the initiative in setting the tone of American politics. Republican politicians were quick to jump on the Pelosi case and condemn political violence wherever it occurs. Obviously, violence is never okay, but their canned responses demonstrate terrible political instincts.

Trump, on the other hand, had the perfect response: These people are crazy. Theyre going to release stone-cold killers out of the jails. Nobody knows why. I mean, they need room or something. Yeah, with Paul Pelosi, thats a terrible thing; with all of them, its a terrible thing.

This type of political acumen cant be taught.

Whatever type of motivation was behind the attack, the Biden approach to tie it to some ethereal MAGA conspiracy is a political loser. The rise in crime in the United States and the destruction reaped by lax prosecutorial initiatives from left-wing district attorneys across the country is something that a majority of Americans are aware of. We see it in daily online videos, hear about it on the nightly news, and sometimes are even the victim of it in our own personal lives (especially if we happen to live in a major city).

Look at whats happened to San Francisco, generally, look at what is happening in Chicago. It was far worse than Afghanistan, Trump said.

Most Americans dont believe that the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach was a part of a vast right-wing conspiracy that was led personally by Trump. All Americansif theyre being honestknow that theyre less afraid of right-wing domestic terrorism than they are to walk down the street in any U.S. metropolitan area after 10 p.m.

The attack on Paul Pelosi is unfortunate, regardless of the exact circumstances that brought it about. But the attempt to make it indicative of anyone who supports Trump, and, in essence, tying it to half of the country, is shameless.

Whether Nancy Pelosi, the career politician, has a problem with the attack on her husband being used for political gain is unknown. She, rather fortuitously, happened not to be home that night when a deranged man in his underwear happened to break into their home.

Fortuitous indeed. Hopefully, more reliable information regarding the circumstances surrounding the event will be released in the upcoming days.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The Forgotten Local Elections With Unforgettable Consequences

Commentary

Thanks to Californias ridiculous policy of mailing ballots to voters a full month prior to election day, and allowing early voting, I have already completed and submitted my ballot. That was a mistake.

After voting for a local school board candidate who I had some familiarity with and thought might be a safe choice, I learned that he was endorsed by the local chapter of the California Teachers Association, as well as by the local chapter of the California School Employees Association. I now regret giving this candidate my vote.

As for the seven judicial candidates that appeared on my ballot, along with the candidates for the local parks and recreation district, and the candidates for the local community college district, I had no idea who any of these people were and cast no vote. I was able to get enough information on the local bond and tax proposals and was able to cast an informed vote against them all.

It wouldnt be fair to suggest that as a responsible voter I am obligated to learn enough about these candidates to make a judgement about them and vote accordingly. Even if I could do that, what would be the point? Hardly anyone else will do that work, so it wont matter. These candidates win because they are recruited and supported by a cadre of insiders who vote for them, and they get elected. Sometimes theyre the right people for the job, and most of the time, here in California, theyre not.

A few inquiries I made with the organizations that might offer a voter guide for local candidates revealed it is beyond their current capacities. The county Republican party cant do it. The regional taxpayers association cant do it. In both cases, theyre focused on up-ticket races and major local tax and bond measures. Theres no time for everything else. This presents a problem.

The people who get elected to small town city councils, local agencies such as a parks and recreation district, are the people running most of the governing budgets in California. Public spending is decentralized in California, with local government expenditures roughly 60 percent of total state and local spending. The only organizations that wield sufficient resources to select and support thousands of local candidates are government employee unions, which for obvious reasons also have a strong incentive to find candidates they know theyll be able to negotiate with for more staff, more pay, and more benefits.

Theres more. These successful candidates for local elected positions constitute the farm team for those politicians that eventually advance to major positions of responsibility, running large cities and populating the state legislature. Whatever special interests succeed in developing a huge pool of experienced local politicians will have that many more choices when selecting talented and obedient candidates to anoint to rise to the next level.

The same can be said of judicial nominees. If they are picked and supported by special interest insiders, then only these curated candidates will be elected to form the pool of talent from which higher court appointments will be granted. When you stack the deck, youre more likely to draw the cards you want. This is reflected in what kind of judges preside over our superior courts and on the federal circuit courts.

Forgettable candidates in insignificant elections lead to unforgettable and very significant consequences. Providing a voter guide for them could be done if state taxpayer organizations and the state Republican party were to create an instructional document and then support their counterparts in Californias counties to implement it.

It is no small task. The California Secretary of State maintains the California Roster, updated every two years, that lists every elected official in the state. There are thousands of names on the list. But most of them only come up for election every four years, and in all but the very largest counties in California, the number of candidates is manageable.

Investigating these candidates could be done by a team of volunteers, supported by the county Republican party or the regional taxpayers association, or by both working together. These volunteers would gather information on each candidate using many of the same techniques that businesses employ when doing a background check. They could search for their names online to learn their professional and educational history. They could access their credit history. They could check all of their social media accounts. They could go to the county clerks office and get information on who is donating to their campaigns. In most cases, a useful profile could be developed without a huge expenditure of time and resources.

Once profiles of local candidates were compiled, it would be usually be possible to identify whether they were owned by local public employee unions, or were environmentalist extremists, or woke ideologues, and if so, voters could be warned to not support them for judicial posts, or board positions at local special districts, or for school boards. Voters would undoubtedly find this useful.

It has never been easier to make voter information of this nature accessible to whoever needs it. Most volunteers with internet experience can create a post or a page that provides the local candidate recommendations, then put it onto a preexisting party or association website. By promoting these recommendations via links sent in emails, a certain exclusivity of access is retained at the same time as a concentrated mass of select voters is empowered to make informed votes for or against every local candidate. In forgettable races with forgettable candidates, a surge of votes in one direction or another will swing the result.

This is an opportunity that should not be squandered any longer. Local government agencies spend most of the tax dollars in California. Local judges and local elected officials are the farm team for more significant judicial appointments and more powerful elected offices.

Just because we ignore local candidates does not mean those candidates, once they take office, are ignoring us. It is time for activist organizations to add this service to their repertoire, and help us find the rising stars we want to rise, to help secure our future.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The Greek Revival wood-sided home in Springfield, Illinois, built in 1839 and purchased by Abraham and Mary Lincoln in May 1844, was originally one and a half stories with five rooms and a sleeping loft. However, as Lincolns legal profession gained respect, he was able to afford a full second story and other renovations.

The homes architectural style was hardly distinct. Yet when Lincoln joined the hotly contested 1860 race to become the nations 16th president, all eyes were on the home at the corner of Eighth and Jackson streets. So much interest was piqued, in fact, that the then widely read Frank Leslies Illustrated Newspaper sent an artist to sketch a few rooms. The detailed engravings provided readers nationwide with a glimpse of the eclectic decor in the only home the Lincolns would ever own.

Bedrooms are on the added second floor, with rooms for gathering and entertaining relegated to the first floor. The National Park Service shares that the Lincolns chose furnishings that reflected the tastes of a prosperous mid-19th-century American family, primarily a blend of revival styles such as Renaissance, Rococo, and Empire.

Lincoln Home Historic Site curator Susan Haake explained in an interview that about 50 artifacts remain in the home, with other antique pieces carefully selected to convey what the Lincolns owned. They had a big sale before they left for Washington and decided to rent their home while they were away, she said. Some pieces were sold to locals, some were stored with Marys family, and the horsehair pieces were housed across the street.

And while historically significant events happened inside the home, including the birth of three sons and the death of one, as well as a presidential nomination and appointment, it was still an everyday dwelling place, to be used and enjoyed as homes are supposed to be.

Probably the most photographed item in the Lincoln historic home is this slant-top, dark walnut desk with eight open pigeonholes for organizing letters and papers. While a small desk, especially considering Abrahams size, it is where he wrote many political speeches. (Courtesy of the National Park Service)

Although Victorian and other 19th-century popular decor styles were present in the floral carpet, wallpaper, and window treatments in the front parlor, practicality is evident in the Lincolns woven horsehair chairs, chosen for durability and ease-of-care to cover wood-frame seating. The highly detailed Temple Parlor wood stove is a replica of the homes original, which is on display at the Henry Ford Museum of Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan, and served as a functional yet decorative room accessory. The circa 19th-century lithographs of George and Martha Washington hold a place of honor over the hearth. (Courtesy of the National Park Service)

This corner of the front parlor is arranged today exactly as it was when the Lincolns lived in the home. The side chair and mahogany rocking chair sport the same woven horsehair found on all the Lincolns upholstered pieces, while the corner etagere (a ladder-type bookshelf) features antique whatnots, or what we refer to today as knickknacks. Hanging on the wall is a shadow box featuring an artistic arrangement of real hair, another 19th-century commonality. (Courtesy of the National Park Service)

Originally part of the kitchen, the dining room was separated to be a more formal room when the second full floor was added to the home in 1856. The Hitchcock-style painted mahogany chairs were used by the Lincolns, as was the dining table. Marys transfer-print ironstone dinnerware was not salvaged, but National Park Service curators found antique dinnerware similar to that which was used regularly by the Lincolns. (Courtesy of the National Park Service)

The Royal Oak cast-iron wood stove that the Lincolns used daily was made in Buffalo, New York, and would still be in working order if it was once again hooked up to a chimney flue. This stove was considered multifunctional in that it helped warm the home, had an oven and stove top, kept cooked food warm on its front hearth, and heated actual cast irons for pressing clothing. (Courtesy of the National Park Service)

Abrahams and Marys bedrooms were separate but right next door to one another. This bed, though not original to the house, is the same size as the one Lincoln slept in. A common question when people tour the historic home is: Did his feet hang off? Most likely they did, is the answer that interpretive National Park Service park rangers often give. (Courtesy of the National Park Service)

Marys bedroom was where she not only rested but also sewed. Since closets were typically not part of a 19th-century homes design, armoires housed clothing, and hers was most likely a stately solid wood piece such as the one currently on display in her bedroom. She also had a rocking chair and dressing table. The current wallpaper in her bedroom is a copy of the original that once graced the house. (Courtesy of the National Park Service)

While the back parlor was first the Lincolns bedroom, the added second story enabled them to move their bedrooms upstairs and turn their original bedroom into a second parlor. An Empire-style, marble-topped table with scroll legs and casters served as a centerpiece in the room, with more woven horsehair upholstered chairs as main seating. (Courtesy of the National Park Service)
Trudeau Wades Into Ontario School Strike Debate

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has weighed in on the issue of the Ontario governments plan to use back-to-work legislation and the notwithstanding clause to stop a pending school strike.

Using the notwithstanding clause to suspend workers rights is wrong, Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa on Nov. 1.

Suspensions of peoples rights is something you should only do in the most exceptional circumstances, said Trudeau, adding that governments should not overuse the notwithstanding clause, which would allow the province to override sections of the Charter for five years to stop the strike.

CUPE handed in the required five-day strike notice on Oct. 30. Ontario responded the next day with a proposed bill to force a four-year contract on education support staff threatening to walk off the job as of Nov. 4.

On Nov. 1 the Ford government said it would continue contract negotiations with the union, but will not pause the legislation in the meantime. Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce told reporters that the point of the government legislation is to keep kids in school.

And if were going to do that, as a lesson learned from the former government, were going to do it with all the tools at our disposal to avert a strike and a disruption, he added.

Because CUPE refuses to withdraw their intent to strike, in order to avoid shutting down classes, we will have no other choice but to introduce legislation, which will ensure that students remain in class to catch up on their learning, Lecce said.

Lecce said that the last teacher strike three years ago, plus the school shutdowns caused by COVID-19, were disrupting childrens rights to an education.

On Oct. 31., the provincial government brought forth the Keeping Students in Class Act, which is intended to prevent 55,000 provincial education workers in the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), from striking to get wage increases and other collective bargaining concessions.

The workers do not include teachers, only support staff such as librarians, custodians, educational assistants, adult ESL employees, and early childhood educators.

Walkout

CUPE has said workers across the province will walk off the job on Friday in protest, regardless of any anti-strike bill. The proposed legislation would fine workers $4,000 per day in the event of a walkout.

The main areas of dispute between the union and government are CUPEs demands for a salary increase of 11.7 percent for support staff. The government has offered a 2 percent annual raise for workers below $40,000 salary and a 1.25 percent raise for others.

Education workers have also demanded double time for overtime hours, more benefits and professional development, and 30 minutes a day for educational assistants as prep time.

Various Ontario school boards have told parents that schools will close if there is a full strike, including the Toronto Catholic District.

The Toronto District board said on Oct. 31 that it would close all schools if education workers strike. Halton School District said it is prepared to alternate between in-person and online remote learning for elementary students, but high schools would remain open.

Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic boards are among those that have indicated they will move to remote learning.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower the day after FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach home, in New York on Aug. 9, 2022. (David 'Dee' Delgado/Reuters)

Trump Predicts GOP Control of House, Good Chance in Senate After 2022 Midterms

Former President Donald Trump predicted that Republicans would gain control of the House and said Republicans have a good chance in the Senate.

I think that we have a good chance at the Senate, Trump told the Chris Stigall Show on Tuesday, adding, Good chance, we had no chance three months ago.

Now we have a chance of getting 51, 52 seats in the Senate, he said. And I think the House is going to do pretty well, I think were going to be up by maybe a substantial number.

The 45th presidents prediction falls in line with what many GOP lawmakers and some analysts have predicted. The party of the president tends to lose seats during midterm elections, while Republicans only need a net five seats to retake the House.

As for the Senate, its less clear. But on Sunday, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), the head of the GOP Senate reelection arm, predicted his party would secure 52 seats, giving Republicans a slim majority.

Retaking the Senate would require defeating Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and holding onto Pennsylvanias open seat. Democrat Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Republican TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz are contesting the seat.

Last week, Fetterman, who suffered a stroke, showed signs of significant cognitive impairment during his first and only debate with Oz. Fetterman had to use closed-captioning to understand questions and his opponents statements, and he often slurred his words and couldnt form complete sentences.

I thought it was terrible, Trump said of the situation involving Fetterman. I thought whoever represented Fetterman in putting him on, that was a terrible thing to do.

Meanwhile, in Arizona, Republican Senate candidate for Blake Masters, who Trump endorsed earlier this year, got a boost after Libertarian Senate candidate Marc Victor dropped out of the race on Tuesday. Victor then endorsed Masters.

After that discussion, I believe it is in the best interests of freedom and peace to withdraw my candidacy and enthusiastically support Blake Masters for United States Senate, Victor said in a statement. I intend to assist in any way reasonably possible to elect Blake.

Polls have shown that Victors support ranged from 1 percent to as much as 6 percent, according to RealClearPolitics. Masters and his opponent, incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly (R-Ariz.), have remained neck-and-neck in recent polls.

During the 2012 Senate contest won by former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Victor took about 4.6 percent, or 102,000 votes, of the total vote. Richard Carmona, a Democrat, lost to Flake by about 68,000 votes at the time, reported local Arizona media outlets.
Elon Musk arrives at an event in New York City, on May 2, 2022. (Reuters/Andrew Kelly)

Twitter Official Confirms Some Content Enforcement Work Frozen After Elon Musk Takeover

A top Twitter official said that some content moderation work on the social media website has been halted following Elon Musks $44 billion takeover of the company last week.

Yoel Roth, the head of safety and integrity for Twitter, responded to a Bloomberg News story that claimed many Twitter employees were denied access to content moderation tools after Musks takeover.

This is exactly what we (or any company) should be doing in the midst of a corporate transition to reduce opportunities for insider risk, Roth wrote on the platform. Were still enforcing our rules at scale.

Roth wrote on Monday that Twitter has removed more than 1,500 accounts and reduced views of posts in connection to allegedly hateful conduct on the website. He wrote that impressions dont tell the entire story and that Twitter is going to continue investing in policy and technology to make things better.

A Bloomberg reporter, citing anonymous sources, claimed on Monday evening that a wide swath of content moderation staff had their tools locked. Usually, hundreds of people on the team could remove posts with alleged misinformation, the reporter wrote, saying its now down to 15 people.

Twitters moderators have been accused of harboring a left-wing bias as numerous Republican and conservative figures have been suspended from the website since early 2021. The company was also accused of election meddling when it blocked the sharing of a bombshell New York Post report on Hunter Bidens questionable overseas business deals with just weeks to go before the 2020 election before it locked the newspaper out of its account for more than two weeks.

Former Twitter CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey later admitted that the companys handling of the NY Post story and reporting around Hunter Biden was problematic. Dorsey has since left the company and reportedly endorsed Musks takeover of the firm earlier this year.

Musk, a so-called free speech absolutist, has often criticized Twitters content moderation rules. In a letter on Thursday ahead of the buyout, the Tesla CEO told advertisers that Twitter will not be allowed to become a free-for-all hellscape.

Musk dissolved Twitters board of directors and made himself the San Francisco-based firms sole director, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission posted on Monday. It also officially confirmed that former CEO Parag Agrawal is not the firms chief executive any longer.

In accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, effective as of the effective time of the Merger, the following persons, who were directors of Twitter prior to the effective time of the Merger, are no longer directors of Twitter: Bret Taylor, Parag Agrawal, Omid Kordestani, David Rosenblatt, Martha Lane Fox, Patrick Pichette, Egon Durban, Fei-Fei Li and Mimi Alemayehou, it wrote.

Musk also reportedly fired former content moderation chief Vijaya Gadde, who is believed to have been the Twitter executive responsible for the suspension of former President Donald Trumps account last year, and Ned Segal, Twitters former chief financial officer.
A police officer gestures to a journalist not to photograph in Beijing, on March 5, 2021. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images)

UK Investigating Unofficial Chinese Police Outposts

British police are investigating reports of three unofficial Chinese police stations operating in the UK, a Home Office minister confirmed on Tuesday.

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat also told MPs that the government is assessing the reports, as well as other actions by Chinese officials that are incompatible with diplomatic status.

According to a report published in September by human rights NGO Safeguard Defenders, a Chinese police bureau, Fuzhou Public Security Bureau (PSB), had been operating dozens of overseas police service stations including two in London and one in Glasgow, Scotland.

The phone number for the Glasgow station, listed in a Chinese-language news report that was cited in the Safeguard Defenders report, is coupled with an address belonging to a Chinese restaurant while the London stations shared addresses with a Croydon food delivery place and a Hendon estate agent.

Responding to an urgent question about the legal status of overseas Chinese police stations operating in the UK, Tugendhat told MPs that there is no police force in this country that has jurisdiction except for the police forces of the United Kingdom.

The minister confirmed that he was assured by the police that officers were investigating allegations of unlawful activity.

Tom Tugendhat during the Conservative Party annual conference at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham, England, on Oct. 3, 2022. (Jacob King/PA Media)

It comes after Police Scotland confirmed it was assessing criminality when The Epoch Times asked whether or not the force was investigating the Glasgow station.

Tugendhat said the government is assessing the reports and will update Parliament on the assessment.

He also confirmed that the investigation includes looking into how the individuals working at the unofficial overseas Chinese police stations got their visas.

The protection of people in the United Kingdom has the utmost importance and any attempt to illegally repatriate any individual will not be tolerated, the ministers said, referring to allegations that the Chinese police outposts may be involved in pressuring Chinese individuals to return to China.

The service stations purport to be providing assistance to Chinese citizens who need to renew their drivers licenses and report criminality such as fraud by Chinese in China and overseas.

Safeguard Defenders said the programme was set up after the launch of a massive nationwide campaign to combat the growing issue of fraud and telecommunication fraud by Chinese nationals living abroad in 2018.

Authorities of the communist regime claimed that 230,000 Chinese nationals had been persuaded to return to face criminal proceedings in China between April 2021 and July 2022.

Its unclear whether the outposts in the UK were involved in pressuring alleged criminals to return to China or intimidating dissidents.

Responding to Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who urged the government to accelerate the investigation into the overseas police stations, kick them out, and do the same with the Confucius Institutes, Tugendhat said the Home office assessment on the former will come forward urgently and referenced Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks campaign pledge on the Confucius Institutes, saying, he will be looking to close them.

Hongkongers holding a rally outside the Chinese Consulate in Manchester, UK, were dragged into the consulate and beaten by the staff, on Oct. 16, 2022. (Screenshot from Hong Kong Indigenous Defense Force)

Asked what is the criteria under which a so-called diplomat found guilty of a criminal assault would be declared persona non grata, referring to the alleged assault of Hong Kong protester Bob Chan at the Consulate General in Manchester, Tugendhat said information arising from any inquiry or assessment of the Home Office or police forces or agencies will feed straight into the Foreign Office, which is responsible for making decisions to expel foreign diplomats.

New Task Force Defending Democratic Integrity

In a statement following the urgent question, Tugendhat announced a new task force to drive forward work to defend the democratic integrity of the UK.

The task force, led by Tugendhat, will coordinate parliament departments, security and intelligence agencies, governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and the private sector, to look at the full range of threats facing our democratic institutions, such as physical attacks on MPs, cyber threats, and other domestic and external threats to British democratic institutions and liberties.

The minister said the task force will report to the National Security Council, and more details will be set out in the update of the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.

The Integrated Review, published in March 2021 by Boris Johnsons government, described communist-ruled China as a systemic competitor while calling Russia the most acute threat.

Prime Minister Liz Truss gives her first speech at Downing Street, London, on Sept 6, 2022. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Former Prime Minister Liz Truss in September told U.S. President Joe Biden that she plans to update the strategy to ensure the UK is fully equipped to tackle the evolving challenge from countries like China and Russia, Downing Street said at the time.

According to The Guardian, a spokesperson for Downing Street said that Truss had commissioned an update, saying Russia remains the biggest threat to the UK but China represents the most serious long-term threat to our values and way of life.

Asked why China wasnt labeled a threat last year, Tugendhat, who become the security minister under Truss and was reappointed by Sunak, confirmed that China has become a long-term strategic threat.
UK MPs Warned That Anonymised Data Can Be Reverse Engineered

A committee of MPs has been told of the danger of connected technology and data mining by experts who said Britain should bring in regulation to protect individuals and especially workers.

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee is investigating the impacts of the increasing prevalence of smart and connected technology such as Alexa, Siri, and Fitbits.

Matthew Cole, a post-doctoral researcher at the Fairwork Project, told the committee on Tuesday that Britain had become a leader in the data industry.

But he said: We need to also lead on ensuring that tech is used to benefit the most amount of people and that means putting things in place like enforcement mechanisms, data protection  and also not allowing data brokers to sell on that data.

Cole said several recent studies had showed that even if data is anonymised or encrypted, it can be reverse engineered.

He said: Theres ways of reverse engineering that in fact, I was just reading a paper that in a new method found that anonymised data can be reverse engineered to identify 99 percent of the people. So these are some real risks both to workers and society at large that we need to have at the forefront of our agenda.

Cole said it was not clear if the world was going through a fourth industrial revolution or if it was a paradigm shift.

But he said: If you look at the growth of the major tech companies, whether it be Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Alibaba, any of these huge players, theyre supporting an entire ecosystem of AI and data-based and cloud-based companies that are shifting the infrastructures of society and therefore the infrastructures of work.

Cole said the UK government could do much better when it came to ensuring data protection for workers and also for customers.

Relationship Between Suppliers and Consumers Are  More Fluid

Asieh Hosseini Tabaghdehi, a senior lecturer in strategy and business economics at Brunel University in London, said she had done research which suggested there were many benefits of connected technology.

She said: The service providers are both connected now to the consumers. So they can act a lot quicker. They can respond to the feedback to the complaints and everything a lot faster. This means the relationship between suppliers and consumers are becoming a lot more fluid, better, and more observed and monitored by both parties.

So therefore, increasingly the precise impact on consumers experience did have a good impact on consumers decision making. So I strongly believe that digitalisation and connected technology can impact on better production and more efficient production, said Tabaghdehi.

Conservative MP and former minister, Damian Green, asked the panel of experts if they agreed with the pressure group Big Brother Watch which, he said, believes it is false that connected technology improves productivity.

Efpraxia Zamani, a senior lecturer in information systems at the University of Sheffield, nodded in response and said: Yes. Because something that cannot be included directly in industry reports and these kinds of measurements we have is that the technology will always be used in new ways, as a result of their users, ingenuity, and innovation.

And when we try to do the assessment of how much productivity we gain from this device or the other system, we cannot account for all these valid new cases that have not been considered by the technology designer because its simply possible, she added.

She concluded: We continuously appropriate devices; we use them in ways nobody expected us to. Quite often we develop workarounds with regards to the system specifications and security implemented in XYZ device in order to increase our productivity, but unless were very opposed to purposefully looking for that, we wont be able to measure it.
The slippery slope argument can be overused, but with the Starbucks assault on press freedom and a federal judges unwise decision supporting it, thats where we are.

The issue, broadly, is a growing interest in unionization and the fears that percolate in some employers  in this case, the coffee giant Starbucks. Its workers launched an organizing effort in a Buffalo store and the explosion it set off has now involved the federal government, via National Labor Relations Board and allegations of labor violations, including unlawfully closing stores, terminating workers, withdrawing benefits and failure to bargain with the union.

Starbucks denies wrongdoing and thinks that any problems the union has had with organizing has nothing to do with the companys activities, but with the unions publicizing of them. Its loony and a doubled-barreled shot at the First Amendment.

Barrel one: Starbucks is arguing that the problem isnt alleged misconduct  which the NLRB believes happened  but that speaking about it is. Free speech can surely have consequences  who hasnt had their own words thrown back at them?  but this is a bizarre take on the right to speak out.

Barrel two: Its no mistake that, along with freedom of speech and religion, the Founding Fathers included freedom of the press in the opening words of the Bill of Rights. Those liberties are among the primary characteristics of any democracy; without them, freedom wanes.

Thomas Jefferson, primary author of the Declaration of Independence, understood that concept. Among his many quotations on the subject was this, from 1786, in a letter to John Jay, later to become the first chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court: Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that be limited without danger of losing it.

The erosion of that right is the slippery slope on which Starbucks and U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. have pushed the country.

Starbucks is going after press freedom through the back door. In response to the NLRBs allegations, it is demanding that employees and union representatives hand over to the company all documents and recordings they have of conversations with the media about unionizing stores in Buffalo. Among the news outlets named are The Buffalo News, the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Guardian.

While some states, including New York, have enacted shield laws that honor the spirit of the press freedom, no such federal law exists. Even if it did, Starbucks  with Sinatras blessing  is evading a direct attack on press freedom by worming its way in through the records of the union it despises, not those of news organizations.

Nevertheless, an attack is what it is.

I think that journalists are concerned that requiring sources to turn over their communications with reporters will have a chilling effect on journalism, said Samantha Barbas of the Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy at the University at Buffalo School of Law. Barbas specializes in First Amendment issues.

Cathy Creighton, director of Cornell Universitys School of Industrial Labor Relations Buffalo Co-Lab, was similarly concerned.

This order means that every communication, text, email, that you reporters had with Starbucks employees is going to Starbucks the employer. No matter whether the employee/union person talked to you off the record or not, said Creighton, who was a labor attorney for three decades.

Its also, as the workers lawyer believes, an improper effort to gain access to thousands of private union documents which, he said, an employer doesnt have a right to know about and shouldnt know about. Indeed, attorney Ian Hayes argues that Starbucks violate labor law simply in seeking the documents.

Thats a legal matter for the courts to sort out. But its worrisome that this powerful, ubiquitous employer, and the judge who sided with it, seem so indifferent to the consequences of their actions on press freedom. Thats everyones concern.

  

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.
A stork flies over a wheat field near the village of Tomylivka in Kyiv region, Ukraine, on Aug. 1, 2022. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters)

UN, Turkey, Ukraine Press Ahead With Black Sea Grain Deal Despite Russian Pullout

KYIV/NEW YORKThe United Nations, Turkey, and Ukraine are pressing ahead to implement a Black Sea grain deal with a transit plan in place for 16 ships on Monday, despite Russia suspending its participation in the pact that has allowed the export of Ukrainian agricultural products to world markets.

Russia, which invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, in the Black Sea deal on Saturday for an indefinite term because it could said it could not guarantee safety of civilian ships traveling under the pact after an attack on its Black Sea fleet.

The United Nations and Turkey, two main brokers of the July deal, scrambled on Sunday to save it. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was deeply concerned about Russias move and delayed a foreign trip to try and revive the agreement that was intended to ease a global food crisis, his spokesperson said.

Following Russias move, wheat prices on international commodities markets were expected to leap on Monday as both Russia and Ukraine are among the worlds largest wheat exporters, analysts said.

More than 9.5 million tonnes of corn, wheat, sunflower products, barley, rapeseed, and soy have been exported since July. Under the deal, a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC)made up of U.N., Turkish, Russian, and Ukrainian officialsagrees on the movement of ships and inspects the vessels.

No ships moved through the established maritime humanitarian corridor on Sunday. But the United Nations said in a statement that it had agreed with Ukraine and Turkey on a movement plan for 16 vessels on Monday12 outbound and 4 inbound.

It said the Russian officials at the JCC had been told about the plan, along with the intention to inspect 40 outbound vessels on Monday, and noted that all participants coordinate with their respective military and other relevant authorities to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels under the deal.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar was in contact with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts to try and salvage the agreement and had asked the parties to avoid any provocation, the Turkish defense ministry said.

NATO and the European Union have urged Russia to reconsider its decision. U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday called Russias move purely outrageous and said it would increase starvation. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Moscow of weaponizing food.

On Sunday, Russias ambassador to Washington, snapped back, saying the U.S. response was outrageous and made false assertions about Moscows move.
Up to 14 Injured in Chicago Mass Shooting, Youngest Victim Just 3 Years Old: Police

Up to 14 people have been shot and injured in a mass shooting in Chicagos west side late Monday, including three children, according to the Chicago Police Department.

Chicago police Supt. David Brown told a press conference late Monday that the shooting occurred around 9:30 p.m. in Lawndale at California Avenue and Polk Street.

Theyre all in various conditions between critical and non-life-threatening, he said of the victims.

The youngest victim is just 3 years old. Another two victims were also children, aged 11 and 13. Other victims were adults.

We know its a drive-by [shooting], we know it happened in just a few seconds, he said, noting that the shooting was captured via police observation device (POD) video.

It began and then was over by three seconds, with the car pulling out after driving by, shooting randomly into the crowd.

One person was also struck by a vehicle at the scene, Brown said. He added that theres been no reports that anyone has died from the shooting.

He said most of the victims were transported to Stroger Hospital of Cook County. Victims were also taken to Loyola University Medical Center, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Mount Sinai Hospital.

The police currently do not have any motive nor identification of any suspects, although the POD video showed that at least two people may have opened fire while traveling in a vehicle together, Brown noted, adding that those are findings from a preliminary investigation.

Police said a $15,000 reward is on offer for information that can lead to an arrest. People can submit anonymous tips online.
The San Sebastian oil tanker is moored at the docks of the ISAB refinery in Priolo-Gargallo near Syracuse, Sicily, on May 31, 2022. The ISAB, owned by Russias Lukoil, employs 1,000 people directly and another 2,500 in related activities. In an ironic turn, Italy has increased its imports of Russian oil in a period when the rest of Europe has been slashing its purchases from Moscow, even before the sanctions. Thats because banks have refused to take the risk of extending credit to Russia-controlled ISAB that would allow them to buy oil from non-Russian sources, even if financial sanctions did not specifically bar them from doing so. (AP Photo/Gaetano Adriano Pulvirenti)

US Treasury Issues New Guidance for Price Caps on Russian Oil

The Department of the Treasury recently issued new guidance for price caps on Russian oil, in order to keep energy markets calm.

The announcement by Washington is intended to provide breathing room for energy traders and shipping companies, as it attempts to reassure the markets about its new round of sanctions.

The Treasury announced, on Oct. 31, that said ships containing Russian oil before Dec. 5 and which unload at their destination by Jan. 19 will not be subject to the price cap imposed by Western governments.

However, sales of Russian oil shipments on or after Dec. 5 will be place under the price cap in order to have access to Western-owned insurance, financial, and shipping services, over which they have a monopoly.

The Western allies plan to enforce the cap by denying maritime services for insurance, finance, brokering, and navigation for Russian oil shipments above the price cap.

Starting on Dec. 5, the United States and its allies will impose a price cap on providing maritime companies transporting shipments of Russian oil unless it is is sold below a fixed price, as part of sanctions over the Russian war in Ukraine.

Representatives from the G-7, the European Union, and Australia are still negotiating the exact level of the price caps.

A senior Treasury Department official told reporters that discussions regarding the price caps are based on Russian oil production costs and historical prices for oil from the country, reported Reuters.

Treasury officials are looking at the pre-2022 price for Russian oil at around $65 a barrel, reported The Wall Street Journal.

Balancing Sanctions With the Marketplace

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia has been selling oil at a discount of roughly $20 a barrel.

Before the war Russian, Urals crude closely tracked the price of the international Brent crude benchmark, which is currently trading at around $94.36 a barrel.

However, the execution of the price cap has faced a delay, as the Biden administration wants to avoid creating uncertainty in oil markets before the midterm elections on Nov. 8, reported The Wall Street Journal.

Maritime and energy-related firms are already preparing for the December delivery of Russian oil shipments through its ports on the Baltic Sea, which can take 4560 days to reach buyers in Asia.

The Biden administration came up with the strategy as a way to keep Russian oil supplies on the global market and avoid a contraction in supply, while punishing Moscow with an attack on its revenue from oil sales.

American officials proposed the price caps as compromise over the European Union sanctions plan for Russian oil, which would have banned insurance and financial services from interacting with Moscow, thereby driving up oil prices worldwide.

The price caps were supposed to be put into force mid-October, but a move by OPEC and its allies to cut oil production delayed the move, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Some oil analysts believe the the Russians will continue to sell oil if price cap levels are high enough, but many doubt it will agree to a price set by its rivals.

The Russians have already said that they will stop selling oil to any country or company that imposes price limits on its energy exports.

The Biden administration is convinced that Russia will not cut off access to its oil supply in retaliation due to the damage that it would cause to its long-term production capacity and existing agreements with buyers.

Reuters contributed to this report.
The Cross at the Crossroads is located near the National Road in Effingham, Illinois. (Photo by Jeff Louderback/Epoch Times)

WA Religious Ministers Must Report Abuse

Ministers of religion in Western Australia are now legally required to report child sexual abuse, including information from confessions, under new laws now in force.

Failure to make a mandatory report is now an offence with a maximum penalty of $6000.

A minister of religion will not be excused from criminal responsibility even if their belief is based on the information disclosed during a religious confession.

This government is sending a clear message that nobody is above the law, including ministers of religion, Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk said.

For far too long, abusers have been able to hide behind religion.

Its a shameful hypocrisy that compounds the trauma for victims and enables perpetrators to go on to abuse more children.

The new laws deliver on recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The changes also extend mandatory reporting requirements to early childhood, out-of-home care and youth justice workers, as well as registered psychologists and school counsellors.

The mandatory reporting laws are being implemented through a staggered approach, so the groups receive support to undertake their new responsibilities.

Ministers of religion are the first group to come into effect, with other groups to be included in the new provisions in the next three years.
Lee Zeldin running for New York governor is clearly doing Donald Trumps bidding.

Trump failed in his bid to buy the Buffalo Bills back in 2014 so Zeldin is already causing consternation for Buffalo that is unnecessary and unwelcome.

Unfortunately, this could be a distraction for Buffalo Bills mafia since I do expect Lee Zeldin to defeat Kathy Hochul for governor.

Its apparent Zeldin is like his cult leader. Just isnt up on all the facts.

While the new Buffalo Bills stadium deal is prohibitive with what the state, county and team are contributing, it will be in the end much lower compared to what Tennessee and probably Kansas City's new stadiums will eventually cost in subsidies.

Does Zeldin know the Buffalo Bills lease with the old stadium expires after this season? I am convinced he doesnt. Buffalo Bills Mafia have hopes for a Super Bowl victory this season and the team could be forced to go somewhere else? Ridiculous!

Does Zeldin know the current stadium here is showing age at 50? That its overall outlook isnt considered good in the next 5-10 years?

A deal is a deal! Yes, its a lot of money. I get its controversial. However, I believe all the parties have negotiated in good faith and continue to finalize all the agreements needed. What we dont need is another chef in the kitchen.

Assuming Zeldin wins in two weeks, I believe the Buffalo Bills, the county, along with senator Charles Schumer must form a delegation to pressure Zeldin to back off and educate him on the facts.

If Zeldin wants a new NY Jets- NY Giants stadium (built in New York City) to replace the often maligned Met Life Stadium, Buffalo would have to help pay for it, too.

Zeldin is a clear Trumpublican. Doesnt appear knowledgeable of the situation, never wants to spend money for anything. Like Trump, he probably wants to totally shut down the United States. I have always wanted to ask Trumpublicans and their minions such as Zeldin this one question: If you hate spending and investing money for anything the American people may care about, why not just say the U.S. is broke and have the country go into default?

Marcus Costello

Kenmore
Despite President Muhammadu Buharis recent signing into law, of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) on Monday August 16, 2021, after years of back and forth movement,- an Act which provides legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry and development of host communities, my recent sojourn in the creeks of Niger Delta region, South South Geo-Political Zone, Nigeria, in the past one month or thereabout has strengthened my belief that nothing has changed.

Aside from raising consciousness that the poor level of infrastructural and socio-economic development in the region is an indication of a sustained poor management of revenue accruing to the region, my documented experience firmly explains that this poor management is traceable to a combination of factors ranging from poor governance to outright embezzlement by the regions leadership. I have also come to a sudden but painful conclusion that the region will remain a body without a soul until the government and other Nigerians begin to see the problem of the Niger Delta as a national one and not restricted to the region.

A telling example of the above assertion is the deplorable state of some communities visited in Warri South west Local Government Areas of Delta state. These communities include but not limited to;.Azuzu, Bennett, BATAN, Aweregbene, Egwa, Ekpogbene, Okerenkoko, Pepeama, Kurutie, Ubafan., Kunukunu mkma, Inikorogha and Azama. Others are; Opuama, Polobubo, Ogbudugbudu, and Ogbinbiri communities of Egbema kingdom, Warri North Local Government Area.

From the above communities, evidence indicates that when one juxtaposes the level of development with the amount of funds that has been disbursed through the Federal allocation/13% derivation received by crude oil bearing states, it shows lack of concerted development efforts on the part of Federal, state, local governments and other interventionist agencies/Commissions.

The situation in the region is made worse by the destruction of agricultural prospects in rural communities through irresponsible oil operations which of course is an indirect violation of the right to life and the right to a safe environment, and also a negation of the policy of economic diversification. According to report, the relationship between agriculture and oil production is like a clash of two sectors. The use of land for oil exploration and production has implied the destruction of agriculture and the rural economy. This is a war of opposites. As much as the government derives more revenue from oil than agriculture, its reluctance to protect land resources for agricultural purposes increases.

Without doubt, the region in my view is faced with interminable socio-economic and environmental challenges, which prove to have no single answer, but one thing is sure. Niger Delta is troubled but not despondent-a situation that makes it easy for them to be managed and contained.

To develop the region, there is an urgent need to find solutions to the challenges created by the ability of the Niger Delta Development Commissions (NDDC), and that of the Presidential Amnesty handlers to live up to their statutory responsibilities.

To explain this point, the coastal dwellers have in recent times perceived and referred to NDDC as a city boy that has nothing to do with coastal regions, a challenge that goes beyond the non-appointment/constitution of the NDDC board. The Amnesty Programme on its part appears to have completely deviated from its primary objective.

Even the new Interim Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu (rtd), recently acknowledged this fact during a courtesy visit to the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oboro Gbaraun II, Aketekpe, Agadagba, at his palace in Oporoza town, Delta state, where he lamented that the scheme has been hijacked by a few criminals, who have short-changed lots of youths in the Niger-Delta.

He said: As I speak to you, there are many people who are not even Niger Deltans that have been awarded scholarships. There are instances where people who are not Niger Deltans bribed their way with N750, 000, N1m to get PAPs scholarships. If the scheme is working as was intended by the government, a lot of the complaints by the youths will not be so as the resources which the government has directed to the scheme will get to them.

While wrestling with this major concern, the Ogoni land cleanup is another thorny challenge that the Federal Government must tackle with sincerity. The truth as it presently stands is that to the watching world, the clean up really holds the success key of this administration. The reason is simple. Apart from failed promises in this direction by the current administration, any effort by the Federal Government to re-engineer prosperity in the region without first cleaning the Ogoni Oil spill will amount to an attempt in futility because of the international attention that particular degradation has elicited.

For example, the African Commissions decision on a communication submitted by the Social and Economic Rights Action Center (SERAC) in close collaboration with the New York-based Centre for Economic and Social Rights (CESR), found Nigeria Government culpable of glaring environmental injustice mated to the people of Ogoni land and other Niger Delta communities.

Titled Social and Economic Rights Action Center (SERAC) Vs Nigeria) with suit Number 155/96 before the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights against the then Federal Military Government of Nigeria, the Communication asserted that the wild spread contamination of soil, water and air, the destruction of homes and the climate of terror visited upon the Ogoni communities constituted a violation of their rights to health, a healthy environment, housing, and food.

As a response to the communication, the Commission in October 2001, gave a well-considered rule finding the Federal Republic of Nigeria in violations of 2, 4, 14, 16, 18(1), 21 and 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR), and therefore recommended a total clean up of the polluted Ogoni and other adjourning communities in addition to taking preventive remedial and compensatory measures to improve economic and social outcomes for the Ogoni community. But close to two decades after that judgment, the Ogoni and other communities are still waiting for the FG to implement the directive from the same commission that they are a signatory to; a development that is considered bad for morals.

The Ogonis must be saved from these excruciating pains. This should be done not merely for political consideration but from the views of national development and sustenance of our democracy. Using the minimum components of the right to a healthy environment-Ogoni community as a baseline, the environmental condition of the coastal communities in the Niger Delta region can best be described as not only deplorable but graced with non-development, poverty and extreme lack of government presence. This particular revelation calls for action.

Another key point that may guarantee a fast-tracked development of the region is the immediate relocation of the headquarters of (both private and government-owned) organizations to the region. It will not only add to a new relationship but soaks up the existing tension. Specifically, Nigerians have in different times and places argued that government agencies such as the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and its subsidiaries have no business being in Abuja since the chunk of its responsibility is in the Niger Delta region.

The federal and state governments should take practical steps to empower communities to protect their environment through policies and legislations that obligate oil companies to apply best practices and grant communities the right to determine how and when oil operations are compatible with human conditions in the communities.

Most importantly, the Federal Government must desist from the current non-participatory approach to development in the region, but rather embrace a broad-based consultative approach that will give the people of the Niger Delta some sense of ownership over their own issues.

Utomi Jerome-Mario is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Public Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), A Lagos-Based Non Governmental Organization (NGO).And could be reached via [email protected] /08032725374.
The Nigerian Federal Government along with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has said that no fewer than 117 irregular Nigerian migrants have been evacuated from Libya.

It should be noted that the evacuation exercise came barely a week after the Nigerian Mission in Tripoli successfully evacuated 137 stranded Nigerians from Libya.

Amb. Kabiru Musa, Charge Daffaires en titre of the Nigerian Mission to Libya, confirmed this report in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.

Musa said the Nigerians who included 89 men, 22 women, two children, four infants left Tripoli at 1:00 p.m. would arrive at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, at 6:00 p.m.

Musa said amongst the evacuees were 48 persons who were released from Libyan detention facilities.

Again, we have successfully evacuated another 117 more stranded Nigerians who were irregular migrants in Libya.

They left today, Nov. 1, at 13.00 hrs from the Tripoli International Airport and are expected to arrive the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos at 18. 00 hrs (Nigerian time).

The evacuees include 89, 22 women, two children and four infants.

Among them the 117 evacuees, 48 of them were released from Libyan detention centres and this was facilitated by the Nigerian government.

The Federal government is committed to ensuring that no Nigerian is left stranded in a foreign country.

The Nigerian Mission in Tripoli will continue to work with the Libyan Authorities to ensure none of our citizens are unjustly detained and will ensure their voluntary repatriation, Musa said.

Musa further stated that personnel from relevant agencies will be on ground to receive the evacuees upon their arrival in Lagos.
COVID shots for young not popular outside Bangkok

BANGKOK: A heavily promoted campaign offering free COVID-19 vaccinations for children is getting a slow response, with parents showing reluctance.

COVID-19CoronavirushealthVaccine

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 1 November 2022, 09:02AM

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (left) comforts a boy receiving his first shot of Pfizer COVIF-19 vaccine for youngsters at Phra Nang Klao Hospital in Nonthaburi on Oct 12, the day the campaign was launched. Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya

Data from the Immunisation Centre of the Public Health Ministry showed 6,004 children aged six months to four years old had been vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine in the vial with the red cap from Oct 12 to Friday last week (Oct 28).

The centre said 3,285 children, about 55% of the total, were vaccinated in Bangkok, followed by only 725 children living under the supervision of the Public Health Region 6 Office, which covers Sa Keo, Prachin Buri, Chachoengsao, Samut Prakan, Chon Buri, Chanthaburi, Rayong and Trat provinces.

Vaccination of small children was least popular in the northeastern region, especially the Public Health Region 8 office, which had only 19 children getting first shots, reports the Bangkok Post. Region 8 encompasses Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Loei, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lam Phu and Bung Kan provinces

The statistics were tracked from the launch date of the vaccination campaign for children on Oct 12 and the information was posted on the Facebook of the Rural Doctors Society yesterday (Oct 31).

The ministry has ordered three million doses of Pfizer vaccine for this group. One million have already been delivered and half of them sent out to public health offices nationwide. The rest will arrive by years end.

Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia targeting this young group for vaccination.

The vaccine is effective, up to standard and safe. Parents can register for their children to get the shots, or take them to centres on a voluntary basis, Public Health Minster Anutin Chanvirakul said when launching the campaign at Phra Nang Klao Hospital in Nonthaburi province on Oct 12.

The National Statistics Office did not provide the exact number of children in the six months to four years age bracket, but the number of doses ordered by the ministry, three million, could be an indication.

Tares Krassanairawiwong, acting director-general of the Department of Disease Control, yesterday expressed hope that more parents would bring their children in for the free jabs, saying it would help protect them against the virus.

The Rural Doctors Society called the situation worrisome after seeing the small number of vaccinated children three weeks into the campaign.

It said parents were reluctant to take their young children in for the vaccine because of concerns about side effects. The successful containment of the virus could be a factor in their choosing to ignore the campaign, the statement said.

The society said the ministry now faced a problem. The purchased vaccine would expire in six to nine months if not used.

This is another challenge for the Public Health Ministry, and a headache, it said.

The shelf life of the Pfizer vaccine is six to nine months, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.
Greek suspect arrested in Athens for Phuket murder

PHUKET: Greek national Dimitrios Chairopoulos, wanted for the murder of local beautician Niramon Aewkaew in Phuket in 2019, has been arrested, reports Greek media.

murdercrimeviolencepolice

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 1 November 2022, 06:38PM

Dimitrios Chairopoulos. Photo: Royal Thai Police Immigration Bureau / file

Chairopoulos, now 46, was arrested in Athens last Thursday (Oct 27), reports the Greek City Times.

Without specifically naming Chairopoulos, the report said he was said to be the one who in February 2019, murdered his 43-year-old wife of Niramon Bea Aewkaew in Phuket.

The report included photos of Chairopoulos and Ms Niramon.

Chairopoulos was arrested on Thursday afternoon by a team of police officers of the Athens Security Sub-Directorate, the newspaper reported.

No other details of his arrest were explained.

Cherng Talay Police requested an Interpol Red Notice be issued for Chairopoulos after officers learned that he had already fled the country before the warrant for his arrest had been issued on Feb 18, 2019.

Chairopoulos boarded Emirates Flight EK0379 to Dubai, departing Phuket at 2am, on Feb 14  the same night that Ms Niramon, 43, originally from Phatthalung, is believed to have been murdered.

Her body was found by her sister two days later. She had been battered to death.

When Ms Niramons body was discovered, her hands and feet were still bound and she had a black cloth stuffed into her mouth. (See story here.)

Cherng Talay Police requested the Red notice be issued on Feb 20. (See story here.)

The request for the Royal Thai Police to ask Interpol to issue a Red Notice for the arrest of Chairopoulos is still in process with Royal Thai Police, Cherng Talay Police Chief Col Akkanit Danpitaksan told The Phuket News at the time.

It is taking a long time because it must pass the workings of Foreign Affairs Division of the Royal Thai Police and the public prosecutor. It is their duty to respond to this case, was all Col Akkanit could offer to explain the delay.

We have done our job already. We have concluded our investigation and sent all the information to the Royal Thai Police headquarters in Bangkok, he added.

If Chairopoulos were arrested outside Thailand, police would seek extradition, Col Akkanit assured.
Largest, most successful fundraiser of its kind supports groundbreaking medical research and innovation

TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2022 /CNW/ - Toronto's UHN Foundation is proud to announce the 2022 Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival, presented by ECN Capital, has raised more than $59 million for groundbreaking medical research and innovations across diabetes, cardiac and vascular, brain, surgery, stem cell and vision care at University Health Network (UHN).

L to R: Chef Stefano Secchi, Todd Halpern (Chair, Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival), Chef Daniel Boulud, Steven Hudson (ECN Capital), Chef Cesar Troisgros. (Photo credit: George Pimentel Photography) (CNW Group/UHN Foundation)

Funds raised include a landmark $52 million donation by John and Myrna Daniels Foundation to construct Canada's first purpose-built geriatric emergency medicine centre. Slated to open in 2025 at UHN's Toronto Western Hospital, the Myrna Daniels Seniors Emergency Medicine Centre will be the first of its kind in the world, with every element of the space designed to address the unique needs of older adults alongside research and education programs.

The 'Grand Cru' of fundraising: 18 years and $127 million

An eclectic and delicious three-day weekend full of festivities, Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival is the largest event of its kind. For 18 years it has united world-renowned chefs and sommeliers with food and wine aficionados and the brightest minds in medical research in support of UHN's pioneering programs.

Events kicked off on Thursday, October 27, when more than 90 vintners from around the world treated guests to a unique Halpern Portfolio Tasting, presented by ECN Capital. The spectacular Grand Cru Live Auction featured during the tasting, raised more than $1.3 million. Guests jumped at the chance to bid on rare items, such as large format wines, artwork by Jane Waterous and Edward Burtynsky and an Aston Martin DBX707 generously donated by Grand Touring Automobiles.

The event's crowning jewels took place on Saturday night when 19 VIP invitation-only wine and dine experiences took place at private homes across Toronto. Twenty-four of the world's most esteemed chefs developed 5-star menu pairings, including multi-Michelin-starred Daniel Boulud, Chef Patrick Kriss from Toronto's newly Michelin-starred Alo, and TV host and restaurateur, Mark McEwan. The incomparable menus were developed around specially selected fine wines chosen by international vintners.

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"The Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival has featured the future of Canadian health care on its exclusive menu since 2005, raising more than $127 million. We are grateful for the support of this year's presenting sponsor ECN Capital, and to the philanthropists, wine makers and culinary talents who support our events and contribute to significant medical advancements in the community," says UHN Trustee and UHN Foundation Board Member, Todd Halpern, who founded Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival. At the Halpern dinner, a piece donated by renowned artist Mr. Brainwash was bought by 13 generous individuals for $1.3 million total, to be placed at UHN to commemorate the event.

Grand Cru has supported many recent innovations at UHN, including:

Pioneering technologies and surgical innovations across 13 surgical divisions in the Sprott Department of Surgery





Promising new treatments for Parkinson's disease and clinical advancements to treat other chronic and debilitating neurological conditions at Krembil Brain Institute





Experimental models to study drugs delivered through the eye and more than 30 other clinical trials to end debilitating eye diseases at the Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute





Recruiting world-leading stem cell researchers to accelerate treatments in the fields of blood, diabetes, heart and liver research at the McEwen Stem Cell Institute





Studying new approaches to treating diabetes that will drive discoveries and lead to better patient outcomes in the Diabetes Program





Establishing remote patient monitoring to track and treat heart health at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre

"The incredible generosity of Grand Cru attendees and supporters puts UHN at the forefront of transforming the patient experience, incredible research innovations and enhanced education. Grand Cru has been an outstanding source of support for UHN, and has helped to maintain our hospital's standing as number four in the world. The event enables UHN's world leading researchers and professionals to continue their mission of creating a healthier world," says Tennys Hanson, CEO of UHN Foundation.

For a complete history, photos and further information about Grand Cru, including a full list of sponsors, participating hosts, chefs, wineries and UHN clinicians and researchers, please visit grandcru.ca

About Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival

Since its inception in 2005, Grand Cru has raised more than $127 million in support of UHN programs including: Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, Sprott Department of Surgery, Krembil Brain Institute, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, McEwen Stem Cell Institute, Ajmera Transplant Centre, Schroeder Arthritis Institute and Diabetes Program. The 18th edition of the Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival took place October 27 to 29, 2022.

Founded by Todd Halpern, Trustee, UHN Board of Trustees and Board Member, UHN Foundation Board of Directors, Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival is the highest fundraising food and wine festival in the world, bringing together the finest wine, gourmet cuisine, brightest minds in medical research, and UHN donors and sponsors.

grandcru.ca

About UHN Foundation

Part of University Health Network (UHN), UHN Foundation raises funds for research, education and the enhancement of patient care at Toronto General and Toronto Western hospitals, Toronto Rehab and The Michener Institute of Education at UHN. With donor support, UHN Foundation is helping UHN pursue new knowledge to build a healthier world.

UHNFoundation.ca

Media enquiries

For further information please contact:

Sadie Tory, Senior Account Manager, Strategic Objectives

story@strategicobjectives.com

SOURCE UHN Foundation

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2022/01/c2458.html
OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 1, 2022 /CNW/ - The Canadian War Museum is pleased to announce the acquisition of three Victoria Crosses from the First World War. These were awarded to Second Lieutenant Edmund De Wind, Sergeant Thomas William Holmes, and Private James Peter Robertson. With these acquisitions, the War Museum is now home to 36 of 73 Victoria Crosses awarded to Canadians who fought in the First World War.

Victoria Cross Medal Set, Second Lieutenant Edmund De Wind; CWM 20180393-001 Tilston Memorial Collection of Canadian Military Medals; Canadian War Museum; other photos available on request. (CNW Group/Canadian War Museum)

"We are pleased to be able to acquire these three Victoria Crosses, the highest honour for military valour," said Dr. Dean F. Oliver, Acting Vice-President and Director General of the Canadian War Museum. "Each medal highlights a personal story of exceptional bravery under extraordinary circumstances."

Second Lieutenant Edmund De Wind, 15th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on March 21, 1918 at the Race Course Redoubt near Grugies, France. Despite being wounded twice, De Wind defended this redoubt for a period of seven hours, repelling attack after attack, until another section could arrive to help. He was fatally wounded during one of the final attacks.

Sergeant Thomas William Holmes and Private James Peter Robertson each received the Victoria Cross for their actions on different dates during the assault on Passchendaele, one of the most epic and tragic battles of the First World War.

On October 26, 1917, while German pillbox defences were keeping two waves of the Canadian Corps bogged down, Sergeant Holmes, 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles, noticed a lull in firing and attacked with hand grenades while the enemy was reloading. After killing and wounding the crews of two machine guns, he returned, under heavy fire, with more grenades and threw one into the pillbox entrance, causing the 19 occupants to surrender.

Private James Peter Robertson, 27th Canadian Infantry Battalion, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on November 6, 1917. When his platoon was held up that day during an attack to capture Passchendaele, Robertson dashed to an opening on the flank, captured a machine gun, and inflicted several casualties among the enemy. Later, when two of his snipers were badly wounded in front of his trench, Robertson carried them back under severe fire. He was killed as he returned with the second man.

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The purchase of these medals was made possible with support from the National Collection Fund and from individual donors. The Robertson Victoria Cross was purchased with support from Honorary Colonel (Ret'd) Brian Hastings.

The War Museum is home to 42 Victoria Crosses. In addition to 36 from the First World War, the Museum holds five from the Second World War and one from the 19th century. A total of 99 Victoria Crosses have been awarded to Canadians, each one reflecting the outstanding heroism of ordinary people under extraordinary circumstances.

The Canadian War Museum is Canada's national museum of military history. Its mission is to promote public understanding of Canada's military history in its personal, national and international dimensions. Work of the Canadian War Museum is made possible in part through financial support of the Government of Canada.

For more information, visit historymuseum.ca and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Additional Facts: Victoria Crosses and the Canadian War Museum Collection

A total of 628 Victoria Crosses (VCs) were awarded to soldiers who served as part of the British Empire during the First World War. This number includes VCs awarded to Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, Indians, and Brits.





Nine VCs were awarded to Canadians in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, for actions at Passchendaele. With the acquisition of the Robertson and Holmes VCs, the Canadian War Museum now holds eight of the nine. The other six medal sets held by the Museum include those of:

The City of Edmonton holds the VC awarded to Private Cecil John Kinross.

With the acquisition of the Holmes VC, the War Museum now holds all three VCs that are engraved "26th Oct. 1917" on the reverse. The other two were awarded to then-Captain Christopher O'Kelly and then-Lieutenant Robert Shankland.





Sergeant Thomas Holmes also has the distinction of being one of the youngest recipients. When he originally enlisted in the 147th Battalion, on December 20, 1915, Holmes altered his birthday by a year and was accepted into the ranks. His actual birthdate was October 14, 1898, which would have made him just 19 when he undertook the action that led to his VC.





The original VC awarded to Sergeant Holmes was believed to have been stolen from his home during a burglary in 1935. The current acquisition is the lower cross portion only of his official VC replacement. It was provided in 1935 and produced by Hancocks, the London jewellery house that has produced the Victoria Cross since 1856.





The War Museum also holds the VC awarded to Sergeant Tommy Ricketts, who was only 17 years old when he received his VC for actions while serving in the British Army with the Newfoundland Regiment in Belgium in October 1918.





The De Wind VC medal set was one of several presented for actions taken during the German Spring Offensive in 1918. In addition to the medal set, the War Museum also received a large collection of photos and letters related to De Wind.





De Wind had been living in Canada when war broke out and originally served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, including at Somme in 1916 and Vimy Ridge in 1917. He earned a commission and transferred to the British Army in 1917. In addition to the De Wind VC, the War Museum currently holds two other VC medal sets awarded to Irish-born recipients: Company Sergeant Major Frederick William Hall, VC, 8th Canadian Infantry Battalion; and Lieutenant Robert Hill Hanna, VC, 29th Canadian Infantry Battalion.

SOURCE Canadian War Museum

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2022/01/c9103.html
Today

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 5F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 5F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 16F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Have an interesting bit of news youd like to see mentioned in the Along the Way column? Email it to Natasha Connolly at news@thesunchronicle.com .
Capitol rioter who bragged about destroying media equipment and told his friend he wanted to 'get busted' pleads guilty to Jan. 6 charges

Supporters of US President Donald Trump stand next to media equipment they destroyed during a protest on January 6, 2021 outside the Capitol in Washington, DC. Photo by AGNES BUN/AFP via Getty Images

A Virginia man who destroyed media equipment on Jan. 6 pleaded guilty to two felonies on Friday.

Prosecutors say Joshua Dillon Haynes sent several texts boasting about his role in the siege.

More than 900 people have pleaded guilty in connection to the riot thus far.

A Virginia man who boasted about destroying media equipment outside the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, pleaded guilty on Friday to two felony counts related to the insurrection.

Joshua Dillon Haynes, 40, was originally charged with seven counts in connection to the siege following his July 2021 arrest, including acts of physical violence and violent entry. But as the government works to prosecute the more than 900 people arrested in connection with the attack, federal prosecutors have offered some rioters lesser charges in exchange for their guilty pleas.

On Friday, Haynes pleaded guilty to one felony count of obstruction of an official proceeding and one felony count of destruction of property. The two charges carry a possible 25-year maximum sentence, though Haynes' plea deal indicates he will likely face between 27 to 33 months in prison when he is sentenced in January.

Photographs from the scene show Haynes among a group of rioters who damaged tens of thousands of dollars worth of media equipment, including cameras, tripods, and lights, prosecutors said. One member of the media who was forced to flee from the encroaching mob estimated that the destroyed equipment from his news organization alone was worth between $30,000 and $34,000, according to court documents.

In text messages to friends throughout the day, Haynes boasted about breaking "lotsa stuff" and kicking "the fake news ass."

"We attacked the CNN reporters and the fake news and destroyed tens of 11 thousands of dollars of their video and television equipment," Haynes sent in a text along with a photo of the pile, according to prosecutors.

In a separate text that day, Haynes said he had already seen himself in video reports from the scene but noted that he had kept his face covered.

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"I want to get busted for tearing up the nations capital [sic] and the fake news," he wrote, according to court documents.

Prosecutors said Haynes also assisted two other rioters who removed an air conditioning unit from a window inside the Capitol and then dropped it to the ground.

Haynes admitted to the acts in federal court on Friday, according to WUSA and Law & Crime.

A lawyer for Haynes did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Larry Ruark: Keep your religion out of it, please
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  President Maia Sandu of Moldova pledged Tuesday to keep her country on a pro-Western course and as a firm supporter of Ukraine despite struggling under pressure of what she called Russias energy and political blackmail.

I want everyone to know that Moldova choses to be free and continue on its European path no matter what the circumstances, Sandu told Romania's Parliament while visiting the European Union member country.

We are willing to pay the price of our freedom, she added.

Moldova is entirely dependent on Russia for its natural gas. As Sandu addressed Romanian lawmakers, the country's breakaway Trans-Dniester region stopped supplying the rest of Moldova with electricity.

The Moscow-backed separatist region is home to Moldovas largest gas-operated power station, which supplies about 70% of the countrys electricity needs.

The power supply interruption followed a Monday announcement from Moldovas infrastructure minister, Andrei Spinu, that the state power company, Energocom, had failed to sign a November contract with the plant due to a 40% cut in deliveries of Russian natural gas.

Spinu said Russian gas giant Gazprom agreed to supply Moldova with 5.7 million cubic meters of gas per day, just 51% of what the country needs to provide electricity for its 2.6 million people.

Russia has used impoverished Moldovas dependence on its gas to pressure the country over its alignment with the West, including the condemnation of the war in Ukraine. Household energy tariffs have gone up six-fold in the last year.

Gazprom has repeatedly threatened to cut off the former Soviet republics pipelines altogether. Moldova became a candidate for European Union membership in June, at the same time as neighboring Ukraine did.

Providing electricity for the country is a daily challenge. ... Moldovan families now spend about 75% of their income on energy, Sandu told Romanian lawmakers. We risk being without gas and electricity during the coming winter.

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Sandu also accused pro-Russia political forces in Moldova of cynically exploiting peoples hardships and the discontent ... (to) generate chaos and turn us back from our European path.

She cited over 20 Moldovan and Russian individuals and entities sanctioned by the U.S. last week for assisting Russian efforts to manipulate Moldovas politics.

The group included Ilan Shor, an Israel-based Moldovan oligarch and the leader of the populist Shor Party. His supporters staged days-long protests in Moldova's capital last month chanting slogans against the governments pro-Western policies and carrying banners with slogans such as No to Cold War, no to cold winter.

The State Department said Shor was working with corrupt oligarchs and Moscow-based entities to create political unrest in Moldova and to undermine the countrys efforts to join the European Union.

Sandu similarly accused corrupt political actors in Moldova of pushing for Russia's interests while the violence from the Kremlin's war in Ukraine spills into their country.

On Monday, a Russian missile landed in a Moldovan border city when Ukrainian forces shot it down. Residents of Naslavcea said they were shaken by the explosion, which caused damage but no casualties.

We were scared, I did not know what to do or where to go," resident Yelena Shakrai said.

Russia has previously fired missiles over Moldova into Ukraine, but Monday's incident was the first of its kind. The Moldovan Foreign Ministry responded by expelling a Russian Embassy employee from its territory.

We are all in danger, as there are no rules or limits for Russia. ... We need help to survive as a part of the free world, Sandu said.

___

Vadim Ghirda in Bucharest, Romania and Cristian Jardan in Chisinau, Moldova, contributed to this report.

____

Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Sabina Niksic, The Associated Press
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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The Special Meeting of Turquoise Hill shareholders is postponed to 10:30 a.m. (Eastern time) November 8 , 2022 at the request of Rio Tinto

Deadline to vote by proxy is extended to 10:30 a.m. (Eastern time) on November 4 , 2022 and the deadline for registered shareholders to file notices of dissent is extended to 12:00 noon (Eastern time) on November 7 , 2022

Shareholders who have questions about the Arrangement or need assistance with voting their Turquoise Hill shares should contact Kingsdale Advisors at 18883703955 (toll-free within North America) or by calling collect at 416-867-2272 (outside of North America) or by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com

MONTREAL, November 01, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. (TSX: TRQ) (NYSE: TRQ) ("Turquoise Hill" or the "Company") announced today that pursuant to a request from Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited ("Rio Tinto") the Company has postponed to 10:30 a.m. (Eastern time) on November 8, 2022 the special meeting of Turquoise Hill shareholders (the "Special Meeting") that was initially scheduled for November 1, 2022 to consider, and if deemed advisable, to pass the special resolution (the "Arrangement Resolution") to approve the proposed statutory plan of arrangement, pursuant to which, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all applicable conditions precedent, Rio Tinto will acquire the approximately 49% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Turquoise Hill that Rio Tinto and its affiliates do not currently own (the "Minority Shares") for C$43.00 per share in cash (the "Arrangement").

Meeting Details

The record date for determining the shareholders eligible to vote at the Special Meeting will remain the close of business on September 19, 2022 (the "Record Date"). Unless they are revoked, all votes previously cast will remain in their current form, however, all holders as of the Record Date will have the opportunity to amend their vote until the extended deadline of 10:30 a.m. (Eastern time) on November 4, 2022.

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As a result of the postponement of the Special Meeting, in order for a registered shareholder to exercise a right of dissent (such shareholder, a "Dissenting Shareholder"), to which it is entitled under Section 193 of the Business Corporations Act (Yukon), as modified by the interim order of the Supreme Court of Yukon (the "Court") dated September 29, 2022 (the "Interim Order") and/or the plan of arrangement pertaining to the Arrangement (the "Plan of Arrangement"), such Dissenting Shareholder must now exercise its rights to dissent no later than 12:00 noon (Eastern time) on November 7, 2022, or 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the second (2nd) business day, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays, prior to the commencement of any subsequent adjournment or postponement of the Special Meeting, as the case may be. A Dissenting Shareholder wishing to exercise dissent rights with respect to the Arrangement Resolution must strictly comply with the dissent procedures described in the Companys Management Proxy Circular dated September 27, 2022 (the "Circular"), the Interim Order, the Plan of Arrangement and Section 193 of the Business Corporations Act (Yukon), as modified by the Interim Order and/or the Plan of Arrangement.

Only registered shareholders of the Company are entitled to exercise dissent rights. Shareholders that hold their shares through a broker, investment dealer, bank, trust company or other intermediary ("Beneficial Shareholders") must contact such intermediary for assistance in lodging a dissent.

The terms of the Arrangement and the arrangement agreement between the Company, Rio Tinto and Rio Tinto plc dated September 5, 2022 are further described in the Circular and associated form of proxy and letter of transmittal (collectively, the "Meeting Materials"). The Meeting Materials are filed and available under Turquoise Hills profiles on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Details of the Special Meeting and how registered shareholders or their duly appointed proxyholders can attend, access and participate in the Special Meeting are set out in the Circular.

Postponed Special Meeting To Be Held On November 8, 2022

The Special Meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. on November 8, 2022 in person at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, 1 Place Ville Marie, Suite 2500, Chapleau Room, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3B 1R1 and in virtual format via live audio webcast at https://web.lumiagm.com/449028588. At the Special Meeting, Turquoise Hill shareholders will be asked to consider, and if deemed advisable, to pass the Arrangement Resolution.

Implementation of the Arrangement is subject to the approval of: (i) at least two-thirds (66%) of the votes cast by shareholders present in person, virtually present or represented by proxy at the Special Meeting, voting as a single class; and (ii) because the proposed Arrangement is subject to Multilateral Instrument 61101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), a simple majority (more than 50%) of the votes cast by shareholders present in person, virtually present or represented by proxy at the Special Meeting, excluding the votes of shareholders whose votes are required to be excluded pursuant to MI 61-101, namely the 102,196,643 common shares beneficially owned by Rio Tinto and its affiliates. In addition to the receipt of the requisite approval of the shareholders of the Company, the completion of the Arrangement is subject to the final approval of the Arrangement by the Court and the satisfaction or waiver of the other customary conditions to completion of the Arrangement.

How To Vote

If you are a registered shareholder, we are asking you to take two actions.

First, your vote is important regardless of how many shares you own. Shareholders are encouraged to vote in advance of the Special Meeting. If you are a registered shareholder, whether or not you plan to attend the Special Meeting, to vote your shares at the Special Meeting, you can either return a duly completed and executed form of proxy to the Companys transfer agent, TSX Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent"), Proxy Department, by mail at: TSX Trust Company, 1200-1 Toronto Street, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2V6, or TST Trust Company, 16002001 Robert-Bourassa Blvd., Montreal, Quebec H3A 2A6, or via the internet at www.tsxtrust.com/vote-proxy not later than 10:30 a.m. (Eastern time) on November 4, 2022 or, if the Special Meeting is subsequently adjourned or postponed, 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays, prior to the commencement of the reconvened Special Meeting. If you hold shares through a broker, investment dealer, bank, trust company or other intermediary (a "Beneficial Shareholder"), you should follow the instructions provided by your intermediary to ensure your vote is counted at the Special Meeting. Further information regarding how shareholders may vote their shares, including how a shareholder may revoke a previously submitted proxy, is included in the Circular.

Second, if the Arrangement is approved and completed, before Rio Tinto can issue the consideration for your shares, the depositary will need to receive the applicable letter of transmittal completed by you, together with the certificates representing the shares and any additional documents that may be required. Registered shareholders must complete, sign, date and return the letter of transmittal enclosed with the Circular. If you are a Beneficial Shareholder, you will receive payment for your shares through your broker, custodian or other intermediary if the Arrangement is completed.

Questions

If you have any questions about voting your proxy and the information contained in this press release in connection with the Special Meeting of shareholders please contact our proxy solicitation agent and strategic shareholder advisor, Kingsdale Advisors, at 1-888-370-3955 (toll-free in North America), or by calling collect at 416-867-2272 (outside of North America) or by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com.

About Turquoise Hill

Turquoise Hill is an international mining company focused on the operation and continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine in Mongolia, which is the Companys principal and only material mineral resource property. Turquoise Hills ownership of the Oyu Tolgoi mine is held through a 66% interest in Oyu Tolgoi LLC; Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC, a Mongolian state-owned entity, holds the remaining 34% interest.

Forward-looking Statements and Forward-looking Information

Certain statements made herein, including statements relating to matters that are not historical facts and statements of the Companys beliefs, intentions and expectations about developments, results and events which will or may occur in the future, constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements and information relate to future events or future performance, reflect current expectations or beliefs regarding future events and are typically identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "likely," "may," "plan," "seek," "should," "will" and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. These include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Arrangement, including the anticipated timing of the Special Meeting.

Forward-looking statements and information are made based upon certain assumptions and other important factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements or information. There can be no assurance that such statements or information will prove to be accurate. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding the ability of the parties to receive in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary shareholder approvals (including the minority approval) and Court approval; the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the completion of the Arrangement, and other expectations and assumptions concerning the Arrangement, present and future business strategies, local and global economic conditions, and the environment in which the Company will operate. The anticipated dates indicated may change for a number of reasons, including the inability to receive, in a timely manner, the necessary shareholder approvals (including the minority approval) and Court approval, or the necessity to extend the time limits for satisfying the other conditions to the completion of the Arrangement.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, which contribute to the possibility that the predicted outcomes will not occur. Events or circumstances could cause the Companys actual results to differ materially from those estimated or projected and expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements are included the "Risk Factors" section of the Circular and in the "Risk Factors" section of the Companys Annual Information Form, as supplemented by the "Risks and Uncertainties" section of the Companys Management Discussion and Analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 ("Q2 2022 MD&A"). Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors included in Turquoise Hills filings with the SEC as well as the Schedule 13E-3 and the Circular.

Readers are further cautioned that the lists of factors enumerated in the "Risk Factors" section of the Circular, the "Risk Factors" section of the Companys Annual Information Form, the "Risks and Uncertainties" section of the Q2 2022 MD&A and the Schedule 13E-3 that may affect future results are not exhaustive. Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events and should not rely on the Companys forward-looking statements and information to make decisions with respect to the Company. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements and information contained herein are made as of the date of this document and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The forward-looking statements and information contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005807/en/

Contacts

Vice President Investors Relations and Communications

Roy McDowall

roy.mcdowall@turquoisehill.com

Follow us on Twitter@TurquoiseHillRe
Finlands Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Tuesday urged Hungary and Turkey to swiftly approve the Swedish and Finnish applications for membership of the NATO defence alliance.

Hungary and Turkey are the only two remaining NATO members to not yet have ratified the applications.

All eyes are now on Hungary and Turkey. We are waiting for these countries to ratify our applications. I think it would be important that this would happen preferably sooner than later, Marin told a joint news conference with other Nordic leaders.

Finland and Sweden last week reiterated they would join NATO at the same time, presenting a united front to Turkey.

The Nordic neighbours asked to join the NATO alliance in May in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, but ran into objections from Turkey which has accused the two of harbouring groups it deems terrorists.

SOURCE: REUTERS
[October 31, 2022] Mediko, Inc. Provides Notice of Data Privacy Event

RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mediko, Inc. ("Mediko") is providing notice of an event experienced by CorrectCare, a third-party medical claims administrator used by Mediko for claims processing, that may affect the privacy of information related to incarcerated individuals who received medical care through Mediko between January 1, 2012 and July 7, 2022. To date, neither Mediko nor CorrectCare have any evidence of actual or attempted misuse of information as a result of this incident. In an abundance of caution, Mediko is notifying potentially impacted individuals so that they may take additional steps to better protect their personal information, should they feel it is appropriate to do so. This notice provides details of the incident and steps those who may be impacted can take to protect against possible misuse of their information. What Happened? On July 6, 2022, CorrectCare discovered that two file directories on its web server had been inadvertently exposed to the public internet. The CorrectCare team quickly remediated the Incident and secured the file directories within nine hours. Correct Care also promptly engaged a third-party cybersecurity firm to conduct an investigation to analyze the nature and scope of the Incident, and to determine whether any patient information may have been exposed. CorrectCare determined patient information contained in these file directories may have been exposed as early as January 22, 2022, and thereby subject to unauthorized access. CorrectCare first notified Mediko of this Incident on September 1, 2022 and provided more information as it became available. What Information Was Involved? Although they have no evidence that any personal information was actually accessed, viewed or acquired without permission, Mediko and CorrectCare are providing notification of the incident out of an abundance of caution. The patient information affected included name, date of birth, and limited health information, such as a diagnosis code and/or CPT code, treatment provider, and dates of treatment, and may have included Social Security numbers. Please note that the patient information stored in the file directories did not include driver's license numbers, financial account information, or debit or credit card information. What Are CorrectCare and Mediko Doing? Upon learning of this incident, CorrectCare promptly began an investigation with the assistance of third-party cyber security specialists to confirm the nature and scope of this incident. They also have taken and will continue to take steps to prevent a similar occurrence. Correct Care has been working with outside cyber security specialists and has implemented specific steps to safeguard against future exposure of PHI and PII. CorrectCare is mailing notice letters to the impacted individuals associated with Mediko for whom they have a current mailing address. Mediko is notifying the appropriate state and federal regulators. What You Can Do. Mediko encourages individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud, to review account statements, and explanation of benefits forms, and to monitor free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Under U.S. law individuals are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Individuals may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy of their credit report, place a fraud alert, or a security freeze. Contact information for the credit bureaus is below. Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended "fraud alert" on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer's credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer's credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer's identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below. As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a "credit freeze" on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer's express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on your credit report. To request a security freeze, you may need to provide the following information: Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.); Social Security number; Date of birth; Addresses for the prior two to five years; Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill; A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver's license or ID card, military identification, etc.); and A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if you are a victim of identity theft. Should you wish to place a fraud alert or credit freeze, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:







Equifax Experian TransUnion https://www.equifax.com/personal/

credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/

help/ https://www.transunion.com/

credit-help 888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 833-395-6938 Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box

105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O.

Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O.

Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016 Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box

105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze,

P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Credit Freeze,

P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

You may further educate yourself regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps you can take to protect your personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov ; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. You can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. You have the right to file a police report if you ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, you will likely need to provide some proof that you have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and your state Attorney General. For North Carolina residents, the North Carolina Attorney General may be contacted at: 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6000; and www.ncdoj.gov. For More Information. If you have questions or concerns, please contact our dedicated assistance line at (844) 700-1314, toll-free Monday through Friday from 8 am  10 pm Central, or Saturday and Sunday from 10 am  7 pm Central (excluding major U.S. holidays). View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mediko-inc-provides-notice-of-data-privacy-event-301663843.html SOURCE Mediko, Inc.

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[October 31, 2022] "We Have Your Back": CUPE National Stands With Ontario Education Workers

CUPE National President Mark Hancock has arrived in Toronto to lend his support to CUPE's 55,000 education workers in Ontario who are poised to walk off the job on Friday in pursuit of a much-needed wage increase, after the Ford government tabled legislation that imposes a new contract and overrides the Charter-protected right to strike by invoking the Notwithstanding Clause. "This is an appalling display of contempt for workers' rights, for the collective bargaining process, and for the workers who look after our kids and keep our schools running," said Hancock. "Going full nuclear and threatening the lowest-paid education workers in the province with fines and the Notwithstanding Clause is just disgraceful, even for this premier and this education minister." /p>



For a decade, under both the Liberals and the PCs, education workers have seen their Charter rights walked over, and their wages decline in real terms by 10.7% since 2012.

That has to end. "There's still time to get a deal done. Instead of bullying the lowest-paid education workers in the province, Doug Ford should be negotiating a fair offer so they no longer have to work second jobs and rely on food banks to make ends meet," said CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick. "If Doug Ford thinks his threats and intimidation are going to stop us from fighting for a better deal for our members, he should think again." :ml/cope491 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221031005867/en/

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[October 31, 2022] Digital Transformation - Levio Acquires Indellient and Continues Its Sustained Growth in North America

MONTREAL, Oct. 31, 2022 /CNW/ - Levio, a leader in digital transformation, announces today the acquisition of Indellient, a consulting firm based in the Greater Toronto Area with 20 years of experience in the architecture, execution, and management of large digital transformation projects. This acquisition is part of Levio's strategic growth plan and brings the firm one step closer to becoming best-in-class as a North American digital transformation service provider. Already positioned as a leading digital transformation consulting firm in Quebec and after several client successes in Ontario, the Maritimes, and the United States, this strategic acquisition strengthens Levio's positioning, particularly in the financial services sector. Indellient is a North American leader in designing, developing and implementing cloud solutions that support major client transformations in areas that include real-time payments, machine learning and fraud detection. Indellient's team provides a solid basis for accelerating Levio's growth across North America, thanks to an experienced team, a reliable local presence in the Greater Toronto Area and the addition of a hundred peole with wide-ranging expertise in cloud computing, DevOps, software engineering, data analytics and project management.



Adam Caromicoli, Indellient's Founding President, and his management team are joining Levio's management team. This transaction follows Levio's June 2022 acquisition of Binary Star. Based in Charlottetown, PEI, Binary Star added an expertise centre in the Maritimes as well as multiple client relationships in the United States and Eastern Canada. Combining Levio's pre-existing team that serves US and Ontario clients with the Binary Star and Indellient teams will accelerate Levio's growth across North America.

Since its foundation, Levio has experienced significant growth including ten (10) acquisitions and the opening of offices in Canada, the United States, India and Morocco. Quotes "We are very proud to join Levio's family, which offers an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate our team's growth and success. Our corporate cultures and values align well, while our solution offerings, skill sets, and geography are complementary." -Adam Caromicoli, Indellient's President "This acquisition is part of our strategic growth plan and brings us one step closer to becoming a North American digital transformation best-in-class. It adds credible local presence in the largest Canadian market, English-speaking experts supporting North American growth, and a unique positioning in the emerging field of real-time payments." -Francois Dion, Levio's President About Levio Levio is a digital native consulting firm providing services covering all aspects of digital transformation, from business strategies to information technologies (IT), to organizational management. The firm specializes in supporting its institutional and corporate clients when implementing digital transformation programs or mega-projects. For over 8 years, Levio has built its reputation on an outstanding team of consultants who deliver substantial solutions benefiting from new technologies to help its clients gain efficiency and profitability. Levio now comprises nearly 2 000 consultants in its 11 offices in Canada, the United States, India and Morocco. Facebook @levioconseils

Instagram @Levio_conseils

LinkedIn @levio SOURCE Levio

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Home secretary Suella Braverman in the House of Commons on Monday. (Photo: House of Commons via PA Wire/PA Images)

Home secretary Suella Braverman in the House of Commons on Monday. (Photo: House of Commons via PA Wire/PA Images)

Home secretary Suella Braverman has been accused of whipping-up hate by characterising small boats crossing the English Channel as an invasion  but her rhetoric has won applause from Nigel Farage.

The under-fire minister used a Commons statement on the chaos surrounding the Manston migrant holding centre in Kent to deliver inflammatory comments that were widely condemned. They came a day after another holding centre in Dover was petrol bombed.

She told MPs: Lets be clear about what is really going on here: the British people deserve to know which party is serious about stopping the invasion on our southern coast and which party is not.

Some 40,000 people have arrived on the south coast this year alone. Many of them facilitated by criminal gangs, some of them actual members of criminal gangs.

So lets stop pretending that they are all refugees in distress. The whole country knows that is not true. Its only the honourable members opposite who pretend otherwise.

We need to be straight with the public. The system is broken. Illegal migration is out of control and too many people are interested in playing political parlour games, covering up the truth than solving the problem.

To describe the serious and complex situation created by the asylum crisis as an invasion is appalling, wrong and dangerous. These are men, women and children fleeing war, persecution and conflict.  Refugee Council  (@refugeecouncil) October 31, 2022

Disgusted to hear Suella Braverman say there's an "invasion on our southern coast", just a day after a migrant detention centre was fire-bombed.



Language like this  portraying migrants as "invaders"  whips-up hate & spreads division.



She's totally unfit to be Home Secretary.  Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) October 31, 2022

A migrant detention centre has just been fire-bombed.



Any Home Secretary with integrity would use temperate, judicious language.



But no. Suella Braverman just referred to an "invasion on our southern coast" - disgusting, inflammatory & designed to whip up hate.



Shame on her.  Rachel Clarke (@doctor_oxford) October 31, 2022

The day after a fire-bomb attack on a migrant centre and instead of pledging solidarity for the victims the Home Secretary brands them part of an invasion. She brings disgrace to her office and country.  Jonathan Lis (@jonlis1) October 31, 2022

Braverman later agreed with suggestions from Tory MP Lee Anderson that some migrants can get on a dinghy and go straight back to France if they believe the accommodation in the UK is not good enough.

Story continues

The Refugee Council described the home secretarys comments as appalling, wrong and dangerous, and Labour MP Zarah Sultana hit out at language that whips-up hate and spreads division. Shes totally unfit to be home secretary, she added.

But she won the support of former Ukip and Brexit Party leader Farage, who said on Twitter: Suella Braverman, who is under attack from Remainers and the globalists, has said what is happening in the Channel is an invasion. Its a word Ive been using for two years and been condemned for.

He added: Believe me, the Establishment are out to get her because shes got the guts to say many of these people are just not refugees. Well done her.

Suella Braverman agrees with Tory MP Lee Anderson that migrants can get on a dinghy and go straight back to France if they believe accommodation in the UK is not good enough, adds: "Any complaints that the accommodation isn't good enough is frankly indulgent and ungrateful." pic.twitter.com/mOYwx5RKOw  Graeme Demianyk (@GraemeDemianyk) October 31, 2022

The Channel crossing crisis has deepened amid growing concern over the conditions in which migrants are being held while waiting to be processed once they arrive in the UK.

Conditions at the site at Manston were last week described by independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, David Neal, as pretty wretched.

The home secretary said around 40,000 people have arrived on the south coast of England in 2022, more than double the number of arrivals via the English Channel in 2021.

Braverman also defended her decision to keep thousands of people at the migrant centre after some of her colleagues accused her of deliberately ignoring legal advice to transfer people from the site to hotels.

Intended to house around 1,500 migrants for less than 24 hours at a time, numbers have swelled to more than double that, with one Afghan family saying they had been there for 32 days.

Braverman was reappointed by prime minister Rishi Sunak last week, six days after she resigned from the same role for sending a government document from her personal email to an employee of a member of parliament in breach of the rules.

Opposition parties and even some members of parliament in the governing Conservative Party have questioned her suitability for the role.

On Monday, Braverman acknowleged she had sent official government documents to her personal email address six times, raising fresh concerns about breaches of ministerial rules while in charge of the nations security.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost UK and has been updated.

Related...
[November 01, 2022] CLAIMS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES SOCIAL MEDIA COLLABORATION WITH MONTANA TUCKER

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Gideon Taylor, President of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) announced a new collaboration with social media influencer, Montana Tucker to raise awareness about the continuing rise in antisemitism. With the growing prevalence of hate speech, Holocaust denial and distortion on social media, the Claims Conference is launching an innovative strategy to educate future generations on the horrors and lessons of the Holocaust tailored to different social media platforms and audiences. Gideon Taylor, President of the Claims Conference said, "Many social media influencers have platforms and audiences we typically are not reaching with traditional Holocaust education campaigns. Holocaust education for the future needs to meet a younger generation where they are, and we need to utilize the means of communication that they use. We started discussions with Montana months ago to help her with her journey and foster her learning that she will share across her platforms bringing this message to a wider audience through social media. Those who were murdered and those who survived deserve to have their stories told. Their struggles, triumphs and lessons are too important to be relegated to irrelevancy." Funded by the Claims Conference, Montana Tucker has launched a series of videos on her Instagram page chronicling her journey through Poland to Auschwitz as she retraces the steps of her great grandparents. Bother her grandmother and grandfather are Holocaust survivors, making the trip personal and raw. The incredibly intimate series endeavors to raise awareness about the importance of Holocaust education in the battle against antisemitism. Dan Luxenberg, CEO of SoulShop, the producers of the Montana Tucker series, said, "We are so proud to partner with the Claims Conference tohelp Montana discover her family Holocaust history in Auschwitz. The kind of hatred that led to the Holocaust didn't start in Auschwitz  it started with words of hate. Survivors today shouldn't have to witness the antisemitism happening around us, which is why this project is so vital. With the launch of our first episode, we've already reached over one million people and we hope the world continues to share Montana's journey."



For decades, the Claims Conference has been a funder of Holocaust education through traditional means such as archival preservation and accessibility, teacher training and supporting major institutions like Yad Vashem  of which the Claims Conference was a founding partner  the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) and museums around the world. Ensuring traditional partners is essential; however, recent Claims Conference Holocaust Knowledge and Awareness surveys, showed a major crisis with younger generations. To combat the lack of knowledge, the Claims Conference will take the revolutionary step over the course of the next few months and years of partnering with TikTok, Instagram and Facebook influencers in an effort to the wider audience of future generations. These new initiatives, though unprecedented for the Claims Conference, are needed in order to reach younger generations. Greg Schneider, Executive Vice President of the Claims Conference said, "Everyday survivors tell me that they are worried their stories will be lost. Montana is an excellent example of why the next generation is so critical. We must work to educate future generations and provide platforms for them to tell their families' stories of the Holocaust. This is how we raise awareness. This is how we ensure the stories of survivors are never forgotten. Over the coming months and years, the Claims Conference will continue new initiatives because we owe a debt to Holocaust survivors."

For more information, please visit: www.claimscon.org About the Claims Conference: The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), a nonprofit organization with offices in New York, Israel and Germany, secures material compensation for Holocaust survivors around the world. Founded in 1951 by representatives of 23 major international Jewish organizations, the Claims Conference negotiates for and disburses funds to individuals and organizations and seeks the return of Jewish property stolen during the Holocaust. As a result of negotiations with the Claims Conference since 1952, the German government has paid more than $90 billion in indemnification to individuals for suffering and losses resulting from persecution by the Nazis. In 2022, the Claims Conference will distribute over $700 million in compensation to over 210,000 survivors in 83 countries and allocated over $720 million in grants to over 300 social service agencies worldwide that provide vital services for Holocaust survivors, such as homecare, food and medicine. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/claims-conference-announces-social-media-collaboration-with-montana-tucker-301664024.html SOURCE Claims Conference

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[November 01, 2022]

impress.ai and Apex Group partner to offer end-to-end recruitment solutions to businesses in India

SINGAPORE and MUMBAI, India, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- impress.ai, an enterprise-focused recruiting software provider, has today announced it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Apex Group of Companies, a leading provider of Workforce Solutions, Security Solutions, and Payroll Outsourcing services. Under this partnership, Apex Group of Companies will resell impress.ai's recruiting automation solutions to large enterprises in India.

Leveraging Apex Group's continuously growing network of more than 50,128 associates and more than 725 active business site deployments, the partnership further expands impress.ai's footprint to India.

"We are excited to partner with impress.ai to make AI-powered recruiting software available to our broad network of partners and clients in the ndian market. Their product philosophy of optimizing candidate conversion across the recruiting funnel has immense potential in the Indian market.







"With impress.ai's solutions in our portfolio, we look forward to helping our partners and clients reduce manual recruiter efforts and save significant time and labor costs while increasing hiring accuracy," said Mr. Vishal Doshi, Group Chief Strategy Officer, Apex Group.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Sudhanshu Ahuja, CEO & Co-founder, impress.ai, said, "We are pleased to collaborate with Apex Group to offer our unique candidate conversion technology to the Indian market. With their extensive reach and strong customer base, we have found a trusted partner in the Apex Group to represent our solutions to the fast-growing Indian market."

For more information, visit www.impress.ai

About impress.ai

impress.ai is a leading end-to-end recruiting SaaS platform provider with a focus on making accurate hiring easier. Its intelligent recruitment platform enables large enterprises to streamline their recruiting process. For more information, visit impress.ai.

Media Contact

Mohamed Farook

+65-8183 6043

[email protected]
[November 01, 2022] BioIntelliSense Launches Patented, FDA-cleared Pulse Oximetry (SpO2) Sensor Technology that Addresses Skin Pigmentation and Motion Monitoring Challenges

Breakthrough pulse oximetry (SpO 2 ) optical sensor solution offers medical-grade accuracy of oxygen level measurement across skin tones and while in motion

) optical sensor solution offers medical-grade accuracy of oxygen level measurement across skin tones and while in motion Patented SpO 2 sensor chipset, integrated processing and reference design capability to power the next generation of medical and consumer wearable devices DENVER, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioIntelliSense, Inc. a continuous health monitoring and clinical intelligence company, today announced the launch of its patented, FDA-cleared, pulse oximetery (SpO 2 ) sensor chipset and integrated processing technology that accurately measures blood oxygen levels across the full range of light to very dark skin pigmentations, as well as during movement and activity. These capabilities represent a significant advancement in the field of oximetry which has historically been challenged by reduced accuracy during activity and in people with darker skin.1,2,3, 4 BioIntelliSenses pulse oximetry (SpO 2 ) technology enables SpO 2 monitoring anywhere, anytime, whether in clinical settings, at home, or beyond. Addressing these foundational skin pigmentation and motion challenges in the measurement of blood oxygen levels is transformative for the pulse oximetry category and allows for the democratization of this advanced technology across consumer and medical grade devices, said James Mault, MD, founder and CEO of BioIntelliSense. This is a significant milestone in providing clinically accurate SpO 2 measurements across diverse patient populations which may contribute to improving healthcare equity. Breakthrough-enabling technology The BioIntelliSense sensor and processing solution is a patented technology, which received FDA 510(k) clearance as the SpO 2 technology component in a finger-based monitor in 2021.5 Unlike traditional red and infrared LED architectures, this technology additionally employs a white light emitter, combined with a novel spectral sensor. The sensors oximetry signal processing is designed with an extended dynamic range, maximizing the optical front-end performance, even with very small modulations due to darker skin pigmentation. BioIntelliSenses solution also continuously adjusts each emitter intensity of the perfused tissue in real time, compensating for higher absorption levels in darker skin tones by increasing tissue illumination. In multiple clinical hypoxia studies, with and without motion protocols, the BioIntelliSense SpO 2 solution

has demonstrated consistent accuracy, exceeding ISO standard 80601-2-61:20171 for darkest skin tones  on par with light skin tones  including at low oxygen saturation ranges. This patented SpO 2 chipset technology, integrated processing and reference design capability uniquely positons BioIntelliSense to enable the next generation of medical and consumer wearable devices that overcome historical challenges in accurate pulse oximetry measurement.



Wearable and channel partnerships BioIntelliSense is actively collaborating with the Medtronic Patient Monitoring business, one of the global pulse oximetry market leaders. Today, Medtronic Patient Monitoring solutions touch more than 100 million patients annually in hospitals. As recently announced, BioIntelliSense entered into an exclusive strategic partnership with Medtronic for the U.S. hospital distribution rights of the BioButton multi-parameter wearable for continuous, connected monitoring.

By leveraging our extensive reach and commercial channels, the Medtronic Patient Monitoring business is excited to work together with our partners at BioIntelliSense to expand access to meaningful technologies to patients anytime, anywhere, said Frank Chan, Ph.D., president of the Patient Monitoring business, which is part of the Medical Surgical Portfolio at Medtronic. In addition, licensing agreements have been executed with LifeSignals and Biostrap to integrate the BioIntelliSense SpO 2 sensor chipset and integrated processing solution into their medical grade wearable device solutions. BioIntelliSense will be participating in todays FDA Anesthesiology and Respiratory Therapy Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee regarding Pulse Oximetry. References: 1. US Food & Drug Administration. Pulse oximeter accuracy and limitations: FDA safety communication. Accessed October 28, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safety-communications/pulse-oximeter-accuracy-and-limitations-fda-safety-communication 2. Sjoding MW, Dickson RP, Iwashyna TJ, Gay SE, Valley TS. Racial bias in pulse oximetry measurement. N Engl J Med. 2020;383(25):2477-2478. 3. Keller MD, Harrison-Smith B. Skin colour affects the accuracy of medical oxygen sensors. Nature. 2022; 610: 449-451. 4. Torp KD, Modi P, Simon LV. Pulse oximetry. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island, Florida: StatPearls Publishing; 2022. Accessed October 28, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470348/ 5. FDA clearance K200160, cleared on 02/15/2021. Media Contact: Eric Schudiske

[email protected] Business Development Contact: Brett Atwood

[email protected] ABOUT BIOINTELLISENSE

BioIntelliSense is ushering in a new era of continuous health monitoring and clinical intelligence for remote patient monitoring (RPM). Its medical-grade Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) platform seamlessly captures multi-parameter vital signs, physiological biometrics and symptomatic events through an effortless patient experience. The medical-grade BioButton wearable device makes remote monitoring and early detection simple. Through the platforms advanced analytics, clinicians have access to high-resolution patient trending and reporting to enable medical grade remote care from in-hospital to home. For the latest news and information on how BioIntelliSense is making early detection simple through medical-grade wearable technology and cost-effective data services, visit our website at biointellisense.com and follow BioIntelliSense on Twitter and LinkedIn .



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[November 01, 2022] Emerson Completes the Sale of the InSinkErator Business to Whirlpool Corporation

Emerson (NYSE: EMR) today announced it has completed the previously announced sale of its InSinkErator business to Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) for $3.0 billion. InSinkErator, the world's largest manufacturer of food waste disposers and instant hot water dispensers for home and commercial use, was founded in 1938 and acquired by Emerson in 1968. Whirlpool Corporation, a leader in the home appliance industry, is well positioned to build on InSinkErator's strong legacy and performance for long-term growth and success. About Emerson Emerson (NYSE: EMR) is a global technology and software company providing innovative solutions for the world's most essential industries. Emerson is an automation leader that helps process, hybrid and discrete manufacturers optimize operations, protect personnel, reduce emissions and achieve their sustainability goals through its unmatched automation portfolio, including its majority stake in AspenTech. For more information, visit Emerson.com.



About Whirlpool Corporation Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is committed to being the best global kitchen and laundry company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. In an increasingly digital world, the company is driving purposeful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, JennAir, Indesit and Yummly. In 2021, the company reported approximately $22 billion in annual sales, 69,000 employees and 54 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical may be "forward-looking" statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, and Emerson undertakes no obligation to update any such statements to reflect later developments. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, those set forth in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221030005029/en/

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[November 01, 2022] Manitoba artist featured on Purolator limited-edition holiday box

2022 holiday box collection showcases local talent and supports Manitoba food banks TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2022 /CNW/ - Today Purolator unveiled its 2022 limited-edition holiday box designs that celebrate emerging Canadian artists, including Manitoban Scott A. Ford. Once again, last year's artists each nominated a local artist to design the holiday boxes. The unique boxes provide a festive way to ship during the holidays. This year's collection spotlights the diverse ways families and communities eat, drink and celebrate theseason together.



Ford is an award-winning comic creator, illustrator and designer from Winnipeg, Man. His work puts an emphasis on atmosphere and rich visuals, drawing inspiration from video games, graphic design, film and animation. "This design depicts a whimsical version of Manitoba's hibernating animals having a winter meal together in a burrow, with snow falling outside," said artist Scott Ford. "I was inspired by our very cold Winnipeg winters, where staying inside with family and food, in contrast with the blustering weather, often feels like we're holed-up in our own burrow. Gathering with my extended family for a holiday meal is a rare and special occasion and is also the only time of year when my parents will light their fireplace."

Manitoban artists, Edreen Cielos and Justin Currie, have also been featured on past Purolator holiday boxes. Supporting Manitoba food banks

As part of this year's campaign, Purolator is donating $5,000 to Harvest Manitoba through its Purolator Tackle Hunger program. This is to help ensure all Manitobans have access to nutritious meals during the holidays. Since 2003, the grassroots program has delivered more than 18 million pounds of food to Canadian food banks. Harvest Manitoba shares almost 12 million pounds of healthy and nutritious food to hungry Manitobans every year. With this food, the organization prepares Harvest Hampers in Winnipeg, which are distributed to feed more than 83,000 Manitobans. "Harvest Manitoba and our partner food bank agencies across the province continue to see record levels of need," said Vince Barletta, President and Chief Executive Officer, Harvest Manitoba. "In March of 2021, we served 10,000 households per month, which was a record at the time. Now, this past August, that number is almost 15,000 hampers per month. Purolator's Holiday Box campaign and the support of the community helps us provide food to the thousands of families that we serve." All holiday boxes are available nationwide at Purolator Shipping Centres and select Mobile Quick Stop locations. For more information on the artists and how Purolator is delivering for the holidays, visit purolator.com/holidayspirit. About Purolator

Purolator Inc. is Canada's leading integrated freight, package and logistics solutions provider. Celebrating over 60 years of delivering its customers' promises, Purolator continues to expand its reach and renowned service levels and reliability to more people, more businesses and more places across the country and around the world. Purolator is proud of its Canadian heritage and is focused on sustainably positioning itself for future growth and success. Purolator is also committed to contributing to the well-being of the communities it serves and where more than 14,000 of its employees live, work and play. SOURCE Purolator Inc.

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[November 01, 2022] Grindr Unveils 'Play Safe' Campaign To Educate Users on Safety

Grindr, the #1 social network for the LGBTQ community, today announced a new video series campaign, Play Safe, to educate users and the broader public about Grindr's safety policies and practices. These videos will be shared both in-app to users as well as across Grindr's social channels. Grindr has a world-class moderation team that has made significant investments in user safety on the platform over the past few years, and wanted to raise awareness of the app's many safety features and share their work with users and with people around the world. "The behind-the-scenes work of Grindr's amazing Customer Experience team deserves to be recognized," said Alex Black, Director of Marketing at Grindr. "We partnered with Kandy Muse to get the word out about some of Grindr's most useful safety features and to make the topic of safety more approachable and engaging for our users." The campaign will roll out easy-to-digest videos featuring members of Grindr's Customer Experience team, as well as RuPaul's Drag Race alum, Kandy Muse, who plays a new hire at Grindr to share Cstomer Experience misconceptions, spotlight the work of the Customer Experience team, and make safety issues more approachable and engaging for users. Play Safe, which was written and directed by Alex Stergiou and Patrick Rogers, boasts a predominantly LGBTQ-identifying cast and crew.



The following safety features will be included in the first installment of Play Safe: The ability to mute, block, and report bad actors on the app in order to have a safer, better experience. Reports are reviewed 24/7 by a team of human moderators who have been trained on LGBTQ-specific cultural sensitivities and gender-inclusive content moderation.

Features that allow users to verify each other before meeting up to avoid catfishing, such as audio chatting and video chatting.

Grindr's moderation team, which operates with more than 99% accuracy and conducts frequent internal audits to ensure that moderation decisions are as fair and accurate as possible. "We work day-in and day-out to make Grindr a place where our users can feel safe and supported, because we know that the world at large is not always accepting of the LGBTQ community," said Alice Hunsberger, VP of Customer Experience at Grindr.

About Grindr With roughly 11 million monthly active users in virtually every country in the world, Grindr has grown to become a fundamental part of the queer community since its launch in 2009. The company continues to expand its ecosystem to enable gay, bi, trans, and queer people to connect, express themselves, and discover the world around them. Grindr is headquartered in West Hollywood, California. The Grindr app is available on the App Store and Google Play. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005487/en/

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[November 01, 2022] Sensedia in Key Position to Support US Market as Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Accelerates Open Finance Initiatives

Sensedia, a global leader in delivering API solutions for companies adopting a more digital, connected, and open strategy, today voiced affirmation and enthusiasm for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) recent announcement on moving toward decentralized and more open finance and banking in the United States. "The United States is lagging behind the rest of the world when it comes to open and connected financial services," said Marcilio Oliveira, Sensedia's co-founder and Chief of Growth. "Our experience working with some of Brazil's largest financial institutions to create a more open environment has revolutionized how they access legacy data, secure sharing of critical information across platforms, simplify and speed up digital product development, and generate new revenue streams and customers. The US market is ripe for innovation and ready to find more secure ways to decentralize innovation. Sensedia's powerful yet simplified approach to API development will connect them in ways that weren't possible in closed markets and create new possibilities for the future of finance." Sensedia's leadership team agrees with CFPB's director Rohit Chopra that a more open ecosystem, broadly inclusive of both consumers and businesses, holds great promise for all. Moving away from screen scraping to safer, standardized data-sharing practices followed by both the data holder and receiver will better secure personal information. When consumers have more options to add services or move ccounts safely, businesses will step up to earn their business, and everyone wins. Sensedia has experience working in global markets to support similar initiatives successfully.



"Partnerships with our Brazilian customers have yielded amazing results. We've helped them become more flexible to generate new revenue streams, supported gateways to use their new services with agility and speed, and transitioned them to agile, modern, and integrated architectures," said Oliveira. "We're obsessed with creating customer success and have achieved a '100% Willingness to Recommend' on Gartner Peer Insights. We're excited to start creating exciting success stories with US customers as we work together toward a more open and connected North American financial market." While a new entrant into the US market, Sensedia is no stranger to API solutions. The company has provided award-winning service in supporting open and connected companies since 2007. They offer world-class API Management Platforms, Adaptive Governance, Events Hub, Service Mesh, Cloud Connectors, and Strategic Professional Services teams. Sensedia offers five global solutions - BR Open Banking, PSD2, Sensedia FDX API Solution, BR Open Insurance and PISP (Payment Initiation Service Provider Solution.) The company recently expanded to the US, with a presence in Miami. Headquartered in Brazil, Sensedia's global footprint also includes offices in the UK, Mexico, and Colombia.

Global brands like Zurich Insurance, Honda, Electrolux, HSBC, Mag (a subsidiary of Transamerica), Banco Original, Starbucks, HDI, C&A, BRF, Cinemark, Essilor and Natura/Avon all trust Sensedia to offer API expertise. Sensedia's tools and strategies deliver on growth initiatives, improve customer experiences, build partner ecosystems and enable a simplified, scalable developer experience. Sensedia's successful support of open banking systems in Brazil and around the globe provides North American companies with a unique opportunity to receive experienced support as the US, Canada and Mexico shift towards open banking ecosystems. About Sensedia Sensedia supports companies to become more digital, connected and open through a technology platform and expertise in APIs and Microservices. Innovative enterprises rely on Sensedia as their partner in API Management, Microservices, Service-Mesh, Open Banking and Insurance. Sensedia supports API strategies to help businesses rapidly enable legacy integration, bring digital products and services to market faster, integrate channels, enable partner ecosystems, and create modern multi-cloud/hybrid architectures. Sensedia was recently recognized as a Leader by Forrester Research in its recently published report "The Forrester Wave: API Management Solutions, Q3 2022. More at Sensedia.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005653/en/

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[November 01, 2022] Impact Entrepreneur Karnika Yashwant, aka Mr. KEY, Share His Crypto Expertise at the Jordan Financial Expo and Award

Amman, Jordan, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Every year, the global financial space gathers at the Jordan Financial Expo and Award to reward excellence, recognize global impact leaders and discuss innovations. This years edition will include Mr. KEY, the founder of Forward Protocol, Key Difference Media, and Utopian Capital, as a guest speaker, scheduled for the 1st and 2nd of November 2022 at the Movenpick Hotel, Amman, Jordan. Mr. KEY joins an exclusive list of speakers, including the Prime Minister of Jordan (H.E Dr. Bisher Al-Khasawneh), the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Amman Stock Exchange (H.E Dr. Kamal Al-Qudah), and more than half of the elected cabinet of the Jordanian goverment.



Mr. KEY will be speaking at this annual conference that attracts leaders and innovators of global financial markets. He will provide his perspectives and insights on the developing blockchain sector and its potential to influence global ecosystems. Expert Opinions on Fintech, DeFI, and Blockchain Adoption

Mr. KEY is an entrepreneur, blockchain expert (founder, advisor, and marketer), speaker, and industry influencer with a passion for education reform. His influence on his team of global professionals and the blockchain space is based on his ability to simplify complex ideas and technical concepts. He is the Co-Founder of Forward Protocol, a project that aims to promote blockchain adoption by removing the traditional barriers to entry into the space. Mr. KEY is the Chief Executive Officer & Co-Chief Investment Officer of Utopian Capital, a company that helps blockchain projects succeed in an incredibly competitive sector. He is the founder of KEY Difference Media (KDM) - a leading blockchain marketing agency that has grown to over 350 globally distributed team members, 100+ clients and facilitated fund-raising of over 550 million dollars for its clients. He is also the Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer of English Forward, a platform dedicated to teaching English to people globally to participate in the global economy. Mr. KEY will bring all his experience, knowledge of global financial markets, and deep expertise within the crypto space to lead insightful discussions on FinTech, DeFi, and blockchain adoption. About Jordan Financial Expo and Award Jordan Financial Innovation Awards (JFI Awards) celebrates entrepreneurship and innovation within the leading brands in the online trading(FX), FinTech, banking, digital assets, blockchain, and payments sphere. The program motivates excellence within organizations and rewards exemplary performance with nominations and awards during its annual event. The program welcomes perennial performers and novel innovations in the financial services sphere.

key -at- keydifferencemedia.com

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[November 01, 2022]

DIGITAL UTILITIES VENTURES, INC ANNOUNCES THE ADDITION OF A NEW ADVISOR TO THE BOARD OF EASY ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC

Boston, Massachusetts, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Digital Utilities Ventures, Inc. (OTC: DUTV), announces that its planned future subsidiary, Easy Energy Systems, Inc., has added Moises V.Moe Vela, Jr. as senior advisor to their board, effective immediately.

He is the CEO and President of The Vela Group, LLC, a global business development consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. He is also Of Counsel at the law firm of Stein Mitchell Beato & Missner.

Mr. Vela is on the Board/Advisory Board of several innovative companies such as SnipItz, Vastmindz, Introimmune Therapeutics and Aurum 41, and just left the Board of TransparentBusiness/Unicoins Inc after a 2-year tenure.

Moe co-created and is the Executive Producer and Co-Star of the global business reality show, Unicorn Hunters. Unicorn Hunters is a TV series that provides a platform for businesses to present their company to a global audience with the chance for any viewer in the world to invest in their companys future. The show was created to democratize access to wealth creation.

As the first Hispanic American to serve twice in the White House in a senior executive rolefirst as CFO and Sr. Advisor to Vice President Al Gore, and, most recently, as Director of Administration and Sr. Advisor to then-Vice President Joe Biden, Moe was naturally drawn to Easy Energy Systems and DUTV. Easy Energy Systems, with its numerous disruptive modular climate-saving technologies, was a chance for Mr. Vela to continue his efforts to bring awareness to the issues of climate change and new alternative energy technologies.

In addition to serving as a board advisor, Moe will also aid the company in various consulting activities, including assisting CEO Mark Gaalswyk with completing the transition of the companys planned merger into the publicly traded Digital Utilities Ventures (OTC: DUTV) Moe has already been offered a formal board position with DUTV upon completion of the planned merger. Mark Gaalswyk is the founder/owner and CEO of Easy Energy Systems, Inc and is already also the CEO of Digital Utilities Ventures, Inc. (OTC: DUTV)

Moe has the distinction of being the first Hispanic to serve in two senior executive roles in the White House, first during the Clinton Administration as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Advisor for Latino Affairs in the Office of Vice President Al Gore, and later during the Obama Administration as Director of Administration for then Vice-President Joe Biden.

Mr. Vela brings a wealth of corporate and entrepreneurial expertise to Easy Energy Systems. He is an experienced executive manager and leader with proven success at the epicenter of where business, law, finance and politics meet. He has proven management, budget/finance, marketing, public affairs, communications, strategic planning, project management, and business ramp up skills. He is both a charismatic/motivational speaker and a visionary and creative thought leader.

Mr. Vela hails from a pioneer south Texas family with a long history in the agriculture sector, and his service at the US Department of Agriculture under President Bill Clinton, as well as being an early adopter of environmental awareness while working with Vice-President Al Gore, are huge assets for Easy Energy Systems since they provide innovative solutons for climate action & food scarcity through its collection of modular technologies for the Ag & Green Energy sectors.







Moe joining Easy Energy Systems Inc. is a natural fit. Moes knowledge and experience with the Federal government, his legal background and business prowess, combined with his strong personal/ family background with the US Department of Agriculture and the agriculture sector, will prove very timely for the company as it now brings to the world the proprietary Modular Easy FEN Liquid Microbial Fertilizer Production System (patents pending).

EACH of these Fertilizer Plant in a Box factory built, modular, automatic systems will allow local villages and ag coops around the world to produce locally up to 1/3 of the fertilizer needed for 250,000 acres of agricultural crop while capturing potentially millions of dollars in added revenue for each rural village or local community.

With the United Nations now predicting the potential death by starvation of millions of people around the world due to the global fertilizer shortage, the goal is that Moes many national and international connections will help the company quickly become a major player in helping solve this global problem.

Mark Gaalswyk, founder and CEO of Easy Energy Systems, stated: We are excited to have Moe join Easy Energy, particularly as we adapt our modular technology to solve the growing global food crisis. His international background and business acumen will be a key for Easy Energy Systems in opening new markets and growing revenues through strategic relationships, particularly in South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. We also welcome his consulting guidance as we complete the planned merger into the publicly traded OTC: DUTV.

Recognition for Mr. Vela has included being named to the Top 100 Most Influential People for Hispanics in the Nations Capital by El Timexpo Latino in 2017; one of the Top 101 Latino Leaders by Latino Leaders Magazine in both 2010 and 2011; one of the Top 300 Washington, D.C. Insiders by National Journal in 2010, and one of the Top 100 Hispanics in America by Hispanic Business in 2009.

About Digital Utilities Ventures Inc.:

Digital Utilities Ventures, Inc. is working to become a formidable presence in the green solutions marketplace. We have identified strategic opportunities for acquisitions and joint ventures that will allow us to capitalize on existing and emerging opportunities in this industry. Consumers understand the significance of progressing from conventional assets to inexhaustible sources that produce no ozone harming greenhouse gas emissions from petroleum by-products and lessen air contaminants. Enhancing green solutions such as in energy supply and lessening reliance on imported fuels will assist with economic development by increasing occupations in manufacturing, assembling, and more.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements that may constitute ''forward-looking'' statements, usually containing the words ''believe,'' ''estimate,'' ''project,'' ''expect'' or similar expressions. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, acceptance of the Company's current and future products and services in the marketplace, the ability of the Company to develop effective new products and receive regulatory approvals of such products, competitive factors, dependence upon third-party vendors, and other risks detailed in the Company's periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.

For information on Easy Energy Systems, Inc.: www.easyenergysystems.com

For more information, please contact:

Mark K. Gaalswyk, CEO

https://www.duventures.com

Phone: 617-588-0068

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Digital Utilities Ventures, Inc.

Attachments
[November 01, 2022] Growth Continues in the Third Quarter of 2022 for Top-Tier North American Distributors, according to IDC's North America Monthly Distribution Tracker, Powered by GTDC

Total revenues reported in the International Data Corporation (IDC) North America Distribution Tracker (NADT) grew 9.3% year over year to $21 billion in the third quarter of 2022 (3Q22). Of the 14 product groups covered in the NADT, only peripherals and accessories declined meaningfully with revenue down 8.2% year over year. Audio/Video (AV), storage, and imaging were essentially flat year over year while sales in the remaining ten categories saw healthy increases with the largest gain of 55% in consumer electronics. "The strong growth across product categories shows the resiliency of tier 1 IT distributors in the face of economic headwinds and generally slower markets," said Ruth Flynn, research vice president, IDC Tracker & Data Products. "IT vendors are leveraging the reach and efficiency of their distributor partners as commercial buyers in particular continue to prioritize IT investments." Personal computing is continuing its post pandemic stabilization with a sustained push from notebook sales, which grew 9.3% year over year. Additional momentum came from a year-over-year revenue increase of 7.3% in desktop sales. Network infrastructure started showing signs of movement after a slow first half. This translated to $2 billion in sales in 3Q22 and 9.1% annual growth. The key products driving sales in this market were Ethernet switches with an upswing of 10.7% year over year and enterprise class WLAN devices with 34.9% annual growth. Software product group sales grew 8.4% overall compared to the same quarter in 2021 and many of the largest software categories saw double-digit growth. Storage software grew 11.4% but gave up the top spot to security software, which grew 13.4%. The strong sales in the security software space are primarily attributed to Palo Alto Networks with 34.8% share of the category and 66.4% year-over-year growth. A graphic illustrating North America Distribution Tracker results for the leading product groups over the previous five quarters is available by viewing this press release on IDC.com.



IDC's North America Weekly Distribution Tracker is built on the exclusive partnership between IDC and the Global Technology Distribution Council (GTDC) and provides the industry's most comprehensive view of technology distribution data and market trends in the U.S. and Canada. The data in this Tracker is actual sales data collected weekly from sales receipts across the largest distributors in North America for more than 1,700 brands over several years. This data is mapped to IDC's taxonomy with nearly 200 categories organized into 14 distinct product groups with detailed product attributes across categories. About IDC Trackers

IDC Tracker products provide accurate and timely market size and segmentation, vendor share, and forecasts for hundreds of technology markets from more than 100 countries around the globe. Using proprietary tools and research processes, IDC's Trackers are updated on a semiannual, quarterly, monthly, and weekly basis. Tracker results are delivered to clients in user-friendly Excel deliverables and on-line query tools.

For more information about the North America Weekly Distribution Tracker, powered by GTDC, please contact Ruth Flynn at [email protected]. Click here to learn about IDC's full suite of data products and how you can leverage them to grow your business. About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,300 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading tech media, data, and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights. About the GTDC

The Global Technology Distribution Council is the industry consortium representing the world's leading tech distributors. GTDC members drive an estimated $150 billion in annual worldwide sales of products, services, and solutions through diverse business channels. GTDC conferences support the development and expansion of strategic supply-chain partnerships that continually address the fast-changing marketplace needs of vendors, end customers and distributors. All product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005182/en/

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Fuad Vekhbe, 45, left Ukraine and arrived in Windsor with his family in May. He says he's been looking for a job that can financially support his family, but can't get hired. (Jennifer La Grassa/CBC - image credit)

In a matter of months, Fuad Vekhbe went from owning two dental clinics in Ukraine to driving Uber in Windsor  a job that he says isn't enough to support his family financially.

Vekhbe, his wife, their two kids and a family friend arrived in Windsor from Ukraine about five months ago. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February caused the family to flee, leaving most of their belongings behind.

The Vekhbe family is among more than 100,000 Ukrainian citizens and Canadian permanent residents of Ukrainian origin who have come to Canada since the war began, according to the government's website. The federal government launched the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel in March.

People coming through this program are considered temporary residents, so they can work and study in Canada for three years but do not have permanent resident or refugee status. The federal government says it is looking at establishing a permanent residence program.

While Vekhbe said he's been trying to find work since arriving in Canada, the process hasn't been easy. He said when he tells employers that he has a work permit, but doesn't have refugee status, he doesn't hear back from them.

With refugee status, he thinks that employers would consider him as more of a long-term resident.

"When they know we are in Canada and we don't have status, a clear status, there's an issue," said Vekhbe, who has a PhD in network engineering. "We need to know our status here."

Last week, Vekhbe said they finally moved into their own home, but it's costing them $3,000 a month in rent and utilities. Before that, they had been living with family and friends, who are still helping them furnish their new home and pay some bills.

Submitted by Fuad Vekhbe

Even though he's driving Uber, he said it's not enough.

One day last week, Vekhbe said he worked for 12 hours and made $168  but gas cost him $85. His wife is taking English language classes and cares for their two-year-old daughter.

Story continues

"If I want to buy anything now, I need to count everything," he said.

"We don't have anything here. We are renting, we don't own anything, only we own that we are in safe place that's all and if we need to buy anything we need to think about it."

Family friend, Yuliia Zymodra, who lives with Vekhbe's family, is also struggling to find work.

She said she's taking English language classes right now and that her dream is to work in the illustration and graphics industry. In Ukraine she was working for Vekhbe as a sales manager and now, she's taking any odd job she can find in Windsor.

"I don't have education in Canada. It's important for Canada, I understand," she said.

"If I know English more, it's good for me. I will find job  I hope."

Jennifer La Grassa/CBC

Workforce Windsor-Essex, an organization that supports employment opportunities in the region, said many Canadian newcomers experience similar difficulties when getting a job such as barriers with language and transportation.

Kelsey Santarossa, manager of community development projects at Workforce Windsor-Essex, said they also hear that a lack of Canadian experience also prevents people from getting hired.

She added that just because someone doesn't have refugee status, doesn't mean employers shouldn't hire them.

"We know that these folks aren't going anywhere any time soon, they were transplanted, they've landed here in Windsor, they are Windsorites for as long as they choose to stay," Santarossa said.

"Our recommendation would be to look to employers and say that if they're qualified and you're looking for new staff, which we know that many employers are, we have thousands of jobs available in Windsor just this hour, that they take a look and really consider the talent that is coming into the region with these Ukrainian refugees despite their status."

Jennifer La Grassa/CBC

Another barrier to some newcomers, according to Santarossa, can be getting their foreign credentials validated to ensure they can also become certified in Canada. She said this can be a costly process and can be difficult if people fled war-torn countries without bringing their diplomas or other paperwork with them.

Santarossa said newcomers can access provincial employment services, like an employment counsellor, which are fully funded and also use newcomer services available through organizations funded by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Vekhbe said that even though he's accessed financial supports from the government, he thinks more is needed in terms of resources to get hired.

"We don't want to ask for support, because we need to work ... but we need to know our status here," Vekhbe said.
[November 01, 2022] New Collection and New Website Helps the Debut of Kira Yamada

A debut of a Japanese mascot that is mainly inspired by the combo of Japanese Culture and Anime with a Louisiana twist into it. BATON ROUGE, La., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jay Japan, an anime online store that sells products dealing with Japanese culture and anime, announced the debut of their latest collection for their clothing line called Foodies. This collection has Kira Yamada, a mascot for the anime online store Jay Japan, eating two different kinds of foods: a Japanese ramen bowl with chicken and eggs and a Louisiana Gumbo with okra and shrimp. It was mainly inspired by two parts of the world (Japan and Louisiana) having world-class cuisines. Justin Johnson, the founder of Jay Japan, explains the concept behind that collection is to show his love of two notable cuisines: Japanese Ramen and Louisiana Gumbo. Also, Jay Japan would have a huge upgrade on their website to make it faster and more efficient for potential customers. The website is currently going through renovations and upgrades to better assist customers and give them the best service possible. According to Justin, "I've always done my very best to make the customers have an amazing experience with Jay Japan. So that means a makeover for my online store would be a great idea since customers' love for anime and Japanese culture is always my number one reason for me to constantly improve my brand. Customers would expect a nice, sleek design that's super-fast and put a lot of focus on our products." Unlike a lot of anime/Japanese brands,Jay Japan is not established from somewhere that's super popular for the Japanese people. Jay Japan is established in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. "Not many people from Japan would know where Louisiana is located since it's not a big hotspot compared to New York or Los Angeles," Justin explains, "So, it's a great way to use the uniqueness of Japanese and Louisiana culture and put it together. That's the biggest reason I created that mascot: to show my love for Japanese culture while being appreciated by my Louisiana roots." Justin explains the iconic icons for Kira Yamada are her flower hairpins: the Japanese Yamato Nadeshiko and the Louisiana Magnolia. "The reason why I combine the style for Japanese and Louisiana culture is to show the world that no matter where you're from, you can still have a passion and love for Japanese culture and anime. So, it was a no-brainer to have a mascot like Kira Yamada because I constantly hear tons of people in the state of Louisiana really into Japan and wanting to go to Japan one day."



About Jay Japan: Jay Japan is an anime/Japanese apparel online brand based out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Justin was inspired by his childhood dream trip to Yokohama, Japan from a small hometown of Baker, Louisiana. Jay Japan is consisting of apparel and accessories that deal with Japanese culture with a twist of Louisiana style into it. Its mission is to show the world that you can be interested in Japanese culture no matter where you're from. For more information about the store, please visit https://www.jay-japan.com.

Social Media:

Instagram: @jayjapan59

Twitter: @jayjapan59

Facebook @jayjapan59

Pinterest: @JayJapan59 Contact Info:

Phone Number: (225)229-0494

Email Address: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-collection-and-new-website-helps-the-debut-of-kira-yamada-301663844.html SOURCE Jay Japan

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[November 01, 2022] Brooks Runs to Illumio to Stop Ransomware from Spreading with Zero Trust Segmentation

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Illumio Inc., the Zero Trust Segmentation company, today announced Brooks, one of the largest footwear brands, selected Illumio Core to reduce its risk from cyberattacks like ransomware. Brooks uses the Illumio Zero Trust Segmentation (ZTS) Platform to proactively prevent potential breaches from spreading across the hybrid attack surface in order to bolster the organizations resilience.

Brooks mission is to build great running shoes and gear so its customers can focus on one thing: running. To design and deliver exceptional running shoes, Brooks needs to keep its hybrid IT operational and assets secure. As Brooks continues to grow, it consistently puts the runner first and understands the importance of keeping its data secure, not just for its own operations, but for preserving the integrity of its customer data as well. The challenge is that as organizations become more interconnected and the attack surface grows, cyber and ransomware attacks are on the rise. In fact, ESG found that 76 percent of organizations have experienced a breach in the last two years. To combat the growing risk, organizations like Brooks are turning to Zero Trust Segmentation, a modern security approach that contains and minimizes the impact of breaches. Brooks uses Illumio Core to visualize all communication and traffic, both known and unknown, between workflows, devices, and the internet in their network. Then, it uses that data to determine where to set grnular segmentation policies to restrict unnecessary and unwanted communications.



Unlike other security tools that often break applications, Brooks can test the impact Illumio ZTS will have on its environment before pushing the controls live. This gives the security team the confidence they need to deploy Zero Trust Segmentation throughout the companys hybrid IT sooner, thereby improving resilience to attacks more quickly and efficiently. This is why research shows organizations can save up to $20 million per year with ZTS. Illumio is a strategic technology in our work to protect the business against ransomware, which is a top priority not only for my team, but the company overall. Ransomware attacks can have a major impact on retail brands  they can limit our availability, halt operations, and damage our trust with customers. said Ryan Fried, Senior Security Engineer at Brooks. Illumio provided value to Brooks right out of the box, with a visualization of our risk across the network. With Zero Trust Segmentation, were able to automate and create segmentation policies which control unwanted communications and proactively contain a potential breach to limit its impact on the organization.

At a time when cyberattacks are a constant and daily occurrence, organizations are looking for simple, reliable, and modern approaches to reduce risk. Zero Trust Segmentation isolates attacks so they cannot spread across your hybrid attack surface, which drastically limits their impact, said PJ Kirner, CTO and Co-founder at Illumio. As a major retailer, Brooks has a responsibility to both keep its customers data secure and its own operations running. At Illumio, were proud to help Brooks fulfill its mission and foster trust with customers by building resilience throughout its network. Learn more about Brooks story here: https://resources.illumio.com/resources/brooks-makes-strides-in-security-strategy-with-illumio. For more information about the Illumio Zero Trust Segmentation Platform, visit: https://www.illumio.com/products. About Illumio Illumio, the Zero Trust Segmentation Company, stops breaches from spreading across the hybrid attack surface. The Illumio ZTS Platform visualizes all traffic flows between workloads, devices, and the internet, automatically sets granular segmentation policies to control communications, and isolates high-value assets and compromised systems proactively or in response to active attacks. Illumio protects organizations of all sizes, from Fortune 100 to small business, by stopping breaches and ransomware in minutes, saving millions of dollars in application downtime, and accelerating cloud and digital transformation projects. Illumio Contact Holly Pyper [email protected] 669.800.5000



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[November 01, 2022] MICLEDI Announces Red GaN MicroLED Breakthrough for Augmented Reality Glasses

LEUVEN, Belgium, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MICLEDI Microdisplays, a leading developer of microLED displays for augmented reality (AR) glasses, has demonstrated 630nm wavelength red GaN with outstanding full-width-half-max (FWHM) in the range of 50nm. The introduction of the high-performing red microLEDs positions MICLEDI as the unparalleled leader in highly optimized monochrome microLED panels for integration into full-color microLED display modules. Historically, red microLEDs have suffered a reputation as a poor performing part - this breakthrough by MICLEDI helps to put that reputation to rest.

MICLEDIs approach to microLED full-color displays is uniquely positioned to achieve the highest performance standards in AR glasses. Today, AR glasses for indoor, or semi-darkened, light settings can be less efficient, less bright, and with lower overall performance when compared to outdoor sunlight settings. Best-in-class AR glasses with transparent lenses, for use all the way from low indoor light to bright outdoor sunlight, is critical to achieving high-volume consumer adoption of AR glasses. By optimizing the chemistry and physics of each individual color, MICLEDI enables the highest brightness of any alternative solution in the market today. Consistent with the companys fundamental and repeating value proposition, red GaN: Is compatible wth MICLEDIs proprietary CMOS-fab technology

Follows the identical process recipe of the companys blue and green arrays for consistency

Accommodates pixel-level micro lenses for high-efficiency optics integration

Is tailored for industry-standard 300mm commercial foundries for high-volume mass production



The Future of microLED Display Modules for AR Glasses

Sean Lord, CEO, said, AR headgear in the market today ranges from monochrome monocles for limited information-only displays to monochrome headsets and heads-up displays to full-color glasses for industrial, enterprise and military applications. Prices range from $1000 to over $5000 per headset, which is too high for the average consumer. With the addition of red GaN to our tool kit, MICLEDI is perfectly positioned to bring the cost and volume advantages of its 300mm manufacturing flow to open the door to future generations of AR glasses that consumers can afford and enjoy. With this announcement, MICLEDI now has all three microLED colors coming into the market. The company continues its close affiliation with IMEC and other significant partners.

Red GaN is but one option, added Lord. Alternative approaches vary from AlInGaP to Quantum Dot, and other techniques. MICLEDI is committed to pushing the cost, reliability, and performance envelope of each of these alternatives to provide the best in full color microLED display modules across a broad range of performance parameters for transparent lens AR glasses. MICLEDI introduced its blue GaN and green GaN LED display test chips earlier this year. The new red samples are projected to be available to customers before the end of the year. About MICLEDI Microdisplays

MICLEDI Microdisplays is a fabless developer of microLED display modules for the augmented reality (AR) market. The company was spun-out from IMEC, a highly respected Belgian R&D center, in 2019. MICLEDIs technology is based on an innovative combination of III/V materials processing, 3D integration and 300mm silicon-based processing combined with a proprietary ASIC to provide a self-contained, compact monolithic AR display with high image quality and power efficiency. For more information, visit www.micledi.com. Media Contact:

Jessica Roland

Lages & Associates

(949) 453-8080

[email protected]



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[November 01, 2022] Allied Electronics & Automation Bids Farewell to Current President Ken Bradley and Welcomes Interim President Douglas Moody

RS Group's Chief Services Officer is expanding his role on an interim basis while the company identifies a permanent replacement. FORT WORTH, Texas, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Electronics & Automation, a trading brand of RS Group plc (LSE: RS1), a global omni-channel provider of product and service solutions, bid farewell to President Ken Bradley, who left the company to pursue a new opportunity at the end of October. RS Group's Chief Services Officer, Douglas Moody, is expanding his role on an interim basis while the company identifies a permanent replacement. Ken joined the company in early 2004 and held roles in supply chain and sales before being promoted to President of Allied in 2019. "During his tenure as President, Ken built a talented leadership team that led the transformation of the Americas business," said Lindsley Ruth, CEO, RS Group. "People and culture have been placed at the heart of the organization, and the results speak for themselves, as we've seen a strong growth across the board." "As I step away from this business after a phenomenal 18-year run, I am proud to have had the opportunity to work with the finest team in the business and am thankful for the great support and partnerships we continue to have with our customers and suppliers," said Ken. "I leave Allied positioned for growth and in capable hands with my good friend and colleague Doug Moody, and I'm looking forward to seeing what's coming next for this great company." Doug joined RS Group as the Chief Services Officer, reporting to CEO Lindsley Ruth, in January of this year. In this role, Doug has worked to accelerate the development and execution of a value-added services strategy to better serve customer needs and drive business growth. His previous exerience includes large profit and loss leadership across multiple industries and diverse markets worldwide. He is also well versed in bringing businesses together and harmoniously leveraging their product and service offerings to deliver exceptional customer success and business performance.



"Since joining Allied and RS Group a year ago, I have witnessed the company's incredible culture, vision for the future, and resulting growth," said Doug. "I'm looking forward to strengthening the outstanding partnerships Allied has with its suppliers and customers by expanding and delivering our solutions efficiently, effectively, and digitally. I want to thank Ken for his inspiring leadership and wish him continued success in his next role." Allied Electronics & Automation, part of RS Group

Allied Electronics & Automation is a trading brand of RS Group plc, a leading global omni-channel industrial product and service solutions provider to customers who are involved in designing, building, and maintaining industrial equipment and operations, safely and sustainably. RS Group plc stocks more than 700,000 industrial and electronic products, sourced from over 2,500 leading suppliers, and provides a wide range of product and service solutions to over 1.2 million industrial customers. With operations in 32 countries, we trade through multiple channels and ship nearly 60,000 parcels daily. We support customers across the product life cycle, whether via innovation and technical support at the design phase, improving time to market and productivity at the build phase, or reducing purchasing costs and optimizing inventory in the maintenance phase. We offer our customers tailored product and service propositions that are essential for the successful operation of their businesses and help them save time and money. RS Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with stock ticker RS1 and in the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2022, reported revenue of $3.3 billion. For more information about Allied Electronics & Automation, please visit www.alliedelec.com/ or connect with us via social media on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Please note that in Q1 2023, Allied will rebrand to "RS." The new global RS brand will establish a better connection across RS Group's products and services and deliver efficiency, value, and scalability to stakeholders worldwide. Image Download:

https://bit.ly/3TUd6ym Editorial Contact & Media Inquiries:

Karen Gavenda

Allied Electronics & Automation, part of RS Group

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/allied-electronics--automation-bids-farewell-to-current-president-ken-bradley-and-welcomes-interim-president-douglas-moody-301663029.html SOURCE Allied Electronics & Automation

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[November 01, 2022] Dana DeBeauvoir, Renowned Election and Public Administration Expert Joins OSET Institute Board of Directors

The OSET Institute today announced that Dana DeBeauvoir, a nationally recognized authority on election administration and integrity, has joined the organization's Board of Directors. She will begin her tenure in early December. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005880/en/ Dana DeBeauvoir, who served as the elected County Clerk for Travis County, Texas for 36 years, has joined the Board of Directors of the OSET Institute. (Photo: Business Wire) Ms. DeBeauvoir brings unparalleled experience and expertise to the OSET Institute Board, having spent 36 years as the elected County Clerk for Travis County, Texas. There, she oversaw elections for local, state and national office for 1.3 million voters and 147 cities and towns, including Austin. In that capacity, she earned accolades from peers, the industry and opponents alike for bringing innovation to the election process and maintaining a staunch commitment to ethical elections. Ms. DeBeauvoir won several state and national awards for her forward-thinking ideas on election administration and is recognized as a national leader in election administration and security. "I've spent my entire career comitted to preserving the integrity of democracy through transparent election administration at domestic and international levels," Ms. DeBeauvoir said. "I am excited to continue this work at The OSET Institute as a board member. The time has never been more urgent to defend our democracy and bring innovation to our elections. OSET's commitment to accessibility, transparency and integrity - and its incredible staff - will lead to new innovative public election administration technology that affords election officials solutions that are verifiable, accurate, secure, and transparent, while providing voters with an easier, more convenient, trustworthy voting experience; and that's imperative in these tumultuous times."



Ms. DeBeauvoir is not new to election technology innovation efforts; she started and led a group of experts in the development of STARVote, a new design for a voting system based on a paper trail, a form of a verification receipt for voters, with third party verification of election results. The STARVote design was intended to be public (open-source) technology and is very similar in design to the TrustTheVote Project's "ElectOS," the marquee election initiative of the OSET Institute. Far ahead of its time, several design concepts of STARVote are now found in today's voting system security elements. Dana also served with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) as a consultant preparing for elections in Bangladesh, Sarajevo, Bosnia, Pristina, Kosovo and served as a United Nations Elections Observer at the 1994 election in South Africa.

In addition to her extensive elections experience, Ms. DeBeauvoir served as a Texas Representative on the federal Election Commission Assistance Standards Board and on the Board of Directors and as the Election Committee Chair for the National Association of County Recorders, Elections Officials, and Clerks. She was also named Public Official of the Year by the National Association of County Recorders, Election Officials and Clerks (NACRC). The National Association of Election Officials (Election Center) also awarded Dana with the Minute Man Award for developing a scalable and effective election security practice for election officials. "We are thrilled to have Dana join the OSET Institute's Board," said OSET co-founder and COO, Gregory Miller. "There are few election administration officials who have as much experience as Dana. She will be a key asset not only to the OSET Board, but also to the Institute's work in election administration processes and technology innovation and voting system integrity." About the OSET Institute The OSET Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit non-partisan election technology research, development and education organization founded in late 2006, based in the Silicon Valley. A team of veteran technologists leads the Institute with extensive software, hardware and systems design experience from well-known companies including Apple, Mozilla, Netscape, and Sun Microsystems. The Institute's mission is to increase confidence in elections and their outcomes through research, development, and advancement of publicly-available election administration technology, election cybersecurity, and related public policy in defense of democracy and as a matter of national security. The OSET Institute's TrustTheVote Project provides publicly-available software technology, such as the 3rd party voter registration platform used by RockTheVote and other GOTV operations for all parties, and provides other election administration technology to governments. Work is based on open-source principles and practices to ensure this critical government technology is an imperative public asset. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005880/en/

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Cotopaxi advances customer experience with Forethought's AI products, Solve and Assist

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Forethought , the human-centered AI platform, today announced its new partnership with Cotopaxi , a Certified B Corporation outdoor adventure gear and apparel brand. Forethought will enable Cotopaxi's customer support organization to create best-in-class user experiences as it implements the AI products Solve and Assist .

"We're excited to enter into this new partnership with Cotopaxi as they utilize our AI products to improve and optimize"







"We're excited to enter into this new partnership with Cotopaxi as they utilize our AI products to improve and optimize customer experience," said Dave Ginsburg, chief customer officer at Forethought. "As a customer of Cotopaxi, Forethought will continue to celebrate the brand's durable outdoor products that not only work well but do good."

As a growing company, Cotopaxi foresees an increase in the breadth and volume of support ticket requests. Assist, which is expected to be live in November 2022, will allow Cotopaxi to leverage Forethought's AI-powered agent assistant to increase the efficiency of their concentrated support team without compromising productivity. Forethought will surface relevant knowledge articles, past cases, macros and notes into support agents' help desk.

Additionally, Cotopaxi will take full advantage of the robust features Solve offers. Customers will experience fast results with this integration across multiple web pages as it instantly interprets their exact need and uses data and custom workflows to find the best answer and take action. By reducing back and forth between agents and customers to resolve cases and deflecting simple questions such as "where's my order?" Cotopaxi expects to respond to more cases faster.

"Forethought's technology will better assist our customers by empowering them to find answers, whether that's on the website, in the help center or on our PDPs," said Ren Barrus, director of customer experience at Cotopaxi. "Utilizing these products benefits not only our customers but our internal team as well."

Cotopaxi creates outdoor products, apparel and experiences that inspire adventure, help alleviate poverty, and move people to do good. The brand's social impact strategy focuses on global poverty and employs responsible sourcing and manufacturing practices through supply chains.

ABOUT FORETHOUGHT

Launched in 2018, Forethought is a leading AI company providing customer service solutions that transform the customer experience. Forethought's products enable seamless customer experiences by infusing human-centered AI at each stage of the customer support journey: resolving common cases instantly, enriching and prioritizing tickets, and assisting agents with relevant knowledge  all from one platform.

ABOUT COTOPAXI

Cotopaxi is a carbon-neutral outdoor gear brand founded to create sustainably designed products that fight extreme poverty, inspire adventure, and move people to do good. As a Certified B Corporation, we believe in using the power of business as a force for social, environmental, and economic good. Our creed, Gear for Good, touches every aspect of our company. Cotopaxi is committed to making all of our gear using repurposed, recycled, or responsible materials by 2025. We allocate a minimum of 1% of our annual revenue to the Cotopaxi Foundation which awards grants to outstanding nonprofit partners carefully selected for their track records at improving the human condition and alleviating poverty. In 2021, we aided over 1 million people in extreme poverty through targeted grants to outstanding organizations with proven methodologies. For more information, please visit https://www.cotopaxi.com .

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cotopaxi-partners-with-forethought-to-scale-customer-support-301664928.html

SOURCE Forethought
[November 01, 2022] myFICO: Common Student Loan Debt Scams to Look Out For

Ever since President Biden announced his student forgiveness plan in August, which would erase $10,000 of debt for low- and middle-income borrowers, student debt scams overall have been on the rise. According to the Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Scam Tracker, there was an increase in reports of student debt scams shortly after the announcement. Furthermore, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in 2020 there was a grand total of nearly 25,000 fraud reports on federal student loans, an 88% uptick from the year prior. Digging a bit deeper, some types of older scams are decreasing in frequency-thanks to better enforcement, points out Mark Kantrowitz, a student loan expert and author of How to Appeal for More College Financial Aid. On the flip side, there's been a spike in scams around-you guessed it-loan forgiveness programs. Below are some common student loan scams, what to watch out for, and how to avoid falling victim to them, from myFICO. For more loan and credit education, visit myFICO's blog at https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/blog Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Program Imposters This scam is the newest - and most likely - the most prevalent one. Thieves are pretending to be from the new federal debt cancellation program. They'll probably try to get a hold of you by way of an unsolicited phone call or via snail mail. To get a hold of your banking and personal info, these imposters ask you to fill out a simple form to see if you might qualify for the loan forgiveness program. They might ask you to cover an upfront fee, or they might say they can help you redirect your current student loan payments to them. Help to Find Money for School This is one that my mom and I sadly fell for, many moons ago. These scammers operate under the guise of financial aid advice services and claim they can help you find "free money" for school by way of scholarships and grants. They might reach out to you via email, phone call, or mail, and invite you to a free seminar, replete with free lunch. While there are legitimate companies that charge to help you hunt down scholarships, the fraudulent nes take your money - we're talking well in the range of $1,000-and don't deliver on their promises. These companies might target those who are the first in the family to go to college.



These imposters usually make you a "too good to be true" offer. For instance, they provide a 100% guarantee that you'll get some form of aid. All you need to do is provide your credit card or banking info. Help with the FAFSA Form

There are several sketchy companies that say they can help you fill out the FAFSA form. All you need to do is pay a fee. These companies are in no way affiliated by the U.S. Department of Education, and they'll ask you for your credit card information. The thing is that you can probably get help with the FAFSA for free through a school counselor or a college's financial aid office. You can also find info on the FAFSA website. Student Debt Relief Companies Another common student debt scam are student loan debt relief companies that ask you to pay a fee in return for student loan debt relief. However, you can get the same type of help from federal loan servicers and providers. Advance Fee Loan Scam While there has been a decrease in what's known as a "game of loans," an advance fee loan scam that requires upfront payment for credit repair services, this scam is now being used for student loans. This scam might charge you for loan forgiveness programs, switching repayment plans, consolidating or refinancing loans, changing payment amounts, or applying for deferment or forbearance, explains Kantrowitz. Telltale Signs of Student Loan Debt Scams Tone of urgency. A common sign of scams is that the imposters create a tone of urgency by trying to get you to feel concerned, worried, or scared. They want you to act quickly and send money promptly. Asking for money upfront. "If you have to pay money to get money, it's probably a scam," says Kantrowitz. In turn, beware of anybody who asks you to pay a fee to apply for forgiveness or to modify your student loans. "Never give out a credit card or bank account number unless you know the organization you are giving it to is legitimate," says Kantrowitz. Someone asks for your FSA ID. With your FSA ID, someone can log in to government websites posing as you, explains Kantrowitz. They can take out loans in your name, or they can change the address to which student loan bills are sent. Your FSA ID is an electronic signature and should not be given to anyone. Guarantees. A company could claim it fulfilled its promise if you were offered student loans or a $20 scholarship. "Is that worth a fee of $1,000 or more?" says Kantrowitz. Remember: A lot of the services these scammers are peddling are things you can do for free on StudentAid.gov, the government's student loan website. There you can: Consolidate loans

Switch repayment plans

Apply for a deferment or forbearance You can get free help about federal student aid, from the following: Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC)

Government contractor

Calling 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) While student loan debt scams abound, being aware and looking out for telltale signs can help you from becoming a victim. About myFICO myFICO makes it easy to understand your credit with FICO Scores, credit reports and alerts from all 3 bureaus. myFICO is the consumer division of FICO- get your FICO Scores from the people that make the FICO Scores. For more information, visit https://www.myfico.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005196/en/

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[November 01, 2022] ModMed Fully Resolves All Government Claims

ModMed today announced a settlement with the U.S. government and relator, resolving all claims against the company. The settlement agreement relates to matters from over five years ago. ModMed continues to deny the allegations of misconduct, but has made the decision to settle for $45 million in order to fully resolve the matter. ModMed issued the following statement: "We stand behind our people and our products and remain steadfast in our mission to place doctors and patients at the center of care. The company denies that any of the conduct violated the law, and the settlement agreement does not include any admissions of wrongdoing. The settlement fully resolves this matter and does not require any changes to ModMed's products, EHR certifications, existing programs, or compliance policies, and will not require any government monitoring. We have historically made substantial investments in our compliance programs and training and will continue to do so. With the hard work and commitment of our team, we look forward to continuing to develop outstanding products for our customers and to make a positive impact in healthcare." About ModMed p> ModMed is transforming healthcare by placing doctors and patients at the center of care through an intelligent, specialty-specific cloud platform. With our electronic health records (EHR) and practice management (PM) systems and our revenue cycle management (RCM) services, our all-in-one solution empowers specialty medical practices by providing clinical, financial and operational software solutions. Our staff physicians help to develop products and services for allergy, dermatology, gastroenterology, OBGYN, ophthalmology, orthopedics, otolaryngology, pain management, plastic surgery, podiatry and urology practices, as well as ambulatory surgery centers. For more information, visit modmed.com. Connect with ModMed via its blog, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.



View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005994/en/



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[November 01, 2022] Shore Capital Partners Named to Inc.'s 2022 List of Founder-Friendly Investors

Shore Capital Partners, ("Shore" or "Shore Capital"), a strategic private equity firm focused on microcap investing in the healthcare, food and beverage, and business services industries, with offices in Chicago and Nashville, has been named one of Inc.'s Founder-Friendly Investors for the third year in a row. Inc.'s annual list recognizes private equity and venture capital firms that entrepreneurs collaborate with and trust as they receive the financial support needed to help drive growth. All firms named to the list have successful track records of remaining actively involved with the businesses they invest in. "We take great pride in being named to Inc.'s Founder-Friendly Investors list for the third year in a row," said Justin Ishbia, founder and Managing Partner of Shore. "Our vision is to be the first choice of entrepreneurs seeking a growth partner and this recognition is a testament to the years of hard work and strategy to help founders grow into regional and national powerhouses. We believe the next ten years of private equity is all about operations and our team is designed to help great small and medium companies grow bigger, stronger, and faster with less risk." A unique offering within the microcap market, Shore's dedicated team of over thirty operating professionals as of the release date, provide resources to portfolio companies to de-risk decision making and accelerate growth. The scale of this team is traditionally accessible only to mid- and large-cap companies. In addition to direct support of individual companies, the resource team promotes collaboration between leaders across the portfolio, organizes networking and development events, and meets regularly to share experiences and collaborate on common challenges operators face today. "Fully investing in an entrepreneur, and teir innovative vision, involves far more than the financial investment. By developing relationships with and supporting entrepreneurs for the long-term, these private equity firms are more than investors, they're partners," added Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc.



To compile the list, Inc. went straight to the source: entrepreneurs who have sold to private equity and venture capital firms. Founders filled out a questionnaire about their experiences partnering with private equity and venture capital firms and shared data on how their portfolio companies have grown during these partnerships. To see the complete list, go to: https://www.inc.com/founder-friendly-investors/2022. The October 2022 issue of Inc. magazine is available online at https://www.inc.com/magazine and on newsstands now.

About Shore Capital Partners Shore Capital Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm with offices in Nashville, is focused on microcap investments within the Healthcare, Food and Beverage, Business Services, and Real Estate industries. Shore supports management partners with capital, business development expertise, and industry knowledge to accelerate growth, fund acquisitions, and generate value for shareholders. Shore targets investments in proven, successful private companies with superior management teams, stable cash flow, and significant growth potential, including organic growth and growth through industry consolidation. Shore has approximately $3 billion of cumulative capital commitments through various investment vehicles. For more information, please visit: www.shorecp.com. About Inc. The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community they need to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101006100/en/

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[November 01, 2022] BN3TH and Jason Momoa Launch Underwear Collaboration

An exclusive boxer brief release available now NORTH VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning men's next-to-skin underwear and base-layer brand BN3TH (pronounced "beneath") is thrilled to announce their collaboration with Jason Momoa and his signature outdoor-product line, So iLL x On the Roam. The one-of-a-kind Boxer Brief features BN3TH's patented MyPakage Pouch Technology along with design callouts to Jason Momoa's iconic Polynesian triangle-patterned tattoo ("niho mano" in Hawaiian) and exclusive colorways. The products will be available in limited quantities, exclusively online at ontheroam.soillholds.com, starting Nov. 1, 2022. The collaboration will become available again for retail and e-commerce in May 2023. "These are the undies I wear because they've got this awesome pouch. It's like angels. If you've had a hard day, it's alright  angels. We got you."  Jason Momoa These luxury Boxer Briefs feature ultra-soft, breathable, TENCEL Modal fibers that are made from wood pulp from sustainably managed sources and are guaranteed to stay smooth and comfortable. Available in Dirty Pink and Black Wolf colorways. "The stars have finally aligned," says Dez Price, co-founder of BN3TH. "A few years back, Jason Momoa was introduced to the brand and he immediately fell in love with the way the product felt and fit. And once he learned about BN3TH's sustainability efforts, Jason developed an even deeper affinity for the brand and our products. We've always stayed in touch, and now the relationship is at a point where we've established a collaboration between BN3TH and his brand, So iLL x On the Roam. Together, we hope that everyone can appreciate the authentic nature of this partnership and try a pair for themselves." BN3TH's passion for creating innovative and sustainable products designed for those with a sense of adventure and a desire for unparalleled comfort align perfectly with Momoa's mission of creating gear dedicated to honoring those who roam. An award-winning actor, environmental activist and avid rock climber, Momoa has been "supported by BN3TH" for a few years, wearing the sustainable Classic Boxer Briefs regularly. So when it came time for BN3TH to collaborate with a like-minded gentleman for a limited release, the fit felt right, just like BN3TH's underwear.



About BN3TH? BN3TH was?started in Vancouver, British Columbia, to radically change how men think about underwear. No one performs at their best when they're adjusting. Or shifting. Or sweaty.?

Increased Comfort = Increased Performance? BN3TH was the first to create underwear with a three-dimensional pouch, and the patented MyPakage Pouch Technology remains the key to our uniquely supportive fit. BN3TH engineers underwear and base layers that keep you comfortable for full days on the mountain, on the water, in the gym or in the office. Over time,?BN3TH?has evolved as a company to begin championing a full range of apparel for any and every consumer, endeavor, occasion, climate and style, while working hard to minimize the environmental impact of?the?business and contribute to causes that help preserve our planet. BN3TH was formerly known as MyPakage. For more information, visit BN3TH.com . About So iLL x On the Roam, by Jason Momoa Daniel and David Chancellor started the So iLL (Southern Illinois) brand by manufacturing rock-climbing holds on the porch of their college rental house. Fast-forward nearly 20 years and So iLL has added a focus on designing footwear and clothing for outdoor enthusiasts. Understanding that everything we do has an impact on our planet, the So iLL team works tirelessly to source sustainable materials and plastic-free packaging. Daniel and Jason Momoa were introduced through a mutual friend at an indoor rock-climbing gym in Los Angeles. The two sparked an immediate connection after finding out that their involvement in rock climbing started around the same point in time. In Momoa's words, "Climbing found me, it blessed me and I fell in love with it." In 2019, Momoa sought out his friends at So iLL to collaborate on a signature line of outdoor products designed with Mother Earth in mind and dedicated to honoring those who roam. About TENCEL TENCEL is the flagship brand under The Lenzing Group that represents its specialty textile fiber product offerings. Fibers using the TENCEL brand are of botanic origin  they are derived from certified and controlled sources following the stringent guidelines of the Lenzing Wood and Pulp Policy. They are produced via environmentally responsible production processes and are both compostable and biodegradable, thus can fully revert back to nature. For additional information: TENCEL View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bn3th-and-jason-momoa-launch-underwear-collaboration-301665174.html SOURCE BN3TH

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Baroness May Bloods dedication and conviction to the causes she believed in were clear to all who met her, mourners at her funeral service heard.

The trade unionist and integrated schools advocate Baroness Blood died last month aged 84.

Politicians from across Northern Ireland paid tribute to the working-class activist in the wake of her death, as did President of Ireland Michael D Higgins and Archbishop John McDowell.

The order of service for the funeral of Baroness May Blood at Ballygomartin Presbyterian Church in Belfast (Niall Carson/PA)

Speaking at her funeral service, campaign director at the Integrated Education Fund Paul Caskey said, it was Mays honest straight talking, no-nonsense, common-sense approach that earned her huge respect.

He said that the Baroness was an inspiration to all and said her death had prompted messages of praise from all sections of society.

Having grown up in a working class community of Belfast and starting work from the age of 14 at a Belfast mill, she would go on to fight for better work conditions at the mill and for opportunities for those in her local community.

She sought nothing in return, Mr Caskey said. She never ever sought personal benefit from her efforts.

Mr Caskey said that the experience of her family home being set on fire for defending their Catholic neighbours, as well as her time in the mill, helped give her a unique and natural ability to transcend the sectarian division of this society.

It didnt matter what social class or religious background you came from, for May believed that the day-to-day issues of employment, education and health were far more important things in life to worry about.

The coffin of Baroness May Blood is carried from Ballygomartin Presbyterian Church in Belfast after her funeral (Niall Carson/PA)

He also retold a story of how the late Baroness mulled over whether to accept her title.

Initially she wasnt sure if she should take the title. She asked to think it over. Not the usual response.

What would people think of me? Surely people like her didnt go to the House of Lords?

But typical May, she was determined to use her position to help others not herself. If I can use the title to help the Shankill, help Early Years and young people, then I will, and she did.

Story continues

May Blood went on to become a founding member of the Northern Ireland Womens Coalition and helped raise money and awareness for the Integrated Education Fund since 2001.

Mr Caskey said she used her title to promote the fund and helped to raise millions of pounds for the cause.

Her passion, conviction and dedication was clear to all that met her. She inspired countless people to become supporters. They adored her. We all did.

As he concluded his tribute to his late friend, Mr Caskey broke down.

May yearned for the day that Northern Ireland would be at peace with itself. It was that desire for peace that drove her to do exceptional things for so many people.

She always said this little phrase: There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen, and there are people who wonder what happened.

May Blood made things happen. Thank you May for all you did  I knew this would happen  to make Northern Ireland a better place.

Among those in attendance at the funeral were Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill; Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Mervyn Gibson; actor Jimmy Nesbitt, US Consul General Paul Narain, veterans commissioner Danny Kinahan; childrens commissioner Koulla Yiasouma, and Belfast Lord Mayor Tina Black.

Actor James Nesbitt at the funeral of Baroness May Blood (Niall Carson/PA)

Also present were DUP MLA Brian Kingston, UUP MLA Mike Nesbit, Alliance Party MLA Kellie Armstrong, comedian John Linehan, and several former colleagues of Baroness Blood from the Northern Ireland Womens Coalition, including Monica McWilliams and Jane Morrice.

Mourners walked in cortege after the coffin as it was brought from Ballygomartin Presbyterian Church down Ballygomartin Road.
[November 01, 2022] Businesses need to do more to stay cyber safe

IBC calls for continued vigilance as Cyber Awareness Month concludes TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2022 /CNW/ - Cyber Awareness Month may be over, but the need for vigilance to guard against cyber attacks is greater than ever. IBC's research shows that many businesses need to do more to prevent cyber attacks, particularly when it comes to educating employees about the risks. According to IBC's August 2022 survey of 1,500 employees at small and medium-sized businesses: Only a third of surveyed employees (34%) report that their company provides mandatory cyber security awareness training.

Only half of employees surveyed (50%) report that their organization has introduced multi-factor authentication, a critical cyber security defence that requires a user to provide two or more verification factors to access a corporate network or application.

Only a quarter of employees surveyed (24%) report that their employer conducts phishing email simulations to help promote cyber vigilance.

21% of surveyed employees believe that most cyber breaches are minor and easy to resolve, while the reality is that these breaches can have a devastating financial impact. To increase education and awareness, in October IBC launched cybersavvycanada.ca, an online information portal that links to resources and information about the measures that businesses can take to help reduce their cyber risk.



IBC also launched the Cyber Savvy Challenge, which allows Canadians to test their cyber security knowledge through a quiz. By October 31, the website saw more than 628,218 visits. Of those visitors who have so far taken the quiz, only 14% were able to score a passing grade, further underscoring the need for greater cyber awareness efforts. "As cyber attacks become more common, it's important for businesses of all sizes to take action to reduce their risk," said Celyeste Power, Executive Vice-President, Strategic Initiatives and Advocacy, IBC. "Educating employees to be cyber savvy is a critical element of good cyber hygiene."

Additional resources for small and medium-sized businesses

Further, IBC is sponsoring the cyber education efforts of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), through financial support of CFIB's Business Advisor helpline. CFIB's advisors will answer basic questions on cyber security, or refer the caller to trusted, third-party resources on topics ranging from best practices in cyber risk mitigation to information on the latest cyber threats facing small businesses. IBC's funding also expands access to CFIB's helpline to all small business owners in Canada who have cybersecurity questions. Businesses with questions about insurance, including cyber insurance, can speak with experts by contacting IBC's Business Insurance Helpline (1-844-2ask-IBC). Through this helpline, businesses and organizations can also access free risk management services that help them find a path to available and affordable insurance. About Insurance Bureau of Canada

Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, auto and business insurers. Its member companies make up the vast majority of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada. For more than 50 years, IBC has worked with governments across the country to help make affordable home, auto and business insurance available for all Canadians. IBC supports the vision of consumers and governments trusting, valuing and supporting the private P&C insurance industry. It champions key issues and helps educate consumers on how best to protect their homes, cars, businesses and properties. For media releases and more information, visit IBC's Media Centre at www.ibc.ca . Follow us on Twitter @InsuranceBureau and like us on Facebook . If you have a question about home, auto or business insurance, contact IBC's Consumer Information Centre at 1-844-2ask-IBC. SOURCE Insurance Bureau of Canada

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[November 01, 2022] ixlayer Announces Formation of Advisory Board

ixlayer, the leading platform for health testing, announces today the formation of the ixlayer Health Testing Advisory Board. The ixlayer Health Testing Advisory Board will consist of industry leaders and experts who will serve as thought partners and strategists to further the movement of making health testing more accessible and affordable. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005418/en/ (Graphic: Business Wire) ixlayer is appointing five members to its recently established ixlayer Heath Testing Advisory Board (iHTAB). The formation of the iHTAB is critical at this moment in time as consumer driven healthcare is on the rise, the company said. "ixlayer is excited to take these next bold steps on our journey and welcomes these talented and respected professionals to our new advisory board," said Pouria Sanae, ixlayer's Chief Executive Officer and co-founder.



"With a belief in furthering our mission of making health testing accessible and affordable, the iHTAB will provide guidance and prioritization of efforts across all sectors that ixlayer serves, including retail, biopharma, government, and health systems," he said. "We are proud to have a diversity of perspectives and experience represented on the advisory board, helping us better understand our customers and provide meaningful solutions to the complex problems of health testing." Subject matter experts joining the iHTAB include:

Moncef Slaoui served as Chief Advisor for the US government's COVID-19 vaccine development effort, Operation Warp Speed (OPWASP). Slaoui previously spent nearly 30 years at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), most recently as Chairman of Global Vaccines, and sat on GSK's board from 2006 until his retirement. He also was on Moderna's Board of Directors between 2017 and the start of Operation Warp Speed in 2020. Paul Martino is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of VillageMD. VillageMD is committed to offering high-quality, accessible primary care options for communities across the country through Village Medical. Prior to VillageMD, Martino was the Senior Vice President of Clinical Strategy and Innovation at Anthem/WellPoint and has held senior roles at Kaiser Permanente and Aetna. The Honorable David J Shulkin M.D. served as the ninth Secretary of the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Prior to VA, Secretary Shulkin served as chief executive of Beth Israel in New York City and Morristown Medical Center in Northern New Jersey, Chief Medical Officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University Hospital, and the Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital, and Chairman of Medicine and Vice Dean at Drexel University School of Medicine. Craig Lipset is the Vice Chair at MedStar Health Research Institute (MHRI) Board of Directors, the Founder of Clinical Innovation Partners, co-chair for the Decentralized Trials & Research Alliance (DTRA), and sits on the Board of Directors for the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (Vice President) as well as on the Editorial Board for Therapeutic Innovation and Regulatory Science and served as Head of Clinical Innovation at Pfizer. Marcus Osborne spent nearly 15 years and numerous leadership positions at Walmart Health, most recently serving as Senior Vice President, and is the former Chief Financial Officer for the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative. Osborne sits as a member of the board at Community Outreach & Patient Empowerment (COPE), the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas, and the Bentonville Public Schools Foundation. About ixlayer

ixlayer is redefining next generation patient experiences for lab testing and better health outcomes. We make it easy for people to test outside of clinical settings and take proactive steps towards better health. We partner with payors, retail pharmacies, direct-to-consumer brands, biopharma, health systems, and telehealth providers to create configurable solutions for their patients, all under their own brand. ixlayer's platform enables patient-friendly digital experiences, 1000s of testing options and seamless integration with our customers and lab partners. ixlayer is the infrastructure for millions of diagnostic tests for partners including the United States Coast Guard, Stanford Health, Salesforce, and multiple national health plans. Learn more at https://ixlayer.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005418/en/

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[November 01, 2022] Organizations building safe communities, driving positive change invited to apply for Hydro One's Energizing Life Community Fund

Charitable organizations, Indigenous communities and municipalities across Ontario can apply to receive $25,000 in funding MARKDALE, ON, Nov. 1, 2022 /CNW/ - Today, Hydro One announced it has opened applications for its Energizing Life Community Fund. Charitable organizations, Indigenous communities and municipalities across Ontario are invited to apply to receive $25,000 in funding towards initiatives that promote physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing. Last year, 24 recipients providing critical local services and driving positive change in their communities were selected. Hope Haven, a therapeutic equestrian centre in Markdale and recipient of the Energizing Life Community Fund, provides life-changing experiences to children with disabilities and improves access to care for families living in rural communities. Through the Energizing Life Community Fund, Hope Haven was able to expand programming and help 100 more students with disabilities and unique needs access the Saddle Up for Success program. "With support from the Energizing Life Community Fund, 100 children with unique needs were given the opportunity to experience the incredible healing power of horses through our Saddle Up for Success school program," said Barb Sheperd, Development Officer, Hope Haven Therapeutic Riding Centre. "Our programming helps children build confidence, explore different emotions and develop a sense of empathy towards other living things. We are extremely grateful to Hydro One for helping more kids access this transformative opportunity." "At Hydro One, we are committed to being present and giving back to the communities where we live and work. Charitable organizations and municipalities are powerful agents oflocal change, and we are proud to support them as they build a better and brighter future for residents," said Jay Armitage, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Hydro One. "Organizations like Hope Haven work tirelessly to energize life in their communities, and we want to thank them for all that they do."



"Hydro One's Energizing Life Community Fund is an incredible example of what it means to be a true community partner to Ontarians," said Todd Smith, Ontario's Minister of Energy. "Watching this program grow over the last few years has been remarkable, and I'm excited to see the positive impact the Energizing Life Community Fund will have on people and communities in 2023." For the last two years, recipients of the Energizing Life Community Fund have directly supported community safety and wellbeing through several new initiatives, including service dog training for children with autism, diversified offerings at a food bank to better serve Halal residents and refurbished bicycles for children in need.

To apply to the Energizing Life Community Fund, please visit: www.HydroOne.com/EnergizingLife. Applications will close on January 31, 2023. Hydro One Limited (TSX: (TSX: H Hydro One Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with approximately 1.5 million valued customers, approximately $30.4 billion in assets as at December 31, 2021, and annual revenues in 2021 of approximately $7.2 billion. Our team of approximately 9,300 skilled and dedicated employees proudly build and maintain a safe and reliable electricity system which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities. In 2021, Hydro One invested approximately $2.1 billion in its transmission and distribution networks, and supported the economy through buying approximately $1.7 billion of goods and services. We are committed to the communities where we live and work through community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. We are designated as a Sustainable Electricity Company by the Canadian Electricity Association. Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.'s medium term notes are listed on the NYSE. Additional information can be accessed at www.hydroone.com, www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov. SOURCE Hydro One Inc.

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[November 01, 2022] Westwood Technology Group Announces Acquisition of Sentant

Westwood Technology Group, an operating group composed of industry-leading technology services businesses, announced today the acquisition of Sentant, one of the leading managed IT and security service providers based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 2016, Sentant has grown to support the day-to-day technology needs of startups and fast-growing businesses across the United States. Will Pizzano, CEO of Sentant, Lior Klisman, COO, and the rest of the team at Sentant will remain in their current roles. Sentant will continue to operate as a stand-alone entity within the Westwood family of partner companies under its current brand. "I am excited to welcome the Sentant team into the Westwood family. The team at Sentant has a unique approach to IT and Security and they've made a name for themselves in the VC and startup world. Sentant has been so impressive since our first meeting. We look forward to working with Team Sentant and to supporting Lior and Will's plans for growth in the coming years," said Justin Wells, COO of Westwood. "We are thrilled to join the Westwood team, representing a best-in-class group of leaders and companies in the technology space. Westwood's approah means Sentant will continue to operate in its distinctive, cutting-edge fashion; while benefitting from partnership with Westwood's leaders and family of companies," said Will Pizzano, CEO of Sentant.



Sentant joins the growing group of managed service leaders as the eleventh partner company in the Westwood operating group. Sentant's team and clients will benefit from access to a broad range of IT, cyber, and cloud expertise. Sentant's clients will receive the same service and partnership they have come to expect. "We could not be more excited about the new partnership with the Westwood group," said Lior Klisman, COO of Sentant. "We are confident that our collaboration will lead to tremendous growth and enhance our relationship with our customers. Sentant's access to new resources will translate directly into impactful value for our clients."

This acquisition is the second acquisition by the newly formed Westwood operating company, which now includes partner brands such as Executech, Interlaced, Nucleus, and Integritek. Westwood, backed by Evergreen Services Group, continues to pursue acquisition opportunities with companies that emphasize a culture of client success and employee development. About Westwood Westwood's vision is to build partnerships that provide accountability, thought leadership, and proven models to help elevate people and operations. With some of the largest IT service brands in Western North America, the Westwood group has the network and leadership to help growing companies flourish. Learn more about Westwood's partnership opportunities and approach at www.westwoodtechgroup.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101006225/en/

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[November 01, 2022] Georgia Power joins effort to establish six-state Southeast Hydrogen Hub

Hydrogen holds new opportunity to reduce carbon emissions as company builds future of energy for Georgia ATLANTA, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power is furthering its commitment to build the energy grid of the future and reduce carbon emissions across its generation fleet through a newly formed coalition of major utility companies across the Southeast, announced today, working to secure federal financial support for a Southeast Hydrogen Hub. The coalition, including Georgia Power's parent Southern Company, will respond to the recently announced funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy, which includes $8 billion for regional hydrogen hubs and is part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. A hydrogen hub in the Southeastern U.S. is expected to bring robust economic development benefits to the region, and hydrogen is attractive as an energy resource because it has immediate potential to accelerate decarbonization in the Southeast and across all sectors of the U.S. economy  including transportation, which generates the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions in the country. Read more about today's announcement here. "The Southeast continues to be one of the most innovative and forward-looking parts of the country when it comes to advancing new energy technologies that help decarbonize the grid, while also growing the economy and bringing jobs, and today's announcement reinforces our region's leadership in this area," said Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "As we continue to make smart investments that help us better deliver clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy for our customers, we see incredible potential in the future use of hydrogen as part of our diverse energy mix." Also earlier this summer, Mitsubishi Power and Georgia Power, alongside the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), successfully tested fuel blending of hydrogen and natural gas at both partial and full load on an M501G natural gas turbine at Georgia Power's Plant McDonough-Atkinson in Smyrna, Georgia. The demonstration project was the first to validate 20% hydrogen fuel blending on an advanced class gas turbine in North America, and the largest test of this kind to date, with the 20% blend providing an approximately 7% reduction in carbon emissions compared to natural gas.



The landmark testing at Plant McDonough-Atkinson was part of a continued commitment to new research and development to build the energy grid of the future and to reduce carbon emissions across its generation fleet, with Georgia Power having already reduced its carbon emissions by more than 60% since 2007. To learn more about how Georgia Power is building the future of energy, visit www.georgiapower.com/future.

About Georgia Power Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.7 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/Georgia Power), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power). View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/georgia-power-joins-effort-to-establish-six-state-southeast-hydrogen-hub-301665300.html SOURCE Georgia Power

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[November 01, 2022] Intellinetics to Host Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results Conference Call on November 14

Columbus, OH, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intellinetics, Inc. (NYSE American: INLX), a provider of solutions and services that enable and accelerate digital transformation, today announced that it will report its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022 after the market closes on Monday, November 14, 2022.

Management will discuss the results on a live webcast at 4:30 p.m. ET on that same day. Interested parties can access the webcast through the Intellinetics website at https://www.intellinetics.comcompany-news/. Investors can also dial in to the webcast by calling (646) 558-8656 and using webcast ID 860-7364-2157# and passcode 123.



A replay will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call. About Intellinetics, Inc.

Intellinetics, Inc. (NYSE American: INLX) is enabling the digital transformation. Intellinetics empowers organizations to manage, store and protect their important documents and data. The Companys flagship solution, the IntelliCloud content management platform, delivers advanced security, compliance, workflow and collaboration features critical for highly regulated, risk-intensive markets. Intellinetics connects documents to users and the processes they support anytime, anywhere to accelerate innovation and empower organizations to think and work in new ways. In addition, Intellinetics offers business process outsourcing (BPO), document and micrographics scanning services, and records storage. From highly regulated industries like Healthcare/Human Service Providers, K-12, Public Safety, and State and Local Governments, to businesses looking to move away from paper-based processes, Intellinetics is the all-in-one, compliant, document management solution. Intellinetics is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For additional information, please visit?www.intellinetics.com. Investor Relations Contact: FNK IR

Tom Baumann or Rob Fink

646.349.6641 / 646.809.4048

[email protected]



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E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Releases Monthly Sector Rotation Study

E*TRADE Securities LLC today released the data from its monthly sector rotation study, based on the E*TRADE customer notional net percentage buy/sell behavior for stocks that comprise the S&P 500 sectors.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101006000/en/

(Graphic: Business Wire)

About E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Important Notices

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley provides financial services to retail customers. Securities products ad services offered by E*TRADE Securities LLC, Member SIPC. Investment advisory services offered by E*TRADE Capital Management, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Commodity futures and options on futures products and services offered by E*TRADE Futures LLC, Member NFA. Banking products and services are offered by Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, Member FDIC. All separate but affiliated subsidiaries of Morgan Stanley.







More information is available at www.etrade.com.

The material provided by E*TRADE Securities LLC or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries (E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley) is for educational purposes only and is not an individualized recommendation. This information neither is, nor should be construed as, an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy, sell, or hold any security, financial product, or instrument discussed herein or to engage in any specific investment strategy by E*TRADE.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, E*TRADE, and the E*TRADE logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley. ETFC-G

ETFC

 2022 E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley. All rights reserved.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101006000/en/
Asana to Announce Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2023 Financial Results on Thursday, December 1, 2022

Asana, Inc. (NYSE: ASAN)(LTSE: ASAN), a leading work management platform for organizations, announced today that it will release financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2023 on Thursday, December 1, after the close of the U.S. markets.

In conjunction with the announcement, the company will host a webcast on the same day at 1:30 p.m. Pacific time (4:30 p.m. Eastern time) to discuss the financial results.

The live webcast and replay will be available on the Asana Investor Relations website at https://investors.asana.com.







About Asana

Asana helps organizations orchestrate their work, from small projects to strategic initiatives. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Asana has more than 131,000 paying customers and millions of free organizations in over 200 countries and territories. Global customers such as Amazon, Affirm, Japan Airlines, and Sky rely on Asana to manage everything from company objectives to digital transformation to product launches and marketing campaigns. For more information, visit www.asana.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101006050/en/
[November 01, 2022] Nip + Fab is now available at JCPenney and it's all under $25

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- United Kingdom based skincare brand Nip + Fab is excited to announce its rollout of affordable, ingredient-led skincare at United States-based retailer, JCPenney nationwide. Available to shop now, Nip + Fab launched the entirety of their line both in-store and online at JCPenney.com. All products and formulas are vegan, cruelty-free and created with the idea that luxury skincare formulations should be available to all. Nip + Fab is now available at JCPenney and it's all under $25 Nip + Fab gained fame through their partnership with Kylie Jenner in 2015. The socialite and entrepreneur discovered the brand via Instagram and went on to become the face of Nip + Fab. Jenner's love for Nip + Fab and their Dragon's Blood Fix Serum and Glycolic Fix Pas introduced the brand's products to consumers around the world. Nip + Fab has also garnered praise amongst the online beauty community with fans like Mikayla Nogueira, who has used and recommended their Hyaluronic Fix Extreme4 Concentrate 2% and Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads to her extensive community of followers.



Skincare Ranges include: Glycolic Fix Regime - Selection of the best-selling glycolic acid heroes, each product is designed to deeply exfoliate the skin, for a smooth, even-toned, glowing complexion.

Selection of the best-selling glycolic acid heroes, each product is designed to deeply exfoliate the skin, for a smooth, even-toned, glowing complexion. Salicylic Fix Regime - Selection of the best-selling salicylic acid heroes, each product is designed to treat blemishes, reduce oil and prevent further breakouts, all whilst calming your skin.

Selection of the best-selling salicylic acid heroes, each product is designed to treat blemishes, reduce oil and prevent further breakouts, all whilst calming your skin. Extreme 4 Hyaluronic Fix Regime - Selection of the best-selling hyaluronic acid heroes, each product is designed to deeply hydrate and plump your skin for a radiant glow.

Selection of the best-selling hyaluronic acid heroes, each product is designed to deeply hydrate and plump your skin for a radiant glow. Vitamin C Fix Regime - Selection of the best-selling vitamin C heroes, each product is designed to brighten, hydrate and plump your skin, for a clear, youthful glow.

Selection of the best-selling vitamin C heroes, each product is designed to brighten, hydrate and plump your skin, for a clear, youthful glow. Retinol Fix Regime - Selection of the best-selling retinol heroes, each product is designed to target fine lines, wrinkles and tackle pigmentation, for a younger, brighter complexion. For more information and to schedule an interview contact [email protected]

About Nip + Fab: Despite paving the way in the skincare industry for over a decade and providing access to effective, ingredient-led and affordable skincare for everyone, we are always aiming higher, whether that's ensuring that there are no barriers for anyone wanting to achieve skin and body confidence or continuing to do the science and creating formulations with multiple benefits. Your skin is our focus. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nip--fab-is-now-available-at-jcpenney-and-its-all-under-25-301665438.html SOURCE Nip + Fab

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[November 01, 2022]

Freedom Financial Asset Management, an Achieve Company, Recognized at Hedgeweek US Awards 2022

SAN MATEO, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Freedom Financial Asset Management (FFAM), an Achieve company  the leader in digital personal finance, received two awards for its management of the Freedom Consumer Credit Fund (FCCF) at the Hedgeweek US Awards 2022.

FCCF, a managed investment fund directed by FFAM, was recognized as both the "Best Credit Hedge Fund Under $500 Million" and the "Best Structured Credit Hedge Fund" at an awards presentation on Oct. 27, 2022 in New York City. The Hedgeweek US Awards 2022 recognize fund performance and service provider excellence in hedge funds. The winners represent the best in the American hedge fund industry, from fund managers to service providers, covering all areas of the hedge fund ecosystem. Voting for the awards was conducted in conjunction with Bloomberg via an extensive online poll of the Hedgeweek user base, with over 29,000 votes cast in total.

"Achieve is honored to be recognized at the Hedgeweek US Awards 2022 in two separate categories," said Andrew Housser, co-founder and co-CEO of Achieve. "We've closed 13 securitizations, showcasing the consistency in our product structure and regular cadence of new deals, even in challenging economic times. These awards are a great validation of our value and reputation in the market."

Earlier this year, Achieve, formerly Freedom Financial Network , was recognized as one of the Top 100 Financial Technology Companies by The Financial Technology Report . Also this year, the company was named one of the top 100 corporate philanthropists in the San Francisco Bay Area by the San Francisco Business Times for the second consecutive year, and was additionally named to the Phoenix Business Journal's 2022 Healthiest Employers List and the The State of Arizona Top Workplaces 2022 list by azcentral.com and Energage.







FFAM is the investment adviser and managing member to the Freedom Consumer Credit Fund (FCCF). Through FCCF and its FREED ABS Trust, FFAM has issued 13 securitizations since 2018 totaling over $3.8 billion in personal loans originated by partner banks on the FFAM platform. The fund's three securitizations in 2022 all received AAA ratings from both DBRS Morningstar and Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA). Achieve and FFAM are owned by Freedom Financial Network Funding LLC.

Participation in the Hedgeweek US Awards 2022 was open to investment managers that provide data to Bloomberg with at least a three-year track record and a minimum of $50 million in assets under management during the period of May 31, 2021, to May 31, 2022. Voting was open to active industry participants and organized by size and strategy type. Additional details about the award methodology is available here.

The full list of this year's winners is available here.

About Achieve

Achieve is the leader in digital personal finance. Our solutions help everyday people get on, and stay on, the path to a better financial future, with innovative technology and personalized support. By leveraging proprietary data and analytics, our solutions are tailored for each step of a consumer's financial journey and include personal loans, home loans, help with debt and financial tools and education. Achieve is headquartered in San Mateo, California and has more than 2,700 dedicated employees across the country with hubs in California, Arizona, Texas and has regularly been recognized as a Best Place to Work.

Achieve and its affiliates are subsidiaries of Freedom Financial Network Funding, LLC, including Bills.com, LLC d/b/a Achieve.com (NMLS ID #138464) Equal Housing Lender; Freedom Financial Asset Management, LLC (NMLS ID #227977); Freedom Resolution (NMLS ID 1248929); and Lendage, LLC d/b/a Achieve Loans (NMLS ID #1810501), Equal Housing Lender.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/freedom-financial-asset-management-an-achieve-company-recognized-at-hedgeweek-us-awards-2022-301665440.html

SOURCE Achieve
Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry's children are growing up!

In the latest episode of the Archetypes podcast, the Duchess of Sussex explores the tropes of the "good" vs. "bad" wife with First Lady of Canada Sophie Trudeau and actress Pamela Adlon. During the conversation, Meghan reveals an exciting new milestone that her one-year-old daughter, Lilibet, recently achieved.

"Lili has just started walking," Meghan says, per People. "She's a year and a couple of months old."

Meanwhile, her three-year-old son, Archie, is "in the thick of ittoddling."

She adds that the "morning rush" at her and Harry's home in Montecito, California, can be a bit "chaotic."

"I'm sure it'll only get more chaotic as they get older," she says. "But for me, it's, you know, both monitors on for the kids to hear them, always up with Lili, get her downstairs, then a half hour later, Archie's up. I start doing his lunchbox right before he's up while I have her, getting her a little nibble. My husband's helping me get him downstairs."

Meghan also makes sure to prepare the most important meal of the day for her entire familyincluding their three dogs: Guy, Pula, and Mia.

"I make breakfast for all three of them. It's very important to me. I love doing it," she says. "To me, it just feels like the greatest way to start the morning."

She continues, "Then get Archie out the door for school  it feels like a whirlwind."

When Adlon expresses that she hopes Harry helps with the kids in the morning, Meghan responds, "Oh, my husband? He's great."

Meghan additionally opens up about how having a daughter has altered how she moves through the world.



"I first just had Archie, now I'm a mom of a daughter," the duchess says. "And whether I thought it was going to happen or not, it did. I see the world differently through how she is going to see the world and how she is going to look at certain women as role models. And when I look at a lot of the women that I'm speaking to on this show, you included, I want her to understand that it is not just a box you have to fit into, but you get to be a full-fledged, interesting, curious, kind, strong, all the things, human being. But you also get to be a woman with a voice."



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[November 01, 2022] ORISE is accepting applications for the 2023 Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship Program from graduate and undergraduate students

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is currently accepting applications for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) 2023 Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship Program (MLEF). This 10-week summer program, managed by the DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, is for students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and math at the associate's, bachelor's or master's degree level. U.S. citizenship is required. Under the mentorship of DOE scientists and engineers, students will complete a cutting-edge research project at one of the Department's National Laboratories or DOE Headquarters in support of the Department's mission to minimize the environmental impacts of fossil fuels while working towards net-zero emissions. The mission of the MLEF program is to strengthen a diverse pipeline of future STEM professionals, and this program has mentored nearly 1,000 of the best and brightest students from across the nation for future careers in the STEM workforce. During the 10-week appointment, students receive a weekly stipend, and may be eligible for housing and travel allowances. Students will also gain insight into how the Department of Energy is working toward an equitable and clean energy future. The goal of the program is to improve opportunities for women and minority students in the STEM fields although all eligible candidates are encouraged to apply. The summer program may place students at one of several possible sites including: U.S. Department of Energy Headquarters, Washington, D.C. and Germantown, MD

National Energy Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA; Morgantown, WV; Albany, OR

Strategic Petroleum Reserve, New Orleans, LA; and other SPR sites in LA and TX

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA

Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM The MLEF program may istitute a virtual program as necessary.



The MLEF Program offers the following benefits: Direct exposure to and participation in research on DOE mission-relevant research areas

Hands-on research experience and training under the mentorship of program officials and scientists

Stipends ranging from $650-$750 per week (depending on academic status), plus limited housing and travel reimbursement

Opportunities to present research at a program-sponsored technical forum How to Apply & Program Information:

MLEF Program applications are due by January 23, 2023, at 11:59 EST. For application information and to apply, visit the MLEF website: https://orise.orau.gov/mlef/. The MLEF program is administered through ORISE. For questions, email: [email protected]. About ORISE The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education is a U.S. Department of Energy asset that is dedicated to enabling critical scientific, research, and health initiatives of the department and its laboratory system by providing world class expertise in STEM workforce development, scientific and technical reviews, and the evaluation of radiation exposure and environmental contamination. ORISE is managed by ORAU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and federal contractor, for DOE's Office of Science. The single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, the Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov Like us on Facebook: ORISE Facebook and MLEF Facebook Follow us on Twitter: ORISE Twitter Connect with us on LinkedIn: ORISE LinkedIn View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101006301/en/

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[November 01, 2022] GCI Investors Announces Fund Closure

GCI Investors (GCI) announced today the impending closure and liquidation of Genuine Investors ETF (NYSE: GCIG). The Valued Advisers Trust Board of Trustees approved the closing and subsequent liquidation of GCIG. The fund's last day of trading will be November 21, 2022, which will also be the final day for creations or redemptions by authorized participants. The fund will cease operations, withdraw its assets, and distribute the remaining proceeds to shareholders on November 30, 2022. Carefully consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other important information may be found in the prospectus, which may be obtained by calling (713) 401-9048. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. Genuine Investors ETF is distributed by Northern Lights Distributors, LLC About GCI GCI is an independent, 100% employee- owned firm that was fouded on the principle that investing in high-quality companies at attractive prices is the best strategy to achieve long-run, risk-adjusted returns. Their strategy represents a concentrated, fundamentals focused approach to investing. For GCI, everything comes back to making a genuine investment in a company. As such, they take a business-owners approach to understanding and analyzing companies. Their decisions are made as allocators of capital, not as traders of stocks. They continually search for the most attractive investment opportunities at any point in time, across all market caps and various investment styles.



For more information, please visit www.genuineinvestorsetf.com. 15898931-NLD-11012022

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101006230/en/

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[November 01, 2022] Rio Tinto reaches agreement with certain shareholders of Turquoise Hill Resources

Rio Tinto has entered into agreements ("Agreements") with certain funds and other entities related to Pentwater Capital Management LP and SailingStone Capital Partners LLC (the "Securityholders") in relation to the special meeting ("Special Meeting") of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd ("Turquoise Hill") shareholders to vote on Rio Tinto's acquisition by way of plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") of the approximately 49% of the issued and outstanding shares of Turquoise Hill that Rio Tinto does not own for C$43.00 per share in cash (the "Consideration"). As announced by Turquoise Hill, the Special Meeting has been postponed until Tuesday 8th November. Under the Agreements, the Securityholders have agreed to withhold their votes at the Special Meeting and exercise their dissent rights in respect of the Arrangement. Rio Tinto has agreed to increase the dissent condition under the Arrangement Agreement from 12.5% to 17.5% of Turquoise Hill shares issued and outstanding. Under the Agreements, the parties have also agreed that the dissent proceedings with the Securityholders and certain other claims shall be conducted by arbitration, and the Securityholders shall be paid C$34.40 of the Consideration following the completion of the Arrangement, with the remaining Consideration payable following the final determination of the arbitration. The Agreements contain customary releases of the parties. Rio Tinto reconfirms that the proposal of C$43.00 per Turquoise Hill share is best and final. Additional Disclaimers Canadian Early Warning Disclosure Rio Tinto currently beneficially owns 102,196,643 common shares of Turquoise Hill, representing approximately 51% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Turquoise Hill. Rio Tinto also has anti-dilution rights that permit it to acquire additional securities of Turquoise Hill so as to maintain its proportionate equity interest in Turquoise Hill from time to time. This announcement is authorised for release to the market by, and a copy of the related early warning report may b obtained from, Rio Tinto's Group Company Secretary.



The head office of Turquoise Hill is located at 1 Place Ville-Marie, Suite 3680, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3B 3P2. Forward-Looking Statements

The Information provided in this press release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian securities law, respectively. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this release, are forward-looking statements or information. The words "intend", "forecast", "project", "anticipate", "estimate", "plan", "believes", "expects", "may", "should", "will", "target", "pursue", "seek" or similar expressions, commonly identify such forward-looking statements or information. More particularly and without restriction, this press release contains forward-looking statements and information regarding: statements and implications about the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement for Rio Tinto, Turquoise Hill and their respective shareholders, shareholder and court approvals, the anticipated timing of the completion of the Arrangement and the anticipated funding and other risks for Turquoise Hill and the shareholders if the Arrangement does not proceed. Such forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the failure of the parties to obtain the necessary shareholder and court approvals or to otherwise satisfy the conditions to the completion of the Arrangement; failure of the parties to obtain such approvals or satisfy such conditions in a timely manner or at all; significant transaction costs; failure to realize the expected benefits of the Arrangement and general economic conditions. Failure to obtain the necessary shareholder and court approvals, or the failure of the parties to otherwise satisfy the conditions to the completion of the Arrangement or to complete the Arrangement, may result in the Arrangement not being completed on the proposed terms, or at all. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements and information contained in the Information is qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements, and there can be no guarantee that the results or developments that we anticipate will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences or effects on our business, financial condition or results of operation. Rio Tinto expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking (except as required by applicable law, the UK Listing Rules, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority and the Listing Rules of the Australian Securities Exchange) to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement or information contained in this press release to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement or information is based. All Information in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is accessed. This announcement contains inside information. The person responsible for arranging and authorising the release of this announcement on behalf of Rio Tinto is Steve Allen, Group Company Secretary. LEI: 213800YOEO5OQ72G2R82

Classification: 3.1. Information disclosed under article 19 of the Market Abuse Regulation. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101006224/en/

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[November 01, 2022] ILLUXI INVESTS $600,000 IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WITH PROMPT'S SUPPORT

MONTREAL, Nov. 1, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - illuxi is proud to announce that Prompt has awarded it a $300,000 grant through the Innovation Program managed by Investissement Quebec on behalf of Ministere de l'Economie, de l'Innovation et de l'Energie (MEIE) to integrate artificial intelligence into its technology platform. "We're very pleased to have submitted a true artificial intelligence project that people are excited about and that has earned the trust of Prompt and MEIE," said illuxi president and CEO Philippe Richard Bertrand. We'll be working with Funartech and Polytechnique Montreal on this ambitious undertaking. And without this financial support50% of project costswe couldn't even have considered it." "Imagine a company saving 25% in training time for its employees!" added illuxi vic president and chief technology officer Marc-Andre Lanciault. "We believe it's possible by integrating artificial intelligence into digital learning environments! The time and money savings could be substantial, not to mention that training is important for economic growth and for addressing labour shortages. With artificial intelligence, each learner has a personalized digital learning path based on the skills they need for the job according to the skills profile."



"Using artificial intelligence is one of the solutions to the whole labour shortage issue," said Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, Minister Responsible for Regional Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montreal Region. "It offers clear advantages when used to improve employee training. More innovative projects like this should be developed to spur Quebec's economic growth." "It's always a privilege for Prompt to work with illuxi's enthusiastic and capable team," said Prompt AI program director Nicolas Bergeron. "Their innovation is a concrete example of the benefits of using artificial intelligence to improve skills sharing and transfer."

About illuxi Illuxi produces, hosts, and distributes training paths to facilitate knowledge exchange within organizations through its SaaS platform and support services. The illuxi technology platform also manages employee learning and commercializes online training. About Funartech Funartech is an artificial intelligence (AI) startup pioneering the hybridization of machine learning and operational research that pushes AI's limits, not only on the practical level (optimizing industrial processes by 20% to 40%), but also on the theoretical level (new ways of combining different areas of AI). About Prompt Prompt is one of nine industrial research sectoral groups specializing in new technology and IT. Its mission is to accelerate collaboration between the entrepreneurial and scientific worlds, bring Quebec innovation to the forefront, and enhance Quebec's competitive standing in the world through MEIE's funding programs (artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, Quantique, 5G, etc.). Prompt has funded nearly 400 projects over the past 20 years for a total value of $360 million. In 20212022, 106 projects were funded with a total project value over $71 million. SOURCE Intelligence Illuxi Inc.

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A bit of election trickery worth myth busting after a bevy of social media posts on the topic over the weekend . . .



In a statement Monday morning, Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab urged voters to confirm their polling place through the Secretary of States website.



The Secretary of States office does not use third parties to contact voters or share election information on our behalf. Schwab said. State and local election officials are the trusted sources for election information.



The texts themselves, sent from a group called Voting Futures, included voters' real home addresses and the address of an incorrect polling location.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Once again we notice a controversial council lady stepping to the forefront and leading the urban discourse in Kansas City.



More to the point . . .

IF COUNCIL MEMBER MELISSA ROBINSON WANTS TO BE MAYOR, NOW IS HER ONLY CHANCE THIS DECADE!!!



In fact, here's why it's now or never for her . . . And why we think she might be interested . . .



We didn't even want to write this post until we noticed that she has $16K in the bank for her upcoming campaign and that's way more than she needs. Also . . . A $1K donation from a trash company reveals that she PROBABLY knows where to find more cash.



As of late . . . We've noticed a lot more love from the newspaper for this local politico.

Even better . . .

As the NYT hypes the new KC Tenants political outfit, council lady Robinson seems to be one of their early favorites . . . And she's the only real contender who has openly aligned with this group.



These are all upbeat reasons to power a real challenge to the heavily funded Mayor . . .

Here's a motivator that's not so nice . . .

Dr. Melissa Patterson Hazley has quickly become the new Kansas City East side political favorite & rising star.



And so . . .

There likely can be only one Melissa in KCMO politics . . . Council lady Robinson is about to become Melissa "the lesser" in the eyes of her colleagues and constituents.

Even better . . .

Behind the scenes . . .

Insiders tell TKC that activists are encouraging the Council Lady to be more aggressive and take on an already unpopular Mayor.

Another look at her campaign finance reporting shows Lora from More2 offering a modest bit of financial support and a signal that more activist help has aligned with Melissa Robinson.

Real talk . . .

There is no Black vote without Black women . . . Black women are the backbone of this powerful constituency, they dominate organizing and mobilization . . . In heavily Democratic Party dominated areas, look closely and notice that highly educated, motivated and exceptional Black women are doing a great deal of the heavy lifting.

This is something that former Council lady Alissia Canady has already demonstrated and behind the scenes it's part of the very serious activist conversation urging a shakeup up in the local political status quo.



Mind you . . .

KC conservatives are screwed in this decision because the Council Lady is a fierce advocate of local (city hall) police control and challenges to law enforcement.

However . . .

What we like about the council lady is that, for all her faults, SHE SEEMS GENUINELY CONNECTED TO KANSAS CITY NEIGHBORHOODS in a way that Mayor Q is not . . . And that might be enough to garner support or at least make her the lesser of two evils . . . On this Halloween night . . .That's about as good as it gets.

Developing . . .
Right now we share a bevy of local crime links featuring an update on a recent suspicious death investigation along with reporting on police action, alleged misdeeds and violence across the metro.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Kansas City suspicious death now being investigated as homicide KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department said a body found in a pond Sunday morning is now being investigated as a homicide. Officers responded to reports of a body in a pond near E. 24th Street and Topping Avenue, just before 9 a.m. Sunday.

911 hold times reach average of 35 seconds, KCPD blames staffing shortages KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - People across Kansas City are waiting longer for help in emergencies. The average queue time for 911 emergency calls is now 35 seconds. Data reveals four days in September that had hold times averaging 50 seconds or more. "That is definitely not something that we want," said 911 training supervisor Tammy Bazzle.

$500,000 settlement reached in case of man fatally tackled by Kansas City police officer A judge approved a $500,000 settlement for the parents of a man who was tackled by a Kansas City police officer and died. Brian Prince died in October 2017. His parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit the next year. During an unusually personal hearing Monday morning, Brian's father Don Prince said the case showed that his son's life mattered.

Johnson Co. man convicted of teen's murder over $8 Xanax deal OLATHE, Kan. - A Johnson County jury convicted a man of killing a 17-year-old over an $8 Xanax deal. The jury found 22-year-old Matthew Lee Bibee guilty of first-degree murder, attempted capital murder, first-degree attempted premeditated, aggravated robbery, battery on a law enforcement officer, and other related crimes in the murder of 17-year-old Rowan Padgett.

Body pulled from Kansas River identified as missing Independence man KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Kansas, police identified the body pulled from the Kansas River last weekend as a 19-year-old Independence man. KCKPD detectives investigating the body, which was discovered around noon Saturday by a kayaker, identified the deceased as Johnathan Devol. Police said Devol was last seen Oct.

Kansas City woman disappears after hospital release KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Police are looking for a missing woman who disappeared after she was discharged from a hospital. Kansas City police say 78-year-old Mavis Czarny, was taken to a hospital Saturday evening after someone found her near 113th and North Ditman Avenue around 11:30 p.m.

Kansas City family searching for stolen truck that had mother's ashes, military awards In the vehicle stolen from Nancy McGuire, there were her father's deceased dog tags from his more than 39 years of service.

Kansas City Police search for suspects involved in Midtown armed robbery KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Police need help identifying three people who robbed a Midtown business. Detectives say the individuals robbed the Shop Local KC store near 36th and Main Street. The department tweeted surveillance pictures from the business of each individual Monday afternoon. The first person is described as about 5'9 with a skinny build.

Developing . . .
Nearly 40 years after the high-profile murders of two Toronto women, police announced they have arrested and charged a man with the 1983 slayings of Susan Tice and Erin Gilmour  the latest decades-old cases to be cracked using genetic genealogy.
The chairman of the legal issues committee Anri Okhanashvili, at the meeting where the initiated law in the first reading "on de-oligarchization" was submitted, said that the task is to end political "speculations and manipulations" and fulfill the recommendations issued by European Union for Georgia's candidate status."Regarding de-oligarchization, our task is, on the one hand, to fulfill this record of the 12-point plan in particular, and on the other hand, to put an end to political speculations and manipulations, -" said Anri Okhanashvili.Okhanashvili emphasized that the issue refers to such a phenomenon as de-oligarchization, regarding which the only country that has legal regulations for it is Ukraine.For this reason the Ukrainian option was discussed and presented for discussion within the working group."Deriving from the fact that a call was made by the European structures regarding Ukraine regarding the implementation of the law adopted by them, familiarization, discussion and analysis of the Ukrainian model was considered as an objective measure within the working group.That is why we considered the Ukrainian model. Finally, the working group agreed on the issue, including within the framework of different opinions, to present the draft law "on de-oligarchization", Anri Okhanashvili said.According to him, the issue has become the subject of political speculation among political parties."What is meant and who is meant by the oligarch is being manipulated - it turns out that a specific person was thought up by the European structure in the 12-point plan," added Anri Okhanashvili.According to Zura Japaridze, the leader of "Girchi-More Freedom", it is very likely that Georgia will receive the status of a candidate country for the European Union by the end of 2023.As he told the journalists, the actions and statements of "Georgian Dream" are raising questions in Brussels, which, in his opinion, is not doing anything to fulfill the 12 recommendations of the European Commission."The questions are related to the behavior of "Georgian Dream" and the steps they took before and after the rejection of candidate status. These are the questions due to which, with a very high, 99% probability, we will be denied candidate status at the end of next year. This is the answer to the question "do you want war" from them. We don't want war, we want to fulfill the recommendations, but they won't do it," Japaridze said.In addition, he also responded to the process of selecting a new public defender and said that the government will most likely select the candidate they want for this position."I do not believe that this government will give up any democratic institution and give it independence and freedom. The nature of this government is such that all points of power must be fully controlled, among them it may not be so problematic in terms of loss of power, but I think they will assign their own candidate to this position as well", Japaridze said.
As hunters take to the woods, marshes and fields across Wisconsin for the traditional nine-day deer hunt in November, HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Josephs hospitals and Prevea Health ask all to keep health and safety top of mind.

Injuries and life-threatening conditions bring deer hunters to our emergency department each year, said Tyler Bowe, trauma coordinator at HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Josephs hospitals. Some of the most common injuries we see include heart attacks, broken bones and back injuries.

Undiagnosed heart disease, overexerting ones-self beyond their limits and being unprepared for the weather are common factors in hunting-related injuries and illnesses.

Falls from tree stands are also common, resulting in more injuries each year than gun-related hunting injuries, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Bowe strongly recommends hunters carry a cell phone and hunt with a partner should an unexpected injury or illness occur in the woods.

Whether a hunter accidentally cuts themselves, experiences chest pain, falls from a tree stand or happens to twist their ankle, being able to ask for help is critical, he said. The seriousness of these injuries can only get worse when a hunter finds themself unable to get help because they ventured out alone or didnt bring along a cell phone.

Additional health and safety tips for hunters include:

Always wear fall-restraint harnesses while in trees.

Always maintain three points of contact with trees

while climbing.

Bring a first-aid kit to deal with potential injuries.

Take intermittent breaks while hiking, dragging and processing deer to decrease risks of a heart attack.

Pack dry clothes, rain gear and wear layers to help prevent the risk of experiencing hypothermia.

Maintain proper ventilation when using propane heat inside of cabins and enclosed deer stands to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
Celeste Ng on her new book Our Missing Hearts: its terrifying to think of going to a library and finding that most of the books have been taken away
(TRAVPR.COM) SINGAPORE - November 1st, 2022 - CapitaLand Ascott Trust (CLAS) has partnered with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to launch IFCs first sustainability-linked bond in the hospitality sector globally. IFC, a member of the World Bank Group and the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets, is the sole subscriber for the JPY16.5 billion (about S$157.4 million) sustainability-linked bond.

The sustainability-linked bond is being issued as part of CLAS S$2 billion Multicurrency Debt Issuance Programme with a fixed coupon rate of 1.05% per annum and is paid semi-annually in arrears. The seven-year bond will mature in November 2029.

Proceeds from the bond will be used to refinance CLAS existing borrowings and to further decarbonise three of CLAS serviced residences in Southeast Asia, namely Ascott Jakarta in Indonesia as well as Ascott Makati and Somerset Millennium Makati in the Philippines. The three serviced residences are expected to achieve a 40.5% reduction in electricity consumption by 31 December 2028. The projects must also obtain IFCs Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) certification within the same timeframe.

The electricity consumption reduction target is aligned with the targets set out under the CapitaLand 2030 Sustainability Master Plan. The Master Plan outlines the Groups efforts to accelerate its transition to a low-carbon business, improve water conservation and resilience, and to enable a circular economy.

Ms Serena Teo, Chief Executive Officer of CapitaLand Ascott Trust Management Limited and CapitaLand Ascott Business Trust Management Pte. Ltd. (the Managers of CLAS) said: We place sustainability at the core of everything we do. Dovetailing our financing efforts with our environmental, social and governance efforts further affirms our commitment towards responsible growth. To date, CLAS has raised about S$450 million through sustainable financing. CLAS continues to collaborate with like-minded stakeholders in the financing and investment community to fight climate change through our collective efforts. Currently, 35% of CLAS portfolio is green-certified and we remain on track to green 50% of our portfolio by 2025 and our entire portfolio by 2030.

Ms Kim-See Lim, IFCs Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific, said: We are delighted to support CapitaLand Ascott Trust, Asia-Pacifics largest lodging trust, in its efforts to help address the climate crisis in the region through IFCs first sustainability-linked bond in the hospitality sector. Our investment will support the decarbonisation of a portfolio of energy-intensive buildings, while also ensuring that the energy reduction is specifically aligned with Net Zero targets.

CapitaLand Ascott Trust consolidates reputation as a leader in sustainability in the hospitality sector

CLAS has achieved several firsts as part of its global sustainability drive, further consolidating its reputation as a leader in sustainability in the hospitality sector. In October 2022, CLAS was named Global Sector Leader Hotel - Listed' and ranked first in the Asia Pacific Hotel  Listed category in the 2022 GRESB Real Estate Assessment (GRESB) for the second consecutive year. CLAS also scored A for public disclosure for the second year running. CLAS is also the only hospitality trust from the Asia Pacific Hotel  Listed category to receive the highest rating of 5 stars this year, placing CLAS in the top 20% of the benchmark globally.

In April 2022, CLAS issued its first sustainability-linked bond of S$200 million under its newly established Sustainability-Linked Finance Framework. CLAS is the first hospitality trust globally to issue a sustainability-linked bond and is also the first listed real estate trust in Singapore to issue a sustainability-linked bond. The bond was well-received by investors and was about 2.2 times oversubscribed.

CLAS has also received multiple accolades in recognition of its excellence in corporate governance and investor engagement. In August 2022, CLAS was ranked first amongst REITs and Business Trusts on the Singapore Governance and Transparency Index (SGTI) 2022 for the second consecutive year. In the same month, CLAS also won the gold award for Best Investor Relations amongst REITs and Business Trusts at the Singapore Corporate Awards 2022.

Partnership with IFC to pioneer a green certification for serviced residences

In 2018, CLAS sponsor, The Ascott Limited (Ascott) partnered with IFC to pioneer a green certification for serviced residences, as part of IFCs EDGE framework. The new international green benchmark for serviced residences paves the way for more serviced residences to achieve an accredited and well-recognised green certification. Ascotts partnership with IFC also includes an exchange of knowledge and research on sustainable design of serviced residences in developing regions such as Asia-Pacific, Indochina, and Africa.

An innovation of IFC, the EDGE certification empowers emerging markets to scale up resource-efficient buildings in a fast, easy, and affordable way. It enables developers and builders to quickly identify the most cost-effective strategies to reduce energy use, water use and embodied energy in materials.

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ESSEGI Automation Honors Horizon Sales with Top Sales Award during Sales Meeting in Italy Published: 01 November 2022 by Tyler Hanes by Tyler Hanes

HOWELL, MI  Horizon Sales is pleased to announce that it received an award from ESSEGI Automation S.r.l. for its Top Sales Representative in the Americas. Jose Ciccio, Global Sales Manager ESSEGI, presented the award to David Smith, Horizons South Regional Manager, and Kyle Keydel, Horizons East Regional Manager, on behalf of the Horizon team during the ESSEGI sales meeting that took place October 18-20, 2022 in Vincenza, Italy.

The award was presented with the recognition that even though Horizon Sales territory of just the Midwest USA is very small in context of the all of the geography and account density throughout the entire Americas, Horizon was responsible of providing more than 20 percent of all sales for the ESSEGI product line.

Participants from around the globe including Europe, Africa, Australia, Asia and the Americas (including North, South and Central America) attended the three-day event. The sales meeting featured some product training and an advance introduction to some of the newer features that will be shown for the first time to the general public at the IPC APEX Expo in January Horizon Sales offers ESSEGIs complete line of automated component storage systems, including the new ISM UltraFlex 3600S. The unit is a new benchmark in the electronic component storage market, pushing performances beyond current possibilities, allowing the user to reconfigure the unit as their needs change.

For more information, visit www.horizonsales.com
I know you guys are inundated, but there are hundreds of people out blocking the street, trying to push cars over and trying to run people over. I know you guys are busy, but this is chaos here, said one woman.
The Tv6 Fan Zone touched down at the All Out Sports bar again on Monday at the Queens park O
Ohio voters will consider Issue 1 on the November ballot. If passed it would remove the Ohio Supreme Courts authority on determining bail amounts and conditions. Additionally, it would require courts to consider public safety and other factors when setting them.

Bond reform gained traction in response to an Ohio Supreme Court ruling in January after a $1.5 million bond was set for a Cincinnati man accused of fatally shooting a man during a robbery.

A lower court ruled the bond be set at $500,000 and the states High Court agreed saying public safety concerns brought forth by the victims family could be met by other requirements such as requiring electronic monitoring of the criminal defendant, which was done in the case.

Issue 1 has the support of Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

Donald Caster, assistant professor at UC Law and a staff attorney for the Ohio Innocence Project, spoke with WLWT for a story about the bond proposal.

I want to be safe in my community and I want my wife to be safe in our community, Caster told WLWT. That all concerns me, but I also dont want to lock people up without giving them some due process.

Caster and other legal experts noted that Ohio already has a mechanism to keep dangerous defendants locked up known as a pretrial detention hearing. The hearing requires the prosecution and defense to provide evidence why the accused should or should not be denied bail.

Clear and convincing evidence must be shown the accused committed the offense and is a danger to society.

One of the other concerns is that the Ohio Constitution says the Ohio Supreme Court makes the rules that courts have to follow in criminal cases including decisions about bail, says Caster during a WLWT segment.

Listen to the full WLWT segment on Issue 1 in Ohio.

Learn more about Ohio's Issue 1 online.

Featured image courtesy of Unsplash.
Every new Russian attack on Ukraines civilian targets only makes the international consensus on Russias liability easier and closer.

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his video address, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The full text of the speech is provided below:

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

Currently, restoration work is still ongoing in those regions where Russian missiles hit today. We are doing everything possible to restore energy and water supply. And we will restore it.

Russian terrorists do not have such missiles that could hit the Ukrainian desire to live, live in a civilized manner and take care of each other. And if someone over there in the Kremlin listened to their crazy propagandists and decided that the darkness in Ukraine would help put pressure on Ukrainians, then let them not be surprised at their losses when they see how Ukrainians conduct "negotiations" in the dark.

Today our Air Forces and everyone involved in protecting the skies did a great job. Most of the objects that the terrorists identified as targets were saved. This morning alone, the terrorists used 55 cruise missiles for a massive strike, 45 of which were shot down.

I thank all Air Forces Commands for this result: South, North, East and West, as well as all units of the Defense Forces involved in protecting our skies.

Plus, four more Russian helicopters were shot down today: three attack Ka-52 and one Mi-8.

Of course, we will continue to strengthen our air defense. But already now, for every ten hits, terrorists have to spend at least four times more missiles. Russia has an even worse result with regard to drones, including those supplied by its Iranian accomplices. And the world sees that. It sees that the former "2nd army of the world" is no longer even the 22nd in terms of its effectiveness. And we will do everything to make it into the second hundred. And it will be so.

I would like to especially mention the units and employees of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, who both last week and today eliminated the consequences of terrorist attacks. They worked even despite the threat of repeated strikes and extinguished dozens of fires.

A big gratitude to all energy workers, utility workers, local self-government, regional administrations - to each and every one who restores normal life.

The same gratitude to those of our people who, each at their own level, guarantee that there will definitely be a response to the terrorists.

There will be a response on the battlefield. And I want to remind you that the total level of personnel losses of the Russian occupiers is almost 72,000.

There will be a response to terrorists in international relations as well. Complete international isolation of the terrorist state is just a matter of time.

There will be a response in the area of criminal responsibility - everyone involved in Russian terror, everyone who organized, carried out and justified it, will be responsible for it before the international court.

Every new Russian attack on our civilian targets only makes the international consensus on Russia's liability easier and closer.

And the fragments of the Russian rocket that fell on the territory of Moldova only remind us how important it is to protect ourselves from this evil together - from rashism, which recognizes neither state borders nor human values.

Today, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic visited Ukraine - one of our greatest friends.

The Czech Republic currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and this is how Russia treats European structures: during the visit of the Czech representative - 55 cruise missiles. However, no matter what they think in Moscow, Ukraine takes care of itself and does its own thing.

Today, we signed a special declaration with the Prime Minister regarding the Euro-Atlantic integration of our country. The Czech Republic has confirmed that it will support Ukraine's membership in NATO. The declaration also contains specific directions of our cooperation for the implementation of NATO standards in Ukraine.

We are starting the work on signing such declarations with all members of the Alliance.

I had a call with German Chancellor Scholz. I thanked him for the provided IRIS-T air defense system, and informed about the results achieved by the German system. We discussed the possibilities of increasing German support for Ukraine, in particular in the restoration of our infrastructure after terrorist attacks.

I also spoke with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. I informed him about the new level of escalation due to Russian actions.

Terror against Ukrainian energy facilities, moreover against the background of Russia's attempts to exacerbate the global food crisis, clearly indicates that Russia will continue to oppose itself to the entire international community. And if so, Russia should have no place in the UN Security Council and all other international structures.

I am grateful to both Mr. Scholz and Mr. Guterres for supporting our actions aimed at preserving the grain export initiative and preventing the spread of large-scale famine in some regions of the world. It is very important now to prevent this global destabilization that Russia seeks. And we can prevent it.

Today I signed three decrees on awarding our warriors. A total of 406 warriors of the Armed Forces of Ukraine received state awards.

I would like to separately thank the warriors of the units of the National Guard of Ukraine, who perform tasks in the Donetsk region. They perform them accurately and efficiently. They skillfully defend their positions and put significant pressure on the rashists. Thank you for this, guys!

Thank you to all those who make Russia get used to the idea that neither the army, nor terror, nor anything else will help them conquer Ukraine!

Glory to all our heroes!

Glory to our fantastic people!

Glory to Ukraine!

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine
The U.S. Department of Defense is "tracking reports of an alleged attack against Russian navy vessels in Sevastopol," a city in Crimea on the Black Sea.

A senior U.S. military official told this to reporters on Monday, October 31, Ukrinform reports, citing CNN.

"We do assess that there were explosions there, but I'm not going to have a damage assessment to share nor am I going to have any further information to provide in terms of what may have caused these explosions," the official said.

Russia "continues to conduct missile strikes against Ukraine's infrastructure to include their power grid, which has caused widespread power outages," the official added.

On October 29, explosions rang out in the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol, Crimea. Further reports clarified that the blasts occurred in the Sevastopol Bay, where the Russian Black Sea Fleet has a base. Ukraine did not confirm its involvement in the explosions.
The U.S. government will transfer eight NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine, and two of them will arrive in Ukraine in the near future.

U.S. Senior Defense Official said this at a briefing, Ukrinform reports.

The United States has already provided [Ukraine with] 1,400 Stingers, which is short range air defense, and our allies and partners have also provided considerable numbers of short range air defense systems. The U.S. have also committed eight NASAMS and associated munitions, and two of those will be in Ukraine in the very near future, with six more to be provided later. We also have committed to a suite of counter-unmanned aerial systems, including the VAMPIRE system and other radar systems, since we know that the UAS threat is also a serious threat right now, he said.

The official added that the U.S. also helped support Slovakia's donation of an S-300 system earlier in the war.

This was incredibly important to protect Ukrainian infrastructure at that point in time, he added.

As reported by Ukrinform, last Friday, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said that the Ukrainian military were undergoing training on NASAMS air defense systems, and after the completion of the training, the systems would be send to Ukraine.

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The total defense and security assistance provided to Ukraine by Western nations in the current year stands at EUR 41.3 billion, which is 86% of the military budget of the aggressor power, the Russian Federation.

Ukraines Permanent Representative to the UN, Sergiy Kyslytsya, provided the relevant stats via Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

The military aid Ukraine has received in 2022 is 14% less than the military budget of Russia. This & other info per country, including % of its own military budget given to Ukraine, according to Kiel Institute of World Economy as of October 2022. We appreciate every , , $, ," Kyslytsya tweeted.

According to the data provided by the diplomat, the total military aid from Western partners over the 10 months of 2022 exceeded Ukraine's 2022 defense budget by 7.6 times.

The Baltic States and Poland sent Ukraine the largest share of their own defense budgets. In particular, the undisputed leaders on the list are Latvia and Estonia, which have provided Ukraine with arms worth 41% and 37% of their defense budgets, respectively.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the U.S. State Department said it would provide eight NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has met with European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson in Kyiv. The parties discussed the restoration of Ukraines energy infrastructure after Russian attacks and the stabilization of the countrys energy system.

The relevant statement was made by the Office of the President of Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Zelensky thanked Simson for her visit to Ukraine at the time when the countrys energy infrastructure is facing Russias massive attacks with missiles and drones.

The President of Ukraine also noted the role of Kadri Simson in Ukraines accession to the European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E). Zelensky reminded that, after accession, Ukraine began to export electricity to Europe and can act as one of the guarantors of the stability of the EU energy system.

Unfortunately, due to Russias missile and suicide drone attacks on our energy system, we have suspended this process. But, I am sure we will restore everything and, in a calmer time, when the situation in our energy system is stabilized, we will continue to export electricity to Europe, Zelensky stressed.

The President of Ukraine briefed the European Commissioner for Energy on the consequences of Russias energy terrorism, which had already seriously damaged about 40% of the countrys energy infrastructure, namely thermal power plants, combined heat and power plants, and hydroelectric power plants. Additionally, Zelensky told Simson about the measures taken by the Ukrainian side to stabilize the energy system.

The parties also discussed further steps to ensure Ukraines energy security.

Zelensky spoke in detail of Ukraines needs for the restoration of energy infrastructure and called on the European Commission to play a coordinating role in attracting assistance from EU member states.

The President of Ukraine drew attention to the expediency of creating a platform to support the Ukrainian economy, in particular the energy sector, similar to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

Such a platform, such an economic Ramstein, is being built and will start working. Today, the issue of energy goes hand in hand with the financial crisis and the shortage of weapons, therefore such a platform should be created, Zelensky noted.

The parties paid special attention to the further strengthening of energy sanctions against the Russian Federation. The President of Ukraine called for the introduction of price caps on Russian gas in addition to the price caps on oil, as well as limiting the supply of Russian liquefied gas to EU countries as part of the next sanctions package, which should be approved as soon as possible.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky in a phone call with Prime Minister of Cambodia Samdeh Hun Sen stated that Ukraine will remain the guarantor of food security for the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and thanked for Ukraine's support in the UN.

Had a phone call with Prime Minister of Cambodia Samdech Hun Sen. Thanked Cambodia, which is chairing the ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nation] for supporting Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, for support in the UN. Assured that we will remain the guarantor of food security for ASEAN countries, Zelensky wrote on Twitter.

As Ukrinform reported, on October 29, the Russian Federation announced its withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, justifying its decision by an alleged attack on ships of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol Bay. Russia accused Ukraine and the United Kingdom of carrying out the attack. However, twelve ships left Ukrainian ports on Monday under the Black Sea Grain Initiative

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Relatives of Belarusian volunteers, who were killed in action fighting for Ukraine against Russia, are being detained in Belarus.

Thats according to the Belarusian Gayun Telegram channel, Ukrinform reports.

It is noted that the security forces detained Vasiliy Parfenkov, a relative of a soldier with the ethnic Belarusian Kastus Kalynovsky Regiment, who died in a battle near Ukraines Lysychansk.

Read also: Russia continues redeploying separate units to Belarus

After his arrest, he was forced to record a "repentance video" where he refers to himself as brother of the late Vasiliy and "admits" that he was subscribed to "extremist" Telegram channels.

Alexandr Lukashenkos forces had already detained Parfenkovs cousin, sister, and mother earlier.

As reported, Belarus recently introduced a higher terrorist alert across the country.
Information is from police reports and may be incomplete depending on the status of an investigation. Phone numbers are nonemergency.
Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkachenko held a meeting with the First Vice-Speaker of the Riigikogu of Estonia, Helir-Valdor Seeder, and the Ambassador to Ukraine, Kaimo Kuuska, to discuss efforts to fight against Russian propaganda.

This was reported by the ministrys press service, according to Ukrinform.

"Ukrainian culture during the war is our cultural front. Many artists stayed at home, despite everything, and now continue to support our citizens. After all, Ukrainians are currently experiencing all the horrors of a war of aggression. At the same time, the artists themselves also need support. Ukraine is now on the front line and is fighting for the values of the civilized world. That is why we need a united rear in the form of support from the EU and our partners to help cultural figures in Ukraine, as well as our media and book publishers. I thank the Estonian partners for their support," said Tkachenko.

The minister briefed his interlocutors on how the Ukrainian art sector was surviving the war, and also emphasized the need to support Ukrainian book publishing. In addition, Tkachenko emphasized the importance of EU countries joining efforts in the fight against Russian propaganda narratives.

As reported, the Ministry hopes to receive financial assistance from UNESCO for Ukraines cultural institutions, in particular, theaters located in the de-occupied territories.
| By Mary Therese Phelan

More than 200 members of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) community got their influenza vaccinations and coronavirus boosters at an on-campus clinic Oct. 20. The event was sponsored by the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP), the UMB Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL), and Walgreens.

M.J. Tooey, associate vice provost and dean of the Health Sciences and Human Services Library. receives her flu shot from Katherine Tieu, a fourth-year pharmacy student.

For the first time in the clinics five-year history, offerings were expanded to include COVID-19 and pneumonia vaccines. COVID-19 vaccinations included first, second, and booster dosages.

As of 8:45 that morning, people were lined up waiting for their turn to roll up their sleeves, said Cherokee Layson-Wolf, PharmD, BCACP, FAPhA, associate dean and professor at UMSOP. Pharmacy students preparing and administering doses were put through their paces with the steady flow of people keeping their appointments for shots, plus a handful of walk-ins.

We have been super busy all day, and that's great, because what that says to me is that people are really interested in keeping themselves protected against flu and COVID, she said.

Its really important to get your flu shot now, Layson-Wolf continued, because right now we're in the throes of flu season, especially now that everything is kind of coming back, and people are starting to congregate. And it's getting colder, we're coming indoors, and we're seeing fewer and fewer people wear masks. It's super important that we get vaccinated against the flu, so we can help protect ourselves against that, but then also help keep ourselves from spreading it to others.

For Cindy M. Schaeffer, PhD, associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, convenience was the key factor in attending the clinic.

I think the timing is perfect for the fall increases in both flu and COVID coronavirus, she said. I just love doing it on campus where I work, and I love being part of the UMB community as I get vaccinated.

At the clinic, Schaeffer received a flu shot and her fourth COVID booster at the same time, in the same arm. I feel great and everybody was super nice. It was very quick, efficient process.

You will find her at next years clinic, also.

I will absolutely take whatever vaccines are available again next year, she said.

Like Schaeffer, Bill Crockett, MS, RCRSP, executive director, Student Affairs, also took advantage of the convenience of an on-campus clinic.

I have been keeping myself inoculated and this is a location that's right next to my offices, and I was looking forward to this day to get my next booster and my flu shot, he said. Also, I love the fact that our student learners have the ability to provide the service so that we get to provide a great opportunity for them to actually practice their skills and grow their competencies.

Third-year pharmacy student Daniel Smith echoed Crocketts sentiments about the value of this hands-on learning opportunity.

I think its important for us to participate in events like this because as pharmacists, community outreach will be an important part of what we do, said Smith, who is also president of the UMSOP chapter of the National Community Pharmacists Association. I think it's great for students like us to get involved in flu shot clinics, anything we can do to help the community.

Tara Wink, MLS, historical librarian and archivist at the HSHSL, and Anna-Marie Epps, MS, administrative program specialist at the library, help to coordinate the clinic each year and are proud that the library plays an important role in the event.

Part of being a library is we support so many different schools on campus. This is a great opportunity to get our resources out, but also to get people in the library, Wink said. We're a central location, everybody knows we're here. But we also really do want to make partnerships across campus and break down some of the silos that happen throughout the different schools. It is well liked on campus. Everybody asks when we're doing it, and everybody's thrilled to see it every year.
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Gugu Mbatha-Raw sits with Vicky and her family at a settlement site in Kalehe, South Kivu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  UNHCR/Caroline Irby

LONDON  Actor and Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, is calling for urgent support for millions of displaced people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), following a visit to the region last week.

During her visit, Mbatha-Raw met with displaced individuals and families experiencing life-threatening hardship, caused by the toxic mix of ongoing conflict, increased living costs, dwindling support from the international community, and the effects of climate change.

When visiting South Kivu, DRC, Mbatha-Raw met Vicky who explained that she is confronted daily with unbearable decisions, such as whether to prioritise food or medicine, whilst also being unable to send all of her children to school. Vickys story is just one amongst millions in what is currently Africas largest displacement crisis.

Im extremely concerned, said Mbatha-Raw. Away from the headlines, millions of displaced people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are struggling to survive. First, they were forced to flee unimaginable violence, and now, due to severe underfunding and shrinking life-saving assistance, they are forced to make impossible choices that no one should have to make. As the situation worsens women and girls are also at greater risk of violence. We cannot allow this to continue.

As Mbatha-Raw departed from the DRC, UNHCR was repositioning resources in North Kivu to aid thousands displaced by fresh clashes between armed groups and Congolese forces, including from a site that until this week had hosted more than 23,000 people already forced to flee violence.

Mbatha-Raw visited programmes by UNHCR and partners, which focus on providing shelter and essential items such as mats, blankets, jerry cans, and sanitary products for women. She also met internally displaced women and girls who were survivors of sexual violence to learn how medical and psycho-social support and livelihoods training were enabling them to rebuild their lives. Whilst witnessing the positive impact that can be made where limited funding is available, she also saw the desperate scale of the needs which cannot be met with current funding levels.

UNHCR recently launched a report showing that the funding for these lifesaving programmes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and many other countries is not matching the growing needs. To date, only 42 per cent of UNHCRs requirements of US$225 million for the DRC this year is funded. If UNHCR does not receive additional funding before the end of the year, it will be forced to make further cuts in lifesaving assistance, putting more lives in jeopardy.

In her role as UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Mbatha-Raw is calling on governments, the private sector and individuals to provide urgent funding to UNHCR to meet the most pressing needs of those displaced. Without such support, the situation will continue to deteriorate, and UNHCR fears that further cuts in assistance will be catastrophic.

She added: In the Democratic Republic of Congo, as in many forgotten emergencies around the world, displaced families dont have enough shelter, food or clean water to survive. In the same way that the world has shown solidarity and compassion to those displaced by other crises, including the war in Ukraine, we must now unite to support those in the DRC and other underfunded emergencies.

B-roll: https://media.unhcr.org/Share/3lvav1o4o766wc603c2pmrso13gf15iu

For more information, please contact:
Two Cumberland County commissioners engaged in a shouting match last week over whether it was appropriate for Chairman Gary Eichelberger to use a Right-to-Know request to access emails former commissioner Rick Rovegno sent to county employees.

Near the end of the county commissioners workshop meeting Thursday, Eichelberger argued with vice chair Jean Foschi over the merits of his request, with both commissioners accusing the other of political posturing in the lead-up to next years municipal election when all three commissioner seats will be on the ballot.

During the public comment period at the meeting, Rovegno asked the county to take a hard look at what kind of Right-to-Know requests are approved, especially in cases where a public official is asking for information about a private citizen.

My attorney has done research, Rovegno said, referring to an opinion handed down by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The purpose of the Right-to-Know law is to empower citizens by affording them access to information regarding the workings of government.

The law is designed to promote access to official government information, to prohibit secrets by the actions of public officials and to make public officials accountable for their actions, said Rovegno, who served as a county commissioner from 1999 to 2011. Some time ago, I became aware that I, and by extension my brother and my wife, were the subject of a right-to-know action by commissioner Eichelberger. We were not informed that our emails were being looked into. I dont think its right and that certainly we should have been notified.

Rovegno said he has contacted several state lawmakers to inquire if the current law could be amended to require notification in cases where a private citizen is the subject of a government inquiry.

In response, Eichelberger asked County Solicitor Keith Brenneman, who signed off on the Right-to-Know request, whether his request violated any law. To my knowledge, no, Brenneman said. There is no requirement for notification unless theres an appeal, and then that information needs to be made available to the third party.

Claremont sale

Foschi, the lone Democrat of the three county commissioners, wanted to know the substance of Eichelbergers request.

An individual has every right to do a RTK request, she said. But I dont know if this was done by an individual or was it done as an elected official? Those two things to me are very different. I would appreciate knowing how that worked before moving forward.

Certainly, any public official that would pursue information about a private citizen is behaving in what I would consider to be a despicable manner, Foschi said. Private citizens are private citizens. Doing this sort of thing as an elected official or from taxpayer-funded property would not be appropriate.

Before the meeting adjourned, Eichelberger responded.

Some things are just worth correcting the record on, especially when other commissioners decide to pick up the issue, Eichelberger said. The RTK request involving Mr. Rovegno is not an RTK aimed at a random citizen. The root of that request was simply because Mr. Rovegno, for over a year now, has been a key purveyor of some key disinformation that has surrounded our divestiture of the Claremont nursing home facility.

Rovegno left Thursdays workshop meeting before Eichelberger and Foschi had their exchange over the merits of the request. Rovegno returned Monday to dispute the statement by Eichelberger that the emails included references to Claremont and the sale proceeds.

There are no communications in any of these emails to any county staff, said Rovegno, who advocated against the countys sale of Claremont and has also pushed for the idea of a benevolence fund as a possible use of proceeds from that sale along with the Friends of Claremont grassroots group.

Anything that I had to say on Claremont was either at a public meeting or in communication with elected officials, not county staff.

I stand by my statements, Eichelberger said Monday. Frankly, Im not interested in perpetuating this and wasting the commissioners time.

Divide over despicable

Eichelberger also objected during Thursdays meeting to the word despicable as used by Foschi.

I didnt use despicable in terms of you, Foschi told Eichelberger. I said it would be despicable for any elected official to use their taxpayer provided email address or equipment to go after a private citizen.

That certainly implies thats the situation that exists here, Eichelberger said.

During a heated back-and-forth exchange Eichelberger kept insisting, with a raised voice, that I have the floor while Foschi spoke over him, accusing Eichelberger of speaking in generalities without providing proof.

Youre gearing up for an election season, thats whats going on here, Foschi told Eichelberger at one point. Thats exactly whats going on here, Eichelberger responded while reaching over to poke her with a pen.

Youre using statements and lies to push your agenda forward, Foschi said.

These are not lies, Eichelberger said. You love to shout people down, dont you?

Near the end of the exchange, Eichelberger mentioned Rovegno directly. He needs to understand that hes not above the law and that the rules apply to him as everyone else.

Legal request

The Sentinel Monday contacted Melissa Melewsky, a media law attorney with the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association. She was familiar with recent press reports on the controversy.

Yes, it was absolutely legal, Melewsky said. He [Eichelberger] can do it. So can any other member of the public and the press. For what its worth, the press does that kind of thing every day. The implications may be different because were dealing with a former elected official but, from a legal perspective, he [Eichelberger] enjoys the same public access rights as any other member of the public or press.

She said Eichelbergers actions are in line with the intent of the Right-to-Know Law.

The law exists so that members of the public have a window into how their government is functioning and whether or not it is functioning with guidance from outside parties is certainly part of that, Melewsky said. Public records and government transparency laws exist so that the public can understand how and why policy decisions are made. Many times, those decisions are laid out as communications between government officials and third parties. Ultimately, whether its appropriate or not is the question for the public to decide.
On the heels of a messy ticket rollout for Taylor Swifts first tour in years, fans are angry. Theyre also energized against Ticketmaster. While researchers agree that theres no way to tell how long the energy could last, the outrage shows a way for young people to become more politically engaged through fan culture. This isnt even the first time a fandom or an artist has targeted Ticketmaster. And Swifties say it's not just about getting a ticket. The ticket debacle has spurred broader conversations about economic inequality and political action.
UNITED NATIONS, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Nov, 2022 ) :Although flood waters have continued to recede in many flood-affected areas across Pakistan in recent weeks, around eight million people need essential health assistance, the World Health Organization (WHO), a Geneva-based UN agency, said Tuesday.

Public health risks are increasing, driven by damaged infrastructure, stagnant water and inadequate sanitation facilities, WHO said.

Dr. Richard Brennan, WHO Regional Emergency Director, said that the catastrophe has pushed the country to the brink and that diseases are rampant.

Dr. Brennan said that humanitarian agencies face an uphill battle. "Enormous volumes of persistent flood waters, in particular, have provided breeding sites for mosquitos, resulting in an ongoing malaria outbreak in 32 districts.

"From July to early October 2022, over 540,000 malaria cases have been reported. Other health threats include increasing cases of diarrheal diseases, an ongoing dengue fever outbreak, measles and diphtheria.

He said that among the biggest concerns were high rates of severe acute malnutrition.

"Access to safe water and sanitation remains limited, with people using contaminated water for household consumption. Pregnant women need access to clean and safe delivery services.

" WHO expressed concern that, in the context of multiple other competing demands, the international response has not risen to the urgent needs of flood-affected communities.

More than $81.5 million is needed to respond to the health crisis in flood-affected areas of Pakistan to ensure coordinated delivery of essential healthcare services, efficient management of severe acute malnutrition, and stronger outbreak detection, and control.

With the funds available, WHO explained that it is acting quickly to protect health and to deliver essential services, especially for those displaced by the floods, through static and mobile health camps.

To date, medicines and emergency supplies worth $1.5 million have been distributed while over $6 million worth of supplies are in the pipeline.

Efforts have been scaled up to prevent and control disease outbreaks, including strengthening surveillance, undertaking vaccination campaigns against measles and cholera, ensuring early diagnosis and treatment or malaria, and providing access to clean water.

In addition, 10 Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) and three operational hubs have been established in Sukkur, Hyderabad and Naseerabad districts, the UN said.
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Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah on Saturday said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan wanted to create such a law and order situation that might trigger clashes between the people and law enforcement agencies

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Oct, 2022 ) :Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah on Saturday said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan wanted to create such a law and order situation that might trigger clashes between the people and law enforcement agencies.

Addressing a press conference, the minister said that PTI's long march was aimed at shedding the blood of innocent people in the Federal capital.

The minister also released Gandapur's purported audio leak, claiming PTI bringing arms to the capital.

He accused Imran Khan of planning to spread chaos in the name of the long march, citing purported leaked audio of Ali Amin Gandapur, who could be heard speaking about bringing ammunition for the long march.

/more
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will speak with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts in the coming days with the aim of restoring the grain export deal, the Turkish foreign minister said Tuesday

Istanbul, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2022 ) :Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will speak with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts in the coming days with the aim of restoring the grain export deal, the Turkish foreign minister said Tuesday.

"Our president will speak with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky in the coming days," Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters.

"We believe we will overcome this... (The grain deal) benefits everyone."Turkey, one of the brokers of the July agreement alongside the United Nations, has stepped up diplomatic efforts to salvage the deal signed by warring nations Russia and Ukraine.
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Divers searched for more bodies on Tuesday after the collapse of a newly renovated pedestrian bridge killed 134 people in western India, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the disaster site

Morbi, India, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Nov, 2022 ) :Divers searched for more bodies on Tuesday after the collapse of a newly renovated pedestrian bridge killed 134 people in western India, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the disaster site.

Questions also grew about the possible cause of the catastrophe at Morbi, in Modi's home state of Gujarat, on Sunday.

Nine people have been arrested on homicide charges over the collapse of the 150-year-old structure.

The suspension bridge was packed with people celebrating the final day of the Diwali holidays. Forty-seven children were among those killed.

Horrific CCTV footage showed the rickety structure, a popular tourist spot, loaded with people and then suddenly giving way as cables snapped.

Several hundred fell into the river while others clung desperately to the twisted remains of the bridge, screaming in the dark for help.

"I heard screams and a loud thud and then there was silence. Then slowly cries and screams," survivor Madhvi Ben, 30, told AFP.

Ben said one of her legs was tangled in "a steel rope", leaving her almost entirely submerged before she managed to break free and be rescued.

Morbi businessman Rafiq Gaffar, whose two nephews aged 12 and 21 died, described the scene as "mayhem".

"People were crying and wailing. It was a scene from doomsday," said Gaffar, 45.

"There were bodies floating on the water everywhere and people trapped on the bridge who were frantically calling for help." Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday joined other world leaders in sending his "deep condolences".

There were no further reports of missing people on Tuesday.

As Modi watched, rescuers in inflatable boats drove in circles trying to bring up any objects from the bottom of the river.

"We have not called off the search operation yet as there is always this apprehension there could be victims from outside whose kin are not aware of their whereabouts and haven't contacted us yet," said Rahul Tripathi from Morbi police.

The bridge renovations were reportedly carried out by local firm Oreva, whose experience was limited to clocks, e-bikes and other products.

The company could not be reached immediately for comment.
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Ukraine must provide guarantees that the humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea will not be used for military purposes, Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2022) Ukraine must provide guarantees that the humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea will not be used for military purposes, Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

"The Russian side stressed the need for Ukraine to provide guarantees of non-use of the humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea for military purposes," the ministry said in a statement, following the meeting between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin and Turkish Ambassador to Russia Mehmet Samsar.

The diplomats also discussed key areas of Russian-Turkish cooperation on international platforms, including the Black Sea Grain Initiative on the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports in the context of Kiev's recent terrorist attacks against Sevastopol.

On October 29, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Moscow was suspending its participation in the grain deal following Ukraine's drone attack targeting vessels of the Russian Black Sea Fleet as well as civilian ships in Sevastopol. The ministry said that preparations for the attacks were carried out under the guidance of UK specialists, with Ukraine using the Black Sea grain deal security corridor.
Russia will execute the projects it presented in the framework of the Arctic Council despite the lack of partners, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials and Russian Ambassador-at-Large Nikolay Korchunov said on Monday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 31st October, 2022) Russia will execute the projects it presented in the framework of the Arctic Council despite the lack of partners, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials and Russian Ambassador-at-Large Nikolay Korchunov said on Monday.

In March, after the beginning of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the United States announced that they would not participate in the meetings of the Arctic Council held under Russian chairmanship. In June the seven countries agreed to partially renew their participation in the projects Russia is not involved in.

"We emphasized the fact that projects presented by Russia will be carried out by Russia regardless of the lack of partners for the projects at the moment, mainly using our own resources," Korchunov told a press conference hosted by the Rossiya Segodnya media agency in Moscow.

The envoy called it "disappointing" that Russia's projects with other countries within the Arctic Council were being blocked, as each project undergoes a long process of coordination and fund-raising before being launched.

Regarding the newly adopted US national strategy for the Arctic, Korchunov said that Moscow was concerned with the fact that the United States made confrontation with and deterrence of other countries a cornerstone of the document.

"As one of the main challenges I would name the possible fragmentation of cooperation in the Arctic region " the envoy said, adding that "Since now those, who participate in international cooperation and shaping the creation of the Arctic as a common Home, in which people of the Arctic, indigenous peoples live in harmony... This implies constructive cooperation of all the Arctic states, for sure, this raises many questions."

In early October the United States adopted its National Strategy for the Arctic Region for the next ten years. According to the document, Washington intents to effectively compete with Russia and China, as well as to cooperate with Finland and Sweden in the security area.
On Thursday evening local residents can enjoy an evening while mingling with the Desloge Chamber of Commerce at the Slauterhouse Craft Parlour in Park Hills, all while raising money to help local kids during the Christmas season.

From 5 to 9 p.m., Slauterhouse Craft Parlour will be donating 10% of all proceeds raised during the timeframe to the St. Francois County Sheriff's Department Shop With a Cop program. This will be a chance for people to network with Desloge Chamber of Commerce members outside of their monthly luncheons.

While the main focus of the event is to benefit Shop With a Cop, the event also helps community members network, explained Chamber Director Cheri Henderson. Members of the community are invited to attend the event and mingle. This is one of the first holiday mix and mingle events the chamber plans to have.

Its a great way to kick off the holiday season and just give back to our community, explained Becky Petty, the secretary of the Desloge Chamber, and part of H20 Technologies and LaRue Water. I mean Slauterhouse is in the community, theyre one of our members, and theyre helping us to give back to children within our community with a great cause, with Shop With a Cop.

The Shop With a Cop program benefits local students in the county. Names are submitted by agencies, shelters and schools in the county.

The sheriffs department, as well as other local law enforcement officers and safety personnel, help hundreds of kids purchase $100 worth of whatever items the kid wants. Shopping takes place at either the Farmington or Desloge Walmart during two dates in the month of December.

Last year, the program had nearly 600 children between the two locations. Tickets are still being sold for the St. Francois County Shop With a Cop ATV raffle. For more information, call Amy at 573-760-3217.

Slauterhouse is open Wednesday through Sunday. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, Slauterhouse is open from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday the parlour is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on Sundays it is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This event is part of a series in Slauterhouse Supports, in which the brewery donates 10% of proceeds raised. Upcoming events in Slauterhouse Supports include supporting the North County Primary Family Community Teacher Organization on Nov. 10 from 5 to 9 p.m. and the Mineral Area Magic Volleyball on Dec. 8 starting at 5 p.m.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2022) The Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group (banned in Russia) shelled Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone three times over the past 24 hours, Maj. Gen. Oleg Yegorov, deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, said at a briefing.

"Three shelling attacks from the positions of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group were registered in the Idlib de-escalation zone over the past day," Maj. Gen. Yegorov said.

The Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides and Control over the Movement of Refugees in the Syrian Arab Republic was established in February 2016.

Its tasks include the signing of agreements on illegal armed groups and individual settlements joining the regime of cessation of hostilities, as well as coordinating the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The United States and Albania are convening a UN Security Council meeting on November 2 to discuss the ongoing protests in Iran, the US mission to the United Nations said in a statement on Tuesday

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2022) The United States and Albania are convening a UN Security Council meeting on November 2 to discuss the ongoing protests in Iran, the US mission to the United Nations said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The United States and Albania will co-host a UN Security Council Arria-formula meeting on November 2 to highlight the ongoing repression of women and girls and members of religious and ethnic minority groups in Iran and underscore ongoing unlawful use of force against peaceful protesters," the statement said. "The meeting will also identify opportunities to promote credible, international, independent investigations into the Iranian government's human rights violations and abuses."

The United States will continue to condemn Iran's violent repression of women and peaceful protesters through the UN system and will keep pursuing options to hold the Iranian government accountable, the statement added.

Experts expected to brief the US Security Council include Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran Javaid Rehman as well as Iran human rights defender and Nobel Peace prize Winner Shirin Ebadi.

In September, riots erupted in Iran in connection with the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who passed away while in police custody after being detained for improperly wearing a hijab. The rioters attacked members of Iran's security forces, killing an as of yet undetermined number.

The Iranian government has said the unrest was planned and supported by Western powers who seek regime change in Tehran.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he discussed Ukraine's defense capability, as well as the restoration of its energy infrastructure in a telephone conversation with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on Tuesday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2022) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he discussed Ukraine's defense capability, as well as the restoration of its energy infrastructure in a telephone conversation with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on Tuesday.

"Extremely important and productive conversation with French President @EmmanuelMacron. Specific decisions on strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities. Specific initiatives to restore the destroyed energy infrastructure. Thank you, my friend, for your unwavering support," Zelenskyy said on Twitter.

Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry said that as a result of a massive strike on Monday, the command of Ukrainian troops and their logistics, as well as production at enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex were significantly disrupted, and the rail transportation of reserves to combat areas was hampered.

Ukrainian energy, defense, military and communications infrastructure has been systematically targeted by the Russian armed forces since October 10, causing large-scale power outages. Moscow launched strikes against Ukraine two days after the bombing of the Crimean Bridge, which, Russia believes, was carried out by the Ukrainian special services.
Archive photo of Pope Francis receiving Sheikh Kahlid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Special Envoy of the King of Bahrain, on 25 November 2021

The Holy See Press Office announces that Pope Francis will undertake an Apostolic Journey to Bahrain at the beginning of November.

By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis is scheduled to travel to Bahrain from 3 to 6 November 2022.

A statement released by the Director of the Holy See Press Office on Wednesday said the Pope had accepted the invitation of the country's civil and ecclesial authorities.

During his Apostolic Journey, the Pope will visit the cities of Manama and Awali on the occasion of the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence.

The programme and further details of the Journey will be published at a later date.

Pope Francis will be the first Pope to visit Bahrain.

Read also 14/12/2021 Pope sends a letter to the King of Bahrain Cardinal Luis Tagle, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples visited Bahrain for the consecration of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia. The Cardinal ...

2014 meeting between Pope and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

Pope Francis received in audience in the Vatican, the King of Bahrain, His Majesty Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on 19 May 2014.

The King subsequently met with the Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and the former Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.

According to a Holy See Press Office statement at the time, cordial discussions between the Bahraini King and the Pope focused on various themes of common interest, with particular reference to the commitment towards peace and stability in the Middle East, as well as the promotion of dialogue and peaceful co-existence among all members of society.

Mention was also made of the Christian communitys positive contribution to the country, and appreciation was expressed for His Majestys personal interest in the needs of the local Catholic community.
In the Nov. 8 election, two men are competing for the keys to the St. Francois County Recorder of Deeds Office. They are incumbent Republican Jay Graf and Libertarian Jacob Reagan Goff. The victor will serve a four-year term.

Jay Graf

Graf said he is running to keep the Recorder of Deeds position because it has been an honor and a privilege to serve the county for the past four years, and to work with hardworking and professional associates.

When asked to explain what the Recorder of Deeds Office does, Graf said the Recorders Office digitally records and maintains all property transfers, which are sent to the Assessors Office so property tax bills are assigned to the new owners. Graf said Missouri has 114 counties divided into six districts, and as required by state statute, all recorders meet once a year, and all districts meet each quarter for continuing education, to learn about new legislation and to learn how to be consistent across the state in legislative implementation.

In my four years as the recorder, many positive changes have been made in the office. A few of the major changes are a new upgraded software program for recording documents as well as an upgraded program for the marriage license application and issuing process, he said. We have also secured a grant to have all the remaining deed books and microfilm scanned and digitized within months, not years.

This means every document that has ever been recorded in our office will soon be available digitally. Having these documents available digitally will help abstractors, surveyors, as well as the public be able to access what they need without having to come into the office.

Graf attended high school in South Carolina and received his business degree at a college in Florida. He and his wife Beth moved to Farmington in 1984 from North Carolina, where he worked for B.F. Goodrich. In Farmington, he ran a photo developing and photography studio, Photo Majik, for 34 years.

Graf and his wife of 44 years have two children and 10 grandchildren. The couple are members of Farmington First Baptist Church where they both sing in the choir, and Graf helps the Awana childrens program.

Jacob Reagan Goff

Goff, a 2007 graduate of Farmington High School who was one of the first students to graduate with an associate degree from Mineral Area College, said he has worked with the public across all socioeconomic boundaries in St. Francois County, and he wants to bring new blood to county governance.

I know folks with a lot of money; I know folks who don't even have a home. I know incredibly productive people who have created great prosperity, and I know folks whose life got swallowed up by pain and strife. Radical localism is the only hopeful future, he said. I disagree with the message that most young people around here receive, which is that success requires them to move away from this beautiful land. The tumultuous times we are living through require good people to build their communities by getting involved. I am one of the first of many folks in my generation who will bring a fresh perspective to public office.

Goff said he worked in the non-profit sector in his early 20s, helping write and research books for evangelical pastors across the country. He said he worked in the hospitality industry in Western Europe for a year, and graduated from Saint Louis University Law School in 2016 with a juris doctorate. He has worked the local restaurant industry since then, in downtown Farmington at ColJac Cafe.

When asked to explain what the Recorder of Deeds Office does, Goff said the Office of the Recorder of Deeds is essentially an archive of documents regarding marriage, land, deeds and liens.

The recorder functions as a cashier so that when important actions occur that you want the county government to know about, you can go and pay them whatever fee and be certain that your marriage is valid, or whatever the case may be, he said.

Goff and his fiance, Jasmine, are expecting their first child. He has worked out at Baker's Karate Academy since 2007, and has a black belt in Taekwondo. He said he plays guitar every Sunday at New Life Fellowship in downtown Farmington. Politically, Goff said, he was the vice chairman of the Democratic Central Committee, but left in 2016 when his support of the legalization of marijuana made other elected officials in that party uncomfortable.

I, along with three other young professionals in this town, founded the St. Francois County Libertarian Party in the spring of 2021, he said.
At least 130 people were killed in India after a colonial-era pedestrian bridge collapsed, sending scores of people tumbling into the river below, police said Monday.

Authorities said nearly 500 people, including women and children, were celebrating a religious festival on and around the nearly 150-year-old suspension bridge in Morbi in western India when cables supporting it snapped soon after dark on Sunday.

This brought the rickety structure in the state of Gujarat crashing into the river, spilling scores of people into the water while others clung desperately to the wreckage.

"The death toll now stands at 130," Morbi superintendent of police Rahul Tripathi told AFP, adding that around 15 other people were being treated in hospital.

The bridge over the Machchhu river around 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Gujarat's main city, Ahmedabad, had only reopened several days earlier after months of repairs.

"People fell on top of each other after the bridge collapsed," one witness told local media. "People had flocked to the bridge for rituals and because of the Diwali festival. Many children and women were among the victims."

News reports showed videos  which could not be independently verified  of people hanging on to what remained of the bridge or trying to swim to safety in the dark.

P. Dekavadiya, the head of police in Morbi, told AFP by phone that more than 130 people had been rescued.

'No certificate'

The suspension bridge, 233 meters (764 feet) long and 1.5 meters wide, was inaugurated in 1880 by the British colonial authorities and made with materials shipped from England, reports said.

Broadcaster NDTV reported that it reopened on Wednesday after seven months of repairs despite not having a safety certificate, and that video footage from Saturday showed it swaying wildly.

Authorities quickly launched a rescue operation following the collapse, with boats and divers deployed to search for missing people late into the night.

Dozens of soldiers from the Indian Army and Navy were also called for the rescue operation.

Authorities were planning to stop the water supply to the river from the nearby check dam and use pumps to de-water the river to speed up the search operation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was touring his home state of Gujarat at the time, announced compensation for those killed and injured in the accident.

Modi "sought urgent mobilization of teams for rescue (operations)", his office tweeted.

"He has asked that the situation be closely and continuously monitored, and (for authorities to) extend all possible help to those affected."

The Gujarat government on its official website describes the bridge as "an engineering marvel built at the turn of the century".

Accidents from old and poorly maintained infrastructure including bridges are common in India.

In 2016 the collapse of a flyover onto a busy street in the eastern city of Kolkata killed at least 26 people.

In 2011 at least 32 people were killed when a bridge packed with festival crowds collapsed near the hill town of Darjeeling in India's northeast.

Less than a week later around 30 people were killed when a footbridge over a river in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh collapsed.

In 2006 at least 34 people were killed when a 150-year-old bridge collapsed on a passenger train in the railway station in the eastern state of Bihar. .
Two former chief editors of a now-shuttered media outlet in Hong Kong went on trial Monday for publishing "seditious" content, the latest prosecution of journalists in the business hub.

Sedition, a once little-used hangover from the British colonial period, has been embraced by prosecutors alongside a new national security law as China cracks down on dissent after democracy protests three years ago.

Chung Pui-kuen, 52, and Patrick Lam, 34, were jointly charged alongside Stand News' parent company Best Pencil Limited, of "conspiracy to publish and reproduce seditious publications."

The two journalists, who have been detained for the last 10 months, have pleaded not guilty and face up to two years in jail if convicted.

Stand News was a popular online news portal that provided detailed and often sympathetic coverage of Hong Kong's democracy protests and the clampdown that followed.

National security police raided its offices late last year and froze HK$61 million (US$7.8 million) of the company's assets.

Stand News folded soon afterwards and deleted its content.

Prosecutors accuse Chung and Lam of "inciting hatred" against authorities with 17 articles and three videos published on Stand News.

The trial is being overseen by Kwok Wai-kin; a District Court judge handpicked by the government to try national security offences.

Sedition was wielded by Colonial Britain against pro-China leftist newspapers in the 1950s and 1960s during periods of social unrest.

It fell into disuse for decades afterwards until police dusted the law off in the aftermath of 2019's huge and sometimes violent democracy rallies.

More than 220 people  the bulk of them activists, former elected lawmakers, unionists and journalists  have been arrested on national security charges since Beijing imposed the sweeping law in mid-2020.

About one-fifth of those arrested have been hit with charges of sedition.

Recent jailings under sedition include a group of unionists who published a series of children's books about the democracy protests, two people who applauded and shouted slogans and a court hearing and an online radio host who broadcast fiery criticisms of the government.

National security charges, including sedition, were also brought against Apple Daily, a popular pro-democracy tabloid that also folded when its assets were frozen.

Senior executives, including its jailed owner Jimmy Lai, are set to go on trial in December.

Critics say Hong Kong's national security campaign has eviscerated freedoms and begun transforming the city's legal system.

Beijing says order has been restored in the wake of the demonstrations.

Earlier this year, Hong Kong plunged 68 places in an annual press freedom ranking by Reporters Without Borders to 148th, sandwiching the business hub between the Philippines and Turkey.

In RSF's first report in 2002, Hong Kong had some of the freest media in Asia and ranked 18th worldwide.
Authoritarian regimes are significantly overstating their GDP (gross domestic product) growth, according to new research that uses satellite images of countries at night as a proxy for economic activity.

The report estimates that autocracies exaggerate yearly GDP growth by about 35% relative to democracies.

Rosier picture

The research starts from a central premise: that all leaders, whether in democracies or dictatorships, want to boast of a booming economy.

Everyone would always want to paint a rosier picture, report author Luis Martinez of the University of Chicago told VOA. The crucial difference is that in a democracy you have a whole network of checks and balances that restrains this behavior somewhat.

For instance, you have the media scrutinizing the numbers. You have the opposition in the legislature also asking questions. Nowadays, in many settings we have freedom of information requests. The underlying hypothesis is that when we start looking at undemocratic regimes, these checks and balances start to become largely absent, Martinez told VOA.

Night lights

So how to measure economic growth when you cant trust the government numbers? Research indicates that satellite images showing the intensity of electric lights at night are a close proxy for economic activity.

A common example is the nighttime satellite view of the Korean peninsula. Much of South Korea, a democracy, is lit up brightly. North Korea  whose economy under dictator Kim Jong-un is around 60 times smaller than that of its southern neighbor  is mostly black, the frontier clearly visible by the change in luminosity.

As an economy develops, things get built, like infrastructure, streetlights, homes, industries, Martinez said.

Martinez used the Freedom in the World index produced by the non-governmental organization Freedom House as a measure of a nations democracy. He then compared official GDP figures to the economic growth implied by the satellite images of nighttime luminosity.

What I find is that, say, you take two countries and in these two countries the nighttime lights grow by the same amount. And it happens that one of them is more democratic than the other. It turns out that that same amount of growth in lights translates into lower reported GDP growth in the more democratic country, Martinez said.

Economic exaggeration

His study observed GDP figures and satellite data for 184 countries over 20 years, up to 2013.

The research looked at whether the type of economic activity taking place, such as agriculture or hydrocarbon extraction, would impact the intensity of nighttime lights. Martinez also investigated whether poorer data collection and reporting in autocracies could skew the results.

Even controlling for such factors, Martinez said the pattern was clear: Dictatorships overstate their GDP growth.

When we compare the more stable, credible democracies to the more authoritarian regimes, we're talking about something in the range of 30% to 35%. What that means for instance, is that if the true growth rate is 1%, the authoritarian regime will report the growth rate of 1.3%, Martinez told VOA.

Foreign aid

Martinez said foreign aid programs also appear to influence a countrys willingness to overstate its GDP, according to his satellite analysis.

Many of the poorest countries in the world receive a lot of foreign aid. But once they reach a certain level of income  once they become rich enough  they graduate out of that program, they become ineligible.

And so of course you can imagine that when you have a lot of money coming in because the country's relatively poor, you don't have a strong incentive to overstate growth, and to say that you're doing really well. So indeed I find that it's only once poor countries graduate and become ineligible for foreign aid, that these (patterns) start to appear, Martinez told VOA.

China

Chinas authoritarian leader Xi Jinping was sworn in for another five-year term last week. Martinezs model suggests Beijing may have overstated GDP growth by a third over the past two decades, making its economy far smaller than claimed.

A report published by the Brookings Institution in 2019 suggested that China had been overstating its economic growth by about 2% every year, making its economy 12% smaller than official figures then claimed.

China denies manipulating economic data.

Beijing delayed the release of its 2022 third quarter growth figures without explanation, coinciding with the Communist Party congress. The figures were eventually released in late October, claiming year-on-year quarterly growth of 3.9%, exceeding analysts forecasts.
The U.N. special rapporteur for Myanmar warns that unless the international community changes how it deals with the military junta in that country, the already catastrophic situation will only get worse.

There's no coordination, there's no strategy. There's no focus. And as a result, these don't add up to any kind of a coherent whole, Tom Andrews told VOA of the various sanctions and arms embargoes imposed by some countries.

The humanitarian situation has rapidly deteriorated in Myanmar since the military ousted the countrys democratically elected government in February 2021. The power grab took place following days of tension between the military and the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), which won the November 2020 elections. The military refused to accept the results, alleging massive election fraud.

Since its takeover, the military leadership has sought to suppress protests and silence critics, jailing journalists, members of civil society, human rights defenders and political opponents.

Thousands and thousands of people have been killed. Tens of thousands have been detained, Andrews said. Many of them are children. People have been tortured, including children. And we see that the brutality of this military junta knows no bounds.

Military strikes

Last month, a military helicopter opened fire on a school in the northwestern Sagaing Region, killing 13 people, including seven children. Earlier this week, the military bombed the site of a concert where hundreds were celebrating the anniversary of the founding of the Kachin Independence Organization. At least 50 people were killed.

Andrews, an independent human rights expert whose mandate comes from the U.N. Human Rights Council, delivered his annual report Wednesday to the General Assembly committee that deals with human rights.

He singled out Myanmars civil society, human rights defenders and journalists as heroes who are risking their lives to document atrocities and deserve international support. The junta, he said, has committed crimes against humanity and war crimes.

There was no response to Andrews report from Myanmars military rulers, who are not currently represented at the U.N. When Andrews presented his report, the representative for Myanmars democratically elected government, which still has U.N. credentials, spoke and echoed the special rapporteurs findings.

Andrews recommended that countries form a coalition to implement a coordinated strategy to deprive the military of arms and fuel for their aircraft, financing, and the legitimacy the junta seeks.

That includes not assisting or recognizing planned elections next year, which he said the military wants to use to solidify its hold on power. Andrews said a free, fair and inclusive vote would be impossible in the current conditions.

You cannot have an election when you incarcerate, torture and execute the opposition, he said. You can't have an election where it's illegal to criticize the junta. This is outrageous. So, it's important that governments not give any kind of legitimacy to this fraud by providing any kind of assistance whatsoever.

Foreign ministers from regional bloc ASEAN are holding a special meeting Thursday on the situation in Myanmar. In April 2021, the 10-member bloc came up with a "five-point consensus" to end the fighting and move to dialogue. Myanmar military chief Min Aung Hlaing agreed to the package of proposals but has failed to implement it.

The special rapporteur said he was encouraged that there has been some criticism within ASEAN members about the five-point consensus and that there is discussion of new strategies.

Andrews said he had not been able to establish contact with ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi or President U Win Myint, who have been jailed by the junta. He does have ongoing engagement with the national unity government. As for contacts with the military leadership, he said he had sought entry into Myanmar but had been rejected.
U.S. President Joe Biden will travel to Egypt to participate in the COP27 U.N. climate change summit on November 11, where he will call on the world to act "in this decisive decade," the White House said Friday.

Biden will then be in Cambodia November 12-13 to participate in the annual U.S.-ASEAN summit and the East Asia Summit, the White House said in a statement. After that, Biden will visit Indonesia November 13-16 to participate in a summit of leaders from the Group of 20 major economies, it added.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog first disclosed Biden's visit to Egypt during a meeting with the U.S. president in the Oval Office on Wednesday.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden would use COP27 to "build on the significant work the United States has undertaken to advance the global climate fight and help the most vulnerable build resilience to climate impacts."

In Cambodia, Biden will reaffirm the United States' enduring commitment to Southeast Asia, while underscoring the importance of U.S.-ASEAN cooperation in ensuring security and prosperity in the region, Jean-Pierre said.

In Bali, Indonesia, Biden will work with G-20 partners to address key challenges such as climate change; the global impact of Russia's war on Ukraine, including on energy and food security and affordability; and a range of other priorities important to the global economic recovery, the White House said.

Vice President Kamala Harris will also travel to Asia and North Africa, following the president's visit, the White House said.

Harris will travel to Bangkok to attend the November 18-19 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting, underscoring Washington's commitment to economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

She will also travel to Manila, where she will meet with government leaders and civil society representatives, the White House said.
Two-thirds of Americans want court reform in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Courts landmark Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision, which overturned a half-century of abortion rights that were guaranteed under the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.



We're in somewhat uncharted territory here, says Carolyn Shapiro, professor of law at ITT Chicago-Kent College of Law. For the first time in a very long time, maybe ever, there is increasing public appetite for making changes to the court, like adding seats and/or imposing term limits.



Public approval of the U.S. Supreme Court hit a new low last month, with disapproval of the high court hitting its highest mark since Gallup started keeping track in 2000.



The pollster found that 53% of people disapprove of the job the Supreme Court is doing. Forty percent of people polled describe the court as being "about right" ideologically, while 37% say the court is too conservative.



The results of the Gallup poll, conducted September 1-17, come about a year after 58% of Americans said they approved of the Supreme Court, and a couple of months after the high court struck Roe down.

Shapiro, who is also co-director of the Institute on the Supreme Court of the United States (ISCOTUS), a community of scholars who study the Supreme Court, says that in addition to the abortion decision, many Americans feel the current court, made up of six Republican appointees and three Democratic appointees, is not representative of the American people.



That's the case, even though the Republican presidential candidates have won the popular vote exactly once since 1988, Shapiro says. Donald Trump was president for four years and did not win a majority and got three nominations. President [Barack] Obama was president for eight years and had two majority popular votes and had two [Supreme Court] seats. That's an argument in favor of term limits, because the idea of term limits is that  each president, in each term, would have the opportunity to appoint two justices.



A Politico poll conducted in June found that 62% of respondents support term limits for justices, with 23% in opposition. Forty-five percent favor expanding the number of justices on the court, while 38% oppose the move. The Constitution gives Congress the authority to expand the Supreme Court, which lawmakers have done seven times in the past.



Increasing the size of the court to change its policies is not unprecedented, but it hasn't happened in more than 150 years, says Lawrence Baum, a retired political science professor at The Ohio State University. And there's something to be said for leaving things as they are. But there's also something to be said for giving the other branches the chance to address what they see as an imbalance.

Fifty-three percent of people polled support balancing the court with equal numbers of Democrats, Republicans and independents, while 30% are against it.



What we have is a real minority court in the sense of it not representing the vast majority of the way Americans have voted, Shapiro says. It is constitutional. I don't want to suggest it's illegitimate in that sense, but I think it's deeply problematic for the court itself to be so disconnected from the democratic process.



Both Shapiro and Baum support the idea of term limits for Supreme Court justices.



It takes away this random element that causes some presidents who are luckier than others to have more opportunities to select members of the court, Baum says. It also reduces, somewhat, the chance that somebody will stay on the court beyond the time when they can be effective.



Term limits could end the political gamesmanship in the U.S. Senate that prevented Obama from appointing a justice after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February 2016, while allowing Trump to successfully nominate Justice Amy Coney Barrett after the September 2020 death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.



We wont have strategic retirements where a nominee retires in order to get the particular president to give their particular president that nomination, Shapiro says. Eighteen-year term limits are the proposal I'm talking about. That would return the length of justices tenure to actually what it was for the first few hundred years.

Last year, President Joe Biden appointed a panel of experts to explore possible Supreme Court reform. The commission recommended a new code of ethics and more court transparency but stopped short of endorsing term limits or expanding the court.



Even without high court reform, Baum says there are ways of reducing the impact of unpopular Supreme Court rulings.



Supreme Court decisions often leave a lot of room for people to respond in different ways. Think about the Dobbs abortion decision. As it stands now, it gives states very broad freedoms as to what abortion policies to adopt, Baum says.



And so, states that are using Dobbs as a basis for basically prohibiting abortion are complying. States that decide theyre going to protect abortion even if the Supreme Court doesn't, they're complying also. And so states can often do a great deal that they want to do within the bounds of a Supreme Court decision.
Crime statistics are notoriously hard to interpret. They're often incomplete, out of date and ambiguous. But that hasn't stopped candidates running in the midterms this year from cherry-picking data to score political points.

Take a Republican attack ad against Josh Riley, a Democrat running for a competitive congressional seat in upstate New York. The ad, sponsored by the Congressional Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC, cites a New York Post article about "violent crime surging in New York."

But the June 22 article is about rising violent crime in New York City  and five other U.S. cities  not New York state. The sprawling congressional district where Riley is running is located north of New York City and extends as far as the town of Preble, 363 kilometers north of Manhattan. Excluding New York City, state data show violent crime dropped by 13.1% from 2012 to 2021, the most recent period for which data is available.

This is not the only Republican ad that selectively highlights data to exploit voters' fears about rising crime rates.

With crime emerging as a major concern among voters this election cycle, Republican candidates have reportedly spent tens of millions of dollars on ads blaming Democratic policies for rising violence in the country.

For their part, Democratic candidates have responded by touting their own law enforcement endorsements, sometimes featuring police officers in their ads, while accusing Republicans of fearmongering and "race-baiting."

To critics, the fear-tinged ads on the air across the country recall an infamous episode of American politics from the 1980s.

In 1988, an ad in support of Republican Vice President George H. W. Bush's presidential run accused his Democratic rival, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, of allowing "first-degree murderers to have weekend passes from prison."

Showcased in the commercial was Willie Horton, an African American convicted of murder who during a weekend furlough stabbed a Maryland man and raped his girlfriend.

The ad, though it was pulled amid accusations of racist fearmongering, was credited with helping Bush get elected.

In the decades since, "Willie Horton" has become an epithet for racially charged ads designed to scare voters with exaggerated claims about violent crime.

Republican candidates and committees have dismissed such accusations during the current election cycle.

Spokespersons for the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee, both of which fund ads for Republican candidates, did not respond to requests for comment.

While it is true that violent crime has been generally trending higher since the mid-2010s after a decades-long decline, the picture is far more complicated than the political ads suggest.

What the data show is that there was a substantial increase in homicides and gun assaults during the pandemic, but the surge appears to be leveling off, according to the nonpartisan Council on Criminal Justice.

The biggest increase came in 2020, when homicides surged by nearly 30%, marking the largest annual rise on record, the FBI reported last year.

But not all crime increased, noted Thomas Abt, a senior fellow at the Council on Criminal Justice and chair of its violent crime working group.

"There wasn't a surge in property crime, and there wasn't a surge in drug crime," Abt said.

While there is a debate among criminologists over whether the spike in homicides and shootings in 2020 was an aberration, there are indications that the trend is slowing.

The FBI's most recent crime data, released earlier this month, are incomplete and almost a year old. But they show that homicides rose by 4.3% in 2021, while overall violent crime actually decreased by 1%.

Moreover, crime trends seen during the pandemic seem to have reversed themselves this year.

During the first half of 2022, homicides decreased by an average of 2% in 29 major U.S. cities, while burglaries, larcenies and car thefts were all up, according to a July report by the Council on Criminal Justice.

The overall decline in homicides seems to have extended into the second half of 2022. Police data from 99 cities compiled by consulting firm AH Datalytics show that homicides are down in twice as many metropolitan areas as they are up so far this year. On average, the 99 cities show a year-to-date decline of 5%.

Notably, homicides are down in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago, America's three largest cities. But whether homicides are up or down, there is a perception among voters that violence is spiraling out of control and that their elected leaders aren't doing enough to combat it.

In a recent Politico poll, more than two-thirds of voters said crime was a big problem in the United States, while 60% said it would play a major role in whom they vote for.

With homicides at 25-year highs, voters have reason to be concerned, said Justin Nix, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Nebraska Omaha.

"There are 23- to 24-year-olds walking around right now who've never seen the homicide rate this high in their lifetime," Nix said.

However, Nix said, voters' perceptions of crime don't always reflect data.

"Americans' perception of the crime and disorder problem don't always match up with the objective data. For example, they might tell you crime went up in the last year when the data show that it went down," he said.

Nix said politicians, and not just Republicans, "manipulate" crime data in a variety of ways.

One common tactic, according to Nix: selectively choose the comparison period.

In Wisconsin, an ad attacking Republican Senator Ron Johnson's Democratic challenger, Mandela Barnes, cites a report by a conservative think tank to inform voters that "violent crime [is] up across Wisconsin." .

But the Feb. 8, 2022, report by the MacIver Institute is focused on the spike in violent crime in 2020 when Wisconsin saw a 62% increase in murders.

Data from the Wisconsin Department of Justice show that homicides rose by 5% last year. The data show that not all crime went up in Wisconsin last year, with both robbery and aggravated assault numbers down. Crime data for 2022 are not available on the department's website.

The MacIver Institute and the Wisconsin Department of Justice did not respond to requests for comment.

Selective Democrats

Republican candidates are not the only ones to highlight selective crime data to win over voters. Joe Cunningham, a Democrat running for governor of South Carolina, cites a June 2021 TV report to tell voters that "crime is at an all-time high" in his state.

And an ad by California Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell cites a report ranking Bakersfield, California, the seat of Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's congressional district, as "the top 10 most dangerous city in America."

But crime is highly localized in America. Even in "the most dangerous cities," there are neighborhoods that are safe. On the other hand, the "safest cities" may have so-called "hot spots" with a disproportionate number of crimes.

"A lot of the rhetoric concerning crime is just that  rhetoric  and is really seeking to divide Americans against one another with divisive fearmongering," Abt said.

The recent surge in crime, Abt added, is cause for deep concern but not panic.

The rhetoric about violent crime is not happening in equal measure. With polls showing that more Republican voters worried about crime than Democratic voters, the Republican Party is outspending the Democratic Party in advertising focused on crime according to political ad spending data.

Blaming the rise in violent crime on one political party is not supported by the facts, Abt said.

"The rise in violence [during the COVID-19 pandemic] was surprisingly uniform. It occurred in red states and blue states. It occurred in cities and also in suburban and rural areas," he said.

While no one knows exactly what drove the crime surge, Abt said most experts agree on three contributing factors: the pandemic, civil unrest following the death in police custody of George Floyd in 2020 and a spike in legal firearms purchases.
Lebanon received a first batch of vaccines Monday to combat a worsening cholera outbreak - together with sharply worded criticism of its crumbling public health infrastructure from France, which facilitated the donation of the doses.



By Sunday, cases of cholera - a disease typically spread through contaminated water, food or sewage - stood at 1,447, with 17 deaths, since the first were recorded in the country a month ago, Lebanon's health ministry said.



Lebanon had been cholera-free since 1993, but its public services are suffering under a brutal economic crisis now in its fourth year, while infighting among the country's faction-riven elite has paralyzed its political institutions.



The outbreak has reached Beirut, but authorities say most cases remain concentrated where it started in the northern town of Bebnine, where health authorities have set up an emergency field hospital.



The vaccines would play "an essential role" in limiting the disease's spread, Health Minister Firass Abiad told reporters in the capital as he announced the first batch.



Standing next to Abiad, French ambassador Anne Grillo said the delivery comprised more than 13,000 doses. They had been donated by the philanthropic arm of French health care company Sanofi and the French government had facilitated their arrival to Lebanon.



"The origins of this epidemic, in which public health is at stake, must also be treated," Grillo told reporters. The outbreak was "a new and worrying illustration of the critical decline in public provision of access to water and sanitary services in Lebanon."



In the Bebnine field hospital, two young boys sat next to each other on one hospital bed, while a mother waited anxiously to confirm if her son, lying limp on another bed and being treated by a doctor and a nurse, had also caught the disease.



Nearby, Syrian children in a makeshift refugee camp played in dirty water chocked with rubbish and medical waste and fed by an outflow from an open pipe.

The World Health Organization has linked cholera's comeback in Lebanon to an outbreak in neighboring Syria, to where it had spread from Afghanistan via Iran and Iraq.
Burkina Faso's defense minister on Tuesday declared the country was fighting for "survival" in its seven-year-old battle with jihadists as he urged the public to throw themselves into the campaign.

"If, for a long time, the fight against terrorism has been seen as a combat pertaining only to the defense and security forces, it is time to change that view and strengthen the effectiveness of public support for the fighting forces," Defense Minister Kassoum Coulibaly said.

"Every citizen should be aware that this is essentially a war in which our common destiny is at stake, meaning the survival of our nation," Coulibaly said at ceremonies to mark the armed forces' 62nd anniversary.

He called on citizens "to commit themselves" to fighting "armed terrorist groups."

One of the poorest and most volatile countries in the world, the landlocked Sahel state is struggling with a jihadist offensive launched from neighboring Mali in 2015.

Thousands of soldiers, police officers and civilians have been killed. Around 2 million people in a population of some 21 million have fled their homes, and more than a third of the country is outside government control.

Disgruntled army officers have carried out two coups this year in a show of anger at failures to roll back the insurgency.

Last Wednesday, the authorities launched a drive to recruit 50,000 members of a civilian auxiliary force, the Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland (VDP).

The force, set up in December 2019, comprises civilian volunteers who are given two weeks' military training and then work alongside the army, typically carrying out surveillance, information-gathering or escort duties.

But they have borne the brunt of many attacks against the armed forces, in the form of ambushes or improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The country's latest strongman is Captain Ibrahim Traore, who on September 30 ousted Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.

In January, Damiba led a group of officers to topple the country's last elected president, Roch Marc Christian Kabore.


The November Womens Connection Brunch will be held from 9:15 to 11 a.m. Nov. 8, in the Fellowship Hall of Farmington Presbyterian Church.

Dramatist/story teller, conference speaker, and teacher, Gayle Haas, a graduate of Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts in Home Economics and Consumer Education, will portray Corrie Ten Boom, a Dutch Christian Holocaust survivor who worked with the underground and helped many Jews escape during World War II. She will share some of Corries experiences growing up in Holland resulting in a powerful message of love and forgiveness.

Haas, a wife, mother, grandmother and prayer warrior, embraces Biblical values of life and family. Active in more than 45 years of church ministry, she and her husband, Dan, founded A Future and A Hope Foundation that focuses on prayer for urban communities addressing issues of violence, poverty, education and discipleship training.

Call 573-747-3854 or 573-518-4647 by Nov. 4 to make required reservations or cancellations for the $10 brunch catered by Coljac Artisan Cafe.
China's third and final module docked with its permanent space station Tuesday to further a decadeslong effort to maintain a constant crewed presence in orbit, as its competition with the United States grows increasingly fierce.

The Mengtian module arrived at the Tiangong station early Tuesday morning, state broadcaster CCTV said, citing the China Manned Space Agency.

Mengtian was blasted into space on Monday afternoon from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on the southern island province of Hainan. It was expected to take about 13 hours to complete the flight and docking mission.

A large crowd of amateur photographers, space enthusiasts and others watched the lift-off from an adjoining beach.

Many waved Chinese flags and wore T-shirts emblazoned with the characters for China, reflecting the deep national pride invested in the space program and the technological progress it represents.

"The space program is a symbol of a major country and a boost to the modernization of China's national defense," said Ni Lexiong, a professor at Shanghai University of political science and law, underscoring the program's close military links.

"It is also a boost to the confidence of the Chinese people, igniting patriotism and positive energy," Ni said.

Mengtian, or "Celestial Dream," joins Wentian as the second laboratory module for the station, collectively known as Tiangong, or "Celestial Palace." Both are connected to the Tianhe core module where the crew lives and works.

Like its predecessors, Mengtian was launched aboard a Long March-5B carrier rocket, a member of China's most powerful family of launch vehicles.

Tiangong is currently populated by a crew of three astronauts  two males and one female, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

Chen Dong, Cai Xuzhe and Liu Yang arrived in early June for a six-month stay on board, during which they will complete the station's assembly, conduct space walks and carry out additional experiments.

Following Mengtian's arrival, an additional uncrewed Tianzhou cargo craft is due to dock with the station next month, with another crewed mission scheduled for December, at which time crews may overlap, as Tiangong has sufficient room to accommodate six astronauts.

Mengtian weighs in at about 23 tons, is 17.9 meters long and has a diameter of 4.2 meters. It will provide space for science experiments in zero gravity, an airlock for exposure to the vacuum of space and a small robotic arm to support extravehicular payloads.

The already orbiting 23-ton Wentian, or "Quest for the Heavens" laboratory is designed for science and biology experiments and is heavier than any other single-module spacecraft currently in space.

Next year, China plans to launch the Xuntian space telescope, which, while not a part of Tiangong, will orbit in sequence with the station and can dock occasionally with it for maintenance.

No other future additions to the space station have been publicly announced.

In all, the station will have about 110 cubic meters of pressurized interior space, including the 32 cubic meters added by Mengtian.

China's crewed space program is officially three decades old this year, with the Mengtian launch being its 25th mission. But it truly got underway in 2003, when China became only the third country after the U.S. and Russia to put a human into space using its own resources.

The program is run by the ruling Communist Party's military wing, the People's Liberation Army, and has proceeded methodically and almost entirely without outside support. The U.S. excluded China from the International Space Station because of its program's military ties.

Despite that, China is collaborating with the European Space Agency on experiments aboard Mengtian and is cooperating with France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Pakistan and the U.N. Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) on a range of projects from aerospace medicine to microgravity physics, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Prior to launching the Tianhe module, China's Manned Space Program launched a pair of single-module stations that it crewed briefly as test platforms.

The permanent Chinese station will weigh about 66 tons  a fraction of the size of the International Space Station, which launched its first module in 1998 and weighs around 465 tons.

With a lifespan of 10 to 15 years, Tiangong could one day find itself the only space station still running, if the International Space Station adheres to its 30-year operating plan.

China has also chalked up successes with uncrewed missions, and its lunar exploration program generated media buzz last year when its Yutu 2 rover sent back pictures of what was described by some as a "mystery hut" but was most likely only a rock. The rover is the first to be placed on the little-explored far side of the moon.

China's Chang'e 5 probe returned lunar rocks to Earth for the first time since the 1970s in December 2000, and another Chinese rover is searching for evidence of life on Mars. Officials are also considering a crewed mission to the moon.

The program has also drawn controversy. In October 2021, China's Foreign Ministry brushed off a report that China had tested a hypersonic missile two months earlier, saying it had merely tested whether a new spacecraft could be reused.

China is also reportedly developing a highly secret space plane.

China's space program has proceeded cautiously and largely gone off without a hitch.

Complaints, however, have been leveled against China for allowing rocket stages to fall to Earth uncontrolled twice before. NASA accused Beijing last year of "failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris" after parts of a Chinese rocket landed in the Indian Ocean.

China's increasing space capabilities was also featured in the latest Pentagon defense strategy released Thursday.

"In addition to expanding its conventional forces, the PLA is rapidly advancing and integrating its space, counterspace, cyber, electronic and informational warfare capabilities to support its holistic approach to joint warfare," the strategy said.

The U.S. and China are at odds on a range of issues, especially the self-governing island of Taiwan that Beijing threatens to annex with force. China responded to a September visit to Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi by firing missiles over the island, holding wargames and staging a simulated blockade.
The death toll from two al-Shabab bombings in Mogadishu has risen to 121, Somalias Health Minister Dr. Ali Haji Adam, said Tuesday.

In an interview with VOAs Somali Service, Adam said 10 people have been recorded as missing from the Saturday bombings. He said the National Response Committee appointed by the government also recorded 333 injuries.

This morning there are 142 injured people in the hospitals, some of them in the intensive care unit, he said.

Adam said the government set up a call center for people who are missing their loved ones to contact. He said the government has also been distributing food and water to the wounded and their relatives who are coming to the hospitals.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has appealed to the international community to send doctors to help treat the wounded.

Adam said Turkey was the first country to respond to the appeal made by the president.

We were expecting an air ambulance, carrying medical supplies and doctors (from Turkey) today but it was delayed, he said.

He said they are also expecting medical supplies, two ambulances and a trauma team from the World Health Organization.

Adam said the government also set up a victims support fund, to which the government has donated $1 million. Three private companies, Dahabshiil, Hormud and BECO have donated $500,000, $200,000, and $50,000 respectively.

The al-Shabab militant group claimed responsibility for the Saturday explosions. A senior Somali government official who requested not to be identified because he is not authorized to speak with the media told VOA Somali the first explosion was caused by a suicide car bomb that targeted the Ministry of Education. A three-wheeled motorcycle pulling a small trailer full of explosives caused the second blast.

The rising death toll makes the attack the second deadliest in Somalias history. The deadliest bombing occurred on October 14, 2017, when a truck laden with explosives blew up at a major intersection in the capital, killing 587 people and injuring hundreds more.

The Somali government and the international community condemned the latest incidents.

President Mohamud described the bombings as a cruel & cowardly terrorist attack on innocent people by the morally bankrupt & criminal al-Shabab group.



In Washington, White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said the United States strongly condemns the tragic terrorist attack.

We send our deepest condolences to the Somali people and to all those who lost loved ones or were injured by these unconscionable attacks against innocent civilians. The United States remains committed to supporting the federal government of Somalia in its fight to prevent such callous terrorist acts.

In New York, a spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he is deeply saddened by what happened.

The Secretary-General strongly condemns these heinous attacks and reiterates that the United Nations stands in solidarity with Somalia against violent extremism, said Stephane Dujarric.

Al-Shabab has been fighting to topple the internationally recognized Somali government for more than 15 years. Government troops supported by local militias are currently engaged in an offensive that has succeeded in retaking some areas that were controlled by al-Shabab in central Somalia.
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Black Sea grain exports continue despite Russias withdrawal from the deal; Biden blasts oil companies for war profiteering; Putin the man is different from the myth; Chicken Kiev keeps a Ukrainian actor from becoming a starving artist
With blue schoolbags bouncing off their backs, hundreds of schoolchildren hurtle down small sand dunes eager to attend class again.

But these boys and girls are survivors of suffering and trauma that few children of their age could conceive.

Their new school is in the town of Ouallam in southwestern Niger, a region that for five years has been plagued by attacks unleashed by groups linked with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

The pupils come from 18 villages near Mali whose inhabitants fled to the relative safety of Ouallam in 2021 after jihadist killings that also forced the closure of schools.

The U.N. children's agency UNICEF says 817 schools with 72,421 pupils  including 34,464 girls  have closed in Niger, mostly in the Tillaberi, the border region where Ouallam is located.

In Ouallam alone, around 100 schools have had to shut their doors.

The chronic insecurity has prompted authorities to create dedicated educational centers where displaced children can resume their schooling, Mahamadou Illo Abarchi, an education official in Ouallam, told AFP.

Some 17,000 pupils have already re-entered the school system and another 55,300 are set to follow suit, enrolling in around 20 centers for displaced children across southwestern Niger, the government says.

'Killed by the bandits'

In Ouallam, almost 1,600 schoolchildren  some of whom had not attended class for three yearsare registered with three centers built near a site for displaced people.

The sites offer free canteens, a vital resource for families who have escaped violence in a nation that, by the U.N.'s human development index, is the poorest in the world.

Lessons take place in shelters or classrooms equipped with tables and benches provided by NGOs. But in others, the pupils must learn on the floor.

Fatima and Aissa, two young girls from Ngaba, a settlement near Mali, expressed their delight at returning to school as they clutched their slate boards.

But the euphoria of returning to school cannot wipe out the painful memories.

"My uncle was a village chief, he was killed by the bandits in front of our eyes," said Mariama, who also lived in Ngaba. "There was a lot of blood."

Nassirou, Malick, Hasane, Abdou and their parents fled their village of Adabdab on foot after a series of jihadist attacks, the last of which on October 22 claimed the lives of 11 civilians.

"It was the bandits who chased us away, they killed many men," Nassirou said quietly in the playground.

Moussa, who hails from a hamlet in the same area, said: "I'm not afraid anymore, I no longer hide when I hear the sound of motorcycles" often used by jihadists to attack villages.

'Encouraging results'

When they first arrived at the new centers, many children showed "signs of distress and trauma, others were very aggressive," said education official Morou Chaibou.

He spoke of how some pupils recounted harrowing memories  including seeing their parents being shot.

Adamou Dari, the regional director of the centers, said they also offered the children psychological and social support to give them some stability after their traumatic experience.

"Now they concentrate in class and the results are encouraging," said a teacher as she played in the courtyard with some of her pupils.

Absenteeism is minor but a source of worry, Dari said, explaining that some pupils played truant to work in the town and help feed their families.

Harlem Desir of the International Rescue Committee, who recently visited the site for displaced people in Ouallam, said impoverished families often put their children to work or marry their daughters at a young age.

Chaibou warned that neglected children could become prime recruitment targets for the very jihadist groups whose depredations have left their families in such difficulties.

In 2021, Amnesty International warned that boys aged between 15 and 17 were filling the ranks of armed groups, especially the al-Qaeda-affiliated GSIM, in the Torodi region near Burkina Faso  with the blessing of their parents.
Radio is a powerful medium in the Philippines, with local journalists able to easily buy up airtime to reach wide audiences. But with that reach comes risk.

In October, gunmen killed Percival Mabasa, a popular community radio host known as Percy Lapid. He was the third radio journalist to be killed in the country so far in 2022.

And while police quickly arrested a suspect over Mabasas shooting, analysts say the Philippines generally has a poor record in securing justice in media killings.

The Philippines ranks seventh on the Global Impunity Index, which calculates the number of unresolved journalist murders as a percentage of a countrys population. Since the index  released Tuesday by the Committee to Protect Journalists  was started in 2008, the Philippines has appeared every year.

That impunity to the killers of journalists fosters a more dangerous environment. The Philippine nonprofit foundation, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, has documented 281threats or attacks in the past six years.

Of those 281 incidents, claimed Jonathan de Santos, chair of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), 37 were attributed to local governments and 37 to the police, which local governments have a degree of control over.

He added that nearly all the journalists killed since 2016 worked in radio.

VOA sent emails to the Presidential Management Staff and national police requesting comments. Neither had responded by the time of publication.

Local airtime

Many radio stations in the Philippines are funded by political interests, and journalists buy segments of airtime, known as blocktiming, a unique practice in the Philippines, to broadcast their own shows.

Allowing journalists to buy up airtime allows for greater coverage of local or underreported news.

Radio is still the medium with the biggest reach because of the low cost of access and because it is available even in geographically remote areas, said Santos, who is also news editor at Philstar.com. Radio journalists in the Philippines also usually talk about local, even hyperlocal, issues.

But the combination of political affiliations and block-time shows being less regulated means these journalists can become an easy target, Santos told VOA via email.

Since [the journalists] are technically not employed by the station, there is little control or oversight over blocktime content, Santos said. The shows could also be funded by politicians and used for partisan ends. Many [blocktime hosts] also often use plain, even aggressive language, which makes them more relatable to their audiences but also means criticism of local government officials and policies might cut deeper.

In Mabasas case, the Lapid Fire host appeared popular among listeners. The YouTube channel where he uploaded his broadcasts had 224,000 subscribers. On it, he criticized former President Rodrigo Duterte and current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and accused officials of corruption and abuse of power.

The Philippines journalists union is advocating to reduce block-timing and offers training.

But in a country with a poor record for media safety, even the most experienced journalists find themselves under fire from critics.

Lourdes Escaros is a news anchor at RMN DZXL, one of the countrys largest and oldest radio networks. She told VOA that negative news about the government often triggers abuse and death threats directed at her and her family.

Threats online [are] very rampant. Like, they want to kill me and my son. [Or] stop criticizing the government or else they will kill me.

Sometimes, they tagged me on Facebook just to attack me and criticize me for attacking the government. Duterte's time was hell. Trolls and the government were, like, partners in crimes in attacking us, Escaros said.

Still, Escaros has no plans to quit.

Its my dream. I love it, she told VOA. The job may not pay well, but I chose this profession, and this is my life.

Under Dutertes administration, the government formed a Presidential Task Force on Media Security in 2017 to investigate attacks. But local journalists say it has had limited success.

The task forces Facebook page is updated regularly. As recently as September, it posted a statement about an attack. But Raymund Villanueva, a journalist for Kodao Productions and a safety officer at the NUJP, believes the body is inactive.

There has been no administrative order by Marcos Jr. ordering its continuation. So, I dont think its a legal entity at this point, Villanueva said. There has been no appointment of a new executive director, so were not sure if it still exists legally. And weve dismissed it.

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security did not respond to VOAs email requesting comment.

Villanueva said harassment affects digital as well as radio journalists.

Based in Quezon City outside the capital, Manila, Kodao Productions focuses on underreported issues. Because of that, it has been criticized as anti-government.

Kodao regularly reports on the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, a leftist political group whose armed supporters have carried out attacks for decades.

Villanueva said Kodao reports on its peace talks with the government, its agendas on human rights and international humanitarian law, national industrialization and rural development.

Its just our stories are strong on human rights, environment, Indigenous peoples. Its necessarily critical of social problems in the Philippines, said Villanueva. Were not the type to directly attack the government.

The outlet has weathered harassment, including cyberattacks in late 2017 and early 2018 that crashed the Kodao website, Villanueva said.

Kodao separately used to run programs to train people in poorer communities to become radio broadcasters.

But because of risks to journalists, the media outlet suspended in-person training.

Weve pretty much stopped putting up registrations because those that we train are now in jail or are dead or are being hounded by the military, Villanueva said.

Conditions for media have never been good going in the Philippines, said Villanueva. And under the Marcos Jr. administration, "essentially there is no difference, change or respite."

The Office of the Press Secretary, the head of Presidential Communications Group in the Philippines, recently made a statement on Facebook that it is committed to protect journalists.

The country in 2022 ranked 147 out of 180 on the Press Freedom Index, where 1 has the best conditions for media.
The U.N. Climate Change Conference, known as COP27, starts in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, next week, and climate change activists are pushing major emitters in developed countries to make bigger commitments at the conference.

According to a recent report by the U.N. Environment Program, the international community is still falling far short of the 2015 Paris Agreement goals, with no credible pathway to keep the rise in global temperatures below the key threshold of 1.5 C.

Carbon cutting plans by governments are still inadequate and environmental leaders are asking developed countries to do more.

"Seventy-five percent of all greenhouse gas emissions are from the G20, the biggest twenty economies," U.N. Environment Executive Director Inger Andersen told VOA in an exclusive interview. "They need to do more. And that is the conversation we need to have at the COP in Sharm el-Sheikh, Africas COP as we call it. They need to lean in, both with money but also with their own emissions reduction."

The conference comes at a time when the Horn of Africa endures record drought and famine warnings in Somalia. Africa produces less than 4% of global emissions yet still suffers the effects of global warming, including food insecurity, increased conflict and more severe weather events.

Thandile Chinyavanhu, a climate and energy campaigner at Greenpeace Africa in South Africa, says the effects can be seen all over the continent: "in the Horn of Africa where the fourth failed rainy season is driving famine in the country and similarly in the semi-arid regions of Kenya. We are seeing people in Mauritania and Nigeria affected by floods, where those floods have displaced something like 1.3 million people. And weve seen that in South Africa as well."

As these disasters continue to affect millions, COP27 provides an opportunity for the international community to continue negotiations for global goals that would tackle climate change.

Muhtari Amiku Kano, the Africa Director for Policy and Government Relations at the Nature Conservancy in Nairobi, listed three important investments: technological transfers, capacity building, and in deploying adequate financial resources, "because without these three components, it will just be hot air and talk."

According to Andersen, the path forward is also clear: "We are seeing that renewable energy; solar, electric vehicles, energy efficient buildings, smart infrastructure is becoming the thing. Lets accelerate that, lets just move it right ahead. Thats so obvious."

Scientists say fighting climate change requires well-coordinated global action where everyone has a role to play. Many promises were made at last years COP26 conference in Glasgow and discussions at the Sharm el-Shiekh conference will be followed closely by many.
World Health Organization officials warn infectious disease outbreaks and malnutrition pose serious health threats to some 8 million Pakistani flood victims.

Historic flood waters are receding in Pakistan, but the impact of the catastrophic event on millions of survivors is far from over.

The World Health Organization reports diseases are rampant, a food crisis is looming, and the economy is deteriorating. This, it says, when winter is fast approaching, putting at further risk the people who lack shelter, fuel for heating, medical care, and other essentials.

WHO's regional emergency director, Richard Brennan, said public health risks are increasing. Speaking from Cairo, he said damaged infrastructure, stagnant water, and inadequate sanitation facilities are providing breeding sites for mosquitos. Since July, he noted, more than 540,000 cases of malaria have been reported in 32 of Pakistan's flood-drenched districts.

"Other health threats include increasing cases of diarrheal diseases, an ongoing dengue fever outbreak, measles, and diphtheria. Among the biggest concerns are the high rates of severe acute malnutrition, especially among children under the age of five years," Brennan said. "Access to safe water and sanitation remain limited, with people using contaminated water for household consumption. Pregnant women need access to clean and safe delivery services."

He noted more than 2,000 health facilities have been damaged or destroyed by the floods, making the provision of medical services difficult. Nonetheless, he said the WHO is working effectively across several priority health areas, including that of managing acute malnutrition.

"We are doing screening. In some places, we are seeing over 10 percent severe acute malnutrition, let alone overall malnutrition," Brennan said. "So, what WHO has done is, we are supporting around 16 stabilization centers for those with severe acute malnutrition, particularly for kids who have complications from that. We are working with the Ministry of Health to establish another 19."

Brennan said he returned from Pakistan a few weeks ago and was overwhelmed by the massive needs, especially in hardest-hit Sindh province. Unfortunately, given the many competing emergencies around the world, he noted Pakistan's flood disaster very quickly fell off the media radar screen.

He said the WHO requires $81 million to tackle Pakistan's health crisis, but warned that the situation will only worsen if the international community fails to respond.


Iranian authorities said Tuesday they had released eight journalists detained amid protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last month.

Amini died in police custody on September 16 after her arrest in Tehran for an alleged breach of Iran's strict dress code for women.

Dozens of people, mainly demonstrators but also members of the security forces, have been killed during the demonstrations, described as "riots" by authorities, and hundreds more have been arrested.

Reformist daily Sazandegi said Sunday that "more than 20 journalists" were in detention, and several others summoned for interrogation.

"So far, eight people have been released," said Iman Shamsai, director general of local media at the culture ministry, Iran's ISNA news agency reported.

On Sunday, more than 300 Iranian journalists and photojournalists signed a statement to criticize the authorities for "arresting colleagues and stripping them of their civil rights after their detentions," according to local media.

In a statement published in the Etemad newspaper, the Tehran journalists' association dismissed the "security approach" as "illegal" and "in conflict with press freedom."

Shamsai however said that "no one has been arrested in Tehran for media activity," ISNA added.

"We must not attack the entire journalistic profession and accuse the media community because of an accusation or even a crime," Shamsai said, adding that he hoped to "resolve the issues as soon as possible."
For the fifth time since 2019, Israelis were voting in national elections on Tuesday, hoping to break the political deadlock that has paralyzed the country for the past three and a half years.

Although the cost of living is surging, Israeli-Palestinian tensions are boiling over and Iran remains a central threat, the foremost issue in the vote once again is former leader Benjamin Netanyahu and his fitness to serve amid corruption charges. His main rival is the man who helped oust him last year, the centrist caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

Polls have predicted a similar result: stalemate. But a powerful new player is threatening to shake things up. Itamar Ben-Gvir, a leading far-right politician, has surged in opinion polls recently and will be seeking a harder line against the Palestinians if he helps propel Netanyahu to victory.

With former allies and proteges refusing to sit under him while he is on trial, Netanyahu has been unable to form a viable majority government in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament. His opponents, an ideologically diverse constellation of parties, are equally hamstrung in cobbling together the 61 seats needed to rule.

That impasse has mired Israel in an unprecedented political crisis that has eroded Israelis' faith in their democracy, its institutions and their political leaders.

"People are tired of instability, of the fact that the government is not delivering the goods," said Yohanan Plesner, a former legislator who now heads the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank.

Buoyed by his followers' almost cult-like adoration, Netanyahu, 73, has rejected calls to step down by his opponents, who say someone on trial for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes cannot govern. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing, but embarrassing details from his ongoing trial repeatedly make front page news.

In Israel's fragmented politics, no single party has ever won a parliamentary majority, and coalition-building is necessary to govern. Netanyahu's most likely path to the premiership requires an alliance with extremist ultra-nationalists and religious ultra-Orthodox parties.

These parties would demand key portfolios in a Netanyahu government, and some have promised to enact reforms that could make Netanyahu's legal woes disappear.

The ultranationalist Religious Zionism party, whose provocative top candidate Ben-Gvir wants to deport Arab legislators and is a disciple of a racist rabbi who was assassinated in 1990, has promised to support legislation that would alter the legal code, weaken the judiciary and could help Netanyahu evade a conviction. Ben-Gvir, promising a tougher line against Palestinian attackers, this week announced he would seek the Cabinet post overseeing the police force.

Critics have sounded the alarm over what they see is a destructive threat to Israel's democracy.

"If Netanyahu is triumphant," wrote columnist Sima Kadmon in the Yediot Ahronot daily, "these will be the final days of the state of Israel as we have known it for 75 years."

Netanyahu's Likud party has tried to tamp down worries, saying any changes to the legal code won't apply to Netanyahus case and that the extremist elements of his potential coalition will be reined in.

Netanyahu, currently opposition leader, paints himself as the consummate statesman and only leader capable of steering the country through its myriad challenges.

Polls say the race is too close to predict.

Netanyahu was ousted last year after 12 years in power by the diverse coalition forged by Lapid, Netanyahus main challenger.

The coalition, made up of nationalists who oppose Palestinian statehood, dovish parties that seek a peace agreement, as well as for the first time in the country's history, a small Arab Islamist party, united over their distaste for Netanyahu but collapsed this spring because of infighting.

The centrist Lapid, a former author and broadcaster who became premier as part of a power-sharing agreement, has portrayed himself as an honest and scandal-free change from the polarizing Netanyahu.

In his short term as caretaker leader, Lapid welcomed President Joe Biden on a successful visit to Israel, led the country in a brief military operation against Gaza militants and signed a diplomatic agreement with Lebanon setting a maritime boundary between the enemy nations.

Still, Lapid's chances to return to leadership are shaky. He is relying on voters from Israels Palestinian minority, who make up one fifth of the population. Their turnout is predicted to reach historic lows, but if they unexpectedly do come out to vote, that could slash the Netanyahu camp's numbers.

After the votes are tallied, the parties have nearly three months to form a government. If they can't, Israel heads to its sixth election.
For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine.

The latest developments in Russias war on Ukraine. All times EDT.

11 p.m.: The U.N. coordinator for the Ukraine Black Sea grain deal said he expects loaded ships to depart Ukrainian ports on Thursday, Reuters reported.

"Exports of grain and foodstuffs from #Ukraine need to continue. Although no movements of vessels are planned for 2 November under the #BlackSeaGrainInitiative, we expect loaded ships to sail on Thursday," U.N. coordinator Amir Abdulla posted on Twitter.

Eight ships with agricultural products were expected to pass through the corridor on Thursday, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Twitter.

In his nightly video message Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a long-term defense is needed for Ukraine's grain export corridor and the world must respond firmly to any Russian attempts to disrupt it.

Zelenskyy said ships were moving out of Ukrainian ports with cargoes thanks to the work of Turkey and the United Nations, the two main brokers of the July 22 grain export agreement.

"But a reliable and long-term defense is needed for the grain corridor," he said.

"Russia must clearly be made aware that it will receive a tough response from the world to any steps to disrupt our food exports," Zelenskyy said. "At issue here clearly are the lives of tens of millions of people."

10:30 p.m.: Russian fertilizer producer Uralchem-Uralkali plans to send the first humanitarian supply of fertilizer from a European Union port to Malawi, the TASS news agency quoted the company as saying on Tuesday.

Uralchem is ready to supply in total 240,000 metric tons of its fertilizers currently blocked in EU warehouses to Africa for free, TASS reported.

10 p.m.:

9:48 p.m.: Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the founder of the Wagner private military group, has praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a strong and confident leader who should not be underestimated, according to Reuters.

His comments underlined Prigozhin's rising public profile and growing confidence in speaking out on sensitive issues around the war in Ukraine in defiance of the standard Moscow line.

"Although he is the president of a country hostile to Russia at the moment, Zelenskyy is a strong, confident, pragmatic and nice guy," Prigozhin said in a statement shared on the Vkontatke social media platform by the press service of his Concord catering firm.

"Don't underestimate him," Prigozhin said in a second statement, after he was asked why he was heaping praise on a man that Moscow has largely criticized, belittled and attacked since he came to power in 2019.

Russian political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya said Prigozhin was voicing a view far removed from Putin's that others in the ruling elite might not dare to express. "Prigozhin dared. He thinks he has a right and he thinks it wouldn't anger Putin," she said.

9 p.m.: The White House said Tuesday Iran was willingly taking part in killing Ukrainians by providing drones to Russia for the war, and voiced concern it would also ship missiles to Moscow, Agence France-Presse reported.

By arming the Russians, the Iranian regime "is involved in killing innocent Ukrainians," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said.

"At its core, this is a regime in Tehran that is openly and willingly making themselves an accomplice to the murder of innocent Ukrainian people on Ukrainian soil."

Kirby noted Iran's provision of attack drones to Russia, which have been deployed in recent weeks to damage Ukraine infrastructure.

But he would not confirm reports that Tehran could also send short-range ballistic missiles to Russia.

"We remain concerned about the potential of Iran to provide Russia with surface-to-surface missiles," Kirby told reporters.

"We haven't seen that bear out, but it's a concern that we have," he said.

8:12 p.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin told Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan Tuesday that he wanted "real guarantees" from Kyiv before it potentially rejoined the grain deal, Agence France-Presse reported.

Putin told Erdogan that Russia sought "real guarantees from Kyiv about the strict observance of the Istanbul agreement, in particular about not using the humanitarian corridor for military purposes," according to a statement from the Kremlin.

Putin told Erdogan "it is necessary to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the incident" against the Black Sea fleet.

"Only after that will it be possible to consider the question of resuming work" within the deal, the Kremlin statement said, referring to both the investigation and guarantees it is seeking.

7:17 p.m.: New Group of Seven and European Union sanctions on Russian oil exports will have a muted impact on flows and global prices according to analysts polled by Reuters, as Russia is set to largely succeed in rerouting its trade eastward.

The market is set to be deprived of a maximum of 2 million barrels per day of Russian oil in the short term once the measures take effect on December 5, and possibly none at all, a range not seen moving prices much upward.

6:28 p.m.: Russian occupation authorities announced Tuesday the movement of more large numbers of people from Ukraine's Kherson region amid a counter-offensive by Kyiv, which has already seen 70,000 people flee, Agence France-Presse reported.

"I decided to extend the evacuation zone by 15 kilometers" from Dnipro," pro-Moscow governor Vladimir Saldo said in a Telegram video. The evacuations would be carried out by road, the post added.

Saldo had said earlier Tuesday that 70,000 more people along the left bank of the Dnieper River would be moved deeper into the region or to Russia.

He said the resettlement was being carried out because of the risk of a "massive missile attack" by Ukrainian forces on a local dam.

Kyiv's forces are preparing for a fierce battle to retake the region's main city Kherson and the surrounding areas on the right bank of the Dnipro after making major gains in Ukraine's east and south.

The city, with a pre-conflict population of around 288,000 people, was one of the first to fall to Moscow's forces after President Vladimir Putin sent troops across the border in February. Retaking it would mark a major milestone for Kyiv.

5:34 p.m.: Serbia must decide whether it wants to join the European Union or enter into a partnership with Russia, Germany told Belgrade on Tuesday, two days before six Western Balkan countries are scheduled to discuss closer cooperation in Berlin, Reuters reported.



The need for a decision is coming to a head in view of geopolitical developments, a German government representative said in reference to Russias war in Ukraine.



Serbia, which was bombed by NATO two decades ago but now seeks to join the European Union, has long struggled to balance historically close ties with Russia against aspirations for economic and political integration with the West.



An agreement between Serbia and Russia on enhanced cooperation had been met with surprise and disappointment, and was a poor fit with expectations that EU accession candidates should also adopt EU sanctions against Russia, the representative said.

4:53 p.m.: Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Tuesday that he believed a U.N. brokered grains deal that Russia had suspended over the weekend would continue, after two phone calls in as many days with his Russian counterpart, Reuters reported.

"Mr. (Sergei) Shoigu continues to discuss the issue with his own authorities in the light of information we have provided. We expect a response from them today and tomorrow," Akar said in a statement.

"There is progress in this direction. We are evaluating the available information that this agreement will continue."

4:04 p.m.: The streets and boulevards of the Russian-held port of Kherson in southern Ukraine are virtually empty. Many shops and businesses have been shuttered and, at a jetty on the banks of the Dnieper River, a handful of people board a ferry to leave, Reuters reported.



As Ukrainian forces advance to the north and east of the strategic city, Russian-installed officials there have evacuated tens of thousands of civilians in recent weeks.



Only a few remain, and some expressed frustration at not knowing what lay ahead.



Compounding the uncertainty are claims and counter-claims by both sides in the eight-month-old conflict, which Russia calls a special operation, that a nearby dam could be destroyed, potentially triggering floods downstream.



3:20 p.m.: Russia's attacks on Ukrainian water and energy supplies are aimed at exacerbating human suffering and are particularly heinous, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters on Tuesday.



Russia fired a huge volley of missiles at Ukrainian cities on Monday in what Russian President Vladimir Putin called retaliation for an attack on Russia's Black Sea Fleet at the weekend. Ukraine said it shot most of those missiles down, but some had hit power stations, knocking out electricity and water supplies.

2:30 p.m.:

2:10 p.m.: Russia has moved its occupying administration in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson to a location further south, the Kyiv Independent reported Tuesday.



According to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, the occupation administration was moved from Kherson to the city of Skadovsk.



Russia has undertaken an evacuation of military staff and civilians from Kherson recently, as Ukrainian troops have advanced toward the city and a battle for its control appears imminent.



1:30 p.m.: Delegations from Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations agreed not to plan any movement of vessels on Nov. 2 as part of the Black Sea grain deal, the United Nations secretariat at the joint coordination center said on Tuesday.



In a statement, the secretariat said Turkish and U.N. inspectors have concluded 36 inspections on board outbound vessels on November 1, days after Russia suspended participation in the initiative.

1:15 p.m.: Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that up to 40% of Ukraines energy system has been destroyed by Russian attacks, the Kyiv Independent reported.



Ukraine has to stop exporting electricity to European countries due to Russian missile and drone attacks which destroyed 30-40% of its energy system, Zelenskyy said, according to the Kyiv Independent.



12:35 p.m.:

12:10 p.m.: Algeria is hosting the 31st summit of the largest annual Arab conference on Tuesday and Wednesday as the region battles to find common ground over a series of divisive issues, The Associated Press reported.



The 22-member Arab League last held its summit in 2019, before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. In the years since, new challenges have drastically reshaped the regions agenda, with the establishment of diplomatic ties between Israel and four more Arab League countries, as well as the fallout of the war in Ukraine.



Chief among the summits discussion points will likely be the food and energy crises aggravated by the conflict in eastern Europe.



Russias reinforcement of its blockade on Ukraines Black Sea ports on Sunday threatens to further escalate the crisis, with many Arab countries near solely dependent on eastern European wheat exports.



To the annoyance of Ukraine and its Western backers, the war has become a point of unity among Arab League members, with nearly all adopting a stance of neutrality. Experts say this is likely to continue.



Political and economic involvement in this conflict would be costly for Arab countries, said Hasni Abidi, a political scientist who teaches at Switzerlands Global Studies Institute. Thats why a new non-alignment (agreement) could be a realistic approach.

11:55 a.m.:



11:30 a.m.: Rising prices and a weak currency mean Sweden will reach the NATO target for defense expenditure of 2% of GDP by 2026, two years earlier than previously planned, Sweden's supreme commander said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.



Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO in the summer as a direct consequence of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The two Nordic countries membership has been approved by 28 of NATO's 30 members.



"We are in a very serious security situation," Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Micael Byden told a news conference after delivering spending recommendations to the government.



Byden said he recommended the government to not set any red lines initially when joining NATO, such as not allowing NATO bases or nuclear weapons on Swedish territory.



"To set reservations at an early stage, before we have even joined, is to create friction and blockages and we want to avoid that," he said.



11:15 a.m.: The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, met with Finlands Minister of Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto on Tuesday to discuss nuclear non-proliferation and the situation in Ukraine, Grossi said on Twitter.



11:05 a.m.: A Russian court on Tuesday fined Wikipedia owner Wikimedia Foundation $32,600 (2 million rubles) over articles relating to the Ukraine war, the head of the foundation in Russia told Reuters.



Stanislav Kozlovsky said the penalty was imposed for not deleting entries that Russia has demanded be removed. He said the foundation would appeal.



The two articles, in Russian, were titled "Non-violent resistance of Ukraine's civilian population in the course of Russia's invasion" and "Evaluations of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine."



Russia describes its war in Ukraine as a "special military operation."



On April 26, a Russian court fined Wikimedia Foundation a total of 5 million rubles for similar offenses.

10:50 a.m.: Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an exiled Russian businessman and opposition activist, now residing in London, spoke with Britains Foreign Affairs Committee Tuesday.



10:40 a.m.: Analysts say Russia still is bound by the terms of the U.N.-brokered Black Sea grain deal it signed, which include a commitment not to target civilian vessels that are taking part in the agreement, The Associated Press reported Tuesday. Such an attack also would violate international law.



Although it is not currently participating in that deal, it is still a signatory to it. Russias interests are not going to be served in any way, shape or form by attacking vessels and groups in the international community, said Munro Anderson, head of intelligence of the risk consultancy company Dryad Global.



Anderson said Russia was unlikely to mount any overt action against any vessels operating within the parameters of the original deal, though the risks were as high as ever of Russia attacking Ukrainian grain silos, other agricultural infrastructure or targets at sea.



However, the future of the initiative is unclear as the risks have potentially increased, Anderson said. Now, the U.N. operation is moving to prioritize a large backlog of ships waiting for inspections off Istanbul, he said.



10:20 a.m.: Ukraines Minister of Infrastructure, Oleksandr Kubrakov, said on Twitter Tuesday that 17 ships had passed through the humanitarian corridor since the start of the week, and he said the volume could be even greater if Russia didnt block inspections.



Earlier, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed his countrys commitment to the Black Sea grain deal, saying Were ready to remain a guarantor of food safety after holding talks with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Monday.

10:05 a.m.: Turkish President Erdogan will speak with Russian and Ukrainian counterparts in the coming days with the aim of restoring the grain export deal, the Turkish foreign minister said on Tuesday. "We believe we will overcome this ... (the grain deal) benefits everyone," Agence France-Presse reported.



9:55 a.m.:

9:40 a.m.: Few took Elon Musk's tweeted threat to stop funding Starlink in Ukraine as seriously as the commander in charge of communications along much of the southern front.



The world's richest man last month took to his favorite social media platform  which he has since bought  to wonder why he should keep providing Ukraine with free satellite internet service, Agence France-Presse reported.



The temperamental mega-billionaire appeared to change his mind a few days later.



"The hell with it," Musk wrote after his initial threat created a geopolitical furor and underscored the Pentagon's growing dependence on private space technology.



"Even though Starlink is still losing money and other companies are getting billions of taxpayer dollars, we'll just keep funding the Ukrainian government for free."



Major Roman Omelchenko is still not sure if Musk's second tweet was ironic or if he really did intend to keep paying for the Ukrainian army's main line of communication.



He just knows that Starlink's loss would leave him scrambling during the brewing battle for Kherson. "If we lose it, it will be a serious blow to our means of communication," the 59th brigade's communications chief said in an interview conducted at a secret location along the southern front. "It would be very difficult without it."



9:25 a.m.:



9:10 a.m.: BPs earnings more than doubled in the third quarter as the London-based energy giant benefited from high oil and natural gas prices following Russias invasion of Ukraine, The Associated Press reported Tuesday.



Underlying replacement cost profit, which excludes one-time items and fluctuations in the value of inventories, jumped to $8.15 billion from $3.32 billion in the same period last year, BP said Tuesday. The company also announced plans to reward shareholders, buying back another $2.5 billion of stock.



Soaring earnings at British energy companies are fueling calls for the government to expand a tax on their windfall profits as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak struggles to close an estimated 40 billion-pound ($46 billion) hole in the budget. BP rival Shell last week said third-quarter earnings more than doubled to $9.45 billion.



U.S. President Joe Biden also has floated the possibility of a windfall tax if energy companies dont boost domestic production, accusing them Monday of war profiteering."



8:55 a.m.: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Germany this week to meet with his counterparts in the Group of Seven to discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine, climate change, energy and other issues, the State Department said on Tuesday.



Other topics include health, the food crisis, the Indo-Pacific and Africa, it said. Blinken, who travels Nov. 3 through Nov. 4, will also attend the U.S.-German futures forum, the department added.



8:40 a.m.: Russia said on Tuesday it was considering what "further steps" to take in connection with its allegation that Britain was responsible for an attack on the Nord Stream undersea gas pipelines, Reuters reported.



Russia's defense ministry said on Saturday that British navy personnel had blown up the Nord Stream pipelines in September, an assertion that London said was false and designed to distract from Russian military failures in Ukraine.



The Kremlin has not provided evidence to support its claims Britain was behind the ruptures on the Nord Stream pipelines, which have threatened to put the multi-billion dollar gas link permanently out of use.



The Kremlin also said no decision had been taken on whether to repair the Russian-controlled pipelines.



Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian government was awaiting for an expert assessment of the damage and that no decisions had yet been taken on the future of Nord Stream 1 or Nord Stream 2.

8:20 a.m.: Experts from the United Nations nuclear power agency inspected two sites in Ukraine on Tuesday that Russia identified in unfounded claims that Ukrainian authorities were manufacturing radioactive dirty bombs, The Associated Press reported.



International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said the inspections for evidence of a so-called dirty bomb, requested by Kyiv in the wake of the unsubstantiated Russian allegations, would be completed soon.



Top Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, made unsubstantiated accusations that Ukraine was preparing to use such an explosive device, which scatters radioactive waste.



The International Atomic Energy Agency has said the investigated sites are under IAEA safeguards and have been visited regularly by IAEA inspectors, whose mission is detecting undeclared nuclear activities and materials related to the development of dirty bombs.



The IAEA inspected one of the two locations a month ago and no undeclared nuclear activities or materials were found there, the agency said in a statement Monday.



The U.N.s atomic energy watchdog also has had on-site monitors at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

8:05 a.m.:



7:50 a.m.: Russia does not need a presidential decree to formalize the completion of the partial mobilization of reservists to fight in Ukraine, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing a senior senator from Russia's ruling party.



Russia has announced the completion of a mobilization ordered by President Vladimir Putin, declaring it had called up 300,000 reservists in a little more than a month, and no more are needed.



But the suggestion that Putin might not issue a formal decree calling an end to the drive may increase concern among Russians that the mobilizations could still be restarted.



When asked on Monday if he would issue a decree to formalize the completion of the mobilization, Putin said he had not considered whether or not one was needed and would consult with lawyers.



"No additional decrees on the end of mobilization are required," Andrei Klishas, head of the committee on constitutional legislation in the Federation Council upper house was quoted as saying by TASS news agency on Tuesday.



Putin declared the "partial mobilization" of 300,000 reservists on Sept. 21, after a series of military defeats. The mobilization touched off an exodus of military age men from Russia, with tens of thousands heading for countries including Georgia, Armenia and Kazakhstan.



Defense Secretary Sergei Shoigu said 300,000 Russian reservists had been mobilized, with 82,000 already deployed to the conflict zone.



7:35 a.m.:

7:20 a.m.: The new Baltic Pipe pipeline between Norway and Poland on Tuesday received its first direct deliveries of Norwegian gas after a Danish terminal started operations following delays, Denmark's gas system operator Energinet said, according to Reuters.



Baltic Pipe is a joint project between Energinet and Poland's Gaz-System and is central to Polish efforts to diversify away from Russian gas.



The pipeline connecting Norway to Poland opened on October 1. Delays to completing the receiving terminal in Nybro in Denmark had however initially seen the pipe filled with gas via Germany instead.



"The Baltic Pipe project on Tuesday ... reached an important milestone," Energinet said in a statement. "Norwegian gas now enters the new Baltic Pipe gas pipeline and can be sent on to Poland via the Danish gas system."



7:10 a.m.:



6:55 a.m.: A small number of U.S. military forces inside Ukraine have recently begun doing onsite inspections to ensure that Ukrainian troops are properly accounting for the Western-provided weapons they receive, The Associated Press reported, quoting a senior U.S. defense official.



The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide a military update Monday, would not say where the inspections are taking place or how close to the battlefronts the U.S. troops are getting. The official said U.S. personnel cant do inspections close to the front lines, but said they are going where security conditions allow.



The official said there have been several inspections, and they are being done by the U.S. Defense attache and the U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation team that is in Kyiv. So far, the official said, Ukrainian officials have been transparent about the weapons distribution and are supporting the inspections.



6:40 a.m.:

6:30 a.m.: Ukrainian officials called for Russia to be isolated from international bodies after Russian forces carried out attacks on infrastructure targets in multiple Ukrainian cities.

Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said Tuesday that Russia should be expelled from the G-20 group of nations and Russian President Vladimir Putins invitation to this months G-20 summit in Indonesia should be revoked.

"Putin publicly acknowledged ordering missile strikes on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure," Nikolenko tweeted. "With his hands stained in blood, he must not be allowed to sit at the table with world leaders."

6 a.m.: Russian occupation authorities in southern Ukraine said Tuesday that tens of thousands more people would be evacuated from the Kherson region amid Kyiv's counteroffensive, Agence France-Presse reported.

The Russian-installed leader of Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, said some 70,000 people along a 15 kilometer (10-mile) stretch of the left bank of the Dnipro River would be moved deeper into the region or to Russia.

"We have already begun this work," he said in an interview with the Solovyov Live YouTube channel.

He said the resettlement was being carried out because of the risk of a "massive missile attack" by Ukrainian forces on a local dam.

Russia's occupation authorities last week said that 70,000 civilians left their homes located on the right bank of the Dnipro River.

5:27 a.m.: Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Tuesday urged Hungary and Turkey to approve the Swedish and Finnish NATO applications "sooner rather than later."

5 a.m.: Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson said Tuesday that Russian President Putin's hands are "stained in blood" after he acknowledged ordering missile strikes on Ukraine.

4:27 a.m.: Water and electricity supplies have been restored in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, a day after being knocked out by Russian missile strikes, Agence France-Presse reported Tuesday, citing the city's mayor.

"Water supplies to the homes of Kyiv residents have been fully restored.... Electricity supplies in Kyiv have also been restored" Vitali Klitschko said on social media.

But Klitschko said there would still be planned power cuts in the city "because of the considerable deficit in the power system after the barbaric attacks of the aggressor."

The Ukrainian military said Russia had launched 55 cruise missiles and dozens of other munitions across the country on Monday.

Presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich on Tuesday called the bombardment "one of the most massive shellings of our territory by the army of the Russian Federation."

But he noted that thanks to improved air defenses, including with Western aid, "the destruction is not as critical as it could be."

Ukraine says Russian strikes over the past month have destroyed around a third of its power stations and has urged Ukrainians to save on electricity as much as possible.

4 a.m.: Russia fired four missiles into the southern Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv overnight, demolishing half an apartment building and killing one resident, a day after it unleashed a barrage of missiles on several cities including the capital Kyiv.

Rescue workers recovered the body of an elderly woman from the rubble of the apartment block early on Tuesday, Reuters witnesses said.

As rush hour was underway, passersby walked past a two-story school, the front of which was torn off by the force of the blast that left a massive crater.

"This is what the barbarian horde does," said Irena Siden, 48, the schools deputy director, standing in front of the gutted building as workers began sweeping up the rubble.

"They (the Russians) are the descendants of the barbarian horde. They stole our history and how they are trying to steal our culture."

3:29 a.m.: Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told Ukraine's defense and infrastructure ministers that keeping the Black Sea grain export deal going was important and that, as a humanitarian initiative, it should be kept separate from the conflict in Ukraine.

Akar's comments, released in a statement by his ministry on Tuesday, followed Russia's suspension of its participation in the deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July and aimed at keeping food commodities flowing to world markets.

Akar also told his Russian counterpart on Monday that Moscow should re-evaluate its decision, Reuters reported.

3 a.m.: A fragile recovery in Russia's manufacturing sector slowed down in October as sanctions combined with a mass call-up of workers to fight in Ukraine weighed on the country's producers, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing a business survey.

The S&P Global Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell in October to 50.7 from 52.0 in September, slipping closer to the 50.0 mark that separates expansion from contraction.

Employment levels in the manufacturing sector fell at their fastest rate in six months, the survey found.

President Vladimir Putin announced a "partial mobilization" in late September, and over the last five weeks some 300,000 reservists  mostly young, working men  have been drafted for the military campaign in Ukraine.

"The decrease in workforce numbers was solid overall and the quickest since April. A number of firms suggested that the decline in staffing numbers was due to labor shortages," S&P Global said.

The survey is the latest sign that mobilization is weighing on a Russian economy already struggling under sanctions, export bans, currency volatility, capital controls and an exodus of Western firms.

Russia's central bank said last week that mobilization would aggravate shortages in the labor force and create "supply-side restrictions in the broader economy."

Foreign demand also fell sharply during the month, the PMI survey found, as sanctions that have cut industry off from global payments systems, disrupted supply chains and banned the export of crucial materials and hi-tech equipment to Russia, continue to weigh on the economy.

Despite those headwinds, manufacturers' assessments of future output came in at their second-highest monthly reading in 3-1/2 years, S&P Global said.

Firms said they expected growing business from the country's import substitution drive and were hopeful that the most disruptive period of economic turmoil had passed.

2:38 a.m.:

2:10 a.m.: Russian-installed officials in Ukraine's southern Kherson region said on Monday evening they were extending an evacuation zone further from the Dnipro river, saying Ukraine could be preparing to attack the Kakhovka dam and flood the region, Reuters reported.

In a post on Telegram, Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-backed head of the region, which is partially occupied by Russian forces, said he was extending the area covered by an order for civilians to evacuate by an additional 15 km (9 miles) to include another seven settlements.

1:32 a.m.: President Vladimir Putin said Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and a decision to freeze participation in a Black Sea grain export program were responses to a drone attack on Moscow's fleet in Crimea that he blamed on Ukraine, Reuters reported.

1:02 a.m.: Billionaire banker and entrepreneur Oleg Tinkov said he renounced his Russian citizenship because of the conflict in Ukraine, which he had previously criticized, Agence France-Presse reported.

"I have taken the decision to exit my Russian citizenship. I can't and won't be associated with a fascist country, that started a war with their peaceful neighbor and killing innocent people daily," Tinkov announced on Monday.

"I hope more prominent Russian businessmen will follow me, so it weakens (President Vladimir) Putin's regime and his economy, and put him eventually to defeat," he wrote on Instagram.

He shared a picture of a certificate confirming the "ending" of his Russian citizenship.

"I hate Putin's Russia, but love all Russians who are clearly against this crazy war!" Tinkov said.

12:27 a.m.: U.S. President Joe Biden said he plans to seek tax penalties for oil companies unless they invest their record profits in lowering consumer costs and boosting production, criticizing their "war profiteering," Agence France-Presse reported.

His comments came days after oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron reported bumper earnings, reflecting how a surge in crude prices after Russia's invasion of Ukraine has boosted the industry. Natural gas costs have also risen, due to Europe's mobilization to offset lost imports from Russia.

"Their profits are a windfall of war," Biden told reporters on Monday, referring to energy businesses' earnings.

12:05 a.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin has hosted Armenia and Azerbaijan's leaders to try to broker a settlement to a longstanding conflict between the two ex-Soviet neighbors but announced no breakthrough, The Associated Press reported.

After meetings Monday with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in a Black Sea resort city, Putin said they had to remove points of disagreement from a prepared statement. That statement was to have formed the basis of a peace deal.

Putin called the meetings very useful, without detailing what was and what wasnt achieved. He said only that they agreed to continue contacts to seek solutions. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in a decades-old conflict over a region called Nagorno-Karabakh.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
The Democratic candidate for the 5th District congressional seat Josh Throneburg expressed his concerns about the countrys future with Buford Middle School eighth graders.

Im more nervous about all of you than I am the election, Throneburg said.

Weve never had a congressional candidate come before, said civics teacher Matt Resnick. He and Bufords other civics teacher, Mike Schafer, planned Throneburgs visit.

I also emailed Congressman Bob Goods campaign and at one point they did ask for some details, but I never heard back, unfortunately, Resnick said.

Throneburg spoke before a crowd of about 50 kids, all of them students in Resnicks and Schafers classes. Their questions ranged from his opinion on Governor Glenn Youngkins model policies to whether he was nervous about the Nov. 8 election.

Students wanted to know why Throneburg decided to run for Congress.

I want to make sure you guys have a future that is healthy and exciting and happy, Throneburg said.

He wants to ensure a healthy future for young people by investing in renewable energy and funding education.

As a congressman, I would have the opportunity to vote to increase some of that funding in the public schools, Throneburg said. Currently, the federal government provides 7.9% of funding for public K-12 education, according to the research organization Education Data Initiative.

My opponent actually wants to kill the Department of Education, because hes trying to move away from public schools. I think we should actually be increasing our investments in public schools, Throneburg said.

In 2020, the incumbent candidate Bob Good said he supported eliminating the federal governments involvement in education.

Good has sponsored the CHOICE Act, which would allow low-income families to use federal education funds to homeschool children. Critics say such a measure would effectively defund public schools; supporters say it would promote new educational opportunities for poor children.

Students asked Throneburg for his opinion on Youngkins model policies, which restrict transgender students rights. A little more than a month ago, about 100 Buford students walked out of their classes to protest the new guidance.

I think Governor Youngkins laws dont bring people in, they push people out, Throneburg said. So I dont like a lot of his suggestions.

Throneburg supports federal protections for LGBTQ people and other marginalized groups.

Anytime we have a vulnerable population, our immediate thought should be, How do we protect them? Throneburg said. The fact that we have so many political leaders who seem to be ignoring that and legislating against them, I think, is ridiculous.

Gun violence was also at the forefront of students minds. On Oct. 20, someone called Charlottesville police about a possible active shooter on Bufords campus. The call resulted in an hour-long lockdown; there were no shots fired at the school. The hoax call was the second the school had suffered in a month.

Youre dealing with a lot of stuff that I didnt have to deal with as a kid. We didnt have school lockdowns, Throneburg said. He supports common sense gun reforms, like requiring guns to be kept in a safe and preventing violent offenders from owning firearms.

What I dont like is how Republicans and Democrats fight about this issue all the time, rather than actually doing something helpful for all of you, Throneburg said.

Throneburg also disclosed that he has received very little funding from the Democratic Party and political action committees. Throneburgs campaign has raised a little more than $815,000, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Most of that has come from individual donors, who cannot contribute more than $2,900.

I think the strategy was Protect what we have, dont take new ground, Throneburg said. We have three Democratic representatives in the state of Virginia who are in tough races, and theyre already in office.

Students wondered why Throneburg wanted to run against Bob Good.

One of the things you can do if youre a congressman is you can get money from the government and bring it back to the district, Throneburg said. Guess how many dollars Bob Good has brought back to our district?

Zero! students answered.

If you dont do good in your job, what happens? You get fired.
Malaysia says it is considering plans to shutter the local office of the United Nations refugee agency, amid accusations the government is forcibly returning Burmese asylum seekers who have fled Myanmar for their lives.

The military regime that seized power in Myanmar early last year says Malaysia has repatriated hundreds of its nationals on chartered flights in recent months. The junta claims theyre coming home by choice. But rights groups say Malaysia is forcing them back  after arresting them for entering illegally  and that some are probably asylum seekers who will be arrested and possibly tortured or killed on their return.

Myanmars military is accused of arresting and killing thousands of its people in a bloody bid to crush a dogged civil and armed resistance to its rule. Dissidents, journalists and military defectors have been pouring into nearby countries, including Malaysia, for sanctuary.

Speaking with local reporters in early September, Malaysias National Security Council chief, Rodzi Mohamed Saad, said the government had prepared a draft plan for managing the countrys refugees without the U.N.s refugee agency, the UNHCR, and without foreign interference.

He criticized the UNHCR for issuing its own ID cards  without the governments case-by-case input or approval  to asylum seekers judged to have legitimate claims or fears of being persecuted back home. Though the cards carry no official legal weight in Malaysia, Rodzi called the practice unfair and said it amounted to disrespecting the country.

Responding to questions about the plan in parliament a few weeks ago, Abdul Latiff Ahmad, a top aide to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, said preparations to take over from the United Nations were already underway. Therefore, there is no longer a need for a UNHCR office in Malaysia, he said.

At another news conference on October 27, Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin said the plan had not yet been approved but was still under review. Picking up on the security chiefs themes of respect and self-reliance, he added, I must take care of our country first before taking care of outsiders.

Refoulement risk

Rights groups have roundly rebuked the idea, fearing the UNHCRs exit would see a spike in refoulements, the forced return of refugees to countries where theyre likely to be persecuted.

The likely risk of refoulement for refugees in Malaysia would increase if UNHCR were to leave, said Patrick Phongsathorn, a human rights advocate for Fortify Rights, a research and pressure group covering Southeast Asia.

Refugees often see UNHCR as an important and somewhat neutral arbiter in their cases, whereas the government of Malaysia has historically, and continues to, target refugees, he added.

I think that it [refoulement] will definitely increase because at least now you have someone watching over them, said Mahi Ramakrishnan, director of Beyond Borders Malaysia, a refugee rights group.

In concert with local groups like her own, she added, there is that element of someone monitoring whats happening, and especially the UNHCR, which has the international protection mandate. Now imagine if that has been taken away completely.

Malaysia currently hosts some 180,000 refugees and asylum seekers, according to the UNHCR, most of them from Myanmar.

The ID cards it issues to vetted and approved applicants dont always spare the holders arrest when caught by police without proof that theyre living in Malaysia legally, Ramakrishnan said, but they can, and sometimes do.

She and others are hoping the recent talk of closing the UNHCR office is mere political bluster ahead of the national elections set for November 19, a cynical bid for votes amid the tide of xenophobia stirred up by the pandemic. But they also worry it may be more than that, having sensed growing tensions between the office and its host for a few years.

With little apparent warning or explanation, the government stopped allowing UNHCR staff into the countrys immigration detention centers in 2019, making it impossible for the agency to offer them any assistance, let alone cards.

In July, the Home Ministry also announced that all UNHCR card holders would now have to register with a new Tracking Refugees Information System so that their whereabouts could be monitored.

Transition talks

Tricia Yeoh, CEO of Malaysias Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, a research and policy organization, said the tracking system could be the start of what may eventually become a government-run program for managing refugees. But she added that it would have to evolve into a far more comprehensive approach that cares for refugees and asylum seekers wellbeing as well.

For that, she said the government should start by signing up to the U.N.s Refugee Convention, which sets some basic conditions for how to treat refugees, with non-refoulement at the top of the list. Yeoh said other key reforms should include giving refugees and asylum seekers the right to public health care and education and to work, which they dont yet have.

So, its not just about the signing of these international documents, but also what the local laws entail. That would mean that basic access to health care and education would need to be provided, and certain laws and policies would need to be changed in order to accommodate that, she said.

With the political will to see those reforms through, Yeoh said they could probably be put in place within a few years.

The local UNHCR office also told VOA that building a comprehensive system for managing refugees tends to take governments years and that the agency was already working with Malaysian authorities on a framework for sharing refugee data, joint registration and screening.

Spokeswoman Yante Ismail said their latest meetings were held earlier this month.

UNHCR welcomes the Malaysian governments continued interest in establishing a national framework to manage the refugee situation in the country that may eventually result in the government assuming greater responsibility for refugee management and protection, she said.

Yante added that the agency remained committed to a gradual transition of responsibility based on the countrys capacity and expertise to take on refugee management in line with international protection principles.
As Ukrainian forces continue to battle Russian troops in the east and south of the country, Europe and the United States are considering additional pressure to convince Russias Vladimir Putin to end its invasion.

VOAs Misha Komadovsky sat down with former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul to discuss his proposals for new sanctions against Russian oligarchs, the consequences of labeling Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, and the possible collapse of the Russian Federation as a result of its war against Ukraine.

Former ambassador Michael McFaul is a diplomat and academic who was the U.S. ambassador to Russia from 2012 to 2014.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

VOA: You've been working with the office of the President of Ukraine on imposing sanctions against Russian proxies and those who support the Kremlin in its invasion of Ukraine. Currently your primary target is Russian propagandists and opinion leaders. What is the final goal here?

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul: Well, so, first let me clarify what we do and what we informally do, right? So, the group that I coordinate is an international working group that tries to come up with new ideas to suggest ideas for governments for new sanctions. We coordinate with Russia - with the Ukrainian government, Mr. Yermak, but I want to, I want to emphasize that our group is independent from the government of Ukraine, independent from the United States government. Again, we talk to everybody but we're - our ideas ultimately are just independent analysts. None of us work for any government. Ultimately, we come up with ideas that ... can only be implemented by governments, right?

Sanctions, and or by companies, by the way. We - sometimes the target of our activities  are aimed at trying to get companies to rethink what they're doing. The latest paper that we just put out, it's an appendix to working paper number three that you just noted, is to give greater attention to what we call the propagandists for Putin's war. These are not just people on TV supporting the war, but these ... can be a variety of kinds of people - soft power as we call it in English, right?  that are indirectly supporting Putin's regime and Putin's war. And we believe that there needs to be more attention to these people. That they are not innocents, that that if they are performing concerts in support of the Russian military, especially if they do so in annexed territory that the Russians are illegally occupying, they should pay some consequences for those activities.

VOA: Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are trying to convince the U.S. government to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, President Biden said that he would not go ahead with this, and my sources at the White House explained to me that this label could be compared to, you know, a huge blanket that you can put on Russia but it's difficult to take it off, and it would make, for instance, the Green Deal impossible. So is it a done deal for you, or is there still a chance that the U.S. will recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism at some point?

McFaul: I don't know the answer to your question. We did publish a paper about that. We believe that the actions that the Russian government is taking inside Ukraine are terrorist acts. They are terrorizing non-combatants. And I'm not a lawyer, but I looked at the language of that law very, very closely. And it's difficult to say in a normative way that what Russia is doing, somehow, in Ukraine is not terrorism.

And I just remind your viewers, Cuba is on the list. So, tell me is Cuba terrorizing people in a different country to a greater extent than Russia is inside Ukraine? My answer to that is "no." So I think that's a very difficult argument for people to make that Russia somehow is a better international actor with regard to terrorism than Cuba is today. Cuba is still on the list.

Now, I know those arguments from the White House. I have colleagues who work in the White House. I understand their concerns, that they think sanctions will be sticky and that you can't do certain cooperation with Russia if they're a state sponsor of terrorism, but actually the law gives the President the right to do certain things within the law to grant exemptions. So, it's not true that we can't work with them.

I would remind your viewers that Iran is on that list, and yet we negotiated with Iranian diplomats the JCPOA. It didn't prevent us from sitting down and talking to them about that. That was a large major agreement. So, I think there are ways to move forward if they wanted to. And I want to be clear, I appreciate why the Biden administration is nervous about this step, I just think the outrageous behavior of Russians inside Ukraine, you know, these are terrorist acts from my, by the way I look at them, demands that that we do something different.

And I would say in general I don't like the dynamics of sanctions where it's always incrementalism. It's always just a little bit more, a few more people here, a few more people there. When I don't see what Putin is doing inside Ukraine as being incremental. You know, he just annexed on paper, not in reality, territory the size of Portugal. That's outrageous behavior. And so, we need to have a commensurate response to that outrageous behavior, not an incremental response.

VOA: What would this comprehensive response look like? What would it look like? What is your solution here?

McFaul: Well, read our papers. We've been very explicit. You know, the paper about state sponsor of terrorism talks very explicitly about if you wanted to go further what you could do. And that's the blanket part that the administration doesn't like is exactly the part that I like, that it means you have to do all these things, that your hands are tied that you're not, you know, choosing which oligarch is good and which oligarch is bad, that you're actually, you know, you're doing blanket things, that tie your hands. Like our paper on individual sanctions that we published as well.

We want thousands of Russians that are enabling Putin's war machine inside Ukraine to be sanctioned. But we also give them a choice by the way, which I think is another innovative thing, rather than, you know, once you're on the sanctions list it's very difficult to get off. It's almost impossible to get off of the list. We frame it in a different way. We sanction, first of all, we say all, all Russian oligarchs. You know, we don't like this picking and choosing. You know why? Why some are on the list and some are not I think is very difficult to justify. And it leads to a lot of speculation about, you know, why are some getting special deals and others are not.

So, we just say, put them all on the list, all 200 on the Forbes list, and then have them take pro - actions to say I renounce the war, I want to support Ukrainian reconstruction, and then that gives them a chance to get off the list. Same with government officials. We say all of these - if you are in these jobs, you should be on the sanctions list. We're not going to discriminate between, you know, the governor of this region versus the governor of that region. Just put them all on the list. And then if you want to get off the list, resign from your post. So, that gives you agency about your status.

Same with people that serve on boards of companies, Russian companies including non-Russians. If you're on the list, we want to sanction everybody on those boards, but then you can choose to resign to get your name off the sanctions list. Then, by the way, somehow - some Americans have, some Russians have, and I applaud their decision to do that. In return then they should be released from those sanctions list.

VOA: So far, the United States has allocated more than $60 billion to support Kyiv. So, talk to me about the U.S. national interest in helping Ukraine.

McFaul: Well, I think there's two categories of interests. I do believe that the United States is a democracy, that we have made certain mistakes in our past. I'm happy to talk about them especially with the use of military force. But we don't support imperialism. We don't support colonization. We don't support annexation. We don't support terrorism in terms of our moral stance in the world, and therefore I think we have a moral interest, and I say this is an American myself, I'm against imperialism, I'm for democracy I'm against terrorism.

And so I want my elected leaders to be for those moral positions as well. And in this case, in this war, it's a dictatorship that has invaded a democracy. It is an imperial power that is trying to recolonize a former colony. And it is a country using indiscriminate force, terrorist acts against noncombatants. And I think for moral reasons therefore we must support the Ukrainians in their fight for their sovereignty, their fight for their democracy and their fight against these barbaric actions against innocent civilians inside Ukraine.

I also think there are concrete American national security interests at stake here as well. So those are two different things. If Ukraine wins this war, it will be reassuring for our NATO allies. It will be comforting for the rest of the world that worries about Russian aggression in Ukraine ... is not the only country in the world that worries about that. And I believe that it would be a good signal for other countries thinking of using force. I have in mind China in particular.

I was just in Taiwan a few weeks ago and nobody is cheering for the Ukrainians to win more than the Taiwanese as a signal to China to not take that kind of military action. And that's, these are all things that are in America's national security interests.

VOA: Ambassador, sooner or later this war will be over. And I've heard a myriad of opinions on what's going to happen to Russia after this, and some say that it may lead to Russia's collapse, as it happened to the USSR. Does this scenario look realistic to you and how will the U.S. react to this should it happen?

McFaul: Well again, political scientists aren't very good about predicting the future. By the way, neither is the CIA. I worked in the government for five years and they missed a lot of things, too, when I was there, so I'm hesitant to answer your question. With that caveat in mind, I would say a couple of things:

One  I do not believe that this war will lead to the collapse of the Russian Federation in the same way that the invasion of Afghanistan by Leonid Brezhnev was one of the precipitants that led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. I say that because the balance of power between the ethnic republics and Russia is diff - the rest of Russia is different than the Soviet Union.

I say that because a lot of the leaders in the ethnic republics are some of the most loyal people that support Moscow and support Putin. So, I just, I'm not in the category that thinks this will lead to the dissolution of the Russian Federation. I am in the category of people, however, that believe that this is the beginning of the end of Putinism as a political regime and as a political ideology. I don't think it will happen while Putin's alive and in power. I think he'll be in power for a long time. I don't see that happening.

But at the end of Putin's reign, whenever that happens, and I'm not a doctor - that's more a question for a doctor than a political analyst  but whenever he is no longer able to rule Russia, I think that will be the moment of questioning about whether this was a wise thing to do and where we go in the future for Russians.

And right now, you know, I don't know of a single economic elite that thinks this war was in Russia's national interest. They have to be quiet. They can't say that publicly, but this has been a disaster for any major economic elite inside Russia. Russian generals: Is this a good thing for them? Absolutely not. This has been a disaster for them. And I think there will be a big blame game between them and this, you know, the intelligence officers, the FSB people that dragged them into this war with bad intelligence. I think there'll be real tension between those groups.

Third, Russian society: yes, there are, there are adamant, fervent supporters of Putin's war. But, if you look at the opinion poll data, the group that is least supportive of Putin's war are the young, the educated, the urban and the rich. It's very clear cut. And those numbers are as big as the fervent supporters of the war. Then there's the [unintelligible] in the middle, right? Then there's the 60 percent that don't - that kind of support the war, but they don't really think about politics, who are now mobilized because of mobilization. The war has finally come to them.

But the support - the anti-war group are just going to grow over time, right? Because the younger people are going to get older, and the older people, the over 65, over 55 that support Putin, over time, that group is going to become smaller. And then I would just remind people that, you know, there are people doing incredibly brave acts. Some are in jail. Some have had to flee their country because they are so fervently against the war. And I don't think those people are going away. They're not going to quit. They're going to keep fighting for a different kind of Russia. And again, I don't want to pretend to predict the future. We're talking about years in the future, maybe decades. But the idea that Russia will be permanently against the West, will be permanently acting as an imperial country, I just think that's a premature prediction.

VOA: And the last question. I've seen your multiple tweets where you were trying to address the Russian people even in Russian, trying to say something like, Reporter speaks in Russian. At this point, if you had a chance to talk to those who support Putinism and Putin's war against Ukraine, what would you tell them?

McFaul: Well, I would say first, this war, a war of choice by Putin, a senseless war not provoked by any threat to Russia. You know, the absurdity that Ukraine was somehow threatening mighty Russia or that NATO was threatening mighty Russia, is complete nonsense. It is a senseless war, a tragic war that all Ukrainians first and foremost are suffering, but Russians are in the second category of people that are suffering as a result of this horrific war.

And, you know, I hope someday that they understand that there's no, there's no advantage to Russia over imperial conquest. Russia is a big country. Why do they need Kherson? They have the largest country in the world. They should devote their energies and resources to developing the territories that they have, rather than conquering new territories, and the sooner that they understand that the better it will be, you know, for all of Russians.

You know, I have two sons. I can't imagine sending my sons to a war with no purpose, to die for no purpose. I admire greatly (that) Russians  and by the way Ukrainians and the Estonians and Latvians and Georgians  did to fight a truly imperial, fascistic regime that saved the free world in 1945. And when you're attacked, you must fight. That was a war of purpose.

This is a war with no purpose. And, you know, I would hate to be the mother of the last son that dies in this senseless war. Better to end it now than years down the road when those sons will just keep dying and dying in Ukraine. We know, as you implied, this war is going to end. It'll end in some kind of negotiation. It will not end in the unification of Ukraine and Russia. So why not just end it sooner rather than later?
Myanmars military crackdown on media means the country now ranks among the worlds worst countries in terms of impunity in the killings of journalists, according to a new report.

The press freedom group the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) included Myanmar in its annual Global Impunity Index for the first time in 2022. Of the five journalists killed there in the past 10 years, three died while detained by the junta, according to CPJ research.

Somalia, for the eighth year, tops the list published Tuesday. Mexico, which is on track to record its deadliest year with more than a dozen journalists slain, comes in at sixth on the index, which tracks unsolved journalist killings.

The fact that Myanmar appears for the first time on the Impunity Index, the fact that it catapulted in the rankings of our jailed journalists list, demonstrates just how repressive the regime has been since the February 1 (2021) coup and just how harsh the clampdown has been on protesters and those looking to report on the regime, CPJs president Jodie Ginsberg told VOA.

CPJ in late 2021 ranked Myanmar among the leading jailers of media workers globally, as the junta detained dozens of reporters.

Impunity makes reporting in Myanmar harder and riskier, according to one former journalist. The editor requested anonymity because he remains in the country.

The message is the military can kill journalists who are taking photos and gathering news, he wrote in a message to VOA. I am not feeling safe, most of the night I am feeling they can show up at my door.

Major General Zaw Min Tun, the spokesperson for Myanmar's military council, told VOA that the forensic reports on two of those who died in police custody list heart issues as the cause of death and that those cases are now closed. He said there is no police report or information on the third journalist, Pu Tuidim.

Any journalists detained are arrested not for their work but because of terrorist related activities or instigation of unrest, he said.

Zaw Min Tun said that when freelance photojournalist Soe Naing was arrested authorities found evidence of supporting terrorist organizations and distributing "documentary photos to media." And when police detained photographer Aye Kyaw, they found a gun and two grenades. Both died of heart problems while in custody, he said.

The military has long enjoyed impunity for its crimes  and not just against journalists  according to Juliette Verlin, a French freelance journalist based in Myanmars largest city of Yangon.

You know no one will be there to protect you if something happens. The military is an octopus-like machine that can suddenly decide to target you and squeeze the life out of you, she told VOA via messaging app. Local journalists are under constant threat, and the militarys impunity transforms the work environment into a very hostile one, which makes reporting more chaotic.

Kyaw Hsan Hlaing, a freelance reporter who fled the country in April 2021, told VOA the stakes could not be higher. It is simple, he said. You could die.

Lack of accountability

Myanmar journalists who spoke with VOA said that they dont expect justice for crimes against journalists  or anyone else  anytime soon.

That outlook is consistent with the global reality. In nearly 80% of the 263 cases of journalists killed worldwide over the past decade, no one has been accountable, according to CPJ.

Whats particularly noteworthy, Ginsberg said, is that six of the countries on this years list have appeared every year since the index was first published in 2008. That illustrates lack of accountability very strongly, she added.

Among those countries is Somalia.

The dangers the countrys journalists face were underscored Saturday, when a double bombing in the capital killed television journalist Mohamed Isse Konan and seriously injured two others, including a freelance contributor to VOAs Somali Service, Abdulkadir Mohamed Abdulle.

The attackers detonated a second explosive as first responders and media arrived on the scene. It was the second time Abdulle has survived a bombing.

The militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack.

Somali journalists risk detention and violence from both al-Shabab and the government, Mohamed Ibrahim, president of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), told VOA in an interview before the bombing.

The media community is dying because of impunity, Ibrahim told VOA. No investigative stories are done in Somalia. This is because of the impunity that has affected the safety of journalists. Journalists are forced to self-censor, so they can still be safe.

In addition to fatal violence, arrests are another issue, Ibrahim said. The syndicates secretary general, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, was detained twice in October in a move that Ibrahim believes demonstrates the harassment of media in Somalia.

Somalias embassy in Washington did not reply to VOAs request for comment.



Other countries in the index include Syria, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Philippines, Brazil, Pakistan, and India.

The index ranks countries based on the number of unsolved killings over a 10-year period, and as a percentage of the population. Only journalists whom CPJ has determined were targeted directly for their work are included.

A combination of factors explains why impunity remains high, Ginsberg said, including a lack of political will. Authorities also often lack the resources to hold perpetrators accountable, she said.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which was set up to protect media around the world.

The action plan helped garner more international attention for threats facing journalists, Ginsberg said, but more action is needed.

Journalists from Myanmar, including the one who requested anonymity, said they want the U.N. and other international actors to do more.

Impunity is an important marker of press freedom because acts of violence against journalists and the absence of any accountability for perpetrators represents the worst kind of censorship imaginable, Ginsberg told VOA.

CPJ has tracked an increase in the tactics used to suppress journalists, including advanced censorship, online harassment, legal threats, surveillance and spyware.

The fact that journalist are still being killed and impunity remains high indicates that murder is the last resort to blocking stories, Ginsberg said.

Journalists are clearly doing important and valuable work if people are prepared to kill for it, she said.

VOA's Burmese Service contributed to this report.
The Dutch government on Tuesday ordered China to immediately close "police stations" in the Netherlands, which reports say were used to harass dissidents.

The police posts in Amsterdam and Rotterdam purported to offer diplomatic assistance but they had not been declared to the Netherlands government, Dutch media reported last month.

The reports followed an investigation by Spain-based NGO Safeguard Defenders in September, which said China had set up 54 overseas police centers around the world, including the two in the Netherlands.

It also said there were three in Britain and three in Canada.

"Because no permission was sought from the Netherlands" for the stations, "the ministry informed the (Chinese) ambassador that the stations must close immediately," Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said on Twitter.

He said the ministry had asked the ambassador for clarification on the stations and was investigating the posts' activities.

The two "police stations" set up since 2018 were used to silence China's political opponents, broadcaster RTL and investigative website Follow the Money said, quoting a Chinese dissident living in the Netherlands.

According to Safeguard Defenders, the police stations have been used by Chinese police to carry out policing operations on foreign soil, and pressure Chinese nationals to return home to face criminal charges.

China's foreign ministry said the Dutch reports were "completely false" and the "service stations" were meant to help overseas citizens do things such as renew driver's licenses.

The first Chinese office was opened in June 2018 in Amsterdam by the Lishui region police force and is headed by two men who started their careers in the Chinese police force before moving to the Netherlands, RTL said.

Police from the Chinese city of Fuzhou opened a second office earlier this year in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam, run by a former soldier, according to the broadcaster.

The Dutch foreign ministry said there were "regular signals" from the Dutch Chinese community about receiving "intimidation and threats," and that it was setting up a hotline.

Canadian federal police said last week they were investigating reports of three stations in the Toronto area.
Nigerian authorities on Monday dismissed recent terror warnings by foreign missions for the capital, Abuja, as "false" and "irresponsible." Heads of Nigerian security agencies made the comments to journalists after an emergency security meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. But security experts are urging Nigerians to take the warnings seriously.

Top government officials including the national security adviser, defense chief, head of national intelligence, and foreign affairs minister, held a joint session with journalists soon after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

The meeting comes in the wake of warnings issued by various foreign missions in the West African nation, of elevated risks of terror attacks, crimes, kidnapping and communal clashes, especially for the capital, Abuja.

The national security adviser, Babagana Monguno, addressed journalists.

"We're trying as much as possible within the domestic situation to work with our foreign partners without giving the impression that Nigeria is skating on thin ice and we're about to implode. I'll want to dispel any illusion about heightened sense of insecurity. It is false, it is irresponsible...," Monguno said.

The officials reiterated that there's no cause for alarm and urged citizens to go about their normal activities without fear.

The security alert last week was first issued by the U.S. embassy in Abuja, warning Americans that government buildings, places of worship, schools, markets, and malls in Nigeria could be attacked. The embassy began evacuating non-emergency staff from Abuja.

Soon after, the U.K., Ireland, Canada, Germany, Denmark, Bulgaria and Australia issued warnings against non-essential travel to the country.

Security analyst Chidi Omeje says he's disappointed at authorities' stance and that citizens must treat the warnings seriously.

"I'm actually confounded that the national security adviser will be the one to make such dismissal of such serious matter," Omeje said. "A country like the U.S. has a robust intelligence asset, America ought to be your partner; we must take it seriously."

Nigeria's armed forces, though, have heightened alertness around the country. Police said they have beefed up security and ordered the activation of emergency numbers to help officials promptly respond to any incident.

The growing calls for caution have spread fear among many Abuja residents, leading to the shutdown of businesses.

Borno state-based peace and security expert Abba Ali Mustafa says the United States and other nations should have talked with authorities before issuing the warnings.

"Nigeria does have a security architecture and a security system and a functioning government, so what the foreign missions should have done is reach out to Nigerian security units, liaise with them, collaborate with them and pass out this information through the national medium," Mustafa said. "I think the position of the government on this matter is on the breaching of the national integrity of the country and nothing much. It might paint a picture of hopelessness."

President Buhari last week called for calm.

Nigerian forces have been battling Boko Haram and Islamic State militants in the northeast for more than a decade. In recent years, terror groups have expanded their activities to other regions. In July, Islamic State West Africa Province, or ISWAP, claimed responsibility for a jailbreak in the capital that freed hundreds of inmates, dozens of whom remain at large.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this article inaccurately stated that Finland had issued an advisory against travel to Nigeria and that it and several other countries had begun evacuating their citizens.
North Korea on Monday demanded that the United States and South Korea stop large-scale military exercises, calling them a provocation that may draw "more powerful follow-up measures" from Pyongyang.

"The situation in the Korean Peninsula and its vicinity has entered the serious confrontation phase of power for power again due to the ceaseless and reckless military moves of the U.S. and south Korea," North Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement carried on the country's official KCNA news agency.

The United States and South Korea began one of their largest combined military air drills on Monday, with hundreds of warplanes from both sides staging mock attacks 24 hours a day for the better part of a week.

The operation, called Vigilant Storm, will run until Friday, and will feature about 240 warplanes conducting about 1,600 sorties, the U.S. Air Force said.

Washington and Seoul believe Pyongyang may be about to resume testing of nuclear bombs for the first time since 2017 and have embraced a strategy of "deterring" Pyongyang through major military drills that some current and former officials say may exacerbate tensions.

The foreign ministry statement said North Korea was "ready to take all necessary measures for defending its sovereignty, people's security and territorial integrity from outside military threats."

"If the U.S. continuously persists in the grave military provocations, the DPRK will take into account more powerful follow-up measures," it said, using the initials of North Korea's official name.

"If the U.S. does not want any serious developments not suited to its security interests, it should stop the useless and ineffective war exercises at once. If not, it will have to totally take the blame for all the consequences."

On Friday, South Korean troops finished the 12-day Hoguk 22 field exercises, which featured mock amphibious landings and river crossings, including some drills with U.S. forces.

North Korea condemns the joint drills as a rehearsal for invasion and proof of hostile policies by Washington and Seoul. It has launched missiles, conducted air drills and fired artillery into the sea in response to the exercises.

It has ignored repeated U.S. calls to resume talks over its nuclear and missile programs and has instead embarked on an unprecedented spate of missile testing this year.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price on Monday reiterated calls for North Korea to return to talks, while adding that U.S. policy of seeking the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula had not changed.

He was asked at a news briefing about comments last week by a senior U.S. official responsible for nuclear policy who raised some eyebrows by saying Washington would be willing to engage in arms-control talks with North Korea, something some experts say would require recognizing North Korea as a nuclear-armed state.

Asked if the United States would eventually recognize North Korea as such, Price replied: "That is not our policy. I do not foresee that ever becoming our policy."
Santa Clara, California-based chip producer Marvell Technology has confirmed that it is eliminating research and development staffs in China  the third U.S. chipmaker that has done so this year as the U.S.-China tech rivalry intensifies.

Observers say this will hobble Chinas chip ambitions and worsen its talent shortfall in the field of designing and manufacturing cutting-edge computer chips.

China is definitely going to be at a loss when it comes to American companies like Marvell essentially redesigning their workforce, because China still hasn't reached a point where it's able to pump out the same level of chip talent as America or the UK or Israel, Abishur Prakash, a co-founder at Center for Innovating the Future (CIF) in Canada told VOA over the phone.

China becoming off-limits

These tech giants are aware the era when companies could set up supply chains and move talent around the globe freely is coming to an end and China is becoming off-limits for Western companies, added Prakash, the author of five books including the latest one, titled The World is Vertical: How Technology Is Remaking Globalization.

Marvells decision came weeks after the Biden administration, in early October, imposed additional curbs on China-bound exports of advanced chips, as well as the technology and equipment to produce 14-nanometer chips or better.

The new rules also prohibited U.S. persons including U.S. citizens and green card holders from working at Chinese chip firms, in an apparent move to stem the flow of U.S.-trained tech talent to China.

In China, we will focus our R&D [research and development] investments on local customers and the China market, Stacey Keegan, vice president of Corporate Marketing at Marvell told Reuters in a statement last Thursday. As a part of this realignment, several of our business units and functions are announcing changes to their global location strategy that will result in the elimination of roles in China, he added without specifying how many staff it is cutting.

U.S. memory chip giant Micron announced in January it would close its 100-member DRAM design operations in Shanghai, while Texas Instruments in May moved its microcontroller unit R&D team in Shanghai to India.

And more companies may follow suit to downsize their China operations, CIFs Prakash said.

Unplugging from China

The worst is yet to come because China is going to be forced to adapt to the new design of globalization that's emerging. And American companies are essentially at the precipice of a new phase, where instead of plugging into China, they're unplugging from China, he added.

Prakash argued that global chipmakers face multiple conundrums. First, theyre forced to take the U.S. side in political disputes because they use American tools and systems. Secondly, they have to deal with multiple regions in the world, including the EU, India and even Saudi Arabia, which want to become global chip hubs.

That leads to their third problem: how to insulate themselves from U.S.-China geopolitical tensions while ensuring profitability in China?

The way to do that is to build a dual-track strategy, one for within China and one for outside of China. But it's not just going to be dual-track. There's going to be far more tracks because multiple countries are there, not just China, Prakash said.

China lacks leverage

The tech analyst said the possibility cant be ruled out that Beijing may make a drastic move and ban American companies that comply with U.S. sanctions on selling to China.

But Frank Lee, a senior partner of Blue Ocean Capital in Beijing, says such a move would be a bad idea, which will only serve the U.S.s purposes, that is, a U.S.-China tech de-coupling.

He said China has been hit badly by the U.S. sanctions that first cut off chip supplies to China and now limit Chinas access to top-tier chip talent.

Lee formerly served as an executive at Chinas Lenovo Group, the worlds largest maker of personal computers.

In the short run, he says, China, whose chip sector is still lagging behind its U.S. rival by at least 20 years, will face an uphill battle in fighting a chip war with the U.S.

The biggest problem is that China doesnt have too much leverage to retaliate against the U.S. when it comes to chips, Lee told VOA.

Lee said that China may one day leapfrog the U.S., though, because some Chinese firms enjoy advantages in the development of future devices, powered by 5G or 6G mobile chips.

Citing a Beijing Daily report, Lee said a Chinese firm, Zhongke Xintong Microelectronics, is slated to mass-produce next-generation, super-fast photonics chips in 2023. That would potentially free the company and some of its peers from reliance on extreme ultraviolet machines currently needed to make advanced chips. The EUV machines are made by a Dutch firm, ASML, which is honoring the U.S. sanctions.

Without such a breakthrough, China can neither produce advanced chips nor incubate local talents because it takes years for engineers to master the equipment and the production of advanced chips, said Lin Tsungnan, professor of electrical engineering at National Taiwan University in Taipei.

Amid heightened U.S.-China tech rivalry, when its access to top-tier talent is limited, China will have a shortage. China can certainly train its local talent, but thats only possible for mid- to low-end chip talent, Lin told VOA over the phone.

This article originated in VOAs Mandarin Service.
Somalia's government has promised support for victims of the twin bombings in the capital Saturday that killed at least 100 people and injured close to 300 others. Saturday's attack by al-Shabab comes as security forces have been waging a large-scale offensive against the militants.

Following an emergency Cabinet meeting on Sunday, Prime Minister Hamza Barre said his government will contribute one million dollars to offset the medical bills for victims of the Saturday twin bombings and support families affected.

The government said it will also cover education costs for children whose parents and dependents were affected in the attacks.

Barre also said the government will double down on the offensive against al-Shabab to avenge the lives lost.

"We pledge that we will get revenge for the Somali people and the final decision is to liberate the country from terrorists. So, as we go through pain, I urge Somalis to show patience, stability and resilience for casualties of the ongoing war. We hope in the shortest time to see our country free of explosions, killings and to have freedom of movement in our country," he said.

The twin bombings came as the Somali National Army, with the backing of clan militias, continue a campaign against al-Shabab in central Somalia.

Rashid Abdi, a security and political analyst from Sahan, a research think tank in Nairobi, says the attacks were a message from al-Shabab to Somalis who are supporting the government offensives.

Al-Shabab, you know, is using this kind of urban terror, first of all, to intimidate and create fear. Because remember, if they conduct this kind of attacks, frequently, people will begin to tell the government, you need to review your strategy. So, this is a way of creating public fear and anxiety and pressure on the government to stop the military campaign," he said.

But Rashid predicts the attacks will galvanize more Somalis to join the war and ensure al-Shabab is defeated.

He says al-Shabab is also trying to show it still has power despite recent reversals.

Their back essentially is to the wall," he said. "More territory has been taken from al-Shababs hands in the last four months than in the whole of the last five years. The al-Shabab finances and economic power is being dismantled. So, I think this is an indication that al-Shabab is actually very desperate and wants to show the adversary and the government in particular that it still has the capacity and the will to conduct these sorts of bombs.

On Sunday, the Somali government said that 100 al-Shabab fighters and leaders had been killed by government forces in the Middle Shabelle region.

Saturdays bombings in Mogadishu took place near an intersection where another bombing five years ago killed nearly 600 people. That bombing, widely blamed on al-Shabab, is still the deadliest terrorist attack in African history.
South Korea's police chief acknowledged failures in handling last week's deadly Halloween crowd surge, as officials try to contain public outrage over one of the country's deadliest peacetime disasters.

An initial investigation revealed police received several emergency calls from frightened partygoers before the accident occurred late Saturday, according to Yoon Hee-keun, the commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency.

The earliest phone call was received at 6:34 p.m. police said, adding they received 10 more calls over the next three and a half hours. The worst of the crowd surge reportedly began at around 10:15 p.m.

"The calls warned about the danger from a large crowd gathering. We judged that the [local police station's] response to thereports was insufficient," Yoon told a news conference Tuesday.

Bowing deeply before reporters, Yoon said he feels a "heavy responsibility" for the disaster and an "infinite responsibility" for public safety. "We will do our best to prevent such a tragic event from happening again," he said.

Earlier Tuesday, the death toll from the crowd surge rose to 156 people, after a 20-year-old Korean woman was pronounced dead, Seoul officials said. Twenty-nine people remain in serious condition.

The South Korean public has begun pushing harder for answers about why police did not do more to control the crowd in the Itaewon neighborhood, where an estimated 100,000 people had gathered to celebrate Halloween.

The accident occurred in a narrow, steep alley connecting the upper and lower levels of Itaewon. With seemingly no crowd control, masses of people began pushing from both sides, with those on the bottom eventually losing their footing and getting crushed.

A bar security guard who was posted directly above the alley told VOA he saw no police patrols in the area and that officers never showed up when an earlier injury occurred at his pub.

While initial reports characterized the incident as a "stampede," many Seoul residents disagree with that characterization. The disaster, they say, was not the result of a wild, uncontrollable force, but a failure of planning.

"There was absolutely no stampede," said Cho Hee-kyoung, a professor at Seoul's Hongik University College of Law. "It was simply mechanics and physics of too many people being crowded into too small an area. If they had just the basic kind of crowd control measures in place, this wouldn't have happened."

Many are still processing the trauma. Ahn Sang-jun, a 28-year-old who was hanging out with friends in Itaewon Saturday night, was among those who administered CPR to the victims before emergency officials arrived. He says he can't stop thinking about the young woman he tried to help, who died.

"We eventually moved her to a larger road where the ambulances arrived, but they were all absolutely full and I couldn't do anything else for the victim," he told VOA. "The fact that I couldn't help more, and everything else I witnessed that night, weighs very heavily on my heart," he added.

Some police officials have said managing the crowd was more difficult because there were no event organizers.

However, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said Tuesday that the focus should be on investigating the incident and preventing future disasters.

"Rather than nitpicking about whether the event had an organizer, it is the people's safety that is important, and we need to come up with thorough measures," Yoon said, adding that South Korea lagged on crowd management techniques.

"We need to leverage advanced digital capabilities such as drones to develop crowd management technology and make necessary institutional improvements," he said.

It is a delicate situation for Yoon, a conservative whose approval ratings have hovered around 30% since taking office in May. South Korea's last conservative president, Park Geun-hye, was brought down in part because of what was seen as her inadequate response to the country's last major disaster  the 2014 sinking of the Sewol ferry, which killed about 300 people, mostly high school students.

Earlier this week, South Korea's Interior and Safety Minister, Lee Sang-min, created a public uproar after appearing to suggest that police could not have prevented the disaster. On Tuesday, his ministry released a statement expressing regret over the statement.

"We will concentrate more on the accident investigation in the future," the statement said.
Russia has ordered tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians living near the eastern bank of the Dnipro River to relocate, an order Kyiv says amounts to forced displacement.

Russian-installed authorities reported relocating 70,000 residents due to concerns of a major Ukrainian counterattack.

Russia continues to target civilian homes and critical infrastructure, launching four missiles overnight that demolished half of an apartment building in the port city of Mykolaiv.

Russia fired dozens of missiles at Ukrainian energy facilities on Monday, causing blackouts, water supply shortages and cell service outages.

Speaking to reporters at the State Department on Tuesday, State Department spokesman Ned Price condemned the attacks and said Russia had fired about 100 missiles on Monday and Tuesday.

"With temperatures dropping, these Russian attacks aimed at exacerbating human suffering are particularly heinous," said Price.

Russia has denied targeting civilians. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the missile attacks retaliation for an attack on Russia's Black Sea Fleet a few days ago. Ukraine has not confirmed or denied attacking the Russian fleet, which Russia cited Saturday as its reason for suspending its participation in a United Nations-led grain initiative.

Ukrainian officials called for Russias isolation from international bodies after its forces hit civilian targets in multiple Ukrainian cities.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said Tuesday that Russia should be expelled from the G-20 group of nations and that Putins invitation to this months G-20 summit in Indonesia should be revoked.

Putin publicly acknowledged ordering missile strikes on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure, Nikolenko tweeted. With his hands stained in blood, he must not be allowed to sit at the table with world leaders.

The Pentagon on Tuesday also raised concerns that Russia may try to get more weapons from Iran to use in its war against Ukraine.

Russia recently has targeted civilian infrastructure with Iranian-made drones, and Iranian personnel are helping the Russian military launch these drone attacks from the Crimean Peninsula, according to the United States.

We do have concerns that Russia may also seek to acquire additional advanced munition capabilities from Iran, for example, surface-to-surface missiles, to use in Ukraine, Ryder said.

CNN is reporting that Iran is preparing to send Russia approximately 1,000 additional weapons, including surface-to-surface, short-range ballistic missiles and more suicide drones.

VOA's Carla Babb and Margaret Besheer contributed to this story. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
South Africa: Eskom 'largest supporter of black owned suppliers'

The board of Eskom says it embraces preferential procurement rules and all government policies aimed at transforming the economy.

This after a weekend newspaper reported that Eskom board member Mteto Nyati suggested that some empowerment and localisation rules constrain the power utility.

Eskom board chairperson Mpho Makwana emphasised that the power places a high premium on our role as a catalyst for transformation and empowerment.

Eskom continues to be the largest supporter of black owned suppliers who are positively contributing value to the production of electricity and we promote black industrialisation as a deliberate approach to supply chain management, localisation and industrialisation in our value chain, Makwana said.

The power utility said it is committed to supporting youth and black women through its procurement processes.

The Eskom board fully comprehends [empowerment] imperatives and is totally cognisant of the challenges many South Africans continue to face in terms of playing meaningful roles and livelihoods in the mainstream of the economy.

As and when Eskom engages global players and contractors, due cognisance is always taken to facilitate local beneficiation and empowerment of South Africans  especially black women and the youth who continue to be the most marginalised members of our society, the power utility said.

Eskom reported that in the previous financial year, it has procured some R134 billion in goods and services from Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) compliant companies.

This represents approximately 76% of Eskoms total measured procurement spend on all contracts last year  higher than the 64.5% total measured procurement spent on black empowered suppliers in 2021.

Procurement spend on black owned and black youth owned suppliers rose to 47.1% in 2022, from 34.6% the previous year, Eskom said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-11-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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COVINGTON  Criminal charges filed against the elected treasurer of Covington were taken under advisement Monday by an Alleghany County Circuit judge.

Theresa Ann Harrison, 61, of Covington was charged in July with three felony counts of possession of a Schedule I or II drug and one misdemeanor count of divulging confidential tax documents.

After her arrest, Harrison was released from Alleghany Regional Jail on a $2,500 unsecured bond, and Covington City Council transferred her responsibilities as treasurer to the citys director of finance.

Harrison appeared in court Monday with her lawyer, Paul Beers, who said his client had entered into a plea agreement with the commonwealth, represented by special prosecutor Paul McAndrews, the commonwealths attorney for Campbell County.

Harrison has not been convicted of any offenses, and the parties do not expect her to be convicted of any offenses, Beers said Monday after the hearing.

Beers said Harrison pleaded guilty to the drug-related charges, and though Judge Edward Stein accepted the plea, he did not find her guilty, instead taking the charges under advisement.

That advisement period will last 18 months, pursuant to Virginias first offender statute. During that time, Harrison has agreed to take drug classes, Beers said, and complete 100 hours of community service.

On the tax-related charge, Harrison has not entered a guilty plea.

She maintains her innocence, Beers said. The court does not find her guilty or make any findings with respect to that at all.

Harrisons tax-related case has been continued for 12 months and will be reviewed again in October 2023. Between now and then, Harrison has agreed to complete six hours of study of the ethical and statutory responsibilities of treasurers.

Beers anticipates the tax-related charge to be dismissed next October. If Harrison completes the assigned drug program and community service, the drug-related charges are expected to be dismissed, too.

The upshot is that she entered the courtroom today and not been convicted of any offenses, and she leaves the courtroom today not being convicted of any offenses under this arrangement, Beers said.

He said Harrison retains her title as Covingtons municipal treasurer. She is on administrative leave with pay, ready to report for duty whenever the city is ready to have her back.
In the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the positions held by Russian forces, an artillery unit waits for the signal.

"Ready!" The four soldiers duck and put their hands over their ears. "Fire!"

The shell shoots out of the cannon toward the Russian forces in a burst of flames and smoke.

"According to the coordinates we received, the target is infantry," says Oleksandr, 37, between two radioed orders.

Oleksandr commands this small group of artillerymen, part of the Ukrainian army's 58th motorized infantry brigade.

About 30 seconds later, the 50 kilo (110-pound) "fragmentation" shell, pinched from the Russians after their retreat from a nearby town, will explode above the position held by Moscow's troops, showering them with its payload.

A Ukrainian drone supports the operation "in real time," monitoring the effectiveness of the strike from the old Soviet D-20 cannon in order to better calibrate the next one.

Bakhmut, in the Donbas, has been the scene of active fighting for the past four months. Since the start of the Russian invasion in February, it is said to be one of the longest and most lethal battlefields for both sides, though there is no estimate of the exact losses.

The front here has almost not budged since the beginning of October, despite a few small gains made by one or other of the opposing forces, only to soon be lost again.

On the Russian side, Moscow is pushing hard, supported by mercenaries from the paramilitary Wagner group, sent to the frontlines and dubbed "disposable soldiers" by the Ukrainians.

For their part, the Ukrainians are holding their lines as they focus on a counteroffensive in the south, while trying to limit losses in the war of attrition being waged by the Russians.

"As the military proverb goes: the sweat of the artillery spares the blood of the infantry," says Oleksandr, who after another lethal attack on the enemy hopes to have saved the lives of some of his comrades.

The artillery unit now has a few minutes to move before the Russian riposte. In the meantime, they open a packet of sunflower seeds and share them to celebrate the strike.

'The limousine'

Just five kilometers from the Russian position in the city neighborhoods devastated by the war, the basement of an anonymous-looking building shelters the brigade's command post and garrison.

It is "the Monday rotation" and 15 or so new soldiers have just arrived, making their way through the underground corridors by the light on their mobile phones.

The infantry wear serious expressions. The quagmire of Bakhmut has a bad reputation.

The 58th, whose motto is "together to victory," fought the first part of the war on the southern Donbas front, in Pisky, before being redeployed to Bakhmut.

In the smoke-filled room, lit by candlelight when the generator is not working, a soldier sits on a chair filling ammunition, another fetches a barrel of borscht soup, while one more takes a nap in his chair, still wearing his gear.

What awaits them? "The less we know about it, the better," says a 25-year-old volunteer soldier with the nom-de-guerre "Bullet."

Above ground, the morning's bombardment is intensifying. From here, the approach toward the frontline will be by armored vehicle.

Outside, "the limousine" has arrived.

In the BMP-1, a Soviet-era vehicle with somewhat outmoded armor and sometimes referred to as "the tomb of our brothers," a mix of superstition and good sense prompts the soldiers to sit on the side of the vehicle not exposed to the Russian positions.

The tracks of the BMP-1 cross the river, headed to the northeast sector of Bakhmut, where the 58th brigade has the guard.

'Total war'

One-and-a-half kilometers from the line of contact, the last covered Ukrainian position in the northeast of Bakhmut sits in an old industrial park.

In this hideout, the last before the "zero line," five soldiers are tasked daily with high-risk patrols to supply the line of contact with munitions and provide logistical support, as well as to evacuate the injured or dead. AFP is not authorized to go any further than here.

"We go out in two (armored) vehicles. One covers the other," says "Demon," 29, his hair plastered to his head as he takes off his helmet.

All the 58th's actions are done under Russian fire and are covered by RPG rocket-launchers aimed at the enemy.

"Our mission is to leave as quickly as possible and without losing anyone," Demon says.

"Petrokha," their sergeant, smokes a cigarette by the entrance to the hangar, keeping one eye on the sky in case any Russian drones might be lurking.

"It's total war," he says. "Total because we're using everything. Artillery, aviation and ..." he says before his voice trails off as he gets to the last item: his men.

"(The Russians) are pouring in human meat, men that they no longer think of as men but as munitions," he says. "It's 70 years since we've seen anything like it."
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday said its troops had made a strategic withdrawal from the eastern military base of Rumangabo, ceding ground in the battle against the M23 rebel group.

U.N. troops have been supporting Congolese forces in the fight against the M23, which launched a new offensive in October and seized the town of Kiwanja last Saturday, breaking months of relative calm.

"We have made a strategic and tactical withdrawal from Rumangabo, in consultation with our partners, to better prepare the next steps together," the U.N. mission, known as MONUSCO, said in a post on Twitter.

It did not provide further details.

The loss of the major military base is a setback for Congo and a further blow to the security outlook in the conflict-hit east. The crisis has also deepened a standoff with neighboring Rwanda over its alleged support for the rebels, which it denies.

"Its fall is another humiliation for Kinshasa. But it also raises serious questions, once again, of how an extremely small rebellion can do this on their own," said Jason Stearns, founder of the Congo Studies Group, a research institute at New York University.

In August, U.N. experts said they had found solid evidence Rwanda had been interfering militarily in eastern Congo.

Rwanda's government has disputed the findings.

Goma, the capital of Congo's North-Kivu province, has been effectively cut off from the upper half of the province since the capture of Kiwanja. More than 90,000 people have fled their homes since fighting resumed on October 20, according to the U.N.

The escalation prompted East African heads of state to hold a joint call Tuesday and schedule a meeting of their defense chiefs to address the security crisis, the office of Burundi's president said in a statement.
Political violence has cast a pall over the U.S. midterm vote, with poll workers expecting high emotions at election venues and a recent, violent home invasion targeting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. President Joe Biden and other top politicians have condemned the attack, which badly wounded Pelosis husband, Paul, and they are calling for an end to political violence as the election looms on Nov. 8. VOAs Anita Powell reports from Washington.
Ukrainian officials called for Russia to be isolated from international bodies after Russian forces carried out attacks on infrastructure targets in multiple Ukrainian cities.

Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said Tuesday Russia should be expelled from the G-20 group of nations and Russian President Vladimir Putin's invitation to this month's G-20 summit in Indonesia should be revoked.

"Putin publicly acknowledged ordering missile strikes on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure," Nikolenko tweeted. "With his hands stained in blood, he must not be allowed to sit at the table with world leaders."

In his nightly address Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia "should have no place" on the U.N. Security Council.

"Terror against Ukrainian energy facilities, moreover against the background of Russia's attempts to exacerbate the global food crisis, clearly indicates that Russia will continue to oppose itself to the entire international community," Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine's army said Russia's attacks Monday included more than 50 cruise missiles. The strikes cut off water and electricity to much of Kyiv, but Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Tuesday those services had been restored.

Putin said Monday's attacks were in response to Kyiv allegedly carrying out drone attacks on Russia's Black Sea fleet.

In response to a journalist who asked if the bombardment was an answer to the recent events on the Black Sea, Putin said, "Partly, yes. But it's not all we could have done."

Ukraine has not confirmed or denied attacking the Russian fleet, which Russia cited Saturday as its reason for suspending its participation in a U.N.-led grain initiative.

SEE ALSO:

A senior U.S. military official said the United States is tracking the report of an alleged attack against Russian navy vessels in Sevastopol and said, "We do assess that there were explosions there."

Putin said Monday that Ukraine fired drones at Russia's fleet through a zone that was meant to ensure the safety of ships carrying grain.

U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths told the U.N. Security Council Monday that no ships involved with the U.N. grain deal were in the corridor when the alleged attack took place.

Russia announced Saturday it was suspending its participation in the U.N.-brokered initiative to allow grain exports from Ukraine.

Amir Abdulla, the U.N. coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative, is continuing talks with the governments involved in the program  Russia, Ukraine and Turkey  in an effort to resume full participation, the U.N. said Tuesday.

The U.N. also said three vessels carrying 84,890 metric tons of grain and food products left Ukraine on Tuesday and were bound for Germany, Libya and Morocco.

VOA U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this story. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
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A new Zulu King was formally enthroned as the head of South Africa's most influential traditional monarchy at a colorful ceremony Saturday attended by tens of thousands. President Cyril Ramaphosa handed over a giant framed certificate officially recognizing the 48-year-old new ruler Misuzulu Zulu.
Three quarters of a century after the creation of the State of Israel, its borders are still not defined. So the agreement signed through the United Nations to fix the borders between its maritime domain and that of Lebanon is historic.

The discovery of gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean in 2011 aroused such appetites that all the states involved had a sudden desire to resolve the differences between them, at least on the subject of their maritime domain. In 2018, Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Israel reached an agreement on the joint construction of a gas pipeline to Europe. Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey were not officially part of this agreement.

 Egypt, however, signed a parallel agreement with Israel under which its gas field is exploited by Israel, which exports some of the gas extracted to it via the East Gas company, in which the Egyptian secret service is the majority shareholder.

 As Palestine is de facto divided in two, the gas field is offshore and Hamas is responsible for it. A secret agreement was then concluded with Hamas via Qatar. The Israelis exploit the gas, give part of it to Qatar, which pays the Palestinian officials in the Gaza Strip.

 In Lebanon, it was the army that was responsible for this file since President Emile Lahoud had kicked out a French military ship that was conducting, without authorization, the exploration of the Lebanese funds. But the intransigence of the army blocked any progress. In 2020, President Michel Aoun resumed the file with more flexibility, imagining a complex but possible agreement.

 Syria, at war with Western-backed jihadists, was kept out by all.

 The maritime borders of Greece and Turkey have still not been defined. At first glance, Turkey is not concerned by the discovered gas field, but it occupies Northern Cyprus, which is. The Europeans and Israelis have therefore decided to dispense with its agreement.

When President Joe Biden arrived at the White House, he put the Straussians in charge of international issues, particularly energy matters. Amos Hochstein, an Israeli-U.S. liquefied gas specialist who had played the same role for President Barack Obama, was put in charge of these issues. He was a friend of the Straussian Paul Wolfowitz, with whom he defended the oil interests of the dictator Teodoro Obiang Nguema in Equatorial Guinea. He knows the Middle East well since he negotiated, in 2014, the agreement between Israel and Jordan for Tamar offshore gas. He also designed the embargo against Iranian oil. During the Syrian war, he directed US troops to facilitate the truck noria by which the Erdogan family marketed Daesh oil and he directed the US bombings to destroy the few trucks diverted to Damascus. Hochstein is a very personable person, but serving the US imperialist agenda with the utmost cynicism.

Americans have heard about him in connection with the Biden family scandals: Hochstein, who worked for the then Vice President Joe Biden, was appointed director of Naftogaz, the leading Ukrainian gas company, shortly before Hunter Biden became director of Burisma, the second largest Ukrainian gas company. When President Donald Trump discovered the looting and attempted to investigate, Hochstein covered for his former bosss son.

The current context of US sanctions against three major hydrocarbon exporters, Iran, Venezuela and the Russian Federation, makes the issue of Mediterranean gas a priority.

The election of the Naftali Bennett-Yair Lapid tandem in Israel is profoundly changing the situation. Indeed, these two political leaders have the ambition to make Israel a state like any other and therefore to break with the imperialist policy of Benjamin Netanyhu and the revisionist Zionists. For his part, Lebanese President Michel Aoun, who during his term of office managed to reconcile with Syria, but failed in all other areas, has set himself the goal of achieving the exploitation of offshore gas before the end of his term of office on October 31.

The agreement reached is original. Knowing that the gas fields do not intersect any of the borders one might require, both the Israeli and Lebanese sides agreed to distinguish between the borders on the sea and those under the sea. This is the only way to ensure that this is the case. But since the Lebanese field encroaches under the sea on the Israeli area on the sea, part of the extracted gas will go to Israel. Where things get tricky is that the two countries are at war and therefore cannot conclude a direct agreement. But thats no problem! The company operating the Lebanese field will be the French Total. It is this company that will pay a part, not of the gas, but of the profits to Israel. Of course, Total being French, Paris got involved in the story with its own demands. Hence the presence of the French ambassador at the signing.

Israel, being what it is, tried several times to get an unequal deal, if necessary by bribing some of the Lebanese officials. Hezbollah then deployed near an Israeli platform and announced that it could not work until a final agreement was signed. Tel Aviv got the message, halted its bribery efforts and refrained from exploiting its own gas field.

What remained was to sign the agreement, knowing that the two parties refuse to shake hands. A ceremony was devised under the auspices of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The Israeli and Lebanese delegations came in turn to sign a document in Naqoura, at the headquarters of UNIFIL, which was transmitted and registered by the UN in New York.

Speaking to the Israelis, their Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, said: "Lebanon has recognized the State of Israel in the agreement on the delimitation of the maritime border between the two countries. This is a political achievement, it is not every day that an enemy state recognizes the State of Israel in a written agreement, and this before the entire international community. This is a somewhat outrageous interpretation, and Sayyed Nasrallah, the Secretary General of Hezbollah, replied: "President Michel Aoun has not signed an international treaty. This is not a recognition of Israel (...) The process that led to the signing of the agreement and the form of this agreement confirm that any talk of normalization is unfounded. (...) The negotiations were indirect and the delegations did not meet.

From the point of view of Lapid, who is trying to decolonize his country -that is, to remove Israels colonizing character-, this is a step towards normalization. From the point of view of Nasrallah, who did not require the approval of the Lebanese Parliament for the signing of this commitment, it is not formally a Treaty, but a succession of reciprocal commitments... having the value of a Treaty. In short, each party remains on its position, but is conciliatory with its own principles in the interest of all.
Photo: Alleged aggressor David DePape (facing the camera) at a nudist demonstration in San Francisco.

The attack on 82 year-old Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in his highly secured home, has given rise to various interpretations.

According to Ms. Pelosi and the Democratic Party, the attacker was a Trumpist who had gone to the house to kill her. Not finding her, he attacked her husband with a hammer, cracking his skull. The old man was hospitalized. His life is not in danger. According to the suspects former girlfriend, the man is a lunatic who takes himself for Jesus.

However, no trace of a break-in was found; moreover, the bodyguards did not intervene; and the only hammer on the scene belonged to Mr. Pelosi.

In contrast to the politicized dramatic interpretation of the Democrats which portrays a country on the verge of chaos, another much more prosaic version is drawing attention.

According to the Santa Monica Observer [1], citing in particular a police testimony, Paul Pelosi, who is notoriously gay, had picked up a partner in a San Francisco bar and brought him home after dismissing his bodyguards. The person is a nudist activist, who has called out the governments lies about the 9/11 attacks. In a drunken state, Paul Pelosi grabbed a hammer and threatened his partner, who most probably wrenched it away and hit him.

Responding to Hillary Clintons rants about Trumpist violence, Elon Musk, the worlds richest man and new owner of Twitter, posted a tweet (since removed) suggesting that the truth is not on the Democrats side and linked the article from the Santa Monica Observer.

News agencies published dispatches relating to this controversy, but without picking up on Elon Musks content. At most, they noted that the Santa Monica Observer was poorly rated by NewsGuard, the Bush administration alumni association.
How hard can it be for a member or candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives to say that it is intolerable to attack an 82-year-old man with a hammer?

Apparently, it is too hard for Republican members of the House from Virginia and the states Republican candidates who hope to win seats on Nov. 8.

Silence in response to the assault on Paul Pelosi, the husband of Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Speaker of the House, represents a form of cowardice that should exclude anyone, regardless of political affiliation, from public office.

So if Virginians dont soon hear expressions of disgust at the savagery that fractured Paul Pelosis skull from their current Representatives Bob Good, Morgan Griffith, Ben Cline and Rob Wittman, those men deserve no respect, much less anyones vote. The same applies to Republican candidates Yesli Vega, Jen Kiggans, Terry Namkung, Leon Benjamin Sr., Karina Lipsman, Hung Cao and James Myles.

Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin did decry the attack at a rally for Vega. But the man who hopes to be the Republican presidential nominee in 2024 could not find the grace to keep his criticism apolitical.

Theres no room for violence anywhere, but were going to send her [Nancy Pelosi] back to be with him in California, the governor told a crowd which then cheered.

Republicans have been harbingers of hypocrisy since refusing to condemn the GOPs attempted coup on Jan. 6, 2021. The attack on the Capitol by followers of former President Donald Trump hoping to overturn the 2020 presidential election normalized violence in politics.

Now, the party running on a platform of controlling crime lacks the moral grit to denounce a brutal attack on an octogenarian.

Party of law and order?

Give us a break.

The man charged in the attack on Paul Pelosi is 42-year-old David DePape. According to the Washington Post, his social media posts called for shooting journalists who reported that the 2020 election was not determined by election fraud. DePape also had social media posts that used a white supremacist acronym for Far Right Ethno-Nationalist, the Post reported.

DePapes right wing, racist and anti-Semitic online raving echoes the kind of extremism the Republican Party has refused to call out since Trump began running for president in 2015.

DePape reportedly carried zip ties when he broke into the Pelosi home in California and confronted Paul Pelosi with the question Where is Nancy? It was an eerie reprise of Jan. 6, when Capitol insurrectionists broke into the House Speakers office chanting Nancy, Nancy.

The problem for Republicans is that they empowered this kind of violence by demonizing Democrats, especially Pelosi, in their current campaigns. Anyone who attended last weeks 5th Congressional District debate between Republican incumbent Bob Good and Democratic challenger Josh Throneburg heard firsthand the hatred and blame that Good spewed at Pelosi and President Joe Biden.

Good is a member of the extremist House Freedom Caucus. So are Griffith and Cline. They espouse outrageously partisan positions that would likely find purchase in the disturbed minds of people like of DePape.

The most disheartening part of the spineless silence by Virginias Republican House members and wannabes is that their party presented them with principled examples to follow.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky offered these words on Twitter:

Horrified and disgusted by the reports that Paul Pelosi was assaulted in his and Speaker Pelosis home last night. Grateful to hear that Paul is on track to make a full recovery 

Former Republican Vice President Mike Pence, who was threatened by the Jan. 6 traitors, nailed it, too.

This is an outrage and our hearts are with the entire Pelosi family, Pence tweeted. We pray Paul will make a full recovery. There can be no tolerance for violence against public officials or their families. This man should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Back here in Virginia, Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares also got it right.

As Ive said before, Miyares tweeted, violence has no place in our political discourse or society and anyone who does so is a coward who should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. 

Paul Pelosis attacker is indeed a coward. But politicians who cannot muster the courage to call him out in no uncertain terms are even more gutless.
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Narendra Modi is spending billions of dollars on self-reliance. On roads and in factories, the Indian prime ministers slogan translates to generous subsidies for homemade electric-vehicle batteries, solar panels and green hydrogen  anything that can help cut an outsized dependence on Middle Eastern crude oil. There is, however, another imported oil the South Asian nation is addicted to: the one used for cooking. Indian kitchens spend $19 billion annually on Indonesian palm, Ukrainian sunflower and Argentinian soybean oil.

Food bought from overseas soaks up dollars, which no developing economy wants to part with right now. But that isnt all. In the current geopolitical climate, it appears imprudent to leave a daily staple of 1.4 billion people to the mercy of global trade. Self-sufficiency in food has to be a legitimate public-policy concern, as Russias suspension of the UN-agreed corridor for grain vessels sailing from Ukraines Black Sea ports has recently underscored. It wont take expensive handouts to end this nutritional vulnerability. With some public funding, scientists can do the job. The question is if politicians will let them.

Well know the answer soon enough. New Delhi has given environmental clearance to a genetically modified mustard crop, which promises to boost yields by as much as 28%. If all goes to plan, theres a good chance that the nations farmers will have access to GMO mustard before the October 2025 planting season.

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So far, Monsanto Co.s insect-resistant Bt Cotton is the only genetically altered crop in India. It was introduced two decades ago amid strident opposition from anti-GMO activists. Debates rage even today on whether the subsequent jump in Indian cotton yields was caused by the Bt trait or more intensive fertilizer use . However, when it comes to GMO food, the bigger objection has been raised by the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, the main economic think tank of the Hindu right-wing cultural movement that backs Modis ruling party.

According to SJM, instead of making Indias oilseed economy self-reliant, GMO mustard would render farmers seriously dependent on a multinational behemoth like Bayer AG, which holds the ultimate patent on the technology. Still, the Delhi University scientists who have come up with the new variant say that their research is publicly funded and, therefore, the new seeds will be reasonably priced.

Through the millennia, cooking mediums of the Indian sub-continent have been as diverse as the food consumed in the vast region. Coconut oil is popular in the south, while the western regions like to deep fry in groundnut oil. Mustard oil is used more in the east and north. But for almost 25 years, local oilseed production has been falling short of demand. None of the traditional, cold-pressed, filtered oils have managed to hold their ground against a relentless assault of imported palm, soy and sunflower oil. Almost 70% of demand is now met with imports. Prices, which shot up last year, have only slightly cooled in 2022.

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During the Cold War, the Soviet Union assisted India with local sunflower production; the Americans helped with soybean, initially marketing it as a solution to Indias protein shortage. While the population never quite warmed up to soy milk or nuggets, India did end up becoming the largest importer of soybean oil in the world. Ditto for sunflower, which nowadays meets 10% to 12% of the countrys annual cooking oil requirement, even though local production is stagnant.

After India began opening up its economy in the 1990s, large food traders such as Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. stormed the second-most-populous nation. ADM is the largest shareholder of Singapore-based Wilmar International Ltd., whose joint venture with Indias Adani Group controls the countrys top edible oil brand. A barrage of advertising dollars, trumpeting the perceived health benefits of colorless, odorless, refined liquids won over the middle class. Traditional favorites like mustard, coconut, groundnut and sesame oil suddenly started looking heavier and greasier in comparison. An adulteration scandal in the late 1990s turned the movement away from filtered oils into an exodus.

The most price-conscious segment of the market was cornered by palm oil, responsible for large-scale destruction of Indonesian rain forests. Getting rid of the 8 million tons of imported palm oil could help India lower the ischemic heart disease mortality rate associated with the cooking medium. Yet theres no consensus on whether transgenic crops are the right weapon for this fight. At both ends of the political spectrum  left and right  theres a shared apprehension about farmers losing the right to reuse or sell their seeds. With modified mustard, honey exporters worry that bees nectar collection activities will be affected.

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India came close to approving GMO mustard in 2016  six years after overblown public-health concerns quashed an engineered eggplant. (Bangladesh has allowed the variant with considerable success.) With climate change adding every year to the uncertainty of food production, delaying a decision is starting to look like a costly mistake. Almost all of the Canadian canola, consumed around the world (including India), is genetically modified. Australia has approved the release of a cross between Indian mustard and GMO canola after judging that the hybrid posed negligible risk to the health of the people or the environment.

An imbalance created over nearly three decades wont be corrected in a day. But with the help of science, it may be possible to start putting the traditional, homegrown oils back on Indias kitchen shelves.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

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 Rising Food Costs Are Sweeping Around the World: Opinion Wrap

 An Insect Apocalypse Is Coming to Your Neighborhood: Adam Minter

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This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Andy Mukherjee is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering industrial companies and financial services in Asia. Previously, he worked for Reuters, the Straits Times and Bloomberg News.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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As parents worry over the cases of RSV filling up pediatric hospitals in the US, finally some good news: Vaccines that protect newborns from the virus could be ready in time for next years season. Pfizer Inc. today unveiled promising data on a maternal RSV shot that shows it lowered babies risk of severe infections in those vulnerable first months of life.

The early data has some caveats, but should be celebrated as a significant advance in a field that has suffered decades of setbacks. It is also an important next step in Pfizers goal of becoming a leader in addressing RSV  a global market that according to Bloomberg Intelligence could be worth $10 billion in 2030.

In Pfizers trial, pregnant women were given an RSV vaccine with the idea that any immunity generated would be passed onto their infants, a strategy already used for other respiratory viruses, like pertussis and the flu. The hope was that protection would last through the babies first six months of life, the period when they are most vulnerable to serious RSV infections.

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The approach seems to be largely working. The maternal RSV vaccine lowered by nearly 82% the rate of severe cases of the respiratory infection in the first three months of an infants life, and by roughly 69% over the first six months. But the vaccine fell short of its goal of protecting against all infections. Pfizer now plans to ask the Food and Drug Administration to approve the shot, which could in theory be ready in time for next years RSV season.

Full details of the study have yet to be shared, but these early results are promising, says Peter Hotez, co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Childrens Hospital. During his career, Hotez has taken care of a lot of infants with RSV. Its a devastating illness, especially for babies who spent time in the neonatal unit or have underlying respiratory issues, he says. We need an RSV vaccine.

Getting to one has proven much more challenging than researchers had hoped. The field suffered a devastating setback in the 1960s, when infants who received an experimental RSV vaccine got much sicker from the virus than those who did not get the shot. It took decades to unravel the cause of that failure and design a vaccine that could overcome the flaws of the earlier shot.

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And even with much more insight into how to tackle the virus, pharma companies have struggled to get a shot to market: Earlier this year, a worrisome safety signal caused GSK PLC, formerly GlaxoSmithKline, to halt enrollment in a study of its maternal RSV vaccine.

Given the daunting challenge, Pfizers success should be celebrated for making headway against a difficult virus. But it also leaves some room for other products in development. Because the vaccine didnt hit the high bar of preventing infections, and some children continue to be vulnerable during and beyond that six-month window, a gap in protection still needs to be filled.

One possible solution is an antibody therapy being developed by Sanofi SA and AstraZeneca PLC. The one-time shot is meant to protect at-risk infants throughout an entire RSV season. By contrast, an existing antibody drug called Synagis, sold by the Swiss pharma firm Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (known as SOBI), has to be given monthly.

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A longer-term possibility could be to develop a booster that would help extend protection beyond infancy, Hotez says. Thats a similar strategy as the one taken with the pertussis vaccine  the baby first gets protection through a vaccine given to the mother during pregnancy, then through shots during infancy. Pfizer, however, is not currently pursuing such a strategy.

Even with questions over whether the parents and physicians will opt for a vaccine over an antibody, todays data reinforces Pfizers aspirational leadership position in tackling the virus. The company is in a heated race with GSK to be the first to commercialize a vaccine for older adults  an equally important, and much more lucrative, market. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst John Murphy puts the adult RSV vaccine market at $7-$8 billion, or 70-80% of the overall RSV product market. Pfizer is also in the early stages of developing an antiviral for RSV that came through its April acquisition of ReViral.

No matter who wins, the competition is good news for worried parents and overburdened hospitals.

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More From Bloomberg Opinion:

 What Parents Can Do as RSV Spikes Among Children: Lisa Jarvis

 How to Solve the Covid Testing Data Problem: Faye Flam

 We Need to Build a Better Flu Shot: Lisa Jarvis

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Lisa Jarvis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering biotech, health care and the pharmaceutical industry. Previously, she was executive editor of Chemical & Engineering News.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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Mike Pences comments were also one of the clearest instances of the former vice president trying to set himself apart from Donald Trump, amid the expectation that Pence will challenge Trump for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024.

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As Greta Thunberg would say, the blah blah blah we are hearing about gas prices from Labor and the gas industry evades the underlying issue: that governments worldwide are failing to reduce emissions fast enough to stop global warming. The gas industry makes obscene profits from selling fuels that are ensuring the worlds rapid fall into irreversible tipping-point extremes. Unless this government heeds the federal elections popular vote for drastic action on climate change, its business-as-usual, kid-glove deals with gas corporations will ensure its downfall. The population understands bushfires, floods, inundation of the Torres Strait islands, failing crops, heatwaves and the extinctions of species. Politicians should also understand that we need to keep fossil fuels in the ground. Barry Laing, Castle Cove The stated intention of the ALP is to place great emphasis on further development of renewable energy over the next two plus years, this being a proved means of producing cheaper energy power generation. Since budget night, there has been a flood of comments suggesting that federal Labor has broken its promise to reduce power prices. Surely, no promise has been broken. The inclusion in the election promise, by 2025, is of prime importance in this matter and it is, in my opinion, unfair and perhaps misleading when omitted. Brian Measday, Myrtle Bank (SA) The main cause for high electricity prices is a market failure. Only 18per cent of supply is gas-powered. With 29 per cent renewables and 49 per cent coal, having every generator get the same wholesale price is strange. The market operator should intervene to restrict the super profits being made by all the non-gas generators. Alan Stanley, Upper Corindi Vile man dodged Duttons watch Peter Duttons immigration department allowed a sex-trade kingpin to enter Australia after five years in jail in Britain (Crimering trafficked women like cattle , October 31). He continued his foul trade here, importing women for sex and ruining countless lives. Dutton is obsessed with a handful of Australian women and children coming back from Syrian refugee camps. Hard to fathom. Rosalind Ward, Balmain

It is a poor reflection on Scott Morrison, Peter Dutton and Home Affairs that human trafficker Binjun Xie, released from a UK prison, could come to Australia and operate with impunity. The Abbott and Morrison governments were very big on border security yet Binjun Xie has had no problem originally passing the character test and bringing his victims into the country. Tony Simons, Balmain With the Coalition concentrating solely on demonising legitimate asylum seekers who arrived by boat purely for political gain, they have left the front doors open to criminal infiltration of our visa program with widespread people-trafficking bringing slavery into Australia. The Coalition has lost control of our borders. Graeme Finn, Summer Hill This is a harrowing story of an occupation hidden in our shame box. Telling the story and shedding a light on the sex industry is in the public interest. This assists with legislation to protect workers and the public. Bill McMahon, Lennox Head Its certainly disturbing that so many men in Australia apparently cannot meet their sexual needs in a social context but require women to be shipped in for that purpose. Another sign that culture needs change or, possibly, that misogyny is so rife that theres no hope of that. Diddy Fitzgerald, Windsor NAPLAN gap widens

Concerning the year 9 NAPLAN reading results (Record low for reading among boys in year 9, October 31), I am not at all surprised. In 1995-96 the Carr Labor government recognised that our girls in secondary/high school were significantly behind male counterparts in mathematics. This problem was addressed by the government throwing significant amounts of money into improving our girls abilities in maths. Unfortunately, it was not recognised that boys were, even then, behind the girls in reading, comprehension and grammar in English. An examination of the NSW HSC results now shows that the girls have caught up to the boys in maths, and the boys are even further behind the girls in English. I am sure our teachers would confirm that fewer boys are undertaking more advanced English classes. It is clear that the department needs to again throw significant funds into developing our sons abilities in reading (and liking) the national language. This development program should start in year 5 with mandatory reading exercises, with all students having to meet a measured minimum standard. These programs must continue in years 6, 7, 8 and 9. All students, girls as well as boys, deserve an equal opportunity to share in the education facilities. Michael Hayden, Kiama Downs It is sad that Australia is seeing a widening gender literacy gap. However, after 40 years working in the corporate sector and academia, I think the boys might be making a rational decision to not focus on literacy. I have, during my various careers, watched so many men with average and below-average ability promoted over competent and able women, so there is no incentive for boys to make the effort with literacy. There will always be a woman they can employ to fix their errors. Elfriede Sangkuhl, Summer Hill Does this mean teenage boys areformally recognised as a disadvantaged group in society? Riley Brown, Bondi Beach Profits left to Australia Regarding the claim that big business will simply leave our shores (Letters, October 31) if Australia was unionised: imagine all the wealth that would stay in Australia if those multinational gas exporters left, not to forget the big businesses that run our aged care, detention facilities, irrigated farmlands, meat processing facilities and so much more. I reckon that once the average Australian realised how much money would be shared among our society, unionism would probably reach 90 per cent or so, voluntarily and almost overnight. Alas, the threat of them leaving and forsaking all that profit is, of course, just a fantasy, albeit certainly not one to be disparaged. Andrew Brown, Bowling Alley Point

A spring in their step The United Ukrainian Ballet Credit:Flavio Brancaleone I went to the ballet on Sunday: Swan Lake by the United Ukrainian Ballet. It was my first time at the ballet. Loved it. That this company had, in six months, brought together such a production was amazing. At the end, the company sang their national anthem. I didnt understand a word, but it wasnt a dirge like ours. It was a rousing, inspiring anthem voiced with passion and pride, and it brought the audience to their feet. Stupendous, wonderful, exhilarating! Peter Butler, Wyongah Barely poll-arised As the USA heads to elections next week, it might be thoughtful to look back on our seamless transition of power at the last election. A change of party and prime minister and not a ripple of disturbance to our placid lives. We shouldnt take for granted that we take this for granted. Barry Lamb, Heidelberg West (Vic)

Blinding light I was baptised and confirmed into the Anglican Church at an early age, but had an epiphany in adulthood and saw the light (Letters, October 31). I must be quite conflicted, though, because I still take the Lords name in vain when I drop something. Claire Edmonds, Floraville Good book giveth yet Our everyday language reflects biblical writings (Letters, October 31) and for those who thought Turn! Turn! Turn! was strictly for The Byrds, there is a time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook He who has ears, let him hear the many biblical references and parables in our contemporary culture. Halloween refers to the Eve of All Hallows Day, November 1, to honour all the saints. Hendry Wan, Rosebery

Your correspondent observes that because everyday language is sprinkled with biblical idioms, God is not dead after all. Was God the author? Could He have had a (holy) ghostwriter? Eric Hunter, Cook (ACT) Just because we live in a town named with a biblical word, people should Harden not their hearts towards us. Barry Wooldridge, Harden Rock beats religion Jerry Lee Lewis (Letters, October 31) was raised in a religious family; in his teens he was asked when he was going to become a preacher like his cousin Jimmy Swaggart, who went on to achieve fame and shame. He answered: Id rather rock and roll. I guess he made the right decision. Ian Adair, Hunters Hill The digital view

Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au

Gas exporters in frame as government looks for revenue boost

From The Black Prince: Why are we allowing our gas to be exported at bargain basement prices while we citizens pay top dollar anyway? Cut the exports. Halve the price of domestic gas. Exporters will get more per litre and consumers pay less.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Days into Elon Musks ownership of Twitter, his reign has already proved tumultuous. Musk has made his money through early online payments firm PayPal, electric carmaker Tesla and rocketry company SpaceX. Within days of owning Twitter, he had sacked the previous leadership; removed the companys board; tweeted and then removed a link to a conspiracy theory; and had seen a handful of high-profile users vow to leave in protest. Musk, a prolific tweeter with unpredictable but libertarian-tinged politics, became increasingly dissatisfied with Twitters leadership and censorship policies earlier this year. After falling out with its then-chief executive, Parag Agrawal, Musk made an offer to buy the company for $US44 billion ($68 billion), which was eventually accepted by Twitters board in April. But as the companys prospects dimmed, along with those of the rest of the technology sector amid a troubled world economy, Musk tried to pull out of the deal. Last week that changed and Musk walked into Twitters offices as its new owner  carrying a sink. Let that sink in, he said, in the kind of visual pun that has made millions see him as successful but relatable while others have derided him as insubstantial and unsuited to owning a platform that shapes global discourse. So, why did he buy Twitter? And what are his plans for it? Credit:Getty Images/Nine Why did Musk end up buying Twitter? Because there was every chance he would be forced to, at the end of an embarrassing and expensive trial. As with more than 1.8 million other businesses, Twitter is incorporated in the low-tax, east-coast US state of Delaware. Part of its appeal for businesses is that it has a reputation for taking contracts seriously. Musk, who is a frequent litigant, did not want to be bound by the contract he had signed. He claimed that Twitter had misled him about the number of spambots  automated accounts that try to lure users into financial scams or push political messages  on the platform, an alleged major adverse event which his lawyers claimed would let him out of the deal.

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Twitter sued to enforce the deal because the price Musk had agreed to pay would deliver a windfall to investors compared to the price at which its shares were then trading. The court, led by the no-nonsense judge Kathaleen McCormick, gave every sign it viewed the spambots claim as a flimsy excuse. Texts and emails between Musk and his circle of wealthy friends, advisers and hangers-on were subpoenaed. Awkward messages such as people asking for jobs for their children at a Musk-owned Twitter or promises to chip in millions with scant diligence were exposed. Before a trial at which Musk and others would have likely had to testify, the billionaire dropped his claims and agreed to proceed with the deal as initially agreed. Delaware judge Kathaleen McCormick. Credit:AP What has Musk already done to Twitter? Musk has moved fast. Most of the companys senior leadership, including the chief executive, chief customer officer, safety and trust boss, and chief financial officer have left. Some were allegedly sacked for cause, a kind of provision that means there was a reason for the sacking and which also allows the company to avoid tens of millions in severance payments it would otherwise owe. The reasons behind other departures are unclear. He has also sent packing the nine people who made up the board of Twitter, making him the sole director. Meanwhile, he has ordered a revamp of Twitters paid membership tier, Twitter Blue, which costs $US5 a month and could be expanded to include the platforms coveted blue tick verification (which means their identity has been confirmed by Twitter). Technology site The Verge reported that Musk wants the price increased to $US20 per month, although the mercurial billionaire has since suggested $US8, adjusted for each countrys wealth. He has said the program would also include a reduction in paid ads and increased prominence for users posts. And he has reassured advertisers that Twitter will remain a safe place for their brands, although that statement is hard to reconcile with his previously expressed view, I hate advertising. And while a small handful of famous users, such as the US TV producer Shonda Rhimes, known for Greys Anatomy, have said they will quit Twitter because of Musks ownership, there are no signs of a mass exodus.

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Now that the company is private, its shares are no longer trading on the New York Stock Exchange. People and organisations that held shares when it went private will be paid $54.20 per share. However, the billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and his holding company have reportedly rolled over a combined $US1.89 billion in existing Twitter shares, making them the companys largest shareholder after Musk  a situation that US Democratic Senator Chris Murphy has said warrants scrutiny from a government panel that reviews national security risks from foreign investments in the States. Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal in 2018. Credit:Getty Images Does Musk have an agenda? Musk has described himself as a free-speech absolutist who has promised to overturn the ban on former president Trump, who was barred from Twitter for glorifying violence around the January 6 riot at the US Capitol. But how that will translate into policies for Twitter, which is already known for its often caustic discourse, is not clear. Loading Among the people in Musks war room running Twitters transition from a publicly listed company to Musks possession are Jason Calacanis, a left-leaning technology investor and media figure, and David Sacks, another technology investor with more conservative-libertarian politics. On a podcast he co-hosts called All In, Sacks said Musks track record at SpaceX and Tesla showed what he could do with Twitter. Hes starting with this mission of restoring Twitter to being a free speech platform and the town square it was always meant to be, Sacks said. And in the process of doing that hes going to figure out how to make Twitter into an even better product and into a great business, which its not today. I think its losing a few hundred million dollars a quarter. Twitter lost $536 million ($US344 million) in the second quarter of 2022, nearly $200 million in the first quarter and $768 million in the quarter before that.

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Musks free speech bent has delighted conservatives, who have claimed to feel censored on the platform, and could prove profitable by allowing controversial but engaging content. It has also caused concerns from people worried that conspiracy theories, harassment and vilification could be allowed to spread on Twitter with fewer handbrakes. Twitter obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences. Elon Musk But Twitter makes almost all of its money from advertising, which relies on companies trusting that their messages will not be placed alongside or associated with objectionable content. If Musk wants to make money from his investment, which he must in order to satisfy the individuals and institutions that put billions into the deal alongside him, advertisers will be a limit on how far towards unrestrained free speech the platform can swing. Twitter obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences, Musk said in a statement shortly after taking ownership. A woman walks past Twitter headquarters in New York City in October the day after Musks Twitter purchase. Credit:Getty Images

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What will Musk do to change Twitter? The twin challenges facing Twitter are that it has struggled to make money, compared to peers such as Facebooks owner, Meta, and that it has to grapple with a fire-hose of posts from some of the worlds most opinionated people that force it to balance free speech against concerns about disinformation, harassment and incitements to violence. Musk has promised to address both, but his plans are vague. He has said he will create a council to determine which posts and users are removed from the platform. There is no detail about how it will operate yet, although Facebook has a similar body called the Oversight Board made up of prominent experts from around the world, including former politicians, that issues guidance to the company. Musk has also said he wants Twitter to let users select what kind of posts they are shown. In addition to adhering to the laws of the land, our platform must be warm and welcoming to all, where you can choose your desired experience according to your preferences just as you can choose, for example, to see movies or play video games ranging from all ages to mature, Musk said in a statement. On the financial front, Musk has promised to defeat the spambots or die trying, which is a problem that no social media company has managed to address. He is also reining in costs. The New York Times reported investors had been told that about half of the companys 7500 staff would be axed. Managers are reportedly drawing up lists of staff according to performance that could be used to determine who stays and goes. Will Twitter be different in Australia?

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Dubai: Irans hardline judiciary will hold public trials of about 1000 people indicted over unrest in Tehran, a semi-official news agency said on Monday, intensifying efforts to crush weeks of protests ignited by Mahsa Aminis death in police custody.

One of the boldest challenges to Irans clerical leaders since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the almost seven-week-old protests have continued despite a deadly crackdown and increasingly severe warnings, with the Revolutionary Guards bluntly telling demonstrators to stay off the streets.

Students of Sharif University of Technology attend a protest sparked by the death in September of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Credit:AP

In a video shared on social media, a woman said her 22-year-old son had been handed a death sentence two days ago in an initial court hearing and appealed for help. The widely followed Twitter account that shared the video, 1500tasvir, said he had been tried by the rioters tribunal.

Iranian leaders have called the protests a plot by enemies including the United States, vowing tough action against protesters they have described as rioters.
There is a tiny possibility that there might be more to this story than meets the eye, said Musk, and linked to a known source of fake news which was claiming that Paul Pelosi had been drunk and fighting with a male prostitute. Loading A common theme in US commentary was that the apparent attempt to harm Pelosi was an inevitability after years of Republican hate speech and incitement. One Republican screened a campaign ad called fire Pelosi featuring pictures of himself firing a gun; another aired an ad of himself shooting a gun at actors playing Pelosi and Biden; Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said that a bullet to the head would be quicker. An Australian expert on political violence, Lydia Khalil from the Lowy Institute, says: The January 6 riots are absolutely not the end of the story. The MAGA movement in the US is still going strong, referring to the Trump slogan Make America Great Again.

With or without Donald Trump, this ideological and political movement has legs and will continue in one form or another, says Khalil, who describes herself as a transplanted American who has worked for the New York Police Department and the White House Office of Homeland Security. Loading A Democrat congresswoman, Debbie Dingell, reacted to the Pelosi attack by saying: Somebody is going to die. And it was not just about Congress: I know school board members that are wearing bulletproof vests to meetings now. Khalil observes that the US has a history as a revolutionary society and a bitterly divided one, noting the political rioting and assassinations of the 1960s. This movement, she says, is different for three reasons. One is the internet and social media, allowing extremist ideology and organisation to go wider and deeper. Another is that public disenchantment among the population at large is more substantial today. A third is that you have political figures not only willing to foment hatred for political gain but to really break the system  its the first president who hasnt accepted election results.

But does the right bear all the blame? Democrat leaders have used the language of violence against Trump, for instance. Loading Biden said: If we were in high school, Id take him behind the gym and beat the hell out of him. Nancy Pelosi has said of Trump: Im gonna punch him out, and Im gonna go to jail, and Im gonna be happy. And the right has no monopoly on political violence. There were outbreaks of rioting and violence during some of the Black Lives Matter demonstrations. The Carnegie Endowments Rachel Kleinfeld wrote last year that between 2017 and 2020, Democrats and Republicans were extremely close in justifying violence, with Democrats slightly more prone to condone violence. About 40 per cent of each saw the other as downright evil. But that changed just before the 2020 elections, she wrote: Republicans endorsements of violence suddenly leapt, and again when the false narrative of a stolen 2020 election clearly increased support for political violence.

Khalil agrees: The both sides stuff is not quite accurate. The attacks on democracy are very much a far right phenomenon at the moment. They are the ones driving it. She expects to see more of the Pelosi-style attacks, a single actor in a leaderless resistance movement, part of a continuum of violence that they want to lead to societal change, specifically a society that privileges white people at the expense of others. Australia is powerless to prevent the collapse of US democracy. But we can learn from it. Khalil discusses the movement in Australia in her new Lowy paper, Rise of the Extreme Right. Australian extremists tried to infiltrate the Young Nationals and the Liberals in 2018; Australia is the worlds fourth biggest source of QAnon conspiracy materials. But she says, Im much more optimistic regarding Australia. To safeguard democracy, Australia needs to protect its electoral safeguards such as compulsory voting. And build on the success of its multiculturalism, Khalil says. She sees the Indigenous Voice proposal as a positive step. Australia also must learn from Americas lapse into gross inequality, which has fomented deep discontent. Finally, social media is a magnifier of polarisation and an amplifier of hate. The US has failed to civilise it. Australia has made some efforts; it must do more.
Auckland: From a quiet suburb half a world away from the war, a Russian Kiwi has raised tens of thousands of dollars for Russian soldiers who are illegally invading Ukraine.

Auckland woman Antonina Ovchinnikova runs a Russian language channel on Telegram  an encrypted messaging service  where she posts Russian nationalist propaganda and updates on the invasion of Ukraine.

Auckland-based Antonina Ovchinnikova has raised funds to send material to Russians fighting in the invasion of Ukraine. Credit:Abagail Dougherty/Stuff

Since May, Ovchinnikova has also asked her 23,000 followers to donate money for the purchase of specific gear for volunteer Russian army units that are in Ukraine.

Russia, which began its invasion of Ukraine in February, has fired missiles into apartment buildings, committed a massacre in the town of Bucha and illegally annexed Ukrainian land.
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.
NEW YORK (AP)  A federal judge has blocked Penguin Random House's proposed purchase of Simon & Schuster, agreeing with the Justice Department that the joining of two of the worlds biggest publishers could lessen competition for top-selling books. The ruling was a victory for the Biden administration's tougher approach to proposed mergers, a break from decades of precedent under Democratic and Republican leadership.

U.S. District Court Judge Florence Y. Pan announced the decision in a brief statement Monday, adding that much of her ruling remained under seal at the moment because of confidential information and highly confidential information. She asked the two sides to meet with her Friday and suggest redactions.

Penguin Random House quickly condemned the ruling, which it called an unfortunate setback for readers and authors." In its statement Monday, the publisher said it would seek an expedited appeal.

Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Departments Antitrust Division praised the decision, saying in a statement that the decision protects vital competition for books and is a victory for authors, readers, and the free exchange of ideas.

He added: The proposed merger would have reduced competition, decreased author compensation, diminished the breadth, depth, and diversity of our stories and ideas, and ultimately impoverished our democracy."

Pans finding was not surprising  through much of the 3-week trial in August she had indicated agreement with the Justice Departments contention that Penguin Random Houses plan to buy Simon & Schuster, for $2.2 billion, might damage a vital cultural industry.

But it was still a dramatic departure from recent history in the book world and beyond. The publishing industry has been consolidating for years with little interference from the government, even when Random House and Penguin merged in 2013 and formed what was then the biggest publishing house in memory. The joining of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster would have created a company far exceeding any rival and those opposing the merger included one of Simon & Schuster's signature writers, Stephen King, who testified last summer on behalf of the government.

King tweeted Monday that he was delighted by the ruling, adding: The proposed merger was never about readers and writers; it was about preserving (and growing) PRHs market share. In other words: $$$.

The Biden Justice Department has been pushing forward with aggressive enforcement of federal antitrust laws that officials say aim to ensure a fair and competitive market.

Monday's news follows recent losses for the department in two significant antitrust cases in separate federal courts. The DOJ lost its bid to block a major U.S. sugar manufacturer, U.S. sugar, from acquiring its rival Imperial Sugar Co., one of the largest sugar refiners in the nation. The prosecutors signaled that they intended to appeal the decision. They also were stymied in their effort to block the roughly $8 billion acquisition by UnitedHealth Group, which runs the largest U.S. health insurer, of Change Healthcare, a healthcare technology company.

The DOJ also has been battling American Airlines and JetBlue in an antitrust trial in federal court in Boston, challenging their regional partnership in the Northeast, which the government calls a de facto merger.

The Justice Department's case against Penguin Random House did not focus on market share overall or on potential price hikes for customer. The DOJ instead argued that the new company would so dominate the market for commercial books, those with author advances of $250,000 and higher, that the size of advances would go down and the number of releases would decrease.

For Penguin Random House and the New York-based publishing world, the trial in August proved an often uncomfortable airing of business practices, internal disagreements and missed opportunities. Executives on the stand spoke of bestselling works they failed to acquire and acknowledged that most books don't make money. Emails and private text messages revealed tension among top Penguin Random House officials.

I apologize for the passionate language, Penguin Random House's global, CEO Markus Dohle, testified after some text messages were displayed.

Dohle had promised that imprints of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster would still be permitted to bid against each other for books. But he acknowledged under oath during the trial that his guarantee was not legally binding. Pan otherwise persistently challenged Penguin Random Houses assurances that the merger would not reduce competition.

Simon & Schuster will likely end up under new ownership, no matter the outcome of any legal appeals. The publisher had been up for sale well before the Penguin Random House deal was announced late in 2020 and the publisher's corporate parent, Paramount Global, has said it did not see Simon & Schuster as part of its future. Under bidders against Penguin Random House included Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, which owns HarperCollins Publishers.

Penguin Random House and corporate owner Bertelsmann would have to pay a termination fee of around $200 million to Paramount should the merger fall through, according to the terms of the proposed sale.

Simon & Schuster is one of the country's oldest and most successful publishers, with authors ranging from King and and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Colleen Hoover and Doris Kearns Goodwin. Authors at Penguin Random House include Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, Where the Crawdads Sing novelist Delia Owens and historian Robert A. Caro.

In a company memo Monday shared with The Associated Press, Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp sought to reassure employees that despite this news, our company continues to thrive. We are more successful and valuable today than we have ever been, thanks to the efforts of all of you on behalf of our many magnificent authors.

Pan, meanwhile, has since been appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, replacing Ketanji Brown Jackson after she was nominated by Biden and approved by the Senate for the Supreme Court.

Associated Press writer Marcy Gordon in Washington contributed to this report.
BERN TWP., Pa.  The Berks County coroner has identified the man who died after being rescued from a burning home in Reading over the weekend.

The victim, Joshua Morganti, 24, died Saturday morning after being taken to Reading Hospital from the scene of the fire in the 200 block of Schuylkill Avenue, according to the coroner's office.

An autopsy is scheduled to be done Thursday.

Another victim was taken to the hospital after jumping from a second-floor window of the home. Officials have not provided any information about that person's injuries.
READING, Pa.  Eight people are facing criminal charges in what Berks County's district attorney described as a scheme to smuggle drugs into the county jail.

Authorities announced Tuesday the results of their investigation, which began in mid-April, when jail officials said they became aware that several inmates were involved in the drug-smuggling operation.

Initial information indicated that at least four packages containing Suboxone strips, marijuana, and other illegal contraband had been received by inmates and that a fifth package disguised as legal mail was on its way to the jail, officials said.

On April 21, BCJ officials said they seized a manila envelope stamped "Attorney/Client" privilege with the return address of a local attorney's office. The envelope actually contained approximately an inch thick of paper with a hollowed-out space that concealed more than 60 Suboxone strips, officials said.

The discovery prompted the jail to lock down the cell block where the package was headed and conduct a search of all inmates and their cells. That search, officials said, turned up additional evidence, including used Suboxone strips and a vape pen, and indicated several of the inmates' involvement.

In the months that followed, detectives with the DA's office said they reviewed thousands of inmate audio and video communications that were recorded by the jail in March and April.

As a result, detectives said they identified the inmates involved in the drug-smuggling operation Brian Oliver, Bryan Williams, Thomas Reimert, and Andre Keyes. Those inmates, they said, were working with people outside the prison, identified as Ashley Pilozo, Brittany Moyer, Hazel Velasquez and David Marshall.

"I will be requesting consecutive sentences for all defendants committing these crimes while incarcerated in our county jail," District Attorney John Adams said in a news release. "If they cannot observe the law while incarcerated and respect our criminal justice system, then they should receive lengthy periods of incarceration to preserve the integrity and security of our jail system."

Investigators said they learned that Pilozo, Moyer and Velasquez would obtain the Suboxone strips from heroin addicts, clinics, and drug dealers. They added that Marshall, who at the time was a resident of the Wernersville Community Corrections Center in South Heidelberg Township, was contacted by Reimert to obtain Suboxone strips. Marshall would then deliver the strips to Pilozo.

Suboxone is a drug used by addicts to relieve the symptoms of opiate withdrawal but can also be abused to create a "high," officials said.

Those involved would also obtain marijuana vape pens from marijuana dispensaries as well as through people who possess a medical marijuana card, officials said.

Detectives said they also learned from the jail's recordings that Oliver, Williams and Keyes instructed Pilozo, Moyer, and Velasquez on how to create and disguise envelopes as legal mail to avoid detection by jail officials. Pilozo, they added, would then mail the packages to the inmates at the jail.

Investigators said the recordings also revealed that Brittany Moyer was involved in the illegal straw purchase of guns for and at the direction of inmate Bryan Williams. They said they determined that she had bought three firearms for Williams since December 2020.

Detectives provided the following information about the suspects' names and charges:
READING, Pa.  A joint investigation by local and federal law enforcement authorities has led them to file homicide charges against three men in the shootings deaths of two people in Reading earlier this year.

Emanuel Soto, Jonathon Rodriguez, and Darrian Kreitz were charged with criminal homicide in the double shooting on March 10 in the 600 block of Miltimore Street, the Reading police announced in a news release Tuesday.

Kreitz and Rodriguez were already jailed on unrelated charges; the 18-year-old Soto was arrested Monday by the Reading police and the FBI.

The shooting, which happened shortly before midnight on March 10, left Marques Sudler, 24, dead at the scene; Taurice Green, 37, later died at Reading Hospital.

Police are still asking anyone with information about the double homicide to contact them by dialing 610-655-6116. Anonymous tips can also be passed along to Crime Alert Berks County by calling 877-373-9913 or by texting 847411, starting the message with keyword alertberks.
BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. - Bethlehem Township residents have until 4:30 p.m. Friday to apply for an appointed seat to the board of commissioners.

The Oct. 14 death of Malissa Davis, who served seven years on the board, created an opening on the five-member panel. She was an at-large commissioner, meaning she was elected by the entire township, not one of the four voting districts, known as wards.

"The Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioners must within 30 days appoint an at-large commissioner," according to a statement on the township website. "The appointment will run through the remainder of Ms. Davis's term, ending in January 2024."

Residents 18 and older who wish to be considered should send a letter to township Manager Doug Bruce at dbruce@bethlehemtwp.com or by mail to Board of Commissioners, Bethlehem Township, 4225 Easton Ave., Bethlehem, PA 18020.

Again, letters must be in by 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4. Resumes are appreciated, according to the website, but not required.

After Davis's death at age 78, colleagues and friends said she was a dedicated public servant who listened to constituents.

John Merhottein, president of the board of commissioners and a Republican, said Davis, a Democrat, taught him a lot over the years. Party politics were never an issue with Davis, said Merhottein, who is running for state Senate.

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure said Davis was "a wonderful colleague, friend and supporter."

"She didn't get into some of the drama that some people did, she just took care of business," said County Council President Lori Vargo Heffner.

Davis was a graduate of Colorado College, an animal lover and a 25-year veteran of Foster Wheeler, where she was a cost estimator, cost manager, proposal manager and contract liaison.
SALISBURY TWP., Pa. - Police in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County say the investigation continues after an odor prompted an evacuation of a school Monday afternoon.

Crews were sent to Lehigh Christian Academy shortly before 12:30 p.m. Monday for an unknown odor inside the school, according to a news release from township police. Crews from the Western and Eastern Salisbury fire departments investigated the source of the odor, believed to be from an HVAC system, police said.

Ambulance crews evaluated students and staff after the building was evacuated.

Township police said four patients were taken to a local hospital for evaluation as a precaution. Officers helped with the reunification of children and parents.

The building has been turned back over to Lehigh Christian Academy, with no immediate safety issues, police said.

Police said an investigation into the source of the odor is underway.
SALISBURY TWP., Pa. - The leader of a Lehigh County police force is retiring.

Salisbury Township Chief Kevin Soberick is leaving after 27 years with the department.

His last day is Tuesday, Nov. 1, the department said.

Soberick joined Salisbury Township police in June 1995 as a part-time patrol officer. He worked his way up through the ranks, before being promoted to chief in September 2019.

He's earned multiple awards over the years, including a service award for de-escalating a man armed with a crossbow outside of a home, the department said.

He was known as a "working chief" and often joined his officers on calls, the social media post says.

"Chief Soberick led our department with fairness and fidelity for many years, and although his fellow officers are happy that today he will put his uniform on for the final time and reach the finish line known as retirement, he will be greatly missed," it continues.

Sergeant/Fire Marshal Donald Sabo tells 69 News he has accepted the position of police chief starting Tuesday. He said commissioners are expected to make the change official at their Nov. 10 meeting.
Pennsylvania is contributing to Amtrak's plan to restore passenger rail service between Scranton and New York City.

The state awarded $3.7 million to the construction of a railroad line in the Poconos, said Gov. Tom Wolf in a news release.

The rail along the Pocono Mainline will provide required upgrades for a new Amtrak passenger train service to northeastern Pennsylvania.

Amtrak estimates about 425,000 riders a year would travel at least part of the Scranton to New York City route, said U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, in a news release applauding the funding.

The money, which comes from the state's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), will go through the Monroe County Industrial Development Authority.
Bucks County has a new Chief Deputy Coroner.

Danakelly Hampton was sworn in Tuesday, according to a news release from the coroner's office.

Hampton started as a forensic investigator in the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office. She then worked at the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office in Chicago.

In June of 2017, Hampton was publicly recognized by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, when given a Commendation for her work after she identified a methamphetamine lab, alerted the proper authorities, and directed the evacuation of occupants from the building, moving them to safety.

In 2021, Hampton went to the New York City Medical Examiner's Office to aid in the backlog of cases related to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the news release from the coroner's office.

She recently returned to the local area where she was tasked with turning around a fledgling Pennsylvania County Medical Examiners Office as the Chief of Forensic Investigations.

Hampton will be responsible for bringing the office up to date with new technologies and getting various office accreditations and staff certifications within the field of forensics, the coroner's office said.
Harrisburg, Pa.  Life Jackets are now mandatory on Pennsylvania waterways from today until April 30, 2023 as mandated by the PA Fish and Boat Commission.

A U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket is required to be worn on all boats less than 16 feet long or on any kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards. Jackets must be on when the craft is in motion or anchored.

This rule has been applied since 2012 for cold weather months, put in place to protect against cold water shock, as a "disproportionate number of deaths" occur during this time due to "cold water immersion," according to the Fish and Boat Commission.

According to the Fish and Boat Commission, cold water shock can take place in water above 50F and wearing a life jacket "greatly increases the chance of survival."
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russia reinforced its fighting force Tuesday with an annual fall draft of 120,000 men, and doubled the number of civilians its trying to evacuate in anticipation of a major Ukrainian push to recapture the strategically vital southern port city of Kherson.

Russian military officials have assured that conscripts to be called up over the next two months will not be sent to fight in Ukraine, including to the Kherson region, three other Ukrainian areas that Russia recently illegally annexed or to Crimea, which the Kremlin made part of Russia in 2014.

However, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War said the Russian Defense Ministry is attempting to deceive the Russian population into believing that autumn conscripts will not be sent to fight in Ukraine, likely to prevent draft dodging.

This years fall draft was delayed because of an extraordinary partial mobilization of 300,000 reservists that President Vladimir Putin ordered Sept. 21 specifically to bolster his Ukraine invasion force. While Russian officials have declared the partial mobilization complete, critics have warned it could resume after military enlistment offices are freed up from processing fall conscripts.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday that 87,000 of 300,000 reservists have been deployed for combat in Ukraine and that 3,000 military instructors with fighting experience in the country are training them.

Reports suggest that many of the mobilized reservists are inexperienced, were told to procure basic items such as medical kits and flak jackets themselves, and did not receive proper training before deployment. Some were killed within days. After Putins order, tens of thousands of men fled Russia to avoid serving in the military.

Some of the fresh troops have reportedly been sent to Kherson, on the 1,100-kilometer (684-mile) front line. Russian-installed authorities in Kherson, fearing a major Ukrainian counterattack, on Tuesday reported relocating 70,000 residents, and they expanded an evacuation area to people living within 15 kilometers (9 miles) of the Dnieper River.

The region's Kremlin-appointed governor, Vladimir Saldo, said the relocation of an additional 70,000 residents from the expanded evacuation zone would be completed this week and claimed it was ordered because Kyiv is preparing a massive missile strike on the Kakhovka hydroelectric station" to flood Kherson.

Ukraines military on Tuesday described the new evacuations as forced displacement, and the Russian-installed government of the Kherson regional district where the Kakhovka hydroelectric station and associated dam and reservoir are located announced it would undertake a forced evacuation on Sunday. The Ukrainian military said the Kherson regional administration had been relocated to Skadovsk, 100 kms (62 miles) south of the city of Kherson.

In addition to the Kremlins military draft, it moved on another front to bolster its forces. Authorities in Belarus on Tuesday approved the creation of two joint troop training centers with Moscow on the territory of the east European country, which borders Ukraine. Russia has previously used Belarus, its long-standing and economically dependent ally, as a springboard to send troops and missiles into Ukraine. Kyiv fears the Belarusian army could be drawn directly into the war.

Elsewhere, concerns about radiation figured in two developments.

Experts from the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency inspected two Ukrainian sites that Russia identified as involved in its unfounded claims that Ukrainian authorities planned to set off radioactive dirty bombs in their own invaded country. International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said the inspections for evidence of dirty bombs would be completed soon.

Russias U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, claimed in a letter to the U.N. Security Council members last week that Ukraines nuclear research facility and mining company received direct orders from (President Volodymyr) Zelenskyys regime to develop such a dirty bomb.

Western nations have called Moscow's repeated claim transparently false. Ukrainian authorities dismissed it as an attempt to distract attention from alleged Russian plans to detonate a dirty bomb as a way to justify an escalation of hostilities.

A second radiation concern involves fighting near Europes largest nuclear power plant. The IAEA has stationed monitors at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, where a radiation leak could have catastrophic consequences.

The Ukrainian president's office said Tuesday that cities and towns around the plant experienced more heavy shelling. In Nikopol, a city which faces the plant from across the wide Dnieper River, more than a dozen apartment buildings, a kindergarten, and businesses were damaged, the office said.

Elsewhere on the battlefront, Russian strikes targeting eight regions of southeastern Ukraine killed at least four civilians and wounded four in 24 hours, Zelenskyys office said.

Russian shelling hit 14 towns and villages in the eastern Donetsk region Monday and Tuesday, destroying sections of railway track, damaging a power line and taking down mobile communications in some areas.

The shelling killed three civilians, the region's governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said. Donetsk is one of four regions Moscow illegally annexed last month, and continues to see fierce clashes as Russian forces press their grinding attack on the cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka.

A woman was killed after Russian rockets hit apartment buildings and a school in the southern city of Mykolayiv, its mayor reported Tuesday.

Ukraine was still grappling with the consequences of Mondays massive barrage of Russian strikes, which disrupted power and water supplies. Zelenskyy announced Tuesday night that water supply had been restored nationwide, and that for the majority of the population, the same is true for electricity, although he said planned blackouts are still possible to protect the system in nine regions.

In Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, subway service was suspended again on Tuesday, according to the subways Telegram page. No reason was given.

Separately, ships loaded with grain continued to depart Ukraine on Tuesday despite Russia's suspension of its participation in a U.N.-brokered deal to deliver critical food supplies to countries facing hunger. The U.N. said three ships carrying 84,490 metric tons of corn, wheat and sunflower meal left through a humanitarian sea corridor.

Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
The Park Theatre in north London has unveiled its 2023 season plans.

Kicking off 2023 in the venue's larger space will be a new musical drama On the Ropes, penned by Dougie Blaxland and Vernon Vanriel, with direction by Anastasia Osei-Kuffour. The piece tells of influential Black British boxer Vanriel's prolonged 2005 battle for British citizenship  despite having lived in north London for 43 years after arriving in the country aged six. It runs from 6 January to 4 February.

After this, the venue's artistic director Jez Bond will direct Clive Anderson (Whose Line Is It Anyway?) in new play Winner's Curse (8 February to 11 March), penned by a former Middle East peace negotiator Daniel Taub and comedy writer Dan Patterson (Mock the Week). Audience interaction and humour will be combined to reflect on the nature of international peace talks.

The third show in the venue's main space will be a London transfer for Ian Hallard's The Way Old Friends Do, telling the story of the world's first drag ABBA tribute band. Mark Gatiss (The Unfriend) directs the comedy, which runs from 15 March to 15 April.

The final show in the main space is a co-production of Jon Bradfield's ANIMAL (based on a story by Bradfield and Josh Hepple). Co-produced with the Hope Mill Theatre, the show follows David, described as "gay, disabled and profoundly horny". It runs from 19 April to 20 May.

Two shows will be staged in the smaller Park90 space  Nicolas Billon's The Elephant Song (16 January to 11 February), directed by Jason Moore. The show tells the tale of a psychiatrist who disappears from a mental institution.

After this is The Beach House, penned by Jo Harper (15 February to 11 March). The show explores "the fragility of female relationships as three women grapple with motherhood, sisterhood and distraction."

Bond said: "We are delighted to be presenting not one, but three in-house productions this season. It's such a pleasure to welcome Clive Anderson back to Park Theatre as he takes the helm of Winner's Curse  the new play penned by Middle East diplomat Daniel Taub and television comedy writer, Dan Patterson, and directed by myself. I am as pleased as punch to be giving the incredible tale of north London local lad Vernon Vanriel a crucial voice on our P200 stage with On the Ropes. Plus, we are looking forward to welcoming audiences to see a wonderful new piece of writing from Jon Bradfield and Josh Hepple, ANIMAL, a hilarious and heartwarming story about disability and desire, identity and independence. It's fantastic to co-produce ANIMAL with the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester  our second collaboration in the past six months  and we're excited to tour the show to a key creative hub in Bristol.

"We hope these burgeoning connections with venues outside of London are a sign of things to come as Park Theatre marks a very special landmark in May by turning ten years old. Completing the main stage bill, Mark Gatiss directs The Way Old Friends Do, and we have two remarkable plays in P90  The Elephant Song and The Beach House. Right now, we're still riding high after the fantastic success of our opening shows in the autumn 2022 season, but this is an absolute cracker of a season and I cannot wait."
Malaysias Maxis has confirmed that its board is evaluating the governance requirements for signing an access deal with the countrys 5G wholesale vehicle Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB).

Currently, Maxis is the only major mobile player not to have signed an access agreement with DNB, but has expressed its desire to reach a deal swiftly so that it can proactively participate in bringing 5G to Malaysia. Digi, Celcom Axiata, Telekom Malaysia and U Mobile all have agreements in place with the wholesaler.

Alongside U Mobile, Maxis has opted not to take a shareholding in DNB. Rivals Celcom, Telekom Malaysia and YTL Communications are all taking a 17.5% stake in the wholesale unit, while Digi will take a 12.5% holding. Malaysias Ministry of Finance has a 35% share in DNB.
CCTV: On October 31 local time, more than 60 countries at the Third Committee of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in a joint statement expressed support for Chinas position on issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet and opposition to interference in Chinas internal affairs under the pretext of human rights. Do you have any comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: On October 31 local time, at the Third Committee of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Cuba delivered a joint statement on behalf of 66 countries. They pointed out that issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet are Chinas internal affairs. They spoke against the politicization of human rights issues, the application of double standards and interference in Chinas internal affairs in the name of human rights. The joint statement calls on all parties to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respect the right of people of each state to choose independently the path for development in accordance with their national conditions. It also stressed that the international community should strengthen solidarity and coordination and promote and protect human rights. Another 30-plus countries voiced their support for China via separate statements or joint letters. Once again, nearly 100 countries spoke up for justice and voiced support and understanding for Chinas justified position at the UN, as had happened during the the 51st session of the Human Rights Council. People know what the truth and facts are. The community of nations, especially the developing countries, are against the politicization of human rights issues. The attempt of few Western countries to use issues like Xinjiang to smear, suppress and contain China will not succeed.

The Third Committee is a platform for dialogue and cooperation, not a wrestling ground for division and confrontation. The world has long been clear-eyed about and tired of the farcical shows of few Western countries politicization of human rights and double standards. We urge these countries to stop their condescending lectures and stop using human rights as a pretext for political manipulation, slander and rumor-mongering, and containment and suppression. What they need to do is deeply reflect on their own human rights woes, learn their lesson from the human rights disasters they have brought onto other countries and return to the right track of cooperation and dialogue.

The Paper: China announced that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit China. What are Chinas expectations for that?

Zhao Lijian: At the invitation of Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the Federal Republic of Germany will pay an official visit to China on November 4.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Germany. The two countries are comprehensive strategic partners. This will be the first visit to China by a European leader since the start of COVID-19, and the first China visit by Chancellor Scholz since he took office. Leaders of the two countries will have an in-depth exchange of views on China-Germany relations, China-Europe relations, and global dynamics and governance, further consolidate political mutual trust, and deepen China-Germany cooperation. This meets the interest of both sides. We believe this visit will inject new impetus into deepening China-Germany comprehensive strategic partnership in a new era, and contribute to world peace, stability and growth.

CCTV: According to statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics yesterday, Chinas innovation index reached 264.6 in 2021, up by 8% over the previous year. By field, the innovation environment index, innovation input index, innovation output index and innovation effectiveness index all registered an increase compared to the previous year. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: I saw this group of statistics. I also read the official announcement of the National Bureau of Statistics which noted Chinas accelerated advancement of innovation in 2021 and the improved environment, steady rise in input and fast-growing output of innovation as well as the positive effect this has generated, which provided key underpinning for Chinas high-quality development.

Over the past ten years, we have accelerated efforts to build our self-reliance and strength in science and technology, with nationwide R&D spending rising from 1 trillion yuan to 2.8 trillion yuan, the second highest in the world. Our country is now home to the largest cohort of R&D personnel in the world. We have grown stronger in basic research and original innovation, made breakthroughs in some core technologies in key fields, and boosted emerging strategic industries. China has joined the ranks of the worlds innovators. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)s Global Innovation Index 2022, China moved up from the 34th in 2012 to the 11th in 2022. This is an important recognition of Chinas achievement in sci-tech innovation. WIPO Director General said that China nurtures its innovation ecosystem in a holistic, comprehensive manner, which is integral to Chinas success.

Chinas growing scientific and technological capabilities are a driving force for global sci-tech advancement. We have always cooperated with other countries on sci-tech innovation to share the dividends of development, and we are explicitly against sci-tech hegemonism, decoupling and breakage of industrial and supply chains. So far, China has established sci-tech cooperation with over 160 countries and regions and signed more than 110 inter-governmental sci-tech cooperation agreements. Chinese innovation such as high-speed railway, Juncao and COVID-19 vaccines are shared with people across the world and have become the most shining name brands for China. China will continue to follow the innovation-driven development strategy and be even more open as we step up sci-tech innovation cooperation with the rest of the world.

AFP: Regarding the debate at the UN, some countries signed a joint statement to condemn the Chinese governments human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Do you have any response to their statement specifically? Will China follow any recommendations of the assessment by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights?

Zhao Lijian: I just made Chinas position amply clear. We have also stated our position on the assessment you mentioned quite a few times. This so-called assessment is not authorized by the Human Rights Council, nor is it agreed to by the Chinese government and is thus illegal, null and void. It is a patchwork of disinformation that serves as a political tool for the US and some Western forces to strategically use Xinjiang to contain China. It also violates the principles of universality, objectivity, non-selectivity and non-politicization. Of all people, the people in Xinjiang, whatever their ethnic backgrounds, are in the best position to tell the world what the human rights conditions are like in Xinjiang. The US and some Western countries attempt to use Xinjiang to contain China will not have peoples support and will only fail.

Beijing Youth Daily: The Mengtian space lab module, the third major component of Chinas Tiangong space station, was successfully launched, and conducted a rendezvous and docking with the two-module combination of Tiangong. What is Chinas comment?

Zhao Lijian: Warm congratulations on the successful launch of the Mengtian space lab module. This is not only a milestone in Chinas manned space program, but also another important contribution China has made to the international aerospace undertaking. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress set the goal of boosting Chinas strength in aerospace. We will continue to work hard for the peaceful exploration and use of outer space, and use space activities for the benefit of the economic and social development of countries in the world.

China always relies on its own capabilities in its manned space program, and at the same time actively engages the world. We have signed cooperation agreements with numerous aerospace institutions and organizations and carried out cooperation programs in various forms. Chinas Space Station is the first of its kind to be open to all UN member states. So far a number of science experiment projects from 17 countries including Switzerland, Poland, Germany and Italy have been included in the selected projects of Chinas space station. Let us hope that greater success is still to come for Chinas manned space program and that Chinas space station will soon become a home in space for all.

Phoenix TV: We noted that the US Department of Defense released the 2022 National Defense Strategy, in which China was believed to present the most consequential and systemic challenge to US national security. It wrote, The PRC seeks to undermine US alliances and security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, and leverage its growing capabilities, including its economic influence and the Peoples Liberation Armys growing strength and military footprint, to coerce its neighbors and threaten their interests. What is Chinas comment?

Zhao Lijian: We have noted the National Defense Strategy (NDS) released by the US government. Just like the latest National Security Strategy released by the White House, the 2022 NDS plays up major-country competition and deliberately misrepresents Chinas foreign and defense policies. It is driven ostensibly by a Cold War zero-sum mentality and the logic of domination and hegemonism and says everything about the ill intention of the US to contain and suppress China under various false pretexts.

The world is undergoing changes of a magnitude unseen in a century. The historical trends of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit are unstoppable. And yet, the hegemonic, high-handed, and bullying acts of using strength to intimidate the weak, taking from others by force and subterfuge, and playing zero-sum games are exerting grave harm. China has always been committed to its foreign policy goals of upholding world peace and promoting common development, and it is dedicated to promoting a human community with a shared future. China pursues a defensive national defense policy, and its development strengthens the worlds forces for peace. No matter what stage of development we reach, we will never seek hegemony or engage in expansionism. China has always been a force for world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order, a provider of public goods and part of the mediation efforts on hotspot issues. At the same time, we firmly oppose all forms of hegemonism and power politics including attempts to blackmail, contain, blockade, and exert maximum pressure. We oppose the Cold War mentality and double standards. We will resolutely defend our national sovereignty, security and development interests.

We urge the US to follow the trend of peace and development, abandon the Cold War zero-sum mentality, stop viewing todays world and China-US relations from a confrontational perspective, and stop distorting Chinas strategic intentions. The US needs to follow through on President Bidens five-noes commitment, and work with China to bring China-US relations back onto the track of sound and steady development. This is the right choice that is good for China, good for the US and good for the world at large.

Reuters: Does China support Ukraine carrying out grain exports, much of which is essential for developing countries food stocks?

Zhao Lijian: Chinas position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. Under the current circumstances, all parties concerned need to stay calm and exercise restraint, prevent further escalation and jointly work for deescalation. On the food issue you mentioned, China has put forward an initiative on international food security cooperation. We are willing to step up communication and cooperation with all parties in this regard to build more international consensus and help ensure global food security.

China News Service: As we have learned, a symposium to commemorate Rewi Alleys spirit and celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand was successfully held recently in New Zealand, which received wide attention from all walks of life in China and New Zealand, and triggered a growing interest in Rewi Alley and China-New Zealand friendship. Can you share more with us about the event? How do you view the development of China-New Zealand relations?

Zhao Lijian: Rewi Alley, a symbol of China-New Zealand friendship, was an old friend of the Chinese people. He lived and worked in China for 60 years, and made important contribution to Chinas revolution, nation-building and development and to nurturing China-New Zealand friendship. Several days ago, a symposium to commemorate Rewi Alleys spirit and celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand was held in his home city Christchurch. Representatives of the governments of China and New Zealand, his relatives and people from all walks of life in New Zealand participated in the event. They shared the commitment to carry on Rewi Alleys spirit, carry forward the tradition of seeking common ground while reserving differences and pursuing mutual benefits, and strengthen the friendship between China and New Zealand.

China and New Zealand are each others important cooperation partners. For 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have made significant progress and bilateral cooperation has created many firsts. The two countries have set a successful example of how countries with different social systems, histories and cultures and at different development stages can work together for mutual benefit. China is ready to work with New Zealand to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to boost mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, advance cultural exchanges, and keep strengthening the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership on a sound and steady course.

AFP: Pakistans Prime Minister will soon visit China. What expectations does China have for that? Will new cooperation agreements be signed?

Zhao Lijian: Yesterday, I shared with you Chinas principled position on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs visit to China. We warmly welcome him to China. During the visit, the two sides will definitely sign a series of outcome documents. As for the specific agenda of the visit, we will release more details as soon as we have them. Please check back for updates.

Bloomberg: Australias resources minister said that while Western countries are unlikely to end their reliance on China for critical minerals including rare earth anytime soon, Australia and the US will still work together to boost investment in these minerals in an attempt to offer alternatives. Does the foreign ministry have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: We noted the remarks from the Australian side. We believe that countries with critical mineral resources need to play a positive role in keeping relevant industrial and supply chains safe, secure and stable. Countries need to jointly step up to their due responsibilities in the global supply of relevant minerals, and ensure the normal functioning of relevant trade and economic cooperation. Meanwhile, no one should use economy as a political tool or weapon, destabilize the global industrial and supply chains or punch the existing world economic system. China will remain an integral part of the international industrial division of labor and cooperation and strive to keep the world economy and international trade stable and diversified.

Reuters: Over the last day or so, cities across Ukraine have suffered missile attacks coming from Russia. This follows weeks of similar attacks. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that this is in response to drone attacks on a Russian fleet. I know you just said that China hopes that the situation deescalates, but China has said many times that China understands the legitimate security concerns of Russia. Does China feel that firing missiles at civilian buildings and infrastructure across Ukraine constitutes safeguarding the legitimate security interests of Russia?

Zhao Lijian: I have just made clear Chinas position on the Ukraine crisis. Under the current circumstances, all parties need to stay calm and exercise restraint, encourage and support all diplomatic efforts conducive to peacefully resolving the Ukraine crisis and jointly work toward deescalation.
Rohde & Schwarz, known for its solutions in test and measurement, technology systems, and networks and cybersecurity, has received an order from the Malaysia telecoms regulator.

The Malaysian regulator has awarded Rohde & Schwarz a contract for a nationwide system of fixed spectrum monitoring stations that can be remotely controlled at one national and five regional headquarters.

Rohde & Schwarz will both supply numerous monitoring stations to replace existing systems and will establish new stations. All of them are based on the R&S UMS compact monitoring and radiolocation system with a new combined monitoring and DF antenna.

The antenna incorporates many features, such as an active / passive switch for adapting to different environments, along with horizontal and vertical polarization, in line with ITU recommendations. A site acceptance test is planned for March 2023.

The system features monitoring, direction finding and advanced R&S ARGUS spectrum monitoring software which is remotely controlled from regional offices and from the headquarter.

Minimum infrastructure requirements ensure maximum site selection flexibility, says the company, adding that R&S ARGUS enables direct measurements, interactive routines and automatic procedures. The software combines powerful spectrum monitoring features with easy and efficient operation, making it perfect for both experts and less experienced operators.

Rohde & Schwarz says that the solution will act as a critical regulatory tool in the efficient planning and utilization of Malaysias frequency spectrum resources.
An overpass near DeForest hit earlier this month by a truck will remain closed for at least eight months for repairs, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

A boom truck hit the River Road bridge over Interstate 39/90/94 on Oct. 14, causing significant damage and forcing authorities to close the road leading to Windsor and DeForest.

DOT spokesperson Michael Bie said Monday that agency officials had met with local leaders and are planning an expedited project to repair the damaged section of the bridge.

Plans are expected to be finalized by the end of this year, with construction to begin in May and be completed in June, Bie said.

The bridge will remain closed until the work is completed.

DeForest Village President Jane Cahill Wolfgram said the closure will be an inconvenience as traffic will have to detour to one of two other interstate crossings: Cuba Valley Road/Innovation Drive, about a half-mile northwest of River Road, or Highway 19, about 1.7 miles to the southeast.

Its not a good thing, but it will be livable, Wolfgram said. What are we going to do? The bridge is dangerous. We will be happy to have it fixed and in better shape.

Wolfgram said she hopes the bridge ultimately can be raised.

It has been hit before a couple of other times, she said. Were going to want to make sure if we can that that doesnt happen (again).

Bie said that would require substantially longer than the planned repairs, but the overpass will be looked at as part of an ongoing study of the interstate between Madison and Wisconsin Dells.
FALF's inaugural research symposium showcases work by women scientists

Clearing the path for talented female academics and researchers leads to more relevant research.

Six research papers focusing on a range of subjects including the link between hypertension and autism to childhood cancers, diabetes in the black population, vitiligo in Africans, TB treatments and mosquitoes, were showcased at the first Female Academic Leaders Fellowship (FALF) research symposium held on 28 October 2022.

The symposium celebrated the FALF fellows  female academics and scientists who have completed research papers and thereby advanced teaching and learning since becoming FALF fellows.

FALF advocates and provides financial support to African and mixed-race South African women. The main objective is to transform the racial and gender profile of academic leadersand also transform knowledge production and promote inclusion and equity.

Giving the opening remarks at the symposium, Professor Salome Maswime, Head of Global Surgery at the University of Cape Town and a FALF Board member, highlighted the challenges facing women and the significance of the FALF and milestones.

We live in a country where women of colour are least represented in the professoriate as Deans, Deputy-Vice Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors. Women in senior positons face unique challenges, which can be challenging and damaging for those who want to follow in their footsteps. The inequities that women face on the African continent are many and can and should be addressed through research.

To underscore the need for more women in academia, Maswime made reference to a research paper published by her team which found that African women undergoing surgery were twice more likely to die from surgical complications than women in high-income countries.

Maswime argued that some topics and communities will not be prioritised in research and it takes those of us from there to go back and do the research.

Without targeted transformation programmes that promote diversity in research, essential data cannot be generated.

Without data we are not able to quantify or qualify the extent of the challenges that women face. We are not able to make evidence-based and context-specific recommendations for policy reform and change in real practice. Most importantly, we are not able to pilot interventions and measure the impact of our innovations.

Without women scientists, the world is less likely to investigate the inequities and disparities that are unique to women. Without diversity and representation amongst researchers, certain communities might never be represented. It takes those of us who come from the affected communities to go back and research where it is most needed.

FALF founder and Wits Chancellor Dr Judy Dlamini, a medical professional and respected business leader, acknowledged the contribution of existing programmes at the University aimed at diversity and inclusion.

FALF is a continuation of the multipronged approach to transformation and inclusion she said, however, the programme uses an intersectional lens that recognises that some of us have multiple social attributes of disadvantage, especially gender and race, said Dlamini.

Fellows build as they rise

FALF seeks to develop a pipeline of African women academic leaders who will identify and solve problems that are relevant to our context, nationally and globally  leaders that will lead with integrity and lift as they rise, said Dlamini.

Launched in 2021, the FALF programme has assisted 46 women in the two years since its inception. This is a big achievement, as programmes of this nature require substantial funding to ensure continuity and real impact.

With more funding, more qualifying women leaders will benefit and this will hopefully lead to the establishment of research chairs that will focus on addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals especially SGDs 5, 10 and 13, said Dlamini. These focus on gender equality, reduced inequality and climate change, respectively.

Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Zeblon Vilakazi commended FALFs achievements adding that this is a wonderful development in a University of firsts.

Wits has achieved many firsts, such as developing the countrys first radar, nuclear accelerator, and the worlds first living donor liver transplant from an HIV positive mother to her HIV negative child. Wits was the first to award a PhD to a black African, Dr Benedict Vilakazi, the first to produce a black female medical graduate, and the first to produce a female mining engineer  a series of small steps but giant leaps.

Adding his voice to the need for diverse teams, Vilakazi cited artificial intelligence and drug delivery as some of the areas where researchers tend to produce for their own and inadvertently exclude millions of people from benefiting from technology and scientific advances.

Excellence, diversity, and inclusion as part of the same strand of the double helix that forms part of the Wits DNA said Vilakazi.

The challenges that we face cannot be solved in a unimode, he said.

Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Executive Director of UN Women and Chancellor at the University of Johannesburg also addressed attendees via video. She spoke on the topic Women and Research Leadership: Transforming Knowledge Locally and Globally. Director General at the Department of Science and Innovation Dr Phil Mjwara delivered a speech on behalf of the Minister, titled The Importance of Womens Participation in Research and Leadership within Academia.

Symposium attendees also heard about a cross institutional research project primarily driven by academics at the University of Johannesburg and Wits. Nonjabulabuchopho, new project under FALF, is working on two projects around gender-based violence. The first project is titled Gender-based Violence and Femicide in South African Universities: Prevalence, Experiences and Policies and the second targets broader society and is titled Developing a community based activism initiative to combat GBVF and harmful use of alcohol.

Excellence Awards

In keeping with the goal to recognise outstanding work, five awards were presented at the symposium and each received R10 000.

Winners

Research Excellence Award: Professor Palesa Motshabi Chakane, Academic Head, Department of Anaesthesiology

FALF Leadership Award: Dr Ida Risenga, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences

FALF CSI Award: Dr Thama Duba, School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

FALF Individual Spirit Award: Dr Dineo Mpanya, cardiologist and specialist in Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

FALF Pod Spirit Award

Dr Prudence Ditlopo

Dr Busisiwe Maseko

Professor Veronica Ntsiea

The team is a multidisciplinary team that is working on research on autism and community awareness on the subject.

Read more about the winners in future stories.
Citizens, not sitizens, please: more than ever, South Africans must take charge

We need active citizenship to show social solidarity to break out from the hopelessness, paralysis and apathy

The disintegration of the ANC, the governing centre of South Africas post-apartheid dispensation, which has unleashed state failure, breakdown of rule of law and paralysing uncertainty, demands new kinds of active citizenship from privileged individuals, businesses, and civil groups, to provide the services, support, and stability to the vulnerable, the state cannot provide.

The turbulence South Africa is currently experiencing, unleashed by the breakdown of the ANC, will continue until a new governing centre is reconfigured from either part of the ANC or a new opposition party-based governing centre. This is likely to happen at the 2024 national elections, which is likely to usher in a new governing coalition  either the ANC or components of the ANC in alliance with smaller parties, or a governing coalition of opposition parties.

Sadly, this means that in the interim period, communities will have to increasingly rely on themselves with little hope of credible interventions by the state at national, provincial, or local level. The ANC government and leaders appear seemingly either unresponsive or lack the will or capacity to tackle these breakdowns, or just do not care because many reckon their voters will continue to vote for them, no matter what they do, so they do not feel under any pressure to act.

The rise in lawlessness, violence and breakdown in social order are now reaching terrifying proportions. Taxi, gang, and political violence; kidnappings of children, business leaders and public figures; and hijacking of businesses, houses and cars are every day.

The government continues to appoint deployees without the requisite skills, handover critical contracts to political connected companies without the capacity and tolerate corruption  which breaks down public services, collapse legitimate businesses and increases unemployment, which brings more cycles of state failure, breakdown of law and social disorder.

In the face of such overwhelming obstacles, ordinary South Africans, communities, businesses, and civil groups will need extraordinary doses of resilience, to overcome hopelessness, paralysis, and apathy, and to pro-actively shape their own destinies. Resilience is variously described as the ability to bounce back from setbacks, to overcome deep-seated challenges thrown into ones path, and to be able to improvise in moments of terrifying crises, by coming up with innovative solutions.

The robustness of South Africas non-state sectors, such as business, civil society and media which have been competent, independent from government and staffed by capable talent, compared to the failure of the state, have boosted the overall resilience of the country. The reality is that the decline in South Africa would have been worse  if this possibility can even be imagined if it was not for the strength of the non-state sectors.

The challenge is how to empower individuals and communities to overcome hopelessness, paralysis, and apathy, and to pro-actively shape their own destinies. Covid-19 have seen active individual and corporate citizenship in action when ordinary citizens and businesses helped those more vulnerable with food, hygiene products and money.

Active citizenship will mean that ordinary citizens, with the means, time, and energy, will have to step in and contribute where they can  supporting vulnerable individuals, families, and communities, showing active citizenship.

South Africans of all colours with financial means should show greater social solidarity with disadvantaged individuals, families, and communities. Many citizens, companies and civil groups are already filling potholes, cleaning up public parks and cleaning streets. Such initiatives must continue  and extended to poorer areas also.

Skilled South Africans who have the time, could help in poorer communities. Retired professionals could teach in black schools, communities, from mathematics to rugby skills, or mentor a child in Soweto, Alexandria or Khayelitsha. For example, if they are medical doctors, they can volunteer their services, or if lawyers, can provide legal help to vulnerable individuals and communities.

Corporates should transform their empowerment and corporate social responsibility models away from giving shareholding to politically connected ANC or trade union leaders and companies, but to empower their current and former employees, local communities, and civil society organisations. Corporates should provide empowerment based on increasing the assets of disadvantaged communities as broadly as possible  building schools and houses, training the unemployed and employing larger number of young people. For example, corporates could use their training academies to train non-employees, particularly young people.

Corporates could give incentives to their employees to volunteer in poorer communities. Privileged individuals could pay for the education of the children of their domestic worker. They could give their domestic workers industrially useful practical skills  driving, first aid or vocational training. They could adopt a childs education in the township or adopt a township family  through regularly helping.

Privileged schools can adopt/twin with poor township schools, with teachers from the well-resourced teaching at the poorer school, and richer parents volunteering at the poorer school. Former pupils of embattled township schools, residents of neglected townships and informal settlements who are now financially well-off must contribute to their old schools, townships, and informal settlements, whether mentoring, sponsoring poor children and families and giving access to their networks.

Vulnerable communities themselves will have to find unknown inner strengths and resources to cope with the uncertainty at the individual and community level. With policing failing, communities, without the means to hire private security, will have to set up community protection forums to keep their streets, townships, and areas safe. Most importantly, citizens, businesses and civil society should continue to hold public and elected officials accountable.

Citizens should volunteer on school boards, attend municipal ward committees, and participate in integrated development planning representative forums to hold elected councillors accountable. Citizens, business, and civil organisations must protest corruption, incompetence, and waste by public and elected officials.

Most importantly, the single most important tool to overnight reverse state collapse, breakdown of rule of law and corruption  and pull South Africa from the brink - is for voters not to vote for corrupt, dishonest, and incompetent leaders and parties, and not to vote based on struggle credentials, colour, and ethnicity or on ideology.

More conscious citizens, business and civil society must get involved in voter education to raise the consciousness of those disgruntled with ANC elected and public officials, to not stay away from voting. But to vote for leaders and parties that are competent, honest, and caring, even it means voting for leaders and parties they do not share colour, past and their ideology with. Unless, the voters stop voting based on shared colour, struggle credentials and ideology, the parties, and leaders they vote for will remain unresponsive, and SA will continue on the path of state failure, breakdown of rule of law and chaos.

William Gumede is Associate Professor, School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand, and author of Restless Nation: Making Sense of Troubled Times (Tafelberg). This is an edited extract from my talk at the recent Oliver & Adelaide Tambo dialogue on Strengthening A Nations Resilience Dialogue, Gordon Institute of Business (GIBS).
Wits hosts largest gathering of journalists

Over 350 journalists from across the continent will spend three days at Wits University for the 18th African Investigative Journalism Conference.

The 18th African Investigative Journalism Conference returned for its first in-person event since the Covid-19 pandemic touched down in South Africa in 2019.

The conference was opened by seasoned journalist, and adjunct Professor of Journalism and Media Studies at the University of Witwatersrand, Professor Anton Harber.

"It's our coming of age, and what a time to be doing it. It's the first time in three years we've been able to get together in person again, said Harber as he addressed a lecture room full of journalists from across the continent.

The first plenary session was opened by BBC Africa Eye film makers Peter Murimi and Njeri Mwangi who discussed their investigation into child trafficking in Kenya.

Their piece, titled Baby Stealers, investigates a syndicate of child traffickers who sell babies into a thriving black market in the country.

Mwangi recounted a time when she interviewed a mother who lost her baby 10 years ago through child trafficking. She discussed the emotional toll it took on her and these mothers' bravery in telling their stories.

The silent heroes are the people who make the stories come alive and have evidence that can bring about justice, said Mwangi.

Her colleague Murimi stressed the importance of allowing journalistic reports to be used as evidence when prosecuting the villains in their stories.

Accountability in court is very important to us. We cooperate with the prosecution, we put our evidence on the table. We let our evidence be scrutinised, said Murimi.

The AIJC conference will see over 140 speakers address about 350 guests, making this the most representative gathering in the last 18 years.

Guests will have an opportunity to explore topics such as the latest digital tools; investigating health, the environment, insurgency; online safety; media sustainability, and business and finance reporting.
Nokia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nedaa, the security network provider of the Dubai government.

The MoU will explore opportunities to upgrade Nedaas telecommunications network across radio access networks (RAN) and core by leveraging 5G technology.

Nokia says a 5G network with end-to-end slicing functionality will help Nedaa deliver improved public safety and smart city services to concerned organizations and citizens, as well as lay the foundations for more advanced services such as the metaverse.

Nedaas network already utilizes Nokias infrastructure and can support many of the requirements for mission-critical networks. However, says Nokia, with the introduction of 5G, Nedaa will be able to support enhanced services for public safety and management of vital operations, such as immersive applications for first responders, connected and automated vehicles, video surveillance and remote control as well as manage thousands of connected devices, sensors and IoT applications.

The MoU sets a framework for upgrading the existing network capabilities and introducing agile and advanced services to government organizations based on secure and reliable networks.

One of the key elements is 5G network slicing, which will help Nedaa provide segment-related solutions for different industries, including oil and gas, transport and other government organizations. The MoU also lays the foundation for identifying the most appropriate 5G use cases for capturing new opportunities and monetization.

Nokia will also carry out a technology competence development programme covering training and knowledge transfer to Nedaa employees and will expand its Integrated Operations Centre (IOC) as the integration and enablement layer for all 5G use cases, including Industry 4.0, smart city and public safety applications with a path to future services such as the metaverse.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, awards Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China during a ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. [Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan]

BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua)  Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, on Monday awarded Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China.

A ceremony was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese state councilor and foreign minister, read out the order of award.

Xi presented the medal to Trong, hailing Trong as a staunch Marxist, and a close comrade and sincere friend of the CPC.

With his great attention and personal promotion, the traditional friendship between the two parties and countries has been consolidated, political mutual trust enhanced, practical cooperation deepened, and exchanges and mutual learning have been increasingly close, Xi said.

The medal represents the friendly feelings of the CPC and the Chinese people toward Trong and the Vietnamese people, symbolizes the profound friendship between China and Vietnam as "comrades and brothers", and embodies the ardent hope of the two parties and the two peoples for a better future together, said Xi.

Noting China and Vietnam are good neighbors and friends "connected by mountains and rivers, as close as lips and teeth," Xi said the two countries are like-minded comrades and partners with a shared future committed to the cause of peace and progress of humanity.

On the journey of promoting socialist modernization of the two countries, the CPC is willing to work with the CPV led by Trong to inherit the traditional friendship created and carefully cultivated by Mao Zedong, Ho Chi Minh and other older-generation leaders of the two parties and two countries, and to jointly lead China-Vietnam relations to achieve greater development.

Trong said he sincerely thanked Xi for awarding him the medal, which fully reflects the feeling of friendship of the CPC, Chinese government and Chinese people toward the CPV, Vietnamese government and people, as well as toward Vietnamese leaders. It is also a great inspiration for Vietnam's long-term commitment to the Vietnam-China friendship.

He said it is a great pleasure for him to accept the honor, and he will work with the Vietnamese people on his post to continue to adhere to the socialist path, constantly consolidate and deepen the Vietnam-China friendly relations as "comrades and brothers," and jointly realize a brighter future.

Trong also expressed the hope that the Vietnam-China friendship will last forever, and that the Vietnam-China relations will become a model of international relations from generation to generation.

After the awarding ceremony, Xi and Trong had a tea chat to talk about the traditional friendship and development prospects between the two parties and countries.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, have a tea chat after an awarding ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. Xi Jinping awarded Nguyen Phu Trong the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China on Monday. [Xinhua/Yao Dawei]

(Source: Xinhua)
The migratory pressure in the heart of every Cuban family is enormous due to the severe economic crisis in the country and the lack of hope for improvement within the current system. The official insistence on a policy of "continuity" and the suppression of civic demands for democratic changes and freedoms make migration the only way out for thousands of citizens. But leaving Cuba for the United States, the main destination, is very expensive, such that, in this case too, some are "privileged" while others will never have the chance.

"I want to leave, my children are desperate to leave, my friends, my neighbors, my co-workers, everyone. In truth, those who are leaving are just a small fraction of those of us who want to leave," says Alejandro, a construction worker.

"Three years ago it was just a few, but now it's everyone. What happens is that not everyone can, or has someone from outside to lend them the money to pay for the trip. That's why we're still here, exhausted and 'resisting,' as Diaz-Canel says. Of course, they are resisting living the good life, while we are without electricity and struggling to survive," he adds.

According to accounts from Cubans who have made the Nicaragua-Mexico-US crossing, without a coyote (human smuggler) the trip can cost between $5,000 and $6,000, but it takes a month or much longer. With a coyote, it is around $10,000, but in the first half of the year it cost up to $15,000 ? a fortune in a country where the average salary is the equivalent of just $20.

Dania, self-employed, is also desperate to emigrate, but her house is the only asset she can sell to pay for the trip, and she has been unable to legalize it. "I bought it when it was not legal to buy and sell homes. They made it a leasehold of the State, paying rent for 20 years and, finally, since before the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been possible to legalize it, but that is stalled for now. I can't wait for the day when I'll be able to sell it to get out of this country."

Raul, another Holguin resident, is 24 years old and is dying to leave, but he has "neither his own house nor a car to sell."

"I don't have a family member outside to help me either. The ones who are leaving are those who were better off, who had American cars or trucks to rent out, or good houses to sell and leave. The people who are really working are still here and won?t be able to escape, even working ten times more than now," he lamented.

"I'm in that situation. I don't receive remittances, nor do I have any property to sell, nor can I find anyone to lend me the money. Those I have seen, Cubans who are well off in the United States, and invest in this business, prefer to take their chances with young women who go for el tubo (pole-dancing mixed with prostitution), because that way they make the money in less than three months, while in other jobs you spend more than a year paying it back, and that's why they rule you out you. I'm screwed," he said with regret.

A small survey conducted in the municipality of Mayari among 200 people of different age groups, showed that 158 (79%) wished to emigrate and dare to do so; 14 (7%) would like to, but are afraid of getting into debt or the risks; while only 28 (14%) said they were not interested. Eight (4%) said that they have the resources to do so; another 27 (13.5%) do not have the resources, but are working on it. In total, according to the answers collected, 86% wish to emigrate, 14% do not, only 4% have the resources to do so, and 13.5% are trying to save up.

In the end, although the vast majority of Cubans believe that emigration is the best way out, mathematically only a small percentage will be able to do so. From a human and social point of view, it is a veritable tragedy, an unprecedented figure as a migratory wave, equivalent to more than half of the population of a province.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), between October 2021 and September 2022, 224,607 Cubans arrived in U.S. territory. This is more than half the population of Mayabeque (383,145) or Cienfuegos (404,550) and 2.7 times the population of Isla de la Juventud, and to this figure should be added the number of Cubans who have emigrated to other countries.

The fact that, from a social point of view, those who emigrate are mainly people with the most resources, or possibilities of obtaining them, means that those who remain in Cuba with no way out only have the option of pressuring the regime in the streets, on social media, and in all other public scenarios, to get it to give way to the change that the country needs.

Only this social pressure can succeed in sweeping away the Communist Party government's blockade against a better Cuba, and that long-suffering people who languish under impoverished conditions, and cannot emigrate, is the driving force behind it.
BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory letter to the Russia-China Friendship Association on its 65th anniversary.

In his letter dated Saturday, Xi said since its founding 65 years ago, the association has always adhered to the principle of friendship in managing relations with China, and has made important contributions to enhancing mutual understanding, friendship and mutual trust between people of the two countries as well as consolidating public support for friendly bilateral relations.

The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has maintained the momentum of high-level development, with ever-deepening exchanges and cooperation in various fields as well as friendship between people of the two countries, Xi noted, adding that the cause of China-Russia people-to-people friendship enjoys broad prospects and great potential for future development.

The Chinese president said he hopes that the association will carry forward its fine traditions and play a bigger role in promoting people-to-people bonds between the two countries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent congratulations to the association on Saturday.

(Source: Xinhua)
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds a ceremony to welcome Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. [Xinhua/Yao Dawei]

BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua)  Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, held talks on Monday with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee.

The two sides agreed to consolidate the traditional friendship, strengthen strategic communication, enhance political mutual trust, and properly manage differences, so as to push the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era to a new level.

Xi warmly welcomed Trong's official visit to China following the 20th CPC National Congress, noting that he has maintained close communication with Trong in various ways and reached many important consensuses on guiding the development of China-Vietnam relations in recent years. "These consensuses have been fully implemented and remarkable results have been achieved," he said.

Xi introduced the main points of the 20th CPC National Congress. He said that the historic achievements made in the cause of the Party and the country in the new era fully prove that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics conforms to the realities of China, reflects the will of the Chinese people, and meets the requirements of the times.

Hailing the Vietnamese side's achievements in socialist construction and innovation, Xi said it is believed that under the leadership of the Central Committee of the CPV headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the CPV and the Vietnamese government will surely accomplish the goals and tasks set forth by the 13th CPV National Congress.

Xi said that, with accelerated changes in the situation unseen in a century, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. He emphasized that China, Vietnam and other socialist countries have succeeded in following the trend of the times and exploring a modernization path in line with their own national conditions, and socialism is becoming more and more vigorous.

At the same time, the development of human progress is a long and tortuous process, while the development of socialist countries is facing a very complicated international environment and severe risks and challenges, Xi said.

He called on the CPC and the CPV to strive for the happiness of the people and the progress of mankind, make every effort to advance socialist modernization, and never allow anyone to interfere with their progress or any force to shake the institutional foundation of their development.

On further developing China-Vietnam relations, Xi stressed that the two sides should adhere to the direction of socialism. "For the cause of socialism and China-Vietnam relations, adhering to the correct political direction is paramount."

He expressed hopes that the two parties should strengthen high-level communication and exchanges of views on major issues concerning bilateral relations in a timely manner.

He also called for consolidating the socialist economic foundation on both sides.

China is ready to work with Vietnam to synergize their development strategies, promote connectivity between the two countries, and deepen cooperation on health care, green development, the digital economy and climate change, Xi said.

Under the new circumstances, the two sides should focus on the future and work for a long time to carry forward the traditional friendship of "comrades and brothers" nurtured by the older generation of leaders, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, increase mutual acquaintance and amity between the younger generations of the two countries, and deepen cooperation in the field of press and publicity, so as to create an atmosphere of public opinion that is favorable for bilateral relations, he added.

Xi stressed that China regards ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and a key region in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and values Vietnam's position and role in ASEAN.

"We look forward to working with Vietnam to accelerate the building of a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home together, and to promote regional economic integration in East Asia," he said.

China is also ready to work with ASEAN to practice true multilateralism and open regionalism, make the regional situation and international order more peaceful, stable, just and equitable, and actively promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi added.

Trong thanked Xi for inviting him to lead the Vietnamese leaders as the first head-of-state level delegation to visit China since the 20th CPC National Congress. Trong said he had also fulfilled his commitment of making China his first destination abroad after his re-election as general secretary of the CPV Central Committee.

On behalf of the CPV, the Vietnamese government and the people, he extended warm congratulations to the CPC, the Chinese government and the people on the success of the 20th CPC National Congress, and to Xi on his re-election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

Trong expressed confidence that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, China will definitely achieve the goals set at the 20th CPC National Congress and make a new contribution to the region and the world at large.

Trong said he fully agrees with Xi's important proposals on developing relations between the two parties and two countries. He said Vietnam attaches great importance to its ties with China and regards developing friendly cooperation with China as a top priority in its foreign policies.

Vietnam will advance the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China based on the policy of long-term stability, forward-thinking, good neighborliness and comprehensive cooperation, and the spirit of being good neighbors, friends, comrades and partners, he said.

Trong said Vietnam firmly follows the one-China policy, opposes any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, and will not develop any official relations with Taiwan.

He said Vietnam will not allow any country to establish a military base in Vietnam, or join any military alliance, or use force against any country, or work with one country to oppose another.

He said Vietnam is willing to work with China to maintain high-level exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen political mutual trust, give play to the strategic role of inter-party relations and deepen theory exchanges.

He called for taking advantage of the existing cooperation mechanism between the two countries to promote the synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative with the "Two Corridors, One Economic Belt" and yield more fruitful economic cooperation.

He called for maintaining people-to-people exchanges to deepen public support for Vietnam-China relations, and maintaining peace and tranquility on the land border and peace and stability at sea, so as not to let maritime issues affect the overall development of bilateral relations.

Trong said the 13th CPV National Congress and the 20th CPC National Congress marked the start of a critical new stage in bilateral relations, and Vietnam is ready to work with China to push the bilateral good-neighborly friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new height.

After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents on political parties, economy and trade, environmental protection, culture and tourism, justice, customs and local government.

Prior to the talks, Xi held a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People to welcome Trong.

Xi hosted a welcoming banquet for Trong on Monday evening, and members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi were present.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds talks with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. [Xinhua/Yao Dawei]

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, view the cooperation documents signed by the two sides in Beijing after their talks on Oct. 31, 2022. Xi Jinping held talks on Monday with Nguyen Phu Trong at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. [Xinhua/Yao Dawei]

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, head for the venue of their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. Xi Jinping held talks on Monday with Nguyen Phu Trong at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Prior to the talks, Xi held a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People to welcome Trong. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds a ceremony to welcome Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds a ceremony to welcome Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

(Source: Xinhua)
CNN has obtained the driver's license photograph of David DePape, the man suspected of attacking Paul Pelosi at his San Francisco home. DePape, the man alleged to have attacked Paul Pelosi, has been charged with assault and attempted kidnapping.
House January 6 committee 'in discussions' with Trump's attorneys for him to testify under oath, Cheney says
Churches to fundraise for foodbanks as donations drop and demand rises

Churches across northeast and mid-Wales are to fundraise for local foodbanks as donations drop just as demand for the service rises.

Congregations will be supporting the work of the Trussell Trust, which campaigns to end reliance on its network of foodbanks.

The Trussell Trust runs eight foodbanks in northeast and mid-Wales in Wrexham, Mold, the Vale of Clwyd, Rhyl, Prestatyn, Pensarn, Oswestry (which covers the Welsh borders), Welshpool and offers satellite distribution and collection depots in smaller towns and communities.

Throughout 2023 churches will be raising money through a series of events as well as collecting food donations, offering volunteers, campaigning for an end to food poverty and praying for the work of the charity

Every year, congregations in the churches which make up the Diocese of St Asaph raise money to support a local charity.

It is selected by members of the Diocesan Conference who, this year, in response to the cost-of-living crisis, voted to support the Trussell Trust.

Many churches across the diocese already support the work of the Trussell Trust with foodbanks operating from church premises.

At St Marks Church in Caia Park in Wrexham, the foodbank opens every Tuesday from 12.30-2pm. At St Peters Church in Holywell, the foodbank opens every Wednesday from 2pm  3,30pm.

Other churches act as collection points for people to donate tinned items and other non-perishable food.

Church Engagement Manager for the Trussell Trust, Rachael Anderson, told a meeting of the Diocesan Conference that the demand for foodbanks had grown in recent years, while donations have gone down.

She said: We are seeing more people than ever before having to turn to the Trussell Trust and foodbanks for help.

Interestingly we are seeing more and more working people whose incomes just arent enough to meet their basis spends.

We are hearing terrible stories of children whose feet are hurting as their parents cant afford shoes for them.

I think one of the things we have learnt from the pandemic is that peoples circumstances can change at any time, and they can change very quickly.

Because the cost of living has been rising very quickly over the past decade, peoples salaries support their lives and theres not a lot left for saving so when circumstances change it can lead them into desperation very quickly.
From MySpace to business owner  Wrexham resident celebrates first year of self employment

From posting on Myspace to being contacted by the BBC (twice) to deliver inspirational talks, a Wrexham resident is celebrating her first year of self employment.

Beth Cole runs Populi Media, an online marketing service covering a range of topics from website design, social media marketing and consultancy to name a few.

Speaking to Wrexham.com Beth says it wasnt a lifelong dream or the school system which led her to self employment, it was the year 2006 when she created a profile on a revolutionary platform called Myspace.

Back before our lives switched and social media wasnt the replacement for a conversation, Beth realised the value the platform was giving individuals by allowing them to build and customise their own pages.

She went as far as creating her own designs which were featured on the main Myspace pages.

Beth said she came to understand she had an understanding and love of creativity as well as technology so set about trying to find ways to combine them.

Through the study of IT at her secondary school, design in college and advertising in university she landed herself work at advertising agencies who looked after some of the biggest brands  such as Aldi. There might even be a branch of Aldi in Ireland using Beths Netflix and Chile campaign for their wines.

Whilst working at an IT company, Beth realised that she was limiting herself and clients potential by following the 9-5 office habits. So she took the leap of faith into self employment with just three clients on the books.

Thanks to hard work, Populi Media has flourished into a company allowing Beth to work on projects such as The Rhug Estates marketing campaign and delivering talks for the BBC, to help inspire the next generation into self employment.

Having worked with them on a number of levels e.g website design/build, various photography projects, web support etc, I couldnt recommend them enough. Always demonstrating great communication, knowledge & professionalism youll be sure to receive consistently good service.  Sarah Cowell, Account Manager

Its not just the big contracts Beth is chasing, she is passionate about helping new projects go from startups to small businesses and supporting community events where she can such as the recent Wrexham Feast.

Beth currently delivers regular advice sessions for startup businesses free of charge at The Wrexham Enterprise Hub.

Recently she has helped local businesses such as The Happy Hedgehog Cafe and AC Creative with brand new website launches and social media campaigns.

Beth is highly talented at what she does. I reached out for a website and what I got in return was much more valuable. I now have a clear brand strategy, an amazing website shop, and practices that get my brand seen in many places online. Our shop sales have increased by 40% in the first six months of launch, Im so thankful!  Apra Ames Roberts, Director

Looking ahead to her second year of self employment, Beth is looking to take on her first member of staff while she continues to drive the companys growth.

If youre interested in working with Beth or just taking a look at what she does you can get in touch on any of the following

Website: https://populimedia.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/populimediauk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/populimediauk

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/populimediauk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/populimediauk/

Pictured: Beth Cole (third from left) at BBC Bitesize Event
As the number of severe COVID-19 cases rises and more infectious variants spread, politicians across party lines are showing their willingness to accept a new winter of death in the pandemic.

As of last week, between 700,000 and 1.6 million people in Germany were symptomatically infected with the virus. Although the autumn vacations, which are currently underway in many states, appear to have reduced the incidence of infection, the 7-day rate is still 464.1 infections per hundred thousand members of the population. However, due to the abolition of compulsory testing and infrastructure, official figures have long since inadequately reflected the actual incidence of infection.

An intubated COVID-19 patient gets treatment at the intensive care unit at the Westerstede Clinical Center, a military-civilian hospital in Westerstede, northwest Germany [AP Photo/Martin Meissner]

This is evident from the continuing rise in the number of outbreaks in hospitals and nursing homes. In medical treatment facilities, there were 274 outbreaks last week, 126 more than the previous week. In addition, 38 people died from past outbreaks. In nursing homes and homes for the elderly, the number of outbreaks increased from 567 the previous week to 687 last week, when 99 people died from previous outbreaks.

The seriousness of the situation is particularly evident in hospitals. The number of hospitalizations has been rising for weeks and, when adjusted, is 20 per 100,000, or about 16,000 hospitalizations per week. It has thus tripled within one month. 1,723 people need intensive care treatment.

Two weeks ago, the chairman of the German Hospital Association (DKG) Gerald Ga told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND): We have significant increases in Covid positive patients. Compared to the previous week, occupancy has risen by 50 percent. ... With around 19,000 positively tested patients, we are currently as high as at the peak times of the summer wave. ... We are heading for extremely difficult weeks across the board and not just in southern Germany.

Christian Karagiannidis, head of the DIVI intensive care registry, also warned, In some regions of Bavaria, Hesse and in several cities in North Rhine-Westphalia, we already have hotspots where there are hardly any free intensive care beds left because staff are often symptomatic and also absent for longer periods.

Since then, hospitalization rates have risen steadily, bringing many hospitals to the brink of overcrowding. The emergency centres are overcrowded, patients are piling up in the corridors, complained the works council of the municipal Munich Clinic, for example. At Caritas Hospital in Bad Mergentheim, the medical director said more coronavirus patients were currently being treated than at any time in the last two years. Those experiencing severe illness as a result were also on the rise.

Hospitals are also burdened by a high number of staff absences, due to staff infections. For example, Detlef Troppens, chairman of the Brandenburg State Hospital Association (LKB), warned Monday, We have 10 to 15 percent ward closures. There are already restrictions in the treatment of patients.

Rising energy costs as a result of the war against Russia are also bringing numerous hospitals to the brink of collapse. The financial situation continues to come to a head drastically and is assuming proportions that threaten hospitals existence, reported Bjorn Saeger, management spokesman at the municipal hospital in Brandenburg an der Havel. Also, Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (Social Democrat, SPD) warned even that hospitals face a completely drastic liquidity problem come in the next months.

The increase in the number of those experiencing severe illness following infection with coronavirus has also resulted in a growing number of deaths. Since the beginning of the week, 895 people have already diedan average of 179 per day, which is more than twice as many as died at the same time a year ago and about five times as many as died at the same time two years ago.

The situation threatens to worsen in the autumn and winter with the spread of Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1. Both exhibit high immune escape, so that even the recently recovered and fully vaccinated can become infected with the variant.

According to Robert Koch Institute data, the BQ.1 variant currently accounts for 2 percent of infections and the BQ.1.1 variant for just under 3 percent. However, the figures are about three weeks behind the curve and are thus already much higher.

According to calculations by the German Cancer Research Centre, the proportion is already 6 and 7 percent. According to news magazine Der Spiegel, Cambridge scientist and bioinformatician Cornelius Romer suspects that the proportion of BQ.1.1 is already 10 percent.

He expects that BQ.1.1 will drive a wave of variants in Europe and North America before the end of November. Its relative share has more than doubled every week. The current autumn wave would then be joined by anotherdriven by the other Omicron subvariants. The result would be a double wave.

Numerous scientists share this opinion: according to Augsburger Allgemeine, the German Charite vaccine researcher, Leif Sander suspects, In the next few weeks, BQ.1.1 could become the most widespread variant and displace BA.5.

Friedemann Weber, director of the Institute of Virology at Justus Liebig University in Giessen, told Focus magazine, BQ.1.1 is the fastest-growing virus variant in Germany at the moment. While its share of cases is relatively small and BA.5 remains dominant, that may soon change, as the BQ1.1 curve is much steeper.

However, politicians from all parties have made it clear that they will not do anything about the rising number of those experiencing severe outcomes, nor about the spread of new variants. Despite the surge in recent weeks, no state government has introduced stronger infection control measures. On the contrary, numerous leading politicians openly proclaim their intention to accept the current conditions.

For example, Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) warned against closing schools or childrens and youth facilities in the coming months. Under no circumstances should day-care centres and schools, gymnasiums and youth clubs be shut down this autumn and winter. Not because of coronavirus and also not because of energy savings.

Brandenburgs SPD state parliamentary group leader Daniel Keller rejected the call for an expansion of the mandatory mask-wearing requirement, saying, The incidence rate in hospitals is in the red, but in terms of the occupancy of intensive care beds, we are not yet in the critical area, He warned against political actionism: We have a mandatory mask requirement where it is relevant.

In his speech at the Christian Social Union (CSU) party conference, Bavarian state Prime Minister Markus Soder also ruled out any real measures to combat the pandemic: We will no longer do cordoning off in winter. No way. He added that COVID-19 in Germany was on its way to becoming endemic and that the state government would also set its sights on relaxing quarantine rules.

Last week, the Green Party-Christian Democrat state government in Baden-Wurttemberg even went so far as to overturn the mask-wearing requirement in nursing homes.
Israel goes to the polls Tuesday for the fifth time in three and a half years. The general election takes place amid rising class tensions within Israel and the occupied territories, the Middle East and internationally.

Opinion polls are predicting that the Likud Party, headed by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will once again win the largest number of seats in the 120-seat Knesset, with interim Prime Minister Yair Lapids Yesh Atid Party taking second place.

People walk past an election campaign billboards showing Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Prime Minister and the head of Likud party, in Bnei Brak, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. Israel is heading into its fifth election in under four years on Nov. 1. [AP Photo/Oded Balilty]

Nevertheless, the outcome, in terms of which political bloc will be able to form a government, is too close to call. The result will largely depend on the surging vote for the far-right, fascistic forces led by Jewish Power legislator Itamar Ben Gvir and his Religious Zionism partner Bezalel Smotrich, who are allied with Netanyahu, and the plunging support for the traditional parties of the left, and the Arab parties competing for the votes of Israels Palestinian citizens making up 20 percent of its 9.3 million population.

The 5.5 million Palestinians who live under the gun in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza have no vote, although the 700,000 or so Israeli settlers that live there do.

Todays elections were called last June, one year after the formation in June 2021 of yet another unstable coalition with a majority of one after the 73-year-old Netanyahuon trial for corruption, fraud and breach of trust for his actions while serving as prime ministerproved unable to form a coalition despite his Likud Party winning the most seats in the 120-seat Knesset.

United only in their opposition to Netanyahu, the coalition consisted of eight disparate parties, spanning most of Israels mainstream parties, including those ostensibly committed to the Olso Accords and a Palestinian mini-stateMeretz, Labor, Yesh Atid and Blue and Whiteand included for the first time one of Israels Arab parties, Raam.

In a rotten deal aimed at ousting Netanyahu and securing the support of some of the secular rightwing parties, Yair Lapid, whose Yesh Atid Party won the second largest number of seats, ceded the premiership to Naftali Bennett, a former settlers leader, even though his party won only six seats, and agreed not to negotiate with the Palestinians over statehood for the duration of their alliance.

What passes for Israels left and centrist parties then proceeded to participate in an ever-sharper lurch to the right, an escalation of Israels covert wars against Iran and its allies, Syria and Lebanons Hezbollahin Iran, the Persian Gulf, Syria and the eastern Mediterraneanand its attacks on the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, including administrative detention without charge, house demolitions, land theft, almost daily raids and mass arrest operations, collective punishment and trampling on basic human rights.

In June, as Bennett faced mounting opposition from his own right-wing ministers, Netanyahus opposition bloc engineered a parliamentary maneouvre aimed at bringing down the government and securing his return to power. Following the coalitions collapse and in accordance with their coalition deal, Lapid replaced Bennett as caretaker prime minister until the elections set for November 1 and the formation of a new government that could take weeks if not months to negotiate. Bennett, with his partynow led by strident right-winger Ayelet Shakedviewed as unlikely to cross the minimum threshold to qualify for any seats in the Knesset, promptly announced his resignation from politics.

The elections come amid key domestic issues, including the annual budget for 2023 that must find cuts in services to fund a pay rise awarded to teachers to avert a national strike at the start of the school year and the health, economic and social fallout from the continuing COVID-19 pandemic that has killed nearly 12,000 people and is on the rise following the lifting of restrictions.

The skyrocketing cost of living and rental charges, among the highest in the advanced countries, is making it hard for Israelis and Palestinians alike to put food on the table.

Israels ruling elite, the dozen or so wealthy families that dominate economic life, has refused to lift a finger to alleviate the mounting social and economic suffering.

The beneficiaries have been the far-right, fascistic forces of Ben Gvir and Smotrich who support ethnic cleansing, with the media amplifying their every word. It was Netanyahu who engineered their entry into the Knesset to bolster his bloc prior to the 2021 elections.

These racists, the ideological successors of the banned Kahanist movement, are forming vigilante groups in Israels Negev and Bat Yam, an impoverished Tel Aviv suburb, and inciting pogrom-like violence against the Palestinians in both the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and in Israels mixed towns and cities. Ben-Gvir was filmed recently pulling out a handgun during a campaign stop in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, where he demanded the police fire on the residents.

Their Jewish supremacist agenda includes Israeli rule over the West Bank, the expulsion of Israels Palestinian population, the demolition of the al-Aqsa Mosque to make way for the building of a Jewish Temple, and the imposition of religious law.

Both leaders support the introduction of a French Law that bars criminal investigations into a sitting prime minister, with Ben Gvir, a lawyer who defends Jewish extremists, supporting retrospective legislation that would end Netanyahus trial. Netanyahu, taking his cue from former US President Donald Trump, has called his trial a rigged political witch-hunt by a leftist judiciary.

This has been enough to guarantee them key posts in a Netanyahu-led government that would remove any remaining restraints on the imposition of direct military rule over the Palestinians. They constitute a serious threat to the Israeli and Palestinian working class, strengthening the far-right forces in the state apparatus and in society that are already terrorizing immigrants, refugees and human rights and left-wing activists. Netanyahu and the medias cultivation of these forces demonstrate that the ruling class, like its counterparts internationally, is preparing for the violent suppression of social and political resistance, for which it needs the fascists.

Their rise has been aided by the refusal of the Labor Party, the nominally left parties and the corporatist trade unions to lift a finger to defend the living standards of working people. Similarly, the four Arab parties face dwindling support and voter apathy. Mansour Abbas, the leader of the conservative Islamist party Raam, was the first leader of an Arab party to join a coalition government based on the promise of funding for Israels impoverished Arab towns and cities and pledges to tackle inequality that proved to be little more than empty words. Should the Arab parties fall below the electoral threshold, it would further weaken the links between the Arab working class and its traditional leaders that have bound them to the State of Israel.

Workers, Jewish and Arab, face the complete dead-end of bourgeois politics. All the establishment parties and the trade unions have acted against the interests of the working class, slashing expenditure on education, health, essential public services and the social safety net, while overseeing a massive decline in the living standards of those on lower incomes and pensions. Workers also face the catastrophic consequences of the pandemic, climate change that has brought drought, fires and floods, and the war against Russia that threatens to draw Israel/Palestine and the entire Middle East into the front line.

Resistance is growing. The ruling class is preparing for this by giving carte blanche to the military to behave with impunity, as the recent murder of Al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and the mass closures and raid and arrest operations in the West Bank have demonstrated, giving succour to the fascists and turning to authoritarian forms of rule.

The Israeli and Arab working class must prepare for this by uniting in the struggle against the rising cost of living and social cuts, combining this with the struggle against militarism, fascism and their cause, capitalism. This requires the building in Israel and throughout the Middle East sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International, the world party of socialist revolution.
A man attacked Western Jet Foil migrant processing centre in Dover Sunday before killing himself. He threw three firebombs at the facility, with two minor injuries reported. He was reported to be laughing as he tossed petrol canisters with fireworks attached from the window of his car.

Whatever the mans background, this act of right-wing terror is the direct result of the filthy anti-migrant atmosphere whipped up by the Conservative government, the Labour opposition and the media.

Security guards stands in front of the gate near the migrant processing centre in Dover, England, October 31, 2022. An attacker threw firebombs at the facility in the English port town of Dover on Sunday, October 30, before killing himself, officials said. [AP Photo/Kin Cheung]

Just two days before the attack, The Times published the article, Desperate new arrivals drive Dover into taking up arms, which began with the line Homeowners in Dover are sleeping with sledgehammers by their beds. It features a picture of a coastguard ship crowded with rescued asylum seekers next to a woman posing with a hammer. This is only one of many such incendiary articles.

The government has done everything to generate a siege mentality towards a few tens of thousands of vulnerable people arriving this year and last on small boats from across the English Channel.

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, before the attack, Tory MP for Dover Natalia Elphicke declared the situation intolerable and called for constant vigilance, denouncing the handwringing rights industry.

This rampant xenophobia is used to justify the brutal detention of tens of thousands of people and the denial of their democratic rights. Sundays attack is an individual expression of the systemic violence meted out to migrants by the British government, and all governments across Europe. An arson attack was mounted this month on a refugee centre in Germany.

After the incident in Dover, 700 people were evacuated to the Manston short-term holding facility in Thanet, Kent, which made the headlines this weekend for its inhuman conditions and the refusal of Home Secretary Suella Braverman to address them.

Manston is a former Royal Air Force base now designed to hold 1,000 people, with 1,600 an absolute maximum. There are currently 4,000 migrants at the site. While the centre is designed to hold people for 24 hours, or five days at the most, roughly 1,600 people, including families, have been there for three-four weeks.

David Neal, chief inspector of borders and immigration, described himself as speechless at the wretched conditions, including the risk of infection, fire and disorder, and the lack of qualifications among staff.

Migrants have their phones taken off them. The Guardian reports that they are issued numbered wristbands and referred to by their number rather than their name and that unaccompanied children have been kept at the site for weeks.

Scabies is widespread. Outbreaks of norovirus and more recently diphtheria have also been reported. One of the migrants infected with diphtheria has also contracted MRSA.

The Daily Mail reported whistleblowers from the camp who said, A small Army detachment is inside to help keep order. We have been told riot police are on standby to enter if the migrants kick off in the next few days. According to the Morning Star, migrants who staged a sit-in protest last Thursday were manhandled into vans by security.

The Mails sources added, Migrants are now being allowed into pens outside the marquees. They described a deliberate conspiracy of silence by the government, continuing, Everyone working there has to sign the Official Secrets Act and they are afraid of telling the true story for fear of ending up in court.

Having worked to close off legal avenues for seeking asylum, the government brutalises those who make it to Britain by different means to deter others. Similarly appalling conditions were exposed at the Napier and Penally barracks migrant centres early last year.

Multiple sources have informed The Times and Bloomberg that Braverman was told by Home Office officials three weeks ago that the Manston site was illegal, an effective unofficial detention centre. One commented, She knew exactly what she was doing and she still went ahead with it.

Sources also claimed that Braverman had deliberately not signed off enough hotels for use as asylum accommodation while attorney general, adding to the overcrowding in nominally temporary sites.

Life in asylum hotels is hardly better. Conditions have been described as prison like, with asylum seekers unable to access essentials, suffering severe physical health problems and left suicidal.

Grotesquely, the attack on the Dover centre is already being used to step up the anti-migrant crackdown. Within hours of the attack, Elphicke declared, Every single attempt to get on top of this is delayed or thwarted by a rag bag of people who seem to want open borders and dont seem to want us to get a grip on this particular situation, resulting in this uncontrolled amount of people arriving.

Writing in the Spectator, Patrick OFlynn demanded Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stick to his ten-point plan for Taking control of our borders and tackling the flow of illegal migration first published in the Telegraph during the summer Conservative leadership election.

Sunak promised then to tighten our statutory definition of who qualifies for asylum in the UK, to tackle the European Court of Human Rights, to crack down as hard as is humanly possible on small boat crossings and do whatever it takes to implement the policy of shipping asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing.

In reappointing Braverman as home secretarya woman who described a front page of the Telegraph with a picture of a flight heading for Rwanda as a dream and obsession Sunak has found a psychopath matched to the task. She told parliament Monday evening that she was serious about stopping the invasion on our Southern coast and the scourge of illegal immigration.

Kevin Saunders, a former chief immigration officer for UK border force, lifted the veil on the debased conversations going on behind the scenes by telling the BBC, I would put a cruise liner in the middle of the Channel and put all asylum seekers on that, put it in international waters so they cant claim asylum, because its not the UK. The idea was first exposed in October 2020.

According to The Times, Home Office officials recently approached leaders of London councils about keeping asylum seekers in tents in London parks.

There is barely even a presentational difference between Labour and the government on this question. Both compete over who can get better value for the taxpayer in abusing migrants. Earlier this monthafter it was revealed that Braverman plans to ban anyone who enters Britain illegally from claiming asylumShadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves criticised the right-wing lunatic for not deporting people today, telling the Tories to get a grip and get people out of the country.

Responding to Braverman in parliament Monday evening, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper complained that the Tories flagrantly anti-democratic Nationality and Borders Act has in fact added further bureaucracy and delay to the asylum system, leading to more than 100 million extra on asylum accommodation bills. She asked why the government had refused Labours calls for a major new National Crime Agency Unit to crack down on the gangs in the Channel.

The hypocrisy of the Labour and Tory parties, who promised to find space for refugees from Hong Kong and Ukraine when it suited their foreign policy interests, but who declare other refugees an intolerable burden, is sickening. Many of the asylum seekers crossing the Channel hail from countries devastated by imperialist wars and sanctionscarried out under the banner of all manner of humanitarian concernsincluding Syria, Afghanistan and Iran.

Even the cynical embrace of refugees from Ukraine has had a short shelf-life. Warnings are now being raised over the looming homelessness crisis among Ukrainians in the UK as six-month Homes for Ukraine placements come to an end. Nearly 2,000 are already homeless, 4,000 are looking for a new sponsor and an additional 14,000 are set to do so by Christmas.

The treatment of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers shows the ruling elites hatred of the working class in its purest form, enacted against workers cut off from their communities and held at the mercy of the state. It is the responsibility of the entire working class to rally to their side as part of a broader defence of democratic rights against a government turning to increasingly dictatorial forms of rule.
Contrary to the propaganda of the European political establishment and the corporate media the COVID-19 pandemic is not over. Thousands of people continue to die each week across Europe from the virus and a new winter surge, alongside other respiratory illnesses and increasing poverty, will lead to hundreds of thousands more excess deaths on the continent.

A patient is pushed on a trolley outside the Royal London Hospital in east London, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, during England's third national lockdown since the coronavirus outbreak began. Britain, with over 81,000 dead, has the deadliest virus toll in Europe and the number of hospital beds filled by COVID-19 patients has risen steadily for more than a month. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Another winter of mass infection and death from COVID-19 is primarily a product of the European ruling classs decision to allow the virus to freely spread through the population. With a vaccine only strategy and the near-total abandonment of even minimal measures to contain the spread of the virus, epidemiologists are warning of the deadly impact of two new vaccine resistant variants this winter.

In Europe over the past two weeks cases have fallen slightly as the eighth wave of the virus slowly subsides. In the last seven days there were just over 1 million cases throughout Europe, compared to 1.5 million in the week before. There were 4,216 deaths in the last week, compared to 5,449 the week before.

However, scientists are warning that the rapid spread of immunity-evading new variants in Europe will lead to a massive surge of the virus on the scale of the Omicron wave last winter. Omicron was first detected in Europe on November 19, 2021, and the original variant and its offshoots have caused the majority of over 600,000 European COVID-19 deaths since.

On Friday, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warned of the spread of the BQ.1.1 variant, which has immune escape from BA.5-targeted antibodies. The BA.5 and BA.4 drove the summer waves of COVID-19 throughout Europe.

BQ.1.1 is already dominant in France and accounts for more than 40 percent of infections in the UK. The ECDC predicts that it will be dominant across the continent in mid-November. This is also when new bivalent vaccines protecting against BA.1, BA.4 and BA.5 are scheduled to hit the European market. The effectiveness of these bivalent vaccines and their older counterparts against BQ.1 will be reduced, although it is not yet known to what extent.

In a press conference on October 26, Marco Cavaleri, the head of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) vaccine strategy, stated that the EMA is also tracking the progress of the XBB variant in Europe. Due to its high number of protein spike mutations, it has been dubbed the nightmare variant, and is currently driving surges in Singapore and India. Early studies of XBB show significant immune escape from vaccines and the nullification of anti-viral treatments. A pre-print study from a lab in China describes the variant as, the most antibody-evasive strain tested, far exceeding BA.5.

It is possible that the vaccine resistant BQ1.1 and XBB variants will drive back-to-back or simultaneous waves. Cornelius Roemer, a computational biologist at the University of Basel in Switzerland, told Naturemagazine, If it turns out that XBB is going to dominate globally in the end, we might see some sort of double wave in Europe and North America.

It is also likely that the two variants are so genetically distinct that infection-based immunity conferred by BQ1.1 will be evaded by XBB and vice versa. Meanwhile, the level of vaccine conferred immunity is also waning amongst the European population. New vaccine doses are being taken up at a much slower rate than previously and the level of immunity gained from previous doses is continuously decreasing. These factors will significantly increase the number of infections and deaths over the winter.

In a massive COVID-19 surge, alongside other respiratory illnesses such as influenza and the effects of increased poverty and potential energy shortages, it is likely that many European hospitals, many of which are already near or overcapacity, will collapse under the weight of incoming patients.

Discounting the initial wave of the virus in in early 2020, this will be the northern hemispheres third winter of mass infection and death, and its second since the development of vaccines.

Indeed, over each of the last three years, the level of European deaths has remained consistent, despite the invention of life-saving vaccines. If March 1, 2020, is taken as the start of the pandemic, then in the first 12 months, around 845,000 died in Europe. The next year, after vaccines had been developed, between March 1, 2021, and March 1, 2022, 905,000 Europeans died. Since March 1, 2022, 220,000 people have died, and this is before the winter surge.

This constant level of death and the ever-present threat of illness underlines the criminal nature of the ruling class response to the pandemic. In France, a trial involving major figures under Emmanuel Macrons first presidency is revealing considerable evidence that the French government broke the law in failing to take measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 in early 2020. This policy was mirrored throughout the Europe and the world, apart from China.

Measures were only reluctantly put in place in March 2020 by governments following a wave of wildcat strikes which began in Italy and soon spread throughout Europe and to the United States. However, at this time capitalist governments resolved not to eliminate the virus, but to force workers back to workplaces to resume the extraction of profit as soon as possible.

After the development of vaccines, the governments have pursued a vaccine only policy that has proven to be deadly for the working class. These vaccines were highly effective and have enormously reduced the proportion of those infected who fall seriously ill or die. But infection rates surged to astronomic levels, so that even after the first life-saving vaccines were rolled out in Europe in December 2020, nearly 1.5 million Europeans died from COVID-19 due to the malign neglect of the ruling class.

Under this policy, the impact of pandemic on the population is not being alleviated, but in fact threatens to get worse. In the same October 26 press conference, Cavaleri warned that new COVID-19 variants are evolving faster than vaccines are being developed. According to the World Health Organization, now over 300 Omicron sub-lineages are being tracked worldwide.

With more and more variants spreading freely, the mutation rate of the virus is increasing exponentially, making it harder to track variants and ascertain their risk, in a situation described as variant soup according to an article in Nature. A vaccine only strategy thus only ensures year after year of mass infection and death. Futhermore, epidemiologists ability to accurately track variants has also been systemically undermined by the gutting of testing infrastructure and reporting since European governments declared the pandemic over.

The criminal response of the French government in March 2020 was not the exception, but the rule for the pandemic response through Europe. At every possible juncture governments have lifted what remained of measures to stem the spread of the virus.

The ruling class in Europe and elsewhere have been able to achieve this only insofar as it has successfully suppressed scientific knowledge of the virus and its destructive impact on the human body. This continues with the consistent denunciation of Chinas Zero COVID policy, which has saved millions of lives and has shown that eliminating the virus globally is possible.

Against this, the working class must actively struggle against the criminal and anti-scientific policy of the capitalist class throughout Europe and the world.

The vehicle for this opposition is the Global Workers Inquest into the pandemic, which was launched by the WSWS to give workers and young people a scientific understanding of the virus, while also unmasking the criminal record of capitalist governments throughout the pandemic. Workers and scientists who want to contribute their experiences or expertise to the Inquest should contact the WSWS today.
Over the past month, the United States has seen a steady rise in the prevalence of the dangerous new immune-evading Omicron subvariants of SARS-CoV-2, threatening yet another surge of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths in the coming weeks, and potentially millions more cases of Long COVID.

On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that the highly immune-evasive BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 subvariants increased in prevalence from 11 percent to more than 27 percent in just two weeks, or a doubling time of 10 days. By mid-November, these two subvariants will likely be dominant across the country.

White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Ashish Jha speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. [AP Photo/Susan Walsh]

The anticipated COVID-19 surge will take place amid a flood of pediatric hospitalizations across the country for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and an unusually harsh beginning to the influenza season. The simultaneous surge of these three respiratory airborne pathogens will severely impact health care systems during the winter months, under conditions in which the industry is already on the verge of collapse three years into the COVID-19 pandemic.

While so far the crisis in childrens hospitals has been most acute, the elderly are particularly predisposed to complications with RSV and flu due to declines in their immunity. Among those 65 years and older, RSV leads to 177,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths annually.

The typical flu season causes upwards of 16,000 deaths among adults. However, a severe flu season can be far worse. In 2017-18, the US experienced 41 million flu-related illnesses, 19 million flu-related medical visits, 710,000 flu-related hospitalizations and 52,000 deaths. Data from the CDC for the first four weeks of October shows that outpatient medical visits for flu-like symptoms are two to three times higher than the five-year average baseline.

The exact magnitude of the next surge of COVID-19 is impossible to predict, but a number of recent studies indicate that it could potentially be the third catastrophic winter of the pandemic.

First, a preprint study by Dr. Yunlong Richard Cao and his team at Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center at Peking University, first released last month and updated regularly since then, found that the new Omicron subvariants render ineffective the monoclonal antibody drugs Evusheld and Bebtelovimab. The 9 million immunocompromised Americans eligible for these previously life-saving drugs will now have virtually no added protection against COVID-19.

Furthermore, the same study demonstrated that immunity induced from currently existing vaccines will barely stand a chance in protecting against infection with the latest variants. The researchers procured antibodies from individuals previously vaccinated three times with the Sinovac vaccine who were subsequently infected with the Omicron BA.1 subvariant last winter and tested their serum against the new Omicron subvariants. Roughly 7.5 months after the individuals were infected with BA.1, their antibodies were almost entirely unable to neutralize the BQ.1.1 and XBB subvariants. Even individuals infected with BA.5 this summer showed a similar lack of protection against the new subvariants.

Dr. Cao noted, Results from mRNA vaccines should have overall higher neutralizing titers. But the immunity waning trend and immune evasion pattern should be highly similar.

The implication of these results is that the billions of people infected with BA.1 globally last winter, and even many who were just infected with BA.5 this summer, remain at risk of reinfection with the new Omicron subvariants this winter, compounding their risks of hospitalization, death and Long COVID.

Another recent report from the CDC showed that the efficacy of vaccines in protecting against hospitalization continues to erode with each new variant. The study found that after three doses of the monovalent COVID-19 vaccines, vaccine effectiveness (VE) against COVID-19 over just a few months, associated hospitalization declined quickly over a few months this year.

During the surge of the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 subvariants last winter and early spring, individuals who had been vaccinated within four months of being infected had a VE of 79 percent. During the surge of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants over the summer, this same figure dropped nearly 20 points to 60 percent. Both figures are much lower than those seen with previous non-Omicron variants.

Significantly, four months post-vaccination, VE fell to 41 percent and 29 percent for the BA.1/2 and BA.4/5 subvariants, respectively. For this group, which now comprises the majority of Americans who last had a booster shot well over four months ago, the CDC authors concluded that among immunocompetent adults hospitalized  a monovalent booster dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine had limited overall effectiveness against hospitalization caused by currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants, likely because of waning immunity.

They added, These findings demonstrate the importance of staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations through receipt of booster doses, which currently consist of bivalent mRNA vaccines for all eligible adults.

There is no doubt that the COVID-19 vaccines have been crucial in saving lives. But to continue to ask the population to get their boosters considering the steady decline in their efficacy is a tough pill to swallow.

Certainly, the working class must take these vaccines in order to prevent severe illness and death. But without a public health initiative to eliminate the virus and stop viral evolution, the forever COVID policy is becoming increasingly disastrous. The great danger remains that new variants could evolve that dramatically erode the vaccines ability to prevent hospitalization, or cause a higher infection fatality ratio (IFR), which would quickly overwhelm hospitals.

Even more disconcerting news has recently emerged about the benefits of the new bivalent COVID-19 booster shots that have been promoted as the latest and greatest. In two recent studies from Columbia and Harvard, researchers found the bivalent vaccines offered no better protection than the original booster based on the ancestral strain of SARS-CoV-2. Dr. David Ho, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Columbia and an author of their study, told CNN, We see essentially no difference.

White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha quickly sought to counter these findings and continue to promote the bivalent boosters, telling CBS News, I do think that the protection against infection is going to be better than if you were getting the original prototype booster. However, he acknowledged that he wasnt surprised by the studies findings and offered no data to back-up his claim.

Drawing on studies conducted with the BA.1 subvariant, some scientists have speculated that the BA.5-based booster could potentially cause a maturation process in ones immune system and provide slightly enhanced protection against future variants that descend from BA.5, but this remains to be proven.

The development of the new bivalent booster shots was predicated on warnings made by experts of a severe winter surge. However, without any clinical evidence to inform their decisions, the White House used the last remaining pandemic funds to buy millions of bivalent boosters from Pfizer and Moderna. Since the booster campaign was inaugurated at the beginning of September, less than 10 percent of the US population has availed itself of the vaccines.

One of the most glaring failures of the Biden administrations response to the pandemic has been its lack of initiative to fund and promote the development of nasal and other vaccines that could potentially provide sterilizing immunity to entirely prevent infection. Since 2020, scientists have been warning about the shortcomings of the current vaccines and the need to explore more viable and enduring treatments to stop viral transmission.

In this regard, a recent study published in Science by Dr. Akiko Iwasaki and her team from the immunology department at Yale University bears mentioning. They showed that in animal models who received intranasal boosting after receiving systemic (a shot in the arm) vaccination, what they term Prime and Spike, subjects had a persistent and significant level of immunity against infection, severe disease and death.

The authors wrote, We find that an intranasal unadjuvanted spike booster can be administered months out from primary immunization and that it offers comparable systemic neutralizing antibody booster responses to intramuscular mRNA boost.  [We] find that prime and spike leads to durable responses with protective vaccine efficacy 118 days from the initiation of vaccination. However, funding to test these concepts in human trials is still lacking.

As the US enters another deadly winter of the pandemic, New York has once again become the bellwether for the rest of the country. The BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 subvariants now make up more than 40 percent of all variants in the state. Hospitalization rates are trending upwards rapidly, leading the New York State Department of Health to issue a warning on the triple threat posed by COVID-19, seasonal flu and RSV with hospital capacity in some regions reaching their limits.

The evolving storm of sickness and death is not a natural phenomenon. The experiences of the last three years of the pandemic have shown that capitalism and the ruling elites will sacrifice countless lives in order to prop up the financial markets. To stop the coming catastrophe, rank-and-file public health and health care workers must take matters into their own hands and link up with their class brothers and sisters internationally in a common struggle to end the pandemic.
Researchers investigating the SARS-CoV-2 virus conducted at Boston Universitys (BU) National Emerging Infectious Disease Laboratories (NEIDL), one of the worlds safest facilities for work on deadly pathogens, recently released an important preprint study.

The scientists, BU and the NEIDL have since come under vicious media attack by right-wing reactionaries and proponents of the fraudulent Wuhan lab leak theory. The conspiracy theorists have condemned the study as gain-of-function research, that is, an effort to increase the infectiousness or lethality of the virus, and cited it as further proof that SARS-CoV-2 was engineered at the direction of the Chinese Communist Party at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).

The BU study involved adding an Omicron spike protein on to the backbone of the original SARS-CoV-2 virus to address why the Omicron subvariants are less virulent but more infectious. This is a very crucial question that has the potential for identifying new strategies for therapeutics and mechanisms for viral evolution, especially in light of the global catastrophe that has claimed the lives of more than 22 million people and countless more millions impacted by the chronic consequences of their infections.

Scientists in the National Emerging Infectious Disease Laboratories at Boston University. [Photo: Tim Llewellyn for Boston University Photography.]

Rather than the work being examined on its merits, the situation has quickly deteriorated further as federal officials are now weighing in, demanding answers about why the BU researchers had not informed them about the study. The manuscript of the research report had cited support from grants provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Last week, a spokesman for the NIH told the media, NIH is examining the matter to determine whether the research conducted [at BU] was subject to the NIH grants policy statement or met the criteria for review under the governments guidelines for certain experiments with dangerous viruses.

A Boston University spokesman countered, The research was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Biosafety Committee, which consists of scientists as well as local community members. The Boston Public Health Commission also approved the research. We fulfilled all required regulatory obligations and protocols.

Even the New York Times, which has suggested that the lab leak theory should be given equal weight to the science-based explanation that COVID-19 originated in a zoonotic spillover, had to admit in its reporting on the BU controversy that the hybrid virus created by BU scientists had not made a new version of the virus, and that the study did not fall under the dangerous pathogen guidelines. As BU researchers explained, We set out to understand how the virus works, not identify new ways to make it more potent.

Nonetheless, the attacks on social media exploded last week after a right-wing British newspaper, the Daily Mail, wrote that the hybrid deadly virus killed 80 percent of the mice in the study. They avoided mentioning that these humanized mice are deliberately made very susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and 100 percent of the mice infected with the original strain, rather than the modified strain, had died.

Richard Ebright, a molecular biologist at Rutgers University and proponent of the lab leak theory, weighed in, calling the BU study a gain-of-function experiment. Recently, he posted a nonsensical thread rehashing the international collaborative work between EcoHealth Alliance, a US-based research group, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology, as evidence of malevolence.

He even threw in for good measure the idea that the furin cleavage site on SARS-CoV-2 was proof of genetic engineering. This is the very same smoking gun conjured up by former New York Times science writer Nicholas Wade, perhaps the most publicized disseminator of the lab leak hoax.

This scientific-sounding but thoroughly unscientific claim has been debunked by many respected scientists, including in two major scientific reports, the Origins of SARS-CoV-2 and the Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2, by Edward Holmes, Kristian Andersen and colleagues, which have provided important insight into the natural origin of the coronavirus.

Andersen, an evolutionary biologist at Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, and one of the authors of the two studies, is one of a few voices in defense of the BU scientists. He tweeted, Since day one, we have been obsessed with the SARS2 spike, but the BU study shows that key determinants of viral pathogenicity lie elsewhere. This is critical insight, yet the number of uninformed bad takes and motivated reasoning has been astounding. He also noted that the study did not, in his opinion, fit the category of a gain-of-function experiment.



Still, unproven and unhinged hypotheses about the Wuhan lab continue to be thrust into the political limelight. Compounding the smearing of the important work being done by researchers like those at BU has been the publication of a new hack job by ProPublica and Vanity Fair reporters, who are in cahoots with Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Republican Senator Richard Burr. His interim report seeks to pass on their conclusions that the pandemic was the result of a research-related incident, based on zero facts and willful misinformation. These efforts only serve to incite fervent nationalist chauvinism and antagonize consciously against science and scientific thought.

The Boston University study of the Omicron variant

Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) pose a real threat to the world. As in any crisis, scientific inquiry is fundamental to ascertain important lessons for the future. However, to find answers to some of these more complex questions surrounding EIDs requires working with these viruses in biosafety labs. It is imperative to learn how and why specific changes in the viral genetics lead to changes in how it interacts with its host.

Such experiments have fallen under indistinct terms like gain of function and dual-use research of concern. This means that though the research is intended to provide important answers and clear public benefits, it could also pose significant risk to public health and safety if misapplied or missteps occurred that released the dangerous biological materials into the community at large.

Gain-of-function studies are more specifically defined as those that have the potential to enhance the pathogenicity or transmissibility of potential pandemic pathogens.

The issue of gain-of-function studies has been debated for more than a decade. But the emergence of the novel coronavirus and fraudulent claims that SARS-CoV-2 was a byproduct of such experiments, then leaked into Wuhan either intentionally or accidentally, has deeply politicized such important and urgent scientific contributions to the critical issue of emerging infectious diseases.

It bears reviewing the findings of the BU study in brief and ask if the study offered any relevant, important information and critical insight to researchers and scientists to assist them in fighting the pandemic.

The Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has shown to be highly transmissible and yet less virulent than earlier strains. Though it has been assumed the spike protein with its numerous mutations is responsible for its infectivity, could the decline in its virulence be attributable to the broader population-based immunity from vaccines and prior infections or intrinsic to the evolving strains of coronavirus, and if so, is the spike protein a factor in this?

Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (gold), from an infected nose. [Photo: NIAID]

The BU study received approval through their Institutional Biosafety Committee and was conducted at NEIDL, headed by Mohsan Saeed, and performed in a biosafety level three facility used for the study of infectious agents or toxins that may be transmitted via aerosol and capable of causing potentially lethal infections.

The researchers first created a chimeric recombinant SARS-CoV-2 (a merging of elements of two different variants) by taking the spike protein from the BA.1 strain of Omicron and genetically splicing it in the backbone of the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that first appeared in Washington state back in February 2020. They then compared this chimeric virus with the original and the Omicron strain in various cell lines and humanized mice.

In particular, the Omicron strain in these mice models only produced a mild illness. However, 80 percent of the mice infected with the chimeric virus died. But all the mice who were infected with the original virus perished. Lung autopsies were done on all the mice and the authors noted a predilection for the Omicron strain to infect the upper airways while the chimeric and the original strains tended to cause significant inflammation deep in lung tissue.

With regards to escaping immune antibodies, both the Omicron and chimeric virus demonstrated equal immune-escape characteristics compared to the original strain. The authors noted that the spike on the Omicron strain appears to have evolved to hinder antibody binding but has preserved its ability to bind to the ACE2 receptor on human respiratory cells.

They wrote, This opens the possibility of targeting the conserved and structurally constrained regions of spike involved in ACE2 recognition for the design of broad-spectrum vaccines to control the current COVID-19 pandemic. They also underscored that mutations outside of the spike are major determinants for Omicrons decreased virulence meaning changes.

Right-wing media sensationalizes BU study as a gain-of-function experiment

However, as soon as the study was released in preprint form, rather than soberly taking measure of the relative findings and their implications, the media attack commenced.

On October 17, the conservative tabloid, The Daily Mail, published an article stating the BU researchers were playing with fire, and it could spark a lab-generated pandemic. They then intentionally took out of context the 80 percent kill rate to sensationalize their report, distorting the fact that the researchers had not made a more lethal virus than the original strain, but rather these high mortality figures were attributable to the nature of the highly sensitive mice models and the large intranasal inoculum of virus they were given.

The Daily Mail soon came to the real objective of their sensationalism by calling the experiment gain-of-function research and grafting the idea to the unproven, politically-motivated hypothesis that such research had been conducted at WIV, writing, Gain of function researchwhen viruses are purposefully manipulated to be more infectious or deadlyis thought to be at the center of COVIDs origin. A Chinese laboratory located just miles from the first cluster of cases carried out research on bat coronaviruses. On no occasion do they offer any factual or concrete evidence for their assertions, couching them in mere speculations.

Dr. Ronald B Corley, NEIDL director and BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Chair of Microbiology, fired back, stating, this research is not gain of function research. He added, referring to the 80 percent number, This was a statement taken out of context for the purpose of sensationalism, and it totally misrepresents not only the findings, but [also] the purpose of the study. [This] research mirrors and reinforces the findings of other, similar research performed by other organizations, including the FDA. [Emphasis added]

Not surprisingly, former White House chief strategist for Donald Trump and one of the architects of the Wuhan lab conspiracy theory, Steve Bannon, who has repeatedly claimed the Chinese Communist Party deliberately released the coronavirus, weighed in. On his podcast channel, Real Americas Voice, he said, Outside this lab that is doing gain of function experiments unbeknownst [to anyone], we had [Republican] Senator Marshall from Kansas saying that this was more dangerous than playing with nuclear weapons.

Bannon has been a key player in promoting the lab leak theory and has previously called for beheading Dr. Anthony Fauci and placing his head on a pike in front of the White House for allegedly not disclosing that NIH funds were given to EcoHealth Alliances for work done in collaboration with WIV.

In July 2021, former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, speaking on Bannons War Room Pandemic podcast, discussed the theory that COVID-19 originated in a lab in Wuhan. He said, Tony Fauci, if that [COVID] came from that lab, is the godfather of this pandemic and he has the blood of over four million people on his hands.

In 2020, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro (right) called COVID-19 a weaponized virus that was created by the Chinese Communist Party. Trump repeatedly called COVID-19 the Kung-Flu and the China virus. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon]

During the recent podcast, Bannon dropped hints that some of the funding for the BU study may have been tied to a Chinese firm whose CEO is in the Communist Party. The actual facts were left ambiguous, unsubstantiated and, even if true, would be irrelevant. Nonetheless, the political purpose is evident: to claim that the lab leak hypothesis should have equal weight with actual scientific findings about the origins of COVID-19.

NIH launches an inquiry into the Boston University study

Regarding the issue with the NIAID, at no point has anyone made any allegations that the work conducted by the scientists at BU was done carelessly or improperly. BU has repeatedly affirmed that they have not created a new deadly COVID strain, and [the media] has sensationalized the message, they misrepresent the study and its goal in its entirety.

The BU safety protocols had even stipulated that had the study produced a strain that was deadlier than the wild-type strain, the researchers were obligated to stop work immediately and destroy the viruses.

NEIDL, opened in 2009, is one of the foremost biosafety labs in the world with numerous research projects on some of the worlds deadliest pathogensEbola, Lassa, Marburgcredited to its facility. An expert source told the World Socialist Web Site that NEIDL is one of the safest labs in the world. The facility has some of the strictest safety procedures and rigorous safety reviews, including independent monitoring in place.

However, rather than seek clarification on the issue of funding, NIAID division director of microbiology and infectious diseases Dr. Emily Erbelding chose to stoke more controversy while speaking to the media.

In an interview with Helen Branswell of STAT News, Dr. Erbelding said, [The] original grant application did not specify that the scientists wanted to do this precise work nor did the group make it clear that it was doing experiments that might involve enhancing a pathogen of pandemic potential (ePPP) in the progress reports it provided to NIAID. Under the rules of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), any federally funded research that might produce an enhanced pathogen must get approval through the NIAID.

Virologist Angela Rasmussen told Branswell, Because so much of the definition of ePPP pertains to reasonable anticipation of results in humans, its very difficult for researchers to say, Oh, yes, this is ePPP. Id personally reach out for clarification from NIAID when in doubt, but its often not obvious when additional guidance is warranted.  Im very tired of people suggesting that virologists and NIAID are reckless or dont care about biosafety. The problem isnt that. The problem is that the guidelines and expectations arent clear for many experiments and the process isnt transparent.

Dr. Corley explained that the study in question was not funded by the federal agency but paid for directly by the university. As a follow-up report in STAT News later noted, some funding from NIAID went towards work that might be considered foundational to the questioned research. Corley acknowledged that it is difficult to draw these lines at times as different pots of money are used to do these projects, adding, It is a murky world, but in our view because the funding was not supporting the work that was supported in this paper, that it wasnt necessary to report it to NIH.

Conclusion

The controversy raised over the BU study will certainly inform the ongoing review currently being undertaken by the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB), which is expected to release sweeping new rules by early next year. These include modifications to the current definitions of ePPP and increased oversight by the federal government.

Revealingly, however, recent compiled public comments from the September meeting reviewing the preliminary draft by the NSABB come from the likes of Richard Ebright, Tom Inglesby of Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Harvard epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch, and David Relman, expert on microbiology and biosecurity at Stanford University. To one degree or another, all of these scientists have promoted the lab leak theory or believe it should be given equal weight to the natural origin conception.

Transparency in all research and safe practices, especially of biosafety laboratories, is at the heart of the debate and constitute an important part of the scientific processes. However, this also includes international collaboration, which is being impeded by the repeated attempts to make the pandemic a political issue by promoting a fringe theory that has no basis in scientific facts.

A report co-published by Elsevier, a Netherland-based academic publishing company, and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), warned of the danger of the type of complete separation of Chinese and American scientists advocated by the anti-China militarists like Navarro and Bannon, stating, The world cannot afford to divide the worlds two largest producers of published research. The joint publication of the two countries constitutes the largest bilateral research relationship so far, sharing top research talents from both sides. Geopolitical divisions around national interests and technological sovereignty may not disappear any time soon, leading to increased governance or controls related to research collaborations.

The recent report by the Independent Task Force on COVID-19 was a critical document that underscored the need for funding such work. Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance and one of the members of the independent task force, speaking to Intercept in March, said bluntly, The real reason this has become so divisive is because its being used politically. Thats it.

Writing on the current issues surrounding the BU study, Kristian Andersen observed, Such discussion is important, but we need to separate things out. The BU study was performed at BSL-3 and approved by their biosafety committeeall of which is appropriate in my opinion (no, this is not gain-of-function). And, again, the research [is] very important. This is especially true since nature is literally performing the very same experiment thousands of times on a daily basisin BSL-1, that is the type of biosafety level you might expect as you walk into your dentists office. [Emphasis added]

In this regard, it can be said that the financial oligarchs and government leaders who are instigating the forever COVID pandemic policies are the principal instigators of this global experiment on the human population.
A check for $3,000 was recently donated to the Fort Rucker Holiday Food Assistance Program from the Fort Rucker-Wiregrass Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA).

The program provides military families with vouchers to purchase food from the commissary for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The Fort RuckerWiregrass Chapter of AUSA is made up of more than 1,000 local businesses professionals, civic leaders, and city, state, and government elected officials and employees dedicated to supporting soldiers and their families who live and work in the Wiregrass area of Southeast Alabama.

The chapter focuses its support efforts to not only the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker, but also to Army Reserve, Army National Guard units, and Army recruiting units throughout Wiregrass region, as well as a number of Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) programs in the area.
Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has called a snap general election for November 1, seven months ahead of the scheduled 2023 vote. The move, prompted by a threatened vote of no confidence in her minority Social Democrat government, sets the stage for a further lurch to the right in official Danish politics following the vote.

In her election announcement and throughout the campaign, Frederiksen has argued for a coalition of the centre in the next parliament that would mark an end of bloc politics. Denmarks main parties have traditionally been grouped into two blocs, known as red and blue, roughly left and right within the framework of capitalist politics. The red bloc consists of Frederiksens Social Democrats, the Social Liberals, and two parties claiming to be socialist, the Socialist Peoples Party (SF) and Red-Green Alliance (RGA). The blue bloc includes the Liberals (Venstre), Conservatives, Liberal Alliance, and two far-right parties, the Danish Peoples Party (DF) and New Right.

Since 2019, Frederiksen has ruled in a minority government backed by the other red bloc parties. Over the past three years, her government has overseen the intensification of right-wing policies, including a major increase in defence spending, huge bailouts to big business during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the enforcement of a vicious anti-immigrant campaign borrowed from the far-right.

People pass by an election campaign poster of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, ahead of the general elections on Nov. 1, 2022. [AP Photo/Sergei Grits]

The Danish government is a strident supporter of the US/NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, having supplied Harpoon anti-ship missiles and other weaponry to the Ukrainian army. It was also one of the leading proponents of a profits before life, let it rip pandemic policy, becoming one of the first governments in Europe to scrap all public health measures against COVID-19.

Frederiksen was forced to call the election after the Social Liberals pledged to table a no-confidence vote over the prime ministers decision to cull Denmarks 17 million mink population during the pandemic. The cull was ordered amid concern that a new COVID variant discovered in the mink population could endanger the immunity provided by vaccines if it spread to humans. A commission of inquiry found in June that Frederiksen broke the law by issuing the order and had grossly misled parliament over the issue.

Notably, one would search the political establishment in vain for similarly sharp criticism of her governments ruthless policy of mass infection and death, which made Denmark a global centre of the Omicron variant and its subvariants last winter. Officially, over 7,300 people have died from COVID in a country with just 5.8 million inhabitants.

Frederiksens call for a formal alliance with the right-wing parties is the logical conclusion of her first term in office, which saw the Social Democrats collaborate with the Liberals and Conservatives on a number of key issues. A cross-party agreement to reform Denmarks labour laws to loosen labour regulations was concluded in late 2021. Within two weeks of Putins reactionary invasion of Ukraine, the Social Democrats and SF united with the Liberals and Conservatives to reach a defence agreement that committed Denmark to increase its defence spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2033 and hold a referendum to overturn Copenhagens refusal to participate in European Union (EU) military operations.

If a formal agreement outside of the traditional blocs is struck, it would include the newly established Moderates, who are led by former Liberal Prime Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen. The Moderates have refused to join one of the traditional blocs, which will likely give Rasmussen considerable influence over the composition of the new government. When he served as prime minister between 2015 and 2019, Rasmussen relied on support from the far-right DF. In addition, he waged savage attacks on the welfare system. The Social Liberals say they will back Frederiksen continuing as prime minister, but only if her government is based on an agreement with Rasmussens Moderates or other right-wing parties.

Denmarks political establishment integrated the far-right Danish Peoples Party into official politics some two decades ago under Liberal Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, subsequently secretary-general of NATO. The Social Democrats gave crucial support to this process. The Social Democrat-led government under Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt maintained a range of anti-immigrant measures imposed by its Liberal predecessor and imposed sweeping austerity between 2011 and 2015. The policies pursued by Frederiksens government over the past three years have bolstered the far-right still further.

Frederiksen retained a racist policy implemented by her Liberal predecessors that permits authorities to designate low-income neighbourhoods with large immigrant populations as ghettos. Once a neighbourhood is a ghetto, penalties for certain crimes can be doubled and children can be forced to take classes in Danish values. Residents of some ghettos have been forcibly relocated to facilitate the destruction of public housing and gentrify neighbourhoods.

Although the DF has fallen considerably in the polls, it is being challenged by a party that stands even further to the political right: the New Right. Established in 2015, the New Right combines calls for Denmark to leave the EU with an appeal to reduce immigration to zero by abrogating Copenhagens acceptance of international treaties on asylum seekers and refugees.

A third far-right party, the Denmark Democrats, was established earlier this year by former Liberal Interior Minister Inger Stjberg. Stjberg became a darling of the far-right after illegally separating young asylum-seeking couples on the pretext of combatting child brides during Lars Lkke Rasmussens government. She also introduced Denmarks notorious jewelry law, which allows border guards to confiscate valuable items from asylum seekers to help pay for their stay. Stjberg was subsequently convicted of lying to parliament about the existence of child marriages among asylum seekers and spent two months in prison.

The headlong rush of Danish politics to the far-right is a devastating indictment of the politics pursued by the pseudo-left and ex-Stalinist SF and Red-Green Alliance. These parties have made it their top priority to keep the working class and young people subordinated to the official system of bloc politics, giving the Social Democrats a free hand to embrace the policies of the right while enjoying cover from the left.

In 2011, the SF and RGA reached an agreement to allow Thorning-Schmidt to head a Social Democrat government. Her four years in power saw a continuation of Liberal-imposed austerity budgets, anti-immigrant measures, and support for US imperialist-led wars in the Middle East.

In talks following the 2019 election on securing Frederiksen the majority she required in parliament to become prime minister, both left parties argued that the agreement was justified to prevent the right-wing parties from returning to power. In reality, they played the decisive role in enabling Frederiksen to go even further in embracing right-wing and far-right policies and thereby strengthened the far-right politically.

Denmarks two pseudo-left parties have themselves swung sharply to the right. Immediately after Putins invasion, both the SF and RGA joined with the government in voting to send anti-tank missiles and other weaponry to Ukraine. The SF endorsed Frederiksens agreement with the Liberals and Conservatives to massively increase Denmarks military spending. It also campaigned for a yes vote in the June referendum on scrapping Denmarks opt-out from EU defence policy.

For its part, the RGA posed as an opponent of these parts of the defence agreement, but the government was not dependent on its support for their adoption. The political duplicity of this stance is underscored by the fact that it is thanks to the RGA that Frederiksens pro-war Social Democrats have been able to govern for the past three-and-a-half years. Moreover, the RGA enthusiastically welcomed another component of the defence agreement that commits Denmark to eliminate all imports of Russian gas.

At its party conference in May, the Red-Green Alliance invited a delegation from Ukraines Sotsialnyi Rukh (Social Movement) to participate. Sotsialnyi Rukh has been built up with extensive financial backing from the US state Department and has played a leading role in propagandising for the aggressive US-NATO war on Russia, which aims to subjugate Russia, reduce it to the status of a semi-colony and place its vast natural resources under the direct control of the North American and European imperialists.

The conference followed a trip by RGA MP Sren Sndergaard as part of a European Left delegation to a conference in Ukraine sponsored by Sotsialnyi Rukh, which could only have taken place with the approval of the far-right Zelensky government in Kiev. Sndergaard is a former leading member of the Pabloite Socialist Workers Party (SAP), one of the RGAs most important factions.

The RGAs conference agreed to drop the partys call for an immediate Danish withdrawal from NATO. This embrace of the US-NATO war was covered over with a vague formulation pledging the RGA to continue to work for Danish withdrawal from NATO at an unspecified future date when an alternative security architecture is established.
In this video interview, Dr Pippa Yeoman, an educational ethnographer and a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney, speaks about her ongoing struggle with Long COVID.

Dr Yeoman, who is a member of the Long COVID Facebook community support group, also voices her concerns about the failure of Australian government to provide adequate support to Long COVID victims and the dangerous consequences for public health of the lifting basic COVID safety measures.

An edited text version of the video interview can be read below.

We encourage readers to share this interview widely on social media and to attend the forthcoming online public meeting by the Health Workers Rank-and-File Committee and the Committee for Public Education on Sunday, November 20 at 3 p.m. (AEDT).

Titled, Unite educators and health workers: Oppose the ending of COVID protection measures! Lives before profit! the meeting will outline a political perspective, including the building of rank-and-file committees to unify health workers, educators and other sections of workers, to fight for safety, decent wages and conditions, and the elimination of COVID-19. Register now: https://bit.ly/3CRCuOh

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Richard Phillips: Thanks Dr Yeoman for your time. First of all, can you tell us a little bit about yourself, how you ended up catching COVID, and then Long COVID, and how you became involved in the support group?

Pippa Yeoman: Thanks for having me. Im a university lecturer and as an ethnographer, Im used to observing other people and what they do, so its quite different being in this space. I exist in this space as somebody who inadvertently ended up here, rather than as an object of research attention.



I got COVID in early March once wed started moving back on campus. One of my sons came back with COVID and brought into the house. I got one case and got over that but then we were called back to campus to teach in person and got a second case. Two immunologists have told me that the two were likely to have been two different strains.

The hard thing was that Id been keeping up to date with health advice and Id had all my shotstwo vaccines and a boosterand Id been doing all the isolating and everything.



I ended up with two cases within a month, which was confusing because at the time New South Wales Health advice, when I phoned them, was dont worry about testing, youll be fine. You might test positive for a long time. I ended up testing positive by RAT tests for 31 days and so I went to the doctor. I was masked and she was maskedId phoned New South Wales Health twice and they said I could gobut the GP stood up and asked me to leave. I really understand this conflict because she had lived through two years of being on the front line. Her initial response was to move away from me and asked me to leave. Having done all the right things, and asked all the right questions, to have that as my first physical interaction with a healthcare provider was quite confronting.



I just never got off that second dose. I never managed to teach and be on campus from that point on. I limped along and because we were mostly allowed to opt to teach from home. I was sort of managing. But I was working really hard seven days a week per five workdays, and just exhausting myself.



That was March, April, and then in May, I just came undone. Theres just no way I could have carried on. Right from the start my symptoms were a mixture of orthostatic intolerance, which means I get dizzy really quickly and cant stand up. Even now Im sitting but my feet are up. I cant sit with my feet down for very long.

Theres lots of dizziness and a fair bit of what people call brain fog. I find it a very disparaging term because quite often you can think thoughts, and you know what you want to say, but you cant put the sentences together. This means you have to learn to speak differently to express yourself.

I teach in three-hour blocks, so I have to be able to cope with the cognitive challenges of organising my thoughts and expressing them for three hours.

Youre doing the mental toggling between all the equipment youre using, where all the other people that youre teaching in a team with and where all your students are. Youve also got video interface and text interface, so it becomes quite challenging. It was too hard for me to do.



Although mine was a mild caseI was at home and wasnt actually terribly sick but didnt get well. I was left withI never called it breathlessnessI always thought of it as a lack of oxygen. If I dont take the medicines that help, I cant talk.

If I dont take the one medicine that helps me with my breathlessness, I can only talk on the out breath. This means I have the cognitive challenge of organizing my thoughts and speaking on the out breath. It just makes it really, really difficult to carry on a life of thoughts or a life of speaking.

It has had an enormous impact on my ability to carry out my work, or at least a fair amount of my work. I didnt work for five monthsMay, June, July, August, Septemberbut thankfully, Im fully employed and have very good benefits for which I am grateful.

I know that there are a lot of people who are not in that position and a lot of casual workers who cant access those kinds of benefits. Whilst Im grateful for the benefits Ive had access to, Im very conscious that this is a big privilege, which allowed me time, I suppose, to catch my breath.



Im now trying to work one day a week in chunks. Its exhausting. I have a pulmonary embolism, adrenal insufficiency and all the orthostatic challenges and the brain fog. Taken together, its not something small. The public messaging ought to warn people that if you take risks and you get this, youve got a 5 percent chance of ending up with something pretty crippling. Theres no way I could function now, after nearly eight months, doing my job the way I did before COVID.

Individuals ought not to be forced to be the responsible people making decisions. This is a population-level challenge and ought to be dealt with as such.

Teachers protest for stronger COVID-19 safety protocols outside Oakland Unified School District headquarters on Jan. 7, 2022, in Oakland, Calif. [AP Photo/Noah Berger]

If we are going to be individuals responsible for making our own healthcare decisions, then we ought to have good information on which to make those decisions. We clearly do not have that good information and part of that is that nobody talks about what its like to have Long COVID and what that means personally.

Ive talked about economic life and my work but in terms of your personal situation you end up with a really tiny life. You can do very little in a day. This interview, and one other social interaction, will be all I can manage this week.



In my downtime, Im doing nothing that involves visual processing or social interaction, otherwise I cant cope. I might be able to sit and do research-based writing and stuff like that, but I cant interact, so thats a big change. If people are to be able to make individual choices, they ought to know that.

If I go out somewhere, I want to know how many people are infectious out there. If I have to make an informed risk assessment about going out there and not getting it a third time, how do I make that decision now? And why is it not safe to be in public transport or be out in an education institution. People should be wearing masks.

It profoundly impacts your personal life and your working life. If it is my responsibility to make decisions about how I go out and how I move about, Im not able to make those decisions in an informed way if I dont have access to information.



RP: Everything you are speaking about here is at odds with the official messaging from the authorities, which is that its all personal responsibility. As [Chief Medical Officer] Paul Kelly said, when they [ the National Cabinet] announced that they were getting rid of mandated isolation, or his claim that Long COVID is not much of a problem in Australia because everyone was vaccinated.



The things youre describing here brings you into conflict with the official messaging. Presumably thats why the Facebook page was set up and why youre speaking to us today to alert people to what is actually going on.

PY: Im not sure exactly when the Facebook group was set up, but its been going for a while and grown hugely in the last couple of months. This refutes the statement that Omicron doesnt lead to high numbers of people with Long COVID.

Australia Long Covid Community [Photo: Facebook]

When I joined in May, there were barely a thousand members, but we are nearly at 3,000 and most of those people got Long COVID from the Omicron wave. So the Facebook group was set up to get groups of people together in the absence of anything else so we could share our experiences and knowledge. It works very effectively as a sort of peer support mechanism and a quick way to access knowledge of a sort of practical nature.



I cant give you the exact figures off the top of my head, but there are very few people in the group who were unvaccinated, and if they were unvaccinated, it was because it was pre-vaccine that they got COVID.

Is it okay that 5 percent of the people who get COVID, which is a big number because it is so infectious, have to live diminished lives for an extended indefinite period of time. Is that the price society pays for carrying on? I dont think so.

I hate the way we talk about being sorry for the healthy people who were vaccinated but got infected. But what about the people for whom life was already challenging before and then they get an infection, which just compounds the inequality

The important thing for the people in the Facebook group to get information out there to express the nature of what it feels like to live with it, and to say that its not okay for people to be making decisions in an information vacuum.

Peoples experiences of seeking help have not been universally negative. Im doing the analysis at the moment and quite often youll get a really, very distressing comment about some interaction with a medical service or medical provider. This is often coupled with a qualifier that says, I know this person themself is stressed. I know this person has lived through the pandemic. I know theyve been at the front line, however, Im the patient presenting, and this is the response Ive got.

It is quite difficult because tired, sick people are seeking help from tired, sick people in a system in which there is very limited knowledge. Of course, very few people are going to feel well listened to, well cared for and well supported, because time and energy is in short supply.

Theres a lack of knowledge for individuals in the public to make decisions about going out and the lack of being able to control the variables. I can put my mask on and choose where Im going, but I cant do anything about what anyone else does. Thats an uncontrollable variable for me as an individual.

When you start going into the healthcare system, you are somebody who is a confounding variable, who nobody knows what to do with. The medical system is set up to cope with highly qualified specialists who deal in parts, not wholes. It feels like there are very few people who care for the whole person and all the systems that are connected

You go to the doctor and they say we have to exclude all these things and so you have all these tests done. I had an enormous amount of blood tests initially but the only thing that came back within some kind of caution about raised cholesterol and everyone focussed on that. But I couldnt breathe, couldnt stand up and couldnt do most things.

My cholesterol was not worrying me, and it wasnt what I was there for, but I saw three different cardiologists and each one of them gave me a perfect sticker. One even stood up and congratulated me and said, I dont often send people from my rooms with a clean bill of health expecting never to see them again.



I did three rounds of cardiologists and got nowhere, which is time, money and resources. Those cardiologists could have been helping people with real needs let alone spending all this money. They seem incapable of acting outside of their wheelhouse.

I have Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia [IST] and that shows up in event-based incidences. Ive done 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, two cardiac echoes, one cardiac stress echo, a cTCA [Coronary CT angiography] and one-month event monitor.

During those things youre supposed to record events, so you diligently record your events saying what you were doing. Hanging up a load of washing or brushing your teeth ought not to raise your heart rate to 148 and blow-drying your hair ought not to raise your heart rate to 181.

You diligently record that information into an app and they come back and say its all normal because the event didnt last for longer than X number of seconds. I dont know what normal is but to be told that blow-drying your hair with a heart rate of 181 beats of minute is normal and be expected to be able to function just on activities of daily living, were not even talking about leaving the house.

Before I was put on beta blockers, I couldnt load a washing machine. The act of bending and sticking the washing in the washing machine would have me passing out.



I got these wonderful clean bills of health from all these cardiologists, but I couldnt function. I had this hideously reduced capacity for function and kept being told, Youre all good to go. I probably wont need to see you again. Cheers.

They wouldnt even prescribe beta blockers or consider it. A lot of patients with Long COVID have something called orthostatic intolerance but nobody knows how to diagnose it or nobodys willing to diagnose it.

Once you figure out that you definitely have it, they then say, Well, why do you want to diagnosis it? I explain that I want a diagnosis because I need to be able to manage my symptoms. Could we please rule it in or out and then Ill deal with it. I still dont have a diagnosis of Postural tachycardia syndrome [PoTS] although I have enough data to kill an elephant.



It was the respiratory physician who put me on beta blockers because he took my hand and put a pulse oximeter on it when I was sitting in his room. He said its not normal for your heart to be doing 138 just sitting here talking to me.

Im now on the tiniest dose of a beta blocker and its quite confronting to be able to tell you that it was a game changer. It turned my tiny miserable life into a tiny bearable life. Three cardiologists wouldnt prescribe or even think about prescribing a quarter of a beta blocker twice a day.

This has now created other problems. Ive now got very low blood pressure, which is something Ill need to deal with. But there are simple things that can make an extraordinary difference to my level of functionality. It took seven months before I was prescribed a quarter of a beta blocker twice a day and I dont want someone else to live the seven months like I did. Thats just wrong.

People living with Long COVID are doing a lot of reading. I dont want to be the expert in Long COVID and reading journal articles on it but in the absence of help from humans you go looking for help. We all know in the groups what were dealing but we just dont how to fix it. Im having great difficulty with cortisol levels. I cant function without cortisone prednisone. I was in a very bad stage when somebody picked that up and again it was a respiratory physician.

I still havent had my initial consultation at the Long COVID clinic. I am scheduled to be there on December 5, and Im looking forward to going. But any help Ive had has come out of sheer persistence on my part and going private to get access to specialists.

RP: Presumably thats the experience of many members of the Facebook group.



PY: In about August people started getting texts saying that first appointments at the clinic would be in February or March 2023. Its like a big celebration when someone gets a text about their first appointment I know of someone who recently went to an October appointment at one of the clinics but was turned away because they had misread the email. It was for October 2023, not October 2022. They pitched up a year early.

I know that the St Vincents clinic is only operating two days a week and consists of a couple of people. They need resources and funding. Theyve got a model that works but why isnt funding being given to the people who are doing good work?

St Vincents clinic is doing really well for a few very sick people but theres lots of people waiting a very long time to get help. Some people have applied to go there but been told they have to see someone in their location but theres nothing in that area. They must just go and see their closest hospital or something.

RP: What happens to people in states that dont have clinics?

PY: They have fly to Sydney and see the specialists here privately if theyve got the money. If not, they do their best to cobble together their own treatment pathways.



When you get Long COVID, it takes you a while to realise that nobodys got any answers. In the beginning everybodys frantic because you think that someones keeping the answer from you. You hit your head against the wall again and again and then you realise that no ones got really good answers for you and that there arent good answers.

You then make a switch to trying to treat your symptoms and if youre lucky find somebody who can help you understand your system, your symptoms. If not, you stay at home, read journal articles, and talk to people on the Facebook group. Theres a lot of lifestyle adjustments or simple things. For a lot of people antihistamines work to reduce certain symptoms but its all hit and miss.

Theres a group called Emerge Australia that provides support for people with Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome [ME/CFS]. They have been very generous in helping people with Long COVID and learning how to pace, and how to manage your daily living activities. Groups like that have been run off their feet.

RP: ABC News has just interviewed the head of Emerge Australia and she said that there was no money in the federal budget allowing them to maintain the support work that theyre providing for Long COVID.



PY: Thats a crime because they have been one group that has actually supported Long COVID patients throughout Australia. They are very generous. The way they synthesise and disseminate information for people with limited energy is extraordinary. The access that theyve given all of us to a 20-minute consultation with a nurse has been unquestioning.



If theres going to be an agile response to something thats unknown, surely one of the clever ways to go about it is to see whos doing support well and helping them to support more people. Why do we have to go and have a new whole invention of something? Why cant we find the people who are doing good work and finance them to do more good work?

People are sitting out there. Well, no theyre not, theyre lying in bed or on the couch and not doing anything. When I am stressed, I cannot even stand to brush my teeth. I cannot wait for the kettle to boil. I cannot load a washing machine. I cant cook a meal. We havent got time for people to go and dream up a solution.

Emerge Australia and the St Vincents Clinic are doing good work and they are helping people. Why cant we help them help more people? Why do we have to have a new special something or other? I mean, if we need something new, thats great down the track, but right now its too long. Seven months of living like this is too long, and there are people whove been living like this for two and a half years.

RP: As you said at the beginning, for a casual worker, for a low paid worker



PY: Theyve lost their job, theyve lost their income, and if theyre paying a mortgage, theyve lost their house. Its crippling and it is impossible.

The one thing that I find quite distressing is that amongst the Facebook group theres lots of classroom teachers and nursing staff. The difficulty those people are having getting ongoing support for long periods of time is really confronting.



These are the people that are out there and because of their jobs theyre at risk. Theres a spectrum. Some people who have been well supported. Its not all bad but the for vast majority of people, especially the casuals, who get stuck in this space, there is no backup.



Youre so exhausted but cant even stand up to brush your teeth but you must go and fight for benefits so that you can keep your house or feed your children. Because more women in the age bracket of say 35 to 40 or 55 get it and are not only economically active but are raising small children. Theres also lot of single women who have not got permanent employment who are dealing with this.

The long-term health outcomes for those people, who keep pushing themselves, is horrible and crippling. They end up in wheelchairs, and nobody knows that, and they are so confronted and ashamed that this unknown thing has put them in a wheelchair. Theyre not really crippled, they can get up sometimes but not be up all the time and thats not ok.



The biggest thing for me is that it has been a squandered opportunity. We had an enviable degree of safety, which we have well and truly squandered for no good return. It is inexcusable that you can think so little of the risk to human life; that you can have a relative advantage and for no good return and you squander it. It is not just for 5 percent of us who are sick now, the risks to everybody are compounding and are huge.



You dont have to have Long COVID to end up with adverse health outcomes in the first year. We dont know how long, whether it will be in 5 years or in 10 years, in 12 years.

There is research that even if you dont get Long COVID, youve got a much higher risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes. The fact that I have a pulmonary embolism and its related to Long COVID is one thing, but Ive got Long COVID so people can dismiss that.

The first thing people do when you get Long COVID is they try to understand whats different about you. Why were you the weak link that ended up with Long COVID? They want to understand how it is that theyre not going to get it, and that they can go out there with no mitigation strategies time after time and get it but its just the flu and theyre gonna be all right.

They want to believe that, but public health messaging ought to be disabusing them of the fact that it is not the flu. The flu does not impact every body system or leave you vulnerable to all sorts of really unpleasant things. Its not nothing and public health messaging ought to take that into account.

Now that theyve just scrapped everything, they think it helps everybody if we just dont talk about it. The Long COVID people, who are just 5 percent, should just stand to the side and stay at home on the couch.



You feelbecause its relapsing and remitting, that nobody understands Long COVID and there arent any fixes and were also tireda sense of shame in how functionally incapacitated you are. Because you dont go out or insist on having a wheelchair to get you from A to B, and you really want to be back to normal but youre not, it helps people to paper over the cracks.

Short of us all going out and taking our couches and going and sitting somewhere. Im not sure how we make people understand itand Im being facetiousbut theres an enormous amount of hidden pain thats not being recognised



And now Ive lost my train of thought. If you spend any length of time with me you soon realise that I lose my train of thought. But Im tired of apologising. Im an academic and get paid to think for a living. I cant hold a line of thought for an hour and thats not living.

I think emergency departments must be really tired of seeing Long COVID patients because we are not gonna die today but were pretty miserable and were terrified that pain that we feel will kill us today. Emergency departments must be just swamped with, with people like me.



RP: If you could provide a short list of what should be done, what would be the essential items that you think need to be done?



PY: Mandatory isolation so people who are sick should not be in circulation. When you go out in public spaces, you ought to be masked.



If notification of an infection is no longer required, then that thing they do with the sewerage where they can tell by a postcode what the incidence is.



I want to have a dashboard that tells me by postcode. I dont just want to know whether its going up or going down. I want to know in relation to when Omicron was at its peak that this postcode is now off the charts.

If I have to make a personal choice, then I want to be able to see the sewage thing and they can do that. Theyre doing it already because they are reporting weekly, but they just say up or down. If they were a bit more transparent with that data, those of us who want to be responsible can be responsible. We just cant get our hands on that data yet. So yes, people who are sick should stay at home.



All people in public spaces, if you cant be distanced, ought to be masked. Its not fun being masked. Its horrible teaching in a mask, but Id rather not be getting it or passing it on. Notification of whos got it and when and tracking the money and where thats being spent and contact tracing. And thats not too hard. Thats my practical list.

My not-practical list is clean air for everybody tomorrow. We can do that. We just have to have the money and the will to do that. Also support for people who are stuck at homepeople whove lost their jobs and who need to rest.

Some of us need to rest for 12 months. Hopefully, when the research gets better, it wont be 12 months or two years, but if someone has three small children and a mortgage and theyre the sole income owner, they shouldnt be on the street. They should be taken care of.

And proper funding for people doing good work. The people that are making a difference in the communities ought to be resourced.

Victorian State Premier Dan Andrews (left), Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Some of the Australian Labor Party leaders attending National Cabinet on September 30, 2022 [Photo: Anthony Albanese Facebook]



We had the advantage on the 30th of September [when the National Cabinet met]; we had a chance to do things differently. We had an advantage and we have squandered it.



RP: And what are the social consequences for public health?



PY: Were not going to even begin to understand them for another couple of years and then we will be drowning.

RP: Were in an information war and we really have to step up the fight here. What this has demonstrated to us is that theres got to be a movement from below. Its not going to come from the powers that be, they are too bought and paid for, to put it in colloquial terms, and either party, who are just proceeding on the basis of the demands of big business.

So, it has to come as part of an independent movement of ordinary people, thats going to force change here. Thats the basis on which were taking forward this work.

PY: Thank you. The other thing is that one of the reasons this has been allowed to happen is because those of us with Long COVID are depleted. Its great when people who are not depleted in energy and resources are actually taking it up.

Whilst it might be invisible, its very debilitating and doesnt leave you with extra energy to do this. Getting yourself organised in the morning is about as coordinated as I can get. So thank you and yeah its really important. Im sure theres lots of things I didnt say.

RP: Well Pippa thank you for your time because its very difficult for you and we really do appreciate it.
For more information on the campaign of Will Lehman for UAW president, visit WillForUAWPresident.org.

Supporters of United Auto Workers (UAW) presidential candidate Will Lehman visited several auto plants in Kokomo, Indiana on Monday, encountering widespread support among autoworkers for his program of building rank-and-file workers power against the UAW bureaucracy.

Lehmans supporters campaigned at Kokomo Transmission Plant, the Kokomo Casting Plant and the Indiana Transmission Plant, all owned by Stellantis North America. Kokomo Casting is the worlds largest die cast facility, employing over 1,000 workers in the production of engine block castings, transmission and transaxle cases, and aluminum parts for automotive components.

Lehman campaigners at Kokomo Casting Plant [Photo: WSWS]

The casting facility is where Shawn Fain, who is being promoted as the official opposition candidate to the ruling UAW faction led by incumbent president Ray Curry, started his career. Originally hired as an electrician at the casting plant in 1994, Fain worked his way up the ladder of the UAW Local 1166 apparatus before being chosen by the top UAW leadership for a position on the UAW-Chrysler national bargaining committee in 2009 and 2011, and then as an International UAW representative since 2012.

Fain, who is backed by Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD), has talked about ending tiers, overturning past concessions and protecting retirees. But an examination of his career demonstrates that he has long been a cog in the UAW bureaucracys machinery, and his election would not lead to any improvements for rank-and-file workers.

Workers who spoke to campaigners for Will Lehman expressed support for his call for the transfer of power from the corrupt UAW bureaucracy to the workers on the shop floor through the establishment of rank-and-file committees.

Ive been in the UAW for 30-plus years and only been here 10 years, a Kokomo Casting worker told campaigners. I got in in 1991, it was better then and its bad now. When I first read Wills stuff, I thought, I like this young guy.

Asked about Fain, the worker said, I dont know him. I dont know anything about him. When told he has been an UAW International Rep at the UAWs Solidarity House headquarters for more than a decade, the worker replied, Hes probably not a good candidate.

As a member of the UAW-Chrysler Negotiating Committee, Fain backed the massive concessions during the Obama administrations 2009 restructuring of Chrysler, which halved the wages of all new-hires, eliminated COLA and expanded the use of highly exploited temporary part-time employees. Far from restoring the concessions after the company returned to profitability, the UAW bureaucracy backed more concessions in 2011 and in subsequent contracts in 2015 and 2019.

Many workers expressed skepticism that Fain knew nothing about the bribes that his boss at the UAW-Chrysler Department, Norwood Jewell, was paid in exchange for signing the pro-company contracts.

The UAW officials stole millions of dollars, and weve never gotten any of it back, a veteran Casting worker told campaigners. These guys took bribes to take away our pensions and benefits. Another worker added, All of the UAW executives were taking something or knew it was happening and said they didnt.

Among the most the damning indictments of Fains record are the atrocious working conditions at the Kokomo Casting Plant, which have been overseen by UAW Local 1166 officials for decades.

The Kokomo Casting Plant pours about 1 million pounds of aluminum each day, or about 3 percent of the worlds supply of aluminum. There are many potential hazards in the plant, where crucibles of molten aluminum are transported overhead to feed the giant casting machines.

We have an antiquated metal transportation system, a worker told campaigners. They have overhead cranes on a rail, which suspend these giant ladles with molten metal. They move metal from furnaces and launders to work sites. The overhead cranes have run off the rails before with the operators in them. Its very dangerous and needs to be upgraded.

A young worker added, We are short-staffed in the Re-Melt area and were missing several crane operators and hot loaders. These guys move ladles filled with molten metal on a rail to each area. If were short staffed it makes the job even more dangerous. My wife is ready to go in there and raise hell because she wants me to come home alive.

Tina, another worker, added, Its very dangerous in there. There are walkways between the machines and in spots you have to walk right under the molten metal as it crosses overhead. She mocked the sign at the plant gate entrance that reads, Work Safely. Your family is waiting for you at home, saying, My husband worries about me every day.

There was an explosion in the plant recently, another worker added. Somehow water got mixed in with liquid aluminum and it exploded. It was lucky that nobody got hurt this time.

One worker with 23 years at the plant spoke of the death of a coworker and close friend who was attempting to cross over a conveyor belt when he misstepped and was thrown headfirst onto the concrete floor.

In 2011, Claude Brock Jr., 62, a maintenance worker, fell to his death from a conveyor system. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened up an investigation in 2011 into the death of the millwright and initially fined the company $270,000 for seven serious, willful and repeat safety violations, including not requiring the use of appropriate equipment for the prevention of falls and for improper training. After the company contested the fine, Indiana OSHA officials reduced the penalty to $45,000.

In a statement to the press, Brocks widow, Alberta Brock, criticized IOSHA for the wrist-slap fine and noted that her husband had previously indicated to her that he was surprised that more workers were not killed or injured at the factory due to unsafe conditions.

In September 2007, John Kelly Wright, 48, was crushed to death by a die cast machine at the plant. According to an account published by his nephew, Wright was crushed between two side panels of a die cast machine after going inside to check on an apparent malfunction. Sensors failed to detect that the door to the machine was open and the machine went into operation with Wright still inside. Wright and his coworkers had complained about the safety equipment but had been told a fix was not cost-effective. Chrysler was eventually fined a mere $15,000 in relation to the death, which the company promptly contested.

On September 5, 2018, Casting worker Eric Parsons was severely injured when a die slide fell on top of him. He suffered multiple injuries, including internal bleeding as well as serious injury to his pelvis and spine.

Campaigner speaks with Kokomo Casting worker [Photo: WSWS]

Far from opposing these conditions, the UAW local officials sit on joint labor-management safety committees that constantly sacrifice safety to cut costs and boost profits. With anger building to a breaking point earlier this year, UAW Local 1166 officials conducted a farcical three-day strike when no production was scheduled. The local UAW officials gave management ample warning of the planned action, and then announced a tentative agreement just in time for production to start again, right on schedule on Monday morning. This stage-managed affair was then held up by Curry and Fain as an example of union solidarity.

One worker described what happened:

In the 2019 contract, the company approved a new AC system in the plant but never implemented it. In the summer its 115 degrees in there and the fans blow hot air on you with oil and lubrication in it. Stellantis has made profits out the roof in the first and second quarters. So the local president called a strike, but he knew the company would not lose any profits.

We just got our new uniforms, which we do not have to pay for, but they say the air condition system is going to cost $50 to $70 million to install, and it doesnt look like its going to happen. There arent AC systems in any of the casting plants.

I knew Fain and liked him. But everybody above the workers on the shop floor is corrupted. I hope your candidate, Will Lehman, can change things. We have to get rid of the second-tier system where a worker right next to me is making half the pay. How could the UAW ever agree to that? Before working here, I worked at FedEx. They fired all the top-pay guys and replaced them with part-time workers with no pensions.

With groceries costing $300 a cart, we have to have a good raise and cost of living in the contract. We used to work seven days a week, 12 hours a day. Now we are not getting any overtime and are living on a 40-hour paycheck. Things are getting very tight for all workers. I see what the railroaders are going through. If the railroad workers and the truckers struck, the whole world would stop.

John, a young worker at the casting plant, added, Weve had TPTs working here for eight years before being rolled over to full-time. The company can force them to work 12 hours a day one week, and then lay them off the next week. Sometimes they only get one day a week, and they cant claim unemployment benefits. How can you feed your kids on that? I was three weeks from getting paid $19.50 an hour when I was rolled over to full-time. Then they cut my pay to $17.50 an hour.

At the nearby Kokomo Transmission Plant, workers expressed the same concerns. One worker said: The biggest issue for us here is the unfair treatment of TPTs. Subaru has a nonunion plant [in Lafayette, Indiana] and they treat their new-hires way better than they are treated here.

Lehman campaigners speak to midnight shift workers at Kokomo Transmission plant [Photo: WSWS]

In the battery plants, the companies are happy to have the union, as long as they agree to wages and benefits which are the same as the supplier plants. But a battery is what powers a vehicle. It should be the same as a powertrain plant and be part of UAW Local 685. Instead, the union is agreeing to have the workers paid chump change and get no benefits. Then they turn around and say, Yeah, we have a union plant.

A veteran Kokomo Transmission Plant worker added, We have never been in a better position to strike. The company has no parts and if we struck we should shut down their whole operation. But its up to the people to walk out. Some of the older guys say, Im just a year or two away from retirement and I dont want to strike. But if we dont fight, were going to lose everything, including our pensions.

The TPTs are overused and abused, and they dont have any representation, Richard, a worker with nearly three decades on the job, said. How can you expect someone to keep coming to work under these conditions? TPTs are threatened and harassed by management, put under the gun and fired. Its like forced labor. There are supervisors who sexually harass workers who are too scared for their jobs to say anything. Its a hostile work environment.

Commenting on the rail workers struggle, Garfield, another veteran worker, added, I have a friend who is a railroad worker, and they are on call 24 hours a day. They say they cant even think about taking a day off. How can anyone work under those conditions? Its going to be the same for us if we dont fight. I like what your candidate is saying.
An Australian television program yesterday revealed advanced plans for the US to station B-52 bombers in northern Australia. The deployment of the nuclear-capable bombers, which are crucial to US strike capabilities, marks a significant escalation of the militarisation of Australia, the Indo-Pacific region and the world.

The target is clear. The representatives of pro-war think tanks who spoke on last nights episode of the Australian Broadcasting Corporations Four Corners program, and those who have commented in the press since, have openly stated that the bombers are being dispatched to prepare for a war with China that would threaten a global nuclear catastrophe.

In other words, even as the US and its allies are continuously escalating their war with Russia over Ukraine, they are transforming the entire Indo-Pacific into a powder keg that could erupt at any point.

B-52 bomber flies over Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. The US is preparing to deploy up to six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers in northern Australia. [AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File]

For the strategists of American imperialism, the war that is already underway against Russia is the necessary prelude to war against China, the chief threat to US global dominance. This was spelled out in the latest US National Security Strategy, released last month, which proclaimed a decisive decade of geopolitical conflict between the major powers. China, it stated, was the only competitor with both the intent and, increasingly, the capability to reshape the international order, something the US would combat with everything at its disposal.

The stationing of the bombers points to the disastrous implications of this program, driven by the long-term decline of American imperialism and the deepening crisis of the entire global capitalist system.

Four Corners revealed that the US is preparing to build a squadron operations facility at the Tindal air force base in northern Australia. It will include a vast hangar and logistical facilities that can equip six B-52 bombers, which will be rotated out of the facility, likely being based there during the tropical dry season. The US will construct jet fuel tanks at Tindal and an ammunition base. An Australian upgrade of the facility is expanding its runways and other capabilities.

Meanwhile, the US is building eleven giant jet fuel tanks in Darwin.

The US air force confirmed the plans, declaring: The ability to deploy US Air Force bombers to Australia sends a strong message to adversaries about our ability to project lethal air power.

Four Corners also reported a major expansion of the joint US-Australian Pine Gap facility in Central Australia. The military-intelligence facility plays a central role in the technical planning and waging of US military operations throughout Eurasia. The Nautilus Institute has found that the number of its super-powerful satellite antennas has increased from 33 in 2015 to 45 today. The quantitative expansion has been accompanied by the deployment of increasingly sophisticated equipment.

Becca Wasser, of the hawkish Center for New American Security, told Four Corners that having bombers that could range and potentially attack mainland China could be very important in sending a signal to China that any of its actions over Taiwan could also expand further. She blithely declared that the deployment would ensure that Tindal and Darwin, with a population of 150,000 people, would inevitably be a target in any US war between China and Australia.

Greg Sheridan, foreign editor of the Murdoch-owned Australian newspaper, who has close ties to US and Australian military and intelligence circles, wrote this morning that the B-52 deployment heralded a growing pre-war environment, adding: The drumbeats of potential war are sounding across the world. This is not alarmist, its reality.

Sheridan bluntly stated: The B-52 bombers will have the ability to deliver powerful strategic strikes on Chinese bases and assets in the South China Sea, and indeed in the South Pacific should any ever be developed there. They could also fly from the Northern Territory to mainland China itself, unleash a payload and fly back.

A Chinese spokesman warned this morning that the deployment was part of a broader US drive which increased regional tensions, seriously undermined regional peace and stability, and may trigger a regional arms race.

The dispatch of the bombers to northern Australia is part of a US program to diversify its strike capabilities and to align regional allies ever more closely with the war preparations. Northern Australia has been earmarked to play a particularly crucial role. Unlike the US base on Guam, where the B-52s are often located, Australia is out of reach of most conventional Chinese missiles, though not of its intercontinental ballistic missiles.

In justifying the deployment, various pro-war commentators and the Four Corners program itself have claimed that the dispatch of the B-52 bombers is a defensive response to the threat of a war triggered by a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

This, however, is a lie. It is the US that has deliberately transformed Taiwan into a major flashpoint of war. Successive US administrations have undermined the decades-long norm, under which the American government and the international community de facto recognised the Chinese Communist Party regime as the legitimate government of all China, including Taiwan. The US has greatly boosted its arms sales to Taipei, along with military trainers, stoked Taiwanese separatism and conducted one provocative diplomatic visit after another.

This has nothing to do with a newfound concern for little Taiwan. Instead, the territory, located just 160 kilometres off the Chinese mainland, is to play a parallel role to Ukraine, which the US exploited to provoke war with Russia. The aim is to goad China into an invasion, which would be used as the pretext for open war waged by the US.

The militarisation of northern Australia gives the lie to the claims that the heightened US aggression is a response to the recent developments relating to Taiwan.

In 2011, the then-Labor government signed on to the US pivot to Asia, a vast military build-up throughout the Asia-Pacific, directed against China. That included the establishment of a new US base in Darwin, which now hosts more than 2,000 marines, and other measures integrating Australia into the US war machine.

Under the Pentagons Air-Sea Battle strategy, sketched out when the pivot was launched, Australia and its north is to play a decisive role as a southern anchor during war with China. It is to be a launching point for US and allied war planes and the staging ground for imposing a blockade of the key shipping routes in the region, which China is dependent upon for most of its raw materials and trade.

The deployment of the B-52s is a warning that these long-running plans are now being activated.

This, along with the entire US-led program of global war, takes the form of a conspiracy against the population. The plans to dispatch the B-52s have never been debated in the Australian parliament, much less publicly announced. Instead, they have been hatched in closed-door discussions between the US and Australian governments, militaries and intelligence agencies. They were found by Four Corners in US tender documents.

In the case of the B-52s, this secrecy is particularly significant. While the aircraft and other nuclear-capable strikers have previously stopped over in Australia, they have never been based in that country, which is officially a non-nuclear state. Yet the US, as a matter of policy, refuses to confirm or deny whether any of its nuclear-capable war planes and warships are carrying nuclear payloads.

In other words, Australias status as a non-nuclear state has effectively been overturned without any public discussion. Significantly, the project, which appears to have begun under the previous Liberal-National government, is being completed by the current Labor administration.

It is likewise pressing ahead with AUKUS, the militarist alliance with Britain and the US, unveiled in September 2021. Under the pact, Australia is acquiring nuclear-powered submarines and has also been earmarked as a launch site for new era hypersonic missiles.

This militarist program is conducted under a veil of secrecy in Australia and internationally, because the governments know that workers and young people oppose war and want peace.

The advanced preparations for a conflict that could rapidly involve nuclear weapons demonstrate that this sentiment must be developed into a conscious political movement of the international working class, aimed at halting the catastrophe that capitalism is preparing. The basis for such a movement exists in the mass hostility to war and the resurgence of the class struggle in the US, Britain, Australia and around the world.
Workers in major South Korean industries, including shipbuilding and railways, have recently voted to strike, as they face attacks on their wages and working conditions imposed by the companies and the government. In their struggles, workers face the duplicity of the trade unions, which are maneuvering behind the scenes for sellout deals with management and subordinate them to the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DP).

In this Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 photo, large-sized liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers are being constructed at the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering facility in Geoje Island, South Korea. [AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon]

On October 26, workers at three shipbuildersHyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industriesvoted to strike as new contract negotiations have stalled since July. The three companies all belong to the larger HD Hyundai chaebol, one of the massive, family-controlled conglomerates that dominate South Koreas economy.

Workers are calling for the three companies to negotiate collectively rather than on a company-by-company basis. Their demands include an increase of 142,300 won ($US100) per month in base salary, a guarantee of 250 percent of wages in bonuses, and job security as the shipbuilding industry goes through restructuring. They are also demanding the abolition of the peak wage system that cuts the wages of older workers.

At a press conference on October 27, the Korean Metal Workers Union (KMWU), to which the workers belong, claimed that it would call strikes by the end of the year if there was no progress in negotiations. It bemoaned the fact that HD Hyundai has rebuffed the unions attempts to collaborate with the company. The KMWU stated that last year, the two sides agreed to end the current wasteful company-union relationship and change the paradigm to a future-oriented relationship, but now, a year later, that promise is not being kept.

The KMWU, which also represents autoworkers, is one of the most influential unions within the so-called militant Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), which at times, even postures as anti-capitalist.

In a separate vote on October 26, railway workers with the Korean Railway Workers Union (KRWU) also elected to take strike action against employer Korail. They are demanding a flat rate wage increase for all workers, the halting of a new company-promoted pay system, equal wages between long-term salaried and annual-contract employees, and an improved promotion system. Railway workers have not struck in three years. The KRWU claims that it will call a strike at the end of November or beginning of December.

The KRWU is a part of the larger Korean Public Service and Transport Workers Union (KPTU), another KCTU affiliate. The KPTU participated in a rally of approximately 50,000 public sector workers on October 29, ostensibly to denounce the right-wing Yoon Suk-yeol governments plans for privatization of public industries.

Hyeon Jeong-hui, the head of the KPTU, told demonstrators, Six years ago today we started the candlelight vigil that impeached the Park Geun-hye regime. Now, tens of thousands of public workers are gathered together again. As it turns out, the privatization policy of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration is the same as it was during the Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye administrations. If history repeats itself, our public workers will fight back a hundred times, a thousand times. We have already made history where the struggling workers and people win.

This sums up the perspective of the militant KCTU. While denouncing the current and previous conservative presidents, the coming to power of President Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea (DP) after Parks removal from office was a win for workers, according to Hyeon.

Yet Moon and his Democrat predecessors Kim Dae-jung and Noh Moo-hyun all carried out massive restructuring, privatization, and other attacks on the working class. This included keeping workers on the job in dangerous conditions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, all with the backing of the KCTU. The unions now work to cover up this history.

A genuine struggle of workers is precisely what the KCTU is working to prevent, alongside the other major union organization, the conservative Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), which also took part in the October 29 rally. If the shipbuilders and railway workers do walk off the job, the KCTU will limit the struggles as much as possible, only calling partial strikes while isolating workers at each company; that is, if the unions do not reach sell-out agreements beforehand.

To cover up this agenda and further paint the Democrats as pro-working class, the unions are working with the DP to promote the enactment of the Yellow Envelope bill, which would protect union organizations from company lawsuits stemming from financial losses in strikes. Such lawsuits are typically used to intimidate workers into calling off strikes, with the name of the bill referring to yellow envelopes used to collect donations from workers to pay for lawsuits.

The unions claim that pro-working-class policies can be pursued in the National Assembly and that the current bill would defend individual workers. In actuality, it would be used to protect union bureaucrats as well as the union coffers. The Democrats and their allies like the minor opposition Justice Party fear that such lawsuits threaten the stability of the unions, which they rely upon for corralling workers support.

The unions would also use the legislation to further isolate workers. Since the law would exclude so-called violent or destructive actions, workers who attempt to continue strikes after a union sellout or who take wildcat action could be exposed to lawsuits or other legal repercussions. The unions would hold the legislation over the heads of workers who do not fall into line with bureaucrats demands while leaving workers hanging out to dry if they rebel.

Workers in South Korea face a choice: Whether to allow the unions, which have demonstrated they have no intention of waging genuine struggles on workers behalf, to continue to conduct and ultimately sell out workers struggles. Or to take their struggles out of the hands of the pro-capitalist, pro-Democrat unions and fight their struggles through the formation of rank-and-file committees.

These committees must be elected by workers themselves, completely independent of the unions, the Democrats, and all of their hangers-on in phony left-wing parties. They should link up the fights at individual employers for a united struggle throughout the working class. They must also reach out to workers in other countries, and reject the nationalism and racism promoted by the unions and their allies. Only through a complete break with capitalism and a turn to international socialism will workers in South Korea be able to defend their interests.
On Friday Michael Liburdi, one of the roughly 90 right-wing district judges Donald Trump nominated from the ranks of the Federalist Society, ruled that fascist volunteers, some camo clad with body armor and other tactical gear, wearing masks and openly displaying firearms, have a First Amendment right to stake out Arizona ballot drop boxes, where they confront and record voters, and then publish information about people lawfully depositing ballots for the 2022 midterm elections.

A voter places a ballot in an election voting drop box in Mesa, Arizona, Friday, October 28, 2022. [AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin]

The ruling will undoubtedly encourage similar thuggish voter suppression conspiracies throughout the United States, especially in predominately minority areas within other so-called swing states, such as Pennsylvania and Georgia.

An emergency appeal has already been filed in the Ninth Circuit, which includes Arizona and other Western states. A decision upholding or overturning the lower court ruling could be rendered at any time, as the election is only a week away. In the meantime Liburdis reactionary ruling remains in effect.

The motion for an immediate injunction against the ballot drop box intimidation was filed by the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans and Voto Latino, two organizations that represent Arizona voters. The defendants are Clean Elections, USA, and its principal Melody Jennings, and multiple as yet to be identified John Does whom Jennings coordinates at the drop boxes.

Liburdi began by portraying the deranged Dinesh DSouza documentary 2000 Mules as if it were serious investigative journalism, rather than discredited propaganda manufactured by an established right-wing provocateur to bolster Trumps big lie that the 2020 election was somehow stolen.

DSouzas publications include The Enemy at Home: The Cultural Left and Its Responsibility for 9/11. He was a prominent birther and pleaded guilty in 2014 to campaign finance fraud, and was sentenced to a fine of $30,000 and five years of probation, the first eight months in a community confinement center. Trump pardoned DSouza in 2018, claiming he was treated very unfairly by our government.

2000 mules refer to the shadowy characters, none of them identified, much less prosecuted, who supposedly stuffed drop boxes in battlegrounds states to steal the election from Trump. No fraudulent or illegal votes have been tied to any supposed mule.

Arizona requires voters to personally deposit their ballots but makes exceptions for family members and people with disabilities. Accordingly, the fact that a person deposits more than one ballot at a drop box does not mean a violation of law.

The pejorative phrase ballot harvesting refers to the practice, entirely legal in many other states, of collecting absentee ballots from bona fide voters for deposit in the mail or a drop box. There is simply no way to tell by watching a drop box whether a person is depositing ballots illegally. Truly fraudulent ballots that do not match up to actual voters are identified by election officials during the canvassing and counting process.

According to Liburdi, concerns raised by DSouzas film caused Jennings to organize Arizona citizens to monitor two early voting ballot drop box locations in Maricopa County, which is by far the states most populous, and the epicenter of the 2020 Democratic majority in the state. Liburdi acknowledged that the challenged activity includes surveillance, photography, video recording and social media activity, has alarmed voters, elected officials and elections personnel, and generated national media coverage.

Many voters have filed official complaints ... and have even sought out law enforcement assistance, Liburdi added.

The formation of the conspiracy and incidents of harassment are detailed in court filings. Starting last August, Jennings solicited volunteers through Trumps platform Truth Social, using the handle TrumperMel, to completely dox voters who choose to use drop boxes. Doxing means publishing identities along with personal information, including home addresses, on the internet.

Jennings called for 10 people in groups around every drop box! Not 2 people. Thats not a deterrent ... Video, take pics.

All Arizona patriots get to the Mesa box or the Phoenix box ... right now, Jennings posted, claiming there are mules getting there and doing their thing even with my people there, whom she describes as our beautiful box watchers.

During an October 19 interview with fascist Steve Bannon, Jennings claimed, Were geotracking them, weve got cameras on the back-sides of them. ... We have the sauce.

The plaintiffs papers make clear the obvious, that there are no mulesthey are a paranoid conspiracyso the people Defendant Jennings is targeting are simply voters.

Over the last several weeks, voters have complained to election officials and law enforcement that they felt intimidated. They described being video recorded, followed and accused of acting as a mule. Jennings posted photos of alleged mules, with their license plates, on the internet.

Deputy sheriffs responding to voter complaints have confirmed that some drop box watchers were armed and wearing body armor with their faces covered.

Plaintiffs filed voluminous papers on Monday, October 24, documenting the harassment and intimidation, and requesting an order to enjoin Jennings from stationing people at drop boxes to intimidate voters. Jennings lawyer filed nothing in opposition but appeared at a hearing on Wednesday. Liburdis 14-page ruling was posted Friday.

To reach the desired result, encouraging the suppression of voting in Maricopa County, Liburdi had to brush off two federal statutes that explicitly protect the right to vote, one a product of the Civil War and Reconstruction, and the other a major accomplishment of the mid-20th century civil rights movement.

In 1871, at the urging of President Ulysses S. Grant, Congress enacted the Ku Klux Klan Act, which, among other things, outlaws conspiring to prevent by force, intimidation, or threat, any citizen who is lawfully entitled to vote from doing so.

Liburdi ruled the statute inapplicable because, supposedly, Plaintiffs have not provided the Court with evidence that Defendants intend to prevent lawful voting. Rather, Defendants stridently maintain that they seek to prevent what they perceive to be widespread illegal voting and ballot harvesting.

There is no element of intent under Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act, enacted in 1965, however. That statute provides, simply, that No person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, shall intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any person for voting or attempting to vote.

Like a second-rate lawyer trapped in an untenable position, Liburdi claimed to struggle with the meaning of intimidation and threaten in the statute. After kicking up as much dust as possible, Liburdi moved on to Plaintiffs primary aim, namely putting an end to Defendants drop-box surveillance activities, which requires a further free speech analysis.

Giving Jennings and her crew of fascist thugs the benefit of every doubt, and then some, Liburdi found their objective to be deterring illegal voting and illegal ballot harvesting by supposed ballot mules through instilling fear of exposure and prosecution.

Because Plaintiffs have not provided the Court with any evidence that Defendants conduct constitutes a true threat and does not fall into any traditionally recognized category of voter intimidation, Liburdi concluded that he cannot craft an injunction without violating the First Amendment.

The Arizona drop box thuggery, and the failure of a Trump-nominated judge to protect voters, is part of a much larger attack on democratic and constitutional norms backed by Trump and his sycophants, who will no longer tolerate an electoral system in which they might lose.
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Latin America

Argentine health care workers continue strikes and protests

Thousands of striking health care workers marched and rallied in central Buenos Aires on October 28. The demonstrators included residents, doctors, nurses and other health workers. At issue is their demand for higher wages and better working conditions.

The health workers struggle, strikes and protests, began six weeks ago. Public and private hospitals have so far refused to seriously respond to workers demands. In several hospitals workers have spontaneously elected committees of medical and non-medical workers in response to the class collaborationist policies of the unions that supposedly represent them.

Chilean longshore workers strike 23 ports

Over 6,500 longshore workers carried out a 48-hour strike last Thursday and Friday, shutting down 23 ports along Chiles maritime coast. The strikers are demanding that the government seriously negotiate their demands.

Among the workers demands are an end to part time and contingent employment, and improvement of working conditions that affect workers health. The strikers are also demanding early retirement for injured workers and improved health insurance for at-risk workers.

In Chiles main port, Valparaiso, striking workers put up barricades and blocked truck and street traffic.

Demonstrators protest foreign intervention and call for new elections in Haiti

On October 25, hundreds of demonstrators marched in Port Au Prince rejecting the threat of foreign intervention, demanding the resignation of prime minister Ariel Henri and demanding a new election.

As the protests were taking place, Haitian radio reporter Roberson Alphonse was attacked by shooters, raising fears of an escalation in attacks on the press.

On October 7 Haitian authorities requested international military intervention.

Uruguayan teachers reject education law

Last Wednesday and Thursday, Uruguayan secondary school teachers carried out protest strikes and occupied a Montevideo high school to protest a so-called education reform being implemented by the National Public Education Administration (ANEP) and Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou. Among the reforms are budget cuts of millions of US dollars and 30 unpaid hours (six weeks) of virtual training classes for teachers.

Literature teacher Margarita Osta posted on Twitter that the government presents the reform as a revolution in education, while planning to impose a 150 million dollar cut in education spending.

The United States

Non-medical staff at Connecticut hospital carries out two-day strike

Some 200 non-medical staff at Windham Hospital in Willimantic, Connecticut, brought their two-day strike to a close on October 26. Members of WCMH United Employees Local 5099 are seeking increased wages and improved health care coverage. The union has also accused Hartford HealthCare, which owns Windham Hospital along with other facilities in Connecticut, of failing to deal with staffing issues that have led to the regions patient care crisis.

Back in September, over 100 nurses at Windham Hospital carried out a two-day strike separate from the technical and support staff that struck last week. The nurses union claims to have gotten Windham to end the practice of mandatory overtime shifts, which allowed the facility to place the burden of understaffing on the existing workforce without hiring additional help.

But management negotiators have not conceded to nurses demands over wages and health care benefits required to attract new recruits. In the aftermath of the September strike, the union has raised the concern that Hartford HealthCare is shifting patients to two other facilities in its system and closing units in the Windham Hospital and canceling shifts to punish nurses for striking.

University of New Mexico graduate workers hold protest

On October 27 about 60 graduate workers at the University of New Mexico in Las Cruces staged a protest outside the administration building demanding tuition remission and that the university bargain their contract in good faith.

The graduate workers union was recognized last spring, but talks have yet to yield a contract. New Mexico bars public workers strikes. The graduate students accuse the university of failure to bargain in good faith.

At a previous event police were summoned after a student tore up a copy of the universitys contract offer and threw it into a meeting room at the administration building.

Canada

School support staff in Nova Scotia strike

One hundred and thirty childhood educators, office and outreach workers and clerks, members of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU), struck last week at the South Shore Regional Centre for Education. The workers joined more than 600 fellow school support staff who also struck last week at the provinces Annapolis Valley Centre for Education.

Another 60 school support workers, also members of the NSGEU at Nova Scotias Tri-County education centre are poised to strike after voting 98 percent for the job action earlier in October. The low paid workers are demanding a significant wage raise to protect themselves against the sky-rocketing cost of living. Already, 1,500 teachers assistants and other education workers are on strike in the province against poverty wages at Dalhousie University.

The strikes in Nova Scotia occur as over 55,000 school support workers in Ontario, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, were set to begin a strike this coming Friday. However, in an unprecedented move that has raised the anger of the low paid workers to a boiling point, the provincial Conservative government of Premier Doug Ford, has moved to outlaw the strike even before it has begun in order to impose a deep real wage cutting contract on the workers.
On Monday the US Department of Justice (DoJ) charged David DePape, 42, with attempted kidnapping and assault for his vicious attack last Friday on Paul Pelosi, husband of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. DePape is currently in custody and is expected to be arraigned on Tuesday.

A police car is parked outside the home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi in San Francisco, Friday Oct. 28, 2022. Paul Pelosi was attacked and severely beaten with a hammer by David W. DePape. [AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez]

In the criminal complaint released on Monday, FBI Special Agent Stephanie Minor wrote that the facts of the investigation to date reveal that DePape was prepared to detain and injure Speaker Pelosi when he entered the Pelosi residence in the early morning of October 28, 2022.

The complaint notes that DePape brought with him zip ties, tape, rope, and at least one hammer, which was used to bludgeon Pelosi.

The DoJ press release announcing the charges states that the assault of an immediate family member of a United States official with the intent to retaliate against the official on account of the performance of official duties carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. The charge of kidnapping of a United States official on account of the performance of official duties, has a maximum 20-year prison sentence.

In addition to federal charges against DePape, on Monday, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced state charges against DePape that include attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, elder abuse and several other felonies. In a press conference Monday, Jenkins said she believed that DePape intended to murder Pelosi.

It appears the Pelosis were not the only people DePape was targeting. On Monday, CBS News, citing law enforcement sources, said that DePape apparently had a list of people he was to assault after the Pelosis.

According to multiple reports, as of Monday afternoon Paul Pelosi remains in the intensive care unit at San Francisco General Hospital. The 82-year-old Pelosi was struck in the head with a hammer wielded by DePape shortly after police arrived at the Pelosi residence around 2:30 a.m. Friday morning following a 911 emergency services call.

Within eight minutes of Paul Pelosis 911 call, two San Francisco police officers were at the residence.

It does not appear that the Pelosis had hired any of their own private security. The complaint notes that there was a Witness 1 who was working private security at a separate nearby residence. This witness saw an individual in all black, carrying a large black bag on his back, walking near the Pelosi residence, followed by banging and then sirens within a minute or two.

Pelosi was knocked unconscious after being struck by DePapes hammer, according to the DoJ complaint. While it is not known exactly when Pelosi regained consciousness, the complaint notes Pelosi was interviewed by a police officer while he was in the ambulance as he was being transported to San Francisco General Hospital to undergo surgery for a skull fracture.

New details revealed in Mondays DoJ complaint demonstrate the fascist political character of the attack. Just as the militia elements and white supremacists who stormed the Capitol on January 6 in furtherance of Trumps coup were specifically targeting Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence for execution, DePape was similarly fixated on taking Pelosi hostage and likely, beating her to death.

FBI Special Agent Stephanie Minor wrote that during an interview with police, Paul Pelosi said he had never seen DePape before and that he was asleep when DePape came into his bedroom demanding to speak to his wife Nancy.

After informing DePape that his wife was in Washington D.C., DePape said he would wait, even it meant staying with Pelosi for several days.

The complaint claims that during his interview with police, DePape said that if Nancy Pelosi did not tell him the truth but lied to him, he was going to break her kneecaps.

DePape was convinced that Pelosi would not tell him the truth.

In the apparently recorded interview with police, DePape claimed that Pelosi was the leader of the pack of lies told by the Democratic Party. DePape said that by crippling the 82-year-old Democratic Speaker of the House, she would then have to be wheeled into Congress, which would show other Members of Congress there were consequences to actions.

The complaint also revealed that DePape had hoped to lure another individual by using Nancy Pelosi as a hostage.

Corroborating Paul Pelosis account, DePape said after breaking into the Pelosi residence he found Paul asleep in his bedroom. DePape said that Pelosi appeared surprised by his presence in the house.

After talking with Paul and confirming that Nancy was not home, DePape suggested using the rope he brought with him to tie up Paul so that DePape could take a nap until Nancy arrived. DePape admitted to taking out twist ties to cuff Paul Pelosi, at which point Paul tried to evade DePape. DePape claimed that they both went back to the bedroom and it was at this time Paul was able to go the bathroom and call 911.

Upon realizing that Paul had called 911, DePape told police that he did not leave because, much like the American founding fathers with the British, he was fighting against tyranny without the option of surrender. This theme, of fighting against tyranny, echoed in virtually every Trump rally, by many Republican candidates in 2022 and by the fascists targeting Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, was repeated by DePape throughout his interview.

In the interview, DePape told police that when they arrived at the Pelosi residence he had no plans to surrender and that he would go through Pelosi. DePape admitted that after police told him and Pelosi to drop the hammer, he pulled it away and swung it at Pelosis head, so that Pelosi ended up taking the punishment instead.

The complaint notes that DePape lives in a garage in Richmond, California. A search of his residence on October 29 uncovered two more hammers and a sword.

DePapes assault on Pelosi was not a random act of criminality, but a deliberate political attack incited and inspired by former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies. In the weeks leading up to the attack DePapes social media accounts were dominated by fascistic and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, including QAnon, Replacement Theory and Holocaust denial content, the same themes that dominate Trumps rallies and increasingly the Republican Party as a whole.

After remaining silent for days after the attack, on Monday in an interview with the conservative Spanish outlet Americano Media, Trump said the assault was a terrible thing before quickly pivoting to an attack on defund police and Democratic-run cities.

With Paul Pelosi, thats a terrible thing, with all of them its a terrible thing, Trump said. Look at whats happened to San Francisco generally. Look at whats happening in Chicago. It was far worse than Afghanistan.

Seeking to blame Democrats for Pelosis assault Trump added, We have to give the police back their dignity, their respect. They can solve the problem. Trump continued. We have to give the police back their authority and their power and their respect. Because this country is out of control.

In an interview with CNNs Dana Bash on Sunday morning, Florida Senator Rick Scott, like Trump, lamented that Pelosi was assaulted, calling it disgusting, but refused to condemn Trumps violent rhetoric and false claims that the election was stolen, the lies that animated DePape, when asked by Bash.

Likewise on Fox News Sunday, Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, said it was unfair to accuse Republicans of stoking political violence.

One day after the attack on Pelosi, Trumps son and self-proclaimed King of the Deplorables Donald Trump Jr. tweeted to his 8.7 million Twitter followers: Imagine how safe the country would be if democrats took all violent crime as seriously as theyre taking the Paul Pelosi situation. They simply dont care about you.

He then tweeted several crude memes featuring hammers.
The Southeast Alabama Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church will host a Social Justice Gathering on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Johns Chapel AME Church, 605 Geneva Highway in Enterprise.

Guest speakers will focus on social justice issues, to include voting rights, affordable healthcare, education, racism, criminal justice, discrimination, and making a difference with your vote for your community.

A voter registration drive will be offered along with, Know before you go and vote information.

Lunch will be served.

Participants include Rev. Willie White Jr., Pastor/SE Conference Call to Action Coordinator; Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Sherrod III, Dothan-Eufaula District, Presiding Elder; Rev. Dr. Willie E. Marshall, Ozark-Troy District, Presiding Elder; and Bishop Harry L. Seawright, Presiding Prelate of the 9th Episcopal District.

For more information, contact Allie Bell-Reddick at (334) 494-0479.
DALEVILLE - The Daleville Police Department is seeking the public's assistance in connection with a shooting that occurred Sunday at approximately 12 a.m.

According to Daleville Department of Public Safety Director Chief John Crawford, the department was notified about a shooting that had just occurred in the 300 block of Daleville Avenue.

"Upon arrival it was discovered that a 17-year-old juvenile had suffered three gunshot wounds," Crawford said. "Multiple vehicles and a local business were also struck with multiple rounds of gunfire."

Crawford said the juvenile was transported to a Dothan hospital and later transported to UAB.

The case is under investigation and Crawford asks any person with information on the shooting to call (334) 598-4422.

Crawford thanks the Level Plains, Clayhatchee and Dothan Police Departments, the Houston County and Dale County Sheriff's Departments, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Bureau of Investigation for their assistance.
DALEVILLEVoice for the Army, support for the soldier is more than just a motto to members of the Fort Rucker-Wiregrass Chapter of the Association of the United States Army who recently returned from the national conference in Washington, D.C., with 18 awards.

The local chapter, with members from throughout South Alabama from Montgomery to Mobile, currently has 150 community partners, Fort Rucker-Wiregrass Chapter of the Association of the United States Army Executive Secretary Tanya Hartley said Tuesday.

Under the direction of Vice President of Partnership Development Mike Schmitz, who also serves as the Alabama Civilian Aide to the United States Secretary of the Army, the chapters goal is 250 members but the chapters growth over the past 10 months garnered them the AUSA Presidents Club Award at this years conference, held in October.

We were the only chapter to receive the Presidents Club-Bronze ribbon, Hartley said about the award for the chapter that had growth each month for 10 of the past 12 months.

The local chapter also received the Chapter of Excellence, Superior Chapter, Merit Chapter, Chapter of Distinction, Star Chapter, Greatest Membership Growth, Community Partner Support, Army Birthday, Family Programs, Best Chapter Support of ROTC, Take the Hill Chapter, Department of the Army Civilian Support, NCO and Soldier Programs Support, Soldier for Life, Young Professionals, Professional Development, and Volunteer Program, Hartley said.

The Chapter of Excellence award ribbon was earned by being the chapter that significantly exceeded the Superior Chapter requirements and met or exceeded goals for other programs throughout the year.

The Superior Chapter award was recognition for exceeding the Merit Chapter requirements and the Merit Chapter award was awarded for achievement in the areas of general membership meetings, membership, membership communications, and administration.

The Chapter of Distinction was earned for sustained performance in month-to-month growth and the Star Chapter was recognition for increasing membership of the operating year.

The Greatest Membership Growth was recognition of the greatest percentage in membership and the Community Partner Support awards was for being a chapter that has an active relationship with community partners.

The Army Birthday award ribbon was presented for sponsoring events celebrating the Armys birthday and the Family Programs award was received for conducting events to honor, educate and assist Army families.

The Best Chapter Support of ROTC was earned for the chapters active relationship with local JROTC programs, and the Take the Hill award ribbon was earned for the chapters active promotion of AUSA interests with elected officials. NCO and Soldier Program Support was recognition for the chapters support of the professional development and other solder related support activities. The Soldier for Life Award was recognition of the chapters support of the community military retirees and veterans.

The Young Professionals, Professional Development, and Volunteer Development awards were received for recognition and investment of resources for those in each of the respective categories.

The Fort Rucker-Wiregrass Chapter of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) has a distinguished history and a long heritage of taking care of soldiers and their families, said Chapter President Doug Wynn, crediting the membership support for the number of recognition awards. AUSA supports soldiers, their families, and Army civilians and provides a voice for the Army and honors those who have served.
Dothan City Commission members committed money to an industrial park project Tuesday, but first they received some money.

Wiregrass Electric Chief Operating Officer Brad Kimbro, along with state senators and representatives, presented a large check during Tuesdays commission meeting, representing $207,553 for the Industrial Development Board of the City of Dothan.

The electric cooperative collects a 2.2% utility tax from customers, which equals about $1.2 million each year for the cooperative, Kimbro said. Through Growing Alabama legislation, electric cooperatives can take half the tax collected and give it back to local communities they serve for economic development.

The Growing Alabama tax credits were created in 2018 by the state legislature and renewed in 2021.

Our most important thing that we believe we can do is make available opportunities for local governments to start businesses or help start those businesses, State Rep. Paul Lee said.  You find opportunities, well get the money for it.

During their Tuesday meeting, city commissioners voted to appropriate $900,000 to the citys Industrial Development Board for infrastructure improvements at the Napier Field Industrial Park. The Houston County Commission made a commitment to the Napier Field project in October, allocating $900,000 of the countys share of money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Improvements to the Napier Field Industrial Park property, which is 86.8 acres, include an entrance road from Napier Field Road, water, sewer infrastructure, and drainage improvements. The Industrial Development Board plans to start construction in spring of 2023 and have all improvements completed by the end of 2023.

Also Tuesday, commissioners accepted $102,347.50 from the City of Dothan Industrial Development Board. The industrial development board received funds from a Growing Alabama grant for street lighting in Sam Houston Industrial Park, which is located off State Highway 52 East. The grant money reimburses Dothan Utilities for the expense.

And, commissioners formally accepted $1 million in ARPA funds from Houston County to go toward Dothans green space plan for downtown. The green space project is part of the larger City Center plan for downtown.

In other business, Tuesday:

- Commissioners voted to apply for a Brownfield Assessment Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate sites along Montgomery Highway and determine if environmental contamination exists in the downtown corridor. The citys planning staff will be collaborating with Bullock Environmental LLC to prepare and submit the application.

- The city commission agreed to purchase a home at 1514 Oak Drive for $180,000. The house, located on the corner of Oak and Plaza Drive, has experienced stormwater drainage issues along with other homes in the area. The city hopes to secure other homes subject to drainage problems.

The city has looked into a piping project  which could cost $4 million  to keep stormwater away from homes in the area, Public Works Director Tommy Wright said.

In lieu of doing that project, weve examined this area and we think its more cost effective to purchase properties rather than doing an infrastructure project, Wright said.

- Commissioners voted to apply to the Alabama Department of Transportation for funding through the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program II (ATRIP-II) for the John D. Odom and U.S. Highway 84 West intersection. The overall project, which is 0.27 miles, is estimated at $3.35 million with the citys share of the cost at nearly $1.35 million. Turn lanes and an additional through lane will be added. The proposed project calls for a second left turn lane onto John D. Odom from the eastbound lanes of Highway 84 as well as a shared-use trail for pedestrians and cyclists.
Japans film industry is beginning to talk through some of its long-held ways of working. Ways that many say are no longer appropriate.



At the Kering-sponsored Women In Motion pow-wow on Monday at the Tokyo International Film Festival (male) director Kore-eda Hirokazu and (female) actor Matsuoka Mayu got to grips with industry issues and their own approaches towards work.



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The pair previously worked together on Kore-edas 2018 Cannes Palme dOr winner Shoplifters and upcoming Netflix series The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House.



Kore-eda said that when he filmed 2019 drama The Truth in France, he discovered that 40% of the crew were women. Appropriate provisions were made for those with small children, including day-care. This was a system completely instituted in the whole society.



Matsuoka observed that working hours on Japanese sets are far longer than in France, with make-up artists and actors arriving as early as five in the morning to prep for the days filming and staying until late at night. Working hours are just too long, she said.



The tight schedules of Japanese film shoots, with ten days for a two-hour film common, make anything resembling work-life balance impossible. It would be better if everyone had more time to sleep and spend with their families, Matsuoka said.



Another issue raised was the all-too-common use of verbal and physical abuse. Matsuoka said she had never seen anyone yell or say something scary on Kore-edas shoots. The director said that had come to dislike raised voices on the set when he made his second film, the 1998 After Life. He was working with amateurs and children who didnt understand that the on-set yelling was intended to boost energy levels. They just thought that someone was mad at them, he said. He decided that a softer approach was better.



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Matsuoka also spoke of how she once preferred being called an actor (haiyu) rather than an actress (joyu). The word actress has an aspirational sound to it, describing someone who is fresh- and clean-looking or sexy, she said. So, I wanted to be called an actor. But working with seniors like Ando Sakura and the late Kiki Kirin on Shoplifters changed her mind.



I saw in their bodies that they had lived their lives as women, she explained. The image that I had always had, that I had to be fresh and clean-looking, that I had to be sexy, that I had to be beautiful, that I had to be worthy of praise, was no longer there. I realized that an actresss physical presence was what made her an actress. Substance over image.

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Our feline friends go through changes everyday just as we do, like losing baby teeth. But unlike some humans, cats do not have to wait until they are 18 years old to be considered full grown.

While still young, the age of a kitten can be determined by weight. For each month, a kitten will generally gain one pound, according to PetMD. So, it would not be incorrect to assume a 3-pound kitten is three months old. However, this estimate only works until a cat is six months old.

As your cat gets older, it continues to grow. But, when do cats stop growing?

Why does my cat bite me? What you need to know.

Why does my cat lick me? Explaining your feline friend's behavior.

When do cats stop growing?

Cats tend to stop growing once they become 1 year old. A 12-month-old cat is approximately the same age as a 15-year-old human, says PetMD.

However, some cats do continue to grow past the 12 month mark. Cats are considered "full-grown" when they reach 18 months, which is equivalent to the age of a 21-year-old human, according to PetMD.

Between the span of those 12 to 18 months, a cat can continue to grow in size. Some breeds do not even reach full size until they are 2 years old, says PetMD. For example, Maine coon cats are fully grown by around two years, according to PetMD.

Cats generally stop growing once they reach 12 months old, but some cats do not finish growing until about 2 years old, depending on the breed.

Just curious? We're here to help with life's everyday questions

When do male cats stop growing?

There are some growth differences between male and female cats, according to dutch.com.

Male cats stop growing later in life and grow at a slower rate than female cats, says dutch.com. Male cats also tend to be larger than female cats.

Female cats hit puberty earlier than male cats do, and unlike their female counterparts, once male cats "stop growing and reach sexual maturation, they do not go into heat," according to dutch.com.

Adult male cats will often exceed or exactly reach the higher ranges of length, height and weight for their breed, according to the happycatsite.com. For instance, male Bengal cats can weigh up to 22 pounds, though the breed's normal weight is around 16 pounds.

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Additionally, male cats of smaller breeds will reach full size before male cats of larger breeds, says happycatsite.com.

At what age do cats calm down?

Cats are be mischievous little creatures, scratching and clawing their way through the world. While your cat continues to grow in size, so it does in behavioral and social maturity, says PetMD.

Once a cat reaches 2 years old, it will be more socially and behaviorally mature, according to PetMD.

When kittens are younger, they tend to be social and active, "spending copious amounts of energy playing and generally acting crazy," says Figo Pet Insurance.

But as they adapt to their environment and form a routine, cats become relatively calmer, says Figo.

How long is a cat considered a kitten?

As much as we love to call our pets babies, they stop being them at one point. For cats, their days as kittens last until they are one year old, according to Hill's Pet Nutrition. After that point, kittens become cats.

Though cats are considered adults at 12 months, adolescence lasts until around 18 months, according to Hill's Pet Nutrition.

How long do cats live? Heres how long to expect your feline friends nine lives to last.

What does catnip do to cats? The science of your cats favorite treat explained.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When do cats stop growing and at what age are cats fully grown?
Abortions in Alabama fell from more than 500 terminations in June to fewer than 10 each month following the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade on June 24, according to a new report.

The number of abortions was in decline in the state before the court removed national protections for the procedure, according to researchers with the Society of Family Planning, which advocates for contraception and abortion. The same day of the federal courts ruling, a federal judge lifted an injunction on Alabamas 2019 abortion ban, which makes abortion illegal unless the pregnancy poses a serious risk to the patients health without exception for rape or incest.

It is not clear whether the estimated 10 abortions performed monthly in July and August reflect cases that would or would not be considered illegal under the new law.

Across the United States, 10,670 fewer people had abortions in July and August.

The report cited a 6% decrease in abortions nationally from April to August.

The south central region of the U.S., which includes Alabama, saw a 96% decrease in abortions overall from April to August, according to the report.

Some people who did receive abortions this summer and fall likely had to travel across state lines, researchers noted.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshalls office said in June that officials were considering whether aiding an Alabamian in traveling to receive an abortion was legal. To date, no decisions have been publicly revealed. The attorney generals office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

The report also claimed that some patients may have a harder time accessing out-of-state abortions.

The burdens of travel, cost and time are experienced inequitably: people who have low incomes, who must travel further and who experience other intersecting forms of structural oppression will experience more difficulties in obtaining care both in- and out-of-state, researchers wrote.

The same states that experienced declines in abortions had the greatest structural and social inequities in terms of maternal morbidity and mortality and poverty, the report read.

Alabamas most recently reported maternal mortality rate was 36.4 per 100,000 live births, ranking third worst in the U.S. The states most recent maternal mortality report revealed that two-thirds of mothers who died within a year of giving birth used Medicaid.

Alabama has had an infant mortality reduction plan in place since 2018.
So many songs in the catalog of Creedence Clearwater Revival, and the songbook of John Fogerty, have continued to echo through the ages. But one that made its Billboard Hot 100 debut on November 1, 1969 has not only become prominent among their signatures, but one of the most powerful protest messages in the rock annals. Its the eloquent and potent diatribe Fortunate Son.

The song was one half of the first single from what was soon to become CCRs fourth studio LP in the space of just 18 months, Willy and the Poor Boys. Without ever naming names in its evident anger, Fogertys lyric eloquently expressed the rage of the counter-culture of the time about Americas entanglement in Vietnam.

Rich men make war, poor men fight them

More than that, it railed at a political milieu in which so many of the countrys young men were being dispatched to their death (or in many other cases, as later became clear, their mental scarring), with little more than lip service from Washington and beyond. The song speaks more to the unfairness of class than war itself, Fogerty said later. Its the old saying about rich men making war and poor men having to fight them.

Fortunate Son has continued to be a clarion call for social justice, but at the same time it has been repeatedly misinterpreted. For example, the songs theme of privilege among those (born silver spoon in hand) who were able to leave the fighting to others was misappropriated by Donald Trumps presidential campaign team. His use of it at a 2020 rally so enraged Fogerty that he issued a cease and desist order, and a statement in which he said Trump represented exactly the sort of individual that the song had described in the first place.

With some irony, the composition became the title of Fogertys 2015 autobiography, in which he pointed out that although he wrote the number in just 20 minutes, he had been having the thoughts that informed it for three or four years. With this kind of song, youre carrying a weighty, difficult subject, he wrote. I didnt want the song to be pulled down into that Now we're serious; everybody get quiet place. If I was going to write a quote unquote protest song, a serious song, I didnt want it to be a lame song.

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Hall of Fame recognition

The song was a double A-side with Creedences Down On The Corner single, which charted a week ahead of it in the US and climbed to No.3. Fortunate Son peaked at No.14, but was later deservedly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Listen to the best of Creedence Clearwater Revival on Apple Music and Spotify.

The powerful combination of message and energy moved numerous major artists to cover it, on disc and/or on stage, such as U2, Pearl Jam, Bob Seger, and Bruce Springsteen. Its been used in video games like Call of Duty, Battlefield 2, and Grand Theft Auto, and in movies such as Forrest Gump. A new official video was created for the song in 2018 by director Ben Fee.

Fogerty himself revisited Fortunate Son, with Foo Fighters, as a powerful lead-off for his 2013 all-star album of remakes, Wrote A Song For Everyone. For all its potential for being misread, it does indeed remain a song for the everyday man and woman.

Buy or stream Fortunate Son on Willy and the Poor Boys.

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.
South Korean's national police chief apologized Tuesday for what he said was an insufficient police response to calls warning of a massive crowd surge, one that soon killed more than 150 people in Seoul Saturday night.

The deadly incident is one of South Korea's worst public disasters in years and the country is now in the middle of a weeklong national mourning period for the victims.

I feel a heavy responsibility (for the disaster) as the head of one of the related government offices, national police chief Yoon Hee Keun said in a press conference. Police will do their best to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.

During the press conference, Hee Keun said authorities got many reports of an emergency before the crowd conditions turned deadly. Calls from people revealed the danger and urgency of the situation on the ground, he said. But the police response on-scene was "inadequate."

Separately, South Koreas interior minister, emergency office chief, Seoul mayor and the head of a ward office that includes the Itaewon neighborhood all offered public apologies.

'LIKE A HELL': Relatives search for loved ones in Seoul after Halloween crowd surge leaves 153 dead

Mourners weep after they pay tribute to the victims of a deadly accident following Saturday night's Halloween festivities, at a joint memorial altar for victims at Seoul Plaza in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. South Korea's police chief admitted "a heavy responsibility" for failing to prevent a recent crowd surge that killed more than 150 people during Halloween festivities in Seoul, saying Tuesday that officers didn't effectively handle earlier emergency calls about the impending disaster.

A 475-member police task force began investigating the tragedy and their response to the dangerous crowd conditions Monday.

As part of the investigation, they would look into whether police responded appropriately to emergency calls, Hee Keun said.

South Korea's National Forensic Service staff examined the site of the incident Monday for answers and a police task force was also assigned to look into the cause of the surge. Investigators pieced together the nights events using footage from area security cameras and videos posted to social media.

A man bows to pay tribute to victims of a deadly accident following Saturday night's Halloween festivities on a street near the scene in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. South Korean police investigated on Monday what caused a crowd surge that killed more than 150 people during Halloween festivities in Seoul in the country's worst disaster in years.

Police said they had sent 137 officers to maintain order during the Halloween festivities on Saturday, much more than the 34-90 officers mobilized in 2017, 2018 and 2019 before the pandemic. But some observers questioned whether the 137 officers were enough to handle the estimated 100,000 people gathered Saturday in Itaewon.

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The Itaewon alleyway surge killed at least 156 people, including several dozen foreign nationals. Two Americans were among those killed: Anne Gieske, a University of Kentucky nursing student who was doing a study-abroad program in South Korea and Steven Blesi, 20.

Nearly two-thirds of the dead were women. The South Korean government said Monday about 150 others remain injured. The death toll could rise further because officials said 33 of the injured were in serious condition.

More than 80% of the dead were in their 20s or 30s and 11 were teenagers, the Interior Ministry said.

Contributing: Ashley R. Williams, Cady Stanton, USA TODAY; Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Korea Halloween stampede: Police chief apologizes
A 42-year-old man, who allegedly targeted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a break-in at her San Francisco home, was charged Monday with a raft of charges by state and federal authorities, including attempted murder, assault and attempted kidnapping in connection with the violent attack on her husband, telling police he intended to hold the speaker hostage.

In announcing the charges against David DePape, the Justice Department said the suspect told police after assaulting Paul Pelosi with a hammer that he had been looking for the speaker and had planned to break "her kneecaps" if she failed to respond to his questions truthfully.

"In the course of the interview, DePape articulated he viewed Nancy as the 'leader of the pack' of lies told by the Democratic Party," the federal affidavit states. "DePape also later explained that by breaking Nancys kneecaps, she would then have to be wheeled into Congress, which would show other Members of Congress there were consequences to actions."

Paul Pelosi attack: The latest on his recovery, what people are saying, David DePape's charges

David DePape is shown in Berkeley, Calif.,on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. An intruder attacked and severely beat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer in the couple's San Francisco home early Friday, while searching for the Democratic leader. Police were called to the home to check on Paul Pelosi when they discovered the 82-year-old and the suspect, DePape, both grabbing onto the hammer, said Police Chief William Sco

Federal authorities charged DePape with one count of assault of an immediate family member of a United States official with the intent to retaliate against the official, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. He also is accused of one count of attempted kidnapping of a United States official on account of the performance of official duties, punishable by a maximum 20-year sentence.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins followed the federal announcement, unveiling charges of attempted murder, elderly abuse, threats to a public official and other local charges.

"It appears as though this was politically motivated," Jenkins said at an evening briefing in San Francisco.

The federal affidavit describes the bizarre conduct of the suspect, who broke into the house through a glass door and confronted Pelosi in an upstairs bedroom.

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DePape, carrying a backpack containing a tape, rope, a second hammer, gloves and zip ties, allegedly roused Pelosi from sleep, saying he was "looking for Nancy."

When Pelosi told him the speaker was not at home, the suspect allegedly removed the zip ties, stating that he intended to restrain Pelosi so that DePape "could go to sleep" because he was tired from carrying the backpack to the home.

Pelosi, according to court documents, engaged the suspect in conversation before moving to a bathroom where he "grabbed a phone" and called 911.

Suspect who attacked Nancy Pelosi's husband with hammer faces attempted homicide charges

More: San Francisco DA: Dispatcher's handling of Paul Pelosi's 911 call 'may have saved his life'

DePape allegedly told police that he was aware that Pelosi had called police, but elected not to flee because, he was "fighting against tyranny without the option of surrender."

The two later went downstairs, where Pelosi opened the door when police arrived and grabbed the hammer held by DePape.

Police ordered DePape to drop the hammer, but the suspect told police that he "did not plan to surrender" and then struck Pelosi.

"DePape explained that Pelosis actions resulted in Pelosi 'taking the punishment instead,'" the affidavit stated.

During a Saturday search of the Richmond, California, garage where DePape had been living for two years, police recovered two hammers, a sword, and a pair of rubber and cloth gloves.

More: 'Heartbroken and traumatized': Nancy Pelosi shares first comments since attack on her husband Paul Pelosi

The stunning attack, coming just more than week before the midterm elections underscored a recent surge in threats against public officials in an increasingly divisive political environment.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and her husband, Paul Pelosi, arrive at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner, on Dec. 7, 2019, in Washington.

On the day of the Pelosi assault, federal authorities issued the governments strongest warning yet of the heightened threat to the midterm elections posed by violent extremists.

The most plausible DVE (domestic violent extremist) threat is posed by lone offenders who leverage election-related issues to justify violence, according to the five-page bulletin issued by Department of Homeland Security, FBI, National Counterterrorism Center and U.S. Capitol Police. Enduring perceptions of election fraud related to the 2020 general election continue to contribute to the radicalization of some DVEs, and likely would increase their sensitivity to any new claims perceived as reaffirming their belief that US elections are corrupt.

The multiagency response to the Pelosi attack involving the FBI and Capitol Police, along with local San Francisco authorities, highlighted the deep concern for public officials and their families.

We assess that election-related perceptions of fraud and DVE reactions to divisive topics will likely drive sporadic DVE plotting of violence and broader efforts to justify violence in the lead up to and following the 2022 midterm election cycle, the bulletin stated. Some DVEs continue to amplify narratives related to the perception of fraud in the 2020 general election and varied perceptions of divisive topics linked to the midterms to justify calls for violence.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Feds charge Paul Pelosi attacker with assault, attempted kidnapping
California Gov. Gavin Newsom sat down with CBS News Chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett over the weekend and offered his candid assessment of the factors behind this weeks attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which left him in the hospital after being assaulted with a hammer at their San Francisco home.

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Nancy Pelosi "Heartbroken And Traumatized" Breaks Her Silence After Husband's Brutal Attack

Ive seen the dehumanization of Nancy Pelosi, Newsom told Garrett. I dont think anyones been dehumanized like she has consistently. Now I watched this one guy, Jesse Watters or something on Fox News. What hes been saying about Paul Pelosi the last five, six months, mocking him consistently. Dont tell me thats not aiding and abetting all this. Of course it is.

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About a month ago, Watters characterized the speakers contention that there is a shortage of workers in the U.S. and that some farmers want immigrant laborers.

Shut up and pick my grapes, he said on Jesse Watters Primetime. Historically, Democrats have always been concerned about whos picking their crops and havent really seen them as people. But they are, Biden and Pelosi, they are. But they dont care. The death march that they take doesnt matter to them. Theyre servants and if they lose a few on the way, theyll get more servants.

Watters Fox News show has been winning its 7 p.m. time slot among cable news networks.

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Theyre sowing the seeds, creating a culture and a climate like this, Newsom maintained in his interview, which is set to air on CBS Evening News with Norah ODonnell Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET. I mean, look online. Look at the sewage that is online that they amplify on these networks and in social media to dehumanize people like Nancy Pelosi and other political leaders.

Watters, for his part, responded to the news of the attack on Pelosis husband thusly:

People are being hit with hammers every day. People are being pushed into subways, slashed, shot in cold blood, but the media focuses on this one single crime to pin it on Republicans?

EXCLUSIVE: CA Governor @GavinNewsom discusses the recent attack on Speaker Pelosis husband, Paul Pelosi, and the threats lawmakers are facing ahead of the midterms: Something is different here.



Hear more of the conversation tonight on the CBS Evening News. pic.twitter.com/WgtbOpSzT2  CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) October 31, 2022

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A young woman in a space suit with flowers on her face



Africa Risen

Weve got a huge crop of new books for November, whether youre looking for space adventures, haunted forests, troublemaking royals, alien invaders, or post-apocalyptic tales of survivalplus new works from big-name authors like Chuck Wendig, N.K. Jemison, Brandon Sanderson, and more. Read on!







Image: Mariner Books

The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2022 edited by John Joseph Adams and Rebecca Roanhorse

This collection gathers 20 diverse stories that exemplify the ever-expanding and changing world of contemporary science fiction and fantasy. (November 1)

Read more

Image: Head of Zeus

The Best of World Sci-Fi Vol. 2 edited by Lavie Tidhar

International science fiction gets the spotlight in this 29-story collection (including eight original and exclusive tales) featuring authors from Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Greece, Grenada, India, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. (November 1)

Image: Random House Worlds

Critical Role: The Mighty NeinThe Nine Eyes of Lucien by Madeleine Roux

Critical Role villain Lucien gets a backstory in this tale of his early life and his first encounter with the Mighty Nein. Read an excerpt here. (November 1)

Image: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Cruel Illusions by Margie Fuston

A young woman seeks to avenge her mothers deathbut her mother was slain by a vampire, and not only are they hard to kill, theyre hard to track down in the first place. Is it worth throwing her lot in with a group of magicians who require a sinister price before theyll offer the help she needs? (November 1)

Image: 47North

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg

A writer inherits a Rhode Island estate, but his good luck turns into something frightening when the house wont allow him to leave. Hell need the help of the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms if he wants to crack the secrets within its walls. (November 1)

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Image: SparkPress

The Last Huntress by Lenore Borja

When a young woman turns 18, she learns she has the power to enter mirrorsand the demonic realm that exists behind them. Shell need the help of others like her to track down the demons trying to escape into the human world. (November 1)

Image: SparkPress

Love in the Age of Dragons by Fatima Henson

A 17-year-old girl struggles to surviveand find happinessafter Earth becomes infested with wormhole-traveling dragons. (November 1)

Image: Tor Teen

The Luminaries by Susan Dennard

A teen who lives in an isolated town surrounded by a haunted forest wants to join the secret society that protects its bordersbut shell have to overcome prejudice against her family and succeed in dangerous training trials first. (November 1)

Image: Tor Books

Oceans Echo by Everina Maxwell

This standalone space adventure is set in the same world as the authors Winters Orbit. It follows a psychic and a soldier with neurologically enhanced powers of persuasion who are forced to bond when they uncover a powerful secret during a military mission. (November 1)

Image: Margaret K. McElderry Books

The Ones We Burn by Rebecca Mix

When shes betrothed to a human prince, a young witch leaves her coven under strict orders to kill her husband ASAP. But when she arrives, she forges an unexpected alliance with her soon-to-be sister-in-law as a plague and the threat of war loom in her new home. (November 1)

Image: Baen

Penrics Labors by Lois McMaster Bujold

The latest from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Grand Master gathers three novellas following the adventures of the authors long-running characters, the sorcerer Penric and the demon Desdemona. (November 1)

Image: Tordotcom

A Restless Truth by Freya Marske

The authors queer historical fantasy series continues in this sequel to A Marvellous Light. Read an excerpt here. (November 1)

Image: Dutton Books for Young Readers

Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore

The Graceling Realm series adds another installment as Hava continues her perilous, mystery-plagued voyage across the sea. (November 1)

Image: Inkyard Press

Silver in the Mist by Emily Victoria

Amid a years-long war, a young woman whose mother is her countrys top spy joins the causetesting her limits when she takes on a dangerous undercover assignment to steal magic from a neighboring land. (November 1)

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Slaughtered Gods by Thilde Kold Holdt

The Hanged God Viking fantasy trilogy concludes as Ragnarok looms for the gods, and the human survivors must try and plot their destinies. (November 1)

Image: Gallery / Saga Press

The Voyage of the Forgotten by Nick Martell

The Legacy of the Mercenary King trilogy concludes as the Kingkiller and the Hollow Queen do their best to reunite and start their life togetherwhile first preventing the end of the world. (November 1)

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When Franny Stands Up by Eden Robins

A womans stand-up comedy routine sparks actual magic in this tale set in World War II-era Chicago. (November 1)

Image: Flatiron Books

White Horse by Erika T. Wurth

When an Indigenous woman receives a bracelet that once belonged to her long-absent mother, she starts having visions that force her to confront her familys dark past and her own troubled life. (November 1)

Image: Applause

With Great Power: How Spider-Man Conquered Hollywood During the Golden Age of Comic Book Blockbusters by Sean OConnell

This nonfiction book charts Spider-Mans cinematic journey from comic-book page to Hollywood blockbusterincluding the complexities surrounding the rights to the character, and all those franchise reboots. (November 1)

Image: Orbit

The World We Make by N.K. Jemisin

The four-time Hugo winners latest wraps up her Great Cities Duology, building on The City We Becames tale of identity, resistance, magic, and myth. (November 1)

Image: Tor Books

Blood Moon by Heather Graham and John Land

This sequel to The Rising picks up with high schoolers Alex and Samantha as they continue their quest to save humanity from alien invadersif they can translate a book written in a mysterious language first. (November 8)

Image: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

The sequel to Legendborn finds Bree figuring out her place in the fight between the Legendborn Order and the demonswhile learning to control her unpredictable, undeniably powerful magic. Read an excerpt here. (November 8)

Image: Tordotcom

Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

A magical detective hunts Chicagos deadliest serial killer, intent on claiming a reward that will mean she can spend her life with the woman she loves. (November 8)

Image: Night Shade

The Fruit by Naamen Gobert Tilahun

The Wrath & Athenaeum urban fantasy trilogy wraps up with this final entry exploring San Francisco and the magical dimension thats connected to it.(November 8)

Image: Black Spot Books

Into the Forest: Tales of the Baba Yaga edited by Lindy Ryan

This collection of stories inspired by the legendary witch Baba Yaga features entries from Gwendolyn Kiste, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Mercedes M. Yardley, Monique Snyman, Donna Lynch, Lisa Quigley, and R. J. Joseph, with an introduction by Christina Henry. (November 8)

Image: Tor Books

Legends and Lattes: A Novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes by Travis Baldree

When an orc decides to hang up her sword and open a coffee shop, she finds there are also battles waiting to be fought in the pastry business. (November 8)

Image: DAW

Nightwatch Over Windscar by K. Eason

The second book in this sci-fi series follows a monster hunter who leads a ragtag team investigating the mysteries of ancient ruins on a faraway planet. (November 8)

Image: Delacorte Press

Nubia: The Awakening by Omar Epps and Clarence A. Haynes

In this epic fantasy, a trio of teens whose families hail from a storm-destroyed African country struggle to survive in climate-ravaged New York. Read an excerpt here. (November 8)

Image: Tor Books

Origins of the Wheel of Time: The Legends and Mythologies That Inspired Robert Jordan by Michael Livingston

This companion to the internationally bestselling series will delve into the creation of Robert Jordans masterpiece, drawing from interviews and an unprecedented examination of his unpublished notes. Its written by an expert in medieval literature and history, with a forward by Jordans editor and widow, Harriet McDougal. (November 8)

Image: Aj Jj Publishing

Percivious: Escape by JJ Cook and AJ Cook, MD

The Percivious Trilogy concludes as the Helix and its crew make one more attempt to save both humanity and the cetacean XYZ alien species in a race against time. (November 8)

Image: Crown Books for Young Readers

The Q by Amy Tintera

Two teenagers from opposite worlds must fight their way through a vast walled quarantine zone in a dystopian America toward their only chance for survival. (November 8)



Image: Ace

Raven Unveiled by Grace Draven

In this fantasy romance, a woman who can talk to ghosts dodges assassination attempts while battling a predator who feeds on the dead. (November 8)

Image: DAW

Reckoning by W. Michael Gear

The Donovan sci-fi series continues as the colonists living on an alien planet face multiple dangers, including genetically-altered humans and sinister corporations. (November 8)

Image: Tachyon Publications

Neom by Lavie Tidhar

In this immersive novel set in the city of Neom, an orphan hopes to find a way off-world, old flames spark anew, robots unearth incredible discoveries from the past, and terrorartists scheme for revenge. (November 9)

Image: Encyclopocalypse Publications

The Dead Friends Society by Paul Gandersman and Peter Hall

A group of ghostly friendsall murdered by the same masked killer, and all trapped in the same housereach out for help from a girl whos just moved into the house with her family. (November 11)

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Africa Risen edited by Sheree Renee Thomas, Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, and Zelda Knight

This anthology of 32 stories spotlights the breadth of fantasy and science fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora. (November 15)

Image: One More Chapter

Beneath the Burning Wave by Jennifer Hayashi Danns

This first in a fantasy trilogy exploring the origin of gender and desire in an epic queer fusion of Japanese folklore and Egyptian mythology follows twins whose miraculous survival is challenged by a prophecy that could destroy their island home. (November 15)

Image: Night Shade

The Best Horror of the Year Vol. 14 edited by Ellen Datlow

The annual horror anthology returns with another batch of scary stories; this years authors include Brian Evenson, Gemma Files, Christopher Golden, and more. (November 15)

Image: Atria Books

Flight Risk by Cherie Priest

In this sequel to Grave Reservations, a psychic travel agent finds her latest missing-persons case matches up with a Seattle detectives bizarre human-body-parts case. (November 15)

Image: Harper Voyager

Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan

In this sequel to the Chinese mythology-inspired Daughter of the Moon Goddess, the peace Xingyin has found after freeing her mother is interrupted by a strange new magic that compels her to visit the Immortal Realm. (November 15)

Image: Berkley

The Killing God by Stephen R. Donaldson

The Great Gods War series concludes in this tale of two kingdoms that must put aside their long-held differences to fight a common, powerfully magical enemy. (November 15)

Image: Mariner Books

The Lego Story: How a Little Toy Sparked the Worlds Imagination by Jens Andersen

The extraordinary inside story of Lego, based on unprecedented access to the companys archives and rare interviews with the founding family that still owns the company. (November 15)

Image: Tor Books

The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson

The authors Mistborn: The Wax and Wayne series concludes with this installment as lawman-turned-politician Wax Ladrian discovers the existence of a powerful new weaponand realizes that to prevent disaster, hell need to mend fences with his planets God. (November 15)

Image: Tor.com

Pulling the Wings Off Angels by K.J. Parker

A clerical student whos racked up gambling debts to a local gangster is given an ultimatumdeliver the angel his grandfather kidnapped, or forfeit various body parts in payment. (November 15)

Image: Gallery / Saga Press

The Serpent in Heaven by Charlaine Harris

The Gunnie Rose alt-history series continues as Rasputins granddaughtera student whose blood is used to keep the Tsar aliveis kidnapped, and her long-overlooked magical powers begin to awaken. (November 15)

Image: DAW

To Each This World by Julie E. Czerneda

Three humans team up with their alien allies to try and contact long-lost sleeper ships sent from Earth. (November 15)

Image: Gallery / Saga Press

Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse

A new dark-fantasy adventure begins as a card sharp sets out to defend her sister, accused of murdering an elite in their populated-with-magical-creatures mining town. (November 15)

Image: Del Rey

Wayward by Chuck Wendig

In this sequel to Wanderers, its been five years since the sleepwalking plague swept across America, and survivors are hopeful that civilization can rebuild. Unfortunately, there are threats to this dream, including the countrys sinister new leader and the AI that might have caused the epidemic in the first place. Read an excerpt here. (November 15)

Image: St. Martins Press

The Wilderwoman by Ruth Emmie Lang

A pair of estranged sistersone who can see the future, and one who has an eerily good memoryreunite to find their missing mother. (November 15)

Image: Wordfire Press

Double-Booked by Kevin J. Anderson

Zombie private eye Dan Shamble returns in this latest New Orleans-set adventure, set amid the chaos of a brand-new edition of the Necronomicon being published. (November 22)

Image: Tor Books

Dune: The Heir of Caladan by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

The Caladan trilogy concludes in this tale that charts Paul Atreides becoming the leader that he needs to be on the way to his pivotal role as MuadDib. (November 22)

Image: Titan Books

A Fractured Infinity by Nathan Tavares

A struggling filmmaker meets a man from an alternate universe where a device exists that can predict the futurea device invented by a different version of the filmmaker, in a world where the mysterious man is his husband. Read an excerpt here. (November 22)

Image: DAW

The Ice Orphan by Kathleen ONeal Gear

The cli-fi series set after a second Ice Age continues as the post-apocalyptic survivors, including once-extinct species, struggle with a quantum computer with a mind of its own and the planets gradual re-warming. (November 22)

Image: Fairwood Press LLC

The Shuddering City by Sharon Shinn

In the city of Corcannon, everyone has a secret, including a guardian who knows her adopted child has dangerous powers, and a man who has an idea why earthquakes have become more and more frequent. (November 22)

Image: Fairwood Press LLC

A Slice of the Dark and Other Stories by Karen Heuler

A collection of short stores about unusual problems, like finding your world growing dark after eating a piece of cakeand maybe wanting more cake. (November 22)

Image: MIRA

Cast in Eternity by Michelle Sagara

The Chronicles of Elantra series continues as Corporal Kaylin Neya settles into front-desk dutyonly to discover the assignment will lead her into a mystery involved ghosts hiding a big secret and longing to be freed. (November 29)

Image: Fairwood Press LLC

Geometries of Belonging and Other Stories by R.B. Lemberg

This collection of stories and poems explores the authors magical Birdverse. (November 29)

Image: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

House of Yesterday by Deeba Zargarpur

A teen girl whose parents are getting divorced must unravel the ghostly mysteries of her familys past in this YA tale inspired by the authors own Afghan-Uzbek background. (November 29)

Image: Gallery / Saga Press

The Lonesome Crown by Brian Lee Durfee

The Five Warrior Angels epic fantasy trilogy concludes as war-justifying prophecies begin to show their cracks, revealing a hidden agenda while the world lies in the wake of the degradations of this war. (November 29)

Image: HarperTeen

A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass

In this standalone fantasy, a pampered princess and a soldier must figure out what to do when they fall into an impossible romance. (November 29)

Image: Tor.com

The Two Doctors Gorski by Isaac Fellman

A woman who can read minds tries to rebuild her life after escaping abusetwo factors that add further challenges when she decides to study with a destructive magician. (November 29)

Image: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

A Wilderness of Stars by Shea Ernshaw

After spotting a worrisome omen in the sky, a young astronomer with magical gifts leaves her sheltered valley for the first timeonly to discover the outside world is far scarier, and far more in need of her powers, than shed ever realized. Read an excerpt here. (November 29)





Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel and Star Wars releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

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Orange Studio, the film arm of the leading French telco group, has boarded Bernadette, starring Catherine Deneuve as the former French first lady Bernadette Chirac.

The movie is one of the three high-profile projects set to be launched by Orange Studio at the AFM. The other two titles are Prodigies, starring Emily in Paris actor Camille Razat and produced by the team behind La Famille Belier (which was remade into the Oscar-winning film CODA), and the romantic comedy New Beginnings, starring Franck Dubosc and Karin Viard.

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Directed by emerging director Lea Domenach, Bernadette tells the story of the spouse of Jacques Chirac, who became President of France in 1995. While her husband enjoyed a wide popularity, Bernardette was mocked by French people for looking like an old lady and being too corny. Bernadette Chirac decided to take them on and hired topnotch creatives to revamp her image.

Charlotte Boucon, who heads international sales at Orange Studio, said the movie tells a story of empowerment with bits of comedy, describing it as a mix Francois Ozons Potiche and Legally Blonde.

Deneuve is perfectly cast in this film, which is a colorful portrayal of a spunky lady who took everyone by surprise, tapped Karl Lagerfeld to relook her and pursued her political ambitions, said Boucon, adding that Bernadette ended up almost outshining her husband, and became a feminist icon.

Deneuve stars in the film opposite Denis Podalydes and Sara Giraudeau. Now in post-production, the movie is produced by Kare Productions (The Young Lovers, The Name of Love) and will be distributed in France by Warner Bros. Pictures.

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Prodigies is inspired by a true story and stars Camille Razat (Emily in Paris) and Melanie Robert as twin sisters who share the same passion for piano. After joining the prestigious Karlsruhe Conservatory and starting to train to become soloists, they discover they are suffering from a serious illness which causes them to lose the use of their hands. But the sisters will not give up on their dream and will find a way to play piano together. Directed by Frederic and Valentin Potier, the movie also stars Franck Dubosc (Rolling to You) and Isabelle Carre (Romantics Anonymous).

Prodigies is backed by powerful French producers: Vendome Production (La Famille belier, Coda), Jerico (La Famille Belier) and One World Films (Gainsbourg, I lost my body). The melodrama will be released in France by Orange Studio with Apollo Films. Boucon said the movie was a coming-of-age tale filled with strong emotions and an original score composed by Dan Levy, who previously worked on the Oscar-nominated animated feature I Lost My Body. Now in pre-production, Prodigies is set to start shooting in March.

New Beginnings, meanwhile, is directed by Philippe Lefebvre and revolves around Alain (Dubosc), a star pianist, who shares his life with Diane (Viard), a journalist working for a womens magazine. The couples youngest child is about to move out and theyre planning to spend quality time together. But Diane is struggling, as her younger co-workers make her feel insecure. Diane and Alains life takes an unexpected turn after Diane is rumored to have a lover, leading her co-workers to suddenly see her as cool while her marriage goes through some turmoils. Now shooting, the film is produced by Recifilms, whose recent credits include Cedric Jimenezs hit thriller November. New Beginnings will be released in France by Orange Studio with UGC Distribution.

New Beginnings is a remarriage romantic comedy that is both smart and highly relatable with two topnotch actors, said Boucon.

Orange Studios AFM slate also includes Alexandre Castagnettis School Society, which just launched in French theaters, as well as The Nannies, Le Parfum Vert, Maestro and Lastronaute.

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Visiting a theme park in China now comes with a significant risk of involuntary detention.



An estimated 20,000 park visitors were trapped inside Shanghai Disneyland on Monday after city authorities stepped up their anti-COVID measures.



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In November last year some 30,000 people were trapped in the park for two days when the city launched a contact tracing exercise.



Shanghai authorities ordered the park and its nearby retail complex to close its doors shortly before midday on Monday. That followed the discovery of eight positive cases in the city on Sunday, all of which were asymptomatic. On Saturday the park said it would reduce staffing in order to comply with the latest COVID regulations.



People inside the park on Monday would have to provide a negative test before being allowed to leave. And anyone who has been to the park since Oct. 27, 2022, would have to take a COVID test every day for three days. Some attractions were kept running for those people trapped inside the park.



China continues to operate a strict form of disease control, labelled as Zero-COVID. This involves strict quarantines, mass testing, lockdowns and restrictions on movement which is controlled by use of an app, all of which are intended to break the chains of transmission. Many in China have complained about the seemingly random closures announced by the app and the requirement for frequent testing.



Shanghai, Chinas biggest city and its commercial capital, was largely locked down for three months earlier this year by the discovery of a new wave of cases.



Shanghai Disneyland, which opened in summer 2016, is a joint venture between a company owned by city authorities and by the Walt Disney Company.



The newer Universal Resort near Beijing was allowed to reopen on Monday. It had been closed for five days from last Wednesday after a nearby outbreak.

Story continues

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Music Box Films has bought U.S. distribution rights to LImmensita, Emanuele Crialeses (Respiro) film starring Penelope Cruz.

Crialeses movie, which competed at the Venice Film Festival, will hit U.S. theaters next year. Cruz stars as Clara, a Spanish woman who has relocated to Rome in the early 1970s to raise a family with Felice (Vincenzo Amato), her emotionally distant and frequently absent husband. From their new apartment, Clara sees a city in transition: the remnants of an old society washed away by the tastes of an emerging middle class. Even though the paint is fresh, and the appliances are new, the crushing expectations around family, desire and gender remain as traditional as ever.

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Claras three children are likewise poised at a precipice, on the verge of adolescence and its myriad complications. Her eldest child, Adriana (played by newcomer Luana Giuliani), yearns for another life  an outsized, vibrantly-realized vision of a world where he simply gets to live as the boy he knows himself to be. Without an accepted vocabulary for talking about gender, Andrea simply tells adults that hes an alien from another galaxy.

LImmensita was warmly received upon premiering at Venice. Varietys review said Crialeses odd, affecting memory piece layers the world as it is, and could be in the same gilded frame.

The film was produced by Wildside, a Fremantle Company, and Chapter 2, a Mediawan company, and co-produced by Pathe. The deal was negotiated by Brian Andreotti from Music Box Films with CAA Media Finance and Pathe Films Marie-Laure Montironi, executive vice president of international sales.

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Music Box recently acquired U.S. distribution rights to another highlight from Pathe, Alice Winocours heartfelt drama Paris Memories which world premiered at Cannes Directors Fortnight and played at Toronto. Paris Memories was one of the five finalists for Frances official submission to the 95th Academy Awards.

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PURIN PICTURES CASH

Purin Pictures, a non-profit Asian film financier, is to give grants to two Burmese, two Cambodian, two Thai, and one Indonesian project in its latest funding round. We are excited to support multiple projects from Myanmar and Cambodia, two countries that have less developed film industries than their Southeast Asian neighbors, said Purin Pictures co-director Anocha Suwichakornpong. Production grants worth $30,000 each go to The Beer Girl in Yangon, by Sein Lyan Tun, Fruit Gathering, by Aung Phyoe, both debut featuring new voices in Burmese cinema, and 9 Temples to Heaven, the debut fiction feature of Sompot Chidgasornpongse.

Post-production grants of $35,000 each go to documentaries Tongue of Water, by Polen Ly and Double Jeopardy, by Phally Ngoeum, both shining a light on the struggle of Cambodian individuals against the larger forces of the state, and documentaries Monisme ,by Riar Rizaldi and Breaking the Cycle, by Akeaphong Saransate and Thanakrit Duangmaneeporn. The latter two had previously received Purins cash at production stage. Because their subject matter may be less commercial, some films need to rely more on grants, said Suwichakornpong.

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HONG KONG BANS THREE TAIWAN FILMS

Hong Kong authorities have banned three movies from Taiwan  The Runaways, The Three Little Boys, and Quarantine Denny  from screening at local film festivals. The report of their banning first appeared on the BBCs Chinese language portal. The Hong Kong Governments Office of Film, Newspapers, and Articles Administration was given new powers of censorship last year and is required to take into account national security considerations. None of the three films touch on sovereignty in Hong Kong, though a Taiwan flag can be seen in one. Many aspects of life in Hong Kong are becoming closely aligned with policies and governance in the Chinese mainland. The Chinese government does not consider democratically run Taiwan to be a separate state. Rather it considers the island to be a rebel province which must be brought to heel, by force if necessary.

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The films were set to have played at the Image Without Borders 2022 Film Festival, the Panda International Film Festival, and the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival organized by the Independent Short Film and Video Media Festival.

APPOINTMENTS

Emma Lorenz has joined BBC Studios Science Unit as its first creative director, U.K. unscripted. The Science Unit is Led by unit head Andrew Cohen and Nicola Cook, director of development. Lorenz will be responsible for the domestic creative strategy and growing the units U.K. slate in documentaries, formats and returning series. She joined from Wonderhood Studios, where she was deputy creative director, developing and winning commissions including BBC Threes Trump in Tweets, Channel 4s Baby Surgeons: Delivering Miracles and Super Surgeons: A Chance at Life and BBC Ones The Airport: Back in the Skies.

***

Nicholas Franklin has been appointed as the new head of production at Rogan Productions, reporting to managing director Soleta Rogan and creative director James Rogan. Franklin joins the team from Passion Pictures. His credits include David Harewood: Psychosis and Me (BBC2), Catching Killers (Netflix), Charlie Hebdo: Three Days That Shook Paris (Channel4/Smithsonian), Stolen Daughters: Kidnapped by Boko Haram (HBO, BBC, Arte) and Locked Up Abroad (NatGeo).

***

Slow Horses and Heartstopper production company See-Saw Films has hired Julian Stevens and Moss Barclay as executive producers for TV; Ann Phillips as head of development, film/executive producer, limited TV; and Laura Mazzola as senior business and legal affairs executive.

Barclay joins from Pulse Films, where she led the companys expansion into scripted film and TV, developing Gangs of London for Sky/AMC. Stevens has produced The Tunnel: Sabotage for Sky Atlantic and Canal+, The Missing season 2 for BBC One and Starz, Informer for BBC One and Amazon and Stephen Knights reimagining of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol for FX and BBC One.

Phillips joins from Ray Pictures, where she was head of development across film and television, developing projects with talent including Rita Kalnejais, Daniel Kaluuya, Kristen Roupenian, Sarah Solemani and Edward Berger. Mazzola joins from Carnival Film & Television where she was responsible for legal and business affairs for scripted television and film. Recent projects included the theatrical feature Downton Abbey: A New Era and two seasons of The Last Kingdom (Netflix).

COMMISSION

The Mystery Of Dacian Gold

A+E Networks CEE has premiered The Mystery Of Dacian Gold, the first local commission on History Channel in Romania, following the companys strategy to bring more premium local content to the region. Hosted by actor Paul Ipate and globetrotter Simina Cernat, the series starts in Ancient Rome and winds up to peaks and riverbeds around Sarmizegetusa, Romanias Stonehenge, and the pair of explorers meet with gold prospectors and local experts who immersed themselves in the mysteries of the largest gold deposits in Europe, located in Romania. The show was created and produced by John Florescu and the producers from History Channel are Agnieszka Kubiak and Bartomiej Major.

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Return to Dust, the latest work from Chinese director Li Ruin (River Road, Fly With the Crane) won the top Golden Spike at the Seminci Valladolid Film Festival, Spains traditional arthouse platform, which this last week sold over 100,000 tickets for the second time in a row, a sign of much needed, if temporary, vitality in Spains desperately sagging art pic market.

An absorbing, beautifully framed drama that makes a virtue  possibly too much a virtue  of simplicity, stated Varietys Jessica Kiang in her Berlinale review, Dust is set in a decimated Chinese village, where a downtrodden couple in an arranged marriage forge an unexpected bond as they eke out a living from the land. Return to Dust was released in China in September.

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Eo director Jerzy Skolimowski (11 Minutes) earned the best director prize for a damning polemic on our relationship to other intelligent species  as free labor, food and companions  as seen through the dewy, wide eyes of a donkey whom we come to adore, said Varietys Peter Debruge ahead of 2022 Cannes Festival.

A Berlin Golden Bear winner way back in 1967 for Le Depart, Skolimowskis Eo took Cannes Jury Prize.

Colm Baireads The Quiet Girl scored three prizes  a Valladolid Silver Spike, Fipresci Award and Audience Award  for a gentle, straightforward film with an ear finely attuned to all those types of hush and to the tender feelings they can contain, Kiang wrote in her review.

Opening this year with Felix Viscarrets Staring at Strangers, the festivals Spanish Cinema section showcased some of the biggest Spanish titles this year, such as Berlin winner Carla Simons Alcarras, Malaga top film Lullaby, from Alauda Ruiz de Azua, Alberto Rodriguezs San Sebastian opener Prison 77 and Annecy favorite Unicorn Wars.

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Industry panels this year highlighted local distribution and women creators.

Valladolid works a two-way street, bringing Spanish talent and recent national features to meet audiences and international guests at Valladolid while also promoting international imports without distribution in Spain. The latter is a radically tougher call since the pandemic. Plumetting attendance at Spains art houses overshadowed much industry talk in general at Valladolid, even the jurys verdict on this years Festival.

Even at 8.30 Monday morning, the theater was full. Without the audience, festivals and films are meaningless. Thank you for coming, its truly important to support quality cinema like the films Valladolid experienced this week, the juries enthused when announcing winners.

Return To Dust

67th Valladolid International Film Festival Prizes:

Golden Spike

Return to Dust, (Li Ruin, China)

Silver Spike

The Quiet Girl (Colm Bairead, Ireland)

Ribera del Duero Best Director Award

Jerzy Skolimowski (Eo, Poland, Italy)

Fipresci Award

The Quiet Girl,(Colm Bairead, Ireland)

Audience Award

The Quiet Girl,

Pilar Miro Best New Director Award

Cristele Alves Meira (Alma Viva, Portugal, Belgium)

Best Actor Award

Ivan Barnes, Karra Elejalde (Vasil, Spain, Bulgaria)

Best Actress Award

Lubna Aazabal (Le Bleu du Caftan, France, Morocco, Belgium, Denmark)

Miguel Delibe Best Screenplay Award

Mikhael Hers, Maud Ameline & Marlene Desert (Les Passages de la Nuit, France)

Best Photography

Rubens Impens (Le Otto Montagne, Italy, Belgium, France)

Jose Salcedo Best Editing Award

Kim Sang-bum (Decision to Leave, South Korea)

Golden Spike Best Short Film, EFA Short Film Nominee Valladolid 2023

Arquitectura emocional 1959 (Leon Siminiani, Spain)

Silver Spike Best Short Film

Ice Merchants (Joao Gonzalez, Portugal)

Honorific Spike

Jim Sheridan

The Quiet Girl

Encounter Point

Best Feature Film

Sick of Myself (Kristoffer Borgli, Norway, Sweden)

War Pony (Gina Gammell, Riley Keough, U.S.)

Best Foreign Short film

The Garbage Man, (Laura Goncalves, Portugal)

Special Mention

Happy New Year, Jim, (Andrea Gatopoulos, Italy)

Spain Short Film Night Award

Lavenir (Santiago Rafales, Spain)

Audience Award

Joyland (Saim Sadiq, Pakistan)

The Sparrow (Michael Kinirons, Ireland)

History Time

Fundos First Prize

All That Breathes (Shaunak Sen, India/US/UK)

Fundos Second Prize

Rojek (Zayne Akyol, Canada)

Best Short Film Award

Le Mecanique des fluides (Gala Hernandez Lopez, France)

Audience Award

Afghan Dreamers (David Greenwald, Afghanistan)

Doc Spain Award

Hafreiat, (Alex Sarda, Spain/Jordania)

Castilla y Leon Short Film Award

Plen Air, (Raul Herrera, Spain)

Green Spike Award

Delikado, (Karl Malakunas, Australia, Hong Kong, U.S., Philippines, U.K.

Special Mention

Ice Merchants, (Joao Gonzalez, Portugal)

67 Seminci. Opening Ceremony

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A Russian soldier wrote a journal entry imagining being on vacation with his family in the summer of 2023 because Russia's occupation of Kharkiv was going so poorly

Ukrainian soldiers (L) scavenge an abandoned Russian T-90A tank in Kyrylivka, in the recently retaken area near Kharkiv, on September 30, 2022. YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images

A Ukrainian soldier stands near the damaged sign "Kupiansk district" close to the recently retaken Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. AP Photo/Kostiantyn Liberov

Notebook entries found in Kharkiv reflect the bleak outlook of Russian forces on the war in Ukraine.

In September, Ukrainian troops won back most of Kharkiv, forcing Russians to retreat.

One soldier was mentally imagining a vacation with his family in late 2023 as reality set in.

A Russian soldier wrote journal entries to his future self and family, envisioning an eventual break from war during the height of Ukraine's counteroffensive in the northeast.

The unnamed soldier's notebook entries were found in a notebook recovered at an abandoned Russian base in Kharkiv after Russian troops retreated from most of the region in September, Reuters reported.

Ukraine's successful counteroffensive in northeastern Kharkiv kicked off in the late summer and intensified in early September. By mid-September, cities like Balakliia and Izium had been liberated, and Russian leadership announced that it was retreating from nearly all of the Kharkiv region, transferring troops elsewhere.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said within days of the September counteroffensive, Ukraine regained over 1,158 square miles of territory from Russian forces. In other documents obtained by Reuters, soldiers communicated with their superiors, urgently asking for basic munitions and drones.

As Ukrainian troops relied on American HIMARS missile launchers, Russian troops in Balakliia, Kharkiv, were running out of weapons  and morale, according to the journal entries published by Reuters.

"If you sit and look at the river for long enough, you will eventually see your enemies floating by," the unnamed soldier wrote in the notebook, referring to the encircling Ukrainian troops at the time.

Another notebook entry by the unnamed soldier reflected a long-term outlook on the war and an imagination of a different future.

"I went home on Aug 10, 2023, I'm already home with my family," the soldier wrote. "I'm having a nice time in Khabarovsk with my family, with my wife and my girls."

Read the original article on Business Insider
This styling choice is nothing new, but it's rising in popularity  especially among celebrities.

Getty Images/ InStyle

Whether or not youve seen London or youve seen France, youre about to see everyones underpants. And we should have seen this coming.

Underwear as outerwear, underwear as everyday clothing  however you want to phrase it, lingerie is the look for fall 2022. Its unclear how or why the trend managed to become even more popular this season than in recent years, but rest assured, celebrities have taken the reins and are all in.

:Tessa Thompson Wore a Latex Bra Under Her Power Suit for a Sexy Spin on a Classic Silhouette

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Back in September, Bella Hadid perfectly displayed Hollywoods current affinity for dressing down rather than dressing up when she stepped out in a pair of white micro shorts styled with platform UGG boots. Then, at the Loewe show during Paris Fashion Week, Kylie Jenner hopped on board too, wearing a white tank top and matching underwear (both of which were adorned with the luxury houses logo) under a grey trench coat.

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A few weeks later, her older sister, Kourtney Kardashian Barker, posted a series of mirror selfies celebrating her husbands Blink 182 reunion tour. In the photos, the newlywed wore one of the bands hoodies over a net dress, baring her booty and black underwear. Model Emily Ratajakowski put her own sexy spin on things at W Magazines 50th Anniversary party, walking the red carpet in a see-through metallic fishnet gown, nude silk underwear, and a matching triangle bra.

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Of course, celebrities have been utilizing lingerie to make a bold fashion statement for decades. The look was especially popular from the late 1980s to the early 2000s, sometimes being used as a tactic to garner media attention.

:Extremely Naked Dresses Are Back, and They're Actually Kind of Romantic This Time

Selena Quintanilla, for example, was always wearing bustier tops and high-rise bottoms for her performances, while Madonna made headlines with her Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra in 1990. Kate Moss turned heads in a sheer maxi slip dress at the Elite Model Agency Look of the Year party, and even Princess Diana wore an iconic navy Dior slip on the Met Gala red carpet in 1996.

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It wasnt long before A-listers like Janet Jacket, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker, and more drew inspiration from these looks and channeled them into their own street styles.

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Plus, those of us who were around in 1999 will never forget Lil' Kim's Lil' Kim's purple pasty look from the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards. While today's world wouldn't blink an eye, that was definitely an iconic moment.

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Cut to 2022, during which a slew of '90s trends have made their way back into our closets (some weve welcomed with open arms, others weve met with a slight cringe). Lingerie  be it bras, bralettes, underwear, lacey or transparent slips  are being worn as tops, bottoms, and dresses once again. The twist? Its less of the peek-a-boo tactic and more of a substitution for your typical wardrobe staples.

Whale tails have made an appearance over the past few years thanks to re-emerging low-rise bottoms, but the underwear as outerwear trend of 2022 isnt about playing coy; this way of dressing leaves little to the imagination. It is the act of wearing underwear as regular, everyday clothing, but it doesnt have to be as scandalous as it sounds.

:Emily Ratajkowski Accessorized a Pair of Insanely Low-Rise Pants With a Black String Thong

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According to Ra'el, co-founder and CCO of lingerie company, ThirdLove, wearing underwear as outerwear has evolved over the last few decades and continues to progress in a way that is laxer and less shock-factor.

[The look] is getting even baggier and more unfussy with oversized pants that show the band of your underwear, and large shirts are worn open at the front to show your bra, she tells InStyle.

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To make the look more wearable, Rael recommends pairing a silky camisole or longline bra with a sleek blazer, wide-leg pants, and heels or opting for a soft cotton bra with a crisp open button-down, jeans, and sneakers. We're also big fans of skipping a shirt entirely and opting for a bralette under a structured jacket or sweater, or swapping out your average T-shirt for a lacey bodysuit before slipping on jeans.

Whether youre channeling Christina Aguilera a la Dirrrty, with a bra for a top and chaps over pants, or Lily Collins at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Gala in a mesh turtleneck with a black bra underneath, how you sport the look should ultimately come down to what you feel is most comfortable. So, get creative and show off those undergarments.

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Delayed police responses and an illegal street obstruction were contributing factors to the weekend's crowd crush in Seoul, officials said on Tuesday.

At least 154 people were killed, and dozens were seriously injured in the South Korea capital's Itaewon neighborhood as they celebrated Halloween on Saturday night.

The death count could further rise as many of those injured remain in critical condition, the country's Ministry of the Interior and Safety said.

PHOTO: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - NOVEMBER 01: People pay tribute to the victims of the Halloween celebration stampede, on the street near the scene on November 01, 2022 in Seoul, South Korea. (Chung Sung-jun/Getty Images)

Those killed or wounded were mainly teenagers and individuals in their 20s, according to Choi Seong-beom, chief of Seoul's Yongsan fire department.

Government investigators have scrambled to explain the night's logistical failures, such as insufficient police reactions and obstructive terraces, which escalated the fatality of the crush.

The first person called for emergency rescue at the site at 6:34 p.m., four hours before the crowd crush, the National Police Agency said. Firefighters arrived after 11 p.m., they said.

PHOTO: Police officer stands guard at the cordoned scene of the deadly Halloween crowd surge in the district of Itaewon in Seoul on November 1, 2022. (Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)

In total, witnesses made 11 emergency calls throughout the night, and police dispatched officers to the site four times, the agency said. The officers presumably did not realize the urgency of the crowd, according to local reports.

The National Police Agency is investigating its protocol, seeking to uncover why the rescue squad did not arrive earlier and why the force's control of the crowd was "inadequate," per the wording of its police chief.

In addition to the lack of police dispatched, authorities said they were looking into two makeshift terraces on each side of the back street of the Hamilton Hotel building. The terraces were illegal and caused the crowd's bottleneck pile-up, officials said.

PHOTO: South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol looks at messages of mourners a makeshift memorial for the victims of the deadly Halloween crowd surge, outside a subway station in the district of Itaewon in Seoul on November 1, 2022. (Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)

Alley streets must be four meters wide, according to law, but the hotel's terraces shrunk the alley's width to three meters, just under 10 feet. Authorities in the ward office of Yongsan fined the Hamilton Hotel for the same violation last year, officials said.

The national police chief, Seoul's mayor and the prime minister all had separate press meetings on Tuesday, Nov. 1. Each apologized for their inability in preventing this tragedy, vowing to prioritize public safety.

ABC News' Joohee Cho and Hakyung Kate Lee contributed to this report.

South Korean police say 1st calls were made 4 hours before deadly crowd crush originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
WASHINGTON  A Kansas woman who admitted to supporting the Islamic State terrorist organization, including training a battalion of women and girls to fight with rifles and explosives, was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison.

Allison Fluke-Ekren, 42, who was born in Lawrence, Kansas, pleaded guilty in June to conspiring to support a foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham, also known as ISIS. Counterterrorism experts said she represented an unusual case of a woman commanding power in the traditionally male-dominated culture of Islamic jihad.

Fluke-Ekren, whose father and grandfather were U.S. military veterans, committed terrorist acts during eight years in Libya, Iraq and Syria and planned mass-casualty attacks in the U.S., according to prosecutors. Prosecutors had argued the 20-year maximum sentence wouldn't be sufficient for her crimes.

Beyond the prison term, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema sentenced Fluke-Ekren to 25 years of probation.

Her lawyers had urged Brinkema to order an unspecified shorter sentence because of the trauma and loss she experienced. Three of her husbands and two children died overseas. She suffered post-traumatic stress syndrome in Syria and abandoned violence when she quit the terror group in May 2019, her lawyers said.

Allison Fluke-Ekren, 42.

In Syria, she served as the leader of an all-female Islamic State group military battalion and trained women and children to use AK-47 assault rifles, grenades and suicide belts on behalf of the terror organization, she admitted. She trained more than 100 women and girls as young as 10, the statement said.

In addition to the terrorism charge, prosecutors discovered during the sentencing investigation that her eldest son and daughter accused her of physically and sexually abusing them as children.

Allison Fluke-Ekren brainwashed young girls and trained them to kill, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh said in a sentencing memo. She carved a path of terror, plunging her own children into unfathomable depths of cruelty by physically, psychologically, emotionally and sexually abusing them.

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More: FBI agents monitor social media. As domestic threats rise, the question is who they're watching

But Fluke-Ekren denied allegations of abuse. She called the accusations in the sentencing memo inaccurate, exaggerated, hyperbolic and in many cases completely false, according to her lawyers, Joseph King and Sean Sherlock.

The U.S. Courthouse is seen in Alexandria, Va., Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. A woman who once lived in Kansas has been arrested after federal prosecutors charged her with joining the Islamic State group and leading an all-female battalion of AK-47 wielding militants. The U.S. Attorney in Alexandria, announced Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, that 42-year-old Allison Fluke-Ekren has been charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization.

Fluke-Ekren's son says she's a 'monster'

Fluke-Ekren grew up on a "picturesque and bucolic" 81-acre farm in Overbrook, Kansas, in a "loving and stable home," according to prosecutors. Her grandfather served in the Navy during World War II, and her father served in the Army in Vietnam, prosecutors noted.

But one of her daughters told authorities an adolescent Fluke-Ekren tormented her brother, who is a year younger than her, "for fun" and tried to drown him in an icy lake, according to court documents.

She became pregnant at 16 and married her first husband, James Fluke, in 1996, according to court records. She had a son and daughter with him before divorcing in 2002. Fluke called her a con artist and told authorities something is deeply broken inside that woman, according to prosecutors.

Fluke-Ekrens son, who was not named in court documents, recounted years of physical, emotional and sexual abuse by her. She choked him to unconsciousness, locked him in tight spaces until he defecated on himself and poured salt or chemicals into his wounds, he said.

My mother is a monster who enjoys torturing children for sexual pleasure, said her son, who s expected to attend the sentencing in Alexandria, Virginia. My mother is a monster very skilled in manipulation and controlling her emotions to her advantage.

Fluke-Ekrens daughter also reported being molested by her as a child. The daughter reported being slapped so hard as a 6-year-old in Egypt that her cheek would bruise in the shape of her mother's fingers, according to court records.

My mother would beat my body, leaving my muscles cramping in agony, her daughter said.

More: DOJ: French company pleads guilty to paying ISIS terror group to keep plant running

Fluke-Ekrens lawyers said they didnt have the time or resources to counter the allegations. But among the points they made were that she recalled her father was disapproving, distant, fake and judgmental and her mother suffered from severe and incapacitating depression."

The lawyers argued they would have to subpoena pediatrician records from Kansas, school records from Indiana where her children attended school and medical records from Egypt and Turkey, in addition to interviewing witnesses in the Middle East.

She vehemently denies the allegations of abuse and many of the characterizations of her in these paragraphs and points out there were no prior complaints lodged against (her) by her large extended family to any authority, her lawyers said.

Biden confirms U.S. special forces raid in Syria has killed ISIS leader

Fluke-Ekren admitted helping terrorists, training women to wield weapons

Fluke-Ekren's break with the U.S. came after she completed college and graduate school and moved to the Middle East, according to court records that outlined her journey from Kansas mother to overseas terrorist.

She met her second husband, Volkan Ekren, and converted to Islam while studying biology at the University of Kansas. After graduating in December 2006, she taught math and science at a school in Wichita before beginning a graduate teaching program at Earlham College in Indiana in June 2007.

She moved with her children and Ekren to Cairo in 2008. She eventually had six more children with him. Her father, stepmother and then-11-year-old son each said she fled the U.S. to avoid repaying student loans now totaling $86,817.

More: Pentagon: US kills Islamic State leader in Syria in drone strike

She emerged on the terror scene after the Sept. 11, 2012, attack in Libya on U.S. government offices in Benghazi, which killed four Americans. Ekren claimed he removed a box of documents and an electronic device from the compound, and she helped him summarize the records, according to court records. The documents and device were ultimately given to leaders of the terror group Ansar al-Sharia in Benghazi, according to court records.

While residing in Syria in 2014, Fluke-Ekren told a witness she wanted to detonate a vehicle full of explosives at a U.S. shopping mall. She also discussed bombing a U.S. college in the Midwest in retaliation for an airstrike near al-Bab, Syria, that killed children, prosecutors said. Those attacks never happened.

Fluke-Ekrens lawyers questioned the credibility of witnesses in a presentencing memo, which remains under seal, compared with their earlier statements on attack plans.

Fluke-Ekren created a military battalion of women, called Khatiba Nusaybah, in February 2017, to teach women to help defend Raqqa, Syria, according to court documents.

More: Defense secretaries in their own words: US 'invented reasons' to stay in Afghanistan

She lost three spouses to fighting. Ekren, a leader of snipers for the Islamic State group, was killed in a U.S. airstrike in 2016 in Tel Abyad, Syria, according to court records. Her third husband, Mohammed Zafer, a Bangladeshi Islamic State group member who specialized in drones, was killed in an airstrike in Raqqa, Syria, in 2016, according to court records. She had three children with him.

Her fourth husband, Mohammed Doe, another Bangladeshi Islamic State group member responsible for defending Raqqa, died fighting there in 2018, according to court records. Ekren and Doe were emotionally controlling and abusive to her, her lawyers said.

This image from US Department of Defense shows the compound housing ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi in northwest Syria prior to a raid executed by U.S. forces, Feb 2, 2022.

Fluke-Ekren's case stood out because terrorist leaders aren't typically women

International terrorism charges against women are extremely rare, according to experts, because men tend to dominate the misogynistic groups such as al-Qaida, the lslamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, or ISIS, and related groups in Pakistan, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world.

But a dozen cases over the past decade of U.S. citizens or permanent residents revealed women shedding traditional caretaker roles to recruit fellow warriors, train others to use rifles and explosives, and even kill.

After Doe's death, Fluke-Ekren abandoned the terror group in May 2019, according to her lawyers. She was smuggled out of territory controlled by the militants, devoted herself to raising her children and married her fifth husband, Mahmood Mustafa, a Syrian who was not a member of the terror group, according to her lawyers.

She sought to bring safety and stability to her children and to allow herself to settle down and live as normal a life as possible, her lawyers said.

More: Qasem Soleimani: The Pentagon had tracked Iranian general for years before he was killed

She worked for a nongovernmental organization and she taught at a school for about 50 children that opened in January 2020 in Qobassin, Syria, according to her lawyers.

After separating from Mustafa, she tried to surrender to local police in the summer of 2021. She was arrested two weeks later and held for seven months before being transferred to the U.S. in January 2022, according to court records.

Her life after leaving ISIS reflected her disavowal of violence, her lawyers said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US native Allison Fluke-Ekren sentenced to 20 years for helping ISIS
FILE PHOTO: Pan Bohang, founder of vHome, a VR social gaming platform, wearing VR goggles greets with a user during a virtual gathering, at an office in Beijing

By Josh Ye

HONG KONG (Reuters) - China released its first action plan dedicated to virtual reality on Tuesday, with an aim its industry ship more than 25 million devices with a value exceeding 350 billion yuan ($48.20 billion) by 2026.

It was published by five ministries in Beijing, led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and categorised virtual reality as a key industry for the digital economy under the country's 14th five-year plan.

The paper includes augmented reality and mixed reality in its definition of virtual reality.

This first action plan reflects Beijings ambition to lead the world in virtual technology and sets detailed goals.

It did not specify whether the 25 million devices target referred to annual or accumulative shipments between now and 2026.

In the first half of this year, China shipped just over half a million virtual reality and augmented reality devices, research firm IDC said.

The plan also includes a target to increase the total value of the industry to more than 350 billion yuan, which the ministries say includes hardware and software sales.

It added that China will need to nurture 100 core companies and form 10 public service platforms for the industry by 2026.

The China Academy of Information and Communications, a state-backed think tank, published a report on Tuesday saying that China's motivation for the action plan should be seen in the context of the U.S. and South Korea governments having identified virtual reality as an important industry.

It also makes reference to global tech giants including Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Google and Tencent, citing them as companies rapidly pursuing virtual reality opportunities.

($1 = 7.2615 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Josh Ye; Editing by Barbara Lewis)
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When buying a home, there's a seemingly endless list of different styles of houses to consider. If you're looking for something on the smaller side, you've probably run into the word bungalowbut what exactly is the architectural style? Ahead, dive into what the housing term actually means, from the physical characteristics to the history of the home design.

What is a Bungalow?

Generally, classic bungalows are usually one to one-and-a-half stories, with the second story mostly contained to the front of the home. Other characteristics include:

Joe Schmelzer - Getty Images

Sloping roof: Bungalows typically have a low-pitched, sloping roof. Along with the roof design, other staple architectural elements of bungalow-style homes include a triangular knee brace used to join the roof to the front of the house, creating a sloped design, Sarah Fishburne, director of trend and design at The Home Depot , says.

Covered porch: The front porches of bungalows are typically long and covered. They're reached by a set of stairs at the entrance.

Open floor plan: The common areas of a bungalow fan out in one interconnected floor plan.

Small footprint: Bungalows typically have a small, cozy interior with less square footage than a basic single-family home.

Built-ins: Bungalows usually have a lot of built-insspecifically, bookcases in the living area and columns in the dining spacethat provide personality inside and out.

A Quick History of Bungalows

When British colonialists first created the bungalow style, they were settling temporarily in India during the 19th century and seeking properties that could be quickly constructed to provide shelter from the sun. Normally, the exterior of a bungalow-style home, also called a craftsman-style home, appears balanced and linear but not necessarily symmetrical, Fishburne says. Bungalow-style homes generally have a covered porch with square columns that serve as the greeting spot of the home, as well as a low-pitched roof and double-hung windows.

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Peter Murdock

When the colonialists returned to Britain, they brought this look home. The style began popping up on the English coasts, but it wasnt until this type of architecture reached California in the 1890s and into the 20th centuryas Los Angeles was beginning to boomthat bungalows became the de facto design for single-family properties. Architects Charles and Henry Greene are credited with introducing it in Pasadena, but soon bungalows were found across the States and adopted under various names. Frank Lloyd Wright, for instance, built prairie-style homes in the Midwest, which is a variation on the bungalow.

The bungalow style is simple yet detailed, Fishburne says. From its large front porch to the typical single-story floor plan, the architecture evokes a sense of nostalgia and attainability that resonates with many homeowners.

TONY SOLURI

The Pros and Cons of a Bungalow

Every type of home has its pros and cons. Here are a few to consider before buying a bungalow:

Low maintenance: Since bungalows are small and lower to the ground, they're easier to cleanwhether it involves cleaning the gutters or dusting the interiors.



Easy navigation: Bungalows often boast a stairless design, making them a bit safer and easier to navigate for those with limited mobility. It can also be safer for families with young children who might want to avoid any staircase accidents.

Limited space: Larger families may find it hard to reside in the limited square footage of bungalows. Not to mention, the open floor plan can present challenges for those who live with family members or roommates.

Privacy: With most of the rooms existing on the ground level and having large windows, privacy is definitely a factor to consider. Owners might want to consider adding exterior elements like trees to boost privacy.

You love beautiful homes. So do we. Lets obsess over them together.

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Gucci has joined forces with Chargeurs Luxury Fibers to boost regenerative wool as part of their NativaRegen program. The sustainability initiative works closely with 10 Uruguayan farms  one of them being La Soledad, managed by Gabriela Bordabehere.

Having kicked-off in mid-2022, the collaboration marks another chapter in Guccis sustainability strategy, fostering a new vision of the supply chain. Guccis climate action strategy has evolved to a nature-positive approach where regenerative agriculture plays a key role. Analyzing our supply chain, we realized that there were opportunities to address environmental challenges, said Antonella Centra, executive vice president and general counsel, corporate affairs and sustainability at Gucci.

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Launched by the luxury firm, which is led by president and chief executive officer Marco Bizzarri, in collaboration with Chargeurs Luxury Fibers, one of the worlds largest wool producers, the Nativa Regenerative Agriculture Program supports farmers with the critical funds needed to transition into regenerative practices.

Federico Paullier, Chargeurs Luxury Fibers CEO, said the endeavor involves 100,000 hectares of land. These farms were carefully selected by our team for their interest in improving the land and their wider ecosystems by thus transitioning into regenerative agriculture. This shift requires a change in farming practices, as well as accepting recommendations and working collaboratively with all partners, with the clear notion that results will be seen in the long term. In addition, the initiative includes supporting farmers and their surrounding communities, ensuring a program that is truly sustainable over time. La Soledad farm was the first one in Uruguay to embark on this project with us, Paullier said.

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Having a strong vision of the actions required to create a better future, Gucci has assembled a wide range of commitments together with Gucci Equilibrium, their platform fueling creativity, positive change for people and the planet, while seeking to reduce its environmental impact and protect nature.

Although its not the first mission of this kind  Gucci has been funding regenerative agriculture projects related to cattle, sheep and goat farming in the pastures of Montana and Patagonia since 2020  selecting Uruguayan farms for this project marks a pivotal milestone for the country and its farmers.

Gabriela Bordabehere, the farmer and entrepreneur leading La Soledad, is representative of the Uruguayans who are changing their practices to optimize the benefits of regenerative agriculture. Bordabehere took over her husbands company at age 40, and led La Soledad to become a model farm.

Intensive farming is considered to be one of the main activities responsible for the human-based emissions that lead to climate change. Breeding animals in a traditional agricultural production system generates nearly 15 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions and is a large contributor to environmental degradation in the form of deforestation, biodiversity loss and water pollution.

Following new technical-productive methods, La Soledad will eliminate synthetic agrochemical inputs and enhance the nutrient cycle within the farm to improve soil health and enable it to better sequester carbon, retain water and support biodiversity, while creating a thriving natural ecosystem.

Transitioning to regenerative practices in turn promotes soil health, increases biodiversity and supports animal welfare, pioneering, in addition, a new way of farming in these regions and supporting the farming community. Other actions will include the reintroduction of native forests in Uruguay and implementation of several measures to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, such as using renewable energy to power its facilities and planting trees to sequester carbon.

At the end of Milan Fashion Week last September, Gucci was presented with The Climate Action Award, which recognized the companys efforts to promote regenerative agriculture and highlighted the Nativa Regenerative Agriculture Program. Bordabehere joined Bizzarri on stage to accept the award at Teatro alla Scala.

Marco Bizzarri, Gabriella Bordabehere and Bethann Hardison accepting The Climate Action Award in Milan.

The financial support that is given to farmers to address the transition will also have some positive effects for the communities involved in the project. In this specific collaboration, on top of the 150 agricultural workers, the project benefits their families and the surrounding communities, with a direct impact on 200 people and an indirect impact on 450. By supporting these initiatives, we are sowing the seeds of our future supply chain, Centra said.

An initial quantity of 50 tonnes of wool will be received by Gucci every year starting from January and for an initial period of four years. The wool will be used in the brands collections over the next few seasons, contributing to a significant increase of its sustainably sourced wool, which will rise to 50 percent from the 38 percent in 2021.

As for how Bordabehere and her Uruguayan team will feel when the wool they farm enriches Guccis products, she said, We will be toasting with the satisfaction of a job well done and new goals met. Once again, we will feel proud to have been part of such an outstanding project.

Click here to read the full article.
Hail the Pumpkin Queen. Heidi Klums Halloween costumes through the years proves that she wins Halloween every damn time. For the past-20 years, Klum has been the queen of Halloween for over-the-top costumes, such as Fiona from Shrek, Jessica Rabbit and the werewolf from Michael Jacksons 1982 music video for Thriller.

Armed with hours worth of prosthetics, makeup and one-of-a-kind costumes, Klum never ceases to amaze us. (We mean, the woman hosts an annual star-studded Halloween party, so you know she loves the holiday.) In a 2018 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Klum explained that her love of Halloween stems from her childhood in Cologne, Germany, where she attended the countrys annual Karneval, a famous celebration filled with candy and wild costumes.

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I embrace that title! And I always want to live up to it, year after year, Klum said at the time of her Halloween Queen title. When I moved to America, I immediately fell in love with Halloween and the spookiness of it. All that was missing was a fantastic party. It felt like a real opportunity for me.

So how does she pull off her Halloween costumes each year? Well, Klum told THR that she starts thinking of next years costume the day after Halloween. I start thinking about it on Nov. 1! I usually have two or three ideas that Im playing with and then I decide on one thing. You have to decide at one point because pieces have to be built and all of that, she said. So right when the party is over, the morning of Nov. 1, I start thinking, Maybe next year, Im going to do that one that I didnt do this year. And then, obviously, throughout the year new things come into my mind because maybe Ive seen a movie, or I went to a country and was inspired by something I saw there. Look back on Heidi Klums Halloween costumes through the years ahead.

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Click here to read the full article.

A version of this article was originally published in 2016.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2022: A Worm

Image: Taylor Hill/Getty Images.

Heidi Klums 2022 Halloween costume was a life-sized worm. The head-to-toe costume was complete with ridges, a curved head and a long tail. Klums husband, Tom Kaulitz, dressed as a fisherman with a bloody eye and had the hook of his fishing rod attached to Klums costume. Klums whole body was covered except for her eyes and mouth, and her tan sneakers, which peaked through the bottom of her costume. Klum debuted her costume at her annual Halloween Partyat at Sake No Hana at the Moxy in New York City. Absolutely hooked on last nights looks , Klum captioned an Instagram photo of her costume.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2021: Her Own Horror Film Character Part 2

For Heidi Klums Halloween costume in 2021, she forwent her annual Halloween party again and filmed an original horror short film, where she paid tribute to several iconic horror films, including Psycho. The short film also saw her play several monsters, including a dead version of herself the emerges from her grave and a flesh-eating cannibal.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2020: Her Own Horror Film Character

Because Halloween was cancelled in 2020, Klum directed her own #HeidiHalloween2020 film, in which she was haunted by monsters in her house played by herself. Halloween is different this year, but that shouldnt stop us from getting creative at home  Be safe, be spooky, and spend time with family.  #HeidiHalloween2020, she captioned the five-minute movie on her Instagram.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2019: Flesh-Eating Alien

Image: RCF / MEGA.

For Heidi Klums 2019 Halloween costume, she and her husband, Tom Kaulitz, dressed as an out-of-this-world duo. Klum dressed as a near-naked, flesh-eating alien, while her husband was the bloody astronaut who had just been feasted on. Klums costume took 10 hours of prosthetics and makeup. She live-streamed the process of her Halloween costume on Amazon.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2019: Firework

Heidi Klum took a page out of Katy Perrys book for her second 2019 Halloween costume and dressed as a firework. The look consisted of tons of silver glitter. Her husband, Tom Kaulitz, accompanied her metallic look with a face covered in silver glitter.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2018: Fiona From Shrek

Image: FZS / MEGA.

For Heidi Klums 2018 Halloween costume, she and her husband, Tom Kaulitz, dressed as the main couple from the 2001 movie Shrek. Kaulitz was the titular character, while Klum dressed as Princess Fiona. Their looks, of course, were complete with green prosthetics for an authentic ogre look.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2017: The Werewolf in Thriller

Image: STB / MEGA.

Heidi Klums 2017 Halloween costume was the werewolf in the music video from Michael Jacksons 1982 song Thriller. The look consisted of a red-and-yellow letterman jacket, blue jeans and, of course, a werewolf mask and prosthetics that look identical to the monster in Jacksons video. Klum accompanied her costume with a mini-performance of Jacksons choreography in New York City.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2016: Clones

Image: Kristin Callahan/ACE Pictures.

On her own, Heidi Klums 2016 Halloween costume isnt that impressive. But with five clones of herself, the model won the holiday. For 2016, Kluim recruited five models that looked like her for a trippy Halloween costume. Each model, wore the same knee-high boots and leotards. Klums clones, of course, also had prosthetics to look even more identical to the model.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2015: Jessica Rabbit

Image Nancy Rivera/ACE Pictures.

Heidi Klums 2015 Halloween costume as Jessica Rabbit is one of her best. Klum looked almost identical to the cartoon character from 1988s Who Framed Roger Rabbit in a red curves-hugging dress, blue latex gloves and tons of prosthetics to mimic Jessica Rabbits unnatural proportions.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2014: Butterfly

Image: Newscom/Mega Agency.

For Heidi Klums 2014 Halloween costume, the model dressed as a butterfly with massive wings. She also painted her body in shades of blue and white to mimic the dazzling colors of a butterfly.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2012: Cleopatra

Image: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP.

Heidi Klums 2012 Halloween costume was Cleopatra. The model walked down the red carpet of her Halloween party dressed head to toe in goldincluding a royal headpiece.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2011: Human Body

Image:Joe Coomber/Sipa Press.

Heidi Klums 2011 Halloween costume was a human bodybut not just any human body. Klum dressed as a human body without hair or any skin. On the red carpet at her Halloween party, Klum also laid down on an operating table as fake doctors assessed her.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2011: Ape

Image: AP Photo/Evan Agostini.

Also for Heidi Klums 2011 Halloween costume, the model and her husband at the time, Seal, dressed as apes. The costumes were almost identical except Klums had obvious nipples showing.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2010: Robot

Image KRISTIN CALLAHAN  ACEPIXS.COM.

For Heidi Klums 2010 Halloween costume, the model wore stilts and dressed as a sky-high red and purple robot. Next to her was her husband, Seal, who dressed as a much-shorter silver bot.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2009: Crow

Image: RAMEY PHOTO.

The model is known for her legs, so it came as no surprise that Heidi Klums 2009 Halloween costume was a sexy crow. On top, Klum was a crow, complete with black wings and a beak. On the bottom, the model showed off her best assets: her legs in knee-high boots.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2008: Hindu Goddess

Image: Newscom/(Mega Agency.

One of her problematic costumes, Heidi Klums 2008 Halloween costume was Kali, the Hindu goddess of death and time (or at least her interpretation of the goddess). The look consisted of a blue multi-armed costume and swords.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2007: Cat

Image: AP Photo/Dan Steinberg.

Heidi Klums 2007 Halloween costume was anything but basic. The model looked straight out of the Cats Broadway musical in this authentic furry costume.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2006: Forbidden Fruit

Image: AP Photo/Chris Polk.

For Heidi Klums 2006 Halloween costume, the model channeled the Bible story about Eve and the Forbidden Fruit. She dressed as both the fruit and the snake. Her husband at the time, Seal, was Eve.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2005: Vampire

Image: Newscom/(Mega Agency.

Sure, vampires are common around Halloween, but Heidi Klums 2005 Halloween costume was one of the better bloodsuckers weve seen.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2004: Witch

Image: Newscom/Mega Agency.

Heidi Klums 2004 costume wasnt your average witch. The model accompanied her outfit with bones, a bright red wigs and a broomstick.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2002: Betty Boop

Image: Newscom/Mega Agency.

Heidi Klums 2002 Halloween costume as Betty Boop will go down in Halloween history. From the eyelashes to the curls, she nailed this look. Of course, she had to add her own Halloween flair with vampire fangs.

Heidi Klum Halloween Costume 2001: Lady Godiva

Image: Newscom/Mega Agency.

For Heidi Klums 2001 Halloween costume, the model rode into a Halloween party on a horse as Lady Godiva. Her look was complete with a down-to-the-floor-long wig and an ethereal headpiece.

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The family of an Italian teenager who died by suicide at an international boarding school in Thornwood after being disciplined for cheating has filed a lawsuit against the school and several of its administrators.

Claudio Mandia hung himself on Feb. 17, just days before his 18th birthday, in a room at EF Academy where he had been kept for four days of what the lawsuit terms solitary confinement following his expulsion for academic dishonesty.

He had gotten another student to complete a math paper for him at a time when, his family said, he was under extreme stress. There had been a death in the family and schoolwork was piling up after he returned late from winter break because he and family members had contracted COVID.

It was painfully foreseeable that forcing (him) into solitary confinement, malnourishing him, and inadequately supervising him after delivering the life-altering news that he would be expelled  all while he was enduring other hardships that EF Academy knew about and was treating him for  could result in his tragic death, alleges the lawsuit, filed Friday in state Supreme Court in Westchester County.

George Bochetto, right, an attorney with Bochetto & Lentz, sits with Mauro and Elisabetta Mandia of Battipaglia, Italy, during a press conference Nov. 1, 2022, announcing a lawsuit against EF Academy in Thornwood. The Mandias' son, Claudio, 17, died by suicide at EF Academy in Thornwood in February 2022 after being placed in what the family's lawsuit alleges was solitary confinement for four days after he was expelled for cheating.

The lawsuit alleges that school officials were aware of his mental instability in the final weeks and never should have placed him in solitary confinement, a treatment that is prohibited for minors in U.S. prisons and has been linked to an increased risk of adolescent suicide.

Mandia  and his parents Mauro and Elisabetta from their home in Battipaglia, Italy  repeatedly asked for the punishment to be lifted. His parents blame that isolation for his decision to end his life.

"He was a very open guy, with his attitude with his very positive character," his father said at a news conference in White Plains on Tuesday. "He was far away, millions of miles, from a concept like suicide."

Their Philadelphia-based lawyer George Bochetto said that the school should have been on notice from a suicide attempt 15 months earlier by another expelled student who was kept in isolation.

Story continues

"They persisted in this barbarous protocol," Bochetto said of school officials.

The school said in a statement Monday that it remained "deeply saddened" by Mandia's death and that "the safety of our school community is always our top priority, and we take the physical and mental wellbeing of our students extremely seriously."

But it emphasized that the lawsuit contained "multiple inaccurate statements."

"In particular, the student was awaiting his departure from the school in an unlocked student dorm room, and at no time was he placed in solitary confinement without social interactions or access to other resources and facilities," the statement read. "The narrative that is shared in the legal filing is not accurate or based on fact. We are confident that the legal process will allow us to provide and prove a fact-based legal case recounting what actually transpired."

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Bochetto said that the family is intent on changes to state education law that would require all private schools to adhere to the same guidelines as public schools related to prohibitions against the isolation of students.

Mandia was forbidden from leaving the room on his own and was served his meals there, although the lawsuit identified a 24-hour period when he claimed to have gotten no food.

Presumably to punish (him) for cheating, as if expulsion and public humiliation weren't enough, EF Academy made conditions even more unbearable for him by isolating him in a room away from all other students and faculty, the lawsuit contends.

But it did cite several instances when Mandia was allowed to leave the room and see either students or staff members, and that a teacher did bring him to the gym one evening.

On Feb. 16, the night before his parents were scheduled to pick him up, several of his friends were able to visit him in the room. They were accompanied by two administrators. The students noticed on his neck what the lawsuit calls ligature marks indicative of a suicide attempt. They asked him about the marks and he claimed he fell in the shower.

The campus at EF Academy in Thornwood.

Whether the administrators saw the marks is unclear. The lawsuit alleges that they should have and even if they didn't they should have recognized Mandia was in a vulnerable state instead of leaving him in isolation again when the classmates left.

The next day, one of his three sisters, who was also an EF student, went to the director of mental services, Chelsea Lovece, who had been a social worker counseling Claudio since late 2020. The sister was concerned because she had not heard from him that morning. She said Lovece told her she'd knocked on the door that morning but got no answer and figured Claudio was sleeping. When Lovece went again later in the morning she found Claudio hanging from a torn bed sheet tied to the railing of the top bunk bed, according to the lawsuit.

The area of the school where Mandia hung himself did not have suicide prevention measures that were present in other locations, the lawsuit alleges, including where another Italian student was kept the previous year after attempting suicide. According to the lawsuit, Mandia had noticed slash marks on that boy's wrists and had gotten him help, and the former student credits him with saving his life.

Alleging wrongful death, negligence, false imprisonment, infliction of emotional distress and other claims, the lawsuit seeks unspecified damages against EF International Academy; its parent company EF Education First; and several employees, including the head of the school, Vladimir Kuskovski; Lovece; Wayne Walton, the dean of students; and Jenna Korn, a counselor at the school at the time whose title was pathway manager.

According to the lawsuit, Mauro Mandia arranged a Zoom meeting with Korn on Feb. 15 to discuss his son's isolation but she had to reschedule after missing it. He wrote an angry email:

"I don't like your organization, the moralism of your school is childlike. Treating my son like a criminal left solitary in a room because give shame to the honor of your school is ridiculous," he wrote, concluding later with "we don't have much to discuss I guess. Enjoy and have fun with your ridiculous rules."

Korn responded but did not address the father's specific reference to solitary.

"The school protocol is to move students out of their dorm room if they are departing campus as it makes the transition smoother for all," she wrote.

The lawsuit accuses the school of never informing Mandia's parents that he was receiving mental health treatment and that Lovece was not properly authorized to provide clinical social work. Asked about the lawsuit's specific allegations of malpractice involving Lovece, a spokesman said "we have been and continue to be in compliance with all regulatory requirements."

Mandia, referred to in the lawsuit as the heir to his familys frozen pizza export company, spent his junior year of high school at EF Academy and returned in the fall of 2021 for his senior year. When he and his mother and a sibling contracted COVID-19 back home during winter break, he remained in Italy and was taking care of his mother as her condition worsened. His father, who tested negative, had gone to stay at a hotel.

By the time he got back to EF, he had fallen behind in his work and was seeking help from Lovece.

Mandia was confronted about the cheating on Feb. 8, two days after learning his relative had died. He admitted what he did, attributing it to being distraught and struggling to catch up with school work. He had a disciplinary hearing on Feb. 10 and his parents wrote a detailed apology to school officials, who said they would take the weekend to make a decision.

The lawsuit emphasizes that it was the expulsion on Feb. 14 and the subsequent isolation that drove Mandia to take his own life. The whole weekend he was making plans for the following week, including a trip to Manhattan with a friend and what he would do with his parents and siblings who were visiting him for his birthday. He even sent his mother a list of things he wanted her to bring for him.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Italian family sues EF Academy in over son Claudio Mandia's suicide
The fallout from the incident between Michigan State and Michigan inside of the Michigan Stadium tunnel has been vast. Now, Jim Harbaugh took the podium to address the media on the incident during his weekly press conference.

Harbaugh had some strong language and sentiments towards Michigan State, Mel Tucker and the incident that unfolded.

You can find some of the notable quotes from Harbaughs press conference and his thoughts on the situation here:

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

Jim Harbaugh says the tunnel incident was sickening and egregious. Says they have additional footage of what took place.  Alejandro Zuniga (@ByAZuniga) October 31, 2022

Mel Tucker has not reached out to Jim Harbaugh, Harbaugh said on Monday.  Brad Galli (@BradGalli) October 31, 2022

Gemon Green and JaDen McBurrows were the only two players involved. Harbaugh says they are always among the first to head up the tunnel.  Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) October 31, 2022

Harbaugh: Ongoing police investigation. What happened was egregious. Sickening to see the videos on social mediaThere needs to be accountability, a full throughout and timely investigation. I cant imagine this wont result in criminal charges. Clear what transpired.  Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) October 31, 2022

These young men are entrusted to me by their families. To treat them like their own. An apology will not cut it. There have to be consequences. This has been a traumatic experience for everyone, especially JaDen and Gemon, and we will support them in every possible way.  Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) October 31, 2022

I dont buy any excuse on the rivalry or the tunnel. These are the actions of these individuals and they need to be held accountable for them.  Harbaugh  Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) October 31, 2022

Gemon Green and JaDen McBurrows were the only two players involved. Harbaugh says they are always among the first to head up the tunnel.  Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) October 31, 2022

That footage has not been made available to this point, but ABC did have a tunnel cam and that vantage point is being used in the police investigation.  Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) October 31, 2022

Story originally appeared on Spartans Wire
October 31, 2022 | 05:00 pm PT

VMO Holdings has contributed to the success of hundreds of partners in Vietnam and other countries by providing technology solutions in healthcare and agriculture.

VMO Holdings Joint Stock Company has marked its 10-year milestone with 1,200 employees and branches in international market including Japan and the U.S. The company is expected to positively affect the national digital transformation process.

According to the latest statistics from the National Digital Transformation Department, the digital economys share of GDP accounted for 10,41% in June 2022, up from 9,6% at the end of 2021. Vietnam has set a goal to increase the digital economy GDP share to 20% by 2025.

The national digital transformation program has dual goals: developing digital government, economy, and society; and forming digital technology enterprises in Vietnam to join the global market.

VMO combines its initiatives with national and community missions and promises to be a positive factor in the digitizing process. VMO is also devoted to spreading the spirit of "technology for lifes sake" in Vietnam and is expected to be a howling success in the international market.

Services provided by VMO have played important roles in the process of building and developing applications for IoT in agriculture, traffic, and healthcare, not only in Vietnam but also in the global market.

VMO has 1,200 employees and branches in international market. Photo by VMO

Of all the services VMO has supplied, digital transformation in agriculture has brought positive changes by providing storage and transportation monitoring solutions. Products use wireless sensors to monitor temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide (CO2) and connect to the software to support wharehouse quality. Seven of the 10 largest grain companies in the U.S. trust this solution for grain transportation and storage monitoring.

An IT team at VMO. Photo by VMO

VMO Holdings' IoT technology is typically applied in projects by using the 3G/4G platform to transmit data anywhere, using Lithium batteries to extend the device life, and support real-time tracking and notification. Besides, the use of AI/ML allows for the prediction of possible problems with warehouses while the SAAS platform provides extensibility and customization depending on customer needs.

According to WHO statistics, by 2022, the world has wasted about 1.4 billion tons of food every year. In particular, more than 30% of food is lost or wasted each year due to problems in agricultural storage and preservation, leading to a loss in cost. VMO Holdings solutions have been deployed in many countries in the world, playing a key role in solving the cost problem, while benefitting both businesses and people.

In the field of healthcare, VMO Holdings' digital transformation project provides solutions to design and offers a secure cloud platform that allows units to provide online healthcare programs. Hospitals and clinics can connect with their patients remotely via digital platforms like websites and apps.

The platform can automatically take care of patients remotely through app notifications, instructions, and updates, covering patient surveys, physiological data, and medical records.

Service providers can expand their scope of care from the hospital to the family by managing and querying patient information, following an appropriate treatment route, explaining the patients questions on physiological data, and collecting additional population health data. All these services are operated online.

Currently, VMO Holdings' digital transformation platform has been deployed in hundreds of hospitals and clinics across the world, providing more optimal utilities in the field of healthcare.

Chief Executive Officer, Hoang Tuan Hai. Photo by VMO Holdings

VMO Holdings has won the Sao Khue Award in 2022, and received a Commendation from the Minister of Information and Communications for making substantial contributions to the development of technology in Vietnam.
One week from Election Day, the GOP is rallying around Ohio's Senate contest, which could provide a solid win among other unpredictable races. Also in the news: South Korea's police have blamed themselves for a deadly surge that killed over 150 people. Everything we know about the attack on Paul Pelosi.

 I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. No one made a lucky draw yesterday, so there's still a chance to win the $1.2 billion Powerball jackpot.

Welcome to November. Here's the news.

Will Ohio help Republicans take control of the Senate?

Republican leaders in Ohio and across the country have trained their focus on reclaiming control of the House and Senate to serve as a buffer against President Joe Biden's priorities. While the party deals with unpredictable races in states such as Pennsylvania and Georgia, Republicans hope Ohio  which went for former President Donald Trump twice  will show up for U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Vance. Read more

The takeaway: Ohio's Senate race is one of the most competitive in the country. If votes don't perform for Vance, Republicans worry a GOP majority could be at risk.

 Want more midterms? Check out our hub on the key races to watch.

This combination of photos shows Ohio Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, on March 28, 2022, in Wilberforce, Ohio, left, and Republican candidate JD Vance on Aug. 5, 2022, in Dallas.

South Korea police admit responsibility for Halloween tragedy

South Koreas police chief has admitted a responsibility for failing to prevent a recent crowd surge that killed more than 150 people during Halloween festivities in Seoul. Police chief Yoon Hee Keun said Tuesday that officers didnt effectively handle earlier emergency calls about the impending disaster. President Yoon Suk Yeol announced a weeklong national mourning period following the Saturday crowd surge that occurred as tens of thousands of mostly young Halloween revelers celebrated in the popular nightlife area of Itaewon. Police said they have launched a 475-member task force to investigate the tragedy. Read more

Story continues

Shoes are seen among a huge collection items found in Itaewon following South Koreas deadliest crowd surge, at a temporary lost and found center at a gym in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. Police have assembled the crumpled tennis shoes, loafers and Chuck Taylors, part of 1.5 tons of personal objects left by victims and survivors of the tragedy, in hopes that the owners, or their friends and family, will retrieve them.

More news to know now

 What's the weather? Check your local forecast here.

Ukrainians grapple with power outages as winter approaches

Rolling blackouts are increasing across Ukraine as the government rushes to stabilize the energy grid and repair the system ahead of winter. Yet the unpredictable power cuts are adding another layer of angst and uncertainty to a population already struggling to cope with the stress of nearly nine months of war. Moscow has openly declared its intention to strike power stations and drive the country into the cold. Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine's infrastructure during Monday morning rush hour for the third time this month, sending commuters scrambling for cover and crippling basic services for hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians. Read more

A car passes as city lighting turned off at twilight in Kyiv downtown, Ukraine, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Rolling blackouts are increasing across Ukraine as the government rushes to stabilize the energy grid and repair the system ahead of winter.

Nine people arrested after bridge collapses into river in India

Police in western India arrested nine people on Monday as they investigated the collapse of a newly repaired 143-year-old suspension bridge in one of the country's worst accidents in years, officials said. The collapse Sunday evening in Gujarat state plunged hundreds of people into a river, killing at least 134. As families mourned the dead, attention turned to why the pedestrian bridge, built during British colonialism in the late 1800s and touted by the state's tourism website as an "artistic and technological marvel," collapsed and who might be responsible. The bridge had reopened just four days earlier. Read more

Rescuers on boats search in the Machchu river next to a cable suspension bridge that collapsed in Morbi, India, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022.

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What we know about the attack on Paul Pelosi

Federal prosecutors charged David DePape, the man accused of violently attacking Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, while he continues to recover from the attack after surgery. DePape, 42, of Richmond, California, has been jailed since he was arrested early Friday after the attack at Pelosi's home. Police confronted him allegedly struggling with Paul Pelosi and striking him on the head with a hammer. Read more

History of threats against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: ''It's here; we shouldn't be surprised.''

A police officer stands outside the home of Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. Paul Pelosi was attacked and severely beaten by an assailant with a hammer who broke into their San Francisco home early Friday, according to people familiar with the investigation.

 Photo of the day: Dia de los Muertos: See dazzling displays, costumes, colorful skulls 

Dia de los Muertos  or Day of the Dead  gives families time to honor and remember loved ones that are no longer in the "land of the living." Known for dazzling displays and the colorful calaveras  decorated skulls  people make or use as makeup, the holiday's origins go back a couple of millennia in Mexico, to the time of the Aztec empire. The holiday is celebrated on two days: Nov. 1 is in remembrance of the young and Nov. 2 is for adults. Read more

Click here to see more photos of Dia de los Muertos celebrations.

People take part in the "Day of the Dead Parade" in Mexico City on October 29, 2022.

One more thing

Kentucky running back La'Vell Wright, left, is tackled by Tennessee defensive back Jourdan Thomas (25) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note, shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this  subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ohio Senate race, South Korea, Ukraine power, Paul Pelosi, India bridge: Daily Briefing
On today's episode of the 5 Things podcast: Supreme Court signals skepticism of race-conscious college admissions

USA TODAY Supreme Court correspondent John Fritze explains. Plus, President Jair Bolsonaro still has not conceded in Brazil's election, USA TODAY national correspondent Bill Keveney looks at a push for progressive men to raise their voices on abortion rights, a slew of charges is unveiled against the attacker on Paul Pelosi and Twitter users may soon have to pay to get verified.

Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here.

Hit play on the player above to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript below. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.

Taylor Wilson:

Good morning. I'm Taylor Wilson and this is 5 things you need to know Tuesday, the 1st of November 2022. Today the Supreme Court on whether colleges may consider the race of their applicants, plus the latest from Brazil where Jair Bolsonaro still has not conceded and more.



The Supreme Court gathered yesterday to debate one of its most important questions of the term. Producer PJ Elliott spoke with USA TODAY Supreme Court correspondent John Fritze to find out more on whether colleges may consider the race of their applicants.

John Fritze:

There's two cases here, one involving UNC, one involving Harvard, and they're both pretty much raising the same question, which is whether these colleges can consider race when they do their admissions. And it seemed pretty clear that the majority of the court's conservatives were opposed to that idea. I don't think there's any question really that the court is going to rule against the schools. I think the question at this point is how far they go.

PJ Elliott:

John, what are the potential ripple effects of this case?

John Fritze:

There's been a lot of debate about that. A lot of academics feel like there could potentially be ripple effects into the private sector economy, into the employment economy, a lot of companies these days have DEI, diversity and inclusion programs intended to really reverse systemic discrimination and racism. That's not directly at issue in this case, we want to be clear about that, but the way things work at the Supreme Court is when you get a decision one way, there's often a bunch of other litigation that comes up behind it.

Story continues

PJ Elliott:

So what happens next?

John Fritze:

They are now going to go back and hand drafts back and forth for the next several months, and I expect we will not get a ruling anytime soon. I suspect this is going to be one they're going to do at the very end of the term, likely in June of next year.

Taylor Wilson:

You can find John's full story in today's episode description.



A full day after losing Brazil's runoff presidential election, President Jair Bolsonaro has still not conceded. As of last night, he still hadn't spoken to the public or the media neither conceding nor challenging the election's results as some have feared. Left-leaning former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won the runoff Sunday night with 50.9% of the vote to Bolsonaro's 49.1%. It was the closest election since Brazil's return to democracy in 1985. This was the scene as thousands of Lula supporters took the streets of Sao Paulo to celebrate.

[Sounds of celebration]

And unlike Bolsonaro, Lula spoke...

Translation of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva:

"It's not fair for a people so kind, so affectionate, a population that likes music like Samba, happy people to suffer so much because of a fascist government that didn't like people, who didn't like Black people, who didn't like indigenous people."

Taylor Wilson:

Before the runoff, Bolsonaro had repeatedly questioned the reliability of his country's electronic voting system, similar to former President Donald Trump who he admires. He also said he has proof of fraud, though has not provided any evidence. But in his silence, many of his closest allies publicly said he lost. Lower House Speaker Arthur Lira told reporters on Sunday, "The will of the majority seen on ballots shall never be contested." Sao Paulo's governor elect and others also sent blessings to Lula. Like Trump, Bolsonaro has his own legal concerns. He's the target of a Supreme Court inquiry and to the spread of fake news and a Senate investigation has recommended that he be charged with crimes for his mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his previous presidency from 2003 to 2010, Lula expanded a widespread social welfare program, but he's also remembered for corruption and served nearly two years in prison. This time around, he's pledged to boost spending on the poor, reestablish relationships with foreign governments and ban clear cutting in the Amazon rainforest.



In the wake of the Supreme Court's rejection of Roe vs. Wade, progressive men are being called on to raise their voices and become more active for abortion rights. PJ Elliott spoke with USA TODAY National Correspondent Bill Keveney for more.

Bill Keveney:

The conservative men is a reference to a lot of the legislators and governors in states that have passed strict abortion bans. But for progressive men, there are various groups and efforts that are trying to persuade men to support abortion rights, particularly in their choices in the election to make their voices heard. It's partly that abortion so directly affects women. So much of the focus has been on women, rightly so, but men are voters, too. They have opinions and there's a call on both sides, but in particular because of so much opposition to the Supreme Court decision for more liberal men to come out to persuade others and to vote in support of abortion rights.

PJ Elliott:

Bill, let's talk about Kansas for a second. What happened there and how were they able to uphold abortion rights despite being such a conservative state?

Bill Keveney:

Kansas is a conservative state, but it's also a reminder that states can be red or blue, but they're not monolithic and they're a little bit more like the Western states where some of the conservative is more of a libertarian conservatism, and I think a lot of this was seen as perhaps whether should government be involved in this decision, in a personal decision.



Taylor Wilson:

A 42-year old man has been charged with attempted murder, assault, and attempted kidnapping in connection with the violent attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In announcing charges against David DePape, the Justice Department said the suspect told police that he was looking for Nancy Pelosi and wanted to break her kneecaps if she did not answer his questions truthfully. Federal authorities hit him with a special assault charge that carries up to 30 years in prison and with attempted kidnapping of a United States official. The suspect allegedly assaulted Paul Pelosi with a hammer and police say he carried a backpack with tape, rope, gloves, and zip ties. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins also unveiled her own charges, attempted murder, elderly abuse, threats to a public official and other local charges.

Brooke Jenkins:

What is clear based on the evidence that we have thus far is that this house and the speaker herself were specifically targets of the defendant.

Taylor Wilson:

According to court documents, Paul Pelosi engaged in conversation with the suspect before moving to a bathroom where he called 911. The attack came just over a week before midterm elections and amid a surge in threats against public officials. On the day of the Pelosi attack, a joint bulletin was released by the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, National Counterterrorism Center and US Capitol Police. It read, "The most plausible domestic violent extremist threat is posed by lone offenders who leverage election-related issues to justify violence. Enduring perceptions of election fraud related to the 2020 general election continue to contribute to the radicalization of some domestic violent extremists and likely would increase their sensitivity to any new claims perceived as reaffirming their belief that US elections are corrupt."



The process to get that coveted blue check mark on Twitter may soon change. New Twitter owner and CEO Elon Musk said that the social media platform will change its verification process, tweeting yesterday that it's being revamped. He did not give any specific details, but there are reports that the company plans to charge $20 a month to be verified. The platform previously launched its Twitter Blue subscription service offering what it calls premium features, including the undo tweet feature. As of now, users can be verified without subscribing to Blue, but the company is now considering a plan that would require verified users to subscribe for $4.99 a month or risk losing their verification, according to the Platformer, a Silicon Valley newsletter. And technology news website The Verge is reporting that the company will actually raise the price of Twitter Blue to $19.99 a month. The current verification process has been free, but the account must be what Twitter calls authentic, notable, and active.

Meanwhile, Musk has already made sweeping changes to Twitter's leadership. He fired top executives and made himself CEO last week. He's since also ousted all nine members of Twitter's board making him sole director. He's reportedly considering bringing back the video platform Vine, which shut down in 2016. As for his plans on content moderation, he tweeted on Friday that he's forming a content moderation council with diverse viewpoints. Critics have said they worry the app will become a cesspool of misinformation and hate speech without major restrictions. Others have applauded Musk for possibly lifting limits on speech. It's still not clear whether Musk will let some banned accounts back on like that of former President Donald Trump.

Thanks for listening to 5 Things. You can find us every day of the year right here, wherever you're listeningright now. Thanks to PJ Elliott for his great work on the show, and I'm back tomorrow with more of 5 Things from USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SCOTUS affirmative action skepticism, Paul Pelosi attack: 5 Things podcast
Warning: This story contains distressing images and information

A Canadian was among the people injured in the Halloween stampede that killed at least 150 people in Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday, Global Affairs says.

Global Affairs Canada is aware that a Canadian is injured in the mass casualty incident in Seoul, the government agency said in an email to Yahoo News Canada. Canadian officials are in contact with local authorities to gather additional information and stand ready to provide consular assistance.

Global Affairs Canada did not provide more information about the injured person or their condition due to privacy considerations.

Canada offers its deepest condolences to the families and friends of those killed during yesterdays Halloween festivities and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured, the department said in a tweet issued on Sunday. To our friends in South Korea, we stand with you during this difficult time.

Tens of thousands of people had crowded into narrow streets and alleyways of Seouls popular district Itaewon on Saturday for the first unrestricted Halloween festivities in three years.

A street in Itaewon district is pictured full of people before a stampede during Halloween festivities killed and injured many in Seoul, South Korea

The crowd consisted of mostly young people and teens, many of them in their early 20s, were celebrating in one particular alley when they became trapped and crushed as a huge crowd surged into the narrow street. Officials say at least 153 people died and 133 people were injured, making it South Koreas worst disaster in years.

Nearly two-thirds of those who were trapped and crushed  97  were women. Most were in their 20s and 30s, and at least four were teenagers.

South Korea's Ministry of Interior and Safety said at least 20 foreigners were among the dead, from China, Iran, Russia, the United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Australia, Sri Lanka, and Norway, with several people still unidentified.

U.S. State Department later confirmed at least two U.S. citizens were killed in the stampede.

Videos online showed emergency workers and pedestrians desperately performing CPR on people lying in the streets.

Story continues

South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo promised the country a thorough investigation into the matter that caused the deaths of many people.

The government will undertake a thorough investigation into what caused this accident and do its best to make necessary institutional changes so that such an accident is not repeated, Han said.

Identification has been completed for all of the 154 deceased except one, and I believe it is time for follow-up measures such as funeral procedures to be carried out in earnest, Han added.

President Yoon Suk-yeol has declared a period of national mourning and designated Itaewon a disaster zone. He also visited a memorial altar near the Seoul city hall and paid his respects to victims on Monday.

During a televised speech, Yoon said supporting the families of the victims, including their funeral preparations, and the treatment of the injured would be a top priority for his government.

The world reacts to tragic stampede

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined other international leaders in offering condolences to South Korea on Saturday following the deadly stampede.

Im thinking of everyone affected by this tragedy, and wishing a fast and full recovery to those who were injured, Trudeau said in a tweet.

On behalf of Canadians, Im sending my deepest condolences to the people of South Korea today, following a deadly stampede in Seoul. Im thinking of everyone affected by this tragedy, and wishing a fast and full recovery to those who were injured.  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 29, 2022

Korean American author and journalist Min Jin Lee also reacted to the news on Twitter and said, "I cannot imagine the heartbreak and despair" in a tweet.

We lost 151 people a few hours ago in Seoul. Over 80 were injured. Thousands have been reported missing, Most of those killed or injured were under thirty years old. An estimated 100,000 people were celebrating Halloween in Itaewon. I cannot imagine the heartbreak and despair.  Min Jin Lee (@minjinlee11) October 30, 2022

The Branksome Hall community in Canada and around the globe mourns alongside our sister school, Branksome Hall Asia, our South Korean alum, and all those impacted by the tragic events that took place on Saturday evening in Seoul, South Korea, at the Halloween festivities.  Branksome Hall (@branksomehall) October 31, 2022

Seoul and Itaewon, one of its most vibrant neighborhoods, suffered so much today. I have no words. Its an incredible loss. It is so sad to me that these young people have died after they had gone out looking for a taste of a different culture and a night of fun. No words.  Kelly Kasulis Cho (@KasulisK) October 29, 2022

So many young Koreans go to Itaewon for Halloween because it has a particular freedom, openness, and meeting of cultures like nowhere else in Seoul. A place to let your hair down and enjoy. For that energy, bottled up for two years, to have ended like this... just unbelievable.  Sokeel Park  (@Sokeel) October 30, 2022

Jill and I are devastated to learn that at least two Americans are among so many who lost their lives in Seoul. Our hearts go out to their loved ones in this time of grief, and we continue to pray for the recovery of all who were injured.  President Biden (@POTUS) October 30, 2022

Kenya mourns with the people of South Korea following the tragic crush that claimed many lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those affected.  William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) October 30, 2022

Canadians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa directly at +1 613 996 8885 (collect calls are accepted where available), at 001-800-2326-6831, 008-800-2326-6831, 002-800-2326-6831 (toll-free from South Korea) or via SMS at +1-613-686-3658 (carrier charges may apply). An email can also be sent to sos@international.gc.ca.
Because the best reason to roast a turkey is for all the leftovers.

Happy Lark/Getty Images

Cooking a Thanksgiving turkey is no small feat. Not only is it the most important entree of the year (no pressure), but its quite likely the only giant piece of poultry youll cook all year, making it more labor intensive (all that brining, basting, and butter-rubbing is serious work) than most proteins that go in your oven. Make your turkey work for you by storing your Thanksgiving turkey leftovers properly so you can get the most out of every morsel. Heres how to store leftover turkey, the right way.

How to Store Thanksgiving Turkey

Resist the urge to toss the meaty turkey carcass into your fridge, and take a few minutes to store your Thanksgiving turkey correctly to preserve texture and flavor. The best way to store leftover turkey is in a plastic bag, suggests Yankel Polak, head chef at ButcherBox. Not only does this take up the least amount of room in the fridge, but less air in the bag will keep your turkey fresher for longer, as compared to a large food storage container.

:

If your turkey is already broken down and sliced, organize bags by white meat and dark meat for easy reheating. If you have larger pieces of turkey, like an unsliced breast, store it intact to keep in the juices until the meat is reheated. Leftover turkey will stay fresh in the fridge for up to five days. Make sure the bags stay tightly sealed. Reusable silicone bags can work as well.

People get tired of turkey pretty quickly. A good way to use it is to get really creative with leftover creations, Polak says. Find different recipes other than your typical turkey sandwich to keep things interesting and delicious! And to not let all the hard work you put into making that Thanksgiving turkey go to waste.

Can You Freeze Thanksgiving Turkey?

If you wont consume your leftover Thanksgiving turkey within a few days, your best bet is to freeze the meat. Better yet, plan ahead to preserve the meat, and don't cut it up too much before freezing.

Story continues

:

The best situation for freezing turkey is to freeze it in larger chunks versus slicing it, Polak says. Keeping the meat in big chunks means less exposure to air to ensure freshness. The best way to store it is a vacuum seal. If you dont have access to a vacuum sealer, do a double or triple plastic bag and press all the air out. Keep meat on the bone, even if it may take up a little extra space in your freezer.



If youre proactive, you can also make turkey soup or other dishes with your leftover turkey, and then freeze it. Save the whole carcass after carving and all of it can go into a soup, Polak says. Make a rich bone broth to freeze in plastic quart containers or in an ice cube tray for quick defrosting. This frozen broth can be used as the base of soups and stews all winter.

How to Send Guests Home With Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey

Since guests will likely eat their leftovers promptly, feel free to skip the plastic bag and go for a full meal container, complete with gravy, sides and whatever else you want to pawn off on loved ones for their day-after lunch.

:

The best way to send guests home with leftover turkey is in extra food storage containers that you feel comfortable with never seeing again! Polak says. Food storage containers also allow you to add other leftover sides to create little to-go turkey dinners for your guests. The gesture will be much appreciated, and free up space in your refrigerator.

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Read the original article on Real Simple.
Insider's author explored an abandoned WWII complex on New Zealand's Waiheke Island. Monica Humphries/Insider

Fort Stony Batter sits on the east end of Waiheke Island, New Zealand.

During WWII, it was built as a coastal defense fortress with tunnels, bunkers, and gun pits.

The fortress sat abandoned for 60 years. Today, it's open to the public to explore.

Most visitors who ferry to Waiheke Island off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand, visit to taste local wine and explore beaches. While I was eager to sip the region's reds and whites, there was another reason I traveled here.

Vineyards near the Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

Source: Waiheke Local Board

I came to visit Fort Stony Batter, an abandoned coastal defense fortress commissioned in 1942 during World War II, the fort's archaeological project manager, Timothy Moon, told Insider.

A view from Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

Source: Fort Stony Batter

The fortress, which has tunnels, chambers, and gun pits, is a heritage site owned by the New Zealand government, according to New Zealand's Department of Conservation. It sits on the eastern end of Waiheke Island, surrounded by farmland and vineyards, Moon said.

A Google Maps image of where the Stony Batter Historic Reserve is located. Google Maps

Source: New Zealand's Department of Conservation

The fortress was built following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, according to Radio New Zealand.

The American destroyer USS Shaw explodes during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Source: Radio New Zealand

As an Allied force, New Zealand commissioned three defense fortresses, including Fort Stony Batter, which were all built in total military secrecy, Moon said.

A cement building at Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

By the time the fortress was finished, the war was over. New Zealand was never attacked, and Fort Stony Batter's tunnels were never used, according to New Zealand's Department of Conservation. Instead, the site became a ghost town.

A close up of one building on the property. Monica Humphries/Insider

Source: New Zealand's Department of Conservation

For 60 years, the buildings and tunnels sat abandoned. The tunnels flooded with water, and according to Fort Stony Batter's website, locals were often spotted exploring the underground passageways.

A building at Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

Source: Fort Stony Batter



One of those explorers was Moon. "We would often venture out into the fortress, explore its dark, underground tunnels, get lost, and scare ourselves silly," Moon, who has lived on the island for 27 years, said.

Story continues

A person walks through Fort Stony Batter tunnels. Fort Stony Batter

Then in 2002, a group of Waiheke volunteers started cleaning up the tunnels. They disbanded in 2012, and the tunnels again sat empty, Moon said.

An entrance to tunnels built during WWII. Monica Humphries/Insider

In 2017, Moon, who has an interest in archaeology and anthropology, had the idea for a one-off event inside one of the fort's underground chambers. That's what catalyzed a complete restoration, he said, and led Moon to reopen the tunnels to the public for daily exploration.

An underground chamber now has a grand piano and hosts concerts. Fort Stony Batter

So in 2021, after years of self-funded restoration, the tunnels reopened for tours and events like underground concerts, art exhibits, and meditation sessions. Since then, 12,000 people have explored the massive, underground fortress, Moon said.

A section of a tunnel at the Fort Stony Batter. Fort Stony Batter

Source: Radio New Zealand

This summer, I was one of them. I arrived at Fort Stony Batter during Waiheke's off-season in June, which is winter on the island. While the tunnels are open every day in summer, they were not when I arrived, along with the tour office. Moon said this was likely due to the off-season and pandemic.

The closed sign at the entrance to the Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

This meant I couldn't explore the underground tunnels. Luckily, the public can access the 50-acre property any day, so I was able to wander around the fort's historic above-ground buildings, which included gun pits and bunkers.

A view of the interior of one of the buildings. Monica Humphries/Insider

I parked my rental car and set out on a muddy path to the defense fortress.

The trail that leads to Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

The fortress is about a half mile away from the parking lot. Along the path, I spotted sheep and massive boulders in every direction.

The trail that leads to the Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

Today, the land is active with grazing sheep, which travel from the nearby Man O' War farm and vineyard. The boulders, meanwhile, have existed on the land for eight million years after a volcano erupted, Moon said.

Sheep roam the fields at Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

This is the only part of Waiheke Island that's scattered with boulders. The massive rocks worked to the military's advantage  they were turned into concrete for the fort's buildings, according to a sign I saw on the trail.

Boulders fill the fields near Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

Before I made it to the fortress, I read signs that painted a picture of what life would've been like for the soldiers and workers here during WWII.

A sign shines some insight into what life was like at the Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

For instance, this now-empty plot of land was once a camp with 28 buildings, one sign detailed. Moon said that the workforce abided by strict secrecy. "The workforce of 200 men were not able to communicate with their families, and they weren't able to leave the site of war. They were locked down for three and a half years," he said.

A plot of land at Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

Near the abandoned camp, I spotted a grass-covered foundation. According to another sign, this lot was once a workshop for blacksmiths, engineers, and store men. Here, the men maintained generators, guns, and other equipment.

A foundation on the property. Monica Humphries/Insider

Finally, I arrived at another gate, which marked the official entrance to the historic fort.

Another entrance to Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

Just past the entrance, I spotted more cement foundations. A sign noted that this was once a carpenter's store. Another was marked as an auxiliary engine.

Foundations built during WWII fill the property. Monica Humphries/Insider

In the distance were three cement buildings. As I approached the structures, I learned from posted signs that they were used for storing diesel.

Three buildings on the property. Monica Humphries/Insider

Behind the buildings was a large, circular structure. This was one of the fort's three gun pits. According to the Stony Batter Protection and Restoration Society, each pit was designed to house a 9.2-inch gun. The shells fired would've been 9.2 inches in diameter and the gun itself would've weighed about 242,500 pounds.

A gun encampment at Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

Source: Stony Batter Protection and Restoration Society

Only two pits were completed, a sign stated, and the war ended before the last gun was installed.

A gun encampment at Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

Source: Stony Batter Protection and Restoration Society

Soldiers would've been able to access the gun pits from underground tunnels, the same sign explained.

A gun encampment at Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

As I followed the path, I approached a forested area. The trail continued into the covered canopy, where I spotted more relics from the past.

A forested area leads to more buildings. Monica Humphries/Insider

I approached one large building with its windows barred shut.

A building at Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

Behind the building was an entrance to the tunnel system. The cement walls leading up to the metal doors were coated in vibrant, green moss.

An entrance to tunnels built during WWII. Monica Humphries/Insider

Through the two doors are .7 miles of tunnels, 13 chambers, and stairwells. The fortress was designed to take on direct enemy bombardment, and, in the case of an attack, the tunnels allowed soldiers to access the fort's guns and ammunition without surfacing, a sign explained.

A section of a tunnel at the Fort Stony Batter. Fort Stony Batter

The tunnels include a magazine room, which stored ammunition, that's "larger than the average house" and a passage that descends 1,300 feet below, according to Radio New Zealand.

The interior of a tunnel at Fort Stony Batter. Fort Stony Batter

Source: Radio New Zealand

I imagined soldiers navigating the tunnels 80 years ago. I also pictured locals like Moon who explored the abandoned tunnels more recently. My imagination ran wild as I pictured who  or what  came out of the tunnels.

A building at Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

Finally, I made it to the official entrance where tours are held. According to Stony Batter Protection and Restoration Society, the entrance was repainted to its original bright red color.

The entrance to the tunnels that the public can explore. Monica Humphries/Insider

Source: Stony Batter Protection and Restoration Society

Moon said the restoration process has been extraordinary. "When I arrived here, it looked like a post-war zone and now it's a thing of beauty  it's alive," he said

Boulders at Fort Stony Batter. Monica Humphries/Insider

And while I thought roaming around the property in complete solitude made it feel as if I'd stepped back in time, I'm eager to return someday to go inside the underground passageways and see its new life.

The author in front of the gun encampment. Monica Humphries/Insider

Correction: November 22, 2022  An earlier version of this story misstated the status of the Stony Batter site. It is a heritage site owned by the New Zealand government, not a World Heritage site.

Read the original article on Insider
Donald Trump has been granted a temporary stay in his effort to keep the House Ways and Means Committee from gaining access to tax returns, with chief Supreme Court justice John Roberts giving the committee until next Thursday to respond.

Mr Trump has fought for years to prevent the committee accessing the returns, which he has long claimed he cannot reveal because he is supposedly under audit. The developments come as two separate cases involving him, his finances and his businesses get underway in New York.

Meanwhile, in an extract from his upcoming political memoir, Mike Pence has recounted a key 2020 meeting involving Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani and extremist attorney Sidney Powell  an encounter he says marked a new low in the then-escalating effort to delegitimise Joe Bidens victory.

"Even in an office well acquainted with rough-and-tumble debates, it was a new low, Mr Pence writes of the encounter, recalling that things went downhill from there,"

Key points

Supreme Court grants Trump stay in tax returns case

Trump Organization fraud case begins after jury selected

Letitia Jamess fraud lawsuit goes to trial at last

Tom Barrack foreign agent trial continues

Trump gets temporary stay on tax records

15:23 , Andrew Naughtie

Donald Trumps determination to stop the House Ways and Means Committee getting its hands on his tax returns knows no bounds, and his latest effort to scotch the investigation has won what may prove to be a brief victory: a temporary stay issued by the Supreme Courts John Roberts, who is asking the committee to weigh in.

Note: this is standard procedure to give the Court time to evaluate the application. It indicates nothing about how it will eventually rule.  Steven Mazie (@stevenmazie) November 1, 2022

Who did it better? White House Halloweens compared

15:16 , Andrew Naughtie

A split-screen comparison of Donald Trump and Joe Biden celebrating Halloween at the White House is doing the rounds, specifically putting 2019 up against 2022. Have a look.

Story continues

White House Halloween: 2019 vs. 2022 pic.twitter.com/WXRqKTfrt4  The Recount (@therecount) November 1, 2022

Oath Keepers trial: prosecutors introduce messages discussing guns

14:45 , Andrew Naughtie

The Oath Keepers trial is back in court, and prosecutors have begun the day by having an FBI agent authenticate Facebook messages between the defendants sent on the day of the Capitol riot. Among other things, they refer to murdering Mike Pence with bullets.

Harris inspects Facebook direct messages between Tom Caldwell and others on Jan. 6, 2021 at 12:42 p.m.



"I WANT a scuffle," Caldwell says after someone tells him to be safe.



Another person talks about a cattle prod; another says stun gun.  Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) November 1, 2022

Caldwell:



"No worries my friend."



Later, he sends a photograph of himself and his wife.



Message from Adrian Grimes:



"Fuck pence he needs to go he wrote a letter to congress saying he will not use his power to stop thisbulsgit. Another one who need lead."  Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) November 1, 2022

Grimes:



"Only one answer to this shit start throwing lead downrange [...]"  Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) November 1, 2022

Mark Meadowss Jan 6 lawsuit dismissed

13:45 , Andrew Naughtie

Former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows, one of the central figures in the effort to overturn the 2020 election, has had his lawsuit against the January 6 select committees subpoenas thrown out of court.

Mr Meadows claims that the subpoenas violate separation of powers principles, but US District Court judge Carl Nichols threw out Mr Meadowss action on the basis that it is barred by the constitutions Speech or Debate Clause, rendering his other claims moot for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.

The ex-White House aide was found in contempt of Congress after refusing to testify to the committee, but the Department of Justice decided not to pursue criminal charges. He has since co-operated with a separate subpoena from the department, which is pursuing its own investigation into the Trump teams machinations after the 2020 election.

Read more on that from Graig Graziosi.

Mark Meadows complies with DoJs Jan 6 subpoena, turns over texts and emails

Jan 6 rioter who wanted to shoot Pelosi to be released

13:15 , Andrew Naughtie

As the fallout from last weeks attack on Nancy Pelosis husband continues, a Capitol rioter who filmed herself saying she wanted to shoot her in the frickin brain is set to leave jail on Thursday after serving a two-month sentence.

Dawn Bancroft, who climbed through a Capitol window on January 6 2021 with her friend Diana Santos-Smith, pleaded guilty last August to parading, demonstration, or picketing in a Capitol building. The full criminal complaint against the two women can be read here.

Dawn Bancroft, who's served nearly two months in Jan 6 case, is scheduled for release from prison in West Virginia on Thursday



Bancroft acknowledged making reference to "shooting" Nancy Pelosi in the "brain" while amid the mob at Capitol breach pic.twitter.com/lSu7ONtOmB  Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) November 1, 2022

At her sentencing, Ms Bancroft took the chance to account for her comment about Ms Pelosi. I said it in a jovial way, she told the judge. We were joking and laughing on the way back to the train. It was a dumb, stupid comment. I did not mean it.

ICYMI: Trump slams Fox News and accidentally invokes German christmas fruitcake

12:42 , Andrew Naughtie

Having once been rock-solid, Donald Trumps relationship with Fox News seems to go day-to-day now, a fragility that appeared in 2020 when the network called Arizona for Joe Biden before any other major outlet. Yesterday was one of his off days, riling him so much that he typod stolen as stollen  inadvertently likening the last election to a delicious-if-rich Germanic Christmas confection.

Trump attempts to get Supreme Court to shield his tax returns

12:15 , Andrew Naughtie

Former president Donald Trump has launched a last-ditch appeal to keep the House Ways and Means Committee from gaining access to tax returns he has taken pains to keep secret since he started his 2016 presidential campaign.

In an emergency appeal filed with the Supreme Court on Monday, lawyers for the twice-impeached former president claim allowing the Department of the Treasury to follow US law by turning over six years of his tax returns at the request of House Ways and Means chairman Ritchie Neal, a Democrat, would undermine the separation of powers and render the office of the Presidency vulnerable to invasive information demands from political opponents in the legislative branch.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump asks Supreme Court to block House Democrats from seeing his tax returns

Oath Keeper cries in court

11:50 , Andrew Naughtie

As leading members of the Oath Keepers continued their trial on seditious conspiracy charges over the January 6 riot, a former member of the group who has agreed to testify against them broke down in court.

Graydon Carter, who has already pleaded guilty to obstructing Congress on the day of the election certification, sobbed on the stand as he apologized for his actions, explaining that to repent and be forgiven, you have to confess completely and wholly. His emotional appearance echoes those of scores of other January 6 defendants, many of whom have pleaded guilty and cited deep remorse and shame in hopes of receiving lighter sentences.

Politico has more.

Capitol officer Harry Dunn testifies to unprecedented attack at seditious conspiracy trial

11:00 , Oliver O'Connell

In his testimony to the House committee investigating the attack, US Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn addressed the violence and torrent of racist abuse he endured while holding back a mob that broke into the halls of Congress on 6 January, 2021.

He shared other details from the attack as a key witness in the case against five members of far-right anti-government Oath Keepers group, whose members were filmed joining the mobs breaking into the US Capitol and confronting Officer Dunn.

Alex Woodward reports on this mornings testimony.

Capitol officer testifies to unprecedented attack at seditious conspiracy trial

What to know about the Trump Organization fraud case

09:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The Trump Organization, former President Donald Trumps eponymous real estate business, is going to trial on charges of criminal tax fraud.

The company faces allegations that it enacted a scheme to help executives avoid paying income tax in a case that has entangled the companys longtime Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg.

The trial comes as Mr Trumps political action committee spends millions in legal costs as he faces investigations into his actions related to the insurrection and his attempts to reverse the election results, taking classified documents from the White House when he left office, and a defamation case in connection to an allegation of rape.

For all the background you need on this case, heres Gustaf Kilander.

Everything to know about the Trump Organization case

Trump: 'Im staying on Truth Social

07:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump was asked if he will go back on Twitter if Musk reinstates him: Its good that Elon took over. It was run by maniacs. Radical left lunatics. It was all bots and fake accounts ... Im staying on Truth Social. I like it better. I think theres better interaction with people.

Watch:

Trump is asked if he will go back on Twitter if Musk reinstates him: Its good that Elon took over. It was run by maniacs. Radical left lunatics. It was all bots and fake accounts .. Im staying on Truth Social. I like it better. I think theres better interaction with people. pic.twitter.com/Xf0olgp5pt  Ron Filipkowski  (@RonFilipkowski) October 31, 2022

Trump endorsed candidate claims children are using litter boxes at school

05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has officially endorsed the New Hampshire GOP senate candidate who recently spread a widely debunked hoax about children being encouraged to relieve themselves in litter boxes at school.

Writing on his little-used Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said Mr Bolduc has run a great campaign for the New Hampshire senate seat currently held by Maggie Hassan, and further claimed that the GOP candidate won his partys nomination because he was a strong and proud election denier.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump endorses senate candidate who says children are using litter boxes at school

Might Trump testify at his companys tax fraud trial?

03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Dont rule it out.

The judge overseeing the Trump Organization tax fraud case in New York State has not ruled out the possibility of Donald Trump testifying at trial. pic.twitter.com/6bAuVGX7jz  The Recount (@therecount) October 31, 2022

Trump: Democrat-run cities to blame for attack on Paul Pelosi

02:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has weighed in on the violent attack against House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband, Paul Pelosi, in an interview with a right-wing Spanish-language network.

Speaking to a host from Americano Media on Monday, Mr Trump called the attack on Mr Pelosi a terrible thing but suggested the violent assault and home invasion was a reflection of the conditions in cities where voters choose to elect Democrats, rather than a targeted attack on the person who is second in the presidential line of succession.

Andrew Feinberg reports on the former presidents latest comments.

Trump blames Democrat-run cities for attack on Paul Pelosi

Could a Trump-endorsed Republican end up running New York?

01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Lee Zeldin voted to overturn the 2020 election results, supports anti-abortion legislation and would fire a recently elected district attorney in deep-blue New York City. Polls show a tight race against Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, Alex Woodward reports.

A Trump-endorsed Republican could end up running New York: The rise of Lee Zeldin

Trump attempts to get Supreme Court to shield his tax returns

00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has launched a last-ditch appeal to keep the House Ways and Means Committee from gaining access to tax returns he has taken pains to keep secret since he started his 2016 presidential campaign.

In an emergency appeal filed with the Supreme Court on Monday, lawyers for the twice-impeached former president claim allowing the Department of the Treasury to follow US law by turning over six years of his tax returns at the request of House Ways and Means chairman Ritchie Neal, a Democrat, would undermine the separation of powers and render the office of the Presidency vulnerable to invasive information demands from political opponents in the legislative branch.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump asks Supreme Court to block House Democrats from seeing his tax returns

Trump endorses Senate candidate who says school children use litter boxes

Monday 31 October 2022 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has officially endorsed the New Hampshire GOP senate candidate who recently spread a widely debunked hoax about children being encouraged to relieve themselves in litter boxes at school.

Trump endorses senate candidate who says children are using litter boxes at school

Earlier: Trump Organization tax trial begins as Weisselberg set to testify for prosecution

Monday 31 October 2022 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The only criminal trial to arise out of the years-long probe into former president Donald Trumps eponymous real estate and licensing company kicked off on Monday with opening statements from prosecutors who said the case was not about the ex-president.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump Organization tax trial begins as Weisselberg set to testify for prosecution

Don Jr condemned for sick and dangerous post mocking Pelosi hammer attack

Monday 31 October 2022 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump Jr was celebrated by the far right, and condemned everywhere else, for sharing a meme that made light of the attack on Nancy Pelosis husband.

The self-described general in meme wars shared the controversial post to his personal Instagram account on Sunday night, just two days after Paul Pelosi, 82, was forced to undergo surgery after being attacked at the couples San Francisco home by a hammer-wielding intruder.

Johanna Chisholm reports.

Donald Trump Jr condemned for sick post mocking Paul Pelosis hammer attack

We Build The Wall fraud trial number two ends in conviction

Monday 31 October 2022 21:00 , Oliver O'Connell

A Colorado businessman was convicted Friday of charges that he and others siphoned hundreds of thousands of dollars from an online fundraiser to build a wall along the US southern border despite a promise to donors that every cent would go toward building the wall.

Timothy Shea stared straight ahead without reaction as he was convicted in Manhattan federal court of two conspiracy counts and an obstruction of justice charge by a jury that deliberated about six hours after a one-week retrial. He said nothing when he was asked to comment as he left the building.

Sentencing was set for 31 January.

Second 'We Build The Wall' fraud trial ends in conviction

Could a Trump-endorsed Republican end up running New York?

Monday 31 October 2022 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Lee Zeldin voted to overturn the 2020 election results, supports anti-abortion legislation and would fire a recently elected district attorney in deep-blue New York City. Polls show a tight race against Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, Alex Woodward reports.

A Trump-endorsed Republican could end up running New York: The rise of Lee Zeldin

Elon Musk tired of being asked if Trump can return to Twitter

Monday 31 October 2022 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Elon Musk has only owned Twitter for a handful of days but the billionaire already seems tired of being asked when Donald Trump could return to the platform.

The worlds richest person took to Twitter, which he finally bought for $44bn last week after months of trying to back out of the deal, to complain about being asked about the one-term president.

Before his takeover, Mr Musk said that he believed Twitter was wrong for banning Mr Trump in the wake of his supporters attacking the US Capitol on January 6.

Graeme Massie reports.

Elon Musk complains about being asked about Trumps Twitter return

Trump: Democrat-run cities to blame for attack on Paul Pelosi

Monday 31 October 2022 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has weighed in on the violent attack against House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband, Paul Pelosi, in an interview with a right-wing Spanish-language network.

Speaking to a host from Americano Media on Monday, Mr Trump called the attack on Mr Pelosi a terrible thing but suggested the violent assault and home invasion was a reflection of the conditions in cities where voters choose to elect Democrats, rather than a targeted attack on the person who is second in the presidential line of succession.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump blames Democrat-run cities for attack on Paul Pelosi

Trump complains Fox News treat him every bit as badly as they did in 2015'

Monday 31 October 2022 19:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has complained about Fox Newss coverage of him, specifically from liberal contributor Marie Harf whom he claims is allowed to say anything she wants, without rebuttal.

He posted on Truth Social:

Fox News treats TRUMP every bit as badly as they did in 2015, before I later won the Election. Fox was brutal then, and not too good now. This lightweight failure in the Obama Administration, Fox News Contributer Marie Harf, is allowed to say anything she wants, without rebuttal - and others likewise. I beat Crooked Hillary Clinton, and then beat Biden by much more. Fox is afraid to say what REALLY happened in that farce of an Election - IT WAS RIGGED AND STOLLEN [*sic]. Get tough Republicans!!!

* stollen is a German Christmas bread.

Trump asks Supreme Court to stop Democrats from seeing his tax returns

Monday 31 October 2022 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has launched a last-ditch appeal to keep the House Ways and Means committee from gaining access to tax returns he has taken pains to keep secret since he started his 2016 presidential campaign.

In an emergency appeal filed with the Supreme Court on Monday, lawyers for the twice-impeached former president claim allowing the Department of the Treasury to follow US law by turning over six years of his tax returns at the request of House Ways and Means chairman Ritchie Neal, a Democrat, would undermine the separation of powers and render the office of the Presidency vulnerable to invasive information demands from political opponents in the legislative branch.

Andrew Feinberg has the details.

Trump asks Supreme Court to block House Democrats from seeing his tax returns

Capitol officer Harry Dunn testifies to unprecedented attack at seditious conspiracy trial

Monday 31 October 2022 18:00 , Oliver O'Connell

In his testimony to the House committee investigating the attack, US Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn addressed the violence and torrent of racist abuse he endured while holding back a mob that broke into the halls of Congress on 6 January, 2021.

He shared other details from the attack as a key witness in the case against five members of far-right anti-government Oath Keepers group, whose members were filmed joining the mobs breaking into the US Capitol and confronting Officer Dunn.

Alex Woodward reports on this mornings testimony.

Capitol officer testifies to unprecedented attack at seditious conspiracy trial

Trump makes another last-ditch attempt to keep tax returns secret

Monday 31 October 2022 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The House Ways and Means Committee has spent years trying to obtain Donald Trumps tax returns, and looked to have made a breakthrough a few months ago when Mr Trumps last legal challenge failed. And yet, it seems the ex-president is trying again to block the release, filing an emergency application to the US Supreme Court:

NEW: Donald Trump files emergency application asking Supreme Court to block a congressional committee from getting years of his tax returns. Case will be docketed as 22A362. https://t.co/2gqyql3QAY  Greg Stohr (@GregStohr) October 31, 2022

What to know about the Trump Organization fraud case

Monday 31 October 2022 17:00 , Andrew Naughtie

The Trump Organization, former President Donald Trumps eponymous real estate business, is going to trial on charges of criminal tax fraud.

The company faces allegations that it enacted a scheme to help executives avoid paying income tax in a case that has entangled the companys longtime Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg.

The trial comes as Mr Trumps political action committee spends millions in legal costs as he faces investigations into his actions related to the insurrection and his attempts to reverse the election results, taking classified documents from the White House when he left office, and a defamation case in connection to an allegation of rape.

For all the background you need on this case, heres Gustaf Kilander.

Everything to know about the Trump Organization case

Trump endorses candidate who spread litter box conspiracy theory

Monday 31 October 2022 16:30 , Andrew Naughtie

Former president Donald Trump has officially endorsed Don Bolduc, the New Hampshire GOP senate candidate who recently spread a widely debunked hoax about children being encouraged to relieve themselves in litter boxes at school.

According to CNN, Mr Bolduc claimed children are being encouraged to identify as cats and other animals at school in the same way some people identify as transgender.

Guess what? We have furries and fuzzies in classrooms, he said. They lick themselves, theyre cats. When they dont like something, they hiss  people walk down the hallway and jump out.

Not a single aspect of what he said is in any way true, but Mr Bolduc is not the first Republican candidate for federal office to spread the same lies.

Andrew Feinberg has the story:

Trump endorses senate candidate who says children are using litter boxes at school

Oath Keepers trial witness describes rescuing Capitol staff and Senators

Monday 31 October 2022 16:00 , Andrew Naughtie

With Harry Dunns testimony completed, the jury in the Oath Keepers trial have now heard an account from David Lazarus, a special agent assigned to protect Nancy Pelosi who was at the Capitol during the riot. His account adds another layer of chilling detail to what we know about the events of January 6 2021:

Lazarus describing how he ran back and forth, hearing news of shots fired, as he is trying to locate and secure and rescue U.S. senators and their staff  Sarah N. Lynch (@SarahNLynch) October 31, 2022

One Senator he helped, he said of her: She wasnt doing too well with the anxiety of everything. She was having trouble breathing.  Sarah N. Lynch (@SarahNLynch) October 31, 2022

He tells the story of how he entered into the Pelosi's office with other officers and was trying to rescue staff locked in the conference room. They said "Omg. You're here. Help us."  Sarah N. Lynch (@SarahNLynch) October 31, 2022

Opening statements in Trump Organization trial

Monday 31 October 2022 15:34 , Andrew Naughtie

The criminal tax fraud trial of the Trump Organization has begun with opening statements from prosecutors  who insisted the case was nothing to do with Donald Trump himself. He is not named in the indictment, and is not expected to be called as a witness.

Instead, prosecutor Susan Hoffinger said the case is about greed and cheating, cheating on taxes.

Read more from Andrew Feinberg:

Trump Organization tax trial begins as Weisselberg set to testify for prosecution

Harry Dunn testifies at Oath Keepers trial

Monday 31 October 2022 15:00 , Andrew Naughtie

Harry Dunn was one of the four officers to testify at the first Jan 6 committee hearing, where several members of the panel were moved to tears by the witnesses accounts of their experiences. He was also captured on video during the riot remonstrating with various rioters at particularly fractious moments, including some members of the defendants ranks.

DUNN, who worked from 6:45am to midnight on Jan. 6, is being questioned about the moment he was standing by Speaker Pelosi's office while the Oath Keepers crowded into the area. pic.twitter.com/0DPGqPbt0i  Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 31, 2022

AUSA: Did anyone offer to help you in this video?



DUNN: No.



AUSA: What did you say in this video?



DUNN: "Im not letting you come this way."  Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 31, 2022

Jan 6 committee member runs against crisis of democracy

Monday 31 October 2022 14:30 , Andrew Naughtie

Of all the members of the January 6 committee still in the running for re-election, Democratic Congresswoman Elaine Luria is the most vulnerable, running to keep a swing district in Virginia where she managed a surprise win in 2018.

In whats likely to be her closing ad of the cycle, she puts the crisis of democracy that the committee is tackling front-and-centre  a move that has the advantage of avoiding any discussion of Joe Bidens agenda and performance without actually rejecting or criticising him.

Our Constitution and our democracy are worth fighting for.



I will always live up to my oath and stand up for whats right, regardless of the political repercussions. pic.twitter.com/ASTgG1BrvG  Elaine Luria (@ElaineLuriaVA) October 31, 2022

Scenes from Thomas Barracks trial

Monday 31 October 2022 14:00 , Andrew Naughtie

One of the several ongoing court cases in the Trump orbit is the trail of Thomas Barrack, who will return to court today as he faces charges of illicitly acting as a foreign agent for the UAE.

In the course of proceedings so far, Mr Barrack has said dozens of people asked him to get them pardoned by the former president but that he never sought a pardon himself  and that Mr Trump was viewed from abroad as someone so ignorant he Could not spell Middle East.

Johanna Chisholm reports:

Trump ally says ex-president inept on foreign affairs, couldnt spell Middle East

Opinion: Musk should let Trump back on Twitter

Monday 31 October 2022 13:30 , Andrew Naughtie

Writing for The Independents Voices section, Sean OGrady argues that whatever anyone else might think, Elon Musk would do well to let Donald Trump back on his newly purchased social media platform:

As it happens, I am not filled with dread about Trump returning to Twitter (though I am of him going back to the White House). When he was banned last year I thought it an error, simply because of who he was, and the position he held, and the politics of it. His incitements and lies could be moderated into sanity. I want  need  to hear what Trump has to say, even if it is offensive. Especially if it is offensive. The danger with driving the likes of Trump off Twitter is that they end up on their own ghettoised alt right platforms. The social media world turns into a series of camps that never talk, debate, argue, row or abuse each tiebreaker  and thats worse.

Read the article below.

Elon Musk should let Donald Trump back on Twitter | Sean OGrady

Trump Organization jury ready to hear case

Monday 31 October 2022 13:00 , Andrew Naughtie

Donald Trumps lawyers had a frustrating time last week during jury selection for the Trump Organization fraud trial, arguing that finding sufficiently neutral jurors in Manhattan would be close to impossible given the former presidents profile there. In the end, however, 12 people were ultimately seated  albeit not before one ruled herself out in spectacular fashion.

Josh Marcus reports.

Dismissed juror says no way in hell she can be unbiased in Trump tax trial

Pence details post-election new low in upcoming book

Monday 31 October 2022 12:30 , Andrew Naughtie

Mike Pences political memoir So Help Me God is hitting the shelves in two weeks, its already-released back cover blurbed with his description of his anger at the events of January 6.

Axios has now obtained a new extract from the book in which Mr Pence  who has not yet testified to the January 6 committee  describes a meeting after the 2020 election involving a growing group of outside attorneys led by Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, calling it a new low.

After the campaign lawyers gave a sober and somewhat pessimistic report on the state of election challenges, the outside cast of characters went on the attack, he writes. Giuliani told the president over the speakerphone, "Your lawyers are not telling you the truth, Mr. President.

Mr Pence writes that in retrospect this meeting signalled that the seeds were being sown for a tragic day in January.

Kinzinger condemns Trump Jr for Pelosi hammer joke

Monday 31 October 2022 12:00 , Andrew Naughtie

Adam Kinzinger, the Republican January 6 committee member who has become a relentless critic of his partys violent and anti-democratic turn, has singled out Donald Trump Jr for an Instagram post the ex-presidents son dropped after the hammer attack on Nancy Pelosis husband:

Cruelty is the point. The crueler you are the better your conservative creds  Adam Kinzinger #fella (@AdamKinzinger) October 31, 2022

Also in court: the Oath Keepers

Monday 31 October 2022 11:28 , Andrew Naughtie

Proceedings resume today in the trial of the Oath Keepers for their alleged acts of seditious conspiracy on and around January 6 2021.

The trial has so far seen the jury shown extensive CCTV footage and texts between the far-right groups core members (some of them highly explicit)  as well as communications indicating that at least some of them saw Donald Trumps infamous will be wild! tweet as a summons to descend on Washington, DC and disrupt the certification of the election by force.

OathKeepers seditious conspiracy trial resumes at 930am (it's a marathon)



Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn is expected to testify  Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) October 31, 2022

Bannon on Bolsonaro

Monday 31 October 2022 10:55 , Andrew Naughtie

He cannot concede, impossible. Screw Biden, screw the State Department, screw the CIA, f*** em. Such was the diagnosis of the Brazilian presidential election given by Steve Bannon, who is now claiming that Jair Bolsonaro in fact won a vote stolen via a globalist conspiracy.

Well knock me down with a feather. Who would have guessed that Steve Bannon would think a Lula victory must equal a stolen election. I mean its not like weve been here before pic.twitter.com/xGsKR7MeZn  Jon Sopel (@jonsopel) October 31, 2022

Mr Bannon is a longtime admirer of the authoritarian and socially conservative outgoing president, and has previously recruited his son Eduardo to help in his international far-right movement-building project.

Catch up: Letitia Jamess lawsuit against Donald Trump

Monday 31 October 2022 10:27 , Andrew Naughtie

New York Attorney General Letitia James has spent years building her fraud lawsuit against Donald Trump his three eldest adult children and a host of companies, organisations and persons associated with his eponymous real estate and licensing business.

The end result of her investigation was a 200-plus-page case alleging that the former president and his business empire falsely inflated the value of his net worth by billions of dollars in an effort to gain tax benefits and other benefits from insurers and financial institutions.

Alex Woodward and Andrew Feinberg have this report on what the case involves and how it came about.

NY attorney general files $250m lawsuit against Trump and three of his children

Good morning

Monday 31 October 2022 10:15 , Andrew Naughtie

Welcome to our live coverage of Donald Trump and his legal troubles. Stay with us for updates.
President Joe Biden arrives to cast his vote during early voting for the 2022 U.S. midterm elections with his granddaughter (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

We are officially seven days from Election Day! Celebrate or panic as you wish.

Much has changed since our previous ranking of Senate seats most likely to flip, with some candidates pulling ahead while other races tightened up. One contest no longer on the list is North Carolina, largely thanks to an onslaught of ads from Republican groups that has helped Representative Ted Budd to pull ahead of Cheri Beasley, and to which Democrats have failed to respond in kind.

Meanwhile, things are heating up in Arizona, which returns to our ranking. And while Representative Tim Ryan put up an impressive fight against Republican JD Vance during their debates, it appears Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnells onslaught of money has given the troubled Republican nominee the steam he needed to pull away.

With that, heres your final ranking of the top five Senate seats most likely to flip. Yell at us accordingly.

#1: Nevada

We keep telling you: it all comes down to Nevada. Were now at that inevitable moment in the election cycle where political nerds everywhere start furiously refreshing their Twitter feeds to catch Jon Ralstons latest updates on early voting in the state. Writing on The Nevada Independents early voting blog Monday, he reported that roughly a third of the speculated vote is already in, and that so far, Democrats lead with mail-in voters while Republicans lead among in-person early voters. The latest New York Times/Siena College poll shows a virtual dead heat between Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and her Republican opponent Adam Laxalt, who this weekend faced a brutal story that his campaign paid an operative who ran an antisemitic Twitter account.

Both are calling in the big guns: Former president Donald Trump campaigned in Minden with Laxalt last month, while, Barack Obama, who won Nevada twice, will shortly be heading to Las Vegas. Senator Elizabeth Warren will arrive the day after, and Bernie Sanders  who won the Nevada caucus in 2020 thanks to his support among Latino voters  is planning a visit of his own.

Story continues

#2: Georgia

Last week, a hot mic caught Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer telling President Joe Biden that while the Senate debate in Pennsylvania didnt hurt us too much and Democrats were picking up steam in Nevada, despite early voting, the state where were going downhill is Georgia.

That might shock some, especially given the allegations that Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker paid for one womans abortion and drove another to an abortion clinic, to say nothing of the embarrassing incident when he flashed a faux police badge in his debate with Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock. Yet recent polls from both InsiderAdvantage/Fox 5 and the Atlanta Journal Constitution gave Walker a three-point lead. This, as the Times/Siena College poll found Warnock enjoys the same advantage. No major poll currently gives either candidate a majority of the vote, and under Georgia law, if that doesnt change on Election Day, it will go to a runoff.

That moves Georgia up a spot on our list, overtaking

#3: Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania moves down one on our list simply because it has too many variables at work. Democrats fretted about Lieutenant Governor John Fettermans performance during his sole debate against Republican television physician Mehmet Oz  but they have taken full advantage of that fact that Oz declared that same night that abortion should be the business of a woman, her doctor, and her local political leaders. The TV doctor was roundly mocked for suggesting that local political leaders had a place in a womans private decision.

Some polls have shown that Dr Oz has taken the lead (though we explained the pros and cons of the InsiderAdvantage poll last week). Some partisan polls have come out. The Times/Siena poll showed Fetterman in the lead and Ozs unfavorables still high  but as Manu Raju at CNN tweeted, pollsters were mainly in the field the day before and during the debate, and only picked up respondents for one day afterward. That makes it difficult to know what the lay of land is today.

#4: Wisconsin

This rise from fifth place to fourth is less of a bump for Wisconsin itself as much as a recognition that North Carolina and Arizona are even less likely to flip.

Put simply, time is running out for the Badger States Democratic Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes. He recently had the benefit of a visit by Obama, who torched incumbent Republican Senator Ron Johnson in a fiery speech in Milwaukee  yielding one exegesis on social security thats been viewed more than 14 million times on Twitter  but it likely came too late.

Even after two debates, Johnson is still in the lead, whether by as little as one point (according to a CNN poll) or as much as six points (per a Marquette University Law School survey). There may be a week left for Barnes to flip the script, but its not likely.

#5: Arizona

The contest between Democratic Senator Mark Kelly and Blake Masters creeps up from being off our list entirely to rounding it off. While the nonpartisan Cook Political Report has moved it back from lean Democratic to tossup, polling shows Masters, a Trump-backed protege of right-wing venture capitalist Peter Thiel, has tightened up the race  but he still trails Kelly.

The two have had a change to square off in their debate, but Kelly still enjoys a significant money advantage while Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has forsaken Masters. And while Axios reports that the right-wing Club for Growth has dropped a whopping $5.5m in the final days of the race, the Times/Siena survey still found Kelly enjoying a six-point lead.
This photograph taken on October 7, 2022 shows a Russian rocket sticks out a ground near the village of Ukrainka in a part of Southern Ukraine. Photo by DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images

Russian forces launched a fresh barrage of missile strikes on Ukraine on Monday morning.

Debris from one missile that was shot down landed in a small village in northern Moldova.

The incident marked a rare moment where fighting has spilled over Ukraine's borders.

Parts of a Russian missile shot down by Ukrainian air defense systems landed in a small village in northern Moldova, officials said on Monday. The incident was a rare moment that saw fighting spill over Ukraine's borders into a neighboring country.

Nicu Popescu, Moldova's minister of foreign affairs and European integration, said a part of the missile landed in the village of Naslavcea, which sits just below Moldova's northern border with southern Ukraine. There were no casualties, he noted, but a shock wave shattered windows of multiple residential homes.

Popescu said the Russian strikes were targeting a nearby dam, adding that attacks on Ukraine's water infrastructure could risk flooding the general region.

"Moldova condemns in strongest possible terms Russia's continued aggression against Ukraine," Popescu said. "The appalling strikes on critical infrastructure reverberate beyond Ukraine's borders and pose a direct threat to Moldova's energy  and human  security."

Mihail Popsoi, a Moldovan lawmaker, said a Russian diplomat was expelled from the country after the missile debris landed in Naslavcea and tweeted a photo of what appeared to be a plume of smoke after the attack. The diplomat's identify was not published, and Insider was unable to immediately verify the image.

Naslavcea is a village of only 782 people, according to 2014 census data, and is located in the northernmost part of Moldova.

Naslavcea, Moldova. Screenshot/Google Images

The latest incident involving missile debris landing in Moldova was an uncommon occurrence, but it is not the first time the war has extended beyond Russia and Ukraine. Earlier in October, Popescu said Russian cruise missiles fired from the Black Sea crossed Moldova's airspace, prompting him to call in Russia's ambassador for questioning.

Story continues

And fears that the war could spread are not new to Moldova either. During the spring, for instance, tensions began to rise over concerns about Russia's intentions in the Moscow-backed separatist region of Transnistria  a sliver of land in eastern Moldova that borders Ukraine.

Monday's incident came as Russian forces fired a barrage of cruise missiles targeting critical infrastructure in Ukraine. Kyiv's air force said it managed to down 44 of the more than 50 missiles that were launched, but some of them were able to make it through Ukraine's defenses.

According to a United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report, the missiles that struck Ukraine on Monday disrupted the country's water and energy supply  causing power outages in 10 of the country's 24 regions. The UN said the attacks occurred as people were commuting to work. The extent of any civilian casualties was not immediately clear.

"In times of war, civilian infrastructure is protected under international humanitarian law. With the harsh winter in Ukraine approaching, it is particularly important to preserve energy and water supplies, which are also necessary to run the heating systems in most of the country," the UN said in its report.

For weeks now, Russian President Vladimir Putin has used missiles and explosive suicide drones to target Ukraine's civil infrastructure in locations far from the front lines, where his military is continuing to suffer setbacks on the battlefield.

Read the original article on Business Insider
At the beginning of the full-scale war launched by Russia against Ukraine, Viacheslav Bohuslaev, the then president of the Motor Sich Company, ordered the disassembling of the helicopters produced by that corporation so that Ukrainian pilots could not use them.

Source: Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine

Details: According to Kostin, Bohuslaev ordered among other things the removal of the rotor blades from the helicopters.

Quote: "And trading in such 'death machines is not all. The investigation [team] has information that at the beginning of the full-scale war, the president of Motor Sich, after an appeal to this effect from the Ukrainian military, ordered employees of the enterprise to hide documents relating to the helicopters so that the Ukrainian defence forces cannot use the equipment. They say that Ukrainian pilots will not fly a helicopter if they do not have the requisite forms.

But that's not all! After the Ukrainian military had asked for helicopters, the president of Motor Sich gave the order to disassemble the equipment. [The employees] just remove[d] the blades from the helicopters."

More details: The prosecutor general drew attention to the fact that all of this happened at the beginning of the war, when Russian helicopters had attacked Hostomel [airfield], and Russian troops were shelling Ukrainian cities, and "when timely support for the Armed Forces in the air was so important."

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
First made-in-Vietnam flying car to hit market in 2024

Flying car Arlios is on display at the Vietnam Motor Show in Ho Chi Minh City in October 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Doan Duong

Hanoi company Airlios has demonstrated a flying electric car which it plans to sell commercially in 2024.

The single seater, also called Airlios, could fly vertically to reach 10 meters within 10 seconds and then fly at speeds of 100 kilometers per hour, the company said at a recent exhibition.

It can rise to as high as 120 meters, the same height as a 44-story building. It has eight batteries that are fully charged in seven to nine minutes at 30-kilowatt charging stations.

It is mostly made of aluminum alloy and carbon fiber, and can fly both automatically and manually.

A prototype has successfully flown 33 kilometers in 20 minutes at a height of below 120 meters. It has been tested for 100 hours and 1,000 kilometers.

"The project is now 70-80% complete," Mai Thien Vu, the companys chief technology officer, told VnExpress.

"We plan to launch the maiden flight of the commercial version of Airlios by the end of 2023."

Managers and engineers at Airlios began thinking about making flying cars five years ago, he added.

If it is launched as scheduled, Airlios could become the first flying car in Southeast Asia.

The standard version will cost around $81,000 compared to, for instance, $92,000 for Swedish brand Jetson.

Airlios will also offer other models costing up to $99,000.

Many startups in a number of countries have started working on flying cars though there have been few commercial launches yet.

Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia plan to launch flying taxi services in future.
David E. Dix

Free is one of the magic words in advertising. That was what I was taught when studying for a masters degree in journalism at the Newhouse School of Journalism in Syracuse long ago.

Free is what Hiram College and its Garfield Center are charging for admission to hear retired General Wesley Clark, one of the American militarys most brilliant minds, talk about Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Clark is the former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, whose superb leadership proved essential to imposing a peaceful solution in the late 1990s when Yugoslavia dissolved into Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Slovenia and a brutal war broke out.

Thanks to Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his invasion of Ukraine, a sovereign nation, Europe and NATO are once again confronting a brutal war that left unchecked may expand to the Baltic nations of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

General Clarks talk, Analyzing the Impact of the Ukrainian War: NATO, Russia, and the Future of European Security, will provide important insights. It will occur at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Kennedy Center on the Hiram College campus. Seats can be reserved by visiting Hiram Colleges events website.

Retired General Wesley Clark

First in his class at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Clark earned three degrees from the University of Oxford in England where he was a Rhodes Scholars. He has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

The beautiful Hiram College campus is easy to negotiate and Kennedy Center provides a welcoming environment. Janet and I are making our reservations and encourage others to do the same. The general serves as CEO of Wesley Clark & Associates and as a commentator on TV.

An American challenge

At the recent ceremonies for Hirams Garfield Society, we were pleased to observe the induction of our friends, Jane Preston Rose and Appellate Court Judge John Eklund.

Story continues

Claude M. Steele, the prestigious speaker, said the 1960s marked a big turning point for the United States and Americans are now struggling to live up to the consequences.

Steele, professor of psychology at Stanford University, said the Civil Rights Act of 1964 committed the country to becoming color blind and the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 eliminated the national origins quota system opening to the door to immigrants from Asia, Latin America and Africa.

The demographic changes brought by the Immigration and Naturalization Act have left Americas long dominant white, Eurocentric population feeling threatened because they may soon no longer constitute the majority, although they will remain by far the largest group. Add that to the Civil Rights Act, which legally removed the privileged position of whites regarding African Americans. The upshot is a double whammy for white Americans and some whose fears have become political fodder for many aspirants to political office.

Professor Steele, an African-American and a 1967 graduate of Hiram College, prescribed trust-building between races and nationalities as the way to keep the American democracy from falling apart at the seams.

I think we are up to it, he said, but he acknowledged that creating a diverse America that functions as a true democracy will require perseverance and open-mindedness.

Riddle Block watercolor

Architect Alan Ambuske has given a duplicate of his beautiful watercolor of Riddle Block #1 to Eric Hummel, the builder who with the assistance of investors and the city of Ravenna, redeveloped and restored Ravennas signature building that is now owned by Portage County.

Eric said he has asked Alans assistance in restoring the buildings of the Portage County Historical Society on North Chestnut Street.

"The Portage County Historical Society is the recipient of a $625,000 grant obtained by the Societys very worthy board," Eric said.

Alans original watercolor of Riddle Block #1 was accepted in the Ohio Plein Air Society juried show at the Schumacher Gallery in Columbus. The show opened Sept. 6 and continues through Dec. 9 The theme for the exhibit is A Brush with the Past: Painting Ohios History.

Alan, who retired from his successful architecture practice that focused on medical facilities, is enjoying painting and sketching, and has self-published books containing his wonderful sketches and colorings of scenes he and Gail have visited in Europe, North America and Asia. His plans are to donate the proceeds of the sale of his Riddle Block #1 watercolor to the Portage County Historical Society.

David E. Dix is a retired publisher of the Record-Courier.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: General Wesley Clark speaking on Ukraine at Hiram College Nov. 3
Steve Kornacki says the top unanswered question regarding Democrats odds of keeping control of the Senate is how Pennsylvania voters will react to Democratic Senate nominee John Fettermans performance in the races only televised debate against Republican Mehmet Oz last week.

Weve seen movement in Pennsylvania over the last couple months.  To me, when you look at the battle for the Senate, its the single biggest question heading into the election, Kornacki, NBC Newss top elections expert, said during a recent interview with The Hill. Its volatile, how are voters going to respond to the Fetterman situation, to the debate.

Fetterman, the states lieutenant governor, suffered a stroke earlier this year but was able to participate in the nationally broadcast prime-time debate against Oz. Fetterman at times struggled to answer questions coherently and used closed captioning during the hourlong back-and-forth with the television personality.

Days before the Democrat took to the debate stage, Gisele Fetterman, the candidates wife, criticized an NBC News reporter who made on-air comments about the health of her husband and spoke about his auditory processing issues after interviewing him. John Fettermans health has sparked national debate about what counts as a disability and perceptions on who is able to serve in public office.

Kornacki characterized Pennsylvania as on paper, the Democrats best chance of picking off a Republican-held Senate seat.

If the Democrats lose any of the seats they currently hold, and theyre in danger in a couple of them, theyve got to be able to balance it, he said. The biggest question here is in these final two weeks with that debate now having happened, very unique set of circumstances, how does the public in Pennsylvania respond to it?

Ahead of election night, Kornacki said he is a little more hesitant and a little less clear on where things are headed with the various key races as opposed to other midterm cycles in recent memory.

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I take a look at the generic ballot average, and its moved around in ways this year it hasnt moved around in past midterms, he said.

Kornacki has spent an increased amount of time focusing on political strategies ahead of congressional midterm elections as he prepares to debut a new podcast this week.

The election gurus six-episode audio series, dubbed The Revolution with Steve Kornacki, explores the rise of former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and his role in the consequential midterm elections of 1994 when the GOP took the House majority for the first time in four decades.

The project aims to provide context behind the 1994 midterms and understand American partisanship as it exists today, which Kornacki said can be traced back to the strategy used by Gingrich and the GOP to win back the House that year.

I view 1994 as a turning point in our politics, a process really began and its a process of nationalizing our politics, he said. Were now living in a fully almost totally nationalized political climate.  Theres all sorts of debate and all kinds of discussion to be had about the long-term meaning, significance, implications of the Republican revolution of 1994, but to me theres just no question that it changed our politics.

Updated at 9:24 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Russia has deployed missiles to Belarus in what is likely a desperate attempt to intimidate the West while its forces flounder in Ukraine, according to a new intelligence report.

Satellite images shared by British intelligence show what are likely two MiG-31K FOXHOUND interceptor jets stationed at Belarus Machulishchi Airfield on Oct. 17, according to the U.K. Ministry of Defense. Located near the jets is a large canister, which the Ministry of Defense assesses is likely for the AS-24 KILLJOY air-launched ballistic missile.

The KILLJOY missiles are launched from a high-speed aircraft to go after their targets. Russia claims that the missiles, also known as Kinzhal or dagger missiles, can carry conventional or nuclear warheads and are hypersonic, since they are reported to travel at over five times the speed of sound.

Ukraines current air defenses cant detect and destroy them, according to Hromadske, which could raise alarm about whether Russia intends to use Belarus as a staging ground for an assault on Ukraine, in a repeat of a tactic Russia used early in the war. Russian President Vladimir Putin has leaned on Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko since the early days of the invasion this year to prepare for attacks on Ukraine, including the failed offensive on Kyiv.

But Russia might be conducting the deployment to send a signal to the West and pull Belarus further into the war, rather than preparing an actual plot to unleash an attack on Ukraine, according to British intelligence.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 1 November 2022



Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/ohQH7fYyqM



 #StandWithUkraine  pic.twitter.com/Q9WxS4UKza  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) November 1, 2022

It has likely carried out the deployment mainly to message to the West and to portray Belarus as increasingly complicit in the war, the Ministry of Defense said. Basing KILLJOY in Belarus gives Russia little added advantage in terms of striking additional targets within Ukraine.

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If the move was all for show, it would fit a pattern for Belarus. The deployment comes weeks after Russia and Belarus embarked on a joint grouping and deployment of troops in Belarus in what could appear to be preparation for mobilization against Ukraine or other nations. But some U.S. officials and diplomats have said that the grouping is likely a ploy to dupe Ukrainian forces into diverting resources to defend against a possible incursion from the north, rather than focus on the south where Ukraine is making gains against Russian forces.

Efforts to pull Ukrainian forces away from their winning tactics in the south and in the east might be a last-ditch effort from Russia to try to regain momentum amid a series of crushing losses on the battlefield. Russia currently has strained logistics and is currently not able to stage offensive operations and is only capable of defensive operations, according to a British intelligence assessment released last week.

Panic as Russia Drags Another Neighbor to the Brink of War

The White House warned Tuesday that Russias buildup with Belarus might be a ruse.

While they claim its to bolster their bilateral readiness, it could also be an effort to try to pin down Ukrainian forces in the north of the country, White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby told reporters on a call Tuesday.

In the same vein, the KILLJOY missiles might not even be that helpful to Putins goals. Russia has already deployed some of the KILLJOY missiles during the war in Ukraine to limited effect, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Hypersonics, as you can see from the conflict, is not necessarily the best use, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu said in remarks last month. They've shot their KILLJOY hypersonics weapon against a dam. The dam is still there.

Russias use of the weapon might not have a large effect on the war, British intelligence previously assessed. When Russia claimed to have used hypersonics in the war in March, the British said the Russian claim was highly likely intended to detract from a lack of progress in Russias ground campaign.

The news of their deployment to Belarus comes as Russia has been unleashing a barrage of missiles in Ukraine in recent days. On Monday, Russia set loose a wave of missiles that hit key infrastructure, leaving Kyiv without water and power for hours. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Tuesday in a post on Telegram that the supplies had been restored, although the city will still use some emergency shutdowns of the power supply.

U.S. officials have said they dont expect Russia to let up on its attacks against civilian areas but are working on improving Ukraines air defenses.

The Biden administration has committed to sending eight National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) to Ukraine, with two headed Ukraines way in the very near future, a senior U.S. defense official told reporters Monday.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is working with allies to support Ukraine in bettering its air defenses, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

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A file photo of Ksenia Sobchak. Ben A. Pruchnie/Stringer via Getty Images

A prominent Russian media star who fled the country posted saying she is in "big trouble."

Ksenia Sobchak, who has family ties to Putin, was confirmed last week as being in Lithuania.

She has since posted about a media backlash and said she was cut off from her loved ones.

A Russian media star who dramatically fled the country last week said over the weekend that she was "possibly in big trouble."

Ksenia Sobchak, who is rumored to be the god-daughter of President Vladimir Putin, posted to Telegram on Saturday that she was cut off from her friends and family ever since her escape to Lithuania on October 25.

Sobchak sneaked out of Russia after Kirill Sukhanov, the commercial director of her media company Ostorozhno.Media, was arrested on accusations of extortion  a move she condemned as an attempt to intimidate the media.

According to the state-controlled media outlet TASS, which cited Russian police, Sobchak confounded authorities by buying flights to Dubai but then crossing by land instead, via Belarus to Lithuania.

After she left, police searched her Moscow home and she was named a suspect in the case, TASS reported.

In her Telegram post on Saturday, Sobchak wrote: "My thoughts are with my family, who I have been separated from."

Later in the post she added: "Yes, I am in trouble. Possibly, in big trouble." She did not make clear what she was referring to.

Russian police had named Sobchak as a suspect in the extortion case, which accuses Sukhanov, the commercial director, as well as another media mogul  former Russian Tatler editor Arian Romanovsky  of extorting millions of rubles from the head of the defense conglomerate Rostec.

However, as of Friday police had canceled this status and now regard her as a witness, TASS reported. The outlet reported this on Saturday, in an article published after Sobchak had posted.

Sobchak did not respond to Insider's request for comment. A representative named on her Instagram profile only as "Lena" said she has no contact with Sobchak at time of publication, and did not confirm her whereabouts as of Monday. Two further representatives did not comment; all answered Russian phone numbers.

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On Friday, Lithuanian intelligence services confirmed that Sobchak was in the country, where they said she has the right to remain for 90 days.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) greeting Ksenia Sobchak (R) at the Kremlin, Russia, March,19, 2018, when Sobchak was a liberal opposition candidate in the presidential election. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

Sobchak is one of Russia's biggest media stars, and has family ties to Putin  with one longstanding rumor saying she is the president's god-daughter.

She is the daughter of Anatoly Sobchak, a former mayor of St Petersburg who employed Putin as a deputy and aided is rise to power. According to Politico, Putin attended Ksenia Sobchak's baptism.

Sobchak's glamorous lifestyle and reality TV career earned her the nickname "Russia's Paris Hilton," an image she attempted to shed as her media career matured and when, in 2018, she ran as a presidential candidate.

While the challenge was viewed with skepticism by pro-democracy activists, Sobchak has espoused some liberal positions, such as her 2014 criticism of the annexation of Crimea, as Politico reported.

After the arrest of Sukhanov, she wrote: "It is obvious that this is a raid on my editorial office, the last free editorial office in Russia, which had to be shut down,"according to a translation by The Washington Post.

In her most recent post referring to her situation, Sobchak decried a backlash she had received in Russian media, as Russian newspaper Kommersant reported.

Citing numerous examples of what she described as "bullying" and fake news, she wrote bitterly about the coverage, saying: "God, how you all must hate me, simply for not being a part of any group. How you love ripping me apart!

"And I do detest you for being so shallow and petty. Yes, I am in trouble. Possibly, in big trouble. I am glad this has brought you a smile this dark evening."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) leads his Democratic opponent, Joy Hofmeister, by 9 points in a new Emerson College survey, a more comfortable lead for the incumbent after recent surveys showed a tightening race.

The poll, which was released on Monday, eight days before Election Day, found Stitt garnered the support of 49 percent of likely voters, compared to Hofmeisters 40 percent.

Oklahoma is a reliably red state and has elected Republicans to the governorship in the past three elections, but the GOP is hoping to avoid a Democratic upset in next weeks midterms after other polls showed a closer-than-expected contest.

Hofmeister is leading among Independent voters 43 percent to 33 percent, but that is not enough to make up for the Republican advantage in Oklahoma, said Spencer Kimball, Emerson College Pollings executive director. Stitt leads among Republican voters 75 percent to 15 percent, who are expected to be about 52 percent of the total vote.

Stitt also benefits from a positive favorability rating, with 49 percent of likely voters in the new poll indicating they had a favorable opinion of him, while 47 percent had a negative view.

Hofmeisters favorability rating, meanwhile, is underwater, with 43 percent indicating a favorable view, compared to 47 percent who had an unfavorable view of her. Eight percent were unsure.

Most voters say theyve made a final decision in the race. Eighty-eight percent said they will definitely vote for their candidate, and only 12 percent said there is a chance they will change their mind.

Recent polls have signaled alarm for the GOP, with one showing Hofmeister leading by 7 points, and multiple others suggesting the candidates are locked in a tight race.

The Republican Governors Association waded into the race earlier this month by launching a major ad buy in the state attacking Hofmeister, who has overseen Oklahomas public schools since 2015.

Like other areas of the country, the economy clocked in as the top issue in the race, with 43 percent of likely voters in Emersons poll indicating it is the most important topic to them.

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But education ranked No. 2 at 15 percent, which was followed by abortion access at 11 percent.

Education has been cast as a central issue in the race, as Stitt has made supporting school vouchers a major part of his campaign.

The poll was conducted between Oct. 25-28 with 1,000 likely Oklahoma voters. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percent.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) released an affidavit on Monday unveiling assault and attempted kidnapping charges against the man accused of attacking Paul Pelosi, the husband of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), at the couples San Francisco home on Friday.

David DePape, 42, of California was charged with assault of an immediate family member of a U.S. official with intent to retaliate against the official on account of the performance of official duties and attempted kidnapping of a U.S. official on account of the performance of official duties. The two counts carry a combined maximum of 50 years in prison.

Meanwhile, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins also announced six charges against DePape on Monday, including attempted murder.

He is facing between 13 years and life in prison for those counts.

Federal prosecutors say DePape broke into the Pelosi residence in the middle of the night, threatened to hold the couple hostage and hit Paul Pelosi with a hammer, causing serious injuries. The affidavit released on Monday unveiled new details on what transpired during the early-morning attack, and it highlighted the threat the Speaker faced from DePape.

Here are six new details from the charging document.

Suspect threatened to break Speakers kneecaps

During an interview following the attack on Paul Pelosi, DePape told officers with the San Francisco Police Department that he wanted to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage and talk to her, according to the affidavit. He described the Speaker as the leader of the pack of lies spread by Democrats.

If the Speaker told the truth, DePape said he would let her go, but if she lied, he vowed to break her kneecaps, according to the affidavit. He said he was sure that Nancy Pelosi would not have disclosed the truth.

The suspect also described what would happen if he went ahead with his violent plan.

DEPAPE also later explained that by breaking Nancys kneecaps, she would then have to be wheeled into Congress, which would show other Members of Congress there were consequences to actions, the affidavit reads.

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Suspect wanted to wait for Speaker to come home

On his way to the hospital following the attack, Paul Pelosi told a San Francisco police officer that DePape wanted to talk with Nancy, referring to the Speaker. A source briefed on the investigation told The Hill last week that the alleged attacker confronted Paul Pelosi prior to the attack and shouted, Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy?

When Paul Pelosi informed DePape that the Speaker was not home, DePape said he would sit and wait for her to return, according to Paul Pelosis account

[Paul] Pelosi stated that his wife would not be home for several days and then DEPAPE reiterated that he would wait, the affidavit reads.

Nancy Pelosi was in Washington at the time but has since returned to be with her injured husband.

DePape gave the San Francisco police officers a similar account, adding that he wanted to tie up Paul Pelosi so he could take a nap while the two waited for the Speaker to return home.

DEPAPE told Pelosi that he was looking for Nancy. Pelosi responded that she was not present. Pelosi asked how they could resolve the situation, and what DEPAPE wanted to do. DEPAPE stated that he wanted to tie Pelosi up so that DEPAPE could go to sleep as he was tired from having had to carry a backpack to the Pelosi residence. Around this time, according to DEPAPE, DEPAPE started taking out twist ties from his pocket so that he could restrain Pelosi, the affidavit reads.

Paul Pelosi called 911 from the bathroom, greeted police

pelosi house assault

Paul Pelosi called 911 from the bathroom, according to the affidavit, where he was connected to a dispatcher. Minutes after the call, authorities arrived on the scene.

During a press conference Friday evening, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott commended the dispatcher for her intuition and quick thinking.

She had to interpret what she was being told. And based on her experience and her intuition, she basically figured out that there was something more to this incident than what she was being told, he said. Her actions, in my opinion, resulted in both a higher-priority dispatch and a faster police response. I think this was life-saving.

Jenkins told reporters on Monday that Paul Pelosis cellphone was located in the bathroom.

DePape told officers that Paul Pelosi opened the door when authorities knocked, according to the affidavit. The officers saw the two men clasping a hammer.

[Paul] Pelosi greeted the officers, the document adds in a different section.

Suspect broke through glass door

Mondays affidavit revealed that DePape broke through a glass door to enter the Pelosis house. The suspect told officers that he broke into the house through a glass door, which was a difficult task that required the use of a hammer.

The detail was also discovered on body camera footage.

When officers removed DEPAPE from Pelosis residence, police body worn camera footage showed a glass door that appeared to be laminated glass, broken near the door handle, the charging document states.

Jenkins also confirmed the broken door at a press conference on Monday.

He forced his way into the home through a rear glass door by breaking that glass, she told reporters.

She noted that there was no security present at the home and that DePape was able to break the window to a glass door to gain entry into the home.

Suspect had zip ties, tape, white rope

DePape was carrying zip ties, a roll of tape, a white rope and at least one additional hammer while in the Pelosis house, according to the affidavit, in addition to a pair of rubber and cloth globes and a journal. The objects were contained in a backpack he brought to the residence.

Authorities also recovered zip ties from the Pelosis bedroom and in the hallway near the front of the house, according to the affidavit.

Jenkins confirmed those details, telling reporters that DePape brought to the location of the Pelosi residence a second hammer as well as zip ties, rope and a roll of tape.

DePape had lived in a garage for two years

The affidavit disclosed that DePape lived in a garage of a residence in California. The owner of the premises confirmed to law enforcement that DePape has lived in the garage for roughly two years.

Authorities on Saturday executed a search warrant on the location, where they took possession of two hammers, a sword, and a pair of rubber and cloth gloves.

They also found DMV paperwork, IRS letters and PayPal credit cards, confirming that DePape lived on the premises, according to the charging document.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
At about 10:40 a.m. Tuesday Stockton police were investigating a shooting at an apartment building at 407 California St. and had blocked traffic on a stretch of E. Sonora west of California.

Just before 10:50 a.m., a man was visible lying on the ground about halfway down a walkway on the apartment building's second floor, according to a 72-year-old resident riding his bike in the area.

The man raised his hand, which had blood on it, and appeared to be speaking to paramedics before they carried him downstairs and took him away in an ambulance, the resident said. The man appeared to be Latino, the resident said.

Stockton Police officers examine the scene of a shooting at an apartment complex that injured a man at 407 S. California St. in downtown Stockton, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.

By about 10:50 a.m. six police cruisers and about 10 officers were gathered at 407 California, and officers appeared to be interviewing residents.

A woman walking through Eden Gleason Park away from the apartments at about 10:50 a.m. identified the man who had been shot as the apartment complex's manager.

A spokesman for the Stockton police could not immediately be reached for comment.

Record reporter Aaron Leathley covers public safety. She can be reached at aleathley@recordnet.com or on Twitter @LeathleyAaron. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton police investigating shooting at California, Sonora apartments
Russia fired four missiles into the southern Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv overnight, demolishing half an apartment building and killing one resident a day after it unleashed strikes on several cities including the capital Kyiv.

Rescue workers recovered the body of an elderly woman from the rubble of the apartment block early on Tuesday, witnesses said.

As rush hour was underway, passersby walked past a two-storey school, the front of which was torn off by the force of the blast that left a massive crater.

This is what the barbarian horde does, said Irena Siden, 48, the schools deputy director, standing in front of the gutted building as workers began sweeping up the rubble.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said missile strikes on several Ukrainian cities on Monday which targeted infrastructure and a decision to freeze participation in a Black Sea grain export programme were responses to a drone attack on Moscows fleet in Crimea that he blamed on Ukraine.

Putin told a news conference that Ukrainian drones had used the same marine corridors that grain ships transited under the U.N.-brokered deal.

Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for the attack and denies using the grain programmes security corridor for military purposes. The United Nations said no grain ships were using the Black Sea route on Saturday when Russia said its vessels in Crimea were attacked.

Russian missiles rained down across the country on the 250th day of a war that has ground on since Putin launched his invasion on February 24.

Explosions boomed out in Kyiv, sending black smoke into the sky. Russian forces shelled infrastructure in at least six Ukrainian regions on Monday, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a statement on Facebook.

Thats not all we could have done, Putin said at the televised news conference, indicating more action could follow.

Ukrainian officials said energy infrastructure, including hydro-electric dams, was hit, knocking out power, heat and water supplies.

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Oleh Synehubov, the governor of the northeastern Kharkiv region, said on Telegram that about 140,000 residents were without power after the attacks, including about 50,000 residents of Kharkiv city, the second largest city in Ukraine.

Ukraines military said it had shot down 44 of 50 Russian missiles. But strikes left 80 per cent of Kyiv without running water, authorities said. Ukrainian police said 13 people were injured in the latest attacks.

For the past three weeks, Russia has attacked Ukrainian civil infrastructure using expensive long-range missiles and cheap Iranian-made suicide drones that fly at a target and detonate.
Irans government is planning to carry out an imminent attack of some form against one of its top regional rivals, Saudi Arabia, according to an intelligence bulletin reportedly shared with the US government.

The Wall Street Journal reported that White House officials, as well as their counterparts in the Saudi government, had confirmed the news. A spokesperson for the National Security Council told the newspaper that the Biden administration was concerned about the warning, and was prepared to respond.

We are concerned about the threat picture, and we remain in constant contact through military and intelligence channels with the Saudis, said the spokesperson. We will not hesitate to act in the defense of our interests and partners in the region.

The US-Saudi relationship remains rocky amid a largely failed effort by the Biden administration to re-normalise the two countries past cooperation. A move by Opec+, controlled by the Saudis, to decrease oil production just ahead of the US midterm elections has further soured the Kingdoms reputation in the eyes of many Democratic politicians.

Iranians protest the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was detained by the morality police last month, in Tehran, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Middle East Images, File) (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

According to the intelligence shared by the Saudi government, the Iranian military plans to strike targets in Erbil, Iraq, as well as Saudi Arabia itself in the coming days or weeks while protests over the death of a young woman in police custody rage on across the country, humiliating the government as demonstrators flout and openly defy its conservative viewpoints.

The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini occurred after her arrest for supposedly wearing a headscarf incorrectly. Dozens more have died in the protests which have shown little signs of slowing and have sparked new US sanctions against those in the government accused of orchestrating a violent crackdown in response.

Irans government has responded to the unrest by blaming the American and Saudi governments, along with others, for supposedly fomenting the protests. The Biden administration has confirmed that it continues longstanding efforts to help persons in countries like Iran maintain access to the internet in the face of government crackdowns, but resisted claims that it is responsible for spreading any anti-government sentiment within Iran.

The Iranian military has carried out a number of missile attacks against targets in Irans Kurdistan region over the past year, with US troops and interests in the region appearing to be the target.

Tehran is known to be actively seeking to strike at US targets including potentially political figures in retaliation for the killing of a top Revolutionary Guard commander, Gen Qasem Soleimani, by the Trump administration.
Vingroup chairman Pham Nhat Vuong (3rd from L) stands next to CATL chairman Robin Zeng at the partnership signing ceremony between the VinFast and CATL in Japan on October 30, 2022. Photo courtesy of Vingroup

Vietnamese automaker VinFast has partnered with the worlds leading electric car battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Company (CATL) in the development of equipment for its electric cars.

The two companies will collaborate on the production of battery and skateboard chassis, a system at the bottom of the vehicle on which battery packs and other critical units are placed, according to a memorandum signed Oct. 30 in Japan.

"Collaboration with CATL - a global leader of new energy innovative technologies - is the next development milestone of VinFast in applying advanced technology to enhance driving range and experience while offering competitive pricing, making smart electric vehicles more efficient and accessible to everyone," said Vingroup vice chairwoman and VinFast Global CEO Le Thi Thu Thuy.

The signing ceremony was attended by Vingroup chairman Pham Nhat Vuong and founder and chairman Robin Zeng.

Vietnams first fully-fledged automaker VinFast plans to ship 5,000 electric vehicles to the U.S., Canada and Europe in early November and deliver them to customers the following month.

Earlier this year VinFast had said it would build a plant in North Carolina with an annual capacity of 150,000 EVs.
Chloe Leischner, center, is surrounded by her three daughters, left to right, Zoey Oliver, 8, Alli Oliver, 3, and Lily Oliver 6, all of Springfield, as Leischner votes in Tuesdays primary at the Knights of Columbus Hall June 28, 2022.

Months upon months of political campaigning will come to a head in one week, as Illinois voters head to the polls on Election Day, Nov. 8.

Already, more than 841,000 pre-election ballots have been counted statewide as of Monday according to the Illinois State Board of Elections. In Sangamon County, there have been 19,412 counted with 11,803 by-mail, 3,676 voting early, and 82 during the grace period  when voters can register to vote or change their voting address through Election Day.

Voters still can cast early votes at the Sangamon County building until Monday with expanded hours for this week. Through Friday, voters will have from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. to vote early at the Sangamon County Elections office at 200 S. Ninth Street  Room 101. Over the weekend, Saturday hours go from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Candidates in local, state, and national races are using these final seven days as their last chance to connect with voters and have gone full-tilt with events, advertising, and spending.

Campaign winds down, attack ads continue

Making their way on television screens across Illinois and respective legislative districts, candidates are reaching out to voters in ad spots  selling their accomplishments and agenda or attacking their opponent.

For the Pritzker campaign, it's been a mixture of both. One of Gov. JB Pritzker's latest ads featured a host of voters detailing achievements he has touted throughout the campaign such as the $15 minimum wage and expansion of health care.

A more recent ad, however, has Lake County state's attorney Eric Rinehart saying Pritzker's Republican challenger Darren Bailey has "no solutions" with specific regards to the SAFE-T Act.

Related:Advocates and opponents of Pretrial Fairness Act in Illinois spar in local town hall

"You deserve to know the facts about the Illinois SAFE-T Act," he said in the 30-second spot. "There is no such thing as a purge law in Illinois. We will be able to keep violent offenders behind bars, where they belong. And convicted criminals will not be released. Im tired of politicians trying to fool you."

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With less money on hand, Bailey has not had the same ad presence as his Democrat opponent but is still active on the campaign trail. Monday evening he was set to hold a conference with former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard in an event in Glen Ellyn.

Gabbard, a former presidential candidate, recently announced she planned to leave the Democrat Party.

Pritzker's presence is being seen also in local races such as Illinois Senate District 48 and Illinois Congressional District 13. Over the weekend, the governor and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin joined state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, and Democratic candidate for Congress Nikki Budzinski in Springfield for a rally held at the AFL-CIO.

The state senate race for the 48th has been the focus of much campaign fundraising and contentious advertisements, where Turner and Republican state Rep. Sandy Hamilton have accused each other of corruption and being a sell-out respectively.

Hamilton's earlier attack ads claim Turner had doled taxpayer funding for items such as a Hummer and a trip to Las Vegas to paint her opponent as corrupt, but Turner replied in-kind with ads associating Hamilton with Illinois Minority Senate Leader Dan McConchie's anti-abortion stance.

In the 13th Congressional District race, Budzinski followed an earlier statement and press conference with a new political ad against her Republican opponent Regan Deering's comments regarding Social Security.

Deering remarks in a WMAY interview with Jim Leach earlier in October suggesting means testing, where benefits would be determined based on income, constitute cuts to the Social Security program along with Deering's personal wealth, makes her "not for us" a recent ad from Budzinski claims.

The Deering campaign has maintained that the characterization of the interview was untrue and the attention drawn to it was to distract from recent reporting from the Better Government Association revealing Budzinski earned more than $500,000 as a consultant.

A recent ad from Deering looked into her opponent's role in the Biden administration, where she served as chief of staff in the Office of Management and Budget. By working with President Joe Biden in canceling the Keystone Pipeline, the ad claims Budzinski and Biden had made food prices and debt skyrocket.

Campaign contributions roll in

According to the Reform for Illinois' Sunshine database, the 48th Senate District continues to rack-up contributions in the dwindling days to the election. As of Monday, more than $5.6 million is in the race which is the third-highest amount of total funds in any race in the Illinois General Assembly.

The governor's race remains one where Pritzker holds the advantage in terms of financial backing. Last week alone, the governor secured more than $1 million in in-kind contributions from the Democratic Party of Illinois. On the other side, Bailey received more individual contributions last week but none surpassing $10,000.

Contact Patrick Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: 7 days: Campaigns firing on all cylinders in lead-up to Election Day
LIMA, Peru, October 31, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AENZA S.A.A. (the "Company") hereby informs that, on October 18, 2022, the Company received a letter (the "Notice") from the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") notifying the Company that it is below criteria with respect to the average closing price criteria of the continued listing standard of the NYSE applicable to the Companys American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") because, as of October 17, 2022, the average closing price of the Companys ADSs was less than US$1.00 per ADS over a consecutive 30 trading-day period (the "ADS price deficiency").

Pursuant to Section 802.01C of the NYSE Listed Company Manual and the Notice, the Company has six months (the "Cure Period") following receipt of the Notice to regain compliance with the minimum share price requirement. The Company can regain compliance at any time during the Cure Period if on the last trading day of any calendar month during the Cure Period the Company has a closing share price of at least $1.00 and an average closing share price of at least $1.00 over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of that month. In the event that at the expiration of the Cure Period, both a $1.00 closing share price on the last trading day of the Cure Period and a $1.00 average closing share price over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of the Cure Period are not attained, the NYSE will commence suspension and delisting procedures.

The Notice has no immediate effect on the Companys NYSE listing or the trading of its ADSs. The Company has notified the NYSE on October 27, 2022 of its intent to cure the ADS price deficiency. To address the ADS price deficiency, the Company intends to change the ratio of its ADSs to its ordinary shares. The Company will monitor the market conditions of its listed securities and is considering all alternatives available to it. During the Cure Period, the Companys ADSs will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE, subject to its compliance with other NYSE continued listing standards and other rights of the NYSE to delist the ADSs.

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Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the expectation of its collection efficiency and delinquency contains forward-looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Companys beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Companys goal and strategies; the Companys expansion plans; the Companys future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the Companys expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its products; the Companys expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with customers, business partners and other parties it collaborates with; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Companys filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221031005681/en/

Contacts

VP of Corporate Finance

Fredy Chalco Aguilar

E-mail: fredy.chalco@aenza.com.pe

Av. Petit Thouars 4957 Miraflores - Lima - Peru

Head of Investor Relations

Paola Pastor Aragon

Tel.: (51) 951 211 549

E-mail: paola.pastor@aenza.com.pe

Av. Petit Thouars 4957 Miraflores - Lima - Peru
By Lamine Chikhi

ALGIERS (Reuters) - Algeria aims to demonstrate diplomatic clout this week as it hosts the first Arab League summit since before the COVID-19 pandemic, but political divisions mean any show of unity among the club's members is likely to be paper thin.

Arab states are split over issues ranging from support for the Palestinian cause, the regional roles of Iran and Turkey and the rehabilitation of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, while Algeria's own bitter feud with Morocco continues to fester.

In Algeria, largely absent from Arab affairs for several years following the 2019 mass protests that led to the ousting of president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the meeting has been portrayed as a mark of its return to frontline diplomacy.

"The summit shows that Algeria is back in international affairs after years of isolation due to Bouteflika's illness, the protest movement, COVID-19 and the financial crisis," a former Algerian government minister and ambassador said.

Last month Algiers convened Palestinian factions in an effort to end years of internal discord, and President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has in recent months hosted the leaders of France and Italy.

However Algeria failed earlier this year to persuade other Arab states to end Syria's suspension from membership of the league imposed in late 2011 over Assad's crackdown on protesters as an uprising spilled into civil war. Damascus said in September it would not attend to avoid "causing dispute".

Some major Arab states including Saudi Arabia and Qatar backed Sunni Muslim rebels fighting Assad, a close ally of Iran.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the United Arab Emirates leader Mohammed bin Zayed have both confirmed they are not coming to Algiers, as has Morocco's King Mohammed VI.

The presidents of Egypt and Tunisia and the monarchs of Kuwait and Qatar are among about two thirds of leaders whom the Arab League has said will attend.

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Central areas of Algiers, and the highway to the recently built conference centre on the coast where the summit will take place, have been replanted with trees and decked out in Arab flags. Models of Arab architecture adorn a central square.

However, there seemed little expectation on the streets of Algiers that the summit would bring advances.

"I'm not sure this summit will improve our living conditions. We should focus on domestic affairs," said Hmida Salmi, a 38-year-old taxi driver.

SPLITS

Arab countries remain split over the aftermath of the 2011 'Arab spring' revolts, including conflicts that persist in Syria, Yemen and Libya that variously pulled in other Arab states as well as regional powers such as Turkey and Iran.

Since the last Arab summit three years ago, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan have also moved to normalise ties with Israel - a move regarded as a betrayal by many Palestinians.

Palestinian officials and some other Arab states including Algeria have criticised the so-called "Abraham accords" for not including any concrete moves towards Palestinian statehood.

For Gulf states, warmer ties with Israel reflected years of changing political priorities, including their overarching concerns about the regional role of Iran, a foe they share with Israel.

In Algeria, the focus has been on its main regional rival Morocco, which in late 2020 agreed to warmer ties with Israel as part of a deal in which the United States recognised Rabat's sovereignty over Western Sahara.

Algeria backs the Polisario Front independence movement for the disputed territory, which also announced in 2020 the resumption of its armed struggle against Morocco.

Relations between Algeria and Morocco have since sharply deteriorated, with Algiers suspending diplomatic relations between the two countries, not renewing a gas supply deal and closing its airspace to Moroccan planes.

(Reporting by Lamine Chikhi and Angus McDowall, Editing by William Maclean)
Edwin Remsberg/Getty

Where do I begin to convince you of this citys wonders?

Shall I take you inside the Nelson-Atkins, inarguably one of the best art museums in the country? Or should we start with the food? Or the magnificent homes, or the friendly people? Or, perhaps, I can persuade you to take a closer look at Kansas City by pointing out that my job allows me to go to my favorite cities every yearParis, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Los Angeles, and so onand, yes, Kansas City is one I always visit.

Now, I usually only stay overnight as Kansas Citys my preferred final stop en route to Colorado. A night in Kansas City checking out a new restaurant, another section of the Nelson-Atkins or some other attraction followed by the nine-hour drive to Boulder is preferable to spending the night somewhere in between. I have my spot, the beloved Crossroads Hotel, which allows pets since the drive is due to our dog. And in the morning I load up on bread and baked goods across the border at the mouth-wateringly good 1900 Barker in Lawrence, Kansas, and hit the road.

A month ago, I got to spend a handful of days in Kansas City as part of our series on underrated destinations, Its Still a Big World. This time I was flying in, and shortly after arriving at the citys strange airportits then-ingenious design was for you to drive right up to your gateI was whisked away to cruise around the city with native son (and one of my favorite authors) Michael C. Kathrens.

While hes best known for his tomes on the great houses of New York City, Trumbauer, and Newport, Kathrens most charming work might be one he published a decade ago, Kansas City Houses. So even though you likely wont be able to snag him as a guide, his beautiful book is a worthy substitute. Grab a copy, get in a car, and cruise by some of the most magnificent homes in the country.

And, wow, what treasures his book brings out of this citys neighborhoods.

Bernard Corrigan House. Public Domain

Start with the Scarritt House in northeast Kansas City, a brownstone manse in the chateau-esque style designed by legendary Chicago firm Burnham & Root. You could be forgiven for overlooking it, as it sits in the shadow of the almost terrifyingly large Corinthian Hall, a limestone Beaux-Arts behemoth that now houses the Kansas City History Museum. Cruising neighborhoods like Mission Hills, the Country Club District, or Sunset Hill, the sheer number of mansions will likely be shocking for those unfamiliar with Kansas Citys turn of the last century wealth thanks to cattle, oil, lumber, and rail. But for house lovers, the allure has to be the quality and variety.

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Pop over to the Kansas Art Institute to see Marburg, an idiosyncratic Flemish Revival house built by mining magnate August Meyer, who also originated the citys park and boulevard system. If short on time just stick to the southwestern neighborhoods around State Line Road that separates Missouri from Kansas. Within a mile radius youll be able to discover the Mount-Vernon-inspired estate of telecoms heir Hunter L. Gary, the whimsical Italian countryside-inspired villas designed by Mary Rockwell Hook, the Art Deco icon the Bixby House (currently at risk of being torn down), and one of the more unique houses in the U.S., the Vienna Secession and Art Nouveau fusion that is the Corrigan House (currently being renovated. For those with a taste for Midwest history, also in the neighborhood is the restrained French classicist mansion of infamous political boss Thomas J. Pendergast, who launched the political career of Harry Truman.

You likely didnt think of Kansas City as an excellent destination for aspirational house hunting (compared to the coasts, many of these mansions are affordable), but the streets in the wealthy enclaves of this city are an elegant reminder of the good reasons Americans love suburbstheyre just incredibly nice.

Famished after our house tour, Kathrens and I were eager to eat while we discussed why the Midwest seems to have such a high concentration of Tudor Revival mansions (our theory? A massive horizontal Tudor Revival house doesnt appear big from the street so you can still seem conservative). So we popped into Lazia, the restaurant housed in Crossroads Hotel. One of the few hotels whose industrial-chic design I bet will last longer than this current trend, Crossroads is at the heart of the eponymous neighborhood abutting the rail lines that is one of a number of downtown-adjacent areas experiencing a boom. Rooms are spacious even by American standards, the rooftop is always a scene, and the service is fantastic.

Nelson-Atkins Museum. Aaron Hawkins/Getty

While this was a trip to explore beyond what I normally do, I couldnt help stopping by the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the citys main art museum. Free to visit, it is a place that serves up its world class collectionMatisse, Caravaggio, Sargent, Benton, Rohlfs, Monet, Brancusi, Durer, Crescent, Imperial Chinese furnishings, and so onin a remarkably approachable and digestible manner while still being serious enough to satisfy the snobs. Despite its genre-spanning hoard, Ive never felt the need to take it all in at once, instead focusing on a section and taking it in. Plus, Ive nearly always had something unique or interesting pointed out to me by one of the docents.

While most major American cities have their version of the Nelson-Atkins, nearly every city and town has what I call mom-and-pop museums. Little spots devoted to something like medical devices or dolls or model trains. They tend to be kooky, dusty, and very hit-or-miss. Its what I expected when I moseyed over to the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. Boy, was I wrong. Inside was not only a world-class museum collection with high-end displays, but one of my new favorite museums, period. It was created by Mary Harris Francis, a schoolteacher descended from one of Kansas Citys oldest families, and Barbara Marshall, the daughter of the founder of Hallmark. The first collected toys, and the latter built the largest fine-scale miniatures collection in the world.

I started with the fine-scale miniatures. Naturally, I wondered what makes something a fine-scale miniature as opposed to a dollhouse toy? Essentially it comes down to scale, as the pieces must be made from a ratio to the original object (12:1 being the most popular) and every detail is replicated, meaning pieces take weeks, sometimes years, to make.

Sevres Lapis Blue Vase by Miyuki Nagashima. Darryl Bernstein/Collection of The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

There are miniatures of 18th century gilded microscopes (burnished with a puppys tooth in place of a wolfs that the original designer used), Bierstadt landscapes, Art Deco jewelry shops with real nearly-microscopic jewelry for sale, and historic rooms like the Studiolo Gubbiolo, Doge Palace entrance, and a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed breakfast room. Questions like How did they do that? are answered with displays that simultaneously answer questions and deepen the mystery and wonder associated with these works. Theres even an Operation-esque interactive where you can use tweezers to try to put an eyelash-sized clock hand on the face of a grandfather clock.

Art Deco Jewelry Store by Kevin Mulvaney and Susie Rogers. Collection of The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

The floor of toys opens with an exercise in family bondinga hall with the most popular toys by decade. Linger over the items your parents devastated you by not getting, or marvel that they somehow passed their days playing with such primitive objects. From there youll wander through galleries that examine the roles toys play, how theyve been used by societies to create or enforce norms, as well as exhibits on some of the more outrageous ones (think ones that smoke or use offensive stereotypes).

A display case in the hall of iconic toys. William OConnor/The Daily Beast

When one thinks of Kansas City, its probably barbecue or jazz that come to mind, or maybe the Royals or the Chiefs. Its certainly not microminiatures or as a center for the art world. But at one point in the 20th century, the sleepily arresting neighborhood of Roanoke here was just that.

Once one of the most renowned painters in the worldhis face graced the cover of TIMEThomas Hart Benton and his work are mentioned less and less when one hears about the great American artists. Which is a shame since his works are some of the most emotionally available youll ever see up close. Common art for the common man, Benton used to say, and his paintings are almost Gothic church-like in the way their message can be immediately understood. Perhaps its because he, like Grant Wood or John Steuart Curry, is so American, or even so intentionally provincial that hes not sexy or cool anymore. Its fitting, then, that Bentons home is remarkable mostly for how unremarkable it is for such a groundbreaking artist. Now a museum you can and definitely should visit (the smallest state park in Missouri), almost everything about it seems more fitting for a pediatrician or a local lawyer rather than artist. But its a fascinating window into his life, the studio where he died is incredible, and the tour operated by Steve Sitton there is full of neat stories.

On my way back to Crossroads from Bentons home and studio, I was confronted with a different sort of fretful quandarythe debate over best BBQ in Kansas City. My driver, upon discovering what I do, asked for my favorite. I told him the truthfor years Ive been going to Joes Kansas City, in part because to my unrefined palate its delicious and, yes, in part because the millennial in me was a sucker for the whole its in a gas station vibe. Through gritted teeth he conceded each has their own preferences, but there is no dispute over who has the best beans: Jack Stack, he said, which fortunately was right around the corner from me. Now, my BBQ there was delicious, but upon nearly having a heart attack just from seeing the viscous, rich-looking cup of beans, I realized my taste buds are much less fearless than they used to be.

My last day in one of my favorite cities was spent in a former rival that is now a suburbIndependence, home to President Harry Truman and one of the most Addams-family-esque Second Empire mansions youll ever see.

Trumans house is about what youd expect, a tidy but nice Victorian house where you can tour the first floor. Its always funny coming on these kinds of tours because people love to offer their theories for the randomest things and watching polite park rangers work out a polite but accurate response is always a hoot.

The presidential library recently underwent an overhaul and its exactly what youd want in a museum. Youll walk away with a general understanding of his life, a few nuggets to whip out at a dinner party, and maybe a couple bigger thoughts bouncing around in your head afterward. While all of our political issues always seem insurmountable in the time were living them, those on his plate after the war put that in perspectiverebuilding Europe and Japan, Israel, McCarthy, the Rosenbergs, MacArthur, union battles, race, veterans, housing, and on and on.

Vaile Mansion, Independence, Missouri. Buyenlarge/Getty

About half a mile from the library is something seemingly random, the towering Vaile Mansion. It was built in 1881 by the businessman Harvey Vaile whose life upon its completion took a southward turn. He was put on trial twice for defrauding the government and his wife died of a suspected overdose. It changed hands throughout the 20th century, including a stint as a nursing home, but today its a house museum dedicated to understanding the life at the time in which the mansion was built and occupied by the Vailes.

Its a house full of odds and ends from hair art to chandeliers Chester Arthur allegedly thought were too small for the White House. If youre lucky youll have Charlie Beck as your guide as hes a man who is basically the concept of odds and ends made manifest and the possessor of a gleeful wit. If your eyes linger on an object for more than a couple of seconds, hell start to fire off stories and tales about how that object was used. Often, since he grew up without electricity or running water, some of the objects will have been familiar to him or to his family members and hell have some tale that sounds awfully tall but it doesnt matter. Before you know it, youve been there two hours.

On my final night in the city I had dinner at Corvinos Supper Club with Derek Byrne from the citys tourism board. Over seaweed donuts and fried rice, Byrne asked me what it is about Kansas City, as opposed to other Midwestern metropolises, that I love so much. To deflect, I first noted that anecdotally everybody Ive ever talked to who has visited has loved it. Then I noted the obviousits a very pretty city and theres an incredible amount to do. I still hadnt explored the jazz at places like Green Lady or gone to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The food scene still beckons. But as I tried to articulate the shape of my affection, I realized that what I love most is how Kansas City surprises people. Weve been conditioned to think of midwestern cities as kind of forlorn places that modernity ravaged, but Kansas City has never felt that way to me. On the contrary, theres a buoyancy to it. Even the Kansas City Museum, which forthrightly examines the regions legacies of racism, sexism, elitism, and so on, felt more hopeful than not. Theres nothing eat-your-peas or arduous about visiting here. And I cant wait to go back.

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ASHLAND  The Board of Education for City Schools is seeking community involvement in choosing the next district superintendent.

Doug Marrah will retire from the post at the end of the calendar year to become the executive director of Tri-County Computer Services Association.

Doug Marrah

Steve Paramore, the district's assistant superintendent for operations and human resources, will take over as the interim superintendent on Jan. 1.

Community members have told the board they want to be part of the selection process, said board President Zack Truax.

Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center, hired by the board at its October meeting to recruit candidates, will guide the search, Truax said, and will gather information, advertise the position and ensure candidates are fully licensed and qualified as potential superintendents.

The public and staff will be engaged in order to give them a voice in the process, Truax said. Public input is being solicited through an online questionnaire implemented by the ESC.

The online survey used by ESC was "tweaked by the board," Truax said.

The questionnaire was released online on Oct. 28. By Monday, Oct. 31, Mid-Ohio ESC had already received 162 individual responses  counted as 106 from parents, 50 from teachers and 57 from community members because some respondents fit into more than one category, said ESC Superintendent Kevin Kimmel.

The district had planned to link the questionnaire in an email to parents, Kimmel said.

The questionnaire is available at moesc.net/vnews/display.v/ART/635924520b784 or by contacting Kimmel at kimmel.kevin@moesc.net.

Ashland City Schools survey asks district residents what they want in their next superintendent

The survey asks the participant to name strengths and weaknesses of the district, issues it faces, and characteristics and attributes looked for in a new superintendent.

A profile incorporating qualifications with criteria sought by the public will be compiled.

The survey will remain open until Nov. 20, after which Mid-Ohio ESC and the board will review the results. An informational brochure will be drafted, and the job will be posted on Dec. 14, Kimmel said. It will remain posted through Feb. 8.

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Candidates will subsequently be identified for interviews. The board intends to hire a new superintendent in the spring, with that person's employment starting Aug. 1, 2023.

The ESC anticipates many candidates, which will be whittled down during the selection process, Truax said.

The average number of applicants received for a district the size of Ashland is about 20, Kimmel said, noting, "I think it's an attractive position."

The public will also have an opportunity for input during the interview process, Kimmel said.

This is Kimmel's fourth year with Mid-Ohio ESC and the 10th executive search he has conducted.

His ESC colleague, Ed Swartz, has conducted more than 50 executive searches.

The target recruitment area is the state of Ohio, but it could reach beyond the state, Kimmel said. Applicants will be sought from within the district and outside of the district, he said.

Paramore will put his name in the hat for the job. He said in an email he has been blessed to be a student, employee, and parent in the Ashland district and "to work alongside some of the most dedicated and passionate support staff, educators, administrators, and stakeholders here at ACS."

His "driving goal is to have the opportunity to lead this district into the future," he said in the email.

Paramore said he is dedicated to the community and the school district and would like "to be a part of the continuous rise of Ashland; most importantly Ashland City Schools."

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland City Schools surveying residents on next superintendent
Oleg Tinkov's anti-Kremlin tirade is rare in the Russian business community

A billionaire Russian banker, Oleg Tinkov, has given up his Russian citizenship because of the war in Ukraine and condemned "Putin fascism".

Mr Tinkov founded the online Tinkoff Bank, one of Russia's largest lenders, with about 20 million customers.

In an Instagram post, he said: "I can't and won't be associated with a fascist country that started a war with their peaceful neighbour."

Few Russian tycoons have criticised Russia's invasion of Ukraine in public.

An independent Russian news source, Sota Vision, tweeted a photo of Mr Tinkov's certificate showing his Russian citizenship terminated, as well as his tirade on Instagram against President Vladimir Putin's Russia.

The original post vanished after it was published, but Mr Tinkov has since posted again on the social media site and blamed "Kremlin trolls" for the disappearance.

In the latest post, he also said he was taking legal action to remove his name from the bank, explaining that he does not want to be linked to "the bank that collaborates with killers and blood".

He is reported to be living in London, but is subject to UK sanctions, like many other members of Russia's business elite.

"I hope more prominent Russian businessmen will follow me, so it weakens Putin's regime and his economy, and put him eventually to defeat," Mr Tinkov's original post said.

He continued: "I hate Putin's Russia, but love all Russians who are clearly against this crazy war!"

In April, Mr Tinkov castigated the Kremlin in even stronger terms, condemning what he called a regime based on nepotism and servility.

"The Kremlin bureaucrats are shocked that not just they, but also their children now won't travel to the Mediterranean in summer. Businessmen are trying to save the remains of their property," he said.

The Western sanctions on him and other top Russian business figures - known as "oligarchs" - include travel bans, asset freezes and impounding of planes and yachts. President Putin's political and military power relies heavily on the support of billionaires, who got rich through Kremlin connections.

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Also in April, Mr Tinkov sold his family's 35% stake in the company he founded - TCS Group Holding, based in Cyprus. The buyer was one of Russia's richest men, Vladimir Potanin, head of the mining giant Norilsk Nickel.

TCS's businesses under the Tinkoff brand include banking, insurance and mobile phones.

Media reports say another Russian banker, Nikolay Storonsky, has also given up his Russian citizenship. He has British citizenship and founded the British fintech start-up Revolut. He condemned the war in Ukraine in a blog post earlier this year, highlighting his Ukrainian family connections.

Earlier this month, billionaire Israeli-Russian investor Yuri Milner announced he had renounced his Russian citizenship. He left Russia in 2014 and lives in the US.
Deion Sanders and his undefeated Jackson State team are heading to Houston for a game Saturday against Texas Southern.

Houston is where Takeoff of the famed rap group Migos was killed during a dispute over a dice game early Tuesday.

Sanders is not taking any chances. He has told his Tigers players they are forbidden from leaving the team hotel.

Takeoff was murdered in a dice game in Houston  where were going, Sanders said in a team meeting Tuesday. So, that eliminates all yall leaving that hotel, cause it aint happening until I give you further notice.

Sanders explained his rationale:

You cannot kick it with the same dudes you kicked it with, he said. You cannot associate in the same realms that you associated with. You gon have to change if you expect change.

Im sad because it always seems like its us, but we wanna say we matter, we wanna say we keep it 100, but its always us!

We are ALL Valuable pic.twitter.com/KfLOAaPvcj  COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) November 1, 2022

Im just sick and tired of the consistency of people, that are influential to you, are leaving us consistently  thats our rappers, Sanders said.

Rest in Peace, Takeoff.

Story originally appeared on Touchdown Wire
Empty hospital bed near sunny window

Getty

The federal government has launched an investigation after a Missouri hospital allegedly denied abortion services during a medical emergency.

In October, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services launched an investigation after doctors at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin, Missouri denied abortion services to a woman, violating the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, according to Kaiser Health News.

The investigation involves 41-year-old Mylissa Farmer, whose water broke at nearly 18 weeks pregnant, causing bleeding and cramping, the outlet reports. After visiting Freeman Hospital on Aug. 2, physicians reportedly said her pregnancy was no longer viable and needed to be terminated as Farmer faced risks of serious infections.

After her doctors consulted with the hospital's lawyers, Farmer said she was told the hospital could no longer terminate her pregnancy due to the state's abortion ban.

Missouri's current abortion law criminalizes abortions after eight weeks of pregnancy. No exceptions are made for victims of rape or incest, though exceptions are allowed for medical emergencies, such as when a mother's life is at risk, or she is facing serious permanent injury.

However, doctors and hospital lawyers allegedly determined that Farmer did not qualify as an exception, KHN reports. "My doctors said it was an emergency, and I felt it was an emergency," Farmer told the outlet.

After several hospitals told her the pregnancy was not viable and her life was at risk, Farmer explained that she eventually went across state lines and underwent the procedure to end her pregnancy in Illinois.

RELATED: Biden Administration Says Federal Law Requires Doctors to Provide Abortion When Mother's Life Is at Risk

RELATED: Arizona Attorney General Agrees Not to Enforce Near-Total Abortion Ban Until 2023

Physicians who violate the law could face prosecution and have their license revoked. The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will reportedly not disclose details of the investigation until it's completed and penalties are finalized.

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In July, the Biden Administration made it clear that doctors are required to follow federal law when it comes to providing abortion services despite state trigger laws after the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

At the time, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a clarifying guidance stating that federal law preempts state abortion bans in cases of medical emergencies  when the mother's life is at risk.

In a release, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra cited requirements from the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA).

"If a physician believes that a pregnant patient presenting at an emergency department is experiencing an emergency medical condition as defined by EMTALA, and that abortion is the stabilizing treatment necessary to resolve that condition, the physician must provide that treatment," the guidance states. "When a state law prohibits abortion and does not include an exception for the life of the pregnant person  or draws the exception more narrowly than EMTALA's emergency medical condition definition  that state law is preempted."

"Under the law, no matter where you live, women have the right to emergency care  including abortion care," Becerra said in a statement. "Today, in no uncertain terms, we are reinforcing that we expect providers to continue offering these services, and that federal law preempts state abortion bans when needed for emergency care."
38 stolen dogs were found dead inside a car's trunk in the central province of Quang Nam. Photo courtesy of the police

A man in the central Quang Nam Province was arrested for stealing 38 dogs in a single night using tasers.

Ngo Van Phat, 33, has been detained by police of Dong Giang District to be investigated for stealing dogs. Police are also searching for two other people who came with Phat, they said Tuesday.

On Sunday, Phat and two others used tasers to steal dogs from people's homes and all of them were all brought onto a car afterwards.

When the group was stealing more dogs on Monday, they were ambushed by the police and local militia members. Phat was arrested while the others escaped on motorbikes.

A check inside the car's trunk found 38 dead dogs, weighing over 500 kg in total.

Phat confessed he and his accomplices rented the car to carry stolen dogs.

Dog theft is rarely treated as a criminal offense in Vietnam unless the stolen animals are valued at more than VND2 million ($86).

Vietnam consumes an estimated five million dogs a year, second only to China's 20 million.

Many of the dogs that make it to the grill are stolen pets sold to small, unregulated abattoirs and killed in brutal ways.
(Evening Standard)

China has reported an unexpected contraction in manufacturing activity as major cities continue to be impacted by Covid restrictions. This mornings PMI reading of 49.2 compares with the previous months 50.1 and with expectations for 50, which is the barrier between growth and contraction.

The market cost for a unit of energy, called a therm, was down by over 7% for the day on Halloween at around 3.14. At the end of September, it was at almost 5, leaving it down over 36% for October, a time when gas prices often rise as the autumn nights draw in.

Elon Musk is set to fire around 25% of the Twitter workforce as the billionaire tightens his grip on the finances of his newly-owned company. The Tesla boss worked through the weekend with his lawyer Alex Spiro on plans to sack 7,000 staff at the social media giant, according to reports by the Washington Post.

FTSE 100 Live Monday

Elon Musk to fire 7,000 Twitter staff - reports

Chinas economy continues to slow

Windfall tax speculation impacts banking and oil stocks

City Comment: Dont believe everything the big banks tell you about themselves

Monday 31 October 2022 19:08 , Simon Hunt

The big banks have been displaying their financial muscle. They are making profits and, more to the point in these febrile days, are beating analysts expectations for the key numbers. On Tuesday HSBC led the way, posting pre-tax three-monthly profits of 5.8 billion against analysts guesses of 5.3 billion, and up from 4.8 billion this time last year.

Nevertheless, the shares took a dive. The immediate cause was the worsening prospects in China, now that all pretence of a market-driven economy has gone, following Xi Jinpings elevation to absolute power for as long as he likes. This was sheer bad luck for the banks spinners, but in truth, getting a grip on whats inside the bank is as hard as trying to analyse the six-man Politburo Standing Committee under Xi.

HSBC investors were offered a 46-page announcement, 33 pages of analysts presentations and a bumper 107-page PDF data pack. Surely, everything you could ever wish to know is in there somewhere?

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Well, maybe. Or maybe not.

Bankers are (well) paid to dream up clever ways to make money, and occasionally one of their schemes breaks cover, as we saw earlier this month with the derivatives bought by pension funds. It is still far from clear where the risk lies here, and there are hundreds of schemes, often tailor-made for a specific problem, which work fine as long as they do. In essence, the weird and wonderful instruments the bankers dream up are ways of turning a (possible) small gain into a bigger one. It works through the magic of gearing, familiar to any home-owner with a mortgage.

read more here

FTSE 100 stays positive as takeover speculation helps make up for declining house builders

Monday 31 October 2022 16:44 , Michael Hunter

A rally for travel stocks sparked by bid speculation helped keep the FTSE 100 positive on Monday, making up for declines among housebuilders ahead of the Bank of Englands rate call on Thursday,, the first since the market turmoil of the now-demolished mini-Budget.

Overall, Londons main stock index was up 56 points in late trade, a rise of 0.8%. EasyJet was the biggest single gainer on speculation that it could become the centre of bid activity in the sector, linked with potential interest from International Consolidated Airlines, or IAG, the parent of British Airways and Iberia of Spain according to press reports.

EasyJet was up 26p to 355p, a rise of 8%, with IAG up 6% to 212p, a gain of 6%.

With the BoE widely expected to lift base rates by at least 0.75% and possibly by a full 1%, housebuilders moved to the bottom of the market. Taylor Wimpey fell by over 1% to 94p. a drop of 1%. London-focused developer Berkeley also lost 1%, or 39p to 3482p.

The pound stays on course for an October rally of 3% trading around $1.15

Monday 31 October 2022 15:15 , Michael Hunter

Sterling has had a busy month, tracking the twists and turns of the UKs fraught national politics, and heading for an overall rally in October of around 3% against the dollar.

The month played host to much of the market turmoil which followed the so-called mini-Budget delivered in the last week of September by short-lived Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng. His package of unfunded tax cuts, the biggest in a generation, collapsed after they undermined market faith in the government and up-ended the international investment case for UK assets. Weeks later, Liz Truss followed him out of Downing Street and became the shortest-serving British prime minister in history.

Rishi Sunaks arrival in Number 10 helped steady sentiment toward the currency, which is on course to finish October around the $1.15 mark, off its lows under $1.10 which came significantly before the new chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, demolished almost all of the measures in the mini-Budget.

Sterling is down by about 1% for Monday, as traders across global markets look ahead to the start of a two-day monetary meeting at the Federal Reserve on Tuesday, at which an interest rate hike of 0.75% is expected. The dollar has risen sharply this year, with the US central bank seen as having more leeway for rate rises amid a stronger showing the countrys economy. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a series of other currencies, is up almost 18% for the year. The pound is down 15% for the same period against the dollar, while the euro has fallen 13% agains the US currency in the same period.

New York stocks slip at the end of a strong month with Fed back in focus

Monday 31 October 2022 14:07 , Michael Hunter

Wall Streets S&P 500 slipped back in opening trade, cooling from a strong run over October, when third-quarter earnings news set th much of the pace for trade.

The broad New York stock index, which is up by about 8% for the month, slipped 0.8% to 3869.23, with caution kicking in ahead of the Federal Reserves next two-day rate-setting meeting, which is expected to end with a 0.75% hike on Wednesday.

Closely watched jobs data for October, due on Friday, added to the conservative feel to trade after the wider run higher, which left the market on course to end its streak of monthly declines.

Wholesale gas prices add to falls on Halloween, easing cost of living scare

Monday 31 October 2022 13:57 , Simon Hunt

There were hopes that the scare over high gas prices could be easing with households about to flip their calendars over after an unseasonably warm October.

Wholesale natural gas prices were on course for a fall of over a third for the month, helping ease fears about the impact of energy prices on the cost-of-living crisis. The market cost for a unit of energy, called a therm, was down by over 7% for the day on Halloween at around 3.14.

At the end of September, it was at almost 5, leaving it down over 36% for October, a time when gas prices often rise as the autumn nights draw in. Prices peaked at over 8.75 in August, on concern about the impact of Russian supply cuts to European gas supplies.

read more here

Sir James Dysons libel claim against Channel 4 dismissed by judge

Monday 31 October 2022 13:23 , Simon Hunt

Sir James Dysons libel claim against Channel 4 has been dismissed, after a High Court judge ruled a broadcast that alleged the exploitation of workers at a factory which used to supply goods to his firm did not defame him.

The billionaire sued the broadcaster and Independent Television News (ITN) over a broadcast of Channel 4s news programme on February 10.

At a hearing earlier this month, the court was told the programme reported on legal action brought against the vacuum cleaning giant by several workers at a Malaysian factory which previously supplied products to Dyson.

read more here

Northumberland battery firm Britishvolt considers administration

Monday 31 October 2022 12:28 , Simon Hunt

Troubled UK battery start-up Britishvolt is preparing to potentially fall into administration with almost 300 jobs at risk.

The company has been developing a 3.8 billion gigafactory in Blyth, Northumberland, which it had hoped would employ up to 3,000 workers.

However, the group has been in emergency fundraising talks in recent weeks.

read more here

Revolut customers given cashback in Dogecoin with launch of new crypto card

Monday 31 October 2022 12:08 , Simon Hunt

Brits will soon be able to buy a pint of milk with Dogecoin as fintech firm Revolut launches a crypto card in the UK.

Revoluts Pay with Crypto feature offers customers a 1% cashback in crypto for purchases paid with any of the close to 100 supported tokens, including Dogecoin, Bitcoin and Ethereum. The cashback is paid out in the same currency that the spend is in  so if the spend is in Dogecoin the 1% cashback is also paid out in Dogecoin.

The new feature can be activated on any existing card, allowing customers to switch between the currencies they spend from, including digital currencies.

read more here

Royal Mail tops FTSE 250 as major shareholder cleared to build stake and November strikes are cancelled

Monday 31 October 2022 11:47 , Michael Hunter

The parent company of Royal Mail made the biggest single gain on the FTSE 250 today after the government cleared the way for its biggest single shareholder to buy more of the company and strikes due in November were called off.

Shares in International Distributions Services rose 14p or over 7% to 208p. The gain came after The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said Vesa Equity, which already owns 22% of the company, could build its stake. It announced a review of Vesas owndership national security grounds due to its links with Russia via the Czech billionaire who controls in. Daniel KAetinsky, who is also an investor in West Ham, and has a range of investments in media and retail.

One KAetinsky business, EP Infrastructure, owns almost half of Eustream, which is one of the biggest importers of Russian gas into Europe via a pipeline into Slovakia. Vesa is also owned by Patrik TkaA, a Slovakian billionaire with a background in banking. It is also a shareholder in Hollands Dutch PostNL.

International Distributions Services stock is down over 50% this year. The company previously reported an operating loss of 219 million for the first half of the year, with an expected full-year loss of 350 million.

Read more here.

City Comment: Key rate rise coming on Thursday

Monday 31 October 2022 10:09 , Simon English

Are political considerations leaking into Bank of England interest rate calls?

Well, we might have a clearer idea of that on Thursday, when the Bank makes one of the most closely watched monetary policy decisions in ages.

Theres no question rates will go up from 2.25%, but by how much?

City folk are asking each other this: are you a half, three-quarter, or full pointer?

If the Bank limits itself to a half-point raise, that seems to indicate confidence in the (latest) new government.

It suggests the members of the Monetary Policy Committee think inflation is being tamed, that Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt are steady hands on the till after the chaos of Truss and Kwarteng.

If they go for a full point raise, as it might have had to do under the previous management, that suggests they are no more confident about the new brooms than they were about the last lot.

The Bank is, of course, fiercely independent of all political considerations. Of course.

Except Governor Andrew Bailey can be fired on the PMs whim and theres a wider context just now.

The FT reports that Sunak is on a collision course with City regulators over his desire for a new intervention power that would enable ministers to overrule the watchdogs.

The Bank thinks this is a dangerous plan that will weaken confidence in the City. The Treasury says matters of significant public interest could supersede that issue.

What this would mean in practice is not really clear, beyond the notion that Sunak, like Truss, wants growth and doesnt think his desire for it should be blocked by the pencil sharpeners.

Bailey wouldnt be human if he didnt ponder, at least in passing, what sort of rate rise the new PM wants on Thursday.

Banks gain ground but oil stocks under pressure

Monday 31 October 2022 09:52 , Graeme Evans

Windfall tax speculation as the government mulls how to fill a 40 billion hole in the public finances pushed banks and energy stocks in different directions today.

NatWest and Lloyds rose on reports that they wont be targeted for additional taxes, whereas North Sea explorer Harbour Energy fell on fears that a levy on energy sector profits could be extended to 2028.

More signs of slowing momentum in Chinas economy added to pressure as Shell lost 44p to 2374.5p and BP dropped 2.95p to 470p ahead of its third quarter results tomorrow.

The weaker-than-expected readings from the manufacturing and service sectors reflected the continued impact of Chinas ongoing zero-Covid policy.

The FTSE 100 index slipped 10.33 points to 7037.34, with Harbour Energy off 3.2p at 370.8p and housebuilders including Barratt Developments 1% lower as attention turns to the demand impact of Thursdays expected 0.75% rise in interest rates.

Glencore shares were a penny cheaper at 495.3p after the Financial Times reported that Tesla held discussions earlier this year about taking a stake of up to 20% in the FTSE 100-listed supplier of cobalt and other key raw materials for batteries.

On the risers board, British Gas owner Centrica improved 2.7p to 75.9p after US bank Jefferies raised its recommendation to buy with a 90p target. The rise, which came despite speculation of a windfall tax on generators, was accompanied by rises of 0.6p to 41.9p for Lloyds and 6.9p to 231.8p for NatWest after Fridays big post-results fall.

The FTSE 250 index dropped 73.89 points to 17,842.78, but heightened speculation that British Airways owner IAG could lead consolidation of the European airline industry sent easyJet shares up 20p to 348.5p and Wizz Air by 63p to 1674p.

Musk to fire 7,000 Twitter employees: reports

Monday 31 October 2022 09:31 , Simon Hunt

Elon Musk is set to fire around 25% of the Twitter workforce as the billionaire tightens his grip on the finances of his newly-owned company.

The Tesla boss worked through the weekend with his lawyer Alex Spiro on plans to sack 7,000 staff at the social media giant, according to reports by the Washington Post.

It comes after Musk denied reports he plans to fire Twitter workers to avoid having to make hefty payouts to them.

The reports, which first appeared in the New York Times, suggested the billionaire wanted to fire Twitter employees before the beginning of November, when grants of share options were set to be awarded to them.

Musk commented this is false in response to a journalist who had discussed the report.

Banking stocks rally but FTSE 100 flat, easyJet up 4%

Monday 31 October 2022 08:39 , Graeme Evans

A flat performance by the FTSE 100 index today masked some big moves in the energy and banking sectors as windfall tax speculation continues to swirl.

NatWest put back some of Fridays post-results losses by rising 7.8p to 232.7p and Lloyds Banking Group lifted 0.9p to 42.1p on reports that the government is not planning to target the sector for extra taxes.

However, North Sea explorer Harbour Energy fell 5.7p to 368.3p on fears that a levy on energy profits could be extended to 2028. Chinas latest disappointing economic figures added to pressure as Shell lost 44p to 2374.5p and BP dropped 2.95p to 470p ahead of its third quarter results tomorrow.

Electricity generators are also thought to be in the governments windfall tax sights, but a buy recommendation from US bank Jefferies meant shares in British Gas owner Centrica still lifted 3.5p to 76.7p.

The FTSE 100 index slipped 5.20 points to 7042.47 and the FTSE 250 index edged up 19.50 points to 17,936.17, with easyJet and Wizz Air up 4% on speculation that IAG could lead consolidation of the European airline industry.

Blockchain firm Valereum buys Gibraltar Stock Exchange

Monday 31 October 2022 08:06 , Simon Hunt

Blockchain firm Valereum has acquired the Gibraltar Stock Exchange for an undisclosed fee in a bid to turn the exchange into a hub to finance smaller businesses in Africa and the Middle East.

In August the business said it was selling off parts of its bitcoin mining business to cover the costs of acquisition. It also has plans to link securities with NFTs.

Valereum said in a statement: The future focus of the GSX will be to expand the access to European capital for early stage and small-cap companies in the Middle East, India and Africa where there is a huge opportunity to empower entrepreneurs across the region.

UK interest rates set for 33-year high

Monday 31 October 2022 08:03 , Graeme Evans

Interest rates are set to hit a 33-year high this week, with the Bank of England seen hiking its base rate on Thursday by 0.75% to 3% in the ongoing battle to control inflation.

Financial markets expect that interest rates will reach around 5% next year before falling back due to factors such as the impact of the recession, lower commodity prices and the easing of supply chain pressures.

Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Susannah Streeter said: The Bank wants to wave red flags now to throw cold water on expectations that there will be hotter prices to come and drown out demands for higher wages, which could lead to a more embedded price spiral.

Dampening down demand now by raising rates and making borrowing more expensive is set to cause further financial pain for companies and consumers, but central banks clearly think it is the price to pay to reduce the risk of a prolonged period of stagflation.

Chinas Covid impact shown in manufacturing downturn

Monday 31 October 2022 07:54 , Graeme Evans

Chinas economy has reported a further loss of momentum after the countrys manufacturing PMI reading fell to a weaker-than-expected 49.2 from the previous months 50.1. A figure above 50 represents growth.

The index for the services sector fell from 48.9 to 47, reflecting the impact of ongoing Covid restrictions on in-person activity.

Capital Economics thinks Chinas economy will continue to struggle heading into 2023.

The consultancy said: We dont expect the zero-Covid policy to be abandoned until 2024, which means virus disruptions will keep in-person services activity subdued.

In addition, the deepening global downturn will continue to weigh on exporters. And officials are still struggling to put a floor underneath the property market.

Rates hopes lift Dow Jones, FTSE 100 seen higher

Monday 31 October 2022 07:27 , Graeme Evans

A fourth successive 0.75% interest rate rise by the US Federal Reserve is seen as a near certainty on Wednesday, with clues on the subsequent path of hikes the key focus.

Deutsche Banks economists believe that 0.75% is also likely in December, but note that two payroll reports and two sets of inflation figures are due before the meeting.

They believe January could mark the start of a downshift, whilst still seeing upside risks to their terminal rate expectation of 5% given the recent inflation data.

Hopes of a slowing in the pace of rises have helped to lift Wall Street markets, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average the biggest beneficiary.

It has risen 14.4% so far during its best monthly performance since 1976, aided by the resilience of earnings updates outside the technology sector. The S&P 500 is up 9% and the Nasdaq Composite ahead by 5%.

The FTSE 100 index has experienced a mixed month but is expected to open eight points higher at 7055, according to CMC Markets.
On historic Harden assists night, more signs of Maxey's swift progress originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

WASHINGTON  James Harden knows his history and has gotten accustomed to making it.

He knocks names down leaderboards with regularity. On Monday night, two New York natives each dropped a step.

By dishing out a career-high tying 17 assists in the Sixers 118-111 win over the Wizards, Harden moved past Stephon Marbury and Nate Tiny Archibald on the NBAs all-time assists list. He's now in 27th place.

A speedy, 6-foot-1 lefty, Archibald is still the only player to lead the league in both points per game and assists per game in the same season. He averaged 34.0 points and 11.4 assists in 1972-73.

"Tiny and Stephon Marbury, two really, really good players and creators that we had in this league who had game, Harden said. For me, just keep pushing. Keep pushing, keep trying to make my teammates better, keep trying to make the right play and good things happen. You give everybody confidence.

Tonight, it was pick-and-roll. P.J. (Tucker) did a really good job of finding that pocket. Even though (Kristaps Porzingis) is 7-foot, he found his space, found his pocket, and had his floater working. So just trying to find ways to continuously help my teammates and make the game easier for them.

Tucker (13 points on 6-for-8 shooting, five rebounds) started at center with Joel Embiid out because of a non-COVID illness and then shared the postgame press conference podium with his former Rockets teammate. Both wore outfits that emphatically checked off the bright and bold color palettes, with splashes of pink and blue.

While Tucker has seen a ton of Hardens passing skill before, Tyrese Maxey doesnt seem to be fully out of the amazement stage.

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Hes played so much basketball and hes played in so many different styles and so many big games, Maxey said of Harden. I think with the film that hes watched, he knows where guys need to be. He knows how to pick his spots, he knows when to attack, he knows when to facilitate. Its just great.

He was leading us in scoring in the first quarter, just being aggressive, but I look up and he also had six or seven assists in the first quarter  so hes doing a little bit of everything. Thats what we need him to do. We really appreciate him. Hes really great at basketball. Thats all I can really say.

Maxey scored a team-high 28 points and led much of the Sixers decisive second-half surge. With Embiid out, a more attack-minded style wasnt new for Maxey. However, its noticeable that his sense for many of the games subtleties like shifting pace, reading help defenders, and capitalizing when the defense collapses or makes a mistake is sharpening.

Yeah, hes growing, Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said. He really is. You can see it. First half, I thought he made some sloppy plays, tried to force it. So much is coming at him. You think about it, the last time we went small ball (against the Raptors) he had (44) points, so hes thinking, OK, this is going to be another one of those nights. ... And then he kind of gathered himself, figured out how they were going to play him and took advantage of it.

Harden views Maxeys speed as foundational to further pick-and-roll progress.

Hes so fast, the 10-time All-Star said with a chuckle. Hes so fast. And I obviously dont ever want him to slow down, but theres moments where he can go from slow to fast or fast to slow and have a change of pace. Thats whats really going to throw teams and defenses off. Once he gets that change of pace and change of direction  and then once he gets into the paint, hes really good at finishing.

But then the next step is, if hes not able to finish, finding  or even knowing, before he takes off  where his teammates are. And thats knowing where the help defense is coming from. As a great young player, youve got a lot of work to do, a lot of steps to take, but he put the work in. He deserves it. So for him, just keep going.

For the 37-year-old Tucker, it hasnt taken long to lean on superlatives with Maxey.

In the short amount of time Ive been here, I dont know if Ive seen anybody work as hard as he does, Tucker said. He really puts in the work on his game. Like James said, its such small things because hes so fast and hes so good with the ball.

Ive got to tell him all the time, I get illegal screens because hes going so fast and hes just so ready to get to it. And its like, 'Yo, youve got to slow down, bro. Once he gets going, aint a lot of people that can guard him.  You dont want him to slow down. You want him to keep being aggressive and keep being great.
Holmes Cay is a champion of single-cask and single-origin rums, often bottled at cask strength, with a lineup of expressions from all over the world that have one thing in commonthere are no additives in the rum, something that is sadly not the status quo. The brand just announced the release of two new rums from Barbados and Fiji, the oldest in its lineup to date, as part of its Rarest Selections series.

The Fiji rum is a 2001 vintage ($249) made from molasses in a pot still at South Pacific Distilleries, the only distillery in the country that is now known as Rum Co. of Fiji. According to the brand, this is the oldest Fijian rum ever released at 21 years old. It was initially tropically matured for two years in an ex-bourbon cask before heading to the UK for another 19 years. Twenty-one years is a long time for sure, but the majority of time spent aging in the milder climate of the UK played a factor in allowing it to spend so long in a barrel without becoming overly oaky. This rum was bottled at barrel proof of 53.8 percent, and has notes of brown sugar, vanilla custard, tobacco and oak.

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The Barbados rum ($349) is slightly younger, a 2002 vintage pot still rum made at the famous Foursquare Distillery on the island. This 20-year-old rum was barreled into an ex-bourbon cask and then shipped to the UK for its full maturation. It was bottled at barrel proof of 51.1 percent ABV and has notes of apricot, citrus, honey, some yeasty dough and oak on the palate.

Casks like the Fiji 2001 and Barbados 2002 Pot Still are each exciting and historic taste opportunities that are almost never available, said Holmes Cay founder Eric Kaye in a statement. Widening awareness of and access to such exceptional rums is one the reasons we founded Holmes Cay. One cask of each, fewer than 200 bottles of each expression, has been bottled.

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Many of the past releases from Holmes Cay have sold out, as there are only so many bottles in existence particularly when it comes to the single cask expressions. It is likely that these limited-edition bottles will follow suit, but lucky rum lovers will hopefully be able to score a bottle this fall.

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New JV to deliver end-to-end digitalization for industrial companies

DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) and Aramco have announced the signing of a joint venture (JV) agreement to provide a set of end-to-end business process automation solutions, under the Aramco Namaat Industrial Investments Program. The technology solutions can be offered to a wide range of industrial sectors to help maximize profitability, improve productivity, sustainability and operational excellence, on a global scale. The new JV offerings will leverage Aramco's Plant.Digital platform (formerly Integrated Manufacturing Operations Management System  iMOMS) as well as Honeywell Connected Enterprise's technology development and industrial digital solutions implementation experience.

The JV aims to equip industrial companies with the tools, processes and practices they need to run plant operations more effectively and accelerate sustainable digital transformation and operational excellence initiatives. It will emphasize the development, integration, and deployment of Operations Technology (OT) solutions and Digital Transformation consulting.

"This JV agreement with Honeywell is expected to bring new jobs to the market, contribute to economic growth and serves as another way in which Aramco continues to pursue its Digital Transformation program as part of its evolution to become the world's leading digitalized energy corporation," said Ahmad Al Sa'adi, SVP Technical Services at Aramco.

The JV offering combines Aramco's Plant.Digital platform and its technical and domain knowledge in end-to-end plant operations with Honeywell's global software development, systems integration capabilities and commercialization expertise to help industrial companies become more sustainable while maximizing yield, reducing downtime, improving plant productivity and increasing profit.

"The powerful combination of Aramco's business, operations, technology and Plant.Digital delivery expertise, coupled with Honeywell's proven experience in industrial software and big data analytics solutions, as well as our long tenure in the Kingdom, is anticipated to unlock tremendous value for the industry," said Kevin Dehoff, president and CEO, Honeywell Connected Enterprise.

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The new JV is expected to create more than 300 jobs in Saudi Arabia within five years, supporting the Aramco Namaat Industrial Investments Program, which is designed to boost Saudi economic and workforce development.

The collaboration highlights the efforts of Aramco and Honeywell to support Saudi Vision 2030  the national roadmap to transform the Kingdom into an industrial powerhouse and a global logistics hub. The vision's focus is on developing high-tech and knowledge-based careers that add significant value to the Saudi economy to compete globally.

Honeywell and Aramco have partnered for more than 60 years to drive Saudi Arabia's industrial leadership forward through technology and innovation. This JV is the latest milestone in that journey, building on an MoU signed between Honeywell and Aramco in September 2021 to explore the co-development and commercialization of a next-generation digital technology solution for industrial companies. Closing of the joint venture is subject to certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The companies also signed an MoU in 2017 to explore the benefits of Honeywell's Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) offering in support of Saudi Vision 2030.

About Honeywell:

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

About Aramco:

Aramco is a global integrated energy and chemicals company, driven by the core belief that energy is opportunity. From producing approximately one in every eight barrels of the world's oil supply to developing new energy technologies, Aramco's global team is dedicated to creating impact in all that it does. Aramco focuses on making its resources more dependable, more sustainable and more useful. This helps promote stability and long-term growth around the world. www.aramco.com

Media Relations: International.media@aramco.com l Aramco

Media

Kevin Rainey

(602) 245-7319

Kevin.Rainey@honeywell.com

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View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/honeywell-and-aramco-announce-joint-venture-for-new-intelligent-operations-software-solution-301664213.html

SOURCE Honeywell
Texas Tech's head women's basketball coach Krista Gerlich hosts practice, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, at The Dustin R. Womble Basketball Center.

Krista Gerlich is in her favorite time of the year  basketball season.

The third year Texas Tech womens basketball coach, who donned a black sweater with the statement Basketball is my favorite season was all smiles Monday afternoon.

Gerlich and the rest of the Lady Raiders players and staff were in preparation mode prior to hosting Midwestern State in an exhibition game set for 7 p.m. Tuesday inside United Supermarkets Arena.

Its kind of like the night before Christmas, I guess, Gerlich said, cracking a smile. Youre just super excited about getting things going.  Were ready. Its time for us to play somebody else. And I just think thats going to be super exciting for our kids.

That other team, the Mustangs, should pose a problem with their ability to push the pace and play well in transition. MSU was picked to finish ninth in the Lone Star Conference preseason poll following a 14-13 overall record and 8-8 mark in LSC play.

The Mustangs return eight players from last year's squad, which includes Eastern New Mexico transfer guard Natalie Stice  the second-leading scorer who netted 13.3 points per game a season ago. Shell join Shawnisay Miller, the leading scorer among the Mustangs returners after averaging 7.8 points and 4.4 rebounds.

With that in mind, Gerlich wants her team to accomplish three things during the exhibition.

two-or-more 3-pointers in 14 games.

last season. Reay considers the 6-0 forward from Granbury, Texas, to be one of the best rebounders on the team.

We want to rebound, Gerlich said as several things she wants to see from her team Tuesday night. We have focused on rebounding every single day, every single day since the girls have walked on campus. Thats something we can definitely control.

Defending, weve been trying on work on defense so much. We will be primarily man-to-man, but well throw a little bit of zone every once in awhile. We really want to really defend in the half-court and in transition.  And, offensively, us just helping each other score. Thats the type of team were going to have to be.

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Texas Tech guard Bailey Maupin (20) attempts to pass the ball during the Lady Raiders first official practice, Sept. 26, 2022, at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock.

The Lady Raiders will get to see how they do with that last statement as several players are expected to not play due to injuries or sickness. Gerlich mentioned Lana Wenger, Katie Ferrell and Jojo Nworie will not suit up, meaning there will be a missing element of length and athleticism in the post.

Wenger, a 6-foot-4 forward, returned for another season and was impressing the staff before her injury while Ferrell, a UT-Arlington transfer, and Nworie, a top JUCO prospect, were expected to provide rebounding and blocking skills, respectively. This means freshman Kilah Freelon, an athletic 6-1 guard/forward, will get an early shot to display her talents.

Offensively, Texas Tech will have some scorers  starting with returners BreAmber Scott, Rhyle McKinney and Bryn Gerlich to mix in with freshman Bailey Maupin, who is getting back to the court following an injury. Maupin did not participate in the Monday Night Madness scrimmage last week.

Its frustrating because we had to deal with some of that last year, too, Krista Gerlich said, alluding to a season that ended at 11-19 overall and 4-14 in the Big 12 conference. But Im excited about when theyre all healthy and were all feeling great about what thats going to look like. But, for now, its going to give other people other opportunities and it also makes us have to play interchangeable.

In that sense, Krista Gerlich admitted the rotation will look different as the coaching staff tries to mix and match players to see how they mesh together throughout the night. It will be a good chance to see new lineups and maybe see burgeoning stars, due to learning different positions, according to Gerlich.

They just have to learn everything better, she said. You have to know our offense as a whole product. Instead of just their position. So, when they have to play other positions, we can flow so much better and we will be so much more difficult to scout when that happens.

TEXAS TECH VS. MIDWESTERN STATE

EXHIBITION GAME

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Where: United Supermarkets Arena

Last years records: Midwestern State 14-13, 8-8 in Lone Star Conference. Texas Tech 11-19, 4-14 in Big 12.

Live coverage: Follow @cmsilvajr on Twitter for updates, with postgame video and analysis at lubbockonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Lady Raiders host Midwestern State in exhibition contest
Nov. 1Maine's top court will begin weighing two cases Tuesday that could rewrite the rules for how home foreclosures are handled in the state.

The cases before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court focus on whether a mortgage servicer can try to foreclose on a home a second time, after previously losing the foreclosure case because the company failed to present proper evidence of ownership and the amount owed on the loan.

Under law that dates to 1997 and was upheld in 2017, the mortgage company can't refile. In some cases where the evidence is lacking, the courts can even require that the lien on the property be removed  in other words, the rest of the mortgage debt is forgiven and the home is owned free and clear by the borrower, said Thomas A. Cox of Yarmouth.

In the current case, J.P. Morgan v. Moulton, the court is being asked to review a South Paris District Court decision last year that found the mortgage lender, Morgan, didn't provide an adequate default notice and information for the plaintiff to repay the loan.

Cox, who has provided free legal representation for hundreds of borrowers in foreclosure cases, was the lawyer who discovered the "robo-signing" scandal during the nationwide foreclosure crisis that began in 2008. Mortgage servicing company officials were signing hundreds or thousands of foreclosure documents daily without, as the law required, verifying that the information in those papers was accurate.

In some cases, the mortgage servicing companies had a hard time proving that they actually owned the mortgages, which often passed through a lot of hands in the years before the real estate market crashed in the financial meltdown of the late 2000s.

In response, Maine courts and the Legislature clamped down on lender practices to make sure that the mortgage servicing companies were pursuing foreclosures properly.

Cox said that culminated in a ruling five years ago that led to the courts limiting mortgage companies' ability to file a new foreclosure case if they failed to present proper evidence the first time around.

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He said that made the system fair because those mortgage companies have another recourse and can sue their lawyer or the lawyer of the mortgage servicer if the lien on the property is released after an initial court case is thrown out.

"If a bank loses a foreclosure case, it's either due to the negligence of the servicer or the negligence of the servicer's lawyer," Cox said. He said there have only been about 20 cases in the state where a lien was removed after the lender or mortgage servicer lost a case, so the decision hasn't led to a huge wave of homeowners having the liens on their houses removed.

BENCH ISSUES

Cox said he thinks the Supreme Judicial Court decided to hear the two cases on their calendar for Tuesday because of a significant change in the makeup of the court  Gov. Janet Mills has appointed four of the seven justices since she became governor in 2019.

"Simply because there's new justices on the court, that is not a reason to change established law," he said. "What this Law Court is doing is making me realize that I am no longer practicing law in a fair or just legal system."

Cox also said that he thinks one of the justices on the case should recuse herself from participating in the decision because she represented a mortgage company in one of the 2017 cases and wrote a "friend of the court" brief for the Maine Bankers Association in the other.

So far Justice Catherine Connors has declined to step aside from the case. A spokeswoman for the court did not return a call Monday to find out of she was still refusing to recuse herself.

Decisions on whether a judge should recuse themselves are largely up to the judge, said Dmitry Bam, vice dean of the University of Maine School of Law.

"Each judge or justice decides for themselves," he said and noted there have been only a few cases where lawyers have appealed that decision to the U.S. Supreme Court and the court told a judge that recusal was needed.

There are some "red lines" that clearly call for a recusal, Bam said, such as owning stock in a company that is before the court, a relative's involvement in a case or previous participation the case.

But even then, it's largely up to judges to decide if they can't be impartial.

"It's basically a judge deciding his own case," Bam said, and there's no process for other justices to call for a colleague to recuse themselves.

He said the system is set up this way because judges who may have been involved in similar cases aren't bound by their previous views.
The Bemidji Pioneer, Minn.

Nov. 28BEMIDJI  Elias Rosen is once again the CCHA Defenseman of the Week. The Bemidji State men's hockey blueliner earned the award this time for his performance in the Beavers' series against North Dakota, where he recorded three assists in two games. A native of Mora, Sweden, Rosen wins the award for the fourth time overall and first time this season. He was named Defenseman of the Week ...
The former New York Post employee who hijacked the outlets content management system and Twitter account to post a series of racist and sexist headlines last week has apologized for his actions. I deserved to get fired for a very volatile, irresponsible, and disgusting action and an utmost betrayal of the New York Post, Miguel Gonzalez told the Daily Beast , revealing his identity to the outlet and public.

The 25-year-old claims he went on his publishing spree after suffering an emotional tantrum, further claiming his actions werent politically motivated. Among the things Gonzalez posted on October 27th were fake headlines calling for the murder of President Joe Biden and House Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. I let my own stupidity get the best of me, he told the outlet.

Gonzalez began working for The Post in 2019. It was his first job out of journalism school. When the incident first occured, The Post said it was the victim of a hacking attack, before later sharing that an employee had been the one to gain access to its systems. As a digital producer at the outlet, Gonzalez used his credentials to access The Posts publishing tools with relative ease, and did so from his home in New Jersey. Gonzalez says he hopes to stay in journalism and he has started applying for jobs at outlets like Gothamist.
BRENTWOOD  Rockingham County Attorney Patricia Conway faces a challenger for her seat this November who alleges she wrongfully indicted him on child sexual abuse charges.

Richard Clark, a Portsmouth-based defense attorney, says Conway indicted him on charges alleging he assaulted and sexually abused a minor in 2019. The charges were dropped and annulled, and now Clark, a Democrat, is hoping to unseat Conway, a 24-year prosecutor who is seeking her fifth term.

The only person I have to blame for what happened was Pat Conway, Clark wrote in an op-ed in the New Hampshire Union Leader. How do we stop this? First, we must remove Conway from power.

Conway, a Republican, denied the claim her office brought baseless charges against Clark. She said her record of convicting violent criminals while strengthening alternative sentencing for non-violent offenders puts her ahead of her challenger in the race for top prosecutor.

Because of my leadership and the hard work of all the staff, the county attorneys office has flourished and is stronger than ever, Conway said.

Clark has been practicing law for 15 years. He was first a private criminal defense contract attorney appointed to the Newburyport District court in Massachusetts from 2007 to 2011. Today he has a defense practice, Clark & Associates, LLP, on Route 1 in Portsmouth.

Clark said he was inspired to run after the charges he faced in 2019, which he said were wrongful accusations that resulted from his divorce at the time. He said he was investigated by Portsmouth police, but was never arrested by their officers.

Within a few weeks of their initial probe, he said a Rockingham County grand jury handed down indictments against him. He faced two counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, an enhanced charge alleging a pattern of sexual assault and a count of second degree assault.

Clark said the charges were dropped in 2021. He alleges that was six months after Conway saw a letter informing her the state Division for Children, Youth and Families investigated and concluded no abuse occurred.

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Clark said the charges kept him apart from his family per a court order. He also alleged Portsmouth police were denied an arrest warrant by a judge and that Conway broke from common practice to bring charges anyway.

I cant find another county attorney in the United States other than Pat Conway who will sign an indictment after a district court judge denied an arrest warrant, Clark said.

Clark decided earlier this year he wanted to challenge Conway and launched his campaign. He said he plans to advocate for change in the law to prevent county attorneys from signing indictments after a district court judge has denied an arrest warrant.

I will work with the state Legislature to make sure this injustice doesnt happen to other innocent parents, Clark said.

Portsmouth's city attorney said the city could not provide documents related to the case because it was sealed and annulled, while Portsmouth police deferred comment to the Rockingham County attorneys office. A court official said the file could not be retrieved.

Conway said she could not comment on the case because it was sealed and involved a minor, but she said her office never brought charges against Clark they did not believe to be based in fact. She said it is not uncommon for prosecutors to bring charges after an arrest warrant is denied. She said her office often looks into cases after the initial investigation or asks police departments to conduct follow-up.

Conway also said that their criminal investigations into sexual abuse charges are different and separate from those conducted by DCYF. She also said in some cases, victims change their testimony, reversing an investigations course.

The state believed that we could prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt right up until the time the office received new information, Conway said. When the evidence shifted or changed, the case was reassessed, and the charges were dropped as the state no longer believed it could meet its burden of proof.

Conway stands by record as county attorney

Conway said she developed her passion for prosecuting criminal offenders interning at the Suffolk County District Attorneys office at the Boston Municipal Court in the late 1990s, calling it her true calling in life. She was assistant county attorney in Rockingham for 16 years before running for the top post in 2014.

Patricia Conway

Conway touts having strengthened programs like drug court, mental health court, the felony diversion program and the veterans court for non-offenders. She also implemented the Sexual Assault Resource Team and the Commercial Sexual Exploitation Task Forces. Those groups analyze victimization and formulate multi-disciplinary responses and practices to better serve victims of human trafficking and sexual assault.

She said a big concern now is the increase of mentally ill people in the criminal justice system. She said this has been brought on by factors like isolation during the pandemic and a lack of resources regarding housing and treatment. She said her intent is to collaborate with county, community partners and the court system to ensure resources and housing are available.

Our jails are not equipped to handle the severely mentally ill, Conway said. Thus, it is our duty as elected officials to advocate for those solutions.

Clark wants to remove 'controversy' from county attorney's office

Meanwhile, Clark painted a picture of scandal and controversy at the county attorneys office under Conways tenure. In addition to his own case, Clark pointed to Conways firing of Jerome Blanchard, who alleged he was terminated by newly elected Conway in 2014 in retaliation for cooperating with an attorney general investigation into the office under Conways predecessor, James Reams. Blanchard reported Conways husband had been scrubbed from the county's Laurie List of law enforcement officers with credibility issues by Reams, which Reams called an error and Conway said she knew nothing about.

Clark also pointed to Conway being considered for a superior court judge nomination last year, during which a concern was raised by Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington, D-Concord, about her voting in a town where she did not live.

Warmington requested an attorney general investigation into whether Conway voted in Atkinson in 2008 while living in Salem. Conway afterwards asked Gov. Chris Sununu to withdraw her nomination.

Associate Attorney General James Boffetti said at the time Conway told him she was staying more at her fathers house in Atkinson than at home at the time to take care of him, and so she voted there in the general election of November 2008. He said because the statute of limitations would have run out on any voter fraud crime and based on her response, his office did not pursue the matter further.

Clark suggested Conways nomination withdrawal indicated a lack in integrity.

If she can't be a judge, do we still want her as our county attorney? Clark said. I'm taking a step forward in this years election to help right the wrongs.

Conway said this week, Any and all allegations made by my opponent are clearly politically motivated and untrue. She said she is extremely proud and humbled Sununu nominated her for the judge position, as well as for her more than 20 years of service. She said there is only one candidate in the race who is fit to serve, is proven and experienced, and who is trusted by law enforcement to uphold the law and seek justice for victims of serious crimes.

I am that candidate, Conway said. And I look forward to earning the support of the people of Rockingham County once again.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Conway vs. Clark election for NH Rockingham County attorney personal
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

The New York Times bestselling royal journalist and author Christopher Andersen has suggested in a new book that the then-Prince Charles agreed not to object to his mother funding his disgraced brother Prince Andrews legal settlement with Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre in return for the monarchs public endorsement of his wife Camilla as the future queen.

A source familiar with Charles thinking immediately hit back at Andersens claims, telling The Daily Beast they were unsourced and untrue.

Camillas Team Scoffs at Claims She Is the Royal Racist

However, the new claims are likely to annoy the palace as Andersen is an influential figure in the world of royal authorship. His study of Dianas relationship with her children, Dianas Boys, remains required reading for Diana-ologists. He claimed last year in a book that Charles was the royal racist who had questioned what color Harry and Meghans childrens skin would be.

Yes, Prince Charles Really Is the Royal Racist, Author Christopher Andersen Insists

The ongoing refusal of the Palace to say how the settlement was paid, combined with longstanding rumors that Andrew was the late Queen Elizabeths favorite son, also plays into Andersens hands.

In his new biography of Charles, entitled simply The King, Andersen reports that after Andrews lawyers had, negotiated a reported settlement of $14 million, the question remained of who was going to pay for it.

Andrew, whose sources of funding have always been opaque, was clearly not able to and it was obviously not remotely reasonable for such a sum to be funded by the taxpayer.

Andersen writes that it became obvious that the queen was going to have to use some of the half billion dollars in private savings and investments, that she had amassed over the years to get her son out of his fix.

Christopher Andersen

As Andersen points out, however, to all intents and purposes such funds would ultimately be coming out of Charles inheritance, so Charles would have to, if not actually sign off on the deal, then at least not offer a public objection to it. As distasteful as it was to have a slice of his inheritance go for this purpose, Charles recognized a rare opportunity for some sort of informal quid pro quo. While the question of where the money would come from was still very much on the table, the Prince of Wales suggested privately that February 6, 2020, the 70th anniversary of her father George VIs death, might be the ideal time to make some sort of statement in support of Camilla becoming queen.

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It had long been claimed by the Palace that when the time came Camilla would be known as Princess consort not Queen consort (usually now abbreviated to the more catchy "Queen Camilla."

These were, Andersen writes, the behind-the-scenes maneuverings that led the queen to issue a statement in support of Camilla, saying that it was her sincere wish that when the time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen consort as she continues her own loyal service.

The queens endorsement is believed to have been absolutely pivotal in securing Camillas place by Charles side as his official consort; overnight polls published the next day showed that half of the British population had become willing to accept Camilla as queen consort.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receive Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik (C) and Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth in Hanoi, November 1, 2022. Photo by Vietnam News Agency

Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik said Tuesday that he wishes to bolster bilateral relations between Vietnam and Denmark in green growth and energy transformation.

Receiving Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth during their official visit to Vietnam Tuesday, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that Vietnam-Denmark relations were developing positively and there was still room for cooperation.

According to a release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Phuc requested that Denmark continues to support Vietnam with experience, technology and finance in the deployment of climate-related commitments; and that Danish businesses boost their investments in Vietnam.

During his visit, Frederik shared his visions regarding sustainable development and said he was impressed with Vietnam's efforts to meet its commitment to reduce carbon emissions to zero in 2050.

Frederik also said he believed Vietnam and Denmark have many opportunities for cooperating in green growth and energy transformation, adding that he wished for the establishment of a Green Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

Several Danish businesses are seeking opportunities to cooperate with Vietnamese businesses, especially in green growth, renewable energy and efficient energy use, Frederik said.

Also Tuesday morning, Frederik met with Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, who thanked Denmark for supporting the Vietnamese community in the country to live, work and study.

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth are visiting Vietnam from October 31 to November 3, on Xuan's invitation. Its the second time that Frederik is visiting Vietnam, the first time being in 2011.

Vietnam and Denmark established a strategic partnership in 2011. Trade turnover between the two countries reached $588.2 million in 2021, and trade turnover in the first eight months of this year reached $502.9 million, a 22% increase year-on-year.
Artwork by Steph Littlebird

In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, Yahoo commissioned Steph Littlebird, an Indigenous artist, curator and writer, to re-imagine the Yahoo logo.

A member of Oregons Grand Ronde Confederated Tribe, Littlebird has received national recognition for her curatorial work, using design to call attention to issues related to present-day Indigenous identities, marginalized histories, and responsible land stewardship.

I hope people feel inspired and connected to Indigenous history and community. I love the colors and hope viewers feel the vibrancy of Native life that I hope to convey.

Littlebird found inspiration in honoring the values of the Indigenous community which includes traditional crafts, family, and our connection to the land.

I wanted the logo to represent the beauty and complexities of Native American identities across Turtle Island.

The Indigenous artist-curator says that while Native American heritage is important to celebrate all year long, its especially important in November.

This month gives us time to reflect and share with the broader community.

You can find more of the artists work at StephLittlebird.com.
A corrections officer at Rikers Island has been stabbed at least 15 times by an inmate in what officials are calling an unprovoked, heinous and callous attack on one of their officers.

The incident occurred at approximately 4:45 p.m. on Monday afternoon when a male corrections officer working in the protective custody unit was reportedly attacked by an inmate, according to a statement obtained by ABC News New York City station WABC.

MORE: 8-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed by brother playing with shotgun

The officer was stabbed in the back of his head 15 times, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to WABC following the incident.

"Earlier today, while working in the protective custody unit at the Anna M.Kross Center, one of our Correction Officers was brutally stabbed in the back of his head approximately 15 times by an inmate," COBA President Benny Boscio said in the statement obtained by WABC. "The Executive Board and I are with the officer at the hospital, who is conscious and undergoing tests. I want to thank Mayor Adams and Commissioner Molina for also visiting the officer tonight. "

MORE: Police officer killed going to work by alleged intoxicated driver going wrong way on highway

The corrections officer who was attacked was immediately taken to Elmhurst Hospital and is currently listed in stable condition, according to WABC.

"This was an unprovoked heinous and callous attack on one of our dedicated officers, who was simply doing their job," DOC Commissioner Louis Molina said in a statement. "We will not tolerate any assaults on our Members of Service who show up to work each day to keep our jails safe. We are rearresting the individual who committed this deplorable attack. We are praying for this officer to make a speedy recovery."

The incident is still under investigation.

Rikers Island corrections officer stabbed 15 times in 'unprovoked, heinous and callous attack' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
People in states with abortion bans are risking legal repercussions to end their pregnancies.

Orders for abortion pills to telemedicine nonprofit Aid Access have increased in states that have imposed restrictions since the Supreme Court gave states permission to do so in June, according to data provided by Rebecca Gomperts, the Dutch physician who runs the group.

Gomperts, along with colleagues at the University of Texas at Austin and Mathematica Policy Research, detailed the increase in a research letter published Tuesday in The Journal of the American Medical Association.

They say average daily orders for abortion medication received by Aid Access from 30 states increased to 213.7 from June 24, the day of the high courts decision, to the end of August. Thats up from a daily average of 82.6 from Sept. 1, 2021, to May 1. The data comes mainly from states that have either banned abortion, restricted access to it or where restrictions are under consideration by state lawmakers.

Gomperts didnt respond to a request for comment. In a June interview with POLITICO Magazine, Gomperts rejected laws banning abortion.

What the criminalization does is, its framing abortion as something that is bad, she said. And its not. An abortion is perfectly fine. Its just something that people use to organize their lives.



The research letter says demand for abortion medication increased the most in the 12 states that banned the procedure soon after the Supreme Court decision.

For example, Aid Access orders from Louisiana increased to 15 per day in the two months following the courts decision from an average of 5.6.

Louisiana, where abortion is now banned, is also surrounded by states with abortion bans, making it difficult for residents to travel elsewhere to get an abortion.

Medication abortion orders from nearby Mississippi and Arkansas increased to more than seven per day from two in the same time period.

Abigail Aiken, associate professor at the University of Texas School of Public Policy, who wrote the research letter, said that the findings are consistent with her past work, which showed that abortion restrictions lead people to figure out how to get abortions despite the legal risks.

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Those who self-manage may have more financial hardship or live in rural areas, said Aiken.

Aid Access also saw increased orders, albeit more modest, from 18 other states for which it tabulated data: five that ban abortion after six weeks, 10 states where legislators are pursuing abortion restrictions and three states that still permit legal abortions.

Aiken said the data shows people are becoming more aware of telemedicine abortion.

She also said state bans may be stoking stigma around abortion and prompting more patients to prefer medication abortion because it can be used privately at home.

We saw a lot of people saying the reason for this request was the privacy that self management affords, she said. In places where there are bans, [people] often talk about how they felt increasingly stigmatized or that they really should be ashamed of what they were doing, because the law says that you can't do this.

The Guttmacher Institute, a sexual health policy group, reported earlier this year that more than half of abortions in the U.S. are now induced with medication. That percentage has steadily grown, displacing surgical abortions, since the FDA approved the first abortion pill in 2000.
(Photo: Illustration: Jianan Liu/HuffPost Photo: Getty Images)

(Photo: Illustration: Jianan Liu/HuffPost Photo: Getty Images)

For weeks after my Chinese grandfather died of cancer, we left him an empty seat at the dinner table. He had his own set up that none of us were allowed to touch: chopsticks, a bottle of Tsingtao beer and a dinner plate. For many months after he passed, we ate next to that empty space, in case, we were told, he decided to visit from the spirit realm.

After my Mexican grandfather from my paternal side died of liver disease, my grandmother set up an altar for him. She framed a photo of abuelito next to one she had of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. Each morning, she spoke to him  when I visited, I woke up early enough to listen to her hushed supplications. This was not part of our Catholic upbringing, and I suspect our pastor would not have approved. I would hear different people in my family speak to the framed picture of abuelito, so I did, too. Te quiero, Id say to it when no one was looking. Te extrano.

Death is something that we all process in dynamically different ways, but it wasnt until my grandfathers died  both in their 60s, both from drinking or smoking too much on opposite sides of the earth  that I realized that the death rituals of both of my cultures had some pretty profound things in common. Leaving physical space for them after they had passed was a way for our grieving families, who didnt really have the language to talk about their feelings around death, to extend our loved ones lives. By doing so, we gave ourselves the emotional space to hold onto them until we were finally ready to let go.

Leaving a physical space and speaking to our departed loved ones is not unique to my family, of course. I was born and raised in Mexico City, where every end of October and early November, we celebrate Dia de los Muertos. Its believed that the spirits of the dead ancestors come back to visit us on this holiday. This celebration originated from the Aztec belief that after death, our spirits take several years of travel to find a final resting place, and on our way there, we obviously get a little hungry. Thats why besides framed pictures of the dead on altars, youll also find offerings like pan de muerto, a sweet pastry to help sweeten our ancestors navigate post-death life.

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A Mexican couple sits in front of an altar of the dead (Altar de Muertos), a religious site honoring the deceased, during the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) celebrations on Nov. 1, 2021, in Metlatonoc, Mexico. Based on the belief that the souls of the departed may come back to this world on that day, people gather to pray, eat, drink or play music, to remember friends or family members who have died and to support their souls on the spiritual journey. (Photo: Jan Sochor via Getty Images)

A Mexican couple sits in front of an altar of the dead (Altar de Muertos), a religious site honoring the deceased, during the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) celebrations on Nov. 1, 2021, in Metlatonoc, Mexico. Based on the belief that the souls of the departed may come back to this world on that day, people gather to pray, eat, drink or play music, to remember friends or family members who have died and to support their souls on the spiritual journey. (Photo: Jan Sochor via Getty Images)

Similarly, if youve ever visited a cemetery in China, which I do every few years to pay my respects to Laoye, youll see oranges, packs of cigarettes and burning paper money laid out in front of tombstones. When the fake paper money is burned, its supposed to reach the ancestors so that they have enough currency to make it in the afterlife. Not dissimilar to the Aztec belief, its a way for the living to continue sharing resources with the dead. A few days after a loved ones death, youre supposed to make their favorite meal and put out some of their favorite books so they are lured to come back for a final goodbye.

My family has never spoken openly about death. In fact, they hid both of my grandfathers deaths for days or weeks after they happened. When Laoye died, Id catch my mom crying uncontrollably and ask her what was wrong. Shed lie and try to compose herself. She didnt have the courage to tell me that Laoye was dead, until she had to go to the airport to fly to the funeral.

I speculate that my immigrant parents dont like to talk about death for the same reason that they dont like to talk about anything that is bad  theyve spent so much of their lives trying to imagine a better life that I think theyre still suspended in an imagined future. When death happens, it forces us to confront the present. There is no planning involved. For so much of their lives, my parents couldnt control anything: the places where they were born and raised, or, for a really long time, our immigration status.

In some ways, leaving food out for the spirits and talking to our dead relatives was a way to gain back control over one aspect of their lives. It gave us more time to prepare for, and to process a deep loss. Whether or not the people in my family truly believe in visiting spirits (I am not fully sure that they do), we are choosing to perform that belief for ourselves and others who are grieving with us. Its a way to hold on to someones memory for just a little longer before we transition into full grief. In the performance itself, we find comfort because at the very least, we are pretending together.

My two grandfathers never met each other. If they had, they wouldnt have been able to communicate, anyway one spoke only Spanish and the other only Mandarin. Still, I suspect they would have gotten along. They both had deep, thunderous laughs. Both of their love languages were gift giving. They both found vices that allowed them to forget things.

Now, Ive lived so much more of my life without my grandpas than I did with them. But as Ive grown older, I realize how much Ive inherited. My grandpas both experienced anxiety and depression, which is what may have led to their excessive lifestyles. I wonder if theyd had the language and the resources that I do, like therapy and Lexapro, they would have stopped themselves from hurting their bodies beyond repair. There are definitely times when I wish I could ask them what they felt so I could try and find solace in our similarities.

When my family made physical space for my grandfathers after their deaths, I didnt fully understand why they did it. Now, Im grateful that this is the way they taught me to grieve  it makes me feel like I can access those who have passed whenever I need. All I have to do is leave an empty seat at the table, or set aside some form of physical space for them. In America, we are taught to think of ourselves as isolated individuals, but feeling connected to my ancestors has made me feel less alone. I am part of a lineage hundreds of years in the making, a lineage of people who sacrificed a lot so that I could live the manifestation of not only my dreams, but theirs, too.

If there is some form of afterlife, as the Aztecs and Chinese believe, maybe Ill meet my grandfathers again and can ask them all the questions I have. In the meantime, Ill keep talking to the framed pictures we have of them, even if it turns out the only person listening is me.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
Any boater that goes more than nine miles offshore, which is mostly out of cell phone range, should be required by law to have a registered EPIRB on board.

Safety law needed for offshore boating

I recently read about a boating rescue off the coast of Louisiana ["Men survive shark attack, rescued in Gulf," Oct. 12]. A 24-foot boat sank 25 miles off the coast of Louisiana with three people on board. A family member reported them overdue that evening.

Several U.S. Coast Guard air and boat crews searched an area slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island. They boaters were found after spending 24 hours in the water with sharks around them. They were lucky to be alive.

I assume that they did not have onboard an Emergency Position Radio Beacon that sends an emergency signal to satellites giving their exact GPS position. If they had, they would have been rescued within a few hours and saved a lot of money on searching the area.

An EPIRB costs about $500, and there are no service fees. Anyone that can afford an offshore boat can afford an EPIRB.

I feel that any boater that goes more than nine miles offshore, which is mostly out of cell phone range, should be required by law to have a registered EPIRB on board.

I have a VHF marine radio, an EPIRB, a satellite private emergency position locator (with a service fee) and a satellite phone on my 22-foot boat that I go 30 miles offshore in.

Terry Parker, Lakeland

Our country's security needs leadership

American taxpayers are you reading, listening and watching the news? On Aug. 21, The Ledger printed Jamie Groh's article "Nasa's Big Gamble"- Is America's mega moon rocket worth the mega price tag?

Fifty-three years ago, America's political leadership had a vision of putting two men on the moon within a decade. Apollo 11 with the lunar module did just that on July 20, 1969. Currently, aerospace workers are back working, supporting the space station and securing America's continued space exploration.

Twenty-one years ago, America's national security suffered a premeditated terrorist attack that commandeered four inflight American aircraft with two crashing into New York City's Twin Towers. Remembering the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America you realize how easy the terrorists accomplished these attacks. Never forget Sept. 11, 2001.

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Consider where our government's protection/security is today and vote in November. United Americans need to recognize and understand that real threats like 9/11 still exist. Our country's security needs leadership that controls and balances our federal budget, understands and secures our national borders from incoming terrorists, protects our seas, air and space, recognizes our socialist enemies within, while defending and protecting our century's old constitutional republic and its future.

Walt Back, Lakeland

Join the discussion

The Ledger encourages its readers to share their opinions through letters to the editor. Submit your letter by clicking here, or send it to voice@theledger.com. Include your name, street address, a phone number and an email address. Only your name and city of residence will be printed. Letters are limited to 200 words or less and are subject to editing.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Voice of the people: Safety law needed for offshore boating
Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, and Trump-endorsed Republican and "Hillbilly Elegy" author J.D. Vance are scheduled to debate again before Election Day on Nov. 8, 2022.

U.S. Senate candidates Democrat Tim Ryan and Republican J.D. Vance will meet on stage once more during a town hall hosted by the Fox News Channel Tuesday night.

Vance and Ryan will field questions from a live audience of bipartisan Ohio voters during the town hall, which will be filmed in Columbus and air on the Fox News Channel starting at 6 p.m.

The event will be co-moderated by Fox News chief political anchor and Special Report host Bret Baier and The Story anchor and executive editor Martha MacCallum. MacCallum will host a preview of the town hall during The Story at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

Takeaways: 4 takeaways from first Ohio Senate debate between Tim Ryan, J.D. Vance

Ryan and Vance most recently faced off during their second debate last week, hosted by WFMJ in Youngstown, during which the candidates went toe-to-toe on abortion, gun control and immigration.

The candidates met before that on Oct. 10 for a debate hosted by Cleveland's Fox 8 News. Ryan, a 10-term congressman, called Vance an "ass kisser" and attacked his support of former President Donald Trump. Vance, the author of "Hillbilly Elegy," went after Ryan's support of President Joe Biden.

A Suffolk University/USA TODAY Network poll released last week shows Ryan and Vance remain virtually tied for the U.S. Senate seat ahead of the Nov. 8 election.

Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tim Ryan and JD Vance to meet during town hall in Ohio
Chinas third and final module docked with its its permanent space station and further a more than decade-long effort to maintain a constantly crewed presence in orbit
Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son during a talkshow on Covid-19 prevention in Hanoi, January 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son is set to resign today since he is undergoing cancer treatment.

It is not clear what type of cancer he has but he recently had surgery at Cho Ray Hospital in HCMC.

The government has finally accepted his resignation, which he sent in for a third time in June.

Son, 58, of HCMC, was appointed deputy health minister in Nov. 2018 when he was director of Cho Ray, the largest public health facility in the south.

He has outstanding credentials as a doctor, especially for his contributions to the development of organ transplant techniques in Vietnam.

One of four deputy health ministers, he supervised the Covid-19 fight in hotspots like Da Nang in mid-2020, Bac Giang and Bac Ninh provinces in northern Vietnam in early 2021 and in HCMC in late 2021.

In November last year he received an official rebuke from the Communist Partys Central Inspection Committee for wrongdoing by the Drug Administration Department.

Last month the committee escalated it and issued him a warning for his involvement in the Viet A Company test kit scam, for which Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long was arrested.
The debate between green energy initiatives and the home construction industrys preferences moved to Yakima City Hall as the Washington State Building Code Council held a public hearing on proposed rule changes for new home construction.
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Missing Indigenous people in Yakima County and on the Yakama Reservation

The Washington State Patrol has a Missing Indigenous Persons section within its Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit. For more information, visit bit.ly/statepatrolMMIP, email mupu@wsp.wa.gov or call 1-800-543-5678.

State Patrol has two tribal liaisons. Reach Dawn Pullin (Eastern Washington) at 360-890-0150 or Dawn.Pullin@wsp.wa.gov. Contact Patti Gosch (Western Washington) at 360-280-0567 or Patti.Gosch@wsp.wa.gov.

Approximately twice a month, State Patrol publishes an updated list of active cases of missing Indigenous persons on its website. This list is updated as of Oct. 31.

Anyone with information about any of these cases should call the reporting agency. People may provide information anonymously by calling Yakima County Crime Stoppers at 800-248-9980. Tips can be submitted online at bit.ly/YHR-crimestoppers.

The FBI has jurisdiction to investigate all serious crimes involving Native Americans on tribal lands. Call the FBI at 509-453-4859 (Yakima resident agency), 206-622-0460 (main office in Seattle) or submit tips online at bit.ly/YHR-fbitips.

 Toppenish Police Department, 509-865-4355

Roberta Jean Raines (also spelled Ranes), missing since April 14, 2002. She would be 40 today. Case number 17P2008.

 Yakama Nation Police Department, 509-865-2933

Riley Baeza, missing since May 11. Riley is 13. Case number 22-001873.

Erik Cloud-Washington, missing since Sept. 14. He is 16. Case number 22-006362.

Elias Chief Culps, missing since Dec. 27, 2018. He would be 28. Case number 19-009167.

Adam George, missing since July 22, 2019. He would be 43 today. Case number 19-007228.

Clayton George Gibson Jr., missing since June 25, 2021. He is 19. Case number 21-004012.

Aurora Hall-Wahsise, missing since April 18. Aurora is 21. Case number 22-002512.

Michael Eric Hansen, missing since Nov. 4, 2007. He would be 59. Case number 1357790

Marina Headdress, missing since May 4. Marina is 16. Case number 22-002876.

Benita Long, missing since March 26. Benita is 41. Case number 22-004079.

Rosalita F. Longee, missing since Sept. 18, 2015. She would be 25. Case number 15-006682.

Justin Lee McConville, missing since Jan. 11, 2015. He would be 32. Case number 16-010019.

Earl Nicolas Patrick, missing since March 9, 2015. He would be 41. Case number 18-003294.

Anthony Tony Colfax Peters, missing since October 2014. He would be 64. Case number 15-006132.

Tashala Queahpama-Moore, missing since Oct. 6. Tashala is 15. Case number 22-006880.

Cassandra Randall, missing since Oct. 13. She is 16. Case number 22-007032.

Daniel Donnie Temartz Sampson, missing since Oct. 30, 1994. He would be 99. Case number 944028.

Roland Jack Spencer III, missing since May 25, 1984. He would be 42. Case number 405273.

Alberta Stahi, missing since May 11. Alberta is 17. Case number 22-003071.

Tyler Starr, missing since Oct. 17. Tyler is 16. Case number 22-007147.

Clene Tahsequah, missing since Aug. 29. Clene is 13. Case number 22-006252.

Daisy Mae Heath (previously known as Daisy Tallman), missing since late summer 1987. She would be 64. Case number 873732.

Ryanna Thomas, missing since Oct. 5. She is 17. Case number 22-006853.

Lashawnda Wahsise, missing since June 4. Lashawnda is 17. Case number 22-003756.

Karen Louise Johnley Wallahee, last seen in Harrah on Nov. 7, 1987. She would be 63. Case number 87-3486.

Sandra Walsey-Wesley, missing since July 10. Sandra is 55. Case number 22-004766.

Gerald Wyena, missing since April 26. Gerald is 34. Case number 22-002984.

Ira Kennedy Yallup Sr., missing since May 20, 2010. He would be 59. Case number 75515.

 Yakima County Sheriffs Office, 509-574-2500

Janice Marie Hannigan, missing since after she was discharged from the hospital on Christmas Eve, 1971. She would be 67. Case number 17C00300.

 Yakima Police Department, 509-575-6200

Lyssabelle Ballinger, missing since Oct. 14, 2021. She would be 19. Case number 21Y036125.

Andrea Bolin, missing since Oct. 27. Andrea is 14. Case number 22Y036144.

Zain Chapman-Pratt, missing since July 23. He is 15. Case number 22Y023623.

Raymond Scott, missing since Oct. 26. Raymond is 13. Case number 22Y036097.

Eleanor Marie Trujillo, missing since Feb. 1, 1996. She would be 63. Case number 97-0062.

Melissa Tuilaepa, missing since Oct. 25. Melissa is 41. Case number 22Y035876.

 Klickitat County Sheriff's Office, 509-773-4455

Roland Sconawah Sam, missing since No. 20, 2013. He would be 32. Case number 13-004109.
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The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party.

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General Party Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (L) and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing, China, November 1, 2022. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam and China on Tuesday issued a joint statement saying cooperation between the two countries need to be bolstered for the interests of both countries' people.

The statement, announced during the official visit of General Party Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to China, says Vietnam and China are good friends, neighbors and partners, and both strive for their people's happiness, the prosperity of both countries, and for peace and humanity's development, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Both countries would promote strategic development connection between the two, hastening exchanges regarding the connectivity between the "Two Corridors, One Belt" framework and the "Belt and Road" initiative, and completing the evaluation for the planning of the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway, which connects Vietnam capital Hanoi, port city Hai Phong with China border.

Both countries highly value the role of e-commerce in bilateral economic and commercial cooperation, bolster exchanges regarding e-commerce development through the border, and improve cooperation between logistics businesses. China would continue to receive high-quality products from Vietnam through activities that promote consumption by e-commerce.

To reduce trade imbalance, both countries would export more food and agricultural product. China would hasten processes to open the market for sweet potatoes, certain fruits and other agricultural and quacultural products from Vietnam. Vietnam meanwhile would hasten processes to open the market for China's milk products.

The two countries would also provide opportunities for cooperation regarding aviation, road and railway traffic to promote trade.

Vietnam and China would strive to finish negotiations for a new agreement on fishery cooperation at the Gulf of Tonkin, as well as the signing of agreements on search and rescue operations.

The two would also bolster cooperation regarding the sharing of meteorological data to prevent droughts and floods, as well as the usage and protection of water resources within the Mekong-Lancang cooperation mechanism.

Regarding medical cooperation, the two countries would continue negotiations to sign a Vietnam-China agreement on medical cooperation.

Vietnam and China would continue to utilize cooperation mechanisms regarding the management of border gates to bolster security and ensure disease prevention.

Regarding issues on the South China Sea, both sides agree to exchange opinions sincerely and highly value the importance of conflict control and the maintenance of peace and stability.

Vietnam reaffirms its commitment for the "One China" policy, supports peace at the Taiwan Strait and non-interference in countries' internal affairs.

Amid complex global situations, both countries believe that they need to follow the path of socialism. During the official visit, both countries have also signed several agreements and memorandums.

Trong left Beijing on Tuesday, ending his three-day official visit to China.

Vietnam is China's largest commercial partner in ASEAN and sixth largest in the world.

Vietnam-China bilateral trade reached $165.8 billion in 2021, up 24.6% from 2020, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
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New Delhi: The Indian film industry has always had a set of filmmakers who have been more than willing to address difficult subjects in their cinema, a cinema which is closer to our real life, a cinema which is more socially relevant and thus has a deeper impact on a viewer's psyche. Here are some of the films of recent times that have tackled complex social stories boldly and sensitively.



Doctor G

Anubhuti Kashyap's medical comedy directorial debut centres on Uday Gupta, an isolated male gynecology student who is portrayed by actor Ayushmann Khurrana. Uday reluctantly completes his training under Dr. Nandini Srivastava in the field of gynecology despite his desire to enter the orthopedics department due to his poor grades (Shefali Shah). The film depicts Uday's struggles and conundrums as he tries to understand the gender dynamics in his environment through a series of hilarious incidents and moments. The female lead in the October release of the film is played by Rakul Preet Singh.



Badhaai Do

Apart from exceptions like 'Fire', 'My Brother Nikhil', 'Margarita with a Straw' and 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan,' Hindi films have refrained from delving too deep into same-sex relationships. Harshvardhan Kulkarni does a commendable job of normalizing LGBTQ+ relationships in the recent hit "Badhaai Do" without trying to make a big, dramatic statement. The film, which starred Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar in the lead roles, was much appreciated by the audience and critics alike.

Anek

The Hindi film industry continues to be conspicuously devoid of North-Eastern stories, but the Anubhav Sinha-directed film 'Anek' attempts to address geopolitical tensions in the area by telling a deeply relatable human story. Ayushmann Khurrana portrays a secret agent who attempts to infiltrate a separatist group but is forced to overcome his prejudices as he becomes more and more aware of the social and political problems affecting the local populace. Along with Andrea Kevichusa and Manoj Pahwa playing the lead roles, the film is produced by Anubhav Sinha and T-Series.

Thank God

In a very clever way, this Indra Kumar film challenges viewers to reflect on the decisions they make and the ways that ambition, greed, and careless desires affect their lives and relationships. A real estate broker (Sidharth Malhotra) meets an accident and wakes up in heaven in this non-preachy morality fable. Then Chitragupt (Ajay Devgn), who forces him to face his own mistakes, draws him into a 'Game of Life.'

Jalsa

The film 'Jalsa,' which was directed by Suresh Triveni, brilliantly illustrates how different social classes interpret justice differently. The story is told from the viewpoints of Maya Menon, a fiery journalist known for her ethics and principles, Rukhsana, her housekeeper, and three other characters. Both of these women are tenacious, brave, and committed to their households and careers, but one day a freak accident upends their lives and places them on opposing sides of justice and truth. In spite of their differences, the two mothers in the movie find the humanity within themselves to forgive one another and find healing.
New Delhi: Prabhas-starrer 'Adipurush' is one of the most awaited movies of the year. The film helmed by Om Raut stars Kriti Sanon, Sunny Singh and Saif Ali Khan. It was initially set to release on the occasion of Sankranthi, January 12 next year, however, now a rumour is making rounds that the release has been pushed and fans are not happy with it.

The makers of the film reportedly decided to postpone the film to avoid a clash with Thalapathy Vijay's film 'Varisu', which was scheduled to be released on the same day. Trade analyst Girish Johar took the news to his Twitter handle and shared the latest buzz doing the rounds. Adipurush' may be pushed to avoid any clash, although the film's new release date is yet to be announced officially.

Strrrrrrong #TradeBuzz or inside rumour that #Adipurush bows out of its plans of being a Sankranti release. Now they are planning for mid Summer 2023 release.#Prabhas @kritisanon @mesunnysingh @omraut pic.twitter.com/pYdClIFj76  Girish Johar (@girishjohar) October 30, 2022

Ever since the Adipurush trailer was released, there has been a lot of criticism directed at Prabhas and Saif Ali Khan's portrayals in the film. However, director Om Raut is extremely confident about his project and says that once the film will be released, all questions will be answered.

Talking about the film's story, it focuses on Raghava, who travels to Lanka with his sena that includes Laxman and Hanuman to rescue his wife Janaki from the clutches of Lankesh, who kidnapped her.

Adipurush the mega Indian film produced by T Series and Retrophiles, directed by Om Raut is a visual extravaganza slated to release on January 12, 2023 in IMAX and 3D. It is all set to hit the big screens on January 12 next year in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Prabhas will star next in `Salaar` with Shruti Haasan, and in 'Project K' with Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan and Disha Patani in the pivotal roles.

Apart from this, Sandeep Reddy Vanga`s `Spirit` and he has also teamed up with Maruthi, and`RRR` producer DVV Danayya for a supernatural action-thriller.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Saudi Arabias ACWA Power and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have signed a memorandum of understanding to finance sustainable infrastructure projects, Azernews reports.

The document was signed by ACWA Power Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer Paddy Padmanathan, and EBRDs Sustainable Infrastructure Group Managing Director Nandita Parshad, on the sidelines of the Future Investment Initiative Forum held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The document envisages the continued cooperation of both organizations over the next five years and focuses on project development in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and green desalination across countries. The countries of focus include Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Egypt, with the ultimate objective of jointly supporting sustainable energy transition and enabling power and water access in line with local and global environmental objectives.

Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia are cooperating in different spheres of the economy, especially in renewable energy. In this context, the agreements on the 240 MW wind power plant project were signed between the Energy Ministry, the Azerenergy OJSC, and Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power on December 29, 2020. A groundbreaking ceremony for the plant to be built took place on January 13. The trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $27 million in 2021.

Established in 1991, the EBRD is a leading investor in Azerbaijan. To date, the EBRD has invested over 3 billion ($3.5bn) in 181 projects in Azerbaijans economy.

The country has been cooperating with EBRD since 1992 to achieve further economic development. One of the main priorities of the EBRD in Azerbaijan is to support the local corporate sector with direct financing. The EBRD continues to pursue investments in energy projects, especially where there is a gap to improve efficiency and energy security.

Azerbaijan is the largest recipient of the EBRD funds in the Caucasus, as well as one of the largest recipients of this organizations funds in the CIS and Eastern Europe.
A 35-year-old woman has become Vietnams patient zero of monkeypox after returning to HCMC from Dubai, the health ministry said Monday.

The woman, unnamed, displayed symptoms like fatigue, chills, muscle aches, headaches and coughing, as well as rashes on several body parts from September 18 while she was traveling in Dubai. She is being treated at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases and her health is stable.

She returned to HCMC on September 22 and the next day, she went to the Tu Du, an ob-gyn hospital, for a diagnosis, where she was suspected to be harboring an infectious disease. She was then transferred to the HCMC Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, where she was suspected to be infected with monkeypox. She was isolated here and her testing samples were sent to the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases and the Pasteur Institute for analysis.

Her result came back positive on September 25, so she was transferred to the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases for treatment and for the viral genome to be sequenced.

The woman is Vietnams first confirmed monkeypox case, according to the Ministry of Health. All of her close contacts ever since she returned to Vietnam are being monitored.

The health ministry has formed teams to fight monkeypox in several localities, while recommending monitoring measures at border gates, medical facilities and public events.

As of Monday, over 68,000 monkeypox cases have been confirmed in 106 countries and territories around the world. 25 deaths have been recorded.
Mumbai: Varun Dhawan, on Monday, shared a scary look from his upcoming horror-comedy 'Bhediya' on the occasion of Halloween. Ahead of his upcoming film `Bhediya` release, Varun posted a Halloween look on Instagram from the movie. The actor shared a scary look to wish his fans and followers on Halloween.

Sharing the picture, "Happy Halloween."Actor Nushrratt Bharuccha dropped a comment, she wrote, "Ohhh my!". The actor`s `Bawaal` co-star Janhvi Kapoor reacted with fire emoji. Actor Dino Morea also commented. He wrote, "Damnnnnn." Varun and Kriti, on Friday, unveiled `Thumkeshwari`, the first song of their horror comedy film `Bhediya`.

Here is the post shared by the actor:

Sung by Sachin-Jigar, Rashmeet Kaur and Ash King, and penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya the song is choreographed by Ganesh Acharya.Apart from Varun and Kriti, Bollywood actor Shraddha Kapoor could also be seen in a special appearance as `Stree` in the song. Helmed by Amar Kaushik `Bhediya` is a horror comedy film and is slated to hit the theatres on November 25, 2022.

It was shot in Arunachal Pradesh earlier this year.Recently, the makers unveiled the official trailer of the film which received positive responses from the audience. After watching the trailer, some users called the film desi "Twilight."The horror-comedy drama will mark the `Badlapur` star and `Heropanti` star`s third collaboration with each other after sharing screen spaces in 2015 rom-com `Dilwale` and 2019 `Kalank`.

The film which went on floors earlier in March in Arunachal Pradesh will bring together the dynamic duo of producer Dinesh Vijan and director Amar Kaushik, who also helmed the 2018 blockbuster movie `Stree`. Meanwhile, Varun will also be seen in director Nitesh Tiwari`s next `Bawaal` along with Janhvi Kapoor.
Jamshedpur: Former Tata Steel MD Jamshed J Irani who was widely known as the "Steel Man of India" passed away late on Monday in Jamshedpur`s Tata Main Hospital. He was 86 and is survived by his wife Daisy and three children."We are deeply saddened at the demise of Padma Bhushan Dr Jamshed J Irani, fondly known as the Steel Man of India. Tata Steel family offers its deepest condolences to his family and loved ones," Tata Steel tweeted.

Irani, 83, retired from the board of Tata Steel back in June 2011.Irani had contributed tremendously to the Indian Industry, the steel business and the Tatas for over four decades. (Also read: Tata Sons ex-chairman Cyrus Mistry dies in a car crash)

He began his career in 1963 as a senior scientific officer at the British Iron and Steel Research Association, Sheffield.

On his return to India in 1968, he joined Tata Steel as assistant to the director (R&D). In 1979, he was appointed General Manager and President in 1985. He became the Managing Director in 1992, a position he held till July 2001.An M.Sc in Geology from Nagpur University, Irani has a doctorate certificate from the University of Sheffield, UK.

Irani was also conferred upon Padma Bhushan - the third-highest civilian award."Received the sad news of the passing of Dr JJ Irani, former MD of Tata Steel, I have a close relationship with him, he will always be remembered as an able administrator and a great leader, may God bless the departed soul and give peace to the family members. Give courage, peace," Banna Gupta, health minister of Jharkhand expressed his condolences on Irani`s demise through a tweet.
New Delhi: Income Tax Department (ITD) is conducting searches at 55-year-old Kapoor Watch Company. Recently Film Star Ranveer Kapoor unveiled the first India limited-edition Franck Muller variants in a gala event organised by Kapoor Watch Company. Sources told ANI that around 20 premises are covered in this search which started on Monday morning.

Kapoor Watch Company is part of a worldwide network of official Rolex retailers allowed to sell and maintain Rolex watches. Kapoor Watch Co is also the Indian retailer of Audemars Piguet, Bvlgari, Cartier, Omega and Tag Heuer brands. According to sources, all the showrooms and premises of Promotors are covered in this search. (Also Read: ATTENTION! 5 major changes in November 2022 that can affect your finances)

Sources told ANI that during the course of the search operation, a large number of incriminating evidences, in the form of hard copy documents and digital data have been found and seized. Kapoor Watch Company operates 13 stores in the National Capital Region. (Also Read: Bro Howzit, I know I stole your laptop yesterday..., thief's mail to laptop owner make Twitterati go crazy)

Earlier this month Kapoor Watch Company organised an event where Film star Ranveer Singh unveiled the first India limited-edition Franck Muller variants from the hallmark Vanguard collection. Ranveer Singh is the Indian brand ambassador of Franck Muller watches.

Kapoor Watch Company has a tie-up with Franck Muller to exclusively retail a 150-piece, first India limited-edition watch collection with a green leather strap, these detailed timepieces come in two options - steel and gold, and rose gold. The luxury branded watches sold by Kapoor Watch Company are priced in lakhs.

The company reported revenue of Rs 340 crore in FY22, up by 50 per cent from 2019-2020.
Jaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi commands respect globally because he leads a country that has deep roots in democracy. Speaking at a public function at Mangarh Dham in Rajasthan's Banswara, Gehlot said India has scripted history in the world as democracy in alive in the country even after more than 70 years since it achieved independence.

"When Modi goes abroad, he gets so much respect. He gets the respect because he is the prime minister of the country of Gandhi, where the roots of democracy run deep and where, even after more than 70 years of independence, democracy is alive," he said.

#WATCH | At 'Mangarh Dham ki Gaurav Gatha, Raj CM Gehlot says, "...When PM Modi goes aborad, he receives great honour. Because he's PM of the nation of Gandhi, where democracy is deep-rooted. When world realises this, they feel proud that PM of that country is coming to them..." pic.twitter.com/Mi6HaqueRH  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2022

Gehlot urged Modi to declare Mangarh a national monument as well as for a review of the railway project between Ratlam-Dungarpur and Banswara, which was started by the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre.

He apprised the prime minister that his government has done a lot for tribals, from opening colleges and universities to providing healthcare facilities.

"I will also urge the prime minister to examine the Chiranjeevi health scheme and I believe that you (Modi) would like to implement it across the country," the veteran Congress leader said.

ALSO READ | PM Modi praises Ashok Gehlot, says He is still the most

He said Banswara is not connected with a rail route and that is why the UPA government had proposed the Ratlam-Dungarpur via Banswara rail link under a central scheme with 50 per cent contribution from the state government.

"We had approved the project.... We even deposited Rs 250 crore with the railways, the land was allotted and the work launched. But suddenly, it was stopped. I urge you (Modi) to get the project reviewed and connect Banswara with other areas," Gehlot said.

Requesting the prime minister to declare Mangarh Dham a national monument, he said, "I am happy that recently, you spoke to the chief secretaries of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh about Mangarh Dham, which means that it was on your mind and you thought you should have information about it prior to your visit. I urge you again to declare Mangarh Dham a national monument," he said.

Modi asked the Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra governments on Tuesday to hold detailed discussions and prepare a roadmap to develop Mangarh Dham.

The dham, a memorial for around 1,500 tribals massacred by the British army in 1913, is located in Banswara, on the Rajasthan-Gujarat border, a region with a large tribal population.

The four states together under the leadership of the Centre can develop the memorial more so that tribal leader Govind Guru's place, Mangarh Dham, can create an identity at the global level, Modi said addressing a gathering.

"These four states and the government of India has to take it (the dham) to a new height. In that direction, the government is fully committed," he said while addressing a gathering at the memorial.

He said that it can be called a national monument or any other name can be given to it.

PM Shri @narendramodi's address at 'Mangarh Dham Ki Gaurav Gatha' program in Rajasthan. https://t.co/mlAVNPaZNd  BJP (@BJP4India) November 1, 2022

At the event, the prime minister shared the dais with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat chief ministers Ashok Gehlot, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Bhupendra Patel.
Shimla: Continuing to crack the whip on party rebels who are contesting the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls as independents, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday expelled state party vice-president Ram Singh for six years from party`s primary membership. The action came a day after the party moved against five rebels -- a former MP and four former MLAs -- and expelled them from the primary membership of the party for six years for contesting as independent candidates against the official nominees in assembly polls to be held on November 12.

Ram Singh is contesting the polls as an independent from Kullu Sadar constituency. A party release said that state BJP chief Suresh Kashyap has expelled Ram Singh for six years from the party`s primary membership for fighting against the official nominee.

The rebels who were expelled on Monday from the party`s primary membership for six years are former MLA from Kinnaur Tejwant Singh Negi, former MLA from Aani Kishori Lal, former MLA from Indora Manohar Dhiman, Himachal BJP vice president Kripal Parmar, who is contesting from Fatehpur and former MLA from Nalagarh KL Thakur.

The BJP has made efforts to persuade rebel candidates to withdraw from the fray. Both BJP and Congress are facing the problem of rebel candidates.
NEW DELHI: Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar has made an explosive revelation that jailed Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain had extracted Rs 10 crore as protection money to protect him in the Tihar Jail. Sukesh Chandrashekhar made these claims in a letter addressed to Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena in which he also said that he knew the AAP leader since 2015.

In his letter, the incarcerated conman said that a total amount of Rs 50 crore was paid to Jains party AAP which promised to offer him an important party position in south India.

After my arrest in 2017, I was lodged in Tihar Jail and was visited multiple times by Satyendar Jain, who held the portfolio of jail minister... In 2019 again, I was visited by Jain, whose secretary asked me to pay Rs 2 crore every month as protection money and to get basic facilities inside the jail, Chandrashekhar claimed in his hand-written letter.

Conman #SukeshChandrashekhar claims that jailed AAP leader #SatyendraJain extracted Rs 10 crore for his 'protection pic.twitter.com/eolAXbNMq3 November 1, 2022

He also claimed that he had disclosed the payments made to Jain, the AAP and also D-G Prisons to a CBI probe team last month. The letter was sent to the Delhi LG through his lawyer. In view of his explosive letter, the Delhi LG is said to have ordered an inquiry to verify the truth.

Chandrashekhar is currently lodged at Delhis Mandoli jail. He was arrested for allegedly extorting money from high-profile people, including former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singhs wife Aditi. He was shifted from Tihar jail to Mandoli Jail in Delhi in August this year after he made repeated requests for a transfer to another jail. He claimed he had received death threats from within the Tihar jail.

This month, he again approached the Supreme Court with a request to shift him from Mandoli jail. However, the Supreme Court declined to entertain his plea.

Born in a lower-middle-class family in Karnataka`s Bengaluru, Sukesh always dreamt of being a millionaire in his life, and to materialise his dream, he was determined to earn money by hook or by crook. He started conning people at the age of 17. In 2007, he duped around 100 people of Rs 75 crore on the pretext of providing them a job. At that time he posed as a high-ranking bureaucrat. Later, after many years he also duped politician TTV Dhinakaran of Rs 50 crore.

Delhi Police`s Crime Branch arrested Sukesh on Dhinakaran`s complaint and he was lodged at Tihar Jail. What is even more astonishing is the fact that the conman continued to run the racket from inside the Tihar Jail. On LG'order, the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police had written to the Tihar Jail authorities to take action against 82 jail officials who allegedly helped inmate Sukesh by providing him with luxurious facilities inside the prison.
New Delhi: Amid a row over Tata-Airbus picking Gujarat to set up its aircraft manufacturing project, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday (October 31, 2022) hit out at Uddhav Thackeray and claimed that the decision to shift the Airbus project was taken when the Shiv Sena president was the chief minister. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also said that the officials of the consortium had last year rued the "lack of conducive" atmosphere in the state, a claim refuted by former minister Aaditya Thackeray.

"I had personally invited the chiefs of the Tata Airbus Defence projects on April 24, 2021, at my residence 'Sagar', despite being a leader of opposition in the state. I spoke to them and told them as a senior leader I will speak with the then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to keep the project in Maharashtra," Fadnavis said.

"However, they told me 'yahan ka mahol investment jaise nahi hai, Devendraji' (the atmosphere in the state is not worth an investment)," he added.

Fadnavis, who was the Maharashtra chief minister from 2014 to 2019, said that he was following up with the companies since 2016 and kept doing it till 2019.

The senior BJP leader also said that French (aviation) firm Safran opened its (aircraft MRO) facility in Hyderabad in 2021, but the Opposition is blaming the Shinde-BJP dispensation for losing that project.

Sharing 'Tata-Airbus' steps chronology, the real story and our efforts and failure of Uddhav ji Thackeray & his Govt.

23 Sept 2021.

&

14 Feb 2022. It was MVA Govt in power!

 ' '          ? pic.twitter.com/06ZqToKTGf  Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) October 31, 2022

Fadnavis also said that in one of the early meetings with officials of the companies (Tata-Airbus consortium), he had offered extra facilities to ensure the project remains in Maharashtra, but the state government that took over (in late 2019) did nothing to retain the project.

"I had even passed a message in 2021 to then (state nodal investment promotion agency) MIDC CEO to pass it on to state industries minister and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. However, no action was taken. Not a single letter was sent to keep the project here.

Aaditya Thackeray hits back at Devendra Fadnavis

Meanwhile, Aaditya said that the officials of Tata-Airbus had told the then Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government that they will have to set up the aircraft manufacturing plant wherever the Union government asks them to.

He also dared Fadnavis to reveal the names of Tata-Airbus officials who had allegedly told him, when he was opposition leader, that environment in Maharashtra was not investment friendly.

"When Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government communicated with officials of Tata-Airbus Defence, they said they will have to set up the plant wherever the Union government asks them to. I challenge Fadnavis to reveal the names of those officials who told him that the atmosphere was not investor-friendly in Maharashtra," he said.

"It is his (Fadnavis) failure that in three years, he could not take any concrete steps to bring the Tata-Airbus Defence plant to Nagpur. If that aircraft manufacturing plant was finalised in Gujarat, why did Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari write a letter to that company appealing to them to set up their project in Nagpur?" Aaditya asked.

Aaditya listed the timeline of various meetings held with officials of Vedanta Foxconn and MVA government officials. He said Foxconn officials had visited Talegaon near Pune, where the plant was supposed to be set up.

"Foxconn chairman had visited the Talegaon site along with officials of MVA government on June 24 where the proposed Rs 1.49 lakh crore semi-conductor plant was supposed to come. Vedanta-Foxconn officials have already stated that the Talegaon site is ideal for such a mega project," he said.

If as per the claims of Fadnavis, the Vedanta-Foxconn had already decided to set up the plant in Gujarat, then why would they waste time with us, Aaditya asked.

He claimed the package the Maharashtra government had offered to Vedanta-Foxconn included incentives which were Rs 10,000 crore more compared to the similar package proposed by Gujarat. The semi-conductor project is one of the rarest of its kind and it appeared imminent that it will be set up in Maharashtra," he said.

A fresh war of words has broken out between the ruling Eknath Shinde dispensation and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)-led opposition over the Rs 22,000 crore project to manufacture C-295 military transport aircraft moving from Maharashtra to Vadodara in Gujarat.

(With agency inputs)
Bhubaneswar (Odisha): Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik addressed public meetings at 13 places in Dhamnagar virtually for the Party candidate Anita Das ahead of bypoll. Addressing the public meeting on Monday, Patnaik stated that the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has been working for the people and their welfare and it has always been with the people.

"Dhamnagar is the land of peace and harmony. The land of brotherhood. This is the biggest identity of Dhamnagar. We are all working to protect this identity, I will dedicate myself towards the development of Dhamnagar," said the CM, adding "I am very happy that be it Kalia Yojana, or Mission Shakti, or Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana - the benefits of all the schemes have reached people, our women are empowered."

CM Naveen Patnaik further said, "Mission Shakti is their new identity. Good work of our women has made me very happy. So, I want to see a woman as your MLA and I am sure that you also want this, women are able to perform all the responsibilities beautifully," adding "Dhamnagar development is my responsibility, we are only 18 month away from the general election, we can complete five year`s task in this period, I myself will look after the development of Dhamnagar and it will progress more."

Also read: Shrikant Tyagi to launch 'CAMPAIGN against BJP' for 'unfairly targeting' him

Patnaik said, "With your help, Odisha is now famous all over the country in the field of development. I fully believe that this trend will continue further with your support."

According to CM Patnaik, Dhamnagar has given the chance to Biju Janata Dal to serve the people by giving all the 6 district council seats of Dhamnagar, chairmanship and vice-chairmanship of Dhamnagar NAC to 9 wards out of 11 wards, therefore, "I request you to bless the Biju Janata Party candidate by voting to her in this election. I will be responsible for the development of your region and Dhamnagar constituency."

CM Patnaik launches Make-in-Odisha Web Portal

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the website and mobile app for "Make In Odisha Conclave`22". He urged all the departments to work in close collaboration to ensure the grand success of Make in Odisha Conclave`22 while speaking on the occasion.

Patnaik called upon them to ensure Make in Odisha Conclave`22 becomes a landmark event in Odisha`s industrial growth story, adding "Odisha today is ranked among the top states of India in terms of live manufacturing investments and has been accorded the "Achiever" status in the recently released "Ease of Doing Business" ratings".

The Chief Minister said that the Make in Odisha Conclave, 2022 is a platform for our state to showcase our growth story and present what we have to offer to investors across the globe, adding that it is a platform for industry captains and thought leaders to talk about the outlook of various industrial sectors.

Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said, "we have to make all efforts in the next 30 days to see that this year`s event becomes even better than the two previous ones. The state has brought up FICCI as a national industry partner and the govt has finalised all details of the sessions for the event.

According to the official statement, the Make In Odisha Conclave`22 is the flagship investor summit of the Government of Odisha. Notably, the Make in Odisha Conclave`22 is a unique opportunity to understand Odisha`s policy and regulatory environment, and the vast existing and emerging business opportunities across sectors.

"Odisha, under the visionary leadership of Naveen Patnaik, has grown significantly in the last decade. While the state government was not able to host the event in 2020 due to the global pandemic, the government stated that they would make up for that absence by hosting an even grander Make in Odisha Conclave this time. The state government is optimistic about this edition and hopes to see more participation and more investment intent than the previous two editions," read the official statement.
New Delhi: Liquid Carbon Dioxide gas leaked in Ludhiana's Oxygen manufacturing factory after a tanker arrived at to transfer the liquid CO 2 to the main storage unit of the factory. No casualty or injury was reported in the incident as the immediate precautionary measures were taken and the people were evacuated from the spot.

Talking to ANI Rahul Chaba, Addl Dy Commissioner (Gen) said, "There was some leakage when a 12-tonne tanker arrived to transfer the liquid CO 2 toe main storage unit"

Punjab | Liquid Carbon Dioxide gas leaked in Ludhiana's Oxygen manufacturing factory; Punjab police sealed the factory's nearby area



There was some leakage when a 12-tonne tanker arrived to transfer the liquid CO 2 to the main storage unit: Rahul Chaba, Addl Dy Commissioner (Gen) pic.twitter.com/vRodjydTvO  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2022

However, 5 workers in the adjacent factory fainted due to the leakage of CO 2 . ADC Chaba said the workers were immediately shifted to civil hospital and they are out of danger. The NDRF team was mobilised to the spot.

(With ANI inputs)
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai promised a government job as well as a flat for a woman acid attack victim. Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, he said a woman, who has been a victim of an acid attack, met him and requested the government job on the compassionate ground. The chief secretary was instructed on the spot to give her a job. The state government has hiked the pension for the acid attack victims to Rs 10,000 per month as they had to take care of their family needs. The victim also asked for a house and he will talk to Housing Minister V.Somanna to allot one of the 40,000 flats being constructed in Bengaluru.

Bommai said he had wished to present the 'Karnataka Ratna' award on November 1 and that is being fulfilled. The award will be presented posthumously to Dr. Puneet Raj Kumar who had decided his entire life for the sake of Kannada and created awareness of the greatness of this language.

He had done a lot of philanthropy in the State and was a model for many by pledging his body parts. Seeing the actor, lakhs of people have pledged their eyes. Dr. Puneet had achieved big at a young age for which the State`s highest civilian award, `Karnataka Ratna` will be presented to him posthumously.

On the inclusion of a chapter on Dr. Puneet in textbooks, the CM said a decision in this regard will be taken in the coming days. "We will do whatever is possible". Greeting the people on the occasion of the 67th Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations, he said this festival celebration must not be restricted to only celebrations but it must remain in the hearts of millions of Kannadigas.

The government has formulated several schemes for the Kannadigas to come up in various fields including education, and employment, and this facility must be utilized.
Traffic jams are a problem in many major cities and Vietnam's no exception. But we don't have to rely on complicated, costly solutions. We do need clarity and determination, though.

This might sound like stating the obvious, but it needs to be stated: push back and scatter working hours; use buses to transport students; severely restrict personal vehicles.

Get the drift? There are myriads of ways to reduce traffic jams in our cities if we apply some of the obvious solutions with firm resolve and cooperation.

In Vietnam, traffic jams occur on a daily basis in two major cities  Hanoi and HCMC  because of two main reasons: dense population and illogical city planning.

Nowadays, traffic measures proposed by the government are more like painkillers to temporarily subdue the symptom rather than the strong chemo dose that is needed to address the root of this disease in a thorough manner.

We Vietnamese as a society have to fundamentally change our social patterns to tackle the problem of traffic jams  now and in the future.

First, we should separate the working hours of different social sectors. I would suggest changing the working hours of public offices to 10 a.m., which would be different from those of private firms. This would dramatically reduce the flow of commuters early in the morning.

Second, we should address the commuting needs of students with steely determination. In Hanoi and HCMC, millions of children are chauffeured to school by parents every day before they head to work. This is due to the insufficiency of public transportation for children, not only in quantity, but also in quality. Many parents are worried about the safety of their children when using existing bus routes, with many cases of pick-pocketing or small accidents reported often.

We have to further expand the current public transport system and ensure that some buses are exclusively reserved for students, especially during the timeframes when children usually go to school (6 to 7 a.m.) and return home (4 to 6 p.m.), stopping at school-specific stops. Though this measure demands collaboration between multiple stakeholders, its benefits will be enormous and endless.

Third, we should change how society views public transportation. Public transportation should denote any means of travel other than personal vehicles. So apart from buses and trains, taxis and motorbike taxis also come under the public transportation umbrella.

Typically, if each of the thousands of motorbike taxis drivers have approximately 30 rides a day, it would amount to roughly 250 thousand rides every day in Hanoi, which is a staggering figure showing how much the cities are dependent on them. The point is that by using them, citizens would feel less the need to own and use a private vehicle, leading to a rise in the use of other public transportation means like buses and trains.

Unfortunately, these forms of "unrecognized" public transportation face great critical scrutiny by the government, which wants to limit the flow of these vehicles in favor of private ones. It is a sad reality that the government continues to promote the ownership and use of private vehicles. Instead, society should promote taxis and motorbike taxis as a step towards reduced use of privately-owned vehicles, which entails a reconfiguration of how we understand and make policies on public transportation.

Fourth, the current division of traffic lanes is, in my opinion, not suitable. As cars are supposed to drive on the left-most side of the road, they frequently need to change to the right lane before making a turn or stopping at a building, creating a lot of blockages on the route. We need to rejig the division of traffic lanes to create a smoother driving experience for all vehicles.

I hope these ideas will be carefully considered by the authorities towards addressing the core issues that underlie the problem of traffic jams in Hanoi and HCMC.

If we do not drastically rethink our idea of modern, comfortable living facilitated by smooth mostly public transportation instead of the selfish chaos that rules our roads today, we will never get rid of the problem. Instead we will compound it and hurt a lot of ordinary people in taking "tough steps" to solve it.
Chennai: With two persons losing their lives in rain-related incidents in Chennai, which recorded heavy to very heavy showers on Tuesday while various Tamil Nadu districts saw heavy rains in wake of the northeast monsoon hitting the state on October 29, the State Disaster Response Force has been kept on standby. In a tragic incident on Tuesday morning, 47-year-old Shanthi died after a portion of the wall from the balcony of her house fell on her.

The incident occurred at Prakash Rao Colony in Pulianthope area of the city. Police have commenced an investigation and according to initial reports, it was an old house that had collapsed due to the heavy rains since Monday.



In another incident, autorickshaw driver, Devendran was electrocuted to death after he came into contact with a live wire in Vyasarpadi. The auto driver, according to onlookers, was in an inebriated state and was walking in knee-deep water, when he got in contact with a pole in direct contact with a live wire.



Chief Minister MK Stalin after a high-level meeting of ministers and Officials said that the state may get 35 to 75 percent more rain. He also said that the storage levels in 43 dams reached 75 to 100 per cent of the capacity, while in 17 other dams, the storage level is between 50 to 75 per cent.



With rains increasing in strength, the State Disaster Response Force has been kept ready for any eventuality


New Delhi: Heroin worth nearly Rs 70 crore was seized from the possession of a Belize national at the international airport here, the Customs department said on Monday.

The accused was intercepted after his arrival from Doha on Sunday, it said.

Subsequently, on thorough checking of the baggage of the accused, certain material was found in the false bottom and top of his trolley bag, the department said in a statement.

This led to the recovery of 9.95 kilograms of heroin worth Rs 69.95 crore in the international market, it said.

The seized 9.950 kgs of Heroin was concealed in the false bottom of a strolly bag being carried by him. The pax has been arrested under the NDPS Act. Further investigations are going on. (2/2) pic.twitter.com/y2z9YcXS4o  Delhi Customs (Airport & General) (@AirportGenCus) October 31, 2022

The Customs department said the passenger has been arrested and the narcotic seized.
Rishi Sunak`s rise to the top in British politics has come with its share of `shock and awe`. Sunak became the prime minister of the UK within a month of serious unrest in Leicester -- a city of three lakh people known for its inter-community harmony, well, until now. The Muslim-Hindu unrest in a tranquil city ruffled Royal feathers besides creating news across the world. A number of independent inquiries are in the offing over the communal clashes.

Jubilant reactions among Hindus have been documented in detail by the media not just in the UK and India but across the world. Among British Muslims, while some notable personalities have voiced their support for Sunak, influential sections -- some with connections with the Left and the Labour Party -- have focused on the Prime Minister`s riches, his so-called pronounced Hinduism, his Tory thought as well as foreign policy disposition towards Palestine and India.

A past interview by Sunak on "grooming gangs" -- wherein predominantly Pakistani men have been charged, has been dug out. Sunak is seen promising action on a sensitive race issue which has been buried in the UK due to `political correctness` despite its acute criminality.

Even as Sunak remains under microscopic scrutiny, a Muslim organisation has been running a campaign against him. The Muslim Public Affairs Committee (MPACUK) posted a series of tweets between October 24 to 26 -- all criticising Sunak. It began on October 24 by saying: "Sunak doesn`t have the support of his own Party`s membership, nor most of his colleagues in Parliament, and definitely not of the country. MPACUK demands a General Election NOW!"

By October 25 MPACUK said: "Here`s our reasons for why the Muslim community should be dissatisfied with Sunak as PM and released a video on why Rishi Sunak is bad news for Muslims." The committee is also rallying the Muslims to be prepared for elections as it feels general elections in the UK are round the corner.

A day later the MPACUK released another video saying why Rishi Sunak is "bad news" as Prime Minister of the UK. Among the issues it lists, which it thinks makes Sunak `bad news for Muslims` are his Conservative Party thinking, support to Israel, his wife`s ownership of Infosys and that "Rishi Sunak is not the best for Britain let alone for the Muslims here?"

Despite the MPACUK`s strident anti-Sunak campaign, some constituents have voiced support for Sunak. Foremost among them is writer and commentator Wasiq Wasiq who has been battling the anti-Sunak sentiment on social media.

He was among the few to have clapped his approval for Sunak even before the Indian-origin leader took on the mantle as the Prime Minister. Another Muslim figure, researcher and culture writer, Dr Rakib Ehsan has come to Sunak`s defence many a times.

Ehsan has taken a swipe at the powerful Left-Liberal combine for vilifying Sunak`s elitism and wealthy background. He has also stood his ground over communal attacks on Sunak and defended his policies.

That Sunak is a practicing Hindu and has been photographed with cows also led to a social media kerfuffle. Well known Pakistani writer-in-exile, Ayesha Siddiqa alluded to his Hindu roots while making a confusing comment on his ties with India. Siddiqa said: "He recently went to a cow temple and other signs of support. But there will be pressure on him so not easy to deal with India?"

Siddiqa`s comment obviously drew sharp comments over the term "cow temple" after which she tried to decry Sunak as not only rich but Hindutva. "We are generally weary of owning our own Hindus unless it is to showcase liberalism so what to speak of Richie Sunak who is not just Tory but Hindutva."

Sunak`s elevation has caused more than a flutter among the Muslims in Britain. Large sections are keeping quiet over the UK`s youngest and first Hindu Prime Minister. Many others are watching his policies from an Islamic point of view while some have already announced that a Hindu Prime Minister is just not going to be right for the Muslims.

With inter-faith relations under strain after the Leicester violence, the Palestinian issue always on a boil, grooming gang convictions of Pakistani men that keep popping up frequently and a vocal-visible minority Muslim population with assimilation issues, Sunak will have to tread with caution.

(This article is written by news agency IANS in collaboration with indianarrative.com. Zee Media has made no editorial changes with the content and can't be deemed responsible for the same)


A major accident has happened in Narela area of Delhi. Here a massive fire has broken out in a plastic factory. As soon as the news was received, many fire tenders reached the spot and started the rescue operation. Efforts are on to control the fire. Some people have been pulled out by breaking the glass of the building. So far 2 people have died in the accident and 2-3 people are feared trapped. Delhi Fire Service said, "a fire broke out in a plastic factory in Narela Industrial Area. 10 fire tenders have reached the spot. So far three people have been rescued, some people are feared trapped. Rescue operation is on."

The fire broke out in the factory located in Narela when the workers were working in it. It is feared that 2-3 people may be trapped inside the building. The fire department is running a rescue operation to save them. Delhi Police said that the incident of fire took place in Narela industrial area. Some people are injured and have been taken to the hospital. Everyone's condition is stable. Two people have died in this accident, their identity is being ascertained.

Also Read: Zaheer Khan in BIG trouble, massive FIRE breaks out in Pune where former Indian cricketer owns THIS

Significantly, today (Tuesday) a terrible fire broke out in a hotel in Pune in Maharashtra. It is a matter of relief that there is no news of any casualty in the fire accident there. Immediately after receiving the information, the fire department reached the spot and started the operation to control the fire.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (October 31, 2022) chaired a high-level meeting on the Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat and was briefed on the rescue and relief operations that have been underway ever since the unfortunate mishap took place on Sunday evening and killed at least 134 people. During the meeting, which was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, MoS Home Harsh Sanghavi, the Chief Secretary and DGP of Gujarat, and other top officials, Modi, who is touring poll-bound state, asked authorities to extend all possible help to those affected by the tragedy.

"All aspects relating to the tragedy were discussed," an official release said.

The meeting came ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit to Morbi on Tuesday afternoon.

Technical and structural flaws, maintenance issues prima facie responsible: Police on Morbi bridge collapse

Meanwhile, police on Monday said that technical and structural flaws and some maintenance issues were prima facie responsible for the Morbi bridge collapse.

Addressing reporters, Rajkot Range IG Ashok Kumar Yadav said the police will take help from forensic experts and structural engineers to investigate all aspects related to the incident.

"Our preliminary investigation has revealed that technical and structural flaws, including (lack of) certification as well as some maintenance issues, were responsible for the tragedy," Yadav said.

CCTV footage of the incident has revealed that people standing on the narrow bridge fell into the river after one of the two main suspension cables suddenly snapped.

Nine arrested for Gujarat Morbi bridge collapse

Police has so far arrested nine persons, including four employees of the Oreva group that was managing the British-era suspension bridge on the Machchhu river, for culpable homicide.

The Oreva group had bagged the contract to maintain and operate the Morbi bridge that collapsed on Sunday evening, four days after it was reopened post-renovation.

"Of these nine, two work as managers, while two work as ticket booking clerks (all four employed by Oreva group) at the bridge site. We will conduct a thorough inquiry and will not spare the guilty," Yadav told a press conference.

The other five accused include two repairing contractors hired by the Oreva group and three persons working at the bridge as security personnel, he said.

They have been booked under sections 304 (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday (November 1, 2022) said that the Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat was a result of "massive corruption" and that the state government should tender its resignation. Speaking at a press conference, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo asked why was a watchmaking company, which had no experience in bridge construction, allowed to do so. The suspension bridge on the Machchhu river in Morbi city collapsed Sunday evening, killing at least 135 people. The century-old bridge was reopened for the public on October 26 after seven months of repair work by a private firm, and did not have the municipality's "fitness certificate".

"The Morbi bridge collapse was a result of massive corruption and I pray for the victims. Why was a watchmaking company which had no experience in bridge construction allowed to do so?" Kejriwal said.

The AAP supremo also said that the BJP is struggling in Gujarat because the AAP is there to challenge it in the upcoming polls.

Addressing an important Press Conference | LIVE https://t.co/zmc8FMoElc  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 1, 2022

He also demanded that the assembly polls be held immediately.

PM Modi chairs high-level review meet on Morbi bridge collapse

Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting on the Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat and was briefed on the rescue and relief operations that have been underway ever since the unfortunate mishap took place on Sunday evening. During the meeting, which was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, MoS Home Harsh Sanghavi, the Chief Secretary and DGP of Gujarat, and other top officials, Modi, who is touring the poll-bound state, asked authorities to extend all possible help to those affected by the tragedy.

"All aspects relating to the tragedy were discussed," an official release said.

The meeting came ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit to Morbi on Tuesday afternoon.

Technical and structural flaws prima facie responsible for Morbi bridge collapse

Meanwhile, police on Monday said that technical and structural flaws and some maintenance issues were prima facie responsible for the Morbi bridge collapse.

Addressing reporters, Rajkot Range IG Ashok Kumar Yadav said the police will take help from forensic experts and structural engineers to investigate all aspects related to the incident.

"Our preliminary investigation has revealed that technical and structural flaws, including (lack of) certification as well as some maintenance issues, were responsible for the tragedy," Yadav said.

CCTV footage of the incident has revealed that people standing on the narrow bridge fell into the river after one of the two main suspension cables suddenly snapped.

Nine arrested for Gujarat Morbi bridge collapse

Police has so far arrested nine persons, including four employees of the Oreva group that was managing the British-era suspension bridge on the Machchhu river, for culpable homicide.

The Oreva group had bagged the contract to maintain and operate the Morbi bridge that collapsed on Sunday evening, four days after it was reopened post-renovation.

"Of these nine, two work as managers, while two work as ticket booking clerks (all four employed by Oreva group) at the bridge site. We will conduct a thorough inquiry and will not spare the guilty," Yadav told a press conference.

The other five accused include two repairing contractors hired by the Oreva group and three persons working at the bridge as security personnel, he said.

They have been booked under sections 304 (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

(With agency inputs)
Ahmedabad: The Oreva company in Gujarat's Ahmedabad has locked their farm after the Morbi bridge in the state collapsed claiming the lives of over 130 people. Oreva is the company that renovated the Morbi bridge. Nine persons including officials of Oreva, ticket sellers and security men have been arrested on Sunday under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for the Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat. On Sunday, the suspension bridge above the Machchhu River in the Morbi district. Visuals showed people falling into the river below. Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said that a criminal case has been registered in connection with the incident.

FIR filed against private agency

A First Information Report (FIR) has also been filed by the Gujarat Police in the bridge collapse incident in Gujarat`s Morbi district against private agencies for the attempt to commit culpable homicide and culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Also Read: Gujarat Morbi Bridge Collapse: The Story of a 'SUPERMAN' and some future 'AGNIVEERS' who saved 90 lives in Machhu river

The Gujarat government has constituted a five-member committee headed to probe the bridge collapse incident.

#WATCH | PM Modi gets emotional as he talks about #MorbiBridgeCollapse tragedy, in Gujarat's Banaskantha pic.twitter.com/0pmVmGmC0f  ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2022

The police also informed that the management person agency did not take due care and quality check of the bridge and kept it open for the people on October 26, displaying severe carelessness.

Bridge was under maintenance for 8 months

As per reports, the bridge was closed for about 8 months for maintenance and the repair work was being completed by a private agency.

State-wide mourning in Gujarat will take place on November 2, for the people who died in the Morbi tragedy. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held at Gandhinagar Raj Bhavan chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In the tragic incident of Morbi bridge collapse on Sunday, over 130 people, including women and children, were killed and over 100 have been receiving treatment for the injuries sustained after a cable suspension bridge in Morbi town collapsed.
Shiv Sena MLA and Uddhav Thackeray's son Aaditya Thackeray has asked Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to name the Tata official who had said that the conditions in the state were not suitable for the Airbus project. Aaditya claimed that the project was shifted to Gujarat at the behest of the Centre. He accused the state government of losing thousands of crores of projects due to their negligence. Aaditya Thackeray said, "I challenge Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to name the Tata company official who said that the situation was not appropriate to set up the Airbus project in Maharashtra. Because what we know is that the Tatas were specifically told by the government that they have to set up the project in Gujarat."

He also challenged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to have a one-on-one debate with him on the issue. Aaditya also attacked the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis-led government and said that Shinde should have spoken on the issue of investment in Maharashtra. Aaditya Thackeray said, "Every penny is important, so every investment that comes into the state should be welcomed. But then we lost Vedanta-Foxconn, the medical device park, the bulk drug park, the Airbus project and much more. What we have brought is a project worth Rs 2000 crore while we have lost more than Rs 1 lakh crore project."

Aaditya also commented on Fadnavis's allegations that Foxconn's absence from Maharashtra was announced by the then Industries Minister Subhash Desai in September last year. Thackeray said, "I am not saying that the Deputy Chief Minister is lying, or that he is trying to mislead the people of Maharashtra. But it is certain that he is not being properly informed by his people." Aditya's explanation, "Had he been informed properly, he would have read the description and knew that there was a difference between Foxconn and Vedanta Foxconn deals. Foxconn had promised to come to the state at the Maharashtra summit in 2018. After that, they searched for places in Tamil Nadu and probably after that they moved to the USA and started production. Since they had not come to Maharashtra for five years, the place reserved for them was exhausted. Regarding this, Subhash Desai said in the House that Foxconn is not going to come to Maharashtra."
Washington: US President Joe Biden has extended his deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the bridge collapse tragedy in Morbi, Gujarat, on Sunday in which 141 people were killed. "Today, our hearts are with India. Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones during the bridge collapse and join the people of Gujarat in mourning the loss of too many lives cut short.

"The United States and India are indispensable partners, with deep bonds between our citizens. In this difficult hour, we will continue to stand with and support the Indian people," President Biden said in a statement issued by the White House.

The British-era suspension bridge over the Machchu river, which was reopened just five days back after renovation work, was filled with people when it collapsed on Sunday evening, snuffing out 141 innocent lives.

Meanwhile, state-wide mourning in Gujarat will take place on November 2 for those who died in the Morbi tragedy. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, in a tweet, said the decision was taken at a high-level meeting held at Gandhinagar Raj Bhavan chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The national flag will be flown at half-mast on government buildings in the state on November 2 and no government public functions, receptions, or entertainment programs will be held."I humbly appeal to all across the state to pray for peace on that day for the eternal peace of the departed souls who lost their lives in this tragedy and also to give strength to their families to bear this trauma," tweeted Patel.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Morbi in Gujarat on November 1. At least 141 people, including women and children, were killed and over 100 are receiving treatment for their injuries sustained after a cable suspension bridge in Morbi town collapsed into the Machchhu River on Sunday.

The Prime Minister had said earlier that there will be no laxity in rescue and relief operations. The Gujarat government has constituted a five-member committee headed to probe the bridge collapse incident. The Prime Minister has also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased from the PM`s Relief Fund, and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
JAIPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday heaped praise on Congress veteran and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot while addressing an event in Banswara during which he recalled his days as Gujarat chief minister and how they worked together in past without any discord. The Prime Minister also hailed him as "one of the senior-most Chief Ministers in the country and an experienced politician."

Ashok JI (Gehlot) and I had worked together as CMs. He was the most senior in our lot of CMs. Ashok Ji is still one of the senior-most CMs among those who are sitting on the stage right now, PM Narendra Modi said while addressing the gathering at Mangarh Dham ki Gaurav Gatha in Banswara, Rajasthan.

The struggle & sacrifice of tribal community didn't get their rightful place in history written after independence. Today, the country is rectifying that decades-old mistake. India's past, present & future is not complete without the tribal community: PM in Banswara, Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/wp3ieOJxrQ  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2022

During his speech, PM Modi also regretted that the struggle & sacrifice of tribal communities didn't get their rightful place in history written after Independence. Today, the country is rectifying that decades-old mistake. India's past, present & future is not complete without the tribal community, the PM said in Banswara. Every step of our freedom struggle, pages of history are filled with tribal valour, the Prime Minister said.

The struggle & sacrifice of tribal community didn't get their rightful place in history written after independence. Today, the country is rectifying that decades-old mistake. India's past, present & future is not complete without the tribal community: PM in Banswara, Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/wp3ieOJxrQ  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2022

Responding to his speech, Gehlot said that PM Modi gets respect globally because he is the PM of a country where democracy is deep-rooted.

Gehlot said that when PM Narendra Modi goes abroad he receives great honour. because he`s the PM of the nation of Gandhi, where democracy is deep-rooted. "When world realises this, they feel proud that PM of that country is coming to them..." Gehlot said during the event Mangarh Dham ki Gaurav Gatha, which recalled the 1913 Mangarh massacre.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier Tuesday shared the dais with veteran Congress leader Gehlot at the event. The Prime Minister also declared the Mangarh Dham in the Banswara district of Rajasthan as a national monument. It was here that the British forces - on November 17, 1913 - gunned down more than 1,500 people of the Bhil tribal community.

CMs of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Bhupendra Patel were also present on the dais. As the Chief Minister of Gujarat, the Prime Minister recalled serving the region of Mangarh which is part of Gujarat and informed that Govind Guru spent the last years of his life here, and his energy and knowledge can still be felt in the soil of this land.

The Prime Minister remembered that the entire area which was a barren land earlier got transformed with greenery after he urged everyone via the platform of Van Mahotsav. He thanked the tribal community for selflessly working for the campaign.

Remembering the massacre of November 17, 1913, in Mangarh, the Prime Minister remarked that it was an example of extreme cruelty by British rule in India. "On one hand we had the innocent tribals who were seeking independence while on the other hand, it was the British colonial rulers who after surrounding the hills of Mangarh, massacred more than one thousand five hundred innocent men, women, elderly, and children in broad daylight," PM Modi said.
Aircraft park at Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC, August 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has green-lighted the addition of 8,000 flights, up 32% against normal, to cater to higher travel demand during Tet, Vietnam's biggest holiday.

Five domestic carriers including Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Pacific Airlines, Bamboo Airways and Vietravel will operate a total of more than 33,000 flights, or 6.7 million seats, between Jan. 6 and Feb. 5.

Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 22 and the labor ministry is seeking approval from the government for a seven-day break.

In Vietnam, Tet often sees millions of migrant workers from major cities return to their homes or holiday-goers flock to tourist hotspots.

On average, there will be 1,000 daily flights during the upcoming Tet, up 260 against normal.

The increasing demand will primarily be seen on major routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Hanoi and central Vietnam's Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Hue and Chu Lai.

The route between the two largest cities is expected to have 1,901 flights during the Tet holiday, up 22% against normal.

Air ticket prices for the upcoming Tet has doubled year-on-year as tourism demand resumed after a Covid-19 induced hiatus.

A return trip from HCMC to Hanoi from Jan. 19 to 26 costs at least VND5.5 million ($222.51), double that of last year and the same as 2019.

In 2019, the year before the onset of the pandemic, Vietnam's aviation industry experienced double-digit growth to 116 million passengers.

This year CAAV expects to serve 100 million air passengers.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate 3,024 newly constructed EWS flats at Kalkaji, Delhi built for rehabilitating slum dwellers under the `In-Situ Slum Rehabilitation` Project and hand over keys to eligible beneficiaries at Bhoomiheen Camp in a programme at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi on Wednesday at 4:30 PM. In line with the vision of the Prime Minister to provide housing for all, in-situ slum rehabilitation in 376 Jhuggi Jhopri clusters is being undertaken by Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The objective of the rehabilitation project is to provide a better and healthy living environment to the residents of Jhuggi Jhopri clusters, with proper amenities and facilities, informed a government release on Tuesday. DDA has undertaken three such projects at Kalkaji Extension, Jailorwala Bagh and Kathputli Colony.

Under the Kalkaji Extension Project, in-situ Slum Rehabilitation of three slum clusters namely Bhoomiheen Camp, Navjeevan camp and Jawahar camp located at Kalkaji are being taken up in a phased manner. Under Phase I, 3024 EWS flats at the nearby vacant commercial centre site have been constructed.

Also Read: After Union Minister's tweet, Home Ministry says NO EWS flats given to Rohingya Muslims in Delhi

The Jhuggi Jhopri site at Bhoomiheen Camp will be vacated by rehabilitating eligible households of Bhoomiheen camp to the newly constructed EWS flats. Post vacation of Bhoomiheen Camp site, in Phase II, this vacated site will be utilised for rehabilitation of Navjeevan Camp and Jawahar Camp.

Phase I of the Project has been completed and 3024 flats are ready to move in. These flats have been constructed at a cost of about Rs 345 crores and are equipped with all civic amenities including finishing having been done with vitrified floor tiles, ceramics tiles, Udaipur green marble counter in kitchen, etc.

Public amenities like Community parks, Electric Sub-stations, Sewage Treatment plants, dual water pipelines, lifts, Underground reservoir for hygienic water supply etc have also been provided. The allotment of flats will provide the people ownership title as well as a sense of security.
Rajasthan Pre DELEd Result 2022: Rajasthan Pre Diploma in Elementary Education Entrance Examination, Rajasthan Pre DELEd result 2022 will be released today, November 1, 2022. Rajasthan Pre DELED result date 2022 was announced on Monday by state education minister Dr. Bulaki Das Kalla. The results can be checked and downloaded from the official website, panjiyakpredeled.in, by candidates who took the exam. As stated by the Minister, the Department of Elementary Education in Rajasthan would release the Rajasthan Pre DELEd result 2022 link in the evening. Students are required to pay Rs. 200 per course without a late fee and an extra Rs. 1100 with a late fee. Rajasthan's Education minister Dr. Bulaki Das Kalla tweeted, "The exam result of Pre D L Ed Exam 2022 will be released tomorrow on 1st November 2022 afternoon. 599294 candidates appeared in this examination."

     2022      1  2022          599294     Dr. Bulaki Das Kalla (@DrBDKallaINC) October 31, 2022

Rajasthan Pre DELED Result 2022: Heres how to check

Visit the official website at panjiyakpredeled.in

On the homepage, click on the result link

Key in your login details

Check the Rajasthan Pre DELEd exam result

Take a printout for future reference.

According to the schedule, the Rajasthan Pre-DELEd test for 2022 was held on October 8th. There were 599294 applicants that showed up for the entrance test. The Rajasthan Basic School Teaching Course (BSTC) Pre-DELEd test was held by the Department of Elementary Education (DElEd) of Rajasthan in order to grant admission to the 25, 000 seats available at the 372 DElEd institutes located around the state.
Looking for the best React Native App Development Companies in India? Well, that's enough! Considering React Native is currently the trend in app development, it's not surprising. As a result, multiple companies are developing React native apps now available on the market. Apps were developed rapidly and inexpensively due to their platform compatibility, contributing to their popularity. So what is React Native, how does it operate, why is it so well-liked, and who are the best development companies? This article's rating of the best React Native app development companies is the product of extensive research that included a thorough analysis of the businesses. Let's dive in!

Why is React Native So Popular? What is It?

A popular JavaScript-based mobile app framework called React Native enables you to develop natively rendered mobile apps for iOS and Android. Facebook first made React Native accessible as an open-source project in 2015. Within a brief period, It became the best mobile development tool in the rankings. React Native development is used to power some of the most popular mobile applications in the world, including Skype, Instagram, and Facebook.

The popularity of React Native is attributed to its lightning-fast load times and fluid, responsive user interface. Moreover, React Native enables developers to develop apps at a significantly quicker rate and lower cost than they could with native development while preserving a similar level of usability and quality.

Best React Native App Development Companies in 2023

Many companies create React Native apps, but which ones are the best? The list is below!

1. Pairroxz Technologies:

With a skilled team of developers who have completed more than 2500 projects worldwide and worked with more than 15 development platforms, Pairroxz technologies have been one of the well-known top react native app development companies in India since 2011. The ISO-certified company provides worldwide assistance with web and app development with a client retention rate of 95%.

2. Wipro:

Wipro is an Indian multinational company that provides consulting, information technology, and business process services. The company focuses on innovative solutions to provide end-to-end solutions to their communities and clients so they can succeed in a constantly changing world. They have over 2,40,000 specialists and business partners spread across 66 countries.

3. Tech Mahindra:

Tech Mahindra delivers cutting-edge, customized information technology experiences in the globalized economy. The company has more than 1,25,700 workers working in 90 countries representing 941 international clients, including Fortune 500 companies. It is one of the top IT companies in India.

4. Mindtree:

Mindtree is a global Indian company that specializes in outsourcing and information technology. Its headquarters are located in Bangalore, India. The company was established in 1999 with excellent software solutions and currently working with more than 21,000+ experts.

5.NeoSOFT:

NeoSOFT is a digital accelerator for startups, SMEs, MSMEs, and large corporations. Various industries, including BFSI, healthcare, e-commerce and retail, insurance, semi-government and government, and more, have been greatly affected. Their solutions are specifically designed to meet the demands of particular industries due to their great 25+ years of experience and rapidly growing family of 4000+ engineering professionals, whose specialties range from IT Consulting, Operational Plans & Implementation, Business Process Re-engineering, and IT Modernization.

6. CISIN:

A 2003 startup in the IT industry, Cyber Infrastructure Inc. has operations in Atlanta, Miami, New York, London, India, and Singapore. The company focuses on IT, marketing, and gaming and mainly works with mid-market-level businesses. Due to the integration of their multi-platform talents and in-depth experience in their respective sectors, 1000+ employees are ready to handle challenging international projects.

7. Experion Technologies:

Exerion Technologies is a digital technology company with offices all over the world. These include the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand. It has over 14 years of experience in this field. Experion works with more than 300 clients in 32 countries to help businesses in all industries realize their full potential by using the power of mobile, online, analytics, cloud, and digital technologies.

8. Kellton:

Kellton is a digital transformation business with ISO certification where innovation meets vision. The internationally recognized organization employs more than 1800 people worldwide and provides cutting-edge digital transformation solutions and services in strategy, consulting, digital, and technology. It has assisted hundreds of customers in various industries and earned a prominent place in the ecosystem.

9. Daffodil Software:

Established in 1999, Daffodil Software is a multi-award-winning mobile app development company that offers dependable and appealing mobile solutions. The corporation employs more than 1200 experts and is recognized for its technological adaptability, exceptional execution skills, relentless focus on client satisfaction, and unmatched dedication. For over 20 years, Daffodil Software has been a trustworthy software technology partner to businesses worldwide.



10. Uplers:

Uplers started as an outsourcing business in 2012, offering professional services to clients worldwide. They serve 7000+ international clients in 52+ countries with a group of more than 1000 experts. The Upper primary objective is to create a potential ecosystem that links opportunities with the right talent.



This list is carefully selected after extensive research on websites like clutch. Co and app development companies.co, others. The study considered several variables: portfolio, market value, employee strength, user ratings, and work experience.

(Disclaimer: Above mentioned article is a Consumer Connect Initiative. This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of IDPL, and IDPL claims no responsibility whatsoever.)
Mumbai: In a horrific incident, a food delivery man allegedly raped a 6-month-old stray puppy at Hira Panna Mall in Powai, Mumbai. It is unclear where exactly the incident occurred -- whether it was in the mall or nearby. The heinous act was recorded by another food delivery agent, a colleague of the accused, who then circulated it to spread awareness. The accused was arrested by cops after a complaint by an animal activist and member of NGO Bombay Animal Rights Minu Seth. According to Ashish Sharma, an animal rights activist and a High Court lawyer, the accused was produced in a Bandra court on Oct 30 and then was taken into police custody.

Sharma, a lawyer involved in the case, said that the accused could face life imprisonment or a maximum jail sentence of 10 years along with a fine for his offences.

Negative perception of stray dogs

In recent months, there has been a debate on the treatment of stray dogs. The authorities have also become involved in these arguments. After certain incidents of dog bites, a certain section of society has objected to the presence of stray dogs and even pet dogs around their homes or parks, or roads in general. On the other hand, animal rights activists have argued that dogs, as living creatures, deserve to occupy public space. In addition, many say that a dog treated with proper care is highly unlikely to mindlessly attack.

Sharma has written several letters to authorities to not hold dogs liable in the way that we do for humans. He quoted the Constitution and reasoned that "dogs are not considered to be legal entities".

New restrictions, bans on dog breeds

Recently, Ghaziabad civic authorities have introduced several bans and restrictions on the dog breeds one can keep at home. In addition, there is a limit to how many dogs a person can keep. The Pitbull, Rottweiler and Dogo Argentino breed can't be kept as pets, ordered the authorities.

Bestiality cases in India

Cases of bestiality often go unreported for obvious reasons - animals can't report the crimes. However, Sharma who has come across a few cases of this nature explains that often the perpetrator is isolated from society. However, since the area is so underresearched and underreported, it is hard to find evidence.
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday (November 1) said the allegations made by conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar are completely fictitious and are being planted to drive the country's attention form the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy. Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar has written to Delhi LG from Tihar jail, alleging threat-pressure by Satyendar Jain and DG Prison. Taking to the media Delhi CM Kejriwal said yesterday all the media channels were covering the issue of the Morbi bridge collapse but today all the focus from the Morbi tragedy disappeared and Sukesh Chandrashekhar's allegations appeared all over the news channels.

"Morbi tragedy occurred the day before yesterday. All TV channels raised this issue yesterday but it disappeared today and Sukesh Chandrashekhar's allegations appeared. Doesn't this look like a completely fictitious story planted to divert attention from Morbi?" ANI quoted Kejriwal.

Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar accuses Satyendra Jain of extortion

Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar has alleged that Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain had extracted Rs 10 crore as protection money to protect him in the Tihar Jail. Sukesh Chandrashekhar made these claims in a letter addressed to Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena in which he also said that he knew the AAP leader since 2015.

In his letter, the incarcerated conman said that a total amount of Rs 50 crore was paid to Jains party AAP which promised to offer him an important party position in south India.

After my arrest in 2017, I was lodged in Tihar Jail and was visited multiple times by Satyendar Jain, who held the portfolio of jail minister... In 2019 again, I was visited by Jain, whose secretary asked me to pay Rs 2 crore every month as protection money and to get basic facilities inside the jail, Chandrashekhar claimed in his hand-written letter.

Conman #SukeshChandrashekhar claims that jailed AAP leader #SatyendraJain extracted Rs 10 crore for his 'protection pic.twitter.com/eolAXbNMq3 November 1, 2022

He also claimed that he had disclosed the payments made to Jain, the AAP and also D-G Prisons to a CBI probe team last month. The letter was sent to the Delhi LG through his lawyer. In view of his explosive letter, the Delhi LG is said to have ordered an inquiry to verify the truth.

Chandrashekhar is currently lodged at Delhis Mandoli jail. He was arrested for allegedly extorting money from high-profile people, including former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singhs wife Aditi. He was shifted from Tihar jail to Mandoli Jail in Delhi in August this year after he made repeated requests for a transfer to another jail. He claimed he had received death threats from within the Tihar jail.
Hyderabad: Continuing his attack against the TRS and BJP, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that the "TRS supports the BJP whenever there's any bill in the Parliament and diverts attention from opposition issues". He reiterated that the BJP & TRS work together. As part of Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra, Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi is in Telangana's capital Hyderabad where he hoisted the national flag at Charminar. Taking a dig at Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao(KCR), Gandhi said "Your CM (KCR) does drama before polls but he's in direct line with PM Modi. PM Modi gives orders to your CM on phone". Earlier on Monday, Rahul alleged that both the BJP and the TRS are using corruption money to buy MLAs and influence elections.

He said both the parties were spending hundreds of crores. "Where is this money coming from. It`s obviously coming from corruption and being distributed blatantly with no regard for any rule," he said, addressing a news conference during Bharat Jodo Yatra in Rangareddy district.

Also Read: Gujarat elections: Rahul Gandhi takes a jibe at Kejriwal, says 'AAP only in air, not on ground'

Accompanied by party leaders and hundreds of party workers and supporters, he paid tributes to his late father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and unfurled the national flag at Charminar.

Telangana | Whenever there's any bill in Parliament, TRS supports BJP & diverts attention from Opposition issues. BJP & TRS work together. Your CM (KCR) does drama before polls but he's in direct line with PM Modi. PM Modi gives orders to your CM on phone:Congress MP Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/UyDGH7KlkJ  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2022

The event was organised in commemoration of Rajiv Gandhi`s visit to Charminar on October 19, 1990 to launch Sadbhavana Yatra for communal peace and harmony in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

Hundreds of Congress workers converged around Charminar to welcome the party leader and raised slogans of `Jodo Jodo, Bharat Jodo` and `Rajiv Gandhi Amar Rahe` when Rahul Gandhi was offering floral tributes at the portrait of his late father.

Telangana unit President A. Revanth Reddy, senior leader V. Hanumanth Rao, Anjan Kumar Yadav and other leaders were present. After the brief programme at Charminar, the yatra continued its journey through the historic Pathergatti market. Gandhi was seen waving at people who had lined up either side of the road to welcome him.

After passing through some busy areas of the party, Bharat Jodo Yatra will reach Necklace Road on the banks of Hussain Sagar lake, which divides twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

Earlier, the yatra entered Hyderabad on Tuesday morning. After covering Narayanpet, Mahabubnagar and Rangareddy districts, the yatra reached the state capital on the seventh day of its journey in Telangana.

Gandhi will have a night halt at Gandhi Ideology Centre at Bowenpally in Secunderabad.

The yatra will continue in Telangana till November 7 with one-day break on November 4. It will cover a total distance of 375 km in 19 Assembly and 7 Parliamentary constituencies in the state.

(With agency inputs)
Hyderabad: The Congress party and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) continued to trade barbs a day after Rahul Gandhi ridiculed Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao`s national political ambitions. TRS working president KT Rama Rao on Tuesday took a dig at the Congress MP with the remark that international leader Rahul Gandhi who can`t even win his own Parliament seat in Amethi ridiculed KCR, as the Chief Minister is commonly known.

"Wannabe PM should first convince his people to elect him as an MP," tweeted Rama Rao on a day when Rahul Gandhi`s Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Hyderabad. KTR told ANI, "International leader Rahul Gandhi who cant even win his own parliament seat in Amethi ridicules Telangana CM KCRs national party ambition. Wannabe PM should first convince his people to elect him as an MP."

International leader Rahul Gandhi who cant even win his own parliament seat in Amethi ridicules Telangana CM KCRs national party ambition. Wannabe PM should first convince his people to elect him as an MP: Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao



(File photo) https://t.co/mJSIXlGR9G pic.twitter.com/EMRBoCgpKq  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2022

At a news conference on Monday, Rahul Gandhi poked fun at KCR with the remark that he is welcome to even believe that he is running a global party. When asked about the decision of TRS to enter national politics by changing its name to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the Congress leader stated that any leader has the right to imagine his party in whatever way he wants.

He went on to say that the Chief Minister is even welcome to think that he is running an international party that is fighting elections in the US or China. "If the Chief Minister of Telangana believes that he is running a national party, that is perfectly okay. There is no problem, he can believe it. If he believes that he is running a global party, that is also fine," Rahul Gandhi said.

Congress general Jairam Ramesh fired more salvos on Tuesday and said, "Rahul Gandhi ji has already said that if KCR is dreaming that TRS becomes Global Rashtra Samithi (GRS), we have no problem," adding "If he wants to become GRS, let me remind him that in 2007 TRS was stuck in a passport scam. You may remember there was a big passport scam and several TRS leaders were involved in it. I want to remind KTR of the history of TRS."

The Congress leader also called KCR the 8th Nizam, saying: "We live in a democracy. Congress is not a party that runs on Nizam Shahi. We know the 8th Nizam is sitting in Hyderabad."

The Congress MP slammed the TRS government for the bad condition of roads in Telangana even after eight years of the state`s formation. "Who benefited from the formation of Telangana? This is our question. Dalits, Adivasis and backward classes have not benefited. Only one person and one family benefited."

The Congress leader also disputed the claim of TRS leaders that they developed Hyderabad in the last eight years, claiming that the city developed in the last 30 years especially when YS Rajasekhara Reddy was the Chief Minister.

He recalled that Hyderabad was the information technology capital before 2014. "Institutions like DRDO, CSIR, ISB, NALSAR and Shamshabad airport all came up before 2014," he said.

Ramesh said the development in Hyderabad happened due to efforts of former Chief Ministers Rajasekhara Reddy, Chandrababu Naidu, Vijayabhaskar Reddy, NT Rama Rao, adding "The TRS has done nothing. They have inherited a lot."

Congress to undertake yatras in states not covered by Rahul's march: Jairam Ramesh

The Congress is organising Bharat Jodo Yatras in states not covered by the main walkathon led by senior leader Rahul Gandhi, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Tuesday as the yatra is passing through Hyderabad on its the 55th day. Telangana is the fifth state to be covered by Kanyakumari to Kashmir walkathon. It will pass through 12 states.

Jairam Ramesh said in the states which are not on the route of the main yatra, the party has started state-level yatras. On October 31, Bharat Jodo Yatra Odisha was taken out from Bhubaneswar. It will cover 2,300 km and pass through 24 districts before returning to Bhubaneswar.

The yatra in Assam started on Tuesday and in the next 70 days, it will cover 850 km. On December 28, the Congress formation day, the West Bengal unit of the party will start a yatra from Kolkata to Siliguri. This will cover 800 km. "In the next few days yatras will also be undertaken in Bihar and Jharkhand," said the former Union Minister.

He said while state-level leaders of the party will participate in the yatras, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Digvijay Singh, he and party MPs will also take part. Jairam Ramesh said the main yatra will reach Maharashtra on November 7, where it will begin from Nanded.

On whether NCP leader Sharad Pawar will be joining the yatra, he said Pawar was indisposed and admitted to a hospital. He said Rahul Gandhi spoke to Pawar`s daughter Supriya Sule and enquired about his health. Doctors have advised three-week bedrest to the NCP leader. Ramesh said Pawar may join the yatra wherever he wants.

To another query, the Congress leader clarified that the yatra has nothing to do with the November 3 by-election to Munugode Assembly seat in Telangana. "This is not `chunav jeeto yatra`. It has nothing to do with Gujarat or Madhya Pradesh elections or even 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This yatra is to fight increasing economic inequalities, social discrimination and political dictatorship," he said but hastened to add that they hope that it will strengthen the organization and party will win the elections.

Jairam Ramesh described the Gujarat model as "fake". "A state where aircraft are going to be manufactured can`t make a bridge," he said referring to bridge collapse tragedy in that state. "150 people have lost their lives. Who is responsible? Who gave the contract? It was the state government," he said.

The Congress leader also slammed the Gujarat government for taking up cleaning works at the hospital only for the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Munugode bypoll in Telangana: Polling to take place on November 3

As many as 298 polling stations have been set for the Munugode by-election and 2,41,855 voters will cast their vote in the election slated to be held on November 3, said the State Chief Electoral Officer, Vikas Raj.

The State Chief Electoral Officer said, "The Munugode by-election campaigning will end on Tuesday at 6 pm and the polling time is from 7 am to 6 pm. There are around 105 critical polling stations identified. Booth-level officers and medical teams are available in all stations, informed the official.

He further said, "Sufficient light and toilets are made sure in all polling stations. We have given a new design voter ID for the first time in Munugode. We have set up webcasting in all the polling centres," adding that there are around 105 critical polling stations identified.

"We have given a new design voter ID for the first time in Munugode. We have set up webcasting in all the polling centres. A total of 51 teams have been assigned including flying squads and static surveillance teams," ANI quoted him as saying.

He said the district administration is making all the arrangements for staff in polling stations, adding "As many as 199 Micro Observers are deployed. We have deployed 3,366 state police and 15 companies of the central police force in Munogode. 185 cases have been registered and Rs.6.80 crore and 4,500 litres of liquor have been seized so far."
New Delhi: Praising Rahul Gandhi for his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', TMC MP Shatrughan Sinha has said that the 3,570-km-long march will help the Congress double its tally in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Sinha, a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP who briefly joined the Congress in 2019 after differences with his former party, also said that Rahul Gandhi has proved his leadership abilities through the Bharat Jodo Yatra. In an interview with the news agency PTI on Sunday (October 30, 2022), Sinha said that the 150-day-long Bharat Jodo Yatra, which commenced on September 7 from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, is getting a very good response and that Rahul Gandhi's "charisma" has started working.

"This is a 'yatra' in a true sense as (Rahul) Gandhi is walking unlike 'Rath yatras' by BJP leaders. Lakhs of people are coming out in his support. He has proved his leadership qualities," he said.

"People have accepted him as a leader. And, those who made fun of him as 'Pappu' and didn't take him seriously have been proved wrong," Shatrughan Sinha added.

"I feel that Gandhi's yatra will help double the tally of the Congress in Parliament in the next Lok Sabha polls," the Trinamool Congress leader said.

The Congress, notably, had won 52 seats in the 2019 general polls.

"BJP leaders are making fun of Gandhi, but let them also conduct a similar yatra on foot if they have the fire in their belly. The magic spell of Rahul Gandhi will work in the next elections, I feel and I want it to happen," Sinha said.

Arvind Kejriwal would either emerge as 'kingmaker' or 'king' himself in Gujarat Assembly elections

Speaking on the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections, Shatrughan Sinha said that Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal would either emerge as the "kingmaker" or the "king" himself.

"In Gujarat, Kejriwal will either emerge as the king or the kingmaker. There is a churning in the saffron camp in Gujarat. The BJP cannot milk Hindutva or the Ram Mandir issue every time. Kejriwal has played a masterstroke through his demand of photos of Goddess Laxmi and Lord Ganesh on currency notes," he said.

Last week, Kejriwal had appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to print images of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi on currency notes for the progress of the country.

"Kejriwal has paid the BJP back with the same coin. The BJP used to act as if they were the master of the 'Hindutva school of politics' but Kejriwal is now the headmaster of that school. The BJP can neither swallow it nor discard it," Sinha said.

Sinha, who was a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee's NDA government, asserted that the anti-BJP parties are gaining momentum in the states -- whether it is Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu or Karnataka.

Mamata Banerjee will be a 'game-changer' in 2024 Lok Sabha elections

Stating that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be a "game-changer" in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Shatrughan Sinha, who joined the TMC earlier this year and successfully fought the by-election from West Bengal's Asansol, hoped that the relation between his party and the Congress would improve.

"There is no last word in politics. Today, the relations are not good doesn't mean they won't improve tomorrow. I personally feel that if major opposition parties come together, the political situation of the country will be completely different," he said.

Speaking on the face of the opposition in the 2024 elections, the actor-turned-politician said that the people of the country will choose the right leader.

"This question that who will be next (prime minister) comes up in every election. Once you reach the top politically, it will be decided based on numbers and the mandate. The country never stops, governments keep changing, and new leadership comes up," he said.

(With PTI inputs)
Badaun (Uttar Pradesh): The Samajwadi Party (SP) has launched a blistering attack on the Yogi Adityanath government on the law and order issue, following a triple murder in Uttar Pradesh`s Badaun. Former SP MP Dharmendra Yadav said that the murder of former SP Block Chief Rakesh Gupta, his wife, and his mother on Monday evening was an example of the prevailing situation in the state. He demanded immediate arrest of the accused and action against the guilty.

Three persons -- Rakesh Gupta, his wife, and his mother -- were shot dead in their house late Monday evening by unidentified assailants. The incident took place in Sathra village within the Ushait police circle. According to reports, the accused forcefully barged into the house and opened indiscriminate firing at all the family members present in the house. The gunmen fled the spot after committing three murders.

Later, police arrived and started their investigation. After getting the information about the incident, Senior Superintendent of Police O.P. Singh rushed to the spot along with the forensic experts. Gupta was an influential SP leader and was the party`s block chief earlier. He was currently a Zila Panchayat member and a well-known person in the area.

Also read: Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar's BIG claim: 'AAP's Satyendra Jain EXTRACTED...'

An eyewitness said that there are two gates in the house and the accused entered from the main gate after killing everyone in the house, they left from the other gate. Fear gripped the entire village after the incident and heavy police personnel have been deployed in the area. Multiple teams have been deployed to find the accused.

Superintendent of Police, Amit Kishore Srivastava said, "Rakesh Gupta, his wife Sharda, and mother Shanti Devi were shot dead inside their house. The bodies have been sent for autopsy and efforts are on to nab the accused."

BJP leader booked for threatening doctor in Shahjahanpur

A BJP leader has been booked for allegedly threatening a doctor on duty and pointing a gun at him at the Government Medical College in Uttar Pradesh`s Shahjahanpur. Sanjay Kumar, ASP, city, said that Dr Karan Gupta was on duty on Sunday midnight at the Government Medical College when one Anshul Agnihotri was brought in with complaints of chest pain.

Also read: 15 days left for UP CM Yogi Adityanath's pothole-free roads deadline; PWD minister cancels leaves for officers

The ASP said that Bajpai allegedly grabbed the doctor by his neck, manhandled him, and also pointed a gun.

After a preliminary examination, Agnihotri was sent for an ECG when the vice president of the BJP`s Mahanagar unit Rajkamal Bajpai arrived at the medical facility and created a ruckus. The BJP leader, however, said that the patient was known to him and he was called to the hospital by Agnihotri`s family as he was allegedly not getting proper treatment.

Decomposed body found in train toilet in UP

A highly decomposed body of an unidentified man was recovered from a locked toilet of the Amritsar-bound Janseva Express at Roza station in Shahjahanpur district. The body is of a man, apparently in his thirties.

Sub-inspector Karunesh Chandra Shukla of the government railway police (GRP), said that the body had apparently travelled undetected for about 900 km from Bihar`s Banmankhi junction to Shahjahanpur. It was only when some passengers of the general train compartment started complaining of a foul smell coming from the washroom.

The rail staff broke open the washroom door and found the bloated body. The train left for Amritsar after a five-hour halt. "The man was wearing a green shirt and a pair of blue trousers. We did not find any ID card on him. Information has been shared with other GRP stations. The door was locked from the inside and it seems there was no foul play. The autopsy report suggests that the man may have died before the train started from Banmankhi. Staff who had washed the train there should have been more alert," the GRP official said.

Dr Sanjay Rai of the railway hospital said that the body was at least three days old and had started to decompose, adding "The man died after he slipped into a possible coma and there were no physical injuries found on him."
Delhi: The air quality in the national capital is still considered to be "extremely poor." Delhi's overall Air Quality Index reached 385, with certain regions recording AQIs in the severe category. The concentrations of (Particulate Matters) PM 10 and PM 2.5 in Delhi were 396 and 230 on Tuesday morning, respectively. In Punjabi Bagh, PM 2.5 was 353, compared to 320 in Pusa. In Narela, the AQI was 636, whereas, in Anand Vihar, it was 414. The air quality in the national capital had been deteriorating before Diwali, but it worsened when people burned firecrackers here, and because stubble burning in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan in the winter spreads gases and pollution across cities. As Punjab's stodge burning got worse, there was no chance that Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI), which measures the city's air quality, would become better.

Delhi's air quality continues to remain in the 'very poor' category, with AQI recorded at 385 this morning. pic.twitter.com/toBHYaAESf  ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2022

Since barely 45 to 50 percent of the state's planted area had been harvested as of October 24, the Union Environment Ministry has stated that the rising number of stubble-burning occurrences in Punjab this year is a severe cause for concern. In Haryana, the number of paddy residue burning incidents has decreased by roughly 26% so far this year. In the meantime, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and surrounding areas has stepped up efforts to ensure that its directives are followed and enforced in light of Delhi's deteriorating air quality. The Commission has given 45 coal-based industrial units in Rajasthan the go-ahead to close. In addition, 32 coal-based units9 in Haryana and 23 in UPhave been permanently shut down. 48 unitseight in Haryana and forty in Uttar Pradeshhave temporarily ceased operations pending the conversion of these units to approved fuels.

Air quality continues to dip in Delhi-NCR.



Air Quality Index (AQI) presently at 444 in Noida (UP) in 'Severe' category, 594 in Dhirpur (Delhi) in 'Severe' category & 391 in Gurugram (Haryana) in 'Very Poor' category.



Delhi's overall AQI this morning at 385 (Very Poor category). pic.twitter.com/Ywr8A84eNI November 1, 2022

4,315 incidents of stubble burning out of a total of 7,036 reported cases were reported over the course of the last six days. The current Air Quality Index (AQI) values are 444 in Noida (UP), 594 in Dhirpur (Delhi), and 391 in Gurugram (Haryana) in the "Very Poor" category. This morning, Delhi's total AQI was 385. (Very Poor category).
SRINAGAR: National Conference leader and former J&K chief minister Farooq Abdullah has hit out at the Centre after being denied access during his recent Ladakh visit. Dras Dak Bungalow during his Ladakh tour. The NC leader said that he was unable to stay at the Drass Dak Bungalow during his Ladakh tour, which coincided with the Ladakh administrations celebration of the Union Territorys foundation day.

His party also alleged that Omar wasnt allowed to use a microphone during a function and stay at the Dak bungalow in Drass during his Ladakh visit. The venue of Omars event was later shifted to an adjacent place.

The Kargil Administration told us we shouldnt visit the place. Why are they afraid? You (Govt) cant stop China and cant push them back, but when we wanted to come from Srinagar via Dras to Kargil, they didn't allow us, Omar Abdullah said on being denied access to Dras Dak Bungalow.

Administration told us we shouldnt visit the place. Why are they afraid? You (Govt) cant stop China & cant push them back, but when we wanted to come from Srinagar via Dras to Kargil, they didn't allow us: NC's Omar Abdullah on being denied access to Dras Dak Bungalow (31.10) pic.twitter.com/UC4unYu6wa November 1, 2022

This was Abdullahs second visit to Ladakh, which was carved out as a separate Union Territory from J&K on August 5, 2019.

One, it shows how shaky the administration is about its own decision to split J&K into two Union Territories. We had no plan for any public gathering or procession and even then, they resort to petty acts like mike snatching. Secondly, it shows how poor they are at basic hospitality, Abdullah said.

He said he was still a former Chief Minister and had a high-security categorisation too. Addressing party workers, he said Kargil and Leh had been separated from J&K and, If they (the Centre) are heeding the demands of people of Kargil and Leh, then why they are shaky by our visit to the region?

Abdullahs close aide, Nasir Aslam Wani, who also spoke during the function organised by the NC, said the people of J&K had a blood relation with the people of Kargil and Leh. Its an old relationship. No boundary can end our relationship. We understand and share each others pain, Wani said.

The NC leader also said he wishes for the return of peace in Jammu and Kashmir so that all communities could live without fear. Recalling the communal bonhomie that existed in the erstwhile state before the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in the 1990s, he said, "There was a time we were together and then a wave came and we separated".
New Delhi: Renowned actress Rambha, who has worked predominantly in South film industry besides some projects in Bollywood, met with an accident while returning home with her kids and nanny. She took to Instagram and shared details of the horrifying incident revealing that she was returning with her kids from school when a car crashed into hers at an intersection.

Rambha wrote in the social media post: Our car was hit by another car at an intersection wayback from picking kids from school! "Me with kids and my nanny "All of us are safe with minor injuries my little sasha is still in the hospital bad days bad time please pray for us your prayers means a lot #pray #celebrity #accident#family#pray#kids#children

She worked with Salman Khan in Judwaa, Bandhan and a cameo in Hello Brother. She also featured in Bombay Priyudu, Ninaithen Vandhai, Three Roses, Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta, Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani and Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai among many others.

She has worked in Hindi, English, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu movies respectively.
New Delhi: Samantha Ruth Prabhu recently has opened up on battling with Myositis - an autoimmune condition. She took to her social media handle and wrote in a long caption: "Your response to the Yashodha Trailer was overwhelming. It is this love and connection that I share with all of you, that gives me the strength to deal with the seemingly unending challenges that life throws at me. A few months back I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition called Myositis. I was hoping to share this after it had gone into remission. But it is taking a little longer than I hoped. I am slowly realising that we dont always need to put up a strong front. Accepting this vulnerability is something that I am still struggling with. The doctors are confident that I will make a complete recovery very soon. I have had good days and bad days. physically and emotionally. and even when it feels like I cant handle one more day of this, somehow that moment passes. I guess it can only mean that I am one more day closer to recovery. I love you.. THIS TOO SHALL PASS"

Her post got a lot many reactions and 'get well soon' messages. Megastar Chiranjeevi tweeted and wished for her speedy recovery. Besides, Lakshmi Manchu, Kriti Sanon, Hansika Motwani, Pulkit Samrat and many others showered her with support.

Amongst them all, ex-husband Naga Chaitanya's half-brother Akhil Akkineni also commented on Sam's post. He wrote: All the love and strength to you dear Sam.

Akhil is Nagarjuna Akkineni and Amala's son.

On the work front, Samantha is all set to enthral the audiences once again with her upcoming multilingual film, 'Yashodha', the trailer of which was recently released and garnered immense love across all languages.
New Delhi: As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Holiday list for the month of November 2022, banking operations will remain closed for certain days, although online banking activities will continue to work.

While some bank holidays will be observed nation-wide, some others will be local holidays. Several bank branches will remain closed in various states owing to these festivities. Before visiting your bank branch in the month of November, you must note down the list of important days during which banks will remain closed. (Also read: Banking services across India to get affected on November 19 amidst nationwide protests)

Banks will remain closed for total 10 days in the month of November  4 as per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar list and the remaining days are that of weekends. However, you must note that the banks will NOT be closed for 10 days in all states or regions. This is the total number of days when banks in different parts of the country will remain closed for state-observed holidays.

For example bank branches might be closed for Seng Kutsnem in Shillong but not closed for the same in other states.

Here is an elaborate list of bank holidays falling in the month of November 2022. Check out the list.

Kannada rajyotsava/Kut: November 1



Guru Nanak Jayanti/Kartika Purnima/Rahas Purnima: November 8



Kanakadasa Jayanthi/Wangala Festival: November 11



Seng Kutsnem: November 23

Apart from the above bank holidays, the second and fourth Saturdays, Sundays of the month are falling on the following dates:



Second Saturday: November 12

Sunday: November 13

Sunday: November 20

Fourth Saturday: November 26

Sunday: November 27

Reserve Bank of India places its Holidays under three brackets --Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act; Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act and Real Time Gross Settlement Holiday; and Banks Closing of Accounts. However, it must be noted that the bank holidays vary in various states as well not observed by all the banking companies. Banking holidays also depend on the festivals being observed in specific states or notification of specific occasions in those states.

Holidays of the mentioned days will be observed in various regions according to the state declared holidays, however for the gazetted holidays, banks will be closed all over the country.
New Delhi: The daily app quiz from Amazon is back in action. The quiz will be found in the Funzone section of the e-commerce app. The winner will get a Rs 1250 Amazon Pay Balance. If you are interested to play the quiz, you can play it in the Funzone section of the app.

Questions type

Five questions, usually based on general knowledge and current events, make up Amazon's daily quiz.

How can you win?

For a contestant to be eligible for the quiz reward, they must properly answer each question. There are four options for each quiz question. Participants in the quiz must select one accurate response from these choices. Once all questions have been correctly answered, participants will enter a drawing to determine the quiz's winners.

Here are today's, November 1, 2022, questions of the Amazon quiz and its answer:

1. Nodirbek Abdusattorov, the youngest ever World Rapid Chess champion, is from which country?

Answer: Uzbekistan

2. Over 6 lakhs of which assault rifle will be manufactured by the joint venture, Indo-Russian Rifles Private Ltd?

Answer: AK-203

3. Which state is the largest producer of Kiwi in India accounting for 56%?

Answer: Arunachal Pradesh

4. These are the astronauts who went on which famous mission?

Answer: Apollo-11

5. Name this fish that is known to launch itself out of the water like a torpedo, and knock fishermen off their boats.

Answer: Arapaima

How to play the quiz?

- Open the Amazon app.

- Go to the search bar.

- Search Funzone.

- Click on the Amazon daily quiz at the bottom of the interface.
New Delhi: Its yet another day in the Bigg Boss house. Soundarya and Tina get into an argument over kitchen duties. Tina says she gets dominating. Soundarya and Gautam too get into an argument over food. Early in the episode, Shalin and Priyanka get into a verbal argument as Shalin feels that Priyanka has often taunted his medical condition. As their fight turns intense, housemates intervene and call it off. But Priyanka calls him duffer at the end.

Gautam clears out his differences with Soundarya and says that it was his frustration that came out like this.

For the nominations this week, Bigg Boss introduces a new twist. He gives jackets to all the contestants and ask them to backstab the ones they were nominating. This means that the nominations will be out and open.

Ankit backstabs Shalin and Archana. Shalin nominates Priyanka and Soundarya. Archana nominates Ankit and Sumbul. Ankit says dont say too much. Tina nominates Archana and Soundarya. She questions Archana saying that she doesnt treat everyone well over food. She says Soundarya has never done anything for her.

At the end, Bigg Boss calls Sajid. He nominates Sumbul first. Then, he says he would want to nominate Gautam but since he is the captain, he would nominate Soundarya. He says he doesnt have anything for Soundarya but he wants to do this for Gautam.

The contestants who are nominated are Archana, Soundarya and Sumbul and their punishment is that they have to keep wearing these jackets.

Shalin and Priyanka get into a heated argument again. Priyanka says why does he create a fuss about his medical condition. Abdu, Gautam and Sajid have a fun banter and try to lighten up the mood. Bigg Boss asks all the three nominated contestants to remove their jackets. In the precap, it can be seen that Priyanka and Ankit are having a big fight where Priyanka shays she will never talk to him. What turn will their friendship take now?

Thats all for today, stay tuned for more updates.
Barack Obama became a historical figure when he took office in January 2009 as the first African-American President of the United States. Rishi Sunak put his own stamp on history last week when he became the first coloured Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Add a few more firsts here in the same vein: The first person of Indian origin to hold the same post, and the first South Asian descent person to do the same.

Both Obama and Sunak`s elevation to the their respective country`s top positions created waves across the world. Sunak`s elevation was especially sweet for the former colonies of the British empire, whose response was aptly captured in a headline that was commonly used there: `The Empire Strikes Back`.

The two leaders also share their relative youth for the age -- Sunk is 42 and Obama was 47 when he was elected as US President, and both have two daughters. But there are crucial differences between the two. In fact, too many to list out here.

Most critically -- and one that escaped notice among Sunak`s fans in the Indian diaspora around the world, and the Hindu Diaspora -- while Obama kept his ethnic background as an African-American up front even as he tried to be a unifying figure, Sunak cut himself a starkly different path.

There was no mention of his Indian-descent or Hindu faith in Sunak`s first speech from 10 Downing Street upon being invited to form the next government to replace Liz Truss`.

He spoke of economy as being the main challenge, integrity - in a nod to Boris Johnson`s scandal-ridden premiership - and professionalism, which was sorely lacking from Truss` 44 days in office. But there was no mention, once again, of his Indian-descent or Hindu faith, neither of which he has been shy to acknowledge in the past.

Sunak`s father and mother were born in Kenya and Tanzania to parents from Punjab (Pakistanis have claimed some ownership as Sunak`s paternal grandfather was born in Gujranwala, which is in Pakistan now) and Delhi, respectively.

Sunak himself was born in England. He also wears, as has been noted by the Hindu diaspora, a thick band of `moily` (the red Hindu ritualistic thread) around his wrist. But he did not wear it specially for his inaugural speech, as has been wrongly portrayed in some reports.

In his victory speech on November 5, 2008, Obama had harped on the transformational nature of his election.

"This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that`s on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She`s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election, except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old," he had said and gone on to devote several paragraphs to an African-American who was born into a slave family who could not vote in the pre-civil rights days because of the color of her skin.

"And tonight, I think about all that she`s seen throughout her century in America ? the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can`t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes, we can."

The last three words of his campaign slogan have become iconic since.

In his inaugural speech on January 21, 2009, Obama focused largely on the economy - the US was going through a recession at the time - and the challenges were similar but more dire than to those in Sunak`s United Kingdom now, but the first African-American President made sure to remind the listeners of his background.

"And so, to all the other people and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born (Barack Obama Sr was from Kenya), know that America is a friend of each nation, and every man, woman and child who seek a future of peace and dignity. And we are ready to lead once more."

Sunak, by contrast, has presented himself as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from the start, who intends to extricate the economy from its present crisis and lead a government that governs with integrity, unlike Johnson, and with professionalism, unlike Truss.
Washington: US President Joe Biden lost his temper with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in June during a phone conversation when he asked for more military aid, NBC News reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the call. The report said Biden routinely calls Zelenskyy when the US announces new aid packages for Ukraine. But the June call was different. Biden had barely finished informing Zelenskyy that he had approved another USD 1 billion in military assistance for Ukraine when his counterpart started asking for extra help Kyiv needs but isn`t getting, the report said. Biden raised his voice, and as per the NBC report, said Zelenskyy could "show a little more gratitude."

Prior to the June 15 phone call, Biden`s dissatisfaction with Zelenskyy had been building for weeks, the sources said.

According to them, the US president and a number of his aides believed that Washington was doing everything possible and as quickly as possible, but Zelenskyy continued to publicly pay attention only to what was not being done.

Today, I spoke with President Zelenskyy and shared with him that my Administration is authorizing an additional $800 million in weapons, ammunition, and other security assistance to Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/i1xlClxnUB  President Biden (@POTUS) April 13, 2022

After Zelenskyy was rebuffed during the June call, Zelenskyy publicly delivered a video message thanking Biden for the assistance and defusing the tensions.

"I had an important conversation with US President Biden today," NBC quoted Ukraine`s president in videotaped remarks.

"I am grateful for this support. It is especially important for our defence in Donbas."

Had a great conversation with @POTUS. Thanked for the unwavering U.S. support for Ukrainian people  security and financial. We discussed Ukraines further steps on our path to the victory over the aggressor and importance of holding Russia accountable for war crimes. pic.twitter.com/4edng8vkvn    (@ZelenskyyUa) August 25, 2022

The United States has been a leading provider of security assistance to Ukraine, particularly since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on February 24.

This report on the Biden-Zelenskyy phone call comes two days after Washington announced USD 275 million in additional military assistance for Ukraine.

"This drawdown will bring the total US military assistance for Ukraine to an unprecedented level of more than USD 18.5 billion since the beginning of the Administration," the US State Department said in a statement.

The United States, in 2022, provided more advanced defence equipment to Ukraine, as well as greater amounts of previously provided equipment, according to a Congressional Research Service report.

According to Pentagon, US security assistance committed to Ukraine, includes High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Stinger anti-aircraft systems, Javelin anti-armour systems and Mi-17 helicopters.

I just spoke with President Zelenskyy to discuss our continued support for Ukraine  including security assistance and humanitarian aid  as it defends itself against Russian aggression. We will hold Russia accountable, and our sanctions are already having a devastating impact. pic.twitter.com/9X9x07QbD0  President Biden (@POTUS) March 1, 2022

Amid war with Vladimir Putin's Russia, Ukrainian officials have sought to acquire other advanced systems, including fighter aircraft, anti-ship, and additional air defence and anti-missile capabilities.
London: Indian-origin Suella Braverman, already under fire over her re-appointment as the UK Home Secretary, has sparked off another outrage by comparing migrant crisis in the country to "invasion". Braverman, who was forced to resign from her position under former Prime Minister Liz Truss for breaching the ministerial code of conduct, said on Monday that migrants have launched an "invasion on our southern coast". "Let`s stop pretending that they are all refugees in distress," she said while responding to questions in the House of Commons amid concerns about conditions at the Manston processing site in Kent. Manston, a former military base in Kent, opened as a processing centre in February this year, for the growing number of migrants reaching the UK in small boats.

Addressing the MPs for the first time since her re-appointment last week, the Home Secretary said some 40,000 people have arrived on the south coast in 2022 with many of them members of criminal gangs.

Also Read: Rishi Sunak brings back Indian-origin Suella Braverman as Home Secretary; here's a look at his cabinet

"Disgusted to hear Suella Braverman say there`s an `invasion on our southern coast`. Language like this whips up hate and spreads division," the Daily Mirror quoted Labour MP Zarah Sultana as saying.

Indian-origin #SuellaBraverman, already under fire over her re-appointment as the #UK Home Secretary, has sparked off another outrage by comparing migrant crisis in the country to "invasion". pic.twitter.com/4lmReyQW5C November 1, 2022

"For Suella Braverman to use language like `invasion`, to describe refugees. people who are themselves escaping conflict. is offensive. They know what being invaded feels like. We are lucky that most of us do not," Clare Moseley, from refugee charity Care4Calais, told The Evening Standard.

Braverman, who admitted to using her personal email six times for official documents, made the remarks days after fellow Indian-origin Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that "compassion" would be at the heart of his administration.

"Rishi Sunak pledged to bring integrity, professionalism and accountability as Prime Minister. Instead, he brought back Suella Braverman," local media reports quoted Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the Labour Party, as saying.

After questions on asylum centres being overcrowded, disease-ridden and dangerous, Braverman admitted that "the system is broken" and "Illegal migration is out of control".

She also denied blocking the use of hotels for asylum seekers, which put pressure on the Manston processing centre designed for 1,600 people

"Indeed since I took over 12,000 people have arrived, 9,500 people have been transferred out of Manston or Western Jet Foil, many of them into hotels," Braverman said.
Perpetua Resources Corp. announced Oct. 28 that the U.S. Forest Service has released a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the Stibnite Gold Project in central Idaho for public comment and has identified Perpetuas proposed action, the Modified Mine Plan, as the preferred alternative.

The company said the identification of the preferred alternative by the USFS is a major milestone in the advancement of the project and provides clarity for the remainder of the National Environmental Policy Act process.

The Stibnite Gold Project is one step closer to restoring an abandoned mine site, providing hundreds of family-wage jobs for Idahoans, producing the only domestic mined source of antimony to protect our national security, and supporting Americas clean energy transition, said Laurel Sayer, president and CEO of Perpetua Resources. Perpetua submitted an initial plan of restoration and operations six years ago and our team has worked tirelessly to develop a responsible, modern mining project that can have a positive impact on Idaho and our nation. We have listened to community feedback and the process has made our plan even better.

In response to public and agency feedback on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement released by the USFS in August 2020, Perpetua submitted a modified mine plan to the USFS in December 2020. The modified mine plan includes refinements intended to reduce the project footprint, improve water quality, and lower water temperature.

The changes in the modified plan include adding additional geosynthetic covers to protect long-term water quality, increased riparian vegetation and low flow channels, an additional habitat feature to replace bull trout habitat, and a modified ore processing circuit to improve tailings chemistry.

The USFS chose to advance this modified project design to an SDEIS to further evaluate the project refinements.

According to the Perpetua, the Stibnite Gold Project is the only identified reserve of the critical mineral antimony in the United States, and would become the only domestically mined source of the mineral, which is essential to the national defense and energy sectors.

Perpetua Resources, formerly named Midas Gold Corp., started the approval process for the Stibnite Gold Project six years ago. The current timetable from the USFS says the environmental review and permitting could be completed in September 2023.

Perpetua Resources has said their work will clean up what was left behind by past mining in the area. The company announced on Oct. 24 that the summer 2022 field program to initiate water quality improvements in the Stibnite mining district has been completed.

After 100 years of mining activity, millions of tons of unconstrained tailings and mine waste left behind by previous operators has been degrading water quality for decades, the company said. Perpetua was granted permission to take action to address the most pressing water quality concerns through an agreement signed in 2021 between the company, the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Through the years of the permitting process environmental groups and the Nez Perce Tribe have said they believe the new mining work will cause further environmental damage to the area.

When Midas Gold arrived from Canada, pursuing mining claims at the Stibnite site within our aboriginal homeland and branding itself as an environmentally-friendly mining company with promises to restore the site by re-mining it for gold and other minerals, the tribe was skeptical of this dubious claim, the Nez Perce Trible Executive Committee wrote in an Oct. 27, 2020 letter to the USFS.

The USFS received around 10,000 public responses to a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the Stibnite Project.

To view the SDEIS and to make comments, go to fs.usda.gov/project/?project=50516. Comments on the SDEIS are due by Jan. 10, 2023.
Kyiv: Almost 80 percent of Kyiv residents faced power outages and water cuts as Russian missiles struck key infrastructure facilities in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and the central region of Cherkasy, Ukrainian officials said Monday. The strike comes days after Russia blamed Ukraine for a drone attack on its Black Sea Fleet, CNN reported. "Explosions and air raid sirens were heard in Kyiv early on Monday and 80 percent of residents were left without water - with many losing electricity, too - following power outages caused by Russian strikes, the capital`s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said on Telegram.

Ukraine is under massive blackouts and the residents are under severe water shortages as one of the strikes hit an energy facility that powered 350,000 apartments in the capital, CNN reported citing Klitschko, who further added that emergency services are making every effort to stabilize the situation.

"Moreover, strikes were also reported in the southern region of Zaphorizhzhia as well. Kyiv`s Mayor Vitali Klitschko also urged the war-torn country`s citizens to stock up water as the situation is worse. Currently, due to damage to the energy facility near Kyiv, 80% of the capital`s consumers remain without water supply," he said on Telegram.

Also read: Won't use NUCLEAR WEAPONS in Ukraine, 'makes no sense': Russian President Putin

"Just in case, we ask you to stock up on water from the nearest pumps and points of sale. Specialists are doing everything possible to return water to the apartments of Kyiv residents," CNN reported quoting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba that Kyiv has already finished agreements with at least 12 countries to obtain nearly 1,000 units of power equipment, including generators and the country is, at present, in touch with European Union (EU) and NATO.

Meanwhile, Kharkiv`s Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram that two missiles hit a critical infrastructure facility in the city. Parts of the Cherkasy region have lost power after a critical infrastructure facility was hit, regional military administration head Ihor Taburets said. Power outages caused by Russian attacks continued in Kyiv over the weekend.

Also read: World faces 'most dangerous' decade since World War Two: Putin warns West

Klitschko earlier said that it will take weeks to repair electrical systems. Ukrainian officials believe Russia`s countrywide drone and cruise missile attacks are being carefully orchestrated to target important infrastructure as Ukraine heads into winter, reported CNN.

By hitting thermal power stations, electricity substations, transfor, and pipelines, Russian forces have been directly impacting Ukrainians` ability to access power, water, and the internet.Russia suspended its participation in an UN-brokered grain deal viewed as key to addressing the global food shortage, according to the country`s defense ministry.

Moscow announced it was leaving the deal after blaming Ukraine for a drone attack on Crimea on Saturday. Kyiv accused Russia of inventing "fictitious terrorist attacks" and using the deal as "blackmail." By Sunday, more than 200 vessels had been blocked from making shipments, Ukraine said. A growing number of Kyiv`s allies condemned Moscow`s move.
ELKO  An Elko man changed his plea after prosecutors lowered the charge in a trailer court shooting that killed one person and injured another nearly two years ago.

Austin Himmelman, 32, originally pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and battery with a deadly weapon causing substantial bodily harm.

The murder charge was lowered to involuntary manslaughter, a category D felony, but the second charge of battery remained the same. The deal vacates a trial scheduled for late November.

Himmelman appeared in Elko District Court Monday before Judge Mason Simons to change his plea.

He is facing an aggregated sentence of two to 17 years and six months in prison when sentenced on both charges with credit for time served, and would be eligible for parole.

Nevada Deputy Attorney General Michael J. Bongard appeared via Zoom from Carson City to represent the State. Himmelman was represented by Elko County Public Defender Matthew Pennell during the 20-minute hearing.

On Jan. 7, 2021, police were called to a trailer park off South Fifth Street on a report of two people shot.

A woman inside the trailer was shot in the abdomen and a man, identified as Matthew Baze, was shot in the head and pelvic area. He died the next day at a Utah hospital following surgery.

A police report stated Himmelmans mother had an altercation with Baze the day before the shooting.

Himmelman was named a suspect by the Elko Police Department. He was arrested in Sparks several days later and released on bail on May 25, 2021.

He was subsequently charged with felony possession of a firearm by a prohibited person for possessing a 9mm handgun after being convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence, felony drug trafficking, fugitive from justice and unlawfully using or being addicted to a controlled substance.

After failing to appear in court on the firearms charge, he was arrested and booked in Elko County Jail on June 21, 2021, on $100,000 bail where he currently remains in custody.

Sentencing has been set for Jan. 18.

---

(The date of shooting has been corrected from an earlier version of this story.)
Delegates inaugurate the high-tech building. (Photo: TDO)

On October 30, Can Tho University held the inauguration ceremony of the research laboratory complex and high-tech building within the framework of the Can Tho University Upgrading Project. These are the two most modern laboratory works in the Mekong Delta.

Prof. Dr. Ha Thanh Toan, Rector of Can Tho University, said that the project invested by the Vietnamese Party, State and Government is a key project, a prominent highlight of the Southwest region in general and Can Tho city in particular. It consists of 5 main components, including: human resource development, research projects, construction of facilities, equipment investment, and consulting services.

The project "research laboratory complex" is designed with 7 floors, a total floor area of 16,654 square meters, a capacity of 750 people. The high-tech building consists of 5 floors, with a total floor area of 25,713 square meters, accommodating 1,000 people. Modern architecture with full functions and facilities is used for training, scientific research and study, and providing high-quality human resources for the development of the country.

Japanese Deputy Ambassador Watanabe Shige expressed his belief that the facilities will contribute to fulfilling the Vietnamese Governments goal of reducing greenhouse gas emission intensity by at least 30% by 2050, and addressing the countrys major issues such as food security and climate change.

He said that as 2023 would be the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan, he hoped that Can Tho University, with its location in the heart of the Mekong Delta, a school with a long history of connection with Japan, will have many events leading the chain of commemorative events in the region./.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President of China Xi Jinping look at the signed cooperation documents. (Photo: VNA)

The CPV chief and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President of China Xi Jinping witnessed the signing ceremony after their talks held on the same day.

The documents included those sealed between the CPV Central Committees Commission for External Relations and the CPC Central Committees International Liaison Commission; and between the formers Commission for Internal Affairs and the latters Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

Memoranda of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; between the countries ministries of justice; and between their capitals Hanoi and Beijing were also inked.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade signed a MoU on strengthening joint works to ensure the supply chain between the nations with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce; a on food safety in bilateral trade with the Chinese General Administration of Customs (GACC); and another on cooperation in trade and economy with the People's Government of Chinas Yunnan province

The customs bodies of Vietnam and China, meanwhile, sealed a pact on building priority areas for collaboration.

Similar MoUs on increasing the bilateral cooperation were also inked in the sectors of ecology-environment; culture-tourism; state assets and state enterprises.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the GACC signed a protocol requiring phytosanitary for fresh bananas exported from Vietnam to China./.
"Moment of love" circus acts performed by Vietnamese artists (Photo: VNA)

The festival attracted 100 talented circus artists from Vietnam, Japan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ghana, Belarus, Russia, and the host country.

More than 30 impressive acts from participating countries were selected by the Association of Mongolian Circus for performance on the final night.

At the festival, the Vietnamese artists performed two unique circus acts - Khoanh Khac Tinh Yeu (Moment of love) and Vong Xoay Dam Me (Sway with Passion). The two special performances left a strong impression on over 3,000 Mongolian spectators present at the function.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Mongolia Doan Khanh Tam and members of the overseas Vietnamese community in Mongolia came to cheer the circus acts put on by the Vietnamese art troupe.

It is very meaningful that the Organizing Committee took the image of the Vietnamese artist's performance rehearsal as the representative image of the festival, printed it on the panel hang out at the performance center and on the tickets sold for the audience.

The Bravo International Circus Festival leaves in the hearts of the Mongolian audience many deep impressions of Vietnamese circus art as well as the talent of Vietnamese artists./.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijan and Europe have discussed opportunities for cooperation between business people, Azernews reports.

The discussion took place during the meeting between Azerbaijani Export and Investment Promotion Foundation Head Yusif Abdullayev and European Business Association Director General Tajio Schilling.

During the meeting, Yusif Abdullayev provided information about the agency's activities, opportunities for cooperation between the entities, and the organization of business missions to Azerbaijan.

The parties also exchanged views on the organization of business meetings between entrepreneurs.

The EU and Azerbaijan enjoy cooperation in different sectors of the economy. The EU invested over $21.5 billion in the Azerbaijani economy from 2012 to 2021. Azerbaijans trade turnover with the EU amounted to $9.3 billion last year, which is 38 percent of the countrys foreign trade. The Delegation of the European Commission in Azerbaijan was opened in Baku in February 2008.

Additionally, Azerbaijan started commercial gas supplies to Europe through the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) on December 31, 2020.
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping during his State visit to Vietnam in November 2017. (Photo: VGP)

The People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China, and the Xinhua News Agency on October 30 solemnly published the event that Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong began an official visit to China at the invitation of Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping.

The People's Daily newspaper also published an article by Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son with the title "Adding new impetus to the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership", affirming that Vietnam and China will continue to build a strong strategic partnership. The country has a long-standing traditional relationship built and cultivated by generations of senior leaders, along with practical cooperation achievements over the past time. We believe and expect that the Vietnam-China relationship will constantly gain new momentum and rise to new heights, bringing better benefits to the two peoples, contributing to peace, cooperation and development of the region and the world.

This article has been republished in full by many other newspapers and news agencies such as China Youth Newspaper and Chinanews.

On the same day, the Chinese Central Radio and Television also interviewed Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo about the significance of the visit. He affirmed that Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit is highly valued by both China and Vietnam. This is the best time to make a visit because the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has just ended, and the socialist cause of the two countries has entered a new stage of development, inheriting the past and looking forward to the future.

He highly appreciated the exchanges between the two Parties and the advantages of this relationship in leading and promoting the Vietnam-China relationship, and said that these advantages will be "fully manifested in the political achievements of this visit.

He also emphasized the importance of economic and trade cooperation in the overall bilateral relationship, saying that during this visit "the departments and fields of the two countries will achieve practical cooperation results.

The Paper and Shanghais Xinmin Evening News also published in-depth articles on Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit and Vietnam-China relations. It affirms that Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong became the first top-level foreign leader to visit China after the 20th National Congress and that Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping chose Vietnam as the first visit after the 19th National Congress five years ago, showing "the special friendship and long-standing close exchange between the two countries. Therefore, the visit has attracted the attention of the whole world.

The article quoted Mr. Zhao Weihua, director of Fudan University's Center for China Neighborhood Studies, as confirming that the visit of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is not only an important visit between the two countries, but also an important exchange between the two Parties. Besides, "For China, the improvement of political trust between China and Vietnam and the promotion of stable bilateral relations is also of great significance to the stability of China-ASEAN relations, as well as peace and cooperation in the region, he said./.
The military command of russian armed forces plans to deploy iranian ballistic missiles to the north from Ukraine, informs Yurii Ihnat, the spokesman of the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian army, during a briefing at Media Center Ukraine on November 1.

As noted by the official, the russians want to place the missile systems in a way so that they will threaten the entire territory of Ukraine. Based on that, we can assume that russians will launch them from belarus, just as they did before  with their other missiles and Shahed-type drones.

Launch of iranian ballistic misssiles / Open source illustrative photo

Air Force representative also pointed out that Ukraines air defense will have hard time dealing with iranian missiles with the weapons available to the Ukrainian military.

"We have anti-aircraft systems but not anti-missile ones," he noted.

As a reminder, russia was earlier reported to have intention of acquiring not only kamikaze drones but ballistic missiles, too: the weapons in question are Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar with firing ranges of 300 km and 700 km respectively. In an interview to The Drive, Defense Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov stated russia could start using them in November.

Fateh-110 ballistic misssile lauch / Open source illustrative photo

At the same time, we should also pay attention to the fact that U.S. intelligence is cautious when speaking about the iranian missiles for russia. In particular, during the October 31 briefing at the Pentagon, a senior defense official said theyve "seen press reports", yet had no details to tell the journalists.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds a ceremony to welcome Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, held talks on Monday with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee.

The two sides agreed to consolidate the traditional friendship, strengthen strategic communication, enhance political mutual trust, and properly manage differences, so as to push the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era to a new level.

Xi warmly welcomed Trong's official visit to China following the 20th CPC National Congress, noting that he has maintained close communication with Trong in various ways and reached many important consensuses on guiding the development of China-Vietnam relations in recent years. "These consensuses have been fully implemented and remarkable results have been achieved," he said.

Xi introduced the main points of the 20th CPC National Congress. He said that the historic achievements made in the cause of the Party and the country in the new era fully prove that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics conforms to the realities of China, reflects the will of the Chinese people, and meets the requirements of the times.

Hailing the Vietnamese side's achievements in socialist construction and innovation, Xi said it is believed that under the leadership of the Central Committee of the CPV headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the CPV and the Vietnamese government will surely accomplish the goals and tasks set forth by the 13th CPV National Congress.

Xi said that, with accelerated changes in the situation unseen in a century, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. He emphasized that China, Vietnam and other socialist countries have succeeded in following the trend of the times and exploring a modernization path in line with their own national conditions, and socialism is becoming more and more vigorous.

At the same time, the development of human progress is a long and tortuous process, while the development of socialist countries is facing a very complicated international environment and severe risks and challenges, Xi said.

He called on the CPC and the CPV to strive for the happiness of the people and the progress of mankind, make every effort to advance socialist modernization, and never allow anyone to interfere with their progress or any force to shake the institutional foundation of their development.

On further developing China-Vietnam relations, Xi stressed that the two sides should adhere to the direction of socialism. "For the cause of socialism and China-Vietnam relations, adhering to the correct political direction is paramount."

He expressed hopes that the two parties should strengthen high-level communication and exchanges of views on major issues concerning bilateral relations in a timely manner.

He also called for consolidating the socialist economic foundation on both sides.

China is ready to work with Vietnam to synergize their development strategies, promote connectivity between the two countries, and deepen cooperation on health care, green development, the digital economy and climate change, Xi said.

Under the new circumstances, the two sides should focus on the future and work for a long time to carry forward the traditional friendship of "comrades and brothers" nurtured by the older generation of leaders, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, increase mutual acquaintance and amity between the younger generations of the two countries, and deepen cooperation in the field of press and publicity, so as to create an atmosphere of public opinion that is favorable for bilateral relations, he added.

Xi stressed that China regards ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and a key region in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and values Vietnam's position and role in ASEAN.

"We look forward to working with Vietnam to accelerate the building of a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home together, and to promote regional economic integration in East Asia," he said.

China is also ready to work with ASEAN to practice true multilateralism and open regionalism, make the regional situation and international order more peaceful, stable, just and equitable, and actively promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi added.

Trong thanked Xi for inviting him to lead the Vietnamese leaders as the first head-of-state level delegation to visit China since the 20th CPC National Congress. Trong said he had also fulfilled his commitment of making China his first destination abroad after his re-election as general secretary of the CPV Central Committee.

On behalf of the CPV, the Vietnamese government and the people, he extended warm congratulations to the CPC, the Chinese government and the people on the success of the 20th CPC National Congress, and to Xi on his re-election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

Trong expressed confidence that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, China will definitely achieve the goals set at the 20th CPC National Congress and make a new contribution to the region and the world at large.

Trong said he fully agrees with Xi's important proposals on developing relations between the two parties and two countries. He said Vietnam attaches great importance to its ties with China and regards developing friendly cooperation with China as a top priority in its foreign policies.

Vietnam will advance the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China based on the policy of long-term stability, forward-thinking, good neighborliness and comprehensive cooperation, and the spirit of being good neighbors, friends, comrades and partners, he said.

Trong said Vietnam firmly follows the one-China policy, opposes any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, and will not develop any official relations with Taiwan.

He said Vietnam will not allow any country to establish a military base in Vietnam, or join any military alliance, or use force against any country, or work with one country to oppose another.

He said Vietnam is willing to work with China to maintain high-level exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen political mutual trust, give play to the strategic role of inter-party relations and deepen theory exchanges.

He called for taking advantage of the existing cooperation mechanism between the two countries to promote the synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative with the "Two Corridors, One Economic Belt" and yield more fruitful economic cooperation.

He called for maintaining people-to-people exchanges to deepen public support for Vietnam-China relations, and maintaining peace and tranquility on the land border and peace and stability at sea, so as not to let maritime issues affect the overall development of bilateral relations.

Trong said the 13th CPV National Congress and the 20th CPC National Congress marked the start of a critical new stage in bilateral relations, and Vietnam is ready to work with China to push the bilateral good-neighborly friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new height.

After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents on political parties, economy and trade, environmental protection, culture and tourism, justice, customs and local government.

Prior to the talks, Xi held a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People to welcome Trong.

Xi hosted a welcoming banquet for Trong on Monday evening, and members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi were present.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds talks with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, view the cooperation documents signed by the two sides in Beijing after their talks on Oct. 31, 2022. Xi Jinping held talks on Monday with Nguyen Phu Trong at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, head for the venue of their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. Xi Jinping held talks on Monday with Nguyen Phu Trong at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Prior to the talks, Xi held a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People to welcome Trong. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds a ceremony to welcome Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds a ceremony to welcome Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Editor: WXY
A vessel in the second caravan of ships transporting grain from Ukraine passes through the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkiye, Aug. 7, 2022. (Xinhua/Shadati)

"We are encouraged by Russia's assurance that it is not pulling out of the initiative and it is only temporarily suspending activities in the implementation," said Martin Griffiths, UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations looks forward to welcoming Russia back in the fulfilment of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which Moscow has halted following an attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet, UN relief chief said on Monday.

"We are encouraged by Russia's assurance that it is not pulling out of the initiative and it is only temporarily suspending activities in the implementation," Martin Griffiths, UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, told a Security Council briefing.

Russia announced Saturday that it would immediately and indefinitely suspend its implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, accusing Ukraine of launching drone attacks against the Russian Black Sea Fleet's ships and infrastructure under the cover of the humanitarian corridor set up for the implementation of the initiative.

On July 22, Russia and Ukraine separately signed a document in Istanbul with Turkiye and the UN on grain and fertilizer exports from Ukraine and Russia to ensure supplies to global markets amid the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict.

Thirty-eight countries have purchased some nine million tons of grain from Ukraine under the deal, which has a humanitarian impact on the reduction of prices and the calming of market volatility, Griffiths said.

It would be a grave abuse of the initiative if it were used in any way for military operational advantage, he noted.

On the alleged misuse of cargo vessels in the initiative for military purposes, Griffiths said that none were in the corridor on the night of Oct. 29 when the reported attacks on the Russian fleet took place.

A team of representatives from the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) inspects on the first grain-laden ship leaving Ukraine on the northwestern entrance of the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkiye, Aug. 3, 2022. (Turkish Defense Ministry/Handout via Xinhua)

As part of the deal, a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) was established in Istanbul with representatives from the UN, Russia, Ukraine and Turkiye to carry out safety inspections for cargo ships from and to the Ukrainian ports.

Russia has deployed a highly professional team at the JCC for the implementation of the deal, Griffiths said, adding that "we look forward to welcoming them back as a full and active participant in the fulfilment of the initiative."

The initial duration of the agreement is 120 days. The parties had agreed that the deal could be extended automatically on the condition that no party objects.

The United Nations is ready to address concerns and listen to suggestions from all sides, as the 120-day extension point on Nov. 19 is approaching, said Griffiths.

"The Black Sea Grain Initiative is too important to fail, stormy though the waters are," he said.

Editor: WXY
Workers prepare raw materials for vinegar making at a vinegar factory in Chishui, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Chishui is celebrated for its sun vinegar, which has maintained a traditional making process. The production techniques of the Chishui vinegar, featuring the sunning process, was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage of Guizhou in 2009, and a national one in 2021. The vinegar is noted for its unique flavor also because of its time-tested recipe that include some herbal medicines.

The local government pins great importance to the inheritance of vinegar making skills as well as the publicity of their products. Through "on-line + off-line" information and sales campaigns, Chishui sun vinegar has gained a new life in this mountainous city. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

A worker prepares raw materials for vinegar making at a vinegar factory in Chishui, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Chishui is celebrated for its sun vinegar, which has maintained a traditional making process. The production techniques of the Chishui vinegar, featuring the sunning process, was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage of Guizhou in 2009, and a national one in 2021. The vinegar is noted for its unique flavor also because of its time-tested recipe that include some herbal medicines.

The local government pins great importance to the inheritance of vinegar making skills as well as the publicity of their products. Through "on-line + off-line" information and sales campaigns, Chishui sun vinegar has gained a new life in this mountainous city. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

A worker checks the maturity of vinegar in process at a vinegar factory in Chishui, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Chishui is celebrated for its sun vinegar, which has maintained a traditional making process. The production techniques of the Chishui vinegar, featuring the sunning process, was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage of Guizhou in 2009, and a national one in 2021. The vinegar is noted for its unique flavor also because of its time-tested recipe that include some herbal medicines.

The local government pins great importance to the inheritance of vinegar making skills as well as the publicity of their products. Through "on-line + off-line" information and sales campaigns, Chishui sun vinegar has gained a new life in this mountainous city. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

This aerial photo taken on Oct. 28, 2022 shows workers operating at the sunning field of a vinegar factory in Chishui, southwest China's Guizhou Province. Chishui is celebrated for its sun vinegar, which has maintained a traditional making process. The production techniques of the Chishui vinegar, featuring the sunning process, was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage of Guizhou in 2009, and a national one in 2021. The vinegar is noted for its unique flavor also because of its time-tested recipe that include some herbal medicines.

The local government pins great importance to the inheritance of vinegar making skills as well as the publicity of their products. Through "on-line + off-line" information and sales campaigns, Chishui sun vinegar has gained a new life in this mountainous city. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

This aerial photo taken on Oct. 28, 2022 shows the sunning field of a vinegar factory in Chishui, southwest China's Guizhou Province. Chishui is celebrated for its sun vinegar, which has maintained a traditional making process. The production techniques of the Chishui vinegar, featuring the sunning process, was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage of Guizhou in 2009, and a national one in 2021. The vinegar is noted for its unique flavor also because of its time-tested recipe that include some herbal medicines.

The local government pins great importance to the inheritance of vinegar making skills as well as the publicity of their products. Through "on-line + off-line" information and sales campaigns, Chishui sun vinegar has gained a new life in this mountainous city. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

A worker moves bottled vinegar at a vinegar factory in Chishui, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Chishui is celebrated for its sun vinegar, which has maintained a traditional making process. The production techniques of the Chishui vinegar, featuring the sunning process, was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage of Guizhou in 2009, and a national one in 2021. The vinegar is noted for its unique flavor also because of its time-tested recipe that include some herbal medicines.

The local government pins great importance to the inheritance of vinegar making skills as well as the publicity of their products. Through "on-line + off-line" information and sales campaigns, Chishui sun vinegar has gained a new life in this mountainous city. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Workers move raw materials at the sunning field of a vinegar factory in Chishui, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Chishui is celebrated for its sun vinegar, which has maintained a traditional making process. The production techniques of the Chishui vinegar, featuring the sunning process, was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage of Guizhou in 2009, and a national one in 2021. The vinegar is noted for its unique flavor also because of its time-tested recipe that include some herbal medicines.

The local government pins great importance to the inheritance of vinegar making skills as well as the publicity of their products. Through "on-line + off-line" information and sales campaigns, Chishui sun vinegar has gained a new life in this mountainous city. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

A worker displays mature vinegar at a vinegar factory in Chishui, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Chishui is celebrated for its sun vinegar, which has maintained a traditional making process. The production techniques of the Chishui vinegar, featuring the sunning process, was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage of Guizhou in 2009, and a national one in 2021. The vinegar is noted for its unique flavor also because of its time-tested recipe that include some herbal medicines.

The local government pins great importance to the inheritance of vinegar making skills as well as the publicity of their products. Through "on-line + off-line" information and sales campaigns, Chishui sun vinegar has gained a new life in this mountainous city. (Photo by Wang Changyu/Xinhua)

Two women promote vinegar products via livestreaming at a vinegar factory in Chishui, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Chishui is celebrated for its sun vinegar, which has maintained a traditional making process. The production techniques of the Chishui vinegar, featuring the sunning process, was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage of Guizhou in 2009, and a national one in 2021. The vinegar is noted for its unique flavor also because of its time-tested recipe that include some herbal medicines.

The local government pins great importance to the inheritance of vinegar making skills as well as the publicity of their products. Through "on-line + off-line" information and sales campaigns, Chishui sun vinegar has gained a new life in this mountainous city. (Photo by Wang Changyu/Xinhua)

Editor: JYZ
By Guangming Daily Research Team

The vast land of Xinjiang boasts three mountain ranges and two basins. It stretches as far as eyes can see, to places where lush pastures extend to horizon. Countless flocks and herds roam on the green land, where Chinese of all ethnic groups join hands to transform Gobi deserts into oasis, adding vitality to the beautiful land of Xinjiang.

A policeman helps local herdsmen herd sheep in Altay, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, September 3, 2022. (Photo/ Guangming Picture)

The ancient Silk Road that connected then Chinese capital Changan and Rome ran through Xinjiang. The vicissitudes of times have seen camels criss-crossing endless deserts, and the sun setting behind the mountains far away. Our great forebears, adventurers and explorers alike, left their footprints in trade and cultural exchanges on the mysterious land of Xinjiang, triggering endless imaginations for future generations.

It was here that Lin Zexu, a famous patriot, the loyal minister of the imperial court in Qing Dynasty who fought the opium trade, lived in exile after being sacked. Lin left to us the famous poem that I shall dedicate myself to the interests of the country in life and death, irrespective of personal weal and woe. Lins footprints covered both sides of the Tianshan Mountains, prospecting the territory, encouraging agricultural activities, dredging Kaner wells and leaving behind legacies that benefited one generation after another.

It was here that a battalion of Han Dynasty troops took off their military uniforms and settled down for development. They buried the hatchet and turned swords into plowshares, transforming farming villages into cities. They were defending national borders and the ecosystem here. Today, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps have taken up a similar role, becoming modern-day boundary markers that will never fade away.

It was from here that enchanting melodies spread across the country and became tunes that echo in the hearts of generations of Chinese. Household songs such as the The Girl of Darban City, Alamu Khan, Why Are the Flowers So Red, Xinjiang is a Good Place, The Grapes of Turpan are Ripe and the The Shepherd of Koktokay are odes the beauty of this land, and the infinite love of the Chinese people for Xinjiang.

Xinjiang, with its exotic scenery, bountiful produces, unique charm and ever-changing looks, has drawn the attention of the world.

Unfortunately, exactly because of its vastness, many people have failed to see its full picture; and few have been there because it sits so far away in the hinterland of the Eurasian Continent. Worse still is the fact that people with ulterior motives are pouring dirty water on Xinjiang ...

Then what does Xinjiang really look like today?

The Guangming Daily research team recently paid a visit to Xinjiang, walking into its streets and communities, and villages and towns, to find out how the locals live and work, and how they perceive the changes that have taken place.

Lets start the journey and walk into a real, full-dimensional Xinjiang.

I

With great virtue comes great success. Labor has nourished our virtue and shaped the landscape of the places we live. For thousands of years, people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have explored the land under their feet with hard work and diligence. Today, people in Xinjiang are passing on this spirit. Every ethnic group and every worker deserves a solemn salute, for they have created a prosperous Xinjiang under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

A volunteer helps local farmers pick grapes at a village in Awat County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 20, 2022. (Photo/ Guangming Picture)

Against the scorching heat of the vast Gobi in the west of Aksu, we walked into a 65,000-mu (4,333-hectare, or 10,708-acrefruit orchard of Hongqipo Group in late June. It seemed as if we could hear the sizzling sound of apples, pears and grapes turning juicy and sweet under the sun.

According to He Zhangwei, technical director of the orchard, only 50 workers are needed to manage the entire orchard. The whole process is mechanized, which improves the efficiency by 90% and reduces the cost by 90%. Now we use tree planters, machine ploughs, straw crushers and electric, intelligent and driverless tractors. He pointed to the drone flying over and said, This is our drone supported by the Beidou navigation system and its spraying fertilizer now. All you need is to mark the longitude and latitude of the orchard on your phone, and the drone will take care of the rest.

With two basins sitting in between three mountain ranges, Xinjiang is blessed with over 100 million mu of arable land, where large agricultural equipment can be used to great effect. Science and technology have become the highlight of Xinjiangs agriculture, where the mechanization rate for main crops has reached 85.48%.

In Wensu CountyXinjiangs key cotton producer in Aksu Prefecture, hundreds of thousands of acres of cotton is blossoming with milky white, light pink, and light yellow flowers. Although cotton-picking season has not yet arrived, standing here, one can imagine the spectacular harvesting scene in autumn.

The ample sunshine, warm wind, and the water melted from snow are blessings for cotton. Quality of the cotton produced here is second to none in the world: the cotton lint is long and soft, and the color is pure and clean. The long-staple cotton in Xinjiang not only has good looks, its highly elastic, durable and wear-resistant. Its fiber is 35% longer than that of ordinary cotton. The air permeability of cloth made of Xinjiang cotton is 5 times that of ordinary cotton. Cotton production in Xinjiang accounts for 89.5% of Chinas total, and 20% of the worlds.

A cotton picker is seen working in fields in Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 26, 2022. (Photo/ Guangming Picture)

Cotton farms nowadays are increasingly less reliant on human labor. Machines get to do most of the job from plowing the land to picking the cotton. Youd see if you come in autumn, that cotton-picking machines neatly line up in a row, the entire farm could be harvested with only a few round trips. It is such an enjoyable scene. Last year I earned nearly 3 million yuan, and labor cost was only a fraction of that, said Manuti Daouti, a cotton farmer who planted 3,000 mu of cotton.

Aymel Tulhong is a large cotton farmer in Xayar County of Aksu Prefecture. Last year, his planting area exceeded 1,900 mu thanks to the alluring income from the cotton business. Cotton picking was completed within one week, and I earned over 1 million yuan because of these machines, he said.

Photo taken on Oct. 4, 2021 shows cotton fields at Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. (Photo/ Guangming Picture)

Statistics show that the mechanized harvesting rate of cotton in 2021 exceeded 80%, and 95% of the cotton in northern Xinjiang was picked by machinery.

There are also some small plots not suitable for mechanized picking and need to be picked by hand. However, in Xinjiang, hand-picking is an attractive job due to the lucrative pay. In the two-month harvesting season, not only locals in Xinjiang rushed to the job, cotton pickers from Shandong, Henan, Gansu and other parts of the country would also join the silver-hunting game. A skilled cotton picker can earn more than 20,000 yuan in two months. Maimaitimin Atagula, a local farmer in Hotan, said that last year he and his wife earned nearly 20,000 yuan after working 40 days in Aksu. Were definitely going again this year, he said.

Our reporters heard this Uygur proverb along the trip: The hard-working get to eat lamb leg, and the lazy drink cold water. On both sides of Tianshan Mountains, working has become a spontaneous choice for people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. The people of Xinjiang today are creating happy lives by doing decent jobs of their voluntary choice.

Statistics show that in 2021, the per capita disposable income of urban residents in Xinjiang exceeded 37,000 yuan, and for rural residents, the figure exceeded 15,000 yuan, both had grown more than 100 times from that of 1978. Today, 2,020 service stations for outdoor workers and 4,622 lounges and breastfeeding rooms for female workers have been built in industrial parks with a high concentration of workers.

Xinjiang Siwei Textile Company is a cotton enterprise that came into operation last year in Aksus Awati County. Buyhemuti Toheti, head of the company, said with anger: Some people are so jealous that they smear Xinjiang with forced labor. They must be thinking with their toes: why would anyone force us to pursuit a happy life?

The white cotton is the flower of happiness for the people in Xinjiang. In the United States, however, there is a dark history of forced labor associated with cotton. The white cotton in southern US was once soaked with the blood and tears of black slaves  its a sin that the US can never wipe off.

Black slaves, inadequately clothed and fed, exhausted all their strength for cotton picking under guns and whips. In 1860, cotton production in the US was 130 times what it had been in 1800, behind which was the unimaginable physical and mental devastation of the blacks.

The value of labor squeezed from black slaves by American slaveholders amounted to $14 trillion in current prices. According to statistics, in 1850, 80% of US exports were produced by slaves. It was slavery, rather than democracy, that paved the US and Wests way to prosperity.

Even today, US immigration law remains supportive of modern slavery, and there is a strong correlation between certain visa types and forced labor. Studies have shown that over 70% of victims of forced labor in the US arrived with a legal visa.

To this day, there are still some 500,000 child labors in the US working in agriculture. Many start working from 8 years old, working for up to 72 hours a week. Between 2003 and 2016, 237 child labors died in agricultural accidents in the US, according to US media.

Cotton, flawlessly white and pure, is natures blessing to Xinjiang. To boycott Xinjiangs cotton is to reject the gift from nature.

The so-called Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act shows how the US is blatantly meddling in Xinjiangs affairs, and flagrantly interfering with Chinas internal affairs to achieve the goal of containing China with Xinjiang. This is a manifestation of bullying and hegemony, and a dangerous, provocative move.

But how can anything ever be achieved by inciting the boycott of Xinjiangs cotton?

An overseas netizen once launched a challenge to reject Made-in-China products, and the result was a bleak one: the challenger ended up running almost naked on the street, wrapped only in a green bath towel.

This is not to say that China is unstoppable, but rather, we live in a global village and are bonded together in one way or another. Xinjiangs cotton has been warming our day-to-day life, and its not something that people can cut off easily. The question for those Western politicians demanding the boycott is, are you ready for a naked run?

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Editor: Zhang Zhou
Almost a third - 30% - of the European Business Association (EBA) member companies from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) plan to enter the international market, 29% are already operating in the markets of other countries, the association said on Monday following the results of the survey.

"Geographical expansion may be especially relevant for entrepreneurs against the background of exhaustion of financial reserves and significant business losses. A quarter of our surveyed entrepreneurs report having no financial reserves. Also, 11% have enough financial reserves for a month, 28%  for several months, 17%  for six months. Another 14% have reserves for a year or more, while in July there were only 6% of them," the EBA said.

"The entrepreneurs assessment of their business losses has slightly improved compared to July, but the level of losses is still significant. Thus, 33% of SMEs estimate their losses in the amount of up to $10,000, 23%  in the range of $10,000-50,000, another 15%  in the range of $50,000-100,000, and 14%  more than $100,000. The absence of losses is reported by 10% of entrepreneurs, which is twice as much as in July," the report says.

"Currently, 39% of companies are fully operational, while in July there were 28% of such companies. The number of non-working companies has decreased  from 16% in July to the current 11%. Another 50% of companies work partially, with some restrictions. Particularly, 30% were forced to limit the geography of activities, 19% worked only online, and 16% closed some outlets/branches. The fact that they suspended, but have already resumed work is reported by 26% of SMEs," the association stated.

"Despite the difficult conditions, most companies, particularly 83%, use only working capital to finance their business. Another 7% use bank loans, including 4%  the 5-7-9% credit program. Another 4% use commercial lending. Among the state benefits, the most popular among SMEs is the option of paying a single tax of 2%, it has already been used by 14% of entrepreneurs, another 6% use other tax benefits, and 2%  compensation for the employment of IDPs," it said.

"The number of SMEs paying salaries to employees in full has increased from 34% in July to 43% in October, and 4% do it in advance or with bonuses. At the same time, 18% of companies were forced to reduce wages, and 9%  to send staff or part of it on unpaid leave. The number of companies that dismiss employees slightly decreased  from 18% to 13%," the EBA said.
The amount of funds that have already been accumulated in the Ukraine Energy Support Fund created by the Energy Community is EUR 25.5 million, EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson has said.

Simson said at a joint press conference with Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Haluschenko in Kyiv on Tuesday that they already have EUR 25.5 million in the fund, which they will allocate to meet Ukraine's needs for the restoration of energy facilities. She said that she saw the scale of the destruction with her own eyes and will do everything to scale up assistance to Ukraine, including from private companies, she said.

At the same time, Simson said that together with the minister of energy, an information campaign would be launched to attract assistance to Ukraine for the recovery of energy.

The main thing is to find the necessary equipment for urgent needs. Therefore, the Energy Community also encourages companies to prioritize Ukraine in the supply of equipment, she said.

According to the EU Commissioner, the purpose of the Russian military is specific equipment supplied by certain companies.

Simson added that about 20 countries have already been provided equipment worth millions of euros.

At the same time, according to her, EUR 13 million will be allocated to Ukraine to restore equipment damaged by the Russians in the Chornobyl zone and EUR 3.5 million to the IAEA to support Ukraine.

Our task is to help Ukraine get through the winter, Simson said, adding that after the war, Europe will help rebuild the country's energy sector based on a greater share of renewable sources.
Inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) began a mission to inspect two nuclear facilities in Ukraine, the agency's Twitter account reported on Monday, referring to its director general Rafael Grossi.

"DG Grossi said IAEA safeguards inspectors had begun  and would soon complete  verification activities at two locations in Ukraine, following a request from the Ukrainian government. Later this week he will provide his initial conclusions from these activities," the IAEA said on Twitter.

As reported, Grossi announced the mission last week.

"The IAEA inspectors will conduct independent verification at these locations in accordance with Ukraines safeguards agreement to detect any diversion of nuclear material under safeguards, any undeclared production or processing of nuclear material at the two locations and assure that there are no undeclared nuclear material and activities," Director General Grossi said.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had telephone conversations with German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and UN Secretary General Antonio Gutierres on Monday.

In a conversation with Scholz, "I thanked him for the provision of the IRIS-T air defense system, informed him about the results achieved by the German system," Zelensky said in a video statement on Monday evening.

"We discussed the possibility of increasing German support for Ukraine, including in the restoration of our infrastructure after terrorist strikes," he said.

In a conversation with the UN Secretary General, "informed him of a new level of escalation due to Russian actions."

Terror against Ukrainian energy facilities, and also against the backdrop of Russia's attempt to exacerbate the global food crisis, is clear evidence that Russia will continue to oppose itself to the entire international community. And if so, then Russia has no place in the UN Security Council and all other international structures," Zelensky said.

"Thanks to both Mr. Scholz and Mr. Guterres for supporting our actions aimed at maintaining the grain export initiative and preventing the deployment of large-scale famine in some regions of the world. It is very important now to prevent this global destabilization that Russia wants. And we can prevent it," the president said.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Representatives of the Azerbaijani Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) and the Franco-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI France Russie) have discussed opportunities for cooperation, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, AZPROMO's representatives spoke about the favorable business and investment environment created in Azerbaijan and the agency's activities.

Moreover, an exchange of views took place between Azerbaijani companies and member companies of the chamber.

The Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) was established in 2003 by the Ministry of Economy to attract foreign investment in the non-oil sector and encourage exports of non-oil products.

AZPROMO organizes various international events to achieve numerous goals set by the head of the state to develop the non-oil sector in Azerbaijan, promote products in foreign markets, raise awareness of Azerbaijani products among foreign consumers, facilitate networking with local companies, support foreign companies that are keen to gather comprehensive information about the investment climate in Azerbaijan, and provide services to interested investors based on a 'single window' approach.
Russian invaders hit Mykolaiv with four missiles at night, one killed, five wounded  K. Tymoshenko

On Tuesday night, November 1, Russian invaders fired four missiles at Mykolaiv, Deputy Head of the President's Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko has said.

"Three missiles hit the territory of Mykolaiv Polytechnic College. As a result of the shelling, a four-storey college building was partially destroyed. The nearby private sector and apartment buildings were damaged. Fires broke out in the warehouse of the college and in a five-story residential building nearby," Tymoshenko said in a Telegram channel.

Rescuers unblocked two people from the rubble. It is known about one dead woman and five injured. Assistance was provided to 12 people blocked in apartments as a result of the explosion.

Another rocket hit and damaged the building of Arkas First Ukrainian Gymnasium. There are no victims or injured.
Due to Russia's decision to suspend its participation in the UN Black Sea Grain Initiative, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borell, issued a statement on behalf of the EU.

"Since the beginning of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia has been weaponising food and hunger. Russia's deliberate actions, including destroying stocks, disrupting production, and imposing quota restrictions on its own export of foodstuff and fertilisers have exacerbated the global food security crisis. The European Union condemns Russias suspension of Black Sea Grain Initiative and urges Russia to reverse its decision and to immediately resume the implementation of the UN Black Sea Grain Initiative," the European External Action Service (EEAS) said in a statement released on Monday, October 31.

In this regard, the EU "strongly supports the United Nations Secretary-General's call for the extension of the initiative beyond its current period ending in November."

Borrell said Russias unjustified decision to suspend its participation in the UN Black Sea Grain Initiative "obstructs the export of much needed grain to address the global food crisis." "Russia is solely responsible for the global food security crisis it has caused by its unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine and its blockade of Ukrainian sea ports," he said.

The High Representative said the UN-brokered agreement has made, together with the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes, "a significant difference by allowing the export of grain and agricultural products from Ukraine to the global markets and to the countries most in need, including in the Horn of Africa, Yemen and Afghanistan. The Black Sea Grain Initiative has brought to the global market 9.522 tonnes of grain and foodstuff."

Borrell said the EU and its member states will continue to respond to the global food security crisis and maintain timely and stable supplies of Ukrainian agricultural products to world markets.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko announced the inadmissibility of the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the G20 summit in Bali, where he was officially invited, after his statements about orders to launch missile strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.

"Putin publicly acknowledged ordering missile strikes on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure. With his hands stained in blood, he must not be allowed to sit at the table with world leaders. Putin's invitation to Bali summit must be revoked, and Russia expelled from G20," Nikolenko said on Twitter on Tuesday.
Russian occupiers on Tuesday night, November 1, continued shelling the territory of Donetsk region. As a result, one person died and two were wounded, Head of the regional military administration Pavlo Kyrylenko said.

"In the middle of the night, the Russians launched two missile attacks on Kramatorsk  some 14 missiles hit the industrial area. There was no information about the victims and damaged infrastructure," Kyrylenko said in Telegram channel.

In Horlivka direction, one person died and two were injured in Bakhmut, a household and a high-rise building were damaged. In Toretsk community, four houses were destroyed in Kurdiumivka, a house was damaged. In Soledar community, single shelling near villages, in Rozdolivka, a private hangar was damaged.

There are no victims in Donetsk direction. In Kurakhove, a household was destroyed, and there were also arrivals in the outskirts of the villages. In Avdiyivka, single arrivals at night, two massive shelling in the morning. In Ocheretianska community shelling in the outskirts of the villages - the power grid was damaged.

In Lysychansk direction, the shelling of Torsk and Zarichne in Lyman community does not stop. Information about damage and casualties is being established.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky discussed with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala during his visit to Kyiv defense cooperation, cooperation within the European Union and issues of Ukraines recovery from the consequences of Russian attacks.

"We discussed defense cooperation, which we will build up. We especially focused on the issues of strengthening air defense and missile defense, as well as protection against drones. When we, together with our partners, provide 100% protection of the Ukrainian sky, this will become one of the fundamental guarantees of the new European security system, since it will save Russia from a significant part of its escalation capabilities," Zelensky said at a briefing with the Czech Prime Minister in Kyiv on Monday.

The interlocutors also discussed the involvement of the Czech Republic in the training of the Ukrainian military and projects for the repair and production of military equipment.

The parties also coordinated steps to strengthen sanctions against Russia for military terror and bring Russia to justice, in particular, the creation of a Special Tribunal for Russian aggression against Ukraine and an international compensation mechanism that will ensure compensation for all losses from Russian assets.

In addition, Zelensky and Fiala raised issues of the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine and the elimination of the consequences of Russian terror.

At the same time, the President of Ukraine thanked the Czech Republic for its readiness to work now to restore specific facilities and readiness to take patronage over Dnipropetrovsk region.

The parties also discussed the full range of interaction within the EU.

"I hope that even at the stage of the Czech presidency we will see the European Commissions assessment of Ukraines implementation of the seven recommendations and clarity on the start of negotiations on Ukraines accession to the EU," the president said.

He thanked the Czech people and other European nations for the ongoing actions in support of Ukraine and against the Russian war.

At the same time, Ukraine presented the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, with the "Rescue City" award.

In turn, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic was awarded the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise first degree for the development of Ukrainian-Czech relations and support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.
MFA: Stuffing news about alleged arms smuggling from Ukraine to Finland is another Russian disinformation

The stuffing of news about the alleged smuggling of weapons from Ukraine to Finland is yet another Russian disinformation, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.

"Throwing news about alleged arms smuggling from Ukraine to Finland is yet another Russian disinformation," he said on Facebook on Monday.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson recalled that on Sunday, the Finnish media published information about the alleged fall of weapons from Ukraine into the hands of Finnish criminals, which were subsequently followed by reprints in Ukrainian and international media.

He said that on behalf of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the Ukrainian embassy in Helsinki immediately contacted the Finnish police for details.

"In response, the Finnish side reported the absence of confirmed information or any specific facts of the supply of smuggled weapons from Ukraine. During the conversation today, the Ambassador of Finland in Kyiv also did not confirm the information published in the Finnish media," Nikolenko said.

He said Russia continues to make efforts to discredit international military assistance to Ukraine.

"The purpose of such a Russian information operation is to arouse fear among Europeans that the weapons that their governments are transferring to Ukraine to counter Russian aggression will turn against them, falling into the hands of criminal elements," the spokesperson of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.

Nikolenko said Ukraine maintains a close dialogue with international partners in the context of the transfer of weapons and the provision of an effective system for monitoring their use. He emphasized that it is critical that public comments are also based on official information and not on the assumption of individuals.
Three ships carrying over 84,000 tonnes of food departed from Ukrainian ports on Tuesday and are going through the humanitarian corridor, the UN Secretariat at the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) said in a statement.

"The UN Secretariat at the JCC reports that today three outbound vessels are transiting the maritime humanitarian corridor. The movement of these vessels has been agreed by the Ukrainian, Turkish and UN delegations to the JCC. The Russian delegation to the JCC has been informed," the statement said.

"The vessels are carrying a total of 84,490 metric tonnes of grain and food products," it said.

MV SSI Challenger is carrying 49,000 tonnes of corn to Germany, MV Bomustafa with 22,800 tonnes of wheat onboard is destined for Libya, and MV Nimet Torlak will deliver 12,690 tonnes of sunflower meal to Morocco.

"As of today, the total tonnage of grains and foodstuffs moved from Ukrainian ports under the Black Sea Grain Initiative is 9,729,083 metric tonnes," it said.

Meanwhile, UN and Turkish inspectors started to examine the cargo of ships leaving Ukraine. They conducted 46 inspections of the sort on Monday.

Fourteen ships, including 12 outbound and two inbound, including a vessel chartered by the World Food Program, successfully passed the maritime humanitarian corridor on Monday.

"The UN Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative Amir Abdulla continues his discussions with all three member state parties in an effort to resume full participation at the Joint Coordination Centre following the suspension of the participation of the Russian Federation delegation in the implementation of the activities of the Initiative," the statement said.
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov has called first deputy head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, former chief Executive Officer of the Rosatom State Corporation Sergey Kiriyenko, a lobbyist for strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities.

The main ideologist and lobbyist for destroying Ukraines energy infrastructure is Deputy Chief of Staff of Russias Presidential Administration sergey kiriyenko, who, having worked at Rosatom, is well-versed in the energy sphere. Ukraine knows by name who in russia must answer and for what, Danilov said on Twitter Tuesday.
Ukraine does not have effective means of protection against Iranian-made ballistic missiles that the Russian Federation plans to install north of the Ukrainian border, Air Force Spokesman Yuriy Ihnat has said.

"We will use all means of protection against these missiles. There is a high probability that they will be delivered to the north of Ukraine, from where they can be launched in such a way as to threaten the whole of Ukraine. One missile has a range of destruction of 300 km, another missile has 700 km of destruction range," Ihnat said at a briefing on Tuesday.

"These are ballistic missiles, we have no effective missile defense against these missiles. It is theoretically possible to shoot them down, but in fact it is very difficult to do it with the means that we have in service today  we have air defense, not missile defense," the representative of the Air Force added.

According to him, Iskander-M ballistic missiles are in service with the Russian occupiers, but their stock is almost exhausted and the Russian Federation plans to purchase missiles in Iran specifically to replenish this stock. "It is obvious that they receive these missiles to supplement those Iskanders, because Iskanders are actually running out. The industry has not released so much to them. They have already used emergency ration," Ihnat said.

As reported, Iran is preparing to send about 1,000 more weapons to Russia, including short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and additional attack drones. Iran will send advanced high-precision missiles to Russia for the first time. The timing of their arrival in Russia is still unknown, but it is expected that the delivery will be made before the end of the year.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Karen Donfried has arrived in Kyiv on a visit, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink has said.

Despite more Russian strikes on critical infrastructure, I welcomed Assistant State Secretary Karen Donfried to Kyiv this morning to hear directly from Ukrainians how the United States can support Ukraine as it rebuilds and gains ground in the face of continued bombardment, Brink said on Twitter Tuesday.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

SPECA (the United Nations Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia) plays a positive role in promoting regional and global economic integration between member countries, Azernews reports with reference to Azerbaijans Digital Development and Transport Minister Rashad Nabiyev.

He made the remarks at a high-level conference on digital transportation of information exchange in supply chains using United Nations standards for SPECA countries, held in Baku on October 31.

The minister added that SPECA also plays a positive role in attracting financial resources to finance national priorities and encouraging the implementation of UNECE and UNESCAP standards.

Moreover, Rashad Nabiyev briefed about the construction of modern transport and logistics infrastructure in Azerbaijan in recent years.

Construction of various roads and railways, commissioning of new international airports, construction of the Baku International Sea Trade Port, and creation of Alat Free Economic Zone have turned Azerbaijan into an international transport and logistics center, he said.

The minister stressed that today, Azerbaijan continues to invest in transport infrastructure, especially roads and railways in Karabakh, and is restoring the regions historical connections by linking the northern transport networks to the southern and eastern networks.

The conference was co-organized by Azerbaijans Digital Development and Transport Ministry, the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

The event, aimed at applying international standards in the development of digital transport links between SPECA countries, was attended by representatives of relevant agencies of the member countries, UN, and other international institutions, as well as the private sector.

The conference was addressed by senior officials from relevant organizations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, heads, and representatives of international institutions, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Executive Secretary Olga Algayerova. The speakers highlighted the importance of the conference and spoke about the projects to be implemented jointly.

The United Nations Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) was launched in 1998 to strengthen subregional cooperation in Central Asia and its integration into the world economy. The countries of SPECA are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Shmyhal: Evacuations from certain communities or regions to be applied last as emergency step

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal states that evacuations from certain communities or regions due to damage to critical infrastructure will be applied last as an emergency step.

"About the evacuation from individual communities or regions, about which there was a piece of news yesterday. Now we urge people to leave only from communities that are located in close proximity to the line of hostilities. Indeed, evacuation plans have been developed for each region, but this is an emergency step that we will apply last. Such a scenario is also possible, but we will do everything to prevent it," Shmyhal said at a government meeting on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister noted that the state is preparing and stocking up on additional equipment to solve energy problems.

"Ukrainians should also prepare for a difficult winter and have supplies of industrial water, flashlights, powerbanks, warm clothes, batteries and other things," Shmyhal stressed once again.
Macron: Were fully mobilized to increase military support for Ukraine as soon as possible, in particular, air defense

French President Emmanuel Macron, in a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, announced his readiness to increase military support for Ukraine as soon as possible, in particular, air defense.

"I confirmed this this morning to President Zelensky: we are fully mobilized to increase our military support to Ukraine as soon as possible, in particular, air defense," Macron wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.

In addition, the French president stated the need to help the electricity and water supply infrastructure of Ukraine affected by the Russian Federation.

"Ukraine's electricity and water supply infrastructure has been seriously affected by Russian attacks. We must act before the onset of winter. We are rapidly mobilizing the international community and the private sector," Macron said.
Zelensky calls on EU Commissioner for Energy to impose price caps on Russian gas in Europe as part of new sanctions package against Russia

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called on European Union Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson during her visit to Kyiv to introduce price caps on Russian gas in Europe in addition to price caps on oil as part of the new sanctions package against Russia.

According to the press service of the head of state, the parties paid special attention to strengthening energy sanctions against the Russian Federation.

Zelensky also called on Simson to impose restrictions on the supply of Russian liquefied gas to European countries, and to approve the sanctions package as soon as possible.

In addition, the parties discussed further steps to ensure the energy security of Ukraine. The head of state briefed the EU Commissioner on the consequences of energy terrorism by Russia, which has already seriously damaged about 40% of the entire energy infrastructure, and spoke in detail about the needs for its recovery, urging the European Commission to play a coordinating role in attracting assistance from EU member states.

He drew attention to the expediency of creating a platform to support the Ukrainian economy, in particular the energy sector, similar to the Contact Group gathered in Ramstein.

"This platform, a kind of "economic Ramstein," is being created and will start working. The energy issue today is going along with the financial crisis and the shortage of weapons, so such a platform should be created," the president said.

Zelensky thanked Simson for her visit to Ukraine and noted her role in Ukraine's accession to the European ENTSO-E network. He recalled that after that Ukraine began to export electricity to Europe and could be one of the guarantors of the stability of the EU energy system.

"Unfortunately, due to missile and kamikaze drone strikes by the Russian Federation on our energy system, we have suspended this process. But I am sure that we will restore everything, and in a calmer time, when the situation in our energy system is stabilized, we will continue exporting electricity to Europe," the President of Ukraine said.
Russia will continue its attempts to destroy the Ukrainian power system, water and heat supply, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal predicts.

"As of this morning, water and electricity supply has been fully restored in Kyiv. In Kyiv region, most consumers have also been connected. In Cherkasy region, where electricity has almost completely disappeared, the situation has stabilized, people have electricity," Shmyhal said at a government meeting on Tuesday.

The prime minister noted that yesterday's attack is part of a larger, pre-planned Russian strategy to destroy the Ukrainian power system.

"And you and I must understand that strikes against our energy infrastructure will continue. There will be attempts to destroy both generation and distribution of electricity. There will be strikes against water and heat supply systems," he said.

According to the prime minister, now there are two modes of power outages for consumers.

"The first is a planned mode, when the power is turned off to stabilize the power system according to pre-planned schedules. We work together with power engineers to ensure that the schedules for such shutdowns are true and minimal," he said.

At the same time, Shmyhal stressed that one must understand that Russian terrorists do not follow the schedule of shelling when attacking Ukrainian infrastructure.

"Therefore, in fact, there is a second type of power outages  emergency ones. Emergency power outages cannot be foreseen and it is impossible to predict how long they will last. When a missile or drone hits an infrastructure facility, as a result, some consumers are urgently turned off," the prime minister stated.

He emphasized that in order to minimize planned outages, it is necessary to save electricity.

"Each of us must now accept this new reality and adjust to consume as little electricity as possible. Especially during peak hours in the morning and evening," he stressed.

Among other things, he said that the authorities continue to negotiate with partners to increase the supply of equipment for the restoration of infrastructure, as well as mobile power supplies and heating.

"Already 12 countries have agreed to help, and many have helped before. System operators of some European countries have been handing over equipment to Ukrenergo for the past eight months. Therefore, we have and will have reserves to restore everything that was destroyed," Shmyhal summed up.
KYIV. Nov 1 (Interfax-Ukraine)  The Chechen diaspora intends to consolidate its society in order to eventually return to its land through de-occupation, Chechen public and political figure, son of ex-President of Ichkeria Anzor Maskhadov said at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine agency in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"Now we are working on consolidating our society, which is located in a foreign land. We see and meet understanding from Ukraine and other European countries. And our organization that deals with these issues  European politicians and organizations help them. We are meeting with them and working towards the day when the Chechen people will return to their land through de-occupation," he said.

Maskhadov noted that "the Chechen land should be cleared of criminals, Russian occupiers and their puppets, gaining independence and freedom."

"And our goal is to achieve security guarantees for our people, so that neither the Russian Federation nor anyone else can ever encroach on our freedom again!" he said.

In turn, president of the Chechen Bart Marsho Association Dzhambulat Suleimanov spoke out against the creation of a "government in exile."

"There should be a representative body of the Chechen people that fights for de-occupation. And after the de-occupation, national elections will be held, at which the people themselves will decide who their leader is," Suleimanov said.

"Today we are preparing for the congress on November 25-26. We are the Chechen people," he stressed.

"We are striving today to create a unified force through the holding of the Chechen congress to overcome the national crisis. The crisis exists precisely because of irresponsible politicians who are not even able to agree among themselves," the president of the association added.

At the same time, Maskhadov spoke negatively about the well-known Chechen politician Akhmed Zakayev, who, according to him, "declares himself Commander-in-Chief."

"No Chechen can call himself Commander-in-Chief. Because the commander-in-chief is the president. And the president can be a person chosen by the people," he said.

In addition, the son of the former president of Ichkeria noted that he and his associates will call out to the congress at the end of November "everyone who wants to walk side by side and together for the sake of the common future of the Chechen people."

"We don't think about anything else. We want to defeat fascist Russia and then punish the criminals in the person of Kadyrov and others," Maskhadov summed up.
Egypts presidency of COP27 submitted on Saturday three draft documents to the countries participating in the conference in order to accelerate the pace of negotiation and reach a unanimous agreement in the final statement of the conference.
The government said the plane targeted a military base and "dropped explosives on the town" of Bossangoa, in the north, but caused only material damage.
Ukraine's special envoy for the Middle East on Thursday accused Moscow of preventing Ukrainian wheat deliveries to the region, addressing the Arab League just weeks after the group hosted Russia's foreign minister.

"Ukraine today has 20 million tonnes of grain ready to be exported, principally to Arab and African states," Maksym Subkh told the pan-Arab bloc by video conference, saying "the siege of our ports by the Russian invaders" had blocked deliveries.

The increase in global food prices is "a direct result of Russian aggression", he added.

The Ukraine war has severely hampered grain supply from the country, leading to an international food crisis as it is one of the world's biggest producers.

Some ships have been able to leave Ukrainian ports in recent days after a deal with Russia brokered by the United Nations and Turkey.

Several members of the Arab League are heavily dependent on wheat imports from both Russia and Ukraine, and have been reeling from food insecurity since Moscow's invasion of its neighbour.

But while the United States has sought to isolate Russia on the global stage over the war, it has faced less success in the Arab world, where many countries are hesitant to strain relations with Moscow.

In late July, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised Arab countries' and the League's "balanced, fair, responsible position" on not siding with either Russia or Ukraine.

Lavrov at the time said Western sanctions on Moscow had "aggravated" the global food crisis, but Subkh on Thursday called the measures "the only way of returning Russia to reason".

Subkh warned Arab countries against "Russian meddling in regional affairs", accusing Moscow of sending mercenaries to the region in order to plan "coups" and "plunder these countries' wealth".

He told the Arab League that his own appointment last month was "proof of Ukraine prioritising its political dialogue with Arab states".

Moscow ally Damascus, which was suspended from the pan-Arab bloc after civil conflict broke out in Syria in 2011, said in July that it was severing ties with Ukraine in support of Russia, saying the move was a response to a similar move by Kyiv.

Subkh said Thursday that Syria had tried to "legitimise Russia's illegal occupation" of Ukraine.

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"I do not think we should be killing the 1.5 Celsius climate target on African soil while Africa is among the most impacted continents by climate change," Ambassador Mohamed Nasr, the lead negotiator of Egypts COP27 presidency, said during a webinar on Climate Change that was held on Thursday.

The 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), which is set to be held in Sharm El-Sheikh 6-18 November, will focus on scaling up and implementing an on-the-ground transition through the delivery of financing, technology and political commitment for clean energy and sustainable development, added Ambassador Nasr, who is also the director general of climate change, environment and sustainable development at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affair.

The webinar was organised by Al-Ahram and moderated by MP Dina Abdel-Karim.

It featured the participation of panel of 20 science journalists from France and Francophone African countries.

Panel: How will Egypt speak out for Africa in COP27?

Ambassador Mohamed Nasr: From the Egyptian presidencys point of view, our approach is on three fronts. Firstly, to ensure that climate issues are still at the top of the global agenda. Secondly, to follow up and ensure the cycle for implementation without rounds of pledging. We are focused on moving forward on-the-ground concerning implementation at the scale that was requested by COP26 in Glasgow. Thirdly, we are bringing forward the specificities of developing countries and in particular African countries.

In this part we are very cognisant and making sure that is reflected in the presidency program with respect to the global context. Africa has a critical status as it is the second most impacted region by climate change, according to science, but also because Africa has a lot of potentials regarding mitigation and livelihood.

Unfortunately, with the increasing interest and support for climate change during the past decade, Africa has been left behind. If we look to the numbers, Africa has only attracted about two percent of the global investments in renewable energy in the past 10 years. 600 million Africans do not have access to energy. 900 million do not have access to clean cooking. Several African countries are not attractive for investment in climate projects. With the many risks that Africa is facing, the cost of finance is very high. In addition, African governments are paying up to five percent of their GDP to deal with adaptation, according to the Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union.

That is why we are trying at the presidency to bring Africa to the table, not only for the discussion but to have Africa as a cross-cutting item in all the thematic days.

Panel: What are the main initiatives that Egypt will bring during the discussions?

MN: Africa is responsible for only four percent of global emissions, but the continent is very much impacted and has a big potential, not only in industry and energy generation, but in being able to achieve a just transition.

Ensuring that a fair share of the finance will be directed to Africa will be part of the discussions in the COP.

For sure, Africa is the least polluting continent, but in the Paris Agreement every country has to do its fair share and to adopt changes to its development model. The international development model is now under reconstruction.

We all agree economic development should be carbon neutral or have a very low carbon impact, but there is no agreement on the pathways and this is the challenge we are facing now.

How can we define the pathways, understanding that we have different starting points, different needs, and different historical responsibilities? For example, the carbon budget is a topic of discussion that we are hearing about from a lot of scientists. The question is, should we share the carbon budget fairly or should we include the historic responsibility of many countries who were responsible for the carbon emissions?

Our focus now is to push for a just transition agenda to allow for adaption and ensure social and economic development. We hope that our African negotiators with the presidency will be able to take moves forward not only for Africa but also globally.

Panel: How has the presidency acted to include more stakeholders and civil society, especially from Africa, in this COP?

MN: When we analysed civil society participation, it was very clear that the majority of civil society groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who would participate were from the global north. Only a very limited number from Africa were participating, and just one NGO was from Egypt and the Middle East.

In that respect, we worked with the secretariat of the COP and we applied criteria to allow for flexibility for one-time accreditation.

Through this we added more than 40 NGOs from Africa and Egypt to take part in the blue zone [negotiations, alongside government delegations and other observers]. We worked on the inclusion process with the secretariat, the African negotiators and our colleagues in different African countries to give African NGOs the chance to to have their voice heard in the discussions.

Aside from this, we are having regular engagements with different civil society groups and NGOs.

Panel: How will the presidency address the problems of vulnerable communities?

MN: This is a two-tier subject.

First, we are working hard in the negotiations on the loss and damage issue to make funding mechanisms available to the most affected countries by climate change.

Secondly, we are also working with financial institutions to allow quick funding for loss and damage.

We are also working with stakeholders to see the success stories and what is happening in the different supporting schemes for loss and damage. We hope after these negotiations to reach a mechanism for loss and damage funding.





Panel: What about climate finance, which represents the central component of the conference?



MN: Usually, climate finance is the most difficult part of the negations. We have pledges and we hope they will be fulfilled. We will ensure that the discussions on climate finance deliver on-the-ground projects and proper shifting from planning to implementation.

We are also keen to bring discussions on adaptation projects, which have always been left behind. 60-70 percent of the climate finance goes to mitigation projects, which are revenue generating, while less than 30 percent of the funding goes to adaptation projects.

We need to increase funding for adaptation projects and to put forward the proper instruments for adaptation specially because they are not a revenue generating activity and that is why they are not attractive to the private sector.

Panel: Is the 1.5 Celsius warming limit cited in the Paris Agreement still applicable or should we consider a new standard?



MN: I do not think we should be killing the 1.5 C target on African soil as Africa is among the most impacted continents by climate change. We should keep pushing for the 1.5 C pathway.

The challenge here is that we have been planning over many years and we now need to see how much we have done on the ground. How much we have received? Are the outcomes what we expected? Without answering those questions, we will not be able to make a clear assessment. Science has answered that we are not on the right track as the global community on mitigation, adaptation, climate finance and many other aspects.

Our question in this COP will be how can we rectify that? We will push for appropriate financing and a more transformative, adaptative agenda, and we hope that the parties will collaborate to keep the 1.5 C limit a reality.

The COPs are accumulative activities over the years that take time. Unfortunately, climate change will not wait for us to fix our problems. This should be a clear message to take us forward. Hopefully, by the end of COP27 we will reach an agreement that puts us on the right track to adopt a just transition.

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By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

A delegation from Russias Nizhny Novgorod is planning a business mission to Azerbaijan on November 3-5, Azernews reports.

The remarks were made during a videoconference meeting between Russias Trade Representative office in Azerbaijan and business representatives of Nizhny Novgorod, organized as part of a project, called An hour with the trade representative.

During the videoconference, the parties discussed issues of information support, the practical organization of a full-time business mission, and the participation of delegation in exhibitions taking place in Azerbaijan.

Viktor Ivankin, consultant of the Russian Trade Representative Office in Azerbaijan, spoke about the Azerbaijani-Russian trade turnover, promising areas for expanding the range of Russian export, and the possibilities of the trade missions potential to support Russian enterprises.

Nizhny Novgorods Center for Developing Export Capacity Deputy Director Sergey Gnenik, as well as representatives of 17 regional companies operating in the field of medical equipment, medical disposable clothing, animal feed, food products, furniture, special tools, lifting equipment, etc, participated in the videoconference.

Azerbaijan and Russia cooperate in different sectors, such as the economy, agriculture, customs, communications, high technology, and others. Over 230 intergovernmental and intercompany documents have been signed between the two countries and six road maps are being implemented.

Azerbaijan's investments in the Russian economy have exceeded $1.2 billion, with the majority of the investments being in the non-oil sector. In addition, Russian investments in Azerbaijan's economy totaled $6.3 billion with $5 billion in the oil sector and $1.3 billion in non-oil sectors.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia amounted to $2.9 billion in 2021, making Russia Azerbaijans third-largest partner.
US President Joe Biden has warned that global hunger could increase because of Russia's suspension of a UN-brokered deal to allow safe passage for ships carrying Ukrainian grain.

``It's really outrageous,'' said Biden speaking in Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday. ``There's no merit to what they're doing. The UN negotiated that deal and that should be the end of it.''

Biden spoke hours after Russia announced it would immediately halt participation in the agreement, alleging that Ukraine staged a drone attack Saturday against Russia's Black Sea Fleet ships off the coast of occupied Crimea.

Ukraine has denied the attack, saying that Russia mishandled its own weapons.

The grain initiative has allowed more than 9 million tons of grain in 397 ships to safely leave Ukrainian ports since it was signed in July, and the UN chief on Friday urged Russia and Ukraine to renew the deal when it expires in late November.

The grain agreement has succeeded in bringing down global food prices, which have fallen about 15% from their peak in March, according to the United Nations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the decision predictable and said Russia has been deliberately aggravating the food crisis since September.

Currently, some 176 ships loaded with grain are being prevented from sailing from Ukraine's ports, he said.

``This is food for more than 7 million consumers. . Why is it that a handful of people somewhere in the Kremlin can decide whether there will be food on the tables of people in Egypt or Bangladesh?'' he said Saturday in his nightly address to the nation.

Other Ukrainian officials were more vehement, with one saying that Russia has started a real-life ``hunger games'' for the world's poor.

A ship with 40,000 tons of grains bound for Ethiopia under the United Nations aid program could not leave Ukraine on Sunday as a result of Russia's suspension of the deal, said Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ukraine's minister of infrastructure.

Russia's action is facing international condemnation. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged Russia to reverse its decision in a tweet Sunday.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary general, said the world body is in touch with Russian authorities about the decision and that it's vital all parties refrain from any actions that would impede the grain initiative.

Russia had been setting conditions to withdraw from the deal for some time, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank said.

The institute said even if Ukraine did order an attack Saturday on Russia's Black Sea Fleet, that would have been proportionate to Russia's intense bombing campaign against Ukrainian civilian targets and energy infrastructure in recent weeks.

Earlier this month, Moscow intensified its missile and drone strikes on Ukraine's power stations, waterworks and other key infrastructure, damaging 40% of Ukraine's electric system and forcing the government to implement rolling blackouts.

Kyiv's mayor said the Ukrainian capital's power system was operating in "emergency mode.''

The Kremlin said it was ready for peace talks but stressed that they should be held with Washington, which Russia views as Kyiv's "mastermind,'' Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman told Russian state television on Sunday.

"Obviously, the deciding vote belongs to Washington . It is impossible to talk about something, for example, with Kyiv,'' he said.

Such a demand is unlikely to be accepted by the governments in Ukraine or the US.

As diplomats focused on ships full of grain, Russian missile attacks kept pounding key front-line hot spots in Ukraine.

The Russians have shelled seven Ukrainian regions over the past 24 hours, killing at least five civilians and wounding nine more, Ukraine's presidential office said.

In the eastern Donetsk region, where the fighting is ongoing near the cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka, eight cities and villages were shelled.

In addition, in areas recaptured by Ukraine, residents are still recovering bodies of killed civilians, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said.

"Over the past 24 hours alone, in three de-occupied towns and villages, we found abandoned bodies of Ukrainian civilians,'' Kirilenko said.

"The Russians are ignoring all principles of war. Every week we discover either individual or mass graves of civilians.''

Ukraine's Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskiy also said Sunday that Russian forces were mining territories they leave behind twice as densely as during the first months of the war.

"Virtually everything in the recently de-occupied territories has been mined,'' Monastyrskiy told Ukrainian television.

Power outages were reported in the occupied Ukrainian city of Enerhodar, home to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest. Ukrainian and Russian officials traded blame for the shelling that caused the blackout.

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Trade exchange between Egypt and Arab countries was estimated at $14.4 billion in the first half of FY 2022, up from $12.1 billion in the same period of 2021, recording a 19.2 percent increase, or $2.3 billion, according to the Egyptian Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).

Egypt's exports to Arab countries increased by 8.6 percent in the same period, recording $5.9 billion, compared to $5.4 billion in the first six months of 2021, CAPMAS said in a statement on Tuesday.

CAPMAS has further reported a 27.8 percent increase, nearly $1.9 billion, in the value of Egypt's imports from Arab countries during the first half of the current year. The total value of imports for this year is hence estimated at $8.5 billion, compared to $6.6 billion last year.

In the first half of 2022, Saudi Arabia ranked first in terms of importing from Egypt, followed by the UAE and Libya, with each recording imports values of $1.2 billion, $955.2 million and $525 million, respectively.

The list of Arab top importers from Egypt also included Sudan, Morocco, Jordan, and Algeria, with each recording import values of $441.4 million, $396.4 million, $361.8 million, and $352.8 million, respectively.

In addition, CAPMAS stated that the list included Iraq with $276.1 million worth of imports, Kuwait with $265.6 million worth of imports, and Lebanon with $220 million worth of imports.

Saudi Arabia was also among the top ten Arab exporters to Egypt during the first half of FY 2022, with exports valued at $4.3 billion, followed by Kuwait with exports valued at $1.4 billion and the UAE with exports valued at $1.3 billion.

Oman also exported $412.5 million worth of goods to Egypt during the six-month period, while exports from Bahrain, Sudan and Jordan amounted to $269.1 million, $261.6 million and $120.7 million, respectively.

Lebanon, Libya and Qatar recorded exports worth $108.4 million, $51.5 million and $39.5 million, respectively.

According to CAPMAS, remittances from Egyptian expats in Arab countries rose to $21.9 billion in FY 2020/2021, compared to $19.8 billion in FY 2019/2020, recording a 10.9 percent increase.

On the other hand, remittances from foreign Arabs in Egypt to their home countries have decreased by 2.5 percent, recording $114.9 million in FY2020/2021, down from $117.8 million in FY2019/2020.

Until June 2022, remittances from Egyptians in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE amounted to $11.2 billion, $4.4 billion, and $3.4 billion respectively. In addition, remittances from Egyptians in Qatar, Jordan, Oman and Bahrain amounted to $1.5 billion, $774.2 million, $162 million, and $104.1 million, respectively.

Also, remittances from Egyptians in Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon amounted to $79.9 million, $43.7 million, and $39.5 million, respectively.

According to CAMPAS, there has been a 0.4 decrease in the value of Arab investments in Egypt, from $4 billion in FY 2019/2020 down to $3.98 billion in FY 2020/2021.

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Members of parliament gave their final approval Tuesday to an amendment to the 2016 Civil Status Law disbursing an EGP 300 bonus in November to public sector employees and pensioners.

The amendment is part of a new package of social protection initiatives announced by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly at the end of the three-day economic conference last week.

The package is meant to mitigate the negative impact on vulnerable classes of new economic liberalisation policies, such as introducing a flexible exchange rate and devaluating the Egyptian pound.

The amendment, approved by the House's Manpower Committee on Sunday, will cost the state treasury EGP 48.4 billion in disbursements (about EGP 16.4 billion for state employees and EGP 32 billion for pensioners).

"This is the second bonus in less than six months and aims to help vulnerable classes bear the high cost of living triggered by global economic crises," said the committee's Deputy Chairman Adel Abdel-Fadil.

MP Martha Mahrous said the effect of the new bill should be extended to include employees in the private sector.

"The government should also exert greater control and supervision on retail markets to safeguard vulnerable classes against greedy merchants and traders who raise prices and exercise monopolistic practices," said Mahrous.

MP Wahid Qorqor also urged the government to change the penal code to toughen penalties on traders who exploit difficult economic conditions to achieve illegal gains and riches.

"Take for example car dealers who exploited the Egyptian pound devaluation to raise car prices three times in one month," said Qorqor.

Article seven of the amendment states that the bill will be published in the official gazette and go into law on the first of November.

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Already mired in political and economic crises, Lebanon is now also without a president after Michel Aoun's mandate expired without a successor.

Cheered on by thousands of supporters, Aoun left the presidential palace on Sunday, a day before his term officially ended.

His six years at the helm were marred by mass protests, a painful economic downturn and an August 2020 mega-explosion of ammonium nitrate that killed more than 200 people and laid waste to swathes of the capital Beirut.

Now, headed by a caretaker government, Lebanon is unable to enact the major reforms needed to access billions of dollars from international lenders to help save an economy in free fall since late 2019.

In Lebanon, power is divided among the country's main sects.

Lebanese lawmakers vote in parliament for the president.

Parliament has held four rounds of voting since September, with no candidate garnering enough support to succeed Aoun.

Some lawmakers accuse the powerful Iran-backed Shiite Hezbollah movement and its allies of obstructing the ballot to negotiate with other blocs.

They adopted a similar tactic in the last election by boycotting the parliamentary vote, a move that left Lebanon without a president for more than two years, until Aoun's 2016 win.

Without a dominant party in parliament, decisions like electing a president, naming a prime minister or forming a government can take months or even years of political horse-trading, sometimes even leading to violence.

The president's powers fall to the council of ministers if he leaves office without a successor.

Aoun on Sunday signed a decree formalising the resignation of premier Najib Mikati's government, which has been in a caretaker role since legislative elections in May.

The move exacerbates a months-long power struggle that has paralysed the government.

Mikati retorted that his government would continue its work in caretaker capacity, but that cabinet will only meet "for urgent matters".

Experts said it was part of ongoing political arm-wrestling between Aoun and the premier.

A cabinet in a caretaker role cannot take major decisions.

"This greatly affects the government's work, because it cannot issue decrees or take any decisions that require collective consensus," a source close to Mikati said.

This includes decisions needed to kickstart offshore gas exploration and extraction, after Lebanon demarcated its sea border with Israel last week.

Parliament speaker Nabih Berri might invite political parties for a national dialogue so they can agree on a new president, a lawmaker close to him said on condition of anonymity.

"No party can impose a candidate," the lawmaker added. "Therefore the only solution is to reach a consensus, otherwise the presidential vacancy is likely to last."

But such initiatives have failed in the past.

So far, lawmaker Michel Moawad, 50, has garnered the most support in parliament, mostly from those opposed to Hezbollah.

Without the backing of the Shiite movement, however, Moawad's chances of becoming president are slim.

Hezbollah has not officially endorsed a candidate, but Sleiman Frangieh, 57, a personal friend of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was always considered one of the group's preferred choices.

But Hezbollah's Christian ally, Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), will not back Frangieh.

Gebran Bassil, 52, the FPM's leader and Aoun's son-in-law, is also vying for the presidency.

Others have also floated Lebanon's army chief Joseph Aoun, 58, as a potential candidate, in a country where army commanders have snatched the presidency several times.

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During its hosting of COP27, Egypt will work on adopting a comprehensive vision that aims to work towards globally applicable solutions and commitments on climate challenges, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi told Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres on Tuesday.

El-Sisi's remarks came during his meeting with Guterres on the sidelines of the Arab League summit in Algeria, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.

The president said that this comprehensive vision is set to take into account the needs of developing countries and the capabilities of developed states, with the aim to achieve the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Guterres, for his part, expressed hope that COP27 in Egypt's Sharm El-Sheikh city becomes a defining summit on the issue of climate change.

The statement said that Guterres hailed Egypt's historic stances on climate change, given that Egypt had been one of the first developing countries to formulate decisive policies in this regard.

Guterres also praised Egypt's national efforts to care for the environment, to support green transformation, and to combat climate change.

Egyptian efforts in this regard include building green cities, issuing green bonds, and adopting the National Strategy for Climate Change 2050, the statement added.

The statement also said that El-Sisi and Guterres discussed preparations for the Sharm El-Sheikh climate summit on the logistical and thematic sides, especially regarding cooperation on enhancing ongoing efforts to adopt the principle of common responsibility as a basis that governs the responsibilities of each of the developing and developed states toward climate issues.

In this regard, they stressed the importance that developed states provide technical and financial assistance necessary to help developing countries move forward with implementing their environmental commitments.

According to the statement, El-Sisi affirmed Egypt's keenness to continue enhancing cooperation with the UN institutions in various fields to support international peace and security.

He said that Egypt looks forward to fulfil its role of addressing issues of priority to developing countries in collaboration with the UN.

The statement also pointed out that Guterres praised Egypt's distinguished position and effective role in the multilateral international work system, and expressed appreciation for the extended cooperation between Egypt and the UN.

The meeting also discussed developments of a number of regional issues, especially the Libyan crisis, the spokesman noted.

Egypt is only a week away from hosting COP27, which will take place 6 to 18 November.

During COP27, Egypt hopes to turn climate pledges into actions, to speak for Africas climate aspirations, and to urge countries to fulfil their climate finance pledges.

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There is nothing new in Sharm El-Sheikh hosting high-profile conferences. In the last three decades, writes Dina Ezzat, the Red Sea resort has seen many meetings between international and regional leaders. According to a retired Egyptian diplomat, whenever something big was happening in the region it had to be in Sharm El-Sheikh, especially when it involved meetings on the Arab-Israeli struggle.

Sharm El-Shiekh hosts at least 30,000 representatives from over 190 UN member states, including 80 world leaders. According to Khaled Fouda, governor of South Sinai, the city has undergone a LE15 billion overhaul in preparation. The airport and road network have been upgraded, security systems updated and a new solar power plant will secure electricity supplies to the more than 100 hotels that will be hosting participants.

While the main focus of the event will be the climate change agenda, with intense negotiations on the financing of mitigation and adaptation schemes, Egyptian and foreign diplomats agree that a host of other political issues will also be raised at the gathering of leaders.

The war in Ukraine will be impossible to ignore. The war is likely to continue well beyond February next year. There are no reasons to think that the parties on either side are ready to put down their arms, said a European diplomat based in Cairo. Growing awareness in leading capitals that the war is going to be long and painful has lent momentum to devising measures to ensure the tragic humanitarian costs are not exacerbated. The need to establish red lines that are not crossed, said the diplomat, was already broached in September during the UN General Assembly, and COP27 offers an opportunity for world leaders to review the situation.

Some of the issues related to the war directly relate to climate change. Some European countries have suspended plans to opt for cleaner energy and shut down nuclear power plants in order to reduce their dependency on Russian gas.

The US has increased exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe, and the continent is also looking for other suppliers, including from the east Mediterranean, as it scramble secure its winter needs.

World leaders in Sharm will be discussing less a strict energy agenda than a broader political agenda capable of ensuring the European energy crisis does not turn into an added hazard for climate change. They will also, adds the European diplomat, address a range of ideas on military de-escalation.

Food security will also be examined, both in relation to climate change and the Russia-Ukraine war and Moscows decision this week to suspend the UN brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over the Russian decision. Scheduled to arrive Sunday in Algeria to take part in the Arab Summit, Guterres delayed his arrival in order to attend to the issue.

The spillover of the Arab Summit, which closed on 2 November, of Israeli elections and the mid-term US Congressional elections, will also reverberate in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Egyptian diplomatic sources say that Egypt has made concerted efforts to guarantee two issues  non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign Arab states and Palestinian-Israeli peace  receive their fair share of attention at this years Arab Summit, with the latter likely to garner attention in Sharm given increasing levels of tension in the West Bank and Gaza and expectations of either a return to office of Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu or of the formation of a government bringing together Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz. Israeli Prime Minister Lapid this week posited a third disturbing scenario when he said he feared Netanyahu might refuse to accept defeat.

In Sharm El-Sheikh, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will almost certainly raise concerns over the impact of internal Israeli politics on Palestinian affairs as well as frustrations over the collapse in international support for funding environmental projects in Gaza and the West Bank, including addressing levels of pollution along the coast of Gaza and the tons of material waste from batteries used to generate electricity in the densely populated and impoverished Strip.

According to a paper published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace late last week, as COP27 host Egypt finds itself on the world stage as a leading voice for the Global South, especially Africa, and Egypt looks to the summit as an opportunity to burnish its international prestige, emphasise its Afro-Arab identity, and position Cairo as a bridge-builder between the Global South and North.

Egypts hosting of COP27 should be seen as a continuation of a recent evolution wherein Cairo is pivoting back to Africa as a hybrid player, pitching itself as a gateway to Africa and a strategic player with a growing footprint on the continent, wrote Mohamed Soliman, author of the paper.

Soliman added that Egypt hopes to use the spotlight to raise awareness of the double whammy of a climate crisis that it itself faces.

Egypt is a water-poor nation and is also facing the dark reality of reduced water supplies from the Nile because of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which is expected to impact Egypts water share as Cairo depends on the river for more than 90 per cent of its water.

They are points echoed by an Egyptian diplomat. Egypt, he says, will definitely use the opportunity to bring up the unresolved conflict over the filling and operation of GERD. For three years Ethiopia has undertaken annual fillings of the GERD reservoir during the rainy season in the absence of an agreement with the two downstream riparian states. And while a resolution will be adopted by the Arab summit in support of the fair and legitimate demands of Egypt and Sudan, the management of the flood is, says the diplomat, something that will be brought to the attention of COP27.

A version of this article appears in print in the 3 November, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Egyptian cotton may be coming out of a long recession now that the government is prioritising developing cotton agriculture to restore Egypts white-gold glory. To that end, the cotton question is being addressed comprehensively, from growing methods to manufacture and export. It started with research to strengthen and improve the performance of cotton seeds, expanded into actual cultivation, and moved to facilitating establishing a national cotton industry.

Recent research has revealed high-quality cotton strains that are drought- and heat-resistant. Cottons ability to adapt has enabled the government to align the development of cotton agriculture with its efforts to combat climate change.

Cotton is one of the most effective plants for reducing carbon emissions. Increasing cotton-growing space is therefore consistent with efforts to combat climate change.

According to Mohamed Fahim, head of the Climate Change Information Centre at the Ministry of Agriculture, cotton prevents carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere while carrying out the photosynthesis process. It uses light to convert water, carbon dioxide, and minerals into oxygen and organic compounds. Sustainable cotton cultivation is not only safe for the environment, it also helps to reduce global warming.

According to the Cotton Incorporated Research Organisation, No-till cotton absorbs approximately 350 pounds more atmospheric carbon than it emits when grown, proving that cotton contributes positively to reducing carbon emissions.

This October, Egypt hosted the seventh session of the World Cotton Conference for the first time. During the conference, Egyptians, Pakistanis, and Indians presented their most recent research on agricultural robotics, pest control, and cotton seed to develop strains that can cope with temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius, in addition to enduring drought for up to 25 days by living in irrigated lakes, Mohamed Negm, president of the International Union of Cotton Researchers, said.

We also developed cotton varieties that grow faster. As a result, the amount of water used could be decreased. We were, therefore, able to increase the number of cotton acres cultivated to 338,000 acres this year. This is an increase of 100,000 acres compared to last year. These efforts were made possible by the ratification of Law 4/2015, which limited cotton seed distribution to the Ministry of Agriculture, rather than making propagation seeds available to all, which reduces their quality, he added.

Despite research on cotton cultivation, he explained, the global demand for cotton affected the price of a qintar [45 kg] of Egyptian cotton negatively this season. The war between Russia and Ukraine influenced the industry internationally; textile and clothing factories ceased operations, reducing demand for Egyptian cotton, causing cotton prices to drop by one-third compared to last year.

Marketing solutions as much as industrialisation are needed. According to Negm, the ministries of agriculture, industry, trade, and business should coordinate their efforts to achieve a satisfactory result. An auction-based marketing system aligned with the international price of cotton on the day of the auction is helpful, since bidding will always be in the farmers financial interest.

Making the same point, farmer Yousri Al-Ashri, the president of the Arimon Agricultural Association in Kafr Al-Sheikh, said, the government established a cotton system for receiving and trading cotton, which gathers cotton from farmers in the governorates and organises sales through auctions. To protect farmers rights, we need the cotton system to shield farmers from the business sector, selling cotton at reasonable prices.

Cotton usually has a slower capital turnover rate compared to other crops, Al-Ashri explained: Rice, for example, takes about three months to plant and harvest, whereas cotton can take up to eight months. Even with the varieties that can be grown in five or six months, there is still a temporal gap between planting cotton and other crops. As a result, the government should offer farmers an attractive price for cotton crops that exceeds the usual profit from short-term crops.

Al-Ashri went on to explain that the auctions starting price should be key in the cost of planting the cotton crop each year: Last season, farmers sold a qintar for more than LE6,000. This year the average price has dropped to LE4,000, despite the increased cost of cotton cultivation and harvesting requirements. In addition to leasing land fields, fertiliser, fuel to run machines, and pesticides, there is also labour to consider, which is among the most expensive inputs for cotton crops.

Marie Lewis, head of the Export Council for Ready-Made Garments, told Al-Ahram Weekly, we can counterbalance the decline in cotton prices by lowering the high costs of growing and processing cotton. There are successful experiments employing technology and machines to reduce the cost of cotton production and environmental resource waste. For example, the irrigation systems applied in cotton-producing countries use treated water for drip irrigation. They also measure soil moisture using high-tech techniques to determine the necessary percentage of irrigation water.

Mechanised cultivation also reduces seed consumption: The farmer manually places the seeds in large quantities; but with mechanisation, the plant holes contain no more than four or five seeds. Drones are used to identify plants infected with cotton pests and treat them before they spread to the rest of the crop. So the consumption of cotton seeds decreases while crop yields increase.

Harvesting methods have the most effect on determining price. Lewis explains, machines adjust plant stem height to align with mass harvesting since manual harvesting significantly raises the qintars price. What comes next is the ginning process, where the seeds are collected and disinfected using machines, removing dust from cotton seeds, sterilising them, and protecting them from pests until planting. All of these automated processing stages can reduce the cost of our cotton production if applied in Egypt.

The demand for extra-long cotton is high, but medium- and short-length cotton have been widely adopted in Egypt and around the world. Despite its reputation for producing extra-long cotton, Egypt accounts for only three per cent of the total cotton consumption. If we switch to harvesting long cotton with automatic reaping, we will be able to lower long cotton prices and use more of it in the textile industry, Lewis said.

Prompted by the desire to reduce the amount of imported cotton textiles, the government was encouraged to cultivate medium-length cotton, instead of importing it, for domestic consumption. Egypt has reclaimed approximately 1,200 acres of land in the New Valley governorates East Oweinat area for short-staple cotton cultivation, she elaborated.

According to Lewis, Egypt has supported and renewed the cotton growing infrastructure over the last five years, working to restructure the cotton and textile industry in governorates such as Mahalla Al-Kubra and Kafr Al-Dawwar. It also restructured the business sector, combining 32 companies into approximately nine, renovating and modernising six cotton gins to make them produce high-quality cotton before spinning it into yarn. In Mahalla Al-Kubra, the worlds largest spinning factory was built, with the output diverted to meet the Egyptian private sectors textile and clothing needs. Cotton and clothing industries now have a world-class international dyeing facility to help them maintain their leadership in the field.

Aspiring to resuscitate a long established industry based on national cotton cultivation, Egypt has also developed the spinning sector to support the cotton system. The goal is to develop manufacture and export. Previously, Egypt suffered from being a country that exported what it did not produce, as it sold raw cotton with no manufacturing capabilities. The textile industry received billions of dollars in investments, according to Mohamed Abdel-Hamid, executive director of the Textile Development Technology Centre. However, the cotton industry found new life following years of settling for raw material export. Import restrictions urged countries such as Turkey, Pakistan, and Italy to invest in Egyptian land and set up spinning mills that use Egyptian cotton, renowned for its long soft threads.

On the other hand, Abdel-Hamid added, the Egyptian government focused on considering the environmental aspect when developing the textile industry, from seeking methods to treat wastewater to be used in textile dyes, to conducting experiments on growing coloured cotton to avoid the dyeing process. In addition, it developed methods to purify the air of dust produced by the cotton industry, such as straw that absorbs lint and collects it. This is also used to manufacture other products such as carpets.

In May 2020, Egypt officially joined the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) and adopted its sustainable programme. The programme educates farmers and awards BCI standard certification to those who commit to sustainable production practices and employee welfare.

Egypt joined the BCI as part of a new campaign to boost sustainability and improve cotton farmers living conditions. It implemented the BCI in Kafr Al-Sheikh and Damietta. Approximately 2,000 cotton farmers received training and a cultivation certificate during the previous cotton season.

Global challenges have added urgency to the aim of maintaining a sustainable cotton cultivation strategy. The impact of climate change is likely to be felt in agrarian production in several countries. As a result of temperature changes and water scarcity, many crops will be significantly impacted, and fortunately cotton tends to be more resilient to climate change than other crops. Egypt strives to conserve its water resources while also rationing the use of seeds, energy, and other inputs related to cotton cultivation. Additionally, new varieties and strains of cotton were developed to be grown in areas with more suitable temperatures, even if they were not previously allocated to cotton cultivation.

A version of this article appears in print in the 3 November, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Algeria's president called Tuesday for Arab unity to face escalating "tensions and crises" as he opened the first Arab League summit since a string of normalisation deals with Israel divided the region.

Abdelmadjid Tebboune told the meeting's inaugural session that "our central and primary cause remains the Palestinian cause".

The Algerian president also warned that "exceptional global conditions are creating polarisation... which is impacting our food security", without directly mentioning Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"The regional and international context (is) marked by rising tensions and crises, particularly in the Arab world, which in its modern history hasn't seen a period as difficult as the one it is currently undergoing," he added.

Tuesday's summit, the first since 2019, had been postponed multiple times due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In the meantime, several members of the 22-member bloc, for decades a forum for strident declarations of support for the Palestinian cause, have normalised ties with Israel.

The United Arab Emirates went first in a historic US-mediated deal establishing full ties with the Jewish state.

That sparked a similar accord with Bahrain, a provisional deal with Sudan and a re-launch of ties with Morocco, helping rekindle the kingdom's decades-old rivalry with neighbouring Algeria.

Algiers remains a steadfast supporter of the Palestinians, even mediating a reconciliation between rival factions in October.

The deal was seen as a public relations coup for Tebboune as he seeks more regional clout for Algeria on the back of its growing status as a gas exporter in a supply-starved global market.

Tebboune did not directly mention the normalisation deals. But he insisted that a 2002 Arab initiative proposing peace in exchange for Israel's withdrawal from land it occupied during the 1967 Six Day War was the only way to reach "a just and comprehensive peace".

The two-day meeting coincides with elections in Israel that could see hawkish ex-premier Benjamin Netanyahu return to power.

Addressing leaders including United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, Tebboune called for a UN General Assembly session to give full membership to the state of Palestine.

The Algiers summit is another opportunity for Tebboune to push his agenda forward, despite high-profile Arab leaders being absent.

"Algerian foreign policy has gone on the offensive at the regional, African and Arab levels," said Geneva-based expert Hasni Abidi.

Tebboune has rolled out the red carpet for his guests, including his Egyptian, Palestinian and Tunisian counterparts Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Mahmud Abbas and Kais Saied, as well as Qatar's leader, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

But UAE ruler Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan stayed away, instead sending the country's vice president, Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum.

The main roads of Algiers were decked out with national flags and huge billboards welcoming "brother Arabs", ahead of a dinner hosted by Tebboune.

- Charm offensive -

But Algeria has also been unnerved by Morocco's security and defence cooperation with Israel, adding to decades of mistrust fuelled by a dispute over the Western Sahara.

The status of the former Spanish colony, considered a "non-self-governing territory" by the UN, has pitted Morocco against the Algeria-backed Polisario Front since the 1970s.

In August 2021, Algiers cut diplomatic ties with Rabat, alleging "hostile acts".

With conflicts in Syria, Libya and Yemen also on the agenda, sources say foreign ministers are trying to reach consensus on the wording around Turkish and Iranian "interference" in the region -- and whether to mention Ankara and Tehran by name or not.

"The paradox of this summit is that it's being billed as a unifying event, whereas each Arab state actually has its own agenda and goals fitting its interests," Abidi said.

"So ultimately the Arab League is the perfect mirror of Arab foreign policy."

That point is underlined by the absence of several key figures, notably Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reported to have an ear infection, Morocco's King Mohammed VI, and Bahrain's leader.

"The Arab states which have normalised with Israel are not enthusiastic about the idea of a coming together to condemn their position," said Abidi.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin sent a message saying Moscow was committed to cooperation with the League to boost "security".

He called for conflicts to "be resolved on the basis of generally accepted international law and a commitment to strict respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries".

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Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA) said that Egypt is expected to witness light to moderate rain for the second day in a row on Wednesday after a wave of rain that hit various parts of the country on Tuesday.

According to predictions by the EMA, there is a 40-50 percent chance for light to moderate rain on the Northern coasts and Northern Nile Delta.

Chances for light rain on Southern Nile Delta, Suez Canal cities and middle Sinai, as well as on various parts of Greater Cairo, are, however, 30 percent.

Starting Wednesday, Greater Cairo and Lower Egypt are expected to see highs of 26-28 degrees Celsius and lows of 18-19 degrees, said the EMA.

South Sinai governorate, which hosts the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) 6-18 November in Sharm El-Sheikh, is expected to witness highs of 28-30 degrees and lows of 21-22 degrees.

Starting from Thursday till Monday, regions of South Sinai will witness wind activity.

The EMA predicted that the North Coast will see highs of 25-26 degrees and lows of 17-18 degrees.

Northern Upper Egypt will experience highs of 28-29 degrees and lows of 16 degrees.

Southern Upper Egypt is set to see highs of 29-30 degrees and lows of 18-19 degrees, according to the EMA.

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Mahmoud Mohieldin, the UN climate change high level champion for Egypt, stressed the need to multiply the amount allocated for climate adaptation for Africa by six times to reach $62 billion, up from the current $11.4 billion.

Africa currently receives approximately $29.5 billion annually, of which $14.6 billion is for mitigation and about $11.4 billion is for adaptation, Mohieldin said during his speech Monday at a virtual session by UNCTAD on financing the global adaptation challenge.

Africa needs $2.8 trillion between 2020 and 2030, an average of $277 billion annually, Mohieldin said, citing a report published by the Climate Policy Initiative.

Adaptation funds are provided by the Adaptation Fund Board, a global body originally set up in 2001 by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to provide financial aid to developing countries to adapt to the negative effects of climate change.

It is important to distinguish between adaptation and the losses and damages caused by climate change, added Mohieldin, who also is the UN special envoy on financing 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

Each file must be addressed differently, especially since the file of adaptation is still suffering from a great deal of neglect and lack of funding, he pointed out.

The climate champion emphasised the importance of adaptation for developing economies and for Africa in particular.

Mohieldin also referred to the dependence of climate finance on state budgets, either directly through mobilising domestic resources or through borrowing, arguing that this makes some countries more vulnerable than others as it means they would need to spend at least 20 percent of their GDP.

According to Mohieldin, 97 percent of adaptation funding in Africa comes from public sources, and only three percent comes from the private sector.

The climate champion highlighted the opportunities for public-private partnerships, especially in light of the nexus between water, food, energy and basic infrastructure, noting the need to mobilise more public financing and soft resources for adaptation and strengthen the role of the private sector.

Mohieldin concluded his speech by emphasising the need to renew or increase the capital of the multilateral development banks and replenish the Green Climate Fund, which must take into account how to finance future needs, especially when it comes to technical assistance and capacity development.

Hopes are pinned on the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), set to be held 6-18 November in Sharm El-Sheikh, to turn climate-related pledges into action to help facilitate the transition to green energy in order to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change as per the Paris Agreement.

The Paris Agreement  adopted at COP21 and signed by over 190 states, including Egypt  came into effect in 2016 with the aim of limiting the rise in temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Climate finance has been debated at every COP meeting since, as developed countries have failed to meet their promise to mobilise $100 billion annually by 2020 to help developing nations with mitigation and adaptation measures.

Only 70 percent of the $100 billion pledged in 2009s COP, held in Copenhagen, to finance climate action in the developing countries have been fulfilled, Mohieldin said in previous remarks.

Egypt has vowed to speak up for Africa's aspirations to cope with climate change during COP27.

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By Trend

Residents of such Azerbaijani high-mountain villages as Lahij and Khinalig are provided with fiber-optic internet, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan told Trend on November 1.

According to the ministry, from now on, digital opportunities can be used even in the most remote villages of the country thanks to the establishment of an appropriate infrastructure with high-speed internet.

"Besides, as part of the work carried out in the regions, activities are underway to provide Azerbaijani citizens returning to their homes in the liberated territories with fixed phone communications and high-speed internet," added the ministry.

From 2017 through 2020, 227,000 households were covered by the fiber optic network in Azerbaijan. In the past two years, a fiber-optic network was built for 422,000 households, and 649,000 households have been provided with fiber-optic internet in the country so far.
Kenyan President William Ruto said here Tuesday his government has allocated 2 billion shillings (16.47 million U.S. dollars) for food relief to counties affected by the severe drought across the country.

Ruto said the government will also collaborate with development partners and the private sector to raise additional funds to tackle the crippling drought which has affected more than 4 million Kenyans.

"We are working with development partners to raise another 10 billion shillings (82.36 million dollars) to ensure no part of the country is unfairly affected by drought," Ruto made the remarks while being installed as the Patron of the Kenya Red Cross Society.

The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance currently stands at 4.35 million, a rise from 4.1 million in June, according to National Drought Management Authority (NDMA).

The NDMA said due to diminished pasture and water resources in most of the arid counties, mortalities across all livestock species namely camels, cattle, goats and sheep have increased.

Ruto said part of the new allocation will be channeled to support the animal offtake program through which the government buys weak livestock from pastoralists.

The president said half of the animals are slaughtered and the meat distributed to locals while the other half are taken to the Kenya Meat Commission where their meat is canned for distribution to schools.

Ruto said he was confident that the interventions being undertaken together with development partners and the private sector will save the lives of Kenyans in areas worst affected by the drought.

He said the Kenya Red Cross Society will continue playing an integral role in the efforts to mitigate the drought which has affected 20 of the 23 counties categorized as Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL).

Ruto also announced that 1.65 million dollars will be allocated to the Kenya Wildlife Service to undertake water trucking for wildlife in Kenya's national parks and reserves.

He said that even as the government leads efforts to respond to the drought emergency, it remains focused on plans to ensure a constant and predictable food supply in the future.

He said predictability in the supply of food is being ensured through the provision of cheap fertilizer and seeds, and the construction of enough dams to support irrigation among several other measures.

The president said that the government is also determined to put in place robust measures to combat climate change, which is the root cause of the adverse weather patterns around the world.

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Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly inspected the final preparations for the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP27), which set to take place 6-18 November in the Red Sea city of Sharm El-Sheikh in south Sinai.

A cabinet statement said that Madbouly was keen on following up all projects aiming to turn Sharm El-Sheikh into a green city ahead of the conference.

Madbouly was accompanied during his inspection tour by Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Minister of Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad and the Governor of South Sinai Khaled Fouda.

The prime minister toured the ongoing development work of the 40,000 square metre Peace Square.

A host of activities are scheduled to take place in the square during the COP27, Governor Fouda said.

Egypt seeks to develop the square, which comprises a promenade and a theatre, into a tourist destination in the popular seaside resort, the governor added.

Madbouly inspected final renovations at Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport, including runways, passages, arrival and departure halls, and VIP halls.

More than 35,000 have registered so far on the COP27 website to attend the conference.

The prime minister urged staff to maintain all utilities and service areas at the airport, stressing the importance of providing a good reception to the city's visitors.

Madbouly also inspected preparations at the Green Zone near the International Convention Centre that will host the climate conference's activities.

Minister Fouad pointed out that infrastructure and logistical services in the area include water, sanitation, electricity and internet.

She also the keenness of the Egyptian state to expand the participation of local and international NGOs in the conference.

Fouad added that a number of NGOs are set to participate in the Egyptian pavilion inside the Blue Zone and the Green Zone.

This will include a program by the Ministry of Social Solidarity to discuss issues of interest to civil society.

The Green Zone will also include areas for showcasing stories of the Egyptian governments successful climate actions.

These will include areas for non-commercial activities and fairs related to climate work in addition to areas for cultural activities.

It will also include zones for establishing activities to raise the awareness with the risks of climate change.

Madbouly also inspected medical facilities that have been equiped with the latest technologies to serve COP27 participants

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French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday accused Russia of endangering world food supplies by suspending its participation in a landmark Ukraine grain deal.

Moscow on Saturday halted its participation in the agreement that allowed vital grain exports from Ukraine, blaming drone attacks on Russian ships in the Crimea.

In a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Macron "denounced a unilateral decision by Russia which again harms global food security", the president's office said.

Russia made the announcement after its army accused Kyiv of a "massive" drone attack on its Black Sea fleet, which Ukraine labelled a "false pretext" and the UN urged the deal's preservation.

US President Joe Biden called the move "purely outrageous" while Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Moscow was "weaponising food".

The July deal to unlock grain exports signed between Russia and Ukraine and brokered by Turkey and the UN has been seen as critical to easing the global food crisis caused by the conflict.

The agreement allowed more than nine million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to be exported and was due to be renewed on November 19.

Earlier Tuesday, Turkey said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would speak with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts in the coming days to try to rescue the grain export deal.

In Tuesday's call, Macron also told Zelenskyy that France would "very quickly" increase its military support for Ukraine, "especially concerning air defence".

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Israelis cast ballots Tuesday in their fifth election in less than four years, turning out for their strongest showing in two decades with ex-premier Benjamin Netanyahu seeking a comeback.

The vote follows the collapse of a coalition that last year united eight disparate parties and ousted Netanyahu, ending his record run as prime minister, but which ultimately failed to achieve political stability.

Netanyahu, 73, who is on trial for corruption and breach of trust, warned the race was "a very, very close battle" as he rallied supporters of his right-wing Likud party in the central city of Netanya.

Caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, 58, whose centrist Yesh Atid (There Is a Future) has polled second behind Netanyahu's party, urged people to vote in the "very close" contest.

In a political system where a shift in just one of the 120 Knesset seats up for grabs could cement a ruling coalition, or lead to further deadlock and possible new elections, the outcome remains uncertain once more.

Concerns about voter fatigue were widespread, but as of 6:00 pm (1600 GMT) turnout was the highest since 1999 at 57.7 percent, a rise of 6.2 percentage points compared with the last election in March 2021, according to the Central Elections Committee.

At a polling station in Tel Aviv, voter Amy Segal, 26, aired her frustration at being asked to vote yet again after years of deadlock.

"Each year there's a new election, there's no political stability," she told AFP. "I feel like it doesn't matter who you vote for, nothing will change."

Polls close at 10:00 pm (2000 GMT), when Israeli networks will give their first results projections.

Whoever is tapped to form a government will need support from multiple smaller parties to clinch a 61-seat majority.

Extreme-right leader Itamar Ben-Gvir may be key to helping Netanyahu return to power, as his Religious Zionism bloc has gained momentum in recent weeks and could come third in the election.

Ben-Gvir, who wants Israel to annex the entire West Bank, promised a "full right-wing government" led by Netanyahu, after voting near his settlement home.

Justice Minister Gideon Saar, a former Likud heavyweight who broke with Netanyahu and now leads his own party, warned Israel risked electing a "coalition of extremists".

The vote is being held against a backdrop of soaring violence across Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.

At least 29 Palestinians and three Israelis were killed across the two territories in October, according to an AFP tally.

The Israeli military shut checkpoints leading to the West Bank and closed the crossing with the blockaded Gaza Strip throughout election day.

While many candidates have cited security as a concern, none have pledged to revive moribund peace talks with the Palestinians.

The soaring cost of living has been a hot issue this election as Israelis, having long endured high prices, are feeling the pinch even more amid global economic turmoil linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Lapid was the architect of the last coalition, which for the first time brought an independent Arab party into the fold and included others from the right and left.

In Tel Aviv, voter Gidi Bar Ilan, 30, said the short-lived coalition "demonstrates that we can sit together".

The unlikely alliance of the last government was made possible after Mansour Abbas pulled his Raam party from a united slate with other Arab-led parties, paving the way for him to join the coalition.

But Raam's pioneering support for a coalition is not viewed positively across Arab society, which makes up around 20 percent of Israel's population.

"He tried, but he didn't bring anything. No change, no money," said voter Faris Mansour from the central Arab town of Tirah.

The 54-year-old told AFP he had voted for the Balad party which rejects participation in Israeli governance.

Recent months have seen further divisions within the Arab bloc, which is running on three separate lists in a move expected to weaken the minority's representation in parliament.

Abbas remained optimistic Tuesday that "this process of cooperation" would continue, yielding "results for the Arab society, and for the Israeli society in general".

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Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro blocked major highways for a second day as tensions mounted over his silence after narrowly losing re-election to bitter rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Thirty-six hours after official results showed he had lost Sunday's presidential run-off with only 1.8 percentage points, Bolsonaro has yet to concede defeat, fanning concerns he may try and challenge the result after months of attacking the electoral system as fraudulent.

Federal Highway Police (PRF) on Tuesday reported more than 250 total or partial road blockages in at least 23 states by Bolsonaro supporters, while local media said protests outside the country's main international airport in Sao Paulo delayed passengers and led to several flights being cancelled.

Protesters wearing the yellow and green of the Brazilian flag, which the outgoing president has adopted as his own, said they would not accept the outcome of the election.

"We will not accept losing what we have gained, we want what is written on our flag, 'order and progress'. We will not accept the situation as it is," Antoniel Almeida, 45, told AFP at a protest in Barra Mansa, Rio de Janeiro.

On Monday night Judge Alexander de Moraes of the Supreme Court ordered police to disperse the blockades immediately. He was acting in response to a request by a transport federation that complained it was losing business.

- Lula gets to work -

The mounting tension follows a dirty and divisive election campaign between the hardline conservative Bolsonaro and his nemesis Lula, who returns to office in a dramatic comeback.

Brazil's president between 2003 and 2010, Lula crashed into disgrace in a corruption scandal that landed him in jail before his conviction was thrown out due to bias from the lead judge. However, he was not exonerated.

The election outcome showed just how polarized the country is between the two very different leaders.

Lula scored 50.9 percent to Bolsonaro's 49.1 percent, the narrowest margin in Brazil's modern history.

With a massive to-do list, Lula leaped into action, meeting Argentine President Alberto Fernandez in Sao Paulo and holding a series of phone calls with US President Joe Biden, France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Olaf Scholz, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and others.

However Bolsonaro's silence after months of alleging fraud in the electoral system and a conspiracy against him had the country on a knife-edge.

"Anyplace else in the world, the defeated president would have called me to recognize his defeat," Lula said in his victory speech to a euphoric sea of red-clad supporters in Sao Paulo on Sunday night.

There are fears Bolsonaro, 67, could attempt a Brazilian version of the US Capitol riots which rocked that country after his political role model, former US president Donald Trump, refused to accept his election defeat in 2020.

But the Brazilian leader may find himself isolated.

Some key Bolsonaro allies have publicly recognized his loss, including the powerful speaker of the lower house of Congress, Arthur Lira.

And international congratulations for Lula poured in from the US, China, India, France, Britain, South Africa and numerous others.

Lula acknowledged the "immense" challenges facing his government when he is sworn in on January 1, citing a hunger crisis, the economy, bitter political division, and deforestation in the Amazon.

He is likely to face a hostile Congress packed with allies of Bolsonaro.

"Lula will have to show a lot of political skill to pacify the country," said political scientist Leandro Consentino of Insper university in Sao Paulo.

Bolsonaro became the first incumbent president in Brazil not to win re-election in the post-dictatorship era after a four-year term in which he came under fire for his disastrous handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, which left more than 680,000 dead in Brazil.

He also drew criticism for his vitriolic comments, polarizing style and attacks on democratic institutions and foreign allies.

Lula's victory has been hailed by environmentalists and governments hoping he will make halting Amazon destruction a key priority.

The European Union's leadership voiced hope Lula's win would lead to ratification of a trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur, long stalled over concerns about rampant deforestation under Bolsonaro.

Norway announced it would resume paying nearly $500 million in aid for protecting the world's biggest rainforest, which it halted in 2019 over.

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A major search and rescue operation was underway Tuesday for dozens of migrants reported missing after the overloaded sailing boat they were on capsized and sank in stormy weather overnight off an island near the Greek capital, authorities said.

The incident was the latest in a series of recent shipwrecks involving migrant boats in Greek seas that have left dozens of people dead or missing.

The coast guard said nine survivors, all men, had been found on an uninhabited islet south of the island of Evia and had been picked up by a coast guard vessel in the early hours of Tuesday. None had been wearing lifejackets, the coast guard said. The survivors told authorities they had been on board a sailing boat with a total of around 68 people that had left from Izmir on the Turkish coast, and that the vessel had capsized and sank.

The rescue operation was hampered by particularly rough weather, with gale force winds on Tuesday morning, the coast guard said. The area where the boat sank, the Kafireas Strait between the islands of Evia and Andros, is notoriously treacherous, with even light winds kicking up rough seas. Wind strength eased in the early afternoon, but the ongoing search had not yet located any further passengers from the sailing boat.

Images of the rescue operation released by the coast guard showed a small group of people standing on rocks beneath a cliff waving for help, and waves crashing over the coast guard patrol boat during the night-time search and rescue. A photo released by the coast guard showed the survivors wrapped in emergency foil blankets sitting on the deck of the patrol boat.

The coast guard said authorities were initially alerted by a distress call in the early hours of Tuesday from passengers saying the boat they were on was in trouble, but they did not provide a location. An aircraft, a coast guard patrol boat and two nearby ships were participating in the search and rescue operation.

A separate search and rescue operation was also continuing Tuesday afternoon off the coast of the eastern Aegean island of Samos, which lies near the Turkish coast, for seven people still missing from an inflatable dinghy that capsized on Monday with 12 people reportedly on board. Four survivors were rescued Monday from that incident.

The coast guard said a cargo ship participating in the search and rescue operation located one body in the area on Tuesday, within Greek territorial waters. It said the body was picked up by a Turkish coast guard vessel which had not been participating in the search and rescue operation.

The coast guard said the Turkish vessel harassed a Greek coast guard vessel and tried to damage it, while also ``displaying weaponry.'' Tension has been high between neighbors and NATO allies Greece and Turkey, which are at odds over a series of issues, including territorial disputes in the Aegean.

A coast guard aircraft and two vessels, and a boat from the European border patrol agency Frontex were participating in Tuesday's search, authorities said.

Thousands of people fleeing conflict and poverty in Africa, Asia and the Middle East attempt to enter the European Union through Greece each year. Most make the short but often perilous crossing from the Turkish coast to nearby Greek islands in inflatable dinghies. Others opt to attempt to circumvent Greece in overcrowded sailboats and yachts heading straight to Italy.

Earlier this month, at least 27 people drowned in two separate incidents. In one, 18 people died when a boat that had set sail from Turkey sank off the eastern Aegean island of Lesbos, while in the other, a yacht carrying about 100 people sank in a gale, killing at least nine and leaving six missing.

Off the coast of Italy, more than 900 migrants rescued by charity boats in various operations over the last few days waited aboard crowded vessels on Tuesday in hope that Italian authorities would assign ports for disembarkation. So far, Italy's new far-right-led coalition is keeping to earlier governments' policy of not immediately granting authorization for the migrants to come ashore.

Anti-migrant League leader Matteo Salvini is part of Italy's new governing coalition, whose interior minister has said he'll crack down on boats suspected of aiding illegal immigration.

Separately, some 280 migrants stepped ashore on the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa on Tuesday, while hundreds of others were transferred from the island's chronically overcrowded housing for asylum seekers to larger facilities in Sicily or the mainland.

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Brazil's Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the federal highway police to immediately clear hundreds of roads across the country blocked by truck drivers protesting President Jair Bolsonaro's loss in the Oct. 30 election.

A majority of the court's justices backed the decision, which accuses the highway police of "omission and inertia." Failure to comply will mean its director can be fined up to 100,000 reais (more than $19,000) per hour, be removed from his duties and even face arrest. Federal prosecutors in Sao Paulo and Goias states said they had opened investigations into the blockades.

By noon Tuesday, highway police said they had removed 306 blockades, but more than 260 were still in place.

Bolsonaro hasn't spoken publicly since official electoral results were released Sunday night, nor has he phoned da Silva to concede.

"There is no doubt that, even though he might not be directly responsible for these actions, everything he has done as president stoked this, especially questioning the electoral process and the ballots," said Williams Goncalves, a political science professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

Much like former U.S. President Donald Trump, whom Bolsonaro openly admires, the far-right incumbent has repeatedly questioned the reliability of the country's electoral system, claiming electronic voting machines are prone to fraud. He never provided any proof, even when ordered to do so by the electoral court.

"Bolsonaro is completely isolated. Everyone responsible for other institutions has already recognized the election's results," Goncalves said.

Bolsonaro lost the race by a thin margin, garnering 49.1% of the vote to da Silva's 50.9%. It was the tightest presidential race since Brazil's return to democracy in 1985.

In Sao Paulo, Brazil's most populous state and largest economy, traffic jams around the international airport led to dozens of flight cancellations, with videos on social media showing travelers rolling their suitcases along the highway in the dark trying to catch their flights. The highways had been cleared by Tuesday morning, but airport officials said access remained difficult as traffic was still backed up.

At another road block in Sao Paulo state, protesters set tires on fire. Several demonstrators were wrapped in the Brazilian flag, which has been co-opted by the nation's conservative movement for demonstrations. Huge lines of cars could be seen snaking along the highway.

In Minas Gerais, a key battleground state in the election, a video on social media showed a protester telling a reporter from the O Tempo news outlet that the election was "fraudulent" and warned of future protests. "We won't stop as long as we don't have a response from our president," he said. "We want Bolsonaro in 2023 and for the years to come."

In Itaborai, a region in Rio de Janeiro state, an Associated Press reporter saw truck drivers kneeling in front of police officers and refusing to evacuate.

Users on social media, including in multiple Telegram and WhatsApp chat groups with names like "Paralysation," shared demands that the military take the streets, or that Congress and the Supreme Court be disbanded and the president remain in office.

Following the election, the electoral authority blocked two dozen Telegram groups that defended a military coup and called on their more than 150,000 followers to organize demonstrations, according to online news site UOL.

The Supreme Court's decision on Tuesday permits regular state police forces to reinforce federal highway police, and the governors of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo states ordered them to deploy, news outlets reported. The same was done in 2018, when an 11-day trucker strike brought Brazil to a halt.

Bolsonaro commands wide support from the police forces' rank and file, however, and it wasn't clear how effective their involvement would be. Da Silva's Workers' Party had accused Bolsonaro's campaign of deploying law enforcement to create traffic jams and deter people from voting on Election Day, and video footage shared on social media showed officials stopping buses.

Alexandre de Moraes, who presides over the the nation's electoral authority, said police checkpoints delayed voters, but didn't stop them from reaching the polls.

The 2018 stoppage caused food prices to spike and left supermarket shelves without products as gas stations ran out of fuel. It caused billions in losses and revealed the vast power that truckers possess, particularly when they organize through social media platforms.

Bolsonaro, a lawmaker at the time and months away from winning that year's presidential election, was an outspoken supporter of the truckers, who are now among his constituents. This year, his administration limited interstate fuel taxes to help bring down prices and launched a financial aid program for truckers just months before the election.

On Tuesday, dozens of journalists from both national and international news outlets remained camped outside the presidential residence in the capital, Brasilia, awaiting any sign that Bolsonaro might speak about the election or the highway blockades.

"Bolsonaro's strategy here, so far as there is one, seems to be strategic ambiguity," said Robert Muggah, co-founder of Igarape Institute, a Rio de Janeiro-based think tank focused on security. "He's focused on the street, and if chaos ensues so much the better. There is a real risk that police inaction could ignite simmering tensions between the militant wings of the far left and far right."

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Sweden's new prime minister said Tuesday he was open to allowing nuclear weapons on Swedish soil once the country becomes a NATO member, a turnaround from the previous government's stance.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who took over the reins in Sweden two weeks ago, was speaking in Helsinki at a press conference with his Finnish counterpart Sanna Marin, whose country is applying for membership in the Atlantic alliance together with Sweden.

When asked if the two nations would accept nuclear weapons on their soil, Marin replied: "We shouldn't put any preconditions... We have decided that we don't want to close any doors for the future."

Kristersson agreed.

"You will receive exactly the same answer from me as from the Finnish prime minister", he said.

"It's very natural for Sweden and Finland to act very jointly in these matters and have exactly the same formalisation. So I have no other intention than going hand-in-hand also in this sense with Finland", Kristersson told reporters.

Both Marin and Kristersson however acknowledged that reservations could be negotiated "later".

Sweden's Social Democratic party, which was in power when Sweden submitted its membership application in May, said that it would work to express "unilateral reservations against the deployment of nuclear weapons and permanent bases on Swedish territory".

In Finland, the import, manufacture, possession and detonation of nuclear explosives is prohibited by law.

Nordic neighbours Denmark and Norway, which are already NATO members, have both refused to allow foreign countries to establish permanent military bases or nuclear weapons on their soil in peacetime.

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Libya is aiming to nearly double its oil output to two million barrels per day by 2027, the head of its National Oil Company has said.

"We're working on raising production to two million barrels per day in the next three to five years," Farhat Bengdara said in an interview with Sky News Arabia, posted on the NOC's Facebook page on Tuesday.

Bengdara said the country, which currently produces around 1.2 million bpd, was expecting revenues of "$35-$37 billion" this year.

The North African country, which boasts the biggest proven crude reserves on the continent, has been wracked by years of conflict and division since the 2011 NATO-backed revolt that toppled dictator Moamer Kadhafi, periodically shutting down exports and damaging facilities.

"We need around $4 billion in new investment to modernise our infrastructure" including pipelines and storage facilities, Bengdara added.

The NOC chief was taking part in the ADIPEC energy conference in Abu Dhabi, where he also said he expected to sign an $8 billion deal with Italian major ENI by the end of the year to develop gas fields in Libya's west.

He said that NOC and ENI, along with Britain's BP, had agreed to start exploring for offshore gas in the Mediterranean off western Libya.

Libya's Tripoli-based government in October signed a memorandum of understanding with Turkey to start undersea gas exploration, in zones of the Mediterranean marked out in a 2019 deal that angered European nations.

The October deal also angered a rival government based in Libya's east, which argues that the Tripoli-based administration has no right to sign international agreements as its mandate has expired.

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The Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) unveiled on Monday the programme for its second edition, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabias coastal city of Jeddah from 1 to 10 December.

The RSIFF will screen 131 feature films and shorts from 61 countries in 41 languages, including 34 world premieres, 17 Arab premieres and 47 Middle East and North Africa premieres.

The opening film will be Whats Love Got to Do with It?, directed by Shekhar Kapur and written by Jemima Khan. It stars Lily James, Shazad Latif, Shabana Azmi, Sajal Aly, Asim Chaudhry and Emma Thompson.

The closing ceremony will host the world premiere of Valley Road, by acclaimed Saudi filmmaker Khaled Fahd, starring Hamad Farhan, Naif Khalaf and Aseel Omran.

The official competitions line-up 26 shorts and 16 features from around the globe with the winners set to be announced on 8 December.

The features competition jury will be led by the three-time Academy award winner filmmaker Oliver Stone, who is known for his movies The Doors, Wall Street, JFK, Midnight Express, Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July, Nixon and Natural Born Killers.

Rising Saudi filmmakers will be celebrated by showcasing seven new Saudi features and 18 Saudi short films, including Valley Road.

The parallel programmes also include Festival Favorites, New Saudi/New Cinema, Red Sea: Treasures, Red Sea: Arab and International Spectacular, Red Sea: Family and Children, Red Sea: Virtual Reality, Red Sea: Series, and Red Sea: New Vision.

Our programmers have curated the best of Arab and international cinema, talent-led galas of some of the most anticipated films of the year, and an exceptional selection from astonishing new Saudi talents who are paving the way in our countrys flourishing industry, stated the festival CEO Mohammed Al-Turki on Monday.

This year In-Conversations programme will host talks from German filmmaker Fatih Akin, British director Gurinder Chadha, Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania and Egyptian actors Mona Zaki and Hussein Fahmy,

The red carpets galas will include screenings of Saudi director Fahad Alammaris Alkhallat+, Lebanese Lara Sabas All Roads, South Koeans Hirokazu Kore-edas Broker, Irish Martin McDonaghs The Banshees of Inisherin, South Korean Park Chan-Wooks Decision, British Sam Mendes Empire of Light and Egyptian John Ikram Sawers Kamla, among other films.

The festival is also hosting many competitions and activities as part of the Red Sea Souk - the festivals industry market platform that will run between 3 and 6 December.

It will feature representatives from 46 countries who will have to opportunity to network and enjoy access to the vibrant new Saudi scene, as well as the best of Arab and African production.

In partnership with VOX Cinemas and the MBC GROUP, the 10-day event is sponsored by a number of public and private entities, with dozens of filmmakers and actors from all over the globe expected to attend.

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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin have signed a Statement in Sochi.

Azernews presents the statement.

Statement by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan,

the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and

the President of the Russian Federation

31 October 2022

We, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan I. H. Aliyev, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia N. V. Pashinyan and President of the Russian Federation V. V. Putin, met in Sochi on 31 October 2022 and discussed the implementation of the trilateral statements of 9 November 2020, 11 January and 26 November 2021.

We reaffirmed our commitment to strict compliance with all these agreements in the interests of the comprehensive normalization of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations, ensuring a lasting peace, stability, security and sustainable economic development of the South Caucasus. We agreed to make additional effort to urgently resolve the remaining tasks, including the block of humanitarian issues.

Noting the key contribution of the Russian peacekeeping contingent to ensuring security in the zone of its deployment, we emphasized the relevance of its efforts to stabilize the situation in the region.

We agreed to refrain from the use or the threat of using force, to discuss and resolve all problematic issues solely on the basis of mutual recognition of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders in accordance with the UN Charter and the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991.

We emphasized the importance of active preparation for the signing of a peace treaty between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia in order to achieve sustainable and lasting peace in the region. On the basis of the currently developed proposals, it was agreed to continue the search for acceptable solutions. The Russian Federation will render all possible assistance in this.

We emphasized the importance of creating a positive atmosphere between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia to continue the dialogue between representatives of the public, expert communities and religious leaders with Russian assistance, as well as launching trilateral inter-parliamentary contacts in order to strengthen confidence between the peoples of the two countries.

The leaders of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia welcome the readiness of the Russian Federation to continue to contribute in every possible way to the normalization of relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, ensuring stability and prosperity in the South Caucasus.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

I. H. Aliyev

Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia

N. V. Pashinyan

President of the Russian Federation

V. V. Putin
American University in Cairo

New Cairo Campus

Abdul Latif Jameel Hall

Thurs 3, 1-2pm: Asian Innovations: Samsung, Toyota, and TSMC - How these Asian Companies Succeeded Globally? join this Willard W. Brown International Business Leadership seminar featuring Sung Joo Park, emeritus professor at the KAIST Business School in Seoul, Korea, former dean and vice president of KAIST, and founding president of the Association of Asia-Pacific Business Schools. The session will be moderated by Nizar Becheikh, associate professor of strategy and innovation management at AUC School of Business. The session will explore what Asian innovation is and how the three representative companies (Samsung, Toyota, and TSMC) achieved success.

Mary Cross Lecture Hall

Thurs 3, 6:30-8:30pm: Climate Change in the Middle East: An Overview of Impacts and Responses lecture will be delivered by Michael Mason, Director of the Middle East Centre and Associate Professor of Environmental Geography at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). His research addresses global environmental politics and regional environmental change in Western Asia/the Middle East. His current research projects address water governance in Iraq and the geography of the occupied Golan Heights.

Sun 6, 6-7.30pm (Online event): Anger Management webinar is about anger as a normal human emotion, that can become destructive when it gets out of control. Unhealthy expressions of anger could lead to many obstacles in your life, work, and relationships. Therefore, the goal is not to get rid of the anger but to understand how to manage it. If you feel like you cannot control this tricky emotion, join this webinar to learn more about it and find healthier ways to manage it. The link is https://e.cglink.me/2kZ/r300078941

Hill House 602

Wed 9, 6.30- 8pm: Fields, Concepts, Borders: From Migration and Refugee Studies to Mobilities join the talk with Martina Rieker, director of AUCs Institute for Gender and Womens Studies, as she discusses recent migration and refugee mobility studies.

Thurs 10, 1-2pm (Online event): Join a virtual Campus Conversation live from the COP27 Green Zone in Sharm El-Sheikh. AUCs COP27 task force members will share news and insights about the universitys participation in this global climate change summit. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend and ask questions live during the event.

The link is https://e.cglink.me/2kZ/r300079354

Amir Taz Palace

27 Al-Syoufiya St, off Al-Saliba St, Al-Khalifa District, Tel 02 2514 2581

Every Saturday and Tuesday, 1pm: Enshad Dini (religious chanting) workshop by Munshid Mahmoud Al-Tohamy.

Every Sunday and Thursday, 4pm: The singing workshop of Amir Taz Palace Choir.

Beit Al-Harrawi (The Arab Oud House)

Mohamed Abdu St, behind Al-Azhar Mosque, Tel 02 2510 4174

Every Saturday, 3pm: Teaching music theories to students applying to professor Marwa Abdel-Moneim.

Teaching reading musical notes for beginners, by Professor Elham El-Hajj, 4pm.

Saturday and Wednesday of every week, 4pm - 8pm: Teaching the sections of the Arab Oud House (the oud, and the mandolin).

Beit Al-Sinnari

Mongue Ally, Behind Al Saneya Secondary School, Al Sayeda Zeinab Square, Cairo, Tel 02 2390 9471

Sun 30, 5pm: "The Remaining Antiquities of Al Andalus", a seminar features Juan Castilla, professor of Arabic Studies and researcher, who will invite you to delve deeply into the history of Al Andalus through the remaining texts and antiquities.

The Child Creativity Centre (Beit Al-Aini)

Al-Azhar district, behind Al-Azhar Mosque, Tel 02 2514 2990

Every Saturday, 10am: Chess tournament for kids with Hoda Salah. A workshop for the childrens choir of Beit Al-Aini, supervised by Iman Suleiman, 11am. Yalla Music workshop for teaching musical instruments by Hebat Allah Bahaa, 1.30pm. Workshops for auditions and theatrical acting supervised by Mohamed Ezzat, 4.30pm.

Sunday of every week, 12pm: Art and etiquette workshop by Rahma Mohsen.

Every Monday, 10am: Glove puppets making workshop by artist Rahma Mahgoub.

Wednesday of every week, 2pm: Decorations, visual art workshops.

Goethe Institute

Sun 7, 7.30pm (Online): The Increase in Wildfires in the Middle East is a scientific talk debating climate topic with Chiraz Belhadj Khedher, Geoscientist at the University of Manouba (Tunisia), moderated by Mohamed Yehia, Executive Editor, Nature Portfolio in the Middle East, Springer Nature. Tunisia, Algeria, and Lebanon have all seen wildfires last summer for the first time, which is related to the changing climate. This session will discover the effect that climate change is having on forests in the region and why this is becoming a serious problem.



Talaat Harb Cultural Centre

Al-Sayyeda Nafissa St, Zeinhom area, Tel 02 2362 2647/ 2362 8174

Every Monday, 1pm: Art workshop, teaching drawing supervised by Rahma Mohsen.

Every Saturday, 12pm: Artistic skills development workshop with Sarah El-Guindy. Embroidery art workshop with Amany Reda, 2pm.

Every Sunday, 12pm: Wax making workshop with professor Dalia El-Sherbiny.

Every Wednesday, 2pm: Arabic calligraphy workshop with Mohamed Fawzy.

Every Friday, 2pm: Doll making workshop with Rahma Mahgoub.

Saturday and Wednesday of every week: a workshop (integration) for Talaat Harb choir team and people with special abilities, 1pm.

Every Thursday, 1pm: Reading and narration workshop.

Every Saturday, 12pm: Artistic workshops and skills development for people with special abilities, supervised by professor Dalia El-Sherbiny.

Every Sunday, 8pm: Information and Question an online workshop and Book of Delivery, a book summary on the centers Facebook and WhatsApp pages.

ALEXANDRIA

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999

BACC Delegates Hall

Wed 9, 1pm: Construction Technology in Greek and Roman Architecture lecture will be delivered by Fathiya Gaber Ibrahim, Assistant Professor and Acting Head of the Greco-Roman Archaeology Department, Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University. The lecture tackles the methods of building and construction followed by architects in the Greek and Roman civilizations, as indicated in their diverse architectural creations, which remain to this day a witness to the achievements of the ancestors in the field of architecture.

The lecture also sheds light on how Greek and Roman architecture were influenced by other ancient civilizations, particularly the ancient Egyptian civilization, as Greek and Roman artists were not isolated from the influence of contemporary civilizations. Among the topics that will be covered in the lecture are the methods of stone-cutting in quarries, the ways of building walls, pillars and ceilings, the types of different architectural buildings such as temples, and theaters.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 3 November, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Civil society acts as the conscience of governments and the peoples champion in all the major challenges posed by climate change. We have seen this in action in all the seminars and forums that were held during the past year to prepare for the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) that is about to begin in Sharm El-Sheikh.

President of the African Development Bank Akinwumi Adesina underscored the need for robust civil society organisations in the fight against climate change in his opening remarks to the Civil Society Forum last month. The advocacy and oversight work of African civil society is crucial to the achievement of climate goals on the continent, Adesina said. The forum, which was held in Abidjan on 6-7 October, provided an open platform for influential civil society agencies to voice their opinions and proposals on the events theme: Engaging Civil Society for Climate Resilience and a Just Energy Transition in Africa.

Noting that 37 low-income countries and fragile states in Africa are the most vulnerable to climate change and depend on the resources of the African Development Fund (ADF) Adesina announced that the ADF had opened the Climate Action Window that will support 20 million farmers to have access to climate-smart agricultural technologies, support 20 million farmers and pastoralists to have weather-indexed insurance, revamp one million hectares of degraded lands, provide 9.6 million people with renewable energy, and provide 840 million cubic metres of water storage. He stressed, we will need you, the civil society organisations, to strongly advocate for and support the ADF replenishment, as it holds great promise for supporting the most vulnerable in the face of climate change devastations.

In a similar vein, Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth in the African Development Bank Kevin Kariuki told the forum that despite being home to 20 per cent of the worlds population, Africa accounts for only six per cent of global energy demand, and just over three per cent of electricity demand. As a result, 600 million Africans lack access to electricity while one billion people do not have access to clean cooking... to address this evident energy poverty, Africa needs to at least double its energy demand between 2020 and 2040 to meet its development aspirations.

In order to achieve its development aspirations within the confines of the goals of the Paris Agreement, Kariuki said, Africa needed to harness its renewable energy potential, decarbonise sectors such as shipping and transportation, and increase intra- and inter-regional interconnection of power grids towards the realisation of the proposed Africa Single Electricity Market. Civil society has a critical role to play in promoting these ends and taking advantage of the opportunity COP27 offers to amplify Africas positions and forefronts the needs and aspirations of its people.

This years Civil Society Forum transmitted the voice of African farmers to the highest decision-making levels. In his address to the forum, President of the Pan-African Farmers Organisation Kolyang Palebele sounded the alarm. The time is critical. We must react quickly to the shocks of climate change affecting the African people, Palebele said. He added that resilience should be integrated into national development plans and urged African heads of state to put the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Growth and Transformation of Agriculture in Africa for Shared Prosperity into action.

The African Development Banks Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development Beth Dunford took the occasion to emphasise civil societys crucial role as a link between the bank and African communities. It is in this sense that this forum has particular significance in consolidating African voices for COP27.

As this forum made clear, COP27 must profile Africas concerns in order to advance the global agenda on climate change and that civil society organisations have a vital role to play in communicating what African local communities need to help them accommodate the detrimental effects of climate change.

ARAB CIVIL SOCIETY AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

Like their counterparts in Africa, Arab civil societies had begun to prepare for COP27 months ago. Workshops were held at the national level for diverse segments of society to identify needs and propose viable solutions. Long before this, Arab civil society had formed many partnerships that have been working for years to address the challenges of climate change. In the process, they succeeded in focusing attention on crucial issues, foremost among which is the question of loss and damage. This is of particular concern to local communities that urgently need the mechanisms, facilities and financing to accommodate the effects of climate change, reduce risk, and minimise loss and damage.

A related and equally crucial concern is the question of displacement due to climate change and related disasters. The Arab Network for Environment & Development (RAED), a civil society network with members in 17 Arab countries, has been very active in this domain in partnership with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the World Refugee Council. In addition to successful awareness-raising campaigns, RAED has been instrumental in including the climate refugee challenge in national and regional plans with the aim of minimising risks from potential disasters, preparing new living spaces and developing an employment map to absorb those who have lost their jobs. Much work has been done towards these ends in Egypt and Sudan on the basis of studies conducted in these countries in collaboration with the NRC on displacement and migration due to disasters resulting from climate change. For example, in Egypt, case studies have been performed on the impact of climate change on indigenous communities in Wadi Al-Natrun.

As the Arab world is situated in the worlds most arid region, it comes as no surprise that increased drought due to climate change is of central concern to Arab civil society. To address this issue and its inherent ramifications on food security, RAED formed a partnership with the Arab Centre for the Studies of Arid Zones and Drylands (ACSAD) and the Mediterranean Information Office for the Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE). Together, they held numerous workshops in the Arab and Mediterranean regions to raise awareness on the need to combat drought and safeguard food security. Their work has resulted in the increased resilience and adaptability of local communities to the detrimental impact of climate change on these regions.

Some Egyptian and Sudanese organisations in the RAED network have joined the Nile Basin Discourse (NBD), a network of civil society organisations in the Nile Basin established in tandem with the Nile Valley Initiative in order to strengthen civil societys participation in development processes, projects, programmes and policies in this region. The NBD aims to promote the sustainability of the Nile and to activate and achieve the sustainable development plans of Nile Basin nations, primarily by increasing their resistance to the adverse effects of climate change, which means enhancing resilience and adaptability.

CIVIL SOCIETY IN COP27

Given the pivotal role Arab, African and Mediterranean civil society organisations have played and will continue to play in environmental and climate change causes, the Arab Office for Youth and Environment (AOYE) and the Egyptian Sustainable Development Forum (ESDF), both Egypt-based NGOs, launched the initiative Our country is hosting COP27 on 26 January this year. Timed to coincide with Egypts Environment Day on 27 January, the initiative was sponsored by Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine Al-Kabbag and aimed to strengthen the participation of civil society and its organisations in the preparations for COP27, to build the knowledge infrastructure on the main themes that the conference would focus on in light of the recommendations of the 2021 Glasgow conference, and to forge a unified outlook for civil society on climate issues. The launch of the initiative was also an occasion to celebrate the contributions of civil society and, therefore, gave many NGOs the opportunity to relate their success stories in climate action.

Our country is hosting COP27 has four main objectives:

- To create local platforms at the governorate level made up of representatives of ministries concerned with the environment (agriculture, irrigation, electricity, education, youth, environment, and local development), universities, the National Council for Women, and media centres and organisations with recognised expertise in environmental and climate affairs.

- To launch a climate change code of honour to stimulate commitments to practices that contribute to reducing climate change and its attendant repercussions and threats. A nationwide campaign garnered over a million signatures to the code ahead of the COP27 summit in Sharm El-Sheikh.

- To promote a genuine partnership between civil society organisations and the media. This bore fruit in the launch of the Media for Climate network which includes a large number of journalists and media professionals concerned with climate change and aims to disseminate awareness of the issues on the COP27 agenda.

- To create local platforms to generate proposals for projects that could be presented at the COP27 summit for funding and technical assistance to implement them. The projects, in turn, could form a cornerstone in the presidents Initiative for Smart Green Projects.

Our country is hosting COP27 generated a wealth of ideas for green projects that were forwarded to the national committee that was formed to review them. In the process, it helped stimulate a grassroots sense of involvement in COP27 which, in turn, increased the impetus of the preparations.

Such excellent work gives concrete meaning to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisis declaration that 2022 be the year of civil society. It demonstrates that civil society organisations possess the abilities to provide technical expertise, raise awareness, build capacities, win and mobilise support and partnerships for their initiatives and projects, furnish material support if given the means and act in an ongoing oversight capacity. At the same time, however, they must be given the appropriate climate and tools to enable them to become an effective partner in development.

Participants in COP27 will be tasked with following through on the action plan that was finalised in Glasgow last year and that aims to prevent the earths temperature from rising above 1.5 degrees Celsius, higher than its temperature before the Industrial Revolution. State actors will now be required to summon the political will to seriously discuss and reach consensus on crucial issues, above all funding for climate adaptation. Civil society organisations taking part in the conference in Sharm El-Sheikh will have an important part to play in pressuring state parties to live up to their obligations. Industrialised nations have yet to meet their pledge to provide $100 billion a year to finance climate mitigation projects in developing nations, and it is well known that this figure is far below the funds developing nations actually need to contend with both mitigation and adaptation challenges.

Time is not on the side of the planet and developing nations in particular. Participants at COP27 must move beyond talks and negotiations to the phase of implementation. Towards this end, the Egyptian presidency of COP27 is determined to achieve balanced progress on all aspects of climate change, from actions to reduce greenhouse gas emission to actions to accommodate to climate change, and from rallying funding to promoting green technology solutions. The Egyptian presidency is equally determined to remain neutral. It is keen to hear the views, concerns and priorities of all sides and demonstrate it is worthy of their trust as it strives to bridge differences, encourage the spirit of compromise and produce concrete solutions acceptable to all.

*The writer is chairman of the Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED) and the Egyptian Sustainable Development Forum (ESDF).

A version of this article appears in print in the 3 November, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The present global economic crisis means that many developed countries are failing to live up to the targets they have committed themselves to in order to combat climate change, with large economies such as Germany and the US even bringing coal-burning power stations back on line in a bid to counter the present energy crisis.

Many of these power stations were supposed to be decommissioned to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases responsible for global warming, and the failure of the developed countries to reach their targets also comes against the background of further pressure on the emerging and developing economies to increase the pace of change to green and sustainable energy.

Countries that are responsible for almost two-thirds of global greenhouse-gas emissions have thus far been reluctant to provide the funds needed for those transformation efforts. This is despite the fact that at last years COP26 Conference in Glasgow, statements were made to mobilise $100 billion a year of financing for the emerging economies, considering these essential to help ensure mitigation efforts.

However, even at that time, leading US asset manager BlackRock issued a report concluding that the emerging market economies need $1 trillion a year of public and private finance in order to transition to a low-carbon economy in the fight against climate change or almost ten times the UN target.

The report said that to reach the target financing, public bodies would need to contribute $100 billion a year in grant-equivalent financing, which could in turn be leveraged with additional public and private sector investment that is to accelerate their efforts to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The figures were based on provisions of the Paris Agreement reached at the COP21 Conference in 2015 on global warming targets. But any pledges made later at Glasgow are probably now in jeopardy because of the economic difficulties facing the world, developed and developing countries alike.

As a result, pressure is building on the international community to address the issue of the financing needs of the emerging and developing countries at Sharm El-Sheikh despite the gloomy outlook of the global economy. Part of the economic problems the world is currently seeing is precisely the result of climate change, bringing drought and other costly natural disasters.

Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that the developing economies would need significant climate financing in the coming years to reduce their emissions and to adapt to the physical effects of climate change. It is estimated that these economies need an investment of $1 trillion a year by 2030, solely in the renewable energy sector to stay on track to achieve the net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions target by 2050.

It added that the developing economies alone will require up to $300 billion a year by 2030 to adapt agriculture, infrastructure, water supply, and other parts of their economies to counterbalance the physical effects of climate change. Moreover, if efforts to reduce emissions fall short of the global temperature objectives set by the Paris Agreement  keeping temperature increases below 1.5 degree Celsius above present levels  the need for adaptation financing will also rise sharply for the emerging markets and developing economies.

In a report released last week ahead of the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank, the IMF said it expected the financing needs of the emerging and developing countries to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions (mitigation finance) and adapt to the current and predicted physical effects of climate change (adaptation finance) could come to more than $1.75 trillion a year.

Such huge amounts needed on an annual basis are beyond the capabilities of the governments of the countries concerned. Private and institutional investment is necessary, and this will be a main issue to be discussed at the COP27 meeting.

Various international bodies are publishing estimates of the needed finance for green projects and the transformation of economies around the globe. A report by the US Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) released last week concluded that clean energy investment must be four times greater than fossil-fuel investment this decade up to 2030.

It analysed figures from different sources, including from the International Energy Agency (IEA). The ratio for investment in low-carbon energy supply to fossil-fuel energy supply changes dramatically this decade. The ratio was 0.9:1 last year and 0.97:1 in 2020 but has never crossed 1:1, it said.

The ratio needs to be 4:1 now and for a decade to come, even though the world is complaining of declining investment in fossil fuels, the report said. Earlier this year, IEA head Fatih Birol told the UK Financial Times that the world needs to invest at least $3 trillion in oil and gas projects to avert a severe energy crisis and make up for lower investment since 2009.

If the BNEF scenario is correct, there is a need for more than $15 trillion of investment in the coming decade.

Most investment in the emerging and developing countries will be public, the BlackRock report suggests. The main barrier to investment (by private players) is the extra risk involved in investing in emerging markets, including political, legal, regulatory and macroeconomic risk... To fix the problem, public investors would need to be prepared to take on more of the risk and assume a greater exposure to potential losses, it said.

The delegates at the COP27 Conference will nevertheless do their best to persuade private financing bodies, from banks to investment funds, to commit to playing their part in facing up to the global dangers of climate change, including by financing the green transition in the developing countries.

A version of this article appears in print in the 3 November, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Africa is the continent that contributes least to the causes of climate change  it is responsible for less than four per cent of global emissions  yet it remains one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to the impacts. Its exposure is driven mainly by low levels of socioeconomic growth, poverty, and the absence of resources to mitigate the repercussions of climate change and recover from the worst of its effects.

Since the start of 2022, natural disasters have left at least 4,000 Africans dead and affected the livelihood of a further 19 million, according to Carbon Brief, a UK-based website covering the latest developments in climate science, climate policy, and energy policy.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri, president-designate of COP27, has repeatedly underlined that COP27 will address African concerns on climate, including the implementation of climate pledges, most recently at a meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) held in September on the sidelines of this years UN General Assembly in New York. A major focus will also be on the integration of mitigation and adaptation strategies, loss and damage and climate finance, with a special emphasis on enhancing implementation.

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also repeatedly raised the issue of loss and damage, underlining the need for action.

Failure to act on loss and damage will lead to more loss of trust and more climate damage. This is a moral imperative that cannot be ignored, he told the media at the UN headquarters in New York last month, adding that COP27 must be the place for action on loss and damage.

Though the G77+1 had proposed that loss and damage mechanisms be agreed at COP26 in Glasgow the proposal was blocked by wealthy countries. Instead, the Glasgow Climate Pact  the document issued at the end of the COP26  opted for a set of dialogues to be held over the next two years to discuss financing to address loss and damage. The issue was raised again by the G77+1 during the UNGA meeting in New York when the group requested it be added to the agenda of COP27, a move that will require a consensus of all countries on the first day of the talks.

Shoukri underlined that the goal of limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is more fragile than ever because of the impact of the current global situation, in an interview published in The Guardian on 29 October.

Stressing that the circumstances in which COP27 is being held are more challenging than those that existed in Paris in 2015 or in Glasgow last year, he insisted we have to remain hopeful and focused and try to isolate and insulate the negotiating process from some of the external circumstances.

He warned that any backtracking or deviation from prior commitments will place the world on track to warming that could reach 3.6 degrees Celsius.

During COP26, countries committed to handing updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) highlighting their climate actions to the UN by September. Yet only 24 out of 193 countries have submitted their plans.

NDCs were part and parcel of the Paris Agreement. Nearly 70 per cent of the signatories of the agreement submitted their initial NDCs, including 53 out of Africas 54 states, though it was clear before COP26 that the submitted NDCs were doing little to help meet the target of 1.5 degrees Celsius warming set in the Paris Agreement. Indeed, one of COP26s successes was to convince states to present updated NDCs, though any optimism on this front has now dissipated.

The UN report [on NDCs] is a testimony to the fact that we are off-track on achieving the Paris Climate Goal and keeping 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach. Several of those expected to do more are far from doing enough and the consequences are affecting lives and livelihoods across the globe, Shoukri said in comments on the report.

I am conscious that there should be a continuum of action until 2030 and then onto 2050 but this requires a transformative response at COP27.

Shoukri has also asserted that there needs to be greater equity between finance for mitigation and adaptation.

For mitigation there are economic benefits, whereas the return for adaptation is more impactful in terms of lives and livelihoods, he said.

Though the fact remains that Africa still doesnt have access to the financing it needs to adapt to climate change which it is estimated by 2030 will have reached between $1.3 to $1.6 trillion, the continent has nonetheless seen some progress in adaptation initiatives, with a number of regional-level actors making progress. Advances include the development and adoption of regional climate change adaptation strategies, and the African Development Bank (AfDB) is devoting 67 per cent of its climate financing to adaptation.

The AfDB, together with the Global Centre on Adaptation, has developed the African Adaptation Acceleration Programme which has targeted $25 billion in climate adaptation finance for Africa.

An important point that will be highlighted during COP27 is that financing adaptation should come through grants, not loans, so as not to burden the continent with debt.

Climate finance is once again expected to be a dominant theme at COP27. Developing countries are expected to repeat their calls for developed countries to furnish adequate financial support and there will inevitably be a lot of discussion about the $100 billion promised annually by developed nations, an amount that has yet to be delivered. Rich countries committed to the amount in 2009 in Copenhagen but the target has yet to be hit.

African states will continue to call on developed countries to meet their obligations and work with other parties to ensure the swift implementation of climate finance delivery plans, and hopes are high that work at COP27 will see progress that pledges made will actually materialise during COP28, to be held in the UAE.

Clear climate action decisions will constitute success at COP27. We must have tangible, implementable outcomes. We must have decisions that people can point to and say this is being implemented, the current Chair of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) on climate change, Ephraim Mwepya Shitima of Zambia, told the media.

Natural disasters in Africa

- Drought and famine killed 2,500 people in Uganda and affected eight million in Ethiopia this year.

- More than 600 people died in Nigerias worst floods in a decade. This includes 76 people who were killed when a boat carrying flood victims capsized.

- Southern African countries, including Madagascar and Mozambique, were battered by six severe storms this year, killing at least 890 people.

- Temperatures reached 48 degrees Celsius in Tunisia in July, fanning the flames of extreme wildfires.

- Nearly two million people in Chad were affected by floods in August and October.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 3 November, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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More than 90 heads of state, some 30,000 people representing governments, businesses, NGOs, civil society groups and CEOs, will meet from 6 to 18 November in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh to participate in the worlds biggest and most important annual climate-related conference.

The aim of COP27 is to reach solutions that match the scope of the problems facing the planet: devastating floods in Pakistan, Europes hottest summer in 500 years, the whole of Cuba in blackout, hurricanes in the US, the global energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, and the continuing carbon emissions that have dangerously impacted the planet.

MAIN GOAL

According to the Egyptian presidency, the COP27 action agenda is structured with a focus on implementation, aiming at mobilising collective efforts for ambitious emission reductions from different sectors, enhanced transformative adaptation agenda on the ground, enabling flows of appropriate finance and delivering on the ground on time and at scale.

COP27 is expected to build on the achievements reached in COP26 in Glasgow and see through negotiations regarding points that remained inconclusive after Glasgow.

There is a governing rule that the world is obviously following, according to Tarek Said, a journalist and former coordinator of Egyptian Editors Forum (EEF): the need to collaborate and act together to face the global challenge of climate change. Without collaboration, we will see more natural disasters, Said told Al-Ahram Weekly.

COMMITMENTS NEEDED

In a press conference in New York last month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored the importance of COP27 pushing for that pressing Celsius goal and warned that the collective commitments of leading G20 industrialised nations are coming far too little, and far too late.

The actions of the wealthiest developed and emerging economies simply dont add up, Guterres said. The current pledges and policies are shutting the door on limiting global temperature to 2 degrees Celsius, let alone meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal, he said.

We are in a life-or-death struggle for our own safety today and our survival tomorrow. The world cant wait. Emissions are at an all-time high and rising.

COP26 issued the Glasgow Climate Pact which kept the goal of curbing global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius alive, a goal that was outlined in the Paris Agreement in 2015.

In addition, another positive step was taken to make the Paris Agreement fully operational: finalising the details for the practical implementation of the agreement, also known as the Paris Rulebook.

Countries also reached an agreement in Glasgow to commit themselves to more ambitious targets towards this end by outlining their strategies in an updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDGs) or national climate plans highlighting climate actions to be handed to the UN by September. However, only 24 out of 193 countries have submitted their plans to the UN so far.

However, various reports, including a recently issued report from UN Climate Change, show countries are bending the curve of global greenhouse gas emissions downward but underline that these efforts remain insufficient to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

Realising that more genuine efforts are needed to achieve the goal, Egypts Foreign Minister and President-Designate of COP27 Sameh Shoukri noted in an interview with The Guardian early this week that the goal of limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius is more fragile than ever because most countries failed to set targets on cutting greenhouse gas emissions in line with a 1.5 degrees Celsius limit in Glasgow or put in place the policies to meet such goals. They were meant to return to the table at COP27 this year with revised plans.

Describing this as the most serious issue, Shoukri said we recognise the geopolitical conditions that have evolved over this year, whether its the Russian-Ukraine war or the tensions between the US and China. But even more broadly, the issue of trust has again come to the surface after the momentum that was created by Paris and Glasgow in how we can achieve progress when we deal with climate change, he said.

Shoukri said he hoped that during COP27, more countries will present not only their commitments but their desire to implement those commitments in an impactful manner.

STRESSING ON MITIGATION

Climate change mitigation refers to taking important measures like accelerating the transition from coal to clean power, protecting and restoring nature for the benefit of people and climate and accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles, as outlined in the Glasgow Climate Pact, adopted by the participating states in COP26. It aims to turn the 2020s into a decade of climate action and support.

It also includes using new technologies and renewable energy sources, making older equipment more energy-efficient, and changing management practices and consumer behaviour.

During COP27, countries are expected to show how they are planning to implement the Glasgow Pact call, to review their climate plans and create a work programme related to mitigation.

Although mitigation is an important goal in COP27, Shoukri pointed to the need, especially in Africa and other developing countries, to see greater equity between finance for mitigation and adaptation.

For mitigation, there are economic benefits, whereas adaptation, the return is much more impactful because it deals with lives and livelihoods, he said in an interview with Bloomberg Television last month.

LATE ADAPTATION

Adaptation is another goal established by the Paris Agreement that aims to enhance countries adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change.

COP26 established a comprehensive two-year Glasgow-Sharm El-Sheikh work programme on the global goal on adaptation (2022-2023). It was regarded as a turning point in the worlds journey to both make and measure progress towards this global goal.

The plan was designed to equip communities and countries with the knowledge and tools to ensure that adaptation actions they take are indeed moving the world towards a more climate-resilient future.

The COP27 presidency expects nations to assess their progress towards enhancing resilience and helping the most vulnerable communities to adapt to climate change.

In addition, developed countries agreed last year to at least double finance for adaptation, and many stakeholders are calling for even greater levels of adaptation funding to match that spent on mitigation. The Paris Agreement (Article 9.4) states that the provision of scaled-up financial resources should aim to achieve a balance between adaptation and mitigation. In fact, there is a political aspiration of having a 50:50 balance between mitigation and adaptation, with a greater share of the adaptation funding going to the most vulnerable countries.

This will definitely be a controversial topic at COP27.

CLIMATE FINANCE

At COP27, climate finance will, as expected, be a major theme once again. Developing countries are expected to repeat their call for developed countries to reassure sufficient and adequate financial support, particularly to the most vulnerable and most affected by climate change.

Also expected are several discussions on the yearly $100 billion promise by developed nations that has not been delivered.

In 2009 in Copenhagen, rich countries committed to this amount, but official reports still show that this target is being missed. Experts expect COP27 to actually make this pledge a reality, finally, in 2023.

The Egyptian presidency aims to follow up on this and other commitments and pledges made in previous COPs.

On finances, Shoukri stated that the National Development Bank (NDB) indicated that it was revising the situation to provide finance more readily and at less cost to developing countries.

We will put our faith in their commitment, Shoukri said, adding in his interview with Bloomberg that the general environment is somewhat stressful economically, emphasising that there is no opportunity for states or parties to backtrack.

If we reach a point of no return, I think we wont be able to speak about security in any sense. The global situation will continue to deteriorate and we will see the very devastating consequences, as was the case most recently in Pakistan, he said.

LOSS AND DAMAGE

Extreme weather events, including floods, drought and wildfires, caused by gas emissions from developed countries, result in costly damages to developing countries. As a result, developing countries argue that they should receive compensation.

The issue, known as loss and damage, will be more than likely a big topic of discussion at COP27 even though it has not been officially put on the agenda.

Guterres has repeatedly emphasised the importance of compensation. He said that decisions must be made now as failure to act will lead to more loss of trust and more climate damage, describing it as a moral imperative that cannot be ignored.

The issue was also raised in New York during a high-level meeting with the Group of 77 and China. The group, which essentially includes all developing nations, has requested to add loss and damage to the agenda which will require consensus across all countries on the first day of the talks.

Egypt has also repeatedly underlined that it will put the issue at the centre of COP27.

Negotiators at last years COP26 agreed to launch a two-year dialogue on loss and damage but stopped short of setting up an actual fund. During COP27 the topic is likely to raise debates on where the money for any fund will come from, how it will be distributed and how climate-induced losses are defined.

However, tensions and differences over the war in Ukraine and skyrocketing energy and food prices have hugely affected economic and political policies across the developed and developing world. The diplomatic showdown between the US and China, the worlds biggest producers of greenhouse gas emissions, will further complicate any breakthrough over the loss and damage issue.

THE WAY TO COP28

All these discussions will pave the way for the first Global Stocktake at COP28. The global stocktake of the Paris Agreement is a process for taking stock of the implementation of the Paris Agreement with the aim of assessing the worlds collective progress towards achieving the purpose of the agreement and its long-term goals.

THEMATIC DAYS

Egypt has also designated several thematic days, including water day, decarbonisation day, adaptation day, finance day, and concluding by solutions day. These were designed for focused discussions, via side events, panel discussions, round tables, and other interactive formats.

PREVIOUS COPS

The first UN Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. During the meeting, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, through which the states agreed to prevent dangerous interference from human activity on the climate system, was adopted.

Since then, the UN has been bringing together countries for global climate summits called Conference of the Parties, or COPs, since 1994.

During these meetings, nations have reached various agreements to establish legally binding limits on emissions, including the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015, through which all countries of the world agreed to step up efforts to try and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures, and boost climate-action financing.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 3 November, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The victory marks a stunning turnaround for the charismatic but tarnished leftist heavyweight, who left office in 2010 as the most popular president in Brazilian history, fell into disgrace when he was imprisoned for 18 months on controversial, since-quashed corruption charges, and now returns for an unprecedented third term at age 77.

All eyes will now be on how Bolsonaro and his supporters react to the result after months of alleging -- without evidence -- that Brazil's electronic voting system is plagued by fraud and that the courts, media and other institutions had conspired against his far-right movement.

"This country needs peace and unity," Lula said to loud cheers in a victory speech in Sao Paulo.

"The challenge is immense," he said of the job ahead, citing a hunger crisis, the economy, bitter political division, and deforestation in the Amazon.

He later addressed a tightly packed crowd of hundreds of thousands of supporters who flooded the city center clad in Workers' Party red, vowing: "democracy is back."

'He hasn't called yet'

Bolsonaro, 67, was silent in the hours after the result was declared.

"Anywhere in the world, the losing president would already have called to admit defeat. He hasn't called yet, I don't know if he will call and concede," Lula told the massive crowd.

Some Bolsonaro supporters, gathered in the capital Brasilia, refused to accept the results.

"The Brazilian people aren't going to swallow a faked election and hand our nation over to a thief," said 50-year-old teacher Ruth da Silva Barbosa.

Electoral officials declared the election for Lula, who had 50.9 percent of the vote to 49.1 percent for Bolsonaro with more than 99.9 percent of polling stations reporting, in the closest race since Brazil returned to democracy after its 1964-1985 dictatorship.

Bolsonaro, the vitriolic hardline conservative dubbed the "Tropical Trump," becomes the first incumbent president not to win re-election in the post-dictatorship era.

With no word from Bolsonaro, some of his key allies appeared in public to accept the results. They included the speaker of the lower house of Congress, Arthur Lira, who said it was time to "extend a hand to our adversaries, debate, build bridges."

'Restore peace'

Congratulations for Lula poured in from US President Joe Biden, France's Emmanuel Macron, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as leaders from across Latin America.

The European Union's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, also joined the list of international well-wishers.

Lula supporters around the country erupted into celebration Sunday evening.

"We've had four years of a genocidal, hateful government," said Lula voter Maria Clara, a 26-year-old student, at a victory party in downtown Rio.

"Today democracy won, and the possibility of dreaming of a better country again."

In Brasilia, the tearful crowd of Bolsonaro supporters -- outfitted in green and yellow, the colors of Brazil's flag which the ex-army captain has adopted as his own -- fell to their knees to pray.

Bolsonaro surged to victory four years ago on a wave of outrage with politics as usual, but came under fire for his disastrous handling of the Covid-19 pandemic -- which left more than 680,000 dead in Brazil -- as well as a weak economy, his polarizing style and attacks on democratic institutions.

Regardless of how the incumbent reacts, Lula will face huge challenges when he is inaugurated on January 1.

Bolsonaro's far-right allies scored big victories in legislative and governors' races in the first-round election on October 2, and will be the largest force in Congress.

On Sunday, Bolsonaro's former infrastructure minister Tarcisio de Freitas clinched the governorship of Sao Paulo, the most populous and the wealthiest state in the country.

'Zero deforestation'

In his victory speech, Lula touched on gender and racial equality and the urgent need to deal with a hunger crisis affecting 33.1 million Brazilians.

"Today we tell the world that Brazil is back," he said, adding that the country is "ready to reclaim its place in the fight against the climate crisis, especially the Amazon."

He vowed to "fight for zero deforestation."

Lula inherits a deeply divided country, with a hugely difficult global economic situation that looks nothing like the commodities "super-cycle" that allowed him to lead Latin America's biggest economy through a watershed boom in the 2000s.

Lula's win is "one of the biggest comebacks in modern political history," tweeted Brian Winter, editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly.

But the president-elect will face a hostile Congress and have "a weak government," Winter told AFP.

None of that mattered for the time being to elated Lula supporters.

"Brazil is starting to stand upright again after four years of darkness. We were going through so many problems, so much fear," Larissa Meneses, a 34-year-old software developer, told AFP at a joyful victory party in Sao Paulo.

"Now with Lula's victory, I really believe things will start getting better. This is a day to laugh a lot."
The Justice Ministry is bracing for the release of a notorious sex offender from prison next month.

Kim Geun-sik (54) was sentenced to just five years behind bars in 2000 for brutally raping a minor, and right after he was released from prison in 2006, he raped 11 more children from May to August of that year and was sentenced to another 15 years in prison.

He qualified for release from prison in September last year, but his sentence was extended after he assaulted a fellow inmate twice.

Kim is classified as a predatory pedophile, which entails certain restrictions after release including publication of his address on the ministry website. The ministry also set up a special team to monitor his movements on release.

The ministry also wants to make it legal to isolate child sex offenders for treatment for indefinite periods. The new law would also apply to child rapist Cho Doo-soon (70), who was released from prison in December 2020 after serving just 12 years for the brutal rape and mutilation of an eight-year-old girl.

Under the current law, sex offenders can be subject to treatment during imprisonment for a maximum 15 years and can only be isolated for treatment if a prosecutor seeks court approval for the measure before the final verdict. Offenders like Kim, who have not been ordered to have treatment, simply have to be released into the community.

The new law would allow the ministry to seek the isolation and treatment of sex offenders even after their release if they violate parole rules, pose a threat of repeat assaults on minors or display a clear need for treatment for pedophilia.

But legal experts warn that this could constitute double jeopardy or violate human rights.
Dozens of supporters gathered at Baabda Palace to say farewell to Aoun, wearing the orange associated with his Free Patriotic Movement party and carrying portraits of him as president and from decades ago when he served as army commander.

Like during more than half of Aoun's time in office, Lebanon is currently governed by a caretaker cabinet as the premier-designate has been trying for six months to form a government. Sunday Aoun approved the resignation of Najib Mikati's government, which however remains in office in a caretaker capacity, a judicial source said.

Parliament has so far been unable to agree on a successor in the role, which has the power to sign bills into law, appoint new prime ministers and greenlight government formations before they are voted on by parliament.

Michel Aoun, the 89-year-old Christian president who presided over Lebanon's cataclysmic financial meltdown and the deadly Beirut port blast, vacated the presidential palace Sunday, leaving a void at the top of a failing state.

One 73-year-old man in the army fatigues he wore when serving under Aoun in the civil war told Reuters he wished Aoun could have three more years in office.

Therese Younes, a 16-year-old who had come with other teenagers, said she had backed Aoun since she was eight and was sad to see him go. "If I was 18 years old, I would have left the country. There's no Lebanon left after Michel Aoun," said Younes.

Aoun is a deeply divisive figure, adored by many Christians who viewed him as their defender in Lebanon's sectarian system but accused by critics of enabling corruption and helping armed group Hezbollah gain influence.

Aoun secured the presidency in 2016, endorsed by both Hezbollah and rival Maronite Christian politician Samir Geagea in a deal that brought then-leading Sunni politician Saad al-Hariri back as prime minister.

The six-year term that followed saw Lebanon's army fight off Islamist militants on the Syrian border in 2017 with Hezbollahs help, a new electoral law passed in 2018 and top energy companies begin exploratory drilling in offshore blocks in 2020. In his final week in the palace, he signed onto a U.S.-mediated deal delineating Lebanon's southern maritime border with Israel.

His fans have hailed those achievements, but his critics say those modest successes pale in comparison to the 2019 financial meltdown, which has pushed more than 80 percent of the population into poverty and prompted widespread anti-government protests.

Aoun's term was also marked by the massive blast at the Beirut port in 2020 that killed more than 220 people. Aoun later said he had known about the chemicals stored there and referred the file to other authorities to take action. Victims' families said he should have done more.

He told Reuters in an interview on Saturday that his presidential powers were not wide enough to address the economic crisis. "He was by far the worst president in Lebanon's history" said Michel Meouchi, a lawyer and father. "I prefer a void in the presidency to him."

Aoun's path to the presidency began in the 1975-1990 civil war, during which he served as commander of Lebanon's army and the head of one of two rival governments. He returned to Beirut after 15 years in exile, once Syrian forces withdrew under international pressure following the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

In 2006, the FPM formed an alliance with Hezbollah, which lent important Christian backing to the armed group. In his interview with Reuters, Aoun credited Hezbollah for its "useful" role in acting as a "deterrent" against any Israeli attacks during the maritime border talks. He said his departure on Sunday, one day before his term officially ends, was not the end of his political career.
The arrests match an official narrative that Iran's arch-enemy the United States, Israel and other Western powers and their local agents are behind the unrest and are determined to destabilize the country. At least 40 journalists have been detained in the past six weeks, according to rights groups, and the number is growing.

Elaheh Mohammadi covered Amini's funeral in her Kurdish hometown Saqez, where the protests began. A joint statement released by Iran's intelligence ministry and the intelligence organization of the Revolutionary Guards on Friday had accused Hamedi and Mohammadi of being CIA foreign agents.

Niloofar Hamedi took a photo of Amini's parents hugging each other in a Tehran hospital where their daughter was lying in a coma. The image, which Hamedi posted on Twitter, was the first signal to the world that all was not well with Amini, who had been detained three days earlier by Iran's morality police for what they deemed inappropriate dress.

More than 300 Iranian journalists have demanded the release of two colleagues jailed for their coverage of Mahsa Amini, whose death in custody triggered protests posing one of the biggest challenges to ruling clerics in decades. Their call came in a statement published by the Iranian Etemad and other newspapers on Sunday.

What began as outrage over Amini's death on Sept. 16 evolved into a popular revolt by people from all layers of society. Students and women have played a prominent role, burning their veils as crowds call for the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the toppling of the Islamic Republic, which has repressed any dissent since the 1979 revolution.

There are no signs that a crackdown will defuse the fury, even after the feared head of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards warned protesters that Saturday would be their last day of taking to the streets, the harshest warning yet.

Analysts say Iran's leaders will manage to withstand the pressure but that the path to political change in the future could be irreversible.

 Clerics Expected to Survive

The Revolutionary Guards and the volunteer militia Basij have crushed dissent in the past -- in 2009 protests lasted six months. No officials have publicly criticized the clerical establishment. "Basijis are being insulted by the seditionists at universities and in the streets. So far, Basijis have shown restraint and they have been patient," the head of the

Revolutionary Guards in the Khorasan Junubi province, Brigadier General Mohammadreza Mahdavi, was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA, "But it will get out of our control if the situation continues."

Videos on social media, unverifiable by Reuters, showed students clashing with riot police and Basij forces in universities across the country, chanting "dishonored Basij get lost."

Iran's Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, seemed to strike a conciliatory tone, saying the difference between peaceful and violent protesters should be noted. "We consider the protests to be not only correct and the cause of progress, but we also believe that these social movements will change policies and decisions, provided that they are separated from violent people, criminals and separatists," he said.
Serial rapist Park Byung-hwa, who committed a string of offenses in Suwon south of Seoul, was released from prison on Monday after serving a 15-year sentence and settled in a flat in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

Park (39) originally wanted return to Suwon, but the rumors triggered protests by locals, and the plans were changed. But now Hwaseong residents are up in arms and are demanding Park move to another part of the country.

Park's flat is around 200 m from the rear gate of a university and the area is home to many students and workers from a nearby factory. Park's mother signed the lease last week on his behalf.
South Africa: Time for action to end scourge of GBVF

President Cyril Ramaphosa has challenged delegates attending the second Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) to be focused on action and results toward ending violence against women and children.

As a society, ending violence against women and children cannot be anything but our foremost priority, President Ramaphosa said.

The President made the call during the Presidential Summit on GBVF held at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand on Tuesday.

President Ramaphosa convened the second summit, which aims to reflect on the work undertaken since the first Presidential Summit on GBVF in November 2018, and also report on key successes and challenges, and outline clear strategies to overcome them.

Delivering his keynote address, the President noted that during the first summit, the participants collectively made a firm commitment to the nation to undertake a comprehensive, effective and united response to gender-based violence and femicide.

We agreed to develop a National Strategic Plan (NSP) to guide our national response, to coordinate the various sectors involved in the fight against GBV, to strengthen the states response, and to align the efforts of government, the private sector and civil society.

These included a number of interventions to deal with the scourge of GBVF in the country, which started with the development of a GBVF Emergency Response Action Plan in 2019.

I requested Parliaments Presiding Officers to call a special joint sitting of both houses of Parliament to announce the action plan. The plan was embraced by members of Parliament representing all political parties.

This was a significant moment in that GBVF was seen as a non-partisan matter on which all political parties demonstrated their preparedness to act together to address this scourge. This was followed by the release in April 2020 of the National Strategic Plan, which had been carefully drawn up together with civil society, President Ramaphosa highlighted.

Look at what is working and what is not

The President told delegates attending that they must look at what is working, what is not, and what is needed to make a difference.

This is an accountability summit. This second Presidential Summit is for us to assess progress in fulfilling the commitments we made at the first Summit in 2018 and in implementing the National Strategic Plan (NSP on GBVF).

What we have stressed throughout this process is the importance of a collaborative and coordinated approach towards combating gender-based violence and femicide. We need to plan together, implement together and account together.

The actions we take now will determine whether this crime forever remains a feature of our national life, or whether we can say we are the generation that ended it, President Ramaphosa said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-11-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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 and the restoration of territorial integrity.

Chronicle of the 36th day of the Second Karabakh War:

- President Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by the Turkish Foreign Minister.

- The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry released information on the latest situation in the frontline as of November 1.

- A list of destroyed military equipment of the Armenian Armed Forces was announced.

- Armenia violated a ceasefire on the state border.

- The Armenian Armed Forces shelled the territory of Tartar and Aghjabadi districts.

- A video of the destruction of Armenian military trucks loaded with ammunition was released.

- Two Grad missile systems of the Armenian Armed Forces were destroyed.
South Korea and the U.S. kicked off large-scale aerial drills on Monday, mobilizing some 240 warplanes including stealth fighter jets.

The warplanes will make a record 1,600 sorties during the exercises until Friday to send a strong warning to North Korea, which is suspected of planning another nuclear test.

About 140 South Korean warplanes will take part including F-35A stealth fighter jets, F-15K and KF-16 fighters and KC-330 Cygnus aerial refueling aircraft, as will 100 U.S. military aircraft such as F-35B stealth vertical takeoff and landing fighter jets, EA-18 Growler electronic warfare aircraft, U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft and KC-135 Stratotanker midair refueling aircraft.
The Dutch government on Tuesday ordered China to immediately close "police stations" in the Netherlands, which reports say were used to harass dissidents.

The police posts in Amsterdam and Rotterdam purported to offer diplomatic assistance but they had not been declared to the Netherlands government, Dutch media reported last month.

The reports followed an investigation by Spain-based NGO Safeguard Defenders in September, which said China had set up 54 overseas police centers around the world, including the two in the Netherlands. It also said there were three in Britain and three in Canada.

"Because no permission was sought from the Netherlands" for the stations, "the ministry informed the (Chinese) ambassador that the stations must close immediately," Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said on Twitter. He said the ministry had asked the ambassador for clarification on the stations and was investigating the posts' activities.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 1, 2022 - 18:11 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan Airlines Co. on Tuesday logged 2.11 billion yen ($14.22 million) in net loss for the six months ended in September, reporting red ink for the third straight year, as travel demand temporarily struggled to rebound during the seventh wave of COVID-19 infections in the country.

But it narrowed its loss substantially from the 104.98 billion yen logged from the same period last year, with the airline benefiting from robust domestic travel during the Golden Week holidays in May, JAL said.

Sales more than doubled to 618.52 billion yen, it said.

Although inbound flights from China have struggled to return to pre-pandemic levels as the country continues to pursue its zero COVID policy, the company was hopeful of a rebound from other areas, such as the United States.

"Reservations jumped threefold after (the Japanese government) announced an easing of border restrictions," Senior Managing Executive Officer Hideki Kikuyama said during a press conference.

Japan lifted anti-virus restrictions in all parts of the country in late March while it gradually raised its cap on daily international arrivals this year before entirely removing it earlier this month.

In the first half of fiscal 2022, JAL handled around 1.74 million inbound passengers, up nearly five times from the same period last year.

Passengers on domestic flights during the six months more than doubled to 13.7 million passengers.

"The overall number of passengers has returned to around 60 to 70 percent compared to pre-COVID conditions," Kikuyama said.

JAL's earnings report came after rival ANA Holdings Inc., the parent of All Nippon Airways Co., posted a net profit for the April-September period for the first time in three years.

Kikuyama noted that JAL continued to face risks such as the weakening of the yen against the U.S. dollar, as well as high fuel costs.

The company was weighed down by a jump of 9.58 billion yen in fuel costs, it said.

The airline maintained its net profit forecast of 45 billion yen for the business year ending in March.

It raised its sales outlook to 1.40 trillion yen from the 1.39 trillion yen forecast in May, on an expected surge of inbound flights.

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KYODO NEWS - Nov 1, 2022 - 12:15 | All, Japan

The Japanese and U.S. governments are taking steps to increase the number of students from their nations studying in each other's countries following an apparent fall-off in interest in studying abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The two governments will launch a campaign in November asking current and former students in such programs to post photos, videos and stories of their experiences on Instagram, with the hashtag #USJapanStudyAbroad" or "#JapanUSStudyAbroad."

The governments will also ask educational experts for advice on how to encourage more young people to study in each other's countries.

The aim of the campaign, which sees the first collaboration on education between the two countries' respective embassies, is not only to increase the number of students studying on such programs but also to build connections, officials of the two governments said.

The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo said, "We want both Americans and Japanese to consider the value of an international education, especially as they establish their post-COVID academic plans."

According to the Japan Student Services Organization, 18,138 Japanese students from universities and other institutions studied in the United States in the 2019-2020 academic year, but the number plunged to 240 the following year due to the spread of COVID-19.

According to the U.S. Institute of International Education, the number of Japanese students enrolled in U.S. universities alone during the 2019-2020 academic year was 11,785, down 33 percent from a year earlier.

The number of students from India, China and South Korea also fell in that year but the pace was slower, with 13 percent, 15 percent and 21 percent declines, respectively, the survey showed.

U.S students in Japan decreased in the 2019-2020 period by 62 percent to 3,406. The number is believed to have declined further during the following year due to the prolonged COVID-related border control measures taken by the Japanese government.

"We must take action now. Otherwise, it will be too late. Japan and the United States will work together to build momentum" so more students from the two countries can seek to learn in each other's countries, a Japanese government official said.

The website for the campaign is: https://educationusa.jp/USJapanStudyAbroad/
KYODO NEWS - Nov 1, 2022 - 12:50 | All, Japan

The government officially decided Tuesday to ask households and businesses across Japan to save electricity this winter following a similar request in summer amid lingering power crunch concerns.

What will be the first electricity-saving request for winter in seven years will kick in from Dec. 1 through the end of March as the supply of liquefied natural gas used to fuel thermal power plants remains uncertain due to market disruptions stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Japan is expected to secure a reserve power supply capacity rate of 3 percent, the minimum level deemed necessary to provide stable supply, for the winter season, but the government wants to make sure that there will be enough power to heat homes and maintain businesses even if natural disasters or glitches hit power plants.

"As part of measures to ensure (stable) supply, we decided to resume the operation of off-line power plants and purchase additional fuel, among other things," Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters.

During the power-saving period, people will be asked to wear more clothes indoors, set air conditioners to lower temperatures and turn off lights when not needed.

The government plans to award points to households that cut monthly electricity consumption by 3 percent or more compared with the previous year, in coordination with utilities' reward point systems.

The electricity supply and demand balance is expected to be tightest in January, during which reserve supply capacity is projected at 4.1 percent in eastern and northeastern Japan areas serviced by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. and Tohoku Electric Power Co.

In central to southwestern Japan, areas serviced by Chubu Electric Power Co., Hokuriku Electric Power Co., Kansai Electric Power Co., Chugoku Electric Power Co., Shikoku Electric Power Co. and Kyushu Electric Power Co., the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said it expects the reserve rate to be 5.6 percent.

The reserve rates in northern and southern Japan areas serviced by Hokkaido Electric Power Co. and Okinawa Electric Power Co. are expected to be 7 percent or higher.

Electricity supply in Japan has declined as major utilities have halted or scrapped aged thermal power plants as part of cost-cutting efforts. The government is asking them to reactivate idle plants.

The ministry has also said it intends to speed up efforts to restart nuclear reactors that meet stringent safety standards, implemented after the 2011 nuclear disaster triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan, as another way to ensure stable power supply.

Related coverage:

Japan to cut household electricity bills by 20% to fight inflation
KYODO NEWS - Nov 1, 2022 - 22:17 | All, Japan, World

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier agreed Tuesday to closely coordinate their responses to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, vowing to maintain stern sanctions on the energy-rich nation.

Kishida and Steinmeier told a joint press conference after their meeting in Tokyo that they also confirmed Japan and Germany will join hands to deal with various global challenges as the incoming and current chairs of the Group of Seven industrialized countries.

"Now I am strongly feeling the importance of our close collaboration," Kishida said at the outset of the talks, while the German president, who does not have any decision-making authority, underscored the necessity of putting more pressure on Moscow.

Some G-7 members such as Japan and Germany still import Russian energy, including natural gas.

But the G-7 nations, also involving Britain, Canada, France, Italy and the United States as well as the European Union, have been leading the international efforts to impose severe economic sanctions on Russia over its war on Ukraine since February.

Japan will take over the rotating presidency of the G-7 from Germany next year.

On Tuesday, Kishida and Steinmeier pledged to work together toward the success of the G-7 summit in Hiroshima in 2023. Kishida is a lawmaker representing a constituency in the western Japan city, devastated by the first U.S. atomic bombing in 1945.

Kishida and Steinmeier also discussed their cooperation toward realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific, they said, a vision promoted by Japan and the United States in a veiled counter to China's growing military clout in the Asia-Pacific region.

Tokyo and Berlin have shared the view that the security of Europe is inseparable from that of Asia, as Kishida became the first Japanese prime minister to participate in a summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in June.

On Thursday, the Japanese and German governments are set to hold "two-plus-two" security talks on the fringes of a G-7 foreign ministerial gathering scheduled for two days through Friday in the western German city of Munster.

Steinmeier is slated to stay in Japan for three days from Tuesday. He is on his first official trip to the Asian country since October 2019, when he attended Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony in Tokyo.

Steinmeier served as foreign minister twice under the administration of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He was a German counterpart for Kishida, who was Japan's foreign minister from 2012 to 2017.

The president of Germany is stipulated as the head of state by law, but has a ceremonial role effectively without political power. The chancellor is instead the nation's political leader.

Related coverage:

Japan, Germany air forces to further enhance defense cooperation

Japan, Germany vow to guard rules-based int'l order amid Ukraine war

Japan PM asked German leader to help remove "comfort women" statue
KYODO NEWS - Nov 1, 2022 - 19:09 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan's health ministry granted fast-track approval Tuesday for U.S. pharmaceutical company Moderna Inc.'s coronavirus vaccine tailored for the BA.5 subvariant now prevalent in the country.

It is the second bivalent vaccine approved in Japan for the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, after the approval of Pfizer Inc.'s BA.5-tailored COVID-19 vaccine in October.

Moderna's updated vaccine, which works against the Omicron subvariants and earlier strains, is for people aged 18 and above, and requires an inoculation interval of at least three months from the previous COVID-19 shot.

The health ministry plans to start delivering a total of around 3 million doses to municipalities in the final week of November.

In preparation for a projected eighth pandemic wave, the ministry plans to deliver a total of 102 million Omicron-tailored doses by the end of the year. Around 100 million people are eligible to receive them.

Updated vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer tailored for the BA.1 subvariant, which was dominant earlier this year, have been administered in Japan since September.

Related coverage:

Japan starts COVID vaccination for children aged 6 months to 4 years

Japan approves Pfizer's BA.5-tailored COVID-19 vaccine

Japan gov't selects 17 projects to support vaccine manufacturing
The file photo shows the first freight train of the Nairobi-Naivasha Standard Gauge Railway arriving at the Naivasha Inland Container Depot in Kenya, on Dec. 17, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)



The economies of the East African region are expected to grow by 4 percent in 2022, the African Development Bank forecast.



NAIROBI, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- The economies of the East African region are expected to grow by 4 percent in 2022, the African Development Bank (AfDB) said Friday.

According to the lender's East Africa Regional Economic Outlook 2022, the region recorded a robust economic recovery in 2021, but most members are yet to achieve their pre-COVID-19 growth levels.

"The report projects that the region's GDP growth will moderate at 4 percent in 2022 before recovering to 4.7 percent in 2023 buoyed by the reopening of the economies," said the report.

The report also discussed several policy interventions needed to boost East Africa's post-COVID-19 recovery and build resilience against emerging vulnerabilities as well as the short, medium, and long-term policy options for supporting climate resilience.

The findings showed that the expected strong growth is not homogenous across the region, with top performers being Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania and Uganda.

According to the report, lingering political instability notably in Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan could weigh down on the region's outlook, while at the same time several countries are faced with different climate change vulnerabilities.

"These impacts are becoming dynamic and are compounded by other shocks including commodity prices, health and insecurity which calls for enhanced contextual risk and vulnerability assessments to inform clear adaptation and mitigation measures," the report said. 
Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attends the opening meeting of the 24th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 31, 2022. The Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee convened a meeting on Monday to discuss the study and implementation of the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee convened a meeting on Monday to discuss the study and implementation of the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Wang Yang, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, attended the opening meeting of the 24th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee.

At the meeting, Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, presented a report regarding the congress and its guiding principles.

Presiding over the meeting, Zhang Qingli, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, called for efforts to study, comprehend and implement the guiding principles of the congress, and resolutely fulfill the goals and tasks put forth by the congress.

He also called on the CPPCC to improve its role as a body dedicated to consultation, and devote its wisdom and strength to the construction of a modern socialist country in all respects and the advancement of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. 
BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The 2022 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit is slated to be held from Nov. 9 to 11 in Wuzhen, east China's Zhejiang Province, according to a press conference on Monday.

This year's event will be the first summit convened by the WIC since the international organization's inauguration in July, and it will be held both online and offline.

Some 2,000 representatives from over 120 countries and regions will attend the conference in person or virtually, contributing their wisdom to the construction of a community with a shared future in cyberspace, said Ren Xianliang, secretary-general of the WIC.

The event will feature 20 sub-forums and a series of activities, including a ceremony to announce the world's leading scientific and technological internet achievements, a showcase of excellent projects on the joint construction of a community with a shared future in cyberspace, a themed expo conference, and a global internet competition.

Two reports, namely the "World Internet Development Report 2022" and the "China Internet Development Report 2022," will be released during the event. 
By Trend

Azerbaijan's Parliament will hold regular hearings on the draft law "On political parties", the press service of the parliament told Trend.

According to the statement, the new law "On political parties" is being prepared based on the appeal of all political parties represented in parliament.

The next hearing is expected to take place on 4 November.
BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on his taking office as Iraq's prime minister.

In the message, Li noted that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of China-Iraq relations and is willing to work with the Iraqi government to continuously consolidate the traditional friendship between the two countries, enhance pragmatic cooperation in various fields and promote the China-Iraq strategic partnership for new progress. 
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the China-Germany diplomatic ties. The achievements made in bilateral trade have benefited both countries and peoples.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- A Tanzanian medical specialist said on Tuesday that at least 33,024 people, mostly women, die annually in the east African nation from breathing smoke caused by solid fuels for cooking, including charcoal and firewood.

Pauline Chale, a pulmonologist from the Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania's leading public medical facility, said using charcoal or firewood was among the main causes of respiratory illnesses.

She made the remarks in a panel discussion, entitled "State of Cooking in Tanzania", at the start of a two-day Clean Cooking Conference in the Tanzanian port city of Dar es Salaam moderated by Tanzanian Minister of Energy January Makamba.

The conference aims to research and suggest strategies for achieving affordable, clean, and reliable cooking solutions.

"Women and children are the most affected groups as they spend many hours a day in the kitchen exposed to high levels of pollutants," said Chale.

According to statistics made available at the conference, biomass accounts for close to 90 percent of the primary energy consumption in households in Tanzania, where 63.5 percent of the households use firewood as the main source of cooking energy, and 26.2 percent use charcoal.

The statistics by the Ministry of Energy also show that 5.1 percent of households use liquefied petroleum gas, 3 percent use electricity and 2.2 percent use alternative energy sources.

Remidius Ruhinduka, a lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam, warned that the continued use of solid fuels for cooking is detrimental to both human health and the environment.

"If we don't act now to stop using charcoal or firewood for cooking, we will experience devastating consequences," said Ruhinduka. 
A medical worker collects a swab sample from a man at a COVID-19 testing site on Times Square in New York, the United States, May 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Two new variants, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, have been growing especially fast. At the beginning of October, each one accounted for about 1 percent of new infections in the United States, but they have been roughly doubling in prevalence each week.

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 cases caused by new variants are growing fast in the United States, according to data released Monday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Two new variants, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, have been growing especially fast. At the beginning of October, each one accounted for about 1 percent of new infections in the United States, but they have been roughly doubling in prevalence each week.

According to the latest CDC data, BQ.1 led to about 14 percent of new infections in the country in the week ending Oct. 29, while BQ.1.1 caused 13.1 percent of new infections.

Together, the two variants accounted for more than one in four new COVID-19 infections nationwide, CDC data showed.

BA.5, which has dominated COVID-19 infections in the United States since July, now accounted for 49.6 percent of new infections in the country.

A host of new sublineages -- offshoots of BA.2, BA.4 and BA.5 -- are now responsible for the majority of new infections in the United States.

These variants are slightly different from each other, but they all carry some of the same key mutations that help them skirt immunity from vaccines and past infections. This makes them more likely to lead to breakthrough infections and reinfections, according to experts.

"BQ is actually a BA.5 variant," Dr. Andrew Pekosz, a virologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, recently told Health. "Here in the U.S., all the variants that are circling -- BQ.1.1, I guess, is the biggest or the most talked about one now -- they're all derived from either the BA.5 or the BA.4 variants. They've picked up a few mutations that help them evade some of the infection or vaccine-induced immunity."

Another variant, XBB, is also a variant of Omicron and has been dubbed the "nightmare variant" in Singapore. It is extremely immune evasive and has also shown that it might be immune to current vaccines.

The World Health Organization (WHO) SARS-CoV-2 virus evolution advisory group said last week that XBB and BQ.1 do not currently diverge sufficiently from each other or from other Omicron lineages that have extra immune escape mutations to warrant a variant of concern designation or a new label.

"The two sublineages remain part of Omicron, which continues to be a variant of concern," the WHO group said.

People wearing face masks wait at a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on Aug. 5, 2022. (Xinhua)

Health experts are concerned emerging Omicron subvariants would make some existing protections ineffective for the public, especially the immunocompromised people.

U.S. President Joe Biden cautioned last week that the estimated 7 million adults in the United States who have compromised immune systems are particularly at risk.

"We're in a very challenging phase," said Syra Madad, an epidemiologist who helps oversee pandemic response for New York City Health and Hospitals, the nation's largest municipal health-care system.

"Barely anybody is masking. We have very low vaccination rates for the updated boosters, as well as generally waning immunity. And to top it all off, we have these highly immune-evasive subvariants that are circulating," Madad told The Washington Post.

The COVID-19 vaccination rate in the United States lags that of many other high-income countries. Less that half of the total booster-eligible population in the United States has received a COVID-19 booster dose, according to CDC data.

Experts are urging the public to get booster shots to prevent from severe illnesses. 
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday called on relevant countries to take concrete measures to remove the obstacles facing Russia's grain and fertilizer exports, warning against politicizing and weaponizing economic and trade issues.

Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), made the remarks at a UN Security Council debate on the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

On July 22, Russia and Ukraine separately signed a document in Istanbul with Turkiye and the United Nations on grain and fertilizer exports from Ukraine and Russia to ensure supplies to global markets amid the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict.

Russia announced Saturday that it would immediately and indefinitely suspend its implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, accusing Ukraine of launching drone attacks against the Russian Black Sea Fleet's ships and infrastructure.

China has taken note of Russia's recent announcement on suspending its participation in the initiative, as well as the response of Ukraine, the UN and other relevant parties, Geng said.

"We hope that parties concerned continue to stay in communication, rebuild mutual trust, and find a solution that meets the concerns of all parties," he said, adding that China also hopes UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will continue to play an active role in this regard.

In July, the United Nations signed a memorandum of understanding with Russia on the full access of Russian food and fertilizers products, including ammonia, to global markets.

Russia's grain and fertilizer exports are equally important to the international market, and the memorandum signed between Russia and the UN should likewise be effectively implemented, Geng noted.

"The countries concerned must face up to and eliminate the negative impact of the all-round, non-discriminated sanctions on normal international trade, take concrete measures to solve the real obstacles facing Russia's grain and fertilizer exports," Geng said.

He urged relevant countries to completely abandon the wrong approach of politicizing and weaponizing economic and trade issues.

"Dialogue and negotiation are the only realistic way out of the Ukraine crisis. Cold War mentality, bloc politics, division and confrontation, isolation and suppression will not bring peace," said Geng. 
HANOI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Although Vietnamese manufacturing sector's business conditions continued to improve in October, there were signs of a slowdown amid weaker new order growth, according to a report released on Tuesday by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

The S&P Global Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index dropped to 50.6 in October from 52.5 in September, according to the report.

Although remaining above the 50.0 mark and thus signaling an overall strengthening of operating conditions during the month, the latest reading was the lowest in the current 13-month sequence of improvement, it said.

According to Andrew Harker, economics director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, the data showed first signs about the impacts of weakening global economy on Vietnamese manufacturers' growth as both new orders and exports increased at the weakest rates in 13 months.

"Worries around demand conditions also hit business confidence. That said, continued expansions in output and employment alongside muted price and supply pressures may help the sector remain in growth territory as the end of the year approaches," he said.

Central to the overall growth moderation in October was a softer increase in new orders. Total new business was up only slightly, and to the least extent since the current expansionary period began in October 2021, said the report.

A PMI reading above 50 indicates an expansion of the manufacturing sector, below 50 a contraction, while 50 indicates no change. 
Employees work with coffee beans at a coffee processing plant in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Oct. 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

The Ethiopian government and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization have inked a cooperation agreement to boost efficiency in the coffee value chain.

ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have joined hands to boost efficiency in the coffee value chain.

As part of the cooperation, the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and UNIDO inked a cooperation agreement worth ten million Euros to facilitate loans to stakeholders engaged in the coffee value chain, state-affiliated Fanta Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) reported Monday.

The agreement was signed between Oumer Hussein, Ethiopian Minister of Agriculture, and Aurelia Patrizia Calabro, Representative of UNIDO in Ethiopia.

An employee works at a coffee processing plant in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Oct. 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

Noting that financial constraints are a major obstacle for Ethiopian coffee exporters, suppliers and producers, Hussein emphasized that the technical and financial cooperation agreement made with the UN agency will alleviate the challenge and boost efficiency in the coffee value chain.

Aurelia Patrizia Calabro, on her part, said the cooperation will help identify and support stakeholders engaged in coffee investment.

Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority Director General, Adugna Debela, said that the project is a partnership model that reduces the risk of investments in the coffee sector in Ethiopia.

Debela stressed that the project will play an important part in providing access to low-interest loans to increase the quantity, quality and price of coffee. He said the project is mainly expected to help coffee producers, suppliers and exporters.

Ethiopia, which is known as the origin of Arabica coffee, is recognized worldwide for its rich coffee quality, variety of flavors and aroma, making the demand for the commodity increase globally.

During the 2021/2022 Ethiopian fiscal year that ended on July 7, 2022, the East African country garnered a record 1.4 billion U.S. dollars from exporting over 300,000 metric tons of coffee, according to the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority. 
KABUL, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan on Tuesday received another batch of 40 million U.S. dollars cash aid aimed at bolstering the country's impoverished economy, said a statement from the Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB), the country's central bank.

"The Da Afghanistan Bank receives a batch of 40 million U.S. dollars in cash today and was deposited to a commercial bank," the statement said.

In the statement, DAB also called for money transfer via banking system, noting that Afghanistan's central bank wants to have financial transactions with all the banks and monetary entities across the globe.

Injection of cash as humanitarian assistance by the international community to DAB over the past year reportedly has helped the war-torn country increase its foreign exchange reserves to prevent economic collapse.

Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan and the pullout of the U.S.-led foreign forces in August last year, the banking system in the country has been disrupted. 
Photo taken on Jan. 29, 2018 shows a view of Gwadar Port in southwest Pakistan's Gwadar. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

Inspired by China's city of Shenzhen, the master plan of Gwadar smart port city envisions the development of an industrial base that will not only create a lot of employment opportunities but also promote tourism in the area.



ISLAMABAD, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's southwestern Gwadar district will be a hub of trade and investment in the future thanks to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Director-General of Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) Mujeeb Ur Rehman Qambrani said on Monday.

Addressing a special session on "Gwadar and the Road to Sustainable Development" organized by the Islamabad-based think tank Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Qambrani said that the master plan of Gwadar smart port city envisions the development of an industrial base which will not only create a lot of employment opportunities but also promote tourism in the area.

The master plan is inspired by China's city of Shenzhen and the GDA is vigorously executing it for timely delivery, he said, adding that the master plan was finalized after collaboration between Pakistani, Chinese, and other stakeholders.

He said that Gwadar international airport being constructed with cooperation from China will be functional in 2023 and will enhance the development process of the district.

Aerial photo taken on June 3, 2022 shows a section of the China-aided Eastbay Expressway of Gwadar port in Gwadar of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province. (Xinhua/Jiang Chao)

Hassan Daud Butt, senior advisor at the China Study Center of the think-tank, said that Pakistan-China cooperation on the CPEC and combating COVID-19 has transformed Pakistan's technological pace.

"China is building an enabling environment for business and economic opportunities in our country. Therefore, we must prepare ourselves to capture the opportunity," he added.

Also speaking at the event, Sajid Amin, deputy executive director at the SDPI, said that the development sector and civil society organizations can play a pivotal role as knowledge partners and in the advocacy of the immense socio-economic potential of Gwadar.
ANKARA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, aiming to resolve the grain export impasse.

In the phone call, Erdogan told Putin that Turkiye was making efforts with all sides to solve problems about the implementation of the grain export deal, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency.

The Turkish president stressed that he was confident they would establish a "solution-oriented cooperation in this issue, as in many other issues," said the statement.

Erdogan will also speak with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in the coming days, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Tuesday.

Russia announced Saturday that it would immediately and indefinitely suspend its implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, accusing Ukraine of launching drone attacks against the Russian Black Sea Fleet's ships and infrastructure.

On July 22, Russia and Ukraine separately signed a document in Istanbul with Turkiye and the UN on grain and fertilizer exports from Ukraine and Russia to ensure supplies to global markets amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Turkiye has been acting as a mediator between the two countries since their conflict broke out in late February. 
By Azernews

By Sabina Mammadli

The connection of Azerbaijani liberated areas with the world has been established thanks to new airports, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said speaking at Akdeniz University in Turkiye on October 31, Azernews reports.

"After the signing of the Shusha Declaration by our presidents, relations with Azerbaijan reached an allied level. We are witnessing the restoration of lands liberated from the occupation," he added.

The Zangilan International Airport was inaugurated by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 20, 2022.

On October 26, 2021, the two leaders commissioned the Fuzuli Airport, built in Azerbaijans liberated Fuzuli District in less than a year.

The opening of the airports in Azerbaijan's de-occupied lands is considered one of the grand construction projects Azerbaijan has been implementing in the liberated lands following the 30-year-long Armenian occupation. The airports in the liberated lands are believed to boost the region's tourism and business potential.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the first international leader, who landed at the brand-new airport in Fuzuli after Azerbaijan's remarkable victory in the 44-day war with Armenia in 2020. Erdogan's historic visit to Fuzuli on October 26, 2021, to inaugurate the Fuzuli International Airport along with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was of huge strategic importance and grabbed the regional and international media headlines.

At that point, in Fuzuli, President Aliyev stressed the importance of the visit, saying "this shows that Turkiye and Azerbaijan, as two brotherly countries, are always close to each other".
Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attends a plenary meeting of the 24th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee, Nov. 1, 2022. A total of 15 members of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee made their remarks. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The 24th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee held a plenary meeting on Tuesday.

Wang Yang, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, attended the meeting.

Members of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee shared their views on studying and implementing the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

They expressed complete agreement with the grand blueprint charted and plans made at the 20th CPC National Congress on building a modern socialist country in all respects and pledged efforts to work and strive together in unity.

A total of 15 members of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee made their remarks. Among them, Xie Fuzhan said it is a must to uphold the CPC leadership, adhere to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, stay committed to developing the whole-process people's democracy, and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization.

On behalf of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, Zhang Xueqiao noted that non-CPC political parties, as participants in governance, ought to improve their capabilities of performing duties.

The meeting was presided over by Ma Biao, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee. 
Huang Wenxin (2nd R), the head of the Chinese medical team, conducts a work exchange with Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of Pakistan Inam Haider Malik (2nd L) in Islamabad, Pakistan, Oct. 31, 2022. (Photo by Ahmad Kamal/Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan is likely to ask for China's support in developing disaster management institutions and dealing with post-flood public health emergency situations, according to Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of Pakistan Inam Haider Malik on Monday.

A Chinese medical team consisting of 13 members including experts in the field of clinical medicine and health and pandemic prevention from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region visited the NDMA and conducted a work exchange with their Pakistani counterparts on Monday.

Malik welcomed and thanked China for its support and assistance after the devastating floods in Pakistan, saying that Pakistan expects to see the training of medical workers between Pakistan and China.

He said that China's medical support for Pakistan has helped the country to protect its people after the devastating floods.

Malik said that Pakistan is keen to learn from the visiting Chinese experts on how they use their "greater knowledge to address the challenges and enable your communities to pre-condition and pre-deploy your response actions in the affected zones."

Huang Wenxin, the head of the Chinese medical team, said that his team is ready to help the Pakistani people and work together in overcoming difficulties.

The Chinese medical team arrived in Pakistan on Oct. 28 and is expected to go to the flood-hit areas in Pakistan's southern Sindh province for field visits and work exchanges.

Pakistan is in urgent need of medical assistance as the flood water still remains in parts of the southern Sindh and the southwestern Balochistan provinces.

According to the NDMA and Pakistan's Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, a total of 1,735 people were killed and 12,867 others injured in the floods hitting the country, which affected over 33 million people and incurred a loss of over 40 billion U.S. dollars to the economy. 
BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese officials on Tuesday pledged more efforts to support self-employed businesses amid difficulties as the country unveiled a new regulation on advancing the development of self-employed businesses.

Guo Qimin, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission, said more will be done to enhance macro policy implementation, improve the business environment, and promote employment and entrepreneurship.

Efforts will also be made to lower burdens on small firms and self-employed businesses, help them with financing, and stimulate consumer demand, Guo told a press conference on the new regulation.

The regulation, which came into effect Tuesday, has set out specific preferential policies in areas including optimizing the business environment and protecting the lawful rights and interests of self-employed businesses.

Pu Chun, deputy head of the State Administration for Market Regulation, said the regulation has given full consideration to the concerns of self-employed businesses and put forward practical and effective measures.

For instance, he said, local governments should, according to the new regulation, provide more business sites while reducing the cost of using such sites. They should fully consider the needs and difficulties of self-employed businesses in decision-making.

"To advance the development of self-employed businesses is to support the real economy," said Pu.

To cushion the epidemic impact and other difficulties, China has made constant efforts to reduce burdens on self-employed businesses. From 2020 to the end of September this year, tax and fee cuts for self-employed businesses reached nearly 1.03 trillion yuan (about 142.9 billion U.S. dollars).

Currently, over 80 percent of China's self-employed businesses are free from taxes, according to Dai Shiyou, an official with the State Taxation Administration.

By the end of September, China had 111 million registered self-employed businesses, accounting for two-thirds of the country's market entities, official data showed. Nearly 90 percent of these are in the service sector, while over 30 percent have engaged in new businesses like online streaming and e-commerce. 
BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday sent a condolence message to Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar over a bridge collapse that caused heavy casualties in India's state of Gujarat.

Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, extended deep condolences over the deaths and sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured. 
This aerial photo taken on Aug. 25, 2022 shows a general view of shrimp ponds in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

HOHHOT, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Wang Changgui, an aquaculturist from Ordos City in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, had a successful yield from shrimp farming this year.

Thanks to the local sci-tech expert, shrimp farming has turned out to be a lucrative source of income.

Ordos is located in the western part of Inner Mongolia, where there is a vast tract of saline soil. Dispatched by Ordos agriculture and animal husbandry bureau, Wu Tao started to work as a sci-tech expert in 2017. He found out that high salinity in the soil could be beneficial to shrimp farming.

Wu has distinct memories of the challenges he encountered. The shrimp seedlings had to be desalinated for 10 days before their salinity level could match that of the local water. The seedlings were then raised for an additional 20 to 30 days in the greenhouse before being transferred to outdoor ponds.

A farmer shows shrimps fed in a pond in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

Local villagers have been engaged in shrimp farming for the past few years. The Hangjin League, where Wu works, targets an annual shrimp output of more than 250 tonnes this year, with total revenue of 15 million yuan (about 2.1 million U.S. dollars).

Shrimp farming also contributes to the surrounding ecology in positive ways. Zhu Changbo, a researcher from the South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, said that there is little rainfall and strong sunshine in desert areas, and the groundwater brings a large amount of salt to the surface during evaporation.

Fewer plants will be able to survive as salinization increases, and the surface soil will eventually become sand, he explained.

A farmer works at a shrimp pond in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

In the saline and alkaline areas along the Yellow River in Inner Mongolia, farmers usually soak the land with the Yellow River water to remove the surface salt, and then the saline water will be discharged through the drainage canal. So, a large amount of saline water resources are wasted every year.

Zhu added that the pond water used for shrimp farming can make use of saline water. Shrimp harvest is equivalent to directly taking away a large amount of salt from the water. The existence of pond water raises the groundwater level, which is beneficial for the growth of plants and soil fixation to avoid desertification.

Experts hope to make saline water fishery into a unique part of desert management, building a "fishery oasis" in the desert.

China has sent nearly 300,000 sci-tech experts to rural areas as part of poverty alleviation efforts since 2012, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The objective of sending such experts to rural areas is to popularize agricultural science and technology, foster the spirit of sci-tech innovation and entrepreneurship, bolster poverty eradication efforts, and promote rural vitalization. 
Photo taken on Jan. 8, 2018 shows the Trump Tower in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

The Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corp., two entities under the Trump Organization, offered 1.76 million U.S. dollars of perks to Allen H. Weisselberg, former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, without paying taxes, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

NEW YORK, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The jury in the criminal trial against the Trump Organization started to hear opening statements Monday on a 15-year tax fraud scheme from the plaintiff and the defendant in the Supreme Court of the northeastern U.S. state of New York.

The Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corp., two entities under the Trump Organization, offered 1.76 million U.S. dollars of perks to Allen H. Weisselberg, former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, without paying taxes, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

While prosecutors tried to convict the Trump Organization on its conspiracy role in the case, lawyers from the Trump Organization said that Weisselberg was the man to be blamed but not his then employer, the Trump Organization.

The trial is expected to last over a month and the Trump Organization could be penalized if it's found guilty.

Weisselberg received a rent-free apartment, expensive cars, private school tuition for his grandchildren and new furniture from 2005 to 2018 while avoiding paying taxes, said an earlier statement from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

In August, Weisselberg himself pleaded guilty to all 15 charges in the tax fraud and agreed to testify in the trial against the Trump Organization.

Weisselberg would receive a sentence of five months in jail and five years' probation if he testifies truthfully in the trial against the Trump Organization.

Former U.S. President Donald J. Trump was not indicted in the trial, and he is not expected to testify.

Trump and his children, nevertheless, were sued in another case brought up by New York Attorney General Letitia James over the alleged practice of altering asset values to obtain better loan and insurance rates. 
A vessel in the second caravan of ships transporting grain from Ukraine passes through the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkiye, Aug. 7, 2022. (Xinhua/Shadati)

"We are encouraged by Russia's assurance that it is not pulling out of the initiative and it is only temporarily suspending activities in the implementation," said Martin Griffiths, UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations looks forward to welcoming Russia back in the fulfilment of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which Moscow has halted following an attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet, UN relief chief said on Monday.

"We are encouraged by Russia's assurance that it is not pulling out of the initiative and it is only temporarily suspending activities in the implementation," Martin Griffiths, UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, told a Security Council briefing.

Russia announced Saturday that it would immediately and indefinitely suspend its implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, accusing Ukraine of launching drone attacks against the Russian Black Sea Fleet's ships and infrastructure under the cover of the humanitarian corridor set up for the implementation of the initiative.

On July 22, Russia and Ukraine separately signed a document in Istanbul with Turkiye and the UN on grain and fertilizer exports from Ukraine and Russia to ensure supplies to global markets amid the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict.

Thirty-eight countries have purchased some nine million tons of grain from Ukraine under the deal, which has a humanitarian impact on the reduction of prices and the calming of market volatility, Griffiths said.

It would be a grave abuse of the initiative if it were used in any way for military operational advantage, he noted.

On the alleged misuse of cargo vessels in the initiative for military purposes, Griffiths said that none were in the corridor on the night of Oct. 29 when the reported attacks on the Russian fleet took place.

A team of representatives from the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) inspects on the first grain-laden ship leaving Ukraine on the northwestern entrance of the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkiye, Aug. 3, 2022. (Turkish Defense Ministry/Handout via Xinhua)

As part of the deal, a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) was established in Istanbul with representatives from the UN, Russia, Ukraine and Turkiye to carry out safety inspections for cargo ships from and to the Ukrainian ports.

Russia has deployed a highly professional team at the JCC for the implementation of the deal, Griffiths said, adding that "we look forward to welcoming them back as a full and active participant in the fulfilment of the initiative."

The initial duration of the agreement is 120 days. The parties had agreed that the deal could be extended automatically on the condition that no party objects.

The United Nations is ready to address concerns and listen to suggestions from all sides, as the 120-day extension point on Nov. 19 is approaching, said Griffiths.

"The Black Sea Grain Initiative is too important to fail, stormy though the waters are," he said. 
BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The middle route of China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project has completed its annual water diversion target this year, with the amount of water transferred hitting a record high.

The route has transferred about 9.21 billion cubic meters of water from major rivers in the south to the country's parched north from Nov. 1, 2021 to Oct. 31 this year, 27.4 percent more than the yearly plan, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.

So far, the middle and eastern routes of the water diversion project have transferred over 57.6 billion cubic meters of water, benefiting 150 million people, said the ministry. Meanwhile, rivers and lakes along the routes have been replenished with more than 9.2 billion cubic meters of water.

The country's South-to-North Water Diversion Project has three routes.

The middle route begins at the Danjiangkou Reservoir in central China's Hubei Province and runs through Henan and Hebei before reaching Beijing and Tianjin; the eastern route transfers water from eastern Jiangsu Province to areas including Tianjin and Shandong; and the western route is yet to be built. 
HONG KONG, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Finnish entrepreneur Jarno Piironen was surprised to find a booming fintech scene in Hong Kong. For the past week, he attended several fintech and venture capital-themed events in Hong Kong, during which he connected with potential clients and investors for his Finland-based fintech startup.

"I always know Hong Kong as an international financial center, but I didn't know there is such a big fintech scene here," he told Xinhua during the ongoing 2022 Hong Kong Fintech Week, taking place in person and virtually from Monday to Friday.

The event is attracting the attention of international investors and entrepreneurs. As an international financial center, Hong Kong is actively embracing technological innovation in the financial industry with open-mindedness and an updated regulatory framework, thereby further consolidating its financial hub status while creating new growth drivers.

Paul Chan, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, said in a video address to the event that Hong Kong had no more than 180 fintech companies five years ago, but the number rose to more than 800 as of today.

"Many of them are founded by overseas talents, from Israel, France, the United Kingdom and many other places. And we ought to be proud that our fintech sector also gave birth to a number of unicorns," he said.

The impressive growth has been powered by Hong Kong's open market, a rigorous regulatory regime, the rule of law, sophisticated infrastructure and the free flow of capital and information, he said.

Building on the already flourishing fintech scene is the HKSAR government's latest open stance towards the development of virtual assets in Hong Kong.

The HKSAR government on Monday issued a policy statement on the development of virtual assets (VA) in Hong Kong, saying that Hong Kong is open and inclusive towards the global community of innovators engaging in VA businesses.

The HKSAR government would work with the financial regulators to provide a facilitating environment for promoting sustainable and responsible development of the VA sector in Hong Kong, the statement said.

"We will put in place timely and necessary guardrails to mitigate actual and potential risks in line with international standards, so that virtual assets innovations can thrive in Hong Kong in a sustainable manner," it said.

Adrian Cheng, chief executive officer of New World Development Company Limited, said that Hong Kong sees three major opportunities, including the possibility to become the digital financial asset issuance center, the chance to create a comprehensive ecosystem combining traditional and digital finance as well as the opportunity to cultivate a cross-border platform for blockchain development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Hong Kong's unique advantage of being backed by the motherland and connected to the world also has a role to play in fintech development. Federico Fontolan, who leads digital innovation at CRIF Hong Kong, a business information provider, said that the Italy-based company chose Hong Kong as its regional headquarters partly because of Hong Kong's proximity to the Chinese mainland.

"Here you have access to innovations from all over the world, and as China is one of our biggest markets, it's always nice to be close to our customers," he said.

Financial regulators from the Chinese mainland are also stepping up support for Hong Kong's fintech development.

Yi Gang, China's central bank governor, said in his video address to the Hong Kong Fintech Week that the People's Bank of China is cooperating with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and other monetary authorities on the Central Bank Digital Currency, or CBDC, as it attracted growing attention in recent years.

"We hope such cooperation will better serve both global and domestic investors and help enhance Hong Kong's role as an international financial center," he said.

Cai Jianchun, general manager of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, said that the exchange will leverage its experience and advantages in the coordinated development of fintech and the capital market to deepen its cooperation with Hong Kong and help consolidate Hong Kong's status as an international financial hub. 
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee on Tuesday in Beijing.

Noting that China and Vietnam share broad common interests, Li said China attaches great importance to relations with Vietnam.

He called on the two countries to maintain high-level exchanges, enhance communication and mutual learning, and deepen the alignment of their development strategies to address global uncertainties and instabilities with the stability of the China-Vietnam relationship.

Li said China is willing to implement the consensus the two sides have already reached, and make full use of convenient conditions such as geographical proximity and complementary industrial advantages to upgrade bilateral economic and trade cooperation and facilitate cooperation in key areas.

"China is ready to import more marketable agricultural products from Vietnam and jointly maintain the facilitation of trade with Vietnam at border ports," he said.

On China-ASEAN relations, Li said China stands ready to work with ASEAN countries to consolidate traditional friendship, promote cooperation in areas across the board to yield more achievements, and jointly maintain the peace and stability of the South China Sea, so as to create an enabling environment for their respective development and bring more benefits to the people of the region.

For his part, Trong said Vietnam stands ready to work with the Chinese side to implement their consensus, further increase mutual understanding, promote cooperation, seek common development, enhance their "comrades and brothers" relationship, and bring concrete benefits to the two countries and two peoples. 

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
By Azernews

By Sabina Mammadli

Russia is ready to provide Azerbaijan and Armenia with the most accurate maps of the Soviet General Staff for the border demarcation, Azernews reports, citing President Vladimir Putin.

Putin told this to reporters on the sidelines of the trilateral meeting of the Azerbaijani-Armenian leaders in Sochi on October 31.

Putin noted that the preconditions for the delimitation and demarcation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan have been found.

"As for the peacekeepers, this is spelled out in our joint statement in November 2020, when the conflict ended. There is nothing to add here. We talked about it. But this requires our joint agreement," Putin said.

According to him, the decision to extend the mandate of the Russian peacekeepers depends on other issues - the possible conclusion of a peace treaty and the delimitation and demarcation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"If these issues are resolved, then the issue of peacekeepers will stand differently. If not resolved or [resolved] to some extent, then the fate of our peacekeeping contingent depends on it," Putin explained.

To recap, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Sochi on October 31.
Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu on Tuesday met with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee.

Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, introduced the great political achievements and significance of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), saying that the CPC and the Chinese people are working together with full confidence towards the goal of advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

Li said that China's NPC is willing to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Vietnam's National Assembly (NA) and contribute to deepening the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era.

Trong expressed his expectation that Vietnam's NA and China's NPC will further strengthen exchanges, jointly implement the consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties, and push forward the Vietnam-China friendly cooperation of "comrades and brothers" to bear new fruits. 

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security recently recognized hotpot chef as an independent occupation. In Chongqing, hotpot chefs were encouraged by the recognition.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid (L, front) and his wife cast their ballots at a polling station in Tel Aviv, Israel, Nov. 1, 2022. Israelis were heading to the ballots on Tuesday in unprecedented fifth elections since 2019, as the country is facing a lingering deadlock that has paralyzed its political system for almost four years. A total of 40 parties are running for seats in the Israeli parliament, or Knesset. (Amos Ben Gershom-GPO/Handout via Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Israelis were heading to the ballots on Tuesday in unprecedented fifth elections since 2019, as the country is facing a lingering deadlock that has paralyzed its political system for almost four years.

Some 6.78 million eligible voters could cast their votes in 12,495 ballots, according to figures issued by the Central Elections Committee, which oversees elections in Israel. About 18,000 police officers were deployed throughout the country "for the purposes of preventing fraud attempts, managing traffic and keeping security," the committee said in a statement.

A one-day closure was imposed on the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip on Monday night, Israel's military said in a statement, citing fear of attacks that will disrupt the voting. During the closure, all the crossings between Israel and the Palestinian territories will be closed, except for humanitarian cases and medical emergencies.

A total of 40 parties are running for seats in the Israeli parliament, or Knesset. However, only about 11 of them are projected to pass the electoral threshold needed to enter the parliament, which now stands at 3.25 percent of the total votes.

For the first time in 13 years, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not running as an incumbent prime minister. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, is planning to return to power with his right-wing Likud party and a coalition of far-right and Jewish ultra-Orthodox.

Netanyahu had served as prime minister for 12 consecutive years before being ousted in June 2021 by a cross-partisan coalition led by current Prime Minister Yair Lapid. However, recent opinion polls predict no candidate would gain an outright majority to build a 61-member coalition in the 120-member Knesset, meaning weeks or even months of coalition-building negotiations and possibly another election.

The polls predict a tie between Netanyahu's bloc and a bloc of parties with diverse ideologies that are united only by the goal of preventing Netanyahu from returning to power due to the criminal trial he is facing over corruption charges.

The vote will end at 10 p.m. local time (2000 GMT) with results from exit polls expected immediately afterward. Official final results are expected by Thursday, according to the Central Elections Committee.

Lapid and his wife Lihi voted at the polling station in Ramat Aviv Gimel, an affluent neighborhood of Tel Aviv. "Vote wisely. Vote for the State of Israel, the future of our children and our future in general," he said in a video statement outside the polling station.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog voted in Jerusalem and called on Israelis to vote. "Millions of voters will go out today to vote and decide as to the future and direction of our nation," he said. "Exercise your democratic right, and go to vote!" 

Israelis cast their ballots at a polling station in Tel Aviv, Israel, Nov. 1, 2022. Israelis were heading to the ballots on Tuesday in unprecedented fifth elections since 2019, as the country is facing a lingering deadlock that has paralyzed its political system for almost four years. A total of 40 parties are running for seats in the Israeli parliament, or Knesset. (Amos Ben Gershom-GPO/Handout via Xinhua)

Israelis cast their ballots at a polling station in Tel Aviv, Israel, Nov. 1, 2022. Israelis were heading to the ballots on Tuesday in unprecedented fifth elections since 2019, as the country is facing a lingering deadlock that has paralyzed its political system for almost four years. A total of 40 parties are running for seats in the Israeli parliament, or Knesset. (Amos Ben Gershom-GPO/Handout via Xinhua)

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and his wife cast their ballots at a polling station in Jerusalem, Nov. 1, 2022. Israelis were heading to the ballots on Tuesday in unprecedented fifth elections since 2019, as the country is facing a lingering deadlock that has paralyzed its political system for almost four years. A total of 40 parties are running for seats in the Israeli parliament. (JINI via Xinhua)

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz casts his ballot at a polling station in Rosh Haayin, Israel, on Nov. 1, 2022. Israelis were heading to the ballots on Tuesday in unprecedented fifth elections since 2019, as the country is facing a lingering deadlock that has paralyzed its political system for almost four years. A total of 40 parties are running for seats in the Israeli parliament. (JINI via Xinhua)
Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, meets with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang on Tuesday met with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee.

Wang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, noted that China received Trong's official visit to China right after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). He said this shows that China attaches great importance to the special relationship of "comrades and brothers" between China and Vietnam and cherishes the traditional friendship between the two peoples.

Wang said the CPPCC is studying and implementing the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and is willing to work with the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) to implement the consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties, inherit and carry forward the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam, deepen friendly exchanges at all levels, carry out work experience exchanges in the fields of political participation and discussion, and make positive contributions to building the two countries into a community with a shared future that bears strategic significance.

Trong congratulated the 20th CPC National Congress on a series of major theoretical and practical achievements, and said the VFF is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the CPPCC to unite forces from all sectors of society as well as resources from home and abroad, and promote the further development of Vietnam-China relations. 

Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, meets with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)
LUSAKA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Alice Nakazwe, a resident of Kapiri Mposhi district in central Zambia, is getting ready to go for a meeting in a Wednesday afternoon.

"I am the one in charge of balancing the books today," she said as she reached out for a ballpoint in her little purse.

Nakazwe, 57, was a member of a savings group in Material compound, a lower-income community located a stone's throw away from the central business district of Kapiri Mposhi.

Like most vulnerable small-scale traders in Zambia, Nakazwe, who sold a variety of vegetables, depended on savings from a savings group to boost her business.

"For many years, I had challenges accessing finances to grow my business. This affected my entire household, which depended on the business to survive," she recounted while displaying tomatoes in a makeshift store next to her house.

But that sad story ended in 2020 when Nakazwe became a member of a savings group. Her business has not only expanded but also stabilized. She can now buy various vegetables in larger quantities and have better returns.

Namaine Malmbo, who was also a member of Nakazwe's savings group, observed that compared to other formal arrangements, savings groups are making it easier for women from poorer backgrounds to access funds for small businesses.

"Most vulnerable women do not have assets such as land, cars or houses. These are the things that banks ask for when you approach them for a loan to start or boost a business. But with savings groups, one can get a loan easily," added Malambo, 58.

Savings groups or village banks, as they are commonly known in most parts of Zambia, are popular, particularly in lower-income areas of the country.

While membership is open to both men and women, the majority of these groups constitute women.

Members of a community seeking to have some form of banking services usually initiate these groups and take turns borrowing money from the group's savings. A savings group usually comprises a minimum of 10 members and a maximum of 25.

One is entitled to borrow a sum at least twice their savings, and the interest is given back to the borrower or shared amongst members during the share-out day, which usually takes place after six months. The share-out day signals the end of one savings circle and the beginning of another. Some groups, however, choose not to have a share-out day but instead continue saving and borrowing.

Among those that have been helping savings groups to thrive is Tubombelepamo, a local organization. The organization has, since 2019, facilitated the establishment of savings groups in Kapiri Mposhi's most vulnerable communities.

"We recruit women from vulnerable communities and train them to manage savings. We also take them through entrepreneurship and business development sessions and encourage them to set financial goals," said Winter Musonda, Tubombelepamo programs manager.

Musonda revealed that Tubombelepamo has helped establish 70 savings groups for women in five vulnerable communities of Kapiri Mposhi. "The goal is to have 150 women's savings groups in the district's most vulnerable areas by 2025," he said. 
JERUSALEM, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Bahrain's Minister of Commerce and Industry Zayed R. Alzayani on Monday discussed ways to strengthen economic ties between the two countries.

In a meeting in Jerusalem with the Bahraini minister, Lieberman highlighted the economic potential in the region and talked about the possibility of building a terrestrial connection from Israel to the Gulf, the Israeli finance ministry said in a statement.

For his part, Alzayani stressed the importance of the economic ties between the two countries, urging the two sides to increase bilateral investments and trade.

Leading a large Bahraini delegation, Alzayani is currently in Israel on a five-day business mission, during which he also held meetings with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Economy Minister Orna Barbivay. 
Representatives take part in a panel discussion during a meeting under the theme "Prospects of China-Africa Cooperation: Youth Leaders Forum" in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Oct. 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

China's growing engagement in Africa is inclusive and based on a win-win approach that's aimed at promoting a shared future among the global community, experts and officials have said.

ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's growing engagement in Africa is inclusive and based on a win-win approach that's aimed at promoting a shared future among the global community, experts and officials have said.

"China's growing engagement in Africa is positive because it is inclusive, not prescriptive. It respects the culture of the African context," Yonas Adaye, commissioner of the Ethiopian National Dialogue, a think tank, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Commending China's respect for the sovereignty of others, non-aggression and peaceful co-existence, Adaye said China is winning the world owing to its respect for others' culture, history, and unique features.

"The beauty of Chinese foreign relations policy relies on non-interference, no naming and shaming, no stopping of aid to damage bilateral relations and no prescription of development -- these make China really unique in the world," he said.

The rise of China's foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa has promoted the continent's economic growth, said Tadele Alamneh, a PhD candidate in economics at Debre Markos University in Ethiopia.

"Chinese investment in Africa is not biased toward resource-rich and institution-poor countries," said Alamneh, indicating that Ethiopia is a resource-poor country but is among the top recipients of Chinese FDI in Africa.

According to the expert, Ethiopia's GDP grew at a rate of between 8 to 10.9 percent from 2003 to 2018, compared with an average of 4 percent from 1993 to 2003. He said the period of high growth rates in Ethiopia was marked by an intensification of Ethiopia-China economic relations as bilateral trade between the two countries expanded rapidly.

He made the remarks during a recent forum held on Oct. 27 in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa under the theme "Prospects of China-Africa Cooperation: Youth Leaders Forum".

The one-day forum organized by the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia and the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) dwelt upon possible ways to boost China-Africa multidimensional relations and promote peace and development in Africa through increased participation of the youth in leadership positions.

Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan speaks during a meeting under the theme "Prospects of China-Africa Cooperation: Youth Leaders Forum" in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Oct. 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

Speaking about the significance of the forum, Ethiopian Minister of Women and Social Affairs Ergogie Tesfaye said the platform helps create competent young leaders in Africa and China.

"Having such a platform will help the youth both in Africa and China exchange their experiences and share knowledge and skills," Tesfaye told Xinhua.

Recalling the opening of Amharic language classes in China and Chinese language classes in Ethiopia, the minister said China and Africa should help their young people understand each other by exchanging cultures and opening more education and training centers for a common destiny.

"The Chinese government is supporting the youth in Ethiopia to study in China and that has helped bring the most wanted skills and technology here in Ethiopia and Africa," Tesfaye said.

The minister is optimistic that the implementation of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative will help boost the existing trade, cultural and business-to-business relations between China and Africa. 
BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a message of condolence to Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a bridge collapse in India's western state of Gujarat, which had caused serious casualties.

In his message, Xi said he was shocked to learn of the deadly collapse. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi extended deep condolences over the deaths and sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also sent a message of condolence to Modi. 
BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China has issued a circular on piloting the construction of urban communities with sound facilities, services and management amid efforts to improve urban living environment.

The two-year pilot program started in October 2022, according to the circular jointly issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Communities in the program will be equipped with service facilities, including kindergartens, stations for the elderly and health care, convenience stores, canteens and domestic service outlets, said the circular.

Infrastructure will be upgraded in the fields of utilities, parking and charging, barrier-free facilities, and roads, among others.

Efforts will also be made to introduce smart services and management with the support of advanced technology, while residents will be encouraged to participate in community development, the document said. 
This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2022 shows a view of the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, Nigeria. China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) on Monday handed over Nigeria's first deep sea port to the government after the completion of the huge maritime project in the country's economic hub city of Lagos. (Xinhua/Guo Jun)

LAGOS, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) on Monday handed over Nigeria's first deep sea port to the government after the completion of the huge maritime project in the country's economic hub city of Lagos.

The port will meet the needs of Nigeria's economic development, said Cui Jianchun, Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, in an interview with Xinhua at the handing over ceremony held in Lagos.

As a commercial project of tripartite cooperation between China, France and Nigeria, Lekki port is of great significance for promoting the Belt and Road cooperation in Africa, said the ambassador.

Constructed by the CHEC, the Lekki Deep Sea Port is the largest seaport in Nigeria, and one of the biggest in West Africa. The construction of the port commenced in June 2020, and is designed to handle 1.2 million standard containers annually.

"This new port will position Lagos as a new maritime logistics hub not only in West Africa, but in the whole Central and West African region," said the Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the ceremony.

The newly completed project will create nearly 200,000 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria in the coming years, unlock the country's economic potential, and boost the country's revenue, he said.

With the construction of Lekki port, Lagos' Lekki area has become a hot place for investment, Deputy General Manager of the CHEC Wu Di told Xinhua, adding that the port will soon be put into commercial operation and is full of development prospects.

"I believe this largest deep sea port in West Africa will bring new development opportunities to Nigeria," he said. 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, speaks at the handing over ceremony of the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, Nigeria, Oct. 31, 2022. China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) on Monday handed over Nigeria's first deep sea port to the government after the completion of the huge maritime project in the country's economic hub city of Lagos. (Xinhua/Guo Jun)

Cui Jianchun, Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, speaks at the handing over ceremony of the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, Nigeria, Oct. 31, 2022. China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) on Monday handed over Nigeria's first deep sea port to the government after the completion of the huge maritime project in the country's economic hub city of Lagos. (Xinhua/Guo Jun)
By Azernews

By Yusif Abbaszada

The first deputy culture minister, Elnur Aliyev, has been detained in a special operation of the State Security Service (SSS), Azernews reports, citing Day.az.

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The State Security Service of Azerbaijan is conducting an operation at the Culture Ministry, Azernews reports, citing Trend news agency.

There are no details of the operation at the moment, the report says, adding that more details will be provided later.
BAGHDAD, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- After a year of a tough political row that threatened to drag Iraq into chaos and violence, a new government led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani was finally formed. Analysts believe that there are tough challenges ahead facing the new prime minister and his cabinet.

On Thursday evening, the Iraqi parliament approved al-Sudani's cabinet and his government program, which includes combating corruption, addressing the unemployment and poverty problems, as well as improving public services and economic reforms.

However, many local analysts believe that it is still too early to see how the situation will develop as the challenges faced by al-Sudani are daunting due to the deep disagreements between the rival Shiite blocs.

"Al-Sudani's government program is very ambitious and may not be able to implement within a short period of one year, and even if he partially can, he will need the cooperation and support of the political blocs," said Abdul Aziz al-Jubouri, a teacher of media at the Baghdad-based al-Iraqia University.

Al-Sudani's major challenge is how to deal with the influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who is capable of mobilizing tens of thousands of his supporters against his rivals, al-Jubouri said.

Al-Sudani is part of the Coordination Framework (CF), an umbrella group of Shiite parliamentary parties, which became the largest bloc in the Iraqi parliament after al-Sadr in June ordered his followers to withdraw from the parliament.

Keeping al-Sadr calm and trying to satisfy him is the first challenge for the new government, as a failure heralds unpleasant scenarios, the best of which may be the resignation of al-Sudani's government, and the worst of which is a street confrontation between CF and al-Sadr supporters, according to al-Jubouri.

"Al-Sadr is expected to remain on the margins of the political scene at this stage, and he will later use his power in the street to pressure his opponents within the CF, either to bring down their government or call for early elections if he feels that his opponents try to stay in power for a longer period," he concluded.

Another major challenge for al-Sudani's government is gripping the control of armed groups and weapons, as most armed groups are associated with certain Shiite parties in the government, he said.

As for the external challenges, al-Sudani's government will have to pursue a clear and balanced diplomatic stance with regional neighbors and other countries, including the continuation of facilitating new rounds of direct talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

He also has to seek better relations with Turkiye to cooperate, especially on the issue of water, as Iraq suffers from low levels of water flowing in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which originate from the Turkish territory. In addition, Iraq needs to cooperate with Turkiye on the issue of exporting its oil via Ceyhan port on the Mediterranean.

Hussein Latif, a lecturer of economics at al-Mustansriyah University in Baghdad, told Xinhua that he sees that the root of most of Iraq's crises is corruption, which makes any government almost incapable of responding to the needs of the Iraqi citizens.

"Al-Sudani's success in combating corruption will enable him to introduce significant economic reform in various fields, and diversify Iraq's sources of income to reduce its dependence on its oil revenues," Latif said, underlining the fact that more than 90 percent of Iraq's revenues come from crude oil exports.

Najib Khalaf, a professor of Law at al-Iraqia University, believes the current political lull is hinting that al-Sudani's political opponents are giving him the opportunity to implement his promised political agenda.

He believes that al-Sudani should take advantage of the calm political window by giving strong signals that he is serious about implementing his ambitious government program to gain people's trust.

"There is currently a financial abundance made by the oil revenues that may enable al-Sudani to materialize a large part of his government program," Khalaf said.

Khalaf's comment was referring to the last speech made by Mustafa al-Kadhimi on the day of the al-Sudani government's approval, in which he reviewed the achievements of his government, saying that Iraq's foreign exchange reserves hit 85 billion U.S. dollars and its gold reserves amounted to 134 tonnes.

Such an amount of money can help rebuild infrastructure in the war-ravaged country after the parliament approves the annual state budget once submitted by the government, he added. 
People take part in a parade to celebrate National Day in Algiers, Algeria, Oct. 31, 2022. (Xinhua)

ALGIERS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Algeria held a large-scale parade in the capital on Monday to commemorate the 68th anniversary of the start of the Algerian revolution.

After a century of rule by France, Algeria became independent on July 5, 1962. However, its national holiday is on Nov. 1, when the country celebrates the Revolution Day of 1954.

Since the country is hosting the Arab League summit on Tuesday, this year's celebration was held a day earlier on Monday.

People take part in a parade to celebrate National Day in Algiers, Algeria, Oct. 31, 2022. (Xinhua)

People take part in a parade to celebrate National Day in Algiers, Algeria, Oct. 31, 2022. (Xinhua)

People take part in a parade to celebrate National Day in Algiers, Algeria, Oct. 31, 2022. (Xinhua)
The Communist Party of China (CPC) shoulders the responsibility of seeking happiness for the people and the Chinese path to modernization will surely continue to improve the people's well-being, a Japanese political party leader has said.

The CPC adheres to the spirit of self-reform and under its leadership, the Chinese economy has been constantly forging ahead, said Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of Japan's ruling coalition party Komeito, in a recent interview with Xinhua, applauding China's tremendous development achievements over the past decade.

"China has been setting its future development goals with a long-term perspective and making continuous efforts to achieve them," he said. "Komeito party has been paying close attention to the progress of the Chinese path to modernization," an important concept highlighted in the report of the 20th CPC National Congress.

Yamaguchi noted that despite their differences in political systems, Japan and China should work together on the basis of mutual respect and common values of mankind to realize their people's goals of pursuing happiness, good-neighborliness and prosperity.

Speaking of his expectations about the future China-Japan relations, Yamaguchi said the two sides should make active efforts to maintain good bilateral relations, carry out dialogue and exchanges, constantly strengthen mutual trust, as well as safeguard and develop friendly, stable and constructive relations.

The two sides should also work together to safeguard world peace and stability, he said.

Yamaguchi said he looked forward to consolidating and strengthening the long-term friendly relations between the Komeito party and the CPC, and further promoting Japan-China cooperation.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Goemeone Kagiso feeds cow dung into a biogas digester at a cattle post settlement called Gatuma located near Mmathethe village, Southern district, Botswana, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Sharon Tshipa/Xinhua)

GABORONE, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- At a cattle post settlement called Gatuma located near Mmathethe village, south of Botswana, Goemeone and Mpho Kagiso have over the past year embraced biogas energy and are enjoying more than just the financial relief it brings.

"Biogas has changed our lives a lot. When it is raining and its windy, we can cook and don't go to bed hungry. We also warm up water for bathing," says Goemeone Kagiso, whose life is centered around livestock rearing and crop farming.

He and his wife own 15 cattle, five pigs and a wide range of poultry. From these he collects between five to 40 liters of waste a day that he feeds into his 10m3 biogas digester.

Kagiso is one of the 231 beneficiaries of the Botswana biogas project which was largely made possible by funding from the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the objective of promoting the production and use of biogas as an environmentally friendly source of energy for farms, households and institutions that produce or have access to agro-waste.

The initial aim of the project launched on Jan. 20, 2017 and completed in January 2022 was to construct 1,000 small-scale digesters but this target was reduced to at least 200 due to time constraints.

According to the project's final report, 110 small-scale digesters had been installed and the majority of them were operational by mid-2021, with an estimated 80m3 per day of biogas produced.

Tumisang Ruda, an energy engineer at the Department of Energy of Botswana, said the beneficiaries of the biogas project are spread within the Kweneng, Kgatleng, Southern and South East districts. These districts cover less than 25 percent of the country's landmass, yet their main landfill sites contributed almost half of the total municipal solid waste collected by landfill in 2017, according to Statistics Botswana.

To become a beneficiary, Goemeone Kagiso and his wife had to apply and invest P3,500 (271 U.S. dollars) towards buying construction materials for the digester. The implementing organizations covered labor expenses.

Kutlo Sedimo, 29, another beneficiary of the project said he spent P40,000 (3,096 U.S. dollars) on materials needed for the installation of a 30m3 digester that was completed in May last year in Matlagatse, a farming settlement near Molepolole village, about 50 kilometers west of Gaborone.

"It's expensive but a good investment, having access to energy makes life easy and you invest once, it's better than buying electricity and gas every month," Sedimo noted.

What he feeds his digester is mainly cow dung from his family's 75 cattle. "The best time to collect cow dung is early morning before they leave for grazing," he explains, encouraging other citizens to use biogas as it also gives slurry, a fertilizer byproduct rich in nitrogen that would be good for their crops.

There were only 15 biogas digesters in the country when the biogas digester project was first rolled out. The increase by 231 biogas digesters shows that biogas is fast becoming popular in rural households that are not connected to the national electricity grid.

The UNDP final project report, on the other hand, suggests that the project implementers could have built more had it not been for the fact that some farmers were too poor to invest in the biogas digester construction materials.

"I encourage farmers to start using biogas, it will help them a lot and transform their lives," Kagiso said. 


UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- A flare-up of fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has displaced thousands of people, with some fleeing into Uganda, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

"Our colleagues in the DRC say that fighting over the weekend between the Congolese armed forces and the M23 (militia) in North Kivu has led to additional population displacement towards our peacekeeping base in Kiwanja," said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Peacekeepers from the UN mission, known as MONUSCO, continued to provide logistical and medical support to the Congolese armed forces and maintained a robust posture to protect civilians, Dujarric said.

He estimated that in the past 11 days, about 50,000 people were displaced, including around 12,000 who sought safety in neighboring Uganda.

Dujarric said that following the call of civil society members in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, there were demonstrations Sunday and Monday at the border with Rwanda.

Rwanda has been accused of supporting the M23 militia.

"We also have news about the four peacekeepers injured last week near Kiwanja, during clashes between the M23 and Congolese forces," said Dujarric.

He added that on Saturday, UN peacekeepers in Ituri province, to the north of Kivu, deployed a quick reaction force to Roe, a site hosting displaced people, following fighting between the Congolese armed forces and suspected members of the Zaire militia. While the attack prompted displaced people to seek refuge at the UN peacekeeping premises, there were no reports of injuries. 
WINDHOEK, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Namibian President Hage Geingob, as the chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, on Tuesday, called for peace and an end to hostilities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In a statement, Geingob appealed for a calm and immediate ceasefire and for armed groups, including the March 23 Movement (M23) and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), to disarm.

"Consistent with the mandate of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) within the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, SADC commits to continuing to play a supportive and constructive role in order to strengthen the conditions of peace in the Eastern DRC," he said.

He added that "Following the meeting of the SADC Organ Troika in Maseru, Lesotho on 28 October 2022, the leaders of the Organ pledged to further work with the authorities in Kinshasa, the United Nations, and MONUSCO to ensure the effectiveness of the Force Intervention Brigade."

He said he spoke on phone to DRC President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame about the worsening political and military situation in eastern DRC.

In consultation with other Troika members, outgoing chairman of the organ South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa, and incoming chairperson Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, Geingob said he reaffirms SADC's support for the mediation led by the chairman of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), President Joao Lourenco of the Republic of Angola.

Geingob said he is pleased with the commitment of presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi to the Luanda and Nairobi processes to give peace a chance by finding lasting solutions to the security challenges in the eastern DRC. 
This photo taken on Nov. 1, 2022 shows the sub-venue of "ASEAN Students 'Talk with Taikonauts'" event in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.(Photo by Jeffrey Wong/Xinhua)

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 Bruneian college students were inspired and motivated by talking with three Chinese astronauts, or taikonauts, via video link on Tuesday.

During the talk with students of Brunei and other Southeast Asian countries, the three taikonauts, Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe, who are on a six-month mission in orbit, shared with youth from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) their life and scientific work in Tiangong space station.

The main venue of the event, titled "ASEAN Students 'Talk with Taikonauts'" was Beijing, while students from ASEAN countries joined the dialogue at sub-venues.

Yu Hong, Chinese ambassador to Brunei, said that China's dream to explore the cosmos has never been an isolated one.

"We hope that the realization of this dream will continue to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and make greater contributions to the development of human civilization," she said at the event held at the Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) Aviation School.

During a question and answer session, Muhammad Abdul Hanan Husain bin Soekarddy, an IBTE student representing ASEAN youth, raised the first question to the taikonauts, about challenges they are facing when working and living in outer space.

"I'm very excited to have this opportunity to ask questions to the three taikonauts in Tiangong space station," he told Xinhua.

"I am currently studying aircraft maintenance engineering at school. The experience of talking directly to the Chinese astronauts is precious to me, which prompts me to consider further my study on aviation abroad in the future," he added.

Nur Izzah Atikah Hj Ismail, a Universiti Brunei Darussalam student studying mechanical engineering, told Xinhua that dialogue made her more interested in outer space, hoping to learn more about China's space exploration efforts.

"We welcome foreign counterparts to enter into China's space station, and countries across the world to participate in science experiments in the space station," Yu Hong told Xinhua.

"China is willing to work with all countries committed to the peaceful use of outer space, including Brunei and other ASEAN countries, to carry out more international cooperation and exchanges," the ambassador added. 
YANGON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar extended its COVID-19 preventive measures until Nov. 30, the Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment for COVID-19 has said in a statement.

The extension is applied to all COVID-19 restrictions that expired on Oct. 31, except the ones that will be eased, the committee said.

The statement said that the extension covers all orders, announcements, directives previously issued by respective government organizations and ministries in order to contain the pandemic.

The Southeast Asian country confirmed 81 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total tally to 631,797, official data showed on Tuesday.

The total number of deaths from COVID-19 reached 19,483 on Tuesday after one more death was reported. 
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Two Pakistani soldiers and four terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based military operation in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, the military said in a statement.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan army, said Monday that the operation was conducted in Kaman Pass area of the province to clear a hideout of terrorists.

However, during the establishment of blocking positions, terrorists opened fire on the security forces, resulting in the killing of the military personnel, the ISPR statement said, adding that during the ensuing heavy exchange of fire, four terrorists were also killed.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition including improvised explosive devices were seized from the terrorists.

The security forces continued the clearance operation to apprehend other terrorists in the area, the military said. 
TOKYO, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Some 60 photographs from three Chinese photographers in Japan are shown here at an exhibition to mark the 50th anniversary of the normalization of the China-Japan diplomatic relations.

The exhibition, titled "Under the Same Sky" and featuring photographs from Feng Xuemin, Guo Yun and Jiang Ting, kicked off Monday in the China Cultural center in Tokyo.

Yang Yu, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Japan, Yasuo Fukuda, former Japanese prime minister, and Kiyomi Seno, chairman of the Japan-China Society, attended the opening ceremony.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Yang expressed his hope that the two countries will revisit their original aspiration for peace and friendship, stick to the right direction of peace and friendly cooperation, continuously expand exchanges and cooperation, and enhance understanding and mutual trust.

As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of the China-Japan diplomatic relations, a more mature, stable, healthy and resilient China-Japan relationship is expected to be advanced into the next five decades, said Yang.

The three photographers, whose artworks are featured at the exhibition, have all lived in Japan for more than 30 years, and they hope to enhance mutual understanding and trust between the people of the two countries through the exhibition. 
By Azernews

By Sama Imanova

Germany is interested in expanding economic cooperation with Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing German Ambassador Ralf Horlemann.

"German companies are interested in investing in industrial zones, expanding the use of their technologies at Azerbaijani enterprises, as well as developing German experience in Azerbaijan, including professional development of personnel," the ambassador said.

Azerbaijan has a convenient geographical location in terms of logistics, the German ambassador told a meeting with Elshad Nuriyev, the head of the Agency for the Development of Economic Zones of Azerbaijan.

To recap, the sides highlighted their commitment to further strengthening relations, as well as attracting German investments in industrial zones.
MUMBAI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- India's manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 55.3 in October from 55.1 in September as expansion in factory activity led to hiring spree of workers, a survey said on Tuesday.

The index compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence remained above the 50-mark in October, the 16th straight month of improvement.

Manufacturing employment in Asia's third largest economy increased at a marked rate that was one of the strongest since data collection started in March 2005, as firms hired extra workers to address the rising business volume.

"The Indian manufacturing industry again showed signs of resilience in October, with factory orders and production rising strongly despite losing growth momentum," said Pollyanna De Lima, economics associate director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

"Manufacturers continued to loosen the purse strings as they expect demand buoyancy to be sustained in coming months. There was a marked rise in input purchasing, with firms adding to their inventories to better align with client purchasing," Pollyanna De Lima said.

"The Future Output Index component indicated robust business optimism toward the year-ahead outlook for output," Pollyanna De Lima said. 
NANNING/HANOI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- In Pingxiang, a border county in south China's Chongzuo city, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, flat-bed and container trucks carrying fruits, building materials and industrial equipment are lining up to cross the China-Vietnam border.

The county, home to around 130,000 people, has witnessed the rapidly growing trade and even closer practical cooperation between the two neighboring countries in recent years, which also gave a strong boost to local trade and economic development and brought more benefits to the people of both countries.

After China and Vietnam normalized their relationship over 30 years ago, they forged a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2008, and the two countries have been maintaining communication at all levels, and working together to step up synergy in development strategies, facilitate practical cooperation, promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges and advance regional connectivity.

With joint efforts, the two countries' cooperation has been advancing steadily. China has remained Vietnam's biggest trading partner and the second largest export destination, while Vietnam has continued to be China's biggest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Bilateral cooperation in such areas as investment, infrastructure and green energy has also flourished.

Statistics of China's customs showed that the two countries' trade increased by 19.7 percent to 230.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, the first time in history surpassing the 200-billion mark. It is a hard-won achievement amid the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the staggering global economy.

The booming cross-border fruit trade has been one of the new highlights of bilateral trade in recent years. Thanks to fast transportation, cold chain logistics and the development of e-commerce, Vietnam's fruit exports to China have increased rapidly year by year, and the China-Vietnam border city Chongzuo has become the largest city for import and export of border fruits trade in China.

In the third quarter this year, the foreign trade volume of Chongzuo jumped to 78.12 billion yuan (10.6 billion dollars) with a surge of nearly 50 percent year-on-year.

On Sept. 19, after years of small-scale trade around the border areas, fresh durians from Vietnam were officially exported to China for the first time, offering new opportunities to durian growers, packers and producers in the country.

Eyeing the huge potential of China's market with over 1.4 billion consumers, Rang Dong Agricultural Product Import-Export Company in Vietnam's southern Long An province hopes to deliver more fresh and processed fruits to China, especially after the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership came into effect on Jan. 1.

Nguyen Tat Quyen, the company's director, said that besides the gigantic size, the Chinese market has another big advantage, namely being close to Vietnam, and convenient for road, sea and air transport.

During the 14th meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation in July, the two sides agreed to bolster their Belt and Road cooperation, work together to build a mechanism for ensuring and promoting the stability of industrial and supply chains, strengthen port construction and facilitate customs clearance.

As a flagship project of Belt and Road cooperation, the China-constructed Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line project in Hanoi, the first of this type in the Southeast Asian country, has transported millions of Vietnamese since its commercial operation in November last year.

The metro project has greatly facilitated the travel of residents along the route. Many residents have begun to abandon the traditional travel mode of motorcycles and choose to take the metro.

"Taking these trains, I will no longer have to worry about congestion every morning while going to work," said Hoang Thi Huong, a 30-year-old passenger from Hanoi's Thanh Xuan district, hoping that more urban railway projects will be constructed to ease transportation in the city.

The past years have also witnessed growing friendship and mutual understanding between the people of the two countries. An increasing number of Chinese films and TV series have gained popularity in Vietnam, while the flourishing bilateral ties have attracted more and more Vietnamese students to study and work in China.

"As a Vietnamese student in China, I'm familiar with both countries, and I hope to help promote exchanges and make the two countries better understand each other," said Nguyen Huyen Trang, a medical student at Guangxi University in China.

Seeing the bright development prospect of China, Nguyen said he plans to find a job related to China-Vietnam medical cooperation and stay in Guangxi. "The experience of studying in China will give me more advantages in this regard," he added. 
by Burak Akinci

ANKARA, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye demands concrete Finnish and Swedish actions to address Turkish security concerns over extraditing hostile groups members before it unblocks their accession into NATO, experts said ahead of a possible meeting between Ankara and NATO chief later this week.

Turkiye remains one of the two NATO members yet to ratify their accession since the two Nordic countries officially applied to join NATO in May against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Their accession procedure officially started in early July after 30 NATO members, including Turkiye, signed accession protocols. It then went to the parliament of each member to ratify their accession to the military alliance.

However, Ankara has been complaining that the two countries moved slowly in fulfilling their commitments over Turkish security concerns, which are the deportation and extradition of members and associates of the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) and the Gulen Movement, both deemed terrorist organizations by Turkiye.

Delegations from Turkish and Finnish justice ministries held a technical meeting last week in Ankara on the extradition requests, a follow-up on the security pledges Finland made along with Sweden in June, when the three countries reached an agreement, with the other two promising to support Turkiye's fight against terrorism and agreed to address its "pending deportation or extradition requests of terror suspects expeditiously and thoroughly."

"Turkiye expects Finland and Sweden to support its efforts to combat PKK and the Gulen movement," Oytun Orhan, an analyst at the Ankara-based Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies, told Xinhua. It "expects concrete measures," Orhan said.

The PKK is blacklisted as a terrorist organization by Turkiye and Western allies like the European Union. The Gulen Movement is led by and named after the U.S.-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, of which Ankara accuses masterminding the failed coup in 2016 that killed at least 250 people.

While the two NATO-aspirant countries are reported to have made concessions over the PKK, this does not apply to members of the Gulen movement, who are not considered terrorists in the West.

According to the Turkish presidency, Erdogan is expected to meet later this week in Turkiye with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, and next week with Sweden's newly elected Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to discuss Turkish demands.

For Batu Coskun, an independent political risk analyst, the Turkish demand for Gulen members is not likely to be accepted. "There are very few precedents for political extraditions to be realized in international law," he told Xinhua.

Meanwhile, Coskun argued that Turkiye's reservations about Sweden and Finland's membership bear another consideration -- beefing up its foreign policy to impress voters in the runup to the next presidential and parliamentary elections in mid-2023.

"There are upcoming elections in Turkiye, and this kind of rhetoric particularly in a multilateral forum like NATO is perceived well amongst most of the electorate," he said.

However, both Orhan and Coskun concluded that Turkey will eventually approve Finland's and Sweden's membership.

"It would be far too costly for Turkiye to block this process in an open-ended manner, particularly when there are concerns in the West about the nature of Turkish-Russian relations," he added. 
MOSCOW, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Defense Ministry announced Monday that as the main participant in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia does not withdraw from it but suspends it.

Russia has halted traffic along the security corridor in the Black Sea defined by the grain export deal with Ukraine, the ministry said in a statement, accusing Kiev of launching military attacks via the humanitarian route.

"The movement of ships along the security corridor is unacceptable since the Ukrainian leadership and the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces use it to conduct military operations against Russia," the statement said.

"There is no question of guaranteeing the security of any object in the corridor until the Ukrainian side accepts additional obligations not to use this route for military purposes," it said.

The ministry said the Russian side has conveyed its position to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council, and hopes that the UN will assist in obtaining guarantees from Ukraine "not to use the humanitarian corridor and Ukrainian ports designated for the export of agricultural products for conducting military operations against Russia."

On July 22, Russia and Ukraine separately signed a document in Istanbul with Turkiye and the United Nations on grain and fertilizer exports from Ukraine and Russia to ensure supplies to global markets amid the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict.

On Oct. 29, Russia announced the decision to immediately and indefinitely suspend its implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, accusing Ukraine of launching drone attacks against the Russian Black Sea Fleet's ships and infrastructure at the naval base in Sevastopol. 
THE HAGUE, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch government said Tuesday that it will bring back 12 Dutch women suspected of terrorist offenses from northern Syria along with 28 children.

The government said the group of women and their children are already on their way. Upon their arrival in the Netherlands, the women will be arrested and brought to trial, whereas the children will be handed over to the Child Protection Board.

The women with Dutch nationality have stayed in special camps in northern Syria with their children. A court in Rotterdam ruled in May this year that the suspects had to be brought back to the Netherlands quickly for their trials. If the women were not repatriated, the criminal cases against them would be dropped, the court warned.

"With the transfer to the Netherlands, the government aims to prevent these 12 suspects from remaining with impunity," Dutch Justice Minister Dilan Yesiligoz and Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra wrote in a letter to the parliament. 
CHICAGO, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 people, including a 3-year-old and two minors, were shot during a drive-by shooting on the Halloween night Monday on the West Side of the U.S. third largest city of Chicago.

The two minors were an 11-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy, Chicago Tribune quoted police on Tuesday. The victims' conditions varied between critical, serious and good, police said, except a victim of unknown age who was in unknown condition.

Meanwhile, a woman trying to flee the scene was struck by a vehicle as she was crossing traffic, police said.

A group was standing on the corner of two streets for a vigil when two people from inside a dark SUV began shooting, and fled. The shooting was over in three seconds, said Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown at a news conference late Monday.

No arrests had been made as of Tuesday morning and the police are investigating. 
This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2022 shows the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the use of affirmative action in college admissions on Monday.

The lawsuits were brought forward by Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), a nonprofit membership group, against admissions policies at the University of North Carolina (UNC) and Harvard. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the use of affirmative action in college admissions on Monday.

The lawsuits were brought forward by Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), a nonprofit membership group, against admissions policies at the University of North Carolina (UNC) and Harvard.

Edward Blum, the founder and president of the SFFA, said in a statement that the high court should forbid race to be a factor in college admissions.

"It is a moral failure that our most competitive universities place high schoolers on racial registers and tell the world that their skin color affects what they think and know and what they like and don't like," Blum argued.

Kevin Guskiewicz, chancellor of the UNC at Chapel Hill, wrote in an opinion that "race is only one aspect of that diversity, but it is critical, and we cannot have the diverse environment we need without taking it into account."

In a message to members of the Harvard community, Harvard University President Larry Bacow said, "when Harvard assembles a class of undergraduates, it matters that they come from different social, economic, geographical, racial, and ethnic backgrounds."

A decision from the U.S. Supreme Court -- where conservative justices have a 6-3 advantage over liberals -- is expected by the summer of next year.

Affirmative action policies grew out of the civil rights movement in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s, under which admissions departments began considering race as a factor when recruiting new students.

These policies aimed to accept more students of color who had historically been excluded from American colleges and universities, while opponents of the decades-long practice have contended that it is reverse discrimination. 

This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2022 shows the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the use of affirmative action in college admissions on Monday.

The lawsuits were brought forward by Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), a nonprofit membership group, against admissions policies at the University of North Carolina (UNC) and Harvard. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2022 shows the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the use of affirmative action in college admissions on Monday.

The lawsuits were brought forward by Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), a nonprofit membership group, against admissions policies at the University of North Carolina (UNC) and Harvard. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2022 shows the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the use of affirmative action in college admissions on Monday.

The lawsuits were brought forward by Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), a nonprofit membership group, against admissions policies at the University of North Carolina (UNC) and Harvard. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
NEW YORK, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation Pfizer Inc. on Tuesday reported expectation-beating results for the third quarter of 2022 driven by strong sales growth of oral antiviral treatment Paxlovid and COVID-19 vaccine booster Comirnaty in the United States.

Pfizer posted 10.17 billion U.S. dollars of adjusted income in the third quarter, which surged 40 percent year on year. Adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) stood at 1.78 dollars, higher than market expectation of 1.39 dollars per share.

Pfizer's third-quarter revenues dipped 6 percent year on year to 22.6 billion dollars, but higher than 21 billion dollars of average estimate compiled by market information supplier Refinitiv.

Notably, unfavorable impact of foreign exchange resulted in a drag of 957 million dollars on Pfizer's revenues in the quarter, which contributed four percentage points to year-on-year decline of revenues in the quarter.

"We saw strong operational performance this quarter from key brands such as Paxlovid and Eliquis, particularly in the United States, as well as the continued impressive launch of Prevnar 20 for adults in the United States," said David Denton, chief financial officer and executive vice president of Pfizer.

The sales revenues of Paxlovid totaled 7.5 billion dollars in the third quarter driven by the U.S. launch under emergency use authorization at the end of 2021 and international launches in late 2021 or early 2022, said a release by Pfizer.

Though revenues of Comirnaty outside of the United States plunged 86 percent to 1.49 billion dollars due to amendment to supply agreement with the European Commission, the revenues of Comirnaty within the United States jumped 83 percent to 2.9 billion dollars driven by the deliveries of the Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent booster, according to the release.

Moreover, Pfizer raised the forecast of revenues and adjusted diluted EPS on an operational basis for 2022 by about 1.7 billion dollars and 0.19 dollars, respectively. 
BEIJING: President Xi Jinping assured Vietnamese Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong, who was in China on Monday, that China would build a reliable supply chain with its "comrade and brother," Vietnam.

Vietnam will not allow any foreign military base to be established there, and it will not cooperate with any nation, according to Trong, the first foreign leader to visit China since Xi's third term.

According to state broadcaster CCTV, Trong told Xi during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing that "Vietnam ... has made the development of friendship and cooperation with China a top priority in our foreign policy."

Read Also: Pak PM Shehbaz to discuss CPEC expansion with China

To prevent maritime disputes from "affecting the overall development of relations between the two countries", Trong said Vietnam wanted to cooperate with China to maintain peace and stability along its maritime border as well as its land border. Is.

Although bilateral relations have remained largely stable, China and Vietnam have competing claims in the disputed South China Sea, resulting in recent conflicts between their coast guards and fishing boats.

Due to its relatively low cost, Vietnam is also seen as a rival to some of China's manufacturing sectors in the global supply chain, especially in light of Beijing's trade conflict with the United States and growing geopolitical risks.

During their meeting, Xi informed Trong that China supports cooperation in the fields of healthcare, green development, digital economy and climate change, as well as encourages its tech companies to invest in Vietnam.

According to CCTV, Xi said China is ready to work with them to link development strategies with the Vietnamese side, promote connectivity between the two countries and build a stronger industrial supply chain system.

According to him, the two socialist nations faced "a very complex international environment and serious risks" in terms of ideology.

Read Also: India's Defense Dept is at the forefront of giving jobs, China-America also lag behind

Communist parties in China and Vietnam should "make every effort to advance socialist modernization, never allow anyone to hinder our progress, and never allow any force to shake the institutional basis of our development," he said. should."

Xi said that in order to "maintain each other's political security and social stability", the two countries should increase their exchanges of governance, maintain military contacts and work together on law enforcement.

Chinese state television broadcast footage of the two leaders shaking hands and hugging after meeting without masks as they posed for a picture.

Five years ago, Xi made his first visit outside China since the last Party Congress.

Vietnam's main trading partner is China. According to official Vietnamese customs data, bilateral trade between the two countries exceeded US$165 billion in 2021, an increase of 24.6% over the previous year.

As the two countries transition to a new phase of socialist development, Trong's visit was deemed "a very important visit at a critical moment" by Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo on Monday.

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According to Xiong, the two nations have long cooperated and supported each other in their efforts to achieve national emancipation and independence, developing a unique bond of "sympathy and brotherhood", ideas and ideas to advance socialist construction. To exchange information and progress together. The mouthpiece People's Daily.

This week, Xi will also host German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
New Delhi: The Modi government has decided to give Indian citizenship to minorities who have come to India from neighbouring Islamic countries. People coming from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan were currently living in two districts of Gujarat. These include Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians. The government decided to give Indian citizenship to all of them under the Citizenship Act, 1955. Let us know that this decision to give citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955 in place of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA) is very important.

The CAA law seeks to grant Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Since rules have not been made by the government under CAA so far, no one has been given citizenship under it so far. According to a notification of the Union Home Ministry, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians living in Anand and Mehsana districts of Gujarat will be allowed to register as citizens of India under Section 5, Section 6 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and as per the provisions of the Citizenship Rules, 2009 or will be granted a citizen certificate of the country. These people were living as refugees in Gujarat for a long time.

Let me tell you that there was a fierce ruckus in the whole country about CAA. Communal violence and agitations had taken place for several months in many states, including Delhi. A day earlier, the apex court granted three weeks time to the governments of Assam and Tripura to file their replies on some petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and posted the issue for further hearing on December 6.

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By Azernews

By Fatima Hasanova

A campaign was held in Victoria Square Park, Montreal, Canada, to raise awareness of the war crimes committed by the Armenian armed forces during the Second Karabakh War, Azernews reports per the press service of the State Committee for Diaspora.

The campaign, organized by the Canada-Azerbaijan society, drew the attention of residents of the city to the Armenian military forces' missile strikes on Ganja, Naftalan, Barda, Tartar, Mingachevir, and other Azerbaijani cities, the planting of mine in Azerbaijani lands, and mass graves found in Edilli village, Khojavand District.

The pickets chanted slogans, such as "Stop the Armenian aggression!", "Armenia kills children!", "Pray for Ganja!", "Pray for Barda!", "Stop attacks on civilians!", "Karabakh is Azerbaijan!", "Martyrs do not die, the Fatherland cannot be divided!", etc.

Locals, who showed interest in the campaign, received a booklet that reflects the history of the Karabakh conflict, the policy of Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, the war crimes committed by the Armenian army, the latest military provocations, the liberation of Azerbaijan's territories from occupation and the restoration of the territorial integrity in accordance with the norms and principles of international law, as well as the serious efforts made to establish lasting and sustainable peace in the South Caucasus region.
7 Mindsets

Mark Belles

As CEO, Belles is poised to leverage his experience in edtech and mental health to further expand the company's program offerings to reach more educators and students.

ROSWELL, Ga., Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 7 Mindsets, a leading provider of PreK-12 social emotional learning (SEL) solutions, today announced Mark Belles has been named its new chief executive officer. Belles takes over for 7 Mindsets founder and co-creator, Scott Shickler, who will remain a member of the Companys Board of Directors and will continue to provide insights on the future growth of the business.



Belles is a highly respected multi-time CEO with 25+ years of experience, including the last 15 years in the education technology and healthcare industries. His most recent roles include chief executive officer of ContinuumCloud and chief executive officer and board member of Inside Higher Ed. He also held senior leadership roles at education technology companies Teaching Strategies and Blackboard. Belles arrives at 7 Mindsets during a period of exponential growth and expansion within the education technology space.

Mark has the leadership expertise and just the right mindset to grow our business and maximize the positive impact and well-being the 7 Mindsets can have on millions of students and educators, said Shickler. We are thrilled to have him join us at this pivotal time as we expand our program offerings to reach more educators, students, and communities.

Belless career has spanned a range of companies and industries with a demonstrated history of growing and scaling organizations. His strong general management expertise and success in increasing overall business performance have resulted in consistently exceeding growth and revenue targets. Joining 7 Mindsets, with its focus on the social and emotional health and well-being of students and adults, allows Belles to leverage his extensive experience in education and mental health.

I am excited to join 7 Mindsets and lead a company focused on helping ensure all learnersstudents, educators, and other adults in the communityhave the right social and emotional competencies to succeed in their education and in life, said Belles. We have a tremendous opportunity to further expand our mindset-based learning platform to impact millions of teachers, students, and families, and I look forward to joining the 7 Mindsets team and helping grow our business and our impact in the community.

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The announcement of the new CEO follows more than a year of record growth for the company and a strategic investment by middle-market private equity firm Gauge Capital in late 2021. To learn more, go to https://7mindsets.com.

About 7 Mindsets

Founded in 2009, 7 Mindsets is the only highly researched education company offering mindsets-based learning solutions proven to drive happier, healthier, and more successful outcomes for educators and students. These comprehensive PreK-12 programs include a digital curriculum in English and Spanish, professional learning, adult SEL, progress monitoring, and assessments to ensure educators can easily and effectively deliver 7 Mindsets in their classrooms. Proven to improve student engagement, behavior, and academic success, 7 Mindsets has been implemented with more than 5,000,000 students and educators in urban, suburban, and rural districts in all 50 states.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/74e8f9ca-f23c-43fb-9000-842c15d9efff

CONTACT: Jennifer Leckstrom jleckstrom@rosecomm.com 215-681-0770




SINGAPORE, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Air France-KLM group today announced that TOP International Holding, a Singapore-based, global minerals and resources company, has become the first in Singapore to join the Air France-KLM Corporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) programme. Representatives of the Air France-KLM Group and TOP International Holding signed a contract on 25 October 2022 to affirm TOP International Holding's commitment in joining the programme.

Mr. Roland Coppens, General Manager Air France-KLM South East Asia & Oceania and Dato Victor Tan, CEO, TOP International Holding at the contract signing.

By joining the Air France-KLM Corporate SAF programme, Top International Holding commits to the purchase of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in 2022 and 2023 and therefore reduces their company footprint from business travel and supports its sustainability objectives by lowering CO2 emissions. By working together, companies can bring sustainable aviation closer and stimulate SAF demand and usage.

Roland Coppens, General Manager Air France-KLM South East Asia & Oceania said: "TOP International Holding is the first company in Singapore to join our Corporate SAF programme, and we are delighted to welcome them as one of the pioneers in Singapore, supporting with the key transition from fossil fuel to Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Today marks the start of greater awareness among companies in Singapore to collaborate with us to make SAF available around the globe."

Dato' Victor Tan, CEO of TOP International Holding, expressed: "Sustainability is embedded as a core component of our corporate strategy. We want to play our part in making a positive impact to the environment. Our decision to join the Air France-KLM Corporate SAF programme reflects our deep commitment for sustainable development as well as innovative and responsible aviation practices. We are excited about this new opportunity to partner with an industry leader and are confident that this will help in reducing CO2 emissions, and contribute to preserving our natural resources for future generations."

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The Air France-KLM Corporate SAF programme offers a customized programme depending on the sustainability ambitions of a company. Based on anticipated travel, the company's contribution will be used to purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel within the agreed calendar years.

For more information on Air France and KLM Corporate Sustainability programme, please visit: https://afkl-safprogram.com/en/

SOURCE Air France-KLM
www.AleafiaHealth.com/Invest

16 total new listings added to the Sunday Market portfolio by February 2023

9 new Divvy products in profitable flower, vape, and milled categories

Kin Slips portfolio expands to include the California brands best-selling CBN product Shut Eye Plus

CBD-forward brand Noon & Night extends giftable CBD product lineup

Innovative Bogarts Kitchen portfolio adds to condiment offering with classic Canadian pantry staple



TORONTO, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX: AH, OTCQX: ALEAF) (Aleafia Health or the Company) is pleased to announce the launch of the Sunday Market House of Brands winter product lineup for the adult-use market. This season, consumers from Ontario to British Columbia will have the opportunity to gift something for everyone on their adult list, and enjoy many new products, with the Company introducing 8 unique new SKUs hitting core markets before the Holidays, with a total of 16 new product listings by February 2023.

Divvy Buyers Club: The Company is introducing a new high-THC 7g flower offering with Divvy Buyers Club, sourced from trusted cultivation partners. The discerning Divvy procurement team will be choosing a rotating SKU of single strain, high-THC dried flower, an ever-changing exciting selection available this November exclusively at Ontario and Alberta brick and mortar licensed cannabis stores, with potential for other provinces by year end.

Also new in the flower category, Divvy introduces Incredible Milk, a new high-THC flower in both 3.5g and 14g sizes, as well as Cropped Harvest CBD, the Companys milled flower 14g product. Both arrived in Alberta this month and will launch in licensed Ontario stores and online at ocs.ca in November.

Deepen Product Offering with Balanced CBD Strain: The Company expands its THC:CBD balanced Black Widow portfolio. Already a popular strain in Divvys iconic 12x0.35g pre-roll packs and 14g bags of flower, Black Widow launches in Alberta and Ontario this November in a convenient and discreet 1.0g vape cartridge for those wanting mostly CBD but with a little THC added.

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Noon & Night Everyday Rollers: For the CBD-focused consumer, Aleafias wellness brand Noon & Night introduces a product pairing: two roll-ons with complementary sensations and applications. Infused with 200mg of CBD in a 9.8mL applicator, Everyday Rollers matches Freshly Minted with new Shinrin Yoku, a sweet citrus, awakening pine, and warming camphor forest bath for the senses.

Kin Slips Shut Eye Plus: A lineup extension from Californias Kin Slips brand, Shut Eye Plus, a new-to-Canada version of the popular sublingual strip, offers a balanced 5mg THC, 5mg CBD, and 5mg CBN cannabinoid profile in a 10-pack that is fast-acting, discreet, and entirely plant-based. Launching in November, it will first be available in Ontario and Alberta.

Bogarts Kitchen Maple Syrup: Bogarts Kitchen, the brand that created last years holiday edible must-have, brings something sweet and classically Canadian to holiday mornings this year: THC-infused Quebec Maple Syrup. With minimal cannabis aftertaste, and perfect for that warm stack of pancakes at breakfast, this new pantry staple contains 10mg THC in a 40ml bottle.

Both the success of our Divvy brand and the innovation our other Sunday Market brands have demonstrated has given the provincial boards the belief in our portfolio to bring critical new listings in highly sought-after categories at this crucial time of the year for retailers. We are thrilled to bring more new and giftable products to our core markets this holiday season, said Tricia Symmes, CEO. To have the opportunity to make holiday gatherings brighter for consumers across the country, after the last two challenging holiday seasons, makes this an exciting time for a growing Canadian cannabis company fulfilling its core mission of supplying the highest quality, in-demand brands to loyal and dedicated consumers.

We are pleased to announce the addition of targeted new product listings which further deepen the product offering in our core brand, Divvy, while increasing the offering in our other brands. We are strategically adding SKUs where there is strong unmet consumer demand and we can also drive profitable growth in Aleafia, a critical element for long-term sustainability of the Company, said Matt Sale, CFO.

Each of these new products will also be available to patients through Emblem, Aleafias medical brand.

For Investor & Media Relations:

Matthew Sale, CFO

IR@AleafiaHealth.com

LEARN MORE: www.AleafiaHealth.com

About Aleafia Health:

Aleafia Health, a vertically integrated and federally licensed Canadian cannabis company, owns three licensed cannabis production facilities, including the first large-scale, legal outdoor cultivation facility in Canadian history, and operates a strategically located distribution centre, all in the province of Ontario. The Company produces a diverse portfolio of cannabis derivative products including oils, capsules, edibles, sublingual strips, and vapes, for sale in Canada in the adult-use and medical markets and is pursuing opportunities in select international jurisdictions. The Company owns and operates a network of medical cannabis clinics staffed by physicians and nurse practitioners.

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects, estimates, intends, anticipates, or believes or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained in this news release. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including risks contained in the Companys annual information form filed with Canadian securities regulators available on the Companys SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The forward-looking information included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update such forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities legislation.




Infant Bacterial Therapeutics AB

The two independent primary endpoints of the Connection Study are the incidence of NEC and the time to SFT.



SFT a composite endpoint defined as the first day of tolerating daily enteral feeds of at least 120 ml/kg body weight with no use of parenteral nutrition and with at least 10g/kg in average daily body weight increase, all of which should be maintained for a sustained period of time.

A blinded evaluation of IBTs Connection Study data shows that even a one day reduction in time to SFT correlates to several clinically meaningful outcomes including a

7.65% reduction in confirmed Necrotizing Colitis (NEC) events

6.71% reduction in late onset sepsis

2.75% reduction in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)

5.85 reduction in days with antibiotic use

This blinded evaluation of extremely low birth weight infants introduces a strict definition of SFT and underlines the clinical relevance of a one-day change in the time to SFT in premature infants.

IBT is pioneering pharma grade probiotic development with the aim to prevent life threatening infant diseases. We are very pleased to see that data from our study correlates to benefits in serious and sometimes deadly infant conditions.I like to emphasize that this is really interesting and promising data that validates our study design. Given that this is a blinded evaluation it is not intended to and can not provide any information on the efficacy of our study drug. says Staffan Stromberg, CEO of IBT.

For the full article, please refer to: https://britishjournalofgastroenterology.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/BJG-132.pdf

About Infant Bacterial Therapeutics AB

Infant Bacterial Therapeutics AB (IBT) is a public company domiciled in Stockholm. The companys Class B shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, Small-cap (IBT B).

Infant Bacterial Therapeutics AB (publ) (IBT) is a pharmaceutical company with a product in clinical phase III with a vision to develop drugs influencing the infant microbiome, and thereby prevent or treat rare diseases affecting infants.

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IBT is currently developing the drug candidate IBP-9414. The ambition for IBP-9414 is to become the worlds first approved probiotical drug with the goal to prevent life threatening diseases in premature infants including NEC and sepsis by promoting sound stomach-and bowel development in premature infants. IBP-9414 contains the active compound Lactobacillus reuteri, which is a human bacterial strain naturally present in breast milk. The product portfolio also includes another project, IBP-1016, for the treatment of gastroschisis, a severe and rare disease affecting infants. By developing these drugs, IBT has the potential to fulfill unmet needs for diseases where there are currently no prevention or treatment therapies available.

Infant Bacterial Therapeutics AB (IBT) is a public company domiciled in Stockholm. The companys class B-shares shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, Small cap (IBT B).

For additional information please contact

Staffan Stromberg, CEO

Infant Bacterial Therapeutics AB Bryggargatan 10

111 21 Stockholm

Phone: +46 76 219 37 38

info@ibtherapeutics.com

www.ibtherapeutics.com

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Global Market Insights Inc.

Major artificial intelligence (AI) engineering market participants include Cisco Systems, Inc., Intel Corp., Siemens AG, Oracle Corp., Salesforce.com Inc., Baidu Inc., Meta Platforms Inc., and Nvidia Corp., among others.

Selbyville, Delaware,, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

The artificial intelligence (AI) engineering market is expected to record a valuation of USD 180 billion by 2032, as reported in a research study by Global Market Insights Inc . Rapid digital transformation across end-user industries is likely to foster the AI engineering industry trends. Moreover, market players are developing new AI engineering hardware and software, capitalizing on the growing consumer demand and thus, advancing the product scenario.

The shortage of skilled professionals may hamper the AI engineering market growth. The limited availability of skilled personnel in the field is hindering the full use of AI technology. According to tech giant IBM, around 7 out of 10 technology job aspirants and potential recruits lack the skills required to work in AI firms.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/5383

Increasing preference of corporate companies to push the demand for AI engineering services

The services segment is forecast to showcase nearly 38% of the growth rate from 2023 to 2032, on account of the shifting preference of corporate companies towards AI services instead of purchasing hardware and software to cut costs and avoid regular maintenance.









Initiatives by market leaders to encourage deep learning segment growth

The deep learning AI engineering segment is estimated to progress at above 38% CAGR through 2032. This growth is attributed to the launch of novel deep learning solutions by the artificial intelligence engineering market players.

Launch of new solutions to boost on-premise segment

Notable developments in the field of AI engineering have prompted customers to opt for on-premise software due to its higher reliability than other deployment options & rising cybersecurity concerns. The on-premise segment is speculated to register substantial gains up to 2032.

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Favorable government & public sector programs to augment market growth

The industry outlook from the government & public sector is poised to remain positive until 2032. Governments from varied nations are encouraging the use of AI technologies and deploying them across different departments, such as defense & aerospace, commerce, and others, bolstering the demand for AI engineering. Backed by supportive awareness programs to increase AI adoption, the government & public sector segment is foreseen to grow at more than 31% growth through 2032.

Favorable R&D initiatives to accelerate North America market

The North America artificial intelligence engineering market garnered over 35% of the revenue share in 2022. The regional government is actively supporting the AI industry, which is pushing business growth. Additionally, surging investments toward R&D initiatives are set to encourage researchers to innovate AI technologies and improve the existing AI infrastructure.

Partnered efforts towards innovation to remain a key growth strategy

The competitive landscape of the artificial intelligence engineering market is inclusive of Cisco Systems, Inc., Intel Corp., Siemens AG, Oracle Corp., Salesforce.com Inc., Baidu Inc., Meta Platforms Inc., and Nvidia Corp., among others. These companies engage mainly in strategic partnerships and product enhancements to maintain their market position.

Request for customization of this research report at https://www.gminsights.com/roc/5383

Partial chapters of report table of contents (TOC):

Chapter 2 Executive Summary

2.1 AI engineering industry 360 synopsis, 2018  2032

2.2 Business trends

2.2.1 Total addressable market (TAM) trends, 2023 - 2032

2.3 Regional trends

2.4 Cable type trends

2.5 Vehicle type trends

2.6 Technology trends

Chapter 3 AI Engineering Industry Insights

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Impact of COVID-19 outbreak

3.3 Impact analysis of Russia-Ukraine war

3.4 AI engineering industry ecosystem analysis

3.5 Technology & innovation landscape

3.6 Patent analysis

3.7 Investment portfolio

3.8 Industry news

3.9 Regulatory landscape

3.10 Industry impact forces

3.10.1 Growth drivers

3.10.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges

3.11 Growth potential analysis

3.12 Porters analysis

3.13 PESTEL analysis

Browse Our Reports Store  GMIPulse @ https://www.gminsights.com/gmipulse

About Global Market Insights Inc.

Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology.

CONTACT: Contact Us: Aashit Tiwari Corporate Sales, USA Global Market Insights Inc. Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688 USA: +1-302-846-7766 Europe: +44-742-759-8484 APAC: +65-3129-7718 Email: sales@gminsights.com




Dr. Amit Vashist, MD

Senior clinical advisor, Ballad Ventures; chief clinical officer, Ballad Health

Pam Austin

Senior information and technology advisor, Ballad Ventures; chief information officer, Ballad Health

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn., Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ballad Ventures, a healthcare venture capital subsidiary of Ballad Health, has selected Amit Vashist, MD, and Pam Austin as key advisors. Dr. Vashist serves as Ballad Health's chief clinical officer, and Austin is the health system's chief information officer.

Both leaders will help ensure the solutions pursued by Ballad Ventures will enhance patient care and caregiver experience within Ballad Health, promote overall health and wellness in the Appalachian Highlands and have the potential to reach patients and the healthcare delivery system nationally and worldwide.

"These roles are crucial for Ballad Ventures, and we are fortunate to lean on Pam and Dr. Vashists leadership and experience as we explore innovative solutions to problems plaguing healthcare," said Bo Wilkes, president of Ballad Ventures. "Both of these seasoned professionals bring a wealth of knowledge to help us explore the untapped potential of health and healthcare entrepreneurs within our health system, our community and elsewhere throughout the nation and world."

Dr. Vashist will serve as the senior clinical advisor facilitating a direct connection between Ballad Ventures and the clinical enterprise of Ballad Health. The role will ensure Ballad Ventures translates healthcare needs to its partners in the business realm through direct clinical engagement.

"I am excited to use my clinical and industry experiences to craft an innovative approach that improves Ballad Health and the entire healthcare industry," Dr. Vashist said. "I want to ensure we best utilize our clinical resources to serve our organization's patients, caregivers and strategic priorities, while also setting a course for healthcare innovation and growth."

Dr. Vashist will work closely with Ballad Ventures and its portfolio companies to provide guidance and feedback, leveraging his clinical experience as a hospitalist and his professional experience as a healthcare leader and executive.

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"Dr. Vashist has assisted Ballad Ventures with clinical insight and guidance since our inception," Wilkes said. "We are delighted to have him join the team officially to continue our growth as the corporate venture firm for Ballad Health."

In addition to his roles with Ballad Health and Ballad Ventures, Dr. Vashist also serves on the Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC), which makes recommendations to CMS on specific clinical topics, such as whether certain medical items, technologies, treatments and services are reasonable and necessary under Medicare law.

"It's an honor to lend my expertise to look at the holistic picture of treatments, technologies and medical devices that focus on delivering exceptional clinical outcomes to our patients and communities," Dr. Vashist said. "We're finding a way forward for healthcare, and it's very exciting to start that work right here in the Appalachian Highlands."

A 25-year veteran of Ballad Health, Pam Austin joins Ballad Ventures as its senior information and technology advisor. The role will ensure Ballad Ventures has expertise and relationships within healthcare IT, as well as knowledge and experience with Ballad Healths EHR and health data exchange.

"Seeing how a strong investment and technological strategy can propel rural healthcare into the future gives me a solid belief in the mission of Ballad Ventures," Austin said. "I'm ready to use my experience to benefit healthcare workers, patients and communities alike."

Austin will work closely with portfolio companies to provide guidance and feedback, leveraging her current role and experience as chief information officer of Ballad Health.

"Pam is an accomplished technology leader, and we're fortunate to have her in this role during this transformational time for Ballad Ventures," said John Perez, managing director of Ballad Ventures. "In an era of rapidly changing technology, her vast knowledge and experience will help us fully leverage our operational capacity and technical support."

Formed in 2020, six months after the launch of the Ballad Health Innovation Center, Ballad Ventures serves as the venture capital arm for Ballad Health, an integrated community health improvement organization serving 29 counties of the Appalachian Highlands in Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Northwest North Carolina and Southeast Kentucky. Ballad Ventures has $25 million in assets under management and continues to invest strategically in initiatives designed to address Ballad Health's digital strategy and workforce challenges.

More information about Ballad Ventures is available at www.ballad.ventures, and details about Ballad Health are available at www.balladhealth.org.

###

About Ballad Ventures

Ballad Ventures is a venture capital platform focused on investing in innovation ideas which transform the health care experience, cost, access, and outcomes. As the venture capital arm of Ballad Health, the wholly owned subsidiary seeks opportunities which drive the mission, vision, and strategic initiatives of the organization.

Attachments

CONTACT: Ashlea Ramey Ballad Health 423-863-2383 ashlea.ramey@balladhealth.org




Jenny Martin Director of Events Marketing

Jenny Martin Director of Events Marketing

WASHINGTON, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BrainGu, a software development company focused on empowering innovation and rapid prototyping for customers in highly regulated industries welcomes strategic hire Jenny Martin (nee Coppedge) as the company's new Director of Events Marketing.

Martin has planned and executed hundreds of events ranging from conferences and symposiums, trade shows, televised productions, political forums, and special events. She has also led high-profile events involving political dignitaries such as President Obama and U.S. Senators, C-level executives the likes of Steve Case and David Rubenstein, and television personalities such as Hoda Kotb, Chuck Todd, and Chris Matthews.

"For me, the main appeal of joining BrainGu was its unique positioning in the DevSecOps and secure software space," Martin said. "I look forward to helping evangelize our mission and capabilities as BrainGu enters its next exciting chapter."

Martin founded Heritage Event Management in 2014 serving corporation, association, and non-profit clients in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Prior to founding Heritage, she served as Vice President of Events and New Initiatives for the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Under her charge, the events department organized and executed over 80 events annually with an accompanying 10,000 attendees per year.

"Having known Jenny for years both at The Chamber and at Heritage, I've had the privilege of witnessing her talents and excellent work first-hand," said Carl Rosenblatt, BrainGu's Vice President of Revenue Operations. "We're thrilled and fortunate to make a strategic hire such as Jenny, and I have no doubt she will help take BrainGu to the next level."

Martin is a graduate of James Madison University and holds a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation.

Who Is BrainGu?

BrainGu is a small business taking the guesswork out of DevSecOps. Our Structsure platform enables our customers to define rapid, adaptable, and secure application delivery by reducing the complexity of their tech stack. With Structsure, BrainGu is freeing customers to focus on their core business. With BrainGu's Structsure platform, "day one" for our clients begins with every tool needed to get the job done.

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Contact Information:

Sunny Dasgupta

Marketing & Communications Manager

sunny.dasgupta@braingu.com



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Banner image announcing Jenny Martin as Director of Events Marketing









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Mr. Trippe plans to use the skills, judgment and knowledge he developed as a senior government and corporate lawyer -- and as a national and regional firm litigation partner -- in the resolution of complex and high-value disputes. He brings deep experience in the transportation industry, government and private law practice to his new career as a mediator and arbitrator.

Mediator and Arbitrator Charlie Trippe

Mediator and Arbitrator Charlie Trippe

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Charles M. "Charlie" Trippe Jr., a former chief counsel of the Federal Aviation Administration, a senior in-house attorney with one of the country's largest freight railroads and general counsel to a Florida governor and a Florida attorney general, has become a member of Upchurch Watson White & Max's panel of neutrals.

Mr. Trippe plans to use the skills, judgment and knowledge he developed as a senior government and corporate lawyer - and as a national and regional firm litigation partner - in the resolution of complex and high-value disputes. He brings deep experience in the transportation industry, government and private law practice to his new career as a mediator and arbitrator.

"Charlie Trippe brings a rich mix of private practice, governmental and transportation industry experience to the firm," said John Upchurch, UWWM president. "We plan to build a transportation practice group around him, which will serve clients nationwide, and are so pleased to have him join us."

As a partner of Moseley Prichard Parrish Knight and Jones in Jacksonville, Fla., from 2001 to 2011 and 2012 to 2017, Mr. Trippe focused on difficult and high-risk civil litigation, representing major corporations and entrepreneurs among his many business clients, with an emphasis on transportation matters. He will bring the sophisticated litigation judgment and practical insight he gained in his private practice to resolving disputes flexibly and pragmatically.

He is admitted to practice in Florida, New York and Massachusetts. Highlights of his career so far include his service with the FAA and as senior in-house attorney with CSX Transportation Inc., and as general counsel to Florida Gov. Rick Scott and to Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. He was also a litigation partner in the New York office of Jones Day, a nationally leading law firm.

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For details or to schedule a mediation or arbitration with Mr. Trippe, please contact case manager Johanna Feore at jfeore@uww-adr.com or (800) 864-2622.

About Upchurch Watson White & Max

A nationally leading mediation specialty firm, Upchurch Watson White & Max is known for facilitating reasonable agreements to resolve complex issues. From 11 offices in Florida and Alabama, state Supreme Court-certified attorney mediators with wide-ranging specialties serve as court-appointed and privately employed mediators, arbitrators and third-party neutral case managers, implementing innovative methods of alternative dispute resolution across the country. On the web: uww-adr.com.

Contact Information:

Catherine Klasne

Marketing Director

cklasne@uww-adr.com

(386) 253-1560



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CMT profile - v5.pdf

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Image 1: Mediator and Arbitrator Charlie Trippe





Charles M. Trippe brings deep experience in the transportation industry, government, and private law practice to the table. He has developed both litigation judgment and practical insight into resolving disputes flexibly and pragmatically.









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(Bloomberg) -- Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily blocked a House committee from getting Donald Trumps tax returns, issuing an interim order that gives the US Supreme Court more time to consider the former presidents bid for a lengthier delay.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The House Ways and Means Committee had been set to get six years of tax returns as soon as Thursday after a federal appeals court rejected Trumps latest bid to block the transfer from the Internal Revenue Service. In his two-sentence order, Roberts directed the committee to respond by Nov. 10 to Trumps request.

Trump on Monday asked the high court to block the records from being turned over while the justices consider whether to take up his appeal. The committee is racing the clock to obtain the records, given next weeks midterm election and the possibility that Republicans could take control of the House.

Trump told the Supreme Court that the committee lacks a legitimate legislative purpose and that the effort is a pretext to expose the documents for the sake of exposure. He said the case presents important questions about the separation of powers that will affect every future President.

The committee has said it needs the returns to consider future legislation on issues like presidential compliance with tax rules, public accountability and mandatory IRS audit policy for presidents.

The Ways and Means Committee maintains the law is on our side, and will file a timely response as requested, said committee spokeswoman Dylan Peachey in an emailed statement. She said the committees chairman, Democratic Representative Richard Neal of Massachusetts, looks forward to the Supreme Courts expeditious consideration.

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The case dates back to 2019, when Neal asked the IRS for Trumps returns, citing a 1924 law that lets the leaders of three committees in Congress ask the US Treasury secretary for the returns of any taxpayer.

The Treasury Department refused to comply with the request while Trump was in office and the committee went to court to enforce it. Trump picked up the fight on his own when the department under the Biden administration said that it would turn over the documents.

The case is Trump v. Committee on Ways and Means, 22A362.

(Updates committee spokesman comment in sixth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2022 Bloomberg L.P.
MONTREAL, Oct. 31, 2022 /CNW/ - Levio, a leader in digital transformation, announces today the acquisition of Indellient, a consulting firm based in the Greater Toronto Area with 20 years of experience in the architecture, execution, and management of large digital transformation projects. This acquisition is part of Levio's strategic growth plan and brings the firm one step closer to becoming best-in-class as a North American digital transformation service provider.

Levio Business + Technology (CNW Group/Levio)

Already positioned as a leading digital transformation consulting firm in Quebec and after several client successes in Ontario, the Maritimes, and the United States, this strategic acquisition strengthens Levio's positioning, particularly in the financial services sector. Indellient is a North American leader in designing, developing and implementing cloud solutions that support major client transformations in areas that include real-time payments, machine learning and fraud detection.

Indellient's team provides a solid basis for accelerating Levio's growth across North America, thanks to an experienced team, a reliable local presence in the Greater Toronto Area and the addition of a hundred people with wide-ranging expertise in cloud computing, DevOps, software engineering, data analytics and project management.

Adam Caromicoli, Indellient's Founding President, and his management team are joining Levio's management team.

This transaction follows Levio's June 2022 acquisition of Binary Star. Based in Charlottetown, PEI, Binary Star added an expertise centre in the Maritimes as well as multiple client relationships in the United States and Eastern Canada. Combining Levio's pre-existing team that serves US and Ontario clients with the Binary Star and Indellient teams will accelerate Levio's growth across North America.

Since its foundation, Levio has experienced significant growth including ten (10) acquisitions and the opening of offices in Canada, the United States, India and Morocco.

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Quotes

"We are very proud to join Levio's family, which offers an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate our team's growth and success. Our corporate cultures and values align well, while our solution offerings, skill sets, and geography are complementary."

-Adam Caromicoli, Indellient's President

"This acquisition is part of our strategic growth plan and brings us one step closer to becoming a North American digital transformation best-in-class. It adds credible local presence in the largest Canadian market, English-speaking experts supporting North American growth, and a unique positioning in the emerging field of real-time payments."

-Francois Dion, Levio's President

About Levio

Levio is a digital native consulting firm providing services covering all aspects of digital transformation, from business strategies to information technologies (IT), to organizational management.

The firm specializes in supporting its institutional and corporate clients when implementing digital transformation programs or mega-projects. For over 8 years, Levio has built its reputation on an outstanding team of consultants who deliver substantial solutions benefiting from new technologies to help its clients gain efficiency and profitability. Levio now comprises nearly 2 000 consultants in its 11 offices in Canada, the United States, India and Morocco.

Facebook @levioconseils

Instagram @Levio_conseils

LinkedIn @levio

Levio + Indellient (CNW Group/Levio)

SOURCE Levio

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/31/c9569.html
By Azernews

By Sabina Mammadli

We are sure that Zangilan city will soon be turned into a regional center, Presidents Special Representative to Zangilan District Vahid Hajiyev said, Azernews reports.

"Today is World Cities Day. We are confident that Zangilan city, completely destroyed during the occupation, will be restored in a short time on a sustainable basis, and will become a regional center with progressive innovations. Work has already begun in this direction," he tweeted.

In total, there are more than 43,000 natives of Zangilan District, who were forced to leave their homes and flee to save their lives during the first Karabakh war. Over 90 percent of them have already expressed a desire to return to their native lands.

The first pilot project of the smart city and smart village in Azerbaijan is implemented mainly on five components - the housing sector, production sector, social services, smart agriculture, and alternative energy. Initially, 200 individual houses are constructed with the use of innovative building materials. The engineering communications and heating systems in the houses are also created on the basis of smart technologies.

Moreover, modern schools, kindergartens, clinics, and electronic control centers will be built in these villages, and tourism infrastructure will be formed. All residential houses, social facilities, administrative and catering buildings, and processing and production of agricultural products will be provided with alternative energy sources.
A top Wall Street analyst expects Elon Musk to expand his footprint in Austin, Texas to include Twitter. The billionaire took the social media platform private on Oct. 28 after completing his $44 billion takeover of the business.

"This has become the foundation of the Musk ecosystem with Giga Austin," Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives told FOX Business. "We believe it's a matter of when not if Musk opens up a Twitter Austin office."

According to Ives, an office in the state capital would further solidify Musk's hub of operations in the Lone Star State and allow the social media giant to attract software developers in a key region.

"Austin has become Silicon Valley 2.0," Ives added.

ELON MUSK ACCUSES TWITTER BOARD OF DELIBERATELY HIDING EVIDENCE FROM COURT: STAY TUNED

In addition to Tesla moving its headquarters to Austin and establishing its Giga Texas manufacturing facility, the electric vehicle maker also revealed plans to launch a retail electricity business, according to job listings posted in August.

READ ON THE FOX BUSINESS APP

Musk's other companies  SpaceX, Neuralink and The Boring Companyhave also established operations in Texas.

Twitter currently has U.S. offices in cities including Atlanta, Boston, Boulder, Colo., Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle and Washington D.C.

ELON MUSK RESPONDS TO NYT REPORT ABOUT HIM FIRING TWITTER EMPLOYEES TO SAVE MONEY: THIS IS FALSE

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott invited Musk to bring Twitter to his state following the initial announcement of his $44 billion acquisition in April.

"@elonmusk. Bring Twitter to Texas to join Tesla, SpaceX & the Boring company," Abbott tweeted at the time.

Representatives for Abbott and Twitter did not immediately return FOX Business' request for comment.

Musk has also received similar encouragement from Texas State Rep. Tan Parker, who told FOX Business in April that the state would "roll out the red carpet" for the billionaire and Twitter to move its headquarters.

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In addition, Capitol Land & Livestock president and CEO Jim Schwertner has offered Musk 100 acres of free land to build a new headquarters for Twitter in Schwertner, Texas.

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Ives' prediction comes as Musk has already dissolved Twitter's board of directors, fired top executives, announced plans to form a content moderation council and revamp Twitter's verification process. The company has also drafted plans for broad layoffs, according to The Wall Street Journal.

"This is all a tightrope for Musk between guardrails at Twitter, attracting advertisers, and not becoming a hate speech cesspool," Ives said. "$44 billion reasons for him to balance this. A tight wire act."

Twitter stock was suspended from trading on Friday and will delist from the New York Stock Exchange effective Nov. 8.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 1, 2022 / Terrance Winn was just 17 when he was sent to Angola in Louisiana, one of the country's most infamously brutal prisons, built on the site of a former slave plantation.

America's Charities, Tuesday, November 1, 2022, Press release picture

As his first job, the Black teen was ordered to pick cotton.

"As soon as I reached Angola, I went from reading about slavery in my history book to becoming an actual slave," Winn said. "My first mandatory job was literally picking cotton. While the Black prisoners spent eight hours a day of hard labor in the cotton fields, white prisoners primarily worked inside doing jobs like maintenance and laundry. This is still in practice today."

Winn told his story earlier this month in Geneva, Switzerland, where he testified before the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

As part of a Southern Poverty Law Center delegation, he told the committee how, at 16, he was sentenced to life in prison without chance for parole, but two white defendants who committed the same kind of crime were sentenced to eight and 10 years.

And he told of the horrors he endured during his 30 years at Angola, including being locked in solitary confinement six times, once for 13 months, for nonviolent offenses such as refusing to engage in slave labor.

Winn was finally released two years ago following a series of legal changes regarding life sentences for juveniles. Now, at 48, he is executive director of a nonprofit organization he created in his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, that advocates for the wrongfully incarcerated and seeks to help keep young people out of prison by offering alternatives to life on the streets.

I was proud to stand with Winn in Geneva as part of a four-person SPLC delegation that worked throughout the week of Aug. 8 - along with a coalition of more than 70 advocates from U.S.-based nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) - to provide documentation to CERD of ongoing racial discrimination and disparities in the U.S.

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Winn and I were accompanied by SPLC Chief Policy Officer LaShawn Warren and Page Dukes, a formerly incarcerated Georgia woman who since 2019 has advocated for voting rights and other issues at the Southern Center for Human Rights.

We believe the SPLC and the dozens of other advocates made a powerful impact as CERD reviews U.S. compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, a treaty signed by 128 countries.

The committee will issue its conclusions to the U.S. at its closing session on Aug. 30. It will identify key recommendations that the U.S. will be expected to implement and report back on within one year.

Review of racism in the US

We submitted several reports to CERD, including one joint coalition report (SPLC Action Fund), on voting rights, hate and extremism, education and health care disparities, the rights of Black and Brown migrants, prison slave labor and solitary confinement.

In addition to the CERD briefings, the team met with staff members from other U.N. offices, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on Racism and the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent.

In her statement to CERD, Dukes told members that while Black people comprise about 30% of the population of Georgia, they make up 60% of those who are denied the right to vote due to the state's felony disenfranchisement law, a remnant of the Jim Crow era.

Dukes, who is white, told how she was able to terminate her probation early and regain her voting rights while so many others - most of them Black - cannot do so. Since her release from prison in 2017, Dukes has become a community activist in the fight to overturn laws prohibiting people from voting because of a criminal conviction.

"On its face my story is a success story," Dukes told CERD, "but it shows how arbitrary and unequal the rights restoration process can be, and how one person on probation - in a state that keeps more people under its thumb than any other - was able to successfully advocate for myself in court, with the support of my colleagues and my sentencing judge, while many others face insurmountable odds to achieve the same level of freedom and representation."

Committee echoes concerns

In their dialogue with the delegation from the U.S. government, CERD members echoed many of the concerns and issues we raised in our reports and statements.

Members pointedly addressed concerns, for example, about the U.S.'s failure to incorporate the anti-discrimination treaty into domestic law or policy and to create a national human rights institution to oversee its implementation and the committee's recommendations. Members specifically expressed concerns about the Biden administration's failure to even mention the treaty in the president's Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government or in the resulting agency plans.

It's an issue we not only included in our report but have repeatedly raised during consultations with the U.S. government.

In addition, the committee expressed serious concerns about the erosion of voting rights in the U.S. and urged the Biden administration to devote all possible resources to protecting the right to vote and combating the onslaught of state-level voter suppression laws. It specifically called for measures to strengthen the right to vote; to ensure that states modernize processes and strengthen mail, early voting and ballot access; to prevent gerrymandering; and to stop artificial and unnecessary ID requirements and manipulation of polling stations.

The committee pressed the U.S. government on many other issues, as well, including education and health care inequities, the incarceration and abuse of migrants, the underreporting of hate crimes and much more.

Reflecting material from the SPLC's main report, the committee urged the U.S. to develop a national plan to combat school segregation and specifically identified discriminatory local funding schemes as an area of concern. Members also sought commitments for specific measures to ensure that teaching is aimed at promoting respect for all cultures and that instruction includes "the forms and consequences of racism" and legacies of slavery.

Pressing forward

America's Charities, Tuesday, November 1, 2022, Press release picture

The SPLC-authored Southern Prisons Coalition report (SPLC Action Fund) prompted the committee's request for more information and for a U.S. plan of action on solitary confinement and forced labor, like Winn experienced at Angola. Specific reference was made to labor conditions that recall slavery and to the fact that wage, safety and health protection laws for workers don't apply to incarcerated people.

The U.S. delegation's responses to these inquiries were, much like their responses to NGO concerns during pre-review consultations, general and somewhat vague.

Pansy Tlakula, the committee's country rapporteur for the U.S., pointedly called out the lack of substantive responses and gave a laundry list of topics on which the committee wanted more detailed written responses within 48 hours. Unfortunately, NGOs will not be privy to those responses unless the U.S. chooses to publish them.

Though CERD has no authority to enforce the treaty on the elimination of racial discrimination or its own specific recommendations, its periodic reports can put pressure on governments like the U.S. to act in order to avoid global and domestic condemnation.

In her closing remarks, Tlakula noted that she grew up under apartheid in South Africa and knows all too well that we can only put racism to rest if we acknowledge it, talk about it and adopt concrete measures to combat it.

That was the goal of our work in Geneva.

The SPLC plans to engage closely with the administration and other NGOs to press for full implementation of CERD's recommendations and for much more comprehensive civil society consultation in the process.

Top picture: Flags representing the United Nations members line the entry to the United Nations Office at Geneva, housed at the historic Palais des Nations in Switzerland. (Credit:iStock)

Support SPLC's through your employee giving program: As a donor, you can support SPLC by donating to them through your employer's workplace giving program (CFC#10352 if you're a military or federal employee participating in the Combined Federal Campaign). Payroll pledges made through employer-sponsored charitable giving programs represent a cost effective and near effortless way to support your favorite charities. As SPLC's workplace giving partner, America's Charities can help your company design and implement a program centered on supporting their work - through workplace giving campaigns, employee fundraising, cause-focused signature programs, volunteerism, donation drives, matching gifts, Dollars-for-Doers, In-Kind Giving and other employee engagement and philanthropic initiatives. Click here to request a demo and learn how we can help you do this.

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SPHERICAL INSIGHTS LLP

The Global Agritech Market Size was estimated at US$ 19,542.7 million in the year 2021 and is projected to reach US$ 46,372.5 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 17.3%. Agritech defines a wide range of technology utilised in numerous agricultural applications. Companies Covered: ARSR Tech, AeroFarms, Apollo Agriculture, Crofarm Agriproducts Pvt Ltd, Conservis, Indigo Ag, Inc., LettUs Grow Ltd., Pivot Bio, AgBiome, Inc., Ceres Imaging, AgWorld, Hortau, Harvest Automation, Farmers Business Network, amongst others.

New York, United States , Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Agritech Market Size is slated to cross US$ 46,372.5 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 17.3%. as per the latest research report by Spherical Insights & Consulting.

Several nations throughout the globe are adopting smart city technologies and implementing smart city projects to manage resources due to urbanization and population growth. The functionality and efficiency of infrastructure, connected devices and linked sensors are improved with the help of sensors, smart lights, and smart meters, among other connected devices. The increasing number of smart infrastructures, smart irrigation, Industry 4.0, and smart home and building projects is projected to cause substantial business changes that will fuel market expansion.

Get a Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.sphericalinsights.com/request-sample/1134

An increase in technology investments in developing countries as well as the introduction of big data analytics have propelled the growth of the global agritech market. The IIoT market is also anticipated to expand as a result of rising healthcare industry demand and the introduction of sector-specific platforms in the developed world.

The development of mechanized and digitalized equipment and systems, including tools, machines, hardware, software, and other product components, is encouraged by the environment's rapid evolution and removes the risks and difficulties that farmers face when using the manual agricultural tools that have been used traditionally. The demand for increased productivity and a decrease in both tangible and intangible losses has recently contributed to the expansion of the worldwide agritech industry, and this trend is expected to continue in the years to come.

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The worldwide agritech market is expected to experience strong revenue growth due to active government support for technological advancements in such like the production of digital content and AI specialty. The most obvious technological development in agriculture has been the transition from manually operated tools like shovels and hulls made of wood to partially automated and now fully digitalized technologies that use satellite photography, blockchain, artificial intelligence, and big data as well as drones and other internet of things sensors. Farmers and agricultural professionals can handle some of the major issues, such as land management, worries about decreasing resource reserves, climate change, and biodiversity loss, by combining the use of such a wide range of innovative technologies.

The agritech industry is still expanding as a result of factors such growing Wi-Fi adoption, improvements in wireless network technology, and rising cloud platform popularity. Additionally, IoT use rises as smart city and smart transportation development develops. In turn, this propels the Agritech sector ahead. The market is anticipated to expand as a result of the great cooperation among the key industry participants and the growing need to increase operational competence. Additionally, it is anticipated that the strategies being developed to build a combined digital and human workforce would offer major growth opportunities.

Operational openness is needed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic's aftermath adoption of remote working techniques. At this point, smart linked solutions are anticipated to be essential in achieving operational visibility within organizations. Businesses are eager to build resilience to ensure growth in the post-COVID era, as well as to adapt to remote working and automate their procedures appropriately. They are focusing on IIoT adoption as a result in order to draw in customers, enhance the customer experience, and increase brand awareness. The future growth of the industrial IoT market looks bright thanks to all of these initiatives.

Browse key industry insights spread across 200 pages with 118 market data tables and figures & charts from the report  Global Agritech Market Size , Share & Trends, COVID-19 Impact Analysis Report, By Type (Biotechnology and Biochemical, Big Data and Analytics, Sensors and Connected Devices, Mobility and Others), and By Application (Irrigation, Production and Maintenance, Supply Chain, Marketplace and Others); (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2021  2030 in detail along with the table of contents

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The biotechnology and biochemical segment are expected to dominate the market share in 2020 of global agritech market owing to the rising adoption of agritech solutions among the farmers across the world. The production and maintenance segment are expected to dominate the market share in 2020 of global agritech market owing to surging adoption of digital irrigation technologies, and the Internet of Things (IoT) is essential to these cutting-edge innovations. Additionally, most farms are using advanced monitoring systems to effectively monitor agricultural productivity, and they also provide helpful recommendations for maintaining crop yield.

Agritech: Recent Developments

Arpil 2020- AeroFarms will focus on cutting-edge research and development (R&D) and commercialization of essential local crops using its knowledge and unique indoor vertical farming technology, which uses up to 95% less water and no pesticides than conventional field farming.

Agritech: Regional Analysis

North America is expected to dominate the market share of global agritech market owing to the continuing technical advancements made by IT behemoths have stirred up the competitive industry in the area.

Open to technological improvements due to high purchasing power in the region. To fulfil the increased demand for superior goods and services from their clients, businesses in this region are consistently enhancing their whole business operations.

Agritech: Competitive Analysis

The agritech market share is moderately consolidated and includes various companies such as ARSR Tech, AeroFarms, Apollo Agriculture, Crofarm Agriproducts Pvt Ltd, Conservis, Indigo Ag, Inc., LettUs Grow Ltd., Pivot Bio, AgBiome, Inc., Ceres Imaging, AgWorld, Hortau, Harvest Automation, Farmers Business Network, amongst others.

Major players operating in this market have witnessed significant adoption of strategies that include business expansion and partnership to reduce supply and demand gap. With increase in awareness & demand for agritech across the globe, major players are collaborating their product portfolio to provide differentiated and innovative products.

Agritech Market Report Overview:

This report provides a detailed quantitative analysis of the current panels market trends and forecast estimations from 2022 to 2030, which assists to identify the prevailing market opportunities.

An in-depth market analysis includes analysis of various regions, which is anticipated to provide a detailed understanding of the current trends to enable stakeholders formulate region-specific plans.

A comprehensive analysis of factors that drive and restrain the growth of the global is provided. The projections in this report are made by analyzing the current trends and future market potential from 2022 to 2030, in terms of value.

An extensive analysis of various regions provides insights that are expected to allow companies to strategically plan their business moves.

Key market players within the agritech market are profiled in this report and their strategies are analyzed thoroughly, which helps in understanding competitive outlook of the global agritech market.

Inquire Before Buying This Research Report: https://www.sphericalinsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/1134

Key Companies & Recent Developments: The report also provides an elaborative analysis focusing on the current news and developments of the companies, which includes product development, innovations, joint ventures, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, and others. This allows for the evaluation of the overall competition within the market. The agritech market share is moderately consolidated and includes various companies such as ARSR Tech, AeroFarms, Apollo Agriculture, Crofarm Agriproducts Pvt Ltd, Conservis, Indigo Ag, Inc., LettUs Grow Ltd., Pivot Bio, AgBiome, Inc., Ceres Imaging, AgWorld, Hortau, Harvest Automation, Farmers Business Network, amongst others.

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DARTMOUTH, NS, Nov. 1, 2022 /CNW/ - Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Canada's fisheries are the backbone of many coastal communities and a driving force of the economy. The seafood sector is a rapidly shifting environment  competition is intensifying, and consumers are looking for sustainability and quality. That is why the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia (NS) today are announcing total funding of more than $7 million for 120 Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF) projects to support increased lobster quality in Nova Scotia through infrastructure, innovation and science partnership projects.

Vessel Improvements (live wells and other equipment)  95 projects focused on the purchase and installation of technology and equipment to improve the quality of harvested lobster and the sustainability of operations.

Shore Facility Improvements  22 projects focused on the purchase and installation of equipment and upgrades, including automation, to improve lobster quality for land-based processing and storage facilities.

Innovation  1 project focused on improving standards for lobster quality.

Science Partnership  2 projects focused on research and development related to lobster quality.

This $7 million contribution comes from the $400 million AFF, jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments, and focuses on increasing opportunities and market value for sustainably sourced, high-quality fish and seafood products from Atlantic Canada.

The AFF is in its fifth year and will continue to invest in projects over the seven-year life of the program. The commercial fisheries and aquaculture industry, Indigenous groups, academia, industry associations and organizations, including research institutions, are eligible to apply for AFF funding.

Quotes

"Nova Scotia is known the world over for its superb seafood thanks to the commitment by all industry members constantly pursuing improved quality and sustainability of their product. The Atlantic Fisheries Fund is assisting 120 projects that will support continued innovations that help ensure when Nova Scotia lobster arrives at markets and on the plates of consumers, it is at the peak of quality."

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The Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

"Our government, in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is helping harvesters maintain the quality of the seafood products that come from our waters. Striving for top quality, at every step along the way  from lobster boat to dinner plate  will make sure that Nova Scotia seafood products are second to none, and our global reputation for top quality, sustainable seafood stays strong."

The Honourable Steve Craig, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Nova Scotia

Quick Facts

The Atlantic Fisheries Fund will invest over $400 million over seven years to support Canada's fish and seafood sector.

The federal government will provide 70% of the funding, with 30% coming from the Atlantic provinces.

The fund aims to help Canada's seafood sector transition to meet growing market demands for products that are high quality, high value, and sustainably sourced.

Eligible projects must focus on:

Associated Links

Stay Connected

Follow Fisheries and Oceans Canada on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Backgrounder

Government of Canada and Province of Nova Scotia fund 120 projects to support increased lobster quality across the province

The Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia are pleased to announce funding of over $7 million for 120 projects to support increased lobster quality in Nova Scotia through improvements to infrastructure, innovative approaches and science partnership projects via the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF).

Infrastructure Projects:

Vessel Improvements - Project funding to support the purchase and installation of technology and equipment to improve the

quality of harvested lobster and the sustainability of operations. Project Recipient AFF Contribution 2558309 NOVA SCOTIA LIMITED $2,180 Adam Sharpe $14,572 Addie Too Fisheries Limited $45,000 All Adrift Fisheries Ltd. $82,389 Argyle River Fisheries Limited $45,000 B. Cameron Fisheries Limited $45,000 Bae Wynd Fisheries Inc. $3,775 Bait Me Fisheries Ltd. $22,905 Blue Thunder Fisheries Limited $71,276 Capt. Jack Fisheries Ltd. $45,000 Captain Chester's Seafoods Inc. $45,000 Captain's Finest Fisheries Ltd. $34,871 Carston Fisheries Ltd. $66,709 CKC Fisheries Limited $76,560 CO.DE.CO Fisheries Ltd. $2,621 Corbett Fisheries Limited $42,440 CWE Halliday Fisheries Ltd. $45,000 EZ-GO-N Fisheries Inc. $79,601 Family Venture Fisheries Limited $45,000 Finest Kind Fisheries Ltd. $73,356 Flying High Fisheries Limited $76,560 G. B. N. Nickerson Fisheries Ltd $40,552 Gilcam Fisheries Limited $45,000 Green Bay Fisheries Limited $10,713 Green Coastal Fisheries Limited $3,257 Green Family Fisheries Ltd. $9,860 Island Wedge Fisheries Ltd. $84,201 J&T Leblanc Enterprises Limited $99,287 Jahana Bay Fisheries Limited $21,920 JBR Fisheries Limited $97,356 JDavid Fisheries Limited $20,000 Kyle & Kory Baker Brothers Fisheries Limited $20,000 Labour Fisheries (2017) Limited $45,000 Lady Dot Fisheries Limited $82,160 Let'Er Rip Fisheries Ltd. $81,964 Mason MacDonald Holdings Limited $15,500 Miss Jill Marie Fisheries Limited $68,320 Mosher Fisheries Ltd. $45,000 NRA Fisheries Ltd. $68,737 Perry Richardson $30,875 Ramsay MacLeod Ltd. $4,885 Rebecca Fisheries Limited $77,975 RLR Fisheries Limited $76,914 Ruby Moon Fisheries Ltd. $40,854 Seacoast Fisheries Limited $7,571 Sound Sailor Fisheries Ltd. $19,532 Stella Leora Fisheries Ltd. $ 21,514 Sylvia Ann Fisheries Limited $45,000 T & A LeBlanc Fisheries Ltd. $88,247 Travis Burke $14,000 Triple S Fisheries Ltd. $29,904 Uncle Philly Lobster Limited $45,000 West of the Sun Fisheries Ltd. $45,000 Wolfe Pack Fisheries Limited $31,533 Yvette & Lise Fisheries Limited $66,000 Membertou First Nation $12,626 Flying Eagle Lobster Limited $39,093 Sea Raven Fisheries Ltd. $ 27,416 SJR Fisheries Ltd. $40,060 3283934 Nova Scotia Limited $10,496 Bernie Alexander MacDonald $15,487 Brian Wadden $19,376 Capture Fisheries Ltd. $15,486 Forgeron Marine Enterprises Ltd. $11,738 Gregory Scott MacMullin $13,122 J. Morrison Fisheries Ltd. $10,466 3323788 Nova Scotia Limited $27,851 Kiwi Fisheries Ltd. $7,025 Bad Neighbour Fisheries Limited $12,702 Belliveau Brothers Ltd. $18,050 C and D Fisheries Ltd. $49,691 Donnie Sea Fisheries Inc. $9,334 C.M.H. Fisheries Ltd. $50,596 D & T Enslow Fisheries Inc. $35,601 Jamoca Fisheries Limited $22,789 David & Travis Fisheries Limited $11,510 Donald Robert MacLellan Enterprises Limited $18,601 George William Popovich $9,150 Steven D. Popovich $9,150 Gutsy Girlz Fisheries Ltd. $63,635 Joel Leblanc $4,900 Kate Fisheries Limited $75,400 Landry Boys Fisheries Limited $47,210 Lloyd David Fraser $12,084 M & M Fisheries Limited $2,650 Malcolm Lloyd Fraser $4,547 Mark McDougall Fisheries Limited $11,576 Minsky Mino Fishery Ltd. $7,744 Norman Alex Macleod $6,978 Port Novie Fisheries Ltd. $17,016 Queen Bee 2 Inc. $5,421 R.J. Amirault Fisheries Limited $77,016 Salty Strings Fisheries Inc. $ 4,200 Schnare Fisheries Limited $29,779 Wilcox & Son Investments Inc. $55,500 Shore Facility Improvements Project funding to support the purchase and installation of equipment and upgrades, including

automation, to improve lobster quality within land based processing and storage facilities. Project Recipient AFF Contribution Abriel Fisheries Company $96,933 Dawn Till Dusk Seafoods Limited $99,900 Bridge Lobsters Limited $82,716 C.V.Goreham & Sons Seiners Co., Ltd. $69,300 Kaiser Marine Inc. $99,040 Leo G. Atkinson Fisheries Limited $56,720 New-Gore Lobster Company Limited $69,650 Ocean Trawlers Limited $77,000 Ocean View Fisheries Limited $37,784 Pittman's Lobsters Inc. $46,461 Sandy & Sons Fisheries Limited $67,900 Set 'N' Sail Fisheries Ltd. $68,273 UGO Fisheries Ltd. $20,800 W. Sears Seafoods Limited $42,976 Wedgeport Lobsters Ltd $68,625 Coastal Fog Fisheries $11,992 Emery Smith Fisheries Limited $99,900 Oceans Edge Seafoods Ltd. $98,957 R.J. King Fisheries Limited $99,900 3104568 Nova Scotia Limited $55,159 3104568 Nova Scotia Limited $94,945 Lismore Seafoods Company $83,800

Innovation Project:

Project Description: Improving standards for lobster quality. Project Recipient AFF Contribution Perennia Food & Agriculture Incorporated $121,145

Science Partnerships Projects:

Project Description: Scientific partnership projects focusing on activities of research and

development related to lobster quality. Project Recipient AFF Contribution Universite Sainte-Anne $1,265,287 Universite Sainte-Anne $725,167

SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Maritimes Region

Cision

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2022/01/c6592.html
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The much anticipated official launch of Hap2py has finally taken place in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. Since the initial announcement of Happy Penny's plan to establish a subsidiary in Malaysia, preparations have begun earnestly. In line with the expected date of completion, the launching of Hap2py came just in time.

Hap2py Has Officially Been Launched in Malaysia

With the successful conclusion of the official launch, the arrival of Hap2py in Malaysia marks the beginning of the expansion of the world's leading peer-to-peer (P2P) financing platform, Happy Penny and its foothold in Southeast Asia. For the first time ever in Malaysia, prospective investors and entrepreneurs can now have access to P2P financing that can help them to achieve their financial objectives such as resolving their personal emergencies, starting a new business or expanding their businesses.

Unlike other existing P2P platforms in Malaysia that only extend loan packages to commercial enterprises and business entities, Hap2py provides personal loans to individuals with the aim of empowering them financially.

As a globally recognised P2P lending platform in Malaysia, Hap2py has 5 unique selling points that set it apart from its competitors in the market. As a P2P platform that is entirely committed to safeguarding investors' investment capital, Hap2py has put in place a buyback guarantee for all its investment schemes which ensures that the loan originator will buy back the loans in the event when the borrower delays the payment for more than 60 days.

Apart from that, investors will find exclusive investment opportunities which promise high returns that are not available elsewhere. Historically, these investment opportunities have generated higher returns than other traditional asset classes  the average annual return of the loans offered at Hap2py is a minimum of 30%.

Hap2py welcomes both private individuals and companies to become investors on its platform. As such, as part of its effort to make P2P lending more easily accessible to everyone, Hap2py has gone to great lengths to streamline the entire sign-up process and make it more user friendly. The online sign-up process is convenient and typically takes less than 5 minutes. Plus, there aren't any hidden fees or charges for investing on Hap2py.

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With the launching of Hap2py, Malaysia welcomes the first innovative P2P platform in the country which offers aspiring individuals the opportunity to achieve their dreams through personal loans. Unlike other P2P platforms, Hap2py aspires to empower individuals financially by extending personal loans to them that allows them to achieve their own financial goals.

By investing with Hap2py, investors will never need to worry if borrowers are going to default on their loans. Hap2py's appointed insurance company will ensure that investors receive compensation on their investment capital if the borrowers fail to pay up their loans after a stipulated period of time. This protects investors from financial losses while investing with Hap2py.

To know more about Hap2py and the investment packages it provides, kindly visit www.hap2py.com for more information.

SOURCE Hap2py
By Yousef Saba and Alex Lawler

ABU DHABI, Oct 31 (Reuters) - India's oil minister on Monday urged the OPEC+ alliance of oil producers to bear in mind the impact of their upcoming decision, expected on Dec. 4, on consumers as inflation soars across the world.

Hardeep Singh Puri told Reuters on the sidelines of a major industry event in Abu Dhabi that the OPEC+ decision was a "sovereign" one.

"It is entirely up to the producers to determine how much they want to produce and what price they want to sell," he said.

But he added: "They have to factor in what's happening in the world, what the impact of their decisions will be."

India's oil imports reliance is 85% and the country consumes about 5 million barrels of oil per day, he added, which is about 5% of global consumption.

"Our gas production went up by 18% last year, it will go up by another 18% this year, but we are the world's fastest growing major economy and our consumption is going up."

"We will diversify. I never bought energy from the U.S., we're buying $20 billion a year now. We are looking to any other source, wherever energy is coming in from," adding India was accelerating use of alternative energy sources.

Russia's share of India's oil imports surged to an all-time high of 23% in September, overtaking Saudi Arabia as the country's second largest supplier behind Iraq.

The minister, in response to a question on the OPEC+ decision to cut oil production in October, which was criticised by the United States, cited the impact of high energy prices on growth, on top of high inflation and the pandemic's impact.

"High oil prices in and of themselves will have a dampening effect because if a recession comes, the demand will fall," he said.

"So my submission is that I think we should all put our heads together and decide what's good. We will navigate through this in India. I have no doubt about that."

Puri said he was with U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm when the OPEC+ decision was announced in early October.

"So what she said and what we said, you know, we don't make public comments on that. But you know, you know what the situation is," he said. (Reporting by Yousef Saba and Alex Lawler in Abu Dhabi; editing by Jason Neely)
Is now the time to invest in Kazakhstan?  A major new report from The Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan finds strong and growing interest from international investors and companies.

A full copy of the report can be downloaded here.

LONDON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- International investors Franklin Templeton, VPE Capital and Vedra Partners are among a growing number of firms targeting Kazakhstan, according to a major new report.

Economic and political reforms are helping transform sentiment towards Kazakhstan  attracting prominent investors as well as businesses, with satellite company OneWeb and US technology group Honeywell the latest companies to commence operations in the country.

Is now the time to invest in Kazakhstan? A report from The Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan finds that a robust legal system  including the rule of English Common Law in the Astana International Financial Centre  as well as an industrial and business base diversifying beyond abundant natural resources, underpinned by a young and well-educated population, are making the country ever more investable.

The report quotes leading investors and global market specialists:

Marius Dan, Franklin Templeton, said: "An exciting investment opportunity considering Kazakhstan's economic stability, abundant natural resources, strong commodity market fundamentals and the political and economic reforms by President Tokayev."

Roland Nash, VPE Capital, said: "It is a country with enormous potential driven by international trade. Its unique geographical position makes it extremely well placed to take full advantage of the rise of China/Asian trade but also the rapidly growing European demand for the vital commodities Kazakhstan produces."

"Kazakhstan has always been at the forefront of change in the region, friendly and open to foreign investments and has done exceptionally well at attracting high profile investments from Europe, US, India and Korea amongst others which have made it stand out amongst Central Asian peers."

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Michel Danechi, Vedra Partners, said: "The macroeconomic fundamentals and the recently announced reforms have definitely put the country on the right track and created a strong basis for investing in Kazakhstan. We are very positive on the proposed reforms but need to see them implemented and maintained for years to come."

Ayuna Nechaeva, Head of Europe, the London Stock Exchange, said: "The investment climate for Kazakhstan is improving and we look forward to higher levels of primary and secondary market activity over the medium and longer term, as a result."

Chris Weafer, Chief Executive Officer, Macro-Advisory said: "The reform programme is capturing the attention of investors, with the trajectory for attracting inward investment looking more positive."

The Report highlights Kazakhstan's geographical location  at the crossroads of Eurasia  as a major advantage in building trade and attracting companies to locate there.

The EU remains Kazakhstan's biggest trading partner. Last year EU imports from Kazakhstan were $20.51 billion, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database. There are also more than 4,000 companies with European connections currently operating in Kazakhstan.

Since independence 31 years ago, international investors have injected more than $380 billion into Kazakhstan's economy  70 percent of the total investment flow into the whole Central Asian region during that period. Foreign Direct Investment in Kazakhstan in the second quarter of 2022 reached $7.58 billion  its highest level for a decade.

The Report concludes that leading global investors and businesses view Kazakhstan as increasingly investable, as it spreads its wings economically whilst, in parallel, entering a new phase of its political development.

A full copy of the report can be downloaded here.

Cision

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kazakhstan-attracts-major-investment-from-global-funds-and-international-businesses-301663953.html

SOURCE The Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan
Lowe's to donate $1, up to $50,000, for each eligible item purchased on Lowes.com from the Blue Wreath Project collection to nonprofit partner Building Homes for Heroes

MOORESVILLE, N.C., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year, this Veterans Day, Lowe's is calling upon consumers across the U.S. to #BuildThanks and show appreciation for military neighbors with a simple gesture  adorning their doors with a blue wreath.

Lowe's Salutes Military Community this Veterans Day, Calling on Consumers to Show Thanks with Blue Wreaths

Seen as a universal symbol of welcome and celebration, wreaths adorn millions of front doors across America each year. Now, Lowe's invites consumers to add one more important wreath to their seasonal celebrations by DIY-ing their own design with supplies from the Lowe's Blue Wreath Project collection, shoppable at Lowes.com/BlueWreathProject.

Continuing to show appreciation for the military community, Lowe's will donate $1, up to $50,000, for every item purchased on Lowes.com from the collection between Nov. 1 to Nov. 11 to Building Homes for Heroes. Since 2020, Lowe's has partnered with the nonprofit, supporting its mission of restoring hope to our nation's injured veterans by gifting mortgage-free homes to veterans and their families and providing support on their road to recovery.

"This is an amazing tribute for our veterans who have served and sacrificed so much for all of us," said Andy Pujol, founder and CEO of Building Homes for Heroes. "We could not be more honored to support our heroes this Veterans Day  and every day  and we could not be prouder to work alongside Lowe's to create safe and comfortable homes for our veterans and their families for generations to come."

Year-round, Lowe's supports military families through its everyday 10 percent military discount on eligible purchases, with no annual limit, for active-duty military personnel, veterans and their spouses, saving them nearly $1 billion each year. As a top employer for transitioning veterans and their spouses, Lowe's employs nearly 26,000 associates from the military community, offers a military spouse transfer policy, differential pay for the National Guard and reserves, and provides workforce development opportunities. Lowe's also offers veteran store parking for customers and sources products from military-friendly suppliers and veteran-owned businesses.

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"Veterans Day is more than just a day to us  it's a moment in time where the entire country comes together to recognize and appreciate the work that our nation's military has put forth to protect our freedom," said Joe McFarland, Lowe's executive vice president of stores and a Gulf War and Desert Storm veteran who served six years in the U.S. Marines. "I'm proud to work for a company that puts those who serve our country at the front of their minds and hearts."

This year, Lowe's also committed more than $3 million to support non-profit organizations dedicated to expanding access to safe, affordable housing and critical home repairs, and promoting workforce development and skilled trades education for military members and veterans. Additionally, the Lowe's Hometowns program is supporting five community improvement projects this year that benefit veterans across the country.

To learn more about Lowe's everyday, year-round support for the military community, visit Lowes.com/Military.

About Lowe's

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE 50 home improvement company serving approximately 19 million customer transactions a week in the United States and Canada. With fiscal year 2021 sales of over $96 billion, Lowe's and its related businesses operate or service nearly 2,200 home improvement and hardware stores and employ over 300,000 associates. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

Contact:

Stefanie Moody

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

stefanie.moody@lowes.com

Lowe's Salutes Military Community this Veterans Day, Calling on Consumers to Show Thanks with Blue Wreaths

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SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.
MannKind

DANBURY, Conn. and WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq: MNKD) will release its 2022 third quarter and year to date financial results and its management will host a conference call to discuss these results and corporate updates at 9:00 AM (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.



Presenting from the Company will be its Chief Executive Officer, Michael Castagna and Chief Financial Officer, Steven Binder.

Those interested in listening to the conference call live via the Internet may do so by visiting the Company's website at https://mannkindcorp.com/news-events/ under Events & Presentations.

About MannKind

MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq: MNKD) focuses on the development and commercialization of innovative therapeutic products and devices to address serious unmet medical needs for those living with endocrine and orphan lung diseases.

We are committed to using our formulation capabilities and device engineering prowess to lessen the burden of diseases such as diabetes, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease. Our signature technologies  dry-powder formulations and inhalation devices  offer rapid and convenient delivery of medicines to the deep lung where they can exert an effect locally or enter the systemic circulation.

With a passionate team of Mannitarians collaborating nationwide, we are on a mission to give people control of their health and the freedom to live life.

Please visit mannkindcorp.com to learn more, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

MannKind Contact :

Rose Alinaya, Investor Relations

(818) 661-5000

Email: ir@mannkindcorp.com




HONOLULU, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Matson, Inc. (NYSE: MATX) announced today that Joel Wine, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will be attending the Baird 2022 Global Industrial Conference to be held on November 8, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois.

Matson Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Matson)

Matson will provide access to the presentation slides on its website on November 8, 2022. Access to the slides will be available on www.matson.com, under Investors.

About the Company

Founded in 1882, Matson (NYSE: MATX) is a leading provider of ocean transportation and logistics services. Matson provides a vital lifeline to the domestic non-contiguous economies of Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, and to other island economies in Micronesia. Matson also operates premium, expedited services from China to Long Beach, California, provides service to Okinawa, Japan and various islands in the South Pacific, and operates an international export service from Dutch Harbor to Asia. The Company's fleet of owned and chartered vessels includes containerships, combination container and roll-on/roll-off ships and custom-designed barges. Matson Logistics, established in 1987, extends the geographic reach of Matson's transportation network throughout North America. Its integrated, asset-light logistics services include rail intermodal, highway brokerage, warehousing, freight consolidation, Asia supply chain services, and forwarding to Alaska. Additional information about the Company is available at www.matson.com.

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SOURCE Matson, Inc.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has visited the Martyrs Memorial and National Museum of Moudjahid in capital city Algiers of the Peoples Democratic Republic of Algeria.

A guard of honor was arranged for the head of state here.

President Ilham Aliyev laid a wreath at the memorial.

The Martyrs Memorial was opened on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the country's independence in 1982. The monument is 92 meters high.

While touring the National Museum of Moudjahid, the President of Azerbaijan was informed that most of the collection of the museum, located within the Martyrs Memorial and opened in 1984, is dedicated to the occupation of the country by France and the popular resistance against French colonialism in 1830-1962. In addition to paintings, weapons, archival materials and war items, photos and documents belonging to the Algerian Mujahideen who fought against colonialism, as well as the execution tools used by the French to punish the participants of the popular movement during the resistance period, are on display. The personal belongings and weapons of Amir Abdul Qadir (Abdul Qadir Ibn Muhieddine), who led the movement against French colonialism, his portrait painted by French artist Ange Tissier in 1853 and returned to the country by France only in 1976, are among the most popular collections of the museum.

Witness statements by more than 7,000 participants of the popular movement are collected in the museum.

The French mercilessly murdered more than 1.5 million people during the occupation covering the 1830-1962 period. This is why Algeria is called a country of 1.5 million martyrs. In total, about 10 million Algerians fell victim to the French colonial period.

The attitude of the French to Algeria was different from the other territories they occupied. Whereas other territories were considered to be colonies, Algeria was considered a part of France, its overseas territory.

The head of state then signed the memory book: I am privileged to be visiting the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria for the first time and the National Museum of Moudjahid as an expression of my deep respect for the brotherly people of Algeria.

The National Museum of Moudjahid is an important complex that contains one of the most tragic and, at the same time, proud pages of the glorious history of the Algerian people. This museum is of exceptional importance in terms of preserving the memory of the colonial policy of unprecedented cruelty and violence against the Algerian people, war and crimes against humanity, the national struggle against colonial forces and the victory of independence won at the cost of one and a half million martyrs. It is important from the standpoint of passing it on to future generations.

The struggle for freedom and independence, which started with the aim of getting rid of the merciless colonial slavery, is forever engraved in the history of Algeria as a symbol of great bravery, unity, unwavering will and determination of the Algerian people.

As the leader of a friendly and brotherly country, I am very proud to see the development and prosperity of fraternal Algeria, which gained independence by making great sacrifices.

I would like to express my gratitude for the warm welcome shown to me at the National Museum of Moudjahid and wish success to the museum in perpetuating the heroic heritage of the Algerian people.

Then an exchange of keepsakes was held.










Earlier this year, Sony PlayStation boss Jim Ryan said that Microsoft's promise to support Call of Duty on PlayStation for three more years was "inadequate on many levels." Now in comments to the gaming podcast SameBrain, Xbox chief Phil Spencer appears to have extended that timeframe to forever, or at least as long as PlayStation exists as a platform.

"We're not taking Call of Duty from PlayStation," he said. "Our intent is not to do that, and as long as there's a PlayStation out there to ship to, our intent is that we'd continue to ship Call of Duty on PlayStation, similar to what we've done with Minecraft since we've owned that.

"We've expanded the places where people can play Minecraft, we haven't reduced the places, and it's been good. It's been good for the Minecraft communitymy opinionand I want to do the same as we think about where Call of Duty can go over the years."

Spencer made the comments just as the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a "Phase 2 investigation" into Microsoft's proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision. One specific reason cited is concern that Microsoft could restrict Call of Duty from PlayStation consoles. In response, Microsoft accused the UK regulator of specifically adopting Sony's complaints in its initial probe. Despite that, Spencer said Microsoft is confident that the deal will be approved by the end of its fiscal year in June 2023.
CHICAGO, Oct. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Military radars market is projected to grow from USD 13.5 billion in 2022 to USD 17.1 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The components of a military radar are a transmitter, a receiver, and a sending radio wire. The reach, speed, and height of objects are determined by these sensors using electromagnetic waves. In order to provide more information to military clients that require the best capacity in small, efficient packages, modern radar systems now feature advanced materials, strong state modules, computerized signal processors, and complicated A-D converters. Modern fighting vehicles, aircraft, and marine transport vessels all incorporate military radar systems into crucial ways. It is expected that initiatives and programs like the Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar (3DELRR) program and the Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) program will spur growth in the regional market.

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Based on the application, the air & missile defense segment is expected to lead the military radars market share during the forecast period.

The demand for early warning threat detection systems, ongoing mine detection systems, and equipment by the US military to address conflicts in the Middle East and Asia Pacific will propel the market for air & missile defense radars, globally. These factors will also contribute to the growth of the air & missile defense radars market.

Under Platform segment, Naval subsegment is estimated to be the largest and fastest-growing market

According to forecasts, the military radars markets largest and fastest-growing category is the naval platform. Increased effectiveness and greater precision of ship-based naval radar systems are what are driving this segments rise. The development of ship-based naval radars is being driven by the need for efficient weapon guidance systems for military ships. The development of ship-based radar systems is receiving increasing funding from Asian nations, which is further accelerating the sectors expansion. The market for naval radars will be driven by nations like China, Japan, and South Korea, which account for more than half of all shipbuilding activities worldwide.

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Based on the product type, the surveillance and early airborne warning radar segment is expected to lead the military radars market share during the forecast period.

According to forecasts, the market share of the surveillance and early airborne warning radar category is the highest. Additional factors anticipated to propel the market for surveillance and early airborne warning radars during the forecast period include ongoing military modernization, the replacement of outdated radars, the introduction of digital signal processing, and solid-state modules. Early airborne warning radar systems are in greater demand as a result of meticulously formed fighters being created by a number of major manufacturers in developed nations, which significantly reduces the detection range of these systems.

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Raytheon Technologies Corporation (US), Lockheed Martin Corporation (US), Israel Aerospace Industries (Israel), Thales Group (France), and Leonardo S.P.A. (Italy) are some of the leading players operating in the military radars market.

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Browse Adjacent Market: Aerospace and Defence Market Research Reports &Consulting

Related Reports:

Surveillance Radars Market by Application (Commercial, National Security, Defense & Space), Platform (Land, Airborne, Naval, Space), Frequency Band (HF, UHF & VHF; L; S; C; X; Ku; Ka; Multi-bands), Dimension, Component, Region (2020-2025)

Military Antenna Market by Component (Reflectors, Feed Horn, Feed Networks, Low Noise Block Converter (LNB)), Frequency Band (HF, VHF, UHF SHF, AND EHF), End Use (OEM and Aftermarket), Type, Application, Platform and Region (2021-2026)

Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) Market by Range (Short, Medium, Long & Strategic System), Application (Ballistic Missile Defense, Conventional), Platform (Ground Based, Naval, Airborne) & by Region - Global Forecast to 2021

X-Band Radar Market by Application (Defense, Government, and Commercial), Type (Mobile, and Sea-based X-band Radar), Array (Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA), Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA), and Region - Global Forecast to 2021

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Chooses Naperville for Newest Location

STAMFORD, Conn., November 01, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Mirador, Inc. announces the opening of its newest office location in Naperville, IL. One of Americas fastest-growing companies continues to prove that the accolades are well deserved. Mirador was recently named to the 2022 Inc. 5000, a list of the fastest-growing private companies in the US (#545 on the list). With this growth comes the need for increased staffing, and Mirador has added over 90 new positions this year. Thanks to its widely popular services to the wealth management industry - financial reporting, technology solutions, and middle office services - Mirador is now expanding its operations to Naperville.

"Were pleased to welcome Mirador to downtown Naperville," Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico said. "Miradors decision to grow its company in our city and its emphasis on hiring young professionals speaks to Napervilles reputation as a financially stable community that also boasts a great quality of life attractive to all ages  including those just starting out their careers. Mirador is a perfect fit for our community, and we look forward to the career opportunities they will bring to Naperville."

Mirador is a best-in-class, tech-enabled, managed services partner to the wealth management industry. The company serves those who manage significant wealth: ultra/high net worth wealth advisors, families & family offices, endowments, and foundations. Its reputation for elevated customer service has quickly spread through the wealth industry and with new business comes the need for expansion. Naperville was highly researched and carefully chosen as the ideal place for the new Mirador site.

"The decision to open our first office in Midwest demonstrates Miradors continued global commitment towards serving our clients, colleagues, and communities and fulfilling our mission of building strong relationships in the wealth management ecosystem, said SVP, Head of Platform, Nikhil Deusana. "With our Naperville office, Mirador is positioned to continue delivering exceptional client service and recruit top talent from the third-largest metropolitan area in North America. We know expanding our presence where we see young talent at the crossroads of technology and wealth management is where we need to be."

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In addition to its two-building headquarters campus in Stamford, CT, and its long-established office in Salt Lake City, UT, Mirador recently announced the opening of a new location in Jacksonville, FL.

About Mirador, Inc.

Grounded in Wall Street and enabled by technology, Mirador, Inc. combines powerful data science and deep financial expertise to provide best-of-breed financial reporting services, middle office services, and technology consulting services for U/HNW investment portfolios. Through partnerships with leading technology platforms, Miradors service offering creates insightful, consolidated, real-time views of all assets and liabilities strategically constructed to identify opportunities and expose financial risks. Mirador's performance reporting experts  drawn from family offices and wealth-management firms  create true, ongoing partnerships with clients to ensure data integrity, cull new insights from the data, answer questions, and resolve inconsistencies. The firm supports the performance reporting requirements of family offices, wealth managers, endowments, and foundations throughout the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific.

For more information about Mirador, please visit www.mirador.com or email info@mirador.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005925/en/

Contacts

Media:

Sarah Fullilove

Mirador, Inc.

sfullilove@miradorllc.com

203.884.7344
(Bloomberg) -- The shrinking Mississippi River has hobbled the most efficient channel for moving US soybeans onto world markets, prompting a pivot to alternatives from Puget Sound to Texas to the Great Lakes.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Typically, more than half of all US soybean exports traverse the Mississippi River but after weeks of scant rainfall, water depths have dwindled, raising barge costs to an all-time high. As a result, ports in places like southeast Texas that normally handle less than 5% of the nations soybean exports are being thrust into action.

Its in dire condition and its getting worse, Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, said by phone. People are looking for whats their B, C and D options.

The US Department of Agriculture said 2.57 million tons of American soybeans were inspected in the week ended Oct. 27, a drop of 12% from the previous week. The Mississippi River accounted for less than a third of the shipments, with supplies also leaving ports in Alabama and elsewhere, data showed on Monday.

At the same time, the river disruptions have increased transport costs so much that American beans and other crops are growing too expensive for some overseas buyers. Thats limiting their utility as replacements for supplies usually sourced from the Black Sea region thrown into disarray by Russias war on Ukraine.

(Adds chart. A previous version corrected the spelling of rivers name in headline.)

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2022 Bloomberg L.P.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2022) - Myriad Metals Corp. (CSE: MMC) ("Myriad" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Thomas Lamb has joined the Company's board of directors and has been appointed the Company's President, Chief Executive Officer and Corporate Secretary.

Thomas Lamb is a lawyer and entrepreneur with extensive experience in resource exploration, having co-founded and served as an officer and director of a number of public and private mineral exploration companies over the past 20 years. For the past decade he's been focused on Africa in particular, having co-founded M2 Cobalt Corp., which was subsequently sold to Jervois Global Limited, one of the world's leading cobalt companies, and where Tom remained as an executive until February 2021. Other companies he co-founded include Rift Copper Inc., Goldgroup Mining Inc., and J2 Metals Inc. Mr. Lamb is currently a director of CSE-listed Sasquatch Resources Corp. Tom holds an MSc. from London Business School, where he was a Sloan Fellow. Mr. Lamb also holds Juris Doctor and BA degrees, and he speaks English, French, and Russian.

Peter Smith, Myriad's outgoing CEO, commented, "Thomas is an ideal person to help drive the project in Niger forward at this point. Given his wealth of experience and know-how in Africa, combined with his excellent track record of success in exploration generally, and of course his ability to speak the dominant business language in Niger, I feel he's the perfect person to help Myriad take its new assets in Niger to the next level."

In connection with Mr. Lamb's appointment, Peter Smith has resigned as an officer and director of the Company to focus on other interests. Mr. Smith will remain involved with the Company as an independent consultant for at least the next six months to ensure a smooth transition. The board of directors thanks Mr. Smith for his substantial efforts for the Company since its inception.

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Tom Lamb, Myriad's incoming CEO, said, "It's thanks to Pete that Myriad has excellent projects in Canada and Niger and is advised by a top-notch technical team. Myriad's future success will be largely thanks to him. Although his focus is changing, we are very glad that Pete will continue to assist Myriad as an important advisor for the foreseeable future."

Myriad further bolsters Africa and uranium expertise though new Technical Committee membership

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has formed a technical committee for the Company's 1,822 km2 of uranium exploration licenses in the Tim Mersoi Basin, Niger (the "Loxcroft Properties"). The technical committee is comprised of five members, including three Myriad representatives: Thomas Lamb, David Miller and George van der Walt. The remaining two members of the technical committee will be appointed by Loxcroft Resources Ltd., the optionor under the property option agreement respecting the Loxcroft Properties (see Myriad's news release dated August 17, 2022 for further details), and are expected to have significant experience on the ground in Niger.

David Miller is a businessman and professional economic geologist with decades of experience in uranium exploration and mining, and is a recognized global expert surrounding ISR/ISL (injected solution recovery/mining) methods and technology for uranium. David served as the Chief Executive Officer of Strathmore Minerals Corp. before its merger with Energy Fuels in 2013. His career has spanned over 40 years with a chain of companies that started with Utah International in the United States, to AREVA (now Orano), the French nuclear power conglomerate. He has consulted for the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Commission) in Austria and China, and has been referenced as a uranium or nuclear energy expert by the New York Times, BBC, CNBC, CNN, Business News Network, Wall Street Journal, Globe and Mail, and Barron's. He is also the author of "Investing in the Great Uranium Bull Market." David graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in Geology. He is a Registered Professional Geologist in Wyoming, a Registered Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration and is a Fellow in the Society of Economic Geologists. Mr. Miller's professional career has taken him worldwide, working with companies in Japan and South Korea, evaluating projects from Laos to Mongolia, Bolivia to Alaska, and in Canada. His expertise in commodities also includes fissionable materials, precious and base metals, fossil fuels and lithium.

George van der Walt (MSc. Economic Geology, Pr.Sci.Nat.) holds the role of Geological Operations Manager at The MSA Group. He holds a MSc. in Economic Geology from the University of the Witwatersrand and is a registered professional geologist (Pr.Sci.Nat.) with over 18 years' multi-commodity experience. He has extensive uranium exploration experience, having excelled as Exploration Manager for Peninsula Energy's Karoo uranium projects in South Africa, during which time he implemented technical supervision of all exploration, pre-feasibility, due diligence and site rehabilitation activities for large project areas and a database in excess of 12,000 boreholes. He has been involved early greenfields to advanced exploration including Bushveld Complex PGE-Cu-Ni,,rare earth carbonatite and Witwatersrand gold in South Africa, and rare/battery metal (Li, Sn, Ta, Nb) pegmatites in Nigeria.

Established in 1983, The MSA Group has grown to become a holistic consulting and contracting company providing specialist technical input into international projects in the resource, financial, infrastructure and development sectors. MSA has worked across multiple sectors, on all commodities and in diverse environments on five continents, for some of the largest multinational companies, listed juniors and private companies and investors. Having worked in over 30 countries in Africa, MSA has intimate, first-hand knowledge of the African continent and extensive knowledge of remote project environments. (see https://msagroupservices.com/ )

Thomas Lamb commented that "between Mr. Van der Walt and Mr. Miller, we have greatly improved our access to expertise in both uranium and Africa. Mr. Van der Walt will provide overall guidance to the team in Niger, and he obviously will have the support and infrastructure of MSA to draw from as well. That alone puts us in very capable hands with more than adequate support. But moreover, we also have access to the vast experience and expertise of Mr. Miller, who can greatly assist us in looking at our prospects for ISR down the road."

About Myriad

Myriad is a Vancouver-based mineral exploration company with an option to earn a 100% interest in over 1,800 km2 of uranium exploration licenses in the Tim Mersoi Basin, Niger. Myriad also has a 50% interest in the Millen Mountain Property located in Nova Scotia, Canada, with the other 50% held by Probe Metals Inc. For further information, please refer to the Company's disclosure record on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), contact the Company by telephone at +1.604.418.2877, or refer to the Company web-site, at www.myriadmetalscorp.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Thomas Lamb, CEO

+1.604.418.2877

tdlamb@gmail.com

###

This news release contains "forward-looking information" that is based on the Company's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, the Company's business, plans, outlook and business strategy. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "likely", "expect," "anticipate," "intend", "estimate", "plan", "forecast", "project" and "believe" or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: changes in economic conditions or financial markets; increases in costs; litigation; legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; and technological or operational difficulties. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our forward-looking information. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142670
The suspect in October's Amber Alert kidnapping of a 2-year-old and 17-year-old was booked into Escambia County Jail Monday afternoon after her extradition from Philadelphia, Mississippi.

Aiyanna Rachelle Gulley, 21, was booked into jail Monday afternoon on charges of false imprisonment of an adult, a third-degree felony, and kidnapping a minor, a first-degree felony, according to Escambia jail records.

Gulley allegedly kidnapped 2-year-old Jazarah Stallworth and an unknown 17-year-old from a home on North Davis Highway just before 9 p.m. Oct. 15. An Amber Alert was issued around midnight.

The arrest: Escambia toddler who was focus of Amber Alert found safely, alleged kidnapper arrested

The alert: Amber Alert suspect to be extradited to Pensacola, charged with 2 counts of kidnapping

The 17-year-old was dropped off near Roberts Road, and police in Philadelphia, Mississippi, arrested Gulley at 3:35 a.m. Oct. 16, recovering Stallworth, as well as Gulley's own 2-year-old daughter, Aila Jones, safely.

Wood confirmed to the News Journal in October that Gulley, Stallworth and the 17-year-old are from the same family.

As of Tuesday morning, Gulley was held in Escambia County Jail on $100,000 bond.

Benjamin Johnson can be reached at bjohnson@pnj.com or 850-435-8578

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola's Aiyanna Gulley extradited to Escambia in kidnapping case
Creation of New Division Prompted by Health System's Growth, Valley's Population Boom

PHOENIX, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move to further enhance the award-winning health system's ability to provide specialized care for children at high risk of infection, Phoenix Children's created a new Division of Infectious Diseases and named Wassim Ballan, MD, chief of the division.

Wassim Ballan, MD, Division Chief of Infectious Diseases at Phoenix Children's

"As Phoenix Children's grows its physical footprint, we have a responsibility to continue providing world-class, highly personalized care, on an even larger scale," said Jared Muenzer, MD, MBA, physician-in-chief of Phoenix Children's and chief operating officer of Phoenix Children's Medical Group.

Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic heightened the demand for infectious diseases clinicians and prompted the creation of this new division to bring more specialty care into the Phoenix Children's Medical Group.

Also joining the newly created Division of Infectious Diseases are Drs. Scott Ostdiek, Julia Piwoz and Matthew Smith. The team has decades of experience in infection prevention and control, infectious diseases and managing infections in patients with weakened immune systems. This includes kids receiving chemotherapy, bone marrow or solid organ transplant and others whose immune systems are suppressed.

"Our team of pediatric infectious diseases specialists has provided care for patients at Phoenix Children's for more than a decade, and we are honored to officially join the Phoenix Children's Medical Group," said Dr. Ballan. "I look forward to growing our clinical team and expanding the care we provide for children with infections, allowing the infectious diseases division to serve a larger number of patients."

"The support Dr. Ballan and the team provided at the height of COVID-19 was incredible, but their medical expertise was evident long before the pandemic," said Dr. Muenzer. "In particular, Dr. Ballan raised the alarm about antimicrobial resistance, was at the forefront of this issue in 2009 and ultimately established the Phoenix Children's Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in 2017."

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As division chief, Dr. Ballan will continue to lead the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, ensuring Phoenix Children's remains committed to using antibiotics wisely  only when they are truly needed, and the right antibiotic, for the right duration and with a dose specific to each child. This commitment is part of a larger effort at Phoenix Children's to limit the emergence of resistant bacteria and avoid potential toxicity from unnecessary antimicrobial therapy.

In addition, the infectious diseases division will lead treatment of emerging infections like COVID-19 and monkeypox, and establish clinical guidelines for the management of infections or their complications such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). The division will also continue to manage efforts in infection prevention and control, and transplant infectious diseases.

During the pandemic, Dr. Ballan became a national thought leader, providing expert commentary for local and national media on topics including COVID-19, MIS-C and vaccine safety and efficacy. The Phoenix Children's team of infectious diseases specialists collaborated closely with other clinicians to care for children who were hospitalized with COVID-19 and MIS-C and established an MIS-C follow-up clinic to ensure the safe transition of care after discharge. Additionally, Dr. Ballan led Phoenix Children's participation in several Centers for Disease Control studies during the pandemic, including efforts to define MIS-C and develop best practices for treatment.

Dr. Ballan, who joined Phoenix Children's in 2007, grew up in Lebanon and attended the American University of Beirut, where he earned his medical degree in 2000. He completed his pediatric residency at SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital in Syracuse, N.Y., and a fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases at the University of California, San Francisco.

He also has served as an assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine  Phoenix in the Department of Child Health since 2014. Dr. Ballan is a frequent recipient of Top Doc honors by Phoenix Magazine. Having lived, studied and practiced medicine around the world, Dr. Ballan is fluent in English, Arabic, Spanish and French, allowing him to directly communicate with a diverse patient population.

About Phoenix Children's

Phoenix Children's is one of the nation's largest pediatric health systems. It comprises Phoenix Children's Hospital  Thomas Campus, Phoenix Children's Hospital  East Valley at Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, four pediatric specialty and urgent care centers, 11 community pediatric practices, 20 outpatient clinics, two ambulatory surgery centers and seven community-service-related outpatient clinics throughout the state of Arizona. The system provides world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care and has been serving children and families for nearly 40 years. Phoenix Children's Care Network includes more than 1,175 pediatric primary care providers and specialists who deliver care across more than 75 subspecialties. For more information, visit phoenixchildrens.org.

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SOURCE Phoenix Children's
FILE PHOTO: Man holds laptop computer as cyber code is projected on him in this illustration picture

By Renju Jose

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Hackers have targeted a communications platform used by Australian military personnel and defence staff with a ransomware attack, authorities said on Monday, as the country battles a recent spike in cyberattacks across businesses.

The ForceNet service, one of the external providers that the defence department contracts to run one of its websites, has come under attack but so far no data have been compromised, Assistant Minister For Defence Matt Thistlethwaite said.

"I want to stress that this isn't an attack or a breach on defence (technology) systems and entities," Thistlethwaite told ABC Radio. "At this stage, there is no evidence that the data set has been breached, that's the data that this company holds on behalf of defence".

But some private information such as dates of birth and enlistment details of military personnel may have been stolen, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported, citing an unidentified source with knowledge of the investigation.

Thistlethwaite said the government will view the incident "very seriously" and all defence personnel have been notified, with suggestions to consider changing their passwords.

A Defence department spokesperson told Reuters in an emailed statement the department was examining the contents of the impacted data set and what personal information it contained.

Ransom software works by encrypting victims' data and hackers typically will offer the victim a key in return for cryptocurrency payments that can run into the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.

Some of Australia's biggest companies, including No. 2 telecoms company Optus, owned by Singapore Telecommunications Ltd, and the country's biggest health insurer, Medibank Private Ltd, have had data hacked recently, likely exposing the details of millions of customers.

Technology experts said the country has become a target for cyber attacks just as a skills shortage leaves an understaffed, overworked cybersecurity workforce ill-equipped to stop it.

(Reporting by Renju Jose; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 1, 2022 /CNW/ - SKRR Exploration Inc. (TSXV: SKRR) (FSE: B04Q) ("SKRR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") for the previously announced non-arm's length acquisition agreement dated October 24, 2022 (the "Acquisition Agreement") to acquire a 100% interest in Edge Geological Consulting Inc.'s ("Edge") Carp River property (the "Property") consisting of five (5) mineral claims compromising a total of 5,606.48 hectares.

SKRR Exploration Inc. Logo (CNW Group/SKRR EXPLORATION INC.)

Terms of the Acquisition Agreements

Under the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, SKRR acquired a 100% interest in the Property by making a cash payment of C$7,000 to Edge (which represents the costs expended by Edge in staking and researching the Property) upon Exchange final approval of the Acquisition Agreement.

The Acquisition Agreement with Edge is not an "Arm's Length Transaction" as such term is defined in the Exchange's Policy 1.1 and therefore constituted a "related party transaction" as such term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. Ross McElroy is a director of SKRR and is also a director of Edge.

The Carp River Nickel-Copper Property Details

The Carp River property comprised of five (5) contiguous mineral claims totaling 5,606.48 ha., is located immediately north of the hamlet of Stony Rapids in the province of Saskatchewan. Stony Rapids is a full service community with a commercial airport. Access to the Property is via fixed wing or helicopter aircraft. From a regional perspective, the property lies within the Tantato Domain, which makes up part of the significant Snowbird Tectonic Zone. Regionally, bedrock consists primarily of mafic granulite and garnet-pyroxene diatexite formations, which extend on strike to the west towards the Axis Lake and Rea Lake Ni-Cu-Co deposits and the Currie Lake occurrences located within 5km to 10km to the west of Carp River.

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Historic exploration by Red Dragon and Pure Nickel Inc. in 2005 included a regional airborne VTEM (Versatile Time Domain Electromagnetic) geophysics survey which covered the known Axis Lake, Rea Lake, Currie Lake and other showings. Interpretation of the 2005 VTEM survey, picked numerous highly rated VTEM anomalies over the Carp River property. Follow-up soil grid surveys were conducted over areas where they determined that the conductors looked prospective. Red Dragon and Pure Nickel determined that the Ni-Cu-Co anomalies became more intense close to nickeliferous norite bodies. One of those grids surveyed was the Carp River grid, located in the middle of the Carp River property, where soil results were significant and comparable to those around Axis Lake and Currie Lake occurrences.

SKRR cautions that some of the historical results were collected and reported by past operators and have not been verified nor confirmed by a Qualified Person, but form a basis for future work on the Carp River Property. Mineralization hosted on nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization that may be hosted on the Carp River Property.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Ross McElroy P.Geo, a director of the Company and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. McElroy verified the data disclosed (unless indicated otherwise) which includes a review of the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information and opinions contained therein.

About SKRR Exploration Inc.:

SKRR is a Canadian-based precious mineral exploration company with properties in Saskatchewan - one of the world's highest ranked mining jurisdictions. The primary exploration focus is on the Trans-Hudson Corridor in Saskatchewan in search of world class deposits. The Trans-Hudson Orogen - although extremely well known in geological terms has been significantly under-explored in Saskatchewan. SKRR is committed to all stakeholders including shareholders, all its partners and the environment in which it operates.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Sherman Dahl

President & CEO

Tel: 250-558-8340

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forwardlooking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements that address future work on the Carp River Property, other statements relating to the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its projects and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of metals, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, and those filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather conditions, equipment failures, failure to maintain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, decrease in the price of gold, nickel and other metals, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), increase in costs, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forwardlooking statements or forwardlooking information, except as required by law.

SOURCE SKRR EXPLORATION INC.

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By Trend

Russia has suspended its participation in the inspection of cargo ships carrying Ukrainian grain, the Joint Coordination Centre, the body overseeing the deal, said late Sunday.

The announcement came a day after Russia suspended its participation in a landmark agreement that allowed vital grain exports to resume.

The delegation of the Russian Federation informed that... it suspends its participation in the implementation of the activities of the Initiative, including in inspections, for an indefinite time, said a JCC statement.

Earlier Sunday, Turkiye's defense ministry had said that the inspection of shipments of Ukrainian grain would continue Sunday and Monday in Istanbul.

The JCC said 11 shipments had been inspected Sunday before it made its announcement concerning Russia's decision.

Another 112 cargo ships carrying Ukrainian grain are waiting for clearance off Istanbul's coast, said the JCC.

The July deal to unlock grain exports signed between Russia and Ukraine and brokered by Turkiye and the United Nations, is critical to easing the global food crisis caused by the conflict.

It had already allowed more than nine million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to be exported and had been due for renewal on November 19.
In its latest earnings drop, Sony said it sold 3.3 million PlayStation 5s this quarter, matching exactly what it did last year and bringing total units sold since launch to 25 million. Its numbers this quarter are far short of what it needs to hit the 18 million PS5 sales target for fiscal year 2022, though. Sales halfway through the fiscal year (ending March 31st) are now at 5.7 million, which is also nearly the same as 2021 at this point (5.6 million).

Despite the equal number of PS5s sold, revenue was up significantly over last year (12 percent) to 727 billion yen ($4.92 billion), thanks in part to a PS5 price increase earlier this year. However, profit was down by 49 percent due to the company's recent acquisition of Bungie, along with game developer cost increases.

Sony sold 11.5 million consoles last year, so it's a good bet that 2022 sales will be about the same . However, a lot depends on holiday sales and whether it can keep production up with demand. That's a problem that has plagued the PS5 since it arrived, due to the pandemic and other issues. In May, Sony said that it will finally be able to ramp up production to meet PS5 demand as supply chain issues ease. While it hasn't given any numbers in that regard, anecdotally it appears that the console has been easier to find in recent months.

Meanwhile, software sales fell to 62.5 million units from 76.4 million this time last year. Digital downloads accounted for 63 percent of that, up slightly from last year. PlayStation Plus subscriber numbers declined for the second consecutive quarter.

Sony has revised its revenue projection for next quarter downward to due an expected drop in first-party game sales. However, it's bullish on the next fiscal year, aiming to ship 23 million PS5 units in that time. Interestingly, it also still expects to 18 million units by the end of the fiscal year (March 2023), so it may still have something up its sleeve.
Grocer announces Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant recipients following the namesakes 103rd birthday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., November 01, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Fresco y Mas, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, together with the SEG Gives Foundation, is proud to announce the 2022 recipients for the Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant Program. The corporate initiative supports deserving nonprofits in the fight for racial equity and social justice while addressing widespread disparities in education, food insecurity and health care.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005485/en/

Southeastern Grocers announces 30 recipients of the Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant with funds totaling $300,000 following the 103rd birthday of the grant's namesake Romay Davis. (Photo: Business Wire)

Following the recent 103rd birthday of the grants namesake, SEG presents the 30 recipients of the Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant with funds totaling $300,000. The deserving nonprofit organizations are:

Baptist Health

Bethune-Cookman University

Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County

Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana

Brighter Bites

Communities In Schools of Jacksonville

Covenant House New Orleans

Feeding Northeast Florida

Feeding Tampa Bay

Grace Medical Home

Hope Haven

Jack & Jill Center

Jacksonville Humane Society

Jones Valley Teaching Farm

Junior Achievement of North Florida

MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation

Schoolyard Roots

Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay, Inc.

Society of St. Andrew

Son of a Saint

Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR)  New Orleans

Tankproof

Teach For America Jacksonville and Central Florida

The Community Health Center of West Palm Beach

The Sanctuary of Northeast Florida, Inc.

Tree Hill Nature Center

Vision Is Priceless Council, Inc.

Women's Breast & Heart Initiative

Youth Empowerment Project

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Raymond Rhee, Chief People Officer for Southeastern Grocers, said, "We wholeheartedly believe our differences are our greatest strengths, and we pride ourselves in being a people-first company that proudly advocates for inclusivity for all. Ms. Romay serves as an inspiration to our associates and customers with her unwavering spirit and dedication in the face of adversity, and her life serves as a testament to the power of challenging the inequities faced by many individuals, families and communities. Today and every day, we wish to express our deep gratitude to Ms. Romay, and we hope the legacy of this grant supports these deserving organizations and others in empowering and amplifying the voices of individuals of all backgrounds as we work together to create meaningful positive change in the communities we serve."

SEG takes pride in fostering a culture of belonging for associates, customers and communities throughout its five-state footprint. The mission of the Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant Program is to provide essential funding to nonprofits that share the grocers commitment to inclusivity and strive to empower authenticity and eliminate long-standing barriers.

Since the grants inception in 2020, SEG and the SEG Gives Foundation have awarded $685,000 in funding to 63 deserving community organizations that take meaningful action to help combat social injustice by bridging the gap of inequities experienced by underrepresented populations throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.

More About the Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant Namesake

The namesake for the Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant Program is 103-year-old Winn-Dixie associate Romay Davis. During a time when women and people of color faced restricted rights, Ms. Romay consistently broke barriers by challenging societys limited beliefs with unfathomable accomplishments, such as being a WWII Private First-Class veteran, NYU multi-degree scholar, New York fashion designer and model, Taekwondo Black Belt, community advocate and much more. At the young age of 80, Ms. Romay rejoined the workforce as a Winn-Dixie associate. After two decades of working for the grocer, Winn-Dixies parent company, Southeastern Grocers, honored Ms. Romay as the namesake of a program that supports the fight for racial equity and social justice. Ms. Romays life is an inspiration to all and her incredible legacy will live on through the Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant.

About Southeastern Grocers

Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Fresco y Mas, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is an omnichannel retailer and one of the largest conventional supermarket companies in the U.S., serving customers in brick-and-mortar grocery stores, liquor stores and in-store pharmacies as well as online with convenient grocery delivery throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Fresco y Mas, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie are well-known and well-respected regional brands with deep heritages, strong neighborhood ties, proud histories of giving back, talented and caring associates and a strong commitment to providing the best possible quality and value to customers. For more information, visit www.frescoymas.com, www.harveyssupermarkets.com and www.winndixie.com

About SEG Gives Foundation

SEG Gives Foundation is the charitable arm of Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company of Fresco y Mas, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores. The SEG Gives Foundation aligns giving with causes that are priorities to the communities SEG serves, including the fight against hunger, support for military service members and their families, relief to those affected by extreme weather and natural disasters and championing belonging, inclusion and diversity by combating social injustice to bridge the gap of inequities faced by many individuals, families and communities. Southeastern Grocers strives to be ingrained in its communities and, through the SEG Gives Foundation, better the lives of its customers and neighbors.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221101005485/en/

Contacts

For SEG interviews or images contact:

Meredith Hurley

Director, Public Relations and Community

Cell: (904) 612-9441

media@segrocers.com
Key Partners Silverhorn and responsAbility Close USD 5mn Series A Financing Round

Tech-enabled public toilet sanitation provider in Emerging Asia, Mister Loo, has risen as a COVID-winner by targeting the basic unmet needs in the region for better public sanitary infrastructure

60 sites and 600,000+ monthly visitors equate Mister Loo with direct and tangible impact, contributing to public health in these emerging and frontier markets and adhering to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Silverhorn, an owner-operated Asia-focused investment firm, and responsAbility, a leading impact asset manager, secured funding of up to USD 5mn through a combination of Series A equity funding and debt investment to expand its hygienic facilities across Asia

Asia's consumer class with 2.2 billion people already represents 55% of the 4 billion global middle-class consumers, underpinning the importance of Mister Loo's value proposition and the business potential for e-health services

HONG KONG, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global access to hygienic toilets rose from 28% in 2000 to 54% in 2020, yet 3.6 billion people, equivalent to nearly half the world's population, remain without access to proper sanitation according to UNICEF. With the recent pandemic, it has become increasingly apparent that clean facilities are crucial to prevent the spread of contagious diseases.

Mister Loo has locations in Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, and plans to expand to the Philippines and India.

As the first professional toilet service provider in Asia with strong ESG credentials and tech-led options to expand its services, Mister Loo has received debt financing from responsAbility and is joined by Silverhorn to raise funds as an urgent call to action to improve good health and wellbeing in accordance with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region.

Key partnerships ensure expansion plans

Mister Loo was founded in 2015 by Swiss entrepreneurs, Dominik Schuler and Andreas Wanner, as a health and wellbeing solution to the lack of accessible and clean toilet facilities in areas with high foot traffic. A rising middle-class Asian population has increased the demand, and the company has fast become an attractive impact opportunity with upselling capabilities that contribute to overall public health. "We are very excited to partner with two experienced players in the region who are equally passionate about the significant impact the expansion of Mister Loo will have. This will serve one of the most basic daily human needs lacking for millions of people," says owner and Co-Founder Andreas Wanner.

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With over a decade of experience championing impact investments in Emerging Asia, Silverhorn acts as the on-the-ground institutional investor to support the scale-up of Mister Loo from 60 to 1,000 high-impact locations by 2026. "With the company's proprietary tech-enabled service platform, strong ESG credentials, and roadmap of new advancements, Mister Loo is a compelling profit with purpose investment," says Silverhorn CEO Mike Imam.

responsAbility, a leading impact asset manager with a 19-year track record of investing in ESG-compliant companies, provides additional support to Mister Loo's overall impact strategy and framework. This will help to further validate Mister Loo's value proposition as the leading public toilet service provider in Asia with strong ESG credentials and trackable impact in accordance with the UN SDGs. "Where and how Mister Loo positions its locations are important, as we observed that the lavatories are strategically placed where communities need them the most. Their services have continued to operate during tough COVID times, promoting good hygiene practices," says Health & WASH Investment Specialist Brandon Cheah.

Future plans for Healthtech

The "Sanitation Economy", a term coined by the Toilet Board Coalition, is a new market opportunity that monetises toilet provision, basic sanitary products and services, biological resources, and health data. Based on the Coalition's research, this market could be worth approximately USD 100 billion across Emerging Asia and hold a vast reservoir of valuable information about human health.

Mister Loo plans to capture new opportunities in circular economy and evolve into a highly valuable "e-health data centre". With state-of-the-art facilities, Mister Loo already incorporates relaxation spaces and health check-up rooms at some locations allowing users to assess health indicators such as body fat percentage and blood pressure range. "Not only is global access to hygienic toilets a challenge to overcome, but we also see the massive potential to offer services beyond lavatories. With the technology to offer integrated e-health centres, we can truly have a lasting impact to contribute to public health in the region," says owner and Co-Founder Dominik Schuler. Mister Loo has future plans to operate e-health centres in conjunction with the facilities, which will remain on the basis of consent and data security.

CONTACT:

Daniella Lopez

dlopez@silverhorngroup.com

Tel: (852) 2599 8140

SOURCE Mister Loo
TUV Rheinland, the industry leader, has presence in 60 countries with more than 20,000 employees.

HOUSTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TUV Rheinland, a German based company specializing in quality, safety and sustainability, is celebrating 150 years of providing solutions to industries from railroads to electromobility, from steam engines to digitalization. Its goal is to shape the future ensuring quality and safety of people, technology, and the environment.

The company's history begins in 1872 in Cologne, Germany, with the start of steam boiler operations. Today, TUV Rheinland impacts the lives of people and companies including sectors such as toys, electrical appliances, elevators, energy and environmental systems, electronics, heavy machinery and pressurized containers. In addition, TUV Rheinland recently became the first company to certify a drone worldwide.

Advancing globally with the ability to perform tests, inspections and certifications of all products and services known, TUV Rheinland currently has more than 200 laboratories globally.

TUV Rheinland belongs to the Quality and Safety Certification industry, which generates worldwide revenue of more than 200 billion dollars and provides over one million jobs. The TIC (Testing, Inspection and Certification) sector is one of the least publicized but most required sectors in the world, as it verifies and supports the value chains of companies and the products that people use in their daily lives.

In 2021, TUV Rheinland closed its fiscal year with global consolidated revenues of 2.1 billion euros. Which represents a positive scenario after the pandemic and the challenges it had to face worldwide.

"At a time when all companies need to pay more attention to their global value chains, we are the partner of choice that can help locally with trusted experts. When it comes to taking steps into the future, TUV Rheinland often leads the way. For 150 years, we have seen ourselves as a partner for new technologies because we make innovations successful through safety - yesterday steam boilers, today renewable energies, tomorrow artificial intelligence. True to the motto: "We make the future a little safer,"" explains Dr. Michael Fubi, CEO of the TUV Rheinland Group.

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TUV Rheinland has five business units that are involved in key areas of the economy in the countries where it operates, providing support and service to leading manufacturing and export industries such as the automotive and petroleum industries, electrical and electronic consumer goods, construction safety, verification of regulatory compliance in rail transport, and the training, implementation and certification of management systems.

About TUV Rheinland

150 years of safety: Since 1872, TUV Rheinland has been committed to making technology safe for people and the environment. From steam engines to digitalization - from its beginnings as the "Verein zur Uberwachung der Dampfkessel in den Kreisen Elberfeld und Barmen" (Association for the Monitoring of Steam Boilers in the Districts of Elberfeld and Barmen), TUV Rheinland has become a globally active testing service provider that ensures safety and quality in almost all areas of business and life. Today, this responsibility unites more than 20,000 employees. They generate an annual turnover of around 2 billion euros. TUV Rheinland's experts test technical systems and products around the globe, accompany innovations in technology and business, train people in numerous professions and certify management systems according to international standards. TUV Rheinland is also shaping the future with safety and sustainability. Since 2006, TUV Rheinland has therefore been a member of the United Nations Global Compact for more sustainability and against corruption. Website: www.tuv.com

Press Contact

Joel Pekay

Telephone: +1 224 318 4098

Email: Joel.Pekay@us.tuv.com

Mariana Taborda do Amaral

Telephone: +55 11 3514 5867

Email: Mariana.Amaral@br.tuv.com

Michael Garcia

Telephone: +52 55 9140 1824

Email: Michael.Garcia@mex.tuv.com

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SOURCE TUV Rheinland
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co opened its new global technology and business center on the outskirts of Mexico's capital on Monday after a $260 million investment.

The new campus will host business operations, global transformation activities and the largest engineering center in Mexico, according to a video shared by the company's Twitter account.

The campus, located in the municipality of Naucalpan, is set to host 9,000 employees working in a hybrid manner, splitting time between home and the campus, Ford Motor said in a statement.

Several foreign auto companies have expanded operations and announced new investments in Mexico this year.

In October, foreign automakers Volkswagen and Continental pledged major investments totaling nearly $1 billion, while earlier this year, Nissan announced an investment of $700 million over the next three years.

The influx of money from the automotive industry could continue in Mexico, after Jeep maker Stellantis reported to be looking to invest billions to make electric vehicles in the country and Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk is considering investing in the country's north, according to sources consulted by Reuters.

(Reporting by Carolina Pulice and Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
Uber (UBER) announced its Q3 earnings before the opening bell on Tuesday, missing on expectations for gross bookings and reporting greater losses per share than Wall Street had anticipated. Revenue, however, rose 72% year-over-year. Shares were up nearly 13% when the market opened.

Here are the most important numbers from the report compared to what analysts were expecting of the ride sharing giant in the quarter.

Gross bookings: $29.11 billion versus $29.63 billion expected

Mobility bookings: $13.68 billion versus $13.86 billion expected

Delivery bookings: $13.68 billion versus $13.86 billion expected

Freight bookings: $1.75 billion versus $1.89 billion expected

Losses per share: $-0.61 versus $-0.17 expected

While the company missed on earnings per share expectations, it did manage to beat on revenue, which came in at $8.34 billion versus an anticipated $8.13 billion.

The company also announced it expects gross bookings to jump 23% to 27% year-over-year in Q4.

Our global scale and unique platform advantages are working together to drive more profitable growth, with Gross Bookings growth of 32% and record Adjusted EBITDA of $516 million, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, said in a statement. Even as the macroeconomic environment remains uncertain, Ubers core business is stronger than ever.

Uber's report follows its announcement that it is no longer facing driver shortages. In October, Andrew Macdonald, Ubers head of mobility, told the Financial Times that global driver supply is up 70% year-over-year.

Drivers initially left the Uber app during the pandemic, as ride requests collapsed amid lockdowns. As the world started to reopen, though, there weren't enough drivers to fulfill the spike in demand. That forced riders to deal with excessive wait times, higher prices, and a general lack of available rides.

Uber and its cohort of gig economy companies are also facing the prospect of having their workers reclassified as employees. Last month, the Department of Labor released a proposed rule change that could make Uber's drivers employees entitled to minimum wage and other benefits.

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The company, and rivals Lyft (LYFT) and DoorDash (DASH), have been fighting legislation to reclassify workers as employees for years. In 2020, the companies ran a successful campaign in support of California's Proposition 22, which exempted gig workers from being considered employees.

The Labor Department's rule change isn't a sure bet, and still needs to go through the standard regulatory process. Uber and its competitors will also challenge the rule if it does change worker status.

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(Bloomberg) -- Ukraine warned of widespread blackouts after a massive wave of Russian missile attacks on Monday damaged power and water supplies across the country including in the capital Kyiv.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Kremlin meanwhile warned that grain shipments would be much riskier and more dangerous after it pulled out of a deal allowing Ukrainian exports from Black Sea ports following an attack on Russian navy vessels in Crimea that Moscow blamed on the government in Kyiv. Ukraine hasnt confirmed it carried out the assault.

In circumstances where Russia is talking about the impossibility of ensuring the security of shipping in these areas, of course such a deal is hardly implementable and it takes on a different character, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call Monday. We cant guarantee it.

Russian missiles and drones damaged infrastructure in 10 Ukrainian regions and hundreds of locations are without power in seven of them, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Telegram. The strikes left more than 80% of Kyiv residents without running water and 350,000 apartments lost electricity supply, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram. By evening, 40% still had no water supply and 270,000 apartments were without electricity, he said.

With his forces in retreat on the battlefield as the invasion stretches into a ninth month, Russian President Vladimir Putin has turned to repeated missile attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure in recent weeks. Russian state media has celebrated the change of tactics as an attempt to force Ukraine to surrender by starving and freezing the population into submission as winter approaches.

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US President Joe Biden condemned the utter brutality of the strikes earlier this month and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres called them another unacceptable escalation of the war, his spokesman said. European Council President Charles Michel said the Russian attacks were war crimes.

Instead of fighting on the battlefield, Russia fights civilians, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter after the latest attacks. Russia does this because it still has the missiles and the will to kill Ukrainians.

The strikes came after Moscow accused Kyiv of the attack on its Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol with airborne and water-based drones on Saturday. Russia quickly announced it was pulling out of the deal brokered by the UN and Turkey that has allowed safe passage of millions of tons of Ukrainian grain and agricultural products from Black Sea ports.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed the withdrawal with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar in a phone call Monday, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said in a statement that gave no further details.

Russia, which annexed Crimea in 2014, alleged one drone may have been launched from a civilian ship carrying grain, a claim Ukraine strongly denied.

Despite the Kremlins warning, ships loaded with crops sailed from Ukrainian ports Monday as the UN and Turkey sought to salvage the agreement thats seen as critical to ease tight world supplies and combat surging global food prices. The continued passage of vessels through the Black Sea presents a test of Putins willingness to scupper the accord.

Crop Ships Are Leaving Ukraine Despite Russian Move to Halt Deal

Twelve vessels left Ukrainian ports Monday, Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Twitter.

Diplomatic consultations are taking place with the UN and Turkey on the future of the pact, said Peskov, who declined to comment on any conditions Moscow is setting out for rejoining the agreement.

Putin has repeatedly complained about the grain deal in recent weeks, saying not enough shipments were being sent to poor nations. Russia has also said its own grain and agricultural goods were not getting the same access to global markets, although they are not subject to international sanctions that have restricted other areas of its economy.

However, claims that developing nations arent benefiting from the safe-corridor deal arent backed up by data, which show a considerable segment of the shipments have gone to these countries.

Fragments of one Russian missile fired on Ukraine fell on the town of Naslavcea in neighboring Moldova, causing broken windows in several homes, the Interior Ministry in Chisinau said in a statement. The town is 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Ukraines Dnister dam.

Ukraines largest private power company, DTEK, is running low on stocks of spare parts to fix power infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks, Executive Director Dmytro Sakharuk said on TV. Procurement problems are mounting amid soaring prices, and DTEK is also working to get equipment donated by foreign partners, he said.

(Updates situation in Kyiv in third paragraph, Russian, Turkish defense ministers call in ninth)

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2022 Bloomberg L.P.
Hong Kong: Sun Dong introduces I&T initiatives

Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong today attended a seminar to brief the innovation and technology (I&T) sector, professional bodies, academic associations and research clusters on the I&T initiatives outlined in the Policy Address.

Prof Sun said the Policy Address fully implements the National 14th Five-Year Plan's vision in supporting Hong Kong to develop into an international I&T hub, and the Government will promulgate the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint within this year to set out major policies under four development directions.

During the seminar, he highlighted the launch of the $10 billion Research, Academic & Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme, which aims to incentivise collaboration among industry, academic and research sectors to further promote the "1 to N" transformation and realisation of research and development outcomes and the industry development.

Focusing on industries of strategic importance, such as life and health technology, artificial intelligence and data science, as well as advanced manufacturing and new energy technology, the Innovation, Technology & Industry Bureau will proactively attract high-potential or representative I&T enterprises from around the globe by collaborating with the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises and making use of the Strategic Tech Fund and the Co-Investment Fund.

It will also create the post of Commissioner for Industry and subsidise the setting up of more smart production lines in Hong Kong under the Re-industrialisation Funding Scheme, aiming to increase the number of production lines by four times to over 130 in five years.

Prof Sun called on the participants to join hands to attract enterprises interested in expanding their businesses in Hong Kong by leveraging their Mainland and overseas connections, with a view to driving the development of the local industry.

The Policy Address also announced the enhancement of the Technology Talent Admission Scheme, which will cover more emerging technology areas to facilitate the admission of technology talent from the advanced manufacturing industry.

In addition, the Government will use the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation & Technology Park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop as a pilot to study the trial implementation of a cross-boundary policy on I&T co-operation with Shenzhen on the basis of "one zone, two parks".

At the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Secretary General Xi Jinping pointed out that the country will fully implement the strategy for invigorating China through science and education, the workforce development strategy and the innovation-driven development strategy to improve systems for scientic and technological innovation and build world hubs for talent and innovation.

By formulating clear development directions and strategies as well as enhancing co-ordination and planning of relevant measures, Prof Sun said he hopes to spearhead the promotion of I&T development at full speed in order to live up to the expectations of the country.

The seminar was held in person and online, and live-streamed in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Foshan sub-venues.

This story has been published on: 2022-11-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
By Trend

Kazakhstan will sign a memorandum of mutual understanding with the IMF Regional Capacity Development Center for the Caucasus, Central Asia and Mongolia (CCAMTAC), Trend reports citing Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan.

This issue was discussed during the meeting with the participation of National Bank and public authorities of Kazakhstan under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan - Minister of Finances Erulan Jamaubaev.

During the meeting, issues of signing the memorandum of mutual understanding between Kazakhstan and the CCAMTAC were discussed.

At the end of the meeting, Jamaubaev instructed the National Bank of Kazakhstan, together with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice, to work out some issues of concluding a memorandum of mutual understanding between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the CCAMTAC.
BRUCHSAL, Germany, Nov. 1, 2022 /CNW/ -- Volocopter, the pioneer of urban air mobility (UAM), has raised an additional USD 182 million in the second signing of its Series E funding round. NEOM  the Red Sea's smart, cognitive region project  and GLy Capital Management of Hong Kong have joined Volocopter's diverse investor base. This will carry the company beyond the certification of its electric passenger aircraft, the VoloCity air taxi.

VoloCity prototype flight testing in Germany

Sustainable mobility is a tremendous challenge facing today's world. Volocopter offers a suite of fully electric aircraft for urban missions. Crucially, Volocopter's holistic UAM ecosystem approach connects all key global market players as it strives to get the industry off the ground. This includes developing multipurpose electric aircraft to bring passengers and goods safely to their destination (the VoloCity, VoloRegion, and VoloDrone), and enabling the physical and digital infrastructure to match (the VoloPort and VoloIQ).

"Attracting NEOM And GLy as investors is a great success and highlights our pole position in the commercial certification race. This is the key requirement to launching commercial operations and starting to generate revenue," said Dirk Hoke, CEO of Volocopter.

Volocopter is a UAM leader, with over ten years of experience and upward of 1,500 successful test flights. As the first and only electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company to receive Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Volocopter expects to launch its first commercial air taxi routes in the next two years in megacities like Singapore, Rome, Paris, and the NEOM region.

Christian Bauer, CCO of Volocopter, added: "Raising over USD 180 million despite the generally tense economic climate highlights Volocopter's robust technology strategy and its ongoing progress toward achieving market readiness. We appreciate the remarkable spirit of collaboration and the trust that our existing and new shareholders have placed in us as we forge ahead on our journey to bring the urban air mobility ecosystem to life."

Story continues

Volocopter and NEOM signed a joint venture (JV) company in December 2021, becoming strategic partners to integrate the VoloCity and the VoloDrone into NEOM's sustainable and smart mobility systems. The JV will design, integrate, and operate all-electric public flight routes for the initial seven years.

"At Neom we strongly believe in the potential for urban air mobility to provide a new dimension to future integrated transport systems. Building on our successful collaboration with Volocopter, we are excited to strengthen our partnership and to make a strategic investment in the future of mobility. We believe Volocopter is the best partner to build an advanced air mobility ecosystem in Neom. We look forward to realising this exciting mission jointly with Volocopter and its global partners" said Florian Lennert, Head of Mobility of NEOM.

GLy is backed by Geely Holding, and in their joint venture, Geely and Volocopter aim to bring UAM to China which is expected to become one of the largest markets for electric air taxis.

"Volocopter's vision encompasses industrial short- and medium-range commercial passenger applications to bring efficiency to the way we move around our cities. I look forward to supporting their journey; a journey that promises to be exciting, safe, and scenic in equal measure," said Hrvoje Krkalo, co-CEO of GLy Capital.

With many interested companies having passed the due diligence phase, Volocopter's Series E funding round remains open.

About Volocopter

Volocopter is building the world's first sustainable and scalable urban air mobility business to bring affordable air taxi services for goods and people to megacities worldwide. Volocopter leads and cooperates with partners in infrastructure, operations, and air traffic management to build the ecosystem necessary to "Bring Urban Air Mobility to Life." Volocopter has 500 employees in offices in Bruchsal, Munich, and Singapore, has completed over 1,500 successful public and private test flights, and has diverse investors, including Geely, NEOM, Mercedes-Benz Group, Intel Capital, and BlackRock. www.volocopter.com

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Orange County has kicked off a tasty effort to celebrate a chef of its own.

The late chef Edna Lewis was born and raised in the Freetown area and went on to groundbreaking success in New York City restaurants. She also penned popular cookbooks that earned her the title of the Grande Dame of Southern Cooking and was even called the Souths answer to Julia Child.

The celebration started Oct. 20 with a dinner at The Inn at Willow Grove, where two Orange chefs (Craig Hartman and Andrew Eppley) and another from Fredericksburg treated Lewis family members, county officials and others to a three-course meal featuring variations of Lewiss recipes on the 50th anniversary of her first cookbook being published.

Diners were served plates of everything from fried chicken to braised greens to a chocolate dessert using locally grown and ground chestnutsall to illustrate the chefs unbending belief that growing, harvesting, sourcing and cooking with local, seasonal ingredients is critical to the Southern cooking she introduced to the world.

A Black woman, Lewis was born in Orange in 1916. She died in 2006 at 89.

While the dinner was a one-night event, the countys Department of Economic Development and Tourism announced an initiative that will make Lewiss dishes available for months to an expanded audience by literally putting her on the map.

Thats happening through a new creation called The Edna Lewis Menu Trail, which puts Lewis signature dishes on the menus of seven restaurants all across the rural county. From Thanksgiving through Memorial Day, diners will be able to order different Lewis dishes at each of the participating restaurants.

At the Barbeque Exchange in Gordonsville, hungry diners will have the chance to sample the chefs Brunswick stew with cornbread and her coconut layer cake. At Clearwater Grill in Locust Grove, the Lewis offerings are sauteed pork chops with whipped sweet potatoes and apple brown Betty.

On Oct. 21, the economic development and tourism office hosted an Edna Lewis Familiarization Tour for a collection of travel writers and Virginia Tourism Corporation staff members.

Participants on the driving tour traveled to Bethel Baptist Church to lay a wreath at Lewiss grave and to Montpelier to see the Mere Distinction of Colour exhibit and learn more about the lives of the enslaved people at the plantation.

The tour ended in Gordonsville, so participants could learn why that town is often referred to as the Fried Chicken Capital of the World.

Along the way and at the dinner, participants learned about the unprecedented success of the cookbooks that made Lewis internationally known. The Edna Lewis Cookbook included passages detailing Lewiss experiences and travels while The Taste of Country Cooking advocated for seasonal, vegetable-focused cooking while also referencing the people in Freetown who produced the food, as well as the relationships and rituals that gave it meaning.

Julie Perry, the assistant director for Orange tourism and economic development has spearheaded the effort to honor and publicize Lewis. She said the chefs story is important and compelling, and it deserves to be told.

Phil Audibert, who years ago created a documentary on Lewis, was at the Oct. 23 dinner and shared his memories of of the chef. Between courses, the journalist and photographer recounted a time when he invited Lewis to his home for dinner.

The toughest part of that evening, he recalled, was telling his wife that hed extended the invitation.

Her reaction: You have invited the Grand Dame of Southern Cuisine to our house for dinner without consulting me? What am I going to cook?

Audibert said it all worked out, as the couple served their guest a haunch of venison shot on their property, marinated for days in lemon juice, red wine and juniper berries, as well as a cobbler made with wild blackberries from their farm.

He said the meal was right up her alley, but added that the strongest memory he has from her visit happened on a wagon ride they all shared behind their steady draft horse Ned, when Lewis accepted an invitation to take the reins.

When she clucked and told Ned to walk on, her face lit up in a radiant smile, he said. For a moment there, Edna Lewis, the Grand Dame of Southern Cooking, was back home in Freetown as a little girl.

Another speaker at the dinner was Fredericksburg chef and Foode co-owner Joy Crump, who delighted diners with her main course: Lewiss fried chicken, corn pudding, yams, braised greens and yeast rolls.

Crump said she sees Lewis as a continued gateway to the history of our region, the access point where we can learn more about American cookery, about all the unsung heroes in the history of Virginia and of the African-American culture who really mattered and made an impact.

Crump noted that Lewis managed to create magic during a difficult time for African Americans, who were often forced to work in the shadows without recognition.

That makes this celebration of Edna Lewis so special, because she took those truths and presented them with honesty and beauty, melting away the class difference so prevalent, she said. Mrs. Lewis went from Orange County to Manhattan, cooking food for white diners, because beautiful, honest, seasonally prepared food is loved by everyone. ... Even if you dont understand how the food traveled to get to the plate, diners know the feeling they get in their mouth when they taste food that was prepared with honesty, love and respect for the process.

Mary Terrell, a neighbor of Lewiss growing up and part of her extended family, said she thinks its phenomenal that the chef is getting attention.

She was such a dignified lady, Terrell said. I knew her as a child and it was something when Miss Edna would come home, for revival, when ladies would spread their cakes and pies out. They were competing, and she did, too.

Afeworki Paulos, a Georgia resident who Lewis adopted in 1986, said the fact that she so loved her home community and all of Orange County makes it so its wonderful that the people here are now celebrating her. Her legacy continues.

Paulos, a retired college professor who taught everything from African studies to international relations, said that his first thoughts about Lewis are how kind and loving she was. Next comes the way she excelled at telling her own story, typically using food and its harvesting to explain the true nature of a community where if you borrowed one cup of sugar, you returned two.

Paulos noted that his adopted mother was also a social and political activist.

Im trained as a political scientist, and sometimes wed discuss politics and Id try to show off my knowledge, he said. Shed just smile and listen, then add So now let me tell you what we did in the civil rights movement in the 50s and 60s and Id be quiet and listen, realizing once again that I was truly the student.

Distant Lewis cousins Barbara Black and Joan Graves said they think its important for the county to highlight the life of Edna Lewis and all those from Orange who have made serious contributions to the country and society. They also noted that the chestnut tree planted in Lewiss honor in 2001 at the Inn at Willow Grove is alive and producing chestnuts, and that the family was gratified when the famous chef was on a postage stamp issued in 2014.

She was so special, and were proud that the county is spreading that message, said Graves.
Halloween is a holiday that keeps reinventing itself. From its ancient origins in the Celtic festival of Samhain, it was later co-opted by the Christian Church in the Middle Ages. The Church, rightly figuring that a leopard wasnt going to change its spots, tacked on the tradition of All Saints Day on Nov. 1 to explain the prevalence of evil spirits the night before.

In the early 1900s, the wizards of mass marketing found Halloween and added the elements of commercialism we know and so love today. Yes, decorations and costumes could be purchased in stores even then, though most people still came up with their own.

At some point, as beliefs in evil spirits waned, Halloween became a time for people to let their own inner demons loose. The first mention of Halloween that Ive found in the Daily Star is from 1904. The boys were out Monday night celebrating Halloween and by all accounts did not confine themselves to innocent amusements, reported the Star. They took gates off the hinges, threw rocks at houses, and dumped items taken off porches a good distance away. The paper added, Several gentlemen, whose property was molested, were only induced to refrain from using pistols by the ladies of their families. (At the Opera House, the play Daughter of Satan was performed; one wonders whether there was any connection.)

People seemed to grow more accustomed to the pranks, which always included the tried-and-true gate stealing and the rolling of wire in the streets (this particular prank would amuse boys for many years to come, though these pranks were nothing compared to those going in major cities). In fact, by 1907, equal rights had infiltrated Halloween mischief. One party of about eighteen, said to be women, some mothers of nearly grown children, were out for a real lark. They were dressed in long black cloaks and pointed caps with heavy veils. They attempted to move the bandstand from the park when Officer Tansill stepped from behind a tree. They attempted to carry him off bodily when a rap on the head of one of them by Tansill caused them to desist. He did not know they were females, assured the Star.

By 1910, organized celebrations were mentioned in addition to nighttime street reveling. Five hundred people attended the masked carnival at The Rink (this was likely an ice-skating rink next to a house in the 800 block of Prince Edward Street). The Rink band played music for skating and dancing. The paper also mentioned many masked parties at homes around the city that were attended by both the young and middle-aged.

In response to the increase in parties, advertisements for decorations began to appear around 1916. R.A. Kishpaughs Stationery, located at 918 Caroline St., offered crepe paper and novelties for the party or dance. (Original decorations from the early 1900s can fetch hundreds of dollars on eBay today.)

Parties in homes continued, but in the 1920s, people turned the business district into a sort of block party. From early in the evening until nearly midnight, the sidewalks in the business section were crowded with young folks en masque, said the Star. Costumes included clowns, women in mens suits, vamps (worn by men), tramps (not to be confused with vamps), and national costumes from many countries.

Crowds got bigger as the decade went on, with people driving up and down the streets blowing horns and whistles. Police continued to patrol the city as they had for years to ensure that no real damage was done to property. The Chamber of Commerce turned the event into an organized street carnival in 1925, hiring bands and building a bandstand. An estimated 5,000 people from the city and surrounding counties attended and paraded in costume down Caroline Street, which was turned into a great white way of lights. People threw ribbon streamers and confetti, but monkeyshines outshone moonshine.

It seems that everyone decided to get in on the fun, and that caused Halloween to evolve from being a night for boys to roam about stealing gates into a community celebration. In the late 20s, an afternoon parade for schoolchildren was added, but there was no mention of trick-or-treating yet.

The mass street parties continued into the early 1930s. In 1930, Caroline Street was described as a milling mass of humanity and the costumes presented a gorgeous spectacle of shade, light, and hues. But by 1933, the crowds were down, and the next year, there were no official citywide events. Adults and children still roamed about in costume, but it does seem as though the lack of festivities left a vacuum. Some increased pranking by teenage boys was reported, including ringing of doorbells and the placing of tick-tacks (a rattling noisemaker) against peoples windows.

Celebrations continued quietly to some extent throughout the war years, and 1946 brought the first mention of the modern incarnation of Halloween: Residents who had troubled to crowd the porch swing into the parlor . . . have found a more enlightened generation of pranksters satisfied in offering their victims the choice of a trick or treat. This approach, which came into vogue here several years ago, is apparently a worry-saver for the kids who dont know where to hide their next chair and a delight to homeowners who would rather pass out refreshments than see their property carted off down the street. In retrospect, it does sound a bit like negotiating with terrorists, but a happy solution was found by all.

Wendy Migdal is a freelance writer in Fredericksburg.
The Stafford Education Association is opposing proposed amendments to the school divisions employee code of conduct that would prohibit controversial classroom decor.

The proposed amendments to School Board policy 4113, the employee code of conduct, were presented at the Oct. 13 meeting of the School Boards Governance Committee at the request of School Board member Alyssa Halstead, who chairs the committee.

According to the draft minutes of the committees Sept. 8 meeting, Halstead asked for a policy to prohibit the display by teachers of personal emblems.

She cited complaints she has received from parents about teachers displaying emblems and images that the parents/students found offensive, such as emblems representing personal lifestyles and religious or political beliefs, according to the draft minutes. Ms. Halstead stated that she believes all personal decor items should be kept out of the classroom because they are often distracting to students and can also sometimes cause offense.

According to the proposed code of conduct amendments, classroom decor is considered curricular speech and is not protected by the teachers constitutional right to free speech.

Rather, curricular speech is considered school-sponsored speech, which school boards can regulate, the proposed amendments state.

The distinction between curricular speech and First Amendment-protected speech was drawn by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, which ruled in 1998 in Boring v. Buncombe County Board of Education that a drama teachers selection of a play for students to perform in regional and state competitions was a curriculum decision and therefore subject to regulation by division administration and the School Board.

According to Staffords proposed amendments, the displayed decors message does not have to relate to the teachers curriculum to be considered curricular speech.

The amendments would prohibit decor considered controversial ... from being displayed in a compulsory classroom setting.

Controversial refers to decor that elicits substantial differences of opinion on the local, national, or international level, which are accompanied by intense feelings and strong emotions on the part of individuals or groups, the proposed amendments state.

The SEA on Sunday released a statement opposing the proposed amendments.

In defense of the individual dignity and rights of Stafford County educators, and their efforts to promote an inclusive environment for our diverse student populations, Stafford Education Association stands in opposition to this revision, the statement reads.

The SEA considers the impetus of this policy revision [to be] the desire of certain board members to remove items they deem morally objectionable from classrooms, according to the statement.

SEA secretary Michele Wickman said Monday that adoption of the proposed amendments would represent a massive setback for the school division.

The School Board in 2019 approved revising the school divisions nondiscrimination statement to include gender identity and sexual orientation as protected categories.

Wickman said the SEA considers this one of our biggest victories to date.

We cannot allow these proposed amendments to move us backward, she said.

The proposed amendments direct employees to consult with school administration to determine what decor would be considered controversial. The SEA fears this opens the door to inconsistencies in policy interpretation and enforcement between buildings, according to the statement.

Wickman also said the SEA feels educators should have been consulted during the drafting of the proposed amendments.

When past revisions have involved the code of conduct, there have been times when educators were consulted, she said. I would expect that educators would be involved in any decision to implement a revision like this. If it impacts them, they should be consulted.

The three members of the School Boards Governance CommitteeHalstead and board members Patricia Healy and Susan Randallvoted on Oct. 13 to support the proposed amendments, which will be presented to the entire School Board for a first reading on Nov. 8 and possible adoption on Dec. 13.
Virginias registrars have until the end of the week to process an additional 149,000 voter registrations due to a previously reported computing error by the Virginia Department of Elections. This is in addition to the 107,000 reported in early October.

According to a release from the Department of Elections, the transactions include address updates and new voter registrations through the Department of Motor Vehicles from May through September of this year.

This morning, we woke up to a big surprise, said Henrico County registrar Mark Coakley.

Coakley is one of the states 133 registrars who are working to process the additional numbers. His staff will process 3,900 registrations this week.

We've called in some people to help us, some of our part-time [staff] that weren't going to come in today, said Chesterfield registrar Missy Vera. We are all hands on deck right at this point and we'll get through it.

Well get through it was also echoed by Richmond registrar Keith Balmer.

The Virginia Department of Elections first discovered an unspecified computing error in early October  with Henrico and Chesterfield receiving about 5,000 each of the 107,000 backlogged registrations.

Sen. Lionell Spruill Sr., D-Chesapeake, chairman of the Privileges and Elections Committee, has sent two letters to Elections Commissioner Susan Beals asking for clarity on the issue.

"She did say to me today that the problem was with the IT department in the Department of Elections," Spruill said in a call Monday with the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Spruill added that the backlog issues have been "frustrating." As chair of the elections committee he plans to call a meeting after the election with the Department of Elections and Department of Motor Vehicles to ensure the issues don't happen in future elections.

The backlogs of new registrations or address changes come amid an election year where many jurisdictions are split into new Congressional districts following a redistricting.

Despite the hiccup, Beals said in a statement that the latest 149,000 affected voters are able to vote. Thats how the department became aware of the issue. In the statement, Beals explained that the department conducted a review after people visited polls to vote and registrars updated their information on site.

I am very grateful for the vigilance of Virginias general registrars in quickly surfacing concerns during early voting, said Beals, an appointee of Gov. Glenn Youngkin. With information from local officials, ELECTs IT professionals were able to scour the election system data to identify the additional transactions for processing.

"Im pleased that all affected voters are able to vote and that anyone with questions or concerns can reach out to us directly so that we may assist them as we near Election Day.
The University of NebraskaLincoln will officially mark construction of the Feedlot Innovation Center at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead during a groundbreaking ceremony at 11 a.m. Nov. 4.

In concurrence with the groundbreaking, Greater Omaha Packing Co., a supplier of premium beef, has announced a $700,000 pledged gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation to support the construction of the state-of-the-art facility. In recognition of its philanthropic support, the university will name the new centers animal handling and instructional classroom building for the company. The naming is pending approval by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

The center will provide new capacity to develop and evaluate emerging technology used in managing animals in feedlot settings. Featuring the latest innovations, a commercial-scale feedlot and an animal handling facility will be used in teaching, research and extension efforts by the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The project was approved by the Board of Regents on June 23. With an estimated cost of $7.5 million, it is being funded through a combination of private giving, grants and IANR program funds.

Henry Davis, CEO of Greater Omaha Packing Co., said its support of the Feedlot Innovation Center symbolizes the companys 100-plus-year commitment to the continuous improvement of the American cattle industry and the communities in which it operates. It also reflects the long-standing relationship between Greater Omaha Packing and the University of NebraskaLincoln.

Fundraising is ongoing for the project. Other lead contributors who have announced gifts for the center include John and Beth Klosterman, JBS USA and Farm Credit Services of America. For information about supporting the center, contact Marcia White at the University of Nebraska Foundation at 402-458-1249 or give online at https://nufoundation.org/fund/01154350.

Pending approval by the NU Board of Regents, the center will be named the Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center in recognition of the Klostermans, who are longtime supporters of the university and its ag programs.

The center will include a complex with cattle comfort and research buildings, a feed technology facility, innovative open lots and an animal handling facility that contains instructional classrooms. It will create real-world facilities to test new precision technology, solve environmental challenges facing the feeding industry, and improve cattle performance and welfare while comparing different environments and housing systems. The project will also allow for innovation in manure collection and management that will innovate both new and possible modifications for existing operations.

The center will allow students to gain hands-on experiences while being exposed to the newest research and technology and is a key component of the universitys Beef Innovation hub, which aims to advance, support and communicate continuous improvement of beef production, economic vitality and natural resources stewardship through innovative research, education and extension.

IANR strives to innovate new ways to produce food, fuel, feed and fiber for a growing world in a way that promotes resilience of natural resources and a high quality of life for people engaged in agriculture.
Rob Clements

Why are you running for the Nebraska Legislature District 2 seat?

To continue controlling government spending and lowering taxes, and to use my business skills in helping to make good decisions on policy issues.

What are two main issues facing this district that concern you and how would you go about addressing them?

Property taxes are still too high and I will work to continue to support reducing them.

Also, state aid to schools is not equally distributed. I will support fair treatment of all school districts.

The majority of the state budget every year goes toward schools. However, there has been some talk locally about the state offering more funds for safety and security measure for students and staff on school grounds. What are your thoughts on that?

The degree of security measures needed in a school is a local school board decision. The board, administration, teachers and parents should work together on measures needed.

Sarah Slattery

Why are you running for the Nebraska Legislature District 2 seat?

I am a professional chef and mother running to represent working class folks. I was born and raised in Cass County and have lived here my entire life. My roots in this community run deep. Fifteen years ago, I opened Slattery Vintage Estates with my folks, and I have enjoyed feeding everyone who has come to visit.

I am running to bring more enthusiastic representation to Legislative District 2. I want the very best for my friends and neighbors. We all deserve a slice of The Good Life.

What are two main issues facing this district that concern you and how would you go about addressing them?

Well, the two main concerns Im hearing from constituents are about the high property taxes and the extreme hyper-partisanship that has taken over our nonpartisan unicameral recently.

Id like to look into how we fund our schools and come up with a formula that doesnt rely so heavily on property taxes. The current setup ensures that our public schools are inequitably funded and I know we can do better for our students and our taxpayers.

As far as the hyper-partisanship goes, I intend to bring a truly nonpartisan approach to the state senate. Im not beholden to any political party or special interest group. Im here to represent the interests of my friends and neighbors in LD2. Thats it. Elected officials are supposed to work for their constituents, not reign over them.

The majority of the state budget every year goes toward schools. However, there has been some talk locally about the state offering more funds for safety and security measures for students and staff on school grounds. What are your thoughts on that?

As a former school employee and a mother with a middle schooler, I think that protecting our children and school staff is incredibly important. School used to be a safe place to leave your child.

There are loads of things that we could do to make our schools more safe. Increasing safety and security measures in the buildings themselves is just a part of the solution, and definitely a step in the right direction.
The Hooper American Legion Auxiliary will be hosting its annual Christmas Revisited sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Hooper American Legion Post, 115 N. Main St., in Hooper.

Christmas and other holiday and miscellaneous decorator items will be available for a freewill donation. Proceeds benefit veterans programs, including veteran-related scholarships, support for Nebraskas four veterans homes, two medical centers and associated clinics, and homeless veterans, as well as assistance to the local American Legion Post.

In addition to the donated merchandise at Christmas Revisited, visitors to Hooper also can enjoy the annual Chain of Friends boutique with new twists and the Senior Center garage sale.
Tuesday

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Letters to the Churches of Revelation, 10 a.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Supportive Singles, 11:30 a.m., L.A. Fire Proof Door Co., 325 N. Main St., Fremont. For more information, call 402-660-8474.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous Steps of Freedom meeting, 1 p.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511.

Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. Pitch will be played at 6:30 p.m. There will be a Sons of the American Legion meeting at 7 p.m.

Gene Steffy Autogroup Business After Hours, 4-6 p.m., 2545 E. 23rd St., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Mens and Womens Bible Study, 6 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont.

Wednesday

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Fremont Opera House Luncheon, noon, Fremont Opera House, 541 N. Broad St., Fremont. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and lunch begins at noon. The luncheon will include a preview of Midland Universitys The Drowsy Chaperone, directed by Dan Hays. The cost is $15 per person. Space is limited and reservations are required. RSVP by visiting fremontoperahouse.org or call 402-720-2332.

Mens Bible Study, 1 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business.

Groundbreaking ceremony for the replacement of Howard Elementary School, 4 p.m., blacktop near the playfield at Howard Elementary School, Fremont.

Groundbreaking ceremony for the replacement of Washington Elementary School, 4:45 p.m., blacktop near the playfield at Washington Elementary School, Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Eagles Auxiliary pork tenderloin dinner, 5:30-7 p.m., Fremont Eagles Club. Everyone is welcome.

Narcotics Anonymous, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Thursday

Mens Bible Study, 8 a.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous big book study, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Fremont Kiwanis Club meeting, noon, Midland University Private Dining Rooms, Ninth and Pebble streets, Fremont.

Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. The kitchen will be open from 5:30-7 p.m. The menu will include hamburgers, cheeseburgers, tacos and soup. Pitch will be played at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

The Banquet, 5:30-6:30 p.m., First Lutheran Church, 3200 E. Military Ave., Fremont. The dinner is for those who dine alone too often, are new to Fremont, are far from family and friends, or are simply hungry. The dinner is free.

Civil Air Patrol, 7 p.m., 1201 W. 23rd St., in yellow hangar at Fremont Airport.

Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave.

Tally Ho Toastmasters, 7-8 p.m., Midland Universitys Anderson Building, Ninth and Clarkson streets, Fremont. Everyone is welcome to learn skills in communication, self-confidence and leadership. For more information, call 402-936-3479.

Narcotics Anonymous Back to Basics meeting, 7:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 N. Davis St., Oakland.

Alcoholics Anonymous big book study, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.
By Trend

During the visit to Karabakh, we witnessed the consequences of Armenian vandalism, a member of the Turkish Travelers' Club Association Salahaddin Eyyuboglu told Trend.

"Unfortunately, the West supports Armenia and turns a blind eye to what it's doing. In order to cause harm, Armenians have planted mines in these territories," he said.

However, according to him, Armenia must understand that the improvement of relations with Turkiye and Azerbaijan will only benefit them.

A total of 30 members of the Turkish Travelers' Club Association visited Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur liberated from occupation. The delegation is led by the president of the club Salman Arinc, whose name is included in the NomadMania global rating.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Beijing on November 1 for a two-day visit to hold talks with Chinese leaders on plans for the $65 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and debt restructuring.

The CPEC is part of President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to improve China's road, rail, and sea routes with the rest of the world.

Subscribe To Our New China Newsletter It has become impossible to tell the biggest stories shaping Eurasia without considering Chinas resurgent influence in local business, politics, security, and culture. China In Eurasia is the biweekly newsletter by correspondent Reid Standish in which he builds on local reporting from RFE/RLs journalists across Eurasia to give you unique insights into Beijings ambitions. It's sent on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. To subscribe, click here.

The CPEC, which is set to significantly reduce shipping time for Chinese manufacturers to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, is being opposed by Western powers, including the United States. The BRI was launched in 2015 but slowed down in recent years.



"My discussions with the Chinese leadership will focus on revitalization of CPEC, among many other things," Sharif said in a statement, adding that he will be meeting Xi, who is beginning his third term as Communist Party general-secretary, and other Chinese executives while on the visit.



The CPEC projects are centered on Pakistan's Balochistan Province, where Baloch armed groups are active and have attacked Chinese investments from time to time.



Balochistan is Pakistan's largest and poorest province, despite being rich in natural resources.



Much of the violence carried out by the Baloch separatists is seen as a reaction by Baloch militants to China's investment plans in the region that envisage linking its Xinjiang Province with the Arabian Sea through a network of roads and railways.



Islamabad and Beijing are longtime allies, and Sharif is also expected to discuss security issues while on his visit.



Sharif, on his first visit to China since taking office in April, will also seek some debt relief from China, in particular the rolling over of bilateral debt, according to media reports.



Chinese loans -- estimated at around $23 billion -- make up the largest part of Pakistan's $27 billion of bilateral debt.



Pakistan had been struggling with a balance of payments crisis even before devastating floods hit the country over the summer, causing it an estimated $30 billion or more in losses.



Pakistan has indicated previously that it will seek bilateral debt relief to lessen its balance of payment problems, but it hasn't made any official announcement on whether it will formally ask Beijing for such help.



Pakistan's central bank reserves have fallen to as low as $7.4 billion, barely enough for 1 1/2 months of imports.

With reporting by Reuters and dpa
By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

Climate change leads to an increase in wildfires throughout the globe. In recent years, forest fires have also been on the rise in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing IDEA Public Union.

This season, wildfires took place in different parts of the country, including Shabran, Siyazan, Guba, Khachmaz, Gabala, Oghuz, and Zagatala.

IDEA Public Union and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources have started a new planting campaign on post-fire forest regeneration to revive the affected forest areas.

The first planting event within the campaign took place today in Shabran, where volunteers planted thousands of oak, beech, walnut, maple, elm, sycamore, linden, ash, and acacia trees and seeds on a 2-hectare area.

The organizers of the campaign are calling on everyone to protect forests, which are an irreplaceable life-support system, and to strive for a sustainable future for the country and the whole planet.

Forests in Azerbaijan mainly cover the slopes of the Great Caucasus, Minor Caucasus, and Talysh Mountains and account for 11.8 percent of the country's area.

Hyrcanian box tree, Caucasian pear, Caucasian oak, European ash, Oriental hornbeam, velvet maple, sweet chestnut, and many others are among some endemic tree species growing in local forests.

The country is home to many parks including Goygol National Park, Shahdag National Park, Absheron National Park, Hirkan National Park, Ag-Gol National Park, etc.

Some 185,522 tourists have visited the national parks throughout the summer months. The largest number of tourists was registered in Goygol, Shahdag, and Absheron national parks.
More than 20 El Paso County residents on Tuesday publicly called for hand counts of local ballots just one week ahead of Colorado's Nov. 8 general election.

During the regular county commissioners meeting, residents repeated disputed claims that mail-in balloting is fraudulent and said they did not trust the county's election process. Many called for major reforms, including a return to one-day voting with valid identification and a return to hand-counting ballots.

Colorado has been conducting mail-in elections since 2013.

"We want to trust the election system. We don't," resident Steve Spencer told commissioners.

Some speakers  including former Senate District 9 candidate Lynda Zamora Wilson, one of several GOP candidates who lost in the local primary election and requested discretionary recounts  repeated allegations that during the recount of the June 28 primary election in El Paso County a canvass board failed to follow statutory requirements to compare, during an accuracy test, the manual count of ballots with the machine count.

Zamora Wilson was one of seven GOP candidates, most from El Paso County, who in August filed a lawsuit in Denver District Court alleging specifically that election officials did not "compare the manual count of those ballots with the results of machine count that was tabulated by each of the chosen voting devices in the primary election." The suit named El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Chuck Broerman and Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold as defendants.

Broerman did not respond to those claims during the public meeting Tuesday, but in previous interviews with The Gazette called the lawsuit "categorically false in every way imaginable."

The Secretary of State's Office, he previously said, sets the criteria for the tests completed on the ballot tabulating machines ahead of an election and recounts. Broerman has said his office followed that criteria "to the letter."

The Secretary of State's Office has also said the lawsuit was "without merit."

A Denver District Court judge ultimately dismissed the case in late August. In September, the Colorado Supreme Court declined to hear the plaintiffs' appeal of the Denver court's decision.

Broerman on Tuesday called El Paso County's elections "secure," and commissioners encouraged residents to publicly inspect ballots kept on record in the Clerk and Recorder's Office.

His office digitally scans each ballot and per state law makes them available to residents for inspection while also maintaining voter anonymity, Broerman said. Residents can schedule a two-hour timeslot with his office to review a sampling of paper ballots and conduct their own hand-tallies, he said.

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"I do think people have the best trust in looking at an actual printed ballot, not something thats been (photocopied)," Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez said before volunteering to help review ballots at the clerk's office.

Commission Chairman Stan VanderWerf also said residents who are concerned about voter fraud can bring their concerns to the Fourth Judicial District Attorney's Office, which has a designated voter fraud investigator.

Broerman said about 56,000 people had returned completed ballots in El Paso County as of Monday. His office expects about 60%, or around 270,000, of the county's approximately 465,000 active registered voters to participate in this year's election, he said.

Of the ballots that have been returned so far, 38% are from Republican voters, 24% are from Democratic voters and 35% are from unaffiliated voters, Broerman said.

The Clerk and Recorders Office must receive ballots by 7 p.m. Nov. 8. Ballots postmarked after the deadline will not be counted.

Broerman said Tuesday it is now too late to return completed ballots by mail. Voters must now return their ballots at drop boxes or in person at a voter service and polling center through 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Five voter service and polling centers are open in El Paso County through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Monday and Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Seventeen additional voter service and polling centers will open across the county beginning Friday, Broerman said. All 37 of the county's voter service and polling centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday.

For a full list of El Paso County ballot drop box and voter service and polling center locations and operating hours, visit epcvotes.com and click on the "2022 Elections" tab.

Broerman has previously said only voters who need in-person services should use a voter center. Their primary use is for registering new voters and issuing ballots to those who did not receive one in the mail. The centers also offer ballot marking devices for people with disabilities, he said.

The clerk also said residents should not "wait until the last minute" to vote. El Paso County's Nov. 8 ballot is the largest in 34 years, Broerman said. Residents who are voting on Election Day should expect to take, on average, 15 to 20 minutes to complete their ballot, he said.

Residents can visit the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder's website at epcvotes.com for more information. They may also call 719-575-8683 or email elections@elpasoco.com with questions, Broerman said.

Click here to read The Gazette's 2022 Colorado General Election Voter Guide
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (Adib), a leading Islamic financial institution, has launched instant fund tranfers from the UAE to recipients in India.

The service is available 24/7 and allows customers to use their mobile application or internet banking to make transfers without the need to withdraw cash or visit a transfer office. Customers also receive updates and notifications, including an optional receipt for confirming delivery of the funds.

The service was launched in partnership with SWIFT, a financial messaging services provider, and ICICI, an Indian clearing bank. The partnership links SWIFTs Global Payments Innovation (gpi) to Adib and ICICIs local infrastructure. It eliminates delays, provides a fast, secure, and convenient way to transfer funds.

SWIFT gpi Instant

Previously, cross-border fund transfers would often be delayed when being processed by the local clearing infrastructure. The introduction of SWIFT gpi Instant eliminates these delays, providing a fast, secure, and convenient way to transfer funds.

The UAE is the second largest remittance sender in the world, while India is the largest recipient of remittances. With over 3.5million Indian citizens working in the UAE, the initiative targets a key country for UAE remittances.

Samih Awadhalla, Acting Global Head of Retail Banking Group said: UAE is considered one of the largest remittance senders to India, with most remittance going through non-bank providers. This initiative allows Adib to efficiently capture a greater share of the growing remittance market and enhance our customers experience.

Digital transformation

With this new launch, Adib strengthens its commitment towards digital transformation and innovation and cements its status as the preferred financial partner in the UAE. Our partnership with SWIFT and ICICI Bank is in line with the Banks overall strategy of helping customers and supporting them through ease of automation, convenience, and safety. It also demonstrates our focus on leveraging new evolving technologies and opportunities, offering customers with feature-rich digital payments and remittance services.

The SWIFT gpi Instant service between UAE and India is the latest to demonstrate how banks can leverage gpi to deliver instant account to account payments and open new services and markets. This follows a similar initiative in the UK, which is delivering cross-border payments via gpi into the domestic Faster Payments System. SWIFT has also run pilots with market infrastructures in Australia, Singapore, Europe and Malaysia, and we are in discussions with market infrastructures in other locations as well, said Sido Bestani, Managing Director, Middle East Africa and Indian subcontinent.

Sriram H Iyer, Head - International Banking Group, ICICI Bank said: ICICI Bank has been a dominant player in inward remittances to India, the largest recipient of cross-border remittances in the world. We were the first bank in Asia-Pacific to go live with the SWIFT gpi Instant solution last year, which helps overseas partner banks to send instant remittances on behalf of their customers to the beneficiary in India.

Enhanced convenience

Under the partnership with Adib, ICICI Bank receives the inward remittance request, being sent by Adib via SWIFT gpi Instant, and processes it instantly. This service is part of our endeavour to offer enhanced convenience to customers, enabling them with quick and hassle-free money transfers.

Over the last three years, Adib has made significant investments in strategic technology initiatives to make banking more convenient for its customers. This includes initiating a comprehensive re-architecture of the banks technology as well as investing in advanced analytics and machine learning services to help customers make more informed financial decisions.-- TradeArabia News Service
UAE developer Union Properties has reported a net profit of AED825,000 for the third quarter, compared to a net loss of AED31 million last year, thanks to its turnaround strategy that continues to show positive results with good progress on cost efficiencies.

Announcing its consolidated financial results for the ninemonth and three-month period ended September 30, 2022, Union Properties said revenue from contracts with customers increased by 3% to AED101 million in Q3 2022, compared to the same period last year as the groups subsidiaries delivered healthy performance improvements that were supported by strong market dynamics in the UAEs real estate sector.

Operating profit in the nine month period increased significantly to AED7.1 million, from a loss of AED39.9 million in the same period last year.

On the results, Amer Khansaheb, Board Member and Managing Director, said: "We have maintained our strong growth trajectory in the third quarter building on the positive momentum in the first six months of 2022. We are continuing to see the positive benefits of our business Turnaround Strategy and remain confident that we will see further progress in the months ahead."

"We remain focused on driving growth and delivering cost efficiencies, particularly at a subsidiary level. Looking ahead, we are cautiously optimistic as we explore several development options that we expect to generate long term value for our investors," noted Khansaheb.

Union Properties said it continues to make strong progress in the execution of its turnaround strategy during the quarter delivering significant cost efficiencies.

Administrative and general expenses declined by 50% year-on-year to AED 16.8 million in Q3 2022, and by 39% to AED 54 million in 9M 2022, compared to the same period last year, it stated.

The continued efficiency and productivity achieved across the business builds on the momentum from recent major milestones, including the successful completion of the AED595 million debt restructuring plan and subsidiary ServeU being awarded 58 new contracts worth AED 270 million.

The company remains focused on reducing the overall level of debt in the business, said Khansaheb.

Managements focus on efficiency has enabled Union Properties to preserve its book value at AED1.9 billion, equivalent to AED 0.446 per share, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Monday was not a typical day for one Franklin County school district.

Coulter-Alexander-Latimer (CAL) Elementary School had the chance to show off its CAL Elementary Learning Lab, also known as CELL, to Gov. Kim Reynolds. The space is considered by some to be the "heart of the school" and offers students a variety of STEM opportunities.

"It's kind of just the space where kids can come and be innovative," said innovation and instructional technology teacher Kelsey Enslin. "They can be engineers, they can be designers. They can just be creative and learn and code things and build things."

Reynolds' STEM Advisory Council offers STEM Scale-Up grants annually, which alllows preK-12 educators applying for specific programs. Programs range from building robots to conducting agricultural field experiences and learning about science, technology, engineering and math careers, according to the Governor's STEM Advisory Council website.

To secure an award requires serious commitment, like sending teachers to receive training. Such commitment may be rewarded with a grant to purchase technology like drones or robots, according to CAL Principal Abby Meyer.

Meyer says CAL has taken advantage of the opportunity for several years and has received almost every award the district sought. All of that technology is utilized in the CELL space on a regular basis.

"Basically [the money] goes into giving our kids more opportunities to code, design, and do engineering projects," said Enslin.

"It's really how can we use this in the curriculum. We can always write grants for things we want, but to have that extra support and that professional development and how do we use it is a huge bonus as well," Meyer said.

The school's commitment to STEM led to hosting a visit for the governor.

Students were excited for the governor's visit, although some didn't fully understand who Reynolds is. Some kids compared the governor to a principal, but for the entire state of Iowa.

"I was probably more nervous than them, wanting to make sure we got across [everything]," said Enslin. "I wanted it to make an impression and have her remember."

Enslin was the main guide for Reynolds as she toured the CELL space. Different areas were set up so students from every grade could tell the governor about the technology they were using.

Students gave demonstrations on how to use the technology, sprinkling in some of the new science terms they have learned this year during their presentations. Reynolds watched the children's presentation and asked questions.

"I love to see her down with the kids and talking to them and asking them questions and listening to their responses, because they could answer a lot of her questions. I thought that was pretty impressive, and that kind of shows that we're not just throwing a bunch of robots at the kiddos," said Meyer.

"It feels like a proud-parent moment when they're up there shining," Enslin said.
Steve ONeil, a 27-year veteran in emergency management, will retire from his position as Cerro Gordo County emergency management coordinator at the end of the year.

Its definitely a unique job, ONeil said.

Its a salaried position, and state code says a full-time coordinator must average 32 hours minimum a week, ONeil said with a chuckle. Yeah, thatd be nice. Theres no such thing as fixed hours." During the Mason City floods of 2008 he worked for 72 hours straight.

He started as a firefighter with the Manly Fire Department more than 35 years ago. He eventually became fire chief, and later interviewed with the Worth County Board of Supervisors to head the newly created emergency management department.

I didnt really even have an inkling what it was. I mean, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) was still just kind of getting its feet going, and a lot of things were developing, ONeil said.

He served as emergency management coordinator in Worth County for five years before accepting the position as dual coordinator for Franklin and Cerro Gordo Counties in January 2001. ONeil said 2008 was a really difficult year since both his counties were affected by flood and he couldnt give 100% to both. The counties eventually split the job, and he stayed with Cerro Gordo.

His job is to make plans to prevent disasters from becoming emergencies, prepare people for what to do when there is an emergency, and then plan the recovery to get the community back to the way it was or better.

And if I do it right, when its all said and done, nobody even knows I was even involved, ONeil said.

His favorite part of the job is meeting people, and that is the thing he will miss the most. He worked with governors Terry Branstad and Tom Vilsack, and met Gov. Kim Reynolds a few times. He was excited about meeting President George W. Bush.

"I dont care about politics, but when I met the president of the United States and I got to work with these Secret Service people as part of setting up the security -- how many jobs do you get to do that?"

In his final month on the job, he will use unspent vacation time to take December off. He hasn't decided what he will do next. He said he has received a lot of offers to be a consultant or a planner for emergency command and emergency management.

"I just want to take the first month or two and adjust to not having a 24/7 job," O'Neil said.

He says he is leaving the job in good hands. Eric Whipple, former Charles City fire chief, will be the new Emergency Management Agency director beginning Nov. 14. O'Neil will work with him for a few weeks and be on call to answer questions for another month.

"He will have a set program required by the state ... but he will take this office and go his direction. He will build emergency management based on where he wants to take it and what the community wants to do," O'Neil said.

This story has been updated to correct the name of O'Neil's replacement.
An Orchard woman is facing up to 40 years in prison after being accused of stealing more than $21,000 from her Charles City employer over the past 10 years.

According to court records, 59-year-old Theresa Ann Farmer has been charged with ongoing criminal conduct, first-degree theft and unauthorized use of credit cards in Floyd County.

The records state Farmer stole the money starting in 2012 and ending this year from Eggert, Erb, & Ellingson law firm. At least some of the money was allegedly stolen by unauthorized use of company credit cards.

A warrant for Farmer's arrest was issued Oct. 7 and she was taken into custody by Floyd County sheriff's deputies Oct. 15. She posted a $40,000 cash bond the following day. A preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 28 was waived and no other court dates have been set.
GREENSBORO  The Womens Resource Center is holding a job fair Wednesday.

Women 18 and older are invited to meet with employers who are hiring now, the nonprofit said in a news release. The job fair starts at 9:30 a.m. at 628 Summit Ave.

Those who attend will also learn about job readiness and job training programs at the center, as well as programming available through Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina.

The job fair features companies that are actively hiring: First Choice Personnel, BG MULTIFAMILY, RegO Products and Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina.

Find out more about the resource center's free programs by contacting Hope Strickland, director of community education and engagement, at 336-275-6090, Ext. 213 or Hope@womenscentergso.org.




November 1, 2022



Media Contact:

Chase Cook, Acting Director, Office of Communications, 410-767-8649

PHOTO RELEASE: Maryland Department of Health announces $1 million for Vision for Baltimore partnership

Baltimore, MD  The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) today announced $1 million in funding for the Vision for Baltimore partnership to provide 8,000 vision screenings to elementary and middle school students at 62 public schools in Baltimore by the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

The announcement came during a celebration of 10,000 pairs of glasses given away through a partnership with the Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore City Public Schools, Johns Hopkins University, nonprofit provider Vision To Learn, and lifestyle brand Warby Parker.

MDH Minority Health and Health Disparities Director Dr. Mark Martin addresses students, staff, and guests at Vision for Baltimore partnership event, held at Ft. Worthington Elementary/Middle School.



Launched in 2016, Vision for Baltimore ensures elementary and middle school students across Baltimore receive glasses, regardless of a familys ability to pay.

Vision To Learn National Operations Director Wade Brown and MDH Minority Health and Health Disparities Director Dr. Mark Martin present a new prescribed pair of glasses to a Baltimore City student

Families with lower incomes are less likely to have preventive care, said MDH Minority Health and Health Disparities Director Dr. Mark Martin. Barriers to essential services like vision screenings, eye exams, and prescription glasses significantly affect a students ability to learn. This new funding will continue a tremendous benefit to students and families, providing access to resources where the child already is  in the school building  in the heart of the community in Baltimore.

MDHs Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (MHHD) has a mission to achieve health equity where all individuals and communities have the opportunity and access to achieve and maintain good health. To learn more, visit MHHD.

MDHs Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) has a mission to reduce health inequities and improve the health and wellbeing of all individuals, families, and communities in Maryland. To learn more, visit MCHB.

###

The Maryland Department of Health is dedicated to protecting and improving the health and safety of all Marylanders through disease prevention, access to care, quality management and community engagement.

Follow us at

http://www.twitter.com/MDHealthDept

and at

Facebook.com/MDHealthDept

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With a week left until Election Day, 28% of registered voters in Montana have already cast mail-in ballots, representing less than half of the ballots that were sent to voters last month.

Turnout this year is widely expected to be lower than recent federal elections. For the first midterm election since 2010, Montana voters won't see a U.S. Senate candidate on the ballot.

Statewide turnout in the 2020 general election was 81% of registered voters, the highest figure since 1972, according to records maintained by the Montana Secretary of State. In 2018 that figure was nearly 72%, but that election also featured a U.S. Senate campaign that was the most expensive in the states history.

Still, turnout this year could see a boost from the increased attention on abortion rights since the Dobbs decision earlier this year and a sustained bump in partisan polarization, said Carroll College political science professor Jeremy Johnson.

I believe well have an even higher turnout than in 14 because politics has generated more excitement in some ways, Johnson said.

At the top of the ballot this year are races for Congress  Montanans will be choosing two members of the U.S. House for the first time since 1990  and a state Supreme Court race that has already toppled records for political spending.

Despite an unusual amount of attention on the judicial race, Johnson said hes not sure it will generate higher turnout on its own. But turnout could be affected substantially by which side of a congressional district line a county lies in. While favoring the GOP candidate, the western district race has been far more competitive and expensive than the solidly Republican eastern district, which has generated very little spending by comparison.

Generally, the more money is spent, the higher the turnout, Johnson said.  Were not seeing that in the eastern congressional district.

This election cycle marks the first time that Gallatin County has overtaken Missoula County to have the second-most registered voters in the state, after Yellowstone County.

Yet Gallatin County lags well behind Missoula in the number of absentee ballots returned, according to data updated Tuesday by the Secretary of States office. Just 33% of ballots had been received by the elections office in Bozeman, compared to a statewide average of 42%.

A slowdown in mail deliveries by the U.S. Postal Service in the Bozeman area may be to blame, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle previously reported. The sporadic delivery has been due in part to staffing issues.

Gallatin County Clerk and Recorder Eric Semerad said Tuesday that he had confirmed with USPS that 25 temporary postal workers have been transferred in from out-of-state to help with the backlog.

Im feeling the same pain that they are, as is every business in Bozeman, Semerad said. Its a tough hiring environment.

He said he wasnt sure whether the USPS issues were responsible for the countys lagging turnout figures, but encouraged anyone who hasnt yet mailed their ballot to turn it in in person at their local elections office.

We always get ballots delivered to us after Election Day and we cannot count them, he said. Theyre rejected because theyre too late to count. I would say, do not put a ballot in the mail, for anybody anywhere in this state. That time has passed.
The first cholera outbreak in nearly three decades in Lebanon was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Ministry of Public Health on October 6, 2022 and is currently spreading to every governorate in the country.

Since the first case was confirmed on October 5, over 1,400 suspected cases have been reported across the country, including 381 laboratory-confirmed cases and 17 deaths, WHO said.

While the outbreak was initially confined to northern districts, it rapidly spread, with laboratory-confirmed cases now reported from all eight governorates and 18 out of 26 districts. Serotype Vibrio cholerae O1 El-Tor Ogawa was identified as the currently circulating cholera strain, similar to the one circulating in Syria.

Cholera is deadly, but its also preventable through vaccines and access to safe water and sanitation. It can be easily treated with timely oral rehydration or antibiotics for more severe cases, says Dr Abdinasir Abubakar, WHO Representative in Lebanon.

The situation in Lebanon is fragile as the country already struggles to fight other crises  compounded by prolonged political and economic deterioration.

WHO is joining with the Ministry of Public Health and other health partners to curb the evolving cholera outbreak. For instance, WHO and other humanitarian partners have supported the ministry to develop a national cholera preparedness and response plan, outlining the most urgent response interventions required, while scaling up surveillance and active case-finding in hotspot areas.

Given the shortage of both health staff and medical supplies in the country, WHO has provided the two reference laboratories, three prisons and 12 hospitals designated for cholera treatment with laboratory reagents, treatment kits and rapid diagnostic tests, and deployed nurses and doctors as surge capacity to hospitals in the most affected areas.

The procurement and prepositioning of additional cholera supplies are being also finalized.

Additionally, WHO is ensuring that proper clinical management practices, infection prevention and control, and cholera testing protocols are in place for the adequate referral of cases to the needed level of care. Over the past few weeks, WHO has supported a series of training sessions at central and peripheral levels to improve the early detection and reporting of suspected cases, enhance clinical management and raise awareness among the public and frontline health workers on cholera prevention and control.

Despite global shortages in cholera vaccine, WHO is supporting the Ministry of Public Health to secure 600,000 doses of cholera vaccine for the most vulnerable populations, including frontline workers, prisoners, refugees and their host communities. Additional efforts to ensure more doses are ongoing given the rapid spread of the outbreak.

The vulnerability of people in Lebanon is being exacerbated by the prolonged difficult economic conditions and limited access to clean water and proper sanitation across the country. The migration of health care workers, disrupted supply chains and unaffordable energy supply have severely weakened the response capacity of hospitals and primary health care facilities, which are now threatened by the growing outbreak and increasing caseloads.

There is still an opportunity to limit the spread and impact of the outbreak by intensifying response interventions, including improving water and sanitation quality. We also need to raise awareness on how to prevent cholera infection so that we can lift the pressure off hospitals. The best way to prevent a cholera outbreak is to ensure people have access to clean water and appropriate sanitation and hygiene. In the long term, we need to scale up global vaccine availability as part of a holistic strategy to prevent and stop cholera outbreaks worldwide, Dr Abubakar emphasised. -TradeArabia News Service
Many small, rural and tribal schools in Montana will receive improved access to basic mental health services through a partnership made possible by a federal grant.

The partnership between the Western Montana Professional Learning Collaborative, a nonprofit that provides professional development opportunities for educators, and the Montana Small Schools Alliance, will also provide rural schools with violence prevention tools.

There is a strong and growing need to improve and provide equitable school-based mental health support and other resources to prevent school violence and mental health concerns in rural settings, said Jessica Johnson with the Western Montana Professional Learning Collaborative.

According to results from the 2021 Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey, about 22% of high school students surveyed seriously considered attempting suicide in the last year, and nearly 42% of students indicated they felt sad or hopeless for two weeks or more. Additionally, about 8.9% of students carried a gun on them on more than one day in the last 12 months, outside of using the gun for hunting or sport.

Nearly 17,000 students from 98% of Montanas schools between grades 7-12 participated in the survey conducted by the Office of Public Instruction during the 2020-2021 school year.

Students are being trained to run, hide or fight for their lives at school, Johnson said. We must focus on a continued dialogue on improving student wellness with a stronger focus on prevention. With this federal grant, we will look to meet critical needs in rural, tribal and frontier schools to better support our students.

Of the 150 school districts who are members of the Montana Small Schools Alliance, 120 of them are operating without a single credentialed school counselor, according to a description of the project on the Bureau of Justice Assistances website. As a result, one of the schools teachers has to take on additional training in school counseling to fulfill those duties on top of their responsibilities as an educator.

The $999,999 grant was awarded to the nonprofits from the Bureau of Justice Assistances STOP School Violence Program through the Department of Justice. With the grant funding the partnership aims to serve nearly 150 schools in Montana through mental health assessments, counseling services and improved content and curriculum.

The grant will also fund e-therapy assessments and treatment, direct access to CrisisTextLine, a mental health texting service, and will fund a full-time credentialed school counselor to serve as the Mental Health Resource Navigator.

These added resources to rural schools, who often struggle with hiring counseling staff or contracting services for student mental health issues, come at a time when many districts across the state are facing new challenges with providing their own programs.

Recent legislative changes to Comprehensive School and Community Treatment (CSCT) programs in Montana caused administrative headaches for many school districts and anxieties about funding those services in the future. CSCT programs connect students with severe mental health needs to support during the school day, in their homes or in the community.

The changes moved the program from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services to the Office of Public Instruction, and affected how school districts pay for their third of the services. Previously, districts could pay their share by contributing classroom space or laptops. With the new rules, they must pay in cash.

When the program was moved, lawmakers gave the OPI $2.2 million to bridge the funding gap for schools, which expired at the end of December 2021.

Prior to the legislative changes, 84 districts contracted mental health services through CSCT programs. Just 10 school districts signed agreements to receive some reimbursement from the federal government for their CSCT programs days ahead of a deadline in February.

Because of the changes some districts opted to scale back their CSCT offerings or eliminate their programs entirely and instead transferred students to outpatient therapy.
DECATUR  Albert E. Tillman, facing multiple charges that allege he was involved in shooting and weapons crime in Decatur, told a judge Tuesday he wasnt interested in a plea deal that would send him to prison for a minimum of 12 years and a maximum of 15.

The offer worked out with prosecutors was outlined in Macon County Circuit Court by Tillmans public defender, Caleb Brown.

The attorney told Judge Jeffrey Geisler that it was the last offer his client was going to get.

(Assistant Macon County States Attorney Tammy Wagoner) has indicated that if the offer is not accepted today, that it will not be available any more going forward, Brown explained.

Brown said Tillman was hoping he could hire a private lawyer or was even considering trying to defend himself.

Geisler double checked that is what Tillman, 26, wants to do and was told that was correct. The judge then scheduled one of the charges against the defendant  being an armed habitual criminal  for jury trial Jan. 9.

You certainly can retain a private attorney if you want, but I would strongly suggest if you are going to do that, dont wait until the last minute because that attorney may not get a continuance (delay in proceedings) if he enters his appearance, Geisler warned Tillman.

The charge that Tillman will be tried on relates to a vehicle stop by Decatur police on Sept. 24, 2021. Tillman was a passenger and a sworn affidavit said officers discovered a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol tucked underneath the rear car seat holding a 2-year-old child.

Police said they had been looking for the car because it was the suspect vehicle in a shooting two days earlier on Sept. 22. In that case a gunman, later identified as Tillman, is accused of trailing a juvenile female leaving Richland Community College and firing five shots at her car, one of which punctured a tire.

Tillman faces an additional armed habitual criminal charge and a further charge alleging the aggravated discharge of a weapon relating to that incident. Geisler said he was scheduling this case for a status hearing on the same date as the trial.

Court records show Tillman was on probation at the time of his arrest, having been sentenced to 4 years in prison in January of 2020 after pleading guilty to a charge of possession of weapons by a felon. He also has a previous conviction for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and is not allowed to possess a firearm.

Tillman remains held in the Macon County Jail with bail set at $350,000, requiring him to post a bond of $35,000 to be released.
Its not an exaggeration to say that our democracy and the integrity of our elections are on the line Nov. 8. Heres an excerpt from Fred Wertheimers article Election deniers could throw our democracy into chaos, available on the internet.

Former President Trumps continuous false claim, without a shred of evidence, that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him was only the beginning of a nationwide effort to discredit the integrity of our elections." Trumps attacks spawned Republican clones in Congress and around the country who became known as election deniers.

A new Washington Post report found that a majority of Republican nominees on the ballot this November for the House, Senate, and key statewide offices  299 in all  have denied or questioned the outcome of the last presidential election.

These candidates have already demonstrated an unwillingness to accept the true results of an election.

Any number of election deniers may win seats that put them in position to attempt to rig the 2024 presidential election in favor of the Republican nominee.

And any number of election deniers who lose their races next month may well follow in Trumps footsteps and refuse to accept the results, charging without any basis that their elections were stolen.

This could create the greatest attack in our history on the legitimacy of our elections.

The fact that election deniers around the country are running for office is just part of Trumps destructive legacy.

There are reports of actual or threatened harassment of election workers and poll watchers around the country stemming from Trumps Big Lie.

On election day we must vote to defeat the GOP.

Ron Adams, Decatur
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Thunder possible. Low 63F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Thunder possible. Low 63F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Hickory and Catawba County have received their first payments from a settlement with opioid companies. The initial decision over how funds will be spent could come as soon as the next few months.

Catawba County has received two initial payments totaling nearly $1.1 million, Catawba County Communications and Marketing Director Amy McCauley said. Hickory Communications Specialist Sarah Killian said the city has received almost $26,600 so far.

These funds are proceeds from the $26 billion settlement the state reached with drug distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen and manufacturer Johnson & Johnson in 2021.

North Carolina is set to get $750 million of that total, the vast majority of which will be disbursed to county and municipal governments.

A dashboard tracking the settlement payments to local governments shows different figures for the amounts distributed to local governments so far  almost $513,000 for Catawba County and nearly $23,500 for Hickory.

A note included with the dashboard specifies the payment schedule is based on information available to the North Carolina Department of Justice in the spring and could change.

How much money should county expect?

The dashboard lists Catawba County as receiving a total of more than $13.3 million between now and 2038. Hickory is set to get $611,000 in that same time period, according to the dashboard.

Those numbers are in line with the amounts North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein promised when he visited the Hickory Police Department in April.

That money will be split up into annual payments. For the county, those payments will range from about $589,000 to a little more than $1.1 million. Hickorys annual disbursements will range from about $27,000 to $50,700.

Where will the money go?

Funds from the settlement must go to responding to the opioid epidemic and its effects but local governments will have the ability to make decisions about where that money will go.

McCauley said the county will be looking at how to spend the money in the coming months.

Regarding Hickorys plans, Killian said: Plans for the opioid funds have not been finalized at this time; that will be determined during the next budget cycle.

The city conducts budget planning throughout much of the year, with the final proposed budget released in late spring and voted on by council in June. The new budget would go into effect on July 1.

The state and local governments have signed onto a memorandum of agreement which outlines two processes local governments can use for spending the settlement funds.

The first, called Option A, allows for the local government to direct funding to programs specifically listed in the agreement, including addiction treatment, housing and employment programs for people in recovery, Naloxone distribution and law enforcement diversion programs.

Under Option B, local governments would be able to choose from a longer list of programs and initiatives provided the local government conducts a collaborative strategic planning process in which the local government engages stakeholders.

The list of stakeholders would include health care and social services providers, educators, business leaders, law enforcement and people struggling with addiction and their families.

Local governments adopting Option B would be required to appoint an individual or group as a facilitator for the process. The planning process would end with a report and set of recommendations submitted to the city council or board of commissioners.

Some prominent individuals working to address the opioid problem in the community, including Michelle Mathis of Olive Branch Ministry and Tim Lentz of Catawba Valley Healthcare, have voiced support for a collaborative approach.

The most significant program for local governments at this point is the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Program, which allows people facing low-level drug offenses to undergo a treatment program instead of being prosecuted.

LEAD is a partnership of six local law enforcement agencies, including the Hickory Police Department and Catawba County Sheriffs Office as well as District Attorney Scott Reillys Office, Partners Health Management and Catawba Valley Healthcare.

Hickory Police Maj. Reed Baer has pointed to promising results for the program. In April, he said 57% of the people who stayed in the program had not gotten in trouble again.
As for the cause of Merrick's deformities, the explanation is still somewhat of a mystery. He himself reportedly believed that his physical characteristics were a result of his mother's encounter with an elephant, but experts originally thought they were caused by elephantiasis. Now, scientists believe Merrick suffered from an extremely severe case of neurofibromatosis and/or a rare disease called Proteus syndrome.

In 1884, Merrick made a life-changing decision. "He decided to check himself out [of the workhouse] in order to put himself on display as a 'freak,'" Durbach says. Merrick reached out to Sam Torr, the proprietor of a Leicester music hall called the Gaiety Palace of Varieties. Soon, Torr was exhibiting Merrick as "The Elephant Man, Half-Man, Half-Elephant" and he achieved great local success before moving his act to London. To avoid harassment in public, Merrick often donned a cape and veil to conceal his appearance.

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"I am interested in him because he deliberately chose to exhibit himself as a 'freak' because he felt that this was a form of labor and he preferred honest work and earning his own living and the independence that provided to charity or government welfare," Durbach says.

A surgeon named Frederick Treves came across Merrick's story and invited him to visit his hospital for an examination. At that point, Merrick's head had grown to a circumference of 36 inches (90 centimeters) and his right wrist measured 12 inches (30 centimeters) around. He had tumors covering his entire body and now exclusively walked with a cane, but Treves found he was otherwise in good health. Treves presented Merrick to the Pathological Society of London and asked him to come back to the hospital for more exams. But Merrick refused. He later said the experience made him feel like "an animal in a cattle market."

"Merrick was a very independent and intelligent young man," Vigor-Mungovin says. "No one forced him into exhibiting himself  this was his decision. He could either live out his days in the bleak, grim, harsh Leicester Union Workhouse, or go out there and make a life for himself. Merrick chose life."

" " A photograph of Joseph Merrick shows the severe bodily deformities that were caused by his disease. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty

Merrick relocated and tried to find success in Belgium, but he was taken advantage of by an unscrupulous manager there, who robbed him of his life savings and abandoned him. The sum that was stolen from him was considerable, indicating that he had been able to make a decent living and find some success. By June 1886, Merrick was able to find a passenger ship back to England, where he was subsequently deemed "incurable" by doctors at the London Hospital. The chairman of the hospital, Francis Carr-Gomm, published a letter in The Times describing Merrick's case and requesting assistance. The letter garnered an outpouring of financial donations, which Merrick was able to use for housing through the remainder of his life.

Merrick's condition, however, continued to worsen, and on April 11, 1890, he was found dead at age 27, lying flat on his back in bed. Because of the size of his head, he'd spent the majority of life sleeping upright, resting his head against his knees. "I think that people should understand that it is highly likely that Merrick committed suicide," Durbach says. "It appears that he requested to be released from the hospital so that he could return to the show world, but his support network outside the hospital was repeatedly denied access to him. There is really no better explanation for his death than he understood that lying flat would lead to his death."

Durbach says Merrick was also very likely keenly aware of his fate. "The most interesting thing about Merrick is that he understood that after his death, he would become an anatomical specimen for display by the hospital that had claimed to give him refuge," Durbach says. "He used to talk about ending up 'in a huge bottle of alcohol,' indicating that he believed that the hospital was not really that different from the freak show."

While many accounts claim Treves was Merrick's close friend and confidante (he even wrote a book about him), Durbach says that likely wasn't the case. "Treves didn't even remember that his name was Joseph, calling him 'John' in his memoirs," she says. "Thus I don't think Treves knew him that well or cared much for him."

When Merrick died, the hospital declared that there would be no post mortem, but it did take tissue samples and made body casts, presenting one to the Royal College of Surgeons, "presumably for installation in the Hunterian Museum alongside the remains of 'the Irish Giant' and the 'the Sicilian Fairy,'" Dubach says. "Thomas Horrocks Openshaw, the pathological specimens curator at the London Medical College's Pathological Museum, then stripped the body of its flesh and boiled down the bones for articulation, as the House Committee had decided that the skeleton should be set up in the College Museum." Merrick's solitary life was capped by an impersonal, unceremonious end in which an undertaker removed his remaining flesh and internal organs and buried them in an unmarked grave.

"If Treves and the hospital cared for Merrick, why did they not bury his remains in a marked grave instead of disposing of them in this cheap way?" Durbach says. "I think they just saw him as a pathological specimen."
A recent article in the Southern California Law Review by Adam Chilton, Daniel Epps, Kyle Rozema, and Maya Sen  professors of law and/or public policy at the University of Chicago, Washington University, and Harvard, respectively  analyzes several of the leading proposals for Supreme Court term limits.

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The writers focus on both practical and ideological implications of the suggested reforms. They show, for example, that if the switchover to term-limited justices began as soon as the law was changed, it would take an average of 16 years for the transition to be complete. By contrast, proposals that would not kick in until all incumbent justices have left the court could take as long as 69 years to phase in.

The authors note that moving away from SCOTUS life tenure would hardly be an unprecedented change. In a section of the article that explores whether term-limited justices would be apt to change their voting patterns as they neared the end of their period on the bench, they observe that lifetime tenure is not the norm elsewhere. "Almost every US state and many other countries have courts of last resort that use term limits or age limits for justices," they write. "To the extent that the final-period problem is real and significant, we could expect to see it emerge in these other judicial systems. Yet, there is little if any evidence from these judicial systems supporting the claim that term limits negatively affect judicial behavior."

In a column for Politico, another law professor makes the case that ending lifetime appointments for SCOTUS justices "would reduce the political incentives (not to mention the rancor) surrounding retirements, appointments, and the confirmation process." Jeffrey Fisher, who teaches at Stanford Law School, not only agrees that the Constitution should be amended to replace the current arrangement with staggered 18-year terms, but believes such a change would draw bipartisan support.

Today, nearly every Supreme Court vacancy triggers an apocalyptic battle. Thanks to our era's long lifespans and the vast power wielded by the high court  neither of which could have been foreseen by the framers of the Constitution  the stakes in filling every vacancy are enormous. Once a justice is confirmed, he or she is likely to remain on the bench well past the age at which most Americans retire.

But Senate battles over judicial nominations wouldn't be so bitter if the consequences of losing weren't likely to persist for decades. Under the most frequently discussed reform proposal, a justice would leave the court every two years and a new one would be appointed.

As Fisher puts it, "a system under which election to the presidency automatically carries with it two Supreme Court appointments would make such nominations seem less momentous  and, thus, less cause for extreme political machinations."

I have argued that vacancies on the high court ought to become routine, not once-in-a-blue-moon rarities that turn into battles to the death. The court's ideological composition ought to shift as the nation shifts. Just as presidents come and go on a predictable schedule, Supreme Court justices should too.

It isn't only pundits and law school professors who think so. Back in 2016, Justice Stephen Breyer publicly expressed support for limiting the court's members to one long fixed term  "18, 20 years, something like that." Breyer retired at the end of the court's last session, but in an appearance at Harvard's Institute of Politics this month, he made clear that he continues to endorse the idea.

"It would have to be a very long term," he said in answer to a question. "You don't want someone in that job to be thinking about What is my next job?' But if you had a long, definite term  like most countries have some kind of definite term  it would be fine." Were such a system already in place, he added, "it would have saved me a lot of angst."

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Life tenure for Supreme Court justices should be replaced by fixed, 18-year terms.

It isn't easy to amend the Constitution. Doing away with lifetime appointments to the nation's highest bench is a long overdue change, but the only way to bring it about is to reinforce public and scholarly support for the idea until most members of Congress are ready to act. Breyer's encouragement helps. Perhaps he could persuade his fellow Supreme Court retirees  Sandra Day O'Connor, David Souter, and Anthony Kennedy  to weigh in as well.

The authors also model the effect that fixed terms would have on the court's ideological balance. With term limits in place, they conclude, the court would be less likely to flip between conservative and liberal majorities  but it would also be less likely to be dominated by partisan supermajorities.

The point of the article is not to advocate for one particular reform over another, but rather to treat Supreme Court term limits as a serious proposition worthy of serious analysis.
DU QUOIN, Ill.  In his thick country drawl, Darren Bailey stood at a lectern clutching a microphone, trying to convince a crowd in his rural home base of southern Illinois that he speaks their language.

Im a farmer. This is an agricultural fair. How many farmers do I have out here with me today? Bailey asked in late August at the Du Quoin State Fair as several people raised their hands. All right. You guys get it  agriculture is the backbone of this nation. Agriculture is the backbone of this state. And were getting pushed aside. Our futures are getting pushed aside and ignored. And we must stand up and say, No more.

A few weeks earlier, the burly Republican candidate for governor was 329 miles north at a pro-law enforcement event in a forest preserve by OHare International Airport. He climbed behind the wheel of a hulking, black, heavily armored SWAT vehicle for a photo op as if it were a combine on his farm back in Xenia and took a flippant swipe at his campaign rival, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

You think Pritzker knows how to turn on and shut this thing off? Bailey joked. Shortly before that, he had cast a different tone when he led a few dozen at the event in a three-minute prayer that blamed Chicagos persistent violence on politicians who are preventing police from doing their jobs.

I pray for forgiveness that we have allowed our government to diminish the authority of law and order, and instead to lift up the rights of people who break the law, Bailey told the crowd. And I pray that soon, and very soon, that that would cease and that would end, and the men and women who serve and protect  would be lifted up.

In his run for governor, Bailey has offered himself up as a herald for those he considers to be the overlooked in Illinois, those he believes have been ignored, forgotten and excluded from a Chicago-driven plan led by Pritzker for the state to thrive. Its a religion-rooted regional crusade that has made Bailey the most conservative major nominee for the highest elected office in Illinois, a state where all three branches of its government are controlled by Democrats.

Once a little-known politician, Bailey has gained notoriety in part because of a series of controversies, including when hes denigrated Chicago by referring to it as a hellhole, urged people to move on and celebrate the Fourth of July even as a gunman who killed seven people in Highland Park remained at large, and compared the deaths from abortion to the millions of Jews killed during the Holocaust in World War II.

Baileys emergence from being a farmer, school board member and state legislator to become the GOPs nominee for governor comes at a time when the Republican Party at the national level has embraced far-right ideologies that were championed by former President Donald Trump, who lost Illinois by 17 points in both the 2016 and 2020 elections.

Trump helped Baileys stock rise among voters by endorsing him three days before he won a six-man primary for the Republican nomination. Baileys ascendancy also was boosted by a combined $35 million in ad spending by the billionaire Democratic governors campaign and the Pritzker-financed Democratic Governors Association in the GOP primary. Their ads labeled Bailey as too extreme for Illinois and served as a backhanded way to help the Republican gain support from the GOP base.

Theres a tendency on either party, a candidate kind of more on the extreme, they can get people real excited and get them to turn out in a primary, said former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar, who ran as a moderate Republican. Somebody thats in the middle that might be thoughtful may not be as exciting, and that I think has a tendency not to do as well in a primary when you have a higher proportion of the extremes, in both parties, show up.

In an interview with the Tribune at the Trump Tower in Chicago, Bailey expressed his belief that he can be a governor that can unify the state, despite generally not being a go-to person on issues in the state legislature.

Ive served two years in the House, two years in the Senate. I see the divide. I see the problems. I recognize that my ideologies, you know, (are) not on the top of everyones list, he said.

Bailey has decried woke school curricula that incorporate LGBTQ teachings and hes spoken out against critical race theory  academic analyses of how racism has persisted in long-standing policies and institutions  despite on the campaign trail not providing examples that it is being taught to youths in Illinois schools.

Hes promised to push for the repeal of landmark criminal justice reforms he thinks weaken the powers of law enforcement. And, as a legislator, hes filed a bill that would repeal a requirement that Illinoisans obtain a Firearm Owners Identification card, which requires a criminal background check, to own a gun.

Though he hasnt offered any proof of fraud, hes said election integrity is another big problem in the state following Trumps erroneous claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

Since joining the General Assembly in 2019, Bailey has aligned himself with a group of Republican legislators  known informally as the Eastern Bloc  who mainly represent the southeastern parts of the state and are often regarded as the most conservative voices in the legislature.

Hes also sponsored legislation in Springfield urging Congress to declare Chicago the nations 51st state and separate it from the rest of Illinois.

Perhaps the most attention Baileys drawn as a lawmaker was defying Pritzkers COVID-19 pandemic mitigations in 2020.

To improve social distancing in the early days of the pandemic, the House moved its legislative session from the Illinois State Capitol to the airy Bank of Springfield Center. Bailey, who sued Pritzker because of his emergency mitigation orders, was ready for a fight when a top House Democrat proposed a resolution requiring all lawmakers in the arena wear masks.

I stand here before you today  on behalf of the people of Illinois who feel captive, burdened, and unheard and I share their message. Friends, enough is enough, Bailey said. You want to send me or anyone else out these doors today, I understand. Go right ahead. But know this, that if you do that, youre silencing millions of voices of people who have had enough.

The resolution from then-House Majority Leader Greg Harris of Chicago passed 97 to 12. And in a subsequent resolution from then-state Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch, a Hillside Democrat who is now the House speaker, the Democrat-led chamber voted 81 to 27 to force Bailey to leave the House floor for refusing to wear a mask, though he showed up for session the next day wearing one.

Bailey last month wouldnt say if hes vaccinated against COVID-19. I dont think thats anyones business to know, he said. Thats my personal health. No, you dont  need to know whats going on there.

A true believer

Bailey, 56, grew up in Clay County in a small town called Louisville  pronounced LEWIS-ville. Labor unions were active in this region of Illinois decades ago, and Democrats were widely elected to office. But many local union jobs disappeared, particularly as coal mining and manufacturing declined.

GOP state Rep. Blaine Wilhour, who is from far south central Illinois and has known Bailey for years, said the Democratic Party has gone too far to the left politically and lost legitimacy while Republicans have overtaken Democrats and better represent the working class.

Theres no good-paying jobs in southern Illinois outside of government jobs, and unfortunately, theres not enough of those to go around, Wilhour said.

Over the years, college graduates seeking white-collar jobs  a demographic that tends to vote Democrat  have moved to bigger cities from their rural homes downstate, said Ryan Burge, an assistant professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

The ones who go get a  college degree then leave are going to be a little bit to the left of center. So where are they going to live? They live in the Metro East.  Or they move to the collar counties, DuPage, Kane, places like that, said Burge, who once taught Baileys campaign manager, Jose Durbin, as an undergraduate student.

Bailey never got a degree from a four-year university. He instead earned an associate in applied science degree in agricultural production and management from Lake Land College in Mattoon.

A married father of four, hes a third-generation farmer whose family owns Bailey Family Farm LLC, which, according to the companys website, has acreage in six counties and also owns a freight company. Given the farming business and the land the Bailey family owns, Bailey likely has millions of dollars in assets, even as his tax returns show a modest income.

Before Springfield, Bailey spent 17 years on the school board in Clay County, 12 of them as president. But he also founded a Christ-centered private school, the Full Armor Christian Academy for preschool through high school-age students.

The school has campuses in Olney and Louisville, Illinois. Its staff is armed, and it uses curriculum from BJU Press, a publishing company founded by the Christian conservative Bob Jones University, the Effingham Daily News reported last year. BJU Press has offered textbooks contending the Bible is the unerring source for analysis of historical events and is the ultimate source if it conflicts with scientific conclusions.

As a devout evangelical Christian, Bailey publicly intermingles his faith and politics.

You need to have something on your mind except financial gain when you are representing the people.  And maybe Darren being a true believer in God is a handicap, but thats him, said Baileys uncle, Don Bailey. He believes in God wholeheartedly, and sometimes that kicks him in the groin. Hes not going to change that.

In one of his daily devotionals that he posts on Facebook, Darren Bailey read passages from Ephesians that included Gods guidance that slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Bailey said of the slave reference that we know today what that means is people, if youre working for someone, if you have someone above you in authority, you know, respect.

But then he continued reading the passage that included, Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good that we do, whether we were slaves or free. Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Dont threaten them. Remember, you both have the same master in heaven and he has no favorites.

He says what they want to hear

Bailey arrived in Springfield after defeating longtime Republican state Rep. David Reis in the 2018 primary even though both men shared a background in farming, supported gun rights and opposed abortion. Bailey challenged and defeated Reis after Reis and about a dozen other Republicans joined Democrats in 2017 to pass a state budget that ended a nearly two-year impasse under former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner but included a permanent income tax hike.

After Rauner vetoed the budget, Reis didnt join Democrats a second time as they overrode that veto, but the political damage was done and Bailey seized the opportunity.

The new legislators style was noticeably different.

I kind of came into the House when you were told to shut up and listen for the first three or four years and figure out how to do things, said Reis, who is now registered with the state as a lobbyist. Where Darren just came in and, you know, he was rah rah and people back home love that.

He says what they want to hear, Reis added. And whether its reality or not, he says it. And whether or not its achievable or not, its what he says.

Bailey was later elected to the state Senate, where hes served since January 2021, but in his entire time in the General Assembly his accomplishments of getting bills to become laws are few. Out of about 50 bills hes been the chief sponsor of just two have become law, including one that makes it easier for firefighters to get hired in small towns.

Bailey blames the Democratic-controlled legislature for his inability to get laws passed and says hes proposed some really good bills such as tax credits for foster parents. But he also largely dismisses the job of being a lawmaker as unnecessary.

If we would adhere to transparency and accountability and government holding entities responsible, we wouldnt have to continually come up with laws, he said.

Still, that hasnt stopped him from sponsoring a series of bills that reflect his conservative views, including reinstating the death penalty and barring taxpayer-funded gender-reassignment surgeries.

His bill calling for Chicago to become the 51st state was a reflection that the majority of residents in downstate Illinois disagree with city of Chicago residents on key issues such as gun ownership, abortion, immigration and other policy issues.

On education, hes sponsored a bill that would have required the Illinois State Board of Education to issue school vouchers to parents of public school students if those schools werent providing instruction in a classroom. The legislation would have helped private schools such as Full Armor. Bailey has said he removed himself from Full Armor a few years ago but didnt deny that if the bill were to become law, private schools like Full Armor could potentially benefit from such a policy.

Perhaps Baileys most controversial position is on abortion. He says he only condones the procedure if the mothers life is in danger. As a legislator, hes co-sponsored a measure to repeal the 2019 Reproductive Health Act that enshrines abortion rights in Illinois and another bill that would have forced medical facilities that perform abortions to offer those who are more than eight weeks pregnant the chance to see ultrasounds of the fetus.

But on the campaign trail, Bailey routinely downplays the power hed have to affect abortion laws if hes elected governor. In the interview with the Tribune, Bailey said that its up to the General Assembly to change abortion laws, noting the state legislatures Democratic majority supports abortion rights.

But Bailey has fewer concerns about what impact hed have as governor on repealing the sweeping criminal justice reforms known as the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today, of SAFE-T, Act. Bailey has repeatedly pounded away on the laws no-cash bail policy that is supposed to go into effect Jan. 1, saying it will result in more crime. Democrats who championed the law and its mission to improve police accountability and create a more equitable court system have accused the Republicans of spreading misinformation about its effects for political gain.

Like the states abortion laws, the Democrat-led General Assembly would have to approve a repeal of the SAFE-T Act.

The SAFE-T Act is destroying our way of life, Bailey said. As a governor, I intend on using the platform to talk to the people and let them know that things can be different. It doesnt have to be this way.

While Baileys initiatives havent gone far in the General Assembly, Wilhour downplayed notions that Bailey cant work well with others.

Darrens not some great articulator, or anything like that. Hes just genuine. And people feel that, Wilhour said. Its funny some of the caricatures that they do of Darren in Springfield, like he doesnt get along with anybody.

But other Republicans, particularly those not as conservative as Bailey, have privately expressed lukewarm feelings about him being at the top of the ticket. During the GOPs day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin didnt even acknowledge Bailey by name.

State Rep. Tim Butler, one of Durkins assistant GOP leaders who used to sit next to Bailey on the House floor, thinks the Bailey campaign has made missteps by not reaching out to other elected Republicans from around the state to help introduce him to their voters.

I think there have been some missed opportunities in creating some relationships with folks that have been through these battles before, that have helped on statewide campaigns, that have run elections, that know what theyre doing, said Butler, of Springfield, who defeated a Bailey-endorsed primary challenger. Darren very much talks about himself being an outsider and things like that. But at the end of the day  having people with experience is really helpful if you want to get the job done.

Bailey said hes used to getting pushback from fellow Republicans in his four years in the legislature.

If I was to get upset with something like that, you know, Id go back home and go back to the farm. And the reality is that we have got to be bigger than that, he said. I continue to do what Im doing, and at the end of the day, I want to make sure that my message gets out to the people and they know who I am, and theyre going to make their decision.

Rock-solid conservative principles

In early September, Bailey was in the Chicago area speaking at the Palestinian American Club in Bridgeview. His appearance at the club drew criticism from Jewish Democratic legislators after he was seen on video talking to the crowd in front of a map of Israel labeled as Palestine.

The legislators saw this as part of a pattern of anti-Semitic rhetoric from Bailey who, in 2017, posted a video message on Facebook where he declared that the 6 million Jews who died during the Holocaust in World War II pales in comparison with lives lost to abortion.

But to those in attendance at the Palestinian event, Bailey offered the group a vague promise that, if hes elected governor, theyd have a seat at the table to help decrease crime, lower taxes and create business opportunities.

Lina Othman of Orland Park said she was impressed by Baileys demeanor but concerned about his connection to Trump, an ardent supporter of Israel.

When she asked Bailey what he liked and disliked about the former president, Bailey said he agreed with his business policies and putting America first before going on a tangent about his dissatisfaction for Pritzkers budgets.

That message about Pritzker resonated with Bob Kelsey of Berwyn.

If something happens where the guy that calls himself our governor is still in office on Nov. 9, hes going to be the U-Haul salesman of the decade because everybodys getting a U-Haul. Everybodys leaving, Kelsey said, referring to Pritzker.

Back at the Du Quoin fair on Republican Day, Larry Tadlock stood under a giant canopy with dozens of people and held a sign that read, LETS GO BRANDON, a rallying cry Trump supporters have adopted to disrespect President Joe Biden. Tadlock said he supported Bailey because he saw him as an everyman, especially compared to Pritzker, the billionaire heir to the Hyatt hotel empire.

Hes from a country background. You can walk up to Darren Bailey and hes not like a regular Chicagoan. Hes like a regular country folk, regular citizen, Tadlock said.

In his stump speech, Baileys rhetoric about the struggles of farmers resonated with Mary Kozuszek, a farmer from Scheller, a town about 25 miles from the fairgrounds.

He stands for the common everyday person like Trump did. They dont have to be doing this. Either one of them didnt have to run for the office they did, she said. Bailey, hes conservative. He is a farmer.  Farmers feed the country. We feed the people and feed the world.

Her husband, David Kozuszek, thinks Bailey is a good Christian man with rock-solid conservative principles, that play well with people in southern Illinois. Kozuszek said many in the region used to support Democrats but thats when the party was for the working man.

But todays modern Democratic Party, people feel like (theyre) being left behind, he said. We were all Democrats at one time.
Q: My drivers license will need to be renewed in February. However, due to an increasing problem with my vision, there is a possibility that I will not pass the eye test. I use my license when I write checks and do other things. What type of alternate photo identification can I get?

V.L.B.

Answer: The State of North Carolina issues photo identification cards for people who need an ID card, but do not have a drivers license. If you are changing from a N.C. drivers license to a state ID card, as long as your license is still valid, you do not need any other documentation. You will need to make an appointment and go a DMV office to get the ID card, said John Brockwell, the communications officer for the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles. The cost is $14. ID cards are free for people who are legally blind, over 70 years old, homeless, had a drivers license that was canceled due to a disease or disability, or people who have developmental disabilities.

You can also get an N.C. REAL ID card, which is the equivalent of the REAL ID drivers license but is for people who do not need a license. The requirements are the same for the ID card as the license.

To get a Real ID, you will need to bring to the DMV office documents to prove your identity:

*One document to prove your age and identity. That can include a certified birth certificate issued by a government agency, a valid U.S. passport or a valid drivers license from a state that complies with REAL ID requirements.

*One document with your current legal name and Social Security number. That can include a Social Security card, 1099 or W-2 tax forms, a pay stub with your SSN on it or proof that you are ineligible for a Social Security number.

*Two documents that prove North Carolina residency. Those can include any document issued by the state of North Carolina, a county, city, or the federal government; a preprinted bank statement or financial statement; a pay stub; or a receipt for personal or real estate property taxes paid to a North Carolina county or municipality.

You can also use a utility or cable bill, mortgage statement, property or income-tax statement, N.C. vehicle registration card or title, N.C. voter card, N.C. vehicle-insurance policy, N.C. school records or a letter from a homeless shelter.

If your name has changed and does not match the name on your certified birth certificate, passport or other identifying information, you must provide a proof of name change. That can include certified marriage or divorce records or a certified document from the courts or register of deeds.

DMV also will accept an original international marriage license or a certified copy of an international marriage license (with a raised seal or ink stamp with initials of individual certifying the document) accompanied by a name change affidavit.

Operation Santa Claus

The Mental Health Association in Forsyth Countys Operation Santa Claus is seeking donations to help make Christmas brighter for people in the hospital during the holidays.

Items should have no alcohol, tobacco or strings. Gifts must be unwrapped or in gift bags.

Items needed include:

*Toothbrushes, trial-size toothpaste. Mouthwash will not be accepted.

*Trial-size lotion. Alcohol cannot be one of the top three ingredients.

*Personal packs of tissue.

*Activity books.

Items can be dropped off at the Mental Health Association, 1509 S. Hawthorne Road, Winston-Salem. The deadline is Dec. 12.

For more information, email Susan Wheeler at susan@triadmentalhealth.org or call 336-768-3880.
An early-morning robbery Monday at the Burger King fast food restaurant near the Walmart on the south side of Winston-Salem resulted in the loss of an undisclosed amount of money, Winston-Salem police reported. The business is off Peters Creek Parkway on Parkway Village Circle.

About 6:04 a.m., police said, a man wearing a mask and all-black clothing forced employees inside the restaurant as they were opening up for the day. The robber had a black nylon bag that he told employees to fill with cash from the store safe and two cash registers. Police said the man then ran from the store and got into a light-colored sedan and sped away.
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has signed a three-year agreement with the Atlantic Council to collaborate on the Councils Nuclear Energy Policy Initiative. It will also support the Councils efforts in promoting nuclear energy as a central component to clean energy transition.

The Atlantic Council is a US-based think tank, and home to the Global Energy Centre, one of the leading US energy centres for promoting energy security, working across government, industry and society to identify the way forward for the global energy sector.

The collaboration will see ENEC, and the Atlantic Council join forces to support the Atlantic Councils new Nuclear Energy Policy Initiative, which is dedicated to identifying the pathways for global decarbonisation using civil nuclear energy.

Energy security

Together, ENEC and Atlantic Council will highlight the role of nuclear energy in securing energy security and sustainability, and the role of current and advanced nuclear technologies in decarbonising the power sector and the broader clean energy transition. The agreement was signed in Washington DC by Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ENEC and Fred Kempe, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Atlantic Council.

The collaboration is part of ENECs commitment towards supporting constructive dialogue on the crucial role nuclear energy plays in delivering both national energy security and sustainability, and the policy and structures needed to support the sector.

Al Hammadi said: Our agreement with the Atlantic Council is a natural and progressive outcome of our long-standing partnership to raise awareness of nuclear energy as a realistic component of the energy mix for nations looking to boost their energy security and sustainability. We look forward to working with Atlantic Council, as we are committed to sharing our experience in delivering a new generation of civil nuclear programme with other countries looking to embark on their own programmes, developing the frameworks necessary for success.

Promoting new areas

ENEC will work closely with Atlantic Council on global nuclear energy advocacy and promote new areas of peaceful nuclear advancement for electricity generation and non-electrical purposes, such as industrial heat and hydrogen production. Meanwhile, the Atlantic Council will also support the UAEs leading position in nuclear energy when it hosts COP28 next year 2023  a gathering of world leaders to advance climate change cooperation.

The signing took place during an official delegation visit to the USA by ENEC officials. As part of the visit, Atlantic Council and ENEC hosted a panel discussion on the role of net zero nuclear on the pathway to COP28. The session included an introduction from Landon Derentz, Senior Director, of the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center, followed by a keynote from Dr Andrew Light, Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs at the US Department of Energy. H.E. Mohamed Al Hammadi joined the panel alongside Chris Levesque, President & CEO of Terrapower, Cosmin Ghita, CEO of Nuclearelectrica, David Durham, President of Energy Systems, Westinghouse and Dr Rachael Slaybaugh, Principal at DCVC.

The panel discussed how quickly the demand for nuclear energy is growing as many nations have identified the unique benefits it brings in delivering both national energy security and energy sustainability  the former being particularly critical in the face of the current global energy crisis, and with the latter, as it is clear that far more needs to be done to meet international carbon emissions reduction commitments.

Barakah Nuclear Power Plant

ENEC is developing the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, comprising four APR1400 reactors one of the most technologically advanced nuclear reactor designs in the world, each with a 1,400 megawatts of zero-carbon emission electricity capacity. Three Units of the plant have already been connected the UAEs national grid, with two operating commercially.

Once all four units of the Barakah Plant are commercially operational, they will contribute up to 25% of the UAEs National Determined Contributions to Net Zero and is the largest source of dispatchable clean electricity. The Plant demonstrates how nuclear energy projects can be delivered safely, successfully and competitively to tackle growing carbon emissions. Through clean electricity generated at Barakah, nuclear is helping to decarbonise some of the most energy intense sectors.-- TradeArabia News Service
Novant Health Inc. and one of its insurers have agreed to a settlement in a lawsuit over reimbursement claims for COVID-19 expenses and what should be considered as legitimate damages.

However, the settlement reached Oct. 7 with American Guarantee Liability Insurance Co. stipulates that all (but one) claims filed in this action are dismissed without prejudice, which means they can be filed again.

Novant could not be immediately reached for comment on the settlement.

Terms were not disclosed. The settlement comes somewhat as a surprise considering Novant and the insurer acknowledged July 15 that they had reached an impasse in mediation.

Both parties have agreed to pay for their own costs and expenses.

Following months of inaction and claim denials by American Guarantee, Novant filed a lawsuit March 10, 2021, in Forsyth Superior Court. The lawsuit was transferred to federal court at American Guarantees request on April 16, 2021.

The suit is focused primarily on a dispute between the hospital system and the insurer over what should be considered as legitimate damages from COVID-19.

Novant claims the insurer, a U.S. subsidiary of Zurich Insurance Group Ltd., breached the COVID-19-related insurance policy that the health system took out to cover expected and unexpected expenses and losses.

There was a liability limit of $1.5 billion, and Novant said it paid $2.21 million in premium costs during the coverage period of Feb. 1, 2020, to Feb. 1, 2021.

Novant has reported at least $470 million in pandemic-related expenses and losses just from March through June 2020. Novant said all of its 15 hospitals and 700 operations were affected directly by COVID-19.

According to the 198-page lawsuit, Novant alleges Zurich failed to satisfy numerous obligations to Novant and failed to fully investigate Novants claim.

It is one thing to disagree about how policy terms should be interpreted, but mispresenting what the terms are is quite another, Novants lawsuit said.

The insurer responded by claiming that the policy Novant acquired provides no coverage for these alleged losses under the relevant coverage provisions that require direct physical losses of or damage to property.

Through this lawsuit, plaintiff seeks to use the devastating COVID-19 pandemic to retroactively re-write this insurance contact, so as to manufacture enhanced benefits for which the parties did not bargain.

The COVID-19 virus is a force which affects and infects the human body, not property.

In September 2021, Judge Catherine Eagles of the Middle District of N.C. Eagles ruled that Novant has adequately alleged physical losses and (American Guarantee) has not stablished at this stage that the virus exclusion applies.

Eagles denied American Guarantees motion to dismiss Novants claim. writing that the insurer cannot complain when an insured complied with policy language requiring an insured to bring suit within one year of a loss.

The court is not ruling that the virus exclusion does not apply, but in view of the contradictory language in the policy, (the insurer) has not met its burden at this stage of the proceedings.

Background

Novant has claimed the insurer acted in bad faith and violated North Carolinas Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The system requesting that the federal court triple the amount of compensatory and punitive damages.

Novant said the insurers investigation solely consisted of excessive and repetitive document requests at a time when Novants operations were under an unparalleled strain due to the urgent challenges of COVID-19 patient care.

The result, according to Novant, was sending the system down a path of futile pursuit when Novant  and the employees and patients which rely on it  could least afford it.

Novant said its losses were impacted by the state-mandated suspension of thousands of elective surgeries in the March-May 2020 time period in order to reserve inpatient beds for those infected with COVID-19. Novant said it still has not resumed full offerings of those services.

There was at times up to an 80% decline in people seeking care at its emergency departments and urgent-care clinics.

Novant has sought reimbursement for physical infrastructure expenses, such as creating physical barriers to screen patients, adding vacuum shrouds during surgical procedures likely to generate aerosols, establishing remote triage and respiratory assessment stations, and optimizing air-handing and ventilation systems.

Due to the risks associated with COVID-19, physical alteration of property is necessary to render the property safe from COVID-19 and to return the property to a safe and usable state, Novant said in the lawsuit.

Plaintiff also alleges that it has incurred expenses over and above its normal operating costs related to medical equipment and supplies, staffing and staff support, work-from-home technology, and measures taken to support social distancing at its locations, according to the lawsuit.

Novant claims that the all-encompassing impact of COVID-19 on its facilities should have triggered the policys all risks coverage, and that it continues to experience what it calls a time element loss from not being able to return to full operations.

Novant cited as examples increases in patients seeking care for respiratory illnesses that could be COVID-19, deferring and delaying non-COVID-19 care, disruptions in supply chains, fluctuations in facilities occupancy, absenteeism among staff because of illness or caregiving responsibilities, and increases in mental health concerns.
Comparing gun misuse, violence, and injury prevention initiatives with other public health successes like vehicles, tobacco, and viruses like HIV is logically inconsistent and stigmatizes the majority of gun owners.

Gun misuse and violence continue in our society, and injury prevention initiatives attempt to provide solutions to what is now being recognized as a public health problem. But more than 99 percent of responsible gun owners do not engage in violence (EMN. 2022;44[9]:9; https://bit.ly/3wIelr9), and this population is an essential and natural ally in our attempts to make the presence of firearms in society safer.

Talking about gun violence in these terms fails to recognize the overwhelming preponderance of responsible gun owners who share our goals of safety, who hold strong beliefs about their rights and responsibilities to have guns, and who we must engage to reduce the harms associated with guns.

Gun owners recognizewhere we might notthat access to guns is not a disease and the owners are not the ill ones to be treated. The intent to commit violence with guns is the disease, and interventions and analogies must acknowledge this.

No single public health analogy works for understanding firearm injury prevention, so we must explore alternate disease models to develop a functional and practical approach. Acknowledging that perpetrating gun violence is a statistically rare disease with high morbidity and mortality allows us to draw lessons from other rare but highly fatal diseases and tailor our interventions to those at risk of having that disease.

Gun Violence and Rabies

Some public health advocates have referred to guns as a vector of disease in the same way they might discuss a virus as an agent transmitting illness. This suggests an infectious quality inherent in gun ownership, effectively stigmatizing all gun owners as though they transmit violence by their mere existence.

The disease is not device possession but rather using that device for intentional harm, and the component of virology that applies is that people may be put at risk of acquiring the disease from factors outside of their control.

Perpetrators of firearm injury, whether self-directed or interpersonal, often develop the disease of intentional violence from exposure to adverse social determinants of health, prior trauma, and structural violence, among other harmful external variables. Hurt people hurt people.

Perpetrators of the most extreme forms of interpersonal violencemass shootingscommonly have suicidal and homicidal ideation (J Threat Assessment Management. 2021;8[4]:125), and the source victim often dies along with the secondary victims he infects. The rabid nature of this form of violence invites the analogy of another rare and highly fatal disease among humans: rabies. Even the etymology applies: La rabbia means anger in Italian.

Avoiding Failure

Rabies, while infectious, is generally transmitted through violent, direct physical contactbites. The presence and proximity of animal reservoirs put humans at risk of infection and death analogous to geographic hot zones of firearm injury. We have established upstream health systems for preventing harm from rabies because of its high mortality: We vaccinate the animals closest to us to minimize their risk of infection and transmission, and we seek post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent the disease when we are bitten by an animal.

We do not take a blanket approach of removing or containing all organisms that could transmit this fatal infection. And because we recognize and value the importance of noninfected animals, pet owners understand their responsibility to maintain the safety of their animals. Community health systems have protocols for characterizing and minimizing risk from animals when exposure or abnormal behavior is reported. Nor do we vaccinate all humans for rabies, which would pose high costs and potential adverse effects. Instead, we can safely and effectively vaccinate only those at increased risk (i.e., ring vaccination).

We can address gun violence as a public health crisis while still recognizing its rare prevalence among gun owners, just as we have approached other rare but highly fatal diseases with profound success. Rabies has been effectively eradicated in humans because of community education and targeted interventions to those at risk without eliminating those vectors that potentially transmit illness. Efficient community education of risks, protective factors, and effective therapies for those rare individuals in periods of increased risk appear to be a practical approach to mitigate harms from gun violence as well.

Meaningfully reducing the public health effects of gun violence means we must acknowledge the extent to which responsible gun owners will need to engage and collaborate with health experts. Stigmatizing these stakeholders by treating gun ownership as a disease or an infection virtually guarantees our failure. Appreciating the intent to commit harm with a firearm as a rare, specific disease that affects a very small subset of gun owners allows us to engage and target our interventions more meaningfully and where they will have the most effect.

Dr. Haseldenis an emergency physician in the Washington, DC, region and the acting communications fellow at the AFFIRM Institute, a program dedicated to reducing firearm injuries in the United States through health-based, nonpartisan approaches. Follow her on Twitter@HaseldenMD. Dr. Barsottiis the program director of AFFIRM at the Aspen Institute. He is also a community practice emergency physician at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA, and a certified 4-H youth rifle safety instructor. Read his past columns athttp://bit.ly/StandingAFFIRM, and follow him on Twitter@ChrisBarsottiMD. Find more information about AFFIRM athttps://affirmresearch.org, and follow the foundation on Twitter@ResearchAFFIRM.
The number of companies seeking tax incentives from the state of Nebraska has continued to fall.

According to the Nebraska Tax Incentives Annual Report released Monday by the Nebraska Department of Revenue, the state signed only 47 Nebraska Advantage Act agreements between Jan. 1, 2021, and June 30 of this year.

The report covers 18 months rather than a year because of a change by the Legislature to have it cover the state's fiscal year rather than calendar years as it has in the past.

That change in timing makes comparisons with previous years difficult, but the report does show that the pace of tax-incentive applications has slowed significantly during the coronavirus pandemic.

Nebraska officials signed 42 deals in calendar year 2020, which was the lowest number since 2011, and there have been 89 deals in the past 2 years. In 2019 alone, 69 incentive deals were signed.

Only four of the 47 signed deals in the past 18 months were for Lincoln companies.

The biggest in terms of proposed investment, $109 million, is for Adjuvance Technologies, a company that produces substances called adjuvants that are added to vaccines to help boost their effectiveness. The company also proposed adding 50 jobs.

The biggest Lincoln-based agreement in terms of jobs was signed by life insurance company Assurity, which proposed adding 100 new jobs.

Statewide, the largest tax-incentive deal based on amount invested was $858 million for Elk Creek Resources, a subsidiary of NioCorp, the company developing a rare metals mine in Johnson County. The company is also proposing 400 new jobs.

Lincoln Premium Poultry, the company that runs the Costco chicken processing plant in Fremont, had the largest jobs-related incentive deal, with 800. The company also proposed investing more than $240 million.

Many of the largest tax-incentive deals signed during the 18-month period were for alternative energy projects. There were five deals for wind farms proposing at least $150 million in investment, as well as a $295 million deal for a renewable diesel fuel project in Hastings.
Neighbors at the Mark IV Estates Mobile Home Park had noticed the back door to James Shekie's trailer standing open for at least three days before one of them reported it and police discovered him dead on the hallway floor.

By then, Lincoln police investigators believe he'd been dead for nearly a week, killed in a failed plot to rob him of 4 pounds of marijuana.

"It just seemed really odd," Cacie Harding testified Monday at Deontae Rush's murder trial.

At about 11 a.m. March 1, 2021, she called the LPD nonemergency number to ask for a welfare check on the neighbor she knew by sight but not name.

By then, a second neighbor, Armand Bile, had noticed the door, too.

"In that neighborhood we don't really talk to each other," he said.

Bile said he'd first noticed it Feb. 26, a Friday. By Sunday, he started to think something may have happened. So the next morning, March 1, he went to check if someone was in some kind of distress.

He poked his head inside and said hello a couple of times. But no one answered, and he didn't see anyone. He thought of calling the police but didn't know what to say. Maybe the guy had just left his door open.

By 11:20 a.m., officers arriving to check on the man who lived there noticed the door wasn't just ajar, it had been kicked open, and his car was parked outside.

"That's a little weird," Officer Shane Alesch could be heard saying on his body-worn camera as he headed to the door.

Inside, he and a second officer walked in to find Shekie stiff to the touch, blood around his waist and a spent .45 shell casing not far away on the floor.

Reghan Daniels of Kansas City, the mother of Shekie's daughter, said Shekie had video chatted with his daughter Feb. 21, 2021, a Sunday. When she hadn't heard from him by the following Tuesday, she felt that something was wrong.

"It wasn't like him," she said.

Concerned, she started calling hospitals and jails.

Monday, the first day of Rush's trial, prosecutors said they would present evidence that Rush, the Omaha man on trial for first-degree murder, had come to Shekie's home early Feb. 23, 2021, kicked in the door and fired three shots at him, hitting him once in the torso.

"The evidence in this case, ladies and gentlemen, will show that Mr. Rush was in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Feb. 23, 2021. He was at Mr. Shekie's trailer. He had a gun in his hand, he walked in and he killed Mr. Shekie for a bunch of marijuana that he didn't even bother to take," Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Eric Miller said in opening statements.

Defense attorney Jeff Pickens said while Rush's phone may have been in Lincoln, Rush wasn't. He pointed the finger at Marques Moten and his sister, Anna Feilen, who admittedly conspired to rob Shekie.

He said Moten wanted the drugs that Feilen had told him about, and that Feilen, who previously dated both Shekie and Rush, wanted revenge.

"She hated Mr. Shekie enough to want him dead and she hated Mr. Rush enough to falsely accuse him of Mr. Shekie's murder," Pickens said.

The trial continues Tuesday and is expected to last into next week.

Rush is being tried for a second time after a judge granted a mistrial in August over COVID-19 delays.
The Nebraska-born mountain lion rolled into its new Indiana home Friday afternoon like a rock star  with an entourage.

Three Illinois conservation officers. An Illinois state biologist. Two federal hunters.

He was brought here by quite a caravan, said Joe Taft, founder of the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center Point, Indiana.

Earlier that day, they had sedated the young male lion after it overstayed its welcome in Springfield, Illinois. And now they were delivering it to Tafts 260-acre sanctuary  and ending the big cats 700-mile search for a mate.

Its trip had started not long after Nebraska Game and Parks Commission biologists fit it with a tracking collar in November 2021, in the Niobrara River valley. The animal was judged to be about a year old, roughly the age young males disperse to find a mate and their own territory.

The lion started moving south and east, and biologists could track its progress through periodic signals from its GPS-enabled collar.

In June, it moved through Lincoln, and was captured on a backyard security camera near Northwest 56th and West Adams streets.

The lion was one of 19 GPS-collared animals the state was tracking, but the first to leave Nebraska. By early October, it had crossed the Missouri River, walked across most of Iowa and was nearing the Mississippi River. Two weeks later, Nebraska officials told their counterparts in Illinois the animal was in McDonough County.

It kept walking, arriving in Springfield  85 miles to the southeast  on Oct. 26. But then it stopped. And that became a problem.

It was tracked and observed in residential and commercial areas for several days before state wildlife officials and Springfield police determined it posed an imminent threat to residents and property and therefore needed to be removed, according to a news release from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The big cat could have come back: Illinois officials offered to send the mountain lion home, but Nebraska biologists declined.

Nebraskas lion experts werent available Monday, but a Game and Parks spokeswoman pointed to a couple of policies that would prohibit the lion from returning.

First, once an animal  whether deer, elk, lion or other creature  leaves Nebraska, it becomes managed by the state its moved into. And Nebraska's mountain lion-specific protocol prohibits the release of a lion farther than 100 yards from where it was captured, and doesnt allow for the release of a mountain lion from another state.

So after officers with the U.S. Department of Agricultures Wildlife Services sedated the mountain lion at about noon Friday, they drove it to Indiana.

Taft opened his sanctuary in 1991, and it houses about 120 big cats  mostly tigers, but also lions, leopards, servals and bobcats. Its rescued animals from 24 states, from people who owned exotics illegally, or could no longer care for them, or from zoos and other animal attractions that closed voluntarily or lost their licenses.

He plans to immobilize his newest arrival Tuesday, to give it a thorough checkup, but he already noticed signs of an injury on its back  a long, straight scar.

Like he had something dragged across him, he said. Or somebody took a shot and grazed him.

He and his staff are shoring up an enclosure that used to house three captive-born mountain lions, because he believes the wild-born Nebraska native will challenge every inch of it, looking for a way out.

He ultimately plans to build a new enclosure  1 to 1.5 acres  for the animal to live out its life. But unlike some of the sanctuarys captive-born animals, the Nebraskan will never be on public display.

Weve had wild cougars here before, and theyve never been comfortable around people. My assumption is thats the way hes going to be.
Carol Blood says she is ready to hit the ground running with a detailed plan to address Nebraska's needs, including workforce development, coupled with a program to strengthen the rural economy, if she is elected governor.

The two-term Bellevue state senator is the Democratic gubernatorial nominee and while she's not overwhelmed by Republican candidate Jim Pillen's huge campaign funding advantage, Blood says, she is troubled by Pillen's refusal to debate her and allow Nebraska voters to weigh their differences on issues.

"The lack of any debates makes it harder for me," Blood said during a telephone interview.

"One of us has a real plan," she said.

"I don't do platitudes. We're applying for a job."

Her plan includes giving high school seniors the opportunity to enroll in community college courses free of charge through a public-private partnership that would allow Nebraska students to begin to prepare to fill the dramatic workforce shortage in the state that's measured now in the form of an astonishing 50,000 or more unfilled jobs.

That proposal envisions two years of education at a community college that would open the door to "a good-paying job" while allowing students to acquire a degree without also acquiring a college debt, Blood said.

Blood's proposals to strengthen the economy in rural Nebraska include accelerated development of roads and bridges through bonding to fund highway construction, completion of the four-lane highway expressway system, school funding reform that replaces "a formula that depends on the wealthiest landowner in the school district," development of improved rural health care services and expansion of high-speed internet access.

Blood said she also wants to expand access to "affordable and accessible child care."

"We can make lives better for farmers and rural residents," Blood said, and help "keep young farmers on family farms."

Although Blood lives in the metropolitan Omaha area now, she points out that she was born in McCook, raised in Adams County and graduated from high school in Hastings.

Too often, Nebraska "lets things fester" and allows problems to grow larger and more expensive, Blood said, pointing to the state's prison system as "a good example" of the cost of such inaction.

Addressing the growing workforce challenge with accompanying assistance for young Nebraskans is paramount now, she said.

"If they do well in Nebraska, they stay in Nebraska," Blood said.

Another growing concern, she said, is "we need to stop demonizing education."

Public education has been under recent attack in Nebraska for both costs and curriculum.

Public safety and public health issues need attention now, Blood said, and more mental health professionals are needed in both fields.

"Whether we agree with the concept of climate change, the reality is more fires, more drought, more floods," she said. "We need to develop a strategic climate change plan."

When she sometimes is asked to list her top priorities, Blood said, she points to "property taxes, health care, law enforcement and schools."

"I would put together a statewide plan," she said, "and mirror a state budget to that plan."

Blood has been vastly out-resourced in terms of campaign funding that helps deliver her message.

In the latest quarterly campaign finance document, she reported raising $262,000, while Pillen raised $1.1 million. All told, Pillen has raised more than $10 million, which was used primarily to win an expensive and hotly-contested Republican primary contest in May.

"I know it's David vs. Goliath now," Blood said.

Blood won election to the Bellevue City Council in 2008 and 2012, then won narrow legislative victories in Sarpy County in 2016 and 2020.

Democrats haven't won a gubernatorial race in 28 years, not since Ben Nelson captured a second term in 1994.

When Republican nominee Mike Johanns was elected governor in 1998, his victory launched a remarkable change in political fortune in the state.

Republicans have now won six straight gubernatorial elections, and nearly all by huge margins.

Before that, Nebraska Democrats won 9 of 12 gubernatorial elections and all three Republican governors who were elected during that span were defeated for reelection.
District 46 voters: Please vote for Danielle Conrad this November!

Her history of working for Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law, securing more funding for higher education and critical infrastructure improvements, cutting taxes, raising wages, improving access to health care for seniors, women and children shows her commitment to fairness and representation of her constituents.

I have been deeply disappointed by Danielles opponent, James Michael Bowers, who currently serves on the Lincoln City Council. He has not supported Lincolns Title 11 Amendment to update our current anti- discrimination ordinance, which expands protections to LGBTQ people, active military, veterans, people of various ethnicities and national origins (including Tribal Affiliations for the first time) and people with cognitive and developmental disabilities.

He voted no when asked to take into consideration over 9,100 verified signatures of registered voters in support of the amendment which were presented to the City Council on Oct. 17.

Now, more then ever, we need smart, brave, dedicated and proven leaders in our state Legislature. Danielle Conrad will be a forceful and reliable voice for District 46! Vote for Conrad!

Carrie Sublette, Lincoln
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MOUNT PLEASANT  Sports, cars and Andy Griffith. Thats usually the talk of the morning when Ken Rubin and his friends gather for breakfast at Dennys, 5501 Washington Ave., every eight weeks or so.

But they arent just there for some good conversation and pancakes; these men are here for a cause that means the world to most of them. They are getting ready to donate blood.

Rubins donation journey began in 1976 when he was in his early 30s. That was when Wayne Hejny, Rubins friend and a fellow State Farm insurance agent, asked Rubin to join him to donate.

If Wayne hadnt asked me to join him that day, Im not sure if I ever would have gone, Rubin said.

Now, as Rubin and Hejny are in their 70s and 80s, they have been donating blood for nearly 50 years.

About 15 years ago, Rubin started his group that includes friends, neighbors, people he met through business and members of Rubins Church, Faith Community Church, 215 South Newman Road. After each breakfast, the group donates blood at Versiti Blood Center, 1120 S. Sunnyslope Drive, where Rubin also volunteers.

It is required for blood donors to wait eight weeks between donations.

Scott Bosak, Bob Appleton, Jerry Werwie, Dennis Franklin, Chris Carlson and Ceaser Perea make up the core group of guys, with other members participating on and off throughout the years.

Over the past 15 years, the group has donated made 572 donations, which equates to about 71.5 gallons of blood.

To Rubin and his blood donor pals, breakfast is almost as important as donating.

A healthy breakfast is a positive element for blood donation, Rubin said.

According to the American Red Cross, eating a breakfast of iron-rich foods such as red meats and iron-fortified cereals aids blood production, making it easier and safer to donate.

But the most important part of this most important meal of the day? Sharing it with friends.

Blood donors in general donate individually and might be more sporadic, Rubin said. Invitations to join donors could encourage more donors, and a group activity should create greater consistency as a social event.

Donors like this group are especially needed right now. The American Red Cross earlier this year declared its first-ever blood crisis as blood banks experienced what was considered their worst blood shortage in over a decade, potentially putting lives at risk.

Franklin, who joined the group on a chance when encountering Rubin and his friends on his way to donate, equated being part of the group to being on a team.

You dont want to let the team down, Franklin said.

Also according to the American Red Cross, somebody in the U.S. needs blood or platelets every two seconds. Approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed daily, and 5,000 units of platelets and 6,500 units of plasma are needed as well.

If we rubes can do it, other people can too, Bosak said.
Saudi ports container volumes rose 10.5% in the third quarter against last year's throughput numbers, handling 1,981,271 TEUs (Twenty-foot equivalent unit) compared to 1,792,978 TEUs in 2021.

In an illustration of their growing competitive position on the global logistics map Saudi ports reveal a 11.56% rise in cargo throughput, hitting a total of 82,570,478 tonnes this year in contrast to 74,016,761 tonnes last year, a Saudi Press Agency report said.

At 6,353,863 tonnes, food volumes were 31.84% higher this quarter relative to last year's tally of 4,819,380 tonnes. Similarly, 827,294 cattle heads were imported into the kingdom to keep up with local livestock demand.

This year's penultimate quarter saw vehicle volumes soar by 18.55% to 225,638 units from 190,329 units during the same period in 2021 while passenger traffic stood at 186,871 pax. Moreover, 3,084 vessels dropped anchor at Saudi ports, a marginal 1.58% increase from last year's count of 3,036 vessels.

Efficacy of various initiatives

Last quarter's strong showing demonstrates the efficacy of various initiatives implemented by the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) to revolutionise the national maritime sector, optimise operational efficiency, create an effective regulatory and legislative environment that boasts streamlined processes, and strike a host of successful public-private partnerships in the pursuit of expanding shipping services and establishing world-class logistics parks.

The trailblazing Smart Ports strategy, which aims to automate operations and upgrade customer experience using cutting edge technologies, also plays a major role in this regard by leading the maritime sector regulator's multifaceted charge towards transforming the kingdom into a global logistics hub connecting three major continents in line with the goals of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS).

Mawani's objectives seek to improve the kingdom's score in the Logistics Performance Index and raise the overall container capacity of Saudi ports, which have clinched top positions in the World Bank's Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) for 2021 in terms of operational efficiency with King Abdullah Port leading the way at number one, followed by Jeddah Islamic Port at number eight, and King Abdulaziz Port at number 14.-- TradeArabia News Service
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
Saudi Industrial Services Company (Sisco) has announced that its subsidiary Saudi Trade and Export Development Company (LogiPoint) has secured a SR290 million ($77.1 million) loan facility from National Bank of Kuwait (NBK).

Of this total value, SR280 million will be the loan facility and SR10 million the guarantees facility, stated Sisco in its filing to the Saudi bourse. The financing will be for a duration of 8.5 years.

The facility is priced at 3 months SAIBOR + margin p.a., to be repaid by LogiPoint in quarterly instalments, it stated.

According to Sisco, the loan will be used for financing its expansion plans including the doubling of the warehousing facility, which currently has a capacity of 73,000 sq m, as well as towards the development of infrastructure works at the new logistics park in Al Khomra.-TradeArabia News Service
LEXINGTON  Crossroads Mission Avenue will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon Thursday that will begin its expansion to its fourth city in central Nebraska.

An unoccupied building at 907 W. 8th St. will be renovated into 17 one-room apartments that can serve single men, single women or families in Dawson County. It is expected to open in 2024. Crossroads is a Christian nonprofit that provides housing, job training and support to enable homeless people to become self-sufficient. It was launched 39 years ago in Hastings. It expanded to Kearney in 2012 and to Grand Island in 2018.

Daniel Buller, executive director of Crossroads, said a Lexington facility was first suggested by Brian Levander, president of the Crossroads board of directors and the owner of Levanders Body Shop at 2807 N Ave.

The board studied Levanders idea and is now finalizing the purchase of the property. The total cost of $1.5 million includes the purchase, construction, renovation, furnishings and administrative costs. Crossroads is also launching a capital campaign to raise $675,554 for the project. Crossroads will apply for a $750,000 grant from Federal Home Loan Bank, a private institution that it has previously worked with.

Weve realized in the past few years that were not just serving Kearney or Grand Island. Crossroads serves the entire western half of the state, Buller said. He said North Platte has a homeless shelter, but there is nothing between North Platte and Cheyenne.

Clients have no place to go, so they come to Kearney, Buller said. The Kearney facility opened with 27 beds in 2012 and expanded to 42 beds in 2013. It has since added a womens facility as well as 15 transitional apartments designed for people who have completed the Crossroads program and are searching for affordable housing. That facility is full.

Residents  called guests by Crossroads staff  get safe shelter, hot meals and classes in life skills and money management to help them live independently. Buller said Crossroads fulfills its mission most effectively when its facilities can be spread across the region. The Hastings facility went from overwhelming the community to being a blessing once we opened the facilities in Kearney and Grand Island, Buller said.

As Crossroads mulled over the Lexington facility, Healthy Blue Nebraska called unexpectedly and offered $20,000 to begin funding for the project. To me, that is affirmation about taking the good next steps, Buller said.

We took steps, trusted the Lord, found this building and presented it to the board, he added. The six-member Crossroads board and Levanders Automotive will present a gift of between $50,000 and $60,000 to kick off the Following the Need campaign.

Buller said the same business model will be used in Lexington that has been used in Hastings, Kearney and Grand Island. Crossroads has a combined total of 45 employees in those three facilities. Our leadership has learned that there is a way to do this to sustain this. We can take one donor dollar and turn that into $3, he said.

Jake Ondrak, currently the director at the Kearney Crossroads facility, will become the regional director overseeing operations in Lexington as well. In the next year, Crossroads will hire staff for Lexington. It will also open a temporary Mission Thrift Avenue in Lexington, a successful second-hand store that has brought in needed income while teaching Crossroads guests the intricacies of holding a job and managing money. A permanent store site will be found in the next year.

In July, Crossroads opened a monthly food pantry in Lexington at the Dawson County Fairgrounds, in conjunction with the Foodbank of the Heartland, after Lexingtons mobile food pantry had closed. The pantry serves an average of 450 families each month. If you come, we wont ask questions. If you say you need food, we will give it to you, Buller said.

Buller said Lexington has been very welcoming to Crossroads, with its arms wide open. There is no resistance. This is meant to be a transformation, not just bed and food.

I think it is our job to train the minds of communities who have had a kind of a jaded opinion about homeless people. People who come to Crossroads facing homelessness are just average, everyday people who just need help and opportunities. They are some of the most incredibly talented people, Buller said.

More information about the capital campaign can be found at www.crossroadsmission.com.
ARAPAHOE  The Nebraska Cooperative Development Center would like to invite anyone interested in working in the homecare industry to a public meeting at 6 p.m. Nov. 29 at Prairie Pines, 1010 Second St. in Arapahoe.

The meeting will focus on the proposed organization of the Midwest Compassion Homecare Cooperative.

This group of caregivers has been working with NCDC from the exploration of to the creation of a worker-owned homecare business.

Through the exploratory phase, the group determined that central Nebraska faces the same crisis in eldercare that is being experienced all over the county. Nebraska-based assisted living and skilled nursing facilities are closing at an alarming rate, leaving many wondering where to turn for care. Additionally, Nebraska caregivers, both in home care and facility care, are underpaid and undervalued.

What is a homecare worker cooperative?

A homecare worker cooperative is a private business that is owned and operated by the individuals who work for the business.

A homecare worker cooperative is owned democratically by its members  each member owns one share of the business.

Member-owners set the wages, benefits and policies. Worker cooperatives traditionally have higher pay, higher employee retention and higher levels of worker satisfaction

Members have a say in how the business is managed. Worker cooperatives provide an employment alternative to homecare workers who want to have a say in how their homecare business is run through a democratic decision-making process.

Members have a greater influence on the quality of care.

Profits go back to the member-owners.

For more information, contact:

Cindy Houlden, cooperative development specialist, choulden2@unl.edu or 308-293-6417.

Heidi Thomas, steering team member, heidi.thomas@arapahoewarriors.org or 308-962-4580.

Cooperatives are user-owned and user-controlled businesses formed to benefit a group of members. Cooperatives are designed to reward use, encourage users to commit to using the services and encourage users to voice opinions about how the business is doing.

The Nebraska Cooperative Development Center (NCDC) is located in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
In July, the legislative committee of Dunn County approved a referendum question that is unprecedented in rural America. The question asked Congress and the U.S. president to nationalize health care.

Its chances of success looked good ahead of the Nov. 8 referendum. Results of this referendum could make waves in Wisconsin.
During the November 2022 general election, the city of Tomah will be utilizing six brand-new Badger Books, which are electronic poll books. Badger Books will make election day easier and more efficient for both poll workers and voters.

We are thrilled to use this new technology to better serve our voters, said Tomah City Clerk Becki Weyer.

In 2017, at the direction of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, WEC staff developed an electronic poll book application for use in Wisconsin elections. Wisconsin state statute requires authorization from the commission for the use of any electronic poll book in the state.

During the 2018 spring elections, the commission piloted the new e-poll book system in three to six jurisdictions, and it was later made available to all municipalities.

We will be the first municipality in Monroe County to integrate Badger Books, said Weyer. Our election workers have already completed the necessary training and they are ready for election day.

To date, the Badger Book is the only electronic poll book authorized for use in Wisconsin and is the only e-poll book application with direct integration to WisVote, which is Wisconsins online election management tool for managing the voter list.

Badger Books will streamline the voters check-in process, helping voters receive their ballots more quickly. Voters will still be required to present a photo ID to election workers and state their name and address.

After poll workers locate the voters name in the Badger Book, voters will sign the poll book electronically with the use of their finger or a stylus.

In addition, voters will now be able to go to any line at the polling place to check in. They will no longer need to know what ward or district they live in as all that information will already be stored in the digital poll books.

One crucial fact is that Badger Books are not connected to the internet. It is only an electronic version of the paper poll book and as such, performs only the functions that a paper poll book would such as, checking-in voters, processing Election Day registrations and recording absentee participation.

The Badger Books are wirelessly connected to and communicate with each other through a router, using encryption and authentication to communicate with each other.

Each Badger Book is password protected, and each poll worker has his or her own credentials to log in to the application.

The only voter information loaded on the Badger Books is poll book data. No personally identifiable information, such as birth dates, Social Security numbers or drivers license numbers are accessible on the Badger Books.

Poll workers will also be able to register a new voter more efficiently with the use of the Badger Books. Another function of the Badger Book is its ability to provide redirection information for a voter at the incorrect polling location.

For example, if a poll worker is registering a voter who may be new to the area, they will be able to tell them whether they are eligible to vote in the city of Tomah or in one of the area towns instead.

The Badger Books are plugged into electricity, as well as a backup battery, and the city has a generator in case of a power outage. If all those options failed and the power goes out for a significant time, staff would revert back to paper poll books that will be printed in case of such an emergency to keep the election running.

After election day, via a secure multi-factor authentication, a data file generated from the Badger Books is used to upload election participation and election day registration information into WisVote, so voters may see their participation on MyVote within a day or two, as opposed to waiting for the city clerks office to manually record election participation.

Voters should see shorter lines with quicker check-ins, said Weyer. And they can see their participation within a few days of the election.

The elections are also more accurate with the use of the Badger Books, leaving less chance for human error, which is more important than ever in this time of voter uncertainty regarding election accuracy.
SALEM, Ore. (AP)  Oregon's pioneering motor voter program, in which residents who interact with the motor vehicle division are automatically registered to vote, hit a minor software speed bump, but the secretary of state said Monday it's being resolved.

Secretary of State Shemia Fagan said the Oregon Elections Division on Friday discovered the software error, which for the past six years has failed to pre-register some 16- and 17-year-olds to vote.

As a result, 7,767 eligible voters in Oregon ... were not given the opportunity to become automatically registered voters for the 2022 election. The issue has impacted voters during the last three election cycles, Fagan's office said in a statement.

Fagan will direct Oregons 36 county clerks to issue ballots to affected voters  those who will be 18 or older on Nov. 8.

Eligible voters not receiving their ballots in Oregon is unacceptable, Fagan said. As long as I am Oregons Secretary of State, I will do everything in my power to ensure that no eligible voters are disenfranchised."

The Oregon Elections Division was alerted to the issue by a voter who didnt receive a ballot.

Fagan said her technical staff worked through the weekend to resolve the software error.

On Monday morning, there were almost 3 million registered voters in Oregon. A total of 414,000 ballots have already been returned, the secretary of state's website said. Voters in Oregon receive ballots in the mail and can either mail them back or leave them in official drop boxes.
Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, welcomed Sameh Al Qubaisi, Director General of Economic Affairs at Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) to the companys Al Taweelah site in Abu Dhabi.

Abdulla Kalban, EGAs Managing Director, and Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, EGAs Chief Executive Officer, received Sameh Al Qubais and ADDEDs delegation at EGA. During the visit, the delegation was briefed on EGAs industrial activities in Abu Dhabi and its work to further localise the companys supply chain and further improve Emiratisation.

His Highness Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, recently launched the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy to strengthen Abu Dhabis position as the regions most competitive industrial hub. The Abu Dhabi Government is investing AED 10 billion in transformational programmes to more than double the size of the manufacturing sector to AED 172 billion, creating 13,600 jobs for skilled workers, and contributing to increasing Abu Dhabis non-oil exports by 143 per cent to AED 178.8 billion by 2031.

EGAs aluminium production at Al Taweelah began in 2009, with a second phase of the smelter started-up in 2013. EGA has developed an alumina refinery on the site, which began production in 2019 and was a new industrial activity for the UAE.

EGA is the hub of a broader aluminium cluster within Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi and supplies nearby by customers with liquid metal via a dedicated hot metal road.

Sameh Al Qubaisi, Director General of Economic Affairs at ADDED, said: To achieve the ambitious goals of the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy, we focus on working closely with major manufacturers that are contributing positively to creating new jobs, increasing non-oil GDP and exports. We are proud of the role played by our national economic champions, like Emirates Global Aluminium, in developing the industrial sector. This visit allowed us to be briefed about the latest developments in EGAs facilities and discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation to achieve sustainable economic development.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said: It was a pleasure to welcome His Excellency and his delegation from the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development to Al Taweelah, which is amongst the largest industrial sites in the Emirate outside oil and gas. EGA has been a pioneer of economic diversification for decades, and we fully support the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy to grow the industrial sector further. We see opportunities for new manufacturing to develop both in our supply chain and using our metal.

Nationally, the broader aluminium sector with EGA at its heart generates over AED 18 billion annually in the economy. For every AED 1 of GDP generated in the aluminium sector, a further AED 1.26 is generated elsewhere in the UAE economy. EGA has a bold aspiration to double its absolute contribution to the economies of the countries in which it operates by 2040, and steadily improve the quality of its contribution.
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR MONDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022

A Fighting Chance

Oct. 31, 2022 (EIRNS)The Pope has offered Vatican City for negotiations between the U.S., Europe and Russia on the matter of shared security arrangements. Previously, it had been reported that Pope Francis had reached out to President Joe Biden regarding the Vatican helping to arrange peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, but Washington ignored them. Instead of despairing and resigning matters to fate, enlarging the call to negotiations over shared security is the proper escalation. It goes beyond any tenuous and unstable ceasefire that skirts the issue. Rather, the shared security arrangements are exactly the necessary discussion that was spurned last year, when Russia brought up the impolite topic, why was a military force relentlessly moving toward their border?

The level of deliberation necessary to address such shared security matters has been on display for more than a few months at the Schiller Institute conferences. Now, the breakout last week of active and retired legislators from around the world at the Schiller-sponsored October 27 Second Seminar of Current and Former Elected Officials of the World: For World Peace: Stop the Danger of Nuclear War, continues on a daily basis, toward a third seminar of current and former elected officials on November 22, Stop the Danger of Nuclear War Nowalso hosted from a conference room of Mexicos Federal Congress.

Every day counts. China launched a new space station today. Russias Putin presided over a meeting in Sochi with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev today, to tackle the differences that have driven the two countries back into conflict. Brazils Lula da Silva officially won the presidential election over Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, putting the real possibility that the BRICS grouping could get into high gear. As this is written, there are no little machinations going on, figuring out whether Bolsonaro should shut down the country and plunge Brazil into a civil war. The dangers are real, for, while the Atlanticist gang does not have history on their side, every day that their insane delusions roam the planet, the human species is in existential jeopardy.

The newly released U.S. military doctrine, by design, threatens the world, suggesting, We have trigger points to begin a nuclear exchange, but youre just going to have to guess. Ukraines head of military intelligence knows that the majority of Putins appearances in public are actually done by a body double, covering up his extreme illnesses. Kievs Myrotvorets hit list has named an Israeli Cabinet Minister as a target, who opposes sending military aid to neo-Nazis. And youths in the U.S., a study finds, spend on average ten hours a day in front of a screen, appear to become more depressed the longer they do so. Is it a surprise that literacy has been plunging throughout the country?

Or, in brief, consider the apposition: On one hand the insightful report by Wang Wen, the Dean of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University, on Putins three-hour, unscripted open discussion after his 45-minute keynote at the Valdai Discussion Club, challenged by questioners from around the world, providing thoughtful, potent, on-target and straightforward answersa performance demonstrating that the accustomed mediocrity, banality and duplicity of the current Western so-called leaders was never necessary and neednt be tolerated. On the other hand, witness the president of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde come unglued in public at the thought of the same Putin.

Ideas work. Good ideas work to create good. There are three weeks to the most concentrated demonstration on the planet as to how that works. LaRouche citizen candidates Joel Dejean and Diane Sare are at the center of that breakout process, in the first of those three weeks. All you could ever ask for is a fighting chance.
A community in the southern state of Alabama is experimenting to find a better way to teach students who are learning English as their second language. To reach its goal, the school district is hiring more local, Spanish-speaking workers.

More than half of the 2,500 students in Russellville City School district are Hispanic. About 25 percent of them are learning English.

The district is using federal aid money aimed at helping communities hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kathy Alfaro is one of the teachers. She was a Spanish teacher, but took a new job teaching children the English language. Students learning English are called EL students.

Russellville at times has struggled to find the workers and money needed to help EL students. It usually takes five years of intensive study to help a student learn English and perform well in a regular classroom. Russellville hopes to help its students and be a model for the rest of the country.

We were trying to teach an increasing number of EL students with predominantly white teachers that speak English, said Superintendent Heath Grimes. And Im like, Why are we not using resources that we have in our community?

As a group, English learners performed lower on language proficiency tests during the pandemic. Experts said that may be because many students did not have good online classes. Schools may have struggled to teach English by video link.

But test scores at Russellville schools have improved. Across the district, the percentage of students who met language requirements increased from 46 percent in 2019 to 61 percent in 2022. At the two elementary schools, proficiency increased by nearly 30 percentage points.

Grimes said the increase was likely because of new EL teachers and aides.

The non-profit group Education Trust found that some of the nations largest districts used pandemic aid money to give jobs to bilingual employees. Bilingual describes a person who can speak two languages.

Federal aid is ending

However, federal aid money is starting to be used up and schools are preparing for budget cuts. Some experts warn against reducing support for EL programs.

Carlos Aleman is the director of the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama. He said that as federal money is no longer available, the state should review what it can do to make sure that these programs can remain in place.

Russellville school officials are working on ways to keep the new positions. They are also hoping the state will increase long-term funding for EL education.

State support for English language programs is limited, but growing. The state legislature approved $2.9 million for schools with large numbers of students learning English as a second language in 2018. That amount grew to $16 million last year. Leaders at the Alabama State Department of Education are asking for more money in this years budget for EL specialists.

Supporters say money for EL students often falls short, especially in rural districts.

It takes a lot more money to educate a child that does not speak your language, said state Representative Jamie Kiel, a Russellville lawmaker of the Republican Party. He has called for spending more money on EL students in the state budget.

At West Elementary in Russellville, Elizabeth Alonzo is in her second year as an EL assistant. She said there were few bilingual teachers in her school when she was growing up.

Whenever I started kindergarten, I didnt know a word of English, so I struggled a lot, Alonzo said. That was one of the reasons why I wanted to do this, because I want to help those students.

Im Jill Robbins

Dan Novak adapted this story based on reporting by The Associated Press.

A Small US Town Teaches English to Immigrants Children Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

district  n. an area established by a government for official government business

predominantly adv. mainly, mostly

superintendent  n. a person who supervises an organization or department

proficiency  n. skillful or good enough at doing something
A new study finds that vaccinating pregnant women for RSV was effective in protecting their newborns from the sickness.

RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus. It affects the bodys breathing system. RSV is most common in babies, but can also affect adults. Most of the time it only causes minor sickness such as runny nose and cough. But in serious cases it can lead to life-threatening disease in some babies and older people.

American drug maker Pfizer did the study. It announced the results Tuesday. The study subjects were given the vaccine in the second half of their pregnancy terms.

The company said its RSV vaccine was nearly 82 percent effective in preventing severe cases of the virus during the first 90 days of a babys life. At six months of age, the vaccine was found to be 69 percent effective against serious sickness, the study found.

Pfizer said there were no signs of safety problems in mothers or babies.

The company said the study showed the vaccine was most effective against severe disease. For milder sickness, the rate of effectiveness dropped to between 51 to 57 percent.

In the United States, RSV leads to the hospitalization of about 58,000 children younger than age 5 each year. Several hundred children die. About 177,000 adults 65 and older are hospitalized with RSV each year and it kills about 14,000.

Worldwide, about 100,000 children a year die from RSV, most of them in poor countries.

Pfizer said it plans to seek government approval of its RSV vaccine by the end of 2022. If approved, Pfizers shot could become the first vaccine given to mothers to prevent RSV in young children.

British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is also working on developing a vaccine against RSV.

Both companies recently announced their shots have also shown good results protecting older people.

Kena Swanson is vice president of Pfizers viral vaccines division. She told Reuters news agency that a vaccine given to mothers "takes advantage of the ability to protect the infant from day one. Swanson added that the results are important because they showed the vaccine is highly effective at protecting babies at the peak of hospitalization, at around one to two months of age.

Childrens hospitals in parts of the U.S. have been reporting worrying levels of RSV cases. While the latest findings will not be able to help that situation, they do raise hopes that one or more vaccines might become available before next falls RSV season.

My fingers are crossed, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University. Were making inroads, he added.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press and Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English.

___________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

take advantage of  phr. to use the good things in a situation

peak  n. the highest level or value of something

inroads  n. to start becoming successful at something

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If you watch every YouTube trip video of Badlands National Park, youll still be surprised and delighted when you arrive at this weird and wonderful place.

From Omaha, its about a 6.5-hour drive, thanks in part to the 80 mph speed limit on Interstate 90, the interstate highway that runs east to west the length of South Dakota.

The quickest route is to pick up I-29 in Council Bluffs and head north to catch I-90 westbound in Sioux Falls.

What the reviewers say is true: the 244,000-acre park in south-central South Dakota is underrated. Perhaps the parks unwelcoming name scares people off to parks with more friendly nomenclature.

Yes, its bad if youre trying to grow crops or cross it in a covered wagon. Most likely the bones of some unlucky travelers still lie bleaching in its box canyons. The north rim of the Badlands, from which the town of Wall, South Dakota, takes its name, appears in every way an indomitable obstacle to the traveler. Head south seven miles from Wall and you come to this natural barrier.

But what you see looking down from this precipice are sweeping vistas of striated hills and crags stretching into distant mixed-grass prairie. The rocks are colored pink, cream, gray, green and yellow  turn one way and theyre smooth and inviting, another way and theyre jagged and forbidding.

Highway engineers breached this wall with a scenic byway called Badlands Loop Road that winds along the wall and descends into the badlands, bringing you face-to-face with its wonders.

Bison, bighorn sheep, mule deer, pronghorn and prairie dogs are among the creatures patrolling this moonscape. About a million people visit the park each year, so the animals are comfortable with an audience. Signs warn visitors to avoid tangling with bison and rattlesnakes.

You may want to avoid the crowds, too, and make your trip in the fall or spring. Parking lots at the ranger station and overlooks are mostly empty then. And the weather is better, if not a bit unpredictable. Summers are hot.

Admission is $30 a car. Theres camping in the park and hotels in Wall and other nearby towns.

For photographers, the park is overwhelming. No amount of time will be enough to satiate the hunger for images. Sunrises and sunsets bathe the Badlands in warm golden light that enhances the pink and yellow stone.

If youre the spur-of-the-moment type, theres still time this year to run up before winter tightens its choke-hold. If youre the plan-ahead type, its time to jump on YouTube.
Hong Kong: New mediation platform set for HK

The Government today announced that an agreement was signed last month that paves the way for the establishment of the International Organization for Mediation Preparatory Office in Hong Kong.

The Peoples Republic of China and various foreign states signed the Joint Statement on the Future Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation which confirmed the initiation of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), the Government explained in a press release.

The IOMed will provide a new platform for the peaceful settlement of international disputes, it added, highlighting that this international inter-governmental organisation will provide friendly, flexible, economical and efficient mediation services.

Pursuant to the joint statement, the IOMed Preparatory Office will be set up in Hong Kong. From 2023, the office is expected to start the negotiation of the relevant international convention and the preparatory work relating to the IOMeds establishment.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam signed the Arrangement on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation Preparatory Office in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Central Peoples Government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

The arrangement stipulates provisions relating to the establishment of the IOMed Preparatory Office, its status, and the privileges and immunities of the office and the individuals connected with it.

Mr Lam said: The establishment of the IOMed Preparatory Office in the Hong Kong SAR is a much welcomed development and shows the great support from our motherland to maintaining the citys unique status under one country, two systems.

It also signifies a vote of confidence by the states signing the joint statement in placing their trust in the Hong Kong SAR as the location for the IOMed Preparatory Office.

Situating the preparatory office in Hong Kong would strengthen the citys position as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia Pacific region under the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the Greater Bay Area Development Plan, he also noted.

The arrangement will come into effect after the relevant legislative work has been completed in Hong Kong, the Government added.

This story has been published on: 2022-11-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) announced it is participating in the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec), the world's most influential gathering for energy industry professionals, which kicked off yesterday (Monday), bringing together an elite group of energy leaders, decision makers, and CEOs.

Over the course of the four-day event, the free zone will highlight its integrated services and incentives provided to businesses in the energy, oil, and gas sectors as well as its strategy developed to draw in businesses from all over the world, taking advantage of its easy access to global markets and 360-degree connectivity with a strong land, sea, and air network.

HFZA will also shed light on its sophisticated infrastructure, outstanding services, and business incentives, including a single-window operation that boosts the efficiency of performance and simplifies procedures of doing business; along with multiple tax exemptions; repatriation of capital and profits; full foreign ownership of the business; and quick access to regional and global markets.

Market Trends

Saud Salim Al Mazrouei, HFZA Director, stressed that Adipec has become one of the top global events that HFZA is eagerly waiting to participate in as it brings together energy experts from around the world to discuss market trends.

The conference will provide us a great opportunity to learn about the demands of the business community in this critical sector while demonstrating the UAE's leadership in the world of energy.

"During the event, we will not only showcase the unparalleled incentives offered by HFZA to international businesses seeking to base their operations in the UAE and MENA, but will also promote Sharjah's developmental approach to becoming a global business hub," Al Mazrouei said.

Integrated Strategy

Al Mazrouei affirmed that HFZA has expanded its global presence in the oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors by leveraging its growing customer base, which now includes over 1,500 companies, comprising major players in the industry. " This can be attributed to the free zones adoption of an integrated strategy aimed at attracting large international oil and gas companies that will be backed by an excellent business environment and exceptional services and benefits system. This is in addition to HFZA's strategic location near Al Hamriya Port, which has turned it into a major contributor to the national economy and a favoured industrial hub for renowned international corporations," he added.

HFZAs pavilion number 129 is expected to receive a sizable number of visitors and companies wishing to learn about its worthwhile and feasible offers tailored to help investors achieve their business objectives at the UAE's second largest free zone, spanning 30 million sq m and housing over 6,700 companies from 160 countries.--TradeArabia News Service
U.S. Army veteran Greg Love, of Charlotte, tried for years to get access to the disability benefits he is owed after serving as a military police officer from 1987 to 1994.



But he found the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs system slow and hard to navigate. His first application was denied.



Then earlier this year, Love, 54, met with a VA claims representative at an event called Veterans Benefits Live, offered by the department along with AARP North Carolina.



He got help reapplying for benefits and is optimistic about his chances now.



It opened the door, says Love, who incurred a spinal injury from being hit by a vehicle while working on an Army base in Georgia. I finally got to apply for the benefits my family and I deserve and need. Im just waiting and hoping that this time will be different.



AARPs efforts include not only helping to sort through VA benefits for health and disability, but giving support for other programs that aid military families, with a focus on thwarting fraud targeted at veterans.



For those who cant attend live events, AARP provides an online tool, the AARP Veterans and Military Families Health Benefits Navigator, to help with enrolling in the VA system. Find the tool at aarp.org/vetshealthnavigator.



Veteran-Friendly State



Last year, the AARP North Carolina Veterans, Military and Their Families (VMF) Advisory Councils efforts contributed to Gov. Roy Cooper (D) proclaiming the state Veteran Friendly.



Now the council is challenging the state to live up to that proclamation by, among other things, making sure military cemeteries are maintained, checking on the quality of North Carolinas five nursing homes for veterans, and pushing the state to create job, educational and housing opportunities for them.



About 46 percent of North Carolina veterans are 65 and older, and another 35 percent are between 45 and 64, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.



We want to recognize their service to our country and the sacrifices theyve made, says retired Army Col. Shirley Gerrior, 72, of Wilmington, who chairs the VMF council and is the lead volunteer for AARP North Carolinas veterans issues.



AARP also wants to help vets avoid fraud, since they are often the targets of con artists.



AARP North Carolina holds in-person and virtual events on how to spot, prevent and report scams. To reach veterans in rural areas, AARP volunteers conducted a telephone campaign this year to share information about fraud with them.



Veterans, active-duty service members and their families are nearly 40 percent more likely to lose money to scams and fraud than the civilian population, according to a 2021 AARP report. Many of the scams are directly related to their military service or their benefits, the report found.



AARP is involved with events that honor veterans and recognize their service, hosting coffee gatherings for them and sending cards to those in nursing homes.



In April, AARP North Carolina helped sponsor an Honor Flight for Cape Fear area veterans to visit Americas war memorials in Washington, D.C.



Interested in supporting vets? Email NCAARP@aarp.org. For more, visit aarp.org/veterans and aarp.org/nc.



Michelle Crouch is a writer living in Charlotte, North Carolina.



AARP Serves Veterans

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The annual meeting of the American College of Surgeons was held from Oct. 16 to 20 in San Diego and attracted participants from around the world, including surgeons, medical experts, allied health professionals, and administrators. The conference included hundreds of general and specialty sessions, postgraduate courses, scientific paper presentations, video-based education presentations, and posters focusing on the latest advances in surgical care.

In one study, Andrew M. Ibrahim, M.D., of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and colleagues found that many aspects of hospital room design may influence patient recovery after surgery.

On a hospital floor plan of a major academic center, the authors mapped design features, including single versus double rooms, distance from the main nursing station, and whether or not there is a direct line of sight to the room. The authors then used data from electronic medical records to evaluate if patients recovered differently according to which room they were assigned. The investigators found that hospital room assignment did not seem to be random, and that in many cases, sicker patients appeared to be assigned to rooms with better design features. In addition, even after risk adjustment (taking into account how sick patients were), patients in rooms with better room features appeared to have lower rates of death after surgery compared with those in rooms without the favorable design features.

"Our findings have two important implications going forward. First, it provides important data to inform how hospitals in the future should be designed. Specifically, by providing clinical data for design features that should be prioritized," Ibrahim said. "Second, while many hospitals may not be able to pursue building renovation or new construction, they may be able to 'right-size' care by putting the sickest patients in the rooms with the best design features."

In another study, Marco Sozzi, M.D., of the Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center, and colleagues found that COVID-19 infection may worsen the outcomes of trauma patients, even when they are completely asymptomatic and have no radiologic signs of the infection.

The authors aimed to evaluate if COVID-19 infection may have an impact on outcomes of trauma patients, even when they are completely asymptomatic for the infection itself. Trauma patients testing positive for COVID-19 infection but without any symptoms or radiologic signs of viral disease were compared to trauma patients testing negative for COVID-19 infection. COVID-19-positive and COVID-19-negative patients were statistically matched according to various epidemiological characteristics and characteristics of the trauma. The researchers found that trauma patients with an asymptomatic COVID-19 infection had higher rates of cardiac complications, longer length of stay, and higher total hospital charges.

"The results of this study contribute to the mounting evidence of increased cardiovascular risk in patients with COVID-19 infection, including surgical patients and trauma patients," Sozzi said. "Definitely, this study proves that patients with asymptomatic COVID infection are different from noninfected patients and that this virus can have an impact even when clinically silent."

Jason Strelzow, M.D., of the University of Chicago, and colleagues found that marijuana dependency is associated with a higher risk for infection following arthroscopy of the knee and shoulder.

Using PearlDiver, a national insurance claims database, the authors identified patients with marijuana dependence who underwent knee or shoulder arthroscopy. The incidence of postoperative complications of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and infection was assessed. The researchers found that marijuana dependency was associated with a higher risk for infection following knee and shoulder arthroscopy. This finding was independent of the known risk factors of tobacco use, age, and obesity.

"More research is needed to understand the dose relationship and cessation scales. Additionally, the next steps are to evaluate the effect of marijuana in nondependent individuals and across open procedures or other surgical case types," Strelzow said. "For clinical practice, this may provide caregivers some information to help inform patient instructions around the time of surgery regarding cessation of marijuana use."

ACS: Diverticulitis Case Severity Increased Early in Pandemic

FRIDAY, Oct. 21, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- During the pandemic, surgical volumes decreased, but the clinical presentation of diverticulitis became more severe, according to a study presented at the Scientific Forum of the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2022, held from Oct. 16 to 20 in San Diego.

ACS: Livers Have Potential to Function for >100 Years

FRIDAY, Oct. 21, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A subset of livers that have been transplanted and have a cumulative age of at least 100 years have been identified, and patients receiving these livers have good outcomes, according to a study presented at the Scientific Forum of the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2022, held from Oct. 16 to 20 in San Diego.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  A North Dakota judge ruled Monday that he will keep the state's ban on abortion from taking effect, saying there's a "substantial probability that a constitutional challenge to the law will succeed.

Judge Bruce Romanick's ruling means abortion is still legal in North Dakota, though the state's only clinic  the Red River Women's Clinic of Fargo  shut down as it challenged the ban and has moved across the border to neighboring Minnesota.

Romanick last month rejected a request from North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley to let the law take effect while the Red River clinic's lawsuit went forward. Romanick based his earlier decision on several factors, but Wrigley argued he had not sufficiently considered the clinics chances of prevailing in court. The North Dakota Supreme Court agreed and told Romanick to take another look.

In his earlier ruling, Romanick noted the clinics uphill battle. But in his ruling Monday, he said the clinic has a substantial probability of succeeding, though he noted that the question of whether abortion is a constitutional right in North Dakota has been contentious and has not been decided by the state's highest court.

Romanick said the purpose of a preliminary injunction is to maintain the status quo until a case can be settled on the merits.

But he also wrote there is a substantial probability that the law is unconstitutional because of the constraint it places on doctors. Specifically, he took issue with the fact that the ban allows cases of rape or incest to be raised as an affirmative defense to administering an abortion  but notes that doctors could be prosecuted in the first place.

This puts unreasonable burdens on doctors and pregnant women that are not reasonably related to the goal of preserving life"  which the state has said is the purpose of the law. He wrote that if "women do not have a reasonable avenue in which to get safe abortions when their lives are in danger, the Statute does not serve its intended purpose.

Wrigley, a Republican, said he was still analyzing the ruling.

Im unpersuaded by almost everything I read in the judges ruling and we look forward to responding, he said.

Tammi Kromenaker, director of the Red River Womens Clinic, said she was pleased that abortion remained safe and legal in the state.

"We want physicians who are treating patients to feel like they can use their best medical judgment and training and not be looking at the law books as to how they can take care of patients," she said.

In the weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade earlier this year, the Red River clinic shut down its single location in Fargo and moved just a few miles across the state line to Moorhead, Minnesota, a state where abortion remains legal. But the clinic continued to press its lawsuit, arguing that the North Dakota constitution grants a right to abortion.

When Romanick blocked the law from taking effect last month, he acknowledged that the clinic had moved but noted doctors and hospitals would still be affected by the statute.

The law makes abortion illegal except in cases of rape or incest or when the life of the mother is in danger  any of which would have to be proven in court. Otherwise, a doctor who performs an abortion would face a felony charge, which abortion rights supporters say could stop doctors from performing abortions even if the mothers health is at risk.

More than a dozen states had passed so-called trigger laws that were designed to outlaw most abortions if the high court threw out the constitutional right to end a pregnancy. While some states began enforcing the bans immediately other efforts to bar the procedure are tied up in the courts.

In Idaho, for example, a strict abortion ban is in effect, but a federal judge has temporarily barred the state from enforcing the ban in some medical situations while a lawsuit from the Department of Justice works through the courts. And last week Arizonas attorney general has agreed not to enforce a near total ban on abortions at least until next year.

-

Kolpack reported from Fargo, N.D.
A hit-and-run driver who caused serious injuries to a bicyclist last year in a Near West Side Madison crash was sentenced to three years of probation but ordered to spend nine months of it in jail.

Christopher Reyes Garcia, 18, of Fitchburg pleaded no contest to hit and run causing great bodily harm for the crash Nov. 8, 2021, on Fish Hatchery Road in which he hit a 21-year-old special-needs man and then fled the scene.

He turned himself in two days later after taking the 2010 Nissan Sentra he was driving to an auto repair shop. As part of the plea agreement, a felony charge of causing injury while driving without a license was dismissed but considered during sentencing.

The victims father, Michael Kaszuba, told Dane County Circuit Judge Mario White that the day of the accident started like any other, but ended with me not knowing if my son would live through the night and with the knowledge that Reyes Garcia might have left him dead in the street.

He and his wife, Shannon, said that before the crash, their son had been living in his own apartment with in-home care. Among his injuries from the crash were a broken leg, fractured skull and internal bleeding.

The Kaszubas wanted Reyes Garcia sentenced to the statutory maximum, or 15 years of combined prison and extended supervision, but said they at least wanted him to spend nine months in jail.

Reyes Garcia, who did not have a prior criminal record, said he was truly sorry for his actions.

I made a very big mistake and I know I did damage to the family, he said.

His attorney, Sergio Tapia, noted his clients young age and said probation and a criminal record would be punishment enough as he seeks jobs and an education and otherwise goes about the rest of his life. He said that more than time in jail, Reyes Garcia needed education, specifically about traffic laws.

White, though, rejected the suggestion that Reyes Garcia fled the scene because he wasnt aware of the law. Rather, human decency should cause a person to stop when he knows hes hit someone with a vehicle, he said.

Reyes Garcia will be eligible to continue working while he serves his jail sentence, White ruled.
No charges will be filed in the stabbing death of a man in August on Madisons East Side after the Dane County District Attorneys Office determined that it was a case of self-defense, District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said Tuesday.

The death of Larry I. Fullilove, 35, of Madison, who was stabbed on Aug. 12 in the 900 block of Mayfair Avenue and died at UW Hospital the following day, was determined by police and an autopsy to be a homicide, according to a search warrant filed in August but unsealed in Dane County Circuit Court on Monday.

Police referred a first-degree intentional homicide charge to the district attorneys office on Sept. 8. It was declined on Sept. 19.

According to the search warrant, a man who identified himself as a cousin of Fullilove, along with the mans attorney, met with police on Aug. 15 to provide a statement and admitted he stabbed Fullilove. The man is not being identified by the Wisconsin State Journal because he was not arrested or charged with any crime.

The warrant, which sought to examine two cellphones owned by the man, states that the man recalled stabbing Fullilove in the back, possibly more than once, but he could not say for certain because everything happened so fast.

After the stabbing, the man told police, he fled to the North Side of Madison and contacted several people by cellphone. He also said he received a text message from Fulliloves phone that said something like, You just killed me.

An autopsy found Fullilove sustained multiple stab wounds to the back, upper left arm and upper left chest. The chest wound penetrated his heart.

The warrant states that the investigator who sought the warrant, Detective Lisa Fahrenbruch, was aware from previous investigations of a history between the man and Fullilove, and that there was a history of Fullilove having a violent temper.

The man said during the interview with police that in the weeks before the stabbing, Fullilove had strangled him.

In this case the suspect gave a voluntary statement and I believe directed law enforcement to the knife used, Ozanne said in an emailed message. His statement was corroborated by eyewitnesses at the scene as well as earlier in the night.

Ozanne said Fullilove was captured on video getting confrontational with the staff at a bar, which is consistent with (the) suspects statement that (Fullilove) was getting aggressive as well as physical with him.

In the end, Ozanne said, the statements and evidence created a situation in which we could not meet our burden beyond a reasonable doubt, so the homicide referral from Madison police was declined.

Fulliloves death was the second homicide of the summer in Madison that police referred for prosecution but was not pursued by the DAs office.

The office declined to file a homicide charge in the June 6 stabbing death of Trevon Davis-Williams, 23, which happened at an apartment on Black Onyx Drive, finding that a woman who stabbed him was likely defending herself, according to court records.
Southbound Interstate 39-90-94 remained closed Friday night after a boom truck hit the River Road overpass near DeForest at about 11:40 a.m., the Wisconsin State Patrol said.

The southbound lanes will remain closed overnight as work crews have been dispatched to remove a portion of the River Road bridge over the southbound lanes, the state Department of Transportation said.

Its buckled pretty good, so weve got southbound (I-39-90-94) closed at Highway V (mile marker 129), Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson said at mid-day Friday, minutes after the crash happened.

Johnson described the damage as significant and said there was debris from the crash on southbound I-39-90-94.

Southbound traffic was being diverted east on Highway V, south on Highway 51, and west on Highway 19 back to I-39-90-94.

If possible, southbound I-39/90/94 traffic was advised to use the Highway 12 exit at Lake Delton to avoid the lengthy delays. That would allow motorists to come down through Madison and avoid the area of the bridge crash.

At one point Friday, the back-up southbound was 10 miles, DOT said.

Northbound lanes remained open.

The wreck that damaged the bridge, causing the backup, was under investigation, the State Patrol said. The driver of the truck, who had not been cited, and another motorist received minor injuries.

DeForest Village President Jane Cahill Wolfgram said the blocked exit going into the municipality was an important but not major access point.

Were able to move folks down to the next access point or exit point and theyre able to still enter the major highway grid, she said.

But this is never good thing, she added. This is a situation where jurisdictionally we need to coordinate with the state and county and local road system to make sure it all comes back online.

Redirected traffic didnt seem to be boosting business for restaurants along Highway V. Employees said business was actually lagging, compared to what would normally be a busy Friday.

Kelly Burdick, an employee at The Timbers bar and grill, said business was down, despite the Friday night happy hour special.

After spending so much time in traffic, I guess people are just rushing to get home, Ehlenbachs Cheese Chalet manager Tyler Brown said. Cant blame them.

State Journal reporters Daniela Jaime and Lucas Robinson contributed to this report.
Leading delegates and business leaders discussed the future of supply chain opportunities in a post-pandemic world at a roundtable held on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) 2022.

The attendees included representatives from leading UK-based industrial companies including: AISUS Group; Aquaterra Energy; Cargostore; Elmac Technologies; EthosEnergy; Evoqua Water Technologies; Kent; MRDS; Norco Group Limited; Central Wire Industries UK, Energy Industries Council, Precision Impulse; Proserv; Safelift Offshore; Saturn FE; Scottish Development International (SDI); Shipham Valves; and Whittaker Engineering.

The business roundtable was hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology.

During the session, senior business leaders held meetings with Omar Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology.

As well as networking with stakeholders, Al Suwaidi introduced them to the 'Make it in the Emirates' campaign, an open invitation to industrials, investors, innovators, and entrepreneurs to benefit from the UAEs exceptional value proposition.

Al Suwaidi later gave a presentation on the UAEs FDI value proposition including the incentives and enablement solutions under the Make it in the Emirates initiative.

Representatives from Adnoc, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Abu Dhabi Investment Office, and Taziz also delivered presentations ahead of a general discussion between delegates.-TradeArabia News Service
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders is headed to Madison on Friday night for a get-out-the-vote event.

The Vermont independents Madison stop is one of many hes making in swing states across the country as he focuses on turning out youth voters  a group more liberal but also less likely to vote than most other age groups.

Scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater, the event comes as the data-crunching site FiveThirtyEight shows Wisconsins gubernatorial race as a toss-up and U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson as the likely winner of the U.S. Senate race.

But none of Wisconsins candidates will appear with Sanders Friday, according to a spokesperson for the tax-exempt organization that helped coordinate the event.

Our organizations fall under independent expenditures which prevents us from directly coordinating with candidates, NextGen America spokesperson Shelby Purdum said in a statement.

Independent expenditures are expenditures that organizations make toward political causes, but they cannot be coordinated directly with campaigns, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Sanders won Wisconsins presidential primary in 2016, beating Hillary Clinton by more than 10 points. In the 2020 Wisconsin contest, however, he lost to now-President Joe Biden by more than 30 points.

Sanders is scheduled to stop in Eau Claire and La Crosse before his Madison event on Friday. He is scheduled to go to Oshkosh on Saturday.
Amid tight finances, Madisons powerful Finance Committee on Monday delivered a salary increase for nonunion employees and made other changes to Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conways proposed $381.9 million operating budget for 2023.

But the committee late Monday refused a proposal to more than double City Council pay starting in April 2023.

By far, the most expensive of 23 separate amendments considered Monday was $3.1 million in annual costs starting in 2024 to provide a staggered, 3% wage hike for roughly 1,400 permanent employees not in the police, fire or bus driver unions.

The Finance Committee voted 4-2 to update the citys wage schedule for municipal employees who lost bargaining rights when state laws were changed in 2011. Municipal employees are now 6% behind protective service employees in percentage wage increases over the past several years.

Their amendment will delay a 1% pay increase now scheduled for Jan. 1 until July 9, but raise the amount to 2% and then deliver another 1% on Oct. 29. To offset the cost next year, the city would delay hiring several new positions, require agencies to find salary savings or apply reserves of funds from other sources.

Alds. Sheri Carter, Yannette Figueroa Cole, Tag Evers and Mike Verveer voted for the amendment. Council President Keith Furman and Ald. Regina Vidaver voted no. The committee voted 4-2 against a substitute to provide only a 2% increase.

To deny the increases would mean selective austerity for nonunion employees rather than shared austerity for all in challenging financial times, said Evers, 13th District, noting that the increase fulfills the councils previous resolution to pursue pay parity.

The proposal would cost an extra $3.1 million compared with the mayors budget in 2024, increasing a projected budget gap for that year from $7.2 million to $10.3 million. As one-time federal COVID-19 funds wane, the budget gap is projected to be $23.2 million in 2025 and $26 million in 2026.

Furman and Vidaver praised city employees, but Furman cautioned, Our costs are growing faster than our allowed revenues. The trend is getting worse, not better. I cant support this. I cant put this on future councils.

The committee deadlocked 3-3 on a substitute amendment to more than double council pay from $14,904 to $31,793 in April 2023, a move to pay a living wage, open opportunities for more people and make the council more equitable, sponsors said.

At the start of the discussion, Furman, a primary sponsor, offered the substitute amendment that would still double member salaries but provide less of an increase than an original proposal.

Currently, pay for council members is budgeted at $14,904 each for 2022, with the vice president making $16,078 and the president $18,135. The mayors budgeted salary for 2022 is $157,548.

The substitute amendment would have raised council member pay from $13.77 per hour, or $14,904 annually, to $29.38 per hour, or $31,793 a year. It would also have provided an increase for council leadership, bumping premiums for those jobs to $31.69 an hour, or $34,297 annually, for the vice president and $35.75 an hour, or $38,686 annually, for the president.

A $13.77 hourly wage is a gatekeeper preventing people in the community from pursuing the position, Furman said.

The increases would cost $269,870 next year and $379,276 annually.

Furman, Figueroa Cole and Evers voted yes. Carter, Verveer and Vidaver voted no. The committee also split 3-3, with the same votes for and against, on a substitute by Figueroa Cole to lower the pay increase.

Future concerns

In early October, Rhodes-Conway proposed a record operating budget for next year focusing on public safety, neighborhoods, youth opportunities and employees, but with a sobering warning about future deficits.

Overall, the mayors budget increases spending by 6%  the most since 2009  to $381.9 million, and raises tax collections by 5.5% to $273.2 million.

The committee also refused a number of proposals largely based on concerns about cost, especially ongoing expenses in future years.

In coming years, the city will have to consider special charges, service levels and pay structures to balance budgets, finance director David Schmiedicke said.

On the week of Nov. 14, the full council will make final decisions on the citys capital and operating budgets for 2023.

Funds for agencies

For police, the Finance Committee voted 5-1 to use a $175,000 federal Community Policing Development Microgrant for a two-year initiative to develop Community Policing Advisory Boards in each of six police districts, in partnership with the Madison Community Policing Foundation.

Under the initiative, residents would work with other community members and district officers to discuss public safety and create community activities to build neighborhood cohesion. The main goal is to increase community voice, assistant chief John Patterson said.

Also, the committee unanimously supported using $175,000 in federal funds for a two-year initiative to expand peer support, training, family resources, suicide prevention and other wellness programs in the Police Department.

The Parks Division didnt fare as well.

The committee voted 4-2 against spending $148,430 to create two more full-time parks ranger positions. Also, the committee deadlocked 3-3, a vote short of passage, on spending $72,000 for a full-time parks volunteer coordinator, who would lead recruiting, scheduling and training of volunteers.

Also Monday, the Finance Committee:

Unanimously approved $20,000 for a blight study of the Allied Drive area. If the area is found to be blighted, the city can conduct programmed building inspections there that were severely restricted by the state Legislature in 2017.

Unanimously approved using $50,000 funded by salary savings in the Police Department budget for a one-time pilot of third-party transports to and from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute. Now, such trips require two officers to be unavailable for five to six hours with a cost for 231 trips in 2021 estimated up to $169,800.

Voted 4-2 to pay $104,332 for the citys share of adding two patient navigator positions for prenatal care coordination in the Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Program at Public Health Madison and Dane County. The funding is contingent on the county providing its $133,268 share.

Unanimously approved

$122,729 in annual costs for a full-time assistant city traffic engineer to address increased workload.
Let us apologize in advance to Barack Obama, who once wrote a book called The Audacity of Hope. You see, our subject today is what might be called the Caucacity of Nope.

The word is a new coinage, a portmanteau of Caucasian and audacity denoting a brand of white arrogance and entitlement that has become tiresomely familiar in recent years. It often plays out in episodes  sometimes fatal  wherein some white person takes it upon themselves to police people of color who are just trying to live their lives.

Nope, it says, you may not jog down that street without identifying yourself to me.

Nope, you may not barbecue in that park without justifying yourself to me.

Nope, you may not swim in that pool without explaining yourself to me.

If last weeks headlines are any indication, theres now a new nope. It says, You may not vote early in certain precincts without confronting me. And Ill be armed. It seems self-appointed ballot-box watchers, carrying firearms and wearing tactical gear, have been camping out at drop boxes in Maricopa County, Arizona, surveilling voters, shooting video, recording license plates and even accusing some of being so-called ballot mules.

The group behind this  Clean Elections USA  would likely dispute that their mission is to deter voters of color. On the other hand, Clean Elections is a band of far-right election deniers and, Kanye West notwithstanding, the far-right is not, shall we say, known for its hospitality toward people of color. Especially, one wagers, in Maricopa, where the population of non-Hispanic, non-Latino white people is just barely a majority at 53 percent.

It would require prodigious credulity, then, not to believe voters of color are the implicit target here, or to buy that any of this really has to do with protecting election integrity  especially since U.S. elections already are among the most secure in the world. Rather, this bizarre behavior seems an obvious outgrowth of the fact that some large fragment of white America feels itself outnumbered in the countrys changing demographic climate.

They are incapable of processing the fact of their own numerical diminution, i.e., to understand that when they lose an election, it is not because theyve been cheated, but because they are fewer in number and growing smaller every day as a percentage of the whole. Instead, they salve themselves by telling themselves their opponents votes must somehow be illegitimate.

So you get people sitting out by the early-voting boxes with guns. And for all their posture of protecting elections, its hard to imagine a greater insult to election integrity. As acts of voter intimidation go, after all, one would be hard put to top greeting would-be voters with firearms.

But beyond the trauma to democracy, the caucacity of it all also bears comment. There is a level of gall here that is staggering. One hopes the same conservatives who pronounced themselves traumatized in 2008 when two members of the so-called New Black Panther Party showed up at a polling place in an African-American neighborhood in Philadelphia to taunt and insult would-be white voters could muster just a fraction of that indignation for this.

One does not hold ones breath.

In 2022, the biggest threat to election integrity is not fraud, but sore losers. The headlines from Maricopa suggest that voters  particularly voters of color  would do well to keep that in mind.

Caucacity makes people do crazy things.
Q: I heard RV parks in the Magic Valley don't take anything older than 2005. Why? Are there any mobile home rules?

A: There is no law within the city of Twin Falls requiring RV parks to limit their customers to anything newer than 2005, said Jonathan Spendlove, Planning and Zoning director for the city of Twin Falls.

To answer the mobile home question, we need to go through the definitions of RV, mobile home, and manufactured home," Spendlove said. "The following sections will go through those definitions found in Idaho Statute (this is not city code) and from the Idaho Division of Building Safety (again not city building department).

According to Title 49 Motor Vehicles, the definition of a recreational vehicle means a "motor home, travel trailer, fifth-wheel trailer, park model recreational vehicle, truck camper or folding camping trailer, with or without motive power, designed for recreational or emergency occupancy. It does not include pick-up hoods, shells, or canopies designed, created or modified for occupational usage. School buses or van type vehicles which are converted to recreational use, are defined as recreational vehicles.

Idaho Statute states a mobile home is a structure built prior to June 15, 1976. A manufactured home is a structure constructed after June 15, 1976, built according to the Federal Manufactured Housing and Safety Standards Act (HUD Code). A manufactured home is for residential use only. A modular building is any building, other than a manufactured or mobile home, which is of closed construction and is either entirely or substantially prefabricated or assembled at a place other than the building site. Modular buildings are built for residential or commercial use and the construction is regulated by the codes adopted by the state.

In general, the Idaho Statutes do not allow mobile homes to be relocated unless they are rehabilitated to meet the current manufactured home regulations, Spendlove said.

Perhaps some of the misconceptions/misinformation centers around this misunderstanding of Recreational Vehicles versus Mobile Homes versus Manufactured Homes. The state laws surrounding the construction and operation of these are all different and it is important to make those distinctions when individuals are inquiring about the various regulations of each group.

It is possible that private property owners of the RV parks are limiting their own RV customers to only those vehicles newer than 2005," Spendlove said. "But the city of Twin Falls would not be involved in that regulation or that specific enforcement.

Oregon Trail Campground said the only age restriction is on the monthly rate due to insurance purposes, so it must be a 2007 or newer.

Anderson Camp said theyve had rough trailers and then theyll get behind two months. Suddenly, theyre gone and their trailers still here. Weve disposed of a trailer.

Twin Falls 93 RV Park said they like RVs to not be older than 10 years. If they are, photos must be submitted for approval by the manager. Thats across the board for a lot of RV parks.

Have a question? Just ask and well find an answer for you. Email your question to Kimberly Williams Brackett at timesnewscuriousmind@gmail.com with Curious Mind in the subject line.
CASTLEFORD  A former city clerk awaits sentencing on grand theft charges after embezzling almost $11,800 in 2020, court records say.

Susana Runyan, 29, was charged with grand theft this year after discrepancies were found in money received from utility payments and what was deposited in a city bank account. In addition, Runyan was accused of cashing checks she wrote on a city bank account and taking the money, records said.

Total loss to the city was $11,779, CPA John Martin reported to law enforcement officers.

Runyan pleaded guilty to grand theft in August and was to be sentenced Monday but the hearing was moved to Nov. 18, upon public defender Sean Wynn telling Judge Ben Cluff that Runyan was in quarantine due to a positive covid test.

Former Twin Falls Senior Center employee: Firing director was 'dirty, underhanded' A forensic audit and investigations by Twin Falls police and the Idaho Attorney General's office have exonerated the former director of the senior center who was fired by the board of directors over concerns of mismanagement of funds.

Runyan was employed as the city clerk/treasurer from March 23, 2020 to Dec. 11, 2020, and left her job by sending a text message to city officials that she was quitting, court records said.

An audit revealed discrepancies with city finances, and on Jan. 26 of this year then mayor Dan Howard approached an investigator with the Twin Falls Sheriffs Office.

Martin told the Times-News that there had long been a suspicion that Runyan had taken funds. The audit and subsequent discussion with city officials lasted about a year, but Runyan didnt admit guilt.

On March 3, during questioning by a law enforcement officer, Runyan admitted to first taking money in September 2020, and from there started to take increasingly larger amounts, court records said.

She further told the investigator, records say, that she likened it to a loan and had intended to pay the money back.

Martin said the embezzlement has been a burden to the city of Castleford but the city has insurance to cover the losses.

City of Castleford council members need to have this resolved once and for all, he said, so that they can focus their energies on other pressing city matters.

Castleford has taken steps to help prevent something similar from happening it again, Martin said.

Now, the city of Castleford has a system that includes a new clerk and a new deputy clerk, he said. They work together in a correctly designed accounting system with controls and procedures.
GREELEY  A former longshot Idaho gubernatorial candidate was convicted Monday of kidnapping and killing a 12-year-old Greeley girl who went missing nearly 40 years ago.

Jurors found Steve Pankey, 71, guilty of felony murder, second-degree kidnapping and false reporting in the disappearance and death of Jonelle Matthews in 1984, the office of district attorney Michael Rourke said. A judge then sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

It was Pankeys second trial in the case. Last year, jurors were unable to reach verdicts on the kidnapping and murder charges and prosecutors decided to put him on trial again.

Pankey was a neighbor of Jonelle and her family when she vanished after being dropped off at her empty home by a family friend after performing at a Christmas concert in Greeley. He emerged as a person of interest in the case three decades later  shortly before Jonelles body was found in 2019  after claiming to have information about what happened to her and asking for immunity from prosecution.

Pankeys lawyers said his behavior may have seemed unusual but they argued police did not secure hard evidence against him and failed to clear an alternate suspect who died in 2007.

Prosecutors said Pankey kept up to date on the case throughout the years even as he moved his family to several states before settling in Idaho where he ran unsuccessfully as a Constitution Party candidate for Idaho governor in 2014 and in the Republican gubernatorial primary in 2018, the year that authorities said he was named as a person of interest in the girls death.

Jonelles case came to the attention of then President Ronald Reagan as his administration launched a national effort to find missing children. Her picture was printed on milk cartons across the United States as part of a project by the National Child Safety Council.

She was considered missing until workers digging a pipeline in a rural area near Greeley in July 2019 discovered human remains matching her dental records.

Her death was then ruled a homicide. She died from a single gunshot wound to the head, prosecutors said.
Virginia's governor takes his road show to a blue bastion to campaign in a tightening contest for governor.

, Gov. Glenn Youngkin told New Yorkers Monday they are a lot like Virginians and have a chance to follow the Old Dominion by electing a Republican governor.

Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-New York, is running some 6 to 8 percentage points behind Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, according to the latest October polls, compared with a gap of some 24 points in some summer polls - and that looks like momentum, Youngkin told a rally in the wealthy Westchester County suburbs.

"Five months ago, six months ago, all those smart pundits ... they said a Republican couldn't win in New York and that's exactly what they said in Virginia last year. They said no Republican could win in Virginia," Youngkin said.

"They said the suburbs are too blue, the media is too strong, but they forgot to ask the voters," he said.

It's a theme he's hit hard in a serious of campaign stops for Republican gubernatorial candidates, from one-time blue wall states like Michigan, to solid-red Nebraska, to a strongly Republican Kansas that surprised forecasters earlier this year by rejecting a proposed constitutional amendment to remove protection of abortion rights, to Democratic-leaning New Mexico and Nevada.

He campaigned in Georgia, for a Republican governor, Brian Kemp, who's been a target of Donald Trump, and Arizona, where election denier Kari Lake has declined to say if she'd accept results if they show she lost.

For Zeldin, Youngkin hit another major theme of his out-of-state campaigning: parents and schools.

"They said kids with 14-inch screens were getting a quality education and that their parents had no right to have a say in their kids' lives," he said.

Youngkin did not specifically mention his new school guidelines overturning Northam administration guidelines aimed at protecting students' access to toilets matching their gender identity and protecting privacy about their transgender status, including from their parents.

Youngkin's proposed guidelines say parents much consent to any change of name or gender description in school records and require students to use school bathrooms that match the sex they were assigned at birth except to the extent that federal law otherwise requires.

The Youngkin administrations document cites the case of Grimm v. Gloucester, in which the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond found in 2020 that the Gloucester County School Board had violated former student Gavin Grimms constitutional rights when it banned him from using the boys school bathrooms.

After remarks from Zeldin saying he would block any effort to require masks or limit access to business or schools, as New York and many other states had done to contain the pandemic, Youngkin repeated another popular line from campaign stops in other states.

He contrasted the impact of Virginia's closings on Bristol, Va. while across the state line - it runs down the middle of State Street in the downtown --businesses in Bristol, Tenn. were booming.

New York and Virginia were alike too, in sharing a spirit of freedom and a sense of being lands of opportunity, Youngkin said, but "You can see what's happening; what's happening is the liberal, progressive Democrats are trying to squash that spirit."

Youngkin travels Thursday to South Dakota and Oklahoma to campaign for Republican governors in re-election contests, continuing what's become a nationwide effort that Virginia Democrats say is leaving the state without its governor while he lays the groundwork for a presidential run.

Youngkin has repeatedly replied that he's just returning a favor, because Republican governors gave his Virginia campaign a major boost year, and that he's not thinking about the presidency.

In response to criticism about his support for Lake and for Maine's Paul LePage, despite Lake's insistence that the 2020 election was stolen and racist comments by LePage, Youngkin says he doesn't always agree with everything fellow Republican politicians say, but that he campaigns for them because he believes Republicans make better governors.
Two hundred school districts and charter schools across North Carolina  including McDowell County Schools  will benefit from more than $74.1 million in school safety grants announced Monday by the Department of Public Instructions Center for Safer Schools.

The funding will be used for safety equipment, school resource officers, training and services for students in crisis in elementary, middle and charter schools across the state. High schools were eligible for funding other than for school resource officers.

McDowell will receive $658,500. A majority of that  $484,000  will be used to support school resource officers (SROs). The remainder of the funds was approved for new surveillance camera equipment and technology upgrades to support that equipment, according to Interim Superintendent Brian Oliver.

We are most appreciative of the funding provided by the School Safety Grant Program, Oliver said. These resources should greatly enhance our efforts to keep our students and staff safe at school.

All the school districts and charter schools that applied for School Safety Grant funding for the 2022-23 school year received an award and were notified last week.

The School Safety Grant enhances schools efforts to keep our students safe, said Karen W. Fairley, executive director of the Center for Safer Schools. Were thankful that we had the funding available to distribute, and we know it will go to good use.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt said the funding is critical to ensuring that schools are safe for students and staff.

School safety is a top priority for the Department of Public Instruction as it is for students, families, educators  all of us, Truitt said. It goes without saying that safety is an essential condition for effective teaching and learning. The Center for Safer Schools did a great job ensuring that each applicant received as much funding as possible to meet that critical need.

Qualifying low-wealth counties were eligible for $44,000 per school resource officer, with a required local funding match of $11,000. Non-low wealth counties were eligible for $36,666 for an SRO with a local match of $18,333.

Awards are subject to all administrative and financial requirements, including timely submission of all financial and programmatic reports; resolution of all interim audit findings; and adherence to allowable expenses. Upon successful completion of the mandatory reports, the SRO funding will be extended automatically to the 2023-24 school year.

About the school safety grant

In 2018, the General Assembly worked with then-state Superintendent Mark Johnson to launch a new School Safety Grant Program to improve safety in public school units by providing grants for school resource officers, services for students in crisis, training to increase school safety, safety equipment in schools and additional school mental health support personnel.

Since then, more than $120 million has been awarded to public school units across North Carolina.

About the Center for Safer Schools

The Center for Safer Schools serves to promote safe learning environments for North Carolina K-12 schools. The CFSS serves as a hub of information and technical assistance on school safety to school faculty and staff, law enforcement, youth-serving community agencies, juvenile justice officials, policymakers, parents/guardians and students. CFSS staff focuses on school climate, school discipline and emergency preparedness concerns for North Carolinas public K-12 schools. CFSS staff is available to provide training, guidance and technical assistance upon request for school faculty and staff and those working with children and adolescents. The CFSS is headed by Karen W. Fairley, executive director.
Ben van Beurden, Chief Executive Officer of Shell, was named Trailblazer of the Year by the 12th Adipec Awards for leading Shells strategy to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050.

This years prestigious awards, which took place at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, placed a strong emphasis on sustainability and innovative lower-carbon energy solutions with 10 winners being selected from over 1,000 entries.

Hosted by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) the awards recognised outstanding individuals, projects and ideas that are transforming the global energy industry.

Over 350 companies

Over 350 companies from 62 countries submitted nominations for the awards with a distinguished jury of oil and gas industry leaders deliberating on the entries.

Fatema Al Nuaimi, Chief Executive Officer, Adnoc LNG, and Adipec Awards Chairperson, said: We congratulate all the winners of the Adipec Awards 2022. The Adipec Awards celebrate innovation, excellence, and transformational leadership as they recognise individuals and companies who have a profound impact across the energy industry. As the global energy landscape evolves, the Adipec Awards will continue to encourage innovative and forward-thinking solutions that can help enable a more sustainable energy future.

Technology featured heavily throughout the awards, with Adnocs predictive and analytics diagnostic programme named Digital Transformation Project of the Year and SeekOps named Oil & Gas Start-up Company of the Year for their unmanned aerial systems.

Proppants technology

MicroSilicons Smart microchip proppants technology was awarded the Breakthrough Research of the Year alongside their research partners The University of Kansas, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and EOG Resources, and Saudi Aramcos FracBots picked up the Breakthrough Technological Project.

The awards also recognised Hatem Abdullah Bajuaifer of Saudi Aramco who was named Young Technical Professional of the Year.

Winners

Trailblazer of the Year: Ben van Beurden, CEO, Shell;

Breakthrough Research of the Year: The University of Kansas, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), MicroSilicon and EOG Resources: Smart microchip proppants technology for precision diagnostics of hydraulic fracture networks;

Breakthrough Technological Project of the Year: Saudi Aramco: FracBots - The next real reservoir IoT;

Digital Transformation Project of the Year: Adnoc: Centralised predictive and analytics diagnostic programme (cpad);

Social Contribution and Local Content Project of the Year: bp Egypt: bp Egypt west Nile delta project - A force for good;

Oil and Gas Inclusion and Diversity Company of the Year: Emerson Automation Solutions: Emerson MEA - Diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic framework;

Young Technical Professional of the Year: Hatem Abdullah Bajuaifer of Saudi Aramco;

Outstanding achievement in Low Carbon Initiative: Adnoc: A responsible low-carbon operator - from ambition into action;

Oil & Gas Start-up Company of the Year: SeekOps: Global emissions reduction using automated detection, localisation and quantification via unmanned aerial systems; and

Operational Excellence Company of the Year (Excellence in Remote Operations): Petroleum Development Oman: PDO leading nodal acquisition and processing - from whitespace to exploration leads in record time.-- TradeArabia News Service
Mozambiques Minister of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, Helena Kida, and her Botswana counterpart, Machana Ronald Shamukuni, signed an agreement to exchange prisoners and provide mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

We understand that the agreement makes it clear that extradition requests will be decided by the state to which the request is made using the procedures provided for in the respective legislation, said Kida, quoted by Notcias, the main Mozambican daily newspaper.

The understanding provides for the refusal of extradition if the prisoner has been sentenced to death, a penalty that exists in the legal system of Botswana but has been abolished in Mozambique, and if there are human reasons arising from advanced age, health problems, or other special circumstances, said the Mozambican governor.

Helena Kida points out that Mozambique and Botswana cannot be refuges for criminals who have committed offenses in either country.

The two countries are members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and also cooperate in the areas of the economy, agriculture, and defense and security. Botswana has sent a military contingent to SADC personnel involved in fighting armed groups in the province of Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique.
The Angolan President, Joao Lourenco, expressed warm congratulations on the election of Lula da Silva, as President of Brazil, considering it a sign of hope and prosperity for Brazilians, expressing willingness to rescue bilateral relations.

For Joao Lourenco, the choice of Lula da Silva as Brazils highest magistrate translates into for the Brazilian people, the hope that, under your leadership, the Brazilian nation will follow the paths of prosperity based on democratic values, social justice, and inclusion.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was elected on Sunday as President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, beating Jair Bolsonaro, who has led the South American country in recent years.

The Angolan President recalls that Angola and Brazil have accumulated a recent past of rich memories of bilateral relations that need to be rescued.

And, therefore, I believe that the historical ties of friendship and brotherhood between our peoples will encourage us to work hard to strengthen existing bilateral cooperation relations between our governments, in the interest of Angola and Brazil.

In his message made public today, also addressed to Lula da Silva, best wishes for his personal well-being and success in his honorable mission for which he was appointed by the Brazilian peoples choice.
The government of Sao Tome and Principe says the net international reserve at the archipelagos central bank is below the minimum required, i.e., it is no longer enough to cover three months of imports.

The situation, which will contribute to the increase in the price of goods, forced the government to approve last Friday, February 28, a deliberation in order to activate the credit facility with Portugal within the scope of the exchange rate parity agreement between the two countries.

Dozens of economic operators with orders for goods pending abroad are unable to secure exchange coverage from commercial banks.

The crisis announced by the government a few weeks before the Christmas season increases the desperation of economic operators who have no other way out but to bear the rates of the parallel market for buying foreign currency.

It gets more expensive, but it is the only way for us to honor our commitment to suppliers. Whoever intends to have goods for Christmas has to buy foreign currency on the parallel market, trader Ivo de Menezes told the media.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov announced on Monday that Russia is in contact with the leaders of many African countries, after the temporary suspension of its participation in the Black Sea Grain initiative

Bogdanov was quoted by Russian news agency Tass as saying of course, we are in contact with the leaders of many countries, in particular, African countries, which need support in terms of food supply and fertilizer.

Russia would continue to support African countries after suspending its participation in the grain deal, noted the official, who also serves as the Russian presidents special representative for the Middle East and Africa.

Moscow had suspended its participation in the international agreement for the transport of grain from Ukraine after a drone attack and announced on Sunday its withdrawal until further notice from ship inspections.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative (ICMN), concluded on July 22 in Istanbul, had allowed the liberalization of Ukrainian exports of wheat and maize, which had been hampered by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

The agreement, which covers a period of 120 days, was due to expire in the second half of November.

According to a UN count, nearly 390 ships left Ukrainian ports on October 26, and took the humanitarian maritime corridor bound for Turkey.

The ships in question transported nearly 8.9 million tons of grain and agricultural products from the ports of Odessa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhne.
Ki67 changes from baseline to surgery stratified by intrinsic subtype at baseline within a. Treated and b. Controls. Abbreviations: HER2-E, HER2-Enriched Subtype; LumB, Luminal B subtype; LumA, Luminal A subtype. Credit: eBioMedicine (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104205

A new breast cancer test could detect women who are less likely to respond to a standard breast cancer treatmentand could help improve treatment for these women by giving them other treatment options earlier.

A research team led by scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, has identified a set of new "biomarkers"or biological markersthat are associated with poor response to drugs called aromatase inhibitors, in patients with so-called estrogen receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (ER+/HER2+) breast cancers.

The findings are significant in their potential to guide future treatment for women with ER+/HER2+ tumors, and in providing an unprecedented insight into the molecular and genetic profiles of this tumor type.

Not all patients benefit from the same treatment

ER+/HER2+ breast cancer is a molecularly diverse disease and the intrinsic differences between the cancers of patients can lead to different responses to the same treatment. This makes it very challenging to select patients who may benefit from hormone therapy.

In a study published in eBioMedicine, the researchers genetically profiled more than 300 ER+/HER2+ breast cancer tumors and compared the levels of Ki67a protein that marks cancer cell growthin samples taken when patients were first diagnosed, and at two weeks after starting aromatase inhibitor treatment. They then applied advanced machine learning methods to group genetic and molecular features associated with good or poor response.

Tumor samples for the study were sourced from the phase III POETIC trial, which tested the benefit of two weeks of presurgical aromatase inhibitor therapy at reducing the risk of recurrence in women with early-stage, hormone-positive breast cancer.

The researchers identified five new subtypes of ER+/HER2+ tumors based on their molecular and genetic characteristics, each of which was associated with a different time to relapse after treatment.

One subtype in particularwhich they called "HER2-enriched"had a high rate of cancer cell growth and a relatively short time to relapse after treatment, indicating poor response to aromatase inhibitors.

Study leader Dr. Maggie Cheang and her team hopes to apply the findings from this study to develop more effective treatments for patients with ER+/HER2+ breast cancer. They have filed a patent for these new biomarkers and are now looking for opportunities to further progress the project with an industry partner.

The researchers are also looking for opportunities for collaboration on another project, which has uncovered biomarkers associated with resistance to a different type of breast cancer drug called CDK4/6 inhibitors and aromatase inhibitors.

Important tools for cancer research and care

Biomarker tests look for genetic, protein or imaging "markers" that provide doctors with crucial information about a patient's disease. This helps doctors to identify patients with particular weaknesses in their cancers and match them to their optimal treatments.

Howeveras a consensus group convened by the ICR has warnedbiomarker testing is not always available due to limited resources and lack of updated regulations.

The group, which included charities, stakeholder groups and life-science companies, has called for the NHS to offer all cancer patients genetic profiling of their tumors, both at diagnosis and during treatment, to improve personalized care and to track how the disease evolves.

Patients with breast cancer currently have their tumors classified using three "gold standard" biomarkers: the estrogen and progesterone hormone receptors and HER2, the presence of which on the surface of breast cancer cells guides the use of treatments including the drugs tamoxifen and trastuzumab, also known by its brand name Herceptin.

Characterizing breast cancer subgroups more closely

Study lead Dr. Maggie Cheang, leader of the Clinical Trials and Statistics Unit (ICR-CTSU) Integrative Genomic Analysis in Clinical Trials Team at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said, "This is the first and largest study exploring mechanisms of resistance to hormone therapy in HER2 positive, estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. Our results establish our 'HER2-enriched' subtype as the first predictive biomarker associated with resistance to aromatase inhibitors and worse outcome in these breast cancers.

"Our study also highlights the need to characterize breast cancer subgroups more closely. Molecular profiling of tumors allows identification and development of new biomarkers that can increase our understanding of disease and treatment resistance.

"The hormone receptors and HER2 are established biomarkers that have been around for many years, and though they are still necessary, they are no longer enough. The field has seen rapid advances in recent years, so we need to update the biomarker testing and treatment guidelines accordingly to improve patient care."

More information: Milana A. Bergamino et al, HER2-enriched subtype and novel molecular subgroups drive aromatase inhibitor resistance and an increased risk of relapse in early ER+/HER2+ breast cancer, eBioMedicine (2022). Journal information: EBioMedicine Milana A. Bergamino et al, HER2-enriched subtype and novel molecular subgroups drive aromatase inhibitor resistance and an increased risk of relapse in early ER+/HER2+ breast cancer,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104205
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Fentanyl's growth from its original design as an effective surgical pain management tool to a leading cause of overdose death and concern has happened quicklywith severe consequences.

In Colorado last year, 1,881 people died from drug overdoses, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)more than from diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and lung and breast cancer individually. Half of those accidental overdose deaths (912 people, most under age 44) died from an overdose involving fentanyl, a spike from 540 deaths in 2020.

Part of an ongoing national trend tracked by the CDPHE for the past 20 years, Colorado's trend of overdose deaths mirror those seen nationally.

Robert Valuck, Ph.D., RPh, professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and executive director of the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, tracks fentanyl's impacts on Colorado and the country.

In the following Q&A, Valuck lays out fentanyl's historyfrom invention to its addition in counterfeit prescription drugs. He also dispels myths surrounding the drug and explains how to counteract fentanyl's rise with information and treatment.

What is fentanyl and how is it so potent?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, created in laboratories in the 1960's as a potent pain reliever for very specific circumstances.

Opioids have evolved over the years. For several centuries, it was opium from poppies. People would press the poppy and extract the juice. And that became tincture of opium, and people would drink it or smoke iteither medicinally or recreationally.

What changed was, in the early 19th century, Friedrich Serturner isolated the active ingredient in opium, which is morphine. After that, scientists continued to manipulate morphine chemically and created heroin in 1898which is 10 to 50 times more potent than morphine.

In the 1960s, Janssen Pharmaceutica (now part of Johnson & Johnson) created fentanyl50 times more potent than heroin and shorter acting, so it had really good use, they believed, for surgery. FDA agreed, and it was approved for use in surgical settings, where it has been used very successfully for decades. I had it myself three years ago before my appendectomy. Under certain circumstances, you want fentanyl around, provided it is controlled and used by someone highly trained like an anesthesiologist.

How else is it used in the medical setting?

There are a few varieties of fentanylinjectable for using in the operating room and lollipops and patches. The latter two are used for pain managementpatches for chronic pain and lollipops for those with severe pain, such as bone cancer with metastases.

How is fentanyl produced or procured in illicit contexts?

Fentanyl is hard to synthesize from morphine. However, clandestine lab operators have discovered it's relatively easy to synthesize from a couple of precursor molecules that you can get from Pakistan, India or China. India has worked to cut off access to these precursors, but China and Pakistan have not. Cartels and other illegal operations order the precursorsoften over the dark webthen do the final conversion into fentanyl in a lab.

What are the challenges enforcement-wise in identifying fentanyl shipments?

Fentanyl is a problem because it's really potent, making it super easy to ship. The shipments are tiny and are very easy to send through different carrier services. Compare this to opium or heroin: You don't have giant bales of opium poppies that would be truckloads or a smaller truckload of bricks of heroin.

How is fentanyl being substituted into counterfeit prescription drugs and what are the most common drugs laced with fentanyl?

A common misconception is that these counterfeit prescription drugs are being laced with fentanyl. However, in the majority of counterfeit drugs, it isn't lacing; it is substitution. This means the illicit manufacturers are pressing a tablet to look like an oxycodone tablet, but it has no oxycodoneit only has lactose and fentanyl. People think it's oxycodone, but it's harder to get oxycodone on the black market than it is to get the fentanyl precursor.

The most common three counterfeit drugs substituted with fentanyl are: oxycodone tablets, Xanax tablets and cocaine.

Usually, it's nothing. They (drug dealers) are selling you an inert tablet, or they're putting a little bit of fentanyl in there trying to give you enough effect to make you think it's oxycodone or Xanax. It gives a little bit of a euphoric effect and then buyers come back and buy more. Because the cheapest thing for suppliers to buy is the fentanyl precursor and then press it into anything, they call it whatever the buyer says they want.

When should someone be concerned about supply issues and counterfeit prescription drugs as it relates to fentanyl?

There are two main takeaways here. First, if you're concerned about fentanyl substitution because you're worried about the Lipitor you bought online, for example, because you're trying to get the best price for your prescriptionyou shouldn't worry unless it's Xanax or oxycodone, primarily. And then there's a whole way of addressing that. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy has an accredited digital pharmacy search tool. You can look online to see if your pharmacy is legitimate and has gone through certification.

The second takeaway: You should always be ordering your prescriptions from a pharmacy. You are playing roulette if you are purchasing on the black market. Social media is one such marketif you're buying from a dealer on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram or other platforms, you should be worried about your drugs being substituted with fentanyl.

Can you talk a little bit about fentanyl testing kits and their efficacy?

Most often, they are test strips: You either rub some of the drug compound from the tablet directly on the test strip or break one of the pills open and rub it on there to be able to detect whether there is fentanyl present. And it could be a powder, it could be a liquid, it could be a tablet. Most often it's the main three (Xanax, oxycodone, cocaine) and usually in tablet or powder form. The pills have dust on them, so you can get the dust and do a test to see if there's fentanyl.

Quite a few pharmacies have these test strips, and you can order them online. Harm reduction organizations and public health agencies, depending on your area, might supply them as well. They work fairly well, but they're not perfect. Sometimes they register false positives for the presence of fentanyl. However, false negatives almost never happen. But being overly safe in this context isn't a bad idea.

There's a downside on the testing frontwhat we call the 'chocolate chip cookie' phenomenon. With counterfeit prescription drugs, not every pill is uniformcontrasting with what you would get at your pharmacy. Illicit manufacturers do not have the machinery or quality control that the pharmaceutical companies do. As such, some counterfeit tablets will have no fentanyl, some will have a little, and some will have enough to kill you. The same principle holds true if you buy an entire bottle of potentially counterfeit tabletsout of 20 pills, 10 might be lethal, while five have no fentanyl in them at all.

The huge take-home message is, "If you didn't get it from a pharmacy, and you can't tell what the chain of custody was from the manufacturer to your mouth, do not take the drug because the deadliness is going up." It's too risky to play those odds with your life.

What are some common myths about fentanyl?

At the consortium, we have a whole presentation called "Fentanyl MythBusters." There are a few main myths that keep circulating despite being debunked.

Myth 1: "If fentanyl is in the room, and I touch it or inhale it, I'm going to overdose and die." That is not true. Fentanyl is not a highly volatile compound. So it doesn't sublimate (become vapor). It's really hard to get fentanyl into your body unless you directly snort it into your nose, directly drink it or inject it with a needle. Because otherwise it just doesn't go through the skin very well.

Myth 2: "Being near fentanyl causes serious effects." After finding out they are near fentanyl, some people report being anxious or feeling like their heart rate increases, that a panic attack is occurring or that they are going to pass out. This is a myth. What happened was they hyperventilated, and they passed out from anxiety about fentanyl, not from fentanyl. We call it the nocebo effect. People don't realize how strong the power of suggestion is: Your expectation of a good thing or your expectation of a bad thing, and then it actually manifests.

Myth 3: "I will get hurt trying to render aid in an overdose situation." Naloxone is very effective and can save a life. Don't let the presence of fentanyl keep you from helping a friend, family member or stranger with an overdose. We can't afford that. We had over 2,000 people in Colorado die last year from drug overdoses. More than half of them involved fentanyl. We can't afford to have people be afraid to render aid for a reason that is unwarranted.

Myth 4: "Fentanyl is everywhere, and every pill is laced, even cannabis." Not true. We also haven't seen anything yet in vaping. It would be really hard to vape fentanyl because the boiling point to get it into vaporizing is about 875 degrees, and most of the vape pens heat to about 400 or 425 degrees, maximum. Your lungs would be severely damaged at those temperatures. As for cannabis, there's no marketing advantage with some of these prevalence myths.
Estimates of covid stressor counts over time given baseline covid stressor count. Note: Estimates assume participants did not identify additional structural risks. Credit: Emerging Adulthood (2022). DOI: 10.1177/21676968221119945

Starting in early 2020, COVID-19 wrought havoc in the lives of American society at all levels. Among groups most upended were first-year college studentsyoung people at a critical point in their psychological development as they began to navigate lives on their own.

"For students going to college shortly after high school, it's often the first time they're living independently," said Andrea Follmer Greenhoot, professor of psychology at the University of Kansas. "They're making more decisions for themselves. They're exploring identity and career-related roles. They're developing new relationships. All these transitions involve developing a sense of who they are and where they want to be going. Those were disrupted by the shutdown in April 2020everything came to a screeching halt."

Follmer Greenhoot, who also serves as director of the Center for Teaching Excellence and Gautt Teaching Scholar at KU, is co-author of two new scholarly papers based on a longitudinal study of 629 first-year college students at four U.S. universities that began just weeks after the initial lockdown and continued with three more check-ins over the subsequent year.

Participants reported on their mental health, academic adjustment, identity development and COVID-19 stressors. They also shared personal narratives about their experiences during the pandemic.

The first paper, published in Emerging Adulthood, finds the pandemic negatively affected student mental health, development of identity and academic resilience when compared with pre-COVID data. Further, Follmer Greenhoot and her colleagues found "these alterations persisted and, in some cases, worsened as the pandemic wore on; and patterns of change were often worse for students indicating more baseline COVID-related stressors."

"This paper focused on trajectories of adjustment over the year after the pandemic began," Follmer Greenhoot said. "These students really struggled. While there's been a lot of work looking at the impact of the pandemic on mental health in student populations, probably the most important takeaway from this study is that it's also been a developmental disruption. The pandemic has really derailed some important developmental tasks that are typical for emerging adults in college."

According to a summary of the research effort, students' narratives frequently referenced themes such as:

Academic distress; lack of motivation

Loss of efficacy and academic confidence

Loss of autonomy/control

Social disruption, loneliness

Goal and activity disruption; loss of formative experiences, stalled decision-making and identity formation

Samples from students' stories illuminate these developmental disruptions and the mental health challenges posed by COVID-19.

"I find myself with absolutely no motivation, constantly finding the easiest way to complete assignments and overall learning hardly anything," said one participant.

" is this really the career I want? The coronavirus took away every future life I thought I knew This is the most pivotal and influential portion of my college career, and I am going to miss out on a lot of the experiences that will define my education," wrote another student.

Follmer Greenhoot said the research should inform mental health providers and parents. As director of KU's Center for Teaching Excellence, she has particular interest in the research's implications for educators and staff who interact with students in higher education.

"We need to recognize that in addition to the fact that students are stressed and struggling with mental health, it's also the case that some of these developmental experiences haven't happened for them," she said. "That changes who we get in our classroom and on campus and what they need out of the college experience."

Follmer Greenhoot's collaborators include Monisha Pasupathi and Cecilia Wainryb of the University of Utah; Jordan Booker and Mikayla Ell of the University of Missouri; Kate McLean of Western Washington University; and Robyn Fivush of Emory University.

The team discovered positive results as well. In a second paper appearing the peer-reviewed journal Psychological Science, the team analyzed student narratives, comparing them with data collected over the subsequent year. Follmer Greenhoot said the researchers discovered many of these college freshmen were able to make sense of their own COVID-19 experiences in ways that gave them resilience.

Most notably, first-year college students who mentioned personal growth when writing stories about their COVID-19 experience at the pandemic's outset tended to be more resilient to its hardships. References to growth address new knowledge, reasoning, attitudes, behaviors, or personal strengths and resources as a result of the lived event, according to Follmer Greenhoot.

"The main finding we highlight in the Psychological Science paper was the power of students referencing growth in their narratives about the pandemic at the initial time point," she said. "Students whose narratives in April of 2020 tended to reference growth from events they were exposed to showed greater resilience across a whole range of measures. We found those references to growth were a significant predictor of how they were doing a year later."

This, in spite of participants experiencing more sources of COVID-related stress than researchers anticipated.

"We were interested in the relationship between their narratives about the experience and these measures of adjustment," said Follmer Greenhoot. "We also gathered information about the types of COVID-related stressors they were exposed to overall, like not being able to see loved ones, a family member losing their job, someone in their life dying. We were surprised at how many stressors students were exposed tosomewhere between 15 and 17 distinct stressors related to COVID on average at each time point."

But the KU researcher said those students referencing growth in their narratives tended to fare better than students not citing personal growth, even if they experienced more numerous or more severe COVID stressors.

"There was quite a bit of variability, and one might normally think the number of stressors or the level of stress they were exposed to would be a big predictor of their adjustment, both concurrently and long-term," Follmer Greenhoot said.

"That was the case, except when we considered the characteristics of their narratives about those stressful experiences. It turns out it's the way they're constructing their narratives about the experience that really provides insight and prediction into their adjustment. That was more importantit washed out the impact of the actual stress levels they were experiencing. It speaks to the importance of sense-making, how we process our experiences and how we come to react to them over time."

More information: Monisha Pasupathi et al, College, Interrupted: Profiles in First-Year College Students Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic Across One Year, Emerging Adulthood (2022). Monisha Pasupathi et al, College, Interrupted: Profiles in First-Year College Students Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic Across One Year,(2022). DOI: 10.1177/21676968221119945 Jordan A. Booker et al, Early Impacts of College, Interrupted: Considering First-Year Students' Narratives About COVID and Reports of Adjustment During College Shutdowns, Psychological Science (2022). DOI: 10.1177/09567976221108941 Journal information: Psychological Science
Graphical abstract. Credit: Cell Reports (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111574

Findings from a new study published in Cell Reports, involving a collaborative effort between researchers at the Luikart Laboratory at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine and the Weston Laboratory at the University of Vermont, are providing further insight into the neurobiological basis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and pointing to possible treatments.

In recent years, researchers have established a strong association between certain mutated genes and ASD. One of the most common is called PTEN, which normally functions to control cell growth and regulate the ability of neurons to alter the strength of their connections. When mutated, PTEN is a cause of not only ASD, but also macrocephaly (enlarged head) and epilepsy.

"In previous studies, our lab and many others have shown the PTEN mutations result in an increase in the number of excitatory synaptic connections between neurons in micewhich we believe could be the fundamental basis for the symptoms that are exhibited by ASD patients," explains Bryan Luikart, Ph.D., an associate professor of molecular and systems biology at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine.

To mimic the genetic defects found in human autism patients, Luikart and his colleagues have engineered viruses to "knock out" the normal mouse PTEN gene and replace it with the mutated human PTEN gene. They then used sophisticated imaging and electrophysiological techniques to study how neuronal function was altered in mice.

"Essentially, what we've found is that it makes the neuron grow at twice the size of a normal neuron and in doing so forms about four times the number of synaptic connections with other neurons as a normal neuron," says Luikart. He notes that the work served as a foundation for the new study, in which the research team sought to learn more about the role of other genes and signaling pathways in normal PTEN loss.

"We were able to determine that if you take out the gene known as Raptor, an essential gene in the mTORC1 signaling pathway, it rescues all of the neuronal overgrowth and synapses that occur with normal PTEN loss," he says. "We also found that by using the drug Rapamycin to inhibit the mTORC1 pathwaywhich is necessary for neuronal growth and synapse formationit rescues all of the changes in neuronal overgrowth."

In a clinical trial earlier this year, when Rapamycin was administered to children it showed some benefit to the symptoms of autism. "One caveat is that our work is indicating that in order to have the best chance of having a therapeutic effect, these genetic changes associated with ASD really have to be targeted prior to the onset of symptoms."

Still, the study's findings have important implications for better understanding the neurological basis for ASD and developing effective therapies for patients.

"If we find that treating with a drug like Rapamycin early enough fixes the actual behavior problems of autism in a human patient, then that tells us we're really on to somethingthat these changes that we're seeing and fixing in our model organism are the cellular or physiological basis of autism in humans," says Luikart.

More information: Kamran Tariq et al, Disruption of mTORC1 rescues neuronal overgrowth and synapse function dysregulated by Pten loss, Cell Reports (2022). Journal information: Cell Reports Kamran Tariq et al, Disruption of mTORC1 rescues neuronal overgrowth and synapse function dysregulated by Pten loss,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111574
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Doubling the funding for research focused on women and lung cancer will have enormous economic impacts for families and the nation, according to a new report released today by Women's Health Access Matters (WHAM), which commissioned The RAND Corporation to create this study on lung cancer in women. According to rigorous modeling based on a number of conservative estimates, even health improvements of 0.1 percent in mortality and quality of life will yield a return on investment of $1,200 for every additional dollar spent. Today's findings mirror three previous studies from WHAM, which were executed by The RAND Corporation and show similar findings with respect to the power of investment for women's health research associated with Alzheimer's disease, heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

For lung cancer, this is particularly critical because in the U.S., lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in women. More women die of lung cancer (estimated approximately 61,000 in 2022, according to CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians) than of breast, ovarian and cervical cancers combined. And non-smoking women are more than two times as likely to get lung cancer as their male counterparts, yet the sex disparities of the disease have yet to be thoroughly examined, and only 15 percent of lung cancer research is focused on women.

Lung cancer research receives the least amount of funding of the major cancers affecting women. The new report is a first-of-its-kind microsimulation model that examines socioeconomic impacts of investments in women's health research in the U.S.revealing critical gaps in the nation's current research portfolio and the potential gain to the economy through greater funding.

The new research examines the return on investment if the research funding for women and lung cancer were doubled. Assuming that the additional research generates health improvements of only 0.1 percent or less in terms of age incidence, mortality and quality of life, the nation can reliably anticipate the following payoff:

For the U.S. population aged 25 and older, more than 22,700 years can be saved across 30 years of extended life, with substantial gains in health-related quality of life.

Approximately 2,500 more labor years (valued at $45 million in labor productivity) result from increased work time and longer life.

Overall, doubling the investment would have an expected ROI of more than 1,200 percent.

"These findings are stunning," said WHAM Founder and CEO Carolee Lee. "Women are sick and dying from a disease that disproportionately affects them, yet research doesn't acknowledge this fact. And the pain of disease is not just a medical problem by any means. This new data could not be more clear about the economic pain we all pay when women leave the workforce early to manage their own health or serve as caregivers for their loved ones. Women's health is an economic issue that impacts everyone, and we can't afford to ignore it."

"This research shows that very small investments in women's health can generate outsized returns, in part because women's health research is still very much under-funded," said Lori Frank, senior author of the study. "Our modeling suggests that even small investments in women's lung cancer research could result in significant gains in health outcomes, health-related quality of life and workforce productivity. But it also points to the importance of addressing diseases that hit women harder; equity in medical research leads to meaningful benefits."

"This report brings important new data to the case that we have been making for years: that lung cancer impacts women differentlyboth physically and societallyand these disparities must be addressed," said Laurie Fenton Ambrose, President and CEO of GO2 for Lung Cancer and supporter of the report. "The WHAM findings not only underscore the need for legislation that expands resources to better understand the science of lung cancer in women, but also show how investing in research could result in economic benefits for women living with the disease."

The WHAM Report can be a tool to help decisionmakers plan for future research strategies, help funders decide how to allocate their portfolios, and address the business case for payers and business leaders to invest in women's health.

The report authors recommend expanding the research agenda to address multiple aspects of sex and gender in lung cancer using the limited evidence base, including:

The unknown interactions of sex and gender with lung cancer etiology, risk factors and disease progression to inform treatment and prevention research.

Understudied interactions of gender and race with lung cancer risk, health care and disease progression; in particular, examining obstacles to access to and use of diagnostic technology, including for personalized medicine.

Differences by sex and gender in lifestyle impacts on disease.

Differences in disease course and outcomes by sex and gender, based on different patterns of the use of formal and informal caregiving.

"Women are more than half of the population and workforce, control 60 percent of personal wealth, and are responsible for 85 percent of consumer spending and 80 percent of healthcare decisions," said Lee. "Yet even while diseases impact them disproportionately and differently, pulling many from the workforce too soon, investment in women's health research lags. This is such an easy win for our country."

Provided by Burness
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

When Dr. H.M. Green opened his new medical office building on East Vine Avenue in 1922, Black residents of this city on the Tennessee River could be seen only in the basement of Knoxville General Hospital. They were barred from the city's other three medical centers.

Green, one of America's leading Black physicians, spent his life working to end health inequities like this. He installed an X-ray machine, an operating room, and a private infirmary in his building to serve Black patients. On the first floor was a pharmacy.

Today the Green Medical Arts Building has been replaced by a tangle of freeways that were built after the city's Black business district was bulldozed in a midcentury urban renewal project.

But the health gaps Green labored to narrow still divide this community. And if segregation is less apparent in medical offices today, its legacy lives on in crushing medical debt that disproportionately burdens this city's Black community.

In and around Knoxville, residents of predominantly Black neighborhoods are more than twice as likely as those in largely white neighborhoods to owe money for medical bills, Urban Institute credit bureau data shows, one of the widest racial disparities in the country.

That tracks with a disturbing national trend. Health care debt in the U.S. now affects more than 100 million people, a KHN-NPR investigation found. But the toll has been especially high on Black communities: 56% of Black adults owe money for a medical or dental bill, compared with 37% of white adults, according to a nationwide KFF poll conducted for this project.

The explanation for that startling disparity is deeply rooted. Decades of discrimination in housing, employment, and health care blocked generations of Black families from building wealthsavings and assets that are increasingly critical to accessing America's high-priced medical system.

Against that backdrop, patients suffer. People with debt avoid seeking care and become sicker with treatable chronic conditions like diabetes or multiple sclerosis. Worse still, hospitals and doctors sometimes won't see patients with medical debteven those in the middle of treatment.

"African Americans don't seek health care until we are really, really sick, and then it costs more," said Tabace Burns, a former emergency room nurse in Knoxville. Burns, who is also a leader in her church, said she routinely helps members of her congregation find medical care they should have sought earlier.

Nationwide, Black adults who have had health care debt are twice as likely as white adults with such debt to say they've been denied care because they owe money, the KFF poll found. Many Black Americans also ration their care out of fear of cost.

Burns recalled a friend who came to see her about an oozing growth on her breast. "She didn't have any insurance, so she just thought it would get better," Burns said.

Burns helped the woman find an oncologist to treat what turned out to be cancer. There was a cost to waiting so long, though. Because the cancer was so advanced, the friend had to undergo chemotherapy and have both breasts removed.

It could have been worse. "What if she didn't know me? What if she just continued to let her breast leak and it was necrotic?" Burns said. But, she added, if her friend hadn't been so worried about going into debt, she would have gone to the doctor sooner.

It's a terrible cycle, said Berneta Haynes, a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. "This legacy of segregation and structural racism underlies the racial health gap," she said. "It impacts health outcomes and access. And it impacts the level of medical debt."

In 'the bottom'

The story of how Knoxville's Black residents came to be its primary victims of medical debt is written in the city's changing landscape.

Just outside downtown, below refurbished office buildings and former warehouses, is an area once called The Bottom, long the heart of the Black community.

This area persevered through decades of Jim Crow segregation and violence. In one of the worst episodes, mobs of white rioters in 1919 vandalized Black-owned stores and shot residents after a young Black man was accused of killing a white woman.

It was here that Black physicians like Green opened medical offices alongside grocers, pool halls, and funeral homes. Knoxville's first Black millionaire, a former enslaved man who'd made a fortune in horse racing and saloons, built a YMCA. Billie Holiday and Cab Calloway performed at the Gem Theatre.

Beginning in the late 1950s, the city systematically wiped out The Bottom and surrounding neighborhoods in an urban renewal and highway-building campaign. Officials razed more than 500 homes, 15 churches, and more than 100 Black-owned businesses, including Green's medical building.

More than 2,500 families were displaced. Many ended up in public housing projects. Others left Knoxville. Businesses never reopened. "It changed the whole landscape," said the Rev. Renee Kesler, director of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, a nonprofit that preserves Knoxville's Black history. "You'll have generations that won't recover from that."

What urban renewal left behind in East Knoxville was a neighborhood that's the poorest in the cityand has the largest share of Black residents.

A tiny fraction of residents are homeowners. Blocks are blighted by boarded-up buildings and overgrown lots. Down the street from Knoxville's oldest Black cemetery, a Dollar General recently closedone of the few stores around that sold groceries.

The neighborhood's residents are sicker than those elsewhere in Knoxville, with higher levels of diabetes and other chronic illnesses. They are less likely to have health insurance.

They also have much more medical debt.

More than 30% of the people have a medical bill on their credit record, according to credit bureau data collected by the nonprofit Urban Institute. A few miles west in Knoxville's overwhelmingly white suburbs, fewer than 10% carry such debt.

It's not difficult to understand the difference, said Eboni Winford, a clinical psychologist at Cherokee Health Systems, a network of clinics that serve low-income patients. "Black people are less likely to have generational wealth to pass on, which means we don't have the pockets of money that we can just use if medical bills arise."

Nationally, the median white family now has about $184,000 in assets such as homes, savings, and retirement accounts, according to an analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The assets of the median Black family total just $23,000.

"What happened is we concentrated Black poverty," said Gwen McKenzie, a Knoxville City Council member who grew up not far from The Bottom. "From there, that's where it became generational."

'Always a sacrifice'

Monica Reed lives just up the hill from where The Bottom once was.

She considers herself luckier than most. Born in Knoxville and raised by a single mother, Reed became the first in her family to own a home, a small house built after the city demolished The Bottom. For the past 15 years, she's worked for a faith-based nonprofit that assists low-income residents of Knoxville.

"It hasn't always been easy," said Reed, who just turned 60. She raised her son by herself. And though she's always worked, her modest salary made saving difficult. "I just tried to live a frugal kind of life," she said. "And by the grace of God, I didn't become homeless."

She couldn't escape medical debt, though. Diagnosed with cancer five years ago, Reed underwent surgery and chemotherapy. Although she had health insurance through work, she was left with close to $10,000 in medical bills she couldn't pay.

She's been pursued by debt collectors and even taken to court. That's forced Reed to make difficult choices. "There's always a sacrifice," she said. "You just do without some things to pay other things."

Reed said she cut back on trips to the grocery store: "I don't buy a lot of food. Just plain and simple."

She has adjusted, she said. "You just do what you have to do." What angers Reed, though, is how she's been treated by the cancer center where she goes for periodic checkups to make sure the cancer remains in remission. When she recently tried to make an appointment, a financial counselor told her she couldn't schedule it until she made a plan to pay her bills.

"I was so upset, I didn't even find out how much I owed," Reed said. "I mean, I wasn't calling about a little toothache. This is something that affects someone's life."

Locking in disparities

Health insurance gains made possible by the Affordable Care Act have narrowed some racial health disparities, studies show.

The expansion of Medicaid, in particular, has brought new financial security to millions of low-income Americans. In a recent analysis of credit bureau and census data, researchers estimated that Medicaid expansion helped enrollees avoid more than $1,200 in medical debt.

But many of those gains have remained out of reach in Knoxville. Tennessee is among 12 states that have rejected federal funding to expand the Medicaid safety net through the 2010 health care law.

Eight of the 12 are Southern states with large Black populations. The decision not to expand has disproportionately affected communities like East Knoxville that are already contending with deep racial disparities in health and wealth.

Of the roughly 2.2 million people locked out of health coverage because these states rejected Medicaid expansion, nearly 60% are people of color, according to a KFF analysis. About a quarter are Black.

Locked out of health insurance, many just try to hang on until they become eligible for Medicare, said Cynthia Finch, an advocate in Knoxville who has worked to improve health in the city's Black community. "People pray they don't get sick before they are 65," she said.

If Black patients go into debt, they face yet another challenge: a medical debt collections industry that targets Black debtors more aggressively than their white counterparts, particularly for smaller debts.

About 6 in 10 Black adults with medical debts under $2,500 say they or someone in their household has been contacted by a collection agency in the past five years, the KFF poll found. By contrast, only about 4 in 10 white adults with similar debt said the same.

At the courthouse in downtown Knoxville, the dockets are filled with debt collection lawsuits filed by some of the region's largest hospitals: Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, East Tennessee Children's Hospital, and Parkwest Medical Center.

That discourages many Black patients from seeking care even if they need it, said Cherokee Health's Derrick Folsom, who helps patients enroll in health insurance. "Somebody knows somebody who's getting sued for medical bills," Folsom said. "So they stay away from medical centers."

Reflecting on her experience with medical debt, Reed said she tries to stay upbeat. "I don't sweat the small stuff," she said. "What am I going to do against this hospital?"

But, she said, she has realized one thing about the nation's health care system: "It's not designed for poor people."

2022 Kaiser Health News.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The global oil sector will need a cumulative investment of $12.1 trillion in the upstream, midstream and downstream through to 2045, equating to over $500 billion each year to meet the demand, says a report.

All forms of energy will be needed to address future energy needs and the world needs to annually add on average 2.7 million barrels of oil equivalent a day to 2045, according to the 2022 Opec World Oil Outlook (WOO).

Globally, oil demand is projected to increase from almost 97 million barrels a day (mb/d) in 2021 to around 110 mb/d in 2045, the outlook said.

The outlook was launched yesterday at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) 2022 in Abu Dhabi.

First published in 2007, the WOO offers a detailed review and assessment of the medium- and long-term prospects for the global oil and energy industries to 2045.

The world economy is expected to more than double in size, and the global population rise by 1.6 billion between now and 2045.

Global primary energy demand is forecast to continue growing in the medium- and long-term, increasing by a significant 23% in the period to 2045, it said.

Energy poverty remains an issue throughout the forecast period, with a wide gap remaining between developed and developing countries, the WOO said.

Other highlights of the report:

* Oil is expected to retain the largest share in the energy mix throughout the outlook period, accounting for almost a 29% share in 2045, WOO forecast said.

* Renewables  combining mainly solar, wind and geothermal energy  will expand by 7.1% p.a. on average, significantly faster than any other source of energy.

* All major fuel types witness growth, with the exception of coal.

* Non-OECD countries drive oil demand growth, expanding by close to 24 mb/d over the forecast period, whereas the OECD declines by over 10 mb/d between 2021 and 2045.

* India is set to be the largest contributor to incremental demand, adding around 6.3 mb/d to 2045.

* Oil demand in aviation leads the sectoral breakdown with growth of 4.1 mb/d from 2021 to 2045, given its slower initial recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. It is followed closely by road transportation and petrochemicals.

* Non-Opec liquids supply expands in the medium-term to 71.4 mb/d by 2027, before an expected decline to 67.5 mb/d by 2045.

* Opec liquids are set to grow to 42.4 mb/d by 2045, with its share of global supply rising from 33% in 2021 to 39% in 2045.

* Global refining capacity additions are projected at 15.5 mb/d between 2022 and 2045.

* Robust medium and long-term refinery capacity expansion in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, is partly offset by closures in developed regions.

* Strong demand growth is expected to lead to a tightening medium-term downstream market relative to 2021.

* Recent annual investment levels have been significantly below the necessary, due to industry downturns, the pandemic, and the increasing focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues.

* Crude and condensate flows between the Middle East and Asia-Pacific remain the most important oil trade link, with volumes increasing from below 13.5 mb/d in 2021 to 19.5 mb/d in 2045.

* The Asia-Pacific region is forecast to remain the most important crude oil importing region throughout the forecast period, with imports rising by over 7.5 mb/d.

* Technological advancements are set to shape the global energy landscape while public policies relating to energy demand and supply are expected to become more stringent over the forecast period.

* Enhanced global cooperation could allow for a more coherent, balanced and integrated approach for realizing the Paris Agreement and the interlinked Sustainable Development Goals.

The 16th edition of the flagship publication incorporates analysis of the industrys various internal and external linkages and its shifting dynamics that has seen a renewed focus over the past year of the interplay between energy affordability, energy security, and the need to reduce emissions. It provides insights into energy and oil demand, oil supply and refining, the global economy, policy and technology developments, demographic trends, environmental issues and sustainable development concerns.

Opecs Secretary General, Haitham Al Ghais, in launching the publication said: The WOO 2022 once again underscores the increasingly complex nature of the global oil and energy industries. It is a challenging environment, and one that requires expert analysis to help us navigate both the challenges and opportunities ahead. The WOO provides this.

He added that it was a great honour to return to Adipec to launch this years WOO, an event that continues to go from strength-to strength. This is tribute to the leadership in the UAE.

The WOO 2022 launch represents the culmination of months of planning, writing, review and production, and should be viewed as a helpful and insightful reference tool, one that underscores Opecs commitment to dialogue, knowledge-sharing and data transparency. -TradeArabia News Service
A nurse at the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Sydney checks on the welfare of a client. Credit: Uniting MSIC

Knowing the clients who inject drugs in Sydney's only injecting center gives staff a better chance to deliver more suitable overdose treatment.

A personalized approach to managing overdoses at Sydney's only Medically Supervised Injecting Center (MSIC) has ensured better outcomes to its clients' long-term health, a study by UNSW Sydney and Western Sydney University criminologists has found.

And at the heart of the approach is treating people who use the MSIC facilities to inject drugs with respect and dignity, which ensures potential overdoses are managed more sensitively.

Dr. George "Kev" Dertadian is a social researcher with UNSW Law & Justice who has studied drug use among the marginalized as well as people from affluent backgrounds. He says the most recent study, published today in Contemporary Drug Problems, shows that the term 'overdose' has a more nuanced meaning among center staff caring for people using the injecting rooms than the traditional view held by those working in a hospital emergency department.

"When we spoke to the staff who work at the MSIC, they talked about overdose as occurring on a spectrum of harm," Dr. Dertadian says.

"So they wouldn't wait, for instance, until someone 'dropped'as in lost consciousness or went blue in the face, which is the normal way ambulance or hospital staff would respond or recognize overdose."

In other words, the nurses at MSIC would use other cues to determine if one of their clients was in danger of overdosing well before the stage of losing consciousness.

"It's a regular practice at MSIC for the staff to monitor their clients' blood oxygen levels after they've injected," Dr. Dertadian says.

"But the staff also talked about things like, just knowing the client. So a client can behave in an uncharacteristic way that's actually counterintuitive to the sort of medical and clinical approach to overdose, and they can intervene earlier."

Whereas we may generally associate overdose with pin-point pupils, drowsiness and unconsciousness, the staff who know their clients see the beginnings of overdoses in things like erratic behavior, making jittery movements and unusual noises that they know are uncharacteristic of them.

"What this means is, clients aren't left with low blood oxygen levels for a really long time before they get to the point of dropping, going blue and so forth. And that reduces all sorts of harm along the way, like acquired brain injury," Dr. Dertadian says.

A personalized approach to managing overdoses

Dr. Dertadian isn't suggesting that ambulance and hospital responses are inadequate, rather that the unique circumstances of the injecting center allow for a more personalized approach, with medical care administered more gently.

"The unique circumstances of the injecting center are that the nurses can sit with and monitor people after they've injected, but also it means they don't have to use Naloxonetypically used to reverse opioid overdoses.

"Sometimes, when it is used in hospital settings or when an ambulance is called, the person can be given quite a lot. It can violently jolt someone out of an overdose very abruptly and it can be very disruptive of their mental state and their physical presence."

Dr. Dertadian says in the cases where the MSIC staff do administer Naloxone, they give it in small amounts and progressively until the person regains consciousness, rather than giving a lot right away.

"But they rarely use Naloxone, they instead use oxygen which is often enough to reverse the effects of an overdose."

The politics of understanding people who inject drugs

The treatment for those who use the MSIC premises to inject drugs is centered on a system of care that recognizes them as people rather than social outcasts.

"Intervening in an overdose earlier is all about paying attention to them, a kind of politics of understanding that this is a group of marginalized and criminalized people," says Dr. Dertadian.

"In a hospital setting, medical staff are much less aware of thisit's just not part of the way they think about overdose in those settings."

Sadly, the stigmatization of people who inject drugs can also lead to mistrust of medical authorities.

"Often, when a person who injects drugs is visiting a hospital, they won't want to reveal their status as a person who injects drugs because of a whole range of stigma that might flow from that. So you're not starting with the upfront position that this is a person who injects drugs and so therefore we need to monitor them in a particular way."

Ultimately the study found that the politics of treating overdoses is about more than saving lives, says Dr. Dertadian.

"It's about making sure the clients using the injecting rooms live lives of dignity and respect.

"And as a health benefit, intervening early means those people have less chance of acquired brain injury, which means they're less likely to get arrested later because they may be judged by police to be acting erratically.

"It also means they are more able to access services, as acquired brain injury can be a significant barrier to that," he says.

Dr. Dertadian's colleague and co-author, Western Sydney University criminologist Dr. Ken Yates, says, "services like MSIC are unique places that provide specific material and social conditions for reducing the harms and risks associated with injecting drugs."

More information: George Christopher Dertadian et al, "Overdose Has Many Faces": The Politics of Care in Responding to Overdose at Sydney's Medically Supervised Injecting Centre, Contemporary Drug Problems (2022). George Christopher Dertadian et al, "Overdose Has Many Faces": The Politics of Care in Responding to Overdose at Sydney's Medically Supervised Injecting Centre,(2022). DOI: 10.1177/00914509221134716
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A new study has linked an invasive insecticide-resistant mosquito native to South Asia to an unprecedented urban outbreak of malaria in Ethiopia, the most compelling evidence to date that the mosquito, which is fast expanding its range, could cause infections to surge in areas of Africa with previously low rates of disease.

The report, presented today at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), follows reports of a suspicious 40-fold rise in malaria cases in neighboring Djibouti since 2013, with novel evidence that this mosquito, which was not confirmed in Africa until 2012, is a significant threat to the goal of eliminating malaria on the continent.

"Malaria in Africa is typically associated with rainy seasons in rural areas, but this mosquito produced a 10-fold spike in malaria infections in just three weeks in an urban area during a dry season," said Fitsum G. Tadesse, Ph.D., a molecular biologist with the Armauer Hansen Research Institute in Addis Ababa. "Also, unlike the mosquitos that typically transmit malaria parasites in Africa, this one is best known for its ability to thrive in man-made water storage containers like what you see in rapidly expanding urban neighborhoods."

The outbreak occurred in Dire Dawa, a city of about 500,000 people in eastern Ethiopia that typically records only about 200 cases a year. But between January and May 2022, when rains are scarce and infections are particularly rare, about 2,400 cases were reported. An investigation by Tadesse and his colleagues found that the surge was caused by a mosquito known as Anopheles stephensi. They also found that the mosquito was resistant to the insecticides most commonly used to control malaria via treated bednets and indoor insecticide spraying.

Most malaria in Africa is caused by a mosquito species known as Anopheles gambiae, with populations rising and falling with the rainy seasons that swell rural waterways. Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes have long been the primary transmitter (vector) of malaria in urban areas of India and Iran. But they were never seen in Africa until 2012, when they were reported from Djibouti, a tiny East African country of about 1 million people that, at the time, had been close to eliminating the disease. An. stephensi mosquitoes likely arrived in shipping containers, Tadesse said, but they did not appear to be a significant threat until 2020, when they were suspected as the cause of the steadily rising number of malaria infections in Djibouti since 2013.

Now, new evidence that they were the source of the Dire Dawa outbreakcoupled with recent evidence of An. stephensi mosquitoes thousands of miles away in Nigeria in West Africais ratcheting up concerns of a new front opening up in Africa's long-running battle against malaria. Africa suffers 95 percent of the world's 627,000 annual malaria deaths, and most victims are children under age 5. In recent years, progress against the disease has stalled.

"This is not like any other malaria-carrying mosquito we have seen in Africa before," said Sarah Zohdy, Ph.D., a disease ecologist and An. stephensi expert with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who works with the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), a key partner for the Ethiopia study. "This mosquito's ability to persist in the dry season and in urban environments has the potential to alter the landscape of malaria in Africa," she said.

"It could cause malaria to expand from a predominantly rural disease to both a rural and urban challenge that also impacts Africa's rapidly growing and densely populated cities, where infection rates have been comparatively low."

Meanwhile, a separate study presented at the ASTMH Annual Meeting reported new evidence that An. stephensi mosquitoes are ubiquitous in and around households across nine states in Sudan. Zohdy said the concern with the detection of An. stephensi mosquitoes in Sudanand also Nigeriais that they could follow the pattern of Djibouti, where there was a lag of several years between the mosquito's detection and its link to a surge of malaria infections.

Zohdy said that CDC and PMI, which is co-implemented by USAID and CDC, are actively working to mitigate the threat of An. stephensi by utilizing enhanced vector and disease surveillance. PMI and CDC are also collaborating with the World Health Organization, which just launched an initiative last month to stop the expanding range of An. stephensi in Africa. In addition, PMI is leading the deployment of interventions informed by An. stephensi's unique biology, including the development of ways to limit breeding sites in urban areas.

What the Ethiopia outbreak tells us about Africa's new malaria threat

Tadesse said that in the wake of the outbreaks in neighboring Djibouti, malaria experts in Ethiopia were alerted to the potential threat from An. stephensi mosquitoes. He said Dire Dawa is a rail hub linked to Djibouti. When malaria infections suddenly surged earlier this year, he said he and his colleagues "immediately started thinking 'stephensi,'" and "we jumped in to assess the causes of the change." Driven by urgency, the team, including Tadele Emiru and Dr. Deiene Getachew, completed their field work in just over two months.

In addition to linking An. stephensi to malaria infections, Tadesse and his colleagues conducted extensive tests in water sources around households and neighborhoods where cases occurred. They found evidence of malaria-carrying An. stephensi in nearby water containers, confirming what was already known from extensive work in India, where An. stephensi is known as mainly a "container breeder." But he said they also found plenty of An. stephensi mosquitoes at the edge of streams and nearby rivers.

"We should be careful about considering it as just a container breeder," Tadesse said. "It can survive in man-made or natural water sources. It also can feed on animals or humans. Basically, our findings indicate it can survive anywhere, so we need to be looking for this mosquito in places where, previously, people were not expecting to find it."

For example, he said projections that 126 million additional people in Africa could be at risk of malaria from An. stephensi mosquitoes could underestimate the threat if the evidence from Dire Dawa of the mosquito's adaptability is confirmed elsewhere.

"We're fortunate that this team moved quickly to confirm in just a few months that An. stephensi mosquitoes were the source of an unusual dry season urban outbreak," said ASTMH President Daniel Bausch, MD, MPH&TM, FASTMH. "Robust surveillance to detect and investigate unusual outbreaks in African countries is essential for developing strategies to stop this invasive mosquito from derailing Africa's efforts to eliminate malaria."

Provided by American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The urge to vomit after eating contaminated food is the body's natural defensive response to get rid of bacterial toxins. However, the process of how our brain initiates this biological reaction upon detecting the germs remains elusive. For the first time, researchers mapped out the detailed neural pathway of the defensive responses from the gut to the brain in mice. The study, presented November 1 in the journal Cell, could help scientists develop better anti-nausea medications for cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy.

Many foodborne bacteria produce toxins in the host after being ingested. The brain, after sensing their presence, will initiate a series of biological responses, including vomit and nausea, to get rid of the substances and develop an aversion toward foods that taste or look the same.

"But details on how the signals are transmitted from the gut to the brain were unclear, because scientists couldn't study the process on mice," says Peng Cao, the paper's corresponding author at the National Institute of Biological Sciences in Beijing. Rodents cannot vomit, likely because of their long esophagus and weaker muscle strength compared to their body size. As a result, scientists have been studying vomit in other animals like dogs and cats, but these animals are not comprehensively studied and thus failed to reveal the mechanism of nausea and vomiting.

Cao and his team noticed that while mice don't vomit, they retchmeaning they also experience the urge to vomit without throwing up. The team found that after receiving Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), which is a common bacterial toxin produced by Staphylococcus aureus that also leads to foodborne illnesses in humans, mice developed episodes of unusual mouth opening.

Mice that received SEA opened their mouths at angles wider than those observed in the control group, where mice received saline water. Moreover, during these episodes, the diaphragm and abdominal muscles of the SEA-treated mice contract simultaneously, a pattern seen in dogs when they are vomiting. During normal breathing, animals' diaphragm and abdominal muscles contract alternatively.

"The neural mechanism of retching is similar to that of vomiting. In this experiment, we successfully build a paradigm for studying toxin-induced retching in mice, with which we can look into the defensive responses from the brain to toxins at the molecular and cellular levels," Cao says.

In mice treated with SEA, the team found the toxin in the intestine activates the release of serotonin, a type of neurotransmitter, by the enterochromaffin cells on the lining of the intestinal lumen. The released serotonin binds to the receptors on the vagal sensory neurons located in the intestine, which transmits the signals along the vagus nerves from the gut to a specific type of neurons in the dorsal vagal complexTac1+DVC neuronsin the brainstem. When Cao and his team inactivated the Tac1+DVC neurons, SEA-treated mice retched less compared with mice with normal Tac1+DVC neuron activities.

In addition, the team investigated whether chemotherapy drugs, which also induce defensive responses like nausea and vomiting in recipients, activate the same neural pathway. They injected mice with doxorubicin, a common chemotherapy drug. The drug made mice retch, but when the team inactivated their Tac1+ DVC neurons or serotonin synthesis of their enterochromaffin cells, the animals' retching behaviors were significantly reduced.

Cao says some of the current anti-nausea medications for chemotherapy recipients, such as Granisetron, work by blocking the serotonin receptors. The study helps explain why the drug works.

"With this study, we can now better understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms of nausea and vomiting, which will help us develop better medications," Cao says.

Next, Cao and his colleagues want to explore how toxins act on enterochromaffin cells. Preliminary research shows that enterochromaffin cells don't sense the presence of toxins directly. The process likely involves complex immune responses of damaged cells in the intestine.

"In addition to foodborne germs, humans encounter a lot of pathogens, and our body is equipped with similar mechanisms to expel these toxic substances. For example, coughing is our body's attempt to remove the coronavirus. It's a new and exciting field of research about how the brain senses the existence of pathogens and initiates responses to get rid of them," Cao says, adding that future research may reveal new and better targets for drugs, including anti-nausea medicines.

More information: Peng Cao, The gut-to-brain axis for toxin-induced defensive responses, Cell (2022). www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(22)01314-9 Journal information: Cell Peng Cao, The gut-to-brain axis for toxin-induced defensive responses,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.10.001
A-to-I editing functions much like a large-scale cut and paste type of edit on pre-mRNA sequences, driven by ADAR enzymes. In the brain, these natural modifications have diverse effects on gene expression and protein function throughout neurodevelopment. Credit: Jessica Johnson

Mount Sinai researchers have cataloged thousands of sites in the brain where RNA is modified throughout the human lifespan in a process known as adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing, offering important new avenues for understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of brain development and how they factor into both health and disease.

In a study published in Cell Reports, the team described how the rate of RNA editing in the brain increases as individuals age, with implications for dissecting the pathology of altered A-to-I editing across a range of neurodevelopmental and aging disorders.

"Our work provides more nuanced and accurate insights into the contribution of RNA modifications by A-to-I editing during human brain development," says senior author Michael Breen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, and Genetics and Genomic Sciences, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and a member of the Seaver Center for Autism Research and Treatment.

"The field has already identified millions A-to-I sites in the brain, which has made it particularly challenging to determine which of these are likely to be physiologically important. We narrowed this down to about 10,000 sites with potential functional roles from early fetal development through advanced aging. By providing an atlas of these sites, we've opened the door to further understand brain neurodevelopment through the lens of A-to-I RNA modifications."

DNA holds the genetic blueprint for humans and other living creatures, but RNA actually carries out its instructions to create functional proteins. Modifications that accumulate on the RNA can alter the way a protein ultimately functions. A family of ADAR enzymes introduce these individual A-to-I changes. A handful of these edits are known to play essential physiological roles during early fetal development by regulating synaptic transmission and neuronal signaling in the brain. This work shows that across the human lifespan, RNA in the brain accumulates thousands of individual edits, and these changes are likely to have functional consequences as we age.

The Mount Sinai study generated and compiled brain RNA-sequence data across more than 800 individuals. This data covered all stages of prenatal and postnatal development, from the very first embryonic progenitor cells to functionally distinct brain tissue from centenarians. This broad sweep enabled researchers to develop a model depicting for the first time how A-to-I editing evolves over a lifetime, in which unedited RNAs are expressed, and possibly translated into proteins, more predominantly during fetal periods of development, while edited RNA is more abundant in the adult brain.

"This means that during older age there is generally a higher editing rate and frequency of A-to-I editing occurring, including stabilizing RNA structures and modulating the way RNAs interact with microRNAs," notes Dr. Breen. His research team also learned that a subset of these A-to-I sites introduce new amino-acid substitutions into the protein-coding region of the brain, an event known as RNA recoding. This is a particularly important finding inasmuch as RNA recoding has direct functional and/or structural effects on proteins.

The Mount Sinai team also sought to answer the question of how genetic variability might explain some of the differences in A-to-I editing as individuals age. They learned that because editing sites are strongly regulated during early fetal development, editing levels are measurably different for thousands of sites based on unique genetic variants. This distinction evens out during postnatal development. From a basic science perspective, the dynamically regulated sites uncovered by researchers provide numerous avenues for future work to manipulate basic mechanisms of early brain development through A-to-I editing.

Previous work by Dr. Breenwhose laboratory works at the intersection of functional genomics, computational biology, and neurosciencefound that A-to-I editing is disrupted in brain tissue from individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders.

"This work provides us with immediate avenues for dissecting the pathological implications of altered A-to-I editing across a range of neurodevelopmental and aging disorders," he says. "It's more clear now than ever that elucidating the dynamic regulation of RNA editing can offer unique insights into their role in promoting health as well as disease."

More information: Michael S. Breen, Spatiotemporal and genetic regulation of A-to-I editing throughout human brain development, Cell Reports (2022). www.cell.com/cell-reports/full  2211-1247(22)01450-4 Journal information: Cell Reports Michael S. Breen, Spatiotemporal and genetic regulation of A-to-I editing throughout human brain development,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111585
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Colorado, Florida, and Idaho will not participate in a key part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior surveys that reaches more than 80,000 students. Over the past 30 years, the state-level surveys, conducted anonymously during each odd-numbered year, have helped elucidate the mental health stressors and safety risks for high school students.

Each state has its own rationale for opting out, but their withdrawalwhen suicides and feelings of hopelessness are uphas caught the attention of school psychologists and federal and state health officials.

Some questions on the state-level surveyswhich can also ask students about their sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual activity, and drug useclash with laws that have been passed in conservative states. The intense political attention on teachers and school curriculums has led to a reluctance among educators to have students participate in what were once considered routine mental and behavioral health assessments, some experts worry.

The reduction in the number of states that participate in the state-level CDC survey will make it harder for those states to track the conditions and behaviors that signal poor mental health, like depression, drug and alcohol misuse, and suicidal ideation, experts said.

"Having that kind of data allows us to say 'do this, not that' in really important ways," said Kathleen Ethier, director of the CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health, which oversees the series of health surveys known as the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. "For any state to lose the ability to have that data and use that data to understand what's happening with young people in their state is an enormous loss."

The CDC developed the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System in 1990 to track the leading causes of death and injury among young people. It is made up of a nationally representative poll of students in grades nine through 12 and separate state and local school district-level questionnaires. The questions focus on behaviors that lead to unintentional injuries, violence, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, drug and alcohol misuse, physical inactivity, and more.

The decisions by Colorado, Florida, and Idaho not to participate in the state-level questionnaires will not affect the CDC's national survey or the local school district surveys in the states that have them.

Part of what makes the survey a powerful tool is the diversity of information collected, said Norin Dollard, a senior analyst with the Florida Policy Institute, a nonprofit research and advocacy group.

"It allows for the analysis of data by subgroups, including LGBTQ+ youth, so that the needs of these students, who are at a greater risk of depression, suicide, and substance abuse than their peers, are understood and can be supported by schools and community providers," said Dollard, who is also director of Florida Kids Count, part of a national network of nonprofit programs focused on children in the United States.

The CDC is still processing the 2021 data and has not released the results because of pandemic-related delays, said Paul Fulton, an agency spokesperson. But trends from the 2009 to 2019 national surveys showed that the mental health of young people had deteriorated over the previous decade.

"So we started planning," Ethier said. "When the pandemic hit, we were able to say, 'Here are the things you should be looking out for.'"

The pandemic has further exacerbated the mental health problems young people face, said Angela Mann, president of the Florida Association of School Psychologists.

Nearly half of parents who responded to a recent KFF/CNN mental health survey said the pandemic had had a negative impact on their child's mental health. Most said they were worried that issues like self-harm and loneliness stemming from the pandemic may affect teenagers.

But the CDC's survey has shortcomings, said health officials from some states that pulled back from it. Not all high schools are included, for example. And the sample of students from each state is so small that some state officials said their schools received little actionable data despite decades of participation.

That was the case in Colorado, which decided not to participate next year, according to Emily Fine, school and youth survey manager at the Colorado health department. Instead, she said, the state will focus on improving a separate study called Healthy Kids Colorado, which includes questions similar to those in the CDC survey and Colorado-specific questions.

The Colorado survey, which has been running for about a decade, covers about 100,000 students across the statenearly 100 times the number that participated in the CDC's state-level survey in 2019.

Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, which also have their own youth surveys, either never participated or decided to skip the previous two CDC assessments. At least seven states will not participate in the 2023 state-level survey.

Fine said the state-run option is more beneficial because schools receive their own results.

In Leadville, a Colorado mountain town, a youth coalition used results from the Healthy Kids Colorado survey to conclude that the county had higher-than-average rates of substance use. They also learned that Hispanic students in particular didn't feel comfortable sharing serious problems like suicidal thoughts with adults, suggesting that opportunities to flag issues early were being missed.

"I feel like most kids tell the truth on those surveys, so I feel like it's a reliable source," said high schooler Daisey Monge, who is part of the youth coalition, which proposed a policy to train adults in the community to make better connections with young people.

Education officials in Florida and Idaho said they plan to gather more state-specific data using newly created questionnaires. But neither state has designed a new survey, and what questions will be asked or what data will be captured is not clear.

Cassandra Palelis, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Education, said in an email that Florida intends to assemble a "workgroup" to design its new system.

In recent years, Idaho officials cited the CDC survey data when they applied for and received $11 million in grants for a new youth suicide prevention program called the Idaho Lives Project. The data showed the share of high school students who had seriously considered attempting suicide increased from 15% in 2011 to 22% in 2019.

"That is concerning," said Eric Studebaker, director of student engagement and safety coordination for the State Department of Education. Still, he said, the state is worried about taking up class time to survey students and about overstepping boundaries by asking questions that are not parent-approved.

Whatever the rationale, youth mental health advocates call opting out shortsighted and potentially harmful as the exodus erodes the national data collection. The pandemic exacerbated mental health stress for all high school students, especially those who are members of racial or ethnic minority groups and those who identify as LGBTQ+.

But since April, at least a dozen states have proposed bills that mirror Florida's Parental Rights in Education law, which bans instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.

The law, which critics call "Don't Say Gay," and the intense political attention it has focused on teachers and school curriculums are having a chilling effect on all age groups, said youth advocates like Mann, the Florida school psychologist. "Some of these discussions about schools indoctrinating kids has bled into discussions about mental health services in schools," she said.

Since the law was adopted, some Florida school administrators have removed "safe space" stickers with the rainbow flag indicating support for LGBTQ+ students. Some teachers have resigned in protest of the law, while others have expressed confusion about what they're allowed to discuss in the classroom.

With data showing that students need more mental health services, opting out of the state-level surveys now may do more harm than good, said Franci Crepeau-Hobson, a professor of school psychology at the University of Colorado-Denver, who has used the national youth risk behavior data to analyze trends.

"It's going to make it more difficult to really get a handle on what's happening nationally," she said.

2022 Kaiser Health News.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A new test has been developed in Turku, Finland, that helps in separating heart attack patients from those whose cardiac troponin values are elevated due to renal insufficiency.

Blood sample tests for cardiac troponins are an important cornerstone in the diagnostics of heart attack, but the result may be elevated also due to other transient or chronic conditions, such as renal insufficiency, atrial fibrillation or strenuous physical exercise. The new test may help in identifying myocardial infarction (MI) faster and more specifically and thus improve the treatment of MI patients.

Cardiac troponins are proteins which are normally found in the body only in cells of the heart muscle. According to earlier studies, troponins are released to the circulation in MI as large molecules, while in other conditions troponins are found in the blood as small fragments.

A significant problem in current diagnostics is that the commercial troponin tests currently being used at hospitals recognize the combined amount of both large and small troponin molecules.

In a collaboration study between the Heart Center of Turku University Hospital and the Biotechnology unit of the Department of Life Technologies of the University of Turku, a new simple immunoassay test was developed that detects solely the large troponin molecules. A troponin ratio was calculated by dividing the level of large troponin molecules, determined by the new test, by the level of all troponin molecules, determined by the test currently at use in hospitals. This troponin ratio was remarkably higher in MI patients than in renal insufficiency patients, although the results of the current commercial troponin test were similar in these groups.

"More than half of the small troponin elevations detected in emergency department patients are due to causes other than heart attack. The developed test seems to separate very well the small troponin elevations caused by threatening MI from more benign transient troponin elevations," says Professor Emeritus Juhani Airaksinen from the Heart Center of Turku University Hospital.

"A special feature of the test we have developed is that it would be possible to implement it in automated analysis systems in the hospital laboratories, similarly as the commercial troponin tests currently at use in the hospital laboratories," says Assistant Professor Saara Wittfooth from the Department of Life Technologies, University of Turku.

The results of this study have been published in Circulation.

More information: K.E. Juhani Airaksinen et al, Novel Troponin Fragmentation Assay to Discriminate Between Troponin Elevations in Acute Myocardial Infarction and End-Stage Renal Disease, Circulation (2022). Journal information: Circulation K.E. Juhani Airaksinen et al, Novel Troponin Fragmentation Assay to Discriminate Between Troponin Elevations in Acute Myocardial Infarction and End-Stage Renal Disease,(2022). DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.122.060845
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A third of American women of reproductive age now face excessive travel times to obtain an abortion, according to a new geospatial analysis by researchers in San Francisco and Boston that is one of the first to model the effects of the Supreme Court's recent Dobbs v. Jackson decision.

Twice as many women must now travel more than an hour to reach an abortion provider. That amount of time is double the U.S. government benchmark for reasonable access to primary care. Previous research has shown that greater distances delay, or thwart outright, needed care.

Residents of the South faced the biggest jump in travel times, as an entire bloc of states ceased to provide abortion services. Women in Texas and Louisiana went from median travel times of roughly 15 minutes to obtain an abortion before the court decision to trips more than six hours long after it, according to the study. In Texas, the average increase was eight hours.

In states with total or six-week abortion bans, travel times increased, on average, more than four hours.

"We need to understand the diminished access to this essential health service in order to better understand what resources we need to invest to regain that access. We were startled to see that populations of major metropolitan areas now have to travel several hours for care," said Yulin Hswen, ScD, an assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at UC San Francisco, and senior author of the study that appears Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022 in JAMA.

Hswen worked with Ushma Upadhyay, Ph.D., a professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive science affiliated with UCSF's Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH), and with a Boston area research team including John Brownstein, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Ben Rader, a research fellow from Boston University.

Of the 750 abortion clinics open in 2021, the researchers modeled median travel time from each Census tract to the nearest abortion facility before and after abortion bans went into effect in 15 states. While state laws have continued to fluctuate somewhat in response to court challenges, the study gives a snapshot of increases in travel time due to the Dobbs decision. Many expect 9-10 more states to ban abortion in the coming months.

Black women were hardest hit by the restricted access, with 40% facing one-hour drives after the decision, compared to just 15% before it. Even before the Supreme Court decided that abortion access was not a constitutional right, nearly 40% of American Indian and Alaska Natives faced hour-long drives; after Dobbs, well over half did. Maternal health risks are significantly higher among Black and indigenous women than among other races and ethnicities in the United States.

"This has been a real gap in the research," said UCSF's Upadhyay. "We have always more or less known that abortion bans affect Black and other people of color the most, but this research provides direct evidence of how these communities are being disproportionately affected by the Supreme Court's action."

Census tracts with lower rates of health insurance coverage and lower mean incomes also disproportionately faced one-hour trips. While the study did not factor in car ownership, lower-income women are more likely to rely on public transit.

"It's cost prohibitive to take such long trips," Upadhyay said. "In addition to paying for the abortion, people have to take time off from work, pay for gas, pay for lodging, and pay for childcarebecause most people needing abortions are already parents."

In a separate study that published on Oct. 31, 2022, the researchers found that about 10,500 fewer abortions were performed in the United States in the months immediately following the Dobbs decision.

The population-level estimates relied on the most recent U.S. Census datafrom 2016-2020to identify how many women aged 15-44 lived in each Census tract. A computer model divided the contiguous United States into square-kilometer units, found the median time to travel through each, and tallied up the times for the units through which women in each Census tract would have to pass to reach an abortion provider before and after the court ruling.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is to address Irelands further and higher education students later this month. The event will take place on Wednesday, November 16th in Dublin City University, and be livestreamed to institutions across the country.

Following President Zelenskyys speech, students attending the event will have the opportunity to engage directly with the President in a Q&A session and learn about how Russias illegal invasion has impacted Ukraine and its citizens.

Speaking today, Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said: President Zelenskyy will address our third level students, and will hear from a man who has stood defiantly in the face of an illegal and barbaric invasion of his country.

We have welcomed hundreds of Ukrainian students into our colleges, and this will be an opportunity for them to hear directly from their President.

Throughout history, Ireland has also had a long tradition of supporting other nations in times of trouble. This has posed great challenges for many of us.

President Zelenskyy has offered to speak directly to our students about their concerns or any questions they may have, and I know they will benefit greatly from hearing first-hand from the frontline.

Ukraine Ambassador Larysa Gerasko said: The address by President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a great opportunity to for the students of Irish universities to hear first-hand information about Russian aggression against Ukraine, it's hybrid warfare, and disinformation campaigns that have already impacted Europe.

"We must do everything to spread the truth and to hold Russia accountable for the atrocities and crimes committed in Ukraine.

The event in DCU, which will be attended by Government Ministers, dignitaries and students, will involve a live-stream to other third-level institutions, where it is envisaged other events involving EU Ambassadors, and discussions on democracy, EU support for Ukraine and European values, will take place.

ENDS
Police in Oklahoma say the suspect in the killings of four people at a marijuana farm has been arrested in South Florida. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation says in an evening post on Facebook that Wu Chen was taken into custody without incident Tuesday afternoon by officers with the Miami Beach Police Department. It adds that the arrest came after a car tag reader flagged vehicle he was driving, and says he was taken to the Miami-Dade County Detention Center. Police say the man will be charged with murder and shooting with intent to kill and will face extradition to Oklahoma.
MONDAY, Oct. 31, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Supplies of amoxicillin oral solution are low, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Friday. The shortage may be linked to an ongoing surge in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections across the United States.

One issue could be that the pharmacy has the drug in stock but not in the strength needed for the prescription, so it may require some back and forth between the pharmacy and the prescriber, CNN reported.

"I think it's going to be challenging for doctors and prescribers to give their patients a prescription that they'll then be able to get filled, because pharmacies are going to have a variety of different strengths in stock, and you hate to have that delay of the back and forth, especially for an antibiotic they usually want to get started pretty quick. So I think it's going to be a frustrating shortage," Erin Fox, a senior pharmacy director at University of Utah Health, told CNN.

In the meantime, the FDA is working with manufacturers to prevent further shortages or reduce the effects of any delays, CNN reported. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists said it started hearing about shortages of both tablets and oral solutions about three weeks ago.

"My first advice would be, don't panic," Fox said. "There is still some amoxicillin. It just might need a quick change of prescription." A patient may want to first call the pharmacy to see if they have the drug in stock at the prescribed strength, Fox suggested. The health care provider may also be able to provide prescriptions for amoxicillin in varying strengths. Alternatives for treating pediatric bacterial infections include amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin) and cefuroxime (Zinacef).

Why the jump in demand? A surge in pediatric RSV cases may be contributing to the problem, because although antibiotics cannot treat the virus, they are being used to treat secondary bacterial infections.
The oil market dynamics of today will not prevent Saudi Arabia from focusing on the future and the kingdom is committed to zero carbon emissions, said Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.

What is happening today will never prevent us from focusing on the future, and we will work together to achieve our aspirations, and we will be a positive example for energy-producing countries, he was quoited as saying by Saudi Gazette.

Prince Abdulaziz was addressing the opening session of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (Adipec) in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Saudi Arabia is exerting all efforts to abide by its commitments to achieve zero carbon emissions, he said.

He said Saudi Arabia is working to increase refining rates and develop clean hydrogen.

Prince Abdulaziz said the Kingdom is working on climate change along with the UAE. Saudi Arabia and UAE are members in a number of initiatives to find solutions to climate change, and are working to achieve sustainable development through a number of important projects, he said.
MONDAY, Oct. 31, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Transgender minors in Florida are now one step closer to not being able to get medical care to affirm their gender. In a heated hearing on Friday, the Florida Board of Medicine voted to begin drafting a rule banning puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries for trans youths younger than 18 years.

This was the next step in a movement that began in April when Gov. Ron DeSantis began efforts to restrict transition-related care. At that time, DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo issued nonbinding guidance to prevent both "social gender transition" and gender-affirming medical care for anyone younger than 18 years. Another meeting will be held Nov. 4 to discuss the draft, followed by a 28-day approval process, NBC News reported.

On one side of the emotional testimony on Friday was Meredith McNamara, M.D., an assistant professor of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine who treats transgender people between the ages of 10 and 25 years. She said a June report on the issue by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration was flawed.

"Neither of the authors of the state's review is a subject matter expert," McNamara said. "One individual is a dentist. The other is a postdoctoral fellow in biostatistics. At a bare minimum, the systematic review should be conducted by those who are qualified to assess the literature. I wouldn't trust a dermatologist review of the literature on a neurosurgical procedure, for instance."

On the other side was Michael Laidlaw, M.D., an endocrinologist in Rocklin, California. The information that he cited was often-criticized research that found 50 to 90 percent of children whose gender identity is not consistent with their assigned sex at birth outgrow the mismatch by adulthood, NBC News reported.

The public comment period also featured conflicting testimony, including eight people who said they had "detransitioned" or now identified with the sex they were assigned at birth after previously identifying as transgender. Only one of those eight individuals had received gender-affirming care when younger than 18 years. Chloe Cole said she had begun transitioning at age 12 years, received a double mastectomy at 15 years, and regretted her decision by age 16 years.

"All the talk about mental health, self-perception, pronouns, and ideology leads me to the question, why is a mental health epidemic not being addressed with mental health treatment to get at the root causes for why female adolescents like me want to reject their bodies?" Cole told NBC News.
The annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America was held this year from Oct. 19 to 23 in Washington, D.C., and attracted participants from around the world, including scientists, physicians, and other health care professionals. The conference featured education courses and comprehensive educational programs that focused on the latest advances in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases. The meeting also provided insight into emerging infections, new diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutic interventions.

In one study, Mona Marin, M.D., of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease in Atlanta, and colleagues found that the varicella vaccine program in the United States has been highly successful. The program has made a significant public health and economic impact in the 25 years of program implementation by saving lives, avoiding sickness and hospitalizations, and preventing disruption to schools and family life.

The authors examined the outcomes of the ongoing varicella vaccine program in the United States. They found that the United States reached and maintained high varicella vaccine coverage (90 percent for one dose of the vaccine among children 19 to 35 months of age). Cases have declined overall by more than 97 percent, from about 4 million cases each year before the vaccine, making the disease now rare. Disease declined in all age groups, helping to protect people who are not eligible for vaccination and who usually have more severe illness (i.e., infants, immunocompromised persons, and pregnant women). The vaccine campaign also has had economic benefits, saving medical costs and lost wages due to parents having to stay home with sick children.

"Each year, about 3.8 million cases, more than 10,500 hospitalizations, and 100 deaths are now prevented in the United States as a result of varicella vaccination and reduction in the varicella-zoster virus circulation," Marin said. "There has also been a substantial return on investment, with net societal savings of more than $23 billion over the vaccine program's 25-year history."

In another study, Stephanie Richard, Ph.D., of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland, and colleagues found that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection increases the risk for reporting difficulties with exercise and daily activities among U.S. military members.

The authors evaluated daily exercise of U.S. military active-duty service members with COVID-19 infection. Participants completed survey fitness questions at one, three, six, nine, and 12 months after being enrolled in the study. These findings were compared to those of service members without COVID-19 infection. The investigators found that compared with those without SARS-CoV-2 infection, active-duty service member participants with positive SARS-CoV-2 tests were more likely to report new or increased difficulty with daily activities and exercising and were more likely to report that their service-mandated physical fitness test scores were affected. Impairment in daily activities and exercising peaked at one month after infection and appeared to return to pre-COVID-19 levels between six and nine months. Among those participants with COVID-19 infection, those with a history of vaccination had fewer post-COVID-19 difficulties in daily activities and exercising compared with those without a history of vaccination.

"Being fully vaccinated decreased the risk of reporting difficulties with exercise and daily activities by approximately 20 percent," Richard said. "These results underscore the value of vaccination, not just for preventing death and disease but for preserving longer-term quality of life."

Valerie Vaughn, M.D., of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, and colleagues found that using the right interventions at the time of diagnosis results in less unnecessary antibiotic use for the treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria.

Using a database of nearly 15,000 patients across 46 hospitals over a four-year period, the researchers found that the most effective way to prevent antibiotics being used to treat asymptomatic bacteriuria was to focus on preventing urine cultures from being obtained from patients who do not have symptoms.

"If a patient does not have symptoms of a urinary tract infection -- such as frequency, urgency, or flank pain -- don't get a urine culture," Vaughn said. "Antibiotic use for asymptomatic bacteriuria is one of the most clearly incorrect reasons for antibiotic use. As clinicians, we need to focus on not ordering cultures for these patients to help prevent downstream antibiotic use."

IDSA: Three-Dose Hepatitis B Vaccine Highly Protective in Persons With HIV

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 26, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- For persons living with HIV, a three-dose hepatitis B virus vaccine adjuvanted to a TLR-9 agonist yields 100 percent seroprotection, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDWeek), held from Oct. 19 to 23 in Washington, D.C.

IDSA: Vaccination Program Yielded Large Declines in Varicella Incidence

TUESDAY, Oct. 25, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Varicella vaccination resulted in a 99 percent reduction in the incidence of varicella among persons aged younger than 20 years, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDWeek), held from Oct. 19 to 23 in Washington, D.C.

IDSA: Long-Term Follow-Up Reported for Early Initiation of ART in HIV

TUESDAY, Oct. 25, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Initiating antiretroviral treatment early in the course of HIV infection results in better outcomes compared with deferred initiation, although the difference in ongoing excess risk is reduced with long-term follow-up, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDWeek), held from Oct. 19 to 23 in Washington, D.C.
Recognizing National Hospice & Palliative Care Month, Partners Hope Foundation and its partners will hold four workshops throughout November.

Run by leading professionals, the free events held at the Missoula Public Library will offer education and discussion around a range of end-of-life and advance care topics important to western Montana.

Learning about and discussing end-of-life topics can be extremely difficult in the moment we are faced with them, said Amanda Yeoman Melro, executive director of Partners Hope Foundation, the organization working to create Western Montanas only center for end-of-life care that will offer dedicated inpatient hospice care, in a press release. Having proactive conversations around subjects like hospice care and advance care planning can ease the burden down the road and allow us to be more present with loved ones at the final stage of life.

In partnership with the University of Montana Humanities Institute and its Re-Imagining Death programming, the Hospice Month events kick off on Wednesday, Nov. 2 with a feature presentation by Dr. Ira Byock. Dr. Byock is a leading palliative care physician, author and public advocate for improving care through the end of life. He is founder of the Institute for Human Caring of Providence St. Joseph Health, a 50-hospital health system. Dr. Byock lectures nationally and internationally and has been a featured guest on national television and radio programs. His three books, Dying Well, The Four Things That Matter Most and The Best Care Possible, have become standards in the field of hospice and palliative care. The workshop will start at 5:30 p.m. in the librarys fourth-floor Cooper Room.

Additional Hospice Month workshops include:

 Hospice and Palliative Care in Rural Montana, Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m. in the librarys Cooper Room. Dr. Cunningham, a certified hospice and palliative medicine physician, will discuss creative perspectives on how to enhance dignified and comfortable end-of-life care for all Montanans across rural and urban settings. Dr. Melody Cunningham is a Partners Hope Foundation board member and speaks about the principles of and access to hospice and palliative care nationally and internationally.

 Advance Care Planning, Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 5:30 in the librarys Cooper Room. Dr. Melanie Rose Trost, a grief specialist at Tamarack Grief Resource Center, and Jennifer Detienne Paul, an advance care planning consultant with Partners In Home Care, will lead an open conversation about advance care plans, also known as advance directives. This workshop will support community members in starting conversations with their loved ones and medical professionals to document their wishes before difficult health care decisions need to be made.

 Storms of the Heart: Our Journey with Grief, Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 5:30 in the librarys Cooper Room. Partners Hope Foundation board member and retired Partners In Home Care Chaplain Dan Dixson will discuss the nature of grief as it accompanies peoples journeys after a death or other loss. He will share ideas about grief learned through the pandemic and how community members can navigate the paths ahead.

Every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. throughout November, Partners Hope Foundation board members will also be at the librarys first-floor Community Kiosk to discuss the organizations plans for a center for end-of-life care and share renderings of the state-of-the-art hospice facility. Additional information and renderings will also be on display on the librarys third floor.

Partners Hope Foundation is collaborating with Partners In Home Care, the regions longest serving home health and hospice care provider, to create the center for end-of-life care that will be built on Union Pacific Street on land donated by the Terry and Patt Payne family. The organizations are committed to addressing the regions hospice care needs and partnering with regional service providers to offer end-of-life education and support services.

Additional information about the Hospice Month workshops, the organizations plans for the center for end-of-life care and giving options to support current fundraising efforts can be found at partnershopefoundation.org.
DENVER (AP)  A man suspected of killing four people at his ex-girlfriend's home in suburban Denver allegedly threatened to kill her a week before, according to court records.

Police were searching Monday for Joseph Mario Castorena, 21, in connection with the shooting that left three men and a woman dead in Aurora. Neither the ex-girlfriend  identified in a protection order requested on Oct. 24 as Jessica Serrano  nor two young children at the home were injured in the shooting early Sunday, Aurora police said.

Castorena and Serrano have two children together but they do not currently have custody of them, according to protection order applications made by Serrano and her father, Jose Serrrano, last week. At a news conference Sunday after the shooting, interim police chief Dan Oates said those children were out-of-state with family and safe.

He also revealed that Castorena had been ordered earlier in the week to stay away from a domestic partner and her home. Police department spokesperson Sgt. Faith Goodrich confirmed Monday that he was referring to Serrano.

This was an accumulation of events that led to this," Oates said.

Authorities have not released the names of those killed. However, a relative, Ubaldo Condina, told KUSA-TV that those killed were Jose Serrano, Jessica Serrano's twin sister and her husband, whom he identified as the parents of the children found at the home, as well as a man who rented an RV on the property.

In her Oct. 24 application for a protection order against Castorena, which was granted the same day, Jessica Serrano said Castorena pulled out a gun and threatened to kill her the day before. She also claimed he held her in his car and would not let her go home.

In his application for a protection order, Jose Serrano said his daughter never came home from work on Oct. 22, and on Oct. 23 she showed up covered in glass with cuts all over her arms. He claimed Castorena broke the driver's side window of Jessica Serrano's car as she was sitting next to it. He also said Castorena had previously threatened to kill him if he did not give him his children, the document said.

A woman identified as Jessica Serrano's sister also requested a restraining order against Castorena but there is no record of it being granted. It did not mention a specific threat made against her but said that she and her family had been dealing with problems between her sister and Castorena for three years.

In the hours after the shooting, police searched the nearby home where Castorena lives with his family but did not find him and his car was found unoccupied, Oates said.
Officials are resuming efforts to plan an approximately 16,500-acre timber project that would take place south of West Yellowstone, just outside the western border of Yellowstone National Park.

The Custer Gallatin National Forest announced in October it had revised its draft environmental assessment for the South Plateau Landscape Area Treatment Project, and a 30-day comment period is open until Nov. 5. The website where a form exists for commenting can be found at: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=57353.

If its approved, crews would conduct an estimated 5,551 acres of scattered clear-cuts, 6,593 acres of commercial thinning, 2,514 acres of noncommercial thinning and 1,804 acres of additional fuels treatments in the project area.

Lodgepole pine stands dominate the area that would be logged, and the Forest Service wrote that over 26,000 of those acres are highly susceptible to mountain pine beetle due to the homogenous size, age and tree spacing.

Mariah Leuschen-Lonergan, a spokesperson for the Custer Gallatin National Forest, said a maximum of 57 miles of temporary roads would be built, and they would all be decommissioned after the work wraps up.

On top of the logging, the Forest Service is calling for changes in access designations along all or part of nine national forest system roads. That includes a proposal to decommission a 2.6-mile section of the South Fork Madison Road. The move is aimed at improving water quality.

The South Plateau project would extend across 40,000 acres spanning south from U.S. Highway 20, north and east from the Montana-Idaho border and west from Yellowstone National Park. The work would occur over a 15-year period.

Hebgen Lake District Ranger Jason Brey said in a video posted on the Custer Gallatin National Forests Facebook page that since 2010, staff on the district have worked to improve forest health, reduce fuel loading and enhance wildlife habitat within the Hebgen Basin.

What were trying to achieve for fuels reduction  both for protection of infrastructure in the town of West Yellowstone and for forest health conditions  complements the need of the town to maintain that recreation-based economy, he said.

Officials wrote that the South Plateau project will aid in reducing the risks associated with insect and disease outbreaks in trees, and they believe reducing fuels will make wildfire suppression efforts more effective and safe. The project will also bolster the timber products industry.

Mike Garrity, executive director of Alliance for the Wild Rockies, said the act of adding clear-cuts and logging roads will threaten grizzly bears and Canada lynx  a species that relies on the hiding cover provided by dense trees.

Grizzly bears are still threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and they are doing the best they can to drive their numbers down instead of protecting their habitat, Garrity said. And this is on the border of Yellowstone National Park.

Alliance for the Wild Rockies was one of several conservation groups that objected to the previous environmental assessment for the South Plateau project. That assessment was released for comments back in the summer of 2020, and an objection period ran in the spring of 2021.

Leuschen-Lonergan said the pause was due to the ongoing revision of the Custer Gallatin National Forest land management plan, which was signed early on this year. Officials wanted to make sure the projects components aligned with the plans direction, she said.

The new assessment calls for the retention of snags, live trees and pockets of old growth forest. Its also designed to regenerate aspen and protect whitebark pine, which are declining across much of the West, Leuschen-Lonergan said.

The Custer Gallatin National Forest plans to follow the National Environmental Policy Act scoping process anew, beginning with the 30-day comment period. Garrity said he wont know whether his group will litigate over the project until the Forest Service reaches a final decision.

What theyre proposing  were totally against it. We think its illegal, but they are plowing ahead to bulldoze more logging roads and clear more grizzly bear and lynx habitat on the border of Yellowstone, he said.
A former Butte man, Martin Joseph Ferriter, 56, of Henderson, Nevada was charged Monday in Judge Ben Pezdarks justice court to a felony count of stalking, along with a misdemeanor stalking offense.

In addition, Ferriter was charged with five counts of privacy in communication, three of which are felony counts because they are repeat offenses.

All of the above offenses allegedly occurred in Butte-Silver Bow County, according to court documents.

On the privacy in communication charges, documents say that on two separate occasions, Ferriter reportedly, via electronic communication, threatened to inflict injury or physical harm to individuals and property, and made repeated use of obscene, lewd or profane language, or repeated lewd or lascivious suggestions.

The threats were made against a woman on or about Oct. 7 and against a man on or about Oct. 17.

On the three felony privacy in communication counts, on or between Oct. 19 and Oct. 20, Ferriter reportedly threatened to harm a man and a woman. On separate occasions during that time frame, an additional two women were threatened, along with another man and woman.

The maximum penalty for felony privacy in communication is a prison sentence not to exceed five years and/or a $10,000 fine.

The misdemeanor stalking charge states that from August 2020 to Oct. 7, 2022, at various times and locations in Butte, Ferriter allegedly engaged in a course of conduct directed at a woman, putting her in fear for her own safety and the safety of her family, including her husband and children, and to suffer other substantial emotional distress.

From Oct. 14 to Oct. 20, he reportedly repeated this offense at various times and locations in Butte and was charged with felony stalking.

The maximum penalty for felony stalking is a prison sentence not to exceed five years and/or a $10,000 fine. Also, a person found guilty of stalking may be sentenced to pay all medical, counseling, and other costs occurred by or on behalf of the victim.

Bond for Ferriter has been set at $250,000.
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP)  In Brazils capital on Monday, the silence was deafening.

Nearly a full day after President Jair Bolsonaro lost his bid for reelection, the usually brash right-wing leader had neither conceded defeat nor challenged the results of the country's closest political contest in more than three decades.

Bolsonaro hadn't spoken a word to reporters camped outside the official residence or the supporters who regularly gather nearby. Nor did he post on his otherwise prolific social media platforms.

The only sign of protest came from Bolsonaro-supporting truckers who on Sunday started blocking roads across the country. By Monday night, the Federal Highway Police reported 236 incidents in 18 states, up from 136 three hours prior to that.

Bolsonaro's rival, former president and left-leaning ex-union leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won the runoff Sunday night with 50.9% of the votes, to Bolsonaros 49.1%. It was the closest election since Brazils return to democracy in 1985.

Ricardo Barros, Bolsonaro's whip in the Lower House, told The Associated Press by phone that he was with the president Monday and that Bolsonaro was still deciding whether to speak about the elections results.

Much like former U.S. President Donald Trump, whom Bolsonaro admires, the outgoing Brazilian leader has repeatedly questioned the reliability of the nations electronic voting system. At one point he said he possessed proof of fraud, though he provided no evidence. And as recently as last month, he remarked that if he didnt win in the elections first round, something was abnormal"  even as most polls showed him trailing.

As time passes and an increasing number of international leaders publicly recognize da Silvas victory, the presidents room for dispute is dwindling, experts told The Associated Press.

Some of Bolsonaro's closest allies indicated the same.

The will of the majority seen on ballots shall never be contested, Lower House Speaker Arthur Lira told reporters Sunday.

Other Bolsonaro supporters who publicly acknowledged da Silva's win include Sao Paulo governor-elect Tarcisio de Freitas and Senator-elect Damares Alves, both of whom served as ministers under Bolsonaro, and Lower House whip Barros. Evangelical pastor Silas Malafaia, who has been a strident Bolsonaro supporter, called for God to bestow his blessing on da Silva.

He must have several plans for how to contest the results of the polls; the question is whether he has the political support to go ahead with these plans, said Paulo Calmon, a political science professor at the University of Brasilia. He wont have the support of Sao Paulos governor, of the Lower House, Senate, and he will have to face opposition from everyone.

Calmon added that Bolsonaro had recently said during an interview last month that he would accept the result even if he lost, but that congratulating da Silva would hurt his popularity among his most radical base.

Abroad, U.S. President Joe Biden was among the first world leaders to salute da Silva, highlighting the countrys free, fair, and credible elections. By contrast, Bolsonaro took more than a month to congratulate Bidens 2020 victory against Trump.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador invited da Silva to visit Mexico at the end of November for the Pacific Alliance summit. The Workers' Party leader responded he had to wait for Bolsonaro to admit his defeat before accepting the invite, according to a video of the exchange.

Like Trump, Bolsonaro has his own potential legal concerns. He is one of the targets of a Supreme Court inquiry into the spread of fake news and a Senate investigation recommended that he be charged with crimes for his mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Brazils Independence day last year, Bolsonaro told a cheering crowd that only God can remove him from office, then continued: For all of us, there are only three alternatives, especially for me: arrested, dead or victorious. Tell the scoundrels Ill never be arrested!

The high-stakes election was a stunning reversal for da Silva, 77, whose imprisonment for corruption sidelined him from the 2018 election that brought Bolsonaro, a defender of conservative social values, to power.

Today, the only winner is the Brazilian people, da Silva said in a speech at a hotel in downtown Sao Paulo. This isnt a victory of mine or the Workers Party, nor the parties that supported me in the campaign. Its the victory of a democratic movement that formed above political parties, personal interests and ideologies.

Da Silva has promised to govern beyond his party. He wants to bring in centrists and even some leaning to the right who voted for him for the first time, and to restore the countrys more prosperous past. Yet he faces headwinds in a politically polarized society and is likely to face strong opposition from conservative lawmakers.

Thomas Traumann, an independent political analyst, compared the situation to Bidens victory: Da Silva, like the U.S. president, is inheriting an extremely divided nation.

People are not only polarized on political matters, but also have different values, identity and opinions," Traumann said. "Whats more, they dont care what the other sides values, identities and opinions are.

The election in Latin Americas biggest economy extended a wave of recent leftist victories in South American countries, including Argentina, Chile and Colombia.

Da Silvas inauguration is scheduled to take place on Jan. 1. He last served as president from 2003-2010.

During the campaign, he has kindled nostalgia for his presidency, when Brazils economy was booming and welfare helped tens of millions join the middle class.

Bolsonaros administration has been marked by incendiary speech, his testing of democratic institutions, his widely criticized handling of the pandemic and the worst deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in 15 years. But he has built a devoted base by defending conservative values and presenting himself as protection from leftist policies that he says infringe on personal liberties and produce economic turmoil. And he shored up support in an election year with vast government spending.

We did not face an opponent, a candidate. We faced the machine of the Brazilian state put at his service so we could not win the election, da Silva told the crowd during his acceptance speech in Sao Paulo.

But da Silva is also remembered for his administrations involvement in vast corruption revealed by sprawling investigations. His arrest in 2018 kept him out of that years race against Bolsonaro, a fringe lawmaker at the time who was an outspoken fan of Trump.

Da Silva was jailed for 580 days for corruption and money laundering. His convictions were later annulled by Brazils top court, which ruled the presiding judge had been biased and colluded with prosecutors. That enabled da Silva to run for the nations highest office for the sixth time.

Da Silva has pledged to boost spending on the poor, reestablish relationships with foreign governments and take bold action to eliminate illegal clear-cutting in the Amazon rainforest.

On social media, one of Bolsonaros sons, Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro, who served as a coordinator on his father's campaign, thanked supporters and told them to keep their heads up and don't give up on Brazil.
Three teams represented Muscatine and the state of Iowa last week at FFA Nationals, with all three bringing home awards.

The Meats team captured a gold rating, Ag Sales earned a silver and the Forestry unit took bronze.

While the Meats team won a gold, individually, Jenna Lovestead and Bob Carver were given gold ratings. Cory Shank and Kat Carver were ranked silver. Before the competition, the Meat Evaluation team worked with Hy-Vee, Iowa State University, University of Nebraska, Reasons Locker and Bud Meat Locker to help sharpen their carcass-identifying skills.

It was quite exciting. I got to learn a lot of new things and see a lot of new things that Ive never seen before, Lovestead, who was competing at nationals for the first time, said. Ive been working toward going to nationals for two years now, competing at different competitions and then at state level.

She said while her award was amazing, it was also somewhat bittersweet.

Ive been working for it for so long and weve accomplished it, so now its my moment of whats next?  Lovestead said.

Bob Carver, who was competing at nationals for the second time in his high school career, shared that he enjoyed the experience.

First time I went, it was kind of a mess, but this second time was a bit more thought out," he said. "We even went to the hotel and cooked some steaks afterward, which was pretty fun.

Overall, Bob Carver said he felt happy about his teams performance.

Normally, its not quite as close, but the Meats judging team this year was very close, and it felt pretty nice, he said

The Ag Sales team managed to finish with a silver ranking, placing 15th in the nation. All four members finished with a silver rating, with Avery Schroeder ranked 59th, Ella Schroeder 64th, Addison Weggen 90th and Grace Williams 95th.

Forty teams and 160 individuals competed in Ag Sales. Before the competition, the team worked with experts from River Valley Cooperative, Kent, Lee Insurance and Terra Products to develop sales skills and to learn the product they were assigned from National FFA.

Ella, an add-on team member because an original member competed in a different competition, said being at nationals for the first time was unbelievable.

Being in the same place as so many other FFA members, it was just crazy to think that there are that many kids around the world (interested in FFA). It just opens your eyes to a whole new organization out there, and it was just really memorable, Ella said.

The Forestry team finished with a bronze rating, ranking 28th in the nation. Individually, Belinda Brain finished with a gold rating and ranked at 19th place while Camden Furnas was ranked at 114th, Landon Castle 132nd and William Eichelberger 153rd.

It was pretty interesting, definitely an experience that not a lot of people get and that Im very grateful for, Furnas said. It was fun, and it was unique because you were outside doing the competition.

He said he enjoyed meeting other FFA students and got to know a competitor from Georgia.

I just love the environment that FFA members get with each other, he said.

Although he acknowledged the team could have done better, Furnas said he and his team were competing against the best in the country.

So if I was going to not do good, Id probably want to not do good going against the best," Furnas said. "But for how I did individually for someone who originally didnt qualify for state, Im happy with how I did.

He said he hoped to get back to nationals and compete in livestock judging next year.
During my first meeting with interim Washington School Superintendent David Sextro, he offered me a deal. He said that he would always be straight with me if I was always straight with him. I took the deal, neither of us broke it, and we are still good friends today.

It was the same with the police department. Chief Greg Goodman and I had an understanding  I had to ask questions and, depending on the circumstances, he had to not tell me certain things to maintain the investigation. We were both professionals and understood why the other was doing what they were doing. We did also have the understanding that no matter what was going on I had one question, the most important question, I would ask and he would answer  Is there an active threat the public should know about?

Well, having those understandings in place was a relief, as the previous school superintendent (I better not mention his name) tended to not like to discuss problems in his school district. He would take pains to keep the information about them from getting out to the public. In fact, he got in more trouble trying to cover up problems than the problems would have caused themselves. The public understands that nothing is perfect and there are going to be problems no matter what you do. Its how the problems are handled that is the important thing. Of course, that superintendent did admit to the problems when they came to light.

Recently (last week) the Davenport School District reported being hacked and the personal information of 6,000 people may have been compromised. The hack reportedly took place on Sept. 7, at which time the internet to the schools went down, and the district admitted to information being compromised on Oct. 28. Oh, by the way, as near as I can tell the district learned the information was compromised on Sept. 30 and released that the district had thwarted a cyber-attack. I remember commenting to Andrea Grubaugh, Their Internet has been down for weeks. They didnt thwart s***.

In early September, the QC Times requested information from the school district about computer issues they had. The district originally told reporters that its servers were undergoing repairs, and that was causing internet outages and phone and email problems that lasted more than a week. Some parents and teachers said they doubted the district's explanations at the time. According to Superintendent TJ Schneckloth, the district could not release facts about the incident earlier because of an ongoing forensic investigation conducted in the weeks following the initial internet outage. In fact, as near as I can tell, the only reason they came clean now is because there is a federal law in place requiring it.

"Oftentimes, if you begin to speak about something you don't know about, you're also relating what the threat is to the people potentially threatening you," Schneckloth said. "These threat actors have the potential to be watching at all times. So until you can identify what those issues are, you really have to only report what's there."

That isnt what happened. Since no one else seems to be saying it, I will. The district lied. I dont mean they accidentally gave incorrect information, or declined comment  I mean, by their own admission, they lied to the public whose tax money pays for the district. They told the public, not in so many words, the data was safe and they didnt have anything to worry about. It kind of makes one wonder what else the district has lied about.

There were similar ransomware attacks in Los Angeles and New Mexico in which the hackers did release the information. Both of those districts called a press conference and let the community know they had been hacked.

Personally, if I had a child going to Davenport, I would be furious. It would have been nice to know about the hack. There were several weeks in which I could have taken additional security measures to ensure no identity theft happens.

Of course, we have no way of knowing what was going on behind the scenes. It could be the investigating entity didnt want the information shared with the public. This is not a good reason for a public entity to lie. Whatever group  insurance or law enforcement  is doing the investigation, the school district needs to realize it has a duty to the public. There is a difference between simply saying information cant be released due to an ongoing investigation and lying about the situation. The school district is going to be there having to deal with damage to public trust long after the investigators have moved on.

As I sit here writing this, the time for when the information is supposed to be made public is imminent. I sincerely hope nothing happens and peoples information stays safe. Anyone in the Davenport School District may want to be extra vigilant. If anything seems strange, report it immediately to the police and the Federal Trade Commission online at IdentityTheft.gov or by phone at 1-877-438-4338 so it can create a report that can be used to prove to financial institutions that there was an identity theft. As a reporter I have spoken with people who have had their identity stolen and they have had to pay thousands of dollars for items they did not buy.

Also, it is up to the community and the school board to determine what the repercussions should be for a public figure who lies to the community. A friend once said a public figure is like a little child in that if there is no consequence for them doing something, they have no reason not to do it again.
Also learn more about controversies at Airbnb and Whole Foods, plus view six charts tracking the markets. Here's a look at the week's top business and consumer news.
Oil and gas (O&G) autonomous operations can deliver savings of over 300,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per annum for offshore sites (approximately 25% reduction), says ABB.

This is the equivalent of removing 150,000 combustion cars from the road and is the same volume of CO2 responsible for five million tonnes of glacier mass lost each year, says ABBs Energy Transition Equation report that shows how industrial customers can reduce carbon emissions and manage the energy transition for a more sustainable future.

The report also demonstrates how companies can realise production efficiencies of up to $30 million in annual savings, while delivering net revenue increases of up to $120,000, thanks to autonomous operations.

Research and modelling

Based on nine months of research and modelling, the report highlights how early adoption and integration of automation, digitalisation, and electrification technologies can save carbon emissions.

The world needs more energy, said Brandon Spencer, President, ABB Energy Industries. Even in the most ad-vanced scenarios for renewables, we will still need to invest in oil and gas infrastructure to ensure availability and stability of supply to meet our energy needs. Now is the time to make that investment count, using the right tech-nology to ensure energy production from hydrocarbons is the most sustainable it can be, as we continue to develop renewables.

A key part of this is redeploying companies offshore workforces, moving them from hazardous roles into new ones onshore. In doing so, employers can offer safer working environments, a better work-life balance and fill industry talents gaps by reskilling employees to support a data-led approach to oil and gas exploration and production.

Reducing emissions

In 2021, ABB reduced its own CO2 emissions by 39% as part of its Sustainability Strategy 2030 and expects to be fully carbon neutral by decades end. The strategy details how ABB will support its global customers in reducing their annual CO2 emissions by at least 100 megatonnes by 2030, the equivalent of removing 30 million combustion cars from the roads.

The reports economic modelling was undertaken by independent economist Steve Lucas of Developmental Economics in conjunction with ABB Energy Industries and supported with desktop research of academic and industry sources. ABB will publish reports focused on the power and chemicals markets in 2023.-- TradeArabia News Service
On Oct. 20, Redwood Credit Union celebrated International Credit Union (ICU) Day, "a day for credit unions to reflect on their history and commitment to their members and communities."

One of the ways RCU honored the day was by donating 25 cents per card transaction to local nonprofit organizations that empower communities in Napa, Sonoma, Marin, Lake, Mendocino, and San Francisco counties, each time members used their RCU Visa debit or credit cards on Oct. 20.

In total, $45,269 was donated to local nonprofit partners Community Action of Napa Valley, Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County, North Coast Opportunities in Lake and Mendocino counties, Community Action Marin, and Compass Family Services in San Francisco.

Were honored to be part of an industry that cares about people and supports its communities," said RCU President and CEO Brett Martinez.
The Caymus Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, located in the upper Napa Valley, will place wreaths at the gravesites of veterans at the St. Helena Public Cemetery beginning at 9 a.m. on Dec. 17.

The effort is part of Wreaths Across America, which honors veterans' commitment to our country.

The Upvalley community is being asked to consider sponsoring a wreath toward this special day. If you are interested in sponsoring a wreath, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/167434.

DAR is a nonprofit, non-political volunteer womens service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing Americas future through better education for children, and was founded in 1890. DAR members volunteer millions of hours annually in their local communities including supporting active-duty military personnel and assisting veteran patients, awarding thousands of dollars in scholarships and financial aid each year to students, and supporting schools for underserved children.

As a DAR member, our mission of promoting patriotism and preserving American history speaks to me and aligns with our own mission to Remember, Honor, Teach, said Dianne Fraser, regent of the Caymus Chapter. DAR members around the country have long been part of the WAA family, supporting local efforts in every state.

Our Caymus Chapter is pleased to participate with the Wreaths Across America program that reaches across the nation, said sisters and DAR members Ana and Marta Canales. "As the descendants of Americas first veterans, this is a partnership that resonates deeply with our mission.

If you or a member of your family would like to volunteer in placing wreaths on Dec. 17, please email dedefraser59@gmail.com.
Adventist Health St. Helena is looking for community members to serve on its Community Advisory Council.

The council will be made up of patient and/or family member advisers along with Adventist Health St. Helena representatives who are dedicated to elevating patient and family-centered care and experience. The council will meet during a catered lunch once per quarter at the hospital.

If you or someone in your family has been a patient in the past two years, you could help shape patient care by sharing your experiences and your perspective on topics like patient care and experience, processes and programs, and opportunities for new services.

To learn more and apply, go to AdventistHealthStHelena.org/CommunityAdvisory.
Monday, Oct. 24

2011  Police cited a driver near Main/Mitchell.

2136  Report of a couple on Spring Street asking for information about a homeless shelter.

Tuesday, Oct. 25

1155  A construction crew on Dean York Lane backed into a fire hydrant and sheared it off, causing a massive water leak. Police, fire and public works responded.

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1600  Report of two cars parked near Kidd Ranch/McCorkle for more than three days.

1610  Report of a large dual-rear-wheel pickup trying to cross the Pope Street Bridge. Police took a report.

1851  An officer educated a local employee on how to prevent theft.

2205  Police were asked to check on someone on a Main Street bench who might need medical attention. An officer made sure the person was OK.

2231  Shots were heard from the Silverado Trail area, audible from Pope Street. Police checked the area.

2310  A motorist flagged down an officer to get directions to a local hotel.

Wednesday, Oct. 26

0413  Police took a report on a case of threatening texts and possible fraud.

0634  Police cited a driver near Main/Madrona.

0805  An officer found a bicycle at the skate park and brought it to the police station for safekeeping.

1222  Police cited a driver near Charter Oak/Main.

1422  Report of a broken-down vehicle blocking the northbound lane of Main Street near Hunt Avenue. The vehicle was able to turn on and move without further help.

1504  A caller was concerned about a dog barking all night near Meadowcreek Circle. Police said to call back when the barking is occurring.

1608  Police cited two vehicles parked in the wrong direction on Adams Street.

1631  Police cited a car parked in a red zone near Main/Spring.

1637  Police cited a car parked in a blue zone on Main Street.

1841  Report of a woman passed out near a Fulton Lane business. Police contacted the woman, who said she would be spending the night in town.

2107  Police cited a driver near Main/Adams.

2153  Following a traffic stop near Main/Pratt, police arrested a 29-year-old Napa man on suspicion of violating parole, driving without a license, and charges related to drinking alcohol or smoking marijuana while driving. A 35-year-old Napa man was arrested on suspicion of violating probation and drinking alcohol or smoking marijuana as a passenger in a moving vehicle.

Thursday, Oct. 27

0150  Medical aid on Andrea Avenue.

0335  Police on Main Street found a vehicle that had been reported stolen from San Francisco.

0524  Report of a gravel truck parked very close to the Pope Street Bridge, partially in a traffic lane, and posing a hazard for drivers.

0649  Report of a broken irrigation system on Mitchell Drive.

0738  Report of a reckless driver cutting people off in the center lane of Main Street near Grayson Avenue.

0940  Report of someone connecting their water tank to a local fire hydrant.

1310  Report of a man using drugs in a school parking lot on College Avenue. Hed reportedly left after someone told him to go away.

1326  A security guard asked for help with an uncooperative person near Main Street.

1342  A local grocery store reported shoplifting by high school students.

1345  A witness saw a white Hyundai hit a black Tesla near Main/Hunt and then leave the area. Police took a report.

1352  A driver reported being chased by a car that was trying to run him off the road. The car was no longer following him.

1423  Report of an incident that took place on Oct. 21 involving a juvenile. There was reportedly an ongoing issue at the school with that same juvenile.

1511  A man driving a beat-up work truck near Carpy Field had reportedly been driving very slowly, whistling at kids, and making a teacher feel uncomfortable.

2200  Report of a suspicious car circling the Allyn Avenue area with its headlights off.

Friday, Oct. 28

0801  Someone popped two tires of a car parked on College Avenue.

0919  A dog was reported missing from Sylvaner Avenue.

1014  Report of a cat stuck in a tree for two days on Madrona Avenue.

1657  Non-injury accident near Hunt/Railroad. One of the drivers did not have a license.

Saturday, Oct. 29

0232  Following a traffic stop on Main Street, police cited one person for driving with a suspended license and cited another person for a misdemeanor warrant.

0805  Police responded to a report of unwelcome people who were refusing to leave school grounds on Grayson Avenue.

1250  Police cited someone for driving without a license on Main Street.

1715  Police cited a driver near Pope/Peppertree.

2134  Report of loud music coming from a party on Spring Street.

2237  Report of a possible drunk driver on Hunt Avenue.

Sunday, Oct. 30

1100  Report of a neighbor dog wandering Rosebud Lane and getting into trash cans. The caller had knocked on its owners door, but nobody answered.

1338  A driver on Highway 29 called 911 to report he was having mental problems and needed help. He was in Yountville, so the sheriffs office was notified.

1713  Police arrested a 47-year-old St. Helena man for an outstanding warrant.

2353  Police cited a driver near Main/Dowdell.

Monday, Oct. 31

0505  Police cited a driver near Main/Elmhurst.

0521  Police cited a driver near Main/Elmhurst.
Berryessa Highlands is a remote community in hills along southern Lake Berryessa that is receiving a helping hand from Napa County in the aftermath of wildfires and storms.

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The county Board of Supervisors last week agreed to loan $345,000 to repair a wastewater pond damaged when storms in late 2020 triggered a landslide. That brought the total amount of outstanding county loans to the community over the years to $2.8 million.

I know these are tough decisions and tough conversations, but we dont have many options, county Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza said at the special Thursday meeting.

Like many small communities, the Highlands faces aging water and wastewater infrastructure and ever-tightening regulations, with relatively few residents to absorb the costs. Customers already pay, on average, more than $4,000 annually for water and wastewater services.

A big blow came when the LNU Lightning Complex Fire in August 2020 destroyed about 100 of the Highlands 350 homes, leaving even fewer customers.

The water and wastewater systems are run by the Napa Berryessa Resort Improvement District. The district is governed by a five-person board with the same members as the county Board of Supervisors.

Since 2008, Napa County has made eight loans to the district totaling more than $3.9 million. The balance after repayments is $2.8 million, including last week's loan, according to county reports.

A change for the better could be coming. Napa County is negotiating with Sun Communities to renovate and operate the Steele Canyon resort. A rejuvenated resort would be a big, new paying customer for the Highlands water and wastewater system.

Were expecting a significant increase in revenue once the resort is commissioned, is active, said Christopher Silke, the district engineer.

Berryessa Highlands trying to recover a year after Hennessey fire The Hennessey fire a year ago destroyed almost a third of Berryessa Highlands. What's it like there today?

Pedroza agreed that a rejuvenated Berryessa resort would make a difference.

Thats the hope, but its realistic hope, because of the investment thats made, he said. Thats the hope of repayment.

Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht cautioned against expecting resort renovations to be an instant cure-all that leads to sudden, dramatic rate decreases.

Theres a big hole thats already dug, Wagenknecht said. Were filling that hole, but the big hole has already been dug.

Meanwhile, the damaged wastewater pond is empty, given the district took steps to avoid contaminating the environment. But the state Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board wants it repaired this month, a county report said.

The loss of the pond means losing 2 million gallons of storage space that would be needed during a wet winter, county officials said.

We needed it in 2017, Silke said. It will rain again in California. We will need that capacity.

The Board of Supervisors on Oct. 24 awarded a $314,000 contract to repair the pond to Eakle Construction and Trucking of Pope Valley. The loan also covers a $31,000 construction contingency.
There is no peace treaty between Yerevan and Baku so far. This was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the press conference held in Sochi, Russia, following the meeting with the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan.

"Here, it is premature to talk about the main components of that document, as it is, nonetheless, a matter of compromises that should be reached through mediation if both sides want it, including by our side," he said.

He noted that the most important issue is the delimitation and demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

"Today we really talked a lot about it, and there are some preconditions that, in general, the way has been found. If you carefully read today's statement, you will find there preliminary assessments, preliminary, if not agreements, then prerequisites that these agreements can be reached. We talked about it a lot. We are ready to provide the maps of the general staff of the [former] Soviet army at our disposal, they are the most accurate maps, as we understand it, and we are ready to move forward on this basisdiscussing with both sides. We agreed that these contacts, negotiations, consultations will continue," Putin said.

As for what points were not agreed upon at the meeting, the Russian president noted that there is no need to focus on that.

"Can we talk about that? It is possible, but not necessary because if they have not been settled so far, then, in my opinion, there is no need to focus on them, but we just need to reach an agreement in a calm, closed mode. These are very delicate things, sensitive for both sides. I don't consider myself authorized to take them out without agreeing with my colleagues," Putin said.
Stop killer robots! Lobbyists fight to save Europe from bad AI

U.S. green subsidies increase fears about German industry

NATO's looming fault line: China

Estonian FM calls on European countries to double defense spending because of war in Ukraine

Cavusoglu says Sweden and Finland have not yet fulfilled Ankara's requirements for NATO membership

Police crack down on European cocaine super cartel

Ardshinbank is the exclusive sponsor of Vladimir Spivakov's charity concert (PHOTOS)

Japan's prime minister orders to double defense spending to about 2% of GDP in five years

U.S. is considering sending 150-mile strike weapon to Ukraine

EU countries resumes talks on introducing price ceiling on Russian oil

Participants of international forum 'New stimuli for millennial relations' visit 'Tsitsernakaberd'

Volcano eruption kicks off in Hawaii

Condition of servicemen wounded as result of Azerbaijan's violation of ceasefire is satisfactory

Russia and Iran sign memorandum on car exports

Tokayev: There are issues in relations between Russia and Kazakhstan that require negotiations

FT: Global inflation peaks but will slow in future

2 soldiers injured after Azerbaijan shells Artsakh defense army positions

Japan to build constellation of 50 military satellites

Azerbaijan hands over to Armenian side bodies of 13 Armenian servicemen

Iraqi PM announces return of part of $125 million stolen from state

Inaugural Divine Liturgy served at first Armenian church in Spain

Russia and Kazakhstan intend to increase CSTO potential

Process of US granting market economy status to Armenia is discussed (PHOTOS)

Borrell says NATO has enough threats and challenges besides China

Azerbaijani government-controlled media announces change in Baku's foreign policy

Reuters: Turkey ready for ground invasion in northern Syria

Cavusoglu: Turkey may appoint an ambassador to Egypt in the coming months

Dollar, euro go up in Armenia

Indian political analyst: Pakistan supported Azerbaijan during aggression against Karabakh

Belgian police officers protest after officer killed

Citizens of Western countries arrested in Iran for participating in riots

Seyran Ohanyan: Drawing CSTO into our region in matters of use of force may cause serious conflict in future

Armenia parliament opposition leader: Its not that we, as opposition, like everything in CSTO

Political analyst: Cooperation with Yerevan becomes more important amid contradictions between powers

New Ecuador ambassador presents copy of credentials to Armenia deputy FM

Erdogan: Realization of the grain deal showed the possibility of diplomacy in Ukraine

Armenia parliament speaker to head for Qatar, to watch World Cup match from stadium

Toivo Klaar: Many challenges remain; restraint, strong political will be needed by Azerbaijan, Armenia

Armen Baibourtian: Armenia-India cooperation on North-South road corridor started back in 2000s

Armenian envoy: India becoming more sensitive about Azerbaijan ambitions towards Armenia

India MFA: Cooperation with Armenia should be further deepened

Deputy FM: Armenia can make use of progress with India to increase its security level

Armenia Kurdish community staging protest outside UN office

Pashinyan: Armenia attaches importance to development of cooperation with Albania

Azerbaijan president receives Philip Reeker

MP: Tourists visiting Armenia have difficulty making purchases over 300,000 drams at duty free shops

Marukyan: 2 years ago Azerbaijan president signed ceasefire agreement where Nagorno-Karabakh is mentioned 5 times

US diplomatic mission reveals details of CIA head with Naryshkin

Karabakh army did not open fire at Azerbaijani positions in occupied territories

UK intends to maintain military assistance to Ukraine in 2023

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Armenia PM, wife attend charity concert in support of soldiers undergoing treatment

Azerbaijan army fires towards Armenia positions

Eurasianet: Azerbaijan's Russian natural gas deal raises uncomfortable questions for Europe

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Stanislav Zas: CSTO proposed several measures to help Armenia

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Armenia MOD dismisses Azerbaijan disinformation

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Russia presidential spokesman: Attempts to interfere with CSTO work will continue

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Toyota is highlighting its groundbreaking environment-friendly mobility solutions this week during Adipec 2022 in Abu Dhabi, with the hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai on display throughout the four-day event.

The cutting-edge Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) offers a 100% electric driving experience with best-in-class efficiency and zero emissions, underlining Toyotas commitment to achieving carbon neutrality and creating sustainable mobility for all.

Toyotas participation comes as part of its drive to lead the way to a decarbonised future for the mobility sector. The company has a long and distinguished history as a pioneer of environment-friendly mobility solutions, and successfully launched the worlds first mass-produced Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), the Prius, in 1997.

Mobility solutions

Toyota continues to pursue a wide range of sustainable mobility solutions including HEVs, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) to offer a full lineup of sustainable and practical mobility solutions that meet the diverse needs of users across the globe.

Kei Fujita, Chief Representative, Middle East and Central Asia Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation, commented: Our hydrogen FCEV produces zero emissions with only water as a by-product, and is one of the many promising technologies we have developed in our pursuit of carbon neutrality. We remain committed to providing various technology options that are both sustainable and practical as we continue on our journey toward Creating Mobility for All and Producing Happiness for All.

Powered entirely by hydrogen, the Toyota Mirai goes beyond zero emissions with its special air purification system, which captures PM2.5 and eliminates harmful chemical substances to clean the air as it drives.

Class-leading range

The flagship sedan delivers a class-leading cruising range of 650 km and can be refuelled in under five minutes, ensuring drivers enjoy the same levels of performance, convenience, and driving pleasure associated with a traditionally powered vehicle.

In 2021, the Toyota Mirai set a new world record for the longest distance travelled by a hydrogen FCEV without refueling. The class-leading vehicle achieved an unprecedented 1,360 km on a single, five-minute complete fill of hydrogen during a roundtrip tour of Southern California to claim the Guinness World Records title and set a new distance milestone for zero-emission vehicles.

The versatility of Toyotas fuel cell technology, which the company developed in the early 1990s, has enabled a wide range of applications including in trucks, buses, boats, and stationary generators. Research and development are also in progress to utilise the system for trains, as well as a moon rover called Lunar Cruiser as part of a joint project with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced in 2019.

The Toyota Mirai is on display at Japan Pavilion as part of Adipec 2022 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from October 31 to November 3.-- TradeArabia News Service
Over the past decades, relying on friendship, we have managed to lay solid foundations for strategic partnership and alliance. This was stated in the message of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to the participants of the Primakov Readings international forum in Yerevanand which was read by the Russian ambassador to Armenia, Sergey Kopirkin.

"The meeting is held in the year when Armenia celebrates the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our fraternal countries. I am sure that the results of the discussion will help to develop useful practical recommendations and will contribute to the strengthening of trust and mutual understanding between our peoples, Lavrov's message added.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Alexey Reznikov and Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Alexander Kubrakov on the "grain deal" on November 1, TRT Haber TV channel reported.

The ministers discussed the possibility of extending the deal. According to Acar, the agreement greatly contributed to the resolution of the global food crisis by sending about 10 million tons of grain.

Besides, the head of the Ministry of Defense of Turkey called to separate the humanitarian grain initiative from the situation with the conflict in Ukraine.

On July 22, representatives of Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the UN signed agreements in Istanbul to lift restrictions on the export of Russian products and on Russia's assistance in the export of Ukrainian grain. The deal involves exporting Ukrainian grain, food, and fertilizers via the Black Sea from three ports, including Odesa.

On October 29, Russia suspended its participation in the grain deal after, according to Russia, the Ukrainian armed forces carried out massive air and sea strikes using drones on ships and infrastructure of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol. Damage was sustained by a vessel involved in a grain deal.
The government predicts a 7-percent economic growth in 2023. Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan informed this in the National Assembly, at Tuesdays joint session of parliamentary standing committees, during the latters debates on the draft 2023 state budget of Armenia.

According to the minister, this is the minimum economic growth that was promised to the people.

Kerobyan assured that the Armenian authorities have many measures aimed at ensuring the aforesaid economic growth.

But on Monday, within the framework of the abovementioned debates, the governor of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) had presented slightly different data. Martin Galstyan had said that the countrys economic growth for next year will be lower than the 7 percent predicted by the government.

"We expect 4.5 percent, as this indicator was quite high in the current year," said the CBA chief had stated.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived in Tehran Tuesday morning at the head of a high-ranking delegation at the invitation of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, IRNA reported.

Upon arrival, Pashinyan was welcomed by Irans Vice-President and Head of Plan and Budget Organization Massoud Mir-Kazemi.

Within the next few hours, Pashinyan is to be officially welcomed by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at Saadabad cultural complex in north Tehran.

In Tehran, the Armenian premier is to hold talks with the Iranian president on regional and bilateral issues, attend a signing ceremony on bilateral cooperation, and hold a joint press briefing.
The issue of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is an issue that should be left to the next generations when conditions acceptable to all will be formed for a fair solution to the issue, the Russian ambassador to Armenia told reporters on Tuesday.

Sergey Kopirkin called Mondays tripartite meetingbetween the Armenian, Russian, and Azerbaijani leadersin Sochi, Russia, important. And how long it lasted and how it was prepared, according to him, indicates that the time has come for substantive discussion of all the most complicated issues of the settlement.

The ambassador recalled the words of the Russian president that not all issues were agreed upon.

"But it is very important that the discussion took place, and it is very important that the parties showed willingness to move forward toward settlement. It is also very important that the meeting took place in Russia, and this is clear evidence that Russia, despite the problems that need to be resolved now in other regions, pays great attention to the situation in the South Caucasus and does not weaken its efforts in the field of settlement, emphasized Kopirkin.

He repeated the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin that the whole settlement complex should be the result of agreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"As for the peace treaty and the provisions that should be included in it, judging by the results of the Sochi meeting, there are still issues that cannot be agreed upon, but towards which the work will continue," summed up the Russian ambassador to Armenia.
Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are holding talks at the Saadabad complex in Tehran, mehrnews.com reported.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived Tuesday at the head of a high-ranking delegation at the invitation of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi.

Upon arrival, Pashinyan was met by Masoud Mir-Kazemi, Iran's vice president and head of the Planning and Budget Organization.

Raisi then officially welcomed Pashinyan at the Sa'adabad Complex in Tehran.

After the meeting ceremony, bilateral talks between the President of Iran and the Prime Minister of Armenia began.

The increasingly developing and strengthening bilateral cooperation in various political, economic, and cultural fields, as well as the exchange of views on major regional and international issues were identified as the most important topics of the talks between the high-ranking Iranian and Armenian delegations.
Innovation is shaping sustainability in every industry including advanced manufacturing services (AMS), retail, banking, energy, healthcare, consumer products and automotive.

Each industry is affected by multiple trends and innovations, and each climate tech and green innovation highlighted is likely to disrupt several industries, write Tom De Waele, Middle East Managing Partner, Bain & Company, Akram Alami, Partner & Middle East ESG Lead, Bain & Company and Truc Mai Dupont Vohong, Vice President, Bain & Company.

Today, powerful forces are pushing sustainability innovation. Mounting political pressure on corporations, customer demands for climate-friendly products, and record levels of investment in climate tech all play a role.

Vital impact

Based on our work with corporate clients across industries, connecting with hundreds of start-ups focused on this topic, and ongoing conversations with investors, we focus here on innovations poised to have an important impact on the sustainability of the listed seven industries.

Weve focused on those currently gaining momentum in a given sector.

3-D printing

*3-D printing explores and accelerates larger, more complex advanced manufacturing services (AMS) projects.

The construction sector contributes a chunk of energy-related CO2 emissions. However, 3-D printings latest advances in printing new materials, including cement and metals, and in printing larger objects can reduce the use of natural resources and waste in the sector, while increasing efficiency.

Construction 3-D printing allows faster and more accurate construction of complex or bespoke items. Companies that use 3-D printing to lower costs can save up to 15% of the typical cost of a project.

Retail efficiency

*With growing value chain volatility, efficiency in retail is fundamental, and AI more accurately monitors and reduces scope 3 emissions.

A large amount of retail emissions are scope 3 indirect emissions in their supply chain, making the industry one of the leading emitters in this class. While scope 1 covers the direct emissions from sources owned by a company, and scope 2 focuses on the emissions from the electricity and heating or cooling sources they buy, scope 3 is particularly complex to manage since it involves a system, much of which is beyond the retailers direct control.

Technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) can help monitor the systems carbon footprint, forecasting and reducing emissions by optimising internal operations and those of external partners.

Banks going digital

*Banks continue to create new forms of sustainable value, including greener, impact-driven products and services.

As the rise of fintech confirmed, banks are always competing with digital natives. While banks have a relatively small direct environmental footprint, through their loan portfolios and product offerings, they greatly influence how companies and consumers act, invest, and address their environmental footprints.

Among consumers, the market for green products is growing quickly, and that means an enormous financing opportunity exists for lenders. Increasingly, regulators are also requiring banks to measure and disclose their environmental impact, a task sometimes made difficult by limited access to reliable portfolio data and consistent standards of measurement.

Established banks are sponsoring decarbonisation projects and offering services for cutting emissions. Start-ups are pushing into new sustainability-focused products and solutions, including green investment strategies, transaction-based carbon offsetting, and the allocation of profits to compensation projects.

Investing beyond carbon

*Investing beyond carbon is now fundamental and nonnegotiable for an entire portfolio-level transformation by energy companies.

Expanding government interventions, incentives, and subsidies, coupled with changing customer, investor, and employee expectations, have leading energy companies reinventing and diversifying to lower the amount of human-made greenhouse gas emissions that come from energy sources.

Digitalisation is creating new opportunities for partnerships and innovative business models, but companies must balance several other critical issues too, including energy affordability, energy security, and expected return on investment.

One aspect of energy giants multifaceted approach is the creation of corporate venture capital funds to access new energy technology.

Healthcare sustainability

*Our complex and fundamental healthcare industry is addressing the need to foster the circular economy.

To date, more than half of all plastic ever produced has become waste, and its production has a significant greenhouse gas footprint. A substantial portion of the worlds plastic waste comes from healthcare, the majority associated with lifesaving medicine and procedures. Recently the World Health Organisation estimated that the critical products needed to manage through a global pandemic have included 87,000 metric tonnes of personal protective equipment and 144,000 metric tonnes of syringes, needles, and other vaccine waste, as well as the chemical and plastic waste from more than 140 million test kits.

A systemic change toward a circular economy could help reduce waste without compromising care.

Vertical farming

*Food consumption and production habits are at the heart of ESG growth, with vertical farming and lab-grown meat leading the way.

The global food system is incredibly successful, feeding 7.9 billion people and generating a third of global GDP. But at the same time, it places a hefty burden on the environment, creating more than a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to deforestation and species extinction. New approaches to agriculture and eating, including vertical farming and lab-grown meat, can reduce the amount of water and land required to produce the same or greater amounts of food.

This decreases the need for long-haul transportation, chemicals, and pesticides. Cultured meat, requiring less energy and water than traditionally farmed meats, can create significantly fewer emissions.

Automotive industry

The automotive industry is embracing air mobility enabled by changing regulations and societal acceptance.

Cities consume most of the worlds energy supply and highway vehicles release billions of tonnes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere each year. Urban air mobility (UAM), transporting both goods and people and powered by drones, could decongest cities, reduce noise pollution, and help to decarbonise the energy sector.

New technologies, such as electric propulsion and enhanced battery capacity, applied to vertical takeoff and landing systems make this technically possible.

The pace of sustainability innovation mandates a multidimensional approach to value chain transformation. Sustainability is a complex, interconnected, and evolving topic that requires constant evaluation.

The pace of innovation is increasing, ESG inclusion is becoming fundamental, and tracking the complex ecosystems development is essential. Its important to continue to unpack these topics, exploring a multidimensional approach to innovation strategy, start-up ecosystem engagement, venture capital investing, and business building.-- TradeArabia News Service
Indian police arrested nine people, including ticket sellers and contractors, as part of an investigation into the collapse of a pedestrian bridge that killed at least 134 people, many of them children.

Surveillance video footage taken just before the collapse shows a group of young men taking pictures of other guys trying to swing the suspension bridge in Morby from side to side, after which it falls into the river. The cables couldn't take the strain.

The colonial-era bridge over the Machhu River was crowded with tourists enjoying the holiday festivities. People ended up in the river about 10 meters deep after the fall.

One of the victims, Ashwin Mehra, who was being treated for leg and back injuries, told reporters that he and six others made it to shore holding onto the bridge's metal railing and netting.

A high-ranking police official said nine people, including management staff, ticket booths, and three security guards, were arrested for failing to control the crowds.

According to Ashok Kumar Yadav, among those arrested were two people who received a contract to renovate the facility, which was built in 1877. He added that there would likely be more arrests.

Local officials said that the clock and the electrical company responsible for the bridge had not informed the authorities that the bridge would be reopened last week after repairs, adding that no certificate of suitability for public use had been issued.
Russia maintains its military presence here, and it is an important factor of security and prevention of further escalation, the Russian ambassador to Armenia told reporters Tuesday.

Also, Sergey Kopirkin called not to forget the important role played by the Russian peacekeepers and the military who are in contact with all parties, and whose efforts, first of all, contribute to the fact that escalation does not take place.

"I am talking about the role of both our political and military representatives in stopping the military actions on September 13-14," the Russian ambassador said.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Stanislav Zas on Tuesday to discuss the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The head of state spoke on this and other issues related to the situation in the CSTO, including Belarus' position on the matter, BelTA reported.

This conflict [between Armenia and Azerbaijan] must be settled. God forbid we let the conflict on the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan flare up. This is unacceptable. We must put an end to this. That is not good that we cannot stop these conflicts in the CSTO. We should discuss these issues very seriously at the next session of the CSTO, the Belarusian leader said.

According to him, Belarus has initiated a number of discussions within the CSTO, including those related to the media, analysis and crisis response.

There are a lot of issues. We need to act in order to avoid being called a paper tiger or something else. There are probably some who do not want to work. We need to work with those who want to make the CSTO a strong political and military organization. This is the position of Belarus. We are all for it. But we are against playing games and using the CSTO as a tool to settle some internal political problems. Everyone has them, but that is not why we have set up the CSTO, Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Ahead of another CSTO summit scheduled for the second half of November, the Belarusian president first of all drew attention to the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

"However, you yourself were there, saw what was happening. And the head of the [CSTO] Joint Staff worked. However, they are professionals. For example, when it was proposed to send a CSTO mission there, I thought: And what is it that do we have stronger people than Zas here in Belarus? What? Will they cope better? Not only because I want to praise you. You are involved in that process, you see what is happening there. Well, then follow and report. Why send some observers there from Belarus, Russia, etc.? What is there to revolve around Russia?" said the head of the Belarusian state.

Lukashenko noted that Russia is already a mediator in the settlement of the situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and that is quite enough.

"The war is over. It is clear how it ended. The parties have decided that they need a mediator; this is a norm, a classic. Naturally, it is Russia. They have petitioned to Russia. Russia has sent hundreds of people there. We remember how airplanes used to fly. Russian border guards, as Putin said, are at all border locationsboth with Turkey and Iran, between Armenia and Azerbaijan, etc. What else is needed? Let them work in that regard. I did not say for nothing that a certain game is going on. I understand what kind of game, why they have engaged the European Union there if there is already a mediator there. And shall they engage the CSTO as well there? It seems that there is nothing else to do," said the Belarusian president.
The authorities plan to increase the number of tourists in Armenia to 2.5 million annually by the year 2026. Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan announced this in the National Assembly, at Tuesdays joint session of parliamentary standing committees, during the latters debates on the draft 2023 state budget of Armenia.

According to the minister, measures are being taken to improve the conditions for tourism in Armenia, as well as to increase the profit from each tourist visiting the country.

Moreover, in 2023, marketing expenses for the development of tourism in Armenia will be increased five times, and funds will be allocated from the state budget as well.

"Instead of the planned 200 million drams this year, in 2023, about 1 billion drams will be allocated from the state budget," said Kerobyan.

He noted that respective work is being done also with the German GIZ company, which is actively engaged in the development of tourism in Armenia.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko announced that he has long offered options for a peaceful settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, but the latter did not agree to them, and the president of Azerbaijan had no choice but to use force.

When we were presiding in the CSTO, I looked into the matter. I went to Ilham [Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev] to talk to him then. We had a friendly talk, Lukashenko said at his meeting with Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Stanislav Zas on Tuesday, BelTA reported.

I asked him in a joking manner then: Ilham Geydarovich, you must help Armenia if you come to an agreement. We were talking about five and a half or six districts - Azerbaijani districts, which were seized by Armenians, as they claimed. Armenia admitted that it was not our land, it is Azerbaijan's'. Except for Karabakh. Then give it back! If then, when I suggested it, those areas had been returned, there would have been no war. Ilham would not have been motivated to start this war. You asked them to give the districts back, and they did. It would have been the status of Karabakh that had been left undecided. They could have been working on it in a calm mode. But neither Serzh Sargsyan nor Nikol Pashinyan agreed. I raised this issue twice over the time, the Belarusian leader shared the details.

Lukashenko also said that back then he offered Ilham Aliyev to think about investing in Armenia in case of the conflict settlement to finally reconcile and demonstrate it to the people of the two countries.

I suggested that Azerbaijan come to an agreement with Armenia, help Armenia in some way so that people could see that you have reconciled, made peace and so on, [oil was really expensive then.] How much could you invest in Armenia?' I asked. At least $5 billion, he said. Back then, they were building pipelines. They went around Armenia. Ilham wanted [natural] gas and oil pipelines to go through Armenia. He said then: Why should I go around to Georgia? Armenia is a better route. That will be profitable for us.' And further to Turkey. It was really profitable, said the president of Belarus.

At the same time, he noted that his ten-year proposals never came to pass.

They cornered the president of Azerbaijan. He was left with no other choice but use of force. This could not be delayed any longer. More than a million refugees created tension, the Belarusian president added.

He called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to find a final solution to this matter.

They need to reach an agreement! Nakhichevan, in order to have a free passage. It seems that they have reached an agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh. For the time being. Russia is ensuring this process there. Why do they have to kill each other now? Almost 300 people have been killed and they are still engaged in discussions. They must calm down and reach an agreement, Aleksandr Lukashenko added, in particular.
The CSTO Collective Security Council meeting, where the leaders of the CSTO member countries will discuss the aid being provided to Armenia, is scheduled for November 23 in Yerevan, the CSTO said.

"The meeting of the President of Belarus with the Secretary General of the CSTO took place. The parties discussed the situation within the responsibility of the organization, including the results of the special session of the CSTO Collective Security Council held on October 28. [CSTO Secretary General] Stanislav Zas informed [Belarusian President] Aleksandr Lukashenko about the process of preparation for the regular meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council scheduled for November 23 in Yerevan, as well as the implementation of a number of separate instructions of the Collective Security Council," the CSTO informed Tuesday on Telegram.
The interference of foreigners will deepen the problems of the Caucasus region. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi announced this at the press conference with visiting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan after their bilateral meeting, IRNA reports.

"I have no doubt that the first visit of the Prime Minister of Armenia to the Islamic Republic of Iran will be a turning point for the progress of both countries. The policy of good neighborliness is a priority for our government, and during this period we had several meetings with Pashinyan. In these meetings, especially during this trip, the focus of the negotiations is the development of commercial, economic, and security relations between the two countries," Raisi said.

He noted that the good relations between the two countries will definitely lead to the improvement of relations at the regional and international level.

Speaking about the fact that the Caucasus region is a part of Iran's history, civilization and culture, Raisi noted that security and peace in the Caucasus are very important for Iran.

"During the bilateral negotiations with the Prime Minister of Armenia, both sides emphasized that the solution of regional problems should be in the hands of officials and people who are part of the region, and any interference by foreigners will create problems in the regioninstead of resolving them."

The Iranian president expressed hope that during this visit of the Armenian PM, it will be possible to implement the agreements between Tehran and Yerevan.
If both countries wish, it is quite possible to reach $3 billion in trade between Iran and Armenia. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi announced this at the press conference with visiting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan after their bilateral meeting, IRNA reports.

According to him, during the last few months, a 43-percent increase in Irans trade with Armenia was recorded, but the goal of the development of trade and economic relations between the two countries is $3 billion.

Raisi expressed hope that during the current visit of the Armenian premier it will be possible to implement the agreements that were reached between Tehran and Yerevan in commerce and economy.
In an interview with Global Markets Magazine, Hovhannes Toroyan, Chief Financial Officer at Ameriabank CJSC, explains the Banks strategy and highlights some of the reasons for its success in the Armenia market.

The full interview can be found below:

What have been some of the key strategic focus areas for your bank over the past year?

Ameriabank has been the leading financial institution in Armenia for almost a decade. Even though the year 2022 started with another wave of uncertainty for the global economy, we were able to maintain and strengthen our positions further, reaffirming the reputation of a stable, modern, and competitive financial institution with significant growth potential.

Over the last six months, the major focus was given to digital transformation, compliance and risk management which we see as key drivers for future growth.

Reflecting on your banks financial performance over the past year, what have been some of the key highlights?

It is remarkable how much Ameriabank has accomplished in terms of financial performance and development of new products services and technology. In the past year we continuously invested in digitalization, improved our customer experience, internal efficiency, upgraded the services and streamlined our operations. The Banks cost to income ratio was maintained below 40%. We registered impressive profitability with strong capital and liquidity positions. Our annualized ROE comprised 28%, with net interest margin of 5.4% and solid non-interest income. In line with our strategy Retail and SME loans comprised more than 60% of total loans. Three year CAGR of retail portfolio was 30% and SMEs registered 17.2%. As always, the Bank applies robust risk management practice. NPL ratio continuously improved across all segments in 2022 standing at 2.9%. Cost of credit risk was around 0%, a consequence of conservative provisioning during the previous two years. At the same time, Ameriabank provided exceptional service quality with net promoter score over 75% and customer experience index at 9.5 (out of 10).

What are some of the growth areas in your banking business where you have been focusing, and will continue to focus, investment?

Staying at the vanguard of the Armenian banking industry and its transformation, Ameriabank continues investments in IT technology and digitalization in line with its strategic priorities. A big focus will be also given to cross selling and up selling of services and propositions to growing number of our customers. At the same time a series of actions are designed for exploring new opportunities in certain sectors of economy, especially those that will also boost transactional banking and non-interest income. It is important to note that more than 90% of all transactions of the Bank are performed outside the Banks branches.

Finally, we will continue investments in human capital and increase productivity and motivation through intensive trainings.

ESG and sustainability is one of the most important strategic topics for the banking industry. What significant developments or initiatives has your bank led in the past year that demonstrate how important ESG and sustainability are to your institution?

As the leading financial institution in Armenia, Ameriabank acknowledges its responsibility to play a key role in advancing Armenias transition towards sustainable future. We recognize that climate change and similar environmental risks are immense challenge posing substantial environmental, economic and social risks to long-term growth and prosperity. We also support the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and as part of this alignment contribute to financing renewable energy systems, energy efficiency, access to clean electricity, investment in clean transportation, technology development, and ultimately support to underdeveloped communities through various projects. Since 2010, Ameriabank has financed more than USD 250 million worth similar projects with the support of various international financial institutions.

Ameriabank is the first and leading Green bond issuer in Armenia. Since 2020, we have issued over USD 60 million equivalent of green bonds.

Banks are in fierce competition with one another to develop and launch innovative digital banking products and services. What are some of the new and significant digital banking products and services that your bank has launched in the past year, and what success have they achieved?

Within the fast-paced transformation of the consumer behaviour in the digital realm, we achieved promising results towards diversification and digitalization of our services. Commitment, agility, innovative mind-set and culture of shared success, driven by the desire to satisfy customers needs is the formula to success in digital transformation.

In this context, the past two years were remarkable in terms of developing and launching a comprehensive digital ecosystem - first in its kind in the market  that is a one-stop shop for banking and non-banking services, covering the car market, housing market, e-commerce as well as unique ecosystem for SMEs with options of online onboarding, machine learning based loan underwriting.

The global economic outlook is challenging. What are some of the main risks and economic challenges you see for your bank over the next 12 months?

While Armenia is having a very solid year in terms of economic growth, there are still a lot of uncertainties and structural changes, including transformation of certain industries and shifts in global supply chains that should yet have their reflection on the countrys economy. While it is more challenging to manage the leading financial institution of the country under all those uncertainties, those challenges also offer a plenty of opportunities within themselves. Under the expected increasing pattern of interest rates, deterioration of certain risk parameters, increasing need for climate action and growing dependence on digital gadgets of our customer base, Ameriabank will continue its focus on data driven digital transformation, proper risk management and further enhancement of ESG practice to achieve our mission of improving the quality of life of our stakeholders.
On November 16, hearings will be held in the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, during which Washington's policy in the South Caucasus will be assessed.

Karen Donfried, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the US Department of State, and Philip Reeker, US Senior Adviser for Caucasus Negotiations and Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group for the US, will speak at the hearings.

The event will be broadcast online.
Iran can be a clear and obvious symbol of peaceful cooperation and coexistence between followers of different religions, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said a joint press conference at the Saadabad Cultural and Historical Complex following talks with the Iranian president, MiranPress reported.

"I provided Mr. Raisi with information about yesterday's trilateral meeting in Sochi and I agree with the Iranian president's views on establishing lasting peace and security in the region," Pashinyan said.

The Armenian PM agreed with the Iranian president that lasting peace and security are necessary for the South Caucasus region. The Armenian PM said Tehran must be aware of the issues being discussed at the talks, as well as Armenia's relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey in the context of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

The talks between the two leaders will be followed by negotiations between the delegations.
Russia and Iran have agreed to sign an agreement on a free trade zone with the EEU in the near future, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said, RIA Novosti reported.

"We also agreed to remove all the barriers that exist today on the way of trade development between our countries. And we are talking about reducing barriers on the borders of third countries. We agreed to conclude an agreement on a free trade zone between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union in the near future," he said at a news conference following a meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation.
Governor Karen Sargsyan of Gegharkunik Province of the Republic of Armenia (RA) on Tuesday received the members of the monitoring team of the EU mission, led by the head of this monitoring team, Linn Nettelvik. This is noted on the governor's Facebook page.

"(...) I presented details about the military aggression of the enemy [i.e., Azerbaijan] on September 13-14, 2022, atrocities, the situation in the settlements affected by shelling, etc., making them more objective by showing [respective] photos.

Speaking about the damaged buildings in the shelled settlements, I informed that with the support of the RA government, repair works are currently underway for partially damaged dwellings, whereas the government will resolve the matters of the eight completely damaged dwellingswith the construction of new ones.

Then we talked about the risks in the province, the maintenance of the sanitary conditions of the water resources being supplied to the settlements affected by the shelling, the provision of psychological support to the displaced and schoolchildren, and other topics," the Gegharkunik governor added, in particular.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan intends to discuss the grain deal situation with his counterparts Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, RIA Novosti reported.

"The president will hold telephone talks with Putin and Zelenskyy in the coming days," the Turkish minister said.

Putin noted at a news conference following talks with Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders in Sochi that Russia was not terminating its participation in the deal, but suspending it.

Erdogan said after Russia announced it was suspending its participation in the grain deal that Ankara would continue its efforts to bring cereals to world markets. For his part, Omer Celik, official special representative of the ruling Justice and Development Party, confirmed today that work in this direction is underway "at all levels."
Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan met with Iranian Minister of Energy Ali Akbar Mehrabian during his working visit to Tehran, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia released a statement on Facebook.

The message reads, in particular:

"During the meeting, a number of issues of bilateral cooperation in the energy sector were discussed. In particular, they touched upon the new directions of the cooperation, increase of the export of electricity, the swift completion of the construction of the third transmission line Iran-Armenia, which will allow increasing the volumes of imported gas to Armenia and exported electricity from Armenia within the "Gas for Electricity" program.

They also discussed the perspectives of the joint development of the potential in the sphere of renewable energy.

Gnel Sanosyan presented to Ali Akbar Mehrabian the large-scale works being implemented in the energy area in Armenia, programs aimed at the re-equipment of the nuclear power stations, as well as construction of a new nuclear power plant.
European proposals to set limits on the price of natural gas are hypocritical, Qatar Energy Minister Saad Al Kaabi told Bloomberg TV.

The European Commission intends to propose a gas price cap using a dynamic pricing mechanism that could be implemented as early as this winter.

But interfering with markets runs counter to competition rules that Europe has previously applied to producers, said Kaabi, who is also chief executive of Qatar Energy, the world's largest liquefied natural gas company.

Restricting natural gas prices also reduces incentives to invest in natural gas production and could deprive some buyers of supply. Competing importers could attract shipments that would otherwise go to Europe by offering just one cent more, he said.

In March, the European Commission concluded a nearly four-year antitrust investigation into Qatar's LNG deals with European companies. The investigation was prompted by concerns that the producer's supply agreements limited the ability of EU gas importers to sell LNG in alternative destinations in the bloc's domestic market.

According to the Qatari minister, difficulties in Europe will persist at least until 2025 if winters are harsh and flows through Russian pipelines do not return to normal. He noted that Qatar Energy is still in talks with Germany's RWE AG and Uniper SE for LNG supplies and is also in talks with some Asian buyers.

Attempts by European leaders this year to get more volumes from Qatar have failed because Qatar has been producing supercooled fuel beyond its installed capacity for years.

Qatar has pledged to refrain from diverting cargoes from Europe, even though it is contractually allowed to divert supplies. Qatar is sticking to that, but nothing is permanent, and we have the right to do whatever we want with our volumes, Kaabi said.
Already mired in a political and economic crisis, Lebanon has now also been left without a president after Michael Aoun's term expired, AFP reports.

Aoun's six-year term, which came to an end on Sunday, was marred by mass protests, a painful economic downturn and an August 2020 bombing that killed hundreds and destroyed neighborhoods in Beirut.

Today, led by an interim government, Lebanon is unable to implement the reforms needed to access billions of dollars from international creditors to save an economy in free fall since late 2019.

Aoun left the presidential palace on Sunday, one day before the end of his term, buoyed by several thousand supporters. Parliament has held four rounds of voting since last month, and no candidate has received enough support to succeed Aoun.

Without a dominant party in parliament, decisions such as electing a president, appointing a prime minister or forming a government can take months or even years of political bargaining, sometimes even leading to violence.

The president's authority passes to the Council of Ministers if he leaves office without a successor.

Aoun signed a decree Sunday formalizing the resignation of acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati's government. The move exacerbates a months-long power struggle that has paralyzed the government.

Mikati said his government would continue as a caretaker as usual, but that this cabinet would meet only for "urgent matters."

Experts said this was part of an ongoing political struggle between Aoun and the prime minister.

The cabinet in the role of acting prime minister cannot make important decisions that could affect the fate of the country.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri can invite political parties to a national dialogue so they can agree on a new president, the lawmaker said on condition of anonymity.

But such initiatives have failed in the past.

So far, MP Michel Moawad, 50, has the most support in parliament, mostly from Hizbullah opponents. But without Hizbullah's support, Moawad's chances of becoming president are slim.

Gebran Bassil, 52, Aoun's son-in-law, is also a contender for president. Others have also nominated Joseph Aoun, commander-in-chief of the Lebanese army, as a potential presidential candidate.
Turkey is not satisfied with Sweden's promises to resolve the issue with the Kurdish 'separatists' and is unlikely to withdraw its objections to the country's application for NATO membership unless the country takes more decisive steps, Turkey's ruling party spokesman Omer Celik said, Bloomberg reported.

Celik said these Swedish statements are good, but they are not enough until they are implemented.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has demanded that Sweden and Finland extradite suspects whom Turkey considers terrorists.

Celik's remarks, made ahead of a visit by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg this week and a separate trip by new Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, signaled that Turkey still has no intention of ratifying the membership applications, which it first threatened to veto in May.

The Swedish leader said convincing Turkey was not easy.

Stoltenberg urged Sweden and Finland to accommodate requests from Turkey, which has the second-largest military force in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization after the United States. While the June agreement pushed the process forward, allowing 28 of the 30 alliance members to ratify Scandinavian accession, Turkey and Hungary remain on the sidelines.

Erdogan is scheduled to meet with Stoltenberg in Istanbul on Friday to discuss NATO expansion as well as the war in Ukraine.

The Turkish leader is expected to receive Sweden's Kristersson in Ankara on Nov. 8.

Kristersson has repeatedly said his country will abide by the agreement with Turkey and cooperate in the fight against terrorism.

Erdogan faces elections next year and is seeking to consolidate support for the nationalists by pressuring Scandinavian countries to make written commitments to crack down not only on PKK supporters but also on its units, such as the YPG in Syria.

With the support of Western countries, the YPG played a significant role in defeating the Islamic State jihadists in Syria.
France will help Ukraine survive the winter and restore water and energy infrastructure,French President Emmanuel Macron said during the conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

According to him, France will also help strengthen Ukraine's air defense. Macron and Zelenskyy agreed to hold an international conference in Paris on December 13 to support Ukrainians in winter.

The bilateral conference will also aim to increase French companies' support for Ukraine, Macron said in a statement.
For Syriac Catholics, Hope Prevails in Turkey

Beirut -- From the patriarchate in Beirut, Lebanon, Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan made a historic pastoral visit to Turkey, particularly to areas that were the cradle of Syriac Christianity.

As always, he urged the faithful to continue bearing witness to their faith in the land of their fathers and forefathers, despite challenges.

"I thank the Lord Jesus Lord for gratifying me to make this sixth 8-day pastoral visit to Turkey," Patriarch Younan told the Register of the Oct. 12-19 trip. Stops included Istanbul; Mardin; Tur Abdin; Ephesus and Ankara, where the patriarch met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

From Istanbul, the patriarch was accompanied by a group of 150 faithful, including the apostolic nuncio, bishops and priests. The delegation went to Mardin, a city in the southeast of Turkey, which forms, with its villages, the Anatolian cradle of the Syriac Church of Antioch.

"I re-consecrated the church of our monastery of Saint Ephrem there, which was confiscated for the past 100 years and turned into a stable for soldiers," Patriarch Younan told the Register.

"Then we had the joy of ordaining a new priest who will be a missionary assistant for our scattered Syriac Catholic communities," the patriarch said.

Born in Hassake, Syria, Patriarch Younan's parents were survivors of genocide when, as little children, they had fled to Syria from Southeast Turkey with their mothers in 1918. The roots of his family originate in Qal' at Mara, near Mardin.

"Such a visit to the ancestral land, from which our Christians have been uprooted the last century, is always full of emotions, questions and calls to strengthen our faith and hope in our Lord, who told us to keep strong and fear nothing, because He will always remain with his Church," the patriarch pointed out.

Over a period of three days, the patriarch led the pastoral visit to Marin and Tur Abdin, the land of Syriac forefathers.

"Mardin was until the First World War a flourishing city, where thousands of Christian families lived and worked mainly in the free artisanal sector. It is very sad to see our churches and monasteries empty, while they in the past were well populated, despite all the discriminations," Patriarch Younan said.

For the re-consecration of the church of the Syriac Catholic Monastery of Saint Ephrem, large crowds of believers attended, stretching to the monastery and church courtyards.

The restored church, which dates back to 1884, is the fruit of "diligent monks who built it and prayed in it, and always looked at the crucified Jesus," the patriarch told the faithful.

In his homily, the patriarch referred to the verse, "Look at Him and trust in Him" inscribed in Syriac over the cross raised behind the altar, telling the faithful "our eyes are always on the crucified Jesus, and in Him we place all our hope."

In Mardin, the patriarch also celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary and ordained a priest.

"This priestly ordination in our cathedral church in Mardin was very significant, because it's the first in more than 110 years. It was certainly a celebration full of joy, emotions and tears," Patriarch Younan said.

"The new priest, Jimmy, of Turkish nationality and father of two children, will help our Patriarchal Vicar of Turkey in Istanbul, and will serve as a missionary in Mardin and Iskandaroun," the patriarch said. (As in many Eastern Catholic rites, a married Syriac Catholic man can be ordained a priest.)

During his homily, ahead of the ordination according to the Syriac Antiochan rite, which took place before Communion, the patriarch addressed the future priest, saying, "You represent the youth of our church. It is true that we look to the past, the past of our fathers and grandfathers who suffered a lot for the love of the Lord Jesus, but the youth are waiting for you to testify to them of their faith in the Lord Jesus, and for you to help them to return to living hope."

Noting that his role as a missionary priest "is a very great responsibility for a young priest," the patriarch encouraged the soon-to-be priest, reminding him of the words of Saint Paul, the Apostle of the nations: "my grace is sufficient for you."

"The great majority of the faithful who accompanied me from Istanbul to Mardin were Syriac Catholics. They number in Istanbul over 1,200 people, who were born in Mardin, a city so tried for the past century and only has a few hundred of Christians left who are served by a single priest," Patriarch Younan told the Register.

"Our biggest challenge is how to inspire young Turkish people with faith and hope, that Jesus wants them to stay in their ancestral land despite oppressions and challenges. On the other hand, the temptation to emigrate to the West arouses alarm among parents, because the said democracy of Western culture based on extreme secularization, constitutes a real danger for living the Christian the faith and ethics among our young people," Patriarch Younan pointed out.

The Syriac Catholic Church continues to face emigration to the West of its faithful from Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.

As for his official meeting with the Turkish president, Patriarch Younan told the Register: "With God's help and thanks to our Patriarchal Vicar and his council in Turkey, I could realize that meeting with success and with no political intent."

He noted to President Erdogan that it is his sixth time to visit Turkey as patriarch "knowing that it is the birthplace of our people who were displaced from Mardin to Syria."

The Turkish president had said to Patriarch Younan during their official meeting: "It is well known and certain that Syriacs are part of Turkey, and we are working to make full use of their rights, just like the rest of the citizens. We have done our best to enable citizens, of whatever religion they belong to, to practice their religious rites freely."

President Erdogan also said: "We have improved the conditions of endowments belonging to various religious groups, and we are continuing this effort with regard to improving the rights and property belonging to endowments."

Of his meeting with Erdogan, the patriarch shared that "I had to thank the president for his assertions to respect and protect Turkish minorities and for his promise to return to us our patriarchal seat of Mardin, that was once confiscated and turned into a museum. We hope that the process of returning this our patriarchate will be finalized within the next year, as proof of justice and concrete tolerance."

The patriarch also made an official visit to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople at his patriarchal seat in Istanbul.

"It was a very fraternal meeting," Patriarch Younan told the Register.

"I can also say the same for the visit made afterwards to the Patriarch of the Armenian Orthodox Apostolic Church. In both visits we prayed together in their respective churches, that the Lord Jesus hasten the day of the visible unity among Christians in Turkey, where we lived the ecumenism of the blood. The Lord indeed recommended us to remain united in Him, loving each other, that the world would recognize us as His disciples," Patriarch Younan said.

Other visits during Patriarch Younan's trip to Turkey included: The papal embassy in Ankara; with the governor of Istanbul; the Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Vicariate in Istanbul; the monastery of Zaafaran near Mardin, which is the old seat of the Syriac Patriarch; the (Syriac Orthodox) Church of the Forty Martyrs, St. Hormez Chaldean Catholic Church and St. Joseph Armenian Catholic Church, all in Mardin; the historic town of Qal' at Mara, near Mardin and the ancient Syriac Orthodox monastery of Saint Gabriel (Deir Al-Omar) in Tur Abdin.

"We concluded our historic visit to Turkey, with a joyful Divine Liturgy of the Mass in the house of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Ephesus," the patriarch said.

In his homily at Ephesus, the patriarch prayed to the Lord, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary "to bring peace, security and stability to the whole world, especially in the countries martyred because of wars and conflicts."

He noted in his homily that "the harvest is indeed abundant, but unfortunately the doers are few in this country. Let us pray that the doers can spread this good news and teach the Lord Jesus, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, with love towards all, and in peace building solid and firm bridges between all countries, peoples and individuals."

"We were well confident that our Heavenly Mother well understood our prayers and beseeches, addressed in her original language, Syriac-Aramaic," the patriarch told the Register.
Stop killer robots! Lobbyists fight to save Europe from bad AI

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Cavusoglu says Sweden and Finland have not yet fulfilled Ankara's requirements for NATO membership

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Japan's prime minister orders to double defense spending to about 2% of GDP in five years

U.S. is considering sending 150-mile strike weapon to Ukraine

EU countries resumes talks on introducing price ceiling on Russian oil

Participants of international forum 'New stimuli for millennial relations' visit 'Tsitsernakaberd'

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Condition of servicemen wounded as result of Azerbaijan's violation of ceasefire is satisfactory

Russia and Iran sign memorandum on car exports

Tokayev: There are issues in relations between Russia and Kazakhstan that require negotiations

FT: Global inflation peaks but will slow in future

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New Ecuador ambassador presents copy of credentials to Armenia deputy FM

Erdogan: Realization of the grain deal showed the possibility of diplomacy in Ukraine

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The U.S. military in Ukraine recently began conducting on-site inspections to make sure Ukrainian troops are properly reporting on Western weapons they receive. A senior U.S. Defense Department official said this, AP reported.

He did not say where the inspections take place or how close to the front the U.S. military is getting. U.S. personnel cannot conduct inspections "near the front lines," he said, but they go where security conditions allow.

The official said there have been several inspections, and they are conducted by the defense attache and a team from the U.S. Office of Military Cooperation who are in Kyiv. So far, the official said, Ukrainian officials have been transparent about weapons distribution and supportive of inspections.

The effort is part of a broader U.S. campaign announced last week by the State Department to ensure that weapons supplied to Ukraine do not fall into the hands of Russian troops, their proxies, or other extremist groups.

Earlier this year, the U.S. said a small number of U.S. troops had returned to the embassy in Kyiv for security and other tasks. U.S. President Joe Biden ruled out any combat role for U.S. forces in Ukraine.

U.S. officials face persistent questions from some members of Congress about how the administration keeps track of the billions of dollars worth of weapons that have been sent to Ukraine over the past year.

The State Department's plan includes short-, medium- and long-term initiatives to strengthen U.S. oversight of transferred weapons, especially more advanced missile systems, and anti-aircraft devices, and to improve Ukrainian aviation and border security to combat weapons misuse and prevent possible arms trafficking.
Kiev must give real guarantees of strict compliance with the Istanbul agreements, in particular on the non-use of the humanitarian corridor for military purposes, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In the course of the conversation the sides discussed the situation with the implementation of the agreements on the export of grain from the Black Sea ports, reached with the participation of the Turkish side.

"Vladimir Putin informed about the reasons for Russia's decision to suspend this deal. It was emphasized that the Kiev regime with the support of Western supervisors used the sea humanitarian corridor created for transportation of Ukrainian grains in order to strike at the infrastructure and ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, which ensured the safe functioning of the mentioned route. It is necessary to conduct a detailed investigation of the circumstances of this incident, as well as to obtain from Kiev real guarantees of strict compliance with the Istanbul agreements, in particular on the non-use of the humanitarian corridor for military purposes. Only after that would it be possible to consider resuming the work within this 'Black Sea Initiative'.

The President of Russia also reminded about the non-fulfillment of the second part of the package deal - to unblock the export of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers to the world markets. In addition, it was once again pointed out that over the three months of these agreements, the task to ensure the delivery of food as a priority to the most needy countries has not been fulfilled. In this connection, Russia's readiness to supply significant amounts of grain and fertilizers to Africa free of charge has been confirmed," the Kremlin press service said in a statement.
Students who began their college careers in fall 2019, only to have them disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020, report significantly higher rates of anxiety, depression and academic distress compared with prepandemic samples of first-year students.

The journal Psychological Science published the analyses of students narratives about COVID-19 and self-reported measures of their well-being, in a study conducted by psychologists at Emory University, the University of Kansas, the University of Missouri, the University of Utah and Western Washington University.

When the pandemic lockdowns began in 2020 it pulled the rug out from under many people, says Robyn Fivush, Emory professor of psychology and a co-author of the study. It was a particularly difficult time for first-year college students, many of whom were away from home for the first time and beginning to explore their adult identities in terms of their relationships, their academic interests and the world of ideas.

Fivushs research focuses on early memory with an emphasis on the social construction of autobiographical memory and the relations among memory, narrative, identity, trauma and coping.

Jordan Booker, a former postdoctoral student at Emory who is now at the University of Missouri, is first author of the study.

As universities moved to online courses during the pandemic, the researchers recruited 633 first-year U.S. students, including 84 from Emory, to provide narratives about the impacts of the pandemic on their lives.

Narrative prompts included asking the students to describe an event that best captures the challenges they have faced as a result of COVID-19. They were also asked to explain why they chose that particular event to write about and what it says about who they are, who they were and who they might become.

Their responses spanned a range of challenges, from difficulties with virtual coursework, feelings of isolation, worries about their own health as well as that of family members and financial pressures.

The study participants also completed self-measurement scales for COVID-19-related stressors and psychological adjustment. The participants repeated these self-measurement scales 12 months later.

The study found that the pandemic was associated with increased depression, general anxiety, social anxiety, eating concerns, academic distress and hostility relative to prepandemic samples of first-year students.

Students who reported stressors directly related to the pandemic, such as a job loss or the death or debilitating illness of a loved one, were worse off as a group than those who did not.

The studys longitudinal analyses also revealed that on most measures, the participants as a group were not getting better a year later. And the measures for general anxiety and academic distress actually increased during the course of the study.

Students who were able to narrate their experiences with a sense of personal growth, such as learning about their strengths or deepening their relationships during the pandemic, reported lower levels of distress one year later.

These results support previous research showing that articulating a silver lining within a stressful event is related to your subsequent well-being, Fivush says.

The researchers conclude that recovery from the pandemic-related developmental disruptions is likely to be a long-term process. They recommend that academic institutions increase awareness of the issue among faculty, staff and leaders; emphasize learning experiences that support identity development; and create opportunities for students and the university community to make meaning of the pandemic experience through storytelling opportunities that help develop a growth mindset.

Not all of the students who participated in the study are struggling, Fivush says. We know that there is a substantial minority who have been able to overcome the stressors of COVID by creating meaning and resilience through narrative. Our next step is to go back into our data and see if we can determine a combination of other factors that predict who is doing okay as opposed to those who may still be struggling.

The researchers plan to conduct a follow-up study this year of the participating students, who are now seniors, and into the next year as the students graduate and enter the workforce.
Second annual Cowboys for Veterans bag program kicks off this month

Media Contact: Jillian McGee | Digital Communications Specialist | 405-744-6263 | jillian.mcgee@okstate.edu

The Cowboys for Veterans bag program will host its drop-off event from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 7 in the upper North Plaza of the Student Union at Oklahoma State University.

In the second year of OSUs involvement in the locally established philanthropy project, OSUs Office of Student Veteran Success and other campus partners will continue the program by collecting donations of fully stocked gift bags to provide to the Claremore Veterans Home. This program, established by the Newell family, aims to provide those living in veteran affairs centers across the state with anything from clothing to toiletries.

The special drop-off event will feature opening remarks from Vincent Rivera, Student Veteran Success coordinator, as well as cocoa and cookies.

Last year, OSU was able to donate more than 1,400 holiday gift bags to VA centers and hospice care across the state and is looking for at least 295 donations this year.

What to include in a gift bag:

twin XL blanket

body wash, lotion and shampoo

Axe body spray

2023 wall calendar

notepads and pens

toothbrush and toothpaste

package of T-shirts

sweat or lounge pants and top

disposable razors

mens gloves

puzzle books

Please sign up to donate a bag to ensure there are ample sizes for all our recipients. Early drop-offs can be made 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Nov. 4 in 061 Student Union.
"We are deeply saddened at the demise of Padma Bhushan Dr Jamshed J Irani, fondly known as the Steel Man of India. Tata Steel family offers its deepest condolences to his family and loved ones," Tata Steel tweeted.

Irani, 83, retired from the board of Tata Steel back in June 2011.

Irani had contributed tremendously to the Indian Industry, the steel business and the Tatas for over four decades.

He began his career in 1963 as a senior scientific officer at the British Iron and Steel Research Association, Sheffield.

On his return to India in 1968, he joined Tata Steel as assistant to the director (R&D). In 1979, he was appointed General Manager and President in 1985. He became the Managing Director in 1992, a position he held till July 2001.

An M.Sc in Geology from Nagpur University, Irani has a doctorate certificate from the University of Sheffield, UK.

Irani was also conferred upon Padma Bhushan - the third-highest civilian award.

"Received the sad news of the passing of Dr JJ Irani, former MD of Tata Steel, I have a close relationship with him, he will always be remembered as an able administrator and a great leader, may God bless the departed soul and give peace to the family members. Give courage, peace," Banna Gupta, health minister of Jharkhand expressed his condolences on Irani's demise through a tweet. (ANI)
New Delhi [India], November 1 (ANI/ATK): The profitability of the cryptocurrency industry has increased dramatically over the past decade. There are now digital crypto assets worth billions of dollars in the cryptocurrency industry. After the success of bitcoin in 2020, dozens of additional crypto tokens have been released. A few of these tokens have made a name for themselves, but the vast majority have failed to live up to their promise. If cryptocurrency assets can be developed to solve actual problems, they will be more valuable. Big Eyes Coin (BIG) is widely regarded as the cryptocurrency market's next big thing and is poised to become the dominant token in the market. This piece will cover all you need to know about Big Eyes Coin, including how it compares to other cryptocurrency powerhouses like Avalanche (AVAX) and Monero (XMR). Causing Cataclysms In Crypto - Avalanche (AVAX)Avalanche, often known by its ticker symbol AVAX, is a cryptocurrency that enables the nearly immediate execution of smart contracts. Even though it's relatively new to the cryptocurrency industry, Avalanche has swiftly become a fan favorite among investors thanks to its many innovative features. The network has many benefits for new crypto investors, including being secure, scalable, adaptable, and strong. Avalanche (AVAX) is the quickest smart contract platform in terms of time to completion, and it can handle up to 4,500 transactions per second (TPS). Avalaunch is the name of the platform's launcher. Avalanche uses a coin known as AVAX for its utility and governance functions. The token has multiple purposes, including facilitating trade, minting (for rewards), and distribution. Putting A Capital 'P' in Private - Monero (XMR) Monero is a blockchain-based cryptocurrency that provides users with unprecedented levels of privacy. Monero aims to protect user anonymity by concealing both wallets and transactions, as opposed to Bitcoin's open ledger. This cryptocurrency is more discreet than most others, but it is still based on the same blockchain technology as the rest, with open-source code and community support for improvement. Monero's privacy function is driven by the concepts of ring signatures and stealth addresses, which are integral to the cryptocurrency's design. The sender's identity is concealed from the recipients using ring signature cryptography. Each party involved in an XMR transaction--the sender and the recipient--can check the validity of the exchange on their own. Stealth addresses are one-time-use email addresses produced randomly, making the recipient even more anonymous. The true recipient's address and identity can remain hidden during a transaction using a stealth address. This Cat Has More Than 9 Lives - Big Eyes Coin (BIG)It's no secret that the cryptocurrency world has been abuzz with excitement over Big Eyes Coin, a brand-new venture with enormous potential. As a community-driven cryptocurrency initiative, the coin seeks to protect the world's most important ecosystems while channeling financial resources into DeFi ecosystems. Big Eyes has taken into account a lot more than just profit for the good of the community and the causes it backs. Instead, the project is dedicated to going above and beyond in its industry assistance by developing a blockchain ecosystem that can sustain explosive growth on its own. Since Big Eyes Coin is a community-oriented crypto token, 90% of the total quantity of 200,000,000,000 BIG tokens that make up Big Eyes Project were made available to users on the first day the platform was launched. Big Eyes Coin has already brought in over 7 million dollars from its presale, which is currently in its fifth stage. Use Code BIG828 to activate bonus tokens. Find out more about this new cryptocurrency here. Big Eyes Coin (BIG) Presale: https://buy.bigeyes.space/ Website: https://bigeyes.space/ Telegram: https://t.me/BIGEYESOFFICIAL This story has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/ATK)
New Delhi [India], November 1 (ANI/NewsVoir): There is no greater comfort than finding practical and easy solutions for real everyday challenges in life. Solves that promise to make life a bit more comfortable, and a lot more relaxed. In all honesty (because we often don't admit it), the joy of a utilitarian hack is unmatched! It is this sheer bliss of discovering easy, hassle-free hacks for real travel woes that Goibibo aims to extend to its users through its new Goibibo Merchandise - that is ridiculously practical. And, if travel is on the cards in the coming weeks, then you cannot give this read a miss. You can always thank us later (and you sure will!). Hack #1: Do not carry much preference for flying in the middle seat? While you are reading this, our heart says a resounding yes. As you fear being sandwiched in a middle seat-with no room to rest your arms, there is a practical yet ridiculous solution from Goibibo. Goibibo's easy-to-carry ArmWrest has been designed to make space and to welcome comfort for middle-seat flyers by allowing its users to keep their arms/elbows comfortably. It is a solve for any elbow fights (or those silent scowls) in the craft. So, if you ever did mark your territory on the school table while you shared the desk with your mate, or ever marked your side of the bed as you shared the bed with your sibling - then you will know the joy that this armrest will bring to you too. This is your chance to claim your space, your way! Hack #2: Knowing that you have misplaced your boarding pass a few minutes before boarding - is probably the 100th nightmare we all fear about! It's dreadful to even think of a situation like this. In fact, one thing that we all have been there and done that too - is looking for the boarding pass or travel documents for the nth time at the airport. Taking airport fashion to another level, Goibibo's exclusive and specially customized t-shirt design, PockeTee-comes with as many pockets as you need to keep travel essentials within arm's reach. Everything that you need handy and in quick access at the airport can be stocked or kept in this PockeTee. It is your personal evil eye for airport nightmares. Apart from the armrest and the unconventional Pocketee, this 'ridiculously practical merchandise', has also been packaged with unique and unthinkable travel accessories and gear. It includes a 'Go-Go kit' for hikers and trekkers-with a kit of necessary tools for morning routine; and Hoardor, a handy bag for all toiletries. To launch the kit, Goibibo has roped in The Great Khali and comedian Aakash Gupta to introduce the kit and its components through a quirky and eccentric narrative while highlighting the many benefits that the kit offers. The kit will be available to Indian travellers through a social media contest hosted on Goibibo's Instagram page. Below are the links to the videos: youtu.be/mvcaEfVCutk youtu.be/9ILLongaBMo goibibo, is India's second largest OTA brand, that provides range of options for flight ticketing, hotel bookings, train ticketing, bus ticketing, inter-city cabs and ancillary travel offerings. Through its mobile app and website, travellers can search, plan and book a wide range of travel services. The brand's core differentiator is in the value-based and traveller-first offerings that promises an elevated user experience and superior value for all travellers. This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
The International Association of Universities, created under the auspices of UNESCO in 1950, is a membership-based organisation serving the global higher education community through: expertise & trends analysis, publications & portals, advisory services, peer-to-peer learning, events, global community.

Presently, the IAU has about 600 member institutions from 120 countries.

The election to the IAU Administrative Board for 2022 - 2026 was held. Hon'ble Chancellor of Adamas University, Prof.(Dr.) Samit Ray decided to contest for a Board position from Asia Pacific. Dr Carmen Z Lamagna, VC of American International University, Bangladesh, also contested.

All member institutions voted and Prof (Dr) Samit Ray was elected. Prof.(Dr.) Samit Ray, Chancellor, Adamas University becomes the only representative from India, to be elected to the board of IAU. This has fabricated a milestone in advancement of learning in India.

Prof(Dr) Samit Ray, Chancellor, Adamas University deliberated on first day at "Conference of International Association" held at Ireland University College, Dublin Campus between October 25 & 28, 2022, about the possibilities of higher education of international standard for the students of Adamas University.

Adamas University has signed 5 MoUs with St. Mary's University (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), Association of Latin American and Caribbean Universities (UDUAL), Abrar University, Somalia, University of Abuja, Nigeria & Herzegovina University, Bosnia. Adamas University students will be able to study in International Universities in future.

Other luminaries of the conference were Prof Abdul- Rashid Na'allah, Vice Chancellor , University of Abuja, Nigeria, Prof. Andrew J. Deeks, Vice Chancellor & President, Murdoch University, Australia, Prof.(Dr.) Ibithal Youssef EL Baswissi, Dean, Faculty of Architecture, Design & Built Environment, Beirut Arab University, Lebanon, Prof. Wondwosen Tarmat, Founder & President, St. Mary's University, Africa, Prof. Pam Fredman, IAU President & Prof.

Emerita, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, Prof D Patrick Deane, Principal & Vice Chancellor, Professor of English Language &Literature, Queen's University, Canada, Stephen Mull, Vice Provost for Global Affairs, University of Virginia, USA. After this historic MoU, the students of Adamas University will be able to establish themselves in a new environment.

Adamas University has recently started courses on entrepreneurship, digital marketing, business analysis & pharmaceutical sector business. Adamas University has attained a wonderful ground to groom the best possible essence in the field of education.

This story has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/ATK)
United States, November 1 (ANI/NewsVoir): MSB Docs, the leading global disrupter in enterprise-grade customised eSignature and Smart Document Compliance solutions, today announced the successful implementation of its solutions at a California CRO organisation. The organisation is a contract research organization (CRO) providing Biostatistics, Data Management and SAS Programming to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries worldwide. With these customer wins, MSB Docs further strengthens its dominance of the pharma and CRO sector for eSignatures & Digital Smart Document compliance solutions. MSB Docs already works with 8 out of the leading 10 Pharma organisations globally. Highlighting the business differentiation, Srini Dokka, Global Sales Head, MSB Docs, said, "MSB Docs' robust 21 CFR Part 11 contracts compliance capability was key to winning the mandate. Life Sciences manufacturers need to adhere to strict guidelines laid out by governing bodies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since pharmaceutical products and medical devices directly influence the health and safety of the customer." The FDA set up 21 CFR Part 11 compliance as a more comprehensive code of regulations to govern the Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences industry. 21 CFR Part 11 describes Part 11 of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations on electronic records and electronic signatures as stated by the United States FDA. The term "Part 11" applies to documents in digital form that are created, customized, maintained, archived, recovered, transferred, or submitted under any record requirements stated by the FDA regulations/predicate policies. Besides digital records, this code also incorporates images, audio files, source code, and videos. Eventually, 21 CFR Part 11 allows suppliers in the life sciences industry to avoid a lot of complex paperwork management. FDA allows the use of electronic signatures in place of wet ink signatures on paper records to ensure that a business can be carried out electronically. eSignatures must consist of the following to be compliant: Every eSignature must be unique for an individual and shall not be reused or reassigned to another individual. The signer's identity must be validated before establishing, assigning, certifying, or approving their electronic signature or any element of such eSignature. Individuals using eSignatures must, upon company demand, provide additional certification or testimony that a particular electronic signature is the lawfully binding equivalent of the signer's wet or handwritten signature. Electronic signatures must use a minimum of two unique IDs, such as an identification code and a password, if not based on biometrics. Uniqueness must be maintained for each combined identification code and password, and no two signers must have the same identification code and password combination. The system needs protection for every transaction to avoid unauthorized usage of passwords or ID codes and to promptly detect and report any attempts at their unauthorized use. Included within MSB's Digital Smart Document Solutions are hybrid signature solutions in the form of digital and electronic signatures. In addition, MSB provides region-specific signature modules. For instance, business entities in India can get an Aadhaar-based signature solution with MSB Docs. To ensure that all documentation processes are conducted in the most secure manner, the company offers services such as Tamper proof audit trail, document collaboration using Team Room and varied workflow & document templates. Furthermore, there is a proprietary search algorithm in place for seamless identity and background verification, which comes handy in functions such as onboarding a new client. Other offerings of the company include legally compliant stamping feature, frictionless on-demand web form submission, text tags, tax insurance and license validation, etc. MSB Docs (msbdocs.com) is the leading disrupter in enterprise customised eSignature and Smart document solutions, helping large and small organisations innovate business processes by re-imagining the physical paper-constrained ecosystem. The company is a global leader with Make in India Make for the World credentials. MSB is trusted by more than 5 million users across more than 10,000 enterprises in 188 countries to create a competitive business advantage for them. These include 8 out of the leading 10 Pharma organisations in addition to customers from Automobile Insurance, Banking, Healthcare, Education and Real estate industries. MSB Docs has also been consecutively featured on Gartner's eSignature vendor, Gartner's Hype-Cycle, and Gartner's Market Guide for 5 years. MSB Docs is built in accordance with both the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) and the United States Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN). All data is subject to 256-bit SSL encryption in transit and at rest, with storage at ISO 27001 certified data centres in both the US and the European Union. This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
"We have not come out with any plan to regulate digital assets. The agenda of cryptocurrency regulation will be brought in G20 Meeting," Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday. Any single country cannot regulate the cryptocurrency remaining in silos, Sitharaman said while addressing ICREIR's 14th Annual International G20 Conference. The finance minister said cryptocurrency may be regulated in all countries because no single country can succeed individually being in a silo and trying to regulate the crypto assets. "You don't know what the trail leads you to. Is it drug funding? Is it terror-funding or is it just gaming? So that regulation cannot be successful if any one country does it. We have not come up with any plans as yet. So we need to have all the members of the G20 on board to see how best it can be done," Sitharaman said. "I know work has been done by International Monetary Fund (IMF) and OECD (The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). So we love to bring all of them together and then put it on the table for the members to have a meaningful conversation on it," she added. The Finance Minister said that the spillover impact on middle-income countries was an important agenda of the G20 Presidency. "India's Presidency of G20 can help bring consensus on matters of global taxation. It's a dynamic middle of the road which is being constantly navigated," she said. Sitharaman said that, "India is taking G20 Presidency in turbulent times. We will draw lessons from the Indonesia Presidency." "We are probably at a very comfortable stage compared to other economies," she added. "Pandemic aggravated the debt situation of some countries; there is a need to reignite debate on sustainable development goals," said the Finance Minister. Finance Minister said that food security and energy security will be priorities of India in G20. Sitharaman said, "The immediate requirements of countries for energy and food security have become another point of discussion because of the disruption which is happening in shipping grains from the Black Sea. These are the kinds of issues with which you have to take it forward." (ANI)
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that the early implementation of India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (IndAus ECTA) was in the best interest of both the countries. The minister was in a virtual meeting with Australia's Trade and Tourism Minister HE Don Farrell. The meeting was held on Tuesday to discuss the status of ratification of IndAus ECTA, its early implementation and to deliberate upon way forward for a comprehensive IndAus ECTA, an official statement said. During the meeting both the delegations reviewed and appreciated the progress made in ratification of the IndAus ECTA, which was signed on April 22, 2022. The Australian minister said that the IndAus ECTA as well as the amendments to the domestic regulation of Australia for resolving the issues related to Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) had been introduced in the Australia Parliament and likely to be ratified shortly after the joint standing committee on Treaty submits its report to the Australian Parliament. He further mentioned that the processes related to the ratification of the agreement will be completed in the following weeks, the ministry of commerce said on Tuesday. According to the ministry, both the parties acknowledged the importance of initiating discussions for the comprehensive IndAus ECTA, as agreed under IndAus ECTA signed on April 2, 2022. They agreed to hold the annual Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting sometime early next year. In the meantime, experts from both the sides will have their first round of discussions, which will lay a roadmap for the Joint Ministerial Commission meeting, it added. The commerce ministry statement said delegations noted that both nations share a special partnership based on mutual values of pluralistic parliamentary democracies, expanding economic strategic engagement and long-standing people to people ties. Meeting concluded with both the parties acknowledging the need to redefine their economic relations exploring the opportunities offered in trade and investment, the ministry said. (ANI)
A business development meeting was recently held between the Northeast Frontier Railway's (NFR's) Alipurduar division and delegations from the government of Bhutan, which have members from their foreign ministry, trade bodies and chamber of commerce. The meeting was held aiming towards trade collaborations between NFR and the government of Bhutan, which could support the logistics avenues for future linkages with Bhutan. Sabyasachi De, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of NFR, said, "The delegations from Bhutan visited Hasimara railway station where an infrastructure is being strategically developed by NFR for enabling trade with Bhutan." "A plan to build a siding along with a warehouse in collaborations with the Central Warehousing Corporation is underway to promote logistic trade with Bhutan. In fact, Indian Railways has already delivered its first consignment of goods to Bhutan through a multi-modal route consisting of 75 utility vehicles," the CPRO of NF Railway said. The vehicles were transported from Chennai to Hasimara railway station by New Modified Goods (NMG) rake, a rake specially designed to transport light motor vehicles (LMV), that reached Alipurduar division on 28th October, 2022. Further the consignment was taken to Bhutan by roadways," the CPRO of NF Railway said. The delegation intends to visit Changrabandha station in the near future. Sabyasachi De further said that issues related to the movement of automobiles, cement, stone commodities, and augmenting people-to-people connection and tourism development were also discussed. The Alipurduar division highlighted the vision of railways as the prime eco-friendly mode of transportation for goods logistics to the delegates of Bhutan government. The division also noted this mode of transportation as a sustainable option for mass movement in the country and also in Southeast Asia. "Railway explained to the delegates of Bhutan government the cost competitiveness and strategic abilities to transport goods in bulk and expeditiously to markets across India and Bhutan. Indian Railways already new projects for cross-border linkages by laying a broad-gauge railway track from Kokrajhar in India to Gelephu in Bhutan," the CPRO of NFR said. (ANI)
Actor Priyanka Chopra on Tuesday expressed her grief over the loss of lives at the Machchu river bridge accident in Morbi, Gujarat. Taking to Instagram, Priyanka shared a note on her stories which she captioned, "So heartbreaking...My condolence goes out to everyone affected by the bridge collapse in Gujarat." She added, "Praying for a speedy recovery of those injured. My thoughts &prayers are with the families who mourn today." On Sunday, the suspension bridge above the Machchhu River in the Morbi district collapsed and more than 130 deaths have been reported so far. Visuals showed people falling into the river below. According to the latest reports, the death toll in the mishap went up to 134. Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said that a criminal case has been registered in connection with the incident. A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed by the Gujarat Police in the bridge collapse incident in Gujarat's Morbi district against private agencies for the attempt to commit culpable homicide and culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The police also informed that the management person agency did not take due care and quality check of the bridge and kept it open for the people on October 26, displaying severe carelessness. As per reports, the bridge was closed for about 8 months for maintenance and the repair work was being completed by a private agency. Meanwhile, on the 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. (ANI)
Former Miss World Manushi Chhillar, who recently wrapped up the shoot of her upcoming film 'Tehran', visited the iconic Taj Mahar in Agra over the weekend. On Monday, taking to her Instagram, Manushi dropped pictures from her Agra trip. In the pictures, the actor was seen dressed in a beautiful red sharara suit and posing in front of the Taj Mahal. Sharing the pictures, she wrote, "Wonder-ful morning." https://www.instagram.com/p/CkXmqCaMYJr/ 'Samrat Prithviraj' actor shared her experience, "Last time I visited Taj Mahal, I went there with my family which was around 6 years ago. Before I actually saw the Taj for the first time, I had always seen it in pictures and I never really understood why this particular monument had captivated so many people and caught the attention of the entire world. But when I saw it for the first time, I realised, just the way it is made, there is something so special about the structure and architecture. There is a lot of beauty, geometry and a lot of intricacy involved in how it architecturally looks. And it still had the same captivating effect on me that it did 6 years ago. Although it was a little more crowded than last time, but I still got to enjoy just looking and admiring the beauty of Taj." Manushi also shared her best memory of visiting Taj. She added, "I think I have always enjoyed learning about history and it has always been of interest. I think the last time when I came with my parents, we had a very funny and a lovely guide who gave us more details of what the story of Taj Mahal and the story behind all the structures about it, is believed to be. Just knowing more about history is fun and it is something that I find interesting and that is my best memory of visiting Taj." After making her Bollywood debut with 'Prithviraj', Miss World 2017 is all set for her upcoming movie 'Tehran', which also stars John Abraham. A Maddock Films production in association with Bake My Cake Films, Tehran is being directed by Arun Gopalan, written by Ritesh Shah and Ashish Prakash Verma, and produced by Dinesh Vijan, Shobhna Yadav and Sandeep Leyzell. The film is said to be inspired by true events. (ANI)
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who turned 49 on Tuesday, is a global star. From bagging the coveted Miss World title in 1994 to being heralded as the Cannes Queen, Aishwarya is a force to reckon with. On her birthday, let's take a look back at the moments she proved to be a trailblazer. Bringing the crown after a hiatus of 28 years The first Indian woman to be crowned Miss World was Reita Faria in 1966 and after her, it took us 28 years to have another Indian beauty win it again. Aishwarya Rai ended that hiatus in the most graceful way after she brought the crown home. Flaunting the post-pregnancy glow After Aishwarya received massive backlash from all corners for putting on weight post-pregnancy, she walked the Cannes red carpet like a queen! She looked unfazed by all criticism and owned the look. Her witty comebacks at The Oprah Winfrey Show Aishwarya was the first Bollywood star to be invited to the show and she made sure to leave a mark with her appearance there! Aishwarya gave the most savage, witty answers, videos of which still circulate online. Her ticket to Hollywood Aishwarya has come a long way. Not just Bollywood films, she also did big Hollywood projects like 'Pink Panther 2' and 'The Last Legion' that shaped her career. She was one of the very few Indian actors to get significant, meaty roles in Hollywood projects. Taking the India Saree to a global stage In 2002, Aishwarya Rai made her Cannes debut for the world premiere of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film 'Devdas.' She picked a beautiful yellow saree for her appearance, leaving millions of fans stunned. (ANI)
'How I Met Your Mother' actor Cristin Milioti will be joining Colin Farrell in 'The Batman' spinoff series from HBO Max which will be centred on The Penguin. According to Variety, though it is believed that the events in the upcoming series, which is currently titled 'The Penguin', will take place in the immediate aftermath of 'The Batman', exact plot details are still under wraps. Milioti will star as Sofia Falcone, the daughter of Gotham mob boss Carmine Falcone, who was played by John Turturro in 'The Batman', with The Penguin serving as his right-hand man. Farrell will reprise the role of the infamous Batman villain. Previously, The Hollywood Reporter had shared that executive producers for the series include Reeves, Dylan Clark, Farrell, Daniel Pipski, Adam Kassan and Lauren LeFranc, who will serve as showrunner. The limited series will be produced by Reeves' 6th and Idaho Productions and Dylan Clark Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. 'The Penguin' is one of three spinoffs of 'The Batman' in the works at HBO Max at present. Variety has reported that Antonio Campos is set to write a series set in Arkham Asylum. Sofia was originally introduced in the Batman comic books in the mid-1990s. Milioti will now be the second actress to portray Sofia in a live-action series, with Crystal Reed having played her in the Fox series 'Gotham'. This will now be the second HBO Max series in which Milioti has starred. She previously led the comedy series "Made for Love," which was cancelled after two seasons in June. She also recently starred in the critically-acclaimed Peacock series "The Resort" as well as the film "Palm Springs." (ANI)
The unfortunate incident happened when Rambha was returning home after picking up her children from school along with their nanny.

On Tuesday, Rambha took to Instagram and shared details about the mishap. Everyone escaped the accident with minor injuries, however, her younger daughter Sasha has been admitted to the hospital.

"Our car was hit by another car at an intersection wayback from picking kids from school! Me with kids and my nanny .All of us are safe with minor injuries my little sasha is still in the hospital ..bad days bad time.please pray for us your prayers means a lot#pray #celebrity #accident#family#pray#kids#children" she wrote, adding a picture of her damaged car which was hit by another car at an intersection.

Rambha also shared a picture of her daughter from the hospital.

As Rambha opened up about the accident, netizens chimed in the comment section and wished her daughter's speedy recovery.

"Oh my goodness, glad you and kids are safe. More strength to you dear," a social media user commented.

Reacting to the post, actor Vikaas Kalantri wrote, "My God. Take care, please. Love and prayers."

Rambha married businessman Indrakumar Pathmanathanin 2010. They are parents to two daughters and a son. (ANI)
According to Page Six, the duo was seen together at Circoloco's massive Halloween bacchanal at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. They along with Bella Hadid, model Irina Shayk and art dealer Helly Nahmad arrived aboard the party bus.

"Leo wore a [scary] mask most of the night unless he was drinking. The group got bottle service," said an insider, reported Page Six. Reportedly, DiCaprio's mask was "half monster, half zombie."

Stella Maxwell and Yankees star Giancarlo Stanton also attended the party, which was one of Rob Toma's Teksupport events. Also, there was 'House of the Dragon' star Matt Smith, who we hear was dressed as a vampire.

DiCaprio and Hadid were first romantically linked in September during Fashion Week. Page Six reported they were hanging out at a loft party in Soho. They were also spotted at Casa Cipriani.

A source told Page Six at the time that the pair were "getting to know each other" and were "taking it slow,." They've "mostly [been] hanging out with groups and solo a handful of times," said an insider.

Later that month, DiCaprio was spotted in Milan the same day Hadid walked in the Versace Spring/Summer 2023 fashion show, as per Page Six. (ANI)
On Tuesday, Musk took to his Twitter handle and posted an image in which a pumpkin with the Twitter logo carved in it was seen placed alongside a dog wearing a white T-shirt with the same logo on it. The image was shared with a wink emoji.

In a matter of minutes after the post was shared, people swarmed the comment section and started speculating what the post was about.

Relating the dog reference to dogecoin, one user wrote, "Yesssss please take crypto to the next level and integrate #dogecoin into this platform!!!"

Another person shared, "This is a dogcoin wearing twitter clothes, which greatly benefits the dogcoin." A third user wrote, "Dogecoin & Twitter are meant for each other!"

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1587297730631696384

Earlier, Musk had posted a picture of himself and his mom Maye Musk dressed in Halloween outfits. He captioned it, "Halloween with my Mom."

Meanwhile, since acquiring Twitter, Musk has fired a number of Twitter executives including CEO Parag Agrawal and Vijaya Gadde, Twitter's longtime head of legal, policy and trust.

He became the sole director of the company "in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement," the company told the Securities and Exchange Commission, The Hill reported.

As per media reports, Elon Musk is also planning to start charging USD 20 per month for users to have a verified account. (ANI)
Researchers have developed a computational method to map the architecture of human tissues in unprecedented detail. Their approach promises to accelerate studies on organ-scale cellular interactions and could enable powerful new diagnostic strategies for a wide range of diseases. The method, published Oct. 31 in Nature Methods, grew out of the scientists' frustration with the gap between classical microscopy and modern single-cell molecular analysis. "Looking at tissues under the microscope, you see a bunch of cells that are grouped together spatially -- you see that organization in images almost immediately," said lead author Junbum Kim, a graduate student in physiology and biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine. "Now, cell biologists have gained the ability to examine individual cells in tremendous detail, down to which genes each cell is expressing, so they're focused on the cells instead of focusing on the tissue structure," he said. However, "it's crucial for researchers to learn more about the details of tissue structure; fundamental changes in the relationships between cells within a tissue drive both healthy and diseased organ function," said senior author Dr. Olivier Elemento, director of the Englander Institute for Precision Medicine and a professor of physiology and biophysics and of computational genomics in computational biomedicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. Manually combining single cell data with maps of tissue structure is slow and tedious, though. Machine learning algorithms have shown some potential for automating the process, but they're limited by the data used to train them. To address that, Kim and his colleagues developed an unsupervised computational strategy, using a combination of single-cell gene expression profiles and cells' locations to define structural regions within a tissue. Co-senior author Dr. Andre Rendeiro, a postdoctoral fellow at Weill Cornell Medicine during the study and currently a principal investigator at the Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, Austria, compares the new method to mapping a city such as New York: "One way to go about it would be to go to every intersection and count each kind of building: is it residential, is it commercial ... is it a shop or restaurant?" Putting all of those data into one matrix, and the buildings' locations into another, one could then combine the two matrices and look for patterns. "Essentially, we could start to make a general statement about where the different neighborhoods are and where their borders are based on the abundance of, say, residential versus commercial buildings -- just as anyone walking through the Upper East Side, Midtown or Downtown would do based on their observations," said Dr. Rendeiro. The researchers used the new method to generate detailed maps of several types of tissues, identifying and quantifying new aspects of microanatomy -- the patterns that emerge at small scale when cells interact and that determine the ultimate function of tissue. Collaborating with a colleague at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who studies lung disease, they also demonstrated that their technique could draw fine shades of distinction between different disease states in a tissue. While cancer and other chronic diseases often cause major changes in tissue structure, detailed microanatomy could also help in diagnosing and treating more acute conditions. Rendeiro points to severe COVID-19 as one example, where "there are a lot of immune cells that move into the neighborhood, and there's really dramatic change in the lung tissue." The team is now applying their new technique to a wide range of tissues to understand how changes in tissue organization underlie its function in healthy state and dysfunction in disease. (ANI)
In wake of the arrest of seven German nationals who were allegedly involved in religious preaching in Assam, the state government has directed all district Superintendents of Police (SP) to keep a strong vigil on foreigners visiting their districts, an official said on Monday. Assam Special DGP G.P. Singh said: "All SPs were instructed that anywhere in their district, irrespective of religion, if there is any preaching or congregation of foreigners, they have to keep a watch." He added that as per the rules of the government, anybody who wants to visit the country for religious preaching must take a missionary (M1) visa. If they are coming on a tourist visa and indulging in religious practices, it is contrary to the law. But while visiting India on a missionary (M1) VISA too, no one can indulge in religious conversion according to the rules. Singh warned that if anyone with missionary visas also indulges in religious conversions, action will be taken against such persons. Meanwhile, the state government has asked the Union government to cancel the visas of those persons who have indulged in unlawful activities. --IANS tdr/vd ( 200 Words) 2022-10-31-20:42:05 (IANS)
After Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar dismissed LJP-Ram Vilas leader Chirag Paswan as a "child", Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council, Samrat Chaudhary on Monday challenged him to contest elections alone in Bihar. "Chirag Paswan has votes of a certain section in the society, which vote bank is with Nitish Kumar? If he will go alone in the election in Bihar, he will not save his security deposit," he said. The BJP leader's statement came soon after Nitish Kumar said that Chirag Paswan is a child, and that he was associated with BJP in the past and he is not surprised with his announcement to campaign for saffron candidates in Mokama and Gopalganj bypoll. --IANS ajk/vd ( 130 Words) 2022-10-31-20:48:05 (IANS)
Official sources said that, at the meeting at the Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar, the Prime Minister was briefed on the rescue and relief operations that have been underway ever since the unfortunate accident took place.

All aspects relating to the tragedy were discussed. The Prime Minister once again emphasised on ensuring that those affected get all possible assistance, they added.

The high level meeting was also attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, state Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, the Chief Secretary and the DGP along with other top officials including those from Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority.

--IANS ans/vd

( 141 Words)

2022-10-31-20:50:02 (IANS)
As part of the efforts to curb drug menace, authorities in Hyderabad have asked colleges and other equivalent educational institutions to constitute anti-drug committees in their respective institutions. With a minimum of five members drawn from faculty and students, the committees will be primarily tasked to prevent drug abuse by equipping young people with the life skills necessary to enable them to deal with different situations without turning to drugs, and the ability to resist peer pressure to use drugs. Hyderabad Police Commissioner C. V. Anand has issued a notification which mandates all colleges and other equivalent educational institutions to constitute Anti-Drug Committee (ADCs). He said as per the directions of the government and in continuation of efforts to curb drug menace in the state, the city police have now taken a strategic stride to insulate the increasingly vulnerable youngsters in colleges and other equivalent educational Institutions. Lack of supervision by parents and peer influence often make young people getting addicted to substances. Once entangled, it's a black hole sinking away all good things in life and causing unbearable distress to their families and the public at large, he said. The police chief said since the colleges returned to normalcy after the pandemic-induced disruption during the last two years, the police have now taken up a double pronged strategy that is legal action alongside sensitising the youngsters which eventually cuts down the demand side in the illicit drug trade. These ADCs, which will work under the guiding principles developed by Hyderabad City Police, are entrusted to play a key role in creating awareness on dangers of drug abuse through various digital campaigns, workshops, seminars to ensure their campuses are free from the scourge of narcotic substances. Moreover, at the very beginning of the academic year, the head of the institution will have to convene a meeting to sensitise the students on the dangers of drug abuse and ensure cooperative approach among parents, staff, students, agencies, and the police. These committees will also liaise with the local police to tip off on usage or possession or sale or purchase of drugs. Citizens can inform the Hyderabad Police Narcotics Enforcement Wing on 8712661601 or 040-27852080. The prevention programmes and their outcomes should be evaluated regularly to provide evidence of their worth and to improve the future programmes. Fostering partnership between home, educational institutions, agencies catalyses the fight against the illicit trade and is likely to be the best way, Anand said. --IANS ms/vd ( 422 Words) 2022-10-31-21:48:02 (IANS)
As many as 298 polling stations have been set for the Munugode by-election and 2,41,855 voters will cast their vote in the election slated to be held on November 3, said the State Chief Electoral Officer, Vikas Raj. The State Chief Electoral Officer said, "The Munugode by-election campaigning will end on Tuesday at 6 pm and the polling time is from 7 am to 6 pm." There are around 105 critical polling stations identified. Booth-level officers and medical teams are available in all stations, informed the official. "Sufficient light and toilets are made sure in all polling stations. We have given a new design voter ID for the first time in Munugode. We have set up webcasting in all the polling centres," said State Chief Electoral Officer. State Chief Electoral Officer, Vikas Raj further added that there are around 105 critical polling stations identified. "We have given a new design voter ID for the first time in Munugode. We have set up webcasting in all the polling centres. A total of 51 teams have been assigned including flying squads and static surveillance teams," he said. He further said that the district administration is making all the arrangements for staff in polling stations. "As many as 199 Micro Observers are deployed. We have deployed 3,366 state police and 15 companies of the central police force in Munogode. 185 cases have been registered and Rs.6.80 crore and 4,500 litres of liquor have been seized so far," Vikas Raj said. (ANI)
Faiz Rasheed, a third semester student of Electronics and Communication in a reputed college in Bengaluru had supported the heinous suicide bomber terrorist attack, and also put out comments on social media challenging the sovereignty and integrity of the country.

His messages were also intended to create a communal rift. After his messages created public outrage, Banaswadi police in Bengaluru filed an FIR against him.

The police have charged him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the case was transferred to the CCB Special Unit for further investigation.

After arresting the accused, his mobile was seized and a report from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) was taken. The chargesheet was submitted to Special NIA Court.

Since the day of arrest, he had been kept in judicial custody.

The Pulwama attack taken place on Feb 14, 2019, when a convoy of vehicles carrying Indian security personnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber, killing 40 personnel.

--IANS mka/vd

( 218 Words)

2022-10-31-23:28:05 (IANS)
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday launched the website and mobile app for "Make In Odisha Conclave'22". Speaking on the occasion, Patnaik urged all the departments to work in close collaboration to ensure the grand success of Make in Odisha Conclave'22. He called upon them to ensure Make in Odisha Conclave'22 become a landmark event in Odisha's industrial growth story. "Odisha today is ranked among the top states of India in terms of live manufacturing investments and has been accorded the "Achiever" status in the recently released "Ease of Doing Business" ratings," he said. The CM further said that the Make in Odisha Conclave, 2022 is a platform for our state to showcase our growth story and present what we have to offer to investors across the globe. It is a platform for industry captains and thought leaders to talk about the outlook of various industrial sectors. Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said, "we have to make all efforts in the next 30 days to see that this year's event becomes even better than the two previous ones. The state has brought up FICCI as a national industry partner and the govt has finalised all details of the sessions for the event." Welcoming the guest's Industry Principal Secretary Hemant Sharma said that during the five-day event, there will be 3 conclave days with 20 sessions. "The investors would get an opportunity to know the state's industrial prowess and future potential, he added. He said that the Govt has organised 10 roads shows in which the CM has led in five- Dubai, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru," said Hemant Sharma. According to the official statement, the Make In Odisha Conclave'22 is the flagship investor summit of the Government of Odisha. After the event's resounding success in 2016 and 2018, the state is organizing the third edition of the marquee event at Bhubaneswar from November 30 to December 04, 2022. As a build-up to the Make in Odisha Conclave'22, in the last three months, the government has led delegations on roadshows to various metros across Coimbatore, Jamshedpur, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad in India as well as in Dubai. As per the official statment, the Make in Odisha Conclave'22 is a unique opportunity to understand Odisha's policy and regulatory environment, and the vast existing and emerging business opportunities across sectors. "Odisha, under the visionary leadership of Naveen Patnaik, has grown significantly in the last decade. While the state government was not able to host the event in 2020 due to the global pandemic, the government stated that they would make up for that absence by hosting an even grander Make in Odisha Conclave this time. The State Government is optimistic about this edition and hopes to see more participation and more investment intent than the previous two editions," read the official statement. (ANI)
To commemorate the 147th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Battalions of 23 sectors and Sector HQ Assam Rifles, under the aegis of Inspector General Assam Rifles (East), celebrated "Rashtriya Ekta Divas" at Aizawl, Lunglei and Serchhip on Monday, as per the official statement. According to the official statement, various activities such as Run for Fun with civil administration, March Past, Oath taking, floral tribute, weapon display, band display, painting competition and lecture on Ekta Diwas were organised as part of week-long celebrations. As per the officials, the aim of the event was to provide an opportunity to re-affirm our nation's inherent strength and resilience to withstand the actual and potential threats to our country's unity, integrity and security During the event, locals of Mizoram were also educated that National unity Day is observed to acknowledge the efforts of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to unite the nation. Acccording to the official statement, the BJP government in 2014 declared October 31 as the National Unity Day or 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel's efforts towards national integration made him the 'Iron Man of India'. The locals of Mizoram expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the events conducted by Assam Rifles. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Morbi in Gujarat today after the cable suspension bridge claimed the lives of at least 132 people, informed the state Chief Minister's office. At least 132 people, including women and children, were killed and over 100 are receiving treatment for their injuries sustained after a cable suspension bridge in Morbi town collapsed on Sunday, plunging people into the Machchhu River. Prime Minister Modi, in Kevadia, said that rescue operations were underway and there would be no laxity in rescue and relief efforts. "The Gujarat Government has been carrying out relief and rescue operations since Sunday evening. Centre too is extending all help to the State Government," PM Modi said. "The State Government has constituted a committee to investigate this incident. I assure the people of the country that there will be no laxity in rescue and relief operations," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister said this while addressing a gathering on the occasion of the 147th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Ekta Nagar in Kevadia. "I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. In this hour of grief, the government is with the bereaved families in every manner. The Gujarat Government has been carrying out relief and rescue operations since the incident. Centre too is extending all help to the State Government," PM Modi said. "I am in Ekta Nagar but my mind is with the victims of Morbi. Rarely in my life, would I have experienced such pain. On one hand, there is a pain-riddled heart and on the other hand, there is the path to duty," the prime minister said. The prime minister said that Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel had reached Morbi and has been holding the command of search and rescue operations since Sunday. "The State Government has constituted a committee to investigate this incident. I assure the people of the country that there will be no laxity in rescue and relief operations," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister who is on a three-day tour to Gujarat and Rajasthan also cancelled his roadshow to be held in Ahmedabad. Prime Minister got emotional while addressing the audience as he laid the foundation stones of several projects worth over Rs 8,000 crore in Banaskantha's Tharad. Addressing the audience during the event, PM Modi also remembered the deceased who died after the century-old suspension bridge collapsed in Gujarat's Morbi yesterday. "I am very distressed after the Morbi mishap," Modi said. "I was distraught about whether to do the development programs or not. But because of your love and service and the 'Sanskar' of performing the duty, brought me here with a strong heart. Banaskantha means the whole of North Gujarat," PM Modi said in a breaking voice. (ANI)
Former Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel refuted claims of the Gujarat government having any direct or indirect role and said that the renovation and opening of the bridge were done by the Morbi administration. The Morbi bridge collapse incident claimed the lives of 134 people. "Renovation and opening of the bridge were done by Morbi admin. Gujarat govt didn't have any role in it, direct or indirect. The old bridge was small and made for private use, but was opened to the public for tourist movement," said Former Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel. The Former Deputy Chief Minister said that the work of renovation was given to the Oreva agency by the Morbi municipality. "Oreva is an old company for repairing watches but only Morbi municipality knows on which qualification it handed over the work of bridge renovation," he added. Former Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel assured that an enquiry committee will be set up and appropriate action would be taken by the state government. "It might take some time since a thorough investigation will be required, but the state government would take action once it receives the report. 9 people responsible for the collapse of the Morbi bridge have been arrested, and actions will be taken against them by the government," he said. The former Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister condoled the death of 134 people in the Morbi bridge collapse incident. Earlier on October 31, nine persons, including officials of Oreva, the company that renovated the bridge, ticket sellers and security men, were arrested for the Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat. "We arrested nine people after filing FIR under various sections of IPC. The arrested includes the managers of Oreva company and ticket clerks," said Ashok Yadav, IG, Rajkot range. "As and when we get evidence, police will nab the accused further. We have also formed a Special Investigation team pertaining to the incident," he added. The Gujarat Police has filed a First Information Report under IPC sections 304 and 308 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) in the bridge collapse tragedy. Gujarat government has constituted a five-member committee headed to probe the bridge collapse incident. "An unfortunate incident took place in Morbi, we pay our condolences. We filed an FIR under various sections of IPC against all the accused to take stringent action. Police & locals mobilised and helped in the rescue operation," the IG said. "An FIR has been registered against the maintenance and management agencies of the bridge, under Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), and 114 (abettor present when offence is committed) of the India Penal Code," said Morbi B Division Police Inspector, Prakashbhai Dekavadiya. (ANI)
The Central Crime Branch (CCB) said on Monday that the resident of Kacharaknahalli in Bengaluru Faiz Rasheed has been in jail since his arrest in February 2019 after his bail applications were rejected.

Faiz Rasheed, who was a third-semester engineering student, was arrested over his February 14, 2019, Facebook posts that celebrated the deaths of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans in an attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

His phone was seized and police got it investigated by a forensic science lab.

The chargesheet has been filed under Indian Penal Code sections (IPC) 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion), 124A (sedition) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) and section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The attack on the CRPF convoy took place in Jammu and Kashmir''s Pulwama district on February 14, 2019, in which 40 personnel had died. A suicide bomber had rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the bus. The convoy had 78 buses in which around 2,500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar.

Days after the attack, the Indian Air Force on February 26 carried out multiple aerial strikes at JeM terror camps in Pakistan''s Balakot, killing a "large number" of terrorists and destroying their infrastructure.

Earlier in April this year, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had declared ''terrorists'' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) of the mastermind of the Pulwama attack.

The MHA in their notification issued on April 11, 2022, designated Jaish-e-Mohammad''s Mohiuddin Aurangzeb Alamgir, a key conspirator of the 2019 terror attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy at Pulwama.

The Central Government believes that Mohiuddin Aurangzeb Alamgir is involved in terrorism and Mohiuddin Aurangzeb Alamgir should be notified as a terrorist under the UAPA Act, notification reads further. (ANI)
Senior BJP leader and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Jairam Thakur has ridiculed the Congress promise of providing 300 units of free electricity ahead of the upcoming state polls. Thakur stated that BJP is not charging any penny till 125 units of electricity, then what we will do with their 300-unit free electricity card? Referring to the congress promise he further asked if the congress government is providing free electricity in the two states they are governing in the country. On October 30 Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur expressed confidence in the BJP's victory in the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. "BJP will definitely form the government in the state after the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections," CM Thakur said while attending 'Vijay Sankalp Abhiyan' in Churah. The Vijay Sankalp Abhiyan has started in the state today. Under this, all senior BJP leaders, union ministers, and the ministers of the state will conduct public rallies in each constituency. "We are doing these rallies to boost the election campaign and the decision has been taken to ensure the victory of the BJP," state BJP president Suresh Kashyap said on Friday underscoring that chief ministers of neighboring states-- Haryana's Manohar Lal Khattar and Uttarakhand's Pushkar Singh Dhami will also join the campaign. The elections in the state are slated to be held on November 12 and the votes will be counted on December 8. To hit the battleground of poll-bound Himachal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to address a total of six rallies in two days - on November 1 and 2. On November 1, Shah will hold three rallies in Chamba, Mandi, and Shimla, and the next day, the rallies will take place in Hamirpur, Kangra, and Solan. The state with 68 Assembly constituencies goes to polls on November 12 in a single-phase election. 15 constituencies fall in Kangra, 10 in Mandi and five in Chamba. (ANI)
The SDRF team rescued them late at night after an intensive search operation.

"The SDRF was informed by Disaster Control Room (DCR) Dehradun that five people who had gone trekking in Koti Dhulhi-Bhadraraj under Sahaspur Police Station, lost their way somewhere in the forest. By running an intensive search operation by SDRF Rescue Team and District Police, after hard efforts, five people were found safe late at night," said SDRF Spokesperson.

Later, all the trekkers were safely taken to Sahaspur police station.

Earlier in October, 41 trainees and instructors of the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering were hit by an avalanche near the Dokrani Bamak glacier when they were returning from high-altitude navigation from Mount Draupadi ka Danda-2 peak (5,670 m).

More than 25 people were died and several were injured after the avalanche hit Draupadi ka Danda mountain peak in Uttarakhand.

Mountaineers from the NIM participating in a training course were trapped in a glacier crevice after the avalanche hit the peak. The team was returning after summiting. (ANI)
A local court in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow has refused to grant bail to Kerala-based journalist Siddique Kappan in a Money Laundering case registered against him by the Enforcement Directorate. The court had reserved the verdict after completing its hearing on the matter on October 12. The District Judge has passed this order in the Lucknow Sessions Court Sanjay Shankar Pandey. Advocates Ishaan Baghel and Mohammad Khalid had appeared for proceedings from Kappan's side. Earlier on September 9, the Supreme Court had granted bail to Kappan, who was arrested under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. In the order, Chief Justice UU Lalit, Justice S Ravindra Bhat and Justice PS Narasimha had directed that the petitioner would be released on bail in the next three days after applying in the trial court. Kappan, who is also the secretary of the Delhi unit of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police in October 2020 along with three others, while they were going to report an alleged gang rape and murder case of a 19-year-old Dalit girl in Hathras. The top court had ordered Kappan to stay in Delhi's Jangpura police station area for six weeks after his release. He was also directed to visit the police station every Monday and register his presence here. Apart from this, the petitioner was instructed to appear in the trial court either himself or through a lawyer during the hearing. The top court further asked Kappan to submit his passport and directed him to refrain from indulging in any illegal activity. On the grounds of aforesaid conditions, Kappan was allowed to return to Kerala after six weeks of getting the bail. During the hearing of Kappan's bail plea, the bench observed that every person has the Right To Freedom of Speech and Expression as the materials and toolkit produced by the prosecution in Kappan's name appeared to be in a foreign language. CJI Lalit said, "Every person has a right to free expression, he was trying to show that victim needs justice and raise a common voice" and further asked the Uttar Pradesh government will this be a crime in the eyes of law. Representing the Uttar Pradesh government, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani argued that Kappan had participated in a meeting of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in September 2020 and was instructed to instigate riots in Hathras in October. Jethmalani further alleged that Kappan was also given Rs 45,000 for this work. Jethmalani also alleged that the investigation revealed Kappan was affiliated with the official organization of the PFI. He said that propaganda was running under the banner name 'Justice for Girl' that carried some e-mails and instructions seeking the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI)
The police have registered a case against the accused persons-- identified as Ibrahim Baig alias Addu and Mirza Omer Baig alias Zubair-- under the section 376D, 376 (2) (L) of the Indian Penal Code at the Chatrinaka Police Station area.

According to the police, the accused persons raped the woman in the burial ground of Ghulam Murtuza Chawni on October 30 and fled from the place.

The police were intimated by the locals who noticed the woman and took her to the Chatrinaka police station.

As per the information, Addu was arrested at GM Chawni while Zubair was held from Quadri Chaman on Monday (October 31). The accused have been produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court at Nampally.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tribute to Bhil freedom fighter Shri Govind Guru in Banswara district of Rajasthan. PM Modi is in Banswara to attend 'Mangarh Dham ki Gaurav Gatha'. He will also address a gathering of Bhil Adivasis and other tribal populations of the region. According to Prime Minister's Office, Mangarh Hill holds special importance for the Bhil community and other tribes of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. During the freedom struggle where Bhils and other tribes engaged in a long stand-off with the British, when more than 1.5 lakh Bhils rallied at Mangarh Hill on 17th November 1913 under the leadership of Shri Govind Guru. Britishers opened fire at this gathering, leading to Mangarh Massacre where approximately 1500 tribals were martyred. Thereafter, he will dedicate and lay the foundation stone of various development projects at Jambughoda in the Panchmahal district of Gujarat. As part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the government has initiated several steps to celebrate unsung tribal heroes of the freedom struggle. These include declaring 15th November (birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda) as 'Janjatiya Guarav Divas', setting up tribal museums across the country etc to recognise the contribution of tribal people to society and increase awareness about their sacrifices in the freedom struggle. In yet another step in this direction, Prime Minister will attend a public programme - 'Mangarh Dham ki Gaurav Gatha' at Mangarh Hill, Banswara, Rajasthan, to pay homage to the sacrifices of the unsung tribal heroes and martyrs of the freedom struggle. Later, in the day, PM Modi is also scheduled to visit Morbi in Gujarat after the cable suspension bridge claimed the lives of at least 135 people. Prime Minister Modi, in Kevadia on Monday had said that rescue operations were underway and there would be no laxity in rescue and relief efforts. "The Gujarat Government has been carrying out relief and rescue operations since Sunday evening. Centre too is extending all help to the State Government," PM Modi said. "The State Government has constituted a committee to investigate this incident. I assure the people of the country that there will be no laxity in rescue and relief operations," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister said this while addressing a gathering on the occasion of the 147th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Ekta Nagar in Kevadia. "I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. In this hour of grief, the government is with the bereaved families in every manner. The Gujarat Government has been carrying out relief and rescue operations since the incident. Centre too is extending all help to the State Government," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister who is on a three-day tour to Gujarat and Rajasthan also cancelled his roadshow to be held in Ahmedabad. Prime Minister got emotional while addressing the audience as he laid the foundation stones of several projects worth over Rs 8,000 crore in Banaskantha's Tharad. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has extended greetings to all the citizens of the state on the occasion of the 67th state foundation day. MP celebrates its foundation day on November 1 and a function is also scheduled on the occasion in the evening at Lal Parade ground in the state capital Bhopal. Talking to ANI, Chouhan said, "Hearty congratulations and best wishes to the people of the state, on the auspicious occasion of Madhya Pradesh foundation day. Madhya Pradesh was once Bimaru (sick) state, but now we have progressed at a fast pace. The economic growth rate of Madhya Pradesh is 19.76% this year." "We are moving fast in the direction of making Madhya Pradesh shift from sick to now a self-reliant state. Madhya Pradesh is setting new dimensions of development in every field. On this occasion, I request you to kindly make your best contribution to the progress and development of Madhya Pradesh. Let us move fast to build a prosperous, developed and self-reliant Madhya Pradesh," Chouhan said. Chouhan further wrote on Twitter, " We are committed to making every possible contribution towards achieving the goal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making India a 5 trillion economy. Madhya Pradesh will also become a participant in this great goal by achieving a target of $550 billion economy". "On the foundation day of Madhya Pradesh, take a pledge that while discharging your civic duties with full devotion, you will contribute to the progress of the state and the country. I also promise you that I will make Madhya Pradesh the best state of the country," Chouhan further wrote. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to concerned respondents including Assam Government on the plea against the Gauhati High Court verdict that Madrassas being government schools wholly maintained by the Assam State cannot be permitted to impart religious instruction. The order was passed by a bench of justices Ajay Rastogi and CT Ravikumar. The petition has been moved by 13 persons through advocate-on-record Adeel Ahmed. Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde, advocates Adeel Ahmed and Abdur Razzaque Bhuyan argued in the matter. The petitioner has challenged the judgment dated February 4, 2022, passed by the High Court of Gauhati that upheld the validity of the Assam Madrassa Education (Provincialization) Act, 1995 (repealed by the Act of 2020) and all consequential government orders including the Notification dated February 12 2021. The high court observed that the Madrassas being government schools wholly maintained by the State through provincialization are hit by Article 28(1) of the Constitution and as such, cannot be permitted to impart religious instruction. The petitioners, who include Imad Uddin Barbhuiya, said that High Court has erroneously observed that the Petitioner Madrassas being government schools, and wholly maintained by the State through provincialization are hit by Article 28(1) of the Constitution of India and as such, cannot be permitted to impart religious instruction. According to the petition, the Assam Madrassa Education (Provincialization) Act, 1995 (repealed by the Act of 2020) is only limited to the State undertaking to pay the salaries and provide consequential benefits to the teaching and non-teaching staff employed in madrassas as also the administration, management and control of these madrassa. The petition stated that the land and building belonging to the madrassas are taken care by the petitioners and the expenditures on electricity and furniture are borne by the petitioner madrassas themselves. "The repealing Act of 2020 takes away property coupled with statutory recognition of Madrassa education and the impugned order dated 12.02.2021 issued by the Governor disbands the 'Assam State Madrasa Board' created in 1954. It amounts to an arbitrary exercise of both legislative and executive powers and amounts to a denial of the Petitioner Madrassas' ability to continue as madrassas providing religious instruction coupled with religious education," the petition stated. The petitioner submitted that such encroachment into the proprietary rights of the petitioner madrassas without payment of adequate compensation is a direct infraction of Article 30(1A) of the Constitution of India. "The operation of the impugned judgment would result in the discontinuation of the Petitioner Madrassas as Madrassas and would prevent them from admitting students for the old courses for this academic year," the petitioner said. According to the petition, the respondents by way of the Notification in question dated 12.02.2021 have abrogated the right of the petitioner madrassas under Article 30(1) to 'establish' and 'administer' educational institutions of their choice inclusive of the right to decide their own curriculum which may also be based on their perception of ways to preserve their religion or culture. As per the petition, on February 12 2021, the Principal Secretary, the Secondary Education Department in pursuance of the decision of the council of ministers issued several instructions through a notification converting madrassas into high schools and bringing it under the State Education Board, withdrawing subjects on theological aspects like the Quran, removing the name 'Madrassa', barring fresh admission with effect from April 1, 2021, for old courses, directing that teachers teaching theological subjects be provided training for teaching general subjects of their aptitude, dissolving the State Madrassa Education Board after it declares the results for AY 2021-22, transference of all records, bank accounts of the SMEB to the Board of Secondary Educations. (ANI)
The Chief Minister visited the wards of the hospital and inquired about the patients admitted and their families.

He also went to the OPD of the hospital and saw the arrangements and got to know about the patients.

The Chief Minister has given instructions to the college administration to further improve the arrangements and cleanliness of the medical college.

A day before (Sunday), while campaigning in Himachal Pradesh, the BJP's star campaigner Dhami, said that a newly developed India is being made under PM Modi's leadership.

"Under PM Modi's leadership, a newly developed India is being made. Today India has the power to show direction to the world. Development works are happening in Himachal Pradesh. PM Modi has a special attachment to hilly states, " said Uttarakhand CM. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday posted for November 29 a batch of petitions filed by both factions of Shiv Sena, that is, led by Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, respectively, in relation to the Maharashtra political crisis. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud asked lawyers to complete the compilation of the case and formulate the salient issues for consideration within four weeks. The bench also comprising Justices MR Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli, and PS Narasimha said advocates Javed Ur Rehman and Chirag Shah from each side shall act as nodal counsel and they will carry out this exercise within a period of four weeks. Counsels appearing for contesting parties shall meet and formulate the salient issues for consideration, the apex court added. Earlier, the top court had allowed the Election Commission of India to decide which faction between Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde be recognized as the 'real' Shiv Sena party and for allotment of the bow and arrow symbol. The top court has received several petitions filed by rival groups of Shiv Sena in relation to the Maharashtra political crisis. In August, the top court's three-judge bench had referred to a five-judge Constitution bench the issues involved in the petition filed by rival groups of Shiv Sena in relation to the Maharashtra political crisis. Earlier, the Supreme Court three-judge bench had said that some of the issues involved in the Maharashtra political crisis may require a larger Constitutional bench for consideration. It had also asked the Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Rahul Narwekar not to take any action on the new disqualification notices issued against the members of Shiv Sena. There are various petitions pending before the apex court filed by both factions of Shiv Sena. The Thackeray-led faction had approached the top court challenging the Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari's decision to invite Eknath Shinde to form the government and also the Speaker's election and floor test. Later they challenged Shinde group approaching the poll panel claiming they are 'real' Shiv Sena. They had also challenged the newly appointed Maharashtra Assembly Speaker's action recognizing the whip of the Eknath Shinde group as the whip of Shiv Sena. The plea said the newly appointed Speaker has no jurisdiction to recognize whips nominated by Shinde as Uddhav Thackeray is still the head of the Shiv Sena official party. Thackeray camp's Sunil Prabhu had filed a plea seeking suspension from the Maharashtra Assembly of new Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and 15 rebel MLAs against whom disqualification pleas are pending. Shinde group's challenged the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker to 16 rebel MLAs as well as the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader, is also pending before the apex court. On June 29, the top court gave a go-ahead to the floor test in the Maharashtra Assembly on June 30. Refusing to stay the Maharashtra Governor's direction to the then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to prove his majority support on the floor of the House on June 30, the bench had issued notice on Prabhu's plea against the floor test. After the apex court's order, Uddhav Thackeray announced his resignation as the Chief Minister and Eknath Shinde was later sworn in as the Chief Minister. (ANI)
Calling Congress leader Rahul Gandhi a "wannabe PM", Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) working president and Minister KT Rama Rao (KTR) on Tuesday hit back at him stating that the "international leader" should first convince his people to elect him as an MP than ridicules Telangana Chief Minister KCR's national party ambition. "International leader Rahul Gandhi who can't even win his own parliament seat in Amethi ridicules Telangana CM KCR's national party ambition. Wannabe PM should first convince his people to elect him as an MP," tweeted KTR. KTR was responding to the Congress leader's remark over KCR changing the party's name from Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). When asked about KCR changing the party's name, Rahul Gandhi said, "If the chief minister of Telangana believes that he is running a national party, that is perfectly okay. There is no problem, he can believe it. That is also fine if he believes he is running a global party. So these are all things that he can do and can imagine. Asked specifically if the Congress will not join hands with the TRS even if the need arises to take on the BJP in 2024 polls, he said, "There is absolutely no question of any relationship between Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and Congress. Telangana CM believes he is running a national party. He is welcome to think that he is running an international party." The Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi was launched on September 7, 2022, and will cover as many as 12 states. The Rahul Gandhi-led Yatra started from Kanyakumari and will end in Kashmir the following year by covering 25 km every day. The 3,500 kilometres yatra will be a historic event for the Congress and the entire country. It is the longest march on foot by any Indian politician in the history of India, the Congress said earlier in a statement. The yatra will end in Kashmir next year. It is the longest march on foot by any Indian politician in the history of India, the Congress claimed earlier in a statement. The yatra has already covered parts of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, after having been flagged off in Tamil Nadu. The next leg of the yatra will take place in Maharashtra. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear on November 14 a PIL seeking direction to appoint a judicial commission under the supervision of the retired top court judge to initiate a probe on the Morbi Bridge collapse incident. A bench of Chief Justice of India UU Lalit and Justice Bela M Trivedi posted the matter for hearing on November 14 after the advocate who filed the petition mentioned it for urgent hearing. "You are very quick. What are your prayers," the CJI asked. To this Advocate Vishal Tiwari who filed the plea replied, "I am seeking a judicial enquiry commission". The plea filed by the lawyer sought directions to the State governments to form a committee to survey and conduct an assessment risk of old and risky monuments and bridges to ensure environmental viability and safety. It further sought directions for permanent disaster probe teams in the states who would promptly attend to such tragedies. "Direct the State governments to constitute in their respective States a construction incident investigation department so that the fast and prompt investigation could be done whenever such incidents occur and such department shall also have duty to assess and enquire about the quality and safety of any public construction taking place," the plea said. Over 130 people died and about 100 were injured due to the collapse of the suspension bridge over the Morbi Macchu river on Sunday. As per the reports, the bridge was closed for about 8 months for maintenance and the repair work was assigned to a private agency. The Gujarat Police have filed a First Information Report under IPC sections 304 (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide) in the bridge collapse tragedy. The Gujarat government has also constituted a five-member committee to probe the bridge collapse incident. (ANI)
Giridhar Aramane, a 1988-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, assumed the office of Defence Secretary on Tuesday. Before taking charge, Aramane laid a wreath at National War Memorial and paid homage to the fallen heroes. He saluted the bravehearts who sacrificed their lives while protecting the nation."We draw inspiration from these bravehearts and promise to work towards fulfilling their dream of making India a safe and prosperous country," he said during his visit to the National War Memorial.In his 32 years of experience in IAS, the new Defence Secretary has held various important portfolios in the Central Government as well as the Andhra Pradesh government. Prior to his current assignment, Aramane was Secretary, of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.Earlier, he was an Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat. Apart from Cabinet Secretariat, he also looked after Exploration Division in the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and was Executive Director in charge of inspections in the Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority.In the Andhra Pradesh Government, he served as Principal Secretary in the Urban Development Department; Managing Director of AP State Finance Corporation and Secretary (the Finance Department). He also held the post of the Collector & DM of the Chittoor and Khammam districts.Aramane has done his B Tech in Civil Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad and MTech from IIT, Madras. He is MA (Economics) from Kakatiya University, Warangal. He will take over the top post after Ajay Kumar retired at the end of the previous month (ANI)
Real estate businessman Gopal Ansal has moved the Delhi High Court challenging his conviction and sentence for tampering with evidence in the case related to the 1997 Uphaar cinema fire tragedy, in which 59 people were killed. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav tagged the plea of Gopal Ansal with other connected matters and listed it in the regular list. The trial court passed a judgment on July 18, upholding Ansal's conviction. On July 19, the Court reduced the sentence earlier awarded to the petitioner for the period already undergone subject to payment of a fine of Rs 3 crore within seven days. Ansal challenged the trial court judgement by submitting that none of the circumstances as alleged by the prosecution is conclusive in nature and neither do they establish the guilt of the accused. There is nothing on record to show that the circumstances can lead to a level of suspicion that they committed the offence in all human probability, the petition said. It also said that the judgment passed by the trial court was totally perverse and against the well-settled propositions of law and criminal jurisprudence. The conclusion drawn by the trial court is totally misconstrued based on the mis-interpretation of fact as well as the law on the basis of assumptions, presumptions, surmises and conjectures. It has been further submitted that in the present case there is neither any circumstantial evidence nor any material on record, on the basis of which a reasonable ground to believe that the present appellant was a part of the conspiracy. In view of the fact and circumstances mentioned, the judgment passed by the trial court may be set aside and the present Appellant may be honorably acquitted, it added. Earlier, the Association of The Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) had moved Delhi HC against the Trial court order which had reduced the Ansal Brother's jail term in the said evidence tampering case linked to the Uphaar fire tragedy of 1997. In the fire tragedy, 59 people were killed and over 100 others were injured. AVUT also challenged the July 18 order passed by the Principal District and Sessions Judge of Patiala House Court which had reduced real estate baron Ansal brothers' 7-year jail term to the "period already undergone" in judicial custody in the case. Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa appeared for the AVUT and sought the direction of the Delhi High court to set aside the order passed on July 18 and also issue direction to enhance the sentence awarded by the Principal District and Sessions Judge from the period already undergone to the original sentence of seven years awarded by the Magistrate Court in the order dated November 8, 2021. The victim association through Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa submitted that the Trial Court order is contrary to the established principles of law on sentencing and is ignorant of the conduct and criminal antecedents of the accused. Through their acts, the accused have tried to meddle with the functioning of the judicial system and the impugned judgement fails to appreciate the gravity of the offences committed by them, the AVUT plea stated. The Trial Court, while reducing the jail term of convicts, had increased a fine of Rs 3 Crores to each of them in three sections related to the conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and destruction of evidence. Earlier the lower court had imposed a fine of Rs 2.25 Crores each on them. The Principal District and Sessions Judge Dharmesh Sharma had observed: the whole tone and tenor of the order on Sentence of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) to be 'punitive and retributive,' considering the nature of the crime, the social and economic status of the appellants (convicts), the duration of crime committed and ultimate impact on the speed of the trial in the main Uphaar case and the mitigating circumstances brought forth by the learned Counsel for the appellants to hold that quantum of sentence of imprisonment awarded by the Trial Court was harsh and disproportionate to the offence committed. It further observed, "At the cost of repetition, this Court understands that the Uphaar fire tragedy was the one where several lives were lost and many were injured that must have caused a deep anguish, pain and perennial misery to the affected family members and it is to comprehend that family members would not be able to forget such incident and forgive the offenders", the court observed in the order. "It strikes to human notions and understanding that the surviving family members who have now joined together by forming an association 'AVUT' do not want the culprits to go scot-free and enjoy any rights and liberties in the remainder of their lives but this whole criminal litigation cannot be converted by the prosecution into an inhumane and vindictive approach to the present appellants/convicts." The Court sentenced Sushil and Gopal Ansal for the period already undergone and imposed a fine under section 120B (conspiracy), one crore under section 409 (criminal breach of trust) and one crore under section 201 (destruction of evidence) of IPC. The court sentenced the convict PP Batra for the period already undergone during custody. The court fined him for Rs. 10000 for conspiracy, Rs. 10000 for criminal breach of trust and Rs. 10000 for the offence of destruction of evidence. The court also sentenced Dinesh Chandra Sharma for the period already undergone during custody in jail. The court fined him for Rs 25,000 for the offence of conspiracy, Rs 25,000 for the offence of criminal breach of trust and lastly for Rs 10,000 for the offence of destruction of evidence. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court on November 8 last year had sentenced seven-year imprisonment and imposed Rs 2.25-crore fine each on Sushil and Gopal Ansal for tampering with evidence The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court while passing the order also said "After thinking over night and night, I have come to the conclusion that they deserve punishment." At least 59 people died of asphyxia and over 100 others were injured in the stampede after fire broke out in Uphaar cinema on June 13, 1997, during the screening of JP Dutta's film 'Border'. (ANI)
The Madurai branch of the Madras High Court has granted bail to a shopkeeper from Panchakulam village in Tenkasi, who was arrested for refusing to sell snacks to school children from a Scheduled Caste. The shopkeeper S Mahewswaran was among three persons arrested in the case and who had filed a petition seeking bail. The case came up for hearing on October 31 in the presence of Judge Ilangovan. The judge on Monday granted conditional bail to Maheswaran and dismissed an appeal to grant bail to K Ramachandran and his mother Sudha on the ground that this was not the first such allegation against the duo and they already have a similar case pending against them. According to the prosecutor, a video went on social media in which a shopkeeper was seen refusing to give snacks to some school students by citing a resolution passed in the village not to sell any product to SC community members. Based on this video, Karivalamvanthanallur police registered a case on September 16 and arrested Maheswaran, Ramachandran, and Sudha. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court dismissed the appeal challenging the conviction and life sentence awarded to a man who shot dead Delhi University student, Radhika Tanwar near Satya Niketan on Dhaula Kuan foot over bridge in March 2011. This came after the deceased objected to the advances made by the convict who used to stalk and tease her. While dismissing the appeal moved by Vijay Saini, on Monday, the High Court noted that the conduct of the convict who absconded to Mumbai after the offence, was proven from the testimony of witnesses and mobile location of the convict at the place of incident. The division bench comprising justices Mukta Gupta and Anish Dayal said, "Court finds that the guilt of the appellant for the murder of the deceased has been proved beyond reasonable doubt and duly supported by circumstantial evidence by the prosecution." "Consequently, this Court finds no error in the judgment of conviction and order on sentence by the Trial Court," the bench said in judgement passed on October 31. The bench observed, "Even though there were no direct eye witnesses at the point of shooting the deceased, the testimonies of Narbahadur and Ajit Singh were consistent in that both had heard a sound of a fire shot and both had seen the girl on the ramp of the flyover and while one had seen a boy standing next to her with something hidden under his shirt, the other had seen a boy running away with a pistol in his hand." Both had identified the appellant in front of the police and then in the Court and being independent and not interested witnesses, they had no ground or reason to falsely implicate the appellant, the bench observed. The bench said that the motive of the appellant for killing the deceased is also quite evident from the testimonies of Pankaj and Ravi who stated that the appellant had been present 2-3 years back in their village where the deceased stayed and they had intervened and beaten him up since the deceased had pointed out that he was stalking her and teasing her. Both have stated in their testimonies that they had then taken the appellant to the house of the deceased where the father had also beaten him up and this was corroborated by the testimony of the father of the deceased as well. The bench observed, "The presence of the appellant in the area of the deceased's residence and at the place of incident is further corroborated by the CDR record. An analysis of the CDR for mobile of the appellant reveals that between 22nd December, 2010 and 2nd March, 2011 the location of the call phone of the appellant can be traced to Naraina village near the residence of the deceased on multiple occasions." On 20th and 29th December, 2010 as well as on 20th February, 2011 cell phone of the appellant can be located near the college of the deceased in Satya Niketan, the bench added. The division bench said, "The subsequent conduct of the appellant also gives serious credence and corroboration to the fact that he had tried to abscond post having shot the deceased on 8th March, 2011." "The said circumstance of absconding immediately after the incident of murder would be admissible as "relevant conduct" under Section 8 of the Evidence Act," the bench observed. Vijay Saini, the appellant had challenged the judgment of the Trial Court passed on 31st October 2017 convicting him for offences of Murder and under Arms Act. He was awarded life sentence along with fine on 7th November 2017. The Trial Court had also convicted two other co-accused Tabrez Ahmed alias Sameer and Ashraf Ali alias Fuddey for offence punishable under Section 212/34 IPC and Sheikh Shekhu for offence punishable under Section 25 (1B) (a) Arms Act and the sentence awarded to them was for the period already undergone by them. As per the case of the prosecution, information was received by PCR on 8th March 2011 at about 10:20 a.m. by Ajit Singh that a girl had been shot at Dhaula Kuan foot over-bridge, Satya Niketan. Police reached the spot and found that one unidentified girl had been shifted to the hospital but could not survive. At the hospital, the complainant Rajender Singh, father of the deceased had also reached and identified the deceased as his daughter Radhika Tanwar. An FIR was registered on his Complaint. During the investigation, it was found that the assailant had fired one bullet at the back of the deceased resulting in her death and that the appellant Vijay Saini used to follow the deceased a few years prior to the incident. Later it was found that the appellant had fled to Mumbai and his associates, the co-accused with whom he had stayed in the night after the date of the incident had fled to their native place at District Sitapur, UP. The appellant and the co-accused were arrested from respective places and brought to Delhi and later the fourth co-accused Sheikh Shekhu was arrested from his house who got recovered the firearm used by appellant Vijay Saini. (ANI)
Former Mumbai Mayor and Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) leader Kishori Pednekar arrived at the Dadar Police Station in Mumbai after she was summoned in connection with the Slum Rehabiliation Authority (SRA) scam case. The SRA flats scam case involved nine people alleging that no flats were given in exchange for their money. Pednekar was summoned on October 31 by the Dadar Police after she failed to appear before it on October 29. "A total of nine people had filed a complaint that money was taken in the name of getting SRA flats, but did not receive them," the Mumbai Police said on October 28 adding that Dadar Police have arrested a close aide of former Mayor Kishori Pednekar. According to the police, Pednekar has not been named in the FIR so far. Meanwhile, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had also accused the former Mumbai Mayor of possessing six SRA flats at Gomata Janata SRA Worli, reacting to which she said that she would put a lock on its door if she found any shop or the residence in her name. "Though the SRA has already said that I do not have any role in this case, Kirit Somaiya continues to make false allegations. The media can speak to the chairman and security of this society and if any shop or residence is claimed to be in my name, I will put a lock on it," the former mayor of Mumbai, Kishori Pednekar said. She further gave an ultimatum of seven days to conduct the inquiry and said that she lives here in this society on rent. "Conduct inquiry within 7 days. I stay here on rent. Is it illegal to stay on rent? What kind of politics is it that I have been called for inquiry at Dadar police station? You have the power of Central government," she said expressing her faith in the police and the constitution. Pednekar has also written a letter to the CEO of SRA to conduct an inquiry within seven days. She further said that she doesn't like when her name is taken with the four persons arrested in the case and if required she can produce her bank statement to the police. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to consider a plea seeking a direction to the Election Commission to remove symbols from ballot and EVMs and replace it with 'name, age, educational qualification and photograph' of candidates. A bench of Chief Justice of India UU Lalit and Bela M Trivedi pointed that 10th Schedule to the Constitution recognises political parties and legislature party. "What is so wrong and obnoxious for having a party symbol on EVM?" CJI Lalit asked. CJI further said, "Election is connected with the political party... The electorate has voted a person belonging to a political party, he cannot dump his political party." Attorney General of India R Venkataramani opposed the petition saying that the choice that a voter makes happens before he reaches the EVM. "I find it difficult to agree with the plea of removing symbol with photo. Symbol is an identity of a political party. The issue of criminals can be addressed in a different context," AG argued. Hearing the plea, the bench told petitioner's counsel, "We are not inclined to interfere in the matter". The bench gave option to the petitioner either to either withdraw the plea or court will dismiss it. As the bench was not inclined to entertain the plea, senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for Ashwini Upadhyay, said that he will send a representation to the Election Commission of India. Counsel appearing for the poll panel said that as and when such representation will be made it will be considered. The bench then disposed of the plea. The plea was filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay seeking direction to declare that use of party symbol on EVM is illegal-unconstitutional and violative of Articles 14, 15, 21 of the Constitution of India. The petition stated that the best solution to weed out corruption and criminalisation in politics is to replace political party symbols on ballot and EVM with name, age, educational qualification and photograph of the candidates. "Direct the Election Commission of India to use the 'name, age, educational qualification and photograph' of the candidates on EVM, in order to provide equal opportunity to contesting candidates and to weed out corruption criminalisation, casteism, communalismregionalism, linguism and nepotism," the plea stated. It said that ballot and EVM without political party symbol have many benefits as it will help electors to vote and support intelligent diligent and honest candidates. (ANI)
The Prime Minister stated that the authorities must stay in touch with the affected families and ensure that they receive all possible help in this tragic hour.

According to a press statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Officials briefed the Prime Minister on the rescue operation and the assistance provided to those affected.

PM Modi said the need of the hour is to conduct a detailed and extensive inquiry which will identify all aspects relating to this mishap. He also added that the key learnings from the inquiry must be implemented at the very earliest.

Those present at the meeting were CM Bhupendra Patel, state Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Minister Brijesh Merja, Chief Secretary of Gujarat, State DGP, local Collector, SP, Inspector General of Police, MLAs and MPs and other officials.

Earlier, upon reaching Morbi, the Prime Minister visited the site of the bridge mishap. He went to the Morbi Civil Hospital where the injured are recovering.

He also interacted with those involved in rescue and relief work and lauded their fortitude.

At least 135 people, including women and children, were killed and over 100 are receiving treatment for their injuries sustained after a cable suspension bridge in Morbi town collapsed on Sunday, plunging people into the Machchhu River.

The search and rescue operation is underway in the Machchhu river.

Gujarat government has constituted a five-member committee headed to probe the bridge collapse incident. Nine persons including officials of Oreva, the company that renovated the bridge, ticket sellers and security men have been arrested for the Morbi bridge collapse. (ANI)
As Chhattisgarh hosts the National Tribal dance festival in Raipur, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday said the aim of such event is to promote the financial progress of tribal people and also to promote the culture. "The aim behind the National tribal dance festival is that tribals from different parts of the country gather here together. We've been doing this for the last 3 yrs. Such festivals help them in progressing financially and promote tribal culture," Baghel told ANI During the event, Baghel also mentioned that the solidarity and unity of the world would prevail if efforts are made to preserve traditional values and protect the rights of the tribals across the world. "The objective of this festival is to protect the age-old traditions and rights of tribals and promote it across the world," he said addressing the inaugural ceremony of the third National Tribal Dance Festival and Chhattisgarh Rajyotsava held at Science College ground here. The chief minister said that the wrong concept of development has become a threat to nature. Besides, it has also posed a threat to the rights of tribals. "The changing times have brought a change in people's lifestyles. Today, the modern way of thinking has become an enemy of our nature," he said. Baghel inaugurated the program by lighting the lamp and playing the tribal instrument, Nagada. While welcoming the dancers and foreign guests from all the states, the Chief Minister congratulated the state's people on State Foundation Day and the third National Tribal Dance Festival. Artists from 28 states and 7 union territories of the country including 10 countries Mozambique, Togo, Egypt, Mongolia, Indonesia, Russia, New Zealand, Serbia, Rwanda and Maldives mesmerized the audience by showing glimpses of tribal dance. Around 1500 domestic and foreign artists are participating in this event. On the occasion of the National Tribal Dance Festival, the Chief Minister released postal stamps and envelopes issued by the Postal Department and several table books of the National Tribal Dance Festival for the year 2021. In the program, tribal dancers from Mozambique, Russia and Mongolia presented beautiful dance in their own distinctive style. The chief minister said that the National Tribal Dance Festival has given a great opportunity to tribals across the world to share each other's thoughts and experiences. He said that there is a great similarity in instruments, rhythm and feel of every tribal dance form, which proves that there is a special bond that unites all of them. He informed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been reached between the State Government and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi to provide an opportunity and platform to the tribal artists of Chhattisgarh to perform abroad, which will increase the scope for the spread and exchange of tribal culture. Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha, Dr Charandas Mahant, who presided over the program, said that the National Tribal Dance Festival is being organized with the aim of giving more respect to the tribals. He said that under the leadership of the Chief Minister, the state government is working very well for the progress of Chhattisgarh, Chhattisgarhiya and Chhattisgarhi. Chhattisgarh Tourism and Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu said that in the last four years, the State Government has been moving ahead with the resolve of Garhbo Nava Chhattisgarh. It is working to preserve and promote its culture and tradition. Chhattisgarh Culture Minister Amarjit Bhagat said that by organizing the National Tribal Dance Festival, the honour of the tribals has increased. Ministers of various departments, Parliament Secretaries, MLAs, the President of the Corporation Board, Egypt's Councilor Image, Togo Councilor Maza, Haryana's Principal Secretary Culture D. Suresh and many public representatives and citizens were present in the program. (ANI)
The top brass of the Army led by General Manoj Pande would be part of the Army Commanders' Conference starting Monday where they would discuss all aspects related to security and operational preparedness, Army officials said.

The conference would be taking place for the first time after the completion of disengagement between the Indian and Chinese Army from four friction points created after the May 2020 aggression by the Chinese military.

The conference is also expected to look at newer ways to push Make in India in defence for developing more indigenous weapon systems for the troops.

General Pande is a strong supporter of indigenisation and has asked officers dealing with modernisation to handhold the Indian private and public sector firms to develop world-class weapons.

The meeting is expected to be addressed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.

The meeting would also see interaction with other services which would help in enhancing jointness among the forces.

Steps towards the creation of theatre commands are also likely to come up for discussion at the meeting. (ANI)
Meanwhile, encounter in Awantipora going on. Further details will follow.

"1 terrorist killed in Bijbehara encounter. Operation going on. Encounter in Awantipora going on. Further details shall follow," tweeted Jammu and Kashmir Police.

An encounter between terrorists and security forces broke out at Semthan Bijbehara area of Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir or Tuesday, said police.

"Encounter has started at Semthan Bijbehara area of Anantnag. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow," tweeted Kashmir Zone Police earlier in the day.

Further details are awaited.

Earlier on October 31, the Indian Army neutralised a Pakistan-based terrorist in Kupwara's Keran sector.

Back in October, four terrorists were eliminated in two separate encounters launched by the Indian Army, and Jammu & Kashmir Police in Shopian district.

Three terrorists were killed in an encounter in the Drach area of the Shopian district.

Another local terrorist was killed in the encounter in the Moolu area of Shopian.On October 2, a local terrorist of the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was neutralised by the police in a joint operation with security forces in the Baskuchan area of Shopian in J-K.

The terrorist was identified as Naseer Ahmad Bhat of Nowpora Baskuchan, Shopian, according to ADGP Kashmir.

Based on specific input generated by the Police regarding the presence of a terrorist in the village Baskuchan area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army (44R) and CRPF (178Bn) in the said area.

During the search operation, as the joint search party approached the suspected spot, the hiding terrorist fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter.

The police had recovered incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one AK rifle from the site of the encounter.

According to the police, all the recovered materials had been taken into case records for further investigation. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued summons to micro blogging website Twitter Inc and others in the suit filed by Abhijit lyer Mitra, seeking reinstatement of his Twitter account and action against it for "suspending" his account "withoutfollowing the provisions of Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Abijit Iyer Mitra, a scholar working currently as a research fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies through suit stated that his twitter account was forcibly suspended by Twitter after his tweet on the Supreme Court granting bail to Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, who was accused of hurting religious sentiments in a 2018 tweet. Immediately thereafter, the Plaintiff attempted to avail of his statutory remedy under the Rules by approaching the Appellate authority of the Twitter in their Twitter app thereby seeking urgent action on illegal deletion of his tweet and banning of his account, but to no avail. Justice Mini Pushkarna of Delhi High Court on Tuesday after taking note of the submissions issued summons to defendants Twitter Inc and listed the matter before joint registrar on December 12 for completion of pleadings. Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya submitted that Plaintiff 's account has been put on a "read only mode" which can be restored as and when the tweet goes and also prayed to file a short response in the matter. Advocate Raghav Awasthi appearing for plaintiff Abhijit Aiyer Mitra submitted that Twitter Inc has committed gross negligence in discharge of its duties (as provided under the rules) as a social intermediary by non- compliance to the Intermediary Rules, 2021 before taking away the right of the Plaintiff to freely and unrestrainedly communicate with his followers, admirers, well-wishers and most importantly, public at large resulting in reputational professional, economic and social damage to the Plaintiff. Contrary to the rules framed by the Government by not providing the Plaintiff with the grounds of such an extreme action, the Twitter Inc forced the Plaintiff to comply with its instructions for reinstatement of his account without assignment of any reason, submitted the Plaintiff's lawyer. Suit stated that, in the month of July 2022, the Supreme Court granted bail to an incarcerated journalist Mohd. Zubair (Alt-News) accused of hurting religious sentiments of Hindu community with his allegedly incendiary and blasphemous tweet. The bench directed his release immediately upon submitting bail bond amounting to Rs.20,000/- before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Patiala House. Pertinently, it came to the knowledge of the Plaintiff that Srinivasan Jain (Journalist, NDTV) had stood surety to Zubair in his bail bond submitted before the CMM court. There upon, in furtherance of his Right to Free Speech and an equally important Right of the Public to receive and know fair and truthful information, the Plaintiff put out a tweet on dt.23.07.2022 attaching there with an Affidavit and Bail bond (showing Mr Jain as surety) as submitted by Mr. Zubair in the Court, stated in suit. However, the same had inadvertently got some private information (viz. phone numbers, addresses of the parties) also revealed therein, which the Plaintiff immediately removed upon being intimated by Twitter of the same. Thereafter, the Plaintiff, with an avowed objective of making the public aware of the said development, tweeted as follows: ".presiding judges son on NDTV, NDTV editor furnishes bail bond of ""close friend."".Reposting minus the "private info". I'm sure twitter will find some way of protecting its resident in-house jihadist his aiders abettors." In response thereto, the Twitter.Inc sans any explanation being sought from or any Show Cause Notice served upon the Plaintiff, unilaterally banned his twitter account thereby making it completely inaccessible for the former to engage with his 1.5 lac followers, read the suit. (ANI)
A 19-year-old youth, who was arrested for kidnapping a minor, died in police custody at Jaisinagar police station in Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh, the police said on Tuesday. The youth was identified as Kritesh Patel, who is a resident of Semra Gopalman village in the district. The family members, however, alleged that the youth died due to being beaten up by the police and the kin of the girl. Kritesh's Father, Raju Patel said, "The health condition of my son was absolutely fine. He was not suffering from any kind of disease. He died because of being thrashed by the police and the kin of the girl." "My son had eloped with a girl. I myself reached Bhopal along with the police and handed over my son to them. The police and kin of the girl drove us away and beat up my son, following which he died," Raju added. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Vikram Singh told ANI that the youth died in police custody at Jaisinagar police station. "Superintendent of Police (SP) has written a letter to the District Judge for judicial inquiry. The actual reason for the death will get clear after the judicial inquiry. Further action will be taken accordingly," ASP Singh added. (ANI)
Delhi Police Tuesday registered a case under sections of the Indian Penal Code against the owner of a footwear factory in Narela following a fire incident on Tuesday that left 2 dead and 18 injured. The owner of the footwear factory is identified as Sahil Garg (30), a resident of Pitampura. A massive fire broke out Tuesday morning in the footwear factory in the national capital's Narela leaving 18 injured and 2 dead, officials said, adding that it was later doused. The injured persons have been shifted to the Ram Manohar Lohia and Safdarjung hospitals and are undergoing treatment. "Today around 9.41 am, a PCR call was received that a fire broke out on the second floor of a footwear factory in E block of Narela Industrial Area. Immediately a team was pressed to the incident spot. A total of 20 people were rescued out of which 18 are undergoing treatment, and 2 have died," DCP Outer North Delhi Devesh Kumar Mahla told ANI. "We received a PCR call at around 9.35 am, about the incident. Immediately 15 fire tenders were pressed into service. There was raw material and chemicals in the factory, due to which the fire spread," Sandeep Duggal, DO Delhi Fire Department told ANI. Quoting a contractor working in the factory, Duggal said that there were 300 people in this factory who came out on their own, and neighbours had put up ladders, helping people to evacuate the building. A minor boy, searching for her mother, told ANI that his mother, namely Afsana, who used to work in the footwear factory, is missing. "The police tried to get rid of me when I asked them about my mother. My father working in a factory nearby is also searching for her," a minor boy said in a broken voice. A worker in the factory, namely Ritesh Kumar said, "I reached the factory a little late. After seeing smoke billowing out I called my companion, and he said that his hands and feet have been burnt." "Around 16-17 persons used to work on the floor, where the fire occurred. It was learned that there was an explosion in which my partner was also injured," Ritesh told ANI. Another worker Geeta said, "Today I had got a fever, due to which I did not come today. I do packing work, I reached the spot immediately as someone informed me about the incident. I am also working on the same floor where the fire took place." Security guard Sajjan Singh said that a drum exploded on the second floor of the factory, and after that the fire spread all the way up and down, around 17-18 people work on that floor, and they came out of the building with difficulty after a while. "Sahil Garg is the owner of the factory. He stays here when the work is going on," he added. Notably, a machine inside the factory exploded due to which the fire took place. "The FIR is registered under 287/337/304/34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The owner of the factory Sahil Garg is absconding from the police. We have constituted teams to arrest him," officials said. The police are investigating the matter. Further information is awaited. (ANI)
Regarding the Awantipora encounter, ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said, "LeT cmdr Mukhtar Bhat was among the three killed terrorists. As per source, he along with foreign terrorist was going for fidayeen attack on SFs camp. One AK-74 rifle, one AK-56 rifle and 1 pistol were recovered. Awantipora Police and Army averted a major terror incident."

As per preliminary information, the terrorists were involved in several terror crimes including killing of one ASI of CRPF and two RPF personnel.

"3 terrorists killed in Awantipora encounter... As per our source, 1 is FT & 1 local terrorist of LeT namely Mukhtiyar Bhat, involved in several terror crimes including killing of 01 ASI of CRPF & 2 RPF personnel. A big success for us," tweeted Kashmir Zone Police quoting ADGP Kashmir.

One terrorist has been killed in an ongoing encounter in the Bijbehara area of south Kashmir's Anantnag, informed Kashmir Zone Police on Tuesday.

Further details will follow."1 terrorist killed in Bijbehara encounter. Operation going on. Encounter in Awantipora going on. Further details shall follow," tweeted Kashmir Zone Police.

An encounter between terrorists and security forces broke out at Semthan Bijbehara area of Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir or Tuesday, said police.

"Encounter has started at Semthan Bijbehara area of Anantnag. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow," tweeted Kashmir Zone Police earlier in the day. (ANI)
The Uttar Pradesh Government headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is likely to bring the revised startup Policy 2020 soon to promote self-employment in the state. On the instructions of CM Yogi, the IT and Electronics Department is currently revising the Startup Policy 2020, incorporating new incentives to encourage startups and will get Cabinet approval soon, according to official sources. According to the amended policy, the Yogi government will give incentives of Rs 5 lakh for making a product from a startup idea and Rs 7.50 lakh for launching it in the market. Startups will also be given a monthly maintenance allowance of Rs 17,500 for one year. The target of setting up of centres of excellence in the policy has been increased from three to 10. Besides, new sectors have been included in the policy to promote startups in view of the practical needs, such as women led startups, rural impact startups as well as circular economy, renewable energy, climate change and commercialiation startups to change the destiny of the state's youth. The Yogi Government felt the need for amending the Startup Policy 2020 in view of the fast development of the sector in the state and the changes that have taken place in the ecosystem in the last couple of years. The objective behind the revision is to rationalise the policy considering the performance so far, competition with other states and also to meet the targets set for the proposed Global Investors Summit in January 2023. In addition, the policy is being amended to restructure the stimulus packages to make the policy more attractive to investors. Under the Uttar Pradesh Startup Policy 2020, three State of Art Centers of Excellence have been established in the state. Centres of excellence are operating at the Noida campus of SGPGI and IIT Kanpur. Work has started on the recommendation of the State Level Policy Monitoring and Implementation Committee on the proposal to set up Drone Centre of Excellence at IIT Kanpur campus. At present, 52 government recognised incubators and about 7200 startups are working in the state by registering with DPIIT, Government of India. In order to promote self-employment in the state, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is taking the motto of "An idea can change the life" to the ground and the revised Startup Policy will play a key role in this. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a public programme 'Mangarh Dham ki Gaurav Gatha' today and paid homage to the sacrifices of unsung tribal heroes and martyrs of the freedom struggle. After arriving at the venue, the Prime Minister performed Dhuni Darshan and paid floral tributes to the statue of Govind Guru, read a press statement from the Prime Minister's Office. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said he had hoped that the Centre would declare Mangarh Dham as a National Monument, but this wish was not fulfilled today, adding that sooner or later this declaration would be made. Earlier on Tuesday, it was reported that Mangarh Dham was declared as a National Monument in the Banswara district of Rajasthan. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that it is always inspiring to be in the holy land of Mangarh which is a symbol of tapasya, sacrifice, bravery and sacrifice of our tribal bravehearts. "Mangarh is a shared heritage of the people of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat", he said. The Prime Minister paid tributes to Govind Guru whose death Anniversary fell on 30th October. As the Chief Minister of Gujarat, the Prime Minister recalled serving the region of Mangarh which is part of Gujarat and informed that Govind Guru spent the last years of his life here, and his energy and knowledge can still be felt in the soil of this land. The Prime Minister remembered that the entire area which was a barren land earlier got transformed with greenery after he urged everyone via the platform of Van Mahotsav. The Prime Minister thanked the Tribal Community for selflessly working for the campaign. PM Modi said that the development not only resulted in an improvement in the life quality of the local people but also led to the propagation of the teachings of Govind Guru. "Great freedom fighters like Govind Guru were the representative of India's tradition and ideals", the Prime Minister continued "Govind Guru lost his family but never lost his heart and made every tribal person his family." If Govind Guru fought against the British for the rights of the tribal community, the Prime Minister pointed out, he also campaigned against the ills of his own community as he was a social reformer, spiritual leader, a saint and a leader. His intellectual and philosophical aspect was as vibrant as his courage and social activism, the Prime Minister said. Remembering the massacre of 17th November 1913 in Mangarh, the Prime Minister remarked that it was an example of extreme cruelty by British rule in India. PM Modi said, "On one hand we had the innocent tribals who were seeking independence while on the other hand, it was the British colonial rulers who after surrounding the hills of Mangarh, massacred more than one thousand five hundred innocent men, women, elderly and children in broad daylight." The Prime Minister interjected that due to unfortunate circumstances, such a significant and impactful event of the freedom struggle could not find its place in the history books. The Prime Minister exclaimed, "In this Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, India is filling this void and correcting the mistakes that were made decades ago." Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Mangubhai Patel, Union Minister of State for Culture, Arjun Ram Meghwal were also present on the occasion. On the occasion, in his welcome address, Arjun Ram Meghawal said that this is indeed an historical moment that PM Narendra Modi has come here to this land of sacrifices. He added, "In the period of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav PM Modi has given the important duty of remembering and honouring the unsung heroes of India, to the Ministry of Culture, and I was here at this iconic place on 13th August for the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and people expressed the desire for the PM to visit the place and today this has been fulfilled". He also said that the vision of PM Modi is that the unsung heroes must get their due respect and place in our history. On the occasion, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that, we got Independence after thousands of freedom fighters sacrificed their life and purified the land of Mangarh and India with their blood. He added that there were many unsung heroes who sacrificed but were not celebrated and it is our PM Modi who has taken the initiative to celebrate Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on 15th November every year all over India. Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel said that one of our commitments in this Amrit kaal is to be proud of our legacy, and we all must be proud of Freedom fighters' legacy. He added, "Today I want to pay tribute to all the tribal freedom fighters who fought for our Independence." Chief minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot said that the land of Mangarh has its own history. On November 17, 1913 under the leadership of Govind Guru, tribals have fought for our Independence where more than 1,500 tribals were shot dead by the British. The sacrifice which took place on the soil of Mangarh has now come to be engraved in history in golden letters. Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Faggan Singh Kulaste, Members of Parliament, MLAs were also present on the occasion. As part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the government has initiated several steps to celebrate unsung tribal heroes of the freedom struggle. These include declaring 15th November (birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda) as 'Janjatiya Gaurav Divas', setting up tribal museums across the country etc to recognise the contribution of tribal people to society and increase awareness about their sacrifices in the freedom struggle. In yet another step in this direction, the Prime Minister attended a public programme - 'Mangarh Dham ki Gaurav Gatha' at Mangarh Hill, Banswara, Rajasthan, to pay homage to the sacrifices of the unsung tribal heroes and martyrs of the freedom struggle. During the programme, the Prime Minister paid homage to Bhil freedom fighter Govind Guru and also addressed a gathering of Bhil Adivasis and other tribal populations of the region. Mangarh Hill holds special importance for the Bhil community and other tribes of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. During the freedom struggle where Bhils and other tribes engaged in a long stand-off with the British, more than 1.5 lakh Bhils rallied at Mangarh Hill on 17th November 1913 under the leadership of Shri Govind Guru. Britishers opened fire at this gathering, leading to Mangarh Massacre where approximately 1500 tribals were martyred. (ANI)
Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia Tuesday hit out at the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann by organizing a press conference over the city's air quality deteriorated to the 'severe' category. Gaurav Bhatia reprimanded Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal for not being able to control the city's pollution and demanded Delhi CM's resignation. "The Central government has provided all facilities and machines to Kejriwal so that the pollution of stubble burning is reduced and the air is not poisonous. But even after having 1 lakh 20 thousand machines, the Punjab government did not use them," Gaurav Bhatia said. "Earlier, Kejriwal used to put the blame for the pollution problem on his neighbouring state. Now AAP is ruling the Punjab and the problem of farm fires has not been obviated. What's your answer, Kejriwal Ji?" BJP spokesperson said. Gaurav Bhatia also sieged AAP over the increase of 30 per cent in the cases of stubble burning in Punjab. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is providing funds to the states without any discrimination and rising above party politics. The reports also prove that Punjab was given the maximum amount of Rs 1,300 crore and Haryana Rs 693 crore for stubble disposal," Bhatia said. "Still, on the other hand, 7,648 cases of stubble burning were reported in Punjab during the year 2021-22, which increased to 10,214 in the year 2022-23. Thus there was an increase of 33 per cent in the incidence of stubble burning in Punjab," Gaurav Bhatia said further. Earlier, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar claimed that the cases of stubble burning in Haryana are not even 10 per cent of that in Punjab. "There are not even 10 per cent cases of stubble burning in Haryana as compared to Punjab. Last year there were 2,561 incidents of stubble burning, whereas it has decreased to 1,925 this year while 13,873 incidents have taken place in Punjab this year," Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar said while addressing a press conference in Chandigarh on Monday. Notably, Stubble burning had turned worse across Punjab, giving no hope of improvement in Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) as the capital gasps for clean air. Increasing incidents of stubble burning in Punjab this year have become a matter of serious concern with the Union Environment Ministry pointing out that the AQI is likely to sharply deteriorate as only about 45-50 per cent of sown area in the state had been harvested till October 24. Sources in the Environment Ministry had told ANI that the contribution of stubble burning to the adverse air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region has been increasing sharply and is about 18-20 per cent currently with the trend only likely to increase further. As per the Standard Protocol developed by ISRO for Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), for the period September 15, 2022, to October 26, 2022, total paddy residue burning events reported in Punjab were 7,036 compared to 6,463 for the same period during the last year. CAQM further stated that about 70 per cent of farm fires during the current paddy harvesting season were reported only from six districts namely Amritsar, Firozpur, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Patiala, and Tarn Taran. These districts account for 4,899 cases against a total of 7,036 incidents in Punjab. These traditional six hotspot districts also accounted for about 65 per cent of the total burning incidents during the last year for the same period. Out of a total of 7,036 reported cases, 4,315 stubble-burning incidences were reported during the last six days alone i.e., about 61 per cent. As per the Standard ISRO Protocol, for the period of September 15 - October 28 this year, a total of 10,214 paddy residue burning events have been reported in Punjab compared to 7,648 for the same period during the last year, which is a significant increase of about 33.5 per cent. Out of the total 10,214 reported cases, 7,100 stubble-burning incidents were reported in the last 7 days alone which is about 69 per cent, added the official. (ANI)
Party spokesperson Danish Rizwan said that if the BJP will give Rs 15 lakh to the account of every person of the country in the next two days, HAM will give it complete support.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised during 2014 Lok Sabha election to give Rs 15 lakh cash to every person of the country apart from 2 lakh jobs per year, houses to everyone and special status of Bihar," he said.

With HAM and Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas having sizable support of Dalit and Mahadalit communities in Bihar, Rizwan said that Paswan's decision to go with the BJP and campaign for its candidates in Mokama and Gopalganj, was only to become a Union Minister.

"We are concerned about the country, the youths, their unemployment, price rise and hence, we are against the BJP. On the other hand, Chirag Paswan is campaigning for BJP candidates to become a minister in the Centre," he said.

--IANS ajk/vd

( 198 Words)

2022-11-01-20:26:03 (IANS)
The deceased, identified as Kritesh, a resident of Gopalman village, was arrested by the police for allegedly kidnapping a minor.

Under police custody, the deceased was rushed to a community hospital and referred to another hospital as his condition deteriorated where he died while undergoing treatment.

As per reports, Kritesh was apprehended and brought into police custody by the police on the accusation of Kidnapping a minor.

"The youth has died in police custody in Jaisinagar police station and the Superintendent of Police has written a letter to the District Judge for judicial inquiry. Things will be unfolded as a judicial inquiry will be conducted," Sagar ASP, Vikram Singh said.

The investigation into this matter is underway. Further information is awaited. (ANI)
Malayalam news channel 'MediaOne' on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that there is not a single instance when the channel violated the programme code and security clearance from the Centre is not needed for renewal of broadcast licence. Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing the news channel, contended before a bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Hima Kohli that government does not have omnibus discretion to impose any new condition and emphasised on the aspect of freedom of press. Dave said the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 does not contemplate any requirement of security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs for the renewal of broadcast licence. He said the Act itself provides certain conditions which need to be fulfilled like interest of sovereignty, and security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, incitement of offence, decency and morality, and contempt of court. "There is not a single instance when we violated the programme code," he said. He vehemently argued that the government cannot put any new conditions, and the channel is not eligible for registration and renewal of license if the conditions in Act are not fulfilled. The top court was informed that the Act provides that renewal will be considered after a period of 10 years, subject to the condition that the channel should not have been found violating programme code on five occasions. The bench noted that renewal is like grant of license at the initial level, which gives it uplinking rights for a fresh period of 10 years. Dave said the renewal position has general terms and conditions which does not say anything about the need for security clearances and added the government does not have omnibus discretion in imposing any new condition. The top court will continue to hear the matter on Wednesday. The top court is hearing a plea by the news channel challenging the Kerala High Court's order upholding the Centre's decision to ban its telecast on security grounds. On March 15 this year, the Supreme Court stayed the Centre's ban on the Malayalam TV news channel. The Central government hadAcited national security grounds to justify the ban. Media One had moved the top court after the Kerala High Court upheld the ban imposed on it by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice S. Manikumar and Justice Shaji P. Chali noted when certain issues with respect to the security of the state are concerned, the government is at liberty to decline to renew the permission granted, without disclosing the complete reasons for the non-renewal. The high court, on March 2, had dismissed the appeals filed by the channel's management and journalists challenging a February 9 single-bench order, which refused to lift the ban. --IANS ss/vd ( 481 Words) 2022-11-01-21:52:08 (IANS)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has a direct phone line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi from whom KCR takes orders. Alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) work together, Rahul Gandhi claimed that the TRS chief is in direct contact with Modi. "The Chief Minister has a direct line with Modi. He picks up the phone here and Modi picks it up there. Modi gives order to the Chief Minister that 'you have to do this today'," the COngress leader said. Rahul Gandhi was addressing a public meeting on Necklace Road in the heart of the city on Tuesday as part of the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'. Stating that BJP and TRS work in unison, the former Congress President advised people not to be under any misunderstanding. He also alleged that KCR does dramas before elections. The Congress MP recalled that whenever BJP brought bills in the Parliament, the TRS blindly supported them. "The TRS also backed the three black farm laws. Whenever the opposition raises an issue in the Parliament, TRS raises some other issue to divert attention," he alleged. Rahul Gandhi also took a dig at the TRS government for poor infrastructure in the state, saying that there are more potholes than roads in Telangana. "I thought Delhi was most polluted, but found Hyderabad is at number one," he said. The Congress leader said that he interacted with the farmers who told him that despite working for 24 hours, they don't get any profit from agriculture. He alleged that the BJP government at the Centre and the TRS government in Telangana are not helping the farmers. "They are not giving MSP, not providing loan waiver but brought the three black laws and are trying to snatch what belongs to the farmers," he said. Rahul Gandhi said he also interacted with people, who despite holding degrees like MBA, engineering and MBBS have no jobs. "An engineer delivers pizza and works for Swiggy, but he can't do engineering," the Congress leader said. Rahul Gandhi recalled that the Prime Minister had promised 2 crore jobs every year, but these days he has stopped talking about it. "Both the PM and the CM don't talk about employment now. The very backbone of the employment system has been broken. Employment is provided by small and medium businesses and farmers. Modi brought demonetisation and wrong GST and during Covid he did not lend a helping hand because of which small and medium businesses were badly affected for which they are unable to provide jobs now." The Congress leader alleged that the Modi government works for selected people in Delhi. "Modi has 2-3 friends and the entire country knows who his friends are. Modi is handing over ports, roads, airports, telecom and LIC, which are the assets of the country, to his friends," Rahul Gandhi said. He also said that small businessmen and shopkeepers can't take loans, but some selected industrialists can get loans worth lakhs and crores of rupees. "A farmer is jailed if he can't repay a loan of Rs 50,000 or Rs 1 lakh, but when billionaires are unable to pay their loans, they are not called defaulters, but NPAs," he said. Rahul Gandhi also recalled that when the price of cooking gas cylinder was Rs 400 and price of petrol was Rs 65 a liter, Modi used to criticise the then government, but today he has gone silent. The Congress leader said the Bharat Jodo Yatra is against price rise, unemployment and also against violence and hate being spread by the BJP and RSS. "This is not a mere yatra, but it is the true voice of India. Lakhs of people walk together and they are from all religions and castes," he said. The Congress leader was all praise for the people of Hyderabad for making the city an information technology hub. "If you want to remain an IT centre, you can't move forward with hate and violence. Only with love and brotherhood can this state and Hyderabad move forward and this is in your history, culture and in your DNA," Rahul Gandhi said. --IANS ms/arm ( 712 Words) 2022-11-01-22:38:01 (IANS)
A study has found that Eurasian jays can pass a version of the 'marshmallow test' and those with the greatest self-control also score the highest on intelligence tests. This is the first evidence of a link between self-control and intelligence in birds. Self-control -- the ability to resist temptation in favour of a better but delayed reward is a vital skill that underpins effective decision-making and future planning. Jays are members of the corvid family, often nicknamed the 'feathered apes' because they rival non-human primates in their cognitive abilities. Corvids hide, or 'cache', their food to save it for later. In other words, they need to delay immediate gratification to plan for future meals. The researchers think this may have driven the evolution of self-control in these birds. Self-control has been previously shown to be linked to intelligence in humans, chimpanzees and -- in an earlier study by these researchers -- in cuttlefish. The greater the intelligence, the greater the self-control. The new results show that the link between intelligence and self-control exists across distantly related animal groups, suggesting it has evolved independently several times. Of all the corvids, jays in particular are vulnerable to having their caches stolen by other birds. Self-control also enables them to wait for the right moment to hide their food without being seen or heard. The results are published today in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. To test the self-control of ten Eurasian jays, Garrulus glandarius, researchers designed an experiment inspired by the 1972 Stanford Marshmallow test -- in which children were offered a choice between one marshmallow immediately, or two if they waited for a period of time. Instead of marshmallows, the jays were presented with mealworms, bread and cheese. Mealworms are a common favourite; bread and cheese come second but individuals vary in their preference for one over the other. The birds had to choose between bread or cheese -- available immediately, and mealworm that they could see but could only get to after a delay, when a Perspex screen was raised. Could they delay immediate gratification and wait for their favourite food? A range of delay times was tested, from five seconds to five and a half minutes, before the mealworm was made available if the bird had resisted the temptation to eat the bread or cheese. All the birds in the experiment managed to wait for the worm, but some could wait much longer than others. Top of the class was 'JayLo', who ignored a piece of cheese and waited five and a half minutes for a mealworm. The worst performers, 'Dolci' and 'Homer', could only wait a maximum of 20 seconds. "It's just mind-boggling that some jays can wait so long for their favourite food. In multiple trials, I sat there watching JayLo ignore a piece of cheese for over five minutes -- I was getting bored, but she was just patiently waiting for the worm," said Dr Alex Schnell at the University of Cambridge's Department of Psychology, first author of the report. The jays looked away from the bread or cheese when it was presented to them, as if to distract themselves from temptation. Similar behaviour has been seen in chimpanzees and children. The researchers also presented the jays with five cognitive tasks that are commonly used to measure general intelligence. The birds that performed better in these tasks also managed to wait longer for the mealworm reward. This suggests that self-control is linked with intelligence in jays. "The birds' performance varied across individuals -- some did really well in all the tasks and others were mediocre. What was most interesting was that if a bird was good at one of the tasks, it was good at all of them -- which suggests that a general intelligence factor underlies their performance," said Schnell. The jays also adjusted their self-control behaviour according to the circumstances: in another experiment where the worm was visible but always out of reach, the jays always ate the immediately available bread or cheese. And the length of time they were willing to wait for the worm fell if it was pitted against their second most preferred food as the immediate treat, compared to their third. This flexibility shows that jays only delay gratification when it is warranted. Research by other scientists has found that children taking the Stanford marshmallow test vary greatly in their self-control, and this ability is linked to their general intelligence. Children that can resist temptation for longer also get higher scores in a range of academic tasks. (ANI)
Twilight observations have enabled astronomers to spot three near-Earth asteroids (NEA) hiding in the glare of the Sun. These NEAs are part of an elusive population that lurks inside the orbits of Earth and Venus. One of the asteroids is the largest object that is potentially hazardous to Earth to be discovered in the last eight years. An international team using the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) mounted on the Victor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, a Program of NSF's NOIRLab, has discovered three new near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) hiding in the inner Solar System, the region interior to the orbits of Earth and Venus. This is a notoriously challenging region for observations because asteroid hunters have to contend with the glare of the Sun. By taking advantage of the brief yet favorable observing conditions during twilight, however, the astronomers found an elusive trio of NEAs. One is a 1.5-kilometer-wide asteroid called 2022 AP7, which has an orbit that may someday place it in Earth's path. The other asteroids, called 2021 LJ4 and 2021 PH27, have orbits that safely remain completely interior to Earth's orbit. Also of special interest to astronomers and astrophysicists, 2021 PH27 is the closest known asteroid to the Sun. As such, it has the largest general-relativity effects [1] of any object in our Solar System and during its orbit its surface gets hot enough to melt lead. "Our twilight survey is scouring the area within the orbits of Earth and Venus for asteroids," said Scott S. Sheppard, an astronomer at the Earth and Planets Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution for Science and the lead author of the paper describing this work. "So far we have found two large near-Earth asteroids that are about 1 kilometer across, a size that we call planet killers." "There are likely only a few NEAs with similar sizes left to find, and these large undiscovered asteroids likely have orbits that keep them interior to the orbits of Earth and Venus most of the time," said Sheppard. "Only about 25 asteroids with orbits completely within Earth's orbit have been discovered to date because of the difficulty of observing near the glare of the Sun." Finding asteroids in the inner Solar System is a daunting observational challenge. Astronomers have only two brief 10-minute windows each night to survey this area and have to contend with a bright background sky resulting from the Sun's glare. Additionally, such observations are very near to the horizon, meaning that astronomers have to observe through a thick layer of Earth's atmosphere, which can blur and distort their observations. [2] Discovering these three new asteroids despite these challenges was possible thanks to the unique observing capabilities of DECam. The state-of-the-art instrument is one of the highest-performance, wide-field CCD imagers in the world, giving astronomers the ability to capture large areas of sky with great sensitivity. Astronomers refer to observations as 'deep' if they capture faint objects. When hunting for asteroids inside Earth's orbit, the capability to capture both deep and wide-field observations is indispensable. DECam was funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and was built and tested at DOE's Fermilab. "Large areas of sky are required because the inner asteroids are rare, and deep images are needed because asteroids are faint and you are fighting the bright twilight sky near the Sun as well as the distorting effect of Earth's atmosphere," said Sheppard. "DECam can cover large areas of sky to depths not achievable on smaller telescopes, allowing us to go deeper, cover more sky, and probe the inner Solar System in ways never done before." As well as detecting asteroids that could potentially pose a threat to Earth, this research is an important step toward understanding the distribution of small bodies in our Solar System. Asteroids that are further from the Sun than Earth are easiest to detect. Because of that these more-distant asteroids tend to dominate current theoretical models of the asteroid population. [3] Detecting these objects also allows astronomers to understand how asteroids are transported throughout the inner Solar System and how gravitational interactions and the heat of the Sun can contribute to their fragmentation. "Our DECam survey is one of the largest and most sensitive searches ever performed for objects within Earth's orbit and near to Venus's orbit," said Sheppard. "This is a unique chance to understand what types of objects are lurking in the inner Solar System." "After ten years of remarkable service, DECam continues to yield important scientific discoveries while at the same time contributing to planetary defense, a crucial service that benefits all humanity," said Chris Davis, NSF Program Director for NOIRLab. DECam was originally built to carry out the Dark Energy Survey, which was conducted by the DOE and the US National Science Foundation between 2013 and 2019. (ANI)
New research into the drivers of mangrove loss over the past 20 years has revealed that most of the degradation can be attributed to socio-economic and biophysical factors, with mangrove cover increasing in some areas. The University of Queensland-led study calculated the change in mangrove cover across coastlines around the world over the past two decades, and is the first look into how local economic pressures, national governance, and conservation policies impact mangrove losses and gains, and how this has changed over time. "Mangrove forests store high amounts of carbon and protect communities from storms, while also supporting fisheries and playing an important role in local economies," researcher Dr Hagger said. "To date the main cause of global mangrove loss has been from human land-use impacts associated with conversion to aquaculture ponds, agriculture, and urban development. "What's most surprising is that, while in most instances of economic growth you'll find habitat loss and degradation, this study found the opposite. "Travel time to the nearest city, as a proxy for access to markets to sell commodities, such as shrimp, rice, palm oil, remained a strong driver of mangrove loss over the last 20 years. "But while economic growth, measured as an increase in night-time lights, was a driver of mangrove loss in the first decade, it was no longer associated with increased losses in the last decade, it in fact enabled mangrove expansion. "This is potentially because of increased wealth and education and improved agricultural productivity, which would ultimately reduce economic pressure." Researchers believe this information will help guide future mangrove conservation efforts. "Assessing economic pressures on mangrove change with a country's governance and their support for pro-conservation programs is vital to the development of effective conservation interventions," Dr Hagger said. "That's why the information revealed in this study is so important -- it provides valuable, and sometimes surprising, insights over a long period of time on both mangrove losses and gains." Researchers also discovered a strong positive association between community forestry efforts and mangrove gains. "What we know is that sustainable community-based management of mangrove forests that recognises local land tenure rights can make a difference," Dr Hagger said. "We also found that hotspots of mangrove loss caused by conversion to aquaculture ponds and agriculture often occur in protected areas. "Community management of forest resources within protected areas could also help improve enforcement of those protected areas. "Now we have more information to not only support that on the global-scale, but inform our efforts moving forward." (ANI)
Chinese Communist Party Chairman Xi Jinping, who clinched the title of President for the third term in China, has picked loyalists from different phases of his career in order to assemble an entirely new Communist Party Politburo for his third term, ensuring no dominant force within leadership and practise fiery diplomacy. The CCP Chairman chose members from different phases and unrelated to each other to ensure they not only foster loyalty to Xi but also encourage competition for limited posts at the top, Nikkei Asia reported. Xi Jinping's historic third term as China's President will likely see more hardline policies out of Beijing on the economy, foreign relations and human rights, analysts told Washington-based Radio Free Asia (RFA). After being elected to China's third term as president, Xi has already begun to expel the party's veteran leaders. Xi had packed the Politburo Standing Committee with his close allies showing that he can now act as he pleases, according to Germany-based ethnic Mongolian rights activist Xi Haiming. "This is the last madness," Xi Haiming told a recent political forum in Taiwan. He said, "Xi has emerged, naked, as Emperor Xi, as a dictator." Out of the 24 members which were revealed during the party congress to take their positions in Xi Jinping's new team, 18 were either connected or owed their promotion to the president whereas the remaining five were technocrats from the health, foreign and other ministries and extremely loyal to Xi, reported Nikkei Asia. Notably, Chongqing party chief Chen Min'er and Li Qiang, former Shanghai party chief who joined the Politburo Standing Committee at the latest congress and is expected to become the next premier, worked with Xi in Zhejiang. The Politburo Standing Committee member Cai Qi and former Chinese propaganda chief Huang Kunming overlapped with Xi in both Fujian and Zhejiang. Moreover, Ding Xuexiang, who recently joined the Politburo Standing Committee, worked under Xi as the party secretary-general in Shanghai. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has shown at the 20th National Congress that Chairman Xi Jinping is the center of Chinese power and that no one will dare challenge him. In order to demonstrate that he may now act whenever he pleases, Xi packed the Politburo Standing Committee with his close cronies, claims ethnic Mongolian rights campaigner Xi Haiming, who lives in Germany. A Chinese journalist, who wished to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation, claimed that China is now firmly back in the Mao era. (ANI)
The participants in the programme billed as "Unity Walk in New York" marched on Sunday from Times Square to the Gandhi statue in Union Square, according to the Indian Overseas Congress USA which organised the event.

IOC Chairman Sam Pitroda flagged off the march with a call to adhere to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, the organisation said.

About 300 people participated in the march which was "inspired" by Rahul Gandhi's "yatra" and aims to promote "unity and peace in India and the sub-continent", the organisers said.

--IANS al/vd

( 128 Words)

2022-10-31-22:42:03 (IANS)
One year since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, the economic crisis has shattered the lives of people in the country, leaving them impoverished and hungry. The cases of malnutrition among Afghan children have skyrocketed by nearly 47 per cent since the beginning of the year, an organization, Save the Children highlighted in a report on Monday. According to the report, approximately 2,500 impoverished children were treated by the humanitarian body "Save the Children" in January and now the number has surged to almost 4,270 children, including many succumbing even before treatment, Khaama Press reported. Highlighting the plight of Afghan children under Taliban rule, the country director of Save the Children in Afghanistan, Chris Nyamandi said, "Humanitarian organizations like Save the Children are stretched to the absolute limit trying to stop children dying from hunger every day in Afghanistan. But the truth is, with so many children facing life-threatening levels of hunger, we simply do not have the resources to save them all." Afghanistan is currently grappling with a serious humanitarian crisis as according to international assessments, the country now has the highest number of people in emergency food insecurity in the world, with more than 23 million in need of assistance, and approximately 95 per cent of the population having insufficient food consumption. Moreover, the situation of human rights in Afghanistan has worsened since the collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban's return to power in August last year. Additionally, the Ukraine crisis has had a massive impact on the rise in food costs and how it became out of reach for many Afghans. Although the fighting in the country has ended, serious human rights violations continue unabated, especially against women and minorities. As a result of this, 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, reported Khaama Press. Besides this, the continuously soaring prices of food products in the country have emerged as a new challenge for Afghans. In a short span of fewer than three months, food prices have almost doubled putting numerous Afghans on the brink of starvation. (ANI)
Almost 80 per cent of Kyiv residents on Monday faced power outages and water cuts as Russian missiles struck key infrastructure facilities in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and the central region of Cherkasy, Ukrainian officials said Monday. The strike comes days after Russia blamed Ukraine for a drone attack on its Black Sea Fleet, CNN reported. "Explosions and air raid sirens were heard in Kyiv early on Monday and 80 per cent of residents were left without water - with many losing electricity, too - following power outages caused by Russian strikes, the capital's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said on Telegram. Ukraine is under massive blackouts and the residents are under severe water shortages as one of the strikes hit an energy facility that powered 350,000 apartments in the capital, CNN reported citing Klitschko who further added that emergency services are making every effort to stabilize the situation. Moreover, strikes were also reported in the southern region of Zaphorizhzhia as well. Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko also urged the war-torn country's citizens to stock up water as the situation is worse. "Currently, due to damage to the energy facility near Kyiv, 80% of the capital's consumers remain without water supply," he said on Telegram. "Just in case, we ask you to stock up on water from the nearest pumps and points of sale. Specialists are doing everything possible to return water to the apartments of Kyiv residents." CNN reported quoting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba that Kyiv has already finished agreements with at least 12 countries to obtain nearly 1,000 units of power equipment, including generators and the country is , at present, in touch with European Union (EU) and NATO. Meanwhile, Kharkiv's Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram that two missiles hit a critical infrastructure facility in the city. Parts of the Cherkasy region have lost power after a critical infrastructure facility was hit, regional military administration head Ihor Taburets said. Power outages caused by Russian attacks continued in Kyiv over the weekend. Klitschko said earlier it will take weeks to repair electrical systems. Ukrainian officials believe Russia's countrywide drone and cruise missile attacks are being carefully orchestrated to target important infrastructure as Ukraine heads into winter, reported CNN. By hitting thermal power stations, electricity sub-stations, transformers, and pipelines, Russian forces have been directly impacting Ukrainians' ability to access power, water, and the internet. Russia suspended its participation in an UN-brokered grain deal viewed as key to addressing the global food shortage, according to the country's defense ministry. Moscow announced it was leaving the deal after blaming Ukraine for a drone attack on Crimea Saturday. Kyiv accused Russia of inventing "fictitious terrorist attacks" and using the deal as "blackmail." By Sunday, more than 200 vessels had been blocked from making shipments, Ukraine said. A growing number of Kyiv's allies condemned Moscow's move. (ANI)
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August last year, restrictions on the basic rights of women have become a global concern as a result of which a group of women staged a protest in Kabul to express their concerns about the continued effective ban on female students over 6th grade and on female employment, TOLONews reported. The women protesters called on the Taliban to work for women and to allow girls above grade six to learn as the organization's rule has only added to the poverty in the country. "We call on the United Nations and the international community to pay attention to us and save women from these violations of their rights," said Marghalare, a former employee of the Ministry of Interior. Due to a lack of employment and Taliban atrocities women in Afghanistan have become tragic sufferers as there are limitations on education. The women protesters held a protest and showed their educational documents as a sign of protest, and asked the government for jobs and education. "The document that we have in our hands is useless because all of us are at home and do not have any jobs," said Shokorya, a protester, TOLOnews reported. After the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, they immediately began rolling back the rights of women and girls. Women began to protest on the streets since Taliban's first week in power, despite the grave risks they faced in doing so. According to Human Rights Watch, the Taliban response was brutal from the beginning, beating protesters, disrupting protests, and detaining and torturing journalists covering the demonstrations. The Taliban also banned unauthorized protests. Over time, the Taliban's abusive responses escalated, with a particularly brutal response to a protest on January 16 in Kabul, when Taliban members threatened, intimidated, and physically assaulted protesters, using pepper spray and electric shock devices. Notably, the situation of human rights in Afghanistan has worsened since the collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban's return to power in August last year. Although the fighting in the country has ended, serious human rights violations continue unabated, especially against women and minorities. Besides this, the continuously soaring prices of food products in the country have emerged as a new challenge for Afghans. In a span of one year, food prices have almost doubled, reported Khaama Press. (ANI)
On the invitation of General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army, Lieutenant General Batoo Tshering, the Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Bhutan Army is in India for a visit, reported Bhutanese daily BBS.

During his six-day visit, Lt General Batoo Tshering will meet the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Vice Chief of Army Staff and Director General of Military Operations.

He will also call on the Defence Secretary of India. Lt General Batoo Tshering will also review the Passing out Parade at the Officers Training Academy in Chenna, reported BBS.

The visit is expected to further enhance and strengthen the already existing friendship and cooperation between the Royal Bhutan Army and the Indian Armed Forces.

The basic framework of India-Bhutan bilateral relations was the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 1949 between the two countries.

It called for peace between the two nations and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

The Treaty was revised in 2007.

However, Bhutan agreed to let India guide its foreign policy and both nations would consult each other closely on foreign and defence affairs.

The diplomatic relations were established in 1968 with the establishment of a special office of India in Thimphu.

There are a number of institutional and diplomatic mechanisms between India and Bhutan in areas such as security, border management, trade, transit, economic, hydro-power, development cooperation, water resources etc.

Bhutan is important to India as a buffer state as it acts as a defence against China by protecting the chicken neck corridor.

The Siliguri Corridor, or Chicken's Neck, is a narrow stretch of land of about 22 kilometres.

It is located in the Indian state of West Bengal, which connects India's north-eastern states to the rest of India, with the countries of Nepal and Bangladesh lying on either side of the corridor.

The Doklam stand-off re-established the strategic significance of Bhutan for India. (ANI)
Facing off with incumbent Social Democratic Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, the right and far-right opposition are mainly lining up behind two candidates to form the next government after the November 1 election. Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is fighting to cling to power on Tuesday in a legislative election that could crown an outsider. The liberal Jakob Ellemann-Jensen and the conservative Soren Pape Poulsen are in the running to take her place, but a third man could also end up being a key player: the centrist and former Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, reported The Local dk. In a political landscape split between 14 parties, polls suggest that neither of the two main blocs can garner a 90-seat majority in the 179-seat Folketing, the Danish parliament. The left-wing "red bloc," led by Frederiksen's Social Democrats are polling at 49.1 per cent, representing 85 seats, compared to 40.9 per cent or 72 seats for the "blue" bloc of right-wing parties, reported France24. The new party occupying the political centre is the Moderates, founded by former Liberal Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen. The polls indicate his party will win 10 per cent of the votes or 18 seats, a fivefold increase since polls in September that gave the Moderates around 2 per cent -- much to the surprise of political analysts, reported The Local dk. And Rasmussen, who boasts solid political experience, has refused to pledge support for either bloc ahead of the election. The Moderates want to reform healthcare and pensions. In their efforts to attract the often less loyal centrist electorate, Frederiksen's Social Democrats have announced that they want to govern across the traditional political dividing lines. They too have floated the Moderates' idea of a coalition government gathered in the centre, added The Local dk. Led by two other prime minister candidates -- conservative Soren Pape Poulsen and liberal Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, the right-wing have not extended the same hand. Without a clear majority, there may have to be long negotiations before a government is formed after the election, which could ultimately favour Lokke Rasmussen, reported France24. The Social Democrats, the largest party in the country's political force, are trying to "play the card that they are the right party during uncertain times," according to Rune Stubager, a professor of political science at Aarhus University. Their handling of the Covid-19 pandemic was largely hailed, despite a stumble when they ordered an emergency cull of country's huge mink herd over fears of a mutated strand of the novel coronavirus. That turned out to be illegal, reported The Local dk. With an economy in turmoil, they have since introduced measures to help Danes cope with soaring prices. They are proposing a carbon tax on agriculture and a pay rise in the public sector. At the same time, their allies have campaigned mainly on protecting biodiversity and support for children and the vulnerable. Across the political landscape there is a strong consensus on maintaining a restrictive migration policy, meaning the issue is rarely up for debate. The populist anti-immigration right is expected to win more seats this election, but it is split into three different parties who together receive 15.5 per cent votes in polls, reported The Local dk. (ANI)
Tibetan capital Lhasa witnessed a massive protest against the Chinese government's severe Covid-restrictions. Hundreds of people in Lhasa protested over the Chinese government's strict Covid measures, and lockdown as per the footage shown reported The HK Post. The protestors took to the street at noon. The protest was said to have continued throughout the evening, according to UK-based media. For more than two months, authorities have shut down Lhasa and inflicted harsh and severe Covid restrictions, which has led to a major protest in Lhasa this Wednesday, reported The HK Post. Last Wednesday's protest is believed to be the second-largest eruption ever since the 2008 uprising where hundreds of Tibetan marched on the streets against the Chinese government. Then a major clash between the police and protesters had taken place where Tibetans were brutally punished, detained, beaten and sentenced. The Wednesday protest was made up of migrant workers who came to Lhasa for employment and to earn their daily wages where it has become very hard to earn money during these lockdowns and worse, they couldn't even go back to their homes. Hence, they took on the street out of desperation and frustration as per the video depicts, reported The HK Post. One such video shows migrant workers walking on the street shouting and demanding to be allowed to go back home. Another video shows a large-scale protest march on the street blocked on one end by the healthcare officials and asking them "to please be understanding and go back" whereas another video shows a man commenting in Mandarin. He further said, "They have been locked up for too long. And a lot of people in this community are people who have just come to work and earn money. If they could get that in mainland China, they wouldn't have come here". However, these videos were quickly deleted from Chinese social media, as usual, although some were re-posted on Twitter, reported by UK-based media. As per Radio Free Asia, protesters warned they would "set off a fire" if the authority do not lift up the severe restrictions. Another said, there is a fear of turning this clash between the authority and protesters violent. One resident in Lhasa said that it had been almost 80 days since the Covid lockdown and she has been staying indoors except to roam for a few hours a day. The emotional and psychological toll it has taken on the people was unimaginable. Moreover, prices in Lhasa now are so high and landlords are chasing people for rent. The workers also aren't allowed to go back to their hometown, reported The HK Post. The zero covid-policy has inflicted deep anxiety, and frustrations not just among the migrant workers but also for the Tibetans living outside Lhasa. The Chinese government has imposed strict Covid measures including a lockdown in Lhasa since August and several Tibetans have attempted suicide. The severe and sudden lockdown has prompted acute food shortages, and even inappropriate treatment for those inflicted with Covid, reported The HK Post. (ANI)
Although the attention at the recent 20th National Congress might have been principally on the "unanimous re-election" of Chairman Xi Jinping for a third five-year term, and the ignominious removal of former leader Hu Jintao, another important milestone was a new line-up of the high-powered Central Military Commission (CMC). The CMC, headed by Xi, is the organ of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that supervises, directs and commands the People's Liberation Army (PLA), People's Armed Police (PAP), China Coast Guard and People's Armed Forces Maritime Militia. Headquartered in a well-guarded building in western Beijing, the CMC is nominally under the Central Committee of the CCP; however, it actually works more under the Politburo Standing Committee in practice. Both these aforementioned bodies are headed by Xi, ensuring he has total control over every aspect of the PLA. Xi has already had ten years in charge of the PLA, and he has subjected it to the greatest restructuring and modernization in its existence. In the course of an anti-corruption drive and reorganization, Xi has stamped his authority, demanded loyalty to the CCP and to himself. This was most evident in the reconstituted CMC announced at the close of the 20th National Congress, which saw three new members added and three retained. Xi, of course, is Chairman of the CMC, a position he assumed in late 2012 even before he became leader of China the following year. Xi is supported by two vice-chairmen, Generals Zhang Youxia and He Weidong. Zhang Youxia is from the PLA ground force and a close ally of Xi, given that Zhang's and Xi's fathers served alongside each other in a bygone era. Participating in the 1979 war with Vietnam, Zhang was appointed to the CMC in 2012 and became a vice chairman in 2017. What is remarkable is that he has not retired, despite his is 72-year age. PLA personnel usually retire at 68. As for He Weidong, he was startlingly elevated to vice-chairman status without previously having served on the CMC at all, or having been in Jumping two grades of rank in one fell swoop, He has considerable experience in the Eastern Theater Command (latterly as its commander until January 2022), this command being the one responsible for Taiwan contingencies. This in itself is hugely significant, showing Xi's obsession with that area. He is also an ally of Xi, having overlapped with Xi's tenures in Fujian and Zhejiang at different times. At some point this year, He Weidong joined the CMC's Joint Operations Command Center. He was also reportedly involved in China's response to the Indian border skirmishes at Doklam, though it is unclear to what extent this was. Under these two vice chairmen and Chairman Xi are four CMC regular members: General Li Shangfu, General Liu Zhenli, Admiral Miao Hua and General Zhang Shengmin. Li Shangfu, a technocrat general, is likely to become the next national defense minister. He served mostly as an aerospace engineer, including supervising space launches, and is one of three newcomers on the CMC. His most recent post was as Director of the CMC Equipment Development Department. Before that, he was deputy commander of the newly established PLA Strategic Support Force in 2016. Ironically, Li was placed on the USA's Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) blacklist for buying Su-35 fighters and S-400 air defense missiles from Russia. That means he is not allowed to travel to the USA, which could create a unique challenge for him as minister of defense! Moving on in order of status, the next new arrival is 58-year-old Liu Zhenli, who will be chief of the CMC's Joint Staff Department. As the youngest CMC member, Liu's most recent post was as commander of the PLA ground forces, one he had occupied since June 2021. He also briefly served in the PAP. Interestingly, Liu Zhenli and Zhang Youxia are the only two CMC members to possess any combat experience, this having been gained in China's campaign against Vietnam from 1979 onwards. The third regular member of the CMC is Admiral Miao Hua of the PLA Navy. This incumbent continues as head of the CMC Political Work Department, a position held since 2017. This means he has direct oversight of all party and cultural work within the PLA, but has no operational or combat experience. Miao has early links to Xi, for both were posted in coastal Fujian Province at one time.His political reliability made him a logical candidate to continue on in the CMC, but so much for diversity, for he is the CMC's only non-army member. Indeed, the CMC is very army-centric. Even though Xi and the PLA pay lip service to jointness, it is proving very difficult to break free from the shackles of the past, and so five of the six uniformed members of the commission all wear army green. Finally, General Zhang Shengmin continues to lead the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission. As its name suggests, this organization conducts all anti-corruption investigations, so Xi is obviously pleased with his ruthless cleansing of the PLA. Since 2012, at least 48 senior officers (of lieutenant general to major general rank) and nine generals have been prosecuted for corruption. More similar work undoubtedly lies ahead for Zhang. It is notable that Xi personally handpicked this CMC. He put in and took out whoever he wished. The fact that no civilian is serving as a vice chairman is important too. Both Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin once occupied those seats, but since Xi has no successor in waiting, he certainly felt no compunction to appoint a civilian to this post. There is continuity in the new CMC though - it is the same size and half its members are retained. However, Joel Wuthnow, a senior research fellow in the Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs at the National Defense University in the USA, rejected the idea that this was a war council. For example, Li Shangfu comes from an insular part of the PLA, while both Miao Hua and Zhang Shengmin have no experience in operational command positions. This latest CMC arrangement represents a return to how things were prior to 2004, with the army heavily dominant. Connections to Xi are shown to be important (three have them), but also important is Taiwan experience (possessed by two). What about future directions of the PLA then? There were no major changes of trajectory signaled in Xi's report during the 20th National Congress, but there were intriguing tidbits nonetheless. Xi devoted seven minutes to the topic of the PLA and national security. He claimed that national security is "the foundation of national rejuvenation, and social stability is the premise of national prosperity. We must unswervingly implement the overall national security concept, put the maintenance of national security throughout the entire process of party and state work, and ensure national security and social stability." What stands out is how Xi is seeking to link CCP and state work as linchpins to ensure national security and social stability. Indeed, Xi is promulgating "comprehensive national security", whereby a widened security perspective goes beyond mere military force, and also includes political and economic security. In Xi's view, his comprehensive security model is the foundation for China's future success. Xi in his speech called for a "new situation for the modernization of national defense and the army". This suggests that further refinement of the PLA will occur, even though it has already endured a serious pruning in size and the creation of new geographical joint commands. The PLA is to continue modernizing - in terms of organization, personnel and weapons - but it remains very much a party animal. What changes are in store? The report gave some hints of what lies ahead for the PLA over the coming five years, with some 30-40 tasks identified in Xi's report. Basically, he wants a PLA that is "redder", more joint and more expeditionary. Organizationally, Xi demanded "perfecting" of the "system and mechanism of the chairman responsibility system" of the CMC. This suggests that the chairman - which coincidentally happens to be Xi - will take a greater role in decision-making. Wuthnow in fact believes that this "is one of Xi's most important reforms to the PLA". "It centralizes power much more in and through Xi as the chairman of the CMC. Basically, all PLA policies, promotions, strategy, posture and actions are vetted and 'filtered' through Xi via the chairman responsibility system." The fact that Xi mentioned it in his speech shows its huge importance to the authoritarian leader. The eradication of corruption was also of high importance. Despite previous claims that corruption had been effectively dealt with, this is obviously not the case. It is highly likely that this is more than just fighting corruption too, for there are plenty of allegations that Xi is using his anti-graft campaign to remove opponents and potential rivals. Wuthnow also commented on the reference to "building a strong strategic deterrent force system", something absent in previous speeches. The joining of "strategic" and "deterrence" in the same sentence points toward China's ongoing nuclear expansion and diversification. Within PLA strategy, nuclear deterrence has become far more prominent, and the USA is the primary target, according to Wuthnow. This helps explain the sudden appearance of massive silo fields for intercontinental ballistic missiles deep inside China. Xi discussed "intelligentization", defined as "speeding up the development of unmanned intelligent systems". This reflects China's focus on technology and advanced concepts to help span and even leapfrog the US military. In the same vein, Xi advocated the building of new domain forces featuring advanced combat equipment, drones, networked systems and joint command and control. These would enhance the PLA's reconnaissance, early warning, joint strikes, battlefield support and integrated logistics support. At the end of this section of his speech, Xi called for improvements to the PLA's "ability to win, innovate military strategic guidelines, develop people's war strategies and tactics, build a strong strategic deterrent force system, increase the proportion of combat forces in new areas and new qualities, and further promote actual combat military training". This mention by Xi of "military strategic guidelines for the new era" is important. Five years ago, these guidelines were only being drafted, but they have now already been formally adopted as PLA doctrine. It is still unclear what these new military strategic guidelines look like, whether they are a fundamental shift in the way that China is responding to changes in the strategic landscape or more guidelines. Wuthnow believes: "Personally, I think it does represent a fundamental shift in strategy based on changes that Xi and the PLA have been saying about challenges from the US and changes to military technology, joint capabilities and informatized war that require fundamental reorientation." Xi also reinserted the phrase "local wars", showing that he is focusing on regional contingencies such as wars over Taiwan. Also of interest, for the first time in decades, ahead of the Ministry of State Security (MSS) - Chen Wenqing in this case - is appointed to the high-level Politburo. This shows how intelligence organs of the Chinese state are being totally centralized under the all-seeing eye of Sauron, otherwise known as Xi. Traditionally, the head of the MSS has been relatively lightweight without strong factional alignment, but it seems this is no more. Chen's elevation to the Politburo opens the way for such people to play a heavier role in domestic politics than Xi loyalists. According to Xi's work report, his ultimate goal remains to achieve a "world-class military" by 2049. This year's report focused a lot on the ensuing five years, whereas the preceding 2017 report majored in the 2049 goal, showing that the Chinese leader has his eyes fixed on both immediate and longer-term prizes. (ANI)
China's attempt at Sinicization of the Tibetan Buddhist identity is no hidden secret to the world, however, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) extensive plans to control the reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama reveals the sinister designs of Beijing's post-Dalai Lama era. Recently, two internal documents recovered by a Tibetan researcher revealed the extensive plans of the CCP to control the reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama, reported Tibet Press. Although the 14th Dalai Lama has made it clear that the reincarnation process would only initiate within the value systems and preaching of Buddhism; and any attempt to superficially name a successor by the CCP would remain discredited within Buddhist communities around the world as well as in the Tibetan region. However, China has been reaching out to other international Buddhist communities through financial investments as well as facilitating the renovation of important Buddhist sites and financing the construction of monuments with Buddhist linkages, reported Tibet Press. The investments in the regions, specifically in Southeast Asia, which has a majority Buddhist population, have been invariably linked to the multi-trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative. The CCP views the next selected Dalai Lama to be a part of their outreach of quenching the Tibetan question while also curbing the growing animosity within the region by installing a leader of their choice and not through the religious process of Buddhism. This in itself is a significant cause for concern for regions and countries that value human rights and have constantly voiced their worry on the same, reported Tibet Press. The report published by the International Tibet Network and Tibet Justice Centre in a similar understanding as that discussed above examined elaborately the Chinese preparations for a 'Post Dalai Era'. The specific connotation of an era post the 14th Dalai Lama, the report states is adopted in order to convey China's plan to capitalize on the succession race once the 14th Dalai Lama is no more, reported Tibet Press. It is quite evident that the CCP is concerting all its efforts to exploit the inevitable passing of the Dalai Lama to cement its stronghold upon the troubled region. This invariably addresses many issues for the CCP in one go itself. Firstly, it addresses a long-standing debate on who rules over the Tibetan region; China's legitimacy has always been questioned due to the presence of the Dalai Lama in India. Secondly, it helps the Chinese administration to quell human rights violations in the region by asserting dominance in the region through a self-installed Dalai Lama over the Autonomous Tibetan region. Finally, the succession also has worldwide implications in terms of Chinese hawkish aspirations in and around its neighbourhood, reported Tibet Press. (ANI)
With winnability as the sole criteria, all major stakeholders' have resorted to opportunism, not ideology, the bane of politics in the Himalayan nation for quite some time. It has become pronounced on election eve though. Political activity is gaining momentum in Nepal as November 20 elections to Federal Parliament and all the seven provincial legislatures draw closer, reported policy research group, Poreg. Filing of nominations for the 165 First Past the Post (FPTP) seats in the 275- member House of Representatives, the Lower House of the bi-cameral Parliament is over. The remaining 110 seats will be decided on a proportional representation basis, for which political parties have already presented the list of their candidates to the poll body. The state assemblies account for 330 seats in all, reported Poreg. Prominent leaders of all political parties from the ruling as well as opposition alliances had rushed to enter the fray on October 9, the last day for nominations as the Election Commission did not accept their demand for extending the date because of the Dashain festival. Significant changes have taken place in the political theatre when compared to the first general election held five years ago in 2017. Firstly, the ruling, as well as the Opposition mainstream parties, have formed two distinct alliances, unlike the last time when every party went solo. Hardly any seat-sharing arrangement was there then. In fact, whatever little tie-ups existed did not work at the hustings. The scene is different now, reported Poreg. The nationalist rhetoric, which is usually mounted in every election is missing this time. Instead, there is much mudslinging and the two alliances accusing each other of nepotism, corruption, misgovernance and erosion of democratic values. After much haggling, brinkmanship politics and public display of frayed tempers for over a month, the ruling alliance reached an understanding on seat sharing but not before one of its constituents, Janta Samajwadi Party, JSP, walked out piqued over its seat share, reported Poreg. The JSP has since joined hands with its ideological opponent CPN (UML) -led alliance. Another party, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, LSP, hobnobbed for an electoral alliance with the Communists, giving a go-by to its ideology, but when chips were down, closed ranks with the ruling alliance. JSP and LSP are Terai-based Madhesi parties. Like most other Terai parties, both have lost much of their raison d'etre and will have to struggle hard at the hustings. JSP has 17 seats while LSP has 14 in the outgoing Parliament, reported Poreg. The Five-party ruling alliance- led by the Nepali Congress of Prime Minister Deuba includes CPN-Maoist Centre, CPN (Unified Socialist), Rastriya Jana Morcha and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party. The main opposition, CPN (UML) has forged an electoral alliance with the Janata Samajbadi Party that has switched sides just before nominations closed. The Rashtriya Prajatantra Party and some fringe parties will try to restrain Nepali Congress from garnering a majority vote in the Terai region which is a pollster's delight. The region accounts for nearly 54 per cent of the country's population but consists of only 23 per cent of the total land area providing a concentration of voters in booming cities and large hamlets alike and thus making campaigning and mass contacts easy, reported Poreg. (ANI)
As many as 50 members of the United Nations issued a joint statement condemning the Chinese government's oppression of Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples in Xinjiang province "We are gravely concerned about the human rights situation in the People's Republic of China, especially the ongoing human rights violations of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang," read the joint statement of 50 countries in the UN General Assembly Third Committee on the human rights situation in Xinjiang, China. This comes in the backdrop of a recent UN report said that the violations have taken place in the country under the garb of targeting "terrorists" among the Uyghur minority with a counter-extremism strategy that involves the use of so-called Vocational Educational and Training Centres (VETCs), or re-education camps. A strongly-worded assessment by the UN rights office said that the extent of arbitrary detentions against Uyghur and others, in the context of "restrictions and deprivation more generally of fundamental rights, enjoyed individually and collectively, may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity." The UN members state that the release of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) assessment of human rights concerns in Xinjiang corroborates these concerns in an impartial and objective manner. They say that the UN assessment finds that the scale of the arbitrary and discriminatory detention of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang "may constitute international crimes, in particular, crimes against humanity". In view of the gravity of the OHCHR assessment, UN member states said they are concerned that China has so far refused to discuss its findings and urged the Chinese government to uphold its international human rights obligations and to fully implement the recommendations of the OHCHR assessment. "This includes taking prompt steps to release all individuals arbitrarily deprived of their liberty in Xinjiang, and to urgently clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing family members and facilitate safe contact and reunion," the letter read. The UN member states stressed that addressing human rights violations, engaging in meaningful dialogue, and working together as partners are foundational to creating more inclusive societies where all can fully enjoy their human rights. "We encourage all to adopt this approach," they said. (ANI)
Russia rejected claims that it is not ready to negotiate with Ukraine on Tuesday and blamed Kyiv for intentionally staging provocations, in Bucha, Izyum, and around Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, as pretexts to ruin the negotiation process. Regretting such kinds of "deliberate fakes" widely originated from "irresponsible statements by high-ranking officials from the US and other Western countries", the Russian Embassy here said during the last eight years Russia "spared no effort" to support direct talks between Kyiv and Donbas to implement the Minsk Agreements. "We decisively reject the throw-in information spread in media alleging that Russia is not ready to negotiate with Ukraine," said Russian Embassy in a statement. Russia accused Ukraine of "sabotaging" the Minsk Agreements and continued bombing Donbas instead of having a dialogue. "Moreover, the Kyiv authorities openly admitted that they did not intend to carry out the agreements from the outset," the statement added. Even at the initial stages of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine launched in February this year, Russia responded positively to Kyiv's request for peace talks, the Embassy stated. It highlighted that Russia participated in the negotiation process for the treaty on Ukraine's neutrality and security assurances. "Alas, the Ukrainian side decided to break off negotiations and thereby left unanswered our proposals on a draft treaty of April 15, 2022." Noting that Russia is still open to dialogue taking into account present-day realities, the Embassy said that "intentionally staged provocations (in Bucha, Izyum, around Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, etc.) were used as pretexts to ruin the negotiation process." However, the Embassy said that the same cannot be said of Ukraine. "Perhaps not everyone knows that the Ukrainian authorities formalized the ban on talks by approving a presidential executive order to this effect on September 30, 2022." Over the US military aid to Ukraine, the Embassy pointed out the "collective West" continues to pump more weapons into Ukraine, spending billions of dollars, "which clearly demonstrates that they are not committed to diplomacy." "Therefore, it is not Russia, but the United States and the Kyiv regime that must prove their ability and readiness to negotiate in good faith," the statement concluded. (ANI)
On Nepal's request, the Indian government on Tuesday handed over 200 vehicles to the Himalayan country that would be utilized at the time of general elections slated for the 20th of this month. The Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, handed over vehicles to Minister for Finance, Janardan Sharma, as a gift of India for logistical support to various Nepali institutions for the conduct of elections. "On the request of the Government of Nepal, the Government of India has provided us with 200 vehicles. On behalf of the Government of Nepal, I thank the Indian Government via the Indian ambassador. These vehicles would be utilized at the time of election by security forces, Election Commission and other concerned bodies. I again thank the Indian ambassador for expediting our request and swift handover," Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said while addressing the event held in Kathmandu at the Ministry of Finance. Out of 200 vehicles 120 will be utilized by security forces and 80 vehicles by the Election Commission of Nepal. These vehicles would be useful in further augmenting the logistical arrangements of various institutions of Nepal across the country for conducting the polls. The Government of India has been extending support in the form of vehicles as per the request of the Government of Nepal in previous years as well, for the utilization by the Election Commission as well as the security forces of Nepal. More than 2400 vehicles have been gifted to Nepali institutions for support during elections, including approx. 2000 vehicles to Nepal Police and Armed Police Forces and approx. 400 vehicles to Nepali Army and Election Commission. "The Government of India for years have been supporting Nepal with vehicles. Till now we have given about 2,400 vehicles to the Government of Nepal out of which 2000 are utilized by security forces and 400 by the election commission. We wish a successful commencement of the election and efficiency. The harmonious relationship that exists between India and Nepal, today's vehicle handover ceremony also reflects bond," Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava said. India and Nepal enjoy a multi-faceted and multi-sectoral development partnership that is reflective of the closeness of the people of both countries. Extending these logistical provisions reflects the continued support of the Government of India for contributing to the development of people-to-people links. (ANI)
Swami Sri Govinda Dev Giri Maharaj of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust urged everyone to live with universal brotherhood and said one should interpret Asian scriptures as per the modern age focusing on how we can increase mutual love among us. Ahead of the first annual G20 Religion Forum (R20) Summit which is to be held in Bali, Indonesia on November 2-3, Swami Sri Govinda Dev Giri Maharaj said, "We have to live with universal brotherhood. In the same way, we should interpret those Asian scriptures as per the modern age focusing on how we can increase mutual love among us." Calling R20 a great initiative, Wahab Alshehri, Under Secretary General of the Muslim World League said, "We are trying to showcase a moderate part of religion to those who often criticise religions." As the island country will bring together the world's most economically powerful nations, the summit also brings an opportunity for both India and Indonesia to re-enliven their historical and civilizational ties. "Indonesia has historically had a very close civilization and cultural relationship with India. In Java, 40 per cent of the vocabulary, 'High Javanese' is Sanskrit. So we see that represents this hosting of the first R20 Summit in Indonesia and passing the Baton to India really offers a tremendous opportunity to re-enliven the historical ties between countries and that the Indonesian Muslims here very much welcome this," said C. Holland Taylor, CEO of the Center for Civilizational Values. Further adding that the two countries are some of the most significant countries in the world,Holland anticipated that the R20 summit which will be hosted by India the next year, will be successful. "We realize, that the second largest population of Muslims in the world is in India. We also realize that the largest population of Hindus in the world are in India. So, we have two countries that are some of the most significant countries in the world and have the largest Muslim and the largest Hindu populations that will be hosting R20. We anticipate that the meeting next year, will be every bit as successful as that which we are planning to go to this year in Bali," he added. India and Indonesia share two millennia of close cultural and commercial contact. The Hindu, Buddhist and later Muslim faith travelled to Indonesia from the shores of India. The stories from the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata form sources of Indonesian folk art and dramas. The shared culture, colonial history and post-independence goals of political sovereignty, economic self-sufficiency and independent foreign policy have a unifying effect on bilateral relations. The G20 summit (Group of 20 leading economies, this year headed by Indonesia) includes an official main event called R20 (Religion Forum) will be held from November 2-3 this year for the 'first time ever' in Bali, Indonesia. The R20 has been recognized as an official G20 engagement group, and the R20 Summit in Bali is the main event in this year's G20 program. Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia, is scheduled to address the opening session of this year's R20 Summit on 2nd November 2022. India will assume the Presidency of the Group of Twenty (or G20) for one year from 01 December 2022 to 30 November 2023. (ANI)
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday conveyed his condolences to the victims' families of the Morbi bridge collapse in the Indian state of Gujarat which killed at least 135 people. "I was saddened to learn about the collapse of the Morbi Bridge in Gujarat and the tragic loss of lives. On behalf of the Government of Singapore, I wish to extend my heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims," the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs said putting out a letter written by PM Lee to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Our thoughts are with the people of India during this time, and I wish the injured a speedy recovery," the letter added. It stated that Singapore's Consulate-General in Mumbai is in close contact with the local authorities over the situation. As per the statement, there are currently no reports of Singaporeans among the casualties or injured. Singapore MFA said it will continue to monitor the developments closely. It also provided contact information for its Consulate-General in Mumbai for any consular assistance. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the bridge collapse in Gujarat, Reuters reported citing state media. "On behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, I would like to express our deep condolences to the victims and extend our sincere sympathy to their families and the injured," Xi was quoted as saying by state broadcaster CCTV. Egypt and US also poured in condolences to the victims of the bridge collapse. It also wished for a speedy recovery of the injured. The Egyptian Government and people stress solidarity with the friendly government and people of India in this painful accident, added the statement. US President Joe Biden too expressed his deepest condolences and added that in this difficult hour, Washington will continue to stand with India and support the people affected due to tragedy. Moreover, Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki tweeted, "I am devastated with the tragedy in Gujarat. On behalf of the government of Poland. I am sending my deepest condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We mourn all the victims and suffer together with their families and all the people of India." Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also condoled the loss of lives after a cable bridge collapsed in Morbi. France too expressed its deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery. Cameron MacKay, High Commissioner for Canada, said, "Our hearts are breaking for Gujarat." (ANI)
US signed the Doha Agreement with Taliban in 2020 even as Pakistan admitted to backing mujahideen in the Afghan civil war against US and NATO forces and supporting the Taliban-Haqqani campaign. US ignored all the red flags that Pakistan could not be trusted on counter-terrorism issues. In February 2020, just days before the US-Taliban Doha Agreement was signed, a Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) general admitted that elements of Pakistan's ruling powers had backed the former mujahideen -- Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, in the Afghan civil war, reported The National Interest. Pakistan did this with the aspiration to gain UN recognition for the government of Afghanistan. Another revelation he made was that Pakistan continues to back the Taliban-Haqqani campaign to retake Afghanistan. The remarks by the Pakistan ISI officials came when in 2020 the intelligence community and military intelligence leaders from South and Central Asia gathered at a US Central Command conference in Tampa, Florida. The topic of the discussion was unconventional warfare. However, the comments made by the Pakistan ISI officials had no impact whatsoever on the gathered intelligence community audience. What follows is the signing of the Doha agreement. Afterwards, US President Joe Biden decided to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan. The US did not think twice about the security promises it made to Afghans. Finally, the US handed the country over to terrorists headquartered in Pakistan, reported The National Interest. This is evident that even as clear evidence was out in the open, the United States refused to alter its policy. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen had told US Congress, "Pakistani duplicity puts in jeopardy not only the frayed US-Pakistani partnership against terrorism, but also the outcome to the decade-old war in Afghanistan. Success in Afghanistan is threatened by the Pakistani government's support for the Haqqani network of militants ... a 'veritable arm' of Pakistan's intelligence agency. ... Pakistani intelligence is using the Haqqanis and other extremist groups as its proxies inside Afghanistan." "Pakistan's government has chosen to 'use violent extremism as an instrument of policy ... by exporting violence, they have eroded their internal security and their position in the region. They have undermined their international credibility and threatened their economic well-being.' he added, reported the media portal quoting CBS. After the Taliban-Haqqani terrorists took Kabul in 2021, former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan declared Taliban "broke the shackles of slavery." However, it was too late for US as Kabul has already fallen to the Taliban. All voices exposing Pakistan of its take on terrorism issues fell on deaf ears in the United States. (ANI)
The National Party, one of the largest parties active in Pakistan's province of Balochistan, accused the provincial government of miserably failing in improving the law and order situation and said crimes are now a daily routine in cities, media reports said. Secretary General of the National Party, Jan Muhammad Bulidi and member of the Central Committee, Haji Farooq Shahwani said that the Balochistan government has failed miserably in improving the law and order situation and making the national highways safe, reported The Daily Balochistan Express. "All national highways are unsafe, highways are ruled by robbers, while street crime is also rampant in cities, robberies and thefts are a daily routine in Quetta and surrounding cities," the party said. "State and administrative institutions are silent spectators. The police is unable to fulfill its constitutional and legal role. Political interference in important posts, recommendation culture and extortion system are the main reasons for ruining the police system," it added. Holding the government responsible for these issues, the National Party expressed solidarity with the community, the media outlet said. Two people were killed in Quetta city of the Pakistani province of Balochistan after armed men attacked the victims and opened fire on Thursday. According to the police, the attack occurred in front of a sessions court, Dawn reported. One of the injured, Sardar Nasim Tareen, was coming out of the court after a hearing when unidentified men attacked him with fists outside the court premises. Meanwhile, armed assailants who were waiting outside the court opened fire and resulting in fatal injuries to eight other men who were accompanying Tareen, reported Dawn. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital's trauma centre after the incident.Balochistan is the largest province by geographical area in Pakistan, constituting approximately 43 per cent of the total area of Pakistan. it is Pakistan's largest province, as well as is poorest, least populated and prone to crimes. Moreover, 70 per cent of people in Balochistan live in poverty. The maternal death rate in Pakistan is 278 per 100,000, whereas in Balochistan it stands at 785. Natural gas was discovered at Sui in Balochistan, yet major parts of the province are still deprived of natural gas.It's important to understand that the violence in Balochistan is not just because of terrorism. The insurgents are mostly local people longing for their constitutional rights and welfare.Therefore, most of the insurgent movements in Balochistan have been linked with deprivation and underdevelopment. (ANI)
Past three years have changed the lives of youth in Jammu and Kashmir as they have been provided with ample opportunities and choices to shape-up their careers. J-K youth turning their backs toward stone pelting and terrorism and saying no to Pakistan-sponsored violence have added new dimensions to their lives. After August 5, 2019--when the Centre announced its decision to abrogate J-K's special status and divided it into two Union Territories--30,000 youth have been provided with government jobs, 5.2 lakh youngsters have turned entrepreneurs, while 5.5 lakh women have got associated with the self-help groups and are eking out decent livings. The government has been offering vast scope for self-employment, both in the manufacturing and service sector, and helping young entrepreneurs with training, credit and technical inputs to create employment opportunities in a decentralized manner. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a Rozgar Mela in J-K through video conferencing and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha handed over 3000 appointment letters to youth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the event through virtual mode, said: "Now is the time to leave the old challenges behind and take full advantage of the new possibilities. I am happy that the youth of J-K are coming forward in large numbers for the development of their state and the people." PM Modi stressed the need to develop new thinking for the fast-paced development of J-K. He urged the new recruits to make transparency their priority while serving J-K Government. Youths are the strength of Jammu and Kashmir as the government has taken numerous steps to empower them in every field. Many initiatives have been taken to create supportive infrastructure, schemes and policies for entrepreneurship and self-employment. As of date, J-K youth are working in different sectors with a pursuit of excellence through determination and hard work. Their dedication and sincerity have laid the foundation of a vibrant society, which has kept the wheel of peace, progress and prosperity moving. Youth in J-K have become agents of change. They have chosen the path which leads toward success. The progressive mindset of J-K youth has left the terror bosses sitting in Pakistan annoyed. They are unable to digest that J-K's generation next is least interested in their agenda of separatism and sedition. Their propaganda is finding no takers. Even the indoctrination technique is not working. Pakistani stooges in Kashmir who till 2019 used to misguide the youth by offering them money to pelt stones and stage protests are either languishing in jails or have said goodbye to separatism as the noose has been tightened around them. The government has laid emphasis on addressing the issue of unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir and the various centrally sponsored schemes have helped the youngsters to become self-reliant and independent. In 'Naya J-K' youth don't run after government jobs anymore as new avenues have opened up for them. The steps that have been taken by the Centre during the past three years have changed J&K's scenario completely. In a new setup guns, grenades and bombs, gifted by Pakistan to J-K people to run after an illusion called 'Azadi,' have become irrelevant as the youngsters have realized that Kashmir has lost three generations since 1990 and it cannot afford to lose another generation. They are grabbing the chances and the opportunities that are coming their way and are playing a pivotal role in foiling the designs of Pakistan and the terrorist handlers sitting across the Line of Control. J-K youth refusing to become a part of the three-decade-long proxy war being fought by Pakistan has left the neighboring country with limited options. It's somehow trying to keep terrorism alive in J-K by sending arms, ammunition and IEDs through drones and by roping in the criminals in North India to smuggle these into Union Territory, to disrupt its march on the path of development and prosperity. The dwindling local support to the terrorists in the Himalayan region has led to the terror networks becoming defunct. J-K youth are taking part in sports, cultural events and other activities. They have turned the tables on the terror bosses by opposing the gun culture which Pakistan managed to keep alive in the erstwhile princely state for 30 years. The youth have understood that New Delhi wants them to live their lives peacefully and do something big in their lives, while Pakistan wants them to follow the path of destruction that ends up in a graveyard. The indifferent attitude of the J-K youth has led to the revival of terror training camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and there are reports that the terrorists are planning to make major infiltration attempts before the snowfall occurs and winter arrives completely in Kashmir. The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), removing Pakistan from its 'grey list' has reportedly provided a chance for terrorist groups to regroup and plan something big in J-K. The FATF commonly referred to as the world's "terrorism financing watchdog," which works to ensure that the flow of money in the global financial system are not misused to fund terrorist activities, has lifted sanctions after four years with the hope that Pakistan would do the course correction and behave like a civilized nation. But it seems that after FATF delisting Pakistan wants to go back to its old tricks. The neighbouring country seems in no mood to end the proxy war. It wants uncertainty and chaos to return to J-K and terrorists across the border seem to be waiting for a chance to sneak in. The youth in J-K is unlikely to become a part of the terror groups as they are busy in their lives and don't want to get involved in any sort of disruption. When a common man in J-K compares India with Pakistan, he is easily able to differentiate between a well-wisher and his enemy. There is every possibility of new groups entering J-K and foreign terrorists outnumbering the locals in the coming days but the hard fact remains that even if the foreigners manage to sneak into J-K they won't find it easy to survive without local support. New Delhi is keen on building the lives of J-K youth, while Pakistan seems determined to ruin their lives and this stark reality has already dawned upon J-K natives, who want to live in peace and participate in all the activities that are aimed at empowering them. (ANI)
At least 14 people, including three children, were shot when two people opened fire at people holding vigil on Halloween night in a busy Chicago corner in the US state of Illinois, media reports said. It was an incident of drive-by shooting when two people travelling in a dark SUV opened fire on the corner of California Avenue and Polk Street around 9:30 p.m, reported CNN quoting police who added the vehicle after the shooting was driven away. The people had gathered there for a vigil, and investigators are now trying to find the shooters, police added. In addition to the 14 people, another woman suffered injuries when a vehicle struck her as she tried to flee from the site, reported CNN quoting the police. As per police, those among the shot are a 3-year-old boy, an 11-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy. The victims of the gun shooting are being treated at hospitals where two are critical, five serious, six good, and unknown for one, police said Tuesday morning. Addressing a news conference, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said people not involved in the vigil may have been at the corner at the time. "There may have also been others gathered for other various reasons," he said. "It's a very, you know, common corner where people congregate and have different meetings and gatherings." In a shooting incident on Monday at a Halloween party in a home in Kansas City, a person was killed and as many as six others injured, police said. (ANI)
The Chinese Communist Party's new Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) is full of Xi Jinping's loyalists who now control the power. Analysts believe that a new round of purges is approaching sooner than later, Geo-Politik reported. Politburo Standing Committee (PSC), a seven-member group representing the apex of political power in China, has new members like Li Qiang, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi. The new members were elected at the First Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CCP and all are the "Xi's Army" representatives. Moreover, most of the members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee are also former "confidants" of Xi Jinping. According to Geo-Politik citing analysts, Xi Jinping is following China's previous leader Mao Zedong era line in order to strengthen the party's leadership and return to the planned economy. Analysts noted that after the 19th National Congress Xi changed his path and imposed new laws to remove the unwanted official from the team. Xi started by cracking down on high-tech enterprises, private enterprises, Internet celebrity artists, education and training, and nucleic acid lockdowns. The purge of officialdom has never stopped in the ten years since Xi Jinping came to power. On October 17, the CCP's discipline inspection department said that since Xi took office, nearly 5 million officials and party members at all levels have been investigated for anti-corruption, and 553 centrally managed officials have been filed for review. According to Geo-Politik, Xi Jinping is all set to go for the kill and carry out a large-scale purge because many factors have hindered him, and there are still people in the old and new Standing Committees who disagree with him. To strengthen his party, Xi removed Vice Premier Hu Chunhua and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Chairman Wang Yang. Moreover, Premier Li Keqiang also retired unceremoniously. The three were all figures of the regiment faction and were described by the media as "destroyed by the regiment faction," reported Geo-Politik. On October 23, Chinese President Xi Jinping secured an unprecedented third term as the country's top leader, putting him among the likes of the most influential leaders China has seen since the Chinese Communist Party was founded by Mao Zedong. Xi was elected general secretary of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the committee's first plenary session held on Sunday, the state media outlet reported Xinhua. The session presided over by Xi, was attended by 203 members of the 20th CPC Central Committee and 168 alternate members. Xi was also named chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission at the session. The once-in-five-year National Congress concluded after a week-long meeting. The Congress revealed the newly-formed Central Committee, the party's main leadership body, which included Xi. (ANI)
HOUSTON (AP)  Police said they have few leads in the fatal shooting of rapper Takeoff outside a private party at a downtown Houston bowling alley.

Takeoff, whose off-stage name was Kirsnick Khari Ball, formed one-third of the Grammy Award-nominated trio Migos with uncle Quavo and cousin Offset from suburban Atlanta. The 28-year-old rapper was killed early Tuesday when gunfire erupted and also wounded another man and a woman, according to police Chief Troy Finner.

Most of the 40 people who attended the party at 810 Billiards & Bowling fled when the gunshots rang out, Finner said. That left police asking people to come forward and give statements and videos to investigators on what they saw and heard, even if anonymously, Mayor Sylvester Turner said.

At least two people discharged firearms, according to Finner. The two others who were struck by gunfire had non-life-threatening wounds and went to hospitals in private vehicles, he said.

Let me just ask ... that anyone who has information on the shooter or shooters to provide that information to HPD and let us solve this situation, Turner said at a news conference Tuesday. Let us bring justice to this family.

Finner said Takeoff was well respected," and there was no reason to believe he was involved in anything criminal at the time.

Migos' record label, Quality Control, mourned Takeoff's death in a statement posted on Instragram.

Senseless violence and a stray bullet has taken another life from this world and we are devastated," the statement said, though police have said nothing about the gunshot being a stray. Please respect his family and friends as we all continue to process this monumental loss.

The bowling alley is in a three-story Houston retail complex with high-end restaurants and a House of Blues and is near a Four Seasons hotel. Takeoff was pronounced dead at the scene of the 2:30 a.m. shooting. An Associated Press reporter observed a body loaded into a medical examiners van around 10 a.m., more than seven hours after the shooting.

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Security guards in the area heard the shooting but did not see who did it, a police spokesperson said. A spokesperson for 810 Billiards & Bowling said the shooting took place after the alley closed and said the business is cooperating with investigators.

Several fans gathered across the street from the bowling alley. Isaiah Lopez, 24, said he rushed from his home in the Houston suburb of Humble after hearing Takeoff had been killed.

He was one of our favorites, mine and my brothers. Its all we would listen to, Lopez said as he carried a dozen roses he hoped to place near the site of the shooting. As soon as my brother called me and said, Takeoff is gone, I had to come over here and pay my respects.

Thomas Moreno, 30, lives about five minutes from the bowling alley. He said he met Takeoff at an event at a Houston bar and restaurant in June and called him a real nice guy.

I feel its just another good person gone too soon, Moreno said. This happens every day, but it hurts even more when its somebody so talented and so young.

By late Tuesday afternoon, fans had created a memorial with roses, candles and a teddy bear on the first floor of the retail complex. Yellow crime scene tape still blocked off stairs leading to 810 Billiards & Bowling.

Takeoff's killing came as Houston was in a spotlight, with the Astros baseball team mounting the most-viewed World Series run since 2019.

Also, crime has emerged as a major political issue in this year's midterm elections, with many Republicans running on law-and-order platforms while Democrats try to balance public safety with calls for criminal-justice reform.

Homicides nationwide jumped almost 30% in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Violent crime seemed to level off somewhat in 2021 but did not drop to pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest FBI crime data, though record-keeping changes meant that report did not include some of the nations largest police departments.

In Houston, the mayor and police chief acknowledged such concerns while noting that some violent crime rates are down from last year. Finner said he wants to meet with other hip-hop artists to talk about violence, although he didnt say Takeoffs killing had anything to do with is work in music.

We all need to stand together and make sure nobody tears down that industry, Finner said.

Migos first broke through with the massive hit Versace in 2013. They had four Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, though Takeoff was not on their multi-week No. 1 hit Bad and Boujee, featuring Lil Uzi Vert. They put out a trilogy of albums called Culture, Culture II and Culture III, with the first two hitting No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. They also earned an ASCAP Vanguard Award in 2018 for their streaming success with multiplatinum songs like Motorsport (featuring Cardi B and Nicki Minaj), Stir Fry, and Walk It Talk It.

The trio also played a fictional version of themselves on an episode of the hit TV show Atlanta, but the group was not currently together.

Offset, who is married to Cardi B, released a solo album in 2019, while Takeoff and Quavo released the joint album Only Built for Infinity Links last month. Quavo posted links Monday on his Instagram to his and Takeoff's Halloween-themed music video, Messy, along with a video of him and his friends driving around Houston.



This story has been corrected to show that Takeoff was killed Tuesday, not Friday.

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Landrum reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writer Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Arkansas, Jake Bleiberg in Dallas and Lindsay Whitehurst in Washington contributed to this report.
A 15-year-old boy was airlifted from Shandon to a hospital after being shot in the stomach on Halloweeen night, San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

Sheriffs deputies found the teenager in the 200 block of Camatti Street in Shandon with a gunshot wound to the stomach at around 10 p.m. Monday night when they responded to a report of shots fired. The boy was alert and talking.

Deputies performed first aid then had the teen airlifted to a local hospital. The teen is in stable condition.

The shooting was an isolated incident, the release said, and detectives are investigating whether it was gang related.

There is no suspect description at this time.

The Sheriffs Office asks anyone in the Shandon area who may have more information about the shooting to call 805-781-4500.

The incident in under investigation, and there is no further information at this time.